Being Tazim

Lexar Memory Card Review—Gift for Grads

Greg — Sat, 26 May 2012 12:59:00 +0000

When I was a kid, it wasn’t unusual for me to spend my allowance money on cassette tapes or floppy disks—physical media was everywhere. Now, I plug my digital camera right into my computer—and sometimes forget that there’s a storage device inside.

But, anyone who’s ever had their vacation photos suddenly disappear, or waited hours for them to transfer, knows that what’s inside counts. That’s why we’re fans of these high speed, high quality memory cards from Lexar—their Platinum line, they’re covered by a lifetime guarantee, and operate at up to 15 MB/s when transferring data to your PC.

The high speed of these Lexar Platinum cards means that they’re ‘class 10′ rated, well suited for demanding devices like high-res DSLRS and camcorders. In fact, they’re even faster than the minimum guidelines state for class ten cards. Transferring dozens of photos from a recent road trip, we were blown away to be done in half the usual time. Ditto for copying movies to SD from our computer to watch on our PS3—these cards are seriously fast.

But, it’s not just speed that counts.

Where we feel these stand out is in their durability. Having had more than one term-paper go up in smoke over the years, we know the importance of backing things up. And sure there’s the cloud—but alas, their isn’t internet everywhere.

So we regularly archive things on SD, and though the really inexpensive generic brands have tempted us in the past, we’ve also been burnt by their failure. Knock on wood, even our earliest Lexar cards are still kicking.

It’s the combination of speed and reliability that we think make these cards the perfect gift for a grad—if they’re starting college next year, they’ll be glad to have the extra storage—if they’re entering the working world from college, they’ll be even gladder to have a backup for their professional work.

We received the above mentioned SD card from Lexar in exchange for our honest opinion and review. We were not compensated in any other way.

Parisian Industrial Designer Ionna Vautrin’s Diverse Collection of Products

Tazim — Sat, 26 May 2012 12:59:00 +0000

I came across these pieces designed by Ionna Vautrin while browsing online the other day and had to share them. The simplistic, yet unique style really appeals to me.

Ionna Vautrin was born in 1979 in France.
She graduated in 2002 from l’école de design Nantes Atlantique. She lives and works in Paris.
Since 2002 she has worked successively for Camper in Spain, for George J. Sowden in Italy and for Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec in France. At the same time she developed her own projects with differents editors: starting with Industreal, the Tools Galerie, Wallpaper and more recently for Foscarini, Moustache or Super-ette…
She opened her own studio in January 2011 after receiving the Grand Prize of the creation of the city of Paris.

I especially like the Vases texturés collection, from 2007.

Looking at the page with these mirror/tray pieces on it, I glanced over and saw Greg’s mouth hanging open—clearly, these are the types of pieces we should have in our own place!

I like the built-in doily look of the vase below:

Check out the rest of the projects on Ionna Vautrin‘s page.

DIY Flower Projects Round-Up

Tazim — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:00:04 +0000

Depending on where you live, May flowers may (ha!) or may not be in bloom—so if you want some flowers for the busy event season or just for everyday pretty-ness, check out these do it yourself (DIY) ideas:

Scrapbooks etc. magazine recently had an article about handmade flowers. If you don’t have access to the magazine, check out their blog for a re-cap.

Have a spring event coming up? Try your hand at this DIY flower headband:

Style Me Pretty shares DIY fabric flower ideas—and shows how you can use them in a variety of different ways:

Have a wedding reception or other spring event coming up? I like the idea of handmade flowers instead of real ones for those extra-hot days (you don’t want your flowers to look wilted!).

I like these fabric and tulle flowers – add a twig and wrap it with that green florist wire and you’re good to go:

Microsoft Office Gives Grads a Leg Up in their Future Endeavours #Giveaway 06/15 US/Canada $200 ARV

Tazim — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:58:34 +0000

When we’re looking to get things done, whether it’s to organize a trip, budget our expenses, or write an article—we fire up Microsoft Office. And because it helps us with so many things around the house, we think it’s a perfect gift for Moms, Dads and Grads—that’s why we’re happy to host a giveaway for Microsoft Office: Home and Business 2010!

Almost all of us have used Office at one point or another in our lives—whether in our school’s computer programs, or whether we use it daily at work—it’s so common-place that it’s easy to take what it does for granted. But, the truth is that Office runs deep—providing features and integration that other word-processing and spreadsheet solutions don’t have—and desktop publishing features they envy.

Microsoft Office: Home and Business is made up of several different software pieces, including Outlook, OneNote, and of course Office’s two powerhouse applications, Word and Excel. Also included, and especially useful for those recent graduates who will be heading off to college in the fall, is Powerpoint. I know I had to use Powerpoint for classroom presentations several times per semester, but now that I’ve graduated I’ve also needed to use the program in the workplace. We tested out the Microsoft Office for Mac, and look forward to returning to school if only to take advantage of the software package!

Here are 5 reasons why we thing that the latest version of Word has a leg up over the other guys:

1) Templates: Word has literally hundreds of templates—and they’re about more than just making a document look good. For example, business letter templates are both properly formatted and easy to integrate with contacts databases from Outlook—this makes both business correspondence, and the annual Christmas letter a breeze! Also, templates help you use all of your printer’s functionality, making it not-impossible to print labels, envelopes, and CD covers. Our only wish: That Word had more ugly, but standard, templates for things like manuscripts and academic papers—the good news, you can find them online!

2) Footnotes, Endnotes, and Tables of Contents: Whether you’re writing your masters thesis, or putting together pitches and media kits for your blog, having an application that does both footnotes and endnotes possible makes life easier. This feature is surprisingly scarce in other applications, and it’s an example of Word’s sophisticated engine that it makes these a breeze.

3) Tables, Charts, Text Boxes and Pictures: Word is maybe the easiest software program to stick anything into, whether you want a table and chart to track your savings, or to stick pictures of your kids into a frame. We also turn to Word when we want to write mad-sciency things with formulas in them, Microsoft’s Equation Editor is a true gift to nerds the world over.

4) Tracking Changes: If you are ever in the position of working on documents in a collaborative environment, Word’s track changes feature is something I wish ever piece of software had—edits to the document are accompanied by the name of the changer, and a record of the changes made. With multiple wordsmiths in the house, Tazim and I use this feature to run things by each other, as well as professionally with editors. It’s also a great way to help your kids with their English homework, you can use track changes to make suggestions to correct their text.

5) Grammar checker: It’s true that it’s not absolutely perfect, but one of the very best things about Word is it’s grammar checker. Just like spellcheck, there’s no replacement for reading over your own text—but especially when it comes to business correspondence, it’s helpful to avoid things like sentence fragments and wrong words (something that anyone who’s ever “assed a question,” or misused their theres can appreciate).

Want to win a copy of Microsoft Office: Home and Business 2010? Enter Below:

Including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook, Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010 offers the latest essentials to help families stay on top of everything. And with the ability to access, edit and share from anywhere through Office Web Apps you can finally be in two places at once! Price: $199

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hiding your Individuality? Tattoos and Piercings in the Workplace

Tazim — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:08:28 +0000

I never knew how good I’ve had it—my co-workers and I have never had to cover up tattoos or piercings on the job. This isn’t just for my current job at a big electronics store, but also at other jobs in various fields. A post I recently read on Shary’s Shary Loves You blog made me think of how things may or may not be changing in the workforce regarding visible tattoos and piercings. Have we not come as far as I thought we had?

I’m certainly not saying that I think Shary should not be working at Denny’s because of their policies, but I guess I just found it a bit shocking that they’d make her cover up her sleeve and remove facial piercings. Shary mentioned feeling discriminated against, and inwardly feeling mad.

It’s quite a discriminatory thing, but my opinion is biased. I hate having to hide my individuality. I do, however, “get it” and am used to it and so I don’t complain much on the surface. Inside though, inside I’m mad.

Are people less likely to buy from someone who has tattoos or piercings? I can understand some big-business companies being less likely to hire someone with visible tattoos and excessive piercings, but I would think that it wasn’t a big deal at most establishments. Really, tattoos and piercings have become so commonplace that I rarely notice it. What about you? What do you think about covering up tattoos and piercings whilst at work?

Rustic Wedding Ideas for Late Spring

Tazim — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:49 +0000

Flowers are in bloom and just a hint of coolness still sits in the air. A rustic girl at heart, these wedding photos and ideas really appeal to me. I like the idea of having family and friends out in the country, staying at a Bed and Breakfast or Inn, and enjoying a weekend-long wedding celebration.

Great idea for a gift for your guests —a little plant ready to be placed in the backyard or front porch.

source: Jodi Miller Photography on Pen and Paper Weddings

Photo via Emmaline Bride

Photo via Kunio Photography on Wed 4 Less Blog

I like the idea of taking wedding photos in this setting, behind a vintage door. Romantic, or what?

Some decoration ideas:

Photos from Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

What flowers are in bloom in your area, and do you see spring brides adding them to their bouquets?

Road Trips & Picnics are Easier with Rubbermaid LunchBlox Products

Tazim — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:00:15 +0000

One of my favourite things about road trips is stopping by scenic spots and enjoying a packed lunch. Of course, I don’t like having a ton of containers and dishes to deal with—which is why I like these Rubbermaid LunchBlox stackable containers. Greg and I usually pack some bread and sandwich fixings and make up sandwiches at the location. Now, we can put together what we need in one of Rubbermaid’s LunchBlox Sandwich sets:

The kit comes with a sandwich-sized container, a rectangular container and two little containers—plus a blueice, which will keep everything from getting too hot during those summer road trips.

We usually get hungry again after a few hours of either hiking/walking or just driving a bit further afield, so end up stopping again—which is where the salad container sets come in handy. I like that the salad container sets are all-enclosed. There is a spot for your dressing, and any little veggies you want to add, like cherry tomatoes or carrot sticks. The salad area is a decent size, enough for a small meal or snack —and great as a picnic take-along.

All of the containers are microwave, freezer and dishwasher (top rack) safe. You can buy the containers as a kit, as seen in the images above or individually for your own combination. The containers are all BPA free.

Do you live in Canada? Enter to win 4 kits from Rubbermaid - 2 sandwich and 2 salad kits.

We were provided with the above mentioned products from Rubbermaid. We were not compensated in any other way. All opinions are 100% our own

Anger Issues — Mighty Fine Movie

Tazim — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:18:43 +0000

Unfortunately, I can relate to some of the themes in the movie Mighty Fine—which Cecile from The Shopping Duck discussed on her blog recently. I haven’t seen the movie, but can just picture how the two girls, who have a father with temper/anger issues feel.

Drives in a car with the family—the scene of many arguments between my mom and dad and always a stressful time for my brother and I.

While Stella tries to keep peace, the daughter’s each handle their father’s anger in their own way. I don’t want to give too much detail about the film, but the ending is very optimistic.

The issues surrounding this film make me not want to watch it, though Cecile assures me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Have you seen this movie?

Hiding your Individuality? Tattoos and Piercings in the Workplace

Mad Men Inspired Retro Cordless Phone from VTech

Tazim — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:00:49 +0000

As handsome as a rotary phone, but modernly styled and teched-out for today’s uses. Do you have a landline phone? My mom and family still do, but their cordless phones are anything but retro chic and stylish. The LS6195 by VTech is energy star certified—it doesn’t use a lot of power, neither does it take up a lot of room.

I like the way the cordless phone is cradled atop the base—like an old fashioned telephone—and how the buttons are rotary-phone styled, but not as annoying to dial with. The sleek black and white phone will work perfectly for us as a buzzer phone when people call us from the apartment building door. I found the sound came through crystal clear.

Features:

Quiet Mode
Backlit keypad and display
DECT 6.0 Digital technology
Digital answering system
Remote access
50 name and number phonebook directory
Voicemail Waiting Indicator
Up to 14 minutes of digital recording time
Call Screening
Call Intercept
Message Retrieval from handset
Message time and date stamp
Last 10 number redial
Mute
Any Key Answer
Volume Control
Trilingual prompts allow you to choose between English, Spanish or French.

Priced at $60, this retro phone is a fun addition to your modern/retro décor.

I received the above mentioned VTech phone for review. I was not compensated in any other way.

Canadians Welcome, Eh #Giveaway Hop! $50 Rubbermaid Lunch Package Open to Canada 05/30

Tazim — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:27:10 +0000

Welcome to Canadians Welcome, Eh Giveaway Hop hosted by Simply Stacie Sassy Mama in LA! This event features all Canada friendly giveaways! All the giveaways will be either open to Canada, US & Canada or worldwide and will run from May 21 to 30th.

My prizes are (for 1 winner):

$50 prize package of 4 Rubbermaid lunch sets – two each of a salad kit and a sandwich kit (Open to Canada only)
11 Empire Reel Babies tickets – good for Empire Theatres across Canada who participate in the Reel Babies program (Open to Canada only)

Check out the Empire Theatres Reel Babies program.

Rubbermaid LunchBlox™ makes packing lunch easier than ever. These modular containers snap together in multiple configurations to efficiently use the space in your lunch box or bag. Containers are perfectly portioned for your favorite lunch foods with handy measurements on the sides of each container. Your lunch stays chilled with snap in Blue Ice™. Rubbermaid Lunchblox come in kits and are sold separately so you can configure a different way everyday.
Containers stack compactly to stay organized
Blue Ice™ keeps your lunch cool on the go
Secure lid seal
BPA-free
Microwave, Dishwasher, and Freezer Safe

Check out the rest of the participating blog’s giveaways on the linky below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Memorial Courtyard at The National Museum of the Pacific War

Tazim — Sat, 19 May 2012 13:00:52 +0000

One hot day in September, Greg and I were driving from Midland to San Antonio Texas and decided to stop in Fredericksburg. The National Museum of the Pacific War (more on that at a later date) really took us by surprise—especially the peaceful Memorial Courtyard within the museum grounds.

From this view you can see the length of the stone wall, and the size of the courtyard.

Admiral Nimitz was from Fredericksburg. The town wanted to make a museum in his honour but he insisted that there be commemoration of others who served,as well.

See more photos on this memorial page.

Alongside the Japanese Garden of Peace is the Memorial Courtyard. The courtyard is ringed by beautiful old limestone walls that date back to the 1800s and the early days of the old Nimitz Hotel

-Museum site

Dyson DC37 Animal Canister Vacuum with Ball Technology

Tazim — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:00:22 +0000

Gorgeous, a well-designed work of art, and mighty powerful—these are just a few ways I’d describe the latest—as yet to be released—product line from Dyson. The DC37 Animal is designed to be used on surfaces ranging from delicate hardwood to high-pile wall to wall carpet and is especially great at picking up animal hair. The new Ball technology in this range of vacuums is a first being introduced here—that’s right, for once, something has come to Canada first!

Dyson replaces the wheel — with a ball

The Ball technology that Dyson has has brought for the first time to their canister vacuums, after having it in the uprights for a few generations, makes it easy to zip around either a large, open floor-plan or a tightly spaced condo just the same. I’m really impressed by how easily the Dyson DC37 Animal maneuvers. The retractable cord is ingenious—perfect because there are no excess cords to trip on while you put it away. With a press of a button, the cord pulls in when you’ve finished vacuuming a certain area. Equally smart—you can turn the rotating beater bar/turbine action of the floor attachment on and off at the handle, rather then having to bend down or stomp on it with your foot.

New Ball technology™ replaces the traditional wheels with a smooth, free flowing and lightweight ball that steers into difficult places. The new Dyson ball vacuum cleaners took 6 years, 497 engineers and 2496 prototypes to develop. The result? Canisters and uprights with greater maneuverability. No awkward moves. And of course, there’s no loss of suction.

James Dyson

“Canadians love invention. They’ve backed Ball technology so much so that Canada will be the first country in the world to wave goodbye to wheeled vacuum cleaners. No more shuffling back and forth with fixed wheels, now we’re turning on a dime, all the time.”

A cut above the rest

I’ve tried other bagless vacuums, but my experience with them has been less than great. What tends to happen is that dirt gets stuck to the filter and you end up having to pull debris out with your hands. I like that you just need to run the Dyson’s central filter under cold water once a month, and simply empty the canister after each use.

In fact, it’s clear that Dyson have thought about everything when you consider the way they’ve designed the canister for easy emptying. You push a single lever to separate the canister (the clear cylinder) from the engine. Then, once you have it over the garbage, there’s a handy lever which empties gunk out the bottom. It’s straightforward, and keeps dust from flying everywhere—and sneezing to a minimum.

Speaking of sneezing, my favourite thing about the Dyson is the way it captures allergens. After just a few good vacuumings of the rugs and carpets, I already notice a difference in interior air quality. And after vacuuming my Mom’s old sofa with the Animal’s mini-turbine head, I can sit itch free on the same furniture I used to eat Froot Loops and watch Care Bears on.

Priced at $599.99, the Dyson DC37 Canister vacuum is a super-vacuum that works on a variety of floor surfaces. Perhaps even your pet—there is an attachment that allows you to gently vacuum/groom your medium or long-haired dog. I can’t wait to get a long-haired dog like a Borzoi, and be happy knowing that I can easily get rid of its hair. It won’t lose suction, there are no bags or filters to replace, and it is backed by a five year warranty. Like the other Dyson products I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing, this vacuum has a special place in my home. Check out the details on the DC37 vacuum and find out about other models on the Dyson website.

I received a Dyson vacuum in order to conduct my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way.

Drumheller Alberta Travel

Tazim — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:00:27 +0000

Just a short 1 hour or so drive NorthEast of Calgary is a landscape that makes you feel like you’re on the set of Land of the Lost. Drumheller is located in the Badlands of Alberta. The main draw of Drumheller is the Royal Tyrell Museum, which is a dream for children interested in geology and dinosaurs. Naturally, most kids in Calgary have been there at some point during their childhood.

Next to the Drumheller Visitor Centre is this dinosaur structure, getting children and adults alike excited to see the museum and the area in general. There is, of course, more to see and do in the area around Drumheller than the museum. I’d love to go to the Badlands and go camping sometime.

Late Spring Adventure Wish-List

Tazim — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:17 +0000

I’m itching to get out of town and do some camping, how about you? It’s still too cool at night to do so comfortably, but I can’t help but daydream anyway. We’ve been lucky enough to both choose great quality camping and hiking gear that has lasted us for years, and to have received gifts from our families to replace the things that tend to wear out—like tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads. So, we’re covered on the camping/hiking front, but there are a few late spring/summer things for other warm-weather adventures that are on my wishlist.

I’ve been wanting a non-backcountry camping outdoor stove for a while now. I think this would be great for BBQs at the park, road-side meals, car-camping and even just for roasting veggies and corn in the backyard. Save having a full-sized BBQ to grill on, the tabletop variety (which is more portable anyway) is next on my list.

Either the Coleman 9949-750 Road Trip Grill LXE which is on for $159, or the Weber 1520 Propane Gas Go-Anywhere Grill on for $59.99 would easily make our ‘Road Trip Essentials’ list.

For car-camping, when you need a spot to put your food down, or when another table surface isn’t available, I would love to have a small folding camping table like the GSI Outdoors Micro Table which seems light and portable. The Ming’s Mark TA-8102 Two Shelf Aluminum Folding Table with a surface to put things on/cook on top of, plus a shelf, would also be really practical.

To go with all of the above, I’d also like some portable chairs—but I’m not sure if I want stools, or the typical clunky camp chairs. I don’t want anything that is too big to store.

I would love to get Greg one of those black and neon yellow Nike+ SportWatch GPS Powered by TomTom. He’s been running a lot lately, so I think the watch would be well-used.

What’s on your late spring wish list?

Rear View Mirror Conversations & Goal Making

Tazim — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:44:04 +0000

What’s that they say about hind-sight?

Clear goals are great, but what is even better is making plans on ways to reach those goals. Removing yourself from your current situation/whatever it is you need to ponder can often help with deciding which direction to take your life next.

Road trips are great for clearing the cobwebs

That very thing happened when Greg and I left the city with our annual Canadian National Parks Pass in hand and headed to Banff National Park (and city) for a day last week. We’d gotten the gears turning on ideas about what to do next, but it wasn’t until this week (yesterday, actually) that we clearly decided which direction to take out adventure next.

It’s perhaps no coincidence that just a year ago I graduated from university in Vancouver—and prepared myself for the next of life’s adventures—and I am now looking back on the last year wondering what could have gone differently. It’s often the pause in the adventure that makes everything much more clear—whether it be sitting down on a log and catching your breath after a gruelling ascent up a mountain, or a mid-day coffee break—when you give yourself a chance to evaluate what just happened and what you’d like to have happen ahead.

Escaping to the mountains seems to work well for collecting my thoughts and re-examing recent life changes, but now that Greg and I have clearly decided what we’d like to do in our life, we need to also come up with ways that we can achieve those goals.

Can you make a mistake and miss your fate?*

Not one to let a bad decision, no matter how big, change my fate (or goals, if you’d prefer), I’m determined to put things from the past year behind me and look forward.

Clearly, we are looking forward to living on our own again. I don’t mind living in a 500sq. ft place if I can be doing the things I love. I have had to re-evaluate what is most important to me, and more so who is most important to me.

*this is a quote from Carrie Bradshaw from SATC.

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Car Stereo Review—Kenwood DDX 31

Greg — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:18 +0000

Tazim and I never consider ourselves road-trip-ready without a playlist—but when we bought our new-to-us ride, the stereo was a sore point.

Whoever had bought the car originally had sprung for the limited package—we could see the upgraded speakers all around us, and knew they were fine—but the head unit was low-spec. Having an in-dash 6 CD player seemed kind of cool—until we found out that it wouldn’t play anything burnt at home, or CDs that were the least bit blemished. Worse, it put out a muddy output that made our tunes sound more like my first Fisher Price cassette player than digital audio, and there was no way to plug in an MP3 player (the radio wouldn’t even pick up the FM from our iPod adapter.) It was clear that something had to be done.

Thankfully, after hours of research and advice from car-audio-install friends—we found a unit we thought would work well for us, the Kenwood DDX 319.

At $349 MSRP, often less on sale, it was also the cheapest double DIN deck with support for video (what’s double DIN? Check out ‘size’ in our glossary below). Why video? At first we didn’t know either—and then we fell in love with the way the large-touch screen display facilitated navigating our media on the road—and we were smitten with the idea of adding a back-up camera to help in tight parking situations and to see if the neighbour’s kid left their bike behind our vehicle (like always).

We really like both the aesthetics and the ergonomics of the unit—there are enough physical buttons to be helpful, but not so many you’re left squinting and confused.

Instead, in-depth functions are handled by the touch-screen, which is much much better than trying to control your mp3 player or pick songs off a USB stick from a mess of switches and knobs (basically, you turn on the unit with the buttons, use the knob for volume, and can ignore them the rest of the time). The touch-screen interface isn’t bad either—as far as these things go. Though I read manuals obsessively, Tazim had a go at using it blind, and never needed to refer to it to figure anything out. Of course, figuring out some things—how to change the desktop picture or activate the aux-in—are trickier than others.

We love how well the DDX 319 works with media from USB, it loads albums and track quickly, and parses current ID3 tags with ease—so that things like the band, song title, and album art all show up. Adding media to the USB is as straightforward as drag and drop, but there are a couple of caveats: first, if you organize your music into folders by arts and album, it’s impossible to shuffle between them all, and second, the media shows up in order of the date the songs were copied to your USB drive rather than alphabetically, meaning that you may have to scroll around a little extra when you’re trying to find a particular track. Kenwood does provide windows-only download software that can sort this out, but as Mac users, we haven’t tried it.

Better still is the way the head unit integrates with iDevices, of course, with any iPlayer it gives you access to all of your tunes—in fact, it does this pretty well—but if you have the A/V cable (an optionaly extra) you can also mirror the iDevice screen to the unit’s for many applications. This is really cool because it extends the use of your deck and speakers—for example, if you have Garmin’s Street Pilot On Board app, you can use your iPhone to turn your 319 into an in-dash GPS. Of course—your navigation is only as good as your data plan, so it doesn’t work in all cases. You can also use Kenwoods App mode to play Netflix videos and other content while you’re parked. And, with an iPhone plugged in, the head-unit piggybacks off your data connection to play from Pandora, which is actually supported from withing the 319′s default interface.

Finally, the other features of the unit work exceptionally well—DVD playback is a no brainer, though of course it only plays video while your vehicle is parked, the tuner is clear and locks on to signals well, and the device is easy to live with. It remembers what you were doing last, and starts there. It doesn’t freak out if something is suddenly unplugged—and inputs and outputs are clearly labelled and perform as expected. The USB port even charges all of USB devices we’ve tried plugging in (with the exception of the iPad). The rear input on the unit, suitable for a back-up camera, uses standard composite inputs and is not proprietary to Kenwood. The 6.1″ screen is clear and bright, with a resolution of WVGA (800*480, more than adequate for its size). And the audio is clear and loud, with a six channel output and an RMS power of 22 watts (more than adequate for most applications, perfect for souping up with an extra amplifier for those looking for big sound). Installation of the 319 is straightforward—but as with all car stereo installations requires a harness to match your specific vehicle, and is best done my someone with experience. The 319 does have support for steering wheel controls, and even features colour adaptive lighting so that you can alter the back light to match your vehicle’s interior.

We’d gladly recommed it to anyone looking for an entry level unit—though those looking for bluetooth connectivity would likely be happiest with its big sister, the DDX 419 ($50 more).

When we went to the store unit to pick one out, our jaws dropped to the floor. There’s so much out there, we were totally overwhelmed. If you’ve never bought or installed a car stereo, it can all be a little intimidating. Here’s a short primer:

Head Unit:

The head unit is the brains of your stereo, it’s an amplifier and a component all in one—the thing with the radio, and that you stick CD’s into. Often there are other things that plug into it: perhaps a CD changer in the trunk if you’r old-school, or maybe a component input for a backup camera.

Size:

Car stereo head units come in two main sizes, single, or double DIN. DIN (aside from being a general hubbub or a bunch of background noise), is a nonsense acronym from Europe, that just refers to whether the stereo takes up one or two standard sized bays in your vehicles dash (about 7″ by 2″ for a single DIN). It’s almost always cheapest to match the size of what’s in your vehicle. But, for obvious reasons the double-DIN size is preferable for video applications.

Amplifiers:

Most of us are set with the amplifier integrated into the head unit, but it gets a little confusing, because you can choose to add an amplifier on, or will sometimes get a car with more than one amplifier. Why? So that you can deliver neighbour annoying window shaking bass from really big speakers—and also because as music travels from your head unit to your speakers through wires, it can loose some of it’s oomph. Additional amplifiers can scrub any cobwebs out and give the sound a boost. I wanted a billion watt amplifier in my car when I was 16. I don’t anymore.

Speakers:

Head units seldomly come packaged with speakers—and usually there are some in your car. Talk it over with your bank account or your partner before you decide to upgrade speakers, as unless you’re doing the install yourself, costs add up quickly. That said—if your car has the factory low end inside—often the speakers are terrible, and the Achille’s heal of car audio. Refer to a site like crutchfield.com to make sure the speakers you have in mind will fit into your vehicle—sizes vary hugely!

There are roughly four types of speakers out there: two way/dual cone speakers are the most common, they generally have two cones loosely designated as a woofer for bass, and a tweeter for treble, integrated into a single unit; three way speakers add a mid range component to deliver crisper audio across the spectrum; component speakers need an amplifier that supports them, but work like a home theatre set-up, where each speaker is designed for a separate function and place; finally there are sub-woofers which can be added on to any of these three other systems to anchor the bass. If you’re not looking to spend a fortune, our suggestion is to match your original install, or move from two-three way. While adding on a subwoofer is appealing, consider where you’ll put it before you decide to go this route—in fact, those looking for better sound quality would be advised into looking into extra tweeters instead.

Spring Colour Trend Pantone—Sweet Lilac

Tazim — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:00:11 +0000

Perfect for spring event season, and mother’s day—Pantone spring 2012 colour trend Sweet Lilac is a lovely shade of pastel purple. So, how can you incorporate this shade in to your décor?

The bracelets above were handmade by Mary in the spring 2012 Pantone colours.

The pastel purple colour Sweet Lilac is so perfect for spring time, don’t you think?

source

For just 229 pounds you can have this Lilac Forest Chair—which would be great on its own as a showpiece of sorts.

Perfect for warmer weather, this pitcher set from CB2, is a great shade of lilac:

Source: dailydreamdecor.com via Emily on Pinterest

Source: google.co.uk via Jenny on Pinterest

This rug is subtly lilac coloured:

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Annemarie on Pinterest

Source: homedesignfind.com via Anekha on Pinterest

Source: dreamywhites.blogspot.com via Karen on Pinterest

Source: loftandcottage.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

What do you think of the Sweet Lilac shade?

National Train Day 2012

Tazim — Sun, 13 May 2012 04:53:54 +0000

People on a train form an alliance, as if the world that surrounded the parallel rails were hostile and they refugees from it. The dining car, humming and rocking gently in the night, annihilated past and future and made all associations outside of itself seem vaguely unreal. - Alexander Jablokov, Carve the Sky

I’ve spoken before about my love for train travel. Not only do I love travelling on trains in any country, but I also love visiting trains in a museum setting.

I absolutely loved spending some time at the West Coast Railway Heritage Museum in Squamish, B.C. last year around this time:

The heritage park is located in an absolutely beautiful spot—surrounded by trees, and mountains, with the ocean not being too far off.

What makes this destination so great is that it would appeal to a range of tastes/interests. Whether you or your company are history buffs, interested in trains, love nature or enjoy museums/cultural institutions, the West Coast Railway Heritage Park has something to pique your interests.

I’d love to travel on train more in Canada and the USA—I’ve travelled quite a bit throughout Southeast Asia and India. I really like the trip from Vancouver to Seattle, but haven’t taken the train anywhere else in the country.

Have you travelled on Amtrak in the USA?

Striiv Smart Pedometer for Active Moms

Tazim — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I’ve had pedometers before—in fact, I’ve tried out a few in the last couple of months—but I’ve never been motivated enough to keep up with it.

Games, donations, the ability to race and challenge your friends, and share your progress online . . .just some of the great things about Striiv, a smart pedometer that makes it fun and exciting to walk and run.

The Striiv gets to know you over time, and gives you different activities and challenges that work with your level. I like that you can spin to randomize the challenges and that there are 3 levels, too.

I like how well the touch screen works—perfect for using your energy points (earned by walking or running) to buy plants and trees and structures in a game. For those people that like to compete against their friends and family to achieve particular goals, the Striiv works well for that, too.

I really like the quick challenges, and the way it keeps track of the number of steps you’ve taken in a day —comparing that number to the previous days’. Another great and unique thing about Striiv is that you can do a virtual walkathon and sponsors will donate real money to charities. I like to choose to have my donation put toward saving part of a rainforest, which really motivates me to get walking more each day.

This is a great gift idea for active moms, or ones that wish they were more active! The Striiv can be purchased from Amazon.comfor $99 and includes a clip to attach to your belt/pocket as well as a keychain attachment, so that you can always take it with you to record your steps.

Connect with Striiv on twitter and Facebook and check out all the motivated posters who are benefitting from using Striiv daily.

I was sent a Striiv Smart Pedometer for review purposes. I was not compensated in any other way.

$50 #Giveaway Brow Beauty Package US Only 05/22

Tazim — Sat, 12 May 2012 05:58:30 +0000

One lucky winner in the USA will be able to win all 3 prizes to beautify your brows! This is the perfect package to get ready for the busy event season ahead or to give to your mom for a spa break. The total value is approximately $50.

Enter to win below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Backyard Landscape Inspiration

Tazim — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:00:05 +0000

Nicer weather and the grass turning green makes me want to sit outside on a balcony or in the backyard. The funny thing about Calgary, though, is that people don’t tend to make use of their backyards—I know the ‘nice’ season doesn’t last very long here, but if I had the space to sit outside and relax, I’d certainly be making use of what space I had.

I’ve always dreamt of having a little pond and a bridge in my backyard, like this one below:

Source: houzz.com via Stacy on Pinterest

photo source

A little backyard oasis, with a spot to sit would be lovely, don’t you think?

Source: Uploaded by user via Madison on Pinterest

Do you like your outdoor space? What would you change about it?

Quick Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for the Mom who Likes to Cook

Tazim — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:03:40 +0000

I actually wish my mom and Greg’s mom needed more things for their kitchens—it would make it so much easier for gift-giving! At least, I know I can always get Greg something fancy for the kitchen for special occasions.

One of the most used, yet seldom thought of products for gift ideas, is a pressure cooker. The WMF Pressure Cooker we talked about in our Deserted Island series is the one we’d pick:

We love this stainless-steel and induction compatible pressure cooker from WMF. All of the valve-workings are in a removable handle that’s easy to rinse and clean, and the quality is top-notch. If we had room for just one pot in our luggage—it’s the one we’d take—hands down. The fact that it takes so much less energy to cook means that we’d only have to gather half as much wood! (From $150)

Who wouldn’t love a cast iron wok? We use ours just about everyday.

Mountain Equipment Co-op — Canada’s Best Outdoor Adventure Store

Tazim — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:28 +0000

Every great adventure starts with quality equipment — and my favourite place to go to buy outdoor clothing, footwear, and gear is Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC). This retail company is a co-operative where members pay a lifetime membership fee in exchange for being able to purchase products from the store, vote for board members and more. So many of our outdoor adventure gear came from Mountain Equipment Co-op—our current and first tents, our sleeping bags, winter jackets and fleeces, plus all of our camp food related things like our stove and pots. Whenever we decide that we need something for camping or hiking we head to MEC. Most recently, we went to Mountain Equipment Co-op to purchase our Canadian National Parks Pass for a full year of access to Canada’s National Parks. I’m really excited to have that pass, and plan on using it quite a bit this spring/summer/fall!

Above: everything you need to repair and maintain your equipment.

They have all of the best brands and prices at MEC, because it is a not-for-profit company. We forgot to pick up some more camp fuel the last time we were there for the park pass, so I guess we’ll have to go back there again, soon.

They offer equipment for a full range of outdoor adventures—including rock climbing (notice the cool rock wall within the store, which can be used to test out gear before buying it)

The thing I love about Mountain Equipment Co-op (which has stores across Canada) is that I always feel more inspired to go outdoor adventuring, be more active and try something new. Their snack and kitchen section is perfect for stocking up on road-trip essentials, even if you went in the store just to browse and the new things available each season. I have my eyes on a new backpack for backcountry camping. What about you? Do you look forward to spring/summer to check out the new camping and adventure gear?

Jolica Fair Trade Jewelry Review & #Giveaway $75 Gift Card US/Canada 05/21— Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Tazim — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:00:19 +0000

Far from ordinary, the Jolica Earrings I received to review are made of silver, are elegant and fun at the same time. While many mothers may have a fair sized collection of jewelry already, the pieces from Jolica are much more unique than the average jewelry items you find in department stores.

I received the JE892 earrings, made in Peru. These earrings are simply styled, yet really beautiful. I’m really impressed with the weight of these—I like to know I’m wearing my earrings or else I keep checking to see if they’ve fallen off. These earrings don’t fail on that front.

What makes Jolica products stand out from the crowd? Everything available from Jolica is Fair Trade certified. What does that mean? Fair Trade is when the artisans who create products (like jewelry, coffee, tea, chocolate, furniture. . .) are paid fairly for their work. World Fair Trade Day is MAy 12th, so this couldn’t have come at a better time. Want to learn more? Check out the F.A.Q. on Fair Trade.

Jolica wants to honour you or your mother this Mother’s Day by having a giveaway for a $75 gift card! This giveaway is open to US and Canada and ends May 21st.

There are so many choices available on the Jolica site for online purchases. Jolica not only sells Fair Trade jewelry, they also sell scarves, purses, etc. Here are a few of the things from their catalogue I like:

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Casablanca Antique Gold Ceiling Fan #Giveaway $300+ Value US Only

Tazim — Sun, 06 May 2012 13:00:39 +0000

It’s going to be getting hotter outside soon, which means that your home will also be feeling the heat. The great thing about ceiling fans is that you can use them all year round. During winter, use a ceiling fan to help push warm air down from the ceiling —this is especially helpful if you have higher than average ceilings. Create some air flow during the warmer months by turning on a ceiling fan.

The ceiling fan below, a Casablanca C9K66M Reverie Fan from Del Mar Fans, has a light kit attached so you can shed some light in a dark room and also cool the space. If you live in one of the contiguous 48 states in the USA, you have an opportunity to win this Casablanca fan (valued at over $300)!

About the fan:

The Casablanca C9K66M Reverie Fan is a 3-Speed ceiling fan with Forward/Reverse & Light Dimming with Memory. It comes in Brushed Walnut with an Antique Gold motor finish. With its classical ornamentation, elaborate decorative elements, and timeless quality, the Reverie ceiling fan is a stunning example of this grand style. This fan includes a 12” downrod that is decorated with a scroll and palm leaf motif and a 3” standard downrod. This fan is approved for Indoor Locations.

-          56” Blade Span

-          ETL Approved for Indoor Locations

-          Remote Control Included

-          26” Height, Top to Bottom

-          Standard Mount

-          Uplight & Downlight Included

Enter to win the ceiling fan below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ceiling Fans – Practical & Decorative

Road Trip Ready Event

Tazim — Sun, 06 May 2012 05:04:54 +0000

We’re hitting the open road this month and sharing our tips, destinations and ideas in our Road Trip Ready event.

photo source

It’s starting to get nicer out so we naturally can’t wait to take a few road trips. One of the reasons we moved to Calgary was to be close to the Rocky Mountains. With Greg leaving for Seattle for a writing workshop in June, we need to get in as many day trips as we can — to the places in Alberta that we’ve been missing for so long.

Although it’s a bit early for it—I’m anxious to get out and do a bit of camping. We’ll be sharing some information on emergency car essentials — necessary for a short or long road trip.

Do you enjoy camping or road-trips?

May the 4th Be With You!

Tazim — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:00:12 +0000

Did you grow up being a fan of Star Wars? Now’s your chance to reminisce about all the great characters and movies, because Chapters/Indigo and DK Canada are getting together to support the Indigo For the Love of Reading Foundation. From today until the 6th of May, for every Star Wars book that is purchased, a donation will be made.

ABOUT THE LOVE OF READING PROGRAM

We passionately believe that when a child has a book put in their hands it changes their life forever. With the support of Indigo customers and employees the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation puts books into the hands of Canadian children. To do date Love of Reading has committed over $12 million to more than 650 high-needs elementary schools across the country so children can develop a love of reading, unleash their dreams and fulfil their potential. For more information about the Foundation visit, loveofreading.org

I can testify that the range of Star Wars books put out by DK Canada are spectacular! Whether you’re a fan of the original Star Wars movies or the latest one (or all of them), or if you like Star Wars characters dressed up as Legos, there is a book by DK Canada out there. As always, the Star Wars Character Encyclopedia is full of vividly coloured pictures, great text and a hard cover.

Each character in the book has some basic information in a little box (see above), along with a full-colour photo and some other information.

Want to talk to someone about the movies but they’re clueless about certain characters? Whip out this book and show them who you’re talking about. This book is regularly priced at $18.99 but is on sale for only $13.99 since DK Canada has the Star Wars books on sale for 30% off for a limited time only.

There are a few promotions going on to get you even more excited about Star Wars this month. Today (May 4th) several Chapters stores in Canada will be having a party and there will be people dressed up in Star Wars costumes. Here in Calgary, the Chapters Shawnessy will be celebrating.

If you’re in to dressing up at Princess Leia or any other character, or don’t feel like dressing up at all—take a picture of yourself or a loved one reading a Star Wars book for a chance to win a $200 prize package of books from DK Canada. If you post your pics on the DK Canada Facebook page or tweet them out using hashtag #DKmay4th, a donation will be made to the Love of Reading Foundation. Details and entry form can be found on the DK Canada Star Wars page.

I received a copy of the above mentioned Star Wars book. I was not compensated in any other way.

Romantic Vintage Lace For Weddings

Tazim — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:32 +0000

I think lace is timeless, if it isn’t overdone or coupled with giant 80s hairstyles. I like coloured lace and ribbons, especially when they’re put together for a wedding dress or reception.

Source: elfenpulver.blogspot.com via Rae on Pinterest

source

The intricate beadwork on the above dress is gorgeous . . . modern and elegant at the same time.

Source: img1.etsystatic.com via Rae on Pinterest

The above is much more my style, though. I like the mint underneath the cream lace.

Source: umla.tumblr.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: prettypetals.typepad.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: simplypix.tumblr.com via Michelle on Pinterest

source

The bit of lace on this dress is understated and lovely:

source

above photos from this wedding blog.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Tech-Lovers

Tazim — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:00:17 +0000

My mom has amassed a huge collection of jewelry, doesn’t want new clothing, and doesn’t need anything for the kitchen—but, luckily for me, she does want to upgrade her tech collection. For her birthday, in January, she asked for an MP3 player. My brother and I bought her one, and upgraded the earbuds to more comfortable ones with better sound. She recently mentioned that she wants some new wireless headphones that are rechargeable for Mother’s Day. This helps me out a lot—and works out well for me, since I work at an electronic store!

Here are a few suggestions for things that my mom (and maybe yours, too) would like for Mother’s Day:

How restful can a mother’s sleep be? I am not a mom, but I can only imagine the amount of times one might get up at night, when there is a child to take care of. I recommend the LARK Sleep Monitor & Un-alarm clock ($99) for the mom in your life, or yourself. Read my review for information on this product.

E-Book readers were really huge this past Christmas, and I think they continue to be popular gifts for both heavy and casual readers. If your mom already has an e-book reader, consider getting her a nice carrying case, like the ones from Waterfield Designs:

I have several cases from Waterfield Designs and absolutely love the quality, plus they’re made in San Francisco!

Having a connected home, including the ability for people to do more than watch cable TV on their television sets, has been really big this year. The Apple TV MD199LL/A [NEWEST VERSION] has been flying off shelves. At $99, the Apple TV has AirPlay, so you can watch movies from your iPod, iPhone or iPad, lets you watch Netflix, and TV shows and movies from the iTunes store.

For the mom who is looking to upgrade her standard point and shoot camera, or wants to have something other than her smartphone —as fun as Instagram is —DSLRs have really come down in price recently. Maybe you and a few of your siblings can get together and pool some money for a Canon or Nikon DSLR. There are so many different ones on the market, depending on what your mom needs/wants.

What tech gifts/electronics would your mom like for Mother’s Day?

May Buffet #Giveaway Open to Canada Only Rubbermaid Glass CLOSED

Tazim — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:00:37 +0000

Welcome to May Buffet coordinated by ShePromotes!

This event will take place from May 1st at 12:01am EST through May 15th at 11:59pm EST.

It’s May! And for many of us that means the start of grilling and cookout season. Good food is great all year round, but there is just something about the warm weather that says bring on the steaks! I am sure you like to check out recipes shared by your favorite bloggers, so we thought we’d share some yummy prizes with you! Each blog listed below on the linky has a prize valued at $25+ for each winner – ALL FOOD RELATED! This means goodies to eat and items to help you fix, mix, cook, and serve delicious dishes. So let the May Buffet begin!

The giveaway on this blog is open to Canada only and is for a $35 prize package from Rubbermaid’s new Rubbermaid Glass line.

Check out my review of Rubbermaid Glass here.

Enter to win below, then hop on to the next blog to enter another giveaway!

There is no mandatory entry – do one of the entries and all others are extras!

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Rubbermaid Glass Containers Review

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