Products & Reviews

LIFE WTR... another reverse osmosis purified water with added electrolytes...

2020-10-19T15:05:00.004-05:00

Life wtr is another reverse osmosis purified water with added electrolytes that has nearly the same price tag as natural mineral water...

Why is this?

The art installations on the bottles are vibrant, making it stand out on shelves. But what makes it cost so much?

It does taste amazing, nearly as crisp and delicious as my favorite water so far, Icelandic Glacial. So, maybe there's something to this reverse osmosis vs. whatever they do to purify the cheap Wal-mart water?!

VigLink - for my bloggers!

2020-09-10T19:43:00.005-05:00

VigLink is a way for blogs to make money, especially when google is messing up your AdSense (like they're doing to me for some reason). From what I understand they create hyperlinks on thing within your blog that you have talked about, but may not have thought to link to the company's site, because maybe they weren't your main focus. Then they give you $ for the traffic that those links (and some that you have already made) get.

In 2015 I made over $700 with VigLink, mainly due to a few of my Christmas shopping posts. So they are totally legit! And you can make way more money than with AdSense (or at least I have in the past). Plus you can use both at the same time, so you can earn money from VigLink's links and from the ads that AdSense puts up. Win - Win!

SoloLearn - Learn Coding at your own pace

2020-09-10T19:23:00.002-05:00

This was my first assignment in HTML at SoloLearn (there was more but it didn't pertain to anything realistic so I took those parts out): Learning To Code

Hey! I'm Megan. I'm learning to code so I can develop websites and improve my blog. I learned it all at SoloLearn where they build your self-esteem and keep you motivated.

My Skills

HTML
JavaScript
C++
Python

Follow Me

There are other places you can learn coding like this, such as udemy. At udemy you can learn C or python and all kinds of other things, check it out here!

Aspira Pura - Pure Joy Bottled

2020-08-20T06:47:00.003-05:00

I had the great joy of randomly bumping into this company on Instagram, where they offered to send me a few free bottles of their water to see how I liked it. I must say I absolutely love it, it's like pure joy bottled!

Aspira Pura is an amazingly crisp water that I just couldn't get enough of. Which is most likely due to the reverse osmosis process that adds the minerals and electrolytes, which regular purified water doesn't have, including Calcium Chloride, Potassium Bicarbonate, and Magnesium Chloride.

Another great feature of Aspira Pura is the bottles, which are BPA free. I've found through trial and error that this means that even when they are shipped in the heat your water won't get that plastic taste... if you drink cheap Wal-mart water you know what I'm talking about.

Depending where you look, this water will run you about the same price / mL as Icelandic Glacial or LIFEWTR, but that's because you're getting the same great minerals, electrolytes, and BPA free bottling.

Aspira Pura is a made in the USA product, made in Texas to be exact. So, if that's important to you, and in these times, it really should be; you should considering trying this water. It's some of the best I've had. Tastes comparably to LIFEWTR and Icelandic Glacial Natural Springs (ie other reverse osmosis waters and mineral waters with low total dissolved solids count), but you'll be contributing to the local economy, and to a business that started because founder Eric wanted to make a difference and create his own water brand that was for everyone!

Walmart Savings Catcher

2015-07-01T17:27:00.001-05:00

If you've not downloaded the Walmart app then you are missing out on some amazing savings. If you follow the link above it will give you all sorts of info on the app and how to download it for various devices.

What i want to talk to you about today, however, is the savings catcher portion of the app...

The savings catcher compares everything you bought to multiple stores in your surrounding area. All you have to do is scan your receipt in, and the app does the rest.

We've saved over $9 since March, not too shabby.

My Review of Symphony Tools for Social Media Management

2015-04-16T08:42:00.001-05:00

I just started using Symphony Tools to manage my social media accounts (mainly to share my blog posts to the cooresponding fb pages/ twitter accounts, and so far so good :) I actually really like it.

It's perfect for scheduling and automatically sharing posts, like the networked blogs app used to do... actually it will import things from networked blogs too, which is nice, you don't have to setup everything from scratch.

You can give it a try too! This link gives you 3 months free!!!

http://www.symphonytools.com/invite/OTYzMTcxNA==

Arnica Gel for Fibromyalgia Relief

2015-02-15T15:08:00.001-06:00

I just bought this Arnica Zim's MAX gel ($9.99 @ CVS) in hopes of some kind of relief of my Fibromyalgia pain... you know the pain I'm talking about? The feeling like you're bruised from head to toe, even the slight touch from the shower water, your clothes, laying down, a person, ya know, pretty much anything, is just agonizing!!!

I have tried, what my rheumatologist tells me is "everything out there that they recommend for Fibromyalgia," that includes creams, gels, pills, you name it... plus pretty much every reasonable thing I have found on the lovely internet, to absolutely no avail... So when I heard about Arnica creams and gels I figured, what's the point? Probably won't work anyway, and put off trying it for a really long time. (Because it used to be expensive and hard to find.)

Let me just say that this stuff worked almost instantly! I was SO excited!!! It has a bit of a smell to it but it goes away pretty quickly (either that or I got used to it really fast lol). The Arnica Zim's MAX is really great because it's not sticky, greasy, or oily either, like some other gels I've used in the past. It absorbs very quickly and starts working fast.

However, if the odor is a big issue for you, there are some brands of arnica creams and gels that claim to be unscented, I can't give you my word that they actually are odorless because I haven't personally used them, but Arnicare by Boiron is one that says they are unscented and their website has a $2 coupon (which they email you) and with the coupon it brings the price down to about the same as the Zim's, but the Arnicare bottles are 2.5 or 2.6 oz vs Zim's 4oz bottle, so you're spending a little more per oz, but it may be worth it if you have a sensitivity to smells.

I just want to say that I used the Zim's gel over 3 hours ago and it's still working. I feel so much better. Of course, it's not a cure all, it's not going to get rid of all of your pain and make you feel perfect, but I'm not in agonizing pain just from wearing a nightgown... I'm not curled up in bed just praying for the pain to stop. It's brought the pain down to a manageable level... And it's the first thing that's managed to do that. For $10, you might as well try it out too... hopefully it will work for you!

And just FYI, this is NOT a sponsored post, I just felt this needed to be shared! Hope it helps!

"If I Were You" ebook Giveaway: 7-19 to 7-28

2014-07-17T06:25:00.001-05:00

Looking for a seductive, mysterious book to get lost in? I've got just the thing for you! If I Were You, the first book in New York and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones' Inside Out trilogy, is a must read! From it's sexy one liners to it's intriguing story arcs... you will be sucked in from the first paragraph (above)!

Check out my full review here for more information on If I Were You and enter the giveaway below for your chance to win your own ebook version of this amazing read!

More info on IF I WERE YOU:

Amazon - http://amzn.to/LpV3hg
B&N - http://bit.ly/1czVBd4
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15717721-if-i-were-you

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Or buy the book below!

If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones- Book Review

2014-07-11T10:22:00.001-05:00

You may know from my last post about this, but after I finished Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker I found myself without anything to read, waiting for Fifty Shades Freed in line behind a few others who also had it on hold from the library. I wrote my review and found myself on Twitter seeing what people are saying about #50Shades. The first post I saw was a post by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author @LisaReneeJones, saying that her book If I Were You was currently in development for a cable TV show and it was "What to read after #50Shades"...

That got me interested. I went to her facebook account where I found the above image with the tagline that follows:

Get a copy of "If I Were You" today! In Development to be a cable TV show! #50Shades meets #PrettyLittleLiars Here's a SEXY teaser to get your imagination flowing. PLEASE SHARE!:)

Amazon link http://amzn.to/1ne2wfI NOOK http://goo.gl/UAGUQQ

His fingers knot in my hair and I gasp at the unexpected bite of his grip, holding me steady. “Is that all you got?” I demand, shocked at how much I want more. How much I want whatever is beneath his surface.
I’m not scared. I’m aroused. I’m ready.
His eyes probe mine, his expression hard, intense. “I thought you were a good little school teacher.”
“You’re corrupting me,” I declare, “and I seem to like it.” I barely issue the challenge before he’s pulling my mouth to his, and he is kissing me with unrestrained, burning passion. I taste the part of him I want to know, the part he’s afraid of, and I burn to know more. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I am playing with fire, but I cannot stop myself. Beyond reason, I will push him until he reveals everything.

Well, that was enough to get me interested! I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline of the Fifty Shades books and I haven't read Pretty Little Liars, but I love the show. So I took a chance and Facebook messaged Mrs. Jones and asked her about doing a review of her book and possibly a giveaway and she said yes... I was one happy blogger!

A few days later I got the review copy of If I Were You and I was hooked!

The book starts out with the racy, erotic scene above, being read from a journal that the main character, Sara has found and is reading curiously... but it quickly turns into an almost dangerous sounding bdms experience and she starts wondering why her friend, or anyone for that matter, would let someone do something like that to them, while finding it kind of hot at the same time. She quickly finds out it's not her friends journal, but the journal of a mystery woman, Rebecca, whose belongings eventually fall into Sara's possession.

I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book, brought on by Sara's search for Rebecca. The journals are erotic and a little scary, but also somewhat foreshadow things that happen in Sara's new life. It's an interesting aspect of the story, but I feel that it kinda got lost in the middle of the book as Sara gets caught up in her own life, which is somewhat realistic, but still, I would have enjoyed the mystery aspect to remain throughout. The search picks back up strong right at the end of the book and I was all caught up and then it ended, and I was left wanting...

I really enjoyed the writing of this book WAY more than that of Fifty Shades, the dialogue is much more realistic as are the characters actions. Seeing as I read them back to back I saw a lot of similarities to Fifty Shades, but this is a more grown up version, in a way. The main character of If I Were You, Sara, for example, isn't as innocent and ridiculous as Anastasia, the main character of Fifty Shades... So if you found that annoying about Fifty Shades, like I did, you will find If I Were You refreshing.

If I Were You, like Fifty Shades of Grey, has a weird, almost possessive, morphing relationship at its basis... Whether it's Sara morphing into who she's always wanted to be because she's being possessed by these journals; or it's her weird, mutually possessive, somewhat relationship with the man in the passage from the facebook tagline at the beginning of this post... it is clear that possession and change are definite story arcs in If I Were You.

It's a great story so far and I have really enjoyed reading If I Were You, and I can't wait to read the rest of the Inside Out Trilogy! I can definitely see why it's being optioned by STARZ for a cable show, and it will for sure be one I watch!

Also, the giveaway of the If I Were You ebook will be next weekend!

Don't forget!!!

Buy the book below!

10% OFF Coupon for Born Pretty Store!!!

2014-07-05T10:16:00.000-05:00

NEW 10% OFF Coupon to Born Pretty Store! Just use promo code ANMKX31 at checkout!

Discover some great Born Pretty Store products- BPS Reviews!

Inside Out Triligoy optioned by STARZ Network- Review and Giveaway Update

2014-07-05T09:29:00.000-05:00

Hey all, I'm really excited to be working with New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones for the blog!!! We are setting up a review and giveaway of IF I WERE YOU, the first book in her highly acclaimed Inside Out trilogy, which has been optioned to STARZ Network to adapt into a cable show!!!

Question to everyone interested in the giveaway... Would you rather have an IF I WERE YOU ebook or an INSIDE OUT swag bag as the prize for the giveaway? Let me know in comments!

Also, be sure to check out the Products & Reviews facebook page to keep up with all the new things that are coming on the blog, and, of course, for more info on the IF I WERE YOU review & giveaway!

I'm so excited, hope you are too!!!

~Megan

The 50 Shade of Grey Frinzy

2014-06-28T17:30:00.000-05:00

The Essence of the Fifty Shades Trilogy & Why Women Love It.

I recently read the first two books in the Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy (have the third one on hold), and it was easy to see what the big fuss was about when it comes to these books. Some people think its the crazy hot sex scenes, but come on now, we can seriously read/ watch/ imagine/ see that in lots of other places too and masses of women aren't swooning to that stuff. Personally, I found the writing of the sex scenes annoying, referring to her womanhood (trying to keep this at least PG lol) as "her sex" just totally irked me for some reason and put me off of those scenes completely.

What I think the underlying draw to this story really is, is that it hits on so many women's primal desire to "fix" broken men. Well that and to find a man who is an actual man... not a wimp who has no idea what he's doing in life or in the bedroom. I do think it pushes that to an extreme with Christian's "stalking" tendencies, but at the same time, from the right man, sometimes being a little overprotective can be a little hot.

I think another thing these books show, that draws women in, is a man willing to change for love, which is kinda what a lot of women hope will happen when they find a guy... but it rarely does in the real world.

These basic concepts are concepts women swoon over, because they are little things that a lot of us have tried and failed at in our lives, so we love the idea that it could work out that way.... That these people could grow together and be happy... because in reality it rarely ever happens. Of course I haven't read the third book, so I don't know how it ends for Ana and Christian, but I can wait to find out! :)

Shopping for the little Fashionista

2013-12-16T09:44:00.000-06:00

As you can see, my daughter may only be 9, but she is "all about the fashion," as she puts it, or at least what she considers fashion (lol). Until recently sunglasses, a cowgirl hat, and a cute pair of shoes were her only accessories, but now that she's getting older she is starting to notice the smaller things that really make an outfit. She is in love with the late '90s/ early '00s show, Charmed, about the three witch sisters, and wants to be just like the character Phoebe, style wise anyway. Which means she is all about the accessories. So, thankfully I found a bunch of great, adorable, but totally fashionable (and affordable) accessories at bornprettystore.com!

You've probably heard me talk about this online store before, and you probably know that I love them for their great selection of items and their incredibly low prices! Just look at all the amazing accessories I got my daughter for all her many fashion needs!!!

Bows a-plenty, because what girl doesn't love bows?

$0.99

$9.59

Asymmetric, for her edgy, music writing, little starlet days...

$2.59

And showing the love, for her sweet, little princess days...

$0.99

$1.29

Where else can you buy 3 rings, 3 sets of ear rings, 2 necklaces, 2 watches, and a hair bow for under $40??? This is why I LOVE Born Pretty Store!!!

Shopping Guide for 10.1" tablets - Can they really replace your laptop?

2013-12-15T12:31:00.000-06:00

As I sit and type this post on my desktop computer, I wonder, is it just me or, in this fast paced world of smartphones and tablets, does it seem like desktops and laptops are almost extinct?

Well... I guess they are around, but most just sit and collect dust, but can smartphones and tablets really replace computers and laptops? I obviously don't know the answer to that question, but by the looks of things, they sure are trying hard.

Every other commercial on TV is for one tablet or another, so it doesn't take a genius to figure out that there are going to be a lot of tablets under a lot of trees this holiday season. But how do you pick the right tablet for that special person on your list? And can a tablet be a touching and personal gift?

I know electronics used to be viewed as pretty impersonal gifts, and they may still be to some... but these days, we're all so attached to our electronics that they've become a big part of our lives, which, in my opinion, can make picking the perfect tablet a very personal thing, especially for teens, college students, techies, and us geeks :)

(Note: To catch up on the Tablet Talk, you may want to read my previous two post on the subject, What to look for when you're shopping for tablets this season, which will get you up to date on all the tech lingo, and 9" Tablet Comps- Your Mid-Sized Tablet Shopping Guide, which will give you an intro into the different operating systems, how much memory you will be needing, and how much these things will cost you. If you don't need help with those things, feel free to read on, just know, they are there if you need them :) Happy Holidays!)

So, I've been talking a lot lately about the different sizes of tablets, but I haven't really touched on who they are best suited for... I will say, a lot of this decision has to do on price and personal preference, but here are some little things you can think about when buying:

-The larger tablets, 10.1" and larger, are always great for the movie lovers and gamers... but make sure the tablet has a good processor and decent amount of RAM. They are also good for people who are trying to get away from carrying their bulky laptops everywhere, but still want that more sturdy "laptop" feel. I'm also looking at the larger screen tablets for my mom, who's a bit farsighted, and has to wear reading glasses but still can't see her books very well. I feel the larger tablets will allow her the option of larger text/ zoom with out all the back and forth scrolling while reading books, surfing the internet, or doing anything really.

-The smallest tablets, the 7", are great for ladies on the go, who want to put their little tablets in their little purses. They can also be great for the men who are just tired of squinting at their tiny smartphone screen all the time and want something bigger to use at home, but don't want to spend a fortune. The smaller tablets are also wonderful for teens and kids, because they can just slip right into their bags, and many come with keyboards so they can be easily utilized for school reports.

-But, like I said, they can all be used to do the same things... so it's really just knowing what you, or the person you are buying it for, is going to be doing with it, if they are going to be carrying it in a little bag, obviously go small, but if they are going to carry it in a briefcase or backpack, any size will do. So it all comes down to preference and how much you want to spend.

10.1" Tablet Comps

The Surface RT 32GB- $199 @ Best Buy (on Sale): can buy additional keyboard/ protective case. Closest thing to a laptop I've seen in a tablet. Great HD screen quality (better than the Samsung line in my opinion), comes with MS Office 2013 RT, is 1.5lbs, 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and 2GB RAM makes it fast and allows for great productivity, you can have 2 windows open at a time, and it's easy to figure out how to set up multiple users and to run this tablet if you are used to MS systems...

Really a lot of pluses to this tablet... The biggest, and really only downfall, is that it runs Windows 8 RT, and the Windows RT store, (their tablet apps store, which is different than their Windows Phone App store for some reason) which is barren. So, if you have a favorite app on your old iPad you know you can probably find it in the Play Store for your new Samsung Galaxy S4, but if you want it on your new Surface RT, you're probably going to be out of luck because the Windows RT Store is young. But with all the new Windows tablets they are coming out with, I think the store will be quickly expanding in the near future.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 16GB- $299 @ Best Buy (on Sale): Probably my favorite 10'1" tablet on the market, because I'm am admitted Fandroid, and I love Samsung products because they are built to survive families like mine (or that has been my experience thus far). The screen quality is not as good, in my opinion, as the Surface RT, but is better than the Apple iPad 2, but everyone seems to have their own opinions on this topic. Galaxy Tab is light at 1.1 lbs and has a 1.6GHz dual core processor. It has a microSD and USB ports for increased usability and runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, so you can download all your favorite apps from the Google Play Store.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1" 2014 Edition 16GB- $549.99 @ Best Buy: This tablet is priced so high I doubt they are selling many, and here's the reason why... It sounds great, it's basically like the Surface, you have 3GB of RAM and a 1.9GHz processor, which allow for incredible computing speeds in a tablet, and side by side window viewing, which is great, and goes back to those "laptop like" features people are starting to look for in tables. Plus, since this is an Android tablet, you get the benefits of the Google Store...

So you might be saying, "okay, where's the problem here?" It comes down to the screen quality. The Galaxy Tab 3 and Surface RT both have WAY better screen quality than the Note 2014 Ed. When I saw this tablet in person it was next to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 phone, which has a crystal clear 5" HD screen that is the best quality picture I've ever seen on an electronic device... Now that's what I was expecting on this tablet for $550, but it just doesn't deliver.

Ziki 10.1" 8GB - $134.99 @ Best Buy (on Sale) - Great for kiddos. 2lbs, 1.5 GHz processor with 1 GB of RAM, runs Android. DOESN'T HAVE A CAMERA- but the newer Ziki, for $179.99 does, it's also lighter and has a much better screen quality.

Good luck with your tablet purchase! Also remember that nomorerack.com has tons of great accessories for tablets at greatly reduced prices!

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary

2013-11-23T12:30:00.001-06:00

So, this week has been the week that all the Doctor Who fans have either been locked away in solitude rewatching all their favorite episodes of the infamous BBC series in the back to back marathon leading up to the big 50th anniversary episode, or have been blogging and posting non stop about how much they love Doctor Who, while rewatching said episodes, of course, lol.

Anyway, David Tennant and Billie Piper will be returning in the 50th Anniversary episode, as I'm sure everyone knows by now, and I'm super excited! David Tennant is one of my favorite actors and I can't wait to see him back as the 10th doctor!

The 50th Anniversary celebrations are kicking off really soon... 1:30pm central time on BBC America.

9" Tablet Comps - Your Mid-Size Tablet Shopping Guide

2013-11-18T08:36:00.001-06:00

When shopping for a tablet there are a lot of little things to think about. How much you want to spend? Android, Windows, or Apple? How much memory space do you need? Is the device's memory expandable? Will you be able to get the apps you want? Is this the right tablet for your uses? What size should you get? Do you need a keyboard? And the deeper you go into the rabbit hole, the more questions you will find yourself asking... or at least I have. Which is why I'm putting everything I've learned on my tablet buying adventure into these posts on how to find the RIGHT tablet for you!

Before you even start shopping you really need to get the lingo down, I went over everything you need to know in my previous post: "What to look for when you're shopping for TABLETS this season!" I recommend reading it before this one if you don't know what OS, GB, processing speed, etc. refer to, and mean in the context of buying a tablet... you should find it very helpful!

How much do you want to spend?

If you are thinking of spending around $100 or less, It's Android all the way! But skip the over commercialized Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy Tab or Note, as the mere name sake will more than triple the cost of your purchase, with little or no extra actual value (actually sometimes the well known tablets are even slower and running older operating systems).

Note: If you really want a Samsung Galaxy, I would get the newly released Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1" 2014 Edition, it's running the new Android 4.3 operating system, and the rest of the specs are leaps and bounds better than previous models, but it will cost you (check out my next post: "Shopping Guide for 10.1" and larger tablets - Can they really replace your laptop?" for exact specs and price).

If you are really happy with your iPhone and you just have to have an iPad or iPad mini to play with and use at home to get away from looking at that tiny phone screen, know that it's going to cost you around $400, +/- $100 depending on the model. The specs say the iPads run at about 1GHz, which is slower than most of the cheap Android tablets, and though like most of the other tablets we see Apple's only have dual-core processors, they have a way of making slow feel faster, since all their parts are made specifically to work together, they tend to do so very well.

Are you a Windows guy/girl and must have that Windows 8 Tablet for $500? They are the newest thing after all, and their specs seem pretty impressive! Actually, they seem to be the most comparable to a laptop, but here's what they don't advertise- they have a VERY limited apps market, and in my opinion won't be worth purchasing until there are some MAJOR steps forward in that domain.

We actually got my daughter a Surface RT because they were on sale for $199 recently at Best Buy, but they don't come with the keyboards, the app store is just pathetic (I can't reiterate this enough)- they don't have enough free apps to entertain my 9 year old or me. Really the only thing that's good about it is it comes with MS Office. We had to do an update to Windows 8.1 which took 5 tries because something was messed up and I only accidentally fixed the problem (I couldn't do it again if my life depended on it). Anyway, I'll do a full review of that tablet later...

How much memory will I need and is the memory expandable?

A good rule of thumb is that iPads and Windows tablets are not expandable, but this may change in the future, who knows. This is however why they are so expensive to begin with. You have to buy that initial 64GB tablet vs the 8GB tablet that you can expand to 64GB with a $32 microSD chip. And believe me they will charge you a hefty price for a 32GB or 64GB tablet, because they can. Because for some reason people have not got mad enough yet that they are charging hundreds of dollars extra for a mere 32 GB that I could buy for about $16.

Which is the primary reason I find the 8 or 16GB tablets the best value, then they can be expanded to 32 or 64GB. This way you put the money into the processor and upgraded operating system, then buy additional memory for cheap. So, I'm Android all the way :) It's just the best bang for your buck in my opinion.

8" Tablet Comps

Well, there's not much to "comp," the 8" Kocaso Google Android 4.1 OS 1.6 GHz dual- core 8GB tablet, pictured above, runs $94.00 on nomorerack.com, and it comes with a keyboard screen protector and other accessories. It seems like an all around great tablet for the price, the only thing I would be concerned with is it says the battery life is only around 3 hours.

Sidenote: They do make great little portable USB chargers now, so if you run out of battery you can easily recharge your tablet. If you haven't seen them yet they're pictured to the right. They are really neat, I think everyone should have one, and you can get 2 for $16... Plus if you register with nomorerack today you will get $10 just for signing up, so with the $10 off, they would only be $3 each... not too shabby!

9" Tablet Comps

For $99, you can get this 9" Zeepad which runs Google Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, has a 1.2 GHz processor, and 8GB of internal memory, which can be expanded to 32GB with an external micro SD card. It runs on WiFi only, so no extra monthly fees required. Comes in pink, black, and white and comes with multiple accessories, including the keyboard screen protector, but the battery life is extremely limited.

Another 9" tablet for $99 is the Kocaso MID Google Android 4.2 OS 1.2 GHz 8 GB, which is similar to the Zeepad in many ways, but it apparently has a slightly better battery and a dual-core processor, so it's faster!

Barnes & Noble NOOK HD + is also a 9" tablet, so we can compare it here as we did in my last post. It runs Android 4.0.3 ICS at 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, and has a 32 GB hard drive. It will cost you $164 but the battery life and speed of this tablet are very good compared to others this size, so I would consider it a fair choice.

9.7" Tablet Comps

Okay iPad fans, I'm finally going to throw an iPad at you.... Here's the 9.7" Apple iPad 2 (pictured below), dual-core 1GHz processor, they have 16GB of internal memory, and are on sale for $424.00.

One more 9.7" tablet to look at, the MID Google Android 4.1 OS 1.6 GHz quad-core 16GB for $219.00, pictured below. This tablet looks to be the best of the entire bunch in my opinion, as it has a good battery life and a super speedy processor, and for $14 you can buy a keyboard screen protector :)

Hope this helps you all find the perfect tablet for you or whoever is on your shopping list this holiday season! Keep your eyes open for my next post! Happy Holidays!!! ~Megan

What to look for when you're shopping for TABLETS this season.

2013-11-17T18:07:00.004-06:00

In this day and age everyone is plugged in. What if I told you there is a great site where you could find unique electronic gifts for everyone on your shopping list during this Holiday Season, and all at great discounts? Would that get your attention?

Well if it did, I'd love to introduce you to one of my favorite sites, nomorerack.com. NoMoreRack is a site I do a lot of my electronics shopping on these days, due to the incredible savings, up to 90% off!!! But they have lots of other things too, jewelry, clothes, shoes, bedding, cutlery, wallets, and the list goes on... all at ridiculously discounted prices! So if electronics aren't on your list, you may still be able to utilize their wonderful discounts, and I recommend you go check them out! They even have great gift guides to help you find gifts if you are in a gift giving rut this holiday.

I'm going to be writing a collection of posts on great electronic gifts to give this season, and today I'm starting with this guide to getting the right 7" Tablet!

7" Tablets- Compact but get the job done!

Nomorerack.com has great tablets for everyone, to fit every budget, and in every size and color you can imagine!

The fastest, newest, and, in my opinion, best, 7" tablet for the price, is the Google Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) Dual-Core MID 1.6 GHz 8GB Tablet, pictured below.

If none of that jargon means anything to you don't worry. I'm going to break it all down and compare it to some other 7" tablets you may be more familiar with: the Kindle Fire HD 16GB, the Barns & Noble NOOK HD 8GB, and the Samsung Galaxy 3 Tab 8GB.

Price: Lets find the best bang for your buck!

Google MID: $74, and comes with everything show above!
Kindle Fire HD (16GB): $129.91 (after $70.08 instant savings from Office Depot- no longer in stock)
B&N NOOK HD: $119
Samsung Galaxy 3 Tab: $179.99

Memory: The more GB for the price, the better!

The MID has 8GB of internal memory and is expandable to 32GB, the Galaxy also has 8GB, but it is expandable to 64 GB, which means both of these tablets offer an amazing amount of memory for music, pictures, movies, apps, etc., but you will have to spend another $16+ to get the extra memory (depending on how much you want). From what I can tell the NOOK (8GB) and Kindle (16GB) are not expandable, so you are stuck with what you get. Also, you want to remember that the operating system (android market) generally takes up about 2GB of that initial memory, so you will have to subtract that from what they say you have (they try to trick you).

Processing speed: The more GHz the faster the tablet will run!

Kindle Fire HD and Galaxy 3 Tab have a processing speed of 1.2 GHz and the Nook HD is 1.3 GHz, which are all decent speeds in the tablet market, however the MID is considerably faster than each of its competitors at 1.6GHz. This means you can expect that it will transition from screen to screen more smoothly, and movies/ games will run much better on the MID.

Operating System: This one gets a little complicated...

Nook HD runs Android 4.0, which is one of the older Android operating systems. Kindle Fire HD runs Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) which is an updated version of the 4.0 that the Nook runs. Galaxy 3 Tab runs 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), and the MID runs Android 4.2, which is an updated version of the Jelly Bean OS...

So what the heck does all that mean? Well, with each OS update/ upgrade there are obviously going to be improvements to the running of Android, Android processes, and Android apps, but that's not the only thing you need to think about... How many times have you gone on your phone to download an app and not been able to because it wasn't compatible? Well most likely that was because your OS was not new enough, and was thus not compatible with the newer apps. So, when shelling out the dough for a new tablet you want to make sure the OS is up-to-date so you know your tablet will be able to keep up.

My conclusion is that I wouldn't buy a Kindle Fire HD or B&N NOOK HD for anyone who's going to be using it for things other than reading and checking e-mail. They may have brand recognition and commercials on TV, but they just don't stack up! The Samsung Galaxy 3 Tab is pretty good, but at more than twice the price of the Google MID the only thing that's better is that it can expand to 64GB rather than the 32GB, the processing speed is slower, and it's running an older OS. So I think the best bet is to register on nomorerack.com (you and I will both get $10 to spend, YAY!) and check out the Google MID yourself! Registering is really easy, you can choose to just use your facebook account if you want, or if you'd rather check out their site and register later, you can do that too!

Great for kids:
If you are looking for something for younger children and you don't need it to be the fastest tablet in the world, the 7" iRola MID Google Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) 1.2 GHz 4GB (expandable to 32GB), pictured above, is only $59.00 and comes in 12 unique colors.

Or for $69.00 you can get the 7" Google Android 4.1 OS 1.2 GHz 4GB Tablet (expandable to 32GB) with a usb keyboard case and matching stylus included (pictured below). That one comes in Pink, Black, Orange, White, Purple, or Blue.

I hope this helps you in all your tablet shopping endeavors this holiday season... Also, check out my 9' tablet comps here, and 10.1" tablet shopping guide!

Happy Holidays! ~ Megan

It's that time of year again...

2013-11-11T20:01:00.000-06:00

Time to start marking things off your Christmas shopping list! So, it's time for me to do another Born Pretty Store Blog, because as always they have tons of gifts for every girl on your list, and all at amazing prices! These great gifts start with the wonderful nail plates pictured below, which are only $.99, for the girls who love to do their own nails. These nail plates can be used in combination with the BPS Nail Art Stamper with Plastic Scraper (also pictured below, only $1.48) and any nail polish to create endless numbers of nail designs. And don't worry, you don't have to be an artist, my 9 year old daughter can use this stamping kit, though it did require a little bit of practice!

If nail art isn't your girl's thing, maybe she would appreciate one of BPS's interesting LED watches. Many of which are unisex, so if you have some fashionable guys on your list you may want to check these out too, because they are pretty dang cool!

Plus, not only are each of the watches below a neat fashion statement, and a conversation starter, they also each have their own special, and interesting way to show the time, and all for about $12 each.

They also have these amazing bracelet watches for the fashionista in each and every lady on your list, for under $20 each!

Also, make sure to check out all the amazing items on the Flash Sale page, selling for $.99, like these colored hair extensions in 16 colors for $.99/each and the 5 pc fancy feather nail art decorations also just $.99!

Wear Purple for Epilepsy Awareness Today!

2013-03-26T05:49:00.001-05:00

As someone who suffers from seizures and knows the hell that a disease like epilepsy can put, not only on the person with the disorder, but their whole family, I wanted to share the following information:

Today, March 26th, is worldwide epilepsy awareness day, also known as Purple Day. A day where people wear purple in support of this cause!

What to do more? There are many local charity events and walks going on worldwide in support of Purple Day, which can be found here.

So, going with the purple theme, here is a make up and accessory look dedicated to the cause, for this special, purple day!

Hair Chalk: Temporary Color to Shake it up for Spring

2013-03-25T22:30:00.000-05:00

This spring we're not going to say good-bye to our beloved ombre hair style, we're just going to shake it up a bit, and this great product from Born Pretty Store is an inexpensive, temporary way to do just that!

You can buy them as a set, or individually!

Hair Chalk, which comes in a variety of colors (as seen above), is a very simple way to add some fun, temporary color to your hair this spring! If ombre isn't your thing, no worries, because with all these colors there are a myriad of possibilities for you to chose from... Don't believe me, check out all the rest of these ideas below!

Image Source: BPS

My favorite part, being as I'm a bit of a mess, is that if you make a mistake, or don't like your initial color patterns, or whatever, it washes out with shampoo!!! It's seriously that SIMPLE! I even let my 8 year old daughter use it! Too cute, RIGHT!

How to use:

Wet hair, rub chalk on hair that you desire to color.

Hint: make sure hair is really wet!

Try to avoid clothes (it will wash out though).
Dry hair with blow dryer to keep the color from dripping (it may still rub off a little).
Color will last until you shower and shampoo!

DON'T FORGET to use our Born Pretty Store coupon code below to get 10% off of your BPS purchase and go "like" Born Pretty Store on facebook!!!

Born Pretty Store Promo

2013-01-25T00:39:00.002-06:00

Soon I will be reviewing a new Born Pretty Store product and I can't wait!!! I LOVE Born Pretty Store's products and love their prices even MORE! They make it affordable to be cute and girly :)

Anyway, while we're all waiting for the new product to arrive for it's review, they are offering our readers the special promotion below!!! 10% off of their amazing prices!!! SO Exciting!

If you want to see some previous reviews and get a feel for some of the BPS products, I recommend checking out these reviews! Enjoy!

2012 Christmas Software Serial Giveaway - DVD Ripper and Video Converter Developer

2012-12-17T21:25:00.001-06:00

Check out this great christmas giveaway from winxdvd valued at $49.99.

2012 Christmas Software Serial Giveaway - DVD Ripper and Video Converter Developer:

'via Blog this'

December Starbox

2012-12-14T23:47:00.000-06:00

If you still haven't subscribed to Starlook's Starbox, for $15/ month, December is defiantly the month to do so! The December Starbox includes the 15 shade eyeshadow pallet below, valued at $99, which you can get on back order here for $25, while supplies last!!!

As you can see there are some very unique colors, including an actual red, which is a rare shade for sure. There are mattes and shimmery shades, so there is something for everyone and every occasion! As you can always expect from Starlooks, the eyeshadows are highly pigmented and blendable! With all these great colors you are sure to be able to create all kinds of new fun holiday looks!

Below is a look I call winter wonderland. I used a silver eyeliner to line my upper and lower lids then used the light shimmer blue on my lids and the dark shimmer blue in the crease.

This isn't exactly a holiday look, she wanted a "jungle girl" look. So she decided she wanted gold, green, and blue. So we used gold eyeliner (from the October Starbox), shimmery green on her lids, and shimmery blue in the crease (for the sky lol).

Don't forget to check out Starlooks on Facebook and Twitter!

Dino Lingo - Foreign Language for Kiddos

2012-12-02T15:57:00.000-06:00

I just heard about these great videos for kids from Dino Lingo via Influenster. They teach kids how to speak different languages in a simple and fun way. Check out the video below for an example. My daughter and I are interested in Italian because of our heritage, so that is the one we were drawn to, but they have several other languages you can find examples on their YouTube page.

November 10, 2012 Products & Reviews Vlog

2012-11-10T11:55:00.002-06:00