Entertainment for your kids when you need it most.

  We leverage screen time limited with our kids - and it's something I am constantly monitoring and checking (myself) on, because it's just so easy to turn on the TV, hand them my phone or let them use the computer/tablet in the many moments of need.  We have two Amazon Fire tablets for our kids that we use sporadically, like while out on the go/out to eat, traveling or at select times during the day to help entertain and educate. 
When I'm desperately trying to get dinner ready without my two getting into a fight over sharing, or in the morning when I'm running late (again), and trying to get myself ready (after having got the kids ready), Amazon Underground is an awesome resource to have at my fingertips.  It has a wealth of free apps, including educational ones, to help keep parents sane, but also not feel bad about how their spending their limited screen time. The Amazon Underground catalog of totally free apps & games is part of the Amazon Appstore and gives you access to great content that you would normally have to pay for in “other” App and Play Store’s, but now at zero cost. AND Amazon Underground has over 300+ premium Education apps (Dr. Panda, Flashcard Machine, Easy French, etc.)!
This particular morning, I was running late to get to work early for a big project. So I pulled out my secret lucky charm and was able to entertain my earlier riser, Liam (while Nora was still sleeping),  over breakfast. I love that he was practicing his letters and visual space skills instead of zoned out to the TV, over his bowl of cereal.

Amazon Underground apps & games are available to those in the United States, UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain and is only supported on 5th Generation (2012 – newer) and newer Fire tablets, and Android phones. 


I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Watch Your Favorite Shows Without Cable or even a TV!

I have internet and cable - but if I had to chose between them, it'd be internet hands down.  And these days, you can do anything and more online that with cable alone, including watch TV!  And in fact, nowadays, your TV is smarter than they used to be - using your internet's connection to do so much more than cable alone can provide. Like pull up your favorite shows - no matter when they aired!
These days, I'm sneaking away for some mama alone time to catch up on my favorite show, The Voice!  This show has some seriously amazing talent - and I love watching each episode's challenge, performances and guest coaches!  This is also the kind of show that you can jump in on and start watching at anytime thanks to NBC TVE and their deep library of full episodes!  
So, grab your laptop, head to your desktop or pull up on your smart TV - and watch now!
What's your favorite show - and do you watch TV online yet?

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Building Together with Sprout by HP & 3D Scanning

Over the last few weeks, most nights, we've had a blast spending time together as a family experimenting with the latest addition to the already innovative and one-of-a-kind Sprout by HP. Liam has especially been blown away - and I can't help to think how cool it is for him to grow up in such a technologically-advanced environment. With our Sprout, he can really see his imagination come to life, and I hope that helps him keep it as he ages.
Besides being able to use the Sprout for all those regular PC needs, it's the world's first immersive computer that allows you to be hands-on with your content.  And now the Sprout has a fully-integrated desktop 3D scanner which allows you to take objects from the real world, manipulate them in the digital world, and bring them to life in the physical space.  If you're curious about what YOU could do with the Sprout and it's 3D capabilities - check out their creator gallery here for ideas + stick around my channels for more updates. 
I have a few ideas for using the desktop 3D scanner and 3D printer to help add to my family room decor update and my jewelry organizing needs.  My friends want to scan their pets (not recommended by the way...). Liam wants to "make games" (we're still trying to understand what those are - so maybe we'll have a new game invention soon!). And my husband is excited to use the functionality to fix an outdoor patio chair by recreating a part we can't find a replacement for. I know, that last one sounds exciting, but it just goes to show you the range this product can offer - from family fun, to home decor and organization help to practical needs, too.
Oh, and in case you think using the Sprout by HP & 3D Dremel Idea Builder (printer) sounds hard... here's a little video on how I taught my 3 year old how to use it:

This post was sponsored by Sprout by HP.  You can learn more about the Sprout here and find a retailer near you here!

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4 Tips to Posting Better Photos on Instagram

Instagram is my favorite social channel these days... (followed maybe by... SnapChat! There, I said it! I admit it!  I love them for very different reasons, but that's for another day... oh, you can follow me there, too, at ChasingDavies).  I love Instagram because I taking pictures is my hobby and I love working on sharing a feeling through an image or capturing my children in a cool or different way. I also love looking at other's photos and finding inspiration to challenge myself to look at something from a different angle. This channel is straight to that point. 
I'm not the best at Instagram at all, but I think if you scroll through my feed you can see an improvement in my photos (in the uniqueness, angles, and colors) . And of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder - we each have different perspectives on what makes an image cool or unique.  I have to show off for a tiny second - One of my photos was just recently selected by famous photographer, Gray Malin as a runner up out of more than 6,000 entries in his #FollowGrayContest!  The image that I entered and was selected can be viewed here!
One thing that I don't do that well at on Instagram is taking similar photos, or only publishing photos that include the same colors for a cohesive feed.  My first priority is capturing and sharing real life and my favorite looks - no matter what colors or scheme it happens to hold.  I think using a similar editing technique (like I tend to do) does help keep my feed looking like each photo is at least part of the same family, though. :)  
So, through my own trials and tribulations, and hopefully apparent improvement on this platform, I share with you 4 tips that I've learned along the way:

1.  Pre-Edit BEFORE you get into the Instagram app.  I know this sounds like a lot of extra work, and Instagram has some great editing tools, but I've found that a combination of pre-editing and using Instagram's provided filters makes my photos look so much nicer and more unique than other Insta posts. 
The largest folder on my phone is my Photography one, which is filled with tons of different photo apps. I mainly use AfterLight to pre-edit my photos and LOVE the "relic" filter (that is last in the selection, in the "Originals" after the Facebook filters - which I didn't find until more recently). This filter is especially great for indoor or warmer looking pics (it adds a cooler layer).  I also like the added light features this app has - like adding a streak of light on one side!

2. Go cooler than you think. In temperature, I mean. And this depends on the photo, but for any photo I take indoors or around a lot of warm colors, I use the temperature tool to cool it down.  This might be my favorite tool, actually. 
And I always go a bit cooler than I think, because once it is published and on the white background, the photo always looks warmer.  If there is any white in your photo, it can look tan or pinkish next to the white background, which immediately takes away from the photo...

3. Check your progress. Once you are editing in the Instagram app, you can check you progress to see how far you have or have not strayed from the original (or pre-edited).  I accidentally stumbled upon this feature and use it all the time to make sure I'm actually improving my photo and not getting to edit-happy.
You just press down on the photo in edit mode and when you release, it goes back to the edited version.

4. Preview on Instagram's white background. Ah, another stumbled upon trick, and one I'm so happy to have found!  I hate that you edit on a black background - make your photo look different than how it will actually look against the white feed background.  
Before you publish, tap your image and it expands over a white background to preview. I've caught many whites looking to tan in my photos agains this background before, and simply using the back button, you can go back to editing before finalizing it!
Now, spill some of YOUR favorite Instagram tips or tricks and/or other photo editing apps that you love in the comments below!

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Liam, Nora-Bean & the Sprout

A few months ago, I partnered with HP to try out and integrate their new fully-functioning PC, the Sprout, into my home, work and creative process.  I've learned quickly that it is way more than just a PC, rather it is packed with top notch specs, like a wide, touchscreen, touch mat, camera system and projector, among other things.  I immediately took to it and have been working on a variety of projects, one specifically for a good friend expecting her first baby and using the scanner for, which I'll share more about soon!  But what I didn't expect is how much fun my kiddos would have with it!  They don't get a lot of screen time, but when they do I love it when it's entertaining and teaches them something.  It's always a fun treat for them when they do get to play on mama's Sprout! ;)
We set the Sprout up in our downstairs family room, which up until now, hasn't seen a lot of use. It's a bit separated from our kitchen and doesn't get a lot of traffic. But, now that Nora (who we often call Nora-bean) is getting older and Liam can be trusted in small doses alone in a room, we'd like to turn this space into more of the playroom (vs. our living room that is the first thing you see when you walk into our house).  It's nice to have this computer in this space so that if Greg or I need to work on it, the kids can play in the same room, but more importantly, they can play on it, too!  This room still needs some work, so hopefully I'll be able to share that progress soon!
Since the Sprout is new, additional apps will continue to roll out, but two of my favorites for the kids are the piano and Crayola color, draw & sing apps (there is also a puzzle that would be great for a bit older kids). I love anything that will encourage their imagination - and Liam is at the wonderful age where that is starting to shine. And anything having to do with music is fun for us all. Nora is a bit too young to play long on the Sprout, but she's a total fan of "banging" some piano keys to see what kind of sound they produce.  And she loves getting to sit up with her brother and do whatever he's doing.  As you can see below, we're really enjoying the Sprout!

 {^^Liam's doppelgänger?}

{And when she gets done supervising, she plays with blocks...} 

{^^And he lets her join in on a duet now and again...}
Curious other ways you can use this ingenious PC?  Well, stay tuned for a way I'm currently using the Sprout (which will highlight some different features than this post), coming soon, and you can scroll down a bit on Sprout's home page for ways other's are using this to sell, teach, create, play and more!  
This post is in partnership with HP Sprout, but all opinions, reviews and thoughts are my own.

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4 Versatile Pieces to Stay Stylish: Inspired by HP x360

I am all about versatility. It's a key ingredient in my life. I have many interests, jobs, responsibilities and a busy day-to-day, so my outfit, make-up, accessories and technology have to transition with me through it all.  It can be kind of crazy when I think of the different things I have dipped my toes into, but I love being creative and pushing myself to learn more and above all, being a mom.  So, I was really excited to partner with HP x360 to share 4 versatile pieces you totally need in your own life!
Furthermore, HP is on tour with Meghan Trainor, and she is so on my playlist right now (on repeat, my whole family is up dancing to her beats before bed every night).  It's really cool, because along the tour, HP is collecting behind the scenes footage and fan generated documentary, all using the HP x360!  Think about what you could do with this versatile piece of technology?  
I want to know what gets you through the busy times - what do you find to be most versatile in staying fashionable and on top of your mega to-do list?

1. A denim jacket. You probably have this already and maybe it's like 15 years old, too?  Truth be told, the denim jacket isn't my favorite style piece, but I'm constantly grabbing it to top off any look, travel with it because it goes with everything and find that it is the perfect in-between weight for those days where you don't need a full-on coat.  Its cost per wear is super low and always in style, so get a good one that will stay structured, and hold its shape over the years.

2. Technology that works, on the go, when you need it, where you want it and adapts to all those different situations. I love how you can turn this HP x360 from a typical laptop, into a tablet, use its keyboard or the touchscreen, stand it up or pitch it like a tent (like to watch a movie). With these 4 modes and extra capabilities, this is technology that really moves with you letting you take your work wherever you need it.

3.  Tortious and leopard print is my go-to, and not really for wearing prints. I wear them like I'd wear a solid neutral. They instantly make any simple outfit way more polished and really ups the vibe for non-simple outfits.  They are classic patterns that will never be out, so they're worth investing in - like these sunglasses (on sale with code: BIGEVENT15) and scarf!

4.  Color on your lips can set your whole day off on the right foot... I'm a big lipstick girl in all sorts of colors and usually, the brighter the better for me (because my natural shade fades right into my face). But I realize not everyone is as bold in their lipstick choices.  There are two spectrums of versatile lip wear:  a classically bright and bold red or a glossy light pinkish-nude, like I'm wearing here. I'm not typically into light colors, or lip glosses for that matter, but I have fallen in love with Bare Mineral's lip glosses, and this one in Rebel.

{Outfits Details:  Denim Jacket; Sweater - H&M; Skirt (on sale for $16!); Tights; Wedges - old Bandalino (similar), Pretty druzzy-stone necklace is made by the ever-talented Ngan of eNVe Designs c/o, Sunglasses c/o, Earrings c/o, Bracelets - here and here}

This post is in partnership with HP, but all my opinions are my own!  

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Traveling with Toddlers for the Holidays!

Oh, don't let that sweet face fool you. This little charmer defines road rage.  A bundle of energy, who likes to be free from his carseat to run around and play, a road trip sounds like fun for the first 5 minutes. Are we there yet...  Well, over Thanksgiving we headed 3 hours north (which doesn't sound like far... but when constantly entertaining a toddler with something new every few minutes and calming the baby between her short bursts of snoozing... it feels like 10 hours), and this time I was thankful to have a few tricks up my sleeve. Ok, one trick actually.
In perfect timing, I was gifted the Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition Tablet - one that this little ham could use to read some of his favorite books (Curious George galore!), watch a holiday movie (Polar Express, duh) and play games (nothing with birds, please) while both connected to wifi and offline (like in the car...).  It's much like the regular Amazon Fire (it's fast, easy to use...), but perfect for the littles because it's less likely to break and they won't be able to accidentally buy something.  Better yet,  parents have the ability to customize the settings, include educational goals, set usage timer and more.  And while it's a tablet all his own, it is certainly only given to him on special occasions and his use of such devices are limited.
This was a special occasion, and perfect for our trip over the holiday. We were able to leave pounds (literally!) behind my downloading books to the Amazon Fire instead of packing them and that drive that can easily feel like 10 hours felt a little more realistic with a movie to watch.  Additionally, when connected to the internet, you can access a year of FreeTime Unlimited so kids get unlimited access to 5,000 books, movies, TV shows, educational apps, and games—at no additional cost. 

Once we arrived to our destination, the tablet became our go-to for night reading (since we had left all those books at home).  While connected to the wifi, we were able to read some of his favorites and try out some new ones from the vast library.  Reading books on the go was never easier!

The Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition is $149 for a 6" tablet and $189 for a 7" and comes with blue, pink or green case!  Even cooler, this product comes with a 2-year worry-free guarantee. That means if anything happens, send the device back and they'll replace it for free – no questions asked.

Hopefully this is a tool you can use on any upcoming holiday trips of your own or a fantastic gift idea for your little with the peace of mind that you are still in control (which is rare when we're talking about toddlers... right?!).  

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.