Monday, December 28, 2015

Veselé Vánoce

Veselé Vánoce...That's how they say Merry Christmas in Czech.
That's where I am for Christmas. This is how we do it here:

 We make Christmas cookies.


 We wear ridiculous red and green reindeer antlers and jingle bell all the way.
 We decorate the tree.
 We have family parties.
 We make schnitzel and potato salad.
 We eat. Then we eat and eat...and eat.
Oh, and then we open presents.
I guess it was a pretty normal Christmas celebration...just in another language.

APPLE MACBOOK #USB

Guess who got an amazing Christmas present this year. I am so lucky. 
This gold MacBook is beautiful.
It is so light and will work so much better for me to carry as I travel than my 15" MacBook Pro. Don't get me wrong, I love my MacBook Prom but over the years, the devices have gotten smaller and easier to pack. The only thing that is missing on this device is a USB port. There is only port that uses the same cord as the iPhone charger.
 There is no need to fear. The Apple Store sells cords and external USB ports.
 Thankfully, I was given a USB Type C cable to test out in return for my honest opinion. It is totally compatible with the new Apple MacBook, Nexus 6P, Lenovo tablet, and all other Type C devices.
It is double-sided (which means it is reversible so you don't have to fumble around when trying to use it). The 1M cord is made with an aluminum foil material that happens to be waterproof with a high stress quotient. This means it will hopefully last a long time. Now moving large files or transferring movies can be done in mere seconds, all while charging your device with up to 40 Watts (2 Amp) power.
Here is some technical info for those of ya'll that understand it:
Output: 5V 2.4A, Standard: USB 2.0, Length: 1 M, OD: 3.5mm, Interface: Type C to Micro USB, Swing frequency:2000 times

This USB Type C (USB-C) to Micro USB Cable comes with a 12 month warranty card. I love companies that stand behind their products. If you were lucky enough to get your hands on one of these new compatible device in the photo above, then you will want to get one of these #USB cords in your accessory bag.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Star Wars #TheForceAwakens

As I’m sure everyone is aware, STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS is now playing in theaters everywhere! If you haven’t seen it yet, I promise it will live up to your wildest expectations!
Don't believe me? The film set a new all-time domestic debut record with an estimated $238M and with a five-day international debut of $279M, the film has taken in $517M globally.
Want the stats?
This new Star Wars has crushed several all-time domestic box office records, including:

· biggest Thursday preview gross - $57M.
· biggest Friday and single-day gross - $120.5M.
· first film ever to post a single day over $100M.
· fastest film to $100M and $200M.
· biggest December debut (nearly 3 times previous record of $84.6M).
· biggest IMAX Thursday night preview ($5.7M), single-day ($14M, Friday), and weekend ($30.1M).
· highest theater average for a wide release ($57,568).
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS debuted day-and-date internationally in nearly every market (except Greece and India, which open Dec. 24, and China, which opens Jan. 9) and set records in many including:

· biggest opening weekend of all time in UK (4-day), Australia, Russia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria, Poland (3-day), Denmark (5-day), Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Serbia, New Zealand. Second biggest opening weekend in France, Belgium, Israel, Chile.
· biggest IMAX global debut of $48M.
The Force is strong with critics and audiences everywhere, whose enthusiastic reactions have powered a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and an excellent A CinemaScore, with an A+ among women and younger audiences.
WOW! That's a lot of light saber fans watching the movie.
Enjoy the photos and printable and, if you haven't yet, enjoy the film!



Like and follow STAR WARS on FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube.
Visit the official STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS website.
#StarWars #TheForceAwakens
Day-Z the Yoda dog is even getting in the Star Wars spirit.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

GIFT IDEAS 2015





Christmas is approaching fast. For all of you who still have shopping to do, here are a few ideas of gifts to give for those hard-to-buy-for people.

For your pet lover friend: 
#1 If you know someone who has a dog that sheds like crazy like mine, the Devoted Doggy bucket front seat cover might just be the perfect idea. It is easy to set up, has waterproof quilting to protect from any accidents, and has a non-slip backing to reduce the chance of the cover sliding around under your pet. #devoteddoggy

#2 My dog likes to go for a run at night before bed to get her energy out. The Pet Pal's LED dog collar is fabulous. The fit is comfortable around Day-Z's neck (adjustable fits between 40cm/16 in to 60cm/23 inches) and the color is bright (3 settings: steady on, slow flash, and fast flash). It has a long lasting battery life (up to 45 hours of constant usage with low cost R2032 battery. When it is time to replace the battery, it is super easy - you just need a coin or a key. #petlover

#3 This wasn't an issue at my house until Hershey arrived. For those with big barkers, the Superior Bark Collar is a great investment. Don't worry, it is humane and still effective to use. This collar has 7 levels of sensitivity, is rechargeable, and adjustable for small to large dogs. It offers a progressively increasing warning sounds and give a harmless static stimulus when your doggie woofs. BOTH sound and vibration triggers the collar so it does not give false readings like other collars. #SuperiorBarkCollar

Ahem, for your outdoorsy friend:
I have recently found a new love for camping hammocks. This Heavy Duty Hammock is fabulous. I have a few bigger guys in my family so this is perfect for them because it can hold up to 400 lbs. It is an XL (9'4" by 6'6") lightweight parachute nylon hammock great for backpacking, camping, hiking, or goofing off at home. Your purchase includes a built in drawstring carrying bag, tree ropes, and black steel carabiners making it easy to setup, take down, and store. #XLHammock

For your artsy or super busy work presentation friend:

Whether you like to move around the studio a lot OR are in charge of the presentations at work, the US Art Supply 36" Black Steel Easy-Folding Easel is perfect. It is lightweight (3 lbs), fully collapsible (folds easily to only 15" for storage), easy to set up/take down, and has non slip rubber feet for stability. #usartsupply

For the travel mama (or daddy):

I think this Snug Travel Bed is super cool for those of ya'll on the go with a little one. You can pack this and travel stress-free (ok with less stress). It is a nanny bag that doubles as a baby bed. It weighs a mere 3 lbs and unfolds to 92cm in length and 33cm wide. You just have to unzip, unfold, and you have a simple bed for the babe to catch some zzz's. It has a shoulder strap that you can wear so you have hands to hold the baby. It is lightweight. It is made from soft material and is easy to carry and clean. Most importantly, it is safe and soft for the baby to sleep on it. #BabyTravelBed

I was given these products at a discounted price in return for my honest opinion. 

THE SUN WILL SHINE AGAIN

Remember that time it was the end of the world and my little post-apocalyptic family found some guy who showed us a magical book full of hope? 
Oh wait...that was just my friend Rendon and me in a Ryan Shupe music video.
(Hint: We start at about 45 seconds in, but feel free to enjoy the entire video.)

Monday, December 21, 2015

SANTA BOOTS

Last year, I tried to get Day-Z to take a photo with Santa Claus. She acted just like a (human) child and was terrified of the guy. What makes Santa so scary? She wouldn't even sit on his lap.
So I got the best idea. I was going to order a Santa Costume and take our own photos. Then I wouldn't be disappointed with a disk full of no good shots that I had to pay a pretty penny to have taken. I checked out the site Wholesale Halloween Costumes. They are awesome because they sell the best selection of costumes for men, women, girls, boys, infants, and dogs at the lowest wholesale prices. You can usually find a discount code to use on their site as well making the total of your purchase amazingly affordable. 
Well, I ordered the boots Santa boots thinking she would sit by them and all of the photos would be lovely. The boots came and looked totally legit. They were way better than some I had seen at other costume shops. They had quality fur at the top and fit like a charm to make the Santa scene perfect.
We just needed to insert dog. After all my hard work, it turns out I just have a camera-shy dog who makes awkward faces whenever a camera is in front of her. Maybe I'll try something different next year.
I can't blame the Santa boots for the photo fail. They were fabulous. If you looking for a pair of your own, check out their site. They have costumes and items for every possible holiday and celebration you can plan all year round.

Friday, December 11, 2015

LONGER CABLE for iPhone 6

Have you ever needed to charge your iPhone, but at the same time needed to be on it using it so much you find yourself awkwardly hanging off the couch or huddled in the corner behind a table. I know I have been sitting behind the flight desk getting dirty looks trying to charge my phone in a foreign country when my flight was delayed. I think we have all experienced it. 
Well, I have found a solution. The White Lightning to USB Cable for iPhones that use the new cord. (Sorry 4S users. PS if you still a 4S, it is probably time to upgrade anyway.) 
This cord is 6 ft (2M) long of fabulous comparable charging capability without getting any iOS 9 warning message. Now your iPhone, iPad, or iPod and you can charge in peace without the horrible reach. (Charge and sync compatibility works with iPhone 6s/6s Plus, iPhone 6/6 Plus, iPhone 5/5s/5c, iPad Retina display, iPad mini, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, iPod nano 7th Gen and iPod touch.)
Thank you #lightningtousb. I received this product free or at a discounted price in return for my honest opinion.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Mikuláš

We were in Prague for Mikuláš this year. St. Nicholas (Mikuláš), the Angel (anděl) who represents the Good, and the Devil (čert) representing the Evil were walking the streets. 

All three characters are supposed to walk the streets, stopping children to ask if they were good in the past year. Most kids say yes and sing a song or recite a short poem and are rewarded with sweet treats handed out by the angel. Bad kids are supposed to be put in the Devil's sack and taken to hell, or would only get a sack of potatoes or coal instead of candy. They are here to scare the kids to behave better.
Sounds a little creepy, eh?! Trust me, it is...but maybe a little like our creepy Halloween traditions.
For some reason, we mostly saw the Devils roaming the streets this year. Uh oh.