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Verizon’s Cell Phone App Helps You Keep Track of Your Kids

June 23, 2011 by Jennifer 3 Comments

Most families now have several cell phones in their family. When is the right age for a child to get their first cell phone is a decision only your family can make. It will take lots of family talks and discussions to come up with the right age, but just make sure to make it a joint decision instead of the children making the decision for you. After having several discussions with my husband and I, we are going to give our oldest daughter a regular flip phone. She will only get the phone though when she is at a friends house, school event, or an event where my husband and I are not present. With today’s society, you can just never be safe enough, and we want to know she has a outlet to call us if anything ever happened. We are hoping nothing ever will happen though, but you can never be too safe.

Since, we are on Verizon, I was on the look-out for apps that will help keep her cell phone safe and secure. There are many apps that can be installed on your child’s cell phone, but one app I recommend is developed by Verizon. It is call the Family Locator. Listen up moms and dads at what all this app will allow you to do with your child’s cell phone.

You will always know where your child is either by using your cell phone or the web. The family locator app provides very detailed information, right down to the specific address where your child is. Also, it will allow you to follow them using turn by turn directions of where they are going. A parent is able to get a notification once they arrive at a specific location such as soccer practice and then another notification once they leave that specific location. The parent is able to set-up times throughout the day where the Family Locator will automatically update you where your child is at that specific time alert you set-up. If your child is not where they are suppose to be or you just need to message them, this app allows you to send a SMS message to their phone or to multiple phones.

This app really helps put parent’s minds at ease. This app will allow me to have much less anxiety attacks. There is a charge for this app, which is $9.99 for each phone that you install this app on. Honestly though, $9.99 is so cheap for all the features the app allows the parents to do. Technology is changing everyday, so I am sure we will be seeing even more apps like this launched across all cell phone companies.

What are your thoughts? Would you use this app on your child’s phone?

The Coolest Mom Android Apps

June 21, 2011 by Jennifer 7 Comments

I have had my Droid for almost two years now and I seriously do not know how I lived without it? I know I am such a geek, but I cringe on the craziest days that I happen to leave my Droid at home when I have to run errands. I feel so lost without it. Please tell me that I am not the only one like this? Wait, maybe I have gone crazy… HAHA!

Over the time that I have had my droid, I have found some apps that I use on a daily basis and wanted the chance to share them here with you in case you were looking for some great apps to install on your Droid.

In no particular order… here we go!

1. AroundMe – Now this is one of the coolest apps ever. Another mom blogger let me in on this cool savvy app. By using the Droid’s GPS, it will locate the nearest Bank, Gas Station, Hospital, Hotel, Movie Theater, Restaurant, Supermarket and Taxi around you. Select which one you want and it will use the GPS to take you right to the destination. I use this app A LOT every time we go out of town.

2. Calorie Counter – Tool to find all the calorie and nutrition facts for the foods you eat. The app has ever restaurant listed you can think of and all their menu items. Also, it comes with a barcode scanner to where you can scan the barcode on a certain item and automatically receive the nutrition info on the item.

3. Cardio Trainer – This app is listed as the training partner for running, cycling and other cardio fitness activities. I use this app while I am walking and it tracks my distance and my route. At the end of the exercise it will tell me how many calories are burned. Super cool!

4. Compass – Have you ever been camping and tried to figure out what direction you are in? Now, all you have to do is hold your Droid in the air with this app and you will automatically know. Sweet!

5. First Aid – As a mom, I panic at the least very things that happen to my girls. This app is a dream come true for this mom. As told on the app, First Aid is designed to help follow the right procedures in a stressful situation or if you need to help out someone else. The tool uses illustrations, videos and short texts that show you how to take the necessary action step by step.

6. Color Flashlight – Have you ever tried to unlock your door at night or tried to walk down a dark hallway and not wanted to turn on any lights to wake up your children? Say hello to the Flashlight app. I love this app and use it pretty frequently. It literally turns your Droid into a flashlight. Pretty nifty tool also if you would like to read in the car while your husband is driving on the ever so long night road trip.

7. Hoot Suite – Attention all the Twitterholic Moms out there… you have to install this Twitter App that you will love! You can manage multiple twitter accounts, upload photos, receive notifications, view click stats and even shorten URLS. It also lets you schedule your tweets in case you will be out of touch for a bit and want to still keep your twitter stream live.

8. Facebook – Definitely a must have App… right moms? I think this explains itself. It really is much better than the mobile web version.

9. Kindle for Android – You don’t want to throw down the bucks for a Kindle, but you really really want the Kindle… well you need this app! Read more than 620,000 Kindle books on your Droid including thousands of free books. No Kindle required 🙂

10. OI Shopping List – Have you ever got to the store and then forgot what you were actually there for? This neat app lets you keep track of your shopping items with quantity and price. Shh… I use it for my To-Do list as well!

Do a search on Android Marketplace for these apps and install them. You will be glad you did. Now do you see why I love my Droid and it is totally a part of me now? 🙂

Let The Kids Use Imagination for Summer Fun

June 20, 2011 by Jennifer 2 Comments

Remember the yesteryears when the only technology we had in the house was a black and white television and an old typewriter. Those were the days right? How would our kids survive with so little technology? That is the question of the day parents, but in all seriousness, we are the ones creating technology monsters. Listen, I love technology, I mean… I really love technology, but there comes a point and time that we need to back track a little bit. Especially in these summer months, I will declare, it is no technology time during different parts of the day. The girls will either play a board game, jump rope outside, throw a ball and hopefully not bust a window, or sneak in their room and use their imagination by creating their own play or dance party.

Today was the creation of a dance party. The girls gave hubby and I our invites and told us the time to be there. Hubby and I showed up and were greeted at the girls play room door with the beautiful M. She had our tickets to all the activities at the dance party.

As we took our seats, the food bar was awaiting for us. All we had to do was turn our tickets in and we could have unlimited food the girls had set-up for us.

It was time to get this dance party started.

Of course, they had to pull an audience member, so they decided on mommy.

After so many laughs, smiles and dance moves the show had to come to an end but not before we went on a tour of the room to check out the beautiful dance party decor.

Hubby and I enjoy their little parties so much. We all will treasure these memories forever. Encourage your child’s imagination. It will bring a smile to everyone’s face!

Sid The Science Backyard Campout Fun

June 19, 2011 by Jennifer 3 Comments

Summer is a time to get outdoors with the family. We love the outdoors and are usually outside in the winter and summer. At least though in the summer, you don’t have to throw on layers. We were so excited this past weekend to host a Sid The Science Backyard Campout Fun. We did have a snafu though as with summer, you do get the unexpected storms. No problem, as we had a plan B. Look how much fun we had and you can join in on the fun as well.

M and L had created movie tickets for all the guests to give them as they arrived.

We started out with a game of softball. My M loves softball and she asked so sweet with those precious eyes if she could pretty please hold a game with all her friends. How can I say no?

The heat was on though so after a few hits at bat, all the kids were ready to dive into the pool to cool off.

This is where we received a call that the severe storms were heading our way, and we needed to seek shelter. No big deal as we just brought the campout fun indoors!

The kids worked up an appetite outdoors, so hot dogs were being served. No campout would be complete without hot dogs right? Since, we had to do them indoors, we were limited BUT look at this cute idea that Sid The Science has for roasting hot dogs outside.

Spider Dogs

Hot dogs
A knife
Ketchup
Mustard

Directions:

1. Take a hot dog and a knife and make slices from one end to the middle. Make about six slices.

2. Take a clean stick or long fork and insert into the middle of the opening made from the slicing.

3. Cook over the campfire until the hot dog is slightly brown. The different sections made should curl up to resemble a spider.

4. Remove from fire and dip into condiments if desired.

Such a cute idea. Our kids were happy though with our indoor cook-out.

After hot dog fun, the girls were all set to sing some campfire songs to get them in the spirit of almost show time for the big debut of “Sid’s Backyard Campout.”

We roasted the marshmallows in the oven under broil and it was s’mores time!

All the kids gathered their s’mores and moved to our indoor screening area. It was show time folks for the “Sid’s Backyard Campout“. We were so thankful, we were able to do the projector inside since the weather outside was down right frightful. Thanks to the cool i-Go Projector. Everyone was amazed how this little pocket projector was putting out such a clear picture.

The kids loved it and had so many laughs throughout the whole movie. You can watch the whole movie today on PBS Kids in your local viewing area.

Have fun this summer and create your own Sid The Science Backyard family fun as well. Let the backyard fun begin 🙂

Disclosure: Thank you to PBS for sending me the blankets and iGo in order to host this fun campout party. I was not compensated and all thoughts and opinions are of my own.

Enjoy a Wendy’s Frosty and Raise Funds for Adoption (Win)

June 15, 2011 by Jennifer 9 Comments

We all love the cold and delicious Frosty’s from Wendy’s right? Especially on these warm summer nights. We all will load up in the car and drive up to our local Wendy’s and only order Frosty’s then sit down and enjoy them. Some of the best conversations happen during these outings. As you can guess, we will be there this Father’s Day weekend celebrating my husband for being such a wonderful father. Only, this weekend, we will get to participate in helping raise funds for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

50 cents from each Frosty purchase will be donated to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption on Father’s Day weekend (June 18 & 19). These donations will be used to benefit the cause of Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, which is a program that helps foster children in need find great homes.

You can help even more this weekend by using social media:

1. Twitter – Use the Treat it Forward application on www.facebook.com/frosty (Treat it Fwd tab), or use the hashtag: #TreatItFwd (please note, this is modified from the hashtag I sent last week). A donation will be made, by Wendy’s, for each designated tweet or re-tweet made from Treat it Forward.

2. Facebook – Send a Facebook friend a “virtual” Frosty, or tell friends about Father’s Day Frosty Weekend through the Facebook application found on www.facebook.com/frosty (Treat it Fwd tab); as a result, Wendy’s will make a donation.

3. Also, from Facebook, on Father’s Day Weekend only (June 18 & 19), offer a “Here’s to You, Dad!” Frosty “virtual toast” by snapping a photo of you raising your Frosty cup to Dad, tagging it with the words “Wendy’s Father’s Day Frosty Weekend” and posting it to Wendy’s Facebook wall or tweeting it; this, too, will result in a donation from Wendy’s.

4. Foursquare – Every person who ‘checks in’ to a Wendy’s during Father’s Day weekend only (June 18 & 19) will result in a donation from Wendy’s.

So take the special dad in your life out and enjoy a Wendy’s Frosty. You can enjoy a delicious dessert and help a good cause as well.

WIN!

Treat the whole family with a Wendy’s Frosty by winning a $10 Wendy’s gift card.

To enter:

1. Leave a comment below wishing the special dad in your life a Happy Father’s Day.

Extra entry:

Tweet:

Share a @Wendys Frosty with your FB friends! http://on.fb.me/mjFgBL Each frosty is a 50 cent donation to @DTFA! #TreatitFwd

Giveaway ends June 19 at 11:59pm ET. Good Luck!

Disclosure: I was given a gift card to take my family out for a Frosty dessert. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

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