Tag Archives: Trends

RockStarMom Recommends :: Disney Social Media Moms 2014 Sponsors

02 Friday May 2014

Posted by in Fun

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, ,

RockStarMom Recommends is a featured round-up series of products, projects, or places to be I discover on my own, or ones that were sent to me via sponsorship or media opportunity. I will always let you know which is which, and I will only feature topics I would or have bought, participated in or travelled to myself. 

This week’s RockStarMom Recommends is brought to you by the magic of the Disney Social Media Moms 2014 Celebration, held in Anaheim, California April 10-13th. As you know, I attended the conference and received several gifts from the many wonderful sponsors from the event. Additionally, there were some really great new programs Disney is launching that I also wanted to share. Click on the links to learn more about products or programs from the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration sponsors.

1. Disney Animator’s Collection “it’s a small world” Dolls | Everyone has a favorite doll, probably located in their favorite country. Mine are the hula dancers from Hawaii, and the can-can dancers from France. If you are an avid Disney, and It’s a Small World fan, you most likely know this year marks the 50th anniversary of the ride created by Disney as an exhibit meant to benefit UNICEF at the 1964-65 New York’s World Fair. You can share your love for the ride with your family, or just keep it all to yourself by bringing home one of these adorable and authentic re-creations of the dolls from the ride. Personally, I love how the dolls inspire the excitement of travel, the intrigue of different cultures and benefit of children around the world. The dolls sing the legendary song in English, and then in their native language. (Don’t worry, there is an on/off switch.) Retails for $29.95. disneystore.com

2. Hanes Girls No Comfort Blend Socks | Way before I was gifted some of these funky fabulous socks, I was already buying them for my daughter. I love that they are cotton and colorful. She loves to mix and match (who knew mismatched socks were a thing?) and wears them with everything from her tennis shoes, to her jazz dance shoes to her TOMS. They are a blend of cotton/polyester/natural latex rubber/spandex, and do not irritate my little girl’s sensitive skin. They wash well, are easy to match up assuming the dryer doesn’t eat one, and come with Box Tops to boot. (Just for the record, I also buy these for all three of my boys. Best. Socks. Ever.) Retails $8.50 for a package of 6 pairs. hanes.com

3. Disney Magic of Healthy Living TRYIt! | This is truly a healthy active lifestyle program I can really stand behind. My TV is tuned into Disney Jr. more hours in the day than I would like to admit. Because of that, my kids are actually trying new things. They wanted to try acting because some of their favorite actors star in their favorite shows on the Disney Channel. They wanted to try peppers because Sheriff Callie and her gang sing about it. They get up and dance to the DJ Shuffle. Even mom has tried various recipes and photog tips given throughout the day. We are big fans of the new healthy living initiative Disney has inspired in our house. It is also so great to see some of these things in action around the park, especially in the selection of healthier food options, like Foodles; a variety of fruits, veggies, yogurts, cheese, granola or pretzels in a easy to grab-n-go container. My kids take these in their lunches or as afternoon snacks, which helps them select these healthier choices when at the Disney parks. Learn more at citizenship.disney.com/tryit or use #TryIt on Instagram or Twitter.

4. h2o+ Face Oasis™ CC Cream | Last year was my first experience with the h2o+ products at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration 2013. Fell in love with the products, and have been pining over them ever since. This little beauty secret was in my Room Drop Surprise Bag one night. I am not a huge fan of foundations, and I prefer an under eye concealer and powder. But sometimes, it’s just not enough coverage. Sometimes I need to look fresh and even, not blotchy. The Face Oasis™ CC Cream delivers exactly what I need without cakey looking base. It also has a Broad Spectrum SPF30, goes great over my everyday moisturizer and allows my make-up to go on smooth. I’m in love. Did I mention h20+ is the official Disney® Amenity? Retails at $35. h20plus.com 

5. GoGo Squeez | Long before the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, my refrigerator was stocked full of GoGo Squeez. It’s kind of a futuristic thing I had to get used to when I started feeding my babies mushed up fruit and veggies from a pouch, but it worked, and they loved it. From there, they graduated to more of a big kid version with GoGo Squeez. Which is just alright by me. I love reading things on my kids’ food packaging like: 100% natural, organic, BPA free, No Added Colors or Flavors, and No High-Fructose Corn Syrup. As you can see in the picture, all of my kids are BIG fans- from 10 to 3 years old. GoGo Squeez has expanded their line to include new flavors like AppleGrape and AppleMandarin that my kids now add to my grocery list. Retail prices vary. gogosqueez.com

RockStarMom_Recommends_Disney_Sponsors

6. American Tourister© Color Your World 21″ Spinner | American Tourister© is the official luggage of Walt Disney World Resorts and Disneyland Parks, so it would only make sense that we would be given the opportunity to review a piece from their latest line, Color Your World. This is the second piece I’ve had the opportunity to review and add to my luggage collection, and I love them both. Surprisingly accommodating to pack for at least a 3-day vacation, or a convenient use of a carry-on in-flight. Fashionable and functional, I have truly enjoyed adding American Tourister as one of my go-to pieces when traveling. I especially love the inside compartments that keep certain items discreet, and others well organized. Retails for $89.99. shop.americantourister.com

7. New Balance 890v4 Barringer runners | By now, I am sure you heard of the Disney character inspired line that New Balance launched earlier this year, New Balance runDisney. They are so stinking adorable, my faves being the Cinderella, of course. New Balance was awesome enough to provide conference attendees who also participated in the runDisney 2-mile fun run through Downtown Disney, Disneyland and California Adventure a pair of their most popular, in demand runner, and the prototype of what the runDisney collection is based off; the 890v4 Barringer. A chic and modern style, with careful consideration of the foot placement at all speeds, I also found the 890v4 Barringer to be super light as well. I encourage my fellow runners to at least try them on if in the market for a new, top of the line shoe. Retails $109. newbalance.com

8. Disney Junior Give a Book Get a Book Program | “In some of the lowest-income neighborhoods in the United States, there is only one single book for every 300 kids. That is just not OK.,” explained LeVar Burton, of Reading Rainbow fame. Mr. Burton introduced us to the newest program from Disney Citizenship and in partnership with Disney Junior, the Give A Book Get A Book campaign. As a parent, you know the value of storytelling and sharing those magical moments reading to your little one. Imagine being a parent, and not having the capability to provide your child a book to read aloud. Starting April 2014 and running through September 2015, Disney hopes to donate up to one million books to First Book to make storytelling in all neighborhoods around America a reality. They need your help! Visit a Disney Store near you, purchase a book, and receive a code. Then go to GiveABookGetABook.com, enter the code, and select a book to be donated to a region of your choice in the United States.

9. Disney and Kohl’s Magic at Play by Jumping Beans | In April, a collaboration with Disney and Kohl’s, Magic at Play, launched its new line of Disney themed fashions by Jumping Beans for both boys and girls, infants to size 7x. Kohl’s provides quality and style for my party of 4 at an affordable price. I was quite pleased with the options of the new Jumping Beans line for Disney. The spring collection was adorable, and I’m sure the summer collection will be super sassy and fun! Perfect for that upcoming visit to Disneyland this summer. I already see a new dress on there my daughter would love! Retail prices vary. kohls.com

10. Disney Cruise Line Sets Sail to Norwegian Fjords and Iceland | Inspired by the fiercely popular box office smash, Frozen, Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, delighted the crowd with the announcement of a Disney Cruise Line new course for Norway in 2015. How amazing does this description sound: “…guests will discover breathtaking natural wonders such as magnificent mountain ranges, massive glaciers, steaming geysers and majestic fjords. The enchanting Scandinavian culture of the region comes to life through local attractions, stunning architecture, storybook villages and historic city centers.” I’ve not yet been on a Disney Cruise, but I am adding this to my bucket list for sure. Possibly for my 40th birthday (hint*hint)?? Learn more by visiting dclnews.com.

Full Disclosure: I was invited to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. The Disneyland Resort offered a discounted rate for all attendees and their families. I was not asked nor expected to write about my experience. All stories are based on my personal thoughts and opinions, not those of the Walt Disney Company.

UP by Jawbone

18 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by in Fun

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, ,

Ever wondered how many steps you actually do take in day? Or, how many hours of sleep you get each night? What about the amount of calories you consume at every meal? I often wonder that. For the most part, and without any regulation, I think I live a pretty healthy lifestyle. At least I make every effort to buy local, all natural, preservative free and organic products for my family, and eat clean. I work out 4-5 times a week, and try to be in bed and asleep before 11pm. OK, so the sleep part could definitely use some work, but I’ve always been a late night sleeper and early riser, it’s a bad pattern to break. My reality just got a major slap in the face these last few weeks. I was sent the UP band by Jawbone to try out and share the review with my readers. Here’s what I discovered about myself:

1. I do not get enough sleep each night.

2. I consume too much sugar and saturated fats

3. Writing is my passion, but it makes me idle.

Up_Jawbone_Modes

This sleek looking band complements your style in any color. It also is a revolutionary fitness genius. This one little band can do so much, and no one, including you, really knows that it is there. The wristband tracks your movement and sleep in the background. It also blends in with your accessories, and people who do notice it, ask right away or they already know what it is and think you are cool for having one. Here’s what I found super cool about the Jawbone UP:

1. The app displays your data, lets you add things like meals and mood, and delivers insights that keep you moving forward.

2. I can connect health and fitness apps I already use like RunKeeper and MyFitnessPal

3. It makes me accountable to myself and my friends whom I can invite to be on my team.

UP_trends

The UP band doesn’t ever have to come off your wrist, except for every 10 days to fully charge it again, or to sync it to your phone to update your steps and sleep. Let me tell you how easy it is to use this techy gadget.

1. Download the UP by Jawbone app to your smart phone.

2. Utilize the different mode options (Sleep, Calibrate, Active) by pushing the little square button to track your daily activities.

3. Sync it to your phone to update your log in the UP app.

Crazy simple, right? And, because it is this simple to use, I really enjoyed using it.

Jawbone_UP

Meal Tracking: The app allows you to scan UPC codes off of foods you eat, and registers all the info and keeps it in the “My Library” section. This allows you to easily find foods and beverages that you consume on a regular basis without having to enter the info every time. Keeping track of everything I put into my body really made me think about the next meals I wanted to eat. Before, I would assume because I was making healthy food choices that I could eat whatever and whenever I wanted. Seeing how these choices affected my caloric intake for the day, and how that is related to the amount of calories I should be taking in and burning in order to lose some of this extra weight, was eye opening for me. Approaching my 40s and having a female history of heart attacks in my family, these are things I need to be more aware of and practice every day. Results: Though I didn’t have a huge overhaul in what I was eating, I did take notice in the amounts I was consuming. Also, I would look for items higher in unsaturated fats vs. saturated fats, as well as identifying items that have less sugar. I am much more present to what I am putting into my mouth each day.

UP_meals

Activity Tracking: As I mentioned, heart attacks are common for the women in my family, so being active is a non-negotiable for me. Since January of 2013, I have been making the conscience effort to work out 60 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week. Not only does it make me feel better to sweat at least one time a day, it gives me the extra energy I need to keep up with this crazy bunch of little people in my family! On the other side of that, I am a writer, which means I am at my desk quite a bit any given day of the week. When I first registered my UP band, it asks what my fitness goals are. Once calculated, the UP band helped me identify how many steps I need to move, how many hours of sleep I need to have each night and how many calories I should be consuming each day. It was really interesting to see the difference in steps on the days I had to sit at my computer vs the days I was out and about running errands and picking up the kids. We are talking a difference of thousands. An average day for me with a 60 minute workout generally yielded over 10,000 steps. A day without a work out, closer to 6,000. My average to beat is 7,500. So, I wasn’t as active as I thought I was being on a regular basis. Results: Increased my daily workouts to include an additional 30-45 minutes with a bike ride or additional time at the gym. I also have started to make the conscience effort to take the stairs, park further, and go inside to get my kids vs drop off line at school on the days where I can’t fit in the extra minutes because of time spent at the computer.

UP_fitness

Sleep Tracking: Any given night there is no less than one child in our bed, and one that wakes up in the middle of the night forcing either my husband or I to make the long, sleepy trek up the stairs to retrieve said child. Of course, we finally have the older two sleepingFTCDisclosure through the night in their own beds, but now dealing with twin toddlers who do not sleep consistently throughout the night. The average person needs no less than 8 hours of sleep, but it also depends on your own body type and needs as well. My sleep goal, according to UP, is 7.5 hours each night. Since I’ve been tracking my sleep through UP, I’ve met that goal twice. Sad, I know. The cool thing about the sleep tracking is that UP really does track your sleep. It determines how long it takes to fall asleep, records the hours of light sleep and deep sleep and takes notice of how many times you wake up during those hours. I love knowing this information. I don’t know why as you would think it would only depress me. Overall, I believe it is knowing the hours of deep sleep and total hours of sleep that I am getting, giving me an answer at that magical 3pm time when I start to lose steam and wonder why. Results: Unfortunately, not much has changed for me in this area. When I can, I try to get in bed by 9pm, and also sneak in a cat nap if possible. Up also tracks cat naps and will wake you up based on the amount of time your body needs to feel caught up.

UP_Sleep

Final thoughts on UP by Jawbone is everyone should own something like this. UP is a system that takes a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle. Having a gadget like UP allows you to take control over your own body, placing accountability and knowledge back into your hands. I never thought I needed anything like Weight Watchers or any other type of support group because I thought I could do it just fine on my own. With that being said, I’m still not much of a support group type of person, I like to do things on my own, but still achieve the same results. I like how UP is very user friendly, communicates with the fitness and health apps I am already using, allows me to create my own team with other friends who have an UP band, and forces me to see how my choices and actions are affecting my health throughout the day. I can do all of that in the comfort of my own home or on my phone, at my own pace, and with my own chosen support group. “Live Better. Start Now. Jawbone UP. Track your sleep activity, steps, calorie intake and more with the Jawbone UP wrist sensor and free mobile app. UP gives you meaningful, personalized insights so you can make lasting improvements to your everyday life.” Up by Jawbone can be purchased at BestBuy.com.

Up_Style

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

Get Comfy with Crocs

16 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by in Archive It

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Remember that age-old ice breaker game where you would go around the circle and state your name and the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you? I have to admit, I was never great at that game because, quite honestly, once I got to a certain age, I had accepted that it really is OK to laugh with yourself, at yourself and along with everyone else who is laughing at you. Now that I’m older, situations like bringing all four of my kids to Whole Foods while the twins were potty training to pick up a chicken whose cooking time kept getting delayed, really embarrass me. But not to the point where I would lie about what happened, or pretend it didn’t happen at all. I actually embrace those moments in my life, share them with my friends while we all roll on the floor laughing, and plan to turn all these moments into a book where I make millions….one day.
Here’s something I didn’t know: 

The millennial generation (Ages 18-32), often described as self-centered and brash, is not as comfortable as one might think.  According to a national Wakefield Research survey of 1,000 adults and sponsored by Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX), roughly one-in-three (34-percent) Millennials experiences more than three uncomfortable social situations per week.

I’m not a Millennial, I skipped that generation, but the research also claims those deemed to be apart of this generation avoid situations that will embarrass them, or lie so they don’t have to own up to something they did that may be embarrassing. Of course, research is research, and it’s only a portion of those between the ages of 18-32, let’s be real here. It’s not like someone interviewed every single person in this age range, so take it all with a grain of salt. Still, I find it interesting that the general consensus of this generation tries to find ways to avoid uncomfortable situations and still experience one to three a week, while Baby Boomers rarely experience awkward moments and no uncomfortable situations. Coincidence or a sign of maturity and seasoning?
Baby Boomers

Whatever the cause or reason, the same survey suggests that 65% of these respondents are wanting a comfort national holiday, and retailers like Crocs, famous chefs, like Mario Batali, and people across the country are working together to make it happen. When you think comfort, you think Crocs, right?? No? Well, honestly, me neither…not at first at least. Crocs approached me to work with them in helping to spread the word about making the International Day of Comfort campaign come to life in a recognized day of comfort on September 28th. At first, I thought, sure, my kids love Crocs! As I read on though, I realized that this day of comfort is about the generations working together to understand how to support each other during these uncomfortable situations. Here’s the skinny on the Croc’s efforts to declare September 28th the first International Comfort Day:
1. Crocs is encouraging guests to “Try on a Pair” for a 20% discount.

2. The first 50 people to retweet a friend at #getcomfy will both receive a pair of free Crocs™ shoes, as well as a tasty comfort recipe shared by Crocs @ Work™ spokesperson, chef Mario Batali.
As Mr. Batali says, ” Comfort isn’t just about what’s on your feet, but also what’s on your plate. Comfort food, in our house, is anything you make together, that brings people together.

3. Crocs Cares℠ will also be donating 15,000 pairs of Crocs™ shoes to help spread some comfort to individuals–in-need.   International Comfort Day will be celebrated globally at Crocs retail stores in the Americas, EU and Asia.  FTCDisclosure

For Crocs President and CEO John McCarvel, the poll served multiple purposes. “This is an entertaining yet scientific way for Crocs to associate itself with three of the brand’s biggest selling points: being comfortable, fun, and a little bit different,” says McCarvel. “The poll tells a compelling story. It vividly and statistically defines the genders and generations of adults who feel most comfortable with themselves. That story can initiate lively conversations while serving as a launching-off point for International Comfort Day, which will provide all of us with a breather from the stresses of everyday life.”
These additional findings highlight the Crocs study:

  • Gender Gap: The majority of women (72-percent) think it’s acceptable to tell a lie to avoid uncomfortable situations vs. a lower percentage of men (56-percent).
  • Sweet 16: While 16 ranks as the average age during which Americans’ awkward-years peak, more than one-quarter of these adults (28 percent) feel that they are still in their awkward stage.
  • Gaff Guide: In dealing with embarrassing moments, 33-percent are the “I’m sorry” Apologizers; 22-percent play the Class Clown by making jokes; 21-percent are Over Lookers, pretending it never happened and 6-percent make like Ghosts who quietly leave the room.
  • Relationship Revelations: Among those who feel comfortable in a relationship, 57-percent of men feel comfortable in less than a month vs. 59-percent of ladies who say it take more than a month.  However, 19-percent of Americans never get comfortable.
  • Work it! 65-percent of working Americans have experienced at least one uncomfortable moment on the job.  Two-in-five (40-percent) endured a coworker over sharing personal information.  Only 13-percent accidentally forwarded personal emails to coworkers.

Crocs Duet Busy Day Skimmer

Now…on to the style and comfort side of this story. I received two pairs of Crocs of my choice. I selected the Busy Day Flat and Women’s Retro Sneaker. The Duet Busy Day Skimmer was sent to me, along with the Retro Sneakers. My unbiased opinion about the Duet Busy Day Skimmer was that it was just not my style. I preferred the style of the Flat. The Skimmer put me a bit out of my Style Comfort Zone, but that’s what we are here for, right? It also just happened to be raining that day, and I lack rain boots, so I thought I would give the Skimmer a try. I matched them with a pair of tattered denim crops from Express, and a black t-shirt. It wasn’t my best look ever, but it worked. Let me tell you, when I put those shoes on, I didn’t want to take them off! I headed out on my normal day of errands: dropping off the kids, grabbing coffee, facial at the JW Marriott Spa Aquae, lunch with a friend, shopping at TopShop, then picking up the kiddos again. They were easy to kick on and off, and I felt like I was walking on air all day. At the end of the day, instead of my legs feeling heavy, they felt energized. I will wear these shoes on rainy days, and days when I know I’m going to be on my feet all day long getting by with flats. 

Crocs_Comfort_Day

The Women’s Retro Sneaker are my absolute favorite! I was so excited to get these on my feet. Much more in my Style Comfort Zone- I gladly wore these bad boys all over town: doctor’s office with my son, party store, bike ride, lunch at the park and to pick up the rest of the crew after school. I loved the look, the feel, and how confident I felt wearing them because they didn’t hurt my feet I knew I could make it to the end of the day. In fact, I plan on wearing these to a girlfriend’s birthday party as we are all dressing in costume and cycling around Downtown Las Vegas. Good times.

Funny…Crocs may be on to something with this International Day of Comfort! Even with just my shoe choice, I noticed how different my days were based on where I was in my Style Comfort Zone. My energy level alone was altered just by what I had on my feet- even though they both provided the same, awesome level of comfort. One of the findings also reported that more than half (52-percent) of women frequently sacrifice comfort for fashion when it comes to footwear.  42-percent of working Americans are not completely comfortable with the clothing that they wear to work. The top three comfortable shoes according to women: sneakers other than running shoes (36-percent), flip-flops or sandals (28-percent) and flats (19-percent). Looks like I am a statistic!! 

Join me on September 28th in support of Crocs and International Comfort Day! Enter to win your own pair of Crocs shoes for you or your child- just leave a comment below and be sure to enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Crocs Survey was conducted online by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults, ages 18+, between July 25th and August 1st, 2013. Quotas were set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. adult population 18+. The margin of error for the study is 3.1 percentage points.  

To find a Crocs store location near you, search our over 200 store locations throughout North America at http://www.crocs.com/crocs-store-locator/stores,default,pg.html.