{"id":4337,"date":"2011-12-11T02:10:14","date_gmt":"2011-12-10T19:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/?p=4337"},"modified":"2011-12-11T02:16:22","modified_gmt":"2011-12-10T19:16:22","slug":"top-10-christmas-gadgets-for-moms-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/top-10-christmas-gadgets-for-moms-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Christmas Gadgets for Moms"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>by Lori Cunningham<\/span><\/p>\n

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Congratulations to Belinda Moore from MS, Samantha Chambers from WA, and Brenda Fason from OR for winning a copy of the quick thinking word game Dabble<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0Also congrats to Debra Sluis from MN for winning the I Am T-Pain microphone<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/address>\n
\u00a0<\/address>\n
Be sure to enter to win a hobby class remote flying helicopter<\/a> you control with your smartphone. \u00a0More giveaways coming!<\/address>\n

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Merry Christmas, everyone! \u00a0You’re busy running around getting just the right gift for your husband, your kids, your parents, your friends…but what about you? \u00a0What would you like this Christmas?<\/p>\n

You’ve heard about some great gadgets out there, perhaps your friends even use some of them, but will are they really worth the money? \u00a0And worth the time it takes to understand how to use them?<\/p>\n

This is where the WellConnectedMom.com’s Top 10 Christmas Gadgets for Mom’s list* comes in handy. \u00a0Each of these gadget picks have been selected due to their relevance to moms. \u00a0I have used all of them except for the Ultrabook and each of these items have personally been very useful in my life.<\/p>\n

On with the list…<\/p>\n

Striiv Pedomoeter \u00a0$99<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

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The Striiv is a pedometer infused with today’s technology. \u00a0Gone are the black and grey small digital pedometer screens. \u00a0Now you see your progress in full color. \u00a0Striiv not only counts your steps but it helps to set goals for you too. \u00a0Ever walk the San Francisco bridge? \u00a0Climbed the Eiffel Tower? \u00a0Walked the Zion Narrows in Utah? \u00a0Walked up 2 of the great pyramids in Egypt? \u00a0The Striiv shows you how close you are to attaining these goals.<\/p>\n

The Striiv also has a social awareness part where you can choose a charity and every step you takes counts towards a donation made by Striiv and other companies towards that charity. I choose clean water for people in South America. Every 18,000 steps I make gives them a clean glass of water. \u00a0I think of those people in South America often. \u00a0This pedometer packs much more including a fun game where you earn coins based on steps and stats that show your averages, personal best, and\u00a0progression\u00a0of days.<\/p>\n

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Smartphone $99-$700+<\/span>\"\"<\/h2>\n

The smartphone has revolutionized our lives. \u00a0The processing power in one phone today used to fill rooms with equipment of yesteryear. \u00a0The smartphone is an indispensable tool for any mom. \u00a0Using the phone for calls and texting is great, but the smartphone goes way beyond this. \u00a0The camera<\/strong> takes spur of the moment shots, the flashlight<\/strong> is an amazing feature – never leave stuff behind in a dark movie theater again!<\/p>\n

Maps<\/strong> will assure that you never lose your way – whether walking or driving, the\u00a0Angry Birds<\/strong> game will help you take out the frustrations of the day, the\u00a0Words with Friends<\/strong> app keeps your mind keen while playing a “Scrabble” type games with friends, listen to your tunes<\/strong> on the go, Skype<\/strong> with family and friends whether close or far, shopping<\/strong> – find the best bargains on a product \u00a0BEFORE you buy it, receive e-mail<\/strong> when on the run and respond back in a more timely manner. \u00a0The list could go on and on. \u00a0I was hesitant before I could stomach paying the extra money for the data plan. \u00a0But I’m telling you, as a mom, it’s worth the extra money.<\/p>\n

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Eye-Fi SD Card $39.88<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

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If you have wireless (Wi-Fi) set up at home or at your office, the Eye-Fi SD card is a must get. \u00a0The Eye-Fi allows you to wirelessly download pictures taken on your camera automatically, as soon as you turn your camera on and you enter your Wi-Fi- network. \u00a0I shoot a lot of pictures for my blog and with a regular SD card, I have to take the card out of the camera, insert it into the computer, and go through the steps to ensure they upload on my computer.<\/p>\n

With the Eye-Fi, when within my Wi-Fi range, (which is often since I take a lot of pictures at home), as soon as I take a\u00a0picture, it is already downloading onto my computer! \u00a0How cool is that? \u00a0I love taking pictures at birthday parties at\u00a0our house\u00a0and streaming the pics to our TV so the kids can see themselves. \u00a0I used to have to disappear for a while during a party to make this happen, now it happens\u00a0instantaneous. \u00a0Brilliant.<\/p>\n

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Tablet $298-$1,000<\/span>\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

The tablet <\/a>is another revolutionary product. \u00a0In essence, it is a larger smartphone, though typically it does not make calls. \u00a0At home, the tablet is a great tool. \u00a0It is so much easier and fun to use than the smartphone because of the larger screen and faster processor. \u00a0Watch movies, listen to tunes, play games, read your e-mail, take pictures and video, Skype friends while walking through the house, explore and book travel, take pictures of items and post on eBay, etc.<\/p>\n

I use Microsoft Office OneNote to keep all of my projects in order. \u00a0Think of OneNote as a bunch of notebook binders with tabs to keep things organized. \u00a0It is a dream to use and I use it extensively for keeping track of house projects, blog goals, wish lists for the kids, family recipes, travel arrangements, etc. \u00a0I’ve never been so organized.<\/p>\n

What I like best about using a tablet is that it untethers me from my PC in my home office. \u00a0I’m more visible now and can quickly look things up on YouTube or Google when talking with my husband or kids. \u00a0I have a Wi-Fi version. \u00a0The 3G version is nice to have but adds to your monthly data plan cost and many stores now offer free Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n

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Ultrabook $799-$1,200<\/span>\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

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The Ultrabook<\/a> is the newest\u00a0arrival in the progression of laptops. \u00a0Ultrabooks just hit the market in May and they’re touted to takeover the laptop as the leading mobile computing device in years to come. \u00a0Ultrabooks are different from laptops in that they are typically lighter, very thin, have a long battery life (5-8 hrs.), and have instant on access from sleep mode, similar to tablets. \u00a0Intel foresees the prices of Ultrabooks getting closer to $500 as more manufacturers make them and components to build them become more mainstream and cheaper to buy. \u00a0Unlike tablets, Ultrabooks have full processing power.<\/p>\n

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Self-Defense Training Camp XBOX Kinect\u00a0$34.99<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Self-Defense Training Camp for the XBOX Kinect is a great way to learn self-defense moves right in your own family room. \u00a0How many of us think self-defense is important but have never taken the time to take a class? \u00a0You will learn vulnerable parts to strike on your attacker as well as ways to get out of a tight embrace should you be snatched. \u00a0Self-Defense Training Camp walks you though a number of steps that build upon each other to help you memorize the moves.<\/p>\n

Not only is this game beneficial for you, but it opens the door for you to teach your kids about self-defense and have discussions about what to do if someone kidnaps them. \u00a0It takes your self-defense conversations with your kids out of theoretical and into practical – kids are more engaged and learn to train their bodies what to do. \u00a0This is a great teaching tool for moms and kids alike.<\/p>\n

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Smart TV $479-$4,000+<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

For several years,\u00a0TV’s have offered apps for Netflix, Pandora, Blockbuster, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, weather, and more, but now you can get full\u00a0access\u00a0to the Internet on your TV. \u00a0Smart TVs\u00a0socialize your PC or “personal computer” so you can share with others in your home websites that do not have apps like your favorite recipe or cooking show site, a travel destination you’re thinking about taking, online photo sharing sites, your blog, kids educational sites, music sites, and millions more.<\/p>\n

You can also connect to your computer to show your latest pictures\/videos and stream your favorite tunes on the big screen. \u00a0I like to stream\u00a0pictures\u00a0of my kids through the years, they love watching themselves grow up on TV.<\/p>\n

Smart \u00a0TVs must connect to your router to\u00a0access the Internet.\u00a0 All Smart TVs have an Ethernet plug (if you happen to have an Ethernet cable nearby that connects to your router) or can access the Internet wirelessly with a WiFi adaptor (often purchased separately for around $75.)<\/p>\n

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Neat Receipts Portable Scanner and Software \u00a0\u00a0$199.95<\/a><\/span><\/span>\"\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

How many of you have a built-in scanner as part of your “all-in-one” printer? \u00a0How many of you use it? \u00a0I use mine\u00a0occasionally, but frankly it’s a bit cumbersome. \u00a0Neat Receipts Portable Scanner is small and fits neatly on my desk. I use it for two main items: 1.) receipts 2.) business cards.<\/p>\n

If you’re like me, you have a drawer full of receipts. \u00a0Going through them to find a certain receipt is not always easy. \u00a0Keeping track of where money is spent is fine if you use Quicken, but the data you download from the credit card companies does not show the products you actually bought. \u00a0By scanning in my receipts, I have a clearer picture for spending and can export the data to Quicken, Quickbooks, Excel, TurboTax, or a PDF. \u00a0The Neat Receipts scanner is also great for tracking business expenses while on the road. \u00a0Due to its portable size, it can go with you.<\/p>\n

I will be taking the scanner with me to the Consumer Electronic Show, coming up in January. \u00a0I receive so many business cards and this will be a great tool for keeping tack of them and keeping them for future reference. \u00a0Neat Receipts uses optimal character recognition (OPR) so receipts and business cards scanned in will be searchable for particular words.<\/p>\n

Use Neat Receipts to scan in your recipes, kids artwork, important documents, etc. \u00a0 The Neat Receipts portable scanner and software is a phenomenal organizational tool.<\/p>\n

Gaming Console $150-$400\u00a0PlayStation 3<\/span><\/a>\u00a0Wii\u00a0<\/span><\/a>\u00a0XBox\u00a0<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Gaming consoles are hot sellers – they’ve been for years. \u00a0The games that are coming out now are amazing – so realistic and so interactive –\u00a0especially\u00a0with the sensors that\u00a0PlayStation 3 Move,\u00a0Wii, XBOX Kinect and use. \u00a0Wii has been a family oriented console since its conception, but PlayStation 3 Move and XBOX Kinect are catching up with the large number of family games they are producing. \u00a0Now you can play Minute to Win it, Family Feud, Monopoly, Apples to Apples, Battleship, Life, Sorry, Yahtzee, Price is Right, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Trivial Pursuit, Twister, carnival games, and more right in your own family room. \u00a0All of these are great games to play with the family or have a fun casual night with friends.<\/p>\n

Need more\u00a0exercise? \u00a0Try Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, Gold’s Gym Dance Workout, Zumba Fitness Dance, EA Sports Active, and a bunch of others. \u00a0Today’s gaming systems are not just for the kids anymore!<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

WebCam $20-$99<\/span><\/h2>\n

Home video conferencing is getting more and more popular. Webcams are great for Skype but they are also many other purposes. \u00a0With the right software, you can play games with it, surveillance your room via your smartphone, send video e-mails to the grandparents, create your own talkshow or podcast, taking pictures and doctoring up with fun online tools, and more. \u00a0Although you can use your tablet for Skype now, there are still benefits of a stationary video camera – especially when your young kids are Skyping with friends or family…it’s just safer. \u00a0See WellConnectedmom.com’s Top 5 Things to do with Your Kids and a Webcam<\/a> for more ideas.<\/p>\n

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Well, there it is, our top 10 Christmas gadgets recommendations for moms. \u00a0There are so many useful gadgets out there, it’s hard to narrow it down to just 10. \u00a0Interested in seeing more top pics? \u00a0See the WellConnectedMom’s top Christmas gadgets list for 2010 <\/a>and 2009<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Want some suggestions for kids Christmas presents? \u00a0We recommend the LeapPad<\/a> by Leap Frog, Roman Town<\/a>, Laser Pegs<\/a>, Disneyland Adventures <\/a>for XBOX Kinect, and Wappy<\/a> for Nintendo DS.<\/p>\n

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*In the past two years, I have been given a Striiv, Eye-Fi Card<\/a>, Self-Defense Training Camp, Microsoft Lifecam Studio webcam<\/a>, PlayStation 3<\/a>, and Neat Receipts portable scanner to review and provide my honest opinion. \u00a0I have found these products to be very useful and continue to use them\u00a0personally\u00a0after the review. \u00a0All opinions stated are my own.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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