Photography comes to heal the pain caused by distance, time and death

Disclosure: This is a guest post submitted by Kira B.

This beautiful picture that now hangs on that white wall in the living room was taken by an old New York photographer. Two sisters having the best time of their lives are in the picture, with the Statue of Liberty in the background. That photograph portrays not only siblings traveling. There is a lot more. It was the last time these two sisters traveled together. One of them was about to stay in the huge city, the other one was about to leave for her hometown. Now, that photograph is not only a piece of hard paper. It is an incredible memory that has the power to transform the pain into warm.

Looking at a picture, where you are so happy being next to your loved ones, feels like drinking a hot tea that you simply adore. Especially when you’re alone and you look at that photograph just like when you’re cold, all you need is some hot black tea with lime. You look at it and you start thinking about how lucky you are to have these people in your life. Many times people who are far away from their families and friends, find relief in pictures, videos that bring them all the beautiful memories.

The photograph of you and someone who you care about but is far away, sometimes, is everything you need. We all know how hard is to be alone and to feel down. All you get to have is memories, you start breathing with them. That’s how photography helps us, giving us the chance to relive specific moments again, when we need it the most.

Photography comes to heal the pain caused by distance, time and death. Even in movies you can see super heroes traveling to different planets and taking pictures of their loves with them. It is important for those movie heroes, it is important for us to hold on to precious photographs.

There is a special emotion deep inside every photograph that includes families, relatives, friends, people who just care about each other. They have no idea that the way they hold their hands, the way they smile and look at each other, screams with emotions. You can see kindness, love, sadness and so many other feelings in one photograph that brings a separated family together.

When one sister flies over the ocean, the other one starts opening photo albums, computer fields and media libraries on the phone. That’s how she gets to not only remember the best moments of them being together, but also to review them.

Umi Childrens Shoes :: Ready for Warm Weather {Giveaway - Ends 4/6}

 I received complimentary product for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

Every summer Buddy practically lives in sandals. With California heat combined with my hot-body little boy, close-toed shoes are simply off limits for about four months. At the same time, Buddy doesn't walk well in thong-style flip flops, and quite frankly, they aren't that great for growing feet anyway. With the arrival of spring, it's time to check out this season's new styles from Umi.

This is the Reece II sandal. Perfect for every day of warm weather, a special day out on the beach, or your family's camping trip in the mountains, this style is a must-have this spring and into summer.

The Reece II features a thick, grippy sole, textured footbed, and water friendly materials for every summer activity. This is the Choco Multi color which boasts a bright orange, a couple brown tones, and a bit of black too.

The orange footbed appears to be made of EVA, or perhaps some other type of water friendly foam material. The raised texture helps with airflow and also grip if wet or a bit sweaty. The lining of this style is made of black neoprene, which is soft and aids in overall comfort.

With a three-point closure system, the Reece II can be adjusted to fit your child's foot just right. It's also great for quickly taking them off quickly, or for a thorough cleaning after playing through the mud.

The hook and loop (velcro) extends over the entire length of each strap closure. Velcro can often wear out before the rest of a sandal so I'm always glad to see that details aren't skipped with Umi.

Despite printing the size chart provided by Umi on their website, the size 34 we ordered are still about a whole size too large for Buddy. Because of this it's hard to say exactly how comfortable these sandals are if they were the correct size, but I have no doubt they will be great in just a few months. At this point I can't adjust them any smaller. 

Buddy has noted that the textured orange footbed is not his favorite, but I have to think that with normal wear the footbed will soften and it's just a feature he's never experienced before. 

I think the Reece II is a smart design for busy summer activities. It's a very sturdy sandal and with the high quality of Umi, I would expect them to last all summer. I just wish they were Buddy's size to wear now!

Camping in the wilderness or making sand castles, these water-friendly sandals can keep the pace with even warm weather activities.

Durable outsoles

Waterfriendly materials

Manmade uppers with neoprene and microfiber linings

Three adjustable hook-and-loop straps

- See more at: http://www.umishoes.com/shop/style/36412A-207.html#sthash.ohcf1rya.dpuf

The Reece II is available for $55 in three fun color combinations to suit your son's individual style. Order now at UmiShoes.com or find a location near you!

 

Win It!

One winner will receive a $60 gift card for a pair of Umi Childrens Shoes!

Uber Sacramento :: Your New Favorite Way to Get Around Town

This article was written by me on behalf of Uber. All opinions are 100% my own.

Uber is a mobile app that connects you to your own private driver at the click of a button. Now in the Sacramento area, Uber's car service is like getting your own chauffeur with a stylish and sleek black car experience. 

In addition to Sacramento, Uber serves major metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., and more. Starting with just one driver in San Fransisco in 2009, it's safe to say that Uber holds great value for anyone requiring transportation.

With it's easy-to-use app, Uber offers users an incredibly easy and comfortable way to get from point A to point B whether it's a special night out, a trip to the airport, or anything between.

 

How does it work?

Uber is very easy to use. Simply use the Uber mobile app to request a car and it will be curbside within minutes. Track your driver so you know exactly when they'll arrive! All rides are billed directly to your credit card so there’s no need to carry cash. Uber offers multiple vehicle options to choose from, with the most economical ridesharing option, uberX being 20% cheaper than a Taxi. There's no need to tip an Uber driver, as you've already paid your fare with the mobile app beforehand.

Uber offers three ride options, with example vehicles within each option - the low-cost uberX (Toyota Prius, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata), an original UberBlack (Lincoln Town Car Executive, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Lexus LS), or a roomy UberSUV (Chevrolet Suburban, Lincoln Town Car Stretch, Cadillac Escalade).

Curious about what an Uber ride will cost you in Sacramento? Simply use the Uber mobile app or visit uber.com/sacramento to receive a fare quote in an instant.

Awesome for Families
Looking for an easier way to get the kids to where they need to go? Uber is the easiest and most efficient transportation that will lessen the stress of getting to those appointments on-time. Request a ride through the Uber app, and in just minutes a car will be curbside, ready to take you and the kids wherever you need to go. School, doctor's appointments, big grocery runs to Costco, playdates and special occasions are now easy and stress-free allowing you (a mom on-the-go!) to spend more time on more important things. And now their eco-friendly car option, uberX, is also cheaper than a taxi.

Exclusive Promo
Get $25 off your first Uber trip with code ReynoldsMom. New users only and expires on 6/30/14.

 

Spring Essentials from Kohl's #MC #SpringAtKohls

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kohl’s. I received a Kohl’s gift card to facilitate my post and as a thank you for participating.

Last week I headed to my local Kohl's to shop the beautiful new spring collections that just arrived. Yes, I said SPRING! It's just about here, and so picking up a few new spring pieces is certainly in order.

My favorite part about my recent shopping trip to Kohl's was seeing all the color and textures of spring. Mixed media tops are a huge hit, along with feminine blouses, dresses, anything pink, nautical stripes, bold statement necklaces and roll cuff denim. There are definitely a lot of ways to spruce up your wardrobe this season with all these very fun trends!

There are two essential spring looks that I'm particularly excited about: feminine blouses and statement necklaces.

While at Kohl's I picked up a peasant top from ELLE, and a bib statement necklace from Apt. 9. As soon as I saw them, I just knew they were the perfect additions to my spring wardrobe. 

I consider this feminine blouse an essential this season simply because it's so darn versatile, and lends the perfect feminine touch to even a casual look. It features many details like 3/4 sleeves, a tie-front scoopneck, smocking on top of the shoulders and a fun dot texture. It's somewhat sheer and can easily be layered with a color underneath too. 

Pair this top with a pair of your favorite cropped roll cuff jeans, sandals or flats and a colored belt for an easy casual look. Feel feminine and pretty without too much fuss!

This necklace really sends a casual outfit into a chic and fashionable one without too much effort. The gorgeous colored cabochons add just the right pop of bold color for a variety of tops.

Add the necklace, a maxi skirt, and a jean jacket to-go with my favorite new blouse and you have the perfect Sunday church look or for a date night out. I loved putting this look together! 

   

As part of my shopping trip to Kohl's I filmed a short 1-minute video about the items I picked and why. It will be published on Kohl's YouTube channel very soon too!

Moms, perhaps you're wardrobe is a bit tired. Perhaps your infant or toddler has ruined and stained every nice top you own. Perhaps you just don't have time to shop and treat yourself. I'm telling you now that you deserve a couple new items for your spring wardrobe. There's nothing quite like a new blouse or piece of jewelry when you need a pick-me-up to help spruce up your wardrobe at the same time. For me, a new blouse or cardigan each season tends to help me make several new looks without spending too much.

From LC Lauren Conrad and Simply Vera Vera Wang to Jennifer Lopez and ELLE, there are several brands at Kohl's that will surely speak to your personal style. Be sure to shop now to get in on the fabulous new spring trends this season!

What spring trend are you most excited for?

 

Teach Your Kids Electronics with EEME's Project Kits {Review & Special Offer}

As a homeschooling family, I'm constantly on the hunt for opportunities to teach Buddy whatever I can in everyday life situations. Lately, he's been utterly enthralled with how things work, specifically batteries and electronics. Since this mama doesn't really understand the how of electronics too well, I simply pass on the conversation to Daddy, but I'd like to dig a bit deeper with Buddy also. Since we love monthly subscription boxes, kits and projects around here, it was exciting to see EEME pop up and offer up their first electronic project kit to review with Buddy.

 I received complimentary product for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

EEME makes hands-on project kits teach kids about electronics. Each project kit is paired with online curricula to not only teach kids how to assemble the light, buzzer projects, but also to teach them how circuits and electronic components such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, and LEDs work.

We received Project Genius Light, the first project of five (currently) from EEME. This project contains the components needed to assemble a simple LED circuit system, including a baseboard, breadboard, resistors, circuits, LED, and battery pack. Keep in mind that we also received the enclosure cover, nuts and thumb screws to close the baseboard as part of the Pro subscription plan versus the Basic plan. The educational experience is the same, but the price is $29.95/month for Pro compared to $18.95/month for Basic.

Assembly of each project takes place by following the interactive online curriculum for each project. For Project Genius Light, there were 22 steps to follow which included mostly short videos and several multiple choice questions to ensure your child is learning. Taking about an hour to complete, your completed LED circuit system (with photoresistor) will light up when dark, and dim when light. Super cool!

With this project your LED circuit system is already built by step 4. From there, you learn about all the components and switch some around or add more to see what happens. I had no idea how a breadboard worked, but now I can tell you where the bus parts and terminal strips are among many electrical engineering concepts as a result of the curriculum. Each video step also has instructions on the side for each step, and of course you have the ability to stop or go back through at any time. I appreciated this since I was learning for myself, and trying a relay a few things to Buddy at the same time.

EEME project kits are best for kids age 7-12, and I couldn't agree more. Although Buddy and I were able to work through this first project together, at age 5 he struggled with understanding what we were doing a little bit. He's a curious little guy about everything electronic, and he was thrilled with the final result of the LED getting brighter when the photoresistor component was covered. But for fear of burning out our LED light by putting any component in the wrong spot I unfortunately had to be limit the hands-on experience for Buddy. We'll definitely be revisiting this project in the future!

Each month's project builds on the previous month's knowledge and interactive quizzes reinforce kids' understanding of the why's and the how's. EEME's goal is to provide a curricula that will teach kids the fundamentals of electronics, while fostering their curiosity and critical thinking skills. I think EEME projects are an excellent and powerful hands-on tool for homeschooling families, particularly for a unit study on electronics.  

FREE Virtual Project

Sign up for FREE on EEME's homepage to access a fun virtual project experience and to preview EEME's video curricula! I actually learned a few things and think it's a great taste of the physical projects EEME offers.

Subscription Options & Special Offer
Plans start at $18.95/month for Basic or $29.95/month for Pro and both plans include free shipping. For $5 off your first month, use this link to receive up to 25%!

Connect with EEME on Facebook, Twitter, Blog, and Pinterest

 

 

Ozeri Rev Digital Bathroom Scale with Electro-Mechanical Weight Dial {Review}

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. All opinions are 100% my own.

Although I don't believe the number on a scale is indicative of your overall health, weight is indeed an important factor to consider. With a worn out bathroom scale and a desire to keep tabs on our weight around here, the opportunity to review a new scale from Ozeri came at the perfect time.

The Ozeri Rev Digital Bathroom Scale with Electro-Mechanical Weight Dial is made with aesthetically pleasing impact-resistant tempered glass, and a large 5.5 inch mechanical dial display. Weight is displayed on the dial and LCD display simultaneously for a definitive weight check every time using four high precision GX sensors that weigh up to 400 lbs.

With StepOn technology, which means no tapping-before-use required, this scale is super easy to use and both the electro-mechanical dial and LCD display actually illuminate during use. There's even a built-in alarm option that reminds you to measure your weight at the same time each day. The 24H/Alarm button is underneath the scale and can simply be pressed to activate or deactivate this alarm feature. Weight can be displayed on the LCD display in either pounds or kilograms by using the Unit button also underneath the scale. The underside also features four slip-resistant feet for ultimate stability and grip.

With it's ease of use, Buddy hops on the scale without help, and proudly declares his weight to us. He's in a major growth spurt right now, and the proof is on the scale!

I love the inclusion of the dial which seems to give this scale an old-school yet modern feel with the LCD display and sleek glass platform. We're very happy with this scale and I don't see why anyone wouldn't be! It's affordable, beautiful, and easy to use.

You can purchase this Ozeri Rev Digital Bathroom Scale on Amazon.com for $29.95.

 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Casio CTK-2300 Keyboard {Review}

Music is a big deal in the Reynolds household. We constantly surround ourselves with music through Pandora, TV, movies and random singing throughout our day. As Buddy gets older, we’ve seen the pure joy and excitement that comes when he gets to play an instrument or sing a song in his weekly homeschool group too. Kids are just fascinated with music and instruments, and that's an interest to grab ahold of and foster! Whether it's the piano at grandma’s house, the tin whistle he plays in his homeschool group, his toy harmonica, train whistle, or play guitar, I want music to continue to be an integral part of Buddy's life. 

As a girl I had several years of piano lessons. When we visit my mom and have the opportunity to play her piano, I seem to pick up right where I left off and play a tune or two that I memorized years ago! It's really a joy and accomplishment to me when I see that I can still actually play. In fact, lately I've had the urge to revive my piano playing days and even teach Buddy at home too. Without a piano though, that's a bit tough! The next best thing was to research portable keyboards which led me Casio, a world leader in innovative electronic products.

 I received complimentary product for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

Casio kindly sent my family the CTK-2300 keyboard. This portable keyboard is just a taste of the insanely cool features that higher-end Casio portable keyboards can hold, and yet the CTK-2300 is filled to the brim with plenty of neat functions in itself. I, for one, was astounded to see all the things it's capable of!

The CTK-2300 keyboard offers pure playing pleasure with 61 piano-style keys. Discover the instrument's numerous features: whether you want to dive into a colorful world of 150 rhythms, use the sampling function together with the five Voice Pads or connect a CD or MP3 player via the audio input so that you can play along with your favorite songs on the keyboard. The CTK-2300 provides a huge range of features and functions. And the step-up learning system makes it easy to hear the progress made in your playing skills.

• Five Voice Pads
• 48-Note Polyphony AHL Sound Source
• 400 Tones, 150 Rhythms, 10 Digital Reverb Effects & 110 Built-In Songs
• Step Up Lesson System
• Can be powered by batteries or with the included AC adapter

Although the features on the keyboard are rich, you’ll just have fun learning and playing around on the keyboard like Buddy. Just discovering the different each of the 400 tones was entertainment in itself! The keys are somewhat weighted, so just resting your fingers on the keys isn't going to sound them all off. It feels very much like a piano to me! I do love the volume control though, since experimenting with all the features can often sound like utter chaos.

We’ve really enjoyed the Step Up Lesson System feature that teaches you how to play with a little extra help from the digital screen. In fact, Hubby learned to play a few Christmas songs this way, without having to read music. He played the guitar as a teenager, but never learned to read music. With this function, learning to play a tune right away doesn't necessarily require knowing how to read music.

The CTK-2300 includes an A/C adapter and Song Book. You can also purchase additional accessories including a bench or a keyboard stand. The Song Book has 89 songs, with varying levels from beginner to expert. For those with some playing ability already, this is a great start to learning to play new pieces. 

We’ll be using this keyboard to teach Buddy how to play and perhaps get him professional lessons in the near future. For now I'm working on teaching him how to hold his hands lightly on the keys and play gently. He's so eager to learn more that he's constantly asking me to teach him how to play. I'm off to find a children's lesson book to help him learn to read music and play beginner songs!

I'm so excited about this new adventure in learning for Buddy. The Casio CTK-2300 keyboard is certainly working out great for our family. It's a teaching tool that will be around for years to come, so I consider it a great investment for any family that enjoys music. It doesn't take up much space, and the opportunities for learning are endless.

The Casio CTK-2300 keyboard retails for $169.99 and can be purchased at ShopCasio.com.