Father's Day Gift Guide: ROKiT phone

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

We all know that Dads can be notoriously hard to shop for on Father's Day. This year, gift him something he'll actually use, a new ROKiT phone.

ROKiT, a people-first telecomms company that launched this spring makes it easier than ever to keep in touch with unlimited wifi calling. With or without a SIM card, dad can reach you anytime he's on wifi. The line of affordable mobile handsets (ranging from $34.99 - $299.99) feature perks including ROK Drive (to help you out when you get a flat) and ROK Health (with telemedicine).

If your dad is keeping up with the latest technological advances, he'll get a kick out of watching videos on his new ROKiT IO Pro 3D with glasses-free 3D technology. Through the ROKFLIX 3D app, he’ll have access to an expansive catalogue of feature films and custom content.

We received the ROKiT IO 3D and we are LOVIN' It!

The name speaks for itself. The screen on this unlocked smartphone has glasses-free built-in 3D capability. That's right - you can watch 3D content without glasses. It includes 4G, 16 GB memory, dual-SIM, and a fingerprint sensor.

Every IO Pro purchase includes:

• 12 months of ROK Talk free: Call any number in the US, plus 60 countries.
• 3 months of ROK Media free: Enjoy music, games, TV, Movies, and the world's largest 3D library, all accessible through your ROK Launch Control app.
• 12 months of ROK Health free: Talk to a doctor 24/7, and save up to 70% off prescription medication.

ROKiT phones are the perfect gift for dads because it's something they'll actually use!

Buy It:

You can purchase ROKiT phones at Walmart.com 

Disclosure: A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Make Everyone Happy this Holiday Season with the Alcatel Idol 4 Phone

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

For parents, the weeks between Thanksgiving and the Christmas include making and revising endless shopping lists to satisfy the holiday wishes of children, while not leaving their pockets completely empty for the new year. With the following produc everyone will be happy this holiday season—kids, parents AND wallets!

As children become independent, it’s crucial for parents to be able to reach their children. The inexpensive yet reliable IDOL 4 phone is the perfect first phone for your pre-teen. At just $99, the IDOL 4 boasts amazing audio features and allows kids to mix their own music with the Onetouch music. Awesome VR content is also easily accessible via the pre-installed Littlstar app, so users can immerse themselves in experiences they’ve never dreamed of – whether it’s going backstage with their favorite music artist, touring great European cities or discovering other action-packed moments.

The IDOL 4’s unique smartphone + VR goggles package offers Virtual Reality for everyone. Virtual reality is just like being there! With Alcatel Virtual Reality Goggles, you can ski the Alps, take in a concert, walk the red carpet or get right in the action of your favorite game, from the comfort of your chair! The IDOL 4 provides access to high-quality VR content and pre-loaded apps like VR content pioneer Littlstar. Simply insert your IDOL 4 into the goggles to view and play 2D and 3D games, videos, and other virtual reality applications from the pre-installed VR Launcher.

The IDOL 4 continues the design legacy of the IDOL name featuring an all glass body for timeless look and feel. The full metal frame gives the IDOL 4 an elegant touch. And the 5.2 inch Full HD display provides a brilliant viewing experience even under direct sunlight.

The IDOL 4 features a sharp 13 MP main camera which includes manual settings, Panorama mode, and High Dynamic Range (HDR) for crisp photos even in low light. The 8 MP, wide-angle front camera with flash makes group selfies easy even without the selfie stick. Fast-face focus allows you to quickly capture the perfect shot, so you never miss any of life’s moments. And the IDOL 4’s MICRO-VIDEO is your handy one-click video editor that lets you record different scenes and add fun effects without any other software required.

I literally just switched to Cricket as a wireless carrier and was searching and searching for a good phone with a good camera and fast speed for all the work I do and pictures I take of my kids. The IDOL 4 takes GREAT pictures and my kids (and husband!) LOVE the VR goggles and games included on the phone! Everyone wins with this phone - and the price is great too!

Buy It:

You can purchase the Idol 4 for $99.99 with activation from Cricket Wireless.

* Thank you to Alcatel for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

NEW Luvs #Momoji Keyboard & $100 AMEX GC #Giveaway

This review and giveaway was made possible by iConnect Influencer Management and Luvs. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Hey parents, ever trying to text your spouse, partner or family member about your really bad, no good, really horrible morning or day with the children? Maybe a huge poop explosion happened, followed by puking, peeing or tantrums. Don't we all have those days?? Don't you just want to have the right emojis to tell someone about it???

Now you can with the new Luvs Momoji Keyboard! When it comes to parenting, sometimes words just aren’t enough. The first custom emoji keyboard created specifically for moms and dads, the Luvs Momoji Keyboard was inspired by experienced parents and their affinity for emoji use, and gives parents more ways to easily express all the emotions that come with real-life parenting.

A picture is definitely worth a thousand words! Sometimes communicating a diaper blowout or your toddler’s public meltdown is best and most easily expressed in emoji form - and now you can express it very clearly and visuallys with this awesome “Momoji” keyboard!

PLUS, this Luvs Momoji Keyboard app is the first to offer access to the latest in emoji technology – the Promoji – which helps busy moms hunt for diaper deals on the go. Through the first-ever use of Promojis (promotional emojis), busy moms will be able to hunt for diaper deals and coupons from Luvs on the go, including Luvs with NightLock.

With new larger stretch tabs for easy fastening, and the same ultra-leakage protection and money-back guarantee, Luvs with NightLock™ provides the high-quality features babies and parents need for less cost then the premium brands.

Luvs makes it possible to vent about your day AND save! Doesn't get much better than that when you are a parent! :)

Now I can communicate to my husband how our day is going at home with less words and more accurate pictures! :)

Best of all, the Luvs Momoji Keyboard can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store℠ for iOS devices and Google Play™ for Android devices. Once downloaded, parents can use the Luvs emojis characters in SMS & MMS iMessage, Hangouts, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, Tango, and Gmail as a way to easily express the emotions that come with real-life parenting.

Twitter Party Time!!!

And make sure to head over to the fun Luv's #Momoji twitter party with @iConnectIm on December 15, 2015 @ 9pm EST!

Win It:

Luvs is generously offering (1) $100 Amex gift card and one package of diapers (size 1-6) to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) $100 Amex gift card 
AND
(1) package of diapers (size 1-6)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* This review and giveaway was made possible by iConnect Influencer Management and Luvs. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.*

Free Up Space On Your Phone With SanDisk Devices

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

With summer vacations, beach trips, family reunions and so much more happening this summer, I am sure your phones are full of pictures! I know mine are!

Well, if you are trying to free up space for more music, you need to access more files when email is not available, or you just want to take more pictures now that Back to School time is almost here then check out these great devices from SanDisk that seamlessly transfer content across devices!

Both the Ultra Dual Drive 3.0 for Android devices and iXpand Flash Drive for iOS devices have dual connector features on each of these devices that help to bridge content across phones, tablets, and computers. At work, at home, or on-the-go, these devices create an easy method for freeing up much-needed space on mobile devices, without the cumbersome USB cables or internet connection.

Check out more below:

iXpand Flash Drive for iPhone and iPad

The iXpand™ Flash Drive is the easiest way to transfer photos and videos between your iPhone, iPad, PCs and Mac computers. Quickly free up memory on your iPhone or iPad, and instantly expand storage by up to 128GB.

This Flash Drive:

• Automatically copies photos and videos from the camera roll to the drive when connected
• Play all popular format videos and music files from the drive
• Durable, flexible connector plugs in easily with most iPhone/iPad cases

SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive 3.0

Quickly and easily transfer your files between OTG-enabled Android™ smartphones and tablets and PC and Mac computers. 

Just connect the drive to the micro-USB port of your Android device to move up to 64GB of content to the drive. Then transfer files from drive to computer at up to 130MB/s with the high-speed USB 3.0 connector. The SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive 3.0 makes it easy—and fast—to free up space for photos, videos, songs, and more.

If you are like me and your phone fills up fast with photos of your children, work or other things, then these SanDisk devices are a must have!

Buy It:

You can purchase these SanDisk products at your local retailer like Walmart, Best Buy and Sears.

* Thank you to SanDisk a for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Give Moto E for Father's Day!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Is the Dad in your life looking for a new phone this Father's Day?

Then let me introduce you to Moto E, which requires no contract!

Moto E features a fast quad-core processor with 3G or 4G LTE, plus the latest version of Android™ OS, Lollipop. Not to mention battery life that lasts a full day, so you can get on with yours.

The Moto E brings some of the most premium experiences to a most affordable phone. It runs Google’s new OS, Lollipop, out of the box and is durable and attractive as well.

Why Moto E?

With Moto E, you can choose 4G LTE or 3G speed and connect with anyone, anywhere! Plus, you can do more, faster with the Quad-core processor and I LOVE the all day battery!!!

And you get to enjoy the latest Android OS, Android™ 5.0, Lollipop with an expandable memory of 8GB of storage, with a slot for an optional microSD card.

With the Moto E, you can start getting more without spending more! This makes an affordable gift this Father's Day for a Dad that wants a great phone with all the features that matter!

Buy It: 

You can purchase the Moto E starting at $119.99 from the Motorola website.

* Thank you to Motorola for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

NET10 Wireless

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

The holidays will be here before you know it, and many consumers are already putting together gift ideas and wish lists. In 2013, 33% of consumers’ overall holiday gift budgets went to consumer electronics and, as we see the trend of electronics gifts continue to grow, NET10 Wireless has affordable and easy pre-paid phone plan options perfect for everyone on your list this year!

NET10 Wireless, America’s largest no-contract cell phone provider, is the perfect gift to keep in touch with loved ones even after they’re home for the holidays.

NET10 offers a variety of airtime choices, and with unlimited talk, text and data plans starting at just $40/month, they can experience the independence they crave. Even more, Net10 Wireless’ BYOP program gives them freedom of device – allowing them to keep the phone they love while getting the best mobile experience from the nation’s best 4G LTE networks at about half the cost.

My husband LOVES his Samsung Galaxy S4 and the NET10 Wireless service he recently switched to! He has gotten great service, saved a lot of money each month and upgraded to a great phone!

Net10 has partnered with the country's top four carriers to bring you the network quality you need. The only difference is the cost–they don't have to pay to build or maintain a nationwide network of towers. That means you get the same dependable coverage they offer–for half the cost.

NET10 Wireless also makes it as easy as possible for you to start calling, texting, surfing, sharing and saving – right away. First, you need a phone – either one of their new Android smartphones or your current phone updated with a NET10 Wireless SIM card. Then pick the plan that works best for you, follow the activation steps, and you’re good to go!

Only you know how much data, talk and text you need. So only you should decide how much to get. Of course, no matter which plan you choose, you’ll always save more with NET10 Wireless. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Tired of following someone else’s rules just to get the good stuff? With NET10 Wireless, you get to call the shots and get the good stuff, including exceptional service. Because you’re not locked into a contract, you can change phones or plans whenever you want with no penalties.

Buy It: 

You can purchase the NET10 Wireless plans and phones from the NET10 Wireless website

* Thank you to NET10 Wireless for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Nokia Lumia 635 with Cortana & Giveaway

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

In honor of super-busy moms everywhere (and others who need a helping hand from time to time), the Lumia 635 smartphone is equipped with Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana to help keep us organized and on time!

With the launch of personal digital assistant Cortana on the new Windows Phone 8.1 software, an afternoon reminder to pick up dinner is as easy as having a “human” conversation with Cortana. To demonstrate Cortana’s many other abilities, I'd love for you to watch this funny skit by Microsoft Devices, showing how Cortana can be your go-to helper.

And besides your own personal assistant, the Lumia 635 also has a lot of other features to offer!

Key Features

• Enjoy a faster smartphone experience with 4G connectivity, quad core processing and Windows Phone 8.1
• Get more from apps and games like Instagram and Asphalt 8 and Vimeo with 4.5” ClearBlack screen
• Express your style with colorful changeable shells
• Better experiences from Nokia apps include maps and navigation from HERE, plus free MixRadio music streaming
• 4.5 inch ClearBlack screen
• 5 megapixel camera
• 1.2GHz quad core processor
• 25 days standby time
• 8GB internal memory

The Nokia Lumia 635 has almost everything you've been looking for in a smartphone packed into a beautifully designed silhouette. With its powerful quad-core processor and Windows® operating system, the Lumia 635 keeps up with your day-to-day activities. Features of the Nokia Lumia 635 include:

With the Windows Phone® 8.1 you can add a personalized touch to your experience and socially interact and text on the intuitive keyboard. And I know as a busy mom, I could DEFINITELY use Cortana, a virtual personal assistant who learns about me and offers helpful suggestions!

And enter below to win your very own personal assistant with the Nokia Lumia 635!

Win It: 

Nokia is generously offering (1) AT&T Lumia 635 device (without service. The device comes with a SIM card inside the box which the winner can activate online, choosing from a variety of monthly plans. Alternatively, if they have AT&T service already and want to make this their new main phone, they can simply take the SIM from their old device and pop it into the Lumia 635. If they don’t have AT&T service, they also have the option of picking up a SIM from an AT&T store) to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) AT&T Lumia 635 Smartphone

(Comes without service. The device comes with a SIM card inside the box which the winner can activate online, choosing from a variety of monthly plans. Alternatively, if they have AT&T service already and want to make this their new main phone, they can simply take the SIM from their old device and pop it into the Lumia 635. If they don’t have AT&T service, they also have the option of picking up a SIM from an AT&T store.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Stay Connected for FREE with Scratch Wireless

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

I am always on the lookout for a cheaper cellphone plan because I don't talk on the phone that often...I usually only use my cellphone to text and for internet purposes (Facebook, Twitter, etc). I hate spending $100's on a cell phone bill each month and I think it is ridiculous! We are currently on a pay as you go monthly plan but I only have a limited amount of talking minutes each month. But, I have yet to find a cheaper alternative!

However, if you are like me and don't talk much on your phone and only want it for mainly texting, let me recommend a new cell phone company that is FREE! Yes, I said FREE! I didn't believe it either but I have tried out Scratch Wireless and it really is free..under certain conditions!

Scratch Wireless is a completely new type of phone company that believes cellphone service can and should be free.

Here’s how it works: 

You buy a Scratch phone (a terrific Motorola Photon Q) for $269, and then you use it for free over existing Wi-Fi networks. That’s it. If you need to make a call or use data when you’re not in Wi-Fi, you can buy a pass ($1.99). But you never have to buy anything if you don’t want to. In fact, 70 percent of existing Scratch users have never paid anything for service. Texting – which is what most people use most of the time, anyway – is always free.

Scratch Wireless is perfect the perfect back to school solution for parents who want to stay connected with their kids without adding another high-priced monthly bill. Scratch offers a great Android-enabled device that has all the apps and games kids want, and gives parents the peace of mind in knowing they can always check-in with their children.

Because the Scratch-enabled smartphone works over Wi-Fi, you can take it with you anywhere. Scratch’s beta-test customers are already “living free”: 95 percent of have made voice calls on Wi-Fi, 72 percent are texting on Wi-Fi, and 100 percent have been texting (for free) when out of Wi-Fi.

I really love the Motorola Photon Q and would definitely choose the quality of this phone over the one I use now. However, I found that it didn't connect very well or stay connected to free Wi-Fi and the phone calls that were made over the free Wi-Fi were either hard to hear or cut out. SO basically you get what you pay for...However, the customer service was quick to help and were very friendly!

Overall, I think Scratch Wireless is a great idea and this plan and phone may be perfect for your child as they head back to school - it is a great way of making sure they don't talk and drive or use too many minutes a month on your plan. They will always be able to communicate to you by text! Also, the minute and data plans they offer ARE really affordable if you want to just go with that option! It will still be cheaper than most phone plans out there!

Buy It: You can purchase the Motorola Photon Q for $269 and if you need to make phone calls or data plans start as low as $1.99 for a 24 hour pass and $14.99 for a month pass for either data or voice. See more info and get started at the Scratch Wireless website.

* Thank you to Scratch Wireless for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*