Crafty 4th of July Fun + Aquafresh® Sugar Acid Protection

 The Aquafresh brand has compensated me in connection with the statements made in this post.

Fun fact: The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. Something about the warm weather, fireworks, picnics, and getting together with friends and family outdoors really gets me feeling happy. I also love how you can walk around my neighborhood and smell all those barbecue pits burning with deliciousness. Yeah. The 4th is all about food in my book.

Today's post is in partnership with SheKnows and Aquafresh® toothpaste. As many of you know, I've written about Aquafresh® in the past. What's good? Well, their toothpastes provide Sugar Acid Protection from active fluoride. This protection works to strengthen and shield teeth against sugar acid attacks. You know, the kind you get from everyday foods and drinks. And yes: even from our beloved holiday foods and treats.

The thing is, there are also plenty of ways to celebrate July 4th. So, today I thought I'd share a fun art project you can do with your kids to get everyone in the spirit. I used to do this simple fireworks and/or flowers painting project with my mom when I was a kid - long before I saw it pop up on Pinterest boards.

FIREWORKS/FLOWER STAMP PAINTING

All you need:

• Scissors
• Used up paper towel or toilet paper roll
• Different colors of paint (stick with red, white, and blue = super festive!)
• Paper plates (to hold paint) 
• Construction or other paper (Black would be great for fireworks!)
• Glitter or glitter paint (optional) 

Ada wanted to make flowers for this post.

So, here they are!

Instructions:

1. Simply squirt a bit of each type of paint onto a plate. I like to mix different colors together to get a swirl effect with flowers. Paint will likely go everywhere, so make sure you put down some type of vinyl tablecloth or even just a garbage bag.
2. Adults: Cut the end of the paper towel or toilet paper roll in straight lines. Experiment with going thicker or thinner/longer or shorter for different fireworks or flower shapes. (This would also make a great sun stamp!) 
3. This probably goes without saying, but you fold the cut parts out so they make a fireworks shape.
4. Then have your child dip the new stamp you've made into the paint and go crazy!
5. You can decorate your photo with glitter for extra dazzle.

Back to Aquafresh®. Their Multi-Action Whitening toothpaste is all about Sugar Acid Protection through active fluoride to help prevent cavities*.

It has six key benefits in one toothpaste:

• Cavity Protection 
• Healthy gums*
• Freshens breath 
• Great taste 
• Whitening*
• Enamel Strengthening 

*With twice daily brushing

Happy 4th! Remember to brush after all your tasty party treats. And if you're interested, you can grab a coupon to try the Multi-Action Whitening toothpaste right here. Visit Aquafresh® toothpaste on Facebook and Twitter.
Do you have any kid-approved 4th of July art projects? Tell me about them in the comments and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card!
Entry Instructions:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 6/1/2016 - 6/30/2016
Be sure to visit the Aquafresh® brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by Aquafresh® or GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

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Spring Sugar Acid Protection from Aquafresh® toothpaste

A dental hygienist visited Ada's preschool recently. Ever since, she's been like our own resident dentist, sharing all the DOs and DON'Ts of good oral hygiene. When we cut into Stephen's birthday cake this year, Ada made sure to mention that sweets aren't always so great for your teeth. Of course, we aren't about to cut out some of our favorite celebration foods, so we had a nice discussion with her about moderation.

What happened after dessert? She made us take a family trip to the bathroom to brush our teeth. These preschool years continue to amaze me.


Today's post is about about Aquafresh® toothpastein partnership with SheKnows. Their toothpastes provide Sugar Acid Protection from active fluoride. This both strengthens and shields teeth against sugar acid attack from everyday foods and drinks, the primary cause of cavities.

This spring, there's plenty of sugar flowing between holidays, parties at school, and my own pregnancy cravings. I'm not going to limit it all, nor do I think a little sugar every now and again is such a bad thing to enjoy. One of our favorite treats, though, doesn't have any added sugar at all. Instead, it's a basic breakfast smoothie filled with berry goodness, a dose of vegetarian protein, and gut-healthy active cultures.

And did I mention it's incredibly easy to make?

STRAWBERRY LASSI

(serves 1)

Blend together:

• 1/2 cup (heaping) frozen strawberries
• 1 cup plain kefir
• Couple tablespoons water

PS: If you're feeling really adventurous, you can add a handful of kale or your favorite greens into the mix as well. 

When it comes time to brush, it's good to know that Aquafresh Multi Action is all about Sugar Acid Protection through active fluoride. It has 6 key benefits in 1 toothpaste:

• Cavity Protection 
• Healthy gums*
• Fresh breath 
• Great taste 
• Whitening*
• Enamel Strengthening 

*With twice daily brushing

You can grab a coupon to try it right here. Visit Aquafresh® toothpaste on Facebook and Twitter.

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10 Cups a Day // GE Water Filters

Ever since we started trying to conceive number two, I've been particularly picky about the stuff I put in and on my body. For example, we swapped out more conventional body and beauty products with natural counterparts (and I even make some of my own, like my DIY face scrub). We started eating fewer fruits and veggies from the dirty dozen. And I even started getting more concerned with that beverage we all consume in gallons each week -- water.

I mean, seriously. Pregnant women are supposed to drink a whopping 10 cups (2.4 liters) of fluids (mostly water) each day according to the Institute of Medicine. If you're active, and I try to be, you should guzzle even more. The reason why so much isn't incredibly surprising. Hydration is important no matter your walk of life.


For pregnant women, lots of water helps to prevent:

• Constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Excessive swelling
• UTIs and bladder infections
• Premature or early labor

I'd like to avoid all that . . . so, I'll grab another glass. Today's post is in partnership with General Electric (GE) and SheKnows. The topic? Water filtration. While I used to heartily source my cups directly from the tap, I started thinking more about water filtration when I upped my intake during pregnancy. We now filter our water through our refrigerator, and it's a system that works well for us.

Let's take a quick step back. What about bottled water? Well, I'm glad you asked. I've long shunned bottled water for environmental impact reasons. Who wants to waste all that plastic? When I researched a freelance article for Wisebread a few years ago, I learned a ton about this 11 billion dollar industry and water in general.

Here are the highlights:

• Bottled water costs 240 to over 10,000 times more per gallon than tap water.
• Water -- even poured in the same area -- can have wildly different contents depending on a building's pipe age, material, etc.
• 25% (to as much as 40%) of the bottled waters consumed in the U.S. come from municipal water supplies.

So, I think you can see how filtration beats out the bottle on a variety of points. You can use your own container (mine is the Lifefactory 22-ouncer -- this bottle goes with me absolutely everywhere). You can pay your regular water bill. You can drink clean water. Those are all positives in my opinion.


Did you know that there are three different ways you can use water filters in your home?

• Refrigeration filtration (this is the kind that fit conveniently into your fridge if you have a water source like we do)
• Under the sink filtration (systems that filter water at your sink – Check out this new under the sink model (it doesn’t require an added tap and is super easy to install. You turn the controller when you want filtered tap water! )
• Whole house filtration (as it sounds, this system filters water directly at the source for all your cooking, cleaning, drinking, bathing, etc. -- we have particularly hard water in my town, so this is something we're investigating.)

GE offers a variety of water filters that fit right into all these systems -- from GE appliances, reverse osmosis systems, and more. (They even make a water filter specific for select Keurig machines!) These filters contribute to better-tasting, safer water that will also save you big bucks in the long run.

You can find their entire selection of filters and options on their website.

Not only does the water coming out of a filter (from experience) taste cleaner and clearer than what comes out of the tap, it's also far lower in common contaminants, minerals, and other hard deposits that even "safe" tap water contains. And if you're drinking a lot of it like I am, it's also good to know that fresh, filtered water only costs a few cents per gallon versus upwards of $5 with bottled counterparts.

How do you guys handle water in your homes? 

Do you do bottled?
Drink directly from your tap?
Or do you use a filter?

Answer below for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

• Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post 
• Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
• Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post 

For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska).

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

 The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 3/22/16 – 4/21/16.

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JCPenney // Where Giving Begins

When I last featured JCPenney on the blog, I told you guys all about how the store had been a part of my back-to-school routine since I was a kid. Well, the same goes for Christmas! Each and every year about a month or so before the holiday, my grandparents would drop off the big (I mean BIG!) holiday catalog at our house and tell us to circle anything that looked especially exciting to us.

Here’s the thing about that catalog. Where I’m from, there aren’t a lot of toy stores. So, the items I would see in the toy section were out-of-this-world to me. One year, I picked out a huge dollhouse. Another year, my brother and I decided we’d like a kid-sized pool table for the basement playroom. And the year I remember best? My grandparents gave my cousin, my brother, and me ventriloquist dummies! I named mine Harry.

Now that I’m the person doing the holiday shopping, I’m looking for a few things. First, I want unique, quality gifts. I don’t want to have to shop around too much (especially this year with the morning sickness!). And I want good deals. (Who doesn’t?).


SheKnows gave me the opportunity to revisit my holiday history with JCPenney and shop for some of my family’s Christmas gifts this year. A gift toast, if you will. Now, I would have headed to the store (it’s only a few miles away from my front door), but I decided to do it online because they were having some great sales.

Stephen started his career as a cross country coach this year. So, when I saw that JCPenney sells Nike apparel, shoes, and gear, I knew immediately what I wanted to get for my fitness guy. I chose the Nike Club Swoosh Fleece Pullover and the Nike Club Swoosh Fleece Jogger Pants.


Here are more Nike gifts I considered:


For my cuddle buddy Ada? Oh, that was entirely too easy! The store has an amazing selection of Disney toys, so I browsed around and very quickly found exactly what I was looking for: a 9-pack of Disney Princess Dolls.

Talk about the crazy impact this box is going to have on Christmas morning!


Here are more Disney gifts I considered:


And then I decided to gift myself (the cooker and baker of the house) something small. Honestly, I’m pretty sure my gift will keep giving to my family for years to come when I make food for the holidays. JCPenney carries KitchenAid, and I chose this 5-Speed Hand Mixer that I already have some holiday recipes in mind for.



Here are some more great KitchenAid gifts:



JCPenney has gifts for everyone on your list, including stuff from:

• Nike 
• Levi’s 
• Keurig 
• Kitchen Aid 
• Nutribullet 
• Diamond Stud Earrings 
• Disney 
• Star Wars 
• Boots 
• Team Sports Apparel

If you’re still shopping for all your favorite people, check out JCPenney’s gifts. You can also also follow the store on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Youtube, and Google+! All month long, JCPenney will be playing secret Santa to #GiftToast different celebrities with fun and entertaining gifts. Check out the hashtag and chime in for your own chance to get gifted some cool stuff!

What are some of your favorite gifts you plan to give this year? Tell me for your chance to win a $100 JCPenney gift card!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 12/10/2015 – 12/31/2015

Be sure to visit JCPenney’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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AT&T 2015 Gift Guide + Giveaway

Disclosure: I received product in exchange for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Have you ever regifted something? You know what I mean. Like that label maker Dr. Tim Whatley gave to Jerry in Seinfeld? I’m not going to lie. I’m totally guilty. One year for Christmas I was given not one, not two, but THREE fondue pots! (Seriously.) So, if you have received a fondue pot from me, yes. I regifted it to you. Sorry! I hope knowing doesn’t make those melty beer + cheese fondues any less tasty.

I’m writing today in partnership with AT&T to share some presents your friends and family definitely won’t want to regift. Its 12 Days of Giving program is all about the best and brightest way to “mobilize your world for the holidays.”

I’ll be reviewing one of the featured products today, but you can check out AT&T’s 2015 Gift Guide for more ideas! And visit the Holiday Hub for more blog posts, news, and other information.

LG G Pad X 10.1 // Review

I was given the LG G Pad X 10.1 device to review for this post. Talk about a great gift. When I opened the package, I was immediately struck by how wide the screen is in landscape orientation. It’s absolutely perfect for watching movies and television shows (like my favorite: Fixer Upper!). Better yet, it comes with the DIRECTV app that lets you watch shows you DVR, live television, movies, and more.

The system runs all my Google apps, so I’m able to get in a little work on the device on the couch or wherever I find myself. The system is intuitive and easy to use right out of the box. Holds a charge really well, too.



More Specs:

• 10.1 inch (1920 x 1200 pixels) resolution IPS LCD screen 
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 2.26 GHz quad-core processor 
• 2GB of RAM 
• 32GB of internal storage with microSD expansion card slot 
• Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system 
• 7400 mAh battery 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS 
• 2 megapixel front facing camera and rear 8 megapixel camera  

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a gift for your media-crazed loved ones, this one is a winner.

Giveaway + Sweeps

Would you like to win a LG G Pad X 10.1?

Well, here’s your chance: Just leave a comment below telling me something you’ve regifted. Or maybe tell me about something you know you got as a regift. Make sure you leave some way to contact you. This giveaway is only open to US residents.

Want to win other cool stuff? AT&T is hosting the #ATTGiftSweeps Holiday sweepstakes -- 12 days of daily sweepstakes -- running between December 1st and 12th. You'll have a chance to win daily prizes that include fitness wearables, smartphones, tablets, and accessories.

You can learn how to enter at EnterToWin.ATT.com. And don’t forget to follow @ATT on Twitter and join the conversation on Facebook.

Happy Sunday, and good luck!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Personalized Gifts with Walmart Photo

You guys know I used to dabble with semi-professional photography. It seems I’m pulling out my camera less and less these days. But we still have a ton of memories that never make it from computer to print. Slowly, I want to change that. Get albums printed. Do other stuff with all these beautiful photos.

BlogHer recently gave me the opportunity to use some of my photos in a new way. Now, I must explain before I get into the sponsored portion that I use Walmart Photo for much of my own printing needs. It’s convenient and quick. Inexpensive but quality. They don’t do a lot of auto-correcting when I send over my prints.

So, I was thrilled to get the chance to see some of my pictures come to life on gorgeous ornaments that will hang on our Christmas tree this year and for many years to come.

Check them out!


The ornaments come in a variety of materials, designs, and themes. I like these simple metal ones because they go well with our tree’s more rustic theme. We’re doing beeswax and galvanized ornaments, so these blend in well. They are solid, sturdy ornaments, too. Don’t have to worry about the cats knocking them off the tree and breaking them!

Right now, ornaments are $10 each through January 5th.


Walmart Photo has a ton of other holiday photo gifts and promotions if you’re looking for something a little more personal for the people on your list. I’ve ordered canvas prints in the past, and they have come out very nicely. Last year I ordered a canvas of Ada playing in the snow for my grandparents and it’s one of the first things you see when you enter their home because they love it so much.

Just FYI, if you’re interested in canvas prints, they’re running a promotion through January 5th where you can get $5 off your same-day canvas orders and up to 30% off other same-day gifts. Walmart.com/photo is also running a Cyber Week deal that if you order online and pick up in store, 11x14 is $22.47 and 16x20 is $29.97, good through 12/7.

Getting ready to do your annual holiday cards? Walmart has those too. Check out their Card section for more information. In-store 4 x 8 cards start at just 44 cents each and 5 x 7 cards start at 75 cents each. And many of the cards (and other prints, etc.) can be printed in just an hour for those of you who wait till the last minute like I do. Thank goodness.


Walmart Photo offers mugs, calendars, blankets, mounted photos, puzzles, tote bags, photo books, coasters, and more. Seriously, you can slap your image on just about anything these days. It’s a wonderful way to add a special touch to your holiday gift giving. There are over 3,500 photo locations across the US and -- of course -- you can always order online. Walmart is also offering free shipping on all cards and gifts through December 30th this year!

Do you do photo gifts?

I’m thinking about creating a calendar for my family this year featuring old and new family pictures. I just need to figure out what photos will work for what month. Or maybe do a collage or something. Tell me about your favorite photo gift.

And check out Walmart Photo on

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Google+.

Be sure to visit Walmart Photo's brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers' posts.

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The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep // Review

Ada is now four years old. And I wish I could say that our bedtime routine is down to a science. The thing is, with every new stage and every new age, we have faced different challenges. When Ada was a tiny newborn, it was figuring out why she was crying. As an older baby, she’d wake in the middle of the night and not want to go back to sleep. The toddler years were a mix of good and bad, solid months of shut-eye were interspersed with months of frequent wakings and bedtime resistance.

At the preschool stage, it’s the willpower that’s the most difficult to overcome. Ada has definite opinions on if and when she’s tired. She’ll flat out tell us she’s not going to sleep. Or she’ll get all cozy and then have us up in her room 10,000 more times before she’ll actually go to sleep. It’s an ongoing battle, and I won’t lie: There are nights we just dread bedtime.

And we even have a consistent routine!


BlogHer and Random House Children's Books gave me the opportunity to review The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep -- #1 International Bestseller / New York Times bestseller -- by Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin and illustrated by Irina Maununen. I had actually read a few articles (including this one on HuffPost) and reviews of this book in the last several months -- so I knew I just had to see what it was all about.

My first impression of the book is that it was super cute and quite long. Ada’s attention span is good, but I didn’t know if we’d make it through the whole thing. But I quickly learned that’s not the point. What I found is that there’s a method of reading the text that helps lull your kids to sleep. In fact, I’ve read that some kids can only make it a few pages without falling asleep!

For example, anything that’s bolded is meant to be read in a strong, emphasized tone. The stuff in italics? Read it quietly and slowly. You can definitely pick up on the calm with the rhythm and cadence of the words. The author has even described the text as a verbal way to rock your child to sleep. I totally see that and feel that when I read it.

Heck -- I get tired!


Does it work?

It definitely helps. Ada didn’t magically fall asleep while we were reading the book or anything like that (I never thought she would -- she can’t even sleep if we’re in the room). But what it does is assist with is that difficult transition between waking and sleeping. The whole calming phase.

I love how the book puts Ada in the story. The nights when we read the book, Ada didn’t ask us to come back up after we turned the lights out. So, I’d consider that a success! It’s certainly a book worth trying and would make an excellent gift for your friends with younger children.

Is bedtime a nightmare at your house? Tell me about it in the comments below for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card and a copy of The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep.

Visit RabbitGoToSleep.com to check out more about the book. You can also tweet to @randomhousekids using #RabbitGoToSleep.

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: #SweepstakesEntry" and "#RabbitGoToSleep"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. 

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 11/18/15-12/16/15.

Be sure to visit the Random House Children's Books brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Halloween + Spiced Crock Pot Applesauce

I absolutely love this time of year. Cool, crisp weather. Apples in abundance. Crunchy leaves beneath my feet. I can’t believe Halloween is just around the corner. And I’m one of the one in three people who started their Halloween shopping early this year. Yup! We bought Ada’s costume in August, and you’ll never guess what she chose. (I can’t wait to share the photos!)

I’m writing this post today in partnership with Aquafresh® and BlogHer. Did you know that Halloween is the third most popular holiday in America next to Thanksgiving and Christmas? I suppose it’s not a total shock. Pretty soon, we’ll be bringing home a bunch of chocolate bars, gummies, lollypops, and -- yes -- candy corn from our spooky walk around the neighborhood. (Oh, I have a soft spot for candy corn!)

We don’t have strict rules revolving around candy and Halloween. It’s (mostly) just one day of the year, after all. At the same time, we try to keep most of our autumn treats healthy. Every year, for example, we make homemade applesauce in the slow cooker. It’s a treat as much as all the candy is. Most recipes I’ve come across throughout the years call for a hefty dose of sugar. We don’t substitute anything special in its place. Instead, we leave the sugar out.

You know what? It still ends up tasting absolutely amazing with all its natural goodness. This recipe is a great one to make with small children. I suggest chopping the apples ahead of time and letting little hands put them into the pot. Then stir on the spice, start the cooker, and let the delicious aroma fill your kitchen.

It only takes a couple hours to turn this:



Into this!

SPICED CROCK-POT APPLESAUCE

What you’ll need . . . 

• Fresh apples. Total number depends on size. Enough to fill up crock pot.
• Ground cinnamon
• Lemon juice
• Slow cooker

Method . . . 

1. I never peel the skins off my apples. Simply wash and chop into wedges.
2. (I’m not too picky with the variety of apples I use. I made this batch with local Paula Reds.)
3. Fill up your crock pot with the apples. Then add a tablespoon or two of cinnamon.
4. Pour in a tablespoon or two of lemon juice, too.
5. Cook for two to three hours on high, stirring occasionally.
6. Then mash with a potato masher. Alternatively, you can wait for the applesauce to cool and process until smooth in your food processor.
7. Eat up within three to five days. Or store in glass jars in the freezer. If you haven’t used glass to freeze before, check out this post with instructions and more information.

// HALLOWEEN

To give your homemade applesauce a festive Halloween twist, you can even add a bit of canned pumpkin to the mix. The pumpkin gives it an orange color, thicker texture, and naturally sweet flavor. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak in some additional nutrition. It’s also a great side dish to bring to a party or fall potluck meal.

Aquafresh®

If you’re shopping around for a new toothpaste (for kids or adults) to help guard against all the sugar intake this season, here’s what Aquafresh® has to offer. You can visit their website, Facebook, or Twitter for more information.

• Aquafresh® toothpaste with Sugar Acid Protection from fluoride delivers the taste/fresh feeling and protects teeth from sugar acids caused by eating everyday foods. 
• Aquafresh® Extreme Clean Whitening Action includes gentle whiteners for a brighter smile.
• Aquafresh® Cavity Protection toothpaste with helps protect your teeth from cavities.
• Aquafresh® toothpaste protects tooth enamel from damage caused by sugar acids.

I hope you all enjoy a happy and safe Halloween this year. In all your fun, don’t forget to take care of your teeth! You don’t exactly want your smile to look like your Jack-o-lantern’s, right?
How are YOU going to protect your teeth this Halloween? Tell me in the comments and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions: 

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 10/29/2015 – 10/31/2015

Be sure to visit Aquafresh® toothpaste’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

Read more...

Back-to-School Style with JCPenney

I’ve mentioned it several times before, but Ada is starting universal pre-kindergarten this year. She’ll be in class for 2.5 hours each morning of the week. I honestly cannot believe we’re already enrolled in the public school system. It feels like a huge milestone.

BlogHer recently offered me the opportunity to check out JCPenney for back-to-school clothing. You guys, I had to share this with you. I have a special past with the store specifically in the fall season. I grew up in a small, remote mountain town. The nearest mall is around an hour away on winding back roads. But we had a few local shops for clothing as well as a JCPenney catalog store.

Each year before the start of school, my grandparents would generously offer to buy me new clothes to fit my ever-lengthening limbs. So, I’d leaf through the thick catalog and dream up outfits. I’d get all psyched up for school in the process. (And I’d get to do the same thing at Christmas with clothing and toys -- oh, how I’d look forward to that huge catalog.)

I’m sure you can imagine that as I shopped for Ada’s clothing I had a major flashback. This time, though, I was able to conveniently grab everything online. Heading to the store with an almost 4-year-old isn’t exactly my cup of tea. I easily clicked through all the options, Ada by my side, and we selected her school wardrobe together. I’m hoping it might be a tradition of sorts. It was fun seeing her express herself through style. Even at her young age, she definitely has likes and dislikes.

Here are a few outfits:


I was really impressed with the selection of quality clothing I was able to find on the site. (Her backpack is also so adorable when she’s not chewing the straps!) Ada is now in a 4T and even fitting some 5s! She’s a tall girl, that’s for sure. My favorite brands include Carters, Okie Dokie, Oshkosh B’gosh, and Levi’s. I tried to stick with clothing in a similar color palette so we can mix and match on busy mornings.

In my search, I noticed that JCPenney features a lot of cool trends including athleisure (casual + sporty clothing). This is particularly great for kids who play sports and engage in other active extracurriculars (or just hang around the playground). For example, I got Ada her first pair of "running tights” that also look adorable with a lot of her regular shirts.

I also see that the store carries a variety of dance and gymnastics clothing. That should come in handy since Ada is going to start either ballet or tap/jazz combo in September. Does your child wear a uniform to school? There’s a huge selection of those as well!

Of everything, I was most impressed with the prices. The majority of the clothing I picked out was already on sale. Then there was an additional 25 to 30 percent off store-wide the day I hit “submit” on my order. JCPenney is known for having good sales, so keep your eyes peeled for them!

Speaking of deals, if you head to the store, you’ll see that JCPenney offers more than just clothing. Check out some of these back-to-school promotions:

• $10 kids haircuts (grades K-6) through 8/31
• $29.99 eyeglasses (16 and under) through 9/15
• Extra 25 percent off with JCP Card or 15 percent with other payment
• SUPER SATURDAY SALE ($10 off $25) on 8/13 through 8/15

I guess you could say we’re ready for school to start. I’m sure I’ll still need a box of tissues on the first day. Thank you, JCPenney, for this trip down memory lane! Visit the store on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, and Google+ for the latest on sales and other promotions.

What trends are on your Back-to-School shopping list this fall? Tell me in the comments for a chance to win a $100 JCPenney gift card.

PS: Don’t miss National #ShoutOutDay on 8/12! JCPenney is starting a shout-out movement in hopes of bending the trend of judgement prevalent in schools towards one of positive reinforcement. 
JCPenney encourages anyone and everyone to join in on the conversation and hand out shout-outs to their friends, family and followers. Simply use #ShoutOutDay to jump in on the conversation. 

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 8/10/2015 – 9/10/2015

Be sure to visit JCPenney’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Super Cool Canvas Art // Gallery Direct

I spend a lot of time moving furniture and painting rooms to get our house looking more like a home. One area that I haven’t paid much attention to until recently is the art hanging on our walls. I’ve been rocking the same posters and prints we had in our apartments just after college. (Yes. Even the whole “Keep Calm, Carry On” thing -- yikes!)

Slowly, we’ve been adding some fun art pieces to our collection. For example, my parents gave me an awesome vintage map of my home area for my birthday this year. They got it professionally framed and matted -- it was the perfect gift. We also recently picked up a unique wooden art piece for our dining room.

GALLERY DIRECT

Since I’m an amateur photographer, I also love the idea of getting some of my photos printed. We’ve given canvas prints as gifts many times before, but have never snagged anything for our own walls. So, when the folks at Gallery Direct in Austin, TX, contacted me about their fine art and canvas wrap services, I was super excited to check them out.

Here’s my print:


This is a photo I took of the Pine Creek Gorge (a.k.a. Pennsylvania Grand Canyon).

It’s a slice of home right in my living room.


I actually think we’ll be hanging this piece in our family room (with the map of my home area), but the lighting is better in this space, which is why I photographed it here. My piece is a huge 40 inch by 27 inch size that’s awesome for hanging over a couch or other large piece of furniture.

Oh, and here’s how to create your custom print with text!

• Just take the full resolution (biggest) of the photo and put it in an editing program (I used PicMonkey). 
• It’s great if the photo has some good white space and I chose to convert mine to black and white.
• Then find a quote and type it onto the image. 
• Play around with fonts and sizes until you get it just right.

I went from this:


To this:


More info:

You can learn about Gallery Direct on their website. I was particularly impressed with the quality of my canvas print. Like I said, we’ve ordered ours from drug stores and big box stores . . . and the quality is adequate. But this was a huge step beyond. The print even came ready to hang on the wall.

• All pieces are made with love and shipped in Austin, TX.
• Art is printed on state-of-the-art HP printers atop top-of-the-line canvas, paper, birchwood, aluminum, and acrylic.
• The process is completely customizable -- if you dream it, they can print it.
• Turn around (from experience) is extremely fast. No 4 to 6 week turnaround time like with many other companies.
• If you order a print from their site, you’re supporting small artists.
• And check out the amazing reviews on Resellerratings.com.

I personally had a wonderful customer service experience. I wasn’t sure if my photo was high resolution enough to print in such a large format. But they helped me figure it out every step of the way.

INFO + GIVEAWAY [CLOSED]

Think you have something you’d like to print on canvas? 

Visit Gallery Direct’s Photo Upload Page!

The site is running an amazing sale TODAY through MONDAY (8/3) where you can get 75 percent off uploads on canvas gallery wraps and a whopping 45 percent off site-wide!

Better yet, I have a #giveaway for you guys. Leave a comment below telling me what you’d print off for a chance to win a $200 gift card to spend on the site. You can choose a piece from their photography or art galleries or print your own piece. It’s up to you!

This giveaway is open to anyone. And -- this is important -- I need you to leave an email address (or other contact info) so I can send you the code if you win. The winner will be announced on Friday, August 7th.


CONGRATS TO GRACE, commenter #19, for winning the giveaway. 

I’ll be in touch with you soon regarding your prize.


You can also follow Gallery Direct on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest for the latest news, inspiration, and deals.

Thanks to Gallery Direct for sponsoring this post and providing such an awesome giveaway.

Good luck + happy Friday!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Sweet Summer Fun

Hey, guys! Summer is in full swing over here at our house. I love living where the summers are hot, the falls and springs are temperate, and the winters are wicked cold. It makes us appreciate the sunshine that much more. We soak it in every chance we get. We are also lucky because Stephen has his summers off -- 10 whole weeks to spend together as a family is such an amazing treat.

As a result, we have some daily traditions. Here are some small ways we plan to have the best summer ever.

#1: Cheap Pool

Every day after Ada’s nap, for example, we slap on the sunscreen and head outdoors to the wading pool to cool off. (Yes. I pretend I can fit!) We fill up the water table and often turn on the sprinkler, too. You don’t even need much water (or cash) to have fun. I bought Ada’s pool for $15 at a local big box store and it’s already provided days of entertainment.

#2: Bug-Free Box

Some days cool off and are better for digging in the sand. My tip for keeping your sandbox bug-free is to add a good cup or more of ground cinnamon. Not only does it deter critters, but it also makes the sand smell amazing! (Note: If your child has sensitive skin, you might want to test out the cinnamon in a small patch to see if it irritates him/her. Ada’s had no problems.)

#3: Evening Stroll

When the sun gets low in the sky, we like to take a walk around the neighborhood. Ada sometimes hops on her bike and we try to keep up with her pedaling. Other times we go down to our backyard creek and wade around. No matter what, we hunt for bugs and other critters. Last year, we found a family of bunnies living in our garden. Every night is a new adventure, that’s for sure.

All it takes is some paying attention to nature.

#4: Summer Harvest

Oh, the garden. We tend to it each and every night. Usually the soil is quite dry from its long day in the sun. We harvest any ripe tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, or other fruits and veggies. Then there’s usually heaps of basil to bring indoors (I’ve been making pesto like it’s my main job). We love grilling, so it’s awesome to just pick, wash, cook, and eat.

My mother-in-law planted flowers that Ada loves picking, too. We also like to head to local farms to get berries by the barrel. I can’t wait to make (and can) blueberry jam this year.

#5: Sweet Treats

And popsicles! It wouldn’t be a summer day without delicious popsicle juice dripping down my fingers. Ada and I have been making our own batches this year, and right now, the house favorite is an orange pop that’s made with fruit and veggies. They usually stick into the molds, so our recipes need more tweaking. Sometimes (usually!) we get ice cream or frozen yogurt on our evening walks. We’ve even bought some cones and sundae supplies to keep at home.

#6: Oral Care

This post is brought to you by Aquafresh® toothpaste. Because summer sure is sweet -- in more ways than one. So, we always keep our oral health in mind. Ada’s brushing habits are getting better by the day. After her first dentist appointment in the winter, she even reminds us that it’s time to brush her teeth. But summer has us traveling all sorts of places and munching on all sorts of foods that could harm our teeth. We don’t want any surprises at our next dentist appointments!

Aquafresh® toothpaste contains fluoride which provides Sugar Acid Protection -- active defense for teeth against summer sugar by both repairing teeth from the consequences of sugar acid attacks and protecting them for the future. That way we keep our defenses up against all the lemonade, frozen yogurt, BBQs, PBJ packed lunches, berries, s’mores, parade candy, beer, wine, and more. I’ve been using the red, white, and blue paste since I was a kid because it tastes great and makes my mouth feel fresh.

Keep an eye out for Captain Aquafresh this summer (and follow his tips on Twitter @AquafreshUS). And don’t forget to brush!
How will you be taking care of your teeth while making the most of your summer? Leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 7/23/2015 – 8/23/2015

Be sure to visit the  Aquafresh® toothpaste’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Eyeglasses from Pearle Vision + a Giveaway!

When we left off, I had just returned home from my visit to the neighborhood Pearle Vision in the Shoppes at Wyomissing in Wyomissing, PA. My glasses came in really fast after my appointment with Dr. Sider. And I was so excited to try them on for the first time. I ended up choosing frames made by RIMS in a green and blue tortoise look. Actually, they were a pair that the staff had suggested to me when I gave them a short list of my likes and dislikes. With their help, I narrowed down my search faster than ever.

I’ve never had glasses that were in a color besides black or brown before. So, I thought I’d go bold this time around. I’ve been wearing frames more than half my life, why not have fun with them? They’re such a cool accessory to add to my everyday look. Oh, and my prescription helps me see what I’m doing. I suppose that’s more important, right? Right.

I love the shape of the frames, too. Some of the plastic glasses look harsh, but these have a very nice retro shape to them.

I like wearing them around even when they’re not on my face:

My whole experience from check-in to frames-fitting and beyond was a good one.

Makes me wonder why I waited so long to return in the first place! I’ll definitely be headed there the next time I need an eye exam because the service was great, Dr. Sider was extremely helpful (especially with some concerns I had over my contacts and allergies), the frame selection is amazing, and the prices are on point.

Here’s my new look. Thanks, Pearle Vision!


For more information, follow Pearle Vision on Facebook and YouTube. And if you visit your local Pearle Vision EyeCare Center, don't forget to leave a review on Yelp!

Have you visited your neighborhood Pearle Vision EyeCare Center?
Leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. 

The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 7/21/15 – 10/3/15.

Be sure to visit the Pearle Vision brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Fancy Frames at Pearle Vision

I’ve been wearing glasses since I was in the seventh grade. I’ll be turning 32 in a month, so that’s basically the last twenty years of my life. I definitely take my frame purchases seriously. After all, those of us who wear glasses have them on our faces most of the day, every single day. They become a part of our personalities as much as they are a necessity to carry on the day’s tasks with clear vision.


BlogHer recently offered me the opportunity to visit the newly renovated Pearle Vision EyeCare Center at The Shoppes at Wyomissing in Wyomissing, PA. And it was extremely good timing. I was actually due for my annual eye exam last week, so I jumped on the chance to check out location, its service, and all those pretty frames.

My last experience with Pearle Vision was way back in the 1990s (for my first eye exam!), so I was more than delighted to see such modern, bright interior decor. The walls were painted their signature green with warm wood accents. The lighting wasn’t at all harsh. In fact, there was nothing sterile about this shop. It felt -- instead -- like a neighborhood boutique. The glasses were all arranged on clear shelving around the walls.

Lots of great brands from which to choose as well! Prada, Ray-Ban, Coach, DKNY, Versace, and Tory Burch, just to name a few.


My wait to see Dr. Sider was short, but in the time I had browsed, I already had my eye on one particular pair. So, I set it down with the woman at the front desk and went into the exam room. What I noticed first about this exam was how in-depth the doctor went with me into my eye history. He asked about my allergies, my work on computers, my health history, and fielded all sorts of other questions and concerns I had. I slipped out of my contacts and we go right into the exam.

After a series of reading letters from the chart and determining which prescription fit me best, I was happy to hear my eyesight hasn’t changed since last year or the two years prior. Though it’s stayed the same for a while, I think it’s still important to keep up with regular annual visits.

Before I left, Dr. Sider handed me this helpful sheet with some tips and suggestions. Did you know that eating healthy foods can help protect your vision?


I spent the rest of my visit finalizing my frames choice and finishing up. The staff was really helpful with my glasses search, offering several options that might meet my preferences. I love the plastic-type frames versus wire, and they had so many styles and colors. I ended up choosing these really cool blue/green tortoise frames by RIMS. I can’t wait to get them! I was very pleased with my customer service experience at Pearle Vision, as well as the frames selection, and I definitely see myself returning to the Pearle Vision EyeCare Center in the future.

Pearle Vision accepts most major insurances and my location even offered a AAA discount on the exam and frames. Check their website from time to time to find out about any specials that are going on. For example, when I had my visit, they were offering a BOGO deal (prescription glasses and/or sunglasses) that was one of their best of the year.

Pearle Vision was opened back in 1961 by Dr. Stanley Pearle. Today there are close to 600 EyeCare Centers across the United States -- likely one in your neighborhood. For more information, follow Pearle Vision on Facebook and YouTube.

Are you going to visit your local Pearle Vision EyeCare Center? 

Tell me in the comments and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. 

The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 7/7/15 – 10/3/15.

Be sure to visit the Pearle Vision brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Phone Photos // LG G4 Sweeps via AT&T

This post is part of a sponsored campaign with AT&T 4K Seconds Blogger Program. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Summer means adventure. We’re often out hiking, biking, and otherwise running around outdoors. I don’t love lugging my bulky DSLR with us to, say, the beach on vacation because it’s a pain. At the same time, I am usually disappointed with the quality of the photos I take with my cell phone. LG’s G4 has definitely improved on this whole experience by including a manual mode (!!!) and a F/1.8 lens.

On a phone.
Seriously.

Here are three simple tips for snapping better summer photos with you phone while you’re out and about. Don’t miss the sweepstakes and contest info at the end of this post for your chance to win one of these guys to try for yourself.

Tip #1: Have Fun

I think the worst thing about my childhood family photos is that we all look so stale. We’re posing in at least 90 percent of the shots. With digital photography, you can really shoot as many photos as you want, so have fun with them. Get a good mix of posed and action shots to remember your moments by.

You want to capture what you were doing, the essence of the experience, versus just what you looked like, who was there, etc.

Tip #2: Look at the Whole Picture

When my friends ask me for suggestions on taking better photos, one of the first tips I give them is to look beyond your subject. For example, if I took this photo from the other direction, there’d be a bunch of piled toys in the background. The person or thing you’re photographing is -- of course -- the most important, but try to keep the focus on them by choosing visually neutral settings. (Unless, of course, the background is the focus, like with a mural.)

In this case, the trees/grass provide a nice green backdrop.

While we’re on background, I’ll mention that it is best to get nice, even lighting whenever possible. But, c’mon. Being outdoors and trying to capture moments, well, IN the moment can be hard sometimes. That’s where manual mode comes in. You can completely control the shutter speed, f-stops, and more. Once you get the hang, you’ll be shooting in all different lighting like a pro!

Tip #3: Get In Your Photos

Don’t pull out the album 20 years down the line and ask “where was I during all this?” I am usually the designated photographer wherever we go. So, I need to remember to hop into the photos so I don’t get cut out of all our memories.

The LG G4 also has this cool Selfie Mode that includes a skin smoother. I set it up pretty high so you can see the effect, but you can do as little or as much as you want. The other Selfie features are pretty neat too! For example, there are different voice commands you can use (like saying “CHEESE!” or “SMILE!” or even “WHISKEY!”) to take your photo without hitting anything. There are even gestures, like opening your hand and then making a fist, that start the photo timer.

In other words: The selfie just got a whole lot easier.

CHEESE!

PHONE INFO

As far as the phone goes, I’ve never owned an Android -- but it’s surprisingly intuitive! The body of the phone itself is large (5.5” display) and curved for better ergonomics. This also means that there’s more viewing area for web browsing and picture taking. I’ll admit it takes some getting used to, but there are more positives than negatives in that regard.


More:

• OS: Android 5.1 (Lollipop) OS Dimensions: 5.86 x 3.0 x 0.38” (min 0.25”) 
• Battery: removable 3,000 mAh that provides up to 21 hours of talk time 
• Camera: Rear: 16MP with F/1.8 lens; Front: 8 MP 
• Memory: Internal 32GB, 3 GB RAM; MicroSD up to 2TB capable (MicroSD card sold separately)
• Processor: 1.8 GHz 64 bit hexa-core processor 
• LG’s first IPS Quantum Display (5.5″ Quad HD) is brighter, more colorful and has excellent contrast 
• LG exclusive Color Spectrum Sensor uses white balance detection to determine accurate colors 
• Broadcast 4K content from P1 to an HDMI enabled TV using a 4K slim port adapter 

SWEEPS + CONTEST

Now’s your turn to see for yourself! The LG G4 4K Seconds Sweepstakes runs through June 20th. And in order to celebrate the awesome 4K capture capability and 2TB of storage, AT&T is giving away one LG G4 every 4K seconds (66 minutes) until June 20th, totaling to an incredible 500 phones!

For a chance to win, you need to:

1. Register at http://4kseconds.att.com/
2. Upload a picture you take on your phone. (This can be done from a mobile device, tablet or computer.) Images need to be .jpg or .png and less than 1 MB.

In addition, there’s a contest component to this program. All submitted photos (deemed eligible by the Official Rules) will also be housed on a gallery on the sweepstakes website. These will be open to public voting in order to determine a public appeal score. The photos will also be judged by a panel of judges. The photo with the highest combination score from the judges and public appeal will be deemed the Grand Prize Winner and will receive a 55” Class Smart Curved 4K OLED 3D TV with webOS 2.0 and a 3D-Blu-Ray Disc Home Theatre System with Smart TV and Wireless Speakers. The second and third highest ranked photos will be deemed the First and Second Prize Winner. These winners will receive a 65” Class IPS 4K UHD Smart LED TV with webOS 2.0 and 3D-Capable Blu-ray Disc Home Theatre System with Smart TV and Wireless Speakers. The winners will be announced upon completion of the Judging Period, which ends July 9th.

Thanks to AT&T for this amazing offer. And good luck!

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