MOMS & KIDS PICKS & GIVEAWAY by Robin Gorman Newman
When I come across some cool stuff, I like to share….so here ya go…..
Caseable is a young, urban company, with offices in Brooklyn and Berlin, offering custom products for laptops, kindles, iPads, e-readers, tablets, smartphones, and more. At caseable, you are the designer. You create your own case or select from their collection of in house designs and artist collections. Upload photos, add text, select your add-on features, and more. The products are – to the greatest extent possible – made from durable recycled materials. For example, they try to source only green neoprene for laptop sleeves and also the strong cardboard for iPad and Kindle cases that is recycled. Their iPhone cases are made from recycled plastic bottles!
Back of the case
DISCOUNT OFFER & GIVEAWAY FOR RESIDENTS OF THE US AND CANADA: To win a $50 gift certificate for Caseable, drop a note to [email protected], and indicate why you’d like to try it. Put Caseable Giveaway in the subject line. Winner will be notified via email. Three Runners-up will each win a 50% percent off voucher. If you’d like to shop on Caseable, from May 13 – 20th, use code – motherhoodlater – and you save 25%.
This summer you can beat the heat while treating your feet to podiatrist-designed Orthaheel and Weil Integrative Footwear sandals.
Invented by leading Australian podiatrist, Phillip Vasyli, each sandal features patent pending orthotic technology, promoting health and comfort from the ground up, counteracting the daily grind of walking on hard and unnatural surfaces. An array of styles and colors are available. I had the opportunity to try out a shoe called Calm. The name, alone, speaks volumes! If my feet could attain that state, maybe my overall being would benefit?!
Calm, by Orthaheel, is a classic toe post wedge built on a two-inch heel brings this sandal to a new level. Woven detailing and soft leather straps give Calm a breezy, nautical vibe. Weil Calm retails for $119.95.
- The wedge features a built-in lightweight EVA biomechanical orthotic footbed that supports each step from heel to toe for improved comfort, as compared to a regular wedge.
- Toe post style sandal
- Full-grain leather upper
- Suede-covered footbed
- Natural cork rubber wedge
- Jute-wrapped rubber outsole with patterned tread helps improve traction on uneven surfaces
It is fun, fashionable, super comfortable, and I can tell it will wear well. It’s way more supportive than a flip flop, and my arches appreciate the solid construction.
Designed to restore natural foot function and well-being with every step, Philip Vasyli introduced the award-winning Orthaheel brand in 1991 in order to reach people struggling with heel, knee and lower back pain, helping alleviate wear and tear to many parts of the body by realigning feet to their natural position.
Orthaheel is available in more than 25 countries around the world and now includes over-the-counter orthotic footbeds, slippers, sandals and walking shoes. Visit http://www.orthaheelusa.com/.
SoYoung’s products are an adorable line of modern family lifestyle bags and accessories including a lined, insulated children’s lunch box – appropriate for any pre-school or elementary school age…. fashionable insulated cooler bags for both children and parents….and trendy backpacks small enough for toddlers to carry, or big enough for older children to use for school supplies.
SoYoung’s Lunch boxes are made of coated linen and have a clean, modern feel with a palette of retro-inspired designs. Children can wear it as a backpack or messenger style. Every cooler bag and lunch box has a leak proof insulated insert for easy cleaning and to help avoid staining from spills.
SoYoung’s Cooler Bags are available in small and large sizes and are useful as a bottle bag for babies, or packing children’s drinks and snacks. Children can wear it as a backpack or messenger style and parents can snap onto stroller handlebars. I love this bird cooler (pictured), and can’t wait to use it at our local pool this summer. It holds a lot and looks hip!
SoYoung’s Toddler Backpack is a fantastic backpack for toddlers and roomy enough for the things a preschooler needs such as a pair of shoes or a change of clothes.
For those grade school days, SoYoung introduced the Grade Schooler Backpack, with ample room for large binders, gym clothes and books, etc. Designed with a laminated linen exterior with a nylon lined interior, with insulated bottle pockets and a chest clip to keep the bag securely on.
SoYoung’s products are designed with an environmentally conscious approach to manufacturing using coated linen and Lead-safe, Pthalate-free, PVC-free, materials.
The SoYoung collection is full of bright and cheerful colors such as pinks, oranges, yellows, blues and greens. Products retail from $19.99 – $174.99 and may be purchased at www.soyoung.ca, among other retailers in Canada and the USA.
Powerocks, creators of fashionable compact power banks, has introduced Tarot — the world’s thinnest portable power bank. Ultrathin, Tarot is designed to fit in a wallet, pocket, or small purse to provide an emergency charge for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices quickly and safely when away from a power source or outlet.
Available in black, silver, or pink, Tarot is about the same size as a credit card (but thicker), weighing just 1.79 oz., with measurements of 3.5” (length) x 2.1” (width) x 0.28” (height) — small enough to keep in your wallet at all times. Tarot’s 1500mAh capacity gives you power to recharge smartphones and tablets with one emergency charge. Tarot also charges other digital devices, such as Bluetooth headsets, cameras, GPS devices, and more (depending on device charge requirements).
To charge with Tarot, connect the included Micro USB cable from Tarot to the phone/device to start-up your phone immediately. For iPhone or other devices that don’t use Micro USB, attach the device’s USB adapter to Tarot’s USB cable to charge. To recharge Tarot after use, just connect Tarot’s USB Cable to a USB computer or outlet. Tarot’s four blue LED lights will tell you how much power is remaining, so you always know when it’s time to recharge. It is priced at $34.00.
The Powerocks Tarot is available immediately, priced at $34.99. To purchase, visit www.powerocks.com, www.amazon.com and other stores.
Powerocks also introduced the new Super Magicstick line of light easy-to-carry lipstick/cigar-shaped power banks to charge smartphones on the go, in two versions: Super Magicstick and Classical Texture/Super Magicstick. Designed to fit in a pocket, purse, or bag, the Super Magicstick line provides 2800 mAh of power in a compact package for two full emergency charges for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. Just plug Super Magicstick into your phone, and it will immediately charge the phone, instantly turning it on. After charging, Super Magicstick can be re-charged when you get home using the included USB cable. Its smart LED indicator shows remaining capacity and charging status, turning red when charging, and blue when fully charged.
The essential travel companion for smartphones, including iPhones, Blackberrys, Androids, and HTCs, Super Magicstick also charges Bluetooth headsets, cameras, GPS devices, tablets, and more (depending on device charge requirements). The Super Magicstick line comes in two versions: Super Magicstick and Classical Texture/Super Magicstick, both with a capacity of 2800 mAh.
- Super Magicstick: available in Silver, Red, Black, Blue, Golden, and Purple.
- Classical Texture/Super Magicstick: available in Red Crocodile, Yellow Leopard, Blue Leopard, Grey Leopard, Grey Paisley Lace and Black Paisley Lace textures.
The Powerocks Super Magicstick and Classical Texture/Super Magicstick are priced at $34.99 from www.powerocksusa.com, www.powerocks.com,
All I can sayis to all the cell phone junkies (and other electronic device fans) out there…there is no reason to be caught low on power. With chargers like these that are readily portable, affordable, hip and easy to use, you will never be powerless again!
PUB. DATE: MAY 2013
ISBN 978-1-4380-0249-1
$19.99 (Canada, $22.99)
Flexbinding, 256 pp.
The emphasis of the LEGO brand has always been on free play, where children use nothing but their imaginations to create, learn, and have fun. In Brick City, a new book, author and renowned modeler Warren Elsmore recreates the world’s most iconic buildings and landmarks using LEGO bricks. Both older children and adults will marvel at more than 100 stunning color photographs of global icons such as: St. Basil’s Cathedral, The Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, The new World Trade Center, The Taj Mahal
The book also includes instructions for projects to build at home like The Colosseum and the Arc de Triomphe. Readers who are model builders or toy lovers will be especially excited about the two included glossy posters featuring LEGO landmarks.
This is a great gift for the little or grown Lego lover! My son can’t get enough of it. Visit http://barronseduc.stores.yahoo.net/1438002491.html.
About the Author: Warren Elsmore has worked with several commercial companies in the United Kingdom, building plastic models to help them visualize their conceptions. He is best known for his 13 ½-foot-long LEGO model of London’s famous St. Pancras railroad station.
Note: Thanks to the featured companies for providing product samples. Opinions are mine.
