Why Type When You Can Scan with the Zcan+ Scanner Mouse {Review & Giveaway}

While I don't claim to be at the forefront of new technology (I'm actually a bit ornery and resistant to change), as soon as I go without one of my devices or gadgets, I start to feel as though I'm missing a limb. How did I get along before my smartphone or my printer?

Along those lines, the next item that is surely going to join the must-have list for personal and business use is none other than the Zcan+ Scanner Mouse.

At first glance, the Zcan+ Scanner Mouse looks like just about any mouse, complete with a scroll wheel and a shiny white casing. However, the secret lies hidden underneath, where there is a built in scanner that uses OCR (optical character recognition) software, allowing users to not only control the pointer on their screen, but also scan any tables, documents or images!

Even better, unlike traditional scanners that simply transfer an image from one place to another, the material scanned with a Zcan+ Scanner Mouse is then able to be edited. Instead of just pulling up a jpg image or a pdf document, users can actually change the scanned material in in Excel, Word or Powerpoint instantly.

Considering that I utilize a scanner quite often for blogging as well as for personal use, it didn't take too long before I knew that I needed to try out Zcan+ for myself.

Right out of the box it was easy to see that Zcan+ didn't take much knowledge or technical skill. Simply plug it in to the USB port of your computer, install the provided software and start scanning!

While it didn't take long for the necessary files to be setup in my computer system, it did take quite a few minutes for the actual installation process to occur. I could see why Zcan+ included a message letting users know that things weren't stalled if it seemed like nothing was happening!

Once all of the installation and setup was complete, however, there was no wait or time needed to learn how to use Zcan+. Just click and scan!

This user-friendly mouse can truly scan just about anything and everything — it even comes with a small protective cover/sleeve to eliminate the worry of damage if you are scanning old photographs.

Whether you are scanning recipes to try, pictures drawn by your children, craft ideas for upcoming projects, business cards from a meeting or conference, knitting patterns for future use, receipts that you'll need for your taxes or much more, Zcan+ does it quickly and easily.

Once you start scanning and moving Zcan+ back and forth across the page, your image immediately appears on your computer screen. If you accidentally lift the mouse off of the page, you simply place it back down on an area that has already been scanned and it continues without problem.

When you are finished scanning, all sorts of options are available to crop, zoom, rotate, erase, change colors and much more.

The result is that you're left with exactly what you want to keep and can put it directly into a jpg, png, Word document, pdf and more... and remember that if there is text (for example you want to make a slight change to DIY instructions you just found), you can edit right away!

Zcan+ also takes things even further by including an app in their software that allows users to connect to Dropbox, Evernote or Google Translate. The latter means that if you have found a tasty recipe in Italian, you simply scan it, click Google Translate in the app, and have the real time translation right away so that you can start cooking!

But wait, there's still more! Along with all of the other features, Zcan+ Scanner Mouse also has added the convenience of sharing to its list. That's right, after scanning in your items, there is no need for any extra steps, you simply click "Share" in the software and can upload directly to Facebook, Twitter or your email directly.

In all, I love the concept of a portable scanner mouse and Zcan+ has thought of everything to make their product user-friendly and extremely convenient. The only thing I would change is that this is a corded mouse — I'm a devotee to my cordless one — but Zcan+ already has an answer for that, too.

Head over to Indiegogo right now where you can support (and order at an early bird lower price) Zcan Wireless, the world's first wireless scanner mouse!

Whether at home, work or school, the Zcan+ Scanner Mouse has the ability to surpass language barriers (it supports 60+ countries' languages) and make it a snap to store and organize just about any information. Never wonder where a lost receipt is, wish that you could preserve your great-grandparents photographs or try to keep track of the birthday party ideas you've been ripping from magazines again!

For more information about Zcan+, visit their website and be sure to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter as well. This handy mouse can be purchased now on Amazon where it retails for $79.90.

But, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon see just how easy and fast it can be to scan nearly anything and everything, because...

One lucky person will win a Zcan+ Scanner Mouse!

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A big thank you to DTOI for providing a Zcan+ for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Nenuco & Her Little Sister by Famosa {Review}

 

Sometimes I look at my children and can't believe that it has been nearly eight years since Big Sister E entered our lives and suddenly turned my husband and I from a couple into a family.

As well as giving up our lazy weekend mornings and endless free time for relaxing, the dynamic in our household changed because my husband and I had this living, breathing little being who needed us to provide for her every minute of the day.

After two years of getting used to a responsibility that enormous, we doubled it by adding Little Sister B to our household and completing our family of four. As well as the changes that meant for Daddy and I, it was a near-magical experience to be able to provide Big Sister E with a playmate, companion, secret-sharer and best friend that she would now have for a lifetime. 

But that's not to say that she really had any understanding of the concept of being a big sister. A baby? What do you do with one of those? So, while I will forever cherish having two girls and getting to see them grow up together, one thing that I would have done differently is prepare Big Sister E a little more before her sister's arrival with something amazing like Nenuco & Her Little Sister by Famosa.

A leading Spanish toy company that has been manufacturing toys for over 50 years, Famosa has long been known for crafting high-quality dolls with engaging and unique features... which have been favorites of my girls for quite some time now. Our Nenuco Sleep With Me Baby Doll & Cradle is constantly moving from one room to another and class is nearly always in session with our Nenuco Let's Play School doll and playset!

Therefore, I had no doubt that one of their newest additions, Nenuco & Her Little Sister, would be just as well-received. What better way for any girl to practice feeding, bathing, dressing and nurturing as she prepares for a new sibling in her life?

A double doll set that is appealing to any child expecting a younger sibling, Nenuco & Her Little Sister feature matching jumper outfits and easily showcase the sweet, innocent bond that sisters share.

As always, the details that Famosa put into these Nenuco dolls are just the right touches to make them that much more special.

The individual eyelashes, the adorably cute carved lips, ears, fingers and toes... the little sister even has a soft, huggable body and a delicious baby powder scent. Love!

As I suspected, these sister dolls have been a wonderful inspiration for all sorts of imaginative play in and around our house.

The big sister takes care of the little sister, helps get her food, gives her baths, puts her to bed, holds her hand during doctor visits and more — all things that warm my heart knowing that my daughters are only subconsciously recreating the care, affection and devotion that passes between them.

Although bringing home a new baby can be a bit baffling and frightening for a little girl, giving her the ability to physically act out her own mothering before and after her sibling arrives can greatly ease any worries. I love that Famosa has created the perfect embodiment of the nurturing relationship between sisters and that this set can be treasured for so many years of wonderful play!

Retailing for $26.99, Nenuco & Her Little Sister dolls are designed for ages 2+ and can be purchased from Toys "R" Us or on Amazon as an amazing gift for any soon-to-be big sister or existing sisters. Be sure to visit the Nenuco website to find out more about their full line of high quality dolls and accessories — and check out their fun free games, coloring pages, puzzles and parent sections while you're there!

You can also connect with Nenuco on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube so that you can stay up-to-date with everything that this innovative company has to offer.

Other than the Nenuco & Her Little Sister that I was provided by Famosa in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Forget Running Errands for Your Favorite P&G Products — Have Them Come to You from Walmart.com! {$25 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway}

Before I had kids, I never wanted to do any shopping by myself. Everything from grocery shopping to strolling through the mall to running to the drugstore was just so much more enjoyable if I could talk my husband into coming along with me.

Now that I have children? Even a trip out to pick up a gallon of milk by myself is a luxury.

Fortunately, with so many options for online shopping these days, even if I can't find a way to leave the house on my own, I can still order just what I need right from my computer at any time of day. Besides, who wouldn't rather shop when it is convenient for their own schedule? For me, that means no matter what the weather and at any point in the day when yes, I'm still in my pajamas thank you very much.

Which is why there is no reason to take time away from summer fun and drag my kids to store after store when just about every essential we need can be delivered right to our door from Walmart.com anyway!

Everyone already appreciates the convenience, assortment, and savings of shopping for typical household items at Walmart stores, so it makes perfect sense that ordering them online at Walmart.com would be just as great... minus having to actually make the trip!

Running low on your favorite P&G products such as Tide laundry detergent, Bounty paper towels or Charmin toilet paper? Don't take time away from summer travels, trips to the beach, picnics in the park and more when shopping on Walmart.com (or by using the Walmart app) gives you the option to shop wherever and whenever you want – at your own leisure.

Even better, Walmart.com offers different payment options, including the option to Pay with Cash if you don’t want to use a credit card online. Also, you can choose to have your purchase shipped directly to your house (shipping is free if you spend $50 or more) or shipped for free to the nearest Walmart location for a quick and easy pick-up with Site to Store.

What more could I ask for? Let's shop!

With one single click, I love that Walmart.com lays out their large assortment and great savings on household items, especially on my favorite P&G products. In a matter of minutes, I can virtually browse through all of the items that we use daily around our home (and seem to always be running low on), see specifications, read reviews and add to my cart.

After deciding whether I want my purchases shipped to me or if I'd prefer to pick them up at my nearest Walmart store...

I love how it is so easy to see various arrival dates depending on the shipping I choose or if an item is available right now in my nearest Walmart store!

...all I have to do is sit back and wait for P&G goodness to be delivered right to me!

We are forever trying to keep stock in Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels, Charmin Ultra Soft Toilet Paper Mega Rolls and Tide 2x Ultra For High Efficiency Machines Liquid Laundry Detergent, so being able to order them directly from Walmart.com is a definite time-saver. Not to mention that having someone else deal with the moving, lifting and shipping of to get these heavy, bulky things to my door is always a relief!

Walmart.com offers the great variety and savings on everyday low prices that we all have come to know and love from our local Walmart stores, so whether you need Pampers Cruisers Diapers or Swiffer Dry Sweeping Sweeper Cloths Refills (or just about anything else), this is online shopping at its most convenient.

Find out more about all of the high quality P&G products that you can stock up on at any point day or night by visiting Walmart.com and downloading the Walmart app today.

Plus, thanks to the generosity of Procter & Gamble, one person will be even more prepared to make their own money-saving purchases from Walmart.com as well, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 Walmart gift card!

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The Walmart gift cards and information have been provided by P&G. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Move Over Summer, It's Back To School Time with Bright Star Kids Labels {Review & Coupon Code}

With only one month of summer left and a rapidly-filling fall schedule, Big Sister E and Little Sister B are both thrilled that the school year is getting increasingly near.

Although they've both enjoyed the past few months of playing with friends, visiting with family, and all of the various activities and events that we have done, I think they're ready. Ready for backpacks, ready for notebooks, heck, they might even be ready for snow pants, that's just how ready they are to get to go to school.

So what does that mean for me? As well as having to keep track of when and where each child needs to be somewhere, I'm going to need to stay well-organized so that she shows up with the right supplies. Certain days they need particular shoes, other days they get to bring in an item to share, and of course there are the days that I send a pair of mittens off in hopes that they will both return home eventually.

For me, the best way to keep away the stress and anxiety of remembering everything and getting it packed up (while also trying not obsess over losing them) is to have each and every item well-labeled. I feel better knowing that if my daughters' names are on each item that they take or wear, that the chances of them getting lost are decreased tremendously.

Which is why right now is the perfect time to turn to Bright Star Kids for a huge selection of colorful, durable, high quality labels that every kid is sure to love!

Established in 2005, Bright Star Kids offers their adorable and colorful name labels, wall art, clothing, accessories and more to customers across the globe — and consistently receive rave responses in return!

We absolutely loved checking out their personalized clothing in person and, with the arrival of their School Labels Value Kit, I knew that they would be just as high quality (and that Little Sister B would be completely prepared to start kindergarten off on the right foot)!

Containing 10 Large Labels, 30 Small Labels, 10 Subject Labels, 80 Tiny Pencil Labels, 16 Large Round Labels, 16 Clear Covers and 30 Iron On Labels (that's more than 175 Labels in all!), this value pack is the perfect assortment of sizes and shapes to make identifying the rightful owner of nearly anything a quick and easy process.

Just as important as having enough labels, I'm thrilled that Little Sister B absolutely loves how they turned out! Of course that really shouldn't be a surprise, considering that she was able to customize each detail of them precisely how she wanted. With nine different color options, three fonts and approximately a zillion icons to pick from, the hardest part is narrowing them all down to one single favorite!

It was a no-brainer that Little Sister B wanted the bright magenta coloring and, after browsing through many of the adorable animals, flowers, foods, letters and more, it actually didn't take long before she pointed directly at the unicorn icon and declared it the one.

I adore that Bright Star Kids allows their customers to see a complete preview of their labels before ordering, so there is no worry that the color, text, font or icon won't be exactly right. There are just so many great options!

As for use, Bright Star Kids Labels are just the thing for everything from markers to notebooks to backpacks to gear to clothes. The long-lasting, high quality adheres to almost any surface imaginable (this value kit has a combination of Iron-On Labels and Stick-On Labels) and will endure all weather conditions and whatever your child might put them through.

As the School Labels Value Kit offers just the right variety so that you are fully prepared for the first day of school (as well as having plenty of extras on hand for well into the rest of the academic year), I feel so much better knowing that Little Sister B's belongings and wardrobe are ready to go!

Don't have a child heading to school this fall? Bright Star Kids has a ton of different options in personalized labels so that all sorts of things around your home, garage or office can be labeled, organized and ready to make life easier.

We were able to see the Speech Bubble Chalkboard Labels and the Heart Chalkboard Labels and oh my, these are adorable and fun!

I love the idea of using these in the kitchen, to label craft supplies, for gift tags and so much more... and I'm definitely going to be using Bright Star Kids' idea of including these in my kids' lunches for changeable messages this fall!

No matter what needs labeling in your life, head over to Bright Star Kids to see their full collection of affordable Name Labels and just how many uses they will have for you!

Plus, the next time you are shopping for a birthday, holiday, baby shower, back to school gift, housewarming present or more, visit their website to find the unique, stylish option that you're sure to love (they even offer a 100% money back guarantee to remove any doubt).

Even better, now is the perfect time to shop as Bright Star Kids are having a storewide sale where all orders in the U.S. are 15% off and are shipped free!

Find out much more about all of the great options available by visiting Bright Star Kids online as well as connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Other than the labels I was provided by Bright Star Kids in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about these products.

Quality and Protection with the Rayovac Guarantee!

When given the option, I never buy the warranty. The regular warranty, the extended warranty, the accident protection warranty, it doesn't matter.

Am I setting myself up for a fall? Maybe. But, and call me an optimist here, it just might be because I assume whatever I buy is actually going to work as it is designed.

My car won't break down, my appliances won't quit, my computer and tech gadgets aren't going to completely malfunction... that's right, I'm a believer when a company says its product will do what they say.

I know what you're probably thinking right now.

But the reason I'm able to stay in my happy dreamland is largely in part to what products I'm buying in the first place. If the quality isn't there and the brand isn't one that I trust, then how could I be so confident?

Case in point, the long-lasting, never fail, won't-let-me-down quality from Rayovac.

Rayovac, already known as a dependable brand for consumers worldwide, knows the importance of a guarantee. It's what customers expect, right?

However, Rayovac takes things a step further by offering a consumer protection plan rivaled by no other competitor in the battery space: the Rayovac Guarantee.

Are you thinking Sure, they guarantee that their products will work, who doesn't?

This is far more than that.

Essentially, the Rayovac Guarantee provides the best protection for your most important tech devices by offering to replace, repair or refund any battery-powered device damaged by their batteries. That's right, simply remove the batteries (be sure to include them in the package) and mail your device to Rayovac so that they can have it repaired or replaced.

I can't think of any other company that not only believes that their products will outperform their competitors, but also believes SO strongly in their performance and reliability. Considering how much money consumers spend each year on devices that use batteries, wouldn't it be amazing to then never have to worry about protection for them?

Add in the fact that Rayovac batteries are just as long lasting and dependable as brands that cost much more, and why wouldn't you opt for the peace of mind, money-saving security that they can provide?

At the end of the day, Rayovac products offer superior quality and their generous Rayovac Guarantee serves as a final safeguard offering added protection to consumers everywhere. After all, without consumer protection and satisfied customers, this is one company that wouldn't be as respected and revered as it is today.

Find out much more about all that Rayovac has to offer by visiting Rayovac.com and connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.

This post is a part of an ongoing partnership with Rayovac as one of their Rayovac Power Bloggers and products and/or gifts have been received. However, all thoughts and opinions are completely honest and my own. 

Once You Shop, You Can't Stop: Shopkins {Review & Giveaway}

Why is it that things that are smaller are always so much cuter than their larger counterparts?

Hold up a pair of my shoes and they're nothing special. But a miniature pair for a baby? Behold the cuteness! And has anyone ever successfully not awwwww'd at seeing a puppy? Plus, c'mon. An itty bitty little decorated cake would definitely pass as cuter than a large one (although I'd eat either, of course).

In the world of toys, the introduction of a new brand that takes its creative, colorful and fun products on a very small-scale manages to thrill kids in the same way. A race car is a race car until it is adorably tiny. And pretend food is pretend food until it is turned into miniscule characters that are perfect for imagining and playing. Then it is Shopkins!

Newly released from Moose Toys (creators of Trash Pack, Glitzi Globes, Gelarti and many more), Shopkins are a collection of 148 grocery store-themed characters that are perfect for playing, collecting, sharing and trading.

From fruits & vegetables to health & beauty to frozen foods, there is a category of Shopkins to represent just about every aspect, aisle and item offered at your local supermarket. Combine that uniqueness with their sweet little faces and cute little hands and feet and it really isn't a wonder that these have been a hit ever since they arrived and we were able to share them with our friends.

With all of these charming little guys waiting to play, it was time for a Shopkins Summer Playdate!

Seeing as Shopkins need no introductions or instructions, we were able to easily set up our Shopkins Small Mart and Shopkins Fruit & Veg Stand before our friends arrived...

 

...at which time the girls wasted no time in opening many of the other packs and starting to play. Unsurprisingly, the kids all loved them!

Creativity is truly encouraged with Shopkins, as there really is no limit to what the girls did and played with these little characters. Whether displayed, checkout out and sold at one of the playsets, sent sliding down the delivery chute, pushed around in the shopping cart, neatly bagged to be brought home, "juiced" into crazy concoctions ("Have you ever tried donut-yogurt juice? Yum!"), or much, much more, everyone was able to throw out their imaginative ideas and contribute in a fun way!

As well as promoting and facilitating group play, however, I noticed that Shopkins are easily played with individually as well and can also be enhanced with all sorts of other toys. One of our guests brought over Barbie to do some shopping, two sat down later with a bin of Little People and included them in a variety of tales, a group of Shopkins made a trip to our dollhouse... there was endless ingenuity and inspiration!

Along with simply playing with Shopkins, the addition of a Collector's Guide makes it even more fun when it comes to amassing them. As each pack was opened, the little characters were compared to the guide to find out the humorous names (e.g. Bread Head, Lolli Poppins, Polly Polish and Cool Cube) and how common, rare or ultra rare they were.

In the weeks that have followed since our playdate, my daughters have still been just as excited each time they have opened a new package of Shopkins to see which ones are inside. In the 12-pack, 10 of the Shopkins are seen through the plastic but two are hidden completely from view to heighten the anticipation!

Available now in 12-packs, 5-packs, playsets and accessories, Shopkins are sold at Target, Toys 'R' Us or on Amazon at very affordable prices (approximately $9.99 to $19.99). These are definitely original, gender neutral, very collectible and a lot of fun!

Find out much more about this great line of toys on Facebook and by visiting ShopkinsWorld.com, where you'll not only find miniature cuteness, but a whole Party Pack of invitations, cupcake wrappers, gift tags, place cards and more so that you can throw your own awesome Shopkins Summer Playdate!

Plus, thanks to the generosity of Moose Toys, one person will be on their way to seeing just how much joy and imagination Shopkins can provide, because...

One lucky person will win a Shopkins Small Mart Playset, a Bakery or Fruit & Veg Stand Playset and a 12-Pack of Shopkins (total ARV $45)!

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A big thank you to Moose Toys for providing Shopkins products for me to review and host a playdate as well as three Shopkins products for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Nail Polish Will Never Be the Same: Hot Designs 2-in-1 Nail Art Pens {Review & Giveaway}

When it comes to all things girly, my daughters' likes and dislikes cover the full spectrum... and seem to vary day by day.

Whereas one day Big Sister E only wants to play with trucks and can't be forced into a dress, the following morning she'll come downstairs in a complete fairy princess outfit and act as if nothing has changed. Ah, to be a kid again!

However, one aspect of girldom that she and Little Sister B have always been completely enamored with is fingernail polish. They've spent years noticing as soon as my toenails or fingernails changed color and would brush their fingers over the paint with their eyes wide as they patiently waited for their turn with the polish.

But... let's face it. In their minds, their completed fingernails were going to look something like this.

Sources: owl, diagonal, flower, leopard

Um, right. I once managed somewhat-decent polka dots using a toothpick, but even those ended up being a bit misshapen and splotchy.

So, other than bringing my girls into the salon with me to get manicures and pedicures from professionals, it seemed that we were destined to have plain, one-color painted nails forever on.

And then we were introduced to Hot Designs and everything we knew about nail polish was changed.

Innovative and colorful 2-in-1 pens, Hot Designs have two colors of polish in each one. However, as well as unscrewing the top to find a traditional nail polish brush, users can also pop off the top to discover a fine-tipped pen that is perfect for designs, drawing, detailing and more.

I may be behind the times in that I had never tried any sort of nail pen before, but the fact that Hot Designs includes both the brush and the pen tip struck me as completely genius. No more plain nails when these would make it so easy to add on lines, dots, letters, shapes and much more — the sky's the limit!

Hot Designs are available in two sets, Basic Beauty (Midnight Black/Royal Blue, Kelly Green/Red Flame, Hot Pink/Star White) and Glitz & Glam (Sparkling Silver/Paradise Pink, Purple Pizzazz/Lemon Yellow, Crushed Berry/Hot Orange), and, when the latter arrived, it was definitely time to turn up the skill on our manis and pedis.

These really couldn't be much easier!

Right out of the package it was simple to understand the concept of twisting off the cap for the brush versus popping off the cap for the pen tip...

...and then it was time to start painting!

Along with some helpful instructions for how to best use these pens, Hot Designs includes two cleaning pins in the event that the metal tip of the pen gets clogged as well as a whole slew of fun design ideas.

While my girls did have to control their impatience while they waited for one color to dry before another could be applied, the entire process of using Hot Designs has been extremely easy and a lot of fun!

Whether following one of the provided designs or making up our own (although I'm clearly far from being a professional), I don't know how we'll ever go back to "plain" nails again!

Summer means colorful mani-pedis and Hot Designs Nail Art Pens are an extremely fun and affordable (approximately $15) way to turn traditional nail polish into creative, artistic fun! Or, if painting your nails isn't your thing, these pens could easily get double usage for any number of DIY crafts!

Find out more about Hot Designs by visiting their website and be sure to check them out on Facebook where you'll find even more great nail inspiration and a variety of how-to videos.

But there's more! Right now Hot Designs is giving fans the chance to win the ultimate beach package including a $250 Target gift card in their #WinHotLooks Contest!

Simply head over to GetHotLooks.com/contest by August 15th and submit a selfie of your summer style using the hashtag #WinHotLooks — you can enter once each day! Be sure to tag @GetHotLooks on Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, or @Get_Hot_Looks on Instagram and you'll be entered to win the awesome summer beach bundle grand prize as well as Hot Designs that are being given away daily.

Are you ready to show off your own hot looks? Thanks to the generosity of Hot Designs, one person will be prepared to do just that, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of Basic Beauty or Glitz & Glam Nail Art Pens from Hot Designs!

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A big thank you to Hot Designs for providing Nail Art Pens for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.