Amazing Phone Holder + #Giveaway

Disclaimer: I received a product to review. All opinions are my own.

I have mentioned before about my phone being with me all the time, and even using it during investigations and expeditions. It can get pretty tricky balancing my phone and all my other equipment. Thanks to Nicely Neat, that problem has been solved.

During any investigation, but especially when I'm traipsing through the woods in the middle of the night, I need to have my hands as free as possible, yet still have my equipment handy for when I need to use it. I already need to have my monopod so that I can video, so why not use it to its full extent. This phone holder clamps around the monopod, and just clamps right onto my phone.

It has a rubber lining inside what goes around the handlebar so that it doesn't scratch. The phone holder also has grips on the inside to keep the phone from slipping and from getting scratched. It rotates and moves in just about any direction so that you can have your phone in whatever position you need it in to use it in the most optimized way.

Easily have access to your gps, camera, monitoring devices, instructions, and whatever else on your phone that you may need.

In addition to using it on handlebars and monopods, there are other ways of using it as well. You can use it on tripods, walking canes, a steering wheel, poles, even on certain tent poles. I have been amazed at how often I use it.

This phone holder is lightweight, yet durable. It comes in white or black. It fits phones with screens up to 3.55". It rotates 360 degrees, allowing you to use your phone in both landscape and portrait mode. The part that goes around the handlebar (or other item) is adjustable and fits diameters of  0.62" x 1.14".

Are you interested in winning one o these amazing phone holders? Just comment below and let me know how you would use it. A winner will be chosen June 1, 2015.

Southern Charm Sundays: The Perfect Hostess Gift With #Wordologies

Disclaimer: I received a product to review. All opinions are my own.

As most of you know, I am always looking for new and fresh hostess gifts to have in my arsenal. I have come across the best yet. I love giving gift baskets, but sometimes either I don't have the time to put one together, or it's just too much for the occasion. This new solution is perfect though.

A mug from #wordologies filled with goodies makes a perfect hostess gifts. See the blog for more. #southerncharmsunday #thepalmettoqueen

A photo posted by cari (@cari_on) on May 24, 2015 at 7:21pm PDT

Wordologies makes the most beautiful mugs. They are sturdy and beautiful, yet simple. They have the most refreshing quotes on them as well. While it would be beautiful on it's own as a hostess gift, there is a way of making it even better. Some things you can put in these mugs are:

Candy

Salty Snacks

Stress Relievers 

Stickers

Bubbles

Stationary

Organizing Supplies

Spices

Cooking Supplies

Pens

Craft Supplies

Scrapbooking Items

Coffee

Tea

Specialty Cookies

I'm sure you get the hint. Depending on the hostess and the event, the opportunities can be endless. This would also make a perfect birthday or thank you gift. Use your imagination and show that special host in your life what she/ he means to you. 

About Wordologies:

Wordologies aims to make just a moment make a huge difference in your day. If looking at the message on an item can change your outlook from the moment you get up, why not look at that item each morning. Wordologies creates mugs, notepads, and more with a beautiful message on each. Their aim with each item is Be positive. Eliminate self-criticism. You choose your feelings and actions. Come alive. You’re worth it! They are determined that each of their products shows this in just one moment. If it can change your day, why can't that same simple message be the catalyst for change in your life. What better message for a company to shout? 

Being sent the "Patience Prevails" mug was truly a blessing. Patience is the one thing I struggle with the most. I am not patient and I am not a fan of change, which just feeds into the lack of patience. Now, as I drink my morning coffee, I ge that message and I begin to look at the day a little different. Instead of saying, "how am I going to get through this day," I find myself realizing that if I don't get everything on my list done, ti is okay. The world will not end. What a great way to start the day. 

Summer Fun With Glow Sticks #SummerPrep2015

Disclosure: I received a product to review. All opinions are my own.

I am one o those people who never grew out of my love for glow sticks. Something about them always draws me in. I've always loved finding ways to use them to make life a little more fun. Since I've become a mom, the uses have increased dramatically. I want to share with you some of the ways I use glow sticks to ensure there is more fun had in our house during the summer months.

These #glowsticks came just in time for summer fun at the George house. 100 sticks with connectors. Super bright and long lasting. Tons of uses

A photo posted by cari (@cari_on) on May 24, 2015 at 10:33am PDT

1. Normal Play

Make normal play a little more exciting with glow sticks. While your kids are running around the yard, riding bikes, or playing on slides and swings, let them wear a glow stick for more fun. Be sure to make it a bracelet and put it on their arms, so there is no worry of falling with a "stick." My kids get so fascinated with them that they actually end up playing nicely with each other for a longer length of time. 

2. Pool Time

Wear glow sticks while swimming at night. The "light show" will be amazing and the kids will be completely fascinated. I can't wait for our pool to warm enough to play in it at night- the kids are going to love this. 

3. Hide And Seek

Play night time hide and seek with little ones. 

4. School Time

Practice writing letters in the air with glow sticks. Another thing you can do is build things with them- using the connectors. When it comes to school time, the uses are endless. 

5. Safety

If you are out and about at night time, camping, shopping, at an event, or just walking around the yard - glow sticks are a great thing to have on hand. Easily spot your children - it pretty much serves the same purpose as putting bright and easily recognized clothing on during the day. I like to keep a couple of glow sticks and connectors in my bag at all times. We were looking at Christmas lights last year when I found myself wishing I had something that lit up to put on Tbomb- I finally found the solution. 

The particular glow sticks we use are sold on Amazon. They are called "Super Bright Glow Sticks," by Blue Skies. They come in a pack of 100 with connectors. I prefer these because they are long lasting and super bright. The tube will contain glow sticks in 5 colors- Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Pink. Once these glow sticks are activated, they will last for 8-10 hours, sometimes longer. They will actually last a while longer if you put them in the freezer. 

10 Uses For A Disposable Dry Mitt

Disclaimer: I received a sample to review. All opinions are my own.

I was sent a disposable dry mitt, from The Fischer Group, to try out. At first, I wasn't quite sure how I would use it, but it didn't take me long to come up with several uses. In fact because of the quality of the construction and all the uses I found, I will be ordering more. Although it is disposable, it is tough!

1. Applying sunless tan products- I mean, we really do not want orange palms!

2. Applying Muscle Cream- I really do not like putting muscle cream on my husband because I don't like getting it all over my hands. (I fact, I've been buying spray). However, with the dry mitt, I can apply it to his back after work without getting it on my hands.

3. Applying creams you may be sensitive to- For example, I'm allergic to calamine lotion. However, at times I still have to put it on my children (especially since we pretty much live in the woods). I can apply using a dry mitt without having a reaction.

4. Dusting

5. Cleaning Windows

6. Cleaning the dash of your car

7. Cleaning Electronics

8. Applying furniture polish

9. Cleaning litter boxes and aquariums

10. Applying Sunscreen

Press Release: MusicFirst and The Singing Classroom Partner to Offer Exciting Online Resources for Elementary School Music Teachers

MusicFirst and The Singing Classroom Partner to Offer Exciting Online Resources for Elementary School Music Teachers

Companies join forces to offer subscription-based resource that provides an ever-expanding, dynamic, searchable database of songs, games and teaching techniques for PreK – 6 music teachers to use in their classrooms

May 18, 2015, New York, N.Y. – Leading digital music education company MusicFirst is proud to announce its partnership with online music education database, The Singing Classroom. Through this collaboration, teachers are now able to access The Singing Classroom’s ever-expanding, dynamic, searchable database of songs, games and teaching techniques through the MusicFirst online classroom. 

“We’re thrilled to offer The Singing Classroom both as a standalone solution, and as premium content through our online classroom. Once teachers discover how intuitive it is, the wealth of comprehensive materials it has to offer, and how exciting it is for both them and their students, it will become one of their favorite go-to tools,” said Dr. Jim Frankel, Director of MusicFirst. 

“MusicFirst is a brilliant tool for music teachers, allowing them access not only to an abundance of music software, but also to great ideas for the classroom that they can search and organize. We’re so happy that The Singing Classroom will be able to expand these offerings for elementary teachers even further,” said Gregg Pasternack, Co-Founder, The Singing Classroom.

Developed for elementary school music teachers (PreK – 6), The Singing Classroom allows educators to search the collection using a wide variety of criteria to find songs and games complete with scores, video, audio, printable posters and animations. Teachers can:

• Search by grade level, genre, song topic, type of game, cultural origin, materials used, holidays, musical concepts, solfége and rhythms, or Orff instruments.
• Download and print sheet music, posters, and other materials to use as they teach.
• Watch videos that suggest how to introduce and teach the songs to help quickly engage and delight their students, as well as animations of bunnies demonstrating games and dances.
• Show the animations to their students and see how quickly they learn to play a new game or do a dance.
• Listen to each song being sung to get a quick feel for the style and tempo.
• Save their favorites to their personal My Song page, so they can access them any time.
• Learn great repertoire and activities, all with detailed suggestions (in written and video form) explaining how to present the material and how to avoid pitfalls.
  
• Get inspired year-round instead of just a few times a year at conferences or workshops.
  

Experienced teachers are guaranteed to find new songs and variations on old favorites that kids love. For more information, visit www.musicfirst.com. 

# # #

About MusicFirst

Established in 2012, MusicFirst is the Digital Education Division of the Music Sales Corporation. The Music Sales Corporation was founded in 1935 by the Wise family, chiefly producing classical and tutorial material. Today the US company is a major copyright holder in both popular and classical music. Located in the heart of New York City, this office houses a multi-faceted group of executive, administrative, editorial and production staff. The extensive copyright and licensing department manages the ever-growing Music Sales catalogue. Also based here are the promotion and publication departments of the vast G Schirmer/AMP music catalogue with its many eminent composers that include John Adams, Samuel Barber, Elliott Carter, John Corigliano, Tan Dun and Gian Carlo Menotti.  To learn more about the Music Sales Group, visit http://www.musicsales.com.

About The Singing Classroom

The Singing Classroom was founded in June of 2013 by husband-and-wife team Gregg Pasternack and Deborah Skydell Pasternack as a way to bring a wealth of songs and music games to elementary teachers in an entirely new way.  By organizing the material online in a searchable database and including audio, video, and downloadable materials, they strive to save teachers time while providing classroom activities that both they and their students will love. For more information, visit https://thesingingclassroom.com. 

GoPro FloatPro With Head Mount Strap

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above in exchange for review from Giveaway Service website. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Reference ID: pm1ce9168a60deae4a994dbd5b2d145699

For quite a while now, I have been looking for a great head mount strap for my GoPro. The one's I've seen and bought (big mistake) were flimsy and didn't really stay in place. That is a bigger problem for me than a lot of GoPro users because mine is modified for night vision, with an IR light ring around the lens and a 9V battery attached. I usually do not have the protective casing on it, so if it falls, I'm really in trouble. When I do have the protective casing on it, I'm near water- if it fell off, it would be gone, even if it was protected from the water.

 

When I was given the chance to review a head mount by FloatPro, I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. When it arrived, I was stunned and even more excited. This head mount is made of quality materials that I do not fill will break while using it. Also, it has these little grips on the inside to keep it in place. I have used it with a helmet, ball cap, beanie, and just on my head. It works perfectly and stays in place just like it is meant to. There is no slipping while filming that messes up what you are trying to achieve. If I'm running in the woods in the middle of the night, I do not have to fear my GoPro falling to its demise.

The float that is attached is amazing. It is actually removable from the head mount, so that it can be used elsewhere. I have a wristlet that works perfectly with it. I attach it to my monopod or whatever other mount I am using at the time, including to the housing itself. I have also attached it to my backpack mount in case it fell off.

Now, no matter what I am doing, I know my GoPro is protected. I can't wait to go kayaking and film that adventure. Maybe I'll even go look for the Lake Murray Monster next!