Why this screen-free smartphone alternative for kids is perfect for summer | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Relay So many parents want their kids to have the safety and security of a phone, especially over the summer when kids have a little more freedom, and a little more run-around-outside time. And yet, those kids aren't necessarily ready...
How the Apple Watch 4 is helping me stay healthy, be more mindful, connect with my kids, and disconnect from my phone
I had an original Apple Watch way back when it first came out, and I really liked it. I also ended up feeling like it was "another thing" -- another thing to charge, another thing to take care of, another thing to buy accessories for. Sometimes I'd forget to put it...
How to hide your Instagram Story posts from your kids
It's not just tweens and teens who might be using Finstas (Fake-Instagram accounts) to throw off their parents. We parents whose kids and their friends follow us on Instagram have probably considered using them in case we want to freely post about our crazy Friday...
Apple Watch Series 3 for $199: You won’t want to miss this sale!
If you've been wanting an Apple Watch Series 3, whether you're a first-timer or are looking to upgrade, you're going to be hard pressed to find a price as low as this. We spotted certain models for as low as $199 on Amazon.com right now. But trust us when we say, you...
Here’s what you need to know about the WhatsApp breach
With lots of tweens and teens using Facebook's WhatsApp as a way to communicate, not to mention parents, especially those of us who travel a fair amount, we were very concerned about the cybersecurity breach on Monday. Users were left vulnerable to malicious spyware...
Message your kids the way they message their friends: Google Docs
If it looks like your kids are hard at work on their laptop or Chromebook, they might actually be messaging with their friends. Turns out, tweens and teens are using Google Docs to chat with each other, and it's honestly pretty brilliant. All you have to do is start a...
Survey says: Gen Z kids are not using online passwords safely
When it comes to digital parenting, there's a seemingly endless number of conversations we need to have with our tweens and teens. And according to a recent survey, moving "how to make a strong password" to the top of the list is pretty important. Turns out, Gen Z-ers...
5 podcasts I’ve listened to this month
Every month, I've been sharing the podcasts I've listened to, and this month, well, let's just say I branched out a bit from the True Crime I've been obsessing over lately. And I'm so glad I did. If you're new to podcasts, here's how to listen to them on your phone...
Holy Pikachu! CASETIFY is launching Pokémon cases.
The countdown to the upcoming Pokémon Detective Pikachu movie has started, so no surprise that we're about to see an uptick in Pokémon merch. Case in point, or should we say CASETIFY? Ha, well, they've got a new Pokémon collection launching next week and we know a few...
What’s the best first laptop for kids that’s affordable too? We’ve got an idea.
With my 12-year old son heading to middle school next year, I've got the the typical parental worries, which these days includes trying to figure out the best first laptop to purchase for him. Yes, my baby is all grown up and needs his own computer. That's where our...
Thinking about a Disney+ subscription? Look at this launch show line-up!
If you haven't heard, Disney is launching a paid streaming service in November that everyone is talking about and well, based on the Disney+ launch show line-up we're seeing, we're not surprised about the hype. We just got a peek at everything that will be offered...
In defense of teens with headphones
This morning my teen daughter lost her earbuds. "Did you shove them in your front backpack pocket?" I asked her. "No!" she snapped, then barked "Just pick me up before study hall!" as she stormed off into the open doors of the bus. I could hear her voice crumble in...
Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way!) Easier
A cool new Do Not Disturb feature on iPhone that’s perfect for parents
We're big fans of the Do Not Disturb feature on iPhone, which, if you're not familiar, allows you to temporarily block notifications (including texts and calls) with lots of customization too. As you can probably guess, it's perfect for meetings, dinners, or pretty...
These secret Netflix codes can help you find lots of hidden shows and movies
If you're like me, you spend a fair amount of time watching Netflix and generally see the same shows and movies every single time you scroll. Sorry, Netflix, I'm not in the mood to watch The Perfect Date, for the 15th time. Well, our friends over at Good Housekeeping...
How do you change the font on your Instagram bio?
Every so often, you probably see an Instagram name that pops up in wedding script, some gothic type, or even upside down, and if you've wondered how you change the font on your Instagram bio, it's so simple! There are apps you can download or keyboards you can...
We found an animated storybook app that’s a great YouTube alternative
I'm always on the hunt for YouTube alternatives for my son, and I've just discovered a good one in Vooks, the app that streams animated children's books. If you're wanting your kids to be entertained by something other than toy cars being pulled out of Jell-O, you'll...
Free Kindle books for World Book Day! Don’t mind if we do.
If you're looking to add some new books to your summer reading list, you'll want to head over to Amazon right now and download the 9 free Kindle books they're offering today in honor of World Book Day. But hurry, you've got about 30 hours (and counting to do it). The...
New study says increased screen time linked to ADHD in preschoolers
If you tend to stick to hard and fast time-limited screen time rules with your preschooler, it might actually be a good thing. According to a recent study at the University of Alberta, kids by the age of 5 who spent two hours or more looking at a screen each day were...
Obé gives you studio fitness classes, right on your phone
I recently fell off the Orange Theory Fitness wagon, and have been looking for something to get me moving again. So, after watching our friend Lauren Jimeson's Obé workouts daily on her Instagram stories (Hi Lauren!), I figured it was worth a try. And well, let's just...
A cool new Do Not Disturb feature on iPhone that’s perfect for parents
We're big fans of the Do Not Disturb feature on iPhone, which, if you're not familiar, allows you to temporarily block notifications (including texts and calls) with lots of customization too. As you can probably guess, it's perfect for meetings, dinners, or pretty...
These secret Netflix codes can help you find lots of hidden shows and movies
If you're like me, you spend a fair amount of time watching Netflix and generally see the same shows and movies every single time you scroll. Sorry, Netflix, I'm not in the mood to watch The Perfect Date, for the 15th time. Well, our friends over at Good Housekeeping...
How do you change the font on your Instagram bio?
Every so often, you probably see an Instagram name that pops up in wedding script, some gothic type, or even upside down, and if you've wondered how you change the font on your Instagram bio, it's so simple! There are apps you can download or keyboards you can...
The outrageous, high-tech marriage proposal that required Google Earth, GPS, and 4500 miles of travel over 6 months
We have shared a ton of clever pregnancy announcement ideas and sex reveal (FKA gender reveal, inaccurately) ideas over the years, and surely you've seen Pinterest boards packed full of creative marriage proposal ideas. But having just watched this video about a...
The future is here and it’s an alarm clock that brews coffee
Forget the hoverboards and watches that talk. The future is here and it is the Barisieur Coffee Brewing Alarm Clock. Yes, it makes pour over coffee (or loose leaf tea) when your alarm goes off. And it even has a refrigerated compartment for your milk. Seriously. If...
A new iOS 12.2 Screen Time app feature parents will want to know about.
If you haven't updated to the new iOS 12.2, it's worth it just to get the new Screen Time app feature that allows you to customize your child's downtime by the day. It's pretty easy to do once you have your phone running on the new iOS. Related: How to set limits for...
5 podcasts I’ve listened to this month
Last month, I shared 8 podcasts I listened to, some of which I loved and a couple that I sort of hate-listened. Ha. Well, this month I added 5 podcasts to my list, most of which I've been really enjoying. If you love podcasts as much as I do, I hope these reviews help...
6 ride sharing safety tips that parents should know
As someone who uses ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft pretty frequently (and is often distracted by what's happening on my phone), I know how easy it can be to just hop in a car that pulls up in front of me without checking everything out. But as many of us have...