Tag: Technology
Hello, Friends! As many of you know, Amazon hosts "Prime Day" which is a big day for scoring BIG deals! Although I love shopping local and do so as often as possible, I also truly love and appreciate what Amazon can do for me when I need a hard-to-find product or when I need it fast! Sometimes I wonder how I ever made it without Amazon Prime- it is especially nice for those last minute creative ideas that hit me a few days before a party or a shoot! Today, I am gathering my favorites that I have shopped from Amazon and I am sharing them with you! I am an Amazon Associate which means I may receive a small percentage of the price when you buy (at no extra cost to you). Good news is meant to be shared!
2. Insta Pot Ultra or Insta Pot Duo-
Another amazing game-changer for convenience and efficiency! I have been wanting an Insta Pot for awhile now, and my mom-in-law gifted us one this summer! What I love most is that she bought herself one, too! That's how awesome it turned out to be! She said that when she cooked chicken in it and wanted to pull off the drumstick to test it, she ended up just holding the bone because it was so tender! Lol! What surprises me the most with an Insta Pot is the variety of recipes that you can make in it and the short amount of time that it takes to cook! You can literally cook meats and full meals and then also use an Insta Pot to make yogurt and to bake cakes. Such a range of uses- and with Prime Day, it makes it a perfect time to purchase an Insta Pot. I am so excited to have it for when school starts back and meal planning times are a little more hectic. What a great invention. Let me know if you try it! I would love to swap ideas and recipes with you!!
I have been waiting and waiting for a good-looking coffee pot to be made and finally, Smeg delivers! The variety of colors is so pretty and unique- you can find red, pastel blue, pastel green, cream, chrome, black, and even pink in some of the Smeg appliances! The original coffee maker needed some tweaks and so I waited some more to see if they would correct some of the little details (like the amount of time the coffee stayed warm) and they have!! I am so happy to find the colors that Smeg offers, too. The coffee maker looks so pretty on the counter, and I don't feel like I need to put it away everyday like I do with every other coffee maker I have ever had. I also like that it doesn't completely break the bank to get the appealing aesthetic that it offers. My husband likes the ease of using the coffee maker because he likes to avoid complicated gadgets whenever possible- this coffee maker suits both the attractive factor and the function factor- and so we can agree! I also love their espresso maker and their toaster! Cheers to pretty appliances and thank you, Smeg, for filling that void in the market!
Apple AirPods have been the most convenient use for traveling and staying connected. If you follow my IG Stories, you might remember that I was given a ticket for picking up my phone while I was driving. It was really just a matter of needing to move my phone at the time the police woman saw me touch it, but that is a different story. What I want you to know is that because I had Apple AirPods and the receipt that proved I had them prior to the ticket, I was able to have the ticket converted to a warning. It saved me money and insurance points by having these handy little things. I think they make an excellent gift for those trying to do their best with hands-free driving. I feel like my parents would like them so that they don't have to rely on speakers in their cars when chatting with us. And, of course, with having a new driver in the house...I am definitely eyeing them for a gift for my daughter's 16th birthday. Anything to help keep the focus on keeping her eyes on the road! Apple AirPods are easy to use and easy to charge. And, you can share them if needed! I think Prime Day is a good day to choose to buy them! There is a slight discount in the link that I have linked for you!
5. Adaptil Calming Dog Spray for Travel- As many of you know, we have been traveling with our pups this summer. I worked with a trainer before we left to help our anxious boy Blue. Blue has a lot of anxiety and we have wanted to help him overcome it and enjoy the trip. The trainer suggested many products to help him, and I want to share some of those tips with you guys. They have truly helped us! One of these is Adaptil Calming Spray. I would have never believed in this if we hadn't tried it ourselves. I was also afraid it would have a scent to it that would bother us in an enclosed car...but humans can't even smell it! It is the scent of pheromones from a dog mother's milk. The dog smells it and is instantly more relaxed. We spray it on his dog bed before he gets in the car. We also use it in any other circumstance that we feel like would be beneficial to him. I jokingly tell my kids to "prepare Blue's cabin" before we go on a ride and they can easily take care of that prep for me. I have also been recommended to put on the collar for Blue, but I haven't tried that yet. We do also spray the spray on Blue's Thunder Shirt (see below for more on the Thunder Shirt).
The Thunder Shirt for dogs is another great product that has helped our dog, Blue, manage his fear and anxiety. He is very afraid of thunder and other loud noises such as trash trucks, motorcycles, horns, airplanes, etc. We have used it to travel in the car and the shirt has a similar effect of swaddling a baby. The shirt adjusts to fit snuggly around your pup and gives them that feeling of a cocoon of safety. It is amazing to watch Blue relax and become calm in situations that typically frighten him. We let him wear it during thunderstorms but also when we know he may be stressed. It has been a big help!
7. Slow Treat, Licking Mats for Dogs
This next dog product is really helpful for us with both of our dogs. They love to stay busy and this mat is perfect for keeping them occupied. Simply spread peanut butter or greek yogurt on the mat and watch your pup work hard to get every lick of it out of the grooves. It is a great distraction for bath time. It sticks better on smooth surfaces if you want to attach it to the wall of a shower. I didn't realize that licking is soothing for a dog (first time dog owner) and so I was really happy to know about these. It is something else I would have never thought to use without the help of the trainer- and so I wanted to pass it along to you, too!
Because Blue gets afraid often, he is a puller when we go for walks. Our dog trainer suggested the Freedom Harness to help us all. The harness definitely helps keep him safely in our hands and he can't "back out of it" like he could with other harnesses. The way it attaches in the back and the front is what separates it from the others. It has been a big help for us and it comes with a great warranty. We ordered it as soon as Blue chewed through his last harness- we won't go back to the regular harnesses now- this one is very helpful!!
These tablecloths are quite possibly my favorite ones to use! I love them in all of the colors that they make! Stripes are the most universal pattern yet always crisp and in style- I guess that is what makes them a true classic! You can search "Shellabration" to see how I used them for a recent party. The uses are endless- no "theme" needed...just a great buy to use over and over again! If you prefer other colors...here is a link to navy blue. I pretty much love all of the colors they come in! I don't see these on sale for Prime Day, but I still wanted you to know about them if you need them for summer parties!!
10. Gingham Napkins
Gingham napkins go so well with cabana stripes! I love the two patterns together and so I wanted to share this Prime Day deal with you! This is for green gingham, which is so great for spring, summer, fall, and at Christmas. I want to stock up now on the green gingham and have them monogrammed for Christmas. They also make great gifts at Christmas with a monogram!
Okay, friends! These are the things that are giving us the most help lately and that I am loving so much! I hope some of these products will be helpful to you, too! Please let me know what you try and what you love! Is there any topic or are there products you would like for me to research and share? I am happy to take requests!! I enjoy finding products that make life pretty and/or practical! Have a great week!
xo,
Lydia
Freebie! Comes with a printable cocktail recipe card you could include with a hostess gift!
