This Full House Reviews

Welcome to Our 90th OPEN HOUSE BLOG TOUR! The Best Tablet Reviews Edition

My husband, Garth [not his real name] and I love attending open houses -- especially, if it's a home that we've admired from the sidewalk, or wondered...you know...what the heck is going on over there?

Same thing with blogs, right?

Mi feedburner es su feedburner!  So please, clean off a chair, sit down and feel free to share your links (PG-13, please) about any blogging events, giveaways, book tours and contests, or if you have a burning blog post and just need to a little shout out (HEY!) go for it!

Okay, I'll start:

My husband and I have been researching the market/interwebs for new tablets (4 kids, sharing 1 desktop, enough said) however, we are not as committed to Apple products (4 kids, enough said) as some people (okay, most everyone) also, once we do come to a decision (sort of) there's something new on the market.

My friend JayMonster has a great review of the new Android based Google Nexus 7 tablet.  Then again, I can't wait to hear his thoughts when Amazon refreshes Kindle Fire later this year (sort of).

Also, be sure to check out Engadget's 2012 back-to-school guide on tablets.  They are also featuring a giveaway every week until September 7th with 15 Grand Prize Winners of an awesome package including:  HP Envy Ultrabook 4, Sony Cyber-shot RX100, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0), Samsung Galaxy S III (AT&T), Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, AiAiAi Capital headphones and...WOW!!!...much, much more.  Go now!

Right,  NOW it's YOUR turn:

URL TOO LONG? NO SWEAT:  You can shorten, share and track your link with bitly.com (takes only about 3 seconds!)

Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by and feel free to come back anytime to see what my blogging friends are up to -- or, stop by my personal blog at ThisFullHouse.com -- we'll leave the porch light on for ya'.

In the meantime, have an AWESOME weekend everyone!

© 2003 - 2012 This Full House

Holiday AT&T Phone Fairy - Week 2: Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY 4G

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  I am so happy to be sharing this awesome phone with you, Leslie S (comment #78) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

Thanks to my friends at AT&T, I am raiding the Halloween bucket, donning a pair of wings and get to play the AT&T Phone Fairy for the Holidays.

I will be giving away a new and different AT&T 4G smartphone, every week, for 3 weeks, in December.

Why?  Well, who am I to deny an online friend the chance to get their hands on an awesome new cell phone?

Congratulations to Katherine for snagging the awesome Impulse 4G by Huawei, last week!

TODAY:  I'm giving away a Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY 4G  (perfect for gaming teens) to gift forward OR keep for yourself this holiday season. 

Want one?  Excellent! 

Key features are:

Holiday AT&T Phone Fairy - Week 1: Impulse 4G by Huawei Giveaway

Comments are closed: so glad to be sharing this awesome phone with you, Katherine (comment #6) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

I ran into the AT&T Phone Fairy at BlogHer in San Diego, this summer -- literally, she's just a tiny little thing -- and she was passing out phones to people who needed them, including friends of mine with broken, lost and/or stolen cell phones.

How awesome is that, right?!?

Last month, I received one of AT&T's budget-friendly alternative for smartphone shoppers (like me!)

Feel free to read my review of the Impulse 4G by Huawei, here.

Thanks to my friends at AT&T, I am raiding the Halloween bucket, donning a pair of wings and get to play the AT&T Phone Fairy for the Holidays.

Each week, for the next 3 weeks, I will be giving away a new and different AT&T 4G smartphone.

Why?  Well, who am I to deny an online friend the chance to get their hands on an awesome new cell phone?

TODAY:  I'm giving away an Impulse 4G by Huawei (just like the one I got) to keep for yourself or gift it forward this holiday season.  Want one?  Excellent!

Deal Alert: AT&T's Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals Announced!

Feel free to read my review and how the Impulse 4G by Huawei helped me overcome my smartphone envy - when you have time, of course.

Guess what?  I haven't broken my new cell phone from AT&T [knocks on wood until knuckles bleed] not yet, anyway.

However, I'm still having a hard time convincing my kids that, in this case, it's okay NOT to share.

I don't blame them.  It's really a smart-looking phone.

Most especially, since I've gifted myself with prettiful phone bling (it's my first smartphone, don't judge) although, I can't help but feel a little sad that my phone dresses up nicer than I do.

Hrmph.

Aaaaanyway, have any techy-type stuff on your shopping list?!?  EXCELLENT!!!

AT&T just announced their Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals on ATT.com.

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, November 25th, the following promotions will be available for online shoppers while supplies last. FREE SHIPPING and WAIVED ACTIVATION is included:

Friday, November 25, 12:01 a.m. ET

• Touchscreen devices, including tablets.

Saturday, November 26, 12:01 a.m. ET

• All Windows 7 and select Android devices, for just $.01

Sunday, November 27, 12:01 a.m. ET

• BlackBerry 9860 for  only $.01, HTC Red Inspire for $29.99

Monday, November 28, 12:01 a.m. ET

• A lineup of some of AT&T’s most popular smartphones—Motorola ATRIX 4G, Samsung Infuse 4G, BlackBerry 9810, HTC Inspire 4G and LG Thrill 4G—all for only one cent!

Aaaaand, you don't even have to leave home, or change out of your pajamas, to take advantage of these really great deals. 

How awesome is that, right?  Don't tell my kids, okay?

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  No payment, product or any other consideration, besides perhaps helping families (like mine) save a little extra milk money, was received for this blog post. 

Impulse 4G by Huawei Review: Overcoming My Smartphone Envy

Recently, I had a bit of a disagreement with my 10 year-old over her being the ONLY kid, in her 5th grade class, who does NOT own a cell phone.

The fact that a few of them own iPads was more than just a little disconcerting.

Because, the cost alone would feed my family for 1 month (conservatively speaking and if I don't buy meat) not to mention, yet ANOTHER $$ per month for data plan AND I don't even have a smartphone, DAGNABIT!!!

Yes, she really DOES exist.  I ran into the AT&T phone fairy at BlogHer in San Diego, this summer (literally, she's just a tiny little thing!)  she was passing out phones to people who needed them, including friends of mine with broken, lost and/or stolen cell phones.

How awesome is that, right?!?

Last week, I received an Impulse 4G by Huawei, launched in September 2011, as AT&T's budget-friendly alternative for smartphone shoppers (like me!)

Seeing as this is my first (smartphone, I mean) the prospect of actually being able to use my phone for home, work AND play, was very exciting, indeed.

So, the BIG question(s):  is it functional, what does it cost and how smart is it?

Skype Group Video Calling & Summer Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So, so happy to be sharing this with you, tomato (#40) Karen M (#2) and Tina Page (#38) please check your email for further instructions, thanks !!!

I was first introduced to Skype in February of 2008 and now use it regularly to keep in touch with clients and online friends.

Skype is a little piece of software that allows you to talk over the Internet to anyone in the world, for FREE!

Today, I'm excited to tell you about the launch of Skype Group Video Calling, which allows up to 10 people to join in on 1 video call, meaning family and friends can now connect over the lazy, hazy and sometimes crazy days of summer...virtually!

The Best Gift Ever $50 SWAGG Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: I am very happy to be sharing this with you, Susanmeep (comment #44) please check your email for further instructions!!!

Thanks to SWAGG for sponsoring my writing about The Best Gift Ever.  Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win a $50 SWAGG GIFT just in time for the holidays and/or beyond!

My kids are ALL at the age where giving is almost as exciting as receiving (ALMOST!) and it's really fun to watch them find "the best gift ever" for each of their siblings.

Taking each of them shopping, separately, not so much.

Thanks to the wonderfulness that is our blogging community (giving back is how we mom-type bloggers roll) my youngest (she's 9) and I will have the opportunity to donate 13 cartons of toys to local charities through her elementary school's toy drive, which I will get to blog about (hopefully) later, this week!

Why?

Because, giving feels AWESOME for both the giver and givee (YES, it's a word!) right?!?!

Today, I have the privilege of sharing information about SWAGG -- a free mobile app for iPhone or Droid (download here) that lets you shop smarter using your mobile phone.

How?

Buy, send or swap SWAGG GIFTS and organize your old school plastic gift cards.

GOOD STUFF:  For every download of the app between now and Dec. 31, 2010, SWAGG will donate $1 to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), up to $125,000.

REALLY GOOD STUFF:  Clever Girls Collective and SWAGG are sending a pair of movie fans to the Sundance Film Festival!

Download the SWAGG app then visit the Ultimate SWAGG Getaway Sweepstakes site too and enter to win a pretty kick butt prize, including:

• 2 night/3 day stay at Yarrow Hotel in Park City Utah (Jan 21 - Jan 23, 2011)
• Ground transportation to and from hotel to airport in Park City, Utah
• Dinner for two at Tao Lounge, including 2 nightclub passes
• All access to The House of SWAGG Gifting Suite
• 2 tickets to a movie premiere on Saturday, January 22nd -- movie tbd
• $4,000 value

Entry deadline:  is January 3, 2011, 11:59pm, PST.

But, wait, I get to share some really, really good stuff with you (yes, YOU!) too:

Our #1 Holiday Pick: Xbox 360 Kinect Xbox Live Family Pack Membership

Get the whole family in on the fun with Family Game Night. It happens every Tuesday on Xbox 360 and on Xbox LIVE.

TFH Holiday Pick 2010

It's no secret, we love our Xbox (read our full review of Xbox 360 LIVE from last year, here) and, seeing as I am also a gamer mom (i.e., try to beat the pants off of my kids, but, you know, end up losing, every gosh-darned time) I was excited to learn about the Family Pack Membership now available for Xbox 360 Live.

Long story, short (you're welcome!) you get four 12-month Xbox LIVE Gold memberships for less than the price of 2 with up to 4 players per family!

Then we received the new Kinect for Xbox 360 (thank you, Microsoft!) and well, this year, control free playing and full body play got my kids (and me) off the couch and took OUR Family Game Nights to a whole different level!

Fun Ways to Stay in Touch: Skype BuddyCam Starter Pack Holiday Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH NICOLE MAY (COMMENT #38) JAQUE (COMMENT #44) AND ASHLEY R (COMMENT #66) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!

TFH Holiday Picks 2010

I was first introduced to Skype in February of 2008 when hosting our first ever giveaway and now use it regularly to keep in touch with clients and online friends.

As a self-professed lover of multi-functional gadgets (see sidebar on right) I'm very excited to be able to tell you that the 2010 Skype Holiday Lookbook is here!

Inside, you'll find cool gadgets that will perhaps help keep you connected with friends and family this holiday season (if you want to, of course!) while providing a cost savings throughout the year, like:  Free video calls; free Skype to Skype calls and messaging.

For example, check out this cute little guy.

Flexible and durable (but, most importantly fun) Buddy retails for $19.99 and, IMO, would make a GREAT gift suggestion for kids, students and families who want to keep in touch with a simple Skype video call.

Or, chat with online friends, like Melisa (not a typo, she only has one "s" in her name, poor thing) because, some of us continually leave our cell phones in the car....ahem.

Want one?

3rd Annual Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest: Energizer Giveaway - Ultimate Lithium Batteries

CONGRATULATIONS: LAURIE (comment #1) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!

I take photos.  Lots and lots of pictures.  Mostly of my kids, vacations, the dog and stuff, or, at least, I used to. 

Before I broke my camera, I mean.

[moment of silence]

If you like to take pictures (like me) then, you might be interested to know that the 3rd Annual Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest is happening now!

Especially, if you take really, really, really good pictures (unlike me) the winner will have their photo featured in the December issue of National Geographic magazine (in an ad for Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries) and a trip of a lifetime:  A National Geographic Expedition for two to the Greek Isles.

Here's a slideshow of finalists from last year's Energizer Ultimate Photography Contest:

[heavy sigh]

Now, if I only had a camera (yeah, I broke mine) oh...AND some batteries, too...want some?

LeapFrog's New Mobile Learning Device: Can You Guess What It Is?

In 1995, LeapFrog was founded after a dad discovered that the toy market offered nothing to help his 3-year-old learn phonics. It's the year that the company introduced its first product (LeapFrog Phonics Writing Desk) and LeapFrog has consistently been coming up with cool interactive toys to help parents (like me) teach kids basic skills, ever since.

This summer, Leapfrog will be announcing their new mobile learning device - shhhhhh, it's a secret; can you guess the device?

I have absolutely NO IDEA what it is, either.  Still, I'm just itching to give one away - want to be one of the very first people ANYWHERE to own one?

Friday Family Game & Movie Night: Nintendo DSi XL Featuring, Flipnote Studio

My kids fight the UPS dude, for his attention, whenever we receive a box from our friends at Golin Harris.

"Me, me, me...give it to ME!"

No, not really.

[knock-knock-knock]

Thank goodness, my UPS dude delivers long before ALL my kids get home from school; otherwise, I'd NEVER get to play with anything!

"Thank, dude!"

This time, however, I'm pretty sure even my middle-schooler heard me, from all the way across town.

"SQUEEEEEE!"

Then, my oldest got home (she's 16) and, well, I was already late for work (l make it a general rule NOT to make the women who workout, at my club, angry) so, she was kind enough to put off starting her homework, and test out the new DSi XL, until I got home.

Wait until you see what IT can do!!!

Palm Pre Plus Blogger Review & Giveaway - Week 3

[CONGRATULATIONS, MICHELE -- COMMENT #32 -- SO HAPPY TO BE SHARING THIS WITH YOU, SO PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!]

I am very excited to partner with my friends at TheMotherhood.com and participate in the Palm Pre Plus campaign on behalf of Verizon Wireless, by testing out the "multi-tasking made easy" apps featured on the Palm Pre Plus.

Oh, and these terrific ladies, too:

Busy Mom

Mom Trends

Tech for Mommies

Mom Generations

The Full Mommy

Rockin Mama

Musings of a Housewife

Manic Mommies

Quirky Fusion

For the next 4 weeks, I'll be writing about my experiences (in very layman terms, of course) and sharing some great stuff (yep, I've got a Palm Pre Plus phone to giveaway, at the end of the program, too) while I try really hard NOT to break their pretty new phone, too.

Week 1:  I simply tried to learn how to turn the darn thing on.

Week 2:  Went mobile with Facebook and Twitter.

Today, I'm going to try and sync my computer's Media Player with the Palm Pre Plus music player -- without losing my patience OR breaking anything -- wanna see?

Palm Pre Plus Blogger Review & Giveaway - Week 2

[CONGRATULATIONS, SANDY -- COMMENT #3 -- PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!]

I am very excited to partner with my friends at TheMotherhood.com and participate in the Palm Pre Plus campaign on behalf of Verizon Wireless, by testing out the "multi-tasking made easy" apps featured on the Palm Pre Plus.

Oh, and these terrific ladies, too:

Busy Mom

Mom Trends

Tech for Mommies

Mom Generations

The Full Mommy

Rockin Mama

Musings of a Housewife

Manic Mommies

Quirky Fusion

For the next 4 weeks, I'll be writing about my experiences (in very layman terms, of course) and sharing some great stuff (yep, I've got one to giveaway, at the end of the program, too) while I try really hard NOT to break their pretty new phone, too.

Week 1:  When I simply tried to learn how to turn the darn thing on.

Today, I'm going to attempt to set up my Facebook, Twitter and Email accounts -- without losing my patience OR breaking anything -- wanna see?

Solution For Holiday Light Frustration: LightKeeper Pro Review & Giveaway

[FINISHED: CONGRATULATIONS, LAURIE MURLEY (COMMENT #14) WE'RE PLEASED TO BE SHARING THIS COOL GADGET WITH YOU - PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

We bought a pre-lit Christmas tree a couple of years ago and I was dismayed to find that, this year, after setting it up and plugging it in, half of the tree would not light.

"What the..."

Okay, if you've ever tried to put up Christmas lights, then perhaps you might agree that "dismayed" doesn't quite cut it.  Especially, in describing the frustration a person (like me) feels when the stuff you buy -- not to mention pay good money for -- breaks.

Then, my husband, Garth [not his real name] picked up this handy little gadget from CVS.

He even wrote about his experience with the LightKeeper Pro on Facebook: