Check your vision at home with the EyeQue Personal Vision Tracker

During the pandemic, we had the chance to test out a few at-home vision checkers from a company called EyeQue. They make products called the Personal Vision Tracker Plus ($45 at the time of this writing), Insight ($89) and VisionCheck ($69) which work together with your smartphone to help you check your eyesight over time. The Insight and VisionCheck are pretty neat - the Insight will test your visual acuity (20/20 vision), color and contrast sensitivity, while the VisionCheck tests for refraction errors automatically via Bluetooth and the Personal Vision Tracker checking for refraction errors manually.

It was very easy to try the different products using both my iPhone 12 as well as an older iPhone that we had kicking around and it was great for try it out. it was definitely easier to use the automatic VisionCheck since we didn't have to rotate the dial like the Personal Vision Tracker Plus, but it was very easy to use both products.

I took the tests using the different products and brought the results to my eye doctor to ask why they seemed so different than the prescription I had. The eye doctor had said that these systems are good for getting general numbers and trends but for eyeglass prescriptions they like to use their technology-aided instruments to get a ballpark idea, and then use their training and skill to get the numbers closer and perfected.

The VisionCheck and Vision Tracker Plus measures the lens power needed to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. At the end of the test, you will receive a set of EyeGlass Numbers that can be used to order glasses online - single vision, bifocals and progressives. They use either a manual or powered automated lens rotation to capture each meridian of the eye. The benefit of the VisionCheck is that it provides improved optics for faster, simpler test taking and has powered, automatic lens rotation using Bluetooth technology.

Thankfully, the folks at EyeQue have given us a few of the Vision Tracker Plus products to give away to our readers! You can enter the giveaway by filling out the rafflecopter below.

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NOTE: We were provided with samples of the product to facilitate this review and host the giveaway. No other compensation was provided, and as always, all opinions are our own.

Flows audio glasses make the perfect Father’s Day gift

If you’re looking for a sleek new gift for the tech-loving dad in your life, I have the perfect gift idea.

Flows just launched two Bluetooth audio sunglasses called Bruno’s and Taylor’s which offer high quality built-in bone conduction speakers and microphone pairs up via Bluetooth with your device to operate like any normal Bluetooth headset. 

I had the chance to try a pair of these glasses and they were pretty great. It was very easy to pair them with my iPhone and when I tried calling friends and family everyone said it was easy to hear me and I could hear them. The bone conduction technology is pretty cool and I enjoyed not having anything in my ears but still being able to hear everything around me as well as the conversation on the phone.

It did get a little interesting if I was wearing the glasses and then my little guy borrowed my phone to play a game - I would hear the sound of the game in the glasses even though I wasn’t playing the game! It was an easy fix - just turned off the power to the glasses.

The battery life lasts up to 5 hours and only 1-2 hours to fully recharge, you’ll always be prepared. These glasses are designed to eliminate the issues of wearing normal headphones / headsets when driving, cycling, walking and exercising outdoors, namely, the danger of not hearing traffic or other sounds when outdoors.

One thing I would caution you would be if you’re changing the lenses, you need to be mindful of the way which you pop the lenses out - I don’t usually do that, but if you get the additional lens pack then you can swap the lenses. If you do be sure to pop them from the front/outside in towards what would be your face, which may seem a little counter-intuitive but you wouldn’t want to break the brand new pair of glasses you just bought!

We are giving away a new pair of Flows to one of our readers - so enter the giveaway now and you just might win them for your dad!

Enter the giveaway here

Here’s some additional information about the glasses:

• Fully polarized and tinted Lenses: Easily pop in and out
• mini speakers technology
• Prescription ready
• Frames: TR-90 nylon with IPX2 water-resistant rating
• Lenses: Impact- and scratch-resistant premium flexible plastic
• Built-in multidirectional microphone
• Bluetooth range: 50 ft (15 m)
• Open ear Audio engineering
• Bluetooth version: 5.1
• Battery life: Up to 5 hours
• Battery charging time: Up to 1 hour
• Battery charge method: Proprietary 4-pin charging cable
• No apps needed.  Seamlessly connect to your devices Bluetooth connection
• Navigation Ready

NOTE: We were provided with a complimentary pair of Flows glasses in Bruno style to facilitate this review as well as a pair to give away. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are our own.

Our reaction to Toy Story 4 and some updates (and a giveaway!) for two Disney favorites

Over the weekend, we had the chance to see the new Disney-Pixar film, Toy Story 4, which is the latest in the Toy Story series. It was a heartwarming tale complete with some surprises and plot twists! I don't want to give any details away so you'll just have to see it. My kids said it was "awesome" and "one part is sad, and another part is scary with a few creepy dummies." It was nice to meet some of the new characters, especially Duke Caboom, Giggle Mcdimples and Forky!

We also got to play some Toy Story 4 themed games and win some fun prizes at the Toy Story 4 Summer Tour when it stopped in Somerville's Assembly Row a few weeks beforehand. So fun!!

Also last week, Disney released two classics on digital... the live-action version of Dumbo and the 70th anniversary digital remastery of Cinderella.

We are pleased to offer a giveaway for both Dumbo and Cinderella! Enter through the rafflecopter here:

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“Dumbo,” the grand live-action adventure from Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, which expanded on the beloved animated classic and sent spirits soaring, is now available on Blu-ray™ and DVD, as well as in digital format, all with never-before-seen bonus features, deleted scenes, Easter eggs and bloopers.

Stunning extras will transport viewers to the set of “Dumbo,” where cast members Danny DeVito (circus owner Max Medici), Michael Keaton (opportunistic businessman V.A. Vandevere), Colin Farrell (war-veteran-turned-elephant-keeper Holt Farrier), Eva Green (stunning aerialist Colette Marchant), Nico Parker (Farrier’s daughter, Milly) and Finley Hobbins (Farrier’s son, Joe) share their personal stories of courage and character. Features explore how Disney’s timeless animated story was brought to life with an incredibly expressive, lovable, fully computer-generated baby elephant; the longtime collaboration of Burton, production designer Rick Heinrichs and costume designer Colleen Atwood, which resulted in jaw-dropping sets and costumes; and the creation of the visually colossal Dreamland parade sequence. Also included are nine deleted scenes, hidden and not-so-hidden Easter eggs, bloopers and a special performance of “Baby Mine” by Arcade Fire.

The Anniversary Edition of “Cinderella” offers two all-new extras: “Cinderella” trivia and fun facts, hosted by Ruth Righi and Ava Kolker from Disney Channel’s “Sydney to the Max,” and “In Walt’s Words: Enhanced Edition,” a special edition of “Cinderella” featuring fascinating production details, original storyboards, archival photos, thumbnail sketches and transcripts throughout the feature film. Hours of classic bonus material celebrates the masterful animation, memorable music and long-lasting impact of “Cinderella,” showcasing Walt Disney’s core group of animators, the art of Disney Legend Mary Blair, the original demo recording of the film’s title song and Cinderella’s iconic glass slipper.

New England Boat Show coming to Boston 2/10-18 and a giveaway #NEBoatShow

The 2018 Progressive Insurance New England Boat Show drops anchor at the Boston Convention Center, February 10th -18th. This nine-day interactive, educational, immersive and entertaining experience attracts more than 50,000 marine enthusiasts of all ages and lifestyles. With something for every budget and level of interest the Show will feature 600 boats, 250 exhibitors and the best deals of the year for New Englanders prepping for another glorious summer on the water.

I have a special offer for my readers, if you purchase tickets before Friday, February 9th, you can use the code BOATGO to get a special Buy One Get One (BOGO) free deal!

I'm giving away a pair of tickets to the New England Boat Show along with a $50 gift card to enjoy some food at Coppersmith's in South Boston. Enter using the RaffleCopter here:

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Details:

When: Saturday, February 10 through Sunday, February 18, 2018
Where: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (415 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210)
Hours:
Saturday, February 10: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday, February 11: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Monday - Friday, February 12-16: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday, February 17: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday, February 18: 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Tickets: 

$16 for adults;
FREE for children 12 and under (when accompanied by an adult)
● Purchase tickets online at www.newenglandboatshow.com or at the box office during the show
● All active military will receive one free ticket with valid ID

Highlights include: 

Progressive® Boat Club: Attendees can take the helm at Progressive’s NEW Oculus Rift virtual reality 
experience, putting themselves at the helm of a virtual boat race, navigating simulated waters, all while trying to beat the clock. For those looking to improve their nautical know-how the Annapolis School of Seamanship will be on deck with an array of hands-on boating courses and visitors can master docking skills at the docking pool with remote control model boats. Plus, exhausted attendees can relax, talk to Progressive experts, get a free quote and win prizes in Progressive Boat Club’s lounge area. 

* GREAT FOR FAMILIES *
Touch-a-Boat Tour: An up-close opportunity for kids of all ages to explore an array of vessels, talk with captains, snap a pic at the helm and learn the ropes of life on the high seas. Kids get their very own boat show passport to collect stamps at 10 boat stops around the Show.

• Climb aboard a real United States Coast Guard Boat, plus a variety of recreational boats from pontoons to cruisers and more! 

• Hop on “Salt”, the life-size whale, a 40’ life-size inflatable Humpback whale to learn about safe boating around whales. 

• Build a toy boat to bring home as a nautical souvenir. 


Gone Fishing: Goose Hummock Shops will be offering top-notch fishing seminars and kayak demos in two giant, brand new fiberglass water tanks, attendees can test lures, rods and reels, plus the latest kayaks. Stay tuned for more seminar times and updates soon on NewEnglandBoatShow.com. 

Nautical Fare: A returning fan favorite is, South Boston’s dynamic restaurant just minutes from the BCEC, Coppersmith will offer visitors live cooking demos from Executive Chef Jason Heard and his team for a perfect day on the water. Demos will include tuna tartare wontons, prime rib sliders and more on Saturday, Feb. 10, Thursday, Feb. 15 and Saturday, Feb. 17 from the Goose Hummock booth. Plus, make sure to visit Coppersmith in South Boston to snap a pic with the “Show” boat featured in their restaurant starting Feb 9th to enter to win a grand prize worth $3,000.
Climb Aboard: Hundreds of the latest boat models under one roof for attendees to browse, board and buy for every lifestyle and budget ranging from luxury cruisers and sport fishers to center consoles and pontoon boats, plus marine accessories and much more. 

Dozens of boating seminars: With a special emphasis on fishing tips and advice on sailing and boating topics. 

Learn to Do It Yourself: Step into Fred’s Shed, an interactive garage with experts teaching the art of boat 
maintenance and repair. 

Discover Boating Center: Unbiased information and affordable boats - some can even be financed for less than $250 
per month! 

Pets on Board Contest: Share your favorite photo of your pet living the boating life to win a pet life jacket! There are 3 
ways to enter– Bring the photo to the Show, tag #petsonboard and #neboatshow on Instagram or Twitter, or post your photo as a comment on the designated Facebook post from 1/27/18. 


NOTE: I am receiving compensation in exchange for this post, some social posts during the event as well as a post-event recap. All opinions are our own.

Red Sox Grateful Dead Night Figurine Giveaway through 4/9

Hey guys! I'm so excited to be offering this giveaway for the figurine that they are giving out with a special ticket for Red Sox Grateful Dead night on 4/11!

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As I mentioned a few weeks ago, you can enjoy this special themed game which includes a pre-game concert on Yawkey Way by “Playing Dead,” a Grateful Dead tribute band. With your purchase of an event ticket, you will receive a limited edition Red Sox Dancing Bears figurine.

Proceeds from tickets sales will benefit the Rex Foundation, the official charity of the Dead.

A VIP ticket is also available which includes an upgraded ticket into the Coca-Cola Pavilion Reserved section for the game.

More information can be found at redsox.com/GratefulDead.

NOTE: As a Red Sox Parent, I was provided one figurine for myself and one figurine to giveaway. No other compensation was provided and as always, all opinions are my own.

Flash giveaway: Family 4-pack of tickets to Red Sox American Girl Night at Fenway!

OK guys, you won't believe this but the great folks at the Red Sox gave us a family 4-pack of tickets to give away to one lucky Parental Ideas blog fan. All you have to do is enter through the rafflecopter form below!

HURRY! Giveaway closes TONIGHT at 12:00 AM on 7/24/16

American Girl celebrates girls and all that they can be! The Red Sox are teaming up with American Girl on Monday, July 25 for one special evening. With the purchase of your special American Girl Night ticket to see the Red Sox battle the Tigers, you will also receive a Red Sox t-shirt for your American Girl doll.

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NOTE: We were provided with Red Sox Game tickets to attend the game as well as for the giveaway for promotional purposes as part of the Red Sox Moms/Red Sox Parents.  No other compensation was provided. All opinions are our own.

Red Sox game recap and Bobble head doll giveaway

OK Red Sox fans, I’ve got some exciting news for you! The Red Sox have absolutely gone to town with promotions and giveaways this year and have some pretty amazing giveaways coming up! We were lucky enough to attend Wally’s Birthday a week ago and got a cool Red Sox tote bag, but more on that later!

So, as you may have heard, this year is the last season for Red Sox slugger, David Ortiz (a.k.a. Big Papi), one of our favorite players on the team! In honor of his great accomplishments, the team has a slew of Papi-related giveaways coming up (Build-a-Papi on July 26, Papi Gnome on June 21, etc.) but the one that we’re excited for is the Papi Canvas art that will be given away to the first 15,000 fans in attendance on Tuesday May 24th. As a Red Sox Parent, they sent me one to hang on the wall.

I also received a David Price Bobblehead doll to give away to one of our lucky readers! So… you know what to do, fill out the rafflecopter at the bottom of this post!

Now… for the recap of our amazing trip to fenway for Wally’s birthday!

The game started at 1:35 on a Sunday afternoon, but we were lucky enough to get into the VIP birthday party with Wally and his friends which started at 11:35. We lined up outside of gate C at Fenway for the special party and once inside, we received the day’s giveaway (a Red Sox tote) and went to the party inside of the Champions Club. Last year, the Red Sox created Wally’s Clubhouse which took place inside of the Champions Club at Fenway from innings 3-7 during most games in the summer. This was a great idea to keep the kids out of the hot summer sun and give them an air-conditioned place to relax. We’re happy to say that it looks like this is being continued for this year as well!

When we entered the party we each got our Wally gnome and proceeded to a balloon-filled party room complete with food, snacks, games and more! We took in the sights and sounds of the party and then took a little break to go see the Sox and Astros take batting practice on the field.

After we had our fill of food, it was time for the main event. We all gathered near the front of the room and then Wally came into the room with all of his mascot family and friends from other teams. We all sang happy birthday to Wally and then posed to take pictures with him, his family (Walter, his dad, Wanda, his mom and his little sister, Tessie) and friends.

We took our picture with Wally, ate some more food then went to our seats in Right Field to watch the pre-game festivities and the game!

In the fourth inning the Red Sox invited us to visit Wally’s Clubhouse again and this time we got to eat some of his birthday cake. It was so delicious and honestly, how often do you get to go to a baseball game and eat birthday cake! That was a great addition!

After a gorgeous afternoon of springtime baseball, we hopped in our car and went home. We can’t wait to do it all again!

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NOTE: We were provided with tickets to the game and the canvas print and bobble head doll for review and bobble head for giveaway courtesy of the Red Sox as Dave is a Red Sox Dad. There was no promise made of a positive review, but we had a really great time anyways! All opinions are our own.

KRAVE Jerky is GREAT!

I had the chance to meet some great folks at KRAVE Jerky, while checking out the Bike Boston Friday Festival at City Hall Plaza a few weeks ago… About 10 years ago I started eating jerky as a healthy snack and have been getting it at Trader Joe’s where we love to eat their Turkey Jerky. Recently, while at Roche Brothers supermarket in downtown Boston, I saw the KRAVE packaging and it caught my eye. I grabbed some Lemon Garlic Turkey Jerky and found that it was really tasty and quite healthy - lower in sodium and high in protein!

The great people at KRAVE at the bike festival gave me some to take home and try and we were pleasantly surprised by the flavors and varieties. We really liked the Basil Citrus and Lemon Garlic Turkey Jerky as well as the Pineapple Orange Beef Jerky so far.

I find that it’s a great high protein, low-fat snack and is low in WeightWatchers PointsPlus points (anywhere from 1-3 points per serving).

Here are some KRAVE Jerky facts:

• KRAVE Jerky does not contain any nitrates, hormones, MSG or artificial flavors & is Gluten Free.  
• KRAVE Jerky is 97% fat free; lower in sodium (50-70%), cholesterol (50-70%) and calories (15-70%) than their major competitors 
• KRAVE Jerky is made using unique culinary techniques such as double marinating, brining, baking and grilling to maintain their signature moist and tender texture.

The great folks at KRAVE have offered us a Sampler pack containing 1 of each variety of Jerky they offer, 8 total along with a KRAVE t-shirt as a prize for us to give away to one of our loyal readers.

Please enter using the rafflecopter below!

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NOTE: The great crew at KRAVE Jerky provided me with some free Jerky and a giveaway in exchange for this post. There was no promise of a positive review. No other compensation was provided. 

The paste to soothe all bums!

I can't believe it's taken me 18 months to find Pedi-Derm Bum Paste! We have been fortunate to have only minor diaper rashes with our daughter. Although, it seems infrequent that I never notice any redness. I have tried various brands of diaper rash cream and ointments, but nothing seems to do the trick to take this redness away. I also hate leaving my daughter in a diaper all night long, worrying about how long she is sitting in a wet diaper, but waking her up is even worse!

Image from http://Pedidermbumpaste.com

We stumbled upon Letourneau's pharmacy booth at the Drool Baby expo. Actually, we had passed by the booth not noticing what it was, but the "picture" caught my eye. The picture was of a very intense rash with open wounds. There were before and after pictures showing how well the stuff works... I was skeptical at first, wondering could a rash this severe be cured by something over the counter?  My husband being the talkative one, chatted with the folks at the booth, and we found out that we had a sample to try in the swag bag from the expo.

I couldn't wait to try this stuff, but wanted to get a true test to see if it worked as well as people said. I waited for my little one's bum to get a little red and then slathered it on. When I say this stuff is amazing, it is with all seriousness. The next time I changed my daughter's diaper, all redness diminished. Now at even the slightest hint of red, I dab some Bum Paste on it and don't even worry that the rash or redness will be there at the next diaper change, because it's been gone every time.

The paste is very thick and not as easy to apply as something like Desitin. This is the only negative I have found in using it. But, I have found that dabbing it on instead of rubbing it on makes the process easier. A little goes a long way!

Speaking of that, the nice folks at Letourneau's pharmacy have offered us a 4 oz jar to give away to one lucky reader. You can enter the contest by using the Rafflecopter form below or through our Facebook page. Whether or not you enter the contest, they are offering all of our readers a free sample to try it out. Who doesn't like free stuff, right?

To get your free sample, go to Letourneau's website, click on Add to Cart under the full size jar. Then click on View Cart and enter in the code "parentalideas" which will reduce the cart to $0.00 and click on Check out. You can also select free shipping and they will ship the sample through the US postal service.

Lastly, this has now become my go-to product for diaper rashes and I am telling all of my friends about it.

-- Emily

Disclosure: I received a jar of Pedi-Derm Bum Paste free for this review. The opinions and statements in this post are my own and there was no promise of a positive review.


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