Disclosure: I was provided with a Google Pixel Smartphone from Verizon in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.
How many of you remember when the car phone – aka- mobile phone – aka – cell phone turned into a Smartphone and using it to make actual phones calls has become almost obsolete?
Just text me…snap a selfie…check in on Foursquare…read an email…check Social Media stats…Facebook…Twitter…Instagram…read my blog…Hello Siri GPS navigation… uploading videos…Livestreaming…Snapchatting and of course the constant picture taking of food, friends, and fun!
So when I had the opportunity to review this new Google Pixel Smartphone I decided not to use it as a phone for making calls or for checking into social media or even updating my blog but solely as a camera instead.
“Content is King” and “Images are the Queen” so it is vital especially as a blogger to capture attention grabbing, eye popping pictures and I have to admit this Google Pixel exceeded my expectations!
Fruit under Fluorescent Light
I decided to leave my Nikon Coolpix at home when I headed to the Summit Marina last weekend to capture these amazing pictures overlooking the C&D Canal.
These photos were in no way touched up nor did I add any filters, I just emailed and uploaded them to my laptop. With the Google Pixel you can get unlimited storage of all your photos and videos free in Google Photos which is definitely great for leaving your legacy in the cloud!
You may remember last month when hubby and I came here to the Marina for another photo shot and the weather was still warm and gorgeous. However, this time, I was there alone and it was cold so I didn’t stay long, besides those Turkey Vultures didn’t seem too happy to have me around.
The Google Pixel Smartphone is smaller and lighter than my Samsung Galaxy Note 5, however, the pictures are bigger and brighter. There are actually two versions of this Android smartphone, the Google Pixel and the Google Pixel XL
I loved that the Google Pixel weighs only 5.04 oz and the 5 inch screen was the perfect size for viewing VR apps without needing my glasses. I had recently purchased a Virtual Reality Headset so I downloaded a few free VR apps from the Google Play Store.
The Google Pixel sat nicely in the headset and because it’s lightweight it was great for walking around “taking a tour of NYC” as well as riding a virtual rollercoaster. The display on this smartphone is bright, sharp and with the vivid colors, watching some of the VR movies was like being in my own private screening room!
The battery life on the Google Pixel is amazing which is very important especially as a blogger who may need to cover an event lasting hours. Not having to search for and then stand next to a power outlet was great for capturing these pictures at a Girls Night In event hosted by my friend Roxie in Middletown.
Other great photo features on the Google Pixel include the ability to just double tap a button to turn on the camera and a double twist to change to selfie mode. Videos can also be shot in 4K resolution and the powerful speakers were perfect for listening to music and watching DIY videos on YouTube.
There are also many other features that the Google Pixel is equipped with and below are just a few of them. However, if you are looking for an Android Smartphone with awesome visuals then you need to head over to a Verizon store and pick one up!
Oh, and the Bright Light Flashlight is perfect when navigating a parking lot or a college campus at night. Speaking of college, you know that I had to take a selfie with my son before he headed back to his after Thanksgiving!
Your Thoughts
Would you purchase a Google Pixel or Google Pixel XL?
Google Pixel Specs
Display
5.0 inches
FHD AMOLED at 441ppi
2.5D Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4
Size
5.6 x 2.7 x 0.2 ~ 0.3 inches
143.8 x 69.5 x 7.3 ~ 8.5 mm
Battery*
2,770 mAh battery
Standby time (LTE): up to 19 days
Talk time (3g/WCDMA): up to 26 hours
Internet use time (Wi-Fi): up to 13 hours
Internet use time (LTE): up to 13 hours
Video playback: up to 13 hours
Audio playback (via headset): up to 110 hours
Fast charging: up to 7 hours of use from only 15 minutes of charging
Oftentimes I have client meetings after work, so I try to wear something comfortable and cool because I usually won’t get home before 8 at night. I love pencil skirts and sleeveless shirts, black being my favorite color because of its slimming affects.
With this outfit, I decided to break up the black with red accessories, and jazzed it up a bit with an animal print. Do you remember this Cascading Vest which was provided to me from Covered Perfectly to review? Well believe it or not it has been hanging in my closet unworn ever since.
These Jessica Simpson peep toe animal print shoes are one of my favorite consigned finds. I literally wear them all year round, well at least if there’s no snow on the ground.
The red tote is a Walmart purchase and the red bracelet and ring are both from Old Navy.
What do you like to wear when you have a long day and want to keep it business casual cute?
If you are anything like me you bought a few bags of Tortilla Chips and a jar of Salsa to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but also like me you didn’t use the entire jar of salsa. So there it sits in the refrigerator until the next time you want to dip in a tortilla chip … which is no time soon.
I kept pushing that jar of salsa from one side of a shelf in the refrigerator to the other until I realized that I could probably use it to make a meatloaf or even turkey burgers instead of throwing it away.
Using the following ingredients I decided to make enough meatloaf to last two days because I had a meeting the next day after work and wouldn’t get home until late.
Ingredients
3 pound package of Jennie-O Ground Turkey
1 – 1/2 cups salsa
1 – 1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 – 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 Package of Taco Seasoning
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey, salsa, bread crumbs, cheese, eggs, and seasoning package. Transfer to a 5×9 inch loaf pan.
Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, or to a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees F (72 degrees C).
I also made a pot of Kale which is one of my favorite veggies to serve with any meal. To the boiling water I added one bunch of kale, Apple Cider Vinegar, chopped onions and a few sprinkles of white sugar.
Every time I make meatloaf, I think about Ralphie, the kid from “A Christmas Story” remember when he complains about this all too often served meal – meatloaf meatloaf beetloaf!
What is your favorite way to cook meatloaf?
Disclosure: I am a member of the Jennie-O Switch Circle and have received products to facilitate my reviews. All opinions are 100% my own.
Disclosure: The Renuzit brand provided me with samples of Renuzit Sensitive Scents in exchange for an honest product review. All opinions are however, 100% my own.
Last weekend I was able to enjoy one of my few unscheduled Saturdays so I took full advantage of it and decided to get a jump start on a little Spring Cleaning.
With the sun’s rays shining through the windows it was obvious that the dust bunnies had multiplied over the winter!
As you know, I have two sons, Malik, who is away at school at Bowie State University and Tayair is home attending the CLSC Program at the University of Delaware.
I had recently received these Renuzit products from Social Insiders so I was anxious to try them out and their bedrooms were the perfect place to begin. When Malik is away his bed is striped of it’s sheets and coverings so I started by spraying his mattress pad and pillows with the Renuzit Trigger Spray.
The Pure White Pear & Lavender scent was light and not overpowering which is great because both of my sons have seasonal allergies. If you watch the video below you will also see that I used the Trigger Spray in Tayair’s room, closet and on his sneakers.
I used the Pure Ocean Breeze Plug-In in Tayair’s room since it needs a bit more of a constant freshening and those of you who have teen age sons or young male adults know what I mean. The Pure Ocean Breeze scent was light and airy and after a few hours it made the whole room smell refreshed.
I was going to leave the Renuzit Sensitive Scent Gel Freshener in Malik’s room but once I took a whiff of the Pure Water Blossom & Cucumber scent, I immediately took it to my bedroom – it was heavenly! I will have to buy another one for Malik’s room before he gets home.
Having used Renuzit products in the past I was familiar with them, however, these new Sensitive Scents are much better and the Plug In Refills are universal so that they fit in any Glade or Air Wick warming unit, which saves you money if you have them already.
And speaking of saving money, I am conducting a Rafflecopter Giveway and will be giving away these 3 Coupons for a FREE Renuzit Sensitive Scents product. You can enter the contest below and make sure to leave a comment as to what your favorite Spring Scent is – good luck!
Drawing is open to USA residents only and will end on Sunday, March 13th.
Disclosure: I received this item in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are 100% my own. #michiyoschoicespiralizer #amazon #tomoson
I love preparing fresh veggies, not only for dinner but also in a healthy salad for lunch. The reason why I chose to review the Michiyo’s Choice Vegetable Spiralizer was because I knew it was a product that would get a lot of use in my kitchen. As you can see from the following video, I had plans on using it to prepare dinner the same day that I had received it.Michiyo’s Choice Vegetable Spiralizer is great for making healthy meals even if you are not on a diet. Actually, the next time we have spaghetti I will probably use a squash instead of pasta to save on calories. This Vegetable Spiralizer also saves you time in the kitchen because you won’t have to slice, dice or julienne using a knife.
The Michiyo’s Choice Vegetable Spiralizer is packaged and shipped quickly from Amazon.com. It comes in anylon drawstring bag, is packaged with four, extra sharp blades with various cutting edges, please be careful when removing and inserting these blades.
The package also includes a small blade cleaning brush and a blade removal tool as well as an end cap to hold the veggies once they get too small to hold with your fingers. It is made of BPA-free ABS plastic, is dishwasher safe, compact, easy to store and would make a perfect addition to your or in a family/friend’s kitchen.
Before using the Michiyo’s Choice Vegetable Spiralizer for the first time, wash in warm soapy water and pat dry, also make sure to thoroughly wash vegetables and cut both ends. Use straight and firm veggies that are approximately 2.5” in diameter for better results. You can use carrots, squash, zucchini, or potatoes to make some great dishes, you will also receive a free eBook with recipe ideas like the one below.
ASIAN ZOODLE SALAD JAR
Serving 4 jars
Ingredients
1 medium zucchini
Kosher salt
1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup sugar snap peas, halved
1 can (14 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup crunchy wonton strips
SESAME-GINGER DRESSING
4 tsp rice vinegar
4 tsp soy sauce
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 tbsp sriracha
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp sesame oil
Directions
Make zucchini noodles: Using a spiralizer to spiralize zucchini into noodles (you can also thinly slice the zucchini into strips).
Lay zucchini noodles on clean kitchen towel. Lightly sprinkle with salt; let stand 15 minutes. Squeeze out as much excess moisture as possible.
Meanwhile, prepare Sesame-Ginger Vinaigrette: In small bowl, whisk together vinegar, soy sauce, peanut butter, ginger and sriracha. While whisking, slowly drizzle in olive oil, then sesame oil, until all oil is incorporated.
Divide Sesame-Ginger Dressing equally among 4 pint-sized mason jars. Divide zucchini noodles over dressing. Layer with bell pepper, snap peas and oranges. If not serving right away, top with lids and refrigerate up to 2 days (storing wonton strips separately).
When ready to serve, remove lid and pour off any excess moisture that may have come out of zucchini noodles (the dressing will remain in bottom of jar).
Pour onto plate or bowl, top with wonton strips, stir and enjoy.
Disclosure: I received the Organic Soups from Campbell’s in order to facilitate this review, however, opinions are 100% my own.
Hello friends, you know how it is when you don’t feel well, the last thing you want to do is head into the kitchen and cook. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love cooking for my husband and sons and enjoy preparing meals for my YouTube Channel segment, Brunch with Blake. However, after returning from our road trip to Virginia Beach I began to get sick and that’s something that does not happen to me. I am normally a very healthy person and can’t even remember the last time I had the sniffles.
Fortunately, I had a few containers of Campbell’s Organic Soups on hand, so on Sunday, I warmed up a container of Chicken Noodle soup then curled up on the couch to rest and relax. The Campbell’s Organic Chicken Noodle Soup is only 100 calories, however, the sodium content is 690 mg, therefore, if you are watching your intake, I suggest you add water to thin it out.
The ingredients in the 17 oz containers are as follows:
Hello Friends, I hope all is well in your world. Most of you know that I have a channel on YouTube and on most Sunday’s I have a feature “Brunch with Blake”. Last week’s recipe was Chicken Enchiladas which I made especially for my youngest son who is home for Spring Break. This is a quick and easy recipe and I was able to use my new tongs and spatula from Bobbi Jean’s Kitchenware.
I have several stainless steel tongs in the kitchen drawer however, the sets from Bobbi Jean’s Kitchenware have thick silicon tips which prevents scratching and abrasions to pots and pans. Bobbi Jean’s Tongs Set come with a FREE Bonus Spatula and the 9 inch tongs are great for shorter reach when preparing food. The 12 inch tongs are perfect for deep pots & serving food and were great for stirring the Chicken Enchiladas.
The tongs are a dusk grey and the FREE BONUS Silicone Spatula with a stainless steel handle is Pea Green. The curve shaped spatula is perfect for blending dishes & scraping bowls which I will be using when I bake a cake next week. Another great feature is their heat resistance which is up to 480°F, perfect for pan searing and deep frying.
Check my YouTube vlog to see the full Chicken Enchilada recipe and how I used each of the Bobbi Jean’s utensils.
Last Friday when Malik came home from college for the weekend he also brought a friend. I really didn’t mind having an extra mouth to feed but having just the right amount of snacks was definitely important.
Earlier in the week he sent me a text message stating that he was bringing home 3 friends so I stopped at the grocery store after work. I wanted to pick up some chicken wings, cheese and crackers which are all his favorites, but I also needed to include some healthy items so I also bought fruits and veggies.
Whether entertaining friends for the holiday or my son and his buddies for the weekend, having just the right kitchen tools is always essential.
I recently received these KitchenwarePlus Bamboo Cutting Boards from Digital Awol and can honestly say that they are by far the best I’ve ever owned. These top quality boards are sturdy, and extra thick made from Bamboo and the large one measures 18” x 13”, the medium board is 13” x 8.5”.
As you can see, they were the perfect size for “cutting the cheese” and serving snacks to my son. The boards are available via Amazon.com, so if you order a set today you will receive them before your holiday entertaining begins.
What are your kid’s favorite snacks?
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Hello Friends and Welcome to the Weekend – oh, how I love the sound of that word…weekend…weekend…weekend! I know that I previously stated that I was going to enjoy each day to the fullest and not live solely for the weekend, but it’s so hard not to especially in the summer! Can you believe we are already at the end of the first week of June?
By now most of you have probably already seen or read the reviews for the #GoVoxBox from Influenster, so I am not going to go into great details, however, I did want to share my opinion on a few of the products.
Did I hear somebody say they don’t know about Influenster?
“Influenster is a community of trendsetters, social media masterminds, and educated consumers who live to give opinions of products and experiences. VoxBoxes are boxes filled with complimentary products from your favorite (or soon-to-be-favorite) brands. Not all Voxboxes are created equal: some programs feature an assortment of products while others will spotlight one awesome brand. But make no mistake: All VoxBoxes are created awesome.”
Their words not mine, but if you want to be a part of this community go to www.influenster.com and sign up.
Now on to the #GoVoxBox Review
PROFOOT Triad Orthotic – I haven’t tried them yet, however, I have used orthotics in the past with great results of foot pain relief – no rating
Playtex Sport Fresh Balance Tampons – I am in menopause and have no need for this product so I gave it to my girlfriend’s daughter – no rating
Aqua Spa Relax Body Cream – the lavender fragrance is so calming and the lotion is not sticky or greasy. I love putting it on my feet after a pedicure bath and on my body after a shower – A
PROFOOT Pedi-Rock– this pumice is by far the best I’ve ever used. It is soft and large enough to handle well, removes calluses without a lot of effort, dries quickly and can be used either wet or dry – A
Blue Diamond Almonds Blueberry Flavored – a double Super Food which is rich in Antioxidant Vitamin E, low in sodium at 35 mg and a great mid-afternoon snack – A
The VitaminShoppe Next Step Meal Replacement Shake – is by far the best that I have ever tasted. There were 3 flavored packs, French Vanilla, Swiss Chocolate and Berry as well as a 20oz JAXX Shaker Cup. I used a pack, added 8 oz of water and ice and it kept me full until dinner with no hunger pangs or in-between meal cravings. A coupon for $5 off the Next Step purchase was also included – A+
Speaking of coupons the #GoVoxBox also contained one for a free container of Muller Greek and Corner Yogurt, which I got from Shoprite right before my blogging class. I don’t particularly care for Greek yogurts but with the added fruit it actually tasted good and filled me up, which is what I needed because I had missed dinner – A.
BTW – the Blogging Class was great, thank you DE Money School!
Morocco and Africa, as well as all the spicy colors of lands far away are a big part of the global trend. Here’s style blogger Antoinette in a bold ethnic print shift dress that combines orange and red with purple for a look that’s pure energy.
Don’t miss Antoinette’s playful license plate. She’s one proud blogger! Be sure to stop by her site, De Divah Deals, to see Antoinette’s daily outfits and learn some of her secrets for scoring the best deals on fashion items.
Do you have a favorite outfit that makes you look and feel great? Are you a fashion blogger or do you have a favorite 40+ fashion blogger that you would like to see featured here? Feel free to share your photos with my Fabulous After 40 readers.
Please send in a good quality, full-length photo, your age, where you are from, and any details about your outfit to: myphoto@fabulousafter40.com. You’ll be featured on the Facebook page as well as in an upcoming What I Wore. I love hearing from you and cheering you on, Glam Gals!
I am THANKFUL for being invited to participate in last night’s 1st Girls Night Out Event sponsored by The Money School of Delaware
Can’t wait to post about it next week!
I am THANKFUL to be working on several product reviews which is keeping me uber busy. It truly has been a week full of fun and activities for which I am THANKFUL. I am also THANKFUL for you, my bloggy friends, for my family and of course my faith.
Certainly last but not least next Thursday Malik will be graduating from High School and wow, are we forever THANKFUL for that!
Okay, now it’s your turn – what are you thankful for this week?
