Sol Republic Wireless Deck Giveaway

*Disclosure: I was given a Sol Republic x Motorola DECK 1500-10 speaker in exchange for a blog post and social media promotion. This is my honest review. Stick with me, because at the end of this I get to give one away to a reader!*

I'm the kind of girl that has to have music on all the time. Always have been. And I am always singing.

For some reason I never thought to add a radio to my kitchen when I am cooking - so I will end up opening my laptop up and playing music there, or from my cell phone. It works OK, but I feel like I can never get it as loud as I would like it. And have you ever tried dragging a laptop from room to room while you are cleaning? Just so you can hear your playlist? Not so fun.

I never really gave much thought to something like a wireless speaker. That's sort of my husband's department. He's up on those things. Sol Republic contacted me about reviewing a wireless speaker and I jumped at the chance to try one out.

Honestly, I had no idea how much I would love it. I hoped it would make things easier, sound better ... but I really wasn't sure what kind of a difference it would make. The package came with the SOL REPUBLIC x Motorola DECK 1500-10 speaker (featuring R2 Sound Engines and 360° Full Sound for immersive audio) and my oldest held it proudly.

Even my 8 year old knew what it was for! Ours came in the lemon lime color, with an AC adapter, USB charging cable, audio cable and a case. (I love the stretchy black case!)

Once we charged it up (charges amazingly fast by the way!) and synched it to my cell phone, I had access to my entire playlists and radio stations. The sound quality was great and I could get it as loud - or as quiet - as I wanted it. I was jamming out in my kitchen while cooking and later cleaning up.

My husband is in love with it's Heist Mode, which lets you pair up to 5 devices, so your friends can take turns controlling the speaker. Which means he can play his music on it too.

After that, we realized it could pretty much go anywhere with us. We throw it in the car and it goes just about everywhere with us. We played a few hours of music at a park while having a family cookout.

We took it to the beach and played music while the kids built sand castles. (See it right there on top of the polka dot cooler bag?)

I'm going to be upfront here. It was retailing for about $199.99 though you can now find it $149.99 (with free shipping) through the Sol Republic website. I know the price seems high - or at least it did to me. But after the last 2 weeks of using it I can tell you it is WELL worth the price.

With school starting this week, the possibilities for what we can do with this - and where we can take it - are almost endless because it's so small and compact. My cell is always with me and it's easy to throw the speaker in a bag and just go. Those hours we sometimes spend sitting waiting for auditions for the boys? It's coming with us - quietly. Before and after swim lessons? It can go to the pool too! Boys want to play a bit on the playground after school? They can rock their tunes. (They haven't stopped playing with the deck since it came home.)

It even has an option for speakerphone, enabling hands-free calls.

In addition to their website, you can also follow Sol Republic on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Enter below on the Rafflecopter for a chance at winning a Sol Republic deck for yourself! (Open to residents of the US and Canada only. You can only win once with Sol Republic in a 6 month period.) After you enter my giveaway (which will be shipped to you from the company, color of the deck not guaranteed), head on over to my friend Mama Loves Media and enter for another chance to win there!

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chicago bound

I'm leaving for Chicago in the morning, so you know what is happening. 

I have a sickie mcsickie.  The Doodle Bop has not only been up somewhere between 2-4am for 2 weeks straight with nightmares (followed by the Bunny Bee who wakes up to pre-tect him), but it seems he's coming down with a cold too.  Because I'm leaving.  Someone is always sick when I leave.  Al wondered this morning if the Doodle Bop was coming down with something, though he seemed to bounce back during the day.  By 5pm?  He had put himself to bed and refused dinner.  All tucked in, lights off, nightlight on.  Yeah.

When Al came home from work tonight, he was able to get the Doodle Bop up for a late dinner.  I ran out with the Big Guy and it was a struggle to keep the Doodle Bop awake the hour until I got home.  Speaking of that drive home with the Big Guy, it finally happened.  And by it, I mean he asked me Mommy, can planes crash?

Not that.  Please not that.  I've been forcing myself to fly all over this year - alone - without xanax no less ... and while it has gotten a little easier, I am still not in love with it.  And now we have to talk about planes crashing.  He went on to tell me he's pretty sure he's heard planes can crash and asked how did I know that I would make it home. 

Oh my heart.  Also?  Thanks for fueling my fears kiddo.

We talked about all the car accidents we see (like daily lately) and how safe we still are in a car... and how super safe planes are because you almost never hear about them crashing.  It was such a hard conversation to have.  Before now, it had never occurred to my kids that something could happen to the airplane I get on... they were only worried about how long I would be gone.  Not about me not coming back.

Once we were home I sat with the boys and the Doodle Bop burst into tears.  Hysterical tears as he clung to me because he did not want me to go in the morning.  It has never been this bad.  They get a little teary, but then they are OK.  I have never seen a meltdown like this and it was terrible.  It didn't help that the Big Guy jumped in with the Yeah! Mommy don't leave!  Just cancel!  The Bunny Bee is the only one taking this well.  I'll miss you!  Remember you have to show me how the toilet in your hotel flushes when we skype!  That crazy thing that has become tradition...

While I have traveled alot this year, I haven't been away in 2 months... and this the shortest trip yet.  Less than 48 hours.  Just one overnight and I am home.  I wish I knew why two of my guys were taking this one so hard.

How to get through airport security (or not)

How to get through airport security:

Stand in no less than 3 different lines, which are lines for the people still waiting to be shuffled into the already full security lines.

Get sent down the airport to a 4th line, only to be sent over to an escalator.

Go up the escalator.  Find that you were chased to the top by an old man who is yelling at you because you have 3 bags and are only allowed to have 2 (which the people running the last 4 lines neglected to mention).

Get sent over to the person running the secrity line who orders you to go check a bag, even though you offer to combine the 2 smaller ones by putting your backpack inside the shoulder bag.

Ask where you go to check a bag because you have no idea.  Nearly cry.  Get yelled at again and ordered back down the escalator you came up on.

Trek back past several lines before someone takes pity on you and asks why you are going the opposite way from everyone else...who then tells you to just combine the 2 smaller bags.  Tell them you were told you couldn't.  He helps you do it to avoid the checked baggage fee and sends you to an entirely different security line.  (Angels do exist.)

Stand in your new security line.  Realize you have been at this for nearly an hour and it isn't even 5:30am yet.  Wonder if you packed that water bottle in the shoulder bag late last night after all.  Dig through quick and find nothing.  Conclude you must have left it behind.

Get detained at security.  Over a water bottle in your shoulder bag.  Because of course.

Hold up the line while everyone behind you gives you the evil eye.

Get sent to have your bags dumped out and put back through individually after the water bottle is tossed out.  Apoligize profusely.

Put all your stuff back in your bags.

Get seated on the plane only to be asked to move out of the only window seat you will be getting so a family with kids can sit together.  Move.  Watch the passengers around you gasp at the sight of a cockroach crawling on the overhead bins.  Wait... that's an entirely different blog post.

True story.

Traveling with Disney #DisneyInHomeBloggers

How many Disney lovers do we have here?

I have been a Disney fan my entire life! From the old Mickey Mouse cartoons, to movies like Cinderella and the Little Mermaid, to the old (new) Mickey Mouse Club back in the day ... and though it has been years since I have been back, I was actually able to go to Disney World in Florida twice.

Since I have had the boys, its all about the Disney channel at our house. And Disney XD which is their current favorite. A trip to Disney is definitely on our list in the near future. They have decided that when we go, they are going to sleep in the castle.

I am so excited to share some news with you all! As a writer at MomGenerations, I will be going to California next week on a Walt Disney Studios bloggers trip to celebrate the upcoming releases of:

 

Finding Nemo 3D (In Theaters September 14th, Available on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack December 4th)




Secret of the Wings (Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and HD Digital Download October 23rd)



And the one I'm most excited about... Cinderella: Diamond Edition (Available on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack October 2nd)



No kids or husband... just me (and several other bloggers I am so excited to meet in person) taking over California and all things Disney. In addition to trips to Disney's California Adventure, Disneyland (and Cars Land...did I mention Cars Land?!) we will be previewing the movies, interviewing some of the film makers and previewing Disney Consumer Products' upcoming product lines.

I am going to have so much to share with you it is going to be crazy.

Just promise me now that y'all do NOT tell my kids where I am if you happen to see them next week.  They would never forgive me for going to Disney without them.  We are just telling them California for now.  Not sure how I will spin this when I get home.

Anything you want to see in particular? Have some questions about something? Comment on this post - or tweet me! You can follow me at MomGenerations, here at Cira's Lyrics and over at Buy-Her. I will be live tweeting the trip on twitter through @MomGenerations and @Liza_Rae at the hashtag #DisneyInHomeBloggers starting Wednesday. I hope you will all join me online!            

Beaches that are actually lakes and fun filled weekends

I really had the best weekend with the boys. 

And by weekend I'll start with Friday.  Briar Point Beach (which is a lake, not a beach by the way) with Jules, my cousin Kerri, her boyfriend Frankie and all of our kids. 

While I am not quite a fan of lakes and most likely will not go back there again, it was pretty cool watching the Bunny Bee finally learn to swim.  The Big Guy started to get the hang of it as well.  Once the Bunny Bee got going though, he spent hours in that water.  (That's our entire kid crew of eight there.)

Saturday was the twins official birthday party. 

95 degrees before the humidity, and then it rained.  During the party.  But we had that part covered.

With a giant tarp.  It was kind of hilarious actually.

Today we tried to hit up the Tall Ships in Newport. 

Lets just say we didn't exactly research that one enough.  We debated on paying the money to board the ships but then thought about how there was no way the boys would wait in the heat like that.  No, we would just go down, look at the ships on the water and the boys would not know the difference.

Um, guess what.  They were charging a fee to even get on the pier - and not board the boats. 

We saw two from afar, the boys checked out the porta potties (I know) and decided they had enough of the heat.  As in two out of three started to cry because they were so hot.  So we hit the arcade. 

And a cupcake shop.

This afternoon we hit up the Budlong Pool so the boys could show Al how they could 'swim' and we capped off the night with grilling out in the backyard.  And getting hit by the sprinkler over the fence after we ate.

Totally fun filled weekend. 

But now reality is setting in.  For the last few weeks all I could see in front of me was the boys birthday.  Now that we are past that, I am realizing that I will be on a plane one week from tomorrow.  Flying to New Mexico for three days with Mercedes Benz ...and I am kind of freaking out a little.

Just about two weeks after that?  I will be in NYC for BlogHer. 

Oh my God!  When did I become the girl who travels like this?