This is part of a sponsored content series as part of my role as the exclusive 2014 Collegiate Inventors Competition Ambassador. This morning’s Collegiate Inventors Competition Expo brought together 14 teams from colleges and universities around the country to share their inventions with the public before undergoing a round of judging to determine a winner to…
Why I’m Getting My Daughter a Domain.Me URL Instead of a .com (w. giveaway)
This is a sponsored post I’ve always been protective of my kids when it comes to their online identity and digital footprint but you might have noticed that Little Miss Techie recently decided to reveal herself to the world as her true self— Emily. When I first started blogging almost 7 years ago, I had…
Collegiate Inventors Competition Showcases Emerging Ideas & Tech for Our Future (w. giveaway)
This is part of a sponsored content series as part of my role as the exclusive 2014 Collegiate Inventors Competition Ambassador. This Monday, November 17 college students will assemble at the United States Patent and Trademark Office to showcase emerging ideas and technologies at the Collegiate Inventors Competition (CIC). Since 1990 this competition has promoted…
2014 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Teens
What to get choosy teens? Surprise them with something they’ve been wanting and saving for or wow them with something new so they can be pioneers among their friends. These gifts build upon their interests and desire to constantly stay connected thanks to smart devices that allow them to instantly share to their social networks….
2014 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Tweens (ages 8-12)
Tweens are at the cusp of independence but yet there can still be that occasional sweet side that longs to be the center of your attention. These gifts have a bit of the cool factor while also being practical, pure fun, and a bit educational too. Gravity Maze by ThinkFun ($29.99)— We never get tired…
2014 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Early Elementary Ages (grades K-2)
Kindergarten, first, and second graders span a wide range of skills and knowledge. While kindergartners are still getting used to routines of school and many are moving towards reading fluency at their own pace, experienced second graders have the school thing down and are all about building on their knowledge while first graders are always…
2014 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Preschoolers
Preschoolers are constantly busy. If they’re not in motion, their minds are racing as they work to synthesize information about the world around them as they learn at home and at school. Friendships at this age can be rewarding but tricky. Parallel play- playing near each other but not exactly collaboratively- is something that develops…
2014 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Toddlers
What makes a good gift for the toddler set? Something that sparks their imagination and facilitates imaginative play that helps them continue to better understand the world around them, challenges them to think as they develop pre-reading and beginning math skills, and also reinforces their basic need of feeling loved. These gifts for 2-4 year…
2014 Holiday Gift Guides
If holiday shopping fills you with dread as you look at your long list, let me help! Every year since 2008, I’ve evaluated tons of products for my age appropriate gift guides and specialty guides but I only recommend the items I’d love to give as gifts, receive myself, or know that my kids would…
My Family’s Experiences with Piper as a Tool for Home Automation and Security
This is part of a sponsored content series. After having Piper up and running in the house for about a week, I’ve had a chance to dig into it a bit deeper to share how we’re using it for home automation and security. We received the Piper Z-Wave Pack ($339) with a Piper unit, Z-wave Smart Switch…
