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Isis Mobile Wallet #VZWBuzz

Posted on November 22, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

The other day while the boys were in school, I locked myself out of the house. Thank goodness, I had my smartphone with me. I was able to get in touch with TechyDad to come and let me back into the house while I shivered outside. Shortly after that, I participated in a webinar as part of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers program. We were invited to test out their roll out of the new and improved ISIS Mobile Wallet. For our time, we would be given some shopping compensation to set up and shop with ISIS. During that webinar, they said something that struck me. My phone is always with me. If I forget or misplace my phone I know almost immediately. This is not the case with a lost credit card or wallet. By the time you realize some of those other items are missing, the damage may already be done. As an identity theft victim, I am very sensitive to these issues.

What is Isis Mobile Wallet?

Isis is a collaborative project between Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile. It is a free app that you can use on a growing number of smartphones with a SE SIM card. Using NFC capabilities, Isis allows you to pay with a tap of your phone at many retailers nationwide. Here is a quick video that shares the basics

Isis will allow you to have different payment options with credit cards or American Express Serve. In addition to this, you will be able to link up loyalty cards from certain retailers as well as special promotions. The list of places participating keeps on growing and I am excited at the concept of having offers and rewards all linked together. I know I am often guilty at forgetting my card and it takes forever for the stores to look them up.

Setting it All Up

The first step in setting up an Isis account is to make sure you have a smartphone that can be used, and to have a SE SIM card. My new Droid Mini came with this right from Verizon. At this time, Isis is only available for Android phones. Once you download the app from Google Play, you will be taken through the process of setting everything up. While waiting for it to complete the process, it reminds you about using Isis.

Once my Isis account was set up, I was able to link up my American Express Serve card. It gave me the option and took me to the Serve page where I was able to join the two accounts together. Within a few moments, it showed the balance on my Serve card that I was able to use. Now I just need to explore what local deals are available to get ready for a shopping trip.

Additional information about Isis is also available from Verizon Wireless. There you can read up more on the technology associated with NFC and other details about the app and utilizing it. There is also a link to a FAQ page that has all of the phones that can currently accommodate this new shopping style. I know I am going to be reading up before I head out with my Isis and Serve card to get some Chanukah shopping done. I will report back on that soon.

Have you used Isis yet? I would love to hear about your experience.

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I received a complimentary Serve starter kit with some money loaded onto the card to share my experience using it with the newly revamped ISIS app. There was no other compensation. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own.

Categories:
shopping Technology

The Great 2013 School Supply List

Posted on July 18, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

It seems like the boys just finished up school and yet I am already focused on securing school supplies for the 2013-2014 academic year. When the boys left school on the last day, they already had their school supply lists tucked away with their report cards. While I could just push the lists to the side, I know right now is the time to find bargains on the items that we need at retailers. As a teacher, and now as a parent, I watch and wait for the items that we need and get them during our travels. Our collection officially started to grow on Independence Day weekend thanks to some nice sales at Target and Staples. Then, the other day, I stumbled upon some crayons on sale at Toys R Us. Since it is a tradition since NHL started school, I always share our lists and am curious what other people need to buy for their children.

This represents some items for both of the boys with a lot of additional items already in our house and some more that need to be bought. So what does our second full year of both boys in school look like for lists? Check out below to see what our classrooms are requiring this year. Past lists can be seen by clicking here.

1st Grade Supply List

Two composition notebooks (black & white)
A book bag or backpack
Pencils (Ticonderoga are great)
Scissors
1 large pink eraser
1 box of crayons (24 or less)
Markers (10 count box)
2 boxes of tissues (to be shared with the class)
5 glue sticks
A small plastic supply box
Three folders with pockets on the bottom
One container of baby wipes (to be shared with the class)
One box of dry erase markers
Paper towels

This list seems pretty standard in my mind. NHL’s list from grade one is here and was in another school and quite similar.

5th Grade Supply List

One pack of 16 colored pencils <— Does anyone know what brand since we can not find these in any searches?
Two packages of loose-leaf composition paper (wide ruled)
Money for the School organizer/assignment book
A pack of dry erase markers
A good handheld sharpener
2 dozen #2 pencils
A small paperback dictionary
1 roll of paper towels
2 large boxes of tissues
1 package of Hi-liters (4)
7 two-pocket folders: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Purple, White, Orange, and any color for music
1 package of black or blue pens
1 package of baby wipes
5 black composition notebooks <— Thank you no color coding with these this year!
1 package of 3×5 index cards
Elmer’s or Scotch brand glue sticks
Scissors

The list seems reasonable given what we have had in previous years. As noted, we can not find a 16 pack of colored pencils, white plastic folders do not exist (I do not buy the paper ones so they last with NHL), and I can’t believe my kiddo needs pens this year. *GULP* – reality is that NHL will be in middle school in a year.

So what items are on your school supply lists? Have you found any really great sales yet? Please share below. I really am a school supply geek, I think it’s the teacher in me.

Categories:
Educational school shopping

Crayola Crayon Crazy

Posted on October 26, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

I have an admission, I love Crayola crayons. Back to school used to be my favorite time of year. Walking down craft aisles and into stores with boxes and boxes of beautiful new crayons. Even though I am an adult, I still love drawing, coloring, and doodling with crayons. If there was more time in the day, I would have mandated coloring therapy with the kids. It’s fun, something we can all do, and a way to be creative.

Times have changed. Back to school is not the only time of year to get fun new crayons. Earlier this week I was shopping at Target. When I went down the craft aisle, a new display of Crayola Crayons caught my eyes. They were shiny, different, and intriguing. Check some of them out here:

Aren’t they pretty? Since I was in a hurry, I took a few photos to research them when I got back home. There are 12 different flavors, -er I mean types of the Crayola PYO Crayon 8ct that are only available at Target stores. They include:

Born to Rock – Pirate’s Treasure – Over the Rainbow – Metallic Magic – Dinosaur Roar – Mermaid Shimmer – Pink Princess – Cupcake My Day – Neon Dreams – Gliteratti – Rocker Girl – Sports Fan

Although I wanted to buy all of them, I decided to wait. I am going to take the boys back to let them pick out their own choices. If you are interested, you can see them on the Target website here. Crayola did not ask me to post this, I am just a big fan and thought they were fun for kids of all ages.

So my question to you this week:

Which pack of Crayola PYO crayons would you pick first and what would you color with them?

FYI – Three book giveaways are currently going on that would make great gifts. Linnea in Monet’s Garden (ends 10/30), some classic stories from Silver Penny Stories (ends 10/27), and a Spooktacular Book Prize Pack (ends 11/1). Another fun picture book coming on Tuesday Tales.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #226

Categories:
Aloha Friday arts and crafts me moments photos shopping

Fun Times at Snip-its

Posted on September 1, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL and JSL,

Getting hair cuts for the two of you has not exactly been one of my favorite items to accomplish over the years. I think we often wait until your hair is beyond ready to get a trim because it has always been an adventure. Whether it was bad cuts, too many noises, people that were not friendly with children, or our favorite person leaving – something always seemed to happen.

Over the years, I have documented a lot of your hair cut milestones. There was the time NHL decided to be a barber at six years old and we had a hair emergency. There was the photo shoot of JSL’s first hair cut back in November 2008. Thanks to this, it should not be a shock to either one of you that I had to take photos when we finally went to have your hair done at the Snip-Its last weekend (they opened during the winter).

I will admit that I am now kicking myself for not taking both of you here before this time. It was not just a place to get hair cuts, it was an experience. From the moment you walked in, the two of you were mesmerized. Snip-its was bright, beautiful, and beyond kid friendly. The two of you kept busy while I chatted with the owner and filled out some forms to get coupons in the mail. Then, it was time to get your hair done.

Both of you were so quiet the entire time. Neither of you were wiggly, upset, or bothered by the new location. Of course, I do believe I now know the secret of success at Snip-its. Yes, they have a great weapon to keep kids happy and it worked brilliantly.

The two of you were more worried about your gaming than anything else. There was a milestone of sorts on this adventure. JSL, you finally had a haircut that used clippers. Since you are going to kindergarten and the amazing hairstylist showed you not to be afraid you agreed. When we asked if it was too short, you said you wanted more off. I have a feeling you would have kept going until you were bald because you were so happy. When it was finally time to go, you used your passes to get your prize.

I know that we will be back to Snip-its because we all had a wonderful experience. The people there were fantastic with both of you, they get working with kids and that means a lot. Thank goodness Daddy was on his toes. Before we went in, we took a photo of the two of you with the figure outside the store. When your hair cuts were done and paid for, we did another one. Here are the results:

I hope both of you agree that we will be heading back to Snip-its again when your hair needs some attention. We will leave it to the professionals who know what they are doing and work well with kids.

Love,

Categories:
Dear Kid Saturday fun jsl Local Business milestone nhl photos shopping

Back to School with Mabel’s Labels

Posted on August 30, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Labeling school items is a sporting event for me. I remember enjoying it when I helped organize my items as a student. Then, it was fun to have fresh items for my own classroom. Now, as the mother of a fourth grader and kiddo going into kindergarten it really gets interesting. I want to make sure that the kids know what is their own and that it stays that way for the entire school year.

A lot of my friends have been raving about Mabel’s Labels for a long time now. I would see their items on websites, and, more importantly, on their personal items at conferences and be impressed. When Mabel’s Labels reached out to me to try some of my own I jumped at the opportunity.

Since JSL was heading to kindergarten, I asked for his name. We received the Ultimate Back-To-School Combo package. This is what it looked like in the package (name obviously blacked out):

JSL does not start kindergarten until after Labor Day, so we have not completely gathered his items to label yet. Of course, he HAD to test them out. So we pulled out a new doodle notebook that he has for practicing his writing in. Here is what Skinny-Minis looked like on there. His name is partially removed, but you can see the easy to read font and great hockey icon (how did they know he liked hockey?):

For a closer look, I went to their website and made a test view of the different items that we received in the combo:

What I love is that Mabel’s Labels are durable. After seeing them used by other children and people that I know, they last and hold up to use. They are waterproof, so they will not run if they get wet. They can go into the dishwasher, so the new thermos for lunch can immediately get a hockey label for JSL. I can also use the tag mates to label clothing without ironing or sewing (bonus points in my book). One of the Teeny Tags will be heading onto JSL’s generic looking lunch bag that you can not write on.

The Ultimate Back-To-School Combo pack is only available until September 28. The items seen above sell for $42. There are also Back to School items including a Tween Pack, Preschool shoe labels, and Book Label packages. Of course, there are many other durable items available from Mabel’s as well. I think NHL is now jealous and wants us to order them. After my experience this time, I am sure there will be an order in our future.

As a teacher, I recommend that you do not skimp on labeling. The better you prepare the items in September, the less likely you are to need to replace them later in the year because they are lost.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary Ultimate Back-To-School Comb package from Mabels Labels in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own.