Category: Gadgets

Food Processors

I’m on the hunt for a good quality food processor…

Here’s the top three that I’m looking at for a family of 4 (pre-research): Braun, Breville, and Cuisinart.  It needs to be durable and low maintenance.  I don’t really care about how loud or quiet it is because my kids are typically loud and they sleep with a sound machine.  A quiet motor is a nice “want” but not a necessity.  Maybe that will matter to me more in 5 years.

My research

 

Full comparisons

Final Thoughts

After the stellar reviews above as well as the in depth review from Tech Gear Lab and Healthy But Smart, I am leaning toward the Breville Sous Chef.  I need a large food processor for 4 people — although my kids are only 1 and 2 years old, they already eat a ton and I know this will only mean bigger appetites as they grow older.  Important things for me are chopping, shredding, slicing, and cleaning.  After the research, I think the Breville Sous Chef fits the bill.

 

2018 in Review

January 2018

Bear got a new car! He’s loving his 2018 Highlander Hybrid that we’ve nicknamed “The Spaceship” — all the screens and safety features are incredible! We needed something safer and super reliable to transport our precious cargo!

 

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February 2018

On Sunday, Feb 11, we welcomed our Mini: Arden Elise Campbell. She arrived with a conehead after 27 hours of labor at 10:09pm. She was oriented OP, and I got my epidural at 4cm around 9:30am from one of my colleagues, Shiyin. The epidural was perfect — it was so nice to have to take the edge off the pain. However, because she was OP, I was still having quite a bit of back/bottom pressure from her head coming down and placing a lot of pressure on my tailbone. We tried multiple maneuvers to get her turned, but to no avail. My OB, Kim Washkowiak, came in on her day off to deliver Arden (that’s a huge deal and wonderful Around 9pm, she was 10 cm and complete…and it was time to push! After an hour of pushing an OP baby… we met our sweet Arden bug. She was 7lb 3 oz, 21 inches long, and absolutely perfect. She had a great latch, and we started breastfeeding immediately. Of course, it would take almost a week for my milk to come in. We supplemented with formula and breastfed as well as pumped to increase my milk supply. She’s been a wonderful journey so far. We’re learning new things about and us everyday.
March 2018

This month was a blur! Waking every 2-3 hours in the night to feed Arden made this month fly by! There were highs and lows along my breastfeeding journey. It’s finally settled down and breastfeeding and pumping are going well. We’re still supplementing with formula so she’s getting both.
April 2018

She’s 2 months old this month and already at 10lb! Bear sold his trusty 4Runner.

I forgot to update the rest of the entries…. so, follow along my Pregnancy #2 entries for the remainder of 2018!

 

Android vs. iPhone

I’ve had an iPhone since it first came out in 2007.  I loved it….. but now there’s so many memory things to update/upgrade… the cost of the iPhone…. it’s a lot!  But most of my friends and family are iPhone users.  Does that mean I should stay on iPhone?  No…. and if you know me…. you’ll know that I research the crap outta everything I do or think about doing.

iPhone vs Android

LifeWire: iPhone vs Android – Nov 2017

Tom’s Guide: 10 reasons android beats iphone – Sep 2017

Tom’s Guide: Why apple beats google – Oct 2017

CNET: Personal take on switch from android to iphone – Jan 2016

Tech Advisor UK: Android vs iPHone – Aug 2017

CNN TECH: iPhone vs Android

Gotta be mobile: 14 Reasons Android is Better

Time: 5 features iphone needs to beat android – Sep 2017

Digital Trends: Android v iOS – Oct 2017

ComputerWorld: iPhone v Android – July 2017

Macworld: iPHone X vs Android’s best – Nov 2017

Business Insider: 5 ways iPhone X is catching up with Android phones – Sep 2017

The Verge: how the iPhone X compares to the best Android phones – Sep 2017

ZDNet: Why i’m now using Android and may skip iPHone 8 – Sep 2017

Techlicious: iphone v android – May 2017

Independent: iphone still playing catch up – Sep 2017

Wired: Pixel 2 v iphone 8 v samsung s8 – Oct 2017

Newsweek: Which is better, iphone or android? – Sep 2017

WCCF Tech: iPhone vs Android – Sep 2017

Google Pixel 2 vs iPhone

Time review – Dec 2017

Popular Science review – Oct 2017

The Guardian UK review – Oct 2017

CNN Review – Oct 2017

Business Insider – 1 week with GP2 – Nov 2017

Business Insider review – Oct 2017

Business insider review – Nov 2017

Washington Post review – Oct 2017

Esquire review – Oct 2017

MacWorld UK review – Oct 2017

PC World review – Oct 2017

BGR review – Oct 2017

**The Verge review – Oct 2017**

The Verge price review – Oct 2017

ComputerWorld review – Oct 2017 — Podcast

CNBC Review – Oct 2017

NYT Review – Oct 2017

ABC news Australia review – Oct 2017

iMore review – Oct 2017

The Outline Review – Oct 2017

 

Issues with the Google Pixel 2

Android Central Forum – messaging issues

Engadget – Oct 2017 – display and speaker/noise issues

Android Central – Common Pixel 2 problems

Android Authority: Pixel 2 XL issues

Digital Trends: Issues and solutions for Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

BGR: Software update for Google Pixel 2

Forbes: 5 things wrong with Google pixel 2

TechRadar: issues

 

Google Pixel 2 vs Google Pixel 2 XL

Forbes compares the 2

Android Central comparison

Trusted Reviews comparison

Tom’s Guide comparison

Android Authority comparison

TechRadar comparison

 

Verdict:

If I did get an android, it would have to be a Google flagship phone that automatically sends out updates like the iPhone.  Right now, I think the Google Pixel 2 or Google pixel 2 XL would potentially be a great buy for me.  Here’s my pick: Google Pixel 2 XL.

Instead of Facetime: Google Duo

Instead of iMessage: WhatsApp

Instead of iCloud Photos: Google Photos

Instead of iCloud library/books: Google Drive, DropBox

Cell phone option instead of AT&T: Google Project Fi

 

Troubleshooting and Tricks for Android (helpful if prior iPhone user):

Pocket-Lint

Reddit

 

Wireless phone carriers

Ever since Apple came out with the new iOS for iPhone, it’s made my phone extremely slow and drains the battery life.  Thanks Apple.  This led me to consider doing a phone upgrade, but my phone isn’t that old and it works fine (I have an iPhone 6).  Currently, I’m on AT&T bc it gives me the best cell signal at work.  But, the more I’ve been researching…. the more I’m leaning towards T-mobile or Google Project Fi.

The Data:

My Conclusion:

We would definitely have more opportunities and data options on T-Mobile.  Question is whether it gets good signal in the places where we want to be.  If T-Mobile does get a good signal, it’s a no-brainer for us to switch to T-Mobile.  Google Fi is a strong contender, but I don’t know much about it and there aren’t many reviews on it… and I don’t know where the coverage will be the best for us.  There’s a lot of great perks, but I think at this point we need to go with longevity and data and good customer service that’s known.  Google Fi is only available for android phones so we’d have to switch from iPhone to Android.  Whereas with T-mobile, we could take our existing iPhones to make the switch.

Winner = T-Mobile or Google Project Fi (uses T-mobile, Sprint cell networks)

Skateboarding: A beginner’s journey

I played around with a skateboard when I was a kid.  I thought it was neat to hang with the boys and skate in the driveway/street.  Well, I didn’t get much street time as the street was paved with loose gravel on tar — which melted in the Texas summers.

1404326731-3-reasons-skateboarders-make-great-entrepreneurs

I came across this YouTube vid: https://youtu.be/jdJjW7pknfE and decided I wanted to give it a try.  Why are so many middle agers trying something that kids do often?

Great advice on getting a skateboard and beginner techniques:

Which skateboard to get?

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My current thoughts:

What I got:

What my husband got:

Any suggestions?  What would you get?

Apple watch vs Pebble 2

I got the first apple watch when it came out and will be using that version to compare to the new Pebble 2.

CNET comparison bt apple watch 2, samsung gear s3, fitbit, android wear, garmin, pebble

First off, I was very happy with my Apple watch 1.  There’s a lot of great notifications for it and it’s user friendly.  One thing I did not like about the watch is that the notifications would go directly to the watch without warning me on the iphone despite my ringer being on.  

The main reason why I decided to look for a watch outside of my stellar apple watch is because the battery life on the apple watch is incredibly low.  I can only go one day between charges.  Sometimes, I’m at work for more than 24 hours so it becomes more cumbersome on the logistics.  Sure, I could bring my charger and charge it… but that takes time, effort, and extra cords since it doesn’t have a lightning charger.  So, enter the Pebble 2…a Kickstarter project!

Ars Technica Reviews: Pebble 2 vs. Apple Watch 2

Wareable Pebble 2 review vs. Wareable Apple Watch review

CNET review: new apple watch 2 vs. CNET review: pebble 2

My overall thoughts and winners comparing Apple watch 1 to Pebble 2:

  • Battery life: Pebble 2
  • HR workout tracking: Apple watch 1
  • Apps: Apple Watch 1
  • Waterproof: Pebble 2
  • HR, sleep, steps, calories, distance tracking throughout day: Pebble 2
  • Cost: Pebble 2
  • Phone required: both