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Connecting Parents with Play via PBS Kids Super Vision App

Daniel Tiger pbs kids

Have you ever wanted to peek at what your kids are doing online at that very moment in time? Maybe you are at work or you are trying to give them some quiet alone time. Are they watching videos or still working on an educational game? PBS Kids recently came out with the Super Vision app (for iPhone) that allows parents to check in on their child’s activity on pbskids.org in real time.  It’s like you can be Super Mom with eyes in the back of your head.

The technology connecting your child’s activity on pbskids.org and the app on your iPhone is very new and very cool. After a one time sync, you can get a snapshot of what your kid is working on, plus a report card for the day or week’s activities. Maybe your kid loves Curious George but is ready for something new. The app will make suggestions for other PBS Kids shows they may enjoy.

PBS Kids Super Vision app has a timer to transition kids from online activity to meal time or bedtime.

Another wonderful feature is the timer. If you are making dinner and want to let the kids play online for a little while, you can set a timer to close out their show or activity. You can choose it to transition to meal time, snack time or bedtime. I love that I have a helping hand in transitioning the kids to the next activity of the day.

If you download the app and start thinking of other features you would like to see, there is a feedback button where you can submit your ideas. PBS Kids wants this app to be helpful and they appreciate hearing your comments which helps prioritize what new features will be added.

pbskids.org

My kids have been into tv shows a little more than I would like lately and I’m trying to offer up the pbskids.org site as an alternative. I think it’s cool to get a glimpse into the types of activities they are choosing, either math, science or literacy. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.

PBS Kids Super Vision app

Learn a little more about the Super Vision app at a Twitter party Wed 5/21 9-10PM ET using the hashtag  #SuperVisionPBSKIDS .

Disclosure: I am a PBS Kids VIP blogger and my kids love Curious George, Peg + Cat and Wild Kratts. All opinions shared here are my own. 

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Balance Bar Twitter Party to celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is next Monday, April 22nd. Although I think it’s important to live a green lifestyle every day, Earth Day provides an opportunity to highlight new ways to try to take care of our environment. I’m excited to be partnering with Balance Bar  to share their commitment to the Rainforest Alliance. We will be talking about green living, eco-friendly products and gluten-free living.

Balance Bar Dark Chocolate Bars

Balance Bar’s new Dark Chocolate line is made with 100% certified Rainforest Alliance cocoa. The coconut dark chocolate one is my favorite, and my husband’s. Those disappeared from our complimentary stash very quickly. They are also Gluten Free for those families who are looking for a new snack.

Here’s the link for all the details for the event, but it’s super easy to get involved. No RSVP needed to win your own package of Balance Bar Dark bars and more.

Who: Balance Bar®, Rainforest Alliance, Eco-Friendly Bloggers and You!

What: A Twitter Party in honor of Earth Day and our New Balance Bar Dark Bars

When: Monday, April 22 from 2-3pm EST

Where: Follow @BalanceBar on Twitter and use the hashtag #GreenBalance to tweet your eco-friendly questions for our team of experts. Every question is a chance to win!

Why: Every #GreenBalance tweet earns you an extra entry into our Earth Day Giveaway, giving you an additional chance to be one of the five fans who will win a prize pack that includes a Rainforest Alliance tote bag, notebook and Balance Bar® Dark Bars! Join in for your chance to win, and get some eco-friendly living tips in the process!

Official rules: To be eligible to win, participants must follow @BalanceBar and participate during the Twitter chat hour using the hashtag #GreenBalance. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected at random from eligible participants.

If you can’t make the party, you can enter to win now via the Balance Bar contest on Facebook.  Prizes include a trip to see the Northern Lights!

Disclosure: I am sponsored by Balance Bar to participate in this campaign. All opinions shared here are my own.

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Did You Know Jan 3rd is National Returns Day? #HassleFreeReturns

I did a large amount of holiday shopping this year online. It’s an easy way to get great prices, but also order from some unique shops on Etsy. As we sort through all the lovely gifts we received, we have a couple that need to be returned or exchanged.  January 3rd is National Returns Day. It’s kind of like a back-to-reality moment when you want to clean up your house and check those returns off your to-do list. On January 3rd, UPS will ship more than 520,000 from consumers back to retailers. As companies like Amazon report their biggest year yet, many people will line up to do their returns in the easiest way possible.

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Here are a couple ways to ship your packages in an eco-friendly way:

  • Skip the overnight shipping option. It increases the carbon footprint of that package’s return trip.
  • Repack in a used box. I save a few during the month in case I have any returns I need to do.
  • Use grocery paper shopping bags to wrap a return. The paper is strong and free!
  • Pack breakables in newspaper instead of bubble wrap or packaging peanuts. If you have a shredder, you can use the shredded paper.
  • UPS offers carbon offset options
  • Skip the drive to the store and have your local UPS driver pick up your returns.

While you are at UPS, see if your location will accept any packaging peanuts you received. Select locations will recycle them.

On January 3rd, I’ll be at our local Needham UPS location at 946 Great Plain Ave spreading the word about UPS’s Hassle Free Return options. They make it easy. I’ll be bringing my box to return to Amazon so I’ll give it a test run. You can follow me on Twitter @RandomRecycling and the #HassleFreeReturns. Our local sponsor is Wayfair, rsvp for the twitter party below to win a gift card for some personal shopping on their site.

There are also other events happening in Atlanta and Denver.

  • The UPS Store, 10800 Alpharetta Highway, Suite 208, Roswell, GA 30076 with Megan Cooper, @jamonkey
  • The UPS Store, 8200 S Quebec St Ste A3, Centennial, CO  80112 with Jen Goode, @jgoode

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JOIN THE PARTY FROM YOUR HOUSE!

DATE: Thursday, January 3rd

TIME: 3:00PM – 4:00PM EST

LOCATION: #HassleFreeReturns

HOSTS: @AudreyMcClellan @VeraSweeney

PANELISTS: @WhitneyMWS @JoLynneS @MyGOMOM @SavvyMommy

TWEETGRID: http://tinyurl.com/bl73oyw

PRIZES: (4) Giveaways throughout the hour!!
– $25 The UPS Store gift card
– (2) 1 $50 gift card from Sierra Trading Post
– $100 gift card from Wayfair

RSVP required to win, enter HERE.

RULES: You must be a US resident 18 and older to be eligible to win. Please see attached document for official rules.

Disclosure:

The UPS National Returns Day public relations team partnered with bloggers such as myself to help educate consumers about UPS National Returns Day. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. They did not tell me what to say or influence opinions in my blog posts. UPS believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. UPS’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. 

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