Thursday, May 4, 2023

Withings Health products are so helpful to keep track of my health

Withings is an innovative company offering various health tracking devices. Over the past few months I have had the chance to use a few of their different products to track my health trends and it has come in handy the past few weeks since I just got through a bout with the Flu (and before you ask, yes, I did get my flu shot this year).

In this post we will discuss a few of their various popular tracking devices: Body Comp Scale, the Scanwatch smart watch, Thermo thermometer, Sleep tracking mat, and their Blood Pressure Monitor.

Body Comp Scale

The Withings Body Comp is a smart scale that measures more than just your weight. It provides a complete picture of your cardiovascular health, including your body composition, standing heart rate, vascular age, fat and water mass, and even muscle and bone mass.  In a future update they will also include the Basal Metabolic Rate and Metabolic Age. I also enjoyed seeing a localized weather report and air quality analysis during the scan, which is helpful since I have my scale located in my home office, so it is measuring the air quality in a room I spend a lot of time in.

It is nice that it syncs with the Withings Healthmate app on your smartphone. This app allows you to track your progress over time, set goals, and even share your data with your healthcare provider. This new scale is also compatible with the Withings+ health service which gives you feedback and tips on different things you can tweak to motivate you a different way. The Withings Body Cardio is a great way to stay on top of your heart health and make sure that you are taking steps to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Scanwatch

The Withings Scanwatch is a stylish wearable device that tracks your daily activity, sleep, and heart rate. It has a long battery life, has advanced heart features and will show alerts and texts. The Withings Smartwatch is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about their health without putting on a watch that has too many features or can distract you.

A few of the features we enjoyed are its ability to track your heart rate, ECG and pulse oximetry. The Withings Smartwatch also has a dedicated breathing exercise mode that helps you reduce stress. We are pleased to offer a giveaway of a Scanwatch to one of our loyal readers. You can enter using the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thermo Thermometer

The Withings Thermo is a smart temporal thermometer that takes accurate readings in just two seconds and provides an easy-to-read measurement complete with a color-coded fever indicator. It is a non-invasive, contactless thermometer that uses infrared technology to measure your body temperature. The Withings Thermo is perfect for parents who want to monitor their child's temperature without disturbing their sleep.

The Withings Thermo is also a connected device that syncs with the Withings Health Mate app. This app allows you to track your temperature over time and even share your data with your healthcare provider.

The Thermo was very useful when I was sick with the flu because I was able to track my temperature (and fever) and also knew when it went down and could correlate that information along with when I took medication because I kept track of the medication timing while the Health Mate app kept track of my temperature.

If you have multiple people in your house like we do, you can keep track of everyone's temperatures separately by assigning the temperature you just took to their profile right on the Thermo device. It is super helpful!

BPM Blood Pressure Monitor

The Withings BPM is a wireless blood pressure monitor that allows you to track your blood pressure at home. It is easy to use and provides accurate readings in just seconds. The Withings BPM is perfect for anyone who wants to monitor their blood pressure and make sure that they are staying within healthy ranges.

The Withings BPM is also a connected device that syncs with the Withings Health Mate app. This app allows you to track your blood pressure over time, set reminders to take your readings, and even share your data with your healthcare provider.

Sleep Tracking Mat

The Sleep tracking mat is a device that goes under your mattress and will track your sleep without you having to wear or physically touch anything. The mat has built-in sensors that will track your sleep cycles, snoring, heart rate among other things.

I have been using it for a few months and have enjoyed learning about my total sleep time, difference of time spent in various stages of sleep, when I wake up and how long it takes me to fall asleep.

This has been very useful as I have sleep apnea and while I sleep using a BiPAP machine, which has its own monitoring, the sleep mat provides yet another method of tracking my health while I sleep.

The Withings Body Comp scale

NOTE: I received sample units in order to facilitate this review. They also generously provided a Scanwatch for me to give away to one of my loyal readers. No other compensation was provided. All opinions, as always, are our own.

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Bluey's Big Play the live show was so fun! We absolutely loved when it came to the Boch Centre Wang Theatre in Boston!

Photo courtesy of Bluey's Big Play ©blueylive.com
Bluey Big Play, the live show was so fun! We absolutely loved when it came to the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston! We arrived at the theatre a little before the doors opened and enjoyed a beautiful Saturday afternoon in the city. The Boch Center is a great place to watch a show and we always plan some time to make sure we can find parking and grab a bite to eat beforehand.

The show started and all of the kids were so excited when Bluey, Bingo and their parents came on stage and the theme song played.

Much like the TV show, the live show had some touching moments and they even got the kids and caregivers up out of their seats to play a game of "keepy uppy" which our little one absolutely loved as did I! It was a welcome surprise to keep the audience engaged and active that you don't expect to see in a broadway show setting.

The show had some great themes that were quite relatable (much like the episodes of the tv show) and they showed the sisters working together to play with dad using their clever games and fun so he wasn't just laying around. They took the dad's phone and kept hiding it around the house even under a pillow!

If the show comes to your area, we strongly recommend going - it was SO fun and we're still thinking about how much fun we had, a month later.

NOTE: We were provided with tickets to the show in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own and no other compensation was provided.

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Looking for something fun to do on Saturday? Bluey's Big Play is coming to the Wang Theatre in Boston

Photo courtesy of Bluey's Big Play ©blueylive.com
It’s time to see the much-loved Heeler family from the popular show Bluey in their very first live show in Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show which will have five performances at the Wang Theatre April 7-8.

Fans of all ages will get to see Bluey, Bingo, Bandit, and Chilli as they’ve never seen them before, as the Heelers embark on their very first live theater show in the U.S. featuring puppetry, live actors, and iconic sets. Based on an original new story written by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show also contains new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. 

The show has family-friendly showtimes on Friday, April 7th (Good Friday so most schools are closed) at 11:00 am & 4:00 pm and Saturday, April 8th at 11:00 am, 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

Tickets are available at the Boch Center Box Office, online at www.bochcenter.org or by phone at 866-348-9738. Prices are subject to change. Additional fees and special offers may apply.

For more information on the show, check out www.blueylive.com

NOTE: We received this press release in advance of the Bluey's Big Play show and were provided with a 4-pack of tickets in exchange for this promotion as well as to provide a recap after the show. No other compensation was provided and we will let you know what we think after the show on Saturday!

Monday, April 3, 2023

Disney Animation Immersive Experience in Boston was so innovative and fun!

This past weekend we had the opportunity to see the Disney Animation Immersive Experience by Lighthouse Immersive being held at The Saunders Castle at Park Plaza in Boston.

They recommend that you arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your ticketed show time so that you can get checked in and have an opportunity to view some of the artwork while you wait in line. You can also learn how to draw popular Disney characters while you wait!

We happened to arrive late, so they still checked us in and brought us right into the show! We were amazed at how large the space was and how many people were inside enjoying the show. We went in the room and were fully immersed in a Disney animation complete with music and animation from your favorite movies that surround you! 

The coolest parts were when they had bubbles appear and smoke machines and even smoke-filled bubbles that would produce rings of smoke when popped. The kids, young and old, enjoyed running around trying to pop bubbles during various performances.

There are various ticket types and the one we had called Premium Plus allowed us to rent a cushion and a light-up wristband that was synchronized to the show and would light up at various times. After the show was over, we returned the cushion and wristband and received a souvenir print to take home.

One of the most fun parts of the exhibit was the motion-sensitive animations on the floor of the room - when you walked around the stars that were projected would move away from your walking path based on where you were in the space - such a fun use of technology!

The show runs through the end of May and we are fortunate to be able to give away a four-pack of tickets to one lucky reader who enters through the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway












NOTE: We were provided with tickets for this Disney immersive experience as well as a set of tickets to giveaway to one lucky reader. All opinions are our own and no other compensation was provided.

Monday, March 27, 2023

Jurassic World Live Tour: Dinosaurs brought to life!

If you're a fan of the Jurassic Park franchise, you'll want to see the Jurassic World Live Tour in Boston, March 31-April 9 or Worcester, April 14-16! This exciting show, takes you on a journey to the island of Isla Nublar, where you get to experience the thrill of encountering realistic, life-sized dinosaurs in a live setting.

Be sure to arrive an hour before the showtime so you can get up close and personal with a chance to take photos with the dinosaurs and vehicles and even meet Baby Bumpy!

This collaboration between Feld Entertainment and Universal Brand Development, brought this story to life! One of the most impressive aspects of the show is how they have incorporated state-of-the-art animatronics and puppetry to bring the dinosaurs to life. The dinosaurs are so realistic you almost forget they aren't actually alive. The show also features a talented cast of actors and stunt performers who bring the characters to life and keep the audience engaged. 

The kids enjoyed the show, but there were some times where it was either a little too loud or scary for our younger one with all of the special effects, so while it appeals to all ages, we felt the ideal range for this show would be 8-12 year olds. 

The show provides an unforgettable experience that combines thrilling action, impressive visuals, and educational content. So, if you're looking for an exciting and educational outing for the whole family, be sure to catch the Jurassic World Live Tour in Boston, March 31-April 9 or Worcester, April 14-16!

We are fortunate to give away a four-pack of tickets to the opening night in Boston to one of our followers - hurry as this flash giveaway will be ending in 48 hours!

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NOTE: We were provided with tickets to the show in order to facilitate this review and a 4-pack of tickets to give away. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are our own.

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Don't miss the Art of the Brick LEGO exhibit in Boston! Now until the end of April 2023

Nathan Sawaya is a renowned artist who has taken the world by storm with his captivating creations made entirely out of LEGO bricks. His exhibit, "The Art of the Brick," has been in Boston since November and delighting audiences.

"The Art of the Brick" features many sculptures throughout three floors, ranging from small and intricate to large and awe-inspiring. Each sculpture has been made using thousands of LEGO bricks, and we were tried guessing how many bricks were in each sculpture. We were surprised when we looked at the total number of bricks it took to build each one!

You are encouraged to take photos, being careful not to touch the structures on the first and second floor. Once you get to the third floor, you can build their own creations using LEGO bricks provided at the exhibit and even take a picture sitting in a life-size LEGO chair. This interactive aspect of the exhibit adds an element of fun and creativity that is rare in traditional art exhibits.

"The Art of the Brick" is a must-see exhibit for anyone interested in art, design, or LEGO bricks. It is a testament to the power of creativity and imagination, and it showcases the incredible potential of a toy that has captured the hearts and minds of generations. 

We are pleased to offer a giveaway for a 4-pack of tickets to this show. Please enter below using the rafflecopter widget:

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NOTE: We were provided with complimentary passes to the exhibit to facilitate this review as well as passes to giveaway to a lucky reader. All opinions are our own and no other compensation was provided.

Sunday, February 26, 2023

A fun time at the Run Show Boston - shoelaces by Caterpy and LockLaces and clean shoes by Shoozas

Caterpy Elastic Laces
Earlier this month, we went to the Run Show Boston, an event by runners for runners... We got a chance to check out some innovative things for the running community.

A few of the things I enjoyed and had the chance to try out were:

Caterpy Elastic Laces

These laces are a great option for runners as well as kids. You can put them through your sneakers just like regular shoe laces but as they go in through each loop the elastic bulb makes a pop sound. The best part about these laces is that you can adjust the tension very easily by pulling the laces tighter or loosen them - it takes a little getting used to but once you do there is really nothing like it. They also had hair elastics/bracelets made out of the same elastic material. The laces were also fun as a fidget toy due to their elasticity.

The best thing is that you can slip your sneakers on and off with ease and then tension of the laces just holds them in place. We really enjoyed that the name of the company as well, since the kids enjoy playing Pokemon and when we asked, they said the name of the company is most certainly a play on the Pokemon character. We had a good chuckle about that.

Lock Laces
LockLaces

We enjoyed the booth at LockLaces. These elastic strings can be threaded just like regular laces, and then at the top you put them through a grip mechanism and cut the excess lace and cap the end. This is also a great option for kids and folks looking to be able to slip on their sneakers and tighten them up without having knots and excess lace.

I had the chance to compete in a contest to see if I could lace up the LockLaces the fastest. They said the winner from yesterday did it in 46 seconds. I have never done this before so they showed me how to do it once and then I tried it myself and was able to complete it in 1 minute even - 60 seconds total. I was happy with my result but wasn't too confident I would win. I got an email after the show saying that I won that day's contest and was so excited! 

Shoozas
Shoozas:

This is like a spa for your sneakers. This innovative company sells cleaning kits for your shoes but also has a service where you can send them your sneakers and they will clean them up and ship them back to you. I certainly haven't heard of this before but it totally makes sense for shoes you wear a lot and especially if you paid a lot of money for them - you want to keep them in the best shape! Some people spend over $1,000 for a pair of shoes!

There were other vendors and we learned so much from them. We hope to share other stories in the coming months so stay tuned to the blog for more health-conscious content!

We have the chance to offer a giveaway for our readers of a pair of Caterpy laces - you can enter the giveaway here. Earn extra entries by telling your friends!

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NOTE: We were provided with samples of the products above in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own and no other compensation was provided.