Month: November 2018

The Hottest Toys of 2018

The holidays are almost upon us and that means its time to start shopping. But of all the people on your Christmas list, kids can be some of the most difficult people to shop for, because what they like always seems to change by the season and what they want usually costs a pretty penny.

If you are getting ready to do your holiday shopping right now but aren’t sure what to buy or how to get the best deals, doing some shopping around will help you save a lot this holiday season. Stores like Walmart, Target, and Amazon offer the hottest toys for kids at the best prices. Get deals on the most popular toys just in time for Christmas.

The Hottest Toys Kids Want this Christmas

Video Games

If you have a kid that loves play games, you’ll find a ton of great options for them this holiday season. If you want to give a kid on your shopping list an awesome video game, consider some of Nintendo’s Classic Mini consoles. The SNES Classic only costs $80, and it’s loaded with classic games that kids of any age would love. The NES Classic only costs $60 and comes with over 30 retro games. With retro being cool again, there are plenty of kids who would love one of these mini-consoles for Christmas!

The PlayStation Classic Mini comes out this year. It can play all your old PlayStation games that you loved growing up, so now you can share them with your kids. Get it for just $99 from Target.

Meanwhile, Fortnite is one of the most popular new video games among children right now, played by millions across the country. And with tons of merchandise available already, it’s no surprise that there’s now a Fornite edition of Monopoly. Kids can take a break from the video games for a while and sit down with their family to play a round of Fornite Monopoly – available for just $15.88 at Walmart.

Hoverboards

Want your kids to get outside for a while? It was only a generation ago when everyone whizzed around on low-tech skateboards and roller blades. These fun contraptions and alternative modes of transport are still popular. The difference today is that they have some serious competition. I’m talking about the new hoverboards of course, though not in the science fiction sense.

Hoverboards are exceedingly popular and you can get one like the MEGAWHEELS Hoverboard at Amazon for just $136. There’s also Air Hogs, hand-controlled flying orbs suitable for kids 8 and older – available for $40 at Amazon.

Lego Sets

Disney properties like Star Wars, Marvel and Princesses are all very popular right now. Kids love Lego Star Wars and Lego Marvel sets especially! You can find sets of various prices, ranging from smaller sets of single characters to larger chests full of bricks.

The coolest thing about the Lego sets is that they encourage creativity. Watching a little one expand their creativity and imagination as they build and play with block is a really great treat! Whether your budget is smaller or larger, you can find Lego sets in your price range for all the little ones on your shopping list.

Building kits are a great way to advance your child’s mind and fine motor skills. You can find terrific toys like the Magna-Qubix building set for less than $30 at Amazon. Of course, Potterheads will prefer the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit that allows kids to build their own ones, as well as learn and develop coding skills as they create their own magic. Get the complete set for $99. Of course, if your child is not quite advanced enough for that, you can find Lego Harry Potter sets on sale at Target for as low as $12.99 and Frozen sets for as low as $15.29. Kids can follow the instructions and build the set as directed or use their imagination for their own unique creations. Who says Elsa can’t fly a spaceship?

Other Toys

Toys will always be popular, and right now Avengers are about as popular as it gets. Iron Man, Hulk and Thor action figures are available at stores like Target and Walmart, and you can even find them online at sites like Amazon. There are also larger toy sets for characters like Spider-Man and Captain America!

Many places will also have sales on Blu-Rays if you want to get the kids on your shopping list Marvel movies for Christmas. The biggest Marvel super-fans will love all the behind-the-scenes extras found on the Blu-Rays of their favorite movies.

Of course, you can find a ton of other excellent options for younger children. The Wowee Fingerlings Hugs plush toy can hug, be thrown around or twisted in interesting ways, and can also record and play back messages. Released later this month, Target will have this toy for just $29.99. Based on the popular children’s show, the PJ Masks Headquarters Playset can be purchased from Amazon for less than $40.

Meanwhile, the Poopsie Slime Surprise Unicorn for $50 at Amazon is an extremely popular choice for girls that includes food packets, sparkle packets, a diaper, and a hairbrush, so your children can take care of their baby unicorn just like a human baby – but one that poops glitter. Kids that love sounds will love the Crate Creatures Surprise! line-up from Blizz. It’s available from Walmart for as low as $31, but be careful, because your child may just want them all. Check out this or any of the other toys mentioned above.

November 19, 2018
New Chevy Traverse: Affordable and Fun to Drive

2018 model year cars are being sold at huge discounts at dealerships across the country to make room for the 2019 models. If you’ve been holding off buying a new Chevy Traverse, now’s the time to head to your local dealership. This affordable and fun SUV is a great value for any family, and there’s never been a better time to buy.

New Chevy Traverse: A Great Deal for an SUV

Why Chevy Traverse?

The Traverse was redesigned in 2018 to sport a bigger interior and more powerful engine options. Now that the 2018 model is being reduced in price it’s one of the best deals on the market for a new SUV. If you enjoy a powerful engine in an SUV, there are options for a V6 with 310 horsepower. The massive, helpful infotainment system also ensures you’ll have plenty of control over your car’s systems.

Which Trim Should You Buy?

There are a number of great trims available for the Chevy Traverse. There are so many great options that it can be hard to decide which one is right for you! If you’re having trouble picking one, we suggest the LT Trim.

The LT Trim is a great option for those who want premium features at an affordable price. These features include a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel and second-row captain’s chars. If you love that infotainment system, the LT has an even bigger screen, too!

Entertainment options don’t stop there, with the LT Traverse sporting a 10-speaker Bose audio system and satellite radio. You can even opt for leather upholstery and safety features like blind spot monitoring.

Pricing

Right now, eligible customers can get some pretty awesome deals on the 2018 Chevy Traverse. For those who want a low monthly payment, they can pay $4.689 at signing to get a $289 per month payment. That’s for a 36-month payment plan. If you want a lower up-front cost, you can opt for $4,099 at signing for a $329 monthly bill.

Whichever way you go, you can’t go wrong with this awesome SUV! Not only will your family love your new Chevy Traverse, but you’ll love driving it, too!

November 19, 2018
Microsoft Surface Headphones: Worth the Money?

Microsoft is entering the headphone market with their new Surface Headphones. This is yet another move by Microsoft to compete directly with Apple as an electronics manufacturer. Priced at $350, are the Microsoft Surface Headphones worth their price tag? Let’s get into the specifics.

Microsoft Surface Headphones Review

Microsoft

Design

The Microsoft headphones sport a sleek, white design reminiscent of Apple and Google’s preferred aesthetic. The clean lines and smooth curves are quite attractive, and the headphones look great as a fashion accessory. That’s a good thing since they cost nearly as much as high-end Bose headphones.

The headphones are light on the head and noticeably comfortable to wear. They feel great on the ears and don’t pinch or cause headaches like some lower-quality headphones will.

Features

Notably, each earcup has a dial on the outside. The right ear dial is for volume, and the left is for the amount of noise canceling you want the headphones to exert. Additionally, there are touch zones that you can tap to pause or resume music. If you tap twice, the music skips ahead. If you tap three times, it skips back.

If you take the headphones off, they automatically pause your music. When you put them back on, they resume. This is a neat little feature, but one that you will quickly be thankful for. In general, these headphones feel very premium in both design and features. Lots of small things make these thoughtfully-crafted headphones feel well-worth the price tag.

Sound Quality

The most important part of any headphones is the sound quality. The Microsoft Surface Headphones sound okay, but not quite as great as competitors in the same price range. For the price, they could be a bit clearer and crisper. Bass levels aren’t quite as deep as we’d like, and the sound isn’t as big or impressive as, say, Bose’s comparable headphones.

Bottom Line

If you’re a Microsoft faithful who enjoys using Cortana and wants a set of headphones to pair with your Surface device, these are for you. However, for casual music listeners, these are a bit too pricey. For serious audiophiles, Bose or Sony makes stronger headphones in this price range. That said, these are still solid headphones, and Microsoft fans will be pleased with them.

November 19, 2018
Electronics Black Friday Sales You Can’t Miss

Black Friday is the time of year to hit all the best sales on electronics you may have been holding off on. Even if you’re not shopping for gifts, you might want some of these deals just for yourself! If you’re looking to save some serious money on video games and electronics, try some of these great Black Friday sales.

Black Friday Sales on Electronics

GameRevolution

PS4 Bundle

One of the best sales out there this year is a huge discount on a PS4 bundle with Spider-Man. The standard PS4 usually goes for $300, but on Black Friday the console and $60 game will be bundled together for just $200. That’s $160 in savings! It’s hard to beat a deal that good. You’ll be able to find this bundle at several stores, such as Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart.

The PS4 is likely nearing the end of its life-cycle, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of surprises yet. There are some stellar exclusives on the system, including God of War, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Bloodborne. Spider-Man is the latest in a long string of excellent AAA exclusives Sony has been releasing, and we don’t expect that momentum to slow any time soon.

Nintendo Switch Bundle

The Nintendo Switch has been on the market for nearly two years now and it’s showing no signs of stopping. This little hybrid console has reignited interest in Nintendo as a whole, making huge waves in the gaming industry. Last year the system was too new for Black Friday sales, but this year it’ll be discounted.

A bundle with a Nintendo Switch console and Mario Kart 8: Deluxe will be on sale this Black Friday for just $300. That’s a $60 savings over buying them separate. Additionally, expect to see the console by itself discounted to $250 at most retailers during the sale.

Xbox One X

The mega-powerful Xbox One X, with 4K graphics and awesome framerate, is going to be on sale for $400 this Black Friday at some retailers. Target is one such retailer, who will begin the discount price on Friday. If you or someone on your shopping list wants to play Microsoft exclusives like Sea of Thieves and Halo, this is the perfect gift for them!

November 19, 2018
Best Details you Missed in Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 has been out for a few weeks now and has made some huge waves in the gaming world. This deep, engrossing Wild West adventure may be one of the best video games ever made. Odds are you’ve missed a few awesome details from this huge world, so here are just a few of the best details you missed in RDR 2. Warning: mild spoilers await!

Details you Missed in Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar Games

Gun Detail

While this is a slower-paced game, especially by AAA standards, a huge emphasis is still given to action and shooting. What you may have missed are great little details about guns and shooting. For instance, when you use a revolver, when you hit the right trigger to fire, Arthur has to pull the hammer back before he lets a bullet rip. You can manually rock the hammer back with a half-press of the trigger. Similarly, after firing a rifle, you have to load a new shell in before firing again.

Other little details, like engravings and wood grain, as highlighted in gunsmiths as customization options. It’s still neat to see Arthur cleaning the dirt off of his guns when you manually maintain them, though.

Animal Decomposition

If you kill a wild animal in this game and leave it on the side of the road, it will slowly decompose. When you return to the area after a few in-game days, you may see a deteriorating body. After a few more days, you might find nothing more than a pile of bones. The same goes for when you carry a slain beast back into town on your horse. If you tarry for too many days, it’ll fetch a lower price as it decomposes.

Arthur’s Well-Being

If you skip sleep and eat infrequently, Arthur will begin to look haggard. You’ve likely noticed that your avatar’s hair and beard grow at a natural rate, and you can style his hair unless you grow it out long enough. Similarly, if you overeat and don’t get enough exercise, you’ll see Arthur begin to put on weight.

The same, interestingly, goes for your horse! If you give your companion too many treats, it’ll get fat and become slower on the open road. Keep that in mind while you’re adventuring!

November 19, 2018
Gotta Play ‘Em All? Pokémon Let’s Go Review

It’s been quite some time since a major Pokémon release came to home consoles. The latest Pokémon main series entry, Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee, have arrived for Nintendo Switch. Are these more casual-focused entries worth their price tag, or are they just pandering to the Pokémon Go craze?

Pokémon Let’s Go Review

Nintendo

Graphics

As much as some people will tell you graphics don’t matter, they really do. These are video games after all, and the visual element is the most striking. The Let’s Go games look absolutely wonderful on the Nintendo Switch. Brightly-colored, well-drawn models navigate sleek landscapes and the titular Pocket Monsters look better than ever. Battles are bright and frenetic, with strong moves having a ton of flashy on-screen effects.

Of special note are the wonderful little sprites that indicate your Pokémon in menus and at the Pokémon center. The series’ iconic sprites would have been sorely missed, so it’s nice to see them making an appearance this time out.

Gameplay

The major sticking point for some long-time veteran trainers is the updated gameplay of this new entry. The traditional random encounters with wild Pokémon are gone, as are battles with them. Instead, you see wild critters on the overworld screen and can choose to encounter them. When you do, you play a Pokémon Go-style minigame where you throw a ball and try to catch the creature.

This is a fun, if gimmicky, mechanic. While the ball-throwing with motion controls is very unreliable, it feels fine in handheld mode with normal controls. That said, we’re hoping future releases ditch the ball-throwing mechanic and bring back wild battles. We’re okay with the Pokémon being on the overworld screen, though. Random encounters should stay out of modern RPGs in our opinion.

Trainer battles are the same as in core games in the series, with the exception of some deeper mechanics from past entries. In all, this version is heavily simplified. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, making this a great jumping-on point for newcomers.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that Pokémon fans the world over and going to love this game. It’s a bit simplified and the series still has a long way to go in terms of tightening the core gameplay. The gorgeous presentation and nostalgic music make this one worth checking out, though, so we can recommend it to even passing fans of the franchise. Now, get out there and capture some cute creatures!

November 16, 2018
Tired All the Time? Here are the Best Natural Ways to Increase Your Energy

It’s not normal to feel tired and exhausted all the time. No matter how rough your job is, a healthy person shouldn’t always feel like they’re about to fall over. If you feel this way, you might be making it through your day only with help from coffee and energy drinks. Here are some natural ways to increase your energy. These methods are way better for you than energy drinks, too.

Best Natural Ways to Increase Your Energy

Eat Better

Stop eating junk food, stop drinking soda and cut processed sugars out of your diet. Processed foods are worse than just being bad for you, they drain your energy. If you’re always filling up on empty calories and junk then you’re not getting the nutrients you need. Similarly, if you drink to excess often then your body will rarely be getting good rest.

You get out what you put in. If you put good, clean food into your body then you’re going to just feel better. That’s really all there is to it! While fatty junk foods might taste great, are they worth your health?

Work Out More

This one goes hand in hand with the previous point. If you’re eating better then you can start working out to up your natural energy. By building up your muscles and getting into better shape you’re naturally going to just feel better. If you’re constantly eating junk and letting yourself laze about all day then you’re absolutely going to have lower energy.

Consider getting a workout buddy to keep you committing to hitting the gym. People naturally work harder when their friends are keeping them accountable. While you’re at it, consider quitting any harmful lifestyles you may have with the help from your gym buddy. This includes smoking and heavy drinking.

Get More Sleep

This one sounds like a no-brainer, but it bears pointing out. If you’re eating better and working out more, the final pillar of good health (and natural energy) is good sleep. Sleep at least eight hours every night and try getting to bed (and getting up) earlier. It might sound lame to go to bed at 10 PM, but when you awake at 6 and crank out a great workout before work, you’re going to feel so much better.

November 16, 2018
Stop Your Headache the Natural Way: Best Natural Headache Remedies

A really intense headache can ruin your whole day. If you’re suffering from serious headaches and don’t want to take medicine, there are a few natural remedies you can try for relief. Today we’re going over some of the best natural headache remedies.

Best Natural Headache Remedies

Lavender Oil

Along with basil and peppermint oil, lavender oil is great for headaches. Essential oils are often used in aromatherapy in conjunction with massage therapy to help relieve headaches and general aches and pains. Some people like to apply a bit of oil to the temples, and others use a diffuser to get the oil into the air. Either way, try these natural oils for headache relief and see if they can help you.

Butterbur Herbs

Butterbur herbs, as well as feverfew, have been shown to help headaches and migraines. Consider adding these herbs to food, or simply taking them in pill form. Many holistic health shops sell extract from these herbs. You can also find capsules with extract of these herbs that you can take. The best part is that these herbs are all-natural, so you don’t have to worry about taking potentially harmful medicine.

Magnesium

Foods rich in magnesium are an excellent way to naturally combat headaches. Examples of such foods are beans, broccoli, whole grains, seeds and nuts. If you don’t have a lot of these in your diet, consider adding them. Alternatively you could take a magnesium supplement to help your levels stay high. Many people who suffer chronic headaches have low magnesium levels, so keep magnesium in your diet to try to stave them off.

B-12 Supplements

Another natural headache remedy comes in the form of B-12 supplements. If you don’t have high amounts of B-12 in your diet you may find yourself suffering from headaches. This vitamin is commonly found in sesame seeds, fish and almonds. Alternatively, if you don’t like any of those foods you can opt to take a vitamin B-12 supplement in capsule form to keep your levels from dropping too low.

While none of these remedies are a surefire cure, they will certainly help you in the right direction. Don’t hesitate to contact a doctor in the event of continued, extreme migraines.

November 16, 2018
Dry Skin Got You Down? Try These Top Home Remedies

The winter months play havoc on dry skin, making it feel scaly and itchy. If you struggle with dry skin you’re likely looking for relief that you can administer at home. Today we’ve got a list of some of the top home remedies for dry skin to help you through these dry months.

Dry Skin Home Remedies

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is very popular in cooking and it’s also a great ingredient in lotions for helping dry skin. Consider using coconut oil-infused products to help moisturize. That’s because coconut oil has emollient properties that help restore skin cells and moisturize very well!

Oatmeal Baths

Grandmothers will always recommend oatmeal baths for dry skin. And they’re right to do so, it turns out. Colloidal oatmeal contains antioxidants that are amazing for your skin. Taking an oatmeal bath and then using a traditional moisturizer can help reduce itchiness and inflammation. Make sure you use the moisturizer, though, as you’ll need to lock in all the good stuff the oatmeal bath brought to your skin.

Mineral Oil

Mineral oil, or petroleum jelly as it is alternatively called, adds a thin layer of protective film to the skin. The film is thin and locks in moisture and keeps out common irritants. Mineral oil is particularly effective when used in conjunction with other moisturizing products! Moisturize first, then apply the mineral oil.

Wear Gloves

It might seem straightforward, but wearing gloves is one of the best ways to protect the skin on your hands. When you’re doing household chores that would get your hands wet or expose them to cleaning products make sure you wear gloves! This goes double for when you work outside in cold temperatures. Make sure you have a nice pair of insulated gloves to keep your hands warm in the winter.

Antioxidants

Consider taking in more antioxidants to encourage healthy skin. Foods that are high in antioxidants include carrots, lentils, blueberries and tomatoes. These will help your skin keep from getting dried out as easily and encourages healthier healing of dry skin. Additionally, foods rich in omega-3, like salmon, are great for encouraging healthy skin.

November 16, 2018
Great Apple Tech War of the 21rst Century

Apple is always up to some fantastic things, Making headlines and straight surprising us with out of the box ideas. Apple News is plentiful and fascinating so here is a quick look at a few things Apple is up to today. Also it help as you are reading these to do so in Walter Cronkite’s voice. We have a situation developing, Im dubbing this The Great Apple Tech War of the 21rst Century.

The Great Apple Tech War of the 21rst Century First Shots Fire

Last March Apple CEO Tim Cook criticized Facebook in an MSNBC interview for being a service that traffics “in your personal life.” This is now the true first shots fired will what will be know as the Great Apple Tech War of the 21rst Century. In those comments made back in March, Cook dismissed a question asking him what he would do if he were in Zuckerberg’s shoes dealing with the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal by saying, “I wouldn’t be in this situation.” These Comments natuallry enraged Old Zucks. He shot back then by saying he found Cook’s comments to be “extremely glib,” and that “I think it’s important that we don’t all get Stockholm syndrome and let the companies that work hard to charge you more convince you that they actually care more about you. Because that sounds ridiculous to me.”.

Fast forward to today, Zuckerberg ordered his management team to only use Android phones. A retaliatory move in an effort to take a shot back at Apple for Cooks comments. A war has begun, We will follow this with great interest.

The Western Front

Now we take you to the Western Front of the Great Apple Tech War of the 21rst Century. Apple and Qualcomm have been in a heated dispute for the last two years, and now Apple is taking another small jab at the company by opening up jobs that seem to be designed to grab employees from the chipmaking giant. Apple has opened 10 job listings this month for chipmaking positions in San Diego. That’s where Qualcomm is based, and according to the report, Apple has never searched for chip engineers there before. It also suggests that Apple could be opening up another regional office for chip designers.

We know already Apple is gearing up to cut Intel out from their Mac lines. Poaching the talent from Qualcomm is the tactical move. Qualcomm will strike back, I don’t know how or when. This aggression will not stand, and you can be sure of this.

The Final Thought

While we are just watching these conflicts begin to erupt, erupt they most definitely will. We have seen the intensely intriguing battle with Samsung already take place in . Still the best highlight from that on going war is the dump trucks of nickels delivered to Apples Cupertino HQ. The next move will be two companies forming an alliance. It won’t be to long before we see this.

November 16, 2018