Google Chromecast Streaming Media Player At Best Buy

** I received compensation in return for my post and social media shares. All opinions are my own. **

If you have a TV with an HDMI port, this new Google Chromecast Streaming Media Player just might end up being your family's new best friend! You can stream directly from your phone (iPhone and Android!) and listen to your favorite playlists, watch your favorite YouTube videos, shows, movies, and even use your phone while you're streaming. You can also enjoy your favorites from over 2000 apps! Including, Netflix and HBO NOW.

One of the coolest things about this media player is that you can start streaming with just your voice! Just say what you want from compatible apps and control your TV hands-free. Of course, my kids will be trying to take over and ask, "OK Google, please play * random Youtube gamer account * on my living room TV!" (I would be asking Google to play The Office reruns on Netflix. If I ever get control of the TV!)

Now your little ones can drive you even more crazy by showing using their phones and tablets as a remote control for your TV and you can watch all of those YouTube videos for Minecraft Tips and Tricks right along with them in your living room. Chromecast will be a plus for family night when you have more options from everyone's devices. (Depending on what streaming services you have or plan to subscribe to!) Basically, everything you watch on your phone, tablet, or computer can be sent directly to any TV in your house and onto a much bigger screen. So grab some popcorn and start streaming together in your living room!


At a price of $35 a piece, you could knock your gift list down a bit. Google Chromecast also works with a variety of laptops as well as Apple and Android devices. Definitely make sure the recipients have compatible devices and TVs! If you have a lot of tech-savvy family and friends to buy for, chances are they're already set up to use the newest Google Chromecast.


So far, I've read a lot of good reviews about how much faster this one is when compared to the original. Including, "Makes the constant buffering a thing of the past."



The Google Chromecast Streaming Media Player can also mirror a device's screen. This would come in handy for PowerPoint presentations if you're looking for a bigger screen. You can find info on this at Chromecast Help. You just need to have the Chrome browser, a Chromecast, and to connect both devices to the same network.



Google Chromecast is compatible with your existing HDTV.

** Easily connects to high-definition televisions with HDMI connectivity.

¹ Subscriptions are required to view some content.

² Google Home, Chromecast, and compatible content required to cast to a TV using Google Home.

Web-based services and content require high-speed Internet service. Some services may require a subscription.

Cujo Smart Firewall At Best Buy

** The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. ** 

One of my most favorite back to school items for the 2017-2018 school year is Cujo Smart Firewall. Sure, it may not be a lunchbox item or a new pair of sneakers or lead pencils but, it is a definite must-have for any family who uses the internet. (Cujo is also great for businesses and anyone who is connected!) 

This one device will secure all devices connected to your WiFi router. Cujo detects and blocks malicious sites, viruses, and hacks. Cujo and his cute, smiling face is like an antivirus for your entire network! But, there are so many other advantages to having Cujo around! 

Cujo's Main Features

Cujo will guard every device that is connected to your network, bring you business level security, connect directly to your router, has a super handy and very easy app to control, has parental controls, and is built with 1GB ethernet so it is blazing fast! 

My favorite main feature is how easy it is to set up. All you need to do is plug Cujo in, connect to your modem and your router if needed and install an app. This process takes just a few minutes and everything you need to know is right on your phone. After everything is plugged in, Cujo does all of the work for you! (I waited maybe 2 whole minutes for the app to sync with Cujo and he started learning immediately! 

One cool thing to note is that Cujo comes all bundled up in a package that is easy to open, instructions that are easy to understand, has a website to visit to start the process and has a window sticker to let everybody know your house and every device in it is protected by Cujo. 

Parental Controls 

One of the most impressive benefits to having Cujo around is the fact that I can control and monitor what each device that is connected to my network, is doing. Each of our children uses tablets, 1 has a phone, we have laptops, game consoles, and a desktop. There are limits to screen time and depending on the circumstances, screen time must be earned. (Especially during the school year!) We do respect our children's privacy however, we do what we can to monitor what they can access online. Cujo makes this so much easier and I feel much safer knowing that I will get alerts on my phone if one of them clicked on something that is malicious. 

You can create profiles for everybody in your home directly through the Cujo app. You can even choose your color and avatar! Once Cujo has been connected, he starts learning and finding devices. This could take a few hours up to 48 hours. Once Cujo notices the devices, you can assign them to a profile. From here, you can set restrictions if needed and you can monitor activity. 

You can also filter the different types of websites each profile can access! This is great for families with children of different ages! 

If you offer screen time or game time as a reward or if you allow game time only after homework and chores are done, you could filter gaming specifically and then remove the block after chores are done. 

Cujo will start keeping track of threats and alerting you every time anything happens. The above screenshot was taken shortly after connecting Cujo however, a few hours later and a few devices later, we did receive 1 threat. The alert will actually show you which device and what time the threat was detected. 

I am really loving the parenting control features! I think it is important to set time limits for children (and adults!) and I can do this all remotely. I am also grateful for the filter options and the alerts I receive if my 14-year-old decides to get online to start playing games before finishing homework and chores. (Yes, this happens sometimes!) 

If your children use any social media networks, Cujo will help you monitor that as well. You really don't have to be super duper tech savvy to use Cujo or the app. It is easy enough for everyone! 

Google Chromecast Audio At Best Buy

** The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. **

We're fans of Google Chromecast so when I was asked to review Google Chromecast Audio for Best Buy, I knew right away that this would be a big hit at our house! (Especially with the kids!) We have so many devices connected all at once and so many different styles of music being played at different times, anything that would help stream faster, easier, sound crisp and clean would be a bonus! 

We received 2 Google Chromecast Audio Products to play with for our review. This was great since there are 4 kids and 4 tablets not to mention how much we all love music! I was only hoping this would be a quick install without a gazillion apps to install and wires and connectors to buy, just to make these work. Sure enough, there everything we need was right inside this handy little box! 

My 13-year-old tore one of these open and immediately got to work. Within minutes, he was already here:

It really is pretty simple. You plug your Chromecast Audio into a speaker and into a wall socket, switch your speaker to AUX/LINE-IN and turn the volume up. Then you simply visit chromecast.com/setup from your phone, tablet, or laptop. 

Listen To Your Favorite Tunes On Your Speaker

By using your phone, it's easy to play, pause, or change the volume from anywhere in the house. And while streaming, you can still text or call without interrupting what's playing or draining your battery. 

(One of my most favorite features!) 

Crystal Clear Sound Powered By The Cloud

Use Chromecast audio to stream over Wi-Fi which has many advantages over BlueTooth including higher sound quality. 

Enjoy Hundreds Of Your Favorite Audio Apps

Stream millions of songs, radio stations, and podcasts through apps like Pandora, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Google Play Music. Find more at Chromecast.com/apps. 

Play Music Everywhere With Multi-Room

Now you can easily fill every room in your home with synchronous music. Simply group Chromecast audio devices together so you can listen to the same song on multiple speakers. 

Canary, Netgear, Best Buy, Slingtv, Geek Squad Fit Together Like A Dream Come True

** The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free **

We recently had the opportunity to try a Canary home security system from Best Buy. The first thing that jumped out at me as being possibly the best part of the deal? No monthly fees to run your Canary home security system! (There are other options, but I am happy with what we get with the basic package.) You can opt for more tags, more cloud storage, it all depends on exactly what you will be using it for. Even with the prices of a plan, it's unbeatable! For example, $4.99 per month for 2 day timeline, 25 bookmarks, and unlimited video downloads. Every Canary comes with a free starter package. This includes: access to the last 12 hours worth of events and up to 5 bookmarked videos. 

The Canary system is so simple to set up, straight from the box, that even my 5 year old would be able to do this. Granted, he is technically inclined, thanks to video games, my cell phone, and my laptop) but, this is something you could be comfortable with when purchasing for an elderly family member or neighbor or anybody who's technical skills stop at replacing a remote control battery. Out of the box, you have a few minutes to set up! You will be impressed with what this sleek, indoor, wireless, high definition, security system has to offer. 

What is quite impressive with the Canary, is Since the March 2015 launch, nearly 75 known burglaries, home invasions, caretaker abuse and other emergency situations have been captured by Canary, resulting in multiple arrests. 

Before I share all of the sweet specs of what I personally consider, something that every household should have, I have to admit, i am a weather nerd. I not only love weather but I also love technology. The Canary will actually give you the temperature, humidity level and let you know if the air quality in your home is safe. From virtually anywhere. Because, yes, you just install an app in your Smartphone and you can see what is happening from wherever you are! 

The Canary Indoor Wireless High-Definition All-In-One Home Security device helps keep your home safe and sound with motion detection notifications, a 90+ dB siren and HomeHealth Technology. It learns the cadence of your home so it can send you accurate notifications with fewer false alarms triggered by pets or other regular activity in your house.

 Stream live video from your home anytime: Canary's free mobile app let you see what's happening from anywhere with your iPhone® or Android smartphone

·         Capture everything: vivid HD 1080p resolution allows you to see small details on your screen, the 147° field of view which lets see more with minimal blind spots, and infrared night vision lets you see in the dark – you can keep an eye up to 20' away when there's little to no light

·         The device is a great way to check in on kids or caregivers. If the device is set to “Arm,” you'll receive a notification when someone arrives in your home. Use the “Watch Live” feature to check on everything from homework being done to house rules are being followed 

·         Gives you a complete picture of what’s going on at home, it puts you in control of how to react when something goes wrong.

o   Canary is the only solution with a 90+ decibel siren and a localized emergency call feature, which lets you contact authorities close to home from anywhere in the world 

o   Notifications keep you informed: receive movement-detection notifications that contain recorded footage and give you the options to watch live or sound the 90+ dB siren

Now, back to our experience with Canary.... My husband and I are still thinking of of reasons why this is such a great system and why and how it would benefit us. Not only can we keep an eye on things when we are away, whether on vacation, or out running errands. We have ours in the kitchen since this is where our door leads to and also, where most of the "living" happens. We have it in a place where it can see pretty far in the laundry room and living room. Another bonus we came up with, is when our oldest might be home alone for a bit after school, we can keep contact with him and see what is going on at all times. (We can also see how many minutes he adds onto his Xbox Live time so we know what to deduct when we get home!) Speaking of the Xbox, one thing we took notice to and this is not a negative thing by any means, but , more something to let you know about, just in case you might be having a similar issue....
So, the app shows color video and does have a slight time lapse, (which is understandable and expected and not a problem.), however, we seemed to notice it jump from color to black and white at times and we couldn't figure out why. The Netgear Nighthawk DST Router we received for this review, is absolutely flawless! And by flawless, I mean, just total brilliance! I can't even find the words, I am totally speechless! Ok, more on that in a bit. So, our 12 year old brought his Xbox upstairs for a couple of days and we started to see in the video on the app, that when he would turn it off and walk away, it would flip instantly back to color!

Is it a problem? Nope. Just another reason to turn off the Xbox and put it into hiding until the kids earn more video game time. Besides, black and white is crisp and clean enough to see what is happening. 

I find myself sitting here in another room of the house, just watching in awe, on my phone, because the picture quality is really something you assume you would be paying a lot of money for. (At $199 this thing just can't be beat!) 

One thing I think we will try is, putting our Canary upstairs for a few hours one night, just to see what kind of creepy things it can pick up. Halloween is und the corner and this would make a real nice ghost hunting camera! 

This router, this gorgeous piece of heaven that dropped down onto my doorstep one sunny afternoon. I was entranced with the Netgear Nighthawk DST Router and DST Adapter's striking beauty. 

Did you know that the average household has 7 connected devices? This high performance router was built to support up to 10 devices. Did you ever have slow wifi, dropped calls or dead zones? This is most likely due to putting a strain on your network, especially your router. We have had such a fantastic time with this router, i can't believe I lived back in the cave days all of this time! There are no dead zones anymore and we can have all of our devices connected and talk about speed!! I will no longer accept anything less. 

The Netgear Nighthawk DST Router is a brand new router that was developed exclusively between Netgear and Best Buy, to help provide consumers with an easy, all in one solution to support their home's connected devices. You get one DST (Dead Spot Terminator) adapter with your new router and all you have to do is plug it into a section of your house that gets little or no signal. If you have additional dead zones, you can purchase additional DST adapters. 

With your router purchase, comes Geek Squad. You will get one full year of Geek Squad which includes set up and support, over the phone and online, for one full year. No more waiting for an appointment for support, because, with geek Squad, you can call 24/7. Whenever you need help. Not just when you planned it. (Exactly.) 

Are you one of those people who doesn't subscribe to cable or satellite, due to the extremely high prices? Or maybe you are like me and rely on watching tv via Youtube on your phone because you are stuck in the kitchen, blogging, cooking, cleaning, and serving a ridiculous amount of lunches, after school snacks, and more snacks? (It gets so tiring I just made my office right here at the kitchen table and used a leftover chair to stack my agendas and binders.) I like to watch a few different television shows and I have to catch my Pittsburgh Penguins at least sometimes. But, living in the kitchen makes this hard and when I do get to experience live tv, I can't hardly contain myself. I have to make sure somebody isn't playing a trick on me and most of the time, it is a trick. My husband comes in the living room and wants to watch his recorded zombie soap opera or somebody needs help with homework, a bowl of cereal, dinner, and here I am. 

Best Buy offers a quick and painless way for all of us moms who have to hunker down in their kitchens and rely on Youtube or checking the Penguin's Facebook page for scores and checking the threads for updates. Sling TV offers live television from popular channels, including ESPN, HGTV, AMC, TNT and more! The base package costs just $20 per month. You can add premium channels such as, HBO or get extra entertainment packages for additional fees. 

You can sign up for a free 7 day trial of Sling TV online.   

Where can you watch Sling TV? Well, anywhere yo would like! I can watch it in my kitchen, on my porch, on a long drive, or even let the kids watch it on my phone on busy errand days. 

There are no hidden fees, no contracts, and Sling TV is compatible on the following devices: Smartphones, Xbox One, tablets, laptops, computers, Tv and video players, including Amazon Fire and Roku. (Gosh, I might even tell my husband about this secret so he can watch his shows when he's stuck in his truck overnight!) Then maybe I won't have to sit through zombie and ghost shows when he comes home each week!! 

If you do choose to check out Sling TV, you may be interested in this promotion through Best Buy.

There is also a $50 off compatible device offer – available with 3 months of prepaid Sling TV service; this offer is available in Best Buy stores only, and not online; the $50 discount is given in the form of a Best Buy store coupon.

I'll be getting back to you about this router and Canary. We plan on purchasing a few more so we can get our whole house covered. I will also update on any ghosts we can spot on the camera!

Best Buy And GoPro Hero = Best Father's Day Gift Idea

** The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free **

GoPro HERO+ LCD Launch at Best Buy



I'm sure you have been slammed with ads all across the internet telling you what to buy for Father's Day, what does dad deserve, what would make him the happiest dad in the universe, blah blah blah. But, if you have a dad (or husband) who is a pretty cool guy, always has his cell phone in his hand and even if he doesn't, you are going to want to check this deal that Best Buy came up with to celebrate the special father in your life! 

The new GoPro camera is perfect for capturing sweet family moments, long summer breaks and every journey that lies ahead. 

One of the niftiest bonuses about the new GoPro Hero is, if you buy this for dad, you can probably use it whenever you like! I can't decide which feature I would enjoy the most? 

Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® connect to the GoPro App for shot preview, total camera control and easy content sharing to Instagram, Facebook, and more.

1080p60 video, 8MP photos and built-in Wi-Fi, plus the convenience of a touch display.

I mean, these shots are just brilliant! I (I mean, my husband) would carry this everywhere! 

 Capture incredible moments and relive them on the spot with the LCD display.

Another reason to stop at Best Buy and to buy the brand new GoPro Hero is of course, the special price and deal they have available through June 20th:

HERO+LCD (Sku 6954009) with free 32GB Extreme Plus memory card (Sku 9387066). Valid 6/14-6/20

·         Free $50 Best Buy Gift Card with purchase of the GoPro HERO4 Silver (Sku 8374096) or GoPro HERO4 Black (Sku 8374078). Valid 6/7-6/20

Best Buy is the destination for the latest cameras and camcorders, including the new GoPro HERO+LCD. The new camera arrives in stores just in time for Father’s Day

The New AMD FX APU HP Envy Touchsmart Laptop

**  The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free **

If you happen to be in the market for a reasonably priced laptop with a totally sleek and super cool design, the new AMD FX APU HP Envy Touchsmart Laptop may be your prime choice! 


At first glance, the HP Envy may just seem like a typical laptop and at $629.99, it fits into almost every budget. But, like our parents taught us, "Never judge a book by it's cover" (Although, in this case, the cover is exceptionally nice!) 


I don't know where to start here, so, I'll start with the first thing that really pops! The 15.6" touch screen. It's the perfect laptop screen size for me! I love that it's big enough to multitask and have lots of room for bloggers, busy moms, busy dads and even online shopping. I am notorious for having several tabs open at once, whether I'm blogging, checking emails, shopping or checking prices at  several websites, researching, paying bills or checking my balances on rewards points sites so I can turn them in for more gift cards so I can shop some more! (Actually, I need a 15.6" screen just to have ample room for updating social networks.)


The next nifty feature, which makes this laptop, so far, the best multitasking laptop around! 6GB of system memory, more than enough for even the busiest of them all, to get everything done all at once and maybe have some time to get stuck on Youtube for a bit. ( I can't be the only one who starts looking for a video from my favorite band and then gets lost in the "suggested videos" and ends up watching a documentary on how the world would be without zinc, right?) Well, if you get lost in the interwebs and need lots of memory, the HP Envy Touchsmart Laptop, may be for you!


So far, so good, right? It's probably becoming the most fascinating busy mom (yes, or dads and I can't forget the grandparents!) laptop around? I would vote, YES! Oh, did I mention the energy efficient LED backlight yet? Or the 750GB hard drive which means, you guessed it! Lots and lots of storage space for music, movies and pictures! (A serious must have for any hardcore multitasker!)


Lets discuss music and movies for a second. You most certainly can not have a laptop without built in dual speakers and a subwoofer! Beats Audio guarantees you will have one of the most incredible sound, the richest, smoothest sound. Throw in some of the deepest bass and you just found yourself being the envy of all of your friends! (Wait a minute!! I think I just figured out why this gem is called, Envy!)


Why else would you need all of these things and more? (Yes, there is a LOT more!)... GAMING!
Unbelievable right? But you better believe it. Yes, this laptop is handy for the gamer in all of us. Even your teens, preteens and younger kids will love what the new AMD FX APU HP Envy Touchsmart Laptop has in store for the ultimate gaming experience.

I bet you are imagining yourself getting all of your work done and taking care of your gaming fix right now.......


This laptop has the AMD FX Special Edition APU, award winning AMD Radeon R7 graphics, the processing power of 10 computer cores (4 CPU + 6 CPU), Dragon voice assistant capability, 2 USB 2.0 ports AND 2 USB 3.0 ports! All of this and more to bring you the most ultimate gaming, it will definitely be had to walk away. Smooth gameplay, wicked processing and a fascinating entertainment experience.


Ok, we're almost done here but, just a few more things we have to discuss. It has been really hard for me to research and investigate this laptop and try to explain to you why this is quite possibly, one of the best items to come out of 2015.


These are just some extras that I believe come in handy. The new AMD FX APU HP Envy Touchsmart Laptop only weighs 6.1 lbs and measures 1.2" thin. Your new entertainment/gaming toy will come with the Windows 8.1 operating system, an HDMI connection, a multimedia software collection and a built in HP TrueVision HD webcam with dual array digital microphone.


Where is the best place to snag this beauty? Best Buy, of course!
Along with the sweet price of just $629.99, you can get free shipping with a $35 purchase! Or free in store pick up! (Your order will be ready in 45 minutes!)