REVIEWING THE APPLE AIRPODS MAX

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit so we should be well into our New Year’s resolutions by now. I am well into reviewing the Apple AirPods Max. They are worth all the hype and I’ll break down the pros and cons of the Pros.

I’m at the age where i am either asking you to turn it up or turn it down so when I immediately put on these headphones I imagine it’s what the kids feel stepping into the metaverse. I can hear better, even my self. But, as soon as the sounds comes out of these apple crisp speakers, you are transported to the studio.

Pro’s + tips:

Search spacial audio.
-Search it in Apple Music and you will get lost for hours. My personal favorites are jazz classics and string symphonies. Harry Styles, I didn’t know could sound any better, but here he is, in Spacial Audio.
-Search it on Netflix. It’s not anything from my watchlist or recommendations but i had to give a few pics 5 minutes of pure cinematic enjoyment. Love, Death + Robots was my personal fave.

I love the way they fit and my husband and I have a large head, lol.

They are very comfortable for long wear (3+ hours one time). Apple says the battery will last 30 hours but I havent had them die on me unlike my Airpods.

I haven’t allowed us to workout in them; they are way too nice for that and we have very few nice things with a toddler so they are not going anywhere near A.J. Regular home chores, the not sweaty kind like laundry + dishes, they are working for me. 

My tv is not a smart bluetooth tv. Because Apple loves to talk to each other, my AppleTv turns my 7 year old Vizio TV into bluetooth magic and my sound is now in my ears. Now mama gets to watch her shows WITH this sound after bedtime, not just reading subtitles.

Bewares:

You MUST limit your head gear.

No hats, especially beanies. No barrettes or clips that obstruct off the crown of your head. And absolutely no headbands. The AirPods Max will not fit properly over your head and ears with the interference of a head accessory.

You can’t turn up to 11. Have you received the apple health notification regarding decibels… Apple will periodically measure the sound levels throughout the day. I never got the baby cry notification, but I do get warnings that my average blah blah blah… heres is how to check yours: In Health, tap Browse at the bottom right, then tap Hearing. Anyways, I think we could go louder, but Apple doesn’t. I guess the days of meeting at the right speaker at the raves is haunting me.

The cute but not purpose “Smart Case” This case turns them “off.” WOW! Its super cute don’t get me wrong, but you need to invest in a hardshell case to really protect your Airpods Max.

Plenty of blogs out there to give you the tech facts but these are the not a paid actor in the industry facts. Its a hell yes from me and curious to know if you felt the same.

Thanks for coming to my Apple Keynote.

XoXo Britt

BABY PRODUCTS WE SWEAR BY (& ONES WE SWEAR AT TOO)

This blog is LONG over due! But the best part for you is maybe you're not due yet and you just discovered the post you have been searching for your whole pregnancy! With all the baby options out there how do you really know if it is right for you and your family? You dont, unless you try. Good thing we tried a bunch and have our faves and lames list to share!

I linked all the Amazon finds so you can be the Christmas Hero!

Should I get it? Why does every new parent have this? Why is it on everyone list? The answers to your deepest questions answered bellow. Also these products are in no favorable order.

YAYS

• Pack and Play. Why we love it? You need a place to play in a designated area while we are out somewhere or mom needs to do something and you cant get into anything so take some toys and chill in here for a bit. Also it doubles as a bed when we travel!

• Door Jumper- Why we love it? Have you seen Atlas’ quads? Those leg muscles! He didn’t get that way overnight. Practicing jumping and walking at the same time.

• Rocker- at first I was like why are all these expensive gliders and rockers in nurseries? Now I get it! We have a vintage rattan rocker that was in my nursery but it has become one of my favorite chairs and its so sweet to part of the bed time routine.

• Nuuk pacifiers & Doc Brown bottles - know you pacifies and know you bottles - aka know your nipples. Lol. Dont steer from them and when you are ready to size up or switch to sippy or straw, keep the same brand!

• Large Play Mat- Why we love it? It is a clean, soft, foldable play mat that we can unfold everyday for playtime. We can travel with us and it make mom feel safer about floortime play when you cant vacuum, mop and sweep 24/7.

• Touch and Feel Hard Books - Why we love them? They encourage interaction through the touch and feel panels and the hard pages are durable for our avid reader. He will read the same book 10 times a day flipping the pages, feeling the nooks and crannies.

• Kick & Play Piano Gym - You have seen every baby with it. The fisherprice animal piano is the bees knees. Starting week 1 with tummy time all the way through month 15 with the piano colors and numbers. It is used daily and we only had to change the batteries 1 time. What a winner!

• Sleep Sack- Atlas was a swaddle king. He loved it! Once he could get his arms out he kept himself up all night. We quickly got a sleep sack with velcro swaddle sides and could easily transition the arms out. Now we are in the Halo and haven’t looked back. We have a nap time one and a thicker night time one.

NAYS

• Tummy Time Mats- you just need 1- or none, lol. A blanket or mat will work just fine. We got caught up with fun ones to stare at but why?

• Mobile- its distracting and gets in the way of putting your little one in the crib. Why would you want to encourage play time where bed time is?

• Footed Pajamas - Atlas hated his feet confined. Any footed pajamas had to be cut for freedom. He is like his mom, he can’t sleep with socks on I guess.

• Push walker- these are so flimsy. Our muscle man was knocking his down using it to stand up. We had to go straight to a sit in walker for our guy.

If you have any you swear by, comment bellow. Hope this helps any new parents or event second timers wondering what to invest in. Happy Holidays and remember as long as there is love at attention your baby just needs you.

FIVE FAVE TODDLER FINDS AT COSTCO

We know we have a ton of Costco fans on here. I was originally a Price Club attendee sitting high in my cart atop a giant package of toilet paper. Now, we take Atlas, what seems like monthly, to stock up on family snacks and meals. After continuously purchasing the same products, it's time to get a sponsorship, just kidding. Sharing our Costco list with you. 

18 months cruising the isles of Costco with your mom and dad. Heres our FIVE FAVE FINDS! Be sure to save our shopping list to your phone.

Kirklands Applesauce Squeezer

These are great for on the go. 

Some have other fruits and veggies mixed in. 

The ingredients are real!  

Veggie Straws

The whole family loves them, even Winter! 

You can eat them plain or dip or hummus. 

Snacks all day! 

String Cheese

We string it -he eats it up. 

On the go too! 

These are perfect for travel.

Shred them on scrambled eggs.

Par baked tortillas 

These are so fresh and delicious. 

I always freeze one half because you get so many. 

We warm them for all meals and turn them into veggies quesadillas for little man.

Raviolis 

My Italian boy loves his pasta with cheese! 

Extra reward it has spinach! Find ones with mushrooms too.

BONUS! We also stock up on fruits and veggies frozen and fresh. Frozen strawberries and blueberries. Fresh avocados, bananas, and raspberries. 

I hope you enjoyed shopping with us at Costco today. Let me know if you have any foodies suggestions for an 18 month old, please and thank you !

XoXo

Mama Britt

A LIVELY WEDDING BOX

I’m back with another wedding box review. If you have not read my first monthly wedding box subscription please do so here. I am honest, raw and I tell it like it is. I am NOT trying to sell you something or give you a discount code. But, this time I am featuring a Lively Wedding Box and I am kind of obsessed! I discovered them, like most do, through instagram. I was hesitant at first, but not nearly as anxious to receive it like my first experience. The customer service was so friendly and the time frame from order to delivery was very speedy.

We are approaching month 6 leading up to the wedding, but the box didn’t care what time frame we were in, they just wanted to celebrate! The packaging was adorable from the floral box to the pink confetti, it screamed photo shoot with Britt!

Every item in the box is QUALITY! When is the last time you got a monthly box subscription where you used ALL the products! First, my fave, and I have used everyday, it the mini thermos. In Arizona we constantly need glasses to keep our drinks warm or cold and this thermos has the power of an expensive Yeti! Speaking of keeping your drink temperature control they included an insulated wine bag! Next, an adventure luggage tag, because maybe we will be honeymooning…. maybe ;) .

A fun photo backdrop in a gorgeous champagne pink color was a whimsical addition and I see myself using this for much more than a wedding! But, finally, I pulled out a bag. It looked like tool material to me, then, I realized! It was a veil!

I am still debating on hairstyles and accessories for the big day, but I did want a veil of some sort. After searching online, pinterest inspos and instagram photos I didn’t fall in love with any for me (and my budget). BUT The Lively Wedding Box and the magic of the universe sent me a gorgeous one I can’t wait to incorporate into this special day!

I just ordered the box for a 1 month as a trial. I would definitely recommend for brides to be to try out The Lively Wedding Box. It would even make a great gift if you need something to give a lucky lady who’s planning her next chapter. The value and quality is a great Arizona FInd!

UNBOXED

I'm a subscription box snob. I have subscribed to 6 in the past and currently have ZERO on auto pay. I tried the meal plans, but my picky eating and need for a larger portions was not a good match. I dabbled into skincare and cosmetics, but I don't beat my face as often as the box requires. My favorite box was a crystal collection, and I subscribed until I started getting repeats in the box, only 4 months in. 

As a newly engaged woman, I thought it would be a great experience to "box." With little idea on where to start or what to do, I figured a box could offer guidance and speak my love language. From Miss to Mrs became the box for me. 

The ad jumped out at me, so don't knock indirect marketing too much. I was scrolling through the gram and came across a saving grace. A monthly box to guide me in my journey to be wifed. 

I ordered the box right after the engagement, but didn't receive it for 8 weeks.  The box was damaged on the outside ..... and inside. But upon opening my excitement went from over the moon to mild. 

Pamphlets about the maid of honor? List of things the bride forgets on her day? Cool, but all stuff Google can provide. Faux Diamond pens and a notepad, cuz the target dollar spot didn't have me stocked up enough? Paperclips! For what? I am not sure, but they are cute for my office. A reusable plastic (not BPA free) cup with a broken straw. How does the straw ship broken? A gold plated necklace with a diamond emblem.  Last..... but not least........2 balloons! "LOVE" and a DIAMOND RING balloons for any event, but air/helium extra. 

My subscription has been cancelled and I didnt mean for this to turn into a product review, but just an honest experience. If you want to see perfect unboxing you can go on YouTube for that. We always bring it to you real and raw. 

#TRENDING

I flipped through my FIRST bridal magazine this week. It was during a vision board exercise to manifest our goals for the year. I already cut out libraries, kitchen islands, fireplaces, everything for our Honeymoon House (post to come). Browsing through, I was looking for inspiration, but was overwhelmed by the fluff, flowers, and frills. 

Bridal Guide Magazine's January/February 2018 issue has an article entitled, "Trends 2018." I was hopeful to find and inspiration, a light , a guide, for this next chapter. Instead I'm still scratching my head. Here are the 4 categories that sttodout to me of wedding trends this year and my thoughts.

THE EVENT: According to Bridal Guide, "Intimate gatherings and grand affairs are both having a moment." So to stay on trend this year invite few people or invite a lot of people. How can you have both opposites trending? We plan on a ceremony at our Honeymoon House and to keep trendy we will obtain a maximum occupancy number in our new space.  

THE DECOR: "Color is back, and so is black." LIKE WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? In 2018 everything is trending! As for us, we are classically considering black and white and a color #winning (is that still trendy to say?)

THE EATS: "View food and drinks as entertainment." Well good, because I always do. Suggestions of interactive stations like trucks and taco bars are appealing to us, but one trend we have been early adopters for are keeping it local. Phoenix has some of the best food and we want to showcase that

THE GUEST EXPERIENCE: "Send guests home with a smile," is Bridal Guide's reason for hiring dueling DJ's or aerial acts. No thanks, mama is going to be smiling because her baby girl started the next chapter of her adult life with the man of her dreams, not because a character artists captured her on paper. Our experience will blend culture, not because we want to have our guests learn how to properly sip tea from China, but rather our culture, our family. 

I couldn't bare to read the remaining trends, and if you so dare to the link is above. All I know is it will be a one of a kind kinda day. 

UNWEDDING

While researching for this blog I wanted to find inspiration from other bloggers sharing their engagement story. Please help me if you have found one, but I can only find companies that blog about other couple’s engagement shoots and big days. I want a first person narrative of the struggles to trust during one of the craziest times in a couple’s life. I want to hear about the journey, the tears of joy and stress, his perspectives and hers.

The Finding AZ Engagement is a chapter I want to share about my journey from Miss to Mrs. Why do we feel the need to rush to the “I Do’s” when we need to learn to enjoy the present moment.

I had a conversation with my fiance yesterday about the pressures of our WEDDING. I have to capitalize it because the connotation of that word is different per person. He is the oldest grandson of his family and oldest son and the pressure for a WEDDING was felt the second the ring went on my finger. I am an only child and don’t know what should be “expected” from the Bride’s family, or let alone myself, the Bride.

When Jose and I went to visit my family for Christmas my uncle made a joke about a dowry, asking Jose to prepare his family chickens and goats. We all laughed, but their is truth to that humor.

Some cultures don’t even get to meet their significant other till their ceremony date, some cultures trade livestock upon union, the extremities continue….

So before I read another list of what to expect, or contemplate creating checklist before the wedding day I chose an Unwedding Wedding. Why do I have to wait till 3 months before "the day"  to decide what cake I want to eat, or 2 months before till I write my vows? I am going to have a piece of chocolate cake and tell Jose how much I love him tonight and every night till the wedding and every night after.