Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 {Review}

Sometimes I like to make myself feel old by thinking back to all of the outdated products and technology from my childhood. The VCR that had a remote that needed to be plugged in, the telephone with the rotary dial... heck, I remember being so proud to have saved up money to buy a cassette tape with my favorite music.

These days, I try to appreciate the advancements that have made my life so much easier and more convenient. And, one thing that I know I have never once missed? Wires.

There are so many cords running to and from just about every device that they make me crazy. They're always tangled, being yanked on, catching on things, and, in general, just in the way. Can't every single thing be wireless?

Although that time hasn't quite yet been reached, at least I have now found the absolute perfect way to enjoy unparalleled music in top-of-the-line comfort, incredible clarity, and the utmost in cord-free convenience thanks to the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

Known for being passionate about inventing new technologies that truly benefit people, Bose's Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 were designed to deliver everything you expect — and things you never imagined possible.

Along with removing the hassle of wires (ugh!), these amazing headphones have a sophisticated, comfortable design, extended battery life, easy voice control, access to your choice of voice assistant, incredible noise cancellation, and much more. In short, they're able to turn every moment into an extraordinary experience by making your music come alive and your life more convenient and connected. There's nothing more that I could ask for!

Considering that everything I read about the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 made them sound like a spectacular pair of wireless headphones, I was excited to see them in person to give them a try.

Even before I had them out, the Bose Headphones 700 were making a great impression simply from the stylish and impressive box and inner case. I love companies that create packaging that not only keeps their products safe and secure, but also make users excited just from the way they look!

As soon as I removed these headphones, however, it was clear that Bose went much further than a snazzy box. The Bose Headphones 700 are all clean lines and classic design with the wireless, modernized, lightweight, stainless-steel headband and angled earcups to provide a comfortable fit for all-day listening.

My next step included downloading the Bose Music App and, in a matter of seconds, I had my headphones activated, connected, and was taking a virtual tour of their many amazing features.

Bose really couldn't have made these headphones any easier to use!

I adore that they came already charged and truly, I had my music playing within a minute or two. All that is left to do is simply adjust to your size and start wearing! The large L and R make it a no-brainer which direction is front and back...

...and the controls for volume, answering calls, talking to your voice assistant, skipping tracks, and more are, quite literally, right at your fingertips. Just intuitively swipe left, right, up or down on the right earcup and your music responds immediately.

Not to mention that the three dedicated buttons provide direct access to some of the headphones' most important features. Whether you are selecting just the right noise cancellation level for your environment (there are 11 so that you can maximize it to eliminate distractions, minimize it so you can hear everything around you or just choose from nine other levels in between) or jumping into Conversation Mode to pause the music and let surrounding noise in (perfect to order coffee, chat with a coworker or listen for your boarding call at the airport), the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 allow you to do it all with ease.

As well as features that one would expect with high quality headphones, Bose took things a step further by including their unique Bose AR. This new audio augmented reality technology and platform uses a combination of motion sensors built right in to superimpose sound on top of the real world.

So, while most AR efforts are focused on overlaying simulated visual information (virtual roller coaster, anyone?) Bose's AR products detect your head orientation and body movement while you wear them. Then, Bose AR-enhanced apps use this information along with location data from your mobile device to offer you audio content tailored to where you are and what you're doing. There is a whole slew of Bose AR apps available for iOS users to experience this coolness!

Overall, I love the power, sound, and comfort that the Bose Headphones 700 provide and I couldn't be happier not having to deal with the hassle of wires getting caught, twisted, knotted, pulled, and more. Add to that having the ability to wear these just about anytime, anywhere due to their lightweight feel and it's easy to see why these can go from work to play to sport with ease!

I have especially been enjoying the ease of controlling the noise cancellation technology, as a tap or two allows me to move from complete isolation to full awareness of my surroundings all without having to remove these comfortable headphones from my ears.

Plus, Bose didn't only include a single microphone into these headphones, there is an adaptive four-microphone system that automatically adjusts to the environment to isolate your voice from competing noises. No more yelling or wondering if the person on the other end can understand what you are saying!

Really, my only complaint is that everyone else in my household keeps trying to borrow these from me far too often!

After having had the chance to thoroughly try out the Bose Headphones 700, I'm clearly impressed with the comfort, fit and feel, as well as the convenience that they provide for all aspects of a busy life and the overall amazing clarity, sound and removal of distractions that they provide. No matter if I am relaxing at home, outdoors mowing the lawn, boarding a plane or just living day to day, these are likely coming along as well!

Whether you are shopping for an athlete, a commuter, a traveler, a music-lover or more, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 would make an absolutely amazing gift. Your recipient is sure to love the sleek look, custom fit, perfect balance of function and design, and all-around great sound no matter if they're going for a run, rocking out, flying across the country or jumping onto a conference call.

The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are available now for $399.99. For more information and to find out more about all of Bose's innovative and award-winning products, visit Bose.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I was provided Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 and compensation in order to facilitate my review. This post is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Disney•Pixar's Coco is Available Today on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital!

As I've gotten older, I find that my attention span for movies has shortened. Whether my mind can't stop wandering or my body fidgets in the seats (which are, admittedly, much more comfortable than they ever were in years past), I somehow spend the majority of my time in movie theaters checking the time in anticipation of the final credits.

Therefore, for me to return to the theater to see a movie multiple times, it has to be more than just special. It has to be filled with incredible animation, beautiful music, an inspiring tale, an overall engrossing message and much more... which are the perfection descriptors for the critically-acclaimed, award-winning Coco from Disney•Pixar.

Celebrating the importance of family, honoring your ancestors and following your dreams, Coco, Pixar Animation Studios' 19th feature film, brings viewers into the story of a 12-year-old aspiring musician's extraordinary journey to the magical land of his ancestors.

Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz, despite his family's baffling generations-old ban on music. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Héctor, and together they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.

If you have somehow not yet seen Coco, it's a MUST! Plus, viewing this vibrant tale is even easier than returning to the theater multiple times like me, as Coco is now available digitally in HD, 4K Ultra HD and Movies Anywhere, as well as on DVD and Blu-ray today, February 27!

I couldn't be much more excited to add Coco to our home library and love that the Multi-screen Edition (formerly known as the Blu-ray Combo Pack) includes a Blu-ray, a DVD and a Digital copy, giving viewers the flexibility to watch the film on different devices.

That simply means more options and opportunities to bring the rich color, textures and sounds of Coco to life as you are immersed in two fantastically animated worlds. Not to mention all of the great bonus material included in this set that provide the opportunity to delve even deeper into the inspiration and creation of this beautiful film.

Bonus features included on Blu-ray and Digital include:

• Deleted Scenes with Introductions - Director Lee Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina talk about the deleted scenes and the part they played in the development of Coco.

• Día de los Muertos - In this musical extravaganza, the colors and excitement of Día de los Muertos come to life as we meet superstar Ernesto de la Cruz.

• The Way of the Riveras - A musical number in which Abuelita and Miguel prepare their Día de los Muertos celebration while she teaches him Rivera family history and traditions.

• Celebrity Tour - Héctor, a Land of the Dead tour bus guide, agrees to help Miguel, revealed to be a living boy, on his quest to find de la Cruz.

• The Bus Escape - The Rivera family catches up to Miguel and Héctor and attempts to halt their mission to find de la Cruz.

• Alebrije Attack - Miguel and Héctor are interrupted on their journey to find de la Cruz by a fierce alebrije.

• The Family Fix - After de la Cruz reveals his true colors, the Rivera family puts their dismay aside and comes together to repair the smashed guitar needed to send Miguel home.

• To the Bridge - As the Land of the Dead counts down to the end of Día de los Muertos, Miguel and de la Cruz come head-to-head on the marigold bridge.

• Filmmaker Commentary – Presented by Lee Unkrich (director), Adrian Molina (co-director) and Darla K. Anderson (producer).

• The Music of Coco - Collaborating with musicians of Mexico and some unique instrumentation, this documentary explores the beautiful fusion of music essential to the story of Coco.

• Paths to Pixar: Coco - Explore how the film crew's personal stories resonate with the themes of the movie itself.

• Welcome to the Fiesta - A musical exploration of the skeletons that make the Land of the Dead in Coco so wondrous and intriguing.

• How to Draw a Skeleton - Pixar artist Daniel Arriaga gives a lesson on the quick and easy way to draw skeletons using simple shapes.

• A Thousand Pictures a Day - Join the Coco crew on an immersive travelogue through Mexico, visiting families, artisans, cemeteries, and small villages during the Día de los Muertos holiday.

• Mi Familia - Developing the Riveras was a labor of love that took the cast and crew on a deep dive into the meaning of family.

• Land of Our Ancestors – Watch Pixar artists lovingly construct layer upon layer of architecture from many eras of Mexican history, bringing the Land of the Dead to life.

• Fashion Through the Ages – The cast of characters in Coco are from many different eras, making for some magnificent costuming opportunities.

• The Real Guitar – The majestic guitar that spurs Miguel on his journey through the Land of the Dead is a unique creation. Watch as it is initially designed by a Pixar artist and ultimately realized as a real instrument by a master luthier in this poetic ode to craftsmanship.

• Dante - How the crew fell in love with the uniquely Mexican breed of Xoloitzcuintli (or “Xolo”) dogs that inspired Dante.

• How to Make Papel Picado - Join Pixar artist Ana Ramírez González as we learn how papel picado is made traditionally, and then try your own approach to this beautiful art form.

• Un Poco Coco - A montage of original animated pieces used to promote Coco.

• Coco Trailers - Trailers include “Feeling,” “Dante’s Lunch,” “Destiny,” “Journey” and “Belong.”

From beginning to end, Coco is beautifully complicated while being artfully simple. This movie is stunning to watch, delightful to hear and, without a doubt, deserving of the widespread praise it has received since its debut. Filled with love and laughter (and a few tears that I shed each and every time I have watched it), Disney•Pixar’s Coco is both moving and entertaining and sure to be a family favorite for years to come.

Find out more and connect with all things Coco on Disney's website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to pick up your Multi-screen Edition today at retailers everywhere and on Amazon.

Other than a copy of Coco that I was provided in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Skullduggery Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set {Review}

Although there have been a lot of parenting surprises over the years, one that I did not anticipate was the increasing difficulty that comes with buying gifts as my children have gotten older. Back when they were younger they seemed to have more focused interests, but these days? It's like pulling teeth to get them to name anything in particular or come up with something that actually elicits excitement.

Therefore, after spending far too long looking at online suggestions (all of which I did not purchase) and aimlessly wandering the aisles in big box stores (which also left me empty-handed), I was thrilled to be introduced to an award-winning toy that I instantly knew would be a hit for both of my kids this holiday season.

More unique than traditional cars and much more entertaining than other remote control toys that I've seen, I had no doubt that Max Traxxx Tracer Racers from Skullduggery would create a stir as soon as they were out of the box. In all honesty, I couldn't wait to dig into the Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set myself!

As a leading toy manufacturer for 30 years, Skullduggery's vast product lines appeal to toy-lovers of all ages throughout the world. But while their craft kits and fossil replicas do look interesting, the Max Traxxx Tracer Racer car line has had my attention from the beginning. Who can resist an adjustable, customizable, glow-in-the-dark racing system?

I couldn't wait to see these Tracer Racers and the Infinity Loop Track Set in person!

Right out of the box it was clear that Skullduggery had included just about everything needed in order for young (or, ahem, young-at-heart) racing enthusiasts to start putting together the endless racing circuit of their dreams.

Including more than 46 feet of glow-in-the-dark track, two Tracer Racers and remote controls, 26 X-BLOX construction brix, and more, the only thing that this set needs to get started are the batteries.

After opening up each of the remotes and setting the four AA's into place, I simply plugged the cars right into the cord on the top and flipped the switch to 'charge.' I love that the remote controls are the actual chargers instead of needing to keep track of a separate cable or plug (which would immediately get lost into the abyss of my house).

While the Tracer Racers charged up, it was time to construct the unique Infinity Loop Track Set. I adore that Max Traxxx parts are able to be mixed and matched and snapped together and constructed in just about an endless number of ways. Talk about a workout for the imagination!

To begin, however, I opted to build the original figure eight shape to check out just why these loops, corners, and straightaways had won multiple awards. Could it really be all that cool?

Don't let the angle of this photo fool you. This set is BIG!

In a matter of minutes, the full track was together (each piece simply slides/snaps into the next) and it was time to rev up our engines. Hint: there is an on/off switch on the remote control AND on the bottom of the car itself. Make sure you have both turned to on for racing to begin!

Oh, man!

While Skullduggery had pointed out that the Tracer Racer Cars have a top to-scale speed of 500 miles per hour, I still wasn't prepared for how quickly they truly zip! Each little car can go forwards or backwards depending on the direction that users move the lever on the remote control and boy, oh boy, they can go fast!

In fact, we found there to be a small learning curve when it comes to driving, as putting the pedal to the metal can lead to Tracer Racers flipping off the track as they come shooting around the corners. At the same time, driving too slow doesn't give enough speed to make it up and around the loop, so finding the sweet spot in the variable speed takes a little skill.

But that sure didn't mean that Little Sister B was any less excited to race again and again and again and again!

Although my young speedster was already having a blast simply zooming both Max Traxxx Tracer Racers around the track, as soon as I said, Now watch THIS and turned off the lights, her mind was officially blown.

Even better, not only does the glow-in-the-dark track light up (which is cool), but the Tracer Racers themselves utilize Light Trail Technology and blaze streaks of light as they go (which is REALLY cool)! Each car has two small lights on the bottom that, when combined with the glowing track, leave a glowing path that slowly fades long after the Racer has passed.

These really couldn't be much more amazing to see racing, twisting, and turning in a dimly lit room!

Even a crash or wipe out looks incredible when all lit up in the dark!

From the first day that we opened the Max Traxxx box, Little Sister B and I have spent endless afternoons cheering on our Tracer Racers as we send them flying around the track. There have been more times than one that we've only stopped playing because the cars begin to slow and the lights on the bottom don't shine, meaning it's time to let them stop and recharge. Fortunately, it's just so easy to plug them right into the remote controls and set them down until next time!

Plus, while Little Sister B is happy to keep the Infinity Loop as is, but I have no doubt that in the future we will construct and reconstruct the various parts into our own creative layouts. By using the existing X-BLOX construction brix (and including our own compatible bricks of another brand), the sky is the limit on forming a track that goes up, down, and around in any number of ways!

Whether you have a beginning or advanced race fan in your life, Max Traxxx Tracer Racers can provide hours of entertainment for all ages. This set is recommended for ages 6+ and I agree — it is easy enough to slide the pieces together and use the remote that younger children can do it on their own, yet the fantastic wow factor will keep older kids coming back for more.

I dare you to spend less than a minute watching this video and not want to start playing with these yourself!


The complete Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set retails for $119.97 and can be purchased directly from Skullduggery.com (with free shipping!) or on Amazon.com (where one of their sellers, 4% Change for Children, not only offers a $20 off coupon on certain days but also does amazing work donating to non-profit organizations that help children and families).

There is still time to order this incredibly unique remote control track set in time for the holidays, so be sure to visit Skullduggery's website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest pages to find out more about this and all of their creative and fun products.

Other than the Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set that I was provided by Skullduggery in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This post is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Keep Your Internet Safe with the CUJO Smart Firewall from Best Buy {Review}

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.

A few decades ago, the phrase home security would likely have conjured up images of cameras and motion detectors and signs indicating that an alarm would silently ring if a window was forced open.

These days, there's no question that we're all still careful to lock the doors to our houses. However, home security means so much more now that there are virtual entrances to our lives that also need to be protected. After all, the plethora of connected devices in our homes — TVs, game consoles, phones, computers, tablets, printers, cameras, baby monitors, thermostats, vacuums, and much more — are really only as secure as the networks that they access, right?

Therefore, until our tech gadgets begin to be created with built-in security, it is up to us to provide it — to not only block malicious sites, viruses, and hacks, but to give peace of mind that you and your family are safe online.

That's where CUJO comes in!

A firewall for the connected home that is designed to bring business-level security to a home network, CUJO is the one device needed to secure any and all technology that connects through your internet. Just plug it in, set it up, and this simple yet sophisticated gadget monitors the activity on all of your connected devices for anything unusual. When that occurs, it immediately blocks the threats before they have a chance to compromise your online safety or private information.

Pretty great, right?

As I don't consider myself a technology expert, I was looking forward to seeing just how user-friendly CUJO would be and if I would be able to get it up and running all on my own.

Right out of the box and it was clear that CUJO is just about as close to "plug and play" as possible. All that I needed to do was take the device, the power cord, and the Ethernet cable, plug it all in (to a power source as well as to my router), and I was good to go.

Registering my CUJO and going through the setup process couldn't have been much easier, as I simply downloaded the app (available from the App Store as well as Google Play) and followed the instructions one by one.

In less than 10 minutes, our home was protected and CUJO was already at work identifying our devices.

From that day forward, CUJO has been amazing for keeping all of our technology safe and secure. I love the way that it was designed to automatically block any threats it detects (users then have the option to leave the block or to unblock), as this proactive method ensures that I won't have to deal with problems after they occur. I've spent too many hours stressing over computer viruses to ever want to go down that path again!

Instead CUJO keeps our entire network and every single device we own protected and it lets me know in two different ways. The unit itself has "eyes" (that my kids adore) that indicate if the device is in standby mode (full eyes), protection mode (smiling eyes) or that it has detected unwanted activity (sad eyes).

At the same time, I can receive immediate notifications on my phone and/or simply open the app to stay informed. I was amazed when CUJO detected and blocked a threat within the first 24 hours of installation — and it had at least half a dozen more within the first week of use! Where has this been all my life?!

Beyond just being a watchdog for all of our connected devices (which I love), CUJO takes things one step further for parents by including an abundance of parental control features. We all know that kids of every age seem to want to spend every waking minute online, but we also know that there is a great deal of the internet that isn't appropriate for children.

Therefore, being able to have control over access to the internet provides me the perfect solution, as I'm not going to keep my kids off of it entirely. CUJO allows me to not only have an internet filter, but I can set time limits and pause the internet for specific devices, monitor social media sites, receive alerts and reports, and more.

How great is it that CUJO allows me to safeguard my children and what they access online all while it protects our household overall!

I have to admit that prior to the arrival of CUJO, I hadn't put a great deal of thought into our household's internet security. But now that it is here, I couldn't be happier knowing that my entire home, all of our devices, and even my kids are safer!

CUJO is available in three different options ($99 for the device with an $8.99 monthly service fee; $158 for the device with a $59 annual service fee; $249 for the device and a free lifetime subscription/service) and can truly provide the peace of mind you need or didn't know you need in your home.

Find out much more about all that CUJO can do and how much money you can save on it when you purchase from Best Buy today.