Thank you for the opportunity!

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Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Boomer Voices program and have been provided with a device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.       #VZWVoices #Boomer

It is so very hard to believe, here at the end of December, that on a hot, summer day six months ago, I boarded a train and left for Chicago. It was there that I met and trained with a dozen or so “Boomer Bloggers.” What a great experience, meeting some of the Midwest’s most influential women on the Web! I felt a bit out of my league, as I am a relatively new blogger, however, these women were more than helpful throughout the entire program. It is great that technology and social media will continue to keep us in contact with one another.

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I have to admit, that playing with the phones and FitBit was a blast. The cameras on both phones are fantastic! And the technology and apps I downloaded made both phones even more valuable in my very busy life! The FitBit certainly motivated me to get moving, as I saw first-hand how little I moved. Now the device is attached to my hip – literally!

The self-facing cameras on both phones were not used for selfies, (okay, maybe once or twice with my daughter!) but to video chat with my husband and son who were stationed in various countries throughout the past year. And my world clock app was a tremendous help, letting me know what time it was for my loved ones where ever in the world they were. Countdown calendars helped the days pass until my spouse got home. Yes, the technology alone made my life as a military spouse much easier.

tree down riser post

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I loaded so many apps on my phone – such as for our insurance company, which made filing a claim due to a severe summer storm much easier. The long battery life was a huge help in staying in contact with the electric company, insurance company and family members, as we were without power for over 70 hours. I became addicted to downloading books onto my Kindle app – and now using the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, reading the ebooks is much easier.

Though the technology and trip were fabulous, I think the best part of being a Verizon Ambassador was meeting so many wonderful people: the tech trainers, the staff at ComBlu, the bloggers and the folks I met via my blog and through other social media outlets. By being a Boomer Ambassador, other writing opportunities came to my inbox! The experience has truly been a blessing.

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Oh, how I wish the Verizon Boomer Ambassador program wasn’t drawing to a close! And I know my Boomer Blogger Sisters have the same wish! What a wonderful experience, to share what I have learned with others. I feel that this program gave me the nudge I needed to get out of my comfort zone and learn even more! From making the switch to self-hosting my blog, to hosting both a digital and a blog party, to learning all kinds of techy terms and skills, I know I have grown both personally and professionally.

Yes, we have come a long way from the gigantic bag phones that we plugged into car lighter outlets a few decades ago. And some days the technology seems to be overwhelming and maybe even be a drawback to in-person social skills. However, as a Boomer, a military spouse, a mom, a writer and a blogger, I do believe that used properly, the technology we are blessed with today can be just that – a blessing and a way to be in touch with those we hold dear.

Thank you, ComBlu and Verizon. I am humbled that you chose my blog to be a participant in this program. Thank you for making communications easier and making the world a little smaller. Thank you to my Boomer Blogger Sisters, for all that you did to help this newbie.

Thank you to my readers. May you have a blessed and prosperous New Year!

© Lynne Cobb – 2013

 

 

Yes, we hosted a digital party for Verizon!

Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Boomer Voices program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.

Well, we did it! The Chief Blonde from Still Blonde After all These Years and I pulled off our first digital party! It was the first time either of us ventured into a digital party, and we certainly learned a lot – especially me.

As part of the Verizon Boomer Voices program, we were given devices and products to test, review and blog about. We also share new Verizon programs through social media. Additionally, we were asked to host a party to share what we have learned with our colleagues and friends. Since we are writing about technology and how it can make life a bit easier, the Chief Blonde and I thought, “Why not try to have a digital party?” And that is what we did!

What We Did To Prepare:

The Chief Blonde is more social media savvy than I, so she gave me a crash course in RaffleCopter (which we used for the giveaways) and how manage several open Twitter screens at the same time. We were both familiar in using online meeting rooms, so there wasn’t a huge learning curve there.

After inviting Michigan bloggers to the party – via Facebook – we sent out a PowerPoint presentation,  which was used as a teaser, to gauge what products our guests were interested in, and to get the party RSVPs. Additionally, we took photos and downloaded images to use throughout the party. Using RaffleCopter, we were able to draw the prizes for the guests, plus we fielded some questions about the products before the party began, which was a huge help in explaining each device. We had notes on the three devices each of us presented, and opening/closing words. We created Tweet templates ahead of time, and edited them with the names of the prize winners as the party progressed, so we could posts Tweets while the party was in session.

The Party

I admit, I wasn’t nervous until the party began! As soon as guests began to electronically arrive, the butterflies began to take flight in my stomach. Then, I felt like I was on stage and would “mess up my lines!” All in attendance could see us through a webcam! But once I relaxed in front of the camera, I enjoyed chatting with the group. The Chief Blonde and I took turns presenting the devices, and whoever was not in front of the camera monitored the “chat” for questions and comments. The guests were so gracious and added so much to our experience. Everyone who attended received a nice goody bag filled with fun items from Verizon. And there were several winners of some great products, like the FitBit One, FitBit Flex, Tagg Pet Tracker, Sure Response, Belkin Digital WebCam and more.

swag1  prize collage

A whole lot of work went into this digital party, probably as much as with a traditional party – but we didn’t have to clean the bathrooms before the guests arrived! It took many hours to tweak and practice to make sure we had no technical issues, but the pay off was big! We both learned so much, and believe our guests did as well. It was wonderful to connect with so many talented bloggers.

After the Party:

packing day

My dining room table mirrored a warehouse as I was busy packing up the goody bags and prizes for our guests. After shipping all the boxes and reviewing the entire process, I have to say that the Chief Blonde and I had a wonderful time learning together. We made a great team, and had we not been invited to be part of the Verizon Boomer Voices program, we would not have had the opportunity to work together – and become friends in the process.

Have you taken a leap and ventured into unchartered technological waters? How was your experience? Feel free to share in the comments below.

 

Hey ladies, are you covered?

Disclosure:  I am participating in a Vibrant Influencer Network campaign for Royal Neighbors of America. I am receiving a fee for posting; however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own. I am in no way affiliated with Royal Neighbors of America and do not earn a commission or percent of sales.

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One benefit of being a military family is that due to vocational circumstances, families must be prepared in all situations.

Life insurance, Power of Attorneys, guardianship paperwork and wills are all part of the process to ensure a family is ready for possible deployment.

It really is not easy to make the emotional decision to look into anything that confirms our mortality. To admit we have an expiration date is humbling and scary, especially if you have children.

My husband and I first met with a life insurance agent around 28 years ago, after our first daughter was born. I admit, I was nervous. A new mom in my early twenties – the last thing I wanted to think about was dying and leaving my family behind. We were advised on coverage for my husband, who was the only income-earner at the time. I figured we didn’t need insurance on me, as I wasn’t bringing home a paycheck.

Boy, was I wrong! Our agent asked how much it would cost my husband – who at the time was on active duty military service – to employ full-time childcare, assistance with housework, meal preparation and other expenses that we didn’t pay for because I was a stay-at-home mom. Additionally, how much would it cost him to fly one of our mothers out to where we were stationed for the 24-hour care of our daughter, should he leave for training – or be deployed?

As time sped forward, and I did start earning an income, we made sure we adjusted the life insurance coverage on me as needed. With our children getting older, my husband wouldn’t need childcare, but he would certainly need a replacement for my income, and any other expenses, if the worse were to happen.

September is National Life Insurance month, and statistics show that women are less apt than men to have life insurance. And, if they do have coverage, it usually isn’t in proportion to what their family needs.

“Women must protect their salaries,” says Cynthia Tidwell, President/CEO of Royal Neighbors of America, one of the largest and oldest women-led insurers in the United States. “Life insurance can replace your salary, cover childcare expenses, pay off a mortgage or protect college dreams.”

I found this statistic profound: the Life Insurance Market Research Association (LIMRA) reports that one in three U.S. households have no life insurance at all.

One of the biggest concerns most people have, is “how much coverage do I need?” Below is a list of questions to ponder:

  1. How much will it cost to pay off your debts such as a mortgage, credit card payments, auto or other loans, if you were to die prematurely?
  2. What are your ongoing expenses? Don’t forget daycare, tuition, grocery, and energy bills.
  3. Would your family be able to pay its bills?
  4. Do you have enough to pay for funeral expenses? The average funeral costs about $7,000, according to a 2009 estimate by the National Association of Funeral Directors.

Royal Neighbors has an insurance calculator to help give you an idea as to what coverage is needed. How much do you think would cover your family? Using the above questions as a guideline, grab a calculator and do some math. Check your guesstimate with the insurance calculator and see if you are correct. It only takes a few minutes.

How did you come out? Interesting, isn’t it?

In addition to offering life insurance coverage, Royal Neighbors of America offers insurance products to fulfill financial needs of growth, savings, and protection. Members receive valuable benefits and can participate in volunteer activities through the organization’s local chapters to help make a difference in their communities.

The organization’s philanthropic efforts are dedicated to changing women’s lives through its national programs, including the Nation of NeighborsSM Program, and through the Royal Neighbors Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. They are involved with Baskets of Hope (baby supplies for new mothers, filled backpacks for school children, baskets of financial education tools for women pursuing their careers, baskets of food for local pantries as well as supplies for soldiers overseas.  And with Join Hands Day, local partners dig in to plant neighborhood gardens and goodwill where communities need it most.

Trust me, I know how intimidating it is to approach this subject, and then how intimidating it is to look at your finances. But once you take the steps needed to insure your family’s well-being, you will feel much better having a plan of action in place. Want more info? Contact Royal Neighbors of America – life insurance with a difference.

Do you have the proper amount of life insurance coverage, or legal paperwork in place for an emergency? Let me know in the comments below.

© Lynne Cobb – 2013

Taste test – the last entree

Disclosure: I am participating in a Vibrant Influencer Network Healthy Choice campaign. I have been provided with free products and remuneration in exchange for my honest opinions about the products. All opinions are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by Healthy Choice prior to posting.

baked ziti

Well, I have to say that I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to taste Healthy Choice entrees and their Greek Frozen Yogurt over the past few weeks. What a privilege to be asked for my honest opinions and thoughts to share with my readers.

The last product in the food-tasting series I was asked to try were Healthy Choice Baked Taste entrees. Because I love all things Italian – especially foods – I chose to taste the Baked Ziti. Once again, following the directions, I popped the entree into the microwave for a quick lunch. Our kitchen smelled delicious as the marinara and cheeses melded together. Grabbing my fork, I was excited to dig in and taste the product, and again, I was pleasantly surprised.

ziti in microwave

The pasta was tender but not mushy, and the marinara sauce was very good. And – bonus – the pasta wasn’t swimming in a sea of sauce! There was a perfect balance between the two! Additionally, the entree contained several cheeses, and as you can see by the photo, the cheeses were visible! No hunting around to see that, in fact, cheese was included, as the box claimed! And it was a nice a blend of Italian cheeses: Parmesan, Romano, Asiago and mozzarella.

cooked baked ziti

Because I am a carnivore, I needed a little more sustenance than this entree provided. So, after I tried the product un-doctored, I added some of my own Italian-style baked chicken that was left over from our previous night’s dinner. The entree was a nice compliment to my diced chicken, and indeed made a fine, quick lunch, which I enjoyed along with a small, fresh tossed salad. There are many baked entree choices to choose from, and clicking on the Baked Taste link will give you all the options, plus information about each entree.

Though the Baked Ziti entree was good, and I would purchase it again if I was dining solo, I would use tend to use this as a side dish instead of a main entree, because, well, I have a heartier appetite than most ladies I know! And, going back to my earlier comments in my previous reviews, I would love it if these products contained more organically grown ingredients. But, it is refreshing that there are no added preservatives or food colorings.

Of all the Healthy Choice items I was honored to try, my favorite, by far, are the Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers. For the freshness, presentation and overall taste, I believe they may have revolutionized frozen meals.

It is my hope that this series has been a benefit to my readers. Let me know if you have tried any of these products, and if so, what you have thought of them.

© Lynne Cobb – 2013

Taste-testing, again!

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Disclosure: I am participating in a Vibrant Influencer Network Healthy Choice campaign. I have been provided with free products and remuneration in exchange for my honest opinions about the products. All opinions are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by Healthy Choice prior to posting.

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My second round of food tasting for Healthy Choice was for the new Cafe Steamers. I rarely purchase frozen meals, because they are usually not very tasty, and with the size of our family, we’d be waiting in line all night to use the microwave. And, again, as I stated in my previous frozen yogurt post, we are trying to eat healthier – more organic and more locally grown foods.

So, I admit I was a little nervous in trying out the Beef Merlot. The photo on the package enticed me to choose it. It looked delicious – beef, carrots, potatoes and green beans in a savory sauce. Plus, I was curious as to how the steaming method would work. Placing the bowl in the microwave, I left the plastic wrap on as directed. As my dinner began to cook, the aroma filled the kitchen. So far, so good, as the Beef Merlot smelled delicious. In fact, my teenage son commented on what I was cooking. As I carefully peeled the wrapper and tipped the food from the steamer section into the bowl holding the sauce, I was impressed that the food looked good! No shriveling, the color was good, the veggies appeared crisp. Carefully mixing the sauce into the meat and veggies, I was looking forward to tasting.

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I wasn’t disappointed. The beef chunks were tender, the veggies were crisp and the potatoes were just right. And, it tasted good. I was pleased with my quick dinner.

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For lunch the next day, I tried the Chicken Linguine with Red Pepper Alfredo. Using the same cooking instructions, I was again impressed with the coloring, texture and taste of the product. The veggies were crisp, the chicken was tender, and the noodles did not get mushy. Though I did prefer the Beef Merlot, the Chicken Linguine was good.

Apparently, the “tray-in-tray technology” that separates the ingredients while cooking works, as the vegetables are crisper and the pasta is al dente.

Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers would be handy to keep in the freezer for a quick lunch or if you find yourself dining solo. There are several varieties to choose from, including vegetarian dishes. There are no artificial flavorings or colors – yay! My only recommendations to improve the product would be to try to add organic meat and veggies, tone down a little on the salt, and, for big eaters like me, add a little more meat or chicken to the dish. Pare up the Cafe Steamer with a fresh salad, and you have a nice, quick meal.

Wanting to learn more or see all the options available in the Healthy Choice Cafe Steamer line? Just click on Cafe Steamers for details.

Have you tried Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers? If so, what do you think? Let me know in the comment section.

© Lynne Cobb – 2013

Sure, I’ll try some Greek Frozen Yogurt

healthy choice yogurt

Disclosure: I am participating in a Vibrant Influencer Network Healthy Choice campaign. I have been provided with free products and remuneration in exchange for my honest opinions about the products. All opinions are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by Healthy Choice prior to posting.

One of my latest ventures in blogging is to test, review and write about products. In a short series, I will have tasted and tested products from Healthy Choice. I mean, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to try frozen yogurt? And as much as I love Greek yogurt, I was really excited to try the frozen concoction.

Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt is made with real non-fat milk, yogurt cultures and dairy protein. It tasted just like yogurt – creamy and tart. Before I dived in with my spoon, I let the container sit on the counter for a few minutes to soften. I was pleasantly surprised, as other frozen yogurt I have tried didn’t really have that yogurt taste.

The flavors I sampled, strawberry and raspberry, were both good. The strawberries gave the frozen treat an extra tang and tartness. My favorite of the two was the raspberry frozen yogurt. I think the sweetness of the fruit really balanced the yogurt tang. The bad girl in me wanted to bust open another container of the raspberry yogurt and drizzle some melted dark chocolate all over it. But I figured three containers of frozen yogurt in one day may be a bit excessive!

I was really appreciative of the serving size. To me, it was perfect – enough of a serving to satisfy one’s sweet tooth without going overboard on portion. As someone who beat Type 2 diabetes by changing my diet, losing weight and exercising, I am all for smaller dessert portions. The best way to blow a diet, or give up a change in better eating habits, is to deny oneself things like dessert! The Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt has 100 calories with 4 grams  of protein per serving, so whether enjoying a container for a dessert or to satisfy a mid-day (or mid-night!) sweet craving, this product would fit the bill.

In addition to the flavors I tried, Healthy Choice Frozen Greek Yogurt also comes in Dark Fudge Swirl (which I am going to try soon!), Vanilla, Blueberry and Honey (Sweet! If I add wheat germ, would it be considered breakfast??!)

Now, I wouldn’t be true to myself or my readers if I wasn’t upfront about what most of you know about me – that I am doing my best to eliminate household chemicals and eat organic and locally grown foods. So, that being said, I was really happy to see that there were no artificial flavors or colors in the two Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt snacks I tried. And, since all-organic all the time is not always possible, or affordable, it is nice to see that there are some better choices hitting the frozen food section for those of us doing our best  to make better food choices. I would love to see Healthy Choice Frozen Greek Yogurt offer a line of organic snacks, or even just eliminate the modified corn syrup. So, while I wait for that day, I in the meantime, I will add this frozen treat to my “I can have this for dessert” list.

For readers wanting more information on Healthy Choice Frozen Greek Yogurt, feel free to click on this link: httpsss://bit.ly/132oiw1. Additionally, if you would like to try Healthy Choice Frozen Greek Yogurt, you can download and print off a $1 off coupon with this link: httpsss://bit.ly/14MKQ5O

Happy snacking!

rasp yogurt

© Lynne Cobb – 2013

A brand new opportunity!

“Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Boomer Voices program, and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.”

VerizonBoomerVoices

Yep! It is true! I have been approached and asked for my opinion! So, you will see this disclaimer on my blog when I write about my adventures with the new device.

How cool it that?

I am really excited on so many levels. One, a new tech toy to play with! Two, my opinion will matter to someone other than me! Three, I will get to meet some other “Boomer” bloggers, which is really going to be great. The chance to meet new friends – fellow writers – and network and pick their brains about the blogging world is just wonderful.

It has been a crazy few years. In fact, I started this blog to help journal my feelings with my dad’s Alzheimer’s. Then, he got so sick that I didn’t have the heart – or the time – to write. After my dad died, my blog kind of morphed into my own little “column” of random ramblings, grief therapy and observations.  I have shared some ups and downs, and I am happy to say that, yes, sometimes, out of the blue, an opportunity lands in your lap.

So, stay tuned. I plan on capturing the moments and sharing them with you. The journalist in me can’t wait to investigate this product! The writer is dying to know if I can blog from it! The traveler in me can’t wait to get to my destination and meet everyone!

And the blogger in me can’t wait to share all of this with you soon, soon, soon!

© Lynne Cobb – 2013

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