Inspired By The Walgreens Holiday Gift Guide #HappyAllTheWay

Disclosure:  I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.
I was flipping through the Walgreens holiday gift guide and the girly glittery pages caught my attention like whoa.  It is really fantastic - I had no idea they carried so much good stuff.  What I loved are the prices are shown AND there's coupons in the back!  I had to get in there and see what I could score but I had my eyes on the $5 glittery leopard print makeup bag on page 24 for myself!  I was totally inspired with the catalog and decided to put together that perfect gift for a fellow blogger - a portable power pack for a smartphone.  I borrow all my blogger friends' chargers when we're out and about.  It is on my Christmas list this year.  I have to have it and I know any blogger would appreciate that little something extra.

My budget was $30 and I honestly didn't know if I could find a charger for that price.  My brand spanking new Walgreens had not one but four different battery bank options ranging from $9.99 - $59.99, I went for a $19.99 one and decided to add a little pizazz and get my blogger friend a leopard print bag too!  Still under budget, I couldn't decide if I wanted to get nail polish or body spray.  And then I saw the e.l.f. holiday display with products for $3!  I knew the body shimmer was it.  It totally matched the bag and made the charger so feminine.  Gift perfection, so good for local events or even when traveling!  I think I did good taking basic items and customizing a gift, you could so do it too!  

Our Traveling Pocket Speaker #PocketBoom

Disclosure:  I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

It is amazing how kids just know technology these days.  My 7 year old son Duke is quite the tech savvy one and because of technology, he has created a super special bond with grandma via FaceTime on his iPod.  He can spend hours chatting with my mom.  My family lives north of Houston, TX and we're in California so it's not like we can just go to grandma's house on the weekends...  the holidays are hard on us because we miss them and they miss us!  Sometimes Duke suggests we take grandma with us when we go places.  I think it's funny but it works... our latest trip to LEGOLAND was spent hanging out in our amazing hotel room for the first day.  It was heavenly.  We brought along our pocket speaker to listen to music, it's extra small extra loud and very portable!  It's less than an inch thick and we love the 360-degree sound (speakers on both sides!)  Let me tell you why we need sound from all angles cause we have kids that love to talk.  I want talk time with my mom too!  Plus I gotta be nosy, I have to hear what's going on haha    

The pocket speaker we're using is by Carbon Audio and is exclusively available at Apple stores.  It is the perfect gift for families especially during holiday activities!  I plan on using it at events I'm hosting too!  Up to 8 hours of music playback, that's the type of thing this parent looks for when shopping around for new gadgets.  Ready to take this on the road again!

Enjoying our view and mini vacation with good tunes!

The boys wanted to say good night to grandma! The built-in mic is high quality in and out.

Easy enough, right? Plus I love the gorgeous blue color - available in 6 colors!

Our Secret Mission: 2014 Kia Forte EX

Disclosure: We partnered with Kia.  All thoughts are my own.

Meet Bluey.  The Kia Forte we fell in love with the day we laid eyes on him.  We had a full schedule for the week and our secret mission was to see how having a sedan compares to our SUV.  One word reason: gas.  It's especially pricey here in Southern California.  We were in LA this morning and we both noticed that gas was cheap at $3.75 a gallon.  When we were leaving some five hours later... it was up to $3.85 a gallon.  OUCH!  

Our fun itinerary:

Saturday - Chef Wolfgang Puck at Macy's in Costa Mesa

Sunday - Camp Spooky at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park and then Journey at Pechanga in Temecula

Monday - Journey at Pechanaga in Temecula and then Halloween Time Express at Disneyland in Anaheim

Tuesday - Chris took Bluey to school

Whew.  We were busy!  200+ miles later... Bluey only used up half a tank!  I expected to use less gas than our truck because hello SUV.  We all know that those are gas monsters.  But what I didn't expect is how roomy the Kia Forte EX is - we fit two car seats comfortably in the back.  Another happy surprise is how good and hip the car actually looks.  Searching for a modern fountain of youth?  I guarantee you'll lose 10 years immediately in this car.  

Some of the Kia Forte EX features I noticed:  Airbags, lots of them - dual front advanced, front seat mounted, full-length side curtain.  Lower anchors and teethers for children (LATCH).  UVO with rear camera display (my husband is a big fan of this technology).  Center console with sliding armrest.  Bluey was fitted with premium features:  power tilt/slide sunroof, push button start with smart key, auto-dimming mirror, front door handle pocket lights and dual-zone automatic climate control.

We loved loved loved this car.  When I decide to start driving again (long story, debating writing a post) I want this one.  I want Bluey back!

Bluey at Knott's Berry Farm!

This blue looks good on me!

Blue looks good on my husband too!

These children did not want to give Bluey back!

SECRET MISSION COMPLETE.  FAMILY APPROVED.

We reviewed the 2014 Kia Sorento SX too, you can read that review here.

Thanks DriveSTI for facilitating this review!