A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I decided to take the plunge into getting smart phones. I've always been the "get whatever is free with my contract" person - needless to say that hasn't been a smartphone in the past.
Who needs a smart phone? I'm around a computer 90% of the day, and when I'm not it's usually because I'm driving. I do not need to be updating my Facebook status when I'm driving - I don't care how bad the traffic is. That is another rant for another day though.
Well my husband and I decided to purchase the Blackberry Bold 9700 mostly for the calendar functions. I was also hoping for the new device called the square which allows you to take payments by credit card on your phone. Then I found out it's not available in Canada, and not available on the Blackberry. Needless to say, I was very disappointed. It just goes to show you that I should have done more research before I decided to buy.
I found the Blackberry hard to use at first - so many buttons and so many things to do. Typing was also a challenge. I'm a fast typer on the computer and I'm super fast on T9word, but I had a lot of trouble getting used to the small buttons. I still prefer the buttons to the touch screen, I have a lot of problems using the touch screen and having it sense my movements. It's been a week and a half and I've slowly but surely gotten use to it.
I also have downloaded some Apps - after all, what’s a smart phone without Apps? My favourite app is a calorie counter by fatsecret. It is way easier to use than the one I was using on my computer and it's at my fingertips all of the time. I don't religiously count my calories but I do use it to keep track of what I'm eating or look up what is a better choice when we are eating out. Using a calorie counter has helped me lose almost twenty pounds in the last year. Now it's even easier that I have access to nutritional information on the go.
I also really like being able to use the internet. I don't go on the internet very often but when my husband and I are out driving around and we want to go somewhere, I can look up and find the closest location or any other interesting information. It's been helpful for Christmas shopping and avoiding the malls!
I guess my thoughts on having a smart phone are changing. I get to do all I mentioned above as well as make phone calls! It also has a 5 MP camera that I can take pictures of my dogs on - which is just awesome. Then I can upload them to Facebook right then and there.
As long as your not walking and looking down at your phone, or driving and looking down at your phone, they might not be so bad. Just remember you need to keep in touch with everyday life and you can't live through your phone - no matter how juicy the latest Facebook gossip is.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Summer Breeze Soap
View our Etsy listing here:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32690075
Or
View our website listing here:
http://www.altitudebathandbody.com/summer-breeze.php
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Altitude - Bath and Body
As some of you may already know, I run my own business making soap, lip balm and bath and body products.
We started making soap several years ago. It quickly became more than a hobby and we decided to expand into other things like lip balm and scrubs. Today we offer a variety of different products and we are always adding more. Our main products are still our handcrafted soaps.
We make the soap by a method called cold process. We combine our oils and butters with a sodium hydroxide and water solution. Our soaps are an amazing blend of oils including olive, palm, palm kernel, sunflower, safflower and castor. We also add cocoa butter for it’s wonderful moisturizing properties. Once the solution is thick we add botanicals, exfoliants, clays, milk, honey, essential oils, fragrance oils, and/or colour. We then have to let the solution sit in a mold for at least twenty four hours. Once it's hard we can cut them into bars. The bars sit for an average of four to six weeks before being packaged and sold. This time, known as "curing time" allows the water in the bars to evaporate leaving you with a hard, mild bar of soap.
You can view our Etsy shop here and our website here. Please also join our Facebook fan page! You can join by clicking on the link on the right hand side of the blog.
Our product line is always growing so keep your eye out for new and exciting products!
We started making soap several years ago. It quickly became more than a hobby and we decided to expand into other things like lip balm and scrubs. Today we offer a variety of different products and we are always adding more. Our main products are still our handcrafted soaps.
We make the soap by a method called cold process. We combine our oils and butters with a sodium hydroxide and water solution. Our soaps are an amazing blend of oils including olive, palm, palm kernel, sunflower, safflower and castor. We also add cocoa butter for it’s wonderful moisturizing properties. Once the solution is thick we add botanicals, exfoliants, clays, milk, honey, essential oils, fragrance oils, and/or colour. We then have to let the solution sit in a mold for at least twenty four hours. Once it's hard we can cut them into bars. The bars sit for an average of four to six weeks before being packaged and sold. This time, known as "curing time" allows the water in the bars to evaporate leaving you with a hard, mild bar of soap.
You can view our Etsy shop here and our website here. Please also join our Facebook fan page! You can join by clicking on the link on the right hand side of the blog.
Our product line is always growing so keep your eye out for new and exciting products!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Vancouver Aquarium
My Fiancé and I went to the Vancouver Aquarium last weekend. This was his first time going to Vancouver and we both thought the Aquarium was amazing. The admission is $22 per adult but we were able to use a 2 for 1 coupon from the Entertainment Book to make it affordable.
They have a large range of really neat exhibits, both indoor and outdoor.
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Above is a picture of the live jellyfish they had. They had different size jellyfish and these are the adults. Personally, I think jellyfish are beautiful but I do prefer them behind glass rather than swimming with me in the ocean. Jellyfish can sting, and even if their tentacle is detached, it will still sting you! They also had baby jellyfish on display.
This is a baby beluga whale. It was very adventurous and active. The baby was trying to chase the duck on top of the rock. Every time the baby would push itself up onto the rock, the duck would walk to the other side. It was very interesting to watch and lasted until the staff used a hose to scare away the duck.
It was a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who is visiting the Vancouver vicinity!
They have a large range of really neat exhibits, both indoor and outdoor.
Above is a picture of the live jellyfish they had. They had different size jellyfish and these are the adults. Personally, I think jellyfish are beautiful but I do prefer them behind glass rather than swimming with me in the ocean. Jellyfish can sting, and even if their tentacle is detached, it will still sting you! They also had baby jellyfish on display.
This is a baby beluga whale. It was very adventurous and active. The baby was trying to chase the duck on top of the rock. Every time the baby would push itself up onto the rock, the duck would walk to the other side. It was very interesting to watch and lasted until the staff used a hose to scare away the duck.
It was a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who is visiting the Vancouver vicinity!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Yola - Best Website Provider Out There!
I use a website called Yola to create and publish my website. I really like Yola, it is incredibly user friendly and inexpensive. Until my business reaches a much larger clientele, I will be using Yola.
Yola give you the option to purchase your own domain or use a free domain which would look like yoursite.yolasite.com. They also allow you to set up e-mail through gmail with your domain name such as contact@yoursite.com.
I had tried several different website providers before I signed up with Yola. There were a lot of tears and frustration! I also experienced some terrible customer service with other companies.
Yola’s customer service is fast and extremely effective. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this site at all
Not into maintaining a website? Yola offer’s blog pages as well. Check them out at http://www.yola.com/
Yola give you the option to purchase your own domain or use a free domain which would look like yoursite.yolasite.com. They also allow you to set up e-mail through gmail with your domain name such as contact@yoursite.com.
I had tried several different website providers before I signed up with Yola. There were a lot of tears and frustration! I also experienced some terrible customer service with other companies.
Yola’s customer service is fast and extremely effective. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this site at all
Not into maintaining a website? Yola offer’s blog pages as well. Check them out at http://www.yola.com/
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Top 5 Reasons to Blog
I have finally done it. I have created an online blog and in honour of this online blog here are the the top five reasons that you should also create a blog!
1. It will allow you to hook up with people all over the world to learn and exchange new ideas. Share comments, questions and e-mails. Make it interactive and try giving away a prize!
2. Increase your expose. Have a business you're trying to start up? Blog about it. Spread the word. It's great advertising. What better way to get free exposure than to blog about your internet business.
3. Be picked up by search engines. Most people use search engines to find information. Make what your offering more obtainable by having more advertising.
4. Practice your writing skills. Can't spell? Need practice or to build your portfolio for freelancing? Try a blog - it can show potential clients what your writing is made of.
5. Share your knowledge. Are you a computer whiz? Maybe there is a craft that you do. Blog about how you do things. Answer people's questions.
So start your blog today. You can try and open a new world of creativity. Worst comes to worst, you wasted a few words.
1. It will allow you to hook up with people all over the world to learn and exchange new ideas. Share comments, questions and e-mails. Make it interactive and try giving away a prize!
2. Increase your expose. Have a business you're trying to start up? Blog about it. Spread the word. It's great advertising. What better way to get free exposure than to blog about your internet business.
3. Be picked up by search engines. Most people use search engines to find information. Make what your offering more obtainable by having more advertising.
4. Practice your writing skills. Can't spell? Need practice or to build your portfolio for freelancing? Try a blog - it can show potential clients what your writing is made of.
5. Share your knowledge. Are you a computer whiz? Maybe there is a craft that you do. Blog about how you do things. Answer people's questions.
So start your blog today. You can try and open a new world of creativity. Worst comes to worst, you wasted a few words.
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