Five Tech Tips To Beat Seasonal Allergies This Spring
April 5th, 2013 by Christenbeat seasonal allergies 
beat seasonal allergies
There’s nothing worse than the inconvenient flush of seasonal allergies. The itchy eyes, dripping nose and internal chaos that comes with Spring is just something that many of us could just do without. As a new allergy sufferer, it took me a long time to understand that never-ending nose leaks was in fact agitated allergies and not symptoms of catching a cold. More than 35 million American suffer from pollen allergies, according to the FDA . Every year, the United States spends $21 billion on health costs related to allergies.
So what can you do if you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from pollen allergies every year?
Invest in these top-rated tech products to battle allergens, germs, odors and humidity in your home.
5. Honeywell – AirGenius 5 Air Cleaner/Odor Reducer – Black ($249.99)
Designed for rooms up to 250 sq. ft.; removes up to 99.9% of microscopic airborne particles and pollutants; permanent washable filter; includes odor-reducing prefilter.
TIP: Are you suffering from allergies, but don’t know what’s causing your allergic reaction? Get tested to find out what exactly you’re allergic to.
beat seasonal allergies
beat seasonal allergies
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4. Hamilton Beach – TrueAir Room Air Purifier – White ($29.98)
Keep up to a 100 sq. ft. room smelling fresh for up to 3 months with this Hamilton Beach TrueAir 04532GM room odor eliminator that features 3 carbon filters that easily trap and neutralize odors.
TIP: Now that you have an idea of what’s causing your symptoms, consult your physician about possible treatments such as allergy shots and medication.
beat seasonal allergies—————————————————————————————————————————————
3. Germ Guardian – 3-in-1 99.97% HEPA Air Purifier – Dark Gray ($139.99)
Purifies up to 193 sq. ft. of air per hour; removes airborne allergens, odors and smoke particles from the air; digital controls; UV-C technology; True HEPA, Pet Pure and activated carbon filters.
TIP: If you spend a lot of time outdoors, wash your hair and clothes regularly to get rid of pollen build up and residue.
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2. Sharp – HEPA Air Purifier – White ($199.99)
Take a deep breath with this Sharp FP-A60U air purifier that features carbon and HEPA filters to remove particles, such as pollen, mold, dust and household odors. Plasmacluster technology helps clean and refresh the air in rooms up to 300 sq. ft.
TIP: If you have pets, groom them regularly because they can bring pollen indoors.
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1. Crane – Ultrasonic 1-Gal. Cool Mist Humidifier – Owl ($49.99)
Humidifies rooms up to 500 sq. ft.; 1-gal. reservoir capacity; 2.1-gal. output per day; adjustable mist levels; owl design; demineralization cartridge
TIP: If pollen continues to bring havoc to your body, limit your time outdoors and stay indoors as much as possible during pollen season to minimize your exposure.
Looking for more reasons to take advantage of what tech has to offer? Best Buy wants to give you a 20% off Family & Friends coupon towards your next air purification purchase!
Disclaimer: As a Best Buy Brand Ambassador, DivasandDorks.com has been compensated in the form of a BestBuy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free, however all opinions are our own.
Spring Cleaning With Electronics: Clean, Sell, Donate Or Recycle
March 20th, 2013 by ChristenSpring Cleaning With Electronics
It’s officially the first day of Spring (even though the weather feels like it’s the first day of winter – Brrrrrr.) expect to see more ‘Spring cleaning’ ads and opportunities bombard your life like never before. If you’re like me, you probably have an oasis of electronics that you’ve been hoarding since 1983 – and it’s time to let go. How else do you expect to keep up with the latest technologies, if you can’t let go of the nostalgic gadgets of the past? There’s no better time to include electronics on your spring cleaning agenda than now. With so many options to clear some space, make some money or do good for the planet, there’s no reason not to try these spring cleaning tips below…
Cleaning:
It’s clear that your new 60″ HDTV or laptop is not on the chopping block (yet) – so there’s no need to consider getting rid of it. But when was the last time you cleaned up your electronics? Consider this:
Be clean: Keep your computer hardware germ-free. The best ways to clean the accumulated dust, grime, and gunk from your keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
Don’t clean your HDTV with Windex. The chemicals found in commercial cleaning solutions could damage your flat-panel’s screen. Instead, opt for a microfiber cloth dampened with water.
4 tips to speed up your PC. As we said in the fall, regular maintenance will keep your computer humming at a fast clip. Here are four simple steps for getting it back into shape after a gluttonous winter. This would also be a good time to back up your digital data.
Selling:
Take inventory of all unused electronics in your home, and separate them into two piles. Everything that’s two years old and older, place in pile A and all of your newer (unwanted / unused electronics) place in pile B.
Research: Now that you’re ready to sell some of your electronics, you need to know how to price those items and make some money. Take your newer items (Pile B items) and research the retail prices online and on sites like Craigslist and eBay.
List: Based on your preference, you can then list those items on Craigslist, eBay or other sites like Gazelle.com or for a quick fix EcoATM examines your device and offers a price based on its condition. If you decide to sell it, you’ll drop in you device and receive cash right away. You can search for the nearest EcoATM on the company’s website.
Donate:
You might not do much with the hundred or so dollars you get for that used laptop, but a local school or library could benefit greatly from having more working computers. There are many options for donating your old devices, from local charities to larger established programs.
Goodwill and Dell teamed up for the Reconnect program, which accepts donated computers at select Goodwill locations. The official site has a full list of items it will accept and locations near you. The Salvation Army also accepts used computers and electronics. If you’re donating a cell phone, the Verizon’s Hopeline program and the 911 Cell Phone Bank are just some of the many charitable projects that can do good with your old handset.
Recycling:
Now for Pile A. If your device is too old or damaged to sell, don’t just chuck it into the trash can, recycle it. Many electronics manufacturers also have mail-in and drop-off recycling programs for their old devices, including Apple, Samsung and Sony. Wireless carriers will take old flip phones at no cost. Sometimes, recycling older electronics can become costly with processing fees, but I’ve found Best Buy’s Recycling Program to be the best and easiest of them all. Head to the nearest Best Buy and they will take electronics off your hands for free.
Now that you have a few tips to get you started, how do you plan to tackle your spring cleaning projects? If you plan on donating, recycling or selling your electronics in the process, let us know your experience below.
Spring Cleaning With Electronics
Spring Cleaning With Electronics
Spring Cleaning With Electronics
Are Gadgets Keeping You Up? 4 Tips to Improve Your Sleep Quality
March 14th, 2013 by Lifestyle StaffAre you guilty of it? Nestling with your phone as you get cozy in bed? You’ve probably been found with your eyes closed, phone still in hand as if you were scrolling down your Twitter timeline, until you drifted off into dreamland. Although we are all guilty of it at one point or another, the question that comes up once you’ve entered dreamland is whether or not your sleep is meeting your needs? Sleeping with our smartphones, tablets, and laptops is not healthy. All of this can be detrimental to our sleep patterns. Here are some important stats from multiple studies, and compiled by Online Psychology Degree.
Who doesn’t want to be well rested every morning? A good night’s rest is great because it allows us to feel like we can conquer the day and are less likely to have to drag ourselves out of the bed. Getting sleep of bad quality doesn’t just affect our desire to go about our day, but also creeps into other aspects of our life. When not well rested, folks are more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel, at work desks, and later in life are more likely to have a heart attack. Take these tips and decrease your risks.
1. Try sleeping with your phone, tablet, or other device on your dresser or nightstand instead of in bed with you. It will be less likely for sleepers to be woken up by texts and emails if their phone is further away from their beds.
2. Unplug from all devices an hour before sleeping. This allows people to live a bit without their devices attached to them.
3. Pick an unwind routine that works for you. If you live with people, use this time to have undistracted conversations. Or, you know that book you’ve been saying you’d read? Use this time to turn some pages in it. Maybe you could even prepare your lunch for the next day, or do some yoga.
4. Avoid caffeine within three hours of intended bedtime. That way, you won’t be wired and needing to get work done on any of your many devices.
Health.com reported on how celebrities find the time and get their rest. Check it out here!
Do you think your phone, tablet, or computer has an effect on your sleep? Have any tips to add to the list?
Stand Out In The Crowd In The Cavallino T350 Ferrari Headphones (Review)
February 14th, 2013 by Christen
Cavallino T350 Ferrari Headphones
Everyday is a good day to stand out in a crowd and the Cavallino T350 Ferrari Headphones by Logic3 do just that. In a sea of headphone choices, discovering the luxe design of the T350 Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) headphones makes a girl take notice and wonder what’s she’s been missing out on all this time.
Cavallino T350 Ferrari Headphones Style
The ear cups and headband are trimmed in ultra luxe black leather to ensure ultimate comfort and supported by crafted metal arms and housing to ensure durability and quality. How could you have a Ferrari-branded anything without that company’s iconic logo? The silver horse is centered in the middle of each earcup. The T350 features ultra-soft ear pads constructed from enhanced breathable materials for maximum comfort and come complete with a carry case for additional protection.
Cavallino T350 Ferrari Headphones Function
Finally a true noise canceling set of headphones! The T350 Ferrari headphones canceled out any ambient noise while on the busy NYC streets and subways. T350 includes a high efficiency 40mm driver incorporated into a close-back design with ANC Technology, which seals the ear pads to prevent loss of music dynamics and reduces unwanted ambient noise. The headphones come with a plastic carrying case that has a carbon-fiber look, as well as three woven cords: One with iOS controls (volume and play/pause/Siri), one for Android devices (a single button), and one plain cord. The two also have a mic built in, which can be used to make phone calls, too. Keep some batteries handy however, because the T350s require two AAA batteries, and will not work without power.
The Ferrari Cavallino T350s are a dynamic duo of style and function. They’re comfortable, stylish and offer supreme audio quality! Like any major electronic that offers quality entertainment, be prepared to pay a quality price. At $399, it may feel like the audio equivalent of buying a Ferrari itself but if you’re looking for a head-turning design that stands out among the crowd the Ferrari Cavallino T350s will make you very happy.
Check out more of the Cavallino T350 Ferrari Headphones below:
Enter To Win A Pair Of Your Own Cavallino T350 Ferrari Headphones
#2013CES Technology Hangover (Episode One & Giveaway)
January 14th, 2013 by Christen 
The 2013 Consumer Electronics show is gone, but not forgotten. In our first Technology Hangover episode, we tracked across the CES showroom floors for the best in technology and entertainment for your enjoyment. Check out the full episode here.
And if the shiny displays of Cellariris cases paired with designer shoes tickled your fancy, make sure you check out the video and comment/describe your favorite shoe/cellphone pairing seen in the video below for a chance to win your very own custom Cellairis SHOUT case (valued at $34.99). Enter today! Contest ends 1/21/13.
Fitness Gadgets to Get You Across the Finish Line
January 14th, 2013 by TiffanyIn case you’ve fumbled on your New Year’s resolutions, these gadgets will bring you right back on track! Make your resolutions – and life in general easier with these convenient and clever fitness gadgets and apps. Here are 10 of the best fitness gadgets on the market that are sure to help you make it to and across the finish line!
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Talking Strength Ball
Aimed at enabling anyone aged 9+ to build up their muscles, this talking ball enables you to use programmable workouts or personalized regimes. Perfect for young athletes, working professionals, or anyone that wants to skip the additional monthly fees for a personal trainer and still get results.
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PoolMate Watch
Perfect for the beginner or advanced swimmer, this waterproof watch has a detector which senses your strokes and laps while swimming. It detects your lap count, average strokes per lap, speed, calories burned and more. Swimming is one of the best ways to get in shape, and with this watch you can know exactly how much further you have to go to get to your desired goals.
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FitBit One
During the day this clever little device tracks your steps, distance covered, calories burned and stairs climbed with its motion sensor. The difference between this and other pedometers- come nightfall, it measures your sleep cycle! Make sure you’re getting the necessary exercise and sleep needed to reach your ideal goals. FitBit can also sync with maps, helping you to chart your progress online. You may find yourself taking the longer route or the stairs to increase your numbers!
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FitBit Flex
Like the Fitbit and want even more for your money? Well FitBit has moved past the clip-on fitness tracker. At CES 2013 the company announced its Fitbit Flex — a wearable wristband with Bluetooth 4.0 that keeps track of your workouts and sleep cycle. The slim wristband can be worn 24/7 and is a constant reminder of your fitness goals. iPhone and Android both have apps that sync with the FitBit Flex.
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Withings Wi-Fi Body Scale
Perfect for the combined data nerd and health nut, the Withings Wi-Fi Body Scale tracks weight, body mass index and body fat numbers for up to eight people (i.e. an entire family), which are sent to an online account by Wi-Fi. You can view your data on either the website or in the Withings app for iPhone, iPad and Android.
Storm Cotton Hoodie
This may look like your average sweat shirt, but it’s far from it. Storm has come up with a hi-tech cotton hoodie that repels water as soon as it touches its surface. The water simply beads up and runs straight off, like water repellent that is used on car windshields. Guaranteed to keep you dry and warm while you sweat it out, or if running in the rain.
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MiCoach Pacer
The MiCoach Pacer is composed of three devices, the receiver (miCoach), heart rate monitor and pedometer. The real advantage of using MiCoach is its heart rate monitor and coupled with the MiCoach itself, it will instruct you if you need to speed up or slow down based on your training plan. Pretty cool right? Serious runners know that the best way to train for a run (especially marathons) is by tracking your heart rate so you can maintain your tempo pace.
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Zombies, Run!
Picking between reading that novel and going for a jog just got easier! Zombies, Run! was co-created with Naomi Alderman, an award-winning novelist, and is the first fitness app to blend these vocations. When you start a run either outdoors or at the gym, the narration leads you through a story line telling you when to speed up, lay off, go for supplies or escape the living dead. This app gives new life to something that is tedious and dreadful to most people. If music isn’t enough motivation during your run, this app includes 30 missions so that you’ll always discover something new around the corner, and with more missions coming with each update there’ll always be a plot twist ahead.
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iBike Powerhouse App
If you routinely take your iPhone with you on bike rides, you might as well put it to work as a fitness trainer. The iBike Powerhouse phone app allows you to develop a customized training program to get the most out of cycling. The program measures speed and distance and analyzes your performance against your personal goals. The iBike Powerhouse also includes a waterproof iPhone case that mounts on your handlebars.
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Pulse Ring Monitor
The Pulse Ring from Firebox is super basic, it measures your pulse. One of the most important stats to be aware of is your pulse. Whether you’re building up your stamina or trying to lose weight, it’s important to know whether you’re hitting the high numbers every so often or keeping at a steady pace. So, the Pulse Ring from Firebox is ideal because it provides you with real-time and accurate readings about your pulse through a number of infra-red sensors that measure what’s going on in your finger. The ring itself is really lightweight and has an elasticated, adjustable strap to make sure it’s as comfy as possible as you’re working out, we all know tight gadgets that need to be strapped to your arm or chest can be really annoying when all you want to do is run, run, run.
These fitness gadgets are a sure way to reach those fitness resolutions you set at the end of last year. Choose your specific workout gadgets and exercise with purpose!
Do you have a favorite fitness gadget or any experience with the ones above? Tell us below…
#2013CES Technology Hangover Show LIVE From Las Vegas
January 7th, 2013 by Christen
If you’re a fan of Divas And Dorks, by now you’ve seen a fair share of #2013CES travel tweets and deets. (If you’re new to Divas And Dorks and wondering what CES is… click here.) While many bloggers have updated articles with “How To” posts about CES – I thought there’s no better way for readers to experience CES than through the eyes of a diva who’s conquered Vegas plenty of times on her own. Grab those sunglasses and Advil – cause this year, I’ll be vlogging daily on The Technology Hangover Show LIVE from Las Vegas.
With 3,000 exhibitors and more than 150,000 expected attendees during four days starting Jan. 8, the show will be a primordial soup of controlled chaos. And at 1.9 million square feet of convention floor space that equals the area of 32 football fields, this year’s CES will be the largest in its 47-year history.
From touchdown to wheels up, and very little sleep in between. If you’re looking for the insider’s guide to CES 2013 – you’ve found it. Looking for the latest news and coverage from consumer giants like Samsung, Sony, Monster and more – it’s here! Want to discover how nerds really get down after the conference floor closes and the dance floor opens, you definitely found the right spot! This daily series will feature a few of my favorite technology gals, celebrities and will definitely dispel the myth that What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas…
Want to learn more? Check out The #2013 Technology Hangover Show teaser below and get ready for a wild ride….VEGAS STYLE BABY!!!!
Want to keep up with round the clock CES news you can use? Subscribe to our updates via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Sunglasses & Advil… The #CES2013 Technology Hangover Is On The Way!
December 27th, 2012 by Christen
Grab those sunglasses, Advils and get ready for VEGAS BABY! That’s right, in less than three weeks, the mobile and tech industry will descend upon Las Vegas for CES 2013. Looking for the coolest gadgets, cutting edge technology and the tablet news that you can’t afford to miss? It’ll be at the Consumer Electronics Show – January 7th – 11th 2013.
This will be the third year of “Divas Doing Vegas” and it’s already promising to be one of the best year’s yet! Stay tuned for the up-to-date news and videos live from HTC, Monster, T-Mobile, Sony, Bluetooth and more on DivasandDorks.com.
In case you didn’t know…What happens in Vegas, stays in social media – so you might as well party right while in Vegas! Check out a few of our favorite CES party spots to spend those CES showroom after hours and make a few friends along the way.
Mashable Smart Bash 1/8/137:30pm to 10:30pm
Vanity Nightclub at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tickets are $35 featuring LG demos and the Mashable editorial team Monster Cable Party featuring Alicia Keys 1/9/13 7:30pm Awards starts 8:45pm
Details to be determined
Paris Las Vegas – Paris Ballroom Bluetooth Special Interest Group Event 1/9/13
7:00pm – 10:00pm
Lavo Nightclub at The Palazzo
Free RSVP
Skullcandy Navigator Launch Kicks Off CES
Tuesday, 1/8/2013 at 10:30PM; recording artist WALE hits the stage at 12A
PURE Nightclub – Caesar’s Palace
RSVP
CES Social Hour 1/9/13
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.The Venetian, V Bar Nightclub VEFxi Party 1/10/13
7pm to TBD
Hard Rock Hotel, Pool Villa Suite Room announced day of the event
Free RSVP
Kingston CES Mixer 1/9/13
5pm to 8:30 p.m.
Emperor’s Ballroom 1 at Caesar’s Palace
RSVP: http://new.evite.com/l/
Tweet House 1/10/13
9:30pm-11:30pm
Hyde Bellagio
Free with 2 drink tickets
10pm – Midnight
Marquee at the Cosmopolitan, Library Bar Official CES Closing Party 1/11/13 10pm – TBD Tao Nightclub at The Venetian Las Vegas
Looking to order a new batch of business cards? You’ll need them for the super networking that’ll take place while in Vegas. Why not get a new batch for free courtesy of Moo.com?
Free Moo MiniCards and Coffee 1/9/13
10am-2pm
Cafe Presse in the Venetian
Order by 11:59 December 30th and you can pick up your free cards and coffee at the Venetian
Free for pick up $4 for shipping
Not only are they free Moo cards but they’re limited edition CES Moo cards that say “We met in Vegas”. Having business cards made just for conventions is a networking tactic that we love to do. Here’s your chance to try it out for free! The extra context about what event you met helps you stick out when people organize all of the cards they have gathered.
Stay tuned for the latest CES events and more right here on DivasandDorks.com
Are You Leading a Borderless Consumer Lifestyle?
December 27th, 2012 by AnalieWhat type of presents did you receive for the holidays? When your family came over did many of them ask you for the password to your Wi-Fi? How many of you or your loved ones received more than one gadget for the holidays?
Back in October Verizon released the results of one of their first surveys. The surveys examine the connected lifestyles we lead. (See 1st image). We learned a lot about who is using tech and how they’re using it lately.
According to Verizon:
“Borderless consumers are an important and rapidly growing segment, almost 40 percent of U.S. adults. These consumers use several devices and require connectivity, flexibility and choice whenever and wherever possible. They are defined as consumers who own a laptop or desktop, own a smartphone or tablet, have an Internet-enabled device at all times, are motivated to make technology and connectivity upgrades and are interested in the benefits of a connected home.”
As you can see technology and connectivity is important to the borderless consumer. Internet bills are one of the important utility bills to be paid. It’s no longer a luxury expense on the budget. Apps such as Dropbox give us access to our files at all times; but we need a mobile device to access the Dropbox app. The gadgets of the borderless consumer serve a purpose and are no longer just for entertainment purposes.
How did borderless consumers do during the holidays? (see the following image). It seems consumers are enjoying shopping from the comfort of their own home office. Check out how all consumers shopped for the holidays.
We are no longer restricted to one way of connecting. There was a time when we had to wait to use the home desktop PC. Now our TV’s are “Smart”. They receive and share data as well. Services such as Redbox Instant by Verizon are great for the borderless consumer. They can choose how to view their content; via DVD/Blu-Ray or streaming it.
Smartphones and tablets open up desktop-like webpages making online shopping easy on the go. Catalogue and phone shopping barely make the list as nearly only half of consumers shop in person. Times have surely changed?
Do you fall into the borderless consumer category? Where do you fall in with all the consumers?
In Love With Tech? What’s Your Gadget Attraction?
December 4th, 2012 by Tech StaffYou may or may not not be the “techy type”, however you probably have several girlfriends who are. Had it not been for my own gadget girlfriends, I wouldn’t have the slightest interest in the latest and greatest technology. I decided to go on a search of my own, just to see what could possibly peak my interest for my or my gadget girlfriends’ Christmas lists. Here are a few things that I found worth sharing.
How much FUN is this toaster?! While getting your morning coffee/tea ready, you no longer have to wonder if your bread is on the proper setting or browning to your likening. From almost any angle in your kitchen, you will be able to see your toast’s transformation. No more burned toast and breakfast just became even more exciting!
You really don’t have to be into gadgets much to enjoy this timepiece. Perfect for your bedside, and the perfect size for stocking stuffing!
If you still have the iPhone 4/4s, don’t fret, many of us still do! This cell phone case is a must-have accessory that will leave you feeling like you just upgraded phones. The case resembles a small journal and provides excellent protection from elements and the occasions that your phone slides from your hand (Even if you never lose a grip on your iPhone, like myself, this case is swanky!)
Here’s the perfect mouse for those of us on the go more than we are home, known as the Arc Mouse. After realizing how much this would simplify life on the go, I had to share this with you! The entire mouse takes the shape of your leg, preventing it from sliding to the floor and makes for a no-hassle, easily-mobile work space.
You don’t have to be a “gadget guru” to enjoy these latest technologies. They are perfect for a self-upgrade, or for stocking stuffers for the crew. Whatever your gadget attraction, there is truly something for everyone!
Tell us some of the latest gadgets that you found and/or favor below… and stay tuned for more gadget updates from the team!
