MyPurseStrings.com

How to Survive Suburbia

How to Manage Screen Time with the Circle with Disney

As my children get older, my ability to limit their screen time gets harder and harder. 

I have strict rules (no electronic devices at the dinner table, don’t talk to strangers, homework comes first, etc.) but still, it’s a losing battle. And, my children are young enough that I can still maintain full control.

As a mom, I want parental controls and the right to filter their usage of electronic devices (iPad, Xbox, iPod Touch). This is not always an easy task. 

Check out my downloadable “5 Ways to Limit Screen Time” list at the end of this post! 

Why I Gave My Kids Electronic Devices in the First Place

Education

As a former teacher, I do believe that electronics can have a place in education. For example, my kids often learn more by practicing their math facts using apps rather than a workbook. They love Osmo, a hands-on game that uses manipulatives and your device’s camera to play. Also, I just introduced my son to electronically borrowing books from the public library and he gets a kick out of the immediate accessibility of it all. 

Distraction

I work from home. Sometimes, I need their attention diverted away from me so that I can get things done. Likewise, I also work out exclusively from home.

Socially

My children are not using social media yet. And, when they do, I will continue to monitor their usage as much as possible.

But we recently moved halfway across the country. What has softened the blow more than anything is there ability to Facetime, text, and play online games with their New York friends.

If you haven’t given in to giving your kids devices at all, I applaud you and think that is a great decision. I’ll be the first to admit that these devices are crazy addicting. So, how do you set limits and control what your children do online without it escalating into an argument? Enter the Disney Circle . . .

The Circle with Disney Review: How Does it Work? 

We’ve been using the Circle for close to a year now. FYI, the price has dropped dramatically since I bought it. 

Is it perfect? Absolutely not, which I’ll get into in a bit. Does it help limit our screen time? Without a doubt.

Do I nag my kids less? Do I yell less? Does it help me as a parent? HECK YEAH! 

[Read more…]

Splendid Spoon Review: Vegan Soups and Smoothies

I became a fan of Splendid Spoon years before I understood their philosophy.

I regularly ordered their soups from Fresh Direct, an online grocery delivery service in New York. I began to substitute their soups, packed with nutrients, for my dinners a few times per week. However, Fresh Direct has a limited selection and I wondered where else I could buy them. I researched the company and learned all about their programs.

I’ve never embraced cleansing or trendy diets. I believe in clean eating and long-term lifestyle changes, as does Splendid Spoon.

This post contains affiliate links. See disclosure policy for more information.

*Note: This post was originally posted in April 2018 and has been updated to reflect accuracy and new product information. 

What is Splendid Spoon?

Splendid Spoon is a vegan and gluten-free, plant-based food company, located in Brooklyn, New York, that delivers nationwide. However, unlike other meal plans, you supplement with your own healthy dinners and snacks. This plan works for vegans, vegetarians, and meat-lovers.

You get a lot of food. At the end of the week, I usually have at least half a container of soup, if not more, leftover in the fridge.

Splendid Spoon Meal Plans: What Do You Receive?

If you’ve read my blog before, you know, I only write about products that I use and love. Splendid Spoon sent me their product to try and I am thrilled to be a part of their Ambassador Program. If you would like to try it out either the 9-to-5 Meal Plan or the 1-Month Starter Plan, use my Ambassador perk to receive $50 off your first order.

There are three meal plan options: 

The Lunch Hour

You will receive five soups for lunch, or as I prefer to eat them, for dinner.

The menu rotates weekly.

The 9-to-5

This is their most popular plan and replaces their Splendid Spoon 2.0 Program. 

You receive 5 smoothies and 5 soups for the week. 

For dinner, make a nutritious meal. I usually eat a salad. You can have some healthy snacks throughout the day like fruit.

The 1-Month Starter

Splendid Spoon recently removed the word “cleanse” from their vocabulary, and instead started calling it a “reset”. 

I too have never been a fan of cleanses. And, when I would describe Splendid Spoon to others, I would always say, it’s not really a cleanse. It’s a reset. Because in fact, you are eating (or drinking if you choose) soups throughout the day. They really fill and sustain you. I don’t usually even get to all of them throughout the day. 

With the 1-Month Starter, you begin the month with a reset day, wherein you have drinkable soups throughout the day. For the next four weeks, you continue the program described in the 9-t0-5.

So, you drink a smoothie and eat soup each day, and make a healthy choice for dinner.

Have I mentioned how delicious these soups are? 

If you’re really looking to begin a journey into healthy eating or wanting a reset, this is the plan I would choose.

Splendid Spoon Program

[Read more…]

Funny Valentine’s Day Gifts for Married Couples: Keeping it Real

When did Valentine’s Day become such a big deal?

As a parent, Valentine’s Day (or should I say “Friendship Day”) has become a Pinterest holiday. That is if I’m feeling ambitious. The acceptable treats list brings on a whole new level of stress. I attach a sticker or pencil and call it a day. Sorry, kids.

As a spouse, Valentine’s Day is undercelebrated.

Maybe it’s because our anniversary, the holidays, my husband’s birthday and Valentine’s Day all occur within weeks of one another. Or maybe it’s because I’m thrifty and cannot justify the huge markup that florists charge for Valentine’s Day flowers. Buy me flowers the next day or any other day of the year.

Maybe it’s because our marriage is strong enough on its own without a Hallmark reminder. That said, my husband does usually get me a card (and sometimes chocolate). And, every so often, I surprise him with a token gift.

Here are some of my favorite funny and appropriate (well after the newlywed stage) gifts to give on Valentine’s Day.

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure page for more details.

*Note: This post was originally posted February 2018 and has been updated to reflect accuracy and new product information.

Keeping it Real on Valentine’s Day (Gifts for “Old” Married Couples)

Funny Valentine’s Cards for Couples

I Love You With All My Butt (I would say heart, but my butt is bigger)

Funny Valentines Day Card for Couples I Love You with All My Butt

[Read more…]

Gift Guide for the Hot Mess Mom

This is the ultimate holiday shopping guide for the Hot Mess Mom. And, it’s written by a proud, hot mess mom!

Cheers to the Hot Moms in our lives! And, happy holidays!

*This post originally appeared in November 2017 and has been updated with more recent information.

Gift Guide for the Hot Mess Mom

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I may receive a small fee if you make a purchase through one of my links.

My Purse Strings Amazon Shop

1. Tile Style Key Finder

After spending 10 minutes looking for my keys last year, only to find them in the hood of her coat that she was wearing–don’t ask–I purchased the Tile.

Tile makes their key finder in several designs and sells as multipacks. They now make them with replaceable batteries.

How does it work? Download the app to your smartphone and attach the tag to your keychain, purse, or anything else you want to keep tabs on. They even make slim tiles to slip into your wallet or attach to laptops, kindles, or anything of value.

Even better if you have an Apple Watch, you can use your watch to ping your phone and then use your phone to ping your keys, which I may or may not do at least five times per day.

[Read more…]

Best Spin Bikes to Use with the Peloton App

So, you’ve been researching spin bikes?

There are tons of indoor cycling options out there and it can get a bit overwhelming.

Peloton Changed the Home Workout Game

When I was in high school, I had a “stationary bike” (that’s what we called it then–or an “exercise bike”) in my bedroom. I would ride that bike for an hour at a time, barely breaking a sweat. Spinning bikes changed everything. I can barely survive a class without at least a full bottle of water, window open and two fans blowing on me.

Not only are home gyms growing in popularity, but people are actually using their equipment. No more coatracks and laundry sorting. Companies are capitalizing on this–it is more convenient and less expensive to exercise at home, so long as you stay motivated and know what you are doing.

Major Improvements to the Peloton App

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know I’m a huge Peloton fan. Whether you use the Peloton Cycle or the Peloton App, you’ll have access to their ever-growing base of classes. Lately, Peloton has focused on improving its app (rebranded as Peloton Digital). For more on this check out my blog post dedicated to the app.

Peloton finally introduced the Andriod version of the app, although it still lacks some of the IOS features.

To download the Peloton IOS App, click HERE.

To download the Peloton Android App, click HERE (still in beta testing).

You’ll also find an online community motivating you every step of the way: The Official Peloton Member Facebook Page, The Official Peloton Mom Group, and Peloton App Users Unite!–to name just a few.

Which Spin Bike Should I Use with the Peloton App?

I’ve compiled a list of best-selling spin bikes based on Amazon sales, those my readers most often purchase, and good old crowdsourcing.

[Read more…]

Everything You Need to Know about the Peloton Tread

I wanted to attend 2018 CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas but couldn’t make it happen this year. Luckily, my in-laws are there, taking notes, sending pictures, and keeping me updated. Of course, I sent them straight to the Peloton Tread. So based on my informants and my own research, along with several telephone conversations with Peloton representatives at CES, here’s. . .

The Peloton Tread in a Nutshell:

[Read more…]

Treadmills to Use with the Peloton Tread App

Peloton’s newest piece of fitness equipment, the Tread, has had a lot of people, including me researching treadmills.

Should You Buy the Tread?

For those of you who have pre-ordered the Tread, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Like the bike, the Tread has all the bells and whistles: an interactive touch screen, cushioned track, and incline and speed adjustments with the touch of a button or turn of a dial. (For more about this, check out my post Everything You Need to Know About the Peloton Tread)

While on vacation, I took some of the Tread classes using a hotel treadmill. I’ve never enjoyed running as much as I did that week. Peloton does it right. Their classes are effective, motivating, and fun. I especially loved the Fun Runs.

But . . . this treadmill is HUGE, with a 67-inch rubber track. While this appeals to many, not everyone has the room for something so large, especially if they already have a Peloton.

Then, there’s the price. For the treadmill alone, you’ll spend $3,995. There’s also the monthly subscription, however, if you’re a Peloton bike owner or app rider, you already have access to the classes. Otherwise, it’s $39 per month.

The Peloton App for Tread Classes

Remember, Peloton is first and foremost, a technology company. The company, active on social media, listens to its users’ wants and needs.

Over the last year, riders regularly wake up to software updates on their bikes (the latest being closed captioning). Peloton also does not ignore its app riders. They know that many people opt to use their own spin bikes with the app. It may come as a surprise, but many choose bikes that cost as much, if not more than the Peloton Cycle. App riders can now follow other riders (although there’s still no leaderboard) and search for classes by music type and instructor.

The point is Peloton gives you a great experience whether you are using their manufactured equipment or not.

Do you have a treadmill at home gathering dust? Now’s the time to try out the Tread classes.

Remember, if you decide to use your own treadmill, you can still access all of their classes (cycling, runs, walks, core, and yoga) via the app. These classes are also available to those who use the app with a regular spin bike.

If you don’t have a spin bike check out this post:

Spin Bike Alternatives to use with the Peloton App

Using the Peloton app with a regular spin bike requires lots of add-ons. But, using the Peloton app with a treadmill requires just a treadmill. That’s it. And maybe a heart rate monitor.

To download the Peloton IOS App, click HERE.

To download the Peloton Android App, click HERE (still in beta testing).

Peloton Tread Features

When doing comparisons, take note that the Tread has:

  • Speed 0 to 12.5 mph
  • Incline 0 to 15 percent grade
  • 2 HP Motor
  •  72.5” L x 36.5” W x 72” H
  • 67″ L running mat
  • Does not fold

Alternatives to the Tread

Top-Rated Treadmills You Can Purchase on Amazon

Note, as an Amazon associate, I may receive a small fee if you make a purchase through one of my links.

[Read more…]

Friendsgiving, the Millennial Holiday For Everyone

In your already over-booked life, may I suggest celebrating one of my favorite (albeit made-up) holidays, Friendsgiving?

In a couple of weeks, I will host my fifth such gathering.

Back in 2010, by way of an emailed invitation, a friend introduced me to this holiday.

Three short years later, Friendsgiving was officially a “thing,” commercialized and popping up all over the internet. I’ve gauged its popularity by the growing selection of invitations that Evite offers.

Friendsgiving, so often referred to as a Millennial holiday should be celebrated by all.

I am by no means a Millennial. In fact, my friendships with my Friendsgiving guests are older than most Millennials. That made me proud and cringe at the same time.

Why You Should Celebrate Friendsgiving this Year:

[Read more…]

We Told Our Kids We’re Moving (and their World Didn’t Implode . . . Yet)

I thought we would live in our house forever.

I imagined my kids and their friends at Prom, high school graduation, and mentally picked out their potential future boyfriends and girlfriends.

But then life happened and my husband accepted a job in a new city 1000 miles away.

Telling the Kids We are Moving

I’ve always been an open book. Plus, my face is pretty transparent so I have a hard time keeping anything from my friends, and most certainly, my kids.

But how do you tell the kids that we are moving (and in the middle of the school year) without completely breaking their little hearts?

[Read more…]

How to get the Peloton Cycle Experience without the Price Tag

*Note: This post was originally posted in March 2016 and has been updated to reflect accuracy and new product information. Scroll to the bottom of this post to see all the most recent updates.

When I joined a gym as a mom, my priorities changed: I needed daycare and I needed a shower. Motivation in place. Little did I know that my son’s poop, cries, and attempts to escape would interrupt my routine almost on a daily basis. My new mom friends invited me to take spin classes with them, but between the coaches shouting out mysterious numbers and the coordination involved, I kindly declined; spin was more than my foggy-mom brain could handle at the time, so I stuck to my elliptical, yoga, and Zumba classes. This pre-dated the Soul Cycle invasion of New York, before cadence and tap-backs became part of the everyday jargon.

By the time my son learned to love the gym, I was pregnant with baby #2. Luckily, my little girl eased into daycare and I soon realized after taking my first spin class that I had been missing out: with its trendy music and remixes blaring in a darkened room, let’s face it, this was the closest I was getting to a night out.

At this same time, the condo I lived in had redesigned its gym, and I convinced management to add a spin bike. But what can you do with a spin bike and no instructor? I downloaded apps and watched YouTube videos, but no good solution existed at the time.

Fast-forward to the suburbs and a house with room for exercise equipment. One day, soon after we moved in, I scrolled down on Facebook and noticed that several of my friends had “liked” the One Peloton page, then called Peloton Cycle. I asked those friends about it, but no one had purchased a bike, yet everyone agreed it was a brilliant concept: a state-of-the-art bike with spin classes live or on demand. The bike, however, comes with a hefty price tag ($1995 plus $250 delivery, plus a $39 per month subscription).

The Peloton App (now rebranded as Peloton Digital)

*Make sure to check out all recent updates at the bottom of this post.

After gawking at the price tag again and doing the math, MacGyver kicked in. I downloaded the Peloton app to my iPad, free at the time, and investigated.

Note, when I first downloaded the app and initially wrote this blog post, there was a huge difference between owning the bike and using the actual Peloton Cycle. For example,

  • There was no way for an instructor to see you. Now, you can get the same shoutouts as anyone else.
  • You needed multiple devices–an iPad to view the class and another IOS device to use the cadence monitor. Today, you can use Android devices and the Peloton App displays both your cadence and heart rate via Bluetooth. (Scroll down to “accessories” for more information).

Peloton Digital Classes

Currently, Peloton offers more than 8,000 on-demand rides, ranging from 5 minutes to 90 minutes. Additionally, you can find about eleven live classes on any given day, beginning at 6:00 am and as late as 8:30 pm. You can also take Encore Rides, basically “live” re-airings of rides. My favorite rides are Rock Rides, 80’s rides, HIIT and Tabata. A cool new feature allows you to search on-demand rides by playlists. Beyond the Ride includes live and on-demand yoga classes, stretching, toning, and strength classes.

Check out my favorite fun rides below: 

This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more information.

For a concise list of all products mentioned in this blog post, you can go directly to my Amazon shop.

Everything You Need for the Peloton App

 

The Bike

[Read more…]