Great Gifts by Rosebud Media

Great Gifts December 3, 2017

M U L T I M E D I A Mail Tribune

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Ashland Tidings

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The Nickel

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hances are you’ll need to make a quick run to the grocery store for some forgotten ingredient or a beverage to share at a holiday party. Why not multitask and pick up a last-minute gift, too? Coffee

Fresh flowers or indoor plants For people in a hurry, stop by the graband-go case and pick up a fresh-cut floral arrangement, centerpiece, bouquet or custom gift basket. There’s no better way to say “I love you” than a dozen red roses, but there are plenty of other blooms like longlasting alstroemeria or chrysanthemums, a delicate orchid or greenery like lucky bamboo or trendy succulents. Be a florist for a day and create your own bouquet.

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DUNKIN’ D

ONUTS

Exotic spices

Spa basket

Common herbs and spices like parsley, thyme and garlic salt will excite no one. Go for bold and unique flavors or spices that are on the more expensive side, such as vanilla bean or saffron threads. Whole nutmeg, anise seed, cardamom pods and Valencia orange peel are not something every home cook already has in the pantry. For adventurous cooks, go global with a basket filled with seasonings such as Chinese five-spice powder, Japanese seven spice, adobo, jerk spice, Thai basil, herbs de Provence, garam masala and curry.

Give the gift of pampering with a do-it-yourself spa package. Everything you need can be found in the beauty aisle. Pick a few choice items such as creamy lotions and moisturizers, sea salt scrubs and face masks. Give the gift some focus: for example, pair Dead Sea foot salts, a foot file, moisturizing gel socks and a trendy hue of nail polish for a pedicure pack.

BIGSTOCK

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The average American drinks 3.1 cups of coffee a day, according to the National Coffee Association. If coffee is an integral part of someone’s life, they will appreciate a special brew bought just for them. Your millennial cousin will appreciate a multi-pack of trendy cold-brew brands. Your sister who can’t stop talking about her trip to New Orleans will be happy to brew a cafe au lait with Cafe Du Monde Coffee and Chicory. Can’t decide? Can’t go wrong with a bag of Dunkin’ Donuts holiday blend.

Bestsellers

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Now on sale in aisle 10: a surprising selection of books. In addition to popular picks for children and adults, you can also find a variety of magazines, from National Geographic and People to Golf Digest and Real Simple, as well as note cards, journals, pens and coloring supplies.

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Folding Drones

are the New Hot Item for the Holidays

(NewsUSA)

very holiday season has its hot tech item from smartDrones can give you the bird’swatches to game consoles eye view that makes any video and now to folding drones. look engaging and exciting, mostly

because that perspective hasn’t been possible until drones came about. One of the biggest problems people have had with drones is that they are typically so difficult to carry around and take on adventures. Cue the folding drone, first launched by GDU in 2015 and recently copied by DJI and GoPro. This design lets anyone take a drone along in a backpack or small bag -- portability solved! But does a folding drone answer all the problems with drones today? Not quite. If you only plan to use a drone for a quick video or two, the DJI Mavic might be a decent choice for the holidays. But if you plan on using the drone for different photography and videography projects, or if you simply enjoy flying a drone, you’ll want to look for something that has a lot more power and the ability to change out gimbals and cameras. Enter the GDU Premium Byrd -- the first and only drone that has a folding design, a high-end 4K camera, the ability to swap out cameras and even carry DSLRs and mirrorless cameras for a true “future

proofing” ability. They call this the Universal Flying Platform. And with GoPro recalling their Karma, the Byrd is the only folding drone that also works with a GoPro. “All consumer-level drones are developed for only one camera, but not the Byrd. GDU will continue to create new gimbal packages to keep the Byrd “future proofed.” They simply don’t want people to have to buy a new drone to use a new camera you might buy: that’s the philosophy behind the ‘flying platform’ approach,” states Nicolia Wiles, GDU Director of Digital. “You shouldn’t have to keep buying $1K drones you don’t need just to use a different camera. When you buy a GDU Byrd, you only invest in a drone once, and can save your money for buying cameras you want to try. No other consumer drone manufacturer offers this.” The Premium Byrd provides for 29 minutes of flight time, with a guaranteed 1000-meter video downlink system included in the shipped model (no additional downlink technology needed) and also offers a more advanced OFDM system, compared to WiFi transmission in the Standard model. The Price of the Premium Byrd model is $999.00. Dealer information can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N2GCOSP.

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Give the Gift of

onnectivity Cwithout the stress

nce again, tech is topping lots of wish lists. We’ve all been there. You unwrap your wanted new tech, but before you can use your exciting new gift, there’s usually some assembly or setup

required. The setup is a major source of frustration for nearly a third of consumers recently surveyed by Asurion, the global leader in technology support and protection services, who say that putting together new technology has ruined their holiday. This happens more than you may think. Asurion surveyed over 1,000 consumers and found that 64 percent of people have received a tech gadget for the holidays that they didn’t know how to work. And it’s not just the older generations that are having problems; 75 percent of millennials admit they’ve been stumped by a new device, compared to 53 percent of boomers. “While the benefits of connected devices are virtually endless, the devices have become increasingly complex, and we’re finding that even the most tech-savvy consumers are being outsmarted,” says Bettie Colombo, spokesperson for Asurion. “We have a team of thousands of tech experts on standby to help consumers avoid the pitfalls and frustrations of setting up new technology so they can get back to enjoying the holidays with friends, family and their new tech.” The struggle to set up new technology has become such a challenge that 41 percent of people avoid buying their older friends and family members tech devices altogether just to avoid the hassle of helping them set them up. This process can become time-consuming, with 62 percent of millennials spending an hour or more helping friends or family with their devices over the holidays. In fact, six in 10 millennials would be willing to shell out their hard-earned cash to never have to answer a tech question again! Asurion’s tech experts help users avoid the frustrations of device setup this holiday by making it quick and easy to get help with technology issues regardless of brand or platform. Asurion’s support and protection services are available through most wireless carriers. “The smartphone has become the remote control for all of your tech,” Colombo says. “Enrolling in your carrier’s support and protection program not only provides you with peace of mind that your smartphone is covered for loss, theft and damage, but also provides you with one-click access to a live U.S.-based tech expert to answer all your questions.” Ask your wireless carrier about Asurion support and protection, or learn more here: https://www.asurion.com/soluto-service/features

(NewsUSA)

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Too Much Stuff?

Give kids experiential gifts this holiday season (NewsUSA)

f, like many parents, you struggle with what to get your kids for the holidays, consider thinking outside the box and giving them gifts that will expand their horizons.

Underscoring the importance of combining adventure and education, experts say that school is much easier when kids can draw upon skills they’ve learned through outside experiences. “Experiential gifts can teach a new, lifelong skill, provide a fun, new way to spend family time, and build memories together in a way that no toy or gadget could,” says Emily Levitt, vice president of Education for Sylvan Learning. To this point, Levitt encourages parents to get creative this holiday season, and give the gift of learning. “These kinds of gifts are special not just for your child, but for everyone who participates. And I can’t think of a better way to spend the holidays.” To that end, here are a few holiday suggetions for parents that kids will not only love, but learn from as well: ◆ The Science of Cooking. Your little chef will not only get to make and eat delicious food that they’ll be able to recreate at home, but will learn how to incorporate math, since this intrinsic skill is necessary for making flavorful dishes. Following a recipe requires learning how to measure and getting familiar with fractions. If they want to double a recipe, they’ll have to use multiplication and addition skills. ◆ Getting an EDGE on the competition. For a gift that encompasses science, technology, engineering AND math, look no further than Sylvan Learning. A package of Sylvan EDGE classes will empower kids to lay the groundwork for future success and have fun while doing it. The combination of fun and academic mastery is unique. Whether it’s designing a video game from scratch after school, programming a LEGO robot on Saturdays, or engineering seriously cool super structures, your child will be learning something new every time and will be delighted to try the next series of courses as soon as they finish! ◆ Giving the gift of music. Music lessons are a great way to uncover a talent and passion that is both creative and math-based. From guitar to piano or maybe even the sax, you can give kids the option to choose which instrument to explore. Both music and math go hand-in-hand because they both involve patterns, ratios, fractions, proportions, and memorization. ◆ Getting moving. Kids with a ton of energy will enjoy classes such as gymnastics or rock climbing. These activities not only teach kids about the human body, but are developmental sports, which require a progression of steps. The skills needed in these activities can stimulate problem solving, math, and reading in school.

For more information, please visit www.getsylvanedge.com.

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Choosing the Perfect Holiday Gift

for everyone on your shopping list (NewsUSA)

e all know when the trick-or-treaters head home with their Halloween candy and the

turkey comas set in after Thanksgiving dinner, the holiday season is right around the corner. Meant to be the happiest time of the year filled with joyous memories, the holiday season can quickly turn into an unwanted shopping nightmare as you try to find the perfect holiday gift for everyone special in your life. Getting all your bases covered when on a budget can seem like a daunting task, but when you’re making a list and checking it twice this year, keep in mind these fun and budgetfriendly items to put a smile on all your loved ones faces, as well as in your wallet!

Between graduations, school dances, and family vacations, picture-perfect memories are always ready to be made, and we all know that mom is the go-to photographer for that special occasion! So make sure the mother in your life has everything she needs to take great photos with the Vivitar VXX14 Selfie Camera ($39.96). When using this camera, mom can take crystal-clear pictures in superior high definition. Get up close with 4x digital zoom so mom can catch every unforgettable moment! The 180-degree screen rotation on this fun and easy-to-use camera allows you to see the shot before you snap the picture, guaranteeing the perfect selfie with every use. And with the included self-timer, mom can get in on a family photo every time! Taking care of the kids while also setting some time aside for a little fun is on the to-do list for many fathers, making the Vivitar Air Defender X Drone ($99.99) the perfect gift idea. This Wi-Fi enabled drone has a 16.1 MP camera and high-definition recording abilities that ensure smooth and steady footage. Two integrated LiPo batteries deliver approximately 14 minutes of flight time per charge, as well as the ability to hover, flip, and fly upside down. In addition, the drone has a 360-degree view, 32 LED lights, and takes a 32 GB Micro SD card so every dad can stay on top of the latest technology advancements while exploring his inner kid at heart. Don’t waste time searching for your son’s perfect holiday present when you can get the Sakar Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) enthusiast in your life the TMNT Smart Watch ($59.99). This 4-in-1 device lets your crime fighter-in-training wirelessly sync any device, track his activities, and includes 20 clock faces so your son can customize his watch to express his personal style. The interactive touch screen panel keeps any child on top of new and growing technology trends while providing a simple and easy-to-use functionality. This watch easily captures everyday moments with the built-in camera and microphone so your little ninja can record all his action-packed adventures,

and it syncs activities and sleep patterns to the free, easy-to-use mobile app for hours of nonstop entertainment perfect for any superhero-in-training! If you have a daughter who can’t get enough of Superhero High and loves to sing, let her inner rock star shine with the DC Superhero Girls Flashing Lights Disco Ball Karaoke ($59.96). This fun music device comes complete with a retro disco ball that dazzles and shines while she rocks out with Wonder Woman, Super Girl, and all her favorite powerful classmates. With the ability to connect to her favorite smartphone device, she can sing all her favorite songs the moment she presses play. It also includes a karaoke microphone so she has everything she needs to take center stage, as well as a second audio jack input for connecting an additional microphone perfect for a karaoke duo! For the teenager in your life, you probably get a lot of closed doors, curfews tested, and most commonly, loud music that vibrates through the walls of your home, always threatening your favorite china. Give the young adult in your life the ability to escape to a world of great quality sound with the Altec Lansing Evolution 2 Bluetooth Headphones ($49.99). These must-have headphones boast superior audio with 40mm Neodymium Drivers, a rechargeable battery, 12 hours of battery life and a wireless range of 33 feet, allowing them to keep their phone safe while dancing around their room. The onboard microphone and song navigation/ telephony buttons provide easy-to-use functionality and let them never miss an important call while providing hours of fun and comfortable listening. As the holiday season quickly approaches, rest assured that this year you will fulfill all your family members’ desires while still staying within a reasonable budget and not having your credit cards beg for mercy. These quick and easy holiday finds are just what you need to get your shopping done while you sit back, relax, and enjoy the festive season with family and friends.

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