Living, Playing & Writing in the Outdoors
I came across this new, outdoor invention while perusing Kickstarter last night.
My immediate reaction was, “Oh cool!!”
I guess others must have thought the same as the Aquabot company has raised $71,000 against their initial goal of $15,000. Just goes to show that you don’t have to have a high-gloss presentation if you have a kick-ass idea.
Check it out:
“That’s so cute,” Sage laughed as we headed south on 700 East. “That dog looks like a sheep!” She was referring to the large fluffy head of a poodle mix that was straining its head out the back window and staring back at us. We laughed together yet what I thought about were all the warnings I’ve heard about letting dogs drool in the breeze.
I get it. I usually take my guy everywhere with me. But my AC works and he stays home if it looks like he’d have to stay in a parked car in the summer. But what if your AC is broke? What’s a good mom to do when Fido’s nose presses against the window? What you don’t do- according to several authorities- is roll it down. The law is unclear in Utah. Most people seem to think you can get a ticket for an unrestrained pet but I’ve scoured the web and can’t find a single Utah law to back that up.
Only a handful of states make it illegal to let dogs roam freely in moving vehicles and usually those laws actually apply to dogs in the back of pickups. New Jersey cops can pull you over and slap a $250-1000 ticket on you for disorderly conduct under animal-cruelty laws. Maine, Arizona, and Connecticut use distracted-driving laws to get you.
State Farm Insurance is using “The Pet Lifestyle Coach” Megan Blake to remind you that in the summer your pets are your kids. “Dogs, like children, should never be allowed to ride with their heads out the windows,” says Megan. “Flying debris, including bugs, could harm them, and their lungs or ears could be injured from high-speed wind. Unrestrained pets in cars pose serious potential risks, including becoming a major distraction to drivers; and unrestrained pets can easily be seriously injured, killed or even lost after being thrown from a car.
Good advice to keep the windows up as we head down the road or meet at the trail head. Here are a few top items for keeping your four-footed kids safe en route:
Ruffwear LoadUp Harness– Leash her down and feel confident she’ll stay put even in a crash. The harness attaches to existing seatbelts for a universal fit. Can also be used for short walks. $80
Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Harness– With five adjustments points, it’s easy to get a near custom fit for any dog. It can also be used as a no-pull walking harness. $36
I’m out. My little tube of white velvet that I scored during the Sundance Film Festival is depleted. I’ve been using Sugar Advanced Therapy from Fresh religiously in the morning and night for four months. The PR person called it an anti-aging lip treatment that’s supposed to nourish, plump, and smooth lip wrinkles. OK, I sure felt a difference in the state of my lips even if I never saw one.
I have handfuls of lip balms in every drawer of my home yet Sugar was the one I found myself using. The balm’s silkiness was pure heaven. It’s packed full of ultra-rich ingredients like Cupuacu Butter, Plum Seed Oil, Passionflower Seed Oil, Orange Extract (an antioxidant) and Sea Fennel. Plus, it comes in a stout metal cylinder that twists closed. No crushing or losing caps. It’s supposed to also have “Hyaluronic Filling Spheres” to plump lips but here’s where truth in advertising breaks down. I did not see lips any fuller using Sugar than I did with a regular tube of Chapstick.
Now comes the true test however. How much will I miss my little whistle wetter? I’ll probably have to work my way through my stash of alternative lip products before justifying a $25 purchase on a replacement tube but if you feel like splurging on your own Sugar Treatment for lips, you won’t be disappointed.
Before the TurboPup bar was featured on SharkTank, the makers were drumming up attention at the Outdoor Retailer Show. They handed me a couple of bars to test out. Well, for my pooch to test out. These TurboPups are not snacks and treats. They are a full meal for your pet.
Facebook, check; LinkedIn, check; Instagram, Vine, Pinterest, SnapChat? Ok, I post pictures and updates on FB but since I am supposed to do the others, so be it despite the glaring redundancy. Now, finally, an app that makes sense. Available today on iOS and launching for Android in November, HelloTel App
allows hotel guests to “check-in” and connect directly with fellow travelers who are staying at the same or nearby resort or hotel.
Think about the application for skiers like me who love to check out new resorts but HATE to ski alone!
“HelloTel App is a new, revolutionary way for hotel guests to interact with one another all before even meeting in person,” said HelloTel App CEO & Founder Marc Preston. “We wanted to not only connect like-minded leisure and business travelers but to also bring large groups of people together who already share a common interest in travel.”
Once registered, members will be able to check-in to their hotels and start interacting with fellow travelers in a specific area. HelloTel App users can post photos and status updates like “Just checked in, does anyone want to meet in the lobby bar?” for either everyone staying at the same hotel or other near-by hotels. If someone likes what was posted, they can send ‘kudos’, post a comment or direct message the original poster.
Guests who travel for work are able to set their posts for “Business” and meet up for drinks, coffee or a power lunch with one another. Similar to a friends list, HelloTel App allows members to follow one another by marking them as a “Favorite.” Once saved as a favorite, HelloTel App users will be able to access their favorites list even when they are not checked into a hotel or have returned home. Don’t be scared off by the cheesy video demo of two hot young girls looking to meet single men. I’m sure you can use the app that way but I know quite of few travelers that aren’t looking to hook up they just hate eating or sightseeing alone.
Here’s how I would use it: check into the hotel and find skiers of a similar ability, meet for a drink and see if we might want to ski together. If it’s a weird day, I try someone new; if not, we become fast ski buddies then friend them on FB and follow them on Instagram.
The free app will be featured on The History Channel’s “App Watch” October 30th at 6:00am EST / 6:00am PST.