Archive for November, 2007

Here
are a couple of ideas for the little ones during your Thanksgiving journey:

The VTech Whiz
Kid PC Learning System is a portable device with interchangeable activity sheets
that let kids play while they learn. The activities are brought to life by the
pad, and focus on math, reading, logic and fun. The system can be used as a
stand-alone unit or hooked up to a PC, to bring another dimension of play into
the mix.

VTech Whiz Kid PC Learning System

VTech
Whiz Kid PC Learning System

Little girls
will be entertained for hours with the Pixel Chix DollHouse. I’ve never seen a
toy quite like it. There are different rooms that make up the house, and a pixilated
figure can be sent from room to room, performing activities and playing games. The
house comes with a few friends, and more can be purchased for added fun. This
is one of my top picks for the holiday season.

Pixel
Chix DollHouse

7th on Sale is the biggest sample sale of the year, check out some insider video here…

I can’t believe the amount of travel I have to do before December 31. Literally I’m going LA to Vegas, Vegas to Houston, Houston to SF, SF to LA, LA to NY, NY to LA, LA to SF, SF to NY, NY to LA, LA to Utah, then home. And that’s Plan A! Needless to say, I need some entertaining on all of these trips, so I’m building an arsenal of gadgets to get me through the frequent-flyer frenzy.

For Baby Jack, I’m thinking a portable DVD player is the way to go, and two come to mind. The first is Disney’s Dual-Screen Portable Player. With two screens, it has a very innovative design. The screens fit together like a lunchbox, complete with handle. One screen houses the DVD and feeds the video to the other screen. The genius thing about this device is that each screen has a built-in strap on the back, so it can be easily secured to the back of a headrest. LG makes the other player that I love. The DP781 has an eight-inch swivel screen and a nice long five-hour battery life, making it
perfect for any viewing situation.

Disney Player:
Disney Player

LG Player:

LG
Player

The new PSP is a great distraction. The device is now
smaller, lighter, has better graphics, and has more games than you can imagine.
Another cool fact is that it now comes in three colors: silver, blue and—my favorite—pink!

PSP:

PSP

iHome makes a really cool speaker for your iPod that
attaches to your bike! It’s called the iHome 2Go (iH85b), and the case is
weatherproof, although I wouldn’t submerge it in water or anything. Also,
because the buttons are covered, you can easily sift through music with the
remote. The sound is pretty bumpin’, so if you’re thinking of traveling
anywhere this season and bringing your bike, this is the gadget I would go
with.

iHome 2Go (iH85b):

iHome
2Go  

If you’re planning on traveling the globe, there’s a way
to revisit your journey once it has ended. The Sony GPS-CS1 Photo Map Maker is
a small device that collects information that syncs with your Sony camera’s
images to create a virtual map of the exact location where each of your images was
taken. Mouse over the pinpoints, and poof, it’s like being there all over again!  Sony GPS-CS1

Sony
GPS-CS1

If you’re heading somewhere with water, the Sanyo
Xacti E1 is a waterproof (up to five feet) video camera! The camera allows
you to film high-quality video and has cool features like image stabilization,
two Web-shooting modes (YouTube, anyone?), 5x optical zoom and six-megapixel
still cam with flash. This camera comes in color splashes of blue, yellow or
white!

Sanyo Xacti E1
Sanyo
Xacti E1

Stay
tuned—later this week I’ll be posting a few picks for great portable gadgets
for kids.

CIPRIANI
 
Everyone’s favorite cell phone-challenged supermodel Naomi Campbell looked tall, liquid and exquisite as she accepted a special award from The Black Retail Action Group (BRAG) recently. A 37-year-old organization, BRAG doles out scholarships to deserving students and promotes diversity in the workplace and since I’m all for diversity, of course I was there.
 
Naomi’s influence on beauty and style has been tremendous. She apologized for her bad behavior, admitted to being an addict and said she’s getting help. The room of 600 glamorous people assembled for the gala at downtown NYC’s Cipriani, went quiet when Naomi swanned  in - late of course - flanked by six beautiful men including her friend and former RocaWear co-owner, Damon Dash; music PR exec, Chris Chambers; and IMG Models honcho, Ivan Bart.
 
But then everyone picked up their forks and kept on eating.
 
CIPRIANI PART DEUX
 
The night before, I chatted with two of the most gifted designers today - Alber Elbaz of Lanvin and Jean Paul Gaultier, who both showed up to receive awards at The Fashion Group International’s Night of Stars. I wore borrowed Lanvin both nights and it worked out well. I had bought a pair of velvet Lanvin pumps at Maxwell’s on one of my trips to LA and they were the perfect accessory for my dress (well, not really, but it worked).
 
Anyway back to Alber, who showed up with accomplished women dressed in Lanvin on both his arms – actress, Tilda Swinton, and that other fabulous-but-not-forgotten supermodel Linda Evangelista.
 
The packed affair at Cipriani uptown was very fashion insidery with Vogue’s Anna Wintour & Andre Leon Talley, Harper’s Bazaar’s Glenda Bailey, and designers everywhere. I was surprised by how many women wore black. Long and short dresses with something sparkly on them.
 
SHOPPING NIRVANA
 
The best clothes, starting as much as 90 percent off, available anywhere you are and, everything you spend goes to help those less fortunate..what kind of shopping heaven is this?
 
It’s the return of 7th on Sale - the biggest on-line sample sale ever.

Yes, I know I sound like a schmaltzy ad, but there was no other way to convey how incredible this sale is.

Marc Jacobs, Kenneth Cole, Ralph Lauren, MAC, TopShop -that English store that Kate Moss designs for - are all sponsors and all have donated their best, new stuff. eBay’s a sponsor too which is why to shop go to http://www.7thonsale.ebay.com./ 

It starts tonight. Look out for great bags from Marc Jacobs, Coach, Tory Burch and Kooba, fab shoes from Calvin Klein and Kenneth Cole and exquisite jewelry from names like Badgley Mischka and Gerard Yosca. There are beautiful dresses from Narciso Rodriguez, Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta and great men’s looks by Rag & Bone, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger and many others.
 
In addition, there are kids, fragrance, home and gifts.
 
An exclusive group of celebrity items are on line too. Remember the memorable dress Anne Hathaway wore to the Oscars this year? It’s been donated by Valentino. A replica of the stunning Grecian gown worn by Heidi Klum and designed by Michael Kors is up for grabs. Madonna’s jeweled shoes and handbag from Calvin Klein, and a Millie dress like the long sleeved version recently worn by Beyonce - are among the rare pieces offered.
 
In case you’re wondering how anyone could get all these designers together to give all this merchandise, it’s because 7th on Sale was started by Vogue and the CFDA, the Council of fashion Designers of America. Most of the top names in American fashion are members of the CFDA which is headed by Diane Von Furstenberg - she donated too. The money raised - $ 1.7 million in 2005 and more expected this year, goes to help people living with HIV or AIDS.
 
So if you missed the three public sale days held in NYC, log on to shop til your finger drops.

Oh and almost forgot, every single dollar spent online will be matched by MAC up to $500,000.

I could cry. 

A few years ago I went shopping in Paris for a client and bought a pair of beautiful French chairs. I had them shipped over and reupholstered. Randomly, I was at an antique show a few weeks ago and saw the same French antique dealer I’d bought the chairs from in Paris…he actually had a few chairs in the show that were very similar to the ones I bought, but instead of reupholstering them he dyed the leather.

I’d never thought about dying leather before, but it’s a great way to save on cost and it’s a lot easier than going through the whole reupholstering process. Most leather furniture is coated in a protective leather glaze, but you can deglaze them so that the dyes will take.

There is actually a great guide on eBay that gets into all of the details —

How To Dye Leather

So, now I’m about to start my first leather dying project – turning my red leather chair black!

Metallics are popular– this has been obvious in fashion but now in home décor as well. I actually read an article in last week’s New York Times’ Home & Garden section that reinforced the idea that fashion trends are increasingly being translated for home.

I’m loving gold flecked glass—like what I talked about last week with Murano glass. I am also crazy about metallic leather and fabrics. The thing is that it’s really fun to mix and match. You don’t necessarily need everything to be brass or everything to be chrome. I love the idea of a bronze coffee table mixed with some silver accessories; I think this just creates a great visual picture.

I’ve actually done a lot of mixing in my Westchester home…chrome lamps, gold gilded benches, brass furniture…

A furniture designer that does very interesting metallic work is Paul Evans. He’s really perfected the art of mixing and matching metals. His work is kind of like patchwork: his creations are made out of small pieces of a variety of difference metals.

Here are a few metallic pieces I recently found on eBay that I like:

Modern Side Table

Paul Evans Dining Set

Stacking Chrome Glass Tables

Modern Dining Chair

I recently took some time off and went to Europe for a
vacation, however, design is always on my mind and after spending some time in
Venice where I saw glass everywhere – jewelry, charms, and of course
spectacular chandeliers and vases—I’ve been feeling very inspired by Murano
glass.

Murano is an island just off the coast of Venice and has a world-renowned reputation
for exquisite glassmaking. Craftsmen there use centuries-old techniques to
craft everything from wine stoppers to contemporary art made from glass…the
pieces are always amazingly delicate and colorful. Actually, other than vases,
which tend to be heavy, Murano is very fragile, so I wouldn’t display it in a
room where kids will be throwing balls around!

However, for an elegant dining room, Murano chandeliers are
great. I’m particularly fond of the more subdued ones. I saw some chandeliers
made of clear glass with gold flecks. I also love the idea of adding
smoky-toned gray vases, drinking glasses or other decorative accessories in a
home space or office. Of course, the downside to anything made with exceptional
craftsmanship is price, BUT Murano is one of those things that you can always
get a great deal on when shopping on eBay. In fact, as some of you may know,
eBay collaborated with Cynthia Rowley for her fashion show during Fashion Week,
providing her with jewelry that was purchased off of eBay. The jewelry was
included in her show and one of the pieces provided for the show was a
beautiful Murano ring that sold for only $17.99.

Example.

Here are some other great Murano pieces I recently spotted on eBay.

Example.


Example.

I truly feel like one of the luckiest moms in the whole world because I actually got to go to the Toy Wishes Toy Fair for work! What a day! From the look on my face in this picture (me and the guitar) you can see that I was having fun.

The room was filled with the best of the best for the holiday season, and I was very impressed. Following are some picks that stood out as exceptional toys, and they all meet my HiTechMommy seal of approval. This means I think they’re innovative, mind-expanding, easy to understand, have longevity and are overall cool.

Although there were about 30 that I loved, these really grabbed my attention and made me want to start my holiday shopping right away.

1.Eye-Clops from JAKKS Pacific
Retails for around $49.99
Ages 6 and up
This ultimate electronic magnifier brings the reality of everyday objects to life at 200 times their size. It easily plugs into the television to broadcast everything you can find up close and personal, for a science lesson or just plain fun.

2.iCoaster,
Retails for around $79.99
Ages 6 and up
The iCoaster takes construction toys to another level. This magnetic roller-coaster set offers 10 unique design possibilities. Once assembled, the metal-ball “cars” shuttle through the coaster at exciting speeds using magnetic force. Kids can also create a coaster soundtrack using a Sound FX and Music Studio.

3.Squawkers McCaw the Furreal Friends Parrot
Retails for around $69.99
Ages 5 and up
AI like we’ve never seen before! Through voice recognition, animatronics and programmable features, this lifelike parrot can repeat words, respond to preprogrammed questions like “Are you hungry?” and learn to respond to new commands. He can even dance.

4.American Idol Talent Challenge
Retails for around $49.99
Ages 8 and up
This interactive karaoke-esque game brings competition from the stage direct to your living room. It’s easy to set up and store, and family and friends alike can enjoy practicing with the idols or singing solo.

5.Pixel Chix Roomies House

Retails for around $29.99
Ages 3 and up
Miniature dollhouse features virtual 3D roommate characters that compete in an interactive game. Pixel Chix Roomies encourages girls to use their imaginations, along with technology that enables gaming and Internet connectivity, for excitement and fun.

6.Fisher-Price Easy Link Internet Launch Pad,

Retails for around $29.99
Ages 3 and up
This product offers an innovative way to introduce children to the Internet safely through timeless characters they already love. Kids can plug an Easy Link character smart key into the launch pad to automatically access their favorite kid-friendly Web sites—and only those Web sites.

7.Power Tour Electric Guitar,, Retails for around $69.99
Ages 10 and up
This sleek and super-realistic electric guitar strives to teach your little rocker how to play. Kids can learn to play six different rock classics or connect to an MP3 player to play along with their favorite songs.
 
8.Crayola
TaDoodles Washable First Marks,
Retails for around $5.99
Ages 18 months and up
Tiny-finger friendly markers designed for toddlers’ first full palm grasp. The cute egg-shaped characters are perfectly balanced so they can tip and tilt, but not topple! Washable and non-toxic, moms can rest easy as their toddler plays.

9.Rubik’s Revolution,
Retails for around $19.99
Ages 5 to 105
A new twist on a classic toy favorite. Rubik’s Revolution tests both speed and smarts with six built-in games that feature voice, lights and sound effects. With multiple levels, the interactive cube challenges both your mind and your dexterity.

10.Make Your Own Monster, Retails for around $249
Ages 3 and up
This is a one-of-a-kind gift that you can’t get anywhere else. The Make-My-Own-Monster kit champions children’s creativity, allowing them to finally bring their imaginary friends to life.

Over the coming weeks I’ll reveal more of what was hot and even give you reviews as I start receiving the products and testing them.

Hi.  I’m Cat Schwartz.  I’ve been reporting on gadgets and technology for 10 years and now I am partnering with eBay as their Gadget and Toy Director! 

To get things started, there are a few things you should know about me. I’m a mom of a 15-month old-son, Jack.  Being a parent is an inspiration to me and often the catalyst to the gadgets and toys I play with.  I live in Los Angeles and travel about 10-15 days out of each month, while also trying to maintain a stay-at-home parenting style.  I also like to go out on the town and check out new music, movies, and anything else that makes me open my mind. 

On this blog I’ll be lending my insight on hot tech and toy trends, great ways to look for good deals and an inside look at my journey through life as a gadget junkie.

Let’s take a quick look at what gadgets I have in my purse right at this moment, shall we?  Ah yes!  The flip video!  This little video camera has become one of my favorite gadgets because it allows me to capture the amazing moments that Jack experiences and easily share them with the world.  The camera’s small size allows me to throw it into any bag I may be using for the day.  You can record up to an hour of video with an easy-to-use set of buttons, then simply flip out the built in USB connection to dump videos onto your computer.  The resolution is 640×480, which is not that high, but looks good on the net and has YouTube addicts very excited.  That connection also loads software onto your computer so that the camera’s content is super easy to work with.  For just over $100 (and even cheaper on eBay), this has become my newest obsession.

Pure Digital Flip Video Camcorder

As far as phones go, I’m sort of embarrassed to tell you what I’m using at the moment.  Well, not embarrassed, but I just feel silly… see, I’m rockin’ the Sidekick II.  I know, I know.  It came out like 20 years ago and there are so many cooler Sidekicks out now.  The thing is–I have it all set up with programs I’ve downloaded and ring tones I like.  Don’t worry, I’m getting the new Luxury (or Sidekick LX) version as soon as it comes out because I LOVE this device and depend on it more than anything.  I think the design is wonderful, especially the keyboard, for someone like me who types entire emails while stuck in traffic or in a line somewhere. The newer version is slimmer, has a better digital camera, and will allow you to listen to music and edit documents.  Purrrrrrrrr

Sidekick ii

I’m a lady who likes to be prepared for any situation and who has a deep appreciation for gadgets shaped like Japanese animation characters!  I never know when I’m going to need to grab a file from one computer and take it to the next so I’m always packing a Mimoco USB storage device.  Get one that holds from 1 to 4 gigs of info and keep him safe in his key chain sleeve.  They’re so darn cute and extremely practical. 

Vimobot Jolibear

Beyond the world of what’s in my bag, a question I’m being asked a lot lately is “What’s going to be the TMX Elmo of this holiday season?”  I’m not exactly seeing one particular toy at this point, but the Toy Wishes Toy Fair is just around the corner and I hope to find a nugget or two there.  I will tell you that a very hot trend I’m seeing is toys that connect to the net.  I’m very much into allowing kids to play with the Internet at early ages, fully supervised of course; because I think it’s inevitably a part of their education, so why not get to it! Check out my next entry for more news and notes on my fave tech and toy trends. Thanks for stopping by!