A Daily Dose of Toni » Vlogs

Bad Ideas & School Subjects, Monday Mingling!

Toni — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:30:53 +0000

Ahh vlogging in the new year, I need to do more of this because I really do enjoy it. Unfortunately my house is so dark. I guess I am going to have to start going outside for videos until I replace the bulb in my lamp. However, today is not about light bulbs, it’s about Mingling. I am joining EightyMPHMOM and the other bloggers for Monday Mingle. It’s a fun way to share a little bit about yourself with all of us and us with you!

So the questions for this week are:
1. The phrase “It seemed like a good idea at the time”…what has been your worst idea?
2. What was your worst subject in school?
3. What subject in school did you excel in?

BTW Pardon the Television in the background, I asked about 100 times for them to turn it down and they would, then as if on cue it would get turned back up when I started recording so I gave up LOL.

Please never do my “it seemed like a good idea” it’s not safe at all, unfortunately teens think they are invincible. If you don’t have a camera or blog and want to join in you can feel free to answer right there in the comments. Have a great Monday. I’ll see you next week…as a blonde.

Friday Favorites: M.A.C. Lipglass

Toni — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:47:10 +0000

It’s Friday and I am starting something new in the new year. If you want to join in please do, it’s so much fun learning what other people love. I am going to post “Friday Favorites” each week. I hope to vlog it every week but that will depend on time I have of course. Very simply, it’s a post to share my favorite things with the world!

This week it’s all about the lips..no my favorite things are not lips but rather something to make them “SHINE”. Want to know what I am talking about? Watch the video then…

So there you have it, I adore M.A.C Cosmetics glass line. High shine, long lasting what more could lips ask for? Here is a complete list of the different lip glass products (not the colors but different types):

Tinted Lipglass
Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass
Gareth Pugh for M.A.C. lipglass
Glitter and Ice Dazzleglass
Creamsheen Glass
Dazzleglass
Lustreglass
Plushglass
Pro-long wear lipglass
Pro-long wear gloss coat
Clear lipglass
M.A.C. & Marcel Wanders Lip Gloss

I am sure more of M.A.C.’s products will be on my Friday Favorite’s but this is the first thing I thought of when this segment came to mind. Please feel free to join in next Friday and share something favorite of yours…or heck, join in today and share your link in the commets below.

Do you have a favorite lip product?

*I was not asked to post this and the product featured in this post was purchased by me, I wanted to share because it’s one of my favorite products.

Just Call Me The Last Fire Bender. Disney and Universal…Here I Come!

Toni — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:16:45 +0000

It’s freezing here on the world’s whitest beaches. Beaches and freezing do not go together well. However it has turned me into an indoor pyromaniac. Not because I like to, by official definition play with fire, but rather I am loving being able to brag and say I made the house warm just like hubby does.

You see it’s usually him who is the fire master in the house, however he did eventually have to return to his job outside of the home after the holidays. It was in this moment I realized “holy smokes I am going to have to heat the house without him AND without a heater“. As I am sure you guessed, panic momentarily set in until I realized my phrase for 2012 “BIG and BOLD“, so off I trucked to get some wood…from the front porch. In I came at the peachy hour of 6:07 a.m. and got to fire making. Before I continue, a little side story.

Nature and I do not mix well, unless it’s me in a bathing suit laying out on the white sand then we mix just fine. However trees, grass, wood, fire, and myself are not on friendly terms. I don’t like nature and unless it’s spring or summer and warm, nature doesn’t care for me either…why else would she bring freezing temperatures to Florida?

I am happy to say that not only did I successfully get the fire going, I have a nice set of coals keeping the fireplace hot that blazes the next piece of wood I throw on. No heater, no problem! I couldn’t be prouder of myself. 2012 is going to be one HOT year…pun totally intended. Now with this kind of luck I forsee a Disney and/or Universal rep contacting me about the family trip I am going to be taking this year.

Fire….check! Bring it on 2012, we are going to have a GREAT year!

Christmas Trees, Christmas Music & Nice or Naughty!

Toni — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:42:14 +0000

It’s been quite some time because I forget quite often, but today I wanted to join in the last Monday Mingle of 2011. I definitely hope to do much better about vlogging in general in 2012 and hopefully that will mean more Monday Mingle’s with EightyMPHMom! Today we are talking about whether or not we would be on the nice list, christmas trees and Christmas movies. To join in you can record your own video and link it up or if you don’t video type it out and link up. If you don’t blog at all feel free to answer in the comment section below.

The questions we had to answer for this week were:
Real Tree or Fake?
Favorite Christmas Movie?
What, if anything, did you do that might not keep you on Santa’s nice list?

Check out my answers to the mingle in my video:

What are you waiting for, answer the questions, join in the fun! Have a great Monday!

Christmas Gift Guide 2011: OutFitYours.Com, iPad Case Review

Toni — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:07:13 +0000

Hi Thayne, my name is Toni and I am a social media mom who is a long time iPhone owner has just jumped into the iPad market. As a new iPad owner I have a few questions on cases and maybe even a few questions on iPhone protection too at another time. I would love to get your opinion on items to use with my iPad. Please start by introducing yourself so my readers know where the items mentioned in this question/answer session can be found.

Hey Toni, we at outfitYOURS.com are excited to work with you and all of the followers of A Daily Dose of Toni! Congrats on the new iPad, you are going to love it! My name is Thayne and I help businesses, moms, and whoever, find the best cases for their specific situation. There are thousands of options out there and it can get overwhelming. In the Apple store, you only find the smart cover which is limited in usability and protection. We sell the premium accessories specifically for Apple products and have already narrowed down our brands and products to what we believe to be the best.

Being a social media mom I am constantly on the go, what is an item you would suggest for iPad portability so I can have it with me when that perfect blogging opportunity arises. Something that will keep it safe & sound, and keeping it with me. It would help if it’s cute too (though that’s just a personal preference LOL) while still looking professional. Is there something specific you would suggest for that? Also, there are times when I am working on my laptop and instead of pulling my email up in another tab it’s easier to pull up on my iPad and be able to look at it while I am working on my laptop. What would be something I could use to make that easier to do rather than trying to prop my iPad on something?

Like you say, the iPad is so great in that you can take it anywhere and quickly access information. I too often use my iPad as a second screen to read or look at things while working on my computer. Sometimes I even stream a sports event during work and prop it next to my computer. After two generations of iPads, case makers have perfected the all around case that can do all that you are looking for. A folio style case can prop up as second screen, fold over in type mode, or be used like an open book. Some of our favorite folio cases are the Mophie WorkBook, Incase Book Jacket Select, Speck FitFolio, and the Sena Folio Genuine Leather Case. All of the iPad 2 folio cases are about the same in functionality but really differ in colors and styles. All four brands are designer type tech brand but range from a retro style of the brand Mophie to a European leather made by Sena.

As I mentioned I am a social media mom, a blogger, so there are times I am out and about and an idea comes to me and I want to be able to remember it. To write a note down, is there something you would suggest for those of us who, while we love our iPad’s, still like to have a pen and paper occasionally when an idea hits?

I totally know what you mean. For the first few months with my iPad, I loved taking it into meetings and to be able to quickly looks things up and be on the ball. The iPad 2 became a meeting must, except for that it just lacked the note taking. There are several note type Apps but nothing is like a pen and notepad to quickly jot down thoughts. Finally the perfect case has come out called the Booq Booqpad for iPad 2. This case is book style case but includes a ipad sized notepad on the case. We also sell the notepad options of grid, blank, color, and web layout. This is excellent for working on web design, taking notes in a meeting, or just sketching for fun, while using your ipad, all in one case.

Screen protection is a must, I have 3 kids so I want the very best thing to keep my screen protected from scratches and all the other things that can happen when kids are playing on my iPad. They also love to watch movies on my iPad, is there a stand that would be good for them to use when watching a movie to keep it upright, something that’s kid friendly? Also is there a stand with a way to make the sound louder?

As far a screen protection goes, Zagg is definitely the best! They make what is called the InvisibleShield for iPad 2 which protects your screen from kids with keys or sharp toys. A screen protector is great and gives you peace of mind when your kids are playing with your iPad. If your kids really want to get wild, Speck makes a kid ipad case called the Speck iGuy Standing Cover for iPad. The iGuy is like a big toy with the iPad inside that will protect your iPad from the most destructive kids in the world (obviously not the case for your well behaved children). You are going to see that road trips become much smoother with the kids being entertained by the iPad. Griffin makes a great a case for movie watching on the go, called the Griffin CinemaSeat. This case includes straps that go over the head read and let your 3 kids watch their favorite movie without having to create a jimmy rig set up while traveling. There are several cables that allow you to hook up your iPad to the car or home speakers so that the sound is louder. Several companies are working on cases or stands to help with sound, but we are still not particularly impressed. Hopefully by the next iPad, there will be a great speaker like ipad case.

The list can go on and on, from iPad purses, to indestructible cases, to a hanger kitchen case. Our site is set up so that you can choose from brands and style categories to help you narrow down the best cases. The youtube videos also help you if the particular case is really what you want. As far as your needs Toni, I know just what I want to send for your usability, cute, professional, and kid friendly iPad 2 case! Enjoy!!

Want to know what Thayne sent me to review…guess you’ll have to watch the video below:

I absolutely love Incase’s Book Jacket Select that I was sent. Durable, professional, cute, and handles my kids a perfect iPad 2 case for me. Definitely gets A Daily Dose’s Stamp of Approval.

In case you didn’t watch the video here are the features of the Incase Book Jacket Select (taken from site), a pebbled texture for a premium look and feel, an enhanced suede liner, and new position rails that securely prop up your iPad. With the same dependable protection and enhanced functionality of OutfitYours.Com’s bestselling Book Jacket (known as the Convertible Book Jacket for the original iPad). The Select model opens to convert into a stand with three viewing positions and has a low-profile working angle that’s perfect for comfortable typing. A durable elastic band secures it closed for easy carrying. As well as the added precision-cut camera hole so it’s a snap to take pictures with your iPad 2 still safely protected.

Keep this in mind for the iPad addict in your life when you are buying this holiday season and if this isn’t a good fit OutfitYours is sure to have something to fit their style.

Disclosure: I did receive the product(s) featured in this post free of charge for sole purpose of review. Product reception does not nor will it ever influence my views on the product. No monetary compensation was received. For more on my policies please see my disclosure.

Moving Furniture, Hateful Comments & Annoying People

Toni — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:18:53 +0000

It’s time to Mingle y’all. Hosted by EightyMPHMOM each Monday you can vlog your little heart out (or write if you are afraid to be on camera in which case I will have to work on you).

This week the questions are:
1. How often do you move furniture in your living room?

2. How do you handle hateful comments or emails? Or someone who annoys you in person?

3. One thing you will never blog about?

Here are my answers(go on watch you know you want to see my cute little face LOL):

10 Years Later: A Day That Brought America Together, When Someone Tried to Tear It Apart

Toni — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 11:46:14 +0000

I still remember this day as if it just happened yesterday, the lives lost, the way our country banded together, the feelings of horror, hurt, and shock. Everyday for the rest of my life I will remember what I was doing and where I was when I found out about the attacks on our country.

On September 11, 2001 I awoke to start my day like normal. I raised, turned on the television that was on early morning shows and nothing out of the ordinary was going on. I woke my son (almost 2 at the time), fed him and got him ready for day care. As with every morning, I took a little extra time and care with him, making sure to love on him, laugh with him and treasure the fun moments before we parted for the day. Finally the time came to take him to school, we load in the car and I turn on my CD and we jammed out on the way to school. Nothing out of the ordinary was going on in our world…or so I thought. I dropped him off, running in making sure to hug him tight. Headed home to throw on my work clothes and head into work.

The morning news shows at this time would have been reporting about that first plane, but I didn’t get to see that yet. I remember walking into my work and seeing the faces of my co workers in shock and wondering what was going on. Then the words came out of my friend and co workers mouth “America is being attacked”. As my mind took in what she was saying it was like a my world stopped. I tried to digest what she was saying and I hear the muffled news updates in the background. As I remember to breathe I am seeing faces of everyone I love and wondering what this means for our country. What will happen to my family, my friends? I want at that moment to turn around, drive as fast as I can and go get my son and hold him tighter than I ever have.

Knowing that I can’t leave, I breathe and regain my composure as everything around me still seems a fuzzy dream. I focus as best I can as we stand around with customers watching the news to see what is going on and why. I remember all day feeling anger, at the people behind this. Sorrow for the lives lost. Amazement at the people who risked their lives to save so many. Awe at the way our country, who is more often than not divided, joined together. There were no races, no genders, no ages, we were all one. We were all supporting each other, we were all hurting, angry and in shock. Everyone praying, hoping, listening.

Over the next few weeks I collect video, magazines and papers of this horrendous moment that caused our country to all support one another. I remember watching our President handle things that no President should ever have to deal with and I was just amazed with him. I remember sitting every night holding my son as close to me as I could because so many parents lost children that day. I remember calling my mom at least 10 times a day because I thought about the children who lost parents. I remember making sure my friends new how much I cared because of how many friends were lost on this day.

The pictures of that day such as this one (below) will always be in my mind and just as clear as the first time I saw them.

I will forever remember the stories of lives lost to protect our country on the plane that went down. I will forever remember the lives lost because they were on those planes or in the twin towers. I will remember the images of the crashes into the towers, the pentagon and the field. But what I will remember and hold dear forever is the way our country was not separated by anything that day but rather we were all on one page, we were all joined in unity. It should not be on this day only that we remember and join together but rather everyday we should strive to support each other as we all did on that day.

9/11/01 is a day not one American will forget (the ones that understood what was going on). A day that for as long as we will go on we will think of lives lost willingly (by taking down a plane or going into a building to save others) or unwillingly (being on a plane that crashed into a building or simply being in the office that day), the heroes, the parents that lost children and children that lost parents. The place we were when we heard and what we felt. It’s a day that for as long as I live will always seem like it was only yesterday.

Thank you to those who risked their lives to save others. Thank you to those who sacrificed their lives to make sure someone else lived. Thank you to the families who have shown what it means to have strength.

September 11, 2001 is a day that brought America together when someone was trying to tear it apart.

This is a repost of a post I posted September 11, 2009. With today being 10 years to the day I felt this still best expressed my feelings from that day and thought it best to re-share this post. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years but I remember every moment about my day that day. When I recently went to NYC I went by the WTC site and saw the building being done and it choked me up as I stood there. Please keep reading and let’s all remember the people who lost their lives and those who lost loved ones this day. Let’s remember what a united country we were and work to be that way from now one.

Monday Mingling w/ EightyMPHMom Talking Sweet 16, Driving & Pageants

Toni — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:24:58 +0000

Hey y’all I am joining in with Eighty MPH Mom today and mingling my little heart out. If you haven’t seen me do this before (it’s been eons since I last joined) you just head over to Jennifer’s place each Monday (or Sunday afternoon) see the questions for that week and join in by posting your own vlog then linking it up. Simple and fun two of my favorite things.

The questions for this week were:

What did you do for your Sweet 16th birthday?
What do you think of little girls dressing like adults for pageants?
What was the car you learned to drive on?

Check out my answers in the video below:

*I would like to add on the pageant thing, just like with dance moms there are some skimpy outfits I absolutely would never allow my daughter in pageant or not, just sayin’. Oh and I remembered it was a Chevy Corsica I learned to drive on LOL>

What about you, feel free to share your answers in the comments below I would love to hear your thoughts.

Strength…

Toni — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:22:44 +0000

I don’t question a lot of things. I have a pretty open heart but sometimes the strength I exude on the outside isn’t what I am really feeling inside. I am strong for everyone. I am happy for everyone. I don’t get angered easily. I smile because I don’t want the world to know what is going on but rather I help others through their valleys, then I don’t have to focus on mine.

If I don’t focus on it, it will get better or just go away. Or that’s what I tell myself. I used to have friends I talked to every day and just talking to them made my day brighter. Times change and people get busy. I still have wonderful friends who I would trust with my life and my kids lives but I miss the friends I have that I laughed and cried with on a daily or at the very least a weekly basis.

People judge me based on other things than actually taking time to get to know me. People don’t take time to get to know me, to know who I am. They see the happy me I put out there most of the time. They don’t see the days I feel I am in a deep pit and feel like I am drowning. Maybe that’s partly my fault because of the hurts I have had from people I trusted it’s hard for me to let people in. But when you look past the smile you will see someone who has a wonderful life yes, but still wants to know she is needed and wanted.

I want to know I have a friend who will know when something is wrong and will pick up the phone and call. I used to have several friends like that but things happened, distance happened, and now I wonder if I will ever have that type of friend again. The one who feels when something is wrong or right with me.

I thought it was strength that made me be strong for everyone else, strength that made me paste the smile on my face even when I am hurting so I can help others that are hurting, strength that made me say “it’s okay to help others my time will come” but now I wonder if what I thought was strength may actually be weakness in some circumstances.

And I end with this. I miss the ones who used to be and hope to have the ones so connected to me I don’t need to tell them anything but rather they just know again. I know God has a plan and the perfect friends, real friends, for me. Until then I will just hide under His wing and let him give me the strength I need. He is my comforter. He is my friend. He is the one who will bring me out of the hard times. I just have to trust.

Moments I Miss….

Toni — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:21:54 +0000

Yes I am one of those people who loves every moment of pregnancy! I loved everything about each of my pregnancies…okay maybe not the throwing up but everything else. I love every part of the newborn stage, yes even the sleepless nights and never ending nursing sessions.

This photo was taken about 3 weeks before my oldest was born. I look back on it and it makes me want another. Surely I am not the only one who misses these moments?