Looking Back 2017 & Looking Forward 2018: A Collection of Collages & Ideas

2017 - A glance back at what I did, saw, ate, loved, etc.

2018 - A glance forward at what I want to try, do, and try to do.

Disclosure: This post contains links to a number of previous Cathy Thinking Out Loud posts, 
some of which may contain sponsored content. As always all opinions are my own. 

WOW! 2017 flew by in what seemed like a blink of an eye, and before I knew it I was smack dab in 2018. A new year always means reflecting on the highlights and disappointments of the year before, and things I did or didn't accomplish. What people, experiences, or things impressed, inspired, or disappointed me, and what thoughts and memories will stay with me. Those reflections and thoughts have a huge impact on my goals and hopes for the new year. Some things will continue into 2018 and beyond, others will be fondly (or not so fondly) remembered but discontinued, or have simply run their course. Which brings me to the list of things I want to try, do, or try to do this in 2018. The list is long, and I know not all on the To Do list will get ticked off, but now in January it's kinda exciting so see all the potential the year holds. Because as far as I'm concerned until the clock strikes 12 on December 31st, 2018 the possibilities for this year are endless. 

It's plain to see 2017 was a busy year ...

I Went to ...
Clearwater, Florida, and various Ontario destinations including Toronto and the GTA, CasinoRama and Orillia, Gananoque, and Parkbridge Resort at Wasaga Beach.

I Attended ...
The Hockey Exhibit at the Canadian Museum of History (very Canadian and appropriate to mark Canada's 150th), a live taping of an episode of Cityline (with my Big Sis and Julie), Floral Crown and Wreath Making Workshop at Place d'Orleans (with Julie - fun with friends!), a Picnic with Ann and Julie in Gatineau Park, Vogue Darling - Style and Lifestyle Influencer Networking event, Taj Blogger night, Chatime blogger tasting event, Anne screening at the NAC - Netflix Streamteam, Supperworks Ottawa Blogger night, and the Ottawa Blogger Holiday lunch. 

As well the 4th BConnected Conference (for Digital Influencers) that was relocated to Toronto from Ottawa's final year. I was very sad to see the end of this conference, having attended all 4, with each one getting bigger and better. 

I Saw ...
The Mechanical Giants of La Machine (amazing HUGE mechanical creators), the Ottawa Chinatown Night Market in Ottawa's Chinatown, and PINK perform at Ottawa Bluesfest. During Doors Open Ottawa 2017 I managed to fit in a tour of the Canadian Aviation and Space Reserve Hanger and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Facilities, both of which were fascinating in their own way.

I Ate at ...
In Ottawa: Taj Indian Cuisine (delicious ... need I say more?), Morals Village Hot Pot (a dining experience), and other Ottawa eateries such as Jericho (filled with art and colour), Baan Thai (get the lunch special that comes on a lazy susan), Kanata Noodle House (for my favourite "birds nest chicken" aka F8), and Shawarma Palace (another family favourite) are just some of the local Ottawa establishments I had the pleasure of dining at in 2017. 

In Toronto: Arriba Restaurant & Lounge at the Renaissance Toronto, The Senator Restaurant (for pre-Cityline taping breakfasts) and Trattoria Mercatto (for post-Cityline taping lunches).

Other locations: CasinoRama and Orillia area eateries (there are so many great dining options at every price point), and in Clearwater, Florida - Frenchys Rockaway Grill (great food, friendly staff, and the view ain't too bad either).

I Tried ...
My first Barre and spin class during a 30-day fitness challenge. 

Beer again for the first time in at least a decade ... and liked it! 

I Embraced ...

Fruit in the way of an Apple Watch, iPhone and Apple MacBook. 

Indulged in ...
Some Retail Therapy ... because if the shoe fits ... 

I Watched ...
So many great movies, and shows. Last year was my 4th year as part of the Netflix Streamteam. And the quality and quantity of content was outstanding in 2017. (Be sure to check out my What to Watch posts for suggestions.) In addition to Netflix I found plenty to watch on Amazon Prime, and on local and Canadian TV channels. 

I Loved ...

I refer to myself as a tech-challenged tech-enthusiast. I love technology as long as it is easy enough for even me to use, and makes life better in some way. The Kingston Technology Data Traveler microDuo 3.0 (that works with both standard USB and micro USB ports) makes it easy to store or transfer data from my smartphone or tablet to my laptop. Given I use my phone almost exclusively to take pictures for my blog, storage, convenience and ease of use is why this easily made my Love List. The Belkin Road Rockstar 4 -port car charger (4 Ports!!!) If you have ever done a long-distance road trip with teens you'll know why this is a travel must-have and sanity-saver. My selfie light for my phone (not for selfies) I actually rarely use this for selfies, but it works wonders when trying to take pictures in low light such as a restaurant. Honourable mentions go to my Nordic Ware microwave egg cooker. It just works, and is easy to use with virtually no cleanup required. And the Instant Pot is worth every penny. It makes weekday meal prep fast and easy. 

Well hello 2018! Good to meet you.
This year I'm looking forward to ...

• A soon-to-be-announced collaboration with Julie from Try Small Things in April. A first for both of us that we are excited about. 
• A trip to Florida in the Spring. Just starting to look at dates and flight options. Always fun to do on a cold Canadian winter day. 

And I'm hoping to ...

• Redesign my blog and switch to WP.
• Take courses on coding, WP, photography. 
• Perfect my pitch, and pitch more of my ideas. 
• Embrace video and create live or taped video content to share both on my social media channels and on the blog. 
• Hit 10,000 followers on twitter.
• Write more, and more consistently on my blog. 
• Read more ... books, articles and posts about marketing, blogging, writing, photography.
• Learn how to use my new Apple laptop and phone. In the past I have used Android and PC's so this should be an interesting transition. 
• Discover all the functions of my cameras, and how I can use them. 
• Declutter my house, workspace, life, mind, and anything else that can be decluttered. 
• Be more active and eat healthier. 
• Manage time better.
• Increase my Mindfulness & Focus. There are many apps, techniques and tips to increase mindfulness and decrease stress. So I'm looking to discover which ones work well for me.  
• Travel to places I've never been before. 
• Take chances and step out of my comfort zone ... at least once or twice. 

So I bid a fond farewell to 2017, while looking forward to an amazing 2018. 

What was the best part of your 2017, and what are you most looking forward to in 2018?

Yep, just me Cathy thinking about a looking back over the last year, and looking forward to a what I hope is a spectacular 2018.   

Throwback Thursday #TBT #Cassette Tapes & 80's Music From My Youth

#TBT

Throwback Thursday 

Cassette Tapes

and Music From My Youth

circa the 80's

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about the music from my youth.

Throwback Thursday #TBT #FisherPrice Great Adventure Western Town CD circa 1997

#TBT

Throwback Thursday

Fisher Price, Great Adventure

Wild Western Town CD

(Minimum System Requirements: Windows 95) 

circa 1997

The Fisher Price Great Adventure CDs (released by The Learning Company) were one of the earliest computer experiences my kids had, and this Wild Western Town CD is the lone survivor of that Great Adventure CD collection that included:

• Wild Western Town
• The Castle
• The Pirate Ship
• Big Action Garage

We had the accompanying Western Town, Pirate Ship, Castle and Big Action Garage toy sets, including the All-In-One Adventures (mini Castle, Pirate, and Western Town). Except for these few characters which I didn't have the heart to let go, I very reluctantly placed the bigger pieces in loving homes, so other kids could have great adventures with them as well. We were big fans of both the CDs and the toys, and they became some of our all time favourites. In my opinion the Great Adventure toy sets and All-In-One toy sets are timeless classics which I sincerely hope Fisher Price brings back. No electronics or bells and whistles, just great toys that provide hours of imaginative fun. 

How about you? Did you have any Great Adventure Toys or CDs?

Yep, just me Cathy Thinking Out Loud about great adventures.

Throwback Thursday #TBT - 5 1/4 inch Floppy Disks w/ Storage Unit circa 70's

#TBT 

Throwback Thursday

5 1/4 inch Floppy Disks 

(with a full 1.6 MB of storage per disk) 

AND

most impressive locking storage container.

circa the 70's

Now if I could only figure out where Hubby put the Commodore 64, 

I guess I didn't have room in my brain to save that information to memory. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about making and saving memories.

Throwback Thursday #TBT #Kodak DC260 Digital Camera circa 1998

#TBT

Throwback Thursday

(Our first digital camera - you don't want to know how much it cost back then)

Kodak DC260 Digital Camera

circa 1998

The SD card for this camera was 256MB and could hold about 100 pictures!

When did you go digital?

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about picture perfect memories.

Throwback Thursday #TBT #Atari #LYNX circa 1990 #AtariLYNX

#TBT

Throwback Thursday

(Our first handheld gaming device)

Atari Lynx 

circa 1990

It's been awhile since we played with this. Only have 2 game cartridges for it but BMX game is fun!

Anyone else got one of these? Still got it?

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about days gone by.

A Mom's Perspective on Buying College & University #Tech: Mac vs PC

Two Teens, Two Laptops: Different but Equal

Those who know me know that A) I'm the mother to two evil teens, and B) I'm a tech-challenged Mom surviving in a household of tech-savvy beings. Although it means 24/7 in-house IT it also means that like many parents I have no clue when it comes to buying pricey technology my kids require for school. 

This year we purchased both kids new laptops which we consider to be one-time post secondary education expenses. Unlike the evil teens first laptops where price was a major factor, this time we weren't necessarily looking for the cheapest option, but rather the best value and bang for our buck over the next four years. 

My kids are very different in personality, interests, and what they need and use their laptops for, so not surprisingly their laptop choices are very different as well. Thing 1 needed a laptop that was 15 inches, with specific specs for his college Accounting program, so he opted for the Dell LATITUDE E5550, while Thing 2 his wants his laptop to be smaller, lighter without losing function or aesthetics, so went with the Apple 13 inch Retina Macbook Pro. 

It's the classic PC vs Mac scenario. 

Things Mom considers before buying: The 5 W's 

• Who: know your kid and what is important to them. Is it size, speed, gaming capabilities, ability to upgrade?
• What: is the laptop being used for? Are there requirements or specific specs needed to meet the requirements for school? Will it be used to stream video or for games? 
• When: do you need to purchase it? Give yourself and your kids time to think about what they want and need. Research options available, read consumer reviews, and look into available discount programs. You don't want to be rushed into a decision and time allows you to wait and find the right laptop at the right price point. 
• Where: will this laptop be used? School, home, work, on the road. Does it need to stand up to being lugged around in a knapsack. I strongly recommend investing in a good laptop bag or knapsack to protect your investment.
• Why: pick one laptop over another? Why do you need this over that? My kids need to be able to clearly articulate and justify why the added expense of a laptop such as the Dell or Mac makes sense over lower end models. For each individual the justification and their importance for both academic and personal reasons will vary.

If my kids can't answer these questions, or aren't willing to put the time into doing the research, so they can break it down into terms I can understand this bank is closed for business. It's just too much money to wing it or make time pressured snap decisions. 

I could refer you to all the impressive specs for both of these laptops, but frankly it's all Wah Wah Wah to me. So I asked Thing 2 to break it down into Mom speak so I had some understanding of what I was bankrolling and why. 

Just for the sake of comparison the Dell was on sale and was just under $1200 all in, and the Mac was just over $1400 all in. (FYI Evil teens these will not be replaced for at least four years, so treat them with care!)

For those who would like more information and specs on the Dell LATITUDE E5550 or the Apple Retina Macbook Pro.

So here's what Thing 2 had to say: 

Macbook Pro: 

What he likes:

• Has among the best screens of any laptop currently on the market.
• Footprint is ideal: measuring W: 12.35" L: 8.62" only .71" thick with a weight of 3.48lbs. (Mom speak for fits in knapsack and portable)
• Very fast mobile i5 or i7 dual core, as well as 8GB of DDR3 RAM in stock configuration (no idea what this means but sounds impressive).
• Comes with iWork Suite but Microsoft Office Suite is available for Mac should you prefer it.
• Physical hardware among the best in class. (Mom speak for looks nice - strong and manly)
• The track pad is arguably the best of any laptop on the market. Backlit chiclet keys with ample travel and tactility. The track pad was Thing2 biggest complaint about his previous laptop (and he complained about it a lot!). It may seem like a minor thing, but given the amount invested into a laptop and impact on user experience this is important. We learned the hard way to try before you buy. 

What he doesn't like:

• The intel integrated graphics means if you like to game this may not be the laptop for you. 
• Missing Windows applications may be an issue for those who need them for work, school, or just as a preference.
• Parts are not upgradable: the SSD and RAM are soldered to motherboard. This means you must spec the laptop how you want it at the time of purchase and live with those decisions for the full lifespan of the laptop.

Other notes:

People often speak of an "apple tax" and that you pay more for apple products for the name, but for this laptop you would be hard pressed to find one with these specs for less than the price of this Macbook. 

Dell LATITUDE E5550:

What he likes:

• Due to its business origin has a rugged design likely to withstand years of being thrown in a knapsack without problems.
• Large 1920 x 1080 anti-glare display.
• Capable i5 5300u dual core processor with hyper threading to create 2 real cores and 2 virtual core (wah wah wah ... no idea what this means but again sounds impressive).
• Very good backlit keyboard and track pad. The keys are chiclet style and offer a good amount of tactility and type travel.
• Boasts a 12 hour battery life that is more than enough for a full day or work or school.
• Offers full range of Windows applications.
• Good price point (especially when it is on sale!)
• Nice understated design.
• Parts such as the RAM or the hard drive are easily updated after purchase which provides some future-proofing.

What he doesn't like:

• Plastic construction.
• Like the Macbook Pro it has intel integrated graphics and is therefore not ideal for intensive gaming at high resolution.
• This laptop uses a hard drive which is slower, louder and more easily damaged if dropped than an SSD (solid state drive), however since the hard drive is removable you have the option of upgrading to a SSD at a later date.
• This laptop is large measuring W: 14.8" L: 10.1" 0.9" thick and weighing 4.71lbs. 

Other notes: 

Size is really about preference and purpose. In this case a larger screen was required to display full page reports and documents. 
In my opinion this laptop is on the large size for Thing 1 to carry around and fit on lecture hall desks to take notes, so we purchased a tablet and the Live Scribe Smart Pen 3 for note taking. This brings the total investment costs to the same amount as his brothers, but configured in a way that works better for him.  

Our Tech Investment Portfolios: Different but Equal

Thing 1 is happy to let his father find him a laptop that meets the requirements for school and is less particular about the aesthetics than his brother. He just wants it to work and be fast. Because of the laptop size requirements for school, adding other tech tools like a tablet and Live Scribe SmartPen makes sense for him. He like his brother has a desktop computer so gaming capabilities on his laptop is not an issue. 

Thing 2 wants a small portable laptop he can bring to school daily and edit video and photos easily on. The experience, feel, build quality and design are much more important to him. He knows specifically what he wants from his laptop, and after several expensive almost right purchase decisions largely made on cost, we decided it is cheaper in the long run and better value to get him the laptop he wanted all along. He is happier, treats it better, and researched in advance exactly what he would need from his laptop for the next four years.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about teens and tech.

Note: I was not compensated for this post. The purpose of this post was merely to share my experience and tips with my readers. All opinions are my own and reflect my personal experience with the brands or products. 

Refurbished - Benefits of New Without "New Premium" w/ @refurbio #tech

We all know the minute we drive a new car off the lot it depreciates. A few metres of mileage takes it from new to used. Not because it isn't working or under warranty, but because a new car like many things comes with what I like to call a "new premium". That premium often means the buyer is getting the latest model or specific features or colours they want. Sometimes this makes sense, but sometimes buying used or refurbished and letting someone else pay the "new premium" for you is the answer. 

"Refurbished computers and electronic products are restored to function as new products and they have no noticeable working conditions relative to new products. They may however have minor scratches and blemishes. A refurbished computer is one that cannot be sold as new, as it has been previously leased to corporate customers, used as display product or returned for a range of reasons." via refurb.io

As with buying a used car, buying a refurbished computer means someone else has paid the "new premium" on that computer. Over the years we have bought several refurbished laptops and desktops. My in-house IT team (Engineer Hubby &  two tech-savvy teens) are quick to weigh the pros and cons of new versus refurbished, but finding refurbished items has been a bit hit and miss, and we mostly just happened upon them. There is a new site called refurb.io that specializes in refurbished electronics. This makes finding and comparing their refurbished products fast and easy. They carry top brands like Dell, HP, IBM and Lenovo, and additional products are being added all the time. They are ISO 9001 Certified, a Microsoft Authorized Gold Certified Partner and Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher. 

Image via refurb.io (as of March 20, 2015 7:30 pm est) Inventory and price subject to change.

Your refurb.io shopping experience is made easy and convenient with available shipping to all provinces and territories, a free one year warranty on the products they sell. (see site for specific warranty details) and both credit card and PayPal payment options.  

Choosing the electronics that are right for you, whether new or refurbished requires answering a few basic questions or what I like to call:
My 5 before you buy questions:

• What is the budget, and expectations for product life? How much do you have to spend and how long does it need to last you?
• What will you be using the product for? For example in the case of a computer is it for school projects, email, social media, streaming videos, gaming or all of the above? 
• Where will you be using it? At home, school, work, travelling, at Starbucks, or a combination of these? Answering this question will help to determine how portable it must be, as well as the ideal weight and size of the device. It will also help to determine what if any accessories are appropriate.
• Who is going to be using it? Is it just for you, or to be shared with family, and more specifically kids? If it is to be portable and used by kids then durability becomes important. Some of the business oriented laptops lines may offer more durability as they are made to withstand the wear and tear of travel. 
• Environmental Impact and Footprint: One additional but important point and thing to consider when buying electronics is the environmental advantages to buying refurbished and to properly recycling electronics. Having the newest and shiniest has to be weighed against the impact this has on the environment. Opting for a refurbished computer helps to reduce the impact and the amount of electronic waste that needs to be processed, or worse ends up unprocessed in landfills. 

Once you have answered these questions you're in a good position to start your search. Be sure to check out reviews of products you're interested in. This is a worthwhile time investment, since reviews often reveal hints why a particular product may or may not be a good fit for you.

To help you on your way and as a bonus budget booster
refurb.io is offering a 10% discount on laptops until April 3oth, 2015
(use the code LAUNCH10)

For updates and more information about refurb.io be sure to follow refurb.io on facebook and refurb.io on twitter.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about refurb.io.

Note: I was compensated for this post and an honest review of this site as I experienced it. All opinions are my own and reflect my personal experience with the brand and product. 

.@TELUS #everystepcounts fitness challenge ends but my fitness journey continues #wearabletech

I was thrilled to be included in the TELUS #EveryStepCounts fitness challenge. I felt very honoured to be stepping along side the 14 other bloggers, but if I am honest I was also more than a bit intimidated. It was a two week fitness challenge and many of the other challengers already had active lifestyles and included fitness into their daily lives. The same cannot be said for myself. Regular workouts and fitness had always been part of my pre-parent life, but having celebrated my 29th birthday more times then I care to admit I found myself facing the reality of many years of inactivity. I have known for some time I needed to do something about this and take better care of myself. I even wrote a post in January stating 2015's word was SELF, but putting a plan into action proved more challenging than I thought, especially the fitness and health part. This timely fitness challenge was the kickstart I needed. 

It started with a fitbit Charge and a visit to the TELUS Learning Centre to meet with my Telus Health Tech Specialist Alex. Alex helped me set up my fitbit Charge, and addressed my questions regarding the fitbit itself, the fitbit App and using them with my phone. I appreciated the fact he was not only wearing the same fitbit, he had also tested it for several days before the appointment so he could speak from personal experience about this particular wearable tech. I knew TELUS had tech specialists you could make appointments with, I just never realized to what extent an appointment could save both time and frustration while getting to know a new device, how it works with other devices, and how to get the most functionality from them. Alex was professional, helpful and very personable. I highly recommend taking advantage of this free TELUS service with any new device. 

For more information on wearable tech and which one is best for you check out the TELUS blog. They have a number of helpful posts including It Takes Two: 5 Fitness Tips for You and Your Partner, and Ready Tech Go: Wearable Fitness and New Year's Resolutions, plus several more scheduled for later this month and March.

Personally I found it very easy and straight forward to track my progress on my fitbit, my phone or my laptop. The fitbit Charge was easy to use with excellent battery life. It comes in 4 colours with an adjustable band that is comfortable to wear. I love that it combines both a watch and tracking functions. Right on the fitbit you can see the time, steps, miles, flights, calories burned, and incoming call notification. As you achieve different levels of steps, flights or goals you'll receive achievement badges and notifications. You can track your meals and calories in versus burned, and your sleep including hours slept and amount of restless sleep. 

The one thing I wish the fitbit App had is a Canadian food data base that recognized and scanned Canadian food UPC barcodes. Currently only US or UK are available and I found most Canadian food UPC's I tried did not scan. 

Image via TELUS

On February 2nd, 2015 a two week fitness challenge began. Not exactly knowing what I would be up against I set what I thought was a pretty tough but attainable challenge for myself of 10,000 steps per day. I soon found out the competition was fierce and I would have to be aiming for 15,000+ per day just to keep up. I will admit I got a tiny bit competitive and pushed myself to step for hours a day. I found new ways to get the steps in. I would step and tweet and step and post. I was stepping while I brushed my teeth or made meals or folded laundry. I would take several trips to bring the laundry upstairs rather than trying to do it all in one trip. I didn't want to be the one who couldn't keep up after years of inactivity. Plus there were a few awesome prizes to be won. 

By the end of week one I was maintaining a position in the top third but out of the prize contention. But here is the thing; overweight out of shape me was stepping up to the challenge and pushing myself to step 25,000+ steps a day, but not for the prizes, but because I had lost 6 pounds in just over a week by stepping and tracking my calories and meals. This was the best prize of all and became my motivation to keep stepping up to the challenge everyday. My goal is to continue to get between 15,000 and 20,000 steps in each day. 

I can't thank TELUS and my fellow competitors enough for helping me to get started on a road better health. Getting started is often the hardest part and without this challenge I honestly do not feel I would have had this success or the determination to keep going and truly make this the year of SELF. I have a long way to go to reach the weight and fitness level goals that are right for me but I feel inspired by my success to continue on this journey. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about fitness and making sure #everystepcounts.

Just an FYI: I wrote two other posts about my #everystepcounts journey: 

My Journey of 1000 Miles Begins With a Single Baby Step

and

My EveryStepCounts TELUS Fitness Challenge Playlist

Note: I received a Fitbit Charge from TELUS free of charge in order to participate in the #everystepcounts fitness challenge. All opinions are my own and reflect my personal experience with the brand and product. 

#Roku3 x 2 from @StaplesCanada is a peace keeper in my house. #tech #teens #streamingmediaplayer

We haven't had cable in over a decade, but I do have two teen boys, so understandably Netflix is very popular in my house. What is not so popular is listening to them argue about what to watch or to listen to their programs echoing all over the house. My solution came in the way of their gifts this past Christmas. I gave them each a Roku 3 (available at Staples Canada). 

Here is why I opted to give them each their own:

• You can plug your headphones into the remote of the Roku 3 and listen to program without disturbing others. In my opinion this alone is worth the price of the Roku 3.
• Roku 3 is very portable and easy to move around from one TV or room to another.
• It is very user friendly even for a tech challenged Mom.
• The Roku 3 is very small and fits anywhere.
• It has the Anger Birds game already installed, which is much better than the fallout of this Angry old bird after listening to the kids bicker over what to watch. 
• Using the Roku 3 besides Netflix you can also stream You Tube, Crackle, Vimeo, to name a few.
• At $100 the price point is not over the top.     

It's makes a perfect gift for teens or seniors. My snowbird parents recently signed up for Netflix and the Roku 3 ease of use and portability makes it perfect for them. It's a great treat to yourself for some peace and quiet, or if you're watching a show or movie late at night you can plug your headphones into the remote so you don't disturb others. Personally I've tried other streaming media devices but as a member of the tech challenged society I found the Roku 3 to be the easiest to use. 

You can find more information on the Roku 3 or other streaming devices at Staples Canada or follow Staples Canada on facebook or Staples Canada on twitter.

Yep. just me Cathy thinking out loud about Roku 3 x 2.

Note: I have not been compensated for this post. The purpose of this post is simply to share with my readers. All opinions are my own and based on my personal experience with the brand and product.