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Wednesday 12 December

Fun family activities for the holiday season thanks to tech. Yes tech!

We're thrilled to be working with our newest sponsor, Plantronics, whose highly rated Bluetooth Headset, the Voyager Legend, helps conversations come together. Plus we get to give one away!

With the holiday season officially here, we all feel so lucky to be surrounded by friends and family--and even friends who become family. When the kids are home from school, the cousins are visiting, and we're all looking for ways to enjoy each other's company, the cool thing is that tech can really help bring us all together.


So we rounded up a few of our favorite ways we love spending time together with our families. Who knows--they just might become your newest annual traditions.

{Don't miss the amazing Plantronics Voyager Legend giveaway after the jump!}

 

Family Game Time 
When you finally agree on a board game, set up said board game, and then realize that 27 of the required 400 pieces are missing (not just our homes, right?) you've got another option.

  

Download amazing games right on your iPad or Android tablet. Monopoly (above) is a big family favorite around our house, as is Scrabble, both of which can accommodate up to four players. The best part: easy clean-up. Which means more time for hot chocolate making.


Family Sports Time
With video gaming consoles like Wii and Kinect for XBOX 360, you can play all sorts of awesome virtual sports that will actually have you burning calories too. Especially when the grass is frozen over in the backyard.

Family Sports Time: Kinect Sports Season Two


We love the new Kinect Sports Season 2. Or for something just as competitive, if less full-contact, try our all-time favorite, Just Dance 4 which is compatible with all three of the major gaming consoles and is a hit with all ages. And don't forget to keep the video rolling!

Family Catch-up Time
For those of us with faraway friends and family, it's definitely hard when we can't all be together in person. We love making time to connect via Skype, Google+ Hangouts, or Facetime. It's even smart to set a time, so the kids can get excited for "Grandma time" at 6:30.

The truth is, it doesn't have to be complicated--you can even use the good old phone (remember those?) with the help of a Bluetooth headset.

Plantronics Voyager Legend Headset


The Plantronics Voyager Legend has very smart features that can help bring all aspects of your life together. There's voice activation, automatic call routing, even moisture protection (from eggnog perhaps?) which will make multi-tasking a lot easier. Answer calls or if you're busy, say playing that Monopoly game, ignore the call with just a voice command; no button pushing required--cool right? The other feature we look for as parents: noise cancellation. Meaning you can catch up while the kids are running around screaming in the background on a candy cane high.


Family Movie Time
Thankfully, we no longer need to be limited to whatever holiday movie is airing on cable at that particular moment. Whether you've got Apple TV, a Roku, or a gaming system that can stream from Amazon Video or Netflix, you can gather around the TV to watch nearly any holiday movie you want, at any time.
Family Movie Time: Roku

And even better--no commercials. The only problem we've found is convincing our kids that those black and white movies really aren't "boring" at all.

You can learn more about our sponsor Plantronics and their new Voyager Legend Bluetooth headset on their website, as well as by watching these helpful YouTube videos. We love the idea of togetherness, especially during the holiday season.

Congratulations to Elizabeth T!  She won our Plantronics contest and will be receiving a Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth headset.


Find More: Cell Phone Accessories, Communication + Connectivity, Tips and Tricks

Let's put it this way - I need all the help multi-tasking I can get. Sign me up! :)

I need one because I would rather not drop my phone while making dinner.

Thanks!

I need this for safer commuting - making my 1.5 hrs a day count!

I don't need one, but would love to have one. My one ear is in need of a way to keep warm over the long winter. It was either a BT headset or a hat. Hat's are too old tech though.

I would love the ease of having a hands free phone option.

i have a toddler who runs around a lot -- i imagine this would make life a little easier!!

I would love to have one so that I can cut the tether from my computer. Imagine being able to roam free throughout the land while talking to family via Skype, conference calls over webex.... This cord chains me to my desk and I need to be freed. Please save this blond haired, blue eyed ... well... dude :) from the evil cord. I leave this in your hands, but remember it is time to cut the cord and explore FREEDOM!!!! William Wallace told me to say that.

I don't have AppleTV, and I was NOT a fan of Hulu, but my Hopper is a fantastic gadget for entertaining. I got it after a DISH coworker showed me how I could record up to 6 live HD shows at once; it has a hard drive that can store up to 2,000 hours of TV or Film, and with PrimeTime Anytime I know it will automatically record every primetime show from all four major networks! It's ridiculously convenient, and if we want movies, we have an amazing VOD library to choose from!

I return a lot of calls in the car....would love to not have to yell at my dashboard in order for the other person to hear me on the speakerphone.

I have parents who love to talk!!!

My wife needs a headset she feels good about using

sounds wonderfull, I would absolutely use it, as I am always playing catch up with family and friends, with this little gem- in use I think multitasking would actually be possible in my house;)

I would love to be about to roam the house and multitask while talking to L---O---N---G winded family and friends. You know the type...the calls where the only responses required from you are uh huh. :) It would also be great for work teleconferences!

I need one because I don't have one! It's the law here so I can't talk and drive.

Well...my kids (two boys!) are ALWAYS running around screaming...even when not on a candy cane high! So, yeah. I need this. :)

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i have twins under 2 and i could use ANYTHING hands free, the twins already take up both hands.

Because this may be the only real Christmas present I get!!! :)

california has a hands free law.

I need one because the Bluetooth connexion in my car is horrible and unusable.

to be as cool as my kids!

I need some technology to bring me into the 21st century :)

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Two kids = Zero hands!

My commute is 2 hours long. That's reason enough, right?

Thanks!

I'm always busy running around the house and can't carry the phone around with me. this would be a great hands free item. thanks

I would like to win one to replace the bluetooth of my husbands that my French Bulldog puppy chewed up.

I spend 2 hours in the car every weekday, taking my daughter to school and picking her up. This might make it bearable!

Handsfree while playing with kids. Yes, please!

I need one because my husband broke his, so I gave him mine for now.

I think it's about time I join the ranks of those people who always look like they are talking to themselves. (Plus, I can fold laundry, cook, make lunches and get work done while I'm rushing from one thing to the other.)

Safer driving? Hands free in the kitchen? Looking cool?
All of the above.

As a single, work-at-home mom of 5 children ages 15, 11, 10, 4 and almost 2, my hands are always full and my days are always hectic. I rely on technology for efficiency. Being that I presently do not have a hands free device, this would greatly increase my ability to provide for my family while at the same time meeting their needs. Thank you!

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My good wife deeds a hands free solution while she drives. She does not multi-task well. I am afraid that she will hurt herself some day, not to mention the neighborhood childern who don't seem to KNOW about playing in the street when a car in comming?!

I need this because I am always on the phone.

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I've been really wanting a Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth headset so I can talk on the phone without having to actually hold the phone, especially for driving.
Thanks so much and Happy Holidays :)

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I need hands free in my car

Since I am constantly on the phone with any of my four kids (who all have their own cell phones) this would be a fantastic way to help manage that. Sure, they like to text as well, but one of them lives on the west coast and another one works during the day so texting is frowned upon and I would LOVE this gift.

What a super giveaway!

I would love to give this to my son-in-law, his job requires him to use the cell phone for hours daily

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Not only could I REALLY use one of these but my family would be forever greatful. I multi-task so much while I am on the phone (playing with two dogs out back, cleaning, cooking, painting, crafting, driving my kids and all their friends back and forth, playing with my kids at opposite ends of the house) that I unfortunately loose it half the time either in the pantry, fridge, linen closet, outside on the front steps ..... just about anywhere that I have been, which at this age is sometimes a challenge to remember :)

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this would be awesome for the family for Christmas
vmkids3 at msn dot com

1 year old and a mother who calls CONSTANTLY! Enough said! Haha!

I need this for my son, who despite me talking to him til I'm blue in the face, continues to drive and talk on his cell.

I need a Bluetooth SO desperately because when I use my headphones when talking on the phone and holding my 13 month old, she's constantly pulling the cords out of my ears and trying to eat them. Help a momma out!!

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I have rheumatoid arthritis and it is difficult to hold on to things, anything like this is great!! Thanks for these offers :)

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I have family in Florida, Maryland & Texas - the headset would be awesome!

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i need this for my son who travels lots daily and needs a hands free set!

jagar0047 at yahoo dot com

I need one, because it's illegal in my state, to drive while using a cell phone, unless its hands-free. :-)

I need it for my commute - an hour each way!!

This would be wonderful, for those times when you have to talk on the phone and you're driving

I would like to win because New York has a cell phone "hands free" law when driving and I don't have a hands free headset.

Entering, because my husband always talks to me on some headset that doesn't work and I can never hear him. This would go under my tree for him!!

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This would be perfect as I work from home, have a toddler and am pregnant as well!

I need 1 because the children's doctor and therapists are always calling when I'm driving or dropping them off at school or shopping for groceries

it's the law you have to go hands free in cars around here now

I need this! I talk a lot as a therapist and need to be accessible at all times! Help me help you!! :-)

In CT you need to be hands free and I don't have a hands free device!

I'd love to win because I don't have one of these :)

My husband needs this because he drives a truck for a living and he's always breaking his bluetooth earpieces
annabella @ centurytel dot net

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I would love the ease of having a hands free phone option since I have a toddler. The law out here requires one too. Thanks for the great giveaway and happy holidays!


I don't need one, but would like to have one...unlike most of the idiots on the road I pull over or let the calls go to voice mail when I drive!

I need this for my husband. It would improve his ability to work from home!

I need this because I would love to bring my mom into the current technology century this holiday season!

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We have a small home based IT business AND an active toddler in and near the same spaces. Trying to keep a conversation going and your hands free, while trying to appease a temperamental tot is a challenge! We have given up on small bluetooth headsets as daddy either loses, drops, or breaks them.

Hi.Thank you for the chance! Would love this to make long distance video chats eaiser.

Howdy,
I would like to have one because I am oldish and have no idea what a blue tooth is. I've heard of blue fish, but I can't seem to plug one of those into my new-fangled Android phone. I was told I was doing it all wrong, that blue fish was really good smoked, but I failed at that, too, as I couldn't seem to keep the blue fish lit.
I initially thought the Bluetooth was like a Get Smart device for an actual tooth, but now found it's for enhanced hearing.
Shouldn't it be called a Blue Ear?
Please send me one so I can listen to Zappa without disturbing my grandchildren.
thank you very much,
Granny Berry

I'd use it around the house wihth my (not always gentle) kids around
Thank you for hosting this giveaway

Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com

Need this because I have never bought one before and it would make life so much easier having hands free

ardy22 at earthlink dot net

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I need this for my mother, it would great for her and keep her safe when driving.

my wife just got a new iphone and could use this.

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I need this to be hands free in the car.

I need one of these because I'm a mom and only have two hands (even if my children think I might have 10!) :)

I need this because I am busy and this would save time.

I would love this for in the car.

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My old Bluetooth just died, and I need all the help I can get ;). Thanks!

I need this to give to my daughter. She is very busy and on her phone frequently. It would great for her to have her hands free.

Why? The daily telecon work which is unfortunately right at school carpool time...

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THis would be great for driving!

O my gosh I'd LOVE to have one of those headsets/need one of those headsets because two hands are always better than however many we're left to work with as mommies lol!

need this for my husband

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definitely would be a nice Christmas present for my husband--the work from home dad

id love to win this for my daughter in college :)

We need this - it'd be much safer, though even with a headset driving distracted would be bad.

I work at the computer all day, and this would be great to be able to deal with phone calls. The voice control is awesome.

My husband's headset just broke and he's cheap; he would never spend this much on a headset--and would never get one that's this great. So, I'd love to win it for him! Thanks for another great giveaway!

My old headset is broken, so I'd love to win this one.

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I've never tried a headset, but my husband swears I need one. I'd love to have this. Thanks so much for the giveaway

i need one to keep me hands free while i am driving, cleaning, do laundry, walking 3 dogs and taking care of 2 kids

Because my New Years resolution will be to hear people on the other end of the call say "what?" by 50% and as a stay @ home with a 3 year old, my only chance to achieve this is noise-canceling headset :)

Please Enter Me In Your Giveaway.
I Would Love To Win The
Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth Headset
So I Can Give It To A Friend.
My Friend Has A Bad Habit Of Using His Cell Phone
While Driving And That's Now Against The Law Here.
Thank You For Having This Giveaway!!!!!!

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i need one because i like to talk on the phone while i clean and cook and this would really come in handy

Need one to talk hands free int he car

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I have a very similar headset at work and it is extremely comfortable and I can't even really tell it is on my ear. It would be much better than my current bluetooth headset.

It would be an amazing gift for my mother, since she loves to cook and talk on the phone!!

I don't have a handsfree headset/earpiece but have been wanting one. This would make it so much easier for me to multitask!

Maybe someone could actually hear me being the other headset I have tried cuts in and out.

safer commuting....

I need it because it'll help to be hands free while cooking!

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I need one for my daughter,so she can drive safety
and not be holding her cell phone while she is driving

Thanks for the giveaway...would love a Plantronics Voyager Legend to safely talk hands-free while driving, or working in our backyard.

I need one because I'm on the phone a lot.

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