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Gadgets: Fitbit Alta HR Review


If you know me IRL, you know that I am slightly obsessed with Fitbit fitness trackers. Every day I try to hit at least 10K steps, I check my sleeping stats religiously, and get into somewhat heated stepping competitions with friends and family on the app. But as far as obsessions go, this one has helped me get off the couch, become more fit, and yes, lose weight.


My first Fitbit tracker was Fitbit Alta, I loved its sleek design and how inconspicuous it was. I could stack a few bracelets around it to dress it up, or wear it as-is and not feel like I had a fitness tracker on – it was pretty perfect. Then, a few months ago I tried Fitbit Charge 2, and with this tracker I could also monitor my heart rate, helping me get a more precise reading of my daily calorie burn, and helping me track exercise better.

But while I loved the functionality and features of Charge 2 (Guided Breathing Sessions were a huge bonus!), with its wider screen and band I found myself missing my thinner tracker. What I really wanted was to wear my Alta, but with all of the benefits of heart rate readings too. Well, my prayers have been answered with the new and improved Fitbit Alta HR – it still offers the same stylish design, but this time with a PurePulse Heart Rate monitor built-in, so I can track low-step exercise like Barre better, keep an eye on my resting heart rate changes, and get a better overall understanding of my fitness level.


These days my Fitbit Alta HR is on my wrist every single day – from work to sleep and everything in between, and I truly can’t imagine how I ever functioned without it. It made me a more active person, and it fits my personal style – what more can you ask for?


Fitbit tracker was provided free of charge. All opinions are my own.

Gadgets: Public School for Fitbit Alta Collection

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Since April, I’ve been tracking my steps with Fitbit, and I am a woman obsessed! I wear my Fitbit everywhere, and when I do forget to put it on (post-shower, or while it’s charging), I feel super disappointed about not tracking those steps (if you didn’t track them, did the steps actually happen?). And while I usually stash my Fitbit Alta into my clutch when I dress up, pretty soon, I won’t have to, thanks to this amazing Public School x Fitbit Alta collection that will be available for pre-sale next month, and on sale in November. 

“Together with Fitbit, our vision is to help people move effortlessly from day to night with a look that reflects their unique style and attitude — and motivates them to stay healthy and fit,” shared Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, cofounders of Public School.


Just like Fitbit’s own silver and gold Alta bracelets that will be in stores soon, the Public School collection aims to make fitness trackers a stylish accessory instead of a workout-only gadget, and I am all for it. Can’t wait to pick up a couple of bands to change up the look of my Fitbit Alta.

What do you think of Public School x Fitbit Alta collection? Share in the comments.

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Photo Credits: Fitbit

Highlights from the Best Buy Life & Wearable Tech Expo and Fashion Show

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Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the 2nd annual Best Buy Life & Wearable Tech Expo and Fashion Show held at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto. Alongside my blogger buds Casie Stewart, Gracie Carroll, and Jay Strut, I checked out the latest in wearable technology, and chatted with tech expert Tom Emrich and stylist Afiya Francisco about all things style and tech.

With the abundance of new products on the market, it can feel both intimidating and exhausting trying to figure out which products are worth trying, so I asked Tom to share his Top 5 wearable tech products and why he’s excited about them. Thinking that I was already on top of all the latest releases, I quickly realized that I was wrong, because I’ve never even heard of the first must-have on Tom’s list – the kate spade new york wearable tech. Soon to be released are the most adorable fitness trackers you’ve ever laid your eyes on. You actually won’t believe that these accessories aren’t just meant to look good. Other items that made Tom’s list are the upcoming Fossil smartwatches (style and substance), Muse Brain-Sensing Headband (to remind you to take some “me” time), Merge VR Goggles (because VR is the future of gaming and possibly many other forms of entertainment), and iON SnapCam (for documenting life’s moments without interruptions).

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Another thing to keep in mind when considering wearable tech products is definitely the style element. Afiya’s rule of thumb is to make sure that the product must suit your personal style, otherwise you probably won’t get much use out of it. This rang especially true for me, as seeing this gorgeous Fitbit Alta Metal Band made me choose this specific Fitbit model over other fitness trackers on the market.

Best Buy Life & Tech Fashion Show : : images by Danylo Bobyk Photography : : www.danylophoto.com
After the interviews, my friends and I sat down for the fashion show, seeing just how wearable so many of the tech accessories are today. Though I won’t be strolling the streets with VR goggles on my head any time soon, I love the elegance and simplicity of the many smartwatches and fitness bands available at Best Buy right now…and I’m certainly excited for what’s to come in the near future.

So tell me, do you own any wearable technology products? Why or why not? Share in the comments.

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More photos after the jump!
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You Are Invited: Best Buy Life & Wearable Tech Expo and Fashion Show

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Sponsored Post
Do you remember The Jetsons? I used to watch that cartoon as a kid, dreaming of flying cars and helpful robots, thinking that it was all just a far-fetched fantasy. Well, in many ways, the future is here. Though we still don’t have flying cars, and only some people have robots in their houses, wearable tech is everywhere from smartwatches to wearable cameras, to virtual reality headsets – there are gadgets out there that we could only dream of just a decade ago. And if wearable tech is something that interests you (and if you live in Toronto), you should definitely stop by the Best Buy Life & Wearable Tech Expo and Fashion Show at Yonge and Dundas Square this Thursday. The expo is a full day interactive event, showcasing the latest wearable tech available at Best Buy.

I’m already a huge fan of Fitbit Alta, but I can’t wait to learn more about gadgets like Muse Brain-Sensing Headband, iON SnapCam, and Smart Rope! The event will include demos, panel discussions, a fashion show, and some cool surprises. If you can’t attend in person, make sure to follow hashtag #LifeandTech on Twitter. See you on Thursday!

EVENT: Best Buy Life & Wearable Tech Expo and Fashion Show
WHERE: Yonge and Dundas Square, Toronto
WHEN: August 25th, 2016 11am-9pm

Photo Credits: Best Buy Plug In Blog

Gadgets: Fitbit Alta Review

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If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat, you’ve probably noticed my affinity for counting my steps. For the last month or so, I’ve been test-driving the new Fitbit Alta fitness watch and if I had to sum it up in two words, it would be ADDICTIVELY AWESOME. Not only are the new Fitbit Alta and Fitbit Blaze models are sleek and stylish, they offer a wealth of knowledge about your activity levels, helping you make better choices every day. Thanks to Alta, I’ve stepped up my walking game – if walking is an option, I do it. I’ve been walking from the subway instead of taking the bus, taking the stairs instead of the escalator, taking the longer route home, instead of the more efficient way. My daily goal is to hit 10,000 recommended steps, and even though some days I fail, most days I go above and beyond. Fitbit actually made me realize just how little I move when I work from home. Some days I only hit 600 steps by the time it’s 5pm – basically from my couch to the kitchen and back. Being aware of those low activity days is important, because now I try to make up for them by taking an extra-long walk at the end of the day.


Another Fitbit feature that I am obsessed with is the sleep tracker. I get tired a lot, and for the longest time I was sure that I was getting at least 8 hours of sleep, blaming my tiredness on other factors. But guess what, after wearing the tracker for over a month, I now know that I rarely get 8 or more hours of sleep. Most days I am lucky to get 7 hours! The sleep tracker tells you the quality of sleep – distinguishing between sleep, restlessness and being fully awake. Seeing all of those “toss and turn” minutes is a pretty eye-opening revelation, helping me track down the triggers that may be causing those bouts of sleeplessness as well as reminding me to go to bed earlier.

On top of counting your steps, and analyzing the quality of your sleep, Fitbit Alta also tells you how many calories you burn, tracks exercise, distance walked, and total active minutes, reminds you to take your 250 steps every hour with a little buzz to the wrist, as well as shows your incoming text messages and calls. If you’re diligent enough to keep a food diary, you can do it on the Fitbit app too.

I never knew just how much Fitbit can do, and can truly say that I’m obsessed with my Fitbit Alta. With a variety of stylish bands – from metal to leather, there’s no reason to ever remove that stylish gadget from your wrist (other than to charge or shower). I wear mine to bed, to the gym, to work…every step I take, Fitbit’s watching me…ok that sounded kinda sinister, but you get the point.

So tell me, do you use Fitbit? And if not, WHY NOT?! Share in the comments.

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Photo Credits: 2, 3 – George Pimentel Photography

Style Days of Christmas: LG G4 Smartphone

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All good things must come to an end, and today is the final day of our annual Style Days of Christmas giveaways. But before I say good-bye and good-luck, there’s still one more giveaway to go, and it’s a good one! Today’s prize is the powerful and stylish LG G4 smartphone ($699). With a 16MP Main Camera, laser detection auto-focus, and OIS 2.0 (an improved optical image stabilizer that reduces camera shake), this phone is guaranteed to take some striking photos. It also features a bigger, clearer and faster 5.5” IPS Quantum Display and a classic slim arc-shaped, ergonomic design, which allows for a natural and firm grip. And it looks so good!

So what do you say? Want to win your very own LG G4? Enter below!

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Gadgets: Hermès Apple Watch

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By now, you have no doubt heard about the new collaboration between Apple Watch and Hermès, adding a stylish touch to the already highly-sought out gadget. And it looks like Apple’s desire to capture the style-conscious demo is already working…at least on this girl here. This collab has actually made me consider getting one! With a variety of stylish leather wraps, and a matching Hermès watch face – Apple Watch is looking more and more attractive to someone who doesn’t like the look of bulky/plastic gadgets on their wrist. But if you want one, it’ll certainly cost you  –  “Single Tour” style will retail for USD 1,100, “Double Tour” double-strap version will be sold for USD 1,250, and the “Cuff” style for USD 1,500. With a weak Canadian dollar, expect to see even higher price tags in Canada.

So is it worth picking up an Hermès Apple Watch? Considering that some Hermès leather bracelets can retail for around CAD 1,185, it does seem like a fairly good deal. But whether it’s going to be a runaway success, we’ll have to wait until October 5th to find out.

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More photos after the jump!
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Style Days of Christmas: Samsung GALAXY Alpha Giveaway

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I can’t believe it’s the last day of Style Days of Christmas giveaways, you guys. Hope you all had fun entering, and perusing some really cool prizes from Style Blog’s most favourite brands. Pretty soon, I’m going to start selecting the winners and emailing them just in time for the holidays. Can’t wait to share the love. But, it’s not over just yet! We still have one more prize to give away, and it’s a good one. A really good one!

As you may have gleaned from the title of this post, today, we are giving away a Samsung GALAXY Alpha phone (valued at $699.95) from our friends over at Samsung Canada. What makes the GALAXY Alpha such a coveted phone? Well, check out some of its fab features below and be amazed:

– Enjoy a premium visual experience: With a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED screen, the Alpha offers richer colours and a vivid experience that will make your festive photos look like professional prints.
– Run your holiday errands in style: Brushed with an aluminum frame and at less than 7 mm thick, the GALAXY Alpha is one of Samsung’s slimmest devices ever.
– Keep all of your holiday surprises secret: The GALAXY Alpha comes with upgraded and personalized security technology. An intuitive finger scanner unlocks the device, ensuring it only works when it’s in the owner’s hands, and can be used to log into your favourite sites and authenticate online purchases.
– Capture kisses under the mistletoe: The 12MP rear camera gives you the power to capture your favourite holiday moments and offers Phase Detection for faster auto focus and Selective Focus for more artistic shots.
– Don’t miss any holiday moment: Ultra Power Saving Mode conserves battery life, helping you stay connected for longer.
-Match any winter wardrobe: The stunning GALAXY Alpha comes in Dazzling White, Charcoal Black and Frosted Gold.

Sounds like a phone you’d like to win for the holidays? Enter below!

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Details after the jump!
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Style Days of Christmas: TASSIMO T65 Giveaway

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We are in our second week of Style Days of Christmas giveaways and today’s prize comes courtesy of TASSIMO! Who doesn’t love a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate…or even tea on a snowy evening?! Well, with TASSIMO T65 home brewer by BOSCH (valued at $249.99), you can make all of those, as well as drinks like Pumpkin Spice Latte, Peppermint Mocha, and French Vanilla Cappuccino. Entertaining during the holiday season is going to be so easy with this sleek coffee machine!

Interested? Enter below!

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Details after the jump!
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Style Days of Christmas: Schwarzkopf Professional Giveaway

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Can’t believe that it’s day 5 of Style Days of Christmas already! Hope you’re having fun entering these giveaways, and loving the prizes. Today’s prize pack (valued at $324) is courtesy of Schwarzkopf Professional, and includes some seriously awesome goodies:

OSiS+ Holiday Pack ($14.98)
BC Hairtherapy Color Freeze Gift Set ($37.95)
BC Hairtherapy Moisture Kick Beauty Balm ($17.75)
BC Hairtherapy Oil Miracle Finishing Treatment ($39)
SKP PRO-Flat Flat Iron ($214.50)

When I first went platinum (and then grey), I had to slash my hair washing days to a maximum of two per week. But between those washes, I still went to the gym, and participated in my usual activities. Thank goodness for Schwarzkopf Professional and their OSiS+ dry shampoo and hairspray which helped my hair look great instead of tragic every day, whether it’s been washed or not. And today, I want to give you the gift of great hair too. Getting ready for holiday parties with this prize pack is going to be a cinch! Sounds good? Enter below!

 

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Details after the jump!
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