LiftMaster MyQ Garage Door Opener Review & Giveaway

04/02/2012 By 77 Comments

When we moved into our new home, we were so excited because the two-car garage actually had a garage door opener (a luxury we did not have at our rental home). Then, we realized that the opener we had is actually on the same side of the garage as the steps and door into the house, making it impossible for our van to fit on that side.

LiftMaster Elite Series Belt Drive Garage Door OpenerSo, we went along for a few months – parking our van on the only side it will fit and we simply had to open the garage door by hand. This is definitely a pain when it’s cold or raining, but it’s also just all-around annoying. But, early last month, I got a new LiftMaster garage door opener installed with MyQ technology.

This is not just any garage door opener. The LiftMaster MyQ technology is seriously awesome. I couldn’t have asked for better. I can now open my garage door from anywhere because of the LiftMaster iPhone app that allows me to control my garage door from wherever I am because of the LiftMaster MyQ Internet Gateway.

LiftMaster Logo

LiftMaster MyQ Technology

The ultra-quiet, high-performance, feature-rich models include:

  • Battery Backup: Built right into the unit, it continues to open and close the garage door during a power outage so homeowners can seamlessly get in or out
  • MyQ Technology: Equipped with the patented, industry-first two-way communication system; controlling, monitoring and managing their home, garage and other items through the opener.
  • Security+ ® 2.0 radio system uses multiple frequencies for near-zero interference so it performs reliably and reacts quickly to your command.
  • Timer-to-Close automatically closes the door after a pre-programmed number of minutes. If you have ever left home and wondered if you closed the garage door, you will want this great new feature.
  • Energy efficient operation consumes up to 75 percent less power in standby mode.

The Installation

Our new garage door was installed by the wonderful American Garage Door that has been serving the Metro Atlanta area  for more than 9 years. It took a good long while to get it all installed (about six hours total), but the technician was extremely efficient and clean in his work. After he worked his magic, we now have a nice quiet garage door opener.

MyQ Accessories

LiftMaster Smart Control PanelThere are several accessories that work along with the LiftMaster garage door openers. The accessories that I have are simply wonderful.

The 3-Button LiftMaster Premium Remote Control is the the controller that goes in my vehicle. It has the ability to control up to three MyQ-enabled devices and grips well to my visor with its faux leather grip and contoured shape. Not only that, but the buttons are back-lit so I can easily find the right button at night.

The LiftMaster® Internet Gateway is the magic box that allows me to control my garage door from anywhere in the world that has internet access. I can open, close or check on the status of my garage door using an app on my iPhone or the LiftMaster website.

The LiftMaster Smart Control Panel is the little guy that hangs out in my garage. It doesn’t just open my garage door, but it also acts as a motion sensor to turn on the light, shows the time and temperature and also allows me to adjust settings and receive maintenance alerts. I can also set a Timer-to-Close to automatically close the garage door after a pre-programmed number of minutes.

LiftMaster Garage Door Opener Giveaway

Everyone deserves to have a nice garage door opener that will keep you out of the rain when you come into your own driveway after work. That’s why LiftMaster has agreed to give one Lindsay Blogs reader a MyQ-enabled garage door opener (with installation, of course) to make your life a little easier. This giveaway has an estimated retail value of about $500 and I can’t wait to give it to one of you so that you can love it as much as I do!

MyQ Logo

The giveaway is simple. Just go to the Rafflecopter widget below and snag your entries! This giveaway will run from April 2, 2012 through April 30, 2012.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

I disclose.

Filed Under: Reviews & Giveaways Tagged With: , , 77 Comments

NanoStyle Cross Mosaic Pendant Review

03/22/2012 By 1 Comment

I am not usually much of a jewelry person. I generally have four pieces of jewelry on at all times and I don’t switch it up a lot: My engagement rings (one on each hand), my wedding band and a necklace. The necklace varies from time to time, but I generally find one that I like and stick to it for a long time. I’ve been looking for a nice cross of some sort so that I can wear my faith on my sleeve (so to speak), but I just hadn’t been able to find one that spoke to me.

NanoStyle

A plain cross just wouldn’t do, but I didn’t want anything gaudy, either. When I was contacted by NanoStyle to review one of their necklaces, I was immediatley drawn to their selection of Christianity pendants. I ended up choosing the Cross Mosaic Pendant because it is classy and understated, but also has a powerful message.

What is NanoStyle? 

First, let me tell you a little bit about NanoStyle to give you a better idea of exactly what makes them different from the other online jewelry stores out there. Every piece of NanoStyle jewelry uses some pretty fancy technology to put microscopic details onto semi-precious stones. The way they do that is very unique in that they use an “ion bombarding technique for depositing pure metals on semi-precious stones.” Most other places put the metal on top of the stone, but NanoStyle’s technique provides superior quality and long-term durability to their jewelry.

The Cross Mosaic Pendant 

NanoStyle Cross Mosaic PendantThe Cross Mosaic Pendant is a gorgeous Black Onyx stone in a silver setting, all hanging on a silver chain. On the Black Onyx, there is the entire text of Colossians 1:2-2:3 in 24K gold, set around a gold cross and then Matthew 5:9 (Blessed are the peacemakers) set right below the word JESUS under the cross. It’s all microscopic, so I have to use the little magnifying glass that comes with the necklace (as a keychain) to read the fine print, but I can definitely see the Cross and the name JESUS.
 
It’s funny how often people ask me about my necklace and I get a chance to tell them about Christ and my beliefs without being seen as a “Bible Thumper” since they asked for the information
 

Durability

I have been wearing my Cross Mosaic Pendant now for a little more than a month. By that, I mean I have only taken it off twice in 1 month – Once for airport security and once for a night out. When I wear a necklace, I wear it 24/7 – when I sleep, shower, workout, etc. I just don’t take off my jewelry. My Cross Mosaic Pendant looks just as beautiful today as it did a month ago when I first put it on.
 
I am extremely happy with my Cross Mosaic Pendant from NanoStyle and have gotten many compliments on how beautiful it is. Be sure to check out the NanoStyle website to check out all of their cubic zirconia and onyx jewelry and sign up for their mailing list to make sure you are the first to hear about specials, new products and other important information! You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook!
Filed Under: Reviews & Giveaways Tagged With: , , , 1 Comment

Birthday Party Cleanup Made Easy

03/01/2012 By 5 Comments

Earlier this month was Dumpling’s birthday.

That means there was a party.

And that means there was a mess.

Cake crumbs everywhere. Confetti stars everywhere. Goodie bag toys everywhere. Piñata candy everywhere.

Generally, this would be a pain, but this year I was prepared with my new BISSELL Perfect Sweep Turbo!

After the party, cleanup was a piece of cake (Ha! See what I did there?) because I used the sweeper to pick up all of the crumbs, little favor toys and candy all over the floor. The beauty of it all was that it was so easy to retrieve those little favor toys (that are apparently made of gold because my girls love them) from the collection tray of the sweeper without them being stuck inside the vacuum bag never to be seen again.

BISSELL Perfect Sweep Turbo

My Favorite Features

Aside from the party, I’ve found lots of uses for the BISSELL Perfect Sweep Turbo because of all of these great features:

  • It’s a rechargeable sweeper that gives up to 60 minutes of cleaning time before it has to be recharged. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had to vacuum for longer than 20 minutes before my house is done, so the battery life is perfect.
  • It lays down basically flat so it’s easy to get under tables, chairs and under the futon where toys inevitably hide.
  • I don’t have to worry about running over the cord because, once it’s recharged, there is no power cord!
  • This thing is ridiculously good at picking up dog hair out of the carpet. The brushes grab it just right and stick it in the dirt container.
  • It’s great on hardwoods and carpet. I have hardwoods in 75% of my house, so it’s vital for me to have tools that clean both carpet and hardwoods.
BISSELL Perfect Sweep Turbo_Under

The Sweeper’s Only Downfall

The only thing that eluded the brushes of the BISSELL Perfect Sweep Turbo were those darn confetti stars from the birthday decoration kit. They are flat, tiny and stick to the floor with static cling, so they’re impossible to get off the floor without major suction. The vacuum was able to get them up, but the Perfect Sweep Turbo couldn’t quite get them. I don’t fault it for that, but thought I should point it out.

Buy Your Own!

You can buy the BISSELL Perfect Sweep Turbo from the BISSELL Website, Amazon or many other retailers for around $40.

Save $5 on BISSELL Perfect Sweep Turbo

You can save $5 if you use the code perfectsweepPARK at checkout on the BISSELL Perfect Sweep Turbo page!

Find BISSELL sweepers online at:

BISSELL website: www.bissell.com/sweepers

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bissell

Twitter: @BISSELLclean

Filed Under: Reviews & Giveaways Tagged With: , , 5 Comments
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