Wine, cheese, a little bit of tech, and a little bit of nostalgia

One of the best parts about being involved with the Verizon Voices Boomer program is hosting house parties. My first party was in my late mother's home in Lancaster County in October. Thanks to Verizon, I gave away some pretty awesome prizes! 

Jess and Erin talk tech

This past Sunday, I hosted my second party in my home here in Pittsburgh. The get-together was scheduled for Saturday, but the weather became a factor, especially since I had guests traveling from as far away as Slippery Rock and Washington, PA. None of the guests would have made it up my hill on Saturday, but we had a nice crowd on Sunday. 

Adding to the spread

I had a variety of cheese-related snacks, including my really-not-good-for-you-but-really-delicious beer and cheese dip (always a hit), and a variety of red and white wines. For me, nothing beats a wine and cheese party, especially if the dessert is cheesecake. Cheese very well may be the reason I will never be thin again.

Megan, Carisa, and Will

My guests filled out pre-party surveys as they conversed and got to know each other. Then we talked products, including my Motorola Android Razr Maxx HD and my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 phones, both on loan from Verizon. Some people didn't like the larger size of the Samsung, but I must say it is by far my favorite of the two.

We also discussed the three featured products:  


The Verizon Wireless Ellipsis™ 7, a portable full-feature tablet available exclusively by Verizon and its fast 4G LTE network.

 

The Ellipsis features a 7-inch HD display, ample battery life, and a 1.2GHz quad core processor that lets you easily switch from e-books to games to email. Here are some qualities that make the Ellipsis a perfect gift for yourself or someone you love (or simply want to impress!):

• The Ellipsis 7 allows you to seamlessly balance your personal and professional life. Read emails, download documents and files, manage calendars, and sync your contacts easily so you can stay productive on your next adventure.It enables you to share photos, videos, contacts.
• It helps you stay connected with the enriched features of Verizon Messages.
• It provides an array of preloaded apps that bring you custom radio and the latest games and movies on demand, including the Amazon Kindle app and Redbox Instant by Verizon. (Redbox Instant allows you to stream your favorite movies or find the closest Redbox kiosk, where you can pick up new releases on DVD.)

The MiniJambox™ by Jawbone brings beautiful, wireless sound to any experience via Bluetooth or a 3.5 millimeter stereo cable. Completely portable, it’s small enough to fit into a pocket or a clutch purse. 

Here are the features that make the MINI JAMBOX one of the hottest items on many Christmas lists this year:

• Small enough to fit in a pocket or clutch
• The best looking sound ever – brand new designs and colors
• Up to 10 hours of battery life
• Connects via Bluetooth 4.0 or 3.5mm stereo cable
• Customization and personalization with Jawbone app
• Built in speakerphone lets you take calls on the go
• Extruded aluminum body for incredible style and sound at a super light weight

Finally, we discussed the Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation. Designed for rapid charging, the Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation has a 4,000 mAh external battery and can switch between 500 mA, 1 amp, or 2.1 amps. Quite honestly, I don't understand anything I just wrote about this product. All I know is that it has enough power for nearly any USB-charged device, including your cellphone, tablet, or portable gaming system. It's small enough to slip in your pocket or purse and will help avoid those embarrassing, "Oh no, my battery just died" moments.

The best part for my guests, who were busy eating, drinking, and tweeting, was that they were all eligible to win these products. I felt like Santa Claus!

Ralph, Will, and Erin -- three happy winners!

Even my grandbabies had fun, with the youngest enjoying some cuddle-time with Carisa.

Carisa and the marvelous little Miss Marley Grace

To top off a night of 21st century technology, we headed into the basement where our 1950s bomb shelter offered a nostalgic look into the past, via my husband's Christmas train display. (Click here to view a video of the trains running)

All-in-all, it was a fun night. Thanks, Verizon! This has been the highlight of my participation in the Verizon Voices Boomer program. After all, I'm always up for a good party!

Which of the above products would you like to add to your Christmas wish list?




Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Boomer Voices program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.