Unless you have been living under a rock, you will have noticed how the new age of technology has taken over. Rarely do you see someone not staring at their phone or tablet, especially in the airport. If they aren’t holding a device, they are wearing one.

The future is only going to get more mobile, with more possibilities than ever. Check it out.

Smartphones will continue to be the most popular device. They are getting bigger (literally) and better every day, adding more features and ways to make your life easier and more efficient.

Though things like the Apple Watch are trendy, they will probably not have the staying power of the smartphone.

Paying by smartphone has become the new norm. Thanks to Apple Pay, Google Wallet and Samsung Pay, along with many others, mobile payments are quick and easy.

Business travelers who are in a hurry don’t want to take the time to take out their wallets and find bank cards or credit cards. The majority will already have their smartphone in their hands and can quickly complete their purchase.

Managing your expenses has never been easier. Just snap a quick photo of your receipt and you are ready to go. Find the perfect app to organize all your business expenses and you have nothing to worry about.

When it comes to booking flights, hotels or other business related services, there’s an app for that. A study done by Google in 2014 stated that 60% of business travelers used their smartphones to book travel-related services.

The days of waiting on the phone for assistance are in the past. With your smartphone you can pull up the appropriate app and get the task finished with no hassles.

The future of technology is going to get way more personalized as well. Having recommendations that suit your needs readily at hand can save time and help you tremendously. New “smart” services will be tuned into each individual’s preferences and activities so you can easily book your travel or plan your daily lives much easier.

Hotels, airlines and rental car companies will also be tuned in to what you need and want so that your experience with them will be a breeze.

Though all this technology makes life easier for the average business traveler, it may be a little more work for those in charge. Deciding what is to be included in travel and entertainment expenses has always been a tough job. Now with all the apps and other items to deal with, managers will have to decide what kinds of technology can be included in expenses and which items will be sole responsibility of the user. Perhaps company approved apps for all involved will be the best way to go.

Regardless of your feelings on technology, it has arrived and will continue to develop and invade our daily lives whether we like it or not. Knowing the best way to use it to your benefit can make everyone’s life more pleasant and stress free.

Filed under: Traveling by Michelle Gushard
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If you travel a lot, you probably know about Gogo. Gogo is a leading global aero-communications service provider. They offer travelers in-flight internet, text messaging, entertainment, and plenty of other services. The leading Wi-Fi provider for those in flight gives off poor signals and you end up with a bad, spotty connection. On top of that you are shelling out some serious bucks to get it in the first place. But all that frustration may be a thing of the past.

Gogo has recently announced that it has been given the okay to test the 2Ku connectivity tech, which they claim can perform at speeds as fast as 70 Mbps. Their current speed is a whopping 3.1 Mbps, or slower than slow. Can you say dial up?

Gogo is looking forward to their new improved system being so much better. The idea is that they use twin 4.5-inch tall satellite antennas, which send and receive signals from satellites much cleaner than before.

Gogo’s chief technology officer Anand Chari said that they believe this will be the best performing technology for the global commercial aviation market.

The new system was installed on their test plane, and they had seven commercial airlines signed up for a trial of the advanced technology. Gogo is expected to officially launch the system later in the year and continue throughout 2016.

Now on to the important part. The price. To receive Gogo’s faster Wi-Fi packages, expect to pay around $16 for a full day of connectivity. I guess it all depends on how much you need that connection during your flight time.

Filed under: Traveling by Michelle Gushard
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Holiday shopping is in full swing everywhere you go. Whether it is at the store, online or over the phone, people are purchasing like crazy. This means the identity thieves are also in gear.

They are trying to hack into your information as you purchase, connect with your bank, or even chat with your friends on social media.

This time of year people may not be as careful as they would other times. It is a hectic time, you may be in a hurry to get that quick last minute sale and just not pay attention to whether or not it is secure. You may forget to log out of a site, or not even be aware of what the thieves are possible of.

Below you will find some tips on making sure you can be as secure as possible throughout the holiday season and beyond.

Everyone should be aware by now of phishing emails, or scam emails. These can claim to be from anywhere, such as a shopping site, Paypal, etc. They can send you information on how to apply for an instant credit card, or they can claim that there has been a problem with your account or card and ask you to enter your information so they can check on the situation.

You may also get phone calls that basically do the same thing. They claim they are calling from your credit card account and that there may be a problem. They say they think your information has been stolen and they want to confirm your social security number, birth date or address. NEVER give these people any information, whether online or on the phone. If you suspect a problem hang up and call the place yourself and question the incident. If you see an email you can usually alert the source with a copy of the phishing email and let them know there may be a problem.

Online shopping can be tricky if you aren’t aware of how to do it. Be sure you are on the right website. Check that it is secure by looking at the url and looking for the https (s means secure) instead of just http. There should also be a lock symbol on the left.

These days people don’t scan over their statements like they used to. Everything is done on line and most people don’t get paper statements anymore. Whether you get a paper one or not, be sure to check them out. Read through every transaction and look for anything strange or out of place. Don’t overlook the small amounts under $2, as this is how many thieves steal your money…a little at a time. If you don’t know where the charge is from, check it out.

When you scan your card, whether it be at a store, an ATM or even Redbox, check for skimmers. These are small devices that thieves attach to the reader that instantly steals your card’s information.

Be wary of doing online purchases at a public spot such as a coffee shop. Public WiFi is hardly secure enough for these transactions and thieves will have your info before you know it.

Make sure you have protection with your credit cards so that you know what to do in case of an emergency. If you detect a problem, have the company freeze your card or report it immediately so action can be taken.

Filed under: Lifestyle by Michelle Gushard
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If you grew up with Super Mario, you may be one of those super fans who has every item ever made. You can find practically everything with Super Mario on it these days, and there are many different games and spin off games that have to do with Mario, Luigi and the gang.

Nintendo and Romain Jerome, an exquisite watch maker, have teamed up to bring you a special item for Super Mario Bros. 30^th anniversary. The game, which was introduced in 1985, is what began the journey for most of todays biggest gamers.

Introducing the limited edition Super Mario watch. This amazing timepiece is one of only 85 that will be made. The face of the watch features, of course, Mario, created from hand painted enamel. The case is constructed out of black titanium. Other icons on the watch include a mushroom and some background scenery.

That said, the price of the watch is said to be between $15,130 and 18,950.  Prices may be different throughout the world and through different dealers, but chances are you won’t find a much cheaper price. I guess you have to be a super fan and a major collector to get in on this celebratory item. The one thing you can count on is the fact that this watch, when cared for correctly, can last generations to come.

The watch was announced just last week, and there have been teasers on Facebook throughout the week hinting about the surprise.

If classic video games are really your thing, you can also find previously offered watches themed around Space Invaders, Pac Man and Tetris.

So I guess the real question is…are you really the number one Super Mario fan or not?

Filed under: Lifestyle by Michelle Gushard
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The holiday season should be a time of celebrating, friends, family and relaxing. But for many people, just the thought of the travel madness and stress makes holidays a dreadful time of year. Here are some super ways to avoid some of the problems and ease through the holidays stress-free.

The first thing you want to do is plan ahead. Do not wait for the last minute and have to deal with the thousands of other procrastinators, rising prices on gas and airfare, and general crankiness from everyone who didn’t plan ahead. The sooner you can make reservations the better. Grab the lowest prices you can, book flights and hotels way ahead of time, and steer clear of the last minute price gouge.

If you are planning to drive, try to do so several days early to avoid more expensive gas prices and much more crowded highways.

When at all possible, try to book through an airport that has plenty of different airlines, as they will all be competing for your business. This may work out to your advantage.

If there is more than one airport in your area, check out the smaller, less busy one. Most people will go for the most popular, larger airport. You can also get deals by flying on off days, like Monday or Tuesday. Check prices on the discount airlines as well, such as Spirit and Frontier, but be sure to check for fees beforehand, as the baggage fees can be a killer.

When you are ready to book, be sure to shop around. Off peak days are generally cheaper, but you may find an awesome special that you didn’t know existed. Traveling ON the actually holiday is cheaper and way less crowded, if that is an option for you.

When searching for a hotel, use a site like Tingo.com. These booking sites are a big help, and Tingo refunds you the difference if your rate goes down after you book. This can come in handy.

If you have been saving up your frequent flyer or hotel rewards, now is the perfect time to cash them in. Loyalty perks such as upgrades, amenities and much more can be a great gift to yourself for the holidays. You might even get baggage fees waived and super-fast security checks!

Save money while traveling by trying to bring your favorite items with you so you can avoid having to purchase them while away, possibly at a much higher price.

Keep connected with your friends via social sites and you may score a special deal. Sometimes these surprises are not advertised, and word of mouth may be your only way of finding them.

Whatever your mode of travel or destination may be, make it a safe, happy and stress-free one.

Filed under: Lifestyle by Michelle Gushard
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If you are looking forward to taking that snowy sleigh ride or hiking up a snow covered hill in search of the perfect Christmas tree, you may want to holiday somewhere else. But if super awesome parades, concerts and light shows make your Christmas perfect, then Christmas in Los Angeles may be the ultimate holiday vacation spot for you!

Check out some of the festivities planned for this year.

December starts with the Los Angeles Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade. Spectators will see beautifully lighted sailboats and other water crafts cruise the waterfront in this exciting parade. For over 50 years, these decorated boats have kept this tradition and brought joy to old and young alike. There are free viewpoints all along the parade route, or you can get an awesome view from the top of the Battleship Iowa for a fee ($20 adults, $10 kids) and enjoy cookies, hot cocoa, crafts and carolers. Santa even makes a surprise visit!

On December 5^th-6^th is the Angel City Chorale Holiday Concert and Sing-Along. This event is held at the Wilshire Methodist Church and features 160 members. Sing along to many of your favorite Christmas and Hanukkah classics and you are sure to be in the holiday spirit!

Also on the 5^th and 6^th is the Harvest Festival Original Art and Craft Show.  The event is located at the Fairplex in Pomona, and features over 24,000 original works of art. Gaze at beautiful handmade jewelry, purchase hand-pressed olive oil, or have something personalized while you wait. Those 12 and under are free, and adults can get $2 off if they bring a canned food item with them.

The Los Angeles Zoo holds a spectacular display called LA Zoo Lights. Here you can see some awesome LED displays involving the zoo animals. Though the actual animals will probably all be asleep, the LED versions will give you some whimsical and colorful displays to get you in the holiday spirit. Don’t miss out on these fantastic twinkly light displays. There are some special packages with discounts if you purchase early in the season, and there are some VIP packages which will allow you to skip the lines, and give you entry into a private lounge with hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer and some cocktails as well.

For something a little different, check out the Ukulele Christmas Orchestra. Head to the music center for a wonderful show of amateur musicians, or if you are 18 or older you can even participate. Bring your own ukulele and music stand and have some fun! All are welcome, even beginners, as long as you can strum in rhythm and play C,Em,F,D7 and G7 in order. Check it out!

On December 11^th the Walt Disney Concert Hall brings you the Festival of Carols. 110 fabulous singers will perform all your favorite carols sure to get you in the spirit. A visit with Santa follows the caroling.

There will be plenty more celebrations throughout the month as Christmas nears so keep an eye out for your favorites and enjoy Christmas time in Los Angeles.

Filed under: Points of Interest by Michelle Gushard
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Traveling in the colder weather can sometimes be a hassle. You end up packing way too many bulky items, having to pay for extra baggage, and dragging a lot of extra things around with you. On the contrary, you may under-pack and end up searching your unfamiliar destination trying to find the things you should have brought in the first place. Here are a few tips to help you decide what is necessary.

If you need your entire set of heavy winter gear, wear it on the plane. Bulky coat, scarf, gloves, hat or whatever else keeps you warm and cozy will take up so much room if you pack them. Wear your boots as your shoes will take up much less room in your bag.

If you use space bags when traveling you can fit so many more items. You know, the kind you vacuum the air out of? These are also available for travel and you don’t need the vacuum. Just roll the item up inside and the air will squeeze out. You will be able to fit many more things this way.

Super heavy winter jackets can cost a bundle, not to mention the space they take up. If you layer properly, you won’t need that bulky coat. Pack a long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt to wear over top, light sweater or jacket to cover that, and something to cover the whole ensemble such as a waterproof or windproof jacket that will keep you dry and hold in all that warmth.

Layering helps keep down the wash loads as well, as you won’t need to keep throwing things in the wash as much as you will in warmer, humid weather. Be sure to try to keep within the same colors so your layering will work out no matter what you choose.

If you plan to be outside in the colder weather, thermal underwear is great for keeping the legs warm and cozy under your pants. If you have never worn them, check it out. They are a life saver for that cold air.

When packing socks, try to steer clear of the cotton socks. Instead pack wool, fleece or other synthetic type socks that hold their insulation even when wet.

They will keep you warm and dry no matter what. When you pack these items you can always roll them up and stick them inside shoes to save even more room.

A few final items that many people don’t even consider if they are headed to a snowy destination are sunglasses and sunscreen. Yes even though it is cold, the sun can still bring pain to your skin, as can the bitter cold winds you might encounter. Windburn can hurt just as bad. The bright glare that results when the sun shines on the glistening snow can be beautiful, but it can also be too bright to stand with the naked eye. Sunglasses will be a blessing in this situation. They can also help if you are driving around in the snow with the sun reflecting around you. Keep a pair handy just in case.

Filed under: Travel Tips by Michelle Gushard
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Thanksgiving and Christmas are extremely busy travel times for air travelers as well as those who travel on the ground. It is common sense that you will want to book early to avoid last minute hikes in rates, and also to assure that you aren’t faced with completely full flights. Here are a few more tips to help you plan your holiday travel.

Picking the right day to fly can save you a lot of hassle and stress when the time comes for your trip. Places like TravelZoo can help you check out the best fares on literally hundreds of popular routes.

The first thing you should try to do is book the earliest flight you possibly can. Not only will the airports be less crowded and slow, but the early flights have less chance of delays since they haven’t started their routes yet. You should be able to arrive in plenty of time to enjoy family time.

Ask questions. Find out if you can upgrade to a business class seat, as business travel tends to slow down over the holidays and those seats may be empty. If you are traveling for business, you should have no problem finding something perfect.

Always choose the airport that is closest to the southern part of the country if you need to connect, as the weather will generally be better and provide you with less chance of a delay or cancellation.

Chances are you will be bringing plenty of gifts with you. This can make for plenty of extra charges for too much baggage. Consider arriving early if you can and getting in some shopping after you land. You could also purchase your items online and have them directly shipped to your destination. This way you can either bring some gift bags or wrap with you, or purchase some when you arrive for a quick wrapping session.

If you aren’t really an airplane person, but don’t want the hassle of driving, check out Amtrak or other public transportation. You can sit back, relax, and even enjoy a cocktail while you check out the scenery and avoid the stress.

Some people like to avoid all of the mad rush and just wait until Thanksgiving or Christmas morning to travel. Most people are already at their destination by this time so the roads and airports will be basically empty. Be sure to be prepared for many stores, gas stations etc. being closed.

If you remain flexible on your trip or return trip, you may be able to switch flights or wait for the next one and score big on upgrades, perks etc. Check it out!

For those who choose to extend your holiday throughout New Year’s Eve, keep in mind that there are colossal celebrations around the country. Don’t spend a fortune trying to stay in New York City or anywhere near Times Square, when you can find a much less crowded party in plenty of other places that will be just as fun.

Look forward to the holidays as a time to be with family, friends and have a relaxed memorable time, instead of worrying about the hassle you will go through to get there. Plan ahead and stay safe and stress-free.

Filed under: Travel Tips by Michelle Gushard
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Everyone loves the holidays. You get to visit family and friends, and sometimes it is just comforting to come back home. On the other hand, suppose you all live in the same town and just want something a little different for the holidays? There are some super places to check out this year for a memorable time.

Orlando, Florida is always a fun destination whether you are with a large family or just the two of you. During the holidays it gets even better. Head to Disney to see the beautiful autumn decorations and join in the festivities. Cinderella’s palace will take on a winter theme and become icy, and Epcot will welcome you to the holidays around the world. If you choose to wait until right after Thanksgiving, you can enjoy the park mostly to yourselves as this is the quietest, least crowded time of the year at the famed parks.

Plymouth, Massachusetts is always great for a visit but even better during the Thanksgiving holidays. Plenty of holiday events are held here each year and you can enjoy many re-enactments. Have dinner with the Pilgrims or step on board the Mayflower replica. As the home of the first permanent European settlement north of Virginia, Plymouth welcomes visitors in style.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is another historical city that loves to celebrate. Visitors can see the annual parade, full of marching bands and balloons of their own. Tour the museums, check out the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, and don’t miss the Philadelphia Art Museum, where Sylvester Stallone made Rocky famous.

Children will love the Macy’s building light display and concert…which is played on a beautiful pipe organ. Over 100,000 LED lights will sparkle in the shapes of reindeer, ballerinas and snowflakes. It’s a wonderful time for the whole family.

San Diego, California hosts a yearly Mother Goose Parade, which is quite big for the west coast. Over 100 unique and brightly colored floats will make their way past spectators, as well as helium balloons, marching bands, clowns and plenty of other entertainment.

When parade and festivity time is over, take the kids to the San Diego Zoo for some up close animal viewing, or to Sea World for some aquatic adventure. The weather will still be quite pleasant, so you can take a hike on one of many trails, or take a stroll on the beach.

Nashville, Tennessee is a great spot for music lovers any time of year, but during the holidays they hold their Holiday Harmony celebration. The Grand Ole Opry puts on a fantastic show, but moves out of its usual venue to let the world renowned Radio City Rockettes take its stage for the famous Christmas Spectacular. Jellystone Park has a spectacular dancing lights display, and you can also take a holiday light tour on the Holly Trolley. There is plenty of food to be found as well at plenty of venues around the city, and other holiday festivals and events as well.

Wherever you plan on spending your holidays, you are sure to find some exciting events for the whole family to enjoy and continue making those memories.

Filed under: Lifestyle by Michelle Gushard
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If you plan to take a flight somewhere on Thanksgiving, you can expect the airports to be more hectic than they were last year. There is a 3% increase expected in passengers traveling, up to 25.3 million this year. That’s the most in eight years. These figures are a projected estimate from Airlines for America.

These estimates are taking in the fact that the fares are lower this year, and more people may be taking advantage of this to take a flight for Thanksgiving.

There may be as many as 65,000 more passengers every day filling up the airports starting November 20th, and ending December 1st. This will bring totals between 1.4 million and 2.7 million people a day heading off on a flight.

They listed the busiest travel days in order, as Sunday, November 29^th, Monday, November 30^th, and Wednesday, November 25^th.

Airlines are expected to be using bigger planes and extra routes to handle the extra loads expected.

The cost of fuel has plummeted 36% in the last year, and the airlines have been able to use that decrease to pass on to their ticket prices, even lowering some prices.

The Department of Transportation listed fares for the beginning of the year were 1.7% higher than the same period last year. But the airfare for the fall months was 3.6% cheaper than the fall of 2014, or around $248. Fares were 8.1% cheaper than in the fall of 2013.

If you plan to fly during this time, expect the airport to be super busy. Be ready for longer lines, extra waiting times, and unfortunately, delays or cancellations. Over the past three years 15 to 20 percent of flights have sadly been under a delay or cancellation.

Try to head out a day earlier or return a day later if at all possible to try and avoid some of the congestion that will be expected at the airports. Whatever your travel plans, do whatever it takes to arrive safely and have a wonderful holiday season.

Filed under: Lifestyle by Michelle Gushard
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