Happy (slightly belated) New Year everyone! Sorry for keeping you out of the loop for so long, I've been too busy playing with my new favorite gadgets to remember to write about them. This pair of headphones is at the very top of my list so I can't wait to tell you about them here.


So to preface this, a little story. My brother married an audiologist, Wendy Framel, whom I adore, and which also means that whenever we get together, I am constantly reminded to take care of my hearing. "No loud concerts without proper ear plugs! Keep music down low in headphones, and never, ever, wear white ear buds again".

Preserving your hearing is the equivalent of saving up for retirement. You wont see changes right away, but it is a long-term investment for your future self (and you will thank you later!) Remember, you might not be thinking about them every second of the day, but sound is one of the greatest gifts we often take for granted.

So the trick, Wendy explains, is to purchase a higher-quality, longer-lasting pair as an investment for both your hearing and your wallet. With just a single step above the white ear buds that come with your smart phone, the quality overpowers the need to increase the volume, which damages the inner ear. And remember...

Parrot Zik 2.0 designed by Philippe Starke who claims to have designed the world's most advanced pari of headphones

• Accompanying App to control sound
• Concert hall effect (this is amazing for any song, from EDM to Classical)
• Adaptive Noise Control 
• When I play with this feature I feel like I've got super powers. I can either turn up the noise around me (great for running in the street with cars around) or shut out outside noise completely, and immerse myself in complete, music or silent isolation.
• Text-to-Speech caller ID (this is helpful to keep you from phone distractions)
• Presence sensor (Automatically shuts off music when you remove headphones)

A little windy outside, so switching to noise-cancelling mode to enjoy good music and the sunset.

Signing off to get back to the tunes... protect yourself while night-running by wearing reflective gear and headphones that allow you to hear street-noise.

I hope you find a style and fit that is right for you, and if so - please tell me about it immediately!
Thanks for reading! Find live updates on Instagram and Twitter. These opinions are all my own and may contain affiliate links. 

Featured Design: LED Earrings and neoprene dress

Anina Net, CEO of the Fashion Tech Network (left)

Sandy Carter, General Manager or IBM

At the start of the show were some beautiful pieces showcased under a faint blue light, which in itself was an odd choice of lighting because it was difficult to see much of anything at all.

LED accessories

Symbolic 'cloud' clutch and laser cut fabric

LED Earrings and neoprene dress

 Creative reflective fabric and textures.


3D-printed tiara and embellishment experiments.


As the show continued, the disconnect between fashion and technology actually seemed to grow, until the gap left me feeling a little confused.

Microsoft Kinect

A few pieces of 'tech' were brought out, among them a Window's Kinect, which was then used to sort of scan the models as they reached the end of the catwalk wearing pieces of lingerie.

An odd way to use Microsoft Kinect by using it to scan the models up and down

Here is a hint...


Before getting into all that, I just want to say that the best part about late fall in San Francisco, is that it feels like summer. Finally a chance to dress up with just an extra touch of femininity in skirts, hats and structured tees.


This is what I wore on my way to get some of the best ice cream in the city. Nestled in Hayes Valley is a tiny shop called Smitten - where the ice cream is made to order using liquid nitrogen. The vapor coming out you see in this photo is from a scoop of vanilla being made right before your eyes. You can't get much fresher than that.

You know what just doesn't go with this outfit? A thick, dark ugly wrist band constantly tracking how many calories I can burn on the way to get ice cream. (And honestly, when it comes to ice cream - who wants a constant reminder about calories?)

As you can see, I didn't even feel like lugging around a purse, so the only place for my phone to go was buried into one of the deep inner pockets of this pink coat. So how is a girl to know if there is an important message coming in or snapchat that requires an immediate response? What if someone likes my smitten ice cream instagrams? How will I know without checking my phone every 10 seconds?

Well meet Ringly - a wearable device cleverly disguised as a cocktail ring.

Just received a Snapchat

Ringly works using a bluetooth connection to your phone. The best part is the accompanying app that lets you set up the type of notifications you can receive. You can choose between a few colors that light up a little LED on the side. Yellow, pink, blue, green...etc and there is also a series of tiny haptic vibrations that you can adjust and personalize as well. (continued)

After a summer of renting, buying/returning and testing out different activity trackers I found this to be the best device by far. Even though the display is large, this is actually one of the smallest devices available. It is also the most lightweight, with an easy-to-read display and SUPER long battery life and haptic feedback to keep you on track.

What makes Garmin the best, is that they have their own satellites, capable of near-immediate pace tracking feedback. And yes, while you could use a phone app for this same purpose, nothing even comes close to this type of accuracy.



To all my motivation-seekers: meet your new running watch.


Thanks for reading! All photos taken by blogger and photographer, Maddy Douglass whom I'd highly recommend for all of your lifestyle blogging needs. 
Find my live updates on Instagram and Twitter. These opinions are all my own and may contain affiliate links.