AJ, Author at AJ Feuerman

Sol Republic Relays

February 15, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

I get giddy over shiny new toys — and especially earphones. What if I could just start a blog where I reviewed earphones, guys? Would that be weird? Cause I’m kind of down with that idea…

Introducing SOL REPUBLIC’s Relays, in-ear earphones that offer the benefits of a sports headphone but have amazing style. The Relays also roll out Sol Republic’s new FreeFlex™ technology, which enables a universal fit and makes them easy to put in your ear and stay there regardless of how intensely you move. (Well we’ll see about that…!)

For sports and outdoor use, it’s marvelous that Relays are water and sweat resistant with a clip-on cable that ensures it won’t ever get caught. And, no need to change headphones when commuting or working because the easily accessible mic and phone control lets you seamlessly stay in touch. I am obsessed with this feature. I listen to music or video almost all day at work and once I got the hang of the control shortcuts, it was awesome to be able to click around with the little cable-attached controller! Loved it. It’s not just play, forward and back. You have access to volume, mute, answering your phone, pausing, stopping. It’s incredibly versatile for something the size of a small paperclip.

Packaging – Sophisticated. It presents well, the cable is prevented from getting tangled and they provide you with a little snappy pouch to transport them in. I find a lot of headphones come with their own cases these days and it’s an accesory I value. Keeping the cable from getting tangled is key to preserving them even longer.

Fit – They do stay put. The Relays come with four ear-tip sizes so they are uber customizable. I started with the biggest ones, assuming that’s what I’d need, but after a little while, felt too much pressure from them and moved down a size. That was perfect. And they’re not bullet-shaped — as you can see they’re kind of like little discs so they look kind of cool on — and they’re not awkward like those horrible earbuds that come with iPhones these days. (I hate those — does anyone like those things? I think they’re horrible.)

Plus, keep in mind that Sol Republic has an “Ear Tips for Life” program so you never have to worry if you lose your ear tips. That means they will replace your ear tips anytime they are lost, misplaced or if you simply want a different size. That’s ppretty cool. They stay on the earphones really well but lord knwos they’re small and things have been known to happen…

Sound – Again, they’re disc shaped and the size of a dime at best, so I was pretty impressed that with the volume just at a resonable level, I heard almost no external sounds, which is how I like it. Especially when I’m working (although this means sometimes people have to literally hit me to get my attention).

Sol Republic Relays are available now in Black for $79.99 at Verizon Wireless.

Five Best Basic Tips for Bloggers

February 15, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

Let us begin at the beginning. Rookie or veteran — no matter. Even the most seasoned blogger needs a refresher from time to time.

1. A UNIQUE URL

It’s the first step toward being taken seriously. Additionally, often times, it makes it possible for a publicist to pull stats on your site from sources like compete, quantcast and epicstat.

2. A UNIQUE FACEBOOK URL

Did you know it is SUPER easy to claim your unique URL for your Facebook fan page? You used to need a minimum of 25 “likes” to claim it but now you can do it at anytime. Not only that, you can change it once if needed. Be sure to use something like your blog name, do not use something obscure no one will find. (P.S. You should always link to your social channels on your blog. And don’t put them halfway down the page under ads!)

3. TWEET TWEET

Twitter is a great research tool, it’s great for networking and branding. Why wouldn’t any blogger use it? If it only drives traffic to your site, it serves a purpose, but it does so much more. Be sure to name yourself with your actual name or your blog name. No one will understand what @PurplePuppy means if your blog is called “All These Recipes!”

4. VISIBLE EMAIL

This is, in fact, my biggest blogger pet peeve. Contact forms stink. Frankly, if a brand rep is building a media list for outreach, and can’t find your email address in 60 seconds, it’s onto the next site.

5. LOOK PRETTY

Back to professionalism. Look the part. Auto-music? Auto-video? Don’t do it. Sparkly animated graphics? Stop. No one will ask you to apologize for posting advertising on your site but think really hard about their placement. Be strategic. Don’t lose sight of your brand when you post about others.

THIS ABOVE ALL. Common sense. And when that fails, ask someone who knows.

State Social House – A Versatile WeHo Brunch Destination

February 15, 2015 By AJ Leave a Comment

Truth be told, the burger I enjoyed for dinner one evening at State Social House was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. It included a sunny up egg, bacon, smoked gouda and dijon aioli. I also gotta throw my endorsement on their brussel sprouts — to die for with WHITE WINE and BACON.

You heard me, I said BACON.

So all that said, I was pretty excited to return for Brunch. Brunch is my favorite meal, like, ever.

And speaking of bacon…

The UNLIMITED Bloody Mary Bar is $15 and worth every penny (although, you may wanna take advantage of Uber to make it worth your while). You grab a glass of vodka over ice from the bar (generous pours – god bless them) and onto the fixins! The server walked me through it first time but I felt pretty confident for round two. There are so many choices and I felt obligated to try a couple combinations of drink trimmings for the good of the blog. I mean, if I’m going to report back to you in earnest, I couldn’t just rely on one attempt for a fair assessment….

Fear not, though, if this is not your thing. The bottomless mimosas also do not suck. Lookit! They just drop it off at your table. Hello, new friend….

Don’t worry, mom. The mimosa was for my +1. I’m boozy but I’m not that boozy….

Also, I should probably assure everyone that we totally ordered food, too. Of course we did. With menu items like “New York Bacon Breakfast Sandwich” and “Nebraska Steak and Eggs” among the choices, the “worst” art of my day was deciding which thing to get.

I “settled” on Smoked Salmon Benedict and we also shared a “side” of the “Golden Grahams” Encrusted French Toast.

You guys. Golden. Grahams. Everything was delicious — all of it. This alt version of eggs benedict was just fine by me, and while I’m generally not a “side of potatoes” gal at brunchtime — I like traditional hash browns the best — the side here was flavorful and savory, plus I loved the red and yellow peppers.

I wish I’d also taken a picture of the setting. The space is huge and is perfect for big groups. Where we sat was ideal; in front of a large window overlooking the strip. Hello awesome people watching! And the day we went was a beautiful one, so the windows were open, giving the space an even bigger feel with a nice breeze. There is actually a patio out front as well — I would totally recommend that for quality people watching and the perfect setting on a glorious Hollywood morning.

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Located at 8782 W. Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood
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Valet parking is accessible off Sunset Blvd. or Palm Ave. for $7