Documenting Simplicity in #MagicalMoments this #MarchBreak #HPFamilyTime HP Slate 8 Review

The Plan

We are knee-deep into March break and I am having a blast with my four children. To be honest leading up to March break I was very hesitant about how to keep them busy and entertained. Almost nervous to take on all four kids with no breaks in between. I have found that the older they get, the more they require to keep entertained. After 5 days at school of full attention a week at home almost seems too boring for them. I wrote this post on March break themed days last year and last year we had a blast fully booking each day with a theme. But this year I have been so busy leading up to March break I didn’t want to set my expectations too high and really wanted to kick back a little and enjoy simplicity.

Simplicity is the state or quality of being simple. That was what I was craving for our March break this year and that is exactly what is happening.

The kids have been kicking back enjoying some crafts, making funny faces and really having fun doing all the silly things kids should be doing. Creating magical memories together and lot’s of family time.

“Magical March Moments”

The week before March break HP invited our family to take part in their “Magical March Moments” campaign where they would provide the kids with a HP Slate 8 for them to document their March break and print pictures of their journey on our HP Photosmart 7520. This idea was brilliant and something that would pair well with the simplicity we were focusing on. Giving us time to really kick back enjoy all the apps HP Slate 8 has and take fun pictures along the way all well sharing our HP Slate 8 review with you.

Maple Syrup & Sunshine

After being locked up in -20 / -30 weather for the last few months it is nice to see the sun-shining and melting the snow. Today I packed the kids up for an unplanned last-minute trip to the local Maple Syrup bush for a day of sunshine and fresh air. We learned all there is to learn about Maple Syrup, enjoyed some pancakes and even a wagon ride pulled by two stunning Draft horses.

Their were no sloppy snow angels, or melting frosty the snowmen but the warm sunshine mixed with the untouched snow between the forest of  beautiful Maple trees made our family time filled with magical memories that were captured and documented in digital form.

HP Slate 8 Pro

Here are just a few of the fantastic features of the sleek and gorgeous Snow White HP Slate 8 Pro:

The fact that the Slate 8 Pro runs on an Android 4.2.2 (Jellybean) makes it effortlessly to set up for me because so does my smart phone. When I first pulled the HP Slate 8 Pro out of the box the 8 -inch diagonal touch-enabled screen (1600 x 1200) seemed so much wider then any tablet I was familiar with and really I love the extra inch. However, I have found it a struggle to find a case to fit and HP Slate 8 Pro. After 6 stores between two cities, I am still without a case for it and with kids taking it for a spin mommy is very nervous about the fragile piece of technology in the hands of the babes. But I am happy that the last store I was at suggested I check out HP on-line and to my surprise they had just the case I had been looking for, which is currently on route.

Any tablet I have seen or used I thought the cameras were ok and would work in a pinch. But I was overly impressed by the camera on the Slate 8 Pro 8 MP, auto-focus with LED takes amazing pictures in the darkest of rooms. HD video recording capable (rear-facing), 720p without LED (front-facing webcam). Comes with gallery editing only a click away and 16 GB of storage which is great for all the random shots the kids take. Which leads me to battery life each charge lasts up to 10 hours, giving you confidence that you will get more than a day out of it. One of the best printing apps I have yet to come across is the HP ePrint which comes pre-installed. With a click of your fingers your pictures can be wirelessly printed on your HP Photosmart 7520. 

Lost Touch

As much as I love technology over time it has taken away the opportunity to hold and touch a hard copy printed picture. We take them, view them, download them, file them and forget them. My digital picture folders on my computer is just that folders and numbers and viewed when I need them.

Seeing I take over 1000 pictures a month between four kids, my social media and blog posts it really is sad that the beauty of them become forgotten. As part of our “Magical March Moments” the kids have been printing off on the pre-installed HP ePrint app on their HP Slate 8 Pro and scrapbooking their hand-held photos to share during show and tell once they return back to school next week. 

This has been a blast for them and really shows me just how simple printing your own pictures from home really can be when the right tools are in place. So easy I just may have to complete my last two baby scrapbooks I have been working on the last few years.

How are you creating, capturing and memorizing Magical Moments this March break with your family?

Thanks for reading In R Dream!

HP products mentioned in this post were supplied by HP Canada.