At home over the last couple of years we have had an influx of smart speakers into our lives, we arguably came to the party a little late that many others but since we first got started with them, we haven’t looked back. The range of speakers has, of course, changed over the years, but we have used both Google and Amazon in our house and they have developed in being part of our lives.

I’ve been around technology for many years both in my work and home life, so our natural progression towards these were obvious, however, it didn’t hit a grove until we placed one in the kitchen, we opted for Amazon Echo 2nd/3rd Gen at the time, Boo especially was very cautious about how we actually use it, what were the benefits etc, we were already prime members and had been using an old school DAB radio in the kitchen.
So as we started to use the various interactions we realised the benefits of having them, this then developed into other uses around the house, so much so that a smart speaker is now in 5 of our rooms in various different ways, I even added it to my Sonos Beam surround system, below is 5 different ways that we use the Smart speakers
Table of Contents
Music
Part of our Amazon Prime we have the Amazon Music service, Boo and I are music fans and often have music being played in the back round for many years, Roo is also a huge music fan (though she listens to more modern-day stuff), so she also loves listening to music while doing stuff, like baking and cooking, much like we do. You can see how radio, Spotify, Apple, Amazon and others have adapted to these as there now often advertised with whatever there doing, you can attach things like the music services to your Smart device like Google Mini, and for us the option to play almost any song we want and could remember is fantastic.
Shopping
Some people use to shop, we have done very little with Smart speaker though I understand why and how people would use it, items that we have bought through via Amazon Prime will be notified on the speaker and let us know when it’s being delivered etc, which can be useful things.
Xmas FunSomething the kids really enjoyed was the interaction of asking “how many days till Xmas” to Alexa, and she would respond, but there would also be a message from Santa! which for kids is amazing! Piglet especially loved this, and just before school, we would ask every day in December.

Jokes and crazyiness
Carrying on the fun theme, Boo, Tigger, Roo and Piglet all like interacting with the smart speakers in a funny way, so Jokes would often get asked, these can be funny and silly, and then there are the Fart noises, the amount of times they ave asked for some fart noises is ridiculous but that’s because they love it, and sometimes it’s nice to be a bit silly.
Information
As ever with any smart device you can ask for info, much like Google, and other search engines, I actually often use it for weather forecasts and results in sport etc, in the kitchen, I will ask for a Recipe or a question about times with Baking and cooking etc, these can be very useful and if your busy but you need the info it’s excellent, both Roo and we now use the alarm function and reminder function, these can be great for Alarms in the morning but also reminders while we are cooking, they have become and a big part of our lives.
Overall
So for us, they have slowly become a part of our lives, with them being used daily, and several times in that day, as the technology advances across the various companies I can only see them being more into our lives, for me, Google and Amazon still set the standard with these, I realise some people don’t like them, are hesitant to have them, that’s fine, but for us we like them, is there anything that we are missing with them? its tips that you use them for that we don’t know about?

Win a Google Home Nest Mini
To help organise, entertain and remember all the things you usually forget, I’m lucky enough to have a Google Home Nest Mini to giveaway.
Prize: Google Home Nest Mini
To enter simply complete the Gleam widget below, all entries are optional and each one completed will gain you more entries into the random draw.
Google Home Nest Mini
142 Comments
No I don’t have a smart speaker but would love one, I am sure they are so useful
3 June 2020 at 9:26 amNo unfortunately I dont have one
3 June 2020 at 10:08 amDon’t have one but would love this
28 June 2020 at 1:55 pmI don’t have a smart speaker, but I would love one.
3 June 2020 at 10:44 amThanks for chance. We don’t have q cool smart speaker but u would love it thanks so much for chance
9 June 2020 at 8:46 pmNo I don’t have a smart speak, sadly. But I would like one as they seem like great fun.
14 June 2020 at 10:00 pmI dont have one but I’ll be looking into getting one
28 June 2020 at 9:20 amNo we don’t have one but i’m curious to see how they work
3 June 2020 at 12:04 pmwould love one!
3 June 2020 at 12:36 pmNo
3 June 2020 at 1:06 pmI don’t have a smart speaker but if I could afford one I would definitely buy the Google Nest Mini and I would use it in my kitchen whilst I am cooking and baking.
3 June 2020 at 3:35 pmWe don’t have one, but would love to!
3 June 2020 at 3:49 pmNo we haven’t got one
3 June 2020 at 7:51 pmI dont have one yet – I have an amazon fire stick that i speak to when I want to watch something lol
3 June 2020 at 8:45 pmWe don’t have one yet, we’d love to win one as we’re not in a position to buy one xx
4 June 2020 at 6:42 amWanted one of these for ages, but unfortunately it is bear the bottom of my ‘need’ list.
4 June 2020 at 9:44 amI don’t have one but it would certainly get used if I did.
4 June 2020 at 10:25 amWe have one in the lounge room, I use it to play music and ask silly questions!!! We would love one upstairs for my sons bedroom, he wants it for his bday
4 June 2020 at 8:41 pmNope, never owned one before. Very intrigued by them though.
4 June 2020 at 8:56 pmWe don’t own one, but I’ve wanted one for a while!
4 June 2020 at 11:12 pmNo I don’t but I’d love one!
5 June 2020 at 2:05 pmWe don’t have one, so we would love one!
5 June 2020 at 2:56 pmI don’t have a smart speaker but have heard about them from my friends
5 June 2020 at 3:23 pmI don’t have one, but I can think of lots of things I would use it for, Especially timing things in the kitchen
5 June 2020 at 6:41 pmI used our Alexa a lot as a timer
6 June 2020 at 2:49 pmI don’t have a smart speaker but I’d like one 🙂
6 June 2020 at 6:49 pmWe don’t have a smart speaker yet but have been wanting to try one for ages!
7 June 2020 at 8:20 amno we dont but they look great! x
7 June 2020 at 12:50 pmI dont have one – really are quite nifty
7 June 2020 at 2:25 pmI don’t have one.
7 June 2020 at 3:57 pmWould love to own one of these, thank you for the opportunity
7 June 2020 at 4:32 pmI dont have one! can justify the purchase of one but would love to be able at some point!
7 June 2020 at 4:41 pmNo we don’t have a smart speaker
7 June 2020 at 5:03 pmNo I don’t have a smart speaker but I would like one.
7 June 2020 at 5:07 pmI just have my phone and a bluetooth speaker. All my music is on Google so I’d love this!
7 June 2020 at 6:34 pmNo, I haven’t got a smart speaker but I would love one! I love my music and this would be perfect!
7 June 2020 at 8:17 pmI have an Alexa and I use it for all my reminders which is mostly Zoom lessons for my children throughout the week.
7 June 2020 at 9:29 pmBrilliant product, would love to try it.
7 June 2020 at 9:44 pmWould love one
7 June 2020 at 11:42 pmNo we don’t
8 June 2020 at 5:59 amWe don’t have one yet x
8 June 2020 at 6:38 amI don’t have one yet x
8 June 2020 at 11:41 ami don’t have one yet
8 June 2020 at 3:07 pmWe have an Alexa which we mainly use for reminders
8 June 2020 at 5:14 pmI dint have a smart speaker but would love one
8 June 2020 at 7:11 pmYes we have a smart speaker and mainly use it for music
8 June 2020 at 7:34 pmWe have an Alexa and I ask her to set reminders for me all the time for different things. I also have my lamps plugged into a smart plug so I can ask her to turn the lights on. It’s quite funny when anyine on TV says ‘Alexa’ because she lights up and waits for us to ask her a question.
8 June 2020 at 8:16 pmNo, I haven’t got one
9 June 2020 at 10:04 amI don’t but I would love one!
9 June 2020 at 5:31 pmI don’t own a smart speaker, but would really like to have one! I’d use it to listen to music on and to find out news and weather 🙂
10 June 2020 at 1:38 pmyeah i actually have a Google home and it’s completely changed my life, being disabled it has given me the freedom to control many things with my voice which has been amazing, and I love I can listen to music all day everyday on Spotify it’s an outstanding speaker, would love this prize so that I could have one in a different room
11 June 2020 at 9:22 amthis would make a nice Father’s Day present, as hubby wanted one for ages
11 June 2020 at 11:33 amNo i do not have one of these
12 June 2020 at 10:29 pmNo we don’t but I do think they look very good
13 June 2020 at 6:21 pmI use my to remind me of things and to listen to the radio when I am cleaning and if I forget how to spell something..
13 June 2020 at 8:25 pmNo i dont own one, but heard all good reviews about them
14 June 2020 at 8:50 amive always wanted one of these,they look really good,and it would be good to have help when me and my hubby have debates about things hahahahah
15 June 2020 at 6:01 pmNo we don’t have one of these …. yet.
17 June 2020 at 8:32 amI don’t have one, but am intrigued! thanks for the chance
17 June 2020 at 11:00 amwould love to win please
17 June 2020 at 2:55 pmwe have alexa, usually used for music, recipes and the children use it as part of their education too
17 June 2020 at 10:35 pmI have a smart speaker in the kitchen and ‘cast’ BBC2 Sounds from my laptop. My son of course set it up. I would love another one for the conservatory.
18 June 2020 at 8:31 pmI have one in the bedroom which I play calming sounds/music on to help me sleep.
18 June 2020 at 10:40 pmI don’t have one but I’d love one!! I’ve followed you on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook as I’ve gone through your blog and love a lot of your posts! This is so nice! I’d love one with my name Courtney! Fantastic prize please count me in.. I’d be chuffed if I was chosen to be your winner! Thanks for the chance…Fingers crossed tightly!
19 June 2020 at 9:37 amGood luck everyone 🤞🏼🍀🤞🏼🍀🤞🏼
I don’t have one but I would love to have one to give to my sister when she moves in with her boyfriend soon 🤞🏻
19 June 2020 at 12:58 pmMainly for Spotify and the odd questions like the weather, or for radio
20 June 2020 at 8:50 pmWe have Alexa but I’ve not tried google
21 June 2020 at 2:59 pmI am hoping the family will set one up for me soon.
21 June 2020 at 4:58 pmI don’t have a smart speaker yet
21 June 2020 at 11:51 pmYes a google mini – i uses it in the kitchen for music, recipees and setting cooking timers – another pair of hands really – would love one for the dinning room to help with home schooling and spelling …
22 June 2020 at 6:51 amNo not at the moment 🙂
22 June 2020 at 11:10 amNo, we dont have one. If i did i’d ask it all the random questions that come into my head!
23 June 2020 at 9:45 amNot at the moment, but would love to have one
23 June 2020 at 2:02 pmNo but I’d love one ❤️
24 June 2020 at 3:25 pmNo I don’t have a smart speaker but I would like to own one.
25 June 2020 at 1:48 pmI do own an old one, but after the novelty wore off it doesn’t get used at all.
26 June 2020 at 9:59 pmI have an echo dot and mostly use it for the radio
27 June 2020 at 7:12 amWe don’t have a smart speaker but if we did i would go ask it to play the songs i like!
27 June 2020 at 7:51 amNo I don’t have a smart speaker! No idea why because I think it would be very useful and helpful to have one.
27 June 2020 at 9:24 amI use mine to get me through cooking the dinner, it plays all my fave tunes I’d love one upstairs for relaxing nighttime music!
27 June 2020 at 12:56 pmWe don’t have one but they look cool 🙂
27 June 2020 at 3:54 pmi got one for christmas and we are stil getting usd to it – mostly for music but sometimes for answeing things!
27 June 2020 at 4:29 pmI don’t have one yet, but I liked some of your ideas for using them – particularly setting alarms for baking times.
27 June 2020 at 4:46 pmuse an Alexa , as a radio , and fact finder really , its very useful
27 June 2020 at 4:52 pmNo I don’t have one but they sound good
27 June 2020 at 5:14 pmNo we haven’t got one but it’s something that I’d love
27 June 2020 at 5:17 pmWe have an Echo Dot in the living room and use it for playing music mostly. Our children love asking it to tell them jokes and what certain words mean too!
27 June 2020 at 6:19 pmNo I ha en’t got one, but I do want one
27 June 2020 at 6:27 pmWould love one of these
27 June 2020 at 6:47 pmWe have an Alexa but she’s on her way out lol. I use her to listen to the radio, play songs from certain decades and she tells me the weather and jokes
27 June 2020 at 6:58 pmI don’t have a smart speaker. It’s one of those things I’ve always wanted but never quite seem to get round to purchasing!
27 June 2020 at 7:06 pmMy daughter has one in her home and they ask it all kinds of questions and also play music so I think it would be very entertaining!!
27 June 2020 at 7:10 pmI haven’t got a smart speaker……yet but its one of the things on my wishlist!
27 June 2020 at 7:26 pmwe havent got one lovely giveaway
27 June 2020 at 7:55 pmI do not currently have a smart speaker. If I did have one, I would use it to control certain aspects of my home. Such as the lighting.
27 June 2020 at 9:00 pmgood for listening to the news without having to have a radio station on
28 June 2020 at 1:39 amI do not have one. This would be fabulous
28 June 2020 at 6:26 amNo I don’t have one
28 June 2020 at 6:58 amI don’t have a smart speaker but would love onne!
28 June 2020 at 7:29 amNo I don’t but have fun when I round at my brother , great for finding song titles from lyrics ,
28 June 2020 at 7:37 amI don’t have one but my partner does. He uses it to ask questions.
28 June 2020 at 7:52 amI’d really love to know how this stacks up against an Alexa. The one thing an Alexa doesn’t do particular well with is when you ask her something which requires looking up – I think the Google Mini (with obviously google behind it) would fare much better.
28 June 2020 at 8:07 amI would play music
28 June 2020 at 8:22 amI don’t have a smart speaker, but would love one. I think it would be a great and simple way to introduce my parents into using technology at home.
28 June 2020 at 8:34 amI dont have one but would love it
28 June 2020 at 8:43 amJust got a Smart Speaker, haven’t plugged it in yet. I am going to connect it to my new TV.
28 June 2020 at 8:47 amWe don’t currently own any, so this would be a much welcomed treat!
28 June 2020 at 8:52 amI don’t but have looking at getting one! They have so many useful functions!
28 June 2020 at 9:46 amWe don’t have a Smart speaker, but the kids have been asking for one, and it sounds like it would be a really fab addition to our home. I would site it in the kitchen, as it sounds perfect for saving shopping lists, cooking times, and for looking up recipes, and the weather and other info. I see that you can add to them so ideal for the bedrooms too, intercom comes to mind, let them know there’s food on the table! Then of course there’s music, actually there are probably so many ways that this little gadget could enhance your life, without having to have your nose in a screen, so to speak. So yes, I think this is now elevated to My Wishlist!
28 June 2020 at 10:12 amI don’t have one but I’d definitely use to play music or podcasts while I’m cooking if I did have one!
28 June 2020 at 10:28 amI have one so this would be a great present for my Dad!
28 June 2020 at 10:41 amI don’t have one but if I did I bet it would be used by my toddler to play cbeebies
28 June 2020 at 10:34 pmI don’t have a smart speaker, but would love one! Fingers crossed 🙂
28 June 2020 at 10:52 amno I dont have one as yet but would love one for my home
28 June 2020 at 12:33 pmI don’t own a smart speaker
28 June 2020 at 12:35 pmI dont have a smart speaker, fingers crossed I win this 🙂
28 June 2020 at 2:50 pmNo I am afraid that I do not have one
28 June 2020 at 2:59 pmWe don’t have one but would definitely love one
28 June 2020 at 4:00 pmWe have an Alexa in the Kitchen which is great for when I’m cooking meals x
28 June 2020 at 4:36 pmI have an Echo Dot and love it, as well as a bluetooth speaker.. I do like the easy accessibility of being able to ask ‘Alexa’ to play the radio, turn down the lights or check the weather on my next trip… 🙂
28 June 2020 at 4:47 pmA do, mainly for music but the kids love to get creative and ask silly questions! We’d love one for nan and grandad who would have just as much fun with it 🙂
28 June 2020 at 4:56 pmI have an alexa but would love to try google
28 June 2020 at 4:59 pmNo, I don’t.
28 June 2020 at 5:23 pmWe have Alexia but my daughter has taken it into her room and it lives there now!
28 June 2020 at 5:28 pmI do not but I’d like one to play music at my command!
28 June 2020 at 5:37 pmNo I don’t have one x
28 June 2020 at 5:40 pmyes and we love it
28 June 2020 at 7:09 pmYes I have one and use it mainly for music and the weather forecast!
28 June 2020 at 7:21 pmWe have an Echo, we think its great for playing music and asking Alexa random stuff
28 June 2020 at 7:57 pmI don’t have a smart speaker, I’d love one though!
28 June 2020 at 8:34 pmSadly , no we don’t have one currently but are certainly open to the idea of owning one.
28 June 2020 at 8:46 pmI don’t have one
28 June 2020 at 8:50 pmNo I don’t have one but I’d really like to have one
28 June 2020 at 9:01 pmWe have Alexa and l honestly use her everyday for timings, music and calls she is so useful!
28 June 2020 at 9:01 pmNo I don’t own a smart speaker so I would be thrilled to win one x
28 June 2020 at 9:03 pmI haven’t got one.
28 June 2020 at 9:37 pmI don’t currently own a smart speaker, but I’m really interested by how useful it could be.
28 June 2020 at 9:50 pmNot yet, I think it would get lots of use in our house
28 June 2020 at 10:05 pmI don’t have a smart speaker
28 June 2020 at 10:08 pmNo we don’t have a smart speaker but would love one!
28 June 2020 at 10:09 pmI don’t have a smart speaker
28 June 2020 at 10:10 pmI have 1 smart speaker that I use in the conservatory to play music in the garden
28 June 2020 at 10:55 pm