Archives for October 2012

Furby and K-Mart’s Fab 15

There is a new toy in town, one that looks very familiar to many of us. The Furby, but the newest generation of Furby is more interactive, more digital, and talks quite a bit more. Furby is the original robotic pet, first introduced to us in 1998 and was immediately the must have toy of the holiday season. Furbies were in play rooms, living rooms, and even offices. I personally have 2, the one on the right and a white one that is currently lost in Little’s room. They were to so prevalent in offices that the NSA forbid them from being brought into their own offices for fears of it recording and learning national secrets. This is not really a valid concern as Furby’s do no record anything, but it’s funny! Ah, government….

The early generation Furby’s learned, talked and interacted with the person playing with it. They are learning based directly on the level of interaction and time spent with the Furby. The newest generation of Furbies work in a similar manner, but updated and with newer tech and more attitude. The tech includes an app to feed and play with your Furby, brand new LCD screen eyes which give you a peak into the Furby’s thoughts with a ton of emotion and meaning behind each pixel. These eyes are (to daddy) a welcome change to the original Furby which had big realistic eyes that kind of freaked him out a bit.The newest additions include more emotions and a more attitude driven play experience. Instead of simple action -reaction play there is action-emotion driven reaction. What this means is, if your Furby doesn’t like music and you play music for her, she will become aggravated and be mad at you. If you continue being inattentive to Furby’s needs, the Furby will get angrier. It is amazing how much this little fluffy ball of circuits, [Read more…]

Wingate by Wyndham Hotel Review #Florida #Travel

If you are looking for a hotel that is close to Universal Studios, Orlando, and the airport, feel free to check out Wingate by Wyndham Universal and Convention Center. Great for business or pleasure- or a mix of both- the Wingate is a great place to stay that won’t break the bank.

I am traveling with my son, who is 5. I know this is terrible of me, but I really liked the fact that there was an IHOP, KFC, and Taco Bell in the parking lot of the hotel. He almost never eats fast food, but when on vacation, hey, you never know when you will need food in a hurry 🙂 The hotel also is a stop for the I RIde Trolley, which is a fast and easy way to travel the Orlando and Kissimmee area. You can hop on and off all day long for a flat fee of $4, free for kids under 12. Go to any of your favorite spots like Sea World or WonderWorks, even hit up a 7-11 and grab a burger and then head back to your hotel- all for less then parking. Easy.

There was an extended continental breakfast in the dining area off the lobby, were you can have some toast and coffee, or waffles, cereal, sausage, eggs, and more. It always makes traveling so much easier when the hotel has breakfast included. When booking a hotel, it is one of the first things I look for. I hate having to go out to breakfast, and since most hotels do not include [Read more…]

Champneys Beauty Supplies

Have you ever hear of Champneys? It is a recently released bath and body spa collection that smells great and has your skin feeling and looking fantastic. To help you turn heads, here are some price-friendly beauty products you will love to use.


Exotic Retreat Body Glow

$11.99; Target.com
An exfoliating blend with White Bora Bora Sand, Brown Sugar, Mango Butter and Coconut Oil to help leave your skin soft and supple.

Mediterranean Bliss Shimmering Body Oil
$10.99; Target.com

A skin conditioning, dry body oil with a subtle gold shimmer, designed to leave skin looking radiant. Nourishing Jojoba, Sesame Seed Oil and Rice Bran Oils ensure skin is soft and conditioned, while the blend of sensual Ylang Ylang, calming Sandalwood and exotic Patchouli essential oils encourages feelings of wellbeing and tranquility.
[Read more…]

Child Passenger Safety Tips

Unless you regularly check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website like me, you probably missed Child Passenger Safety Week in September. The Department of Transportation does their best to raise awareness about keeping kids safe in the event of a crash, but sometimes the message gets lost under banal stats and minimal fanfare.

What made this public service announcement notable was the release of a survey detailing the five most common mistakes made in child safety by parents. About one in five parents don’t bother to read the installation instructions for their child’s car seats. Regardless, 90 percent were totally confident of their safety restraints. Here are the top five mistakes:

1. Wrong harness slot: Often, children were strapped in using a slot that’s too low or too high for optimum safety in the event of a crash.

2. Chest harness disregarded: The survey found the chest harness was commonly clipped over the tummy instead of the chest or just not clipped [Read more…]

Rufus the Red Monkey – Monkeez Make a Difference #SockMonkey

We are always looking for ways for Little Man to be able to express his more sensitive side. The Little guy wants to help everyone possible all the time, and an important part of helping others is getting that feeling of actually helping. This can be in the form of meeting someone new, a smiling face, or even a heartfelt thank you. Yes, I know you can’t do something philanthropic for the reason of getting recognized for doing it- that is just wrong. But it’s nice to hear “thank you”, isn’t it? Especially for a child who is learning to express himself, social awareness, and care for others as he does himself.

We are also huge fans of companies (big or small) who try to make the world a better place then they found it. The creators of Monkeez and Friends are one of those companies. The idea behind their newest line of toys Monkeez Makes a Difference is to teach kids how to help others in different ways while still having fun and enjoying yourself. Getting recognized for helping, being generous and sharing. The [Read more…]

ET Out on Blu-Ray

E.T is a classic film with the kind of long lasting appeal all movies hope to accomplish. With a glowing finger and some help from his Earth friends E.T. is being introduced to another generation of movie watchers and rekindle the love of the current fans.

On October 9th, E.T. was released in a new 30th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray. This new edition of the movie includes: Journals about the making of the movie, deleted scenes, a special reunion of cast and crew, a discussion of the music of E.T. and a ton of other digital goodies. These are all in addition to a new digitally remastered Blu-ray version of the movie which includes 7.1 surround sound support. It is absolutely epic to watch this movie in [Read more…]

Fitting the Flavors of Fall into Your Dog’s Treats

Sometimes the only way to get your dog to behave is old-fashioned bribery. When it comes to teaching
an old dog new tricks, or getting a new dog to learn any tricks, positive reinforcement using praise and
treats is the best way to quickly teach your pup what you want from them. Sure, you can use store-
bought treats to reward your dog, but there are also some simple homemade treats that are sure you
keep your pet’s tail wagging this fall. Looking for some cooking inspiration? Here are some recipes for
tasty, healthy treats you can make for your dog.


Apple Treats

Fall is a great time for us two-legged folks to go apple picking, so why not use some of those fresh apples
and create some homemade, gourmet treats? Made from whole wheat flour, cornmeal, apples, eggs,
vegetable oil, brown sugar, and water, this apple dog treat recipe will be good enough for humans and
dogs alike.

Bacon-flavored Biscuits

Does your dog have a preference for meat instead of fall fruits and veggies? For those carnivorous
canines, consider serving up some bacon-flavored dog biscuits. This is a perfect treat to create after
serving up a big breakfast for those human members of your family. First, preheat your oven to 350
degrees and lightly grease a cookie sheet. Next, combine two eggs, 1 cup milk, a half cup water, teaspoon
salt, and 10 tablespoons of bacon fat into a large bowl. Gradually stir in 5 cups of whole wheat flour,
creating a stiff dough. Pinch off pieces of dough to roll into 2-inch balls. [Read more…]

How to Approach the Topic of Moving with your Children

Moving is a very big change for everyone, but it might be the biggest for your children. Children
are used to routine and familiarity. While their world is always changing, there are certain things
that most kids depend on. They depend on seeing the same places, meeting the same friends and
going to the same school. Moving can change everything for them, and your children might face
various emotional issues. If you want to make things easier for your children, then try these
useful tips.


Give an Explanation
Your children will want to know why you are moving, and they deserve a good explanation.
Don’t just tell them that the move is important. You should really give them some good reasons
so that they understand the necessity of the move. For example, if you are moving because of a
better job offering, then explain why your new job is so important.

Chances are that this alone will not make your children understand immediately why you are
moving, but it should start sinking in within a few days or weeks.

Don’t Discredit Feelings
Your children are going to have an emotional attachment to the house and area. Many adults
inadvertently discredit their children’s feelings. For example, your children might say that they
will miss their friends. A common response to this is that they will make new friends. This is
most likely true, but your children won’t understand this until the move is over and they do
finally get some new friends.

You should instead focus on helping your children through their emotional issues. Tell them that
they can still speak with their friends through the computer or over the phone. If you aren’t
moving that far away, then tell your children that you will bring them back to their friends every
now and then. Let your children know that you understand their feelings, and that you are willing
to make this easier on them.

Visit the New House
If the new house or apartment isn’t that far away, then take your children to see the area. If you
can’t go inside the house or apartment for some reason, then let them see the outside and any
nearby areas that they will find interesting. Aside from losing their familiarity and [Read more…]