Samantha, Author at Have Sippy Will Travel

Hoodwinked Too! Now on DVD and BluRay!

August 21, 2011 by Samantha 3 Comments

Hoodwinked Too! Hood Vs. Evil was recently released on DVD, BluRay, and 3D BluRay. There is a star studded cast of characters from Red Riding Hood, The wolf, Hansel and Gretel, The woodsman and even a scary witch and a troll. Lending their great voices to this film are: Hayden Panettiere, Glenn Close, Andy Dick, Martin Short, Joan Cusack and the always loved Patrick Warburton. All of these stars put their own take on the character and it shows. But the shining star is Mr. Warburton, as always did a stunning job. You may know his voice as The tick, or maybe Kronk from The Emperors New Grove, or Brock Samson, from the Venture Brothers. If you haven’t seen any of these first put the kids to bed, then look them up- great entertainment all around.

Back to this movie. The story revolves around the reforming of the old team working together again to give the story a happy ending. There are a few twists and turns as the movie progresses to keep your interest, and I know I won’t spoil it for you. Let’s just say the witch had the right idea. Anyway take this movie for what it is- a sequel to a a pretty good kids movie- and you will be happy. Go in expecting another Shrek or Cars and you will be sorely disappointed. Either way your kids will enjoy it.
Just an FYI? The first Hoodwinked was one of my son’s first shows in a theater! And he loves it still.

Disclosure- I received the above in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: movie, review

LoveMode Clothing- Review and Contest

August 20, 2011 by Samantha 341 Comments

I know I am not technically a Junior, but the clothing at LoveMode.com is so cute, and a lot of the tops are versatile enough that most women will love them and look great in them.

Specializing in trendy juniors clothing, LoveMode has everything from tank tops to dresses- this is a great place to shop for back to school clothing AND save some cash while doing it! You can find fun, and cheap juniors clothing there- and there are great specials, like free shipping, uber sales, and more! This top was already very low priced, but it was a STEAL when I ordered it, at under $10!

Don’t let the junior’s have all the fun- I’m in my 20’s and I am rocking this shirt, LOL. I really like it and have already worn it a few times. By the way? FREE SHIPPING all the time, with no minimum order! Look at that- cheap on cheap- but the clothes are still fab 🙂

One of you can win $25 to spend at LoveMode.com
Here is how to enter!

Mandatory entry

You must be a public follower on Google Friend Connect.
Leave me your email so I can contact you if you win. In your comment, please.

Extra Entries
Leave a separate comment for each entry.

– Follow LoveMode on Facebook- this is not mandatory and Facebook is in no way sponsoring this contest.

-“Like” me on Facebook -feel free to give me some comment love! 🙂 This is not mandatory, and Facebook is in no way sponsoring this giveaway.
+2 entries

-Subscribe to Have Sippy Will Travel by email, and confirm subscription or via RSS
+3 entries

– Follow me on Twitter ( or you can use my adorable button to the side!) and tweet about this contest

#WIN LoveMode Clothing http://tinyurl.com/443hesn #backtoschool #clothes #giveaway #contest @HaveSippy

*can be done daily

Please make sure you follow first!
+2 entries

– Follow any of the Collective Media Magic Back To School event Bloggers’ sites!

3 Princes and a Princess 2, Closer to Lucy, Have Sippy Will Travel, and The Thrifty Things. You can Follow GFC, Twitter, or Facebook- each is worth an entry.

– Email a friend about this contest, with a CC to me at kangabunnie@gmail.com
(you get an extra entry if they enter, too!)

-Add my button to your blog, and leave me the link so I can find it

– Follow me on “Networked Blogs”

– blog about this giveaway, and link back to this contest (leave me the URL in comment, please)

-Add me to your blogroll, with a link back to me

– Vote for me on “We’re On The Fence!” (Just Click the Button to the left that says “We’re On the Fence” until it confirms you voted for your’s truly!) *Can be done daily

– enter another one of my giveaways

– comment on a non-giveaway post

– Like this post on Facebook, Stumble it, or hit G+1 button (each is worth one entry)

OOO, so many ways to win! Good luck!

DISCLOSURE: I received the above product for review. All opinions are mine, yours may differ. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Open to US shipping addresses only. Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Sponsor is responsible for providing and mailing prize. Ends Sept. 11, 2011

Filed Under: clothes and shoes, giveaway, review

Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio

August 20, 2011 by Samantha 1 Comment

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kalahari

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: family, family fun, family travel, Home Entertainment, ohio, theme park, travel, water park

Unlimited Range Baby Monitor for All – Evoz Opens Public Beta

August 20, 2011 by Samantha 2 Comments

Guest Post by Jen Steele-

My company, Evoz Monitors, lets busy, active parents listen to their kids anytime, anywhere, right from their iPhone. We recently launched an open beta for our baby monitoring service.

Despite huge advances in technology, baby monitors still have extremely limited range. Evoz is an unlimited range monitor that actively contacts you when your baby cries. It also collects sleeping and crying data and curates helpful parenting content from across the web. When parents are out on date night, traveling or at work, Evoz will proactively send texts, emails or phone calls when their baby is crying. It also understands the difference between a cry and background noise. This gives mobile parents peace of mind and lets them stay connected with their baby.

Traditional monitors also fail to give any meaningful insights into the health and wellness of your baby. Evoz collects information that lets parents better understand the health and wellbeing of their children. Products like NikePlus and FitBit collect information and optimize personal wellness. We thought, “Why not bring this technology to the health of your baby?”

In order to use Evoz, you will need to install Evoz on an iPhone, as well a second iOS device – an iPod Touch or an old iPhone that can be placed in the baby’s room and connected to wifi. You can download the app today from the iTunes App Store https://myevoz.com/download_app

For your participation in the beta, you will receive two free weeks of the premium service, including unlimited streaming from anywhere in the world, unlimited email and text alerts, data collection and an exclusive look at new features. After the two-week period, if you love Evoz, the premium service will cost $6.99 (you’ll still be able to listen from anywhere for 30 minutes a day at no charge).

I am proud that Evoz brings state of the art health and wellness technology to active parents and smart babies. We look forward to building a community of connected families in the coming months.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

What is there to do in Dublin? (Ohio, that is!)

August 19, 2011 by Samantha 18 Comments

It would take less time to talk about what ISN’T available to you in Dublin– you and your family won’t be bored.
Home to the aptly named Dublin Irish Festival (Like Ireland, only smaller!) that has been names a Top 100 Event in North America, Dublin cherishes it’s Irish flair. Even if it’s roots are not Irish- the attitude definately is! Your friends will be green with envy when you show them all your fantastic photos of your trip, and you will be seeing green as well- Kelly Green, of course!

There is so much to see and do, that if you don’t schedule your whole vacation here, you will want to include at least a few days. (And make sure you go to the Visitors Center website- there are awesome Kids Eat Free packages, complete with attractions and hotel deals!)

A foodie’s paradise, there is more then just Irish fare offered in Dublin- Kogen’s offers some great food and great prices, and is one of the many restaurants that participate in the Kids Eat Free program available. Though they are an Asian and Sushi restaurant, don’t be fooled- they offer a truly wide variety, as well as a full service bar, happy hour, and kids menu that will please even the pickiest eaters.

You can’t go to Dublin without eating Irish at least once- so please let me recommend Mary Kelley’s! This eatery is Irish in every aspect, from the food, to the name, to the owners and it’s roots. As you look around, you will enjoy a glimpse into the restaurant’s history, the family that owns it- past and present, and items that will interest those who love all things Irish.

Columbus, Ohio- neighbor of Dublin by just a few minutes- is home to the #1 Zoo In America, as voted by USA Travel Guide. With new attractions, Polar Frontier and Manatee Coast, in addition to all the other zoo favorites like African Forest and Asia Quest, you and your children are in for a whirlwind world tour- all in one place. The educational aspect is not to be overlooked, either. Your children can learn about, and even interact with some of their favorite animals. Animals are wonders to children. Zoos and Aquariums like this one will help your child gain a lifelong love of animals, and help them learn why conservation and protection are so necessary to all our animal friend’s survival.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a fantastic place to spend the day- not only is it Jack Hanna’s haunt, but your kids can play in Jungle Jack’s Landing, and head on over to Zoombezi Bay Water Park (same address, same location, no driving necessary!) to cool off after a day of fun in the sun. As it is part of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s complex (which also includes the Safari Golf Club), all you need is a bathing suit and you are ready for a day of memory making with the kids, and one they will talk about for a long time to come. How can you beat a zoo that is also a water park? I’d bet you can’t.

What else can you do while you are in Dublin? Well- how much time do you have? Because I can go on all day.
Happy travels!

Disclosure- I visited the above locations free of charge in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: family, travel

Nutrisystem Nation- Week 3

August 19, 2011 by Samantha 11 Comments

This is my third week on Nutrisystem, and I am starting to get the hang of it. The frozen foods, especially for lunch, are really helping out- they are pretty good, and make it less painful to be on a diet 🙂

I am sticking with breakfast and dessert being very good on the whole, with some things I would gladly eat even if I was not dieting. Yesterday, I did a weigh-in, earlier then my scheduled weekly time- and it said I was up 3 pounds. I was SHOCKED to say the least- I didn’t cheat, not once- and I am very active. I have been dieting since Jan, and this was the first time I have seen a gain, so I was upset and called a Nutrisystem counselor.

She was very sweet, and helpful- and told me this could have been as simple as the fact that I weighed myself at the END of the day (duh, me!) or that I drank a lot a lot of water that particular day- or even just a natural fluctuation of my body at that moment. I’m not happy- but considering that I had lost over 14 Lbs in the first two weeks, I am going to assume that when I weigh myself on Saturday, it will even out. Or I might cry, LOL.

It’s really great that there are counselors you can talk to at nearly every hour of the day with your questions about Nutrisystem- I have called them quite a few times! What can I say, I am an annoying girl 😛

My first NutriBear!

Two things that I am really enjoying, are the chocolate bars for dessert, and the double chocolate muffins at breakfast. Yes, you do see a theme there! But, really, I don’t feel too, too deprived when I can still have my chocolate.
OK, so that is this week- wish me luck for Saturday, LOL, and next week I will let you know how it went 🙂
Have a good one!

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog

DISCLOSURE: I am receiving Nutrisystem products free of charge in exchange for my reviews and all opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Filed Under: fitness

Weekend Blog Hop! Weekends with Lucy and Sam

August 18, 2011 by Samantha 10 Comments

Let’s link up…Everyone is welcome (family friendly of course), there are no real rules except you follow your hostesses Have Sippy Will Travel and Closer to Lucy.

If you’re new…leave a comment after linking up so we can return the follow. If you aren’t new and know one of us isn’t following leave a comment (we want to follow you too), and if your not new and just want to link up…YAY! See you in in the blogosphere!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

TONKA CHUCK & FRIENDS Fold ’n Go Tumble Tower Playset

August 18, 2011 by Samantha 634 Comments

This is one of my son’s favorite toys of the summer- Chuck the Truck! We have received this Fold ’n Go Tumble Tower Playset for review, and I am very happy to tell you about it. If you have a child who loves trucks, you will definitely want to know more about Chuck and Friends 🙂

Little Man loves to watch Chuck on The Hub onTV. Daddy is a little more flexible on the TV rules then Mommy is- so if I am at a yoga class, at the store, or working an overnight- you can bet Little has a whole lot more TV time then with momma, LOL. Chuck is always one of his picks, and we have it “On Demand” so he loves that he can go through several shows. Mommy keeps telling Daddy not to let he watch so many shows at once- but…well, you know daddies. When the Cat is away, and all that jazz, haha. And I digress!

I confess I only saw one episode of Chuck- because Little Man told me all about it, what Chuck does, who his friends are, and I wanted to see what Daddy was putting on for him, LOL. But it’s a cute little show, and the toys that go along with it are fun. This one has been in my living room for far too long, and I keep trying to get it into the playroom- with no luck. Somehow, within a day or so, it is back on my coffee table. What can one do! I am just going to go with it for now, since he loves it so much. The boys at the Pre-K are also having a blast with it- he brings it to school at least once a week, haha. Chuck is getting some play- literally!

Here is a bit more information on the Fold ’n Go Tumble Tower Playset-
“Rev up your engine for tons of tumbling fun! Set your CHUCK THE DUMP TRUCK vehicle at the top of this tower to watch him tumble down the moving ramp and come speeding out the side. Then, put him on the lift to send him up to the top to do it all over again! When you and your vehicle pal really want to put your “driving skills” to the test, send him down the ramp to do his flipping ramp stunt. When playtime’s over, park your CHUCK THE DUMP TRUCK vehicle inside the playset and fold it up, so you’re all set for on-the-go stunt fun!”

We were also sent this PLAYSKOOL WHEEL PALS ANIMAL TRACKS FILL ’ER UP FARMSTAND Playset that has it’s own launch track as well. However- Little has adapted this a bit and made the horse NAMEOFHORSE a “friend” for Chuck, so they have adventures together now. Trucks and horses? Why not?

It is a cute set, and would also be great for younger kids. Animals with wheels are really just double the fun, no? LOL. Plus then they can play with your trucks AND other animals! See how that works? Thank goodness I have Little here to explain everything for me, haha.

“When this WHEEL PALS horse vehicle gets “hungry”, nothing will stop him! Your child can set the vehicle up at the end of this country road-themed playset and then press the tree to launch it. As the horse vehicle zips by, an apple “disappears” — just as if he ate it! Every time your child presses the tree, the fun just keeps rolling!”

You can win both of these fun sets in this Birthday Bash Prize Pack sponsored by the fab toy makers over at Hasbro. It must be like a “Santa’s Workshop” over there, they just have so many cute things for kids.
You can buy these toys HERE, at Amazon, Toys R Us, and many other locations. If you would like to enter to win them, you can also enter below. Here is how!