review Archives - Page 22 of 232 - Have Sippy Will Travel

BBlüv Baby Monitor

April 6, 2018 by Admin 1 Comment

Keep an Eye on Your Little One with BBlüv

It’s true that no matter how old the kid you always want to have one eye on them for when they need you. After a certain age that gets to be impossible, but at no time is it more important than when they are helpless in their crib. You want to have the tools to keep them safe and a baby monitor is high on the list of important gear for a young child. BBlüv’s Viziö has everything you could want, an all in one package to offer peace of mind.

The Viziö digital video baby monitor lets you peek in day or night without disturbing your nap time or nightly sleep. The built in microphone allows you to hear everything that is going on, while the speaker allows you to communicate. As your child gets older you can chat back and forth easily without standing right there in the room so this is not an item you out grow in a short time. A high quality monitor is a good investment.

The range of the monitor’s transmission is 1000 ft. so you have flexibility and range of motion while still getting a clear picture. The 3.3” color LCD display gives a nice balance of size without being clunky. Both the monitor and the camera are super light and easy to transport. The weight is not an issue if you want to mount the camera instead of attaching it to the crib, one little nail is enough.

Each of the rechargeable units has a 12-hour battery life and share the same cord to charge so if you misplace one you are still good to go. Great for travel. They have impressive sound quality for monitor feed and camera lullaby mode. It comes equipped with 8 lullabies you can play to sooth a restless sleeper.

You do have to watch since the monitor and camera can emit a lot of feed back when to close together. Overall though the Viziö digital video baby monitor is easy to use, has a great picture, a lot of convenient features. It alerts you to low or high temperatures in the room, there is an out of range alert and a baby feeding alarm you can set.

BBlüv has all kinds of goodies for parents beyond the Viziö. Find out more on their site Bbluvgroup.com

You can also check them out on Social Media on Twitter – Facebook – Instagram

Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock

April 4, 2018 by Admin Leave a Comment

Make Every Trip to the Store a Relaxing Hammock Ride

When you think of hammocks beautiful beaches may come to mind, or lazy afternoons in the backyard, perhaps thoughts of camping in the woods. Shopping carts are unlikely to be your first association, but Binxy Baby may change that. The shopping cart hammock takes your next visit to the store from hassle to harmony.

Keeping your baby safe and comfortable is absolutely the goal with any product you are purchasing. Functionality and easy use are also key and the Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock has all of that. Basically this high quality two layer fabric hammock is designed to clip onto the sides of a shopping cart so you can strap your munchkin in for a secure ride. If you want to use your carseat instead of placing the baby directly in the hammock that works too. In fact it is the safe way to have a carseat mounted onto a shopping cart, just use the strap that comes with it.

The hammock is designed to have an incline, or tilt so the baby’s head and neck are supported while they ride. It can hold up to 50 lbs. and stretches to fit most standard carts. I love the three point seatbelt to keep my little one in place while I navigate the isles. Once he is loaded there is still plenty of room to load in the groceries. Binxy Baby has awesome designs you can choose from to show a bit of your style and when you are done loading your shopping bags into the car packing up the hammock takes seconds. I can either put it in my diaper bag or keep it in the car with my reusable grocery bags so I am sure to remember it for every trip.

A happy baby makes for easy shopping, getting rocked by the motion of the cart has kept my kiddo calm and quiet through our outings. I was also constantly getting compliments about how happy and comfortable my boy looks in his hammock and what a great space saving idea. I love the great material, beautiful pattern, strong fabric, quality crafmanship, soft and comfortable feel. Overall this is just a great product to have, easy to use, easy to store, and the shopping cart hammock makes my son easy relaxed company.

You can find out more at the Binxy Baby site Binxybaby.com or on Social Media at Twitter – Facebook – Instagram

Filed Under: baby, review Tagged With: baby, Baby Hammock, baby products, Binxy Baby, Binxy Baby Shopping Hammock, hammock, Shop Binxy Baby, Shopping Cart Hammock

The Virtuali-Tee from Curiscope

April 3, 2018 by Admin Leave a Comment

X-Ray Vision that Inspires with Virtual Reality

Do you think your little scientist wants to know more about how the human body works? The Virtuali-Tee from Curiscope is an amazing way to engage their interest. Basically this enhanced t-shirt works with a free app to give an animated 3D look inside the human body. Yes, with just the camera function on your phone or tablet you can have an immersive educational experience.

You may be familiar with Curiscope, known for their virtual reality experiences like Great White Sharks. Now they have brought a new level of education to apparel. This new product is exactly what they say, an “anatomical adventure”. Understanding our bodies and anatomy is often something we see separate from ourselves in books or images. By bringing this to kids in a 3D vision that touches their own skin it makes the information a reality beyond the virtual.

Kids can watch their heart pumping then go deeper to learn about the parts of the heart and how it functions in the body. Turn the camera to selfie mode and let the games begin, because that is what this app feels like. In function the t-shirt is 100% cotton and most importantly machine washable. Education and function that keeps the floor clear, since this is not another large toy to trip over.

The Virtuali-Tee from Curiscope is an opportunity to share and experience virtual reality and learning as a family. Who couldn’t use a refresher. Can you say which side of the body your liver is on? I plead the fifth…

It is time to get learning with the Virtuali-Tee. If you want to find out more about this and other items check out more details on the Curiscope website Curiscope.com or on their Social Media – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – YouTube

Filed Under: clothes and shoes, review Tagged With: check in, clothes, tech

Candy Free Easter Baskets

March 21, 2018 by Samantha Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again, when Peter Cottontail and all his bunny helpers hop into homes with baskets filled with treats and toys for good little boys and girls. Here are some of our favorite non-food items to fill your kiddo’s baskets with.

PLAYMOBIL has created even more figures to inspire imaginative play- Figure Series 13: Blind bags will continue to be a hit with the kids. The latest series features 24 different figures that can be collected, assembled and are interchangable. Each figure comes unassembled which adds to the fun- your kids can put them together or mix and match the interchangeable parts with other figures to create an entirely new and original character. $2.99 each

It’s Spring- ready for bubbles? These are cute, and can be less messy then a bubble wand. Glove-A-Bubbles Bunny (or 7 other animal options) puts the bubbles onto a little glove and lets them wave their hands around, creating waves of bubbles with each swipe. These ‘gloves’ come with two packs of bubble solution in each package. A parent can pour it into the pouch, dip the glove into the bubbles, and send the kids out to run wild. While there are 8 animals total, Bunny is egg-stra cute for Easter, we think. $2.99 each.

We LOVE Smooshy Mushy, I’ve got to say. If your kids have not begged for a squish toy yet, we don’t know how you have escaped this craze. It’s not one I personally mind terribly- they are inexpensive, smell nice, and are adorable, so not a craze that this mom minds. As we had mentioned in out Toy Fair columns, The Squish trend is continuing, for sure. These scented, “slow-rise,” squishable animal toys come in a variety fun food and pet themes, each packaged with an itty-bitty collectible squishy best friend, adding levels of surprise. The packaging itself is super cute, often an ice cream cone, soda bottle, milk carton, or the like. Very sweet. $9.99

Stikbot Easter Eggs will be such a treat for any fan of the series- my son lost his sanity when he saw these eggs, so excited. Zing has rolled out a new line of Easter-themed Stikbot Pets just in time for Easter. Perfect for filling baskets (and you don’t need to crack your nails opening those dreadful plastic eggs to fill them over and over, LOL), adorable Stikbot Bunnies and Chicks are packed inside colorful eggs. Stickbot has nearly 200 million views on YouTube, and many kids make their own YouTube channels dedicated to their own “spinoff” or inspired themes. Kids love the open ended, imaginative play that these toys bring with them. Stickbot also teaches kids a skill- how to do stop-motion animation movies, not to mention some patience. I love the combination of tech and no tech in this- they need to really use their minds, create- THEN use tech to record. It’s one of my favorite toys my son has- and the price is great at $4.99 each.

Care Bears Care-Moji Figures continue the “blind bag” trend- and these are adorable “bags”. The mini collectible Care-Moji friends have a mini Care Bears character stylized figures inside. Each 2” figure comes inside of an adorable bear-shaped capsule (I love all these fun “blind bags”, the creativity is so much fun). There are 12 different figures to collect, play with, or display. Each capsule sold separately. $3.99 each.

Bunny Surprise and Lamb Surprise are the latest (and most “Spring” appropriate) of the Puppy and Kitty Surprise family of toys- These soft, huggable mommy Bunny or Lamb Surprise plush (with a plastic face) comes with a “surprise” number of babies in her litter – either three, four, or five per doll.Kids will have fun seeing how many babies she has, and then cuddling, grooming, and taking care of all the precious little bunnies and lambs (as well as mom). I had one of these “Surprise” toys as a child, and it’s fun to see my child play with one, as well. Mommy Bunny Patches and Mommy Lamb Bliss are sold separately. $24.99

Do your kids have an allergy to eggs? Are you vegan? Still want to participate in the whole egg-dying tradition? Check out Eggnots, the ceramic egg kit. There is no longer a reason why kids have to be separated during these activities during class or scouting (etc), or have to bypass the activity for Easter should you not want to. These ceramic eggs are an alternative so that everyone can still participate. Prices start at $9.99 at http://www.eggnots.com

Filed Under: holidays, review, toys Tagged With: easter, Easter Basket, newspaper cross post, parents@play, toys

A WRINKLE IN TIME is now playing in theaters everywhere #WrinkleInTime

March 9, 2018 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Now playing in a theater near you, A Wrinkle in Time is family fun for everyone. Nothing too scary for even the littlest theater-goers, an easy to follow plot, and a theme everyone can identify with. Meg misses her dad when he disappears one day, and will do anything to get him back. She has had a hard time fitting in since he left, and only finding him will make her feel like “everything is right with the universe” again. On the search for her father, she finds a new friend, a better relationship with the little brother she already adores, and a new understanding of herself.

Not much like the book, but a cute movie for the family, and visually beautiful. The kids in the movie were brilliant actors, and the three women “rescuers” and lights of the universe were diverse and interesting.

Director:

Ava DuVernay

Starring:

Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peňa and introducing Storm Reid with Zach Galifianakis and Chris Pine.

Synopsis:

From visionary director Ava DuVernay comes Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic which takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love. Through one girl’s transformative journey led by three celestial guides, we discover that strength comes from embracing one’s individuality and that the best way to triumph over fear is to travel by one’s own light.

Filed Under: entertainment, movie, review Tagged With: disney, movie, movie review

Toy Fair Trends 2018 #NYTF

February 20, 2018 by Samantha Leave a Comment

It Febuary, so you know what that means. Parents@Play was at the New York Toy Fair, checking out all the newest and best toys and games that are coming out this year, and we think it will be a fantastic year for toys. James Hamilton, of the popular pop-culture website http://geekstronomy.com was there to lend a hand covering the massive show floor (and we thank him for his contributions to this coverage).

We found that some of the trends for the next year are somewhat of a continuation of old trends, albeit slightly updated. Some of these continuing toy trends do venture into new territories, and it’s always fun to see what the year will bring to our families.

One of the continuing trends has to be the “blind boxes”. While these have been growing in popularity, one of the variations on these “blind box” items is that the blister pack will show some of the toys or contents with one or more figures being obscured. The remaining contents are visible to the consumer, and the hidden toy is often a “rare” item. The other big news in blind boxes is the packaging has gotten very creative, having the packaging serving a dual purpose such as being used as a Christmas ornament, storage tin, or as part of the toy itself. We LOVE this, and we think your kids will, too.

One of the other trends we witnessed is expansion of STEM based products. If you are not familiar with the term STEM, it stands for Science, technology, engineering and math (another variation is “STEAM”, where the “A” stand for Art- which we like better). Build a robot, learn to code, build atoms, mix colors, new takes on old classics like volcano building- there is no shortage of truly fun with learning options. Starting from months old and up, the child can learns coding though programming a robot’s actions, how to use a musical instrument, and so much more. This year, education is king, and we are happy to see that trend.

Another trend which doesn’t seem to be losing any steam is the prevalence of potty humor. There is no end to a child’s (or his father’s) fascination with poop and fart noises, so the demand continues and the products expand to fill it. There is everything from games to toys with the potty theme. I guess no amount of flushing with make this one go away.

One thing that continues year to year and will never go away is the popularity of plush toys. This year, there are a few plush toys that seem to be everywhere. Not new, but continuing to be hot trends are mermaids and unicorns (many with sparkles, glitter, or “magic” sequins that go in multiple directions) donuts, and narwhals. In addition, you will find a multitude of dinosaurs, flat stuffed toys in every variety (even superheroes), and the new fun food toys are bananas, pineapples, avocados, which you will see everywhere by every brand. The new trendy animals this year? Sloths, llamas, and aliens.

While we saw tons of these toys stuffed, you will find them in blind packs, action figures, pull toys, as bouncy balls, as pillows, coloring books, crayons themselves, and in more options then you can imagine.

While we are speaking of dinosaurs- you won’t be able to turn your head this year without looking at one (or take a step without tripping on one, as it might turn out). With the new Jurassic Park movie coming out shortly, as well as the 25th anniversary of the movie (don’t you feel old now? I sure do), not only are there a wide array of Jurassic Park toys and characters and more, but never before have there been so many books, paleontologist kits, stuffed animals, figures, remote control toys, costumes, and anything else you can think of that will have your child in a pteroble state of dino-madness.

Filed Under: review, toys Tagged With: Best Of New York Toy Fair, New York Toy Fair, newspaper cross post, toys

When Your Kid is Having a Public Meltdown #GroceryHero #ad @Walmart

February 20, 2018 by Samantha 3 Comments

This might seem like a strange photo- but he wouldn’t stop crying until I gave him this carrot and that potato. We’ve all had those moments where our children are little beasties in public- and where we will do ANYTHING to make it stop and just get out of wherever we are in one piece. What can we do to make shopping easier with little kids?

Impatient leg swinging from the shopping cart seat is often followed by a litany of Mom, Mommy, and MOM! Even when I respond there are times that my little one just doesn’t stop. Then there are the forceful kicks to emphasize his impatience. Maybe you avoid those dangerous little feet, maybe you wind up with a dirty shoe scuffing up your white shirt. Or maybe you share my experience… a day when those scuff marks were more than just dirt.

I confess that I don’t love all things poop related and blown out diapers and clothing. What, you know someone who does? Diaper days were not my favorite. So that day between the tantrum throwing toddler in a store I visit regularly, what I can only figure was dog poop (please?) transferred from his shoe all over my embroidered white shirt, and an otherwise too stressful week- there was a scene of epic proportions. I was almost in tears myself by the end of the shopping trip. And of course- THE LOOKS you get from other shoppers, ugh.

When I discovered Walmart’s Online Grocery Pickup I was elated. I get to stay in the car, cut my errand time by 80%, and save myself from the grocery store drama. I have always loved shopping, but that is one thing my munchkin did not inherit. Now I can browse from the comfort of my home, get everything my family needs, and just drive by and pick everything up. Someone looked at my life and found a solution for one of my biggest stressors. Now first time users can use promo code WOWFRESH for $10 off and find the bliss I have discovered with Walmart’s Online Grocery Pickup.

Once you and your child have bawled your eyes out in a shopping aisle it is hard to go back to traditional shopping and now there are other options to save me from my shopping terror.

Next time you shop? Use promo code WOWFRESH for $10 off your first Walmart Online Grocery order, and save yourself some cash and hopefully some sanity.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Walmart. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: family, kids, shopping

TheBroBasket Gifts for Him

February 13, 2018 by Admin Leave a Comment

Gift from anywhere with these innovative gift baskets!

I am in love with the BroBox from TheBroBasket! Lets face it, gifting can be hard. Gifting from afar even harder when you want something fun and cohesive. Personally I like to send items that all go together and not linked things that arrive separately when you are online shopping. I adore a good gift basket. TheBroBasket has options for every interest and taste, whether you want to send them a drink, a snack, or a themed basket for the golfer in the family.

There are plenty of occasions when a little something will cheer someone up, show that you care, or add a little something to a celebration. Valentine’s, Christmas, Father’s Day, and birthdays are the obvious ones, but there are so many more. Heading off to college, house warming, engagement parties, bachelor parties, weddings, Boss’s Day, and get well soons all come to mind. Maybe you have someone in particular in mind? TheBroBasket site makes it easy to search with suggestions for dads, boyfriends, husbands, brothers, and sons.

The Bro Basket Gift Baskets for Him

So for the holiday, in this case Valentine’s Day I picked out a BroBox for my special someone. The Executive BroBox looked too slick to pass up. Plus it had chocolate for me to steal. I shared it with him, I promise…

Now they have options for those that exercise and want a protein punch, candy lovers, coffee lovers, and plenty without booze, and with a healthier bent. I will be completely honest, this one just seemed like a great option. When my gentleman has a guest over this is a nice bottle to share, the whiskey stones are a neat way to keep from watering down your drink, and the package is classy. He was completely won over by it.

There have been many times in my life that I needed to send a holiday gift and spent hours searching for something that felt tailored and special. This is the place to look, TheBroBasket has so many options for everyone. Yes they are geared towards men, which is great, cause they can be tricky to shop for. Their site is easy to search and their products are varied. If it hadn’t been this one I would have picked one with beef jerky, or maybe BBQ, the one with popcorn…

Check out TheBroBasket online for yourself at their site thebrobasket.com or on Social Media – Facebook – Twitter

They have amazing last minute shipping so all you procrastinators keep this one in your back pocket!

Filed Under: review Tagged With: gift baskets, gift ideas, gifts for him, thebrobasket