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Fun Indoor Toys

November 5, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

As fall turns to winter weather for many states, lots of children will be spending more time then usual indoors as the temperature drops. If last winter was any predictor for this year, it’s going to be a cold one, and you wont’ want bored minions in your ears all day (and night) long. Here are a few of the latest fun toys that are perfect for quelling cabin fever.

With Disney’s new movie, Big Hero 6 about to be released (November 7th), there are a slew of toys on the shelves that your kids will be begging for. This was one of the cutest movies we have seen for families in a long time, (press screening) even if it was a bit sad at times. Of course, the main characters Hiro and Baymax are nearly everyone’s favorites, with the silly and huggable (also inflatable) robot Baymax stealing the show for children. My son loved dressing up like Baymax with the Baymax Rocket Fist and Mask (from Bandai), available for about $23 on Amazon. This mask looks just like the one Hiro made for Baymax, but it’s not a full helmet so it is easy to take on and off (and less likely to get stuck on). The Rocket Fist actually works as well, so use it outside or away from breakables. The fist is soft, so it won’t hurt anyone, but safety first. Launch it at the bad guys while you save the day!

Check out the Baymax (Armored) Figure toy as well- which is also on special right now at Toys R Us for only $10. This is a really cool toy, not only is it sturdy and articulated, but it also has retractable wings for when you feel like flying around the house. OK, so it doesn’t really fly. It’s still super cool, and really looks like Baymax (which is very important- just ask any kid!)
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Filed Under: review, toys Tagged With: cross post, parents at play, toys

Starting the Medifast Diet Plan

November 3, 2014 by Samantha 6 Comments

DISCLOSURE: I am receiving Medifast 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.

I am just wrapping up my first 2 weeks of Medifast. It was a moderate success, I lost 4 pounds. I had the hardest time with drinks- water only is hard on me, I love coffee and diet sodas, and giving them up completely is hard. I have not been going to the gym the past few weeks as my son has been home, but now that he is back on a normal schedule, I can be as well. I’m a girl that loves being on a schedule, so I know it will be better for me when I am back. Being a carb-queen, there is a lot to get used to, a very different way of eating. Lots and lots of veggies, almost no dairy, very few snack options, and a lot of water.

You get nearly all of your food in the mail, but you add in your own fresh foods and one “lean” meal a day, which you can get ideas for online or in your booklet. This is tough at first, but will help you with portion size and control in the long run. Remember- we didn’t get overweight because we DON’T like to eat, am I right?
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Filed Under: health, review Tagged With: wight loss

Big Hero 6 Movie Review

November 3, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

Disclosure- We saw the below movie with press passes in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own and honest. Please see I Disclose for more info.

My son and I recently saw the new Disney movie, Big Hero 6. We both really enjoyed this movie, it will be one both adult and kids will like. It was one of the cuter movies I have seen in a while, if a bit sad at times. The story revolves around a boy-genius, Hiro, who tragically loses his brother whom he looks up to (after they have already lost their parents- Disney hates in-tact cartoon family units, don’t they?). His brother is a “nerd”, and builds amazing technology at a local university. With some encouragement from his brother and his brother’s friends, Hiro creates a new machine himself and earns a place in the same school. Unfourtunatly, this is where the trouble starts. His brother is lost, as is the school, but his brother’s invention, the robot-nurse Baymax, and his school friends are there to help Hiro figure it all out.
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Filed Under: disney, entertainment, movie, review Tagged With: movies

Build a Bear Pop Up in Times Square

November 3, 2014 by Samantha 6 Comments

There is a new Build a Bear Pop-Up store in Times Square, NYC just in time for the holiday season. My son had a great time picking out and stuffing new friends, and taking them through the workshop dressing them, “giving them a bath”, brushing them, dressing them, and naming them- of course making them his own.

This is one of my son’s favorite places, Build a Bear. He loves going, and even on his way out the door, all he can talk about is the next time we can go back, and who he wants to make and take home next.

While we were at the brand new Build a Bear, my son was able to take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony

Hug Bearamy, the Build a Bear mascot

and stuff his own Michelangelo Ninja Turtle and dress him up, as well as dress his Olaf! Both are available now at most Build a Bear locations and online.

He also stuffed a teddy for charity- these bears are being donated by Build a Bear to kids in need of a little bit of teddy bear love right in New York City. The first 200 guests to the new Build-A-Bear Workshop store are invited to make a special stuffed animal for free to donate to the 92nd Street Y, which promotes individual and family development and participation in civic life. The 92nd Street Y will distribute the stuffed animals to local children in need of a teddy bear hug.
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Filed Under: kids, review Tagged With: build a bear, toys

WIN Light in the Dark App

October 30, 2014 by Samantha 4 Comments

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

Mobile gaming is a huge field right now and probably will continue to be one until cell phones are implantable, but that is another story completely. Today we are looking at a new game for iPhones, iPads, Android and Windows phones. This game is Light in the Dark, which was developed by Dreamgate Studios. Dreamgate is a relatively new company, formed in 2011, made up of industry veterans who wanted to bring AAA level games to the indie environment. Light in the Dark combines cartoon artwork with a light bending puzzle game which starts off easy enough for kids but ends up being mind twistingly difficult for kids and adults.

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Filed Under: giveaway, review Tagged With: app, apps, tech

Ladybug: A Cricket Magazine

October 30, 2014 by Samantha 5 Comments

My son with “Ask”, one of Cricket’s magazines

Disclosure- I am a Cricket Media Ambassador, and received the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and honest. For more information, see “I Disclose”.

Over the next few months, we will be featuring a line of Cricket Media magazines. The first in this series is Ladybug. Ladybug is made for children aged 3 to 6 years old. Ladybug magazine features young child level stories of small length perfect for a bed time tale or an afternoon escape. What makes this magazine so special is that there are not only stories in it, but also poems, songs, and beautiful illustrations to complement them. Sometimes the stories are in familiar picture book format with picture on top and text at the bottom of the page, while others are in a more freestyle format where words are printed in various parts of the page from leaves in a tree to an underwater cavern. The stories included range from fiction to nonfiction. You might read anything from a kids account of city life to facts about various countries. Songs are presented with not only lyrics but also the music in order to play the song on a musical instrument which would be great fun for those parents or children musically inclined. Ladybug offers an interactive sampler to give you a taste for the magazine which is a nice touch.
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Filed Under: kids, review

CRYSTAL LIGHT at WalMart

October 29, 2014 by Samantha 6 Comments

Disclosure- I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central for CRYSTAL LIGHT. I received a gift card to purchase CRYSTAL LIGHT products to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All opinions are my own.

Rewards programs are everywhere and come in various degrees of rewards from mediocre to surprisingly good. One of the newest rewards programs is brought to us by CRYSTAL LIGHT and Miranda Lambert. The program coincides with Miranda’s new Platinum Tour so this is a great way to get psyched for an upcoming concert in your town. The program is called CRYSTAL LIGHT and Miranda Lambert Platinum Points Program. The way it works is simple and intuitive.

1) Buy a CRYSTAL LIGHT product. Wal-Mart is the perfect place to grab some as their stock is quite good and they have a variety of different flavors and products from single serving drink mixes to multi serving.
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Filed Under: review

Win Tiggly Counts to help your Child Count

October 24, 2014 by Danielle 7 Comments

Disclosure: The Tiggly Counts mentioned below were provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

With a two year old and a four year old we are always working on learning letters and numbers and all the wonderful things in the world around us. I was very excited to give the Tiggly Counts a try to see if they truly helped my daughter with counting and adding numbers together.

About Tiggly Counts:

Tiggly is a New York-based company that develops interactive toys and apps for the digital generation. Toddlers and preschoolers love the iPad as much as Mom and Dad, but 70 years of academic research has demonstrated that manipulating physical objects is essential to early childhood development. Tiggly enables parents to bring this critical component of early learning to the “digital sandbox” today’s kids inhabit.

Their debut product, Tiggly Shapes, was designed by educators specializing in early childhood development and tested by parents and toddlers at homes and in preschools. Their second product, Tiggly Counts, is an award-winning math learning toy for ages 3-6.

Their products are fun for all ages, but specifically intended to help children between 18 months and 6 years old develop spatial reasoning, motor skills, language, and creativity.

About the Apps:

Tiggly Cardtoons – You can now count, drag, match, and enjoys as the simple buttons that you create come alive in a wildly imaginative story. Shuffle the basic pieces of digital cardboard and watch as they become one bluefish with a fancy bowtie, two peanuts for a hungry elephant, tree candles for a cow’s birthday cake, etc. Tiggly Cardtoons will help you learn basic math ideas such as one-to-one matching, counting, and equal sets.