Reviews – Page 10

Leap Frog’s New Touch Magic Toys and Our ‘Rock N Learn’ Party

Leap Frog Logo With three little guys, we have our fair share of toys and a good number of those toys are LeapFrog. I recently learned about their new Touch Magic products and had the opportunity to host a Touch Magic ‘Rock N Learn’ Party with some family and friends. To host the party, I received two Touch Magic Rockin’ Guitars, a Touch Magic Learning Bus, coupons, activity & coloring sheets, and party planning tips. I couldn’t wait to start planning my party!

A couple weeks ago I invited some friends and family over with their kids (ages 2-6) for a lunch ‘Rock N Learn’ play date. Even thought a few kids were extremely shy for most of the time (and only two would let me take pictures of them without their hands over their faces), all the kids had a chance to play the guitars and bus. One of the Moms even said, “Those are awesome, I want to play the guitar!”

The Touch Magic toys bring the touch screen technology to preschool toys for the first time ever. They recognize every tap, slide, and touch to create a great new learning experience for children. The surface of the toys are completely flat, making them easy to clean and sanitize. There are no buttons or small crevasses for dirt and germs to hide in. Since there are no buttons, the toys are very lightweight and slim. Some parents initially questioned their durability (notice how slim they are in the pictures below). I think they are questioning it because it is something new, different, and most parents are use to big bulky toys. I assumed them, my sons are pretty rough with toys and I can tell these ones are going to last.

The guitar is recommended for kids 3 and up. It plays 10 different songs and kids can customize the songs by playing along adding drums, guitar riffs, and funny noises. The most popular feature at our party seemed to be the strumming. If you strum the guitar really fast, it speeds up the song really fast and sounds like the Chipmunks are singing. The kids loved doing it and thought it was the funniest thing. Out of the ten songs, ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’ and the ‘ABCs’ were the most popular songs.

Recommended for ages 2 to 4, the Learning Bus brings lots of learning with the alphabet. My two year old loves this toy so much, he didn’t want to share at first. There are three modes: learning, letter exploration and music. The kids loved the piano keys at bottom of the bus and I think we had to listen to ‘The Wheels on The Bus’ about 50 times throughout the afternoon. I also caught a few of the kids trying to drive the bus around the house while they were playing with it.

After all the playing, we relaxed with some Leap Frog coloring and activities. For their lunch I made drum sandwiches with cheese ‘drum’ sticks and fruit with music note cantaloupe. We also made some cookies shaped as music notes and guitars, but after they baked, it wasn’t so easy to tell what they were. It was still a great ending to a fun and energetic afternoon.

You can enter the Touch Magic Rockin’ Guitar Contest by sharing how your child rocks to learn! Five winners will win a $500 Gift Card plus weekly drawings for $100 in toys! Here’s how to get in your entry:

1. Submit a Video:

2. Share Video:

3. Grand Prize:

Visit http://touchmagic.leapfrog.com for more detailed contest information, contest rules, and to submit your entry by November 30th. GOOD LUCK!

Each toy retails for $24.99 and can be purchases on LeapFrog’s site, at Target and other retailers, and on Amazon.com.

*I received a party kit including the named toys from Mom Select and LeapFrog to host my Rock N Learn party. I received no monetary compensation and all opinions stated are 100% mine.

Boon Whale Pod – Drain and Storage Bath Toy Scoop {Review}

Normally if you would walk into our upstairs hall bathroom, you’d see foam bath letters and a few bath toys scattered in the bathtub. My two year old and three year old are really the only ones that use that bathroom, so I have been procrastinating in purchasing a toy storage for their bath toys. I have wanted one and know I need one. I have shopped around, but never found one that I thought was worth it. I receive a Boon Whale Pod that ended up working perfectly for my sons’ bathroom.

The installation of the Whale Pod was extremely simple with the easy-to-follow instructions. The whale is actually three pieces: the scoop, the head/top with built-in shelf, and the wall attachment piece. It comes with two options for mounting: hardware to screw it into the wall, or adhesive strips. I used the adhesive strips and had the wall piece up within minutes. As instructed, I waited 24 hours before attached the rest. The best part? I didn’t have to bother my husband to help me with it!

My sons were excited to have a new bath ‘toy’ to play with. Even though they were anxious, I had them wait until the end of bath time to use it and clean up all the bath letters. My three year old kept getting all the letters in the scoop, dumping them out, then repeating the cycle. He loved it. He also found it very entertaining to watching the water drain out of the scoop. My two year old found the most fun out of just moving it through the water. I have to say, it is a huge hit with the boys! Just seeing it hanging up get them excited.

There are many features I love about the Whale Pod. It keeps the toys from just sitting in the bathtub and as it hangs on the wall, it has a sleek clean look. The slits on the bottom sides let the water drain out, which reduces of chance of mold and mildew on the bath toys. Another great benefit is that my sons learn to clean up their toys at the end of bath time and actually enjoy it. It is very durable and I know will last a long time through all three of my little guys.

Purchase the Whale Pod for just $34.99 on their site here or on Amazon.com.

Learn more about Boon, Inc products at Booninc.com. For the latest information and updates, follow Boon on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, and follow their boards on Pinterest.

Follow @booninc

Disclosure – I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

Rock ‘N Learn ‘Sight Words Level 2’ DVD {Review}

Rock ‘N Learn DVDs have become a favorite in my household. My sons are constantly asking to watch the Sight Words and Letter Sounds DVDs to sing and dance along with the characters. The first few times we watched them, I couldn’t believe the difference I saw in their vocabulary and how they remember some of the songs from the DVDs.

Rock ‘N Learn just released ‘Sight Words Level 2’, which picks up where the first one ends. It is targeted for children Kindergarten to 1st grade who are starting to read. Even though my son just turned 3 and not reading yet, he has received great benefit from the DVD and is he is expanding his vocabulary and speech. I know he will grow into this DVD in the next couple of years as he starts to read.

Sight Words Covered:

use • your • words
like • this • new • but • old • too
what • bear • black • brown • white
do • did • eat • ate • ran • say • four
dog • they • are • all • under • trees
who • will • be • good • at • am
he • came • by • get • her • went • ride • boat
yes • or • no • please • thank
that • pretty • was • on • she • saw • with
our • must • have • had • now
want • into • room • out
when • were • there • so • soon • well

Bonus Sections:

Word Shapes

The songs are catchy (as always) and capture my kids attention when they are watching it. Humor and fun is added throughout the DVD as well. I love that the characters are the same as the level 1 DVD because it makes it familiar for them. All the graphics and animations are fun, creative, and full of color. Yet again, Rock ‘N Learn has been able to entertain and capture my sons attention while educating them at the same time. We just can’t get enough of Rock N Learn! Here is a short sample clip of the DVD:

Rock ‘N Learn has produced over 50 educational videos and music for children of all ages creating a fun educational learning experience. You can find DVDs and CDs for Phonics, Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, Spanish, French, and more. Some of their best selling titles include “Letter Sounds”, “Phonics”, “Colors, Shapes and Counting”, “Getting Ready for Kindergarten”, “Spanish”, “Sight Words”, and “States and Capitals Rap”.

Follow Rock N Learn on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Buy It – You can buy Rock N Learn products on their website and use promo code JQ7711 for 25% off!

I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine. This review is brought to you by Karma Media.

Healthy To Go Brands – Green Tea Energy Fusion Packets {Review}

I love convenience. I actually need things to be convenient to get through a typical day. Keeping up with my sons doesn’t leave much ‘me’ time. I don’t always get time to finish a meal, drink enough water, or assure what I am snacking on (or drinking) is healthy. I normally don’t get enough sleep as I should and I tend to be running low on energy most days. When I found out about To Go Brands and got the opportunity to try their products, I couldn’t wait.

To Go Brands specializes in drink mixes and products that are all-natural, healthy, great-tasting and convenient. Some of their products they offer include VitaRocks, Trim Energy, Omega To Go, Smoothie Complete and Go Greens. I decided to try Green Tea Energy Fusion which are single-serving packets that you simply add to a water bottle. It is a fusion of all-natural, healthy teas, herbs and extracts to help support metabolism and provide energy.

The health promoting benefits of green tea have been known in Asia for centuries. New scientific reports of its benefits as an antioxidant & metabolism booster are reported almost weekly in the Western press.

I have never tried a tea that wasn’t hot or mixed with lots of ice (my personal preference). I tend to favor hot tea over cold tea, but I first tried a packet in a bottle of water. The flavor was alright, but I am use to having a lot of ice in my tea. I waited a few days and tried it mixed with hot water and I do prefer it hot. Drinking it hot takes away from the convenience aspect though. However, the more I drink it cold, the better it gets. For the best results, it states to drink it one to two times daily. I try to drink one every morning while the kids are eating breakfast. After a week or so, I started feeling less exhausted with a boast in my energy! Also, if you are dieting, it is best to drink one thirty minutes before meals to help curb your appetite.

I think I am going to be trying the Trim Energy product line next to help finish losing the baby weight!

To learn more about other To Go Brands product, visit them online (also offers Healthy To Go recipes ideas), become a fan on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine. This review is brought to you by Karma Media.

A Baby Must Have – Kidsme Silicone Food Feeder {Review}

My youngest is almost seven months old and each little milestone he reaches is exciting but also a reminder of how fast our little ones grow up. I have waited longer to start solids with him than I did with his older brothers because I was still exclusively breastfeeding, and furthermore because I am having a difficult time coping with him growing up so fast. I want my little guy to stay a baby forever (don’t we all?). ‘Baby C’ has been very eager to eat solids and try new foods, as I frequently notice him staring eagerly at his older brothers as they eat. It was time. I have started very slowly introducing solid foods into his daily diet the last couple of weeks. He has been doing extremely well being spoon fed and even reaches towards the spoon for more. Right as I was starting the transition, I was introduced to what is now one of my favorite baby products: Kidsme Food Feeder.

When I received the Food Feeder Weaning Set, which included two food feeders (one small and one large), a 6oz anti-colic bottle and a Multi-purpose brush, I couldn’t wait to use them. I started with a small piece of banana in the small feeder. The feeder is simple to use, as you just put the food in the silicone sac and snap it closed. ‘Little C’ had no troubles holding it. After staring at it trying to figure out what it was, he started chewing and wouldn’t take it out of his mouth. He loved it! When he was ready for a refill, he was pretty upset that I had to take it away from him to add more food.

I actually have a bigger love for the feeders. My poor little guy is currently cutting six teeth. I put frozen fruit pieces or fruit bars in the food feeders for him to chew on. The coldness makes his gums feel better while he is getting some nutrition at the same time. I think this is his favorite. But really it doesn’t matter what I put in it. When he sees me get the feeder out, he gets excited.

Clean up is easy with the feeders because they are top rack dishwasher safe. The food sac is silicone, removable and easy to hand-wash as well. The brush that comes with the set works great to clean the feeders. Replacement sacs in the different sizes (for different ages) can also be purchased on Amazon.com if needed. It is also convenient to keep one in my purse for when we are on the go.

The bottle that comes with the set is a 6oz anti-colic bottle that is specially designed to reduce colic by keeping air out. It has a silicone nipple with sensitive response to the baby’s pressure and will respond with the right amount of liquid. I have only used it once so far since I am slowly transitioning to formula, but I love the bottle and he had no problems using it. I think it really will help the transition to formula.

To learn more about Kidsme and BabySquare, visit them on their website and become a fan of Kidsme on Facebook.

BUY IT – You can purchase Kidsme Food Feeders and other feeding products on the Kidsme site or on Amazon.com.

Disclosure – I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

Top Notch Fresh Steaks from New York Prime Meats {Review}

My husband loves to barbecue at least once a week, especially in the summer. Sometimes it is just throwing some hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, but I love when it’s steak night. Life is pretty busy and crazy right now and it is hard for us to find time to get to the grocery store, let a lone the local butcher. Since I buy a lot of things online to save time, I was excited to learn about New York Prime Meats.

New York Prime Meats has been in business for over 50 years. They specialize specifically in prime meats. Only 2% of all sold beef is approved as ‘prime’. That speaks for itself on the high quality of the meat. USDA’s definition of prime meat: “USDA Prime beef (about two percent of graded beef) has more fat marbling, so it is the most tender and flavorful.” New York Prime Meats takes it a step further and inspects each slab of meat before they sell it for the perfect color and texture. None of their meats are frozen allowing them to sell the freshest cuts. When you purchase online, your shipment will be sent via FedEx overnight, properly packaged for insured freshness upon arrival.

I received two filet mignons and a strip steak from New York Prime Meats. I was so impatient to taste them that I had my husband throw them on the grill as soon as he got home from work. He just put a bunch of different seasonings on them, nothing special. A great steak doesn’t need a lot of prep work, right? We each had a fillet mignon and half the strip steak. My husband started eating the filet mignon first and was hounding me to try it until I had a bite because he loved it so much. WOW! The favor was phenomenal. I have this weird thing with cutting meats (I always have) and I really just don’t like doing it. I feel like it’s a lot of work and that time should be spent eating. However, when I put my knife through these cuts of meat, it was so easy to cut and I didn’t mind doing it at all. The steaks were extremely tender and juicy.

I have to say that these just might be better than any steak I have ever had, even from a restaurant. I am sure my husband will say it mainly because he is a Grill Master and I will continue to let him think that as well :) I can’t wait to have another meal from them.

New York Prime Meats also sells burgers, pork, ribs and roasts. To learn more and purchase your own prime meats, visit their website. You get free (overnight) shipping on any orders over $150! Also be sure to follow them on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Read more reviews from fellow Karma Media Members:

I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine. This review is brought to you by Karma Media.

Funky Monkey Freeze-Dried Fruit Snacks {Review}

I am always snacking on food throughout the day. That’s all I really have time for it seems like. Even when my sons are eating breakfast and lunch I am trying to clean up the kitchen, load the dishwasher or preparing dinner. One thing I dread is looking for a snack and only finding junk food. I don’t mind some sugar-filled treats every once in awhile, but I prefer fruits, veggies and healthier foods. I also try to eat healthier snacks throughout the day because there is no way I can eat anything without the kids wanting a bite or two or more. I had the opportunity to try something I have never stocked in my house, Funky Monkey Snacks.

Funky Monkey snacks are freeze-dried fruits. This means that the fruit is preserved, but it retains almost all its nutrients while removing almost all of the water. The all natural real fruit has no added sugar, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and also have no gluten, peanuts, dairy, wheat, or tree nut. This makes for a great snack for people with allergies. Each ounce of Funky Monkey Snacks contain three servings of fruit!

Funky Monkey currently comes in seven different flavors:

Applemon (apple/cinnamon)
Bananamon (banana/cinnamon)
Carnaval Mix (banana/pineapple/apple/papaya)
JiveALime (pineapple/lime)
MangOJ (mango/orange)
Pink Pineapple (pineapple/guava)
Purple Funk (banana/acai)

My toddlers and I first tried the Applemon flavor (I let them pick our first one). I’ll be honest, I was a little leery at first to try them. My sons on the other hand dug right in. I only got one piece of the first package and it was really good and full of flavor. I was actually very surprised at the amount of flavor that was packed into that one little bite. After dealing with a small tantrum from my 21 month old because the package was empty, I got him to calm down after I opened the bag of Carnaval Mix. This was my favorite flavor, as it has four different fruits in it: banana, apple, pineapple and papaya. When you open a bag, the fresh fruit smell is so strong and I didn’t expect that at all. I was highly impressed with all the Funky Monkey snacks!

I also love the smaller packaging the snacks come in. I always keep a few packages of fruit snacks in my purse/diaper bag for when we are out at the store or running errands just in case one of the boys get hungry or a little crabby. The size of the Funky Monkey snacks fit great in my bag and they are definitely healthier than fruit snacks.

To learn more about Funky Monkey snacks, connect with them on their website, Facebook and Twitter.

BUY IT: Go here to find a retailer near you or Funky Monkey Snacks can be purchased on Amazon.com.

I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine. This review is brought to you by Karma Media.

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