Category: Gift Guide

All things gift items. Gift guides are a great tool when you need to know what is the best gift idea for the person who has everything.

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Gifts for Kids: Mattel Toys of the Season

Earlier this year Big G and I hosted a rocking party courtesy of House Party where we got a sneak peek into the hottest cartoon show on Cartoon Network this year! Created by Mattel and their HotWheels division a great cartoon and line of toys called Battle Force 5 was a big winner in my home and the toys were an even hotter commodity. Big G nearly lost his silly mind with the 1:24 scale toys of his favorite Battle Force 5 characters like Sark and Saber, do I know the drivers…I am a mom…a true girl. My boy could tell you. I just act like I know for him. I know one is green and one is red and he is enamored with Battle Force 5.

Mattel really topped themselves with these toys this year and the Battle Force 5 line of Hot Wheels cartoons and toys. Big G was able to play with the Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 Battle Pack  and the Battle Force 5 1:64 scale assortment from Mattel. The boy and his friend that he invited over to share in the battle, well they played for HOURS!

They boys can launch their cars at one another in a racing battle. Each picking a side and then they would swap from one being the bad guy and the other being the good guy. Needless to say this simple and great toy kept them well entertained. Plus Hot Wheels…BEAT THAT! What boy doesn’t love to play with Hot Wheels. The cars are a 1:64 scaling so not too big but too small for the smaller boys with the small parts that could be a choking hazard. But Grant really enjoys playing with the Battle Force 5 Battle Pack and

Now girls are not left out either in their top toys section. I have found Sara to be quite a connundrum for toy shopping as she is quite the toy boy like her mommy and quite the girly girl…like her mommy. I was able to satisfy both her personality sides by reviewing The Princess and The Frog Magic Kiss. She enjoys frogs and she enjoys stuffed animals and when I saw these with Mattel I knew I had to ask for these to review and she loves them. They kiss with magnetic lips and make a smooching sound which makes her squee in delight. Plus she and her twin can fight for hours over these two on who will get the princess. Plus the movie is a huge hit with the kids. A new Disney favorite like all of Disney’s other animated classics. I have to say though that The Princess and The Frog Magic Kiss is a great toy for toddlers without the small and loose parts which can result in a choking hazard or worse.

Thank you Mattel for continuing to bring quality, fun toys into children’s lives.

I was not compensated for this review, I received these products on behalf of Mattel and their subsidiaries and provided my honest opinion of these toys based on how my children interacted with each toy.

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Gifts for Her or Him: Cookware.com CSN Stores

cookware.com, csnstores.com, Karie Herring, thefivefish.com, ebelskiver

Christmas should be fun and practical. I for one am not a fan of bad gifts or gifts that can only be used for not so everyday activities or moments in life. I mean if you get me a knit sweater with the ugly Christmas trees I can only wear it during the holidays. Um, negative. Not a good gift.

A good gift should be used for greatness, for everyday maybe, or for a specialty that everyone loves. Well my family loves pancakes. And my husband used to live in California and visit Solvang when they lived on the base in Vandenberg. You have never heard of Solvang? COME ON PEOPLE. Solvang is the Dutch US, if you could ever visit any one place, Solvang is a MUST!

While visiting there he had the taste of Ebelskivers, phonetically ay-bell-skee-vurs. They are round pancakes that are about the size of a silver dollar and are to DIE FOR! Seriously these little puppies can be stuffed with all sorts of goodies like jelly, preserves, cheese, meats, whatever you want to put in them.

CSN Stores, cookware.com

Cookware.com, a CSN Store, allowed me to review their Nordicware International Specialties Danish ebelskiver pan and I was and AM in cookware heaven. The pan has a Teflon, non-stick coating, riveted handled, and retails for $27.99.  I too love ebelskivers and have been requesting an ebelskiver pan for YEARS. Yes, YEARS people and the wonderful staff at Cookware.com, a CSN Store fulfilled my unanswered family gift request for an ebelskiver pan. The day I got it…I planned Brinner. (Breakfast + Dinner = Brinner!)

The use of the pan is simple, like any other pan but the divots in the pan allow for the batter to be poured in about half-way up to allow for rising and you add your fillings before the ebelskiver cooks too much and you have to turn. The batter I used was your standard pancake batter with Bisquick or whatever brand you prefer. I made a sweet cream cheese filling using Neufschatel cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, a few drops of maple syrup and my kids gobbled the perfect, hand sized treats like they were going out of style. I also sprinkled a little powdered sugar on them to really pretty them up.

Needless to say I am happy with my ebelskiver pan and with Cookware.com and CSN. In fact, CSN has over 200+ stores online from Cookware.com to bed linens, to home improvement, baby, you name it, they have a store! In fact you can buy your new dining room furniture from the furniture superstore Dining Rooms Direct. How is that for one stop shopping! They ship anywhere in the US and Canada, have a great return policy and on selected items they have guaranteed delivery by December 24th just in time for your gift to be wrapped from “Santa.”

Check out CSN Stores and find that perfect gift and they have an offering of 100 gifts under $100!

Happy Holidays and big thanks to Cookware.com and CSN Stores.
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Gifts for Her: ScentChips

Some great gifts are ones that are often the simplest. Women request candles for holiday and birthday gifts all the time so why not take the candle option up a notch with ScentChips.

ScentChips are scented wax chips formed into shapes that can be used as potpourri with a life of over five years or they can be melted in a simmering pot that will scent an area of up to 3000 square feet. ScentChips have been hand made in the USA, in San Antonio, Texas for over 25 years.

While candles are wonderful, enhance a room with delicate lighting and scent, the candle is not always clean burning, can cause smoke damage, or worse start a fire. ScentChips can be melted and the aroma will last for hours. ScentChips are also clean burning and non-toxic making them a great alternative to candles.

Different chips scents can also be combined for the ultimate in home fragrance. The chips are melted in a wide variety of electric burners as to avoid the fire and candle issue and inherent danger. ScentChips are not to be left unattended as with any wax, the product may reach excess heats causing a hazardous situation. Literally hundreds of scents to choose from to mix and match.

ScentChips can be found in stores in select states in the US, Malaysia, New Zealand, Austraila, and Puerto Rico. The price for these wonderful scented gifts starts at $20 and up for the chips and the burner. The perfect gift for a woman who enjoys home fragrance and home fragrance that lasts longer than a candle.

Here is all the information straight from ScentChips themselves:

Hand made in San Antonio, Texas for over 30 years, Scentchips are the ORIGINAL scented wax potpourri. When melted, Scentchips will cover 3000 square feet with a rich aroma! Use them simply as a potpourri for a softer scent – which will last for over 5 years.

Scentchips uses only the finest quality and safest ingredients on the market. Using the highest ratio of fragrance to wax, Scentchips are the strongest and longest lasting product of its kind. Scentchips are Non toxic and clean burning, making them the safest way to way to fragrance your home or office. Their fragrance is natural, dyes are vegetable based and no chemicals or toxic elements to the product. Scentchips were “green before “green” was cool. 

Customers may select from over 50 fragrance blends or 72 single fragrance choices to create their own unique scent. Scentchips offers a wide variety of warming burners, including beautiful electric burners for those who would prefer not to use a tea light candle. 

Scentchips retail stores offer their customers a unique, creative and fun environment in select cities throughout the United States as well as internationally. You may also purchase Scentchips through their website: scentchipsusa.com or the Toll free number: 800-472-3687.
Scentchips offers many gift ideas, starting at under $15.00! For the finest in home fragrance, visit your nearest Scentchips store or their website today.[ScentChips USA, 2009]

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Gifts for Everyone: Solay Wellness Himalayan Salt Lamp

Have you recently gone shopping and maybe seen that quaint shop in the mall with the salt lamps. Salt Lamps. Yes I said salt lamps. Well at the shopping district close to my home a boutique shop of Himalayan Salt lamps is sold and I had yet to see what they were, what they are about, and just window shop the lamps. I began to Google these lamps. Why are they so special? What is the deal really?

Himalayan Salt lamps are positive, negatively charged ionic air cleansers. You know that wonderful feeling and smell after the rain? The rain generates those healthy negative ions that promote a sense of well-being. If you are a skeptic, read more here about How Salt Lamps work.

Our family was grateful enough to receive a salt lamp to review from Solay Wellness and I was stunned by the “cool” factor of these salt crystals, the sheer weight, and the feeling these lamps resonate in your home. The assembly is easy peasy with the salt rock and the opening at the bottom for the easy to remove electrical and bulb attachment, just plug in the bulb, the plug, turn on and enjoy.

The light is a warm orange-red color and is fabulous. We have the lamp in our room and the color is so soothing, albeit hypnotic in a sense, and I always have trouble sleeping. Not only because I have children, but I am a busy working woman so my mind and body have a hard time shutting down.

Seriously I have slept like a rock with this lamp, pardon the pun. Seriously. I was thinking it was all in my head until I turned the lamp off and when I did…I tossed and turned again. I am a firm believer in the metaphysical and alternative therapies and of course you know I am a proponent for organic and healthier living so this lamp was right up our health nut alley.

The lamps retail anywhere from $29.95 on up depending on the weight of the lamp, yes the salt rocks are based on their weight, and depending upon which salt you prefer. Himalayan, Persian, polished, shaped, lots of options when you want a great salt lamp. But Solay Wellness offers more than just the salt lamps, they offer an entire product line of healthy living for your home, kitchen, and pets, salts for living, art, health, go check them out. They have such a wonderful offering of products for everyone in the family.

Happy Holidays and enjoy Solay Wellness.
Thank you Solay Wellness for the wonderful lamp and the
sample beauty products they are enjoyed to the fullest in our home.
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Gifts for Everyone: Knit Rite Inc Smart Knit Kids

Stocking stuffers are always fun for kids and what better stocking stuffer than socks! However, these socks by Smart Knit Kids are no ordinary socks these socks are completely seamless.

Seamless socks you ask? How? How can you have seamless socks. Everyone has those socks with the annoying seam in the toy that rubs. In fact I wear my socks inside out because the seams rub and bother my toes. If I do this can you imagine how my kids feel or react? How about children who have sensory issues? Multiply that factor by a hundred or a thousand where the socks binding and rubbing on kids feet and legs will cause an uncomfortable feeling for kids (and adults) or even pain if the sensory issues are severe enough, not to mention the bunching in shoes, I know I hate that, you have to constantly pull on your socks to make them fit. A little background about Knit Rite and Smart Knit Kids:

Knit Rite Inc. was founded in 1923 and markets, designs, and manufactures quality textiles for medical and consumer purposes. Knit Rite Inc is continually researching, developing new product lines to promote healthy benefits for a higher quality of life.

Now I am a skeptic about everything. I am a complete realist so when I heard “seamless socks” I was all over it and my other side was saying “Pound sand…no way.” Until I received the Smart Knit Kids socks and pulled them out of the boxes and felt the material. Fantastic. The socks felt super soft and were not the standard rough knit cotton socks you buy in the store. The fabric is tightly woven, but stretches and conforms, and the fabric is breatheable where some fabrics are not which cause sweating and of course the funk. Yes, funky feet!

Imagine my surprise when I read more on the socks and put them to the test with Grant to fins that the socks are made with moisture wicking material and are anti-microbial. Grant has some serious barking dogs after playing all day on the playground, in the Arizona “heat,” and adding all that sand to his shoes, he is the type of kid who sweats, A LOT! So imagine the funk coming from his feet at the end of the day. Needless to say these socks help to curb all of that. I am not saying he is totally stink free, but I will tell you that the stank is kept to a minimum and he really enjoys the way the socks feel. He also likes that they feel like he is not wearing socks because they are so soft. As you can see, lots of color offerings and sizes from crew to ankle cut socks.

But the Knit Rite product line is not limited to just kids, moms and dads can get in on the products as well! Knit Rite has an entire line of products for everyone, plus they have a new line of compression stockings just for pregnant women. Compression stockings you ask? If you have had circulation issues or lower extremity pain, then you are all too familiar with compression stockings. I know I had to wear compression stockings during my pregnancy with my twins and they were a life saver! So you should check out these cute compression stockings, they are not the ugly ones your grandma wore. The site is called RUPreggers.com and is a wealth of information about compression stockings and they have a great product offering that is very stylish.

Enjoy each of these products and be sure to share with family and friends
with kids who have sensory issues or just want a really great pair of socks or stockings.
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Supporting Toddlers Feet with Pediped

A few weeks ago I had a post about a great shoe company on a great mission for a great cause
with a great non-profit. You recall?
NO?! Where have you been hiding! Well here is that post again so you can refresh your memory.

That company was Pediped and I was unsure on how to react to their shoes. I mean kids shoes are kids shoes right? Why all the technology. Well I will tell you why all the technology, the specifications, the tweaks and modifications to standard shoes. Our kids need great shoes for healthy feet and an overall healthy stance.

I bought Big G new shoes at the beginning of the school year and he picked them out because they were “cool.” He grew out of those shoes like PRONTO and I was wondering why he A) ran funny and B) why he was walking funny. I figured out it was the shoes. All this unnecessary garbage in the construction of the shoe and flat out he outgrew the shoe. So while hunting down shoes I also came across Pediped for the Gift Guide and I was so happy they let me have a pair of shoes to review for Grant.

Pediped has this fabulous innovation of soft rubbery shoes that reduce the shock in children’s feet. Pediped also allows for an adjustment insert for growing feet so that the shoes last longer and the uppers are a sturdy leather to ensure even longer wear.

We know how kids blow through shoes in school, so the sturdy leather construction with the flexible rubber sole, not a hard rubber sole, allow kids to get full use out of their shoes and they last well past the time they were “assumed” to expire per normal shoe standards. Did I also mention how his gait is completely different in these shoes?

Grant has a tendency to walk on the balls of his feet and in these shoes he uses his entire foot which is healthy for posture and for your feet. Needless to say the Pediped Flex Fit shoes that we received to review are a big winner in our home and a must buy again since they have the flex fit system with the added insole to extend the life and wear of the shoes. Nowadays shoes are not cheap and the ones that are cheap, in my opinion, are not working for my kids for everyday walking, running, and being a kid.

I know Grant loves his shoes. He truly enjoys them and the style is fashionable, they are not the standard white, blend in shoes like everyone else, they have style, pizzaz, and go with just about everything the boy wears. He personally chose the Kyle in Navy and Orange and we like them because he can put them on everyday without a ton of hassle with the laces. He was really struggling and he likes that they are personal to him since he picked them out.

Pediped is a great choice for parents who are concerned with the development of their children’s feet and is approved by the American Pediatric Medical Association for healthy foot development. [Pediped, 2009]

So if you are looking for shoes this year for your tot, toddler, or small school aged child, checkout Pediped.

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Travel in Style High Sierra Sport Company

*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency. Click HERE!  

high sierra, luggage, karie herringNow for the third and final installment of our High Sierra Sport Company Trifecta!

I saw in the previous entries how LOTS and I do mean A LOT of you wonderful folks still love duffel bags. Honestly I was quite surprised. I even found that the hubs loves duffels for the ease of use when hurrying through airports or even for overnight trips where he drives. Duffels are those great bags you toss and run with no matter your location.

Plus a duffel is a great carry-on that if you are traveling for pleasure and you do not need to keep your clothes pressed this is fabulous for those quick trips. Just toss all your clothes in and go!

I present to you the AT-GO 22″ Sport Travel Duffel. The AT509 has these fabulous specifications:

FEATURES:

  • Side-load end compartment holds wet items, shoes or accessories
  • Molded feet protect bottom from abrasion
  • Strap on back panel allows bag to slip over the extended handle of a wheeled bag.
  • Large main compartment with U-shaped zippered opening for easy access.
  • Special built-in, high-density foam structure helps maintain the bag’s shape while minimizing weight.
  • SRP $150 ARV $69.99
  • [Source: HSSC, 2009]

The features The Five Fish enjoy? The amount of packing space in this bag. Truly this duffel packs a punch with all the space, the extra compartments and ease of use. I like to know that I have this bag when in a hurry to pack the hubs for a quick trip or for a quick myself with the kids. Imagine running through the airport, quick and easy with a duffel over your shoulder for sure. Again, what else can you expect from a company that sponsors and supplies the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team!

Now you can run through airports with this duffel or better, maybe you will be packpacking through Europe with this wonderful piece, so here are your entry details:

MANDATORY ENTRY: What is that one thing you forget to pack that drives you bat crazy! (This is fun folks…be sure to leave your email address or make your blogger profile public)

EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Fan High Sierra on Facebook….you get to enter weekly with them to enter to win luggage! Yes, weekly!
  • Follow my blog or tell me you do
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Tweet this giveaway….and this one is all yours have fun with it! Just be sure to mention @KariewithaK and @HighSierraSport
  • Fan The Fish on Facebook
  • Enter any of my other giveaways
  • Grab my holiday button and add to your blog/site
Now go on!
Enter!
Your last chance at the High Sierra Trifecta here on The Five Fish
Don’t forget to DOWNLOAD your
Copy of the catalog HERE and all the fabulous participants, savings, and giveaways!
CONTEST ENDS NOVEMBER 27TH 
@ MIDNIGHT ARIZONA TIME (PST)
Best of luck!
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Conservative Style Shade Clothing

As women become mothers and as we age our style still for the most part remains the same. We want to be stylish, we want to be “hip” but our style more or less evolves with our age and with our bodies. I have found that I still love to wear beautiful clothing that accentuates my body, but that does not make me look like Michelin Man. I have a few bumps and rounds here and there from having children, but nothing too bad. But I cannot pull off my hipsters and a tee showing my navel like I could just a few short years ago. However, I can sport my jeans and a fabulous top that accentuates my curves and my fabulous style.

With that being said I found Shade Clothing. They are fantastic! I at first was a bit skeptical on the clothing, very stylish, but would it be “MY” style.

I was so glad I proved myself wrong when I received a piece of clothing from Shade to review. Fabulous! Absolutely FABULOUS! The timing was perfect and terrible all at once as I received the top a few days before my grandfather’s funeral, but I looked great! I had so many compliments on my shirt, coupled with my Michael Kors trousers and Ralph Lauren Amaya Pumps.

I chose to review the Dolman Tunic which was a great choice because of the 3/4 sleeves where the top is not too hot and not too cold, literally just right for the fall weather.

The tunic has snaps along the left shoulder and down the sleeve. I was afraid the snaps would be heavy and binding and to my surprise they were very unnoticeable when I was wearing the top. The fit is awesome you can ruch the bottom as seen in the photo, or you can wear the shirt completely I was also afraid that the scoop neck would either be too low or too high causing an eye sore at my neck line and the scoop is perfect, especially because I am a bit more leveraged in the bust area so I like shirts that do not make me look like “Holy Boobs Batman.” Shade Clothing claims to be clothing for modest women, but I hardly consider myself modest, I consider myself more classic, stylish, a mom by all means and have no intentions of dressing like an escort or looking as if I stuffed myself into my clothes or dressing in a MooMoo.

Shade Clothing was founded by Chelsea Rippy, who like the rest of the shopping women of the world, could not find clothing that was stylish and not revealing. The clothes were either teeny bop or your grandmother’s line of clothing. And so Shade Clothing was born to supply a fashionable line to women that they look super in and feel great. Shade Clothing has stores in UT and AZ and of course you can shop online.

Now do you want to feel great in some fabulous and super clothing? I know I was ecstatic! Here are your details to enter to win a $30 Gift Card with Shade Clothing:

MANDATORY ENTRY:  Tell me your one thing about clothes shopping or clothes in general. (Mine…the sizes are never the same for any designer…sizes all over the board!)

EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Follow Shade Clothing on Twitter (tell me you do)
  • Follow my blog
  • Follow MOI` on Twitter
  • Tweet this giveaway be sure to add @KariewithaK and @ShadeClothing to your tweets so we can see them!
  • Blog this giveaway
  • Enter one of my other giveaways (for each giveaway entry come back and leave me a comment for example: 3 giveaways, 3 comments)
 CONTEST ENDS DECEMBER 1ST @ 
11:59PM ARIZONA TIME
Best of luck!
*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency. Click HERE! 
Don’t forget to DOWNLOAD your Copy of the catalog
HERE and all the fabulous participants, savings, and giveaways!
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Sustainable Shoes with J-41 (Jambu) Shoes

What woman doesn’t love shoes….seriously women love shoes, jewelry, handbags. So the kids reviewed shoes and I thought…why can’t mama review some shoes. I sought out shoes and I wanted shoes that are rugged, functional, classy, comfortable. I stumbled upon J-41 (Jambu) shoes and the collection is phenomenal.

Here are all the features and benefits of this wonderful brand of shoes:

  • Outsoles are made with partially recycled rubber
  • Jeep Designed and trail rated outsoles
  • Quick drying and odor free sock lining
  • Jeep® Memory Foam Footbed Cradles Feet
  • Sizes Range from 6-11
  • ARV $119.00
  • Buy online @ Planetshoes.com

I could list the endless benefits of these shoes but the truth is these are the only shoes I have worn since I received them, they are truly like walking on air. These shoes are stable, light, and seriously the most comfortable shoes I have worn in a long time.

The fabulous feature of this line of shoes is that they are not just trail rated and for hiking. They are versatile from a wedge, sandals, boots. The line also comes in a vegan option for those who are looking for the environmentally friendly option. These shoes are great for the everyday. I reviewed the exact model and color of shoe shown above. Literally, I could die in these shoes. The insoles are probably my favorite part of the shoe.

In Arizona you basically wear shoes to keep you from getting burned by the concrete, if you talk to anyone and everyone who lives in the Phoenix metro area they are always barefoot. Just our “thang” and or we wear flip-flops, you know, Flo-Jo’s! So when I wear shoes I DESPISE wearing socks, I mean truly despise socks, they make my feet feel hot sweaty, nasty and like something is growing. I only wear socks when working out. I love to wear shoes with no socks or hose but the problem is that my shoes stink from wearing no socks with my feet in there. (Mind you…I think feet are the nastiest thing created on a human being) I am just ecstatic these shoes DO NOT stink. None! Nada. Love them and they are super soft. Seriously I could go on and on about how sporty, functional, funky and fun these shoes are, so I will spare you my enthusiasm.

I will let you show me your enthusiasm about shoes, and better yet, about this line of shoes!

If you don’t believe me well check them out for yourself, or better yet, enter to win a fabulous pair for yourself! You pick the pair. Here are your details:

MANDATORY ENTRY:  Go to J-41.com and or PlanetShoes and tell me which pair you would want for yourself and why? This is the pair you will win too!

EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Fan J-41 on Facebook
  • Follow my blog, tell me you do
  • Follow me on Twitter, tell me you do
  • Tweet this giveaway! Be sure to add @KariewithaK so I can see you tweeting. (Once Daily tweets allowed)
  • Blog about this giveaway
  • Enter one of my other giveaways (for each giveaway entry come back and leave me a comment example: 3 giveaways, 3 comments)
  • Fan The Fish on Facebook
 CONTEST ENDS DECEMBER 1, @ 11:59 
ARIZONA TIME (MST)
Best of luck!
*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency. Click HERE!  

Don’t forget to DOWNLOAD your Copy of the catalog

HERE and all the fabulous participants, savings, and giveaways!

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Interactive Learning JumpStart Learn N’ Play

Can you see my kids theme yet? I know….more learning. But hey, learning is fun! Here is where learning is really fun and total play time for kids. All within moderation of course. I talked with the folks at JumpStart thanks to my fabulous friend Carissa Rogers (have you met her too? No…go check out her GoodN’Crazy Blog!) and they provided me with access to their online site. If you don’t know JumpStart…YOU SHOULD! Here is a little bit of background:

jumpstart.com, Karie Herring, thefivefish.com, learning games

JumpStart is about 3D interactive, adventure, learning games that stimulate the mind through critical thinking skills, math and reading, this allows your child to “get a real jumpstart in life (JumpStart, 2009).” 


Since 1991, Knowledge Adventure® has set the standard in kids’ software by creating the finest educational products for use in the home and the classroom. Today, Knowledge Adventure’s JumpStart® and MathBlaster® products invite kids to learn through endless gaming adventures in 3D virtual worlds. By blending learning and entertainment, Knowledge Adventure’s adventure-based learning inspires kids’ minds through immersed play. A subsidiary of Knowledge Holdings, Inc., the company is privately-held and based in Torrance, California. For more information, go to www.knowledgeadventure.com and www.jumpstart.com. (Jumpstart.com, 2009)

Now we were already a big JumpStart family as we bought Grant JumpStart software for the PC last year to help boost his kindergarten and first grade learning skills. The games are fabulous as they are created to be very age appropriate and allow your child to grow by leaps and bounds.

The online games are just as interactive and literally HOURS of fun. Grant asks each day to play his JumpStart game which is so good to hear from a mom’s perspective as I would rather he play his JumpStart game than the Wii. Nothing against the Wii, but his current Wii games do not push his brain, they basically allow him to veg out. When he first logged in he was required to create his own “Jumpee” where the character looks like him. From there he moves into the play area and he can choose the different areas to explore. Right now

Right now he is in the underwater adventure in Adventureland and loving it! Adventureland is aimed at kindergarten to second grade. He told me the other day, “Mom, Dad, I really like playing JumpStart. I love playing it over Lego StarWars.”

*GASP
   My Son?
Loves to learn over Lego Star Wars?
Mark the calendar!

So each day that he has good days at school he is able to spend 30 minutes playing the JumpStart games online. We can already see the difference in his learning with the advanced reading, his critical thinking and he is overall excited about learning and keeping his mind engaged. Pretty soon he will be able to move up to Futureland which is designed for third to fifth graders. Have no fear, younger kids can get in on the fun too with Storyland for the preschool kiddos.

But the games are not limited to just online and the PC software that we have purchased in the past. JumpStart also offers two Wii games, Escape from Adventure Island and Pet Rescue for an even greater learning experience for children. Overall the games offered with JumpStart are focused on 3-10 year olds which, in my opinion, is the prime learning age to really spark imagination and push the learning envelope. JumpStart isn’t only for kids, parents can join in on the adventure fun as well, plus JumpStart offers a parents forum.

JumpStart offers the one year membership for $79.99 for unlimited playtime for the full year and here is the best deal you will hear all year JumpStart offers a LIFETIME membership of $149.99. Did you see that…A LIFETIME which is a steal of a deal considering the annual membership is $79.99.

But you my wonderful readers and learners extraordinaire have the opportunity to win a 3-month subscription to test drive and love the LearnN’Play as much as we have. Here are the details to enter:

MANDATORY ENTRY: Tell me how your kids would jump into adventure with learning.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Follow my blog and tell me you do
  • Follow me on Twitter, tell me you do, tweet this giveaway with @KariewithaK (daily tweet entry, ONLY after the mandatory entry has been met)
  • Follow JumpStart on Twitter
  • Fan JumpStart on Facebook
  • Fan The Fish on Facebook
  • Follow my blog on Networked blogs (to the right)
  • Enter one of my other giveaways (for each giveaway entry come back and leave me a comment, 3 giveaways, 3 comments)
 CONTEST ENDS NOVEMBER 30TH 
@ MIDNIGHT ARIZONA TIME.
Best of luck!
*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency. 
Don’t forget to DOWNLOAD your Copy of the catalog
 HERE and all the fabulous participants, savings, and giveaways!