Tag: Review

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MOGO Charm

Zhu Zhu pets are a thing of the past. Bedazzled just doesn’t hack it. My daughter was recently introduced to MOGO and all that MOGO has to offer with charm jewelry. Not your average charm jewelry either! Mix and match gems, picture gems, statement gems and colored bracelets and other accessories. Recently my daughter has become fixated on jewelry, accessories and pretty much all thing girl. Like her mother, her affection for shoes could also be deemed damaging to the closet space in the house.

But she is really loving the jewelry and that she can have a new jewelry item at will just by changing out the magnetic charms to give her bracelets a new look and new life. Did I also mention these are a great “green” gift for your kids as well. That’s right, no plastic or PVC charms and charm bracelets. The bracelets are not the traditional metals and or plastics with weak construction, they are constructed from a tight weave canvas seen on military bracelets but with an ultra girl twist. The mosies, or slippers, are fabulous! What girl would not want a soft and squishy pair of mule slippers that she can add charms and bling to and they just click.

The company’s tag line that “We just click.” The “we just click” tag and the idea of MOGO’s came from the owner trying to fix horse blankets and had an idea that she could use magnets to replace the worn out velcro. The idea didn’t work but the idea of magnets as charms for a new and different modern charm bracelet, did work out. More from the owner and MOGO,

“The name MOGO is in memory of my childhood pony who was rescued and given to me by my father when I was 9 years old. In recognition of my first pony MOGO, and all the wonderful animals in the world, MOGO supports a shelter animal each month, supporting vet care and socialization support until the animal is ready to be adopted.

Our MOGO tagline, “We just click!” is all about the connections MOGO creates. Friends who just click with each other, Moms and Grandmas who click with their Tweens, even Tweens who just click with animals. And, of course, the charms themselves which “just click” to the charmbands.”

Great items for a stocking stuffer or your fashionista looking to make a statement. MOGO’s even has flip flops! Check out all the great bands and charms and even build your own bracelet, headband, or necklace in a matter of seconds on the MOGO website. Found in over 2700 retail shops including Nordstroms, this eco-friendly and affordable gift is sure to be a hit with any girl.

“Disclosure: I was provided with MOGO Mosies and charms at no cost in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.”

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3D Star Theatre

Are your kids into certain subjects in education? I have noticed that my eldest son is very much a math and science boy, learning grammar and the basics is ultra dull to him, while he enjoys his learnings he is much more engaged with the sciences. I can see why and I can understand why. Especially when you have cool shows and toys about science as well as the educational part with using your mind for higher learning.

So while on the hunt for great gifts for my oldest that is not only kid cool and friendly but is educational I came across Uncle Milton Toys and the 3D Star Theatre. The Star Theatre is more than just an interstellar look at the universe from your room, but it is a 3D planetarium projector, for children to experience a planetarium in the comfort of their own room and whenever they so wish. Delve into the deepest realms of the universe to explore stars, constellations and planets. My son loved this toy, he immediately wanted to turn it on, of which I had to suggest to him we turn it on at night to get a better view of the stars and planets.

At first it seems too simple to project such lovely 3D photos of the heavens but seeing is believing. The projector is just a bit larger than a softball and the operations are not complex which allows young children to operate the projector without struggle or confusion. The focus dial at the front of the projector allows the picture to be clarified and is best seen against the back of a white wall. If you have painted walls then the picture will likely not appear, be as clear or may be distorted. Of course keep in mind this is 3D so the glasses are necessary to see the most optimal picture.

Kids are sure to enjoy the pictures of the stars up close and personal in the comfort of their own home at any time with being able to view these images from space. Battery powered by four AA batteries and a push button power switch the 3D Star Theatre is sure to project your child’s learning of space to a higher level.

Uncle Milton’s has even more learning toys such as a planetarium, Fire and Ice Volcano, and solar racers to name a few. Be sure to check out their entire line of fun learning toys this holiday season for your little scientist.

“Disclosure: I was provided with a 3D Star Theatre at no cost in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.”

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HINT Water – Cure to the Holiday Hangover

The holiday season is upon us and some of us are still reeling the effects of the Halloween hangover with indulging too heavily into sugary snacks, candy bars, or we drank too many sugary drinks, alcoholic beverages and the like. But now are we crest into Thanksgiving, the epic holiday of overindulgence some of us may not want to partake in the overeating, pie hole stuffing of sweet desserts, and of course the alcoholic drinks to celebrate. So how does one or anyone combat the temptations and the sugar hangover from Halloween? Well I was introduced to HINT water.

HINT water is a sugar free, no sweetener, “hint” of flavor water beverage. I personally think it is a great beverage to help curb cravings for your sweet tooth and it is filling because of the amount of pure water you are putting into your body. 16 ounces of water in each HINT bottle is just the start to your total 64 ounces of recommended water intake daily.

I found HINT at my local Sprouts Marketplace and Whole Foods in the bottled water section and I found it in many different flavors: cucumber, raspberry-lime, blackberry, honeydew-hibiscus, mango-grapefruit, pomegranate-tangerine, watermelon, lime, kiwi-strawberry, and pear. All the sweetness of the fruit without the calories, sweetener and empty calories found in soda and juice.

HINT is great for even after the holidays if you are going to kick off your new diet plan or New Year’s resolution because the water of HINT can help you keep your goals and stay on track. By no means am I stating or endorsing that this will help you lose weight, but as someone who lost 65 pounds through diet and exercise after having my twins and is now down 13 pounds on the HCG diet, HINT has been a companion of mine during my weight loss journey. When I have a moment of weakness where I may have a sweet craving, I reach for a bottle of HINT, with zero calories, zero sugar, and all natural flavor not to mention no funky aftertaste often associated with other similar drinks. HINT is water through and through and sure to keep you hydrated through the holidays without the guilt.

Now if the holidays are still wreaking havoc on your system and you are feeling the holiday bloat, drink up with lots of water and add some Usana Digestive Enzyme to your daily vitamin intake to help ease the holiday bloat, upset stomach, and ease normal digestion after large meals. USANA’s Digestive Enzyme is unique in that it contains an enzyme found in the blend called lactase. Lactase assists in the digestion of food containing lactose. In addition, USANA’s Digestive Enzyme is different from others on the market because it contains spirulina, a nutrient-rich blue-green algae “super food” that contains chlorophyll. Chlorophyll supports the body’s natural processes for eliminating toxins from the body*.

With these two products and a whole lot of HINT you are sure to feel free of the holiday hangover.

“Disclosure: I was provided with a bottle of HINT and USANA at no cost in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.”

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Zippies Fun

Are your kids losing their belongings at school or friends or functions? No matter how you try to identify their items, with no slip, no peel stickers with their names, permanent marker which can bleed and end up ruining your clothes or items. Now there is a great new product to help identify your children’s items or identify them and their special needs. Zippies.

zippies, zippies ID tagsZippies are a fun collectible ID tag for your children. Attach them to their back packs, water bottles, lunch boxes, bikes, and winter jackets, you can even attach the labels to indentify if your child has an special allergies or health conditions without having them feel out of place or too old for their age.

We like them in our house to help identify the many toys the kids share that are the same or similar. This helps to eliminate fights and they are able to identify what are their items and learn to respect each others space and personal belongings. Additionally when in a large group or at events with people more than just our family you can clip the Zippies on a bottle of water or drink to help identify what is theirs and prevent the spread of germs by mistakenly taking someone else’s water bottle and or drink.

What is questionable about the Zippies is the construction. The chain that attaches to the ring which attaches to the adjustable zip line. The chain appears and feels like it can snap at any moment and if you are dealing with kids, we know how they can destroy anything in a matter of seconds, literally they have nothing on Hiroshima or Nagasaki. The plastic Zippie face mold is great and as smooth plastic which seems to stand up to a lot of wear and tear, but again can it withstand the smoldering Arizona summers and heat when kids toss their backpacks in the sun waiting for the bus, parents to pick them up, or while on the playground. I even questioned the use of them on bikes with the breakdown of the extreme heat and dry weather. So more to come on how these products can stand up to the test.

Overall a great product and the kids love them. Lots of fun to use and collect and make great stocking stuffers. For the holidays Zippies has special holiday pricing of buy one set for $12.99 and get another set for free. Normally $39.99 a set this is a savings of over 80% off the retail value! You get the original 10 Zippies plus another 10. Buy yours online just in time for the holidays and help spread the collectible fun with Zippies.

“Disclosure: I was provided with Zippies at no cost in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.”

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Pajama Jeans

Ladies, admit it, when you saw the infomercial you giggled and laughed but then thought…damn those might be awesome. I know I did. I wanted to know what exactly are these pajama jeans. Like the Snuggie, I wondered how I got roped into such pure awesomeness. Laugh it up all you want about pajama jeans but I think they are great.

I was the ultimate skeptic for these, I thought, “Oh wow, these are just a pair of “Mom Jeans” that they are trying to market as stylish.” That is until I received my pair and again was skeptical but liked the fabric. A cotton blend that truly looks like denim except with the soft, fleecy, cotton insides like pajama’s.  Hence the coining of pajama jeans.

When I received my pair I told all the ladies I work with about them and they had a hard time believing they were the infamous pajama jeans that I was wearing. With the smooth front and stylish back side with fashion stitching and rivets to mimic real jeans. They come to a boot cut bottom which looks great with any pair of shoes, but I definitely like wearing boots considering we are into fall. The waist is not an elastic waist which means there is no bunching, a smooth looking tummy and the small pockets  on the back help accentuate your assets. But not only do they look good they feel good, they are warmer than your standard jeans and they move with you like your favorite pair of pajamas. Hey you can laugh it up, but my pajama jeans are my casual staple on the weekends and you can add them to your wardrobe as well for only $39.95 you can order them online and at specialty retailers and they come in an assortment of sizes to fit anyone. Buy a pair for the woman in your life this holiday season as a stocking stuffer or a wardrobe staple to enjoy as well.

“Disclosure: I was provided with a pair of Pajama Jeans at no cost in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.”

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JumpStart Escape from Adventure Island

My kids are huge fans of learning games and learning video games. A few years ago The Five Fish originally reviewed the PC version of JumpStart learning video games. My son LOVED the games, the interaction, the learning to follow the directions and the various learning aspects such as addition and reading. JumpStart also has more than just PC games, they have games for the Mac, Wii and DS, and mobile games and books for the iPad.

Here is some back story about what JumpStart stands for and how they enrich our children:

Absolutely. Over the past 20 years, the JumpStart brand has earned the trust of over 30 million parents by providing safe, age-appropriate games for kids. JumpStart.com is no exception. Our parental controls, canned chat and pre-programmed names ensure that kids are completely safe and cannot share any personal information. JumpStart is a magical online world packed with friends, games and adventures! From training dragons to exploring lost islands, JumpStart.com includes thousands of games and activities for kids ages 3-12. But what really sets JumpStart apart is our commitment to education. We believe that learning should be an adventure, not a chore. That’s why the games at JumpStart.com are specially designed to make math, reading and critical thinking fun! After all, there’s no stopping a kid with a JumpStart!

Escape from Adventure Island is an action-packed game that invites players to use their explorer skills and brain power to find a way to escape a mysterious island after a crash landing strands them there! As players race to collect the pieces needed to repair their blimp, they’ll need to ward off the pesky fur balls known as Punk Punks and navigate 3D worlds both above and below the water. Along the way, players can practice over 150 math, reading and critical thinking skills – the fun way! My son jumped into this game and was immediately hooked. Being that my son is the ultimate critical thinker this game was great for him, he is currently working on all his math skills at school so the game could not be more fitting for him. He was intent on getting through the levels and conquering. But with all good things, the game was played in moderation, even though it is a learning game, nonetheless a video game.

Video games are a great stocking stuff and or gift for children, so why not get them a game that is not only fun but educational. Find JumpStart online or at your local retailers this holiday season.

“Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of JumpStart® Escape from Adventure Island at no cost by Knowledge Adventure in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.”

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Cooking with Fagor America Cookware

Living a green lifestyle to a tee can be a truly difficult task when you search out the products that carry so many harmful materials that increase your carbon footprint. Often the items that harm us the most are not only the foods we eat but the materials in which we prepare them. Sol I sought out Fagor America with their fabulous line of cast iron cookware. Cast iron is a great and healthy option when cooking, no leaching of plastics and or Teflon from aluminum pans into your food. Fagor America has several lines of cookware, of which is their Cast Iron Lite series by Michelle B. This line of cast iron pans is 50% lighter than traditional cast iron, a resilient non-stick interior, and silicone handles to protect from the heat disbursement the pan puts off. Since these pans react just like standard cast iron only with half the weight for ease of use on newer cook tops and they are greatly attractive. Here is some history about Fagor America:

Fagor America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fagor Electrodomesticos. Since opening their offices in 1992, the Fagor brand name has become synonymous with high-quality stainless steel pressure cookers. Fagor is currently positioned as a top cookware brand, sold at major retailers nationwide and our presence has been largely responsible for the resurgence of pressure cooker sales in the US. Along with Pressure cookers, Fagor America also offers a line of specialty cookware.

I requested the red chefs pan. I couldn’t with good conscience review a chicken fryer if I am seeking out healthier alternatives. The chef’s pan has been great for all our cooking needs from eggs, to casseroles on the cook top, to steaming vegetables. I love using it and clean up is the easiest with warm water and soap. Plus I can cook with the piece of mind that aluminum and Teflon are not leaching into the foods my kids eat and the foods my husband and I eat. Fagor America products are available on Amazon.com and are affordable when compared to other quality cook ware products. So if your loved one is looking for cast iron or even new cook ware why not give her the best of both worlds with the Michelle Bernstein cast iron lite series from Fagor America.

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iCookbook for iPad and Android

The holidays are creeping up on us and with them fast approaching some of us are scrambling for those perfect holiday meals, treats, or even alternatives. Furthermore, even after the holidays families struggle to find meals for their families or even for functions such as potlucks, a get-together, or just because they want to make that one meal.

A great holiday gift is one that is affordable, one you are able to use year after year, and for people like our family, one that is green and economical. So a great gift for anyone in your family is the iCookbook for iPad, Android, and coming soon to the iPhone. With access to over 2000 recipes, color photos of all the mouthwatering recipes, personalize the recipes by adding your own notes and reminders, and the app even provides a substitution list for those recipes that you may want to tweak. But the recipes don’t stop there, with diet specific recipes like gluten free, diabetic desserts and holiday recipe favorites, and fun recipes the kids are sure to love. Plus this is one of the most affordable gifts that keeps on giving for your loved one, your family, their family.

The first cooking app with voice activated instructions keeping your screen clean while your hands are messy.

My family has been enjoying the app, especially with my husband taking the reins at home and is such a gentleman with making dinners for our family that are fun, tasty, healthy, and everyone loves. No more griping and complaining from my three kids, plus with work being extra busy trying to plan meals together is nearly impossible so we can scan together on his iPad and my iPhone and make decisions in a snap while messaging one another.

Great for a stocking stuffer or as a fun gift for the amateur chef in your family, now available on iTunes for $4.99 where you can add it to your iCloud so it is available on all your Apple devices and available on the Android market and Amazon.com Marketplace to download to your Android products.

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Maukilo HABA Hit the Throttle

While on the prowl for new gift ideas, gifts that are sustainable, eco-friendly, educational and not the same old plastic mold from big name brands that offer nothing more than a cheap toy, I was approached by the folks at HABA USA.

Here is what I love about HABA USA and the Maukilo team and what they stand for:

In 2000, a German woman named Alexandra was living in California. Alex was searching for quality gifts and presents to send back to Germany to a friend who recently had a baby, but was disappointed in the collection available in the USA. While Alex researched for European toys online she discovered that virtually none of the European brands that she grew up with as a child were available. Thus the introduction of Maukilo.com. 

Currently, Maukilo is owned and operated by one of Maukilo’s largest suppliers, the German based HABA(R) company. The HABA USA office is located in quaint and picturesque Skaneateles Falls, New York and has now become the home of Maukilo.com. 

The Maukilo team (many mothers themselves) searches the world over to find incredible products inspired by European quality and innovation. We understand the importance of play and how essential it is to a child’s cognitive, emotional and social development. Our passion is finding products that are both fun and educational for children of all ages. 

We are committed to providing high quality toys that can be handed down from child to child, friend to friend, a toy that can be played with forever. All of the products carried on the Maukilo store meet or exceed the standards set forth by the U. S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and with our partners we are committed to ensure responsible working conditions (Maukilo.com, 2011). 

Choosing a toy or toys that your children can enjoy is really a daunting task with their site, so many toys that of course will last. So I chose a learning game/toy that all of my children could enjoy together because family time and learning is so important to us as a family.

We chose the Hit the Throttle board game. Board games are always so full of competition with the kids that I dread getting any games for them to play like that because fights ensue, then comes time out, crying, the whole dramatic event that could be thwarted by not partaking in a board game. But Hit the Throttle is so different in that the kids race one another to the finish line but no one really knows which car they are racing, which takes the challenge to an all new level of fun. I know my kids had a ball and yours will too this holiday season and for future days to come since Hit the Throttle is made with a sturdy cardboard race track and wooden race cars. No need to worry about leeching plastics and throw away toys, this one is a keeper.

Don’t take my word for it, if you are eco-conscious and you are looking for toys and gifts that will last more than just into the next holiday season, the Maukilo team and HABA USA are are great option. In addition to the toys lasting a lifetime they are even easy on your budget with prices from under $25, under $50 and under $75, and toys for all ages.

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Honest Tea Kids – Sweeter Alternative

Are your kids still reeling from the Halloween candy? Maybe they are suffering from a bit of a candy hangover per se. Well maybe the cure or the better option for next year’s Halloween candy option is Honest Kids from the makers of Honest Tea.

Honest Tea has a new line of organic, no high fructose corn syrup, low-sugar, fruit-flavored drinks that are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth craving. Not to mention the good for you option with these drinks not being overloaded with sugary sweetness and the guilt of high fructose corn syrup.

My kids love the Honest Tea kids line of drinks with the light, sweet fruit flavors that quench their thirst and I can feel guilt free about them drinking them. Made with all organic ingredients, natural flavors, and in easy to access pouches. In five fun-filled flavors: Appley Ever After, Goodness Grapeness, Berry Berry Good Lemonade, Tropical Tango Punch, and Super Fruit Punch.

This year for the holidays, choose a healthy alternative to the sugary, sweet, unhealthy, tempting snacks and treats that support poor choices for your kids. While a sugary snack here and there is alright in moderation, but sometimes the holidays take over with the desire for sweets. Don’t take my word for it, try Honest Kids drinks for yourself, find them at your local grocers, Costco, and other local retailers. Try adding them to your stockings this year for the holidays or in next year’s Halloween treat bowl as a healthier, just as sweet alternative.