15
Feb

Great Wolf Lodge Deals

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Our family loves Great Wolf Lodge and tries to visit a few times each year.  The best way to find a Great Wolf Lodge deal is to sign up for the e-Pack to get them delivered directly in your inbox. I also checktheir deals periodically for offers organized by month.  Here’s an easy reference:

If you happen to be a blogger who works with brands, than the best deal around is Reviewer’s Retreat at Great Wolf Lodge. We’ve worked with GWL to offer a fantastic package for the only blog conference geared 100% to brand/blogger relationships. Bring the familiy too since we’ve scheduled plenty of time to enjoy the waterpark in addition to informative sessions and fun parties for attendees. Get additional information at ReviewersRetreat.com.

Filed Under: Editor's Picks · Tagged With: , , ,
09
Feb

The Case of the Missing Kraft MilkBites: Solved

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I’m going to be honest. This was not the post I intended to write. When I first received Chocolate and Strawberry Kraft MilkBite Milk & Granola bars with a gift card to purchase additional granola bars for a test test, I did just that. Picking up our two favorite varieties of bars, I planned to use my husband as the tester (since I don’t blog my kids pics) and have some fun with it. In the meantime, I told him about the new bars and how good they were. Mistake #1.

In case you’re curious, MilkBites launch February 13th when everyone will get to try these delicious (yes, delicious) new bars which have milk in them…as much calcium as an 8 oz. glass as a matter of fact not to mention 5 grams of fiber.

Back to my story. Before being able to set the stage for the big taste test, my husband tried the Chocolate MilkBite and said “Hey, those bars are good. The best I’ve had actually.”  Then, they were gone. Before I could take photos of the boxes…before we could conduct the taste test, I reached into the fridge to grab a bar for breakfast on my way to work and GONZO. (Since they actually have milk the bars must be refrigerated which make them even better.) The MilkBite thief took them to work and actually had the gall to blame me. “You’re constantly telling me I need to eat breakfast.” He chooses this moment to listen to me?

So we’re left with a stock photo of a flavor I didn’t actually try (but will) and my story of the new milk and granola bars that quickly became a household favorite for our family and likely yours too when you get your hands on them. Available soon in your local grocery store or my husband’s office.

Update: He’s at it again…


 

A sample product was provided for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

Filed Under: Cool Picks, Editor's Picks, Picks & Tips, Top Picks · Tagged With: , , ,
09
Feb

LeapFrog Numberland DVD Review & Giveaway

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Scout and friends are baaack! As a Language Arts teacher, I favor an approach to learning which incorporates a variety of contest and multiple modes of delivering that content. We read, play games and utilize educational toys and technology such as the LeapFrog DVD learning series. My son, age 3, can already read which I absolutely attribute in part to the fantastic line of LeapFrog products ranging from Fridge Words to Phonics Farm.  This new release focuses on numberacy skills as Scout plans a surprise birthday party along with friends Violet, Eli, Penny and Axle. We use reward charts to reinforce our house rules and used Numberland as the Pirate Ship surprise. The kids were as excited about it as any prize they received and couldn’t wait to watch the newest LeapFrog release. To me this speaks volumes; when learning masks as fun everyone’s a winner! I would highly recommend both LeapFrog Numberland and other LeapFrog DVDs which are listed below to any parent looking to reinforce skills taught in the home.

Cool Giveaway:

Enter to win a LeapFrog Numberland DVD, also available Digital and On Demand, by commeting on this post with how you teacher nunbers to your little ones. For extra entries, complete any of the following leacing a seperate comment on each:

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the prize claim information; we announce winners on Prizey.net. Contest ends 2/23/12.

Sample products were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

 

 

Filed Under: Cool Picks, Editor's Picks, Giveaways Galore, Toddler & Preschooler · Tagged With: , , ,
16
Dec

Last-Minute Gift & Stocking Stuffers *Giveaway*

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Mozart Magic Cube

If you’re looking for some last minute gifts, Munchkin has a great selection for infants, toddlers, preschool age, and even baby shower gifts as well. I was really having trouble getting something for Christmas for my 3 month old daughter; when I received this product, I knew it was just what I needed.  The colors, sounds and level of  interaction is perfect for my little one.  The Mozart Magic Cube  is an interactive musical toy with eight Mozart pieces for your child to enjoy.  The rounded edges are easy for little hands to maneuver and the big buttons are the perfect size for baby’s fingers to push and hear the music.  The cube lights up and plays music just with little ones touch.  Your child can start with one instrument and then add more sounds as they touch more sides of it.  They can also subtract an instrument by again touching the cube.  This is also an educational toy as the child can begin to recognize the different instruments by the pictures of the piano, violin and more on the Mozart Magic Cube.  You can begin to mold your little musica prodigy with the interaction of this product. It has also won the Dr. Toy Best Vacation Product and the Parents Choice Award and is the perfect gift for little one to enjoy.

 

 Bath Time Toys:

We all know that bath time can become crazy time without the bathtub toys.  I needed some toys that would amuse a 3 month old and grab the attention of my 3 year old as well.  These two bath time toys by munchkin accomplished just that.  While bathing my 3 year old, my baby watches with wonder as he sprayed water through his Star Fountain. He laughed and in turn the little one began to giggle as well. Her eyes popped as the star spun and sprayed with a blue glow. For only $9.99, this could be a great stocking stuffer.        

Dolphin Divers by Munchkin was a hit!  My son loves dolphins and whales, so this is his new favorite.  It  has a removable whale that can scoop up water and as your child pours the water, the dolphins below spin with fury.  Being a teacher, of course, I had to make this toy educational by talking about cause and effect.  What happens when the water is poured, the dolphins spin–it’s a great conversation to have with a three year old to get him to start thinking about more higher order thinking skills.  Being able to accomplish a task like this, while he is playing in the tub makes this bath toy even better.  And again, for the price, this would also make a great stocking stuffer your children are sure to enjoy.

 SaraBear Diaper Caddy 

When they say at-your-finger-tips accessibility to all the baby care essentials, they are not kidding.  The SaraBear Diaper Caddy by Munchkin is a great product. I have a pack and play downstairs for my 3 month old daughter and it never seemed to have enough room for all I need when changing time arrives.  This SaraBear Diaper Caddy is a godsend.  All I need is right there at arms reach.  My three year old can even help by grabbing the product I need. This makes him feel part of the changing ritual instead of on the outs.  Believe me, this cuts down on a lot of attention grabbing mischief.  The SaraBear Diaper Caddy has really has made my life easier.  The caddy basket is also appealing to the eyes.  It’s made of real wood in a tight weave with a 100% cotton liner and a collapsible handle. This makes it so easy to carry the basket to any room, you can’t do that with a pack n play. The caddy had a variety of sizes of pockets to hold wipes, diapers, creams, etc.  It is also eco- friendly.  When reading the packaging it also suggests that when baby starts to grow out of diaper changing, the basket can be transformed into a place for electronic devices (cell phone, iPod or TV Remotes) or even in the child’s room as a place to put and organize her toys. I was thinking what a great shower gift this would make.  You can fill the entire basket with the baby changing essentials and the new mom will be prepared and it looks great all wrapped up in some clear plastic and a bow.  You will be the envy of the other guests of the shower when the new mom is crooning over your gift.

Written by Debby, Cool Baby Kid Team

Disclaimer

Sample products was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win a Munchkin Cheeky Monkey, Dolphin Divers and Star Fountain ($30 value) by commenting with the bath toys your kids love most.

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the prize claim information; we announce winners on Prizey.net. Contest ends 12/28/11.

Filed Under: Baby Picks, Editor's Picks, Education Corner, Giveaways Galore, Picks & Tips, Toddler & Preschooler ·
05
Dec

Top Spinmaster Toy Gift Picks *Mutliple Winner Giveaway*

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Watch our Top Spinmaster Toys Video

Why We Love It

From Aquadoodle to Moon Dough for little ones, to Redakai for the older kids, we’ve spotlighted Spinmaster toys in the past and are happy to highlight some of their coolest picks this holiday season.  With a chance to personally check out the best toy gifts Spinmaster has to offer, it was difficult to limit our video montage to just a few. We love Bizu beads because of their unique take on jewelry making with bracelets and fun animal friends all wrapped into one with just s quick twist. And Liv and her spa world is hard to resist with color-changing hair, nails and more; this was favorite of my daughter’s who could seemigly color change all day. As we said, it’s impossible to share every cool Spinmaster pick but would remiss in leaving out AppBlaster with it’s augmented reality shoot ‘em up feature utilizing the iPhone or iPod Touch. From board games to high tech, girlie gifts and more, our SPinmaster Amazon shop below is a one-stop shop for all things cool this holiday. Enjoy!

Disclaimer

Sample products was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win your choice of Spinmaster prizes including board games (Quelf, The Logo Board Game, Stomple) or a Liv Color-Change Doll (2 winners). To enter, comment on this post telling us which Spinmaster page you like/follow. All additional follows or likes will be considered extra entries. Exp. 12/18/11.

AppBlaster: Facebook, Twitter

Redakai: Facebook, Twitter

Moon Dough: Facebook.com, Twitter

Liv: Facebook

Spinmaster Games: Facebook, Twitter

Cool Baby Kid: Facebook, Twitter

Buy or Gift It:

Filed Under: Adults Only, Big Kids Corner, Editor's Picks, Family Activities, Featured, Gift Guides, Giveaways Galore, Toddler & Preschooler, Top Picks, Tween Hangout · Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
02
Dec

Duo Powered Atari Arcade for iPad *Holiday Gift Idea*

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Why We Love It

I’m so excited to be a member of Duo 50, a community of mom bloggers committed to testing and sharing Discovery Bay Games new product offerings with our readers. Having met a representative for DBG at BlogHer ’11 this summer in San Diego, I already knew they were revolutionizing iPad play with Duo-powered products such as Atari Arcade for iPad which we tested, Duo Plink and Duo Pop which looks like fun for the whole family. The premise is simple…while it may be difficult to completely disconnect the family, Discovery Bay Games Duo brings them together to play. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.  The Atari Arcade which connects to iPad utilizing Atari’s Greatest Hits app (sold separately) allowing users to transform their iPad into a Pong playing, Asteroid blasting arcade machine.  If you’re a child of the 80′s like me, Duo powered Atari Arcade from Discovery Bay Games is about as cool as it gets. Gift it!

Disclaimer

A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Details

Retail Price: $59.99

Atari App: .99 or $9.99 for all 100 games

Buy or Gift It:

Discovery Bay Games, Amazon.com

Cool Giveaway: Enter to win a Duo powereed Atari Acrade from Discovery Bay Games by commenting on this post telling us why you’d love to win this particular prize! For extra entries:

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the prize claim information; we announce winners on Prizey.net. Contest ends 12/14/11.

Filed Under: Adults Only, Big Kids Corner, Editor's Picks, Giveaways Galore, Picks & Tips · Tagged With: , , ,
30
Nov

2011 Hess Toy Truck and Race Car Review

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Hess Tanker (1964)

We’re starting a new tradition with a company steeped in their own–Hess Truck which dates back to 1964 created as a fun, affordable toy for families. The original tanker (pictured) which could be filled with water sold for $1.29 including batteries. And while the 2011 is also sold with Duracell batteries retailing for $26.99 plus tax, it looks quite different from the original. For the first time both the Truck Cab and Racing Car include flashing light, and to be honest, we couldn’t have chosen a better truck with which to start a new tradition. Finally becoming interested in cars and trucks, and moving away from his sister Princess dresses, our son is enthralled with the Hess Toy truck packed with features. Here’s the low-down:

Truck:

  • Pull-out ramp with automatic hydraulic sound
  • 3 additional sound effects activated by cab buttons (ignition, horn and back-up alert sounds)
  • 34 lights with all-on and flashing modes
  • Flashing light mode activated by cab button, chassis switch and ramp
  • Four-wheel spring suspension
  • Chrome-look detailing
  • 2 Energizer® ‘C’ batteries

Race Car:

  • Engine sound effect activated by gas cap button
  • 10 lights (all-on and flashing modes)
  • Flashing light mode activated by gas cap button
  • Pull-back racing motor
  • Chrome-look detailing
  • 2 Energizer® ‘AA’ batteries

Without a doubt the flashing lights take the cake and delight our son to no end. Personally I thinking the Race Car’s engine sound effect and incredible attention to detail are pretty cool. For any family with truck or car fans, at under $30 it tops our gift guide picks for kids. The Hess Toy Truck is sold exclusively at Hess retail stores while supplies last. For a complete list of Hess Toy Trucks through the years or to find the nearest Hess location visit: www.hesstoytruck.com.

Disclaimer: A sample product was provided for review purposes; all reviews are 100% our own.

Cool Tip: Stay up to date with Hess Toy Truck on Facebook and be sure the little racer in your house checks on the Hess Racer Game app available on iPhone/iPad/Android (12/2) or play directly on Facebook.

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Picks & Tips, Top Picks · Tagged With: , , ,
29
Nov

Holiday Gift Idea:LeapFrog Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus *Giveaway*

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As a huge fan of anything that LeapFrog makes, I knew which section to head directly to in the toy store to shop for my 10 month old nephew.  My 2 and 3 year olds already play with and love the maracas to the Leapster  Explorer and now our newest addition the LeapPad, so I knew that I would find the perfect gift in the LeapFrog section.

Why We Love It

The LeapFrog Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus caught my eye and is a great gift for ages 9 – 36 months and at a reasonable cost of $29.99. It offers unlimited fun for a curious child while teaching them colors and numbers. The reason I always gravitate to LeapFrog when gift shopping is because they are both fun and educational.  The toddler takes the colorful balls and places them in one of the 2 spots at the top of the octopus and then lifts up the shoe to rediscover the disappeared ball.  The game helps to develop hand eye coordination and allows the child to learn basic colors.  The Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus is fun and entertaining with a peek-a-boo surprise that every child is sure to love.

Written by Karen, Cool Baby Kid Team

Disclaimer

A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

Details

Ages: 9-36 months

Retail Price: $29.99

Purchase at:

LeapoFrog.com, Amazon

Cool Giveaway:  Sometimes I wish I had lots of arms like an Octopus! If you had an extra hand, would would you accomplish with it? Comment on this post to win a LeapFrpg Peek-a-Shoe Talking Octopus. For extra entries:

Check out even more entry possibilities if you’re really determined to win. Read the prize claim information; we announce winners on Prizey.net. Contest ends 12/11/11.

 

 

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