Go Loom Band Crazy With Rainbow Braid Bands (Review)

The Rainbow Braid Rubber Band Refill Pack is a set of 2400 brightly colored, strong, individually packaged rubber band refills for all loom kits. Rainbow Braid bands come in 12 different color variations of bold & fluorescent as well as 150 clips.  There are 200 each of the following colors - red, orange, light green, green, blue, light blue, purple, rose, pink, glow in the dark yellow, black, & white.  They were even designed with help from kids!  Satisfaction is guaranteed or Rainbow Braid will send your money back or a free replacement pack!

My Review:

I recently received a Rainbow Braid 2400 Piece Refill Pack to review.  My daughter has gone loom band crazy for the past several months and has made hundreds of these bracelets.  I even got started making them for awhile back around Christmas time when you couldn't even find the bands around here.  Everybody wanted bracelets so we started selling them online.  Now, I think every other little girl in the world is doing the same thing because they have hundreds too.  Everywhere I go I see kids with loom band bracelets on both wrists.  Even adults wear them!  It's a great hobby and actually fun for kids and adults to make them.  It can even be addicting...lol  There are so many different designs you can make and there are constantly new ones being invented.

Here's a few of the bracelets my daughter made with this kit...

The bands stretch very well and don't break easily.  They also don't have the stinky rubber band scent that the cheap bands have.  The colors are bold and bright.  The glow in the dark yellow really glows!  My daughter and I love working with these bands and would definitely recommend them to anyone who wants a high quality loom band refill kit.  You can purchase the 2400 piece kit HERE for $13.90.  Check out the Rainbow Braid website for the 5400 piece set. 

Disclosure:  I was provided free products for review purposes and not compensated in any other way.  My thoughts are my own.

Wugadogs are cute gifts designed after real pets (Review & Giveaway)

 

Tall Trees Toyworks was founded in 2011 by Darrin Wilson and makes the Wugadog line of plush dogs for children. Six dogs begin the collection with many others coming soon. They encourage all people who are looking for a pet to adopt or rescue an animal.  Wugadogs got started when an unwanted Boston Terrier got adopted by Darrin & Janet Wilson.  They named him Angus.  On Janet's birthday, Darrin made a toy dog that looked like Angus posed in a "downward dog" yoga stretch.  Janet loved it so much, she posted a picture on Facebook.  Emails came in from all over from people wanting this adorable creation and the Wugadog was born.  Each Wugadog that is designed is created after a real live pet.

 

My Review:

 

I recently had the chance to review a Wugadog.  Darrin sent me a Boston Terrier that is absolutely adorable!  My daughter loves him.  He is so soft and makes a great pillow for the vehicles.  I would definitely recommend Wugadogs to anyone who wants a soft cuddly pet or a great gift idea.  Wugadogs are currently only available on Amazon and the Bully Boston Terrier is only $11.99 right now!  Check out the website to see which dogs are currently available and follow them on Facebook for updates.  You can even submit your own dog to be a future a Wugadog!

 

Giveaway:

 

One lucky winner will receive a Bully Boston Terrier just like I reviewed.  To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  Open Worldwide!  All entries will be verified.  Thank you for entering & good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  I was provided a free product for review purposes and not compensated in any other way.  My thoughts are my own.

Meet the Beatrix Girls Dolls (Review & Giveaway)

The Beatrix Girls are a line of collectible dolls -- they’re

musicians, they’re dolls, they’re role models for a new generation of empowered young girls, with great clothes, fabulous hair, and original pop music developed by platinum-winning songwriters and producers. The Beatrix Girls are an accomplished pop band with real music that young girls are sure to adore. Each member of the band sings, plays a different instrument and even writes the songs. They’ve achieved the pop star success that young girls dream of and they’ve done it through talent, tenacity and old-fashioned hard work.

 

 

Meet the girls...

 

• Brayden: With her gorgeous purple flowing hair, Brayden is the song writer and guitarist for the band. Born in the flats of Hollywood to entertainment industry parents, Brayden is a genuine LA Woman. She is willful, driven, ambitious, sharp-as-a-tack and sweet, considerate and socially conscious. She is passionate about music, song writing, and the environment. She makes Bienstock, the band’s manager, book The Beatrix Girls at ecology rallies, but then fights like a hellcat for top billing and a mention in all the events’ PR. Brayden is a writer. She writes the super hooky hit songs that have made The Beatrix Girls one of the hottest acts in the world. Her lyrics reflect life experiences, friendship, and lessons like standing up for who you are. Her style is unique and edgy but with cross-over appeal.

 

• Ainsley: Ainsley is the willowy charming blonde drummer.  She is spunky, charming, and possesses and touch of pouty haughtiness. This seemingly frail Southern Belle from Atlanta plays totally against type. Ainsley is as sweet and quiet as they come until she gets behind the drums. Then she becomes a monster who can bash a drum kit into oblivion quicker than you can say Keith Moon. She is sweet and conscientious but also strong and determined. Her quiet drive and determination got her the gig as the drummer on The Beatrix Girls, one of the hottest acts in the world!  She channels Scarlett O’hara and Jane Eyre with her corsets, hats, and gloves, but she’s thoroughly modern in how she puts it all together (think Betsey Johnson.) 

• Lark: Lark is the bass-playing redhead with hot Irish blood. She has a beautiful shock of red hair that covers one of her eyes, the rumor of a tattoo somewhere personal (it’s behind her knee, ok? Jeez…) and a piercing sense of humor that punctures many pompous balloons. Lark is passionate about life and everything she does. She is not only a phenomenal bass player, but she is also an extreme athlete. She loves every extreme sport, and especially surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding. And, when it comes to competing, Lark always gives it a thousand percent, whether in a skating competition, or in earning.  Lark is the true “rocker chick” of the group. A little bit grungy, a little bit punk.

• Chantal: Chantal, the keyboardist, comes from Montreal. With her thick Canadian/French accent, Chantal is the gentle, logical, level headed member of The Beatrix Girls. But when her excellent advice goes unheeded, as it often does, Chantal flips out and throws a French fit. Chantal has soft, wavy brown hair, often worn in a loose up-do. Her make-up is very precise and discreet in comparison to the other girls. Chantal’s sensibility with just enough ‘tude, coupled with lots of passion and hard work, earned her a spot as The Beatrix Girls keyboardist. Chantal has a no-nonsense look about her, preferring to wear sensible shoes and sticking with a classic 50’s style.

 

My Review:

 

I recently received a Beatrix Doll to review.  I was given a choice and asked for Ainsley because she is blonde haired and blue eyed just like my daughter.  She was so excited to be receiving a doll that looked like her.  When the doll arrived, Chantal was in the box.  Although she is still a cute doll, my daughter threw a fit because she is not what she expected.  After I calmed her down and showed her there are four dolls in the collection, she decided she wanted all of them.  She put Chantal on her shelf and added the other three to the top of her Christmas list.

 

 

The doll is gorgeous and looks like it would be fun to play with.  Her arms & legs are jointed so you can pose them however you'd like.   She decided to leave her in the box as a collectible which is surprising to me since she wants to be a rock star when she grows up.  I figured she would play with the doll a lot.  It suits me just as well that she would rather let it remain in pristine condition.  Perhaps she will pass it on to her own daughter someday. 

 

I would definitely recommend Beatrix Girls to anyone who wants a great gift idea for a girl or a doll collector.  You can find them at ToysRus, Walmart, Justice, & Amazon.  The Beatrix Girls music is now on iTunes and Amazon as well.  You can check out the Beatrix Girls website for updates and other fun stuff or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Youtube.

Giveaway:

 

One lucky winner will receive their choice of a Beatrix Doll.  To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  Open to US only.  All entries will be verified.  Thank you for entering & good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Disclosure:  I was provided a free product for review purposes and not compensated in any other way.  My thoughts are my own.

Zeenie Dollz Help a Meaningful Cause and Make Great Gifts! (Review)

 

The concept and mission behind Zeenie Dollz started with a sketch. It was a mother and daughter team that brought it to life. Hansini, the creator, designer and inventor of the cute face dolls series, showed her mother, Laxmi, a beautiful sketch of a girl doll toy with flowing blue hair and explained that her persona was that of Mother Earth. With overwhelming support and belief in the concept, Laxmi used her toy industry experience to bring Zennia, the first unique doll in the series, to life. From there, the duo have worked together intimately through every step of the creative process to take a beautiful sketch, with a meaningful cause and a passion for the environment, and merge that into the Zeenie Dollz series you see today.

 

 

My Review:

 

I recently had the chance to review a Zeenie doll with my daughter.  We received Evee, a beautiful red-haired Eco-warrior.  When she arrived, my daughter asked if the doll was Kyra from the TV show Reba.  Even though it does look kind of like her, I explained the concept of the doll and how they are made to help protect the animals.  After she opened the box and read her card, she understood a little better. 

 

The doll is built very well out of recyclable, non-toxic plastics.  She is 12" tall and a ton of long hair to style.  She has ball joints to bend and pose her however you'd like.  My daughter said her legs don't bend enough at the knee to make her sit right but I don't see a big issue with it.  Her outfit is very fashionable and is something my daughter would wear.  She also came with a stand, a bracelet, a bird, and a brush. 

 

Evee has become one of my daughter's favorite dolls to play with and she has asked for the other five dolls in the series.  I would definitely recommend Zeenie Dolls to anyone who has young girls or someone who collects dolls.  Right now, the dolls are on sale for $39.99 each with free shipping.  They are donating a percentage of every doll sold to organizations that help preserve & protect the environment.  These dolls make great gift ideas as well.  Check out the website or follow them on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter.

 

Disclosure:  I was provided a free product for review purposes and not compensated in any other way.  My thoughts are my own.

The Game of Things... by Patch Products (Review & Giveaway)

 

 

THE GAME OF THINGS...

 

In this hilarious game, you read a topic card and then write down your response. It can be anything that comes to mind, there's no right or wrong answer! Then all the responses are read aloud and you have to figure out who said what! You won't believe the THINGS... the people you know will come up with!

For 4 or More Players
Ages 14 to Adult

Cost-$39.99

Contents: 300 Topic Cards, Response Pad, Score Pad, 8 Pencils, Instructions

 

Tom Quinn, the inventor of The Game of THINGS… has been nominated for a Toy and Game Inventor (TAGIE) Award for Excellence in Game Design. Please click here and help Tom win this prestigious award!

 

 

 

My Review:

 

I recently had the chance to review The Game of THINGS... by Patch Products with my family.  When it first arrived, I played it with my husband.  We laughed so hard because he has a dirty mind and he could come up with some naughty answers.  Since it is for ages 14+, I can see why they put that age group on this game.  We decided to try it with the kids who are almost fourteen and ten.  They came up with some really good answers that were clean and pretty funny.  I could tell my son wanted to say some things that were inappropriate but he held back and just giggled.  It was pretty easy to guess who said what when we played with the kids.  The next time I have a party, I am definitely bringing this game out.  I think it would make a great game for my son to play with his friends as well.  Overall, I loved playing it and look forward to playing it again with an older crowd.  I definitely would recommend The Game of Things... to anyone who enjoys a great laugh.  You can check out the website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Youtube.  Sign up for the  Patch Pals newsletter and save 10% on your first order!  From games to puzzles, construction sets to educational tools, there’s something for everyone at Patch!

 

 

 

 

Giveaway: 

 

One lucky winner will receive the same game that I reviewed.  To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  All entries will be verified.  Thank you for entering & good luck!  Be sure to visit all of the other blogger's on the linky below to see what they have to offer as well.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kids love to wear Shoulder Buddies

Shoulder Buddies are collectible friends that kids love to wear! But they're more than just cute... each Shoulder Buddies "Smarts" character teaches kids a special life lesson, from Friendship to Fire Safety. The Magical Coin lets kids wear Shoulder Buddies on their shirt, hat, hair and more! Kids can take Shoulder Buddies and their "Smarts" with them wherever they go!

 

 

Each Shoulder Buddy figurine is approximately 4 inches high with fuzzy fluffle hair and 1.5 inches wide. They contain inaccessible magnets. The Magical Coin is a covered metallic coin that attracts to the magnet. They are manufactured under license by The Bridge Direct and are made in China for ages 4 and up. They are each sold separately & subject to availability. Colors and styles may vary as they continue to modify and improve their products.  The Bridge Direct products are safety tested and comply with ASTM F963.

 

 

 

My Review:

I recently received a Shoulder Buddy, named Digit, to review with my daughter.  When he arrived, I decided to open him and put him on my shoulder before my daughter got home from school.  She didn't know he was coming yet.  When she got home she noticed him immediately and wanted to know what it was.  I told her he was my little buddy.  She flipped out and said she wanted one too.  I walked around the house for a little bit showing her how he just sat there without falling off.  She said I must have taped it to my shirt.  I showed her the magnet and how to put it on her shirt.  She hasn't taken him off her shoulder since!  Well, except at school because they are not allowed to have toys there.  She takes him on the bus to show her friends then puts him in her locker when they get to school.  The kids love this thing!  I can see Shoulder Buddies taking off just like troll dolls did when I was a kid.  Everybody had at least one and wanted all of them.  I really like how they all come with a card that teaches a life lesson.  The one we got was SOLVE, which pertains to math problems.  It is perfect for my daughter who is currently struggling in math.  I would definitely recommend Shoulder Buddies to anyone with kids.  They retail for only $5.99 each and are available in numerous colors.  Check out the website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube.

Shoulder Buddies are also a great way to earn money for your school.  They offer a consignment-based program with no upfront money necessary and Free Shipping.  It’s simple and effective!  Find out more info on the website. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Bejeweled Frenzy Game Review & Giveaway

 

BEJEWELED Frenzy

Age: 8+

 Players: 2-4

 Available: Spring 2013

  Approximate Retail Price: $14.99

Includes 84 cards, 7 Boost Gems, case and instructions

It’s a sparkly flurry of a card game as kids race to match gems and build the largest stack of cards in Hasbro’s BEJEWELED Frenzy game. Kids will love competing with their friends to collapse their stack, collect Boost Gems and score the most points to win! The game comes with a link to redeem four Rare Gems to be used in the Bejeweled Blitz online game. Mobile device not included. To access the digital features, you must be 13 years or older and have a valid Facebook account. Additional terms and conditions apply to digital features offer.

 

My Review

 

I recently had the chance to review the new Bejeweled Frenzy game with my family.  My kids and I were excited to try this out since we love to play Bejeweled on my Nook Color.  After setting the game up to play for the first time, the instructions were a little confusing.  We kind of just made our own rules as we played.  The next round, we read deeper into the real instructions and they made more sense.  It is a fun game to play but I would prefer the app, personally.  My kids really like this version and play it all the time.  I would rather have them play a hands on game then be stuck in front of a video game.  So overall, I would recommend Bejeweled Frenzy to anyone looking for a fun new game to share with their family.  You can purchase it HERE and check out all of Hasbro's other great items.  Be sure to follow Hasbro on Facebook or Twitter as well.

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Bejeweled Frenzy.  To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  Thanks for entering & good luck!

Gift Guide #14 - Spontuneous Board Game Review

SPONTUNEOUS® (pronounced - spon-TUNE-ee-us)

Have you ever heard a word that "triggered" you to sing a song?  If so, then YOU are Spontuneous!  One player says a word and the race is on for the others to sing a song containing that word. Don't worry though, talent is NOT required! 

 

It's really this simple:  One player (Tunesmith) says a word and the others race against each other and the clock to try and blurt out a 5-word portion of lyrics from any song containing the given Trigger-Word!  The player who begins singing first, gets to roll the dice and advance around the board!  If nobody can sing a song, the Tunesmith must be able to back it up with a song of their own, or else they roll both dice and move backwards.  As players advance around the board, certain spaces will require them to draw a Spontuneous Card and attempt the crazy challenge!  Whoever reaches finish first and completes the final challenge, wins the game!

 

Spontuneous is America's Hottest New Party Game!  If you're looking for a hilarious game to entertain your family and friends, then it's time to throw a Spontuneous Party!  It's fun, fast paced, full of laughs and a perfect game to spice up your next get-together! 

 

SPONTUNEOUS® Highlights:

·         Interactive party game for all ages (9 & Up)

·          Hilarious G- rated fun

·         Self-generated words promote thinking/strategy

·         Improves word association & memory recall skills

·         Encourages social interaction

·          Timeless entertainment; every game is unique & never grows old

·          Crosses all genres of music; all ages can play together

·         Affordable entertainment for the whole family

·         Recently won The National Parenting Council Seal of Approval (TNPC)

·         Recently won PAL Award -  Play Advances Language (awarded by a speech pathologist of 35 years)

·         Recently won PTPA Seal of Approval - Parent Tested Parent Approved

·         Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Products Winner

·         Creative Child Magazine's Creative Toy Awards - 2011 Game of the Year

·         Mom's Choice - Gold Award

 

When referring to the highlights above, keep in mind that because a single word can be in hundreds if not thousands of songs.  Because of this, ANYONE can play together regardless of their age or genre of music they listen to!  Also, because each player creates their own list of Trigger-Words throughout the game, every game is going to be unique and never grows old as it is played over and over again.  There is always new music coming out and as people play more, their bank of lyrics will continue to grow. 

 

OTHER SELLING POINTS:

·         It's a great party game for any family or group of friends.  The more the merrier.  There are 10 pawns in the game, but more people can play if teams are formed.  Personally, I think playing with teams is more fun.

·         Although the age says 9 and up, kids as young as 6 and 7 have played.  It all depends on how much music a child listens to.  Often times the kids are better than adults anyway!

·         Talent is NOT required to play this game!  You do not have to be a "good" singer.  In fact, there will be a lot more laughs when people are lacking talent!  The point is to loosen up and have some fun! 

 

SPONTUNEOUS® Basic Rules:

 

Object: To stump the other players from being able to sing a portion of ANY song containing your Trigger-Word!  The 1st player to reach Finish WINS!

1. Think of a song you know, choose a word (not a phrase) from those lyrics and write it down on your Hit-List. This word is called a Trigger-Word. Think of another song and repeat.

2. Play begins once all players have written down a few (3 to 5) Trigger-Words.

3. Once all players have at least 3-5 Trigger-Words, play is started by the first Tunesmith.

4. The other players race against each other to SING a 5-word portion of ANY song containing the given Trigger-Word.

5. The 1st player to BEGIN singing BEFORE the time expires rolls both dice and advances on the treble clef.

6. If time expires and everyone is stumped, the Tunesmith must flip the timer and prove they know a song by singing a 5-word portion of lyrics containing their own Trigger-Word.

7. If the Tunesmith CAN prove it, they roll both dice and advance. If they CANNOT prove it, they must roll both dice and move backwards.

8. The person to the left of the original Tunesmith becomes the next Tunesmith and attempts to stump the others with a Trigger-Word from their own Hit-List. The Tunesmith position ALWAYS rotates clockwise.

9. If a player lands on a Spontuneous Treble Clef, they must draw a Spontuneous® Card and complete the challenge.

10. The 1st player to reach finish and complete the Spontuneous® Challenge WINS!

 

 

My Review

 

I recently had the chance to review Spontuneous with my family.  We are a music loving family and play board games nearly every night so this game goes hand in hand.  My kids are aged 13 and 9 and both enjoyed this game.  We have played it almost every night since I received it.  I truly is a very fun, addictive game that the whole family can enjoy.  I would definitely recommend Spontuneous to anyone who likes board games, especially music lovers.  Check out their website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube.

 

 

You can click HERE to buy it for $24.95 now.

 

 

Be sure to enter the game giveaway going on HERE on their Facebook page.

 

 

Disclosure:  I was provided a free product for review purposes and not compensated in any other way.  my thoughts are my own.