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Backyard Safari Outfitters
Meghan Says
Getting Dylan to spend time outside amongst nature and three dimensional people instead of inside with his beloved Wii and his “friends” Mario and Luigi can be a bit of a challenge. It’s so bad I’ve even considered getting him Vitamin D supplements.
Okay, so that’s not entirely true. Yet.
BUT, it does take some cajoling, and sometimes some downright threatening to get him to put down the Wiimote and head into the great outdoors.
So I’m happy to come across anything that might make this job easier for me.
Apparently, the lovely people at Team Mom must have known about my predicament, because they were kind enough to send us a few samples of some Backyard Safari Outfitters gear to try out!
The boys, including my 3, 6 and 9 year old nephews, were excited to rip open the packaging and head outside to see what they could discover.
Being boys, their favorite thing to do was use the Bug Vacuum to suck up any and all tiny creatures that would fit in it. It worked great for smaller bugs and flying instecy things, but to their dismay (but not mine) it wasn’t powerful or big enough to suck up any of the many lizards that inhabit our backyard.
We actually used to have the Day and Night Bug Habitat which we LOVED and was big enough to hold the lizards that Daddy was quick enough to catch. Unfortunately, it was ruined when the dog managed to knock it off a ledge. Thankfully, there were no inhabitants in it at the time. But if we still had it, it would have been a perfect home for the creatures the boys caught with the vacuum.
The periscope (yes, like on a submarine) was a close second, as it allowed them to gain a few extra feet to check out the world around them. Their grandparents backyard has a few tiers, so the boys were able to use it to check out the plants and bugs that would normally have been out of their line of sight, which they thought was pretty cool It apparently works underwater, but we haven’t been able to try it out yet.
We’re not big into dress up, so the Safari Vest was kind of a flop, even though Dylan thought it was neat that it “looked like that guys on TV.” I’m thinking he meant Steve Irwin, but I’m not 100% sure! That aside, there are a ton of other products offered within the Backyard Safari Outfitters line and I can honestly say that I’m pretty sure the boys would love most of them. Heck, they even look like they’d be fun for ME!
Hopefully having access to cool toys that encourage outdoor activity will be my ticket to getting Dylan away from Super Mario and into the great outdoors!
Only time will tell, but I’m pretty hopeful!
*Disclosure: These products were received free of charge for review. However, the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Swinxs Game Console (Giveaway!)
Meghan Says:
When I was first approached with an offer to review Swinxs, I was a little confused as to what it was, exactly.
The press release says:
The hottest innovation in family-friendly interactive play has hit U.S. shores. The portable screen-free entertainment console engages kids in physical, creative and educational play (including musical chairs, tag and relay) by using its voice in combination with sounds and colors.
It sounded fun and like something that Dylan would enjoy, but I couldn’t really figure out how it worked. So, I decided to reserve judgment until I received it and had a chance to check it out. And I’m glad I did!
It’s really pretty cool. It came loaded with a few games, and as soon as I plugged it in (the battery wasn’t charged) Dylan and two of his cousins were racing around my Mother-in-Laws house and having a blast. The played Swinxs Dash the most, where each player takes a turn running a course, and Swinxs keeps track of who runs it the fastest. Each player has their own colored wristband, and that’s how Swinxs knows who is who. Fancy, right?
It’s water resistant and cordless (when the battery is fully charged) so your kids can take it outside and keep themselves out of your hair entertained for hours!
There are a ton of games available for FREE download on the Swinxs website, so you can customize your Swinxs console to suit your children’s individual tastes. Not interested in running around the backyard? Then download the quizzes and games that require children to stay in one spot, like Flyswatter or Animal Quiz.
There really is something for everyone!
I would definitely recommend Swinxs for children a bit over four. Dylan will be 5 in March, and I feel like he’s a little young to understand the rules behind some of the games. But he’s a pro at the ones he does understand. It’s something he will definitely grown into, though!
Also, at $150.00 retail value, it’s a bit pricey. But, if your kids are as active as mine, Swinxs will give them an opportunity to play, have fun, learn and exercise at the same time. And it’s hard to put a price on that!
Giveaway!
We’ve been given the opportunity to give a Swinxs Game Console away to one of our lucky readers! To enter, simply head over to the Swinxs website and check it out. Come back here and leave a comment telling us what game you think would be popular in your house.
You may gain an extra entry by:
1) Following Hot Mom Reviews on Twitter
2) Tweeting about this giveaway with a link back to this post (only once per day, please)
The winner will be chosen by random drawing from all eligible comments on Monday 12/14/2009 at Noon Pacific. Only open to US Residents. Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, and include a link to your tweet! The winner will be notified by email and I will need your mailing address by Tuesday, December 15th.
Good luck!
And the winner is….
Comment # 38 Becca! Congratulations! Please email your shipping address (no PO Box) to meghan (@) hotmomreviews (.) com by tomorrow!
*Disclosure – this item was received free of charge with the understanding that I would give an objective review*
MythBusters Science Kit
Meghan Says
I’ve been having email issues, so I didn’t even KNOW I was expecting a review item from Team Mom recently. Dylan was THRILLED when the “brown truck” pulled up outside with something for him! Finally! And my husband was thrilled it wasn’t another delivery from Target.com or Ann Taylor Loft. But that’s another story for another time.
Anyway, as avid MythBusters watchers, I was stoked to see that it was something related to that show. We watch it all the time around here. But we were disheartened to see that the age range for the MythBusters Science Kit was 9+ years. Dylan is only 4 1/2, even if he THINKS he’s 12.
But then I thought of my nephew, who IS 9 (ish) and I figured we could all play with the “Weird World of Water” kit when we were at my Mother-in-Law’s last week.
Of course, things didn’t quite work out as planned when they didn’t show up that day. Dylan was SO EXCITED to do the “water rocket” that we figured it would be easier to only do PART of the kit than it would be to tell him he’d have to wait. He’s a bit on the dramatic side, and after being so good about waiting ALL DAY we couldn’t bring ourselves to tell him that he couldn’t do it at all.
SO, we mixed vinegar (apple cider, because that was all my MIL had!) and baking soda and launched a rocket! Onto the roof! Whoops!
So then we got out the ladder and my husband climbed up onto the roof and retrieved the rocket, which was in pretty good shape, considering.
The patio was another story, as it was kind of covered in apple cider vinegar. But OH WELL. Nothing a little hose down wouldn’t fix.
We launched the rocket again, which was a bit of a catastrophe due to user error (fyi: Adding MORE vinegar and baking soda than is recommended is NOT a good idea! AND, make sure you don’t get distracted when mixing the vinegar and baking soda and try to put the rocket upside down. Because that reaction happens pretty damn quickly and you just *might* almost take out your two year old. Not that I would know.)
We were forced to call it a night when we ran out of vinegar. But the rocket was still in pretty good shape, so we took it home and used it a few more times the next day. Until it was completely obliterated in one exceptionally violent landing.
All in all, even though we ONLY used the Water kit for the rocket, we really enjoyed it. Dylan thought that launching a rocket was “AWESOME!” and it even made him a bit more accepting of the fact that a REAL rocket was launched by our house a few days later. Which is a big deal given his history.
All in all, I wish we’d taken the time to try out the other activities, like making a tornado in the provided soda bottles (I loved doing that as a kid). But, even though we “only” made a water rocket, I still would have been happy if we’d paid the $19.99 for it. My only complaint is that it only comes with enough supplies to make ONE rocket. There are two bottles in the package, so having enough fins and noses for two rockets would have been awesome.
If you have an older kid you need a gift for, I’d definitely recommend it. And if you have a younger kid whose smile you’d want to see, I would also recommend it!
SYLVANIA PalPODzzz Portable Nightlights
HEATHER SAYS:
My daughter Maddie is OBSESSED with things that light up. Remote controls, toys, the blinking light on the VCR, you name it. If she hits her head (she’s SO close to walking), my sure-fire trick to get her to stop crying is to hand her my cell phone. Unfortunately, my cell phone is about two more head-bonks away from having water damage, so I can’t rely on that old stand-by anymore.
When Parent Bloggers Network asked me if I wanted to review the SYLVANIA PalPODzzz Portable Nightlight, I jumped at the chance because I knew Maddie would LOVE the lady bug light (there is a rocket ship version for the little astronaut in your life). It’s so stinking cute – Maddie literally squealed with delight when she saw it.
SQUEE!
There are so many great things about this night light. The first one I already said – it’s ADORBS. Second, when you plug it in, the whole thing has this awesome soft glow.
Third, the little face lights up to make a flashlight. You can set the flashlight to either come on automatically when it’s removed from the base, or rely on the on/off button. Fourth, the green base still glows with or without the flashlight. Fifth, the flashlight and base only glow when the room is dark, so no energy is wasted. And sixth (and quite possibly my favorite), the batteries in the flashlight are rechargeable. So no more buying and replacing batteries, and no dad batteries clogging up landfills. YAY for being green and stuff!
Madeline plays with the ladybug every day. She clutches it when she crawls across the room (so far, it’s totally indestructible), and it has withstood many, MANY trips to her mouth, something that is SO important when you have a teething kidlet.
The flashlight is bright enough to make things fun, but it doesn’t hurt your eyes when it’s pointed at them – TRUST ME. In it’s nightlight form, it’s bright enough for late-night diaper changes, but soft enough that it doesn’t prevent sleep.
I think this is a great product. Good for the environment, fun for the kids, and reasonably priced at $19.99.
Bella Sara Miniatures & Treasures
You might remember a few months ago when I first reviewed the Bella Sara website and admitted to you that I’m a total & complete dork who enjoys online games that are meant for tween girls.
You’ll be happy to know that that statement is still true!
The awesome group from Team Mom just hooked us up with the newest line of trading cards & cute little collectible horse figurines from Bella Sara.
To be honest, the collectible figures aren’t really my thing, and with an 18 month old hanging around who puts EVERYTHING into his mouth, I see it as more of a choking hazard than an adorable wee horse to love and cherish. BUT, I can see our friend’s 8 year old daughter totally digging them. So I’ll send those their way.
*Phoenix watches over my work*
There are 20 collectible horses available now and another 20 will be available in October. I can only imagine how much I would have loved these things when I was a kid.
The trading cards, and accompanying Magical Online World North of North, once again held my Dylan’s attention for more than six seconds. They’ve introduced 27 new horses to the mix, and so far apparently everyone is getting along swimingly.
The new Treasures line also introduces more “printable activities including bonus codes, coloring pages, wallpapers, a poster and jigsaw puzzles” so there’s even more to do on the Bella Sara website than there was back in October.
According to the literature,
Bella Sara, the most successful trading card product ever developed for girls, features horse-themed fantasy cards that offer positive, inspirational messages. The collectible fun packs include unique codes that can be activated on the Bella Sara website. Bella Sara taps into young girls’ love of horses and offers them the ability to nurture virtual horses in their online stables, read stories and play games.
A pack of 5 Treasures cards also contains a mini-game, stickers and Bella Sara tattoos. All for only $2.99. Trust me when I say that for 3 or 6 bucks, your young daughter will be safely entertained online for HOURS.
Now that really is magical!
Parents Bristle Block Spinners
Meghan Says
When Team Mom teased me with an email recently that we were being sent the newest toy from the Parent’s magazine line, I was thrilled. I mean, who doesn’t LOVE any toy that Parent’s Magazine puts out? We’re already big fans of the MP3 player, and I’m sure the other 200 passengers on our upcoming plane trip will love it JUST as much as we do. So I was excited to see what was new.
I was super excited to open the box and find the 57 piece Bristle Box Spinners bucket (which I’d been eyeing recently at Target). Sadly, Dylan was taking a much needed nap, so it was left to Zach and I to tear into it. Which we promptly did. I have NO imagination when it comes to building things (I would have been a TERRIBLE architect) so I was happy to see there was a little instruction booklet with a bunch of different things you could build…like a ship, car, airplane, etc. I can TOTALLY copy pictures (I’m a whiz at Lincoln Logs) so I had no trouble putting together a car, which Zach promptly began pushing across the floor.
When Dylan woke up, he was excited to play with it, but because he sadly inherited by poor imagination, he relied on my help to build anything elaborate. He did, however, quickly become adept at adding 4 wheels to the biggest piece from the bucket, which closely resembled a car and made him happy. The fact that a lot of the pieces move and spin makes it even more fun to play with.
A few nights later, our nephews came over, and being 4 1/2 and 7, they were ALL over this set. They built some amazing spaceshipy things that were pretty impressive. My hope is that having something like this around will inspire Dylan to get a bit more creative and use his imagination more.
The only downside I can find is that some of the pieces are hard to connect at times, which can be frustrating. Also, some of them don’t STAY connected, so a four wheeled car can easily become a three wheeled car. Which, let me tell you, REALLY annoys my 1 year old.
All in all, we thoroughly enjoy our Bristle Block Spinners set and would highly recommend it. It’s the perfect addition to your last minute Holiday list…and at $30 you can’t beat the price.
Rating: 
Bella Sara
When I first received the Bella Sara cards from Team Mom to review I was mystified. I mean, I have two BOYS who are 3 1/2 AND 1. They’re CLEARLY not the target demographic. But then we started playing with the site and Dylan and I were instantly hooked. So, I’d like to take this opportunity to admit to you all that I’m a TOTAL and COMPLETE dork.
Which isn’t saying that Bella Sara is for dorks, but it IS marketed to YOUNG girls. Meaning, like, Tweens. You know, the type who TOTALLY, OH MY GAWD, LOOOOOVE the Jonas Brothers and the High School Musical series. Which, I have to say, I know nothing about.
If you’re sitting there wondering what in the heck I’m talking about, let me explain. Bella Sara is a magical online world, called North of North, where you can spend time frolicking with your horses. Where do you get these horses, you ask? They’re kind of the female tween version of baseball cards. And they’re available at any number of retailers, including Kmart, Borders, Tors “R” Us, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble and Blockbuster. And the best part is that they’re only $2.99 a pack. And a pack contains SEVEN horses.
Once you’ve purchased your pack(s), you go online and register. Then, you can enter your codes (each horse has a specific code) and start playing with your horses. Dylan thoroughly enjoyed cleaning out the horse stalls, giving them water, brushing them and feeding them. There are also a bunch of games you can play that are located throughout the magical Bella Sara world.
The best part is that there are babies being born soon! Who doesn’t love a baby horse?! And, in celebration, they’re having a Birthday Party! Beginning on November 6th, a 10 day celebration begins! There will be a contest, and winners from different age groups will win Bella Birthday packages consisting of decorations and special goody bags, as well as full sets of Bella Sara merchandise and accessories!
So, I realize that I’m (almost) 30 and that my actual enjoyment of this website makes me a dork, but I’m not afraid to admit it. And I GUARANTEE you, if there’s a 7 to 13(ish) year old in your life who likes animals and has a great imagination, they will TOTALLY love the Bella Sara cards & online world.
I give Bella Sara a Rating: 
And I’m not that embarassed about it.
AquaDoodle & Bath Blizzard
Meghan Says:
I don’t get kid’s toys. I mean, some of them are awesome and I find myself playing with them regularly. And others? I think they’re totally lame, but my kids LOVE them. And then there are the ones that I think are totally awesome and the boys don’t give them a second glance. But we’re talking about the second grouping today.
Take, for instance, AquaDoodle. You draw with WATER. What could be more boring? (Using completely invisible ink, I suppose.) But Dylan thinks it’s the greatest thing ever. Coming from a mostly completely non-artistic family, my kids are definitely destined to be art challenged. And because drawing was never really something I was into as a kid, it’s not something that I regularly think about setting up for my kids. But with AquaDoodle, all we have to do is pull out the mat, fill up the pen with water and VOILA, time to create some art! Dylan sits at the kitchen table and draws all sorts of unidentifiable masterpieces.
And then gets totally pissed when they dry and fade away. But, he can just start over which is nice. AND, it’s environmentally friendly because I’m not tossing away sheet after sheet of scribbled on paper. PLUS, there’s no mess, which makes my life that much easier. And even if there IS a mess, it’s just some spilled water, so cleaning it up really just helps me wipe up the kitchen table or floor. (BONUS! It helps me CLEAN!)
AquaDoodle gets a Rating: from Dylan.
The Kid Kleen Bath Blizzard is another item that would get way higher reviews from Dylan than it would from me. We’ve had it a week now and he’s insisted on taking a bath EVERY NIGHT just so we can turn the damn thing on. AND, it took ME so freakin’ long to figure out how to get it to work correctly that he’s barely been able to fully enjoy it.
But, again, he LOVES it.
What IS the Bath Blizzard, you ask? It’s this little machine that you fill with water and bubbles, hang over your bath faucet and turn on. It has a little blower that forces bubbles to cascade out and into the tub. He loves to watch the bubbles appear and trail into the water, and he thinks that catching the bubbles as they fall out is fun.
It doesn’t produce nearly enough bubbles to fill the tub or even cover the top of the water, but this hasn’t caused any issues for Dylan. The creation of the bubbles is enough to make him happy, so he hasn’t cared that there aren’t “bubbles everywhere” like there normally are when he takes a bubble bath.
A few tips/tricks, some of which are included in the instruction sheet:
- Use the machine’s cap to measure the bubble solution, not the bubble bottle cap.
- Make sure the mesh covering is completely wet, that the cap is loosened, and that the bubbles & water are fully mixed up inside the machine.
- Add regular bubbles to the bath as you fill it up (if your kid likes a bath FILLED with bubbles).
- This might be obvious to most people (not me, though!), but make sure you don’t have the faucet on when you’ve got the machine running. Total buzz bubble kill. DUH.
I’m curious to see how it works with other bubble solutions. I have NO idea how different bubble solutions might change the bubble production outcome, but I’m hopeful that it will increase.
I would definitely say it’s a fun product, and if you have a kid who loves bubbles, but doesn’t love the bathtub, this might be just the trick to get them in the water AND actually enjoy it. It retails for $19.99 which is pretty reasonable, especially if you need a bribe to get your kid to take a bath without throwing a fit. It’s definitely worth a shot.
I’m going to give this one a Rating: It’s a GREAT idea, but doesn’t quite live up to the expectation. Especially if you, or your kids, have seen the commercial. Hopefully when I start switching up the bubble solution I can amend my rating and bump it up a bit. OR, if I figure out that I’m a complete dufus and am using it incorrectly, I’ll be sure to let you know!
**For some reason, I’m unable to upload photos. Once I get the problem resolved, I’ll be sure to put up images. In the meantime, click the links so you know what I’m talking about!**
K’Nex Sesame Street Building Sets
Meghan Says:
Dylan has always been really frustrated with being the baby. And I realize there are kids in the family younger than him. I birthed one of them, so I’m painfully aware. But, he’s the youngest of the “big” kids. He has a cousin who’s 7 and another who’s 4 1/2. They have all kinds of big kid toys that he covets, but he just can’t master. It drives him crazy. And in turn, it drives ME crazy because all he does is whine about it. Incessantly.
So I was really excited when I was offered the opportunity to try out a new product from K’Nex. K’Nex toys are one of the most frustrating things that Dylan’s cousin’s play with. The older boys spend HOURS building “really cool” boats, planes and spaceships out of them. Dylan always waits patiently for his cousins to build one for him. But he’s just not old enough to figure out how to build something “really cool” on his own.
Until now, because K’Nex has just come out with products that are geared toward the preschool set! After about 15 minutes of looking at the parts of the K’Nex Sesame Street Building Set and watching me play with it, he had it down pat. He’s an Elmo building fool. You can also turn Elmo into a dog, fish or duck. He hasn’t been able to figure those out by himself, but he REALLY likes to “help” me do it. And I don’t think the day of building independence are too far off. He thoroughly enjoys playing with the pieces and every time he “completes” Elmo he’s so proud to show me.
Each set comes in it’s own box, so I’m not *too* concerned with losing parts. But, let’s be honest, it’s ME and MY house, so parts will certainly disappear at some point. But that’s not K’Nex fault! Because they’re for “younger” kids, the pieces are bigger. Which is a BIG help with Zach trying to get into it. I don’t have to be hyper-vigilant to make sure he doesn’t get any small pieces, which is the case with other K’Nex sets. And with prices starting at $10.99, it’s definitely something that’s economical. Plus, because the sets come in all sorts of Sesame Street characters, there’s sure to be one that the kid(s) in your life will love! I know I’m planning on adding to our K’Nex Sesame Street Building Set collection in the future. Especially Super Grover. I have a soft spot for him.
I give a Rating: They ARE Hot, Hot, Hot. But not to the touch. That would be inappropriate for children.
But the BEST part? I have a set to giveaway! Just head over to the K’Nex site and check out the cool Sesame Street Building Sets. Come back here and leave a comment about who the set would be for and your favorite Sesame Street memory or character! The contest will remain open until 11:59pm on Sunday, October 5th. I’ll pick the winner using a random number generator on Monday, October 6th and email them to let them know! You’ll have until Wednesday, October 8th to send me your shipping information, or I’ll have to pick a new winner. One entry per person. Open to US residents only. And unfortunately we can’t ship to PO Boxes.
Good luck!
**P.S. I can’t guarantee you’re going to get the K’Nex Sesame Street set you list here. They’re drop shipping them directly! But you’ll enjoy it either way! That I CAN guarantee**