Rave and Review

Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers {Review & Giveaway}

My little guy hates diaper changes.  Actually, hate is not a strong enough word.  My normally good-natured little guy turns into a completely different kid when you try and change him, and it’s not fun for any of us.  Even me singing, telling him stories, or offering small toys to play with don’t diminish his desire to pull his classic move – the “arch and twist” – and wriggle off the changing pad.

Huggies knows how hard changing active, squirmy babies can be and has created Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers for this very reason.  Their slogan is “catch, slip-on, and release!” and I wanted to give it a go with the little guy to see how well they work. 

To start with, I love that they can either be pulled on like training pants or put on like a diaper by undoing the stretchy sides and then reattaching.  I especially like the slip on feature when he’s fresh from the bath or getting ready in the morning or at night because we don’t have to deal with jeans and shoes at those times and slipping the Little Movers Slip-On Diapers is so easy that he doesn’t even need to lay down on the changing pad {yay!} and I can put them on with him standing. 

The rest of the time when he is wearing jeans and shoes, I lay him down and put them on like a diaper by undoing the stretchy sides and then attaching them with the Velcro tabs.  It isn’t really any quicker than a regular diaper, but I really like them because they are easy to reposition without ruining the diaper and they feel so soft, especially on the sides.  This stretchy and soft side is important as my little guy is so incredibly active these days and I like that the diaper stretches with him and offers awesome leak protection.  In fact, we’ve had no leaks at all with the new slip-on diapers, which is awesome. 

The only thing I would note is that if you are dropping your little one off with Little Movers Slip-On Diapers to a babysitter, you should definitely explain that the sides open and close since they are bound to think that they are slip-on only because they look so much like training pants.  Even hubby didn’t realize that they opened on the side and I came in to find him taking off my son’s entire outfit and shoes for a quick change.  That, obviously, did not go down well and that mistake was never made again. 

Overall, we really have liked the Little Movers Slip-On Diapers and will definitely be stocking the changing table with some for those quick pull-on changes.  I think they will be especially convenient as he gets older and starts getting interested in potty training.  This, hopefully, will come quick as his desire to not change his diapers hopefully pushes him in this direction{fingers crossed}. 

Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers Features

•    Stretchy sides for a fuss-free fit
•    Tabs for easy removal and disposal
•    HUGGIES LEAK LOCK® System – the protection and security you both need between changes
•    Absorb-away layers and long-lasting core lock in wetness and keep your baby dry
•    Stopping guards around the legs and waist help keep wetness in
 
In addition, HUGGIES is calling all moms to upload a video of their squirmy babies to their YouTube Channel.  Spoiler alert: it's adorable!

Two lucky Rave & Review readers will win a pack of Huggies Little Mover Slip-On Diapers and a magnetic picture frame!

To Enter: Tell me what your child's patented "move" is!

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/dE09dn4v} and tag R&R on Facebook

5 Extra Entries - Upload a video of your little one to Huggies YouTube channel

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter. Simply tweet about the #giveaway with the post URL {http://t.co/dE09dn4v} using @Huggies and @raveandreview after following us both {feel free to retweet this tweet}

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On March 7th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US addresses only.

Huggies provided me with a pack of Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers and a magnetic picture frame to conduct a reader giveaway.  However, my opinions on the product are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive sentiments towards Huggies or their products.
 

P&G GIVE Health brandSAVER Gives Back {Prize Pack Giveaway}

Know what I love even more than saving money? I love giving back to organizations that really make a difference. Just this past year I started dabbling in couponing and found myself really liking the fun of tracking down coupons and loving saving huge percentages off my total grocery bills.

While some coupons I get are online or in boxes of products I buy, a big portion of the coupons I have used are right out of the P&G brandSAVER inserts so I always get excited when a new one is going to be released.

March 4th is one of those days but this insert is even more exciting than usual because it will support two causes I love. Next week’s P&G GIVE Health brandSAVER insert will be distributed in newspapers across the country and, as always, it will feature discounts for P&G brands. But, just by using those coupons as you normally do, a 2¢ donation from P&G will be split between the Feeding America National Produce Program and the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Fund.

What could be more important than safe water and food for the hungry? In this time of economic crisis, one in six Americans goes hungry, so now more than ever charities like Feeding America are vital to our nation’s health. I’ve talked before about P&G’s partnership with the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program and how they work tirelessly to make dirty drinking water a thing of the past, so I was really happy to see that P&G would be supporting both of these great causes.

Don’t have a newspaper or not interested in couponing? From February 19th (today!) to March 5th, for every “Like” on Facebook, P&G will split a $1 donation between the two charities up to $10,000!

Two lucky Rave & Review readers will win an awesome P&G prize pack that contains the following:

•1 - 10 pack Tide Stain Release In-Wash Booster •1- Tide To-Go Instant Stain Remover •1 - 4 pack Duracell AA Batteries •1 - 50 pack Bounty Quilted Napkins •1 - 25.4 oz. Pantene 2in1 Shampoo & Conditioner •1 - 4 oz. Olay Complete All Day UV moisturizer •1 - 12 pack Puffs Tissues •1 - 1.22 oz. Crest Pro-Health Oral Rinse •1 - Reusable P&G Tote Bag Made from 100% Recycled Plastic Bottles

To Enter: Tell me what P&G product you always look for coupons for

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/c2Jvu8ip} and tag P&G My GIVE and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like P&G My GIVE on Facebook {like before March 4th and they will donate $1!}

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter. Simply tweet about the giveaway and the GIVE Health brandSAVER with the post URL {http://t.co/c2Jvu8ip} @pgMyGive and @raveandreview

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On March 21st at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US and Canadian addresses only.

A big thank you to P&G for this giveaway opportunity. This giveaway was provided for free from P&G and we are not being paid for this post. All opinions are 100% ours.

Magic Cabin Encourages Imaginative Doll Play {Review & Giveaway}

Open ended and imaginative play is paramount in our house.  When shopping for toys we search out toys that inspire creativity and learning, and that search always leads us to Magic Cabin.  I’ve talked before about my love affair with Magic Cabin’s wide assortment of toys that grow with your kids, and once again I’m raving about the fun that starts when a Magic Cabin box is opened.

And, whose eyes wouldn’t light up if they saw a box full of gorgeous toys and treasures from the pages of the Magic Cabin catalog?

This past year was all about dolls here at Rave Central – doll accessories, doll furniture, and more – and the Magic Cabin catalog was the source of much of our inspiration.  Really, it’s hard to not get inspired while searching through the Magic Cabin catalog.  Page after page it shows children playing in dress up clothing, engaging in imaginative play, and nurturing creativity with heirloom quality toys and gifts.

The first thing we fell in love with this year at Magic Cabin for doll play was the Kathe Kruse Spring Fairy Dolls because we are very into fairies these days.  We love designing their homes and making miniature fairy gardens, and the Kathe Kruse Spring Fairy Dolls are the perfect size for this kind of creativity.

Since we live in tulip country and the pretty and colorful flowers are such a big part of our spring, I knew the Kathe Kruse Tulip Fairy would be a great addition to my daughter’s garden room.  Once she arrived I knew she was perfect.  The Spring Fairy Doll is less than 9 inches tall, so she could easily go on a display shelf or even in a larger doll house, but she’s also really fun to play with since she has a flexible and posable fabric body. 

We decided to make a special “swing” for her suspended from one of the shadowbox shelves of my daughter’s wall mural and she is simply stunning on display.  Like all Kathe Kruse, the Spring Fairy Doll is simply exquisite and classic, the kind of doll that you pass down for generations to enjoy. 

Magic Cabin was my first introduction to the amazing Kathe Kruse dolls, a German company that makes handcrafted Waldorf-style dolls, and now I’m hooked.  Magic Cabin has an extensive collection of these cotton dolls with mohair tresses that are great for any collector or for those looking to make a special little girl’s day.  If you haven’t checked out their line of dolls, I would recommend you do so – you won’t be disappointed.  They even have a beautiful Easter doll with a basket of felt eggs, holiday dolls, and Fall Fairies that would delight any doll lover. 

Another essential Magic Cabin doll accessory is the Combi Doll Furniture line that encourages imaginative play with your little one.  The line is made of beautiful Baltic Birch and comes in two different colors {natural oil finish or red stain} to match your play area.  Besides being USA made and gorgeous enough to keep in a main room in your house, what I love most about the Combi Doll line is that the products promote creativity.  Not only do they encourage imaginative doll play, they also are very open-ended toys that can be used for many different play situations.

My favorite of their line is the Combi Chair which goes from a highchair to a doll desk simply by flipping it on its side.  I love this as it works for both baby dolls and for the “older” big girl dolls my daughter is now very into.  But, as cool as this is that the Combi Chair is 2-in-1, my daughter made it even more awesome by adding two more uses for the petite little chair.  By flipping it upside down while in desk mode, my daughter has decided it is a “car” for her smaller toys and they use it to drive all over our living room. 

And, then my favorite use: as a puppet theatre.  By turning the chair upside down while in high chair mode and covering with a blanket, you have the perfect make believe theatre to play with.  We’ve spent so many days thinking up stories to act out and entertaining each other for hours that this is now our new favorite toy.  We’ve now added backdrops and made some little finger puppets and have a great rainy day/snow day activity.

If you are doll shopping for spring, you should start at Magic Cabin and check out their amazing collection of Kathe Kruse as well as accessories for everything from baby dolls up to collector dolls.  My favorite tip is to check out the Magic Cabin Exclusives that, to me, define the very nature of open ended and extended play toys.  I seriously could shop there for every little kid on my list this year!

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $50 Magic Cabin gift card to spend however you like!

To Enter: Visit Magic Cabin and tell me how you would spend your $50!

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/AAAc91xn} and tag Magic Cabin and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like Magic Cabin on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following {feel free to personalize it!} after following us both:

Thinking of how I would spend $50 at @MagicCabin if I #win the #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/AAAc91xn

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On March 20th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US addresses only.

A big thank you to Magic Cabin for this review and giveaway opportunity.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

The Builder Bag {Review & Giveaway}

In terms of great educational toys, you really can’t go wrong with building toys.  You just can’t beat the learning that happens when you let your little ones create whatever their heart desires with no rules but that of gravity and physics. 

I love watching my kids build and manipulate all the small pieces to see what a pile of blocks, bricks, or connectors can become.  Unfortunately, the drawback of all this creativity is that building sets have so many small pieces to scatter across the floor, misplace, or clutter up the toy box.  Luckily for me, there’s a genius new product called The Builder Bag that not only solves these problems, it also gives the kids a great place to play!

Essentially a play mat that cinches to become a carry-all tote, The Builder Bag is the perfect solution to playroom clutter and missing game pieces.  Available in two sizes and three colors and even with its own peg hanging system to keep it even more organized, The Builder Bag is now an essential part of our play.

While the design of The Builder Bag is pretty simple, it’s the details that make it awesome enough to have been awarded the PTPA Seal of Approval.  With oversized and reinforced grommets and sturdy carrying handles and cinching string, it’s built kid-tough but is still easy for even toddlers to use.  It’s simple to lay out and get to creating, and it’s just as easy to clean up when the creating is through. 

In fact, it’s FUN to clean up, which is not something you hear very often.  Or, ever.  When was the last time your kids asked to clean up and then squealed as they simply pulled a string to tidy hundreds – or thousands – of little pieces all at once?  Whether your little one is into Legos, Playmobil, TinkerToys, CitiBlocs, Lincoln Logs, SuperStructs, or even just little figures you will love how easy it is to keep all the little pieces in one place and ready to play, and then just as easy to clean up when they are done. 

Simply carry The Builder Bag wherever you want to play, use it as a great play mat to set up your town, your farm, or your new creation, and then cinch, carry and store them up on the pegs until the next time you are ready to create.  The ease of setup and clean up means it’s easy to play on a whim without having to have hours set aside, and the beautiful way to store them makes them the first thing your little one will grab when it’s time to play. 

When I first heard of The Builder Bag, I knew it would be perfect for all of our little building blocks and figures since the kids play with those constantly and have a hard time corralling the little pieces, but I didn’t realize how much I would adore the design.  I love that the open Builder Bag is the perfect “backdrop” to their farm, their schoolyard, or their town and that they incorporate the bag into the play itself, and I also love how much less stressful playtime is when it doesn’t involve a buckets of small pieces being dumped into my living room only to be scattered by playing kids. 

But, even better than the love my husband and I feel for The Builder Bag would be how much my kids enjoy playing with it.  Whereas they loved their blocks and animal figures before, for some reason when you add a Builder Bag playmat, the toys become irresistible and the kiddos just can’t get enough.  Maybe it helps that they don’t mind picking up when they are done now that you can do so with the pull of a string, or maybe it’s just that there’s less setup when all you have to do is open a bag and all your favorite toys are in one place, but whatever the reason, we are all thrilled. 

If you have toys with small parts, building toys, or thousands of figurines that need a practical and fun place to call home, you will absolutely love The Builder Bag.  I love ours so much that I am ordering some more bags for our peg system and plan on getting my nephew a set, too.  Manage playtime, conquer clutter, and not have to waste time cleaning up?  Yeah, I’ll take two of those!

Find out more about The  Builder Bag at their site and see what color options and size options would suit your little builder.  For more ideas and inspiration from the man behind The Builder Bag, you should check out this great article Scott wrote for PTPA!

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Builder Bag in their choice of color as well as a set of Builder Pegs!

To Enter: Visit The Builder Bag site and let me know something you learned as well as your favorite color of Builder Bag.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/dwGKfv5a} and tag The Builder Bag, PTPA Media and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like The Builder Bag and PTPA Media on Facebook {one for each}

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us all:

@TheBuilderBag makes playtime fun and cleanup easy! Enter the #giveaway from @PTPA and @RaveAndReview http://t.co/dwGKfv5a

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On March 4th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US and Canadian addresses only

A big thank you to The Builder Bag and PTPA for this review and giveaway opportunity.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Save Your Razor Blades with Razorpit {Review & Giveaway}

I will admit it; I don’t shave my legs nearly as much as should.  It’s not that I don’t like smooth, silky legs, it’s that I’m cheap.  Seriously, have you seen how much razors cost these days?  Much to my husband’s dismay, for years I have convinced myself that the fact that I have lighter and baby fine hair makes it okay for me to shave every few weeks. 

The problem with my putting off shaving my legs {besides, you know, hairy legs} is that when I do get around to doing it, all that baby fine leg hair gets clogged in my razor as I shave.  Depending on how cheap my razor is {I’ve been known to buy ANY good deal}, this can sometimes mean I blow through a razor each time I shave because there’s no way to get it unclogged safely.  Not only is it costly to only use a blade once, it’s also horribly wasteful, which in turn, makes me put off shaving even longer.

Or, at least, I used to. I have recently found a cool new product called the Razorpit that allows you to clean and sharpen your razor blades after each use, allowing them to last a purported 150 times before replacing.  While I haven’t actually tested this {just think of how long it would take me to test that out...}, I’m just happy extending my blades by even a fraction of that.  To me, just getting 5 or 6 shaves would blow me out of the water, but that’s what I got and more from the Razorpit. 

It’s been over a month now and I’m still using the same cheap-o disposable razor that I opened in mid-December and I don’t see myself tossing it anytime soon.  I’ve shaved my legs twice now {the first time broke a two month no-shaving spell} and have used daily for my underarms and it’s still going strong.  Instead of clogging during that first shave and needing to be tossed immediately, I was able to use the Razorpit to help keep the blades clean even while I shaved and then I cleaned and sharpened right after I finished so it could be used for 5 weeks longer than normal. 

Besides saving money and saving our landfills, I love that I just don’t have to worry about razor blades anymore.  No more putting off shaving or using a less-than-sharp blade to save money because I can now shave whenever I feel like it.  I wish I could say that I’ve been shaving my legs daily {or even every third day}, but I guess there was a bit of laziness rolled into the pricing issue and it turns out I just genuinely don’t like shaving.  But, hey, I like having the option to shave daily, and that’s enough for me!

If you’re tired of throwing away razors too soon and want to save time, money, and our landfills, you should definitely check out Razorpit to clean and sharpen your razor blades.  I'm thrilled that I have extended the life of my blade by 40x longer than normal - and am hoping I’ve got 100 more shaves in my razor!  To find out more about the Razorpit as well as where to buy, check out GetRazorPit.com

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Razorpit of their very own!

To Enter: Simply "Like" Razorpit on Facebook and let me know what color Razorpit you would prefer.  You can like either the US Facebook page or the Canada Facebook page, but activity on the European Razorpit Facebook page does not qualify

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Post on either US or CDN facebook page finishing the following sentence and tagging R&R on Facebook: Thanks for the giveaway on Rave & Review! With the money I'll save from using Razorpit I am going to ____________ http://t.co/7wm65Pwt

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Keep your blades clean & sharp w/ Razorpit & join the @ShaveRevolution! Enter to #win from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/7wm65Pwt #giveaway

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On March 11th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US and Canadian addresses only.

The RazorPit for review and the giveaway were offered at no charge to us.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Pouch Carrier Cover from Rain or Shine Kids {Review & Giveaway}

While we’ve had a bit of a mild winter here in the Pacific Northwest so far, it looks like winter is going to hit us pretty hard in the next few weeks.  Taking other years into account, this means that we are likely looking forward to months and months of ice, freezing temperatures, and snow in our future.  While most of us have snow gear and down jackets we can slip on, the problem becomes what you can do to keep the littlest ones warm during freezing temperatures.  The answer, of course, is Rain or Shine Kids, our favorite Seattle brand. 

We’ve raved about their Woobee blanket that kept our daughter from freezing in our trip across Spain and Morocco, we’ve adored their UPF Sun Blanket that helped protect our little guy from sun, wind, and rain, and we’ve recommended the Fleece Blanket for all the weather in between, but now they’ve got a brand new line of Pouch Carrier Covers that we are crazy about.  Designed to keep your little one toasty while rolling, strolling, or sledding, the cover is the perfect thing to place over your baby carrier, your stroller, your car seat, or even in the event of a snowstorm, your sled.

We got to check out this new line at the ABC Kids show in September and thought it was truly brilliant, so we were thrilled when one arrived at our doorstep right before the cold hit.  Now that the weather has taken a dip, the Rain or Shine Kids Pouch Carrier Cover has gotten quite the workout over the top of the ERGO baby carrier.  When the weather dipped even further and the snow began to fall, we loved using the cover right over the top of our Mountain Boy Bambino Grande Pull Sled, keeping the little one toasty warm even while the flakes were falling.

Like everything made by Rain or Shine Kids, the design of the Pouch Carrier Cover is truly outstanding.  With the signature Woobee weatherproof cover paired with their super soft lining, it looks just like the Woobee we love, but with some important differences.  Instead of a flat perimeter as with traditional blankets, the bottom half of the Pouch Carrier Cover is gathered with an elastic hem, creating a pocket that your little one’s lower half is enveloped in.  Then, ¾ of the way up the cover, they included coordinating grosgrain ribbon to tie to baby carriers, strollers, car seats, wagons and more. 

Quality details throughout and extra features will make this the only cover you will ever use.  For instance, my favorite feature: the front kangaroo pocket for your hands {while front carrying} or your child’s {while strolling, rolling, sledding}.  This was great during our daily snow walks where I couldn't wear gloves and take pictures, and also served as a warm and dry place to hold onto the camera in between shots. 

I also love that Rain or Shine Kids included snaps tabs on the sides and the undersides that you can connect if you’ve got too much fabric and reduce bulk while providing the coziest environment possible.  Not only does this help keep the cover fitted to whatever carrier or seat you're using, it is also so incredibly snugglable that you will never want to take your babe out.

While I have focused the review on how great this is for babies {and the people that carry them}, this adjustable nature makes it a cover that is not easily outgrown. It is so adaptable that our three year old can still use it if she tucks up her legs and our 1 year old fits in it with room to spare, as you can see below. 

We’ve used it numerous times throughout the past few weeks and it’s now a fixture on our days out for keeping the little ones cozy in the car, in the stroller, the carrier, or just about anywhere else.  We love it so much that we always have it ready, which is great because we're going to be needing it around here well into June!

Find out more about the Pouch Carrier Cover from Rain or Shine Kids as well as the rest of the Woobee family at rainorshinekids.com

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Rain or Shine Kids Pouch Carrier Cover of their very own!

To Enter: Visit Rain or Shine Kids and let me know what other item of theirs you have your eye on.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/Ij0SzYCT} and tag Rain or Shine Kids and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like Rain or Shine Kids on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

I want to keep cozy with the awesome @RainOrShineKids Baby Carrier Cover! Enter the #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/Ij0SzYCT

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On February 28th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US addresses only.

The Rain or Shine Pouch Carrier Cover for review and the giveaway were offered at no charge to us.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Dead Poets Society Comes to Blu-ray {Review & Giveaway}

“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” a very simple sentiment, but something that you just can’t hear often enough.  While the phrase “carpe diem” might be what Dead Poets Society is known for, and quite frankly, the only thing I remembered about the movie from when we watched it in High School, the latter phrase now resonates with me more. 

In High School, the movie was an assignment.  Required viewing about a man whose untraditional teaching techniques make his students excited to learn.  But, watching the movie 10 years later as a parent, the movie takes on a whole new meaning.  Instead of a teacher who inspires students to learn, it’s now obvious that it’s about a teacher opening his students’ eyes, bringing out their passions and breathing life into a lifeless backdrop. 

I personally love older movies and the surprise spotting of someone who is now famous like Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard or Josh Charles and the fun “where are they now?” searches after the credits roll.  Even though most of the actors were quite young and the film tackles some big issues, the entire cast does such a fabulous job of bringing the story to life.  Plus, Dead Poets Society marks one of the first times Robin Williams showed his serious side, which I prefer to his goofier films and slapstick routines. 

The movie itself was even better than I remembered.  Even with the heavier topics tackled by the movie, watching it again with the clarity of hindsight, I love the theme that learning about the arts isn’t about studying old, irrelevant texts, it’s about discovering yourself and the world around you.  Writing poetry and performing in plays may not be the coolest thing a teenager can do in their spare time, but it’s the appreciation and immersion of the arts that I think every child should experience. 

Another message lost on my high school self was that being true to yourself doesn’t mean taking uncalculated risks or acting reckless, it’s the understanding of when and where it’s appropriate to express yourself that is important as you develop who you are.  Watching the main characters struggle with that thin line between non-conformity and disobedience, it was easy to remember my own adolescence and how it felt to be stifled and then how freeing it felt when I was able to take risks on my own.

A decade later, Dead Poets Society is also 1,000x more sad than I remembered it to be {which could be something to do with the fact that I watched it with 40 other giggling High Schoolers} and the sad parts really hit home more as a parent.  As a parent, all you want is for your children to be happy.  The hard part is to know when lessons are better learned on your own and to not overstep your bounds.  When your children are young, this line is easy: keep them safe, nurture them, and give them a deep well of happy childhood memories to draw from.  But, it’s the teenage years that really scare me, as they discover their independence, develop their personalities fully, and decide what they want to do with the years that lie ahead. 

For me, this movie is one that made me stop and think about my expectations for my kids and reminded me that childhood is such a fleeting time.  Maybe they won’t walk in the direction I would hope, maybe they choose a career I wouldn’t have handpicked for them, or maybe they choose something I dread, but if they are happy, so am I.  I would rather have kids full of life and excitement than ones who are obedient without questions and this movie made that all the more clear to me.

This was a great movie to watch while holed up during our recent snowstorm and taking a fun trip down memory lane.  I really enjoyed re-watching the film and remembering what a truly awesome movie it is, and even more so now that it’s on the Blu-ray platform.   I also loved all the special features, raw takes, and interviews with the cast looking back on the making of.  I definitely feel like I took more from the movie this time around, and I was even inspired to get reading some more of my poetry books after hearing some excerpts of my favorites. 

Dead Poets Society was released on Blu-ray on January 17th and is available wherever DVDs are sold and on Amazon.com

Want to win a copy of Dead Poets Society on Blu-ray?  Of course you do!

To enter, simply tell me your favorite artist

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/PXE2bFgL} and tag R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Would love to #win a copy of Dead Poets Society on Blu-ray from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/PXE2bFgL #giveaway

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

OnFebruary 20th  at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

We received the film for review and one was offered free of charge as a giveaway.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

 

Tegu Blocks Asks "How Do You Roll" {Review & Giveaway}

If you’ve come to my house to play in the past few months, chances are you were immediately asked if you wanted to play with Tegu Blocks. If so, you probably had the same reaction everyone else does when asked if you want to play: a shrug and an “I guess”. But, once the felted Tegu tote is pulled out that houses our beloved Tegu Blocks, immediately everyone is excited.

“Whoa, are these magnetic blocks?!?” Why yes, yes they are.

I vividly remember the first time I saw them at a store; I probably played with them for a good 20 minutes, blown away by their simple design that makes them so incredibly awesome and fun to play with. They may look like a beautiful set of wooden blocks upon first glance, but once you hold them, connect them, and build with them, you will be hooked.

Because let me tell you, Tegu Blocks are not your average building blocks. Instead of buildings held together simply by gravity and luck, Tegu Blocks are very different in that you can build some truly amazing stuff with the power of magnets. You may not be able to see the magnets, hidden deep within the wooden block, but the satisfying click they make when they connect tells you it’s there.

Although Tegu Blocks are, admittedly, toys, it certainly hasn't stopped all of our adult guests from playing with them as well.  In fact, the adults seem to like them just as much as the little guys do {which is a lot} and play with them just as much.  Whether this comes from a void that we all felt with a lack of magnetic blocks in our own youths or merely the fact that these little blocks are a great stress reliever is anyone's guess, but I'm willing to bet it's a combination of the two. 

While our kids showed us that these blocks not only stick to each other, but they also stick to the fridge, the washer and dryer, and anything else magnetic, we taught them that putting them away is almost as fun as playing with them... seriously.  I guess it's no wonder that Tegu Blocks have just been awarded our favorite Seal of Approval, the PTPA Media Award!   

So, with how much fun we've had with our Tegu Blocks over the past few months, I didn’t believe it when I first heard that Tegu Blocks were going to get even cooler.  But even I was surprised that the claims were actually true. When a small box holding one of the new Tegu Mobility packs – the Maddy Micro – arrived, I knew our fun with Tegu was just beginning because now our creations were now going places.

The Maddy Micro has removable magnetic wheels that allow it to roll across the floor, but the real fun is when you remove the wheels and add in some traditional Tegu Blocks for even more squeals of glee. Because Tegu Blocks are all magnetic, you can simply pop the new Mobility Wheels onto any Tegu blocks and see what kind of good times you can create.

Speaking of getting creative, Tegu loves to see all their young fans' creations and has even created an awesome contest called "How Do You Roll?" that lets your kid design the next Tegu car!  The contest is open to kids aged 4-10 and the prize is simply amazing - as in a trip to Honduras cool.  You can enter to win right from their "How Do You Roll?" sweepstakes site, but before you go...

How would you like to win one of these new Tegu Mobility Cars?  Of course you would!  Here's where it gets cool - for every 25 entrants Tegu will giveaway a car to a lucky Rave & Review reader! {i.e. 25 entrants = 1 winner, 50 entrants = 2 winners, etc!}

To Enter: Visit the "How Do You Roll?" sweepstakes site and comment below to let me know that you have entered to win the amazing Tegu Honduras grand prize {not to mention their awesome runners-up prizes}! Ready, Set, GO!

Here are the prizes you can win in the "How Do You Roll?" Sweepstakes: 

One (1) Grand Prize: The design experience of lifetime for your child. Design, Name, Package, Produce, and Share the next Tegu Magnetic Wooden Car (watch video for more details)

Two (2) First Prizes: $480 value for you and three friends. One each of the Tegu Mobility line: Dart, Hatch, Maddy Micro, Riley Roadster

Five (5) Second Prizes: $194 value. One Mahogany Original Set + Wheels + Travel Tote

Want more entries?  After signing up on the Tegu sweepstakes website, login to gain additional entries by doing the following {this is not through R&R, these additional entries are through Tegu ONLY}:

20 entries: Email friends
10 entries: Share on Facebook {Please tag Tegu Toys and Rave & Review on Facebook}
10 entires: Share on Twitter using @Tegu and @RaveAndReview
25 entries: Submit designs for the next Tegu car {great activity for kids!}

There’s no limit to the number of entries you can earn. Do each action every day to maximize your chances!  The sweepstakes ends at the end of January {1/31/2012}, so get going today and you might just be on your way to the Tegu factory and the memory of a lifetime.  Terms & conditions in the sweepstakes can be found here.

On January 31st at 11:59pm PST a winner(s) will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner(s) will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.

A big thank you to Tegu for sending the Maddy Micro for review and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Seattle Readers: Win a Photo Sitting with Alecia Smith Photography! {$325 Value}

I resolve to: Finally get a good family picture

No one ever says “I wish I didn’t have so many pictures of my family”.   Because, really, that would be just plain crazy.  Who out there doesn’t want beautiful images of their family showcasing their personalities and the love you have for each other?  So, why not make a change this year and finally schedule that family photo sitting you’ve been putting off? 

This past Fall we were lucky enough to win a family portrait session from Alecia Smith Photography at the Pacific Northwest Blogger Meetup organized by the lovely Mandy {Harper’s Happenings} and beautiful Chelsea {The Paper Mama} and I was incredibly excited to get some professional pictures taken of all of us.  As in, really, really excited.  

Admittedly, we have a lot of pictures around here since I’ve always got my camera at the ready, but we have very few pictures of the 4 of us.  Like 10 pictures, total, and in two of those I’m blinking.  While we’ve done the mall portrait studio in the past with its boring backgrounds and its 20 minute timeslot, doing something like hiring a professional photographer to shoot a family sitting was really exciting. 

We got to choose everything down to the location, the time {so we could account for naps, drive time, etc} and date and we could design our shoot any way we wanted.  Alecia was really easy going and seemed down for just about anything, so I googled an area and scoped it out the day of and in doing so we found this rustic log cabin tucked away in the center of Tukwila, WA.  Instead of going with a Christmas-y theme like I had originally planned, at the last minute I just chose some fun “fall themed” outfits that had enough color in them that they would look good on a Christmas card, but wouldn’t look funny hanging all year round and Alecia just ran with that theme from there. 

The sitting itself was also really laid back and fun, unlike many of those mall sittings we’ve done in the past that take bribery and tears before you get one image that you all don’t look goofy in.  Alecia didn’t try to force poses and she basically let our kids run wild as she chased after them with a camera, something I love because I really just want to capture who they are right now and document this stage fully.  I figure we will eventually have enough control over a family sitting that all of us are looking in the same direction at the – gasp – same time, so now’s the time when we should get the really fun ones of us laughing and enjoying ourselves, even if they aren’t your typical family shots.   

After the shoot with Alecia was over, I couldn’t wait for the picture reveal so we could pick some shots to frame and send out to family.  When the pictures arrived via her secure viewing site, I loved each and every one of them.  Honestly, the hardest part was narrowing it down to our favorites and then which images we wanted as part of our sitting package. 

It took us a while but finally we narrowed it down and found the images we couldn’t live without and then we marked them as favorites and sent them off to her.  We debated for a while about whether we wanted to add pictures to the sitting since we could have always purchased more for her reasonable rates, but in the end we decided that we want to do another sitting with her in the spring and we’d get some extra pictures then.  Because wouldn't a spring Seattle photo sitting be simply gorgeous?

If you are dreading family pictures or putting them off because they just seem so daunting, I would highly recommend just making an appointment with Alecia Smith Photography.  I was so happy I had finally scheduled a family sitting {even without waiting to lose all the baby weight, for my son’s stitches to fully heal, or for better coordinated outfits, etc} and will never look at the gorgeous pictures of this day and feel anything but happy that we made it happen.  I loved it so much that I’m going to try and do a 6 month sitting from now on... I just can’t think of a better way to document all the amazing milestones coming up!

Check out all of Alecia's amazing work at http://aleciasmith.com/ {you can even sneak peek our sitting right from her home page!]

Who wants to win a photography package from Alecia Smith Photography?  Perfect for Mother's Day, maternity, family shoot, you name it!

Here's what you get in your $325 Photo Package:

-1 hour on location session for up to 4 people {additional persons can be added $30 each}
-A private 30 day online viewing and ordering gallery
-Fifteen professionally enhanced digital image files
-Session location to be within 20 miles of zip code 98023 {wiling to travel, mileage fees apply}
-Session is to take place before May 31, 2012

To Enter: Visit AleciaSmith.com and let me know what kind of shoot you'd like to plan with her

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Like Alecia Smith Photographer on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/atVlCHyb} and tag Alecia Smith Photographer and R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Seattle #Giveaway! Win a photo sitting for your family {$325 value}! Enter to win @RaveAndReview http://t.co/atVlCHyb

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On February 14th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Must be willing to travel to Seattle area - or to pay Alecia to travel to you.

All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review. 

 

LaDainian Tomlinson & Kellogg Help Football Fans Throw a Pro-Style Party {Giveaway}

It wouldn’t be farfetched to call Super Bowl Sunday a national holiday.  Instead of a holiday focused on baking, distant family and presents, February 5th is all about football, spending time with friends, snacking, and fabulous commercials.  And, if you’re a football fan, it’s the day you wait all year for.   

We plan ahead for weeks on what we are going to do for the big day – what party we will attend, who we will bring with us, and what kind of beer to buy.  But, the one thing we never plan for is what food to bring, because you will most likely find us stressing at the deli counter the day of, trying to find something everyone will love.

That was last year, my friends.  This year we’re taking some tips from the pros and planning a truly SUPER Super Bowl menu.  And, by pros, we do mean Kellogg.  Oh, and pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson.  Kellogg and L.T. are teaming up to release some great tips, tricks, and insider treats to make any party amazing, and we will definitely be turning to them instead of the teenager behind the deli counter this February. 

And, I do mean amazing.  Just look at what you can create using just a few simple ingredients!  While I’m partial to the Cheez-It Spicy Touchdown Tenders, hubby has specially requested the Grilled Cheese Marinara and Chili Con Carne and they all look easy enough that I could easily do both the day of.  I have bookmarked and printed quite a few other recipes I want to try throughout the year.

While reading through some of the delicious-looking recipes I was really surprised to read some of the ingredients.  Most of us already have Cheez-Its and Town House Crackers in our pantry, but I bet you didn’t realize you could make so many dishes out of them.  I was simply blown away by the range of game day recipes listed as well, all the way from crowd-pleasing appetizers to gourmet main dishes and desserts.

I also loved L.T.’s party planning tips and tricks as well as his helpful videos at SnackPicks.com.  My favorite tip was how to estimate how many food and beverages to have on hand for your number of guests, which is something that will come in handy well after the big game.  I also love how he suggests getting the whole family involved in game day prep and stocking up on all-star ingredients like Cheez-It crackers, Town House Flipside crackers, Keebler cookies and Rice Krispies Treats instead of boring party faire. 

And, why not?  They are delicious, versatile, and you already know everyone loves them!

Be sure to check out all the great tips below from Kellogg and L.T. as you're planning your big game party, you are bound to find some amazing tips and tricks to make your party a fan favorite!

• Crunch the numbers: Count on guests each eating between 8 - 12 servings of appetizers over a two-hour period. Plan on two nonalcoholic drinks per guest during the first hour, and one for each hour after that. Buy about a pound of ice per guest for drinks.
• Tackle the food prep early: Make as much of the food ahead of time as you can. Peel, chop and prep veggie trays a day or two in advance. Dips and desserts can be made the day before. If you'll be making anything in a slow cooker, prep all your ingredients the day before, so that all you have to do when you wake up is put them in the cooker and turn it on.
• Stock up on all-star ingredients: Make sure you have plenty of the snacks your team really likes. Crowd-pleasers like Cheez-It® crackers, Town House® Flipside® crackers, Keebler® cookies, and Rice Krispies Treats® make adults and kids alike happy, and they can be used as ingredients in other dishes or paired with tasty dips and spreads, too.
• Create a winning game plan: Pick your game day snacks based upon the teams that are playing – if one of the teams is from Texas, serve your guests Chile Con Carne. If there is a team from Wisconsin, serve First Down Jalapeno Cheese Dip.
• Run a surprise play: Try a new recipe like Spicy Touchdown Tenders that get a surprising, crunchy kick from Cheez-It Hot & Spicy crackers. Serve them with some Buffalo sauce and they'll be the MVPs of your party.
• Call on your special teams: If you want a great dessert, but don't bake, ask your baking friends to work their magic for the party. Get the resident chili expert to make his best, and let your friend the décor expert set the scene. They'll enjoy working in their zones, and you get a few things taken off your to-do list.

• Let the Pee Wee League play, too: Let the kids help out with party prep, too. Older ones can help you make food and younger ones can set out utensils, cups and plates. You can appoint some special "Trash Referees" to patrol the party and help clean up plates and cups during the game, so there's not a big mess to clean up afterward.
• Control the crowd: Every party will have die-hard fans that want to focus on the game as well as casual fans that are there for the party and the ads. Set up televisions in two different viewing rooms that cater to both fans’ enthusiasm so everyone can enjoy the game in the atmosphere they choose.
• Prepare for fumbles: With so much excitement and food, someone is bound to have an accident. Keep cleaning supplies like paper towels and rug cleaners handy for an emergency. Also, protect your furniture as best you can by placing extra coasters on tables.
• Share the home field advantage: Not all of your guests will be cheering for the same team, so be sure to decorate your party with both teams’ colors to make everyone feel at home.

Want to win a fabulous "Big Game Gift Pack" valued at $100? 

One lucky winner will get a prize pack that includes one $75 Visa Gift Card, one Cheez-It™ Snack Cracker Bowl, one box of Sunshine® Cheez-It® Original snack crackers, one box of Keebler® Town House® Flipsides® Original crackers, one box of Keebler® Soft Batch® Chocolate Chip cookies, one box of Kellogg's® Rice Krispies Treats® Original bars and recipe cards!  Awesome, right?

To Enter: Simply comment below answering the following question: When entertaining for football’s biggest game, what plays do you make to ensure the home team is happy?

And, as always, there's extra entries!

• Post this give-away information on Facebook and link to R&R's Facebook page (1 entry)
• Retweet the giveaway post using @raveandreview and the URL to this blog post (1 entry per day)
• Post this give-away information on your favorite sweepstakes or blog site (1 entry)
• Subscribe to RaveAndReview.com (1 entry)

Giveaway ends at 12:00 p.m. ET p.m. ET on January 24, 2012.  Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Giveaway winner will be selected using Random.org from among all eligible entries received during the Giveaway and will have 48 hours to respond and confirm his/her prize.  See Offical Rules HERE

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

106 Ashley Hatten said... shared on twitter

https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/160792229751951360