Rave & Review

We love the Wummelbox craft and learning kits {Review}

Time travel is something that holds a special place in my heart.  Technically, time travel is responsible for hubby’s and my first date ever.  Okay, not actual time travel, but a theoretical discussion on the merits and limits of time travel that led to an impasse that led to a bet: declared loser buys dinner for declared winner.

I lost the bet.  But, I’m pretty sure he bought me dinner.  And, we’ve been together ever since, which I suppose we can thank time travel for.   

I was already excited when I found out we were going to get the opportunity to review a new Wummelbox craft kit through Team Mom, but even more so when I saw the theme of our package: time travel.  I was very ready to get our craft on, so as soon as our box arrived, we tore right into it to see what kinds of awesome projects we were going to be doing while we learned about time travel.   

Have you heard about Wummelbox craft kits before?  Wummelbox craft kits are monthly packages that are delivered right to your door, and each kit contains 3-4 projects.  These crafts are not only perfect for the little one who loves scissors and glue, they also make for awesome learning experiences to help teach science, math, history and more. 

As if that’s not cool enough, I also love that the Wummelbox kit is also eco-friendly and loaded with high-quality materials just like I would pick if I was doing the shopping.  And, unlike other craft kits, I adore that they also include everything you need to begin crafting – with no extra pieces to buy.

In fact, they even included a pair of easy-open scissors that help teach the proper cutting motion!

After taking everything out of the box and examining all the included projects, I was even more excited to get started.  I really liked how each project was clearly laid out with step-by-step instruction cards and with all the supplies for each project in individual bags to make it easy to grab and go.  And, I really, really appreciated the "Wummel Indicator" that shows hows much parental involvement is required for each project in the kit - so you can plan your project accordingly. 

Our kit contained everything we needed to travel back in time to the Stone Age with Wummel and Hedgy, the Wummelbox friends.  Obviously, the logical place to start is with a time machine, because you can’t go back in time without one.

So, how does one create a time machine?  It’s actually quite easy, apparently. 

Our time machine started with a thick wooden dashboard, which we painted brown with the included watercolor paints and wooden paint brush.  After we had done a few coats of paint to all sides of the wooden board, we let it dry during nap time.  When the kiddos woke up and came running to check their art project, it was almost ready for the knobs to be attached and then for the finishing touches.  Once the knobs were on and the stickers attached, we just needed a little imagination {and some improvised sound effects} and we were ready to travel back in time.  A little whirring, some beeping noises, and holding each other tight {you don't want to lose someone on the way, do you?} and we were back in the Stone Age.
Once we had traveled back to the Stone Age, we read up about how the first human beings couldn't speak, and how they painted the walls of their caves to record their experiences and stories.  The kiddos especially liked the idea of communicating in only sounds and gestures, which they realized was like their sign language they used to communicate when they were young.   

We had so much fun with our time machine and it turned into an all-day learning experience that the kids just soaked up.  I love that the kiddos are now getting a better understanding about the origins of human beings and how far we've come in terms of language, housing, and even basic communications.  We ran out of time for the cave painting project and the hunter & gather game, but that was great because it means we have another project for a rainy day. 

In the meantime, we will continue to travel back in time to the age of princesses, dinosaurs, and I can pretend we can travel back in time and tell 14-year-old me not to dye my hair jet black.  Although my daughter hasn't had any hair mishaps {yet}, we can use the time machine to learn from our mistakes and go back even just a few minutes to try again for the correct ways to ask for things, speak to her brother, and more.  And that, to me, is better than preventing any bad hair dye mishap.  

Want to try a Wummelbox for yourself?  Check out wummelbox.com or find Wummelbox on Facebook so you can learn more about the service and how to sign up for 1 month, 3 month, or 12 month subscriptions.

As a member of Child's Play PR and Team Mom, I received a complimentary box from Wummelbox to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours. 

Ready, Set, GLOW! with our Glidden Disney paint makeover

When we finally moved my son to his own room, it was a big blank beige box and I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do to really make it his.  Ideally, it would be something fun that really reflects who he is, but also something more mature that he can grow into so we won’t have to redecorate every few years. 

We ended up deciding on a “vintage world traveler” room and it really couldn’t fit our train/car/bus enthusiast any better.  With maps, compasses, airplanes, trains, cars, and vintage suitcases to complete the look, I thought we were done decorating… but then I was introduced to Disney paint from Glidden. 

When I heard that I was getting a chance to review these special paints {they come in glitter, metallic, and more} that are available at Walmart, I was thrilled.  And, then I heard that Glidden makes a glow in the dark paint, and I was beyond excited.  All of a sudden, I had a whole new vision for the room.

I called in Kerri, AKA The Maven of Social Media, and we went on a mission to find the Glidden Disney Ready Set GLOW paint together at a local Walmart.  At first, we thought the paint was gone and we were ready to try another store, but we searched all the rows of paint cans one by one and found one way in the back that was just hidden on the shelf.  SCORE! 

Then, because I had a brilliant idea of some décor I wanted to add to his room, we went into the toy section and found some Toy Story figures and goodies that would make his room amazing.  And, how could these not look amazing in a little boy's room? 
Once we were through shopping, I couldn’t wait to get started.  I called in my niece for the afternoon and we made a plan of how we could make the room transformation.  Really, there was no question what we were planning to do as soon as she saw the supplies: we were making a Buzz Lightyear themed room.   

You see, I have always wanted a glow in the dark galaxy on my ceiling and I knew this was the perfect chance to make it a reality.  Add in a Disney twist that my son would love, and I knew this was the perfect theme for our little guy that would also grow with him. 

When you think glow in the dark stars, what do you think?  Stickers?  When I was young, I had the awful stick-on glow in the dark stars I’m sure you’re familiar with, but they never really satisfied my desire for a pseudo night sky that I could watch while I drifted off to sleep.  I knew that with a little bit of work I would be able to create that beautiful night sky I always dreamed of and make my son’s room arguably the coolest in the house. 

But, being that his room is full of real maps, nautical charts, and vintage treasures, I wasn’t content to just splash some glow in the dark paint up on the ceiling and call it good.  Nope, I wanted it to be as astronomically correct as possible.  In fact, I wanted it to be something that the kiddos could learn from and have his room be the way I will teach them all the constellations we can see outside at night. 

As daunting of a task as I thought it might be to create a night sky as accurately as possible with paint, I was bound and determined to make it happen.  We started by using an iPhone app that shows your position in relation to the stars so that when you turn the phone you can see precisely where the constellations are in the night sky. 

By using the app and a night sky field guide, we were able to mark the major constellations we wanted to feature using tiny bits of tape so that we could see them as we painted around them.  Once the star groupings were as we wanted, we started filling in the major stars around them pretty liberally.  Using dabs of paint that ranged between that of a pencil eraser all the way to ones the size of the tip of a ball point pen, we designated the brightest stars in the sky and fainter ones. 

Tip: It helps to periodically turn the lights off while you’re painting with glow in the dark paint so you can really get a feel for the room, but since we were painting in the early afternoon, we still had way too much light coming through the window to see the tiny stars we were painting.  To compensate, we threw some darkening shades up for the time being and then we could see a little bit better.  If we had been able to, it might have been better to do the painting at night instead when you can really see what you’re doing. 

After we finished with the fainter stars in the sky, we were ready to peel the tape and make much larger dabs to designate the constellations properly {we used an asterisk design to designate these stars and make them more prominent than the other non-constellation formations}.  Tip: We found the process of peeling tape and painting was easiest if you only peel half of the tape off and make your paint mark, otherwise your eyes kind of go cross-eyed trying to find the exact spot the tape used to be.  

Once the constellations were finished, the room was complete.  Since the paint was only on the ceiling and out of reach and since the paint has no fumes, we were able to put our son down to bed as soon as the room was finished.  And, his reaction when he saw his galaxy was priceless. 

Almost as good was his reaction when he saw his new friends who had come to stay in his room as part of his “Buzz and Woody Movie” room makeover.  I even painted him a little surprise in a constellation-esque message.  The message is a little hard to capture on film as it’s really meant to be viewed with the naked eye, but hopefully it translates well.

Can you read what it says? 

Points if you guessed “to infinity and beyond”, which is Buzz’s catch phrase in the movie.  I thought this would be a good message to my son that literally says the sky is the limit in the goals in which he sets for himself.  And, if the message from mom isn’t “cool” in a decade or two, it’s tiny enough that a small poster {or map} would hide it nicely and it won’t be too embarrassing at sleepovers. 

But, for the next few years, I think it ties in nicely with his new Toy Story decorations.  We're really just missing a Buzz Lightyear figure {all of our local stores were out of Buzz} and our Toy Story room will be complete.  Oh, and, amazing, if I do say so myself.   

Since we were so proud of the Ready Set GLOW makeover, we decided to have some friends over to see the room reveal.  It really is amazing how we took a plain blue room and made it something truly special with a tiny bit of paint in just over an hour, and I was excited to show it off with some Buzz and Woody themed games, prizes and giveaways.

We set up a prize and favors station by the food.

A bounce station with the words "to infinity and beyond" written in chalk on the trampoline surface.

A bubble station.

And, most importantly, a glow station {we used a window-less closet I had painted with stars since it was still so light outside.  This way guests could get a real feel for what the room looks like in pitch black}. 

In the glow station the kids had glow sticks and glow masks we picked up during our Walmart trip that they played with under the cover of the starry sky.  Obviously, the glow station was the coolest.  The three younger girls didn't want to leave the closet all afternoon and they kept runnning in and out with the Toy Story characters.

We had such an overwhelming reaction to the room makeover that we’re now planning on painting even more ceilings with the Ready Set GLOW paint over the next few months.  Since my daughter is super jealous of her brother’s galaxy, we’re going to start in her room next and then move on to our niece’s and nephew’s rooms and then help our friends and neighbors do it in their son’s room as well.  And, one lucky guest at our party got to go home with a Walmart gift card so they could buy some Glidden Disney paint and try it out for themselves! 

Want to try out one of the many Disney Glidden Paints?  They have many themes available that are adorable if you are starting from scratch decorating as well as adding supplemental paints like we did to make a room really stand out!  Find out more at DisneyPaint.com

Compensation and products for review were provided by Glidden.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Glidden.

Healthy meals in minutes with NUK FreshFoods Cook-n-Blend Baby Food Maker

My kids love baby food.  Basically, if it’s pureed, they will eat it.  They may not gobble up spinach and squash on its own, but if it’s in baby food form, they devour it.

But, while jarred, canned, and pouched baby food certainly is convenient, when you’re working within a budget and have two kids eating baby food, or if you want to know every single thing that goes into your baby’s mouth, making your own baby food really is the way to go.  So, for the past 4 years or so I’ve been making nearly all of our baby foods.     

It used to be that making my own baby food was kind of a pain… and really messy.  This was mostly due to the fact that I needed different containers for prepping, cooking, mashing and/or blending, but also it just felt like it was always a learning curve and sometimes the food was too thick, sometimes too thin, and most of the time it was more trouble than it was worth. 

But, that was before we found all-in-one baby food makers that make feeding your children nutritious foods easier than ever.  The NUK Freshfoods Cook-n-Blend is the newest baby food maker to hit the market, and it’s now my go-to tot dinner solution.  So, now instead of fighting the kids to eat their veggies, I just serve them in pureed form and they think it’s a treat.

I’ve been a fan of Annabel Karmel for years now and have numerous of her cookbooks and baby food prep items, so I was thrilled to hear that she had partnered with NUK USA to make the Freshfoods line.  I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Cook-n-Blend Baby Food Maker as part of campaign through Moms Meet to try it out ourselves. 

And, after trying it in my kitchen with my little testers for the past two weeks, I found that using it to make our baby food solves a lot of the problems I was running into in the past.  For one, it’s really simple to use since it’s truly all-in-one.  While it is simple and easy to use, it should be noted that it does have one extra step than other all-in-one units, but this extra step is also what makes it special.  

To get started, all you need is washed and cut up fruits and veggies, and enough water to fill the reservoir on the cooking unit.  When you’re ready to cook, just remove the cooking bowl and lid from the base, add your food to the steam bowl inside the main bowl, and then return the bowl to the base.  One your food is in the steam basket, you simply turn the dial, and press the green button to start. 

When your food is done steaming and the water reservoir is empty, the Cook-n-Blend will beep to let you know it’s done, and then you just let it cool for a few minutes.  Once it’s cool enough, you simply remove the steam basket with the included spatula to separate the food from the cooking liquid, which you can either discard or save for your recipe, and then put the steamed food back in the main bowl to puree and select whether you would like it smooth or chunky and then let it do all the work for you.

But, here’s where the NUK FreshFoods Cook-n-Blend excels at making baby food making simple and easy but still being able to retain control of the cooking and blending process.  Remember how you had cooking liquid left over after the foods steamed?  Well, now’s the time to either add those back in or discard, depending on what stage your child is at. 

You can simply pulse the knob to add extra liquids in, or you can give it extra time blending for a smoother texture, or conversely, you can only do short pulses to blend to give a chunky texture.  Since my kids are older and I like to be able to make their food to order, I love that this gives me the option to make thicker foods for them, but still be able to thin them out for when we’re babysitting or when thinner is better {think sauces and desserts}. 

And, with the large cooking bowl I sometimes make things other than baby food in the Cook-n-Blend, like smoothies, applesauce for the family, and basically anything that requires blending.  Or, if I am only making baby food, I can make up to 4 servings at once and freeze any extras for later.  Since the cooking bowl, steamer and accessories are all dishwasher safe, it’s super easy to use it and clean it without having to handwash everything or having it take over the entire dishwasher.

If you’ve been hesitating about making the switch to doing your own homemade baby food, I would highly suggest trying out the Nuk Freshfoods Cook-n-Blend.  In addition to being completely simple to use, it also gives you the most amount of options to fit your child’s age and stage, as well as being a much bigger bowl that other single-serving baby food makers. 

Trust me when I say that baby food making with the NUK FreshFoods Cook-n-Blend is not nearly as intimidating as you might think – it’s all very intuitive, the instructions are easy to follow, and it comes with a great baby food cookbook from Annabel Karmel to get you started experimenting.  Even though it may sound like more work than buying canned or jarred foods, it’s really quite fast and easy and the NUK Cook-n-Blend really does it all for you!

A big thank you to Moms Meet for sending the NUK Freshfoods Cook-n-Blend baby food maker to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

The legacy of Götz dolls continues with HABA {Review & Giveaway}

Some girls play with dolls; others make friends that are dolls.  My daughter is definitely in the latter category, and she treats each of her dolls like a beloved playmate.  Her dolls each have personalities of their own, which she will likely tell you all about should you ever ask.

According to her, some of her dolls like adventures, others prefer the peace and quiet of their stacking bunk beds, and other dolls like to do anything and everything she does.  As someone who did the same with the dolls I played with when I was her age, I completely understand this kind of love that exists between girl and doll.

So, when I got the email with the chance to review a doll from the Götz doll collection, I knew immediately how she would react.  Since she has been doing so well in school and surprising everyone with how far she has come in the past few weeks, it was also perfect timing to give her a little present to appreciate her hard work.  And, for our little doll lover, the best present is a new doll friend that she can snuggle with, play games with, and that can go anywhere with her. 

My daughter’s first introduction to Götz dolls was through my own childhood collection, which just came to live at our house when my mother downsized just recently.  Ever since that day, my daughter has been not-so-subtly hinting that she is ready to play with them and keep them as nice as I did all those years ago.  She spends hours dressing them, brushing their hair, and she is determined to someday take ownership of them all, whether I’m ready for it or not.   

Not that I blame her.  My Götz doll collection is the prized possession of my youth, and if you saw them today you would never guess that many of the dolls are over a quarter century old.  They certainly don’t show their age and you would never guess that the dolls were played with, slept with, and adored like they were.   

I’d like to take all the credit for the fact that they remain in perfect condition 25 years later, but the truth is that it probably has more to do with quality construction than it does doll upkeep.  While I did always take good care of them, keep them impeccably dressed, and nicely displayed, I also had a little sister who shared a room with me but who didn’t share my feelings on doll care. 

For instance, the time she stamped some of my doll’s hands, faces, and bodies with Hello Kitty stamps to show they were admitted to “the show” and we had to do an emergency run to the doll hospital nearby {yes, this was a real thing, and yes, they were able to fix most of the dolls for me}.  While it wasn’t funny at the time, nor was it funny the time my sister undid all of their hair ribbons from their original styles I had preserved for years, it’s truly amazing that these dolls withstood even my pest of a sister {I can say that openly now because she grew up to be pretty darn awesome and is only occasionally a pest}.   

As you can imagine, I was beyond thrilled when I got word that Götz, the beloved German doll maker that I grew up with and my mother grew up with, was returning to the U.S. this year so my daughter could continue the tradition.  Their return is courtesy of HABA, one of my absolute favorite toy brands, and it was eagerly awaited by us, as well as the many US Götz collectors and fans.    

So, what makes Götz dolls different than other dolls?  A whole lot, that’s what!  At first sight you just know that these are special dolls.  From their silky hair and sculpted, smooth skin to their detailed clothing and accessories, from head to toe they are amazingly life-like and beautiful.  But, if that wasn’t enough, here’s two more reasons to love Götz dolls. 

First, the doll’s hair is more than just beautiful; it can be washed and styled just like real hair {even with a curling iron or blow dryer on low setting!}, which is one of my daughter’s favorite features.  While other doll’s hair is fragile and would melt with styling tools or get ruined with regular brushes and combs, Götz hair can take the heat, which means you can do girl/doll matching styles depending on your mood or doll salon skills.  Just check out the many Götz doll hair styling techniques on HABA’s YouTube channel that you can try with your doll, including braids, double knot and cornrows!

And, secondly, they are completely kid-friendly!  Woohoo!  Remember my poor dolls that needed airlifted* to the doll hospital back in the 80s?  Had I known back then what I know now, I would have cleaned off what I could and then placed them in the washer in a pillowcase on delicate to deep clean along with their clothing.  After they were washed, I would have simply laid them out to air dry with their belly side down and hung their clothes to dry. 

And, since my daughter is convinced that her special new Muffin 13" doll is an adventurer at heart and should travel with us, explore with us, and play like we do, I have a feeling that we're really going to be happy we know these little tricks someday soon.  Being able to wash her hair, spot clean, and wash in the washing machine when needed is going to help keep Muffin looking as good as my Götz collection does, perhaps even a quarter of a century from now when my daughter will be passing down her beloved collection as well as mine.

If you are looking for a special doll for a special little girl, I would highly recommend checking out the extensive Götz collection.  Over 60 years of experience creating beautiful and detailed dolls for generations of girls has made Götz a favorite of children as well as collectors and it’s bound to become a favorite in your family as well.  With numerous soft fabric and vinyl dolls to choose from with different color eyes, hair, and skintones, you are sure to find the perfect doll for your little one.

How would you like to win an Aquini Girl 13" hard body doll, Muffin 13" doll (no hair), Muffin 13" doll (blonde hair), Maxy Muffin 16.5" doll (brunette), or the Maxy Muffin Aquini 16.5" doll (brunette)?

To Enter: tell me what Götz item you love the most

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

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this awesome Gotz doll giveaway {bit.ly/10UckWn} with extra credit if you tag HABA USA and Rave & Review

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

1 Extra Entry - Like HABA USA on Facebook

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet

1 Extra Entry - Like @RaveAndReview and @HABA_USA on Twitter

1 Extra Entry - Subscribe to the HABA YouTube Channel

1 Extra Entry - Comment love on any post, just leave a comment here as well.

On May 25th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Open to US only, 18+ 

* My dolls were not actually airlifted, we drove in a car and we obeyed all traffic laws on the way to the doll hospital.  A big thank you to HABA USA for sending the Muffin Gotz Doll for review as well as for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

From toddler to teen: the answer is the Zazoo Kids photo clock

Up until just a few months ago, our kids were a parent’s dream at night.  We would literally pop them in their beds after their bedtime routine and not hear from either one again until I would have to wake them up in the morning.  Yes, true story. 

But, while my son is still firmly in the “parent’s dream” category of sleepers, our daughter has been asserting her own, uh, independence.  Independence from things like “bedtime” and “naptime” and “reasonable wake up times” and because of it, her schedule is all out of sorts.  This means that getting her to sleep is a big huge struggle, often involves bargaining, and most of the time, involves tears {mine}.

While the major problem might be that she’s simply outgrowing her nap and moving towards being a full-time big girl, there are definitely other issues at play.  Things like the fact that she cannot tell time so she has no idea her schedule’s off or how to actually fix it, so she does things like fighting sleep at nap only to finally succumb at 3:00pm when she should already be up and playing.  This, of course, makes bedtime a nightmare, which leads to problems the next day as well. 

So, what do you do with a spirited child that needs a set schedule of sleep and rest periods but is too young to tell time?  Why, you call in Zazoo Kids, that’s what.  We recently got the chance to review one of their amazing Zazoo Kids Photo Clocks and I can honestly say that I don’t know what we would do without it. 

Instead of fighting with a four year old on too little sleep, we simply set up the ground rules ahead of time.  No getting outta yer bed unless the photo clock has a sun.  If it’s got a moon, you better be laying down and resting, or better yet, sleeping.  No exceptions. 

And, since she has a bedtime and a naptime, I really love that I can set TWO alarms – one for morning and one for afternoon – that signal it’s okay to leave her bed.  I really wish there was an option to add even more alarms so I could set times of the day for certain activities and she could see what she should be doing just by looking at the Zazoo or a way to set the wake up time later on the weekends and earlier on school days, but I do appreciate the two that I can program for now.  

Speaking of programming, I love that you can make alarm, picture and clock changes right on the back of the Zazoo, but you can also use the included remote control as well.  Since my daughter is of the young and curious variety, we simply put the clock on a lower shelf for now that’s not too tall, but just a bit out of reach so she can't change the settings inadvertently.      

The easy to understand sun and moon that comes pre-loaded on the Zazoo clock was perfect for our use right now, but I also love that you can choose your own image as well.  You can customize the clock with your child’s name, program special images for holidays and events, and use any of the pre-programmed images, or load your own pictures of your child with the SD, flash drive, and USB slots. 

Since I adore anything personalized, I love that I can customize the clock completely for my daughter and change it any time I would like as the mood strikes me.  Whether it's a new background image, how the clock is displayed, or even how she wakes up in the morning, changing things up is quick and easy. 

As great as the Zazoo clock is for little kids who can’t tell time, I really love that the photo clock grows with your child also.  When my daughter will be waking up for school every day next year, I’m simply going to add in an audio alarm to assist in waking her up, and I’m going to change the “naptime” to “quiet time” when she can do homework, read, color, or do any other activity that will let her brother get his beloved nap.  Then, when she’s even older and wants a photo frame that scrolls through pictures of her friends, plays music, or can even be used for audio books, the Zazoo is going to work well into her tweens and teens.

Instead of buying a kids clock now, an alarm clock when she starts school, and then something that can play her music and showcase her photos later, I love that the Zazoo photo clock can grow with her and become a beloved fixture in her room from childhood on up. 

When you factor in how many electronics I won't have to buy her, the $89.99 price tag for the Zazoo Kids clock seems more than reasonable.  And, really, I would pay that amount to sleep in even a few days a week, so this really is an investment into a happy mom. 

You can buy your own customizable PTPA winning Zazoo Photo Clock at zazookids.com and you can choose between many different designs and color schemes to fit your child's room.  For even more information that shows a great overview of the ZAZOO Kids Clock, check out this video.

A big thank you to Zazoo Kids for sending their photo clock to facilitate this review and give me less stressful mornings and afternoons.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours. 

4 strollers in one with the Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight {Review}

You know when you get something that just clicks so well that you wonder how you ever did without?  That was the exact way I felt when the Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight arrived for review.  As slim as a single stroller and more versatile than any of our other double strollers we’ve ever used, the Joovy stroller filled a need for us in a very big way.

They say the Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight stand-on tandem stroller is like two strollers in one, but I would argue it’s more like 5 strollers in one.  You can use it from birth with the car seat adaptor and you can use it for multiple kids in multiple different configurations.  Back to back, front to back, standing in back, or multiple configurations with the baby seat adaptor, the Caboose Too Ultralight is as versatile as parents need to be when caring for more than one stroller-age child. 

Seriously, just look at all the ways you can use this stroller with just a few minor adjustments and no extra seat or accessories to buy.

But, not only is it a parent pick because of all the ways it grows with your kids – throughout the day and throughout the years – it’s also a huge hit with the kiddos.  The first thing the kids said when they saw the stroller assembled was “it’s a stroller train!” {mind you, this was before they knew the name of the stroller and the Caboose reference}. 

Apparently, the fact that it reminded them of a train makes it the coolest stroller, ever.   

At first I was a bit worried neither child would want the back seat when it was in front to back mode because the back seat is harder to get in and out, doesn’t have a snack tray, and has less visibility.  But, it turns out, they both prefer that seat.  They both call dibs on the back seat or “caboose” of the stroller like one would call shotgun, and they don't honor "spot back" should the seat be vacated for more than a moment. 

But, no matter what seat they are sitting in, both kiddos adore this stroller.  So much so that when we went on a recent family vacation, the first thing they made sure I packed was the "choo choo stroller" before we left the house.  Not games, not snacks, not their special toys or blankets - they didn't want to leave until they made sure I was bringing their beloved stroller on vacation with us.  Which, of course, I was. 

During the last few weeks that we've been testing out the stroller we have taken it on two vacations and numerous mini-road trips to two different islands, to the windy Washington coast, to the local tulip festival, to the mall... twice, and around town nearly every single day.  It has seen dirt, rain, mud, sand, and it has seen the inside of a shark's mouth {above}.

While the Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight is lighter than other double strollers, it's not exactly a lightweight.  Obviously, this deluxe stroller can't be compared in size and weight to a bare bones umbrella stroller that has no bells and whistles. With a long list of comfort and safety features and multiple ways to roll, it's not surprising that it weighs more than basic stroller, but what is surprising is that even with all these features, it still only tops out at 23lbs when empty.

Of course, you can remove the back seat, the snack tray, the hood, and the handle organizer to get rid of a few more pounds, but those are some of my favorite features of the stroller, and what makes it all-day practical.  Even loaded up with all of our vacation gear, souvenirs, changes of clothing, and more, the stroller still handled like a dream and the kiddos were even able to recline in their seats when they got exhausted mid-afternoon.   

While hubby had no problem carrying it down a long flight of stairs empty while visiting the islands, I probably wouldn't have managed on my own and would have just as soon walked around instead of taking the stairs, or would have at least folded it up first. 

For a stroller with all these bells and whistles, it's pretty impressive that anyone is able to lift it, let alone down a flight of stairs.  And, the best part is that when folded, it's actually really easy to manuever and carry with you, or wheel along with you by the handle.  For this reason, it's definitely going to be the stroller we take this summer on our cross-country plane and train adventure when every pound will count but we won't want to sacrifice all-day comfort. 

Specs:
Stroller Weight: 23 lbs. / 10.43 kg.
Stroller Dimensions Folded: 10.5” H x 21.5” W x 43” D
Stroller Dimensions Assembled: 41.5” H x 21.5” W x 38” D
Rear Seat - Age - Max Weight - Max Height: 6 months+ - 45 lbs. / 20.41 kg. / 44”
Rear Bench Seat/Platform - Age - Max Weight - Max Height: 2.5 years+ - 45 lbs. / 20.41 kg. - 44”
Front Seat - Age - Max Weight - Max Height: 3 months+ - 45 lbs. / 20.41 kg. - 40”
Car Seat System - Age: Birth+

More specifically, the Joovy Caboose Too will be the stroller of choice whenever space and portability is an issue.  Whereas other double strollers just barely fit into my bare trunk, I have so much space around the Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight that I don't even know what to do with it all.  I'm ridiculously excited just thinking about all the things I can put in my trunk without having to remove the stroller completely, which will make it the perfect go-anywhere choice.  Whether we're going grocery shopping, to pick up stuff for our garden, or on a family vacation, all that extra space is going to very well appreciated.

To buy: you can buy the awesome Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight for $299 right on the Joovy website as well as check out all their other gear to take you from newborn to grade school.

A big thank you to Joovy for sending the Caboose Too Ultralight to facilitate this review and make us ultra-portable this spring and summer.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

Sound the Octo-Alert: Octonauts toys are here!

Remember my post about how much my kiddos adore the Octonauts TV show?  Well, the love they have for the show has only grown deeper in the past few weeks and it’s now the only thing my daughter wants to watch these days.  Her world has shifted from one of unicorns and rainbows to something I never saw coming: a deep fascination with the depths of the ocean. 

It may have started with a TV show and a book, but now with the addition of the new Fisher-Price Octonauts toys, I’m pretty sure we’ve lost her to the sea forever.  That’s right, the Octonauts characters she adores have landed at select toy stores nationwide and, more specifically, at our doorstep. 

We received two Octonauts playsets to review this past month and right away I knew they were going to be a hit.  For one, the articulated characters look just like the show and are utterly adorable.  Secondly, the characters all come with fun accessories, creatures, and vehicles just like the show.  Thirdly, some of these characters/vehicles/accessories can actually go in the water.  Just like the show.  

These three reasons and more are why they have officially replaced all the other toys on the play table this spring.  Since both kids adore the show and the toys, and the playsets are designed to accommodate more than one child, the Octonauts sets also do something else I love: keep the peace. 

If you’re thinking about getting your deep sea explorer some of these awesome toys, I recommend you start with the Octopod.  The Octopod playset is just like the Octonauts underwater habitat on the show and features different rooms to play in, all centered around their command center.  With two sided play that includes a working launch bay, 10 accessories {including rescue tools and some creatures from the show}, and even a miniature GUP-A to send the included Kwazii and Barnacles out to explore. 

I should note that the Octopod does make noise, which I typically am not a fan of, but I actually think the way that it’s designed is really quite brilliant.  Instead of having a battery compartment on the actual Octopod that makes noise, the only sound producing part is actually a clip on Octo-Alert that you can either connect to the top of the Octopod or you can wear on your belt. 

This removable feature is cool for a couple of reasons, the first being that it leads to active role play as your child can clip on the Octo-Alert and pretend they are an Octonaut, saving the world’s creatures.   The second reason I love that the Octo-Alert is removable is that that if you have a “no sound” policy, it’s much easier to “lose” the clip on piece than it is to hope your toy batteries die quickly.   

Once you have the Octopod and your children have fallen in love, you can now collect all the smaller Octonauts vehicles, just like they use on the show.  We got to try out the GUP-A that moves along hard surfaces and over water by cranking the propeller, but there’s also the GUP-B, GUP-C and GUP-D available that we are waiting for our Toys ‘R’ Us to get back in stock.  Each vehicle comes with a main character from the show {warning, you WILL get duplicate characters if you already have the Octopod}, a rescue tool and a creature so your kiddos can play Octonauts even with just one set, which I love. 

But, in addition to the Octopod and the vehicles, you can also buy the characters on their own and each one comes with an accessory or creature to add to the fun.  Because many of the sets are the main three Octonauts, I love that the other characters are readily available this way – and I love that they are all reasonably priced.  Since the toys have been such a hit, we have picked up a few other Octonauts friends as well and my daughter has a list of who we still need for our Octonauts playtime. 

Check out your local Toys 'R' Us to see these adorable toys in person, or you can order them online.  You can also like Octonauts on Facebook and visit TheOctonauts.com to get yourself ready to EXPLORE underwater worlds, RESCUE sea creatures, and PROTECT the oceans with your little one - right in the comfort of your livingroom! 

I am an Octonauts Blog Ambassador. This post is part of a sponsored campaign. I received compensation for my participation, but my review and opinions are 100% my own.

Cast Iron Roadster Mechanical Bank from Wind & Weather {Review & Giveaway}

I’m a saver, not a spender.  Sure, I have things I like to splurge on, but I also love the feeling of saving and building a financial safety net.  While my kids know that we always buy with coupons and shop sales, they don’t get the concept of saving up for something and I wanted to change that.

So, how do you make saving up for something – whether it’s big or small, in the immediate or in the far off future – fun for a 2 year old and a 4 year old?  Well, for one, you start with a good piggy bank.  Really, the cooler the bank, the more it will get used, so I say get one that is brag-worthy.

And, I don’t believe there is any bank more brag-worthy than this:

At first glance, I was immediately in love with the Cast Iron Roadster Mechanical Bank from Wind and Weather and knew it would be perfect for my son’s room décor.  With a “vintage traveler” room for him to grow into, he has many antiques and interesting pieces of art from all over the world displayed.  I’m very picky about what makes the cut to get displayed but even after a quick glance I knew this 20's style car and driver would be perfect for the room and for collecting his hard earned pennies.  

But, once I found out the Roadster on the bank moved to push the money into the bank below, I was sold.  It's a car! That races! That holds money!  

When I first opened the package, I was even more in love.  The bank is beautifully painted and detailed with a vintage flair, so that it looks like something that could have been passed down from generation to generation.  It's made entirely of cast iron, so it's really {really} heavy even without money in it, which means it could easily be used as a bookend so it can be multipurpose as well.

To use the bank, you simply pull the cast iron car back to the start position, place the coin on the front bumper, and press the lever to release and the car races to the finish line, pushing the coin into the bank below.  In addition to being super cool for kids {or adults *ahem*} of all ages, I really like the satisfying thud the roadster makes when it reaches the finish and the coin disappears below.   

While my son hasn’t fully mastered pulling the car back to set it up after each coin, it’s so fun watching his eyes light up each time the car pushes the money to the bank below that I don’t mind doing it over and over and over again for him.  It’s just so fun to see him digging for spare change or asking for our coins when we’re out so he can take them home and stash them away in his bank, that I feel we’re already on the way to teaching him about savings. 

Of course, he’s too young now to teach the Save, Spend, and Give that I’m working on with my four year old, but I’m doing what I can to reinforce savings even though he’s young.  I plan on helping him take a little bit out of his bank to pay for the toy car he’s been circling in his toy catalog so he gets the idea that we save for special things but we always leave money in the bank – for rainy days and for long-term goals.    

The Cast Iron Roadster Mechanical Bank measures 8-1/2"L x 3"W x 4-1/2"H and is available direct from Wind & Weather {and is currently on sale for $63.99}.  While you're there, you should definitely do some shopping around - they carry all sorts of home decor, outdoor solutions, and fun accessories for indoors and out that you just won't find anywhere else!

How would you like to win one of these awesome mechanical banks from Wind & Weather?

To Enter: visit Wind & Weather and comment below with another product you love {mandatory}

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

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this awesome Wind & Weather giveaway {bit.ly/1555aze} with extra credit if you tag Wind & Weather and Rave & Review

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On May 7th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Winner must be 18 years or older, limited to the United States only.

A big thank you to Wind & Weather for sending the Roadster Mechanical Bank for review and for offering one to our fabulous readers.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.  

What We're Playing With: Motorworks Customizable Wooden Cars

This little car-loving guy spied something fun on the counter and asked me to get it down "so he could hug it".  Clearly, he's got me all figured out.
And then he noticed a second Motorworks customizable wooden toy car on the counter and of course he wanted that one, too.  Because, you know, "they match". 
True to his word, he then stacked them one on top of the other so he could hug them.
Squeeze!
And, yes, I did finally let him open them.  I'd tell you how much he loved them, but I think that's for a whole other post.
Would your kiddos love these cars from Manhattan Toy as much as my little guy does?  Check out the DrivenByFun site where you can see how cool these little mix and match, customizable cars really are.  The collection includes three different trim levels with numerous cars and accessories in each series: Street Series, Speed Series and Extreme Series.

A big thank you to Manhattan Toy for sending two customizable cars for us to play with.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours. 

HABA First Fun With Quantities Pegging Game

At least once a season we do a big purge on all of our toys.  We pull out everything in the toy boxes and anything that is hidden away in our game cabinet and we evaluate each item based on how often it’s played with, how much the kids like it, and how much room it takes up.  During these times we end up with bags full of donation items that the kids have outgrown or that just never get played with, which isn’t all that surprising. 

What is surprising is what never makes it into the donation bag.  This is a much shorter list and it includes all wooden toys and anything HABA.  HABA is a brand that we return to over and over again for every different stage and it never disappoints.  The kids end up loving their HABA toys so much that we can never bear to part with them even after my kids have passed the target age group, which is why we still have HABA clutching toys as part of our everyday play.

So, when I find a game from HABA that grows with your child and has multiple ways to play, I’m already a fan even before I know what it is.  Such was the case with the HABA First Fun With Quantities Pegging Game that we received this month for review.  Like all things HABA, I was already a fan of its simple, classic design and its bright and vibrant colors, but it’s when I got both kiddos playing that I realized what a great grow-with-me game it is. 

The set made entirely of wood and consists of 5 small boards, 15 pegs, 1 die, and a small booklet with instructions.  Even before we looked at the instructions, the kiddos were already hard at work playing and putting pegs into the boards.  Once they figured out that each colored board has corresponding colored pegs, the game began to match the colors with their pegs. 

And, that’s just one of 4 suggested ways to play with the set.

You can also create towers using all the boards in their numerical order with various colored pegs, which is a great way for kids to learn to count and stack in order.  This is a perfect game for my daughter {4yo} as she’s been able to count for quite some time as well as recognize her numbers, but still could stand to work on counting items and this helps her to learn what 2 peg holes look like as compared to 5. 

Alternatively, you can also have children close their eyes when counting the holes on the peg boards, which helps them recognize numbers by feeling instead of by sight.    

Add in the die and you can play more organized games by rolling either a color {take peg of that color and place it in the matching board} or star {choose any color}.  You can also play where the child that completes each game board keeps it until all the pegs are gone and the person with the most boards wins. 

Of course, you can also use the pieces to make up your own counting or color games, which we do quite frequently.  We play a variation of all the games by mixing all the peg boards up and then timing my daughter putting the boards in order from left to right, working on her speed of processing what order they go in.  Once she is done, my son {2yo} then places the colored pegs into the boards as fast as he can.  They each try and beat their own time as well as trying to get the overall fastest time together.  

Since we’re working on colors with my son, we just roll the die and have him tell us what color is rolled each time.  He can then pick a peg in that color, or he can match the color to his toy cars and set them on the peg boards, which is his favorite way to play.  Hey, whatever gets him excited to learn, right?

We’ve only had the First Fun With Quantities Pegging Game set for a little over a week now, but we’ve already made up new games, put a new twist on the included games, and used the set just for general playtime over and over again.  Like all of our other HABA toys, I see this becoming a favorite toy and I’m certain that it’s going to be one of those toys we just keep on coming up with uses for so we can hold onto it forever. 

You can buy the First Fun With Quantities Pegging Game for $21.99 at HABAusa.com.  Be sure to follow HABA USA on Facebook and @HABA_USA on Twitter as well! 

A big thank you to HABA for sending their peg game to be adored.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.