Rave & Review

Early Spring Cleaning Thanks to the Best Buy Electronics Recycling Program

Are you like me and have a pile of electronics lying around your house gathering dust.  I always convince myself that I *might* use them someday or they would be great for the kids, and then I never actually make it happen and instead they sit cluttering my house.  Well, I’m getting a jump on my spring cleaning by clearing out all my electronic “clutter” and taking it where it can be disposed of properly.

And no, proper disposal is not setting it by the curb on garbage day; most electronics need special handling because they shouldn’t be sent to the landfill.  While I knew that they didn’t belong in the trash, I was never quite sure where to take them, so even the items I had convinced myself to let go of typically ended up sitting in our garage where our cars should be. 

But, no longer will I walk over keyboards and monitors, broken toasters or discarded DVDS, now I can take them to somewhere I’m already headed anyway – any of our local Best Buy stores.  Not only is the Best Buy electronics recycling program incredibly convenient, it’s also FREE and oh so easy. 

I went to Best Buy this past weekend and didn’t even set foot in the door before I was greeted by signage and stations for recycling my old electronics.  They had bins for all sorts of common household electrics right there inside the first sliding door, and a helpful employee right nearby who could take anything that was too big for the recycling stations. 


While I knew some of the electronics I was dropping off were toast and just needed to be put to rest, some of the items I brought were actually pretty new and I just didn’t have a need for them {work Blackberry and Google phone I never quite got the hang of}.  The employee helping me suggested that I take those to the mobile center in the middle of the store so I could cash in my old phones for Best Buy credit, which is something I wasn’t even aware that they did. 


About 15 minutes later, I was cleaning off the phones of all my old info {which they talked me through since I had no idea how to do this on my own} and signing away phones and chargers I wasn’t using anyway.  I left Best Buy roughly 20 {electronic} pounds lighter and with a Best Buy gift card burning a hole in my pocket.  Add that to the fact that I cleared out the electronic “graveyard” in our garage with almost zero effort, and I was a happy girl.  Not bad for a Sunday afternoon spent shopping, right?

I know many of you have similar graveyards in your offices, garages, and homes and could stand to purge them once and for all.  Why not head to Best Buy and ensure your electronics are safely and responsibly disposed of?  It’s easy, convenient, and it’s free, which makes it a huge win.

Want to know what happens to your electronics after they are recycled?  Watch this video that shows every step of the process – including how they destroy anything that might have sensitive user information. 
 
Here’s some facts about the program:
•    Technology is the fastest growing waste stream on the planet. As one of the world's largest retailer of consumer electronics, Best Buy wants to be part of the solution.
•    No matter where you bought or how old it is, Best Buy will recycle it.
•    Best Buy recycles 387 pounds of electronics each minute our stores are open.

That’s a whole lot of blenders, TVs and flip phones that didn’t clog our landfills! 

And, since you are already out shopping and are feeling much lighter, now is the perfect time to check out Best Buy’s line of Energy Star certified products in store.  You can upgrade your appliances to more energy efficient models, learn about the ways that they help you save as well as protect our environment, and swoon over front loader washer and dryers like I do.  To learn more about our Energy Star certified products, you can check out Best Buy’s Energy Star page and even find rebates for even more savings!

Have you used the Best Buy electronic recycling program before?  Did you love it as much as I did? 

This post has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.  As always, all opinions remain 100% ours.

5 Tips for Going Green with Heinz All-Natural Cleaning Vinegar

6 years ago I was unaware that vinegar could be used for cleaning.   Bleach, yes.  Amonia, yes. But vinegar?  Isn’t that just for cooking?

It turns out, vinegar isn’t just for cooking.  Even though you find it in the cooking and baking aisles, vinegar is also a multi-surface, multi-purpose cleaner that I swear by.  Although it took me a long, long time to try it even once I was introduced to the idea of using as a cleanser, I finally caved back in 2006 and gave Heinz vinegar a go. 

What I was expecting was a smelly mess and what I found was that the vinegar, when diluted, just smells… clean.  And, the new Heinz Cleaning Vinegar is even better for cleaning as it is formulated with special cleaning strength but with the same all-natural formula, making it practical and cost-effective for cleaning almost anything.

Since I have been introduced to the wonders of vinegar for cleaning, I have found literally hundreds of practical uses for it, from ceiling to floor.  Here are just some of my favorite uses:

Cleaning your blinds

We all know that cleaning your blinds is pretty much the worst job, ever.  Whether you go with the dusting method that sends dust flying everywhere {and isn’t very effective at preventing buildup} or you take your blinds off to fully soak, there’s no fun way to clean them.   Well, vinegar isn’t going to make the dreaded task fun, either, but at least it makes it easy… or, should I say, easier.

Simply put on a pair of clean cotton gloves {lighter colors work best} and dip your thumb and forefinger in a solution of 50/50 hot water and vinegar, squeeze out the excess water, and run them across the length of each blind.  As the gloves get dirty, you dip them in clean water as needed and then back in the vinegar mixture.  The first time I saw someone do this, I thought they were crazy, but it actually works really well for removing dust, oils, and more and gives you complete control in the smaller crevices.

Odor elimination

I know this one might be stretch for some who can’t imagine a vinegar smell being a better alternative to odors, but trust me on this one: getting rid of smoke odors and musty smells is easy with Cleaning Vinegar.   For larger spaces, you just fill a small bowl half-way with vinegar and leave in the room overnight.   No spraying chemicals into the air or masking odors with perfumes, vinegar does wonders at actually removing the odors.

For smaller areas, like old suitcases and lunch boxes, you can soak white bread in vinegar and then place on a plate overnight and the smells are all absorbed naturally.  We bought a large steamer trunk last spring that smelled really musty and tried just about everything without success until we figured this little trick out.  We’ve now used it on all of our old suitcases and vintage finds for the world traveler room and have found it to be the perfect non-abrasive odor eliminator.

Bathroom surfaces

Combine a half of a cup of Heinz Cleaning Vinegar and one gallon of hot water to clean tile and linoleum to a beautiful shine without any leftover residue.  I keep a spray bottle of this mixture in the bathroom at all times and spray the shower, sinks, and countertops every few days.  For tough stains, you can simply use undiluted Cleaning Vinegar directly on the surface and wipe off.

It's great because it doesn't require intense ventilation, it prevents buildup, and it allows me to clean less often, all of which are incredibly important to me as I have very little time for cleaning these days.  My favorite timesaver is the fact that I can use the water/vinegar solution on more than just bathroom surfaces, it’s also perfect for keeping stainless and chrome bathroom hardware looking its best. 

This means I don’t have to use two separate cleansers each time I’m tackling the bathroom, and it also keeps harsh chemicals off the surfaces that touch toothbrushes, glasses and contacts, as well as hands.

Removing stickers and gunk

One of my husband’s pet peeves is when companies put ridiculously sticky labels on products that are impossible to get off without leaving that awful sticky residue over your brand new item.  On a tip from a friend, we began using vinegar instead of the harsh and smelly chemical gunk removers and it works so much better and doesn’t require thick gloves to protect your skin.

Now, instead of peeling off the sticker as soon as we buy it, we wait and first saturate all the sticker’s edges with vinegar and then scrape off with a credit card or gift card edge.  Removing the sticker is much easier this way and far less residue will remain after you peel.  For what is leftover, you simply use another dab of undilluted vinegar to remove and then wipe it off well. 

Floors that shine like the top of the Chrysler building

The reason why I caved to using vinegar as a cleaner in the first place was because of my beloved wood floors.  With little ones in the house, I didn’t want to use chemicals all over my floors and have them crawling around and playing in it all day long. 

Instead, I use a microfiber cloth with a spray bottle with 1/3 Heinz Cleaning Vinegar and 2/3 hot water and spray as I go to wipe the floors down as needed.  This works well for me as I'm able to concentrate on each area and make sure I don't miss sticky areas I might not see otherwise.

If you have a huge area to clean, I recommend a nifty refillable spray mop like O Cedar or Rubbermaid, so you can simply add the vinegar mixture to the bottle and spray as you go.  It works just like a Swiffer solution, but with only two natural ingredients, which I love.

Because this is what happens on my floors.  No chemicals here, please.

For cleaning just about everything

Whether you are a diehard vinegar fan or are just getting started, I would highly recommend the new Heinz Cleaning Vinegar.  You can find it right in the vinegar section of your local store {not in the cleaning aisle} or you can buy it online.  It literally has thousands of uses for household cleaning and beyond, is chemical-free, cost effective, and efficient. 

Don’t believe me that vinegar is the miracle cleaner?  Just check out the Heinz site that lists their top uses for vinegar to get you started.  You're welcome for that.

Check out my Google+ #HeinzVinegar album to see the whole story.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Heinz® #CBias #SocialFabric.  As always, all opinions are my own.

50+ Fun Things To Do on a JumpSport Trampoline

Living in the Pacific Northwest, there’s really only one ingredient you need to make your backyard the coolest one in the neighborhood: a trampoline.  Maybe it’s our unpredictable weather or maybe it’s that we just like to get up and get moving, but whatever the reason, the ageless appeal of a trampoline beckons like no other. 

Don’t believe me?  Check out the fun that just arrived in our backyard and look at this happy face jumping on the new JumpSport Elite Trampoline.

As a parent, there are a few things I am adamant about, the first of which is that I will teach my kids that getting outside and staying active can be fun.  Or, make that really, really fun.  What better way to teach them that getting moving can be fun than with the coolest way to exercise ever? 

I don't think my family has ever had more fun than when we are jumping on the JumpSport Trampoline together.  Between fits of giggles, we play all sorts of creative games, get out excess energy, and bond in a way I never thought possible.  And, I'm not just talking with my kids, I'm talking whole extended family - aunts, uncles, neices, nephews, and even grandparents.  To hear grown adults laugh and play like children has been awesomely fun and I just keep wondering why we didn't buy a trampoline sooner. 

But, not only is jumping on a trampoline a fun way to play around as a family, it’s also low impact, high aerobic exercise that improves balance, agility, and coordination.  In the few weeks we’ve had our trampoline, we’ve all awoken long forgotten muscles and feel like we’re in better shape overall.

By far the biggest improvement we have seen has been in our 18 month old little guy’s balance and coordination.  Seeing his first tentative steps change to running and bouncing with confidence has been amazing to watch, but what’s great is how it has translated to a better climbing, running, and jumping little guy off the trampoline as well. 

With how much improvement we’ve seen over the past few weeks, we’re really excited about  the weeks ahead when we can enjoy some sunshine and get outside even more.  In an effort to keep the trampoline as fresh and new as possible and keep seeing these benefits, we’ve been brainstorming all the ways we can best utilize the trampoline. 

I’ve compiled a list of all the activities I’m excited to try this summer on the JumpSport Trampoline and have included some all-time favorites, some new games we made up, and some ideas we think might be fun to try.  Enjoy!

Fun Activities for the Whole Family

Just add water – put a sprinkler either under the surface of the trampoline or off to one side and let the kids jump in their bathing suits and sunscreen and enjoy a hot summer day.  Be sure to exercise caution as the jumping surface can get slippery when wet.  Want a finer mist as you jump?  JumpSport makes a great trampoline mister that connects to the JumpSport safety enclosure and keeps you 25 degrees cooler while jumping, which is perfect for hot summer days!

Inflatable beach ball – have the entire family lay on the trampoline with their heads together in the center and try and keep the ball in the air using their hands and legs.  Count how many times you are able to toss the ball up before you lose control of it and try and go for an all-time high record. 

Hopper ball – pick up a fun hopper ball with a handle for the kids at any sports store or toy retailer and let the kids hop across the trampoline {one at a time for this one}.

Jump rope snake – have one person stand outside the trampoline and move a jump rope back and forth over the surface of the trampoline in an “s” formation.  Then one child tries to jump over the rope {aka “snake”} without getting “bit”.  If they touch it, the children switch places. 

Dance party – just add music and you have everything you need for a rockin’ good time. 

Water bombs – one of our favorite summer day activities are the Prime Time Toys Splash line that can soak up 10 times their weight in water and are great for tossing and splashing all day long.  Add that fun to your trampoline and it’s hours and hours of soaking fun.  

Picasso unleashed – did you know you can write on the jumping surface of your trampoline with sidewalk chalk?  It’s true!  Think of it like a giant canvas and see what you can create as a family!

Chinese jump ropes – lay Chinese jump ropes {stretchy elastic jump ropes} across the trampoline surface and chose one person as your player.  Have one player at a time step in, out, side, side, in, out, side, side in a pattern and chant the steps in order as the player jumps.  You can also have someone randomly call out a series that the player must follow. 

Tag – using soft Velcro balls and Velcro vests with targets makes for a great game of tag.  You can pick up cheap sets at any sporting goods store, or you can make your own with old sweaters and Velcro balls.

Basketball – did you know that JumpSport also sells an amazing trampoline basketball hoop that hooks to the side of the safety enclosure?  Whether you are playing one-on-one, playing H.O.R.S.E. or a game of Around The World, a basketball hoop adds another dimension of fun to your backyard and your trampoline.  This is definitely on my husband’s Father’s Day wish list and something I think will be years and years of fun, especially as the kids get older.

Hopscotch – using sidewalk chalk, draw a hopscotch board on the trampoline surface and take turns jumping across.

Twister – draw your own game board on the trampoline surface using sidewalk chalk and use the original game spinner or you can try out the newer Twister Hoopla version of the game that utilize Twister “hoops”.

Obstacle course – set up a course in your yard that ends at the trampoline and have them jump a specified number of bounces or bounce for a length of time to finish.  This makes sure they are good and worn out at the end.

Crack the Egg – have one person sit in the center of the trampoline holding their knees to their chest with both arms.  Other children jump around the “egg” and try to get the person to let go of their legs.

Simon says – just like regular Simon Says, but with extra bounce.

Memory – everyone sits around the perimeter of the trampoline along the pad and one person does a “trick” in the center of the jumping surface.  The second person then does the first person’s trick and adds one of their own and this continues with each child doing the tricks before them and then adding their own.  If someone forgets a trick or gets them out of order, they are out and the game continues until one child is left. 

Play ball – position a lightweight ball in the center of the jumping surface and jump around, trying to keep the ball as close to center as possible. 

Learning while moving – if you have a child who learns better when they are away from a desk, a trampoline is a great place to burn off energy while learning new things.  You can write the answers in chalk on the trampoline and then have your child jump to the answer they think is correct, or you can do simple letter and number games with little kids.

For even more games, check out JumpSport's website to buy their JumpSport Trampoline game pack that contains many of the items needed for our favorite activities, as well as a whole book of ideas you can try at home.  you can also buy tons of trampoline accessories direct from JumpSport as well.

For adults - Take your workout outside

There’s all sorts of JumpSport YouTube videos that show great ways to use their trampolines to get a good workout simply by playing and having a great time.  While you can get a workout simply by jumping on a trampoline for even 15 minutes, here’s some suggestions on ways you can get a great aerobic workout on your trampoline.

Low impact cardio – some of your favorite moves at the gym can easily be modified for the trampoline including jumping jacks, lunges, high knees, squats, running in place or simply jogging around the perimeter of the jumping surface.

Kickboxing – think kickboxing is fun at the gym?  Try it out on your trampoline at home for even more fun and higher jumps.  For obvious reasons, this should be done solo, only.

Yoga – why not try some of your favorite yoga moves on the soft {and forgiving} surface of a trampoline?  You may not be able to do all the poses, but you can certainly do some and have fun trying!

Cross country skiing – shift your feet forwards and backwards, alternating feet as if you are trekking through the snow

Downhill skiing – with feet together, jump side to side as if racing down a mountain.

Back to basics – sit-ups on a trampoline are much easier on the back.  Whether you are doing a modified crunch or a full sit-up, the trampoline surface is a nice place to work out in comfort.

Warm ups – if you are training for a run, you probably spend a good deal of time warming up your muscles before taking off.  Why not do some bouncing and then your calisthenics on the soft surface of a trampoline before your run?

Twist and jump – whether you are simply bouncing to face right and then bouncing back to face left or you are doing a full 360 degree spin in the air, this is a great exercise as it works your core, too.

Feet pulse – keeping your hips and upper body steady, push your feet up and down in the middle of the trampoline without having them leave the jumping surface.  Trust me, it’s harder than it sounds, and a great leg workout!

Challenge yourself – find out how long you can bounce in one stretch or see how many more workout moves you can come up with.  Almost any exercise can be modified for a trampoline, it just takes a little creativity!  For more ideas, check out the JumpSport YouTube Channel or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest for inspiration for getting fit on a trampoline.

For preschoolers

Follow the leader – choose one child as the leader and everyone else has to copy what they do.

Duck, Duck, GOOSE! – this is a toddler favorite that is good for a small group.  Make sure there are plenty of parents sitting in the jumping surface to supervise and only let the toddlers do the running. 

Super Heroes – everyone knows super heroes can fly, so what better way to play pretend than on a surface that can really feel like flying?  Make or buy capes that velcro on to the shoulders {make sure they do not wrap around the neck for safety reasons} and get ready to save the day.

Tumbling – Trampolines are a great place to teach basic tumbling like somersaults because the surface is so forgiving. 

Ring around the Rosie – the kiddos love this anywhere, but I love the soft surface of the trampoline better than hard surfaces.

Play catch – anyone who has ever played catch with a toddler knows that more time is spent chasing the ball than is spent actually learning.  An enclosed trampoline surface is a great, contained space to teach your little one to catch and throw since the ball naturally rolls back to you.

Secondhand scarves – dancing with trailing silk scarves is a favorite activity of my kids, but when you add the fun of the trampoline bounce, scarf play is even more fun. 

Stir the soup – the kiddos sit in the center, each declared a vegetable or soup ingredient, and one person runs slowly around the outside of the jumping surface, picking up speed so eventually the “ingredients” bounce as if they are at a rolling “boil”.

For relaxing

Trampolines aren’t just for jumping, they are also a great surface for laying, hanging out, and for snuggling.  Here’s our favorite anti-jump trampoline activities:

Backyard campout – JumpSport sells a great trampoline tent that can make your trampoline a sleepover haven, a daytime fort, or an enclosed bounce house.  How incredibly cool is that?  

Movie night – using an inexpensive projector and a white sheet or curtain or simply a large laptop, plan an outdoor movie night for the whole family.  Bring out lots of blankets, pillows, and snacks and lay back and watch a favorite family movie under the stars.

Larger-than-life hammock – what could be better than an oversized hammock built for the whole family?  Whether you are relaxing after a fun day of jumping or you are reading books together, a trampoline is an incredibly comfortable place to lay to unwind. 

Star gazing – what better place to lay back and watch the night sky than the soft and snuggly trampoline surface.  Add blankets, spill-proof cocoa, and even a telescope and you’re all set for the next meteor shower.

Cloud shapes – during the day, the trampoline is the perfect place to lay back and pick out cloud shapes with your little one.  You’d be surprised at how early they can play this game and how fun it is to watch their imaginations blossom. 

Enjoy your WiFi – have internet service that doesn’t require cables?  Make the most of it by taking your netbook, laptop, or tablet outside and making an ultra comfy “office” for a day.

Family band – the surface of the trampoline is the perfect place to get a drum beat going.  Add in a singer, a guitar, or a kid’s band set and you’re ready to perform. 

Gazebo – we lost our gazebo this year during a huge snow fall and decided to replace it with the JumpSport Elite Trampoline instead.  For our summertime backyard events, we are planning on throwing outdoor pillows onto the jumping surface and then a large, colorful sun shade over the top of the trampoline enclosure, tied back at the sides, to create a private place for the adults to sit around the perimeter of the trampoline to talk.

Why the JumpSport Elite Trampoline? 

As much fun as trampolines are, they aren’t any fun if someone gets hurt, which is why safety is always our biggest concern.  JumpSport Elite Trampolines have numerous safety features you just don’t find in lesser quality models and it’s why we wouldn’t consider anything else.  In fact, JumpSport's founder invented trampoline safety as we know it with the release of the first affordable safety enclosure for trampolines in 1996.  Of course, we always exercise caution when bouncing and always supervise our children, just as we do with every other high energy activity.

Here's some of the many {many} JumpSport Elite Features:

• Engineered for safety with a patented StagedBounce™ Technology
• Frame Pad is thick, dark blue 21-ounce reinforced UV and Water resistant PVC outer covering with a full width, 1 inch thick, gym-quality EPE foam core
• Sturdy frame rail is made of heavy-wall steel tubing for rugged durability
• 15 year Frame Warranty
• Internally mounted safety enclosure net – easier and faster to assemble than the standard 380 enclosure – features their patented overlapping entry
• Designed with safety in mind, the trampolines and safety enclosures work together and are only sold together as a unitized system
• Available in 10 foot, 12 foot and 14 foot diameters
• Frame is pre-galvanized and features a rich dark blue powder coated finish
• The trampoline jumping mat is 35 inches high, for better ground clearance than most other trampolines.
• All Elite trampolines use 8.5 inches long, tapered, high tensile steel springs which provide a great blend of performance and safety {10 foot has 72 springs, 12 foot has 88 springs, 14 foot has 96 springs and 14 foot PowerBounce has 128 total springs}
• Permatron® jumping mat is the industry leader in High-Tensile Strength, UV and Water Protection, and performance. Mat has 10 rows of stitching and a UV shield.
• High strength looped straps and steel V-rings for connecting the springs to the jumping mat.
• All of the Elite trampolines include the patent pending all steel "DD" Sure-Lok™ system to prevent the frame from twisting and deforming.
• Expanded Polyethylene closed-cell foam padding is used across the entire pad surface, not just at the edge. The foam is covered by a high-quality, 21-ounce, reinforced, PVC outer shell that is UV- and water-resistant.

To read more about the amazing JumpSport family of trampolines, check out this Rave Review from Xenia at Thanks, Mail Carrier and see her adorable children enjoying their 14' AlleyOop Variable Bounce JumpSport Trampoline. 

A big HUGE thanks to JumpSport for providing the JumpSport 12' Elite for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.  NOTE: I am not a physician, do not work in healthcare and in no way should you take medical advice from me.  As with all sports and exercise activities, you should consult a doctor before attempting anything from our list above.  This is especially true when small children are playing, but goes for all ages.  We supervise our children during every activity outdoors and this includes the use of the trampoline. 

Recordable Artwork Canvas Art Kit, Mom & Me Recordable Book, and Greeting Cards from Hallmark {Review & Giveaway}

Ever since I've becoming a mom, I've turned into a huge sap.  We're talking crying during commercials, getting teary-eyed at the thought of leaving my daughter at preschool, saving every single scrap of artwork, and getting mushy about something as simple as a card.

And, I've collected an amazing pile of cards in my 3 years as a mother, but none quite as special to me as my 3 Mother's Day cards.  Sure, birthday cards are great, but a special card filled with memories, children's scribbles, and a note from hubby celebrating me as a mom?  That's priceless.

This Mother's Day, I got a chance to take the greeting card to a whole new level with Hallmark's newest releases and I couldn’t be happier.  I’m sure you’ve noticed the shift in Hallmark cards over the past few years that includes cards that dance, sing, and even bloom, and now they have expanded on their line to include two more innovative new products that help you show someone special just what they mean to you with their “voice save” technology. 

Remember how I told you I like to save every piece of artwork the kids create?  Well, now I never will have to toss a masterpiece again with the new Recordable Artwork Canvas Art Kit {ARV $14.95} that allows your child to create a piece of art just for you and even record the story behind the artwork.  When you are finished recording, you simply press the button to hear your child’s voice again and again.

Every mom knows that a painting by their child is never just scribbles, it’s a window into whatever story they are telling that day – and, usually, it’s a long story that has multiple different dialogues.  How awesome is it that you can now record your child telling you all about their art and save it forever with the touch of a button?  No more mini novels written on the backs of paintings so you never forget which stick figure is you and which is your husband and no more wondering what to do with all the art because the 9” x 9” canvas already has a frame around it ready for hanging.    

Since Mother’s Day is just around the corner, we’ve set a time for hubby and the kids to do a special piece of art just for me with the Recordable Artwork canvas art kit.  Then I’m going to record the “story” as they give it to me, which I think is the perfect way to catch the kids excitedly talking about their painting and what it means and will be a great recording of us on Mother’s Day.

Speaking of recording me with the kids, Hallmark has even sent me a project I can do for myself this Mother’s Day.  I think this is such a great idea because there are many moms that will be celebrating with their kids alone this year and they deserve a fun surprise, too.  By using the new Mom & Me – A Conversation to Keep Recordable Book you can stop time for just a few minutes and help you remember this time forever.

The Mom & Me book {ARV $24.95} is a fun activity to do with your kids as it helps you “interview” your child and ask them questions to get them talking.  Each page of the Mom & Me book has a new set of question that ranges from “If you could travel anywhere in the world with mom, where would you go, and what would you do there?” to ones that elicit hilarious answers like ”What do you think mom does when you’re not around?” 

Of course, there’s no right answer and it’s okay if they start chattering away about their imaginary friend or their love of lima beans, whatever will get them talking and enjoying a conversation with you.  When you are all done recording {which we did over multiple days to make it more fun}, you simply slide the switch in the battery compartment to save them and prevent someone from accidentally erasing them. 

Now that my book is complete, I can’t even tell you how many times I have opened it and listened over and over to my daughter and I talking together and giggling together.  There’s something so special about a conversation with your child and what better way to preserve all those details forever than with a special recording that comes in an adorable book that’s easy to store, fun to look through, and acts as a mini time-capsule?  I’m really hoping Hallmark will come out with a new Conversations to Keep Book every year so I can create a whole library of books, one for every year. 

In addition to the Mom & Me Conversations to Keep book, there is also a Grandma & Me recordable book that would be the perfect present from the kids this Mother’s Day.  I know the grandparents would love to have a special book from the kiddos and am thinking that it would be fun to include all of the grandkids in the fun. 

Whether you are shopping at your local Hallmark Gold Crown Store or browsing their vast selection online {note: some of the recordable products are only available in store, but you can still check them out online and find exactly what you’re looking for}, you really can’t go wrong with Hallmark this Mother’s Day.  Whether you are shopping for greeting cards, recordable books, or arts and crafts you can do together, there’s no better way to show mom you love and appreciate her than with a personalized keepsake that can be enjoyed over and over again. 

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Mother's Day Gift Pack from Hallmark that includes the Recordable Artwork Canvas Art Kit, Mom & Me Recordable Book, and Greeting Cards from Hallmark!

To Enter:  Share one of your favorite Mother’s Day memories in the comments below

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

1 Extra Entry - Like Hallmark on Facebook

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On May 6th 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. Open to US addresses only.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

#80 Lana Bradstream said... My daughter gave me a magnet she made.

A big thank you to Hallmark for sending a sample gift pack for the purpose of this review as well as offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review. 

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}

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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.

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

#311 Viva said... Tweet: twitter.com/#!/vivacious4/status/179386645542486017

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.

Groovy Little Love Bus from Jack Rabbit Creations {Review}

Every once in a while I find a toy that is so perfect that I just can't help but covet it for my little ones.  This would be a toy that combines clever design, good play value, and high quality parts as well as being fun to play with, which means it is bound to become a favorite of all of us.  All of these would be perfect descriptions of Jack Rabbit Creations, a children’s brand that is known for its unique products and extended play value as well as its adorable designs.  

With a full line of toys that are the things childhood dreams are made of, Jack Rabbit Creations carries some of the most timeless and classic toys for children.  Recently, I fell hard for their "Groovy Little Love Bus", a wooden camper van-esque family bus that I found online.  Because I can’t resist wooden toys and my husband has long dreamed of owning a van similar to this for our family vacations {albeit with a few - or a lot - less peace symbols}, I knew this was the perfect thing for our daughter. 

And, really, how could you not love the Love Bus?

Not only is the Love Bus simply adorable, it is also incredibly fun to play with.  Simply place the wooden family atop their magnetic "seats" and the Love Bus is ready to hit the open road.  Probably an unintended bonus, but something both my kids love, is the awesome sound the family makes if you wiggle them in their seats as they spring back to place atop their magnets.  Once it hits the road, its wooden wheels make the most satisfying sound as they roll, with the cab of the van bumping along as it drives its family from adventures to vacations and beyond.


Of course, there’s also the super cute sound effect that my daughter adds once the Love Bus is in motion, which makes my heart melt each time she does it.  One of her favorite features is the nice open top of the van allows for easy repositioning and removal of the family on the go, and even has extra room for gear, pets, and more that they may pick up along the way.  My daughter spends hours zooming the bus around our house, picking up a hodge podge of characters and toys and stuffing them in the bus along with the Love Bus family. 

Which leads me to my next rave: The folks at Jack Rabbit Creations know that one person in a play vehicle is no fun, so they smartly included a family of 5 {as well as their trusty pup} in their Love Bus.  This adds to the "more the merrier" aspect of a family bus and is something I really, really appreciate because there is nothing worse than having two people playing and only one passenger to play with. 

If you aren’t familiar with Jack Rabbit Creations, you should head there now {I’ll wait…}.  They seriously have the cutest toys, accessories, and even clothing for your little one and you are bound to fall hard for numerous of their items.  Whether you have a soft spot for tin toys {me!} or classic wooden toys {also me} or organic handmade items {me, me, me!!}, everything they carry is simply irresistible. 

http://www.jackrabbitcreations.com/

A huge thank you to Jack Rabbit Creations for sending the wooden Love Bus for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review. 

Raves Faves {2010 Edition}

Okay, I know most top 10 lists are done at the end of December to recap the year and January 16th is a bit late to be debuting our wrap up, but this list was the product of a very heated debate that took two weeks to finalize.  It started as a discussion of what we would grab if the house went up in flames (*after our children, naturally*) and then turned into a battle of wills, but the end result was a list that is, without a doubt, amazing.  If you haven’t checked out our reviews of each of these products, I invite you to click on the links below:

The Cricut.  Oh, what can be said about the ultimate crafting machine besides ‘I want one’?  From signs to scrapbooking to screenprinting, it’s really no secret we love our Cricut.  We even designed a special place for it in our new craft/play room.

BabyBjorn Travel Crib Lite.  Perhaps a better way to profess our love for this travel crib would be to tell the story of the vacation when we forgot the BabyBjorn crib at home.  Unfortunately, none of us want to remember that trip, a prime example of why the BabyBjorn crib is one of our top picks of 2010.

HearthSong Exclusive Wooden Retro Kitchen.  The thought of this kitchen ever being outgrown seriously brings tears to my eyes.  I’ve already decided I’m keeping it for the grandkids. 

Tassimo T20 Coffee Brewer.  My husband loves making a fresh cup of premium coffee in mere moments before he runs off to work.  I like waking up to the smell of his brewing coffee, reminding me that there is a snowman mug downstairs that’s calling my name and waiting for me to make my special brew so I can start my day.

Step2 Gather & Grille Playhouse.  Hands down the cutest thing in our backyard.  Well, unless of course my daughter is out there playing with it, and in which case it’s the second cutest thing in our backyard.

Shun Edo Chef’s Knife.  A true thing of beauty whether it’s in its wooden stand or effortlessly chopping.  My husband and I look for any and all excuses to use it.

Summer Infant Best View Handheld Color Video Monitor.  The best video monitor we have tried and the one we recommend to all of our friends.  Pan, tilt, zoom… awesome.

Zoku Quick Pop Maker.  Custom-made ice pops from your favorite beverages and fruit while you watch; what’s not to love? 

HABA Fay Finja Soft Doll.  Yet another reason to love Maukilo, as if you needed another.

WellnessMats.  Heaven forbid you accidentally stand on the Wellness Mat in our kitchen you will be firmly scolded by our two year old.  Please stay off of Mama’s Mat, she loves it much. 

MamaRoo.  I love this little baby seat almost as much as my son does.  I never take having two free hands for granted. 

Deuter EXP Starlight Youth Sleeping Bag.  It grows by inches in mere seconds, just like your kids. 

George Foreman Evolve Grill.  The Evolve Grill is my favorite kitchen appliance of 2010 and it’s to thank for some of my most creative (and delicious) new recipes.  I don’t know what I did without it.

Mauviel M'héritage Copper Cookware.  Perhaps you already read my love letter to Mauviel during our Cozy At Home Event, but if not you should check it out.  Every time I catch sight of the Mauviel pan hanging in our kitchen I feel like cooking.  How many other things can you say that about?

Waterpik Water Flosser.  Who said oral care is boring?  Not us with our fancy schmancy new gadget and our flair for mixing the perfect mouthwash-and-water cocktail, that’s for sure. 

KaZAM Balance Bike.  Adorable, practical, and tons of fun is pretty much the recipe all kids companies should follow and KaZAM got it right straight out of the gates.  I can’t wait for spring to arrive so we can zip down the bike trails with the wee ones on the KaZAM. 

Heart for Hearts Girls Dolls.  Playtime becomes an opportunity to learn about helping others and giving back to others.  Plus they are truly exquisite.

Flip SlideHD.  In over a year we took approximately 15 minutes of footage of our daughter with our old video camera.  In a little over two months I have logged over two hours of Flip video of my babes now that I’m always ready for action when they are. 

Magic Cabin Tree Trunk Fairy Home.  Adorable out of the package and even more so the longer you play with it.  Which, if I have my way, will be forever. 

ThinkGeek.  Okay, so this isn’t a favorite thing as much as it’s a favorite store.  A mind-blowingly awesome store that sells just about every cool gadget you never knew you needed.  We did two reviews for them {here & here}, that's how seriously awesome they are. 

Do you have any favorite posts from 2010?  Anything you would like to see in 2011?

Random Rave: Thankful

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, I decided to do something a little different today.  Instead of raving about a product or service I love, I thought I would do a post raving about all that I am thankful for.

I am thankful for:

A daughter who simply enchants everyone that she meets, starting first with hubby and I.  I guess I hadn’t realized I had a hole in my life that just happened to be exactly her size, but I will never stop being grateful for her and the fact that being her mom makes me the luckiest woman on earth.

High school boyfriends that turn into husbands and then into fathers, and the fact that I have already grown “old” with the man that I love.  Twelve years in and I still love him more every passing year and yet still managed to be surprised that he loves me back.   

Six sisters who are also my best friends, even though they knew me in high school.  Six people I can call at all hours of the night, six people that know me better than anyone else and six people who have forgiven me for the “experimental hair dye” phase.

Five brothers who know how to walk the thin line between protector and pal, and can always be counted on when you need them most.  Every girl needs a brother (or 5), especially little girls who think they can play like the big kids and are constantly finding themselves in situations where the water is just too deep.  

Nieces and nephews that shook me out of that teenage funk and made me realize how loving someone unconditionally makes you enjoy all aspects of life more.  I love that I am aunt to the positively silliest, cutest and most lovable kids anywhere.   

A Mom who put up with 5 times more dirty diapers, sleepless nights, kids’ messes and heartache than I’ve had to, and yet still managed to make motherhood look fun.  I can only hope that my daughter’s memories of me have as much laughter and life.

A Dad who let me figure out my mistakes on my own but never stopped holding the safety net for me, even after I insisted I was fine on my own.  Now that I’m a parent myself, I know that there is no net big enough to protect against all of life’s pain and sadness, but that won’t stop me from holding the largest one I can create under my daughter.  And, just like my Dad has done for me, this net will be there forever…especially when she insists she’s fine on her own. 

My daughter’s grandparents (and “greats”!) that are the classic example of what being a grandparent is all about and who make it clear that their love is absolutely unconditional.  Some day she will know how lucky she is to be surrounded by so much love and laughter. 

A family tree that is stuffed with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and the “great” version of them all.  There is never a shortage of people to see, friends to go out with, and willing babysitters and I am never alone unless I choose to be.  I only wish everyone was as lucky as we are to have such a wonderful and loving family that is truly involved in our lives. 

Friends to pretend to do yoga with just so our kid’s can run around together.  As much as the kids really need time with each other, it’s nice to have a group of moms that realize playdates are as much about parents as they are about kids. 

A house that was built, furnished, decorated, and even painted with love.  I never dreamed I would live somewhere with a whole cabinet just for tea or with a space designated for pirates, but now I can’t imagine having it any other way.

Our stacks and stacks of pictures and albums that prove that we really did all those things that created our wonderful memories.  Those pictures cover 4 continents of exploration with hubby, our annual family vacations at the beach, weddings, birthdays, 4 generations of family, and all the daily joys of being a sister, daughter, cousin, niece, granddaughter, aunt, wife, and now mother.

The four beautiful seasons of Seattle and the fact that there is so much to see and do that is just a car ride away.  As much as I would love a few more sunny weekends a year, I just can’t see ever moving away for good. 

Making the time to really fill out my daughter’s baby book before all the little memories faded.  Sometimes I look at her and I have the hardest time seeing that baby I brought home from the hospital and remembering all those little moments of having a newborn, but every time I reread her baby book, it’s like I’m reliving it all over again. 

All my wonderful readers that take the time to reach out to me and remind me that I’m not here talking to myself.  As much as I am so grateful to all of the opportunities this website as afforded our family and all of the fun we have had testing, reviewing and writing about the fun we have as a family, I never forget that it is our readers that truly make this all possible.  If there is ever anything any of you need, or help that I can offer, just let me know… but in the meantime, be sure and enter to win one of the 14 (and counting) giveaways we have going on and take a piece of Rave and Review home with you

Happy Thanksgiving from Rave and Review!

Friday Random Rave - Pink and Girly

It’s not going to be a gender neutral Christmas at our house!  For the past two years, all of our kid’s purchases have leaned towards the gender neutral, in some cases bypassing the girl’s section entirely and shopping only in the boys aisles.  Our daughter didn’t care what color her toys were, and I refused to have piles of pink I was forcing on any kids down the road, or even friends and consignment shops when our family was complete. 

Gender nuetral was a hard sell to grandparents who really would like to see a baby girl with something pink and girly, so we would throw in little bits of girliness here and there to appease.  Hey, we gave her the pink curtains, didn’t we?  I think they went a long way in making her blue, green and brown painted mural seem like it was always meant for a girl’s room.  I even sprung for the flower lamps to really complete the garden-themed motif and hopefully she will never realize that there was supposed to be cars, trucks and scooters zipping around her walls, not birds, butterflies and squirrels. 

I thought those pink curtains and lamps would also make up for the black and grey baby seat, the blue bouncer, the fire-engine red stroller, the brown and orange car seat and the fact that we brought her home from the hospital all dressed in taupe (hey, ultrasounds aren’t always 100% certain, I was not bringing a little boy home in pink).  Most of the time since then she’s been dressed like a girl, usually has a pink pacifier, and every once in a while will get to drink out of the three pack of pink cups hubby bought her to counteract the green and blue collection I had amassed.  Heck, she’s even wearing pink pajamas as I type.  I think we did quite well in turning brown hoodies and blue shoes into girl’s clothing, and only three to four times a week does someone get her gender wrong.   

But baby toys were just one of those things that I always insisted must be gender neutral, even returning most pink items and exchanging them for their red and blue counterparts when some well meaning family member would buy pink “because we have all that blue already” (shhhhhh!).  But not this year.  This year our little girl has opinions and ideas about what she likes, and she naturally gravitates towards the pink aisle.

I guess I didn’t realize how that was going to affect me until the pink presents began to arrive at the house.  All their sweet girliness that reminds me of Christmases growing up and makes me so excited to play with all of her toys myself.  I can’t wait to see her eyes light up when she unwraps her first real baby doll and her little cooking set I’ve been dying to let her play with ahead of time.  I realize our house is going to have a huge shift the day after Christmas and our living room will now be accented with pink, but I never ever thought I would be happy about it. 

No, not just happy, ecstatic. 

It’s as if it’s just hitting me that there is only more pink and girly to come.  Pretty soon there will be hair to braid, fingernail polish on her toes, and maybe even a ribbon or two in her hair and I get to do that all with her.  Mom, the keeper of the nail polish, the only one who can braid the hair of a wiggling child; I can see it now and the best is yet to come.  So, this year I say bring on the pink!