Rave & Review

Travel must-have: The Scrubba Wash Bag

As people who travel a lot, we have learned that it pays to pack light.  No one ever brags about how much luggage they had to haul around on vacation, but ending up with no clothes to wear halfway through vacation is no one’s dream, either. 

At this point, we’ve gotten our packing down to a science and we bring only the essentials.  A big portion of this is planning on washing and rewearing clothing on long vacations so you don’t need a full new outfit each day.  While this might sound like the perfect plan, problems arise when you can’t find a good place to wash those clothing items {we’re talking about you, European showers and backwoods hiking trips} or you find yourself going through clothing faster than you expected.

Add in unpredictable and messy children to the equation and you can basically bet on running out of clothing before you can get somewhere to wash them.  As parents of two young children that love to go through multiple outfits in one day and have a history of creating their greatest laundry accidents while on the road, we’ve been looking for a solution that made laundry on the go easy.  And, hopefully one that didn’t involve spending hours of precious vacation time at Laundromats or spending time cleaning sinks and showers before you will even consider putting dirty clothing inside. 

The solution was the Scrubba Wash Bag, an Australian on-the-go laundry kit that is perfect for our adventures.  Hubby first heard about the Scrubba bag and immediately emailed me with one succinct sentence, “We NEED this.”  One look and I was in complete agreement, dreaming of if we had brought this on our European trips that we ended up utilizing ice buckets, large plastic bags, and good old paper cups to do our laundry. 

So, what IS The Scrubba?  Basically, a washboard in a bag.  More specifically, it’s a roll-top dry bag with a grippy surface and raised "washing nobules" inside that you can use to really wash your clothing, and it also includes a clear panel so you can see inside. 

All you need to clean your clothing is just a little water, some soap {laundry detergent is recommended, but in a pinch you can use hand soap, shampoo, camp soap, etc} and a place to hang the clothes when you’re done washing and you can skip the laundromat entirely. 

You start by filling the Scrubba with soiled items.  Even if you don't plan on doing laundry right away, the Scrubba bag still acts as a great wet/dirty bag.  Because who wants these muddy jeans rolling around with their dresses and trousers?

The Scrubba can hold quite a bit of clothing just for storage, but during cleaning you should only wash roughly 2 days worth of summer clothing or 1 day of cooler weather clothing to give it enough room to really scrub up well.  When you decide to wash your clothing, you start by adding a little bit of water and soap.

We always travel with a little bottle of Woolite and a plastic bag for “toxic clothes” as we call them.  So, with the Scrubba folding down to almost pocket size, it literally takes up no extra space in our luggage since we basically just replaced the disposable bag {which can leak and tear} with this heavy duty wet bag that is dual purpose and allows us to clean our clothing right inside. 

Once your water and soap are added, you simply roll the bag down a few times and clip it together.  Then you let the air out slowly so you can really feel the clothing through the bag. 

Now you're ready to scrub, which is really the fun part.  Clothing gets cleaner than traditional hand washing because of the internal washboard, and all the mess is contained in the Scrubba bag so you don't need a basin or bucket.  And, the best part is that you can actually watch the clothing get clean through the little see-through panel on the Scrubba bag.

Once your items are good and clean you simply rinse with fresh water until the soap is all removed {it only takes 30 seconds of scrubbing for a basic clean or 3 minutes for a washing machine quality wash, and you can even use the Scrubba to soak if necessary}.  In total, it took about 5 minutes to completely clean these jeans with the caked on dirt and grime from start to finish.  It really is that easy!

We’ve taken the Scrubba with us on two vacations now and I think we love it more every time we use it.  I mean, no one loves laundry, but this might be as close as it gets.  In particular, we really love the satisfyingly tactile feel and sound of the Scrubba that makes it a fun sensory project for kids.  Yeah, that’s right; I make my kids do laundry on vacation.  It’s only fair that the two making the most laundry do the most laundry, right? 

Really, I only have one suggestion for the Scrubba that would make it absolutely perfect: to screenprint the directions somewhere on the bag for easy reference.  While the instructions are easy enough to remember, it would be really nice to have the instructions right on the Scrubba bag somewhere so there was no second guessing yourself.

With many different road trips, camping and hiking adventures, and vacations planned this spring and summer, I know that the Scrubba will get a ton of use.  And, when we’re able to salvage a clothing catastrophe on the road, it’s going to be worth its weight in gold {and then some – it is pretty light}.  But, the Scrubba isn’t just for long trips and those with small children, it’s also great for swimsuits, beach gear and more.  Since it’s a great wetbag in its own right, it’s extremely practical for a variety of applications, with laundry just being one of them.   

The Scrubba retails for $59.95 right from TheScrubba.com.  Want a full laundry on-the-road kit?  Check out the Scrubba Traveler Kit for $99.95 that comes with a carry bag, a super absorbent towel and a portable clothes line!

Be sure and follow The Scrubba on Twitter, like The Scrubba on Facebook and check out their YouTube channel to see the Scrubba in action.

A big thank you to The Scrubba for sending a wash bag to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

Spy Tec Inventio HD 720P video recording sunglasses {Review}

by Tyler, editor and reviewer

Even from a young age, I was obsessed with spy technology.  I used to stay up at night thinking of how cool it would be if cameras could fit in the palm of your hand, if fingerprint scanners could lock your valuables or if Hollywood’s technology would ever be a reality.  Unfortunately, I was clearly born a few decades too soon, because it’s only now that technology is catching up with my imagination.

For instance these, which are the ultimate in spy high-tech gear.  Forget cameras that fit in your palm, the Spy Tec Inventio HD is a camera you wear on the bridge of your nose.  You can bet we were thrilled when we heard we would get to test these babies out this spring to see if my childhood dreams really had come true.

While I’m past the age of dreaming of espionage and covert operations, I still think these are pretty darn awesome for all sorts of applications.  From recording fast moving sports and action shots hands-free, to capturing your perspective on the world, the Spy Tec glasses offer an unobtrusive way to record just about anything.

While I could go on and on about how fun it would be to pop these on and go for a bike ride or hike, my favorite thing about the glasses has nothing to do with sports or spying – it has to do with kids.  We all know kids freeze up as soon as you pull out your camera and start filming, so I love that the Spy Tec glasses are so discreet that they have no idea when you’re filming and when you’re not.  This means you’re more likely to catch that amazing trick they do, the funny pronunciation, or simply them just being them. 

We also like to let our kids wear the glasses to film and let them record the world as they see it.  Instead of worrying about what buttons they will press or whether they will drop the video camera on its lens, we can put the Spy Tec glasses right on the kids {use the included sunglasses neck strap if you are worried they might fall off} and let them make art all by themselves. 

Sure, they are tiny and great for kids, but I bet you’re wondering what kind of quality a “spy camera” could possibly be.  The answer is that it’s better than what you might think.  While some fast-moving  shots may produce videos that shake the entire time or be completely unwatchable, normal movements like walking or turning your head produce nice clear shots just like a regular video camera.  

And, at 720P, the videos are a nice clear HD quality image, which makes it perfect for YouTube, watching on your TV, or making high quality videos.  While it’s not IMAX quality, or DSLR quality, it does better than most point-and-shoot video cams we’ve tried, and is far more portable and unobtrusive. 

This was a big issue for me as I’m constantly feeling very removed from the action when I’m behind my camera, and then am stuck holding it all day long, even when I’m done filming.  With the Spy Tec glasses I can simply wear them like normal sunglasses {which I always have with me} and hit record when something exciting happens.  Then, when the sun goes down and I don’t need sunglasses, I merely pop them into their included case.

The sound quality is also decent and does a good job of picking up voices and environment sounds.  Naturally, your voice will be the loudest sound if you speak at all, due to the proximity to the microphone, so you really don’t need to speak loud at all to be heard.

Of course, every technology has its drawbacks, and the fact that this video cam fits on your face means it doesn’t have many bells and whistles built into the camera itself.  No LCD screen, no menu, and no special effects, but none of these things would be worth sacrificing how small the glasses are, so I say it’s well worth it. 

Some things did take a little getting used to, like the fact that you have to take them off your face to see if they are recording, the way that the angle of the lens is a bit above where your eye is looking so you need to compensate a bit while filming up close, that you can’t really “compose” your image the way you can with a traditional video camera and the fact that you can’t see what you recorded until you connect it to your computer. 

You also need to take into account that some fast-moving  shots may produce videos that shake the entire time or be completely unwatchable, depending on camera movement.  Even walking or turning your head too fast can produce dizzying videos if you're not fully aware of your movements, so I have to remind myself to move more slowly while wearing them.

But, the biggest issue we found with not having an LCD screen or menu option is that you don’t know when you are out of memory or out of battery.  We had a whole day of thinking we were recording only to find that my daughter had used all the memory taking videos of what we can only imagine is the inside of her purse.  As for the battery, we found that thankfully it lasts about 2 hours of recording before needing to be charged, so we just charge it up when we’ve been filming a lot and we actually haven’t had it run down on us yet. 

Speaking of recording all day long, I love that the Inventio-HD automagically separates long videos into 1.2GB {which is approximately 15 minutes} increments for you.  Having smaller chunks of footage makes it much easier to find specific moments you've shot later as well as for editing purposes if you're making compilations.  While making our video I was very grateful to have smaller clips to work with instead of 1-2 hours videos to wade through. 

The Spy Tec Inventio HD sunglasses come with nice polarized lenses straight out of the package, but I love that you can also buy replacement lenses, mirrored lenses or even clear lenses for $12 apiece.  Depending on what you are filming or what activities you have in store, having different lens options is a big plus to me, especially since changing out the lenses makes it possible to film indoors as well. 

Here's the rundown on the Spy Tec Inventio HD video recording sunglasses:

• 720P HD video and audio recording 
• 16-bit digital audio recording 
• Cables included to connect to computer or TV
• Battery life of 2 hours
• 8GB of Class 10 internal memory
• Compatible with PC and Mac computers
• Includes 1 year warranty
• Bonus carrying case, cleaning cloth, and neck strap included

If you’re looking for an easy way to record everything from a helicopter ride to a walk through your favorite spot, from action shots to catching your grandma sweetly singing a lullaby while rocking your baby, the Spy Tec glasses are a great purchase.  They retail for $129.95 and can be purchased at SpyTecInc.com

Want to see the Spy Tec Inventio HD sunglasses in action?  Check out our video showing our favorite uses. 

A big thank you to Spy Tec for providing the Inventio HD sunglasses to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions remain 100% ours.

Our week as the cool kids {KIA Soul review}

by Tyler, editor and reviewer

Like everyone under the age of 20, my daughter loves the KIA Soul.  The dancing hamsters, the toasters, the “you can go with this or you can go with that” commercials, and most of all, the car itself.

Have no idea what I’m talking about?  This YouTube video should help you out:

Now that you’re up to speed on why the Soul is awesome, it’s not going to be a surprise that we were thrilled to test one out through STI - The Drive Experience Company.  Since we had recently checked out the KIA Sportage, I was a bit worried that the cars would be so similar that there wouldn’t be much new to write about, but I was proved wrong within minutes of borrowing the “Alien Green” KIA Soul.

From the boxy design of the Soul to the color-changing speakers that can change with the beat of the music, there’s really nothing quite like the Soul.  Yes, it does have many of the luxuries that won us over in both the Optima and Sportage, but it also has a very different vibe than either of the luxury KIA vehicles we’ve tested.

Here’s what we learned from our week of being cool:

Daddy-O Likes

• Mid-level height – Easy to get in and out of and also to load things {kids included} into.
• Boxy design – Although the Soul is a smaller car, the boxy shape and big sunroof makes it feel very open and roomy.  
• Eco-Mode – It still amazes me that even in their non-hybrid models the eco-mode button really changes the feel and performance of the car, and really does improve your mileage.
• Rocking stereo – Loud and clear, just how I like it. On top of that it will play just about anything you can throw at it including AM/FM, Satellite, CDs, iPod integration and Bluetooth streaming audio.
• Back up camera – This is still one of my favorite features of all the KIAs we tested, especially as we’re acclimating to new cars and taking them to places unknown.
• Fun Factor – There really is just something cool and fun about the Soul. Kia really managed to pack a lot of personality and style into what is normally considered just a basic transportation type of car.

Mama Likes

• Keyless entry and ignition – Yes, I’m still raving about this.  If I could change one thing about every car I have ever owned, it would be to add keyless entry and ignition.  I would happily keep my car keys zipped in the pocket of my purse and never take them out again, which would save us roughly 15 minutes every morning that is spent searching random places for my car keys. 
• High-tech envy – Our road trips are usually more plugged in than I would like, but having on-call schedules and a job that never ends means that our phones need do more than accept calls these days.  For this reason, I love that I can easily hook my phone up to the Bluetooth so that calls can be made and accepted right from the control screen or steering wheel.   
• GPS – When we set out on a road trip, it’s a given that we will end up exploring a bit off the beaten path, so I love the built-in GPS on the control panel that can help guide us back to the main path to find food, water, and shelter, as needed. 
• Heated seats – I love heated seats.  I was sold on this alone.
• Big, but not too big – I like sitting up higher when driving, but I really don’t want to drive a huge truck or SUV, so I love that the Soul is big without being unmanageable in a parking lot or narrow roads. 

Kiddos Like

• Teenagers love it – I don’t know if it was the hamsters that did it, or if tweens and teens love the Soul because it’s so different, but whatever the reason is, KIA has totally nailed the teen market with the Soul.  Our tween/teen nieces, neighbors, and friends all came out to see the Soul and it was by far the biggest response we’ve gotten in a test drive car.  And, it's hard to not think you're cool when all the hip teens are dying to ride in your car.
• Good visibility – Again, both kiddos loved being up higher in the KIA Soul and how they could see everything easily on our roadtrip.  This was especially important when we were surrounded by a group of deer grazing in the median of the beach front road we were cruising down and the kiddos had a gorgeous view of the action just like we did. 
• Big rear windows – Not only do these allow for the great views, but they open big as well, something the kiddos have just decided is the coolest thing ever. 
• Dance parties – Car dance parties will never be the same now that they have experienced car speakers that change color – either by mood lighting or to the beat of the song.

Gripes

Although the KIA Soul is a fun little city car that does well over smoothly paved roads, it doesn’t handle poorly maintained pavement well, perhaps due to the short wheel base.  On our KIA Soul road trip we were often faced with potholed beach roads that the Soul’s suspension and stability control system didn’t quite know how to handle.  Whereas the Sportage gave a smooth ride through just about everything, the Soul is much more jittery in comparison.  

But, with the Soul’s very reasonable price tag, this might be something that I could eventually see past.  With their base model starting $14,400, it really is an amazing deal for the price.  Even the fully loaded model that we tried out was still around $23,000, which is a great price point for their demographic markets. 

During our test drive a comment was made by a stranger about how “dialed in” we looked in our Soul with our integrated phones, the fancy control panel, and the fact that I was taking electronic notes from the comfort of the passenger seat.  I thought that summed up the test drive perfectly as I had found it was hard to not feel hip and cool in a “dialed in” Soul that got so much attention everywhere we went.

Interested in driving experiences?  Check out the STI Facebook page to keep up on all their events near you.
A big thank you to STI The Drive Experience Company for letting us borrow the KIA Sportage for the week to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions remain 100% ours.

Our Week of Adventure {KIA Sportage Review}

by Tyler, editor and reviewer

After having so much fun trying out the KIA Optima last fall, we jumped at the chance to try out the KIA Sportage CUV {compact utility vehicle} earlier this month through STI - The Drive Experience Company.  Since we don’t have an SUV or CUV in our family, we were all very excited to try out something new and exciting and see what we’ve been missing out on.  And, as it turns out, what we’ve been missing is adventure. 

There’s something about a fancy new car that makes you look for reasons to drive, and we found plenty of places to drive our loaner Sportage.  From short road trips to all-day adventures, the KIA Sportage was the perfect solution for hauling all of us – and our gear – while still having enough pep to make driving fun. 

Since the Sportage is the smaller of the two SUVs that KIA offers {hence the CUV title}, we were originally concerned that space would be an issue with all our gear, carseats, and strollers we need to haul around.  But, we were very surprised of the roomy-ness of the interior, especially the back seat.  While the back storage wasn’t huge, it still fit everything that we normally have in our trunk and more, while still having the option of packing the back seat, if necessary. 

While I’m not anti-SUV by any means, I have been driving compact cars almost exclusively for 8 years now and I was initially worried that driving an SUV – even if it was on the smaller side – would be a tradeoff in terms of power and handling.  But, what I found was that although the Sportage has a raised drive height, it still has a very car-like handling that I love.

Something that really surprised me about the driving experience was how much you can fine tune the feel and performance of the Sportage.  By turning the Eco-Mode on or off and either using the automatic or manual settings on the transmission the Sportage really felt like different cars at different times, making it perfect for whatever terrain we were on.

Here’s what we learned from our week of adventure:

Daddy-O Likes

• Leg room – Being a tall guy, I dread having to sit in back seats, but the Sportage passes my personal “can I sit behind myself?” test with flying colors.  Which means not only am I comfortable in any seat, I don’t have to feel bad for anyone behind me, either.
• Room for both car seats – Not only do our two car seats fit in the back seat, but we could also drop down the center armrest between them which gave the kids access to the two cup holders within {a treat they both agree has become a necessity.}  
• The quick turbo engine – Our Sportage came with the 2.0 liter turbocharged engine which has 260HP and 269 ft. lbs. of torque.  Put the transmission into manual mode and this thing felt like a little race car, able to carve corners and merge onto the freeway with ease.  
• Eco-Mode – Switching to Eco-Mode garnered an indicated 4-5mpg gain during some of our longer freeway jaunts while at the same time making the Sportage feel like a comfy Sunday cruiser as it seemed to take the edge off of the throttle inputs.  This was the perfect attitude for cruising the back roads, enjoying the scenery while sipping fuel.
• Cooling seats – I have a tendency to hop in the car with my jacket still on while everyone else has only a T-shirt.  The option to pump cool air through my seat with the heat on for everyone else may be the single most meaningful advance in family harmony ever.  I can only imagine how great it feels once it really gets hot out.
• Steering wheel controls – The ability to control your phone, radio volume and station, and cruise control is very helpful when you jump into a new car.  And apparently something you get used to quickly, as I found myself searching for those same non-existent buttons in my own car a week later. 
• Super-bright lights – That pretty much sums it up, but for those of you looking for more description, we are talking about curb to curb daylight leading the way ahead of you all night long.  These things are awesome. 
• Back up camera – This is another feature that I could really get used to.  Since I prefer to back into parking spots whenever possible, it was nice knowing I wasn’t going to crash someone else’s car into someone else’s car {AKA the pinnacle of automotive embarrassment}.  This was especially handy when we stuffed the back luggage area to the roof, blocking out the rear window completely, and I still felt confident with just my side mirrors and the backup cam. 
• Smart lane change blinker – No driving like grandpa because your blinker automatically turns off after 3 blinks when changing lanes.  That’s right, simply tap the blinker lever gently, in either direction, and you get three blinks from your lights instead of one. 
• Bluetooth integration – An amazingly simple pairing process gets you phone calls and audio streaming directly from your phone, whether it is in your pocket or on the center console.  On top off that, the audio quality on the other end is so good that when my wife called me from the car I honestly had no idea I was on the car’s speakerphone until the kiddos chimed in from the back seat {which of course they loved as well.}

Mama Likes

• Heated and cooled seats – Heated seats are great for colder weather because they warm you up quick without the stuffy heat you sometimes get from blasting the car’s heater, but they are also good for lower back pain I sometimes get while driving, and for cruising around at night with the sunroof open.  But, since the warmer weather is approaching, I also love that they added cooling seats as well, which would be amazing through the summer months. 
• Dual climate control – He’s hot, I’m cold.  But, we both can ride together without bundling or burning up with dual climate control.
• Keyless entry and ignition – Hands down, the coolest new car feature, ever.  As long as you have the Sportage key on you {in your pocket, purse, jacket, etc} the car interior lights turn on as soon as you get close to the car, and then you can unlock the doors just by pushing the small buttons on the exterior door handles.  Once inside the car, simply put your foot on the brake, push the start button and you’re off, never having to dig for your keywhile wrangling your kids and all the various stuff that comes along with them.  I literally never took it out of my purse while I was test driving, which is pretty awesome. 
• Dashboard control screen – As much as I love having buttons and knobs for certain things, I also really like a good sized touch screen that can add even more functionality to your journey, especially when you’re out exploring and you *may* need a little assistance with directions, finding coffee, or good tunes along the way.   
• Drives small – Coming from a compact sedan, the worry was that it would take an initial adjustment period, for me especially, but what I found was that it didn’t feel like we were driving a huge vehicle at all, just a taller version of what we are used to.  
• Trunk under tray storage – While the main area of the trunk is pretty good sized, it does taper in at the top to allow for the sporty proportions of the Sportage, which means you are a bit limited on space.  A smart way they added storage is a nice divided compartment underneath the floor of the trunk above the spare tire.  For us, this was a great place to store our first aid and roadside emergency supplies, change of clothes or other small items we carry but don’t get at frequently.  Plus, it’s a great place to hide valuables when you’re parking the car for any amount of time.

Kiddos Like

• Panoramic sun roof – Can’t beat a sunroof for the parents AND one for the kiddos.  Whether it was sunny or sprinkling, having almost your entire roof letting in light makes it feel so open and roomy that they don’t even mind that their sunroof doesn’t open.
• Good visibility – What fun is driving around if you can’t see anything?  Both kiddos loved that being up higher afforded them a much better advantage point for sight-seeing along our journeys.
• Cup holders for them  – Whether they were holding sippy cups, toys or treats, the cup holders are always the first thing the kiddos take ownership of when test driving, and the thing they miss the most when we return to the reality of our compact sedan.   
• Folding mirrors – While very practical and useful feature when parking in cramped spots, this also is apparently the coolest feature ever to a 4 year old.

As you can imagine, the whole family was a little upset to hand back the keys to the KIA Sportage and say goodbye to the red CUV we had all grown to love.  It’s now become the standard by which SUVs are evaluated, and has made our car a far less appealing road trip mobile.  While we save up money for our own Sportage someday, we have our week of adventure to remember forever.

Interested in driving experiences?  Check out the STI Facebook page to keep up on all their events near you.

A big thank you to STI The Drive Experience Company for letting us borrow the KIA Sportage for the week to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions remain 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.

Enjoying the sun and making smart Steps with Walgreens #BalanceRewards

This is a sponsored post.

One thing we are adamant about with our kids is that they grow up in an active family.  We try and go biking, hiking, and exploring whenever possible, but when we’re not able to do that, we simply walk everywhere.  With spring weather slowly arriving in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve been loving all the sun and taking every opportunity to get outside and be active. 

With weather predicted to be in the 70s over Easter weekend, we saw it as the perfect opportunity to head out of the city and explore Chuckanut Drive and Bellingham as a family… and maybe even sneak in a quick hike.  Of course, that means snacks for the trail and for the trip up north so while my daughter was in school, little man and I decided to enjoy some sunshine and walk over to our local Walgreens to do a little shopping for the weekend.

In addition to snacks for the trail/road, I was also interested in learning more about the new Steps campaign at Walgreens through their Balance Rewards program that encourages their members to record their fitness achievement and awards points for each task.  Since hubby and I already wear smart pedometers daily, I was excited to see how we could use the data we’re already collecting and earn points for stuff we’re already buying.  But, in addition to earning points, I saw it as a great way to teach the kiddos about the importance of daily activity and was hoping to get a pedometer for our daughter as well.

We had planned on asking about the Steps program as soon as we got to Walgreens, but we got distracted as soon as we walked in the door and started our shopping instead.  We headed around the store and picked up nuts and seeds, granola bites, bars, dried fruits, beef jerky, and more, and then we headed over to check out their selection of pedometers, activity trackers, heart monitors and fitness gadgets to see if there was something we could use.

I was really surprised by the selection of fitness and wellness gadgets and spent quite a bit of time perusing the shelves.  I was seeing everything from basic fitness tools to electronics you can wear on your wrist, as well as some things I had never seen before that I was curious about, like the LifeStrength ionic bracelet touted as “the vitamin you wear”. 

Curiosity got the best of me and I took one up to the register to check the price while I purchased all our other treats.  Up at the register, a quick chat with the manager gave us everything we were looking for about the Steps program as well as an awesome Walgreens branded pedometer and bag that they had for promotional use that would be perfect for our hike.  And, then in the end, I surprised myself by adding the LifeStrength band to my order as well so we could check it out on our busy weekend ahead and see if we noticed a difference.

When we got home, I packed our bag for our journey, filled up some water bottles to chill in the fridge, and hopped on the computer to start earning Balance Rewards points for all the upcoming activities. It was mere minutes and I had successfully joined the Steps program and then I explored the site a little bit to see all that it offered.  I was really happy when I realized that you can actually sync smart activity trackers like the FitBits that hubby and I both wear right to your Steps account so you don’t have to remember to log each mile manually. 

You can also earn rewards for making fitness goals for yourself, weighing yourself, buying fitness related items at Walgreens, participating in local walk/runs/triathalons and more.  If you haven’t already, I urge you to start a Steps account through the Balance Rewards program.  It’s free to join, simple to sign up for, and it’s a great way to motivate yourself and your family. 

While the jury is still out on whether the LifeStrength I bought makes a noticeable difference in how I feel, getting outside in the sunshine with my favorite people certainly makes a difference in my outlook. Even though I woke up to a rather gloomy Monday, I still feel better knowing how active we were over the weekend and am excited to get out again as a family.

And, although my daughter is young and our focus isn’t on weight loss, I found that giving her the pedometer for the weekend was a great move on our part.  The energy and excitement she had about tracking her steps was contagious and we all pushed ourselves a bit more than we would have otherwise.  And, the best part is that instead of asking to be carried or saying she was tired only part of the way through our day, she was really excited to get as many steps as she could and was running circles around us the whole time.  

The bonus was getting home and logging on to the Steps Balance Rewards site to see that I earned 540 points just having fun with the family.  If you haven't signed up for Walgreens Balance Rewards program you will need to do that before you can sign up for the Steps program, but both programs are free and completely painless to sign up for.  Why not get rewarded to shop, stay fit, and meet your wellness goals?

Read more about our shopping trip, Steps program signup process and our day hiking as a family in our Google+ album.  You can also see more about Aisle Share FUN page.

Find out more at Walgreens.com and follow Walgreens on Twitter and Facebook.

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and Walgreens #cbias #SocialFabric.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

Must Have Gear for Kiddos: First Ascent MicroTherm Down Jacket from Eddie Bauer

I’m a big believer in getting kids good, quality outdoor gear.  Whether it’s for hiking and biking or quick jaunts around town, quality outdoor gear just makes sense on many different levels.   

For one, I want kids that enjoy being outdoors, and I know that being comfortable is a big part of what will foster their love of nature.  This may mean that my kiddos miss out on having character themed jackets and backpacks, but in the end I feel they gain a lot more by having something weatherproof and lightweight that allows them to be… kids. 

For another, good quality gear just lasts.  Even if you buy big and your child wears it for two years straight, it’s still able to passed down to the next kid in line.  If you do the math, it actually makes good gear seem frugal in comparison to $35 a pop every year and then a new coat for each kid.

Knowing that we love pint sized outdoor gear, you can bet we were thrilled when we heard that Eddie Bauer had recently expanded their clothing and gear for kids, baby and toddler as well.  We had been hunting the kid’s line down locally and found that it was in select stores right now {for all of you Seattlites, you can currently find them consistently at U-Village and Redmond, and popping up in other stores occasionally} as well as online. 

And, once we saw the First Ascent MicroTherm down jacket for kids, we knew we had found the perfect grow-with-us coat.  Besides being absolutely adorable in that they look just like the grownup jackets but miniature, they also didn’t scrimp on features when they shrunk them down to kid’s sizes.  Packable, lightweight, and layer-able, these are the epitome of great gear for kids. 

With features such as StormRepel durable water-repellent (DWR) finish that sheds moisture, interior pockets for storing essentials, and cuffed sleeves to keep the elements out, this coat really does have it all.  I'm not sure if it's the fact that they match daddy, or if it's the fact that they really are gear connoisseurs at 2 and 4 years old, but my kiddos straight up adore these coats.

Instead of the on-off on-off routine, the MicroTherm coats are the first coats that our kids actually keep on and don’t complain of being too hot in as soon as we step inside.  But, not only do they keep them on indoors, they are still perfect temperature for the cold, wind, and rain of the Pacific Northwest year-round. 

One of the details that make this such an amazing all around jacket is that it isn’t the giant puffy coat you are picturing from your childhood.  Made with row after row of tiny baffles stuffed with 600 fill power premium European goose down, it is amazingly thin for how warm it is. 

Another part of what makes the MicroTherm jacket so thin is that it is made with a slim fitted design to keep you warm as well as for layering, but with stretch panels built into the sides to aid in flexibility, breathability and movement.  These details also make it perfect to buy large since it is more of a fitted coat it doesn’t look out of place a size too big. 

In fact, you might even be able to go two sizes bigger and really extend the life of the jacket.  Our kiddos are in sizes 5-6 and 3-4 for tops and they are currently both modeling a size 8 MicroTherm down jacket.  Admittedly, the coat looks like a dress on my son since the 21.25” length isn’t meant for toddlers, but I don’t want to be the one to break his heart. 

Speaking of heart breaking, when we do force the kiddos to take them off, I really love that the compressible down makes it easy to stuff away in the bottom of a stroller or an overnight bag, or even its own pocket.  But, this compressibility also means you can easily fold up the sleeves inside the cuffs if they happen to be too long, as was obviously the case for my son.

While I wouldn’t recommend buying 6 sizes too big for everyone, he certainly doesn’t look like he’s complaining now, does he?

Whether you are looking for an under layer for skiing and snowshoeing or you want a lightweight and compressible all-weather coat for your little one, I would highly recommend the MicroTherm Down Jacket from First Ascent as the perfect year-round coat.  It may not make a mountain climber out of your kiddo just by putting it on, but you will have better luck convincing them to try as well as keeping them comfortable no matter where their day takes them. 

The MicroTherm jackets for boys and girls are currently on clearance at EddieBauer.com and can be picked up for 50% off, which makes them a crazy good deal at $39.99 each.

A big thank you to Eddie Bauer for sending the MicroTherm jackets for the kiddos to adore... and never want to take off.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

WiFi wherever you roam with a NetZero Portable HotSpot

This summer, our annual family trip with our extended family was almost ruined when the internet broke.  Yes, I know… we were supposed to be on vacation, not surfing the internets, but with so many business owners in my family and so many of us that work from home, having internet access for our week-long trip is non-negotiable. 

It got so desperate that we actually split up and parked ourselves in the local library, the town real estate office and the condo leasing center and made do with spotty coverage.  While this wasn’t an awesome solution, it was better than making the trek back over the mountains and cutting our vacation short. 

But, what if we had had this little baby in August? 

So small that it could fit in my purse or coat pocket but powerful enough to save a vacation, the NetZero 4G HotSpot is my new traveling must-have.  Never again will I pay crazy hotel internet rates or deal with {gasp} broken internets now that I can literally bring secure WiFi with me wherever I go. 

Of course, the NetZero 4G HotSpot isn’t just for vacations, it’s also great for all those times I’m out and about and my boss emails with an ASAP project that requires internet access.  It’s also great for those times when I’m stuck waiting for doctor’s appointments and kid’s events but have a big deadline looming.  In short, it’s for any time you need internet on the go but don’t want to spend your day at Starbucks.  

But, even better than providing me with internet, the NetZero 4G is a WiFi hub that can handle up to 8 laptops, iPads, tablets, you name it.  This means I don’t have to spring for expensive mobile plans for each device, and I can save money purchasing devices that are WiFi only and it also means I can share my good fortune. 

So, while on vacation, my sisters and I could have sat by the pool or beach, hung out on the boat or spent the day at the pier sunning ourselves and sipping MaiTais together while emailing and working online with a shared HotSpot.  Then, once we logged off work and headed back to the cabin, we could have streamed movies and more to relax after a day in the sun.  And, with 6 hours of battery life, I could have even used the NetZero HotSpot on the drive home from the cabin, getting work done while hubby drove us over the pass and the kiddos slept. 

While the NetZero 4G HotSpot doesn’t work everywhere, you can see on the handy dandy little coverage map on the NetZero site what areas are covered.  I’ve found most places along the I-5 corridor have coverage but the more obscure, off-the-beaten-path areas will be spotty or not have coverage at all.  Luckily, you can figure all this out before you buy, which means there won’t be any surprises with bad coverage.

Best of all, there are no activation fees, no contracts, no extra charges and no commitments with your NetZero plan.  And, if that still isn’t enticing enough, you can even try the basic plan {200mb/month} for free for a year!  To help you manage your data usage, there are two different speed settings: LightSpeed {to conserve data} or WarpSpeed {to maximize speed} to meet data needs.

Aww, doesn't that just look festive?

With a job that requires internet access and an on-the-go lifestyle, you can imagine how handy the NetZero 4G HotSpot is going to be for us throughout the year.  I plan on using it while I wait for my daughter's school to let out, while riding in the passenger seat on long car rides when I have work to do, and, of course, while on vacation and for blogging trips.  Just think of how popular I'll be at BlogHer this year if the hotel's internet can't handle our group and everyone is searching for WiFi like they were last year.  Yes, very popular, indeed. 

If you happen to be getting or giving any fun electronics this year and will need internet on the go, NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband is just the solution to keep you connected.  You can check them out at netzero.com and right now you can even enjoy 50% off devices and your 1st month free if purchased by Jan 3rd.

Available for purchase at netzero.net or by calling 800-NETZERO

A big thank you to NetZero for sending the 4G HotSpot to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

Rio Soul Shoes Can Handle Anything... Beautifully {Review & Coupon Code} #HolidayGuide

A few days ago I got a wonderful surprise when a Rio Soul box arrived just for me.  I opened the box up to find these beauties, an early holiday present from Leanne. 

She knows full well that I am constantly in search of the perfect shoes that fit my personality but are still practical, comfortable and versatile and will not get in the way of my busy lifestyle.  And, Rio Soul shoes definitely fit this bill.

Having heard about the Rio Soul shoes in the awesome Party Blu Prints Holiday 2012 Celebrations eGuide, I was anxious to see them in person so it was a fun surprise to get them to check out just in time for all the holiday craziness. 

I was immediately impressed by how trendy they are without being too flashy.  They give just enough flare to my fun, casual look, which I love.  You can dress them up or down depending on your mood, and they look adorable no matter what you're doing.

And, can you believe they are even cuter in person?  After slipping them on, I was surprised by how great they felt.  I found I actually forgot I was even wearing shoes after a while.  It was like being allowed to wear a cozy pair of slippers to work every day.

Not only are these shoes cute and comfortable; they are also durable, light and flexible.  This is extremely important for me since I am a drummer and need the extra mobility and traction for the foot pedals when I’m jamming with my band.  They are also great for when I hit the gym really hard during my CrossFit training.

The minimalist design allows my foot to feel the ground so I can be more aware of my form for safer, weight lifting and more efficient running.  The design leaves me in control of my ankle foot and toes to maximize every movement with the most minimal interference. 

I love that I can wear these to the gym, to the mall while finishing my Christmas shopping, and even gracefully match them with sweaters for holiday parties.  These shoes really can do it all.

From all of my many travels I’ve learned to keep things simple, which is why I appreciate these sneakers so much.  Wearing shoes that can go anywhere and do anything really does help me keep things simple every day and make it so I'm up for whatever might come up throughout the day.

Although I do still like to wear my not-so-practical pumps and flats every now and again, I love that I can now easily stash my light-weight Rio Souls in my purse or a backpack for whatever might roll my way.  With no more added weight or bulk than a pair of flip flops and the comfort of a sneaker, there's no excuse for not having practical shoes anymore. 

And, these are probably the most impressively practical shoes I could ever own.  Not every shoe can keep up with me, and even fewer look this good while doing it.  Thank goodness I have a 20% off with free shipping coupon at RioSoul.com that I can use to buy some more in every color of the rainbow – hey a girl needs to be prepared, right?

Want to use my 20% off + free shipping coupon for yourself?  Simply enter R888SOUL at checkout to score a truly great deal just in time for the holidays. 



I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Rio Soul.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.  #CBias #SocialFabric #HolidayGuide

Huggies GoodNites Disposable Bed Mats are a Travel Must-Have {$2 off Coupon}

Know what I hate even more than washing sheets?  Washing sheets in the middle of the night because one of the kids had an accident.  Really, there’s nothing worse than being woken from a sound sleep to a project, and especially one that requires loads of laundry and, often, a bath. 

But, if you’ve got a little one in diapers or you’re doing night-time potty training with a toddler, accidents go with the territory.  Unfortunately for me, I have both, which means lots of sheets and laundry each week.  Recently, we’ve been experimenting with cloth diapers and training underwear overnight for our oldest so that we could fully wean out of diapers, but this process has led to even more laundry than I could have imagined.

When our team is at home, this is a minor inconvenience.  But, when we take our show on the road and we’re using someone else’s bed, someone else’s laundry, or if we have to pack it all home again with us, this can actually ruin a trip.  Tent camping, hotel stays, or crashing at friend’s homes all require something more disposable that doesn’t mean extra laundry.

Of course the solution would come from Huggies, the company that we already rely on for leak protection.  Huggies GoodNites Disposable Bed Mats are the perfect solution for grandma’s house, daycare, or for any time that laundry just isn’t possible because they can attach to anything and can protect bedding, sleeping bags and more from accidents.

I found out that the Huggies GoodNites Disposable Bed Mats were available from Walmart.com and even though my local store doesn’t carry them, I ordered 3 packs via site-to-store for free and then picked them up a few days later.  I was in and out of there in a matter of minutes with my packages of GoodNites bed mats in hand and ready for all of our holiday and blogging travel in the coming months. 

We got to put Huggies GoodNites Disposable Bed Mats to the test on a recent weekend trip to Portland and they were a lifesaver.  With us averaging an accident every week or so here at home, I really didn’t want to chance ruining our beloved travel crib or having to pack a wet sleeping bag home over state lines, so the GoodNites bed mats were the perfect solution for us.  I simply slipped two into our overnight bag, one for the travel crib and one for the sleeping bag, and was able to bring my own peace of mind with us.

I was partially expecting them to feel like the pads used in hospitals with a slippery underside that tends to move around all over the bed, so I was really happy to find that they have a peel-and-stick design that helps keep them right where you need them.  No waking up to find the mats wrapped around your child’s feet with the bed exposed because the GoodNites stay right where you place them. 

Also a surprise was how soft they felt in comparison to hospital pads.  They have a soft breathable top layer much like a feminine pad and then a plastic waterproof bottom layer that doesn’t make noise like other waterproof bedding can.  It’s not as lush as flannel or as soft as cotton, but much preferred to paper or crinkly plastic yet still disposable.

Now that we’re back from Portland, we haven’t stopped using the GoodNites Disposable Bed Mats.  We placed one on the twin-sized bed in my daughter’s room and then another one on the crib in my son’s room so we could see how they handle multiple nights of sleep.  They have both held up really well, which I was thrilled about because it means I don't need to bring a new mat for each day unless the pad gets soaked.

Their larger 2.6 x 2.9ft size makes them perfect for crib, toddler, twin, or full beds and then you can simply fold one panel down to fit small portable cribs like the Baby Bjorn or Phil and Ted’s.  They also fit nicely in children’s sleeping bags, you just need to wrap the sides of the mat up and around your child and secure with the peel-and-stick lining.  Try them in playpens, play yards, play mats or anything else your child sleeps in, drools on, or plays on top of to protect your child and all of your gear.

We plan on slipping some in the overnight bag for the holidays so we can bring them with us to the grandparent’s house and then keeping the rest with our luggage for the next vacation.  With how portable they are and how inexpensive {$9.47 for 9ct}, it just makes sense to stock up for overnights, camping, and vacations so we always have some ready to go.   

Want to learn more about bedwetting and get some great tips and tricks for older kids?  Check out Walmart's GoodNites Mats page where you can even download a $2 off coupon to purchase your own GoodNites Mats.  You can buy them directly from Walmart.com via site-to-store or you can ship them directly to your home {with free shipping over $49!}.

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Huggies. #HuggiesWalmart #CBias #SocialFabric.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.