Play Doh Backpack Review

We had a blast using the Play Doh Backpack!  It was perfect timing for some back to school reinforcement after a long summer.  My Kindergartener made patterns with letters and colors.  The scissors were great for perfecting fine motor skills.  He absolutely loved cutting and shaping his letters and numbers with the Play Doh tools and stamps.  My 8 year was equally as entertained.  What kid doesn’t love Play Doh?  This cute backpack kit kept everything neatly organized and was not at all overwhelming with the number of pieces and set up.  As a teacher and mom, I loved the fact that it had letter and number stamps.  This was a fun, easy way to sneak in some math and spelling practice.

It makes a super gift! Only 14.99, the Back Pack comes with four 5-ounce cans of PLAY-DOH compound, a FLIP ‘N SNIP tool, presser, rail, roller, knife and 36 cutters.  Take everything you need to make fun creations everywhere you go with this fantastic clear Back Pack. With four cans of PLAY-DOH compound and more than 40 accessories, the number of things you can mold, shape, cut and create is practically endless! Plus, when it’s time to hit the road, put everything inside, zip the top, put the pack on your back and you’ll all set to travel with fun in tow!

Magnificent Moments of Mom **GIVEAWAY**

Being a mom is one of the toughest jobs on the planet!  It’s almost like being a secret service agent for the President, but instead of protecting the President of the United States, you are protecting your offspring, some of the most precious little human beings in your life.

Until you have become a mom, you never understand what moms go through in a day, week or a lifetime.  You gain a new appreciation for your mom and realize how truly magnificent she really was or is.  You look back and remember those “Magnificent Mom Moments” and those are the moments that will remain in your memory and put a smile on your face.

I’m not an expert by any means when it comes to being a mom and all I can hope for is that I do my best for my girls.  I hope that I  love them enough, teach them enough and care for them and protect enough.  And, when I have one of those “I just kicked booty as a mom” moments, I hope that I’m not the only one that notices.

*This post was inspired by Ziploc, check out their ideas and recipes for quick and easy ways to get more out of the things you do for your family every day. They want to hear from YOU so visit them on Facebook and share your own magnificent moments with them.

How would you like to win a backpack full of really cool items for your child to go back to school with this 2010-2011 school year?  Below is a list of everything you will win in this back to school backpack giveaway:

• ClassWish.org $25 Credit
• DreamSakes 20 Free Artwork Scans
• Arizona Kidz drinks
• PopChips a variety pack of PopChips & variety of coupons.
• Leapfrog Tag Reader with book set and US map, OR a LeapFrog
  Explorer with 2 games! (Penguins of Madagascar and Toy Story 3)
• Stoneyfield Yo-Kids
• RoseArt glitter markers, dry erase board, and fun Color Blanks.
• Carolina Pad variety of notebooks, folders, and binders
• Orange Circle Studios a “Do it all” planner & a family calendar.
• BitDefender security software for your PC.
• E is for Ethics Book by Simon & Schuster
• Sun and Earth Cleaning Products Samples
• Dolphin Chips (Human body and Facts to Annoy Your Teacher)
• FamZoo  year long membership
• Fox Entertainments both Diary of a Wimpy Kid & Marmaduke DVDs
• Stoneyfield Farms coupons, awesome recycled plastic storage containers, & a few other surprises!
• Silver Dolphin added the “Human Body” book, and “Facts to Annoy your Teacher” books.

and more to come!  I will add as they arrive:)

Win it!

One lucky winner will win  all of the items listed above ($300 value).  The winner will be notified via email and will need to respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

This event is sponsored by Ziploc Brand and 20th Century Fox as well as other brands that have contributed to filling the backpack!  Enter to win a backpack filled with over $300 worth of back to school merchandise.  Please visit FillTheBackPack.com for more Information, The Dream Classroom Contest, Contest Rules, Our Sponsors and the list of Participating Brands!

Marmalade Hills *Giveaway*

Marmalade Hills, the local producer of a natural skin care line, is offering a $25 gift certificate to one lucky Detroit Mommies reader!

I reviewed this product earlier this summer. You can read it here

Marmalade Hills is locally owned and operated by Liana Spiegel, a local artisan and mother of two. Marmalade Hills is founded on the belief that living an eco-friendly lifestyle and using natural, biodegradable products is a rewarding, personal choice. Spiegel truly believes and depends on uncompromised quality of her products and happy customers. She makes each of her products by hand in small batches, which helps her ensure their high quality and unique appeal not found in mass produced products.

Marmalade Hills offers all-natural handcrafted soaps, whipped body polishes, other bath time luxuries, moisturizers, baby care products, facial care products, lip balms, foot care, soy products and more.

To learn more, or to buy your own Marmalade Hills product, visit the Marmalade Hills website.

Win it!

One lucky winner will win  Win $25 gift certificate for Marmalade Hills beauty products.  The winner will be notified via email and will need to respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Fun Back to School Activities for your Preschooler

As a mom of a 5 year old and preschool teacher,  the Grasshopper Preschool Prep Kit was a welcome addition to our home.   We used the Snip, Glue, and Grow kit which includes 10 hands- on games.   The product was developed by an occupational therapist, so the activities and games focus on fine motor skills, while having fun!  These skills are often a source of frustration for the preschool age children and Grasshopper Preschool Prep Kits make developing these skills fun and interactive.  My son particularly liked the cutting activities and did very well following the directions and doing it correctly.  I am definitely going to integrate this product into my preschool classroom this fall.  Great activities, great product!  Visit www.grasshopperkits.com  for more information about this educational company and their other Preschool Prep Kits.

From the Grasshopper Prep Kit Site:

The current recommendation states that parents need to introduce more active, goal-directed play into their children’s routine. GRASSHOPPER® Preschool Prep Kits are the answer. Children play games while achieving functional success. All GRASSHOPPER® kits are packed with exclusive materials and games to help create a smooth transition into the world
of education.

GRASSHOPPER® games are clearly laid out in full color guide books with straight-forward instructions and supporting illustrations. All of the materials fit easily into the custom GRASSHOPPER® no-spill carrying case which is designed with organized compartments, an easy snap lid, and a built in easel.

The games all have a ‘back to basics’ slant, with a clever edge so that kids feel like they are playing while they are building their foundation skills for school. Help your child get ready for school the GRASSHOPPER® way!

Disclosure:  The Grasshopper Preschool Prep Kit was provided for review.  All opinions are mine and not influenced by anyone or anything.

Moon Dough Review

About a year ago I bought my daughter Moon Sand and although it didn’t ruin anything and could be vacuumed up, it was still messy and it silently disappeared.  I’m really not a fan of anything sticky, gooey or the least bit messy in my home, but I know how fun it is when you are a child and get to squish and squash things between your fingers, so I give in a little.

I was given the opportunity to try Moon Dough with my daughters and was slightly not excited at the prospect.  Dough is usually doughy and sticky and the thought of it getting stuck in my carpet frightens me!

I was pleasantly surprised by Moon Dough.  It was like marshmallow, soft and foam-like.   My girls enjoyed making barn animals and hay bales and I enjoyed the consistency of the product.  They put the Moon Dough into the barn silo, turned the crank making 3D Moon Dough animals… I breathed a sigh of relief.

You can choose from the Moon Dough Barn, Moon Dough Pizza Shop, Moon Dough Burger Shop or the Moon Dough Magical Molding Doghouse.  They range in price from $9.99 to $19.99 which makes a perfect birthday gift for children ages 2-4.  My oldest is 6 and she enjoyed playing with the Moon Dough as well.

Moon Dough is hypo-allergenic and wheat free.

For more information go to http://www.moondough.com

Disclosure:  I was sent the Moon Dough Farm for review.  All opinions are mine and my daughters and not influenced by anyone or anything.

Droid X delivers it all

Motorola packed everything into the Droid X. A crisp, clear phone, a social media machine, an unbelievable camera and the powerful Android operating system make the Droid X gives something other phones to aspire to.

Let’s get physical

This phone comes in a very tiny box, but the phone is anything but. It takes up just about every inch of the box. It’s definitely large but, as the saying goes, it’s in charge. The phone is mostly screen giving users an unbelievable view of the phone and every application it carries.

The phone is black with red button accents. The back of it is the camera, which I will get to in a minute. This phone is all screen and little else.

The display is massive at 4.3″. It makes it easy to chat, e-mail or even blog. The touch-screen display provides a powerful keyboard for input yet doesn’t take up valuable phone real estate with a physical QWERTY keypad. There are buttons for navigating menus and options. The phone is easy to type on when held vertically and even easier when help horizontally. The expansive screen makes web browsing easy.

Speed

This phone has a need for speed and it delivers. I downloaded a few apps to the phone that I also run on my personal Droid Eris. No comparison. The Droid X flies through the applications and process them much quicker. I ran several side-by-side and was blown away by the time it took the Droid X to perform a task over the Eris. Combine that with Verizon’s reliable network and I had a fast-pace, non-call-dropping machine.

Powering it up

I look at cell phones and what they can do for people like me–a busy mom on the go. I want a phone that wil have a charge when I’m ready to use it. This is the one. Even after not charging it for three days, this phone still had plenty of power and was ready to send my tweets, take my pictures or power my calls.

The Purse Test

There is no denying this phone is in your purse. Even in my messy, overcrowded sack, I was able to locate the phone. First of all, it’s big so it’s hard for it to get lost in any of those pockets or folds. Second, the massive screen. All you have to do is call this phone and let the light from the screen guide you.

Camera

As I mentioned earlier, this phone has the camera I am looking for as a mom. No more carrying my point-and-shoot, my iPod and my phone. With the Droid X, I’m able to do all three tasks. The pictures were sharp and clear and even printed well. It also offers an HD video camera complete with an HDMI input. I have so much faith in the camera that I will be using it on a photowalk in Detroit this weekend.

For those unfamiliar, a photowalk takes place in a specific area and a group of photographers of all level meet to take photos, share ideas and learn from each other. I usually pack a DSLR, but this weekend, I’ll put that away and take out my Droid X. I’ll be posting the photos on my Flickr. Feel free to follow along. I’ll also be tweeting as I go at @writerrwt on Twitter.

But back to the phone.

For those who like the techy specs, here is what this tiny phone has to offer:

• 4.3″ Touch Screen WVGA Display— supports up to 16M colors
• Bluetooth Profiles supported
• 8.0 MP camera with fast mechanical shutter (1/1000 sec) auto focus, touch–to–focus, and face recognition, panoramic modes, and more.
• 720p HD Video capture with easy upload to YouTube, slow–motion capture, fast motion capture and more.
• HDMI Output to play your recorded HD Videos on your HD TV at home in true 720p Hi–Definition (DRM protected content cannot be played via HDMI)
• DLNA Wireless sharing of photos, video, and music with other DLNA compatible devices (Server, Controller, Player, Upload and Download)
• Android Music Player
• FM Radio
• Android 2.1 (Eclair) OS with Motorola Application Platform
• TI OMAP 1GHz processor with Dedicated GPU
• 8GB Internal memory for emails, texts, and apps
• 16 GB microSD card pre–installed on–device — up to 32GB microSD supported
• Integrated Google , Exchange, Facebook , Myspace, and Twitter Contacts
• Push Email Support: Gmail & Exchange & Yahoo
• IMAP and POP, MSN Hotmail, and AOL Mail also supported.
• Unified Google Calendar & Corporate Calendar (supports Exchange 2003 and 2007protocol)
• WiFi Capable
• Bilingual Interface: English/Espanol
• 3G Mobile Hotspot with support for up to 5 Devices
• Text, Picture & Video Messaging with threaded messaging feature
• Visual Voice Mail capable
• VZ Navigator capable via the Android Market
• Skype Mobile™capable
• V CAST Media Manager capable
• VZW Backup Assistant capable
• Photo Sharing: Facebook, Picasa , Photobucket® and Print to Retail
• Dimensions: 5.02″ (H) x 2.57″ (W) x 0.39″ (D)
• Weight: 5.47 ounces
• Usage Time: Up 480 minutes OR
• Standby Time: Up to 220 hours

While Verizon Wireless provided me with the Droid X for this review, I was not compensated for my opinion and all of these thoughts are my own.

HUGE Back to School Giveaway!

Unfortunately there is a problem going on in schools across the nation.  Children and teachers don’t have the money to buy the supplies that they need to educate in their classrooms, so  ClassWish.org is here to help.

ClassWish.org unites teachers, parents and communities to provide the classroom resources children need to thrive.  Teachers create Wish Lists.  Visitors see exactly what’s needed and make tax-deductible contributions to help.  The result?  All of us are united in helping children meet their potential.  See how easy it is a http://ClassWish.org

How would you like to win a backpack full of really cool items for your child to go back to school with this 2010-2011 school year?  Below is a list of everything you will win in this back to school backpack giveaway:

• ClassWish.org $25 Credit
• DreamSakes 20 Free Artwork Scans
• Arizona Kidz drinks
• PopChips a variety pack of PopChips & variety of coupons.
• Leapfrog Tag Reader with book set and US map, OR a LeapFrog
  Explorer with 2 games! (Penguins of Madagascar and Toy Story 3)
• Stoneyfield Yo-Kids
• RoseArt glitter markers, dry erase board, and fun Color Blanks.
• Carolina Pad variety of notebooks, folders, and binders
• Orange Circle Studios a “Do it all” planner & a family calendar.
• BitDefender security software for your PC.
• E is for Ethics Book by Simon & Schuster
• Sun and Earth Cleaning Products Samples
• Dolphin Chips (Human body and Facts to Annoy Your Teacher)
• FamZoo  year long membership
• Fox Entertainments both Diary of a Wimpy Kid & Marmaduke DVDs
• Stoneyfield Farms coupons, awesome recycled plastic storage containers, & a few other surprises!
• Silver Dolphin added the “Human Body” book, and “Facts to Annoy your Teacher” books.

and more to come!  I will add as they arrive:)

Win it!

One lucky winner will win  all of the items listed above ($300 value).  The winner will be notified via email and will need to respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

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Perfect for a Road Trip: Friendship Bracelet Maker

I got the perfect item for a road trip to review, My Friendship Bracelet Maker and actually I think I was more keen on the item than my 6 year old.  It is a friendship bracelet maker kit and I seriously spent about two hours of my Sunday making friendship bracelets for my three daughters.

The kit comes with:

• 56 precut threads to 60″ length in 14 different colors
• Storage to keep the strings organized
• a butterfly clip that secures the string while you are knotting the string to make the bracelet
• easy to follow instructions

Memories started flooding my head while making bracelets for my girls.  I remembered making bracelets with my friends as a tween.  We didn’t have the cool friendship bracelet maker I got to review.  We tied our string to a stationary object like a doorknob and winged it.  This product is so much cooler and would make the best gift for a birthday, a great item to have while traveling, perfect for a sick kid to work on while stuck in the bed and great to pass the time during summer break.

This is actually one of the coolest craft makers I’ve seen in a long time and I will purchasing these for gifts for sure!

To find a retailer near you that sells the My Friendship Bracelet Maker, go (here).

Disclosure:  I was sent the My Friendship Bracelet Maker for review.  All opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone or anything.

Fill the Backpack

This back to school season is going to be nothing like you’ve ever seen before here on Detroit Mommies.  We teamed up with seven other bloggers and put together some  amazing opportunities for the parent, the student and the teacher!  Everyone wins and nothing but the best will be coming your way!  Well, go ahead and continue reading to see what we have in store for you over the next few weeks!

“Fill the Backpack”
The Parent. The Student. The Teacher.
August 16th – Septmeber 16th

We will be giving away 16 backpacks overflowing with back to school surprises and hosting a Dream Classroom Contest for teachers and parents to submit a 200 word essay describing their dream classroom.  Two entries will receive $500 to classwish.org to help assist in the building of the classroom of their dreams.

We have partnered with Volunteer Spot and this event will be sponsored by Ziploc Brand and 20th Century Fox as well as other brands that have contributed to filling the backpack!  Please visit FillTheBackPack.com for more Information, The Dream Classroom Contest, Contest Rules, Our Sponsors and the list of Participating Brands!

Meet the Backpack Bloggers!

Tech Savvy Mama – Leticia Barr

Just Precious – Julie Meyers Pron

The Centsible Life – Kelly Whalen

Detroit Mommies – Courtney Velasquez

It’s My Life – Jessica Rosenberg

Savvy Sassy Moms – Andrea Fellman

From Crib to Car Keys – Shannan Powell

Clueless Mama – Laurie Cooper

VolunteerSpot’s free online signup sheets save time, eliminate reply-all email, and make it easy for more parents to get involved at school. Register at VolunteerSpot before October 1, 2010 using promo code ‘“TeachersSave” for a chance to win $100 in free classroom supplies for the teacher of your choice from ClassWish.org.

Products to Keep Kids Entertained on a Roadtrip and a Giveaway

I recently got back from a road trip to NYC. It took 20 hours round trip and I have 3 small children under the age of 7. Keeping these girls occupied during the long drive could have been a nightmare, but with the help of some activities and fun snacks, it wasn’t as painful as you might think.

Here are some of the items I brought to entertain my girls while on the road:
Travel Kiddy is a bag filled with all kinds of fun activities for kids.  You can choose your bag depending on the age of your child and then it is filled with activities appropriate for your child’s age.  The Travel Kiddy bag we got was for ages 3-6 which was perfect since I have a 4yr old and a 6 yr old.  The kit included:

• 9×12 foam core drawing board
• 16 count Crayola crayons in durable container (to minimize breakage)
• Tissues
• 2 hand sanitizing wipes
• bandages
• Wikki Stix
• 2 jungle animals
• 2 bendable figures
• Melissa & Doug 6×9 doodle pad with 50 pages
• Spring toy
• Die cast car
• Magnetic drawing board
• Animal shaped tape measure
• Eversharp pencil
• Small ruler with fun stencil designs
• 6 sticker sheets
• 2 color your own postcards with stamps
• Small colorful snake
• 2 age appropriate crafts
(examples include color your own lacing cards, color your own hat or color your own finger puppets)
• Sticker activity fun book with over 50 stickers
• Coloring book
• Activity book

My girls were entertained for hours.  The kit mixed in with other activities was key in making the trip bearable for them.  They played with some of the kit on the drive and took the kit with them when we went out to dinner.  The Travel Kiddy is great for dining out, traveling, sick children and birthday gifts.

We packed a cooler of snacks and drinks to keep the girls hydrated and fed.  We like to have nutritional snacks like fruit, cheese, crackers, yogurt and vegetables.  We also like to bring drinks that aren’t high in sugar like water or juice.  Juicy Juice has come out with a new product called Juicy Juice Sparkling.  It is like a soda because of the fizz, but a healthier option because it is fruit juice.  The Juicy Juice Sparkling comes in three flavors Apple, Berry and Orange.  It is made up of 70% real juice and 30% water.

Another fun toy we brought on the trip was called the Wurmm.  It is a brain teaser that my 6 year old mastered way too fast and was over it right off the bat.  My 4 year old was more interested in it and I think it was more challenging for her and more fun.  The object of the game is to maneuver the worm through the apple and out.  It requires a lot of manipulation and patience.

The Leapfrog Camera was by far my girls favorite time occupier on the road trip.  It is a digital camera that talks, so they fought, like sisters do, over who got to use the camera next.  The camera also comes with editing software, a flash and has a 1.5 inch screen.  It was easy for my 4 yr old to hold and use.  My 20 month old tried it a few times and didn’t want to give it back to the older girls.   You can find the Leapfrog camera at your local Toys R Us.

Win it!

One lucky winner will get  a Leapfrog Camera ($50 value).  The winner will be notified via email and will need to respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

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