Our Take
The dvd consists of 6 different episodes and has a run time of 66 minutes. The episodes are engaging, and really allow your child to think outside the box. I could almost see the wheels turning in Chandler’s head as the Busytown characters found clues to help solve their mysteries. It was a show that I sat and watched for more than one episode. It’s nice to see education in shows, and it’s fun to see a different spin put on it, like Busytown Mysteries does.

Play
Busytown Mysteries also has an interactive website geared just for kids. Choose your character and vehicle and then you are on your way to fun. There are all sorts of educational games, and lots of exploring to do.

Price: $8.99

Where to Buy: Ncircle Entertainment

The product buzzed about in this article was a sample provided to me by NCircle Entertainment.  The views and opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated.

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We stayed downtown in a Hampton, and were on the very top floor, the 11th.  We got settled in the first night and went to bed around 11.  At 1:30 am, some loud beeping sound started going off.  I thought it was the alarm clock, and so did hubby.  After realizing that wasn’t it, he started playing with the thermostat, wondering if that was going off.  Then we heard a woman’s voice saying there was an emergency, to exit the building, and don’t use the elevator.  It was some sort of recording, so she was repeating the information over and over.  I panicked and started to race through my head what it could be.  The first thing I thought of was that it might be a fire, my second thought was panic because were were on the 11th floor.  Hubby and I had the same next instinct.  Jackets and blankets for the boys and pull them out of bed.  Oddly enough, they were both still asleep and we had to wake them.  I started heading for the door and saw a lot of people already heading for the stairs, including my sister and her kids.  I then realized I should probably grab valuables.  The only thing that I thought to take was my purse.  Granted, we were in a hotel, and I didn’t have a lot with me, but I did think about what I should grab.

We started the long journey down 11 flights of stairs.  At one point, my mom asked if she needed me to carry Chan.  He’s just under 40 lbs, but I didn’t think much of it, there was so much adrenaline going through me.  We stood outside and couldn’t go back to our rooms for over an hour.

The fire fighters came and finally left.  

Come to find out, the sprinklers had gone off in the parking garage.  I’m glad that is all that it was.  It got me thinking about what I would grab in case of an emergency in our home.  Of course, my first reaction would be my children and husband.  After that, what is really important?  I have important documents filed together, but are there other things that would be easy to grab and I should think of?  What would YOU grab in an emergency?

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The new flavors still have everything you can expect from Funky Monkey snacks. They taste great, and are organic. I was surprised at how much we liked the Pink Pineapple. I like pineapple, but wasn’t sure about eating it freeze dried. The Pink Pineapple also includes guava, so it’s a nice mix. It was my favorite of the three. Rowan really liked it as well, and also liked the Applemon, because he’s a big apple fan. You can find all of the nutritional information on their website, and can even order online! I like that there is more variety to choose from and the new flavors were a hit in our house.

Price: $21.97 for a pack of 12

Where to Buy: Amazon

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win all 7 flavors of Funky Monkey Snacks

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Visit Funky Monkey Snacks and tell me a flavor you’d like to try.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. (daily entry) – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post that you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on March 24th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

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Bee Well Wishes #90
Jennifer Jozwiak says:
February 23, 2010 at 8:08 pm
I’d like this shirt for my little girl.

DownEast Basics #82, 420
Crystal Warren says:
February 15, 2010 at 5:14 pm
fan of Downeast Basics on facebook (Kess N Crystal W on fb)
entry 1

Janaca Cann says:
March 1, 2010 at 11:57 am
Commented on What Are You Driving? #2

Hana Flat Iron #519
Teresa says:
March 1, 2010 at 4:22 pm
extra entry 1

I follow your awesome blog via Google Friend Connect!
name (monky)

All winners have been e-mailed. Congratulations!

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Car Seats

Pros
Convertible Carseat
The First Years has done an excellent job with this car seat. A convertible car seat is one that can be rear facing, and then forward facing as well. Many times, you have to transition from a convertible to a forward facing car seat. Not the case with the True Fit Premier. Your child’s weight can be between 5 and 65 lbs, and the height limit is 50 inches or less. There is a removable headrest which helps accomodate this. When an infant is rear facing, you remove the headrest. When your child gets older and meets the height,weight, and age requirements, they are forward facing, and you add the headrest. To give you an idea of how old and tall child can be, Chandler just turned 4 last fall. He is currently 41 inches tall and weighs around 37 lbs. Compared to other kids his age, he is 75% for height and 25% for weight. So although he’s a bit on the skinny side, he’s tall. I would guesstimate that he would be able to use this carseat, a convertible carseat, until he is 6 or 7. Birth until 6 or 7? That’s very accomodating for a carseat.

Rebound Bar
The True Fit Premier is the first convertible to have rebound energy management when it is rear facing. The rebound bar helps reduce the chance of broken bones and other injuries that happen in an accident when a car is rear facing. It actually acts as a rebound. Plus, it’s super easy to install when it is rear facing and the bar helps act as a guide. When you aren’t using the car seat for rear facing, you tuck the rebound bar underneath, and away you go.  You can see the rebound bar in the video later in this post.

Recline & Zone Angle Indicator
I’ve never seen a car seat that can recline while it is rear facing, but this one can. It also reclines forward facing and it is really simple to use the recline. Another great aspect is the Zone Angle Indicator.

If the carseat is in zone 1, it is at the correct angle for infants, zone 1 or 2 is recommended for toddlers. If the ball falls into the red zone with an x, you need to reposition your child, the incline is not safe for them. I know that other car seats have an indicator, but they are on the side and aren’t always visible. I like that this indicator is right by your child’s feet which means that you can check it while you are tightening straps.

Adjustable Straps
With every carseat I’ve owned in the past, when one of my boys gets to tall for the strap, I have to pull them out and re-thread, which can be a real pain. The harness height adjustment releases completely get rid of that problem. Just pull out on both of the releases, and move the straps to the correct position. Love this feature.

Comfort
I think comfort is incredibly important in a car seat. My child will be spending a lot of time in it over the years, so I like getting something that will be comfortable for them. The True Fit Premier has nice padding, is incredibly roomy, and has really soft fabric. Plus, the strap covers are also made of a soft fabric so that the straps won’t rub and irritate. I can also tell it’s super comfy because Rowan has a tendency to fall asleep in it, and he just looks comfy, doesn’t he?  There is also a cup holder on the side which adds to comfort, what little boy/girl doesn’t need their sippy?  And those comfy fabrics are easy to pull off and are machine washable!

Safety
Although this is the last point I am covering, it is the most important to me. The True Fit Premier has so many features that make it one of the safest carseats around. The ease of use is first. I think we can all safely assume that if a carseat is hard to understand, hard to use, or hard to install, it might not be used properly. If it isn’t being used properly, your child might not be protected like they should. The National Highway Transportation Administration gave this carseat a high “Ease of Use” award which speaks volumes. It was actually awarded 5 stars for ease of use. I have to agree. The instruction manual that it comes with is a small pocket one that is 70 pages. After looking through it for 15 minutes, I was ready to install the carseat and had no questions. Directions were easy to use, and there were great pictures that helped me each step of the way. It only took a few minutes to install, the latch connectors on this seat are super easy to use. I also fits nicely in our SUV as well as our compact commuter car. It’s easy to tighten and loosen the straps, as well as get your child in and out.
The EPP side impact is also a definite plus. I worry about side impact at times because both my boys sit by the doors. When Chan was an only child, we naturally had him in the middle of the seat as it is the safest place, but when you get more kids, you can’t always have them in the middle. The fact that it has the EPP side impact gives me peace of mind.

To see my favorite features in action, watch the video below

Cons

Width & Weight
The True Fit Premier is a pretty wide carseat. I know there are some that have to fit 3 carseats in one backseat. I think this would be very hard to do with this seat. Also, because it is a wider seat, it’s not really convenient in moving it from car to car. So if you are looking for a seat to transport, this might not be it. Adding to the bulk, the seat is 19 lbs, which makes it a bit heavy as well. I would rather take the wide and heavy anyday as it means it is safer, but it might be a con for some.

Other Cons
As for other Cons, I really struggled finding any. I may find things that I don’t like over time, but for now, it’s been a really nice seat. It has all of the safety features your child needs, and could be the last car seat you buy until you need a booster.

Price: $269.99

Where to Buy: Find an Online Retailer or Retailer Near You here.

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win The First Years True Fit Premier Convertible Car Seat

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Visit Learning Curve and tell me another Car Seat listed there.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. (daily entry) – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
Delivered by FeedBurner

• Follow me – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on April 5th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

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About Dove Men + Care
I must admit that it is a really nice new line. It smells nice, and my husband actually really likes the entire line. I think he appreciates that dove has a  body + face wash as well as men’s bar soap as he likes to use both. He also got to try out the active clean dual sided shower tool. One side is a lot like a loofah, and the other side is more of an exfoliant. He loved that it was called a “tool,” and I think it’s pretty innovative to call that in a men’s line as well.

Unsung Moments
Because Dove wants to hear the unsung moment’s in men’s lives, I thought it would be a great idea to let you know some of my husband’smoments. I’ve never felt like I’m the only one to take care of the kids, or the only one to clean. There have been countless times that I have come home from work to a spotless house, or I get a text at work about something fun hubby has done with the kids.
Another unsung moment; My husband is a dreamer, and chases those dreams which I absolutely love. He’s not afraid of failure and will stop at anything to succeed, which he always does in my eyes. So many of us sit back and let our dreams pass us by because they seem unattainable and so far out of reach.
So I want to know, what are some of the unsung moments of the men in your lives?  Head on over to Dove and let them know an unsung moment, you could win a complete backyard makeover!

Coupon
Visit the Dove Men + Care website to print a coupon for $1.00 off any of the new products.

The product buzzed about in this article was a sample provided to me Dove. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

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In fact, I was just in there and bought some new running shoes and a Nike +. I love that when I go there, I can always find someone who knows what they are talking about, and they carry brands that I know and trust.  I had a running specialist help me pick out these awesome shoes and I can’t wait to use them!

Starting Lineup
Dick’s Sporting Goods is looking for 10 people to be on their Starting Lineup. Those chosen will get a chance to review and try out new products, will be part of an online panel for one season (3 months), access to exclusive online surveys, and a chance to sound off on all things sports.

How does someone try for a chance to be on the “Starting Lineup”?
•   Follow http://twitter.com/dickssportcmo, if you’re not doing so already.
•   Recruit people to follow @dickssportcmo on Twitter and have them vote for you by Tweeting @dickssportcmo your Twitter ID and stating why you should be nominated.
•   Vote for yourself by Tweeting @dickssportcmo with your Twitter ID and stating why you should be on the “Starting Lineup.”
•   You can only vote for the same person once per day, but you can vote for multiple people in the same day.

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win a $50 Dick’s Sporting Goods Gift Card

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Follow http://twitter.com/dickssportcmo on twitter and leave your twitter name

Additional Entries – Daily Entries

• Tweet about the starting lineup and this giveaway using the retweet button at the top of this post (daily entry) – 2 entries
• Nominate yourself or someone else for starting lineup using this tweet: @dickssportcmo I nominate @TwitterID for the #startinglineup because…” – 2 entries (daily entry)
• Nominate me (I would be really grateful!) for starting lineup using this tweet: @dickssportcmo I nominate @babesandkids for the #startinglineup because… – 3 entries (daily entry)

(If you are interested in being nominated for starting lineup, or need a twitter vote, e-mail me at snedfam at gmail dot com.  I’d love to nominate you!)

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on March 31st. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

As part of this campaign for Starting Lineup,  I was given a gift card in return for my time.   These views and opinions are my own and were not influenced by monetary compensation.

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Pros: I think the biggest pro about this vacuum is that it has the ability to kill mold, viruses and bacteria. Because the flu has been going around so rapidly this year, I was glad to see that it kills influenza. Both my boys are vaccinated, but I feel like you can never be too careful.
I know it seems funny that a light can kill bacteria and I was a bit of a skeptic until I researched it more.
As taken from Oreck’s website:

Laboratory testing shows that exposure to UV-C light at the power generated by the patented Oreck Halo Light Chamber killed up to 99.9% of E-coli and viruses like the flu in less than one second. Many dust mite and flea eggs that can trigger allergies and asthma are also killed. The Oreck Halo’s UV-C light also kills the superbug MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that causes staph infections.

The light is great of course, but what about the rest of the vacuum? I like that you have options with this vacuum. For example, there is an option to turn the roller brush on and off, with a click of a button. That way, it vacuums carpets as well as hard surfaces.
You can also control the height on the side of the vacuum, which makes it easy to transition from carpeted to hard floors.

The Halo is fairly light at 17 lbs, and is competitive with other upright vacuums in this sense. It sure makes it easier to lug around 2 flights of stairs when it isn’t over 20 lbs like vacuums I have had in the past.
Oreck also uses hepa filter bags for ultimate filtration and does a great job in trapping dust and germs.

This particular vacuum has a 5 year warranty on the UV bulb, with 3 years on the vacuum. That 3 years includes 3 annual tune-ups, which is nice.
Overall, it’s a wonderful vacuum. I am interested to see if it plays a role in Rowan’s asthma getting better over the months to come.  Watch the video below to see more features.

Cons: This is a bagged vacuum which means you have to buy and change bags. You can get them at the Oreck store for $25 for an 8 pack. I also have a bagless vacuum and I like the convenience of a bagless. I’m not sure if I like the zipper around the bag either. It’s easy for dust to accumulate inside the bag and is harder to wipe out than other bagged vacuums with a plastic cover, where you can just wipe them down.
I am also used to the hose attachment being built right into the vacuum. With the Oreck Halo, there is a separate compartment that you have to attach the vacuum into as shown below.

I am pretty particular about reading about warranties on products. I’ve felt cheated on a few warranties on the past and felt like I didn’t take the time to read them through well enough before I made the purchase. The vacuum has a 3 year warranty, however there is a lot it doesn’t cover. Here is a part of the warranty I took from the instruction booklet that came with the vacuum:

“This limited warranty does not cover the replacement of expendable or consumable parts such as carbon motor brushes, edge brushes, drive belts, brushes, disposable bags, wheels, lights and light bulbs (other than the ultraviolet bulb) and other parts subject to normal wear unless they are defective in material or workmanship.”

Because of this statement, it makes me wonder how Oreck would handle a repair on a vacuum that is still under warranty. Would they consider a part defective and fix it, or would they say it has broken down from normal wear and tear and is not covered in the warranty. I don’t have any experience with this, but just wanted to say that while warranties are awesome most of the time, take time to ask questions and investigate the warranty before you buy. I would hope that Oreck would be generous in their warranty if buyers had problems.

Price: $599.95

Where to Buy: Oreck

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win an Oreck Halo

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Tell me your favorite feature of this vacuum cleaner.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. (daily entry) – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries
• comment on any non giveaway post you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries for each post you haven’t commented on.

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on March 30th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

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Creative Baby Gifts

Pros:
The Baby Bunch is essentially a baby clothing bouquet. It is not only creative, but the bouquet features layette items that every mom needs for a new baby, so it’s very practical as well. The medium bunch pictured below includes:

• 2 onesies
• 2 pair of socks
• hat
• bib
• tshirt

It comes in pink, blue and yellow and is sized from 0-6 months. All clothing is 100% cotton and feels very soft to the touch. They also offer a large bunch that includes a romper and burp cloths.
Baby Bunch doesn’t stop there with their creativity. They have mouthwatering baby treats as well. Even though they aren’t exactly edible, they are adorable. The organic cupcakes caught my attention, don’t they look yummy?

Cons: The price point could be a con for some. The medium baby bunch retails for $59.95, and while it is super cute, it might be out of price range for some. You have to remember you are paying for a novelty item as well though. If it is out of your price range, the cupcakes or lollipops might be a great alternative.  There is also a promo code below you can use to save on your order.  I’m not sure that this next point is exactly a con, but from a giver’s perspective I’m not sure how the quality of the product is. The fabric feels super soft, but I haven’t used it on a child so I can’t tell you how the clothing performs.

Coupon Code
Now through the end of march, you can enter code BUNCHGW10 and get 15% off your order!

Price: $59.95 for medium baby bunch

Where to Buy: Baby Bunch

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win a medium baby bunch

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Visit the Baby Bunch and tell me your favorite product

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. (daily entry) – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post that you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on March 15th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

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