iPieces By Pressman Toy {Review & Giveaway}

My children love the iPad.  They are constantly fighting over who gets to play with it, and despite downloading many games that they should be able to play together, they just don't.  Until now.

This summer, when I was at BlogHer I was able to play with the new iPieces games from Pressman Toy.  These games are super cool because they not only have physical pieces, but they work with the iPad by downloading an app from the App Store (included in the price of the iPieces).

My favorite of the games is iPieces Air Hockey.  It is seriously fun for my kids to play together, or for my husband and I to play with them.  The game comes with two strikers that you use to hit the virtual puck on screen.  My kids thing that the options you can add to the game, like the hole-in-the-ice obstacle are hilarious, and quite frankly, I think they are challenging!  Check out this awesome video that can really show you how the games work.

Pressman Games not only sent our family Air Hockey to test, they also sent us the fabulously fun Fishing Game.  I am probably dating myself, but this game reminds me of the old fashioned, wind up game, where you had to put your poll into the magnetic fish mouths and catch as many as you can.  It was one of my favorites when I was small, and now as a mom, this game is another fave!  Especially because there are far less pieces to lose, and both of my kids can play it easily even with the youngest being only 2 1/2.

The iPad is such a great tool for my kids to use when they are needing a distraction - when we are on a long car ride, a plane, waiting in a doctor's office, etc. and having games that they can play together has been awesome!    I have to say that they little cases that the games come with are really great for storing the  pieces and you can throw them in your bag without worrying about anything breaking.

If you are still looking for stocking stuffers or presents for those kids that have everything, these are perfect!  In addition to Air Hockey and Fishing, there are also 2 iPad "board" games - Snakes and Ladders and Game of Goose.  (Plus a new iPieces Billiards game is out!)  I found these games on Amazon (with Prime shipping!) for about $10 - $13.  Not bad at all and seriously tons of fun - especially if you are traveling this holiday season!  (This could make airport delays a heck of a lot more bearable!)

And now, for my favorite part of this post...  a giveaway!!!

To win your choice of an iPieces game by Pressman Toys use the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good luck and happy entering!! 


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Disclosure:  I was provided with samples of iPieces games to facilitate this review.  The opinions are my own.

Holiday Check List #1...

Holiday Cards Ordered.  Check.  :)

 

 

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty List and Giveaway

Melissa and Doug has long been a favorite company of ours because of their educational, high quality, safe toys!  Each year I find myself purchasing more and more of their adorable, imagination inspiring products, and this year, there is no doubt that there will be M&D goodies under our tree.

I am sooooo excited to share with you Melissa and Doug's new Terrific Twenty Holiday Gift List!  The wonderful people over at M&D have put together a list of toys that are bound to excite and please any little one on your list!  From the adorable, lovable Beeposh Lion, to the Fashion Design Activity Kit that reminds me of my childhood, you can be sure that you are getting a gift that will last for a very long time.

If you are planning on traveling this holiday season or in the new year, the Trunki is an amazing gift that can be used year round!  My son received one for his first Christmas and still loves to use it wherever we go!  Although I have always thought that the animal designs were adorable, I am in LOVE with the new Tie-Dye Swirl designs!  (How cool are they?!?  And strangely enough, also reminiscent of my childhood! ;))

Melissa and Doug are not only giving away an item from their Terrific Twenty list every day on their Facebook page, but they are also letting me give one of my fabulous readers a gift as well!!  It's super easy to win - just use the Rafflecopter widget below!  Good luck and happy entering!  I know this would make anyone's season brighter! :)

**After you enter here, stop by my friend Jen's blog and enter to win another M&D toy!**


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Seventh Generation Review & Giveaway

My family has been using Seventh Generation's natural products for years!  We have used everything from their diapers to their cleaning supplies and we have never been disappointed in the quality or price.  As a matter of fact, I started purchasing their all purpose cleaner because not only was it safe for my children, but it was an even better value than many of the other brands that use harmful chemicals in their sprays.

We are always evaluating how to reduce their environmental impact, increase performance and safety, and create a more sustainable supply chain. We believe it is our responsibility to set a course for a more mindful way of doing business, where companies act as partners with other stakeholders to create a brighter future for the whole planet. - Seventh Generation

I was so excited when I received a package full of wonderful Seventh Generation Products to help keep my family safe during the upcoming flu season!  With the soft, recycled tissues, that are not only green, but extremely gentle, we are fighting allergy season without any red, irritated noses!  And, every time I wipe those drippy noses, I get to wash my hands with Seventh Generation's plant based hand soaps that smell heavenly!  I was shocked at how large the container is, and how smooth it makes my hands feel!  Usually by this time in the year my hands are cracked and dry from the constant hand washing, but they are feeling great!

We also received the Lemongrass Citrus Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner.  As I mentioned, I have used their household cleaners before, but I immediately noticed that the new spray nozzle had really great reach.  It felt like it was covering all of the surface that I was trying to clean in an even coating of cleaner, instead of all going to one spot.  It also smells really delicious!  (Almost made cleaning up puppy messes bearable!)

Here's my favorite thing about Seventh Generation - they are kind enough to not only send me a package full of germ preventing products including wipes, sprays, hand soaps, and tissues, but they also want to give a similar package to one of my readers!  It's super easy to enter!  Check out this adorable video of how to make a not-so-spooky germ monster.  Then leave a comment telling me how you eliminate germ monsters from your house!

Use the Rafflecopter below to record that entry and any additional that you'd like to  complete.  This contest will end Friday, November 2nd.  Good luck and happy entering!


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Disclosure:  I received these products free of charge to review.  The opinions expressed in this post are mine.

It's Time to Shop!

Although I'm not quite ready for the holidays, there is no denying that they are coming - and quickly!  So I've begun to create a list of things I want to get for Christmas this year.  Obviously, I'm not talking about MY wish list - I am talking about the things that I will need for the house, and to put under the tree for my kiddies.  That being said, project number one is... A Christmas Tree!

Pre-children, the hubs and I had a fake tree.  I'll admit, it wasn't all that pretty to begin with, but now, 10 years later, it's pretty awful.  Last year, I finally convinced my husband that the kids should have the experience of a real tree, but with two toddlers, a puppy and a cat, we settled for a teeny tiny tree that we ended up planting in our yard in the Spring.  This year, we've added another puppy to the mix, so a fake it is!  Thankfully, I now know that there are tons of options for Christmas trees that won't make Santa cringe!  For example, this beautiful Lincoln Pine.  This beauty wouldn't even look bad pre-lit!  It is full, looks soft and plush, and the green doesn't look like it came from a box of crazy crayons.  Natural is the look I am going for!

So, what's going under the tree, you ask?  Well, P has asked for the usually boy paraphernalia like Nerf guns, LEGO games, and Wii games and games for his Nintendo DS.  If it has a superhero on it, then it's even better.  I expect to find something along the lines of this under our tree on Christmas morning...

As for Bean, well she is a little more difficult, but I have a feeling she will be aching to play with her brother's toys, no matter what we get her!  (Little sister syndrome...) ;)

Hubs - well, he has a big (29 + 1 kind-of big) birthday coming up, just days after xmas, so who knows...maybe he will find a nice, big, scratch free LED TV under there...  well, he can hope at least! ;)

What's on your list??  Are you going big or small this year?  Real or fake?? (Tree that is!)

A Wholly Giveaway!!

So, I just told you all about the delicious new flavors of Salsa and the guacamole goodness that is Wholly Guacamole, and now it's your chance to win a cooler full of these fantastic products, delivered right to your door!

Here's how you can win!  It's easy peasy! :)  Just use the rafflecopter widget below!  Contest will end Wednesday, October 17th at 12:01 am (EST).  Happy Entering and don't forget to Eat Wholly!



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Wholly Guacamole!

I am addicted to guacamole.  Yes, I'm also addicted to Mexican food, however, the two are not mutually exclusive.  I put guacamole on everything, and nothing is more delicious than Wholly Guacamole!

I was beyond thrilled when I met up with the fabulous people from Wholly Guacamole at BlogHer '12 and since they sensed my little obsession, they were kind enough to send me a nice big cooler full of their delicious products - new and old!  Of course, the guacamole was to die for, and I expect no less from the brand, but what I didn't realize was how many really fantastic salsa dips they had too!

There are five new flavors, and honestly, each one is really great and surprisingly different.  After multiple taste tests I think I can officially say that the Red Pepper Mango is my favorite when I'm looking for something a little sweet and spicy - think a grilled chicken quesadilla or salty lime drizzled tortilla chips - yum!  But...a very close second is the Avocado Verde Salsa.  Wow!  My husband and I actually used this to make an amazing midnight snack of chicken, muenster cheese, and Avocado Verde.  It definitely hit the spot!

The thing that I really love best about Wholly Guacamole and all of their products is that I know that they are using natural, healthy ingredients.  Plus, everyone in my family is excited when they see me pull one of their packages out of the grocery bags!  I can't get over the fact that my kids will literally eat the chunky avocado with a spoon!  What an amazing way for them to get the 20 vitamins and minerals that are in WG's delicious goodies thanks to the Hass avocado!

If you are worried that you can only put guacamole on Mexican food, I am here to tell you that you are wrong!  Guacamole makes a delicious dip for everything from pretzels to chicken nuggets!  Some people even love to put the new Pineapple Dip on ice cream!

You can find tons of great recipes on the Wholly Guacamole site, or get inspired by following them on Pinterest.  Because really, you can't tell me this doesn't look amaze-balls!