Creative Baby i-Mat: My Animal World {Review & Giveaway}

Say what you will about children and technology, but there is no way to deny the benefits that have come from the large surge in kid-friendly devices, gadgets and apps over the last five years.

The abundance of ways for children to learn colors, practice writing, excel at counting, learn to read, etc, etc, has allowed the next generation to pick up skills even younger than before... often without even realizing that they are learning due to the fun of the game, the colorful graphics or the familiar characters.

With that said, however, we all know that the internet is a dangerous place for kids and that there are plenty of apps available that, to put it nicely, shouldn't have been created in the first place.

So what's a parent to do? Is there a way to combine entertainment, education, safety and complete child-appropriateness into one product that can be used and loved by all ages?

There is, and it's available now from Creative Baby Inc. in the form of the soft, colorful, delightful i-Mat: My Animal World.

Developed for babies as young as 18 months old, Creative Baby's i-Mat is made of four interlocking soft sections that are activated when used with its Voice Pen. A simple point to an animal with the pen results in an animal sound, word, music or a foreign language translation for the younger crowd and a search-and-find game for slightly older children.

On top of that, the i-Mat itself is phthalate-, lead- and heavy metal-free, and no electronics mean no worries for wiping the mat clean. So if you're looking for a way to protect your child from bumps and bruises on your hardwood floor, you can rest assured that they can hang out on this colorful, interactive mat with sounds and games at the same time!

Could this get any more unique and creative? I was eager to find out!

Although the actual assembly for the i-Mat took around 30 seconds (simply attach the four puzzle pieces together), I found that it took me much longer due to how much fun I had looking at all of the adorable animals!

I love that Creative Baby used illustrations that are cute but that aren't overly cutesy, making them look like cartoons. Instead, each one looks clearly as the animal and is found in a habitat that resembles where it actually lives.

After installing two batteries in the Voice Pen (not included), putting the set to use was a snap!

In the upper right corner of the i-Mat itself, simply touch the pen to the On/Off image and then choose the language that you would like to use — English, Spanish or Chinese.

Then it's ready to go!

Although Big Sister E and Little Sister B are a bit too old for just touching the animals to hear their names and sounds, they both still enjoyed moving around the i-Mat to try each one out... and got a big kick out of the jazzy music that plays for the animals that don't typically make a recognized sound (e.g. butterfly, camel, penguin).

As a bonus, however, they have had no problem switching the i-Mat to Spanish or Chinese to start learning the animal names in other languages — which is something that I definitely wouldn't be able to teach them on my own!

For slightly more of a challenge, however, the i-Mat: My Animal World includes two interactive games.

• Game 1: Where is the {animal}?


• Game 2: What animal makes {sound}? or What animal is {color}? or What animal {movement, such as flies}?

Although a few of the options in Game 2 made Big Sister E stop and think, she still found that overall the i-Mat was slightly too young for her. Little Sister B, on the other hand, was also able to answer most all of the questions in both games (if the child answers incorrectly three times, it moves on to the next question) and has loved seeing what it will ask her next!

Along with my big kids, we have also tried out the Creative Baby i-Mat: My Animal World with a few younger children as well and have found that they have enjoyed it just as much.

Ranging in age from 18 months to 2½, our younger testers' eyes lit up when they saw the colorful animals and realized just how soft and fun it was to move around on the i-Mat. Plus, as they used the Voice Pen more and more, it was easy to see them learning the names and sounds of the animals, particularly those that are more unique and they might not have previously known (e.g. seal, dragonfly).

I loved seeing them get delighted when they found the animal that they were looking for, giggle and laugh as they made the sounds along with the i-Mat (the gorilla was a big hit!), dance around when the music played, and even hear themselves speak by using the sound recorder on the Voice Pen. It was definitely a hit!

The main issue that we encountered was discovering that the location of the power button and the record button on the Voice Pen are in the same location where a child holds the pen while using it. Therefore, each one of the toddlers who tried this out proceeded to press the buttons multiple times (accidentally as well as on purpose), causing the pen to turn off or the recording beeps to occur over and over.

I would love to see these buttons moved to a less-used location or else the option of "locking" them to avoid being continually pressed!

All in all, we found that the i-Mat: My Animal World has proven to be extremely innovative, educational and entertaining and that children of all ages give it two thumbs up — I can't recall seeing a product at all similar to this that can provide such a multitude of possibilities for learning and fun!

Sold as a set, the thick and durable i-Mat and Voice Pen retail for $79.99. The Voice Pen can also be purchased separately (which would allow several children to play on the i-Mat at the same time) for $59.99 and more themed adventures (i-Mat Under The Sea and, coming soon, i-Mat My Alphabet) can be purchased from $24.99 to $29.99.

As new pads are introduced, parents can connect the Voice Pen to any computer with internet access (with the included USB cable), and download the new sound file from Creative Baby's website to the i-Mat Voice Pen, which has a 2 GB memory. Who doesn't love a product that can continue to grow and expand with their child?

To find out much more about Creative Baby and their ingenious products (there is a great video on their homepage that really shows off the i-Mat, check it out!!), visit their website at CreativeBabyInc.com and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. Plus, for a limited time, Creative Baby is offering free shipping for all preorders on their website so now is a great time to get started on holiday shopping!

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be able to provide a world of animal fun and learning to a child in their life as well, because...

One lucky person will win an i-Mat: My Animal World and Voice Pen from Creative Baby!

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A big thank you to Creative Baby for providing an i-Mat and Voice Pen for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Join the Eco-Friendly Fun with Green Works Pinterest Games!

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Green Works. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and promotional item as a thank you for participating.

In all honesty, everything to do with being eco-friendly and going green often strikes me as extremely overwhelming.

Of course I want to do my part to keep the planet clean and recycle our waste and feed my children foods that are only the best for them... but where do I start? I'm not someone who is going to be buying only organic, raising chickens in my yard and collecting every drop of rainwater, so does that mean that I shouldn't even bother trying?

Thankfully, there are companies like Green Works that understand where I'm coming from, which makes me appreciate them even more than I already do for creating powerful, safe, practical, green products!

Starting in your own home, switching your cleaning products to Green Works proves an easy place to begin when it comes to living cleaner. Formulated using plant and mineral-based biodegradable cleaning ingredients, Green Works Naturally Derived All-Purpose Cleaner handles daily cleaning routines without the harshness of traditional cleaners.

So even though making the switch to cleaners with natural ingredients may seem like a small change in comparison to composting every bit of your food waste, even the tiniest changes can make a big difference for our environment!

However, if you've been looking for more of an incentive to get a jump start on going green, Green Works can provide that as well, as they have created fun and interactive Pinterest games to help inspire green living.

Are you ready to join in?

The Green Works Pinterest Games are running now through October 2nd, 2013, so you're going to want to head over today to get started!

Simply follow @greenworksclean on Pinterest, create one pinboard titled "GreenWorks Games" and then begin pinning. You have the option to find, unscramble or fill in the blanks to complete a word, followed by finding and pinning an image to match (more information on how to play can be found here).

For example, if the word is "natural" you might pin a lemon, flower, or whatever represents natural to you – your pins should be reflective of your personality! Just pin your answer to your GreenWorks Games board and make sure to tag it with the word it represents and the hashtag #greenworksgames.

When your board is complete, email a link to it to pinterestgames@eprizefulfillment.com and you'll be entered to win a $500 gift card!

I had a great time creating my board and love that Green Works allows for open-ended creativity for each participant to share their personality in how they interpret the words. Want to see a few examples of what I came up with on my board?




Cute, right?

What do you picture when you think of words like Green, Safe and Love? Go show off what inspires YOU with Green Works on Pinterest today!

Winners!

The lucky winner of an Energizer Injury Prevention Prize Pack is...

The lucky winner of their choice of shoes or sandals from Juil is...

The lucky winner of a Betty Crocker Ultimates Prize Pack is...

The lucky winner of their choice of shoes from Brian James is...

Thank you to everyone who entered these fun giveaways! Have a great weekend!

Gevalia Café-Style K-Cups Provide Delicious #FoamAtHome {Review & Giveaway}

I would be willing to wager that if you asked a roomful of people to name fall holidays, the majority of answers would be Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Correct, but... oh, those people. Those poor, misguided people.

They're overlooking National Coffee Day!

That's right, Sunday, September 29th is National Coffee Day and I, for one, am planning to celebrate. And, although my regular coffee has been making me happy day in and day out for quite a while now, this upcoming holiday is going to be anything but ordinary thanks to Gevalia.

Because this year coffee has been given a major upgrade thanks to Gevalia releasing their revolutionary two-step single-serve café-style coffee beverages for Keurig K-Cup brewers.

Already known for buying the best beans in the world and handcrafting a top-quality product, Gevalia offers over 40 premium coffees that have a distinctively rich, smooth taste that's never bitter and has been served by the Royal Court of Sweden for well over 100 years.

But these days Gevalia is not only upholding the uncompromising standards put forth by their founder back in 1853, they have taken coffee to an entirely new level with their new two-step, single-serve Keurig K-Cup coffee made from real milk.

That's right, if you've ever dreamt of enjoying a latte made with real milk and topped with froth — all in the comfort of your own home — then now is the time to become a barista, my friend, with the new Cappuccino, Caramel Macchiato and Mocha Latte options from Gevalia.

I couldn't wait to try each of these café-style beverages and I love that Gevalia made them possible without needing an espresso machine, a latte maker or the hassle and expense of a coffee shop.

Instead, each one only takes two easy steps and, in under a minute, your drink is served.

First, simply open and pour the froth packet (made from real milk!) into your mug.

Second, place the coordinating Gevalia Espresso Roast single-serve k-cup in your Keurig and brew as usual.

Third, take deep breaths of the amazing aroma while you stir and enjoy!

You can't get much easier than that! No pots and pans, no frothing, no wasted time. Just pour, brew and drink.

Each of the three varieties of Gevalia café-style beverages have ended up rich and delectable and I adore the way that I'm able to make them so quickly and easily whenever I want.

• Mocha Latte — A creamy, perfectly balanced blend of cocoa and coffee topped with a velvety layer of foam.

• Caramel Macchiato — Creamy and smooth, with the indulgent flavor of caramel, topped with a velvety layer of foam.

• Cappuccino — Smooth, mildly sweet with subtle roasted coffee notes, topped with a velvety layer of foam.

The most difficult thing that I've found from trying all three has been selecting a favorite, as each one is so delicious! However, as I'm in the mindset that everything is made better with chocolate, I think that, in my mind, the Mocha Latte ends up edging out the competition just just a tiny bit...

Gevalia café-style beverages are available for purchase in six packs ($8.49 SRP) and nine packs ($11.99 SRP) at grocery, drug and mass retailers nationwide, as well as online at Gevalia.com.

Be sure to visit FoamAtHome.Gevalia.com to find out more about these incredibly tasty new coffees, as well as signing up to receive a FREE sample of Gevalia Mocha Latte for yourself!

Plus, thanks to the generosity of Gevalia, one person will be prepared to celebrate their own National Coffee Day any day of the week, because...

One lucky person will win a box of Gevalia Mocha Latte!

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This post is brought to you by Gevalia Coffee from Kraft Foods and The Motherhood. I received a sample of Gevalia Coffee and I've been compensated for my time. All opinions are my own.

Lights, Music and Complete Amazement: Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando Resort

During our recent visit to Universal Orlando Resort, there were plenty of rides, attractions and sights that we were excited to see and try. After all, this is one vacation destination that has something for everyone, right?

However, I have to admit that I was especially anticipating our time visiting Universal because of one particular performance that we were going to get to experience.

Because truly, if you're in the Orlando area, you've got to make time for the unique, humorous, original, creative, fun, astounding time you'll have with Blue Man Group.

Photographs are not permitted, so the ones in this post are © 2013 Universal Orlando Resort unless noted. All rights reserved.

A unique theatrical experience unlike anything else (and very difficult to describe), Blue Man Group is a mix of comedy, science, music, art, audience interaction and a party, all wrapped into one show. Although I've never quite figured out the answer to What IS that on them that makes them blue? that hasn't stopped me from being utterly amazed by them.

After having seen one performance of Blue Man Group in Chicago many, many years ago, I couldn't wait to see them in Orlando to be a part of the innovative ingeniousness once again.

Heading over for an evening show with my husband and Big Sister E, we had fun getting into the Blue Man Group spirit even before we set foot inside the theater.

Once we stepped into their custom-built theater, I wasn't surprised to see most of the 1,000 seats fill up and was appreciative as I looked around and noticed that there truly aren't any "bad seats" in the place. No matter if you're in the front row (the first few rows are given ponchos, as they are the "splash zone") or the last row, you are still easily able to see — and participate in — all of the action.

And, although I already knew that this was a family-friendly show and that Big Sister E would have a great time, I was even more happy to see that the theater offers booster seats for children in case they end up with someone tall sitting in front of them. What a thoughtful feature!

Before long, the lights dimmed and the words scrolling on the marquees changed from notes about no photos and video to interactive, funny messages that had the entire audience's attention. After a bit more reading, laughing and repeating (where do they come up with these things?) the 3-man group appeared onstage and the show was underway.

From the catchy music...

...to the quintessential painting and drumming with paint...

...to the hilarious nod to our dependence on our gadgets and devices using special "GiPads..."

...Blue Man Group manages to take their indescribable live celebration of art, technology and music to a whole new level. No matter if it is your first show or your 10th, you just can't help but be jump-out-of-your-seat excited throughout the entire experience!

After your heart pounds, you laugh until your cheeks hurt, and you cross your fingers that by some chance you are one of the audience members that gets to be a part of the show, the Blue Men end their performances with their trademark party that is unforgettable. Lights! Music! Gigantic balls (which take the concept of beach balls at a concert to a whole new level)! Rolls of paper blowing from the front!

I mentioned the whole thing is fairly indescribable, right?

When it comes to entertainment, Universal Orlando's Blue Man Group show is a completely unique journey that you have to experience to understand. How three men covered in blue (no really, what is it? Paint? Rubber? Both?) that never utter a single word wind up being so endearing, hilarious and engaging is just something you need to see.

To find out much more about how music, technology and multimedia theatrics come together to form the one and only Blue Man Group, visit BlueMan.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and more.

For a sneak peek of the Orlando show itself, you've got to head to the Blue Man Group Universal Orlando page to see a 2-minute compilation video that is sure to wow you!

I was provided complimentary tickets to Blue Man Group Universal Orlando in order to help facilitate this review, but they in no way affected the amazing time that we had and my honest opinions in this post.

Mega Bloks Barbie® Build 'n Play Super Star Stage {Review & Giveaway}

Although her answer has sometimes changed, nearly every time I (or anyone else) has asked Little Sister B what she wants to be when she grows up, she proudly declares: a rock star.

Is it the glitz? The glamour? The costumes? The lights and the stage? The loud, danceable music? I'm fairly certain the answer is all of the above... plus more.

So while I'm 99% sure that my little girl will end up following a different career path, for now I'm happy to support and encourage her continued dreaming and imagining. That's what childhood is all about, right?

While we've done plenty of dress-up and pretending, we were recently introduced to a new way to extend the rock star love that even includes one of our favorite little characters. There's just no way to not be excited to rock 'n roll with Barbie and her friends as they put on the hottest show in town with the Mega Bloks Barbie® Build 'n Play Super Star Stage!

Best known for their colorful, easy to manipulate building blocks, Mega Bloks has taken things to a new level time and time again by introducing new ways to play with them. Their sets have expanded to include trucks, farms, trains, recognizable characters, games, and much more to encourage imaginative play.

And this Super Star Stage truly is an example of Mega Bloks' creativity and attention to detail. Special concert pieces like silver scaffolding, huge amplifiers, glittering blocks and a sparkling disco ball set the mood, while the stage elevator and large video screen let everyone enjoy watching Barbie perform anywhere at the concert.

Could they have added any more to a young girl's dream toy?

Right out of the box it was easy to see that Mega Bloks hadn't spared a single detail when it came to including pieces for this set. 

However, as the Mega Bloks Barbie Build 'n Play Super Star Stage is designed for children aged 5-10, I could see that parents would want to consider their child's personality and preferences when giving this as a birthday or holiday gift.

Have a child that loves to build and create on their own? Then give them this set as is so that they can put it all together! But if you have a child (like mine) that has less patience and would rather be able to immediately play with Super Star Barbie, Raquelle and Teresa? Then you might want to consider opening the box ahead of time to get a head start on some of construction steps.

After feeling slightly overwhelmed at the number of pieces that this set includes, I was happy to see that Mega Bloks included clear, step-by-step instructions that showed me where every last piece was to go.

In all, it took me approximately one hour before our mini singing stars were ready to get up on stage and rock the roof off with their keyboard, guitars, multiple microphones, working elevator and more!

Again, the details! Mega Bloks easily could have made the Build ‘n Play Super Star Stage much less complex, but that would have been so much less fun!

Instead, they included an incredible amount of buildable accessories so that you almost feel as though you're really at a miniature rock concert. The 5-panel stage platform, stage elevator, glittering block stands, set pieces, scaffolding, sparkling blocks and stairs, backstage area, television camera... the list just goes on and on!

Plus, although I assembled the Super Star Stage per the instructions, there really is no right or wrong way to put these pieces together.

A child can keep this huge two-story rock show as is, or simply remove parts, move them around, build them taller or wider, or even combine them with any other of the Mega Bloks Barbie sets to build a whole new fabulous world of fashion, friends and fun!

Around here, however, we've had a rockin' good time putting Super Star Barbie, Raquelle and Teresa up on stage to watch (and listen) to them put on the hottest show in town.

The girls have a blast putting the characters in various locations so that they can play the keyboard, spin the turntable, sing into the mic, and more. And who wouldn't find it fun to use a working elevator that sends the rider spinning in circles as she moves up and down?

But, of course, no rock concert would be complete if you didn't have real lights and sound, right?

The Mega Bloks Barbie Build 'n Play Super Star Stage includes both, with real controls that let kids direct the show in two different ways!

Mode One lets you choose the volume level and start up the real multi-color flashing lights and change between four different songs as Barbie and her friends play their latest hits.

Mode Two, however, lets you choose the music — simply play or sing along to your favorite songs on the radio and the concert lights flash along in time to the music!

This set has done nothing but impress us since its arrival and the pretend concert experiences that we've had have resulted in all sorts of laughter and smiles. Even though this set and the characters are small, they have "performed" for a multitude of stuffed animal fans and have been extremely well-received each and every time.

Even better, as the characters' accessories and hair are interchangeable, it is extremely easy to have the stars take a quick trip "backstage" to change clothes in between acts!

If you have a girl in your life that loves Mega Bloks and Barbie and dreams of being a rock star, the Mega Bloks Barbie Build 'n Play Super Star Stage just might be the perfect gift for her. This buildable, multi-story, out-of-this-world concert set is only limited by imagination!

Retailing for around $59.99, this brightly-colored set can be purchased on Amazon, from ToysRUs.com or in stores near you. You can also find out more about this and all of the adorable Mega Bloks Barbie products by visiting the Mega Bloks Barbie website and connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be having a rockin' good time in their house as well, because...

One lucky person will win a
Mega Bloks Barbie® Build 'n Play Super Star Stage!

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©2013, MEGA Brands Inc. ©2013 Mattel. All Rights Reserved. A big thank you to Mega Bloks for providing a Mega Bloks Barbie Stage for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

The King of the Minivans: 2013 Toyota Sienna XLE {Review}

 

Once upon a time my viewpoint on minivans was probably pretty similar to... well, everything else that I didn't understand before I had children. Why would you drive a big thing like that around when there were other options?

However, now that I'm a veteran mom, I know full well that a minivan provides benefits, comfort and reliability that just can't be found in other vehicles. Struggle with not enough space? No storage? A lack of features?

Why bother? Instead, I am now in love with the minivan that stands above all the rest: the 2013 Toyota Sienna XLE.

During our recent family vacation to Orlando, Florida, there was never a doubt in my mind that we would need a minivan. As we were traveling with our family of four as well as both of my in-laws, how else were we going to contain six passengers, all of our luggage, and know that everyone would be safe, comfortable and happy?

Not to mention having an easy to use navigation system, a rearview camera, hands-free phone capability and much, much more... on top of the fact that I've only heard good things about the Toyota Sienna as a whole, and of course I was thrilled to see this beauty ready and waiting for us.

Available in a variety of different colors and models, the Toyota Sienna combines the versatility, style, technology and safety that families have come to depend on, whether running errands around town or traveling from theme park to theme park.

Upon first laying my eyes on the Predawn Gray Mica Sienna XLE, it was easy to see that Toyota had covered every inch. From the bumpers to the taillights to the alloy wheels, this isn't a dowdy-looking minivan from back in the day. This is for the family in the 21st century that isn't sacrificing appearance for convenience!

After admiring the outside, I couldn't wait to hop into the Sienna XLE to see just how luxurious it would be on the inside.

When I did, I continued to be impressed with all that Toyota had included, as the leather-trimmed, heated front seats were extremely plush and comfortable. Looking into the back, the 8-passenger seating provided plenty of room for the entire family (plus more!) and I love that the second and third row weren't at all cramped or could be easily folded for storage.

As an added bonus, the center-mounted seat in the second row bench can be removed and stowed in a special nook in the cargo area when not in use, providing a configuration similar to captain's chairs (if that is your preference).

And when it comes to storage, the Sienna is clearly a winner in that department as well. Considering how easily the second and third row seats fold or are removed, there would never be a single worry about carrying anything from groceries to strollers to furniture.

I saw someone move a full size refrigerator in the back of a Sienna once!

As well as the modern appearance (inside and out), there wasn't much more that I could have asked for than what was already included in this minivan.

The large dashboard made it extremely easy to reach all of the controls (there are many located right on the steering wheel for convenience); there were roomy storage compartments and cup holders aplenty for passengers throughout; the USB port was perfect for our technology-filled lives; the tri-zone climate control allowed for not only the driver and front seat passenger to choose their preferred temperature, but the riders in the back as well...

...and use of the touch-screen was intuitive and responsive. Switch from the radio to Sirius XM to Bluetooth to the navigation system in seconds!

Along with the many features that the 2013 Toyota Sienna XLE included, I fully appreciated that it was very smooth and easy to drive, accelerated well (3.5L V6 engine) and stopped on a dime with its front and rear disc brakes.

The Advanced Airbag System provided a sense of security for me in the event that we needed it and the LATCH capabilities and easy-open power sliding doors were perfect for my kids.

On top of that, the Sienna did more than just include a great backup camera for helping see behind it, it also had a wonderful Blind Spot Monitor feature that I loved right away. By using radar technology, the outside mirror on the driver or passenger side illuminated to indicate if there was a vehicle that may be in a blind spot — although diligent driving is best, of course, having this second set of eyes is such a fantastic innovation!

After a week of driving the Sienna XLE around Florida, I was easily convinced that it was nearly-perfect for just about any family. It provided decent minivan gas mileage (18 city and 25 highway), kept my family very safe, and there wasn't a single complaint about lack of comfort, legroom or space.

All in all, this is one sporty minivan that I would highly recommend and I love that Toyota continues to make improvements and adjustments with each new model — the 2014 Sienna looks just as amazing! From the many features (standard or optional) to the high quality craftsmanship, this is one vehicle that will bring convenience to your life... whether you realize it or not!

With an MSRP of around $33,500, the 2013 Toyota Sienna XLE drives well, looks sleek and is a great choice for families. You can find out lots more on this incredible vehicle by visiting the Toyota website and connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Other than the Sienna XLE that I was provided in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this review in any way. This post is solely my honest opinion about how much I loved driving this car.