Skullduggery Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set {Review}

Although there have been a lot of parenting surprises over the years, one that I did not anticipate was the increasing difficulty that comes with buying gifts as my children have gotten older. Back when they were younger they seemed to have more focused interests, but these days? It's like pulling teeth to get them to name anything in particular or come up with something that actually elicits excitement.

Therefore, after spending far too long looking at online suggestions (all of which I did not purchase) and aimlessly wandering the aisles in big box stores (which also left me empty-handed), I was thrilled to be introduced to an award-winning toy that I instantly knew would be a hit for both of my kids this holiday season.

More unique than traditional cars and much more entertaining than other remote control toys that I've seen, I had no doubt that Max Traxxx Tracer Racers from Skullduggery would create a stir as soon as they were out of the box. In all honesty, I couldn't wait to dig into the Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set myself!

As a leading toy manufacturer for 30 years, Skullduggery's vast product lines appeal to toy-lovers of all ages throughout the world. But while their craft kits and fossil replicas do look interesting, the Max Traxxx Tracer Racer car line has had my attention from the beginning. Who can resist an adjustable, customizable, glow-in-the-dark racing system?

I couldn't wait to see these Tracer Racers and the Infinity Loop Track Set in person!

Right out of the box it was clear that Skullduggery had included just about everything needed in order for young (or, ahem, young-at-heart) racing enthusiasts to start putting together the endless racing circuit of their dreams.

Including more than 46 feet of glow-in-the-dark track, two Tracer Racers and remote controls, 26 X-BLOX construction brix, and more, the only thing that this set needs to get started are the batteries.

After opening up each of the remotes and setting the four AA's into place, I simply plugged the cars right into the cord on the top and flipped the switch to 'charge.' I love that the remote controls are the actual chargers instead of needing to keep track of a separate cable or plug (which would immediately get lost into the abyss of my house).

While the Tracer Racers charged up, it was time to construct the unique Infinity Loop Track Set. I adore that Max Traxxx parts are able to be mixed and matched and snapped together and constructed in just about an endless number of ways. Talk about a workout for the imagination!

To begin, however, I opted to build the original figure eight shape to check out just why these loops, corners, and straightaways had won multiple awards. Could it really be all that cool?

Don't let the angle of this photo fool you. This set is BIG!

In a matter of minutes, the full track was together (each piece simply slides/snaps into the next) and it was time to rev up our engines. Hint: there is an on/off switch on the remote control AND on the bottom of the car itself. Make sure you have both turned to on for racing to begin!

Oh, man!

While Skullduggery had pointed out that the Tracer Racer Cars have a top to-scale speed of 500 miles per hour, I still wasn't prepared for how quickly they truly zip! Each little car can go forwards or backwards depending on the direction that users move the lever on the remote control and boy, oh boy, they can go fast!

In fact, we found there to be a small learning curve when it comes to driving, as putting the pedal to the metal can lead to Tracer Racers flipping off the track as they come shooting around the corners. At the same time, driving too slow doesn't give enough speed to make it up and around the loop, so finding the sweet spot in the variable speed takes a little skill.

But that sure didn't mean that Little Sister B was any less excited to race again and again and again and again!

Although my young speedster was already having a blast simply zooming both Max Traxxx Tracer Racers around the track, as soon as I said, Now watch THIS and turned off the lights, her mind was officially blown.

Even better, not only does the glow-in-the-dark track light up (which is cool), but the Tracer Racers themselves utilize Light Trail Technology and blaze streaks of light as they go (which is REALLY cool)! Each car has two small lights on the bottom that, when combined with the glowing track, leave a glowing path that slowly fades long after the Racer has passed.

These really couldn't be much more amazing to see racing, twisting, and turning in a dimly lit room!

Even a crash or wipe out looks incredible when all lit up in the dark!

From the first day that we opened the Max Traxxx box, Little Sister B and I have spent endless afternoons cheering on our Tracer Racers as we send them flying around the track. There have been more times than one that we've only stopped playing because the cars begin to slow and the lights on the bottom don't shine, meaning it's time to let them stop and recharge. Fortunately, it's just so easy to plug them right into the remote controls and set them down until next time!

Plus, while Little Sister B is happy to keep the Infinity Loop as is, but I have no doubt that in the future we will construct and reconstruct the various parts into our own creative layouts. By using the existing X-BLOX construction brix (and including our own compatible bricks of another brand), the sky is the limit on forming a track that goes up, down, and around in any number of ways!

Whether you have a beginning or advanced race fan in your life, Max Traxxx Tracer Racers can provide hours of entertainment for all ages. This set is recommended for ages 6+ and I agree — it is easy enough to slide the pieces together and use the remote that younger children can do it on their own, yet the fantastic wow factor will keep older kids coming back for more.

I dare you to spend less than a minute watching this video and not want to start playing with these yourself!


The complete Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set retails for $119.97 and can be purchased directly from Skullduggery.com (with free shipping!) or on Amazon.com (where one of their sellers, 4% Change for Children, not only offers a $20 off coupon on certain days but also does amazing work donating to non-profit organizations that help children and families).

There is still time to order this incredibly unique remote control track set in time for the holidays, so be sure to visit Skullduggery's website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest pages to find out more about this and all of their creative and fun products.

Other than the Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set that I was provided by Skullduggery in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This post is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Keep Your Internet Safe with the CUJO Smart Firewall from Best Buy {Review}

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

A few decades ago, the phrase home security would likely have conjured up images of cameras and motion detectors and signs indicating that an alarm would silently ring if a window was forced open.

These days, there's no question that we're all still careful to lock the doors to our houses. However, home security means so much more now that there are virtual entrances to our lives that also need to be protected. After all, the plethora of connected devices in our homes — TVs, game consoles, phones, computers, tablets, printers, cameras, baby monitors, thermostats, vacuums, and much more — are really only as secure as the networks that they access, right?

Therefore, until our tech gadgets begin to be created with built-in security, it is up to us to provide it — to not only block malicious sites, viruses, and hacks, but to give peace of mind that you and your family are safe online.

That's where CUJO comes in!

A firewall for the connected home that is designed to bring business-level security to a home network, CUJO is the one device needed to secure any and all technology that connects through your internet. Just plug it in, set it up, and this simple yet sophisticated gadget monitors the activity on all of your connected devices for anything unusual. When that occurs, it immediately blocks the threats before they have a chance to compromise your online safety or private information.

Pretty great, right?

As I don't consider myself a technology expert, I was looking forward to seeing just how user-friendly CUJO would be and if I would be able to get it up and running all on my own.

Right out of the box and it was clear that CUJO is just about as close to "plug and play" as possible. All that I needed to do was take the device, the power cord, and the Ethernet cable, plug it all in (to a power source as well as to my router), and I was good to go.

Registering my CUJO and going through the setup process couldn't have been much easier, as I simply downloaded the app (available from the App Store as well as Google Play) and followed the instructions one by one.

In less than 10 minutes, our home was protected and CUJO was already at work identifying our devices.

From that day forward, CUJO has been amazing for keeping all of our technology safe and secure. I love the way that it was designed to automatically block any threats it detects (users then have the option to leave the block or to unblock), as this proactive method ensures that I won't have to deal with problems after they occur. I've spent too many hours stressing over computer viruses to ever want to go down that path again!

Instead CUJO keeps our entire network and every single device we own protected and it lets me know in two different ways. The unit itself has "eyes" (that my kids adore) that indicate if the device is in standby mode (full eyes), protection mode (smiling eyes) or that it has detected unwanted activity (sad eyes).

At the same time, I can receive immediate notifications on my phone and/or simply open the app to stay informed. I was amazed when CUJO detected and blocked a threat within the first 24 hours of installation — and it had at least half a dozen more within the first week of use! Where has this been all my life?!

Beyond just being a watchdog for all of our connected devices (which I love), CUJO takes things one step further for parents by including an abundance of parental control features. We all know that kids of every age seem to want to spend every waking minute online, but we also know that there is a great deal of the internet that isn't appropriate for children.

Therefore, being able to have control over access to the internet provides me the perfect solution, as I'm not going to keep my kids off of it entirely. CUJO allows me to not only have an internet filter, but I can set time limits and pause the internet for specific devices, monitor social media sites, receive alerts and reports, and more.

How great is it that CUJO allows me to safeguard my children and what they access online all while it protects our household overall!

I have to admit that prior to the arrival of CUJO, I hadn't put a great deal of thought into our household's internet security. But now that it is here, I couldn't be happier knowing that my entire home, all of our devices, and even my kids are safer!

CUJO is available in three different options ($99 for the device with an $8.99 monthly service fee; $158 for the device with a $59 annual service fee; $249 for the device and a free lifetime subscription/service) and can truly provide the peace of mind you need or didn't know you need in your home.

Find out much more about all that CUJO can do and how much money you can save on it when you purchase from Best Buy today.

Back to School with the Inspire Imagination Box Top Program at Costco

This post is in partnership with General Mills and Box Tops for Education. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Did you know that there's a way to ensure that our schools are receiving much-needed funding while also benefiting your own family at the same time? It's the nation's largest school fundraising program, Box Tops for Education!

A General Mills program, Box Tops for Education began as an experiment on boxes of Cheerios in California with first year earnings of $1 million. Since then, it has grown to include hundreds of participating brands (along with General Mills, others include Ziploc, Kleenex, Lysol, Finish, and more) providing $840 million to more than 70,000 enrolled K-8 schools.

Pretty amazing, right? We make sure to clip each and every single Box Top that we can on our General Mills products (I have found that having a designated Box Tops baggie makes it so that my husband and kids know exactly where to put them) and I absolutely love knowing that such a simple act can have such positive results. We hand our baggie in to the PTO Box Top Coordinator at our school, she mails them in, the school gets a check. What could be better?!

Actually, we were excited to hear that right now there is another reason to be pumped up about Box Tops: the Inspire Imagination Box Top program!

I have no doubt that Box Tops are already helping inspire children all across the country, as what school couldn't use a little extra money? That funding may go to field trips, gym equipment, technology, books, art supplies, musical instruments, enrichment programs, game days... the list goes on and on!

Therefore, I love that the Inspire Imagination program is highlighting just that and giving Costco members the chance to win even more Box Tops for their school. It's so simple to enter (*see official rules below)! Here's how:

• Take a photo of how Box Tops for Education inspires imagination in your child(ren). 

• Share your photo on Twitter or Instagram using #InspireContest and be sure to follow @BTFE as this is how the winners will be notified.

• Sit back and hope to be one of the 3,000 Costco members that each will win 100 Box Tops for their school!

Easy peasy, right?

The combination of Box Tops and Costco is a perfect match, as not only do families such as mine shop at Costco every week to stock up on the products and brands that we trust and use regularly, but we score even more Box Tops with our purchases.

For instance, instead of picking up a single box of Kleenex at the store and being able to clip one single Box Top, we can buy a bulk pack at Costco and end up with 10 Box Tops instead!

With preparations for back to school underway, there's no doubt that I have been shopping at Costco even more than usual lately. There is nowhere else that has everything that I need for all of our lunch-packing supplies at such great prices!

Along with picking up the food items that my daughters love in their school lunches (as well as to have for breakfast, dinner, snack, and pretty much anytime, as they are constantly eating), on my recent Costco visit I also stocked up on a few of the supplies that are necessary to keep our kitchen running.

Now I can rest easy knowing that I won't open the baggie drawer to find it empty or, even worse, prepare to run our dishwasher and have no detergent for it. Instead, we'll head into September ready to go... and with tons of extra Box Tops in our stash as well!

If you aren't already collecting Box Tops for Education, now is the perfect time to start — particularly with the great selection of products at Costco! Whether you have children attending one of the participating locations or not, schools can never have too much money to improve their classrooms and programs and our kids can never be too inspired. All it takes is a pair of scissors to snip the Box Tops and make a difference!

To learn more about Box Tops visit BTFE.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Be sure to also visit CostcoBTFE.com for more information on the Inspire Imagination Box Top Program and enter your photo today!

---

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 years or older. Ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on 9/30/17. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions visit www.costcobtfe.com. Void where prohibited by law. Use of “#InspireContest” when posting entry constitutes entrant’s agreement to Official Rules. Sponsor: General Mills.

Each box top is worth 10 cents to redeeming school when clipped from box tops products and sent to the redeeming school. Only BTFE registered schools can redeem box tops. Limit $20,000 per school per year for box tops redeemed through the clip program. See www.boxtopsforeducation.com for program details.

The Villain Kids are Back in Descendants 2! {Available on DVD Today}

While I consider myself to be pretty in-the-know on all things kid-movie related, it wasn't until Little Sister B attended a slumber party more than a year ago that I was introduced to a completely new cast of characters. Mal? Uma? Gil? Who are these people?

Although it initially took a little deciphering to understand Little Sister B's stream of excited storytelling, it all began to fall into place when she got to the they're the kids of the bad guys part. Disney villains moved on with their lives and had children? Sure enough they had!

From that day forward, it was Descendants this and Descendants that as my young fan was officially obsessed. Everything from the plot to the soundtrack was brought up over and over again with glee – only to be enhanced 1000% when we heard the best news Little Sister B could have dreamed up: the villain kids were coming back in a highly anticipated sequel.

It was time to prepare for yet another music-driven smash in Descendants 2 (available on DVD today, August 15th)!

Overflowing with more action, more catchy music, unforgettable dance numbers, and new Villain Kids, Descendants 2 brings viewers into a deeper story line as the teenage sons and daughters of Disney's most infamous villains try to find their place in idyllic Auradon.

When the pressure to be royally perfect becomes too much for Mal (daughter of Maleficent), she returns to her rotten roots on the Isle of the Lost where her archenemy Uma, the daughter of Ursula, has taken her spot as self-proclaimed queen of the run-down town. Hoping to retrieve Mal, Evie (daughter of The Evil Queen) brings along help and sneaks onto the Isle as well.

But Uma, still resentful over not being selected by Ben (Belle and Beast's son) to go to Auradon Prep with the other Villain Kids, stirs up her pirate gang including Captain Hook's son Harry and Gaston's son Gil, to break the barrier between the Isle of the Lost and Auradon, and unleash all the villains imprisoned on the Isle, once and for all.

The result is swashbuckling action and incredible song and dance numbers that Descendants fans are sure to love!

As well as the 90 minutes of mischief and music included in this fun film, the Descendants 2 DVD also includes fun bonus features to take the enjoyment even further:

• Cast Secrets – Personal secrets are revealed by cast members Dove Cameron (Mal), Cameron Boyce (Carlos), Sofia Carson (Evie), Booboo Stewart (Jay) and China Anne McClain (Uma) during the filming of the movie.

• Bloopers – The cast cracks up on set during some crazy takes.

• Deleted Song and More – Includes an extended song ("The Space Between"), a deleted song ("If Only"), and two alternate endings.

• Descendants: Wicked World – An ultimate collection of all the animated shorts from Season One.

If you have a young fan of Descendants in your life, you're going to want to bring home a copy of Descendants 2 on DVD today (available on Amazon as well as from retailers nationwide) to continue the singing, dancing, and villainous fun.

As a special bonus, inside the case you'll find a free necklace with five interchangeable villain icons so your little one can show off their Descendants love even further!

To find out more about Descendants 2, listen to clips, play games, meet the cast, get party planning tips and recipes, see news, and much, much more, head over to the Disney website.

Other than the copy of of Descendants 2 that I was provided, I was not compensated or enticed to do this review in any way. This post is solely my honest opinion about this product.

BigBoxPlay Life Sized Cardboard Fort Play System - On Kickstarter Now!

If there is an age that children reach when they stop being overly amazed and thrilled by cardboard boxes, my girls haven't gotten there yet. I, for one, don't see a box and feel the extreme desire to examine it, push it around, color it, climb inside and hide, and then attempt to come up with new ways to play with it. But maybe that's just me?

As for my kids, cardboard is fantastic. It's wonderful! It's the best thing ever! Forget whatever toy that came inside, they just want to play with the box.

Inevitably though, the excitement is always fairly short-lived. The flimsy cardboard rips or the bottom falls out or the girls realize that, in fact, they can put their creativity towards something that isn't just a box... that is, if they happen to put down their tech devices for a minute and actually use their creativity.

But... what if a cardboard box could be taken to the next level? What happens when a company that is frustrated with all the digital toys dominating the market decides to turn cardboard into something captivating, durable, dependable, and amazingly fun? The result is a life-sized cardboard fort (strong enough for your children to stand on!) that is big enough for kids to create their own endless adventures inside (and atop). It's BigBoxPlay!

Developed by founder and chairman Pete Moffett, BigBoxPlay started as a special way to connect with his grandson by taking fort-building to the next level.

Unlike any other product on the market, this innovative play system takes children's iconic love for cardboard structures and building forts​ and offers a durable yet modular system that is anything but ordinary. With personalized play systems​ featuring different themes, activity kits, and Adventure Guides, ​BigBoxPlay has the ability to empower a child to build anything they can imagine​ time and time again!

Even better, this play and learning system not only sparks imagination and creativity, it is also designed to teach kids important skills such as communication, storytelling, collaboration, problem-solving, and empathy. Who wouldn't want their kids gaining those abilities all while building anything that they can imagine in the coolest fortress of fun around?

BigBoxPlay systems come in two options, a 3 Box Set (great for smaller rooms) and a 5 Box Set. Both are extremely strong and feature child-friendly assembly, durable double-wall cardboard, quick set up and disassembly for easy storage, and are available in different themes such as castles, spaceships or cubes.

There's just no way that kids wouldn't have fun with these!

Ready to find out more and exactly why your kids will love it? Well, you're in luck! Today, May 9th, marks the kickoff of their Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign that will run for the next 31 days where supporters and fans can take advantage of exclusive pre-order pricing of $75-$135 with free shipping!

Once the Kickstarter campaign comes to an end, BigBoxPlay will be available nationwide at BigBoxPlay.com.

BigBoxPlay truly is playtime reimagined, so head over and check them out today!

This post is in partnership with BigBoxPlay but all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Stylish Durability and Quality On the Go: Machir Bags, Backpacks and Briefcases {Review}

Similar to selecting just the right pair of shoes to provide style as well as comfort, I've always felt that having a different backpack or bag depending on who I'm with, where I'm going, and what I'm doing is equally as important.

I'm talking about the optimal bag for the right occasion. One that will allow me to go hands-free, won't dig into my shoulder(s), provide versatile functionality, hold up to anything and everything, and more. Therefore, just being able to hike it up on my shoulder isn't enough. No matter if I'm in a store shopping, heading to a business meeting or trekking through the zoo, I want my belongings to be comfortably (and stylishly) held out of the way.

Picky? Yes. Yes, I am.

With all of my requirements, it goes without saying that finding a company that can provide my ideal bags can be extremely difficult. Am I destined to hem and haw at every photo after photo when the style, quality, size, and more just isn't striking my fancy?

And then I was introduced to Machir.

Born out of a desire for rugged, stylish, and durable backpacks, briefcases, and luggage-type bags, Machir bags and accessories feature premium quality fabrics, leather, and trims while keeping comfort in mind. These gorgeous bags were made for those with an active and adventurous spirit and provide comfort, quality, and functionality while not compromising style or price.

High quality construction, beautiful fabric choices, and immediate evidence that quality and care is put into all of their product lines? What more could you (or even someone as fussy as me) ask for?

Deciding which of Machir's amazing bags from their stylish collections were my favorite was no easy feat. But when they arrived? Swoon.

Depending on where life is going to take us, my family was now prepared for work, travel, and life without ever needing to think about what bag would come along again.

First up, the Executive Slim Briefcase in Walnut.

As I spend the majority of my days away from the business world, this incredible briefcase was my husband's choice and I couldn't have agreed more. No offense to anyone who carries a stereotypical briefcase, but I can't help but see that old fashioned rectangular design with those flip open clasps and just think that it screams boring and old.

Instead, Machir made the Executive Slim Briefcase the perfect size that it can easily carry a laptop and/or tablet, papers, and other office essentials without being too bulky. The modern design includes the two carry handles as well as a removable, adjustable leather shoulder strap for ease of use and I love the addition of the exterior and interior pockets (and removable padded laptop case) for full function and versatility.

Machir even lined this briefcase with a gorgeous plaid fabric that gives the whole thing an extra pop of youthful sophistication that appeals to men and women of all ages!

However, when he's heading out of town for a work trip and the Executive Slim Briefcase Executive doesn't provide quite enough space, the Flap-Over Backpack in Midnight steps in and provides my husband organization, room, and sleek styling instead.

There's something about business travelers lugging a bulky suitcase or toting along a ragged backpack that doesn't add up in my mind. Instead, the chic Executive Flap-Over Backpack incorporates all the features of a traditional backpack style, but taken to the next level of executive elegance.

The strong and durable nylon is accented with classic leather and silver hardware, while the contrasting lining is easy on the eyes. Along with the large interior compartment, this backpack includes padded compartments to hold a laptop and a tablet on the inside and four different zippered pockets for plenty of storage (and easy access) on the outside.

It really all comes together in such a professional, sophisticated way that is perfect for travel, a student, or simply in place of a briefcase. If you've never thought about carrying a backpack to work, this one just might change your mind!

Lest you think that Machir is all about business, let me introduce you to their Signature Small Duffle in Midnight.

I have yet to come up with a daily activity that the Signature Small Duffle does not work for.

Heading to the gym? The large main compartment has plenty of room for your tennis shoes and a sweatshirt and the waterproof interior pocket is just the place for a wet swimsuit or sweaty clothes afterward. Packing for an overnight? The combination of the large and (many) small compartments ensures that you not only have space for everything, but that it can stay well organized as well.

On our recent family vacation to Central America, Big Sister E confiscated this duffle as her own and adored the convenience of it as her carry-on (she altered between carrying it on one shoulder using the included padded shoulder strap and using both handles as backpack straps) as well as for keeping her belongings all contained in a new location.

As we have since returned from our trip, Big Sister E has yet to give Signature Small Duffle back, so I'm either going to have to sneak it from her room or order another one if I ever want to use it!

However, I can't complain too much about losing access to Machir's great duffle, as I have been more than happy with my own versatile, high quality bag, the Signature Military Backpack in Avian Millennium Dusk.

If you're thinking something along the lines of If you've seen one backpack, you've seen 'em all, then know that originally I was, too.

However, of the many, many backpacks that I've used in my lifetime, the Signature Military Backpack has out-performed them all. From the wide, comfortable straps to the extremely padded back panel to the huge interior compartments (with plenty of smaller pockets to stay organized and keep your tech gear protected), Machir has thought of everything.

It even has a built-in waterproof rain cover so that if you get caught in the elements, your belongings won't get soaked through!

Not to mention that any other backpack that I have used started to show signs of wear and tear by having the bottom corners chip away or a zipper begin to fail... but no matter what I have put the Signature Military Backpack through, it has proven its quality, durability, and thoughtful function without problem.

I carried this backpack nearly daily throughout our vacation and no matter what it went though, it stayed comfortable on my back and shoulders and kept all of my essentials safe and within reach. I couldn't have asked for more and have continued to use it since we have been back and love it just as much!

Whether you are headed on a weekend trip, leaving for another day at the office, going camping, hitting the gym or more, Machir has the bag that will prove to be the epitome of comfort, convenience, and durability just for you.

While their collections do retail a bit higher than what you might pay in a big box store, their products truly are your soon-to-be favorite travel/daily companion. Every piece is long-lasting, high quality, easy to use, simple to adjust, and designed with luxury and versatility in mind. No matter where your next adventure is taking you, Machir will effortlessly come along for the journey!

To find out more about these and all of Machir's fantastic items, visit Machir.com and see their drool-worthy photos on Instagram. You'll also want to connect with this innovative company on Facebook and their blog so that you never miss a new product release, travel talk, fashion trends, and more.

Other than the bags that I was provided by Machir in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about these products.

Make Safety Fun with Wipeout Dry Erase Protective Gear {Review}

This post is part of a sponsored campaign for Wipeout Dry Erase Productive Gear. I received compensation for my participation, but my review and opinions are my own.

It's no secret that the words 'safety' and 'fun' aren't exactly synonymous. However, for parents everywhere there have never been any viable alternatives when it comes to the benefits of, for instance, removing cords from window coverings, keeping cleaning supplies out of reach, covering outlets, having their child wear a seat belt in the car and a helmet on their bike, etc.

Or so I thought.

Recently I was introduced to an extremely unique and individualized way to let kids customize safety helmets and pads with their own designs, making them actually want to wear each piece again and again. Genius!

That's the creativity and innovation behind Wipeout Dry Erase Protective Gear!

Made by Triple Eight — a trusted company known for safety as a leading producer of action sports protective gear since 1995 — Wipeout was created to protect children on their bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, sleds, and snowboards with a creative twist.

Instead of yet another standard helmet or set of pads, Wipeout products are designed for endless customization with their included dry erase markers and stencils. Why wear a plain helmet or one that looks just like those of everyone else when kids can easily draw, wipe the designs off, create new ones, and repeat over and over again?

Imagination has no limits and that can now be applied in the world of safety gear!

Right out of the box Little Sister B was thrilled to see the the neon pink colors and the dry erase markers and could barely contain her excitement as I removed the packaging.

The Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet package includes the helmet itself, five dry erase markers in assorted neon colors, and eight stencil designs, so kids are able to start being creative immediately.

What could be better than decorating your helmet completely to your own liking? Maybe one day cover it in peace signs and flowers and the next day switch to rockets and skull-and-crossbones!

Needless to say, Little Sister B and Big Sister E got right to work on putting their own designs on our Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet and have returned to erase, draw, erase, stencil, erase, and draw some more just about every day since!

What kid would rather wear a plain helmet when they could rock something cool and awesome like this instead?

At the same time, Triple Eight didn't just create Wipeout for the fun factor, as this sturdy and stylish helmet is made of ABS hard-shell construction with an EPS liner for durability. It is certified for safety protection for all sorts of activities (e.g. biking, skateboarding, rollerskating, scooters, etc.) for kids ages 3 to 14.

As Little Sister B loves her Dry Erase Helmet, I am just as happy sending her off on her bike or scooter and knowing that she is completely safe while showing off her hip style!

As much as my little fashionista enjoys her Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet, she has been over-the-top crazy about the Wipeout Dry Erase Protective 3-Pack we also received. This set of kneepads, wrist guards, elbow pads, and two markers has been worn inside, outside, in the car... she would have worn it all day at school if I had let her (and, considering she is a bit accident-prone, that wouldn't be all that bad of an idea).

Although these three sets of pads don't provide nearly as large of a canvas in which to showcase her designs, Little Sister B has still had a great time adding smaller artwork onto just about every possible dry erase surface provided.

Wipeout makes safety fun! I can't think of a better way to make kids want to wear their helmets and safety pads than by appealing to their creative, imaginative side and providing a way for complete uniqueness. From biking to skateboarding to rollerblading (there is even a winter version of the Dry Erase Helmet that includes ear flaps and a goggle clip for sledding and snow sports!), this gear can't be beat.

Plus, to further encourage kids' creativity or simply give their artistic side a boost, Wipeout has developed a series of step-by-step photo and video tutorials as well as design printouts to inspire kids to get the most out of their Wipeout products. Talk about cool!

The Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet retails for $29.99 and is available in three sizes for ages 3+, 5+, and 8+ in black, teal, neon pink, neon yellow-green, and more. The Wipeout Dry Erase Protective 3-Pack also comes in a variety of great color options and retails for $24.99. Keep an eye out for them at your leading retailer as well as on Amazon.

Whether you are looking for a useful birthday or holiday gift or simply want to encourage your child to love their safety gear so much that they never take it off, be sure to head over to iWipeout.com (and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram) to find out much more about this incredible line of unique products.