Rave and Review

Dead Poets Society Comes to Blu-ray {Review & Giveaway}

“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” a very simple sentiment, but something that you just can’t hear often enough.  While the phrase “carpe diem” might be what Dead Poets Society is known for, and quite frankly, the only thing I remembered about the movie from when we watched it in High School, the latter phrase now resonates with me more. 

In High School, the movie was an assignment.  Required viewing about a man whose untraditional teaching techniques make his students excited to learn.  But, watching the movie 10 years later as a parent, the movie takes on a whole new meaning.  Instead of a teacher who inspires students to learn, it’s now obvious that it’s about a teacher opening his students’ eyes, bringing out their passions and breathing life into a lifeless backdrop. 

I personally love older movies and the surprise spotting of someone who is now famous like Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard or Josh Charles and the fun “where are they now?” searches after the credits roll.  Even though most of the actors were quite young and the film tackles some big issues, the entire cast does such a fabulous job of bringing the story to life.  Plus, Dead Poets Society marks one of the first times Robin Williams showed his serious side, which I prefer to his goofier films and slapstick routines. 

The movie itself was even better than I remembered.  Even with the heavier topics tackled by the movie, watching it again with the clarity of hindsight, I love the theme that learning about the arts isn’t about studying old, irrelevant texts, it’s about discovering yourself and the world around you.  Writing poetry and performing in plays may not be the coolest thing a teenager can do in their spare time, but it’s the appreciation and immersion of the arts that I think every child should experience. 

Another message lost on my high school self was that being true to yourself doesn’t mean taking uncalculated risks or acting reckless, it’s the understanding of when and where it’s appropriate to express yourself that is important as you develop who you are.  Watching the main characters struggle with that thin line between non-conformity and disobedience, it was easy to remember my own adolescence and how it felt to be stifled and then how freeing it felt when I was able to take risks on my own.

A decade later, Dead Poets Society is also 1,000x more sad than I remembered it to be {which could be something to do with the fact that I watched it with 40 other giggling High Schoolers} and the sad parts really hit home more as a parent.  As a parent, all you want is for your children to be happy.  The hard part is to know when lessons are better learned on your own and to not overstep your bounds.  When your children are young, this line is easy: keep them safe, nurture them, and give them a deep well of happy childhood memories to draw from.  But, it’s the teenage years that really scare me, as they discover their independence, develop their personalities fully, and decide what they want to do with the years that lie ahead. 

For me, this movie is one that made me stop and think about my expectations for my kids and reminded me that childhood is such a fleeting time.  Maybe they won’t walk in the direction I would hope, maybe they choose a career I wouldn’t have handpicked for them, or maybe they choose something I dread, but if they are happy, so am I.  I would rather have kids full of life and excitement than ones who are obedient without questions and this movie made that all the more clear to me.

This was a great movie to watch while holed up during our recent snowstorm and taking a fun trip down memory lane.  I really enjoyed re-watching the film and remembering what a truly awesome movie it is, and even more so now that it’s on the Blu-ray platform.   I also loved all the special features, raw takes, and interviews with the cast looking back on the making of.  I definitely feel like I took more from the movie this time around, and I was even inspired to get reading some more of my poetry books after hearing some excerpts of my favorites. 

Dead Poets Society was released on Blu-ray on January 17th and is available wherever DVDs are sold and on Amazon.com

Want to win a copy of Dead Poets Society on Blu-ray?  Of course you do!

To enter, simply tell me your favorite artist

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/PXE2bFgL} and tag R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Would love to #win a copy of Dead Poets Society on Blu-ray from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/PXE2bFgL #giveaway

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

OnFebruary 20th  at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

We received the film for review and one was offered free of charge as a giveaway.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

 

Tegu Blocks Asks "How Do You Roll" {Review & Giveaway}

If you’ve come to my house to play in the past few months, chances are you were immediately asked if you wanted to play with Tegu Blocks. If so, you probably had the same reaction everyone else does when asked if you want to play: a shrug and an “I guess”. But, once the felted Tegu tote is pulled out that houses our beloved Tegu Blocks, immediately everyone is excited.

“Whoa, are these magnetic blocks?!?” Why yes, yes they are.

I vividly remember the first time I saw them at a store; I probably played with them for a good 20 minutes, blown away by their simple design that makes them so incredibly awesome and fun to play with. They may look like a beautiful set of wooden blocks upon first glance, but once you hold them, connect them, and build with them, you will be hooked.

Because let me tell you, Tegu Blocks are not your average building blocks. Instead of buildings held together simply by gravity and luck, Tegu Blocks are very different in that you can build some truly amazing stuff with the power of magnets. You may not be able to see the magnets, hidden deep within the wooden block, but the satisfying click they make when they connect tells you it’s there.

Although Tegu Blocks are, admittedly, toys, it certainly hasn't stopped all of our adult guests from playing with them as well.  In fact, the adults seem to like them just as much as the little guys do {which is a lot} and play with them just as much.  Whether this comes from a void that we all felt with a lack of magnetic blocks in our own youths or merely the fact that these little blocks are a great stress reliever is anyone's guess, but I'm willing to bet it's a combination of the two.  While our kids showed us that these blocks not only stick to each other, but they also stick to the fridge, the washer and dryer, and anything else magnetic, we taught them that putting them away is almost as fun as playing with them... seriously.   

So, with how much fun we've had with our Tegu Blocks over the past few months, I didn’t believe it when I first heard that Tegu Blocks were going to get even cooler.  But even I was surprised that the claims were actually true. When a small box holding one of the new Tegu Mobility packs – the Maddy Micro – arrived, I knew our fun with Tegu was just beginning because now our creations were now going places.

The Maddy Micro has removable magnetic wheels that allow it to roll across the floor, but the real fun is when you remove the wheels and add in some traditional Tegu Blocks for even more squeals of glee. Because Tegu Blocks are all magnetic, you can simply pop the new Mobility Wheels onto any Tegu blocks and see what kind of good times you can create.

Speaking of getting creative, Tegu loves to see all their young fans' creations and has even created an awesome contest called "How Do You Roll?" that lets your kid design the next Tegu car!  The contest is open to kids aged 4-10 and the prize is simply amazing - as in a trip to Honduras cool.  You can enter to win right from their "How Do You Roll?" sweepstakes site, but before you go...

How would you like to win one of these new Tegu Mobility Cars?  Of course you would!  Here's where it gets cool - for every 25 entrants Tegu will giveaway a car to a lucky Rave & Review reader! {i.e. 25 entrants = 1 winner, 50 entrants = 2 winners, etc!}

To Enter: Visit the "How Do You Roll?" sweepstakes site and comment below to let me know that you have entered to win the amazing Tegu Honduras grand prize {not to mention their awesome runners-up prizes}! Ready, Set, GO!

Here are the prizes you can win in the "How Do You Roll?" Sweepstakes: 

One (1) Grand Prize: The design experience of lifetime for your child. Design, Name, Package, Produce, and Share the next Tegu Magnetic Wooden Car (watch video for more details)

Two (2) First Prizes: $480 value for you and three friends. One each of the Tegu Mobility line: Dart, Hatch, Maddy Micro, Riley Roadster

Five (5) Second Prizes: $194 value. One Mahogany Original Set + Wheels + Travel Tote

Want more entries?  After signing up on the Tegu sweepstakes website, login to gain additional entries by doing the following {this is not through R&R, these additional entries are through Tegu ONLY}:

20 entries: Email friends
10 entries: Share on Facebook {Please tag Tegu Toys and Rave & Review on Facebook}
10 entires: Share on Twitter using @Tegu and @RaveAndReview
25 entries: Submit designs for the next Tegu car {great activity for kids!}

There’s no limit to the number of entries you can earn. Do each action every day to maximize your chances!  The sweepstakes ends at the end of January {1/31/2012}, so get going today and you might just be on your way to the Tegu factory and the memory of a lifetime.  Terms & conditions in the sweepstakes can be found here.

On January 31st at 11:59pm PST a winner(s) will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner(s) will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.

A big thank you to Tegu for sending the Maddy Micro for review and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Seattle Readers: Win a Photo Sitting with Alecia Smith Photography! {$325 Value}

I resolve to: Finally get a good family picture

No one ever says “I wish I didn’t have so many pictures of my family”.   Because, really, that would be just plain crazy.  Who out there doesn’t want beautiful images of their family showcasing their personalities and the love you have for each other?  So, why not make a change this year and finally schedule that family photo sitting you’ve been putting off? 

This past Fall we were lucky enough to win a family portrait session from Alecia Smith Photography at the Pacific Northwest Blogger Meetup organized by the lovely Mandy {Harper’s Happenings} and beautiful Chelsea {The Paper Mama} and I was incredibly excited to get some professional pictures taken of all of us.  As in, really, really excited.  

Admittedly, we have a lot of pictures around here since I’ve always got my camera at the ready, but we have very few pictures of the 4 of us.  Like 10 pictures, total, and in two of those I’m blinking.  While we’ve done the mall portrait studio in the past with its boring backgrounds and its 20 minute timeslot, doing something like hiring a professional photographer to shoot a family sitting was really exciting. 

We got to choose everything down to the location, the time {so we could account for naps, drive time, etc} and date and we could design our shoot any way we wanted.  Alecia was really easy going and seemed down for just about anything, so I googled an area and scoped it out the day of and in doing so we found this rustic log cabin tucked away in the center of Tukwila, WA.  Instead of going with a Christmas-y theme like I had originally planned, at the last minute I just chose some fun “fall themed” outfits that had enough color in them that they would look good on a Christmas card, but wouldn’t look funny hanging all year round and Alecia just ran with that theme from there. 

The sitting itself was also really laid back and fun, unlike many of those mall sittings we’ve done in the past that take bribery and tears before you get one image that you all don’t look goofy in.  Alecia didn’t try to force poses and she basically let our kids run wild as she chased after them with a camera, something I love because I really just want to capture who they are right now and document this stage fully.  I figure we will eventually have enough control over a family sitting that all of us are looking in the same direction at the – gasp – same time, so now’s the time when we should get the really fun ones of us laughing and enjoying ourselves, even if they aren’t your typical family shots.   

After the shoot with Alecia was over, I couldn’t wait for the picture reveal so we could pick some shots to frame and send out to family.  When the pictures arrived via her secure viewing site, I loved each and every one of them.  Honestly, the hardest part was narrowing it down to our favorites and then which images we wanted as part of our sitting package. 

It took us a while but finally we narrowed it down and found the images we couldn’t live without and then we marked them as favorites and sent them off to her.  We debated for a while about whether we wanted to add pictures to the sitting since we could have always purchased more for her reasonable rates, but in the end we decided that we want to do another sitting with her in the spring and we’d get some extra pictures then.  Because wouldn't a spring Seattle photo sitting be simply gorgeous?

If you are dreading family pictures or putting them off because they just seem so daunting, I would highly recommend just making an appointment with Alecia Smith Photography.  I was so happy I had finally scheduled a family sitting {even without waiting to lose all the baby weight, for my son’s stitches to fully heal, or for better coordinated outfits, etc} and will never look at the gorgeous pictures of this day and feel anything but happy that we made it happen.  I loved it so much that I’m going to try and do a 6 month sitting from now on... I just can’t think of a better way to document all the amazing milestones coming up!

Check out all of Alecia's amazing work at http://aleciasmith.com/ {you can even sneak peek our sitting right from her home page!]

Who wants to win a photography package from Alecia Smith Photography?  Perfect for Mother's Day, maternity, family shoot, you name it!

Here's what you get in your $325 Photo Package:

-1 hour on location session for up to 4 people {additional persons can be added $30 each}
-A private 30 day online viewing and ordering gallery
-Fifteen professionally enhanced digital image files
-Session location to be within 20 miles of zip code 98023 {wiling to travel, mileage fees apply}
-Session is to take place before May 31, 2012

To Enter: Visit AleciaSmith.com and let me know what kind of shoot you'd like to plan with her

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Like Alecia Smith Photographer on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/atVlCHyb} and tag Alecia Smith Photographer and R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Seattle #Giveaway! Win a photo sitting for your family {$325 value}! Enter to win @RaveAndReview http://t.co/atVlCHyb

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On February 14th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Must be willing to travel to Seattle area - or to pay Alecia to travel to you.

All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review. 

 

LaDainian Tomlinson & Kellogg Help Football Fans Throw a Pro-Style Party {Giveaway}

It wouldn’t be farfetched to call Super Bowl Sunday a national holiday.  Instead of a holiday focused on baking, distant family and presents, February 5th is all about football, spending time with friends, snacking, and fabulous commercials.  And, if you’re a football fan, it’s the day you wait all year for.   

We plan ahead for weeks on what we are going to do for the big day – what party we will attend, who we will bring with us, and what kind of beer to buy.  But, the one thing we never plan for is what food to bring, because you will most likely find us stressing at the deli counter the day of, trying to find something everyone will love.

That was last year, my friends.  This year we’re taking some tips from the pros and planning a truly SUPER Super Bowl menu.  And, by pros, we do mean Kellogg.  Oh, and pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson.  Kellogg and L.T. are teaming up to release some great tips, tricks, and insider treats to make any party amazing, and we will definitely be turning to them instead of the teenager behind the deli counter this February. 

And, I do mean amazing.  Just look at what you can create using just a few simple ingredients!  While I’m partial to the Cheez-It Spicy Touchdown Tenders, hubby has specially requested the Grilled Cheese Marinara and Chili Con Carne and they all look easy enough that I could easily do both the day of.  I have bookmarked and printed quite a few other recipes I want to try throughout the year.

While reading through some of the delicious-looking recipes I was really surprised to read some of the ingredients.  Most of us already have Cheez-Its and Town House Crackers in our pantry, but I bet you didn’t realize you could make so many dishes out of them.  I was simply blown away by the range of game day recipes listed as well, all the way from crowd-pleasing appetizers to gourmet main dishes and desserts.

I also loved L.T.’s party planning tips and tricks as well as his helpful videos at SnackPicks.com.  My favorite tip was how to estimate how many food and beverages to have on hand for your number of guests, which is something that will come in handy well after the big game.  I also love how he suggests getting the whole family involved in game day prep and stocking up on all-star ingredients like Cheez-It crackers, Town House Flipside crackers, Keebler cookies and Rice Krispies Treats instead of boring party faire. 

And, why not?  They are delicious, versatile, and you already know everyone loves them!

Be sure to check out all the great tips below from Kellogg and L.T. as you're planning your big game party, you are bound to find some amazing tips and tricks to make your party a fan favorite!

• Crunch the numbers: Count on guests each eating between 8 - 12 servings of appetizers over a two-hour period. Plan on two nonalcoholic drinks per guest during the first hour, and one for each hour after that. Buy about a pound of ice per guest for drinks.
• Tackle the food prep early: Make as much of the food ahead of time as you can. Peel, chop and prep veggie trays a day or two in advance. Dips and desserts can be made the day before. If you'll be making anything in a slow cooker, prep all your ingredients the day before, so that all you have to do when you wake up is put them in the cooker and turn it on.
• Stock up on all-star ingredients: Make sure you have plenty of the snacks your team really likes. Crowd-pleasers like Cheez-It® crackers, Town House® Flipside® crackers, Keebler® cookies, and Rice Krispies Treats® make adults and kids alike happy, and they can be used as ingredients in other dishes or paired with tasty dips and spreads, too.
• Create a winning game plan: Pick your game day snacks based upon the teams that are playing – if one of the teams is from Texas, serve your guests Chile Con Carne. If there is a team from Wisconsin, serve First Down Jalapeno Cheese Dip.
• Run a surprise play: Try a new recipe like Spicy Touchdown Tenders that get a surprising, crunchy kick from Cheez-It Hot & Spicy crackers. Serve them with some Buffalo sauce and they'll be the MVPs of your party.
• Call on your special teams: If you want a great dessert, but don't bake, ask your baking friends to work their magic for the party. Get the resident chili expert to make his best, and let your friend the décor expert set the scene. They'll enjoy working in their zones, and you get a few things taken off your to-do list.

• Let the Pee Wee League play, too: Let the kids help out with party prep, too. Older ones can help you make food and younger ones can set out utensils, cups and plates. You can appoint some special "Trash Referees" to patrol the party and help clean up plates and cups during the game, so there's not a big mess to clean up afterward.
• Control the crowd: Every party will have die-hard fans that want to focus on the game as well as casual fans that are there for the party and the ads. Set up televisions in two different viewing rooms that cater to both fans’ enthusiasm so everyone can enjoy the game in the atmosphere they choose.
• Prepare for fumbles: With so much excitement and food, someone is bound to have an accident. Keep cleaning supplies like paper towels and rug cleaners handy for an emergency. Also, protect your furniture as best you can by placing extra coasters on tables.
• Share the home field advantage: Not all of your guests will be cheering for the same team, so be sure to decorate your party with both teams’ colors to make everyone feel at home.

Want to win a fabulous "Big Game Gift Pack" valued at $100? 

One lucky winner will get a prize pack that includes one $75 Visa Gift Card, one Cheez-It™ Snack Cracker Bowl, one box of Sunshine® Cheez-It® Original snack crackers, one box of Keebler® Town House® Flipsides® Original crackers, one box of Keebler® Soft Batch® Chocolate Chip cookies, one box of Kellogg's® Rice Krispies Treats® Original bars and recipe cards!  Awesome, right?

To Enter: Simply comment below answering the following question: When entertaining for football’s biggest game, what plays do you make to ensure the home team is happy?

And, as always, there's extra entries!

• Post this give-away information on Facebook and link to R&R's Facebook page (1 entry)
• Retweet the giveaway post using @raveandreview and the URL to this blog post (1 entry per day)
• Post this give-away information on your favorite sweepstakes or blog site (1 entry)
• Subscribe to RaveAndReview.com (1 entry)

Giveaway ends at 12:00 p.m. ET p.m. ET on January 24, 2012.  Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Giveaway winner will be selected using Random.org from among all eligible entries received during the Giveaway and will have 48 hours to respond and confirm his/her prize.  See Offical Rules HERE

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

106 Ashley Hatten said... shared on twitter

https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/160792229751951360

Build Your Own Robot with PlanToys

Every kid needs a robot, right?  PlanToys thinks they do, which is why they have released the new PlanToys Build-A-Robot.  This isn’t your typical one size fits all robot, this is a special friend that kids can build to their specifications, and with their own distinct personality. 

Like everything PlanToys, the wooden Build-A-Robot is quality made and simply adorable.  Using eco-friendly and sustainable products, the Build-A-Robot is heirloom quality and ready for hours of play.  Made with interchangeable heads that kids can alternate between, removable legs, and removable and positionable arms, the Build-A-Robot allows kids to create their own special ‘bot quickly and easily.

Our little builders couldn’t have been more excited about building their own robot.  They each had a ton of fun changing the heads of the robot, making up their own stories and games for each new friend they created. 

Run!  An angry robot is storming the town! 

No, no, not an angry robot, just hungry for strawberries.  Now we’re all friends and everyone is happy – just look at the happy ‘bot! 

This is what play time at our house usually sounds like, with the kids taking turns personalizing the robot and building towns and robot houses out of blocks.

Even though my son is just over a year old, he was easily able to figure out how to change the robot head just by pulling it off and pushing the new head back on.  Unscrewing the legs and replacing them was a bit advanced for him, but our three year old has no problem helping him.  Luckily the robot rarely ever sits down since they are so busy playing with it, so the legs pretty much always stays upright – unless of course the robot is practicing Taekwando... or eating strawberries at our daily tea parties.

While we eventually plan on displaying the PlanToys Build-A-Robot in our little guy’s room since it’s so adorable, it’s great that he can play with the robot as well since it’s so well made and durable.   It’s a rare toy that can spend all day playing and then be displayed beautifully when the day is done, but that’s exactly what the Build-A-Robot is. 

If you’re looking for the perfect toy to inspire imaginations and provide hours of play, the Build-A-Robot would be a perfect bet.  Whether you are displaying, playing, or both, it is sure to delight your little one.  Check out some of the other new PlanToys items just released and in stores now.  We got to see some of them in person at the ABC Kids Show in September and let me tell you, they are amazingly adorable!

Just look at all this cute-ness!  Wouldn't these look perfect in the new dollhouse from Santa?

A big thank you to PlanToys for sending the Build-A-Robot for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this rave review.

Entertain Beautifully with Wendell August Waterfall Chip & Dip Set {Giveaway $60 ARV}

Why does it seem that food tastes better when it’s displayed on beautiful serving pieces?  It can’t just be me that has noticed that the most gorgeous serving pieces are usually empty first or that the manner in which you serve food has a lot to do with how that food is perceived.  I’ve experimented with this firsthand these past few weeks and have confirmed that food is 100% more appealing when served on a Wendell August canvas.

While I was queen of plastic and paper serving pieces in the past, Wendell August has made a believer out of me, and I don’t think I could ever go back to disposable pieces ever again.  In fact, I love Wendell August so much that their amazing handmade Waterfall Chip and Dip Set has been used almost continuously since it arrived. 

Whether it was taken back and forth to holiday gatherings, used as a centerpiece for our parties, or simply as a functional and beautiful accent piece when filled with shelled nuts, everyone has been raving about the Chip & Dip Set from the Wendell August Waterfall Collection.  And, once you see it in person you will see what all the fuss is about. 

From its gorgeously hand-hammered aluminum base to its elliptical shaped bowl, everything about the Chip & Dip Set from Wendell August is simply stunning.  It has a higher shine to it than I had garnered from its pictures on the Wendell August site and in person it is even more gorgeous than I had anticipated it would be.  We’re talking party-stopping elegance that makes it a point of conversation as well as delicious food. 

But, as much as we love beautiful kitchen wares here at Rave Central, we wouldn’t be raving about it if it weren’t absolutely practical as well.  Since our family is big on veggies, chips, snacks, and dips, we’ve tried it with just about every appetizer you can imagine.  From hummus and pita to veggies and ranch, the Wendell August serving set has handled every food beautifully. 

We especially like the size of the 12” tray that doesn’t overwhelm a tabletop but still holds a good deal of food, the low lip of the tray that keeps round veggies from rolling off but isn’t a deep bowl that is hard to fill and serve out of, and the fact that the dip bowl nests wonderfully in the tray and stays in place even when jostled.  It’s this kind of quality that can only come from a company that still makes every product they sell individually by hand right here in the USA and with an attention to detail you just don’t see these days. 

I really couldn’t be happier with the Wendell August Chip & Dip Set and would highly recommend it for anyone that does even a small amount of entertaining each year or for those that are looking for an awesome looking centerpiece that is a beautiful as it is functional.  While you’re checking out the Chip & Dip Set, be sure to take a look at all of the other Wendell August creations.  I don’t know about you, but I have about a dozen new items on my wishlist from the Wendell August collection, starting with the Tracery Oval Tray or Luncheon Tray, their nursery series, and the Dogwood Keepsake Chest!

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Wendell August Waterfall Chip & Dip Set of their very own!

To Enter: Visit Wendell August and let me know what other gorgeous item of theirs you have your eye on.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/oRcoymFp} and tag and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like Wendell August on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Gorgeous entertaining with Wendell August @HandMadeUSA metal pieces! Enter the #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/oRcoymFp

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On February 14th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US addresses only.

The Wendell August Chip & Dip set for review and the giveaway were offered at no charge to us.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Relax with a Cup of Tea Forte

I like coffee, but I just adore tea.  There’s something so relaxing about sitting back with a nice full mug of tea and chatting with a friend, so in our house we drink a lot of tea. 

In fact, we have a whole cupboard that is dedicated to our tea obsession.  In that cupboard is black tea, white tea, green tea, herbal medleys and more, with a collection of bagged varieties and loose leaves, some of which are for iced brewing that we drink year-round and some for hot tea during the colder months.  But, until recently, we didn’t have any truly gourmet tea brands in that cupboard, just the standard grocery store faire. 

So, I’m sure you can imagine the cheering that took place when we received the Tea Lover’s dream: a package of Tea Forte selected teas and a glass Tea-Over-Ice brewing pitcher.   I think we had the package open about 10 minutes before we were enjoying our first glasses {yes, just long enough the heat the water} and were immediately raving about the quality and flavors of the two varieties we were enjoying. 

If you haven’t tried their tea varieties in the past, then prepare to be blown away.  Not only do they look super cool with their pyramid shape and their beautiful design, once you try them you will change the way you drink tea.  You see, these aren’t overpriced and over-hyped teas that taste just like the kind you can buy in any discount store, these teas simply taste decadent.  With no bitter aftertaste and no strange mix of flavors, the Tea Forte line is tea as it was meant to be – smooth, delicious, and fun to enjoy.

To make our tea parties even more fun, I simply love the Flash Chill pour-over tea pitcher we were sent to check out.  The design is fairly simple with a two pitcher set that you use to steep, cool, and serve your iced tea in, but it’s that simplicity that will mean it actually gets used.  You simply steep hot tea in the lidded upper pitcher as you’d like, and then Flash Chill your fresh iced tea by pouring it into the ice in the larger, lower pitcher below, making it ready to serve right away.  In just minutes you can have a fresh 24oz pitcher of iced tea that is elegant enough for a dinner party but practical for use every day.

What’s so great about Tea Forte is that their tea is so delicious that you could use just about any of their teas and they would be delectable over ice, but what’s really cool is that they make a full line of Tea-Over-Ice pyramid infusers that are the perfect size and strength for the pitcher sizes.  Whether you prefer fruity varieties, flowery, or classic flavors, Tea Forte has the perfect iced tea pyramid infusers for you.

I know many of you are thinking “but I don’t have a tea cabinet, is this something I would actually use enough to store it?”  The short answer is “yes” - Even if you don’t have a designated tea cabinet or don’t consider yourself a tea connoisseur, the Tea Forte collection is sure to make a tea lover out of you.  If you want a truly gourmet experience, I would also recommend the Tea-Over-Ice pitcher as the perfect complement.  Beautiful, compact, and fun to use, I find myself looking for excuses to brew a batch in our new pitcher!  

Be sure to check out their Specials & Discounts section to get a great deal on the Tea-Over-Ice pitcher and more!

A big thank you to Tea Forte and An Island Life for this review opportunity.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Free Sheet Battery Offer with Sony VAIO S Series Laptop {$150 ARV ends 12/31}

Are you in the market for a new laptop?  Check out this awesome deal that includes one of the most raved about laptops of the year and the amazing sheet battery, which gives you power all day!  Whether you travel a lot and need your laptop for long stretches of time or you simply like to go cord-free at home, the Sony sheet battery will soon become your new laptop must-have. 

Unlike other extended life batteries, the Sony sheet battery is so slim and lightweight that it's barely perceptible when it's attached to the laptop over the internal battery.  Since the Sony VAIO S Series is one of the lightest in its class and the sheet battery adds a negliable weight, you will be as surprised as I was that it adds some serious power to an already amazing 6 hour battery life.  Not only does it give you a whopping 12 hours of power, it also has a great design that spreads the battery out over the entire base of the laptop, giving you a balanced work surface and a streamlined laptop that can fit into snug laptop cases, carry-ons, and briefcases.

Amazing, right?  So, what are you waiting for?  For a limited time the sheet battery is available for FREE {$150 ARV} when you buy a VAIO S 15.5" before 12/31 at retailers like Sony Style, Amazon, NewEgg.com, HH Gregg, Fry’s, Tiger Direct, and several other retailers across the country!

Here are some details on the deal that goes through 12/31 - www.sony.com/batteryoffer.

Sony VAIO S Series Features:

• Intel^® Core i5 or i7 processor for visibly smart performance
• Genuine Windows^® 7 Home Premium (other Windows editions available)
• Up to 12 hours battery life (with free extended sheet battery)¹
• 15.5" LED backlit Full HD display (1920 x 1080)
• AMD Radeon graphics with up to 1GB VRAM offers premium performance
• Available solid state drives for rapid boot-ups and quicker application access
• Type in low light with the backlit keyboard with integrated number pad
• Available with Blu-ray Disc or CD/DVD player/burner
• Protect your PC's data with fingerprint sensor and TPM
• USB 3.0 technology (transfer data up to 10X faster than USB 2.0)
• Starting at $999.99

A big thank you to Microsoft and Sony for sharing this special with us.  Stay tuned for additional posts about the Sony VAIO S Series and Microsoft SkyDrive as we get a chance to check some of them out.

Squinkies Introduces Cars, Comics and Characters for Boys {Review & Giveaway}

I've talked before about how much my daughter loves Squinkies.  But, with all their pink packaging and princess-themed collections, what I didn't expect was how much all of her male friends would like them as well.  It's true - they didn't mind a bit that they were originally marketed towards girls, they just liked the toys and wanted to play with them as well. 

And, can you blame them?  I've gone on record stating that if I was 20 years younger I know I would own the entire Squinkies Surprize Inside collection and that has become even more true as the collection of Squinkies available has grown to include just about every character I loved growing up. 

Perhaps you don't have a young child who begs you for Squinkies for your collection or you haven't been in a toy store for a few years and don't know Squinkies from Squash.  Here's what you need to know:  Besides being miniature {which is a huge weakness of just about every kid I know}, Squinkies also have a great extended play value as they can be jewelry, pencil toppers, and tiny little take anywhere toys that make them easy to transport to friends’ houses and more. 

Each set comes with a variety of squishable and squashable miniature Squinkies characters and accessories, each enclosed in a clear plastic ball that can be used to store them in or to add to playtime as well.  Similar to the plastic bubble that small toys are vended out of in arcades, they are about an inch and a half in diameter and house all the adorable little Squinkies as well as making them perfect for displaying, playing, and more.

And, now Squinkies are truly for every kid with the addition of their male-targeted series.  Even though these new car, comic, and character themed Squinkies are designed with boys in mind, like their pink counterparts, we found kids of both sexes adored them.  Like the Surprize Inside series, the new boy's Squinkies line comes with their own accessories such as cars, trucks, skateboards, superheroes, skulls, and more that are sure to provide hours of fun. 

Whether you have a Marvel Comics fan, a Hot Wheels aficionado, or a Disney's Cars fanatic, your little one is sure to be delighted by one of the new Squinkies sets.  They have certainly been a huge hit in our house and with every kid that has come to play - so much so that we bought a few of these sets for holiday gifts this year and plan on getting more throughout the year.  If you're looking to counteract some of the pink in your kiddos Squinkies collection or have a little boy who has been dying to play, you will definitely want to check out the new series from Squinkies here.

http://www.squinkies.com

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win some Squinkies Boys Pack of their very own!

To Enter: Let me know what Squinkies set your little one would love

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/zIwl9SvH} and tag and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like Squinkies on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Love the new boy themed @squinkies! Hoping I #win prize pack #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/zIwl9SvH

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On January 26th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US and Canadian addresses only.

The Squinkies for review and the giveaway were offered at no charge to us but all opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Zubels Organic Hand-Knit Toys

Are you constantly searching for organic toys for your kids?  Have you noticed that when searching for organic toys, many of the selections that pop up are for babies?  It’s extremely rare that you can find organic toys that can grow with your child and go from rattle to playmate, but that’s exactly what Zubels do. 

Their organic cotton, hand knit toys are made with eco-friendly dyes and are squeezably soft and ready for snuggling, but they are also ready for play time for years to come.  Zubel's newest line is especially play-ready with the addition of the fall and winter characters that includes football players, cheerleaders, and more to get your child imagining and playing.  Find the colors closest to your team's colors and get your little one some players and fans and you've got hours of fun while watching the game on TV.

We got to check out a football player from the Zubels line a few weeks back, and even though my son has no idea what football is or why his new little friend is wearing a helmet and protective gear, he does know how super soft and snuggly he is.  My daughter, on the other hand, realized quickly what he was and began showing him how to play {in her limited view of how the game is actually played}, which was pretty cute. 

Since he has arrived, our Zubels football player has been a constant during play time and at naptime as everyone wants to play with him and snuggle him.  I love that it’s such a quality made toy that I don’t worry about seams ripping, ends fraying, or anything else you run into with lesser-quality toys.  This is a truly awesome thing as I see a whole lot more play in his future.   

In addition to being eco-friendly, organic, adorable, and fun to play with, Zubels are also incredibly affordable.  I personally love this as it means that I can get more of them for my little guy and really add to the playtime fun.  And, judging from how much both of my kids love the Zubel we received, we will definitely be getting more.  For instance, that adorable pirate.  And Red Riding Hood.  And the mermaid.  Simply swoon-worthy, right?

Zubels start at under $15, which makes them completely affordable for baby showers, birthdays, and for starting a little collection for your little one.  Most designs come in various sizes as well to add to the fun.  See the full selection at zubels.us

A big thank you to Zubels and An Island Life for this review opportunity.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.