Rave and Review

Cinemek Hitchcock iPhone App Release Party

 

Interior Room

Camera Fade In

[Partygoers fill an industrial loft in Seattle, skyline visible through window]

Narrator: When Cinemek throws a party, you can bet there will be bacon.  No, not fatty bacon strips; that would get grease all over their iPhones. We're talking Bakon Vodka.

 

Celebrating the release of their Hitchcock iPhone app, a mobile storyboard creator that every filmmaker {with an iPhone or iPod Touch} needs to own, the folks at Cinemek whooped it up all night long. Jonathan Houser, the Hitchcock creator and mastermind, was on hand to hold baby and keep us all up well past our bedtimes.

 
[Narrator enters from left]

 

Narrator: If you are a filmmaker, know a filmmaker, or just really love storyboarding in your spare time, you should also know Hitchcock.

 

The app itself is an intelligent and easy to use program that allows you to create photograph driven storyboards from virtually anywhere.  Simple enough to use that us non-filmmakers can jump right in, but complex enough that even a seasoned filmmaker won't outgrow it, the Hitchcock app solves the stick figured storyboard problem for good.  Until now filmmakers had two options for getting their ideas on to paper; they could either learn to draw or hire someone who can. 

 

I had fun creating what I know would be the next big blockbuster (if only I could find a director) with zero history with an iPhone** and even less experience storyboarding. I'd tell you all about it, but then I would run the risk of losing the rights to the film.  Trust me when I tell you it's that good, and we'll leave it at that.  Unless, of course, you're interested in directing a heartwarming movie about two girls (one of them is a giant, the other is regular sized) and they both go visit the pyramids.  Lots of crazy camera angles, pans, tilts and high speed zooms will tell their tale as they each discover that what they are searching for has been right in front of them the whole time: Bacon. It's got blockbuster written all over it.

 

Fade to Black

** please note that no one at Rave and Review owns an iPhone and we have no interest in reviewing iPhone apps. However, we always make an exception when the company, the app and the party are this darn cool.

Portrait Professional - Review and Discount Code

I have found it - the perfect photo editing program for both amateurs and advanced photographers alike.  Portrait Professional is a simple program that is user friendly and intuitive, even for the casual photographer.  Portrait Professional delivers high quality work in a fraction of the time it takes to completely retouch a photograph on other editing programs, and is actually really fun to use. 

I cringe whenever I am doing an hours-long photo shoot and the subject casually says “you’re going to Photoshop these, right?” as if it’s just a button I press and her wrinkles magically disappear on all 3,000 images.  All photographers out there know Photoshop is great, but it does take a lot of time.  The Photoshop masking and layering functions are perfect if you have found The Image and need to make adjustments before you blow that baby up to 16x20, but pixel-by-pixel retouch really is not a huge multi-image photo session option.

 

Before                                   After

Portrait Professional is a simple download from their website and there are no manuals to read or necessary classes to take just to learn the basics.  Instead, the Portrait Professional program walks you through the entire portrait retouching and makes the whole process incredibly easy.  Once you open the Portrait Professional program, a simple “mark-up” stage begins, which asks you to identify certain markers on the face so the program can recognize your subject’s unique facial characteristics.  Once the markers for the portrait are set, the image automatically is altered to clean up imperfections and any lighting or color issues in the original file. 

I’m usually not a huge fan of “automatic fixes” as the result usually overcorrects any issues and tends to undo any purposeful artistic flair I have put into the photograph, but the Portrait Professional program was leagues smarter than I had anticipated.  Their facial recognition is based on an algorithm of biometrics and automatically alters images to fit the extensive Portrait Professional database of the natural beauty we are all drawn to.  Once the program has given you the corrected image, you can simply move sliders to enhance the after image or undo anything the software has auto corrected for you. 

The program offers options to do total facial resculpting as well as enhancing any number of your subject’s features.  You can smooth skin, widen eyes, remove blemishes and even change the color of your subject’s hair in minutes.  Once you’re done with that, you can add a sunkissed skin tone, whiten teeth, thin out the face and neck and then plump up lips – all without plastic surgery.  The program also offers small retouching brushes, but for the most part the image is corrected using the sliders and master control which requires no proficiency in photo retouching tools. 

One of the biggest complaints photographers have with photo retouching software is that usually it is overdone.  The great part about Portrait Professional is that you can see the “before” image in the same window if you’d like, so you don’t find yourself straying too far from the original image.  You can add as much or as little enhancement as you’d like with the uncorrected image to guide you, and you won’t end up with an ultra-retouched image that looks more alien than human when you’re finished.  Sure, you can still create glamour shots of your subjects easily and expertly, but you can also just add a more polished look to even a casual photograph. 

My dad said it best when he said that the Portrait Professional is still you, only better.  Instead of highlighting your blemishes or imperfections, Portrait Professional merely shows you what everyone else sees when they see you, whether that is your beautiful smile or the way your eyes captivate.  And that’s something we all can get behind.

To see a demo of the Portrait Professional software, click HERE

http://www.portraitprofessional.com/

Price: $69.95, with an additional 10% off for Rave and Review readers with the discount code "RR05".  If you aren't sold on it yet, you can download the free trial version and in minutes you can play with and enhance your favorite photos. 

Looks: Like software, naturally.

Overall: A cheap, yet sophisticated photo editing software.

SodaStream Soda Maker - Review and Giveaway

Join the Soda Club

You know that product you just can’t imagine how you got along without but no one seems to have heard about but you?  The SodaStream is absolutely that product, and something not nearly enough people know about.  SodaStream is the maker of a line of at-home carbonating systems that allow you to make your own soda and seltzer water in just seconds.  It’s eco-friendly, it’s delicious, and most of all, it’s by far the most fun I’ve ever had with fizzy water.   

When hubby was younger he had family friends that had what he still refers to as “the coolest house ever”.  The qualifications for that honor?  The movie Tron and their own personal soda maker.  We’ve now owned Tron for quite some time, but when our SodaStream Soda Maker arrived on our doorstep, our house finally lived up to his childhood dreams.  Hubby was ecstatic, but what was surprising was how much I immediately loved it.  I’ve never been a huge fan of soda, so nobody could believe it when I fell so hard for the SodaStream…. or at least they couldn’t until they tried Leanne’s Special Brew for themselves.

The SodaStream Soda Maker is a genius design that requires no batteries, electricity or plumbing and very little counter space.  All of their Soda Makers are sleek and slim and come in numerous designs and colors to fit in just about any kitchen or bar.  The Soda Makers are sold in packages with the CO2 to make over 100 liters of soda, 2 reusable BPA-free carbonating bottles, and their own hermetically sealed caps to keep all the soda you create fizzy and fresh longer than store-bought soda.  Add in some cold tap water and the Soda-Club syrups and you’ve got all you need for months of the best tasting soda you’ve ever had. 

The SodaStream instructions are simple: fill carbonating bottle with fresh tap water, connect bottle to the Soda Maker and press carbonating button to fizz to your liking.  Once carbonated, you just add syrup and lightly agitate to mix.  In seconds you will be enjoying soda that is exactly the way you like it – just the right amount of carbonation and just the right amount of flavor – because you control the amount of both!

Since I wasn’t a huge fan of soda before, we almost never had fizzy beverages when guests popped in unexpectedly or hubby had a craving.  When we did have a party or event, we would run to the store and grab a 24 pack or two and then hope we had the right mix of flavors and the perfect number of sodas so we didn’t end up storing a garage full of beverages until the next shindig.  The SodaStream solved both of those problems by allowing us to mix soda as we need it in whatever flavor our guests would like.  No more last minute trips to the store to stock up or replenish and no soda storage required. 

On top of it all, the soda making is a fun activity in itself and something just about anyone can do.  And, when everyone leaves, there are no bottles and cans to recycle and no waste, at least none from the beverage table.  For those of you having wild and crazy bar nights, you will be happy to note that the SodaStream Soda Maker also makes seltzer, tonic and more that are perfect in mixed drinks.  Recipes are even available on their website for all sorts of drinks that are kid-friendly and nightlife approved. 

All this variety requires very little storage space in your pantry or cupboard and doesn’t require refrigeration.  Each one of the 500ml Soda-Club syrups makes 12 liters or 33 cans of soda and takes up roughly the space of a ketchup or mustard bottle, which means you could pretty much own all 25+ soda flavor mixes in the space that 24 pack took up.

Included in those Soda-Club syrups are a large variety of regular and diet sodas as well as energy drinks and caffeine-free varieties.  SodaStream’s regular soda mix contains no high fructose corn syrup and diet flavors contain no aspartame.  Even their regular selections contain 2/3 less sugar and calories than the national brands as well as less caffeine.  And they are just as delicious, if not more so.  Really.  I’m pretty much addicted to the Orange Soda Mix and could drink a liter all myself.  Luckily for me, it would be a fairly cheap habit, considering that I can make 12 liters for $4.99, or even cheaper if I bought the Soda Mix in bulk. 

Below is a chart of how Soda-Club drink mix selection nutritionals compare to store-bought brands. 

	Calories	Carbs	Sugar	Sodium	Caffeine
Pepsi®	100	27g	27g	25mg	25mg
Coca-Cola®	100	27g	27g	35mg
Pepsi® Edge™	50	13g	13g	25mg	25mg
Coca-Cola C2™	45	12g	12g	30mg	23mg
SodaStream Cola	34	9g	9g	2mg	15mg
7-UP®	100	26g	26g	50mg	0mg
Sprite®	100	26g	26g	45mg	0mg
SodaStream LemonLime	36	9g	9g	25mg	0mg

The advantages of SodaStream’s Home Carbonation System, fresh from the Soda Club website:

• Value for Money: Great savings compared to pre-packed carbonated water and beverages.
• Environmentally-Friendly: Soda-Club is an "Active Green" solution that minimizes the huge eco-footprint caused by the manufacture, transport and waste of plastic bottles.
• Convenience: No need to carry heavy bottles from the store. The Soda-Club system is simple to use and requires no batteries or electricity.
• Variety: Soda-Club offers over 60 flavors to suit everyone’s taste. Regular, diet, natural, fruity flavors, ice tea, energy drinks, sport drinks, tonic and many more.
• Space Saver: No need to store bottles of beverages or empty bottles for recycling in your home.
• Personalization: Make drinks just the way you love them… more bubbles, less bubbles, sweeter or lighter, even create your own flavor!
• Family Fun: The system is quick and easy to use. It's fun for everyone and kids just love it!
• Satisfaction Guaranteed: Soda-Club drinks makers are of extremely high quality and include a money-back satisfaction guarantee and Lifetime Warranty to our customers.

For more information on SodaStream / Soda-Club visit the corporate website

Price: $99 and up for Start-Up Kits.  SodaStream Soda Makers are available online at http://www.sodastreamusa.com/ as wells as sold in retail stores across the country, click here to find a store near you.

Looks: Unobtrusive and matched with your decor or colorful to make an impact, there's a SodaStream model for any kitchen or bar.

Overall:  The best thing to happen to soda since fizzy water.

And now for the Giveaway...

SodaStream was so kind as to offer a Rave and Review reader a Fountain Jet Soda Lover's Start-Up Kit (approx. $100 retail value.) The kit includes the winner's choice of black/silver, white or red/silver Fountain Jet, CO2 to make over 100 liters of soda, 2 reusable carbonating bottles, a sample pack of flavors, and 3 full-sized flavors of the winner's choice.  To enter, just visit the SodaStream website and choose your favorite 3 Soda Club flavors that you would love if you won.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review (1 extra entry, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway (1 entry for every Tweet, just post link here)

3) Blog about this Giveaway (1 extra entry)

4) Place my logo or link in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link)

5) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs (there is no need to sign up for anything, simply clicking this link is a vote for us.  You can vote one time each day, leave comment each time you vote)

6) Share this post on Facebook (1 extra entry)

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne@raveandreview.com for two bonus entries (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

Please leave a comment below for each of the extra entries
On September 24th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email

Thank you to SodaStream for sponsoring this review and giveaway

***Winner Announced!! Winner Announced!!**

Congratulations to  Jennifer McLachlan who said:

daily tweet! http://twitter.com/kenziesmum2009/statuses/4331416641

I have emailed you and you have 48 hours to contact me!

Click here to see the entire Blog Hop List....

Kokopax Carrier Review

Babywearing is to thank for at least 90% of our productivity since baby was born.  Hands free snuggling equates to parenting bliss, and as baby neared her first birthday I was terrified that it would all come to an end once baby got too big for the front pack or the carrier got too cumbersome to maneuver around.  Thus began my search for a designated back carrier that would enable me to carry baby around well past her 1st birthday.  The search ended with the adorable Kokopax Carriers and confirmed our love of babywearing has months of good hands-free productivity remaining.

Kokopax was created out of a love of classic backpack style frame carriers and the desire to make them both stylish and hip.  Inspiration for the adorable Kokopax prints came while founder Sara Spoor was visiting a Washington boutique just a ferry ride from Seattle and fell in love with their trendy fabrics.  An idea was born and she went to work designing the coolest and most coveted back carrier on the market.  The result is a fashionable and chic lightweight back carrier that is suitable for everyday use. 

The Kokopax Carrier was our first introduction to frame carriers and now I wonder why we were hesitant to make that leap, as the Kokopax is easily one of our favorite carriers we have ever tried.  The Kokopax arrived packaged nicely and then enclosed in an adorable fabric carrying case, which makes it easy to keep clean and transport in the trunk or store in a closet when not using.  Immediately we tried it out, with baby {safely} helping me cook by drooling on my neck as she slept, something I previously could not enjoy with our front carriers.

For the rest of the night baby did everything with me, strapped on my back and content to be facing forward for the first time ever.  Now that baby can grab nearly everything I can, having her behind me means that I can now safely use both hands without worry and without her insistence of help.  Cute as it may be, sometimes her help is anything but helpful and means that I have to save most of my daily tasks until she is sleeping.  With the Kokopax, I can still interact with her while I clean, cook or help my mom clean out her garage but don’t have to worry about what she’s getting into. 

Since we received it, we have used the Kokopax for all sorts of activities and love it more every time we use it.  Weighing in at approximately 2.7 lbs and with great features like an opening base that allows for easy loading, the Kokopax is perfect for everyday use no matter where your day takes you.  

I found the back carrier to be much easier to maneuver efficiently and I loved how comfortable it was, even for long periods of time.  Their ultra padded shoulder straps and comfortable lower back lumbar support are both easily adjustable to fit a large range of body types.  Hubby and I both were able to use the carrier comfortably with only quick adjustments necessary before we were off.  It did take some getting used to it since I haven’t carried a backpack since early high school, but once I broke in the , I found it to be surprisingly natural.   

Features from the Kokopax website:
• made with 100% cotton canvas
• anodized aluminum frame
• comfortable shoulder straps
• adjustable frame to fit individual user
• padded waist support
• handy storage pocket
• kickstand for easy loading
• 5-pt. safety harness
• ties to secure pax protector™
• toy ring to attach koko™ or other toys
• weighs approximately 2.7 lbs.
• fits in airline overhead bins
• for use from 6 months to 2 years (or up to 35 pounds)
• includes green carry bag

www.kokopax.com

Price: $179.99

Looks: Modern and stylish patterns make frame carriers fun as well as functional

Overall:  Highly recommended for anyone interested in prolonging the babywearing experience

Boob Design B Warmer

Oh, how I love Swedish design!  Minimalist good looks and clean lines make Boob maternity and breastfeeding collection from Sweden my new favorite name in nursing wear.  Their designs are simple and elegant and make them the perfect foundation pieces for any nursing wardrobe.

As a 14-month nursing veteran, I am very aware of the scarcity of nursing options, especially those that are ever to be worn in public.  I am an “over-shirt nurser” - preferring to keep the bottom hem of the shirt in place while nursing and merely adjust or pull down the front of my top - and the options available for me are dismal at best.  Non-zip hoodies are out, high neck shirts are out, and I find myself with a collection of low-cut tops that I have to layer in order to wear in public.  Lucky for me, I found Boob Designs just in time to rescue my nursing wardrobe.     

All of the Boob nursing collection features a clever overlapping layer in the bust that opens to allow you to nurse easily and discretely while still remaining completely covered.  As the cold weather approaches, that little detail allows you to comfortably nurse outdoors when even the thought of an exposed breast makes you shiver.  I would have paid three times the retail value of their Boob B Warmer Hoodie on our trip to Spain in January when nursing outdoors in the wind and cold was the norm if we were ever going to see anything besides the inside of our hotel room.  Instead, I shivered through dozens on feedings in the frigid air, very jealous of my bundled up hubby, sister and babe.

The Boob B Warmer is available in heather grey and black and has a fun, sporty look with a super-soft fleece lining that will keep you warm no matter where you’re feeding.  I found the double layer in the bust to offer double the support, and never gaped or exposed as I had feared it might.  The picture of the grey B Warmeron their website led me to believe the double bust layer would be obvious even at a distance, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the nursing opening hit just below my bust and the seam was almost imperceptible, especially with the darker color hoodie.  I also love that the B Warmer is stretchy and has a slightly longer length that keeps me covered even when moving and chasing around kiddos. 

As if excellence in design was not enough, Boob is also commendable for their superb efforts in social responsibility.  Their Corporate Responsibility section of their website is enormous and encompasses everything from fair labor standards to encouraging employees to bike to work, as well as making deliveries by company bike and eco-car.  They have also made the switch to electronic transmissions instead of printed matter, which is why you’ve never seen Boobmass mailings and flyers floating about.  Pretty cool, right?  Boob has also begun to include more natural and environmentally friendly fabric and production practices in a big way.  57% of the Fall/Winter 2009 line is made with Organic Cotton without the use of pesticides or fertilizer and their fleece is made from recycled PET bottles, which doesn’t sound super soft, but you would definitely be surprised. 

B Warmer is made from 92% cotton, 8% lycra, with 100% polyester fleece lining.

http://www.boobdesign.com/

Available in the US in many local boutiques, as well as available online at Due Maternity  www.duematernity.com

Looks: Fun and sporty with secret nursing access

Overall:  It's a hoodie I can wear while nursing, which means I'm in love

technorati code 3d9h6vtfyp

Blush Topless Undershirt Giveaway!

I really wish I had found Blush Topless Undershirts when I was pregnant.  I love my Topless Undershirt so much and wear it all the time, making me wish that I had gotten them earlier and used them instead of all the maternity belly bands I tried.  Blush Undershirts are far superior to the stretchy tube design of other belly bands and are infinitely more comfortable. 

The Topless Undershirt by Blush has an a-line flared design that fits virtually any body type and is made out of t-shirt material instead of spandex or nylon, which means it is super comfortable under anything.  What makes it unique is that the top of the Blush Topless Undershirt has a completely sewn in and non-binding elastic that can be worn just under the bust line or lower and then the Blush Undershirt drapes like the bottom of an empire waist shirt – not too tight, not too loose.  Nothing clings, nothing rides, and it feels like you are wearing nothing at all.  It’s the kind of comfortable that you will want to wear everyday, and probably will.

The Blush Topless Undershirt is perfect for shirts that are a bit too short, for maternity sanity, or even for achieving the layered look without the added bulk.  I love my Blush for making any shirt a discrete nursing top and for adding a little flair to just about any outfit.  They come in 6 solid colors, two patterns and 4 lace trimmed designs that can go with virtually any outfit. 

R&R Tip: There are two tabs on the Blush website, one that says “Maternity” and the other is “For Everyone”, but there is only one line of Topless Undershirts.  Refer to the sizing chart on their website to determine which size works best for those with baby and those without.

http://www.toplessundershirt.com/

Price: $15 for solid colors, $20 for patterns and lace trimmed.  I would recommend you get at least one neutral color (with lace or without) and then a fun bold color, or pattern to help spice up any bland nursing wear or regular t-shirt. 

Use coupon code: welovebloggers to get 20% off 2 undershirts or more

And now for the Giveaway…
Blush was so kind as to offer a Rave and Review reader a Topless Undershirt of their choice. To enter, visit the Topless Undershirt website and chose your favorite design/color and then come back and tell me about it. 

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review (1 extra entry, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway (1 entry for every Tweet, just post link here)

3) Blog about this Giveaway (1 extra entry)

4) Place my logo or link in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link)

5) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs (there is no need to sign up for anything, simply clicking this link is a vote for us.  You can vote one time each day, leave comment each time you vote)

6) Share this post on Facebook (1 extra entry)

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne@raveandreview.com for two bonus entries (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

Please leave a comment below for each of the extra entries
On September 10th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email

Thank you to Blush for sponsoring this review and giveaway.

 

Plan Toys Activity Bus from ebeanstalk.com

Sometimes I wonder what toys are the best for kids at different ages and stages of development, especially when I am buying ahead or purchasing presents.  We all want the same thing from kids' toys - to encourage them to explore and interact as well as hold their attention for any length of time, which is why I'm so glad that ebeanstalk has a group of child experts that help you select great learning toys for kids of all ages.  From baby toys, toys for 1 year olds, toys for 2 year olds, and more, they are dedicated to providing educational-based products and have a great selection of toys to grow with.  

I received the Activity Bus from Plan Toys, a leader in eco-friendly developmental toys, to test out for ebeanstalk and am absolutely in love.  They must have known about my obsession with the wooden school bus my neighbor used to have when I was young and how sometimes I would go hang out at her house just so I could play with it.  You see, we needed a school bus to play with, and it just so happens that ours is now cooler than the one I used to covet.  Yes, ours.  I play with this toy, too.  

Aside from looking really cute and classic, the Activity Bus lives up to its name and provides for hours of play.  The clever hinged design is perfect for precise positioning of the included Plan People and seats aboard the bus, and allows the Activity Bus to open entirely to transform into the school house.  Once the bus arrives at the school yard, the bus opens and the seats can be removed to use as desks for the rest of the school day.  Also included is a dual-sided teaching board and books to set along the inner bus shelf.  When the school day is over, or when you are finished playing, everything tucks neatly into the Bus body for easy storing.

Suggestions to make it even more Rave-tastic: More Plan People, please!  I wish the Activity Bus came with more than two people so when, not if, mama wants to play there would be enough for everyone.  Also, it would help fill the four seats provided in the set nicely.  With the two empty school desks/bus seats it appears that Planville has a low school attendance, exactly the opposite message we're looking to send.  More than likely those Plan People are off enjoying all the other super cool sets from Plan Toys, which just means that we should splurge for more sets!  I am now drooling over the Plan Toys Motor Home set, which would be right at home in our toy collection.

http://www.ebeanstalk.com

Price: $34.99 for the Activity Bus

Looks: Adorable and classic

Overall: Tons of fun for kids (and parents) that are 3+ years.

 

Cutie and Patootie Boutique - $500 Shopping Spree Giveaway

 

It's Cutie, it's Patootie, and they've got flair to spare.

Baby's been growing like crazy and recently I've had to retire a good portion of her wardrobe as we moved the next size up in and carted the outgrown lot out.  Goodbye, 6 month flair and hello, 12 month fashion!  Unfortunately, I've grown rather attached to the sweet and tiny baby togs and am having a hard time making the move to the next size up.  Lucky for me, Cutie and Patootie is here to help ease the transistion. 

Cutie and Patootie has some of the most adorable clothing from Baby Creepers to Toddler and Kid's T-shirts in size 2T and up, as well as hoodies and other points of flair that we love so much.  Their clothing might be for babies, but there's nothing else babyish about it.  Most of the styles I would wear myself, and at least half of them hubby could pull off.  Put that on a baby and it's a recipe for extreme cuteness.  We're talking melt-your-heart cute. 

Go to http://www.cutieandpatootie.com/ to shop, and use the code "POSH" for 10% off your order

While you are shopping, don't forget to enter to win a $500 Shopping Spree at Cutie and Patootie so you can outfit your kiddo in the most trendy and cool clothing you've ever seen in miniature sizes... for free. 

Off! Clip-On Insect Repellant

I can’t tell you how much I wish I had been reviewing this Off Clip-On a month ago when the fam and I were on a very ambitious two night backpacking trip miles away from civilization.  It turned out that our campsite just so happened to be double booked for the long weekend – our party of six and what had to be some sort of mosquito convention - and the bugs were not going to give up easily.  At one point it was half-jokingly suggested that maybe this species of mosquito was actually attracted to the sticky, stinky and gooey mess we were pretty much bathing in, since the amount of spray we were using was enough to repel full-size adults, but curiously didn’t even seem to affect the swarms of bugs at our site. 

The Off Clip-On is an alternative to the spray-on insect repellant and allows you to clip it onto your clothing or set near you to enjoy all the insect repellant properties without the sticky spray.  When I first received the Off Clip On, I was surprised by the larger size of the unit as I had been picturing a pager or cell phone sized device.  Once I realized that the Off Clip On had a fan and moveable parts, I realized the need for a slightly bigger unit was a necessary evil.  A somewhat bulky unit is a small tradeoff for a product that makes the great outdoors that much more great.

How it works: The Off! Clip-On has an internal fan that is run by batteries (included) and works to circulate the scent-less insect repellant from head to toe.  Each Clip-On Refill lasts for 12 hours and extra refill packs can be purchased separately (sold in packs of 2, and give you 24 hours of coverage).  The Off! Clip-On has an on and off switch so you can turn it on when you need it and then store it once you come inside.  They recommend that each refill be used within 14 days of opening, which means that one refill can easily last through an entire vacation or camping trip.  

What I’m Raving About:  Nearly all of my really, really bad bug attacks were when I was going outside “for just a minute” and therefore couldn’t be bothered with applying bug spray.  The Off Clip-On solves that by offering temporary bug repellant that won’t leave you stinking like bug spray hours after you’ve come indoors.  Pretty cool, really.  The easy on/off makes it perfect for a quick BBQ dinner, picking squash from the garden, a 20 minute lemonade break, or for the infamous 30-minute long standing-by-the-car goodbyes my family is famous for.

What I’m Raving About, Part 2: When baby is in my arms or I am babywearing with the Off! Clip-On, there is no need to spray her with insect repellant, either.  No one likes to douse a baby with bug spray, especially one that is young enough to still be in the “everything in the mouth” stage. 

Suggestion to make it even more Rave-tastic: 1) The Off Clip-On should say in big BOLD letters on the package that all 12 hours of the refill do not need to be used at one time, and that you can turn the unit on an off to prolong the refill pack.  I was so scared to open the refill and start it up because I mistakenly thought I needed to find a 12-hour block to use it in.  I was really relieved to find that you can control the output of the Off Clip-On.  2) The Off Clip-On is not as effective while moving, as it takes a few minutes to rebuild its protection, according to the Off! Website.

Speaking of the Off! Website… Off! also has a neat tool called the Mosquit-O-Meter which is an interactive quiz that shows you how attractive you are to mosquitoes (extremely, as it turns out).  I guess mosquitoes enjoy fruity lotions and bath products as much as I do!

http://www.offprotects.com/

Price: $12.99 for the Off! Clip-On and $8.49 for refills

This post was written for the Family Review Network as part of a program by SC Johnson and Off!, who also supplied the product for review.

Babble Babywear Review and Giveaway

 If you know anyone that has a baby or is expecting a baby, you should know about Babble Babywear. Their new line of saucy styles for babes is fun and adorable and sure to be the talk of any baby shower. Babble’s edgy designs and slogans are not your average kid stuff, but rather are a welcome change from the cutesy and common.

I love that Babble Babywear designs are simple and straightforward, which I think makes them exponentially funnier than most other baby clothing lines. Their style reminds me of hubby’s favorite t-shirts with their minimal design and maximum impact, but with baby-geared messages. My favorite designs are the “Suck It Up” with a silhouette of a pacifier and the “Pick-Me-Up” with its sunburst coffee cup design.

All their designs are printed on high quality, lightweight 100% ringspun cotton and are super soft next to baby’s skin. Currently, they have two sizes, 0-6 month and 6-12 month, and hopefully we will see more sizes offered down the road. I’m {not so secretly} hoping for baby and toddler t-shirts as well as onesies in the near future so baby can show her spunk well into her toddler years.

http://www.babblebabywear.com/

Price: $14.99, with discounts available for multiple onesies

Looks: Adorable, with personality to spare

Overall: Soft and comfortable clothing for your stylin' kiddo

And now for the Giveaway…
Babble Babywear was so kind as to offer a Rave and Review reader a onesie of their choice. To enter, visit the Babble Babywear website and chose your favorite design and size and come back and tell me about it. While you are at the Babble site, you should enter their contest to win...something… (I’m guessing it’s a onesie and maybe 15 minutes of fame) by coming up with their next onesie slogan. I submitted two pieces of comedy gold, but if you think you can compete with perfection, I welcome you to try :)

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review (1 extra entry, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway (1 entry for every Tweet, just post link here)

3) Blog about this Giveaway (1 extra entry)

4) Place my logo or link in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link)

5) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs (there is no need to sign up for anything, simply clicking this link is a vote for us.  You can vote one time each day, leave comment each time you vote)

6) Share this post on Facebook (1 extra entry)

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne@raveandreview.com for two bonus entries (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

Please leave a comment below for each of the extra entries
On September 1st at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email

Thank you to Babble for sponsoring this review and giveaway.