Rave and Review

GUM Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush Gift Set Giveaway

My daughter currently thinks that brushing her teeth rates up there with playdates and puppies and even has a song she dances to as she brushes her teeth.  But, I know there will soon be a day when brushing her teeth will be a struggle both morning and night, which is why I love that GUM has teamed up with Crayola to introduce a cute and fun alternative to the boring toothbrush.

The GUM brand Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush is shaped just like a Crayola marker with a kid-sized toothbrush head and a suction cup bottom that makes it irresistible to kids.  The Crayola shaped GUM toothbrush is not only cute and clever, it also teaches kids good dental habits in a fun and practical way.  

The light timer stays on for 60 seconds, with two color-coordinated lights flashing to illuminate the toothbrush handle and allowing kids to time their brushing to make sure they are doing a thorough job.  When my daughter found out that the toothbrush lights up when you press the bottom, she insisted that she brush her teeth immediately.  Now, every time we offer it to her she gets really excited and starts dancing to her toothbrushing song.  I love that the Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush not only keeps her attention focused on brushing, it also helps me keep track of how long she’s been scrubbing those pearly whites. 

The suction cup base keeps the toothbrush upright and clean, without having to use an additional toothbrush holder or having to lay it flat on the counter in between brushings.  My daughter especially likes sticking the toothbrush to the countertop (or the mirror, if she’s assisted) after she brushes, but hubby and I especially like that the toothbrush head isn’t laying in whatever the kids have dripped on the counters.

If you have a kid who hates brushing their teeth, or if you’re as lucky as I am and have a kiddo who would brush their teeth all day if they were given the chance, you should definitely check out all the cool new GUM brand children’s oral hygiene offerings.  Because I’m a coupon freak, I am really excited to tell you that I’ve got a $1-off coupon code for the GUM Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush by using the promo code GUM100 at www.gumbrand.com.

Please visit www.GUMCrayolatimerlight.com for tips and suggestions about children’s dental health as well as some fun and games for your little one.

Price: $3.49

And now for the Giveaway...

One Rave and Review reader will win a GUM brand Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush and giveaway package!  To enter, just visit the GUM site or the Crayola Timer Light site and let me know what would get your kiddo brushing and flossing regularly!

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

3) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage 

4) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (must have an active link)

5) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways or comment on any non-giveaway post!

6) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

7) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry)

On February 20th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email

A huge thank you to GUM for sending the cutest little toothbrush ever and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  No type of monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review.

Sundancing with the Stars

Any of you that follow my tweets have probably already picked up on the fact that all of us at Rave and Review have been hanging out in Park City, Utah this past week living it up at the Sundance Film Festival.  We have been enjoying all their beautiful snow and sun, especially since it doesn't look like the Pacific Northwest is going to get much of either this year and having a great time meeting people from all over the world.

Even though we will be on our way home soon, we are really excited about all the great companies and brands we have met with that we will be working with this next month to bring you some really awesome reviews and some great giveaways.  We even have put together some Sundance Swag Bags that we will be giving away to readers with some of the cool stuff we found on our journey.  If that wasn't enough to be excited about, there's going to be some Sundance footage compliments of our friends at Cinemek that we will be posting later this month with interviews and more from the festival. 

Signing Times on Nick Jr.

From an extremely early age, my daughter has been trying desperately to speak her mind.  When we saw that at 9 months she was going to end up creating her own sign language if we didn’t step in, hubby and I decided it was time to break out the college American Sign Language textbooks and see what we could teach her.  It took a few tries of signing simple signs like “more” and “thank you” before she really got what the meaning was, but after that she would nod “yes” whenever we would ask her something with those simple signs.

It was at almost exactly one year, though, that she looked at us and just as plain as could be signed “more” right to us.  Of course, we cheered for about thirty minutes straight and then decided we needed to introduce even more signs to her.  A week or so later she signed “thank you” and then "all done" and from that time she has added almost 30 signs to her list of frequently used words, and is even stringing up to 3 signs together at a time.  Now, at 18 months, she signs, speaks and communicates better than I had ever hoped, and is a much happier toddler now that she can use words and signs instead of squeals and grunts to get her opinions known.

Unfortunately, I found that I have purged a good portion of the signs I learned in college, and the signs I do remember aren’t really anything a toddler can use in their day-to-day, so we have found ourselves searching online for new signs to teach her.  So, of course I was thrilled when I heard that on December 9th, Nick Jr. was going to be premiering a new music series called Signing Time to teach sign language to preschoolers.

Since my daughter doesn’t watch a lot of television, I actually had no idea that Nick Jr.is a 24-hour commercial-free educational network for preschoolers, and had no idea how many great shows they have for young kids – at any hour.  But, my daughter does watch Yo Gabba Gabba on DVR so she can get her groove on, and just the other day we caught one of the Signing Time music videos on Nick Jr. and I watched as my daughter stopped in her tracks and sat glued to the screen during the video.

We were sent a screener for the Signing Time music videos and it had the same effect on all of us.  We all sat as a family and grooved to the original and insanely catchy tunes sung and signed by Rachel Coleman.  I was actually supposed to be writing a review at the time, and was sitting at my computer with my hands on the keyboard when hubby turned on the DVD, but found that Signing Time and my snuggling family was too hard to resist.  In a span of just 5 songs, I learned (or remembered, in some cases) a whole bunch of signs that not only were extremely practical to teach our daughter, but also were so fun that repeating them left us all laughing even after the video had stopped.

That very next day we all had three new signs that we added to our list of frequently used items, and couldn’t wait to watch the videos again to learn more.  The brilliance of the Signing Time videos is not just that it’s sign language, it’s that it is aimed at teaching really young kids sign in the most fun and easy way possible.  We all know that kids love songs with hand motions, so teaching them songs in sign language is really just the next step – and something that they can use as a skill forever.

In addition to some really cute and catchy tunes, Signing Time does have some really cool learning properties to help kids understand and emulate the signs they see on T.V.  For one, all of Rachel Coleman’s fingers have a colorful band just below the finger tips, which makes it easier to see and process the signs, even when they are done fast (which most of them are – they have to keep up with the beat!).  The music videos are also impossible to turn away from, which I think is in a large part due to the fact that you just don’t want to look away for fear you might miss something.  Pair that with the cute images and videos of kids signing to the music and you’ve got an irresistible combination for kiddos.

Signing Time can be seen on Nick Jr. T.V. as well as on www.nickjr.com

A bit of background from about Signing Time: Coleman co-created Signing Time as a means to teach children to communicate using American Sign Language (ASL).  As the mother of a daughter who is deaf, and another daughter with both cerebral palsy and spina bifida, sign language has played a central role in their family. Coleman has spent the last seven years making sign language fun and accessible for all children through the Signing Time series, which includes award-winning DVDs, music CDs, books, flashcards and a former public television show. Coleman, who is also a singer and songwriter, has written all the original songs featured in the series.  In 2008 Rachel was nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series.

 

Giveaways, Giveaways!

Don't forget to enter to win some of the exciting giveaways we've got going on here at Rave and Review!

Safety 1st Complete Air Protect Convertible Car Seat - Ends Tonight!

Step 2 Fresh Market Play Kicthen

Yummie Tummie Tank

Oreck Halo XL UV-C Vacuum

T3 Featherweight Bespoke PRO Hair Dryer and Control Chic Blowout Set

MusiColor Music Player

Mabel's Labels LOL Label Pack

Fairy Wonderful $25 Gift Card

Pulse Slither Drift Scooter

Has your kid mastered the traditional scooter and needs a new challenge?  Are you looking for a more exciting and fun version of the classic kid’s toy?  Or are you twenty (something) and looking to hit the streets and have a blast with your kiddos?  Bravo Sports has your answer, and it comes in the form of the new Pulse Slither Drift Scooter that is more fun than any other scooter I’ve ever tried.

The Pulse Slither is a three-wheeled scooter that moves unlike any other ride on toy I have ever seen.  Instead of the traditional two or four wheeled scooters that have delighted kids for generations, the Pulse Slither stands apart because of its unique three-wheeled movement.  Instead of having all fixed wheels as other scooters do, the Pulse Slither has two front wheels that are fixed and turn when you steer, and then one pivot-mounted caster wheel in the back.  It’s the back wheel that can swivel that makes the Pulse Slither so much fun, and what makes the scooter “slither” as you ride.

Instead of moving like a standard kick-scooter, that traditionally only moves in a straight line, the Pulse Slither can move by either pushing or riding the scooter like a snowboard or surfboard where twists and turns are executed by adjusting your weight distribution on the board.  This makes turns and tricks that much more fun and actually propels you forward with the scissor-like side to side motions.  When riding in a “slither” fashion, the twisting of your hips and the movement of your body leaning from side to side on the scooter deck is what causes the scooter to move in whatever direction you are steering into, and makes it so you don’t have to kick at all, or at least not as much.

When it first arrived, we put the Slither together by attaching the shaft and handlebars to the deck and then adding the caster wheel and two fixed wheels on the front by securing with screws (all tools included).  After it was assembled, Hubby and I had to try it first, because there’s no way we’re sending our family barreling down the street on a contraption we haven’t tested first.  Well, that and we were just dying to try it, so when it was finally assembled we couldn’t contain ourselves any longer.

Unlike the popular caster-wheeled skate decks that require a good deal of balance before you can even get going, the Pulse Slither was easy for all of us to ride immediately, but it did take a bit for us older folks to master.  The first Pulse Slither ride took a few rides to get used to, especially for me.  For the first run, I mostly rode it like a traditional kick scooter and raced it up and down the block having a blast.  Hubby was actually able to get up some speed and agility while slithering after mere seconds on the scooter, but he shared a few tips with me and soon I was doing a semi-decent slither myself.

Once you get moving, the motion of the Pulse Slither is unlike anything you’ve ever ridden.  With the spinning caster wheel in the back it makes it feel like you are riding on a fluid platform, able to carve turns with precision far superior to a regular wheeled scooter.  We found that while in a sweeping turn if you push a little harder out with your rear foot on the rear deck you can add rotation into the turn, a feeling much closer to snowboarding or surfing, and make your turns even sharper but still smooth.  Hubby also found that if you are steering into the side you are pushing off of, the Pulse can move in an almost sideways motion, moving broadside down the street.

For those worried parents out there, I found the Pulse Slither to be very easy to control and really secure, especially with the rubberized handle grips and the textured deck that really keeps your feet steady.  And best of all, you can actually adjust the tension on the rear caster wheel thereby dialing in the amount of sideways motion your child can muster. 

While the handle bars were admittedly way too short for my 6’3” hubby, he was still able to ride, but it did look a bit awkward.  I had much better luck getting comfortable on the deck, but even at 5’10”, I was pushing the max height by a bit myself.  I don’t think this would be a problem for most kiddos, especially the age group that the Pulse Slither appeals to most but I would eventually like to see a longer and more adjustable handle added to the long list of features, as it would be a lot of fun to take on family vacations and let everyone have some good clean fun.

Slither Features
• REAR SWIVEL TRUCK – Adjust the tension to customize your ride
• OVERSIZED FRONT WHEELS – Big wheels up front maintain balance
• ANTI-SLIP DECK – Molded deck traction keeps your feet in place
• HIGH PERFORMANCE GRIPS – Knobbed hand grips enhance your control
• QUICK RELEASE NECK – Integrated folding mechanism
• HIGH QUALITY PARTS – High-tensile steel parts and components

The Pulse Slither Drift Scooter comes in two kid approved designs that are vibrant and in-molded so they won’t chip off or peel, the Electric Blue “Skull Wing” and the Toxic Green “Von Scroll.” No matter which design you choose, the Pulse Slither is sure to appeal to children (and parents) of all ages and all skill levels.

Price: $59.99 and available at numerous major retailers.

http://www.pulsescooters.com/

A huge thank you to Pulse Scooters for sending us their Slither Drift Scooter to review.  No type of monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review

Fairy Wonderful Review and Giveaway!

Most people would have never guessed that I would end up with a daughter who loves everything pink and frilly and would play dress up all day long if I was willing to spend all day buttoning and zipping.  But, over the past few months, my daughter has developed an enthusiasm for anything that has ruffles, frills, or is exceptionally girly, and all the better if it happens to have all three.  Fairy Wonderful, a site dedicated to the best of all three of these things, has definitely got our girly-girls figured out, and has one of the best selections I have found anywhere. 

They have special occasion dresses, slippers, tutus, pettiskirts, beanies and floral hats, fairy wings and a whole range of extra accessories for your little one.  They even have every day dresses and dress up clothes that would delight any little girl, and I have a long wish list of Fairy Wonderful creations I would love to dress my little fashionista in.  I had such a hard time picking what I wanted to review from their extensive catalogue, but finally settled on a floor-length tutu for my toddler, which I knew would make every day a little more special.

Once it arrived, I was so impressed with the quality of the tutu, and how adorable it is in person.  The Fairy Wonderful tutu is of an extremely high quality and is durable enough for every day wear and yet still looks beautiful for special occasions.  Instead of the traditional department store tutus with tulle sewn around an exposed elastic waistband, the Fairy Wonderful tutu has a tulle covered waistband and has about four times more tulle than I’ve ever seen.  This makes it fancier, fluffier and flouncier than other tutus and dresses, and just begs for spins, jumps and dance moves. 

I am really excited about my daughter being able to run around in the Fairy Wonderful tutu this Spring and Summer without having to wear jeans or tights underneath, but it actually looks adorable over all her winter clothing, too.  I have big plans for a photo shoot or two as soon as the weather warms up enough to wear it outside, though in the meantime I can appreciate its cuteness as it runs around my living room, dining room, and kitchen on a very elated toddler just about every day. 

I love that the Fairy Wonderful tutu is easy enough for young kids to take on and off themselves, and that they can wear it over whatever they already have on.  This makes it easy to play dress up in an instant, with very minimal mess and cleanup, and still makes my baby look and feel like a princess. 

If you are looking for something for your little princess, you should definitely check out their huge selection of dresses, accessories and more that can make any day magical.  They even have an awesome You Design It function that allows you to create fully customizable creations for your little one and give that special one-of-a-kind gift. 

http://www.fairywonderful.com/

And now for the Giveaway...

One Rave and Review reader will win a $25 Gift Card to spend however you'd like at Fairy Wonderful!  To enter, just visit the Fairy Wonderful site and let me know what specific item you would choose to spend your money on!

This giveaway is closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to Kellie who said:

I commented on the Hard Tail rolldown yoga pants review (Love them!), thanks!

A huge thank you to Fairy Wonderful for sending the cutest little dress up tutu ever and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  No type of monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review

Elk Kids Flex Sole Shoes

I have a very thinly veiled obsession with kid’s shoes and I’ve gotten pretty picky about what makes the cut for daily wear.  Of course they’ve got to be cute, but they also have to be easy to put on quickly, exceptionally comfortable, and non-slip on any surface.  Elk Kids Shoes are all of these and more, and are quickly becoming one of our favorite kids shoe brands.  Elk Shoes offers comfortable and flexible leather shoes for kids of all ages, with soft sole designs from birth to 24 months and flex sole styles up to kid’s size 10 US. 

While most soft sole lines are pretty basic in their design, Elk Kids offers an amazing variety ranging from classics like Mary Janes and T-Straps, to shoes with animals, flowers, rockets, guitars and more.  With so many styles to choose from, you’re sure to be able to find something to match your child’s personality perfectly and are cute enough to wear with anything. 

To ensure your child will actually want to wear their shoes, Elk Kids Soft Sole Shoes are made from extra soft natural leather that is extremely comfortable and flexible to allow them full freedom of movement.  Plus, the elastic band is adjustable to give you the best chance at achieving a perfect fit.  On top of all that, the leather Elk Kids uses to make these soft soled booties is put through a special process to prevent any color from rubbing off on baby’s socks or clothing. 

When your little one graduates to outdoor rubber soled shoes, Elk Kids Flex Sole Shoes will help you celebrate your child’s growth with their classic and timeless designs for toddler and up.  While these older styles are a little more subdued, they are still full of personality, just in a more grown up way.  Each of their shoes has extra flair of some kind, whether it’s an unexpected color combination or leather appliqués that are sure to delight kids of all ages.   

The first thing that struck us about the Elk Kids Flex Sole Shoes was that the rubberized sole was incredibly flexible and incredibly grippy.  In fact, the sole was so non-slip that even at a 70 degree angle incline, the shoe still didn’t slip.  This is especially important since our little one appears to be fearless when faced with an incline and doesn’t take into account weather conditions.  

If you’re looking for shoes that are unique and adorable for newborn to tike, you should definitely check out the diverse selections at Elk Kids.  Fair warning to all, it just may make you enjoy shoe shopping again.  

http://www.elkkids.com/

Price: $25 for soft sole and $35 for flex sole

A huge thank you to Elk Kids for sending their shoes to be reviewed.  No type of monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review

Mabel's Labels Review and Giveaway!

Every parent understands that kids lose stuff.  Even if you’re one of those moms that can take inventory at a glance, it’s really easy to walk away from a playdate without that super cute hat your daughter was wearing when she arrived.  Because of this, clothing, toy and accessory labels have become a necessity for parents on the go with kids and a must-have item for kids of all ages. 

 

Mabel’s Labels is a Canadian label company that has been making waves online for years now as a result of their excellent products and superb customer service, and even has won a coveted PTPA Seal of Approval this past year.  In October, I got to meet one of their representatives at the Baby Show NYC and had a great time checking out their full line of labels.  I was really excited to find out that in addition to kids labels and kids safety products, Mabel’s Labels carries household and organization combo packs that are this mom’s dream come true. 

 

Naturally, I was ecstatic when they contacted me about doing a review of their Neat Freak organizational pack, and my visions of a neatly labeled pantry and storage area was about to become a reality.  The Neat Freak Combo pack with its water resistant labels includes 30 Bin Labels, 16 Canister Labels, and 52 Spice Labels that could organize even the most diverse cupboard or pantry.  I quickly took inventory of my stash and hopped online to start the creating on the Mabel’s Labels website.   

 

The ordering process was simple and there were numerous options to customize the label pack, including your choice of colors, font and text printed.  I thought it was really cool that the Neat Freak Combo pack already has certain labels built into the pack that you could choose to use, or you could replace with labels of your own making.  It was really handy to have most of the common storage goods, pantry items and spice rack contents already laid out for you to help make sure that you don’t forget any crucial items.  But, it was also incredibly easy to modify the pack if there was a family staple not listed on their site, or if you’re like me and need 3 labels that say “Tea”.

 

Available in the following colours: Pink, Lime or Navy
Actual label size:
 Spice labels 43mm x 10mm (1 11/16" x 3/8")
 Canister labels 69mm x 16mm (2 6/8" x 5/8")
 Bin labels 67mm x 27mm (2 11/16" x 1 1/16")

 

The Mabel’s Labels Neat Freak pack arrived and even hubby was excited when he realized that all the big labels were actually for him, and meant to be used to streamline our rather disorganized garage bins.  We started first in the kitchen and went to work on our baking and spice cupboard and then the pantry.  The labeling process was actually quite fun, and even though I had a to-do list that was probably going to keep me up until the wee hours that morning, I just had to fit my labeling in. 

 

When I was finished, our entire dry good cupboard was easy to assess at a glance, our pantry was fully labeled, and I could now easily grab the correct spice containers while in the midst of cooking, thanks to Mabel’s Labels.  The label adhesive is super strong and secure, but can be repositioned (very carefully) if it hasn’t been fully stuck to the container.  Only once did I make this mistake, and then I made sure to keep my arm and grip steady while I was sticking.  The Mabel’s Labels even fully stuck to the curved and slightly textured surfaces of some of our canisters and hasn’t peeled off with weeks of handling.

 

Once the kitchen was done, I moved on to the garage and happily slapped labels on all the outgrown children’s clothing, off season sports equipment, and holiday decorations while only stopping to admire my handiwork.  The labels are big enough to be seen while stored up high, or in deep storage areas that have limited access.  Far superior to our Blue Tape labeling system we had used previously, the Mabel’s Labels not only saves us time when searching through the garage, they actually look cute and help class up the place a bit.   

 

Now I sleep peacefully knowing that I will never ruin my grandma’s famous family recipe by mistakenly grabbing the baking soda instead of baking powder, and I will never again pile three tons of stuff on the one bin that has the next size up clothes for our kiddo.  Knowing that you have an organized and easy to access pantry, cupboard and garage makes the whole house feel a lot less stressful – especially when I can easily direct my family to the bin marked “Winter” the next time they come looking for that super-cute hat my daughter likes to leave lying around.

 

My next must-have item is the Label Out Loud (LOL) Label Pack that is the PTPA award winning full color version of their popular labels.  Not only are the LOL Labels adorable and eye catching, they also provide the same super sticky qualities and are dishwasher/microwave safe.  Perfect for the child who has a schedule of playdates to go to or for kids who are attending daycare or summer camp, or even just for the kids who are constantly battling over which cup is theirs at dinnertime, the LOL labels by Mabel’s Labels insures all your children’s belongings make it home safely and end up with the right kid at the end of the night. 

 

http://www.mabel.ca/

 And now for the Giveaway...

One Rave and Review reader will win one of these awesome LOL label packs from Mabel's Labels!

To enter, just visit the Mabel's Labels site and comment below with what design motif you would personalize your LOL pack with.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview and @mabelhood after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

3) Become a fan of Mabel's Labels on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage 

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (must have an active link)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways or comment on any non-giveaway post!

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

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry)

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

Eileen said...

Entered Germ Guardian giveaway! thanks!

A huge thank you to Mabel's Labels for saving our sanity by organizing our pantry and garage and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  No type of monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review

 

Hard Tail Rolldown Yoga Pant

It’s New Years resolution time again, and it’s time to break out the exercise gear to help you follow through on your 2010 goals.  Since my goal is to get back into my pre-baby shape, I thought a new exercise outfit would be just the thing to get me working out consistently again and actually help me keep my resolution this year.  Instead of doing what I have done in the past and just stop at the local department store to find a pair of yoga pants, I decided to hit the internet and explore to find the perfect work out pant.  Every one of my searches led me back to the Hard Tail Forever Rolldown Yoga Pants, and for the first time ever I fell in love with a pair of pants online.

The raves were rampant, including a woman who claimed to own 15 pairs of the Hard Tail Yoga Pants, and the general consensus was that the Hard Tail yoga pants are the yoga pants to try.  From viewing online, I had to agree; they did seem like the perfect exercise pant.  They were cute, they looked comfy and they were long enough.  I desperately needed work out pants that had a long enough inseam for me, so I did something I rarely do and sent the company an email asking if they wanted a review.

They arrived just days later and have been in heavy rotation ever since.  From Stroller Strides to yoga play dates and even just for working out at home, the Hard Tail Rolldown Yoga Pants are the first pair I grab when I’m ready to get moving.  But, I have a confession:  I’m currently sitting here writing this review wearing my Hard Tail Forever Yoga Pants and not a piece of exercise equipment is in site.  That’s because in addition to being quite possibly the best yoga pants ever, they have officially become my relaxing at home, super comfortable, wear-anywhere pants, as well as the official late-night review writing pants. 

So, what makes the Hard Tail Roll Down / Fold Down Yoga Pant so wonderful?  The quality of fabrics used.  The pre-shrunk cotton-lycra blend fabric is the perfect cut, thickness, and stretch to make these pants not only supremely comfortable, but also great looking.  Whereas other yoga pants I tried were made of a flimsy weight fabric that had far too much movement, especially when worn outdoors, the Hard Tail Pants are a great medium thickness fabric that holds its shape nicely while you move and hugs your curves in all the right places.

As the name would suggest, the Hard Tail Rolldown Yoga Pants have extra fabric at the waist for you to roll down over the seamed top, to add a bit of fashion and flair to your workout.  The best thing about the rolldown top is that it means that instead of a hard waistline that cuts into your body and creates seam lines or muffin top, the Hard Tail Rolldown Pants create a soft and smooth transition and makes it supremely more comfortable for really moving.  To get the perfect fit, keep in mind that the Hard Tail yoga pants tend to run a bit on the small size, so it’s recommended to go up to the next size if you like your work out clothes a bit looser.  

The Hard Tail Rolldown Yoga Pants are fitted through the upper leg so they are comfortable even for long workouts, but then flare a bit below the knee into a super-cute and flattering bootleg cut.  This bootleg cut makes it possible to wear your Hard Tail pants for more than working out.  In fact, some claim to wear their Hard Tail Pants to the office, or even for going out, since they can be dressed up nicely with the right footwear. 

The Hard Tail Pants are a bit pricier than other knockoff brands, but I would definitely recommend paying the few dollars more for a pair of yoga pants you will actually want to wear.  Even better, you might be just dying to wear them, which will mean a greater chance of meeting your work out goals!

http://www.hardtailforever.com/

If you would prefer to shop locally, check out the store locator HERE.

A huge thank you to Hard Tail Forever for sending me the most comfortable and adorable yoga pants I have ever tried.  No type of monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review.

MusiColor Music Player Review and Giveaway!

Oh, technology, why do you make all sorts of cool things possible after I’m too old to play with all your new inventions?  Case in point, the MusiColor player by Delta Creative, which brings together two of my absolute favorite kid activities in one technologically advanced bundle.  This is not one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” products, and instead occupies an entirely different category, the “how on earth did anyone think of that?” products.

The MusiColor is a turntable styled player with a rotating base and an arm that reads the music discs.  Just like the toy record players of my youth, the MusiColor player can captivate kids for hours and really allow their appreciation of music to develop at a young age.  Even cooler is that the MusiColor plays children’s tunes through the built-in speakers at the push of a button in your choice of piano, horn or violin notes, which can even be switched back and forth mid-tune so your Mozart can really get creative.   

But, that’s not even the coolest part.  The “discs” that the MusiColor is playing are what makes this product Rave worthy, and why this was our top pick of presents for our 4 year old nephew this Christmas.  Instead of plastic or vinyl records as played on the record players of old, this little music player reads colored sheets that your little one has created, making this one of the most innovative children’s products we’ve seen in a long time.

So, here’s the basics of how the MusiColor works: Your little artist colors by number (or, letter, as the case may be) on the coloring discs using the included Music Note Markers, taking care to match the music note pens with the correct lettered object.  After your artist is finished, you then pop the colored disc onto the MusiColor player, turn the turntable on and press play.  And that’s when our friend technology steps in, allowing the MusiColor turntable arm to “read” the colored discs and play back one of 14 popular children’s songs based on the colors your artist has rendered.  While the technical aspects of the MusiColor are a complete mystery to me, what is clear is that this is going to be a huge hit with kids aged 4 and up.

While my four year old nephew made a few minor mistakes in the color by letter introduction, he actually was able to create some recognizable (while not perfect) renditions of the popular tunes, and had a blast doing it.  The two different colors of “C” note pens was a bit confusing to him, but it made for a great opportunity to explain keys and octaves (and yes, I’m fairly certain he still thinks I’m crazy).  While an older child might have taken more away from the lesson, he got the basic idea that following directions carefully and coloring inside the lines can make for some beautiful results.   

As much fun as the pre-printed color by letter discs are, I am so excited by the inclusion of the 5 Create-A-Song discs so kids can really experiment with music and actually learn the basics of composing.  While your little one’s musical masterpiece may be more of a work in progress, every minute spent composing is a learning experience, and one that very few toys can replicate.  Every wrong note is another chance to learn the basics of musical composition, and every right note is proof that play can sometimes lead to unexpected results… and in this case, rockin’ tunes. 

Get your Musicolor at Delta Creative for $49.99.

http://deltacreative.com/ 

Watch a YouTube video of the MusiColor in action

And now for the Giveaway...

One Rave and Review reader will win one of these awesome MusiColor players, discs and music note markers of their very own!

To enter, just visit the Delta Creative site and comment below with a product or craft idea you found on their site that you love besides the MusiColor Player.

This giveaway is closed.  Thank you to all who entered, and congratulations to Aisling who won the MusiColor Giveaway!

A huge thank you to Delta Creative for sending us the MusiColor for our little Mozart and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  No type of monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review