Rave and Review

Playmobil Makes Learning Fun this Summer

With summer vacation and travel approaching, I know there are a lot of parents out there wondering how they can work with their children and teach them valuable lessons that they can use well beyond the season.  Sure, there are great books and supplemental courses to help parents make the most of their captive audiences, but if you’re looking for a more hands-on approach, you just might want to turn to the toy box.

Most parents have heard of Playmobil before, and some may even have boxes full of their collection like we do, but it’s not typically hailed as an educational toy.  But, while some just see kid’s toys, we see an opportunity to teach children about just about anything you can dream up.  Because the Playmobil collection is so varied and can be used in so many ways, I think you will be surprised by all the educational properties you can make use of to teach your kids about their world.  From outer space all the way to under the sea, there truly is a Playmobil set for everything.  

What has always drawn us to Playmobil is the level of detail that is put into every set.  Rather than just doing the bare minimum to depict whichever theme they are representing, the people at Playmobil really get into everything they do.  Not only does this make the sets infinitely more fun to play with by giving you so many levels of play, it also is a key detail in making them educational.  With a huge variety of Playmobil sets to choose from and the ability to mix and match to create whatever you’d like, there are thousands of opportunities for learning while you play for both you and your children.   

Their newest collection, the African Wild Life series, is a prime example of a great way to keep the kids entertained this summer, as well as teaching them about the animals and life in Africa.  Since our daughter made a brief trip to Africa with us last year, this series has a special meaning for us and a great way that we can continue to teach her about the places she’s been that she may not remember when she’s older. 

By playing with the toys with her and telling her about what we saw and did during our trip, it really brings life to the stories of our time there and helps her understand the huge differences in the places we visited. As she gets older, we can use the set for more advanced lessons and really teach her about the people and places she was too young to explore.  Hopefully, this helps her appreciate the traveling she did when she was young and will give her the same love of travel her father and I share. 

To start us off on our African Wild Life collection, we received the Wild Life Care Station (Item # 4826) to review and we absolutely love the detail in the building and animals.  The Wild Life Care Station includes the two-story Oambati Station and an assortment of African Wild Life animals to nurse back to health with the help of two Oambati employees who manage the Station.  With bandages, food, and all sorts of accessories to help care for their charges, the Oambati Station is equipped to care for rhinos, giraffes, cheetahs and more that need care before they can be released back into the wild. 

Because she is a bit on the younger side, I thought our daughter would mostly be interested in the animals that came with the set, but was really surprised by how much she loved setting up the Oambati building and fencing with me to house all the animals.  Since this was the first time she has played with Playmobil before, I was really excited by how much she really got into everything we were doing and was involved in the whole process.  As we went through the directions together, she was really happy to hand me the next piece we needed and to get the Playmobil tools to help put the building together.  Then, once the set was completely put together, we had a great time caring for all the exotic animals and putting the monkey to sleep on the bed when the Oambati employees weren't looking.   

After seeing how well she did playing right beside me, I will definitely be looking into getting her more Playmobil pieces in the near future.  Not only was it a great way to spend the afternoon building and playing, now we have a great way to teach her about caring for animals.  It’s this unique combination of toy and learning tool that makes Playmobil so adaptable and makes it truly fun for both parent and child and why I wouldn’t mind having two toy boxes full of Playmobil to play and learn with.

http://www.playmobil.com/ or visit the US site by clicking here

A huge thank you to Playmobil for introducing our familyr to one of the coolest toys ever.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review.

Fisher-Price Newborn Rock ‘n Play Sleeper Giveaway

Every first-time parent is shocked by the sheer amount of gear babies bring with them.  With swings, bouncers, playpens, bassinets, and more, sometimes it feels like babies require more space than grown adults do.  When I heard of a brand-new baby seat that is 2 products in 1, is made by one of the most trusted baby and kids companies ever, can be used for both playtime and nighttime, and then heard a rumor that it folds compactly for storage, I knew I had to find it.

And, when I found it, I knew I was looking at something really special.  The Fisher-Price 2-in-1 Rock n’ Play Sleeper is the only infant seat that meets industry safety standards for bassinets and can be used both during the day for play and then at night for sleep.  In fact, you can actually use the Newborn Rock n’ Play in place of the crib or bassinet for babies that prefer to be in a snuggled and slightly inclined position for sleep.  This is especially important to me because I remember that when my daughter was a newborn, she absolutely refused to sleep laying flat on her back.

We found that when she was at a slight incline and when she was in smaller snuggled in spaces, she would sleep… like a baby.  When she would fall asleep in her swing or bouncy chair, waking her to lay her flat was always painful for all of us, but we did it in the name of safety.  I tried just about everything to get her safe and comfortable for naps and nighttime that didn’t leave her laying completely on her back and ended up eventually purchasing a bassinet, infant support incline, play yard, sleep positioner, and crib in order to get some more sleep.  Unfortunately, our daughter hated every single one of them.  She would have much rather slept in her car seat or bouncer where she was bundled and inclined, but this obviously, was not an option for sleep all the time. 

So, when I found the Rock n’ Play Sleeper, I recognized immediately that this simple little rocking seat solved every single one of our infant sleep issues.  Instead of wasting our money on big and bulky sleep solutions and bassinets that are still taking up valuable real estate in our home, we could have all gotten hours more sleep each night with the Rock n’ Play Sleeper.  Now that we have little guests at the home frequently and are preparing for an eventual addition to the family, I knew the Fisher-Price Newborn Rock n’ Play Sleeper was going to be a much-loved bit of baby gear, especially when sleep is at stake. 

Everyone knows how big and bulky most children’s gear is and then how hard it is to store afterwards, so I love any product that keeps the baby gear from completely taking over our house.  So, as great as the multi useful seat is, possibly the best feature of the Rock n’ Play for me is that it can fold flat for storage.  The extremely lightweight frame makes it easy to move around the house and take with you in the car.  It’s no fun to travel with a Pack n’ Play when you have a compact sedan or to have to set it up and take it down once you get there, so I’m thrilled that for baby #2 we have a safe and secure place we can take with us to family gatherings or play dates that coincide with nap time. 

Setting up the Rock n’ Play is easy and quick from the folded position and just requires pressing the two buttons on the frame to unfold.  Since it takes mere seconds to set up, and holds your child in a comfortable position for both play and sleep, the Rock n’ Play is fast becoming an essential piece of baby gear for us.  In fact, for baby #2, we have decided that we won’t be using a standard bassinet or Pack n’ Play for the first few months and instead are going to utilize the Rock n’ Play for both napping and nighttime sleeping while baby is still in our room.  The compact footprint and the fact that it folds when not in use is gong to be much nicer than the area required for both the bassinet and playpen, and the fact that it is at an incline, can be rocked gently, and keeps baby snuggled in and cozy will hopefully mean there is more sleep for all of us.

Rock n’ Play features:
Three-point restraint to keep baby safe and secure
Washable insert
Max weight 25 lbs (11.3 kg), or until child is able to pull up or sit unassisted
Comfortable incline
Folds flat for storage and travel
2-in-1 play seat and sleeper
Height is perfect for placement next to a bed, chair or couch
Price: $50

http://www.fisher-price.com/

 And now for the Giveaway...

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Fisher-Price Newborn Rock n' Play for their little one!

To Enter: You must visit Fisher-Price and comment below with another product you would love to try!

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) Get the Moments to Share Facebook App from Fisher-Price and let me know what you think.

3) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview and #giveaway after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

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 current Giveaways and/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 (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On June 30th 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 and Canadian addresses only, please.

Winner, Winner!  This giveaway is closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to Nicole who tweeted!

A huge thank you to Fisher-Price for sending us Newborn Rock n' Play for review and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no type of monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review

Wild Creations African Dwarf Frogs and Classic EcoAquarium Starter Kit Giveaway

I’ve never been much of a pets person because I just don’t have the extra time to bathe, walk and fully care for a family pet at this point.  That doesn’t mean that I don’t want my kids to have pets to care for and love, it just means I want to make sure they are old enough to care for them with minimal help from me before I commit to adding to our household.  When I heard about Wild Creations African Dwarf water frogs and the minimal care required to maintain them, I knew they were the perfect solution for our family pet.

Since Wild Creations ships the African Dwarf frogs with their own self-contained aquatic ecosystem, the care and maintenance of the African Dwarf water frogs is really hassle-free.  All kids have to do it feed them twice a week and then have adult help while changing the water four times a year, and the rest of the time the African Dwarf frogs are self-sufficient in their aquarium habitat and incredibly fun to watch swim and leap frog around the tank.  The frogs are only about an inch long when sitting, so even though the tank is small, they still have plenty of room to swim and explore their habitat freely by diving, swimming and climbing with each other.

What is really cool is that Wild Creations ships everything you need (with the exception of the water) right to your door via 2 day shipping so you can start enjoying your new pets right away.  And, setting up your own African Dwarf habitat is easy and only takes about 30 minutes with the full kit and instructions that takes you through each step.  The African Dwarf kit includes two live frogs, a year’s supply of food, the tank, lid and base, and then the live and decorative gravel, bamboo plant and rock to make a great looking home for your new pets. 

Now that the frogs are all set up in their new home, there is little more to do but slip in the food pellets twice a week to keep them and your kids happy for months.  Once the water gets murky, you simply remove the water from the tank and refill with clean spring water.  If you’re like me and don’t even want to change the water every 3 months, you can simply get a fresh water snail right from Wild Creations or from a local pet store and let it do the cleaning for you, reducing the number of times you have to clean the tank even further. 

I really love that the tank is small enough to fit just about anywhere, including on a small counter or desk top, so you can easily find room in even the smallest apartment or office.  And, since the care is minimal, it’s the perfect pet for the young, the old, and just about everyone in between.  Not only are they fun to watch swim and play, they are the perfect way to introduce pets into the house and teach responsibility while learning about frogs and aquatic life.

Not only does Wild Creations offer some really cool products (with more to be released throughout 2010!), they also have one of the best customer service teams anywhere.  From the initial tracking number so you can make sure you are home when your new pet arrives, all the way to answering any and all questions you may encounter along the way, I had a wonderful experience from start to finish.  When I ran into a small problem with the starter kit, their customer service got back to me within the day and then not only emailed, but also offered to contact me by phone.  Quick diagnosing on their part and by the end of the call we not only had figured out the problem, they had a solution for me that involved them sending a package out overnight.  Clearly, Wild Creations stands behind every thing they sell, and their customer service is one of the best I have ever worked with because of it.

I would highly recommend the Wild Creations EcoAquarium with African Dwarf Frogs for any non-pet households, offices and even for teachers who want the enjoyment of pets without a large weekly time commitment.  Easy to maintain, fun to watch, and a great learning tool – it really doesn’t get any better than that!

www.wildcreations.com

We also have a special discount code for $10 off that you can use at Wild Creations until July 31st!  Simply order the Jewel Starter Kit style (retail price $39.99)  and enter "BLOGGER" (case sensitive) at checkout to receive $10 off!  (FYI, you can order other items too, but at least one Jewel Starter Kit must be in the order to get the discount.)

And now for the Giveaway...

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Wild Creations Classic EcoAquarium Starter Kit with African Dwarf water frogs to love!

To Enter: You must visit Wild Creations by this link and comment below with another one of their brand new products they are releasing later in 2010 that you would love to try!

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) Become a Wild Creations fan on Facebook and leave a comment on their page letting them know Rave and Review sent you.

3) Subscribe to Wild Creations You Tube channel by following this link or subscribe to their Frog Blog by following this link (extra entry available for each subscription)

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

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

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

7) Comment love.  Enter any of my other current Giveaways and/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 (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On June 25th 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 only, please.

Winner, Winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to Madeline who said:

Hi, I subscribe to Rave and Review

A huge thank you to Wild Creations for sending us their Classic EcoAquarium Starter Kit for review and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no type of monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review.

Glossy Bands by Klutz Giveaway - {3 Winners!}

When I was young, the absolute best present someone could buy me was project supplies.  I preferred making and doing over buying any day, which is probably why I have always loved Klutz and their huge line of how-to books geared towards children.  I’m not ashamed to admit that Klutz taught me how to cook, how to juggle, how to braid, and how to make nearly all of the crafts I still do to this day.

And, thanks to the newest release in the Klutz line of books, I now have learned how to make the coolest friendship bracelets ever.  Klutz Glossy Bands are like nothing I have ever seen – it starts out as an art project, but then your finished pieces become cool little accessories you can wear.  By using their special non-toxic, acrylic gel and the included supplies, you can easily follow their patterns to create some of the coolest friendship bracelets I have ever seen. 

The process is not only incredibly easy, it is also is only minimally messy.  Because the acrylic gels are in “puff paint” type squeezable bottles, you don’t need to use any paint brushes, water or other traditional painting supplies to create the Glossy Bands.  You simply squeeze the gel onto the clear Glossy Band plastic strips as they lay on top of one of the many patterns in the Klutz Glossy Band Book, and follow along on the directions.  I expected there to be a slow learning curve involved in making the Glossy Bands but was pleasantly surprised by the speed and minimal artistic ability required to make a good looking gel Glossy Band. 

Once the gel dries overnight, you simply peel the Glossy Band off the plastic sheet and wrap it around your wrist to seal.  No clasps, no tools, and no mess - just wrap and go!   Then, when you’re ready to take it off, you just stretch it over your hand and watch it return to size right before you.  To put it back on, you just stretch it again and slip it on.  This easy on and off makes it perfect for younger kids who can’t do clasps or ties on their own wrists, and makes it much better than a traditional friendship bracelet that can’t come off, even for family photos. 

Even though the Glossy Bands are made of colorful gels, the finished bracelets are surprisingly strong even after being stretched a few times and still look as good as new after a week of wear.  Now, they may not last for years and years, but they certainly will last long enough to pass out to friends.  Besides, if they do break, you get to do the fun part all over again – creating another Glossy Band! 

The Klutz Glossy Band Kit is for ages 8 and up and comes with step-by-step directions, 4 non-toxic, acrylic gels, a pattern book, and swirling sticks to help create numerous unique and colorful Glossy Bands. Glossy Bands retails for $19.95

http://www.klutz.com/

Watch a Glossy Band Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI_kjT1JFi0

And now for the Giveaway...

Three lucky Rave and Review readers will win a Klutz Glossy Bands kit to get started on their own bracelets, rings and more! 

To Enter:  Tell us what other Klutz book you would love to check out

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Let me know you subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count - leave two comments)

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

3) Blog about this Giveaway and Klutz line of how-to books 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.  Leave a new comment on any non-giveaway post and/or any of my current giveaways!

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, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On June 21st 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. 

This giveaway is closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to the following R&R readers who have been notified via email:

Anthy who said: tweet! http://twitter.com/my_twitraccount/status/15317722258 anthy_stl [ATT] yahoo [DOTT] com

Vicki Wurgler who said: the boys would enjoy the boom! Splat! Kablooey!

phxbne who said: I would like the Fashion Origami

A big thank you to Klutz for sending their Glossy Bands book to be reviewed and for offering 3 Rave and Review readers one of their very own.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review. 

Car Care Tips from Motor Oil Matters + Jiffy Lube Gift Card Giveaway!

A few short years ago I knew absolutely nothing about oil changes or car maintenance.  Thank goodness hubby was around to actually read my car’s manual and give me explicit directions for caring for my new vehicle.  I am 100% certain that I would have requested the wrong type of motor oil at my regular oil changes, and probably would have over-scheduled the routine maintenance based on myths I had always taken as fact.

If I didn’t already have the best teacher ever, I would be completely reliant on sites like AskPatty.com, a website that gives women expert automotive advice including the best places to take your vehicle for maintenance.  This past week, I got the opportunity to interview Jody DeVere, the President of the Women’s Automotive Association International and CEO of the auto-advice site AskPatty.com, and ask her some questions about proper care and maintenance of vehicles.  Here are the questions and answers from my interview with Jody, which I hope you will find as useful as I did.

1) What’s one thing you would recommend to readers looking to maximize fuel economy and save money on car maintenance without damaging their engines? Oil is an essential part of your engine's life. It keeps your car running efficiently though all types of weather extremes. But oil does get dirty. When that happens, it can clog engine parts. To help maintain the life of your car and maintain fuel economy and follow the recommendations in your owners manual. The correct oil change interval is the one recommended by the engine manufacturer for your individual driving conditions. It is printed in your vehicle owner’s manual. Each vehicle manufacturer tests its own vehicles to determine the proper drain interval.

2) How important is it to put high quality oils in your vehicle at each maintenance? Motor oil isn’t something you want to skimp on. Using high quality motor oil like Pennzoil or Quaker State in the proper weight and grade can help maximize fuel economy. Investing in high-quality motor oil is worth minimizing the hassle of engine related failure – it’s cheap “peace of mind.” For every vehicle, always make sure the oil meets the manufacturer’s requirements as listed in the owner’s manual.

3) What’s one piece of advice you can give to people about proper maintenance for their car? To help maintain the life of your car, follow the recommendations and service intervals to the letter of the law  in your owner’s manual.

4) Why should readers check out AskPatty.com? The AskPatty.com website, is a safe and reliable source for expert automotive advice and research. You can locate an AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly® auto dealer, tire dealer, collision center and auto service or repair center to insure you have an outstanding level of customer service.

Check out the great information at AskPatty.com for even more information on ways to maximize your car care dollars.  Another great resource, MotorOilMatters.org, is a site that was created by the maker of Pennzoil and Quaker State, where you can find customized information about what’s best for your specific car and learn more about how quality motor oils can help prolong your engine’s life.

One of my favorite features on Motor Oil Matters is the Pennzoil LubeMatch,a tool that asks you a few simple questions and advises you on choosing the correct lubricants for your specific vehicle.  It confirmed that the recommended oil weight for my car was as my husband had researched years ago and it helped me create a more personalized oil change schedule that will keep my car running in the best shape possible. 

As someone who buys a car planning on handing it down to my children, I can really appreciate that there are sites like Motor Oil Matters and Ask Patty that make car care and maintenance easy for anyone to understand.  In addition to facts and customized features, they also have a fun and educational 10 question quiz called “M.O.M. Knows Best” where you can test your motor oil prowess.  I’m happy to report that I got 100% on the quiz, a score I fully owe to hubby. 

With summer travel on the horizon, it’s a perfect time to check out the wealth of information at MotorOilMatters.org and AskPatty.com.  You can get the information you need to properly care for your specific vehicle, read expert advice and even have fun testing your car care knowledge.   

For more information, check out http://www.MotorOilMatters.org/ and http://www.askpatty.com/

And now for the Giveaway...

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $35 Jiffy Lube Gift Card to get started on their summer time car maintenance!  You can see Jiffy Lube locations by clicking here.  You can even print coupons directly from the Jiffy Lube site that can save you even more money every time you take your vehicle in for service. 

To Enter:  Tell us what you found most interesting on the MotorOilMatters website or what you scored on the M.O.M. Knows Best Quiz! 

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Let me know you subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count - leave two comments)

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

3) Blog about this Giveaway and Motor Oil Matters with links back to this post as well as the http://www.MotorOilMatters.org/ homepage 

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

5) Comment love.  Leave a new comment on any non-giveaway post and/or any of my current giveaways!

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, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On June 18th 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 only.

Winner, Winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to Erinxduh who said:

Scored an 75.83% on the M.O.M quiz
whoa! I must be a great guesser.

Shell Lubricants provided me with a $35 Jiffy Lube Gift Card through a campaign with MyBlogSpark.  They are also providing one Rave and Review reader a $35 Jiffy Lube Gift Card of their very own.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review. 

Introducing the Litl Webbook

The world of Netbooks is expanding rapidly and one of the newest releases is the Litl Webbook, a totally different type of computer than I have ever seen.  Besides being very cool looking, the Litl is remarkable in its simplicity.  Intended to access the web and web-based services exclusively, it may not be able to run hard drive-driven Photoshop, Quickbooks, or even Excel, but with more and more online equivalent programs such as Google Docs available, you will be surprised at how little you miss them.  Simple, sleek, and almost error-proof, the Litl certainly fills a niche that has up until now been ignored. 

  That niche is a Webbook, one step further than the Netbook in terms of internet based and leagues further in terms of computer minimalism.  Imagine a computer without a hard drive that isn’t designed to store or create documents, but rather to access web based services and sites exclusively.  It should be noted that the Litl is not out to replace your current laptop or desktop, but rather exists to act as a supplement to your family computer that makes web browsing, networking and online gaming easier than ever.  And, boy oh boy, is it easy to use.

Instead of the typical desktop home screen, the Litl instead displays a series of “cards” that you can customize with your favorite features and websites.  These series of cards are your view into your favorite sites and allows you to see a snapshot view of your web world.  Of course, we selected Rave and Review as one of our Litl cards and it displayed the site content via the RSS feed in laptop view.  This “card view” is extremely useful for sites that are updated frequently that you need to keep tabs on, or for fun networking sites where the content is updated by the minute.  

And, the Litl is just the thing if you are as connected to the web as we are here at Rave and Review and have a bunch of networking sites you belong to.  Seamlessly keeping you up to date on numerous sites simultaneously and allowing you to stream media and access sites incredibly easily without the risk of exposing your computer, the Litl is perfect for the internet savvy or those who are just learning.  In fact, the Litl is especially useful when you have family members who aren’t tech savvy or are too young to teach complicated computer skills to.  

Since there are no files or programs stored on the actual computer, there is virtually no way to crash the system or lose your valuable data.  Given that everything accessed on the Litl Webbook is stored in Litl’s proprietary storage network separate from the actual computer, there is no hard drive required to run the Litl.  I’m going to repeat myself in case that little fact didn’t fully sink in – there is absolutely no hard drive on the Litl.  This “cloud storage” feature allows user data and configurations to be transferred from computer to computer should you lose your laptop or manage to damage your system beyond repair. 

While this off-site data storage might seem a bit frightening to some, to others this makes the Litl basically foolproof and maintenance free.  Because there is little risk of accidentally downloading a virus or suffering hardware failure, the computer is perfect for sharing amongst family members or those with less technical skills.   This also means that software updates can all happen automatically and seamlessly, saving you the trouble of downloading and installing every new release.

Some really cool features of the Litl:
The Litl can be used in laptop mode as well as “easel mode” where the screen rotates 270 degrees and the image on screen flips to create an A frame easel for Webbook viewing.  This makes it ideal as a stationary Webbook, one that might sit on the kitchen counter scrolling pictures from a memory card or viewing the weather or kitchen timer cards.  The Litl screen itself is quite impressive with its 12" wide-angle (178 degree viewing angle) LCD that gives you a beautiful way to view pictures and videos. 

If you do prefer a bigger screen, hooking up the Litl to a television is similarly easy with an easy to access HDMI port which is completely plug and play.  With no settings or adjustments necessary, this is truly the easiest way to get the internet on your TV.  When set up across a room or atop a high counter, you will love the Litl remote that allows you to use basic controls of the Webbook from a distance.  This is great for when you’re watching the newest YouTube video or show on Hulu but don’t want to be tied to your computer the whole time, especially when connected to your television where having a remote control is the norm. 

The Litl has a minimalist modern design with some pretty cool features that make it user-friendly and a great solution for the family computer for all levels of computer skill.  For those who have computers that are heavily reliant on hard drive based programs and data storage, the Litl is the perfect tool to take the fear out of internet use and allow you to track numerous sites at a glance.  But, for those who share computers and need something for every member of the family to use and access without worry, the Litl might be even more valuable. 

Potential issues with the Litl:
*The Litl is heavily reliant on wifi connectivity in order to work.  Until wifi is available in more places, the Litl’s usefulness will be reduced dramatically when used outside of the home.
*The battery life on the Litl is limited and the weight of the unit is more than I would like for transporting, which is because the unit is intended more to be set up on a counter or in a family room plugged into the wall than as a true on-the-go netbook. 

Features from the Litl site:
*1.6GHz Atom built in, with 1GB RAM and 2GB flash memory
*Wi-Fi b/g compatible
*2 infrared ports, 1 USB 2.0 port and a standard mini headphone jack
*Built-in graphics can support H.264 video at up to 720p resolution
*The webbook comes with a custom remote control, AC power adapter, and HDMI cable
*Litl offers an unconditional two-year satisfaction guarantee that is virtually unheard of in computing, protecting you against breakage, damage or buyer’s remorse

Price: $399 for the Litl Webbook at the time of posting.

For more information: http://litl.com/

We received two sample Litl computers for review purposes, which we will be sending back to the company at the end of the trial period.  All opinions are 100% our and as always, no form of monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review.

KidsCraft Playhouses Review and Giveaway

What kid doesn’t like to build a fort made out of boxes?  I can’t even count the number of cardboard houses, cars and rocket ships I’ve constructed over the years while babysitting and entertaining young family members or the hours spent playing in my cardboard creations.  Unfortunately, I’m not the best cardboard architect, so my buildings and playthings usually only have a few day life span before you will find them in the recycle bin.  When I found out there was a company that offers DIY sturdy cardboard playhouse kits that can ship directly to your door, I was already in love. 

KidsCraft Playhouses has created 2 unique cardboard playhouses made from 100% recycled materials that would make any cardboard fort artist deliriously happy.  The KidsCraft cardboard playhouses are eco-friendly and perfect for sparking little imaginations.  Using an ingenious flap and slot construction that requires no cutting, measuring, or taping, KidsCraft Playhouses are easy to construct within minutes and can keep kids happy for hours. 

And, I do mean kids plural.  We received the KidsCraft Shuttle Imagination for review and I was shocked by how big it is once assembled.  I can easily fit inside the shuttle with a young one, and have done so on a very regular basis ever since the shuttle was constructed.  If you’re talking toddlers, you could easily fit 2-3 children in the KidsCraft Playhouses with still some room to move about, which is good, because they are all going to want to play at once.

My nephew has been begging me to create a rocket ship out of boxes for years and I have failed miserably in the two attempts I made previously, so I knew the Shuttle Imagination was going to be perfect for entertaining all the cousins this spring and summer.  What I didn’t realize was how much my daughter was absolutely going to adore the cardboard rocket ship and spend 90% of her days making up games for us using the Shuttle Imagination. 

When the KidsCraft Shuttle Imagination Playhouse is not housing her and all her baby dolls, you will usually find it decorated like a corner store with all her fake foods displayed for purchase.  When she’s done playing store or nursery, you will find the whole family playing numerous renditions of peek-a-boo through the various skylights and shape cut outs on the sides and top of the Shuttle.  Sometimes the top opening is perfect for launching stuffed animals out of, and other times it is perfect for doing a light show with flashlights and a darkened room. 

The one constant is that the Shuttle Imagination is now included in nearly all of our games throughout the day.  Even with all of our playing and even a few unauthorized ride-on toys entering the playhouse, the Shuttle Imagination is still standing and in great condition.  Although I wouldn’t recommend taking apart the Shuttle pieces frequently because they become less stiff every time they are opened and closed, it is entirely possible to take apart and reassemble the playhouse for transporting.  The really great thing is that if something rips or the kids get a bit rough with the playhouse, you can easily fix it with tape or glue and be back in business in no time.  

Both of the KidsCraft Playhouses are constructed of plain white cardboard that is perfect for coloring, painting, or attaching light items to with glue to really enhance the creative process.  KidsCraft also sells eco-friendly crayons and paints on their website so you can have both the playhouse and artist supplies shipped together for gift giving.  Or, you can simply leave it white until your child's aunt comes over and paints the playhouse for you, which is our plan.   

Price: $69.95 for the KidsCraft Shuttle Imagination - Measurements (Assembled): 39"L x 34"W x 72"H Fin attachments are 12" in length  

Price: $59.95 for the KidsCraft Creation Cottage - Measurements (Assembled): 42.25"L x 39.5"W x 54"H

http://www.kidscraftusa.com/  

And now for the Giveaway...

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a KidsCraft Playhouse of their choice - Choose between the Creation Cottage or Shuttle Imagination.

To Enter:  Visit http://www.kidscraftusa.com/ and comment below with one interesting thing you learned about the company or the products.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Let me know you subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count - leave two comments)

2) Become a fan of KidsCraft on Facebook

3) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview and @kidscraftusa with #giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

4) Blog about this Giveaway and Growing Local Learning 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.  Leave a new comment on any non-giveaway post and/or enter any of my current giveaways!

7) 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)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On June 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.  Giveaway open to US addresses only.

Winner, Winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to Erica who said:

Tweet http://twitter.com/mommyericae/status/16141638630

A huge thank you to KidsCraft Playhouse for sending their Shuttle Imagination for review and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review. 

50,000 Box Tops for Education Sweepstakes + $25 AmEx Gift Card Giveaway

Even before I had children, I became involved in the Box Tops for Education program by clipping box tops to give to my nieces and nephews to take to their schools.  I was already buying and using the products, so the effort was really minimal to tear off the tabs to give to the little ones.  Knowing how little funding our local schools get and how much they could really use money to provide a better education for our community, clipping Box Tops for Education tabs was really the least I could do to support their schools.

According to the official website, Box Tops for Education has contributed over $300 million to participating schools since the launch of the program in 1996, which has helped schools fund all sorts of projects and programs to improve K-8 schools all over the country.  This is thanks to the 24 million parents, children, aunts, uncles and grandparents who clip Box Tops each year.  SuperValu shoppers alone have helped participating schools earn more than $10 million just during the 2008-09 school year!

This money can go a long way in improving the sorry state that some of the local schools are in as well as preserve vital programs that would otherwise be cut.  Now more than ever, I am even more determined to clip and earn as many Box Tops for Education as I can.  And, thanks to a generous $25 American Express gift card, I was able to load up on a whole cart full of Box Tops for Education items this past week.  By far the best deal at my local Safeway was the buy two, get three free Betty Crocker cake mixes.  Five cakes, $.50 for the schools, and a screaming deal that is certainly brag-worthy.     

Win 50,000 Bonus Box Tops for your School of Choice
I’m so excited that we all have a chance to earn even more Box Tops for our schools thanks to the partnership of SuperValu stores and the Growing Local Learning Program.  Now through May 31th, 2010, there is a chance to earn 50,000 Bonus Box Tops for Education for your school.  That’s a $5,000 value, which would go a long way in helping out a school in need.  All you need to do to enter is register at www.GrowingLocalLearning.com and click on the tab that looks like the badge below.  Even better is that you will automatically receive 5 Bonus Box Tops for Education just by signing up!

 
After you’ve registered, be sure to check out the other resources on the Growing Local Learning, including recipes and coupons for General Mills products at your local SuperValu store!

http://www.growinglocallearning.com/

And now for the Giveaway...

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $25 American Express Gift Card to do some Box Tops for Education shopping of their own!

To Enter:  Tell us what Box Tops for Education Participating Products would you buy for your family with the gift card.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Let me know you subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count - leave two comments)

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

3) Blog about this Giveaway and Growing Local Learning with links back to this post as well as the http://www.growinglocallearning.com/ homepage 

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

5) Comment love.  Leave a new 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, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On June 8th 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 only.

Winner, Winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to Jill H. who said:

I tweeted http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/14800297364">http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/14800297364

SuperValu stores and General Mills provided me with a $25 American Express Gift Card to do some Box Tops for Education shopping at my local SuperValu store through a campaign with MyBlogSpark.  They are also providing one Rave and Review reader a $25 American Express Gift Card of their very own.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review.  *Please note that the sweepstakes is void in some states. Visit www.GrowingLocalLearning.com and view the sweepstakes’ official rules for more details.

PTPA Summer Campaign Winners Announced!

Parent Tested Parent Approved has just announced their Summer Campaign Winners!  If you're not already familiar with PTPA, here's a brief overview:  PTPA Media utilizes the expertise of real parents reviewing real products and giving their honest feedback.  PTPA selects the award winning products based on how the evaluators rate the value, functionality, quality and appeal and then awards each with their well-known PTPA Winners Badge. 

The great thing about PTPA is that anyone can get involved – you don’t have to be a blogger or even be related to anyone famous to get on their list of parent evaluators and start reviewing products for them.  Want to learn more about PTPA? Jump online or click here for information on how to become a PTPA Parent Evaluator (P.S. If you want to spread some love, when you sign up they ask you “How did you find us?”, simply select “Other” and enter Rave and Review - they have a great new referral program so don't forget to refer your friends).

Some of this season's winners include some great products we’ve featured on Rave and Review this past year and even more great products and brands that we will be profiling in the next few weeks!

See the full list of Summer Campaign Winners here.

DownEast Basics Swimwear Review and Giveaway

Spring is finally here and if you’re like me you’re already thinking of summer.  When you’re thinking summer, you are most definitely thinking what you’re going to be wearing to the beach, the pool, or even just bathing in your backyard.  If so, you should check out DownEast Basics with their new swimwear arrivals that will get you all ready for hot weather.

Like the rest of the DownEast Basics line, their swimwear is not only adorable and stylish, it’s also completely affordable, too.  I’ve already mentioned how much I love their full line of tops, skirts and pants that are flattering and feminine, as well as their classic and trendy handbags, but you can now add swimwear to that list as well.  I was thrilled to try out the DownEast Basics Sunset Swim Dress this spring because I love the retro feel of the swim top and how well it covers, camouflages, and conceals, but still looks sporty and feminine at the same time. 

At first I thought the Sunset Swim Dress was a one piece bathing suit, but was surprised to find out that it is a two piece suit (bottoms sold separately) which makes it really easy to mix and match or pair with your favorite bikini bottoms.  I absolutely love the gathering details down the sides of the suit and in the bust of the halter that are very feminine and flirty.  The ruffled bottom of the Swim Dress is also adorable and completely retro, and makes me feel like a classic movie starlet.

The Swim Dress has a lined shelf bra and is made from nylon/spandex in two different prints.  I chose the black top so I could pair it with my colorful swim accessories and even a summery skirt and create a very classic swim look no matter where the hot weather takes me this summer.  Now that I’ve tried the DownEast Basics Swim Dress, I would love to try out the Oceanside Tank in the blue clover pattern or the Malibu Swim Skirt which would be just the colorful swim separates to alternate or coordinate with the Swim Dress.   

As much as I love the Sunset Swim Dress, I really adore that the whole DownEast Basics swim line with their fun and feminine styles.  With classic pieces as well as stylish and trendy options, DownEast Basics truly offers something for every woman.  When paired with one of their gorgeous handbags or totes, you are sure to turn heads everywhere this summer.  If you haven’t already checked out DownEast Basics for their line of clothing and accessories, you should definitely head there and start your shopping with their swimwear line.

http://www.downeastbasics.com/

Sunset Swim Dress Price: $29.99

And now for the Giveaway...

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a swim wear of their choice from the DownEast Basics Swim Line!

To Enter: You must visit the DownEast site and comment below with what DownEast Basics Swimwear you would love to try. 

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Let me know you subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count - leave two comments)

2) Become a fan of DownEast Basics on Facebook and leave them a message letting them know Rave and Review sent you.

3) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview and #giveaway after following (daily Tweet, just post link here)

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 (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On June 12th 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 only.  Winner must not have won a giveaway sponsored by DownEast Basics in the past 90 days.

Winner, Winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to Holly who said:

"Daily tweet http://twitter.com/hbbs55/status/16011656266"

A huge thank you to DownEast Basics for sending their Sunset Swim Dress to be reviewed and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received for this Rave Review.