Rave and Review

Get Ready for Fall with prAna Clothing and Activewear

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 33

Outdoorsy is not the first word that comes to mind when people think of me.  Yes, I do love being outside and enjoying nature, but I certainly don’t dress the part.  prAna is a company that was designed with me in mind, because although the clothing and accessories are very much real outdoorsy gear, you would never know it if you looked at them.

Instead of designing for functionality without considering fashion, prAna clothing is truly the best of both worlds.  One quick look at their website and I basically fell in love with nearly everything the company makes.  We’re talking flouncy skirts, flirty tops, heathered hoodies, stylish and edgy jackets, and more that all are begging for a world trip, a weekend away, or even just to wear to a bonfire.

As a Northwest native, I see more than my fair share of outdoorsy clothing each year, but rarely do I find a company like prAna that pulls together mountain retreat attire, travel comfort and sportswear without ever coming across as too casual for everyday wear.  Instead of the standard washed out cotton clothing typically marketed to women in outdoor shops, I was really surprised to find a whole catalogue of clothing that was truly stylish as well as still being functional and comfortable. 

In fact, the prAna website and catalogue looks nothing like an outdoor shop, but rather just looks like a popular women’s clothing catalogue.  The prAna line showcases a wide range of products from a huge variety of styles, and they just so happen to make really awesome outdoor-friendly clothing.  Since I do a lot of traveling in the summer and fall, I love that the prAna styles are perfect for at home or away.  Since most of their styles can either be dressed up or down, I found they are the perfect solution for when your day takes you from babies to meetings and back, and one of the main reasons they are my go-to line when I’m looking for something special for myself. 

Speaking of special things for myself, I was overjoyed when I got to try out the Mandie Hoodie and the Molly Skirt this past season.  I instantly fell in love with each for their simple, go anywhere designs that are as versatile as they are adorable.  I ended up wearing the hoodie and skirt all over Washington and California and I can’t even tell you how many compliments I got on them over the last few weeks.  Whether I was hanging out on an island or two, attending park play dates, biking, or even in business meetings, wearing the prAna clothing was always spot on. 

After trying these two prAna pieces, I am so lusting over their Toni jacket in black {see left}.  It’s a perfect combination of edgy and urban with outdoorsy and fun and I’ve got it on my wishlist this season.  Wouldn't it be absolutely perfect for chilly fall nights around town or weekends away with the family?

As much as I love prAna, what’s really surprising is that my husband and I both can shop there.  While he tends towards the more outdoorsy clothing and gear and I tend towards the urban clothing and accessories, prAna is our common  denominator.  He got to try out a prAna piece this season and he chose the Whiskey short sleeve button down because he loved the little details that made it stand out in his sea of plaid shirts.  It has also made it on numerous vacations with us throughout the summer and it still remains one of his favorite shirts into fall.       

Whether you are athletic and active or urban and chic, you are bound to find numerous items in the prAana line that are perfect for around town or  wherever your travels take you.  Shop prana.com as well as locally where you can take in all their adorable styles and get the perfect look for fall.  BONUS: If you are looking for a great discount on some great prAna clothing, you  can even check out TheClymb.com and see all the great deals going on right now!

Find out more at http://www.prana.com/ 

A big thank you to prAna for sending some of their line to be reviewed.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received for this very rave review.  We just love prAna!

Dannon OIKOS - My New Favorite Yogurt

I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls on behalf of Dannon. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program but my opinions are my own. For more information and recipe ideas, visit www.oikosyogurt.com or www.Facebook.com/oikos. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

When I was at BlogHer earlier this month, I had the opportunity to stop by the Dannon booth and chat with their reps showcasing their OIKOS yogurt.  While at the booth, I got a chance to sample an OIKOS yogurt for myself, and I was shocked at how delicious it was.  And, that’s not just because I was skipping lunch that day and was wandering around an expo hall while starving, it’s because it includes everything I look for in a snack and more. 

While I have tried Greek yogurt in the past and liked the thicker, creamier texture and the added protein, I always found them to be kind of bitter, so I was thrilled to find a variety that I could completely get on board with.  Besides being delicious, I love that OIKOS Greek Yogurt comes a whole line of favors, varieties, and even packages that are perfect for someone like me who eats yogurt daily and doesn’t want the same old thing day in and day out.

Once I got home from BlogHer, I found some coupons in the local paper and went out and loaded up my fridge with OIKOS because my husband and I love it so much.  There is something really satisfying about having a fridge full of yogurt that doesn’t have cartoon characters on it, and I find myself getting excited for lunch just because I know it will include OIKOS yogurt.  Not only is it a great snack when paired with a sandwich or wrap, it’s also a quick and delicious meal if I just add granola and raisins since it’s so filling on its own.

No matter what I’m craving, it seems Dannon Oikos has the cure and I actually feel good eating it. I love that Dannon® Oikos® Plain and Fruit on the Bottom contain 0% fat, while the Dannon® Oikos® traditional blended varieties contain about 3% fat, even though both varieties taste completely indulgent.   Dannon® Oikos® 0% varieties contain active yogurt cultures and range from 80 calories to 130 calories per 5.3 oz. cup.  In addition to low calories and great taste, both varieties are also an excellent source of protein {twice that of most regular low-fat yogurts}!

While participating in this campaign through Clever Collective, I was sent a small gift card to try out some new varieties and found that the word about how delicious they are must have gotten out in a big way, because the shelves at the first store were empty and the second store was almost entirely cleaned off.  After I chose my three cups, the couple behind me promptly got the remaining 3 cups and the store was also sold out.  Yes, it is that good.  Thank goodness I still have a few left on hand in the fridge from when I stocked up before, because three cups doesn’t last our family long at all!

If you haven’t already tried OIKOS, you should find some in your local store and see what all the hype is about.  If you love it as much as we do, you’re going to want to Like the OIKOS Facebook page for coupons, deals, and ideas for using OIKOS for more than just snacking.  You just missed a FREE coupon on the OIKOS Facebook page, but they have announced that more will be coming shortly!

I have partnered with Dannon to help promote the Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt Series.  I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program, which includes writing about the promotion and product.  However, my opinions are 100% my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments - besides, you just can't fake this kind of excitement over a yogurt.

J.L. Childs Dragon Tails Hybrid Sunglasses {Review and Q&A}

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 32

When my wife first told me she had a new pair of sunglasses for me to try out, I was pretty excited as I think most guys would be.  But if I’d known then what I was getting I would have been a lot more so.  You see, one of the aspects I love most about reviewing products is the chance to see the design and innovation in new products, but this is especially true when it comes to products that you would think are as advanced as they could be, like sunglasses.

With the Dragon Tails from J.L. Childs, first and foremost you get a great pair of sunglasses.  With UV400 rated lenses you will be sure to keep your eyes safe from the sun’s rays, and their wrap around shape means you have a full field of view. But the details beyond those are where it gets fun. 

Besides protecting you from the sun, those lenses are ANSI Z87.1 certified, which means you are protected from impacts as well.  I bet you {like me} hadn’t even thought of all the situations where that would be great to have.  For instance, hiking, biking, or rock climbing where branches or debris may be flying, as well as hunting, water skiing or other outdoor activities. 

But, even more practical is that you can wear them in situations where safety glasses are required, which is great on outdoor job sites for construction or industrial settings or even just doing yard work.  This has been great for me as I no longer have to switch back and forth from my sunglasses to safety glasses as I move around for work, especially since my safety glasses aren’t tinted at all and are horrible for bright and sunny days. 

At this point the skeptics are saying something about “sure, they would protect you... if they don’t just get knocked off,” and that is where some more innovation comes in.  The standard arms of the glasses can be easily removed and replaced with an adjustable elastic band, essentially turning them into goggles.  To keep this as comfortable as possible and to protect your eyes even more, the Dragon Tails come with a full surround cushion that snaps into place to complete this transition.  Of course, you can leave the padding on in sunglass form as well if you wish, but I typically remove it before wearing as sunglasses. 

Besides the lenses being super tough, the frames are made out of TR-90 plastic which is virtually indestructible, much to my son's dismay.  As someone who has broken a few pairs of glasses by forgetting they were in my pocket or stuffing them into my luggage at the airport, I can definitely appreciate that.

Here's a little Q&A that I did with John Child's this past week talking about the glasses, his vision, and the future of Dragon Tail Sunglasses:

1. How did Dragon Tails get its start?  It started from when I lost my eyewear climbing in Boulder Canyon and thought that I need climbing sunglasses that not only can protect my eyes but also will not fall off my face on my favorite climbs.
2. What makes your glasses unique?  Dragon Tails are safety rated, can transform to goggles for when you are skiing, and also have a unique design to wrap around your head for when you are doing activities like climbing or skiing.
3. Who are Dragon Tails Sunglasses for? The active, athletic individual who needs a durable, secure eyewear for their active lifestyle.
4. What do you see next for Dragon Tail?  A new design that incorporates some feedback I've gotten from customers.  Hopefully the second version will supercede the first!

Some cool facts about Dragon Tail Sunglasses:
•    Free Shipping and Free Returns if You Aren't Happy
•    100% Money Back Guarantee
•    10% Profits Donated to the World Wildlife Fund

Find out more at http://jlchildsoutfitters.com/ and at their Facebook and Twitter pages!  P.S. Show them some love on their social networking sites when you get a moment, they need some good followers and fans on both pages!

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

Safe n' See Digital Video Baby Monitor from Levana {Review & Giveaway}

Video monitors may have started out as a niche or superfluous item years ago, but they have since become one of the most essential items for all new parents.  After years of baby surveillance using over 4 video monitors, we have finally found the most intelligent of the bunch, the Safe n' See™ Digital Video Baby Monitor from Levana.  Besides being a video monitor, the Levana Safe n’ See has a whole list of features that I simply don’t know how we lived without.

Yes, you can argue that video monitors are unnecessary, but as someone who has used both audio and video monitors in the past, I can honestly tell you they have become essential to me.  Having the video monitor has made me worry less as a parent, knowing that I can see them any time I want without having to tiptoe into the nursery.  Now I can check on the kiddos and their surroundings quickly and quietly without disturbing them, which I think makes us all a whole lot more relaxed, and gives us all more sleep – two things that all new parents could use more of.    

With a list of features on their site that make this seem more like high tech video equipment and less like a simple baby monitor, I was really excited to check it the Safe n’ See Digital Baby Monitor in person and see how it performed.  I’m a few weeks in to our use and I can tell you that I’ve never seen a more high-tech baby gadget, ever, and in every way it has lived up to its claims.

The biggest claim of the Levana Safe n’ See is that you can use it up to 450ft away, which I am happy to report gives me full run of the whole house while baby and toddler are sleeping, as well as onto my front and back porch easily. It also boasts a large screen that offers a really clear digital image of the nursery in daylight and night vision automatically, a fully rechargeable monitor that gives up to 4 hours of continuous use, as well as a handy display for the temperature in the room to help keep baby safe and comfortable. 

This was also the first monitor we had tried out that has a talk-to-baby intercom.  For babies this is useful for soothing and comforting without risking stepping into the room, and for toddlers this is useful because you are able to supervise remotely and actually converse with your child from another room without yelling. Something I really liked was that you can turn on a gentle night light and/or choose 5 soothing lullabies that you can control directly from the parent unit with a simple push of a button.  Just tell me that’s not a feature you would pay extra for?

Because the monitor has such a clear picture with its ClearVu® Digital Wireless Technology, I love that it is dual purpose;  You can crank the volume up and bask in the sound of baby’s every breath or, you can lower the volume and just keep a watchful eye on your little one, silently.  Because it has LED noise level indication lights that can tell us how loud baby {or toddler} is being, we actually use it more often with the sound down so we can savor the silence with full peace of mind.  If you prefer, you can also turn on the sound-activated vibration that causes the parent unit to vibrate whenever any noise is detected from baby.

If you’re like me and appreciate items that can truly grow with you and your family, you will also love that this system is completely expandable and can be used for babies as well as toddlers.  Unlike most audio baby monitors that are basically useless after your little one is able to move freely, the Levana Safe n’ See will be perfect for keeping an eye on the kids in their rooms or in the playroom for years.  Obviously, you won’t be going far away from the kiddos and wouldn’t use the video camera as a babysitter, but it would be incredibly useful for when you need to put dinner into the oven without worrying they were climbing the walls.

Another thing that completely sealed the deal for me?  The Levana 24/7 Lifetime Live Customer Support.  Their customer support team can be reached by phone 24/7 or by email and live web chat services, so you always have access to an expert when you really need it at http://www.mylevana.com/

Want to win one of these awesome PTPA Award-Winning Levana Digital Video Monitors for yourself?  Head over to my Levana Winning Wednesday post on the PTPA blog and enter until Sunday, August 28th, 2011.

A big thank you to Levana for this post opportunity.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Friday – BlogHer11 Recap Day 2

Since Thursday night was a little bit crazy {*ahem, Clever Girls Collective*} I started off the day with some friends by the pool and then I was off to the newly opened BlogHer expo hall.  After that, I met some new and old friends for a beautiful lunch at the Marriott.  We talked about gardening, going green, blogging moms, and how we all started our sites.  It was a lovely break from the craziness of the expo hall and a great way to connect with some wonderful new friends like Amanda, Shannon, and Yolanda, and, as a bonus, I got the cutest little miniature garden from Twig Terrariums to take home with me.

After lunch, I joined up with the Sofa Summit with PepsiCo WIN to bear-hug Etosha, one of my absolute favorite PR reps ever.  After I mauled her in the lobby, she invited me in and I got the pleasure of hearing Sarah Brokaw {you may have heard of her dad...} talk about her new book, Fortytude.  As well as a great conversation and Q&A from Sarah, we also heard about Pepsico WIN and what it is they do to empower women.  If you were at BlogHer, you probably saw the Pepsico WIN team everywhere - interviewing spokespeople, conference attendees, and even superstars all over the hotel, private parties, and the expo hall. Speaking of the awesome WIN team, do you think you have what it takes to become a WIN Correspondent in 2012?  Let them know here!

After a quick meeting with Sarah Brokaw after the event, I headed back to the expo hall to tackle the most popular booth there - the Dr. Scholl's custom fit orthodics - where I stood in line to get a pair of these awesome little orthodics myself.  Standing in the long line didn't leave me much time to browse other booths since I was already late to another party, but walking in my new orthodics the few blocks to the Corner Bar was so worth it.  Yes, I've been wearing them for weeks now, and yes, I still love them immensely.  A big, huge thank you to Dr. Scholl's!

Even though I had over 35 events that filled my calendar throughout the BlogHer weekend, I must admit that the event I was most looking forward to throughout the conference was the flipflop wine party at the Corner Bar.  Not because I'm a lush or anything, but because I simply love their wine.  Seriously, I was so not a wine drinker before I found flipflop wines, but even after the first glass, I was a huge fan.  Know what else?  The guys behind flipflop wines and their partner, Soles4Souls, are some of the coolest guys anywhere.  The event was so laid back, so fun, and was just the best way to spend a Friday afternoon.  But, the coolest part is that everyone was so approachable and friendly, it was impossible not to have a blast. 

The vintner of flipflop wines, David Georges, is one of the nicest guys, and he spent quite a while telling us about the different varieties and what his vision was for the company while pouring us glasses of wine.  It's not just any party when you can learn a new handshake, make a new BFF {I'm referring to Stephen Mitchell, who is, apparently, everyone's BFF}, and drink as much wine as you'd like.  Totally unexpected, but much appreciated, was their seriously awesome swag bag they handed out while leaving, which accounted for 80% of my BlogHer swag I brought home.  We're talking jewelry, sunglasses, snacks, gifts, etc.  A big shout-out to Nicole's Nickels, Koupon Karen and She Saved for putting together the awesome-ness that was the flipflop wine swag bag.  Seriously, if you don't already love flipflop wines, head on over to the flipflop wine Facebook page and join in the conversation.  Those guys are hilarious and I'm proud to call them BFFs.  

Next party was the Groupon Meetup and then Swagbucks Swagnation party where we snacked on mini bonbons and got a chance to win Swagbucks and other big prizes.  Since I've cashed out a ton in Swagbucks gift cards since I signed up, I just wanted to head there and thank them for such an awesome program.  If you aren't already searching via Swagbucks.com, you're missing out because they literally PAY YOU to search the interwebs.  That's right, you search online and by doing so you rack up "Swagbucks".  These bucks can then be traded in for Amazon gift cards, goods, services, you name it.  It's a great way to save up some money for holiday shopping!  If you haven't already signed up, you can use my referral code here and start earning money today.

From the Marriott, I hopped in a Pedicab from Travelzoo and headed to the One2One You-Phoria event.  I must admit that the main reason why I wanted to go to this party so much was because I thought one of their sponsors, Dollie&Me, would be there but once inside I was really glad I made it.  I got to have yet another drink with my new BFF Stephen, mixed my own perfume {which, incidentally, is really super easy - let me know if you want the recipe}, and even made a screen printed T-shirt.  Unfortunately my Blackberry had fully died from a whole day of tweeting, emailing, and posting, so I wasn't able to take part in any of the awesome giveaways they were hosting at the party, but I so would have been trying for some of the awesome prizes they had up for grabs.  The best part about the event was getting to hang out and just be party guests - pose for pictures, toast to new friendships, and watch people get eyelash extensions.  Oh, wait, your parties don't normally include eyelash extensions?

It was Friday night at BlogHer, which only means one thing to BlogHer attendees - glitter and glow sticks... um, I mean the Sparklecorn dance party.  At the point that I dragged myself up to Sparklecorn I was so tired, so hungry, and just ready for a fun night before I headed back to collapse into bed.  Thank goodness the party included light snacks, cake, and more free booze, just as any good party should.  I can't believe it, but I actually didn't take one picture at Sparklecorn, which may or may not be a good thing. You see, it's hard to take pictures when you're dancing, and that's exactly what you should be doing at Sparklecorn.  I did, however, manage to snap a picture of my daughter wearing the glow stick crown I made for her once I got back to the room.  Yes, she waited up for me at the hotel with hubby.  This may be due to the fact that I normally don't go out very often {or, at all}.  It pretty much blew her mind that I was not going to be with her in the evening, which really, is all the more reason why I needed to go to Sparklecorn!

Stay tuned for the last two days of BlogHer recap {which will be only one post... taking a week off after BlogHer has made me lazy}

aacua 4-in-1 Bath Wrap by maamam {Review & Giveaway}

Is there anything cuter than a little one straight out of the bath?  I would say yes, a babe wrapped in an aacua towel.  The aacua towel was the first release from maamam LLC, a San Francisco-based company that everyone is buzzing about for its vibrant and innovative baby products.  After trying the aacua towel out these past few weeks, I can honestly say that it’s pretty genius.

Summertime for our family means a whole lot of time spent in water.  Whether we are at the beach, the pool, or simply in the tub after a long day of playing outside, water is the one common factor.  Of course when you have water you also need towels, and that’s where the aacua comes in.  Unlike bathrobes that are silly and impractical for small babes, or large towels that are bulky and hard to secure around a wriggling babe, the aacua is not only perfect for babies, it also grows with your child to toddlerhood. 

Although it is cute a modern, don’t let its minimalistic design fool you.  In addition to growing with your child from baby on up, the aacua bath wrap truly is 4-in-1.  That’s because it is more than a towel, more than a robe, and more than an apron for mom and dad - it’s all these and more.

No matter how old your babe is, the aacua always starts the same, as an absorbent terry cloth apron for you.  You simply attach the ring around your neck and secure the sides around your body and it does a great job of protecting your clothing from any splashes or shenanigans.  Then, when babe is clean, the aacua quickly transforms to a cozy baby cocoon, a towel, or an adorable hooded bath wrap depending on your child’s age. 

Since my kids are 9 month and 3 years, I got to try out two of these configurations and loved both of them for both kids.  For my daughter, I simply place the hood over her head and then she can slip her hands out the side slits and Velcro the towel around her easily.  For my son, I slip my hands through the side slits, grab him from the water, and immediately envelope him in towel right up against my chest to keep him warm and help dry him off in the best way possible – with a hug from mom and dad.

If I was leaving him in the aacua for cuddles, I could also transform it into a towel cocoon by velcroing the ring around the wrap to hold it all together.  While I wouldn’t wrap my son at home like this since the nursery is right across from the bathroom, I really wish I would have had the aacua on our recent family vacation when my son spent hours wriggling out of bulky beach towels while snuggling family members poolside.  If we had been able to wrap him like this right out of the pool, he would have been one deliriously happy little guy all snug and warm in a towel cocoon. 

As with a standard terry cloth towel, the aacua is easy to clean in the washer and dryer, and actually gets softer as you use it.  The only thing to note is that it does have Velcro tabs sewn in, so don’t launder the aacua with delicate items that might snag easily.  If this was a concern, making sure each tab is connected to its corresponding color tab would do the trick, or even a washing bag. 

Price: $42.  Even though it is quite a bit more expensive than a cheap baby towel, I would highly recommend the PTPA Award Winning aacua for its amazing ability to grow with your child and offer a practical toweling solution for every age - even baby dolls!

http://www.maamam.com/

One lucky winner will win an awesome maamam aacua 4-in-1 Towel of their own! 

To enter simply visit Maamam.com and tell me something you learned about the company or a product you love

 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 after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Enter to #win a 4-in-1 aacua towel from @MaamamLLC and @raveandreview. Read their #ravereview and #giveaway: http://t.co/1XkCSCX

3) "Like" maamam on Facebook or subscribe to their YouTube channel

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (2 extra entries, just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website  (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other 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) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {3 extra entries}

On September 24th 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. 

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed!  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to

#14 lia Keller said... I learned that they have amazing products and that maamam is a private company that is founded and operated by mothers. (from website)

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer.  As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog.  My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Light-up Construction with Laser Pegs Mini Monster Bug Kit {Review}

What kid doesn’t like constructing their own creatures, vehicles, and structures?  Well, they will even more so with the introduction of Laser Pegs on the market.  Now one of the most beloved children’s activities of all time has gotten a new technological makeover that makes constructing whatever you can imagine even more fun than before. 

Laser Pegs calls themselves The Ultimate Toy for Kids and I would have a hard time arguing after seeing how much fun they are in person.  By introducing construction play sets that have individual light up pieces, it allows little ones to make so many interesting and creative structures that are fun to build, play with, and even display. 

If you haven’t seen them in the past, Laser Pegs are the first construction toy set ever to include pieces that connect into each other and complete a low voltage current to illuminate brightly colored LED lights within.  You can connect them to design your own 3D creations that illuminate when connected to the power block.  That means that big, bulbous bug you made… yep, it glows.  That off road vehicle you packed full of action figures, yeah, it’s glowing, too.  Want a house that glows internally?  You got it. 

Besides being super cool, the Laser Pegs are also incredibly fun to play with.  They snap in place easily and are fairly secure, allowing you to create circular or squared structures to your heart’s content.  We got to try out the 36 piece Laser Pegs Mini Monster Bug set and loved how it came with instructions for how to build “the” Mini Monster Bug as well as offering more downloadable models on the LaserPegs.com website.  Since we love to get creative, we’ve found that making our own designs has been the activity we all enjoyed the most, but I still appreciate some detailed instructions to get us started creating.  

Laser Pegs Mini Monster Bug shapes include square, wheel shaped, y-shaped, half O, straight, and 90 degree pegs {sadly it does not include the 45 degree pegs or t-shaped pegs, so you won’t be able to make many of the models on the Laser Pegs website - Darn!}.  They are recommended for children 7 and older, but like most things, with adult supervision our 3 and 4 year old testers had no problem building their own creations. 

I liked that some children enjoyed watching each peg light up as they attached them and others preferred to complete their masterpiece before connecting it the power source so they could see it illuminate all at once like magic.  Both were equally excited as they watched their creation illuminate and take shape.  If you’ve got a little builder, I would recommend checking out a set of Laser Pegs this holiday season!

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

Thursday – BlogHer11 Recap Day 1

Having gotten into San Diego at 11pm on Wednesday instead of the 1pm we should have arrived, I was happy my Thursday BlogHer events started out slowly. 

We started off the day at the P&G Life Well Lived event that included some really amazing speakers, a nice brunch, and a really good opportunity to chat laundry with Tide, make plans to see some handmade and local jewelry, and  meet all the awesome ladies {and one man} behind the Social Soiree party.  Truly a great time and the perfect way to get my feet wet at BlogHer and make some friends at the same time. 

Next, a coffee date with a PR firm was cancelled last minute and rescheduled for the next day, which gave a good opportunity for the family to pick me up for a little outdoor shopping for some new adventure luggage courtesy of Collective Bias.  Much, much more on this to come…

After shopping, I got the opportunity to meet with Step2 and Infantino, two of my absolute favorite kids brands, in an afternoon playdate on Coronado Island.  We were escorted by the Matts of Mom Central {you may know them as the dudes in an office of divas} by bus to a gorgeous house filled with toys, activities, and candy, and served snacks and drinks while we mingled.  We were given time to create gift baskets, offer input on new top-secret ideas brewing at Step2 {prepare to have your mind blown}, see demos of some new products including the Right Angle Tummy Triangle, Kimono Carrier {which I really, really want to try after seeing the demo}, and new Step2 kitchen, as well as create our own inspiration boards and personalized rubber duckies to take home.  The playdate was laid back and fun, which I was relieved about since this was my first official event and I really just wanted to mingle and have a relaxing afternoon in a beautiful place with some of my absolute favorite people.  It was a great way to start off the weekend of activity and really connect with other bloggers and the people behind these amazing brands. 

Next stop was to the iFabbo Glamour Suite which was nothing short of amazing.  I walked into Robert Cromean’s salon a pale, minimally made up chick from Seattle and mere minutes later I walked out looking like a rockstar.  One Beautisol spray tan, curly ‘do,  and Stila Cosmetics glamour makeover later and I was truly ready to take on BlogHer.  Even more amazing than my smoky cat-eyes?  The awesome beauty-filled goodie bag and a much greater appreciation for the amazing iFabbo Network.  Having seen what these ladies and men can do in a matter of minutes, I truly believe they really are nothing short of magicians.  Not only do they know how to create an awesome beauty retreat in the middle of a big city, they are also incredibly nice and lovely to work with.  Hopefully you will be hearing a whole lot more about iFabbo in the coming months!

A whirlwind tour through the Big Toy Book Sweet Suite at the Hard Rock Hotel reconnected me to some awesome brands I’ve worked with in the past, like LeapFrog, Tolly Tots, and Corolle as well as introduced me to a whole host of new names and companies I’m excited to work with.  I can’t wait to introduce you to some of the new companies and products I found in the suite, including Fisher Price, Adora Dolls, BananaGrams, and more that you will be hearing about closer to the holiday season. Want to see something adorable?  Check out kidzvuz.com to see toy and game reviews from kids themselves!

Last stop of the night was to Hotel Solamar which was hosting the Clever Collective “I’m With the Brand” rockstar party.  Having chatted with the Clever Girls for months and weeks beforehand and being elated to find out they would be sponsoring some of my BlogHer trip, I was so excited to just meet them, shake their hands, and let loose with them in a beautiful rooftop suite.  Even though I knew hanging out with these ladies would be a great time, my expectations were blown completely out of the water as soon as I arrived.  We’re talking Smurfs, treats and drinks, Ubisoft, Lady Gaga, an awesome dance-off, and even custom flip books made on the spot. But! Know what else?  They are also some of the coolest chicks anywhere, gracious hosts, and funny as heck.  But, then again, you probably already know that.  Only disappointment of the night?  I didn't win the Epiphanie Camera Bag they were giving away.  Seriously, I need an Epiphanie bag!

If all this doesn’t make you jealous… well, then you probably shouldn’t come to BlogHer. If it does, you should come back for more conference and party coverage from our week in San Diego!

See BlogHer day 2 recap here...

The Many Adventures of Zylie the Bear {+ huge discount tomorrow 8/20!}

Day 31 - Get Out and PLAY… with a snuggly plush friend

There are few things more exciting than a bear with a passport showing up at your door.  Unless of course that bear also has a map, a tote, a satin-lined coat, her own book, and some of the cutest accessories you’ve ever seen.  Meet Zylie the Bear, the most amazing travel friend, adventure seeker, and snuggle partner a kid could ever want.

If you had witnessed the excitement that overwhelmed our house when Zylie the Bear arrived on our porch, you would understand the love that can exist between child and bear.  Just one look at the adorable Zylie and you will truly see what all the fuss is about.  Quality details, soft fur, and a stunning face paired with posable limbs make it clear that Zylie the Bear is no ordinary stuffed animal - she’s a childhood friend.

Zylie the Bear is a fashionable and cuddly bear that is the star of her own book, “The Adventures of Zylie the Bear.”  Spending her days traveling the world and learning about the people and places she visits, Zylie is always up for anything.  If my daughter hadn’t already been so taken by Zylie upon first meeting, their shared love of adventure would have sealed the deal.  

These past few weeks we found Zylie to be the perfect travel partner since she is fun and interactive like a doll, but also snuggly and soft for the journey as well as for bedtime once you get there, making her like two toys in one.  Throw in some of her adorable accessories like her tote, diary, and passport, and she’s endless amounts of fun for little ones.  The only thing that would have made her a better travel partner would be a special Zylie the Bear child-sized backpack that Zylie could ride in to keep clean, have a great vantage point, and hold all of her various accessories.  Since my daughter loved traveling with her so much, I might be forced to make my own backpack carrier for her and her flair at some point.     

Speaking of flair, in addition to the adorable skinny jeans and signature flounce top she arrived in, Zylie also has a whole line of fashionable clothing you can purchase separately, thanks to their esteemed clothing designer Katie Fong.  Something we really loved is that because Zylie is 18” tall and is built more like a doll than a bear, she can use some of the accessories I kept from my doll collection growing up.  This had led to hours upon hours of creative play and now when we are out we are always on the lookout for Zylie-sized items to add to the fun.  

In addition to Zylie the Bear, you can also purchase Shen the Panda, who is featured in the Zylie stories.  This is great if you have more than one child or simply if Zylie needs a friend {other than your child, of course}!  In addition to being simply adorable, Zylie and Shen also serve as strong role models for kids and introduce them to different cultures and places, which helps your child learn about the world around them.  Find out more about how Zylie and Shen are helping kids with more than geography at the Zylie the Bear Goals page!

Want to know how to get a great deal on Zylie the Bear for your little one?  Mark your calendars for tomorrow, August 20th and check out the Amazon.com/Deals at 5pm PST.  I’m not sure of the details yet, but hopefully you will be able to take advantage of a discount to buy!  Find out more at ZylietheBear.com or follow them on Facebook to hear about promotions and discounts, including the Amazon.com deal! 

A big thank you to Zylie the Bear for sending a new friend to love.  We all simply adore her and are looking forward to expanding our collection this year.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

BlogHer11 - A tale of good friends, swag… and recycling

On August 4th, 2011, thousands of bloggers descended on San Diego for BlogHer ‘11, the blogging conference to end all conferences.  The last two years I had sadly missed out on the festivities so this year I was making up for lost time and trying to meet all the amazing bloggers I talk to each day online.  I can honestly say that the conference far surpassed my expectations of what a conference could and should be.  Not only was everyone amazingly sweet and kind, the parties were also pretty epic.  Oh, and the swag…  That was pretty cool, too.

Big Internet, Small World - I thought it was funny how in a conference of thousands I ended up seeing the same people not once or twice, but often dozens of times.  Even when I was walking into a party or meeting completely alone, seeing some familiar faces in the crowd went a long way towards easing any anxiety I might have had and made it feel like I already had built in friends to catch up with.  Once the party was in full swing, it made it easy to mingle and chat about where we were headed next, and to walk with each other in between events and parties.

While some of these bloggers I hung out with were new friends like Liz, Brigitta, Cathi, and Amanda, others have been my go-to source for ideas, inspiration and more for the past 3 years I've been blogging, like Kailani, Xenia, Anne-Marie, and Kristy and it was so nice to finally meet them in person.  They truly are some of the nicest people I have ever met and I was thrilled to be able to party like rock stars with all of them.

Swag - Of course you're wondering about the swag, right?  Having gone to some swag-heavy events in the past {*ahem, Sundance*}, in some ways BlogHer swag was what I expected, but in some ways it was surprising.  First surprising thing was the types of things given away, such as full-size baby powder, low-carb wraps, and even a real live terrarium {thanks, Amanda!}, that was not at all what I expected.  Beforehand, I was picturing coupons and small samples galore, and while that was fairly accurate, I hadn't anticipated having grocery bags filled with edibles, goodies, and even electronics. 

I also wasn't expecting custom fit Dr. Scholl’s orthodics, a flip book of my husband and I dancing, or a beautiful custom photo gift from Paper Coterie which were all lovely surprises.  I had, however, expected more toys and games, and was quite relieved that I didn't have to fit large boxes of kid’s toys in my stuffed suitcases on the way home.  While I did end up packing a toy or two home {I had my kids with me - once they saw the toys there was absolutely no taking them back}, what I really appreciated is that most of my swag was small and actually pretty useful, like makeup, jewelry, and sunglasses. *

Swag, Recycled – Thank goodness for the Swag Exchange from P&G where I was able to unload quite a bit of excess stuff that I was given in swag bags that I just wasn't able to cart home.  Since most of the parties I went to had "gift bags" or "swag bags", I didn't actively search out swag, I just had it handed to me at the door.  While this is nice because you are able to see a sampling of the products from each of the sponsors, you also don’t get to pick and choose what you take, which means that sometimes you get something that you just don’t have a need for.  For me it was nice to put those items into the hands of those who really needed it or wanted it - for instance the women following me around the Swag Exchange that picked up nearly every single item I donated. 

BlogHer12 – After only a week to re-coop, I have to admit that plans for BlogHer12 are already brewing, thanks to Kailani from An Island Life and Family Review Network.  Why am I already planning next year’s craziness?  It certainly is not for the swag {which was, admittedly, nice}, it’s for all the connections I made that make me feel more like I belong to a community and less like I’m blazing the trail alone. 

Even though I have gone to numerous other press events and met hundred of other blogger in person before San Diego, after BlogHer I have a new appreciation for the friendships I’ve made in the past three years online.  Meeting all these amazing women {and some men} without computer screens in front of us has completely changed the way I interact online – I’m less shy, more likely to jump into conversations, and actually have plans to collaborate with some bloggers in the near future to do some combined events locally and online. 

Did you attend BlogHer11?  What did you take away from it?

*stay tuned for more BlogHer11 coverage including parties, parties, and more parties!  No compensation was received for this post, I just thought I'd share my good time in Sa Diego!