Rave and Review

Tike Tech CX3 Stroller Review and Giveaway!

When we first found out we were going to be parents, hubby and I absolutely agreed that a stroller was where we would spend most of our baby budget.  There were a couple of good reasons behind the decision, but our first thought was that the stroller really was for us as a family, and getting one that was of high quality meant that we would actually want to use it. 

The ultimate goal was to find one that was easy to use, comfortable for extended distances, and was able to grow with us – all without completely obliterating our buggy budget.  We finally settled on a travel system that worked with our car seat, but looking back now, I really wish Tike Tech had released their new 2009 line two years early! 

We’ve all seen them; strollers that cost more than my first car (seriously), and come with fancy schmancy features like speakers and rims that would make my current car green with envy.  But, $1,000 + for a stroller?  Not on my life. 

What if I told you that you could get a seriously awesome Tike Tech jogging stroller for between $200 and $350 that came loaded with features and handled better than the so-called premium stroller brands?  It’s absolutely true - the Tike Tech line offers a full line of jogging, city and performance strollers with truly reasonable price tags. 

A few months ago I first noticed that something was a little off with our stroller.  Every time I would run with baby or pick up speed to cross the street, or even just to quickstep it out of the rain, the left front wheel began to rattle and shake, causing the whole buggy to vibrate violently until I slowed to a walk.  I didn’t think much of it the first few times it happened, but then when it happened numerous times a day during Stroller Strides, it began to get really hard to control unless I was merely leisurely walking.  It was hubby who first made the connection between the stroller shudder and the swivel wheels, and he suggested we search for a fixed wheel jogger for the daily Stroller Strides beating.

I found the Tike Tech line and was so excited to see that they offered so many options for an active stroller, and had numerous features to choose between.  Since I’m not a runner by nature, I really didn’t need a full-on jogging stroller for daily use and realized I was looking more for an all terrain buggy that could easily convert between swivel and fixed wheel settings.  When I found out Tike Tech had an all-terrain City stroller, I was dying to try it.

As the name suggests, the CityX3 is a three wheeled stroller that is perfect for around town and more.  With wheels that can handle virtually any terrain paired with Tike Tech’s exclusive Frame Dampening IFD Shox, you get one of the smoothest and most fluid handling strollers that I have ever used.  The bigger tires and the front wheel that swivels allow you to make 360 degree turns with almost no effort at all. 

In fact, we have found that you can actually make those 360 degree turns one handed, while holding a steaming Pumpkin Spice Latte in the other.  One handed operation has become a feature that is absolutely crucial to me the older my daughter gets.  Between the unpredictability of a toddler and every parent’s need to multi-task while strolling, being able to have one hand free really does make all the difference in the world. 

Don’t be fooled by the Tike Tech City X3 name, this little stroller can handle both big cities and the big beautiful ‘burbs.  The Tike Tech CityX3 is one part jogging stroller, one part all-terrain sport stroller and then a little of the traditional travel system thrown in to maximize the stroller’s usability.  Since it has a shorter frame and a smaller footprint, the CX3 is perfect for crowded spaces that can’t handle a full jogger, but big enough to grow with your child and give you maximum freedom to roam.  And, you can roam just about anywhere you can imagine, since the Tike Tech CX3 is ultra portable and, with the easy push button release wheels, folds compactly for travel.   

Most expectant parents are steered from baby joggers while stroller shopping, with clerks recommending that babies be 6 months + before rolling the sportier stroller varieties.  All sound advice, if in fact the jogging stroller you’re considering doesn’t adapt for use with newborns.  The Tike Tech company has absolutely changed my mind that jogging strollers are just for toddler and up by offering an additional car seat adaptor that allows you to click your child’s car seat onto the stroller and go.  They even stock an optional bassinet attachment that converts your sport stroller into a pram beautifully, replacing the need to own more than one stroller.  In the picture above we are taking full advantage of the awesome 60lb weight limit and letting a small reviewer rest his legs while we talk at a local art fair. 

Features I’m Raving About: Luxury for baby.  With a padded seat and back support, one handed recline adjustment and a silky smooth ride, the Tike Tech is really the way to roll in ultimate comfort.  It comes standard with special features that any baby or parent can appreciate, like a padded 5 point harness, mesh storage pockets on the seat sides for baby’s snacks and toys and the removable canopy for rain and sun. 

Speaking of raving, the Tike Tech canopy extends far lower than any other sporty stroller I have seen, which is perfect for Seattle’s unpredictable weather.  The canopy is also multi-positional and offers a “moon roof” with cover for easy viewing of your little one.  This is one of my favorite features since I am constantly trying to “wait out” the rain and refuse to go to the trouble of attaching a rain cover unless I’m in a full fledged downpour.  The Tike Tech’s extra large canopy is perfect for simply saving me the hassle all together, since the large coverage area means I have never needed a full rain cover for any Seattle storm.

Since hubby and I are both tall, we really appreciate the fact that the Tike Tech handle is fully adjustable in both directions, allowing for the greatest range of handlebar heights I have ever seen.  Whether you are in the extra tall range, have a short stature, or find yourself in the middle of the old height bell curve, the Tike Tech is a surprisingly good fit all around.  For couples who have a huge height difference, you will be happy to note that the handlebar adjustment is not only exceptional in range, it is also incredibly quick to adjust on the go.

But, my favorite feature by far would have to be the height of the Tike Tech stroller seat.  The extra tall stroller frame brings baby right up into the action and makes it easier to interact with her on the go.  As a super duper added bonus, we love that we can simply wheel our daughter up to dining tables while we are out and still leave her strapped into the Tike Tech City X3 to eat with us at the table, with no need for an additional booster or high chair.  Probably not a feature that was fully intended, but sometimes it’s the unexpected that you appreciate the most!

If you are a jogger, speed walker, or merely an all terrain walker, you should seriously consider the Tike Tech CX3 as a great single stroller option.  When you add up the savings of not having to purchase two (or more) strollers, the Tike Tech is well worth the already reasonable price.  If you still need convincing, just consider it a gift to yourself that will keep you healthy, active and adventure ready… a gift baby is sure to appreciate too. 

Specifications from the Tike Tech website:
Stand Up: 35"L x 24"W x 37-45"H
(front to back wheel)
Folded (w/o wheels): 32.5"L x 18.5"W x 16.5"H
Folded (w/ wheels): 32.5"L x 24"W x 18.5"H
Door Pass Through: 24"
Frame: Aluminum
Weight (w/o wheels): 20 LBS
Weight (w/ wheels): 26 LBS
Weight Capacity: 60 LBS
Width: 24"
Handle height (ground to handle): 37-45"
Wheels: 12" air / wide track slick tread
Seat back height: 21.5"
Head room (inside canopy): 25"

http://www.tiketech.com/

And now for the Giveaway...

One extremely lucky Rave and Review readers will win a Tike Tech CX3 of their very own ($330 ARV) from Tike Tech's new stroller stock!  To enter to win the Giveaway, just visit Tike Tech Strollers and comment below with your favorite Tike Tech Stroller model (other than the City X3 reviewed here), favorite Tike Tech feature, or something you learned about the company that you're excited to share.  Sorry, no color choice available, but you're in luck because all the color choices are beautiful!

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

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

2) Tweet about this Giveaway using @raveandreview and @tiketech after following us both! (1 entry for daily tweet, just post link here)

3) Blog about this Giveaway or the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide with links to this post and www.raveandreview.com (1 extra entry)

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

5) Sport the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide logo on your blog or website - HTML code in right sidebar (2 extra entries, must have an active link to www.raveandreview.com)

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

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

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

9) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs: just click this link to vote daily! (1 entry for daily)

10) Extra credit: Watch above imbedded YouTube video and comment with a feature profiled in the review that you're excited about (1 super duper bonus entry) 

On December 13th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email

 A big thank you to Tike Tech Strollers for making our family adventure ready with their new Tike Tech City X3 Stroller.  No type of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

 

Bones Bicycle Rack by Saris Cycling Group

When my wife and I first got our bicycles, we had a lot of our friends laughing at us.  Not for the fact that we were riding, but because our bikes were so different.  She on her Electra Townie, and me on my full suspension mountain bike, we definitely turned a few heads.  After a few months of this ridicule and once the realization hit me that the most dirt my mountain bike had seen was a long driveway, I ended up trading it in for a road bike. 

Unfortunately, this didn’t solve all of our mismatched bike problems.  Much worse than a few snickers was the fact that taking our bikes anywhere by car was next to impossible with the two very different sized frames.  At least it was until we found the Bones 3 by Saris that helped expand our biking area dramatically.

Anyone who has gone bike shopping recently will agree that there is a staggering amount of bikes available, and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Even a casual observer would note that not every bike is going to fit nicely onto a standard fixed frame car mounted rack, especially when there is more than one bike to tow.

Sure, you could spend hundreds of dollars getting a roof rack and all the attachments, but that adds up quickly and doesn’t seem worth it when you just need to transport two bikes for a few weekends here and there. Besides the fact that it’s difficult to get heavier bikes on roof racks (*ahem, Electra*), it also permanently changes your car‘s appearance, which doesn‘t appeal to everyone. For the spur-of-the-moment biker who prefers being able to go through a drive through with low height clearance, or for someone who needs to pull into a garage, the trunk mounted rack is absolutely the way to go.

The problem we found with most trunk racks is that if you have two very different kinds of bikes to mount, there is a very good possibility one of them isn’t going to fit right. The first rack we tried had my bike nice and straight across the back while the Townie, with it’s step through frame, was tilted up at a crazy and rather unsafe angle. At that moment, my wife refused to let her beloved bike ride tandem with mine and we were relegated to biking directly from home if we were going to ride at all.

We’re lucky to live in an area that is highly populated with bike trails and lanes and can easily get to most of them within an hour of biking without a problem. But, with small children in tow we were all of a sudden a lot less mobile now that we needed to avoid heavily congested roads.  For long jaunts, we ran the risk of the kiddos being finished biking before we even reached the trailhead.

For us, finding an easy to use rear trunk was becoming more of a necessity and we began our search to find the perfect solution. We needed a strong and sturdy frame rack that could hold the weight of the Townie as well as my road bike and our daughter’s little frame bikes, and we needed that rack to adjust in numerous ways to accommodate all three at once.  We needed quick installation and removal to keep us as spontaneous as possible, with no damage to either set of wheels.  The Saris Cycling Group’s Bones 3 Rack was the only rack we found with all of these features and more, and it came with the added bonus of delivering this high functionality with style to spare.

The heart of the Bones 3 Bicycle Rack by Saris is an aluminum center tube with grooves all around it.  Mounted to the tube are arch shaped legs which work with these grooves to fit practically any vehicle, from SUVs to sedans and station wagons, and even on cars with a spoiler. The multitude of grooves allow you to move each leg independently to almost any angle to get the fit perfect for your vehicle.  In addition each mounting leg has a rubber foot to insure you don’t scratch your car in the process.

Once you get the rack mounted and it’s time to load up your bikes you’ll see another area where the Bones 3 really shines.  Each bike has its own specific place to sit with rubber lined channels with their own set of ratchet straps. Once again, each arm can be mounted at different angles to make sure everything fits perfectly. If your bike is still hard to mount – like a step through frame -  there are even straps on the sides of the arms that allow you to mount to your seat post so your bike will stay level and secure, no matter what the shape.

   

Bones 3 Bicycle Rack features and pictures, courtesy of the Saris Cycling Group website:

Injection-molded arms and legs are the strongest on the market.
Articulated rubber feet to protect the finish on your vehicle.
Built with 100% recyclable, non-rusting materials.
Ratcheting anti-sway straps secure and stabilize bikes.
Arc-based design fits over most spoilers,and separates bikes on different levels.
No overhead lifting, twisting, balancing or hefting required, so you can save your energy for the ride.

Saris Community and Advocacy:

You gotta love a company that gives back, and Saris Cycling Group gives back in a big way.  This is only a partial list of the campaigns and community involvement programs Saris belongs to:

• Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin
• Boys & Girls Club of Dane County
• Wisconsin Off Road Series
• Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival
• Camba Festival of the Trails
• 12 Hours of Blue Mound
• Insane Terrain Challenge
• L'Alpe Bl'Huez Time Trial

Advocacy Efforts

• Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin
• Dream Bikes
• Alliance for Biking and Walking
• Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
• Bikes Belong

How could you not love a company like Saris?  Innovative designs, tried and true functionality and a commitment to leaving the world a better place simply speaks for itself.  Click any of the above links to get involved with a cause that moves you!

Price: $130 for 2 bikes, $160 for the 3 bike rack and they come in a variety of colors

http://www.saris.com/

 
  

Maclaren Quest Stroller - For Families on the Go

For five days this month we lived like true New Yorkers; sharing a third story walk-up, taking the subway all along Manhattan, and rolling in style with the true NY stroller - the Maclaren.  It’s been the city-dwelling gold standard in strollers for years and I have come to realize that this honor is well deserved. 

In suburbia, the bulky and clunky travel system rules the road, with the infant carseat that goes from car to sidewalk and back in mere minutes.  However, in the big city, big is out.  Getting around town needs to be done quickly and efficiently, two words that are never used to describe travel systems when utilizing mass transit. 

The first time we visited New York, we were shocked by the sheer number of Maclarens on the sidewalk.  Nearly every city parent was pushing their pick of Maclaren’s iconic scissor-back lightweight stroller line and back then, years before I had kids, I just didn’t get it.  At the time I had attributed this to a name brand obsession; yet another example of consumerism and the propensity to keep up with the Joneses.  It really wasn’t until our first trip into the city with children that I realized how necessary a light and portable stroller becomes when stairs and crowds are a way of life and how the quality of stroller makes all the difference. 

The Maclaren design is all about functionality and style, pairing top of the line materials and years of expertise with models to last from birth to 55 lbs.  We were lucky enough to visit the Maclaren showroom in SoHo, where the expert staff helped us pick the perfect stroller for our family.  By merely asking three questions about what we needed our stroller to do, the staff quickly had a 2009 Maclaren Quest ready for us, and in no time at all we were out the door and hitting the city streets in style. 

As it turns out, the Quest was the perfect stroller for us, and especially for baby.  Having a lightweight and compact stroller was a bit of a change for us since we’re used to carrying a full week’s worth of groceries off the handles of our suburban workhorse.  But, we realized pretty quickly the benefits of a lightweight stroller for the family on the go.  And, with the Maclaren, we found that we didn’t have to give up on quality and high end features to get to that light weight. 

The Quest is Maclaren’s middleweight stroller, without all the extras (and weight) you need for an infant, but with more features than a bare bones umbrella stroller.  Some of the extras you do get include a 4 position reclining seat, adjustable foot rest, a foldable hood with included raincover, and a good sized basket.  Another feature we really appreciated was the shoulder strap for use when folded, which was great for getting up and down stairs.  

Normally, if you see a feature list as long as the Quest's, you would imagine that it would require an entire trunk to transport.  Well known for their premium features in a tiny package, Maclaren is perfect for those on the go or those who actually need their trunk for anything other than baby gear.  If you travel, play in the city, or merely like to be as portable as possible, Maclaren has a stylish, sporty or svelte (or all three!) model that allows you to get baby out in the world safely and comfortably without requiring a separate set of wheels to transport it around town. 

Features of the 2009 Quest, as told by Maclaren:
• Basic Weight - 5.5kg / 12.1lb (without hood, shopping basket or raincover)
• Recline - Four seat positions
• Wheel Size - 12.7cm / 5.0in
• Hood - Longer for extra coverage - Round with storage pocket - UV protective viewing window - Reflective accents for night safety
• Added Features - Vibrant colours - Larger hood; easy-on, easy-off - Hubcap design - Ergonomically optimised, foam insulated handles - Carry Strap and Carry Handle - Foot-operated linked parking brakes - Extendable leg rest - Raincover (Some exclusions apply in the US) - Height adjustable shoulder harness

And, of course every Maclaren comes with the following:
• Sovereign Lifetime Warranty™ 
• Maclaren Recycling Programme†
• 5 point harness for added security
• Removable washable seat 
• Compact umbrella fold
• Water resistant hood
• High-performance aluminium frame
• Handy mesh shopping basket
• Carry strap or handle for easy portability
• 5 second one-hand fold
• Lockable, front swivel wheels

There’s only one feature that I would love to see on the 2010 Maclaren Quest: adjustable height handles.  Although the standard handle height is a bit taller than most umbrella-type strollers, I really wish there were options available for those on the ends of the height spectrum.  Hubby would appreciate it.

http://www.maclarenbaby.com/

Price: $245

Looks: Simple and sophisticated and everything in between.

Overall: There’s a good reason this is the gold standard for city strollers – it’s lightweight, it’s sturdy and it will last.

UPDATED 11/10/09: Maclaren has issued a notice for the Quest and all folding strollers requiring that a hinge cover be installed on your existing model.  Click here to be directed to the Maclaren site where you can order your hinge cover to comply with the newest safety standards.

Thank you to Maclaren for providing the 2009 Quest to be reviewed.  No other type compensation was received for this review.

Hardy Boys Nintendo DS Giveaway

When someone says Hardy Boys, you know they’re talking about some sort of exciting mystery to solve.  The new Hardy Boys Nintendo DS game, Treasure on the Tracks, is no exception.  The Nintendo DS format lends a new and exciting twist on the classic mystery format, allowing you to use the touch screen instead of a traditional controller to navigate the game.

You play as Joe and Frank Hardy, on a train ride across Europe to solve the mystery of the missing Romanov family treasure.  The opening story setup is told with image stills that are reminiscent of the panels of a comic book, pulling you into the mysteries of the family and the treasure hidden in Europe just waiting for you to find it.

To solve the mystery you will have to find clues all along your journey, both on the train and in the towns you travel through.  Using your stylus and touch screen you must scour every room you enter: under tables, on shelves and even the art on the walls. You never know where you will find the next clue or puzzle to help you along on your search or who you will meet that will offer a clue.  Even the way you move from room to room can be a mystery as you have to tap the different sides of the screen to see which ways you can go.

The DS’s unique touch screen, combined with the first person point of view work together to really pull you into the game.  Instead of leading a representative character through the game, you see from their perspective and feel more like you’re really searching the room and making things happen.  When interacting with characters you meet, you get to influence the dialogue by making choices and customizing the conversation and making it feel much more natural.

The puzzles and games you solve along the way move you up the different levels and open up new portions of the game the more you play.  The game allows you to make numerous choices along the way, some of which may turn out to be fatal mistakes.  However, you don’t have to worry about losing all the previous sleuthing up until you made your choice because the game will automatically return you to the point right before you made the mistake and let you “do-over”.  Unfortunately, or should I say fortunately, we have not experienced this as of yet.  It must be all my informal training as an amateur detective reading Hardy Boys when I was young helping me out.

So far things are looking great on me uncovering the Romanov family treasure and living a life of luxury and opulence abroad.  Once things get settled down and I’m able to deposit some of my findings into a Swiss bank account I will be back in touch regarding my whereabouts.  Until then, I will be playing away on my Nintendo DS and working hard to uncover the Treasure on the Tracks.

Win it!  Head over to my post at An Island Life to enter to win one of 2 copies of the Hardy Boys: Treasure on the Tracks

The Ride-On Carry-On Eliminates Airport Stress

There is nothing more stressful than a crowded airport, especially if you’re like me and always seem to be rushing between plane transfers or running late after having to repack your bag after security.  When you add kids into the situation, the stress level takes on a whole new dimension.  I swear it seems as if your luggage grows exponentially while you’re still limited to two hands. Well, do you want to get your hands back and zip through the airport effortlessly with kiddos?  If so, you’re going to want the Ride On Carry On to ease your travel stress.  

Anyone who has ever rushed through an airport with a young child knows that it’s harder than it looks, and it certainly doesn’t look easy.  When your kiddos are young and are unable to walk, you either have to carry your baby along with all your luggage or you need to push your stroller, which is incredibly hard to do while carting around luggage and going through security.  Once your kiddos are walking it really doesn’t get much better, because now they insist on toddling beside you…at a snail’s pace.

Ride On Carry On has created a solution for the toddler dawdle and changed the way we (and all of our friends with young ones) travel for good.  The Ride On Carry On is a metal frame chair that attaches to your wheeled carry-on luggage and turns getting through the airport into an adventure for your little travelers.  When not carting kiddos, the seat folds quickly and compactly onto your bag for easy security checks and then again for stowing on the plane in the overhead bins. 

The Ride On Carry On even comes with a handy little removable tray that attaches to the unit and allows the seat to be used as a portable high chair or craft station while you wait in line or at the gate.  The tray also doubles as a head rest for taller children when not in the tray position.  The design may be simple, but the quality and construction of the seat and the ingenuity of the product are what makes it one of our top travel picks.

When I first saw the contraption that is the Ride On Carry On online, my concern was with stability, since it sort of reminded me of a metal framed camp chair; you know, the kind that never seems to sit level.  My concerns completely disappeared when I saw the Ride On Carry On for the first time in person.  The metal framed chair of the Ride On Carry On is extremely sturdy and durable and is anything but rickety.  Once attached to the rolling luggage, the seat was exceptionally secure to the bag and felt very solid as we wheeled it around the house. 

A house is one thing, but a busy airport (ahem *JFK*) is completely another, and the Ride On Carry On completely passed the airport test with flying colors.  Since it is ultra-portable and doesn’t add any additional width to the bag you are wheeling, it really is the ideal way to whisk through crowds and tight spaces.  What’s great is that the Ride On Carry On is just as comfortable to push or pull as the luggage you already own, which means your kid’s going to be grateful you sprung for the rubberized wheels and you’re just going to be happy that you can fit down that narrow aisle way with ease and don’t have to check it at the gate.  

As a super duper added bonus, when you are wheeling through the airport with your Ride On Carry On, you will find that people are roughly 3,000% nicer and more accommodating, often treating you as if you are a celebrity.  Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you are single-handedly undoing the image of the harried parent and screaming child terrorizing the airport with their frantic disposition while delaying long lines of passengers.  Or maybe it’s that adorable kid you’ve got strapped in the Ride On Carry On that beams at every passing traveler and offers a sweet “wheee” as you fly down the terminals.  Whatever the reason, we have frequently found the elusive red carpet rolled out for us on our travels with the Ride On Carry On, which is a welcome change from the typical travel encounters.

Random Rave: For those of you traveling light and leaving the stroller behind, the Ride On Carry On can double as a makeshift stroller once you arrive at your destination airport until you reach your hotel and unload your baggage.  Once we arrived in New York, we found it amazingly handy to have the Ride On Carry On while we navigated the subway and made our way to our room with our luggage.  We even used it in our room during our stay as a safe place to set our 16-month old in while we showered or while she ate breakfast.  We decided not to bring the removable tray that comes with the Ride On Carry On because we were traveling light (ha ha), but if you’ve got the extra space, I would definitely recommend it if not for this reason alone.

http://www.rideoncarryon.com/

Price: $39.95 with a discount for buying two

Looks: Ingenious on its own, but when paired with a small and sweet traveler, the combination is impossible to resist.

Overall: Pretty much the only way to get through an airport with your sanity and all your kids.

Thank you to Ride On Carry On for providing their ingenious little travel seat to be reviewed.  No other type compensation was received for this review.

ERGObaby Carrier

“Ergo we go”

I had seen the ERGObaby carriers around town for a few months and was always curious about them but I hadn’t realized just how excited I was to try the ERGObaby until I got my own.  Taking it out of the package, I was oddly giddy as I pictured baby and me exploring the wide Northwest with nothing to stop us.  Not only was I correct in how much I was going to adore it, we ended up globetrotting with the Ergo Carrier, sporting it on a fast-paced multi-continent trip that would have been impossible to navigate with a stroller or lesser quality baby carrier. 

The Ergo Baby Carrier is truly user-friendly and easy to figure out with no instructions at all.* The design is reminiscent of a backpack, but for babies instead of baggage and with a weight bearing padded waist band to lighten the load.  The straps are also nicely padded and comfortable, making you wonder if ERGObaby would ever be interested in designing a better backpack for us all. 

After tearing open the package, I immediately put it on.  I tried the front carry method initially, securing the waist strap first and then holding baby in it while I put the arm straps on.  After baby was secure, I reached back between my shoulder blades and secured the connecting strap in the back.  Immediately, I was impressed with the fabric of the Ergo Carrier.  It feels like the perfect mix of durability and comfort with a heavy duty design that doesn’t have a heavy duty weight to go along with it. 

Baby snuggled right into me and started sucking on the Ergo straps (you can actually buy optional strap covers for this very reason) while I cleaned the house.  Baby felt 100% secure and I didn’t feel like I needed to keep one hand under her at all times like I do with so many other carriers.  Her weight felt evenly distributed and the carrier didn’t dig into my shoulders, strain my back or hurt my hips in any way.  By the time the housework was done, I was a die-hard Ergo fan.  I still hate laundry, but at least with the ERGObaby I got baby snuggles out of the deal.

The ERGObaby carrier is made from 100% cotton canvas on the outside, padded with 100% cotton batting on the inside and lined with a 100% cotton poplin fabric, making it 100% comfortable.  ERGO also now offers their exact same carriers made with organic fabric for the eco conscious or for those who love the earthy look. 

All their carriers have a very unisex appeal, which made this the first front carrier that hubby would wear as well.  When you’re talking days on end of walking or traveling with a baby, bringing something that you can take turns carrying is the only thing that makes sense.  Not only does hubby happily babywear now that we have the ERGO, he actually looks good doing so.  If it can turn hubby into a happy babywearing dad, it just might do the same for your guy.

When packing for our Europe/Africa trip, we knew that a stroller would most definitely slow us down, and decided that babywearing was by far the better option.  As we discussed baby carriers it was absolutely a given that the Ergo would be joining us on the trip.  Even though when packed the ERGO does take up more room than a simple sling or even a mei tai carrier, you will appreciate every inch of padding and durability the Ergo Baby Carrier provides once you are there.  Image to right is one of us enjoying Grenada together, just me, baby, the ERGO and a Spanish mime.  

Features I love:

* Three carriers in one; with optional infant insert you can carry babies from newborn until 40 pounds.  I plan on carrying baby in hers until she just becomes too heavy for hubby and I, as the fabric and durability is tested to 90 pounds.*  Baby is 16 months now still loves the ERGO, both as a front carrier or back carrier.

* The standard zip pockets on the ERGObaby carrier are just big enough to hold the necessities: a wallet, point and shoot camera and maybe some chapstick, so you can forgo the purse for short jaunts out. 

* I love that you can add optional attachments that convert the ERGO to more of a backpack or day pack, meaning that you can carry baby and your gear at the same time.  Perfect for hiking or long days out where you need your hands free, the ERGO allows you to carry everything safely and securely and is far superior to carrying an additional bag. 

* The ERGO is soft and comfortable with features such as a high density neoprene foam in waist belt that adjusts from waist size 25” to 43”.

* High quality buckles are easy to do one handed, but not placed so that baby can undo them as in other baby carriers.

* Ergonomic design fits anyone from 5’ to 6’5” with their adjustable shoulder and chest straps.

* Extremely durable with reinforcement stitching used at all fabric seams and interior rip-stop reinforcements at critical intersections.

* ERGO Carriers are machine washable, as every good baby product should be.

Features I would love to see on the ERGO:

* I would love a full-coverage hood option as well as the small hood attached to the carrier for providing full sun coverage or discrete nursing coverage.

* Speaking of the hood, it would be great if it did remove completely instead of stuffing into the front pocket of the carrier as it has the potential to look messy or even come unstuffed as you move.

* The ERGO is not my top choice hip carrier, as I found that the idea of sliding the carrier to the side to convert it seemed a bit awkward and it felt like there were just too many straps in the way.  I know others swear by their ERGOs as hip carriers, but I just never got the hang of it and neither did baby.  But, having both front and back options was sufficient for both hubby and I.

http://www.ergobabycarriers.com/

Prices range from $105 for the standard carrier to $135 for the organic or fashion carriers. 

Looks: Ranging from earthy to sporty, but equally adorable when you have a sweet baby placed inside.

Overall:  The Ergo is perfect for including baby in all that you do in the most natural and comfortable way.  It does so much more than carry your baby, it allows you to carry your gear, too! 

*I am a professional baby carrier tester with a hubby to oversee my shenanigans and am in no way suggesting that you do not read the instructions on a baby carrier before your first use or that you ignore posted weight limits suggested by a baby carrier. 

A continental sized thank you to the designers at ERGObaby for offering their carrier for review and changing the way we travel with baby forever.  No compensation was received for this review.

Bonefish Grill - Take the Bonefish Grill Challenge Giveaway

The mood was set; candle lights flickered against the deep wood tones of the restaurant and the illuminated art along the walls.  The music was low, but not too low, and the atmosphere was casual and relaxed.  It was date night for three at our neighborhood Bonefish Grill and we were pulling out all the stops.

By stops, of course, I do mean crayons, fresh baked bread, and delicious beverages that help keep baby occupied while we dine.  Oh, and some of the best food I have had in a long time.  We’re talking melt-in-your-mouth calamari with a slightly spicy Asian-style dipping sauce (delicious!) and entrees that cover a range of chicken, beef and various types of fresh fish for everyone.  Add that all together and you have one of the best date nights ever.

Seattle is internationally known for their great seafood and the Bonefish Grill is only one of the many seafood restaurants near our home.  It had been awhile since we visited the Bonefish Grill and when I heard about their Bonefish Challenge I was incredibly excited to revisit the restaurant.  In fact, I had researched the seasonal offerings at our local restaurant and had pre-picked my dinner choice.  Three days ahead of time.

Every single thing we tried was rave-worthy, and even though the visit was just days ago, we are already planning our return.  I tried the entrée, Lily’s Chicken, and loved the pairing of the goat cheese and spinach with the chicken, and of course wished I had a tub of the garlic mashed potatoes so I could eat them every night.  Hubby had the Longfin Tilapia entrée and loved it so much I only got one taste, which really was too good to share.  What's really great is you can actually chose your side and vegetable so you can order fish and potatoes without having to make a special request.  But, what would bring us back weekly was the appetizer calamari plate, which hubby gave the ultimate compliment of comparing it with our favorite dish at P.F. Chang’s.

There are still numerous other entrees I would love to try, which is great because we have plans to take our families for an upcoming birthday dinner.  With a menu full of exotic and familiar tastes and treasures, your whole family can finally dine without the whine.

Even when we insisted on a long dinner with appetizers and extras and baby started her meltdown, the staff was well equipped to handle the task of distracting the baby, bringing out a paper cup that surprisingly held her attention for longer than you would imagine – crayons in, crayons out.  When the cup lost its appeal, we had a multi-page kid’s coloring book and menu that we read while we waited.

The staff was extra helpful throughout the whole experience, from when we first walked in the door and the hostess guided us to a table that could accommodate our Phil and Ted’s screw on highchair and then with the extra bread that they brought out for  our littlest diner after she devoured the first loaf.  Drink refills were handled quickly and without even having to request them, and food was quick and hot.

When we couldn’t finish our meals (darn appetizer and bread), they even went the extra step of fully labeling the leftovers for us.  Seriously, I thought service like this went out of style in the 50s.  Even though it might have at most restaurants, it certainly hasn’t at Bonefish.  If you’re looking for us on date night, you will find us at the table by the stainless steel art enjoying our fresh bread and appetizer... oh, and the entrees, too.

Take the Bonefish Grill challenge yourself – how does it compare to other restaurants in your area?  Head over to An Island Life for your chance to Take the Bonefish Grill Challenge for FREE!

Thank you to Bonefish Grill and An Island Life for providing me with the tools necessary to Take the Bonefish Challenge.

Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest

I hadn’t realized how few safety precautions are available for children in-flight until my daughter was four months old and she flew for the first time.  Realizing as we sat down that there was absolutely no seatbelt or harness available, I was scared to death for the flight and the prospect of turbulence as we flew.  Because babies of that age require more than a mere seatbelt to keep them safe, the idea of having absolutely no straps securing her was shocking.   

Under the age of two, children are not required to purchase a seat when flying and instead can ride in the same seat as their accompanying adult.  Aptly called “lap babies”, these children can fly on domestic flights at no cost with an adult who has purchased a seat on the flight.  On international flights, these “lap babies” only pay a small percentage of a ticket price, which is usually around 10%.  As a family who travels regularly, the cost savings is really hard to pass up, especially as the cost of airline tickets is often very much out of your control and oftentimes outrageously high. 

Even if sharing a seat is often inconvenient, it’s really the only way we can afford jetsetting so often as a family, so I was so excited when I found the Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest, a safety harness designed for “lap babies” to wear while flying.  Since safety is obviously the highest concern, finding a harness or vest that could let us all ride comfortably and safely made it possible for us to justify traveling with a “lap baby” so often.  The design is a simple; slip-on vest that goes over baby’s head and fastens under her arms.  A second strap fastens between baby’s legs so she can’t wiggle out of the vest during the flight and a third strap is looped through the airline lap belt to properly secure even a tiny baby while in flight. 

The Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest can be worn after take off, and protects the child should the plane experience turbulence mid air.  This allows the parent to nap, have hands free, or play with the child without having to worry that a sudden movement of the plane could cause them to lose grip on the baby.  I found I was much more relaxed while flying, which made the experience that much more enjoyable for all of us.   

When baby was young, I was pleased with how much freedom of movement the Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest offered.  There was enough slack to allow me to hold her in a cradle position and nurse, or to turn her so we could interact on the plane.  As baby got bigger, the Baby B’Air Flight Vest was a bit more restrictive, which I thought was absolutely great.  Baby could actually stand up in our laps while wearing the Baby B’Air, but couldn’t wiggle into other passenger’s seats or away from us.

The Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest is actually quite soft and flexible and baby seemed comfortable even on long international flights in her vest.  She has worn it since she was 6 months old and has actually gotten really used to wearing it and doesn’t fight it or try and wiggle out of it.  Much like the car seatbelt, which kids understand is required to ride in an automobile, baby seems to understand that she needs the Baby B’Air to fly and doesn’t mind a bit.  In fact, I have found it has the opposite effect you would imagine, and actually makes it easier to contain her in-flight.  Because she understands she is strapped in, she doesn’t try and get down from our laps to walk or play. 

The one issue we have had with the Baby B’Air was that during one flight baby was able to wiggle enough in her vest that she had the straps of the vest twisted up and was then able to undo the seat buckle on hubby’s seat with the Baby B’Air strap.  While this seemed to be an isolated incident, considering we have used the vest on numerous flights and never had a problem before or after, it might be helpful to attach the Baby B’Air on the side away from the seatbelt release during your flight. 

Benefits of using a Baby B’Air, facts taken from the Baby B’Air website:

• 90% of injuries on commercial airplanes occur during the flight and not during takeoff and landing.
• Lightweight and easy to store compactly in your carry on luggage.
• Tested to exceed FAA standards for aircraft seating so baby is held secure, allowing the parent to relax, sleep, or have a hand free during the flight.
• Check out this YouTube video and you will see why I was so scared.  Thank goodness the video is animated, my heart can't take a re-enactment. 
• Hand-washable 100% cotton is soft and flexible.
• Trademark color identifies Baby B’Air to the flight crew and tag on back explains its use for any flight crew that is not familiar with the device.

http://www.babybair.com/

Price: $34.99

Looks: Red and safe

Overall: I would definitely recommend the Baby B’Air for anyone traveling by plane with an infant.  I wouldn’t leave baby unsecured in a car and now I will never have to in the air, either. 

Family Photograph by Dreyer Family Band, the ultimate road trip album

Chock full of catchy beats and layered tracks, the Dreyer Family Band’s new album Family Photograph does not disappoint.  Skirting numerous musical genres and displaying a wide range of influences, the Dreyer Family Band's sound is hard to describe in absolute terms since it varies dramatically from track to track.  Some tracks are sweet and poppy, others are bluesy and soulful, but there is one thing that unites all the tracks to form a cohesive album, and that is the fun and clever lyrics that are impossible not to sing along to.  Baby has a few favorites on the album, like Covers and You Get What You Get, or maybe those are my favorites.  I do know that there have been numerous occasions when I have been driving alone and found myself listening to a track or two.

The album was recorded in 11 days over 2 family vacations by two brothers and their families.  With songs about love, life, and family, they have tracks that touch on all sorts of topics parents and kids alike can appreciate.  Subjects such as sibling spats, road trip sanity, the urgency of not waking the baby, and general expressions of love that I found to be a nice change from the standard kids’ album. 

And I guess that’s because Family Photograph isn’t meant for kids to listen to on their own, but rather something that families can sing along to together.  The Dreyer Family Band knows that we all have to share the radio on family road trips, and also understand that no one wants to listen to “The Wheels on The Bus” longer than absolutely necessary.  Instead of the simple beats and repetitive lyrics of most children’s music, the Dreyer Family Band adds some personality and spirit to the well composed tracks and makes it more than merely listenable.  Add that to the fact that the album has more songs than a traditional kid’s mix and rarely will the same song play in a car ride and the result is an album that will become the soundtrack of your family car for years to come.  An album that will forever take your kids back to their childhoods, back to the family vacations, back to the time spent as a family.   

Take a listen to my absolute favorite, You Get What You Get, which is pretty much the quintessential road trip song at http://dreyerfamilyband.com/live/

http://dreyerfamilyband.com/

Price: $14.99 for CD, $9.99 for MP3 Download at CD Baby

Thank you to Dreyer Family Band for adding a little more music into our everyday.

Earthmate PN-40 GPS by DeLorme - Geocaching, anyone?

Most people hear GPS and the first thing they think of is dash-mounted vehicle units to help guide you in the car.  I’m here to talk with you about GPS when your method of travel is by bike, foot and car.  The DeLorme Earthmate series handheld GPS are perfect for hiking, biking, boating and more, but what I’m really raving about is the world of possibilities a rugged and handheld GPS unit opens up for a family on the go.

By far the coolest thing about the PN-40 was that it introduced us to geocaching, and now has become our newest obsession.  For those of you who are not familiar with geocaching, it is my pleasure to acquaint you with the coolest pastime ever.  Geocachers all over the world hide little treasures and notes in just about any place there’s human access and then leave the GPS coordinates of their cache on sites like http://www.geocaching.com.  Unlike most hobbies that require large amounts of your disposable income, geocaching is free and the only equipment necessary is a handheld GPS unit like the DeLorme PN-40.

As well as being fairly inexpensive once you make the initial GPS investment, geocaching is quite addictive and has led us to do some crazy things.  Like hunting for treasure in the middle of the night with only flashlights to guide us, hence our geocaching alias, the Night Cachers.  My favorite caches are those with clues or hints that make you feel like a super sleuth when you finally find your treasure and makes the reward that much sweeter.  It’s a great activity for kids of all ages and adding to the fun of finding buried treasure is that a lot of caches are designed for you to swap items or add to the original cache, so your toy or knickknack is added to the booty for the next cachers to find.  It’s a great way to insist your little ones purge their collection of tiny toys that were so cool – but then only played with for a few minutes.   

What makes the PN-40 so great for geocaching are the maps that DeLorme makes available to you.  For $29 a year you have unlimited access to their database of maps in formats other GPS makers can’t even dream of, including NOAA marine charts, satellite imagery, high resolution aerial photos in black and white or color, and scanned USGS topo maps in 1:24,000 scale.  And best of all, you can layer the different types over one another just by clicking a box in the menu screen.  So if you are having trouble finding a particularly well hidden cache, you can just open up the aerial imagery you previously downloaded to your PN-40 and see a birds eye view of where you are, which is much easier than deciphering topo lines or the streets and blank spaces of typical GPS units. 

This feature can also help you learn how to read traditional maps better by combining a satellite image with a topographic map you can really see how the lines follow the contours of the land and get a much more full view of every hill and valley, and then in the future have a much clearer image of how maps translate to reality.  This makes it the perfect way to get kids interested and to help them learn to navigate on their own.  The new PN-40 also features a barometric altimeter and a built in compass that does not require you to hold the unit completely flat for it to work correctly.  These, in conjunction with the maps, make it virtually impossible to get lost.  Even when you’re trying to.

If you feel you don’t need all the extra maps, fear not, the PN-40 comes with DeLorme’s own Topo USA map software including streets, trails, and points of interest for all 50 states.  The software is a little technical but with some practice will let you do amazing things and allow you to fully utilize your GPS.  Let’s say you want to go hiking; you can plan your trip all the way down to which roads you want to take and what kind of elevation changes you will be going through.  Then when you return you can see where you went and even show it off by tagging your pictures to specific coordinates to share with others online. 

The actual PN-40 is extremely durable, which has been tested more than once in our many travels with it and children.  In fact, baby pretty much thinks the Earthmate GPS is just about the coolest toy she’s ever seen and finds it very convenient that it hangs right where she rides in the front pack.  In the months we have been traveling with the PN-40, the unit shows little sign of wear and tear and still performs as good as new.

The unit is similar in size to a remote control and has large, rubberized buttons that are easy to navigate and press while gloved or while cycling.  The battery compartment is water tight and secure, designed for extreme conditions and tough travels, which means that it is kid safe – or mama safe, as the case may be.  The battery life was slightly disappointing in the rare instance when the satellites were having a hard time getting their fix and the PN-40 was searching for our location for long periods of time, but the battery life seemed fine under normal circumstances.

The screen itself is a little smaller than some other GPS units out there, but produces a very clear and sharp image, which combined with the rich map content more than makes up for it. In direct sunlight, or in the middle of the night it was always easily readable.  In addition, the super-fast processor means that as you move around, the PN-40 has no problem keeping the map up with you even while traveling by bike or car.

Speaking of bike rides, after our first bike ride with the PN-40, it’s hard to imagine going without it.  With the use of its proprietary mount it easily attaches to your handle bars in minutes, and from then on snaps in and out in seconds.  The tracking features really come in handy as you can at a glance see your current, average and max speed, your total trip time as well as time moving and stopped and total distance traveled.  Then you can switch to the map screen and see exactly where you’ve gone or where you need to go.  These features while great for hiking, proved awesome for biking as it made us really push ourselves, and also kept the kids interested in the ride much longer as they questioned our latest stats.  And they especially liked being able to search for the nearest frozen yogurt shop in the middle of the ride. 

Ways to make it even more Ravetastic: 1) My husband’s sick of me saying this, but the lanyard really should attach to the bottom of the GPS unit.  Sure, that means it hangs upside down on your neck, but who cares?  Then, when you go to pick it up or check the maps quickly the unit would be right side up.  Makes sense, right? ...right?   2) While it’s a powerful workhorse off road, navigating by PN-40 in the car is a little trickier in that there are no voice prompts.  Instead of a voice saying “turn right here”, the unit merely chimes.  Some people might prefer this, but some might do better to have a passenger seat navigator with the Earthmate PN-40 controls. 

Key Features of the DeLorme PN-40 Include:

• 32-channel STMicroelectronics Cartesio chipset
• 3-axis electronic compass
• 500 MB of available onboard Flash memory
• Support for high-capacity SD cards (SDHC) up to 32 GB
• Dual-core processor for blazing-fast performance
• Barometric altimeter
• Fast USB 2.0 data transfers to in-device SD card – no external card reader required
• More detailed onboard base map data for the U.S., now with secondary and connector roads, along with major highways and thoroughfares for the entire world (still providing detailed U.S. street and backroad detail via the included Topo USA software).

http://www.delorme.com/

Price: $270 - $399, with many sites offering free shipping and also available as a geocaching bundle.  Bicycle mount mentioned in review runs $25 at most sites.

Overall:  A lightweight but rugged handheld GPS with beautiful maps and serious tools for casual and seasoned outdoorsman alike. 

Stay tuned for our complete run-down of geocaching with the kiddos with the Earthmate PN-40.  We will be geocaching throughtout NYC and Seattle, as well as taking to the mountain and trailside to show you the abundance of geocaching options that are right outside your door.

New Eating Right Kids Line

Every parent wants their children to eat healthy, but sometimes that’s harder than it sounds.  We all know that vegetables and fruit are good and I think most of us can recite the food pyramid, but the problem usually lies in the foods that seem healthy but are loaded with extra fat and calories kids don’t need.  I’m all about finding alternatives to fast food and junk while still offering up tasty options that won’t end up on the floor, which is why my whole family loves the Eating Right Kids™ line from Safeway.

Recently we were sent some products to review from the new Eating Right Kids line courtesy of Team Mom.  Eating Right Kids is a spin-off of Safeway’s Eating Right™ brand entrees and snacks and is formulated just for kids, hence the name.  The line offers over 60 items across 18 categories ranging from breakfast to produce to snack foods and is available at more than 1,700 Safeway Storelocations throughout U.S. and Canada.   

If the sampling of the line that was sent to us in any indication, the Eating Right Kidsofferings will be a big hit with both kids and parents alike.  Each of the items tested were delicious and very much enjoyed by all of us.  As soon as the samples arrived, baby was all of a sudden very interested in what I was doing.  In seconds she was at my feet and frantically doing her baby sign language begging for “treats” and when I offered a bite of the Eating Right Kids Chewy Bar, her sign for “more” got even more frenzied.  Moments later she was holding the empty wrapper as she asked for another sample.  She gobbled up the fruit cup and then came back for even more. clearly loving the snacks. 

Those of you who personally know my sweet baby are calling foul – what a minute, doesn’t that kid like everything??  Yes, you are correct; baby will literally eat anything, even things that aren’t actually food.  But, her father and I won’t, and even we loved the line.  And, how could you not?  It’s nutritious, it’s fun, and it’s fast.  Add that to the fact that our family will eat it and you’ve got a winning combo. 

As if you needed more to love…

Each Eating Right Kids™ package features the color-coded Spot Your Needs System™ on the front—so you can find important nutritional information in seconds and without having to take each item off the shelf.

Along with great taste and great nutrition, Eating Right Kids™ packaging is fun and appeals to children of all ages.  In addition to partnering with Safeway for Eating Right Kids, Warner Bros. Consumer Products has taken the awesome extra step of developing a “better for you” standard of products that feature the Looney Tunes characters, going as far as clearing the shelves of items that did not meet this standard and replacing them with healthier options.  We all know that kids will literally eat anything that has their favorite characters and cartoons on it, so I for one am very excited about this move and hope that they start a trend with this movement!

Available at Safeway.com or at your local Safeway Store