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When it comes to summer fun, nothing seems to captivate my kids as much as a bounce house.  With the advent of indoor bounce facilities, they’ve had more exposure to bounce houses and instead of satisfying their desire to “bounce” it actually has seems to fuel it.

When we drive past a house or a business where a bounce house is setup outside, for the rest of the day I hear “mommy, I want to go in the bouncey house” over and over and over.

And over.

Sometimes for days.

There are so many options when it comes to outdoor, backyard fun for kids.  For us, we needed something that would be safe and enjoyable for a wide range of ages.  My son is 7, my daughter is 3 and my niece who I watch during the week is 2.  There are few things that will really keep that wide of an age range entertained and active, yet safe at the same time.

A bounce house is a great option, and as you’ll see as you keep reading, the Big Ole Bouncer from Blast Zone is the perfect solution for backyard fun all summer long.

And with obesity on the rise in children in this country, a bounce house is not only fun, it’s a great way to get kids moving and exercising without them really even knowing it.

About the Big Ol Bouncer from Blast Zone:

The Big Ol Bouncer is, well, a BIG…. ol… BOUNCER.

This 12x15x7 Inflatable provides hours of huge, hopping fun for your family.  With approximately twice the bounce area of a standard 8×8 bouncer, this gigantic jumper is great for parties, developing motor skills and backyard exercise, but still low enough to clear most indoor ceilings.

The Big Ol Bouncer is constructed with Blast Zone’s super-durable quality standards, using reinforced polyester oxford and commercial vinyl for endless family fun.

• Included Fan
• Uses Constant Air Technology
• Puncture Resistant
• Included Carrying Case
• Fully-Enclosed with safety netting
• 12W x 15D x 7H
• Inflates in seconds
• Max user weight 100 lbs
• max gross weight 600 lbs

The Big Ol Bouncer was delivered in a single box.  The delivery man carried it, I had to use a dolly to get it out to the yard.  But I managed to get the box open myself and complete the entire setup myself.

But, I did not exactly do it right the first time.

I did read skim the directions, but I guess I didn’t pay enough attention and I attached the blower fan to the wrong yellow tube.  I attached it to the one that happened to be sticking out when I unrolled the bounce house, which was not the inflation tube.  It still inflated as you’ll see, but I wanted to make sure to clarify that the LONG yellow tube is the inflation tube.  The other one simply needs to be tied off during inflation.  After the Big Ole Bouncer started to inflate and the long yellow tube popped out I realized I messed up and turned the blower off and I switched them around.

**Please note that the blue tarp does NOT come with the bounce house.  I purchased this separately from a pool supply store.  Our lawn is only a few years old and still partially dirt and I wanted to make sure that I kept the bottom of the bounce house as clean as possible so when we put it away the dirt doesn’t end up in the storage bag.  It’s not at all necessary, but it’s nice to have if your lawn is more dirt than grass.**

Once I had everything in place, I flipped the switch!  Feel free to laugh when the long yellow tube pops out. After it inflated (and switched the blower motor to the other tube), I anchored each corner down with the provided stakes and let the kids have at it. My mother-in-law (she’s just barely over 100lbs) joined in the fun too.

Just be careful if you are a small adult (max wt per person is 100lbs) and are not sure how to GET OUT of the Big Ol Bouncer.  Actually she got herself out ok, she just didn’t know what to do once she was on the little slide.

Oops.

(I know I’m totally gonna pay for posting this too)

The kids had a BLAST (pun intended)!

The Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer bounce house has a very large area for bouncing which makes this ideal for families.  It’s also great for parties, finally something to do that will keep the kids constantly occupied instead of running in and out of the house all day!  And with its size and weight limit, you can fit quite a few kids in there, and it certainly seems heavy duty enough to handle everything they will put it through.

Setup takes a matter of minutes.  It really was quick and easy.

By the way, this is how the blower is supposed to be attached:

It is recommended that you put your Big Ol Bouncer away each night to protect it and make sure it continues to function properly for you for years to come.  Putting it away takes a little longer than putting it up and while I did it by myself, having a helper would have been nice.  Once you turn the motor off, the unit deflates fairly quickly.  Untie the yellow tube to help get the air out, and then start folding the unit back up length-wise.  Of course, it doesn’t quite compress down to the same size it was when I pulled it out of the box, but it more than fits in the carry bag provided.  I can lift the carry bag for short distances, but I need the dolly again to move it easier.

Storage is easy and convenient and it doesn’t take up a ton of room.  It’s like the size of a large duffel bag set on it’s side.  Like one of those green military bags.

I don’t really have much negative to say about the Big Ol Bouncer.  Some minor things to be aware of, is that sometimes closing the velcro on the slot where they get in and out is a little tricky because if you aren’t super tall with the slide in the way it can be hard to reach.  Luckily my son did it all from the inside.  Also keep in mind that you still need to supervise your kids and it is important to pay attention to the weight limits.  When jumping towards the edge of the Big Ole Bouncer, the tops of the side depress, and if you had too many big kids this could become an issue.  It’s a normal part of the way the structure of these work, but I just wanted to stress the importance of following the maximum weight restrictions.  I would also like to see the unit come with a ground cover cloth.

Overall I was impressed with the ease of setup, the durability, and the FUN FACTOR the Big Ol Bouncer provides.  It’s going to be an integral part of our lives this summer and the best part is that it combines fun with physical activity.  The kids are getting exercising and don’t even know it!

So.

Now your kids you want one right?

That’s easy!

Where to buy

The Blast Zone Big Ole Bouncer is available on the Blast Zone website for $499.99 (shipping is free) or EXCLUSIVELY at Toys R Us.  And get this.  If you buy it from Toys R Us, you can save $100 because their price is $399.99!  For more information, visit Blast Zone.

Or.

If you are feeling lucky, you can try and win one here.

WIN A BOUNCE HOUSE

One winner will receive a Big Ol Bouncer bounce house from Blast zone.

HOW TO ENTER (mandatory):

To enter, tell me WHY your family needs the Big Ol Bouncer from Blast Zone.  What features make this an ideal outdoor toy for your family?

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

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Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry.  Provide links to Tweets, Facebook wall, comments, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on May 9, 2011 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

As a 34 year old Christian, wife, mother of two toddlers, and homemaker, I have a variety of stories and life experiences that will make you want to laugh, cry, and inspire you to believe that life is, indeed, good. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, writing, scrapbooking, photography, cooking, flower gardening, traveling, volunteering, and so much more.

As an RN, published poet, award-winning photographer, digital designer, seasoned spokesperson, and self-professed bibliophile I have long felt the compelling urge to share my thoughts with others with and without words.

Lady V dZine is a PR friendly site. Because I only accept pitches that I think I will like, it is unlikely that you will find a negative review on my site. Please note, however, that I am honest in my reviews. If I think a product could be improved, I say so.

I am currently accepting requests for reviews, giveaways, and advertisements. Please check my PR Friendly page for a list of items I am interested in reviewing.

So, grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair, and drop by for a visit. I look forward to e-meeting you!

Virginia

A couple of months ago, Cotton Babies sent me a sample of a cloth diaper by bumGenius. The bumGenius One Size cloth diaper is a single diaper that adjusts to fit babies from newborn to around 35 lbs.

I admit I was skeptical about using the diaper. The idea of not throwing out something that is filled with baby poop honestly made me a little queasy. But, I agreed to try it, so one day I got brave and put it on Abby.

And I was pleasantly surprised.

Abby was a bit intrigued with it at first and was pulling it on and trying to get it off, but after watching her crawl around in it for an hour, it really did fit her like a glove. The elastic around the legs was snug but not tight, I was able to get the perfect fit around her waist because of the stretchy tabs. While I admit to not waiting around for a poopy diaper (I still can’t believe I’ve written that word twice already), I did have to deal with a wet one before bed. I was amazed at how absorbent the liner was and how well it kept the wet away from her skin. I also found that overall Abby’s skin was less bothered by the bumGenius diaper than by the disposables. Surprisingly, disposables don’t bother her skin too badly, but with the bumGenius diaper it was even less.

So now, I am faced with my dilemma. I’m still NOT thrilled about how to clean up a poopy one (ok, that’s 3 times) but they fit well, grow with her, and keep her drier, plus they are much better for the environment and way less expensive in the long run. I definitely think I would stick with disposables when I go out (which isn’t often) but I could see using cloth when I am at home.

What do you think? Should I switch?

I’m not one of those women who collects shoes like she needs a different pair for each day of the week. In fact, I actually wear men’s shoes half the time because they are usually less money, hold up longer, and are simply more comfortable for a mom on-the-go. So, I never would have expected to have an obsession for KIDS shoes, but it appears I do!

One of my most recent discoveries of kids shoes comes from a brand called Polliwalks. Polliwalks are “fun for feet” and are children’s shoes that are designed for fun and will surely make you smile!

From the website:

Polliwalks™ was born from the imagination of long time footwear designer and former toy designer, Joel Rusnak. He had the idea that children’s shoes should be fun and offer toy like features that will make wearing shoes a playful experience, while offering support, stability and comfort for little feet. Joel teamed up with his wife, and three of his long time industry colleagues, and together, they created Polliwalks™.

The Polliwalks™ team is dedicated to creating innovative shoes that appeal to the fun side of being a child. We back up our fresh approach to product with years and years of combined industry experience, making shoes that not only offer quality, comfort and function, but are born from a playful inspiration that offers unique styling and features that both kids and parents love.

We are proud of our unique brand and our products and are always looking forward expanding what we do with each season!

Polliwalks and fun and colorful animal shaped shoes with bottoms that contain animal “footprints” of the animal they represent. They are comfortable and made from soft molded foam. Polliwalks are easy to put on ad take off and easy to clean and the foam is waterproof. The manufacturing process for Polliwalks produces no waste, because it is all recycled, they use environmentally friendly packaging, no animal products and environmentally safe water-based adhesives in their construction.

Polliwalks sent me TWO PAIRS of their adorable shoes for Abby. The first pair they sent was their Ladybug Clog style.

They are so incredibly cute! Abby was interested in them before I even cut the tags off. There was a lot of reaching and whining as she waited for me to give them to her. I put them on and realized my math was a little off regarding her size, but by Spring they should fit better. They were a little bit big but she didn’t care, she just wanted to play with them anyway.

The Polliwalks seem very high quality and durable. I like that the strap across the back is hinged to make it easier to get them on and off their feet and also it allows them to be more flexible to fit more comfortably and securely. The color and design are great too, and I can’t wait to see the little footprints they leave behind.

The second pair Polliwalks sent me was from their brand new Firefly line.

The Firefly is AWESOME. I could play with it all day watching the tail light up (I need a hobby). The shoe itself, although the same size as the ladybug seemed a good almost 1 inch longer than the Ladybug style because of the tail. Again, they are a bit big for Abby because I messed up the size, but they should fit her good in the Spring or Summer.

Like the Ladybug style, the Firefly seems durable and comfortable and I love the different colors, the big eyes and the antennae! Then of course, is the tail, which lights up with every step. I can just picture Abby walking and looking at the back of her feet with every step!

If you are interested in getting some Polliwalks for your kids, you can purchase their current line (Puppy, Kitty, Gator, Duck, Frog & Ladybug) at all of their retailers including Dillard’s and Zappos.com. Their new styles (Fish & Firefly) are available currently only at select Dillard’s and on Zappos.com but will be available across the country in January & February.

Or, are ya feelin’ LUCKY?

Polliwalks is giving one winners their choice of style and size from their current line (excludes Fish and Firefly due to limited supply).

This review and giveaway were done is association with:

Recently, we received several samples of Kids-EEZE Chest Relief.  Thankfully, we haven’t had to try it’s effectiveness, but I feel well prepared should the need arise. 

Kids-EEZE Chest Relief, from the makers of Cold-EEZE Chest Relief, has many advantages over your average cough syrup.  First of all, trying to find any kind of cold medicine (whether for your kids or yourself) can be perplexing.  “Hmm. I have these two symptoms, but not all of those. Not THAT particular combination of symptoms.  Or, those either.”  Finally, you make a guess, grab something, and hope it works.  Forget about it if you’re sick or have a sick child with you.  And don’t get me started about having to go to the pharmacist, present proper identification and permits to purchase an over-the-counter cold medicine.

Kids-EEZE Chest Relief treats a single symptom – chest congestion.  That’s it.  Nothing else.  There is only one active ingredient: guaifenesin.  Guaifenesin is an expectorant that makes coughs productive by loosening mucus and clearing all those bronchial pathways.  Get that junk outta there.

Rather than a syrup that can be spilled, Kids-EEZE Chest Relief comes in a convenient chew, which also ensures proper dosage.  And, you don’t have all those dosage cups to rinse out.  I don’t know about you, but inevitably, the medicine is on one side of the house, the dosage cup is on the other.  So, I have cups lining the sink in the kitchen and at least one bathroom.  The chews are available in strawberry or grape flavor.

If you are wondering where to buy Kids-EEZE, there is a list of retailers on their website, or you can even order it online!

Kids-EEZE wants to give FIVE What’s That Smell? readers a chance to try Kids-EEZE! Five winners will each get 2 packages of Kids-EEZE, one 12 count box of Grape Soft Chews and one 12 count box of Strawberry Soft Chews.

The SweetPea3 MP3 player is designed for toddlers, but to me goes well beyond the toddler age range. The age on the box is 0-6, but I can imagine Jake using it for a bit longer than that. It is larger than your average MP3 player making it safe for little hands. It has a built in carrying handle and the outside is covered in blue or violet durable rubber. And the best part is that no headphones are required, which means it is safe for little ears.

Here are some of the specifications of the SweetPea3:

* Fully functional MP3 player with integrated speaker
* Large LCD display shows song number
* Plays MP3 and WMA files (Windows Media Audio)
* 1GB memory (16 hours at 128 kbit/s data rate)
* Hidden volume control
* Stores songs in up to 3 playlists
* Programmable Auto Off time
* Over 40 hours on a single AA battery (included)
* Durable exterior of soft, food-grade rubber
* USB port (cable included)
* Headphone jack (headphones are not included or necessary)
* AC adapter jack (AC adapter available separately) (North American UL/cUL safety certified)
* User manual provided
* Safety tested: meets RoHS and ASTM F963 Toy Safety Specification standards, lead-free

One of the most impressive things about the SweetPea3 was that is was designed with safety in mind. You can check out all the impressive steps taken in the design to produce the safest product possible on their product safety page.

You can easily transfer music to the SweetPea3 from your computer with the included USB cable. It was so simple to do. The controls are simple and easy for kids to use. The main settings are not easily accessible by most kids because access to the special settings menu is gotten by simultaneously pressing the Left and Right buttons for 6 seconds. This menu sets volume, current playlist and the Automatic Off time, things that kids don’t need to be messing with. I said most kids because mine figured out almost immediately how to increase the volume.

Now you may be wondering what took me so long to write this review. I don’t write reviews simply to get free stuff. I write reviews because I believe that we owe it to each other to be informed consumers and that by talking about and review products, not only do we help others make informed purchases, we can also help companies make better products.

After a week or so of use, our SweetPea3 started to act up. The songs would disappear from the memory or it would get stuck on one song. Jake had not done anything out of the ordinary with it so there was no reason on our end why it should be malfunctioning already. So, I contacted the Sweet Pea Toy Company and they looked into the issue. At first they thought maybe it was a firmware issue, but their testing did not find an issue so they went ahead and sent us a new unit.

The new unit has worked perfectly ever since! It has been dropped on the kitchen floor and fallen down the stairs. It has been sat on, drooled on, and stepped on by the dog and it is still working without a problem. The sound is good from the speaker – it is clear and understandable. The battery life is pretty decent, in fact, I’m not sure we’ve even changed the battery yet. The functionality is limited, but certainly enough for a toddler or a young child. There are 3 play lists available and while there are no fancy features such as shuffle or repeat, Jake has no complaints and just skips forward if a song comes on that he wasn’t in the mood for.

I would have no problem buying a SweetPea3 as a gift or recommending it to others. It is an innovative product, designed with kids safety in mind, and they stand behind their products. To my knowledge, there are no other MP3 players on the market like this and at $59.95 is reasonably priced.

The SweetPea3 is selling out faster than they can ship it, and their next order is due to ship on December 10th in order to arrive before Christmas, so if you are interested you should place your order now. The SweetPea Toy Company website is the ONLY place you can get this great Digital Music Player!

The boxes contained:

• Just-Like-Mine Toy Caboose Stroller
• Just-Like-Mine Doll or Stuffed Toy Car Seat
• Just-Like-Mine Doll or Stuffed Toy Booster Car Seat

From the website:

The finest toy stroller you can buy!

Kids love this attractive, high-quality toy replica of the popular Joovy Caboose Stand-On Tandem stroller. And what’s not to love? The clever design features of the Joovy Toy Caboose allow your child to secure and transport two or three cherished toy friends at once, for hours of role-playing fun. And with our toy car seat attachment system the Joovy Toy Caboose is fully compatible with the Joovy Just-Like-Mine! Toy Car Seat – just like the real thing.

The Joovy Just-Like-Mine Toy Caboose tandem stroller sets the highest standard for toys – designed with realistic features to maximize role-playing fun.

Joovy style!
Joovy quality!
Joovy performance!

Make the Joovy Just-Like-Mine Toy Caboose your next family heirloom.

The Joovy Toy Caboose Stroller comes in pink or blue and we received the blue one. We had to put the wheels on and the canopy and the tray and it took only a matter of minutes. Since Abby is a little young, I let Jake play with it for awhile.

Every aspect of the Toy Caboose stroller mimicked a real stroller. From the safety straps to the way it folded down it looked, felt and functioned like a baby stroller. It is very sturdy, and features like a storage basket, reclining seat and movable canopy really gave Jake the feeling he was using a “real” stroller, and he got a big kick out of it. As you can see from the slide show, Jake made quick work of putting some of his stuffed “guys” in the stroller. Ever since Abby came along, he has been desperate to help push the stroller, fold it and unfold just like mommy and daddy do. The Joovy Toy Caboose gave him that experience but with something that was just the right size for him. And speaking of just the right size, Jake is 5 and kind of tall and the Joovy Toy Caboose was big enough for him and I think it will be a couple of years before he has outgrown it because of his size (although hopefully he will pass it on to his sister when she is old enough – the stroller is for ages 3+).

From the website:

Playtime or in the Car!

Children learn early to imitate what they see around them. It’s an important part of early cognitive development and critical to balanced growth. Making connections to the real world through role playing also helps children accept change, assume responsibility and understand why they must do certain things.

Joovy Just-Like-Mine! Toy Car Seat is fully compatible with the Joovy Toy Caboose Stroller (sold separately) – just like the real thing!

Joovy has developed the first doll car seat that helps children understand the importance of good passenger safety, without sacrificing play-time fun. Children learn to imitate the role of a caring and responsible parent as they safely secure a favorite doll or stuffed toy into the doll car seat. And parents find that their child is more cooperative about using their own car seat as a result!

The Joovy Toy Car Seat comes in pink or blue and we received the pink one. It came fully assembled so it was ready to go for Jake to put Mickey Mouse into. The Car Seat also fits onto the stroller like a real infant car seat would. It does require you to remove the tray from the front of the stroller and add a receiver bar (which stores under the cargo basket) but it is a quick and easy adjustment.

Like the Joovy Toy Caboose, the Joovy Toy Car Seat mimics a real infant car seat in a lot of ways. From the handle to the strap to the car seat safety base, it is a very real experience for the child who plays with it. Plus, the car seat can actually be locked securely to a vehicle seat using either the car’s seat belt or the included LATCH restraint system. The Joovy Toy Car Seat is even crash-tested for passenger safety carrying dolls up to 4lbs. Even though he was making some weird faces in the pictures, Jake really enjoyed playing with the Toy Car Seat. Abby is no longer in an infant car seat, but I could tell that Jake remembered all the things we used to do with her seat when she used it. He had a lot of fun playing with the Toy Car Seat. Abby won’t have to wait quite as long for this one, it is for ages 2+ so next year they will be fighting over it!

From the website:

Safe in the Car!

Children learn early to imitate what they see around them. It’s an important part of early cognitive development and critical to balanced growth. Making connections to the real world through role playing also helps children accept change, assume responsibility and understand why they must do certain things.

Joovy has developed the first doll car seat that helps children understand the importance of good passenger safety, without sacrificing play-time fun. Children learn to imitate the role of a caring and responsible parent as they safely secure a favorite doll or stuffed toy into the doll car seat. And parents find that their child is more cooperative about using their own car seat as a result! The Joovy “Just-Like-Mine” Doll or Stuffed Toy Car Seat is engineered to perform similarly to a real car seat.

Like the Toy Car Seat, the Joovy Toy Booster Car Seat came fully assembled and is for ages 2+. It comes in pink or blue and we received the blue one. Also, like the Toy Car Seat, the Booster seat is crash-tested for passenger safety, but the Booster seat carries dolls up to 7lbs. You can attach the Booster seat to a vehicle seat using the seat belt or the included LATCH restraint system.

Joovy has taken great care in creating toys that mimic the real thing in order to encourage fun and pretend play but also help children understand the importance of safety features. By imitating the adults with their own toys, it help instill in them an appreciation for their own safety. The Joovy toys are all durable and high quality, the fabric is washable and removes for easy cleaning and they really are the closest you can get to the real thing in both function and quality. I really believe the Joovy toys will last for a long time because of their style, quality and performance.

If you are interested in the Joovy Toy Caboose, Toy Car Seat or Toy Booster Seat you can visit the Joovy website for more information. You can also purchase them from the Joovy website by visiting the Joovy online store.

Joovy is offering a coupon good for 25% off you purchase until Thanksgiving which is a HUGE discount and makes these the perfect toys for Christmas!

Use the coupon code blogspecial when you checkout to receive your discount.

*The Joovy Toy Caboose is $79.99 regularly, but is only $60 with coupon code
*The Joovy Toy Car Seat is $39.99, but is only $30 with coupon code
*The Joovy Toy Booster Car Seat is $29.99, but is only $22.50 with coupon code

We recently bought some new furniture (well a little less than a year ago) to go with our new house. We tripled our square footage and simply had to fill our empty rooms, especially the family room, which is a room we did not have before!

So, we bought an entertainment center and a coffee table, and used our old sectional sofa we had from before. The furniture we bought was solid wood and stained in what they call a “espresso” color. It is actually almost black and looks fantastic. Well, it looks fantastic until Abby runs her sticky grubby hands and mouth over it, and then the lovely dark brown/black gets kind of foggy. I actually tried to take a picture of the table but all I kept getting was a big bright shiny reflection from the flash.

I recently had an opportunity to try a new product by Swiffer called Swiffer Dust & Shine Furniture Spray and I jumped at the chance to rescue my new coffee table from it’s slimey state of existence.

Swiffer Dust & Shine Furniture Spray is a no wax cleaner that shines and conditions wood furniture.

From the website:

Swiffer Dust & Shine furniture polish has a wax-free formula that cleans and conditions the many surfaces in your home. It’s a perfect furniture polish for cleaning wood furniture like chairs, end tables, and bookcases and a variety of other surfaces like leather and granite. It also leaves less greasy residue than the leading furniture polish and leaves behind a great shine.

Swiffer Dust & Shine furniture polish cleans, shines, and conditions with a light, even mist that’s easy to spray and wipe away. You’ll love the shine you get on sealed wood surfaces.
It also comes in three invigorating scents: Lavender Vanilla; Citrus Zest; and Tropical Sunrise. With Swiffer Dust & Shine, furniture polish has never been so fun to use.

HOW IT WORKS:
I was fascinated with the way the Swiffer Dust & Shine sprayed out of the can. I can’t even explain it but it covered so well and the mist was light and even. It smelled SOOO nice (I have the Citrus Zest Scent) and it was easy to wipe off. I was left with a clean, shined and conditioned surface that looked as good as new.

We are very pleased with the Swiffer Dust & Shine and I recommend it for all of your wood furniture!

WIN IT:
We have a 9.7 OZ can of Swiffer Dust & Shine Furniture Spray to give away!

To enter:
Visit the Swiffer website and then come back here and tell us your favorite Swiffer product besides the Dust & Shine Furniture Spray.

To earn extra entries:

• Tell us which of the 3 scents of Swiffer Dust & Shine Furniture Spray you thing would be your favorite. (1 extra entry)
• Subscribe to our feed. (1 extra entry)
• Post our button on your sidebar – see the very bottom of our page for the code. (3 extra entries)
• Blog about the giveaway and include a link back here and a link to Swiffer. (5 extra entries)

Leave a separate comment for each extra entry. For the button entry, leave 3 separate comments and for the blog post entry, leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway ends on Thursday Nov. 13th at noon central time and is open to the USA only.

My son Jake is a pretty smart kid. He reads and writes and seems to know way more than his almost 5 years. He has talked a lot about Indiana and Illinois ever since we moved to Indiana and is fascinated when we drive from one state to another. Also, ever since learning that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492 (or 1942 depending upon the day) he is curious about the United States as well.

When the opportunity arose for me to review a U.S.A. & World Eat, Speak, Explore & Draw Map/Placemat! from Tot Talk, I couldn’t turn it down because I knew Jake would love it.

The front of the placemat:

The front of the placemat is a vividly colored map of the United States. Each state is easy to identify and includes images and words that identify what each state is known for. It also labels the state capitals and shows their locations in the state.

Jake was entranced with the placemat. I asked him to locate Illinois and Indiana and then began asking him to locate certain states based upon things like “the potato state” or the “oranges state.” He really liked that game and kept saying, “ok, ask me one more.” He was truly fascinated with it.

The back of the placemat:

The back of the placemat is a black and white world map that shows the Seven Continents and the Five World Oceans. It also has activities all the way around the placemat to help really encourage and and entertain. This is where the washable marker really gets some great use! From matching animals to their appropriate continent to coloring the location where their grandparents are born, there are numerous activities for kids and plenty of room for drawing and making up their own.

Jake liked this side just as much as the front, especially because of the marker. He enjoyed writing “America,” locating the oceans and continents, and learning about which animals were associated with which continents. I was very impressed that he kept wanting to learn more!

Summary:
The U.S.A. & World Eat, Speak, Explore & Draw Map/Placemat! from Tot Talk is a versatile and entertaining activity for kids. It is made in the USA and is appropriate for all ages. The placemat is very thick and durable. It is washable and kids can even write on it with washable markers (ours came with a Crayola Washable Marker)! It provides parents with a way to teach their kids geography in an interactive way that is fun and interesting and I’m willing to bet you will learn something along the way too. And on top of all that, you can use it as a placemat to help keep your table clean!

This product is one I am glad to have around the house because it provides me with a framework to teach Jake about Geography and even more. Teaching does not come naturally to me, and this placemat allowed me to help him interact with it because of the activity suggestions it provides. We both enjoyed it and I really enjoyed watching him get so excited about something educational.

If you would like to purchase a U.S.A. & World Eat, Speak, Explore & Draw Map/Placemat or any of the other great Tot Talk products, visit their website. Tot Talk has a special offer for What’s That Smell? readers! You can receive FREE SHIPPING on your order with the code: AccidentalMommies08 in the coupon field at checkout.

Win a U.S.A. & World Eat, Speak, Explore & Draw Map/Placemat:
To enter:
Simply visit Tot Talk and leave a comment with your favorite product from their website BESIDES the U.S.A. & World Eat, Speak, Explore & Draw Map/Placemat.

For extra entries:
*For one extra entry, leave a comment and tell us who you would like to win this placemat for.

*For unlimited additional extra entries, leave a comment with the name of a US state or a Country of the World. You can enter as many times this way as long as you complete the main entry and the first extra entry activity.

Obviously, leave separate comments for each extra entry.

Giveaway is open until Noon Central time on Tuesday November 4, 2008 and is open to the USA.

In our house juice is a very desirable commodity. We try to limit Jake’s intake of any sugar-laden drinks and promote some milk and mostly water during the course of the day. That being said, when we do buy juice, we prefer to buy 100% juice and ideally buy organic. There are a lot of choices facing parents today and the choice of organic, 100% juice is pretty easy to make because I am giving it to my kids and I want them to have the best for their health and growth. Usually when I do give juice to Jake I actually water it down either by adding water directly or filling the cup with ice to the top knowing it will melt pretty quickly and water it down.

Lori and I were recently asked to try a product from the R.W. Knudsen Family called Sensible Sippers. Sensible Sippers are 100% certified organic juice boxes and feature The Berenstain Bears on the packaging. They are 50% juice and 50% water which reduces the sugar intake and contain 40% less calories than regular juice boxes. Sensible Sippers have no added sugar, no artificial flavors or preservatives and are USDA certified organic. They are available nationwide at Whole Foods Market and you can register at their site to receive a $1.00 off coupon for Sensible Sippers.

Sensible Sippers come in four flavors, Apple, Banana, Fruit punch and Mixed Berry, all containing 50% juice.

Below is the nutritional info for each flavor:
Apple

INGREDIENTS: FILTERED WATER, ORGANIC APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE, ORGANIC NATURAL FLAVOR.
Juice 50%
Serving Size: 1 box (4.23 oz)
Calories: 30
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Potassium 50mg 1%
Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Sugars 7g
Protein 0g

INGREDIENTS: FILTERED WATER, ORGANIC BANANA PUREE, ORGANIC PEAR AND ORGANIC APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATES, ORGANIC NATURAL FLAVOR.
Juice 50%
Serving Size: 1 box (4.23 oz)
Calories: 35
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Potassium 55mg 2%
Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Sugars 8g
Protein 0g

INGREDIENTS: FILTERED WATER; ORGANIC APPLE, ORGANIC PINEAPPLE AND ORGANIC ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATES; ORGANIC BANANA PUREE; ORGANIC LEMON, ORGANIC WHITE GRAPE, ORGANIC LIME AND ORGANIC PEAR JUICE CONCENTRATES; ORGANIC NATURAL FLAVOR.
Juice 50%
Serving Size: 1 box (4.23 oz)
Calories: 30
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Sodium 0mg 0%
Potassium 80mg 2%
Carbohydrate 7g 2%
Sugars 7g
Protein <1g
Vitamin C 4%

INGREDIENTS: FILTERED WATER, ORGANIC APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE, ORGANIC RASPBERRY PUREE, ORGANIC CHERRY JUICE CONCENTRATE, ORGANIC BLACKBERRY PUREE, ORGANIC WHITE GRAPE JUICE CONCENTRATE, ORGANIC STRAWBERRY AND ORGANIC BLUEBERRY PUREE, ORGANIC NATURAL FLAVOR.
Juice 50%
Serving Size: 1 box (4.23 oz)
Calories: 35
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Potassium 85mg 2%
Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Sugars 9g
Protein 0g

Right off the bat, Jake wanted to try one. He calls them by their full name “Sensible Sippers” rather than just a “drink box” and it is really cute. He actually enjoyed his first one with our friend’s daughter.

Jake really enjoys the Sensible Sippers and they are a perfect size for him to drink in one sitting, with lunch, or any other occasion. Even when I’ve packed him 2 of them when we went on a picnic, he only drank 1 with his sandwich, and saved the second one for the ride home!

I tried the Sensible Sippers and I thought they were pretty good. They are only 50% juice and I certainly noticed the difference from regular juice, but they still satisfied me and were nice and light and a nice change from drinking just water, without all the calories regular juice has. I would certainly recommend Sensible Sippers for any mom looking to provide her kids with a healthier alternative to regular juice boxes.

Lori’s experience with Sensible Sippers:
We received the Fruit Punch and Apple juice boxes.

Let’s just say that Knudsen hit their target market with my kids. Madeline will leisurely sip a juice box, but Michael is just like Olivia used to be. It’s one continuous suck from the beginning until it’s bone dry. They get that from their father, but that’s a whole different story for a later time. Anyway, they loved both flavors. Michael immediately asked for another juice box when he finished. Well, first he let out a huge burp, and then he asked.

We’ve never been really big on juices here, they seemed like empty calories. We were more likely to eat the fruit. When the kids were really little we would have apple juice, but we usually watered it down. Obviously, you can’t do this to a juice box/bag especially while driving down the road. The Sensible Sippers are 50% juice and 50% water. Way easier, right?

Want to hear the other good news about Sensible Sippers? The certified organic ingredient list. The apple juice ingredients are: filtered water, organic apple juice concentrate, and organic natural flavor. That’s it. Nothing else.

So, Sensible Sippers are a great choice that moms and kids both like! They’ll be on our shopping list. Put ‘em on yours.



Win a Sensible Sippers Prize Pack:
Sensible Sippers is offering 1 winner an 8-pack of Sensible Sippers in the winner’s choice of flavor, a Sensible Sippers t-shirt (youth sizes 2, 4 or 6) and a couple of “buy-one-get-one-free” coupons for Sensible Sippers.

How to enter:
Visit R.W. Knudsen’s website and tell us your favorite flavor of Sensible Sippers and the associated Berenstein Bear that is on the package.

For an additional 5 entries:
Blog about this giveaway with the following text (make sure to include the links):

What’s That Smell? is being sensible and giving away juice boxes! You can enter to win a Prize Pack from R.W. Knudsen containing an 8-pack of Sensible Sippers, a youth t-shirt, and some high-value coupons. Go enter. It really is the sensible thing to do.

Please leave 5 separate comments for the extra entries and make sure to include the link to your post in one of them.

Giveaway ends on Tuesday, November 4th at noon central time and is open to the USA.