review — MomStart

A Boy and His Trucks – Tonka Chuck and Friends DieCast Collectibles to the Rescue

April 21, 2012 By Momstart 16 Comments

There is something about a boy and his trucks. Maybe in your house it’s not trucks… but there is probably some wheeled device that your son can’t really live without. It’s the toy that you know you need to have on hand to make it through the day, the restaurant, the doctor’s appointment… whatever is one hand for the day. Since most of Atticus’s toys have been packed away, he has been missing some of his favorite cars and trucks. That’s where Tonka Chuck and Friends DieCast Collectibles came to the rescue.

When I first got these cute little trucks, I thought I had done a good job of hiding them until I was ready to break them out… Atticus knew they were there though and kept digging them out asking if he could play with them. After a few days of this, I knew it was time. Neither one of us could resist their amazing colors and cute faces.

Once we opened up Tonka Chuck and all his friends, I was surprised by 2 things. First of all the study, high quality build of the trucks was really impressive. These trucks will definitely hold up to more of the typical toddler play than many other traditional toy cars.

I was even more surprised (and impressed) by the DVD that came in each box! Maybe I’ve been living under a rock somewhere, but I had no idea Tonka Chuck and Friends had a cartoon! The DVD comes with a short cartoon that is appropriate for kids of ALL ages. The cartoons we watched had good messages and were completely engaging. I was SO HAPPY to see the read along story book on the DVD too! This section of the DVD read a story with the characters and even had the words on the screen to follow along. Especially as Atticus gets older, this will be a GREAT thing. Having kids recognize that text carries meaning and tells stories is a huge part of learning to read.

Great toys, entertaining cartoons, and a learning tool? I’m in! Atticus is too. Days later and these little trucks haven’t lost their luster. He has even fallen asleep with one in his bed! There are seven characters available this spring and more coming this fall! I can’t wait to see what other cute characters they come out with next! If you’re interested, you should be able to find Chuck and his friends at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

About Ashley: Ashley is a mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and former teacher working to navigate through the mysterious world of Mommyia. Read more about her adventures at www.Momicles.com and follow her @Momicles2010 .

A product was provided for this review. No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Filed Under: Ashley, review Tagged With: Chuck The Truck, Hasbro, Tonka Chuck and Friends DieCast Collectibles, Tonka Chuck and Friends to the Rescue, toy review

Happy 60th Anniversary to One Spud-tacular Couple Mr & Mrs Potato Head

April 21, 2012 By Momstart 18 Comments

By: Ashley

Did you have a Potato Head when you were a kid? I did. I remember his little blue shoes, goofy nose, and the little flap that held it all it when I was done. It’s pretty amazing to see Atticus having the same silly fun with Mr. and Mrs. Potato head now, that I had when I was a kid.

Did you know that Mr. and Mrs. Potato head have been married for 60 years! That’s 60 years of looking into each other’s eyes (wherever they may have popped up). 60 years of parts moving around and loving each other all the same. 60 years of seeing new toys come and go and technology take over. One thing has remained the same – The Potato Head is still an incredibly engaging toy that kids and adults all have an amazing time with!

I can’t lie about how excited I was when I saw the 60th anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head all dressed up to celebrate their anniversary. There’s no doubt about it. They are not showing their age AT ALL. I hope that when my husband and I celebrate our 60^th anniversary we look half as young as sMASHing as this couple. Hasbro has a set showcasing the couple in all their marital splendor… and I LOVE it. How could such an iconic couple let their anniversary slip by without renewing their vows?

Atticus of course had a great time rearranging all of their parts. I personally fell in love with the adorable way their hands are joined … and they have on wedding rings! Again, not that I would expect any less from a couple with such strong roots.

All potato puns aside, there really is something timeless and so classic about Mr. and Mrs. Potato head. It’s one of those toys kids, parents, and grandparents all have such great memories attached to. They let you create, be silly, and just have fun. Sure, if you want to know what it can teach your child I understand. It focuses on body parts, reasoning, and problem solving. I really think the best part though, is imagination.

So… like I said… Happy Anniversary to one of the most Spudtacular couples I know. Here’s to you Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head… and all the years to come!

The 60^th Anniversary Ediction Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head is available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

I received a product to review for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Filed Under: Ashley, review Tagged With: 60th anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, children's toy, Hasbro, Mr. Mrs. Potato head, spudtacular couple, toy review

Kashi Go Lean Crisp Cinnamon Crumble Cereal Review

April 19, 2012 By Momstart 25 Comments

By Summer:

My family had the opportunity to try Kashi GOLEAN Crisp! Cinnamon Crumble. I have to be honest I really didn’t try much as I’m trying to steer away from processed foods including cereals. Let me say however that my husband and sons are not on board with my crazy purchasing habits (though I do the shopping, so they have to deal with it!). The Kashi GOLEAN Crisp! Cinnamon Crumble was gone in only one week. My husband ate a bowl every morning for breakfast and my sons enjoyed it once or twice as a “second breakfast”. [Side note: Do you have little hobbits too, like Lord of the Rings? My sons like to have a breakfast, second breakfast, third breakfast, mid-morning snack, and mid-morning teatime all before lunch!] Needless to say, they all liked it.

Cinnamon Crumble is a new flavor for the Kashi GOLEAN Crisp! line which offers “naturally sweetened multigrain clusters” with 10 grams of protein, 9 grams of fiber, and 20 grams of whole grain per serving so “you stay fuller longer”. With this you also get 10 grams of sugar per serving; a serving is ¾ cup and with 15 ounces per box there are about 8 servings per container. The ingredients consist of whole grain oats, evaporated can juice crystals, soy protein concentrate, wheat sticks (whole wheat flour, Kashi seven whole grains and sesame flour [whole: oats, hard red wheat, rye, brown rice, triticale, barley, buckwheat, sesame seeds], calcium carbonate), brown rice syrup, chicory root fiber, soy grits, expeller pressed canola oil, yellow corn flour, soy protein isolate, cinnamon, oat fiber, baking soda, natural flavor, evaporated salt, mixed tocopherols for freshness, soy lecithin.

If you’re a person on the go and don’t have time to make a whole foods breakfast then an option such as the Kashi GOLEAN Crisp! Cinnamon Crumble is a great “grab and go” choice compared to scrambling eggs with diced vegetables, or making oatmeal or granola. Kashi is a better brand than General Mills or Kellogg with their Frosted Flakes and Lucky Charms! I also like Nature’s Path Organics.

If you’re not familiar with Kashi you can find out more about them on their website and even join their communications list to receive coupons, recipes, newsletters, as well as to stay connected with others. You can also follow Kashi on Facebook.

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm.

Filed Under: review, Summer Tagged With: breakfast, cereal review, Cinnamon Crumble, Go Lean Crisp Cinnamon Crumble Cereal Review, GoLean Crisp, Kashi

Bring the Great Outdoors In With AirWick’s National Park Collection

April 18, 2012 By Momstart 15 Comments

By: Ashley

There is something so wonderful about walking into a house that smells good. When I travel back to VA, I sometimes stay with someone who has one of those really good smelling houses. It’s not overpowering… but just enough that you walk in and let out a pleasant sigh. With a dog, a little boy, and especially when we had a kitty, I was really missing that feeling in my own home. That was until I started using AirWick plug ins. AirWick has such a wide variety of scents and smells that don’t overwhelm. I’m definitely a person who doesn’t like those overpowering aromas. They end up giving me a headache. With AirWick plug ins, I had the awesome “my house smells good” pleasant sigh, without the overwhelming odor headache.

Recently, I had the chance to try out a new AirWick smell. Louise was heading out of town so I offered to swing by and pick up some more products to review. When she opened up a package from AirWick promoting their new National Park Collection, I was SO excited. AirWick has a new line of scents based on the National Parks! A portion of the proceeds from each purchase is donated to the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks. These scents are amazing! I love natural scents the most and the National Parks Collection is a great way to bring the outdoors in. With four different scents allowing you to spruce up your home AND help support over 400 national parks across the country, the AirWick National Park Collection is a great addition to your home! What 4 scents are available?

· Glacier Bay Serene Waters

· Hawai’i Tropical Sunset

· Yellowstone Wildflower Valley

· Virgin Islands Paradise Flowers

You have to act fast though, because these air freshener scents are only available for a limited time.

After plugging in our AirWick and letting ourselves get swept away by the scent of the Yellowstone Wildflower Valley, I let Atticus take a peek in the viewfinder that came along with our special package. With so many pictures of our country’s amazing national parks, my travel bucket list just got a lot longer!

If you want to learn more about AirWick and their partnership with the National Park Foundation check out their website.

A product was provided for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Filed Under: Ashley, review Tagged With: air freshener, AirWick, AirWick Plug ins, AirWick’s National Park Collection, Ashley

Awesome Camera Under $500: Sony High Zoom H Series Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

April 17, 2012 By Momstart 5 Comments

My favorite Sony cyber-shot for the zoom is the Sony High Zoom H Series Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V. This camera is spectacular and even better than my Canon just because I don’t have a lens that zooms this far. The Sony High Zoom H Series Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V zooms up to 30x optical zoom, 60x virtual zoom via Clear Image Zoom” technology. You will not believe the quality until you try it. Check out this view from my room:

“Full-featured, ultra high zoom (30x)”

A little closer

A whole lot closer:

Here are more reasons to love the HIGH-ZOOM H SERIES CYBER-SHOT:

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

The Features:

· Photo Creativity interface and 9 “Picture Effect” options for creating unique, custom-styled photos and video

Sad on my part, I didn’t know this camera had the picture effect features when it was my turn to use it. I should have explored the camera better while I was playing with it. I was so enamored with the zoom on this beauty that I never uncovered how much this camera could do. But with all the other cameras I used, I loved the photo creativity interface and this camera could have only been better than the others right?

· GPS geo-tagging functionality

I don’t always want people to know where we are, but when traveling this is data I love to have. Remember when looking at old photos, actual photos not digital, and you have to write the date and location on the photos, and the ones you didn’t write on you have no idea where they were taken. I look at old photos my parents have and have no clue where or when they were taken. Digital photos can store all kinds of information along with the photo, and this camera adds GPS tagging to your photos. So I’ll always remember these trees were in Sedona.

· 27mm equivalent Carl Zeiss™ Vaio Sonnar T lens with 30x optical zoom, 60x virtual zoom via “Clear Image Zoom” technology

As I mentioned above, AMAZING. I was so distracted by the zoom on this camera that I forgot about everything else the camera might be capable of doing.

· Lightning-fast AF speed of approximately 0.1 second in daylight, 0.2 seconds in low-light

· Full HD Movie Shooting capability (1920×1080/60p) and three-way Optical image stabilization with “Active Mode”

I took some video using the camera, I also took some 3D photos. I was sad to find out that I couldn’t view them unless I had a 3D TV.

Other Features you might find interesting

· 3.0-inch (8.3cm) Xtra Fine™ 921k dot LCD screen

· “Extra High Sensitivity” technology enhances low-light shooting capabilities

· Captures 13.5 MP still images while shooting video via “Dual-Record”

· 18 MP “Exmor R” CMOS sensor

· Manual Focus ring for adjusting focus accordingly

The Sony H Series Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V is available in black for approximately $480

Sony paid for all travel expenses to Sedona.

Filed Under: review, travel Tagged With: camera review, digital camera, Sedona, Sony, Sony High Zoom H Series Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V, travel

Mischievous Sampler Marshmallow and Rice Confections by Marshmallow Mischief

April 15, 2012 By Momstart 17 Comments

By Orshi:

My love affair with rice crispy started only two years ago when one of my neighbors surprised me with some of her rice marshmallow goodies. Growing up in Hungary, we had no such product as marshmallows in a bag, it was only an ingredient in special candies or confections. So it is no surprise that I got my first bag only after I had children and we went on our first camping trip (shame on me). Anyhow, I still can’t eat them right out of the bag …. Like seasoned Marshmallow eaters have been doing it since childhood, but I absolutely adore it in a rice crispy form. The Mischievous Sampler of Marshmallow and Rice Confections is exactly what it sounds …. Mischievous.

These round, one bite size goodies are so tasty and the sampler is just the right way of getting a special bit of different goodness in each bite. Creator, Sarah Figueroa Berchild put a little bit of extra something in each piece, inspired by cultures, different countries and unique flavors. The 9 piece sampler included the following flavors: Tall, Dark and Crispy (oh, goodie … one of my favorite); Lava Aloha (coconut and dark cacao); Italian Kiss (hazelnut + milk chocolate); The Big Kapuna (macadamia nut +white chocolate); Gingerlicious (cinnamon and candied ginger); Peace. Love and Peanut Butter (peanut butter and cinnamon); One, Two, Chai, Chai, Chai (masala spice black tea); and Plain Jane (vanilla). I absolutely love the Plain Jane, it was by far my favorite.

Now, if you like Rice Krispies, you will go crazy when you open this box …. Oh so many choices and so many ways of tickling your taste buds. They are all natural, gluten-free, made with brown rice and without gelatin. While I thought that my little boy with food allergies will devour these goodies, he was disinterested. But my two older ones did their fair share and thought that one box was not enough.

Find them at www.marshmallow-mischief.com or on Facebook MarshmalloMischief.

About Orshi:

Orshi is a teacher at UCIC where she works daily with children. She shows a great love for children as she has three of her own. She also loves Facebook, gardening and baking. She was born and grew up in Hungary and now lives across the street.

Filed Under: orshi, review Tagged With: marshmallow, Marshmallow Mischief, Orshi, Sarah Figueroa Berchild

Dr. Sears Baby Care Line: Simple, Safe, Effective

April 15, 2012 By Momstart 20 Comments

Simple, Safe, Effective… and Available at Target!

By: Ashley

When Atticus was born, I flooded myself with the information of chemicals, foods, products, baby gear… you name it! For those moms who are in same position I was, Dr. Sears products might be a great option for you. If you want to provide 100% natural products for your children, Dr. Sears has a complete line of all natural items that have been developed with the Sears Family of Pediatricians. The best part? The product line is easy to get your hands on at any Target store… and for a price that won’t break your budget. What all does Dr. Sears have to offer?

· Baby Lotion – Harnesses the power of pure, 100 percent all-natural ingredients to help soothe, moisturize and nourish your baby’s delicate skin.

· Baby Wash + Shampoo – Safe and simple everyday solution that gently cleanses and nourishes your baby’s skin and hair all while being tear free.

· Healthy Baby Bottom Cream – Helps prevent the discomfort and irritation of diaper rash without any of the chemicals associated with many brands.

· Severe Diaper Rash Cream – An advanced pediatrician-developed formula that alleviates the pain of sever diaper rash while providing immediate, refreshing and cool relief.

· Stretch Mark Cream – A luxurious cream that reduces the appearance of stretch marks or scarring associated with pregnancy.

I was able to test some of the Dr. Sears baby care products out with Atticus. Luckily, we didn’t really need the Severe Diaper Rash Cream, but we tried out most everything else. My absolute favorite product, and one that I think we will be adding to our normal arsenal, is the Baby Wash + Shampoo. The Dr. Sears Baby Wash + Shampoo was super easy to use with the pump top, had an awesome refreshing fragrance, was completely tear free, and did a great job cleaning my little guy from head to toe.

What baby care products you use can be a tough decision for some… for others, they don’t even think twice. If you’re working to eliminate some (or all) of the chemicals that your child is exposed to, using Dr. Sears products would be a great start. Personally, I don’t think I will replace ALL of our products and go completely chemical free. What I can say though, is that making small changes can help make a big difference… incorporating some of the affordable, effective, and accessible Dr. Sears Baby Care products is something I might try.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me by the manufacturer or a representing PR firm. All opinions expressed were my own and not influenced by monetary compensation.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: baby shampoo, natural baby bath, natural bubble bath, natural shampoo, shampoo review

The Rugged Outdoor Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 Ultra Slim T Series Cyber-Shot

April 14, 2012 By Momstart 21 Comments

While in Sedona with Sony I spent the week playing with Sony’s new line of cyber-shot cameras coming out in May. Of all the Cyber-shot models I tried out my favorite because of price and functionality was the rugged model, the ULTRA-SLIM T SERIES CYBER-SHOT, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20.

Why do I like it so much?

“Advanced, thinly designed, ruggedized model”

Because of the features:

· Waterproof, dustproof, freeze-proof and shockproof

This camera is practically drop proof. I love this camera and would feel completely safe letting my kids use it. Most of the time I’m terrified to hand my kids a camera that costs over $100 because I feel like that’s letting money go down the drain because they will most certainly drop it. If you’re around water it will get wet, if it’s breakable it will get stepped on. This camera works under water, in cold environments, meaning last year when I went to the ice exhibit and they told us to put our cameras away because they might freeze and break, this camera is safe to use in those environments and will take excellent photos.

· 9 “Picture Effect” options for creating unique, custom-styled photos and video

I hate having to edit photos, but being a food and travel blogger sometimes photos need a little sprucing up to keep up with the competition on other blogs out there. So I have to spend 30 minutes to an hour depending on how detailed I’m getting on editing photos. Photoshop is a computer power hog (just saying). The Sony Cyber-shot series has a range of picture effects and this camera has my favorite feature the paint feature making colors brighter and artistic.

· “Extra High Sensitivity” technology enhances low-light shooting capabilities

My husband could become a Sony Cyber-shot salesman because he loves this feature most of all. This camera takes excellent shots in daylight and in night, with an automatic low-light shooting capability.

· Full HD Movie Shooting capability (1920×1080/60i) and two direction Optical image stabilization with “Active Mode”

This would be my husband’s second favorite feature. One, he loves taking video, two he loves when a camera has built in stabilization. His hands take terrible video. I love him dearly but it’s true and he knows it.

· 25mm equivalent lens with 4x optical zoom, 8x virtual zoom via “Clear Image Zoom” technology

The picture above is zoomed into the max from where I was standing looking at this peek. It’s taken in amazing clarity with fine detail and in black and white from the camera.

· 3.0-inch LCD touch screen

The touch screen to me is something I don’t really care about. I mean it’s an awesome feature but I still like the tactile feel of the buttons. It’s easy to use though and finding menus on the touch screen was easier than on some of the other Cyber-Shot cameras, so I can’t justify my opinion, it’s just my opinion. I think part of it is that I know screens are usually what eats up battery power.

· Captures 12 MP still images while shooting video via “Dual-Record”

· 16 MP “Exmor R” CMOS sensor

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 will come in five different fashionable colors: orange, green, black, blue and pink and retails for approximately $330

Sony paid for my travel to Sedona and let me play with their cameras

Filed Under: photos, review Tagged With: Arizona, Cyber-shot, cybershot, DSC-TX20 Ultra Slim T Series, review, Sedona, Sony

There’s Lots To Love about The 2012 Acura TSX Sport Wagon

April 12, 2012 By Momstart 15 Comments

I spent a week with the 2012 Acura TSX Sport Wagon and have a good feel of what I like and what I don’t like. Mostly I like, just a few things I would have to get used to if I made the switch to the Acura TSX Sport Wagon.

One thing I would have to get used to is how low it is, but that’s something I could get used to. I hit my head three times getting into the car and one time trying to buckle the kids into it. Which is another thing I don’t really care for. (I do have to mention though that the latch system was super easy to use and latch the seats in)

Car seats are fine and they will fit quite well in the Acura TSX Sport Wagon, but booster seats are a pain in the butt because you have to buckle them every time and it’s hard because the seat belt latch doesn’t extend any. It’s too short. But I know that’s another thing I could get used to, as with anything it would become a routine.

Another thing I had a few issues with was the GPS. I think it was user error but I tried to get myself to the Park N Fly in Seattle and it tried to send me to Ontario, nope wrong address. So I tried to manually enter the address and it wouldn’t let me do that either. I was frustrated. I was probably doing something wrong, and too worried and not thinking clearly. I had a flight to catch and didn’t want to miss it. My husband was able to use the GPS system with no problem at all. We looked at the route using the highway and using side streets. It’s nice because you can avoid tolls and traffic.

The Acura Navigation System, the centerpiece of the TSX Sport Wagon Technology Package, is operated by a hard drive and viewed through a full VGA, 8-inch screen, making it faster, easier to read and more useful than ever before.

The high-resolution, 8-inch screen is mounted high in the center control panel to minimize eye diversion from the road.
You can enter an address or dial a location from its vast destination database, using the interface dial or the Voice Recognition system.
The system will plot your path on the map and show special displays to guide you through freeway ramps, interchanges and forks in the road and even provide voiced guidance, if desired.
Additional features include Zagat Survey^® restaurant reviews, available AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic™ with Traffic Rerouting™ information and AcuraLink^® Real-Time Weather™¹³ that can help you get around delays while traveling to your desired destination.
Following the 90-day free trial period, the AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic and Weather data services are available on a subscription basis for a fee, which can be combined or separate from other XM^® subscriptions.

Interstates and expressways are color-coded to indicate traffic flow levels.
Icons indicate the location of incidents and traffic conditions affected by construction and weather.

The locks on the doors would take a little adjustment on my part too. I’m used to my kids being able to open their doors when we get somewhere and they can’t open them. I mean it might be a good thing if you don’t want your kids running in the street, but I’ve grown accustomed to the doors unlocking when I remove the key from the ignition. So having to unlock the doors for the kids was different for me, but as I think about it there have been plenty of times when I’ve had to yell, don’t leave the car yet!!!

I Love driving it. It’s sporty and feels fast, it turns well and responds even better. I love the heated seats. I love the sun roof. The seats are quite comfy too and the front seat was very adjustable with key memory. When key number one unlocks the car seat one is preset and ready for the driver when they get in.

Every TSX Sport Wagon comes equipped with sumptuous, soft, perforated-leather front seats that provide the ideal balance of indulgence and support.

Dual-level heated seats enhance the dual-zone, dual-mode automatic climate control system for added comfort on cold days.
The driver will find just the right seating position with an 8-way power seat with adjustable lumbar support, and the front passenger has a 4-way power adjustment.
Perforated seating surfaces breathe to provide long-term comfort in hot weather.
Deep side bolsters secure you on curves, while the seatbacks support the contours of your back for long-term comfort.

With its luxurious rear seats and generous rear passenger room, the TSX Sport Wagon is the epitome of comfort.

Rear seats have the same soft, perforated leather as the front seats.
Rear seat room is outstanding for its class, with impressive leg and headroom for passengers over six feet tall.
Adjustable vents behind the front center console allow rear passengers to direct airflow.
The Acura/ELS Surround^®³² Sound System on the Technology Package has strategically placed speakers to give rear passengers the surround sound audio effect enjoyed by front passengers.

And this car is the car for music and entertainment lovers. It connect to just about everything. Your phone connects over Bluetooth for music play and for phone calls. We connected our phone over the wire and played our favorite playlists that way. The car has a built in hard drive and will copy music you insert allowing you to make a playlist in your car.

Approximately 3,500-song 15GB hard disk drive memory (HDD) media storage with shuffle, playlist creation, and an updatable Gracenote® database
DVD-A, MP3, WMA⁶ and DTS-compatible disc player
460-watt amplifier with digital 96 kHz sampling for crystal-clear sound
10 speakers—1 per door, 2 tweeters, 1 center mid-range, 2 rear surround, 1 powered 8-inch sub-woofer
Detailed audio system displays through the navigation screen¹⁰
Almost all functions can be performed by Voice Recognition
Song by Voice™, which allows songs stored in the HDD or in an iPod^® to be accessed by voice command
The Note function music reminder that lets you store song information and a 10-second sample as it’s aired on an XM^® Radio⁴ station so you can recall it later

It also has amazing speakers and sound. Premium 10-speaker Sound System to reproduce music the way it is heard in the recording studio. The system can play 5.1 surround sound DVD-A discs, the highest-fidelity sound medium available. Surround sound can also be extracted from any stereo digital source, thanks to Dolby^®⁵ Pro Logic^® II circuitry.

It’s easy to take your digital music library along for the ride in your TSX Sport Wagon. A USB⁷ connection interfaces with Apple^® iPod^®⁸ players and other USB mass storage devices, such as flash drives that contain MP3, WMA⁶ or AAC music files.

On a compatible iPod^®, music selection can be controlled through the audio system, including the steering wheel-mounted controls.
The USB will charge a compatible iPod^® while it’s playing.
You can plug in, select, and play music from a flash drive or other USB storage device.
Track and folder information appears on the center display to simplify music search and selection.
An auxiliary input jack can be connected to any personal audio device.
Both the USB and auxiliary inputs are within the center console-covered storage area, where devices can be conveniently carried and discreetly stored.

I also love how easy it is to open the back hatch. It opens with the keychain, or from an inside button in the car and it closes with the touch of a button.

Press a button on the key fob, and the tailgate will automatically open for you. And when you’re finished loading or unloading, just press the button again and it powers down and latches.

The tailgate will also activate from a button on the driver’s door, as well as by a button on the tailgate itself.
In the event of a power failure, the tailgate can be raised and lowered manually.
When opening or closing, the tailgate will automatically reverse itself if it encounters a sufficient obstruction.

Overall I really liked having the The Acura TSX Sport Wagon. It gets pretty good gas mileage: EPA Fuel Economy Estimates: 22 city MPG & 30 Highway MPG.

I used the car for a week, returned it and was not compensated in any way.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: Acura, Car review, sports wagon, The Acura TSX Sport Wagon

Peppa Pig – A Cute Little Friend with Fun Family and Friends

April 11, 2012 By Momstart 16 Comments

By: Ashley

With all of the cleaning, chaos, and clutter that comes with moving, I have let Atticus watch A LOT more TV than usual. I’ve learned (or maybe “accepted” is the better word) that TV is not the worst thing in the world… it really just matters what is being watched. That said, I have been really happy with Peppa Pig. At first I had never heard of the cute little pig who captivates audience with a perky little British accent. Why a British accent? Peppa Pig has been a favorite in the UK for quite some time. Last year, Peppa and her family made their way onto Nick, Jr. in the US and have been a hit!

I like Peppa Pig because, please forgive my candid comment, it isn’t annoying. Yep, I said it. Many children’s shows can have odd voices, or scenarios that simply don’t make sense. Peppa Pig does a great job of entertaining children. The animation is simple and moves fairly slowly. I think this is great as it doesn’t over stimulate younger viewers. There seems to be a little something for all younger children. There is clear descriptive language that helps little ones build their vocabulary, there are simple cause and effect situations (great for helping children understand causal relationships), and stories that focus on family, friendship… and FUN!

I have to admit that my FAVORITE thing about Peppa Pig is the humor. I am not kidding when I say that I chuckled more than once or twice over some of the silly situations that come up on Peppa Pig. I actually just finished watching an episode called Cleaning the Car with Atticus and couldn’t help but laugh when Peppa accidentally squirted her mother and little brother (George) with the water hose! It’s great to watch silly things that I can laugh about with Atticus and know that there is also a positive message. No, not squirting your family with a water hose! (Though there is a time and a place… ) The Pig family worked together to clean the car… and had a good time doing it. THAT is something that I want him to hold on to.

Great messages and great educational benefits are what make Peppa Pig something that I’m comfortable letting Atticus watch. Thanks to Peppa Pig and her family… they’ve helped our family have fun while working on our own adventure! You should check it out too! Don’t know where? Check your TV listings, order some DVDs online, or even go to Nick Jr. online to meet Peppa and her family. We’ve loved the DVD and goodies that we received for this review. Hopefully we’ll see some more of the Peppa goodies here in the US soon!

About Ashley: Ashley is a mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and former teacher working to navigate through the mysterious world of Mommyia. Read more about her adventures at www.Momicles.com.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me by the manufacturer or a representing PR firm. All opinions expressed were my own and not influenced by monetary compensation.

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