christmasguide Archives

Misikko Ceramic Flat Iron Review and #giveaway

December 27, 2009 by Momstart 1,172 Comments

Misikko sent me one of their professional flat irons to review. I opened it up and was quite impressed with the quality. In fact after reviewing it, I thought it would make the perfect Christmas present. It is probably the best flat iron I have ever seen.

misikko_2046_1089445

Picture of the Happy Recipient on Christmas Day:

About ceramic flat irons:

True ceramic flat irons are difficult to find. Solid ceramic is expensive & easily broken during manufacturing. FHI & Hana are two of the world’s only makers of true ceramic plates. The benefits of real ceramic plates are: superior infrared heat and negative ion output (providing smoother unbroken hair); plate surfaces that won’t chip, peel, or wear; and lifelong superior performance.

What does all that mean? I look at the prices of these professional flat irons and I can hardly understand it, but then I look at the description, the quality, the fact that my hair is going to be straight as a board and not rip in the process, or be burned and over processed in the procedure. I can rest assured that the price is worth the quality. Also, I can be assured that it’s going to last. The product is going to continue to service me and keep up with time as the years go by.

About Chi flat iron:

Professional salon model
Moist ceramic heat with ceramic plates and coils
Ceramic produces negative ions (ionic) far infrared heat and will maintain even temperature all the time, seal the hair cuticle, repel humidity and lock in hair color.
Doesn’t damage or dry hair like traditional copper coils
On-Off switch located inside flat iron to prevent accidental shut off
Lightweight design
Fits in a standard curling iron station
Flash quick heating
Saves energy – CHI only uses 20-25 watts of electricity
Versatile "all in one" ergonomic design: create sleek, straight locks, flips or curls
360 degree swivel cord to prevent tangling

About FHI flat iron:

Adjustable Temperature: 140 to 450 Degrees F
Ceramic Plate Size: 90mm x 26mm (3 1/2" x 1")
Automatic Sense Recovery System: Quickly recovers heat to the ceramic plates
Multi Functional Hair Styling Iron: Straightens, Curls, Flips, and capable of creating many different styles
ON/OFF Switch with LED light
Heat up time in seconds
Efficient and cost effective to operate
Swivel power cord: will never tangle
Power Consumption only 58 Watts
Self adjusting plate system
Seals cuticle to lock in moisture and repel humidity with negative ions from Tourmaline
Protects color and retards fading
Eliminates Frizz
Nano Silver, Nano Titanium, and Nano Titanium Oxide technology removes chemicals, bacteria and adds shine!
Made in Korea
1 Year manufacturers warranty

Enter to win one Hana Elite Flat Iron from Misikko.

To Enter:

Visit misikko and tell me what other product you would love to try, be specific please (required)

Follow misikko on twitter. (3 extra entries)

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog or facebook about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet this:

@momstart and @misikko are giving away a professional ceramic flat iron http://bit.ly/5RyqS3

The contest will run until January 11th 11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Last Minute Stocking Stuffer Audiovox EarBudeez, The Cool Headphones #giveaway

December 19, 2009 by Momstart 580 Comments

EarBudeez come in a variety of fun colors and packaging, each reflective of the tween listeners’ sense of style. In time for the holidays, they’ve even created a limited-edition package shaped to look like Santa and his elves! EarBudeez are super-affordable and compatible with virtually every media device including Apple’s iPod and iPhone. They can be purchased at Toys R’ Us, Walmart, and amazon.com.

For slightly older listeners, the HeadShox earbuds offer a contoured design, changeable eartips and packaging that mimics popular energy drinks. Check out both products here

iPod/iPhone compatible

Small bud size perfect for little ears

Collectible character case

13.5mm driver for superior sound

Colors to match your player

You can enter to win a pair for yourself.

To Enter:

Tell me what you would use them with?

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog or facebook about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you did
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: (two entries for each one)
Add my button/blog to your blogroll/friend list 3 extra entries

American Express 50.00 Gift Cards Holiday #giveaway

December 17, 2009 by Momstart 1,659 Comments

When it comes to blogging I’m a huge procrastinator. I can always find an excuse to not write that review. When it comes to shopping, I’m just into “whatever is the simplest let’s do that”. I wouldn’t call myself a shopping procrastinator but more of a hater of shopping. Never would have guessed that about a mommy blogger would you? But if you asked me if I still have Christmas Shopping to do? The truth would be yes.

I need to get a gift for my parents, all four of them. Ooops, I was going to make photo books again but I never got it done. I’m so embarrassed.

Did you know that this is the last Saturday before Christmas, it’s the Super Bowl for shopping, I mean, this day can be bigger than the day after Thanksgiving. Super Saturday is coming up fast and American Express wants to be there for you.

Just Purchase an American Express Gift Card.

American Express Gift Cards come in denominations of $25, $50, $100, and $200, and are available for purchase online at www.americanexpress.com/gift, and at over 70,000 retailers nationwide

American Express Gift Cards are 100% gift, and 0% fees for:

activation
checking a balance
monthly servicing or card replacement
AND the funds on the card never expire

This year you can pick up a special gift card with unique styles. The styles for Holiday 2009 include:

Limited edition designs by pop-artist Peter Max, best known for his recent Presidential portraits and “Cosmic” art of the 1960s
New customizable gift card designs so buyers can write personal messages to the recipients

Gift cards are expected to top wish lists everywhere this holiday

There is no way I can get these cards in your hands before Christmas so I’m going to offer them as after Christmas treats you can use yourself. Hey, don’t even tell your spouse if you want. keep it to yourself, or share it if you want. Donate it to your local charity. I have 10 50.00 Gift Cards to giveaway.

To Enter:

American Express wants to know what you will buy yourself with it.

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 2 extra entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 5 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!

Discovery Toys Gift Guide an educational toy company

December 17, 2009 by Momstart 2 Comments

As I mentioned in an older post. Discovery Toys sent me some toys as a donation to my Toy Drive. I want to thank them with a gift guide. I just feel guilty that it’s such a late gift guide.

Gift Guide:

For Infants:

GO GO CATERPILLAR

One gentle press sends this little guy zooming across the floor! Whirling rainbow beads in the wheels cause baby to gleefully chase after his frisky friend. The cause-and-effect action builds baby’s early thinking skills, while the rolling motion prompts baby to strengthen his little "scoot around" muscles

BABY GROOVES

hake, rattle and roll! This playful rhythm band is designed to create pleasing sounds that promote sensory stimulation, hand-eye coordination nad beginning musical awareness. Instruments feature different shapes and textures that are safe for tiny fingers and mouths. Set includes: Cage Bell, Baby Maraca, Cymbal Shaker, Bead Roller, Play-Along Music CD and BONUS Skill Card with ideas for extra playtime fun! from 6 mos to preschool

For Toddlers:

RAINFALL RATTLE

Move it just a little bit – then watch and listen! Your baby’s touch is all that’s needed to treat little eyes and ears to a stream of colorful, melodic beads that cascade gently from end-to-end and back again in this fascinating to

MY BUSY DAY

Ten touch-and-feel building blocks, each highlighting a different part of your little one’s day. From the breakfast block with its bumpy placemat to the naptime block with a fuzzy teddy, little ones experience their own story in 3-D. Big colorful blocks can be stacked, balanced and nested easily

For Pre-School:

PLAYFUL PATTERNS®

It’s an early childhood pre-math and pre-reading learning center in a box! Set includes 132 geometric shapes made of slip-proof foam plus 34 progressively challenging designs on 6" x 6" cards. Your child can use the shapes to match the card designs or to create open-ended, original patterns and pictures.

BUSY PETS

This tactile set of brightly colored pet manipulatives provides children with hands-on learning, beginning with concepts of color, matching, sorting, counting and classification. Add in the 2-sided spinner and numbered die for a series of fun counting games. The activity guide offers progressively challenging pre-math activities to grow with your child. 6 pet styles in 5 colors.
from 3 years to primary school

Donations they made and also great additions to the gift guide:

The Caterpillar Shape Sorter (15),

Busy Farm (20) and

Flip Flop Faces (23)

Thank you to Discovery Toys for the donations and review items that I have saved for my daughter’s birthday. I will write up the review after her birthday.

Last Minute gift ideas from Nintendo

December 17, 2009 by Momstart 1 Comment

You know, when I made my video game gift guide I completely forgot Nintendo games. Which is crazy because even my husband has purchased games by Nintendo, like the New Super Mario Brothers DS, and Super Mario 64 DS. He liked both of them a great deal, so I feel safe in recommending these others.

Super Mario 64 DS [Nintendo DS Game] New Super Mario Bros. [Nintendo DS Game]

FAMILY / KIDS / LOYALISTS

New Super Mario Bros. Wii – Wii – $49.99 – Nov. 15

Developers at Nintendo have dreamed of creating a simultaneous multiplayer Super Mario Bros. game for decades. The Wii console finally makes that dream come true for everyone. Now players can navigate the side-scrolling worlds alone as before or invite up to three others to join them at the same time on the same level at any point in the game for competitive and cooperative multiplayer fun.

With the multiplayer mode, the newest installment of the most popular video game franchise is designed to bring yet another type of family entertainment into living rooms and engage groups of friends in fast-paced Super Mario Bros. fun.

Features:

New Super Mario Bros. Wii offers a combination of cooperation and competition. Players can pick each other up to save them from danger or toss them into it.
Mario, Luigi™ and two Toads are all playable characters, while many others from the Mushroom Kingdom make appearances throughout the game. Players can even ride different Yoshi™ characters and use their tongues to swallow enemies, items and even balls of fire.
In some areas, players use the motion abilities of the Wii Remote™ controller. The first player to reach a seesaw might make it tilt to help his or her character reach a higher platform – or might make it tilt incorrectly just to mess with other players.
New items include the propeller suit, which will shoot players high into the sky with just a shake of the Wii Remote, and Mario’s new ability to transform into Penguin Mario.
At the end of each stage during the coin battle multiplayer mode, players are ranked based on the number of coins they have collected.

FAMILY / MOMS / SENIORS

Wii Fit Plus – Wii – $19.99 (game only); $99.99 (with Wii Balance Board) – Oct. 4

Wii Fit attracted millions of new players to the world of video games. Now Wii Fit Plus offers a range of new features and enhancements to help players reinvigorate their workouts, along with exercises and balance games designed to keep them fun. Players will find a new dimension to the Wii Fit experience as they easily set their own customized workout routines or choose 20-, 30- or 40-minute workouts based on how much time they have available. Users will also be able to choose from specialized workout routines that focus on an individual’s personal fitness goals or certain target areas. And with the addition of activities like Skateboarding and Rhythm Kung Fu, players will be using the Wii Balance Board accessory in a variety of new and fun ways.

Features:

Workouts combine the original Wii Fit activities and selections from 15 new activities and six new strength training and yoga exercises.
Users can input the amount of time they want to spend on their workouts or select an area for personal improvement, and Wii Fit Plus will suggest a number of diverse activities for them.
For the first time, users can mix and match which strength and yoga activities they prefer on a given day. The seamless exercise flows make it easier than ever for users to maintain their daily workout routines.
Users might be asked to run an obstacle course across a series of platforms, zoom across a beach on a Segway® x2 Personal Transporter or flap their arms to help their hilarious chicken-suited characters aim for targets.
The range of games and customization options will make players want to play every day. They’ll be having so much fun that their workouts will seem to fly by in no time at all.
Players also can see estimates of calories burned and can even activate a feature that lets them weigh their dogs or cats.
Wii Fit Plus comes packaged with the Wii Balance Board accessory. For people who already own Wii Fit, the Wii Fit Plus disc will be available for purchase separately.

GIRLS – TEENS

Style Savvy – Nintendo DS/DSi – $29.99 – Nov. 2

Put Some Style in Your Stylus
Style Savvy combines creativity and fashion with a collection of trendy clothes, chic accessories and stylish shoes. As the owner of a clothing boutique, you must purchase inventory, monitor the store’s funds and try to please a constant stream of customers who look to you for the best fashions.

Features:

You can stock your store with items from 16 different in-game designer labels, each with its own distinct style and price point. Style Savvy includes more than 10,000 items and a range of customers with a variety of styles and personalities.
Every day customers who walk through the door of your shop tell you their shopping budget and the kind of clothing they want. If you make them look good, they’ll be back – or they might even stick around and spend more.
Once you build up some cash, then it’s time for you to go shopping to stock your store. You can expand your inventory or start getting ready for seasonal changes, which are timed to the calendar of the Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi system.
You can make a local wireless connection with up to three of your friends to host a fashion runway contest to see who has the best eye for fashion.
If two players have Style Savvy game cards, they can connect their Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi systems locally to visit each other’s stores. Players who have broadband wireless Internet access can connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and walk around other players’ stores and browse their best wares. Players can find their favorite coordinates, download them and wear them.
You can customize the look of your character with different head shapes, eyes and lips. Or you can modify your look by changing your hair color, getting a new hair style or adding makeup.

BOYS – TEENS

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks – Nintendo DS/DSi – $34.99 – Dec. 7

All Aboard for an Amazing New Adventure
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks sets hero Link on a daring new adventure. The game provides players with a new story, more puzzles and even a new mode of transportation. In this game, Link voyages by train, which offers up new possibilities for problem-solving. The game has the same look and feel established in the hit Nintendo DS game The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.

Features:

Link has a valuable new companion. While navigating dungeons, he’s accompanied by a Phantom, a hulking suit of armor that responds to his commands. Players can tap the Phantom to take command of him, then draw a line on the touch screen to direct him where to go. The stout Phantom can walk through fire or lava, be used as a platform to carry Link above dangers, or even run interference to block Link from harm.
When Link conducts the train, players enjoy a satisfying combination of action and real-time puzzle solving as they determine which track to take and how to best manipulate their speed. When on the train, Link must plot the best route to the end of the line around ever-moving obstacles. While en route, Link might need to fire an onboard cannon at enemies who attack the train or sound the whistle to scare animals off the tracks.
Link uses a variety of new items and weapons, including the Whirlwind, which players activate by blowing into the microphone of the Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi system.
As with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, players can draw notes on the in-game maps using the stylus on the touch screen.

KIDS (BOY or GIRL)

Nintendo DSi – Hardware – $169.99 – April 5

Must Have Item for the Holidays

The DSi offers tons of cool features – you can take pictures, manipulate them and post online (i.e. on your Facebook page); share between DSi units with friends; save music to an SD card and listen to it on the DSi and manipulate the music. It’s all about interaction and social play. Not just listening to music but “playing” with music. Not just taking pictures but “playing” with pictures. And then sharing with friends and family. You can also download tons of games and applications right to the DSi for just a few dollars…or free for some apps.

Features:

Two built-in cameras with 680 x 480 pixel resolution, 0.3 megapixels.
Wireless Communication with ability to connect to Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo’s wireless gaming network, and download demo versions of Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi games from DS Download Stations, Nintendo Zone™, or via the Nintendo Channel of the Wii™ console.
Touch-screen controls with embedded microphone for voice recognition.
Embedded PictoChat™ software allows one user to draw pictures, or up to 16 users within local range of one another to chat at once; embedded real-time clock; date, time and alarm; touch-screen calibration.
Easy-to-use parental controls allows parents or guardians the ability to manage access to Nintendo DSi exclusive and compatible software based on the ESRB rating, PictoChat, DS Download Play, Nintendo DSi Browser, and certain user-created content that may be inappropriate for some members of their household. It can also help manage the use of Nintendo DSi Points in the Nintendo DSi Shop and wireless exchange of photo data.

Ben 10 Alien Swarm Live Action Movie From Cartoon Network #giveaway

December 11, 2009 by Momstart 169 Comments

I wanted the opportunity to give this movie, Ben 10 Alien Swarm, away on Mom Start because I have been so deep in Ben 10 Products this year. I felt like this is a great fit even though it looks way to scary for my kids to watch. Should be perfect as a Christmas Gift for older children though, the ones in the tween age boy category?

B10AS-DVD 3D sku

About Ben 10 Alien Swarm:

This is sequel to Ben 10: Race Against Time. The movie was released in November and is rated TV-PG. This live-action movie was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. The director of this movie is Alex Winter, Ryan Kelley as Ben, Nathan Keyes as Kevin, and Galadriel Stineman as Gwen. The script was written by the writer of Fantastic Four part 2, John Turman. The plot is that our world is threatened with an imminent invasion from a swarming alien menace. And there is only one hero brave enough, smart enough and tough enough to fight back – Ben Tennyson! But when Ben teams up with an outsider, he breaks rank with Gwen, Kevin and Max and risks losing against the toughest enemy he has ever faced. The stakes are high and the action is intense as Ben fights to protect our planet from the Alien Swarm!

You can watch the trailer here:

To Enter:

Visit Ben 10 Alien Swarm and tell me who your favorite character is.

Extra Entries:

Become a fan of Ben 10 on Facebook

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you did
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: Dig, Stumble, or fav me on Technorati (two entries for each one)
Add my button/blog to your blogroll/friend list 3 extra entries

Giving Back this Holiday Season using influence as a blogger and two giveaways by sharing yours.

December 9, 2009 by Momstart 12 Comments

I have been collecting toys for a few months now. I have wanted to make a difference in my community so my husband and I thought of what way I could best make a difference. I hope to encourage other bloggers to use their influence to acquire donations for charity in your communities. Review Giveaway bloggers receive so much. How much of it do you really need? If a company offers you something and it fits your blog, and in my opinion if you are a “review/giveaway” blogger then everything fits. Just don’t overwhelm yourself, it’s easy to do. Don’t keep it, review it and donate it. I know a ton of places won’t take items that are opened but some will, especially if you explain this was a review item. I used it, tested it and that’s it. It’s still in good condition so it will be wonderful for someone else. My husband received tons of used toys for Christmas and he loved them. He was still happy. Children in need aren’t going to care if their toy was used.

I know that the Top Bloggers are in such a position to help others. Do it. I urge you, and it’s easy.

It’s also so easy to get your kids involved. Mine are only two and three and I have them helping me with food drives, cookie drives, and toy drives. Activities as families are enriching and engaging. We all grow together.

The Back Story:

There was a short time in my husband’s childhood he was homeless. His parents were proud and it was very hard for them to ask for help. He lived in an apple orchard for a while and he thought it was fun. He doesn’t like for me to share details of his life on my blog so I will leave the story part at that.

It was because of churches and small places like Food Banks that he was able to get toys for Christmas. Family sometimes gave him older toys and he cherished them. So I’m inspired by my husband’s youth to want to give back to smaller places that reach local people in my community. So I teamed up with My MOMS Club, and the power of my influence as a blogger to gather toys. My MOMS Club wanted to include the kids so we are going to also to a cookie drive for the elderly.

We always have a cookie exchange and end up with too many cookies to take home for the holidays. None of us want anymore sweets in the house so we’re going to put them in tins and give them to The Maltby Food Bank. Because we want the kids involved they are going to help drop off the donations. I already dropped off my set of toys because of my surgery. My kids helped me take pictures of all the toys.

Mom Start collected a ton of toys this pictures half of what we collected:

Think Wow Toys donated ICEE Instant Slushy Maker (30) and EZ-2Make Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Maker Play Set (54)

Discovery Toys Donated three different learning toys. I’m very impressed with their quality. The Caterpillar Shape Sorter (15), Busy Farm (20) and

Flip Flop Faces (23)

Educational Insights donated Blurt The Webster’s Game of Word Racing (23)

Nerf N-Strike Switch Shot EX-3 Yellow (40)

Mr. Potato Head Silly Suitcase (32)

Two 20th anniversary water guns. These are the same guns my husband and I both had as kids.Super Soaker 50 Water Blaster – 20th Anniversary Edition (15)

Room Tech Beingz Alarm Clock Radio – Yellow/green (60)

Strawberry Shortcake Playset – Berry Cafe (29)

crocs Toddler/Little Kid Scooby Doo Cayman Clog (30)

Assorted Bandai Ben 10 and Kamen Rider Toys (50)

Two Helmet Heroes (100)

OgoSport sent us a Super Sports Disk and some darts (40)

Nerf N-Force Sword – Shadow Fury Blue (25)

Jakks Pacific donated, Dunkaroo (8), Style Six Screen Printer (40) Gx Racers and accessories (50) and Candy Bead Studio (20)

Klutz Invasion of BristleBots (20), The Encyclopedia of Immaturity 2 (20), Paper Fashions Fancy (21)

Not Pictured:

2 My Friendship Bracelet (50), Leap Frog DVD Set (20), Colgate Products Dora the Explorer(15), The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, Vol. 1 (14), Daisy Greenway Interactive Camper and accessories (100), Shred Sled (119)

About 1000.00 Total, this doesn’t include all of the video games and books. Thank you to all of the companies involved with my Toy Drive. Thanks To MOMS Club of Woodinville, I can’t wait to see the pictures of all of your toys that we are going to add to these. Happy Holidays.

(as you can see my kids had a blast with the donations)

I have a ton of sheets that I received from Kmart and Sears that we are going to donate along with the Bubleride Stroller and an evenflo car seat if it every shows up. The Food Bank doesn’t take these kinds of items so we are going to donate them to a local shelter for women who find themselves pregnant and no way to take care of the baby, Special Delivery.

Robeez and Twitter Moms are giving back:

Join Robeez and TwitterMoms as they share their heart-felt stories on how they are giving back this holiday season. The first 50 bloggers to post will receive a free pair of Robeez Soft Soles! And that’s not all! 10 randomly selected bloggers will receive a $50 Stride Rite gift card to shop in stores and a free pair of Robeez Soft Soles! And, one lucky grand prize winner gets the entire Robeez Soft Sole spring collection!

Mom bloggers must post about how they are giving back this holiday season. Bloggers must also pick their favorite pair Robeez Soft Sole from the Robeez Web site and mention that, for every pair of Robeez Soft Sole purchases, stride rite will donate that pair to K.I.D.S (Kids In Distressed Situations), through December 23rd. The contest officially ends on mid-night ET on December 23, 2009. All participants will be contacted the week of Jan. 4, 2010.
K.I.D.S brings hope and self-esteem to children in need and their families by providing new clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books and juvenile products donated by leading manufacturers and retailers. The donations move through their network of community social service agencies in the U.S. and abroad to reach children who are ill, living in poverty, or are the victims of natural disasters.

Entry Rules

My favorite pair is the Boardin Bear in espresso.

Dole Wants to Give Back

Dole is donating 25.00 to The Maltby Food Bank for advertising about their Share the Goodness program.

DOLE has launched its "Share the Goodness" contest and I thought you might be interested in entering!

It’s as easy as holiday pie. Just share a fun holiday photo (with a caption describing your family’s tradition) to become a part of the virtual DOLE mosaic poster. Then send an eCard to friends and family, inviting them to see your pic and share their own photos at www.DoleShares.com. And get this…the grand prize winner will receive $5,000 and $5,000 will be contributed to their local food bank. If the grand prize winner is a friend you referred, you also win $2,000! Now that’s a memorable friendship!

Enter to Win 100.00 at Bloggers Give.

To Enter:

Visit bloggers Give for instructions.

(If the flow of this article is off, I’m still on pain pills from my surgery, I blame that)

Playskool/Hasbro Holiday Gift Guide and some donations too, Thank You Hasbro.

December 8, 2009 by Momstart 2 Comments

As you may know I’ve been asking companies for donations to give to charity. Hasbro/Playskool stepped it up and donated almost 300.00 worth of toys. So they deserve much more than one post, but it’s all I have time for right now.

For birth plus, I recommend the Glow Worm. Both of my children had one. My daughter lost hers and we had to replace it so then we passed it on to my son. He didn’t get as much use out of it but my daughter cuddled with it at night.

PLAYSKOOL PLAY FAVORITES LULLABY GLOWORM (Pink)

For ages 6 months plus, I highly recommend the Busy Ball Popper.

Miles played with this toy for a year, we had to take it away because they didn’t share it well. It’s always been a popular toy at playgroup too.

For ages 18 months plus the classic Mr. Potato Head.

PLAYSKOOL MR. POTATO HEAD SILLY SUITCASE

My kids play with my husband’s collection. He has so many different Mr. Potato Heads, Transformer, Party, Fireman, I don’t even know all of them. Mr. Potato Head was donated to the Maltby Food Bank, courtesy of Hasbro.

We also enjoy the Clippo the Hippo.

The creativity of a can of playdoh can last for hours. At Walmart you can purchase individual colors and I did for my kids stockings. You can guess right? Purple for my daughter and my son chose blue and black.

For ages 3+ Playskool Dinoroars Monty Rex seems like an excellent choice.

PLAYSKOOL DINOROARS MONTY REX

My son Miles loves dinosaurs, I’m not sure I’ve met a child that doesn’t. Going Roar is a lovable classic. My son thinks most animals go “ROAR”. Touch his back and he’ll stomp, roar and purr his way into your heart! Moving his arms and head — just like a real dino! – this mischievous MONTY REX dinosaur pet sniffs and sneezes too! Wanna “rock” out like they did in the Stone Age?

DINO ROARS HATCHLINGS

(PLAYSKOOL/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99-$16.99/Available: Now)

Preschoolers will want to collect all of the adorable HATCHLINGS dinosaurs! For the first time, dino-loving tots can have their very own newborn T-Rex, Pterodactyl, Stegosaurus, or Triceratops as a playful pet. The HATCHLINGS dinosaurs respond to touch with a variety of lifelike movements and prehistoric sounds, and each comes with a fun dino fact card. Two additional HATCHLINGS dinosaurs, a Brontosaurus and Hadrasaur, will be available this fall for even more prehistoric play! Requires three "AAA" batteries, included. Each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

DINO ROARS Stompers

(PLAYSKOOL/Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99/Available: Fall 09)

With exciting movements and lifelike sounds, these walking dino pals are sure to become toddler’s best friend. Push a sensor on the dinosaur’s back to see it "come to life!" The lively triceratops stompers pal marches and throws its head back, and the adorable anklysaurus stompers dino swings its tail as it stomps forwards. Each realistic, roaring dinosaur friend is sold separately. Requires three “AA” batteries, included. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Play-Doh Burger Builder is also for ages 3+

The PLAY-DOH BURGER BUILDER set is back and better than ever! Interchangeable molds offer everything kids need to create the perfect PLAY-DOH hamburger including tomatoes, lettuce, buns, and more. In addition, kids can crank out pretend potato or pickle chips with the exciting TWIST-A-CHIP Super Tool. Set includes five 2-ounce cans of colorful PLAY-DOH compound. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

It’s nice because it comes with five colors of play doh in small containers the kids can play with, the pepper mill is improved from their past design. It’s easier to get playdoh our of. The last one I had to throw away. My complaint, it doesn’t fit back in the box after you put it together. I would love it if Play Doh sold a caddy that you can put a variety of sets in.

Strawberry Shortcake – Shortcake’s Berry Cafe for ages 4 +

This was also donated. I was supposed to open it and review it but it had so many small pieces that I didn’t want my son to play with it. My daughter was crazy about it. It’s like a cute little house

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE - STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE'S BERRY CAFÉ

It comes with comes with mini scented Strawberry Shortcake figure, dress, hat, bed, bed tray, 2 “fruit smoothies”, 2 “ice cream””muffins”, tray with 3 “croissants”, tray with “pie”, tray with 4 “cupcakes”, plate with “slice of cake”, plate of “sandwiches”, plate with “waffles”, plate with “pancakes”, 2 mugs, counter with smoothie blender, oven basket, bistro table and 2 bistro chairs accessories.

You gotta get an I-Dog, the soft I-Dog Soft Speaker (pink) for ages 8+ but I have given it to my two year old.

I-DOG Soft Speaker (Pink)

We like the I-Dog because you can plug in a Zune or an I-Pod and you can tuck it into the dogs belly pocket. So the kids can’t play with the Zune. It would be nice if the belly was clear so they could watch the movies and home videos that are on the Zune, but it’s perfect. Zune’s or at least the old ones don’t have speakers so it’s the perfect solution to letting your two year old play with your electronics. My kids cuddle with it and love to hit the nose they can watch the lights light up.

Another for ages 8+

NERF DART TAG CAPTURE THE FLAG SET

You’ll have to use your stealth and speed to win NERF’s adrenaline-pumping twist on capture the flag. Complete with two redesigned scoring vests, two STORMFIRE blasters, six DART TAG DARTS and a new Electronic Flag, the NERF DART TAG CAPTURE THE FLAG Set offers an advanced way to enjoy classic DART TAG action. The Electronic Flag features flashing lights, sounds and motion sensors and includes three built-in game modes: Battle your opponents to see who can capture the Flag and not get tagged! Or race to “seek” and “disarm” the Flag with challenging five and fifteen-minute timed modes. Requires two “AA” batteries; not included. Each Set sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

Hasbro and Playskool sent us three items to review, the I-Dog, Strawberry Shortcake, and Playdoh Burger Builder. Separately they also sent us The Mr. Potato Head Suitcase, Two 25th anniversary Nerf Water guns, Hasbro’s Nerf Wii, Nerf N Strike Wii Video Game, Two Helmet Heroes, Room Tech Beingz, and a Nerf Sword all for donations. It was our choice to donate Strawberry Shortcake.

Food Network Holiday Gift Guide

December 7, 2009 by Momstart 2 Comments

My husband recently purchased me a subscription to the Food Network Magazine. I’ve browsed through it a few times and looked at their decorating gift ideas and found some of them to be very creative. They didn’t exactly look like they could be accomplished in five minutes or less so I didn’t even try them out. Magazines are a perfect way to collect extra coupons. In fact, most magazines you can either get for free and then make money from the coupons or use the coupons to pay for the subscriptions.

I did take a look at their gift guide though. I thought a few of the items were worth mentioning on my blog.

First Bobby Flay is the like the guy of Food Network. He seems to be a part of all of the reality shows and just has what it takes to do it all.

Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill Cookbook: Explosive Flavors from the Southwestern Kitchen features recipes for the signature cuisine he developed at his first restaurant, along with drool-inducing photos. Flay preps the reader for culinary adventure with a tequila guide followed by four different margarita recipes, and then sets off on a whirlwind tour of flavorful dishes inspired by the American Southwest. A chapter on brunches turns up the heat with dishes like Egg and Aged Sirloin Tortillas with Three-Pepper Relish. Coming full circle by drawing upon recipes from Mesa Grill, his first eatery, Flay also slyly opens the door for a series of cookbooks based on his other properties.

Rachael Ray is so big now she has her own TV show. She still on the Food Network occasionally but not that often. She’s really never been one of my favorite chefs. My husband always thought she cheated on 40.00 dollars a day.

Rachael Ray Lasagna Lover Set $39.99

This three-piece set comes in green, blue and orange and is exclusive to Food Network Store! Rachael’s Lasagna Lover pan measures 9 x 13” and holds enough lasagna, casserole or mac n’ cheese to feed a hungry crowd. What’s more, it’s safe for the freezer, oven, microwave, and dishwasher, yet it’s also attractive enough for the table. And the two included spatulas mean you’ll have everything you need to get dinner on the table.

Rachael Ray Moppine Set $22.95

Rachael Ray is rarely seen without a moppine over her shoulder on her show 30 Minute Meals, and soon as you try one you’ll understand why. Rachael’s invention gives you a dish towel and oven mitt all in one, which means no more running around the kitchen looking for potholders to take something out of the oven, or a towel to wipe up a spill– the moppine takes care of it all. Moppines come in a set of 3 and are available in blue stripe, orange stripe, green, gold, red, and blue.

My husband’s favorite is Alton Brown, I think men just like the science of cooking.

New Food Network books: More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives ($12.50), Ace of Cakes ($23.99), and Good Eats ($24.50)

Gift giving for Alton, Guy and Duff fans just got even easier: all three Food Network stars have new books on the shelves. Guy’s More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives picks up where his first book left off and chronicles even more joints he’s visited on the hit show, including recipes, anecdotes and fun tidbits from Guy. Alton’s book Good Eats: The Early Years is the essential companion to the first 80 episodes and includes recipes, photos and production notes. And Ace of Cakes is a layer cake of a book documenting the history of Charm City Cakes, photos and stories of their notable creations, and bios of all the staffers.

Food Network Cook or Be Cooked Wii game $39.99

The very first video game from Food Network is sure to delight FN fans of all ages as they cook along with the game. Kids and adults alike can play Cook or Be Cooked, which features over 30 recipes from Food Network kitchens. Multiple play modes allows for solo play, team play or a “cook off”. Plus, real life Food Network-ers Susie Fogelson and Mory Thomas are there to critique and praise your cooking skills as you go.

Pewter Measuring Cups by Tin Woodsman $177.95

Fans of Paula Deen will recognize these beautiful handcrafted pewter measuring cups from Paula’s countertop. Both beautiful and functional, they’re a unique way to make one of the most mundane kitchen tasks a bit more enjoyable. Measuring cups are handmade in the USA and include ¼, 1/3, ½ and 1 cup measures, plus a stand for display and storage.

Salt Server with Spoon by RSVP $17.95

Anyone who watches Good Eats knows that Alton Brown is no fan of “unitaskers”—products that only serve one purpose. However, after an unfortunate salt and sugar mixup, he made exception for to this salt cellar, which fans of the show will instantly recognize from the Good Eats set. Salt is held securely in a glass bowl, while a stainless steel lid with silicone gasket keeps moisture out.

Guy Fieri Cutlery Set $99.99

Would you expect a knife design from Guy Fieri to be bland and boring? Of course not! Guy designed his cutlery set with Ergo Chef to create knives that perform well and look cool. Super-sharp blades feature Guy’s signature “Knuckle Sandwich” logo, and ergonomic handles are embellished with splashes of red and blue with a star. The set includes an 8-inch chef’s knife and a 5.5-inch serrated utility knife.

Child to Cherish Holiday Gift Guide

November 30, 2009 by Momstart 3 Comments

Child to Cherish is one of the companies I like to work with on Mom Start. The reason is because they are one of the first companies to work with me and they didn’t care about my stats.

Of course, that’s not the most important reason to work with them. The most important is because of the quality they have in their products.

LITTLE BAKER SUITCASE COLLECTION

The new “Little Baker” collection is offered in a Grandma (with grandma mouse and bear designs and Child to Cherish signature wording “Ready or Not Grandma…Here I Come!) or Little Baker series. The 11.25 x 8 x 3.5-inch tin suitcases feature whimsical animal designs with bears, mice and bunnies. Inside the suitcase is everything any little baker needs-apron, wooden rolling pin and spoon, cookie cutters and 5 scrumptious cookie recipes (Sugar, Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, Gingerbread and Snickerdoodle cookies).

Available in either Little Baker Series with three designs (boy, girl, Christmas) or

Grandma Little Baker Series with three designs (boy, girl, Christmas)

Recommended Retail: $40

Capture their little hands while they are still little and hang them on the Christmas tree year after year. Handprint Ornament Red Holly Box. Includes nontoxic plaster, instructions and decorative ribbon. Use box and mold for storage.

Recommended Retail: $ 9.99

Christmas tree in a tin. Replace the tree you use by planting a tree.

Recommended Retail: 6.99

LILY THE LADYBUG BANK picture

I find that piggy banks are hard to find, espically when you are looking for one. Well Child to cherish has a large collection and they are always available.

Recommended Retail: 20.99

"BUTTER" THE COW picture

You can find cute plush like this cow. He’s so cute and I know lots of people like to collect cows. So think of Child to Cherish because they support charity like Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

Recommended Retail: 19.99

child2 I have reviewed the handprint tower of time and it was so easy to use. You can read all the details here but I had to include it in my Child to Cherish Holiday Gift Guide.

Tower of Time Review