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@Pillsbury #PotluckParty #Recipes, Video, #Coupons and More! #MyBlogSpark

December 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago I shared with you that I was hosting a Pillsbury Potluck Party and asked you to vote on the recipe that I should bring to the party.  It was pretty much a landslide that everyone thought that I should bring Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars.  This suggestion was right on the money!  It was everyone’s favorite of all of the recipes shared that evening.  The combination of the chocolate chip cookie dough and creamcheese was divine.  I mean, who doesn’t love cheesecake?  It was so easy to make and so delicious that this will be something that I bring to holiday parties from here on out!

 

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bar Recipe

Prep Time: 10 Min

Total Time: 3 Hr 20 Min

Makes: 16 bars

INGREDIENTS
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup coconut, if desired
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated chocolate chip cookies

DIRECTIONS
1 Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and egg until smooth. Stir in coconut. 2 In ungreased, 9- or 8-inch square pan, break up half of cookie dough. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust. Spread cream cheese mixture over dough. Crumble and sprinkle remaining half of dough over cream cheese mixture. 3 Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until chilled. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store in refrigerator.

Nutritional Information
1 Serving (1 Bar)

Calories 200
(Calories from Fat 90),

Total Fat 10g  (Saturated Fat 4 1/2g, Trans Fat 1g),
Cholesterol 35mg;
Sodium 135mg;
Total Carbohydrate 25g
(Dietary Fiber 0g,
Sugars 18g),
Protein 2g;

My Pillsbury Potluck Party

I hosted my party at my in-laws house because everyone there loves to cook and share recipes.  I thought that this would be such a fun way for the whole family, including my husband’s extended family and brothers, to get together and share food, fun and family.   Plus I was able to prove to my in-laws that I can cook… occasionally.  Well desserts at least!  Below is a video I made that features my family, the recipes shared and the great time we had together during the Pillsbury Potluck.

 

It’s Not Too Late to Host Your Own Pillsbury Potluck Party – Coupons Anyone?

If you need tons of great recipes or inspiration to create your own masterpiece be sure to check out the Ideas Made Easy on Pillsbury.com.  From appetizers to desserts you will be sure to find great ideas that are perfect for any party, potluck or even as a hostess gift!

Plus you can read reviews and get tips from other members of the Pillsbury community before you make the recipe so you needn’t worry if the dish will be a hit or a miss with your guests.

Don’t forget that you can connect with Pillsbury for great recipe ideas everyday by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

Get your coupons and get inspired today!

 

 

 

Disclosure: The Pillsbury product, information, food ideas, online coupon link, and prize pack have been provided by Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark.

Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Chic Mom Finds, comfort foods, coupon, discounts and coupons, Fab Discounts, family activities, family budgeting, Family Dinner Ideas, Holiday treat display, Party Planning, party planning tips, party tips, recipes, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Looking for a Fun and Modern Gift? Check Out Modify Watches! – Review & Giveaway

December 15, 2011 By 26 Comments

Dear children of the eighties, you may have grown up, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun with your accessories! If you were a fan of Swatches back in the day, Modify Watches are the newest way to make your watch fit your personality and outfit for the day.

I recently received an original size Modify watch to review with both the green band, a grey band and a black pinstripe watch face. Unlike the Swatches of old, Modify watches simply snap together, no more trying to slide bands onto the watch face. The watches are extremely comfortable too.  I loved how easy it was to interchange the bands, but the watch itself felt a bit chunky for my tastes. Luckily, they also offer a mini version, which would be the way I would go if I buy another one.  I think that they would be the perfect size for me.

Below is a picture of what I was sent.  You can see the size of the watch on my wrist.

I do love that Modify Watches are unisex and can be worn by any hip guy or girl no matter the size.  Traditionally smaller sizes are meant for women and larger for men but these days fashion really just depicts what the wearer is in to.  If you are a gal that prefers the chunky style you will be equally pleased as the gal that likes the mini, like me.

When you first start placing bands in your cart, you will see simple item names like “green band” or “yellow band” but the real fun starts when you add a watch face to the cart! Modify is set up so you will see what each face will look like with each band you place in the cart and they have come up with great names for each combination. So, instead of having a green band with a white face, I was suddenly donning the “Umbrella-ella” watch. And I didn’t wear the grey band with the white face, I wore the “New Coke” watch (how’s that for another throwback?).

The high quality watches from Modify would make a great gift for men, women and teens. You can customize each gift to make sure it’s perfect for the recipient, just make sure you don’t click on the buttons to share to Facebook or Twitter if it’s a gift, that kind of ruins the surprise! Not feeling creative? Modify also has a large selection of watch and band sets, ready for you to click and ship.

FREE Shipping on any orders over $60 at Modify Watches
Visit Modify Watches on Facebook to see all the new products they’re getting ready to release!

Win It!

One lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader will win one Modify Watch of their choice!  (ARV $60)

Entry is super simple via the Rafflecopter widget below.  Simply leave a comment on this post telling me which combination you would choose for your Modify Watch if you were chosen as the winner.  Then check I did this!  off on the Rafflecopter widget.  Don’t forget to do the extra entry options too for a greater chance at winning,

Good Luck!

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Filed Under: Chic Dad Finds, Chic Mom Finds, Christmas gift ideas, chunky jewelry, Giveaways, great gift ideas, Reviews, Top Holiday Gift, unique gift ideas Tagged With: ,

Crayola Has Great #GiftIdeas for Under the Tree This Year! – #Review and #Giveaway

December 13, 2011 By 126 Comments

There are some classic gifts that I always like to put under the tree.  Crayola is one of them!  Crayola has so many wonderfully creative ideas that bring out the imagination in children.  Some of my favorite “Santa” presents to get for the kids are from Crayola.  Each year Crayola comes out with fantastic new products in addition to the classics and I am so excited to share some of them with you!  Any of these would make great gifts for the kids on your list this year.

 

Crayola Jewelry Boutique

With the new Crayola Jewelry Boutique, kids can become their own jewelry designers! Crayola put a unique “spin” on jewelry making with a special “jewelry spinner” that creates multi-colored beads using Crayola Model Magic. As kids spin their beads into shapes, they can string them together to create original bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and pendants that reflect their own personal style. Let the designing begin!

  • By combining eye-popping colors to create unique beads with the Jewelry Boutique “spinner,” the amount of fun and creativity is endless because no two beads turn out exactly the same!

 

  • For a dazzling finish, coat designs with bead glaze. For even more sparkle and pizzazz, add gems, and interchangeable pendant and bracelet charms!

Recommended for children ages 6+, each Jewelry Boutique kit includes 8 packs of Crayola Model Magic to mold 160 beads, 5 bracelet charms, 3 pendant charms, 2 shape cutters, a bead dryer rack, 5 toggle sets, 4 earring posts and ear wires, a bead punch, 18 gems, 2 necklace cords, 1 elastic cord, bead glaze, and the Jewelry Boutique Spinner with storage areas and retails for $24.99.

 


Crayola Glow Book

Let your kids’ imaginations run free this holiday season while creating glowing, moving art with the Crayola Glow Book. Turn the lights out and watch their artwork come alive on each page and appear as if it is actually moving!

Using special glowing-ink markers to draw on each of the four clear pages, kids can choose one of the four tracing guides to create original scenes, signs and messages, and arrange them in their desired order. Then, just hit the lights and allow your kids to wow you with wildly colorful, glowing animated scenes. Variable light settings create colorful, multi-layered effects. The Crayola Glow Book wipes off easily so kids can use their imaginations to create endless glowing artwork! A simple wet cloth will do.

Recommended for children ages 6+, the kit includes one Glow Book with 4 clear pages, 4 animation tracing guides and 6 glow markers and retails for $24.99.

 

Crayola’s Telescoping Crayon Tower and Ultimate Art Supply Case

For everyday inspiration and creativity, be sure to keep Crayola’s Telescoping Crayon Tower and all-inclusive Ultimate Art Supplies case handy, so they’re can always be prepared to create! Filled with crayons and all of the classic art tools for drawing and painting, kids can share their creativity through colorful works of art! The Telescoping Crayon Tower and Ultimate Art Supplies casemake great gifts every child can use to jumpstart their creativity.

  • The Telescoping Crayon Tower puts limitless color at kids’ fingertips and compacts neatly for storage with 150 Crayola Crayons and a built-in sharpener for extra convenience.
  • There are no limits to a child’s imagination with the all-in-one, portable Ultimate Art Supply Kit.

Recommended for children 4+, the Ultimate Art Supply Kit contains 24 crayons, 8 washable broad line markers, 12 colored pencils, 8 washable watercolors, 1 paint brush, school glue, scissors, and colored paper and retails for $16.99. The Crayon Tower retails for $17.99.

My boys had so much fun playing with the Crayola products. The only thing I set aside was the Jewelry Boutique because the product is more on the feminine side.  I am definitely saving it though to pass on to my 7 year old niece as one of her Christmas presents from us this year.  I know that she will have so much fun making her own jewelry.

For some reason my sons are all enamored by markers- which I hate.  I like crayons better because they don’t run or leak and you don’t have to worry about them drying out.  I have had the hardest time selling crayons to the boys to use until they got the Crayon Tower.  All of sudden crayons are cool again!  They think that its great how it goes up and down and they love to see the crayons in tower form.  My three year old is really trying to figure out the crayon sharpener though.  We all thought that the inclusion of the metallic and glitter crayons are awesome to color with.  I am a bit jealous that I didn’t have these cool crayons when I was growing up!

The Ultimate Art Supply Case has everything your child could need to create a work of art.  I love that its all contained in a handy case that can easily be taken to grandma’s too.   Everything has its place and doesn’t fall loose when contained.  I will admit that the case can be a bit tricky to open but even if one of the sides falls out the contents are contained.  My only suggestion for the kit would be to include some white paper in addition to construction paper.  I love pictures drawn on white paper sometimes too.

If you need some new ideas for coloring pages be sure to check out Crayola.com?StoryStudio because they have a great tool called the Story Studio.  You can upload pictures from your digital camera and then the studio transforms them into coloring pages!  This would make such a great gift for grandma!  You could print out a great picture of grandma and the kids and then have them color them.  Once done you can have them framed and give Grandma a piece of artwork that will pull at her heartstrings!  Very affordable and thoughtful.

My husband’s birthday was last week and my sons all got together and used the kit and the tower to create their very own special birthday card for their Dad.  My oldest two drew a picture of themselves with their Dad and my youngest scribbled and doodled but insisted on multiple pages and that we glue them together so his creation was very unique.  Below are pictures of each of them with their card.

 

Even though they are all different ages its nice to see that they all enjoy the creativity that Crayola brings to the table.  I love seeing them share ideas and get their creative juices flowing.  The cards they made definitely put a smile on their Daddy’s face as well as their own.

Crayola has so many great kits and activities out.  My boys loved the Crayon Tower so much that Santa is bringing them a Marker Tower too!  I only mentioned a handful of products offered so be sure to check out the Crayola Holiday Gift Guide and see all the options available for what will fit the personalities and ages of the children on your list.

Don’t forget to follow Crayola on Facebook and on Twitter for all the latest Crayola ideas and innovations.

 

Win It!

One lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader will win a Crayola Prize Pack!  The prize pack will include one of each of the products mentioned above:

  • Crayon Tower
  • Glow Book
  • Ultimate Art Supply Kit
  • Jewelry Boutique

 

Mandatory entry for this giveaway will be to leave a comment on this post telling me which of these products from Crayola would you most like to give as a gift to a special child in your life to inspire creativity, and why?

Entry is easy.  After you leave a comment on the post be sure to click “I did this” on the Rafflecopter widget below.  Don’t forget about the extra entries too!

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Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Chic Little Kid Finds, children, Christmas gift ideas, Christmas Toys, crafts for kids, fun gifts, gifts for kids, Giveaways, My Blog Spark, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Celebrate the #Holidays With #Movies On Demand – #Visa #Giftcard #Prize Pack #Giveaway

December 6, 2011 By 204 Comments

One of our favorite things to do as a family is watch movies.  Over the last year we have all really enjoyed having a family movie day on Sundays.  Its our day to veg out and just eat and hang out together.  Prior to Sunday my husband and I check out all the great movies that are on demand via our cable provider to plot out what we are going to watch that weekend.  Actually we really like to pick out two movies, one for the whole family on Sunday and one just for us that we can watch in our bedroom on Friday or Saturday night sans children.  There are so many new releases each week and because we don’t often get out to the theater there is usually something that one or both of us really want to see.

Movies On Demand are so convenient and easy – I just love it!  I really like that there isn’t a need for a debit card or anything like that, it just simply gets added to my monthly cable bill.  It’s fun and affordable family entertainment and something that we do much more of during the holiday season while the kids are on winter break.

One of my guiltiest pleasures is watching movies from the comfort of my bed.  I love watching movies with my husband too but I confess that if there are chick flicks that I know for certain that he will not want to see I watch them by myself when he is gone at work. I may have to pause it a million times from the boys interrupting me but its still one of my favorite ways to relax after a rough morning.

If you are still not convinced that Movies On Demand are as awesome as I think it is check out this video that points out some great reasons why you should take advantage of it.

I am always watching shows and movies on demand and every day I see movie critic Leonard Maltin sharing his top picks that week for Movies On Demand.  He always has interesting picks and shares some great insight about each movie that he recommends.

 

As I mentioned earlier, Movies On Demand has great new releases each week.  Today, 12/6, Movies On Demand released Cowboys & Aliens, The Hangover 2 and The Help.  I haven’t seen Cowboys & Aliens but the trailer looks good.  I have seen the the other two but my husband hasn’t seen The Help and even though it seems like a chick flick its really a movie for everyone to see.  I would definitely order that on Demand just so he could watch it and I would love to see it again.

On Friday, 12/9, Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom is set to release.  This was a such a fun family movie to see and if you haven’t seen it yet getting it On Demand this weekend would be a great way to share some family fun in between all the frantic holiday shopping and planning.

Also, if you want to see new trailers, interviews and more you can visit the Movies On Demand YouTube Channel.  I just say a trailer for Sarah’s Key and it looks so good that I think I will recommend it to my husband for this weekend.

For more fun Movies On Demand new releases and to stay up to date with what’s going on be sure to “like” their facebook page.  There is also a Holiday Movies tab too so you can see what movies are available to watch with your family this holiday season.  While your visiting their page be sure to check out some fun apps like List it! or Click Your Flick and share them with your friends.

List It! is a sweepstakes widget that allows you to list your top five movie picks from the list inspired by The Hangover 2.  By submitting your list you are automatically entered in a daily drawing for a $5 Movies On Demand credit and for the grand prize of a brand new 46″3D TV.  Talk about a Merry Christmas!

Click Your Flick is a great way to help you decide which movie you most want to see – and if you still can’t decide you can ask your friends to weigh in!  How cool is that?  The app asks you to choose from two movies and with each selection it narrows down what you would rather see based on the answers you give.  Then it ultimately gives you the two options to choose from.  If you still can’t decide post it on your wall and leave it up to your friends to help.  It was really cool to play with and there were descriptions of lots of movies that I know I would have skimmed over based on their title but reading the description and seeing a picture helped to get me interested in some new movies.

 

Win a Movies On Demand Visa Gift Card Prize Pack!

One Pretty Pink Momma reader will win a $25 Visa Gift Card, a Fast Five T-shirt, and a Movies on Demand tote bag!  What a great way to get started on enjoying your favorite Movies On Demand for the holidays!

Entry is easy.  Simply enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.  For the mandatory entry simply tell me which new release this week are you most likely to rent: Cowboys & Aliens, The Help, The Hangover 2 or Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom.

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Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Giveaways, Mom Spark Media, movie review, Reviews, VISA Gift Card Tagged With:

Commemorate the Holiday Season This Year With a Personalized Ornament From Ornaments With Love

November 20, 2011 By 35 Comments

We love Christmas ornaments in our house!  In fact, we have so many that each year we have to pick and choose which ones will actually end up on the tree.  Our favorites are the personalized ornaments, we have several different types and love them all!    They also make great gifts for families and couples!  Last year we found tons of great options for personalized ornaments at www.OrnamentsWithLove.com.  They really know their stuff and is run by a family that has been in the retail gifts business for over 50 years!  They have been selling personalized Christmas ornaments for the last 16 years.

This was what we picked out last year!

About Ornaments With Love – taken from www.OrnamentsWithLove.com

 2000+ Personalized Christmas Ornaments

Perhaps you’ve struggled to find the perfect gift for someone or run out of ideas of what to get. A personalized Christmas ornament is a relatively small and inexpensive gift, but it leaves a lasting impression, huge smiles and becomes a “priceless” treasured possession to the one that receives it. Our ornaments can be purchased with the recipients name on it or with a personal message such as “World’s Greatest Dad” or “#1 Dad”. They also come in a variety of different themes, such as sports, hobbies, weddings, graduations, engagements, expecting mothers, birthdays, birth of baby, and other special occasions. Every ornament is beautifully personalized with names and dates at no additional cost to you and is meticulously wrapped and shipped with a whole lotta love! Yes, its true what they say, great things do come in small packages! Order one of these treasured possessions today and find out what people are absolutely raving about.

The Review

My husband browsed Ornaments With Love forever with me and finally it was a unanimous decision that this family ornament was our favorite.  My husband is SO Christmas crazy that he insisted on being a part of the selection process.  Which is funny because in the end he chose what I had picked out anyways – go figure!

I love it and I think that it came out extremely well.  Its made of resin and the colors are bright and cheery.  We finally have an ornament with all five of our names on it!  Please excuse the fact that the picture is not as great as last years, our tree isn’t up quite yet.

The ornament comes very neatly packaged and padded with care so you don’t have to worry about any breakage issues.  It also comes with a cute little cellophane bag perfect for holiday gift giving.

I only have one complaint about the ornament selection. I wish that they had skin tone options available for the ornaments that feature people. Don’t get me wrong, I love our ornament, but it would make it that much more personalized if the Dad wasn’t a white guy because my husband isn’t white. And our kids aren’t completely white either… their mixed. Hopefully this is something that they can work on for 2013.

You can find ornaments based on family ties, professions, hobbies, pets, picture frames – you name it and they probably have it!  So if you are a personalized ornament junkie like me you gotta check out Ornaments With Love!  Christmas ornaments make great stocking stuffers and would be a fun addition to the top of any present you are giving this year.  Plus, they are fun to pick out for yourself too!  

Oh yeah!  Don’t forget to like the Ornaments With Love Facebook Fan Page too!

Win It!

Ornaments With Love is offering one lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader a personalized ornament of their very own! Entry is super easy via this Rafflecopter Widget below.  For the mandatory entry in a comment below tell me if you are trying to win this ornament for yourself or to create as a gift for someone else.  Then click “I did this!” on the widget to complete your entry.  Good luck! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Giveaways, Ornaments With Love, personalized ornaments, resin ornaments, Reviews Tagged With: ,

Smiles that Rock Contest and a @Crest 3D Collection #Giveaway!

November 11, 2011 By 76 Comments

I’ll let you in on a little secret… I secretly wish that I had the talent to be the next big thing.  I know it’s insane for an overweight stay at home mom in her early thirties to even think that this dream is possible but you never know.  Consider this post the closest thing that I will ever get to putting this on my vision board.  In truth, I love to sing but my brother always told me that I sounded like a dying cow so the only public appearance my singing voice ever made was at a concert solo in the fifth grade.  After that night my career was over and I stuck to singing in the shower. 

I have been an American Idol fan since its inception but I never had the balls to audition.  I still don’t – but now that I am a huge X Factor fan too all hope is not lost because they have that illustrious over 30 category that I fall into.  I can’t help but think how great it would be if one day my dream became a reality.

I guess for now I will have to settle for just having a gorgeous Rock Star Smile, courtesy of good hygiene and Crest 3D White products that I love.  I started using Crest 3D White Toothpaste over the summer and in September I tried out the 2 Hour Whitening Strips kit.  Both products are amazing separately but together they helped give me that extra boost for a rock star white smile.  Read my review of the whitening strips or just take a quick look at my before and after smile on the right.

“Smiles That Rock” Contest Presented by Crest 3D White and Billboard

Do you have smile that rocks too?  Would you want to flaunt your amazing smile on a Billboard magazine cover?  Well put your money where your mouth is – literally.  If you have the best Rock Star smile you could win a trip for two to the 2011 Women in Music Event, where you can walk the red carpet and flash pearly whites at a real rock star event!  I know that I’m entering cause for me this would almost be as good as having the chance to be on the X Factor – almost.

Entry is super easy too.  All you have to do is upload your picture to the widget and come up with a catchy headline to tag it with.  That’s it!  Check out the one I created!  It ROCKS, I know :D

It takes certain flair of confidence to brighten up a magazine cover like a true music star. Show us your most sparkling and stand-out smile by making a Billboard cover of your own, and you could win a real red carpet experience at Billboard’s Women In Music event on December 2nd in New York City — featuring the 2011 Billboard Woman of the Year honoree Taylor Swift — courtesy of Crest 3D White, the #1 most awarded whitening brand recognized by top beauty magazine editors, and Billboard, the #1 music brand.

In addition to the VIP treatment at Women In Music — which includes the opportunity to walk the red carpet with photo opps to show off your Billboard cover and pearly whites — the grand prize also includes the following:

  • Roundtrip airfare for two to New York City
  • Hotel accommodations
  • Spending money
  • Your Billboard cover as the profile image on Crest 3D White’s Facebook page on the day of the Women in Music event, and
  • A year’s supply of the Crest 3D White collection of products, to allow you to flash a brilliant smile every day to make heads turn

Additionally, one runner up will win a year’s worth of the entire award-winning Crest 3D White collection of products.

 

Win the Crest 3D Collection!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After your done uploading your entry for “Smiles that Rock” come back here and enter to win the Crest 3D Collection – which when used together, can help you achieve a noticeably brighter smile in as little as just one day.  One lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader will win the Crest 3D Collection to try for themselves!

Entry is super easy – even easier than the “Smiles that Rock” entry if you can believe it!  Just enter via the Rafflecopter widget below and be sure to complete the mandatory entry: Name a rock star that in your opinion has a smile that rocks.

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Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Chic Mom Finds, contests, Giveaways, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Kingston DataTraveler 109 with urDrive #Review & #Giveaway #CleverUrDrive #spon

November 11, 2011 By 62 Comments

Thank you to Kingston for sponsoring this review. Please ; click here to learn more about Kingston. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

 

 

I must admit that I’m not the most tech savvy girl.  I consider my skills to be on the average spectrum of things.  So when I heard about Kingston urDrive flash drives had to do a little research on my end to figure out exactly what they are all about and what makes them different from your average run of the mill data storage device.

I was sent the 8GB Kingston DataTraveler 109 with urDrive software USB Flash drive for review.  Research always works much better with a hands on approach in my experience, and let me say, I’m quite impressed!  Basically the urDrive is preloaded software that pops up on any PC and acts like a portable desktop.  The interface actually feels extremely similar to the program that my husband’s company uses when he wants access to the company intranet from home.  After he logs in the company desktop appears on the screen and all work done is saved to the U drive associated with his log in.  Check out this video to get a better picture -

 

Cool right?  The Kingston urDrive software allows the user to organize files, photos, videos, music and more on the go.  There are tons of great features included like a Norton PC Checkup, internet browser, an additional 6GB of storage, access to games and the urDrive Store where you can purchase and download tons of great apps and popular games like Bejeweld 3 (my favorite) and Plants vs. Zombies (hubby and the kids favorite).  I have to say though that my favorite feature included with this gem of technology is Fooz Kids!  My boys love their Fooz Kids and to be able to download the software while on vacation at grandma’s this Thanksgiving will be so awesome!  We have a premium account so once the software is downloaded once we log in it will be good to go!

I love that I can take new pictures, videos, games and Fooz Kids to grandma’s for Thanksgiving.  We will be staying with them for three days so having access to these items is priceless!  I know that the boys will love sharing the Fooz Kids site with our extended family and my mother-in-law will thank me for providing something to keep the boys busy with.

I also really like how small and compact the DataTraveler 109 is.  It can easily be attached to a lanyard or keyring plus it’s capless so you don’t have to worry about losing that either. The DataTraveler 109 is available in seven different fashionable colors.  I think that these would make some great stocking stuffers or gift for the white elephant company Christmas party – just sayin’.

 

Buy It!

You can purchase the fashion forward Kingston Technology DataTraveler 109 for $9.95.

 

Win It!

Kingston Technology is offering one lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader a DataTraveler 109 urDrive USB five pack valued at $50!

 

Entry is easy!  Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.  For the mandatory entry I would like a comment on this post telling me what you like most about the urDrive software.

 

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Filed Under: Chic Dad Finds, Chic Mom Finds, Clever Girls Collective, Giveaways, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Is the Gyro Bowl Really Spill Proof?

November 11, 2011 By 6 Comments

 

If you haven’t seen or heard about the Gyro Bowl by now you’re probably living under a rock – or you don’t own a TV.  I first saw this fun bowl about a year ago when watching TV with my sons.  Of course like every single thing they see on TV I heard a myriad of “I want that!”‘s coming from three different mouths.  I have to admit, the theory behind this product is really attractive.  As I mentioned in my Lees Carpet review last week my boys spill EVERYTHING and it drives me nuts the amount of food that I find on the floor over the course of just one day.

But even after watching the commercial I myself couldn’t help but wonder, does it really work?

When given the opportunity to review the Gyro Bowl this last month I jumped at the chance.  My three year old Emilio has told me so many times how badly he wants the Gyro Bowl and I figure if anyone can put this new fangled bowl to the test it’s him.  He loves to carry around his toys in all types of containers and buckets.  But his favorite thing to tote around with him are his beloved fruit snacks.  The boy is addicted to them.  The problem is that I find fruit snacks everywhere, I mean everywhere, I even found some under the covers in my bed this afternoon!  Have you ever tried pulling gooey sticky fruit snacks from carpet fibers before?  Not fun – I couldn’t wait to see if the Gyro Bowl really worked….

Gyro Bowl Features

• Kid-Proof Gyro Bowl
• Inner Bowl Rotates 360 Degrees
• Virtually Indestructible
• Saves Time, No More Cleaning
• Use it for Non-Food Items
• BPA-Free Plastic
• Top Rack Dishwasher Safe
• Not Microwave Safe

When I gave the Gyro Bowl to Emilio he was SO happy! I mean you haven’t a bigger grin on a kid.  He was fascinated with the 360 degree rotation and really liked playing with it even when the bowl was empty.  I like the fact that it had a lid so that any snacks or objects that he placed inside could stay put when he wasn’t galavanting around the house with it.  I love that it’s top rack dishwasher safe too – because I try to avoid handwashing items at all costs.

Did it work?

So truth be told, most of the time the items stayed inside the bowl.  The only time that we had some spillage was when he was running around and shaking it up and down at the same time.  If the bowl doesn’t have the opportunity to rotate or is jarred by some way in the rotating process some items are bound to escape.  And all though I hoped for a miracle my sons are smarter than the bowl.  No matter how much the bowl rotates it doesn’t matter if little hands keep it forced open while walking around or running.  Stuff will fall out just like any other bowl.

If you ask me the Gyro Bowl isn’t a total bust.  It works great if used as intended but kids are kids and there isn’t a perfect spill solution.  All in all, Emilio still loves it and uses it all the time.  That alone justifies the purchase.  If my kids have fun with an item and love it, regardless of how they choose to use it, its money well spent.  I think that its a really fun gift for kids but just don’t expect a miracle.

On a side note, the base bowl, if you remove the inner pieces, has colander like holes in it and works great for rinsing kids size portions of fruits like grapes and berries.  Which I think is a great bonus feature that isn’t advertised.

Visit https://www.buygyrobowl.com/ to take advantage of the buy one get one free for $14.95 plus S&H offer while it lasts.

 

*I received a Gyro Bowl to facilitate an honest review of the product.  All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.

Filed Under: Chic Little Kid Finds, gifts for kids, Reviews Tagged With: ,

Have Fun Dropping the LB’s with This Cool #WeightWatchers by #Conair Scale

November 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Check Out This Beautiful New Scale from Weight Watchers by Conair

For some of us, jumping on the scale is not our idea of a good time.  It can be depressing to see the numbers go up, exciting to see the numbers go down – either way – it’s a roller coaster ride.  But recently getting on the scale has gotten a lot more fun!

I received the Weight Watchers Glass Body Analysis Scale Model WW52 by Conair for review and I have never been more addicted to weighimg myself.  It’s nuts!  I  love the look, the style, the extra large blue backlight, but most of all, the ridiculously cool ways to measure my body weight.

This scale isn’t your average run of the mill scale.  It measures your body fat, body water, bone mass and tells you your BMI.  Over the last couple of months I have lost about 15 lbs and I love seeing the breakdown of my body fat percentage going down. It’s like an entirely differently goal to achieve than just hitting your total weight loss goal in pounds.  There is so much that contributes to your total weight that its great to see all of these tools combined in one sleek, sexy scale.

Another plus is that it was easy to program.  I even did it myself, which is huge for me because usually I leave any set up for these types of things for my husband to tackle.

Scale Features Include:

  • Affordable – Retails for $49.99
  • 4 User Memory
  • Extra Large 2 Line LCD with Blue Backlight
  • 400 lb Capacity
  • Impact-Resistant Tempered Safety Glass Platform
  • Multiple Load Cell Technology
  • Easy to Use Tap Feature that Turns Scale Off and On
  • Measures Each User’s Body Fat, Body Water and Bone Mass
  • Displays User’s BMI
  • Operates on 4 AAA Batteries

 

I’ll say it again, I LOVE this scale!  This would make an elegant addition to any bathroom.  If you are looking for an affordable, beautiful scale with tons of great features you need this scale.  It would also make a great gift for someone that is working towards a healthier body so keep it in mind for the health conscious person on your holiday gift list.  The WW52 and other Weight Watchers Scales by Conair are available at several retailers nationwide.

 

*I received the above mentioned scale in exchange for an honest review of the product.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Chic Finds for the Home, Chic Home Finds, Chic Mom Finds, Reviews, Weight Loss products, Weight Loss Tips and Products Tagged With: ,

LeapFrog Learn, Create and Share Party Experience

November 4, 2011 By 7 Comments

 

As a busy mom of 3 I have been loving the LeapFrog brand for many years. I always find their products to be fun, educational and affordable. I have three boys so another plus is that they last – they are very kid friendly. I have some LeapFrog products that I have passed down from first born, to my second and then to my third. Each boy has loved the interactions that they get from playing with LeapFrog toys.

Because I am a long time LeapFrog fan I was really excited to be able to host a LeapFrog Learn and Share Party for my closest girlfriends and their kids. We have kids ranging in ages from 3-8 and the products that I received for the party were entertaining for all age levels. Plus it was just nice to get all of our kids together for a really good time and some fun mom time too.

The kids at the party had a lot of fun reading and exploring all that the Tag Reading System and the new LeapPad Learning Tablet had to offer. A lot of sharing had to occur to make this possible so it was great that LeapFrog also provided some fun activity sheets for kids to work on and color while anxiously awaiting their turn.

Check out my BFF Renee and her 4 year old daughter Julia coloring together :)

 

Tag Reading System

• Learn to read series
• Easy audio download
• No cartridges to lose
• Large library offers books, games, maps and more
• Comprehensive reading system offers an array of experiences
to guide children from early exploration to independent
reading

 

The LeapFrog Tag Reading System is a great tool for teaching kids to read. I have no idea the technology behind that smart little pen but it is amazing! It knows exactly what to read just with a swipe of a page. At the party the kids that enjoyed it the most were in the 4-7 age group. My son Benji, who is 6, took a real liking to it. He loved reading the books and I could see the sense of accomplishment on his face when he finished each page. I could see this system building confidence for him because he wasn’t relying on Mom to read to him the words he didn’t know. I could see that reading with the help of the Tag reader he still felt as if he read it all by himself. Where if I were to help him in the same way he doesn’t consider it by himself. Below is a quick video of Benji using the Tag Reading System for the first time – you can see how it really works for him!

All though I knew about the Tag library of books I had no idea prior to the party that there were also maps too! The World Map was a huge hit for kids and moms at the party. I loved how interactive the map was too. It was great to see how extensive the listing of countries was. My husband is from El Salvador, a very small country in Central America, and most kids maps don’t include it. I was thrilled to see that El Salvador was there and I could point out the size and location to my boys. It’s hard for them to believe that El Salvador is smaller than the state we live in!

The World Map has tons of great interactive tools too. It is double sided for double the fun too! Kids can point to a country and learn how other kids live around the world. They can learn the names of the continents and countries too. They can even learn a few words in other languages. My 8 year old got a big kick out of this map and I was happy to see him eager to learn about other countries.

 

LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet

Ages 4-9

• Works with all Leapster Explorer games and apps
• Built-in Camera & Video Recorder
• 100+ Cartridge Games, Apps, Digital Books and Videos
• 5″ Touch Screen
• Kids can take 30,000 photos or shoot 120 minutes of video
• Headphone Jack
• USB Port
• Requires 4 AA Batteries
• Includes an Extra stylus with tether

I think that the most sought after item at the LeapFrog Learn and Share Party was the new LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet. I like to think of it as like an iPad for kids. It has so much fun stuff to do and play with. You can set up a profile for each child so the games and levels that they play don’t get mixed up between children. That is a HUGE deal in my house with three competitive boys. They definitely hate when one of their brothers plays a level that they were on. It’s so nice that as long as they remember to choose the right profile everything will be fine. I also liked that the profile allowed the parent to choose the grade level for the child’s profile. I definitely also like that the LeapPad Explorer has skill levels that adjust automatically so that kids can learn at their own pace.

One thing that sets this apart from other like-minded toys is the level of parent involvement. When the kids are done playing parents can connect the LeapPad Explorer to the free LeapFrog Online Learning Path and receive insight on what areas of learning their child may need some help in. Parents can also share their child’s art or stories with friends and family through Facebook or email. How cool is it that your child can draw a picture for Grandma and you can send it to her via email?

The only thing that really disappointed me about this product was the fact that it runs on AA batteries. Within a week we needed to replace the batteries. It would be best to use rechargeable batteries but we don’t have any. The boys have a lot of fun with this so I may need to invest in some. We take the LeapPad Explorer in the car with us all the time so it was a pain when the batteries ran out and I didn’t have any on hand to replace it with. I now know on long road trips that I will have to pack some extras in the car.

All in all I found the LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet to be really fun for my kids. My 3 year old loves it but I do think that he is a bit too young to fully grasp some of the concepts. He is learning though and he really loves getting help from his older brothers. It’s great to see them connecting and playing together with an educational toy. My three year old’s favorite thing to do is practice tracing the letters of the alphabet. He and my six year old also really enjoy the movie that plays when singing out the letters of the alphabet – my six year old knows them so well he sings them on his own all the time!

If you love LeapFrog products than I’m sure that your children will have as much fun as the all the kids at the party did. The LeapFrog Explorer Learning Tablet and the Tag Reading System would both make wonderful Christmas presents!

 

*I was provided with the products and information from LeapFrog via MomSelect in order to host a LeapFrog Learn and Share Party. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Filed Under: Chic Little Kid Finds, Educational products, educational toys, gifts for kids, learning toys, MomSelect, Reviews Tagged With: , ,
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