Zoobles- Fun Playsets for Everyone!

There are so many great Zoobles playsets out there- and what a cute, fun way to play.  My kids love the Mama and Babies playsets, and the Zoobles of the mommies and babies are so cute.  The little babies are VERY small, and are for sure a chocking hazard- so watch that!

Each playset comes with all you need to have a great time.

• Let them roll down the slide into their playpen and watch as they jump whenever Mama comes near!
• Take them for a stroll in your flight school stroller as they spin around in circles!
• Mama and the twins love to have fun, and with all their activities the fun never ends!
• Includes:1 Mama Zooble, 2 Baby Zoobles, Diaper Changing Station with 4 Diapers, Feeding Station, 1 Stroller

The diapers are really funny- Little Man loves to change the "babies" diapers.  He likes to play daddy  :)
The little stroller is adorable, and Little loves that it spins.  He has a great time playing with it, and it is one of his favorite Christmas gifts.  Mama Zooble (or your child) can swing the babies, take them for a walk, feed them, change them- you name it!  The perfect playset for pretend play.  It's great for the softer side of play and for gentle, loving, nurturing stimulation.  And of course- fun!

Wishing You and Yours a Happy 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here is to a new year full of gainful and fulfilling employment, happiness in the home, and free from hurricanes, zombie invasions, and Mayan end of the world scenarios. 
And perhaps, to the Golden Age of Man.  Lord, can we use it!!!

Peace and love to you and yours.  Don't forget to love one another more then you did this year.  That's my resolution.  It's a good one for everyone, I think.  We can all use some more LOVE  :) 

Country Dance 2 for the Wii

So lets say you always wanted to be a cowboy or cowgirl.  Maybe a little Carrie Underwood playing in your car when no one is around?  Or maybe you are just a country music fan who wants to learn some new moves.
Game Mill has a a game for you, Country Dance 2.

Country Dance 2 is the second in the series.  This time there are eighteen award winning artists singing in 30 hit tracks.  Take a look at this track list.  When playing most of the dancing involves moving your arms around, because you are using the wii remote to track where you are.  This might not sound very fun, but the controller is quite sensitive and the game play is spot on.  Your on screen character is in country garb, cowboy hat, shoes, etc.  I imagine pretty close to what you would expect at a country music dance party.

There is also a new duet dancing mode, which lets up to four players play the same song featuring different choreography for each player.  This is quite fun and great for a room of people who want to play.  You don't want to be the only one not laughing and dancing around do you?  Overall this game is fun and easy to play for kids of all ages.  The songs are accessible and even for someone who isn't a huge fan of country music- Daddy knew a few songs. :)   (Mommy likes country music!) 

Skylanders- for so many game systems!

Skylanders is one of the most popular gifts this holiday season.  There are quite a few layers to Skylanders-  We will start at the most basic and fun and get deeper from there.

 Skylanders is a 3d platformer for just about every platform out there right now , 3DS, Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3.  The main characters are the Skylanders, who are monster-type characters who are fighting an evil force trying to destroy their world.  For kids it is easy to understand and get into.  Now comes the interesting part.  The main character with whom you play as is also an action figure who is in the real world.  Once this figure is placed on the portal, the character comes to life in the video game.

There are also light rpg elements to the game as well.  There is leveling up as enemies are defeated and special items are collected, which are silly hats.  This adds an exploration element to the game and is a bit more to bite into for more experienced players.

The physical figures themselves are very interesting.  The figures have RFID's encoded in them which means all your data for your character, the level ups, the currency, the collectibles are all saved to the figure itself.  So lets say you have the Wii version of the game, which we do, and a friend has the Xbox 360 version of game.  When you go over to your friends house with your Skylander it will work with all your progress saved and the ability to play as that character on your friends Xbox version of the game.  This is first time a saved game can be carried over to another system with such ease.

Now you might be saying to yourself, the figures themselves must have allot of moving parts, hard drives and such where they need to be handled with extreme care.  Well this isn't true in the slightest.  These figures can be banged around dropped, even frozen and submerged in water with no loss of data.  RFID's are really neat and worth checking out if you are interested.  FYI, RFID's are what they implant in your pet when they get chipped.

I would suggest playing this game with your kids, you will both be pleasantly surprised.  We had the pleasure of trying out the Wii version and I have to say I enjoyed the game as much if not more then the kids, :)

(Think he was excited?  LOL)

Alvin and the Chipmunks -ChipWrecked- the video game!

Alvin and the Chipmunks are coming out with another movie.  The next one has the gang teaming up with the Chipettes and they are all stranded on a desert island!  Along with the release of the movie there is also a game out now called Alvin And the Chipmunks: Chip Wrecked.  This is an Xbox 360 Kinect title, that should not be looked down upon because of its movie license.

Chip Wrecked is a a dance game where the player or players, the title supports up to 2 players at once, mirror the moves of the Chipmunk or Chipette of your choice.  Then you shake what your momma gave you to chipmunk renditions of modern and classic songs! LOL

The game's graphics are good and the ability of the Kinect to read what the player is doing is quite effective.  Waving and moving about is surprisingly fun as a chipmunk.  I like how not only is it good at reading an adult player, but also a child.  So many games FAIL in this area.  Little Man loves getting up and dancing to the chipmunks. Although he doesn't keep up with the songs and dance moves as often as an adult playing the game, the game is still fun for him.  There isn't any huge game over screen to mark not hitting every move, instead his dancing is graded and he is awarded less points.

The game is split up into a few different portions.  There is story mode of course, co-op dance mode, and free play.  Free play is Little Man's favorite.  Fre play involves dance to a song of your choosing.  The songs are from favious artists including Hootie and the Blowfish.  All the songs are rocnizable and that is what he loves best.
This is how a Kinect game should play.  The ability to get deep into it with story mode but also short bursts of fun in free play. 
(PLEASE excuse the mess!  LOL the living room now doubles as the everything room since stupid Irene!  LOL)

Weekend H0P Along- Weekends with Lucy and Sam :) @CloserToLucy

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Raising Kids to be Financially Aware

A lot of parents in America still find it off-limits to discuss money issues with their kids. Parents toil to make the money and the kids ask them to spend some, and the story ends there. Financial experts advise that it is equally important for kids to grasp the basics of saving, credit, investment and consumerism as it is for adults. When kids are raised with full financial consciousness, they are more likely to have control over their money in future and have less chances of getting trapped in the dreadful cycle of debt.

Kids are curious and, long before they start taking keen interest in money, they’re already observing the way you handle home finances. What kids pick from watching you deal with money forms the basis of their attitudes towards financial matters – possibly for the rest of their lives. It therefore turns out that making your kids financially aware is a step-by-step process that begins with setting a good example.

However, this has a good and bad side to it. If your kids observe that you like to be a little creative with money by having regular forays into shopping sprees, they are likely to adopt your spendthrift habits. On the other hand, if you are frugal with money, your kids will adopt prudent tendencies when it comes to spending and they will incorporate them into their own financial strategies in future. If you want your kids to follow your lead, be cautious with money and delay gratification to save for the future. Use every saving opportunity at your disposal, like coupons, and get good bargains for whatever you buy.

Investment opportunities for kids

One of the best ways to raise financially astute children is to introduce them to investment opportunities at an early age. Before you embark on this long term project, start with the basics.

You need to help your children understand what investing means and why it is important for their future. It’s easier to begin by sharing your own viewpoint on investment. Make it clear to them that while saving is good, it is usually for short-term goals and, investment is for meeting their long term-goals, something that can profit them possibly for a lifetime.

When your kids have some idea about investment, the next thing is to introduce them to risk and reward. You only need to introduce subtle details here, not complicated financial analytics. They need to know that highly rewarding investments are often associated with greater risk, and vice versa. Basically, you should dwell on explaining why it is better to invest for the long haul. When you feel these basics have sunk in, it’s time for reality: choose an investment plan for them. Here are some choices for the young ones:

· Direct stock purchase plans are a great investment option for kids. However, children below 18 cannot operate a brokerage account so owning stocks in their own name wouldn’t be a good idea. In that case, a custodial account would make more sense, which is operated by an adult on behalf of a minor. The child will have full access to the assets held in the custodial account once they reach age of majority.

· Savings accounts offer kids a great learning tool for money matters. A savings account will usually meet a child’s short term needs but most importantly, they get to learn why delayed gratification is important, as well as learning the value of saving for an important purchase. A number of credit unions and banks offer incentives to kids for opening up savings accounts, including zero-fee accounts, low initial deposit requirement as well as low balance, compounding interest with low rates, and several ways to amass points that can be exchanged for things like toys, movie tickets, among others.

· The 529 Plan is another option worth considering for your kids’ college education. This plan is particularly attractive because of the tremendous benefits that come with it, not just for long-term but short term too. They include: tax free earnings, no income limitations, no age limits for when money can be used (for most states), and many more benefits. With conservative estimates putting the cost of a four year course at college at $100,000 in the next fifteen years, this plan may easily be one of the best savings plans for your kids’ education.

· Savings bonds are worth considering too but only as a last option. While they are relatively easy to purchase and have little or no volatility associated with them, they grow at a very slow rate. Besides, inflationary factors may have eaten into the little earnings by the time the child becomes of age to cash in the bonds. Nevertheless, they are a nice savings gesture for kids.

On the whole, your money handling methods are the starting point to your kids’ financial awareness. Leading by example is the best way to teach your kids what you want them to learn about money.

James Lander of Couponing has written this guest post. Couponing is a couponing site dedicated to giving consumer the necessary information for smart savings.

How to Keep the Spark Alive in Your Marriage

The holidays are a time when tensions run high. Although there is much to look forward to during this
season of family and giving, there are also a lot of pressures associated with hosting, gifting, and travel.
And for the couple that has been together a while, the madness of the season can definitely lead to a
lack of energy and focus on the relationship. But the holidays are really about family togetherness, so
don’t let this opportunity for connection pass you by. Look at the season as an opportunity to renew
the flame of passion that brought you and your spouse together in the first place and find ways to
keep that spark alive. Here are just a few ideas that can help you renew your romantic love during the
holiday season.

1. Just say no. It is not uncommon for people to over-commit at this time of year. Between
holiday parties, charitable events, and the general hubbub of shopping, cooking, and decorating,
it’s all too easy to overfill your plate. But at a time when stress can completely derail you, the
comfort and surety of your relationship will help you to relax and hold it together. So look at
your calendar and pencil in some time for love. Say no to the annual fundraiser and some of
the many holiday gatherings you normally attend and opt for a night at home with your honey.
Your first responsibilities are to yourself and your marriage, and keeping them strong will ensure
that everything else falls into place.

2. Do a good turn. When you took your vows, you probably made a promise along the lines that
you would “love, honor, and cherish” your spouse. Part of that means making an effort to show
you care. So cook a favorite meal, bring home flowers, or offer a neck or foot massage when
your partner least expects it. These little gestures of love mean a lot more than a fancy dinner
out that you have neither the time nor the money to orchestrate.

3. Offer affection freely. The happiest couples are those that say “I love you” every day and find a
way to mean it (rather than turning it into an off-hand comment or a matter of habit). Instead
of a peck on the cheek, make every kiss passionate. Take a moment for a long embrace. And
instead of planning a time when it is convenient to make love, be spontaneous! Your partner
won’t complain.

4. Never go to bed angry. This is good advice year round. If someone ends up sleeping on the
couch (or not at all) you have failed in this directive. So be the bigger person and find a way
to patch things up before your head hits the pillow. Arguments are bound to occur more
frequently at times when tensions run high, so work hard to ensure that every day, regardless of
stress, ends with your partner knowing you love him/her.

5. Talk it out. Part of sharing your lives is actually taking the time to share. This means talking
about your day and finding ways to stay connected. If you wanted to live with a stranger you
could have gotten a roommate. So whether you need to lock yourselves in a room for half an
hour or you get to the point that relationship counseling is necessary, you absolutely have to
keep the conversation going on a daily basis if you want to keep the spark alive. It’s not all
about connecting physically; you have to stay together mentally and emotionally, as well.

Evan Fischer is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand
Oaks, California

H0P Around- 3 in one! With NEW GOOGLE PLUS!

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It's the last weekend of 2011 so let's end the year right with tons of new friends, followers and fans!  So no matter where you are or what you are doing, let me wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And now on to the hop!  Welcome to Week 39 of Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop hosted by Shelly from My Saving Game, Sam from Have Sippy Will Travel and Jeannette from The Adventures of J-Man and MillerBug!  Thank you all for helping make this hop so successful!  We love you tons!  Now what are you waiting for?  Let's get to hopping!  We are finding some fabulous blogs through this hop and having a great time getting to know so many of you!  So thank you for linking up again this week to those of you who are hop veterans and welcome to those who are new!  Let's continue to make new bloggy friends and increase our traffic! We do have a few simple rules for you - nothing too tough though.  So here we go!

The Hidden- find the ghosts in your house!

The 3DS is  a wonder of modern technology the 3D is incredible and the system itself is a powerhouse.  There is one characteristic which I find most interesting, the ability of augmented reality game play.  This is when the world you live in is changed slightly or played in.  IE you traverse the room you are actually in, instead of a generated one.  This can make for some very imaginative games.  Majesco has released a good example of this: The Hidden.

In this game you play the part of  a GEIST, Ghost Entity Investigation Strike Team, member.  In this role you job is to hunt down ghosts in your surroundings.  These ghosts come in different sizes and shapes and hide in plain sight!  Using the 3DS as a ghost viewer the player has to look around their surroundings for entities.  These entities can hide anywhere from your living room, inside the car,  or even the bedroom.  The ghosts fly around and you must shoot them with one of your many weapons to destroy them.  This game is quite fun when in a room alone.  With more then one person you definitely feel a bit odd, but the game is really fun.  Since this game takes your attention away from where you are walking extra care should be taken when playing outside especially in an unenclosed area. 

If little ones are playing make sure they are playing somewhere that they can walk around and not bump into anything that can hurt them.  But, I think this is one for the 10 and up crowd, personally.  Maybe not a living room, but a play room with no breakables in it.  This game does involve exploration as well, so it might not be the best idea for someone in a tiny apartment setting, but kids would have fun investigating different areas looking for ghosts.  This game isn't the deepest of stories or the most challenging but it is fun exploring and finding ghosts to fight.  This is a good game for little ones aged 10-12 as well as something fun to mess around with for adult gamers and kids. 

Dr. Dreadful- a gross-tastic review

Do your kids like gross things?  Usually its boys but Kamikaze is quite the gross-ologist as well.  Most times this is a problem.  Wanting to touch something they shouldn't or in general getting entirely too close to something they shouldn't be near at all.  Dr. Dreadful is here with a whole line of gross delicious products to satisfy that gross side of kids.  From bug gummy injectors to zombie brains and barf  its all here in all its 'glory' or rather 'gory'.

We are taking a look at the Zombie Lab .  The zombie lab is a play set is packed with experiments to play with.  There are four in total including bubbling brains, zombie skin, zombie bugs and zombie barf.  Each experiment involves specific measuring and a chemical reaction.  For the skin the liquid becomes a semi-solid thin candy material once refrigerated and the bubbling brains solidify a bit and bubble and ooze out of their brain container.  These experiments are easy to do and because of the zombie and sweet outcome are attention grabbing for kids. 

The experiments themselves can be used to teach kids about chemistry or just plant that seed of interest in them for a later time.  "Why is it doing that?"  Will be a question you will hear often, so if you aren't quite sure how, be sure to look it up instead of giving the answer of, "Because it does."

The only real problem we had with this set was the kids wanted to play with the set before actually doing anything, so there is potential for lost pieces.  As long as the main components are still there all the experiments still work.  Measuring cups and teaspoons can be used instead of the enclosed measuring devices, but without the brain, the brain bubbling brains and barf don't really have the same appeal as they should.  The outcome of each experiment is a candy-sweet snack which is a mess, so be aware of this.  I would suggest having big platters to put under the experiments and newspaper underneath just in case.
Enjoy the gross fun!

Zoobies! W!N Yours Here- A Pillow, A Pet, A Blanket!

I have to tell you, this is one product that I really, really like.  It is really useful, cute, versatile, fun, and functional!  Zoobies!  It's a pillow, it's a blanket, it's a toy, it's FABULOUS!  I love it.  It is great to bring on road trips, to Pre-School, to grandma's house- it's a sleepover all-in-one.  My Little Man chose to review Lencho the Lion- and he has slept in Little's bed every night since he arrived.  It is an adorable pillow that can be used as a toy and blanket combo as well-  The blanket (44" x 34") that comes with it not only covers Little Man fully, but is adorable.

When the blanket is out of the Zoobie, Lencho becomes a friend to play with or sleep with.  What kid likes to sleep without a stuffie?  When you are all done with the blankie, it packs up to fit back inside, making him both a huggable buddy and a snuggely pillow!  Do you not love it?  And what a good idea.  Lencho the Lion even came to Disney with us- and got used daily.  That is proof of a great toy- love in Disney!

From his fun wild mane to his super-soft fur, Lencho™ is sure to become your child's constant companion. Not only is Lencho™ an adorable lion, but also a comfy pillow and super-soft blanket all in one. Perfect for road excursions or just cuddling in bed. Lencho™ also makes for the ideal baby shower gift.

• Microbead stuffed head for ultimate squishability™
• Large, super-soft coral fleece blanket zipped inside: 44" x 34"
• L: 25.2" x W: 6.7" x H: 10.6"
• 100% polyester (additional materials)
• Washing-Blanket: Machine wash, tumble dry. Blanket zips off for easy washing.
• Washing-Outer pouch: Spot wash (if machine washed, using a laundry bag designed for delicates is recommended).
• Two bottom hook-and-loop Velcro tabs gather Blanket Pet™ into animal shape.
• Recommended for ages 3 and up, but safely tested for all ages.

Want to win a Zoobie of your own?
Here is how to enter!


Mandatory entry
You must be a public follower on Google Friend Connect.
Leave me your email so I can contact you if you win.

 Extra Entries
Leave a separate comment for each entry.

- Like Zoobies on FaceBook -Never required, always appreciated!  :)  Facebook is in no way sponsoring this contest.

- "Like" Me on Facebook -Facebook is in no way sponsoring this contest.
+2 entries

-Subscribe to Have Sippy Will Travel by email, and confirm subscription
+3 entries

- Follow me on Twitter ( or you can use my adorable button to the side!) and tweet about this contest
#Win a Zoobie!  Perfect for #naptime, playtime- anytime!  http://tinyurl.com/ckcxus2 #Zoobie #kids @HaveSippy

Please make sure you follow first!
+2 entries

- Sign the petition to Save Historic Zoar- this is not mandatory, but super appreciated!  +3 Entries

- Follow any of the Collective Media Magic event Bloggers' sites! 

3 Princes and a Princess 2, Closer to Lucy, Have Sippy Will Travel, and Just Like June.  You can Follow GFC, Twitter, or Facebook- each is worth an entry.
- Email a friend about this contest, with a CC to me at  kangabunnie@gmail.com
(you get an extra entry if they enter, too!)

 -Add my button to your blog, and leave me the link so I can find it

- Follow me on "Networked Blogs"

- blog about this giveaway, and link back to this contest (leave me the URL in comment, please)

-Add me to your blogroll, with a link back to me

- Vote for me on "We're On The Fence!"  (Just Click the Button to the left that says "We're On the Fence" until it confirms you voted for your's truly!)

- enter another one of my giveaways

- comment on a non-giveaway post

OOO, so many ways to win! Good luck!

DISCLOSURE: A product sample was provided for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this post are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited by law.  Open to US shipping addresses only.  Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above.  Sponsor is responsible for providing and mailing prize. Ends Jan 25, 2012.