#Calroo Twitter Party

June 9, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Promo

Calroo App Twitter Party 6-13-17 at 9p ET bit.ly/calroorsvp

Join Bloggin Mamas as we host the #Calroo App Twitter Party on June 13, 2017 at 9p EST/ 6pm PST! We’ll be chatting about the Calroo app and how you can use it to ease your family’s daily life. Plus, there’s a chance to win prizes too!

Date: Tuesday, June 13th, 2017
Time: 9p EST / 6p PST
Hashtag: #Calroo
Presented by: @BlogginMamas
Featuring: @Calroo_app
Moderators: English– @HeLoEnterprises Spanish– @BBabushka
Co-Hosts: @EnzasBargains, @BabySavers, @HaveSippy, @DonnaHup, @MamasMission

Panelist: @CoolChillMom @darcibean

About Calroo

Calroo is a mobile app designed for busy Moms and Dads to help them coordinate their family schedule with each other. It combines a family calendar, to-do list, shopping lists and messaging in one easy-to-use app. It makes asking for help as simple as a swipe. The app is free to download, and everybody gets a free trial month of Calroo Pro. The iOS app is live on the Appstore, and an Android app is in the works – you can sign up for a beta today.

Featured in Forbes, Inc. and Huffington Post, Calroo makes it easy to coordinate a busy family schedule. Create shared calendar events, assign tasks to family members with a simple swipe, and manage shopping lists.

Is coordinating your family schedule a hassle? Do you wish it were easier to assign tasks and calendar appointments to your spouse or children? Do you use several apps, emails, texting and paper to keep track of events, tasks and shopping lists? Do you dream of having one central place where you could see, plan and manage all your family’s activities? Then Calroo is perfect for you!

Imagine how easy your life will be with Calroo:
• You know exactly who is doing what, with a color-coded family calendar that shows who is participating in each event or task
• You get reminder alerts for events and tasks you need to do – so that nothing slips through the cracks
• If you’re are stuck in traffic, you can hand off an appointment or task to your spouse or family member with a simple swipe
• Your grocery, shopping and packing lists are instantly shared and synced with your family members’ phones
• You can exchange messages and photos with you family members – so that you can be the engaged parent you always wanted to be

Calroo comes in two versions, free and premium. (Unlike other family calendar apps, even the free version of Calroo is completely ad-free). Here are the great features that are available on Calroo Pro:
• Ask family members for help with a simple swipe, or by clicking on the “Ask for help” button. Get an explicit confirmation that they accepted the handoff. Rest easy knowing that Johnny will get picked up from soccer practice.
• Control what your family members see on Calroo. Grant “limited access” to some of your family members like nanny, babysitter or grandparent. They only see the events or tasks that you want them to see on your family calendar.
• Keep private events private – like a surprise birthday party for your spouse.
• Your Google calendar will continue synching with your Calroo calendar in real-time. If any events get added, deleted or edited on your Google calendar, you will see those changes instantly reflected on Calroo.

When you sign up for Calroo, you and your family automatically get a free 30-day trial of Calroo Pro. After the trial, you and your family can continue enjoying Calroo Pro for just $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year*. Or you can keep getting it for free by referring new customers. For every new person you refer, you get an extra month of Calroo Pro for free, and so do they. If you do not upgrade or refer, your app will switch to the free version after 30 days. All your events, tasks and lists will still be there, and you can still use the free features.

Reduce stress, save time, get more help, and become the organized and engaged parent you always wanted to be. Try Calroo today!

Download the Calroo App

Calroo App

App Store/ IOS: http://bit.ly/calroodownload

Google Play/ Android: Sign-up for the beta list at https://www.calroo.com/

Follow Calroo

Visit the Website: https://www.calroo.com/ Like Calroo on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calrooapp Follow Calroo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Calroo_app Follow Calroo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calrooapp/ Follow Calroo on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/calrooapp/

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Prizes

3- Prize Packs- ARV $30 (1 per winner)

Get your family to do chores for a whole year with Calroo Pro ($20 value)
Listen to your favorite music with an iTunes gift card ($10 value)

First Prize

1- Prize Pack- ARV $70

Relax with a massage or facial with a Spafinder gift certificate ($50 value)
Get your family to do chores for a whole year with Calroo Pro ($20 value)

Grand Prize

1- Prize Pack- ARV $150

Enjoy a romantic dinner at your favorite restaurant ($100 value)
Pamper yourself with cosmetics from Bath & Body Works ($30 value)
Get your family to do chores for a whole year with Calroo Pro ($20 value)

RSVP Prize

1- Prize Pack- ARV $50

Pamper yourself with cosmetics from Bath & Body Works ($30 value)
Get your family to do chores for a whole year with Calroo Pro ($20 value)

RSVP Below!!

Terms and Conditions
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.
By RSVP’ing to this event and utilizing the #Calroo hashtag, the attendees acknowledge having read and agreed to these terms and conditions.
Twitter Party Prize Giveaway begins June 13th, 2017 at 9:00 pm ET and ends no later than June 13th, 2017 at 10:30pm ET (the “Twitter Chat Entry Period”). Entrants enter via following @Calroo_app, @HeLoEnterprises & @BlogginMamas, and posting a tweet with the #Calroo hashtag during the Twitter Chat Entry Period. Five (5) Winners will be drawn randomly by random.org at approximately 12 minute intervals during the Twitter Party Entry Period. One (1) Winner will be drawn randomly via random.org from the event RSVP’s on the Mr. Linky widget.
Prizes include:
One (1) prize pack, including one (1) $10 iTunes gift card and one (1) year of Calroo PRO. Total approximate retail value (“ARV”) $30, to be awarded to each of three (3) winners.
One (1) First Prize pack, including one (1) $50 Spafinder Gift Certificate and one (1) year of Calroo PRO. Total approximate retail value (“ARV”) $70, to be awarded to one (1) winner. One (1) Grand Prize pack, including one (1) $100 gift card to winner’s choice of restaurant- when possible, one (1) $30 Bath & Body Works Gift Card, and one (1) year of Calroo PRO. Total approximate retail value (“ARV”) $150, to be awarded one (1) winner.
One (1) RSVP Prize pack, including one (1) $30 Bath & Body Works Gift Card and one (1) year of Calroo PRO . Total approximate retail value (“ARV”) $50, to be awarded to one (1) winner who RSVP’s via the Mr. Linky widget.
Each winner receives one (1) prize pack. Entrants who fail to complete said actions will be disqualified and an alternate winner will be selected from all entrants who entered during the Twitter Party Entry Period. Winners will be notified via Twitter Mention & will need to complete a claim form. Winners will have 48 hours to complete the claim form including providing shipping info, or a an alternate winner will be selected from amongst all entries received during the Twitter Party Entry Period. All prizes will be awarded provided they are validly claimed by June 15, 2017 at 11:59AM EST.
Entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Bloggin’ Mamas, Heather Lopez Enterprises, LLC, , Twitter, and any other organizations responsible for sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting this giveaway, and their respective parent, subsidiaries, and affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors, members, employees, agents and subcontractors (collectively the “Released Parties”) from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to negligence and damages of any kind to persons and property, including but not limited to invasion of privacy (under appropriation, intrusion, public disclosure of private facts, false light in the public eye or other legal theory), defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, infringement of trademark, copyright or other intellectual property rights, property damage, or death or personal injury arising out of or relating to a participant’s entry, creation of an entry or submission of an entry, participation in this giveaway, acceptance or use or misuse of prize. Entrant agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising out of or relating to an entrant’s participation in this giveaway and/or entrant’s acceptance, use or misuse of prize, including, without limitation, liability for personal injury, damage, or loss.
The Released Parties make no warranties, and hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, concerning any prize furnished in connection with the giveaway. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, SUCH PRIZES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND THE RELEASED PARTIES HERE BY DISCLAIM ALL SUCH WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND/OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

Disclosure: Bloggin’ Mamas is managing this Twitter Party. Individual co-hosts are receiving compensation for their participation. All prize fulfillment is the responsibility of the sponsor.

Filed Under: entertainment Tagged With: ,

Color Switch: Challenges

May 29, 2017 by Leave a Comment

free apps

My kids and their friends are gamers. And by that, I mean they enjoy playing all sorts of video games. From chatting with other parents, I’ve realized that older children tend to prefer console games. If you’ve spent $60 a pop on too many PS4 or Xbox titles, then you know what I’m talking about. Thankfully, it seems that most younger kids are into free games. While we may not enjoy in-game purchases and/or advertisements, free-to-play is a welcome idea. Color Switch: Challenges is a free game, and there are actually no purchases necessary (or even available, for that matter). Better yet, there are no in-game ads, either.

Color Switch: Challenges is a uniquely fantastic game for several reasons. Firstly, it truly appeals to all ages. The objective is easy to understand, the controls are enjoyably basic, and the game looks good, too. Secondly, Color Switch: Challenges is different every time you play. Here’s how it works:

Each gamer controls a colored ball. Clicking the mouse or tapping the screen moves the ball upwards. If untouched, the ball falls realistically, as if pulled down by gravity. Players must keep bouncing the ball upwards to avoid falling out of sight. But, several obstacles stand in between the start and finish lines.

Obstacles come in the form of multicolored circles, diamonds, and rectangles. Plus, every obstacle moves. Some spin, some slide, and others change size. Most of the time, players have to figure out how to move through the shapes. Passing through them requires touching matching colors only. Since the obstacles move constantly, it can be very difficult to avoid non matching parts.

The colors are completely random, which means there’s no way to cheat. Walkthrough videos will only help so much, because the timing will always vary. As such, I’ve found Color Switch: Challenges to be more mentally stimulating than other free games. It requires players to think, adjust, and actually learn as they play.

Color Switch: Challenges is new and readily available on Poki. However, it’s not the first of its kind. This game is based on Color Switch (without ‘Challenges’ in its name). The original game was one of the most successful mobile games of the past two years, with over 150 million downloads. Chances are, your children might already be familiar with Color Switch. If they are, I still recommend giving the Challenges edition a try.

This new version of the game is much more focused than the original. Challenges are essentially small puzzles. In this game, players won’t spend hours doing the same thing over and over. Instead, they will work on manageable puzzles. Getting past three obstacles at a time is encouraging and fun. It’s not daunting, and it’s far less frustrating than trying to beat an impossible-to-reach high score.

Color Switch: Challenges bridges the gap between arcade and puzzle games, providing plenty of entertainment for younger and older kids. It’s great for parents, too—whether you’re a savvy gamer or just want to dabble in the fun.

Filed Under: entertainment Tagged With: ,

Bye Bye Box Boy and Aaero #VideoGames

May 23, 2017 by 1 Comment

Check out these two indie titles-  one for the 3DS, Bye Bye box Boy and one for the Playstation 4, Aaero. Fun, inexpensive, and good for most gamers.

box boy

This is the third Box Boy game in the line, Bye Bye Box Boy , is a game where players use the power of boxes to solve various puzzles as Qbby.  This game is an enjoyable puzzle game which is simple to get into, but difficult to put down.  My 9 year old has loved every Box Boy game and this is no different, but now with a few additions like 4 new powers, baby boxes to rescue, and new environmental issues to contend with (like water, wind, and scales) there is more to do.  He enjoys the Box Boy series- it’s tough but not too tough for him to figure out after thinking about it and trying a few things, or in some cases, with some help from Dad.  Bye By Box Boy is available now on the eShop on the Nintendo 3DS and retails for $4.99.

cheap video games

Up next is a frenetic space racing game called Aaero.  In this game, you play the part of a lone ship racing along to the beat of various songs, each of which are loud thumping beats.  While racing along, you are attacked by various enemies who need some attention from your gun.  This game is fast paced and a blast to play.  Mostly, I have played it loudly and in short spurts, but can see how this game would be quite addicting.  The music is catchy, the level designs are gorgeous, and the levels are fun to play or sit back and watch someone else play.  Aaero is available now for Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Steam.  So be sure to check it out on your platform of choice, turn up the speakers and enjoy.

Filed Under: entertainment, gaming, technology Tagged With: ,

For the Young Ones, Pineapple Pen app

March 28, 2017 by Leave a Comment

apps for kids

Games geared towards children are everywhere. There are dress-up games for girls, popular cartoon games for boys, and just about everything in between. But not all kids’ games are worth our children’s time. More specifically, I’ve seen my fair share of “kids’ games” that are simply inappropriate. That’s why the hubby and/or I check every game first. If our young one is going to spend hours (or even just a few minutes) playing, we want to ensure that everything is up to par. And that means no violence, no bad language, and hopefully, a productive time.

The Purpose
Pineapple Pen is a game that tests players’ reflexes and timing. In that sense, I’ve found the gameplay to be pretty productive. Plus, its simple nature—there’s only one button to press—is perfect for our youngest to enjoy. In Pineapple Pen, players try to hit gliding pieces of fruit. There’s nothing else to control or worry about. In fact, there isn’t even a character to move left or right. Tap the screen to throw the pen, and hope to hit the target.

The very basic controls are part of Pineapple Pen’s mass appeal. Everyone from age 2 to 92 can play. Of course, there are a few other elements to the gameplay that make things even more challenging. For one, no two fruits glide exactly the same way. During the first couple of rounds, apples and pineapples might fly straight left and right. But after that, anything goes. Fruits can glide in circles, diagonal lines, or totally random paths. Certain fruits are also armored. Instead of falling after one hit, protected fruits require three strikes. More hits = more points = more fun!

Types of Games
There are three different ways to play Pineapple Pen. Classic mode was described above. That’s the main gameplay mode, and our young one’s favorite. For older players, Hardcore mode is a great choice. There are no slow-moving, easy levels in Hardcore mode. Instead, players will face zippy fruits right from the first round. The third mode, Orbital, is a bit more unique. All of the fruits in Orbital mode fly around in a circle. Each fruit crosses your path twice during every orbit, but at different distances. So, it’s actually twice as hard to hit. Try it, and you’ll see what I mean.

Unlockables
Practically every addictive game gives players a reason to come back for more action: unlockable items. In Pineapple Pen, there are 16 different throwing utensils. Players begin with a basic pen. After earning 200 coins, they can unlock a pencil. The standard pencil is followed by all sorts of oddities, from darts to screwdrivers. There’s even sharp lipstick! With a new item every 200 coins, the savviest gamers will keep playing to unlock each one.

Overall
Pineapple Pen is simple enough for the youngest players and can be tough enough for the most experienced ones. It’s safe for kids and entertaining for us parents, too!

Filed Under: entertainment Tagged With: , , ,

Dragon Quest VIII for the 3DS

March 28, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Dragon Quest has been a long standing classic series, and one of the most memorable of them is Dragon Quest 8. This game was originally released for the PS2 and is now available for the Nintendo 3DS.  Dragon Quest sports characters and environments (which are beautifully designed) as well as enemies with unique oddities including slimes, Drackies, bone barons, and sabercats are all included.  Not only is it a portable version, but there are also quite a few extras packed in as well.  Now you can defeat monsters and add them as backup for your own battles, adding a new dimension.

There are also 2 new characters, monster arena owner Morrie and Red the bandit.  You can now save anywhere during the game, which is fantastic, and a very important update is the fact there are no more random encounters.   So if you are searching for some health, no need to get as nervous as you make your way about, just be quick and stealthy.  The alchemy pot is another addition, where items are added and new items are made- (such as potions or weapons) there are many possibilities.  There are also new weapons, new side missions, a whole new ending available, and a new dungeon as well.  You also now have the ability to take pictures in game and share via StreetPass with your friends on the 3DS.

The story itself follows your adventures while trying to defeat an evil villain with a magical staff who cursed the kingdom of Trodain.  Along with your friends Yangus the bandit, Jessica the magical minx, and Angelo the knight, you explore and battle your way through this game experience.

Dragon Quest is a classic RPG where planning and careful game play are rewarded with leveling up and new equipment.  Many even say this is the title to get your feet wet with in the Dragon Quest line of games.  Dragon Quest 8 is available now on the eShop and at retail stores everywhere. Enjoy.

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Win a Copy of SING Special Edition on DVD or Blu-ray, out now! #SingMovie #ad #SingSquad

March 21, 2017 by 34 Comments

This post is in partnership with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Good news! SING Special Edition is now available on Blu-ray & DVD. If you haven’t seen it, now is the perfect time. Grab a copy and have a movie night with the family!

If you don’t know much about the movie yet, SING is a wonderful, funny, heartwarming film with great music and a fantastic cast. My son loved it, and is so excited to have his own copy. He has watched it about a zillion times now, and he said it’s one of his favorites.

Pick up a copy of the SING Special Edition Blu-ray in stores for your next family movie night, it’s the perfect movie for everyone. Do you watch “American Idol” or “The Voice” or any of those? If so, you will really enjoy it. We don’t watch a lot of singing shows, but we still thought this was a fun one.

And there is another bonus of getting the DVD, even if you already saw the movie in theaters. The music-filled comedy will include over 60-minutes of bonus content and will incorporate three all-new entertaining mini movies featuring the cast from SING as well as an exclusive Tori Kelly music video and a variety of musical extras.

The Golden Globe nominee for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, SING features more than 65 hit songs including ‘Faith,’ a brand new song by the legendary Stevie Wonder (featuring Ariana Grande), marking his first song for a major film release in 25 years.

I think your family will really enjoy this one. Pick up your copy today!

You can also enter to win a copy here by entering the RC code below. Good luck! Ends April 15, 2017.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: entertainment, giveaway, movie, review Tagged With: ,

Poochy And Yoshi’s Woolly World for 3DS

March 16, 2017 by Leave a Comment

yoshi and poochy

Yarn Yoshi is back, and this time he has brought his woolly buddy Poochy, in Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World.  Kamek the magikoopa has changed everyone into wool, Yoshi and Poochy are here to save the day.  This game is a retelling of Yoshi Woolly World on the Wii U, which includes over 55 levels of fun and also adds some new Poochy levels.  Every level has a craft feel, where enemies are yarn-abes and each texture and item is also craft based.

There is also an ability to enter Mellow Mode, where Yoshi sports his signature wings and can float about, and adds Poochy’s 3 little puppies to help find secrets and hidden passages.  This game is great for players of all ages, where experienced players will try to collect all the items available while beginners will be happy to beat each level.  New to this version are collectable pencil stamps which add materials to use in craft mode.  Craft mode is where you can create your own Yoshi patterns using various colors and materials gathered during game play.  You can make any pattern you like from a favorite sports team to a super hero costume design.  These Yoshi can then be shared as well.  Another neat feature is Yoshi feature, where you can watch animated shorts based on Yoshi and Poochy’s adventures.

The game also supports amiibos.  Yarn Yoshi unlocks a double Yoshi to make levels even more fun.  Taping the new Yarn Poochy lets you add Poochy to a regular level while tapping Poochy during Poochy Dash unlock extra challenges and thus bonus Poochy designs as well.  Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World is available only on the Nintendo 3DS and is available for download from the eShop or at retail locations.  In addition to the regular edition, there is also an amiibo bundle where the game includes a Poochy amiibo packaged with it.

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Does Adventure Call Your Name? We hope so!

March 15, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Guest Post by Janet Fogg and Dave Jackson

co/authors of Misfortune Annie and the Locomotive Reaper

Home

If adventure does call your name, pull up a horse for a wild ride with Misfortune Annie—the fastest draw in the 1880s west—at age 15!

What’s compelling to us is that a hero like Misfortune Annie truly could have existed. The real Annie Oakley fought amongst the toughest of wranglers and bested many a man in shooting contests. In fact, while still a teen, Annie Oakley earned enough money to pay off the mortgage on her mother’s farm.

To properly tell the origin of our Annie, we should travel back to the initial spark—George Lucas and the Indiana Jones series. It’s widely known by many Lucas fans that a rugged archaeologist character first showed up in old matinee serials, and George dusted him off for a new generation of movie lovers. When hoping to develop a story concept and character that could give Indy a run for his money, we found ourselves pondering the cowboy genre. Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger, Gene Autry—they were huge! Perhaps our new star should have a catchy name and signature duds. He would wear a ten-gallon hat and Levi jacket. But fate threw in a wildcard.

On Christmas vacation several years ago, nearly asleep behind the wheel through flat old Kansas, Dave passed a sign that boasted, “Annie Oakley Museum.” Jolted awake, he realized he had our new hero, a tough and tenacious teen, a cowgirl known by a memorable moniker.

Not only could we hopefully create a memorable hero, one to delight the young and the young at heart, we intended to focus on a somewhat lacking niche in middle-grade/YA fiction—an action hero for girls.

As storyboarding for the first book progressed, we carefully considered our villain. The era of the Wild West merges well with and complements Steampunk, so our villain evolved into a mad scientist, a mechanical engineer bent on revenge. Research into the technology of the 1880s—blimps and electricity—sealed the Locomotive Reaper’s powers.

No action/adventure would be complete without humor and peculiarity. Annie’s southern sidekick, Beau Slokam, is borderline genius and a constant disaster waiting to happen, but his reckless quick thinking actually gets them out of several scrapes. Wontoa, her potential love interest, is the pride of the Cheyenne tribe and doesn’t understand foolish white-man ways. Not to mention cameos by historical figures such as Wyatt Earp—a perfect walk-on to spark curiosity about U.S. History.

In her secret heart, Annie has a compelling purpose: to find her father who went missing during the Civil War. (That led us to the idea for her signature look, a Union cap left to her by her father.) Annie rides, hunts, and guides folks through the Colorado Rockies. She’s tough and smart, yet it’s not unusual for Annie’s accomplishments to be overlooked, simply because she’s a girl in a ‘tough guy’ world. Yet Annie is undeterred, and we hope, a strong role-model.

We then considered future books, and developed a long cast of colorful crooks (think James Bond’s bullies) to take on the fastest draw in the west. Book Two, Misfortune Annie and the Voodoo Curse, leads Annie to New Orleans to tangle with a wicked Voodoo priest. After that, a Dragon Warrior shall render Annie’s six-shooters useless. A sinister magician will perform the ultimate trick on her and the Secret Service. Beware pirates! Look out for creatures in the woods, Annie! (Sorry. Got carried away, there.)

It’s paramount to us, as authors of our new Misfortune Annie series, that reading be fun. No slogging through a story, cookie-cutter characters, or predictable dialogue and plot turns. So there’s action galore, and with Beau and Wontoa teaming with Annie, we believe teen boys will also enjoy Misfortune Annie, just as teen girls enjoy Harry Potter.

We might end our tale of Annie’s journey to date with a quote from a recent review: “At a time when women weren’t typically adventurers, especially at Annie’s age, it’s great fun to see a story about a girl who loves an adventure, is capable, and well-respected. I think Annie is a great model for young girls, especially those who don’t like the feminine trappings, and she gives us a great story to while away an afternoon. ~ Hott Books re: Misfortune Annie and the Locomotive Reaper.

Happy trails!

Filed Under: book review, entertainment Tagged With: