K5 Learning Review Coming Soon

K5 Learning has an online reading and math program for kindergarten to grade 5 students. I've been given a 6 week free trial to test and write a review of their program. If you are a blogger, you may want to check out their open invitation to write an online learning review of their program.

Have you used K5 Learning? If so what did you + your child(ren) think of it?

Nicole

Perplexus Original Review + Giveaway!

My son received the Perplexus Original for Christmas. It's definitely a challenging puzzle that's for sure! He's on the Autism Spectrum with Asperger's Syndrome; which he's very brilliant in most aspects such as puzzles, technology, etc. He over thinks a lot of things so I figured the Perplexus should challenge him enough that it would take him a while to master it on it's 3 different levels of complexity.

So far, so good! He loves trying this puzzle out for minutes at a time, multiple times a day. It has a small silver ball inside that you must follow the numbers through a path, twisting and turning the Perplexus ball to keep the small silver ball on it's path. I have played with it a number of times now myself and yet to have mastered it either. Definitely lots of excitement trying to see who can get the furthest along without the silver ball dropping out of it's path!

This puzzle ball was definitely a hit in our household! Like Perplexus on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for more information. Then, take a look at this video to see it in action:

PlasmaCar Review + Giveaway!

It's like magic, but you don't need to be a magician to get it to work.

The PlasmaCar is a mechanical marvel that makes use of that most inexhaustible of energy sources, kid-power, by harnessing the natural forces of inertia, centrifugal force, gravity, and friction. It's so easy to operate; all it needs is a driver and a smooth, flat surface.

We were beyond thrilled when we received the PlasmaCar for review. Using two tools that just about every household would have on hand, we were able to put this together within 15 minutes (anyone great with tools could do in half the time!). This cute ride on toy, is very inexpensive for the quality of the materials used to make this product. And no batteries needed, so the PlasmaCar will continue to entertain while saving on your wallet in the long run as well!

The PlasmaCar is very durable + can hold 220lbs on smooth, flat surfaces and 120lbs on rough, flat surfaces. This means the fun doesn't end with the kids; A lot of parents can have a blast too! My son is still unable to ride a bike without training wheels at 6 years old, so giving him a break from the bike and boosting his self-esteem with an easy to use for everyone toy may give him the courage in the near future. The PlasmaCar can be used by simply resting your feet on the board and steering with the wheel, back + forth. The steering motion allows the car to glide along on it's own!

$12.50 for $30 Klutz Giftcode — $7.50 for New Members

Spark your kid's creativity with today's offer from Klutz Books.

About Klutz: This fun and unique publishing house has been around since 1977 and their interactive books teach kids fun skills ranging from juggling to drawing to learning how to make friendship bracelets. These how-to manuals make great gifts and will entertain your kids for hours on end.

Plum District is offering a $30 Voucher to Klutz for only $14 today –PLUS, when you use the promo code PDX10 or FABULOUS you will get another 10% off your purchase!!! That means that you will spend only $12.50 out of pocket for a $30 voucher; New members receive a $5 credit, making this deal only $7.50!

This voucher is available for use IMMEDIATELY on the Klutz website and if you use it today —you can score FREE shipping too!

Here is how to work your magic:

• Click here and sign up with Plum District if you are not already signed up.  If you are new, you will get a $5 credit to use, which will make this deal $7.50 for a $30 Voucher.

• Then go here to add the Klutz voucher to your shopping cart.  

• Use the promo code PDX10 or FABULOUS at checkout for the extra 10% off.

• Once you have your voucher, head over to the Klutz website and start shopping!

• And to top it all off, at Klutz.com you can use the promo code SHIP25 and your shipping will be FREE!!

Nicole

$30 Kidorable Voucher: Only $4 for new members!

 

Plum District is offering a $30 Voucher to Kidorable for only $15 today –PLUS, when you use the promo code mobile40 you will get another 40% off your purchase!!! That means that you will spend only $9 out of pocket for a $30 voucher.

This voucher is available for use IMMEDIATELY on the Kidorable website and if you use it today —you can score FREE shipping too!

Here is how to work your magic:

Click here and sign up with Plum District if you are not already signed up.
If you are new —you will get a $5 credit to use too (which will make this deal $4 BUCKS for a $30 Voucher!

Then go here to get the Kidorable voucher. Use the promo code mobile40 at checkout.

Once you have your voucher, head over to the Kidorable website and start shopping!

And to top it all off, at Kidorable you can use the promo code GRATEFUL2 and your shipping will be FREE!!

A big THANKS to Spend With Pennies for letting us know about this great deal!

Nicole

Kaitlyn's Custom Travel Size Diaper Wipe Case

I have seen quite a lot of these diaper wipe cases popping up in small/home business shops across the web. I recently noticed them for the first time a few months back. I got the opportunity to review one for Kaitlyn's Diaper Wipe Cases.


(Case my little man received.)

These are custom made + personalized for each order. I chose one for my son's bag so he can take along with him for his overnight bag or day trips for quick clean up. Even though he's 6, wipes are a life saver for after meals/snacks or outdoor play.

My son is fan of all things dinosaurs + robots. Just so happened, a robot fabric was currently in stock at the time of order. We received this case with a boyish look; bright colored robots + blue ribbon. The little man loves the look of it of course. It's super cute in my opinion as well. We have carried this around through the house + for outings. It's held up very well; no peeling/loosening of the fabric or ribbon to date.

Now here's your chance to win a custom diaper wipe case for yourself. Winner will be contacted + can choose from fabrics that are currently in stock to have your case created just for you.

Take the North "Poll" and Save 25% at MelissaAndDoug.com

Nicole

Rockboard Scooter Giveaway

A few days ago, I shared my Rockboard Scooter Review with you all. Here's your chance to win one of your very own just in time for the holidays! Wouldn't this make a great gift under the tree for your youngin' this Christmas?

Enter for Your Chance to Win a Rockboard Scooter!

The Rockboard Scooter

We (me + the man of the house) were both excited to receive the Rockboard scooter to review. This 3 in 1 scooter (kick it, rock it + fold it modes) is ideal for kids ages 8 and up. The Rockboard holds up to 200 lbs so our entire household could have fun with it.

We opened the package to find it was fully assembled + ready to use immediately! This is our ideal type of gift for the holidays; more playtime and less time unpackaging + putting everything together. The Rockboard was very easy to use. You can use it just as a regular scooter if you please. Or you can set it to rock mode, hop on and shift your weight back + forth from one leg to the other which you can see in this video of The Man testing it out for the first time.



My overall opinion of the Rockboard scooter is lovely! It's made with great quality + is very durable. I can see this product being very long-lasting and enjoyed by my children now and in the future as they grow in age.

You can purchase the Rockboard scooter for $199 at Target which is well worth every penny! Or you can keep up to date with us on Facebook; once we hit 500 fans we will give you an opportunity to enter a giveaway for your chance to win a Rockboard Scooter of your very own, just in time for the holidays!

Nicole

Disclaimer: Rockboard provided me with a free product in return for my honest opinion.

Baby Face Band

This is one of the most unique items I've received yet and should be on every expecting / new mother's wishlist. The Baby Face Band is definitely one of those products you can say to yourself "Why didn't I think of that?!"

Most cups + bottles, if labeled at all, are labeled with the child's name. But these babies + kids can't read! Children learn to recognize themselves in a photo between 12 and 15 months and that's how the Baby Face Band was born. The Baby Face Band is reusable and non-adhesive patented silicone band that simply stretches over most sippy cups, bottles, water bottles, etc. Since you customize it at home, by placing your child's photo into the water tight plastic insert, you can even change the picture as your child grows and changes!

I received a red one for my son and a purple one for my daughter. Now, since they do use the same or similar, cups + water bottles, there is no fuss over which one belongs to whom! These are easy to put on, to remove and to clean. I've had no problem with the picture getting wet insdie the insert to date. These are definitely a hit in our house!

If you wish to purchase a baby face band for your little one(s), visit http://www.babyfaceband.com and LIKE Baby Face Band on Facebook!

Nicole

Disclaimer: Baby Face Band provided me with a free product in return for my honest opinion.

Boogie Wipes Review + Giveaway

Until this review, I had actually never even heard of Boogie Wipes. So what is it? My version: A very soft version of a diaper wipe with great smells to clean snot-nosed-kidlets ;-)

From BoogieWipes.com:
Boogie Wipes are made with natural saline to dissolve boogies (mucus) caused by the common cold, allergies or otherwise booger-filled kid moments. Extra soft, alcohol, phthalate and paraben free, Boogie Wipes are available in Great Grape, Fresh Scent, Minty Menthol and Simply Unscented. Recommended by pediatricians as a gentle, effective alternative to a dry tissue.

These wipes really do smell great, especially the grape! My son, who has Sensory Integration Disorder, dislikes most of these because of the smell but the Simply Unscented works well for him. My daughter, loves the packaging and I no longer have to chase her to wipe her nose. She's coming to me to get the Boogie Wipes to do it herself! We've yet to hit a cold/sinus season since receiving these but I can see purchasing them this winter. That's when we can truely put them to the test to see if they keep the noses less red + raw!

Want a chance to win some free Boogie Wipes? Here's your chance!
It's simple + FREE to enter! Follow the Rafflecopter form, step-by-step, entering mandatory requests first to unlock extra ways to enter. Winner will receive 2 packs of 30-count Boogie Wipes (fresh, grape, menthol, or unscented– combination varies). Contest runs from 12:01am October 14th through 12:01 October 21st; all times are EST.

My Big Star + Growing Up Charts

My Big Star Chart
The My Big Star Chart is 11 inches wide by 25 inches high and includes a dry erase marker to personalize it for your child. There are 240 Colored Smiley Face Stickers for when they complete a task and 84 Gold Smiley Star Achievement stickers for when your child does exceptionally well. This chart is great for the 1 - 4 year old range (possibly even a bit older depending on the child).

My Growing Up Chart
The My growing up chart is also 11 inches wide by 25 inches high and includes a dry erase marker to personalize it for your child as well. There are 240 Colored 1-20 Stickers designed to help with learning colors + counting and 84 Gold 'Great Job' Star Stickers for when your child does an extraordinary job. This chart is meant for the 4 - 7 year old range.

My 3 year old daughter has the my big star chart + my 6 year old son has the my growing up chart. Both charts are great as they have stickers with cute illustrations that the children (even when they can't read yet) can identify what they are to do. My daughter has tasks on her chart such as Use the Potty, Quiet Time, Pick up Toys, Be good at Bedtime and Share nicely. My son's tasks are Feed the Dog, Pick up Toys, Be nice to others, Play time away from the computer (for more active + imaginative play) and Bath + Brush teeth.

Now that they can see these tasks visually and they see the stickers as rewards (I give them one dollar at the end of the week if they did a great job), they actually want to participate in these "chores". My son has been getting up in the morning and wanting to wiz through everything on the list! One of these days, cross my fingers, I can get my daughter to be just as eager to do her tasks as well ;-)

If you are interested in these awesome kids charts, or Kids safety + behavioral products, visit MyPreciousKid.com and "LIKE" MyPreciousKid on Facebook.

Nicole

Disclaimer: My Precious Kid provided me with free product in exchange for my honest opinion.

KleenSlate Dry Erase Paddle Boards

We had one, I repeat ONE, dry erase marker board that was about 8" x 10" that both my kidlets were constantly fighting over. I was tired of "wasting" paper by the kids drawing a picture and flipping to the next page; sometimes going through an entire notebook in an hour so I continued to let them take turns fight over the one we had. So I was really excited when our KleenSlate Dry Erase Paddle Boards arrived!

  

Now there are plenty to go around for all! These dry erase paddle boards are easy to handle, light weight and have a place to store the marker in the handle. They are very easy to clean with the eraser on the marker's lid. If the kids color the whole board in, we'll typically clean it off with a dry cloth or baby wipe quickly. These not only come in handy for the kids quiet time play, but for homeschooling as well. We will be starting spelling classes after the first of the year so I can see the boards working out well for that. The paddle boards are two sided; one side is blank and the other side either has graph paper or elementary lined paper on them.

If you're a homeschool family or just looking to find something of interest for quiet play, check out the KleenSlate dry erase paddle boards! Take a moment to LIKE KleenSlate on Facebook and tell them Simply Random Reviews sent you.

Nicole

Disclaimer: KleenSlate provided me with a free product in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lil Candy Corn Witch Costume

While searching for Halloween costumes for my kidlets, my son set it in stone that he wants to be the “Black Power Ranger”. My 3 year old daughter wanted to be every fairy, princess, cutesy bug, etc that she seen. She’s been a fairy, a butterfly + a kitty cat. I wanted something different; OK, something that wasn’t so pink!

We came across a selection of witches costumes for kids. I thought that it would be a great idea, specially when she pointed out the Lil Candy Corn Witch Costume. When we received this one in the mail, the expression on her face was priceless.

The packaging looks just as it did on the website. Once opened, the first thing that I noticed was the difference in the sizing of the Black Cat Bag. In the picture of the website + the packaging, the bag included looks like it would be larger (at least the handle should have been longer). However, the costume material was made strongly; the colors were bright, as they should be. The costume it’s self and the hat fit as they should. The last one in stock was a size “2T-4T". She is a 4T + it’s a slight bit snug, but will still work for Halloween. I tend to purchase the kidlets costumes one size larger so they can use them for dress up throughout the rest of the year, but this one will probably have to be handed down to another little girl in the neighborhood after the Halloween fun is over.

Overall, this costume was a plus. It’s definitely a possibility that I’ll head back over to the Costume Super Center to order that Black Power Ranger costume for my little man.

Nicole

Disclaimer: Costume Super Center provided me with a free product in exchange for my honest opinion.

Bright Star Kids: School Labels

My son was excited to receive his School name labels kit in the mail this week. He loves his stickers + makes his claim around the house. When ordering the name labels, I was able to personalize them to my liking. My little man's favorite color is red so I chose that. And for some of the labels, theirs a place for an icon. We chose robots as he really likes those too (what 6 year old doesn't?).

FROM BRIGHT STAR KIDS: Stop your kid's school things getting lost or mixed up with our School Labels Value Kit! You'll get all the labels you'll need for all your kid's school belongings, including labels for books, bottles, shoes and clothing.

Safe to Use Stick On Labels in Dishwashers, Microwaves, Sterilisers + Freezers. Safe to Use Clothing Labels in Washing Machines + Tumble Driers.

School Labels Value Kit includes a variety of Stick On & Clothing Labels:

• 10 x Large Stick-on Labels for book bags, books, lunch boxes + other big items
• 30 x Small Stick-on Labels for water bottles and other smaller items
• 8 pairs x Round Shoe Labels
• 80 x Tiny Stick-on Labels for crayons, pencils, soothers and other tiny things
• 30 x Regular Iron On Clothing Tags for all their t-shirts, socks, undies + more

If you have a little one in school or daycare, goes on night / weekend trips with other kids of the same age, the Name Label kits are a great way to claim all their items. Visit Bright Star Kids website and LIKE them on Facebook. Tell them Simply Random Reviews sent you!

Nicole

Disclaimer: Bright Star Kids provided me with a free product in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Take Out, Time Out Mat

If you’re a parent, I’m sure you have heard of Jo the Super Nanny. From the start of her tv series on ABC, she has taught the parents to be consistent with a time out spot.

For busy moms on the run, this can be tough to do at times. Where do you put them in time out when you’re shopping? At the Grandparents? The park? Let me introduce you to the Take Out, Time Out Mat.

It is a 20 inch circular rubber mat with a fabric top that is bright in color – almost resembling a target. The Take Out, Time Out Mat is great for use in the house as well as on the go. Being consistent now doesn’t mean you have to place your child in the same one spot in your house, but you can place them on the same mat wherever you may be. It is able to be folded up and placed in a purse, backpack or diaper bag. While you’re in the house, place the mat where the child will still be within your sight. Cooking, place them on the mat in the kitchen or dining area where you can keep an eye on them. In the living room? Again, place them in view on the same mat. Going to the park or Grandparents? Pack the mat up with you. When needed, pull it out and place the child on the mat. Same rules apply no matter where you go; keep the same mat and the same time limits as you would at home.

Even Kelly Ripa uses the Take Out, Time Out Mat. She says “Take Out Time Out is my new traveling naughty mat. It works, I swear! And my children do not know that they can get out of it.”

I received this mat about a month ago and have began using it with my son. I don’t leave the mat sitting out all day. When my son acts up, I tell him that I will bring out the mat as a warning. So far his response has been well. He knows that if he continues doing something “naughty” that the mat will be brought out for a time out.

If you are an on the go parent, or just looking for a specific time out routine, I do highly recommend you visiting My Precious Kid to grab yourself a Take Out, Time Out Mat.

Nicole

Disclaimer: My Precious Kid provided me with a free product in exchange for my honest opinion.

Emery Kate's Closet

I meant to post this a few months back, but I did not due to a camera USB cord mishap. I just came across these photos and chose to post it. These items are now about 6 months old and still holding up!

Tutu & Flip Flops from Emery Kate’s Closet

We received a petti-skirt (not pictured), flip flops and a tutu that was custom ordered from Emery Kate’s Closet, a small-town home business based in Kentucky. They were all made of great quality that they could even withstand this “tom-boyish princess”. If you’re looking for custom made jewelry, hairbows, tutus, flip-flops, etc stop over to the facebook page Emery Kate’s Closetfor more information.

NICOLE

Disclaimer: Emery Kate's Closet provided me with a free product that I won in a giveaway.  Thankful for the gift, I chose to share my honest opinion with others via this blog.

Safe Search for Kids

Many people know that I was homeschooled through my high-school years. Those years were definitely a success for myself and I am homeschooling my oldest child now. My son is now a kindergarten, so I’m always on the look-out for books, software, supplies and tools. By tools, I mean anything that will be of use in their education.

The internet can play an important part of learning these days. From educational games and print outs to videos and research, you can find just about anything you would need online; you can even save money by not having to invest in an expensive curriculum.

Whether you homeschool or have a private/public school child that is doing research online for homework, I suggest this nifty kids search engine. Kids can enter their keyword or phrases of choice and find the information they need through a number of trusted kid safe search engines. These search engines are preset to filter out bad words and topics that you would not want them to access.

This kids search, http://www.kigose.com, is free and effectively used by K-12 students and particularly for those between the ages of 6 – 12. There is a video tutorial on how to use the site available for new users which is helpful for those children and parents that are new to the web. There is nothing to download (like many of the search tool bars) and the navigational search bar stays at the bottom of your browser page so that you can perform new searches at any time without having to stray away from this page.

As always, for added precaution, parental supervision is suggested when children are using the internet.

Nicole

Disclaimer: Kigose.com was found while browsing the 'net + I chose to share my honest opinion with others via this blog.