Reviews

25
Jan

VTech Mobigo Touch Learning System Review

by Leigh on January 25, 2012

VTech’s MobiGo Touch Learning System gives kids ages 3-8 their own touch-tech toy that keeps them engaged while they learn. With a touch-activated screen and a QWERTY slide-out keyboard, kids get to emulate their parents’ gadgets while learning from characters like Shrek, Disney Princesses and Dora. Tap, slide or flick with MobiGo – kids pick the way they play and learn about colors, shapes, spelling, math, logic and more. For added fun, visit VTech’s Learning Lodge Navigator to download additional games and content for this favorite electronic learning toy.

Features

  • Portable handheld electronic learning toys lets kids enjoy learning on the go
  • Touch screen technology introduces kids to a new way to play and follows the hottest trend in gaming today
  • Slide-out QWERTY keyboard adds a stylish touch and gives kids a chance to familiarize themselves with a keyboard layout
  • Comes pre-loaded with game software
  • Sturdy, durable design and colorful appearance
  • Additional learning games and content can be downloaded via VTech’s Learning Lodge Navigator

My Thoughts

 

The VTech’s MobiGo comes installed with the Touch & Learn Game pack which includes 4 games: Fantastic Forest, Shooting Gallery, Wild Fun and Ice Escape. For each included game, you get two modes of play – Easy or Difficult. You can download even more games by connecting the MobiGo to your computer using the included USB cable. The MobiGo’s system holds up to three downloaded games or you can store even more games using the MobiGo Game Storage cartridge (sold separately). In addition, you can purchase additional games featuring popular characters such as Dora, Disney’s Cars, Elmo, Chuggington, Toy Story 3, Mickey Mouse and much more!

I found the MobiGo perfect for little hands. Each side has rubberized hand grips, making it easy for young kids to hold. Unlike some other game systems, I love that there is no stylus with this handheld learning toy so there is nothing to loose! That is a big bonus for me! Game play involves using the touchscreen or the QWERTY keyboard. The QUERTY keyboard allows kids to learn both letter recognition while familiarizing themselves with the location of letters on a QWERTY keyboard.

Both my 3 year old and 5 year old enjoyed playing with the MobiGo. My 5 year old didn’t seem as challenged playing the included games as my 3 year old did, but that didn’t keep him from wanting to play with it. Although we haven’t yet tested out the additional games you can purchase for the system, it appears that those may prove to be more challenging for older kids.  I do wish the system included a pause button for the games, however, the overall system is fantastic. I found the MobiGo to be a solid system in that it allows portable entertainment for kids, while proving to be educational at the same time.

Buy It



The VTech – MobiGo Touch Learning System can be purchased for between $45 – $50 on Amazon and is available in both blue and pink styles.

Disclosure: VTech  provided me with a product sample of the VTech’s MobiGo Touch Learning System so that I could complete this review. No monetary compensation was provided for this review and all opinions expressed in this post are honest and my own.

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21
Dec

Redbox Review & 12 Days of Deals & Prizes

by Leigh on December 21, 2011

Unless you have been living under a rock, I am sure you have noticed the bright red Redbox kiosks that have been popping up outside stores everywhere! Until recently, I used a certain DVD-by-mail service, which shall remain nameless. Unfortunately, I would get a movie in the mail and, since there was no return date on it, would keep it for 60+ days. At $8.00/month, that DVD rental would cost me $16! Ouch! Luckily, I smartened up and canceled that service and started using Redbox.

For about $1 a night for DVD rentals, I can access new movie releases at any one of the 28,000 locations nationwide. I love that you can reserve your movie online, avoiding any “out of stock” issues! Another huge bonus is that you don’t have to return your rental to the same kiosk! Just find the one nearest you and drop it in!

Most people associate Redbox with DVD rentals, but did you know that Redbox kiosks also carry video games? For $2 a night, you can rent games from all platforms – Nintendo Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360! We love the video game rentals because it enables us to try out a game before deciding if we want to spend the big bucks and purchase it!

Thanks to Smiley360 and Redbox, this past weekend we had the opportunity to try out Redbox and their video games as part of our family game night! My son really likes Sonic, so we chose Sonic Generations along with Smurfs Dance Party and Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. I love that you can rent several movies or games for people with different tastes and still not break the bank! We rented a couple games along with a couple DVDs all for under $10! Can’t beat that! :)

Through December 24th, Redbox is hosting The Redbox 12 Days of Deals & Prizes. Every day, you can text FUN to 727272 for instant savings of 25 cents to $1.00 off your movie and game rentals, as well as a chance to be entered to win a daily prize from Redbox! Each day, a random drawing will be held to select a winner with top prizes from Sony, Wii, Barnes & Noble , Activision and more! For more information, visit the Redbox 12 Days of Deals Facebook page!

If you have yet to try Redbox, I highly recommend it! It is simple to use, convenient and a low cost way of entertaining! If you don’t believe me, head over and “Like” Redbox on Facebook and you will get a FREE one-night rental to try it out yourself!

Disclosure: Thank you to Smiley360 for providing my family with a complimentary video game and Redbox codes for my family to use. No monetary compensation was provided for this review and all opinions expressed in this post are honest and my own. 

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15
Nov

bINK’d Temporary Tattoo Earrings Review & Giveaway

by Leigh on November 15, 2011

bINK’d, a “Mom” created company/product and truly the first of its kind, offers temporary earrings that do no require magnets, stickers or glue! bINK’d is more than just “ear fun” because they can also be used on nails, face, baby dolls, race cars and more! Made in the USA with only kid-safe, FDA-approved, vegetable-based inks, bINK’d Temporary Tattoo Earrings are compliant with Consumer Product Safety Standards.  With collections for both girls and boys, they come in all sorts of unique and cute styles such as princess crown, skull, bling, cupcake, football, glow heart and much more!

I recently received a bINK’d Purse All-in-One Set which included child scissors, a Water Pen Applicator, Glow Hearts bINK’d earrings, Pink Flower Glitter bINK’d earrings and a cute Purse to store all of our bINK’d products! I found the whole application process simple and the bINK’d Temporary Tattoo Earrings were easy to apply. Although my little girl loved wearing bINK’d as earrings, her absolute favorite way to wear them were on her nails! We painted her nails and then applied the bINK’d tattoos and then covered with a clear top coat.

This Mompreneur knew what she was doing when she made this product! Unlike with traditional pierced ears, there are no commitments with bINK’d! Each temporary tattoo lasts up to 7 days and can be removed earlier if needed with baby oil, soap and water or hand sanitizer. I love that even small children can enjoy this product because there are no small parts for them to get choked on! Plus, with bINK’d, you don’t have to worry about the pain associated with having your little one’s ears pierced or the possibility of infection that sometimes comes along with it!

Buy It

bINK’d Temporary Tattoos start at just $5.95 for a strip of 12 (that’s 6 pairs of earrings!) and can be purchased at www.bINKdkids.com. As an added bonus, through November 29, 2011, bINK’d is offering Spoiled but Not Rotten readers a FREE container of bINK’d Temporary Earrings with ANY purchase of bINK’d Earrings. To score your FREE container, you will need to write the following in the “Note to Seller” section during checkout: Spoiled but Not Rotten and your free design choice. Hint: Buy an original design and request a Glitter or Glow design to maximize savings! Shipping runs around $1.90.

Win It

One lucky Spoiled but Not Rotten reader will win the bINK’d Purse All-in-One Set which includes child scissors, a Water Pen Applicator and any 2 bINK’d designs of your choice. Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

[click to enter…]

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09
Nov

Limited Edition Mickey Mouse Band-Aids & Reusable Tin Review

by Leigh on November 9, 2011

Do you have a Mickey Mouse fan in the house? If so, next time you are in the store be on the lookout for Band Aid’s Limited Edition Mickey Mouse Collector’s Series. Each tin contains 20 super cute bandages in assorted sizes that kids and adults alike will enjoy wearing!

The new Mickey Mouse Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages are for Mickey fans who want to express themselves with fashionable flair while healing cuts or scrapes. The eye-catching Mickey design featured on a sleek black Limited Edition Collector’s Series tin is just the start of what makes these bandages sleek and stylish. Open the tin package to find an array of surprising and fun bandage designs featuring Mickey Mouse and his friends.

As soon as my kids caught sight of these Band-Aids, they went crazy – searching their arms and legs for the slightest bump or bruise that would allow them to get a Mickey Mouse Band-Aid. I am not sure what it is about the character bandages, but they seem to have an immediate healing power, don’t they :) When all of the Mickey Mouse Band-Aids are gone, you can either restock them in your reusable tin or get creative and use it for something else!

These Mickey Mouse Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages  are “Limited Edition” so grab them while you can! They are currently available online through Amazon for $5.68 when you purchase using Subscribe & Save and when you use the $1.00 off coupon listed on the page. These would make adorable stocking stuffers!

Disclosure: Smiley360 provided me with a product sample of the Mickey Mouse Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages so that I could complete this review. No monetary compensation was provided for this review and all opinions expressed in this post are honest and my own.

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11
Oct

My Monster Burrufu Book Review and Giveaway

by Leigh on October 11, 2011

My Monster Burrufu is a delightful children’s book created by Alberto Corral, an animator at DreamWorks Animation. Corral, who has previously worked on such movies such as Kung Fu Panda 2 and Shrek Forever After, took his passion for children’s movies and stories and created My Monster Burrufu.

My Monster Burrufu is the story of seven-year-old Olivia, a friendly and outgoing girl who has just moved into her new house. She quickly discovers that her home is also occupied by a lonely monster named Burrufu who lives in the secret attic. Unable to resist the smell of fresh cookies, Burrufu sneaks out and is quickly discovered by Olivia. The two soon learn to look past each others differences and learn the value of true friendship and respect.

Recommended for children ages 8-12, My Monster Burrufu is 83 pages long and is perfect for those kids who are reading chapter books. The black and white illustrations by Alessandra Sorrentino that are scattered throughout the book are beautifully done.  My children are on the young side to read the book themselves, but my 5 year old was immediately intrigued when he caught sight of the book. Over several days, I read it to him and he enjoyed the story just as much as I did. I love the message of “don’t judge a book by its cover” that is taught throughout this book. My Monster Burrufu is full of charm, humor and does a wonderful job reminding us not to judge people before getting to know them.  This delightful story is sure to warm the hearts of both children and adults alike.

Buy It

My Monster Burrufu is currently available through Amazon for $9.85.

Win It

Three lucky Spoiled but Not Rotten readers will win their very own copy of My Monster Burrufu! To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below:

[click to enter…]

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31
Aug

Happy Toy Machine Review & $50 Happy Toy Machine Credit Giveaway

by Leigh on August 31, 2011

I love sites that allow kids and adults the unique opportunity to be able to express their creativity. Happy Toy Machine allows you to do just that by creating your own cool, cute and crazy custom plush toy! So, obviously when the nice folks at Happy Toy Machine contacted me in regards to reviewing their line of customizable plush toys, I immediately said yes! I thought the concept was a wonderful idea and could not wait to find out more!

To start off your toy-designing experience, you choose which type of animal you would like to create. You can choose something simple like a puppy or bear or go all out and design your own monster or alien! After that, you go into what I call “full customization mode” because this is where you can modify everything from the head, torso, arms and legs. Once you have your toy designed, you can further customize your creation by choosing whatever color combination you would like. Finally, you can personalize the toy with your choice of embroidered emblem and/or text!

I found the design software easy to use and navigate. I love that while designing your custom toy, you can view your creation in 3D, allowing you to see what your toy looks like from all views. There are still some features that are in the works (i.e. clothes & sound), but overall, I found a great variety of customization choices to choose from. It didn’t take long for my five-year-old to notice the cool toy creator on my screen before he was asking for his shot at creating his own design. Even at his young age, he had no problem using the controls to design his very own one-eyed monster! We named our creation and placed our order. Every day, my little man anxiously waited to see if a box was a delivered from Happy Toy Machine. Then, one week after ordering, he found this cute fella on our doorstep:

 

 

I cannot express to you how proud my son was that he had a toy that he had DESIGNED himself. He literally had to show everyone his creation! Personally, I loved how bright and vibrant the colors are on the finished product. I also love how well the toy is made. It is sturdy, well-constucted and totally safe for kids thanks to all of the features being embroidered on. Plus, all of Happy Toy Machine’s fabric and stuffing material is certified to be non-toxic and child-safe. The experience of designing his own toy was such a blast for my son, he is already asking when he can make his next toy!

Buy It

 

Are you ready to create your very own toy? Head over to HappyToyMachine.com and start creating your own custom toy now! As an added bonus, the nice people over at Happy Toy Machine are offering 15% off your purchase when you use coupon code SPOILED68TPY at checkout. Hurry, this code is only valid through November 17, 2011 and is good for the first 500 users!

To make sure that you don’t miss any additional product news or promotions, make sure you follow them via Facebook and Twitter too!

Win It

[click to enter…]

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23
Aug

Zaycon Foods Review: Save Big on Quality Meat

by Leigh on August 23, 2011

We are always looking for a way to save money on groceries. Like many of you, one of the most costly items on our grocery list is meat. I am constantly on the lookout for a good deal! I recently was approached by the owner of Zaycon Foods, a privately owned company who brings fresh meats and other products direct to consumers at wholesale prices. Many of you may know Zaycon Foods for their 100% natural chicken with no added hormones, additives or artificial ingredients, however, they have expanded and also carry turkey, pork, beef, fish and fruits!

The owner of Zaycon Foods was so confident that I would love their chicken that he hand delivered 40 pounds (yes, I said 40 pounds!) of chicken breasts to my house to try out. The chicken came in a large box FRESH from the farm. Within the box was 4 bags of large chicken breasts. For those who are wondering, 40 pounds equaled out to 44 chicken breasts! What surprised me the most was that these chicken breasts were HUGE. Usually, I will cook 3 chicken breasts for my family, but due to the size of these, I will only need to cook two! I cannot express enough how impressed I am with the quality of this chicken. We have tried several different meals – from grilled chicken breasts to fajitas – and each one is equally delicious!

Because Zaycon is cutting out the middle man, they are able to offer boneless chicken breasts directly to consumers at anywhere between $1.48 – $1.75/lb through their sales events. Now, that’s a deal! Zaycon Foods originally started in Washington and is well known in the Northwest. However, they are looking to expand their business throughout the United States and already have plans to have sales events in other states! To get in on this fantastic deal, you will want to head over to Zaycon Foods and register (don’t worry, it’s free!). Not only will this allow you to get notified when there is a sale event in your area, but it also allows Zaycon to know how many people have an interest  in a particular area.

Finally, I love that Zaycon Foods stands behind the product they they sell. Their website clearly states that if upon delivery, “you find the product to be of unacceptable quality, we will arrange the return of your complete order and will refund your payment in full.” You can be rest assured that you are getting quality, unspoiled food every time!

Stay tuned for a great giveaway from Zaycon Foods in the near future! ;)

Disclaimer: I would like to extend a very special thank you to to Zaycon Foods for providing me with a case of chicken in order to facilitate this review.  I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review and all opinions expressed in this post are honest and my own.

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02
Aug

Amy Adele Label & Sticker Review

by Leigh on August 2, 2011


If you are looking for fun, whimsical labels look no further than Amy Adele. They have a wide variety of labels and stickers which can be used as address labels or personalized name labels, making it easy to keep track of all your kids’ gear!

I had the opportunity to try out Amy Adele’s labels and chose the Fire Truck Label for my little boy. As I have mentioned before, he is getting ready to start kindergarten in a couple weeks and everything has to be labeled. I decided to create a “This Belongs To…” label so that I could use them to label his school supplies. Personalizing my labels was extremely easy. I loved that I was able to choose from 20 different fonts and 13 different colors! You also get a clear preview of what your label will look like before ordering. This is what my final product looked like:

Upon receiving my labels, I was impressed to find that they looked just as they did online! The colors were vibrant and there was no color bleeding. Plus, I love that every paper product at Amy Adele is printed on paper made of 100% Post Consumer Recycled Fiber! Best of all, my son loved them and immediately wanted to start labeling his school supplies!

If you are in the market for stationery, invitations, announcements, labels, stickers or gifts, check out Amy Adele!

The Legal Stuff: I would like to extend a very special thank you to to Amy Adele for providing me with a sample of the fire truck labels for my review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review and all opinions expressed in this post are honest and my own. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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23
May

Cap-sac Kids: Zippy Cap Review and Giveaway

by Leigh on May 23, 2011

Update: Giveaway is Closed.

Just in time for summer, Cap-sac Kids is announcing The Zippy Cap! Dubbed the fanny pack for your head, The Zippy Cap is a baseball-style kids cap with a front zipper pocket that is perfect for carrying kid essentials such as:

  • Snacks
  • Crayons
  • Action Figures
  • Hair Accessories
  • Stickers
  • & Lots More!

The caps are made of 100% nylon and come in bold colors such as “Pinky Swear,” “Lemon Twist,” ” Rock Candy,” and “Grape Escape.” Since all Zippy Caps are flexible and lightweight, you can easily fold them up and put them in your back pocket, lunch bag, or any small compartment.

Although the Zippy Cap is recommended for ages 4 and up, it was a big hit with both of my kids. Whenever we go somewhere, they always want to bring along something (cars, bracelets, action figures, ect.). The Zippy Cap gave them a place to store their belongings for the trip and, of course, they loved wearing their newest accessory!

Buy It

 

Cap-sac Kids Zippy Caps can be purchased online at www.capsackids.com for $12.99.

Win It

One lucky Spoiled…but Not Rotten winner will win their own Zippy Cap!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Cap-sac Kids and let me know which Zippy Cap color you like best.

For Additional Entries (you must leave a separate comment for each entry for it to count):

The Legal Stuff: I would like to extend a very special thank you to to Cap-sac Kids for providing me with a Zippy Cap for my review and for sponsoring this giveaway. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review and all opinions expressed in this post are honest and my own. This giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway will end at 11:59pm EST on June 6, 2011. Winner will be selected using Random.org and announced on this blog and through email. Winner will have 72 hours to respond and provide shipping information or a new winner will be selected.

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30
Apr

Lil’ Teammates Review & Giveaway

by Leigh on April 30, 2011

This Giveaway is Closed. Entries closed at 11:59 PM EST 5/15/11.

Lil’ Teammates are the hot new collectible toy from The Party Animal. These figures are roughly 3” tall and are officially licensed with the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and over 65 colleges. Lil’ Teammates were initially invented due to a lack of sports toys geared towards children between the ages of 4 and 11 years old and have quickly gained “big kid” fans as well. Series 1 Lil’ Teammates include over 200 figures including quarterbacks, running backs, pitchers, batters, basketball playmakers, hockey slappers and goalies. Series 2 is set to be released this summer wearing throwback uniforms and with more positions available.

My family are huge Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Braves fans so when Lil’ Teammates sent us a box full of Lil’ Teammates figures to try out, my kids went crazy! Now, I use the word “kids” loosely because my husband was right there in all of the action and quickly claimed the Dallas Cowboy quarterback Lil’ Teammate which he now has displayed on his desk. My little boy is having just as much fun with them, playing his own little sports games with the figures. I love that the Lil’ Teammates movable figures are durable enough that they will withstand the rough play that my kids will put them through. In addition, the kid-friendly Lil’ Teammates website is a place that fans can go and register their figures, play games, win free prizes and learn more about their favorite teams.

Buy It

Lil’ Teammates cost $7.99 each at www.lilteammatesshop.com. You can save 25% off your entire order at www.lilteammatesshop.com when you “Like” Lil’ Teammates on Facebook.

Win It

Four lucky Spoiled…but Not Rotten winners will win their choice of three Lil’ Teammates figures!

Mandatory Entry: Visit the Lil’ Teammates website and then come back and leave a comment letting me know which Lil’ Teammate is your favorite!

For Additional Entries (you must leave a separate comment for it to count):

The Legal Stuff: I would like to extend a very special thank you to Bryan Cantrall and Lil’ Teammates for providing me with Lil’ Teammates for my review and for sponsoring this giveaway. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review and all opinions expressed in this post are honest and my own. This giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway will end at 11:59pm EST on May 15, 2011. Winner will be selected using Random.org and announced on this blog and through email. Winner will have 72 hours to respond and provide shipping information or a new winner will be selected.

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