Constructive Playthings Interactive USA Map: Review and Giveaway

The Interactive USA Map from Constructive Playthings will be a fun way to introduce my Kindergarten student to the geography of the United States.

One Interactive USA Map from Constructive Playthings (for ages 5 and over), my soon-to-be Kindergarten girl and a Dad who teaches Geography and History at a local high school.  About Constructive Playthings:

“US Toy/Constructive Playthings is a family owned business serving loyal customers since 1953! We strive to inspire learning, creativity, and fun by offering a unique mix of high quality products with unparalleled play value for children. Our success can be attributed to strict adherence of the values and principles set forth by our company founders, like the commitment to forgo selling violent toys. We hope to continue providing both unique product offerings and top flight customer service for many years to come!“

For our July review from Constructive Playthings, we were asked to find an age appropriate learning toy for a child in our family.  Being that my husband is a teacher, he was ALL OVER this task!  He quickly looked through the site and decided on the Interactive USA Map (is it obvious that he teaches Geography?).

When it arrived, I wasn’t sure who was having more fun! My two daughters and my husband gathered on the sofa and started exploring.  Nearly an hour later, they were playing a game together.  One player selects a State and answers a trivia question, if answered correctly, they win the “vote” in that State.  If incorrect, the opponent wins the State.  The game continues until one player receives a majority and becomes President of the United States!

Some of the questions were easy and my five year old was able to win a few States!  I was impressed with how much she knew about our State (Louisiana) and the general geography of the States!  The questions did appear to become progressively harder and my husband even missed a few!

My daughter loved the Interactive USA Map.  She still sits down and plays with my husband on a regular basis.  I don’t even think she realizes she is learning!  My husband also plans on taking this toy back to school with him in the Fall.  He thinks is would make a great learning tool and ice breaker in his classroom for the first lessons!

My only complaint is that this toy really could use a volume control or a headphone jack.  The narrator is a bit loud which makes this not the ideal toy for quiet settings.

The Interactive USA Map can be purchased directly from Constructive Playthings for $38.95.  Don’t forget to click on the Constructive Moms button on my right sidebar to receive 15% off your total purchase.

GIVEAWAY

Would your child love to brush up on their knowledge of the USA?  Constructive Playthings has generously donated one Interactive USA Map to one lucky reader!

How to enter:

1. Visit Constructive Playthings and tell us about another toy you noticed would be a great learning tool for back to school!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Constructive Playthings (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and (@ConstructiveMom) on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog and Constructive Playthings on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on August 10th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Others may have a different experience. A product was provided to facilitate this review, but all opinions remain 100% mine.

Constructive Playthings New Toy Catalog Arrived!

Constructive Playthings Coupon Code!

Recently, I announced that I have been selected as a Constructive Playthings Mom (whoo hoo!). I am so excited to be able to promote a brand that my family already loves! We have made several purchases from Constructive Playthings in the past and have never been disappointed by the quality or customer service. But what could make Constructive Playthings better?

A coupon code!

With Christmas only 6 months away (can you believe that?), those of you who like to early bird shop will enjoy a 15% discount off your entire order if you click on the Constructive Playthings Mom badge on my right sidebar!

In the next few days, I will be sharing with you my first product review from Constructive Playthings which would make an excellent birthday or Christmas gift (especially with the discount!), so stay tuned!

Guidecraft See, Store and Take Along: Review and Giveaway

The Moon and Stars See, Store and Take Along storage system from Guidecraft will be a great way to organize my living room which has been over run with Barbie accessories, pretend food and Legos!

One Moon and Stars See, Store and Take Along system with 9 included storage bins and one incredibly messy living room.  About Guidecraft:

“My father started Guidecraft in 1964 in a small woodshop, producing 10 items. I purchased the company in 1995 and have continued to develop the line, which now includes over 580 educational toys and furnishings. Our size has changed, but our mission remains the same; stay true to the tradition of smart, beautifully crafted wood products, which allow children’s minds and imaginations room to truly wonder and grow. 

As we turn 46, we see that our best contributions lie in this commitment to continue doing what we do best, while always giving our loyal customers what they have come to expect; expert quality, excellent service and an ever growing collection of creativity inspiring products for children. Our playful furniture is a wonderful new extension of our line and we are delighted to present it to you.”

My home has three bedrooms, all of which seem to have been filled to the brim with stuff.  Because we do not have a playroom, my daughters’ toys have crept into our living area creating a never-ending cleaning job for Mom!  Currently, I have one plastic bin in the corner of the room where we house all of the toys in one large pile.  While it is quick and easy to clean up, I find that they toys that are at the bottom of the pile rarely get played with because the girls simply can’t see them!  So when I had the chance to review the Moon and Stars See, Store and Take Along storage system from Guidecraft, I immediately knew that this could help me regain a sense of organization in my living room.

From the website:

“Clean up, organizing, and identifying your child’s favorite toys and playthings is easy with this colorful wooden unit. Casters allow you to easily move it from room to room, while the built-in handles allow your child to select and take specific buckets.“

When the product arrived, my husband couldn’t wait to put it together (any excuse to use tools is a good day for him!).  As soon as he opened the box, he commented on the quality of the wood.  Honestly, I thought the assembly might take a while, but he had the entire system up and ready to go in about 15-20 minutes.  It was my turn to take over.

I rolled the storage system to the corner where it will stay and immediately noticed that this a very sturdy piece of furniture…yes, I said it, furniture.  It is not a flimsy accessory by any means!  I sorted through the bin of Barbie clothes, Legos, costumes and pretend food and placed them in separate bins.  Finally, board games were placed on the top shelf.

I know you really aren’t supposed to love an inanimate object, but if I could marry this storage system, I would!  Honestly, it transformed the look of my living room!  And the best thing is that my girls can find the toys they love and actually use them!

The Moon and Stars See, Store and Take Along storage system has revolutionized my living room.  Allowing us to organize my daughters’ toys not only helps them find the items they want, but provides an easy way for them to clean up on their own.  They now know which toys go in each bin and are responsible for cleaning up before another bin is removed.  At $210, the shelves are easy to assemble and made of quality materials.  Guidecraft also sells the matching pieces to the Moon and Stars line including a Media Carousel and Table/Chairs set.

Do you need to organize your life?  The generous people at Guidecraft have donated one Moon and Stars See, Store and Take Along storage system to one lucky reader ($210 value)!

How to enter:

1. Visit Guidecraft and tell me one other product you love!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog and Guidecraft (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and @Guidecraft on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog and Guidecraft on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

6. Subscribe to my Feed.

7.  Follow Guidecraft’s blog!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on May 20th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. I was not compensated for this review other than a product sample provided by Guidecraft. All opinions are 100% mine.

Musicolor: Review and Giveaway

Musicolor will be a fun to encourage Lily’s creative spirit by allowing her to color, create and listen to music at the same time!

One Musicolor system, several pre-lined paper discs, music note markers and an eager (almost) 5 year old. About Musicolor by Delta Creative:

“Musicolor is a display of innovative technology mixed with a classic coloring activity. The music player unit is modeled after the classic record player, the technology, however, is anything but classic.

The Musicolor music player consists of a rotating base and an arm for reading the music discs, much the same as a DVD player reads a DVD. The arm scans over the colored areas of the music disc rotating on the music player, reads the color and translates it to sound. The player also has three piano, violin and trumpet.

Using the pre-printed coloring discs, simply color in the spaces according to the letter printed in the area, when you are done, the disc will play the song for the scene you have just colored! If you really want to be creative, use the blank song discs and create your own songs from scratch!”

My oldest daughter loves to be creative!  From molding clay to dancing, she loves to be artistic.  But, among all the creative activities, she probably enjoys coloring the most.  However, coloring can get repetitive quickly if there is not a brand new coloring book on hand.  But, there the innovative people over at Delta Creative came up with a new way to re-invent coloring…..adding music!

Discs that resemble paper records have pre-printed designs and are labelled much like “color by numbers.”  The sections are labelled with a letter that corresponds to the appropriate Musical Note Marker.  After the entire disc is colored, the arm of the player will “read” the colors like musical notes and play a favorite tune!

Lily really enjoyed this toy!  At first, she wanted to color the whole disc quickly so she could hear the song, so she colored the whole thing green.  Much to her dissappointment, the disc only played one song and did not reward her with the correct tune.  She quickly learned that she had to match the disc sections with musical note markers (very good to reinforce letter recognition!) if she wanted to listen to the correct song.  The discs do have many sections, so I helped her complete the disc which also provided some wonderful quality time!

The Musicolor toy accomplished it’s intended goal by combining color with music in order to encourage creativity in young ones.  However, I feel like it also developed a sense of patience and attention to detail as Lily wanted to hear the correct song play.  Right now, the Musicolor can be purchased for $39.99 at Target.

Would your child like to get creative with Musicolor?  One lucky reader will win a Musicolor system of their very own!

How to enter:

1. Visit the Delta Creative product page and tell me another item your kids would love to own!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5. Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on January 30th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This product review is the opinion of the Experimental Mommy.  Others may have a different experience.  Musicolor supplied me with a unit for review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

GummyLump Toys: Review and Giveaway

GummyLump will be able to provide a wonderful play food set by Melissa and Doug that will not only be fun for my girls to play with, but encourage pretend play and creativity.

One Melissa and Doug Birthday Cake play food set and two excited girls with growing imaginations.  About GummyLump:

“Toys that make sweet memories…We are dedicated to retailing only the highest quality and most unique toys, building blocks, and puzzles available. Our goal is to bring you the best selection of creative & educational toys for children Ages 0-6.  Many of our wooden toys and building blocks are past award winners. We are proud that many of our toys have won prestigious awards. We feel that these honors are a testament to the quality of our toys as well as an endorsement of their play value!”

My daughters were fortunate to receive two Melissa & Doug play food sets this holiday season (the pizza set and the cookie set).  I can honestly say that they have played with them more than any other toy they received.  So, when GummyLump asked us to try out the Melissa & Doug Birthday Cake set, my girls were more than eager to be guinea pigs!

Because Lily’s birthday is this month, she generally wants to celebrate just about every day.  The birthday cake set is perfect to help her get in gear for her upcoming special day.  The 30 piece set includes 6 slices of cake, candles, toppings, a serving spatula and plate all neatly placed in a storage box.  The pieces velcro together and allow the girls to “slice” the cake and serve.  The Happy Birthday decoration is removable so the cake can help celebrate just about any event.

We were so pleased with our new GummyLump toy that I decided to surf their site a bit to see what else they had to offer.  GummyLump has many of the latest hot toys while still offering the classic toys.  Looking for a ride on toy?  Check out this cool Plasma Car!

Both of my girls loved playing with their new Melissa & Doug play Birthday Cake set from GummyLump!  The play food set went perfectly in their pretend kitchen and inspired many birthday parties complete with singing!  The set allows your child to bake, decorate, slice and serve any kind of cake to their party guests.

GummyLump is now offering 20% off ALL Melissa & Doug toys!  Plus, if you buy 3 Melissa & Doug play food sets, you get the 4th one FREE!  And if that wasn’t enough, you can get FREE shipping on orders over $75!  Have an upcoming birthday party or just want to start shopping for Christmas 2010?  Take advantage of the sale now!!

Do your kids love to pretend play?  GummyLump has generously offered one Not-So-Blg reader a Melissa & Doug Birthday Cake set of their very own!

How to enter:

1. Visit the GummyLump and tell me another product that catches your eye!

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) and GummyLump (@gummylump) on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog and GummyLump on Facebook.

5.  Place my blog banner on your sidebar.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on January 28th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion of The Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. Thank you to GummyLump who provided the product for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

V.Smile Motion Active Learning System by VTech: Review

The V.Smile Motion will be a fun and educational way to introduce video games to my 4 year old while engaging not only her mind, but her body and creativity, too!

One V.Smile Motion Active Learning System by VTech (which comes with one controller and an Active Mania Smartridge), one very excited four year old little girl. About VTech:

“VTech, the creator of the Electronic Learning Products (ELP) category, is a world leader of age-appropriate learning toys.  Since 1976, VTech has been developing high-quality, innovative, educational products for children from birth to preteen that deliver “smart play” through the combination of entertaining electronic formats and engaging, age-suitable content that help children learn while having fun.

VTech Electronics North America, which is based in Arlington Heights, Illinois, is the sales and marketing office of VTech’s ELP business in the United States. With headquarters in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, VTech designs, manufactures and sells its products via a strong brand platform that is supported by a well-established distribution network all around the world.”

Even though the holidays are behind us, if your family is like mine, the gift giving season is far from over!  This month, my oldest daughter will turn five and she is just starting to show an interest in video games.  She has had other educational handheld gaming devices, but never a gaming console of her very own.  so, when I was contacted about reviewing VTech’s V.Smile Motion, I had a feeling Lily would be on board!

Setting up the V.Smile Motion was very easy.  Beware that is does take 4AA batteries which were hard to find in my home after Christmas.  The console plugs directly into your television and includes one wireless controller (which can be configured for a child who is right or left handed).  I loved the fact that the controller was wireless because it allowed Lily to easily play the games without getting tangled in the wires.  The system also included an “Action Mania” smartridge which includes a few starter games.  Lily really enjoyed tennis and I was surprised at how fast she picked up on how to use the controller.  I also like that the games allow you to choose whether or not you want to play the game in “motion mode” or “joystick mode.”  I found that while Lily liked playing the games in motion mode, she preferred the joystick mode for certain games like the designer section on her new Disney Fairies game (not included).

The V.Smile Motion Active Learning System was a hit in my home!  Lily enjoyed jumping, swinging and dancing as she played the smartridge games.  I love that while it is a video game, Lily was learning math and reading skills while still being active.  The V.Smile Motion is a great way to get out some energy on rainy or snowy days.

The V.Smile Motion is recommended for children ages 3-7 and can be purchased for only $59.99 (but I found the pink one on sale at Toys R Us for only $49.99!)!  There are games for just about any interest including Dora, Disney Fairies, Wonder Pets and Little Einstein which average between $20-$25.  I will definitely be on the look out for more Smartridges for Lily’s birthday!  Anybody have the Princess and the Frog?

This review is the opinion of The Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. Thank you to VTech who provided the product for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product and all opinions are my own.

GlammaTOYS: Review and Giveaway

The Scratchin’ Fashion Deluxe Kit will be a great toy to bring along to restaurants to occupy my 4 year old daughter while encouraging creativity!

One Scratchin’ Fashion Deluxe Kit and one excited 4 year old fashion queen ready to create and design clothes! About GlammaTOYS:

“Welcome to GlammaTOYS, where you’ll discover a world of unique toys and games that create smiles, giggles and imaginative play for children of all ages. We scour the globe for high-quality, American-made specialty toys that you won’t find anywhere else – each one carefully selected by our discerning staff to enrich young lives and bring families close.

We’re moms and dads, too. That’s why children are at the core of every product we offer. You won’t find guns or cheap, plastic knock-offs at GlammaTOYS. Instead, you’ll unearth a huge selection of innovative and educational toys aimed at enhanced play and family fun. Whether you’re looking for travel toys for a road trip or want to send your favorite grandchild a special something, you’ve come to the right place.”

Finding a quiet toy to occupy the girls while we sit at a restaurant waiting for a table or our food can be quite challenging!  They both get bored with the traditional colors and washable markers we usually bring along.  When GlammaTOYS asked me to review the Scratchin’ Fashion Deluxe Kit which includes over 150 Scratchin’ Fashion stickers, 8 dress up models in various scenes, 8 stands and two wooden tools for scratchin’, I knew it would be an instant HIT!

We took the kit to a local seafood restaurant and let Lily work her magic.  She placed the stickers on the models and began to scratch away the coating which reveals a sparkly multicolor pattern underneath.  She loved accessorizing the models with earrings, purses and necklaces, too!  This product kept her occupied until the food arrived and for days afterwards!  In fact, we took the kit to a Doctor appointment the next day, and another little girl came over and wanted to watch Lily play with it.  Stickers and sparkly things are definitely a winning combination for four year olds! LOL!

The Scratchin’ Fashion Deluxe Kit from GlammaTOYS is a great idea for your little fashionista and at just $15.95, it would make the perfect gift for a school friend or birthday party!  GlammTOYS has hundreds of great products that my girls would love to receive for the holidays such as this Fairy Garden or this really cool Fort!  GlammaToys also has a wonderful selection of toys for children with special needs such as Autism or Down Syndrome.

If you need more reasons to shop at GlammaTOYS this holiday season, how about FREE SHIPPING on orders over $75!  You can also earn gift certificates by placing an order and accumulating GlammaBUCKS!  And if you are a teacher, you can sign up for Educator’s Corner which will give you 10% off all toys to be used in the classroom and earn you DOUBLE GlammaBUCKS!

Would your child love the Scratchin’ Fashion Deluxe Kit?  GlammaTOYS has  generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader a set of their very own!

How to enter:

1. Visit GlammaTOYS and tell me another product you would love to own!

Additional entries

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog (10 extra entries).

2. Follow me (@BridgetteLA) on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited! (You must have over 50 Twitter followers to qualify for unlimited entries!)

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on December 12th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.

This review is the opinion of The Experimental Mommy. Other may have a different experience with the product. Thank you to GlammaTOYS who provided the product for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

Top Ten Toys of 2009: Mom Approved!

Your kids think Santa just *knows* what they want to find under the tree on Christmas morning, but what happens when Santa doesn’t really *know* what to leave?!?  Cool Baby Kid and The Not-So-Blog have compiled a list of the things our children are asking for this holiday season in hopes of helping parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and even Santa himself select a gift that brings magic, fun and a smile to the face of your child!

Keep in mind, the kids’ lists were WAY longer than we could post, so we picked the Top Ten Best Toys of 2009 (also known as “Things we would want Santa to leave our kids for Christmas” or “Mom approved gifts for our kids….no grandma, please DON’T buy my child another farting parrot…oh yes, it DID happen” ).

1. Tag and Tag Junior by Leapfrog

2.  Zhu Zhu Pets by Cepia, LLC

3. Lifestyle Grand Walk-In Kitchen by Step 2

4.  DS Lite or DSi by Nintendo

5. Explore & Grow Busy Ball Popper by Playskool

6.  Smart Fit Park by Fisher Price

7.  Netpal by Disney

8.  Ripstick by Razor

9. Little Mommy Walk & Giggle Doll by Mattel

10. Just One Kiss Princess Tiana Doll by Mattel

Do you have another excellent toy suggestion?  What are your kids hoping shows up under the tree?  Leave a link to your child’s “must-have” item this year!  Make sure you leave the gender and age of the child along with the link (ie.  Girl, age 4, Zhu Zhu Pet)!

Got Zhu Zhu? Top Ten Ways to Score a Hamster!

Ok, so who has them?  You know you are hiding them somewhere!  Don’t know what I am talking about?  Well, then you must be living under a rock.  The latest toy craze to sweep the nation is sickeningly cute, only costs eight bucks, and harder to get than front row Coldplay tickets……ZHU ZHU PETS!

So Bridgette, myself, and my friend Kellee have all been on the Zhu Zhu hunt as all the girls want them for Christmas.   Our stores have been hoarding them (store managers hold the golden tickets like they have some secret nuclear code inscribed on them), only getting in a few at a time, and selling out the minute they hit the shelf.  FINALLY this week we all had some success as my friend and I waited in line at Wal Mart at MIDNIGHT (for two hours) to get one, and Bridgette was able to score one at Toys R Us by waiting in line early Sunday morning.  All this time waiting in line got Bridgette and I thinking of other ways you can get your hands on one of these little critters.  Try some of these and let us know how they work out for you?

TOP TEN WAYS TO GET A ZHU ZHU PET:

10.  Roll into your local Wal Mart or Target inside of a big inner tube, much like a hamster on a wheel.  See if that impresses the manager enough for him/her to show you the secret stash.

9.  Stuff your mouth with as many acorns as you can hold.  Go straight to the toy deparment and demand a Zhu Zhu or you will swallow the acorns right then and there.

8.  Show up in a hamster costume and tell the manager you have been sent by the people at Zhu Zhu to be the mascot for the day.  You need to be paid in hamsters.  Cold, hard hamsters.  No, not dead hamsters.  That’s another post entirely.

7.  Run to the pet store and buy at least a dozen real hamsters.  Bring them on over to the toy store and threaten to let them loose unless your demands are met.

6.  Declare that by the toy store holding the hamsters hostage, they are committing a very serious crime against nature.  Threaten to call PETA.  Convince fellow line members to chant “Free the Zhu Zhu!” repeatedly for maximum effect.

5.  According to @ToysRUs on Twitter, if you scream, “I LOVE GEOFFERY!” three times, the manager *may* move you to the front of the line.  Or you *may* be escorted off the premises by security.

4.  Wear a Geoffery costume and claim to be a store employee hired for the day to manage the crowd.  After all, you ARE there to “turn their frown upside down!”

3.  Formally change your name to “Num Nums” or “Mr. Squiggles.”  Claim the Zhu Zhu pets are blood relatives and you have been awarded full custody.

2.  Find the Santa at your local Mall.  Tell kids in line that instead of cookies and milk, Santa has requested Pipsqueak.  Be an elf for the day and collect “payment.”

1.  Blackmail.  Tell the store manager that unless he awards you with NumNums, you WILL scream out that he “keeps hamsters in his pants!”  That oughta do it.

Does your child want a Zhu Zhu pet for the Holidays?  Have another idea on how to find one?  Leave your tips in the comments!

Still can’t find a Zhu Zhu?  The Not-So-Bog is giving away one brand new 2010 Zhu Zhu Pet!  The winner can choose either Jilly (the pink one) or Winkie (the black and white one)!!

This article has been mentioned at the LA Times’ Brand X website.  We have written a response to one of the comments that appears in the Brand X article.  Check it out and join the discussion!

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