Fun with LeapFrog and the Hot New LeapPad Explorer

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I have enjoyed LeapFrog Products since my oldest was little.We have pretty much had most all of their gadgets and learning devices over theyears. With each new product my kids have collectively spent many hours on them.  We have taken them with us on long trips, used them to help with homework and had loads of fun playing with them.

Recently LeapFrog gave us the Tag Learning System with a setof Tag books, the LeapFrog Interactive Tag Map and the LeapPad as well as somegames, all for free to review.

First I have to say that the team that works on LeapFrogproducts knows kids and knows parents. They are very thorough and make great products!

We all loved using the Tag Interactive Map.  It is a large size and can be laid out on thefloor or a table.  The map is alsoreversible for even more ways to play (uh, I mean learn).   I was very impressed with what a greatlearning tool this is.  My kids wereenthusiastically searching for countries and trying to identifycontinents.   30 minutes later we werestill going with the games that you can customize to the level of yourchild.  My competitive son wanted to completethe level so he could move on to the next one. 

We are all now HUGE fans of the LeapPad Explorer.  Remember when I said above that the people atLeapFrog know kids and parents?  Thisdevice has SO many ways to use it that the fun (and learning) can go on andon and on.

On the LeapPad there are 3 user profiles that you cancustomize as well as a guest user profile. You can take your child’s picture with the built in camera (yes, they thought of everything! There’s a video camera too!) and it issaved to their profile. 
My kids really enjoyed their customizable pet on the homescreen of the LeapPad.  They played withit and earned treats for it while playing games and using the LeapPad.
Reading on the LeapPad doesn’t seem like work at all.  The stories are all interactive andcustomized to your child’s level. 

Want a new game or book to read?  There’s an app for that!  The LeapPad App Store lets you buy apps and upload them to your LeapPad.  It’s super simple to do and allows for instant gratification.  These apps would be a great incentive for good grades in school, good behavior or a surprise gift.  Going on a trip and need something new to keep the kids occupied?  Download a few new apps and they’re good to go.

 As if the fun and learning for the kids wasn’t enough,parents can go online and track their child’s progress with LeapFrogConnect.  You can even see the areaswhere your child may need a little extra help and time. 
Learning should be fun and technology should continue toenhance our learning experiences. LeapFrog is on top of their game with these great products that makelearning incredibly fun and  interactive.
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Bluum: Mom & Baby Stuff in Your Mailbox Every Month

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Have you heard about Bluum?  It’s the latest and greatest for mom + baby! I am in love with this idea (honestly I wish I would have thought of it first)!  Bluum sends out a box of deluxe size samples for mom and baby each month. 
Bluum boxes contain samples and products that are high end, organic, and some of the Bluum moms favorite finds.   Sometimes you don’t want to invest in a whole big bottle of something but just want to try it out.  Or perhaps you are missing out on the greatest new product because you haven’t discovered it yet. These are all reasons that a Bluum membership sounds amazing to me!  Besides, who doesn’t love a box full of goodies in the mail every month?!
Bluum boxes start at $9 a month. You’ll be able to find full size versions of the samples you receive in the Bluum Shop if you want to purchase them.  To sweeten the deal they offer reward points when you shop, refer friends or do product reviews. Wouldn’t this also make a great gift for a new mom? 
To start getting Bluum boxes in your mailbox every month sign up here.
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Cuteness: Elephant Momma & Baby Pillows

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Does it get any cuter than these?

I just think these are adorable and would make great gifts!  I can just picture an adorable elephant themed room with these on the bed.  These Moncalin elephant pillows are pretty pricey at $120 normally but they are on sale for $49 through today at 11A.M. at One Kings Lane.  I know it’s still a bit much to pay for pillows and if you can’t bring your self to pay that much perhaps they could be inspiration for your own sewing project.

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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

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Mother’s Day has completely snuck up on me this year.  I cannot believe it is this Sunday!  Are you ready for it?  If not I have a few gift ideas for you:
Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Girlfriend Collection ($113 Value) bareMinerals Girlfriend CollectionTarte Beauty in a Box: Bronze Smoky Eye ($112 Value) Beauty in a Box: Bronze Smoky Eye
Makeup– If you don’t already know her favorite brand do a little snooping through her makeup drawer and then buy her a gift set of makeup in her favorite brand. Make sure it is colors she tends to wear and likes.  Some of my all natural favorites are Bare Minerals and Tarte.
 Unique and handmade items from Etsy.com (I haven’t met a girl yet who didn’t light up when talking about Etsy). Never heard of Etsy?  Where have you been? No seriously, it is an online market where some of the most creative people sell their handmade items and vintage finds.  You can find some amazingly unique items. You can sneak a peek at her “favorite” items to see if there is something she has been wanting.  You could also add money to her Paypal account for her to be able to purchase some of the things she wants. 
Gift Certificates for Favorite Stores (Zappos, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, TJ Maxx/Homegoods, Ann Taylor Loft, Gap, and iTunes are some of my own favorites).
 
A massage, facial, or mani/pedi gift certificate.  Groupon has big discounts on these often.  Sign up and watch the deals in your area and surprise her with some spoiling. Or you can just give her a Groupon gift certificate so that she can purchase a deal of her choosing.
Dyson DC35 Digital Slim Multi Floor VacuumEvolution Robotics Mint Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner, 4200Neato XV-11 All Floor Robotic Vacuum System
 
Some moms want more practical gifts for Mother’s Day (that’d be me raising my hand).  My dream gifts for Mother’s Days past have been a carpet steamer, vacuum cleaner, maid service (notice a theme here?).  This year I’ve had my eye on the Mint Floor Cleaner, the Neato XV-11 Robotic Vacuum,  or the Dyson Digital Slim Cordless Vacuum.  Hey, what can I say?  With 6 kids it is a LOT of work to keep the floors clean around here and any of these would help!
 Is she in to decorating?  I have been completely in love with One Kings Lane lately!  They have home decor goods (even fancy designer ones) for some serious discounts. You have to watch the deals to find just the right one but most of us women like a good hunt right?  You can get a gift card from One Kings Lane and let her go to town decorating!
How about a day off? What an idea?!  Moms work SO hard and if you have the ability to give the mom in your life a day off, she’ll love you for it. Send her off in the morning with instructions to have a good time.  It can be as simple a day as browsing her favorite shops with a latte in hand or as elaborate as an overnight stay at a spa.  There are all kinds of ways to make this work on any budget.  Just get creative.  If you want to make it even more special, get the kids to make “we love you mom” banners and clean up the house before she gets home.  Trust me.  She will love that!
Have the kids/grandkids get creative with handmade cards.  My kids love to do this for me every year and I keep them all.  They are so precious.  You can use paint and let them put their handprints on them or write poems. Kids are good at being creative with cards.
Have kids draw a picture or write a poem and frame it.
Take pictures of your kids or family and frame them for mom’s wall.  Swap photographing the family with a friend or neighbor and then use a photo editing software (like Picasa) or a stores photo editing computer to crop, make them black & white, etc…
If you know a single mother it would be great to remember her this Mother’s Day!  Even a simple card would be a blessing.  I often think about how hard it is to parent even with a spouse and I cannot imagine doing it alone. Regardless of the circumstances that made them single parents I know it would mean a lot to have someone remember them on Mother’s Day.  Let’s support them!  Let me know in the comments if you have special ideas on how to do this.
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Backseat Driver Clothing and Accessories Review and Giveaway.

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Have you seen the absolutely adorable lines for infants and toddlers from Backseat Driver?  Talk about cute!  Backseat Driver is all about fun, fashionable and comfortable clothing and accessories for your little backseat driver (clever name too!).
Backseat Driver is a boutique quality clothing and accessory line created by sisters, Kimberlee and Sarah, in Southern California. Their infant onesies and toddler tops are not only trendy and playful, but soft and comfortable and made in the USA. They saw there was a need for more hip, happening clothing for baby boys, so they set out to make it! I think they have done a fine job!
 Along with their clothing Backseat Driver makes great 100% cotton, handmade bibs & burp cloths backed with chenille.  They were so kind as to send me one of the Happy Butterfly Bibs and it could not be cuter!  I love that the backside is chenille fabric! It adds absorbency and cuteness! I love that they pay attention to all of the details such as the wavy stitching pattern and the cute little Backseat Driver tag.  The colorful and unique fabrics make bib wearing more stylish and I think these would make super, unique gifts for baby showers and birthdays!

Did I mention that Backseat Driver was at the Emmy’s last year? Jennifer Love Hewitt, Seth Green and Blair Underwood were just a few of the stars that had fun checking out all of the great Backseat Driver items (click here for pictures).

If you cannot wait for the giveaway to end to get your hands on the cuteness you can purchase Backseat Driver items by visiting them here. Enter the code: BABY for 15% off!


Now for the really great part! Backseat Driver is offering one lucky reader your choice of one bib/burp cloth (*pending availability since items are handmade & certain items are no longer made).  To enter to WIN go visit Backseat Driver’s Customer Favorites and come back and tell me which one is your favorite too.  Be sure to leave me a way to contact you should you win.  

For more ways to enter leave me a comment for each action:

Follow this site via Google Friend Connect (see upper right side of this page)
Follow Backseat Driver on Twitter
Follow Kristin’s Review on Twitter
Like Backseat Driver on Facebook
Like Kristin’s Review on Facebook
Subscribe to Kristin’s Review via email or RSS
Tweet about this giveaway: enter to #win an adorable bib/burp cloth set, onsie or thermal from Backseat Driver at www.Kristinsreview.com #backseatgiveaway

Giveaway ends 2/22/11 at 11:59 PM EST. Open to the US only.

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