Toy Shopping Safety Tips

Shopping for toys during the holidays can be exciting and fun, but it can also be frustrating. There can be thousands of toys to choose from in one store, and it’s important to choose the right toy for the right age child. Here are some great safety tips I received that I wanted to share with you.

Toy Safety Tips by Malcolm Denniss: Technical Director for SGS Consumer Testing Services

1. The most important aspect of buying gifts for children (whether for holidays or birthdays) is to make sure the toy or game is age-appropriate for the child. Nearly every toy or game will list the appropriate age on the box. The guidelines were developed by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Toy Industry Association, and take into account the typical ability of children to handle certain toys. Buying toys for children that are younger than the indicated age, even though we think a child may grow into it or is capable may lead to inappropriate play patterns and hazards that a child is not yet prepared for.

2. Children are naturally excited to play with new toys at holiday times, often in a robust and possibly in an overly enthusiastic manner. It is important that parents periodically check their children’s toys for any damage or breakage, which could create sharp edges or a choking hazard. If a toy looks damaged, take it away! If necessary, contact the manufacturer to verify that it is still safe to play with.

3. While toy shopping during the holidays, check recall notices at the toy or department store to verify none of child’s existing toys have been recalled and are still in your child’s room or toy box.

4. If you are buying toys for nephews, nieces, or other children that you may not see on a regular basis, it is always a good idea to check with the parents and make sure you know what they think is appropriate for the child, particularly for very young children where maturity can vary significantly. Be particularly careful when buying for children under the age of three years. This age group often still puts toys in their mouths, so check the front of the toy package to see if the toys have small parts before buying.

5. Teach kids outdoor and indoor play safety. It’s important to teach them to not play ball games near roadways and to always look where they are running if the ball goes outside the play area. Never let them play near roads and areas where automobiles are driving. Do not let them play with flying toys indoors where they can not only knock over fragile decorations but can also hit bystanders.

Black Friday 2009 Coupon Craze Tips

Do you have any plans for black Friday sales 2009 after you fill up on Turkey?  Did you actually know that you can shop online the Monday after?  It’s called Cyber Mondays and you can read more about that here to learn about Coupon Craze. Want to get the most out of this biggest shopping festival?
Here are some tips for going out shopping:

1. Go in with a plan – Map out the stores and the items you want
2. Take store advertisements along – Ads are easier and speeder when it comes to buying
3. Grab up in-demand items first – Toys & gadgets are the most wanted stuffs!
4. Be prepared to wait – Don’t rush in to avoid stamped. Keep your cool
5. Shop safe – Be careful with your belongings
6. Dress appropriately – Don’t dress in anything you are not comfortable in
7. Save receipts – Don’t throw away the receipts as you might need them later
8. Don’t get flustered if items sell out – There’s always a second chance!
9. Sales associates: Don’t stress – Advice for the store helpers to make your customer happy

The retail stores open their doors for all at 4 or 5 on the Black Friday every year. And there are still reports of stampedes and chances of items sold out! What about some online shopping in that case?
There are various sites on net that are offering online shopping options for Black Friday. You can avoid the rush as well as the chance of getting your stuffs run out of stock.
Here are some links with all the info which might help those who are eagerly reading this article and are trying to do some cyber shopping:

http://www.blackfriday.info/

http://www.gottadeal.com/

http://bfads.net/

I have to admit, I have never participated in the Black Friday craze. I’m more of an online shopper and you can read my article here to see what I found out about Cyber Mondays. Have fun and I hope you get some great deals!

GelPro Mothers Day Giveaway

Have you heard of kitchen mats made with Gel? I think they are one of the coolest inventions. I have one in front of my kitchen sink and I could stand there all day now. I love the feel of the mat and it is the most comfortable mat I have ever stood on! GelPro Mats would make a great gift for moms and dads.! And they are attractive and available in many different styles and colors. Here is what they say from their website.

Millions of people who love to cook experience pain in their feet and back from standing on hard, unforgiving kitchen flooring for extended periods of time. GelPro has solved this ergonomic problem with a line of stylish anti-fatigue floor mats manufactured with a soft, shock-absorbing gel core. The unique properties of the GelPro gel enable GelPro mats to provide the most comfortable surface to stand on, regardless of the type of hard flooring you have in your home. Whether you use it as a kitchen floor mat, a laundry room mat, a bathroom mat, or even as a utility mat in your garage, we are confident that after one try you will agree that GelPro has created the world’s most comfortable and attractive anti-fatigue floor mat.

You can purchase GelPro Mats on their website at www.gelpro.com.

CONTEST:

GelPro have generously offered to send one of Bookroom Reviews Readers your own GelPro Mat! You will love it!

TO ENTER: Visit GelPro.com and check out their fabulous products and comment here which style and color you like.

FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND TWEET THIS GIVEAWAY, SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG, OR STUMBLE THIS CONTEST.

Contest will end MAY 9TH U.S. And Canada only please. Good Luck! Winners,Please respond within 48 hours to my e-mail

Thomas Talking Railway Giveaway

We are HUGE Thomas the Train fans in our house and so I was excited to hear that Learning Curve had added a fun new feature to their classic Thomas Train Set. Thomas Wooden Railway, the Talking Railway Series features Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and brings the world of Thomas & Friends to life like never before. Basically NO BATTERIES!  How cool is that!  Compatible with the existing Thomas Wooden Railway system, the Talking Railway Series is made with the same quality wood craftsmanship and timeless appeal found in every Thomas Wooden Railway set. The new line features RFID sensors that are built into the engines and destinations. Depending on who passes by and whether or not Sir Topham Hatt is watching, different phrases and greetings will be played.

Kids driving an RFID enabled Thomas over the sensor on the track for instance, will hear Sir Tohpam Hatt say “Hello, Thomas you’re right on time!” Engines with the RFID chips will have their names printing in gold on the bottom of the chassis and they’ll also feature golden magnet connectors on the front and rear. For example, when Talking Railway Series Thomas passes through the Stop & Greet Station, Sir Topham Hatt identifies the engine and greets Thomas by name, saying, “Thomas, you are right on time!”

Currently you can buy and add Morgans Mine, Cranky the Crane, Discovery Set and the Stop and Greet Station to your railroad tracks. Nine engines are compatible with them. You can watch a demo and learn more about the Talking Railways Series at Learning Curves Website. Did you know they also have a page of ideas on how to design your tracks? I highly recommend their wooden track, we have had ours for three years now and it is built to last.

CONTEST

Learning Curve is generously giving one of Bookroom Reviews Readers a prize package of Cranky the Crane Destination (pictured above) and one of the Talking Engines to go with it! A value of $90.00! AWESOME!

TO ENTER: Visit Learning Curve and check out their other fabulous products and comment here what else you would want to buy for your little ones.

FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND TWEET THIS GIVEAWAY, SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG, OR STUMBLE THIS CONTEST.

Contest will end MAY 8TH U.S. And Canada only please. Good Luck! Winners,Please respond within 48 hours to my e-mail.

Happy Earth Day Giveaway

Check out these TWO great toy companies that produce eco friendly toys.   The first one is the line of Sprig Toys.  All of their toys are not only eco-friendly, they are so cute.  Made from bio-composite material derived from recycled wood and reclaimed plastic, they are kid-powered and imaginative. They have a great line of trucks to encourage your child to have fun playing construction and dig in the dirt. The only criticism I have is the Hollow sets have to be assembled and are a bit challenging, but the cute design and earth friendly factors more than make up for it. You can purchase the brand new Sprig Hollow line(pictured below) and their other great toys at retail stores listed on their website, www.sprigtoys.com.

Our friends Bee and Butterfly, the architects of Sprig Hollow, specifically designed all the farm vehicles for maximum utility in water, sand and garden environments. All of the vehicles at Sprig Hollow come equipped with detachable tools and water-resistant materials in order to sustain play and expand possibilities. The playful, cartoon-like designs of our chunky vehicles, characters and play sets make them irresistible to preschoolers, and parents love the eco-friendly, kid-powered construction. So jump into a place where imaginations blossom as preschoolers and their grown-ups play and learn in the fresh air! Dunebug’s Sand Truck is a double feature of a vehicle. It has a built in bucket, shovel, and rake transform this truck to instant sand tools to keep your farm looking the best on the block. When the wings of Bee and Butterfly need a rest for the day, they rely on the help of their very own air vehicle. Dragonfly’s HeliScoopter is the first of its kind that can scoop on up just about anything from sand to friends of the farm. When the HeliScoopter is not in action, it relaxes on our unique landing pad that also lends a helpful hand as a sand sifter. Sprig vehicles and characters are designed to be interchangeable, creating endless combinations of adventures. Different characters offer unique voices and personalities, introducing children to diverse friends and animals from around the world. Future products will be compatible with existing lines, expanding play potential and the life of each toy. Ages 3+

What makes Green Toys absolutely amazing in my opinion is that fact that they are made 100% recycled milk jugs right in the USA! They are also BPA, Phthalates, and Lead Paint Free! The other thing that draws me to Green Toys is that these are true imagination toys. No bells and whistles, flashing lights, cool sound effects. These toys encourage our children to think for themselves. To entertain themselves, rather than be entertained. I love that! Whether you’re lucky enough to pick up the Tool Kit, the Recycling Truck, the tea party set, or the indoor gardening set you’ll be right in there with your kids having a blast.

Green Toys would like to celebrate Earth Day and give one of you the Recycling Truck! Yeah!

TO ENTER: VISIT GREENTOYS.COM AND LET ME KNOW WHICH OTHER TOY YOU LIKE AND WHY

FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND TWEET THIS GIVEAWAY, SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG, OR STUMBLE THIS CONTEST.

Contest will end MAY 1ST. U.S. and Canada only please. Good Luck! Please respond within 48 hours.

Snapz Bags

A Texas Health hospital nurse came up with the concept for Snapz Bags messenger bags and backpacks. The Snapz system allows the customers to select add-on accessories such as cosmetics bags, change purses and key fobs. All the add-on accessories are attached by snaps. Isn’t that cool?  You won’t have to go rummaging around for your keys.   The bags come in contemporary patterns, such as faux furs and bold plaids. They are so colorful and trendy! I love the feel and the looks of them. Plus they are very sturdy but lightweight. Sanpz bags are made from a high quality polyurethane, so they are more Eco-friendly than your basic PVC. You can buy one ready made or you can build one yourself. You can mix and match colors and patterns, even the color of the bag’s strap and strap pad. The website is very user friendly and it is really fun to design your bag. Buy your bag today at snapzbags.com.

Speaking of purses, I’ve been noticing a trend of celebrities posing in purse ads seems to be very popular.  What do you think?  Do these pictures make you want to buy the purse?  or just throw up a little bit in your mouth.

Does this make me look sexy?

What is Katie Holmes really thinking here?

Look, Kirsten Dunst can carry three at once.

umm…

Even Sean Connery gets into it.

Tackle Your Cleaning

I don’t like to clean! Unfortunately I have to, or my house would be a pigsty. So, I am always looking for cleaning products that help me do my job quickly and efficiently. It’s a good thing that we have companies like Black and Decker and Haan who invent easier ways for us to tackle our cleaning!  I have two reviews below.  What’s your favorite new toy to clean with?

The Black and Decker Pivot Floor Vacuum is a cordless swivel vacuum. It arrived in three parts that clicked together easily. I put in on the charge base to charge and tested it out a few hours later. The power is impressive for a smaller vacuum. It picked up everything on my carpets with no problem. I only had to go over one carpet area twice.  It was my thicker rug in my kitchen. I ran it upstairs and down and it didn’t run out of charge. It is very easy to empty, just turn the cylinder handle, open, and empty. It folds up easily and sits in the stand to charge.  It is small enough to sit in an easy place to grab when I need it. My only disappointment is that it does not really pivot. I was expecting a ball type joint where the head attached, but it does go under tables and beds easily. It is surprisingly a bit heavy to lift too. If you need a cordless for small jobs, this is the one for you.  You can purchase the Pivot Vacuum at Target, Walmart and Amazon for $96.88.

The HAAN FS-20 floor steam cleaners incorporates cutting-edge technology, easy maneuverability and powerful 212°F steam for quick, chemical-free cleaning in your home. Standard package includes includes FS-20 Steam Cleaner, 2 washable microfiber pads, measuring cup, protective floor pad, and a carpet tray to sanitize carpet. It kills household germs and allergens, including: 99.99% of dust mites, e.coli virus and salmonella bacterium.

The HAAN FS-20 Steam Mop utilizes steam to remove tough grease, dirt and grime. Steam is nature’s purest and most powerful cleaner for safely cleaning all hard floor surfaces in your home without harsh chemicals, thus being perfectly ecological. It cleans your tile, hardwood, linoleum and vinyl floors.  Use only regular water or distilled/purified water if the tap water in your area is very hard. It is recommended to clean the water tank once a month to eliminate calcium deposits. Add three ounces of water to the tank and shake to loosen any deposits. Immediately empty the water into a sink. Do not use vinegar or other substances in the water tank.

First I filled up the steam mop with no trouble, it is nice and lightweight and heated up within 5 minutes or less. When it started letting out steam it was ready to go. It has a Velcro floor pad that cleans it. I used it on my kitchen floor, which is hardwood. It picked up the black sneaker marks easily, as well as the crusted food left behind. I had to go over those areas just a couple times and the rest of the floor looked shiny and clean. Best of all there was no chemical smell. I am amazed that using just steamed tap water can clean this well. I was always taught to use vinegar and water and scrub on your hands and knees. I definitely prefer this.  The floor pad was nice and large, and re-usable.  The ergonomic handle makes it easy to use.  You can purchase The Hann Steam Mop at www.haanclean.com, Amazon and other retailers for $89.99.

The LuxurEco Giveaway

Going green has never been more important.The Luxureco develops luxury products combining Eco and luxury with bed and bath amenities. They make products that are the ultimate in luxury. They are Eco-friendly, earth sustaining, and 100% biodegradable home and fashion items including bamboo towels, blankets, bathrobes, slippers, spa wraps and sheets. My first thought about towels and robes made from Bamboo was that it sounds like it would be scratchy.  I was so surprised at how soft and comfy the material is. The bamboo robe feels as soft as cashmere and the bamboo slippers are light and comfy. Apparently bamboo makes the products much more absorbent than cotton and the antibacterial qualities in these products are an added bonus. You can purchase their products at their website www.theluxureco.com. The LuxurEco proudly supports EarthShare.

The generous company of The LuxurEco wants to give one reader their own set of slippers and a bamboo shower curtain. The shower curtain is antibacterial, so you will never deal with a smelly curtain! HOORAY!

TO ENTER: VISIT THE LUXURECO WEBSITE, AND CLICK THE REGISTER TO WIN BUTTON AT THE TOP, REGISTER, AND COMMENT BACK HERE THAT YOU DID.

ANOTHER ENTRY: STUMBLE THIS CONTEST, TWITTER(FOLLOW AND TWEET,(HEART BUTTONS BELOW) OR SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER OR BLOG. (IN SIDEBARS) LET ME KNOW LINKS

ANOTHER ENTRY: GRAB MY BUTTONS AND LET ME KNOW LINKS

THIS CONTEST WILL END MARCH 13TH AND RANDOM.ORG WILL CHOOSE THE WINNER. U.S. AND CANADA ONLY PLEASE. PLEASE RESPOND WITHIN 48 HOURS OR YOU WILL FORFEIT THE PRIZE AND I WILL RE-DRAW ANOTHER WINNER. GOOD LUCK AND I’M EXCITED FOR THIS GIVEAWAY! MARK YOUR CALENDERS FOR THE BOOK GIVEAWAY CARNIVAL MARCH 2ND-8TH!

Enter to Win a Pierre Cardin Diamond Watch

Holiday Guide For Kids

Kiddesign is a fantastic company that makes interactive educational toys for children.  KIDdesigns is a leading manufacturer of cutting edge, interactive electronic toys, learning aids, and real electronics for kids of all ages. We understand and respect the importance that toys play in kids’ lives. With that responsibility in mind, we combine state-of-the-art technology with old-fashioned fun to create innovative, exciting, and enjoyable products that kids will love and parents can trust.  KIDdesigns is dedicated to creating products that help boys and girls grow, learn, and have fun.

KIDdesigns has received some of the most prestigious awards and honors in the industry, including Family Fun’s “Toy of the Year” award, “Top Toy” recognition from the Great American Toy Test, and the “Best New Product Innovation” award from Toy Wishes Magazine. Our most-treasured honors, however, have always been the smiles and laughter from millions of boys and girls when they play with our toys and use our products.

They are must have on your Christmas list.  We loved playing with the following toys and highly recommend them!  You can buy them at www.kiddesigns.com and Toys R Us.   Free shipping for orders over $30.
Growing Smart Laugh With Me Botley (Isn’t he adorable!)
An Interactive Learning Friend

Botley is loaded with fun and games and he’s eager to help kids learn words, numbers, logic, and more! Watch as Botley comes to life with moving head and mouth. Join this lovable laughing robot for hours of teaching entertainment.

Logic Circuits
Logic and Reasoning skills keep young minds sharp and focused

Letter Circuits
Letter Identification and recognition is fundamental to language and reading skills

Word Circuits
Recognizing and understanding words is an important component to reading comprehension

Math Circuits
Teaches basic math skills

Game Circuits
A variety of challenging games help sharpen strategic thinking

Custom Game and Data Circuits
Customization of content creates a personalized challenge

Growing Smart Learning Laptop (Spiderman Design)
Your child will want to look just like you with his or her own laptop!  This one is the perfect size and teaches them e-mail even!  So cute and educational.  There is a Barbie laptop just for girls.

* 8 learning zones with 48 different activities, including great games like hangman, snake, word jumble, word matching, letter matching and more
* Spider-Man® speech and exciting sound effects
* S.M.A.R.T. Chip™ Technology will automatically adjust quiz levels that are appropriate for each child
* Translate button translates select words into Spanish instantly
* “My Zone” feature allows custom spelling lists, instant messages to Spider-Man, Email and more
* Backlit display

Barbie™ Pet Doctor

We have so much fun being a doctor to this adorable dog.  He makes sounds and lights up to show your child where he is hurt and where they can treat him.  A great toy to teach empathy and inspire your child to help animals.

* Interactive pet with pressure sensitive pads in head, back, and all paws to activate different exciting doggie sounds
* Dog responds to bottle and bone
* Realistic dog sounds such as barking, panting, yelping, chewing–even a heartbeat
* Includes a carrying bag to store doggie and accessories
* In store “Try Me” plays sound effects from paw
* Accessories include carrying bag, stethoscope, thermometer, milk bottle, syringe, bone, certificate, and a prescription pad