Knitting Zeal's two cents

Laundry day with the help of Purex Triple Action

I used to have a laundry day.  One day. That was enough to get it all done.  Now I have a kid, who is bigger, and wears a lot more clothes than before.  In the winter, with the bulkier clothes, it seems that the laundry is never done.  I now have to do laundry throughout the week in order to not feel overwhelmed.  Oh, and the pee laundry...which is laundry that has to be washed immediately!  My kiddo is potty trained and has mostly dry nights, but there are still occasional nights when there are mishaps.  There are weeks where I feel I could wash laundry for our little family of three every single day.  That is crazy!

 

 

Enter Purex Laundry Detergent

I've been using Purex laundry products for about a year now since becoming a Purex Insider.  I've had the opportunity to try out several different products and now had the chance to put their latest laundry detergent formula, Purex Triple Action, to the test with my endless piles of laundry.  I received a bottle of the Free & Clear version of the detergent, as I really like using dye-free products with our very sensitive skin, especially in the winter when our skin is really dry.   

 

January 1st, New Year's Day, I woke up with my son in our bed because of a bad dream and a wet bed.  He peed through our down comforter, the duvet, the sheets, and finally the matress cover (which thankfully protected the matress.)  I spent all of New Year's Day, in between entertaining friends, washing and drying our bed linens so that we would be able to sleep there that night comfortably.  It was the first time I used Purex Triple Action.  I was really impressed with how white, bright and fresh smelling my bedding was when it was all finally washed and dried.  I rarely wash our down comforter because not only is it huge, but it is a pain to dry.  The same thing goes for the matress pad.  That being said, they both really needed to be washed despite the urgency.  Both items turned out great.  The laundry detergent was gentle enough on my down comforter while also strong enough to get the pee smell out and freshen the entire thing.  While Purex laundry detergent works great, it's also a great price, much less than other national brands.  It also works in all types of washing machines, including High Efficiency washers (my dream!)

I'll be using Purex Triple Action free & clear all winter long on all of our laundry!

Disclosure:  Purex provided a free sample of their Triple Action laundry detergent for the purposes of this review.  All epinions expressed are honest and my own based upon my experience with the product. 

Carmex's newest click stick flavors: Vanilla and Lime Twist

As a self-admitted lip balm aficionado I have to say that trying the latest flavors/scents/formulas is a past time of mine.  Lip Balm is one of those products I feel one can never have too much of and it is so affordable.  I have lip balms all over my house and car so that I am never with out one when in need of some moisture.  I had the chance to become a Carmex Blog Squad member and got a great package from them to review some of their new products!  

Carmex has two new flavors of moisturizing lip balms available: Vanilla and Lime Twist!  Both flavors are sold in the click stick container, which makes them extra easy to use without an applicator (finger!)  They feature an SPF rating of 15 and have three additional moisturizers more than the original Carmex lip balm!  I really appreciate that Carmex makes lip products that are extra moisturizing and not addictive!  (See the info on their website about the addiction myth and answers to other funny questions!)  They also do not test their products on animals.

Now I have been most familiar with the standard little pot of balm that holds the original formula of Carmex.  I've been using that stuff for years, mainly in the winter when my lips are often their worst.  I used to keep a little pot of the stuff in my coat pocket until I discovered that Carmex lip balm also came in a stick form!  It definitely is easier to apply lip balm from a stick applicator, in my opinion.  And it's less messy. With the introduction of two new flavors, Carmex is getting even better.  I love Vanilla lip balms.  The Carmex Vanilla moisturizing lip balm is my favorite out of the two new flavors.  It has a light vanilla scent, is not over powering, and definitely feels moisturizing.  I can't taste a vanilla flavor, but that is good, as I don't want to eat my lip balm.  After applying the lip balm I feel that cool, tingly Carmex feeling, which is probably the camphor and menthol ingredients.  I found that the lip balm lasted a long time on my lips.  I plan to take them to the beach (if Hurricane Irene doesn't destroy our vacation plans) and test out SPF 15.  The Lime Twist Carmex lip balm works the same as the vanilla, but has a zesty lime scent.  I didn't love the scent, but it was tolerable and the product certainly moisturized my lips well.  

Carmex also sent me a Moisture Plus ultra hydrating lip balm in clear satin gloss finish.  I love this lip balm!  It really is great at hydrating and feels wonderful.  It is packaged in a sleek stick with a slanted tip for easy application.  Because it's clear, I think it would work great to use over lip color to add a layer of hydration. This is the product that will be in my coat pocket all winter long!  I think it will be great at relieving chapped lips.  You can find the Moisture Plus, along with other Carmex products at CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. 

Thanks to Carmex and their blog squad for sending me these products to try out and review!  My son loves the picnic blanket that came with the lip balms!

Disclosure:  I received the above mentioned products for free to use and review.  No monetary compensation was received. The opinions expressed are honest!

Yummy Taco party with TOSTITOS® Artisan Recipes TM

As part of the SheSpeaks program, I had the opportunity to try out a new flavor of tortilla chip by Tostitos. TOSTITOS® Artisan Recipes^TM   offers two choices in new flavors.  We tried out the Roasted Garlic & Black Bean flavor.  I would say they were a hit!  Even my finicky three year old enjoyed a few of them (although he did ask for plain ones too.)  I thought they were good enough to enjoy without salsa even, since the flavor was so distinct. I really liked that they were made of a 9-grain whole grain blend and 100% natural ingredients.  The chips even have 8 grams of whole grains per serving.  I could actually see the real black beans in each chip.  The other flavor that is offered is Fire-roasted Chipolte.  I haven't had that flavor, but imagine they are just as tasty.  The only change in the Roasted Garlic & Black Bean flavor I would make is to reduce the sodium.  The flavors are so strong that I think they would hold up on their own with less salt.  

These chips must be popular already!  I had a hard time finding them in stock at my local market, who was selling them at 2 for $7 a bag. They definitely were a nice companion to our taco party and will be enjoyed again here.

For the taco party, I served turkey tacos (using ground turkey and taco seasoning mix from Penzey's spices) with soft flour tortillas, shredded lettuce, salsa, shredded cheese blend, and taco sauce.  On the side I made up my own recipe for Spanish rice.  I mixed two tablespoons of tomato paste in to the water with the rice while it was cooking, along with about a cup of fire-roasted corn from Trader Joe's. I then added chipolte pepper seasoning and salt to taste.  It was great!  Along with the TOSTITOS® Artisan Recipes^TM chips and salsa, we had a great, fun meal.

Disclosure:  I received one coupon for one free bag of TOSTITOS® Artisan Recipes^TM for the purposes of this review from SheSpeaks.  No monetary exchange was made and the opinions expressed here are honest.

Have you tried Purex Complete with Zout yet?

As a Purex Insider, I am given the opportunity to try out the latest laundry product from Purex.  Since half of my time as a SAHM involves doing laundry, this is a good thing to me!  You may recall that I had the chance to review Purex Crystals, a new type of laundry softener.  I'm happy to report that I still use Purex Crystals and have purchased all three scents! 

Purex Complete with Zout is a liquid laundry detergent that is boosted by the stain fighting power of Zout.  I have used Zout seperately for stains in the past, so combining the two makes stain fighting in the laundry a dynamic duo!  I typically use only clear laundry detergent due to having a family full of sensitive skin.  We are lucky to not have allergies to soaps, but I usually play it safe anyway and stay clear of dyes.  Purex Complete does have a free and clear version, I am happy to report!  Unfortunately the sample I received was not the free and clear version, but the regular Fresh Morning Burst scent.  I have to honestly report that after using this new detergent for two weeks, we have not had any skin irritations.  The only difference I noticed was the light, pleasant scent!  I can't tell you how relieved I was to discover this.  Since this version of Purex Complete is a blue color, I am sure to add it to the water in my washer before adding clothing.  Typically I do that anyway, but with clear detergent it doesn't seem to matter as much if I forget.  

Not only did I notice a nice, light scent to my clean laundry, I also noticed that it was brighter.  I usually add Oxi-clean to my washer with detergent, but I skipped it to test out the Zout power of Purex Complete.  I was pleasantly surprised to see how clean my laundry looked.  My three year old son is notorious for creating a mess, and Purex Complete got his messy clothes clean!  I haven't tested it on grass stains yet, since winter won't go away here yet, but that will be the next laundry test I give to Purex Complete!

So how does Purex Complete fight stains?   With Triple Enzyme Power!  It sounds so scientific, but it makes sense.  Protease, Amalyse, and Mannanase enzymes attack the stains, helping them lift out of the fabric.  

Purex Complete can be used as a pre-treatment for stains as well as a regular laundry detergent.  Pre-treating is great when you have a small child who uses his shirt and jeans as a napkin!  It's great on my clothing stains too, since a certain little boy is notorious for giving me a hug before he's been cleaned up!

Curious to try the new Purex Complete?  Visit FreeSamplePurex.com and request your free sample of Purex Complete with Zout!  Want to win a coupon to try Purex Complete with Zout for free?  Leave me a comment here with a great laundry tip!  Winner will be randomly chosen on or about April 10th, 2011 and contacted by email.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or an alternative winner will be selected!

Disclosure: I am a Purex Insider. While I do receive complimentary sample products from the Purex® brand, my opinions are my own! No finacial compensation has been received.

Laundry day just became a bit softer...

I recently became a Purex Insider which will give me an opportunity to check out new products from Purex and share my findings.  Being a stay at home mom means that I do laundry a lot!  (Not that I didn't have to do laundry before being a mom, but now it seems to never end.)  I try to get most of our laundry done on Mondays and Tuesdays so that I feel less overwhelmed.  I have been a fan of fabric softener for years.  I have super sensitive skin, which is often dry (especially my hands) so touching stiff or rough clothing annoys me.  I especially hate scratchy towels!  Unfortunately, using traditional liquid fabric softeners negatively affects the absorbency of towels, since it coats the fibers with oils.  

Purex has introduced a great new product that will help my laundry days immensely: Purex® Complete Crystals Softener ^TM

UNIQUE CRYSTAL FORM, 92% NATURAL FABRIC SOFTENER  Introducing Purex® Complete Crystals SoftenerTM*; a purer way to get laundry that smells clean and fresh for weeks. 92% natural, this product’s unique crystal form works differently than traditional oil-based softeners that coat fabrics with oily residue, because it infuses fibers with long-lasting fragrance. In addition, since you add it directly with your laundry, this means no more waiting for the rinse cycle, no messy residual gunk in your washing machine, and no more stains from spilling liquid fabric softener.

CRYSTALS DISSOLVE INFUSING FABRICS WITH FRESHNESS  Laundry scent lovers will perk up as freshness is infused into clothes with this new fabric softener. Over time, traditional oil-based softeners coat fibers causing harmful oily residue to accumulate. Purex Complete Crystals Softeners penetrate fabrics to reduce fiber entanglement and smooth frayed fibers providing a naturally soft feel.

SAFE FOR ALL LAUNDRY AND BETTER FOR FABRICS  Do ALL of your laundry—worry free! Purex Complete Crystals Softeners are safe for all laundry and will not harm, wear down or discolor your fabrics like oil-based softeners. Safe for all fabrics, including baby clothes, athletic wear, towels, and whites. Unlike other softeners, Crystals WILL:

• Preserve the flame retardant benefits of your children’s clothes
• Retain your athletic wear’s wicking ability which draws sweat away from your body
• Maintain your towels’ built-in ability to absorb water
• Keep your white clothing from yellowing and graying vs. using traditional softeners

The product won’t harm your clothes and is safe and convenient for the entire family!

* Safe for use in both Standard and High Efficiency (HE) washers

 

I know I overuse my liquid softener, especially when I find myself wasting precious time cleaning out the accumulated softener gunk that adheres to the inside of my softener dispenser.  I received a sample sized container of Purex® Complete Crystals Softener ^TM in the Fresh Spring Waters ^TM fragrance.  I decided to use it in this week's laundry loads.  So far I've done four loads of laundry, all clothing.  I've noticed several things:

• the clothes come out of the dryer smelling great and very lightly scented.
• there is no residue left in the washer, as the crystals dissolve completely.
• there is no static cling.
• the fabrics/clothing feels soft, but not as soft as with my liquid softener, which often leaves the fabrics feeling "coated" with something.  The fabrics actually feel the way they should, very natural, not scratchy or irritating.

Overall I am very pleased with the quality of this product.  I will next use it to run a few loads of towels and sheets to see how it works with them.  I am also curious as to how long the scent lasts on the fabrics.  While I tend to not care for much perfume or scents added to anything, the scent of crystals is not overwhelming. There are also a lavender and tropical scents available and I am looking forward to checking those out as well.  (My ideal scent would be a lavender vanilla!)  I really love that the crystals do not affect the absorbency of my towels or athletic clothing and that they are safe for my son's clothing.  

Currently (as of yesterday) Purex® Complete Crystals Softener ^TM is available for purchase at Walmart and will be available at other retailers early in 2011.  

Purex has generously offered to giveaway to three of my readers a coupon for a free bottle of Purex® Complete Crystals Softener ^TM.  

• (Mandatory entry!) To enter for a chance to win a coupon, please leave a comment below with a laundry tip or fun(ny) laundry fact.  
• For a second entry, "like" KnittingZeal on Facebook.  
• For a third entry follow me on Twitter @knittingzeal.  
• For a fourth entry "like" Purex on Facebook.  
• For a fifth entry follow @Purex on Twitter.

The first entry is mandatory...any others are optional!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to include your email address so I can contact you!  Purex will be responsible for mailing each winner the coupon.  This giveaway will end on January 14, 2011 at 11:00pm, EST.  At that time, three winners from the comments will be selected by Random.org, and those selected will be contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be selected!  Good luck and thanks for reading!!

Disclosure: I am a Purex Insider. While I do receive complimentary sample products from the Purex® brand, my opinions are my own!  

Getting busy with Rompy at Romp n Roll in Willow Grove

This past Monday my three year old son and I had the opportunity to attend a mommy blogger event at our local Romp n Roll establishment in Willow Grove.  We had never been to a class there and I was curious about what they had to offer.  

Romp n Roll is a kids play place that combines gym, art and music into a variety of different classes for kids age five and younger.  From the outside, it looks like any other strip mall store, but walking inside you feel like you are walking into a magical storybook land filled with lots of bright colors, geometric shapes and you can practically smell the fun.  There are cubbies in the lobby to hold shoes, coats and bags, along with the check-in desk, a small gift shop filled with tees, socks and age-appropriate fun stuff, such as shakers.  There is a pair of water fountains at varying heights to accommodate all sizes.  I did not get a chance to check out the rest rooms, but they were easy to find.  

Our event began in what I believe was the party or art room.  A pizza lunch was served while a guest speaker, Kelly Fisher from Temple University's Infant Lab, gave a presentation on play.  While my son loved playing in the gym, I think what I enjoyed most was Dr. Fisher's "lecture."  With my psychology background and my particular interest in child development, I could have listened to her speak for hours!  Unfortunately with little ones everywhere, about thirty minutes was all she could do.  She spoke about the importance of play based learning and gave a comprehensive description of different styles of play.  She noted studies that found guided play (as opposed to free play and directed play) to be the most beneficial to child development and having the best impact on life long learning.  She mentioned the importance of preparing children to be competent with 21st Century Skills.  I felt very validated regarding my parenting and our decision to have one parent stay home with our son.  I also felt that we are giving our son great opportunities to learn through exploration of the world and creative play.  I also loved hearing that a certain video series that was aimed at making babies "Einsteins" has since been proved to have negative effects on learning!  (It drove me nuts when people, including professional educators and former colleagues, did not understand why I did not want my baby watching baby TV and videos!  I knew I made a good choice there!)  In summary, Dr. Fisher's message was that play places such as Romp n Roll are good choices to give young children strong foundations to build upon for future successes.  

After the lunch and learn session, it was time for a mixed ages gym class for the kids.  I'm not positive on the age range of the kids there, but my guess is about one year to age four.  The gym class was led by Miss Allyson, who was assisted by two or three other gym leaders.  She started in "Rompy's house," a little room curtained off from the main gym, and introduced the week's circus theme and sang a few songs.  She introduced all of the children to Rompy, the dog mascot.  My son has continued to talk about Rompy and even saved his name badge since the dog is in the logo on the badge.  I think it made an impression on him! After the story, the kids were permitted to enter the gym for a bit of free play, then some directed activities, before being broken into two groups based upon age.  My son had the chance to explore the obstacle course that was set up and really enjoyed "hanging" out.  
He liked jumping on a giant log too.  The kids had the opportunity to play balloon paddle ball for a bit, which was a hit with all the kids.  The bubble dance time was fun too, with the lights dimmed and the giant disco ball spinning while the bubble machine spewed out tons of tiny bubbles.  We ended back in Rompy's house for a goodbye song and a chance to say goodbye to Rompy.  

My son seemed to enjoy this class, although he would have preferred for it to be a bit longer.  It was well organized and the kids always were busy doing an activity.  I did feel that the age range was a bit too wide, but for a sample class it was fun.  (From reading the class schedule I learned that gym classes are usually more age specific, so that the preschoolers are not having to trip over the crawlers!)  My son commented on the bubbles and the music the most, when telling daddy about his adventure that night.

Romp n Roll has a wide variety of classes.  I think my son would be most interested in Construction Junction class and the Chef Rompy class.  A nice bonus for kids who are enrolled in classes is that they can attend "open gym" time in the afternoon for free.  (It is $10 otherwise.)  Most classes seem to be priced around $200 for a 12 week session.  This includes the open gym time bonus.  Many of the classes are "drop-off" classes, for kids over age 2.5, so at about $16 a class, it is close to the cost of a babysitter in this area.  

I noticed that overall the facility was very clean, well organized, and managed well.  The only maintenance issue I noticed was the water fountain had a puddle under it and sprayed water onto the seating area next to it when in use.  The staff was enthusiastic and knowledgeable of the programs, including the woman whose first day it was...talk about trial by fire!  (I forget her name, but she remembered my son's name when we ran into her later in the parking lot...that says a lot!)  The staff seemed to really enjoy working there and spending time with kids.  The owner and manager both have education backgrounds and many of the staff are college or high school students with interest in education or child development.  Romp n Roll is a franchise operation and they follow a time-tested curriculum that has been found successful for the preschool set.  With so many options in class themes and topics, a child could potentially start a Romp n Roll at age 3 months and never repeat a class through age five.  (Although developmentally, I do not feel a three month old would benefit from classes, maybe a nine month old...just my opinion!)

While my son has enough activities on his plate at the moment with preschool, music together classes, playgroup and trips to the Please Touch Museum, I will be keeping Romp n Roll in mind for the spring and summer, when our schedules open up a bit.  

Thanks to Allyson and Andi for the mommy blogger event and the chance to experience a fun gym class at Romp n Roll!  Please check out their website for more info and details on the winter schedule of classes.

Disclosure:  My son and I received lunch and a free class in exchange for this blog post as part of this mommy blogger event.  My opinions expressed here are authentic and my own!

Lasagna on the stove-top with 360 Cookware

I recently attended a demonstration of a new-to-me line of cookware that uses vapor technology as a method of "speed" cooking.  360 Cookware is manufactured by Americraft Cookware, a US company that practices "green" manufacturing. This stainless steel cookware is not only beautiful to me, a hopeful home gourmet chef, but it allows for healthier cooking styles, which is something important to me.  At the demonstration, we watched the chef prepare three main dishes, a veggie dish and a cake, all on the stove top in these amazing stainless steel pans.  She made a lasagna, a whole chicken, and a tilapia dish, all in under an hour and a half, including a chocolate cake from a box and carrots and broccoli that were cooked with water vapor and nothing else.  They actually tasted better than my usual method of steaming.  Even the kids at the party ate the veggies!  I really liked that all the foods cooked used no added oil or butter and they cooked fairly quickly.  This means a healthier meal faster for my family.  

I currently own a set of non-stick, fairly expensive, cookware, that is about five years old.  I love them and they work great for me, but lately I've noticed the non-stick finish on the most used ones is starting to flake off.  I bought the non-stick over the stainless steel because I thought it would make for healthier cooking, as no extra fat would need to be added, but now I have two issues with my older pans; I have to spray or grease the pans where the finish is flaking, and I'm worried about ingesting the finish (or my family ingesting it.)  I had been thinking about purchasing stainless steel pans, or even enamel pans, one at a time to replace my current set.  I was happy to have the opportunity to attend this demo of 360 Cookware at the right time!  

360 Cookware sent me a complimentary 3.5 Quart stainless steel Sauté Pan to try out and share my experience on my blog and twitter.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to use it and share my experience.  The 360 Cookware Test Kitchen has a many recipes available online and a few came with my pan too.  I decided to try out the lasagna recipe first, since it seemed almost too good to be true.  I altered the recipe slightly, using ground turkey instead of beef.  It was great!  My family loved it and the leftovers were a hit as well.  I did slightly overcook the bottom of it because I just didn't trust the recipe to cook the dish on low heat.  I learned that I need to trust the recipe and follow the cooking directions exactly!  The design of the stainless steel pan makes cooking at lower temperatures easy and quick.  My lasagna was finished cooking in 45 minutes and ready to serve after ten more minutes for the cheeses to set. The next recipe I plan to try is the tilapia one and the healthier version of chicken parm.  (After days of turkey, Italian and Mexican recipes really appeal to me!) And this crust less quiche sounds like a great brunch recipe to try over the holidays! 

So, while I did receive this awesome pan for free, I really do love it!  So much, that I decided to replace a few of my worn out non-stick pots and pans with three new pots/pans from 360 Cookware!  (I can't resist a really good cyber Monday sale!!)  I can't wait to get my new pans and I feel relieved that I will be cooking with safer and healthier methods.  

Some quick facts about the 360 Cookware stainless steel pans with Vapor technology, as copied from their website:  

• Multiple layers T-304 stainless steel (highest quality) and alloy construction
• Ergonomic, stay-cool handles
• Stylish design compliments any décor
• US owned and made by 1 of America’s greenest companies
• Lifetime warranty
• Vapor technology cooks food faster & more evenly with less energy
• No need to add grease or water
• Oven-safe to 400º
• Bakes on stovetop

So how did I get to see a demo of this cookware?  I was invited to a Candyland Party for mommy bloggers.  We got to bring home a new candyland game to play and I got a goody bag of fun stuff. During the party while the kids played the mommies got to experience the cooking demonstration by 360 Cookware.   At the party I also got a chance to meet a bunch of local mommy bloggers and to chat with them about their blogs.  Maureen, Jennifer, Sherry, Chrissy, and Kate and their kids, were a lot of fun and made for a great Monday afternoon.  My monkey is still talking about how much fun he had playing with the other kids.  Thanks to Chrissy of Mama's Little Helper and Jennifer of Sisterly Savings for hosting such a fun and educational experience!  And thanks too, to 360 Cookware for the demo, the new pan, and the opportunity to learn about a new way to cook meals.

Snack & Play travel tray makes car rides fun!

The Snack & Play travel tray is one of those inventions that a parent can really appreciate.  Constructed out of durable nylon and crash-tested for safety, this soft tray easily attaches by a belt strap to a child sitting in a car seat (forward facing,) airplane seat, or stroller.  The tray has three padded edges on it that prevent small toys from wandering away unintentionally, making it perfect for catching wayward crayons, pencils, and little cars.  Clean up is simple, just shake it out or wipe with a damp cloth.

We had a chance to try out the Snack & Play recently on a road trip to Lancaster.  Our three year old was quite content to have the tray buckled around him so that he could draw and color while we drove.  He also brought along some little cars to drive around the tray.  The mesh storage pockets on each side of the tray were great for holding extra toys and a water bottle.  They were a bit deep for him to access on his own at this time, but they came in handy for clean up when we arrived at our destination.  He reported that it was fun to have the Snack & Play tray for during our trip.  I liked that instead of the usual cries of his toys falling on the floor of the car, most of them stayed put on the tray.   My sister in law used the Snack & Play with her 2.5 year old son on an international flight and found it very useful in creating a soft play table that was at the perfect level for his use.

The Snack & Play travel tray is available from many retailers as listed on the web.  It would make a great gift for the holidays and is reasonably priced at under $20. 

Disclosure:  I was provided with a Snack & Play travel tray for the purposes of this review.  No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed her are my own!

 

The Anybook reading gadget: a review

My son adores reading stories and being read to by anyone willing.  We read to him at least twice a day, before nap and before bedtime.  He has amassed quite a library of books, mostly because I am a big fan of books, particularly picture books.  (I’ve been buying them since we got married whenever we went anywhere special, so he already had a collection before he was born.)  He now recognizes logos of brands and can “read” them to us, as well as recognize the alphabet, but he isn’t reading books on his own yet.  He does enjoy looking through books and pretends to read them, especially ones he has memorized. 

Recently we started using the Anybook reading device in addition to his story times.  This is a small electronic gadget that is shaped like a bulky pen or marker. The Anybook is a new gadget by Franklin Discover and is used by a reader, such as mom or dad, to record a book in your own voice.  The child can then use the device like a speaker to listen to the story, even when playing alone.  The Anybook uses stickers on each page that activate the recording on that page.  The Anybook works with every book in your personal library!  The gadget we are using is the Anybook DRP-4000, which holds up to 60 hours of recordings.  It can also delete books as needed, once the 60 hour threshold is met, so it can be enjoyed for years.  It runs on two AAA batteries and does not require software or a computer to use.  Unlike some of the other reading gadgets on the market for kids that I’ve investigated, the Anybook does not need special books to go with it.  As its name implies, it can be used with anybook in your personal library!

I started first with a short board book, one of my favorites, Chicka Chicka abc.  After putting a small circle sticker on each page, I then used the Anybook’s record mode to record my voice reading the words on each page, while touching the sticker on that page with the device.  I recorded each page of the book and then was able to play back each page by touching each sticker.  It was that simple!  I was surprised by several things: how I sound during playback, how important enunciation is, and how amazing this gadget is!  I did have to re-record two of the pages because I thought they sounded a bit muffled, but once I figured out how far away to hold the device from my mouth, it turned out great! (Speaking directly into it seemed to be too close, so holding it down a few inches from my mouth, similar to how one holds a microphone, seemed to do the trick in improving my recording quality.)

The stickers that come with the Anybook are the key to making it work.  They use a unique code, which seems like magic to me, to recognize the assigned recording for each page of the book.  They are about a half inch sized circle and the ones that came with my Anybook are white.  The Anybook sticker pack has approximately 400 recordable stickers and also includes four sheets of stickers that are pre-recorded with sounds, such as a train, a child laughing, clapping hands, a phone ringing, as well as some animal sounds.  There are also two sheets of faces stickers representing moms and dads, grandparents, and brothers and sisters.  These stickers can be recorded, so for the mom one I recorded my voice saying “Mommy.”  I will place this mommy sticker on the front of the books I read, and my husband or parents can use the other stickers for when they record their books.  The stickers can be removed from a book and re-used.  I was able to peel the sticker and move it quite easily when I realized I wanted to move a sticker to another spot on the page.  If the stickers can be used in other books and re-recorded over, so to speak, so until the sticky part stops sticking, they are reusable.  Additional sticker packs are available for purchase from the manufacturer. 

To say that my son liked “reading” his book with Anybook is an understatement.  He kept asking me if the voice was me and went through the book several times in a row.  It was very exciting to him to hear his mom read to him through this gadget.  I later recorded a second book; A is for Angry, by Sandra Boynton, a favorite author of ours.  He enjoyed reading and using the Anybook reader gadget just as much.  With this book, I even added a few things to the recordings, the way I add extras when I read, such as asking him to recite the alphabet at the end of the story.  I also used the Mommy sticker on the front and included a personalized greeting with the title of the book.

The Anybook by Franklin Discover is sure to be a hit this holiday season.  I am going to recommend it to a friend of mine whose daughter adores reading so much she would be happy to be read to all day.  This is the perfect gadget for a family with a parent that travels or is in the military.  What a great way to be there for a child by being able to read a story to them even when you can’t be there in person.  I am planning to have my husband record a few books for my son so that when he is away on his next business trip or even just at work during the day, my son can listen to daddy read to him.  I also am hoping to have my son’s grandparent’s record a book so that we have their voices recorded for him.  With it being so easy to use, a book can be recorded in just a few minutes more than it takes to read it. 

Disclosure:  I was provided with a complimentary Anybook gadget and stickers set for the purpose of this review.  The opinions and experience expressed here are honest and my own!  

(product photo is courtesy of Franklin Discover, child photo is the author's!)

 

Zoodling around the computer...and a giveaway!

As of 9/2/10 this contest/giveaway is closed!  This post had to be moved to my review blog, so the comments that were originally left could not be moved.  I have added them to the end of this post.  The winners of the giveaway are Kitten, Lisa, and Chrissy.  Congrats!  I will forward your info to Zoodles, who will email you your prize!!

 

I have an almost three year old child who is growing up in a completely different world than the one his father and I lived.  We grew up when electronic toys were a speak n’ spell and Pong.  Now there is THE INTERNET, ipods and Wii.  The first time we had a computer at home was 1984 and it was a Kaypro and it was big.  My little guy lives in a house in which each parent has a laptop along with the desktop in the family room.

So of course he would like to “work” on the computer like mommy and daddy.  His first experience using a computer game was actually at our library, which has a kid-friendly computer stocked with educational games.  We do not own any computer games at home that are age-appropriate for a preschooler.  I personally do not think he needs to play on the computer at his age, but I do realize that it is very well possible that a required school supply for kindergarten may be a laptop.  (Ok, I jest, but it’s possible, right?)  I know before not too long he will be using computers in school and will need to type his first report on the computer, so playing a few age-appropriate computer games occasionally may help him learn how computers work and how to properly use a mouse.  He also really likes playing on the computer but since I’m not planning to purchase games, I need to find appropriate ones online for him to use.  Enter Zoodles, a safe online service that helps parents find age appropriate educational games for kids that are fun!

Zoodles is a free web browser that a parent can download to provide a safe platform for a child to play online, age appropriate games.  Zoodles does the work in finding the appropriate kid-friendly games that are educational and fun.  After downloading, the parent or child can access the browser by clicking on a desktop icon and enter a safe internet zone, a place that has controlled content.   One of the features I really like about the Zoodles browser is that I can search for age-specific games related to what my monkey boy likes, namely, Curious George.  By entering some basic search info, such as “Curious George three year old games”, I get a list of age appropriate games that involve Curious George.  My monkey has enjoyed playing a George juggling game, which helps him with counting and number identification.   The Zoodles directory of games is chosen based upon the National Educational Norms, so as a parent I know that the games are appropriate and educationally based.  The ages the games range from are age two to age eight.  That is a massive amount of games!  In just the three year old category there are 510 games available.  With a searchable directory, there is a way to customize my son’s playing time each time he plays by searching for the type of game or character he is interested in at the moment (if he decides he no longer wants to play a George game, that is!!)

Currently my son is unable to master the use of the mouse.  He keeps practicing, but with Zoodles I can play along with him to help him.  This has been a fun way to show him how to use the computer while also keeping control over what he sees and how long he stays on.  Currently I limit his play online to about ten minutes at a time.  Having Zoodles to help me identify fun games for him has been a nice chance for us to play together.

While Zoodles is a free browser, there is a premium level upgrade that allows parents to have even more control over what their child is doing on the computer.  With a premium membership, parents can set play timers, ad blocking, violence filtering, receive weekly activity reports showing play history, and more.  Premium membership is sold by the month, 6 months or annual rates.  The free browser allows parents to set up a profile for each child and based upon the child’s age, content is selected.  For a family with several kids in various ages, this lets each child have his or her own profile with age appropriate educational activities selected.

As my little guy continues to grow by leaps and bounds, I know his interest in playing online games will grow too.  I’m glad he will have Zoodles to help him enjoy this activity.

When a parent downloads the free Zoodles browser, a free time-limited premium membership is also provided to give one a chance to see how the premium level works.  Zoodles would like to offer three of my blog readers a complimentary 3 month premium subscription to really try out Zoodles with their child/children and get a feel of just how this great service works.  To be eligible for this giveaway please leave me a comment below telling me a memory of your first experience with a computer.  This giveaway will end on September 2 at 11:59pm EST.  The three winners will be notified by email by September 4th.  The winner's information will be forwarded to Zoodles, who will send a redemption code directly to the winners.  Good Luck!

 

 Disclosure:  I was provided with a 6 month premium level membership to Zoodles in order to write this review.  The opinions expressed are mine.  No monetary exchange occurred.

Also, this is the first giveaway I've ever held on my blog.  Please be nice.  :-)

 

Comments, as left on my main blog, knittingzeal: 

Kitten said:  

Sure, I'd love to try this for my very computer curious toddler. :) My first memory of a computer? I was very young and had met my mother's new boyfriend for the first time. He decided to entertain me by setting up his hand built computer to print out plane engineering plans. It must have been 1979 or so and I was immediately enthralled. By the time he moved in, when I was five, just two years later, he had built a new computer that he 'shared' with me. I got to play silly ascii games on something called DOS and I got to write on it.

Thanks to my stepfather, I now have a degree in computer science today!

~~~

Lisa said:  

Hmmmm....well, my FIRST memory of computer related interaction is a Smith Corona Word Processor. LOL That was in my college dorm---I had the version that looked more like an electric typewriter---and the girl across the hall had to one that looked like a computer (separate monitor, etc). 

That year I also took a computer "programming" class in college........typical "green" type on the screen and print outs via dot matrix printer. LOL WOW am I dating myself. That was back in 1993....."only" 17years ago. EEK!

First email account was assigned to me when I was working at my first job out of college--1994/1995. WOW---now we can't live without them!!

~~

Mom2Schnauzers said:  

SO...obviously (to you), my baby is far too old for this...but I did want to put my "two cents" in. To all the toddler moms facing this dilemna: please include some basic keyboarding programs early on. When I was in high school, I took "typewriting"...you know...on a typewriter (does anyone here remember that round eraser with the brush attached?)! DS learned how to play computer games at around age 3 but still does a hunt-&-peck type of keyboarding when it comes to school reports, etc...albeit rather quickly. Just sayin'....

~~

Chrissy said:  

Well, I feel rather old sharing my first computer experience. I was in High School sitting infront of a screen with blinking green letters on it and listening to a teachere who was very unimpressive. I thought how in the world is this computer stuff going to be helpful to me in the real world.
Fast forward to the next century, I used computer time as incentive for potty training!