Knitting Zeal

Wubble Bubble Ball=Fun!

This is a sponsored post and I received product samples to facilitate this review.  Opinions expressed here are honest and original. 

If your kid is like mine, he enjoys being silly and bouncing around.  Last week when I received a cool new toy in the mail to review, my kiddo was delighted!  He had a blast trying out the Wubble™ Bubble Ball.  He had been wanting one ever since he saw a commercial for it on TV. 

In the Box:

Our Wubble™ Bubble Ball came in a box with a battery operated pump, a nozzle, a nozzle guide, and inflation guide (to tell you how big you can inflate your Wubble) and of course a Wubble™ Bubble Ball!  I needed to add 4 D-sized batteries to operate the pump.  My son LOVED the pump.  I’m not sure why, but he thought it was really cool.  Also in the box was a really useful instruction sheet, a tips sheet and an envelope for the lifetime warranty. 

The Wubble™ Bubble Ball is made out of a synthetic rubber that is free of PVC, Latex, BPA and Phthalates. It has an unusual feel to it, like it should feel sticky but it isn’t.  I’m a tactile person, and I loved how squishy this ball feels!  My son thought it felt awesome too. 

How to Use:

We started out reading the instructions and the tips sheet.  I made it clear to my son that the ball is delicate and can pop if misused. Inflation was relatively easy.  The instructions were very clear.  I did not have any problems getting the inflation nozzle into the ball, but I understand that applying a tiny bit of oil (olive, vegetable, etc.) will aid with inflation. There is also a cool YouTube video to help with inflation if needed.  The inflation guide is like a long ribbon that attaches to the top of the ball and drapes down the side.  Once the ball is filled to the maximum, the edge of the inflation guide should just start to lift off the ground.  Under inflating the ball helps keep it stronger and thicker.  My son was very concerned that the ball would pop while inflating, so we did not inflate it to the full 36 inches, and probably stopped at about 30 inches. 

Our Review:

My son LOVED playing with his Wubble™ Bubble Ball!  He bounced it, he squished it, we played catch with it, and he smashed his face into it!  It is amazingly light weight and bounces very easily.  It even blew away when it caught a breeze!  (It didn’t go far!)  And then it popped when my son caught it during catch. Since this is a review, I have to be honest.  We were all very disappointed.  The cool thing though is that the Wubble™ Bubble Ball has a warranty.  For $6.99 to cover shipping, the company will replace your ball.  I was lucky and was sent a second ball for the purpose of this review and I can say that so far the second Wubble™ has not popped despite being well loved.  I think it is best to think of the Wubble™ Bubble Ball as a bubble that is a ball, not a ball that feels like a bubble, if that makes sense.  It is fragile and delicate and needs to be treated with care.  I taught my son to catch it with open hands, not with finger tips that could pinch a hole in the ball. 

With that said, my son threw himself onto the ball and smashed it, but it did not pop! I asked my son what he would say about the Wubble™ Bubble Ball.  He reported that it is an amazing toy that you have to be careful when playing.  He loves it!

Fun Facts:

• Target selected the Wubble™ Bubble Ball as a 2014 Top Toy for the Holiday Season. It was listed among other popular toys and games that are sure to be on every holiday wish list.
• Wubble Bubble Ball is a Family Fun Toy Of The Year Award Winner. The 25 winners are featured in the November 2014 issue of Family Fun Magazine. 
• Inspired by his children's wish for a real bubble to play with, NSI President Frank Landi developed the Wubble™ Bubble Ball to keep children's love for fun, active play alive.
• Wubble has won numerous toy awards, including an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, a National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, a Mr. Dad Approved Award, a Parent's Choice Award and the  Dr. Toy Best 100 Picks Award and more! 
• Wubble Ball is available at Target, Toys R Us and online at www.wubbleball.com. Wubble Ball is on Twitter (@WubbleBall) and Facebook (facebook.com/wubbleball). 
• Wubble Ball's are not indestructible, but they have a lifetime replacement guarantee. It costs $6.99 to replace a Wubble under the guarantee. 

 

Summer fun at Art Splash in Philadelphia

This week we had the chance to enjoy a complimentary visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see Art Splash, the museum's summer event of creative play for families.  This ten week long event runs until September 1, 2014.  Each week has a different masterpiece featured with accompanying activities for kids and their parents.  This week's theme was Art in the Garden featuring Claude Monet and his garden.  Monet is one of my favorite artists and I was excited to see how the museum staff shared his art on a child-friendly level.  It was very successful!

My son started at the Splash Studio with a painting craft based upon The Japanese Footbridge and the Water Lily Pool, Giverny by Monet.  Starting with a blank piece of art paper, my son used a white pencil to draw a design of his choice on the blank paper.  He then went to a paint station and used two different colors of watercolors to paint over the entire page, making the white pencil designs pop out.  At another table he was able to add his own footbridge and some lily pads and flowers with glue and tissue paper.  Watercolor pencils were also available to add more designs.  A simple activity, but it produced a great masterpiece that he could take home.  

Next we all headed to a Family Gallery Tour of three French artworks, including the Monet painting.  The Museum educator explained details of the art work in a great manner that was appropriate for the kids on the tour, which was geared to ages 6 to 10.  There was also a tour for kids ages 3-5.  Using an iPad to enhance the experience, the educator encourgaged discussion and questions from the kids on the tour.  

Each week the theme and activities change, so ideally a family could visit every week of the summer and experience something completely new. We attended Art Splash last summer as well and this year's activities were completely different. I liked that we were in the main musuem and had the chance to go on a hunt, using a printed guide, to find ten Art Splash masterpieces.  We found five on this visit.  At each masterpiece was an activity to do, such as find different objects in the painting or sketch details from the armour on a boogie board.  At the Staircase Group by Peale, another memorable painting at the museum, we were able to call a number on my phone and my son learned a bit more details about the painting, including that the ticket painted on the floor of the masterpiece was actually a ticket of admission to the painter's musuem, the first museum in Philadelphia!  

Art Splash levels what is usually not a child-friendly place into a wonderful creative learning experience.  From the child-sized lounge filled with building blocks and books to the cafeteria that has a tasty kids menu, the musuem has thought of everything to cater to families with young children and introducing them to our creative world.  I'm always amazed at how much my son enjoys exploring the art, considering that he isn't allowed to touch anything!  

Admission to the museum for kids ages 12 and younger is free, which is a nice feature.  Admission to the musuem is Pay What You Wish on Wednesday evenings from 5:00 until 8:45 p.m. and on the first Sunday of every month.  Regular adult admission is $20.  

The schedule for the remainder of the summer is:  

July 29–August 3: Mixed-Up Music
August 5–10: Mythological Mischief
August 12–17: Trip around the World
August 19–24: Medieval Worlds
August 26–September 1: Tea and Treasure

Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays until 8:45 p.m.

For more details please see the Art Splash information on the Philadelphia Museum of Art's website. 

Thanks to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for providing complimentary adult admission for the purpose of this review.  No monetary compensation was received and opinons expressed here are my honest thoughts and experience.  

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Kids' book to explore: ALPHABLOCK

Recently I received a copy of the coolest designed alphabet board book I've ever seen: ALPHABLOCK by Christopher Franceschelli, art by Peskimo.  This huge and chunky board book features brightly illustrated pages that contain die-cut letters with corresponding words and pictures to help children identify the English alphabet.  

My son is in kindergarten and learning to write and read.  While this book is probably best for a preschool aged child or younger, he still appreciated it and had fun exploring the pages.  The cut out letters and the peek-a-boo game with the words makes reading ALPHABLOCK fun.  The illustrations were created by a husband and wife design team from the UK.  This is their first children's book, but hopefully not their last.  It was created with such a fun energy!

The author, Chrsitopher Franceschelli, has created many colorful children's books and this one certainly is entertaining while also being educational.  I think ALPHABLOCK would be a great gift book!

My favorite page is the "L" page as those glasses of lemonade look so refreshing!  My son thinks the "U" is for Underwear is hysterical! The letters on each page pop out of the book with lots of bold color.  This is definitely not a traditional baby-ish alphabet book full of pastels and muted colors.  This is a book that is visually and texturally appealing, to kids and their parents!  It is no surprise that it made the Parent's Best Children's Books list for 2013.  This book is just fun to read and explore.  

Disclosure: I received one copy of this book for the purposes of this review.  No financial compensation was received, nor was I required to post a review.  Opinions expressed here are honest and my own (and my son's!)

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Keeping chapped lips in style with Carmex

Recently I had the chance to try out the new Limited Edition Moisture Plus Lip Balm line from Carmex as a member of their blog squad.  This collection of fun and stylish designs wraps up the Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Balm that I've been using for years. They asked me to take their Uniquely You Personality Quiz to see which of the new designs matched my style.  There are four new limited edition designs this season, Adventurous, Whimsical, Chic and Fab!  I took the quiz and my results were Chic! The Chic stick is inspired by Audrey, the modern girl with classic taste.  Want to stay fashionable while protecting your lips from the harsh wintery weather?  Take the Carmex Uniquely You Personality Quiz to match your style to one of the new, limited edition Moisture Plus Collection of lip balms.  

I've been using the Carmex line of lip balms for a few years now and have always found that their protection works for me.  I've mentioned before that I'm a bit of a lip balm addict, never passing up a chance to try a new one.  Carmex has been a consistent staple in my lip balm "collection" for years.  I like it especially in the winter, as it has a bit of a tingle to it that makes me feel like it really is healing chapped lips.  I like their Moisture Plus line, as it glides on easily and comes in a nice sized tube.  These new patterns on the tubes are fun and cute.  I don't really have a favorite design, as I think they are all pretty, although as you can see the first design I tried was the leopard print Adventurous one!

 

Disclosure: I received one four pack of lip balms from Carmex as a member of their blog squad.  No monetary compensation was recieved.  Opinions expressed here are honest and my own.  

CleanSmart alcohol-free hand sanitizer for cold and flu season

Alcohol Free Hand Sanitizer, finally!

Recently I received this new hand sanitizer product, CleanSmart, to try out and review.  With a kid in school exposed to lots of germs, as well as my own weekly volunteer job in his elementary school, I use a lot of hand sanitizer.  I spend one afternoon each week in the elementary school's library, handling the books kids take home.  We sanitize the books when they are returned and I sanitize my hands constantly while there.  My hands dry out fast, especially in the winter months, so the alcohol in the traditional hand gels do not help.  CleanSmart is supposed to be different and work just as well as alcohol based sanitizers.  

I received two types of CleanSmart to try, a bottle of  hand sanitizer in a gel consistency and a spray bottle of a liquid version.  I keep the spray bottle in my car to use on the go.  I like that it dries fast and is not quite as messy as the gel sanitizer I had been using, which I often somehow "drop" the gel while trying to use it.  So far the CleanSmart sanitizer has not dried out my skin and I feel comfortable letting my son use it.  The company claims that the product is "naturally moisturizing."  The bottle hasn't leaked either, something that I was concerned about initially.  

CleanSmart contains replicated Hypochlorous acid, "the only non-toxic germ killer that destroys the viruses, bacteria and pathogens that can harm your family."  I am not a scientist with access to a lab to test out the company's claims, but I did look up Hypochlorous acid online to learn that it is formed when adding chlorine to water and is oftne used in sanitiation related to food/kitchens.  There is no alcohol listed on the ingredient list, whereas the regular hand sanitizer gel I use contains 68% alcohol.  If you are looking for an alcohol free product, then this is good for you.

The CleanSmart product is not scented but immediately out of the bottle smells lightly like chlorine or a pool.  The scent seemed to fade immediately and did not leave my hands scented.  I liked that as some scents set off my allergies!  Here's hoping to have few colds and no flu this winter! I'll be sharing the extra samples sent with some of my mom-friends so they can be protected too.

CleanSmart won't be available in stores until next year, but in the mean time can be purchased online at CleanSmartHome.com. 

 

Disclosure:  I received samples of the product to initiate this editorial review.  No monetary compensation was receieved. The opinions shared here are mine. 

Tips for dealing with cold and flu season

While I'm always glad when allergy season ends, it means that winter cold and flu season is beginning.  With a kid in elementary school for the first time, I am anticipating dealing with lots of viruses this season.  He already had a bug that knocked him out for a day recently, but thankfully he recovered quickly.  I received a new Braun Forehead Thermometer and a Vicks Filter Free  Cool Mist Humidifier to try out this cold season to see if they could help my family deal with the inevitable colds (and hopefully not the flu!) 

Here are some of my tips for being prepared for the up coming cold and flu season:

•  Stock up in facial tissue now, include a few boxes of tissues with lotion for sore noses, a favorite with my son.  Considering how many tissues we go through during allergy season, I try to stay stocked up on this year round!

• Chicken soup really isn't a myth, it does help you feel better when you are sick.  I prefer homemade and try to keep a cup or two frozen from when I make soup.  I also keep a can or two on hand for emergencies when I don't have the energy to make a fresh pot of soup from scratch.

• Have a good thermometer available to use as needed. The pediatrician and her nurses always want to know my son's temperature if I call in the sick line for advice. While I tend to know if he feels warm and is acting lethargic,  it's nice to have a number to tell them.  I received the Braun Forehead Thermometer to test out and love it.  Even my son isn't bothered by it they way he was with the old ear thermometer we were using.  It works fast, is easy to read, and is seems to be more accurate than other thermometers I've had. Plus my son likes to use it to take the temperature of different body parts, just for kicks!  (And that's how I know he is feeling better, when the sillies come out!) It takes the temperature of the temporal artery with just a slow swipe across the forehead.  Fast and painless...and much better than waiting the three minutes with the glass thermometer we had growing up! 

• It's true, drink plenty of fluids when sick.  I keep a small supply of juice boxes on hand, since we aren't big juice drinkers, along with a couple of cans of ginger ale.  Depending on your family, it might help to have some Pedialyte, Gatorade,  and bottled water available.   For sore throats and congestion I prefer a hot drink, like teas with honey, tisanes(herbal teas,) cider,  or broth.  For little kids, a warm cup of apple juice or decaf/herbal tea with honey can really help.  My son has his own little mug, a demitasse cup from Ikea, that we use for his hot drinks.  

• Use a cool mist humidifier to help with colds and sinus issues.  Adding moisture to the air can ease coughs and soothe dry nasal passages.  A cool mist humidifier is safer around children than a warm mist one and does an equally good at adding moisture to the air.  Be sure to clean out humidifier often, as dirty humidifiers can breed bacteria and mold.  I love this new Vicks Filter Free model that I was sent to try out.  It's easy to clean and does not require a replaceable filter like the older humidifier I had.  It's the perfect size for our house too.  Using a humidifier has been very helpful for me with my sinus problems in the winter and it seems to help with my dry skin too, another problem I tend to have in the cold months.

Two tools for dealing with colds: Vicks cool mist humidifier and Braun Forehead Thermometer

•  I use honey for coughs...instead of cough medicine.  Since cold medicine isn't recommended for young kids, I have found a spoonful of honey helps with his cough and is soothing to a sore throat.  Just be sure to not give honey to a child under the age of one.  

What are your tips for surviving a cold or the flu?

 

Disclosure:  The above review is based upon my honest opinion, not medical research.  I received the two products for purpose of review and the infographic to share.  No monetary compensation was recieved.  

Dial for kids to keep them squeaky clean!

With the warm weather now, there is a lot of outdoor playing going on, which means the kiddo is digging in the dirt and sandbox, sliding across the lawn for fun, and getting all sweaty. It also means he is taking lots more baths to get clean.  As a Purex Insider, I had the chance to try out a new bath product for kids, Dial Kids Body & Hair Wash.  I let my son pick which scent to try out, and he chose the Peachy Clean scent that is formulated for kids ages 2+.  There are versions for kids ages 6+ in Watery Melon and Berry Cool scents, too.  The Peachy Clean version is specially formulated for sensitive skin.  I am really glad that we were able to try that version out, as everyone in my family has sensitive skin. 
My son used to fight getting a bath, especially having is hair washed.  Switching to a kids' body wash combined with a shampoo really helped and made him feel like a big kid.  He was excited to try out the Dial Kids Body & Hair Wash, as it was also a combo product.  I love that it is tear free, hypoallergenic, free of artificial dyes or added parabens and Ph balanced.  With his sensitive skin, having a very mild cleanser is really important.  We both really like the peach scent, as it has a light fresh soap scent.  His hair smells lightly of peaches the day after washing, which I just love!  So far we are really loving this new kids' body wash!  My son has not had any skin reactions to it and he has not complained about it bothering his eyes when having it rinsed off his hair.  It gets all the little boy dirt off easily and without a fight. This is a product we will continue to use in the future!

For more information and to stay up to date with Dial products, check out their Facebook page. 

Disclosure:  As a Purex Insider, the Dial brand provided me with a sample of Dial Kids Body & Hair Wash in exchange for this product review.  The opinions expressed here are honest and based upon my (and my son's) experience with the product.   

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Lands End and the Spring into Summer Mom Mixer!

Last weekend I had the fun opportunity to join some of my blogging mom friends at the Spring into Summer Mom Mixer hosted by Whitney of Mommies With Style and Colleen of Classy Mommy, along with a number of incredible brands. 

Photo courtesy of Sherry Aikens @Babypop

Held at the Bellvue Hotel's XIX Restaurant in Philadelphia, it was a fun morning spent socializing with other bloggers, meeting some wonderful people who work for the brands who participated in the event, and learning. 

I really enjoyed the presentation by Lands End, who make at least half of my wardrobe.  They focused on their 2013 Swimwear line and described all the new features, including great tips on how to get a perfect fit in a bathing suit.  Something that I absolutely loved was learning that they are now selling swim shirts with SPF protection for women that do not look like surfer rash guards.  My son and husband have been wearing rash guards for sun protection at the beach, but I never found one for women that was flattering or feminine.  This season, Lands End is offering their swim tees that have SPF 50 protection, are lightweight, and fast drying.  They come in lots of colors and patterns and I hope that they are popular so that they continue to offer them in the future.  I went home that day with plans to purchase one for our upcoming beach vacation, since I am really tired of sitting on the beach with a sweatshirt on to protect me from burning.  I ordered the violet colored one, because I love purple! 

The Beach Living swim tee!

Ordering a swimsuit online without trying it on can be a challenge.  I learned that Lands End offers fitting and style advice via online chat or by phone.  If the person you are chatting with can't answer a question you have, they agent contacts one of the fashion consultants for more information and will get back to you.  They also have a great swim resource guide online to find your perfect fit and style.  I also learned that all those comments online that customers leave, the ones under the description for each item for sale....they actually read them and pay attention to what their customers say!  If they receive enough similar feedback about an item, they take that into consideration for the future designs.  I am glad to hear that leaving feedback actually counts! 

I have been a Lands End customer for years.  My son has a thing for fabrics.  He loves how my cotton clothing from Lands End feels.  In fact, if I'm not wearing a Lands End item, he tells me I'm not feeling snuggly enough.  (He is a slightly crazy and cuddly five year old!!)  He has many LE items too, as their kids clothes are awesome!  His winter coat for the past four years has been from LE. 

Disclosure:  I did not receive any monetary compensation for attending or writing about the Mom Mixer.  I really have been a LE customer for years and the opinions expressed here are honest.  I did recieve a tote bag from LE. I was not required to write about the brands or event. 

Carmex skin care review and giveaway

As part of the Carmex Blog Squad, I received these two skin care lotions to test out and review.  This past winter has been particularly tough on my skin and my five year old's skin.  It really bothered my son to find his hands sore, dried out and sometimes bleeding from the constant hand washing and cold weather.  I let him use these two Carmex products, the hand lotion and the hand cream, to see if it would help.  He reported that he really liked the smell of the products and that they smelled like vanilla to him, one of his favorite flavors. I personally prefer unscented products, but the scent of these skin care products dissipated fairly quickly, which I liked.  

Overall they seemed to hydrate our skin. The hand cream is obviously thicker than the lotion and works great to put on at night before bed. We used the hand lotion during the day.  My son did not protest using either product and was happy with the relief he felt from having hand lotion on his dry skin. I think they would have worked even better if we had been using them prior to the chapped skin, as they might have given us a layer of protection.  (Something to remember for next winter!)

Want to try out these skin care products yourself?  Leave me a comment on this post by April 12th.  A winning comment will be chosen using Random.org and will be contacted via email.  Carmex will send the winner the prize directly.  

Disclosure: Carmex sent me these complimentary products for the purpose of facilitating this review.  Opinions expressed are mine based on my experience.  No monetary compensation was received.  

New Purex with Crystals Fragrance smells fresh and clean

As a Purex insider, I had the chance to try out the newest product in the Purex Laundry Detergent line: Purex plus Fabric Softener with Crystals Frangrance.  As I've mentioned before, I do a lot of laundry each week so I was happy to try out a new product from a brand I trust and use.  

I've grown to love the Purex plus Oxi and the Purex Free & Clear products, so I was curious as to how this new detergent would work.  I found that it had the same superior cleaning power as expected from Purex.  It did smell fresh and clean without being overly floral for me.  I tend to prefer unscented detergent, but this wasn't too overpowering.  For people who prefer to use fabric softener, I think this is a great product, as the softener is included with the detergent, making one less addition needed when doing the wash and a better value as only one product needs to be purchased.  Personally, I prefer not to use a fabric softener, but this seems to be a good product that does add a touch of softness to freshly laundered clothing.  

Purex is hosting a new sweepstakes in conjunction with the release of their latest product, Purex with Crystals Fragrance.  Enter the Experience the Enchantment Sweepstakes to have the chance to win $1,000 and a year of FREE Purex detergent plus Fabric Softener.  500 second place winners get to try this powerful, fresh detergent for FREE! Be sure to enter and let me know if you win!  

Disclosure:  The Purex brand provided me with a sample of Purex detergent plus fabric softener with Crystals Frangrance in exchange for a product review.  Opinions expressed here are honest and my own based on my experience with the product.  No monetary compensation was received. 

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