Chocolate ? Yes please. More chocolate ? No thanks.

I love chocolates. Though I do not eat it everyday I do appreciate chocolate every time I see someone eat it or pass by the chocolate aisle.  Now to have chocolate in the form of cereal every morning is totally another thing!

Kelloggs Krave is the latest sweet sensation from Kelloggs. It's crunchy, sweet, just the right size to bite into.We loved the chocolate flavored cereal and it even makes a good dry snack. But the double chocolate was not loved as much. We couldn't take in the doubly sweet cereal more than a few bites. The calories seem to be the same but I don't know why one is sweeter than the other ! The double chocolate cereal is still sitting more than half-full while the chocolate cereal did the "all-done" dance a week ago.

 I would have loved it if Kelloggs had come up with a "dark chocolate" version instead of "double chocolate". Bring it on Kelloggs, dark chocolate lovers will love it ! Considering the health benefits of dark chocolates, there is a huge chunk of clientele who would appreciate a healthier option.

Another product that has been recently introduced is the low fat granola. After having a spoonful of this, I realized how sugar-laden my previous one was. My son loves this as a dry snack and with yogurt. This is a great addition to Kelloggs multi-grain cereals.


Granola is rich is grains, almonds and you can always add more spices, nuts to make it more flavorful and tasty. Five shinning stars for this low fat granola!

These bars have a different texture to them when compared to the normal cereal bars. These are soft ( don't ask me why they are called crisps!) and have a filling inside. I liked the chocolate filling.The cinnamon brown sugar filling was too sweet when compared with the soft shell surrounding it. Two of these bars provide 100 calories and that's makes it a great snack option. 



Of all the products listed above, I am sure that you will love the granola and I would recommend it to my family and friends !

Disclosure: I received a sample for review purpose only. No monetary compensation was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.


 

Winners of the giveaway ended recently

Gruffalo's Child DVD -   Patricia Wojnar Crowley

Runners Bike - Sandy VanHoey 

Congratulations and please reply to my email as soon as possible !

I had to end the Runners Bike giveaway early as I will be away for a few weeks.  Will be back in a few weeks, hopefully rested and refreshed! 


Back to School 2012 :SCRABBLE - A Hasbro Review

With school season just around the corner, it is time to think of ways to make learning fun. I have a preschooler who has to have a little bit more of organized and focused learning time. We do some workbooks and other educational activities but there are days when things don't go as planned!

Time to pull out some tricks through my sleeves ! 

We have been playing board games and it was initially hard to get my son to concentrate. But with consistency and continued exposure, he loves board games now. 

SCRABBLE is meant for 8+ yrs but you can always build small words.It is a wonderful way to introduce new words, stimulate thinking and is a great exercise for the brain. There are several ways to play this game but we are starting of with the basic style.
I encourage my son to "use words" whenever he whines or throws a tantrum. It has really helped him verbalize his feelings and express himself more clearly. So building words is a lot of effort for him, nevertheless introducing good games at an early age is important to foster a love for the game. We have been doing 2 and 3 letter words so far. 

As a child I grew up playing this game and enjoyed it thoroughly. It is a classic board game that many generations have never gotten bored of. 

You can buy this from Toys R Us for $19.99

Disclosure: I received a sample for review purpose only. No monetary compensation was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.

 

Arm & Hammer Cold Water Laundry Detergent : It works and environment friendly !

I am all for conserving energy.But sometimes I need to use hot water so as to make the washing process more effective. Not all clothes can tolerate hot water and some materials tend to run colors when washed with hot water. I have tried another detergent brand for cold water and was not satisfied with the results.So I just continued using hot water.
When I received the Arm & Hammer laundry detergent for cold water, I was pretty sure that it won't deliver and I put it away for a few weeks. Now that summer is almost over, I wanted to wash my cotton sheets and looking at how pretty the sheet was, I needed to wash them in cold water if I wanted the sheet to still look pretty and inviting! So I decided to give this a try.

I poured a little more detergent than what was recommended as it was a heavy load. The sheets came out clean and colors were intact! Loved the results! 

There is one more reason why I would choose Arm & Hammer  Cold Water Laundry Detergent .It is environment friendly. I only wish I could buy bigger cans from places like Costco.


ARM & HAMMER® Cold Water Liquid Laundry Detergent Product Benefit


  • Special agents trap soil in the wash water, so it rinses away and doesn’t redeposit on clothes
  • Cleaning agents are safe for septic systems
  • Specially formulated to be used in regular, technologically advanced and environmentally friendly High Efficiency (HE) washers
  • Clean Fresh scent keeps laundry smelling clean
  • Delivers 44 medium wash loads in the 2.03 litre bottle
  • Whitens whites and removes tough stains


Available at retailers across Canada
SRP: $4.99 - $5.99

From August 23 to August 30, ARM & HAMMER® is offering an online product giveaway. All you have to do is visit: www.websaver.ca/en_ca/portal/armandhammer/?source=arm_hammer_blogs  (this link will go live on Aug 23) where you can click to order a coupon which is then mailed to your home within 10 days. Once received, you may redeem it at the cash to receive a free detergent. 

Disclosure: I received a sample for review purpose only. No monetary compensation was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.

 

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax : Now on Blu-ray™ 3D Combo Pack !

One of the best-selling children’s book authors of all time, Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel created more than 40 cherished books that have been published in 95 countries and 17 different languages, selling more than half a billion books worldwide. The Lorax, which Geisel named his favorite work, is included on the “Educator’s All Time Top 20 List of Children’s Books.”



If you hear the word "Dr.Seuss", get ready to dream, imagine, go places, unleash the power of creativity, laugh and learn. We have been reading A LOT ( really a lot ) of books this summer and visits to the library have been such fun experiences. We were lucky to bring home, "The Lorax" to read, more than just once. It was perfect when   Universal Studios Home Entertainment, gave us the pleasure of watching the book come to life on big screen.

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax transports viewers into a fantastical landscape imagined by Dr. Seuss and vividly brought to life by Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team at Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me). Directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me) from a screenplay adapted by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul (Despicable Me, HOP, Horton Hears a Who) from the 1971 children’s classic, the film is an imaginative journey that begins in the town of Thneedville, where a boy searches for the one thing he knows will win the heart of his dream girl. But in order find it, he must discover the story of theLoraxthe often grumpy but loveable protector  of Truffula Valley, in an exciting adventure filled with comedy and heart that USA Today’s Claudia Puig calls, “The right blend of funny, silly, and sweet.”

In addition to the rhyming words , colors are something I have always found to attract young readers to Dr.Seuss' books. In the movie, they did a wonderful job of keeping the colors live and kicking!  The Truffula trees fill the valley until the Onceler decides to industrialize the valley. I think this story has great importance for children of this generation. It is so easy for children to understand the consequence when stories like this are produced. My little boy clearly knows why it is bad to cut trees and why it is important to promote growth of trees. 


The DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX 

Blu-ray™ 3D Combo Pack will also include three brand new mini-movies including: 

    • Serenade -  Two Bar-ba-loots -- one love shy and the other suave and confident -- battle for the heart of their would-be sweetheart with the help of a colorful cast of characters, including the Humming-Fish and Swomme-Swans.
    • Wagon-Ho  - Two Bar-ba-loots take The Once-ler’s wagon on a ride they won’t soon forget.
    • Forces of Nature - Determined to scare The Once-ler out of Truffula Valley, The Lorax decides to create the illusion of ominous forces of nature.


The mini-movies were fun to watch and my son adores this title. It will be treasured!

Disclosure: I received a sample for review purpose only. No monetary compensation was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.

My Little Pony : The Royal Wedding ( Grab your copy for only $9 at Amazon.ca !)


This was one of my favorite stories to watch, when I was little. With every VHS tape episode I watched, I loved each pony more and more! I still have fond memories of the pony kingdom.

I was excited when Shout! Factory released MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC: ROYAL PONY WEDDING on DVD. I wanted to catch up and have a glimpse of it again.

This time, it was more fun as I was going to introduce "My Little Pony" to my son. He fell in love with it instantly! He has watched it many times and loves Twilight. The characters portrayed are easy to understand - brother, sister, princess, friends etc.

When it’s announced that Twilight Sparkle’s older brother, Shining Armor, is set to marry Princess Celestia’s niece, Cadence, all the ponies in Equestria should be celebrating. But there’s one pony in Ponyville who’s not so thrilled with the news — Twilight Sparkle! Why is the young unicorn so concerned? And will the royal wedding go off without a hitch? Find out in the two-part special, and then join us for the perfect after-party — three more My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episodes, all included in the first-ever DVD release of My Little Pony – Friendship Is Magic: Royal Pony Wedding!

My Little Pony – Friendship Is Magic: Royal Pony Wedding Episodes Include:
A Canterlot Wedding, Part 1
A Canterlot Wedding, Part 2
Hearts And Hooves Day
Sweet & Elite
The Best Night Ever

Bonus Features:
A Coloring Sheet and more!

The DVD is packed with sweet stories that children will enjoy watching. Great musical parts add some more awesomeness to the already cute story. As an adult, I enjoyed watching the title with my son and we had some interesting conversations about friendship, love and wedding. My Little Pony appeals to all age groups and is a great family show.
 Now I have been asked to buy a few ponies to add to our toy collection !

My Little Pony – Friendship Is Magic: Royal Pony Wedding is priced at $14.97 and is now available at amazon.com and for $9 at amazon.ca 

Disclosure: I received a sample for review purpose only. No monetary compensation was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.

A Runners Bike Review : " Now the Best Balance Bike is mine " ( + Giveaway) 9 / 10 ( US / CAN )


Today my preschooler is doing a guest post for me on why he loves his Runners Bike so much.  So take over my space little man!

I tend to fall in love with things easily. I guess it is my age or at least that's what my mom says. I want every new thing I discover each day and I want it NOW. But I am learning life doesn't work that way.Or at least that's what my mom says. I will find out as I grow.

Just as I reached 2 yrs, I realized I liked "speed". Anything that moved fast, made my eyes flutter and my heart beat faster. I loved that feeling ! Speed , bring it on! That's how I fell in love with cars, trucks, buses and it looks like it will stay with me for a really long time.

When I turned 3, I saw boys and girls from my neighborhood on some kind of a 2-wheeler they called "bikes". I was on a 3 wheeled, toy-shaped, silly-looking, downright-degrading TRICYCLE! You see, I never wanted to be on it.My neighbors called me a baby, while I was actually a big boy.I knew it was that damn tricycle that earned me that "baby" tag. 

I made myself pretty clear to my parents that I will not be riding that tricycle again.  I wanted  that thing called a BIKE. And NOW. 

My mom and dad decided that I was ready to graduate from a tricycle and hence decided to let me try a Balance Bike. We were at MEC  and I laid my eyes on this bike. You know how I tend to like things at first sight? But, I mean, this was not so hard to fall in love with ! Just look at it.

I could pick it up myself and nobody had to teach me how to ride it. It is MINE.


 It was really love at first sight. I couldn't stop myself from getting on it and cruising. Just when mom and dad were not looking at me, I took off on the bike and disappeared into the aisles of the store, air blowing right through the strands of my hair, I was striding my way through the crowd until an employee found me and brought me back to my parents. Oops.
" Man that was fun " I said to myself ! 

Apparently, I wasn't supposed to be riding it in the store. I'll save that piece for another time.

 Ok, it wasn't safe to ride it literally in the store but, " Mom, can I please, please, please ride it on the road? This is a MUST-HAVE for a boy like me !".

It was quite hard to part with it at the store. I shed tears as I walked away. I dreamed about it at nights and I had to repeat myself to my Mom - " This is a MUST-HAVE for a boy like me!

 I just couldn't forget that cruising experience I had,speeding down the aisles of the store.
I just whizzed away striding forward with my feet and in a few minutes before I knew it, I was SPEEDING ! I felt like a big kid - kinda cool on a bike ( FINALLY) and  I was balancing myself without falling on the ground. Just like the big kids in my neighborhood. 

Truly, this was the best biking experience I had in the 3-4 yrs of my life on this earth.

Nights became days. Days became weeks. Was I ever going to have that bike ? One day I came home and found this. Holy-Bike!



It is the best thing I have had this summer - Runners Balance Bike.

It came in a neatly packed box. Mom and dad put it together quickly without any arguments on the how-to's so it would be ready for me when I came home.


It even has a cute, little bell which can make a sound so effortlessly.Perfect for my little hands. 



 I carry it down the flight of stairs myself. Yep, I can do it ! Weighs only 3.6 kgs.


Feels pretty cool to hang out with the big kid. In my own bike !



I can handle it with one hand while I use the other to explore the nature around me.That's why it is called an Ultralight Bike.




 The tires are great quality - I can feel the smooth and easeness when I just glide in them. They are the perfect size for me to speed around in. We filled air in the tires and I was ready to go, go, go!

The seat is adjustable from 13.5 to 18 inches. I think this is a great idea as I really want to have this bike even when I grow taller. It's fun to just zoom around.


The seat is very comfortable. I was on this bike for 4 hrs straight the first day. Yes, my summer is packed with evenings of cruising around in this bike.



Yes folks..it is hard to get him off the bike. Given the ease with which he can handle it, the ride continues even at home. He comes cruising in style on his bike for dinner and insists on parking it like a real bike..LOL. He found the bike a perfect parking spot right in between 2 cabinets!



Runners Bike Ultralight is the only bike that comes with a bell. I haven't seen a balance bike so far that comes with a bell. Of course, you might be able to buy it as an accessory. 

Balance Bikes are a great way for toddlers and preschoolers to learn balance without being frustrated or fearful. It has been a week since he has been using it and balances really well. We do have a regular bike with pedals which is his ultimate goal. He is well on his way to riding it soon.

We have tried some balance bikes before and I would say  Runners Bike is one of the best bikes that you can invest in. Runners Bike also sells seat extensions if kids want to enjoy them for a longer time. Since we live in a country with severe winters, children forget how to balance over the course of winter.So remember to keep the bike until your child turns 5 and gains balance, stability and confidence to use a conventional bike. My son will often be turning to his Runners-Bike to practice his balancing skills.

Visit Runners-Bike to learn more and you might want to order one !

Win this awesome Runners-Bike Ultralight by participating in this giveaway that is being generously sponsored by Runners !

2 New Contests from Holiday Inn as they celebrate 60 yrs of innovative hospitality !



Did you know Holiday Inn was the first hotel brand to :

 - Offer ‘Kids Stay Free’

-  Offer a pool, restaurant, lounge and free ice.

The Holiday Inn brand family, the world’s largest mid scale hotel brand, is globally celebrating 60 years of innovative firsts by launching an extensive campaign to mark the brand’s anniversary.

The first part of this campaign is called “Celebrating Firsts".  Holiday Inn has celebrated many firsts throughout the years.  From the first hotel to let Kids Stay and Eat Free, to their $1 billion dollar global refresh. Like Holiday Inn, the guests have celebrated many firsts over the years, but most importantly they’ll never forget them – which is why Holiday Inn is inviting guests to share their memorable firsts with them.

Celebrate Your Firsts:
  •  Remember your first car and how cool it felt to be on the road? What about your first day you sent your little one off to school? Our lives are filled with first memories and Holiday Inn is asking you to help them celebrate their 60 years of firsts by sharing yours through a story, photo, or video of a memorable “firsts”
  •  Entrants have the chance to win one of 60 free room nights that are being given away every day in the month of August to any Holiday Inn hotel in the world
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  • Live Aug 1- Aug 31, 2012
 The second part of Holiday Inn’s 60th anniversary campaign is called “Then & Now”. Holiday Inn is inviting guests from around the world to recreate and share their “Then & Now” photos – where old photographs are recreated in present day, capturing every detail as precisely as possible.  “Then & Now” is based on a popular internet meme where old photographs are recreated in present day, capturing every detail as precisely as possible.



Then & Now:
  •  Looking back at old photos,  sometimes it is hard to believe how much things can change!  Holiday Inn is asking guests to show us how much they have changed by creating a “Then & Now” photo, where old photographs are recreated in present day, capturing every detail as precisely as possible. Check out their Facebook page to see some Holiday Inn transformations as well as entries for inspiration! 
  • At the end of the campaign, the brand will select a winning entry to win a week-long family vacation to the Holiday Inn hotel of their choice, anywhere in the world!
HolidayInnHotels/app_

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  •   Live Aug 1-Sept 30, 2012

HolidayInnHotels/?sk=app_
271168649649511&app_data=terms



Winners and what next ?!

Real Kids Shades - Anu Chopra 

Coby DVD Player -  Kimberly Schotz  

Sea Gate Hard Drive - Tim Stephens

Wiggles DVD - Angela Mitchel



Zonderkidz Books - The Zoo

Twinkle Toes DVD - Papergirl

Dino Dan - Daveshir

Congratulations!

What next?! I will let the picture do the talking! You will have the chance to win one for your little busy bee!









NCircle presents us with another treat ! " The Gruffalo's Child " on DVD on Aug 14th ( R+G) 8/19 ( US / CAN)


We watched one of the classic children stories come to life when NCircle released The Gruffalo on DVD. It was picture perfect.

This summer, get ready to enjoy another treat - The Gruffalo's Child, a sequel from NCircle.

The Gruffalo's Child is the delightful sequel to the Academy Award-nominated short, The Gruffalo, based on the beloved children’s book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated  by  Axel Scheffler.
The Gruffalo's Child takes story time too seriously and wanders away to find the Big Bad Mouse.Despite the Gruffalo's warning, Gruffalo's Child cannot contain the curiosity and decided to have at least a glimpse of the Big Bad Mouse. He braves the forest and walks away quietly without getting noticed by the Gruffalo.

After meeting several creatures that were not so mouse-looking, the Gruffalo's Child meets a tiny mouse. 

How will the tiny mouse escape the Gruffalo's Child ? Time for the mouse to put on his thinking hat ! 

The story is told by the squirrel to her little ones who notice some footprints and wonder if they belong to the Gruffalo. 
The Gruffalo's Child was an enjoyable movie to watch and my son adores it. We were glad to have the book that came with the DVD. One of our best reads and we never get bored of it!

The Gruffalo’s Child can be found at a retailer near you, including Toys “R” Us, Walmart, Target, Amazon and also on www.NCircleEntertainment.com!

Win your copy of the book and DVD right here on my blog!

Back to School 2012: Sistema & Klip It Lunch Box Systems - Very creative and user friendly !



Sistema has emerged as one of the most innovative brands in creating extremely user-friendly and attractive food storage containers that is made in New Zealand using high quality materials. Before you read further, I will lay out the basic idea of what we look for in food containers and how Sistema meets that criteria:


  • Freezer safe
  • Dishwasher safe in top rack
  • Containers without lids are microwave safe.
  • BPA Free -  Sistema Product is manufactured from materials which are free of both Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S.
Breakfast ...I LOVE. But sometimes I have to rush and end up missing the most important meal of the day.. Sounds familiar ti you? No more worries! Isn't this amazing? Cutlery that snaps in place and milk and cereal can be separate until you are ready to eat!




I was delighted to find Sistema products as they are not just cool in their functions but they look really nice. Locking systems work well and they are best suited for purposes they are made for.

This sandwich box is a match made in heaven for a full sandwich or half a sandwich and some snacks.


 This lunch box is something I love to carry as it fits a sandwich and you can close that compartment. The other side is divided into two which easily fits a drink and some fruits.





Sistema has an extensive collection for lunch.


I was also sent a couple of cooler bags, one of which I love and other not so much.

This fold up lunch cooler tends to snap off its velcro if I have to carry a complete lunch with water.It doesn't take weight very well.I think it is because the handle is attached to the top piece of the cover. This design could be improved.

However it does have one advantage. This lunch cooler can be folded up when empty.


But I would highly recommend this Maxi Fold Up Lunch Cooler. Perfect to take to school, work or picnic. Very well made and extremely easy to clean.


I cannot count the number of times I have lost spoons or have forgotten to carry a spoon. Just when I open my lunch...I will realize that I need a spoon! Just for people like me and also to reduce the purchase of plastic spoons, Sistema placed this product in the market - Cutlery to Go!

I see myself buying another of this for my son. At 4 yrs of age, he had no difficulty putting the piece together. It stays is place in the box as it snaps right in. The chances of it getting lost are slim.





My family has loved using Sistema products this summer. When you shop for lunch boxes for your kids make sure you take a look at Sistema collection. You will see how creatively their products are made.

You can see a list of retailers who carry Sistema products here

In Canada, you can shop for Sistema products at:
  • Federated Co Ops Ltd. (FCL)
  • HomeOutfitters
  • Porstyle
  • Safeways Canada Ltd.
  • Sobeys Canada
  • Solutions Canada
  • Stokes.


Disclosure: I received a sample for review purpose only. No monetary compensation was received. The above post reflects my personal opinion.