Merry Christmas from A Lucky Ladybug

 

Merry Christmas from A Lucky Ladybug!!  Enjoy your family time and be safe wherever you may be!  Hopefully Santa brings everyone something extra special and "Lucky"!

Capresso Milk Frother Review

     I won't mention the name of the restaurant that I was a Training General Manager at but I had to be quite savvy in the beverage department.  I prepared gourmet coffee beverages, Italian sodas, and dessert beverages daily.  After leaving this company I still have the taste for the same drinks (without of course the cost and expensive machinery).  I don't want to have to go to Starbucks or the Coffee Beanery everyday to get a yummy snack.  So what do I do?  I create them at home like everyone else is forced to do (especially to save money).  As silly as it may sound I have always prided myself in my milk foaming skills again though this was always with a professional quality espresso machine.

     As I was exploring online the other day I discovered Capresso's Milk Frother and just had to give it a try!  The Capresso milk frother uses a frothing disk to create an amazingly whipped, creamy, frothy drink.  It does so "by gently but quickly whipping as much air as possible into the milk while heating it to one of three temperature settings: hot, warm or cold."

     Literally the minute we received this in the mail, the kids wanted it open and had to have some hot chocolate to test it out.  I cannot begin to tell you how great this "little" appliance is.  It is easy enough that Alana can make a creamy beverage herself.  It takes about 2 minutes tops to froth and is as easy as pour your milk, press a button (to choose a temperature), and enjoy.  The foam that comes out of your frother is perfect!  I couldn't have done it any better with a steam wand!

Cost:  $59.99
Available to purchase:  Capresso
Recommendation:  If you are a coffee addict or can tend to spend a little more money on the hot cocoa during the winter, this purchase is worth the money and will pay for itself in the long run.  Yes it is a little on the expensive side but works like a machine you would normally have to pay top dollar for (or an employee making it on the same machine).
Facebook:  Capresso
Twitter:  @capressotweets
Blog: Capresso

Slice Safety Cutter Review

    Yes, I am a couponer.  I have a filing cabinet in my living room filled with inserts.  I am also a product reviewer (obviously). So I have packages daily that need to be opened.  Most importantly, I am a mother of small children at that.  We frequently do crafts together that require cutting of some form.  Are you any of these things?  Well, I have a new option for you to keep those tiny little hands safe, open boxes safely, and of course to cut your coupons on the fly (if need be).

     Slice is a company I recently discovered that uses ceramics in most of their products to transform every day utensils into stylish, safe, and convenient tools for every household.  They have everything from scissors and different types of cutting tools to kitchen and beauty utensils. 

     "Slice  was founded in 2008 by TJ Scimone as a way to help fund long-term care for his son, Alex, who is autistic. A minimum of 1% of all Slice product sales is donated to help fund autism research. By purchasing our products, you’re helping to find a cure for the millions of children and their families who live with autism every day. "

     I was given the opportunity to review Slice's Safety Cutter.  Such a cool little tool!  I love the fact that it has a open loop to attach to your key chain so no more ripping coupons at the store if I happen to take a whole insert or for whatever reason have to tear a coupon out.  The absolutely tiny small ceramic blade sticks out enough to cut what you need but not far enough to cut someones skin.

     This little cutter also has a built in magnet so I can safely keep this at the top of my refrigerator out of reach from Declan.  The magnet also helps me easily find it when I want to open packages or I can keep in attached to my coupon cabinet (in the back of course) to grab when cutting my coupons.  Very convenient.

Cost:  $5.99
Available to purchase: Slice Products 

Recommendation:  This product stays sharp, doesn't rust, can be used by lefty's and righty's, is conveniently design to travel anywhere and be used on most anything all for a great low price.  I'd grab a couple if you are a scrapbooker, couponer, mom/dad, etc.!
Facebook: Slice Inc.

Twitter:  @SliceTweet

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

McNeill Designs "You've Been Sentenced" Game Review and Giveaway

        We are usually quite the game playing family.  We spend at least once a month having a friendly get together with several other families.  The kids go crazy tearing apart our house while the adults enjoy a few drinks and some games.  Sometimes the older children join in or play their own games but it is always a fun evening for everyone.  We also used to have family game night at least once a week (before Declan started getting into everything)!  This year we are hoping "Santa" brings us a few games that we can easily start playing again without Declan eating the pieces! 

     McNeill Designs allowed me the great opportunity to review one of their games for our family game night.  When I first heard the name of the game, "You've been Sentenced", I was thinking a crime scene/law game (we are into those shows).  What I discovered was a really fun, educational game that inspires learning and creativity!

     Designed for ages 8+ and 3-10 players, each person builds a sentence with as many of their cards as they can.  "The real fun begins when players have to read their sentences out loud and explain what they mean to the rest of players. They form the jury and vote thumbs up or down on whether the sentence and justification stand and the points are scored."

     We had a blast creating the most silly sentences and even showing Dane each word so he could begin learning spelling and grammar!  There are also additional category cards such as cooking that you can purchase to add a twist and change it up each time you play.  (McNeill Designs has even created a lesson plan to turn "You've Been Sentenced!" into a classroom teaching tool.)  I cannot wait until our monthly game night to share such an entertaining game with the other families in our group!

     McNeill Designs has been recognized and received several national awards including:  PTPA Seal of Approval, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio - Gold Seal Award, Creative Child Magazine - Seal of Excellence, Dr. Toy Best Products, Tillywig Award, National Parenting Seal of Approval, iParenting Media Hot Product Award, FAO Schwarz Toy Winner, Spewgie Award, Best Family Fun Game, George Lucas Educational Foundation's Edutopia magazine, Hot Media for Educator, and Mr. Dad Seal of Approval.  Pretty awesome list huh?!

Cost:  $24.95 ($7.95 extra cards)
Available to purchase:  McNeill Designs
Recommendation:  I will be investing in this game as a gift for others this holiday!  Like I said I cannot wait to share this with others and play with my extended family this Christmas, it was so much fun (while sneaking in the learning)!
Facebook:  YBSentenced
Twitter:  @YBSentencedGame
Blog: McNeill Designs
Giveaway:  McNeill Designs is going to give one of A Lucky Ladybug's lucky readers a complete set of You've Been Sentenced of their own!

The Willow Store Organic Mini Forever Cloths Review and Giveaway

 

      One thing I have not been able to convince Kevin (my husband) to switch over to a more green friendly alternative has been napkins!  He loves to use paper towel and napkins instead of reusable which drives me insane!!  I very rarely buy the paper towel because I can force him to clean up with all the towels I have made easily accessible to him but still haven't gotten that far on the napkins.  Recently I discovered yet another great website that makes saving in the little ways super easy - The Willow Store. 

     The Willow Store is actually a bigger advocate of the reusable diapers but they have several other great items I was very interested in giving a try. They have reusable wool dryer ball to save on dryer sheets, reusable bags to save on plastic and my favorite pick reusable napkins to save on paper napkin products!  I had to give these Organic Mini Forever Cloths a try as soon as I saw them. 

    Not only did they come all folded with ribbon looking perfect for a gift to any of your "tree hugger" friends but I wasn't expecting each side of them to be made of a different material.  One side was oh so soft like a baby blanket and the other was a little heavier similar to a wash cloth.  I love using these and frequently use them to wipe up my kids after lunch or snacks throughout the day.  Kevin on the other hand seems still a little hesitant although I think he is afraid to stain them because of the color or ruin them in some way. 

Cost:  $19.95 ARV
Available to purchase:  The Willow Store Retailers
Recommendation:  If it's reusable I love it....these were great quality!  I expect them to last a long time compared to any similar products.
Facebook:  The Willow Store
Twitter:  @TheWillowStore
Blog: The Willow Store
Giveaway:   The Willow Store is going to give one of A Lucky Ladybug's lucky readers a set of two Forever cloths of their own!

Streekers Temporary Hair Color Review and Giveaway

       Anyone out there have a big age gap between their children?  It can be very difficult at times to explain why one can do something but the other (younger) sibling cannot just yet.  It is especially hard for me because my older one (Alana) is a thirteen year old girl and next in line is my almost four year old son (Dane).  Dane has the hardest time understanding why Alana can add things to her hair or wear makeup or paint her nails.  We try our hardest to keep things fair and allow him to explore every aspect of life regardless of his age but there are just some things he cannot do.

     I will not even let Alana color her hair permanently or highlight it.  What I do allow her though is semi permanent hair color (if it shows up on her dark hair) or adding things such as the feathers extensions.  But I still can't let Dane do this since he is so young (and a boy).  I love his curly blond locks and do not want to ever do anything to destroy them.  Thankfully I discovered a solution for this specific (jealousy) issue.  Streekers!!

     Streekers are a paint on hair color which come in eight colors to choose from.  I was able to let Dane pick which colors he would be happy with and as soon as they came in the mail, you know he had to try them right away!  The great thing about these is they show up extremely well on light colored hair and wash out as soon as you get in the bath/shower.  They didn't work so well on Alana's dark hair but that's ok since they were not for her.  You do also have to beware of them possibly staining the hair if left in too long but they came right out of Dane's hair.  In fact, he even freaked a little when his bath water turned solid blue!

Cost:  $10.95 ea/ $3.95  S/H (entire purchase)
Available to purchase:  Streekers
Recommendation:  They are a little to pricey for me considering they are completely temporary but a GREAT solution if you have a similar issue with your children (or even if you want to add some flair to yourself!)
Facebook:  Streekers
Twitter:  @Streekers
Giveaway:   Streekers is going to give one of A Lucky Ladybug's lucky readers 2 colors of their own to try!

Kimber Cakeware Batter Daddy and Batter Babies Review and Giveaway

     I love to bake especially with my kids.  Although after a while the same old thing just gets boring and you need to spice it up a bit for the little ones.  I am always trying to come up with new cookie designs or trying new cake recipes and recently I discovered some nifty little gadgets from Kimber Cakeware. 

     The Batter Daddy and Batter Babies are little dividers for you bake ware allowing you to create two colors or flavors in one pan or cupcake!  The Batter Daddy is actually adjustable to fit most size and shape pans.  Super excited to try this out myself, I opened these right away and let my kids pick their colors.  Alana wanted the strawberry (pink) and Dane wanted vanilla (but he wanted a boy color so we added blue food coloring).

      These were definitely a fun craft for all of us to create together.  But I will say together because using these is not a one person job.  We know that even after beating cake mix smoothly it still doesn't quite pour out like a liquid so this job was a little messy.  That's half the fun right!?  Well, I think (know) had I used actual cupcake cups (instead of only my silicone) the Batter Babies would have stayed in place a little better.  I just had Alana hold them while I scooped batter into each side of the cupcakes.  The Batter Daddy stayed perfectly fit and wasn't easily knocked over when pouring into my pan. 

     With two different consistencies (since both kids had to stir their own color), the colors still remain separate once you removed the Batter Daddy/Baby.  *Don't forget you shouldn't bake with these still in place.*  After baking each cake was still perfect.  I cannot wait to use these for a birthday party!!

Cost:  $7.99 Batter Daddy
         $5.99/6 ea Batter Babies
Recommendation:  If you like to bake cakes and especially cupcakes frequently, these are a cheap and creative tool.  They are sure to impress just about anyone if you want to show off your skills!
Facebook:  Kimber Cakeware
Giveaway:   Kimber Cakeware is going to give one of A Lucky Ladybug's lucky readers a Batter Daddy and set of Batter Babies of their own!

Kid-Basix Safe Sippy 2 Review and Giveaway

     If you've got little ones then I'm sure you've spent a bunch of money on bottles, sippies, cups, etc.  Well I'm honestly sick of buying the cheap stuff and having to throw it away after a short period of time.  On top of that who know what dangers come with the discounted plastic cups and bottles you get at the store!  I don't want my children exposed to that but at the same time who has the money to buy top of the line bottles, then sippies, then kids cups?!  Not me.  But what if you could spend a little extra to have the best of both worlds.

     Kid-Basix created The Safe Sippy2™ convertible sippy-to-straw cup in stainless steel.  Such a totally cool concept - it's a 2-in-1 convertible sippy to straw bottle!  "The Safe Sippy™ no-spill bottle from clean, non-leaching stainless steel." 

     Since we received our Safe Sippy2™ in the mail, its all we use.  Alana is sure to tell me each time what a pimp kids cup this is (haha)!  I really love the fact that this works and looks just like a big boy cup to Declan.  He is always trying to use the same cups as Dane but we all know he still needs something spill proof.  This works!

Cost:  $14.95
Available to purchase:  Kid-Basix
Recommendation:  These are a little costly but made environmentally friendly and are reusable beyond the average life of a bottle or sippy not only because of what they are made from BUT because of its 2-in-1 design.  I would recommend spending the money if you have a young child or especially if you have two young children who like to imitate each other.
Facebook:  Kid-Basix
Twitter:  @KidBasix
Giveaway:  Kid-Basix is going to give one of A Lucky Ladybug's lucky readers a Safe Sippy2™ of their own!

The Sili Company Sili Squeeze Review and Giveaway

     Both of my boys are chubbies (and I love every bit of it!)  They have both been in the 90 percentile and above for sizes.  Their eating styles have reflected this from very young, both starting on baby food before six months and regular foods by six or seven months old (of course because it was recommended by my pediatrician).  With giving children food this young comes a couple hazards - choking and messes.  When I first discovered the Sili Squeeze™, I thought it was the best idea and solution for this.

     The Sili Squeeze™ is sippy cup of some sorts that you can add pureed foods such as applesauce, blended berries and veggie blends inside.  "The Sili Squeeze™ was developed out of the desire to feed my growing baby nutritious food on the go whether in the car seat, stroller, or shopping cart. The squeeze is 'mommy hands free', so your little ones can squeeze themselves silly, without the mess and wastefulness of a disposable squeeze."  This can be used for children as young as six months.

     Declan loves his squeeze as do I!  I can feed him yogurt or honestly whatever without having to worry about either feeding him myself or dealing with a massive mess to clean up after.  I love my children and love staying home with them but being a blogger I feel like I constantly have to juggle my computer along side of them.  The Sili Squeeze™ helps a great deal with this around snack and meal times!

 

Cost:  $11.25 - 4 oz Sili Squeeze™
         $12.75 - 6 oz Sili Squeeze™
         $22.00 - Sili Squeeze™ Combo Pack: one 4 oz, one 6 oz
Available to purchase:  Sili Squeeze™
Recommendation:  These are a little costly but made environmentally friendly and are reusable for longer than your average bottle or sippy.  I would recommend this to anyone who has a child age ranged 6mo to 2 years.
Facebook:  Sili Squeeze™
Twitter:  @TheSiliSqueeze
Giveaway:  Sili Squeeze™ is going to give one of A Lucky Ladybug's lucky readers a 4oz Sili Squeeze™ of their own!

Plasmart Perplexus Original Toy of the Year Nomination and Repost of Review

     I wanted to repost my review of the Perplexus Original as they have been nominated as Educational Toy of Year by the Toy Industry Association. This is like the “Oscars” for the toy industry.  In honor of this celebration they are giving away another Perplexus Original.  All you have to do is help by voting for them so they can receive this award!

We all know the holiday season is coming up and the older our children get the harder it is to buy gifts for them. Dane is at the perfect age for Christmas since he has a full understanding of Santa and honestly I could get him just about anything and he would be happy. My other two are the difficult ones. Alana being 13 is in between the "older" girlie things and the "little" kids toys. Declan already has everything he could need because of Dane plus, he hasn't a clue whats happening and would probably have more fun playing with the empty boxes than the actual toys. I honestly don't know who I had in mind when I discovered Perplexus and decided to review this intriguing game.

"Perplexus is a maze game where players maneuver a small marble around challenging barriers inside a transparent sphere." This single path maze/obstacle course is designed for 6 and up . Dane actually understood the concept at almost 4 years old but got bored easily as it wasn't interactive enough for him. Alana enjoyed working on the maze for quite some time but even she struggled in certain areas and got a little frustrated.

"PERPLEXUS assists in child development allowing children to exercise their motor and dexterity skills, as well as improve their hand-eye coordination. Its small size makes it easily portable."

Cost: $24 Perplexus

Available to purchase: Perplexus website has a list of stores local to you on their site.
Recommendation: I wish I could tell you if this toy was worth the cost but I have no clue how much it actually costs. I've looked all over and can't seem to find the price. Although, I will tell you this keeps the kids busy and seemed pretty fun in a challenging way!
Facebook: Plasmart www.facebook.com/plasmart
Twitter: @Plasmart

3D Light FX Soccer ball 3D Light Review

 

     So we are usually willing to try anything to get either of the boys interested in their room.  My mistake of co-sleeping has become more trouble than it is worth since I now have two boys in MY bed.  Dane really needs to get used to his own room since he is about to be three!  Recently I was given the opportunity to review a 3d Light from 3D Light FX.

     This is a very different alternative to a night light for the boys.  It is a half soccer ball that lights up either by battery or outlet but the kicker (literally) is that it appears to have been kicked through the wall.  This light comes with an easy to apply wall sticker that makes the wall appear as if it is cracked and the ball is stuck in the wall.  Dane and Declan both were excited to get this put up in their room. Dane was so amazed at how realistic it looked.

     I felt it looked perfect AND had a perfect amount of light.  The glow from the ball (which is hard to show in the picture) lit up the entire room.  This light gave a nice glow for the boys to still fall asleep while lit and for them to see clearly enough to get up in the middle of the night if they had to.  I really love the fact that it is battery operated so I don't have to worry about visible cords that look tacky OR that Declan can get a hold of (since he always does).  And even so if you choose to plug it in, this light is energy efficient.

Cost:  C$19.97 (Canadian)

Available to purchase:  3D Light FX

Recommendation:  This is a very cute idea and alternative to your traditional plug night lights or room decorations.  Its also priced very reasonably and available in pink for girls.  My only complaint is that they only have soccer balls.  We are a huge sports family and unfortunately soccer just isn't our sport of choice.  I'd love to see a football or volleyball!

Facebook:  3D Light FX

Twitter:  @3DLightFX

Fagor Pressure Cooker Review

     I love to cook.  That should be fairly obvious at this point in our blogging relationship.  I love to eat as well especially when it is something coming out of a crock pot.  I do love to cook from scratch but who doesn't love the ease of throwing your ingredients together in 5 minutes and ending up with a gourmet meal!? 

     What I hate is that it takes forever to get that amazing quality and all the meanwhile you are stuck smelling it throughout your house all day.  I recently discovered a pressure cooker and all its amazing qualities.  Fagor generously allowed me the great opportunity to review one of theirs.  I really could not wait to get my hands on this and Fagor honestly couldn't send it fast enough.  The day it arrived I opened it and began reading recipes and directions.

     This pressure cooker (to me) was like a mini version of my crock pot on steroids.  The quality of cooking is almost as if the food was left to slow cook all day, melt in your mouth moist and falling apart.  Take the quality of a slow cooker and add the power of crack and you have a pressure cooker.  The chicken meal we made went from partially frozen state to the "I slaved all day on this meal" taste in under 15 minutes tops.  I even cooked rice along with it as well! 

     My only complaint is that no matter how many times I read the instructions AND the troubleshooting guide, I could not get the cooker to build up any actual pressure.  It just wouldn't seal correctly for me and count down from the set cook time.  But then I let my husband get a hold of it and it locked and pressurized perfectly the first try!  Obviously, I was having an off couple days.

Cost:  $99 Average price

Available to purchase:  Fagor Store Locator  (just about any major retailer)

Recommendation:  Get one!  Fagor has all sorts of high quality appliances for the everyday home and all at reasonable prices.  This cooker is great especially for those days you don't feel like cooking, don't have the money to go out, and haven't pulled a thing from your freezer!

Facebook:  Fagor