Real Dad Reviews

Little Cosmetics: Pretend Make-up Kit (06/07)

2012-05-24T22:10:00.000-04:00

Little Cosmetics is play make-up that looks and feels just like real make-up. But it doesn't show up on skin or rub off on fingers. Pretend play at its best - all the imagination and no mess! Little Cosmetics is the perfect solution for the little girl that always wants to use mom’s make-up, but won’t be fooled by fake plastic make-up. And the perfect choice for mom’s that want to keep their little girls mess-free and safe from toxins.

Little Cosmetics is different than most pretend make-up for four reasons:

1) It actually looks like real make-up. Each pretend make up piece is packaged in realistic looking compacts and jars with vibrant shades, it can even fool adults!

2) It feels real! It is not fake hard plastic or dried nail polish. It is soft and smooth, just like real make-up.

3) They do not show up on skin at all. Little Cosmetics is not a chemical free make up that is safe for kids like what is sold in stores. It is 100% pretend make up.

4) The pretend make-up in Little Cosmetics products is safe and non-toxic.

The Luxury Kit Includes:

- One Pressed Powder Compact

- Two Iridescent Lip Glosses with roller ball applicator

- One Pink Blush Compact

- Two Eye Shadow Palettes

- One Glitter Shadow Pot

- 5 Piece Brush Set (real make-up brushes!)

The entire kit comes packaged in a pink organza draw string bag so your little girl can tote around her make up easily! Please not that Little Cosmetics are a choking hazard because they contain small parts. They are not intended for children under 3.

Buy It: You can purchase a Little Cosmetics Luxury Kit for 25.00 on etsy.com!

Win It: Little Cosmetics has offered one lucky reader their own Essentials Kit!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on 06/07 at 11:59m EST. Giveaway rules can be found here. This giveaway is brought to you by Little Cosmetics and Real Mom Reviews. Real Dad Reviews is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

Sookie Stackhouse 8-copy Boxed Set (05/30)

2012-05-16T17:56:00.002-04:00

Mom to Bed by 8, The Iowa Mom, Powered by Mom and Mommy and Baby Reviews have gotten together with a bunch of other awesome bloggers to offer one super lucky reader the chance to win the Sookie Stackhouse 8-copy Boxed Set by Charlaine Harris. These books are what started it all. Trueblood is now one of (if not the) hottest TV Shows today! Enter Below For Your Chance to Win! Giveaway starts 6pm est May 16 and will run until May 30th!!

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Buy a Mutsy 4Rider, Get an Easyrider for free!

2012-05-16T15:19:00.005-04:00

I have never seen a buy one get one free deal on strollers till now! When you buy a 4Rider or 4Rider light you get an Easyrider for free! That simple!

Simply buy this-

or this-

and get this for free!

The promotion will run from May 15 through May 31 and is valid for U.S. residents. You get to choose the color of your Easyrider from what is in stock. Must have both a 4Rider (or 4Rider Light) and an Easyrider in your cart and enter code freerider12 (case-sensitive) on the last page of checkout to receive the Easyrider for free. Both strollers must be purchased at the same time and be shipped to the same address. Does not apply to previous orders.

Promotion is only valid through store.mutsy.com. For more information on Mutsy products, news and promotions, follow Mutsyon Facebook: www.facebook.com/mutsyusa.

Giveaway- Pediped Originals: Tristan (06/10)

2012-05-12T14:38:00.000-04:00

Emmitt is an official walker now. He walks and runs around much more than he crawls. Because of that I needed a shoe for him that would be comfortable and easy to put on! Pediped Tristan shoes are a super fun sneaker that will keep your little one ready for any adventure the day may bring! Available in navy with pops of orange, Tristan adds style to any outfit.

Pediped Tristan shoes is part of the Pediped Originals line. Originals are a line of soft-soled infant shoes that mimic barefoot walking. They feature a brand new and improved sole that is slip resistant! The new sole features a slip resistant diamond tread and is made of all natural high quality leather The Originals collection is priced at $33, and is available for children 0-24 months in age.

Tristan Navy features include:

Leather upper.

All leather sole.

Casual sneaker with a Velcro strap that is easy to put on and take off.

Straps stay securely in place.

Approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for promoting healthy foot development

Emmitt has worn Pediped shoes since he was born. They are the most durable kids shoe- by far that I have ever owned. The Tristan shoes are stylish and casual at the same time which allows Emmitt to wear them all the time, no matter what he is wearing. They are a breeze for me to get on and off and wipe clean easily if he does happen to get something on them.

I really love the new bottom. The old Original bottoms were a soft and smooth sole- and these give him much more traction when he is running along!

Emmitt really likes them because he can easily get them off. I am not sure if that is a good thing, but he loves to take them on and put them back on again!

You can sign up on pediped.com to become a pediped Insider and be the first to know about special promotions, new product introductions and more!

Buy It: You can purchase a pair of Originals Tristan in Navy for 25.00 from Pediped.com! Other Original shoes retail for 33.00 and can be found at Pediped.com as well!

Win It: Pediped has offered one lucky reader a pair of Original shoes which come 0 to 6, 6 to 12, 12 to 18 or 18 to 24 months! (Pedipeds choice of style) Giveaway rules can be found here. Click "Continue Reading" to enter:

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Giveaway- LifeProof iPhone Case (06/01)

2012-05-04T18:28:00.004-04:00

My last smartphone ended it's relatively short life after my son decided he needed to watch Lion King while he was going to the bathroom. We still do not have the full story, but my poor phone ended up swimming in the bowl and was not able to be repaired. When I got my new smartphone I promised it (and my wallet) that I would take good care of it.

Image Via lemonharanguepie.com

I ordered my phone online and immediately started doing research to find the best case for my phone. LifeProof's site and promise really reached out to me so that is what I went with! "When you need an iPhone case that can match the pace of your lifestyle (or the destruction level of your kids), choose LifeProof. With a LifeProof iPhone 4S case, your smartphone and all of its capabilities can follow wherever you go. The LifeProof case is waterproof, dust-proof, snow-proof and shock-proof and more!"

I have a white iPhone 4 so I choose the white case! I was a bit disappointed to find that the whiteness of the case did not match the whiteness of the phone. I expected it to be a bit closer in color. As for size and weight this is the lightest and skinniest cover I have ever put on my phone that promised full protection it barely increases the size of my phone while still allowing me to have the sleek low profile "apple" look!

Installation of the LifeProof case was so easy. I conducted the water test, cleaned my phone then clicked my phone into the case and it was safe!

I am able to use my phone in places I never imagined I could. I take this phone in the shower, in the pool and even had it in my pocket when we went to the lake a few weekends ago (this was an accident, my wallet was in there too)! This phone literally gives me peace of mind to take this phone anywhere and to let my kids play (and learn) on it any time they want!

Note: The first time I tried to charge my phone with the LifeProof case on I was a bit baffled. Normally all of our apple chargers fit into our phones, however the opening of the LifeProof case is only big enough for an iPhone charger to fit, the iPad charger will not.

If white isn't your forte, fear not! The LifeProof case also comes in these rocking colors:

Buy It: You can purchase a LifeProof iPhone 4/4S case from lifeproof.com for 79.99.

Win It: LifeProof has offered one lucky Real Dad Reviews reader a LifeProof case of your own! Giveaway rules can be found here. Click "Continue Reading" to enter:

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Beco Butterfly 2 Carrier

2012-04-30T22:42:00.000-04:00

Being a dad of multiple children means I need hands avalialble to help more than one kid at a time. My wife accomplishes this by wearing one of the kids, however I have never felt comfortable with the carriers my wife owns now. All the ones she has that buckle do not fit around my 55" waist, and the ones you have to wrap and tie yourself I just look funny wearing.

The Beco Butterfly 2 Carrier allows me to have two hands free while holding a little one and it actually fits me comfortably!

Included with the Beco Butterfly 2 Carrier is-

-The actual carrier

-Hood

-Infant Insert

-Owners Manual

The carrier only weighs 1.8 lbs, but can carry 7-45 lbs. For me this means I can carry my one, three, and five year olds in it. When I carry them I can use a front or a back carry. The carrier is super easy to get on and off, even I can do it! It is machine washable, which is a plus because I always seem to forget I am wearing my little one and get something on them and the carrier!

Now let's talk about measurements. I know first hand that every carrier is not one size fits all. Lots of carriers that the wife has don't fit around my waist, or my shoulders. I am 6 feet tall and 325lbs so finding a carrier for me has been darn near impossible- until the Beco Butterfly 2! The waist belt of the Butterfly 2 can go as small as 28" and as large as 57" and the shoulder straps are 23" and can be adjusted up 45"!

Here is my five year old in the carrier. He is 42lbs and fits just fine! We use this for him when we know there is going to be a lot of people around he does not know. He is kind of shy and this lets us keep him close so he does not get upset! He can be worn in both the front and back carry, but because he is heavier it is easiest and most comfortable to back carry him!

Here is my three year old in the carrier. She is 25lbs! She can be worn in the front and on the back. She hates being in the stroller, but gets tired when she walks on her own. We use the carrier for her most when she is done walking. but does not want to be in the stroller.

Here is Mr. Emmitt. He is 20lbs even. He can be worn in the front and on the back. He is very much a people person, so does not like to be carried on peoples backs just yet. We use this carrier for him most often while all the kids are at school instead of dragging a stroller around!

You can see by all the images above how versatile this carrier really is! If you are looking for a comfortable carrier that can be used by multiple people, with multiple kids then this is the carrier for you for sure!

Buy It: You can purchase a Beco Butterfly 2 Carrier from Amazon for 125.00!

Sophie the Giraffe

2012-04-30T13:22:00.000-04:00

BabyScholars.com is a perfect place for moms and dads alike to shop. They know first hand the importance of providing young children with quality educational products that will stimulate their mind and imagination. They have a huge selection of toys, gifts and personalized products that are sure to delight anyone you may need to purchase a gift from.

My Sophie the Giraffe shipped very fast and was in a safe and secure package. It took about a minute to get Sophie out of the box and into my sons hands and it really hasn't left his hands since then. He loves this thing. Sophies long neck and four legs makes it possible for him to hold it at all angles. She is small measuring in at 7 inches, but that is plenty big enough. I love that it is small enough to go anywhere with us and and not take up too much space.

Sophie is made of natural rubber that is PVC, BPA free and phthalate free. All her colors are painted on with natural food dyes so she is super safe to chew on. Sophie is so soft that even when Emmitt gets mad and flails it around if he hits himself it doesn't hurt him. The spots provide stimulation for visual senses and when you push on Sophie she squeaks!

Sophie is priced on the high side- But she is hand painted, made in France and practically unbreakable. There is also a serial number on her foot- she is 100% one of a kind!

Buy It: You can purchase Sophie The Giraffe for 21.95 from babyscholars.com!

Giveaway- Three 200.00 Amazon Gift Cards (05/21)

2012-04-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Acadiana's Thrifty Mom has teamed up with SaleCamel to bring you a super-D-duper giveaway for 3 amazon.com gift cards! Yes, 3 lucky winners will each win a $200 Amazon gift card! Be sure to finish all the entries so you increase your chances of winning! This giveaway runs from April 30 until May 21. This giveaway is sponsored by SaleCamel and hosted by Acadiana's Thrifty Mom and Baby Coupons & Stuff.

Enter the simple rafflecopter form below. GOOD LUCK!

This giveaway will be open to U.S. residents only. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. This giveaway is, in no way, affiliated with Facebook.

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Linksys E4200 Wireless-N Router

2012-04-29T15:48:00.000-04:00

I’m a huge gamer. Computer, Xbox, Playstation- you name it, if they make a game I like I can play on it I will! Recently we started having huge internet problems in our house. I called our cable provider and they suggested we up our speed, so we did. But that really did not help much.

I did a little research myself and figured out, it was our wireless router. Our old, cheap wireless router just was not cutting it anymore. We have two TV's playing Netflix, a computer running an online game, and iPad and two iPhones that are practically always in use- our wireless router needed more juice!

We have owned many Linksys products before so I knew for sure that this time that waswhat we were going to get. I decided after some research and a lot of reading on the Cisco-Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Simultaneous Dual-Band Wireless-N Router.

Setup of the new router was a breeze, it took me about 5 minutes, no joke! I installed the software that is included in the package, followed directions and hooked up the cable provided. Within minutes it detected my internet connection and had me up and running.

Maximum Wireless Speed:
The Linksys E4200 offers ultra fast speed to connect your computers, Internet-ready TVs, game consoles, and other Wi-Fi devices at transfer rates up to 300 + 450 Mbps speed for a premium home network experience. (see it was made for us!)

Superior Wireless Coverage:
Built with leading 802.11n wireless technology, the Linksys E4200 offers maximum range to create a powerful wireless network. Full 3×3 MIMO antenna array boosts signal strength to provide exceptional coverage and reliability so you can enjoy your wireless network from anywhere in your home. We have a three story home and with our old router we had a hard time getting signal on the third floor- however with this router it is as clear as being on the same floor!

The Power Of Dual Band
Double your network bandwidth with dual-band N (2.4 and 5 GHz) designed to avoid interference and maximize throughput for smoother and faster HD video streaming, file transfers, and wireless gaming.

Speedboost
Higher quality antenna technology helps to maintain high speeds across greater distances throughout your home for maximum wireless coverage and in-home mobility.

Advanced Security
Keep Wi-Fi freeloaders and Internet threats at bay with WPA/WPA2 encryption and SPI firewall to help keep your network protected

Buy It: You can purchase a Cisco-Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Simultaneous Dual-Band Wireless-N Router from Amazon for 137.99!

Alphabeasts

2012-04-28T03:54:00.000-04:00

Alphabeasts are a relatively new lovable and plush toy that will help your child learn! Around our house we have quite a few learning toys- but I have never seen a learning stuffed animal so I was immediately interested in Alphabeasts!

The only way I can keep my active kids engaged and interested in learning is to make it fun! Each of the 26 Alphabeasts is unique in design and has a different letter of the alphabet on the front and back. All of the beasts are double-sided with contrasting colors on each side. One side of the beast has the upper case letter while the other side has the lower case version of the same letter.

The Alphabeasts were designed by two dads, Andy Ferguson and Chad Whitman, who understood the importance of education, imaginative play, and having fun while learning. Learning the alphabet is one of the basic lessons for children and those that enter kindergarten with a strong handle on their letters have a much easier time than those do not. Alpha Toys, the makers of Alphabeasts, recognize that the alphabet is one of the most important lessons to teach children in the early stages of their learning.

I was a bit disappointed when I ordered mine because the letters I wanted were out of stock. But "E" and "B" are popular letters so I got their middle initials instead. Upon opening the box I was very surprised to see that the colors of the Alphabeasts were actually the same as online. Normally the actual product colors are a bit more dull than online pictures, but that was not the case with Alphabeasts.

My kids right away scrambled to figure out which one was theirs and then asked what letter was on their Alphabeast and why. Alphabeasts are a great, high-quality stuffed animal with washable velveteen outer body and soft fleece lettering. The mouth and eyes are made of soft thread so there is no risk of an eye popping off and becoming a chocking hazard. My kids have really enjoyed playing with their Alphabeasts and we often try to think of as many words as we can that their beast begins with.

I think the best way to learn with Alphabeasts would be to collect them all- but at 15.99 each that would be quite expensive! I do think these would make a great way to help your child learn to spell their name, and then later use the Alphabeasts to decorate their room with!

Buy It: You can purchase your own Alphabeast from Amazon for 12.47 each!

Hank Player

2012-04-24T04:03:00.000-04:00

I'm not to big in to clothes- but hey I am a guy! My clothes need to be soft and comfortable and whenever the wife asks me to help pick out kids clothes soft and comfortable is what I search for!

Hank Player strives to create a quality, long lasting t-shirts that also bring together a combination of hip, novelty graphics and vintage inspired colors. All tees are garment dyed and pre washed to give it a familiar lived-in and super soft, comfy feel and all are made in the USA!. The shirts I was sent for the kids are super soft to the touch and I find that my kids grab for them after a long day of scratchy, ironed uniform shirts. They call them their comfy shirts- and who am I to argue?

Hank Player has so many fun T-Shirts, that my older kids can appreciate- here are a couple of my favorites:

I always order a size up when I order online because I find that even if they say "pre shrunk/washed" they never are. I was pleasantly surprised to find that all Hank Player shirts fit exactly how they were supposed to- which meant I actually had to wait for my kids to grow into them before they could even wear them! After washing them multiple times, trying to get them to shrink I was very pleased that they stayed true to size! This is something extremely valuable to me in kids clothing.

Hank Player also has a pretty cute girl line:

I honestly have nothing negative to say about these shirts. They are comfortable, true to size and have not faded even after tons of washes. The price is a bit deterring at around $24.00 each but you get what you pay for- and this shirt is high quality all the way!

Different Way To Find Ms Right

2012-04-23T09:58:00.001-04:00

Finding someone to spend the rest of your life with is not always easy! My wife and I met by chance while I was out on a blind date with one of her friends- funny right? Here are a few different ways you can get yourself out there and make yourself available to find someone perfect!

Boost your self-esteem:
It's hard to attract someone if you don't feel attractive,! Simple fixes like updating your wardrobe, joining a gym or becoming active in local clubs will make you feel worlds better!

Use a dating agency:
This is a great way to meet singles from all over the place, this works especially well if you are looking to move out of the area you live in now. You can narrow down potential matches by personality types and where they are from, so you can find singles in Manchester or singles that love fishing!

Go out more:
Your never going to find someone to spend the rest of your life if you sit on the couch all day! Get yourself out there! Go to local clubs and even parks! This makes it way easier to find someone you have similar interests as!

Put out the word:
Let your friends, family and neighbors know that you are back on the market. You never know who they may come up with to set you up, because someone always knows someone who is nice!

Using My GI Bill To Become A Truck Driver

2012-04-01T14:24:00.000-04:00

When I was a kid I knew I wanted to be in the army when I got older. When I turned 21 I enlisted and I was off! I spent some time in Korea and was stationed in Texas during my time served. When I got out, I moved back to Pennsylvania and was completely unsure of what I wanted to do.

I ended up going into the food service industry as a high up manager, which paid the bills but really didn't make me happy. I met my wife in 2005 and continued to work in food service, till one day I explained to her how unhappy it made me and we decided the money I was making there was not worth being unhappy.

For the past few years I have been a stay at home dad and recently I decided I want to do something again! I love my kids, but I like being out and doing something during the day. I honestly completely forgot about my GI bill until my wife and I were discussing possible industries I could work in and one of them mentioned an amazing program I am eligible for if I use my GI bill.

I love to drive, so becoming a truck driver is kind of a no brainier. The GI bill will pay for my CDL, my training and a year long apprenticeship! I literally will end up getting paid 12,000.00 to become a truck driver, plus my regular pay!

I will be a company driver for a while, but what I really want is to own my own truck. I honestly can not afford a new Semi Truck to be an owner operator right now, used semi trucks for sale are much more in my price range but that is in the far future!

It is a huge decision for me and my family and this site! I will be away for 6 weeks for CDL training, then a 3 week orientation- but don't you worry, I'll still be reviewing awesome products just for you!

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Penny Pinchers Promotion

2012-04-01T09:33:00.000-04:00

Did you know that there is a £100 Penny Pinchers Promotion taking place at Redbus bingo? And that's just the tip of the iceberg…

CareOne Debt Relief Services- Mom's Debt

2012-04-01T09:22:00.000-04:00

Forgotten Birthday

2012-03-23T14:09:00.002-04:00

Last year I made a very large mistake. I forgot my wife's birthday. I knew she was acting odd that day but I couldnt quite put my finger on what was wrong. It wasn't till around 3PM when we went to the bank and the teller wished her a Happy Birthday I realized what a big thing I had forgotten.

My wife acted like it was no big deal- but I could tell that she was upset with me, and even worse hurt by the fact that I had completely forgotten! We never do huge things on our birthdays but each and every single year she has made sure mine was some how special.

So this year I decided to check out a place like interflora. All interflora gifts for her are super easy to browse. They have made it super simple for guys like me. Balloons, bouquets of flowers gift baskets and even boxes of cupcakes are all in that section. Any of which would make a stellar gift.

This year I'll be sure to not forget!

Who Makes You Smile?!

2012-02-13T15:41:00.002-05:00

Who Makes You Smile?!

TopDentists.com wants to know!

Enter a photo of the person who makes you smile for your chance to win!

The grand prize is a teeth whitening session in NYC with one of our Top Dentists plus all expense paid trip, $1,000 in spending money and photo session for you and your guest. There are also daily teeth whitening kits from Love That White Smile and chances to win teeth whitenings in Aventura FL, Austin TX, Beverly Hills CA, Philadelphia PA, and Troy MI from our Top Dentists in those ares!

All the details can be found here on Top Dentists!

Contest ends Feb 24th..Enter Now!

Outdoing The Neighbors AND Saving Money

2012-02-10T21:43:00.001-05:00

If you're anything like me, you're looking forward to December every year. The weather gets colder, Christmas movies 24/7 on TV and everyone starts putting up decorations. It seems you see the same blow up Santas and snowmen in every yard, but it's the houses with great lights that make you slow down your car and go “Ooooohhhh”. This is where LED Christmas lights really outshine (no pun intended) the competition in all aspects. They're brighter, last longer and more cost-effective than traditional bulbs by far, it would be a waste to go with traditional lights with the LED alternative.

For less tech-oriented people, LED stands for light emitting diode. Yeah, the same ones you see in those really power flashlights and newer TVs. They've been using LED technology for years in other things, and now Christmas lights are getting the LED upgrade treatment too. LED Christmas lights aren't just some sort of special kind of light either, you can find LED versions of all your favorite standbys like rope and icicle lights giving you everything you need to make your neighbors think the sun has come up early. LED lights are somewhere around the neighborhood of twice as bright as traditional bulbs but they don't get nearly as hot so you don't have to worry about a hospital trip if you bump into a string of them.

When you get LED Christmas lights you're not just showing off you've got a great yard, you're showing off how smart you are too. LED lights use up to as much as 50% less power than regular lights which means less of a holiday power crunch. You just spent a bundle on presents and unless you've got a fireplace, you can probably look forward to a hefty heating bill on top of it so the last thing you want is to have to worry about how much in electricity your front yard's light show is going to cost you. On top of saving on power, you're not going to have to run out and replace your string of lights when one of them goes out, leaving you to check each of the million bulbs to see which one needs replacing. The LED strings you buy this year will be the same ones you put out a decade from now with no worries. So next time you're at the store stocking up on hot cocoa and wrapping paper, make sure to stock up on LED lights and show that guy with the nutcracker display across the street what for.

200.00 for car insurance? I do not think so!

2012-01-19T23:38:00.001-05:00

I have had the same car insurance for over 10 years. I was put on a family plan with my grandmother when I first started driving and then switched to my own when I graduated. I know there are other insurance places out there- but am so comfortable with the one I have now that I never considered switching.

When we added our second car and our insurance sky rocketed to two hundred and some change a month I knew that there had to be someone out there that would cover us for less. We have two newer cars and do not put many miles on them a month so I started searching.

No matter what or where you are driving, if you are on the road you need at the very minimum certain levels of car insurance. Most people don't know what options or what coverage are required. Knowing this information alone can help you get insurance for less.

By taking advantage of all the different companies you can get a low policy by comparing multiple quotes. There is no reason to pay higher rates than you need and when you compare rates sometimes you will find a deal you never even knew existed! Comparing is easy- you can even use a site like Moneysupermarket car insurance to make it easier to compare rates of different companies and save a bunch of money.

What your premium will be depends on certain factors.Risk factors such as age, marital status, gender, where you live and most importantly, you driving record are major factors. How much you drive annually and your vehicle's make and model all affect your overall rating. Every state is also different and has a set requirement of how much insurance that the authorities require you to carry!

It makes me happy to think of all the money we will be saving now, but frustrated that I did not figure this out sooner!

Schleich Dog Agility Playset

2012-01-12T13:17:00.000-05:00

Schleich was founded 75 years ago by Friedrich Schleich in Schwäbisch Gmünd. It is one of the largest toy manufacturers in Germany and a leading provider of original play concepts internationally. The famous toy figurines from Schleich are sold in over 50 countries and have found their way into children's rooms all around the world. The design of the Schleich play worlds and the creation of the production tools are done in Germany, as are the quality and safety tests. The production itself takes place both at the company's German headquarters in Schwäbisch Gmünd and in other production facilities abroad.

Schleich realizes that as a manufacturer of toys they carry a special responsibility towards parents and children. Therefore they aim to constantly live up to the image of a developer and supplier of top quality products with an educational aspect.

There are so many Schleich animals and characters to choose from. From familiar figures from the farm yard, exotic creatures from the wild or even fantasy characters such as dragons and elves- there is something for everyone! However, the newest collection of Scenery Packs give children an insight into the exciting stories behind each of Schleich’s themes – all inspired by Mother Nature and offering a play experience which lasts a lifetime.

Each Schleich Scenery Pack includes an exclusive figure or accessory. The Dogs Scenery Pack we received has an agility course for training the Border Collie! My kids loved setting up the ramps and the poles and making the Border Collie run through the course! I was very impressed with the quality of the set. Every last detail, down tot he Border Collie's eyes are spot on. Our dog set has been everywhere. The car, the bath, the trash and they still are in perfect condition!

There are six Schleich Scenery Packs to choose from and each make perfect gifts for all occasions, giving children, and their parents!

Buy It: You can purchase the Schelich Dog Agility Playset from schleich-s.com!

Dumb Dating- The Online Version

2012-01-12T12:56:00.002-05:00

Lots of my current friends are single. They all go out quite often to local bars and pick up random girls they date for a few weeks and then never talk to again- that in my opinion is really dumb dating and a complete waste of their time and the girls!

Dumb dating- the online version is someone in the state of Maine dating someone in Alaska. Theoretically it is just not going to work! Sure it is kind of cool to think about possible traveling to Alaska, but what are the odds you are actually going to travel to freezing cold Alaska just to see someone you met online?

I did have one friend who actually made long distance dating work. He lived in Texas and he ended up dating a girl from New York. However they met at college and not just online so they had connections and liked each other before they lived far away from each other. They ended up both moving to Texas because the homes there are so much cheaper than New York. They have been together almost ten years now! Speaking of that friend- him and his wife just had their eighth child! A beautiful baby boy.

Dating is something you need to take seriously. The person you date needs to be someone you are willing to spend the rest of your life with- and if they are not you are just wasting your time. So when your days of Dating London and Hawaii single girls is over and you are ready to take dating or Dating online seriously just make sure you stay safe and avoid Stranger danger scenarios!

Baby Names

2012-01-06T22:54:00.000-05:00

My wife and I can agree on most things. However after agreeing on Carlee and Ethan's name we could not come up with a name for our third child! We wanted to keep the gender a surprise so that made it even harder for us to decide on two names! We butted heads for months before we both finally decided to sit down and not leave until we made a decision.

It seemed that everytime we finally agreed on something there was something wrong with the name. It meant something odd in another laungage, it was a unisex name, or it had a horrible nick name. So we started searching all sorts of different baby names from Bounty. We looked up more names that I can even remember and narrowed it down to one boy and one girl name.

Macy- We loved this name right away but were not sure how well it would go with out last name. But in the end we liked the flow of it so well we decided it was a keeper!

Emmitt- Agreeing on a boy name was so much more difficult than a girl name. We found Emmitt forever ago- but with the Twilight craze we were not sure that we wanted to use the name. It is an old English name and we knew we wanted both of our boys names to start with an E! So even though Twilight also stole Emmitt- we agreed it would be best for our son!

If you are having a hard time deciding on a baby name you can find girls names and boys names at Bounty.com.

How to choose the right outdoor furniture for you!

2012-01-06T21:51:00.002-05:00

The weather is not warming up quite yet here in PA. But every year in February after tax time my wife and I agree on one large household item that we would like to purchase. This year outdoor furniture won!

Our outdoor space is an extension of our living space. We have eight people in our home so we need all the extension we can get. It is important when you choose your furniture that you pick one you really love. Choosing choosing between rattan effect garden furniture, wrought iron furniture, environmentally friendly furniture or any of the other alternatives for your space will seem over whelming. But once you decide that- the hardest decision has been made!

1)Set a budget

Outdoor garden furniture comes in all sorts of price ranges. Sets can range from a couple of hundred dollars to a couple thousands of dollars. Make sure you know what you want to spend and then stick to that number.

2)Where are you going to put your furniture?

Will the set be in the sun? Will your furniture be close to your home? If it will be in the sun you will need an umbrella! If it will be close to your home, the color must not clash!

3)Measure the space the furniture is going

Chairs around a table take up an additional 24 inches of space. You will also need 36 inches from the back of the chairs to be able to walk around.

4)How many people will you be entertaining?

This will answer how many chairs you will need!

5)Choose your material.

This is normally based on what weather is normally like where you live. You don't want wrought iron furniture if you live in Florida, You will burn your butt.

Implement these tips next time you need new furniture and you will purchase a winning set every time!

Hey This Is Christmas...

2011-12-02T00:15:00.000-05:00

Christmas time has officially started in our home! Our tree had been up and decorated with beautiful home made ornaments since the day after Thanksgiving. We have put our tree up this day every year since our first child- the kids now know after a big turkey dinner comes Christmas tree time!

We really go all out for Christmas because it is by far everyone's favorite holiday in our home! We decorate every room in our entire house!

This year for the first time we decorated outside. All of our neighbors decorated this year so we felt left out with no beautiful lights outside. So we strung beautiful icicle lights all along our deck and added a lighted wreath to our front door! It was also the first year we tried home made ornaments. We did dried fruit ones and they were so much easier than I expected them to be. The kids had a blast, the tree looks amazing and we saved money this year not buying expensive ornaments!

Our dining room is focused around our table. I picked up a beautiful poinsettia plant for the center piece and then my wife picked up a beautiful table runner and matching chair covers!

I drew the line at personalized christmas hampers but even out bathrooms are decorated this year with snow man soap dispensers that we found for 0.49 this past summer!

And of course the decorations would not be complete with out mistletoe hanging from every door way!

How do you decorate for Christmas? Do you have any traditions that you do every year no matter what?

SoftBums Echo Diaper

2011-11-30T17:25:00.000-05:00

The Echo, by SoftBums is an amazing cloth diaper we recently added to our stash. The insert simply snaps down onto the diaper and you then velcro the diaper like normal. The insert is designed to fit the shell so that it keeps the soft fleece lining of the shell from getting wet. This means that the shell can be used over and over again by just switching the insert.

My favorite thing about this diaper is that after it has been soiled I just toss it in the pail snapped together. I love not having to touch a soiled diaper and this is one of the only ones we have that I can do this with. SoftBums offers different inserts including organic bamboo to make this diaper work for heavy wetters.

I can make this diaper fit both my 6 month old and my 2 year old by simply reaching into the hidden picked and grabbing the elastic band with toggle. It kind of adjusts like a hood string. Push the little button on the toggle and pull the elastic band to make the diaper smaller, or just pull the ends of the diaper apart to instantly make the diaper bigger.The Echo is a super trim-fitting diaper. The long insert just folds down in front wherever you need it to in order to fit baby properly, so most of the bulk is in the front on smaller babies or boys. We have yet to have a leak using this on Emmitt. We use it on Carlee when we need trimness!

SoftBums Echo Features:

SoftBums Patent Pending Slide²Size is the ONLY variable adjustment of it's kind
Fits all legs widths from 4" - 14" for NO red marks EVER. Made in the USA!
Choose your own Pods for a customized diapering system!
SoftBums Echo looks smaller than leading brands, because it's Ultra Trim
No Leaks, Thanks to Slide²Size Technology!
SoftBums Echo protects against rash; up to 80% less rash than disposables!
Industrial strength velcro closures are long lasting and won't "wear out" like other velcro
Reusable Echo shell saves money, space, and resources

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Disclaimer- I was provided a SoftBums Echo at no charge for review purposes,all opinions are mine.