Spawnocalypse Reviews

Delta Toddler Beds: Perfect for growing kids in a small space

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:06:00 +0000

Well, hello!

Yes, I know, it's been rather quiet over here at Spawnocalypse Reviews. I'm still not sure if this type of blogging is something I really have a knack for.

BUT, my family just made a modest purchase--a pair of big-kid beds--that we put a fair amount of thought and research into, of which I figured some fellow parents with growing toddlers and shrinking bank accounts might benefit.

Once it became apparent we were going to need to move both the two- and three-year-old out of their cribs (which you can read about here), we were originally going to procure a pair of twin beds that they would use from now until college. And two mattresses. And new bedding. And have to figure out how we were going to squeeze my daughter's into a room with the approximate dimensions of a handicapped bathroom stall.

Wanting to keep things fairly equal between them, I figured we'd suck it up and bring in a pair of plastic character beds they could use with their crib mattresses for a bit. Though chances are pretty good Annie will still love Disney princesses for some time and Gunnar will worship Buzz Lightyear or Thomas or whoever we settled on, they've been known to turn before. And the off-chance that a new favorite would result in a sleeping-in-the-shunned-character-bed strike made me afraid to risk it.

But then I poked around online and found this:

And this:
At $79.99 each, with no cheesy characters and wood-like finishes matching their existing furniture, I was sold.

After fixing the flat tire we got on the way to the closest Target that had them in stock, spending almost an hour (even with staff help toward the end) trying to find the stinking things (endcap!), we got them home and assembled without too much difficulty.

The kids have now slept in their new little beds for three nights. Our assessment so far...

Pros:

Cute, sturdy, and sans Dora or any of her annoying friends.
Take up far less space than the cribs did in slanted-ceiling bedrooms, giving the kids more space to play.
Required no extra purchases other than the bed (though in retrospect, I'd have sprung for novelty sheets or at least pillowcases to help sell the switch).
Low to the ground, with small railing to prevent rollouts (three-year-old, who had been sleeping with improvised crash-mat next to converted crib, is very happy with this feature).

Cons:

For the price, obviously they're fairly lightweight. My two-year-old can slide hers around easily on the hardwood floor.
We'll have to eventually upgrade, as they're labeled to hold only up to 50 lbs. I think that's about the size of a kindergartner, but am guessing that the kids will want something more substantial before that.

Overall, the Delta Toddler Beds were the perfect solution for our needs right now, and I highly recommend them to anyone in a similar situation.

Book review: Don't Swear with Your Mouth Full

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:31:00 +0000

Disciplining our kids is one of our most challenging yet important jobs as parents. When my kids entered the toddler years and began testing me at every turn, I was very concerned with disciplining effectively but not so harshly as to squash their spirits. I didn't want them to be reflexively dependent on authority figures to tell them right from wrong, but to have sound judgment of their own and be willing to stand up for it.

For the most part, my two-year-old daughter and three-year-old do and always have responded very well to conventional timeouts. When they misbehave, they stand in the corner for two or three minutes--or until I take a few deep breaths and plan my approach--after which we repeat what they did wrong, ask for an apology, hug, and move on. But some alternative--yet not wildly different--techniques outlined in Don't Swear with Your Mouth Full: When Conventional Discipline Fails Unconventional Children, have helped address my concerns that go beyond having children who are simply well-behaved.

Although the book can be helpful to anyone, it is geared primarily toward parents or teachers of kids with more difficult personalities or suffering from learning problems or ADHD. For them, typical time-limited punishments just don't work, explains the author, child psychologist Cary Chugh, PhD. To kids seemingly "born looking for a fight" (p. 55), being in timeout, detention, or in their rooms for an arbitrary time limit defined by a parent or authority figure only fuels their frustration. They see their banishment as their parents' fault--and return to the misbehavior quickly after their time has been served.

But timeouts can be turned up a notch by empowering children to get themselves out of it as soon or as late as they choose--by having escape linked to practicing an age-appropriate positive behavior several times (e.g., asking for a toy nicely, scrubbing crayon off the floor, walking slowly down a corridor) rather than simply letting the clock run out.

Although administering behavior-limited techniques can me more time-intensive because you have to explain and supervise the corrective behavior, the strategy is more efficient in the long run as it takes advantage of punishment time to teach prosocial behavior. As kids become intrinsically motivated to do the right thing, it increases their self-esteem and lets them see parents as allies in helping them problem-solve.

Don't Swear with Your Mouth Full, though a quick 177-page read, is packed full of concrete examples for using various forms of behavior-limited discipline with kids of all ages for all types of common problems, such as trouble getting ready in the morning, misbehavior at school, and more. It also includes several relatable anecdotes from Dr. Chugh's experience as a child psychologist, along with "cheat sheets" to help parents arrive at the appropriate technique for a given situation and follow the steps accordingly.

You can learn more about Dr. Chugh and purchase his book for a special Web-only price of $15.99 at http://carychugh.com. The book is also available on Amazon, where you can read several expert-written reviews.

I think anyone who has or works with kids should take the time to read this book. Even if, like me, you're fortunate enough to have children who are not extraordinarily difficult, it never hurts to have more tools in your parenting arsenal. And even if you think what you're doing is working just fine, you may be surprised when you ask yourself if the way you discipline your kids is helping to correct their misbehavior or merely to manage it in the short term. This book will help you make that a conscious decision.

DVD review: Minnie's Bow-Tique, with clips

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:42:00 +0000

If your kids like the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, they will love Disney's recently released Minnie's Bow-Tique. The 96-minute DVD includes four entertaining and educational stories featuring my daughter's hero, Minnie Mouse, plus two interactive remote-controlled games and a Minnie bow frame magnet.

Even though the selections--Minnie's Bow-Tique, Minnie's Pajama Story, Minnie's Bee Story, and Minnie's Picnic--are packaged as little girls' answer to Mickey's Choo-Choo Express, both my (almost) three-year-old son and two-year-old daughter adore every episode, especially the title pick.

Though I try to avoid using the TV as a babysitter, this DVD was an absolute lifesaver a few weeks ago when a stomach virus had me nearly incapacitated for an entire day while my husband was at work. Our DVD player had been on the fritz, too, and somehow the stars aligned to keep it running Minnie's Bow-Tique at least five or six times back-to-back until I could emerge from my fetal position on the couch (and unlike a lot of kids' programming, it didn't make my headache or nausea worse). The kids were enthralled, and eager to "help" Minnie and her friends resort her fallen bows after "Goopy" knocked them down off the shelf.

You can find Minnie's Bow-Tique on Amazon for $15.49 or at Target for $14.99. From my experience, the movie is worth every penny, but check out these clips to decide for yourself.

Minnie’s Picnic

Featurette: Bow-tique Game

Minnie’s Bow-tique

Minnie’s Pajama Party

Minnie’s Bow Story

See? I told you you wouldn't be disappointed!

DVD review: Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine For You Special Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:21:00 +0000

Looking for an adorable Valentine's gift for your kids that won't promote tooth decay? Check out the newly released Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You Special Edition DVD.

With about 50 minutes worth of classic Disney animation, this DVD includes three stories emphasizing love and friendship: "A Valentine for You," "Un-Valentine's Day," and my toddlers' favorite, "Three Little Piglets." Bonus features include "My Hero" (from the New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh) and the "Catch the Love Bug" Game.

The package also includes six Valentine cards featuring Pooh, Piglet, and Tigger.

The entire package retails for $29.99, but is available on Amazon for a little less, and is sure to delight little Valentines of all ages.

If you can't get the kids to cooperate...

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:03:00 +0000

...with a holiday photograph...

get John Boveri to make the photograph work with the kids and/or occasion.

Happy holidays, from our family to yours!

What's under our tree

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:59:00 +0000

I had a surprisingly difficult time buying gifts for my one- and two-year-old. Last year, we got away with wrapping up a bag of blocks and an Elmo bath mat and calling it a day. This Christmas holds the pressure of being possibly the first one they'll remember.

So I thought I'd share the details* of my last-minute masterpiece, not so much to be useful (since I'm sure your shopping was finished ages ago), but to share my sense of satisfaction with someone before this stuff is long forgotten and/or strewn around my house. *Prices are approximate/from memory.

Purchases for Gunnar, age 2.5:

A.C. Moore: Two Thomas trains (one motorized), for a total of about $30 on sale

Target: Cars PJs, $12; Spiderman sneakers, $17; sunglasses, $5

Big Lots: Toy Story coloring tray, $8; stocking stuffers, $1-$2; book, $3

BJ's: A keyboard he can grow into, $30

For Annie, age 19 months:

Target: Baby doll, $10; stroller, $10

Big Lots: toy baby bottle, $3; learning mailbox, $25

The rest is similar to Gunny's.

And...to both toddlers from Santa:

Family Dollar: Unisex play kitchen that will not overwhelm our space, $20 (the only one I've seen that wasn't pink, huge, and/or $100 or more)

A quick and dirty diaper review

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:47:00 +0000

With two kids under the age of three, we go through over 300 diapers a month.

We've tried every brand of disposable waste-catchers, from premium to generic, and we always, always come back to Luvs.

Exhibit A:

[Image of super-soaked, non-leaking diaper, removed now that I've made my point.]

In addition, they are soft (i.e., comfortable), lightly scented, and often cost exactly the same as the sandpapery generics.

Our second favorite generics are Kirkland diapers, found at Costco.

And if money were no object, we'd be happy to Pamper our babies' bottoms any day.

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way to post this review. I even tried to contact the company to get some coupons for you, but they shot me down (per policy). However, you can find lots of money-saving deals on the company sites and other places online. Also, I apologize for the graphic nature of this post; but if you're like me and buying diapers by the caseload, I'm sure you've seen--and smelled--far worse.

Deck the halls at T.J. Maxx

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:14:00 +0000

I was recently asked to review the T.J. Maxx shopping experience. Just in time for the holidays, I was eager to visit the store and scope out the possibilities for everyone on my list.

Among the gorgeous, affordable displays:

Perfect accessories to entertain at home including bar ware, formal crystal pieces, catering sets, and wine racks.
Hostess gifts such as candles, embroidered hand towels, decorative frames, and gourmet food and drink mixes.
Accessories like Italian leather handbags, cashmere gloves, and chunky infinity scarves.
Golf-themed gifts such as putting sets, polo shirts, and accessories for the sport.
Men's sweaters in merino wool and cashmere or a new designer tie.
Toys from every kid’s wish list, including Polly Pocket, Cabbage Patch Kids, Thomas the Tank, and more at half the price of specialty toy stores.

Despite all the opportunities to put my $25 gift card toward the spirit of giving, I couldn't resist the perfect holiday-season sweater in just my size. (We moms have to put ourselves first sometimes, after all.)

Form-flattering yet cozy and warm, this piece has practically been my uniform of the season. From the zoo to the grocery story to dinner out, my T.J. Maxx sweater has kept me looking and feeling great!

Disclosure: I was provided a $25 gift certificate to shop at T.J. Maxx. No other compensation was provided for this post.

Photography: Personal recommendations

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:01:00 +0000

My family and I have had the pleasure of working with some amazingly talented photographers who are also friends.

Stan Hu, founder of Boston-based Accel Photography, shot our wedding in 2004. He was fantastic to work with, a pleasure to have with us on our big day, and he captured everything I hoped he would from that day and more.

And if you think these photos from early in his career are good, you should see the work he's done for Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, and more. I know. I'm kind of starstruck to have pretty much had a future celebrity at my wedding. Jealous? You should be. Though that can be easily rectified by giving Stan a call!

* * *

And then there's my longtime friend, Jay Cronin, who recently completed his Bachelor's degree while working full-time and making nonstop improvements on his first home.

Here's a small sampling of the beautiful shots he got of the kids last spring. And you can peruse more of his stunning work on his website, JEC Photo Design.

Disclosure: I was not compensated to write this post, just thought you should know about their great work. I'm honored to know and have worked with both Stan and Jay, and recommend their services wholeheartedly. Tell them I sent you!

Relish! winner

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:41:00 +0000

Congratulations, LZ on winning a one-year subscription to Relish! I'll be in touch shortly with your login information.

Enjoy using the site, and may all your feasts be special!

Thanks again to all of you who entered. The number of people who log on and enter contests directly affect the types of giveaways I'll be able to host. So keep coming back and tell your friends!

SAVE on Olay ProX skin care

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:14:00 +0000

Thanks to Twitter Moms and Vocalpoint, I had the opportunity to sample and review a product from Olay's new Pro-X line. Much as I hate to admit it, I was thrilled when my 28-day sample of wrinkle smoothing cream arrived in the mail. (Nothing like giving birth twice in two years to ramp up the aging process.)

According to the company, Olay Professional Pro-X advanced technology makes skin perform more like it did when it was younger by revealing younger surface cells faster and helping your skin's moisture barrier stay strong.

The first thing I noticed about the cream after smoothing it on before bed was how it seemed to melt away any of the day's stress the instant I applied it (a non-advertised benefit!). Feeling relaxed and eager to greet my radiant reflection in the morning, I slept like a baby. Not like a real baby--like a TV baby or a doll (the wetsy-free kind).

The lines on my forehead did seem to diminish within the first couple of nights; however, the rich cream brought out the more delinquent side of my still-acne-prone chin and cheeks, causing a minor breakout.

So then I began applying the product only where I actually want to turn back the clock--forehead, under-eyes, and laugh lines--and I've been getting great results ever since.

Want to give it a try yourself?
Vocalpoint generously provided me with five coupons to save $10 on the purchase of a single Olay Professional Pro-X product. I'll keep the entries simple this time: First five people to leave a comment (with email address) by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on November 30 win a coupon. I will contact winners by email to get your mailing information.

Good luck!

Relish! review and giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:48:00 +0000

If you know me (for these purposes, through the Internet counts), try to imagine my reaction when I read this review offer:

Meal planning just got a million percent easier. And cheaper.

Until we can all afford our own personal chefs, the next best thing is easily Relish!, a truly cool meal-planning service for busy parents. www.relishrelish.com.

This easy to use (really), mom-run website helps you prepare healthy, creative meals every week! You pick from a ton of excellent tested recipes, a very cleverly organized grocery list is automatically created, then all you do is hit the store for five days worth of home-cooked meals--not one of which takes more than 30 minutes to prepare.

You'll find a whole lot to choose from including freezer meals, vegetarian menus, super-quick and slow cooker recipes. And you’ll find tons of kid’s faves that don't include the word "nugget."

For subscriptions at $7 a month, you'll end up with five complete dinners for a family of four running you less than $95. Between the money savings and the anxiety savings, you’re coming out way ahead.

So, nuggets don't count as cooking? What if you go the extra mile and get the ones that are dinosaur shaped?

Actually, it's not that I haven't been interested in preparing more interesting and healthy meals for my family--I've just been daunted. Having grown up in the microwave generation and currently raising a toddler who regards most foods as mere decoration rank high among my long list of excuses for mostly sticking to directions-on-the-box fare.

But it turns out the above message in my inbox was just the nudge I needed.

After about a month of "getting to it," I logged on to my trial account at Relish! and quickly created my first weekly menu. Although I was disheartened that the cuisine itself did not appear with a click of a mouse, printing out an instant shopping list and six easy to follow recipes was the next best thing.

Bound by reality, I picked just two meals to shop for and prepare at first: Slow cooker chunky minestrone with corn spoon bread and the honey glazed chicken with roasted sesame asparagus.

I spent about an hour (mostly searching for cannellini beans) and $50 ($20 of which went to stocking my spice cabinet--an investment that should last several months) gathering ingredients.

The ensuing meal prep was so easy I can't believe I've hidden from the kitchen so long. Between the two meals, I used the crock pot (a wedding gift that had been still in the basement for six years) and my oven's broiler (so that drawer does something?!) for the first time and mostly felt like I knew what I was doing.

Head over here for photos of my creations and family members' reactions. I think you'll be impressed!

GIVEAWAY TIME
Now enough about me. It's your turn to enter to win a free one-year subscription to this amazing site--a $58 value.

To enter, just leave me a comment describing how you think Relish! will help you and your family. For additional entries, do one or more of the following and let me know in a separate comment:

Become a follower of Spawnocalypse Reviews through Google Friend Connect (let me know if you already are)
Become a Facebook fan of Spawnocalypse (let me know if you already are)
Tweet about the contest (send me the link)

Please be sure to include your email address in your entries. Entry deadline is 11 p.m. Eastern on November 25. The winner, selected through Random.org's random number generator, will be announced on Thanksgiving Day.

Good luck!

Review: Unlocking a cure for breast cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:10:00 +0000

In an effort to raise awareness for breast cancer detection and prevention, Master Lock has introduced a line of specially designed "Pink" security products.

Each of these pink locking products is emblazoned with a pink awareness ribbon, the universal symbol of breast health awareness, and is targeted toward a range of specific security needs.
I had the opportunity to review both the traditional combination padlock and the alpha-numerical lock (third and fourth from left, respectively). Both locks are heavy for their size and easy to use. Despite decades of being combination-lock challenged (think sobbing outside my high school locker while it held my final project hostage until well past the bell), I opened the first lock on the first try and set a personalized code on the other one in less than five minutes.

And unlike most things child/thief proof, my two-year old could not open either lock. Even better, they kept him mesmerized just as long as any cartoon, without any annoying songs.

On a serious note, I've had several people I love affected by breast cancer, and will proudly display these locks to help spread awareness. It also makes me feel good to know that for the third year running, Master Lock has made a $15,000 donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to help further these efforts. For more information about the BCRF, call 1.866.FIND.A.CURE.

'Pony Movie' review & giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:15:00 +0000

My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure will be available on DVD in Babies 'R' Us and Target stores beginning Oct. 13. But my family and I had the pleasure of of receiving this holiday-themed flick a little early.

Referred to simply as "Pony Movie" by my two toddlers, the 81-minute DVD depicts lessons in friendship, teamwork, and morality. Although my one- and two-year-old are a little young to grasp these themes, they were entertained by the colorful scenes and especially the six included sing-alongs. The movie is definitely a welcome addition to my rainy day/last-minute-work-issue/everybody's-driving-me-crazy stash!

And thanks to Hasbro and Shout Factory, I've got a brand-new copy of My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure to award to one lucky reader. To enter, just leave a comment here with your email address. For a second entry, become a follower of Spawnocalypse Reviews or a fan of Spawnocalypse on Facebook (let me know in your comment if you're already a follower or fan).

The winner will be selected at random on Oct. 10. Good luck!

Messy TV cables? Enter to win!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Do your cable wires look something like this? Worse?

Winning a solution is easy. Just take a photo of your behind-the-tube fiasco and submit to Optimization-World.com.

Good luck!

S&S gift card winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:36:00 +0000

LZ, come on down! You've won a $10 gift card to Stop & Shop, just in time to take advantage of its Back to School Savings Event (but I won't tell if you grab some coffee or nail polish for yourself).

Results courtesy of the first random number picker that came up in my search. But if anyone could send me the link for the widgety one I've seen people post right in their blogs, that would be awesome.

Thanks to My Blog Spark and General Mills for sponsoring my first giveaway on Spawnocalypse Reviews!

Back to school savings at Stop & Shop

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:00:00 +0000

It's always nice to be the bearer of good news. And thanks to Stop & Shop and My Blog Spark, I get to tell you about Stop & Shop's Back to School Savings Event happening today through September 10.

How it works
General Mills and Stop & Shop are teaming up to give families a great way to stock up and save, as they gear up for back to school. Here’s why shoppers should shop at Stop & Shop’s big Back to School Event.

1. Great sale pricing on the participating General Mills brands:
Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Reeses Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cookie Crisp Sprinkles, Cookie Crisp, Fruit Snacks, Old El Paso Dinner Kits, Pillsbury Strudel, Pillsbury Scrambles, Green Giant Boxed Vegetables, Yoplait Yo-Plus Multi-Pack, Fiber One Yogurt Multi-Pack, Pillsbury Refrigerated Cookies, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Pillsbury Sweet Rolls, and Yoplait Delights

2. Additional savings for you or your school, depending on which Stop & Shop location you shop

If your Stop & Shop store sells gas

Buy four (4) participating General Mills items and you’ll automatically earn 100 points on your Stop & Shop card
For every 100 points earned, you'll save 10¢ per gallon of gas (Please note: Total discount cannot exceed price per gallon)
Just swipe your Stop & Shop Card at the pump to redeem your Gas Rewards

If your Stop & Shop store doesn’t sell gas
For those Stop & Shop locations without gas stations, don’t worry – you’re not left out of the savings – if you buy five (5) participating General Mills products, you will receive 20 Bonus Box Tops for your school.

Giveaway time!
And for the best part of this announcement, I've got a $10 Stop & Shop gift card to send to one lucky reader. To enter to win, just leave me a comment (with your email address). For an additional entry, become a follower of Spawnocalypse Reviews--and let me know in your comment. If you're already following, just let me know in your comment and get two entries. You have until 10 p.m. EST September 6 to enter. One winner will be selected randomly. Good luck!

Disclosure
My Blog Spark and General Mills provided me my own $10 gift card in exchange for spreading the word about this event. Since nobody in my house is currently attending school, I got to realize my dream of free coffee through blogging. I brought no other money to the store, and had just enough to grab a much-needed (okay, desired) bag of coffee, bottle of CoffeeMate, and pack of filters. As I was planning a light load, I put the kids in the double-stroller and made a morning walk out of it.

However, you may recall I've had some frustrations finding available and unbroken two-kid shopping carts (the kind with the big red attachment up front) at this and other grocery stores, making it nearly impossible for me to do a full shopping trip with both toddlers in tow. Since Stop & Shop is a company I want to support without caveats, I rang the manager at my local store this morning to discuss the issue (I submitted an online complaint last winter, but nothing happened). As a new manager to this location, he told me he's already noted the problem and ordered 10 additional carts, which he's hoping to get approved. He assured me that at the very least, we should see new straps on the existing carts soon. I think this is maybe the second time in my life I've called a store to offer "feedback." I think I did okay ... Right? Will keep you posted on when and if we see results.

Show off those pipes! Loud Karaoke giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:06:00 +0000

I recently got wind of a fun opportunity for all you Idol wannabees out there. The grand prize is a free Emerson karaoke system from LoudKaraoke.com or a $100 gift certificate to the site.

To enter, just take a video of your family's BEST karaoke song, upload it on YouTube, and submit the link to the contest page on LoudKaraoke.com.

Who knows? Your brood might even become the next YouTube superstars.

So, anyone out there really think you've got a number to compete with this?

Please note that I'm not personally running this particular giveaway--just serving as the messenger for LoudKaraoke. So start shooting and enter over there ASAP. The contest ends September 5.

Practice review: Bissell Sweep Up

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:52:00 +0000

I can't remember what I was doing in Big Lots a couple of weekends ago, but I walked out with an item I've been wanting for a while: A cordless sweeper, like the ones restaurant employees use to zip over a toddler's food-fetti before ushering over the next patrons.

This device appealed to me as a way to keep up with the thrice-daily toddler-meal monsoon without having to lug out the vacuum every time my 15-month old announces "all done" by flipping her plate to use as a steering wheel or hat.

So even though I wasn't specifically looking for it at the time, the all-black, slightly older version of this beauty was sitting on an endcap, with its $12 price sticker begging me to take it home.

Here's what I love about it:

It took less than two minutes to "assemble" (screw the handle together).
One could easily remove a link of the handle to make it just the right height for a child to operate (Is 2.5 too young to start pulling your own weight?).
Its slightly grating squeal while in use is still much quieter (and less terrifying to kids) than regular vacuum and even DustBuster.
I don't necessarily have to bother picking up toys before using it; I can use it to push them right out of my way without worrying about parts getting suctioned up.
It may not grab every Cheerio, but there's always plenty of hair and other ickiness waiting for me in the easy-to-open collection bin.
On higher-pile carpet, it makes lines almost exactly like those left by an actual vacuum.

But I'm not crazy about...

The way the middle roller brush tends to fall off just as I'm really getting going faux vacuuming the upstairs. However, I'll concede that this is likely due to user error akin to employing a sand shovel to do a Bobcat job. The roller pops back in place easily.
Having to clean out the roller brushes manually. The little comb for this task attaches conveniently to the handle, though it's all too easy to "forget" to rake out the hair and lint until "next time." (I have the same type of amnesia regarding DustBuster emptying.)

Overall, I'd call my $12 Bissell Sweep Up a successful impulse buy, which I will likely use on a regular basis for some time (i.e., until Spawn learn how to use it effectively).

Disclosure: Hope you liked my first review. I purchased the item described myself and received no compensation for writing about it. When and if companies do send free samples or other payment, I'll be the first to shout it from the rooftops.

Spotlight on PR: Nice to meet you

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:55:00 +0000

Hello?...PR folks...Do you see me?

I haven't been quite sure how to get in touch, but thanks to Feels Like Home and Adrienne's House, I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.

My name is Deb, and my husband and I have two beautiful children: a two-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl. I've been writing about our trials and tribulations since April of this year on my blog Spawnocalypse.

This August, I decided to launch a sister site, Spawnocalypse Reviews, to try my hand at this other style of blogging. A few months in, my main blog has 28 followers through Google FriendConnect, 35 through Networked Blogs on Facebook, 60 members on a Facebook group, and 21 fans on a newly created Facebook fan page. I will share the new blog with all of these readers, plus my 190 followers on Twitter.

With two toddlers on the move, I'm interested in trying products that will help make our lives a little simpler and more sane. I'd love to review foods, cleaning products, toys and games, books, organizational tools, health and beauty supplies, and more. Anything that will save us time, money, or stress is a big plus.

My husband and I are also very active and love to get the family outdoors, whether at the beach or a cross-country race. So we're interested in sun protection, safety equipment, and outdoor games appropriate for young children.

I'm also interested in doing giveaways, but ask that product be sent to winners directly from the company rather than my home.

I look forward to working with and getting to know you. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at deb[at]spawnocalypse[dot]com.

Coming soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Deb) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:27:00 +0000

Thanks for your ~~curiosity~~ interest! Spawnocalypse Reviews is currently under construction. I'm looking forward to launching it in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, if you have a family-friendly product you'd like added to the lineup, please contact me at deb@spawnocalypse.com.