Zula Patrol is on a mission

Upon unveiling The Zula Patrol DVD, Seth's face lit up. He didn't know that The Zula Patrol , is a cartoon broadcasted on PBS that chronicles the adventures of several silly cartoon characters while educating kids along the way. But he didn't have to. To pique his interest, all Seth had to hear was that this was a kids' show about outer space.

At the age of five, Seth is interested in all things science -- especially outer space. He quickly became interested in the energetic characters and storylines. He loved the zany voices too.

A few days after watching the show, Seth had three kids over (at one time! Gah!) The foursome couldn't agree on an activity so I told them they could watch a bit of a movie. They couldn't agree on what movie to watch until Seth suggested The Zula Patrol and started spouting different facts he'd picked up while watching the episodes.

The kids were mesmerized and each one found the stories amusing. Now when any of the three children come over, they ask to watch that dvd.

Overall, I thought the plot lines were simple and moved at a nice clip. I liked how the information was presented in basic terms without sounding too simplistic. But I have to admit, I couldn't help but roll my eyes when it came to the volcano that was scared to erupt for fear of alienating others. But nonetheless my son was fascinated as to what was happening inside the volcano, underneath the earth's surface. And even days later, Seth was still asking alot of questions about the various layers below the earth. The show got him involved and really thinking -- to me that's the most important aspect.

There's also an amazing website chock full of cool stuff for the kiddos to do. So if your local PBS station isn't airing the show, (ours isn't) you can still introduce your child to the Zula group.

This review was written for Parent Bloggers Network.

Get vocal about your point

See that little button on sidebar for Vocalpoint?

Vocalpoint is a new website where you can get FREE samples as well as coupons for various products. You can also go to the site to pick up all sorts of cool tips, share stories and weigh in on a myriad of topics. And did I mention if you sign up you can get FREE samples on all kinds of cool stuff you use everyday? How awesome is THAT!?!

Click on the Vocalpoint button on the sidebar and take a gander… Or sign up here!

If the shoe fits... With Ryka, it does!

Abbey-dog is my favorite walking/running companion. We’ve logged many a mile together over the years over all sorts of Illinois/Missouri terrain. But I have to admit that I’m not as consistent as Abbeydog would like me to be. There are those times when life gets busy. And then there are those times where you decided to go out for a 5-miler and come home with blisters on your feet — blisters that take about 5 days to heal. And that really cramps poor Abbeydog’s style. (Cause she be workin’ on her fitness, yo!) And its not fun for her two-legged fitness partner either!

So when the Ryka opportunity came up, Abbeydog wasn’t the only one doing happy waggily dances.

What I thought:

The shoes are super cute and super comfy. The design of the shoe (outside) is sporty but girlie. And I loved how snug my feet felt in them. I have a narrow heel and my heels slide around in most tennis/walking/running shoes. But not with these babies! I reveled in the fit. And the arch was just right — no knee or back issues while walking or running. And no blisters either.

But this sort of fit is what Ryka prides itself on. According to their website: “All RYKÄ shoes are made on a woman’s last (the mold or shape of a woman’s foot), and are designed and developed taking into account a women’s unique fit needs - narrower in the heel and wider in the forefoot (it’s not just you, our toes need more room and our heels slip too). Outstanding fit and exceptional comfort consistently place RYKÄ shoes among the highest rated in the industry.”

What Abbeydog thought:

Abbeydog didn’t really care about the design. She was just happy her two-legged fitness counterpart was happy and comfortable. Because even she knows that happy+comfy= MORE WALKIES! And she wants ya’ll to know that she lost two of those 10 pounds she put on last year due to all of the extra walkies. So thanks to Ryka, being an Abbeydog is an even better gig than before.

What other moms thought:

Since these shoes were comfy, I also ended up wearing them everywhere — like to my son’s soccer practice, trips to the grocers, and mall. I’ve never gotten more compliments on a shoe — let alone a sneaker. So I told them about the part where Ryka is giving away 50 shoes a day through the month of October. (A direct link can be found here.)

Interested in trying some on? Here’s a store locator.

This review was written on behalf of Parent Bloggers Network. Check out their site for a list of other reviews.

Child's play -- Kajeet makes cell phones simple

Man may claim the dog to be his best friend. But that man was never a kid with a Kajeet.

The Kajeet is a cellular phone manufactured for today's busy kids. Since the program is pay-as-you-go, parents and kids can manage the account together. The phones, which are being marketed to the preteen set, have text message and photo capability. When you see how sleek and sophisticated the phones look? Even late teens and adults will be drooling over the device!

I couldn’t understand exactly WHY Kajeet was being marketed to the ‘tween segment. I would love to use this phone – I’m in my mid 30’s. So I decided to conduct an experiment. What would a 14-year-old boy think of a Kajeet? I enlisted the help of super sitter/neighbor Daniel.

Daniel is a busy guy. He plays baseball and football. If he’s not at a game or in practice, he’s at school or hanging with friends. His parents were toying with the idea of giving him a phone so they could reach him when necessary. So we gave it a try.

What did Daniel think?

“I think the Kajeet is a good phone for teenager getting their first phone,” he said. “My favorite things about the Kajeets are the look of the phone’s outside and inside (as well as) the camera. It is also very easy to work.”

What did Patty (his mom) think?

“It’s a nice phone for teens. Easy to use so far,” she said. “Pay as you go is a good starter phone for kids. And its nice to be able to reach him when I want too – especially in an emergency. Also, he has access to 911 anytime and we’ve told him this. Its good for safety’s sake.

From the parents’ perspective there’s a lot to love. Talk time anytime, anywhere, is 10 cents a minute. Photo messages are 25 cents a piece and texting is 5 cents per text message (sent or received). There are no activation or cancellation fees. Plus? Parents can choose when the phone can and can't be used. Parents can also add minutes and monitor talk time online.

What did Daniel like the least?

“My least favorite thing about the Kajeet are the ringtones and the backgrounds,” he said. “Also, there are no free minutes.”

His mom agreed, “I wish there were some “free” minutes available maybe on weekends or at night. This would be a good incentive for kids to use the phone at certain times and not use up a lot of minutes."

All in all, Daniel is keeping the phone. And I’m so happy ‘cause Christmas shopping for our super sitter has gotten much easier. (Daniel is SO getting some Kajeet minutes from us this year! How easy is that!)

Protect and respect (your skin)

There’s this supa cool moisturizing lotion out on the market now. And its like none other. Have you heard of Skin MD? If not, listen up.

Skin MD is a shielding lotion. A "shielding lotion is a lotion that forms a protective barrier on the skin and keeps out irritants and chemicals. It also allows the natural oils and moisture to remain in the skin so it can heal better. It is a big advantage that shielding lotions are light and go on without a greasy mess, " says Dr. Brian Zogg, a dermatologist in Albert Lea, MN. featured on the Skin MD Natural's website.

"The artificial moisturizers in conventional creams and lotions can send a signal to the moisture producing parts of your skin that enough moisture is present. Your skin then makes less of the natural moisture needed to resolve a dry skin problem. With a shielding lotion you protect your own natural oils and moisture in the skin, so it heals faster," says Dr. Zogg

The product is milky white, feels very light, and is quickly absorbed by the skin. And the first time I put this stuff on my hands, I was amazed. My hands felt softer and smoother after just one use. It quickly replaced the bottle of lotion I use every night before bed.

But the product is not just for hands. It’s a great facial moisturizer – especially for those people with oily or normal skin (especially since there's no slimey residue left). And it is not just for hands and faces -- Skin MD can be applied to any skin part.

And if you have eczema or psoriasis? You may want to take note. As this may be an answer to your prayers.

The team at Skin MD Natural was kind enough to give me some extra product so I could "share the wealth." Here's what Carrie, a mom of four said... “We have used this lotion quite a bit. We’ve been to the pool a lot this summer. I found it is great for those light pink sunburns. I even packed it with us when we went on our summer vacation."

And for those people with sensitive skin, like my friend Kathy? Have no fears -- the product is very mild. Kathy said, "There are alot of products out there that I can't use. My skin gets very red, itchy and hot. When I found out about this product, I thought I'd only apply it to a small part of my face. Since I didn't have any problems, I applied it to another area. I ended up putting it all over my face. I was amazed. I didn't have any inflammation or stinging. In fact, my skin felt much, much better.

The 4 ounce bottles are $25. And alittle goes a long way -- as this little bottle can last up to two months. To order this product go here. To find out where Skin MD Natural is sold, click here.

Oh and another thing. Skin MD Natural is not testing on animals. Yeay!

Win FREE Kids' DVD's!

The folks at Disney were kind enough to send me some dvd’s recently. I could review or give them away. So I reviewed one and am giving away the other two!

Seth gave a rousing thumbs up to the “Mickey’s Treat”, a new dvd that’s part of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse series. The whole Mikey Mouse cartoon gang make an appearance throughout the three tales that focus on caring, sharing and working together toward a common goal. At the end of the dvd, there’s a special bonus story about the Little Enstein’s Halloween adventure. Plus? There’s a Spooky Clubhouse Cookbook and Creepy Clubhouse Character Stencils which were deemed “cool” by “the boy.

And honestly? Seth happily watched the whole dvd and enjoyed playing along. (So did my mother-in-law who’s staying with us for a few days.) It is a lively dvd (and I like how they “sneak in” some problem solving and counting). Oh and did I mention that it was just released yesterday? So its likely in the movie department of a favorite retail store near you!

The movies up for grabs are the ones pictured. (Princess Enchanted Tales and Little Einsteins Rocket’s Firebird Rescue.) All you have to do to enter for your chance to WIN a FREE DVD is to list your name in the comments and an e-mail address where I can reach you (if you don’t have a blog). Let me know which movie you want (or if you want both). The drawing will be held Friday night!

The Disney folks also sent a few links our way. So check them out!
Extended Clip: http://www.totaleclips.com/player/Splash.aspx?custid=502&clipid=e33756&playerid=2&affiliateid=-1
Trailer: http://www.totaleclips.com/player/Splash.aspx?custid=502&clipid=e33819&playerid=2&affiliateid=-1
Woods: http://www.totaleclips.com/player/Splash.aspx?custid=502&clipid=e33760&playerid=2&affiliateid=-1
Oh and don’t forget this link to some fun activities too! http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/mickeymouseclubhouse/home.html

Del Monte's PR company leaves a bad taste in my mouth

You know you need to eat your fruits and veggies right? Well, Del Monte's got a little something to help you snack healthy. And that little something is called Fruit Naturals.

What did I think of this product? I don't know. Del Monte's communications company sent me ONE measly fruit cup. (It looked like someone bought a fruit cup at a convenience store, shoved it in a box, and shipped it to me. The outside of the fruit cup was even sticky.) My son (who loves fruit cups in general) woofed it down before I could spear one chunk of peach.

When the PR company asked me if I got the sample, I told them that I didn't get to try the ONE sample because my son ate it. The person then mentioned that the PR company was out of samples and the campaign was wrapping up. Uh. Ok. This PR company has probably spent quite a bit of money wooing Del Monte. They can't spent another $2-4 in order to garner some positive publicity for their client? That tells me what they think of bloggers. And Del Monte.

So note to Del Monte... You may want to hire another communications company. This one made you look stingy. I doubt that's the image you were going for.