11/19/15: Lightsaber Crystal Growing Lab Review

Next up in my Holiday Gift Guide is a cool product from Uncle Milton that combines science and Star Wars.  Evan loves both so he was very excited to have fun with this Lightsaber Crystal Growing Lab.  What a cool toy for kids.

There are easy to follow directions to get your crystals started.  You start with boiling water in a measuring cup and add the packet to make a solution that will turn in to crystals.

Evan working on the solution.

Lauren getting a turn.

After the solution is fully mixed you pour it in to the Star Wars display case.

Here is the solution to start.  There is another packet that gets added to this.

This was two days later.

This is after 7 days.  The crystals at the top get removed.  You are supposed to remove them as they grow and not disturb the water.  I just let them stay until the crystals were ready and took them off.  You then pour the water out.

Here is the crystals taken off the top and the crystals inside rinsed off.

Here you can see a view from the top.  You can chose blue for the Jedi.

Or red for the dark side!

What a cool toy.  Here it is as packaged.  The manufacturer's retail price is $19.99.

Disclosure:  I received this Star Wars Science Set for review purposes.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

11/16/15: Bright Eyes Pets Whiskers Review

Next up in my Holiday Gift Guide is a clever, cute and cuddly friend for your child.  These Bright Eyes Pets from Blip Toys react to your child and provide a soft night light when falling asleep.  Lauren loves how soft and cute she is.

The cool thing is that your child can wake her up and put her to sleep.

If you pet her head she wakes up and her eyes light up.  She also laughs by tickling her chin and goes to sleep by petting her back.

Each pet has a favorite phrase, unique sounds, and lucky icon.  Whiskers has a butterfly.  You can see the full collection here including an Owl, Puppy, Elephant, Penguin, Monkey and Tiger.  A bonus is that they include batteries with your pet.

They also have multiple types of play that can be set.  There is an Off setting so that you can just cuddle with your pet without her eyes lighting up or making sounds.  There is also a Play Mode which has more sounds and Try Me Mode which brings the pet to life by covering it's eyes or waving your hand in front of them.  Lauren was having fun playing with her.

Here is Lauren's review and showing how Whiskers works.

Learn more about Bright Eyes Pets online:  https://www.brighteyespets.com/  

They have a Holiday Special right now with Free Shipping until November 25th.

What an awesome gift!

Disclosure:  I was provided with a Bright Eyes Pet for review purposes.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

11/15/15: Silverlit Blu-Bot Robot Giveaway and Review

CONTEST CLOSED:  CONGRATULATIONS DAVE D. FOR WINNING!

Next up in my Holiday Gift Guide is a super cool robot that your kids will love.  This Silverlit Blu-Bot Intelligent Bluetooth Robot is a lot of fun to control.  It has many features including Programmable Movements, Gesture Control, Voice Changer, and Dance Mode.  Read on to learn more and for your chance to win one and get a jump on holiday toy shopping!

This cool robot can be controlled via a Bluetooth device including Android, iPhone 4 and above, iPad, and iPod Touch 4 or above.  If you don't have a Bluetooth device there are also manual controls on the back that you can set the robot in to motion.  I love that it doesn't take loads of batteries.  Just plug it in via USB to your computer and it charges up.  It does have a light indicator to know when you need to charge it.

We downloaded the Silverlit Blu-Bot app and it was easy to use with tutorials right within the app.  Once we had Bluetooth turned on we just had to sync with the Blu-Bot when turned on.  Now we were ready to go.  Lauren was having the most fun with the voice changer.  You can record anything and then play it back modulated in different ways.  She also enjoyed watching the robot dance and programming his movements.

Movements are programmed in the app as a drag and drop functionality which allows you to have the robot go forward, backward, to the right and left.  It also allows you to move his head left and right and change his facial expressions.

Here is some video of the robot in action and Lauren teaching us about how to use it.

Here you can see the manual controls on the back to use without a Bluetooth device.

He can also sense items in his way.  In this case it was our dog Fred and he promptly turned around to avoid him.

Fred was a little confused by this robot.

He does work on hard surfaces or hard packed carpet.  Plush carpet will be difficult for him to move on.

Here he is as packaged.  The Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price is $59.99.  Learn more about the Blu-Bot here:  http://www.silverlit.com/a/product/blu-bot/

What a super cool toy.  Enter below and you can win your own!!!!

Disclosure:  I was provided with the Silvertlit Blu-Bot Robot for review purposes and another Silverlit Blu-Bot for giveaway.  No other compensation was received and all opinion are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

11/15/15: Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales Review

I love Disney and any chance I get to bring the magic to us I take advantage of.  Over the weekend we got to go to Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales at the Tsongas Center.  What a super cute show.

There were many kids dressed up as their favorite princesses or characters.  It was really cute.  The show started out with my favorites Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck.

Looking at their magical book they bring three fairy tales to life.

 The first is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

 Oh no the Wicked Queen!

 There were lots of cool special effects with fog, lighting, and the mirror.

 I love the Seven Dwarfs.  They were so adorable.

 They lived happily ever after.  So happy the Prince found Snow White and woke her.

Next was Cinderella.  This is one of my favorites.  I loved seeing Gus the mouse in this one.  Here is Cinderella with the Fairy God Mother.

 Oh no, the evil step sisters!  They were hysterical and acted just like the characters from the movie.  I loved their dress bouncing up and down in the back as they walked.

 So happy Cinderella made it to the ball.

 Then there was a short intermission before the end of Cinderella's story.  Mickey and his pals came out to tell us it was time to take a break.

 Last but not least was Beauty and the Beast.  This is another one of my favorites.

Gaston is so funny!  I love his acting. 

 Be Our Guest had to be sung before serving Belle her dinner.  The kids loved it and so did I.

 There may be something there that wasn't there before.  The Beast and Belle together.

 After the transformation.  Belle and the Prince.

 A wonderful finale with everyone in their beautiful clothes.

 Even Mickey and Minnie are all fancy.

 What a great show!  Make sure to check it out when it comes to your town.  Full Schedule here:  http://www.disneylive.com/three-classic-fairy-tales

Here is a video trailer.

Disclosure:  I was provided with 4 tickets for my family and tickets for giveaway.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

11/12/15: Playmation Marvel Avengers From Disney Consumer Products

Next up in my Holiday Gift Guide is Playmation Marvel Avengers from Disney Consumer Products.  This super cool toy allows physical play with imagination and fun.  This gaming experience is a unique type of play that I have never seen before.

The Starter Kit comes with a Repulsor and as you play JARVIS teaches you how to use it and how to defeat Ultron.  It took a little getting used to but both kids got the hang of it.  Here is Evan learning how it works.  This Repulsor can be adjusted to fit a variety of sizes including adults.

This Repulsor Gear connects with the Power Activators and Smart Figures so that you can go on adventures through the Marvel Universe.  The Starter Pack has two Power Activators and two Smart Figures including a Super Hero (Captain America) and a Super Villain (Iron Skull), as well as 25 missions.  There is no connection to a gaming system or Internet connection.

I love that the game is a story telling experience where the kids feel like they are part of the action.

This game was dreamed up by a team of technologists, Imagineers and storytellers from across The Walt Disney Company.  You know anytime Imagineers are involved that it is going to be awesome.  

Here you can see the Smart Figures up close.  When they are conquered they literally jump off the platform.

You will need about 12 double A batteries to go in each of the Power Activators and Repulsor.

Evan was having so much fun playing with it.  What a great holiday gift!

The Playmation Marvel's Avengers Starter Pack has a suggested retail price of $119.99 and is available in the United States and Canada at mass and specialty retailers, such as Amazon.com, Best Buy, Game Stop, Target, Toys "R" Us, and Walmart, as well as select Disney Store locations and DisneyStore.com. 

Also available is the AvengersNet app where you can register Avenger Gear to see progress, explore additional locations and characters, and get access to new missions.  Additional connected toys available include: Smart Figures – Iron Man, Black Widow, HULK, M.O.D.O.K., Ultron Bot, and Hulkbuster which help players unlock new storylines and abilities when placed on the Power Activator and connected with Avenger Gear; and the Prowler Bot who can find and hunt your Avenger Gear with 360 degree movement, while taking on dozens of enemy personas and abilities making game play even more challenging. 

Star Wars and Disney Frozen systems are currently in development for 2016 and 2017.  We can't wait for those too!

Here it is as packaged.  Find them online at:  http://www.playmation.com/avengers

Disclosure:  I received the Playmation Marvel Avengers Starter Pack for review purposes.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.