11/1/12: Crayola Digital Light Designer Innovative Toy

When I was at Toy Fair I was introduced to the new Crayola Digital Light Designer.  Since I saw the demo of how it worked I was extremely excited to be able to try it out and include it in my Holiday Gift Guide.  You get to create with colored LEDs!  Crayola has really impressed me lately with all their innovative toys.  

 What we learned is that it came in extremely handy during our recent power outage during Hurricane Sandy.  The kids had a great time drawing on it and animating their designs.  I even had some fun playing with it.

 Evan trying it out.  The kids also learned that you can save your designs.  You can save up to 50 designs!  They loved this.

 There are games too.

 Here is a demo of it from Toy Fair to show what it is capable of.

It truly is an amazing toy and best shown through video.  This picture shows what the display looks like.

Lauren was really enjoying drawing on it.

I love her looks of surprise when it animates and when the games appear.  She got a hang of it pretty quickly and understood how it worked.

She is having a blast.

Here is Lauren showing me how it erases:

Now she is showing her friend how it works.

Here is more about it:

Using the digital light stylus, kids can select colors and line width to begin free-drawing anywhere on the domed surface. They can easily switch between 8 different colors, or erase and start over. Kids can then activate their creations with amazing special effects; making them spin, change colors, melt or even mix up the drawings.  Kids can even put their ideas into motion with two different animation modes; one for simple creations and another for more advanced animated features.  Up to 50 original masterpieces can be stored in the gallery so kids can create, change and replay their creations.

Extending the fun even more, the Digital Light Designer also comes with 8 different interactive games and activity apps.  Kids can spend hours creating or just doodling with Rainbow Draw, magically duplicate their creations with Mirror Draw, create funny animated faces, play interactive mazes and so much more!  There’s even amazing drawings included, so kids can experience jaw-dropping effects right out of the box.  There so many ways for kids to discover the fun of creativity with the Crayola Digital Light Designer. 

I highly recommend this toy for hours of fun.

Find Crayola on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Crayola

You can also follow them on Twitter:  @Crayola

Disclosure:  The Digital Light Designer was provided for review purposes.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

7/24/12: Creativity for Kids - Crafts for Boys and Girls

Contest Closed: Congratulations Missy for winning!
My kids love to do crafts.  We have been doing crafts since they were little so they get really excited every time I bring out the craft box and they get to make something creative.  One of my favorite companies for high quality craft products is Creativity for Kids Faber-Castell.  Read on and you could win one of these great crafts!

One of my favorite things about Creativity for Kids is that they cater to boys with crafts too.  In fact they have a whole Boy Zone on their website.  My son absolutely loves any type of vehicle and I can't tell you how excited he was to receive these Monster Trucks to paint and decorate.

 What little boy wouldn't love these!  This is what the set came with.  This set is only $19.99.

 Evan had such a wonderful time painting these.

 Here is the finished product.

 I was fortunate enough to meet one of the founders of Creativity for Kids when I was at Toy Fair.  I met Phyllis and it was inspiring to hear that she was a Mom just like me who was so busy at work and started this company with Evelyn from the ground up just by seeing a need.  She was so lovely to talk to and showcased all of their products.

We have been creating using these products for a long time.  We had created the Halloween Shrinky Dink Tree craft in 2009 and we put it out every year as a decoration.  Who didn't love Shrinky Dinks as a kid?  Creativity for Kids has a whole new line of items with Shrinky Dinks.  The kids love them.

Here are some of the other wonderful crafts I saw at Toy Fair.

 So many great crafts that turn in to great toys, decorations, or jewelry!

The other item I received was the Pop Art Necklace.

 Here is what is included.  The Bottle Cap looking pieces are made of plastic and totally safe for kids to create with.  The kids loved them.

 Lauren had such a wonderful time creating her necklaces.  You can also create bracelets and key chains.

 Here is a closer view of the bottle cap with the pop piece over it.

 Lauren stringing her beads.  With these you can either color in one of the inserts or use one that is already colored.  You could also put a picture in or anything you create on your own.

Of course Evan wanted to make necklaces too.

 Here they both are with their 3 creations.

Feel free to Like them on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/CreativityforKids

Follow them on Twitter here:  @Creativity4Kids

Here is how to enter to Win either the Monster Truck Craft or Pop Necklace Craft

1 entry for each item:

Mandatory Entry:

- Tell me what your kids favorite craft to do is.  (comment section at the bottom). Note if you are logging in anonymously please include your email so I can contact you.  Make sure you see comment posted.

Additional Entries Optional:

- Like Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog on Facebook and then comment here that you did.
- Like Creativity for Kids on Facebook and then comment here that you did.

- Subscribe to Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog (and verify the subscription to be valid) and leave a separate comment that you did.

- Share this link on your Facebook page and leave a comment here stating you did.

- Follow me on Twitter @galiberti If you already follow me, just leave a comment here that you are a Follower.
- Follow  @Creativity4Kids  on Twitter.  Then leave a comment here that you followed them.

- Tweet this Giveaway (you can do this daily): #Win a Monster Truck or Pop Necklace craft from @Creativity4Kids and @galiberti http://bit.ly/QieSI7 #Giveaway 

- Subscribe via Google Friend Connect to Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog (on the Right hand side) and leave a comment that you did.Contest closes Friday, August 10th, 2012.  US residents only.
- Already a subscriber (thank you) then leave a comment stating you are. 

Winner will be chosen by Random.org.

Disclosure:  I received the Monster Truck and Pop Necklace crafts from Creativity for Kids Faber-Castell for review.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. 

6/23/12: Monopoly zAPPed from Hasbro - Have a Family Game Night

I must admit one of my favorite board games as a kid was Monopoly.  I loved playing it.  In today's technology age it seems kids don't play board games any more, however with this new generation of games I see kids being more interested.  I mentioned earlier in my post on Hasbro that they have come out with new zAPPed Board Games. The Game of Life, Monopoly, and Battleship all got zAPPed. Notice the APP. Hasbro is kicking off a new era of gaming with this unique gaming experience to combine face to face board games with new innovation.  I recently received Monopoly zAPPed and the kids couldn't wait to play.

The game can be used with an iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone.  We used it with my iPhone.  The first step is to download the free Monopoly zAPPed game app from the App Store for free.  The App steps you through all setup and allows you to assign each player a bank card.  Here is Evan tapping his card to assign it to himself.

And here is Lauren assigning her card in the App to herself. 

It still has all the same play pieces you love and remember - the Dog, the Shoe, the Car, etc.  You can also assign your play piece to yourself in the App with you name and assign the corner of the board you are playing from.  To start the game you spin the wheel on the device and it shows who will start the game.  Each roll of the dice brings you to a property you can buy or buy in auction or pay someone if they own it.  Electronically everything is captured on your device tracking everything you spend and get paid so there is no paper money.  There is also Chance and Community Chest spots that now allow you to play mini-games on the App to win more money.  You can even play a mini-game on the device to avoid paying the $50 fine when you go to Jail.

There are still houses and hotels that you can put on properties and it really is the same game you know and love just updated.  Here it is as packaged and has a suggested retail price of $29.99 

I love how it shows the winner at the end with how much money each of you have and the picture of the game piece you have chosen.  I really think kids will respond to this game.  Although it says ages 8 and up my 5 and 7 year old had no problem playing.  I really enjoyed playing it too as it brought me back to my childhood playing Monopoly with my Mom and friends.   

Here is the Game of Life and Monopoly at Toy Fair.

So go ahead have a Family Game Night!

Check out Hasbro Family Game Night on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/familygamenight

Follow Hasbro Family Game Night on Twitter: @FamilyGameNight

Disclosure: I received Monopoly zAPPed for review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

5/13/12: Crayola Glow Sand Ball Review

Crayola is really coming out with some cool new products!  We got to try the Glow Sand Ball.  This is a cool toy to play with at night which can be played with in two ways.  You can either use it as a ball to toss around when it is closed or open the release area and roll the ball and watch the sand spill out as it rolls.

 This is how it all starts.  You open the sand and activator packet and pour it in to the ball with the provided funnel.

 Evan having fun tossing it around.  Evan was enjoying throwing the ball back and forth with Dad and then using it as a basketball and trying to shoot it in the basket.  It will glow for up to 4 hours of fun.

 Then we opened the release chamber and it was so cool to see the glowing dust all over the driveway.  My camera doesn't capture it well but it did look super cool.

 This is how it looks as packaged.  At only $4.99 this is a pretty cool toy.

 It has three packets of color.  We did Blue, but there is also Yellow and Orange.

And the Orange.

Find Crayola on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Crayola and get creating!

You can also follow them on Twitter: @Crayola

Disclosure: These products were received for review purposes. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

5/2/12: Littlest Pet Shop Walkables

Who doesn't love Littlest Pet Shop toys?  They are so adorable.  Plus now they walk with the new Littlest Pet Shop Walkables!  I saw these first at Toy Fair in New York and thought they were so cute.  There is a Cat, Seal, Bee, Bunny, Elephant, Octopus and so much more! 

 We were already fans of Littlest Pet Shop but the walkables are so cool.  We received the fish.  Isn't he pretty?  Just push a button on him and watch him go.  You can go here on the Hasbro website and check them out in action.

 Lauren enjoyed watching him go.  Plus at under $8.00 what a great little gift.

 Lauren figuring it out.  She really enjoyed playing with it.  I don't have it pictured but our dog liked it too.

 Go fishy, go!

 Here it is as packaged.

I have to say I think the elephant is my favorite.  Look at how cute he is!

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

4/22/12: Dizzy Dancer Giveaway and Review

CONTEST CLOSED:  Congratulations Rhonda for winning!
Have you heard of FurReal Friends Dizzy Dancers from Hasbro yet?  My kids have and they love playing with them.  Read on and you can win one!

I got to see these for the first time at Toy Fair at the Hasbro Mr. Potato Head Party.

We have the Twirlicious Collection RozPawz Pet:

The idea is simple.  Put the Dizzy Cord in, pull it out, and watch them spin.

Here is Evan trying it out.  Please note he is wearing an Angels hat because that is the baseball team he is on.  We are really Red Sox fans.

 Lauren spinning hers.

Here is some video of Lauren showing us how it works.  I love when she says "Watch and learn".

They love seeing where they can make her spin.  Here she is on top of a marker.

We also have PeneloPaw.  See her spinning on the kitchen table in our doll house.

Even on top of the coasters.

And on a car.

Here is a very short video of this:

And spinning together.

Here is how to enter to Win a Dizzy Dancer of your very own!

1 entry for each item:

Mandatory Entry:

- Tell me which Dizzy Dancer you like best on the Hasbro Website.  (comment section at the bottom). Note if you are logging in anonymously please include your email so I can contact you.  Make sure you see comment posted.

Additional Entries Optional:

- Like Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog on Facebook and then comment here that you did.

- Like Hasbro on Facebook and then comment here that you did.

- Subscribe to Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog (and verify the subscription to be valid) and leave a separate comment that you did.

- Subscribe via Google Friend Connect to Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog (on the Right hand side) and leave a comment that you did.

- Already a subscriber (thank you) then leave a comment stating you are.

- Share this link on your Facebook page and leave a comment here stating you did.

- Follow me on Twitter @galiberti If you already follow me, just leave a comment here that you are a Follower.

- Follow @HasbroNews on Twitter and leave a comment here that you are a Follower.

- Tweet this Giveaway (you can do this daily): #Win a Dizzy Dancer from @galiberti http://bit.ly/JrFm5u @HasbroNews #Giveaway

Contest closes Saturday, May 12th, 2012.  US residents only. 

Winner will be chosen by Random.org.

Disclosure:  I received these Dizzy Dancers for review purposes.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.