Make it, Gift it, Drink it: Cranberry-Orange Vodka {Recipe}

Food Fridays:

For several years our office tradition was we had a $10 limit and all the items had to be homemade. So I spent several years making things like truffles, pasta and alcoholic beverages like Gluhwein and Cranberry-Orange Infused Vodka. So today I’m sharing the recipe for one of the gifts I’ve actually been told was pretty good and makes great cosmos!

Cranberry–Orange Infused Vodka

1 cup cranberries

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons water

1 piece fresh orange peel

3 cups vodka

Directions

In a saucepan, heat cranberries, sugar, and water until the sugar dissolves, the liquid begins to turn a light-pink color, and the cranberries just begin to pop. Pour it into a large glass jar; stir in peel and vodka. Cover, and let stand at room temperature at least 3 days or up to one month. Strain before serving.

To give, I used pretty leftover tequila bottles, soaked off the labels and then attached a pretty tag like this one from Martha Stewart.

MamaChallenge's 7 Tips for the Perfect Experience at ICE! at the Gaylord Texan

DISCLAIMER:

I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

Recently, my official family event reviewer (my four-year-old son) and I took a much needed mother-son adventure to travel to the Christmas Capital of the World, Grapevine, Texas for the opening of ICE! at the Gaylord Texan. (Oh, the things we do for prosperity!) Since it was our first experience, we thought we'd give you some tips on how you can have your best first experience at ICE! based on our lessons learned. 

TIP #1: Bring Your Hats and Mittens with You to ICE! 

While they have jackets for you to wear to stay warm in the exhibit, there are no pockets and your little hands and ears are going to be very cold. However, take those Texas temps into consideration and dress in layers so you don't sweat on your way there.

During Christmastime, there's nothing like driving through Main Street in Grapevine to put you in the Christmas mood with all the decorated store fronts up and down the street. (And the North Pole Express is an absolute must, but that's another day trip!) 

TIP #2: Make Time to Enjoy Yourself. 

We gave ourselves the afternoon to enjoy the whole experience to the Gaylord, so we took our time driving, talking about the holidays, the exhibit and everything else holiday at the Gaylord Texan. We spent around 3-4 hours for our excursion. 

Pulling up to the entrance to the Gaylord Texan you can see that they are all about the Christmas details...even before you past the gates. My son was already so excited at this point I wasn't sure he was going to be able to contain himself. 

TIP #3: Parking may be an issue if you are bringing lots of little ones or the stroller. 

If you follow the signs to "ICE Parking" you will be sent to the other side of the hotel to park. There is some Convention Center parking, but it's hard to score. My suggestion, which is what I didn't do, VALET if you can. It will cut your walking time in half. However, remember, your parking cost (a $17 value) is included with your ticket to ICE! 

Here we are with the "big blue jackets" and ready to enter the freezing temperatures of ICE! (FYI, the tent that houses the 2 million pounds of ice is kept at around 12-25 degrees, so get ready for the chill.)

TIP #4: You can take photos at ICE!

However, your camera may react different to the temperatures so take that into consideration. But take into consideration, there are several people going through the exhibit as well and sometime trying to get that perfect picture can back up traffic. Note: if you don't want to deal with photos, you can have your photos taken and purchased at the end of the exhibit. 

The first room you get to includes this great welcome from the sponsors. 

Can you believe these colors are made just using highly concentrated
FOOD COLORING!

In the center of ICE!, you'll find an amazing ice slide just for the little ones. This was perfectly timed and so much fun for a photo moment! 

While the exhibit has some fun and colorful scenes for the kids, I simply loved this Nativity scene. It was absolutely beautiful and certainly made you remember the reason for the season. 

Once you've ended the ICE! part of the fun, you can take off your jacket and enjoy a perfect moment for hot chocolate and a sweet snack. We opted for two gingerbread cake balls and cocoa, but these Madagascar-themed chocolate rice crispy treats were a hot item. 

TIP #5: Allocate a little extra cash in the budget for this little pit stop. 

Just think of it like that mandatory food stop you make at Six Flags. Don't think about the cost; just pay for it and take a little moment to appreciate your family and the holidays.

While the exhibit was fun, the Kung Fu Panda Awesome SNOW Tubing was the ultimate experience for us. And best of all, we could do it together with family tubes (how else do you think I got this shot!) While this is a separate ticket than ICE! you cannot NOT do this. It's just too mean to do that and too much fun. And best of all, you get to do it like 10 times with your ticket so it's worth it.

TIP #6: You Need a Little Muscle. 
While there is help to put you on the slide, you are in charge of carrying your tube to the top of the slide. The double tube was rather heavy and cumbersome to carry, so it's not for the faint of heart. When we switch to just having my son ride with a small tube, he could hold it, but it was a chore. Basically, there's not much to say here except be prepared and you might have to do some hauling. 

A trip to the Gaylord's Gingerbread House/Candy Store was a great way to end our adventure. We grabbed some fun holiday candy for the rest of our family and then ventured on our way home. ICE! was a great way to kick off the holidays!

TIP #7: Enjoy Yourself. It's Christmas! 
Of course there's a whole lot more to do at the Gaylord Texan during the holidays, so make sure you look at all the other fun activities like Gingerbread House Making and more!

ICE! featuring DreamWorks' Merry Madagascar at the Gaylord Texan
Now until Jan. 1, 2013
Sunday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. 
Prices vary for peak and non-peak hours
Adults, $21.95 - $26.95, Seniors, $19.95 - $23.95, Children 3 and under, free
Snowtubing, which includes 10 runs, is extra. Self-parking is included in your ticket.
Gaylord Texan Hotel 
1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, Texas 76051
817-778-2000
Website

Get Dolled Up: Four Dolls Your Girl Must Have for the Holidays

Wow Mom Wednesdays:

An Oldie (with a Twist): Cabbage Patch Kids BABIES

I can remember it like it was yesterday. Lillian Felicia was the name of my first Cabbage Patch Kid. She had brown hair and eyes just like me and I was the proudest little 6-year-old girl in the world when I opened her up that Christmas. Now I get to share the same experience with my baby girl. The Cabbage Patch Kids line has expanded its adoptions to include Cabbage Patch Kids Babies. With six different fashion styles in a large variety of hair and eye colors, silky hair and removable fashions, little mommies will love caring for their newly adopted Babies. Maintaining high standards of quality, each Cabbage Patch Baby comes in his or her own pajamas or onesie outfit, matching blanket and special CPK cabbage leaf, bottle and pacifier.  Also includes a birth certificate with one-of-a-kind-name, birth date and adoption papers (which online purchase on CPK allows you to change your baby’s name.)

Additionally, now until Dec. 31, each baby comes with a FREE Shutterfly 8x8 hardcover Photo Book (a $29.99 value) with the purchase of any specially-marked Cabbage Patch Kids product.  You can also enter the Cabbage Patch Kids® One-of-a-Kind Kid Photo contest by uploading a favorite photo of their child with or without their Cabbage Patch Kid at http://www.cabbagepatchkids.com/Shutterfly.  One lucky child will be featured on a future Cabbage Patch Kids doll package plus many other prizes will be awarded including Cabbage Patch Kids and Shutterfly gift cards.

Cabbage Patch Kids Babies

Ages 2-5

Starting at $24.99 at CabbagePatchKids.com, ToysRUsand Target

A Newbie: Positively Perfect Dolls

While Cabbage Patch Kids were made with several options to look like your child, there aren’t many other options available for multicultural children – until now. Designed by mom and former professor Dr. Lisa Williams, Positively Perfect Dolls are a new line of dolls created to give girls of African-American, Hispanic and Asian ethnicities a doll that that encourages dreams, promotes intelligence, challenges perceptions, and open their hearts to all types of beauty.

Each doll is made with specific details in both her look and story. For example:

Marvelous Maria is the athlete of the group, and she can jump high and run fast. She plays soccer and basketball, and beats most boys in school sports. She eats healthy food and encourages her best friends Dayna and Brianna to do the same.

•          14" long doll has amber skin tone
•          Gorgeous brown eyes
•          Soft, cuddly body that is ideal for hugging
•          Comes clothed in a pretty pink and blue trimmed dress with silvery earrings
•          Hair can be styled, washed, air-dried and styled again and again 

Positively Perfect Dolls

Ages 3 and up

Starting at $12 at Walmartand soon to ToysRUs, Target, Kmart, Sears, Overstock, HSN

The Big One: American Girl's Caroline

The doll of all dolls, American Girl has written the book on dolls, accessories and experiential marketing. While I thought I was able to hold off before stepping into the world of American Girl, my daughter received her first Bitty Baby doll as a gift for her first birthday, so I’m already in deep as I’m already waiting for our first matching outfits for her and her doll. And let’s not even talk about our first trip to the American Girl Bistro for lunch with the girls…

Celebrating the potential of girls ages 3 to 12, American Girl encourages girls to dream, to grow, to aspire, to create, and to imagine through a wide range of engaging and insightful books, age-appropriate and educational products, and unforgettable experiences. And those experiences are what dreams are made of with salon visits, photos and even spend the night packages just for our doll at the Westin Galleria and that’s just for starters.

While there are other dolls for sale, this year’s doll, Caroline, is a must-buy for Holiday 2012 with Caroline.  She opens up a whole world of imaginative play and comes with authentic styles from 1812 with a soft pink empire-waist dress with a woven floral sash and ruffle trim, details common in her era, lacy pantalettes and ribbed-knit stockings to keep her proper and even cute little pink shoes to match. Each doll ncludes the Meet Caroline paperback book, the first story of this brave, adventurous girl.

American Girl Caroline

Ages 8 and up

$105 at AmericanGirl.com

The Little (and lovely) One: Once Upon a TreeHouse Dolls

While American Girl dolls have endless opportunities for accessories from head to toe, Once Upon a TreeHouse goes back to the basics with Waldorf doll style, heirloom quality pieces utilizing century-old woodworking techniques from Germany’s oldest doll maker. Each doll is handmade with a special story and unique look so that no one doll is the same.

Once Upon a TreeHouse creates handmade toys and interactive ideas for parents and grandparents in efforts to provide enriching experiences with their children and grandchildren. Developed by a mom/sister team, Once Upon a TreeHouse was born to fill the gap between inferior plastic and antiquated dolls and dollhouse toys they felt were typically found in the market today. Offering a range of eco-friendly, high-end custom dollhouse products, the company uses natural materials like wood, cotton and wool, safe paints and stains, and for the dolls’ clothes only Velcro closures are used, so no buttons or tying is required. And for every doll Once Upon a TreeHouse sells, they give a doll to a child in need.

Once Upon a TreeHouse

Ages 3 and up

Starting at $22 available at OnceUponaTreeHouse.com

DISCLAIMER:

I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

Stuff his Stocking with this Man Must-Have: The iGrill for IPhone and IPad

Tech Tuesdays:

As Texas residents there is a requirement that you own a grill. It’s like an extension of your kitchen and like many things also in Texas – the bigger the better. Thankfully, temperatures here allow you to cook outside ‘round the year except when Mother Nature throws you a loop about half-way through the grilling process.

I know from my own experience that there have been many times I’ve had the “perfect meal” ready to go…I just needed to cook the steaks. Unfortunately, you either have to stay and babysit the steaks OR put them on the grill, walk-away just for a second and then SOMETHING always makes you forget and you end up having some really well-done steaks. It’s like I just need a little steak cook for about 20 minutes to watch the meat and then tell me when they’re done…

And then there was iGrill. Your IPhone/IPad already does everything else. It’s already your phone, computer, assistant, baby camera/monitor (yes, I have that app), and everything else…well now you can add cook to its long-list of reasons you’ll never be able to go to another smart device. Created by iDevices, the iGrill is a wireless cooking thermometer that you plug into your meat and it alerts you on your device when the meat gets to the right temperature. Almost seems like cheating, right?

Whether you’re grilling, smoking or indoor cooking, the iGrill wants to be your new cooking assistant. Using two included probes, the iGrill device measures the temperature and using the free app on your IPhone, alerts you when you should come and check out your meat. Bottom line: You can stay inside, watch TV and then come out and take the meat out when it’s done. The app even provides you links to recipes from Jennie-O as well as a guide to making the perfect steak and even deboning a fish.

While I would say this baby is perfect for a man gift this Christmas, I can only imagine how my first turkey would have actually turned out if my IPhone would had woke me up from my accidental slumber rather than to wake up two hours later with a huge, burned bird. I think the iGrill might be the way to save many meals in the future…it’s wireless cooking at your fingertips.

iGrill

Starting at $79

Available at iGrill.com, Brookstone, and Apple

DISCLAIMER:

I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

Show 'em What You Got with a Hot Mama Apron

Me Mondays:

After several days of cooking, cleaning, repeat, I'm reminded of some of the not-so-fabulous parts of being a mom at the holidays. While thankfully the pros definitely outweigh the cons, I'll admit, moms make a lot of the holiday magic happen. From decorating the house, wrapping the gifts, creating the holiday meal and my personal favorite, cleaning the house. (tsk, tsk.) 

And that, as well as having several little dirty hands and faces around my house, is the reason I now love aprons. They solve so many issues and let's face it, they can dress up your yoga pant ensemble in a whole new way. No longer does your look say, "mom that can't fit in her jeans," but says "mom that's trying to create delicious meals and a clean house" (you notice I used "trying," right?) I strive for the later one everyday. 

Over the last few years I've collected a few aprons, some that will never been used like the signed ones I cherish from Ted Allen and Paula Deen. Then there are the ones that are so cute, I reserve them for only AFTER I've made the mess to look cute when other people enter the room (or that moment when Food Network comes to my house to start filming my first cooking show.) Other aprons I have are so ugly, they should never see the light of day, so while I don't mind getting them dirty and greasy, I just should let them go. Really. 

Then I was introduced to the flirty and functional aprons from Hot Mama Aprons. (How apropos for me in so many ways, tee-hee!) These locally made aprons created by Dallas mom, Jennifer Carr, were the product of a mom suffering from the same predicament; she was trying to find something that was cute to wear, but she didn't mind wiping her hands on...so she actually sewed the hand towel right into the apron. (Why didn't I think of that, right?) 

Kinda amazing, I think. And apparently, Paula Deen, the gals at Southern Living and many others thought the same thing, so her designs received lots of press. And when Paula and Southern Living says "two thumbs up", you know that you must have done something good. 

And just like a good Southern woman should have, Hot Mama Aprons even have a holiday design, so you can look your very best even when you might be doing some dirty work. At least you'll look good. And with a long holiday season in store, you might just have to buy two (especially since it's free shipping for a limited time!)

Now go be the hostess with the mostess (or at least look like it.) 

Stuff the Stocking with I See Me Personalized Books

Sharing Saturdays:

Just as important as the gifts under the tree are the gifts in the stocking. Working to find the right things that are fun and perfectly priced, this is traditionally where a small trinkets like Matchbox cars, Thomas accessories and holiday candy and of course, dog bones for Birddie, the family dog. Now with a little girl in the mix, I’ve got to expand my ideas of what goes into the cute stockings on the mantle, while also being “even” so the older one doesn’t think the younger one is getting anything cooler than he has.

Enter one of my favorite stocking stuffer finds this year: customized books. I See Me! personalized children’s books are a great way to spark a child’s imagination this holiday season. With every book, the child’s name and other personal details are inserted into stories that can help teach learning lessons like how to be a big sister/brother, the importance of a name, and most appropriately for now: the story of Christmas and Hannukah. Each of the books selected for both children included a great story, beautiful illustrations and will also make them feel special since every page including something specific just for them.

While I opted for color activity book options for both children, you can also choose for beautiful hardbound/board book editions for a little longer shelf time. And with a starting price of $9.99, these personalized books are affordable, memorable and educational all at the same time – making them an idea stocking stuffer. If my recommendation is enough, see what the Today Show, People and DailyCandy had to say about I See Me! Books.

I See Me!

Personalized Books

$9.95 - $39.95

http://www.iseeme.com

DISCLAIMER:

I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

Sweeten Up Your Holidays with FnG Eats' Carrot Cake French Toast {Recipe}

Food Fridays: 

Thanksgiving has turned into a main course of shopping with a side of grub. However, as much as I love to shop on this day, I choose to concentrate on the best part of Turkey Day – the food. So this weekend while you’re out and about, I suggest you take a little trip over to Tarrant County to a perfectly place for tasty treats at Sugar and Frosting and delicious comfort food from FnG Eats in Keller, Texas.

FnG Eats, which opened in August, is Keller's newest dining destination for locally sourced upscale-comfort food. Using fresh food offerings from the Keller Farmers Market, the FnG menu brings together a blend of creativity, inspiration and skill to create exciting dishes based on homestyle favorites as well as new innovative offerings. Everything from its small plates, entrees, desserts and even its cocktail menu are developed to be a culinary experience. And best of all, every dish is served with a big helping of hometown hospitality.

This Food Friday, to celebrate the launch of FnG Eats’ new brunch which begins this Saturday on 11/24/2012, I’m sharing a recipe from Chef Bob Stephenson for his Sweet Memories Carrot Cake French Toast. Doesn’t that sound delicious and just perfect for the holidays? And if you don’t have carrot cake, you can easily use banana or zucchini bread to make your own brunch bread.

Carrot Cake French Toast with Maple Cream Cheese Sauce

2                      Eggs
1/2 cup             Milk
1/4 tspn            Sea Salt
4 to 6                Slices Day old Carrot Cake

Pinch of Cinnamon and nutmeg per each side of the cake. Whip eggs, milk and salt in a large mixing bowl.  Dredge Carrot Cake in the liquid until lightly soaked. In a preheated skillet with butter, carefully lay each slice of soaked carrot cake in the skillet.  Brown and carefully flip over the carrot cake.  Brown the second side.  Remove from the skillet and serve immediately with Maple Cream Cheese Sauce and Fresh Fruit.

Cream Cheese Maple Syrup

To tie Carrot Cake to French Toast, you combine the toppings for both!
2 cups              Cream Cheese, softened at room temperature
1 cup               Natural Maple Syrup
1/4 tspn           Ground Chipotle Powder (optional)

1/8 tspn           Sea Salt

Combine all ingredients in a small mixer and blend until smooth. If you want a little twisted kick, add the chipotle powder to give a little kick to your sweetness.

And just in case you looking for something else to love, how about Macadamia Chicken & Stringer's Waffles with Fried Plantains, Sweet Potato Hash with homemade chorizo, Pepper Bacon Biscuits and Chili Gravy, or the one that’s got me watering, “The Bowl” with OC greens, mushrooms and gruyere.

With a menu like that, it's worth the drive. 

Weekend Brunch at FnG Eats begins 11/24/2012

201 Town Center Suite 1101

Keller, Texas 76248

http://www.fngeats.com

This post also appeared in on DallasFoodNerd.com.

Disclaimer: I proudly represent FnG Eats professionally to market and promote their concept.  However, this post and the contents within it are all my own. 

Thanksgiving: Did You Know?

To NOT Do Thursdays:

It's Thanksgiving, so that's the to do this Thursday (and of course, online shop!) 

So today I'm thankful to Caloriecount.com for this great set of stats about Turkey Day, so I can enjoy mine. (Now do yourself a favor and wait to read these AFTER you eat.)

Thank you so much for following mamachallenge.com!

Now go spend some time just not doing anything...(now that's a challenge!)

Get Innovative this Holiday with the Innotab 2s – Toy Pick 2012

Wow Mom! Wednesdays - Holiday Edition:

I admit: my four-year old can operate my IPad better than I can. 

Unfortunately, while letting him use my device at first allowed me to get through a nice dinner out to eat or a long wait at the doctor’s office, it has now become an issue. I mean I have to ask my son when I can use the IPad… Not to mention me always reminding him not to have his drinks or snacks around it or his sister coming by and knocking it off the table. So something had to happen. And getting him an IPad was not the option, so mom had to get innovative…That’s the InnoTab2s!

Toy Features

• Pre-loaded with FREE onboard activities including one tilt sensor game, one augmented reality game, one e-book, art studio app, notes app, friends list, calendar and calculator to get started. (Sounds like your first smartphone, right?)
• Hundreds of apps for download: Kids can engage with their favorite licensed characters by downloading one of more than 200 apps*, including games, e-books and more that teach kids reading, logic and creativity; visit VTech's Learning Lodge Navigator for more information
• With 2GB onboard memory and expandable SD card slot available to accommodate SD cards up to 32GB, the InnoTab2 keeps your child engaged
• *NEW* Rotatable camera for memory capture: Features a new rotatable digital camera and video recorder that allows kids to capture memories of themselves or their friends
• Customizable: Enables kids (up to four users) to personalize the InnoTab 2 by creating their own user name and avatar, a voice greeting, typed greeting and photo wallpaper
• And what makes the InnoTab 2s more special than the Innotab2? The InnoTab 2s Learning App Tablet with secure Wi-Fi contains all the product features of the InnoTab 2, plus a secure wireless connection to VTech's Learning Lodge Navigator for easy and secure downloading of games, e-books, music and more.  (Yep, now you don’t have to plug it up to your computer to get an update or a new app!)

Overall: Get your IPad back and rest assured that the content your kiddo is looking at is education and entertaining, but always approved by you. And at less than $100, than the InnoTab 2/2s is way cheaper than Ipad and much more durable too!)

InnoTab 2 and 2s from VTech

Designed for 3-9 years old boys and girls (comes in blue and pink)

Depending on the model, it’ available for around $69.99 -$99.99 at Target, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and other major retailers, and online at www.vtechkids.com and www.amazon.com.

DISCLAIMER:

I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

Don't Leap for Leapster, Go for MobiGo2: Toy Pick 2012

Wow Mom! Wednesdays - Holiday Edition:

IPad. Nintendo DS. Leapster. Leapster Explorer. MobiGo.

Yes. There are a lot of handheld gaming devices out there. And for a mom just stepping out of todd’s time with simple toys that made sounds and had lights, I’m now having to consider what can teach my kid along with what cartridges go with what. And after much research and testing (my four-year old really had to take one for the team), the new VTech MobiGo 2 is one of the best options around - especially for the preschool/early elementary set.

The new MobiGo 2 is a educational handheld system that allows kids to enjoy on-the-go play and hone their creativity all while learning basic skills such as math, vocabulary, spelling, reading, logic, drawing and more.  Of course, like all the others you can buy several of your kid’s favorite characters and shows like Thomas the Tank Engine, Jack and the Neverland Pirates, and Disney Princesses to play in addition to the fun already installed programs.

Sound like a lot like a Leapster? In some ways they do the same things and even look a lot alike. If you really want to take compare them, you can see the side-by-side. The price of all the accessories will stand out most of all, as well as, the upgraded MobiGo system’s features – the photo viewing! This baby allows you to import your own photos, tag your photos, create mic-activated fun photo effects and set photos as wallpaper. However, there is a lot more cool stuff where that came from.

Toy Features

• Two NEW ways to play: MobiGo 2 comes equipped with a NEW motion sensor and microphone in addition to the touchscreen:
• The NEW motion sensor provides total game control, allowing kids to create action movements within games and programs while playing
• The NEW microphone provides different methods of game play. Blow into the microphone to move objects, blow off dust, or initiate other special effects. Or speak into it to give a command or trigger an action 
• QWERTY keyboard helps kids become familiar with a keyboard layout
• Pre-loaded with FREE games: MobiGo 2 also functions as an e-reader, photo album, photo viewer and art studio and coloring book, and comes pre-loaded with three great games that take advantage of the product’s many features
• Numerous apps for download: The expanded onboard memory allows kids to store more fun. More than 80 other apps are available for download at the VTech Learning Lodge Navigator™ at www.VTechKids.com/Download.  

Overall: The VTech MobiGo 2 allows you to combine that durable first camera, teaching assistant and your kid’s game device into one product for a reasonable price.

MobiGo 2 from Vtech

Designed for 3-8 years old boys and girls (comes in multicolor and pink)

Available for around $59.99 at Target, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and other major retailers, and online at www.vtechkids.com and www.amazon.com.

DISCLAIMER:

I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")

Get Ready to Robot with Cogsley - Toy Pick 2012

Wow Mom! Wednesdays - Holiday Edition:

When I was growing up, my coolest toys were my Peaches N' Creme Barbie, My Little Pony, Rainbow Brite and Teddy Ruxpin. At the time Teddy was the coolest thing in the world because his eyes and mouth moved while his onboard cassette played so it “seem” like he was talking. 

Thanks Wikipedia for the childhood throwback.

Hey, it was cool for 1985.

Fast forward to 2012 and your cool, interactive toy is no longer a furry bear that looks like a character from Showbiz Pizza, but a robot that can dance, sing and even teach your kid Chinese. Let me introduce you to Cogsley from VTech. 

Teddy doesn't hold a candle to Cogsley.

Toy's Features:

• Cogsley comes with a set of 30 chips that create movements, sounds, and images and animations on the LCD display. The chips help Cogsley teach children skills including letters, counting, words, manners and even basic phrases in Spanish, French, Chinese and German. (Thank goodness he even comes with a storage backpack to carry his chips, so when you have a little ones you can try to keep up with them!)
• Cogsley also sings, dances and exercises with music and songs.
• He has five interactive body movements including twistable ears and a spinning nose and eyes, to help enhance children’s motor skills.
• He even has a sound detector so that if the robot “hears” a clap, sing or shout, the robot will respond with a variety of expressions and movements.

Overall: This is a great starter technology toy that’s fun and educational before your kids enter the world of Nintendo, PlayStation and Apple.

Cogsley from Vtech

Designed for 3-6 years old boys and girls (while it’s perfect for a 3 year-old, 6 year-olds might be a little less excited.)

Available for around $39.99 at Target, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and other major retailers, and online at www.vtechkids.com and www.amazon.com.

DISCLAIMER:

I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC's 16 CFR Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.")