Category: reviews

November 21, 2014

RealPad: The Tablet for All Ages #review

How many people do you know that have struggled to learn how to use a tablet? Your parents perhaps? Or maybe even yourself – I know my children can navigate a tablet much better than I ever will be able to!

A tablet is the perfect alternative to a traditional desk top computer – you can take it outside with you in the backyard or even out on the porch with your morning coffee or tea. Tablets allow us to keep in contact with our loved ones as well as follow major world events. But what happens when you can’t figure out the technology? The screen and icons are too small? Perhaps it is just too difficult to set up.

While this may not seem possible in our technologically advanced times unfortunately for many people it is. My Mom is included in this group – she has let her own tablet sit and go unused because it is just too difficult for her to figure out how to use. It is awful for her not to be able to use it but also a missed opportunity for her to be in contact with her grandchildren from home via video calls, emails and social media sites.

The RealPad from AARP has been designed to be user friendly for the 70 million Americans who are 50+ who have yet to embrace tablet technology (yup – 70 million!).

RealPad comes pre-loaded with useful apps and educational videos on how to use the tablet (no need to fumble through a user guide that is difficult to follow – just watch the video!). An extremely helpful toolbar at the bottom helps you locate the information you need quickly – especially when something goes wrong. I literally opened the box the tablet came in, charged the tablet, pressed the on button and I was ready to go. I could easily connect my email, facebook and twitter accounts. Navigation is simple with only one button to exit the screen. The icons were large, easy to recognize and navigate my way through.

Easy to read labels on the back identified USB source, power source and headphone connections. Connecting to our home Wifi network took under five minutes – most of my trouble with that was trying to remember my password!

Curious to know more about the specifications of RealPad?

Intel 2.1 GHz Duel Core Processor
16 GB of storage
7.85″ HD display (1024×768 resolution)
5 mega pixel rear camera to take stunning HD photos and videos as well as a 2.0 mega pixel front camera
24/7 live help (yes you heard that right – LIVE help!)
RealPad comes pre-loaded with 20 step by step videos
Android 4.4 operating system
RealPad has a total weight of 14 ounces

The real bonus came when I let my children test it out as well. Both of my boys are pretty advanced with technology (they definitely did not get it from me!) and they fell in love with RealPad. It was easy for them to use, they loved the entertainment section as well as the ability to pair it with their blue tooth headphones to listen to videos, music and their games. This allowed them to be the perfect helpers with their Grandma when it came for her to use it! As I am letting my children use it I wanted to buy a tablet holder so they could lie on the couch or in bed watching their favourite program or movie, I found a great little tablet holder at ibeani.co.uk, it’s like a mini bean bag and it allows you to rest your tablet anywhere you want without the worry of it falling over.

One of RealPad’s best features? It’s price! At $189 US, it will be hard to find a better deal. A RealPad can be purchased on the AARP site or through Walmart.

Whether you are looking at purchasing a tablet to stay connected with your parents RealPad is an excellent as well as affordable choice in the tablet market.

Disclosure: I received a RealPad in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 11, 2014

Protecting Our Eczema Prone Skin with Polysporin #EczemaAndMe #shop

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

The fall (and quickly approaching winter) season is upon us. With the cooler weather we find that there is a typical rise in eczema symptoms in our home. Both of my children as well as myself suffer with eczema. Each of us has our own triggers but the one thing that holds true is that the cold weather makes our skin rawer and much more sensitive. Finding the right products to deal with our eczema can be difficult – normal lotions just don’t cut it! We headed out to Walmart to pick up the new Polysporin Eczema line as part of the #CollectiveBias campaign and couldn’t wait to try it out on our already sensitive skin.

Not familiar with eczema? Here are some of the signs of eczema (don’t forget to always take your child in to see the doctor if you feel they have eczema!):

patches of chronically itchy,dry, thickened skin
if scratched these patches can open and bleed (yikes!)
eczema blisters (nothing is worse than seeing these form on your child – I speak from experience here)

Eczema can interfere with your day to day routine as well as your self confidence. When my arms are at their worst I will cover them with long sleeves because I am embarrassed at the state of them – I don’t want anyone to see the blisters and raw skin. Proper care of our skin as part of a daily routine is essential in order to ensure the flare ups do not occur or lessen the occurrence of the flare ups. This includes using a body wash and lotion designed specifically for eczema prone skin.

Polysporin Eczema Essentials Daily Body Wash (as one part of their #EczemaAndMe campaign line) is an excellent tool to help protect your skin on a daily basis. Their brand new unique formula includes a lipid, humectants, emollient and botanical blend to help cleanse and moisturize your sensitive skin.

When purchasing a body wash for eczema prone skin it is so important to ensure that the product is fragrance free, contains an emollient (helps to cover the outer layer of the skin to prevent water loss) and designed for eczema prone skin. Polysporin Eczema Essentials Daily body wash covers all of these points!

After several days of use we are already noticing an improvement in our skin texture and eczema. The Polysporin body wash lathers on thickly with even a small amount coating the skin – which is perfect as it helps retain the moisture in our skin. Don’t forget when you towel off to pat dry to prevent irritating your skin.

Polysporin also has a fantastic coupon on their site to help you save on their eczema products (yay!). The English coupon can be found on their site here and the french coupon here.

Not following Polysporin on Twitter yet? Head over now and follow them to find great tips, deals and more!

What is your first line of defense against eczema?

November 4, 2014

PAW Patrol:Winter Rescues is Coming to Canada! Review & Giveaway

Six heroic puppies have come to the rescue with their team leader, Ryder, in PAW Patrol: Winter Rescues!

On November 4th, the #1 show on Nick JR US is coming to Canada for the first time on DVD. PAW Patrol combines fun adventure with awesome cuteness.

The adorable puppies – Chase, Marshall, Rocky, Rubble, Zuma and Skye are back. Led by a super tech savvy ten year old named Ryder. They work together to protect the Adventure Bay community with the belief that “No job is too big, no pup is too small”. Which is the best lesson we can teach our children – that their actions and words count. If they try hard our children can succeed at almost anything.

In this snowy adventure, the pups and Ryder make a trip to Jake’s Mountain to save Alex and look for a snow monster!! The pups will have your little one problem solving and laughing right along with the shows.

The show also places a strong focus on citizenship, social skills and problem-solving, teaching kids that working together helps get any job done – the perfect movie for your little one to not only enjoy but also learn from.

PAW Patrol: Winter Rescues will be the perfect addition under your Christmas tree this year. Our youngest son was literally screaming and jumping up and down when his copy was delivered to the door. He could not wait to pop the copy in the player to watch.

Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) can now enter to win their own copy of PAW Patrol: Winter Rescue AND PAW Patrol swag. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below – good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 22, 2014

Kaboom! Big Block Singsong Giveaway!

We love family movie time – it is a time to sit together as a family, cuddle, learn new things and enjoy each other’s company. When our children get to choose the movie it is usually an animation full of song, rhymes and learning. I just learned that the majority of the movies we have enjoyed over the years have come courtesy of kaboom! entertainment. Kaboom! entertainment is the dedicated kids and family label of Phase 4 Films that brings us movies and shows such as Max and Ruby, Franklin, Air Bud, Toopy and Binoo, Chugginton and so much more!

The Big Block Singsong, which currently airs on TV, will be available for the first time on DVD on October 28th! The Big Block Singsong has a run time of just over forty eight minutes and features twenty four episodes. Each episode features a unique character that sings their very own song. From a pop song about noses to a techno jam about hair, from a hand clapper about your favourite fruits to an anthem about big feet, each episode offers up fun lyrics, love able wit and a catchy tune!

Although the DVD is targeted towards 3-5 year olds, our whole family loved the shows. They were the perfect length of time to keep the boys attention while still providing fun songs and images. The boys enjoyed yelling out the colours as the images changed on the screen as well as singing along and guessing the next words.

One lucky reader has the chance to win a copy of their own Big Block Singsong! Canadian residents can enter via the Rafflecopter form below – good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 2, 2014

Eye Wonder Sharks from DK Canada #review

Do you have a little one in your home who loves sharks? We have two huge shark fans – so big we aren’t allowed to plan vacations during Shark Week otherwise they may miss an episode which just can not happen. I have to admit that these beautiful creatures hold a special place in my heart as well for many reasons. We love to discover new facts, learn about new sharks and their habits.

The Eye Wonder series is a precursor to the Eyewitness series and is specially designed for the 5+ crowd. The book comes in hardcover format (perfect for young kids who are not always as gentle as they could be) with large, beautiful photographs. The photographs and accompanying easy to read vocabulary made it the perfect book for us to read together as a family. We could easily open the book, pick out a photo and learn all about that shark in easy to use terms. I fell in love with the big, bold and bright photographs that truly showcase the beauty of sharks.

We were able to learn about a great variety of sharks from big to small as well as some odd looking ones we never knew about before. We looked at their teeth, eating habits, gills and so much more. I even learned some new stuff (Mom even sat down with the book after the kids went to bed so that I could read more too – love books like that!). As if Eye Wonder Sharks couldn’t get any better -at the end of the book they include eight pages of activities for your child to really dive in and enhance the complete learning experience. A win-win for us!

This book was such a hit that our eldest took the book to school and has kept it there for his friends and him to read during their breaks! That is when you know a book has done it’s job – it has engaged and sparked their curiosity to learn!

Check out the DK Canada Back to School boutique for more exciting Eye Wonder series as well as great workbooks to get your child back in the swing of things. The boutique is also offering a 30% off discount for a limited time so make sure to get in on that discount before it is gone!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.