goodies – Page 57 – The Next Kid Thing

Myhomework App: if only it did the homework

September 25, 2009September 25, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

myhomework The start of fall and the beginning of the school year definitely go hand in hand. And with the new season and new school year often comes a new calendar of activities and yes, homework! As a writer, I will always be a fan of the old fashioned calendars and journals. But, let’s face it, being on the computer all the time and having an iPod/iPhone always onhand has changed the way we keep track of things.

For the older students, luckily for them, there are a ton of great free apps that will help them to stay on task and get their assignments and activities in order. The MyHomework app has great graphics, which resembles a physical planner and can be used for assignments, tests, notes and much more. This straightforward and extremely user-friendly app is one of the most downloaded educational apps on iTunes and best of all, it’s free!

A student named Kyle does a quick overview and review on YouTube, which I thought was great!

Bento Boxing it

September 24, 2009October 6, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

With the kids back in school and the ongoing concern for childhood obesity, healthy eating habits, naturally, is a hot topic for many parents. One trend for packing lunches that’s flourishing in not only kids, but also adults, is the Bento Box. Japanese-style bento boxes have nesting compartments which is perfect for fresh fruits, veggies, pasta, last night’s leftovers—you name it. The compartments also serve as a built-in portion control system! Genius. As the popularity of Bento Boxes grows, as do the different varieties. Here are just a few of my favorites:

The Goodbyn

The Goodbyn is an awesome Bento Box that Brandy, a friend and NKT reader, first told me about a few months ago. And after hearing about it, it’s no surprise that I read about it in various places—it’s just that cool.

This Bento Box, designed by a mom, has six compartments, a lid and an 8.5 oz. drink cup. The animal-ish shaped boxes come in kid-friendly colors and even come with stickers that kids can use to personalize. The beauty of Bento Boxes is because of its compartments or nesting containers, it eliminates the usage of plastic baggies, and in this case, juice boxes. The Goodbyn, an eco-friendly and pretty sweet alternative to traditional lunchboxes, not only promotes healthier eating by controlling portions, but it’s also safer since it’s said to be Phthalate and BPA-free. It’s no wonder The Goodbyn is creating all that well-deserved buzz.

Zojirushi Mini Bento Box
I recently had the chance to check out the Zojirushi Mini Bento Box and I love it; it’s so cute and functional! This is one company that gets it right.

41IGc1oW65L._SS500_ We received an amazing Zojirushi electric skillet as a wedding/shower gift, and we love it. And so when I received this one at an event, I knew it would be just as great. The Mini Bento Box comes with 3 containers: 2 smaller plastic containers and 1 larger container with a twist off lid. The smaller containers would be ideal to hold leftovers, fruit, veggies and the like. The larger container looks like it’s meant to hold rice; I love that it also has a removable outer metal cup to keep it warm. The fabric bag is cute and very portable; it certainly wouldn’t take up much space in a bookbag. This set comes with a chopsticks and handy matching case, too. Like many Americans, I have no discipline when it comes to portion control, and so I will say that this mini bento box lives up to the “mini” part. It would be ideal for kids, especially since you can tuck things into the pockets in the fabric bag. For mamas who make their own baby food, this mini bento box would be perfect to store those cubes in! This Bento Box can be found at Amazon.

Bento Set in Black Sushi il_fullxfull.83560673

This Etsy find from Spacestitch was too cute not to mention. It encompasses elements of both of the above Bento Boxes, all rolled up into one.

I love the sushi print combined with the black contrasting fabric and pink ribbon, which gives it a modern and whimsical look. This set comes with a two-tiered plastic bento box, utensils, napkin, drawstring bag and elastic bands. This set looks like it would carry a lot more, making it perfect for moms and older kids. This Bento Box cannot be microwaved or put in the dishwasher, but its convenience and cute factor make up for that!

If you already do Bento Boxes, what are some of your meal ideas? I love how creative people get with lunches, so let’s hear ’em! For some great ideas check out: The Goodbyn blog; Hippomum’s photos; and Kideats Flickr Pool

Seriously, these people inspire me to get more creative and diverse with the kid’s meals. Hey, if it gets kids of all ages interested in eating/trying healthy foods, I’m all for it!

Sweet Treat: Hershey’s Yum Drives

September 22, 2009September 22, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

In the olden days, our school supply list included No. 2 pencils, loose leaf paper, folders and maybe a few pens. Nowadays, with computers playing such a integral role in our lives—especially our students’ lives—flash drives have become so imperative. From saving papers, images and important homework assignments, transporting documents from one computer to another is at their fingertips—and USB drives. And because flash drives have become so popular, they now come in colors, designs and flavors as unique as the personalities that own them.

For those with a sweet tooth, Jazwares introduced a fun new line of Hershey’s Miniatures and sweet assortment-inspired USB drives. These USB drives are truly sweet and come in 1, 2 and 4 GB in the regular Hershey’s, Krackel, Mr. Goodbar, Twizzlers and Bubble Yum varieties.

Jazwares Hershey's USB

This isn’t just for students, I found that this flash drive was fun and compact, yet its chunky size was easy to find in my computer bag that’s already littered with a collection of the stick-style flashdrives. The USB attachment easily slides in and out of the candy bar, adding to its ease of use and making it a perfect addition to any student’s school supplies arsenal. These USB drives retail in between $14.99 and $29.99, depending on memory size. The Hershey’s Yum Drives can be found at retailers like Best Buy.

HersheyAd

I’ve got a 2 GB Hershey’s USB Yum Drive up for grabs. Comment to let me know any (or all) of the other flavors that are offered. Share about this giveaway for extra entries. This giveaway ends on 10/6. Enjoy!

Back to School Must Have: Lovable Labels

September 21, 2009September 21, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

For most kids, school has been underway for a few weeks now. While most families have already satisfied their school supplies shopping list, there will always be those lingering must haves. Since our family vacation coincided with Labor Day and a lot of my energy was exerted into preparing for the trip leading up to my cousin’s wedding, I didn’t have a chance to do a Back to School Shopping Guide. And so this week, I will be featuring my Back to School Must Haves.

Moms and dads with kids in school and daycare know how pertinent it is to label every single item. My kid has lost entire outfits at daycare because I failed to label them! Well, thanks to Lovable Labels, we can set our Sharpies down since they’ve made labeling a breeze.

Lovable Labels kindly sent our family the Back to School Pack to review, and I’ve been on a labeling frenzy ever since. Even though my kid isn’t in school yet, as a family who is constantly on the go, The Back to School Pack is ideal for all of our labeling purposes. We received the black labels with a fun little dinosaur graphic that I adore. I labeled our playground toys with the slimline labels since we go to the park every day, and those toys can be exchanged with numerous little hands. The labels are durable, distinctive and pretty darn cute!
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Jenny McCarthy unveils Too Good

September 17, 2009September 17, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Jenny McCarthy is no stranger to vocalizing important topics, specifically ones that pertain to parenting. In line with her (and many parents’) belief to build and maintain a better environment for children, McCarthy will be launching a line of affordable, non-toxic infant & juvenile products. After reading on Twtitter that McCarthy was spotted at this week’s ABC Kids Expo in Vegas, it makes so much more sense. McCarthy, who has partnered with PEM, officially unveiled the line, Too Good, at the expo.

McCarthy’s line of kiddie products will include bedding, bath textiles, room decor, newborn gift sets, cleaning products, gluten-free food and beverages, and other categories.

TooGood_logo
A recent article in Brandweek best described McCarthy’s efforts as a mom:

Jenny became an advocate for a holistic approach to child development after her son Evan was diagnosed with autism in 2005. She has been vocal about such causes as staggering immunizations, adhering to a gluten-free diet and eliminating chemicals in everyday products, such as lead paint in toys or BPA plastic in baby bottles.

McCarthy’s Too Good line is set for launch at mid-tier retailers next spring or summer.

I know many moms have read Jenny’s best selling books on motherhood, so I’m anxious to see these products for myself! I applaud Jenny for using her celebrity status as a platform to create a less toxic environment for all of our kids—and for making it affordable. Be on the look out for Too Good by Jenny.

The Young and Not-So-Fabulous

September 1, 2009September 1, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

9781416980063 In the day and age of blogs, MySpace and Facebook, where so much is put out there, there’s still nothing like a good old fashioned journal. You know, the kind where you share your private thoughts and ideas—the kind where you actually write in! Ah, the good ol’ days!

As a lifelong journaler, my love for the written diary runs deep, which is why I adore the premise behind The Dork Diaries: The Tales Behind the Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachael Renee Russell. Sure, The Dork Diaries could’ve been written by yours truly, but this fun read geared to the tween set, is a collection of the main character, Nikki Maxwell’s school, friends, frenemies, crushes, and family.
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TMBG to release Here Comes Science

August 31, 2009September 1, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

In addition to the usual parenting responsibilities , if there’s anything I want to do for the kid, it’s to fill his life with cool experiences and great music. I know I may write about new products every day, but truly, nothing quite compares to intangible goodies such as, a love for music.

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Exposure to great music can be attributed to nurturing even the littlest music lover’s discerning ear. I especially love it when music groups that I like go the kiddie route. With the Ting Tings and the Roots at the top of our playlist, it’s hard to not mention the smart and quirky, and perhaps one of the most well known rock groups to cross over into the kiddie genre: They Might be Giants. And giants they are!
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Kidz haz cheezburger: Play-Doh Burger Builder

August 28, 2009August 28, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Play-Doh has cooked up some new items, specifically, some new food sets, some of which are set to roll out this fall. With school starting up for many, the unofficial end of summer might be imminent, but the kids can BBQ all year round with the Play-Doh Burger Builder. With the Burger Builder, kids can press, knead and “cook” up their own burgers and all the “fixins” (That’s how they say it back home) How ever they might like their burgers—lettuce, tomato, pickles, fries on the side—the possibilities are endless with the Play-Doh Burger Builder.

Play-Doh Burger Builder

We had the chance to check out this latest set, which, like all of its timeless playsets, the Play-Doh Burger is entertaining for boys and girls. Even with the various pieces, it’s easy put together and take apart. It comes with five small canisters of Play-Doh, and the cool looking molds. Even with all the glorious electronics out on the market, there’s nothing like good old fashioned play with classic toys that encourage creativity. I love that the allure of Play-Doh will never get old. Anyone remember the Fun Factory?

The sets are recommended for kids 3 and up, but in my opinion, I’d push that age range to whenever kids “get it.” I know some parents might think of Play-Doh, as one of “those” toys, but really, if the kids get it, then it’s much more fun for everyone.

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The Play-Doh Burger Builder can be found at toys stores and will retail for $15.99.

In addition to the new Burger Builder set, Play-Doh has rolled out the Spaghetti Factory where, you guessed it: kids can create a spectrum of noodles, meatballs and even shrimp. And for all all the budding Star Wars Fans, keep your eyes out for the R2-D2 playset.

But, Happy Friday, I’ve got the Play-Doh Burger Builder playset for one of you!

Want it?
Just tell me any of the items that you can make with the Burger Builder!

Share this giveaway for extra entries. Please comment below for each entry! This giveaway ends on 9/18.

Battle Force 5 set to debut

August 27, 2009August 27, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

This afternoon, together with some other NYC-area bloggers and their kids, Jack and I were invited to participate in a Playdate to check out a screening of Battle Force 5 and some toys by Mattel! Battle Force 5 might sound familiar because I blogged about it not too long ago.

I’m looking forward to checking out the toys today, and I’ll be sure to share every detail when we get back! In the meantime, check out the trailer for the Battle Force 5 show which debuts this Saturday, August 29 on the Cartoon Network.

Etsy find: Natural Cars from Happy Squash Toys

August 19, 2009August 19, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

With toy recalls and reports of unsafe toy manufacturing and imports creating a cause for concern, in an effort to observe more sustainable choices, naturally, some families opt for greener toys made from renewable resources. And of course, a smart and economical alternative to mass produced toys are unique, handmade goodies. Beyond whittling your own collection of handmade toys yourself, thank goodness for the treasure trove that is Etsy! I always say this, but you can’t buy the kind of craftsmanship that you find in Etsy in a mainstream store —no matter what the product might be!

Today’s Etsy find is from a toy shop that I’ve featured before—I love these toys that much. Happy Squash Toys sent us a trio of Natural Cars for review, and based on the kid’s inability to put them down for one second, it’s official: they’re a hit.

Like most boys his age, our almost 2-year old is fascinated by anything with wheels or rolls. Cars, trains, animals with wheels, bikes, tractor trailers—you name it, he loves it. The Natural Cars from Happy Squash Toys are no exception. He loves wheeling them around the floor, furniture and whatever surface that will let him mobilize these cars. The trick is always finding a way to make all 3 roll at once since his little hands aren’t quite big enough to push them all at once yet. I love the way our little guy makes his own little car sounds when playing with the Natural Cars. I’ll take those sweet imaginative noises over the loud battery-operated honks, beeps and flashing lights any day.