The Zing Air ZoomZooka 4-in-1 Air & Water Blaster Can Be Played With Year Round

Thank you to Zing Toys for providing a complimentary sample ZoomZooka toy gun for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

Water guns are fun for any kids and the Zing Air ZoomZooka is an extra fun one because it’s not only a water gun, but also an air gun! The air gun can launch the included plane, rockets, and suction darts more than 50 feet, which would make it a great gun all in itself. But, stick that gun into water and you get rocket powered water that shoots 50 feet as well! This gun is really a blast indoors and out and can be played with year round no matter the weather.

My kids have literally had hours of fun with the ZoomZooka. They both love it most as an air gun, but the water play is fun too. We’ve had unseasonably cool weather and tons of rain, so their outdoor play with it has been limited, but once we get a few nice days, they’ll probably change their minds. They have contests to see who can launch the bullets the furthest and they really love chasing my poor, defenseless dogs with them too. This is one of their favorite air guns and I don’t think they’ll be growing tired of it any time soon.

The ZoomZooka 4-in-1 Air + Water Blaster can be purchased at many major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Toys”R”Us, and Amazon.com. It retails for approximately $15.  It's currently on sale on Amazon for just $11.48 with Free Super Saver Shipping.

To learn more about this and other Zing Air toys, visit ZingToys.com.

Giveaway & Review: GloDoodle by Spin Master [CLOSED]

Although I am all for fun art projects, there are times when less mess is ideal. That is why I was thrilled to learn that Spin Master, the company who brings us Aquadoodle, has introduced a new drawing toy for fall 2009 called the GloDoodle. This toy is used similarly to a standard magnetic drawing toy, except it has a much higher coolness factor. Retailing at a reasonable $19.99, this is a toy that you should consider putting on your gift list this year.



What my children and I thought about the GloDoodle:

1) I like that this toy is lightweight. It is not clumsy to handle, even for my toddlers.

2) The self-storing stylus is just long enough for a left-hander to use. One of our twins is left-handed and he can use the toy with no problems.

3) This toy is very user-friendly. Although it is recommended for children aged 4+, our toddlers are able to doodle with it. There is one large Magic Erase button to press to clear the screen and there is one switch on the side that slides to change between red, green, or yellow neon light and to turn the GloDoodle off.

4) My children think it is fun to be able to draw with their fingers because that is not something they can do with their magnetic drawing boards. I do have to say that, since this drawing effect is a result of pressure, using the stylus gives much more precision. For example, when my children try to create a hand print on the GloDoodle, the hand print does show up, but there are also residual marks around the hand shapes.

5) One of the coolest features of the GloDoodle is that the drawing area is transparent. This allows the user to trace pictures from books, magazines, and even faces. There are many tracing cards that you can print free of charge for your child at GloDoodle.com, but you can pretty much use any printable available online for tracing.

To learn more about the GloDoodle, visit http://www.glodoodle.com/. You can find this toy locally and online at major toy retailers, such as Toys R Us, Amazon.com, Walmart, and Target.

Thank you to SpinMaster for providing us with both a review product and a contest prize free of charge.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a GloDoodle of their very own.

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.


How to Gain Entries:
Pop over to SpinMaster.com and click on "Products". Then leave a comment telling me what toy you see that would make a great gift for a child you know. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so and under what username. Add to Technorati Favorites

4) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND GloDoodle.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

5) Friend me on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment with your Facebook username.

6) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

My Photos (W/E 8-29-09)

We actuall tried to clean our house this week. My allergies have been out of control ever since. Anyways, I've been too busy cleaning and sneezing to take too many photos this week (that's my story and I'm sticking to it), but here are a few that I have to offer . . .

"Caffeinated Goodness"

"Fee Fi Fo Fum!"

"Golden Goodies"

Thank you for taking the time to view my photos this week! If you'd like to play along or see more great photos, stop by to see Lotus at Sarcastic Mom.

"Get Cool For School" Giveaway #18: Math Blaster Game (DS) & Plasma Car [CLOSED]

Get Cool For School! Giveaway #18

Go to all Get Cool For School Contests

Please take a moment to meet our sponsors . . .

JumpStart has recently branched out from their boxed learning software and their virtual online world for kids into console gaming. This fall, you can expect to see new JumpStart console games for the Nintento Wii and DS. Meanwhile the new and interesting places are popping up on the JumpStart World Map.



PlaSmart is a international toy distributor located in Ottawa, Canada. It is the home of the innovative PlasmaCar, as well as many other fine toys!

What you can win:
One lucky reader will win ALL the items listed below.

JumpStart Math Blaster for Nintendo DS

The ultimate math game has come to the Nintendo DS –Math Blaster in the Prime Adventure! With a variety of different challenges, Math Blaster inspires kids to use their adventuring instincts and curiosity to become a math master and save the universe! Games like Number Smash and Chain Reactor will keep players coming back for more, and the competitive multiplayer mode means that kids can play with up to 3 of their friends at the same time!

Improve math fluency by playing games that emphasize quick thinking in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Foster algebraic logic by solving math puzzles. Zip, zoom and blast your way through hundreds of math problems, and gain the confidence it takes to be a math master! For kids ages 9 to 12.

Plasma Car

Plasma Car Review (w/Video)

The PlasmaCar is pure fun! This kid (and adult) friendly ride on toy has no pedals, no gears and no batteries. Instead, it uses inertia, centrifugal force, gravity and friction to move across smooth flat surfaces. It’s super easy to operate and a complete blast for the whole family.
These are the 8 blogs participating in this giveaway event. You can gain additional entries for this contest by entering on all 8 blogs.

3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

As They Grow Up

Blessings Abound Mommy

Experimental Mommy

Life Starring the Kids and Me

Momstart

The Shopping Mama

What Mommies Need

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, we will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:
1) Leave a comment telling us what type math your child was learning at the end of this past school year.

2) Visit PlaSmart and leave comment with your favorite color or favorite feature of the PlasmaCar.

You MUST do BOTH to be eligible to win this contest, but you will receive one entry for each completed mandatory entry provided you leave a separate comment for each.

Extra Entries:

1) For an extra entry, follow Plasmart on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so and under what username. Add to Technorati Favorites

4) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

5) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

6) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this as often as you wish until the end of the contest.

7) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

8) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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9) Add my "Get Cool For School" giveaway event button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

<br /> <a href="http://3garnetsn2sapphires.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq213/ABOGDesigns/Buttons%20N%20Tags/GetCool4School09.jpg" /></a><br /><br />

10) Add my "Monterey Car Seat" giveaway button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

<br /> <a href="http://3garnetsn2sapphires.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd206/Busymonkeez/3G2SMontereyBCS.png" /></a><br /><br />

Now go visit the other participating blogs to obtain additional entries for this contest!

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)

Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Thursday, August 27th, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Review: Plasma Car Ride-On Toy

The great thing about being a big brother for our son Jake is getting to play with cool new big kid toys before his younger brother and sister. The tough part about it is being too big to play with certain toys that he still loves, like toddler ride-on toys. Most of them are only for children up to 4 years old.

That's why Jake is thrilled with the Plasma Car. He is much more coordinated than his younger siblings so he can ride it better and faster than they can. He was more than happy to show off his skills in the video below.

What I thought about the Plasma Car:

1) This ride-on toy is recommended for ages 3 to adult. For any adult who is hesitant to ride it, I have to reassure you that it is extremely easy to use. If I can do it, anyone can.

2) Although there is a brief learning period, my 5-1/2 yr old son is able to ride the Plasma Car pretty well. There are times that he has trouble steering, but once he gets into a groove, he just cruises.

3) The Plasma Car works great on our hardwood floors. I am going to keep it as an indoor toy for now since we do not have a safe large paved area outside other than a parking lot. I just wish our living room was a little larger. This toy would work great on a gym floor and on an outdoor basketball or tennis court.

4) I love that I do not have to buy batteries for this toy because it works on the natural laws of physics. You simply turn the steering column back and forth, somewhat like how a child would drive a car.

5) This toy is also great exercise for the arms and shoulders.

6) Even my husband (who cannot ride it because he exceeds the weight limit) admits that it is an extremely cool toy based on how sleek it looks and how it is propelled.

Please take a moment to watch the Plasma Car in action and to have a closer look at this unusual toy:

If you'd like to learn more about the Plasma Car, visit PlasmaCar.com or follow PlaSmart on Twitter. Currently, you can purchase Plasma Cars in 6 fun colors online on the Plasma Car website or locally at select toy stores such as Learning Express.

Thank you to PlaSmart for providing us with a review product free of charge.