Baby Toy Review: Xylo-Fun Xylophone from Malbec

About Xylo-Fun Xylophone:

• THE 'XYLO-FUN' OFFERS FUN LEARNING FOR CHILDREN AND THE WHOLE FAMILY: Help build essential skills by learning the fun way... Making Music! Develop and enhance key motor skills such as hand eye coordination, social skills and memory building 

• FANTASTIC UNIQUE DESIGN: The 'Xylo-Fun' has been specially created with metal notes than when struck produce a beautiful tone. The bright and colourful notes have also been designed with safety and will can not be easily removed 

• INTRODUCE YOUR CHILD TO A WORLD OF CREATIVITY AT THEIR FINGER TIPS: The 'Xylo-Fun' is a great way to tap into the creative mind and explore sound, rhythm and rhyme. This is a perfect way to introduce children to music through play 

• SPECIALLY DESIGNED BOX & FREE SONGBOOK FOR INTERACTIVE LEARNING: The 'Xylo-Fun' comes packaged in a specially designed box so is the perfect gift or present. The songbook contains classic nursery rhythms that are colour coded with the notes for easy learning. Even the adults will have fun learning these classic songs! 

• PLAY SPECIALIST LOVES THE 'XYLO-FUN': Phil Doyle says 'This toy is something that every child should have in their toy box. The fundamental skills it teaches children are just fantastic!' We completely agree with Phil Doyle so will offer a full refund if our product does not meet your needs

        

My Thoughts

This is a really cool toy for your little one!

My daughter's eyes lit up when she first saw the xylophone. It's colorful and very well-made. The base is made of sturdy and durable wood. There are seven metal notes (A-G), each one is different color. They're all vivid and bright, and they produce clear and pleasant tones.

The toy comes with a little booklet filled with simple tunes for your child to play. This is a a great touch and I think when my daughter is older, she'll have fun learning how to play the songs. At this point (she's only 18 months old), she can only struck the notes randomly, but I have noticed a big improvement between now and when she first started to play with it. The more she plays, the better her eye to hand coordination gets. She already figured out that running the wooden mallet across the notes will produce a beautiful sound. Plus, she looks extremely pleased with herself when she manages to struck the keys just right and make a louder sound.

This xylophone is both fun and educational. It's perfectly safe to play with and captures my daughter's attention for hours. It's so much better for her than watching TV or playing a piano app on my iPad, I am thrilled she loves it so much!

Disclaimer: I received a FREE sample of the product in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

Baby Toy Review: Best Choice Products Toddler Learning Piano

About Best Choice Products Toddler Learning Piano:

Best Choice Products is proud to present this new toy developed specifically for toddlers. It is decorated with different cute animals that perform different functions. By setting it to the music mode, each animal will perform a different sound or sing an adorable tune. If the toy is switched to story mode, the animal will either tell a story or speak a quick sentence. With the buttons that light-up, this toy engages kids to fine tune their motor skills, and practice their listening skills in a creative fun way. 

We purchase our products directly from the manufacturer, so you know you're getting the best prices available. 

FEATURES:

• Piano Style toy with bright colors and buttons, 

• Speaks about animals and their sounds, 

• Can set as piano mode or as music melodies, with flashing lights, 

• Comes with handle to make it easy to hold and grip, 

• 3 AAA batteries required (not included). 

SPECIFICATIONS: 

• Product Dimensions: 7"x 5"x 2", 

• Weight:0.4 lbs,

•  Color: Multi color. 

• PLEASE NOTE: Our digital images are as accurate as possible. However, different monitors may cause colors to vary slightly. Some of our items are handcrafted and/or hand finished. Color can vary and slight imperfections in the metal work are normal and considered evidence of the hand-finishing process, which adds character and authenticity to those items.

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My Thoughts

This is an exceptionally well-made toy for babies age 6 months+. It's super fun, colorful, engaging and also quite educational.

There are three modes you can set this toy to:

- educational mode (picture of an open book) - voice speaks about animals and their sounds

- musical mode (picture of a musical note) - plays melodies

- piano mode (picture of a dot) - turns into a piano, so your child can learn how to make single sounds

It requires 3 AAA batteries to run and they are not included with the toy. You will also need a mini cross screwdriver to open the battery compartment. There are two volume settings and plenty of little things that move, roll, turn and flash. The lady bug spins around, the butterfly's wings are moving, the snail's shell rolls around and all the piano buttons set off flashing lights. It's really extremely entertaining and attention grabbing, and my (already 18 months old) daughter had plenty of fun playing with this toy.

The size is perfect for the target age group. It's lightweight, so your baby can even lift it up without straining themselves. It's good for entertainment on-the-go, too. The colors are vivid and the shapes of animals very friendly-looking. It seems very sturdy and safe for your baby to play with. All in all, a really nice baby-toddler toy that will bring plenty of joy for your little one. I most definitely recommend it.

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of the product for evaluation purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Baby-Toddler Toy Review: Best Choice Products Parent-Child Turtle Toy

About Best Choice Products Toddler Learning Piano:

Best Choice Products is proud to present this adorable new turtle toy. This toy is filled with lights throughout its shell making it an appealing toy to play with. It also come with three different volume adjustment settings and it come with two charming turtles. The larger turtle has a special placing to where the small turtle fits, and once they are paired together they begin playing an endearing tune as well as enabling the stop-and-go motion on the toy. When the smaller turtle is removed, it will ask for help to be found and returned to its family in such an endearing voice. This turtle set is an enchanting toy that kids will enjoy and love playing with. 

We purchase our products directly from the manufacturer, so you know you're getting the best prices available. 

FEATURES: 

• Colorful flashing lights make daddy turtle more vivid and dynamic, 
• Slightly squeeze the airbag at baby turtle's backside to make a "beep" sound, which can control the turtle to move, 
• The turtle has preinstalled , sweet music that parent and child can enjoy, 
• Drum-head and feet with electronic touch sensor. 

SPECIFICATIONS: 

• Product Dimensions: 8" x 3.5" x 5.5", 
• Weight:0.8 lbs, 
• Color: Main color green. 
• PLEASE NOTE: Our digital images are as accurate as possible. However, different monitors may cause colors to vary slightly. Some of our items are handcrafted and/or hand finished. Color can vary and slight imperfections in the metal work are normal and considered evidence of the hand-finishing process, which adds character and authenticity to those items.

        

My Thoughts

This is one of the best, most thoughtfully designed toys I've seen on the market thus far. My daughter (18 months old now) absolutely adores it - it has quickly became one of her favorite toys and she'll play with it for hours at a time. When we first got it, she refused to let go of it even when having a meal or watching her favorite YouTube tunes - she'd just hug it closely! It was so adorable!

The toy is incredibly well-made - with bright flashing lights, songs, interactive elements (a little suitcase that pops open,a cellphone and a bottle on retractable strings and a rotating capsule filled with pearl-colored balls), and - most importantly - an awesome father-son duo that can't stand being apart! Daddy-turtle can move around - he goes forward and if he runs into an obstacle he rotates and chooses a different path. He also turns his head, in a way that looks as if he's making eye contact when saying things like "Can you help me find Jack?"

Little Jack has a special place on his daddy's back. When you place him there, the two of them will go on an adventure with happy tunes playing in the background. When Jack falls down, he'll call his daddy and ask for help. Daddy, too, will ask for your child's assistance in placing Jack back on his shell. I find this little exchange quite heartwarming and educational, it will teach your child to care for little Jack, to recognize the little turtle's distress and try to help him. It's a very positive, character shaping exercise!

Overall, this is one of the cutest and most entertaining toys I've seen, and one that also has a hugely positive impact on your child's emotional development. Can't recommend this enough!

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of the product in exchange for my honest evaluation.

Book Review: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Series:	Standalone
Genre:	Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Family, Road Trip
Publication.Date:	May 4, 2010
Pages:	344 (paperback)
Published By:	Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Website:	Morgan Matson
	Amy & Roger's Epic Detour on Goodreads
My review copy:	Bought

Where to get:

Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

(Goodreads)

We'd taken the food to go, but when Roger struggled to take a bite of his burger while pulling out of the parking lot, it became clear that this was an eat, then drive situation, and he'd pulled back into the parking lot. I hadn't realized until Roger told me, after we'd ordered, that In-N-Out was a West Coast-only burger chain. There was no In-N-Out in Connecticut, because clearly that state was an inhospitable wasteland.

As soon as Roger steered the car toward Kansas, the landscape began to look much more Kansas-like, even though we were still in Colorado. Soon the mountains were gone, and everything was flatter, dry-looking, straw colored - and we had our big open skies back again. As expected, the land was very, very flat. But it was an expansiveness, a peacefulness to it, and I propped my feet on the dashboard, leaned my head back against the headrest, and just took in the scenery.

"I just . . . " I looked up at the sky for a moment, then pressed on. "I thought I was going to die," I said. "For one really long second during the accident, I thought it was all over. And then, obviously, I didn't, but . . . it was like I went the opposite way. Like I stopped living entirely, so I wouldn't have to feel anything again. Because feeling had led to it hurting so, so much . . . " My voice caught again, but I took a breath and continued saying these things I hadn't even realized until a second ago that I felt. "But since I've been out here, on this trip . . . it's like I've started to remember what it's like. To feel alive. To feel anything. And all I'm saying is that you never know how much time you have."

And as we slowed for just a breath, to a kiss that was sweeter and more lingering, I understood in a flash why, on the Greyhound sign, Arrivals and Departures were right next to each other. Because sometimes, like in that moment, they can mean exactly the same thing.

It took me a while to get through Amy & Roger's Epic Detour (a little over a week, according to Goodreads), but that wasn't because I didn't enjoy the book - that week just seemed to be extra busy and things got in the way. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour is simple, well, epic. Upon finishing it, I can easily consider it one of my favorite reads of 2015.

Amy's mother has planned a cross-country road trip for her and Roger (who will be spending the summer with is father in Pennyslvania) and has everything, including hotel bookings, meticulously planned. Of course, within minutes of meeting Roger and Amy decide to divert from her mother's itinerary. With Amy as navigator, the two set off on a road trip that, unbeknownst to them, will change their lives and give them both the closure they so desperately need.

I immediately liked both Amy and Roger. Something about their characters drags you in and holds tight. Whether it's Roger's perpetually upbeat attitude or Amy's struggle with the recent death of her father, you instantly care for both of them. Which is a good thing since you spend 90% of the story with just these two.

The amount of character growth is astounding - particularly in Amy. She starts off sort of shell-like, not that you can blame her, and through her adventures with Roger slowly becomes mentally and emotionally stronger. Roger doesn't go through a huge character growth, but through his trip with Amy he is able to find some answers he's been longing for and a sort of inner strength of his own.

The relationship between these two is wonderfully done. They'd been friend's as children, but due to one thing or another (despite their mothers keeping in touch), they haven't seen each other in years. There aren't too many awkward instances in the beginning, but nor is there any sexual tension. And while I love me some good sexual tension, it felt like a huge breath of fresh air to read a story where the characters aren't immediately dying to make out with another. There aren't any longing glances or lingering hands. Pure and simple, they're friends with a relationship the grows in, what can only be defined as, a realistic fashion.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour is a story with characters that you both want more of and to leave it alone. It feels as if anything (aside from a cameo here and there in Morgan's other novels), would taint this beautiful story. The narration is amazing and Morgan does a wonderful job of getting readers in Amy's head and enraptured in the story. Even the minorist of minor characters standout and move both the story and character development along in wonderful ways.

This is an emotional story full of laughter, tears, romance, and growth. I found myself crying during specific scenes (and I wish I could touch on them in detail, but that would be too much of a spoiler), quickly followed by some of the biggest grins I'm sure I've ever broken out in. Morgan is a hugely talented writer who constantly hits you right in the gut with the widest range of emotions I've even gone through in one book. An absolute must read.

Baby Product: Zig Zag Kid Frog Bath Tub Toy (Review)

About Zig Zag Kid Frog Bath Tub Toy:

✔ YOUR TODDLER WILL HAVE FUN AND DEVELOP SKILLS WHILE THEY WASH - Kids can have FUN and DEVELOP skills at the same time. Zig Zag Kid Frog Bath Toy is designed to assist in DEVELOPING your child's fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination while they PLAY. They will LOVE bath time if they can play with their NEW FROG.

✔ NO BATTERIES REQUIRED AND HAS SUPER STRONG SUCTION - Zig Zag Kid INTERACTIVE Frog Bath TOY works simply because of the flow of water.  It has SUPER STRONG cups which hold it SECURELY into place on the inside of your tub.

✔ GREAT GIFT IDEA FOR BOYS AND GIRLS - Kids will LOVE playing with their new Froggy by pouring the water from the scoop and over the Froggy's head. His tie will spin and the wheels will turn. The DELUXE Frog also comes with 4 EXTRA stacking cups which can be used to pour or strain water through.

✔ KEEP THEM IN THE TUB AND KEEP THEM HAPPY - Get your child's INQUISITIVE MIND into action as they WATCH the water pour out of the Frogs mouth and UNDERSTAND HOW it makes the wheels tip.

✔ SAFE AND WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY - The DELUXE Frog has passed all ASTM, HR4040 & 7P testing and includes a LIFETIME Warranty and NO QUESTIONS asked Refund. If you're not HAPPY for any reason, simply contact Zig Zag Kid.
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My Thoughts

     My daughter is 18 months old now and ever since she was born, she has loved water. Daily bath time is and always was an essential part of her schedule. She would literally not go to sleep without her evening bath. But even though she loves splashing around, she usually gets bored rather quickly and tries to escape. When she was very little that wasn't a problem, but ever since she learned how to walk, she became a real troublemaker. And so making bath time fun and engaging has become my mission.

     The Zig Zag Kid Frog bath tub toy has really made my life easier. Tori's eyes lit up when she first saw her new toy, and she's been completely in love with it ever since. The first thing you notice when you take the toys (the frog and the cups) out from their packaging is how colorful and vivid they are. All the elements have different colors, and they're all bright and eye-catching. The frog's tie and the wheels spin and turn as the water passes through them, creating quite an engaging show for the little one. Victoria quickly figured out where she needs to pour the water for the wheels to start turning and she's delighted to be able to set the mechanism in motion all by herself. The cups have little holes in various shapes and sizes, and Tori loves playing with them too. Plus, I find them quite handy when washing my daughter's hair - the water flows through the tiny holes gently and makes much less mess than a normal cup or a shower head would.

     The toy is very well designed, with a strong suction cup at the back that keeps it firmly in place. It's safe to use for kids 12 months +. There are no sharp or flimsy elements that could potentially be a choking hazard.

     My daughter really adores her frog buddy. She'll play with it all throughout the day, bath time or not. Even taking pictures for this review has been quite a challenge for me, because she refused to leave her froggy alone even for just a minute. If you want to make bath time more fun for your kid and more manageable for yourself, definitely get either the ZIG ZAG KID Frog or the ZIG ZAG KID Penguin bath tub toy, you won't regret!


Be sure to also check out the slightly smaller version of the toy (with 1 pouring cup instead of 5) - the ZIG ZAG KID Penguin Bath Tub Toy.

We gave this toy to our family friends who have a baby girl few months older than Tori, and she absolutely adores the Penguin! They've been raving about the toy ever since!

Disclaimer: I received a FREE sample of the product in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.