Family Fun – BurritoBuzz

Mouthguard Challenge: Game Night Just Got More Fun

Published on November 23, 2016November 23, 2016 by Casey Sehm1 Comment

Who doesn’t love playing games at family get togethers during the holidays? It’s so fun and a great way to connect with family you may not see very much, if at all, throughout the year. Last year, Pie Face was a huge hit at our get togethers but it was extremely hard to get your hands on one. This year, Mouthguard Challenge needs to be on everyone’s wish list and is a must for your holiday parties!

It was created by Alex Mandel, funnyman Howie Mandel’s son, and the apple definitely did not fall far from the tree! Alex did not disappoint with this hilarious game! It not only contains speaking challenges but “extreme” challenges that are actually challenging, like drinking water without dripping on the table and who can eat a banana the fastest – way harder than it sounds! There are 51 specifically developed tasks, revenge cards and mouthguards included, along with rules of how to play. It’s super easy to play and can be played with 2-5 people and is meant for those 16 and older (not because it’s a dirty game, it’s family friendly, I think maybe because of the size of the mouthguards). Check out this video of my husband and I playing for the first time:

If you’re looking for something to spice up your holiday parties and get togethers this year or if you just want to add something fun and unique to your collection of games, this is the game! Find yours at Hallmark, select specialty stores, or here on Amazon for only $14.99 + free shipping with Prime. `At that price, you can buy a few more to give as gifts! Watch Alex and his friend Roman do the Mouthguard Challenge here and see Howie Mandel’s Mouthguard Challenge video here! Your stomach will be hurting from laughing so hard!

And don’t forget to follow Mouthguard Challenge on Instagram and Alex Mandel’s Vlog on YouTube for more hilarious videos!

– Casey

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Magnutto Make a Mood {Review}

Published on November 10, 2016November 8, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

Kids don’t know how to deal with their emotions. That’s why they throw tantrums when they don’t get what they want or hit when they don’t get their way. Their little brains aren’t capable of knowing how to respond as an adult would and we all know how frustrating it can be for both the parents and child. My four year old can throw a tantrum with the best of them and she’s perfected her on-the-ground-kicking-and-screaming meltdown. We’ve been trying to work on talking through our feelings rather than just crying and screaming, and it’s been helping. So when I got the chance to review Neat-Oh! International’s Magnutto Make a Mood magnetic toy, I was so excited to see if it helped my little one learn emotions and moods and how to express them.

Magnutto Make a Mood is designed to help identify, express, and respond to feeling and emotions and so far, it’s doing a great job with my daughter. She uses the thick, foam magnets to create facial expressions. The sturdy box opens to a magnetic easel and closes to store all the magnets. Activity cards (in 3 languages – English, Spanish, and French) are included in the box to role play and a list of example facial expressions. I love that I can ask questions about emotions and really engage my daugher in conversation about how she’s feeling.

Features

Includes 100+ magnets, two activity cards, and easel box.
Sturdy easel box opens to a magnetic easel and closes to store all the magnets when play is done
Educational role play suggested activities included
Low strength, safe, thick foam magnets.
Fully Printed
Tested to the most stringent quality and safety standard
Product Dimensions: 10.5″ x 8″ x 1.75″

My daughter and I have been having lots of fun talking about our emotions and making expressions together. I’ll even make a face and ask her to make a face out of the magnets, it always comes out pretty silly! Make a Mood isn’t just about emotions, I like to think it’s like a “paper doll” but for the face. There are different eyes and eye color, hair colors, earrings, noses, mouths, glasses, and more, so you can make make lots of faces and expressions. Magnutto also offers Make a Pet and Make a Dino sets, so you can animals and dinosaurs! The quality is outstanding and the foam pieces will hold up even with the roughest of kids. Shop all Magnutto sets here. Your little ones will love these engaging and fun sets!

The Magnutto sets have also been given Oppenheim Toy Portfolio’s Platinum Seal, which is the highest honor given by the independent consumer organization! They were also honored with a SNAP award (Special Needs Adaptable Product), given to products that can be used by or easily adapted for children with special needs.

Be sure to follow Neat-Oh! on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter for new products and sales!

– Casey

Draw Your Own Circuits with Circuit Scribe {Review + Giveaway}

Published on November 3, 2016October 31, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

We can all agree that STEM, the education of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, is super important for our children learn this day and age. Technology is our future and where most of the new jobs are being created. With that being said, I love toys and activities that allow young children to learn how technology works and opens their world to new ideas and thought processes. I was recently given the opportunity to review an amazing product called Circuit Scribe from Electroninks, Inc. and was completely blown away by how much I learned (at 28 years old) and I am now hooked!

Created by a company based in Austin, TX and Cambridge, MA, Circuit Scribe is a revolutionary pen that uses non-toxic conductive ink that makes it easy for newbies (like myself) and expert makers to have fun with electronics in a new and easy way. Geared towards children 8 years and older, Circuit Scribe is an easy way to introduce STEM to kids and is also great for those who are already experienced. I have to admit, when I was asked to review this product, I knew nothing about it. But I did know that STEM is huge right now, and being integrated in schools across the country and all over the world. I knew I personally wanted to get my hands on a kit (my electronic-loving husband also wanted to give it a whirl) and I definitely wanted to share it with our readers!

First of all, if you’ve never done anything with circuits (or if you have no idea what a circuit is), the workbook/sketchbook is so easy to read through and understand. I couldn’t wait for my husband to help explain everything to me, so I took it upon myself to learn how it all worked and it was surprisingly easy, even for a newbie like me. Here’s the gist of how it works: simply draw traces with their quick dry conductive ink pen, then snap on their magnetic modules to create fully functional electrical circuits instantly! You place the magnetic steel sheet under a sheet of paper, then use the circuit stencil with the conductive ink pen to draw pathways for the current to allow the modules to interact, creating the circuit. Each module is different and does something different. Here is a list of modules included in the Maker Kit that I received:

9V Power Supply and battery (power)
SPST Switch (input)
Photo Sensor (input)
Potentiometer (input)
Blinker (connect)
2-Pin adaptor (connect)
NPN Transistor (connect)
BI-LED x2 (output)
RGB LED (output)
Buzzer (output)

The Maker Kit consists of 17 pieces, including 11 modules, 1 conductive ink pen, a circuit stencil, jumper stickers, a magnetic steel sheet (that has an awesome symbol guide for quick reference), and an easy to read step by step workbook. There are several different Circuit Scribe kits available, starting at $9.99 for the Mini Kit (available or pre-order), the Basic Kit for $44.99-$59.99, the Maker Kit for $79.99, the Ultimate Kit for $99.99, and the Developer Kit for $194.99. There are also classroom kits available so entire classes can participate and learn about circuits thanks to Circuit Scribe! You can also order replacement or extra modules right on their website, too. Check out all of Circuit Scribe’s products here! We also have an exclusive code for 15% off your Circuit Scribe purchase, jut use code BURRITO15 at check out!

This is the coolest, most educational product I have had the privilege of reviewing for BurritoBuzz. I have learned so much from playing around with the different modules already, and my husband is a big fan also. Although we’re still learning, we are having a blast going through the workbook together. If you have children or nieces or nephews that are interested in science and technology, I highly recommend Circuit Scribe! It’s a great way for kids (and adults) to learn and have fun at the same time. It would make a fantastic gift this holiday season, I know I will be gifting a kit or two myself this December! Here’s a video of my handsome husband showing how some of the modules work:

And guess what? We’re giving one lucky winner a Maker Kit of their own! Follow these quick and easy steps for a chance to win!

Follow both @burritobuzz and @circuitscribe on Instagram, we will be checking!
Like our original giveaway post.
Tag a friend who would love the chance to win, too!
That’s it!

The giveaway will start at 12pm EST on Thursday November 3, 2016 and end at 12pm EST on Sunday November 6 ,2016. You can tag as many friends as you’d like to get one entry per tag/comment. Good luck! **This giveaway is in no way sponsored by Instagram.**

Don’t forget to following Circuit Scribe on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay updated on sales, new products, and more!

– Casey

Save Your Sanity with Color Wonder from Crayola {Review + Contest}

Published on October 28, 2016October 28, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

Coloring with my cousins is one of my favorite memories as a kid. Growing up, we would lay down a blanket (as to not color on Grandma’s white carpet) and we’d color for hours at family get togethers. Now that I have kids, I want to foster their love of coloring, too. My four year old loves to color but doesn’t seem to understand that markers and crayons are to be used only on paper, and not the walls, the floor, her toys, and herself. We can all agree that Crayola makes the best art supplies and there’s a new reason why I adore this company: Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Coloring. All Magic, No Mess is their slogan and that’s exactly what Color Wonder is.

We received a package from Crayola filled to the brim with different Color Wonder products. I was explaining to my daughter that the markers only color on the magic paper and I told her that she could even color on the couch (meaning that she could take one of the coloring pads and sit on the couch to color), she of course took it as she could literally color on the couch. Thank goodness they’re magic and my couch is still intact with no marks! Each set comes with an 18-page coloring pad and 5 different color broadline markers that can only color on special Color Wonder paper. There are so many different Color Wonder products! They offer a ton of different character coloring book sets so little ones can pick their favorites, Paw Patrol and Frozen were a huge hit with my daughter! There are also finger paint sets, stamper sets, travel sets which are perfect for travelling and long car rides, art mats and totes, and much more. Check out all of the Color Wonder products here! If you spend over $30 on Color Wonder products, you automatically get 30% off your purchase, no code needed!

I am incredibly thankful for Color Wonder markers! I hardly ever let my daughter color with markers, well, because they’re markers. I have OCD and a baby, so I can’t spend all day scrubbing marker off everything she decides to color on. We stuck with crayons for so long but now I can feel confident about leaving her alone with Color Wonder markers because I know I won’t come back to her with her face colored pink and the table purple and blue polka dots (yes, it’s happened before). It doesn’t color on skin, fabric, or furniture, and sets start at just $7.99. What more could parents ask for?

Be sure to follow Crayola on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for updates, new products, contests, and more!

Speaking of contests, Crayola is having an awesome contest on Instagram! It’s super easy to enter, just post a picture of your child’s messy moment that could have used a Color Wonder intervention on Instagram. Tag the photo #MessyKidsContest and tag @crayola in the comments to receive one entry! Winners will be chosen weekly until November 21, 2016 when one grand prize winner will be chosen. Learn more about the #MessyKidsContest here and read contest rules here.

(6) Weekly winners will win $250 in Color Wonder product.
One Grand Prize winner will win $1,000 in the form of a check.

What are you waiting for?! Head over to Instagram and enter to win now!

– Casey

Manhattan Toy Storybook Castle {Review + Giveaway}

Published on October 24, 2016October 18, 2016 by katiekuceyeski1 Comment

BurritoBuzz is gearing up to share some great reviews to help you with your 2016 Christmas shopping. We know, it’s too early for Christmas shopping, it’s not even Halloween! But we want to give you plenty of opportunity to read our reviews and enter our giveaways.

So here’s another really amazing toy: The Manhattan Toy Co. Storybook Castle

This castle is an award-winning toy and after seeing my toddler play with it, I can totally see why. The castle has quickly become one of my son’s favorite toys. We’ve been adding more and more wooden toys to our toy collection for a few reasons: they’re infinitely less obnoxious than the electronic plastic toys that seem to ceaselessly need batteries, they hold up exceptionally well, and they strongly promote fine motor skills.

Four quadrants of castle-themed activities features gliders, gears, bead runs, snapping crocodile and more to support motor development.

Ages 12 months+
Measures 18L x 20.8H x 18W in
Measures 45.3L x 52.7H x 45.3W cm
All wood toys have non-toxic water based finishes.
Surface wash only
This product meets or exceeds EN71 and CPSIA safety regulations
The castle runs around $100 and can be purchased here

I remember playing with wooden toys as a child and my dentist’s office had many of them. I actually looked forward to going to the dentist just so I could play with their cool toys. When I first started introducing wooden toys to my son, I assumed he would be disinterested because he had so many loud, engaging electronic toys. But I was so wrong. He plays with his wooden toys quite a bit more and they keep him busy. The intricate movements of the various moving parts really make him think.

This castle has four quadrants and each quadrant has moving parts. There are sliders, parts that twist, caricatures that spin or move forward, backward, and side to side. Each piece moves in a different way, meaning that toddlers have to spend some time figuring out the motions. All of my pieces worked quite fluidly, with the exception of the princess and knight that move along the main baseboard. For some reason those pieces were tight and didn’t move well. My son especially loved the sliding door and flag, as well as the crocodile attached to the main board.

Putting the castle together was a little more difficult than most, but it only took me around 30 minutes from start to finish. I struggled with the screws and just gave in to the power drill. The pieces all fit together perfectly, but because of the setup of the quadrants and the top screws, I found it awkward to fully get the top screws in.

Overall, this product is really thought out. My son has been engaged for hours upon hours playing with this castle. It’s the ideal height for him to sit, kneel, or even stand to play. It is sturdy, and is increasingly helping him with his fine motor skills.

Want to win the Storybook Castle?

Here’s your chance! Head over to our Instagram page here and follow these easy steps:

Like both @BurritoBuzz and @ManhattanToy, we will be triple checking!
Like our giveaway photo!
Tag as many friends as you want! But only one tag per comment please.
That’s it!

Giveaway will begin on October 24, 2016 and ends on October 31, 2016 at 8:00 PM EST. A winner will be announced shortly after. **This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram**

Good luck!

– Katie

SmartGames Puzzle Games {Review}

Published on August 28, 2016August 29, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

Before Candy Crush and other popular games you can play on cell phones and tablets, kids played regular old board games. When I was little, Monopoly Junior, Shoots and Ladders, and Candyland were some of my favorites (Monopoly is still my favorite as an adult). And now that my daughter is old enough to understand the concept of games, I am so excited to show her how fun games can be and introduce her to different games. I love that games can be competitive (a little competition is good) and she can learn so much. Little ones learn hand-eye coordination, dexterity, recognizing letters, numbers and colors, but most of all, they get to spend one-on-one time with you, their favorite person in the world.

Recently, I had the opportunity to review two games from an amazing company called SmartGames, and let me tell you, these games are smart! These aren’t your ordinary board games, they’re puzzles that challenge you mentally but they’re fun. Kids utilize skills from spatial insight to pattern recognition, while they improve their problem solving skills and their memory. SmartGames are made with the best quality of materials and they’re made to last; seriously, they’re fantastically crafted. The fun part is absolutely anyone can play!

The first game is my daughter’s favorite, Smart Car. Smart Car is a wooden puzzle game that challenges little ones to assemble the car with the included wooden pieces. They’ll learn concepts like “top view” and “side view” while also having fun. Included with the 3D puzzle is a booklet containing 48 challenges that range from easy to difficult. Ages 3-8 years old will have a blast, but it’s also fun for mom and dad. We have a lot of fun “playing” with this puzzle and I love that my daughter can look at the challenges and actually put the car together like the picture shown. She loves looking at the solution to compare and she gets excited when she sees she’s done it right.

The second games is my favorite, Little Red Riding Hood Deluxe. The concept of the games is you’re given a “map” of how to set up the board. You put Little Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf, Grandma’s House and the included trees where the challenge says to put them. Once the board it set up, you have to solve the puzzle by making two paths, one for the Wolf and one for Little Red Riding Hood, to get to Grandma’s house. This puzzle game is a lot of fun, my husband and I have been playing it when the kids go to sleep (don’t judge us). We timed each other to see who can figure out the paths faster. The puzzle includes a booklet with 48 challenges (24 with the Wolf and 24 without) that range from beginner to expert, 2 figurines, 5 path pieces, 3 trees and 1 house. A picture book of Little Red Riding Hood with a modern twist is also included which my daughter loves!

I give SmartGames a 5 out of 5 stars. I can’t wait to order more games for my girls! The quality is amazing and they can be passed down for generations because they’ll last. If you’re looking for fun but different games, not just the normal kid’s games, definitely check out SmartGames! They’re a lot of fun and they have so many different kinds of puzzles for ages 3+. SmartGamesLive is a website where you can play games online and you can also download game apps in the AppStore and GooglePlay! There are several ways to play these awesome games!

Be sure to follow SmartGames on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for new releases and sales!

– Casey

**BurritoBuzz received these products at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

For Your Little Bookworm: BabyLit Books

Published on July 31, 2016August 9, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

My mother absolutely loved reading books. She went to the library several times a week and everyone knew her name, she knew all of the employees’ names as well. She would read super thick, long books cover to cover in just a few days. I don’t think I have met another person who enjoyed reading as much she did. My mom passed away from cancer less than two months before I found out I was expecting my first child. I honestly believe my daughter Stella (her middle name is Catherine, after my mom Cathy) was sent here by my mother to help heal my broken heart. I also feel that she gave my daughter her love of reading and books. Stella loves looking at books and being read to. She follows along, usually trying to recite the words of books we’ve read together a bazillion times. I am always looking for new and interesting books for us to read, and now that I have another little one, I’m looking for books that they can both enjoy. I have heard such wonderful things about BabyLit books, so I reached out and they kindly sent us several of their adorable books.

BabyLit books are a fashionable way to introduce little ones to classic literature with timeless writers like Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, Lewis Carroll and Edgar Allan Poe just to name a few. The illustrations are phenomenal, they’re so bright, colorful and engaging for both my toddler and baby. The artwork really keeps them both interested and entertained. Each book is a primer, an introduction to a subject of study or is used for teaching children to read. The different primers include colors, shapes, emotions, counting, animals, flowers, opposites, weather, fashion, anatomy, ocean, camping sounds, and even French and Spanish languages.

There are so many fun titles that it was actually pretty hard to narrow down which ones to receive. I ended up choosing Jabberwocky (Little Master Carroll), Wuthering Heights (Little Miss Bronte), Emma (Little Miss Austen), The Secret Garden (Little Miss Burnett) and Edgar and the Tattle-Tale Heart (inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart”). The quality of each book is fantastic. BabyLit books are 7” x “7 board books (our Poe book was available in a hardcover, but it’s also available in a board book) and each are around 22 pages long. At $9.99 each, they are right in line with the price of children’s books. Jennifer Adams, the author of BabyLit books, does a fabulous job bringing classic stories to a young child’s level. While I have personally never read The Secret Garden, Emma or Wuthering Heights (the reading gene must have skipped me), I really enjoy reading them to my girls.

There are 3 titles in the BabyLit First Steps collection, Edgar and The Tattle-Tale Heart, Edgar gets Ready for Bed and Edgar and the Treehouse Usher which are all inspired by Edgar Allan Poe and are picture books. All Aboard books, written by Haily and Kevin Meyers, celebrates the unique qualities of cities and states such as London, Paris, Washington DC, California, and New York, a must for the travelling baby or toddler. BabyLit also has an awesome coloring book called DoodleLit: Drawing on the Classics with pages from classic such as Pride & Prejudice, Alice in Wonderland, Romeo & Juliet and many more. It is next (along with a bunch of other BabyLit books) on my list for my girls!

I highly recommend BabyLit books for the little bookworm in your life. With all of their amazing titles and primers to choose from, there is something for everyone and I promise you, it won’t easy to decide which books to get and you won’t be able to have just one on your child’s bookshelf. I already want the complete collection and a list of which ones we’re getting next! They’re definitely my new go-to gifts for birthdays and holidays for my little loved ones! Be sure to check out their website to see the entire BabyLit product line, as books are just the tip of the iceberg for this innovative company! They have dolls, totes, buttons, notebooks, puzzles and games which all relate to the books!

Don’t forget to follow BabyLit on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for new releases and sales!

– Casey

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of product review. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Fun for the Family: Central Park in Northeast Ohio

Published on July 10, 2016July 9, 2016 by Casey Sehm1 Comment

If you’re looking for something new and fun (and most importantly free) to do this summer with the kids, you have to check out the new Central Park in Green, Ohio! Ideally located between Canton and Akron off of Steese Road, this beautiful 8 acre park has so much to offer the community! The park will keep your little ones busy for hours, between the playground, 3 ponds, walking path, open green grass to run around on and splash pad.

FullSizeRender (56) — Splash pad and shaded seating area

There is also a concession stand to grab snacks while playing. It’s also an ideal park to have a picnic at, as the scenery is gorgeous. There’s a ton of parking, so you shouldn’t have to worry about finding a parking spot, even on the busiest of days. There is also an area that will hold the Farmer’s Market Plaza which will be every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m. starting July 12th and running through September 27th. Hours for the splash pad are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. To keep the fun going when summer is over, a spot near the Central Administration Building’s parking lot will be turned into an ice skating rink during the winter months. We went for a few hours on Saturday July 9th (opening day) and we had a fabulous time. I cannot wait take my daughters again and enjoy all of the awesome events that I’m sure will take place there over the years!

Park Amenities:

a mile-long paved walking path
3 beautiful ponds
stunning landscape
a gorgeous rentable 1,110 S.F. community building that holds up to 99 people, complete with beautiful outside patio with table and chairs – perfect for meetings, birthday parties, small weddings, baby/wedding showers and get togethers (rentals begin July 11th, call 330-896-6621 for reservations)
a playground with rock climbing wall, slides, swings and so much more for all ages
an awesome splash pad (accommodates up to 100 children) with seats and shade for parents
Farmer’s Market every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m from July 12th to September 27th (click here for the application to become a vendor at the Farmer’s Market at Central Park)
Outdoor amphitheater
plenty of park benches and several picnic tables near the concession stand
outdoor concession stand for refreshments and snacks
an outdoor amphitheater with concrete seating for up to 350 people and 150 people on the lawn area, perfect for outdoor concerts and performances
several family bathrooms in the same building as the concession stand
plenty of parking, there is a parking lot off of Steese Road near the Green Intermediate School and the parking lot next to the Central Administration Building; 4 handicap spaces
dogs are permitted in the park (except on splash pad, amphitheater and playground)
seasonal ice skating rink to accommodate up to 47 people
gorgeous scenery everywhere you look
drinking fountains near the community building

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The park’s address is 1795 Steese Road, Uniontown, OH 44685, which has a parking lot to park at and access to the park near the pond. The address of the Central Administration Building is 1755 Town Park Blvd, Uniontown, OH 44685, which also has a parking lot and access to the park near the community building. If decide to take your little ones, let us know what you think! I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time, I know we did!

– Casey

Puddle Jumper {Review}

Published on June 28, 2016June 24, 2016 by Casey Sehm1 Comment

I can easily say that Summer is my favorite season and as of June 20th, it’s officially Summer! Compared to the other seasons, the summer months are jam-packed with all sorts of fun activities, with the fan favorite being swimming. Who doesn’t love lounging on a raft, floating for hours in the cool water under the hot summer sun? I know I do. But now that I have kids, namely my wild child almost four year old Stella, I have to be super careful around bodies of water with her. She likes to run and jump right off the edge of the pool, which can damn near give a mom a heart attack.

Last year, I began researching the best and safest floaties/vests for toddlers to wear in the water. I came across the Puddle Jumper and I am so glad I did! The Puddle Jumper is a life jacket that can actually help teach little ones how to swim. It has two arm pieces that slide on up to the bicep and a piece that wraps around the chest and an adjustable clip clips in the back. It keeps the child afloat and stays on while in the water without riding up around the child’s neck. My wild child jumps off the diving board with hers and comes right back up! Of course, you still will not leave your child unattended while in the water, but it gives peace of mind that your child is safe. The best thing is it is comfortable and the fabric allows for less possibility of chafing.

It fits children from 30 to 50 pounds and comes in so many different designs and colors! There are four different types of Puddle Jumpers: The Original is made of nylon, The Deluxe and Deluxe 3D are made of polyester and The Ultra is made of hydroprene. All are approved by the US Coast Guard and made with Crosstech floatation foam. The Deluxe and The Ultra are antimicrobial as well, meaning odor-causing bacteria will not grow on them. All Puddle Jumpers can be used in any pool, lake or the ocean. You will love knowing your little one will be safe around any body of water. The Puddle Jumper will put those blow up arm floaties to shame!

I give the Puddle Jumper a 5 out of 5 stars. I absolutely love it and my daughter does, too. She has no real limits while in the pool with it on. She can swim in the deep end, jump off the diving board or side of the pool and can play with the big kids, even though she can’t touch the bottom of the pool. She’s also learned to swim because of it which is an added bonus. If you frequent pools or lakes during the summer, I highly recommend getting one or two for your little one. They’re priced right from around $20 to about $25, depending on the type and design you chose. You can thank me later when you have the best summer yet (with a toddler)!

Check out Amazon or Walmart to purchase your own!

Sterns Puddle Jumper is part of The Coleman Company, Inc, follow on Instagram, Twitter and on Facebook!

– Casey

PlaSmart Smart Mat {Review}

Published on June 27, 2016June 27, 2016 by katiekuceyeskiLeave a comment

My 16 month old son loves his cars. Maybe almost as much as I loved playing cars with my younger brother when I was little. My brother and I had a cool car mat with streets and shops that we would play on for hours at a time. Though, it was located in his room instead of mine, which I still call bullshit on. As an adult, I hate real cars and how much they take from my bank account, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still love a good few hours of playing Hot Wheels with my son. I was thrilled that PlaSmart was sending BurritoBuzz some products, because I was really anxious to get one of their Smart Mats!

We set the Happyville Smart Mat up in our playroom and while my son doesn’t quite get the idea of the roads yet, he truly loves driving his cars on it. The mat is pretty large at 80 x 57 x 0.2 inches, which is way larger than the carpet one that I had when I was young.

It is lightweight, at only 2lbs and the base is made from EVA foam.

The graphics are phenomenal, and the ease of cleaning this mat makes it a great purchase (which I found out after my asshole cat decided to barf on it). The pattern does repeat three times, but most children won’t care or even notice.

This does take a few days to flatten out fully and it also needs to air out. The smell of paint/ink/chemicals when first opening this was extreme and made me a little wary but did go away within a day or two.

While I love the material and texture of the mat, it does damage very easily. My son has put several gouges into the mat already and if you have any pets with claws, you’re doomed and a carpet mat would probably be better for you. Still, toys endure wear and most things look like they’ve been abused after a toddler has played with them.

There is also another variation, the Traintown Smart Mat, that BurritoBuzz mom, Casey, received. She also agreed that it needed to air out for a day or two and the graphics are pretty awesome. Her little one likes to play with trains, so her little collection of trains were perfect to play with on her new mat. The graphics are printed three times on the train mat as well, but little Stella doesn’t mind. In fact she liked that mommy and daddy could both have the same “pink house” as she did.

Even with those few cons, I still think this mat is a great addition to our playroom. My son plays on this daily. The Happyville mat will run you around $25 and the Traintown mat is about $30, a pretty modest price for a car and train mat like this!

You can buy yours here:
Plasmart Happyville Smart Mat

Plasmart Traintown Smart Mat