.@TeddyOutReady: 2020

Monday, December 14, 2020

PenSilly Fun Drawing and Guessing Game To Play With Family | Holiday Gift Guide 2020


Baking, trying new recipes, solving mysteries, crocheting and learning other new skills became a staple during lockdown time. Board games and solving puzzles also became extremely popular because they connect people without digital devices. We already spend a lot of our time in front of the screens and need different types of activities. For families, board games are also a good way to keep children off digital screens and have some fun time together. 

This year we played different games and recently we were introduced to a new one called PenSilly. It is a family board game for both kids and adults based on silly drawing and guessing party games. PenSilly is designed for children ages six and up and for two or more players. 

In order to play the game a player picks a Description Card and a Subject Card and draws a picture that represents these two words. Your teammates are trying to guess what you are drawing, and it is where the fun begins. It is hard and hilarious at the same time to draw and for other people to guess because PenSilly pen is shaking, wiggling and moving like crazy as you sketch out the clue. The Pen has two speed modes. So if you dare to try the second mode that will be more giggles and fun to guess what a player is drawing. The teammates must be quick because the sand timer is running out. The players have one minute to guess what is one the board. If a teammate gets even one clue right, the team gets the point(s) on that card. Each card has a point value written at the bottom, a minimum one point. 

From our experience I think it is easier to sketch out a Subject Card than a Description Card.


For example, it is easier to draw "Lion" than express the word "Late" via drawing.  The team with the most points for the right guesses will win the game. There are over 5,500 clue combinations so players have many opportunities to continue the game. 

The only problem was the whiteboard. Even though the set has two of them, one per team, every time we have to wipe them out with cleaning cloth for the next round. Kids usually do not want to wait and would like to continue playing the game without interruptions. We came out with an idea to save time and use two separate sketchbooks for the teams. That way we do not need to worry about cleaning the whiteboards. 

If you’re looking for an activity the whole family can enjoy, PenSilly game is a fun way to spend time together. It is available at Toys R Us and Walmart and makes a wonderful gift this holiday season!

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Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Magic Bag Offering Warmth and Comfort for Both Kids and Adults 🐑🦉 | Holiday Gift Guide 2020 🎁

Considering how much stress we are experiencing this year, challenges can often add unwanted pressure. Our mental and physical health for both kids and adults is affected by problems at a certain level. While we cannot change the existing situation in the world, what we can do is to take care of our health and the loved ones by showing some compassion and support.

I would never have thought how much relief can bring a warm or a cold compress applied in the comfort of your home. Magic Bag is Canadian brand of hot and cold therapeutic packs sold at pharmacies and major retailers across Canada. I had a chance to try The Classic Magic Bag Neck-To-Back created to relax muscles and reduce pain. I like the ergonomic design of the pack which perfectly fits neck and shoulders. 
Neck-To-Back compress is easy to use, just warm it in the microwave and place it on your neck, everything else the Magic Back will do for you. All Magic Bag fabric is made of 100% cotton and hand-sewn in Canada. Even the bags are filled with organic Canadian grains that are safe to use on the skin. Magic Bag compresses are sourced and made from Canadian products, even the boxes they are placed in.

We do not go out much and spend most of the time in front of our screen due lockdown working from home and even after-work time. Our necks and shoulders receive so much tension that I start using my Magic Bag more often to relieve ache and pain.


Children also are experiencing a certain amount of stress these days, sometimes even more than adults. They watch grown-ups and feel the effects of the pandemic and uncertainty too. To help children calm down, make them feel loved and cared, Magic Bag designed a product line called Warmy. Warmy are  the little creatures, cute and fun, designed to provide comfort, and improved well-being for kids. Warmy compresses only outside look like adorable plush toys, but their super healing powers are hidden inside! These compresses can warm, calm pain and soothe. They are filled with hypoallergenic rice and are registered with Health Canada
Parents and kids can spend time together and create interesting stories with Warmy plush animals. There are  Ollie The Owl, Edgar The Elephant, Dax The Dinosaur, Renardo The Fox and other. Teddy's favorite Warmy animal is Alix The Lamb because it is soft and warm. Warmy compresses are best friends for kids who have problems with sleeping and anxiety.
Magic Bag products make a wonderful gift this holiday season. Who does not need a little bit more warmth and comfort to reduce stress? Take a look at the selection of Magic Bag products online and in stores. From Original Collection and Warmy Kids line to Spa and Sport Lines, there is something for everyone to treat yourself or loved ones this year!

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Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Mochi Robotics Kit 🧸 for Little Ones To Learn Coding | Holiday Gift Guide 2020

These days when demand for professionals in STEM are on the rise, parents and educators are looking for the ways to develop children's science, technology, engineering and math skills as early as at preschool age. Little learners ask million questions every day and express honest interest in everything they see and encounter. The most fun way to teach children STEM is using toys and games. The selection of toys is enormous, and it is good to find something challenging that your kid really likes. Even toddlers and preschoolers can learn some programming and robotics if you find the right STEM toys for them to play.

Mochi Robotics Kit is an educational kit designed for children ages 3 to 9. Kids can learn screen-free coding and the basics of computer programming in a playful and fun way. They explore STEM subjects using themed storybooks. There are thirteen content packs for kids available to learn different subjects including ABCs, Colors, Numbers, Animals and others . The kit Teddy received has Planets and Space theme. 

Mochi Robotics Kit includes a Programmable Board which reminds a mini-computer, a story map, a story book, storyteller SD card, craft pieces, Lego connectors, Mochi Bear and a Robotic Car where Mochi Bear explores the world and coding blocks. 

When we received a pack, it was heavy with many pieces to assemble. It was a great way to learn about pairing and controlling to start with. It turned out to be very easy to assemble, but there are six AA batteries are needed, three for the Programmable Board and three for the Robotic Car (not included in the kit).

The Programmable Board automatically pairs with the Robotic Car, you can check it based on steady green light on both devices. When kids use coding blocks, placing them on the Programmable Board, push the GO button, the Robotic Car performs a command or a sequence of commands. The Robotic Car is where Mochi Bear explores the world. The Car moves left, right and forward depending on a command. Each block is assigned for a specific task.  For example, the green one with a Mochi's paw picture is the move forward command, blue ones are for moving left and right. The red coding block with a Mochi and a book - reads the book to the children. Our storybook is about Planets, so we listen a story about Mochi travelling from one planet to another in the Solar System

I think the most interesting block is FUN coding block, it allows to program a sequence of commands which are placed in the row at the bottom of the Programmable Board called FUNction. Probably, the best way to teach little ones about functions, procedures and arrays. The Robotic Car moves according to the set of commands, it can be used without a story map if you like. The map makes it much easier to see and learn how the car is controlled.

Children can start playing with basic commands and then add more function parts to the Programmable Board

It is not only for preschoolers to have fun; the whole family can join playing with Mochi kit and enjoy some time together. The Robotic Car is also Lego - compatible, so Teddy used some of his bricks to decorate the car. 

I think many kids will love playing with Mochi Robotics Kit because it includes a variety of activities. Kids get bored easily, especially preschoolers. So, little ones can play with the Programmable Board and the Robotic Car, add and remove different coding blocks, play with cute Mochi Bear, decorate the Robotic Car, go through the book and check what is inside.  Mochi Bear has magnets inside his paws so kids can place the bear in different spots to see how magnets work in fun way. 

Our only concern is that we do not have enough coding blocks to use the Programmable Board to the full capacity, I think we need to buy them separately or with another themed kit.

To get more information about Mochi Robotics Kit and other themed packs, please visit their web site. The kit makes an amazing gift to young kids this holiday season. You can order the kit on Amazon or directly from the company. I encourage you to follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more updates and discounts. Happy coding time!

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Sunday, November 1, 2020

CAT Junior Crew Fix-It-Phillip Vehicle 🏗️ For Little Builders 👷🏼 | Holiday Gift Guide 2020


Holiday season is fast approaching. This year holidays will not be the same as we used to have them with shopping at the overcrowded malls, travelling, festive gatherings, hugs and snuggles. We are, probably, planning to spend less on gifts, food and celebrations but still, what remains unchanged, we anticipate the holidays with full heart. The weather is getting colder and making us spend more time indoors.


This time of the year when Holiday Gift Guides start to pop-up, we, as toy players, are going to share fabulous and affordable gift options for this holiday season. You probably heard a lot about Funrise amazing toys from Gazillion Bubbles to Fart Ninjas. Today we introduce Fix-It-Phillip from CAT Junior Crew. Designed for preschool/ kindergarten level children, this new vehicle with personality makes learning fun.  Kids will develop their fine motor skills and hand eye coordination while playing with the friendly tools. The toy includes three tool pals: a hammer and screwdrivers. The tools can be detached and moved around when playing and stored on the magnetic pegboard when games are over. 


Fix-It-Phillip carries a load on his back for kids to learn about shapes and colors. Plus, while playing kids find that each tool has its unique shape and purpose and it can be used for the specific tasks only. For example, you cannot remove Phillip's large wheel using a hammer, there is a special tool for that work. 


When a tool matches its purpose and shape on the bench, Phillip vehicle activates different lights and sounds to show that your kids successfully completed the task. There are various ways to play with Philip and his pals. They can move around together, fix and build something interesting, everything is up to the child's imagination. 


The back of Fix-It-Phillip vehicle is a storage with a workbench with attached devices and three tool pals for kids to play. When playtime is over, everything can be placed in the storage and then closed, including the back door. There is still some room left inside the closed storage, so Teddy sometimes stores his other little toys there. 


Phillip looks very friendly and cheerful, kids will be amazed how Phillip's face becomes animated, eyebrows start moving when the vehicle is moving. And if you push his construction hat, you can hear realistic sounds that warning about the construction site. 

Fix-It-Phillip is designed for kids ages 2 and available on Amazon, at Canadian Tire, Walmart, Toys "R" Us and Costco for $29.99 CAD.

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Thursday, October 15, 2020

Wobble Chair Ergonomic Active Sitting Stool 💻 Perfect For Home and Office 🏠 | #AnthroDesk

As the weather is getting cold we start thinking about making our home office more comfortable to work for long hours. Before back to school, during summer, we used to spend more time outside and our desks were abandoned for outdoor fun, fishing and cottage adventures. 

These days Teddy spends a lot of time attending his on-line school and most of his after-school activities are held on-line too. With increasing demand for working from home our chances to get fit and follow a healthy lifestyle are becoming smaller. So, we considered a few options including getting a standing desk and more comfortable and ergonomic chairs for a better back posture. 

I liked the idea to try Anthrodesk Wobble Chair, because it is designed to keep a person active even when you sit. Considering how much time we spent in front of our screens, this chair would be a good investment into your health!

When the chair arrived, it was easy to assemble. It have a sturdy base, stable one. It is hard to put the chair down but if you need to move from one spot to another then this Wobble Chair works it's best. 

I think for Teddy this chair became a good fit too, it helps him easily to switch between one activity to another, like from a laptop to drawing, music sheets and books even though he does not use a standing desk. 

For others in our home Anthrodesk Wobble Chair helps to keep core muscles busy, since the chair requires balance and stability, When you balance the wobble chair, you engage your bum. And while stabilizing it, you keep the core muscles working. Since my major concern is back problems and the back posture, this Wobble Chair  keeps my pelvis, the back and around the stomach muscles busy. 

It is easy to regulate the chair height, Anthrodesk Wobble Chair has adjustable height ranging from 22" to 33". You can change it using special buttons under the seat. I like the chair design, looks pretty stylish and neat to fit an urban style or an office environment. The base diameter is 14" and it can hold up to 150 kg. Our chair is blue but there are two more colors to choose from: red and black!

I also appreciate the soft fabric top to sit conveniently for everyone in our family. Plus the opportunity to lean in any direction, stretch or bend your legs if needed.

Anthrodesk Wobble Chair is available at office and home retailers across Canada like Staples and Walmart for around $160. You can also easily get it directly from Anthrodesk store or Amazon.ca including free shipping!

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Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Thomas And The Magic Railroad 🚂 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray™ + DVD Review | Shout! Kids



Thomas The Tank Engine has been a favorite character for many generations. It is not surprising that interesting stories about a cute locomotive and his friends won the hearts of many viewers.  

This fall the fan-favorite Thomas And The Magic Railroad (20th Anniversary Edition) is coming to Blu-ray/DVD from Shout! Kids

The story takes us to the magical Island of Sodor that has been the realm of enchantment, innocence, and talking train engines. Mr. Conductor is taking care of the whole railway whilst Sir Topham Hatt is away. Mr. C comes from a family of miniature Conductors who travel between the Island of Sodor and Shining Time Station thanks to a supply of mysterious gold dust. Everything works amazingly perfect.

Unfortunately, the railroad baddie Diesel brings much trouble to Sodor’s steam engines. His plan is to destroy Thomas and Mr. C. and then take over Sodor before Sir Topham Hatt’s return. Diesel is very smart and his tactics deserve to be watched. He attacks step by step meticulously choosing the right time for his malicious actions. Thomas and Mr. C must save the engines before his dwindling supply of gold dust runs out! 

Lily feels that her grandfather, up in his workshop on Muffle Mountain, can be the one to crack the code that will save the Conductor family and bring back to life the Magic Railroad. That railroad runs between Sodor and the beautiful Indian Valley surrounding Shining Time. Lily teams up with Mr. C and Thomas set out to get Sodor back on track in this full-length adventure starring the world’s #1 locomotive Thomas

We were amazed with travels through the Island of Sodor,  Shining Time Station and Muffle Mountain. The Island of Sodor is so beautiful and the Magic Railroad is the one everybody should take a ride on. 

We liked watching the movie especially the moments when favotite locomotives go back and forward. Teddy realized how hard and serious conductor's work because every locomotive relies on you for safety and support on the railroad. Mysterious gold dust is a great way to travel and flower tops are the way to communicate in the movie. The characters face many challenges like decoding special messages, giving up past regrets and taking responsibilities.  And there are some quite funny moments to enjoy.

The release is packed with extensive special features, sure to thrill fans who have long clamored for the film’s deleted scenes to be released. The list of special features includes new interviews with the film’s stars Alec Baldwin, Mara Wilson, and Didi Conn as well as the film’s composer Hummie Mann, a two-part documentary with writer/director/producer Britt Allcroft, a behind-the-scenes reel, and deleted storylines and lost scenes, including deleted scenes with Peter Fonda, Didi Conn, Russell Means, and Doug Lennox

This year Thomas And The Magic Railroad celebrates its 20th anniversary and Thomas the Tank Engine is marking his 75th year as a favorite children’s character. Originally part of the Rev W. Awdry’s Little Railway book series, first released in 1945, Thomas was brought to life through the cherished TV series Thomas & Friends, created by Britt Allcroft in the early 1980s. 

🚂 SPECIAL FEATURES 🚂
  • ”Return To Shining Time: Your Ticket To Thomas And The Magic Railroad” – Two-Part Documentary With Writer/Director/Producer Britt Allcroft
  • “Hello Mr. Conductor” – Interview With Alec Baldwin
  • “Finding Your Sparkle” – Interview With Mara Wilson
  • “There’s Something About This Place” – Interview With Didi Conn
  • “The Sounds Of Sodor” – Interview With Composer Hummie Mann 
  • Behind-The-Scenes Reel
  • Deleted Story Lines





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Monday, August 24, 2020

Canamasq Face Mask with Transparent Insert and Heat-Reducing Features | Back To School


Wearing a mask can help to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. It is recommended to use face masks to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. While recent news bring so much hope and confidence in putting coronavirus spread under control, we still need to follow all the necessary precautions and use Personal Protective Equipment. Back to School is just around the corner and everything slowly comes back to normal after the lock-down. But new normal becomes wearing masks and social distancing. Considering that more people go back to work, students and teachers start a new school year, more protective gear is needed for everyday use. 

There is a wide variety of masks and other protective equipment now available on the market. Cloth, plastic, reusable and washable - everything to make sure they fit your needs. I would like to share the relatively new type of mask - Canamasq. It is a face mask with transparent insert and great heat-reducing features. I think everyone experienced communication issues at some level while wearing face masks. Sometimes it is hard to understand what another person is saying, it can happen everywhere, in stores while shopping, at school, at work, outside in the park or on the street.

The main purpose of this mask is to help hard of hearing or deaf people, seniors and kids to make communication easier. It is designed to have a transparent mouth feature, so that mask's wearer expressions are visible. It does not seem to make much difference but for a kid who wants to see a parent's smile or for a hard of hearing person relying on lip reading it means a lot.

I like that the mask is thin, breathable and has better filtration characteristics than regular masks. It also helps to reduce heat. You can notice that the cover is smooth, and it is soft inside. Canamasq combines 56% cotton and 44% polyester and offers anti-fog coated polyethylene window insert.

I think Canamasq can be very helpful in many situations. When I first saw it on TV, I thought what a great idea to have a mask with a transparent insert.

Canamasq also offers adjustable ear loops to help with pressure behind the ears which comes up when wearing a mask for extended periods of time. You can adjust the mask to the desired length.


The mask should be washed by hand with soap and warm water. While I like the Canamasq's design and the amazing fabric combination it is made of, I think it would be better to stitch the edges for frequent washes. 

Canamasq retails for $10 per mask and can be purchased at canamasq.com. I hope more colors will come up in the nearest future.
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Friday, July 31, 2020

Celebrate Summer With Huge Water Floats 🍩🥑| Incredible Novelties


During hot summer days, there is no better place than close to the water. Pools, local rivers and lakes are our favorite choices. You know that the summer in Canada does not last long so it is a good idea to take advantage of sunny weather and enjoy the short summer season to the fullest. To add more fun to outdoor water adventures we like playing with some water toys. Huge, colorful and funny inflatable floats bring lots of fun for both kids and adults. You can use them for relaxing floating along the water, short snack time on the water or fun splashing games with kids. Everyone likes them a lot, especially when they come in different shapes like giant avocado, unicorn or a watermelon.


Bright floats are perfect for any special occasion or summer celebrations. Even dull and ordinary day becomes much better with huge water floats. We used to have big shark floats before, it was so much fun. This year we received a gigantic 3-foot Donut pool float. This float is totally amusing, it puts a smile to face everyone who sees it floating on the water. We are having so much fun with it this summer. Floating on the hilarious large pastry, complete with pink icing and multi-colored sprinkles brings lots of positive emotions. The funniest thing is that it is designed that someone already took a bite! That part is very convenient to put your legs when floating.


When the water toy box arrived, we did not expect the float to be so huge. Just the hole is a whopping 18" in diameter. Donut pool float is made of a durable vinyl but just in case, the box comes with a patch kit. The float is easy to inflate and deflate when it is not needed. The deflated version does not occupy much room, you can put it back in the original box. Inflated float is pretty big, 42"L x 40.5"W x 10.5"H, so if you decide to take it to the water in a car, it can occupy a lot of space, so we just recommend having a pump with you and inflating the float when you need it.


Incredible Novelties offers a wide selection very affordable of inflatable pool floats. They are available on Amazon, Toys R US, The Bay and other major retailers across Canada.


Have a ton of fun all summer long!
 
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Friday, July 3, 2020

Summer Adventures On Globber PRIMO Foldable Scooter | #GlobberNA


Another school year is finally over, and we are excited about spending our time outside without a screen and digital devices. I think we were so much dependent on our virtual world during the lock-down. While we are not having plans travelling much this summer, outdoor adventures still can't wait to take us to a new level. Teddy started biking when he was young and even drove real motorcycles designed for kids. These days many kids, even little ones, are riding scooters. It is nice to watch how much fun these compact, easy to ride and speedy vehicles for little ones bring.


For new little riders and experienced ones, Globber, the company specialized in scooters for both children and adults, offers quality products for a fun and healthy lifestyle. Their scooters shine with  reliable, sleek and innovative design. And the most important, the company cares about the safety of riders and incorporates safety measures in their products. So that even young children who just start and learn to ride feel comfortable with their new scooter. 


Designed for children ages 3 and up, Globber PRIMO Foldable award-winning 3-wheel scooter offers a variety of amazing features to make sure your child is safe to ride. Three wheels allow the child to stand stable on a scooter and not fall. The PRIMO 3-wheel scooter has a steering lock button, so that when you push it then the two front wheels are fixed to move only forward and backward. This helps your child quickly gain confidence and easily balance on the scooter.


The scooter has a wide anti-slip deck and a large brake set at the back. I like that the scooter can be adjusted to a child's height. It provides a 3-height handlebar which is easy to install. Plus Globber PRIMO Foldable can carry up to 50 kg.

Teddy has a lot of fun riding this scooter, he mostly rode a bike before. The freedom, speed and excitement of riding a scooter cannot be substituted for anything else. For him the most challenging was turns especially when turning uphill or downhill. 


We also like that this Globber PRIMO can be easily folded with a push of a button. That way we can  put it into our car or a bus, take with us anywhere. It takes less room when we store it. Teddy joked that it looks like a carry-on luggage to take for travels.


Overall, Teddy had a good experience with Globber PRIMO Foldable scooter. It is designed to be safe and durable for a long time. And do not forget that children should always wear a helmet when riding a scooter. We are wishing you an enjoyable summer, full of joy and sunshine.

For more information about Globber scooters for toddlers, kids, teenagers and adults please visit Globber.com.

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Friday, June 26, 2020

AnthroDesk LED Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port | #Ergonomics


Since we spend much time indoors these days, it is important to have quality products we use on a daily basis. Children are learning, playing and communicating mostly on-line, lots of adults are working on their projects and meeting their deadlines at home offices. Eyes are very sensitive to irritations and become tired when you work with computer screen for a long time. It does not matter if you learn, communicate, work or just browse on-line, your eyes need proper lighting. Having a quality lamp can become the best solution to your eyes.


Getting a proper lighting solution became our priority. Recently we received AnthroDesk LED Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port. I think it was a good choice, the lamp has a nice design and the color perfectly fits to our room style. It comes with a sturdy base and a fold-able arm. The lamp has an aluminum body, it is adjustable and holds a chosen position without falling. You will be amazed how flexible this lamp is! The top of the lamp and the body can be adjusted to your needs.


There are three modes to set the color temperature to adapt to the task you are performing. Depends on what you are doing right now - reading, designing, playing video games or browsing, the lamp has a Touch-Sensitive Control Panel to adjust the mode to your personal preferences.


There are also buttons on the panel to control brightness, which we found very useful. The light is evenly distributed across the desk and without any glare or shade, which makes it a great lamp for eyes. Take time to find the perfect lamp position so that your eyes can feel comfortable with lighting and do not get tired fast. 


It also includes a USB charging port for digital devices, which proves to be a very practical addition. We worried before buying about changing the lamp's light bulbs, how often we need that. It turned out that LED lights can last long time, up to 50.000 hours.


AnthroDesk LED Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port and Touch-Sensitive Control Panel is available on Amazon.ca for $29.99, on AnthroDesk on-line store for $49.99 and other major office supply retailers. I bought our lamp via Amazon, because I have free shipping and they ship pretty fast! There is also an option for the color of your lamp alloy, you can choose from Silver, Gold and Blue. Our lamp has Blue Accent color.

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