Is everyone ready for Easter weekend? I'm getting there, although I still only half believe we're done with snow!
I found out it was a biiiig mistake procrastinating on getting this link up posted late last week - our turn out was a lot smaller, and that was a good lesson to learn! My apologies to those who showed up on time and found me out flaking around!
We've had a good week, here at Reviews, Chews & How-Tos. Check out these posts if you missed them:
Lauren gives us her second Puppycake Review - this time, she's using Puppycake's cake mix and ice cream mix to treat her dog to birthday celebration of his very own.
This amazing company is owned and operated by kids, for kids - adorable kid-created designs on sturdy and affordable sock. Don't forget to enter to win a 3-pack for your own little genius!
Where to even begin this one - not only does the whole idea of a Dark Robust grateable Maple Cube that supports small business farming make us drool, but Jessica also shares a recipe for Baked Maple Bacon (whut??)! And if that's not enough, there's a giveaway for a Maple Cube, too!
Finally, Matt and his little "Mischief" spent time working with this wonderful STEM collection of activities that get kids ages 3-7 learning about construction principles while having a whole lot of creative and educational fun.
Whew! So that was us? Now how about you? Even though our turn out was smaller due to my late posting, the entries we got were so much fun to read - here's what we're featuring this week:
I really enjoy Rick's travel posts - and this one takes the vacation right into my backyard. His sightseeing options are dead on, and you know - if you hurry, you'll be able to catch the cherry blossoms, too!
Thanks so much to everyone who shared last week - if you were featured, please feel free to grab a button!
My oldest daughter is 5 years old. We have debated buying her an indoor trampoline for a couple years. There are a few reasons that we have been hesitant, first and foremost being the price. Other reasons include space and safety.
This past month, I’ve had the immense pleasure of reviewing JumpSportiBounce Kids Trampoline. The price tag is in the same range as others I’ve seen, retailing for $99.95. However, I believe the comparisons stop there.
I've not only written this review but done a video review as well so you can see it's features in action!
I don’t know what I expected before it arrived, but I was surprised to see how small the box was when it arrived, obviously it meant assembly required.
According to their website, it can be “easily assembled in as little
as 15 minutes!” My husband, who is generally quite handy, took one look
at the provided pieces and instruction booklet, and was skeptical.
Although
he did have one or two mishaps piecing it together that caused some
back tracking in the process, it took him roughly 45 minutes.
I was quite impressed with the finished product. It appeared very
sturdy. I was also glad to see it wouldn’t be an eyesore in my living
room. It fits nicely in the corner of the room, when not being used with
the television.The television, you ask?
The JumpSport iBounce comes with an active learning series featuring an adorable kangaroo named RompyRoo. This is one of the aspects that I truly believe makes this company’s trampoline different from others out there.
Sure, all trampolines are providing fitness to kids, but I love that they make a point to engage them a level further. The learning series is available as an app for iPad, as well as DVD form, which is what we used.
It tells her when to fly around (arms out to side) has her counting jumps, jumping on one foot, and running in place. It seems to keep her busy for longer than a free jump on a trampoline would, and also works her brain at the same time. Win win!
To be able to accommodate the tablet while jumping, you have the option to include a mounted tablet holder for an additional $30 - making the total $129.95.
Although we do not own a iPad, we do have a Kindle. I’m a little embarrassed to admit the electronic addiction my 5 year old has. But hey, it’s 2015, whose kid doesn’t?! For a little bit, nearly everyday, she can usually be found sprawled out somewhere zoned out, staring at Netflix.
Ever since the addition of the iBounce to our home, she is at least doing aerobics simultaneously!
The base of the tablet holder appears made specifically for iPads, but thankfully there is an adapter to hold the Kindle securely as well. The Kindle is a bit smaller, and needs the adapter to have a snug hold. The plunging lock in the back has held up well, and has not come unlocked on its own. On the side, there is also a turning lock to adjust the angle of the frame, for comfortable watch-ability based on the hight of your child. (you can see a detailed explanation of the holder and adapter in our video review above)
The JumpSport iBounce is a triangular shape. While this isn’t unique to them strictly, I find it to be less common than the circular indoor trampolines. In my experience, kids tend to all cram onto those to jump at once, inevitable causing someone (or something!) injury. With the triangle shape it seems to pretty obvious, even to the youngsters, that this is made for one single jumper at a time. I think the large sturdy handholds assist in this as well.
Another safety feature I enjoy, though it was apparently a pain in the rear to assemble, is the ball and loop bungee cords that replace standards metal springs that you’ll find on most trampolines. I remember slipping and cutting my legs or tangling a toe on those numerous times as a kid. I’m happy to see an alternative on this piece of equipment! It also keeps it from being loud and squeaky while she jumps.
The specifications on their site say that the JumpSport iBounce is intended for ages 2-5. I was a little nervous about getting it for my 5 year old as she is on the higher end of that. However, also looking at the weight limits, she is more than 40lbs away from the maximum, so I’m hoping she will still fit on, and enjoy, this trampoline for many years, by which time, her younger sister will happily take it over!
Not that I foresee any issues, but I’m happy to see that there is a 90 day warranty on all components.
Among a handful of other awards, the JumpSport iBounce has won Creative Child Magazine’s Product of the Year award, two years in a row. I truly think it deserved that honor, and I would recommend this to anyone with children!
And if you're jealous of the little kids, check out their full line of adult fitness trampolines too.
About two and a half years ago, my daughter and I decided we wanted to adopt a dog. My husband was not thrilled about the prospect, but I felt like we needed another little life in the house that didn't need diapers.
We walked into a No-Kill Shelter in Apple Valley, California and immediately fell in love with this scruffy, somewhat pathetic looking pup who just looked like he fit our family. He had been found wandering in the desert and his paws had been burned from the heat. He was desperately in need of a bath, a haircut, a name (Augustus Caesar) and lots of love.
The folks at the shelter estimated his age to be about two years old by the look of his teeth. We didn’t know when his birthday was so we’ve never been able to celebrate it officially. I wanted to change that this year and the good people of Puppy Cake had obliged me by sending a box of Puppy Cake Mix and Ice Cream Mix so I decided to throw Augustus an impromptu birthday shindig.
You may remember back in December that I reviewed Puppy Cake’s Holiday Cookie Mix. Augustus LOVED the cookies! I set the cake and ice cream aside and forgot that I had them until my daughter found them and suggested that now was the time for a puppy treat!
The Ice Cream came in the form of a pint sized container filled with a powdered mix that I added water to, thoroughly mixed and placed in the freezer. As I mixed in the water, a wonderful aroma of fresh peanut butter wafted up from the container. I knew Gus was going to love it!
The cake mix was a wheat free, pumpkin spice mix with all natural, simple ingredients like rice flour, pumpkin and cinnamon. It smelled just like spice cake mix, but not quite as sweet. You add a little water, vegetable oil and one egg. My favorite part about the cake mix was the many options for preparation. You can make them in the oven or microwave, in a cake pan or cupcakes.
I chose to make cupcakes in the microwave in my silicone baking cups. I’ve made the microwave mug cake that you see on Pinterest before and it always turns out a little weird, so I was eager to try these directions and put the product to the test.
I was pleasantly surprised at the texture of these cupcakes. They rose beautifully and had a very tender texture, not gummy or doughy at all! The mix also included a yogurt frosting packet. A powdered yogurt product that you whip up with water. I had to add a little more water than what was recommended to get a spreadable consistency, but I was pleased with the result.
I taste tested everything and the Ice Cream was very good. It was creamy and tasted like peanut butter, but not sweet. The cake was spicy and definitely had a pumpkin tone and was also not sweet. The yogurt icing was not pleasant to me, but Gus loved it (as evidenced by the photos).
We put a small scoop of ice cream and a cupcake on a plate and tried to get a birthday hat on Gus, but he just wanted to eat already! He jumped in and devoured the ice cream first.
If I would have handed him the pint, he would have wolfed it down like he was wearing yoga pants and watching a Sex in the City marathon on Netflix.
He then moved onto the cupcake where he licked the frosting off and then tried to run off with the cupcake like he was in trouble. I managed to get him back for photos and had to help him eat the rest.
To summarize, I would say the Puppy Cake knows their stuff! I will definitely be buying from them in the future.
If you would like to get your hands on any of the wonderful products from Puppy Cake, you can go to their website to place an order. You can also check them out on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
