Bop It XT Game Toy for Ages 8+ Review

Games

Toy Review and Giveaway

For this review I called on my girl, girl, boy teen triplets to test the product. Having owned and really enjoyed both predecessors to the Bop It! XT -- plus the fact they love action toys that challenge physical and mental coordination -- it doesn't surprise me that I didn't have to twist their arms too much. They were more than glad to oblige and eagerly give me their feedback on the newest version of this fast reaction game that Hasbro just launched.

MBE partnered with Hasbro, post contains affiliate links

My daughter cracks open the new Bop It! XT

The packaging says Bop-It! XT is for ages 8 and up. I think it's worth emphasizing, though, that tweens and teens in particular will get a naturally-induced adrenaline rush with this game that can be played alone at home or with friends at a party. 

Like the earlier models of this battery-operated hand-held reaction challenge game the object is to think as quickly as possible and respond to the commands correctly. My kids are competitive by nature so they've been playing against each other when ever they can fit it in to their already very busy freshman high school schedules. But they've also been challenging themselves to beat their personal best scores, too.

The original Bop-It only had three commands that were delivered by an electronic voice that said "Bop it," "Pull it," and "Twist it" in random order. The second version appeared more sturdy as it was better constructed than the first game was and included a few more bells and whistles. The newest version basically works the same way the earlier generations did using the original commands but it adds three more call outs and more sophisticated actions including "Flick it," "Spin it," and "Shake it." The added action this toy now involves really challenges kids to think and react even more quickly.


Here my teen shows how fun this toy is in action

 

In addition to playing this solo or with just two players taking turns competing against each other, there are lots of other ways to have fun with the Bop It! XT with groups, teams, and at parties. The game now offers four progressive levels of play: Novice, Expert, Master and Pro. Advanced levels of play require gamers to remember the sounds and associated colors as well as the word commands that are delivered more rapidly as you progress to the next tier. My kids -- one now at the Expert level while the other is at the Master level -- are quite coordinated and athletic as well as sharp thinkers. Nevertheless this is really giving them a run for their money and they are working hard to keep moving up in the ranks.

With spring already here and warmer days ahead this is a good game to play indoors or outside that will get boys and girls moving and more physically active.  Encourage your kids to use their imagination for playing this game, I've no doubt that those who get hooked will have no trouble thinking up even more ways to entertain themselves with this.

Bop It! XT from Hasbro is available on Amazon and in stores nationwide where games and toys are sold. Requires three AAA batteries which are not included with the game which retails for $24.99.  

Hasbro BOP IT! XT

GIVEAWAY
Ends 4/25/12

Product image provided by Hasbro Games

HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends April 25, 2012 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. One winner will be selected at random from all entries and notified via email. 

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying why  you'd like to win this great prize. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the initial comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Optional Extra Entries 
Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below. Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1. Follow @mommyblogexpert on Twitter

2. Like @mommyblogexpert on Facebook

3. Follow @Hasbro Twitter

4. Like @ Hasbro on Facebook

***Bonus Entries***

You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day. Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

Tweet:

BOP-IT! XT Electronic Reaction Kids Game Toy GIVEAWAY - Enter up to 3x/Day, Ends 4/25 http://tinyurl.com/7bvjy7e RT 2 #WIN

Find More

Family-Friendly Giveaways

HERE

MBE participates in the Amazon Affiliate program and we receive a bit of compensation, at no extra cost to you, when you click on links within this post and make a purchase.

FTC Disclosure: Hasbro Games provided product to facilitate this review. The brand is also supplying the prize and handling shipping to the winner at the conclusion of the contest. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Future Friendly Outreach Urges Consumers to Make Small Changes for Impacting Environment in Big Way

Eco Living 

Tweet

Regular readers know that MBE writes frequently about living green and has already published a number of eco-friendly blogposts in April. Since it's Earth Month and Earth Day will soon be here, this post couldn't be more timely to add to all the content already on this blog to reach out and educate consumers about living a more green and eco-friendly lifestyle. My hope is that this inspires each of us to commit to do at least one small thing to make the world better right now as well as for our children and for future generations.

Vanessa Lachey at L.A. Event w/ Tide Coldwater Detergent

Bet you didn't know that 

• Heating water for your washing machine accounts for about 80% of the energy used per wash load.
• If all households in the Los Angeles metro area switched to cold water laundering for a year, it would save enough energy to meet all the electricity needs of L.A. city streetlights for 4.1 years. 
• If the entire U.S. washed in cold water for just one day the energy saved could power the Empire State Building for 444 years or could power the city lights of New York City for 71 years.*

*Data provided by Alliance to Save Energy   

I know. That's really graphic. I hadn't realized the impact washing the laundry with cold water could have, either. That is, until I got recently got involved in the Tide Laundry Detergent #TakeaLoadOff Awareness Campaign.

It has been a whirlwind week working in concert with P&G's Future Friendly and Tide Take a Load Off effort to bring about more awareness and to encourage U.S. consumers to switch to cold water laundry washing to help save energy and reduce household utility expenses. 

So, I'd just like to share some of the highlights with readers not only about the Take A Load Off event that was sponsored by Procter & Gamble and their Future Friendly line of products that I attended here in L.A. but also give you some new ideas to think about on how we can each help reduce the sizes of our carbon footprints.

It is an honor to be tapped as one of a handful of VIP mom bloggers to take an active role in this project. My journey began on Tuesday when the driver of the limousine service that the Future Friendly brand had arranged picked me up at home and whisked me and a fellow blogger to Hollywood & Highland. Right next door to the Grauman's Chinese Theater, this world-famous center is just as famous as it is the present home of the annual Academy Awards ceremony.

Flowers cascading down Take a Load Off display wall

After the limo dropped us off in front, we met up with the other women bloggers that had also been brought in from throughout L.A. and Orange County by car service including my good friend Valerie of Mitchell Sweeps4Bloggers.com 

First we met up with the staff of PR agency Citizen Paine. They walked us through the pop-up laundry lounge exhibit that had been erected for the day right on the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard, probably the highest foot traffic location in all of Los Angeles.

Everything about this free educational presentation open to the public that day was green as in eco friendly. The public in New York City is invited to join the brand as the event repeats there on April 18.

Adirondack Chair in Future Friendly booth made of reclaimed wood

Future Friendly's full line of consumer products were on display as was a washer and dryer set like the ones they're giving away in a Facebook sweepstakes that you are invited to enter (see below for more info).

Not only were fresh flowers such as petunias planted in the slots in the walls, the entire temporary structure was actually made from a refurbished shipping container and included comfy Adirondack chairs crafted from reclaimed wood. In keeping with the Take A Load Off theme, passersby were invited to enjoy a neck massages courtesy of the brand.

Next our small group was ushered through the Hollywood & Highland plaza to the Renaissance Hotel and up the elevator to the Twist restaurant. There we enjoyed an intimate chat and lunch with the Procter & Gamble product manager for the Future Friendly brand along with spokeswoman Vanessa Lachey who is best known as host of the TV show WipeOut.

Us mom bloggers chat with P&G and Vanessa Lachey

Lachey, who is expecting her first baby, spoke intelligently about why it's important for parents to educate our children about what we are doing to recycle and be more energy-wise. "We must teach our kids that sustainability is being good to the Earth," she says. "Simple changes like washing your clothes with cold water make meaningful impacts that we can all benefit from."

Here's two easy ways you can get involved right now:

Tonight at 9 pm EST - You're invited to the She Speaks #TakeaLoadOff Twitter Party sponsored by Future Friendly and Tide. They'll be giving away over $1000 in prizes so don't miss it. RSVP is required to be eligible to win. 

Now through May 13 - Enter the Future Friendly Sweepstakes on Facebook where P&G invites you to commit to washing with cold water. In exchange you'll have the chance to win Tide Coldwater detergent or one of the sets of high-efficiency washer and dryers they're giving away weekly for this giveaway.

Vanessa Lachey and Me at Twist in Hollywood

About Tide Coldwater

Tide Coldwater detergent, one of the products in the Future Friendly line, was developed by P&G to work most effectively in cold water conditions and recently ranted among the top detergents. Specially formulated with efferent enzymes and surfactants, the detergent allows consumers to live more sustainably and save money without sacrificing the results they expect from a trusted brand such as Tide.
 

About Future Friendly

Procter & Gamble (P&G) is committed to a global strategy to grow responsibly and work towards long-term sustainability. This includes powering its plants with 100% renewable energy, using 100% renewable or recycled materials for all products and packaging, having  zero consumer and manufacturing waste go to landfills, and designing quality consumer products that also maximize conservation of resources. For more information, visit FutureFriendly.com

FTC Disclosure: I have written this blogpost on behalf of SheSpeaks and Tide and received VIP perks for attending the live L.A. Take A Load Off event. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

National Casting Call for Expectant Moms & Dads for New Reality Show Abt Funny Side of Pregnancy

Pregnancy

Tweet

Doron Ofir Casting has just announced they are conducting a nationwide search for pregnant women with big personalities (think: loud and proud) and their dads-to-be significant others to share their stories while expecting. This is for an undisclosed major cable network.  Since I already have triplets, I'm not applying but some of you readers might be interested.
 

My triplets at about a month old

With all the reality series being produced these days it was only a matter of time before one about the wild and crazy side of awaiting the birth of a new child would be casting a new show. 

Having had four children within a year -- a son followed in quick succession by triplets -- I don't remember pregnancy as being particularly hilarious myself but it did have equal mountains of challenges and joys to work through. Honestly I can't begin to imagine what this show will be like. But suffice it to say that it will likely be quite interesting to watch the wacky follies of others going through something that many of us have gone through before them. In fact it's nearly as old as the world itself: the drama leading up to childbirth.

Doron Ofir, the Hollywood epic casting company behind Millionaire Matchmaker and Jersey Shore -- and self-described as being inspired by and contributing to the world of pop culture -- is looking for expectant mothers to lead them down the paths of their high maintenance and intriguing journeys of pregnancy. Ofir's credits also include many other reality show names you'll recognize: Tori & Dean: Storibook Wedding, Paris Hilton's My New BFF, Trading Spaces, Wife Swap and a bunch more.

If you've ever been pregnant yourself or been with someone who was/is you may know what this potentially means: A path that can sometimes be derailed by irrational episodes, demanding experiences and who knows what else. Ah what fun it is to be expecting, isn't it?

Says Ofir, "I think women are the most beautiful when pregnant, it's with respect and curiosity I chose to explore the madness behind the glow." 

According to the casting call news release I received, moms-to-be and their partners who appear to be between the ages of 21 and 35 and want to take part in this brand new docu-series can apply online at Pregzillascasting.com  If selected, the couple will receive an episodic stipend of $5,000.

FTC Disclosure: I have no connection to those offering this opportunity and am simply passing on information about this casting call because it may be of interest to some readers. I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.