Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Children of America Dolls Ethnic Quality Affordable Toys for Girls Holiday Gift Idea

Toys

I'm a Baby Boomer whom you'll often see me reminiscing about the fabulous 1960s here on MommyBlogExpert. I guess you could call me hopelessly nostalgic because there's plenty I miss from those days gone by. Full-size candy bars that cost only 15 cents, a loaf of bread that sold for a quarter, stylishly dressed women wearing hats and gloves to work each day and neighborhoods so safe kids as young as kindergarteners could walk to school alone. These are just of the things that I wish still existed, but sadly are gone forever, all in the name of progress and the passage of time.

I still have this 1960s era first doll my parents gave me

Thankfully one thing that has changed for the better is dolls. Back in the day these were largely depicted as Caucasian like my first doll which I still own today. In fact as a child I'm sad to say that I don't remember ever seeing a doll that was anything but White Anglo. That would definitely not fly in today's politically correct and ethnically conscious society. Modern day dolls -- which continue to be popular with little girls even in high tech 2012 -- are not only much nicer now than the ones I grew up with, they are also truly representative of the modern multi cultural world we live in.

Dolls in 2012 have come a long way, Image from Children of America Dolls

The good news is you don't have to spend over $100 on a gorgeous new first doll for that special little lady in your life to get a toy as exquisite -- and all about cultural diversity -- as the one you see pictured wearing a wonderfully colorful and coordinated hip outfit complete with orange and lace leggings. Thanks to the newly-introduced Children of America Dolls (COAD) collection you can buy a very affordable classic heirloom quality doll that's priced at just under $35 which is much more in touch with the realities of today's average family budget.

The doll is available in four choices embracing current ethnic culture awareness and diversity from Hispanic to African-American to Asian and even blonde blue-eyed Caucasian. Making it even more realistic, each doll has her own back story. This line was created with kids ages 4-8 in mind but seasoned collectors will undoubtably appreciate this too. Each of the different products in the Children of America Dolls collection consists of a 13" doll with expressive facial details, a soft cloth body, vinyl extremities and rooted hair that's precision-made and comes complete with a trendy and fully-accessorized outfit.

As you can see from the video above and pictures below that I shot for this review post featuring my very happy little girl product tester with the Mia Doll from Children of America Dolls, this line is not endowed with beauty alone. It is also durable and so realistic, encouraging lots of healthy interactive play for your child.

Mia comes in a big see-through box ready to give to a lucky little girl

"Neither me or my doggie can wait to tear into this Children of America Dolls box."

"Now to get this pretty doll out of the package so I can start playing with it."

"We sure do look alike, don't you think?"

"Hey, this is so fun. Her arms really move and I can dress this pretty doll."

"Children of America Dolls mirror today's youth in their appeal and authentic ethnic diversity, most specifically reflected in the latest 2010 U.S. Census," explains Mary Eubanks, creator, founder and retired school teacher and counselor. "These facilitate healthy early childhood development because each doll is designed to deliver messages about the value of developing positive self-esteem and personal nurturing."

Painstaking attention to facial, hair, clothing and accessory details are all apparent in each of the Children of America Dolls. But don't take my word for it. Take a close look at these product images to virtually meet each of the dolls in this fabulous foursome: Andrea, Brianna, Ashley and Mia.

Andrea represents the Hispanic culture, Image from Children of America Dolls

Beautiful Brianna is African-American, Image from Children of America Dolls

Ashley is blonde with blue eyes, Image from Children of America Dolls

Mia stands up for Asian diversity, Image from Children of America Dolls

Each of the dolls Andrea, Brianna, Ashley and Mia in the Children of America Dolls collection is boxed ready for gift giving and priced at $34.99. All are available online direct from COADolls.com and may also be purchased in select toy stores in Southern California including Dinosaur Farm Store in Pasadena and The Dollmakers Store in Monrovia. Stay up to date on COA Dolls news by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Children of America Dolls providing product to facilitate this review. 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.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

NetZero Personal Mobile HotSpot MiFi Review

Technology

NetZero $300 Value Review, Giveaway

Loyal Mommy Blog Expert readers know how intense my family of six, including four teenagers (triplets plus big brother born just a year apart), my hubbie and I are about embracing the latest wireless mobile technology. Having acquired a new Motorola XYBoard Tablet, another iPad, and a Nokia Lumia smart phone within the past month alone, our wireless device collection continues to expand, now numbering over 18 laptops, tablets, readers, cell phones, smart phones and other devices -- and is showing no signs of slowing growth any time soon.

NetZero 4G Personal Hotspot

MBE partnered with NetZero for this story and giveaway

So when I was asked to do a review and giveaway of the NetZero 4G Personal Hotspot MiFi wireless router product which was just released in March 2012, I realized I couldn't have been selected for a more practical blogging assignment. This is such a cool family-friendly tech tool because it has the capability to provide portable Internet service on the go, connecting up to eight devices simultaneously. For sure with our tech focused lifestyle, this is a product and service that my very wired family needed badly.

Apparently we are not unlike other wired family households, part of a much larger consumer trend that reveals an ever-increasing appetite for more and better mobile connected devices. The statistics back this reality up. According to CEA research, smartphone revenue is expected to crest $37 billion next year (16% increase over 2012) and tablet sales are expected to surpass 105 million units, the equivalent of $35.6 billion in sales (a whopping 54% more than this year).

So, without further adieu, here is my hands-on experience report.

NetZero Personal HotSport Review

Setting up the NetZero 4G Personal Hotspot, which comes with its own micro USB cable, rechargeable battery, wall charger, Getting Started Guide and connection software CD, was a breeze. The device comes partially charged so you can start using it instantly right out of the box. All that's needed to get it working is the required Activated NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband Service and a Wi-Fi enabled device and you are in business. There are no activation fees, contract commitments or overage charges.

The device sells for $99.95 as of press time. The service coverage area map shows coverage across the U.S. in and near 80 cities including all major metropolitan areas and most larger cities. However there will be times when there is no signal if you are outside these areas, especially in remote parts of the country. With that said, it's highly recommended that you check the NetZero coverage map -- like you would when signing up for any cell phone service -- to ensure this is the right solution for you.

Four NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband Service Plans are available

$9.95/month, 500MB
$19.95/month, 1GB
$34.95/month, 2GB
$49.95/month, 4GB

With this mobile hot spot's 6-hour battery life, I've already discovered that it is particularly handy on the go while traveling around my hometown of Los Angeles by car with family because it is portable and compact, measuring just 3-1/4" x 3-1/4" square and weighing only 4.4 ounces.

In fact this gadget is so tiny it fits in my over-crowded handbag! Already my high school kids are loving this, benefiting from using it because they have access to the Internet enroute to and from home and school and can now work on their homework on their laptops and tablets while I drive. We do a lot of family vacation trips, too, so I plan to bring this along whenever we travel.

This is also going to be great for me to use when I travel for business and I expect it to be invaluable when I cover International CES in Las Vegas in January because I'll have Wi-Fi access on both my iPhone 5 and my iPad 2 as well as any new laptops, tablets or smartphones I may receive for review during the conference.

This is too good of a technology product to keep to myself. So I am thrilled to let you know that NetZero has provided a NetZero 4G Personal Hotspot MiFi device plus 3 months of Platinum service (a $300 value) for Mommy Blog Expert to give away on this blog. Read on to find out how you can win this awesome and useful prize that busy moms, dads, kids and whole families will definitely appreciate.

NetZero 4G Personal Hotspot
Plus 3 Months Free Service
Prize ARV$300

GIVEAWAY

Ends 12/26/12

NetZero 4G Personal Hotspot out of the box

How to Enter Giveaway

Just leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends December 26, 2012 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. One winner will receive the NetZero 4G Personal Hotspot device plus three months of free Platinum Service. The prize package has a total value of $300. Winner will be selected at random from all entries received and will be notified via email and must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment saying why you'd like to win this prize. Don't forget to include your social handle in the 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. Follow @mommyblogexpert on Facebook
3. Follow @mommyblogexpert on Pinterest
4. Follow @netzero on Twitter
5. Follow @netzero on Facebook

More Family-Friendly
Mommy Blog Expert Giveaways

ENTER Them All HERE

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Mom It Forward blogger network. MBE partnered with NetZero through Mom It Forward to provide me with this compensated review opportunity. Thoughts are my own. 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.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Kids AppGear ZombieBurbz iPad Android Interactive Games Giveaway, Ends 1/22/13

Games
Giveaway details below

Kids ages 9+ and kid-like adults who enjoy iPad and Android tablet based interactive technology games and who are into the current zombie craze that's sweeping America are going to love this trio of AppGear ZombieBurbz mobile application games manufactured by WowWee Group. Each of the three amplified reality games is sold separately.

This is a really fun game collection that comes boxed with 4 Zombie figures in each set that interact with your tablet, offering hours of entertainment for older kids and families on the go. Great for airplane travel and family road trips. Check out what a blast this is.

iPad is not included and is shown in this video for demonstration purposes only

AppGear
ZombieBurbz

GIVEAWAY

Ends 1/22/13

Prize Package includes the three sets pictured, each with different collectible Zombies


AppGear ZombieBurbz Diner 
AppGear ZombieBurbz Services
App Gear ZombieBurbz High

HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends January 22, 2013 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. One winner will receive all three ZombieBurbz AppGear games pictured in this post, ARV approximately $30. Winner will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email and must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying what why you'd like to win this prize. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the 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 MBE on Twitter

2. Like MBE on Facebook
3. Follow MBE on Pinterest
4. Subscribe to MommyBlogExpert

***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 to copy and paste:

Zombie Burbz AppGear iPad Android Interactive Games Giveaway, Enter up to 3x daily to WIN til 1/22/13 http://tinyurl.com/c8ookwb