My kids favorite Christmas gift....

is the LeapPad!!  Who would have known.  They actually had a Gameboy and a DS prior to us purchasing the LeapPads and we wanted to get them something on the same level.  We considered everything from the new 3DS to Leapfrog Explorer to the V-tech Innotab.  We really leaned toward the more educational options so that took the DS out of the equation.  Then we were just left to decide between the LeapPad, Explorer and Innotab.  After lots of research we decided on the the LeapPad.  Our main reasons were the reviews that we read about the Innotab and LeapPad and also the idea that the LeapPad was fairly new (which hindered the Explorer).  Not to mention that the LeapPad was to be sold to our children by saying that they are toddlers versions of Ipads.  They LOVE their dads Ipad so they were ecstatic when they were told about the LeapPads.

Now that they children have had some time to play with them, I wanted to give my own personal review.  They LeapPad offers so many learning opportunities.  The kids can play games, read/listen to books, sing songs, take pictures, paint among other things.

My daughter was actually the first of my children to show interest in her LeapPad on Christmas day.  She's 2 but she is very smart.  She took her LeapPad and went into her tent and played with it for 30 minutes or more before we heard anything from her.  She absolutely loves the Pet game.  She gets to take care of her own pet by cleaning it, playing with it and feeding it, all while learning.  For instance, she has to write letters to show love to the pet.  She also loves the book reading and music.  She already knows some words to some of the songs.

My 4 year old son did not show any interest in his LeapPad until a few hours later.  He noticed that his sister kept playing with hers and that I think that peaked his interest.  He also started out playing the Pet game and he loves it as well.  However, we purchased the Cars game for the Explorer (which can be used on the LeapPad) and that's what he likes to play.  It has all the well know Cars characters and they help teach the children while making it fun.  He also loves the songs on the LeapPad and he loves to sing along.

Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with the LeapPad.  Leapfrog has yet to let me down!  This is an amazing learning tool that keeps the kids attention while teaching them fundamentals.  Not to mention, they have all the well known characters that children love in the games.  Knowing what I know now, I would absolutely purchase the LeapPad again.  We are already trying to determine which games we will be buying for them next!

All opinions are my own and no compensation has been received.

CarMD...my husband is in love!!

I finally received our new CarMD in the mail the other day and my husband couldn't wait to open it.  He has been wanting an OBD scanner for a LONG time but I couldn't see paying that much money for something that he would rarely use.  Then, I was offered the opportunity to purchase the CarMD at a discounted rate and I was over the moon. 

This has been so easy to use.  It's pretty much plug and play.  I registered for the website prior to using the CarMD and I have to admit that was my last interaction with the device.  My husband refuses to let me use it :-)  So, after he "tested" the Jeep, here is what he had to say...

A lot of the other reviews say that CarMD has a lot of hype but is just another OBD scanner. This is true to an advanced user such as a ASE certified mechanic or an advanced do it yourself mechanic. However, for the average consumer the simplicity of the two button design and easy to read led/screen take a lot of the complexity out of vehicle diagnostics. This coupled with the intuitive web based interface make it very easy for anyone to understand the specific issues and overall health of their vehicle. I have used this on my personal vehicle to ensure it stays in top "physical" condition. I am considering upgrading to the premium membership to gain access to the latest recalls and technical service bulletins. That way I will be armed with all the necessary information to maintain my vehicle for the duration of my ownership. Please consider giving this as a gift to that someone who you have difficulty buying for or that "expert" mechanic in your family.

As you can see, he has been well pleased.  I am so grateful to BzzAgent for giving us the opportunity to test a CarMD.  It has definitely made my husband happy this Christmas!!  If you want to surprise your husband with a CarMD for Christmas, try this link for $30 off your purchase! 

I received a CarMD device from BzzAgent at a discounted rate in exchange for my review of the product.  All opinions are my own and no other compensation has been received.