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There is nothing like the circus to remind you of the fun of being a kid! The clowns, the acrobats, the high-wire, the animals, the human canon! It’s all so fun!!
We were lucky enough to attend Ringling Bros Zing Zang Zoom about 2 years ago – and both my boys still remember it! We were all very excited to go see the new Ringling Bros Fully Charged, which opened in Phoenix last night at US Airways Center. Once again, we were reminded why this is called “The Greatest Show on Earth”! The beautiful visuals, great music, and amazing death-defying feats were enough to mesmerize all of us for the full 2 1/2 hours!
The great thing about the circus is that everyone, of all ages, can enjoy it. We sat behind 3 older couples (probably in their 60’s), who were as giddy as teenagers as they watched the show unfold. A few rows behind us was a family with baby and another child who was about 4. Both children squealed in delight watching the clowns falling down and being silly. I have two boys – 5 and 10 – and neither could take their eyes off the stage!
 Danguir Troupe Our entire family was enthralled watching the Danguir Troupe’s dangerous high-wire stunts. I gasped quite a few times during their act as they played leap-frog on the high-wire and performed a shoulder to shoulder leap. They were so fun to watch!
 Stas and Vas - Comedic Duo My 5-yr old son couldn’t stop laughing whenever Stas and Vas were in the ring. All the children (as well as the adults) thought they were just hysterical! Both my boys got red clown noses and have been acting so silly since we got home last night! It’s been fun to watch them!
We all loved Tabayara, a dynamic animal trainer who is as much fun to watch as the animals he trains! He was in a cage with 12 ferocious tigers – directing them to do various tricks as if they were cute little kittens. Amazing — and heart-stopping!
 Tabayara - Dynamic Animal Trainer The Brothers of Brawn were this awe-inspiring mix of brawn and grace. The first time they come out to the ring, all you can see is how big and strong they are. THEN, they come out a second time and do graceful moves and stunts that many ballerinas would be proud of. It’s hard to get your head around the fact these boys are BIG AND GRACEFUL – and, oh so fun to watch!
Don’t miss this family fun show that everyone can enjoy!! Get your tickets at Ticketmaster now!!
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 We really enjoyed the Disney Store Grand Opening of its newly designed store at the Chandler Fashion Center in Chandler, AZ. It is the first of its kind to open in Arizona with a unique and very interactive magical experience for kids and adults to enjoy. The store has been expertly designed to provide fun, excitement interactive and magical play. From the moment you enter the store, you will see it is unlike any other Disney store you have been to as there are various displays and exhibits that grab your attention as much as the products and merchandise.
As you walk into the store, you immediately notice the size of the store. It is huge … 4,228 square feet to be exact. Around the top of the store walls are wonderful interactive murals that come to life. Tinkerbell and other characters fly around the display and around the perimeter of the store through the murals which include a desert motif that uniquely represents Arizona and its environment.  Then, you will see the ‘Cars’ Ridemakerz display to your right where your little one can build their own specially made favorite ‘Cars’ vehicle. They can choose the perfect accessories and parts they want to make it very special and uniquely their own.
Near the entrance on the left, you will see every little girl’s dream …. A Princess size Castle that your little princess can enter and explore. The magic castle even has a magical mirror your little princess can look into to see herself and her favorite Disney Princess. She must wave Disney’s special wands or tiaras in front of the mirror and make a magic wish and then her favorite princess will appear. It is truly an exciting moment every princess must experience. Moreover, there are 12 foot digital trees that have leaves that change colors and pictures depending on the season. Sometimes Disney characters ‘inhabit’ the tree and at the beginning of the tour and grand opening of the store, the tree lit up with fireworks. IT WAS  AMAZING! There is also a wonderful interactive display of all of Disney’s beloved stuffed animals. It has a Mickey Mouse display at the very top that spins when a button on the display is pushed. Moreover, the display has an area that kids can crawl through. Lastly, there is a wonderful huge theater style display that shows scenes and plays music from favorite Disney movies. There is also and oversized touch screen display that allows the user to select favorite scenes and music from various Disney movies. You can even ask the staff to display a special personalized message to celebrate a birthday or special occasion. This area also has a table so little ones can color on special Disney coloring sheets. Last but not least, there are tons of Disney products from all of your favorite Disney movies. Princess dresses, toys, clothing, balls, kitchen ware and much much more are available for purchase … Of course, there is a wide range of items in different price ranges, and some items are a bit pricey but worth the experience you receive. It is truly an EXPERIENCE!!!! It was more than I ever imagined and I highly recommend it to others. Thanks!
Submitted:
Cara Weddington and Princess Annika
 
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 Skin MD Natural Lotion You know how they say, “Arizona is a DRY heat”? Well, that is true – and, boy, does this “dry heat” do a number on my skin! I’ve always had dry, itchy skin. I was diagnosed with Eczema quite a while ago and have been lathering on moisturizing lotion every since. Very cold weather irritates the condition. So does the dry heat of Arizona.
I recently tried a natural skin lotion from Skin MD Natural, www.skinmdnatural.com. The lotion came in a 4 oz bottle that I was told would last 1 – 2 months. Well, I was immediately skeptical since I really lather on the lotion. I’ve used the product for about 2 weeks now, and I am not even half way through the bottle – so, this 4 oz bottle will last me well over one month! That fact alone makes this product, priced at $18, a great deal. I spend more than that on moisturizes that don’t work as well!
When I opened the bottle, I was met with a subtle floral scent that was calming, but not overbearing. My initial application was in the evening and I was very careful not to squeeze out too much lotion – after all, I didn’t want to use up all the lotion in a few days. I was very surprised when a dollop, less than the size of an olive, covered my entire leg. I completed the application and was pleased to see that the lotion went on very smoothly and was not at all greasy.
I continued using this lotion once or twice per day for about two weeks. I LOVE this product! It helps reduce the dryness and itch immediately when I apply it to my skin. But, the best thing about Skin MD Natural Lotion is that it seems to create a barrier or shield to protect my skin from drying out throughout the day. I think that is the biggest difference between this product and many others — Skin MD Natural Lotion stays with me long after I apply it, thus I didn’t need to use as much as often – and, my skin still feels great!
I also love the fact that this company posts all of its ingredients on it website. They claim to have the “most transparent ingredient disclosure in the industry.” And, I believe them – they post every single ingredient they put in their product, along with a description of what it is and what it does. Check it out for yourself: www.skinmdnatural.com/shielding-lotion/ingredients.html.
Skin MD Natural Lotion can be ordered with Sunscreen SPF 15 as well – which, is really great news for all of us living in the very sunny state of Arizona!
If you have dry, itchy skin, Natural Dry Skin & Shielding Lotion may be just the product you have been waiting for! Visit www.skinmdnatural.com to find out more about the company and the product!
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 Recently MomsZoneReviews.com had the opportunity to review a very unique gift item. How many times have you seen your name or inspirational words made from photos of nature and everyday objects?
I am not giving it the credit it is due. It is hard to describe how really artsy, beautiful and truly special these message pictures are. Go to the website http://spellitoutphotos.com/ and immediately you see all the options you have. Just choose the letter A and you have 25 picture options. Many choices for each letter allow you to match color, theme and style. It is so much fun to design your very ow n wall art!
This would be awesome for children who are just learning to read and write. You can use this site to inspire them not just to learn their alphabet but also to be creative and see letters all around! Then you and your child can decide on a very special piece of wall art together!
You can choose how you want the art sent to you either in a frame or just the print outs and even more options. I chose the 7×5 glass print and I LOVE it! I suggest playing around with the different options so you find the one that fits your style and budget best. You can buy a 4 letter print for only $20!
 These fun, unique and special art photos will be my new go to gift for friends and family especially when I am invited to baby showers as who wouldn’t love to have this on their baby’s wall? And think of all the ooohs and ahhhs over you having given such a beautiful gift!
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 We really enjoyed the Disney On Ice – Princess Classics show. I took my 3 ½ year old daughter to see the show. This is an AMAZING show, especially for our little girls who love Princesses. It was fun, interactive and had tons to offer. I would definitely recommend this show to my Mommy friends as there is something in the show for everyone. The show featured all of the favorite classic princesses such as Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine and Ariel. There were a variety of fun characters spotlighted along with the Princesses such as the Seven dwarfs, Sebastian from The Little Mermaid and the Genie from Aladdin. The special effects were phenomenal. There were wonderful fireworks and things and People flying through the air. The set designs were very detailed and the Castle was truly breath taking especially in the closing sequence when all the princesses were waving good bye. An added bonus is that Mickey and Minnie Mouse greeted the crowd at the beginning and end; which always makes grownups and kids smile. There are all kinds of light up toys and snacks to buy for souvenirs which is always a little pricey but worth the extra money for the added fun. The show was very interactive with the crowd as the characters came into the audience to greet the kids and posed for pictures for those in the front rows. Moreover, the ice skating itself was great and some moves were very difficult. I expected a simple show with no real intricate moves as I enjoy watching professional ice skating. I was happily surprised to see the skaters perform very tough and often tricky moves. So there was something for all ages as it was fun and entertaining.
I really loved that they incorporated several multi-cultural themes into the show. Mulan and Princess Jasmine were included in several acts. Therefore, the Chinese and Middle Eastern influence was shown and incorporated into the show. The costumes and props were beautiful and it showed the pride and beauty of other cultures. I think it is great to show our children the beauty of different cultures and Disney did this in a very tasteful and respectful way. The ending of the show that highlighted Cinderella and all the Princesses was truly stunning! It was very elegant, beautiful, and truly magical. Showing all the Princesses and Princes all dancing together in their beautiful white and gold costumes was truly breath-taking. Not to mention the beautiful good bye sequence at the end with stunning fireworks. I was truly impressed.
The only suggestions I would make are: I wish the show had pre-show events to keep the kids entertained. And the show began at 7:30 PM and ended at 9:30 PM which is a little late for younger kids. I would have preferred a 6:30 or 7 PM start time. But it was well worth staying up late just one night to enjoy such an amazingly choreographed and beautifully put together show. I could not have been more pleased. I highly recommend it. Thanks!
Submitted:
Cara Weddington and Princess Annika
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I recently had the opportunity to host a party for the Hexbug Nano toys. If you haven’t had a chance to see these little creatures in action, prepare to be amazed and amused!
 Hexbug
My son and his friends were able to try out these adorable critters by simply turning on their switch on their bellies and then just letting them go! They crawl around like real bugs and they are amazing just to sit and watch what they will do and where they will go. It may not sound like fun, but everyone in attendance from the boys, to the girls on to the moms were mesmerized by what these little fellas would do. 
The Hexbug Nano Habitat Set was really easy to set up and the kids had fun setting it up in different ways. The Hexbug Nano Bridge Battle Habitat Set was a lot more fun as there were more pieces to configure and it could be made into a two layer race! Moms had to give a little help but for the most part the kids in attendance were all able to work together and enjoy the bugs and their adventures.
The more Hexbugs the better as you can have the bugs bump into each other, they can turn each other over onto their backs and then watch the bugs turn themselves back over! The habitats with the curved, straight and bendable pieces that you can set up in different ways is such a great way to get kids to use their imagination and enjoy something other than video games! One of the boys who attended said, “Man, I might not ever play video games again after having these bugs!” That is what every mom wants to hear!
The bugs are small and do not take up much space. The configurable habitat pieces can easily be disassembled and stored where they would not take up much space and the pieces, while small, are not so small you have to worry about losing them although if you have siblings under 3 years old you may need to use caution they do not choke on the bugs or smaller pieces.
 The inexpensive nature of these critters is very appealing as well. I will definitely be looking to give these as gift items and I know a lot of those who attended will be looking to add to their collection! You can also go online to play games with the code inside each bug’s test tube – which is the container the Hexbugs are sold in. The bugs run for around $8 at Target and the The Hexbug Nano Bridge Battle set, which is the biggest set of them all and includes just about everything, is just under $40 at retailers, making a great Birthday or Christmas gift from Parents or Grandparents!
I am so happy that I got a chance to share this great toy idea with friends and I would like to thank the makers of Hexbug Nano as well as MomSelect for the opportunity to host such a great party!
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I recently was given the opportunity to try out the newest creation from the Zhu Zhu Pet family, Kung Zhu Pets. If you have wondered what all the fuss is about, let me tell you how these adorable little armed pets can transform a room into an incredible fun activity for the whole family to enjoy.
First I would like to thank the Zhu Zhu Pet family and MomSelect for this opportunity to host a party that was so much fun for everyone, the parents AND the kids! Each child was able to select their very own Kung Zhu pet and then select its armor. The fun was only beginning as each child squealed with joy while opening their new Kung Zhu pet. It is amazing how quickly children pick up exactly what their pet is capable of and the fun watching them share with each other what their pet can do.
After everyone had their pet and armor and had time to play, we then opened an array of battle arenas and gear for the big battle area. Nothing about this battle was too mean for little children and it wasn’t too tame for the older children. The dads willingly helped to engineer the set up quickly and the moms helped the kids figure out how to get their pet armed for battle. Once set up we had a huge table full of battle equipment that kept everyone entertained for hours. Everyone was amused and entertained by these little pet warriors. The dads enjoyed getting to help build the battle area, the moms enjoyed watching the kids play AND get to see the cute Kung Zhu pets roll around in their battle vehicles! The kids were really involved in the battles in the Open Battle Arena as well as in the other chambers of the Battle Area.
I was impressed with how EVERYONE enjoyed these pets. Girls and boys, moms and dads and kids from the ages of 5 all the way up to 12. All those who attended were so thankful for being introduced to the newest members of the Kung Zhu pet world and I know that your children will love them too!
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 My son is a a typical “man”. Until very recently, he couldn’t do his business without being stark naked, reading a book, with his comfy padded toilet seat, leaned back with his feet firmly planted on his most favorite step stool! Not much has changed, I must admit. These days, he’s more likely to be fully dressed (albeit, pants around his ankles!) and his favorite step stool has been usurped by the Little Looster. The rest remains unchanged. Yes, he is still a man after all.
Anyway, when we were first handed the Little Looster, I was surprised at the sturdiness of the thing. It’s quite an object to behold, let me tell you. It’s a big “U” shaped step stool, but once you get it situated around your toilet it’s unobtrusive and it stays put which is great if you have a small bathroom like the one we’ve been using it in. I like that everyone else is able to use the toilet and it can stay where it is without getting in the way. The shape of it seems to be able to fit around any size/shape toilet and it surrounds the entire edge of the pedestal, which my son loves, because when he sort of lounges around, his feet touch the surface wherever he happens to be and he can relax enough to get the job done and get off in a flash. God knows, before, he took his sweet time. This is definitely one of the huge selling points of the Little Looster; your potty training sweethearts will feel comfort in the knowledge that they won’t fall in because there is firm surface ALL AROUND the bowl not just in front like a traditional step stool. He climbs up on to the toilet, sits down, reads his book, relaxes into it, gets off and is a happy happy camper! He loves it and happily gave up his old step stool for this one. We’re hooked! Thanks Little Looster!
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I had the extreme pleasure of attending last night’s opening performance of Funundrum here at the U.S. Airways Arena here in Phoenix, Arizona. WOW! How do they do it? I didn’t think it possible to have another show as wonderfully entertaining as last year’s Zing Zang Zoom, but they found a way.
My son still talks about Zing Zang Zoom so when we heard about Funundrum he was beside himself. The sheer beauty that is in everything this circus does is breath taking. Add to that incredible death defying feats the performers show the audience and it is non-stop fun and excitement for the whole family. I watched as many families with grandparents down to newborns were in attendance and everyone was entranced by the color, the music and the amazing acts.
It starts with the pre-show with an all access pass to the floor of the show where you can walk around and choose what you would like to participate in. The costume area is fun because you can choose which outfit you might like to try on and be sure to bring your camera so you can get a picture in the outfit! You’ll also want to get your picture made with a real life clown as they walk around greeting everyone! Be sure  to get your very own clown nose and get a tattoo! You can enter to win a drawing from one of the elephants and watch stilt walkers move around the crowd. It is an awesome experience that you don’t want to miss!
Pictures do not do justice to the costumes and the colors and this year, Funundrum has incorporated screens which have pictures and even mini movies. It is hard to describe as I am not sure of the technology but it adds to the whole performance. It lends to there never being a dull moment. To say there is something for everyone is an understatement. If you haven’t been to the circus in ages, you really don’t want to miss Funundrum. Celebrating what would be P.T. Barnum’s 200th birthday, Funundrum goes old school for a bit with the sideshow acts that we think of with circuses of the past only updated for the here and now as only Feld Entertainment can.
I could go and on about each act or performance but I will try to hit what my family thought was the highlights: The music gets it all started and the shimmering outfits with what looks like diamonds on them catching the light and shining all around the stadium. The colors are brilliant and bright and add so much to the beauty of it all. The animals are always fun to see and if you haven’t read my last year’s post on how the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus take great pride in how well they treat the animals, please click HERE to read all about the programs they have in place.
There was the glow in the dark Globe of Steel which featured the Torres family with SEVEN  motorcycles all going around the Globe of Steel. Something you really don’t get to see anywhere else and my son particularly enjoyed it. A fantastic motorcycle on a tightrope that goes right over your head! Then, we all got to see the newest addition to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Baby Barrack, a new baby elephant born January 19, 2009.
There was so much more and I could write all day about it but honestly, you have to see it and experience it to believe it! This is great family entertainment and believe me, you will make memories with your children that will last a lifetime!
There is a great offer right now for tickets to The Greatest Show On Earth! Buy 4 tickets for only $44 when you use code MOM online or over the phone. Leave a comment below to let us know what you thought of the show!
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I recently had the opportunity to try out some really cool accessories for the Wii console. Accessories really make the games if you ask me. For instance, I had purchased a sport pack when I first got the Wii. I rationalized the purchase of the Wii by thinking I would use it as exercise so getting the tennis racket, baseball and golf club accessories would make it more real. What I didn’t realize is that these hard plastic small accessories didn’t deliver the realism I was looking for.
The Nerf Sports Pack for Wii provides a much better experience as the attachments are larger and provide a much more realistic feel. The Nerf material provides a sense of safety and allows my child to use these  without worrying that if he gets hit or hits something in the house that it will seriously damage anything, including the Nerf attachments. Also, I particularly like the tennis racket attachment as it is much better in the game playing. The other smaller harder plastic racket wouldn’t face the proper way therefore making my serves and returns off. The Nerf tennis racket attachment is bigger giving a more realistic feel and it faces properly so as that when I go to place a serve, I am hitting it the way I would on the court. It also has a detachable “string” netting which I found to be nice when my son inevitably sliced into same furniture. The string part just popped off and was easily popped back on where it stayed snuggly. At only $19.99, the Nerf Sports Pack is a great buy and only a couple of dollars more than the plastic smaller version that I had tried before.
Nerf also makes a really cool steering wheel to use with all your driving game adventures. You have a choice of colors and the  feel of gripping the Nerf material just doesn’t compare. I think every child and adult just loves the feel of Nerf material and the comfort of white knuckling a Nerf steering wheel adds to the experience. I feel like I had a better grip allowing me to better play the game. Everyone in our house has loved playing with the Nerf wheel. It is only $10 and you can have your child choose their favorite color!
I also highly recommend for your Wii experience the Energizer Power & Play Induction Charging System. That is a lot of words for “ a really cool Wii remote charger”. Here is what I really like about it. I like keeping the silicon sleeves on our remotes. There are many reasons for this, like my son’s grubby hands or the fact that when I work up a sweat playing I feel like I can keep a better handle on the remote. The fact it protects the remotes from the wear and tear of a rough little boy and sometimes rough playing adults. So I don’t really enjoy having to take the silicon sleeves off to replace batteries or to charge them if I were to have rechargeable batteries. The great feature with this induction charging system is that you don’t take the sleeves off. You place the remotes on this nice cradle that holds 2 remotes and you don’t have to attach anything. You also don’t have take off attachments, lanyards or the Wii motion plus. Just finish playing and you lay them on the cradle and then in about an hour or so they seem to be fully charged. We used them for just over an hour and they played wonderfully. The batteries are Nimh rechargeables so once you get them in, you don’t need to replace again, only recharge by lying them on the cradle. Very simple and it looks great. At just $49.99, this will add convenience and ease as well as allow your children to be able to easily place the remotes back for charging without you having to help them.
To get your hands on these great accessories you will want to check out the Performance Designed Products at www.PDP.com. You will find these great items and more for all your gaming needs and at very affordable prices. Performance Designed Products has been providing great quality video game accessories for more than a decade.
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