toytoy :: cardboard armchair

Simple. Eco-friendly. Reasonably priced. Playful. Colorful. Portable. Lightweight. FUN!

When I first saw the ToyToy armchair design I immediately started thinking of all the places my son would have fun sitting in it. Part of the beauty of this simple product is how versatile it can be in the ever evolving life of a child.

Created by two parents who wanted products that would help build the world instead of taking away from it, ToyToy products help families consume less and use materials in a smarter way. The ToyToy armchair is constructed out of one piece of cardboard. It comes in a flat package (incredibly portable) that you can quickly assemble anywhere. With solid attention to design engineering this piece cardboard transforms into a very functional and fun chair. From a parent's perspective it's a little bit awesome.

• My son and I are able to transport this chair anywhere (it is incredibly lightweight)


• I don't have to worry about my son tumbling off the chair or scratching the floor as he pushes it around -- the design is child-friendly and very forgiving


• Creativity is inspired through the design -- I have watched my son climb on it, use it as a table, hide things in the cubby hole, push it around like a car, store his stuffed friends on it and flip through countless books while sitting atop this very cool chair
  


• It is at a price that any parent can love -- children work hard to tear things apart, but at this price that idea doesn't induce fear

Again, there are so many great ways to use this chair and places to sit in it. And think of what a great gift this could make -- it comes in transport friendly packaging (gift when visiting friends or relatives with kids), it is at a very reasonable price point (all those neighborhood birthday parties), it can be stored easily just about anywhere for occasional use (grandparents homes).

You can visit ToyToy over on Facebook as well!

ToyToy Cardboard Armchair : $14.99

A SIMPLE COUPON:

The ToyToy chair is already reasonably priced at $14.99, but today through June 30th, 2011 you can save an additional 25% off! At such a great deal you might want to consider getting one in each color -- and don't forget those gifts. Just make sure to use the coupon code: SIMPLE at checkout.

*I was provided the chair shown above to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own*

Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog!

Dogs have to be fashionable too! We are all girl in our house - even the dog. I feel bad for my husband. :) He just can't get away from pink!

Our dog Abbie needed a new collar and when I was researching some companies to feature on SIMPLE, I stumbled upon Hot Dog Collars.

The collar I chose for our Abbie is awesome! Great quality and looks awesome! It's funny, whenever she wears this collar, even though it's PINK, people are intimidated by her. So funny...because she is such a baby!! :) Makes me feel safe though when we are out with her. So if you are wanting your dog to look cool and tough, check this collar out for your dog to. If you don't want studs, they have plain colors and one with prints and some even with GLITTER!

Not only do they offer fun and funky as well as normal dog collars, they have Pet ID tags. There is a lifetime warranty on these AND they are up to 40% off right now.

Follow Hot Dog Collars on Facebook to hear about any specials they are running and you will also hear about any Photo contests or other fun things too! Check out the page where they have all that info, kinda fun seeing all the dogs!

GET YOUR OWN!! Visit Hot Dog Collars to purchase any of their items. The Pink Studded Collar featured on Abbie above sells for $28.69.

A SIMPLE COUPON!! Hot Dog Collars is offering TWO specials:

1. Buy 1 Designer Tag, Get 1 50% off at Hot Dog Collars - Add the tags to the cart, then apply coupon code IDMYPET (no spaces) to receive the discount.

2. Free Shipping on ANY order at Hot Dog Collars - FREETOME - Apply at the shopping cart and the free shipping method will be automatically selected.

Both offers expire 3/1/11. Sorry, coupons may not be stacked (combined)

*I was provided with the collar shown above from Hot Dog Collars free of charge to conduct this review. The opinions shown here are my own.*

Beantown Handmade, it's for the dogs.

This is Vinny.

Or more affectionately called "Binstick" (for Vincent) by my three year old.

 Vinny loves to do all sort of doggy things.  Like ride in the car, go on walks, play with his chuck-it in the backyard.  Unfortunately for Vinny, he lives in Michigan, where it's freezing out, and snows a lot. Vinny used to shiver. 

A few weeks ago.  Binstick got a sweater.  I know what you're thinking. Oh no you didn't just buy your dog clothes.

I too was a dog sweater skeptic.  Until I was introduced to Beantown Handmade.  And yes, while dogs wearing clothes will forever make me laugh, Beantown Handmade are hands down to coolest.  Honestly, look how handsome Binstick looks in his custom coat:

 My first thought was, I need a matching scarf, for myself, right?

Beantown Handmade has lots of other cool gear for the pooches.  I also love (and giggle at) their selection of scarfs and hats, as well as pet portraits.

Binstick has already asked for a second sweater.  Next up?  He wants to be beanzilla, and I don't blame him one bit.

You can also keep up with Beantown by following them on Twitter, as well as on Facebook. Trust me, if you're going to put your pup in a sweater, make it from Beantown Handmade.  Seriously cool.

GET YOUR OWN! Beantown Handmade can be purchased online from their Etsy shop. A portion of every purchase goes to animal rescue organizations all over the country. How cool is that?
 

You want a pet, but you don't.

So your kids keep asking you for a pet, but you don't want a pet.  Cats and dogs are expensive and need a lot of attention.  Birds are kinda messy and squawk a lot.  Snakes and other reptiles are totally out of the question for obvious reasons.  And a pony, yeah, your place isn't really set up for a pony.

The answer - FROGS! (African Dwarf frogs to be specific)

Wild Creations EcoAquariums ($39) are the perfect "meet in the middle" for folks that want a pet that doesn't take up much real estate in the home, requires little maintenance, and is super inexpensive to care for.  Oh, and they are pretty darn cute as well.

What is an EcoAquarium?  It's basically a self-sufficient, self-maintaining little aquatic ecosystem, where all elements work perfectly together.  With little to no upkeep.

Thanks to Wild Creations, we recently added two cute little frogs, Sally and Sam, to our family.  The set-up was a breeze, we only have to feed the little guys about twice a week, and they provide so much entertainment and joy to our family.

No worries either, these little guys absolutely will not escape their tank and start hopping around the house.  The plastic cube, their home, comes with a tight fitting lid that has one little hole (seriously little), where you simply drop the food into the tank.  It could not get easier.

As a parent, I love them because they really haven't added any chores to my already packed schedule.  No cleaning of the tank (ok, you actually have to change the water every 3 months), and we can even safely leave for the weekend and just feed them when we return (no pet sitter needed for these guys)!

Wild Creations safely next day ship your frogs to your home.  All you need to do is make sure you will be home to receive them and have room temperature spring water handy to assemble the kit.

They are my kind of pet!

GET YOUR OWN (with a coupon)!  Visit Wild Creations to pick up a EcoAquairum. Use coupon code "BLOGGER" are receive $10 off your purchase of a jewel started kit.  Discount good through July 31st, 2010.

WIN ONE!  We're giving one Simple reader a Classic EcoAquarium Starter Kit! To enter, visit Wild Creations, look around, and leave us a comment letting us know something you find interesting about the company and why an EcoAquarium would be perfect for you.

Extra Entries: (leave separate comment for each)

• Tweet this giveaway:  visit @simplereviews to win a Classic EcoAquarium! http://tinyurl.com/2ftjsh6
• Become a fan (or already be a fan) of SIMPLE on Facebook
• "like" the official Facebook fan page of Wild Creations.
• Subscribe to the Wild Creations YouTube channel "FauziFrog".
• Subscribe to the Wild Creations frogblog.

GIVEAWAY ENDS JUNE 28th, open to US shipping addresses only.

The Litter-Robot : Not just for Cats :)

Many of you know that I am currently pregnant with baby #3. Since getting pregnant one of the task I have been unable to do is "change the litter box."

My kids are obviously to young to take on this task... so my husband unfortunately gets stuck with it.

I can't even begin to count the times he would be in the bathroom "SCOOPING" out that litter-box, then looking at me a few minutes later saying "Any time you want to get rid of her is ok with me!" haha...

Who wants to scoop waste daily!

I finally got online one night and searched for a cat box that would do that job for us. I knew there had to be something out there!

That is when I came across the "Litter-Robot!"

We have all heard about those "automatic" litter boxes... and many of them have bad reps... due to poor design and cheap parts. The Litter-Robot is made from tough recycled plastic (gray unit) and built to last. It has an 18 month warranty! You can also test out the Litter-Robot for 90 days... if you are not satisfied you can send it back for a full refund. I also really appreciated the fact that the Litter-Robot is USA MADE. Buying local reduces energy consumed, and pollution emitted by transporting product from overseas.

I think if any cat owner TRIED this box they would be won over. I decided to make TWO short videos about my Litter-Robot.

In Video #1: I wanted to show the unit in use. I have a two little boys (5 and 3) who are obsessed with the cycling process. They LOVE to watch the Litter-Robot spin the waste out. Its pretty cute in my opinion to see their expression over poop haha...

The video will give you an idea of the size of the unit (compared to my kids) as well as how the unit sounds.

*Note: I am not good at VLOGS... so if I say "um" to much I apologize :) I just knew a video would be better at teaching about the box, more so than me just typing.*



In Video #2: I explain why I wanted the robot (as stated above) as well as SHOW what a WEEKS WORTH of cat waste looks like in the Litter-Robot tray.



To recap in case you cannot view those videos...

The Litter-Robot is basically this unit that rotates.... and as it turns around it shifts out the waste into a drawer (that is the base of the unit).

A few questions you may have... that I know I had when looking into this unit ill list below.

1) What type of Litter does it use?
- Any type of "clumping" style litter really... There may be a few that don't work with it... if you are concerned about this do not hesitate to check out the FAQ on the Litter-Robot site or even e-mail customer service.

2) Does it save litter?
- YES!!! We actually were FELINE PINE litter users before switching to the Litter-Robot... and must say that using the cheapest clumping litter JUG at SAMS works way better and last way longer.

3) Does the box smell?
- Amazingly no. Of course if you let it go to long without cleaning you may eventually smell something... and when the cat "initially" goes you may smell it.. but once the machine cycles the waste into the drawer it hides the smell. The drawer is snug and keeps in that smell very well.

4) What type of bags do you use in the drawer?
- Ours came with some bags but you can actually use regular small trash bags if you want. And we honestly re-use the bags... we just dump the waste outside in a big trash bin once a week and keep the same bag in it.

5) Is the unit loud?
- Not to me. Then again I have 2 boys under age 5 haha.. Kidding.. It really isn't to loud. If you keep this in your bed room however I do recommend keeping it "off" if you are a light sleeper like myself.

6) Did your cat take to the litter-robot easily?
- To my surprise she did... as I stated above we used FELINE PINE before getting the litter-robot. To those who may not be familiar with Feline Pine... its texture is very "chunky..." like "fish food pellets." So we thought for sure once we switched her to the "clay" litter she would have issues with its texture.

She took right to the box and the litter and has done great since.

The only thing that I did to help motivate her into the box was to put a little bit of her "urine" from the old litter into the new one... to get her scent in it.

She did the rest on her own.

All of these questions and more can be viewed on the Litter-Robot's website. If you have any questions about this item just e-mail the customer service. I must say that has been yet another joy about this product... the customer service at Litter-Robot is just amazing. I had a million questions and sometimes felt like an idiot asking them :) but they never once ignore me and always made me feel valued and respected.



GET YOUR OWN: At a higher price tag ($329-$349) this item is an investment. Litter-Robot does offer some great payment plans. So you can pay little by little. They also have some USED units at a reduced price as well.

I would also recommend that if your unit does not come with the LIP EXTENDER, that you do buy that with your litter-robot. I found it really helped reduced any "extra" litter from making its way out on the cats feet.

I really believe if you are a cat owner... and want to enjoy your pet more... this product will do just that. It has been so nice not having to worry with a daily litter box routine.

ALSO if you are pregnant... THIS MAKES THE BEST GIFT FOR HUSBANDS ;-)

SIMPLE SAVING: If you'd like to save $10 right away on your Litter-Robot simply fill this form out.

Don't forget that you also get FREE SHIPPING on your Litter-Robot!

Designer Dogs

I love all the funky collars out there for dogs. The polka dots, the stripes, the bright colors, the designs - I love them all. What I don't love is the price that goes with them. We always have a puppy in training around here who thinks it's fun to eat the collar off the other dogs. While they find it amusing, I don't. Especially when I paid good money for a designer collar, only to find that it ended up being a midnight snack on the first night that it was home. (True story.)

Rescue Paws on Etsy has some of the cutest collars I've run across in a while, and a lot of them have matching leashes to boot. Your dog will be the envy of all the others at the dog park on his next outing. Rescue Paws is super-fab in that they keep their prices reasonable. You can afford to get several sets for your best friend, because who wants to wear the same thing twice in public?

Rescue Paws is unique in that a percentage of their sales are donated to Forever Friends Rescue. Forever Friends is involved in rescuing forgotten dogs and finding them loving homes. They run solely on donations and volunteers, and every dollar they get from generous donors like Rescue Paws is greatly appreciated.



GET YOUR OWN: Rescue Paws is giving a 15% discount to any reader who makes a purchase during the month of April. Upon checkout, please mention in the message box that you have a 15% discount from Simple, and they'll revise an invoice for you. Remember, every purchase helps the animals in need.

WIN YOUR OWN: Rescue Paws is incredibly generous in giving one lucky reader a FREE collar. I can attest that these collars are very well made, and absolutely gorgeous. What's more - they're the adjustable style so that they'll fit your pet perfectly. Our Boston looks fab in her new designer duds. Your dog can, too. Rescue Paws will be drawing from those who have made a purchase in April, and the winner will be announced May 1. See how it's a win-win? You get a 15% discount AND entered in a drawing for another free collar. And the true winners will be the pets at Forever Friends Rescue.

Winner will be chosen at random on May 1, 2009!

Sleeping in Style

Our dogs will sleep on anything. The new favorite is the kids' bean bag. While we don't mind them sharing our digs, we are not especially fond of the dog hair covering us every time we get up.

It was time for a dog bed.

Blurry Daze on Etsy specializes in custom made beds for your pet. I absolutely love that the beds can be ordered in whatever size and color that you want. You can coordinate a bed to go with your decor, you can get something fun and funky just for kicks, you can even match it to your dog's coat color. Just because you can.

But that's not the best thing about Blurry Daze beds. These beds are extremely well made and durable. That's good, because we've got a lot of dogs. And the sharing doesn't just happen with the 4-legged beasties in our home. Our 6 year old uses the dog bed as a pillow, or jumps onto it from the couch, or drags it around the house behind him. The bed holds up.

And not only is the bed durable, soft and comfy. It's incredibly affordable. This is an impossibility to find when you get something custom made - but never fear, I've found it and am sharing it with you. Your dogs will thank you.

GET YOUR OWN: Blurry Daze is offering a 10% discount on orders place during the month of April. Please remember that Blurry Daze specializes in custom order. There are just a few beds listed in the store, but they will make whatever you ask them to, at a 10% discount. Prices vary by size, but all are affordable.


WIN YOUR OWN: Blurry Daze has generously offered to give a dog bed for FREE to one lucky reader. If you'll go to their store, then come back to comment about what you like there, you'll be entered in the drawing. Winners will be announced Wednesday, April 15.

Bright Bites & Taste of the Wild - good for your pets

My animals are a very important and special part of our family. Before I had children, I had my 2 cats and my dog. Nowadays my life has changed and I find myself spending countless hours researching, purchasing, preparing nutritious meals for my two little girls . But still an animal animal lover at heart, it just makes sense that I also make informed and healthy choices for my four legged family members.

Taste of the Wild dog and cat food is is a natural, balance pet food that derives it's recipes for what our animals would have eaten before decades of domestication. Made with real roasted meats and supplemented with fruits and vegetables, these grain-free formulas provide a superior taste sensation, that our pets crave.

My little Boston Terrier Miles has been dining on Taste of the Wild now for a few weeks and has really enjoyed the change. He seems to be a little more anxious to get to the food bowl at meal time, and never leaves a nugget go uneaten. I feel good about it because I know he's getting a nutritious, natural meal, minus a lot of the additives and junk found in other brands.

Additionally, an issue that I deal with on a daily basis with my little stinky doggie is his make me want to throw-up bad breath. Nothing worse than curling up for a good snuggle with a mouth that smells like garbage. I've tried many "bad breath" treats in the past, and they either don't work, don't taste good, or are too rough on his digestive track.

Boston Terrier Miles has been munching on Bright Bites as of recently and I really believe that it's helped his halitosis. Bright Bights is a safe, nutritional and fun way to help fight bad breath, plaque and tooth decay. I highly recommend these treats if your dog suffers form any of these aliments (I'm not sure what dog doesn't, really).

They come in 3 different sizes, specific to your dogs weight. Additionally, these tasty treats come in 3 yummy flavors (cinnamon, peppermint and spearmint.




Buy it! Taste of the Wild can be purchase from many on-line retailers throughout the country. Bright Bites also can be purchase through on-line retailers.

A Simple Coupon! Pet Food Direct wants to offer Simple readers a chance to try out Taste of the Wild and Bright Bites at a discount. enter BITE10PCT for 10% off your total Bright Bites order and WILD10PCT for 10% off total your Taste of the Wild order.

Win it! 4 lucky Simple readers (2 dog owners and 2 cat owners) will be able to try out both Bright Bights and Taste of the Wild for their special 4 legged friends. To be entered to win these prize packs, just leave us a comment letting us know why your pet is so special to your family.

Winner will be announce next Wednesday, September 3rd. Good luck!

~emily
The DesignHER Momma

bynicola Custom Dog Tags

Having a daughter has given me wonderful opportunities to find beautiful unique items, and I enjoy discovering these so much that as a fairly new puppy owner I was on the hunt for a beautiful unique something to adorn puppy's neck. I think Mary Scot (christened so by Providence after Mary the Queen of Scots) is so awfully cute that I just couldn't bring myself to put the same thing on her that every other dog and their mom is wearing.

Luckily I found bynicola, and with it pretty somethings almost as beautiful as Mary Scot. These beauties are made of sterling silver with a copper or silver cut out shape soldered on. I love the contrasting look of the two metals against each other and your shape options make each tag more uniquely fitting to your dog and family. My only complaint is that Mary Scot moves so much I can't admire her tag more.

Buy it: You can purchase a custom tag for your dog or cat directly from bynicola's etsy shop in four sizes Super Duper, Large, Small, and Charm, as well as search through gorgeous jewelry pieces for yourself.

lis.simple[at]gmail[dot]com

Cleaning up our Pets too

Awhile back I wrote a review about a cat litter box. Now I'll admit it may not be something you'd drool over owning, but that's just cause you haven't used it yet.

I thought I would write a bit more about it now that I have been using it for months (or rather our well loved cat has) and because I will be fostering some other kitties from our local animal shelter soon and that got me thinking about some cat necessities.

The litter that this box is made for is called Feline Pine, an all natural 100% recycled pine litter. I love this litter, there are many other alternatives to the traditional clay litter, this is just the one I fell for.

I can get a 7lbs bag of feline pine at my local grocery store for $3.69. 7lbs may not seem like a lot in litter weight but because you use so much less of it, one bag will last approximately 4 weeks. Not bad...but coupled with the feline pine litter box my bag lasted about TEN weeks, that's a little over 5 cents a day for litter, and it's better for your home and cat.

Buy it: You can order the litter box for $18.49 directly from the company.

lis.simple[at]gmail[dot]com

Pamper that Pooch

With the dogs days of summer quickly approaching it’s time to turn our attention to our four legged friends. My Boston terrier, Miles, just loves to find something stinky and smelly to have a good roll in. I mean, he is a dog, getting dirty is fun!

Since “going green” has been a major part of my life for the past year, I have thought long and hard about what type of products I bring into my home for our family.

Miles is definitely a part of our family, dare I say he was my first baby. It only makes sense that my green lifestyle would extend on over to my pets.

I’m excited to share with you a new company that that focuses in natural eco-friendly gear for the dogs. From treats, doggie beds, collars, to grooming products, Paw Luxury has it.

We were really lucky this past week to sample a few key products from Paw Luxury. Here is just a sample of what we are loving right now from Paw Luxury:

Biodegradable Business Bags! These bags fully compost and biodegrade within 45 days. Now that’s what I call taking care of business.

DoginHaus “Urban” Conditioning Shampoo. A natural shampoo that smells amazing (from all the essential oils I’m sure). Now Miles doesn’t smell like a stinky foot, and I’ll actually let him back up on the sofa.

Paw Luxury is a real treat for not only for dog owners but the dogs we love.

Buy It! Go online to find an amazing assortment of eco-chic items at Paw Luxury.

Win it! Paw Luxury graciously wants to give one lucky Simple reader a sample gift bag of assorted Paw Luxury items. To enter, go to Paw Luxury, shop around, and leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite product is for your four legged friend.

*to comment click quote box at the top of this review* Winner will be chosen at random Tuesday June, 10^th 2008. Good Luck!