opa cove :: bringing fun to life

It's summer in Michigan and that means my girls and I will be spending a lot of time near the water.  Starting last summer I began transitioning Michaela from the "spider monkey death hold on mom's neck" method of swimming to getting out there confidently on her own.  Our latest step towards swimming independently has come thanks to Opa Cove and their Swim Assist Vests.

Opa Cove's Swim Assist Vests are a learning aid to help advanced swimmers.  The vests are all fish themed in style with a fin on the back and are made out of very durable neoprene.  The neoprene makes the vest comfy for kids to wear and the heavy duty zipper makes me feel secure that the vest isn't going to work itself off/loose in the water. 

I'm pretty sure my and Michaela's favorite part of her Swim Assist Vest are the same: The Fin.  For her the fin lets her turn into a Pink Dolphin whenever she wears her vest, making it fun all the time.  For me it's a great handle to help grab her in the pool so I can get her to try work on her swimming skills while I control the level of "independence" she truly has.  As she becomes more and more confident over the summer I'm sure I will quickly be vetoed from helping like this, but for now it makes me feel better. :)

The swim assistance comes from the 3 flotation panels in the back of the vest that can be removed to meet the level of assistance your child needs.  When you no longer need to use the vest for a swim aid you can remove all the layers and let your kids use the vest for dress up or to play in the tub.  We've really enjoyed using the Opa Cove Swim Assist Vest so far and are really looking to all the use we will continue to get out of it as the summer progresses!

I feel the need to clarify that these Swim Assist Vests are NOT life jackets.  If you're putting your kid on a boat or in any other instance where a life jacket would be needed, this is NOT your answer.

Swim Assist Vest ::  $59.95

*I was provided with the Swim Assist Vest shown above in order to conduct this review using personal experience.  The opinions provided are my own.*

public bikes :: leonardo wall hook

Living with a husband who owns four bikes (each with a different purpose), it was inevitable that biking would be a part of our family life. And I couldn't be happier. While I am admittedly a nervous bike rider, I very much appreciate the healthy exercise and outdoor activity that comes with the sport. It is a fantastic way for the family to spend time together and certainly one that you can enjoy at any age.

Well, I have discovered a great company that offers drool-worthy bikes and bike products for the family. PUBLIC is a fresh, new bike company that designs bikes for simple, elegant living. And they sell hand picked accessories to make riding and storing bikes easier and more enjoyable. Again, we have multiple bikes in our family -- so storing bikes is no small challenge.

Luckily our bike storage issue has been met and conquered now though through one simple product, the Leonardo Wall Hook. I wish I had invented this discrete (it looks like it could be a hook for coats) and inexpensive bike storage system. After the hook is attached easily to the wall it is a one step process to store your bike -- just hang it up. Honestly, this hook could live anywhere from a mud room to a garage, a basement to an office. No longer will we have to dig deep into a row of bikes to find the one we want. We will just unhook it from the wall!

And I can't emphasize enough how amazingly great the PUBLIC bike offering is. With the insane cost of gas right now it is almost a no-brainer that bike riding is a great way to get from A to B. And when you see how fun and well-built these PUBLIC bikes are (the frames are guaranteed for life) you will know how to make that trip from A to B in style.

PUBLIC :: $15 :: leonardo wall hook

A SIMPLE COUPON ::

This is a really fun coupon offer from PUBLIC -- Using the code: SIMPLE, when you purchase a PUBLIC bike you will get your choice of a FREE front basket (Peterborough or Wald baskets) or a FREE U-lock. Simply add the basket or U-lock to your online order and PUBLIC will manually remove the cost once the order is placed. Not only will you score an amazing bike but you will get a fantastic addition to your bike for FREE! (In celebration of National Bike Month this offer expires on May 31st. )

You can watch PUBLIC's new video to learn more about the brand:

PUBLIC Bikes: Design Matters from PUBLIC Bikes on Vimeo.

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

yepp :: maxi bike seat

My son's first birthday present was a balance bike -- he had only started walking two days before his first birthday. What can I say, our family likes to ride. From the moment we found out we were having a child my husband started envisioning bike rides together around the neighborhood. So it was no small amount of thinking that went into choosing the best bike seat for our little man. With any number of products on the market it would be easy to get lost in the clutter. Luckily there is one bike seat that clearly rises to the top in both form and function-- the Yepp seat.

As a total safety nerd I immediately was impressed with the quality and safety features of this seat. The five point harness system and feet straps keep our wriggly child in place throughout the bike ride. Almost everything on the seat is adjustable to make sure it fits your child securely. And the steel seatpost adapter makes sure that the seat is installed correctly and safely to the bike -- no guess work.

An important test of any product your child will be strapped to is how well they sit in it. Yepp seats are made of the same material used to make Croc shoes (synonymous with comfort). They don't absorb water or heat and are easy to clean. I can tell you there were no complaints from the little one as he rode behind the bike enjoying the views.

And it should be noted, Yepp seats come in multiple colors (I liked the orange -- easily noticed by drivers and other bikers). The fun, modern design and colors of the seat definitely look nice on the back of the bike. It is great to have a bike seat that actually reflects your personal style!

Yepp offers two seats to accommodate your child as he grows. The Mini is for children 6 months up to two years and connects to the front of your bike. The Maxi (pictured here) is for children 9 months up to six years (48.5lbs) and connects to the back of your bike. Seeing my son in the seat I would definitely recommend the Mini for babies and Maxi for toddlers+.

To learn more about Yepp seats and purchase one of your own, please visit http://www.gazelle.us.com/ and check out their retailers section to find a local or online store.

yepp :: $169.99 and $39.99 :: yepp maxi seat and seatpost adapter

*I was provided the Yepp Maxi Seat and Seatpost Adapter to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own.*

the original tree swing :: classic fun {giveaway}

There are few toys as classically timeless as a tree swing. I'm not talking about the cheap renditions made of hollowed out plastic with seats have a 30 lb. weight limit and that are meant to last for all of 60 seconds. I'm talking about good, old-fashioned tree swings with seats made of solid wood and with real ropes that are built to last. I'm talking about tree swings like the kind made by The Original Tree Swing.

A family owned and operated business, The Original Tree Swing, has a great selection of classic wooden toys including what I consider to be the ultimate of tree swings.

Each Original Tree Swing seat is hand made out of reclaimed Elm (from trees that would otherwise have ended up in the city dump). Once each seat is kiln dried and sanded a light coat of mineral oil is applied to bring out the natural beauty of the wood. Before shipping each seat is packaged with either 20 or 30 ft. of the best 3/4" natural fiber rope available (no oil or chemicals so it's safe for your kiddos).

The Original Tree Swing is meant for ages 3+, but the swing is very sturdy and it's so well made that I didn't have any second thoughts about taking a ride myself (and it was FUN!!!). Weight limits are going to be dependent on where & how you hang your swing, so use common sense and test it out.

I thought it was really nice that The Original Tree Swing even has a link from their site to a great knot tying resource. Also, if you want to increase the life of your Original Tree Swing you can treat the wooden seat with a wood sealer of your choice.

The Original Tree Swing with 20 ft. of natural fiber rope :: $42.99

{ * GIVEAWAY CLOSED :: CHECK THE WINNER’S TABE TO SEE IF IT WAS YOU * }

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!
One lucky SIMPLE reader is going to win their very own The Original Tree Swing with 20 feet of natural fiber rope. Here is how to enter:

• Visit The Original Tree Swing website & come back to tell me your favorite product. (Required)
• "Like" The Original Tree Swing and SIMPLE on Facebook
• Post a status on your Facebook hyper linking SIMPLE and The Original Tree Swing. In order to hyperlink, you need to be following both companies you will be hyper linking. Then enter the "@" symbol and start typing the name you want to hyperlink and choose it from the drop down that will pop up.
• Follow @simplereviews & @naturaltoys on Twitter and send some twitter love. Tweet this (daily tweets allowed) :: #Win your very own The Original Tree Swing from @naturaltoys with @simplereviews: http://tiny.cc/xjvdj #giveaway #contest Please RT!
• Sign up for SIMPLE updates - enter your email address in the left sidebar on SIMPLE
• Publicly follow SIMPLE via Google Friend Connect
• Vote daily for SIMPLE via Top Mommy Blogs (the blinking logo on our home page - just click it)

Winner will be randomly chosen on May 19, 2011. Please reference Giveaway Rules at the top of the page before entering. Good luck!

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

boot scoot bike :: balance and fun all in one {giveaway}

Learning how to ride a bike is hard.  Think about it... on a traditional bike kids are no only learning how to pedal, but also how to balance and steer at the same time.  After a couple attempts to teach Michaela how to ride a pedal bike last year I decided that we needed to get a balance bike to help her master all the skills necessary for riding a bike one step at a time.

I came across Boot Scoot Bikes while searching for a balance bike that wouldn't cost me an arm & a leg and I was really excited to find how affordable their balance bikes are ($77-$88).  I really LOVE that Boot Scoot Bikes come in such bright fun colors plus they have two different styles to choose from!

Here's how a Boot Scoot balance bike works:  
Most children start by walking while straddling their Boot Scoot. When they become more comfortable, they will begin to sit on the seat, push themselves forward, and maintain balance with both feet. As they learn to balance on their own, they will begin to lift their feet for short distances. Before long, they’ll be cruising along and you’ll have to quicken your pace just to keep up. Some children take a few days, others a few weeks to get the hang of it. No matter how long it takes, your child will have fun learning to ride their Boot Scoot.

To the above right you can see Michaela on her Sunrise Pink Zoomer.  If you can't tell by her big smile, she LOVES her new bike!  Below are examples of Boot Scoots two bike styles and additional color options, their Sky Blue Cruiser is for ages 3-6 and their Grass Green Zoomer for kids ages 2-5 (both styles come in all 3 color options).

Boot Scoot Bikes ship in a flat box and there is some assembly required, but it's pretty easy & only took me just over an hour to assemble our Zoomer.   It would have been much faster if I hadn't wasted time being confused by the word only instructions that were included and had gone gone online and downloaded the detailed User's Manual with images.

Zoomer :: $77
Cruiser :: $88

{ * GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED - BE SURE TO CHECK THE SIMPLE WINNERS TAB TO SEE WHO WON! * }

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!
One lucky SIMPLE reader is going to win a 25% off coupon to purchase your very own Boot Scoot Bike & 1 FREE bike accessory of your choice to add to that new bike. Here is how to enter:

• Tell me, who is the budding cyclist you'd like to win this for? (Required Entry)
• "Like" Boot Scoot Bike and SIMPLE on Facebook
• Post a status on your Facebook hyper linking SIMPLE and Boot Scoot Bike. In order to hyperlink, you need to be following both companies you will be hyper linking. Then enter the "@" symbol and start typing the name you want to hyperlink and choose it from the drop down that will pop up.
• Follow @simplereviews & @BootScoot on Twitter and send some twitter love. Tweet this (daily tweets allowed) :: #Win a 25% off coupon & a bike accessory from @BootScoot with @simplereviews: http://tiny.cc/d8vpq #giveaway #contest Please RT!
• Sign up for SIMPLE updates - enter your email address in the left sidebar on SIMPLE
• Publicly follow SIMPLE via Google Friend Connect  

Winner will be randomly chosen on May 12, 2011. Please reference Giveaway Rules at the top of the page before entering.  Good luck! 

*I purchased the Zoomer bike shown above at a discounted price to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own.*

Put the Electronics Away - We Are Going Old School!

Since 1890 the Carrom Company has been providing "Quality Games For The Entire Family" that are made right here in the USA! One of their most popular games in the market today launched in 1948. It is the Classic Nok-Hockey Game. From past until present this game has been played in homes, schools and summer camps all around the country. It comes in a large size (which is indeed large!) and a standard size.

The first two things I noticed upon taking this game out of the box was the fact that there was nothing to assemble and there was nothing to plug in. What a breath of fresh air! Also, kids are able to experience a classic family game while using several skills along the way like hand eye coordination, geometry and game-strategy.

I really think the ehow.com website says it best:

"This classic board game has withstood the test of time. Among its many attractions are the simplicity of both its rules and the ease of actual game play. While play is primarily based on the aspects of hockey, the layout of the board demands skilled bank shots that are more synonymous with pool...think Wayne Gretzky meets Minnesota Fats. The game appeals to a wide range of players of all ages."
GET YOUR OWN!! Stop by any Toys R Us EXPRESS Store and/or Amazon to get one of your own Nok Hockey games for your family....or to give as a gift! (Check out the standard size or the large size.

**GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED!! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER!!**

WIN YOUR OWN!! One lucky SIMPLE reader will get a large size Nok Hockey Game! To enter, let us know if you have ever owned one of Carrom's products. If so, what do/did you like best about it. If not, let us know what you would like to get your hands on!

Extra Entries: (leave separate comment for each and EACH ENTRY WILL BE VERIFIED - if not, the entry may be removed)

• Tweet this giveaway - daily tweets are allowed! :)
  
• "Like" SIMPLE on Facebook
• "Like" Carrom on Facebook
• Suggest Carrom on Facebook to your friends - leave a comment saying you did this
  
• Suggest SIMPLE on Facebook to your friends - leave a comment saying you did this
• Follow SIMPLE via Google Friend Connect
  

Winner will be randomly selected and announced November 19, 2010. Good Luck!

*I was provided with the Standard Size Nok Hockey Game from Carrom free of charge to conduct this review.*

EcoSmart Organic Bug Spray

Using pesticides isn't my thing, and not to mention safe. When EcoSmart emailed about their productsm I was super excited to try out the EcoSmart Organic Insect Repellent. So with summer here I am prepared for the bugs.


A couple years ago, while at the 4th of July fire works I had put some OFF bug spray on me and my son. Oh was that a mistake, I had accidentally got it on my lips and within seconds my lips and cheek went numb. I was so worried because I just had put it on my son. I quickly wiped it off of him. Ever since then I was so scared to use any type of bug spray. Thank goodness we were okay but my lips stayed numb for about 10 minutes.

So knowing that EcoSmart is out there keeping us safe with organic pesticides and bug repellent makes me feel alot better. Using the repellent was easy and I had no problems with it. I felt safe using it knowing what the ingredients were and they were organic. Much safer for children.

Active Ingredients:
Rosemary Oil ……………………………………… 0.5% Cinnamon Leaf Oil ……………………………… 0.5% Lemongrass Oil ………………………………….. 0.5% Geraniol ………………………………………………. 1.0% Other Ingredients*………………………………. 97.5%
Total …………………………………………………. 100.0%
*Isopropyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Wintergreen Oil

Recently, I had found some ants in my house and had to get some spray....so my friend went and bought some at the store not knowing about EcoSmart products and got the Ant and Roach Killer by EcoSmart. I was excited to try it....it work perfectly, no more ants.

GET YOUR OWN!! EcoSmart Insect Repellent (6 oz bottle) Around $5.99 - Keeps bugs away for hours and is safe for the entire family. This powerful, all-natural formula is made from organic plant oils, and repels mosquitoes, ticks, gnats and other annoying pests for hours.

Getting Ready for Outdoor Fun

In preparation for all the summertime activities we're so looking forward to, we headed to Dick's Sporting Goods the other day. OH, THE FUN TO BE HAD THERE. One of my fave areas is the tailgating section in the store. There are so many fun travel-type games that we can pack up and take camping with us. But Dick's carries so much more. They have golfing supplies, baseball and basketball gear, things for soccer and tennis, and any other activity that you'd care to participate in.

And here's where I want to help YOU get excited about Spring as well. Dick's is generously offering one reader a $50 gift card. Think of the possibilities! In addition, Dick's is offering a unique sort of contest that they're opening up to Simple readers. On the Dick's Twitter page, you can enter to be a part of the Starting Lineup. If you're chosen, you will try out and preview new products before Dick's carries them in the store. To enter the contest, simply follow Dick's Sporting Goods on Twitter, and tweet that you'd like to nominate yourself to be in the starting lineup. (It might go something like this: “@dickssportcmo I nominate @(TwitterID) for the #startinglineup because...”)

WIN YOUR OWN: To be entered to win the $50 gift card, simply leave a comment here on what you would use it for.

To enter the Starting Lineup, follow the above direction over on Twitter.

The winner of the gift card will be chosen Wednesday, March 17. The Starting Lineup contest ends March 31. Dick's Sporting Goods will announce a winner on Twitter.