Because I Said So!!! Mom Knows Best!

Spring is here and no matter how much
I have wanted to stay in bed with the covers
over my head Rowan has demanded to be outside.
I look into those baby blues and know I have to oblige
for you just can't say no to that face. Ironic since
"No" seems to be her favorite gesture right now and
any question you ask her is met with an emphatic shaking
of the head. During the Winter I took her out in her
Stroller and Carriers for I could bundle her and feed her
sense of exploration and still maintain my need to keep
her safe and secure and warm but now that we are 70's
plus bundled up is the last thing she wants to be. For
Christmas she received a couple of little ride on toys that
she likes well enough but last month she received a
Car to review that is her pride and joy! I kid you not,
if this little girl could walk and I gave her a bucket, a
towel and some turtle wax she would be out there buffen
this puppy every day. CSN toys is the company
responsible for Rowans new addiction and I don't know if I
should thank them or ask them for a referral to a 12 step
program for I can not pry this little girl out of this little
buggy!
When I first started speaking to them I was amazed at
how many different companies they owned. I was further
impressed that unlike other large Companies and instead of
just having one super store and lumping everything together
they went the extra mile and kept everything separate. When
you got to their Toy Store you are looking for Toys and
they are not thinning thier inventory with other types of
products. They stock the best play items they can find and
make sure to employ people who live and breath toys to
ensure you are not only getting quality you are getting help
and suggestions from people who are experts in the field.
When you go to Taco Bell you don't want to hear about
Hamburgers and when you go to a Toy Store you are not
interested in hearing about Barbecues! CSN knows that
and keeps each of their stores separate and specialized
so you get what you are looking for and get the best that
market has out there! CSN has stores that offer Furniture,
Mailboxes, Housewares, Shoes and much, much more and
not that long ago I did a review of their store that sells
mailboxes and learned that not only do mailboxes serve a
purpose they can also look great and have some pretty
neat features. While browsing some of their other locations
I found out each one I went to was pretty much the same
thing, tons and tons and tons and did I say tons? of
one of a kind, fantastic quality and super affordable prices.
Impressed and amazed I have them book marked all over
the place but today lets talk toys! The item I was sent for
review was the Step 2 Toddle Tune Coupe. This is a must
have for kids and I remember my sons and knew as soon
as Rowan was born I would be getting another one of these
babies but what I didn't know is in the last 16 years Step2
has made life even sweeter and my little girl is sporting a
Pink one that is just as adorable as she is! I went crazy
and you guys know how I feel about Pink and finding every
thing out there I can that is in that hue for her. Hey, don't
I deserve it? I waited 17 years for this little girl and by
golly she is going to look, dress and live in that classic
girly shade! As soon as the car came I knew I needed
accessories and rushed out and got her a pink hat, coat
and even went so far as to find her a little toy key set and
cell phone in pink to go with it. The Baby Banz Review I
am posting soon was kind enough to offer up the shades!
She is a little Mary Kay and it is the cutest thing you have
ever seen! The first time we got to take her little car out
was hysterical, adorable and a memory I will never forget.
We walked block after block so she could show it off and
every person we passed had to stop and check out her
ride with a big grin on her face. She received just as much
attention as if we had driven off of a car lot with a new
sports car! As for the car itself? Perfect! I just can't sum
it up any better. The wheels turn so smooth that even going
through our bumpy parking lot you felt like you were gliding.
Inside Rowan was super comfy for they also offer a
removable floor board since she is just too little to push it
herself. She is snug as a bug in a fancy new car! I have
to admit I was a little worried when it first came for though
I knew she was still to little to use it the traditional way
where she powers it herself with her own little feetsies, I
also knew I could not wait to her legs grew and would be
out there pushing her myself. What worried me was the
fear it might strain my back with wheels that did not turn
easy or I might be bent over way too much and not be
able to get up and I was over joyed at our first trip for
those concerns flew right out the window. The car is "THE"
perfect height where you can just touch the roof to push
and like I told you it rolls so smooth that I could push it
with my pinkie and did not have any problem at all. Even
my Mother could do this little fellow and I found it so
easy I am even taking the dog out at the same time. If
you are looking for a toy for your tyke that will plaster a
smile on their face, be used every minute of daylight
and they will never grow bored off, this is the one!
If you are looking for the best price for that toy, CSN is
the place to get it. I told you this was already on my
shopping list so I had been pricing them already and
CSN was the cheapest place I found that stocked them
by a full 10 dollars! You can't beat that!


As a matter of fact it does not matter what item
you are looking for CSN and Toys and Games Online
not only has it they have it at the best price out there!
I thought I knew what was out there, really, shouldn't I?
Wouldn't I be considered a professional shopper? Isn't it
my job to know what is on the market? I thought so but
looking through their product selection I was continuously
amazed at the items I never even knew existed! They have
everything for indoors, outdoors, in the car, just for Grandma's,
Boys, Girls, you name it they got it. Have no clue what
to get for a gift and just want to find something to knock
little Billy's or Suzies socks off? Don't even bother diggen,
just stop on by Toys and Games On-line and search in
your desired price range and you are sure to find something
that will be the hit of the party. They carry all the top
brands and even those little hard to find Boutique items you
just can't find anywhere else. They just have it all and
it is on the easiest site I have ever had the joy to
navigate. Shop by sex, price, item, theme, it just doesn't get
any easier. I have not had this much fun shopping for toys
in ages.


 Before I let you guys go and explore yourself
let me tell you about the prices one more time. I was
searching the water toys for we live in Michigan and spend
a lot of time on lakes and in the water in general. We
have a lot of water toys and I am always looking for
something new and exciting. A couple of years ago I came
across a water toy that was awesome. I have never
seen it anywhere else and knew that Andrew would flip
out over it. The toy is called an Aqua Glide Multi Sport
and if you have older children that love the water this
is a must have. It does it all and you can not only
Windsurf but use it as a Tow-able and so much more.
I snapped that up and I can't tell you how much fun it
has been for the whole family. When I saw it on the CSN
Toys and Games On-line Website I was pretty shocked for
like I told you guys I get around and I have only seen it
in a few select places over the years. When I saw the
price that they were selling it for I just about passed out
and wanted to cry. Toys and Games On-line had it
for almost 100 dollars less then I paid for it. They had it
listed for less then the used one I found for a friend last
year. I could not believe it! I so wish I had known about
these guys when I bought it for I would have had more
then enough money left over to buy myself a super comfy
raft to float around on while the kids played and a pool
boy to bring me Daiquiris when I snapped my fingers!
Live and learn, but now that I know I will never make that
mistake again.


If you guys are looking for a child's Toy, no matter what
age, sex or price range you have got to stop and check these
guys out. If you are looking for just about everything or
anything else make sure to check out their parent site where
they list the different stores they have for I have been to
a few now and each one is better then the last. My final
review of CSN and Toys and Games On-line is a huge
two thumbs up and I will be grinning this whole Summer
and laughing almost as loud as Rowan! Awesome!


CSN Stores


Toys and Games On-line

Zip, zooooooooooooooom, CLUNK!
Bike season is almost here and Rowan has already got
her first bike! It is a training bike called a Balance Bike
from Boot Scoot Bikes! How darn adorable is that? Don't
know what a balance bike is? Well think of it as a training,
trainer bike and if your child can walk and reach the ground
on this tiny little contraption she or he can ride a bike. The
better thing is once they master this bike you can move them
on to a bike-bike and not worry about those crazy training
wheels. The balance bike teaches your child what they need
to know to hold their bike steady and by the time they up-grade
they are ready to run with the big dogs.
Rowan has a little bit of reaching to do to get her
feet on the ground but she is already in love with the crazy thing
and I tried to put it away to try this summer for she is maybe
2 inches shy of touching and she threw a fit. It cracks me
up that kids, as soon as they can grab something on their own,
know what is there's and just don't want anyone else to have
their things. It has to be right next to her door so she can
see it and about once a week I need to stand her by it and let
her sit on the seat. I am assuming this is her version of a tune up.
I am so glad I did not rush out and get her a horn and streamers
like I planned to for I have a feeling I would be standing with
her next to it even more. Rowan is just about ready to start
cruising on the furniture and we all know walking is right behind
that. With a Boot Scoot Bike right behind walking is riding a bike!
Hers is Pink and perfect. I chuckle every time I see it for just the
fact it is so little makes me giggle. My neighbor had a bike when
he was like 3 and though his was more like a tricycle with two wheels
it was still only a few feet off the ground and I can not help but
to laugh for visions of the circus float through my mind when I
see them. When I was young you had a tricycle to you were big
enough to ride a two wheeler and then had training wheels. Every
kids hates the training wheels and we all rush and practice to
try and get our Dads to remove them as fast as we can. A Mom
is the voice of reason who threatens Dad under penalty of death
that if those training wheels come off too soon and JR gets hurt
Dad will pay so the wheels end up staying on to everyone on the
block teases you because theirs are already off! Mean Mom's and
I am going to be one of them! Rowan, on the other hand won't
have to go through the trauma of teasing like I did for she has
a Boot Scoot and by the time she is ready for a Big Girl bike
she will be able to skip the training wheels all together.
A Boot Scoot bike is half Scooter, half Bike. What
it breaks down to is it is a pedaless bike that kids push off
with their feet and it allows them to practice balance in short
bursts. Unlike pedals that can get them going too fast when
they push off it is more easy for them to control and much
more easy for them to start and stop. Instead of falling down
every two minutes they can coast or roll and just put down
their feet when they are done and not have to worry about
those feet getting caught in a peddle. With a Balance bike
your child starts off with little scoots or even walks the bike
and the lack of pedals allows for them to firmly place their
feet on the ground and gives them a sense of support. As
they gain confidence they can scoot a little further and coast
a little longer and not only does it teach them how to balance
more effectively it allows them to build their self esteem and
confidence before they ever hit a pedal. We all know half
of the trick to mastering a bike is to lose your fear of falling
and just got with it, the other half is learning how to balance
and a Boot Scoot Balance Bike lets your child do both at
one time.

The fact that it is a starter bike and they can
only go as fast as their own little legs and energy allow
them too makes it a perfect bike for young children to
learn on. As soon as they master walking and as soon as
they can touch the ground they can start learning on their
bikes. I plan on trying Rowan at the end of Summer start
of Fall since she will be a year in July and I have a feeling
she will be walking before then. She is also in the 95th
percentile in Height so I am just about positive she will be
able to touch. Last of all Rowan is a determined little girl and
once she walks it is going to be all over and I know I am
going to have to keep her focused on new challenges and
a balance bike is just the thing. Who knows, by her
second birthday little Miss Dare Devil may be ready for a
pedal bike and training wheels? We don't need no stink-en
training wheels! Another great thing about Boot Scoots
Balance Bike is it saves on Mommy and Daddy's aching
back. When you don't have to run along side of your
little one all bent over so they won't fall it makes teaching
your child how to ride a bike a spectator sport and a lot
more fun for Mom and Dad can cheer them on instead of dig
through the closet looking for a heating pad for their aching backs!
Boot Scoot Bikes has 2 different styles, the Zoomer and the
Cruiser and 3 colors to choose from. They also have some
adorable accessory's for your little ones such as a basket and
Streamers and even an I love my bike bell!The Bikes have such
features as:
•Height-adjustable handlebars
•Quick-release padded saddle, adjustable seat height: 14"-17"
•12" solid (hardened rubber) tires—never change a popped tire
•White plastic rims
•Quick and easy to assemble
•Certified lead-free paint
for the Zoomer and:
•Three color choices
•Lightweight steel frame that’s built kid-tough
weight: 10 lbs
33" L x 17-20" H x 17" W (at handlebars)
•Height-adjustable handlebars
•Quick-release padded saddle, adjustable seat height: 17"-20"
•12" rugged inflatable tires
•Steel rims
•Plastic fenders with chrome appearance
•Quick and easy to assemble
for the Cruiser. Perfect to get your child on a roll to learning
how to ride. With Summer on the way it is time to get your
kids out and riding today!


Boot Scoot wants to add some flair to your little ones wheels
and would like to give one of my readers a Bike Accessory of their
choice. To enter just head over to the site and take a look around
then come back here and post what you have learned in a comment.
The contest will start tonight and run to Midnight on April 17th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.


Boot Scoot Bikes




Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.


1. Become a follower of my blog or Twitter
and post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.


2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.


3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.


4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.


5. Tweet about this contest elsewhere. 5 entries
please post five times.


Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Mommy Tool Box and Port a Pong Contests!

I have never laughed so hard in my whole life! a SHRED
SLED Rocks! We had the best time with the review and
I have got to tell you all about it! Andrew is a huge fan of
Skateboarding and I love to Roller Skate to death. When I
saw the Shred Sled I knew we had to try it! Now remember
here we are pros's. Okay, not pros's but we have both spent
a lot of time with both of the for-mentioned items and have
a lot of equipment to show for it. Andrew has a pretty nice
Board Collection and even some collectors editions signed
by some of his Favorite Skaters for he is an Extreme Sports
nut and I grew up Skating and then Roller Blading and in
fact I was so into it that was my means of transportation to
and from my first real job for a lot of years. Put it to you this
way, I bought my first car on my own new, off the lot and had
it for 10 years. I only had 44 thousand miles on it when I sold
it for I just drove it to the store or in the winter. The rest of the
time I either skated to work or rode my bike. You would think
I would have some pretty good balance.
I also got all riled up for the man in charge over at
Shred Sled is also a huge fan of his product and I was
goofing around and told him I was even going to try to get
up on this baby myself, even though I am 40 years old! He
laughed and said he is 45 and rides every day! UM, can you
say challenge to a very competitive person? How can I pass
that up? Okay, you are not going to get pictures of the bruises
but let's just say I should have passed that up. Being old
School, Michelle does not own padding and it hurts a lot
more to hit the ground at 40 then it did at 20. I bow, you
win, but don't think I won't get padding and try again! If my
doctor knew I had even tried a thing like this with my issues
she would have strapped me in a hospital bed before I even
got out the door. You know what they say, Pride come before
the Fall. Well, I fell, Hard! I say Shred Sled won this round
but once I heal and strap a pillow to my rear I will be back!
Andrew on the other hand got it! Now it took a while but
he got it! Now granted he has youth on his side and a
Skate Board is harder then Roller Skates but don't think
for a second that didn't hurt my ego too! One thing though,
Andrew and I have not had so much fun together in a long
time! This is a must have item for anyone who loves
Snowboarding, Blading, Skateboarding or Surfing for it is
all about balance. I almost gave up on Andrew making it
past the sidewalk for a lot of trial and error went
on here but he did it and once a person gets the hang of
it they really get the hang of it. Okay, he is not
at trick level yet but my goodness, just to walk back in
with all of his appendages in tact was a surprise for me.
Now I am not implying it is dangerous for it
is no more so then any of the others things I mentioned but
I am implying Andrew has a way of destroying things if it
is my good China, a TV or DVD player or his own body,
the kid has broken it more then once! I can't wait to
we convince John to try, and Oh, we will convince him!
He thinks he can avoid us but we will wear him down. I
still remember the day they discovered a water balloon
sling shot and if I can deal with the chaos they caused
there he can deal with the little bit of embarrassment he
might suffer as we point and laugh! I am still laughing over
Andrew and I's initial attempts! One of the things I loved
the best about the Shred Sled is the fact it is so unique
and cool looking you can't help but to want to try it out.
When Andrew and I went to test it out, while we were out
there, a crowd of neighborhood kids gathered and they
had to try it to and so on and so forth and next thing you
know everyone wanted to get out there and go to town.
I loved that! I also loved the fact it made you want to get
off the couch and go out and DO SOMETHING! I swear,
since Winter has started I can feel my bottom get bigger
and this was such the cure.



Now take away the fact that Andrew and
I have some skills on a Skateboard and on Roller Skates,
if this were to fall into the hands of a person who was really
into Extreme Sports and not just one little area of them,
can you imagine how awesome it would look to see them
Zipping around! Take my Nephew in Law, once he gets
a load of this, Oh my, I am so sure that will be the last
time we see it for he will be miles away laughing like
a fool before we can pull on our shoes. That boy is a
natural. In fact any person old enough to Skateboard,
Surf or Snowboard could do wonders with this if given
a chance. Did I mention how dang cool it looks? I was
checking out the Demo Video and tips for the Sled and
as you can see by the picture Andrew did start by a wall
like the tips say, but these kids in the video, WOW!
Unlike a skate board you don't have to keep pumping
the pavement for speed, just wiggle your feet to keep
going like skates and you have so much more flexibility
then a Board the possibilities are endless. It takes
practice, I won't lie to you, but once mastered what
a show! I saw this on our news here a while ago and
Andrew has been babbling about wanting one and until
we actually saw it I did not realize how cool it really
was. The Sled is built to last and unlike a board it has
the center that allows movement and you can just
about do anything you dream of if you put your mind to
it! I may have bit the pavement but I had a lot of fun
trying and Andrew is no where near done honing his
skills and John WILL ride! If you are looking for
something for your kids, have a hankering to walk on
the wild side yourself or need a gift, the Shred Sled
is your man! Or Board, Or whatever you are going to
call it for I think it is in a class by itself. Even though
there have been leap and bounds of advancements
in technology, I truly have not seen an original idea
for an outdoor item since the Roller Blade 20 something
years ago and this is just the thing we have all been
waiting for to get us up off the couch and away from
the video games and back on our feet's ( or behinds,
in my case) Get out and Play everyone!
The Shred Sled would make an awesome Valentines Day
gift for just about everyone on your list who loves to be
a part of the outdoor world and be sure to check them
out on my Gift Guide but you can also win one right here!
The great guy ( who shreds daily at 45) Eric over at Shred
Sled is going to give one to a reader of mine! To enter just
head over to the site and take a look around, be sure
to check out the video for some of the awesome things
they can do, then come back here and post what you
have learned in a comment. The contest will start today
and run to midnight on March 6th! USA and 18
and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Shred Sled


Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Zehn Naturals and Easy Lunch Box Systems contests!

Don't forget to check out the Shred Sled on the Valentines
Day Gift guide!