Toys

Toy Review: Aerobie Pro Sprint Flying Ring

If your kids like playing with a frisbee they will love the Aerobie Sprint Flying Ring because they can grab it easier than a frisbee and it is a lot of fun.

When the weather is warm kids should get outside and play and the Aerobie is a fun yard game. I also think you should pack one in the car for beach trips and when you go on vacation. We always took a bag of yard toys for the kids to play with when we went on vacation because there are times even when you are at a hotel that they have nothing to do and the Aerobie would be perfect because they can play it in the parking lot of the hotel, at grandma’s house, or at the beach or park.

It is super lightweight and is so flat that it soars through the air. Because there is nothing in the center you can catch it with your arm. Watch out for those tree limbs though because we got it stuck once.

The Aerobie Sprint flying ring is available at all major sporting-goods stores and online at Amazon.com and costs around $8.00 (cheaper online) Look for the bright color and also for those other toys like the Aerobie Squidgie ball, Aerobie Orbiter, Aerobie discs, or Aerobie footballs.

I had the neighbor kids come over and give it a whirl. They had a ball playing in the yard with the Aerobie. Reminded me of the days when my kids were growing up and I would be out there yelling for them to “stop hitting the house” and “get off of that tree limb”.

The more space you have to play the better because this sucker can fly and fly far. Because of the aerodynamic design, see above, it is super flat and they say you can throw it as far as a full football field, about 1,300 feet. Of course, you don’t need that much space because the kids were able to play with it in my yard and it’s not that big. The flatter you hold it the further it will go. You can also shape it because it is flexible, to change the flight patterns.

It’s a great toy that kids, and adults, will enjoy playing with this Summer.

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This post was written for Family Review Network & Aerobie Sprint who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Best Time of Year to Shop For These Items

I was just reading the Consumer Reports magazine and saw the interesting chart they have in it for the best time to buy items throughout the year. I thought I would pass it along to you.

Remember, as they say, the “best time to save money isn’t generally when you will find the best selection”. I also think that you have to shop out of the box-style and buy when the items are cheapest, not necessarily when you need them. Like buying a winter coat when Winter is over or buying a lawnmower when Summer is past. However, sometimes it is best to shop at the height of the season because of the sales be offered by the stores.

It’s like buying groceries to save lots of money. My friend Treasures says, “buy what you need when you don’t need it” meaning, buy the groceries when they are on sale and when you have a coupon, not when you are out of that item and desperately need it. Of course, if you need it then buy it but if you can plan your shopping trip then wait until the items are on sale, just like this list suggests.

January: bedding, carpeting, computers, cookware, linens, swimwear, toys, treadmills, winter clothing

February: humidifiers, indoor furniture, treadmills and exercise equipment

March: digital cameras, humidifiers, all kinds of electronics, Winter coats and sporting gear

April: computers, digital cameras, lawn mowers

May: athletic clothing and shoes, carpeting, cordless phones, lawn mowers, small electronics

June: camcorders, carpeting, computers, indoor furniture, swimwear

July: camcorders, indoor and outdoor furniture, swimwear

August: air conditioners, backpacks, dehumidifiers, lawn mowers, outdoor furniture, snow blowers

September: bikes, digital cameras, gas grills, lawn mowers, shrubs, trees, and perennials, small electronics, snow blowers

October: bikes, computers, digital cameras, gas grills, lawn mowers, and winter coats

November: baby products, bikes, camcorders, gas grills, toys, TVs

December: bikes, camcorders, gas grills, home appliances, toys, TVs

I am sure there are more things you could think of to add to this shopping list. What is the best time of year to buy? When there is a sale I say.

Review of Zippies Collectible I.D. Tags

This post was written for Family Review Network & Zippies who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Zippies are I.D. tags that you can write on and let your kids put them on all of their treasures, hang from the zipper on their jacket or backpack, use as a keychain, and even collect and trade with friends.

Series 1 has 10 collectible Zippies tags and include: Tazmo, Chip, Faina, Kayla, Bruno, Paco, Flops, Edge, Wally, and Ranger.

Bright colors are used to design the faces on the Zippies tags. Some of the faces used are animals like a walrus, frog, tiger, bunny, or dog.

The Zippies I.D. tags are made from a flexible, heavy-duty rubber. They are quite sturdy and because the plastic is flexible they won’t crack or break.

On the end of each tag is a hook so you can remove the adjustable handle if you want. The handle is designed so you can put it over the neck or a bottle and then push the button and draw it up so it won’t fall off.

Kids will love the Zippies I.D. tags I think because they are colorful, fun to collect and trade. Parents will like the fact that they can put their child’s name on the back.

One note though, if you use a Sharpie as they show on the site, to put your child’s name on the back of the Zippies I.D. tag it will not rub off because a Sharpie is a permanent marker. If you think you will want other children to use the tag or your child will want to trade it with their friends you might want to put a piece of tape on the back and write on that instead of actually writing on the I.D. tag.

If your child decides they want to collect and trade Zippies I.D. tags they will want to join the Zippies Club to earn points for prizes and get a newsletter to stay updated about new Zippies coming out.

I thought these Zippies I.D. tags were great fun. I loved how colorful they were and how they could be used for an I.D. tag or something kids would love to collect and trade.

Each Zippies I.D. tag costs $4.98 and the whole set of 10 goes for $39.95. Right now it appears you can only purchase them online at shop.zippiesfun.com

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Pros:

colorful and fun
lots of great face designs to choose from
nice feature to be able to write your name on the back
added bonus of the hook and adjustable hanger

Cons:

Pricey
would have been nice to have a way to either erase the name on the back if you want to trade them or maybe have a removable tape that could be used to write on.