With living halfway across the planet, I enjoy apps, toys and educational products that help my girls learn where we are and where we have been. We even have a huge map on our wall that allows then to use a washable marker to draw lines, circle, and star places. It could be where grandma lives, where we visited, where we may have lived and so on.

If you have an iPad you will want this app to help even more. Its good for ages 4 and up and perfect for homeschooling too!

Learn The World For iPad:

The kids will have a blast using their imaginations in this dynamic & interactive 20 page coloring book.  The book allows you to choose from different colors & styles, freeform painting to drawing directly on the page, importing pictures or drawing amazing creations.  All artwork can be saved & shared.  This is a great app for kids to explore their creativity.

This app helps with

• Country Capitals 
• Country Currencies 
• World Continents 
• World Maps 
• History
• Atlas 
• Cities

Learn the World offers a few interactive activities to learn geographic knowledge. Map Learn, Fly Quiz, Text Quiz, and Map Quiz. My favorite for the girls is the Fly Quiz. They can move the plane across any flight pattern they want and see different countries. (Hey kind of our our life is! lol). The second best one for us is the Map Quiz. When you click any country a question will pop up. It could ask about capitals or money used in that country, etc. It’s even helpful to mom, who thought every country in Europe took Euro….right? (Maybe I need Euro Math next too…)

Learn The World App for iPad is relatively cheaper than some of the other kid apps I have purchased. At $1.99 I found it well worth those 2 dollars…I mean 1.55 euro. It looks like the company didn’t stop there either. Merge Mobile has a site full of educational apps that I look forward to testing also.

At Merge Mobile, we design and develop innovative apps for kids.  Apple, Parents’ Choice, Scholastic and iPad For Kids For Dummies have recognized us. Along with Parents, Teachers, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Homeschooler’s and so on are using a number of our apps (esp. our FreeFall & ClickySticky Series) to help them educate children.

As a proud sponsor of Autism Speaks, Merge Mobile donates 100% of net proceeds from the Autism Speaks Coloring Book App to the Autism Speaks Organization.

This post is brought to you by Merge Mobile

Are you ready for summer??  We sure are in this household.  I have the absolute best way to help your kids alleviate the hot summer heat….Blast Zone’s Spray N Splash 2 Inflatable Water Park

The Spray N Splash 2 Inflatable Water Park brings the excitement of the Water Park to your back yard!  Stop wasting money on gas and rentals, and turn your yard into a coooool water park! This upgraded version of the best-selling Blast Zone Water Park includes the features our customers have asked us for, including an inside return so kids don’t exit the pool to climb the slide, and a new slide design for a smooth landing!  Setting up your splashing paradise is easy!  Just unroll the colorful Spray N Splash 2, hook it to the continuous blower, inflate it and attach the hose, and you’re ready to party!  Your kids will have a blast climbing up the back,  zipping down the slide and splashing in the pool, over and over! Forget summer boredom!

The Spray N Splash has enough room for up to 4 Kids to Splash, Climb,  and Play all day!  Beat the heat with the included sprayer system.  Just “hook-and-loop fasten” it on, attach the hose and splash.  The sprayers spray down onto the top of the slide, and water runs down into the splash pool.  The Spray N Splash 2 is lightweight and portable, for traveling fun!
Dimensions:

• 17′ Long
• 8′ Wide
• 8′ Tall

Retails for $449.99 but is currently on sale for $299.99

My take:  My boys have had such a great time with this Inflatable Water Park and I know they will continue to do so.  They ask each and every day “can we get the water slide out” and know once school is officially over their fun times will begin in earnest.  I have recorded a video review as well:

Setup was incredibly simple.  Here is a picture of everything that came in the box:

There is also a helpful DVD that is included that speaks in general on how to take care and set up your inflatable:

I was determined to set this Inflatable Water Park up all by myself and found no problems in doing so.  Here are some pictures of my initial set-up:

Deflated:

Inflated:

The most amazing thing to me about set-up is that it takes less than a minute for the entire unit to be fully inflated!  Once the unit is inflated attach the water tube to the water park via the Velcro tabs found on the unit.  Attach your water hose and it is ready to go!

I love how much fun my kids have on this water park….every single time they go down the slide it is super wet and I can even adjust the flow of the sprayers if needed.  The absolute favorite thing for me….the path on the side of the water slide that allows the kids to stay inside the unit at all times which means way less grass and debris in the pool area!!

As I expected, the taking down took a lot longer….mainly because I wanted to make sure every square inch was completely dry.  If the unit is not completely dry mold buildup can occur and since we plan to use this great product for years to come I took extra care to make sure it was properly packed up.  Once the standing water was drained out (by stepping on the sides of the pool to let the water flow out), I deflated the unit to remove the remaining water.  Per Blast Zone’s recommendation, I re-inflated and let the unit dry out from the inside out.  About an hour later it was dry.  After deflation I noticed the bottom to be slightly wet so I flipped it over and let the sun do the rest of the work.

The only way I got my boys off of the Spray N Splash 2 Inflatable Water Park is by promising them we have the entire summer for hours of entertainment with it and I know we will get years of use which makes it well worth the price, especially at the current sale price of $299.99 PLUS there is a  10% coupon code:  BOUNCEBLOG!  I highly recommend the Spray N Splash 2 Inflatable Water Park.  My boys give it a huge thumbs up!!

Blast Zone is generously offering 1 very lucky Mommy PR reader their very own Spray N Splash 2 Inflatable Water Park!

Win It

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me what your favorite product is from Blast Zone

“Like” Blast Zone of Facebook

“Like” MommyPR on Facebook

Follow MommyPR on Twitter

Post giveaway on your blog (worth 5 entries)

Share this giveaway on your blog, facebook or twitter with a link to MommyPR and get an extra entry for each that you do daily. (must include link in comment section)

Open to US residents only

Contest ends 11:59 pm Pacific Time on June 7th, 2013

See Contest Rules for More Entries

There you have it – lot’s of ways to enter so please help us get the word out and good luck!!!!

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I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. I did receive free product samples to keep for my testing purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review or host a giveaway in return for the product. Receiving the product for free did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. My views are solely my own opinions.

First-of-its-kind Cellular BioEnergetics research has shown age-related decreases in skin’s energy levels make aging skin fatigued – aged in appearance and less responsive to anti-aging ingredients. This research also indicates hydrating skin may help to boost natural bioenergy production in aged skin. Inspired by this explosive field of research, Olay has reformulated its best-selling Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with Skin Energizing to help fight the look of Skin Fatigue and accelerate the appearance of anti-aging results.

New Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is designed to accelerate the appearance of anti-aging results with Skin Energizing Technology which contains a complex of ingredients that energizes surface skin turnover and includes two new anti-aging ingredients – Olivem and Lys’lastine.

Research conducted on nearly 2,500 women around the world shows new Olay Regenerist with Skin Energizing Technology hydrates to improve skin’s responsiveness and fight the look of Skin Fatigue by accelerating surface layer cell turnover, increasing brightness and decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

•  Regenerates skin’s surface layers up to 2x faster after 5 days

•  Hydrates better than leading luxury creams

•  Reverses 10 years of wrinkle appearance after just 4 weeks

New Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is available where Olay Products are sold.  Suggested Retail Price:  $24.99

My take:  I have been using Olay products for well over 15 years now and have always relied on their moisturizers to help keep my face looking its best.  I have been blown away by the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.  It is quite simply the best I have ever used and believe me when I say I have tried some of the most expensive moisturizer creams available.  I love the light scent, the creaminess that doesn’t have a greasy feel to it and most of all how it makes my skin look and feel fantastic.  As a mom of three young children I don’t have a lot of time to take care of my skin but I have always made sure to use a moisturizer each day and Olay has always been at the top of my list and will continue to be so thanks to the Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.

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I am a spokesperson for P&G.  I did a receive free product samples to keep for my testing purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review  in return for the product. Receiving the product did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. My views are solely my own opinions.

Cortex Solo 450 Jet Black Titanium Flat Iron / Hair Straightener (1″):

Discriminating Salons and Stylists around the globe expect the best from the tools of their trade. That’s why they choose the Cortex Solo 450 Collection for superior, longer lasting performance in hair expression. Our technologically advanced line uses the highest quality materials, which means beautiful results faster.  Cortex Solo 450 Collection is new to the market and made for professionals in the beauty industry. You probably could have guested this iron heats up to 450 degrees F, the hottest in the market. Adjustable heat and ergonomically designed this flat iron can be used on ultra thick frizzy hair or ultra thin hair. The results are amazing!

Retails for $259.99.  On sale for $129.99

Flat Iron Experts Iron Holder:

Flat Iron Experts Iron Holder has suction cups to grip onto smooth glossy surfaces, such as a glass table for increased stability & safety.

Retails for $14.99

KQC Thermal Shine Spray:

KQC Thermal Shine Spray (142g) is an ion enriched polishing complex formulated for superior heat protection and ultra gloss hair shine. Lightweight, non-greasy micro mist spray that eliminates frizz, softens and polishes hair without build up. Designed for all hair types. Use with flat iron, curling iron or hair dryers.

KQC Thermal Shine spray is great for all hair types.  Whether your hair is normal, oily or dry, you can prevent infrared heat damage resulting in split-ends, frizz, and so forth.  This is also a great way to help detangle your hair as the thermal shinespray allows for easy & smooth comb-throughs.  Directions: Spray on wet or dry hair.  Style with a hair dryer or iron for brilliant, ultra-gloss shine.

Retails for $18.99.  On sale for $13.99

Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment:

Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment is a therapeutic oil perfect for all hair types and is especially beneficial to dry, damaged hair. The Healing Oil Treatment is instantly absorbed, weightlessly infusing the hair with moisture and nutrients for silky smooth, healthy looking hair while providing natural UV protection from photo and sun damage. Dry, brittle hair is miraculously rejuvenated with increase shine and control. The Healing Oil Treatment can also be added as an enhancement to other conditioning and finishing products or mixed into color or other chemical service preparations for improved absorption and effectiveness, resulting in more vivid and long-lasting applications.

Retails for $39.99.  On sale for $35.99

My take:  I straighten my hair each and every day and when I spent the weekend at my parents’ house I noticed her hair straightener worked way better than mine so I knew it was time for a change.  On a recommendation from a friend, I decided to try Flat Iron Experts and boy am I glad I did!  Every since using their products there is not one bad thing I can think of to write.  Pictures say a thousand words so here is a before picture:

And an after picture:

Talk about a noticeable difference!  I love how quickly this hair straightener heats up, the easy use and how there is a holder with suction cups.  Easy perfect hair every single time!  The thermal shine spray and macadamia oil treatment help protect my hair which I love as well!

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I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. I did receive free product samples to keep for my testing purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  Receiving the product for free did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. My views are solely my own opinions.

The party prizes will be 1 of 3 beautiful necklaces.

We chose the Owl as the charm as it is a universal symbol of knowledge and wisdom, which we hope the Search Share Spare campaign will bring to women everywhere.

 For the call: Please call in to: (855) 679-2109, conference ID 72778970.

Agenda for the call:

• Welcome and overview about the Search, Share, Spare campaign 
• Skin-sparing breast cancer procedures: myths and realities 
• Leslie Green shares her story
• The top 5 questions to ask your doctor about a skin-sparing or nipple-sparing procedure

This is great information to have/learn especially with the latest Angelina Jolie news (not associated).

For the Party:

• Hashtag  #BreastChatS3
• Hosted by @MommyPR
• Co-Hosted by @Armywives101
• Sponsored by @BreatsCancerS3
• You MUST rsvp & be on the call (otherwise you won’t know the answers)
• Party starts at 2:30 pm est (directly after the call)

Tweet:
Tweet

RSVP:

This is a Sponsored Campaign & Twitter Party. 

Hoover High Performance Vacuum

We all want the best for our families and our home.  And when it comes to cleaning, get Hoover’s best in a vacuum helping you to not only clean up what others leave behind but with convenient features to make cleaning simpler.

The Hoover® WindTunnel®3 High Performance Bagless Upright Vacuum can tackle any busy household with kids and beloved pets.  Not only does it help to manage unruly pet hair but it’s designed with exclusive WindTunnel® 3 Technology that lifts and removes deep-down, embedded dirt with 3 channels of suction.

Tackle your cleaning challenges easily with the WindTunnel® 3 High Performance with features like a reusable easy rinse filter, rubberized pet tools that remove stubborn pet hair while getting into cracks and crevices, plus it’s equipped with a multi-floor brushroll on/off option allowing you to easily move from carpet to hard floors.  From low pile to high pile carpet, the 7-position height adjustment from bare floor to high pile carpet will come in handy.  It has a 40′ cord to vacuum any large room without re-plugging.

When you’re done vacuuming, simply empty the debris with its convenient bottom-release cup.

Features:

• Exclusive WindTunnel® 3 Technology WindTunnel® 3 Technology creates three channels of suction to lift and remove surface debris and deep down embedded dirt. Vacuums without WindTunnel® Technology rely on only one channel of suction.
• Multi-Floor Brushroll On/Off move from carpet to hardwood with a press of a pedal.
• Reusable Easy Rinse Filter Regularly rinse the filter under running water for long-lasting use.
• Convenient Bottom-Release Cup Hold cup over a trash receptacle and empty debris with the push of a button, without getting your hands dirty.
• Multi-Cyclonic Hoover’s thirteen cyclones are engineered to drop filter-clogging dirt out of the airstream, to help the filter stay clean. A clean filter allows for maximum dirt removal from carpet* and powerful “no loss of suction“** cleaning.
• Carbon & HEPA Media Filter made with HEPA media and odor-absorbing carbon layer. HEPA media traps 99.97% of dirt, dust, and pollens down to 0.3 microns.
• Rubberized Pet Tool Pack to help remove stubborn pet hair and get into hard to reach places.12′ Hose Up to 15 feet of cleaning reach with wand and tools.
  • Pet Turbo Tool Cleans furniture and stairs.
  • Pet Upholstery Tool Cleans pet hair, furniture surfaces, and other decor.
  • Telescoping Extension Wand Extends the reach of the hose.
  • Crevice Tool Cleans cracks and crevices with precision.
  • 40′ Cord Length Vacuum a large room without re-plugging.
• 5 year Limited Warranty

Retails for $174.88 and is only available at Walmart

My take:  Oh how I love this vacuum.  I love how convenient it was to put together….put the handle on, attach a screw, place all the attachments in the correct places and you are ready to clean!

I was amazed at the amount of dirt and pet hair this vacuum quickly and powerfully sucked up.  My absolute favorite features- the Rubberized Pet Tool Pack, I am in love with the Pet Turbo and Upholstery Tools since they allow me to get those much needed areas such as stairs, furniture and pillows.  The 40′ cord is great as well since I can easily vacuum one to two rooms without having to stop to find a closer electrical cord.  Clean-up is simple thanks to the bottom release cup which means the dirt and debris land in the garbage and not anywhere else.  I also think the price is very reasonable given all this vacuum can do!

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I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. I did receive free product samples to keep for my testing purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  Receiving the product for free did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. My views are solely my own opinions.

I received 2 darling hair accessories:

Crystal Carrot Clip:

Retails for $14.00

Tulip and Bee Double Ponytail Bands:

Retails for $16.00

My take:  Now my little one is only 10 months old so the Ponytail Bands are too big for her just yet but they are very adorable.  We have worn the crystal carrot clip several times and received many compliments on it.  I love how durable, adorable and most importantly how well it stays in her super fine hair.

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I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. I did receive free product samples to keep for my testing purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  Receiving the product for free did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. My views are solely my own opinions.

Anywhere Labels at SafetyTat are brand new uber-durable and attractive labels – personalized with a name and an optional phone number. Anywhere Labels are dishwasher, washing machine and microwave safe. Available in a variety of colors and patterns in tag or adhesive form, Anywhere Labels will help keep track and identify possessions with ease.

These things have to be made of duct tape! I can’t believe they are so durable and washable! I opted to have my girlfriend, who has a kid in every sport plus a baby on her arm, the chance to review these. I knew she could use these with as much running as they do. She choose the sports labels with their last name and phone number. Let me remind you that our phone numbers over here are like 200 digits long so I was pleased to see all the numbers fit perfectly.

Personalized Large Rectangle labels are durable and waterproof. Perfect for identifying sippy cups, backpacks, school supplies, toys…ALL your belongings. Include your name and optional second line of information or phone number. Label Dimensions: 2″ x .65″

We were both pleasantly surprised at the quality. For $19.99 you get 32 large stickers. That price is not at all bad when you think about the items you lose daily. Makes it worth it to have someone call because they found your phone, or maybe that blankie your kid can’t part with.

Don’t have kids? Try the Senior Tats! Or just because, try Tat Kisses.

I received product for my review.

Founded in 1999, Blue Nile has grown to become the largest online retailer of certified diamonds and fine jewelry.

At Blue Nile you’ll find high-quality diamonds certified by the most respected independent diamond grading labs. You can create your own jewelry — choose the right diamond and we’ll set it in your favorite earring, pendant, or ring design. Every order is shipped  free, guaranteed and returnable within 30 days, so you can be sure you made the right decision.

I received the Leaf Chandelier Earrings in Sterling Silver

Chic and distinct, these chandelier earrings feature seven delicate leaves that are intricately captured in sterling silver with a flexible design for movement.

Retails for $40.00

My take:  These earrings are gorgeous!!  I have a family wedding coming up very soon and these are the perfect complement to my little black dress.  I love how simple, elegant and striking these earrings are.  I guarantee anything you order from Blue Nile you will absolutely love!  How do I know??….my husband has ordered my engagement ring, anniversary ring and watch from this company and every single time Blue Nile has been courteous, competent and delivered stunning products that literally take my breath away!

Here is a picture of the earrings in the box:

And a picture of me modeling:

Gorgeous aren’t they?

Blue Nile is generously offering 1 very lucky MommyPR reader the very same pair of Leaf Chandelier Earrings in Sterling Silver that I received!

Win It

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me another product you would love to own from Blue Nile

“Like” Blue Nile of Facebook

Follow Blue Nile on Twitter

Share this giveaway on your blog, facebook or twitter with a link to MommyPR and get an extra entry for each that you do daily.

Open to US residents only

Contest ends 11:59 pm Pacific Time on 5/24/13

See Contest Rules for More Entries

There you have it – lot’s of ways to enter so please help us get the word out and good luck!!!!

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I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. I did receive free product samples to keep for my testing purposes. I was under no obligation to write a positive review or host a giveaway in return for the product. Receiving the product for free did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. My views are solely my own opinions.

This is the best idea ever! Wear a brightly colored, even lighted, bra and walk a marathon. The reason? All for the fabulous cause of Breast Cancer Awareness!

Walk The Walk is bringing iconic overnight power walking to NYC with The MoonWalk. Its at 10 pm July 20th 2013. Presented by Empire BlueCross Blueshield, it’s estimated to have over 8000 walkers. It begins with an opening ceremony celebration at Randall’s Island. Walkers will then depart through Manhattan, past the city’s most iconic landmarks!

There are 2 courses to ensure that everyone can participate no matter their fitness levels or abilities (cough….me!): Half Moon (13.1 miles) and Full Moon (26.3 miles).

The MoonWalk NYC hopes to raise $2 Million Dollars in one night. Their hope is they can grant most of it to Memorial Sloan-Ketting Cancer Center to help support the Breast Examination Center in Harlem. It is one of the 1st FREE screening facilities for breast cancer in the country where 80% of its patients are uninsured by guaranteed support.

Since its inception 15 years ago in London, MoonWalk has engaged over 300,000 participants and has raised over $126 MILLION dollars to support vital breast cancer causes.

Want to sign up? http://moonwalk2013.one2onenetwork.com/SHW

This is a sponsored post from One2One Network and Walk The Walk.  All opinions stated are my own.