Holiday Gift Guide: "As Seen on TV" Gift Round-Up-Go Go Pillow, Chillow, Air Curler!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

It's that time of year again!  Time to start making those holiday gift lists.  Here at ABCD Diaries we'd like to make that process a little less painful:)  We will bringing you our annual Holiday Gift Guide in which we hand pick the coolest gifts for the whole family and everyone else on that gift list this year.  From now until mid-December we will be highlighting these wonderful gifts.

Today, we are bringing you a few great gift ideas from the As Seen On TV collection:

"GoGo Pillow™ is a plush, multifunctional pillow that highlights mobility, safety and comfort for tablet users:

·         The patented multi-slot design means your tablet is locked securely in place wherever you're using it; perfect from the classroom to the dorm room or for business and holiday travel as well. The GoGo Pillow™ works on most tablet sizes and on any surface. It even transforms into a storage pack so that you can fix it to places like the back of a headrest – offering complete comfort on the move.

·         The GoGo Pillow™ also allows easy access to power cord and earbud sockets for convenience and is available in a variety of fun colors.

Chillow is a portable pillow insert that provides instant personal cooling relief, perfect for keeping cool while sleeping during those hot summer nights.

·         While regular pillows trap heat, Chillow absorbs the heat that radiates from the body and releases it into the air.

·         Chillow is activated by adding water to its inner chamber (a cup of water may need to be added monthly depending on climate). It can be customized to four different cooling comfort levels to satisfy personal needs. Once its temperature is set, it stays at that level and provides cooling relief for hours.

For women looking to achieve a chic look in half the time, Air Curler™ is a revolutionary new styling tool that creates luscious curls in seconds.

·         Ideal for most hair lengths and textures, Air Curler is a blow dryer and curling iron in one that replaces the need for multiple styling tools. 

·         Simply connect it to any standard hair dryer, place damp hair in Air Curler’s chamber and move it up and down and style-dry your hair!  In just seconds, the spinning vortex creates voluminous andbeautiful curls."

All three of these would make fantastic gifts and they are all super affordable!  ABCD Diaries gives the Chillow, Go-Go Pillow and Air Curler an A+!

PlayTown: My Story Maker App Review

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

"PlayTown: My Story Maker is a wonderful new app for kids, ages 3-9.

The PlayTown: My Story Maker app allows kids to create, personalize and narrate stories while bringing their imagination to life! Children have rich imaginations, and it’s the responsibility of a parent to help nurture, encourage and reinforce their children’s’ creative expression.  An active imagination can help develop certain life skills such as communication and problem solving. Here’s how PlayTown works:

• Begin your story by selecting an Adventure Play Set; play sets can range from traveling to playing sports to even exploring outer space!
• My Story Maker invites you to create and build adventures, select your own stages, props, accessories and cast of lovable characters—such as princesses, monsters and jungle friends—and even use personal photos and drawings!
• When completed, see your creation with the play back feature and share with family and friends within the app.
• PlayTown is FREE to download for Android(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.co.tk.skt.playdoll) and iOS(http://itunes.apple.com/app/id473909588) and includes 3 Adventure Play Sets. Additional play sets can be purchased for $1.99 each.

·         For more information please visit www.PlayTownforKids.com and be sure to like the app on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/playtownforkids)

What we thought:  The kiddos really enjoyed this app!  It really allows them to explore their creativity in an educational and fun way.  They especially loved that they could actually be IN the story and that they could send their stories to friends and family members.  The app was easy enough for both my 5 and 7 year old to understand and use.  ABCD Diaries gives the PlayTown story maker app an A+!   

Holiday Gift Guide: Mood Lites- An Affordable Stocking Stuffer!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

It's that time of year again!  Time to start making those holiday gift lists.  Here at ABCD Diaries we'd like to make that process a little less painful:)  We will bringing you our annual Holiday Gift Guide in which we hand pick the coolest gifts for the whole family and everyone else on that gift list this year.  From now until mid-December we will be highlighting these wonderful gifts.

Today, we are bringing you a great stocking stuffer idea :

"An ideal stocking stuffer, Mood-Factory’s Passion™ and Renewal Mood-lites create a festive mood this holiday season.   Whether you want to create a tranquil space in your child’s room or romantic setting in your bedroom, Mood-lites to the rescue!  Available from $2.98 to $6.99 at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores nationwide.  

“Mood-lites represent Mood-Factory’s first line of products which are based on the sense of sight, and specifically, in regards to how colors affect how we feel,” said the Chicago-based Kathryn Goetzke, President, Mood-Factory. “We initially launched an incandescent line in 2004, and in 2012 launched a 2nd generation including flood, porch, and compact fluorescent (CFL)  Mood-lites. The colors were developed using a number of color expert research, and applying their general concepts to lighting.”

In 2004, in addition to launching the Mood-Factory, Kathryn Goetzke founded the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred), www.depression.org, to shine a positive light on depression and eliminate the stigma associated with the disease through prevention, research and education. Its goal is to ensure 100% of the 350 million people affected by depression seek and receive treatment.  Kathryn has seen first-hand the devastating affects depression has had on friends and families and donates part of the proceeds of the Mood-Factory product-line to iFred.

Other uplifting hues you might want in the Mood-lites line include: Happiness(yellow); Energy (Orange); Serenity (Light Blue); Sassy (Pink); Creativity (Purple) andTranquility (Deep Blue)."

What we thought:  What a unique stocking stuffer idea!  I know my kiddos would love to find these colorful bulbs in their stockings:)  Since our review, they often ask for the "party lights" in their room:)  The small change of color really gets them excited.  Mood-Lites are a neat, affordable way to brighten spirits, spark creativity or bring peace to a room.  ABCD Diaries gives Mood-Lites an A+!

Holiday Entertaining: Chicken Soup for the Soul Broths!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

I don't know about you, but I use A LOT of chicken broth when it comes to holiday cooking...from the stuffing to the green beans and lots more in between.  So I was very excited to be able to try out the chicken broth from Chicken Soup for the Soul's new line of comfort foods!

We tried the regular and the low sodium broths and were impressed by the rich, chicken flavor in both. What a great substitution to our regular canned broth!  If you are looking for a hearty chicken broth that isn't overly salty and really brings out the flavor in your holiday dishes, give this broth a try!  ABCD Diaries gives Chicken Soup for the Soul chicken broths an A+!

Holiday Gift Guide: "Mission: Mars" by Pascal Lee

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

It's that time of year again!  Time to start making those holiday gift lists.  Here at ABCD Diaries we'd like to make that process a little less painful:)  We will bringing you our annual Holiday Gift Guide in which we hand pick the coolest gifts for the whole family and everyone else on that gift list this year.  From now until mid-December we will be highlighting these wonderful gifts.

Today, we are bringing you a great gift idea for the young space explorers on your list:

"Pascal Lee, chairman of the Mars Institute and a planetary scientist at the SETI Institute, wrote a new non-fiction book about the undertaking of having humans on Mars by 2035. The book is geared toward ages 4^th– 6^th grade - as non-fiction reading and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) learning is crucial for this age group.

Recent articles about the recent issues surrounding the government shutdown and NASA demonstrates the vital role of space research – even amidst polarizing politics in D.C.

More than ever, it’s important that school-aged children understand the importance of space, technology and science – especially about our neighbor Mars."

What we thought: MISSION: MARS is a fantastic way to get gets interested in space research.  This book is full of interesting information and fantastic pictures and descriptions of what we know about Mars.  This would be a great gift for any young space explorer.  It shows why space research is so important in a really intriguing way.  ABCD Diaries gives MISSION: MARS an A+! 

Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts That Give Back from World Vision + Giveaway!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

It's that time of year again!  Time to start making those holiday gift lists.  Here at ABCD Diaries we'd like to make that process a little less painful:)  We will bringing you our annual Holiday Gift Guide in which we hand pick the coolest gifts for the whole family and everyone else on that gift list this year.  From now until mid-December we will be highlighting these wonderful gifts.

Today, we are bringing you a great gift idea that gives back...perfect for anyone on your list!

"Whether it’s the first draft of a gift list, a photo idea for holiday cards, or a location for a family gathering, many of us are already thinking of and planning for the holidays. The giving season quickly becomes too busy and hectic. Many of us forget the true meaning of the winter holidays. But a little thought and advanced planning make it easy to keep your heart in the holidays. Here are some ideas:

• Organize a family giving night and have kids select charitable gifts from an organization such as theWorld Vision Gift Catalog. Talk with your children about how giving back changes lives of children and families living in poverty and that their efforts truly make a difference.

• Host a house party for friends and family and ask your guests to contribute to a share of a group gift such as a farm animal, winter clothing or school supplies to families in need, or even a water well. Make the selection of the item, how to raise funds for that gift, and the collection of the money a collaborative, group effort.

• After Black Friday and Cyber Monday holiday shopping, consider celebrating Giving Tuesday (12/3) and make meaningful, life-changing gift purchases such as medicine, mosquito nets or a fish pond.

• Be active in your giving -- volunteer at your local homeless shelter or senior living center; cook a meal or bake cookies for an elderly family member or neighbor.

As you plan your holiday giving list, consider gifting unique, life-changing gifts that give back all year long. The World Vision Gift Catalog offers more than 250 items that help fight poverty and save lives here in US and around the world. With a financial contribution, donors can select one of the 30+ Handcrafted Gifts that can be shared with a loved one and at the same time help a person in need.

- Colors of Africa Bracelet & Earring Set: This gorgeous Zakale jewelry set is handmade from recycled materials by Kenyan artisans reclaiming their own lives from poverty.

- Cinnamon Box: Created from the dried inner bark of Cassia (Cinnamon) trees by skilled artisans in Vietnam; these boxes help families receive social and health insurance as well as the opportunity to apply for scholarship funds.

- Hand-woven Headband: This beautiful, 100% cotton headband woven by skilled workers in Lake Atitlan in Guatemala helps address urgent needs of children, families or communities that might otherwise go unmet.

- Ornament Set: This set includes three handmade Zakale wire and bead animal trio ornaments from Nairobi.

- Gertie the Plush Goat: Gertie is available exclusively through World Vision and represents farm animals that are donated to children and families around the world and provide a steady supply of nutritious food and the surplus can be sold for extra income."

We were able to review the beautiful Colors of Africa Bracelet and Earring set.  It is so pretty and colorful!  Any of these gifts would be great for giving this season...a gift you can feel really good about giving!

One lucky reader will win a Colors of Africa Jewelry Set!  Enter below:

Holiday Gift Guide: Key Ingredient Recipe Reader + Giveaway!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

It's that time of year again!  Time to start making those holiday gift lists.  Here at ABCD Diaries we'd like to make that process a little less painful:)  We will bringing you our annual Holiday Gift Guide in which we hand pick the coolest gifts for the whole family and everyone else on that gift list this year.  From now until mid-December we will be highlighting these wonderful gifts.

Today, we are bringing you a great gift idea for the chef/baker/busy mom on your list:  The Key Ingredient Recipe Reader!

"Nothing brings families together or evokes great memories quite like food. And there’s no better way to preserve those memories than through a family cookbook. The Key Ingredient Recipe Reader is the ultimate family cookbook, allowing your bloggers’ readers to collect all recipes in one simple, easy-to-use, kitchen safe device. Unlike a traditional tablet, the reader is spill and splatter-resistant and sits right on the kitchen countertop.

A perfect gift for Mom, grandma or the pint-sized budding chef in the family, the Key Ingredient Recipe Reader lets home chefs access up to 4,000 recipes at the touch of a screen. Your readers may want to share a treasured family cheesecake recipe with the world. Or perhaps they prefer to keep the recipe secret and share only with other family members? The Recipe Reader also syncs with a free keyingredient.com account, which allows people to search, download and “cookmark” an unlimited number of recipes online. Just load it with favorite recipes and switch it on.

Earlier versions of the Key Ingredient Recipe Reader have been featured on national shows including The View,The Talk and popular cooking and family blogs.

With a color, large-font touch screen feature, built-in-timers, handy substitution and conversion tools, and durable construction that withstands the hazards of a kitchen, the Recipe Reader is a great gift for all the chefs in the family. Retailing at $149, the Recipe Reader is available at www.store.keyingredient.com  www.amazon.comand www.costco.com."

What we thought:  I love to cooking and baking with recipes I find online and I find that I am constantly toting my laptop to the kitchen and then trying to work around it without getting it dirty...not an easy task!  The Key Ingredient Recipe Reader has solved my problem:)  I LOVE this new tool.  It is very similar to a traditional tablet, but is easier to clean and safer to use in the kitchen.  It has so many nifty features and it's hard to choose my favorite.  From the timers, to the measurement translations, to the substitutions, I love them all:)  Each recipe is so easy to download and comes with beautiful color pictures and great descriptions along with wonderfully written recipes.  With the Key Ingredient Recipe Reader, cooking from a recipe has never been easier!  ABCD Diaries gives the Key Ingredient Recipe Reader an A+!

One lucky reader will win their own Recipe Reader just in time for the holidays!!  Enter below: