Exergen TemporalScanner Thermometer Review...

Thanks to Exergen, we recently had the opportunity to review the Exergen TemporalScanner Thermometer:

About the Exergen TemporalScanner:

"The TemporalScanner Thermometer is a totally non-invasive system with advanced infrared technology providing maximum ease of use with quick, consistently accurate measurements. Advanced, patented technology measures temperatures with a gentle stroke across the forehead.The TemporalScanner Thermometer has been clinically tested for accuracy compared to rectal thermometers and temperature sensors inserted in the heart during course of patient treatment and accepted for use in major hospitals, making it the ideal thermometer for use with newborns, infants, children or adults. The TemporalScanner has patented software, providing arterial heat balance. This unique process determines temperature by accurately measuring the balance between the tissues warming from arterial blood and tissues cooling (warming) caused by heat loss (gain) to the environment.

How does the TemporalScanner Thermometer work?
As you gently stroke the thermometer across the forehead crossing over the temporal artery, the sensor in its probe performs two processes:
First it scans like a video camera, capturing naturally emitted infrared heat from the arterial blood supply at about 1000 “frames” per second, locking in the highest temperature it senses and; second, at the same time, a patented system measures the ambient temperature of the site where the temperature is being taken. The patented "arterial heat balance" (AHB) software then synthesizes the two separate readings to accurately determine and display body temperature."

What we thought: We have tried a lot of thermometers. Growing up we used either the glass kind or the under-the-arm digital, so when our first baby was born I was excited to get the ear thermometer as a shower gift. However, when it finally came time to use it I found I couldn't get an accurate reading because it didn't actually fit into our little one's ear. Not only that, but apparently babies and toddlers don't like you sticking things in their ears:) So it was back to the under-the-arm digital for our kiddos, which if your kids are like mine, I don't have to tell you how fun that is:) You can see why I jumped on the opportunity to review Exergen's TemporalScanner Thermometer. And, WOWEE!! It couldn't get any easier. The kids even think it's kinda fun(for now:) It is even easy enough to use on a sleeping baby or toddler without waking them!! Exergen's TemporalScanner is definitely our thermometer of choice these days. It is reliable and easy to use. ABCD Diaries gives the Exergen TemporalScanner an A+!

Buy It: You can find the Exergen TemporalScanner Thermometer at Toys R Us, Walgreens and Wal-Mart stores.

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

Lily Organics Review...

Thanks to Lily Organics, we recently had the opportunity to try this Balancing Facial Lotion:

About Lily Organics:"To provide the best results we have to use the planet’s finest ingredients, that is why we:
-Are SEED to SHELF™ to insure every step of quality!
-Have our own certified organic farm
-Make our products up fresh every week!
-Harness and bottle the power of Mother Nature!
-No synthetic chemicals—ever!
-Package full size only in glass!
-Guarantee our product will give you glowing skin and healthy results
Do you want beautiful skin? What makes a quality product? Lily Organics, inc. is redefining quality in skin care. Determine if your skin care products meets the highest standards by these simple 6 questions.
-Do you get fabulous results?
-Are they free of ALL synthetic chemicals?
-Are they made fresh weekly?
-Are they handcrafted?
-Are the ingredients organic?
-Does the company have their own FDA inspected lab where they make all their own products and maintain the highest quality control?
If you can answer, “yes,” to all 6 of these questions you have a good quality product.
Quality is Ingredients! There is nothing else in that little bottle that can actually improve your skin tone. Not the packaging, not the latest fad, and certainly not the 14 year old models designed to sell 40- 50 year old women products. Quality comes from dew fresh ingredients from organic farms. Quality comes from the head, hearts and hands of people, like me and you. Quality is developed over several decades of love, heart, and hard work. Quality is classic. Quality is purity. Quality is honest. Quality is a gift from Mother Nature.
That is why we call our products, “Dew Fresh” – Skin Care products. Just like nature creates morning dew, our products are crafted to make your skin fresh and healthy as the morning dew.
No synthetic chemicals - Ever!"

About the Balancing Facial Lotion:

"Balancing Facial Lotion was formulated as a lighter alternative to our beloved Moisturizing Cream so that all skin types could benefit from the ingredients. It contains Primrose Oil and Rosehip Seed Oil to renew your skins moisture, plus Horsetail and Coltsfoot to assist in cell proliferation. The much sought-after Essential Oil of Ylang Ylang, used in aromatherapy as a anti-depressant is included for its delightful scent and sense of well being."

What we thought: I was very impressed with Lily Organics Balancing Facial Lotion. It was easy to apply and spread smoothly leaving my skin feeling moisturized, but was at the same time very lightweight. I love the idea that Lily Organics products are never made with synthetic chemicals, only natural ingredients, and that they are cruelty free. The ingredient list was really amazing, including several organic oils, extracts and herbs and I could recognize(and pronounce:) every single item! That is pretty impressive. I love knowing what I'm putting on my body and the bodies of my family members is safe and organically grown. I wasn't a huge fan of the scent, but was super glad the lotion wasn't artificially scented, and the overall benefits of the lotion were definitely worth it! ABCD Diaries gives Lily Organics an A for some really great, naturally vegetarian skin care products!!

Buy It: You can find these amazing natural skin care products at Lily Organics.

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

Mystery P.I. Games-Stolen in San Francisco Review and Giveaway...

Recently, we had the chance to try the newest Mystery P.I. game, Stolen in San Francisco.

About Mystery P.I.
"SpinTop™ Launches Mystery P.I.™ Stolen in San Francisco
Latest Game in Award-Winning Series Boasts Best Graphics To Date, Golden Gate Setting
Vancouver, British Columbia – August 27, 2010 - SpinTop Games, a division of leading casual game developer and publisher PopCap Games, announced the immediate availability of Mystery P.I.™ Stolen in San Francisco, a new "hidden object" puzzle game set in the Golden Gate City. Stolen in San Francisco is the latest addition to the immensely popular, award-winning Mystery P.I. series which has been downloaded more than 100 million times since the series began in 2007. Mystery P.I. Stolen in San Francisco challenges players to solve the biggest theft in San Francisco history by exploring dozens of locations for hidden "clues." Mystery P.I. Stolen in San Francisco carries a retail price of US$19.99, and a free trial of the deluxe version is available now for download at http://www.spintop-games.com/. The game will also be available on other leading game portals, including Gamehouse, MSN Gaming Zone, Pogo and Yahoo! Games, later this quarter.
“Since San Francisco is sometimes affectionately dubbed the Golden City, we thought it was the perfect setting for a gold heist. Glittering and gritty locations alike make this seek-and-find mystery a fun adventure for the whole family,” states Duncan Magee, co-director and co-founder of SpinTop. "We focused our efforts on creating the best visual locations ever to keep our millions of Mystery P.I. fans happy. We've always kept our artistic standards high, and I think we’ve exceeded them with Stolen in San Francisco!” In Mystery P.I. Stolen in San Francisco, $250 Million in solid gold has been stolen from an armored car. The gold's owner has hired you, the world famous Mystery P.I., to find & return the gold before the trail goes cold. Seek and find over 2100 hidden objects in 25 amazing San Francisco-centered scenes to track down the stolen gold! Locations include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Haight-Ashbury, Fisherman's Wharf and many more.

Mystery P.I. Stolen in San Francisco features three enthralling ways to play: In 'Find the Stolen Gold' mode you must find clues that will lead you to the gold. Collect all the Keys & Peace Symbols to unlock two bonus game modes: Unlimited Seek & Find and a Match-3 Bonus game. Go for a 'Perfect Investigation' and speed bonuses to maximize your points to become a Master P.I.! Key features of Mystery P.I. Stolen in San Francisco include:
- More than 2100 cleverly hidden objects to find.
- 25 stunning San Francisco locations to explore and investigate.
- 3 fun game modes: 'Find the Stolen Gold' plus two Unlimited game modes
- 7 unique mini-games: Match-3, Word Search, Circle Rotation,
Spot-the-differences, Jigsaw plus a unique final puzzle.
- Locate the secret Keys and Peace Symbols to unlock two Unlimited game modes."

What we thought: We give Mystery P.I.-Stolen in San Francisco a thumbs up, but watch out because these games are addictive! These engaging hidden object puzzles will keep you coming back for more and with 25 San Francisco locations to choose from and 3 playing modes, not to mention the super fun mini games, you aren't likely to get bored any time soon:) If you are a fan of hidden object games, you will probably love Mystery P.I.-Stolen in San Francisco! ABCD Diaries gives this game an A!

Buy It: You can find Mystery P.I.-Stolen in San Francisco and other Mystery P.I. games at http://www.spintop-games.com/

Win It: SpinTop games has generously offered three ABCD Diaries readers free codes to download Mystery P.I. -Stolen In San Francisco. To enter, tell us your favorite online game!

Extra Entries:

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6.Blog about this giveaway(leave link) +2 entries...comment twice please

7.Enter any other current giveaways on ABCD Diaries and leave a comment saying so. +1 for each entered

Giveaway ends Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 11:59cst. Winners will be chosen via random.org and emailed. They will have 48 hours to reply. Open Worldwide 18+:)

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

RADIUS Toothbrush Review and Giveaway...

Thanks to RADIUS, we recently had the opportunity to review an adult and a kids toothbrush.
About RADIUS:

"RADIUS was founded on the Caribbean island of Tortola. James O'Halloran and Kevin Foley were architects who were fascinated by the idea of a functional and enjoyable toothbrush. They were appalled at the small head, hard toothbrushes of the day. Research indicates that the major problem in oral hygiene is that of compliance -people don't use toothbrushes for long enough and tend to keep their toothbrush for too long. Dentists believe that with diligence - teeth and gums could be perfectly maintained for a lifetime. The average brushing time is from 31 to 65 seconds, depending on age or sex. The average toothbrush is thrown away after 10 months. RADIUS aimed to make the toothbrush comfortable, enjoyable and effective. With a mass of very soft bristles, a large head area for low pressure brushing and a comfortable handle, this toothbrush would let you brush lightly and accurately."

About the Intelligent brush:

"The Original and SCUBA have a design that lets you brush for longer – but many people find the head is too large. The challenge was to create a toothbrush that was smaller in area and bristle count but that still delivered long brushing times. The answer was in using electronics.The Intelligent has the two features that can make dramatic improvements in the condition of your teeth and gums.Two minute timer – beeps and blinks every
30 sec up to two minutes. Dentists recommend brushing for two minutes twice a day. The national US brushing times are between 31 and 65 seconds depending on sex and age.180 use wear meter (approximately three months) – it lets you know when to change the bristles. The average toothbrush is changed every ten months. Worn bristles lose over 80% of their cleaning ability and reduce the effectiveness of brushing.Because we now had a toothbrush that would
only last three months we needed to make the head as small and light as possible – the replaceable head weighs one fifth of the weight of a standard toothbrush and is discarded after use – remember that it does the same work as a standard toothbrush, which also should be discarded after three months. The patented radial bristling reduces the size of the brush head, making brushing in tight spaces much more comfortable."

About the Kidz brush:

"Kidz - very soft - right hand - ages 7 thru 11 A pint-sized version of the Original - with even softer bristles. The wide oval head, thumb grip and large comfortable handle make this ideal for children and small adults. With a 62 gram brushing weight (average children's toothbrush is 100) the mass of bristle tips (5,000 - over 3 times more than regular) massages the gums and removes plaque effectively. The large bristle area makes it easy for kids to hit the spot when brushing and lowers pressure on gum tissue. The extra bristles make it more durable and 60% of our users report it lasting three times longer than regular brushes."

What we thought: Both of the brushes we tried worked really well. They were very different from the standard toothbrushes we generally use in several ways. The bristles were softer and the head was larger than we were used to, but they were still very effective. I especially enjoyed the Intelligent brush. B calls me a "speed brusher" because I ususally spend a lot less time brushing than he does, but the Intelligent brush teaches you to slow down and brush for the full two minutes that is recommended. The timer beeps every 30 seconds to let you know to switch quadrants and I found that to be very helpful. I appreciated the softer bristles because I have very sensitive gums and while using the RADIUS toothbrush I noticed a lot less pink in the sink:) The Kidz brush was very easy for A to use and she really liked the unique design with the "place" for her thumb:) We were very pleased with our RADIUS toothbrushes! ABCD Diaries gives RADIUS an A!

Buy It: You can find a RADIUS toothbrush to fit your brushing needs and the needs of each family member at RADIUS or check the store locator for your nearest retailer.

Win It: RADIUS has generously offered one ABCD Diaries reader the brush of their choice. To enter, visit RADIUS and tell us which toothbrush you'd love to try!

Extra Entries:

1.Follow ABCD Diaries via Google Friend Connect(if you already follow, leave a comment saying so) +1 entry

2.Subscribe to our RSS feed +2 entries...comment twice please

3.Like RADIUS on Facebook(leave id) +1 entry

4.Follow ABCD Diaries via Twitter(leave id) +1 entry

5.Follow the RADIUS blog via GFC +1 entry

6.Tweet about this giveaway(leave link)+1 entry per day(1 tweet/day)

7.Blog about this giveaway(leave link) +2 entries...comment twice please

8.Enter any other current giveaways on ABCD Diaries and leave a comment saying so. +1 for each entered

Giveaway ends Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 11:59cst. Winner will be chosen via random.org and emailed. They will have 48 hours to reply. Open to US residents 18+:) No PO Boxes.

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given 2 toothbrushes for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Winners...

Lots of winners today...I've been MIA for a while because my wonderfully awesome husband surprised me with a birthday vacation(kiddo-free!!) to the beach. This loooong list should catch us up though:)

SingALingo-#1 APachuta
Ecoland-#135 mframe
Food Should Taste Good-#29 llinda29
ORE-#109 Liz
Baby Rock Apparel-#100 flufferwuffer
Journal Buddies-#2 sewfrivolous
Honest Kids-#242 degood
PakNak-#31 Marianna
bink'd-#35 Tabathia
TeeWit-#122 SoggyCerealMom
Tunza cards-#125 Chisum's Crew
Cookie's Kids-#226 meeyeehere
Kidorable-#2 Megan
Smart Cover-#155 SweetSue
BRUGO-#131 AnnetteD
Newhall-#354 Anon
Right On The Walls-#113Ames
Simple Green-Will be re-drawn tomorrow

Thanks to everyone who entered!

tazzyTotes Review...

Thanks to tazzyTotes, we recently had the chance to review these neat Earth-friendly produce bags:

About tazzyTotes:

"Who says you have to sacrifice style to have a positive impact on the environment?
Introducing tazzyTotes™, a complete line of eco-chic, fun and functional shopping solutions. Contemporary, grab and go totes in gotta have it colors.
From an everyday carry-all to the farmer's market, tazzyTotes™ are practical yet cool, "green" yet gorgeous.
But more than just totes, they're fashion accessories.
To see how you can do your part and still look great, check out our Tote Collection.
Style with a Conscience
tazzyTotes™ was born from a desire to do the right thing while at the same time, getting rid of all the plastic bags overtaking my kitchen. And the guilt that came with it.
Using less plastic has become "Eco 101". However, I confess that my busy life and quest for convenience kept me from "breaking the plastic habit". And I don't think I'm alone in that admission because despite the movement to reusable bags, billions of plastic bags are still being consumed every year. But the only options were the same reusable, cloth bags that you see everywhere. Better than plastic? Yes. But other than sustainability, they lack function, appeal and style which is why so many vehicle trunks are full of forgotten cloth bags.
It made me wonder if reusable bags were more attractive, would people use them more? I knew I would so I started researching. I thought there had to be an alternative to cloth bags where I didn't have to sacrifice my sense of style. A bag or tote that I would remember to take shopping because frankly, it looks good. Finding nothing, the idea for tazzyTotes™ took shape.
What's evolved is a line of eco-chic shopping solutions that are more than just totes, they're fashion accessories.
But beyond style, this project is about making better choices and sustaining our quality of life. It's about accountability and helping others "break the plastic bag habit". And by extension, it's about taking responsibility for the future of this planet. Which is why tazzyTotes™ is proud to align with 1% For The Planet, an organization dedicated to connecting business and ecology by inspiring members of the business community to contribute 1% of sales to environmental groups around the world."
About the produce bags:
"Not only are mesh Reusable Produce Bags a smart alternative to plastic in the produce and bulk food department, they feature a clever, erasable label for writing names or bin numbers on with our Go-Green Pen. Also great as lunch sacks or see-thru general storage, One package includes 3 large Produce Bags, 1 small Produce Bag and 1 Go-Green Pen.

Features:
100% recyclable
easy-glide drawstring-closing the bag couldn’t be easier (say no to twist ties)
food safe, compact polyester mesh
machine washable and stain resistant
wash n’ store fruits and vegetables directly in produce bag
catch free seam - all seams are sewn outside the bag to prevent content catching
small bag volume: 1.0L
small bag carrying capacity: 4 lbs (2 kg)
large bag volume: 7.8L
large bag carrying capacity: 12 lbs (5.5 kg

What we thought: I really liked our set of tazzyTotes produce bags. They were stylish and efficient along with being another way we can reduce our family's carbon footprint. They held up well to a variety of different produce and I was especially impressed that they didn't snag with some of the more "rough" produce like corn on the cob. They were very easy to care for and store between uses. They were handy and portable enough to throw in with our reusable grocery bags. We got several compliments on them, from other shoppers and the cashier and bagger. Everyone wanted to know where we got our cool produce bags! ABCD Diaries gives tazzyTotes produce bags an A+!!

Buy It: You can find these always eco-friendly produce bags and other stylish shopping accessories at tazzyTotes.

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given a set of tazzyTotes produce bags for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Guess Who? Mix N Mash Review...

Thanks to Hasbro, we recently had the chance to review this awesome new version of an old favorite, Guess Who? Mix N Mash:

About GUESS WHO? Mix ‘N Mash Game

Approx. Retail: $19.99
Ages: 8 & Up

"Which funny face will you be? Pick your mouth… now your eyes…then your head… but don’t look! Ask your opponent: “Am I a sneaky, spooky clown… or a funny, greedy zombie?” Let the fun begin and ask yes or no questions to guess which kooky character you created! When you think you know who you are — make a guess!
A totally different way to play your favorite guessing game! Over 3,000 funny face combinations!

Includes 1 character checklist pad, 4 character stands, 15 head cards, 15 eye cards, 15 mouth cards and instructions. For 2 to 4 players."

What we thought: A certainly has a new favorite game!! She has asked to play Guess Who? Mix N Mash every day since it arrived on our doorstep!! It really is such a fun game and because the possibilities are nearly endless, it hasn't been bad at all to play again and again and again! The rules are simple and easy to learn. A is 4 yrs old and picked the game up after the first explanation. When I have to take a break from playing games for some "me time"(meaning laundry, dishes, preparing meals:) she likes to combine the cards to make up the funniest character she can think of and cracks us all up. Guess Who? Mix N Mash has already delivered hours of hilarious fun to our home and will continue to for a while, as it has claimed the #1 spot in the Family Game Night repertoire:) ABCD Diaries gives this awesome new Hasbro game an A+!

Buy It: You can find Guess Who? Mix N Mash in Fall 2010 at mass merchandise retailers nationwide!

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