Reviews by Buddoodles

Buddoodles says "2 Great Experiences with PersonalizationMall.com!" about Personalization Mall

Buddoodles — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:25:28 GMT

I recently had two exceptional experiences with PersonalizationMall.com. The first took place 2 or 3 weeks ago when my husband asked me to help him find something to send to a customer who had recently lost a beloved pet. The problem was that his company only allots $25 for such gifts. Well, that pretty much ruled out flowers. It costs almost $10 just for the delivery fee. So I was thrilled to stumble upon this elegant personalized suncatcher specifically for remembering a pet. It was on sale and I was able to have it shipped to the customer's home all for about $17. It was shipped in a velvet pouch and I was able to enter a sentiment on the gift invoice. My husband told me that the customer was so touched and just loved the suncatcher.

My second experience with PersonalizationMall.com occurred over this past week. Since they were so nice to send me a 20% off promo code by email, I decided to see what they had in personalized tree ornaments. I always buy several every year. It's a holiday......

Buddoodles says "A Cool Must-Have For A Hot Summer!" about Dripsticks

Buddoodles — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:49:56 GMT

I forget what I was searching for online, but I stumbled across this wonderful invention as a result of that search. These are called "Dripstiks" . . . a 2-in-1 item. One end is designed to hold any food on a popsicle stick while the other end holds an ice cream sugar cone. The built-in bowls are wide enough to catch all the popsicle drips that result from a child who is a slow eater. They are not so wide, however, that they would be considered too bulky or clumsy. They also stand steadily on a flat surface, which solves the problem of requiring someone to hold your ice cream for you when you need to free your hands

Dripstiks are made of soft plastic and are dishwasher safe. I've washed ours a few times already and have not seen any signs of wear from the heat of the dishwasher.

I highly recommend this item for children of all ages (and even for messy adults). I purchased mine on Ebay, but they are available on several different websites, including Amazon.com. They are available in 6...

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Buddoodles says "Fun CD to Listen and Dance to For Children and Adults Alike." about Kids Pop Rock-N-Roll Hits by Drew's Famous

Buddoodles — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:19:39 GMT

I picked up this cd at the music store at our local mall. Our 4yr old son seems to enjoy rock style dance music over anything from the typical children's genre of music. I was a little surprised to find the majority of children's cds ran between $16 and $20. I was glad I found this one for less than $12.

This cd contains songs by the original artists with children mixed in here and there. It is really great for parents and kids to enjoy together. Here is the track list:

1. I Love Rock & Roll

2. Livin' on a Prayer

3. Crocodile Rock

4. Hit Me With Your Best Shot

5. R.O.C.K. In the U.S.A.

6. One Way or Another

7. Beautiful Day

8. Rock and Roll All Night

9. Don't Stop

10. It's Still Rock and Roll to Me

11. Help

12. Old Time Rock N Roll

13. Heaven Is a Place on Earth

14. What I Like About You

15. Heart of Rock and Roll, The

16. Jump

Our preschooler seemed to enjoy the harder head banging songs and complained that "Crocodile Rock" was not really a rock and roll song. LOL!! Still, he enjoyed it enough that...

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Buddoodles says "Does What It Says for Very Little Cost!" about Cool Lift Laptop Computer Cooling Stand

Buddoodles — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:53:17 GMT

I ordered this item from Overstock.com for only $9.99. I often use my laptop on the sofa and on the bed. I place the computer directly on the sofa cushion, on my comforter or blanket, but never on my lap. I was finding that the fan was turning on quite often and my laptop was getting slow.

Although I was not actively looking for a cooling stand, I came across this item while I was browsing for something else on Overstock.com. For $9.99, I could not resist testing this item out.

The stand is made of foam and is a simple design. It works simply by resting your laptop on the raised corners. It definitely needs to be used on a flat secure surface because your computer does not lock into it. So you must be careful if you have children bouncing on the sofa or on your bed. I have never had my laptop tip over, but it has wobbled a bit in those instances. I also like that it is angled so the back is higher. It is much more comfortable for me to type in this position.

In short, this...

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Buddoodles says "Perfect First Video Game for Preschool-Aged Children!" about Dora The Explorer: Journey To The Purple Planet for PlayStation 2

Buddoodles — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:02:29 GMT

I purchased this PS2 game for my son's Easter basket through eToys (who, after much comparison, seemed to have the best price including the cost of shipping than anywhere else online or locally). There are not too many video games that are rated eC (Early Childhood). While, he can play free roaming driving games on our PS2, there really are not many other choices for a preschooler for this particular game system.

The main thing I like about this game is that all four of the control buttons are considered "action" buttons. All four do the same thing, so the child does not have to remember what "x" does, etc . . . The only other function is the directional arrow keys. This makes it easy for the child to master the controller.

Although my son needs help figuring out which way to go from time to time, he can play this game independently for the most part. The game promotes deductive reasoning through trial and error. It also requires the child to use his or her listening comprehension...

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Buddoodles says "Mixed Feelings About This Set of Fabric Paints" about Tulip Dimensional Metallic Fabric Paint

Buddoodles — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:03:01 GMT

I purchased this set of paints to personalize 3 canvas storage cubes for my children. I have used squeezable fabric paints a few times in the past, but I am not an expert by any means. What I wanted out of these was to be able to make line drawings on these canvas bins and to write each child's name.

This particular Starter Set came with 6 colors . . . purple, red, blue, yellow, black, and white. According to the directions on the package, I should just be able to shake well, put the tip on the surface, squeeze, and apply. I started with the purple paint and was very pleased with how the paint flowed evenly and how easy it was to control. It was like drawing with a pen (almost). I found the purple, red, and yellow to perform nicely.

The blue, black, and white paints did not perform as well unfortunately. Even though I shook the bottle vigorously, the white paint was runny in the beginning. I had much less control and the white paint came out of the bottle in spurts. The...

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Buddoodles says "A Really Fun CD for Young Children and Parents" about Jo Jo's Circus: Songs From Under The Big Top! by Disney

Buddoodles — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:48:52 GMT

This is one of our favorite CDs to listen and dance to during music time. All the songs are cute, catchy, and very easy to dance to. This soundtrack from the Playhouse Disney television show has 30 soundtracks and the majority of them are suitable for dancing.

Here is a list of the songs:

1. JoJo's Circus Theme Song
2. Brush Your Teeth
3. Stretching Song, The
4. Walk Like An Elephant
5. Pat Your Tummy And Rub Your Nose
6. Rum Tum Tum
7. Monkey See Monkey Do
8. Jump For Joy
9. Flap Quack
10. Balance And Pedal
11. Tap On Somebody's Shoulder
12. Gum Drop Song
13. Stuck To You
14. "Spotlight Moment" Theme Song
15. Cannonball JoJo
16. Take A Bow
17. Stop Drop And Roll
18. Statue
19. Rainbow Dance, The
21. Roar
22. Hamstercize
23. Mirror Mirror
24. Pop The Balloons
25. Hoop Jump
26. Laugh And Clap
27. Messy Mess
28. Jump Swish Shimmy
29. Bathtime
30. Go To Sleep

Unfortunately, one of my favorite JoJo's Circus songs "The Little Big Top Boogie Band" is not on the list.

I highly recommend this cd for children from newborn babies...

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Buddoodles says "A Build-a-Bear Workshop party is guaranteed fun for preschool & grade school-aged children!!!" about Build-A-Bear Workshop Party - Natick, MA

Buddoodles — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:38:43 GMT

Build-a-Bear Workshop was our choice of location for where our oldest son's 4th birthday was to be held. It was his first birthday party to which his friends from school would be invited. I wanted it to be memorable.

I booked my party online. It was extremely user-friendly. You pick a date, a time, the approximate number of guests, their average age, and a dollar amount you would like to spend on each guest's bear. Then you make a $75 deposit to book the party.

Each party comes with a party leader, a goody bag (with stickers, a Build-a-Bear pin, and coupons for future visits), and an autograph bear that each guest signs and the guest of honour gets to take home as a keepsake. A basic bear costs $10. Then you decide what you want to add (if anything), such as a t-shirt, a sound, or an outfit. We chose a $10 outfit, so our budget was $20 per guest. Since all our guests were 4 year olds, they each had a parent with them who were welcome to purchase any additional accessories...

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Buddoodles says "Thought I found the perfect gift only to be disappointed." about TheDigitalNerds.com

Buddoodles — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:23:16 GMT

I had it in my head to buy my husband a digital camcorder with a hard drive for Christmas this year. I'm not a last minute shopper, so I began my online search in October. I finally decided on a model that was in my price range and received good ratings from other consumers. After much comparing, I found the camcorder I wished to purchase on TheDigitalNerds.com. It was selling for quite a bit less than on other websites . . . approximately $80 less. I had to double-check to make sure the items were not refurbished. They were not. Prior to making my purchase, I also read reviews about TheDigitalNerds.com website. I was satisfied enough to place my order.

The next morning, I received a phone call from a representative from TheDigitalNerds.com. He said he wanted to verify my information. After reviewing my name, shipping information, and what product I had ordered, he tried to sell me the extra battery. I told him that my husband can make his own decision about that and...

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Buddoodles says "A Toy That Grows With Your Child" about Fisher-Price Little People Doodle Pro

Buddoodles — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:32:52 GMT

We purchased this toy for our son when he was approximately 18mos old. We are very pleased with the Fisher Price Little People Doodle Pro. Our son is about to turn 4 and he is still using it.

This toy has the capability to grow with your child. The circle, square, and triangle make great stamping fun for infants and toddlers. It is a good way to teach the names of the shapes and what objects they can make when you put the shapes together. My son enjoyed experimenting with the magnets and the easy-to-use sliding eraser. Now, as a preschooler, he uses the Doodle Pro, not only to draw, but to practice writing his alphabet and even words.

From a practical standpoint, this item is mess-free, portable, has very few parts, and is durable. Ours has been both dropped and stood upon.

The only reason why I did not rate it as 5 stars is because, after about 1 year of use, the board will not erase completely anymore. My son does not seem to mind a little grey here and there though.

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Buddoodles says "The one I count on to fit my preemie daughter everytime!" about Gymboree leggings

Buddoodles — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 05:59:35 GMT

Among the challenges of raising for a preemie girl is finding pants that will stay up on her waist and not fall down when she is mobile. My first experience with the Gymboree leggings was actually with the bike shorts. I bought my daughter (born 9-1/2 weeks early) all sorts of 0-3mos shorts and skirts. To my dismay, the majority of them did not even come close to fitting her small waste. I was so relieved to find these leggings, capris, and bike shorts by Gymboree. With most other pants, by the time the waist size fit my daughter, the length of the pants would be too short for her. This was not the case with the Gymboree leggings.

In accordance with the brand's reputation for quality and style, the Gymboree leggings wash well, do not fade, do not pill, do not lose their shape. They are available in many colors of solids and a variety of fun prints. I admit that I only buy them when they are on sale at Gymboree or when I can find ones I like on Ebay. The great thing is...

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Buddoodles says "A fun-loving way to teach names of animals & animal sounds!" about Moo, Baa, La La La!

Buddoodles — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:37:12 GMT

Although I find some of Sandra Boynton's childrens book to be too silly to make sense of, this is one of my favorite books to read to my children. It has been requested to be read so many times over the past 4 years, that I have the entire book memorized.

The short rhyming phrases are fun and easy to read. More importantly, the book is easy to understand. This book was one of my preschooler's first Christmas gifts. He thoroughly enjoyed it from before the age of one up to age 3 (when he began to be interested in books with more plot content). It never failed to put a smile on his face.

This book will teach your child the names of cows, sheep, pigs, rhinoceroses, dogs, cats, ducks, and horses along with the sounds they make. The illustrations are simple and represent each animal well.

My son adored this book so much that I have purchased it for gifts to other young children.

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Buddoodles says "A delightful way to teach a child about some Chinese delicacies!" about Yum Yum Dim Sum

Buddoodles — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 05:55:08 GMT

My son received this book as one of his first Christmas gifts from his great-aunt. He is now about to turn 4 and has been enjoying it ever since. It is one of the few books he has asked me to read repeatedly on a daily basis up until he was almost 3 (and I didn't mind doing it). I have the entire book memorized.

What makes this book amazing is the rhythmic rhyming text that just rolls off your tongue and the colorful illustrations. All the different dim sum items are sculpted out of what appears to be mostly paper and fabric. It is very well done and bears a close resemblance to the real thing. As an infant/toddler, my son simply enjoyed the words and how they flowed. As a preschooler, he enjoys recognizing the foods that he now has sampled for himself.

For dim sum fans, the book is very authentic and accurate as far as naming and illustrating the experience of having dim sum . . . from the "rolling cart" to the "steaming oolong tea" to the "jing cha sui bau." There's even...

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Buddoodles says "The ideal bag for a fashion-forward mommy!" about Baby Phat Drawstring Handbag

Buddoodles — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:34:16 GMT

I highly recommend this bag for anyone who is busy, constantly on the go, and needs to have their hands free. Whether you're a mom or a student, you can't go wrong with the Baby Phat drawstring bag. It measures 16" tall and (depending on the style) can be approximately between 12"-14" wide. Roomy enough to fit small packages while shopping, mittens, scarves, toys, your lunch, etc . . .

The drawstring is very easy to close . . . just pull the two shoulder straps. While the bag is worn, it is very difficult for anyone to access your bag without your knowing. The webbed straps are adjustable and extremely comfortable to wear.

These retail for below $40 on the Baby Phat website and can also be found on sites like Ebay. I've seen them in soft synthetic leather, twill, and nylon. The bags are usually lined in bright satin, so that it is easy to see your belongings inside. Some bags have small zippered compartments on the outside, but not all.

There are usually several styles and...

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Buddoodles says "Thanks to this toy, my 3yr old can read by sounding out words!" about LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set

Buddoodles — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 20:47:56 GMT

I bought this toy for my son when he was about 18 months. He will be turning four within the next two months. He loved this toy from the start. It taught him his ABCs back then and is now helping him sound out words to read without any help from me.

The best things about this toy are that it is easy to use, has volume control, it is colorful, the music is easy fun and memorable (but not annoying), it sings the alphabet song at the touch of a button, it says the name of each letter, it says the sound each letter makes (even if the letter makes more than one sound), and it keeps the child occupied independently while you are busy in the kitchen.

The price is definitely right for something that my son and his two younger siblings will be using for years to come. Also, we've used it for years and have not yet needed to replace the batteries.

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Buddoodles says "Extremely dissatisfied with the quality of my 1st photo order." about Snapfish

Buddoodles — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 06:59:17 GMT

I was very excited to receive a promotion through my cable internet provider for 100 free 4x6 prints through Snapfish. I ordered about 130 4x6 prints (50 of which were to be included in this year's holiday cards) plus a 5x7 and some wallets. I was very disappointed that, in order to use any promotions at all with Snapfish, you MUST choose to ship your order instead of picking it up in-store. The shipping charge was about $8.00.

The prints arrived in a little over a week. I was extremely disappointed when I opened the envelope to find that they had packed my 5x7 in the same paper envelope as a stack of 4x6 prints. The 5x7 was crease along two sides and almost punctured all the way through where it was pressed against the stack of 4x6 prints.

As I proceeded to look through the prints, I found that every photo that contained any wood-tones, reds, or oranges had a strange orange tone. Almost all the photos looked like they were taken with 1970's technology. I know it was not my...

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