Powercapes Review & Giveaway!

In this day and age, there are lots of images on TV and in the media that leave our kids feeling inadequate.  I think this is very sad, and that we should take every opportunity to show our kids how super they are!! Since my kids were very little I have had little nicknames for them that show how great I think they are! My oldest is the Amazing Shae-Shae, my middle is Super Summer and my youngest is Serenity the Great.  I believe that by telling them they are wonderful, it will boost their self esteem. If I believe they are great they will too.  


One way to have fun with this is to play superheroes! We can put our nicknames to use and save the day! And what superhero is complete without a superhero cape? Of course, I am just not crafty enough to make my own. Haha.  I wish, but no such talent.  However, PowerCapes makes some absolutely amazing custom or personalized superhero capes at great prices!!  I am a huge fan!!

PowerCapes sent me this Kids Cape for my girls.  Since they all have the same first initial, it is perfect to share!! At $24.99 each, they are a little bit pricey for me to buy 3.  At least not all at once.  So I was really glad they were able to share it (And they actually didn't mind taking turns!!!)  This is a great idea if you are like me and can't afford one for each kid.  Even if you have one, it is fun to take turns being the hero and the person in need.  And don't worry if your kids all have different initials!!  They have a lot of different styles. I preferred the initial with the crown icon.  They offer solid colored capes, custom capes, initial capes, wristbands and so much more!!

Powercapes are a great gift for any child any time of year! They are even popular with celebrity moms! They are easy to put on and take off! They have a velcro attachment in the front to make it really easy!  And you can even find some for you! Make the whole family a superhero family!! So much fun!!!  Best of all, they are American made! You know that your money is helping to contribute to our economy and you are getting a great quality product!! Powercapes rock!!!

Want to win your own PowerCape?? Here's how!!:

MANDATORY ENTRY 2 PARTS MUST BE DONE FOR THE ENTRY AND EXTRA ENTRIES TO COUNT:

PART 1: Go to PowerCapes.com and tell me which cape is your favorite!  Leave your answer in your comment!

PART 2: Follow me via Google Friend Connect
You must put both parts in the SAME comment and include your GFC name for the entry to count. Also must include an email to contact you to win, unless it is visible on your blogger profile.
 No email=no prize!

For all other entries, leave a separate comment for each entry, and if it says more than entry for doing something, leave an individual comment for each of those entries and label them #1 #2 and so forth.
Have questions? Email Frugal Family Fun!

Extra Entries:

Subscribe to PowerCapes email subscription. Click here and scroll down the right til you see the box for your email. Then comment here with the email address you used!

  Like Frugal Family Fun on Facebook leave me your Facebook name in the Comment 1 extra entry 

Like  Power Capes on Facebook leave me your Facebook name in the Comment 1 extra entry

If you get a friend to like us on Facebook, you get an extra entry! One entry per friend that likes my page!  THIS IS AN UNLIMITED ENTRY  Just say in your comment that you got a person to like and what their name is! 1 extra entry each

Follow @powercapes on Twitter and leave your twitter name in the comment 1 extra entry
 

Follow @FrugalFamilyFun on Twitter and leave your twitter name in the comment 1 extra entry 

Follow @BriansWifey05 on Twitter and leave your twitter name in the comment 1 extra entry

Tweet about this giveaway up to 5 times daily for entries. leave me the link to your tweet- Your Tweet Must include @FrugalFamilyFun @powercapes and the link to this contest.  tweets must be at least 1 hour apart for entry. 1 extra entry for each tweet.

Subscribe to our email updates, via google reader, or via RSS feed , 1 extra entry for each
Put our button on your blog, leave me the link to the blog THIS WILL BE CHECKED. 3 extra entries

Blog about this contest, including a link back to this giveaway worth 5 extra entries. Leave me the link to the blog post in your comments

Enter any of our other giveaways! Gain an extra entry in this contest for each contest you enter! Leave the name of the contest in your comment!

Contest begins now and ends February 17,2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Winners will be selected via Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours or forfeits prize.  Open to US Only!

Powercapes provided me with a sample to review on my blog. I was not obligated to give a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. Information and Photos from Powercapes!

Hearth Song Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker Review and Giveaway!

Ice cream goes pretty fast in our house!! So I was super excited to try out the Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker from Hearth Song!! This ingenious toy actually makes ice cream inside it while you play with it!! How cool is that?!?!? I was totally shocked and intrigued when I saw it, and when it came we got it out and tried it right then and there!!

Here's how it works:

You fill ice end of the ball with as much ice as you possibly can fit!! Then add one cup of rock salt* Close the lid securely!

Rock salt works best, but sea salt and kosher salt are good substitutes!! When using sea salt or kosher salt, use and additional ¼ cup. Do not use driveway chemicals (calcium chloride or potassium chloride.)

Mix up your ice cream ingredients in a container. Remove lid form the end with the metal cylinder and pour in your ingredients. Close the lid securely but do not use the plastic wrench to tighten the lid.


Now comes the fun!! Shake, roll and pass the ball and freeze the ice cream at the same time!! After 15 minutes open the ice cream end and scrape the hard ice cream off the sides of the can. Mix with the liquidy ice cream in the center. Close the lid again and then check the ice end. Pour out the excess water and add more ice ad up to 1/3 cup rock salt. Close the lid and continue to play 15 minutes or until the ice cream is the best consistency!



Now, I have found that you have to experiment with the time to get the right consistency. I would also recommend using cream, NOT half and half. This will give it a better consistency. There are tons of great recipes that come with the ice cream ball, and you can also purchase the ice cream flavors set to add instant flavor to your ice cream!! I found the chocolate flavoring to be too artificial, so I would recommend using your favorite chocolate syrup to add chocolate flavor.

Here is what my 4 year had to say about it: I love it!! I want to play with it everyday. It's fun to play with.

We played with my 3 daughters and myself! We had a blast passing, rolling and shaking the ball! A couple times they tried to kick it, and I had to remind them you can't bounce, drop or kick the ball or it will break! You also have to be sure that the lid goes on very securely, or it may leak. You must line it up right and be sure there are no gaps in the seal.


The Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker is great for use indoors or outdoors! I would recommend doing it in a shady spot on hot days, as the heat from outdoors may prolong the freezing process. This ball is great for any age, we played with a child as young as 16 months!! I am planning on using it for our daughter's birthday as a game and dessert in one!! There are going to be lots of kids so it should be a great way to keep them entertained!!

It is also important to remember to KEEP THE BALL MOVING!!! That was the struggle I faced playing with really little ones because they want to say who they pass it to.... “I'll pass it to mommy.....” you get the picture. It just takes longer to get to the right consistency if its not moving constantly.

Find other great products and get great updates from Hearth Song on facebook!


This toy is so much and fun and super yummy!! Hearth Song would love to offer you one to share with your family!! Here is how to win:



Go to HearthSong.com and find something you like. Anything. ☺ Come back here and tell me what that something is in a comment below. Be sure I have your email in case you are the lucky winner!!


How about some extra entries? Leave separate comments for all that you do!



Follow @HearthSongtoys on Twitter. Leave me your twitter name.



Follow @frugalfamilyfun on Twitter. Leave me your twitter name.


Blog about this for 5 extra entries. Leave me the link to the post

Put our button on your blog for 1 extra entry. Leave me the link to your blog.

Tweet daily about this giveaway-up to 5 entries per day!! (1 entry per tweet, must be at least 1 hour apart)

Tweets must state that this is a contest and must include @frugalfamilyfun @hearthsong and the link to this giveaway! Leave me the link to your tweet in the comment.

Sign up for HearthSong's email alerts

Contest begins now and ends May 27,2010. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be notified via email. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize or forfeits the prize. In this case we will redraw for a new winner.



I was not monetarily compensated for this review. I was given the products mentioned from Hearth Song for review. These opinions are not affected by the products received. They are my honest opinions. The winner will also be receiving the Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker from Hearth Song. Photos from Hearth Song.

Gooey Gunk from The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions

My daughter's preschool teacher sent home this recipe along with a baggie of gunk made up! The girls have had tons of fun playing with it, so I wanted to share it with you guys! You can purchase the latest Concoctions book here by clicking on the Store button on the left hand side!

What you will need:
Solution A
1 cup water
1 cup white glue
2 TBS. liquid tempera paint of 7-10 drops of food coloring


Solution B
1 1/3 cups warm water
4 tsp. borax laundry booster

How to Concoct it:
1. Mix ingredients in Solution A in a medium bowl.
2. In a second medium bowl, mix the ingredients in Solution B together until the borax is completely dissolved.
3.Slowly pour Solution A into Solution B  (DO NOT MIX!!!)
4. Roll Solution A around in Solution B 4-5 times
5. Lift Solution A out of Solution B and knead for 2-3 minutes.
6. Store Gunk in an airtight container or plastic Zip bag.

Concoction Tips and Ideas:
*Use red liquid tempera paint/food coloring to create Lava Gunk, green to create Slimy Gunk or black to create Tar Gunk

Have fun!!

Homemade Colored Bubbles!

I love Spring time!!! Finally the yard is green and I can take the girls out more to play out back!! We love to hang out on the swing set, or play on the plastic yellow slide that I used when I was little!!! Spring time wouldn't be complete without blowing bubbles outside!! And it is cheaper to make your own than to buy them from the store!! Here is a great recipe for colored bubbles (although color is optional):

1/2 cup of dishwashing liquid (Dawn or Joy)
2 cups of water
2 teaspoons of sugar
Add a dab of food coloring for colorful bubbles. Mix the solution and place in a shallow pan (or refill your old bubble containers).


Go out and have some fun!!