Giveaway:K'NEX Raptor's Revenge Building Set Review and Giveaway

These days, there is such a wide variety of K'NEX playsets that it can be overwhelming to try and pick one (or two!) for your child's holiday or birthday present.  As a parent who has been buying K'NEX for her kids for almost a decade, I can tell you that there's no such thing as a bad K'NEX play set.  They are all awesome -- and all the pieces work with one another, so you can never have too many K'NEX play sets or too many K'NEX pieces!

However....

... if I was forced to recommend just one K'NEX playset, it would have to be a thrill ride playset like a swing, carousel, ferris wheel, or the best of them all, a  K'NEX roller coaster.  K'NEX roller coaster playsets are just amazing! I don't know which part is more fun -- building the roller coaster, or watching it work after it's built.  We have a few K'NEX thrill ride playsets, and we had the good fortune of receiving another one from K'NEX to review for the holiday season!  The K'NEX Raptor's Revenge Building Set is so much fun, it should be on every family's present list

Here's a brief description of this playset:
Get ready for prehistoric fun with the new Raptor's Revenge Roller Coaster Building Set from K'NEX! You can build with over 600 K'NEX parts and pieces including rods, connectors and track to create this motorized monster that sends the green coaster car hurtling through over 19 feet of heart-pounding thrills! Then. download exclusive instructions to build an incredible second model, the Brink of Extinct Coaster! All K'NEX rods and connectors are made in the USA! Ages 9+. Suggested Retail Price is $34.97. Available at walmart.com, amazon.com and knex.com.

3Po built this one all by himself; when any of us asked if he needed help, he shooed us all away.  It took him a couple of hours, but he was so proud of himself for doing it.  We were proud of him too! Adjusting the chains and the track can be tricky, but he managed to do it (and boy, does that build confidence and independence).

When completed, the Raptor's Revenge coaster rises over 2 and a half feet tall.  The set includes a motor that drives a chain, which pulls a roller coaster car up to the top.  When it reaches the top, the chain disengages, and gravity does the rest (just like a real coaster!). The car twists and turns and does a vertical loop before coming back to the chain.  It is sooo much fun to watch. When the kids were little, we left our K'NEX coasters up for weeks, because they couldn't get enough!  This time around, we attached two cars onto the structure for even more fun.....

The fun doesn't stop there!  You can dismantle the roller coaster and build another one -- K'NEX has downloadable instructions for a second roller coaster model: the Brink of Extinct Coaster!  Or you can come up with your own roller coaster design!

For me, this is where the magic truly begins, when kids unleash their own imaginations. They want to make their coaster as awesome as possible, but they also have to figure out just the right height to make their coaster so the car can roll all the way to the bottom of the chain and get picked up again. They also have to figure out how to build the roller coaster to support the weight of the tracks and the motor. They have to be analytical and think about physics and gravity and structure, but they also have to be creative.  K'NEX building is more than a holiday toy -- it's a building and learning tool that will inspire your child to reach greater heights!

Win a K'NEX Building Set

One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a K'NEX Raptor's Revenge Building Set!

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Leave a comment on this post and tell me how you and your family like to spread the true spirit of the holidays, or how you teach your children about the true meaning of the holidays.

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The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59 PST on November 26, 2014. I will draw a winner at random on November 27 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.


Disclosure: I received a sample for review. Thanks to KNEX for providing the giveaway prize. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Dads want HEXBUGS for Father's Day

Father's Day is one week away, and it's time to get dad a present!  So what constitutes the perfect Father's Day present?  Forget neckties and soap-on-a-rope, don't get him something he needs or something he thinks he needs, get him something he WANTS.  And if he's like most dads, he'll want something totally techie, something totally cool or something that brings out the little kid in him.  Even better, get him something that meets all 3 criteria: a HEXBUG remote-control spider! HEXBUGS sent me a pair of HEXBUG Spider XL toys to show me what great Father's Day presents they would make.  I have to admit I was skeptical -- and so was Alfie --but within 10 minutes we had both changed our minds.

The HEXBUG Spider XL is a jumbo-sized, remote-controlled robotic creature resembling a spider (for some reason, it has 6 legs, not 8).  It's super easy to maneuver and super fascinating to watch.  Here's a video of Jammy demonstrating how to control the spider to make it move and turn:



The boys, of course, fell in love with the toy right away.  It was all I could do to restrain them from claiming both spiders, one for each of them.  In the end I convinced them to share the blue spider and give the red one to their dad.

Like I said, 10 minutes is all it took for Alfie to turn into a little boy again.  This is definitely a toy for big and little boys.  It moves like a droid on Star Wars; it's so fascinating to watch it turn its head and scuttle back and forth, side to side!   The boys -- all 3 of them -- enjoyed making the spiders scuttle across the table, but the real fun began when they began racing the spiders around an obstacle course.  The spiders can turn on a dime -- but unlike remote controlled race cars, they don't zip out of sight and crash.  They move slow enough for the kids to maintain control at all times.  Jammy, 3Po and Alfie were able to maneuver the spiders around paper bags (if their spider touched the paper bag, it was disqualified!) and around the kitchen island.

They really had a lot of fun, and now there's some talk about designing an obstacle course with some inclines to see how the spiders handle it!

It was so cute to see the three of them playing together with the HEXBUG Spider XL -- what a fun way for dads to spend time with their kids.

Disclosure:. I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Hot Wheels Nitro Speeders review and giveaway

It looks like the next big thing in remote controlled cars is small -- Hot Wheels' new Nitro Speeders RC cars are so teeny tiny; at about 1.5 inches long, they're smaller than a standard Hot Wheels car, and not much bigger than a quarter. MomSelect sent us a Nitro Speeder to play with; here's what we thought of it:


The Basics

About Nitro Speeders:
Hot Wheels® continues to elevate the radio control (RC) segment with the newest generation of micro RC vehicles, Nitro Speeders™. With lightning speed and precise responsiveness, the Nitro Speeders™ RC cars deliver unprecedented performance that is sure to amaze boys of all ages. The Nitro Speeders™ vehicles come in their own carrying case, which serves as the remote control and acts as a charger to keep the cars at peak performance for portable play and racing with friends. Nitro Speeders™ are the first micro RC vehicles that go fast enough to complete a full 360 degree loop. In 2011, Nitro Speeders will feature a Team Hot Wheels® Ford Mustang, Supercharged Camaro and the Ken Block Fiesta Rally Car.

The Bongga
These tiny cars have made a big impact on my kids! They love the small size -- it's small enough to slip into a pocket or a purse so they can take it on playdates or to the park -- and the lightning speed. They're great for launching off low platforms, zipping through their Hot Wheels 360-degree loop tracks, and racing down the driveway. The cars charge very quickly and easily -- you just plug it into the remote control unit, so the same two AA batteries used to run the remote control are also used to charge the car.



Despite their tiny size, I have a feeling these Nitro Speeders might actually outlast most of our other remote control cars. That's because of the ingenious design of the remote control unit: it's also the little car's charger and storage/carrying case. That makes it so much easier to keep everything together, and less chance something will get lost. I also love that the remote control unit doesn't have a retractable metal antenna -- those things always end up snapping off!



The Blah
The Nitro Speeders are certainly fast -- almost too fast, in my opinion. Once they get going, it's difficult to get them to stop or change directions, so our Nitro Speeder all too often ends up underneath beds, bookshelves, cabinets, refrigerators and stoves. You can't really control the speed, so you can't really slow the cars down.


The Bottom Line
Hot Wheels Nitro Speeders are great fun to play with!

Win a Nitro Speeders RC car by Hot Wheels
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Hot Wheels Nitro Speeders car.


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Leave a comment on this post tell me how your child would play with the Hot Wheels Nitro Speeders. This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count.

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I entered the Hot Wheels giveaway! http://ow.ly/68OqW

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@bonggafinds is giving away a Hot Wheels Nitro Speeder mini RC car! http://ow.ly/68OqW

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The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on September 10, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on September 11 and post his/her name after she/he confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by MomSelect and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV-10

It's our second week of summer vacation, and the temperatures have really hit the roof! We've had high 80's and low 90's most of the time, with a couple of almost-100's thrown in for good measure. My boys are playing with their Nerf Super Soakers almost daily! I love that these toys get them running around and playing outdoors. The water cools them down and doesn't leave a mess to clean up. Plus, they're good for watering the plants! It's all good, clean (literally) fun.

In keeping with safe sun practices, though, I always try to get them indoors when the sun is at its hottest, between noon and 3PM. Fortunately they don't have to abandon their Nerf play, because we have lots of Nerf guns with soft darts that don't make dents in the furniture or floor (not to mention in each other!). Our latest Nerf find is the N-Strike Barricade RV-10, with a motorized, revolving barrel.

The BasicsPut a new “spin” on your battles with this motorized, semi-auto BARRICADE RV-10 blaster! The 10-dart revolving barrel keeps the “firepower” coming and the compact design of this sidearm blaster means it’s easy to take along on any “mission”. The tactical rail and stock attachment give you the versatility to add additional accessories (sold separately) to hit your mark with precision. Quick and reliable, your revolving barrel blaster is the one to turn to when you’re outnumbered and need to blast your way to victory.


The Bongga
My boys love this Nerf! They love shooting a quick, successive barrage of darts without having to reload the Nerf shooter each time. They think the Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV-10 is the highlight of their Nerf collection!



Their favorite way of playing with it is for target practice. They set up a target a few feet away, and see who can topple it with the fewest number of darts:


I have to admit, it's a lot of fun. Even if I suck at it.


The Blah
I do wish Nerf only made one kind of dart! I'm constantly having to buy different kinds of refills -- whistler darts, cartridge darts, foam balls -- and it's difficult to remember which dart goes with which shooter.

But that's a general Nerf complaint. As far as this particular Nerf model goes, I'm not sure why any kids' shooter has to be motorized -- it's not like loading regular Nerf shooters is difficult or tiring. I'm uncomfortably reminded of the semi-automatic gun debate, i.e. why semi-automatic guns need to be legal. But 3Po and Jammy insist that the motorized barrel is better. Even Alfie, who is the most anti-violence, anti-gun, safety-conscious parent ever, says it's so much more fun when you can shoot darts in quick succession. I guess I can't argue with them, but you see why it seems like I have 3 sons instead of 2.


The Bottom Line
Boys will be boys, and boys LOVE the rapid-fire action of the Nerf N-Strike Barricade RV-10.

Disclosure: I received product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by Hasbro and Litzky PR and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Road Rippers R/C Mobile Command Car Review

Every year, come the holidays, it's always the same thing. Some well-meaning relative sends 3Po and Jammy a remote-control toy. It's fun, it zooms about, it has flashing lights -- but it always seems to break down far too soon. We were recently given a Road Rippers remote control Dodge Viper car courtesy of Childs Play Communications to review, and my sons have been taking it for a "test drive". Here's what we think so far:

The Basics
Here's a description of the toy:
* The new Road Rippers R/C Mobile Command series offers radio control versions of popular licensed sports cars, complete with lights and sound features for each walkie talkie-themed controller. * Play features include exciting lights and sounds. * Mobile Command styles include Dodge Challenger and Dodge Viper. * The Road Rippers R/C Mobile Command collection is available now at Wal-Mart, Target, Toys "R" Us, Kmart and stores nationwide. * For more information, visit www.toystate.com, or check out their Facebook or Twitter pages.


The Bongga
My boys are loving the Road Rippers Dodge Viper! I LOVE the fact that the R/C control unit does NOT have one of those retractable metal antennas -- you know, the kind that always snap off after about 10 minutes of play. The Road Rippers control unit looks more like a walkie-talkie -- chunky, with lots of rubber, obviously meant to withstand lots of boy-style (read: rough) play. Maybe they're just older and more careful, but so far this Dodge Viper has been passing the test. I think I may even need to get another one so that 3Po and Jammy can have Road Rippers races.....


The Blah
I'd rather do away with the flashing lights and sound since I've got school-aged boys who don't care so much about that stuff anymore (all they're interested in is a car that responds to their touch, runs fast, and doesn't require a recharge or battery change every five minutes). I just find the light and sound annoying, and if the car didn't have it, it might be a few dollars cheaper!


The Bottom Line
The Road Rippers R/C Mobile Command Dodge Viper is more than just a pretty face -- it's tough enough to withstand lots of rough-and-tumble play.

Disclosure: I received a product sample courtesy of Team Mom, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the Team Mom and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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K'nex Toys Review

After my last 2 K'nex reviews , I figure you guys all know by now that we're huge K'nex fans. You can read. You get it. We love K'nex.

So when K'nex sent me a bunch of their latest models to review, I told myself that I would NOT gush. I would not go on and on about how you can't have too big a collection of K'nex, how kids of both sexes and all ages can play with it, how it can entertain them for hours on end, how it pushes their creativity and building skills to the limit. I would not rave about how the rods and gears and wheels and tiny doo-dads combine to produce amazingly beautiful, sleek (not chunky and square) creations that are sturdy enough to play with (and I mean PLAY with -- K'nex creations really stand up to any amount of crashing, thumping and zooming that my little guys inflict on them!)

I lied.

In case you wondered, yes, The Pea loves K'nex too. Here's her latest creation: a Drop Zone tower for her Zhu Zhu Baby pets, complete with turnstile, safety cage and guard rails. How can you not love it?

I can't help it. I'll happily welcome more of the same K'nex we know and love, but this is all-new stuff. I've realized that there's a big hole in our K'nex collection, and these new sets have filled the void! K'nex has really opened up their product offerings by partnering with brands that kids know and love, to offer even more possibilities for character-based pretend play.

The Basics
Here's a rundown on the K'nex sets I was sent to review:

	1) NASCAR race cars. K'nex now has officially licensed NASCAR Building Sets, so kids can build and race their favorite racing cars, collect their favorite drivers and create an entire NASCAR® world. We received the 88 AMP Energy car, Office Max car and DuPont car.
	2) OCC Bikes K'nex fans can build and customize their very own Orange County Chopper bikes, just like the ones on the hit TV show. We received the Raptor Bike building set.
	3) Multi-Model Building Sets Specifically designed for kids ages 5-7, each Multi-model set centers around an exciting theme – Fire Rescue™, Hi-Flyers™, Revving Racers™ and Pirates – and includes super-cool new features such as a spring motor for movement and a K’NEXman figure! We received the Hi-Flyers set.
	4) 350 Piece Value Tub The K’NEX 350 Piece Value Tub is filled with loads of pieces and even more possibilities. Young builders can bring ideas to life using their imagination or follow the directions to build 20 suggested models. Ideal for afternoons inside, the 350 Piece Value Tub encourages open-ended building and after building play.

The Bongga
WOW. These new K'nex sets are so much fun! My boys' easy favorites were the NASCAR sets because they could race the cars after they built them. Each set has a tiny K'nex racecar driver figure representing the actual driver -- the 88 Amp car comes with Dale Jr., the DuPont car comes with Jeff Gordon, and the Office Max car comes with Tony Stewart, complete with stubble! The sets were challenging enough to keep them entertained, and they loved putting on the decals to make their cars look just like the actual NASCAR racing cars.

The OCC bike was sleek and beautiful, with special engine and seat pieces, as well as fat-boy tires that gave it a distinctive Orange County Chopper look. They're too big for a mini-figure to ride on (too bad, it would have been funny to see Paul Sr. immortalized in a K'nex mini-figure!) but we now have one very lucky Transformer robot who has a sweet new set of wheels: his own K'nex OCC bike!

The Multi-Model Hi-Flyer and 350-pc. Value Tub have been added to our humongous K'nex collection, and I say The More, The Merrier. I love how the Hi-Flyer has instructions for 10 different kinds of planes, so it never gets old!

Playing with K'nex always puts a smile on my kids' faces.

The Blah
The only thing I don't like about these brick-based K'nex sets is that they're not as sturdy as regular K'nex -- the brick connections are not as secure, and they seem to break apart much more easily.


The Bottom Line
I've said it once and I'll say it again: You can never have too many K'nex. It's a wonderful toy for any age and gender, and it will give your child hours of fun!

Disclosure: I received product samples from K'nex, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Shopping for the Perfect Holiday Present at Staples

When the Silicon Valley Moms blog selected me for a $200 Staples shopping spree, I thanked them and politely declined, saying we didn't really need anything from Staples.

Joke!!! Are you kidding me ???? I snatched that giftcard and wrote my name on it in permanent marker and coughed on it and peed around it in a circle to make sure everyone knew that Staples giftcard was mine, all mine. I could think of a million cool things Staples sells that I could spend that $200 on..... a wireless printer.... an iPod nano... half a netbook.... a digital camera.... a digital photo frame.... The possibilities were endless.

The problem is, I'm kind of a cheapskate. I knew I'd end up spending it on printer paper and toner and cartridge and all the practical stuff that we need. Not a very exciting shopping spree, huh. So I decided to give the giftcard to Alfie as a present. I told him he had complete say in how to spend the $200; I would not interfere (okay, I did try and put in a few good words for a Canon Powershot camera), and all he had to do was let me take his photo and blog about the experience.

Imagine my disappointment when the first thing he reached for was an extension cord. Then a power surge strip. Then a compressed-air canister for blowing dust out of keyboards. I tried to point out the iPod docking stations. The ergonomic office chairs. The iPod Touch. But he only had eyes for the HDMI cable (okay, that one isn't an everyday purchase, but it's certainly a geeky one. I don't want to blog about how I got my husband a video cable for a present!).

Er.....no, Alfie. That's not what you buy on a shopping spree, that's what you buy on an errand! I could have done that myself and stocked up on printer ink! Now is not the time to be practical! My resolve to not interfere was sorely tested. I was beginning to wish I had just gone to Staples myself and bought him a Sony digital reader. Now that's a present.

Then we moved to the GPS aisle. And that is where he found the perfect present.


Alfie is absolutely hopeless when it comes to directions; he can barely find his way around the block. He bought his car in 1996 and his motorcycle in 2002, when installed GPS systems weren't common yet. When we bought our minivan in 2004, we decided not to spend the extra money to get a GPS system since I happen to be good at directions and I'd be driving the minivan most of the time. So whenever Alfie goes anywhere without me, he prints pages and pages of maps and directions. Which is why a portable GPS is exactly what he needs.


Alfie's perfect present, the Garmin Nuvo 1200, was just $169.99. We also decided to get the Staples Technical Support & Protection Plan since we'd get full protection for damages and defects for 2 years, as well as a guaranteed one-time replacement (basically, Staples would issue us a $169.99 credit towards the purchase of a new GPS) within the next 2 years. We ended up buying all the other stuff that Alfie had picked up, because it was something we needed anyway, but I'm so happy that we were able to find a practical present for just over $200 (with the protection plan), with major coolness points! Alfie was so happy with his present, and so was I! Thanks Staples!

I received a $200 Staples gift card and used it to review the shopping experience at Staples. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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