I'm a full-time mummy

I came across this tweet pitch looking for bloggers to review products and as usual, I replied the tweeter asking whether they are OK with international bloggers, and my oh my, they are happy to provide me some products of my choice from their website for my review! This is the first of 2 products I get to review from the sponsor. So here goes my review for the "Pink Pig Dynamo Torchlight":

Description from the product page:
"Thanks to Trevor Baylis' work on portable dynamo powered devices however, a whole new world full of exciting battery-less devices have been created. And as dynamo-powered electricals have become more common (and popular) designers have been allowed a little more freedom when it comes to the actual appearance of the unit. Which is how we come to the Dynamo Wind Up Pig Torch. Shipping in both pink and black colours, this nifty wind up torch is shaped like a pig or penguin whose nostrils have been replaced to bright, white LED bulbs. The back of the pig's head even features a pair of cutesy little ears.

Mounted in the side of the torch is a spring mounted lever. Just flick the locking switch and out pops the level. All you have to do is to squeeze the lever and immediately you'll be generating your own electricity. The Dynamo Wind Up Pig Torch has a low capacity battery which stores this handmade power and keeps the bulbs lit. As the LEDs start to dim, you only need to squeeze the lever a few more times. In fact, you can keep generating your own electricity for as long as you need.

The Dynamo Wind Up Pig Torch is completely battery free, so if you are eco-conscious, you can buy this safe in the knowledge that you won't be sending nasty, poisonous power cells to landfill. For the cost-conscious, the fact you don't have to buy any more batteries means that this torch is a great investment."

This torchlight came in a simple packaging, just cut off one of the sides and easily take out the torchlight! I requested for the pink pig version instead of the black penguin simply because I find the piggy version cuter hahaha...

There are 2 buttons with dotted surface for grip at one of the sides, one button is to turn on or off the torchlight while the other button is to lock and unlock the lever which is located on the other side of the pig torchlight. There is a silver strap at the back (tail) of the pig, acting as a wristlet so that you can easily hold or carry the torchlight around. There are 4 tiny legs at the bottom of the pig torchlight.

At the front view, you can see 2 light bulbs replacing the pig's nostrils and if you unlock the lever, you can just easily grasp and ungrasp the lever a couple of times and immediately can see bright light shining from the torchlight.

The torchlight is very easy to hold, even for tiny hands like my curious kiddos. Now the reason I got this torchlight for review is because my 3.5 years old loves to play with torchlight and lots of times he will forget to turn off the torchlight and I think it is a cool thing for him to have this torchlight since it does not require any batteries at all and all he has to do to keep the torchlight shining is to just squeeze the lever a few times and this piggy torchlight has a low capacity battery which stores the handmade power to keep the torchlight lit.

This has got to be one of the best toy I got for my kid so far hahahaha! Eco friendly, cute and useful as well!

You can find this and more Christmas presents ideas for 2012 at http://www.paramountzone.com/christmas-present-ideas.php

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the product in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine.

When I saw the press release of this app from Oceanhouse Media, I immediately requested for a promo code to review it as I have previously reviewed the 'Planes' and 'Boats' version with Ben few months ago and we loved it! Anyway, my review as below...

* Title: Trucks
* Price: $0.99
* Category: Books
* Released: 01 November 2012
* Version: 1.09
* Size: 23.7 MB
* Language: English
* Seller: Oceanhouse Media, Inc.
* Rated: 4+
* Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.2 or later

Description from the product page:

"Play with tow trucks, cement trucks, newspaper delivery trucks and many other types of trucks in this animated picture book about transportation. Move trucks, workers, tools, and other objects around the page and tap pictures to learn their names. Realistic sound effects and brightly colored illustrations will delight young readers and keep them coming back for more!""

* It is engaging and interactive and I love that we can also touch the objects in each page on the screen and the words pop out to tell you what it is!

* I like that we can move the objects on each page! It gives you a sense of control and being imaginative to move the objects around!

* I like that I can relate and remind my 3.5 years old boy on some of the trucks in this app that we have seen around our area, such as the garbage truck and the bucket truck (which coincidentally fixed the street light right in front of our house few months ago!)

* The illustrations are beautiful and the narration is great!

You can purchase the "Trucks" app from the iTunes App Store.

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the promo code to redeem the application for free from iTunes Store in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous iPad Apps reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My iPad App Reviews"

I have previously reviewed the "The Magic Continues - Celebrity Series Vol. 1" music album and this is the 2nd album I get to review on my blog. In case you don't know, I love Christmas songs! When I was 17 years old, I was working part time during my school holidays and it was the first time I get to hear classic Christmas songs. I think it was during this time that I fell in love with Christmas carols and Christmas tunes and wonderful songs! Anyway, without further delay, here goes my review...

* Title: Golden Records: A Very Merry Golden Records Christmas
* Price: $9.99 Audio CD (October 16, 2012)
  * ASIN: B008ZD4U32
 * Label: Verse Music Group

About Golden Records:

"Starring Malin Akerman, Ed Asner, Cheryl Hines, Busy Philipps, Missi Pyle, Wally Shawn, Dermot Mulroney, John O’Hurley, Didi Conn, and many more, A Very Merry Golden Records Christmas is just in time for the holidays.

This highly anticpated release marks the perfect follow-up to Golden Records: The Magic Continues - Celebrity Series, Vol. 1. Children and parents alike will love today’s biggest & brightest stars performing “Twas The Night Before Christmas,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Frosty The Snowman,” “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Winter Wonderland” and many more traditional holiday classics."

What a wonderful collection of Christmas songs and stories in this album! I find myself enjoying and reminiscing to the classical Christmas tunes such as "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "12 Days Of Christmas", "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Winter Wonderland".

Songs by Didi Conn and The Golden Orchestra such as "Merry, Merry, Merry, Christmas" is such a joy to listen to and makes you dance along and carolling along too! I really love listening to "Frosty the Snowman" story and its song. Very nice and classical and catchy tune!

Some of the celebrities' voices are so so convincing and soothing to listen to! I enjoyed listening to Ed Asner's voice in "The Little Engine That Could" so hearing his voice in this Christmas album is a nice treat!

To sum up my review, this album is a great addition to have for the upcoming Christmas celebration!

You can purchase it from Amazon, Wal-mart and iTunes Store.

* You can download a free music from their Facebook page too!

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the 20-tracks album in MP3 format to assist my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine.