TripFLIX

TripFLIX

Actors: Alex Fast, Emily Woodhouse
Directors: Ilana Bittner, Matt Craven
Format: Anamorphic, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Studio: TripFLIX LLC
Run Time: 120 minutes
Price: $19.99

Gas prices got you down? Having to scale back your summer vacation plans or cancel them all together? Have I got good news for you. Take your family on a cross-country vacation without even leaving your living room with TripFLIX!

"Welcome to TripFLIX, the award-winning interactive travel adventure (be sure to click on that link - this DVD has gotten some VERY impressive rewards!), now available on DVD! TripFLIX (http://www.tripflix.com/) is a fun-filled interactive DVD that features some of the coolest kid-friendly places to travel across the U.S. (and with 25 featured locations, you’re bound to find something close to home – important considering astronomical fuel prices!) The DVD is designed to help families pick an unusual travel destination – whether it’s clear across the country or right in their own backyard – and also to keep kids entertained and excited while en route. TripFLIX is packed with trivia questions, funny banter from the teen hosts/travel guides, and little known facts about destinations as varied as “Carhenge” in Nebraska and Space Camp in Huntsville, IL.

TripFLIX features twenty five fun and educational destinations from coast to coast! There’s something here for everyone, for kids of all ages! These family-friendly adventures are sure to entertain for countless hours, while teaching valuable lessons about the history and culture of the United States of America. "

I am a HUGE fan of this DVD and I'm not even the target audience! I have to confess that I popped this DVD in, with plans to watch about an hour one night and the rest another time. After all, I get up at 4 a.m. each day and I need my sleep. But I started watching TripFLIX and I was hooked! I ended up staying up late just to watch the whole thing at once (though you can watch individual segments as you wish). Told with a deft sense of humor (I enjoyed the Afraidiana Jones segments in particular - though I'm not sure I got that name right!), the segments will hold your child's attention as he or she is learning some really fun facts about our nation and it's history. I have to say, I, myself, learned a great deal I didn't know (like where the phrase "Your nose to the grindstone" came from!) and because of this video? My family is going to search out for the World's Largest Wooden Elephant when we travel to Atlantic City this summer.

The teenage hosts (Emily and Alex) are very, very good actors and have a genuine friendship and rapport that keep the "plot" moving. This DVD took 40 crew members filming through 36 states with 7,800 miles of driving and 13,000 miles of flying. Wowsa! My hat is off to the producers, Dave and Ilana Bittner. I'll be watching this (over and over) again, let alone my kids!

Not convinced yet? Be sure to check out the TripFlix trailer here along with a sample destination (Space Camp!) and a bloopers reel. Then head on over to TripFlix to purchase your own copy.

I am proud to be a member of Team Mom, which sponsored this review.

Baby Jamz

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS STAMPED WITH GRACE!

Created by Solange and Mathew Knowles, Baby Jamz is the first ever hip-hop/rhythm inspired toy line for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Mathew Knowles' Music World Entertainment has partnered with Planet Toys to launch Baby Jamz which is available exclusively at Wal-Mart stores now. I was sent three of the toys from the line to sample.

Baby Jamz CD, Nursery Rhymes Volume 1: New renditions of nursery rhyme favorites (sung by Solange Knowles $10.47)

Baby Jamz CD Nursery Rhymes Volume 1 includes new versions of nursery rhyme favorites such as "This Old Man," "Old MacDonald," and "Skip To My Lou" to name a few. Definitely not your everyday nursery rhyme music! All the children I played this music for loved it.

Baby Jamz Music Crew (Julez, Jasmine, Carlos and Simon) This toy plays musical nursery rhymes (same as on the CD) to help baby discover nursery rhymes $4.88 age 12+ months.

I was not so impressed with this one - I thought the "crew" didn't fit well in their slots on the top of the "box" so I gave this toy to a friend with a 14 month old grandson. She reported back that he also had a lot of difficulty getting the kids into their slots on (required for the music to play). He was so frustrated he threw the toy down. However, once he discovered he could play the music just by pressing the button on the front of the toy, he ended up just playing with that box portion. Over and over again he played the music and fell asleep with it pressed up against his head like a cell phone. Another drawback is that there is no on-off switch on this toy and that's pretty much essential on any toy that makes noise!

Baby Jamz Boom Box Shape Sorter (plays "Wheels on the Bus" "Hip-Hop Buckle My Shoe" and"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"); 14.76 age 6+ months.

I gave this toy to my co-worker who has a 6 month old. On this toy, the child has to place the square, triangle and circle LED light-up blocks in the "boom box", in the right order for the entire song to play. The microphone also has three buttons that he or she can press to add more sounds to the songs. My co-worker reported back that her baby boy loved this toy and she was delighted it had an on-off switch! Definitely a much better toy.

WIN IT! Courtesy of Team Mom, I have a brand new copy of the Baby Jamz Nursery Rhymes, Volume One to give away to one lucky winner. To win, head on over to the Baby Jamz website, and come back here and leave a comment with the name of one other of the toys in the Baby Jamz line you'd love to get for your child (any toy except the three reviewed above).

This give-a-way is open until midnight, March 26, 2008. Please leave your email address with your comment so I can get in touch with you. Winner must be willing to provide name and mailing address.


I am proud to be a member of Team Mom, which sponsored this review.