Sports Chiller Drink Bottle – Smash Enterprises Review

May 30, 2018 | Kidding Around Australia

Exciting news! We are now officially Smash Enterprises and Nude Food Movers Ambassadors so we will be sharing with you some to their products and how you can use them to make your life easier. When it comes to making school lunches, we are all for easier!

Over the past week, we have been trialling the new Smash Sports Chiller drink bottle (which has just launched exclusively in Coles for $10 RRP) – I don’t know about you, but we go through a lot of drink bottles around here!

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The top features of the Smash Sports Chiller are the dual wall insulation that keeps drinks 2.5 times colder than regular reusable plastic drink bottles. We trialed the Smash regular drink bottles as well, and surprisingly we did find that the drinks stayed colder. I can’t wait to use them in summer where I am sure we will really enjoy the difference.

The Sports Chiller also has a sweat free design which boasts about it’s no condensation feature – this means no more funky, wet bags for school! It’s easy to clean because of the wide opening (which is also good for popping in ice cubes) and is light weight and squeezable even for the smallest of hands.

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There is a one-way performance valve which allows for fast flow and no leaks. We did a little leak test of our own, just to test! We trialled 4 bottles, and one of them leaked a little bit when we tipped the bottle upside down and jiggled it as hard as we could. When we tipped it up and just held it there it didn’t leak. What is so great about Smash, is that if there is a problem they fix it immediately – so never worry about your warranty.

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Whilst we have you here, as Nude Food Day Ambassadors, we wanted to let you know about their Nude Food Grant School Program where they are giving away $10,000 to schools, classes and students! Applications are now open and close on 22/6/18. For further information and register visit www.nudefoodday.com.au

What are your must-have features for a drink bottle?

More information on the whole Smash range can be found at www.smashenterprises.com.au

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Monopoly Gamer Review

September 3, 2017September 11, 2017 | Kidding Around Australia

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Hasbro has released various branded versions of classic board game Monopoly over the years but when we heard that Hasbro and Nintendo have teamed up to introduce the Super Mario-themed Monopoly Gamer we were excited to how different it would be.

The essence of Monopoly remains the same in Monopoly Gamer, which hit stores in August, with players rolling the dice to travel around the edge of the game board, buying and trading properties but with the added fun of completing levels, token-specific abilities, coins replacing money, power-up dice and boss fights. Monopoly Gamer is next level Monopoly.

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For the first time in Monopoly history, each character token (Mario, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach and Yoshi) has its own unique power-up ability, introducing another layer of strategy for new and old players alike. For example, landing on the Super Star board space will activate Princess Peach’s “Super Star” ability to collect rent from the bank, Mario rolls the game’s numbered die and collects that many coins from the bank, Yoshi collects all coins on the board, and Donkey Kong steals three coins from each player. Players can also activate a special Power-up boost by rolling the Power-up die.

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When players land on or pass “Go”, they collect two coins and a boss battle begins. There are eight boss battle cards in the game, which players must fight in order. Players pay the amount of coins indicated on the card to initiate a fight and roll the die. If the number is the same or higher than that on the boss card, the player wins and the boss card goes into their inventory. The game ends when the final boss is defeated. Players tally up the points from the properties they own and the bosses they have defeated, along with 10 extra points for every five coins in their stash. The player with the highest score wins.

Does this make sense? If not, this might help:

With Alegría and Isaac being under 8, we had to make some concessions with the rules but they still had a great time and we have all chosen our favourite tokens!

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Monopoly Gamer also have downloadable content locked down in the form of Power Packs (each sold separately), which include one of several Super Mario character tokens like Luigi, Boo, Rosalina, Wario, Diddy Kong and more. The power packs are available for RRP $5.99 each.

If you enjoy Monopoly and are looking for a fun addition to your weekly game night schedule, then Monopoly Gamer is a must!

Monopoly Gamer MainBoard

MORE INFORMATION

The standard Monopoly Gamer Edition game is available at major retailers for RRP $44.99, and is for ages 8 and up. There is also a Monopoly Gamer Collector’s Edition game available exclusively through EB Games (RRP $64.99), featuring premium packaging and a bonus Bowser token. The Monopoly Gamer Collector’s Edition game will also be available at additional online retailers later this year.

Stay updated on the latest Monopoly brand news at Monopoly.com, Facebook.com/Monopoly, @HasbroNews on Twitter, and @Hasbro on Instagram. For more information on Monopoly Gamer, visit HasbroGaming.com.

Brickman Experience – An Interactive Spectacular in LEGO® Bricks – A Review

June 28, 2017June 28, 2017 | Kidding Around Australia

Exciting news, we have a new guest reporter for you all to meet! Griffin is 13 years old and has such a way with words that we just had to send him on assignment to the Brickman Experience at the Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre. Griffin is a massive LEGO® fan so we knew he would have an amazing time!

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BRICKMAN EXPERIENCE – AN INTERACTIVE SPECTACULAR IN LEGO® BRICKS

Written By Griffin

What a day I had! It was easy to find the secure parking, and at $10 for the entire day, that seemed like a bargain. When I first entered the Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre, I could faintly hear “Everything Is Awesome”, from The LEGO® Movie in the distance.

The Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre is a huge place, but it’s well signed, with lifts and stairs to cater for everyone. I was exited to meet our guide for the day, Ryan McNaught, who is one of only 14 LEGO® Certified Professional’s in the world (and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere). Ryan created all the models featured in the exhibition using more than 5 million LEGO® bricks.

As soon as I walked in, I saw a very large colourful mosaic of the Sydney Opera House (created by 1×1 pieces on a MASSIVE board), to the left of me was enormous brightly coloured model of a flower, a replica of the Roman Colosseum, a Ferrari, many portraits of the Bond film actors done in a mosaic style (look for the imposter), and the Sydney Opera House. There are oversize replicas of Emmet and Wyldstyle from the LEGO® Movie, where you can sit and have your photo taken with them, and so much more!

In the next room, a large model of the fire and rescue helicopter called, ‘Elvis’. Ryan explained that the first time ‘Elvis’ was being shown to the public, several children broke into the closed shopping centre at night, and pushed the model off the table on which it sat! SO MUCH DESTRUCTION! But thankfully it has been fully rebuilt and is currently on display at the Brickman Experience.

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There were also models of a Space Shuttle, and an X-Wing fighter from Star Wars, as well as quite a few other models in this room. I won’t tell you all of them, you must go see it for yourself.

There was also the opportunity to build in the Mosaic Masterpiece Zone, and there is a Master Builders Training area for those who get inspired by what they see around them.

Ryan was a very nice guy. I asked him a few questions, and this is what he had to say:

How’d you get the job? Sheer Luck. LEGO® knew I had worked on the programming for the LEGO® Mindstorms robots for a while, and then they gave me the opportunity to build these awesome creations.

What inspires you to make the models? Everything, really! I can’t afford a Ferrari, so I built a model of one. I went to the Coliseum in Rome, so I was inspired to build one, and I really love Pirate Films like Pirates of the Caribbean, so that’s what inspired me to build the Pirate Ship.

What could others do to become a LEGO® sculpture maker? Make sure you are good at Maths. It’s all about Trigonometry, Algebra and Symmetry. There is LOTS of Maths involved in the designs!

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GRIFFIN’S TOP TIP

Be on the look-out for all of the hidden Minifigs in Green Spacesuits (Bennies), once you have counted them all and tell them what your favourite model was why, you will be in with a chance to win a Space Lego prize pack. Go to www.bit.ly/greenspacemen to enter!

There is also a popup shop that sells LEGO® kits, LEGO® Mindstorms robot kits, and Brickman Experience merchandise (t-shirts, hats, stickers etc). I give my t-shirt two thumbs up!

When you get hungry or thirsty there is a Combi Café for you to get refreshments and a light meal (you can get a stamp to return to the Brickman Experience if you wish).

All in all, the Brickman Experience was excellent fun! It is a must do for all LEGO® fans these school holidays!

MORE INFORMATION

BRICKMAN EXPERIENCE – AN INTERACTIVE SPECTACULAR IN LEGO® BRICKS

Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

24 June – 9 July 2017

Open daily. Booking is advisable.

Tickets on sale now from Ticketek bit.ly/BrickmanExp

facebook.com/brickmanexperience

twitter.com/brickmanexp

instagram.com/brickmanexperience

#BrickmanExperience

Holden Captiva Road Trip Review

January 17, 2017January 24, 2017 | Kidding Around Australia

With our impending holiday to the beautiful and unspoilt Shoalhaven on the New South Wales South Coast, we contemplated flying but ultimately decided it was the perfect opportunity to take a road trip in a Holden Captiva. Holden Australia were nice enough to let us take one for an extended test drive and we didn’t waste time putting some k’s on the clock!

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Travelling from Victoria, we travelled into New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory passing through Albury, Gundagai, Goulburn and Sutton Forest on our way to Nowra and Culburra Beach (our home for our holidays) before heading home via Batemans Bay, Canberra, and Albury before arriving back into Victoria.

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HOLDEN CAPTIVA

Designed for maximum versatility, the Captiva has plenty of room for everyone. With up to 7 seats in three rows of adjustable seating, this family-sized SUV is available in two wheel drive and active all wheel drive with petrol and diesel options. Every Captiva comes with the very latest safety technology to look after your precious cargo! Detailed information about the Holden Captiva can be found HERE.

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OUR EXPERIENCE

Positives

Comfortable and easy to drive with plenty of space for everyone and everything. Great storage and moveable seating making larger objects easy to transport.
MyLink entertainment system with touch screen, voice control, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto makes taking music for your road trip easy!
The blind spot alert is a light up warning feature on the side mirrors which was new to us. We loved this feature!
Keyless entry and ignition. You simply leave your keys in your handbag or pocket, touch the button on the door handle and turn the knob next to the steering wheel and you’re away. Perfect for when you have your hands full!
Rear view camera and rear parking assist allows you to park and reverse with confidence.
ISOFIX child seat anchorage technology ensures your precious little ones are kept safe with a rock solid connection between the vehicle and the seat. You’ll need to have a ISOFIX-equipped child seat to use this feature.

Negatives

No air vents in the back seat making the car uncomfortable in the heat (which is not good for those of us that suffer motion sickness). To accommodate this, the front passengers get cold trying to make it comfortable in the back.
Whilst there was no problem with the power on the open road, there is a distinct lack of power going up hills.
No CD Player which made it hard to play the audio books I got from the library!
There is Satellite Navigation via phone projection but this means additional data usage.

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We have been looking for a 7 seat family car for a while and the Holden Captiva certainly ticked a lot of our car-selection boxes! At the end of our long drive, we were all happy and comfortable and dreaming of hitting the road again for another family adventure!

MORE INFORMATION

Contact your nearest Holden Dealer for more information or to book a test drive.

Homedics AR120AU Electrostatic Air Cleaner Review

September 19, 2016November 3, 2016 | Kidding Around Australia

Living in Australia, away from any capital city makes me take clean, fresh air for granted. When Homedics told me about their Homedics AR120AU Electrostatic Air Cleaner, I was interested in learning more. I don’t know about you, but I am more often concerned about what we eat and drink rather than the air we breathe.

We have a mild asthma sufferer in our family and Duke likes to sleep in our front room so I thought I would trial the Homedics AR120AU Electrostatic Air Cleaner and see how it works.

The Homedics AR120AU Electrostatic Air Cleaner with Nano Coil technology is said to be the most innovative and effective air cleaning technology Homedics is offering.

Features :

World’s most advanced air cleaning system
Removes 99% of airborne contaminants like allergens, smoke, pollen, dust and germs
5 times better than HEPA in cleaning microscopic particles down to 0.05 microns in size
Reduces airborne viruses and bacteria
7 times more cleaning surface than comparable HEPA towers
Weighs 50% less than comparable HEPA towers
Uses only 25 watts of power – 50% less than comparable HEPA towers
LED backlit control panel
Triple filtration and elimination process
Cleanable, replaceable filter lasts up to 18 months
120 CADR – Clean Air Delivery Rate

What We Thought:

The unit is easy to use and comes with a remote control (and auto-timer). It’s light weight, but rather large so it stands out in the room. It’s not quiet on the higher settings. You definitely couldn’t sleep with it on turbo, but on low it’s fine.

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Amazingly, it eliminated the smell of Duke in the room and for that fact alone it is worth the purchase price. We couldn’t be happier with the result.

Please note: We were given a Homedics AR120AU Electrostatic Air Cleaner for review, however our opinions are our own.

MORE INFORMATION

RRP $299 AUD

Website http://www.homedics.com.au/health/air-purifier/air-cleaner-electrostatic.html

Kidding Around at the … Hi-5 House of Dreams Concert

July 8, 2015July 8, 2015 | Kidding Around Australia

Everyone knows by now that we L.O.V.E Hi-5 in the Kidding Around Australia house! Alegría has been a fan for years and now we have another massive Hi-5 fan in Isaac – he has been dancing around the house shouting “Hi-5” for days!

We were lucking enough to be invited to the Hi-5 presents House of Dreams last Saturday at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda. The theme of the show is “Dreams”, with Chats (played by Jessica Harm) using magic to help Hugh (who replaced Stevie, who has hurt his foot), Dayen, Ainsley, Mary and Tanika explore and experience their favourite dreams.

The show was interactive with the kids helping Chats to catch dreams so that she could make them come true! With a little help from a huge dream catcher, the stage was transformed into magical worlds such as the jungle, under the sea, outer space and the wild west with the help of a computer-animated backdrop. The costumes were amazing and the props (including spinning beds) had the children transfixed!

As you would expect from Hi-5, the show was high energy and they sang all the catchy Hi-5 songs we’ve grown to love, including Alegría’s all-time favourite “Some kind of wonderful“.

The show is split into two x 35 minute acts with a 20 minute intermission separating them – perfect for a snack and a trip to the bathroom.

The kids loved House of Dreams, it was fun, energetic and ended with bubbles… always a crowd pleaser!

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOUR

The Hi-5 House of Dreams tour gives audiences an invitation to the most exciting “slumber party” ever! There’s not much sleeping but lots of singing and dancing and adventure when our favourite puppet Chats takes control of the Hi-5’s dreams and makes their dreams come true!

Using Chats’ Magic Dream Catcher audiences will travel through jungles, fairy grottos, underwater coral gardens, the Wild West, and even outer space!! This interactive and energetic show will have audiences totally immersed in the world of dreams.

Hi-5 House of Dreams is a whimsical trip into a fantasy adventure where you can catch your favourite Hi-5 songs – Underwater Discovery, Move your Body, It’s a Party and Living in a Rainbow and plenty of new songs with the Hi-5 gang – Stevie, Mary, Tanika, Ainsley and Dayen.

2015 National Tour Dates

Sydney – Big Top, Luna Park 28 June (Sunday)

Brisbane – Royal International Convention Centre 1 July (Wednesday)

Melbourne – Palais Theatre 4 July (Saturday)

Sydney – Concourse Theatre, Chatswood 7-8 July (Tues-Wed)

Perth – Regal Theatre 14-15 July (Tues-Wed)

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

For more info on the show please visit http://lifeliketouring.com/hi-5 or www.hi-5world.com

Disclaimer: We were sent tickets to the show for review. We did not receive any cash payment. As always our opinions are honest and our own.

Please note all details quoted are correct at the time of publishing. All details are subject to change without notice and Kidding Around Australia takes no responsibility for information contained in this post. Please check the appropriate website to ensure that information is still correct and current.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES ON THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA WEBSITE ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA AUTHORS. ALL IMAGES ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT AND CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA.

Kidding Around with … Just Craft! Mega Craft Pack

July 6, 2015July 6, 2015 | Kidding Around Australia

If you are looking for something to keep the kids entertained either in the car, on holiday or at home, then you can’t go past the Just Craft! Mega Craft Pack. The pack contains 4 different activities (which are also sold separately as DIY Craft Kits) and include foam mosaics, air-dry clay, a hand puppet and a fridge magnet. These activities have been specifically designed to keep little hands busy for up to 30 minutes and are suitable for children aged 4 to 10 years.

Create your own Mosaic Poster

This activity took the longest to complete and would be perfect for the car! It is simply a matter of placing the stickers on the spots to create a shiny mosaic poster!

Create your own Clay Model character

This activity was fun! There is step-by-step instructions, although you can be as creative as you wish. The clay dries without the use of ovens etc. but doesn’t dry so hard that it will smash like traditional clay, if dropped. It is like a hard foam that bounces – handy for avoiding tears! A word of warning: the different colours stick together very quickly so they don’t forgive you putting clay in the wrong spots.

Create your own hand puppet

This activity is very good for hand/eye coordination! It involves sewing (with a plastic needle) and stickers. We were worried how long the stickers would stay on the felt for but they have held up well. It is not a puppet that will last forever but your child will have fun with their new friend!

Create your own fridge magnet

The fridge magnet takes the least amount of time to complete! This is a 5 minute activity! Children can do it without any assistance (time for a cuppa in peace!).

Both Alegría and Isaac love hands-on interactive play and would much prefer this type of activity to technology based entertainment. As a parent, it’s the type of indoor activity that we encourage and there is always some sort of craft project on the go in the Kidding Around Australia house. The problem is, that some craft activities can be really messy (we’re looking at you GLITTER!) and often take more time to set up than to complete.

GEORGINA SAYS

I love that every Just Craft! product is self-contained, which means no other items are required like glue or scissors. Everything your child needs is there in the pack and often the child can do the activity without the need of parental assistance!

The Mega Craft Pack retails for $19.95 and the individual kits all cost no more than $10 – and I have seen them on sale, so keep an eye out!

MORE INFORMATION

All Just Craft products are available nationally at Spotlight, Toys R Us & specialty toy stores.

The range can also be purchased online via Rainbow Fun

Just Craft! are on Facebook as well!

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Disclaimer: Alegría was sent these products for review. As always our opinions are honest and our own.