Panther Vision LED Products

"At Panther Vision®, our mission is to make people’s lives easier, more productive, and enjoyable through our ultra-bright, HANDS-FREE, LED lighting technology. Our hands-free product designs are focused on easily lighting the areas where you work with your hands, where you read, or where you do activities and are designed to make sure you can continue your activities regardless of lighting conditions. We accomplish this by incorporating our patented LED lighting technology into products that people use every day, such as hats and ball caps, reading glasses and safety glasses. We also design unique products like our ITZY BITZY® lighted wallet readers and Safety Bug® personal strobe light that provide convenience and safety.

"Panther Vision POWERCAP® lighted hats, LIGHTSPECS® lighted reading glasses and lighted safety glasses, ITZY BITZY lighted wallet readers, and Safety Bug are sold by some of the nation’s leading retailers, including L.L. Bean, Lowes, Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Gander Mountain, The Home Depot, Sears, and Road Runner Sports. Their standards are high - as are yours."

"Additionally, POWERCAP lighted caps and LIGHTSPECS lighted safety glasses are used by electricians, plumbers, carpenters, police officers, paramedics, and many other professional trades people around the country in the execution of their jobs."

What we thought:  The Panther Vision products we reviewed were awesome!  The are so useful for so many things.  They provide sufficient light when you really need it.  B found the POWERCAP most useful for night fishing.  He said it is perfect for baiting the hook and way easier than trying to hold a flashlight while making rig changes.  He also loves that it is so useful for working on the car at night time.  Panther Vision products are a reliable source of hands-free LED lighting.  ABCD Diaries gives Panther Vision products an A+!

To find out more, check out Panther Vision! 


Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Hershey's Cookies 'n' Cream Blog Spark Prize Pack Giveaway!!

Introducing NEW Hershey´s Cookies `n´ Creme* cereal!

"Now you can enjoy the delicious taste of Hershey´s Cookies `n´ Creme in a breakfast cereal from Big G.

With an irresistible taste the whole family will love from a brand you trust, new Hershey´s Cookies `n´ Creme cereal is made from 100% whole grains with at least 14g of whole grain per serving (at least 48g recommended daily). Best of all, Hershey´s Cookies `n´ Creme cereal has only 9 grams of sugar per serving and is a good source of Calcium, Vitamin D, and 10 other essential vitamins and minerals."

What we thought:  The kiddos really enjoyed this cereal.  They also loved the cereal dispenser.  It makes a mundane task like getting a bowl of cereal a lot more fun:)  Even though this cereal is based on a candy bar, it isn't crazy sweet and contains 14g of whole grain per serving.  Who knew eating a candy bar for breakfast isn't totally bad for you?!   ABCD Diaries gives Hershey's new Cookies 'n' Creme cereal an A+!

Thanks to MyBlogSpark, one lucky winner will receive a gift pack that will contain:

• Box of Hershey's Cookies `n´ Creme Cereal
• Cereal dispenser
• 2 Cereal-To-Go containers
• Retail Value: $60

Zumba Fitness Wear Review

"ZUMBA^® Fitness, the workout that has helped melt the pounds and inches off 12 million fitness enthusiasts, has an exciting new spring/summer collection that transitions easily from sweating it out in the gym to strolling the streets thanks to the vibrant colors and exciting silhouettes that have become a signature of the brand.

Dubbed the “Universe” collection, the pieces combine the vibrancy of the workout which it mirrors with light weight materials and free flowing designs to keep you moving through any warm weather routine.

ZUMBA^® Wear’s spring/summer collection features galactic prints, cropped silhouettes and asymmetrical cuts designed using licensed ZUMBA^®   instructors as its models to represent the brand’s diverse and expressive community.  Motivated by the energy and passion of these ZUMBA^® instructors from more than 185 countries across the globe, the “Universe” collection is an eclectic cultural mix of design inspiration and passion people feel when they experience ZUMBA^® Fitness."

The full collection is now available at zumba.com/shop.
  
What we thought:  The top I reviewed from Zumba was lightweight and loose fitting.  It was super comfy for working out and just wearing around the house.  I also reviewed a pair of cute no-slip socks.  I love the fun, bright colors of the Zumba fitness wear collection.  The variety is awesome and spans sizes XS-XXL.  Zumba is awesome, but no matter what workout you love, the Zumba Fitness Wear line is a great place to find fun, stylish workout clothes.  ABCD Diaries gives Zumba Wear an A+!

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Dinosaur Train Fun in June!

All Aboard the Dinosaur Train for Tons of Fun in June

"Yes!  Summer break is almost here, and The Jim Henson Company and partners want to help you kick-start your summer fun with some great ideas for the entire family!

Celebrating National Zoo and Aquarium Month in June is a great opportunity to gather the family and take “a trip” to explore your local zoo and aquarium, as well as to visit the websites of America’s great zoos and aquariums. Many of the sites offer excellent educational resources, including photographs, videos, facts, lesson plans and activities.  The Association of Zoos and Aquariums provides a collection of links to their accredited zoos and aquariums.

The Jim Henson Company has also recently created The Dinosaur Train Discovery Tour, which provides some great resources for you that any young DINOSAUR TRAIN fan is going to love! 

What is the Dinosaur Train Discovery Tour?  It’s is a mobile website that may be viewed on a desktop or laptop computer, or on a smartphone web browser, and relates dinosaur and natural history content from the DINOSAUR TRAIN animated television series (which airs on PBS KIDS), to zoo and aquarium animals.

At aquariums and zoos, The Dinosaur Train Discovery Tour will teach kids fun facts about today’s living creatures, and encourage them to learn more about the relationship between modern day ocean life and animals such as sharks, crabs, turtles, elephants, bats, birds, crocodiles and more, and their prehistoric ancestors.    You can see the site at the following link: http://pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain/tour

You can access the mobile website either before, during or after visits to zoos and aquariums to enhance your child’s engagement in paleontology, animal science and natural history.  Guides can also be downloaded for families to take with them on their visits too:

Click here to download the Dinosaur Train Discovery Tour for the Zoo

Click here to download the Dinosaur Train Discovery Tour for the Aquarium

Click here to download the Dinosaur Train Discovery Tour for the Natural History Museum

The kids might just find that with the help of the Dinosaur Train Discovery Tour, visiting Zoo’s, Aquarium’s and Natural History Museum’s are among their “favorite trips” ever!

Everyone enjoys taking fun trips, including DINOSAUR TRAIN’S Buddy!  Buddy fans everywhere are sure to enjoy the new sticker stories from Penguin Young Readers Group,Buddy’s Favorite Trips.   With over 75 stickers, this sticker stories book takes fans on a ride on the Dinosaur Train and features… that’s right… Buddy's favorite trips! For ages 3-5; SRP $6.99; available wherever books are sold!  To browse all the Dinosaur Train books, go to www.penguin.com/dinosaurtrain.

And finally, it’s Father’s Day on June 16 and a great time to help the kids create some fun treats for dad decorated with their favorite DINOSAUR TRAIN characters! DecoPak has provided a Dinosaur Train Dinosaur Express Cake Topper and Dinosaur Train Cupcake Rings, featuring Buddy and Tiny.   These products are available at various online stores including Amazon.com (prices vary).  You can also visit www.cakes.com to find a bakery in your area that may be able to make these cakes for you!

Dinosaur Train Cake Decorating Decoset

And if you are feeling very adventurous, you can try and create the scene below!  Instructions here!

Dinosaur Train Cupcake Rings

What we thought:  We were lucky enough to get to review the cupcake rings and cake decorations, along with "Buddy's Favorite Trips."  This sticker book was a huge hit and the kiddos had a lot of fun reading and decorating the colorful adventures.  The rings and cake decorations were really cute and the kiddos are excited about using them to liven up our next baked goods:)  ABCD Diaries gives the latest Dino Train goodies an A+!

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Brillo Soap Pads and Sponges-A Summer Must-Have!

"Get your grill in prime time shape with our Brillo Steel Wool Soap Pads, Brillo Heavy Duty Soap Pads, or the Heavy Duty Scour Pad. Each of these trusty items can help cut through the built up grease and grime and make the job fast and easy so you can get back to grilling faster and perform your grilling duties like a champ in front of all your friends and family!

Leftover food particles on the cooking surface can make food stick and charred remains left over from last season can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Research has shown that cooking food over caked-on residue and gunk has the potential to make those who eat it sick. There is also the potential for dangerous flare ups if build ups of grease are ignored. In addition, cooking on an improperly cleaned grill can also have a negative impact on the flavor of the foods."

Grill Cleaning Tips:

1. Remove cooking grates from grill and scrub with warm water and a Brillo

Steel Wool Soap Pad or Heavy Duty Scour Pad.

2. For cooked-on, hard-to-clean surfaces turn Brillo sideways and scrub across

the grain of the pad

3. If it's a charcoal grill, remove the coal grate and brush out the insides

4. For gas grills remove briquettes, lava rocks or metal flame shield to expose

burner. Clean ash and residue from around burner, be sure burner is in place

when finished cleaning

5. Rinse grates, reassemble grill, and allow to air dry

6. For coated grill exteriors and more delicate surfaces use Brillo Estracell No

Scratch Scrub Sponge with Wedge Edge

What we thought:  We always have Brillo products on hand.  The soap pads are the best for scrubbing pots and pans.  They also make cleaning the grill a lot easier.  Grilling season lasts year round in our neck of the woods so we always make sure to keep a box of Brillo pads at the ready.  The Estracell sponges are great too!  The are gentle enough not to scratch our dishes and don't get yucky as quickly as regular sponges.  Plus, their unique design get into even the toughest corners of every dish.  Brillo products are a definite must have!  ABCD Diaries gives Brillo an A+!

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

OFF! Insect Repellent...Summer Must-Have!

"It’s finally time to enjoy the great outdoors – whether it’s in your own backyard, playing at the park or enjoying an outdoor concert, OFF! ^® has an array of products to suit your needs, including:

·          OFF!^® Clip-On™ mosquito repellent is a sprayless personal mosquito repellent that doesn’t have to be applied directly to skin – a quiet battery-powered fan circulates odorless repellent, providing head-to-toe protection within minutes. OFF!^® Clip-On™ is now available in four decorative designs to match your favorite summer moments: new Limited Edition Black, Vintage American Flag, American Flag and Camouflage.

• OFF!^® Citronella Candles offer hours of protection and enhance the ambiance of your outdoor occasion. The new limited edition Large OFF!^®Citronella Bucket adds a touch of style to your summer gathering, burning for up to 40 hours.
  
  
• OFF!^® Bug Control Backyard Pretreat offers both a spray and a stream option that allows homeowners to quickly and easily spot-treat shrubs, bushes and other areas of the backyard. Before guests arrive, attach OFF!^® Bug Control Backyard Pretreat to a garden hose and treat. One application kills insects on treated outdoor surfaces for up to eight weeks on hard, non-porous surfaces.
  
• OFF! Deep Woods^® Dry offers long-lasting protection without that oily or greasy feel provides great protection for a deep woods experience."

What we thought:  Every summer we stock up on OFF! products, so we were super excited to get to review the latest goodies for the season.  I'm pretty sure we live in the mosquito capital of the US.  The Texas coast gets swarmed every summer and insect repellent products are a MUST-HAVE down here.  OFF! products always work really well for us.  The clip-on is great for fishing and BBQ-ing, the candle is perfect for the picnic table and my personal favorite, the Deep Woods spray, goes on easy and keeps the bugs at bay.  We love OFF! products!  ABCD Diaries gives OFF! an A+!

 Please visit www.KeepsBugsOFF.com and www.facebook.com/off for more information.

Disclosure: ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Flying Heroes Review and Giveaway!

"The most iconic superhero characters are taking flight with the new Flying Heroes action figures! With a quick pull from the launcher, kids will be able to unleash their favorite superheroes and watch them FLY like never before. The Fall 2013 collection features three of the most popular superheroes – Superman, Batman and Spider-Man.  For Ages 4+, SRP $16.99"

What we thought:  D, who is 4, loves this toy!  It is fun and colorful and easy to use.  Plus, it is super durable.  D has been "testing" it for several weeks and it still works perfectly!  We love toys that keep their value for as long as possible:)  This would make a great gift for the super hero lover in your life!  ABCD Diaries gives the Flying Heroes toys an A+!