So no sense watching the overplayed Edward Norton version or the depressing Eric Bana one. Mark Ruffalo is simply AMAZING as Bruce Banner and the CGI team did an amazing job on transforming him into the Hulk.

If you want to really prep the kids for Hulk’s appearance in the movie, or give them more info on his background after watching the movie, then check out Avengers Origins: Hulk from iTunes.

There are a few different reading options: Read to Me, Young Reader mode and Auto-Turn Pages. In Read to Me and Young Reader mode you get to have a more interactive experience. For example, you can help Hulk escape by throwing a car. Or help control gamma radiation. Or stop a car in danger. Or my favorite, roar into the mic to turn into the Hulk. There are a lot more fun interactive games in the story too.  These options are not available with auto-turn pages.

You can choose to have music playing as you read or turn music off. You can also look for 6 hidden fists during the story – HULK SMASH! And it is narrated by Stan Lee.

Overall, a fabulous little super hero app for kids. It is available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch for just $1.99 at www.itunes.com/appstore. For more information, visit http://disneybookapps.com and www.facebook.com/DisneyReads, or follow @DisneyReads on Twitter.

Another Marvel app review: Avengers Origins: Assemble!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz did receive a gift code to download this app for review.

And there is something in it for mom and dad too, other than happy children. Listening to either of these new stations will give you limited-time on-screen offers from Babies “R” Us and Toys “R” Us. These radio stations and limited-time offers will only be available until August 12th, so listen up while you can!

To start listening and saving, visit here: PampersRadio.com/Pandora

One reader will win a $25 Gift Card to Toys “R” Us or Babies “R” Us

a Rafflecopter giveaway
  

This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. Contest ends 6/17/12. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall. This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contestsso you can win and try buzzworthy products! Procter & Gamble provided the prize for our winner and a similar gift card was provided to theMomBuzz.

So, they moan and groan as I edge them into the bathroom to brush their teeth. One thing that usually motivates them into getting it done is to get the Sugar Bugs off their teeth. I came up with the idea, thanks to an app on their Leapster Explorer. And since they’ve actually “seen” Sugar Bugs on the game, they want them off their teeth.

We also tend to use power toothbrushes over manual ones. They just seem to let me brush longer with them. And when I hand over the toothbrush for them to try themselves, they brush more vigorously, as well.

I also talk them through it, so they know I am brushing their back teeth, the back of their teeth, the front of their teeth, their top teeth and so on. So hopefully when they brush on their own, they are aiming for those same areas!

As part of a good toothbrushing routine,  I am thrilled to see Star Wars Toothbrushes are on the market! Sunstar GUM launched these Star Wars toothbrushes in the spirit of the re-release of The Phantom Menace in 3D. There are manual Star Wars tooth brushes, as well as a line of Power and Lightsaber brushes. Here is what those power Star Wars toothbrushes look like:

The larger Star Wars power toothbrushes are available in two characters, Darth Vader or Rex. The bristles oscillate, to cover more tooth area than the child will cover by manual brushing alone (in my opinion). They have a base on the bottom so you can stand them upright when not in use. (MSRP $5.99)

The lightsaber toothbrushes are available in blue (Anakin), green (Yoda) and red (Vader). They don’t oscillate or vibrate. Instead they flash on and off for a minute before turning off. So you can have your child brush the top part for one minute and the bottom part of their mouth for another minute. I like the timer. (MSRP $3.99)

Buzzworthy idea: These will be perfect to pack for Star Wars weekend at Disney World, as party favors for a Star Wars themed party or as stocking stuffers around the holidays!

Overall, children will love to Brush Like a Jedi™ and defend their teeth against cavities by using these GUM Star Wars toothbrushes!

One reader will win a Star Wars Toothbrush set from Sunstar GUM. MSRP $10

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY:

Which toothbrush would your child love the most?

• Power Rex
• Power Vader
• Lightsaber Yoda
• Lightsaber Anakin
• Lightsaber Vader

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter
• Share this contest on your Facebook page – Link it to @theMomBuzz – Here is the text:

Win a set of Star Wars Power Toothbrushes @theMomBuzz. Give-away ends 6.16.12 http://themombuzz.com/?p=22187

• Tweet the following – can be done daily:

#win a set of Star Wars Power Toothbrushes at #themombuzz – Visit http://themombuzz.com/?p=22187

• Add theMomBuzz to your blogroll
• Leave a comment on any other post on theMomBuzz – let me know where!

Contest ends 6/16/12. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

Disclosure Statement: This is solely the opinion of theMomBuzz. TheMomBuzz did receive samples of the various toothbrushes to reach her conclusion. TheMomBuzz has purchased other Sunstar Gum power toothbrushes in the past and believes they enhance the toothbrushing experience of her children. The winner of this contest will be chosen by Random.org. Visit www.theMomBuzz.com/contests for chances to win other great prizes.

Now the word is PREVENTION. Right? And I am not just talking about sunscreen. It’s also UV clothing, hats and sunglasses. There is even powder you can put in your hair to keep your scalp from being burned, just in case you aren’t wearing a hat.

My favorite lotion is the Coppertone Water Babies Foaming Lotion. I just discovered it this Spring! And I was thrilled when, as a Coppertone Water Mom, it was included in my kit. It shocked me the first time I used it, thinking it was the traditional spray. But instead it comes out like shaving cream! And then you lather it all over the kids (and yourself). They laugh and say it tickles.

I prefer to use the Water Babies line because it is the most comfortable on my skin and gentle on the kids’ eyes. No stinging, no greasy feeling. And by applying it 30 minutes before you go out and every few hours once you are out playing. You also need to reapply after heavy sweating and getting wet.

And it’s not just skin that gets burned. Remember to protect eyes from UV rays too! Sunglasses do more than protect against glare, they protect against sun-related damage, like cataracts, pterygium, skin cancer around the eyes, and macula degeneration.

Here are some links to some of my favorite sun protection items! Click around!

• Sunscreen for the whole family: Coppertone has sunscreens for a variety of needs and skin types. My favorite line is the Water Babies line. But they also have Sport Sunscreen, Oil Free, Sensitive Skin and other options.
• Children’s Sunglasses: If you are putting on your shades, the kids should be putting on theirs! Not just for style (although it’s a cute perk). You are protecting their eyes and surround skin from cancers and damage that can lead to blindness. Our kids sunglasses always come from EyesCreamShades – durable and well-made, they last for years.
• UV Shirts and/or Rash Guards: Once again, surfer style with sun protection! My favorite online store is UVSkinz. Their UV Skinz’ UPF 50+ sun protection clothing blocks out 98% of the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. Right now they have two fabulous deals going on.

1. First, they are giving away a FREE BABY “Skinz” with every order in the month of May!
2. Second, visit www.uvskinz.com and enter coupon code MELMON12 to SAVE 25% off your entire online order! With these kind of savings you could score a UV Skinz swim shirt for the price of a bottle or two of suncreen.

And if you see me ’round town, ask me for a Coppertone Water Babies sample! I’m passing them out at school, the playground and Disney … until they run out!

Disclosure Statement: As a member of the Coppertone® Water MOMS group, I received product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit.  No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience. I was a Coppertone fan BEFORE receiving my package and will remain one long after!

For Babies, it means you can keep the kids in an easy-access diaper at home but still keep their legs warm enough in air conditioning.

For Crawlers, it can protect their knees from carpet burn when their wear their summer shorts as they get their groove on.

For Toddlers, Preschoolers and Kids, I like them for multiple reasons. One, they just look cool. You can wear matching pairs with shorts. Use one as an Arm Warmer and one as a Leg Warmer for some serious style. I personally like to bring them to the pool. When the kids come out they are often shivering in the breeze, so BabyLegs help warm them up a little quicker. They are also great for additional protection from a steamy sun, offering protection from UV rays.

The BabyCool collection has BabyLegs made with a Rayosan process to provide UPF protection of 50+!

Tweens, Teens and Adults can also benefit from BabyLegs for style, warmth and protection. Is a classroom or office too cold? Keep BabyLegs in a backpack or purse to add some warmth as they study or you work! And for moms who get too much sun while watching their kids play at parks or in the pool, once again BabyLegs is there to offer some sun protection.

Top 3 Picks for Boys:

Top 3 Picks for Girls:

Overall, we love them and I keep a pair close-at-hand all the time! BabyLegs brand is super soft and very durable. They fit my kids when they were babies and still fit now that they are 4 and 6. BabyLegs retail for $10 – $15 each on www.babylegs.com. There are SO MANY styles to choose from! Stripes, Spots, Dinosaurs, Ruffles and tons more. Go ahead and pin your favorites! You can shop by collection, color, gender and design!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contestsso you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received samples to review.

Now, if you have kids who are as excited about the Avengers as mine are/were – now is the perfect opportunity to get a cool new app to celebrate the movie. Avengers Origins: Assemble! is currently available from iTunes for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. We have downloaded it to my iPad and the iPhones, so the boys can read/listen to the story NARRATED BY STAN LEE! Squee, right?

The app will totally prep kids who may be new to these classic characters. It will introduce Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, and a few characters you won’t find in the new Avengers movie. There is Namor, who was an ex- hero who protects the sea. There is also Ant-Man and Wasp who can grow like giants or small and strong like insects. The story line does not completely match with the newest movies, but it’s still a fun read.

You can choose to have Stan Lee read to the child, have pages auto-turn and there is even a young reader mode. There is some slight animation, but it’s mostly still pictures. It will play music during the story, but you can turn that option off. You can also preview the pages and choose a page to re-read or start on. You can also keep an eye out for 6 hidden Avengers symbols as you read, but there is no prize for finding them.

The app features innovative, interactive activities include matching heroic accessories with each Super Hero, using Thor’s powers and the Hulk’s strength to stop the Atlanteans and Namor, and melting the ice to free Captain America from his frozen prison!  These interactive elements are turned off in Auto-Turn Page mode.

Overall, it’s a great app for the boys to have access to! It encourages early reading and hands-on involvement to help the story come to life. The app is an affordable $1.99 from  the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. For more information, visit http://disneybookapps.com and www.facebook.com/DisneyReads, or follow @DisneyReads on Twitter.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz did receive a gift code to download this app for review.

So I am super excited about the mix and match styles from OshKosh B’gosh this Spring! They have an amazing children’s selection of tanks, shorts, tees, tunics and leggings starting at  just $6.95.

For the little ladies, my favorite mix and match outfits is combined with a Baby Girl in mind, but sizing goes up to 5T! I am all about Star-Style for Fourth of July, which is part of their All American You Collection! And truthfully, OshKosh B’gosh did all the mixing and matching for me – making it so easy!

This Star-Style outfit is made up of:

1. 2-Piece Stars and Stripes Tankini: Absolutely adorable tankini! Provides great coverage for little girls, but still with sassy style.

2. Sleeveless Striped Jersey Dress: An adorable red, white and blue striped jersey dress – comfortable in warm weather and a great cover up for pool parties and beach side barbecues.

3. 4th of July Flip Flop: Even wee ones need to accessorize and these flip-flops will help this outfit steal the show!

Now, don’t think I’ll leave my boys out! I actually usually buy them matching clothes and I love that I can in this instance find complementing outfits from their Boy styles. My top choices for boys also came from the All American You Collection, full of red, white and blue spirit!

1. Striped Polo Shirt: I would get each boy one of these – one with large blue stripes and the other with large red stripes

2. Canvas Cargo Shorts: Adjustable waist for skinny waists and lots of pockets to hold matchbox cars!

3. Slip-on Sneakers: Love the blue and white stripes. When they aren’t wearing their Crocs, they can easily rock these casual kicks!

You can shop online for these styes and deals, or you can also take the time to shop at a local OshKosh B’gosh store. And be sure to LIKE OshKosh B’gosh on Facebook to stay up-to-date on the latest deals, new styles and to chat with other OshKosh B’gosh shoppers!

One reader will win a $50 Gift Card to OshKosh B’gosh

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY:

What two items would you mix and match in the OshKosh B’gosh Kid Girl Tees, Tanks and Shorts collection? Visit here: Kid Girl Styles

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter
• Share this contest on your Facebook page – Link it to @theMomBuzz – Here is the text:

Win a $50 Gift Card to OshKosh B’gosh @theMomBuzz. Give-away ends 5.31.12 http://themombuzz.com/?p=22062

• Tweet the following – can be done daily:

#win a $50 Gift Card to OshKosh B’gosh at #themombuzz – Visit http://themombuzz.com/?p=22062

• Like OshKosh B’gosh on Facebook – tell them you saw their styles featured on theMomBuzz (2 entries, leave 2 comments below as your entry)
• Visit the Boy styles at OshKosh B’gosh – what is your favorite 2 mix and match pieces?

Contest ends 5/31/12. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

Disclosure Statement: OshKosh B’gosh partnered with bloggers such as me to help promote Mix & Match.  As part of the program, I received product or gift cards.  OshKosh B’gosh believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words, and therefore did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products I used. OshKosh B’gosh policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. The winner of any giveaway in this program will be randomly chosen and gift card fulfillment will be handled by a third party.

Here are few of my favorite items from the catalog – along with a personal review of some summer essentials – TOWELS!

IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN POOL:

Community pools are fun, but face it – they put a lot of restrictions on what you can and can’t have in the pool. But if you have your own pool, you have to get your hands on this Inflatable UFO Squirter! The price actually rocks, at $24.95 each. You actually get $2.00 off/each if you buy 2 or more. They sit back, recline and squirt using the pool water! I might actually get 3 of these … one for each of my sons plus one for my nephew. It’s just AWESOME! And even though it floats, it’s a “big kid toy”, holding up to 185 pounds and recommended for ages 4 and up.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE A POOL, BUT WISH YOU DID:

Get a load of this Typhoon Twist Water Slide! I actually own an inflatable water slide and LOVE IT! The kids get so much use out of it during the summer. And it’s great for summer parties too! This one really differs from mine in that it has a water gun attached, as well. Great for ages 2+, with parental supervision. But after age 8 this one might be too small for big thrills among ‘tweens.

IF YOU NEED TO DRY OFF:

Whether you got wet in your own backyard or have been visiting the beach and community pools, one thing you’ll need for sure is a towel. We love our Kids Super Hero Hooded Towel from OneStepAhead. It isn’t flimsy and thin, like some of the cheap towels my husband has brought home for the kids in the past. Although, it isn’t overly plush either, which is a plus. Overly plush attract too much sand at the beach and take FOREVER to dry. It has a hood to help it stay on a child to keep them dry and warm, plus little hand pockets to keep them all tucked in. Very snuggly!

OneStepAhead can personalize the Super Hero Hooded Towel for $6 extra. And if you are looking for something a little more “pink”, they have a Butterfly Hooded Towel option.

OneStepAhead also has a Sun Smarties Beach Towel in a Bag that I tried. The bag is built into the towel, so that it can be easily folded into a small tote that can hold other beach items for the kids – maybe a juice box or sunglasses. I have to admit, if I had to choose between both towels I’d go with with the Hooded Towels I mentioned above. It’s hard to roll the towel back into the tote – and I don’t want to roll it into the tote when it’s wet because it’ll get musty. And when my son uses it to dry off, the pocket/handle part are a tad awkward. So the clear winner is the Hooded Towels (to me) are the hooded towels over the Sun Smarties Beach Towel in a Bag.

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO GET WET:

Finally, if you don’t want to get wet and need some dry outdoor time – get a load of this Dome Climber! My boys would LOVE this in the backyard. Very sturdy, supporting up to 10 kids and 1,200 pounds. Perfect for “monkeying around” as they climb and hang with friends. It measures 9′ 4″L x 9′ 4″W x 4′ 10″H and is suggested for ages 3 and up.

OVERALL: You should check out the full  inventory at OneStepAhead! Even without a catalog to dog-ear, you can keep your smart phone busy pinning away all of your summer must-haves!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz did receive the towels for review. All other mentions are simply products she is excited about and HAD TO SHARE!

We received the Panda Climber to review and I like how easy it was for my husband to assemble. He did have to use a power drill to “finish” the holes to get the screws in. And the plastic is easy to wipe down to clean off dust, dirt and the occasional snack-spill. The size is small enough for a small patio and it can even fit indoors in a play room. When my son was younger he had a slide/ball pit combo in his bedroom which ROCKED. So this would be a cute addition to a large bedroom or play room.

It has many open areas for children to climb to the step and from there go down the slide. The platform is ridged, decreasing any opportunities for accidental slips.

Currently my boys play with it like any boy would – climbing and chasing each other. It’s also good for racing cars down the slide. It can hold up to 100 pounds, so both of my boys can sit on the platform at the same time, although that rarely happens as they are always on the move. Here is my youngest playing on the Panda Climber.

I think the Panda Climber is a good Spring and Summer item, since depending on the weather or heat it can be moved indoors or out! It currently retails for $129.99 and you can purchase it from the Step2 site with only $4.99 shipping!

One reader will win a Panda Climber ($129 Value)

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY:

Check out the Step2 and tell me what other items you would love for Spring or Summer!

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter
• Share this contest on your Facebook page – Link it to @theMomBuzz – Here is the text:

Win a Panda Climber from Step2 ($129 Value) @theMomBuzz. Give-away ends 5.29.12 http://themombuzz.com/?p=21944

• Tweet the following – can be done daily:

#win a Panda Climber at #themombuzz – Visit http://themombuzz.com/?p=21944

• Leave a comment on any post here at theMomBuzz – let me know where you left a comment
• Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll (Feed: http://themombuzz.com/feed/)

Contest ends 5/29/12. This is open to the 48 contiguous US states. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contestsso you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz received the Panda Climber for review as a Step2 Mom.

And, deep down I am not a fan of the character comforter sets you get a Target. And not every comforter set you see online is created equal, which is why it’s so important to read reviews! For example, the comforter set I bought my oldest (back to that one) is so “thin”, mostly for looks and not cuddly. I wanted something plush and perfect to cuddle with, especially since my youngest is such a blanket boy, dragging them all over the house to cocoon himself in.

Detailing on Sham

I knew about Beyond-Bedding for 2+ years, I’d say. And I could easily tell you my top pick for my youngest, oldest and myself. They do specialize in bedding for all ages, separating it into categories from Baby Bedding to Bedding for Adults. They further divide the categories by gender and you can even design your own Custom Childrens Bedding.

Now, my youngest is INFATUATED with pirates. The Pirate of the Caribbean theme song was the first song he ever sang. He has pirate hats, pirate swords, a Captain Jack Sparrow Halloween Costume, Pirates of the Caribbean LEGOs and even the Patch Treasurechest the Pirate LalaLoopsy. I knew I wanted a Pirate Kids Bedding Set, but the ones I saw either looked too young, he’d outgrow it by the time he’s 6. Or they looked like they were designed ONLY for older children. Not something that could cross a few age groups … until I spotted the Treasure Cove Pirate Children’s Bedding.

The Treasure Cove Pirate Children’s Bedding is available in a 4 piece Twin Set or a 3 piece Queen/Full Set. The 4 piece Twin Set included a Twin Comforter (62″ X 86″), 1 Twin Standard Sham, a Twin Bed Skirt , and a Window Valance. The 3 piece Queen/Full set is available for the same price and comes with a Queen Comforter (86″ x 86″) and 2 Standard Shams.

For me, the 3 piece set was a better option since we can’t use a bed skirt on a bunk bed and we don’t need to change the window valance. Plus, my son sleeps with 2 real pillows, 1 pillow pet and 1 cuddle cover. So 2 Standard Shams would be preferred. Finally, I wanted the larger blanket since he loves big, comfortable blankets. Both Treasure Cove Pirate Bedding Sets are available for $109.99, saving you $44 off the MSRP.

I loved the shams. They are easy to slip pillows into and keep the pillow in place. The design is so cool, with the pirate crossbones and double words underneath. The camel edging is like a microsuede while the black is regular cotton material.

The comforter is patchwork quilt, with various pirate-like patterns and designs. The camel, brown and red colors are all micro-suede – very soft and smooth. The other parts of the design are cotton fabrics. My favorite design on the comforter is the skull and crossbones that match the shams. There is also a treasure chest, pirate, pirate ship and the ship’s wheel. On the reverse of the comforter it is a white and red cotton design. Very pirate-y.

I have washed the comforter already and it cleans up nice! I just did a normal wash and dried it in my dryer. Nothing special re: care for it to smell and look clean again.

Overall, I really love this set and so does my son. The reaction’s we’ve gotten from visiting friends and family have all been “cool!” and they want to know where we found it. After this experience, I’d definitely purchase a future set for my other son from Beyond-Bedding.com.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz did receive the bedding set featured above for review.