Transformers #BeastHunters Great For Kids & Parents

Transformers is loved in our home.  I loved them when I was a kid, my husband loved them when he was a kid and now our sons love them.  (I would be shocked if they didn't!)  Transformers are timeless and Duke has been following the Transformers Prime animated series on The HUB when a new faction of Beast Transformers robots emerge on Earth: the dragon-like Predacons!  When the opportunity came up to review Hasbro KRE-O Transformers Beast Hunters I went for it not only for my kid but so I could have Ripclaw Strike here!!!  He is awesome!  This is the first KRE-O set to enter our home, the age range is 6-12 years old.  I didn't know if my 7 year old would be able to build him by himself.  I just let Duke go for it.  My instinct was to tell him read the instructions and then go from there but he opened the box and started opening the packages.  I was worried but had his little voice in the back of my head, "Don't be like those other moms! Let me learn on my own!"

Almost an hour later and he was done!  So there was a little whining in that hour but he did it... all on his own!  He introduced Ripclaw Strike to his other toys and played till it was bedtime.  $16.99 is a great price to pay for quiet time.  I got to do dishes and catch up on some work!

My thoughts:  The KRE-O set is great quality at an excellent price point.  The box says: works with major brands although Duke hasn't tried it yet.  He loved the 2 Kreon figures Colonel Daniel Witwicky and Ripclaw.  It was challenging but not difficult for him.  Ripclaw Strike is 2 figures in 1: Build a Robot or a Dragon - he's currently in dragon form.  I would definitely buy more KRE-O sets for my sons or to give as gifts!

The Transformers Prime Beast Hunters Deluxe assortment features the Autobots and Decepticons with new looks and more powerful weapons to confront the new beastly Predacons!  There are 16 characters (each sold separately) including Bumblebee, Wheeljack and Laserback the Predacon.  The Transformers Prime Beast Hunters Voyager Class assortment features the leaders of the Autobots and Predacons as large-scale action figures!  There are 6 figures in this assortment including Optimus Prime and Preadaking.  The Beast Hunters product line ranges from $14.99-$19.99; ages 5 and up.


  

I'm a stickler for packaging.  Love that the box has a handle and it's called a KRE-O Container.

I remember when he would let me open stuff for him...

Smart packaging!  Love that Hasbro thought to tape the wings down instead of it getting bent in the container!

Hard at work...

Even though Duke finished this in an hour, this picture was taken the next day because he begged me to let him play!

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Disclaimer:  I am part of the Mom It Forward blogger network, Mom It Forward and Hasbro partnered in support of this campaign.  Hasbro compensated me for participation in this campaign.  However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's Friday

It's Friday and an actual Friday for us because my husband just finished a two week overtime run at work and has the weekend off!!!!!  He has to write a paper and we're finishing up shopping for Omie's First Birthday party because it's next weekend.  I'm definitely in Momzilla mode.  A year flew by.  I can't believe it.  My baby will be one!  (But more on that later.)  I am hoping for some fun, he mentioned checking out one of our favorite artists, Greg "CRAOLA" Simkins - Stop Haunting Me exhibit at Merry Karnowsky Gallery.  We usually hit LA on Sundays for Sunday Funday but the gallery isn't open on Sundays.  We'll see where the wind takes us....

Ponder on this.  It has been weighing heavily on me for different reasons - both good and bad.  I need clarity!  A lot of putting it in the universe and crossing fingers!

Read a piece by Henry Rollins on American Gun Violence that I could relate to.
Henry Rollins: "America is a 50-state-wide killing field...As soon as I leave my house, I am on the kill grid."  Growing up in Long Beach gave me the street smarts to survive as a kid and teen.  But now as a mother, I find myself growing anxious at leaving my home with titles like this:  Man cuts his arms with saws at West Covina Home Depot

Found out a Chinese station will be replacing my beloved Old School Hip Hop station KDAY.  Why Southern California WHY?  Do you not love the classics?  The OG's?  I've been sulking about it all week.

Four of my favorite fashion bloggers are featured on 15 Plus Size Bloggers Redefining Fashion Blogging!!!  Gabi of Gabi Fresh mentioned one time that she doesn't only shop the plus size racks and that was an AHA! moment for me.

Sometimes I feel old and then I remember I was a teenager in the 90s.  I lived it.  I graduated in 1993 and this year is my 20 year high school reunion.  I don't plan on attending, if someone from those days wants to find me, I'm on the Internet.  2013 also marks The Wu-Tang Clan going 20 years strong.

There were two very bizarre headlines this week.  The one about Ferrets being sold as Toy Poodles made me laugh.  I seriously could not stop laughing.  And the one about the guy and an eel.  Poor eel just going about your business, getting kidnapped, raped and then dying from the ordeal.

Thug Kitchen.  'nuff said.

And then there was this:  That awkward moment when your child is watching Transformers cartoons and wondering why Optimus Prime keeps calling one of the Autobots "Ratchet". It's a tool Duke, a tool! (He has older brothers, thus the other definition he knows)

Kids love Ruckus Reader!

I asked a Mommy friend of mine to do a guest review of Ruckus Reader!  Here's Dina's thoughts on the iPad app for kids!

I've never heard of the Ruckus Reader app prior to Xenia asking me if I wanted a free trial. I'm not prone to spend money on apps to begin with. My girls tend to play with the apps on our iPad more than I do, but I try to encourage more educational apps, so I was more than willing to give Ruckus Reader a try.


I love that there are varying types of "books" available from Transformers, My Little Pony, and even nature-esque ones like the Sea World book. Of course my 4 year old was drawn to the My Little Pony book first, but to my surprise she was just as intrigued by the Transformers book and the Chuck and friends book. My 6 year old (who is reading at the level of a 4th grader) enjoyed the Sea World book, moreso for the content and learning new things about the animals. The Crayola book is fun at integrating coloring the pages at their own will.


I find that she gets bored easily though and misses a lot of the content. I wish she were grasping the words better but I'm hoping that will come with time. She is allowed to use the iPad at will, and one of the Ruckus Reader books is always her first choice, spending about 5 minutes on a book and then flipping over to the next one. My 2 year old nephew loves to watch over her shoulder, but I think it's more the colors and characters he is into more than the content and reading aspect.
It's a great app for her age group (preschool age, 4-5). She's not in preschool yet, but I think if and when she is put into preschool her interest might be piqued. I don't pressure her much on the academic side (probably because she's my baby), but my inner Asian Tiger Mom is screaming inside because she's so lazy when it comes to wanting to learn. To me, this is a start, hopefully in the right direction.

Thanks to weekly updates from Ruckus Reader I can see her activity as well as progress. Still borderline if I would be willing to pay for this app, but I am really enjoying this free trial with it.  When the trial runs out, I will ask her if she still wants to "play" and depending on her progress from the weekly emails I will decide if it's worth it.   

The Ruckus Reader is a breakthrough learning program, a unique series of digital storybooks designed to help your child practice important reading skills AND keep you up to date on your child's progress. All of the stories and interactive activities are developed by educational experts to adhere to national educational standards for preschool through second grade.

Disclosure:  Ruckus Reader provided a free trial of their app for review.  All opinions are entirely our own.