Child's Play LA Blogger's Brunch

Mother's Day started early for me this year with a fabulous LA Blogger brunch last month sponsored by Child's Play PR/Marketing Communications.  We gathered at the fabulous Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach for a yummy brunch (omelet bar!) and the opportunity to see and touch some great new kids, mom and family products. I loved seeing my friends from the LA Moms Blog and meeting new mommy bloggers. It was the perfect informal setting; you could eat, mingle, and talk at your own pace with the representatives from the various companies set up at tables around the hotel patio. One of the first tables I approached before I even ate my lox and cream cheese on sesame bagel was the Cold Stone Creamery table sampling their new Double Stuf Oreo Ice Cream sandwiches. I'm a firm believer in the saying, "Life is uncertain, eat dessert first!" I think you need to love Oreos (which I do) to enjoy this treat because it basically tastes like a giant frozen Oreo cookie. Cold Stone also gave me a gift card so I could share the new sandwich with my boys. Yum! The ice cream shop is also celebrating new premium flavors every month in 2010. Strawberry cheesecake was the Gold Cone flavor for May. I can't wait for June--chocolate peanut butter!

Food is definitely always one of the topics at the forefront of my mind, so of course when I approached the Bandai table the first thing I noticed was the Bandai Chocopot. I can't even link to it because it's not on the market yet! This kitchen tool for both boys and girls will be available Fall 2010. You can melt chocolate and use it like a fondue pot or use the chocolate and included molds to make your own chocolates! The heat source is so safe that it seems pretty impossible that you would accidentally burn your fingers. This will definitely be one of H's Christmas presents--shhh, don't tell him! I love it also because the name reminds me of Choco Pie, which is every Korean kid's lunchbox staple. Bandai gave me a gift bag of neat toys from popular kids programming that I was able to share with the kids in my Sunday School. Thanks Bandai!

I picked up some more toys for my boys from Backyard Safari Outfitters by Summit Toys! They are always picking up things outside so I knew they would love these toys that are designed to support a child's natural desire to explore and foster a love of science and the outdoors. One of H's favorites is the Backyard Safari Binoculars, which he has found very useful in spying on the neighbors in our condo complex. I'm not an outdoors person myself so I probably would not have known about these toys if I hadn't attended the lunch (they weren't on my radar so I might not have noticed the display at Toys R Us), but now I know what to recommend to mom friends who are outdoorsy types. 

You probably know by now we're a family of TV and movie-loving fools. I went to a magnet school for part of my childhood. We were bussed in from all over Chicago so my friends lived nowhere near me, which meant my best friend was the TV. If there had been Nickelodeon back then, I probably never would have left the house. As it is, whenever the boys and I are at home (one reason I try to go out whenever I can), we're probably watching Dora The Explorer, who is celebrating her tenth anniversary this year--I know, she doesn't look a day over seven. The boys were thrilled when I brought home Dora Explore the Earth DVD (Thanks Nickelodeon!) and forgave me for going to a party without them!

I put some of these fun items together in the beach bag provided by representative from Pottery Barn Kids, who were present with a new line of beach inspired designs, including the Shark Beach Wrap that is R's new favorite towel. My kids love to play at PBK (although the employees probably cringe whenever we walk into the store). It's one of those stores where I know I can go and shop and they won't try to run out of the store.

Then there were the companies with products for the moms. Pajama Jeans look like a pair of jeans but feel like pajamas. I just received a pair in the mail. They definitely live up to the hype and I will be wearing them all around town as soon as I get them hemmed. The gals from the Temptress cosmetics and skincare store in El Segundo gave me a mini-makeover. I've test-driven the 2011 Toyota Sienna so I was excited to see Toyota at the event. Dyson was also on hand with models of their upright and hand-held vacuums. I've been drooling over my friend's Dyson for some time now. This event confirmed it for me, as soon as my current vacuum dies, I'm getting a Dyson!

That day, I left R with a friend for the first time in his two years of life. He didn't cry or look for me once, which was a relief but also made me a little sad. But now I know he doesn't have separation anxiety and that he's probably ready to go to preschool in the fall. Thank you Child's Play, for hosting this awesome event for moms and providing the occasion for me to learn something new about my child! 

I did not receive compensation for this post. I did receive product samples for review purposes.

Fun with the Boys at Blogger Events: Nick's Fresh Beat Band & Xbox 360's Project Natal

Being a mom blogger means you get invited to a lot of cool events where you learn about the things that your kids enjoy, while learning about your kids at the same time. I learned over the course of the past two bloggers events that my boys prefer a virtual reality. The first was the awesome opportunity to tour the set and meet the cast of the Nickelodeon show, The Fresh Beat Band, a live-action preschool musical sitcom set with original pop songs. Marina (Shayna Rose), Kiki (Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer), Twist (Jon Beavers), and Shout (Thomas Hobson) are the Fresh Beats, described as four best friends in a band who go to music school together and love to sing and dance. In each episode, the Fresh Beat Band solves everyday challenges and also teaches the importance of friendship, working together in a positive way and respecting others' differences. And they do it to music--so it actually holds the preschooler's attention! Before the event I thought the female characters were actually named Marina and Kiki and only the male characters had stage names. Before the event I also thought that the show filmed at Nick studios. I'm glad I checked the invite again the day of the event because this year they moved the set to Paramount Pictures on Melrose.

Both boys love the show, but R in particular will get up and dance during each episode's four upbeat, kid-friendly songs. I thought, "how perfect, they are going to love meeting the cast in person." It started off well. The boys had a great time on the set tour. Then it was time for the Q&A session with the cast. As soon as we saw Kiki, Marina, Twist and Shout, H and R freaked out. They couldn't handle the fact that the characters they saw on TV were sitting in front of them. R buried his head in my chest and refused to look up until the cast left. When it came time to take photos, H ran away and wouldn't come back even his favorite character Shout went over to him. (Side note: I thought it was pretty telling that H's favorite went to my college. Boola boola!) R was immobilized so at least I got a photo, but it's definitely not something I would blow up and put up in his room. I really don't understand why they were so freaked out about meeting the real people from the show when we've seen other characters from movies and books, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny without the same level of anxiety. Very strange. Even stranger that the next day they both sat down to watch the show as if nothing had happened.

The next event was the preview of XBox 360's "Project Natal." The boys were completely ecstatic and in video game heaven. I know 1 and 3 seem pretty young to be playing video games, but because they are such television junkies, I figured playing video games would be better because at least it gets them off the couch. I don't think the reps from the company expected H to be so adept, but he figured out the concept pretty quickly and tried to play the game as much as he could. I was really impressed at his ability to wait his turn. Just a year ago, the concept of waiting was still extremely difficult for him. There were times I thought he would never get it and just be branded a "bad kid" for the rest of his life, but thankfully he did get it. He still needs reminders, but at least we don't have to leave the premises. R was so happy and relaxed just to be there, he didn't need to play the game himself. He was friendly and had smiles for everyone, including the fabulous XBox rep, Chrystina.


Project Natal is the code name for a "controller-free gaming and entertainment experience" by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 video game platform that will be released in time for Holiday 2010. Based on an add-on peripheral for the Xbox 360 console, it enables users to control and interact with the Xbox 360 without the need to touch a game controller through a natural user interface using gestures, spoken commands, or presented objects and images. It's really neat because you don't have to worry about getting the receiver to register the controller movement and of course it leaves your hands unfettered. I immediately thought of how this would definitely make workout games a lot easier to do. If you and your family are as into video games as we are, you can follow the development of Project Natal on the following social networks:
Tumblr: www.xboxprojectnatal.tumblr.com
Twitter: updates from @experienceMSFT and conversations using #Natal and #Sneakpeek hashtags
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Xbox
YouTube: www.youtube.com/Xbox360Info

The boys and I had a fabulous time at both events. I'm looking forward to learning more about them at another event tomorrow. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it to drive all around SoCal for these parties (it can get tiring!), but when I see how much fun they have I'm so grateful that I have these opportunities to share good times with them while they're young. Thanks Nick and Xbox!

I did not receive any compensation for this post. I did receive a copy of an episode of The Fresh Beat Band for review purposes.