Review: Joovy Kooper Stroller

Ok I have to tell you I was thrilled to review the Joovy Kooper stroller recently.  You see I hate our stroller.  I really and truly hate our stroller- we have been arch enemies pretty much since the day we met almost three years ago.

From time to time my frugality gets the better of me, and our stroller is a prime example.  I was shocked to see how expensive strollers were when I was pregnant with my first baby.  My Dad wanted to purchase a stroller for us and I felt greedy asking for one of the fancy strollers that were in the stores.  Instead I decided on a simple and modest travel system.   Well little did I know how much easier life can be with a nice stroller!  The one we had was bulky, did not fold easily, was nearly impossible to turn- oh and the basket broke just a few months in to using it.  So not only was it a pain in the neck but it really looked hideous and beat up almost immediately.  Did I mention it was a light tan color?  Well that made it look dirty and worn pretty much the minute we took it out of the box.

So I have been on the lookout for a good stroller with baby #2.  Now that I know what NOT to look for I can really appreciate a well made product.

I have to tell you the Joovy Kooper is a pretty cool stroller for several reasons:

1.  It is incredibly compact and folds up easily.  When I say compact it is probably half the size of our old one when folded up.  You can get an idea by looking at the travel bag accessory that is available- just look how small that is!  Plus it only weighs 17 pounds- so it really is easy to travel with.

2. It comes in a variety of bright colors and super easy to clean premium fabric.  This baby just looks modern and fresh- and is totally gender neutral.

3.  It is really 2 strollers in one because it can be a buggy stroller or you can remove the canopy to make it an umbrella stroller!  How cool is that?!  And the canopy is over sized as well so this is really ideal in any climate.

4.  Safety- this stroller has a five point harness and three anchor points to be sure your little one is super secure.

5. Reclining seat- the seat does recline so your little one is always comfortable.

And there is so much more I can tell you.  Every time I use this stroller I find some neat little thing- like the mesh pockets that seem to be everywhere or the basket that holds a ton of stuff or the super cushy shoulder straps.  The first time I used the stroller, I had to take our dog to the vet which is inside a large pet store.  I had our very fussy 9 month old in the Joovy and was guiding our 100 lb (and incredibly excited) dog through the crowded store.  This would have been a total nightmare with our old stroller!  Instead I was able to easily navigate through the store one handed with the Joovy.  I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with how light and easy it was to handle. This stroller really does turn on a dime and is especially perfect for navigating crowded spaces.

Here is Maya in the Kooper with the canopy removed to make it an umbrella stroller.

This stroller is actually less expensive than the travel system we bought and I so wish I had found Joovy years ago!

I can highly recommend this product and I think the pricing is extremely reasonable at $159 with free shipping direct from Joovy or Amazon.  They also make jogging strollers, double strollers and even triple strollers- you can see the complete line up HERE. Joovy is based in Texas so customer service is very readily available if you have any questions or need product support.  You can order online or look for a retailer near you HERE.

Joovy also makes a line of toys for children including a toy stroller, car seat and booster seat.  These are not flimsy doll strollers that can be played with a few times and pretty much trashed after that.  They are incredibly high quality and realistic- more investment toys that can be handed down from child to child.

The toy caboose stroller folds easily, has a little snack tray, reclining seat and swivel front wheels.  This is a perfect option for older children as it is not tiny like other toy strollers on the market.  My two year old can push it around quite easily with her little toys inside but I can easily see a child up to 10 years old loving this product.  You can also accessorize your stroller with the little car seat or get the matching booster seat.  Since I have two girls, I typically look for products that are actually going to last and I guarantee this toy stroller will stand up to years of use.  These are on sale for $39.99 from Amazon right now (for the blue) or $59 from Joovy (for the pink).  That is a steal for the quality of this product and I doubt that sale price will last long!

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I was provided with sample product for review purposes only.

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Product Review: Tassimo Beverage System

I was thrilled to get to try the Tassimo Beverage System.  As many of you know the MFA machine depends heavily on coffee to get through the day!  Especially after getting up all night with the baby.  One of the things I gave up a long time ago was a daily addiction to Starbucks- chai lattes in particular.  So I was really looking forward to checking out the Tassimo system to see how it compares to real coffee house drinks.

Tassimo is a system that requires little disks- you can get a wide variety of flavors from hot chocolate to Starbucks coffee to Gevalia Lattes.  This is not a complicated machine at all- I read 1 page of instructions and it took maybe 15 minutes from the time I unpacked the box until I had my first drink ready and waiting.  You simply fill it up with water and it is basically ready to go.  You just click the beverage disk into place and push the button and it will create your beverage.  The drinks I tried- like Starbucks Cappuccino and Twinings Chai Tea Latte came with two disks per beverage- you first use the one that steams the milk and then the second is the actual coffee or tea.  It takes about 3 minutes to do both and I loved the results!  I really did!  I found the drinks tasted a lot like you get in a coffee shop.  You won’t get a super frothy drink but the Tassimo did a pretty admirable job.

It uses real milk so you don’t have any nasty artificial taste.  I have been enjoying a drink everyday in the late afternoon while the girls have naps.  It is such a nice way to sit and have a moment to myself and relax.  The machine is fairly narrow so it does take up space on the counter but you can squeeze it into a small space.  It comes with a two year warranty and you can purchase it from Amazon for $119 after rebate in either silver or red. 

The only real drawback I found to this system is that you do need to purchase the Tassimo disks and they are a little expensive.  I checked Amazon and if you are a tea drinker you can get packages of disks for just $3.99.  I found the espresso drinks starting at $15 (for Cappuccino drinks) – so that works out to $1.87 per drink.  That is still considerably less expensive than a coffee house drink and you can enjoy it from home!  You can also sign up for delivery from Tassimo directly HEREand save quite a bit of money!  For example, the Gevalia Cappuccino disks are $9.99 for 8 drinks which works out to $1.25 each!  So that is not bad at all. 

Purchasing the disks is a bit of an extravagance but we decided to work it into our budget.  I really liked the convenience of the system and I work hard everyday and it is nice to have a little indulgence.  My regular Grande Latte at a coffee house is $3.80 and I typically get about 3 per month.  I can have three times the Tassimo beverages for the same price and I can make them whenever I like.  So overall I really liked this system and I think it would be a particularly great gift idea for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day!

Disclosure:  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  I was provided a sample for review only by Tassimo.

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Product Review: Kushies Toys

Kushies is a very cute and unique line of baby products and would be particularly unique gift for new moms. I like that the products all have such distinct personalities and look so much more expensive than they really are!

These toys are super soft and totally different than other toys in the market- they all have a very fun and whimsical design and just make you smile.

We were given the chance to check out a few of the toys from Kushies including:

The Ella Elephant Blanket- I think this is really cute and it is super soft.  It has a few different textures for baby to explore and is the perfect size for a car seat or stroller. It isn’t a full size blanket- but is baby size at roughly 18 in x 18 in.  It also comes with a little mesh bag that you can toss in the washing machine!  There are several characters and the blankets sell for $11.99.  You can also get matching pillows and toys- and for about $20 you have a very unique baby gift!

We also tried the little Zolo teething rattles.  See what I mean?  These toys are all crazy and so vibrant!

The best part about these teethers is that the rings are thin.  I found a lot of teethers that are too thick and Maya can’t hold them.  This one she had no problems with. I also tossed it in the washing machine and it came out good as new.  It is a rattle and it crinkles so there is a lot of stimulation for baby. These retail for $8.99

The last item we tried was the Fuzzi Bubbi, which I call Santa.  It is a crazy little man that is super soft.  You pull on the tail and it plays a song.  We found this toy to be the perfect size for hugging as he has a chunky bottom. I just yank the tail and Maya gets excited and gives him a hug (and then bites his hair).  He is attachable to a car seat, stroller etc.. and retails for $22.99.

You can purchase these items and a lot more from Kushies right HERE.  Use code: mfa10 to save 10% on your order.  Make sure you check out the clearance section in particular as there are a lot of really great deals- including two piece outfits for just $6.99!

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Product Review: Mutsy Booster Seat

Our little girl is 2 and I was so happy to try this Mutsy Grow It! booster and finally ditch the highchair!  Our highchair just took up so much space it was great to have a sleek option that fit right onto our kitchen chairs.  I was a little concerned this booster would be unsafe.  Our kitchen is primarily where we eat and the chairs don’t have arms.  The Musty fastens very securely and has held up well to a very energetic toddler.

This booster is designed for kids up to 4 years old and has an option to use the shoulder straps for smaller children or just side straps for older kids.

It comes in vibrant colors and it not the hard plastic you usually find with booster seats.  It has a cushiony base that is soft.  I also found this pretty easy to clean with a washcloth and handheld vacuum.  Much easier than the highchair!

My husband attached the Mutsy to our kitchen chair and it just took a few minutes.  I also like that it is lightweight so we can easily take this to a restaurant.  I don’t have to cringe anymore when they roll out the nasty restaurant highchairs!

Mutsy also makes a line of strollers that you will drool over right HERE.

You can buy the booster for $59 from Musty.com and use code mfa10 to save an extra 10%.

It is also $59 at Amazon HERE.

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Product Review: Kokopax Baby Carrier

I was very apprehensive of this Kokopax baby carrier.  I have tried two front carriers with both girls in the past and found them to be a complete waste of money.  The first one we had hurt my back and Adriana would scream the entire time she was in it.  The second carrier we bought for Maya and it was so awkward to get her in and out of. I just gave up.

I envy the moms that glide serenly through the grocery store with little ones happily resting in carriers.  I don’t know what the secret is but it certainly has not been the case for our family.

I thought the Kokopax looked interesting and different and more imprtantly it looked like something my husband would really like.  So I was happy to give the product a whirl.

Let me tell you this is our new favorite thing!  It totally rocks and my husband takes it everywhere.  Maya is very comfortable resting in the back and it doesn’t feel awkward or unsafe at all.  In fact, I came home the other day and my husband was busy washing dishes with Maya giggling in the Kokopax!   We have used it a number of times and one of the best features by far is the kickstand- the Kokopax turns into a very secure little chair.  If you are an outdoors person this is a fantastic option as you can take the baby off your back and they have somewhere safe to sit.  No need for blankets and strollers and chairs and car seats!

We have taken the Kokopax out a number of times already- Maya just sat in it for over an hour when we went to the Pumpkin Patch.  I have also used this shopping and I liked it for a number of reasons:

* My hands are totally free to control my toddler and shop.

* I can open the kickstand so Maya can sit in the chair while I buckle her in and get my toddler secured in her stroller.  Then you just grab the Kokopax and pull it onto your back.  Pretty easy and fast!

*This did not hurt my back at all and it is not uncomfortable.  The straps are adjustable and are very well padded.

*It weighs just under 3 lbs and comes with a little storage bag- so it is perfect for travel.

*Accomodates babies that are 6 months to 2 years old (or 35 pounds).  Our baby is 5 1/2 months old and this worked perfectly for her.

* I noticed it gives her freedom of movement- she isn’t smashed in and can move her little arms and legs comfortably.  It does have a 5 point harness so you can feel comfortable that baby will stay nice and secure.

Overall I was surprised at how much I liked this product.  It is made of thick canvas so I think it will hold up really well to a lot of use.  You can choose from a number of fabrics and these retail for $149.  I think this is one of the few products you will find for new parents that will be equally suited for dad as well as mom.  My husband said this was his favorite of all the baby products we have had throughout the years.

You can order it online HERE and use code: mfa2009 to save an extra 10%.

Disclosure: All the opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated in any way.  I was provided a sample for review.

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Product Review: Dyson DC31

I always struggle to find quality gifts for our parents from year to year.  My dad in particular already has everything, so I like to try to find something he will love but might not buy for himself.  And for all the husbands out there, typically appliances are a no-no for gifts for the ladies on your list.  Let me tell you, Dyson is the exception to this rule!

I was very excited to try out the new handheld Dyson DC31.  Since we have a toddler, an infant and a 100 lb dog- keeping the floors clean is a never ending struggle.  This vacuum is pretty impressive- it is extremely lightweight and lets face it- it just looks cool.  I have other handheld vacuums and they don’t even come close.  This baby has serious power!  In fact, according to James Dyson, this has a motor 5 times faster than a Formula 51 race car engine!

Wat does that mean for you?

• It has a ten minute run time and it will have constant suction for the entire 10 minutes.
• It has a little button that will open the bottom to easily empty the contents.  I LOVE this feature as it is so clean and easy.  With my old handheld I always had to clean the filter- which was constantly getting blocked.  With the Dyson handheld you just push the button and you are done!
• The DC31 charges super fast!  I literally plugged it in for just a few minutes and it was ready to go.
• When I say lightweight, I mean really lightweight- just 3 pounds!

I really put this to the test and can tell you it is a miracle worker on high chairs, upholstery, all those hard to reach corners, baseboards etc..  I especially loved how well it cleans the car- particularly car seats! We have a short haired dog and it can be really difficult to clean pet hair.  This Dyson had no trouble getting it up- especially pet hair on the sofa.  You can find the Dyson for $149 at Amazon.com or $149 at Target.com. It comes with a 2 year warranty so you can rest assured it will last for a long time.  This was the first Dyson for our family and I can tell you we will be buying the upright very soon.  I was extremely impressed with this product and even better I actually felt like the time I spent cleaning- thoroughly cleaned the house.  With my old handheld I would put all the effort into cleaning and walk away feeling like I only did a superficial job.

This is the perfect gift for the hard to shop for person on your list.  The DC31 was just released in September and is already selling out in many stores.

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way and all opinions expressed are my own. I was provided a sample by Dyson for review.

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