Safety 1st BoostAPak

I love convenience. I love products that have more than one use. My latest review represents both of those qualities. Please allow me to introduce you to the Trunki BoostAPak by Safety 1st. The BoostAPak is a child booster seat that is also a backpack with storage. How cool, is that?

You may have noticed that safety is an important topic for me and one I cover regularly. Here in California, kids are required to be in booster seats until they are 8 years old. I looked at the Governor’s Highway Safety Association chart and see that 48 states and DC have booster seat laws. Unfortunately, I have noticed that a lot of my kids’ friends do not use booster seats. I don’t know if it’s just ignorance of the laws (the age was raised to 8 just a couple of years ago) or figuring it’s not necessary. Proper seatbelt positioning on a passenger’s body is very important. The extra “boost” the seats give equals a boost in safety! Chip and Lulu are very much on the circuit of having play dates, getting driven in carpools and just generally in other people’s cars. I also often have at least one kid in the minivan who does not belong to me. The BoostAPak is a super easy way to make sure my kids and their friends have a booster seat.

When the booster arrived, Lulu could not wait to check it out. She uses it the most. When I first learned about the seat, I thought it would just be an “extra” booster to have on hand. It turns out that it is Lulu’s preferred everyday booster. She has managed the conversion since the first use. It’s really intuitive: Pull up the flap, flip up the green arms (which serve as seatbelt guides) and belt yourself in. The reverse is just as easy with the added step of pressing buttons to fold down the green arms. It just takes seconds to do which is really important when everyone is rushing into school at drop off!

Regular booster seats can be cumbersome for little kids to carry. The “hands free” backpack design just can’t be beat. The storage area is the space under the seat. I would describe it as a nice size space to put a few items. I don’t think it is big enough to double as a school backpack. As you can see the size is compact but is comfortable for my 6 and 7 year olds. Lulu is taking a plane trip next month and is excited to be able to bring her BoostAPak on the flight. It fits easily into a plane’s overhead compartment.

I definitely recommend this seat. The only drawback I see is the height limit versus the weight limit. It doesn’t really make sense to me. Chip is just about 52” and 52 lbs with Lulu a few pounds and a few inches behind him. Obviously, according to the specs (see below), they will both be out of the booster (due to height) before they are 8 years old. It would be great if they could add to the height limit especially because some kids need boosters even beyond the legal requirement. Safety first!

Price: I have seen the Trunki BoostAPak available online from $43-$75. It certainly makes sense to shop around.

Specifications: The BoostAPak is a backless booster for kids 40-80 pounds and 43"-52" in height. Made of a durable plastic shell with high visibility reflective trim, Removable cover for easy spot cleaning and an ID tag. Product weight is 3.4 lbs. Product dimensions are 14.0 x 12.0 x 18.28.

Disclosure: I was provided one Safety 1st BoostAPak for review purposes. All written content and opinions are my own.

Being Safe with Kidde

Many of you know that safety is an important topic for me. While attending Mom 2.0 this past Spring, I met some representatives of Kidde. I think the first thing out of my mouth was, “I have one of your CO [carbon monoxide] alarms!” However, I wasn’t very familiar with the rest of their offerings. Kidde is the world’s largest manufacturer of fire safety products including: smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders. Recently, a member of the Kidde team e-mailed me to ask if I would be interested in writing about winter safety in the home. I said, “absolutely!”

I think I credit my parents with setting a good example for fire safety preparation. We had smoke detectors, an escape ladder and a plan for getting out of the house with a meeting point. When I was about seven, our neighbor’s house caught fire and the parents weren’t home. I remember my mom going over to get everyone out and call the fire department. One thing I did not grow up with is a carbon monoxide alarm. Although I knew about CO poisonings and deaths, having heard about them on the news, it didn’t really register that it could happen to anyone. That reality blindsided me when a college friend died of carbon monoxide poisoning, at age 27, in a home with a faulty heater. I will always have one in my home.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), most home fires and CO poisonings occur in winter. Someone in the United States dies in a house fire every three hours, amounting to 3,000 deaths each year. Besides heating appliances, seasonal activities such as increased cooking, using candles and decorating Christmas trees all add to the risk. I took the following quiz to see how ready I am. I encourage you to take it too. I’ll tell you how I did below.

Home Safety Quiz

One in four older homes needs to update fire safety equipment. How old are your alarms?

· Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. Replace CO alarms every five to 10 years, based on the model.

· Purchase an alarm with a 10-year sealed lithium battery, such as Kidde Worry-Free smoke and CO alarms, to receive hassle-free protection for a decade --no need to change a battery or hear a low battery chirp. Available nationwide at retailers like The Home Depot and Walmart, each alarm installed will save you $40 over its life in battery costs.

Seventy-five percent of homeowners don’t know where to install smoke alarms. Do you have one on every floor, and inside/outside all bedrooms?

· Choose alarms with room-specific features, such as an LED light in the hallway, or a voice notification for the bedroom.

· Place a CO alarm near sleeping areas and on each floor. Keep them 10 feet away from fuel-burning appliances.

Do your alarms incorporate the newest features and technology?

· A sealed-in 10-year lithium battery continuously powers the alarm for 10 years.  It’s tamper-proof and can’t be removed. 

· A digital display shows the level of CO in the air and updates the reading every 15 seconds.

· An intelligent multi-sensor responds faster to real fires and CO, plus it reduces nuisance alarms like those commonly caused by cooking.

· An end-of-life warning lets you know when to replace your alarms.

Do you need other safety products?

· Fire extinguisher – place one within reach in rooms where fires often begin: kitchen, garage, bedroom, living area

· Escape ladder – place in second and third-floor rooms as an alternative escape route

Have you developed a family escape plan?

· Practice it regularly. Know two ways out of every room and who will assist children and loved ones with mobility/health issues.

Do your children know their address and how to dial 911?

· Post your home address and emergency phone numbers on the refrigerator.

Are your appliances and chimney winter-ready?

· Have a professional inspect fuel-burning appliances to ensure they function properly and that they vent outside.

· Have a professional clean or inspect fireplaces annually. Birds and small animals can make nests and leaves can build up on top of the chimney, preventing carbon monoxide from venting properly.

· Have you created a 3-foot clutter free zone around fireplaces, space heaters or wood stoves?

Did you take the quiz? Here’s how I did: My smoke and CO alarms are under 10 years old. I did not know that they need to be completely replaced every ten years. I have my CO alarm in my kitchen, however, I live in a ranch house so I think that placement is ok for my layout. My smoke and CO alarms are about five years old, thus they don’t have the newest technology. I love the 10 year batteries (in the Worry Free alarms) mean we don’t have to hear that beep (it inevitably happens in the middle of the night) telling us the battery is dying. Here is a link to the Worry-Free alarms product line. My CO alarm doesn’t have a digital display. Hmmm, maybe I should be upgrading sooner than I thought? We have two fire extinguishers. I know these do expire and should be replaced every 12 years. You should also check the pressure gauge periodically to make sure it is pressurized. Chip and Lulu do know their address and how to call 911. It’s something we practice with them. We had our chimneys cleaned about two months ago. I’d say I did really well! For more information and a downloadable checklist, visit worryfreealarm.com. I also highly recommend the Safety Made Simple area of Kidde’s site as a great starting point in your quest for home safety knowledge. I’m passionate about safety and I hope you will also be passionate about making your home safe this winter.

This is a sponsored post for Kidde. All written content is my own.

Random Review-Tween Bling

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I was at the pre-Oscar gifting suite, well, back just before the Oscars. There was a lot of stuff to look at, lots of people to meet and samples kindly offered to me. One sample that I’ve been meaning to review, just because it catches my fancy, is Tween Bling. I’m not a tween, nor do I have a tween. But let’s put that aside. The company, Smart Mom Jewelry, started out with baby teething products. Particularly pendants made of food-safe, phthalate-free, federally-approved silicone. So mom can wear a cute pendant and baby can grab it and teeth on it. Brilliant! One of my key rules for reviews: Must do more than one thing. I don’t have any teething people in the house at the moment, nor tweens, but there are really no rules. I like camo so I selected the camo heart Tween Bling. It’s soft, flexible, you can fiddle around with it, twirl it, whatever a tween (or adult blogger) MIGHT do with Tween Bling. Even stick it in your mouth…Not that I’m there on that, but if I were a tween girl…Maybe. The major feature of all the Smart Mom Jewelry is the safety of the “breakaway clasp”. If the necklace gets yanked, it pops open and off. Tween Bling is dishwasher safe and federally approved. It’s fun for tweens and yes, I do believe this mom can get away with wearing it too.

National CPR Week June 1-7

Heart attacks. I know too many people who have died from a heart attack. My father the physician would say “myocardial infarction” and sometimes I say that too, because I am smart and might want to make sure you know I’m smart. I’m from Boston and NO, I don’t have the accent, but if you say “myocardial infarction” with a Boston accent—it adds to the awfulness in a twisted humor way. I also know too many people who know too many people who have died from a HEART ATTACK. Heart Disease is still the #1 killer in the US.

We are at the tail end of National CPR Week. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation AKA CPR. It could save a life. My mother the nurse was skiing in Vermont last year and saw a skier down and as she was going past she sensed something was wrong. She stopped below and yelled to another skier above to check on the downed skier. He needed CPR, the guy started on him, my mother fought her way up the hill, calling the ski patrol and joined in the chest compressions. Sadly, my mother later found out the man died, but both my mother and that other random skier KNEW CPR. Do you?

Did you know that nearly 300,000 out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests occur annually, and four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home? That means the life you save with CPR is most likely to be someone you know and really care about. GoRedForWomen.org which is part of The American Heart Association is asking women (and men) everywhere to watch the Official Hands-Only CPR instructional video to learn how to save a life. I have also inserted the video here:

In closing I would like to encourage everyone, men and women, to familiarize yourself with the signs of a heart attack. The symptoms for women can vary from those of men. It is therefore extremely important to know what you can do to keep yourself healthy, reduce your risk and of course recognize if you are having a cardiac episode. As you look through the site you will realize that you are never too young to have a heart attack. Go learn your hands only CPR! Much love and much health to all my readers, I heart you!!!

2010 Buying Guide – Razor Scooters

The dot-com era image that totally nails it in my Gen-X brain, to this day, is the hipster riding a Razor Scooter through the office.   The funny thing is that although most of those dot-coms crashed and burned, The Razor Scooter has continued on a smooth glide into its 10th anniversary.  My family and I were super lucky to be invited to a Razor Playdate recently where we got to try out a number of Razor products.  In fact, Razor now has 50 ride-on products with something for everyone.  I always believe in starting with the original concept, thus the Limited Edition 10th Anniversary Model is the Razor Scooter to me.  The aluminum frame and urethane wheels give such a smooth glide and the adjustable height handlebars and 200 lb weight capacity make it an accessible ride.  The scooter is only 6 lbs and is easy to fold and carry.  Recommended for ages 5+ with a MSRP of $99.99, although I have seen it at major retailers with a lower price tag.

For the littlest ones, like Lulu, I recommend a “training scooter”.  The Razor Lil’ Kick scooter has three wheels which allows for the preschool crowd to work on their confidence and coordination without having to simultaneously focus on balance.  The Lil’ Kick also has a wider deck that lets the rider have both feet squarely on board.  Extra-large wheels and a handle-bar pad are nice added touches for a child’s first Razor Scooter.  Recommended for ages 3+ with a MSRP of $39.99.

Now onto the RipRider 360, which is just so awesome.  I wish I had this when I was a kid.  It’s the 2010 version of a 1970’s Big Wheel!  The rear dual-inclined caster wheels allow for total free-wheeling.  You can ride along and then drift and spin out effortlessly.  At the Razor Playdate, I watched a 12 year old boy having a blast on it and he gave me two thumbs up when I asked him if he would recommend it to his friends.  The RipRider 360 has won a bunch of awards over the past couple of years.  Being a mom who sees a lot of toys and is seeing toys from her own childhood come back, I was really wowed by the RipRider 360.  Finally, something that caused this perhaps slightly jaded mom to say, “HEY!  What’s that?!”  Recommended for ages 5+ with a MSRP of $129.99.  Many of my readers know how important the topic of child safety is to me.  At the Razor Playdate we were invited to bring our own helmets and safety gear if we had it and they also supplied it to anyone who wanted to try any of the products and didn’t have their own.  I strongly urge anyone who gets any of these amazing Razor products for the children in their lives also make sure they have the necessary safety equipment to go along with it.  Razor shares tips and info on their commitment to safety on their site.

Disclosure: My family and I were invited by Razor to attend their Playdate Event where we were given the Limited Edition 10th Anniversary Scooter.  Razor gave me the Lil’ Kick Scooter and RipRider 360 for the purpose of this review.

Sauza, Chef Marcela & Ladies Night in LA

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What an absolutely fun and yummy night we had last night!  I am going to admit I had no idea of how creative and high end you can get with tequila when knowing what to do with it!  Chef Marcela totally showed us how it’s done.  She prepared four cocktails, four dishes and one dessert!    Chef Marcela has kindly shared her recipes with us…The brussels sprouts were to die for!  We all had such a blast and Chef Marcela was so lovely to speak with.  I’d like to thank Sauza Tequila for sponsoring our party.  With the holiday season upon us, it is super important to realize that drinking and driving do not mix!  Sauza provided car service for all our blogger attendees, YDriveLA.com generously provided their service and The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club hosted two of our guests who traveled from out of town.  Additionally, I’d like to thank everyone who participated on Twitter and Facebook last night asking questions and joining in the fun.  Big thank you to Daytrippingmom for letting me use her iPad…Made it so much easier to tweet while simultaneously holding a cocktail. 

 

In case you missed the live stream, here is a video that my amazing co-host Deb Lavdas put together to show you all a some of our Ladies Night in LA:

 

Three of the cocktail and the shrimp recipes are included in the scattered images above.  The extremely popular lamb and brussels sprouts recipes are below.  You can find the other recipes Marcela prepared last night, including the Warm Winter Margarita, on the Sauza Tequila Facebook page.  Thanks for celebrating with us.  I hope you have a holiday season filled with fun, warmth and while you are at it, try adding some Sauza in to the festivities!

Rack of Lamb with Ancho Crust Serves 4 1 ancho chile, stemmed and seeded 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 3 large shallots, minced 2 teaspoons thyme chopped 1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs made from French bread Salt and pepper To Taste 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 well trimmed racks of lamb (each about 1 1/4 pounds) 3 teaspoon Dijon mustard Jalapeño jelly (optional) Tear the chile into small pieces and place in a spice grinder. Grind the chile to a powder. Melt butter in large heavy skillet over medium high heat. Add the shallots and thyme and saute for 3 minutes, or until the shallots are soft. Add the chile powder and stir. Add the bread crumbs and cook for 5 minutes, or until the crumbs are golden brown. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper. Let the crumb topping cool. Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat olive oil in large heavy skillet over high heat. Season the lamb racks all over with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add the lamb racks to the skillet, rounded side down. Sear for 6 minutes, or until brown. Transfer the racks to a large rimmed baking sheet, seared side up. Spread 1 1/2 teaspoons of the mustard over each rack. Press the crumb topping into the mustard. Roast for 20 minutes for a medium rare, or until desired doneness. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing in to chops. Serve with jalapeño jelly is desired.

Brussels Sprouts in Morilla Cream Serves 4-6 Ingredients 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 pounds brussels sprouts. halved 1 cup chicken broth 1/2 cup roasted sunflower seeds 3 scallions (white and pale green parts only) 1 morilla chile, stemmed, seeded, and very thinly sliced 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream Salt and pepper To Taste Method of Preparation: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium high heat. Add the brussels sprouts and stir for 1 minute to coat them with butter. Add the broth, cover, and simmer for 7 minutes, or until the brussels sprouts are tender. Uncover and continue to simmer for 4 minutes, or until all of the broth evaporates. Transfer brussels sprouts to medium bowl. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in same pan. Add the sunflower seeds, scallions, and chile and saute for 2 minutes, or until the nuts are toasted and chile is tender. Stir in the cream and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, return the brussels sprouts to pan, and toss to coat them with the cream. Season the brussels sprouts to taste with salt and pepper.

Childproofing My Toyota Sienna

Childproofing the Car from Kimberlee Mitchell on Vimeo.

When Kimberlee Mitchell, Child Safety Expert & Professional Childproofer, came with the Safety 1st Squad to childproof my house, she also childproofed my minivan.  We shot a quick video to go with this post to get you started thinking about keeping your family safe on the road.  I think it’s amazing that there is so much that we don’t realize when it comes to safety and preventing injuries in our family cars.  Here are some of Kimberlee’s key tips: eliminate projectiles, ensure you have your car seats properly installed, make sure you have the right car seat for your child, do not use your cell phone while driving, use techniques to prevent forgetting your baby in the car, hide your keys from kids.  For complete information please read Kimberlee’s blog post Childproofing the Car.

I have a big interest in car seats and consider myself to be really knowledgeable about them and about installation.  Here is a link to a Time.com blog post about a AAA/Dorel Juvenile Group survey (Dorel is the parent company of Safety 1st) that shows most parents don’t know the height and age requirements for car seats.  Further, and most alarmingly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 75% of car seats are not properly installed!  I learned how to install a car seat properly before Chip was born by meeting with a car seat tech who went over the specifics with me.  I’ve since taken advantage of any opportunity to speak with a police officer at a child safety event and opportunities like working with Kimberlee and Safety 1st.  Believe me, if I can learn how to install a car seat correctly, anyone can.  Kimberlee has a blog post, Car Seat Confusion: Which direction? Which location? When do they outgrow it?  Her post also includes a tv segment she shot on San Diego Living showing the proper installation of car seats in a Toyota Sienna.  She shows us some some good tips, including using a pool noodle to get a good install.  Now buckle up and be safe!

Childproofing with the Safety 1st Squad

Elizabeth Peterson Calls the Safety Pros from Kimberlee Mitchell on Vimeo.

When it comes to childproofing, I consider myself to be fairly aware of the potential dangers in my home.  However, when it comes to figuring out what to get, where to get it and then, oy, actually installing it and installing it correctly…I start to glaze over.  One of the things I love about blogging is being able to be connected to so many great experts who then become part of my network of experts.  A favorite quote of mine from Ann Landers from years ago was that if she didn’t have the answer, “she always knew who to call.”  When my friends at Safety 1st contacted me and asked if I’d like to have Kimberlee Mitchell, Child Safety Expert & Professional Childproofer, who is chief advisor to The Safety 1st Squad, come to my house, I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough.  Kimberlee arrived bright and early one morning and we sat down at my dining room table and talked.  I learned that unintentional injury is the number one killer of America’s children between the ages of 1 and 4, claiming more lives than both violence and all disease combined.  If that didn’t cause you to sit up straight, I don’t know what will.  Kimberlee says that by taking childproofing precautions, it is estimated that 90% of these injuries can be avoided.  I suddenly had an urge to go check on Chip and Lulu.  Gulp!

Next Kimberlee and I discussed Childproofing 101.  Now, here is where I will tell you that you can start to feel bogged down.  So I’m going to tell you to stick with me and let’s look at attacking it in manageable chunks.  Kimberlee recommends you start to childproof during pregnancy when you will have some time to tackle the tasks.  Childproof, yes, but combine it with consistent proactive parenting that teaches your kids to understand boundaries.  Lengthen the life of your childproofing by not allowing your child to study you using the devices--even a toddler can figure out some childproofing mechanisms.  Keep some areas and rooms in your home off limits and even use two layers of protection as back up for extra dangerous rooms, ie: the laundry room.  Think like a child and realize that your kids can get creative and use something in a way that you would never think of.  Anything that will fit inside an empty cardboard toilet paper roll is a choking hazard.  When it comes to pools, exterior doors or any extra dangerous areas consider layers of childproofing in case one layer fails.  Anchor all items that are tipping hazards, furniture and tv’s can kill.  Kimberlee has written a comprehensive guide, Childproofing 101: How to Create a Baby Safe Home Environment and I think it really is a gift that this is available to all of us on the Safety 1st site.  I have provided some highlights from the guide, definitely read it for the expert’s eye view.

Ok, remember I asked you to stick with me?  So you’ve identified the issues around your home.  Kimberlee helped me identify mine.  Now what?  You can run to a store like Target or Babies R Us and buy childproofing products.  Just figuring out what to get can be a headache.  Then you get the products home.  Next, you have to figure out how to install them, whether you have the right tools, then actually finding the time to do it.  Inevitably, it’s something that can easily be put off.  So there sits your bag of childproofing supplies.  I’m all for saving a buck and doing it the least expensive way possible.  However, when it comes to childproofing, it just might make sense to call in the pros.  The time, aggravation, product knowledge, problem solving and ultimately child safety that you are paying for is worth it.  I also learned that all of us have access to mass consumer child proofing products.  However, child safety professionals additionally have some pro grade products that they can utilize, if needed, in your home.  Kimberlee started her childproofing business, Boo Boo Busters, Inc., when her first child was a baby.  She quickly became known as “The Childproofer to the Hollywood Stars” and has many celebrities as clients.  Great, you’re thinking, this must be REALLY expensive.  Not necessarily!  It all depends on what your needs are.  You can have a consultation, basic install all the way up to an elaborate, complicated job in a huge mansion.  The Safety 1st Squad currently services Southern California and the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area.  If you don’t live in their service areas, you can visit the National Association for Childproofers to locate a member near you.

After my meeting with Kimberlee, she returned a few days later with a member of her Safety 1st Squad to do the installations as well as bring me several products to use all over the house.  The Safety 1st guy got to work installing some cabinet locks: one bathroom cabinet got Tot Lok magnetic locks, my kitchen cabinet where I keep my cleaning supplies got Spring ‘n Release latches, and a tough to figure-out-what-to-do-with lazy susan cabinet received a Wide Grip latch.  Next, some big bookcases in my living room were attached to the wall and an older TV that I have in my den (not flat panel) was attached to the wall using straps that Kimberlee special ordered—another reason to use a pro.  Here is MY real life childproofing and, because I live in Southern California, earthquake-proofing situation: My husband had already attached the safety straps to our large flat screen tv in our living room.  However, he still hadn’t gotten around to putting the safety straps on the two large bookcases we had bought two months ago.  In the meantime, we had made sure there was a loveseat in front of them to break their fall, but really is that the way to do things?  In the video, you can see the Safety 1st guy installing the safety straps on our bookcases.  The whole installation went so quickly and with Kimberlee here as well, it was easy to see that you really are benefitting from all the experience these pros bring to your house.  I have slightly unusual kitchen cabinets so they had to problem solve on the lazy susan and switch from the original plan to something else.  If I had been on my own, I probably would have just given up.

Many of my readers will remember my Bosch Washer & Dryer post where I wrote about the dangers of children climbing inside front loading washers and dryers.  Some Bosch models come with a keypad locking feature which is an awesome safety feature and I hope all manufacturers make this standard.  Kimberlee introduced me to the Front Load Washer-Dryer Lock which can be installed on washers and dryers that don’t have a built-in locking feature.  Some bathtub safety products that we have put to good use are: the Bath Pal Thermometer, Froggy & Friends Bath Mat & Soft Spout Cover all of which have been excellent and “why didn’t we get these sooner?” items!  Two more products that I would recommend: Clear View Stove Knob Covers and Clearly Soft Corner Guards—previously I had taped bubble wrap on a couple of sharp corners—this looks better!  And finally, Surfer Guy’s favorite for keeping tabs on Lulu: The Safety 1st Prism Color Video Monitor, which includes remote zoom and baby’s room temperature.  Really fabulous!  There are many more products, including car seats, like the Complete Air Convertible Car Seat that I reviewed here.  For a full overview of the products, visit Safety1st.com also, be sure to visit Kimberlee’s Safety Blog. 

Ah, there is nothing like being able to check those tasks off your to-do list, not having to be in conflict with your husband and just knowing the job was done right.  Thank you Kimberlee and thank you Safety 1st Squad!  Ah, but we weren’t totally done…Kimberlee still had to childproof my minivan!

Bosch from Hamper to Hanger

I have appliance envy.  I just returned from a blogger trip courtesy of Bosch Appliances and have become a groupie.  Let me start by saying Bosch was already on my radar because my mother owns a Bosch dishwasher which she raves about.  In the US, Bosch is best known for their really quiet dishwashers.  They however, make literally every appliance you could use in your home, including appliances you’ve probably never heard of (more on that later).  I was invited to participate in Bosch’s “Hamper to Hanger” Blogger Retreat which centered on visiting The BSH Gallery & Training Center located in Scottsdale, AZ.  The gallery is an amazing space with every appliance in the Bosch family installed and fully functioning.  My fellow bloggers and I split up into two of the kitchen areas.  Our assignment?  To use a variety of food items to stain cotton t-shirts.  We were going to put Bosch washing machines to a real test!  Eggs, chocolate syrup, Coke, raw meat and salsa—we thrashed and then signed our shirts with sharpies.  Next stop was the laundry room where they had several Bosch washers and dryers set up.  We watched as our thrashed shirts were tossed in a washer for the “blogger test wash”.  With our shirts spinning and cycling behind him, Chris from Bosch was introduced and gave us a great overview and demonstration of the Bosch Vision Series.

Rockin' Mama at Bosch from Liz Peterson on Vimeo.

Here are some key things about Bosch washers and dryers that I really thought were awesome.  Bosch’s Vision line of washers are the most energy and water efficient brand of full size front-load washers in the U.S.  This is huge especially here in California where we are in a water crisis.  A lot of what contributes to Bosch’s eco-friendliness is that their appliances are “smart” and are able to monitor water, temperature and suds levels.  The washers use 70% less water per load than the industry average.  In Vision dryers, ActiveDry sensors detect remaining moisture throughout the cycle to lower the energy usage.  Not only is this earth friendly but it translates into lower energy and water bills for you. 

My readers know that safety is a big deal to me.  Front loading washers and dryers are easily accessible for kids to crawl inside.  There have been accidental deaths of children inside front loading washing machines in homes.  As front loading machines are gaining popularity in this country, I was really, really interested to hear Chris explain a feature available on the Vision 800 series washer.  When an adult uses the washer, they unlock it via the menu screen on the front.  When the washer is actually in use, it is locked anyway (you don’t want to flood your house, right?!).  When the adult is finished using the washer, they then enable the locking of the washer via the menu screen on the front.  That’s it, it is locked.  The Vision 800 series is the absolute safest choice if you have children in your home.  Continuing on my safety spiel, let’s talk flood.  Not the kind from rain.  The kind when a pipe or a hose or a valve in your house lets go and your house is flooded.  Misery.  Bosch has a back up system to a back up system in its exclusive AquaStop Leak Protection System to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.

Bosch Washer Demo from Liz Peterson on Vimeo.

Now let’s get to the actual functionality of the washers and dryers.  Like, what do they do?  I have a washing machine that is about twelve years old that I inherited with this house.  I don’t have the owner’s manual and I have no idea what all the various stops on the dials really mean.  So theoretically, I’m not really using the machine to its full potential, I guess.  I’m not happy with how well it cleans my clothes (see my opening sentence) but I’m getting by.  So, if you had a brand new Bosch washer and dryer, could you just get by?  I suppose you could, the models all seem very easy to use.  But, I must say you’d be missing out on some great features!  You can program in what kinds of stains you have on your clothes via the Stain Removal option, even if your load has all different kinds of stains, and the wash will cover each type of stain in one cycle!  Over on the dryer, I was impressed that The Vision Dryer offers three steam cycles, Steam Touch-up for when you left your clothes sitting in the dryer, Steam Refresh which is a quick way to touch refresh a garment and remove odors in just a few minutes and my favorite, Steam Wrinkle Relax which lets you toss something in (say Surfer Guy’s shirt before work?) and relax the wrinkles without having to iron!

I touched on the fact that Bosch is famous for their super quiet dishwashers, but their washers and dryers are also really, really quiet.  In the room where we were sitting, the floor was tiled and we could not hear the machines going at all.  Bosch’s Anti-Vibration System (AVS) makes Vision one of the lowest vibration washers on the market.  AVS was designed and tested with second story installations in mind, making it a low vibration quiet solution for house and condo owners looking to move their laundry room upstairs or closer to the living area.  This was something we talked about at the event, how it makes sense to have your laundry room on the second floor if you live in a two story house and that is where your bedrooms are.

One of my favorite stores is The Container Store.  Every time I go in there I find something amazingly awesome and useful to buy.  I was really excited that the manager of the Scottsdale store came out to the Bosch Gallery to give us some tips about getting organized in the laundry room:  Use a laundry hamper that has 3 sections: lights, darks and colors so you aren’t constantly sorting just to get a load going.  Having a laundry rack that allows you to hang garments straight out of the dryer really helps to minimize wrinkling.  Assign each member of the family their own color clothes hanger, which I also realized has the added bonus of making their closet look organized.  Use Sock Cops to clip pairs of socks together in the wash, you will never lose socks and will save time matching pairs!  The Container Store carries the Elfa line of storage and organization systems which you can actually design with their help in store.  Just bring in the dimensions of the space you are trying to organize and a Container Store expert will help you design your dream storage system at no extra charge.  Even if you aren’t looking to re-do your laundry room, you can still benefit by getting modular pieces like the Elfa laundry storage a simple yet useful unit.  We were each given a FlipFOLD to help us fold our laundry perfectly when we got back home and a $25 gift card to visit our local Container Store.  I’m really excited because I keep meaning to re-do my office closet with an Elfa system and this is just the motivation I needed!  My thanks to The Container Store for such great ideas and for a wonderful store filled with useful things!

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So after learning so much about Bosch washers and dryers and getting organized with The Container Store, we then got to use some of the other appliances in the Bosch Gallery.  Bosch also has Thermador and Gaggenau brands in its lineup.  I was familiar with Thermador having actually had a vintage 1950’s Thermador oven in our kitchen before we remodeled two years ago.  We cooked our own lunch, under the guidance of a couple of chefs,  in two of the gallery kitchens, which was really fun.  Then we toured around the rest of the gallery checking out all the amazing appliances like wall-installed espresso makers, burners that are dedicated to woks, and space saving ovens that are installed on a wall.  You load from below and then the bottom raises up like an elevator to bring the food to the heating area.  I was really blown away and decided I needed to remodel my kitchen again.

Vision washers and dryers have a MSRP range of $999 to $1,549.  Before you run out to buy yours though, I strongly suggest you do a little online research to see if there are any rebates available to you.  For example, some states offer a “cash for clunkers” type of incentive for appliances.  Some utility companies will also give you a rebate if you buy an energy efficient appliance.  You can sometimes even “double dip” and get another rebate from your utility by having them pick up your old appliance.  This could be $200-$300 in rebates, again, depending on where you live.  Definitely worth spending a few minutes looking to see what’s available.  If you add up all the rebates you can score it may actually allow you to get a higher level Bosch than you thought you originally could afford.

For more information on any of the Bosch products I’ve covered above, visit www.bosch-home.com/us or call 800.921.9622 to request a catalog.  Connect with Bosch on Twitter at @BoschAppliances or become a fan at Facebook.com/BoschAppliances.

Wow, lots of info.  I was in overload.  As I walked out of the Bosch Gallery scribbling some notes, I was a bit dazed in the bright Arizona sun but realized how lucky I was to have the opportunity to see this amazing design award nominated gallery.  High end designers, custom home builders and major appliance stores come to the BSH gallery to learn about these products.  Here I was just a simple blogger who got the chance to report back to her readers.  We headed back to The Intercontinental Montelucia Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley where we were staying.  Our afternoon was perfect with spa treatments at Joya Spa, which is definitely in the top tier of spas I have been to.  I can’t wait to get back to the Montelucia, the pool, restaurant, views, oy, I could go on and on.  The bathroom in my room was pretty amazing.  It was really, really nice to be in Arizona with the glowing red sunsets and the mountains surrounding the hotel.  It felt totally southwest!

So, what about those t-shirts we thrashed?  Just before we headed to dinner that night, some of our t-shirts were brought out for our inspection.  Keeping in mind that a dozen totally thrashed t-shirts were thrown into the wash without being so much as rinsed off, I would say they fared pretty well, most totally clean.  There were some slightly visible stains, mainly the ground in chocolate syrup, but I would have pre-treated and had some other clothing in the wash in a real world test.  In my book, Bosch wins on water efficiency, energy efficiency, safety, quietness and washing and drying features.  My next appliance purchase will be a washer and I am going to seriously consider a Bosch.

Because I always think it’s good to get as much perspective as possible here are some links to posts by all the lovely ladies and new friends I made on this trip: Jen at The Dirty Shirt, Caryn at Rockin’ Mama, Sugar at Sugar Jones, Jamie at Blonde Mom Blog, Jennifer at Tiny Oranges, Jocelyn at Hip Mamas Place, Julie at Angry Julie Monday, Katie at La Jolla Mom, Sarah at Technology for Mommies, and Shanna at My Favorite Everything

Album photos courtesy of Caryn Bailey aka Rockin’ Mama

Bosch paid for my trip to the Bosch Hamper to Hanger Blogger Event.  The content of this post is entirely my own.

Kamen Rider – Win a trip to Hollywood!

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve wanted to do martial arts.  Although I had plenty of opportunities to try different things while growing up, martial arts and ceramics are two things I never got to do and really wanted to.  So, I made a rule that when I have kids, if either of them wanted to do martial arts or ceramics, I’d make sure they could.  Something about wanting a better life for your kids than what you had, right?  So when I was invited to a Kamen Rider martial arts/child safety event, I was all over it to attend with Chip.  Kamen Rider Dragon Night is a tv show that airs on the TheCW4Kids on Saturday mornings.  The event was held at an ATA Martial Arts center in Stevenson Ranch, CA.  It was a really well run event that allowed newbies like Chip to participate in martial arts instruction alongside current students of ATA.  I was secretly thrilled that Chip jumped right into the activities and didn’t miss a beat…And he was among the youngest kids in the place!
 
ATA executives were on hand and were super supportive and encouraging.  The teachers led the kids in learning some techniques from ATA’s “Kidz ‘N Power” S.A.F.E. program.  Moves such as simple break away maneuvers, combining forceful verbal techniques like shouting “NO!” while simultaneously running away, and role playing with possible stranger dangers.  Then the highlight of the event was an “action class” with Kamen Rider Axe actor and martial artist, Mike Moh, who demonstrated martial art stunts from the show.  Chip and I got to speak with Mike Moh after the “action class” and he told us that he employs “mixed martial arts” techniques in the show.  He also told us that he is NOT allowed to ride the motorcycle on the show.  See, I had questions inquiring minds wanted to know!  You should also definitely check out the Kamen Rider Dragon Night toys.  They have all kinds of cool merchandise.

The event also kicked off the “Join the Kamen Rider Revolution” Sweepstakes at ATA Martial Arts Schools nationwide where entrants can win the Grand Prize Training Day with Kamen Rider actors and Martial Arts Champions Mike Moh and Matt Mullins in Hollywood, CA. Prizing also includes theme park tickets and Kamen Rider toys. The promotion runs from November 7 through December 5, 2009.  You can enter online at www.bandai.com/kamenrider.  Check out the video from the event:

Win a Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Car Seat!

We have a winner as selected by Random.org! Rhonda from Louisiana, #149 has a new car seat on its way to her.  Thank you so much to all who entered.  Lots more excellent giveaways coming up between now and Christmas....Stay tuned!

When you are a parent, you are on an almost constant vigil concerned for your child’s safety.  I spend a lot of time driving around in my minivan with two toddlers in car seats.  Car seat safety is a huge topic.  Did you know that car seats actually expire?  Yes, they do.  Each car seat has a Date of Manufacture on it and the car seat expires 6 years from its Date of Manufacture.  So odds are, that as a parent, at some point, you will be researching car seats.  I had the opportunity to meet the team responsible for The Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Car Seat and was instantly intrigued by the seat’s features:
The Safety 1^st® Complete Air™ Convertible Car Seat with Air Protect™ Side Impact Technology is perfect for infants rear-facing from 5-40 lbs. and 19"-40" and toddlers forward-facing from 22-50 lbs. and 34"-45".

• Air Protect™ Revolutionary Side Impact Technology: Breakthrough system shields head and immediately reduces side impact forces through the precise release of air.
• QuickFit™ Harness System adjusts harness height from the front in one easy step without uninstalling from the car.
• Harness accommodates children up to 50 lbs.
• One Click LATCH installation system allows for faster and easier installation when moving between vehicles.
• 5-position adjustable headrest easily accommodates your growing child.
• Removable cup holder.
• Styles: McKenna (Black/Grey), Harvest (Brown/Orange)

I also learned that over the past 20 years, the number of deaths related to front impact crashes has declined, while side impact crash fatalities have increased by 20 percent, in part due to larger vehicles, like SUVs, on the road. In a side impact crash, there is an average of just eight inches of steel protecting children in the back seat. Side impact collisions are among the deadliest type of collision for children, accounting for one in three child crash fatalities, nearly all of which are caused by head trauma.  This was pretty shocking to me as I had no clue that side impact crashes were so different, statistically, from front impact crashes.

The media team for Dorel Juvenile Group the parent company of Safety 1st  have been kind enough to send over a car seat for Chip and Lulu to try out.  I really love this seat!  It is so easy to adjust.  The center section slides up and down allowing you to adjust the height of the shoulder straps without having to undo the straps and re-thread them back through the seat and cover.  Installation is a breeze.  The instruction booklet is very easy to follow.  Chip has been napping less and less, yet, he still falls asleep in the car often.  The Complete Air Seat allows him to lean against the side impact protection headrests and he says it’s much more comfortable than his other seat.  The other really nifty feature is the removable cup holder (not pictured).  Chip loves being able to put his drinks right within reach.  Why doesn’t every car seat have this???

I always like to go to the experts for everything--it makes my life easier.  The car seat experts online can be found in the forums at Car-Seat.org as well as on their blog, CarSeatBlog.com.  I'd like to give them a special thanks for publicizing my post to their many helpful, knowledgeable and fabulous members!

I’m so thrilled that Safety 1st has offered one of their Complete Air Convertible Car Seats for one of my readers to win!  With a price of $249.99, The Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Car Seat is a dream to install and use.  Here is how you enter: Contest period runs from Sunday, November 1, 2009 at midnight (Pacific) until Saturday, November 14, 2009 at midnight (Pacific). Enter by leaving a comment stating what your dream road trip destination is (have fun, be creative, your answer has no bearing on your chances of winning), and leave your e-mail address. If you don't leave a comment that includes your dream road trip destination and your e-mail address, your entry will be disqualified.  One entry per person. Winner must provide a US mailing address. At the end of the contest period, I will utilize Random.org to randomly choose a winner. Winner will be contacted by e-mail the business day following the end of the contest period. Winner has 72 hours to respond to my e-mail. If winner does not respond within 72 hours, the Safety 1st Complete Air Car Seat will go to the second place winner as decided by Random.org. Good luck!