Game Review - Rabbids Rumble

About the Game
COLLECT OVER 100 RABBIDS WITH DELIRIOUS ABILITIES AND PUT THEM TO THE TEST IN HILARIOUS BATTLES, ALONE OR WITH FRIENDS!

Rabbids have escaped from your cartridge all over your Nintendo 3DS and found their way into the real world. You must collect them throughout 7 worlds full of mini games and bring the complete collection back, one battle at the time!

KEY FEATURES

Collect over 100 Delirious Rabbids: Capture and collect over a hundred Rabbids with unique and delirious combat abilities. Train your collection of Rabbids to make them stronger and test them in battles.

Challenge Your Friends: Play intense and hilarious one-on-one battles with your friends, mixing strategy and Rabbids’ humor.

Play Hilarious Mini-Games: Interact with the Rabbids in new mini-games that will make them surging from your floor, flying around you or fighting on your kitchen table!

The Battle Continues in the Street: Share scores, gain training bonuses, unlock new Rabbids and items with other players you cross thanks to the “Street Pass” feature.

Complete Your Collection with Spot Pass: With new, rare Rabbids, downloadable every week on your Nintendo 3DS™, complete your collection thanks to the “Spot Pass” feature.

My Take on the Game
The crazy antics of the Rabbids are back with a vengeance in this game. If you have never played this game or seen the twister humor of the Rabbids, you are in for a surprise as these are not your fluffy gentle bunnies. This game was a lot of fun and you not only get to have a blast through the regular play, but also have a ton of opportunities of side experiences through the many mini games that are provided in the game itself. The game play was a lot of fun and the graphics were great, especially when you use the 3DS features of the system itself. I kept wanting to see what the Rabbids would do next so I was drawn in from the beginning and did not want to stop playing (but alas I had to ever once in a while). Overall though this was a lot of fun, and will provide you with hours of distraction that is worth it!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Game Review - Rayman Origins

About the Game
Michel Ancel, celebrated creator of Rayman®, Beyond Good & Evil® and the Raving Rabbids® returns to his roots to bring us Rayman® Origins: a 2D side-scrolling, platforming adventure!

Play Rayman Origins and discover or rediscover the magical universe and legendary 2D gameplay that captured the hearts of millions of fans...

When the Glade of Dreams is overrun by “nefurrious” Darktoons, the Fairy Council hastily invokes Rayman to save the day; but the hero of light isn’t quite all there…To help him, Rayman teams up with his best friend, Globox. Together, the world’s most hilarious team of heroes will need to restore peace to the Glade or watch as their beloved home vanishes like a bad dream...

KEY FEATURES

Rebirth of a Platforming Legend: It’s been 15 years since the first launch of Rayman. Rayman Origins brings back many of the classic characters, revived in their original 2D form, as well as a whole new world of characters and environments.

Unique Approach to 2D Art: A rich world with over 100 characters and 6 unique worlds created by some of the VG’s most reputed artists and animators. This creative approach to 2D design will recapture the hearts of platformer fans and introduce a new generation to one of the industry’s best-loved characters in his original 2D form.

A Vast Playground: Rayman Origins includes over 60 levels of 2D platforming gameplay designed for all ages and playing styles. Unlock new abilities progressively and return to previous levels to discover new paths and secrets.

Variety of Gameplay: Rayman Origins is a platformer at its core, but it has elements of many game genres. Rayman and Globox gain unique abilities as they progress through the adventure, including swimming, diving and the sensational “HairlyCopter.” The game also features many elements of action, adventure, shooter and beat-’em-up gameplay.

Street Pass Functionality: Taking advantage of the Street Pass, you can share your progression, number of collectibles, time played, unlocked achievements, and avatar with others.

Epic Boss Fights: A giant pink monster with hundreds of eyes... A possessed, mountainous golem... An evil daisy-cum-carnivorous plant... Rayman Origins will put players to the test with these and many more challenging boss battles!

Unique Approach, Unique Game: Rayman Origins was created by Michel Ancel with a small team of artists and developers to produce not only high-quality graphics and gameplay, but a creative and unique experience.

My Take on the Game
As a fan of the original Rayman game, this game truly brought be me back to the beginning. I was so impressed with not only the gameplay, but also with the storyline and graphics. The game was fun and gives you a lot of variety, especially with the fact that you can play as either Rayman or Globox. The levels are fast paced and you can always go back to do better the next time which was also a nice addition. The 3D action was fun as this was a new addition to the mix this time around and it was a fun addition. Overall, I was very impressed with the whole game and to be honest I had a hard time putting the game down even to let my own kids play!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Game Review - Imagine: Babyz

About the Game
In Imagine Babyz, experience the life of a popular babysitter with incredibly lifelike 3D visual animation and baby reactions! Travel the world caring for babies and helping them grow, keeping both the babies and their parents happy in order to build your reputation as a babysitter and ultimately open your own dream day care business.



KEY FEATURES
Watch Your Babies Grow Up in 3D: Follow your realistic babies through different development stages, from 6 to 18 months. Watch your babies develop their own unique personality and abilities.

Show Off Your Babysitting Skills: Become the best babysitter and bond with babies like never before!

• Watch, hug & even talk to your baby via voice recognition
• Play peek-a-boo via facial recognition with the camera
• Take your baby to the park & watch him or her interact with other babies. You can even meet other babies and players via StreetPass

Travel to Different Countries to Babysit: Choose your destination city from San Francisco, Shanghai, Rome, Paris, Tokyo and more!

Customize Your Babies’ Look: Manage your budget to buy baby clothes & accessories.

Open Your Own Day Care: Progress through the game and earn a great reputation as a popular babysitter, allowing you to ultimately open your own day care business!

My Take on the Game
My daughter was excited to try this, and at first I thought it would be more like a baby sitting game, but the game was so much more than that. You really get a picture of what it was like to have a baby, with a baby that likes what it likes and not what you always give it. You have to work to get to know the baby and what makes it tick as what it needs and wants to be happy. The game itself was very intuitive and realistic and my daughter became engrossed the moment she started playing. She originally tried this over a long holiday weekend and on the entire car trip there and back she played this and had a blast! If you or your kids enjoy games where you are in control of the happiness of others, or they like the idea of interacting with babies, this is definitely the game for you!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Mastery

About the Book
The eagerly anticipated new book from the author of the bestselling The 48 Laws of Power

What did Charles Darwin, middling schoolboy and underachieving second son, do to become one of the earliest and greatest naturalists the world has known? What were the similar choices made by Mozart and by Caesar Rodriguez, the U.S. Air Force’s last ace fighter pilot? In Mastery, Robert Greene’s fifth book, he mines the biographies of great historical figures for clues about gaining control over our own lives and destinies. Picking up where The 48 Laws of Power left off, Greene culls years of research and original interviews to blend historical anecdote and psychological insight, distilling the universal ingredients of the world’s masters.

Temple Grandin, Martha Graham, Henry Ford, Buckminster Fuller—all have lessons to offer about how the love for doing one thing exceptionally well can lead to mastery. Yet the secret, Greene maintains, is already in our heads. Debunking long-held cultural myths, he demonstrates just how we, as humans, are hardwired for achievement and supremacy. Fans of Greene’s earlier work and Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers will eagerly devour this canny and erudite explanation of just what it takes to be great.

About the Author
Robert Greene is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, and The 50th Law. His highly anticipated fifth book, Mastery, examines the lives of great historical figures such as Charles Darwin, Mozart, Paul Graham and Henry Ford and distills the traits and universal ingredients that made them masters. In addition to having a strong following within the business world and a deep following in Washington, DC, Greene's books are hailed by everyone from war historians to the biggest musicians in the industry (including Jay-Z and 50 Cent).

Greene attended U.C. Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he received a degree in classical studies. He currently lives in Los Angeles.

My Take on the Book
This is a book that provides so much within its pages. The author pulls together stories of the masters over the years to help each and every one of us to become a better and more successful person. The examples and the people that the author put forward were so compelling and I for one can say that I could not put the book down. This is the type of book that once you are done, you will want to share it with many more people as there is so much in it that can be transformative to one's lives!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Crafty Bands - Design-It-Yourself Custom Charm Bracelets

About the Product
Epiphany Crafts, an arts-and-crafts company offering create-your-own buttons, charms, embellishments and bracelets, has launched a new line of design-it-yourself custom charm bracelets for kids, Crafty Bands.

The perfect gift for ages 8 and older, Crafty Bands allow children to tap their imaginations and create truly custom charm jewelry with and for their friends. Using the innovative Shape Studio Tool, Crafty Bands are affordable, easy and safe to craft, allowing users to mix and match colorful bracelets and accessorize with personalized charms created from photos, magazines and more.

With Crafty Bands, kids are no longer limited to pre-made charms with pre-printed designs. Here’s how easy it is to create a Crafty Band:

• Simply find a cool design or picture in a magazine or on the Internet
• Slide the design into the innovative Shape Studio Tool
• Place the Bubble Cap over the design
• Close the lid and press
• Remove the Bubble Cap and glue it into the Crafty Snap Setting
• Close the Crafty Snap Setting through the band

“Crafty Bands are affordable products that inspire creativity, encourage crafting, and promote social interaction for children―not to mention that charm bracelets are such a popular item with kids to wear and to trade,” said Brian Fogg, co-founder of Epiphany Crafts. “Crafty Bands are unique because they allow children to express their individuality by designing charms that best fit their personalities and interests. Crafty Bands are easy and safe to create, providing the catalyst for hours of open-ended activity either individually or with family, friends and school mates.”

The Crafty Bands Starter Kit is priced at $29.95, and includes the Shape Studio Tool, four Crafty Bands, 20 Crafty Snaps, 20 Bubble Caps and adhesive. Refill Kits, including four Crafty Bands and 20 Crafty Snaps, are priced at $6.99.

Crafty Bands are available to order online or by visiting www.paperwishes.com or www.hearthsong.com. For more information on Crafty Bands, please visit www.craftybands.com and on Facebook.

My Take on the Product
This was a great kit that allows you to be in control of the design! Not only does the kit itself come with a ton of bands that you can make to your own specifications, but with the fact that they are interchangeable, you get the the opportunity to change things after you make them which make your creativity limitless. My eldest daughter had a blast trying this out for herself, and she even had a friend over and they both had fun mixing and matching the bands and making new things over and over again and your kids can too!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Game Review - Imagine Fashion Life

About the Game
Imagine® is introducing the most realistic and customizable fashion design game yet for the Nintendo 3DS™ system that allows you to create whatever you dream. In Imagine Fashion Life, experience three fabulous fashion careers: become the trendy designer, the most glamorous top model or the best mall owner! This 3D game features high-quality, realistic graphics and allows players with a love of all-things-fashion to truly unleash their creativity and management skills.

KEY FEATURES

Live the Life of a Fashionista!

• Become the Trendy Fashion Designer: Create original outfits under your own brand and show them off at fashion shows

• Be a Famous Top Model: Pose for glamorous photo shoots and set the catwalks on fire with your perfect runway walk

• Be a Successful Mall Owner: Open and arrange stores, decorate the mall, promote the trendiest cosmetics and fashion brands in stores, and manage your budget to create a world-class mall! Even open new stores abroad!

• Keep up with the Latest Trends: Choose from all the latest 2011 and 2012 fashions. Get new missions depending on your profile and other player’s profiles that you pass via StreetPass. For example, a top model player could be asked to wear a fashion designer player’s brand for a fashion show.

• Be a Social Butterfly and Stay Connected with Friends: Manage your contacts list with your PDA and keep in touch with them to be successful!

My Take on the Game
For anyone who loves the idea of being a fashion-ista, designing your own line of outfits and have fun being the designer that you want to become. The game itself was fun to play and my daughter loved being the person in control of the design. On top of this she really loved that the latest fashions were in this and she could experiment with them as well. She found the game to be one that was easy to use and control and she also said that the graphics were great, which is a high compliment from her!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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TradeYa Tuesday- Avoid Black Friday & Green Your Holiday Shopping

Inspired by cultural movements toward sustainable living and alternative currency, TradeYa, a new platform for goods and services barter exchange, debuts today at TradeYa.com. The platform combines premium technologies used by popular auction sites, localized classifieds and even online dating to create a positive, values-based home for the $20 Billion bartering market that matches users on interests, lifestyle and geography.

The launch of TradeYa coincides with the nation’s biggest weekend for material consumerism, Black Friday through Cyber Monday. In response, TradeYa asks shoppers to consider a money-free ‘TradeYa Tuesday,’ where holiday gifts are acquired through exchanges outside the monetary system.

“TradeYa is here to empower a new kind of commerce, where people can connect directly with the goods and services they’re looking for, reduce their environmental footprint by conserving resources, and put a new economic model in the hands of the people,” said Jared Krause, CEO of TradeYa. “We are part of a movement proving that everyone has so much more value than the money in their bank account would indicate and they deserve to be able to use that value to get everything they need and want. To make that happen we’re creating a platform that is efficient, effective and free of the friction that often comes with bartering.”

TradeYa barter exchanges are currently available for any tradeable good or service, from musical instruments to vacation homes to Photoshop lessons. The platform combines the accessibility of localized classifieds, the culture discovery of members-only boutique shopping, the excitement of auction bidding and the matchmaking of online dating. To create a customized user experience and support ongoing successful relationships within the community, TradeYa suggests and connects traders who share similar tastes or relevant skillsets.

Following two years in concepting and development, TradeYa’s recently published beta platform has already welcomed over 3,500 registered users and 1,000 creative trades. TradeYa expects to welcome its quarter million users in the next year. For more information, visit www.TradeYa.com/tuesday

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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