Voice Rockrz Mic {Review}

I think that there are some personas that all children love to imitate. Princesses, superheroes, teachers, firefighters... there's just something about pretending to be someone else that is always exciting and fun.

And one that is especially enjoyable? Being a rock star. Who hasn't wanted to rock out before?

But when it comes to really being transformed into a performing, spotlight-grabbing rocker, it's all about the accessories. You can't really get into it without having a great mic to set the stage, right?

Thanks to the well-known musical instrument company First Act, kids are now able to do just that with their innovative, interactive, voice-transforming microphone, the Voice Rockrz Mic.

Geared towards children ages four and up, the Voice Rockrz Mic is set to hit store shelves nationwide this fall, just in time for the new season of Glee, the premiere of The X Factor and of course, the holiday shopping season.

Much more than just a play microphone, the Voice Rockrz Mic transforms any child from feeling as though they're singing in their living room to jamming in a performance on stage. Whether you're hosting Family Karaoke night, a sleepover, a birthday party, or kids are just hanging out after school with friends, the Voice Rockrz Mic is sure to be a hit.

Considering that Big Sister E and Little Sister B are pretty sure that they are secretly rock stars, I knew that they would be excited about having a way to show that off with this fun microphone.

With its three AAA batteries included and installed, the Voice Rockrz Mic was ready to go in about a minute. Considering that all that is required is a place to perform and a love for fun, we were ready to get our party started right away!

What sets the Voice Rockrz Mic apart from other children’s microphones is that its creator is First Act, the prominent musical instrument company that creates instruments for artists such as Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson. Therefore, First Act sets out to also create musical instruments that going to give children more of a real-life experience... with a touch of magic thrown in!

This interactive microphone has the ability to change a child's voice as they perform simply by tapping the included accessories - the ring and bracelet - on the Mic's target zone (an actual target symbol on the back that says Tap Here).

It's just that simple! Just by putting on the accessories and easily tapping them on the target, kids can feel like they sound like stars with the resulting voice effects:

• Hi-Note voice effect: Tap the ring against the mic to bump your voice a whole two octaves higher!

• Echo-Tastic voice effect: Tap the bracelet to the mic to give your voice an echo that really lasts!

• Robot-Riffic voice effect: Tap both the ring and the bracelet in succession to sound like an Intergalactic Robo-Rockr!

The FX button also provides fun additions to any performance with sound effects like audience applause or a crescendo-ing drum roll... all that is left to add is music. The Voice Rockrz Mic makes it easy to jam to your favorite tunes, as you can plug any MP3 player right into the jack on the side. All that is left is to get into character and start singing along! I just need to find a rock star or two around...

We've had a lot of fun with the Voice Rockrz Mic since its arrival and my little rockers haven't at all grown tired of being able to be in the spotlight! I appreciate how easy it is to turn on and use this microphone and that the uniqueness of the voice effects keeps my kids coming back for more.

I'm never quite sure what they'll do next, but I do know that they'll have fun doing it...


More than a microphone, the Voice Rockrz Mic is a performance transformer that enables kids to turn a session of make believe into an entertaining experience for everyone involved. I have no doubt that we will continue to use this Mic as the girls get older and that they and their friends will have a blast rocking out!

Available in-store and online with a retail price of $24.99, more information about the Voice Rockrz Mic can be found on their website as well as on Facebook and Twitter. If you have a young rocker in your life, this would make a great birthday present, addition to a Halloween costume, upcoming holiday gift or just for fun!

(Other than the Voice Rockrz Mic that I was sent by First Act to facilitate my review, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this company and this fun product.)

Party Like A Rock Star: Frecklebox Personalized Gifts

There is no doubt that Big Sister E's Rock Star Party was a success. Kids played, parents talked, babies crawled around and watched all the action and listened to the noise in amazement, the cake was eaten. People had fun - in particular my now-3-year-old Rock Star.

There wasn't much more that I could have asked for to have happened DURING the party. But at the END of the party, I always like to have a little something special for our little guests. It's hard for kids to sit through watching another child open a pile of presents and not have one of their own and I didn't want to send any of Big Sister's E's "fans" home empty-handed. But, really? Rock Star goodie bags? How common are those?

A few months ago I was lucky enough to win a giveaway over at Pour Some Sugar On Me for a Frecklebox gift certificate and used it for Rockstar Coloring Books for all of Big Sister E's friends to take home with them after the party.

Judging from the reactions that I received from the kids (the ones that opened their gift before they left) or from the parents (in the days after the party), to say that the coloring books were a hit would be somewhat of an understatement. The child's name was prominently displayed on each and every page and they even came with their own crayons. What could have been better?

If you haven't heard of Frecklebox, you are missing out. If you are looking for well-made, unique, creative personalized books or gifts for children, they are the site to visit. The stories and artwork don't just have the child's name added on as an addition, it is the center of the piece and it is beautifully done. A huge plus is that you are able to see the wonderful work done by Frecklebox before you place your order by previewing the item or entire book right online with no problem.

When I was deciding whether or not to order the Rockstar Coloring Books for Big Sister E's party, I had such a good time browsing all of the great things that Frecklebox has to offer. Not only are there items such as posters, puzzles, lunchboxes, growth charts and books (which are printed on recycled paper, how cool!), but there are genres within each category so that every child's interests are included.

Also, if by chance you have an idea for something that Frecklebox doesn't currently offer, you should definitely share it with them. The last question in their FAQ (no, not Frequently Asked Questions. Here it stands for Fun Awesome Questions) is "Would Frecklebox be interested in learning more about my idea?" Their response: "Does the sun set in the West? Bring on the brilliance, baby." I love a company with a sense of humor, I really do.

Even though I really wasn't expecting to find Rock Star party favors, these coloring books were an amazing surprise and worked perfectly. When it came time to order, Frecklebox is so quick and easy to navigate that after a few clicks and entering in each of the names that I needed, I was done. The high-quality, bright, fun coloring books arrived at my doorstep only a few days later.

Heading home as one happy "groupie."

Thanks, Pour Some Sugar On Me, for hosting such a cool giveaway at the right time. And thanks, Frecklebox, for following through on your mission to educate and entertain because that's exactly what happened at Big Sister E's Rock Star Party. Finally, for bringing the box up to the door and NOT ringing the doorbell (our mail always seems to come during naptime), thanks, Mail Carrier. You rock.

(Other than the gift certificate that covered one "large" item or multiple "small" items and shipping that I was lucky enough to win, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way but instead just really thought that Frecklebox products are positively too unique and cool to not share my opinion.)

Party Like A Rock Star: Bug & Boo Designs {Review & Giveaway} Amazing Cupcake Toppers

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}


When it was decided that Big Sister E was going to have a Rock Star Party for her third birthday, I didn't have high hopes for finding too many store-bought decorations that would work for us. However, this didn't disappoint me all that much, as I'm not a huge fan of mass-produced, standard, run-of-the-mill items that are in party stores these days.

What I really wanted were things that were different, in a good way. I wanted them to be high quality and personalized. I wanted the family and friends that came to Big Sister E's party to point and ask "Where in the world did you find THAT?" as they walked in the room.

What I wanted was Bug & Boo Designs.

Just take any plain cupcakes and add this:


And you end up with this:

Now these are cupcakes worthy of a true rock star.

Bug & Boo Designs originated over 3 years ago after the owner, Shelley Kimber, searched numerous cake shops for the perfect items and when she didn't find them, decided to make her own simple cupcakes and add a personal flair. Not only were her cupcake toppers a hit, they are now featured in numerous cupcake shops in California, New York and Kansas as well as having been shown in Today's Bride Magazine and Bay Area Parent Magazine.

Aside from making REALLY COOL products, which you can plainly see, what makes Bug & Boo Designs different? Why, it's all in the details. These items aren't just thrown together with some glue with a monogram or picture taped on, they are handmade with care and precision and result in a high-quality product that make people stop in their tracks and stare.

If you're looking for a show-stopping centerpiece for a party, just supply Bug & Boo with a photograph and you'll be amazed at the results. How many comments and compliments would you get if guests showed up at your baby's birthday party and saw these waiting?

Really, how many? Hundreds? People might forget about the baby and get in line to ask you about these cupcake toppers instead.

With the holidays quickly approaching, it's always hard to find a unique gift for your child's teacher. How many mugs or snowman-shaped pins can they really have? Instead, wow the socks off of your favorite teacher by bringing in something showcasing the class' true appreciation.

When I was a student teacher, I would have been floored if a parent had brought these in. SO much better than the stack of snowflake ornaments and homemade snow globes that I received through December.
SO MUCH BETTER.

Bug & Boo Designs makes items for almost any occasion, so the next time you need favor boxes or bags, gift tags or cupcake or cake toppers with a personalized, professional look, this is the shop to check. I, for one, know that if Big Sister E decides to have a Princess Party for her birthday next year, a crown from Bug & Boo would most likely be the hit of the party.

Or maybe I'll just get myself one of these and wear it around. I don't see how I could have a bad day if I was wearing an awesome glittered tiara.

As well as finding great Bug & Boo items on Etsy, they are also featured on 1000 Markets and ArtFire and have 100% positive feedback from satisfied customers all around. Also check out some past projects as well as new things that Shelley is working on at Bug & Boo by visiting her blog.

One lucky person will win 1 set of 12 cupcake toppers of their choice from Bug & Boo Designs! This includes the amazing photo cupcake toppers!

To enter to win a set (12) cupcake toppers from Bug & Boo Designs: Visit Bug & Boo and tell me your favorite item(s) not mentioned above. You'll be amazed at all of the cool choices! Please do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile. I have to have a way to contact the winner.


Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted)
1 Extra Entry - What event or occasion would you use your cupcake toppers for if you are the lucky winner?
1 Extra Entry - Have an Etsy account? Heart Bug & Boo Designs to your favorites and leave your user name in a comment.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway. See the list on the top of my right sidebar - there are some really great ones going on right now and coming up!
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Personalized cupcake toppers #giveaway @thxmailcarrier! Put the guest of honor's picture on their cupcakes! http://bit.ly/kmRSP Ends 10/27

2 Extra Entries per follow method (leave 2 separate comments for each type) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed or subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email.
3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries (leave 3 separate comments) if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier. Please leave an address where it can be found.
5 Extra Entries (Leave 5 separate comments) if you make a purchase from Bug & Boo Designs during this giveaway. Tell me what awesome item you picked!

Giveaway will end on October 27th at 11:59pm CST. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to residents of the US only.

A big thank you to Shelley Kimber at Bug & Boo Designs for providing me with a set of cupcake toppers for review as well for one lucky giveaway winner. They were a huge hit at the Rock Star Party!

Party Like A Rock Star: Sugarbeez Tutus

The whole idea for Big Sister E's Rock Star Party stemmed from one thing.

A tutu.

We're not talking any tutu, we're talking a custom-made, one-of-a-kind, gorgeous PINK tutu that I was beyond fortunate to win over at Crunchy Green Mom. I have to pause for a minute here to point out that this blog might not exist if it wasn't for Lilith's encouragement in starting one (she apparently thinks that I'm, like, funny or something?) so a huge thank you to her for giving me the extra push I needed, as well as pointing me in the right direction to get started.

When I saw that Crunchy Green Mom was hosting a giveaway for a gift certificate from Sugarbeez Tutus, I was immediately smitten. EVERY little girl needs a tutu, there is something completely magical that happens when they put it on that right away they are transformed into a princess. When I heard back that I had won, I knew it was going to lead to something special.

Unfortunately for Mackenzie, working mom and owner of Sugarbeez Tutus, I am truly quite poor at making decisions. Therefore, my emails contained lines that said things like "I would like to do a create your own type using pinks - hot pink, pink and light pink" and "...if that is an option, I think some pink or white ribbon would be wonderful." Helpful, right? Probably not so much. Fortunately for me, Mackenzie has been a creative maven for over 15 years and took my vision and created something amazing.

Made from yards and yards of soft tulle, Big Sister E's tutu arrived in a special carrying bag to help store it and keep it from wrinkling and had simple instructions to help puff it to its full potential. At Sugarbeez Tutus, each and every tutu is inspected twice before shipping to ensure every detail is made to Mackenzie's strict standards and it is definitely evident in her products.

As well as being lovingly handmade, these tutus are sewn, not tied. If you aren't familiar with tutus, this makes a big difference in the quality and finished look! Plus, they have a "no roll" waist, meaning Sugarbeez Tutus won't slide and move out of place while your little star dances and frolics to her heart's content. I also really loved that Big Sister E's tutu was sized to the waist measurement I sent to Mackenzie, meaning it fit her perfectly but with the elastic she will be able to wear it for years. Many tutus are sold in traditional 3T, 4T, etc sizes and who knows how well they will actually fit once they arrive?

Looking to take pictures of your little girl in a beautiful outfit this fall?

The Fall Fairy Pumpkins Sunflower Tutu. I'm picturing a sweet little one laughing and playing in a big pile of fall leaves in this one. Or dancing through a pumpkin patch. Just adorable.

How about an upcoming wedding in the spring? Forget the stuffy, traditional flower girl dresses that cost a fortune in the store and will never be worn again.

The Custom Roses Rhinestones Tutu. If I could do my wedding over, I would definitely put our two little flower girls in these. It is FAR cuter and costs MUCH less!

The reactions Big Sister E received from wearing her tutu from Sugarbeez Tutus were priceless. She was a little tentative about wearing it at first but as soon as everyone oohed and aahed and marveled at what a princess she was in it, she was sold. I think she even got into showing off her tutu a little bit. Plus, Big Sister E hearing how great she looked? LOVED. EVERY. MINUTE. What Rock Star wouldn't?

Thanks, Crunchy Green Mom, for having such a great giveaway (and for the whole "How come you don't have a blog?" chain of emails. Here's where they lead). And thanks, Sugarbeez Tutus, for making such awesome tutus and being such a loving shop... besides getting a great product, when you purchase a tutu from Sugarbeez, 5% of every sale goes to help fund research and information for Celiac Spruce Disease. Sugarbeez Tutus has currently raised over $400 in 3 months for Celiac Disease Research. That is a lot of adorable tutus!

The box Big Sister E's tutu came in was a wonderful find on our doorstep. Even though it was light, you still had to come trekking up our driveway with it, so thanks, Mail Carrier. You rock.

(Other than the gift certificate that covered one tutu and shipping that I was lucky enough to win, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way but instead just really thought that Sugarbeez Tutus are positively too gorgeous to not share my opinion.)

Party Like A Rock Star: MagneticMessenger & TrendyPrints

The time has come to tell the world... Big Sister E is a rock star.

So really, what better theme for her 3rd birthday party than that? I've had this idea for a few months now and have been mentally planning it in my head. It seems all of a sudden though, that the time has come. Are YOU ready to rock?

If you ARE ready to rock, don't feel like you also have to play your guitar like a violin.
I don't know why she seems to enjoy doing that.

The first step in throwing a Rock Star Birthday Party is to have really great invitations to not only let people know that you're having a party, but to let them know it's GOING TO ROCK.

I didn't think it was going to be that hard to find some cute invitations for Big Sister E's Rock Star Party, after all, it wasn't that unusual of a theme. However, once I started looking, I seemed to run into the same main obstacles over and over. The invitations I was finding were too expensive, poor quality or just plain ugly. And lots of companies either didn't even offer a rock star option or, if they had one, it had a bothersome teenage girl character on it or it wasn't a photo invitation. I love photo invitations, there is just something much more fun about seeing the birthday boy or girl on there to get me excited about going to the party.

Then I was saved by MagneticMessenger.com and it's sister company, TrendyPrints.com.

Side note: The invitations look even better without my editing-for-the-internet done to them.

A family-owned company, husband-and-wife team, Felicia and Greg, started MagneticMessenger.com after the birth of their third child and were disappointed in what was being offered when they looked for photo birth announcements online. I've seen a variety of invitations over the years and I agree with their criticisms and actually handmade both Big Sister E's and Little Sister B's photo birth announcements myself after they were born... which is not something I suggest for other people to do in the first week they are home with a newborn. Instead, MagneticMessenger offers a cool option of ordering your announcements in advance and then just sending in your new baby's photo and statistics after they are born. How convenient is that?

Among other reasons that I made my own birth announcements, a main one is that I usually don't like most of the designs that companies offer for their products. I want to be happy with the card that I'm sending out to all of my family and friends, so I want something that looks GOOD. With MagneticMessenger, however, I almost can't choose just one favorite.

There are classic, beautiful birth announcements...

The "comfort & joy" announcement. I love how timeless it is.

As well as unique, one-of-kind announcements that will get everyone talking...

"Newest blend." Perfect for the coffee-loving parents.

There are also great cards for almost any occasion, such as bridal showers, save the date and adoption announcements. And of course there are great birthday invitations that can be customized for ANY age!

"Turning one espresso girl." There are boy versions too, OF COURSE. I just can't seem to get away from the selections for girls for some reason...

There are some major bonuses that customers get when ordering their announcements or invitations from MagneticMessenger.com. First of all, they are printed on high quality cardstock and are the perfect size, 3.75" x 5.75", for mailing (with only one stamp! One!) and displaying. Other magnetic invitations I have seen are so small that there isn't room for the party information, which ends up being scribbled on the back.

Second of all, as these invites are printed on cardstock, they avoid having that look of being a magnet, that sort of plastic-like, stretched image look. Instead, you have a beautiful photo print with a thin laminated strip of magnetic striping on the back that can be displayed on ANY metal surface. Gone are the days of knocking into the bulky magnets on my refrigerator and having everything fall to the floor, instead my MagneticMessenger.com invitation is both eye-catching and sleek.


Not looking for magnetic announcements or invitations but you still want a beautiful card to send for your upcoming occasion? Customers who were happy with MagneticMessenger.com suggested to Felicia and Greg that there be non-magnetic alternatives... and TrendyPrints.com was born. There, you are still treated to the gorgeous designs from MagneticMessenger and its fast, high quality, professional-looking cards with wonderful service. Not to mention that these cards come at a price much less than what you will find elsewhere. Why send generic holiday cards this year when, for only 99 cents a card (99 cents!) you can send these?

"Jolly Dots." Simple, personal, sweet. Envelopes included!

But wait, there's more. TrendyPrints also has a huge line of photo gifts, so if you are looking to make personalized calendars, mugs, t-shirts and more for the holidays, they have a great selection. The RocketLife technology they use makes it easy and fun to create gifts for everyone and you always get to see a real-time preview of your item to know exactly what it is going to look like when it arrives.

Hold on! There's a special offer going on right now at TrendyPrints.com! For a limited time, you can try out their photo book technology by making a FREE photo book (a soft cover, 7.5 x 5.5," 20 page book) and only pay $4.95 in shipping. I love how you can customize so many aspects of their photo books, including the backgrounds, dimensions, borders, graphics, etc as well as the Smart Arrangement Technology that uses factors in your photos to automatically place them into the book for you. Did I mention the book is FREE? Start checking people off of your Christmas list today!

As for Big Sister E's Rock Star Party, MagneticMessenger.com and TrendyPrints.com started us off on the right foot. After the invitations were sent out, I heard many compliments from family and friends who not only thought that they looked amazing, but they loved having them up on their refrigerator as a reminder of the upcoming party.

Thanks, MagneticMessenger and TrendyPrints, for providing invitations for my little Rock Star, they were the perfect way to get everyone excited about the party. And, for delivering these and all the other party items to my door, thanks, Mail Carrier. You rock.

(Other than invitations from MagneticMessenger.com and TrendyPrints.com, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of these companies and their products.)