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LeapFrog® LeapStart, an Interactive Activity Book for Kids #Review #Leapfrog
July 11, 2016 By
LeapFrog® Unveils LeapFrog LeapStart™, an Interactive Activity Book System for Preschoolers through First Grade
New interactive system and library of activity books bring learning to life to teach key school and life skills and provide children with the tools they’ll need to prepare for tomorrow.
The LeapFrog® LeapStart is an all-in-one interactive early learning system for children ages 2-7. The LeapStart is designed to help little ones build an practice new skills including reading, phonics, problem solving, shapes, colours, social skills and more. With off-screen, offbeat fun, LeapStart is a complete interactive learning system that teaches kids 200+ key skills though a library of books to help prepare for school and life. From Science to Social Skills, Math to Critical Thinking and Reading Comprehension to Communication, it complements schooling in the most out-of-this-world way!
The LeapStart learning system features two different system versions. There is a Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten system for ages 2-4, and the one I received for review is Kindergarten and First Grade for ages 5-7. Each system retails for $39.99.
I have 2 children ages 5 and 7, so this system is great for both of them. 16 activity books are available for this system and they are $12.99 each. They teach Science, Math, Reading and so much more. The system comes with 1 Kindergarten/1st Grade sample book. Both of my kids were very excited when the system arrived. When you open the box you will receive the system, sample book, instructions and USB plug. The system requires 2 AA Batteries which are not included. Make sure to plug the system into your computer via USB to download the sample book content. You will need to do this with each book you purchase. Once you have done those steps your child is ready to learn with the Leapstart system.
I am always trying to limit screen time, and this includes my kids tablets. They do have learning apps on their tablets, however it seems they are what the kids go to grab first. The LeapStart is perfect because they don’t have to look at a screen to learn, but look at an actual book. A big plus in my opinion! My kids were so excited to open the box, my son grabbed it first and started playing on it immediately. The stylus fits his hand perfectly, and he enjoyed pressing it on the pages to hear all of the cool sounds. this kept him very entertained for awhile. Both my kids LOVED learning about the different countries in the sample book. I must say though I was bummed that it didn’t come with at least 1 full book. Once he was done playing he asked me for a book which I didn’t have. When purchasing this, definitely pick up a few books to go along with it. My kids both love this system and are excited to try out the books that go with it!
If you are looking for a fun, interactive and educational activity for your children to do during the summer break and during the school year, the LeapFrog® LeapStart would be ideal. This system is also great for travel in the car or on an airplane, and will surely keep your child entertained for a good amount of time.
Right now you can Pre-order through Amazon, the system will be released on July 12th.
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*I received a LeapFrog® Leapstart Learning System in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.
Take A Trip Around Weird Britain
July 10, 2016 By
The thing about getting older, or so I’m told, is that you inevitably give less of a care when people think you’re odd. It must be pretty liberating to not be hung up on what people think of you. And be honest, we all know at least one older person who either literally or metaphorically says “OK, so this is me. Take me or leave me, you’re not going to change me!”. And we think “I hope that’s me at their age”.
If that person were a country, they would be the United Kingdom. In various forms, it has been there for some time and everyone knows about it. It’s played its part in a long and deep history and as a consequence it has plenty of stories. So, when you think about part of Britain’s culture or landscape and think “Well, that’s weird”, Britain looks right back and says “Yes! Does that bother you?”.
So for any traveler looking to give the UK a closer look on a holiday break, by all means you should visit the obvious places. But it makes sense to take a look at some of the more bizarre parts of its history, too.
A Trip To Stonehenge
For the history fan, or indeed the Spinal Tap buff in your touring party, a visit to Stonehenge is indispensable. Countless theories abound as to exactly what Stonehenge is, but because there are no documents from the time, no-one really knows.
What is clear is that it is some sight to behold. Getting up close to the standing stones means you’re next to something constructed up to 5,000 years ago. Which is pretty wild – check StonehengeVisit.co.uk for more information.
Whitby Bay
Credit: Wikipedia
In the 1890s, a young Irish writer by the name of Bram Stoker took up residence in Whitby. During the day, his landlady would kick him out of the house in order to do the housework. Stoker’s walks around Whitby would become the inspiration for the novel he would go on to write. Dracula was quite a hit, and the locations in the novel are still here today; as an aside, Whitby has become a center for the UK’s goth music scene.
Conwy, North Wales
Credit: Flickr
North Wales in general has a relaxed and offbeat feel to it. Conwy, in particular, is home to a castle which straddles the main road through the town and overlooks a majestic sea view. But for fans of the weird, Conwy has one particular attraction which cannot be missed – Quay House. The smallest house in Britain, which stands just ten feet tall, has a floor space of six feet by ten. It was once home to a fisherman who himself was 6′ 3 tall. Once he left, it was declared unfit for human habitation.
If you are a fan of the weird, spooky and wonderful then Britain has a lot for you to see. There are other places besides those listed above, but it helps give a taste for the offbeat nature and history of Britain. There’s a great deal of pride about this oddness, which is fitting for a country of such character
Disney’s The Jungle Book on Digital HD August 23rd and on Blu-ray August 30th #TheJungleBook
July 7, 2016 By
The Legend Comes to Life
Disney’s Groundbreaking, Live-Action Adventure
arrives on Digital HD August 23 and on Blu-ray™ August 30
Venture deep into the jungle with in-depth bonus features
Audiences were mesmerized by Disney’s live-action epic adventure “The Jungle Book,” which has earned more than $911 million at the global box office to date. Critically acclaimed, Jon Favreau’s stunning live-action reimagining of Walt Disney’s animated classic, will be available early on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on August 23, and on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand on August 30.
Venture behind the scenes with in-depth bonus features that reveal the innovative filmmaking technology used to create the richly immersive jungle world and characters; Follow the journey of the film’s only on-screen actor, charismatic newcomer Neel Sethi (Mowgli); Delve into a candid and humorous scene-by-scene audio commentary with director Jon Favreau and meet the all-star voice cast who help bring the film’s colorful characters to life, as well as the musicians who accent the adventure with a majestic music score.
The all-star cast includes Bill Murray (“Lost in Translation”) as the voice of Baloo, Sir Ben Kingsley (“Learning to Drive,” “The Walk”) as Bagheera and Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) as the voice of mother wolf Raksha. Scarlett Johansson (“Avengers: Age of Ultron”) gives life to Kaa, Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad”) provides the voice of alpha-male wolf Akela, Idris Elba (“Beast of No Nation”) roars as the voice of Shere Khan, and Christopher Walken (“The Deer Hunter”) lends his iconic voice to King Louie.
Bonus features include*:
BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD:
“The Jungle Book” Reimagined – Favreau sits down with producer Brigham Taylor and visual effects supervisor Robert Legato to discuss “The Jungle Book” and reflect on the years they devoted to the reimagining of this timeless tale. Discover how Rudyard Kipling’s original stories and the classic animated film influenced their unique approach, witness the technical wizardry that enabled the team to create a believable and thrilling movie-going experience, and learn how they borrowed a page from Walt Disney’s innovation playbook to make it all happen. Lastly, meet the all-star voice cast who help bring the film’s colorful characters to life, as well as the musicians who accent the adventure with a majestic music score.
I Am Mowgli – Follow the extraordinary journey of 12-year-old Neel Sethi, who was selected from thousands of hopefuls worldwide to play Mowgli “alongside” some of today’s biggest movie stars. Get a glimpse of Neel’s life before Hollywood came calling, check out his audition that sealed the deal, and see how a close-working relationship with Favreau brought out his best. Plus, Neel shares how filming “The Jungle Book” was one wild ride, from working alongside imaginary animals to performing some super-fun stunts.
King Louie’s Temple: Layer by Layer – So, exactly how do you create a musical number featuring one man-cub, a massive, legendary ape and an army of wild and wily monkeys in the Seeonee jungle? Viewers are granted rare and unique access to the development of the “I Wan’na Be Like You” sequence in which King Louie attempts to coerce Mowgli into giving up Man’s deadly “red flower” (fire). A fast-moving musical progression reel showcases storyboards, animatics, Christopher Walken’s recording session and visual effects layers, which ultimately merge to form one of the film’s most memorable scenes.
Audio Commentary – Favreau delivers his scene-by-scene perspective on the live-action adventure “The Jungle Book” with all the candor and humor you’d expect from this multi-talented actor-writer-director-producer.
DVD
King Louie’s Temple: Layer by Layer – So, exactly how do you create a musical number featuring one man-cub, a massive, legendary ape and an army of wild and wily monkeys in the Seeonee jungle? Viewers are granted rare and unique access to the development of the “I Wan’na Be Like You” sequence in which King Louie attempts to coerce Mowgli into giving up Man’s deadly “red flower” (fire). A fast-moving musical progression reel showcases storyboards, animatics, Christopher Walken’s recording session and visual effects layers, which ultimately merge to form one of the film’s most memorable scenes.
*Bonus features may vary by retailer
Note: The 3D version of The Jungle Book will be available later this year.
Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,” “Chef”) and produced by Favreau and Brigham Taylor (executive producer of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” “Tomorrowland”), “The Jungle Book” is a live-action epic adventure based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories, inspired by Disney’s classic 1967 animated film and centered on Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat.
The film’s musical score, composed by Emmy® winner and Oscar-, BAFTA- and Annie Award-nominee John Debney (“Elf,” “Iron Man 2”), features a classic orchestral sound accented by ethnic instruments and pays homage to the original film by highlighting snippets of the classic songs we all know and love.
DISC SPECIFICATIONS:
Product SKUs: Digital HD/SD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand
Feature Run Time: Approximately 106 minutes
Rating: PG in U.S. and Canada
Aspect Ratio: Blu-ray Feature Film = 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1, DVD Feature Film = 1.85:1
Languages/Subtitles: English, French & Spanish/English SDH, French & Spanish
Audio: Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA & 2.0 Descriptive Audio, Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA & 2.0 Descriptive Audio, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks, DVD = English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio
Languages/Subtitles: English, French & Spanish/English SDH, French & Spanish
Aquatica Orlando’s “Cool” Summer Party Returns Friday July 8th #Aquatica #IslandNights
July 7, 2016 By
Beat the Central Florida heat this summer at Aquatica®, SeaWorld’s Waterpark®. Beginning this Friday, Aquatica will offer another way to cool off with Island Nights presented by Coca-Cola®. Taking place every Friday and Saturday night through August 6, guests can enjoy an evening celebration of summer with a special Island Nights soundtrack, extended park hours, a daily happy hour from 5 p.m. to park close, an evening menu sizzlin’ with flavor at Waterstone Grill and an evening kick-off party with a DJ and dancers. Event included with park admission to Aquatica.
Summer Festivities Include:
- Evening Party-As the temperature cools down, the fun kicks off. At 5 p.m., the DJ drops the first beat with a burst of water over the crowd marking the start of Island Nights. Park goers can enjoy the atmosphere all evening long with the Island Night’s dancers or enjoy the tunes broadcasted throughout the park while hitting the slides.
- Extended Hours-As part of Island Nights, park guests can enjoy extended hours every Friday and Saturday night with the park closing at 8 p.m.
- Happy Hour and Special Offers- After 5 p.m., select food locations in the park will offer $2 off beer and wine; and half-price Refillable Souvenir Cups.
- Sizzlin’ Island Flavors- Waterstone Grill features an Island Nights exclusive menu featuring a mojo pork sandwich and pineapple burger. Banana Beach will offer Hawaiian pizza, curry meatballs and pigeon pea rice.
- Ihu’s Breakaway Falls- Experience Orlando’s tallest, steepest, and only multi-drop tower slide of its kind as the sun sets across the Orlando skyline. After climbing 80 feet into the air, guests step into one of three breakaway boxes anxiously waiting to see who will drop next as part of this wild ride.
Best Way To Play:
Guests can enjoy Island Nights for just $38 when they buy their tickets in advance online, a $20 savings off of general admission. Guests can also visit both Aquatica and SeaWorld for only $99 with the Choose Your Adventure 2-parks ticket option.
New this year, guests can ride more slides and save time with Quick Queue at Aquatica. With Quick Queue, guests can skip the regular lines and enjoy front-of-the line access to six of the most popular water-slides including Ihu’s Breakaway Falls, Taumata Racer and Omaka Rocka. Quick Queue is available online for as low as $15.
From high-speed water slides and exhilarating wave pools, to tranquil beaches and remarkable animal habitats, Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark has it all. This one-of-a-kind waterpark is home to some of the world’s most thrilling water rides, featuring 42 slides, rivers and lagoons, and 84,000 square feet of sparkling white, sandy beaches and breathtaking animal exhibits.
For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit AquaticaOrlando.com. Events and times are subject to change. Follow Aquatica on Facebook and Instagram for the latest Island Nights information. Join the conversation with #Aquatica and #IslandNights.
