wonderwhatif
Member Since: January 26, 2015Reviews
BioSteel Sports Advanced Recovery Formula Powder - Chocolate
The first you’ll notice when you try this protein powder is the taste. Like a lot of products today, this is sweetened with Stevia (hence the naturally sweetened claim) and if you’ve tried Stevia products before you know that it is a STRONG... +
The first you’ll notice when you try this protein powder is the taste. Like a lot of products today, this is sweetened with Stevia (hence the naturally sweetened claim) and if you’ve tried Stevia products before you know that it is a STRONG sweetener. I’m personally not a huge fan of it, as it often leads to an extremely strong sweet taste, followed by a bitter after-taste. It’s not unbearable, but in a product like this which is mixed with things like milk (my preference) or water there’s nothing to mask that sweetener taste. I found the overall flavour of this drink to be bearable, but not pleasant. The bitterness of the chocolate is not too bad, but the sweetness of the Stevia is way stronger than I would like.
Be aware that to get 15g of protein, you need to use two scoops of this powder, which makes for a very strong drink. I prefer to use milk, but you can use it in water or in smoothies if you prefer that. As is the case with most protein powders, getting the most out of this product is going to require you to understand when it will benefit your body the most, and to use it in conjunction with exercise. You can use it as a more filling pick-me-up in the morning or between meals, but it’s designed to be used as part of a balanced diet and exercise routine if you hope to use this to gain muscle mass.
Mixing the powder into your drink of choice is not particularly hard, though there are some very stubborn clumps of powder which can be hard to break up. Simply put, if you don't use a shaker cup, it's going to be extremely clumpy. They do warn you about this though on the pack. If you want to avoid those, use a shaker cup or blend it, your choice. I used a shaker cup and found it was smooth and easy to drink after that.
Overall the major issue I have with this powder is the taste. If you don’t mind Stevia-sweetened chocolate powders, this has everything you would usually look for in a protein powder. I'm giving it 4 stars, 5 stars for the ingredients and the fact it does an amazing job and one star removed for the taste. If you can't stand Stevia, avoid, but if you don't mind this is a great product.
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Fisher-Price Little People Share & Care
I'm a real big fan of the Little People sets, both in terms of message and fun. They're popular for toddlers and still get played with as they age up a little as well. To me this set is good, but a little disappointing in terms of what can be done... +
I'm a real big fan of the Little People sets, both in terms of message and fun. They're popular for toddlers and still get played with as they age up a little as well. To me this set is good, but a little disappointing in terms of what can be done with it. It's main draw is size and the figures it comes with, there are far less phrases and buttons to be pressed. Some of the smaller Little People sets I have, have a lot more to say than this one.
That being said, I still recommend it at sale price (I'm very frugal and I'd pay $50 for this) or as a gift to someone who doesn't have other Little People sets or many 'big' toys. There's still a lot of fun to be had and the animal (and man) figures are great for transferring to other playsets and games too. You can have a lot of fun hiding the figures around the house when they get a little older and playing 'find the figure'.
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Design
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The size of this set is really stunning and definitely makes a statement. To an adult, when it's on the floor it's not massive (about knee height on a short person), but for a toddler it's huge! It's also, impressively, designed to be used on both sides, so it's a 360 degree toy. On this note, I would love if it had some wheels or something to swivel it around, as if you have a small apartment it might be hard to find room to play with this that doesn't cover half the toy.
It comes with one man and some animal figurines. There are stickers that give some 'suggested' areas for the animals, but you can put them anywhere you like. The set is well-made, pleasing to the eye and the figures are especially cute. My set was great quality and didn't have any flaws or issues, as expected of a big brand like Fisher price.
I appreciate the inclusion of a volume mode. The quieter mode is perfect for early morning play or those times where you just need a bit more quiet, but on that note it can be a little difficult to hear. The louder mode is a normal volume, but might struggle to be heard in a loud house or with a kid who has hearing difficulties. It can, of course, also be turned off.
One thing I had trouble with as well was often pressing a button couldn't 'interrupt' another button and one of the buttons did also have a tendency to get stuck down.
This is the bilingual version, which means the English plays, followed by the French. As I've mentioned on other toys that are bilingual, my ideal would be a button which allows you to pick, French, English, or both. Toddlers don't get bored or frustrated (they are too young for such silly bothers) but unilingual parents might feel left out and unable to help 'play' or just find it annoying. While an extra language is always a plus, not everybody wants their kids to be bilingual, so it's definitely worth mentioning there is no sole language option on this.
It is, however, perfect to help teach your kids English and French together.
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Features
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Spinning water basin - The boat (and two extra pieces that you can put animals or the man on) can be rotated to give the impression that they are moving. They will also pass under and 'touch' the soft green vines (made of fabric). This is pretty fun and since it doesn't use any battery, that's also a plus!
Peek-a-boo bush - A cute feature that a plastic 2D bush pops up and down, revealing the animal hiding behind it. Kids enjoy using this one again and again.
Drop-through waterfall - Drop a figure down the waterfall. This one feels less well implemented, like an after-thought. The figure flies out at different angles, clatters a lot and makes a ton of noise. Needless to say, kids love it, but I worry about it smacking them in the head some day.
Zipline - This sweet little Gondola style zip-line is a massive hit and they have so much fun with it. Put a figurine in the car, move it to the left and then press the button for it to slide across to the other side on a slight angle.
Light up trees - A section of the trees lights up with a soft glowing light when you press the button, colours vary depending on the phrase and it plays different phrases and sounds, sometimes relating to the weather. Very cute and good for teaching.
Pop-up computer screen - Press the button and a different computer screen pops up, phrases have facts about animals. A little bit of education and they really love the pop-up screen.
Light-up nursery - Press the button to have soft, coloured lights in the grassy area and different phrases and songs play as well.
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Set-up
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Assembly is not as difficult as expected, though you'll need a large table (coffee table is fine) and help if you have back or mobility issues. it says put aside 30 minutes, but I feel 15-20 minutes is plenty. Most of the first few steps are click in and then you need to screw some stuff in as well due to the size (phillips screwdriver needed - crosshead), all the screws are the same size and mostly just there to keep it steady and together.
They've hit a home run with the instructions here, not only are they extremely clear, large sized and easy to read, but they even provide a video that is also easy to follow. To access the video scan the QR code (for those who aren't tech-savvy, a QR code is the square filled with squiggles) download a QR reader app on your phone and open it, using the phone's camera to 'scan' the code by holding the camera over the code. It will open the youtube link for you.
It's true that at one point, the way the instructions are printed, changes order slightly, but they are numbered, so just follow the numbers are you'll be fine. Everything fits together easily and is easy to screw in.
It needs 3 x AA batteries (not included).
The playset comes with all the needed parts for assembly (including an extra screw, but no screwdriver), which when assembled will make the 'Share & Care Safari'. It also comes with accessory figures; One human man/boy, a hippo, an elephant, a lion, a panda, a monkey and a bird. As always it has 'tabs' to connect to other Little People sets.
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SUMMARY
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Pros
+ Well-built and sturdy.
+ Assembly is clear and easy to follow.
+ Large size set that's very impressive.
+ Includes 7 cute figurines.
+ Has French and English.
+ Zipline Gondola and other fun activation features.
+ Songs and phrases and light up elements.
+ 2 different volume settings.
Cons
- Perhaps not as many phrases as some Little People toys.
- No way to select a single language, long phrases might annoy some parents.
- Batteries not included.
Recommended: Yes. I feel the price is a tad high, compared to other Little People playsets, so I would recommend getting it on sale, but it's definitely a good toy.
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MACKINTOSH Holiday Soft Caramels
While these are marketed as soft caramels (I find that strange as I consider caramel really runny) I find them to be more of a soft toffee. Sort of a cross between fudge and toffee with a delicious, creamy flavour that really makes you want to eat... +
While these are marketed as soft caramels (I find that strange as I consider caramel really runny) I find them to be more of a soft toffee. Sort of a cross between fudge and toffee with a delicious, creamy flavour that really makes you want to eat more than you should!
Being from Scotland originally, I really love these and can easily say they are up there with other British confectionary in terms of being delicious. Unlike Mackintosh's other toffees these are a lot softer on your teeth. While they do cling to the teeth a tiny bit during chewing, as you continue to chew they will easily come off your teeth instead of needing to be picked off or out. This makes it a lot better for those of us who are getting older and concerned about our teeth!
I really, really enjoy these, they're the perfect size to snack on one or two a day, but I do recommend putting them in a high cupboard so you're not tempted to eat the lot! Or do, it's your choice, but then you won't have any to enjoy the next day! My pack had 29 toffees.
Buttery, yummy and utterly delicious!
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Littlest Pet Shop Treats Truck Playset
I'm torn on this. On one hand kids like it (especially animal loving kids) on the other, I feel like this combines everything I've had a previous problem with in Littlest Pet Shop toys and even makes it worse. Simply put, this toy is annoying and... +
I'm torn on this. On one hand kids like it (especially animal loving kids) on the other, I feel like this combines everything I've had a previous problem with in Littlest Pet Shop toys and even makes it worse. Simply put, this toy is annoying and kids basically end up losing half of it and not really using it as intended. It's really a nightmare getting the figures onto the pegs, it's fidgety and difficult even for little hands. Their hats constantly pop off and there's no storage for the billion little pieces.
The truck is cute, in theory. But almost everything on it is wobbly or badly put together. There's almost no instruction on where to put the stickers. The tiny hearts are basically impossible to stick without using tweezers, so forget your kid doing it, you'll have to apply them. The highlight of the truck is the awesome and very cool carousel.
But...the carousel doesn't work well, when spun very quickly (something the kids immediately did) any food in it will go flying off. Turns out there's a hole right at the back of the truck behind the carousel, the perfect size for those pieces to get lost in. So there I am fishing it out with tweezers every time it happens and I get called on to save the day. Seems like an oversight to me.
It's also a nightmare getting it out of the box with tape and strange choices stopping you at every turn. You're going to scream before you extract all these pieces.
The little pets it comes with are cute and it fits well with other Littlest Pet shop playsets, but it's really over-priced for what it is (not just Amazon's seller price, but the actual price). The carousel is really...all it does. It's not very exciting and they quickly grow bored with it. I'd buy it for $25 and it sells for around $40.
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Clairol Nice 'n Easy Hair Colour
I've tried both spray on root cover up and one with a sponge, in terms of effectiveness, this sits right in the middle. It's not as good as the sponge, but is much better than the spray. One of the things it has going for it over both is that the... +
I've tried both spray on root cover up and one with a sponge, in terms of effectiveness, this sits right in the middle. It's not as good as the sponge, but is much better than the spray.
One of the things it has going for it over both is that the effects are more subtle. You have to build up the powder to get a decent coverup, but when the light hits it, the hair looks more natural than other products that do this. Another plus is that this looks pretty decent as an eyebrow powder, though the brush is pretty thick for that so I would use your own.
It is a bit weird because this looks just like an eyebrow palette (mirror and all), but they are recommending it for hair. Would I get the same results if I put eyeshadow on my hair, who knows? Regardless this does an ok job. It does cover up, if you build it up, but as always I wouldn't recommend it for those with short loose hair. Even for those with long hair I would only recommend this (and other cover-up products) for if you're wearing your hair up, with a small amount of roots showing and don't plan to have your hair touched.
This surprised me with how stiff it made my hair. Far stiffer than the sponge on stuff. I'd liken this to wearing a medium or firm hold hairspray. So definitely not something to wear if you want to be touched. While it does transfer from hair to skin (if you use it around the hair near your face), it's actually pretty good about not transferring to pillows and unlike the sponge-on I tried, it doesn't flake either.
I would recommend it as an eyebrow powder, but for a hair cover up, I prefer a different format. However, this certainly isn't the worst one I've tried by a long shot.
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Swiffer Sweeper Dry & Wet Mop
This is a tricky review because if the question is would I recommend the Swiffer Sweeper the answer is yes and no. Simply put, I would recommend using the Swiffer Sweeper with the dry pads and recommend heavily NOT to use the wet pads. I've... +
This is a tricky review because if the question is would I recommend the Swiffer Sweeper the answer is yes and no. Simply put, I would recommend using the Swiffer Sweeper with the dry pads and recommend heavily NOT to use the wet pads.
I've previously used the Sweeper with the dry pads and it's absolutely great. Let's get it straight though, it's not a mop or a vacuum. The sweeper is perfect for those times between vacuums, for pet owners who fight the daily fluff battle or for times when someone calls five minutes before they pop in. Run it around the house on a daily basis, toss the cloth afterward and it will freshen up the house and help keep the hair under control.
It's also extremely lightweight and easy to use, basically gliding across wood floors with very little effort. If you have illness and are weak, but still need to clean a little, it's a good option for this.
So, onto the wet wipes. Why does this product exist? It was already confusing for me. If I'm going to mop the floors, I have to vacuum first, right? Well then by the time I take out my vacuum I'm going to use one of the better mops (if you don't have one I recommend investing), or even the better swiffer mop.
The sweeper is made for fast and easy, between vacuuming, in my opinion. Well, if you don't vacuum first, you're just pushing big wet clumps of hair around with the wet wipes. I suppose they could be helpful if you don't already have a mop, but I recommend other mopping systems over this one. The Swiffer Sweeper was invented for a fast run around and now they're adding a wet wipe option for what? To make more sales? It simply doesn't fit well with the product.
So I was already sceptical and it basically did as expected. On top of that the resealable bag with the wet wipes didn't open properly and had a hole in it, so liquid started to leak AND it forced me to use all 3 wipes at once. The only good thing I can say is they didn't dry streaky and my floors were shiny. The wipes dried out super fast though and even in a small apartment was struggling to mop by the end of a short hallway.
If I had to rate the Swiffer Sweeper with dry pads it would be five stars. With the wet it would be two stars. So I fully recommend it with dry pads, but avoid the wet.
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LeapFrog Safari Learning Station
I have a special place in my heart for toys that grow up with babies or children, staying relevant for longer. I grew up in poverty and even now wouldn't describe myself as well-off, I can really appreciate that having something sturdy and good... +
I have a special place in my heart for toys that grow up with babies or children, staying relevant for longer. I grew up in poverty and even now wouldn't describe myself as well-off, I can really appreciate that having something sturdy and good quality can cost more money and if you're going to spend it, you want something that lasts longer. Because this learning station can change into a table style toy as well, it can go from lying down play, sitting, all the way through to standing.
On top of this it has three learning modes which change the mode of play slightly, but also make it more complex so that as they age the sentences get longer and more elaborate. The first mode is music mode which has few words and mostly different music with symbols appearing on the LED screen. Second mode is a simple learning mode called explore mode. It will say things like words and numbers, but keeps it very simple. Lastly, the educational mode is a more advanced version of the learning mode. For example, instead of simply saying 'red' for the colour, it might say 'red, like a strawberry.' This means it's better as toddlers start to speak basic words, but need help with vocab and advancing.
I really love everything about this toy, from the design, the features and how much it's enjoyed, but being able to have it last longer is key for me and definitely my favourite thing about it.
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Design
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When it comes to looks, this thing is bananas cute. It has a really bright, cheerful design that appeals to toddlers and babies alike and will make adults smile. Not only is there a lot going on in terms of visuals (no part of the toy is left boring or bare), but there's so much to do and it has all been designed very well. The LED screen is a really nice touch too, coming up with symbols that complement the sounds and phrases.
If I was going to be really picky, there are only two small things I think could improve the design. Firstly, the monkey. Little one's can put the ball through the monkey's tail (the hole) and it falls directly into the trough below (clever design). However, if a toddler pushes the ball through the opposite way, there's nothing to catch it and the ball will fall on the floor. It's an incredibly minor flaw and it's clear which way the ball should go through, but kids don't always do what you expect or want.
Secondly, it's a little harder to change from standup to table than I'd expect. The description makes it sound like it's so easy to change, but you actually have to fully remove the yellow support screws, lift the console out, turn it and then put them back. It's a little trickier than just loosening, turning and re-tightening. On that note, though, you're not going to be changing it a lot, every couple of months as baby ages up.
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Features
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Rolling cage - Small plastic roller on the lower blue leg, filled with multi-colour balls that rattle as you spin it around. Perfect for babies and very young toddlers.
Colour/Shape buttons - Can be pressed and in different modes will do different things from emitting a musical tone, to saying the colour and shape and finally describing the colour and shape. In musical mode this is very fun as it essentially turns the toy into an instrument.
Butterfly - Turn the wings and it will say the colours, with some more advanced phrases or butterfly related phrases, depending on the mode it is set to.
Turning wheel - Shows different times of the day and weather. Depend on mode it will also say them and teach your child how to say it in Spanish as well.
ABC button - Plays the ABC tune, with or without words and becoming more advanced, depending on mode.
Lion LED - Shows symbols, letters and numbers on the LED. Pressing the back and forward buttons will cycle through the letters of the alphabet one at a time.
Dangling Leaves - As well as giving babies and toddlers something to play with, these leaves will do certain things when pulled. They play musical tones in the first mode and later modes a voice will count the leaves!
123 button - Same as the ABC button, but this time with numbers! Various songs of different levels that will count through the numbers from 1 up.
Chameleon - spinning the color wheel will play tones, or talk about colours and have phrases about the chameleon.
Monkey - Little ones can pop a ball through the monkey's tail to hear monkey noises and phrases. Providing it's put in the correct way, the ball will immediately fall into a tunnel and roll down to the front of the toy, ready to try again! Side note, in order to change the toy from 'try me' mode, you must put a ball through the tail.
So as you can see, there's a ton to do for all different ages!
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Set-up
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The instructions for assembly are terrible. They are complete garbage. I've included a picture so you can see, but it appears what's happened is they were made in a larger size and then shrunk down. They are so tiny you can't actually read or understand a lot of the smaller parts of assembly. I was still able to assemble it by myself in about 15 minutes, but there was definitely some confusion about which way around parts should be turned (especially in the case of the outside support 'strut' things) and it made me pretty frustrated. I'm good at assembling stuff, I've done my fair share of furniture and while I managed, I think Leapfrog should update their manual ASAP as they might leave some people struggling with assembly.
If you have a bad back (like me) you might need help screwing in the yellow screws that keep the main section on and lifting the final part into place, otherwise you should be fine, presuming you can understand the instructions.
It comes with batteries, all the parts needed to assemble the toy and 3 small plastic balls for using during play.
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SUMMARY
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Pros
+ Adorable.
+ So many things to do.
+ Multiple modes and ways to play that work for many ages.
+ Learning station changes position, meaning it can 'age' with each different baby and toddler stage.
+ Volume is perfect, not too loud or quiet. There is a lower volume, but the difference is slight.
+ Teaches letters, colours and creativity as well.
+ Lightweight.
Cons
- Instructions for assembly are difficult to read.
Recommended: 100% yes. The fact that this toy grows and becomes more advanced and also changes shape to be easier to play with as your toddler gets older, makes it a must buy for me. There's a ton to do and lots of fun and learning to be had.
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COVERGIRL LashBlast Clump Crusher Mascara
I'm pretty impressed with this mascara, only thing was I wish it was waterproof as that's my preference. I think they have a water-resistant version, but this one is regular and washes off pretty easily. Using micellar water to remove it only takes... +
I'm pretty impressed with this mascara, only thing was I wish it was waterproof as that's my preference. I think they have a water-resistant version, but this one is regular and washes off pretty easily. Using micellar water to remove it only takes two swipes, so if you're looking for a long-lasting waterproof mascara this isn't it.
However, it is an absolutely great mascara for making your lashes look awesome. I have fairly long thick eyelashes, but the tips of them are blonde, so adding black mascara immediately has an effect on me. Most importantly for me, it isn't clumpy. Many of the mascaras I've tried in the past (even ones that friends have raved about) have been very clumpy and I really don't like that. Even before running a lash comb through them, there was only a small clump with this mascara.
I really like the short hard plastic wand as I feel like it was easier to control the application on my lashes, but it did take a little extra work to get close to the base of the lashes and I feel like I'll need more practice to fully be able to use the wand as well as a traditional one.
Note: Pictures feature no other makeup and are natural lashes (no falsies) with no photoshop.
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Sesame Street Let's Dance Elmo
As an adult, I can objectively see how amazing this Elmo toy is (even if some adults might find him annoying), but introduce him to kids and it's whole different world. His recommended age is 18 months to 4 years and those in that age bracket... +
As an adult, I can objectively see how amazing this Elmo toy is (even if some adults might find him annoying), but introduce him to kids and it's whole different world. His recommended age is 18 months to 4 years and those in that age bracket absolutely go nuts for Elmo. Have you ever seen a toddler dance? It's hilarious and adorable. This isn't the kind of toy you take out on a rainy day when mommy wants some quiet, this is the kind of toy that will exercise your toddlers, have them giggling their heads off and dancing. Pop it down in the middle of a toddler party, press a button and record for Youtube/Viral video gold. Elmo's frickin' cute.
The first most important thing to do is make sure you've turned him from 'try me' to regular settings. Otherwise he'll just repeat the same things again and again. Elmo says far more when he's switched on correctly. There are two noise settings, one that's pretty loud and suitable for party settings and one that should be used under normal circumstances.
I noticed some other reviews thought Elmo was too loud, but on the lower setting I didn't find him loud, just energetic. I mean, you've heard Elmo, he has that 'kid's show' voice that's punchy and happy, but the basic setting isn't overly loud at all.
Pressing the heart on Elmo's chest, has some phrases and guidance, it changes colours as he speaks. The rainbow button on top of his head will cycle through a colour song, with slightly differing colours and lines each time. This teaches kids vocabulary and colours, all to a familiar cheerful song.
The music note button will cycle through different versions of the song 'Elmo's World'. Good or bad, this song is guaranteed to get stuck in your head. It's fun that it has so many different versions.
The last button (yellow) is songs about animals. Like the Colour button, this is the same song with the animal and lines about the animal changed each time, helping to teach and encourage dance at the same time.
His dance movements change to match the beat and while his pose stays the same and his legs are stationary, his arms move differently to each song. Elmo is a sturdy hard plastic that won't damage easily and can easily be moved around by grabbing his headphones. He's not really cuddly, but he's not a plush toy, he's not designed to be. Think of Elmo as a branded beatbox/dance toy. He's a toy to encourage kids to learn, move and express themselves all at the same time, while appreciating the cuteness of this popular Sesame street character.
I feel like the cost is fair. While it's easy to feel it's too expensive, it's definitely on par with other toys that are electronic in nature and have this amount of speech. In fact, I'd choose Elmo over many of them which are priced more and do less. Throw in the fact that it's Sesame Street (a popular branded toy) and is sure to entertain and I'd buy it at this price easily.
Comes with demo batteries and Elmo. He is kind of a pain to get out of the box, with lots of ties to be cut (as always I recommend nail clippers for easy removal without damaging the toy), but it shouldn't take more than five minutes.
It might be Elmo's world, but we were glad to be a part of it!
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FurReal Friends Check up Zandi
Like the other FurReal toys, my main problem with Zandi is the sound and movement features. Zandi doesn't actually have any mechanical movement features, only sounds and for that reason (and many others I'll mention) I feel like she is definitely a... +
Like the other FurReal toys, my main problem with Zandi is the sound and movement features. Zandi doesn't actually have any mechanical movement features, only sounds and for that reason (and many others I'll mention) I feel like she is definitely a bit overpriced. Her simplicity was actually more popular with the kids than Ricky's (The Furreal dog) complexity, but I've seen toys with similar features have a much fairer price.
My main problem with her was the sound she makes. Maybe it's just my ears, but to me, she is so loud. Like much louder than she needs to be in a way that makes me wince. Her monkey noises are cute, but really hurt my ears and make me tempted to take out the batteries. They are far too loud and shrill and will hurt you if you have sensitive ears.
She also shares the classic Furreal problem in that she doesn't really 'react' as much to what you do. Pressing the heart will cause a reaction, but they include an ear thermometer that evokes no reaction. I expected that when they held the thermometer to her ear it would trigger a sound or something, but no. The rest of the time she just makes random disconnected monkey noises. She also goes to sleep far too fast, within a few seconds of putting her down she starts to make sleep noises, which adds to the unrealistic feeling.
Overall, she's a really cute design and kids who enjoy Fur-real will enjoy her, but given the price and the problems I had with her, I feel my rating is fair.
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Cute Factor
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In terms of looks, Zandi is very, very cute and both younger and older kids adore her looks. As an adult, I find it a bit creepy and wish they'd put some stuffing in her arms as they are 'empty' and when compared to the hard plastic hands it just feels and looks weird. She is slightly poseable in that her legs can be moved, but her arms aren't jointed at all.
Her little mohawk hair fluff and big eyes are particularly cute and the eyes are realistic and glassy. Her fur is lovely and soft, but unfortunately, because her head and hands are such hard plastic, it makes cuddling not so comfortable and only really possible in one position.
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Features
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Heartbeat/Stethoscope: This was a highlight for us and the kids who played with her. Her heartbeat is not overly loud or painful on the ears (unlike her noises), it's almost musical. Kids love using the stethoscope to 'hear' her heart, but they also like to use it for other play as well. Basically, if you don't have stethoscope already, this will become the default doc/vet one for play.
Her eyes close when you tilt her back. One thing that was a little confusing is the manual says to tilt her head to make the eyes close, everyone who tried this tried to move the head to the side. Eventually, we realised that it's tilting her head back that does it, so they should be clearer about that in the manual. However, it is very sweet when they hold her like a baby, leaned back and her eyes close.
Noises - I already talked about the noises above. We rarely hear Zandi cough and as I mentioned above the noises are too loud and kind of annoying. She'd be cuter if they were softer and not as constant.
That's it, Zandi actually doesn't do that much and is a very simple toy for the price.
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Set-up
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Since she comes with batteries, there's not much to do with setup, but she really is kind of a nightmare to get out of the box. Maybe ten minutes, but be careful not to cut yourself on the plastic pieces. Because she's arranged for people to 'try' for a store environment, it's a lot more troublesome to get her out of the packaging and as always, I recommend a pair of pet or people nail clippers to cut the many ties and get Zandi out with the least trouble.
Comes with Thermometer, Stethoscope and Zandi herself. Ages 4+
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SUMMARY
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Pros
+ Cute Design.
+ Glassy realistic eyes.
+ Stethoscope and heartbeat features are very enjoyable for young and older kids!
+ Comes with batteries.
Cons
- Noises are annoying and far too loud/painful on the ears.
- Packaging is annoying and not easy to get Zandi out.
- Doesn't do much.
- Arms not being padded looks and feels odd.
- Hard plastic is not very cuddly.
Recommended: No. For me I can't recommend it because of the sounds being so loud. However, if you have a child who loves Furreal or a noisy household, perhaps. I would wait for a sale though.
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