wonderwhatif
Member Since: January 26, 2015Reviews
Furby Connect
When I was a little girl, I desperately wanted a Furby, but it was near impossible to get one where I was from. Well, now that I have my own I'm pleased to say that I am very satisfied! Hasbro has done a great job bringing Furby into the modern age... +
When I was a little girl, I desperately wanted a Furby, but it was near impossible to get one where I was from. Well, now that I have my own I'm pleased to say that I am very satisfied! Hasbro has done a great job bringing Furby into the modern age while maintaining the appeal that made it a huge hit in the 90's. If I was going to buy a robotic toy at this price point, I'd feel I got my money's worth with Furby, especially compared to some similar toys I've tried.
He does come across a little bit like a hyper weirdo, but then, children have that kind of personality too, where they'll speak whatever strange thing they're thinking and randomly sing songs. There's something endearing about Furby's random weirdness, though it could become irritating over a long period of time.
Cuddleability
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Furby is so cuddly! I was amazed at how soft the fur is. It's extremely plush and pleasant on the fingers. It does have a tendency to shed a little bit, but not overly so. You can definitely feel the mechanics inside if you squeeze super tight, but he's so well-padded that it's not painful or pokey (and after all, people have skeletons too!). He's a good size too, not too small or too big. He has a nice weight to him, but isn't too heavy for a small child either. In short, he's got just the right amount of cuddleability and a lot of softness!
I love that when you touch and cuddle him, he responds and feel this will definitely appeal to children as well. One thing that negatively impacts Furby is that his ears move around and since they are made of silicone, it can be a bit uncomfortable when he smacks you with them.
Technical
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Furby takes 4AA batteries (not included) and while it would be great if he was rechargeable, I imagine the cost would rise quite a bit in that case. I found the battery life to be reasonable for a toy of this type. I've been playing with him every day this week for around 20 minutes a day and he's yet to run out. One thing I really like is that he seems to go to sleep after about 5-10 minutes, so if your kid forgets to put on his sleep mask, it won't continue to drain the batteries.
He can be used in conjunction with the Furby Connect app. You can also use the app alone, but won't be able to use the Party Cannon to fire food and feed furby, or let Furby go to the bathroom (gross, I feel violated because I touched the poop). He does make a lot of poop, fart and burp jokes, but honestly I know that kids love that, so it's not an issue there since it's clearly not aimed at adults.
The LED eyes are a stroke of genius as Furby can show far more emotion now and honestly, there's nothing cuter than seeing a rainbow or donut (when feeding) dance across Furby's eyes. You can feed Furby by putting your finger in his mouth as well, but you do have to press quite hard, so don't be afraid of causing damage. Furby seems pretty sturdy and he'll stand up to a reasonable amount of abuse, but you probably shouldn't get him wet!
Lasting Appeal
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Thanks to the Furby Connect app, this generation of Furbys have way more replayability. The app's main feature (that can be used with or without a Furby toy, though you'll miss out on his cute comments and chances to get more stuff in-app) is hatching and levelling up 'Furblings', which are cute mini versions of Furby. You don't need me to tell you that anything in which you hatch, breed or 'collect' tiny, adorable creatures is extremely addictive, cut and fun and this is certainly the case with the Furby connect app.
Each Furbling has it's own 'personality' and look and I'm definitely going to continue to play with the app. In particular this would be appealing to slightly older kids, but Furby's cuddle factor makes it great for even the younger end of the recommended age spectrum. It's also great fun to watch the 'viral videos' with your Furby and watch him comment, dance and sing along.
If you have trouble with the app, see the Furby website for instructions on how to 'soft reset' your Furby. (Hold upside down and press the tongue and pull the tail at the same time).
SUMMARY
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Pros
+ Extremely soft and nice to cuddle.
+ App adds a whole new level of fun and interest.
+ Very expressive, lots of movement.
+ Eyes have lots of expressions, cute emoticons, etc.
+ Ability to 'sleep' Furby and auto-shut off keeps the battery from being drained.
+ Battery compartment needs to be opened with screwdrivers (safe for children)
Cons
- Batteries not included. 4xAA
- App can be glitchy (is constantly being improved).
- Too quiet (Difficult to hear for kids with hearing impairement)
How it can be improved
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One way Furby could be made even better is by having clearer instructions for adults. The information for soft reset, for example, is not included in the literature and can only be found on the website. There are basic instructions for what to do with Furby in the box, but I'd love to see more technical instructions for parents. When a toy is expensive, I want to make sure the child I'm playing with gets the most out of it.
I'd love to know exactly which sensors Furby has. I know he can tell when you stroke or shake him, but can he tell the difference between a touch on the foot, the head, or the belly, for example? Where exactly are the sensors? This info would really help parents advise younger kids on how to get different responses from Furby.
Apart from that I'd really like to see the 'old style' ears on Furby. While I initially loved the design of the silicone 'hole' style ears, I did not love getting hit by Furby's ears when I held him and feel a little soft fur padding would solve this issue and make him even cuter!
Furby needs to be louder. While I did appreciate that it wasn't an ear-splitting screech of noise, I had trouble making him out some of the time. With the AC running I really struggled to hear him, so a little louder would be nice!
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Seventh Generation Bathroom Tissue (2 ply)
I'm not sold on this at all. While I love the idea of saving the environment and commend Seventh Generation on using alternative dyes and recycled materials, what it really comes down to is that a product must be good in addition to this. Here's the... +
I'm not sold on this at all. While I love the idea of saving the environment and commend Seventh Generation on using alternative dyes and recycled materials, what it really comes down to is that a product must be good in addition to this. Here's the low-down, if softness and thickness matter to you at all, you're not going to be a fan of this.
My usual brand is a budget brand from a popular warehouse club and compared to this, Seventh Generation isn't super far off the mark, but is definitely not as good. It's two ply. However, both of the ply's are so thin that it might as well be one ply. I wouldn't say it's scratchy, but it's definitely not soft. There also aren't that many sheets per roll.
So my problem is, if I'm using twice the amount of toilet paper (maybe even three times) I'd usually use, is it really that much better for the environment? And if I had enough money to pay more for an environmentally friendly paper, surely I'd go for one that was still good quality and luxury?
My current paper is hardly luxury (though I have friends who will refuse anything not quilted), but this paper reminds me of the stuff they used to use in schools in my area and I grew up very poor, so not impressive. To their credit, I've yet to have my hand go through this paper, so it is sturdier than it looks, but I've also been using about 9 sheets, so...not my favourite toilet paper. Usable, but not worth the cost.
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Maybelline New York Dream Cushion Fresh Face Liquid Foundation
I was a bit nervous as even though I am always moisturising it, my old foundation shows the side of my nose as very peely, but this one didn't have that issue at all! It's my first time using this kind of format, normally I use a liquid pump... +
I was a bit nervous as even though I am always moisturising it, my old foundation shows the side of my nose as very peely, but this one didn't have that issue at all! It's my first time using this kind of format, normally I use a liquid pump foundation, but I love how evenly this one applies. I also really like the little compact/mirror design case, but it probably doesn't last as long as a tube of foundation just because it's quite small. The only other downside is it does not smell very pleasant.
That being said, I do love it! It went onto my skin really evenly, fit my skin tone (porcelain) very well and looked natural and not overbearing. I would definitely recommend a translucent powder to finish it off for best results, but I do that with all foundations. It really helped cover my pores and leave my skin a lot fresher looking without hiding my freckles and making me look 'ghostly'.
I #gotitfree from Chickadvisor.
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Maybelline New York Dream Brightening Creamy Concealer
This is my first time using a concealer stick and I was really impressed by having it in a pale enough colour for my skin, but also by how easy it is to use. It's not going to cover everything, it's a light to medium coverage, but I found it blended... +
This is my first time using a concealer stick and I was really impressed by having it in a pale enough colour for my skin, but also by how easy it is to use. It's not going to cover everything, it's a light to medium coverage, but I found it blended very easily under my eyes and in trouble spots and considering how easy it is to apply I was very happy with it!
The only downside would be that the stick is quite short, so if you use concealer a lot you might find you run out quicker than you'd like, but I don't wear makeup every single day, so it works for me!
I #gotitfree from Chickadvisor.
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Maybelline New York The 24k Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
Absolutely great value on this. I really love the guide on the bottom that has suggested combinations, which makes it really easy for newbies. I never really was able to make combinations of eyeshadows look good before, or get that 'superstar' look... +
Absolutely great value on this. I really love the guide on the bottom that has suggested combinations, which makes it really easy for newbies. I never really was able to make combinations of eyeshadows look good before, or get that 'superstar' look, but after trying a few combos of this I noticed a huge difference in my usual makeup style, I definitely looked more vampy and stylish!
It does get a little powdery when you're loading the brush, but cost colour ratio is great and it blends very well and looks great on my pale skin, which is a big deal since many eyeshadows don't work with my skin. I'll definitely use this again and again as I'm already having a great time trying out the different 'looks' I can do with it.
I #gotitfree from Chickadvisor.
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Maybelline New York The Colossal Big Shot Volum' Express Mascara
Unfortunately, this mascara just felt a bit flat for me, I still have to rate it higher than average since I have to admit, in the pictures and after a few minutes it looked very good and my eyelashes looked much bigger! However, when applying at... +
Unfortunately, this mascara just felt a bit flat for me, I still have to rate it higher than average since I have to admit, in the pictures and after a few minutes it looked very good and my eyelashes looked much bigger! However, when applying at first I felt really nervous as it was a very clumpy, messy formula and even brushing it through didn't seem to make a difference.
I have very naturally long eyelashes, but they have blonde tips so using mascara really brings them out, but I just found this one a little clumpy for my liking. I also prefer waterproof formulas. Makeup is annoying enough to reapply, but who wants it to run when you sweat or cry? It is easier to remove, I'll say that, but waterproof is a must for me.
Good value, as is usual for Maybelline mascaras, but I still prefer their classic waterproof black.
I #gotitfree from Chickadvisor.
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Maybelline New York Facestudio Master Blush Colour and Highlight Kit
Some of the blushes in this pallette are too dark for me, but it's sort of a mix and match so they can easily be mixed to a lighter shade and I must admit, I am absolutely at the palest end of the skin spectrum. So unless you're considered a 'pale... +
Some of the blushes in this pallette are too dark for me, but it's sort of a mix and match so they can easily be mixed to a lighter shade and I must admit, I am absolutely at the palest end of the skin spectrum. So unless you're considered a 'pale ivory' like me, this is a great little kit for building up your blush collection. Beginners might need to watch some vids to contour successfully, but anyone can easily use this as a blush.
Even with my pale skin the first two layers of blush work very well. I really like the first one as a highlighter, it has a lovely shimmer to it, but the second colour is my absolute perfect color, like a sort of petal blush. It blends well and while I thought it looked a bit strong at first (I prefer a more natural makeup look), on camera it looked subtle and beautiful! Would definitely buy in the future.
I #gotitfree from Chickadvisor.
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IÖGO Probio Yogurt
I've been a little under the weather lately and my sense of taste has been super strong, so I haven't been enjoying much food. So I was super happy with the IÖGO probio, because it tastes great and is light enough that I don't feel nauseous eating... +
I've been a little under the weather lately and my sense of taste has been super strong, so I haven't been enjoying much food. So I was super happy with the IÖGO probio, because it tastes great and is light enough that I don't feel nauseous eating it. It's sweet, but not overly so and doesn't have that super overpowering vanilla taste a lot of vanilla flavoured things have. In short, it's practically perfect.
The only negative is that pouch format can be hard to 'shake before use', but it's also extremely handy in other ways, like being able to eat different portion sizes and saving space in the fridge. I #gotitfree from Chickadvisor to try, but I've already finished the whole pouch and started on a second one that I bought. This'll definitely be a go to yoghurt for me from now on. I really like knowing I'm getting some good bacteria and reduced sugar compared to the regular yoghurt too!
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Kirkland Signature Protein Bar
Best protein bars I've tried so far. V.healthy, less calories and sugar than many protein bars with a big nutrient payoff. They have a LOT of protein and as an added plus they have fibre too. The taste isn't amazing, but it's a huge step-up compared... +
Best protein bars I've tried so far. V.healthy, less calories and sugar than many protein bars with a big nutrient payoff. They have a LOT of protein and as an added plus they have fibre too. The taste isn't amazing, but it's a huge step-up compared to other protein bars and drinks I've tried.
Be aware that these are very THICK and dense, so if you struggle with dense foods you might want to look elsewhere.
I'm a bigger chocolate fan, so I was surprised that the cookie dough is actually better in these, possibly because they are softer than the chocolate. Both are good though and more than bearable for those who struggle to eat but have deficiencies.
The price is a little more than some bars, but worth it to know you aren't eating sugary death bars, they actually are a great supplement. Buy in store at Costco for the biggest savings, cheaper than online.
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Air Wick V.I.Poo Lemon Idol
While V.I.Poo is a more mainstream version of an already talked about product, the unfortunate truth is that it just doesn't smell as good. I'd tried the 'Rose' scent before and found it be too perfumey and fake smelling, so I was excited to try... +
While V.I.Poo is a more mainstream version of an already talked about product, the unfortunate truth is that it just doesn't smell as good. I'd tried the 'Rose' scent before and found it be too perfumey and fake smelling, so I was excited to try lemon, believing it would be a fresh scent that I would enjoy. Unfortunately it's barely even lemon. It's incredibly sweet and perfumed, rather than being a fresh zingy lemon like many bathroom cleaning products are.
I do have to admit though, that it's preferable to no V.I.POO and the lemon is the best scent of the three they offer.
The other annoying thing is the spray bottle, if you point it downwards in the bowl as instructed, it doesn't pump correctly. They should make it a dropper bottle instead.
I would buy it again if it was a lower price, but I prefer my current brand since it's the same price but has an actual lemony scent.
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