There are plenty of instances when families are out and there is no highchair in which to sit a baby/toddler. While most restaurants do offer highchairs, there are still some that do not. And besides restaurants, there are many other places you might go where nothing is available for your toddler.  Enter the Pocket Chair from BabyToLove.

The Pocket Chair is made from machine-washable polyester. There are a variety of patterns from which to select. The lightweight product folds up for easy carrying in a purse or diaper bag.

Instead of schlepping a car seat into the doctor’s office or some other place, simply take the Pocket Chair. It easily and securely attaches to a chair and keeps your child safe, however make sure the ground is stable so the chair won’t tip over.

Place the item on the chair and secure it to the top of the chair. Then place the child on the soft padded material and adjust the straps and harness to the child/chair. Now you have an easy solution to lugging a heavy car seat with you.

Think of the times when you go to a church festival or other party or event where high chairs are non-existent. And now think about when you unlatch the car seat to carry your child into one of these events. Now – forget about all of that. With the Pocket Chair you can carry your child into the event and securely strap him or her onto a regular chair.

When you are not using the Pocket Chair, it folds into its own pouch making it easy to store and easy to open when needed.

The Pocket Chair is for toddlers that can sit on their own and recommended for ages 6-26 months and under 33 pounds. It is clever and useful, and inexpensive.

 

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County.

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It is hard to believe that Carl, Ellie, Russell, Kevin, and Dug have been part of our lives for ten years. In 2009 the animated Disney film UP was released to rave reviews and the story touched the hearts of audiences of all ages.

Carl and Ellie

While we have seen so many royal animated love stories with the Disney princesses, the love story of Ellie and Carl is perhaps the most heartwarming of them all. To think that animated characters can bring tears to our eyes and deeply touch our hearts is a tribute to the storytelling and this beautiful movie about love and family.

Carl and Ellie are, for many of us, the most iconic animated characters in love. Their story reminds us that deep and abiding love between two people is what carries us through life. The devotion between these two is unbroken from the first time they met as little kids. Their love bound them together long after Ellie’s death, and her final wish was that Carl would continue to enjoy life without her. How sweet and sensitive is that? It proves the love they shared is timeless.

Russell

Russell is an adorable and eager young boy. Yes, he is a little overweight, but he has no father to help inspire him. His mother loves him, but Russell definitely misses having his father around to show him the ways of being a Wilderness Explorer. The wilderness must be explored! While his father is off with his new family, Russell is trying hard to connect with him, to no avail.

This adorable little scout is anxious to get his last badge so he can advance in the troop. All he needs is to assist an elderly person. This poor little fellow picks grumpy Carl Frederickson.

To escape from being sent to a nursing home, Carl sails his house down to South America with the help of helium balloons. Unbeknownst to him, Russell accidentally is on his porch. Carl tries to send the little boy back home, but things get out of hand and the two of them find themselves on an adventure in South America near the spot where Ellie always wanted to go.

Russell is still intent on helping Carl to get his “helping the elderly” badge so they try their best to move the house to Paradise Falls, where Ellie had envisioned putting her house. Carl is still following Ellie’s dreams.

So, in the end it is Russell that adds meaning again in Carl’s life. He is following the wishes of his beloved Ellie and continuing his own adventures. This time he is with this young boy and is happier than he has been since Ellie’s passing. By mentoring Russell, Carl has found a purpose again.

Kevin and Dug

Dug is one of a pack of “talking” dogs under the control of Charles Muntz, the explorer that Ellie and Carl always admired. Muntz turns out to be hunting Kevin and with the help of Dug, Russell and Carl manage to save her and return her to her babies.

 

Disney is celebrating the 10^thanniversary of this loveable film with new plush characters. Fans of the movie will definitely want at least one of the soft, huggable plush characters, if not all of them. They make a great setting on a bookshelf. And every time you look at them, you will remember the fun, smiles, and tears in this instant classic. Unfortunately, there is no Ellie plush, however, putting Carl with Russell and Dug and Kevin tells the story of this foursome and how they bonded through love and caring.

Carl is a fun plush old man with his tennis ball anchored cane and his hearing aid in his right ear. His bushy eyebrows and his pants belted up high on his chest portray this man to the fullest. And like he is in most of the film, Carl sports a kind of grumpy attitude with a bothered expression reminding us that he still misses his beloved Ellie. Carl stands approximately fifteen inches high. He is fun to stand on a table and is definitely a conversation starter!

 

Russell is also fifteen inches from his feet to the top of his cap. He wears his Wilderness Explorer uniform proudly with all his badges – except the Assisting the Elderly Badge. He has yet to earn that one. Russell’s wide smile with sparkling white teeth portray his eagerness to help others and explore the wilderness.

 

 

Dug is adorable with his floppy tongue and happy smile. Dug wears his collar that lets him “talk.” This plush does not actually talk, but kids will enjoy talking for him. He is a huggable dog and sits eleven inches high.

 

 

Kevin is colorful, just like her on-screen character. She stands approximately fifteen inches high and has wiring in her legs and her neck so she can be posed.

 

Russell cannot stand on his own however Dug does sit by himself and with a little maneuvering Carl can stand on his own. Kevin’s legs can be adjusted to make her stand on her own. The characters are hand washable with a soft damp cloth when needed. They each list for $19.95.

Happy 10^thanniversary to Up. Adventure is out there! Celebrate with these fun new plush characters!

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about books, products, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County.

Follow her on Twitter

This year the creative folks at Disney have a special collection called the Disney Wisdom collection. Each month they have a new quote from one of their classic characters. And each quote is inspiring and motivating.

April brings Piglet with an encouraging quote from his good friend Christopher Robin – “You are Braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, and Smarter than you think.”

This inspiring quote is embroidered on the plush Piglet’s scarf. We all know Piglet is a bit squirrely, but this little fellow seems to have a lot of confidence. His smile is enchanting and well, let’s face it, Piglet is a cutie. This plush is the perfect remedy for someone who is having a bad day or is questioning her abilities. And he’s cuddly too! From the tips of his toes to the top of his floppy ears, Piglet measures 17 inches. He’s made of all new materials. Piglet is not washable however it probably wouldn’t hurt him to gently wipe him if something spilled on his body.

The Disney Wisdom collection releases one wise quote each month, and on Piglet’s rear is embroidered “Disney WISDOM Series 4 of 12.”

Besides the loveable plush animals, included in the monthly collections are: a ceramic mug, a notebook, and a pin set. The mug is a good reminder for everyone when they start their day with a cup of coffee. “You are Braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, and Smarter than you think.” Or keep it at the office for those days when you doubt your decisions or abilities.

The notebook is a good item for kids to keep in their backpacks or school lockers. “You are Braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, and Smarter than you think.” Who wouldn’t feel better after reading that?

 

If you have been collecting the Disney Wisdom items, April’s Piglet is the next item on your list. And if you haven’t collected any up until now, this month’s quote might be exactly what you are looking for to inspire a child, a spouse, or a friend. “You are Braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, and Smarter than you think.”

What makes this limited edition collection exceptional are the quotes that accompany the items each month. They are all ideas that are inspiring and encouraging, and let’s face it, a little encouragement is what everyone needs at some time or another.

There are collectors that get them all…just because. However parents might think about getting them or one item and putting it away for just the moment when your child needs a little encouragement. Everyone needs to be reminded “You are Braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, and Smarter than you think.” And who better to remind us than Piglet? He has survived plenty of tough times, with the help of his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.

So, for April’s release (available April 20), enjoy Piglet and the motivation from Christopher Robin. “You are Braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, and Smarter than you think.

 

The first three in the collection were:

 

Coming up are:

 

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about books, products, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County.

Follow her on Twitter

Trophy Skin’s at-home microdermabrasion device is simple to use and provides instant results. The MicrodermMD is safe for all skin types and as someone who has sensitive skin, I can attest to that.

What exactly is microdermabrasion? If you haven’t had a treatment in the past, you will be surprised at what it does for your skin. With its diamond tip, this device safely buffs your skin, taking away dead skin and leaving your skin smooth and radiant. By exfoliating your skin, fine lines are reduced and in many cases they are erased. The dead cells that are buffed away also cause your skin to look dry and lifeless. This gentle exfoliation machine leaves your skin with a smoother texture that looks refreshed.

What makes this unit special is that it can be set on an auto mode or manual with different levels and a timer that lets you know how much time to spend on each area. And with the LCD screen, the device shows you in which direction to swipe the wand on various areas: forehead, eyes, cheeks, nose, chin, and even your neck and chest.

When your skin is free of dead skin cells and buffed, you immediately look younger and refreshed. I particularly like using it around my mouth to buff the skin near my lips and improving the texture while minimizing those pesky fine lines that make putting on lipstick or gloss smoothly a little difficult. It definitely smooths out the skin. And speaking of pesky fine lines, most of us have them on our foreheads. Try this device for a few weeks and see if they are smoothed out of your own forehead. It really does work.

The MicrodermMD comes with 100 filters, a diamond tip, a pore extraction tip (for clogged pores), the unit itself, as well as a user manual and a handy DVD that takes you through everything the device can do. I highly recommend viewing the DVD and reading the manual before using the unit. Also included is an infusion tip that easily inserts onto the wand and presses your serums or lotions deeper into your skin than simply rubbing them on, thus getting the most out of your skincare products.

Once you use this unit, you will see your face has a brighter glow that looks revitalized. And instead of going to a spa for a treatment, you can now perform microdermabrasion safely on yourself in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

There is a 60-day return policy so you have nothing to lose by trying it for yourself. This unit was sent to me a while ago to test for review. I have used it and will continue to use it as it does everything the company says it will do.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about books, products, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Trophy Skin’s Labelle Ultrasonic Skin Spatula is an amazing little device. Now there is no need to go to an expensive spa to get an Ultrasonic Skin Scrubbing. This little unit will do it for you in the privacy of your own home.

So, what does this actually do?  A lot! It unclogs pores, removes excess oil, blackheads and whiteheads, and makes your skin’s tone and texture more youthful. I’ve been using this device regularly for several weeks and I definitely notice a difference – especially around my nose area. For many people this is an area that is difficult to treat and clogs up. But this little spatula cleared it all out.

By sending ultrasonic waves at 30,000 Hz per second to your skin, the spatula then gently scrapes up the junk that comes out of your pores. The first time you use it you will be amazed. Then, with further use you just might get addicted to cleaning your pores with this Labelle.

Let’s face it, there is pollution everywhere and our pores soak it up. The Labelle will clean them out.

After you are done cleansing your pores and your skin, push the button for the second setting and flip the device around to the other side. Now it will infuse your skin with your moisturizer or serum. This is a two-in-one unit that both cleans out pores and refreshes your skin then with its ultrasonic waves it gently presses your moisturizer deep into your cells for a fresh, glowing look.

The Labelle Ultrasonic Skin Spatula comes with its own charging adapter (charge it up before the first use and it is cord free for a long time), a clear storage case, the Labelle spatula, and a user manual. Everything you need is included and there is no need for further purchases unless you want to add any Trophy Skin serum or refresher. You can use these after your cleansing or use your own. With the 60-day return policy, you don’t have anything to lose by trying this device. In all honesty, I can attest to the fact that I use this and recommend it. And it only takes a few minutes to get clean, glowing skin.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about books, products, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter