Dishing about DISH Network

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A few months ago, I wrote about how we were considering blowing up our TV. Okay, we weren’t going to go quite that far, but we were considering dropping our cable service. We thought we’d save money and cut our screen time in one fell swoop. And we did! We rushed out and bought three sets of rabbit ears and shut that shark down.

Half of our plan worked. We did save money, but we didn’t cut our screen time. If anything, it increased. My kids binge-watched Hannah Montana on Netflix. Not even kidding. Every. Episode.

As it turns out, we are responsible for how much tv we watch, not our devices. Huh. Who knew?

And, irony of all ironies, a month or so after we cut the cord, I got an email from the DISH Network asking if I wouldn’t like to try out their service and review it on this here blog.

*Cue the Hallelujah chorus. Or at least my kids squealing with excitement.*

I will be honest, Andy and I debated on whether or not we should take them up on this offer – we had talked a lot about getting rid of cable and we felt rather morally superior with our rabbit ears. When it came down to it, though, we hadn’t seen the lifestyle changes we were expecting to magically happen and we couldn’t pass it up.

We are weak! And also like good television.

So, the lovely people from DISH Network came out to our house and got us all hooked up. This was no easy feat – they had to rewire our entire house (our mid-90s wiring wasn’t cutting it, evidently), but they did a GREAT job, and even put the satellite in a much less conspicuous place than our old one had been. At least, that’s what they told me. Come to think of it, I don’t think I have even seen the new dish. I guess that means it’s not sprouting out the side of our house anymore!

I really, really like DISH Network’s service. First of all, the picture is crystal clear, not only on our giant flat screen but also on the tube TV we have in our living room. But the biggest plus to DISH is the convenience, especially from the Hopper.

DISH’s DVR service is called Hopper, and it’s a whole-home service. That means we have HD DVR service on every tv set, and we can watch anything we’ve recorded from any of our televisions. This is a great change for us – before, we only had a DVR in our bedroom, which meant that was the main tv-viewing location for the kids. Now, we have reclaimed our room for ourselves! It’s a beautiful thing.

The Hopper also comes with a mobile app, DISHAnywhere, so we can watch live television, stream an On Demand or Blockbuster@Home title, or access shows we’ve DVR’d from our phones or tablets. This means… wait for it… that I can watch Teen Mom 3 on the treadmill.

Amazing.

Of course, that functionality requires 3G or wifi, which isn’t always available. But never fear – thanks to the Hopper with Sling, you can download shows or movies straight from your DISH box to your phone/tablet/computer and watch them on the go. Going on a trip? Download a movie for the kids and hit the road!

The other thing that’s really convenient about DISH is Prime Time Anytime, which automatically records all primetime shows on the major networks. This has come in handy because I didn’t have to set it to record each show that we like to watch, AND we’ve been able to go back and watch some shows we didn’t know we wanted to record, like some of the new sitcoms that came out this fall. Because there’s like a bajillion MB of space on the DVR, there’s no concern that it will fill up, either.

I almost forgot one very important feature! DVR’d shows can be watched commercial-free, which means it’ll just skip over the commercials automatically. No more fast-forwarding and rewinding until you get to the exact right spot. (#firstworldproblems)

While we certainly would have survived without cable, as our grand one-month experiment showed, we are really enjoying having DISH Network. The Blockbuster@Home service that comes along with it has enabled us to stream some fantastic movies like SpaceJam and Back to the Future. (They actually have new releases, but we like to stick with the classics.) Giving up our cable before wasn’t that big of a deal, but I can already tell that my family is going to campaign hardcore to keep DISH once our blogger trial is over!

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Gift ideas for kids: their new favorite board games

The Wonder Forge provided me with these board games to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

Yes, it’s true: I’ve got yet another board game review for you! I can’t help it, I am a game-a-holic and so are my kids. The reason I am such a big fan of board games is that I find that they provide really excellent opportunities for parents to play with their children in a way that’s interactive and enjoyable for both parent and child. My kids love video games but I hate them. However, a good board game is something we can really bond over!

The Wonder Forge is absolutely my favorite favorite favorite maker of games so I can’t resist when they ask me to try out new games! The kids and I tried out three in preparation for this holiday review and we loved them – I think you and your kids will to! Check ’em out!

Doc McStuffins All Better Game

Doc McStuffins is on of my favorite kids’ characters these days, and Sophie loves her too! This “All Better Game” is super-cute, fun, and easy to play. PLUS!! It all fits nicely in this little bag, which is so much easier to store than a big box.

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Here’s what I like about this game:

  • Easy concept – it’s  basically a memory game with a twist.
  • Great for vocabulary if you’re working on speech.
  • Quick, fun, and easy to get started and learn the rules.
  • An absolute snap to clean up & store in the carrying case.

Sophie and I have a ball playing this game! Even though it’s easy enough for a 3-year-old, Sophie still thinks it is great fun at almost 7.  I like playing it too, although I must admit it is showing me that my memory is not as good as it used to be! If you think your little Doc might like this game, please note that it is available exclusively at Walmart.

Next up, one for the big kids!

Axis of Villains Strategy Game

This is a game Joshua was really excited about, and because she loves all games no matter what, so was Sophie. It says it’ for 8 and up and I agree – it’s definitely not simple. Yet, Sophie could play along quite well once we got all the rules figured out.Bobby and I both enjoyed playing this with the kids – it is great for teaching strategy, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills! Here’s what I like about it.

  • Super-cool superhero characters
  • Everyone plays on the same team, fighting the villains. Teaches teamwork and there’s no sore losers!
  • It’s nice to have a good game for older kids!
  • Teaches all those wonderful skills I mentioned above.

The only thing I don’t like about this game is that there are a lot of rules/instructions and it takes awhile to learn. But I promise, it’s worth it!  If you have a superhero-loving boy or girl, you can get this game exclusively at Target.

Jake and the Neverland Pirates Shipwreck Beach Game

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I’m a big fan of games that have a component that involves getting kids active, so I love this game! It’s fun for Jake fans big and little. It combines matching, memory, and physical activity for a game that’s a blast! Here’s what I like about it:

  • Easy to set up and play
  • Keeps kids active
  • Players need to achieve goals within a certain amount of time, but you can take the timer away for younger kids who need more time.
  • Great for vocabulary and following directions if you’re working on speech.
  • It’s just really, really FUN!

If you have a Jake fun who loves to play games and hunt for treasure, you can find this game at exclusively at Walmart as well.

Have you tried any of these games? Do you buy games for your kids for the holidays? I encourage you to check out ALL the Wonder Forge has to offer. You’re sure to find something for all your game-lovers!

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Playmobil Pop Stars Stage Review & Giveaway!!!

Playmobil Pop Stars Stage
Playmobil provided me with this toy to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

One of my favorite things about holiday season is the opportunity to review toys for and with my kiddos. We’ve not delved into the world of Playmobil yet, so I was excited to try out this Pop Stars stage set! Sophie loves pretend and she LOVES to sing, so I knew she would be pretty excited about this.

Here are some things I like about this toy:

  • Easy to put together/good quality: This was easy to assemble, and there aren’t zillions of small pieces, which I really appreciate! The instructions are easy to follow and the pieces are of a nice, sturdy quality.

Playmobil Pop Stars Stage parts

  • Interactive features: the stage comes with two pre-recorded songs and lights flash along to the beat. It’s fun to make your bank rock out to these songs, or even turn out the lights to simulate a real concert.
  • Personalized play: the stage is compatible with MP3 players! Just plug in your iPod or other MP3 player and your kiddos and their band can get down to their own favorite songs! It’s pretty neat to personalize play in this way.

The only thing I didn’t like about the stage is that all four band members seem to be male. I wish it was a mixed-gender band, but there are other Playmobil figures available if having a female band member is important to you.

All in all, this is a really cool toy and I think it will get used a lot around here, especially by my diva Sophie! Although, even Joshua will get in on the act when there’s a song he really likes playing. This set goes really well with their love of the kids’ version of Rock Band for the Wii! Playmobil recommends it for ages 4-10, so we will keep it around awhile for Jonah, too.

To see the Playmobil Pop Stars in action and get play ideas, check out this cute stop action video Playmobil created:

Win it!
Think your little Playmobil fan might like this for Christmas? Playmobil has provided an additional Pop Stars Stage for us to give away! To enter, simply leave a comment below stating who you’d gift this set to this Holiday season! Please note that the PLAYMOBIL products, information and two gift packs have been provided by PLAYMOBIL.

One winner will be chosen at random on November 13 at 6 pm EST. Good luck!

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