Unboxing Of OkieDog Wildpack Rolling Luggage Dragon: Family Friendly Review

Just in time for our big annual family vacation to Sacramento, Okiedog asked me to review their new Wildpack rolling luggage. So I asked my 3 and a half year-old son to choose between the panda, rabbit, dog, and dragon.

He already has the panda backback, plus he’s really getting into dinosaurs and dragons. So he chose the dragon, which has plush wings. Here is my unboxing video:

Okiedog complies with all safety standards, has high quality and are made from very durable materials. Their children’s bags are PVC-, Phthalate- AZO- and BPA-free.

As you can see, there is a built in, easy-access mesh pocket inside the luggage. Plus, it was very easy for my son to pull by himself; it weighs 28 ounces- less than 2 pounds.

The rolling luggage line featuers a 3D design, is water resistant, and contains an interior write-on name tag. The height, with the handle extended, is 18.9 inches (or 48 cm).

unboxking okiedog rolling luggage dragon

All 4 characters versions of the Okiedog rolling luggage are priced at $34.95.

I have to say, Okiedog products really stand out. They have such a unique look. It’s the kind of situation where with the panda backpack, as well as the “daddy diaper bag,” people just have to ask me:

“Where did you get that? I’ve never seen one like that before!”

Obviously, I just review products, I don’t sell them, but here’s a link to the Okiedog site in case you’re curious to find out exactly where I did get that: Use code “dadblog” good for 20% off purchase at okiedog.us. Good until 7/31/14.

Thanks for visiting the Family Friendly Daddy Blog. You never know what I will review next… could be a recipe, could be car, could be travel spot.

See you soon!

Unboxing Of GoGo Squeez’s Apple Mandarin & Gimme Five : Family Friendly Review

As the official daddy blogger of Parents.com for the past 3 years, I’ve always tried to be careful not to openly promote a product. However, with GoGo Squeez, it’s been difficult not to…

GoGo Squeez unboxing review vegan Family Friendly Daddy Blog review

That’s because they are one of the few food brands out there that I approve of 100%.

GoGo Squeez is vegan friendly, non-GMO, kosher certified, gluten free, contains BPA free packaging, contains no artificial flavors or flavors or high-fructose corn syrup and, at the risk of sounding redudant here… is 100% natural.

All of their ingredients are certified USDA organic, grown on local farms in rich, healthy soil that hasn’t been treated with chemical pesticides or fertilizers.

We are a plant-based family, so all that stuff is a big deal to us!

http://www.gogosqueez.com/products/apple-mandarin/

My friends at GoGo Squeez send our family a care package for our upcoming family vacation to Lake Tahoe. So I used that opportunity to help spread the good word about this food company that I am personally passionate about.

I made some “unboxing” videos of my son trying some of their newer flavors: Apple Mandarin and Gimme Five! (a blend of apple, mango, strawberry, peach, and banana).

By the way, I promise I didn’t prompt my son to only say good stuff about these “on the go” applesauce pouches. I admit he was probably confused as to why we were filming him get to eat of of his favorite snacks, but he just went with it!

There are very few food companies out there that I openly stand by and trust. For a strict vegan like me, with a plant-based family, it takes a lot (!) to impress me.

GoGo Squeez is the real deal.

Thanks for stopping by my Family Friendly Daddy Blog today. Now, let me find something else to review…

Unboxing Of “Everything Is Awesome” Edition Of The Lego Movie: Family Friendly Review

I’ve probably earned a reputation on Parents.com by now, as their daddy blogger, of being quite the fan of The Lego Movie. That suits me well though, because I was asked by Lego to review the Everything Is Awesome Edition of The Lego Movie.

Everything Is Awesome Lego Movie Unboxing Review

With that being said, check out the unboxing video that I did, along with my 3 and a half year-old son who helped me out:

The Everything Is Awesome Edition of The Lego Movie includes the Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital Ultraviolet (enabling you to watch it on your TV, computer, tablet and smartphone. Plus, the Bonus 3D movie is included as well.

Special featuers on the 2D Blu-Ray include a “brick’s eye view” of Emmet’s adventures, showing you how bricks were born in Bringing Lego To Life. Not to mention, there is are director/star commentary, outtakes, Dream Job: Meet The Lego Builders, and the “Everything Is Awesome” Sing-Along.

Everything Is Awesome Edition of The Lego Movie

Goodies inside the Everything Is Awesome Edition of The Lego Movie include Vitruvius and President Business minifigures; which are the “Lego Man” versions of those two movie characters.

There is also a fun 14-page Meet The Characters book which contains 13 stickers, as well as games and puzzles.

Everything Is Awesome Edition of The Lego Movie release date June 17, 2014

As the unboxing video demonstrates, a 3D Emmet Photo is inside is well. If I was a little boy, I’d want that displayed proudly on my dresser in my room!

So there is my overview of what all you get with the Everything Is Awesome Edition of The Lego Movie. The official release date is Tuesday, June 17th. (Just in time for family vacation!)

Everything Is Awesome Edition of The Lego Movie

But as for my son, he was able to enjoy it a few days sooner, as you can see him in a “Lego Movie trance” during dinner; in the photo collage above.

And the 2000 piece Lego box provided some good quotes from my son, like, “Daddy, make a Trans-grasshopper-former.”

As well as, “I like my new Legos because it’s a big block. Daddy, the big block is the garage.”

Thanks for visiting the Family Friendly Daddy Blog. I wonder what I will review next?

 

X-Men: Days Of Future Past: Family Friendly Movie Review

This past weekend, I went with my friends Dave and Jet to go see X-Men: Days Of Future Past. Today, I want to share my “family friendly movie review” of it.

X-Men: Days Of Future Past movie review

In other words, despite the PG-13 rating, at what age would it truly be okay for you to take your child to see this movie. That’s not a question I can answer for you.

But sort of look at me as a parent friend who is briefly examining the movie for you to decide if it will be a good choice for a child to see- and what age that child should be.

So let’s get started.

Profanity: They use pretty much every word in the book once, including one “f” and one “gd”, as well as an “a-hole.”

Violence: No blood, but several on-screen deaths and constant action throughout.

Sex/Nudity: There is an implied “morning after” scene involving Wolverine and a woman he doesn’t really know after he travels to 1973 and instantly wakes up in bed next to her; not knowing what’s going on. He steps out of bed and looks out the window, while the audience sees his bare butt for a few seconds.

Other than that, there is the fact that Jennifer Lawrence (of The Hunger Games) is wearing the equivalent of a skin-tight, one piece bathing suit for almost the entire time she is on screen- which is a lot of the movie. For what it’s worth, she’s entirely blue because she’s a mutant.

Overall: This is a solid movie; worth paying full price for. Not as awesome as Captain America: The Winter Soldier– that’s definitely the comic book movie to beat for this year… However, the plot, the acting, the production, I feel none of it is lacking.

I will point out that the plot does seem to resemble Inception, which also features Ellen Page. Both movies involve travelling into a person’s subconscious to attempt to change their conscious actions.

But seriously, no complaints!

With that being said, I’m a 33 year-old man. After hearing me describe this much about X-Men: Days Of Future Past, does it sound like the kind of movie you would be okay with your child seeing?

For me, thinking back to my own childhood, I believe that a 12 year-old boy could be mature enough to see this movie. That’s how old I was when Jurassic Park came out and I saw it in the theatre.

Decide for yourself what is best.

Thanks for reading my “family friendly movie review.” I wonder what I will see next?

 

2014 Toyota Avalon: Family Friendly Car Review

I am very excited to get to do a review on a Toyota Avalon again this week! Last year I reviewed the 2013 Avalon Hybrid, so I already knew how much I was going to love the 2014 version.

2014 Toyota Avalon car review

Before becoming familiar with the Avalon myself, I never realized what an “easy to love” kind of car it really is. There’s no thinking required in regards to “How does it handle?” or anything like that.

You just get in it and you drive. And you don’t think about the car. You just become one with the Avalon.

If you’re considering test driving a full-size car, I would recommend starting with the Avalon. I have test driven and reviewed many cars by now, and I can tell you, there’s something special about the way this car drives; incredibly smooth and natural.

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/avalon/2014/price.html?sub=sedan&zip=37013

And I’m not the only one to rave about the Avalon. If you’ve got the budget for a car like this, and you’re looking for a car this size, I would say start with Avalon- let it be the car to beat.

I would like to close with some stats on the car.

Standard Equipment:

3.5L 268 HP DOHC 24V w/Dual VVT -i

6-Speed ECT -i A/T w/Paddle Shifters

Government 5-Star Star Safety Ratings:

Overall Vehicle Score: 5

Frontal Crash Driver: 4

Frontal Crash Passenger: 5

Side Crash Front Seat: 5

Side Crash Rear Seat: 5

Rollover: 4

Family Friendly Car Review

Fuel Economy and Price:

24 MPG combined (21 city, 31 highway)

Annual fuel cost: $2,200.

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $39,650.00

Fully Loaded, As Seen: $42,785.00.

2014 Toyota Avalon review

So there’s a sneak peak at one of my favorite Toyotas: the 2014 Avalon.

My next family friendly car review will be on the 2014 Toyota Highlander, as I will be travelling from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe and back.

I’m guessing it will be pretty cool…