From time to time I get products to review that just blow me away and the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9″ is one of them.  This is actually the 3rd Kindle we have had and each newer version gets so much nicer.  If you think Kindles are just for reading eBooks, boy are you wrong.   These HD tablets do so much more !!!

With the HDX, there are so many nice upgrades such as the pixel density is now 339 ppi making the picture SUPER CLEAR, it is 34% lighter (which is nice when you are holding it for a long time), has a faster processor, has a longer battery life (can last up to 18 hours when reading an eBook) and it has both front and rear cameras.  Plus it has the MAYDAY option where you can connect with an Amazon representative within 15 seconds and ask them for help 24/7, 365 days a year.  The best part is IT’S FREE !!!!

The Kindle Fire HDX gives you instant access to the most popular free and best-selling apps to help you stay productive or be entertained such as Facebook, Netflix, Candy Crush, Angry Birds, Hulu Plus and more.

You can also listen to all your favorite songs through the Dolby audio dual stereo speakers.  Download the Pandora app and pick your favorite style of music or favorite bands and jam out.  Or download your choice from thousands of audiobooks on Audible and the Kindle Fire tablet can now synchronize Kindle text with companion Audible audiobooks with real-time highlighting to create a more immersive reading experience, as well as deepen learning and comprehension.  One of the coolest features is Whispersync which creates a virtual bookmark, so your Kindle picks up right where you left off listening.

The Kindle Fire HDX is perfect for getting work done and it now supports printing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, photos and e-mails to your home or office’s wireless printer.

I absolutely LOVE the Kindle FreeTime feature on this.  It comes free on every new Kindle Fire and allows parents to create a profile for each of their children and choose what books, apps, games, and videos they want to give their kids access to.

You can also set daily time limits for tablet use or restrict certain categories—like games and video—while leaving unlimited time for reading.  This is going to be perfect for Kyle because he gets so into games that hours and hours go by and he doesn’t get school work completed.  Now he will not be able to play after the set time limit is up.

Also Kindle FreeTime Unlimited is the first-ever all-in-one subscription that brings together kid-friendly books, games, educational apps, movies and TV shows – all the types of content that kids and parents love. From just $2.99 per month, enjoy unlimited access to content from Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street, PBS, and more.

And one more thing I love about buying the Kindle Fire HD is that you get Amazon Prime for free which includes Prime Instant Video so my kids are able to stream lots of Free Movies.

The new Xray for Music allows you read lyrics to songs line by line.  There is also Xray for movies and TV as well.  Simply tap on any scene to instantly see which actors are currently on screen, jump to other movies in which they star, learn the names of songs as they play, see trivia questions and answers, and explore character backstories.

So if you are considering getting a tablet, the Kindle Fire HDX is definitely one that meets most every feature you would need in a tablet !!!

Disclosure: I was given the product featured in this post to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% mine and not influenced in any way.

 

OUYA is the new kind of game console that is the perfect gift for kids or anyone that likes playing games.  It is affordable, beautiful, fun, powerful and brings the best games to life on TVs.  I love that all games are free to try so families can test out new and favorite titles before purchasing.  There are over 500 games that are all free to try with every genre ranging from racing to shooter, action-adventure to RPG, and platformer to puzzle.

OUYA offers more than gameplay because it is based on Android so it can support any Android application designed for TV.  Additionally, OUYA is focused on enabling established and indie developers to bring new ideas to the living room television.

You can purchase the OUYA at Amazon, Target and OUYA.tv for around $99.99 (only $89.99 right now on Amazon)

Disclosure: I was given the product featured in this post to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% mine and not influenced in any way.

With Uncle Milton Wild Walls, you can create an awesome light and sound show on your wall like you have never seen before.  You can choose between different themes such as safari, dinosaur, shark, dolphin, Spiderman, Iron Man, Little Mermaid, and Tinkerbell & Friends.

I chose the Uncle Milton Tinker Bell Wild Walls for Kaley’s room and she squealed when she saw it.  The pixie dust light effects gently fade in and out, illuminating  the wall, just like being in Pixie Hollow. With real nature and pixie dust sound effects, the synchronized light and sounds bring the scene to life!  The Tinker Bell decal is over 19 inches high and the light effect spreads over 20 sq ft! FX Activator mounts easily to the wall with included hardware.

Requires 3 AA batteries (included).  I love that it has an auto shut-off to save battery life.

You can find Uncle Milton Wild Walls at Toys R Us and on Amazon.com

For Kyle, I got the Uncle Milton Fireworks Light Show in My Room which brings the flash and bang of fireworks indoors. Crackles and booms are heard through the launcher’s speakers set in time to glowing, expanding firework images that display on your wall, flickering in time to the sounds.  Just use the firework selector dial to choose one of eight firework images for display. Pull back and release the lower grip to start the “launching” sound.

The Fireworks Light Show requires three AA batteries (not included). An on/off switch hidden inside the handle turns the launcher off when the show is over.

This is best for kids 6 to 9 years old and you can find it at Toys R Us and on Amazon.com.

Disclosure: I was given the products featured in this post. All opinions are 100% mine and not influenced in any way.

Tastykake is currently offering some delicious, seasonal sweet treats sure to get everyone on your shopping list into the holiday spirit. These are perfect stocking stuffer items and make  great additions to a gift basket of holiday goodies.  They are also the perfect item to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve !!!

• Candy Cane Cakes – Tastykake’s Candy Cane Kakes provide sweet lovers with a fun and delicious combination of layered white cake with red peppermint creme’ and a white peppermint flavored coating with a decorative red drizzle. These festive cakes not only taste great, they are a perfect way to show-off traditional candy cane colors during the holidays.
• Coconut Frosty Cakes – Featuring a dark chocolate covered coconut candy kake, Tastykake’s Coconut Frosty Kakes are the perfect treat for chocolate lovers.
• Santa Snacks – Tastykake Santa Snacks include tasty creme-filled vanilla cake with holiday icing and festive sprinkles.

My kids absolutely LOVED all of these snacks and they didn’t last long in our house at all.  My favorite was the Candy Cane Cakes and plan to look for them in stores around me !!!

You can find a store that sells Tastykakes by checking their site HERE.

Disclosure: I was given the product featured in this post to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% mine and not influenced in any way.