Plants vs. Zombies - The Family Video Game Night Feature This Week

Family video game night is a big deal around our house.  We make popcorn and milk shakes.  A tremendous amount of planning goes in to finding a game that the entire family wants to watch or participate in.  Okay, so the kids do most of the planning, but my husband and I retain veto power.  Angry Birds, Lego Star Wars and My Sims Kingdom have recently been featured in our family video game nights.  

A couple weeks ago my youngest started lobbying for us to download Plants vs. Zombies to our iPhones so he could play.  One of his friends at school had told him about the game.  So, when I was approached to do a review of the game for the PS3, I honestly thought, I'd sit and watch the kids play a bit, then write a review about how much THEY loved the game.  Um... I couldn't have been more wrong.  Yes, the kids LOVE the game, but after we downloaded the game from the Sony Playstation online store, it was my husband that refused to give up the controller.  I think the game was being played by someone in the house for 4 hours straight as soon as we downloaded it (everyone was taking turns).  Talk about addictive!  It's right on par with Angry Birds and some of the other games that are hugely popular.

One of the things that cracks me up the most is the "notes" that are left by the zombies with such phrases as "Please leave your doors unlocked and yard unguarded".   The notes really crack me up.  It's pretty lighthearted so you don't have to worry about it being inappropriate for younger kids as they simply won't get the meaning of Zombies in this colorful cartoonish game.

What I love about this game is it forces you to build strategy, quick thinking skills and is just plain fun for the family to do together.  I should also point out that within two weeks of release on the Playstation Network, this game was already a top new release with an average rating of 4.86 stars out of 5.  Note it currently costs $14.99 on the Playstation Network (but is still well below the cost of most video games).  I love how you can download the game instantly and don't have to head out to a store to buy it!

*Note:  I was given a free review copy of the game to facilitate this post, but I'm sure we will be purchasing this game for the iPhones on our own shortly, if my husband hasn't already that is... So it is safe to say that hasn't impacted my opinions in the above post!  My husband is actually playing the game as I write this...

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Free Planet Earth Episode Download on iTunes!

I'll never forget when the BBC documentary - Planet Earth first came out on tv.  We actually upgraded to HD tv to specifically watch Planet Earth.  I'd heard it was amazing and it did not disappoint!  We as a family spent many many hours mesmerized watching the series.  The kids loved learning about the different animals all over the world.  My husband and I loved watching the breathtaking views of different places all over the world.

To celebrate Earth Day (April 22, 2010) and the release of the Planet Earth Series on iTunes, they are offering the first episode as a free download April 12- 26, 2010!  Additional episodes can be purchased for as little as $1.99 each. Click here to download the episodes.

Here's more information about how they created the series:

"This jaw-dropping, 11-part series from the BBC’s Natural History Unit presents the epic story of life on Earth. Series producer Alastair Fothergill and his team spent four years in production, over 2000 days in the field, using 71 cameramen filming across 204 locations in 62 countries to capture the ultimate portrait of our planet. It has garnered legions of fans and universal critical acclaim with Oprah Magazine saying “It is the most beautiful, wondrous and truly majestic series - the best thing I’ve ever seen on TV.” Using a budget of unprecedented proportions and captured on HD cameras, Planet Earth is among the highest rated and best selling HD programs ever made. It offers stunning visuals perfect for any HD television or HD handheld device like the Apple iPad which launched on April 3rd."

So be sure to log in here to iTunes to take advantage of this opportunity to dowload a free episode of one of the most amazing shows ever made (just my opinion, yes I got the dvd pack a couple years ago and still love watching it).  Having a few episodes handy on your iTouch, iPad or iPhone is a great and educational activity to have at your finger tips to entertain the kids when you need it!

NOTE: All images and video © BBC.

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It's an iGo Giveaway!

A couple of weeks ago I attended the Silicon Valley Moms Blog LA event and I got to take home an iGo charger.  I had no idea how much I would fall in love with this!  It's not just a cell phone charger, it's a rechargeable battery!  It's so simple, yet a HUGE lifesaver if you use your cell phone as much as I do.  Here's what I do... I use it as a charger overnight to recharge my iPhone, but at the same time it is recharging the battery pack.  In the morning I throw the iGo in my purse and it's ready to boost my iPhone back up where ever I am (even while on a ride at Disneyland!).  I've actually had to start hiding my iGo from my husband so he doesn't snag it from me. (Yes, I'm planning on buying one for him for Father's Day, and I can safely say that on here because he doesn't read my posts!  Shhhh!) He recently went on a short business trip and admitted he almost bought one at the airport.  He'd spent the entire flight playing iPhone game apps and had used up his battery.  He had to wait to call me until he got to the car and was able to plug in to the car charger because he was at 2% of battery life.

So you're probably thinking, that's great and all... but what about those who don't have an iPhone?  Well, they've thought of everything!  The iGo is designed to have an adapter which makes it able to work with most phones and other electronic devices.

And in true OCMomActivities style... I'm THRILLED to announce I'm giving an iGo away to one lucky reader!!!!

The rules:  One lucky reader will be chosen at random using random.org.  The giveaway will end April 2nd, 2010 at midnight Pacific time.  You must first do the mandatory first entry, but be sure to make an additional comment for each additional entry you make.  Only residents of the contiguous 48 states may enter (sorry Canadians, Hawaiians & Alaskans!).  If you don't leave your email address in the comment, be sure I have a way to reach you if you are the winner (i.e. Twitter, etc.).  If I'm not able to reach you within a reasonable amount of time... I will have to draw another winner.

Mandatory First Entry:  Say why you need the iGo and for what device you would want an adapter from the following list (I'll allow one of these per day per person until the end of the giveaway, get creative and have fun with it!)...

• Mobile Phones: Apple, BlackBerry, Casio, Google, HP, HTC, Kyocera, LG, Motorola,
  Nokia, Palm, Pantech, Samsung, Sanyo, Sony Ericsson
  
• Bluetooth Headsets: Aliph, BlueAnt, Jabra, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Plantronics, Samsung,
  Sony Ericsson
• MP3 Players: Apple, Archos, Creative, Insignia, Microsoft, Philips, Samsung, SanDisk, Sony
•  Portable Gaming Devices: Nintendo, Sony
• Digital Cameras: Canon, HP, Kodak, Nikon, Samsung, Sony
• GPS Devices: Garmin, Insignia, Magellan, MIO, Navigon, Sony, TomTom

Additional Entries:
- Become a fan of OCMomActivities on Facebook (1 entry)
- Become a fan of iGo on Facebook (1 entry)
- Subscribe to OCMomActivities on Feedburner to get posts automatically sent to your inbox (1 entry)
- Subscribe to one of the OCMomActivities feeds (RSS, Google, etc.)
- Follow OCMomActivities on Twitter, or tweet about this giveaway (1 entry each)
- Follow iGo on Twitter (1 entry)
- Mention this giveaway in a blog post (1 entry)



*Image at the begining of the post is courtesy of Carla Duharte Razura babyjidesign.com

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8 Great App Games Under $1

So everyone who knows me knows I am addicted to my iPhone.  I really don't know how I lived without it.  But recently I've noticed the kids are maneuvering to snag my iPhone when I leave it unattended.  They LOVE the Apps.  I also can't tell you how many times those Apps have come in handy (waiting at the doctors office, in line at the grocery store, on a road trip, you name it...).

I have actually created a special games page on my iPhone so I can just hand the kids my phone while I am focusing on something else for a few minutes (like driving!).

Whether you're taking a road trip this holiday season with kids, heading to Grandma's house or just heading down the street... take advantage of some temporary price reductions on these FANTASTIC App games by Konami (and we all remember how much my boys loved Frogger!).  They are each less than $1 so they will also make your iTunes gift card gifts stretch that much further... The price reductions will be good until Jan. 4th, 2010 - so enjoy! (Note that not all of the games mentioned below are for kids, but most of them are and the descriptions of the games were provided by Konami, not written by me)

• Tomena Sanner - As businessman Hitoshi Susumu, players are on a mission to race against the clock while avoiding obstacles like T-Rexes, samurais and cowboys that get in their way in order to reach their ultimate dance party destination.

• Field Prowlers POLICE RUSH! - In this exciting car chase game, players assume the role of a police officer sworn to protect and serve by chasing down criminals and arresting them.

• Frogger - Help guide one of Konami's most beloved characters safely across the highway while avoiding oncoming traffic and other obstacles.

• Silent Hill: The Escape - Enter the fear-provoking town of Silent Hill where players must solve puzzles, uncover dark secrets and gather clues to avoid grotesque monsters and survive.

• Krazy Kart Racing - Pick one of ten classic Konami heroes and speed across 16 themed racing circuits in this 3D cartoon styled racer.

• DanceDanceRevolution S - In this addictive music rhythm game, choose from up to three gameplay modes with 26 songs and 18 playable characters.

• DanceDanceRevolution S+ - Groove in classic DDR style, but with an added bonus of being able to download new tunes to tap to on the go.

• Power Pros Touch - Experience the crowd cheers, fight songs and over 120 variations of play-by-play baseball commentary as players chose from 25 to 162 game seasons.

*I received zero compensation for this post.  :)

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Tide Pooling Time in Orange County!

One of our favorite family adventures in Southern California is Tide pooling. I’m always surprised to hear how many SoCal residents haven’t taken the time to go. Maybe it’s because I’m such a beach lover that it has naturally rubbed off on my children, who knows. But I’ve always found that I start to get the itch to go to the beach if it’s been more than a week or two. There’s just something about the sound of the waves crashing on the beach and the sweet smell of the ocean mist. Whatever it is – I’m hooked!

As I was “surfing” through the App store on my iPhone I found this really cool App called Tide Graph by Brainware. I downloaded it and have got to say it is pretty cool! Whether you’re a surfer, beachgoer or boater, this little App will definitely come in handy. What it allows you to do is find the tides according to your location (using GPS) and it tells you in real time where the tide is at (in feet) and shows you the wave curves so you easily know whether the tide is coming in our going out. No more guessing or having to look it up on the internet before going to the beach – it’s all right there on your phone!

And for those thinking “Oh, Cool! ... but I don’t have an iPhone!” Here are a few of the best times to go tide pooling here in Orange County, CA over the next week or so. (I’ll try an continue to post these under the Tides archive tag, so check back if you’re looking to go tide pooling.)

-Saturday 8/8/09- Low tide is at 5:04 pm and the tide will have dropped about 3 feet from it’s peak, so it should be a good one.

-Sunday 8/9/09- Low tide is at 5:30 am and 5:45 pm. If you’re game to get up early, I’d head out there at 8 am, the tide will be coming back in, but will still be pretty low after a high tide overnight.

-Monday 8/10/09- Almost the same as 8/9/09 with the tide not being quite a low.

-Tuesday 8/11/09- Low tide is at 7:43 pm and this is following a really high tide, so there should be some really cool tide pooling and a beautiful sunset to match!

Happy Tide Pooling!

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Educational Must-Have App for Kids!

As I am sure you have guessed by now, I have a new obsession – my iPhone. But I am proud to say that my iPhone has now crossed the threshold and become an educational asset! As I sat here this morning, raking my brain for ways to help my boys get ahead educationally over the summer without them feeling like I was cramming it in to them, it dawned on me… There must be an App for that! Sure enough there are and several of them at that!

Brett is now entering 2nd grade and one of our biggest hurdles this last year was his math skills. He is great at math and grasps concepts well, but our challenge was improving his speed for the testing. They practice something called “Rocket Math” in their classes. Rocket math is basically a half sheet full of 40 simple math problems (they have different levels of complexity) and the students are given one minute once a week to complete the test. First grade is more of a practice from my understanding, but second grade is s different story. Brett did a fantastic job of getting them correct, but was always falling a few problems short in the given time frame. I really needed a simple and fun way to give him the practice at home. I also knew that Kyle would also need the same practice this upcoming year.

After a brief search I found the Math Flash Cards by One Moxie App. Within minutes I had it installed (for a nominal 1.99 charge on iTunes) and had Brett practicing away on my iPhone. The Math Flash Cards App is basically just flash cards with multiple choice answers that keep accuracy and time. Exactly what we needed! After less than 15 minutes practicing Brett had increased his speed by 25%. It is completely customizable so you can set the number of cards, the difficulty and they type (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).

I am a super busy working mom and something this is fantastic to be able to help my boys prepare for the next school year and save me time! Love it Love it Love it! It is a must have for all elementary aged kids!

Don't have an iPhone? Don't want to switch to AT&T? Buy an iPod Touch and you can use all the Apps without the hassle! You can buy one here:

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Disneyland Parade

Yes, I warned you that we are avid Disney Fans... last night we went again!

I think I am becoming a go to person for asking about Disneyland because I am not being frequently asked questions like, "What is the new theme?" and "How is the parade?". So I'll now making a habit of posting about those things. You may agree with me or not, but these are just my opinions. :)

I'm not a fan of Disney's "Theme" for the year. For those of you who don't know what that means - each year Disney picks a "Theme", last year it was the "Year of a Million Dreams", this year it is "Celebrate Today". Okay, guys. Good concept, but the execution of it is really lacking in some parts. I think it is fantastic to offer guests a free day at Disneyland on their birthday or equal cash (!) compensation for passholders, but I think the new parade is TERRIBLE. The parade this year to me is not worth ANY effort to watch. In the past there has been tremendous creativity and magic designed in to the parade that has always made it in my opinion worth the effort to hunker in and save a spot. This parade just annoys me. Let's face it, Disney for years has always made the better parades for Disneyland and left the less than exciting parades for California Adventure. Now it's the opposite! We hopped back and forth between both parks last night and without a doubt the Electrical Parade at California Adventure is a million times better than the Celebrate Today parade.

Disney missed the mark with the Celebrate Today parade. I mean, really, did they think that basically just putting a bunch of the characters on moving floats with loud music and dancing with the crowd would be enough? Not to this Disney fan! I'd much rather see them bring back the prior parade which was full of elaborate floats.

(And of course, we planned our entire evening using the iPhone Walkee Guide App. To be honest, it was the entire reason we decided to go! We saw that the lines weren't bad and it would be worth the effort to head up there at 4pm!) Stay tuned for a review of the restaurant where we ate dinner).

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iPhone App

Okay, so I know I haven't been very good about posting lately, life has been hectic! But I'm resolving to get back to serious posting again!

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I finally gave in an joined the iPhone crowd. Oh yes, I was fighting this one, but he just kept persisting.

Immediately, I knew I was in trouble... and now just two weeks later I can't imagine what life was like without the iPhone. But there has been one particular app that has made the ENTIRE switch worthwhile... The Disneyland Walkee iGuide app. This one is an absolute must have for any Disneyland visitor! I would have paid far more than the $2.99!

As you know, we are avid Disney (freaks) with annual passes who tend to go *ahem* about once a week on average. And no, I'm not kidding about that. We LOVE going to Disneyland and we make the effort every time we have the chance. The one thing that drives my husband absolutely crazy about Disneyland is the lines- he HATES them. That is exactly why I took the boys alone on the first day that the Finding Nemo ride was open, knowing full well there was zero chance of getting my husband to wait in the 3 1/2 hour long line. I left it up to the boys as to whether we would wait in the line and they were determined to ride it that day! So we waited for 3 1/2 hours in 90 something degree heat. And then we went back again just a couple of days later and waiting in the line AGAIN. You should have seen the laughter from the Castmembers as we got on the ride (for the 4th time) when they found out that my boys had already "found Nemo" 3 times and the ride had only been open for two weeks... For those that aren't aware, the waits for the ride were insane for months after the ride opened!

Last Sunday we got up early and had breakfast at the Carnation cafe on Main Street (LOVE the Mickey shaped waffles!) and plotted out our rides according to the wait times we found for the rides on our new Walkee iGuides. It made for a fantastic time because we knew how long the ride waits were for each ride before heading over there! The coolest part of the day was seeing that there was a nine minute wait for the Matterhorn (was only 5 minutes by the time we got in line), so we bolted over there after riding Big thunder Mountain. As we were waiting in line and scoping out the waits on the other rides, I saw another couple immersed in their iPhones! I smiled and asked if they were using the Walkee guide also. Sure enough they were! How cool is that?

You can bet from here on out I will plan my next trip to Disneyland according to how long the lines look on the Walkee iGuide and diligently enter our own wait times after each and every ride.

Love that there's "an app for that!"

Don't have an iPhone or don't want to switch to AT&T? That's an easy one, buy an iPod Touch and get all the fun of the Apps, without the hassle of switching! You can buy one here:

Family Travel Tips
Anaheim

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