Entertainment

Bendaroos

What’s up with these products?  My kids been begging and nagging at my husband to order these wax sticks for them, but my goodness it’s expensive!

If you didn’t get my last sentence, “they have been nagging at my HUSBAND!”  Like most households, dads are much easier to manipulate and trick than the moms – sorry guys, but I guess we are stronger (LOL)!

Honestly, I don’t mind spending the money on crafts for our children (especially if it doesn’t make TOO much mess – I despise finger painting, glitter stuff, markers and etc – yes, I am a terrible mother), but I got ripped off with Aqua Dots product.

After my children begged and promised my husband to take out the trash, cleaning their rooms, picking up their toys, and sun and the moon he spent more than $50 for those little Aqua Dots.

The most irrigating thing about it was that I wound up vacuuming those little suckers and later finding out on the news that child health was at risk; so we threw them out!

Yes, I would rather throw them away in the trash than my kids getting poisoned by it – couldn’t believe how many kids got sick from it!

I have done some initial research on Bendaroos construction crafts, and this is the general review on this product.

1)    Similar to Wikki Stick Fanatic, but more expensive than the Bandaroos — $10.00 (for 30 sticks) vs. $28.00 (+s/h) for 500+ sticks
2)    Bendaroo’s wax are thicker
3)    Bendaroos are NOT as messy as Wikki Sticks (picks up dust, dirt, and hair)
4)    Bendaroos have more color variations
5)    Bendaroos are made in CHINA – so beaware
6)    Takes about 6-weeks, but sometimes 2-3 weeks to get it (I don’t know if they have faster delivery options like Aqua Dots; which we spent extra $18 or so for faster delivery – still took over a week though).
7)    Some said they found at Walgreens, but you don’t get as much as internet orders
8)    There has been complaints, some reporting to Better Business Bureau,  about Bendaroos company regarding:
a.    false shipping confirmation promise
b.    deceptive website, and advertising
c.    unsecure website
d.    couldn’t reach customer service
e.    No confirmation of your order until it’s finished and submitted
f.    Order problems – for instance, an individual from Connecticut said, “I tried to order one set of these for my son for $19.95 + $6.95 S&H but after checkout it showed they were charging my card $56.00 for one set plus family pack (Bendaroos – Connecticut, Bridgeport), and Jackie from Wisconsin wrote “I too ordered online and by the time I was done my total was 89.76.  I then sent 4 emails to customer service within a week span and didn’t hear a thing back (Bendaroos – Wisconsin).”

There were many other similar complaints about Bendaroos Company, but not the product itself.  Apparently kids love it, but parents are getting the short end of the sick – as usual, right?

Anyhow, I am assuming that there were and are more please customers than the not; however, it is important for all customers to do their research and homework on your child’s toys and games before ordering anything from online.

Good luck, and I shall share my thoughts on this craft product with my husband – I guess, lucky kids!

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Bendaroos Complaints.  ComplaintsBoard.  Retrieved from http://www.complaintsboard.com/bycompany/bendaroos-a90636.html (1/25/09).

Popularity: 4% [?]

It has been few years since we had a “REAL” family vacation, so we decided to take one this year.  Wow, I didn’t realize how expensive it is to travel!!

Hawaii

We were thinking about going to Hawaii, since “it’s the destination of tranquility, scenery, love, and family.”

We have already been to Florida, California, New York and Jamaica, but we really wanted to go to Hawaii.

Alright, here’ the story of Hawaii … after we got married (13+ years ago) we really wanted a wonderful honeymoon – like most newlywed couple want.  

However, my husband and I were both working (and I was recently taken a position at this company) so I couldn’t take time off – didn’t have any vacation days or sick days saved up.

Also, we were newly married, we didn’t have two nickels (after the wedding) to rub it against each other; so we didn’t have the luxury to quite our jobs to have an awesome honeymoon.

Thus, we decided from that point that we’ll take our honeymoon in a year or so – this would have given us enough time to save up our money, and have some paid vacations days saved up at work.

Unfortunately, our plans didn’t go as we planned for ourselves.

My husband had some health related issues, and I had to help my parents to take care of our grandfather – he was diagnosed with an Alzheimer’s disease six months after we go married.  

Our family suspected that he had an Alzheimer’s disease (forgetting things, walking aimlessly and etc), but we were in denial.  

I remember my grandfather as a strong man, a helpful man, a funny man, and a lovely man – OKAY, enough with the sadness.

Anyhow, so the trip was out of the question – THEN the kids came (Yes, there were all planned – trip to Hawaii didn’t seem that important anymore).

However, since the kids are getting little bit older, and we are getting lot older SO a trip to Hawaii sounds great!!

I have used online ticket agencies (e.g. Travelocity, Orbitz, Cheaptickets, and etc), but the airlines tickets are

Online Air

 SOOOOO expensive!!!!!!!

I haven’t booked it yet, since I came across myairfaresecrets Click Here! website – I am in process of researching the materials out; however, if you have some info please let me know.

Thanks and wish me lots of luck!

Popularity: 6% [?]

My brother-in-law first introduced Holly Dolly music video Click Here! a year ago for the children, and I just think it is the funniest and the cutiest video ever.

The original music sound comes from a traditional Finnish folk song called Leva’s Polkka sung by Loituma, a Finnish quartet.

Holly Dolly – Dolly song is a flash animation of a donkey (I think) singing whole bunch of gibberish to the techno tune – the tune is so catchy!!

In the background there are three animals: large sheep, medium size sheep, and the black sheep (of course) dancing to the music.

As you probably figured out already by now, the black sheep is always in trouble and getting itself into trouble: e.g. climbing the wall, having the evil smirk, rolling down a snow ball to catch his companions, and etc. 

There is another version, Loituma Girl (also known as Leekspin), but I don’t find it entertaining at all.  All you see is a girl spinning her silly leek around over and over, and semi-lip singing to the music.

I am not dogging it – I know how time-consuming it is to design an animation; I just like Holly Dolly much better.

It has been a year since I first heard the Holly Dolly song, and I catch myself often singing the tune in public.  People just look at me and stare thinking “what the heck is she saying?”  Can you imagine walking around the store with your child singing, “bap pa la pa lop bop bop bri beep bop boop bop be …”

Other animations (both audio and video clips) from Holly Dolly includes “Don’t worry, Be Happy,” and “Holly Dolly Lollipop music video.”

There are other funny and entertaining animations on Youtube.  Few of our family’s favorites are:
1) The Gummy Bear Song – Long English Version
2) Hippo and dog
3) Hippo and dog 2

Have fun watching the videos!

Popularity: 2% [?]