All Dads & Grads Need A JumPack When On The Road

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cobra for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have a confession to make. I am not a car guy. I have never been that interested in cars other than driving them from point A to point B. There I said it.

I have never changed a tire or tricked out my ride in any way. When something breaks, I call someone to fix it. I did change a few light bulbs before, but that’s it.

That is why when I am driving, or my wife is out with the car, I always have a the tiniest worry of something going wrong and being stuck somewhere.

Stuck without a phone, without power or without the tools needed to get the car going again. I am the guy who chooses not to have jumper cables in the car because then one day it would be proven I don’t know to use them.

But in the age of modern technology it seems silly to have such worry.

Review – Mattell #BOOMcoBLAST Rapid Madness Blaster

Is there anything more fun for kids than toy guns? They have come so far since I was little. Nerf has always been the big player in toy guns, and now Mattell is jumping into the mix with their BOOMco line of toys.

Before I start, for those who know me, I have always been against toy guns, in particular, the ones that shoot darts or any kind of bullets. I got hit in the face as a kid and it hurt, so that kind of set me for life.

So when I was contacted to review the BOOMco Rapid Madness Blaster, I was torn. The dad blogger in me was all in, picturing the fun I would have with the boys. But the parent in me was a little against bringing weapons into the house.

So I decided to accept the toys, test and review and use the opportunity as a learning experience for the boys.

I have to say, when the very cool box from BOOMco arrived, I was a little kid again.

All Moved In, Time to #ManClean The Place

The timing could not have been better.

We just moved into a new place with hard wood floors as far as the eye could see. It was not dirty by any means, but could use a polish.

Thankfully, at the very same time, I was contacted to join the #ManClean movement sponsored by Swiffer.

The whole point of the campaign is to give men some much-needed cred for keeping clean around the house. Dads everywhere also love to vacuum, dust and tidy. Why hide it?

I certainly do my fair share of cleaning up after the kids.

So it was the perfect time for a package of Swiffer products to arrive at the door.

The Chicco Activ3 Jogging Stroller Is Life Changing

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A stroller? Life changing?

No I am not exaggerating. We had our lives changed for the better thanks to a new stroller.

The Chicco ACTIV3™ jogging stroller (Snapdragon) is the ideal combination of a stylish everyday stroller and a fitness jogger.

Before I go on with the review, here are the early returns before even fully trying it out.

Dad – I don’t have to crouch anymore.

Mom – It is beautiful.

Nana – The thing is amazing. So smooth.

The toddler – Weeeeeeeeeeee

The big brother – Wow, where did we get it!

Yes, the stroller is the Rolls Royce of strollers I would have to say. Or maybe it is because went from a broken down umbrella stroller to the Chicco version.

Our only wish, is that our youngest son was not already two, so we could get a lot more use out of it.

We are not runners by any stretch, so maybe we would not of looked at this stroller in the store. But thanks to the kind people at Chicco, we have had the opportunity to test one out. I don’t think we could go back to anything else.

Living in Toronto, you try your best to avoid using the car. Thankfully, most things you need to do are close enough to walk or bike.

I was home with our two boys all summer and the tiny umbrella stroller was key to all of our trips. Being a tall dad (6’5). I always would have to bend, crouch and trip over the wheels. I am sure it was funny to see me pushing it.

I was so excited at the idea of reviewing The Chicco ACTIV3™ jogging stroller, I was checking the mail daily to see if it had come.

The timing could not have been better. We just moved to a part of Toronto where not only do you need a top quality stroller for the hills, but for the status as well. I now hold my head up high as I push my son down some of the trendiest streets of the city.

On to the review….

Reviewing Like A Dad – Greenwood Smokehouse

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Reviewing like a dad will cover my favourite and not so favourite places, products and events based on my experiences. As a parent, it is always better to hear it from another parent, rather some person who has no idea what it is like to do anything with kids.

Have a place, product or event you would like us to check out, please contact like a dad today.

Place: Greenwood Smokehouse

Location: 673 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario.

The 411: We first tried Greenwood Smokehouse for my birthday. It was a takeout meal and it was exceptional. I have a taste for BBQ and this food fit the bill. You knew you were in good hands once you entered the place and it smelled like actual smoke. We ordered the dry rubbed ribs and beans. Again, exceptional BBQ. The ribs were fall off the bone and had a great flavour. The beans, well you knew they were home-made. I have been trying to suck up to Greenwood Smokehouse on Twitter, hoping to get the recipe.

Top Mobiles For Gaming

Fans of online gaming like the variety they have in regards to the devices they may purchase to access online gaming.

Mobile phones are becoming top choices for gaming on the go. Given the large number of mobile gamers, online sites have responded by tailoring their product to the top operating systems. One of these is the Android operating system. Designed by Google, many of the mobile phones using this system are ideal for gaming.

Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Toothbrush Review

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Earlier I told you about the Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Toothbrush I was sent to review. Well we gave it a go for three weeks and the results are in.

Now, I would have preferred a gadget the was more audio/video than dental, but you know what, it was fun to try out an electric toothbrush for the first time.

Philips certainly made a cool looking brush that any tech lover would jump at the chance to try. It is so sleek looking I was expecting WiFi.

But let’s be honest, a pretty toothbrush is useless unless it performs well. The Flexcare Platinum claims to remove six times more plaque than a manual brush, and offers various intensity levels, from normal to extra soft – so unlike some electric brushes it won’t make your eyeballs rattle in their sockets.

This was my biggest worry. Would it be too hard on my teeth or loud on my brain.

Hasbro’s Transformers Construct-Bots Review

I grew up loving Transformers. Yes, they were around long before Michael Bay got his hands on them. The cartoons, the toys, the iconic transforming sound. Loved it all.

So it is the best feeling when I get to watch my boys build their own love for the toys as the grow. Sure a few things have changed and the modern versions of the toys are much more slick and fancy, but they are still transformers.

One of the modern views of the transformers are the Construct-Bots.

Recently I was sent a few by the good folks at Hasbro. The plan was to build them with my son and then name it and post it to the web.

Well, parenting got in the way and I just got around to opening the box today.

Thanks dad, jeez. Anyways. Harrison does not even know they are in the house.