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Wii Fit U Challenge 2014 Update

January 29, 2014 by Melissa

Two weeks ago I was all gung-ho with the Wii Fit U Challenge 2014. I shared with you the routines that were given to me, the progress that I had already made and the fun that the kids I were having.

I went to work on my routine and noticed I needed 2 Wii Motion Plus remotes. We have one. I haven’t had the chance to get another one so I’ve had to modify the routines myself.

Changing the routine wasn’t hard at all. There are so many options to burn calories and get the heart pumping. One of our favorite activities to do as a family is Super Hula Hoop. I’ve even found a way to kick it up a notch by bending my knees while swinging my hips. Doing this gives my legs an extra work out that I definitely feel the next day.

You can see where Shae was beating me but I finally passed her score.

Another 1.6 pounds down!

Wii Fit U Challenge 2014

January 19, 2014 by Melissa

With the new year comes new resolutions and promises to make changes to your life. I’m not very different from everyone else with the resolutions I vow to make. Getting fit and healthy is a common promise I put together for myself, one that is a struggle all year long. I have good intentions and even manage to work on my goals but easily get sidetracked with everyday tasks and responsibilities. This time I’m going to start working on a new program, the Wii Fit U Challenge. I think being a part of an organized group experience should hold me more accountable for the time I spend working on me.

The program is designed to feel familiar to Wii Fit but offers many more interactive and comprehensive upgrades than its predecessor.

There is the obvious improvement, the Wii U game pad controller. This device works not only as a controller but as it’s own gaming device, internet browser and entertainment system that can stream video.

When working on Wii Fit U it works just as the remote but in my opinion a touch easier. No more fiddling with point the remote to just the right spot to hit Quit or Retry. The game pad sits on the floor in front of me while I’m working out. It can even serve as a mirror to show me if I’ve performing the yoga poses correctly.

Wii Fit U introduced more than 15 new activities to get gamers working on their health and fitness. My favorites so far are luge, rowing and super ski jump.

The Gym Community is by far the most interactive component to the system. This allows me to log in and share my experiences and achievements with other users. Having a support system can be the most motivating force behind working out. Even when I’m not working out I can track my burned calories and steps taken with the Wii Fit U Fit Meter. Syncing this up with the game pad tracks my daily movements for me so all the information is together.

Since before Christmas I’ve been dealing with sickness after sickness, flu/cold/strep/congestion. With all of these ailments I’ve had to be really choosy how I worked out as not to end up with a coughing fit.

In honor of National Staying Healthy Month I was given this Wii U along with a series of routines to improve my health, strength and encourage weight loss. I haven’t had the opportunity to complete the routine entirely. I’m working on the bits and pieces that I know would work but I can already see a difference.

Routine 1 – 44 minutes/61 calories (lower intensity)

Deep Breathing
Warrior
Tree
Dance
Cobra
Push-up and Side Plank
Lunge
Sideways Leg Lift
Arm-and-Leg Lift
Tricep Extension
Advanced Step (Beginner)
Free Run (Duration: 10 minutes)
Obstacle Course (Beginner)
Rhythm Kung Fu (Beginner)

Routine 2 – 44 minutes/72 calories (higher intensity)

Arm-and-Leg Lift
Single-Arm Stand
Balance Bridge
Side Lunge
Single-Leg Reach
Free Step (Duration: 10 minutes)
Free Boxing (Duration: 5 minutes)
Super Hula Hoop (Beginner; 3 minutes)
Advanced Step (Beginner)
Ultimate Obstacle Course (Beginner)
Jazz (Beginner)
Burning Beats (Duration: 5 minutes)

I think in a few more days I’ll be ready to complete this schedule 3-4 times a week with no problem.

Even using my modified version I’ve lost 1.1lbs in about 4 days. Progress is always a success.

Stay tuned as I share more details of the Wii Fit U Challenge.

Xbox One, Forza Motorsport 5 and M&M’s Under The Tree

December 15, 2013 by Melissa

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client.

Shaun loves his Xbox 360 and plays it every single chance he gets so I am really excited for Christmas morning so I can see his face when he opens up his brand spanking new Xbox One and Forza 5. I must admit that I’m also pretty excited for him to open up his Xbox One so I can hook it up and him and I can play Forza Motorsport 5 together. Shaun and I have been playing Forza 4 together on the Xbox 360 and I know we are going to love playing Forza 5 together with the new graphics on the Xbox One.

Melinda and I went to our local WalMart last night and picked up Forza Motorsport 5 and while we were there we also picked up a bag of Peanut Butter M&M’s as well as a ton of other stuff. Shaun loves candy almost as much as he loves Xbox (just like his father, LOL) so we are going to wrap up the M&M’s as well and put them under the tree. I can see him now on Christmas morning playing his Xbox and eating M&M’s, LOL. That is what I snack on when gaming or watching TV so who can blame him for wanting the do the same plus it’s Christmas so we’ll give his a pass on eating candy so early in the morning.

Christmas is 10 days away and thank goodness for that because I have been wanting to give Shaun his Xbox One since I picked it up on Black Friday. Thankfully Melinda stepped in otherwise Shaun would have nothing else to open on Christmas except for his M&M’s, LOL.

Come on Christmas. I am patiently waiting for you but I must admit my patients are wearing thin as I am overly excited for the 25th to arrive.

One cool thing that WalMart is doing is called Buy, Snap and Redeem. It’s a pretty cool promotion and here are the details:

Buy Forza 5 game
Buy participating M&M’s products (+ Participating products include: M&Ms Peanut 42oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Milk 42oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Peanut Butter 38oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Pretzel 30oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Peanut 19.2oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Milk 19.2oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Peanut Butter 18.4oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Pretzel 15.4oz Large Laydown Bag.)
Snap a photo of qualifying items on the receipt on your phone and text it to 811811
Redeem: You will receive a text back with a reward code valid for a $10 eGift card to Walmart.

I like that Walmart is texting back a $10 eGift card just for buying the game and M&M’s. I love gaming, M&M’s and we shop at Walmart ALL of the time so to me this is a win win. I took a picture of my receipt last night showing my purchase of the M&M ‘s as well as Forza Motorsport 5 and I text it over to 811811 and within minutes I received a text back saying that my receipt has been submitted for processing and that I can expect a confirmation text within 48 hours, sweet.

So now I will just sit back and wait for my $10 eGift card for Walmart to arrive. I am sure that once I do receive it I will just spend it on either more Xbox stuff or more M&M’s either way it’s $10 well spent.

Also be sure to participate in the Pixel Art Instagram competition.

In order to participate, create your own Pixel Art using M&M’s (R) candies and snap an Instagram Photo. It should be video game and/or racing inspired to celebrate the launch of the new game Forza 5 (think your favorite characters, race cars, car logos, game symbols, weapons, gaming systems etc). Be creative and have fun!

Tag your image with #FueledByM AND #Contest and post the image on Instagram and Twitter. You can enter up to 3 times per day!!!!

One lucky Pixel Artist will win a new Xbox One and Gaming is better with M pack including the Forza 5 Motorsport game and a 14 oz bag of M&Ms(R). Contest runs Dec. 4th – Dec. 18th and winner will be chosen at random.

Here is my work of art that I submitted for the Pixel Art Instagram Competition.

Assassin’s Creed 3 Deal of the Day #AC3Gold

December 11, 2012 by Melissa

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this post. Please visit Amazon.com to get your own copy of Assassin’s Creed 3, today’s Gold Box Deal of the Day! I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

Gaming is a HUGE part of this year’s gift – giving season. Especially in this house. Shaun’s wishlist if full of games, expansions, codes and new platforms and gaming systems.

This holiday season Assassin’s Creed III is one of the games on his list for both Xbox and PS Vita. I’m sure this is same situation many people are faced with right now. Video Games are some of the most popular gift ideas our there.

But I hope you didn’t already buy it because I have an AWESOME announcement that’s gonna blow the minds of gamers out there.

Assassin’s Creed 3 is Amazon’s Gold Box Deal of the Day. That means for today only you can buy it for $33. This game normally retails for up to $60. That means this is an incredible savings for something that has been waiting to purchase the game anyway.

This newest installation of the ongoing series is set in 1775, a time when the America was establishing the colonies. The story is based on revolt and battle with a new Assassin, Conner. The American Revolution has a new enemy to fear, a predator so deadly that he can strike silence or chaos and succeed with his mission.

BUT if you want to win your own copy of Assassin’s Creed 3 follow Clever Girls on twitter because they are giving away 5 copies December 11th.

To Enter all you have to do is retweet the message below!

Amazon Gold Box Deal of the Day: Assassin’s Creed 3! To buy: http://clvr.li/AC3Gold – RT to enter to win a copy! #AC3Gold

Don’t miss this great deal on Amazon because it only lasts 1 day!

Gold Box Deal of the Day: http://clvr.li/AC3Gold

Gamers Gift Guide and Skylanders Giants Giveaway

December 4, 2012 by Melissa

Many designers think they have the key to the next great video game. Capturing that audience is hard when there is so much to choose from these days. A great game must have intense graphics, an interesting or amusing storyline and the want to play again. Without these things a game is nothing to the gamer. This list below is our Activision Gamers Gift Guide. There’s something for everyone on this list.

Available on the Following Platforms
PlayStation® 3 and Xbox 360®

Available on the Following Platforms
PlayStation® 3, Xbox 360®, Nintendo WiiU™ and PC™

Available on the Following Platforms
PlayStation® 3, Xbox 360®, Nintendo Wii™ and Nintendo 3DS™

Available on the Following Platforms
Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™

Available on the Following Platforms
PlayStation® 3, Xbox 360® and Nintendo 3DS™

Available on the Following Platforms
PlayStation® 3, Xbox 360®, Nintendo Wii™ Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo 3DS™

Available on the Following Platforms
Xbox LIVE™ Arcade, PlayStation® 3 and PC

Available on the Following Platforms
PlayStation® 3, Xbox 360® and Nintendo Wii™

Now that you’ve been schooled on the best and most popular games out there here’s your chance to enter to win Skylanders Giants Starter Pack for XBox or Wii. Tell me what platform you’d prefer to win. Simple!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
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Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Tuesday, December 25, 2012. The winners will be emailed and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to Continental US residents, age 18 or over only. For complete rules please read our blog contest rules page.

It’s a Mario Party Here

April 13, 2012 by Melissa

The sign of a good video game is how much the kids fight over whom gets to play. Mario Party 9 entered our house a couple weeks ago and it’s been nonstop bickering over whose turn it is, who gets to choose their favorite character and who gets to be number 1. This is the typical behavior for any Mario game honestly.

We owned Mario Party for the Nintendo DS and it was one of the most played games by all of the kids, including me. I liked Mini Games. Mario Party 9 for the Wii is shaping up to be the same kind of fun. I never realized there was a mission to all of the games; Bowzer Jr has managed to steal all of the mini stars from the heavens and it’s up to Mario and his friends to get them back. I just told the kids about this and they didn’t know. They literally just load the game and play whatever screen they land on, it doesn’t matter what the story is they just want to play.

Mario Games are always top choices in our house. Super Mario Bros is another game the kids love but one that I can’t let them play together. Even though they are on the same team they compete against each other with who gets to do certain moves, collect certain mushrooms and who is player 1. Apparently player 1 is top dog. I’ve said it before, the Wii is the perfect family gaming console especially with young kids. Mario games as a whole are probably the most entertaining and fun.

This post was created as part of a Stiletto Media campaign. I received the above product, free of charge, to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are those of reviewer only. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

We are a #WiiFamilia

April 8, 2012 by Melissa

To say we are a gaming family is an understatement. We have 3 different gaming platforms, along with 3 different handhelds systems, smarthphones loaded with games, an iPad with games, an iPhone with games and numerous child friendly educational systems. Don’t get me wrong we love a good board game or afternoon at the park but technology is king in this house.

The Wii is the number one played system in this house. Each and everyday several games are rotated our by almost everyone that lives here or visiting for the day. Just Dance 3 has been number one for a while; we’ve been playing it since Christmas as family time, exercise and plain fun. Wii Fit and the original Wii Sports get plenty of use too.

4 years ago we got our first Wii. It was Black Friday right in the middle of the craze and we payed a premium but it was so worth it. I was never a big game player. In fact I thought making this purchase was going to be waste of time and money. I was quickly proven wrong. The entire family, even Shae as a baby was addicted to Mario Kart; she wasn’t really playing but loved to have a steering wheel in hand. We battled each night laughing the entire time. The interactive aspect makes it great for families.

Now that all the kids are of ages to play independently they each have their own collection of games. The Wii stays top on our list because the games are fun, the controllers are easy to work and the price can’t be beat for something the entire family can utilize. We are a #WiiFamilia

This post was created as part of a Stiletto Media campaign. I received the above product, free of charge, to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are those of reviewer only. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Video Games Brought Shaun and Sabreena Closer

March 12, 2012 by Melissa

The other day I was on Facebook and heard someone mention a game called Skyrim. I have heard about the game but didn’t know a lot about it so I asked Shaun and Sabreena did they know anything about this game. The reason I even asked about this video game in the first place was because I was thinking maybe with all of my free time I would try a new video game to pass the time. Funny thing is Sabreena did know about the game because a lot of her friends play it and talk about it all of the time but Shaun knew nothing. The game is rated M for mature so maybe that is why Shaun knew nothing.

Sabreena then asked me could we rent the game because she really wanted to give the game a try so I checked a few Redbox Kiosks and found one with the game. Now the second Shaun hears Redbox and games he wants to play as well but like I mentioned this game was rated M for mature so I need to be 100% what I was allowing him to play. I told him I would need to watch Sabreena play the game first to see if this was something he could try. After watching Sabreena play Skyrim I decided this was ok for Shaun to play so they began playing together.

Saturday night and most of the day Sunday Shaun and Sabreena each took turns playing Skyrim together. Melinda and I were getting slightly annoyed because all they were doing was talking non-stop while playing the game but Sunday night I told Melinda this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing because Shaun and Sabreena were spending time together hanging, talking and playing a game together and they weren’t arguing (not a lot anyway, LOL). Not that they never talk or spend time together but it was kind of nice watching them sit on the couch together helping each other in the game. When Shaun would get stuck in the game he would ask his big sister to bail him out which she was happy to do.

I am glad I rented Skyrim for them this weekend because it was really cool to see them spend time with each other!!!!

Brush Up On Your Cooking With Cooking Mama 4 : Kitchen Magic

January 1, 2012 by Melissa

Sabreena and Shaun have been playing Cooking Mama for a few years on the Wii and when I heard that Cooking Mama 4 : Kitchen Magic was coming to the Nintendo 3Ds I got myself on the list to review this game. Not only is Cooking Mama a great game it is now in 3D, how cool is that?

I can remember watching Shaun and Sabreena compete at Cooking Mama for Wii all of the time and now that Sabreena is older she has passed down the Cooking Mama torch to Shae who also loves Cooking Mama. Shaun is the one with the 3DS but anytime Shaun is doing something else Shae is asking if can she play Cooking Mama 4. I am sure she is trying to perfect her cooking skills so she can whip (no pun intended) Shaun at his own game. Overall the game play appears to be pretty straight forward and offers endless hours of entertainment.

There are so many features in Cooking Mama 4 : Kitchen Magic I am going to list them here below:

Use the stylus as your ultimate cooking utensil to chop, slice, stir, knead, roll, toss and more in more than 200 unique mini games.
Use the 3DS gyroscope to cook in brand new ways: crack eggs, balance plates of food, flip meals in a pan, grate cheese and more.
Watch kitchen mishaps unfold in comedic 3D events and work to save your mistakes with additional activities on top of each recipe step.
Create 60 mouth watering recipes including: Designer Cupcakes, Gourmet Popsicles, Takoyaki, New England Clam Chowder, Corn Dogs and Cherry Pie.
Combine any two recipes to make your very own delicious dish.
Become a true kitchen master with new time-based activities that let you set the table, wash dishes, clean up, organize, decorate, and more!
Recipes progress from simple to complex, from small to large dishes, so do your best to meet Mama’s expectations and impress your friends. If your friends think your dish is delicious, you’ll unlock another new friend!
Earn bronze, silver, and gold medals from Mama based on the quality of your cooking.
Customize your kitchen & dress up Mama with fun earned outfits and accessories.
Combine two recipes to make your very own delicious or unusual dish. A total of 416 different fantastic combinations.
Cook off with up to 4 players in Challenge Mode.

I know the holidays are over but if your kids are like mine they have giftcards that are burning a hole in their pocket so why not take them out to pick up Cooking Mama 4 : Kitchen Magic. This game is available at most major retailers and retails for approximately $29.99 but remember this is for the Nintendo 3DS only.

UbiSoft presents Assassin’s Creed:Revelations

December 13, 2011 by Melissa

Assassin’s Creed takes place in the Renaissance Era which I thought would be a perfect fit for our oldest daughter to try out. While it is a fighting game I felt it had a different feel to it so we used her as our official game.

From Sabreena:
Last week, we received Assassin’s Creed Revelations from the wonderful people at Ubisoft. I had heard about the Assassin’s Creed series mostly from the Literal Trailers made by Toby Turner but I had never played them or seen them played so I wasn’t sure what to expect. When I started playing on Friday night I was shocked by how different it was than what I had originally anticipated. Before the night, I had never used an Xbox in my entire life and I had no idea what I was doing. I had to pause the game every time a new action was introduced to look at the controller and figure out which buttons to hit. The part of the game that gave me the most trouble was the climbing. It took me about 15 minutes to figure out how to jump to the next platform, climb higher and go around the building. But once I had passed that point in the game I turned it off for the day and didn’t come back to it until Saturday evening. By this point I had passed the first level of the game and had gotten to the real fun, assassinating people. But I wasn’t doing it in the way I thought I would. I was mostly killing guards and Templars not important political figures like I had expected. I went on missions and unlocked new weapons and armor. I stole money, medicine and bomb materials from the bodies of guards and Templars I had killed, all while being harassed by civilian who told me that I was going to hell for disturbing the dead. I wasn’t sure why they thought I cared when I had clearly just murdered several people in broad day light in front of dozens of witnesses. I’m hoping I can squeeze in some more time to play Assassin’s Creed, I’d like to see how the game develops.

action shot while playing

Test out Assassin’s Creed: Revelations for yourself. This chapter of the series was released on December 2, 2011 and has taken a place at the top of the sales charts.
Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

Gold Box Deal of the Day: http://clvr.li/AC3Gold

Now that you’ve been schooled on the best and most popular games out there here’s your chance to enter to win Skylanders Giants Starter Pack for XBox or Wii. Tell me what platform you’d prefer to win. Simple!

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