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The Snugg iPad Cover: Review

If you have an iPad, and especially if you have an iPad and you have children, you know how important it is to have a case for it. A case not only protects the iPad, but it also makes it more comfortable to hold, and more convenient to use.

We have two iPads. When we bought our first iPad, we bought a pricey case to go with it.  It wasn’t anything fancy, but it worked and I felt like the iPad was protected. When we bought our second iPad, we bought a cheaper case, with the auto wake feature.  I hated the case.  It felt cheap and flimsy, but I didn’t want to purchase a new one.  Luckily, I was contacted by The Snugg and received an opportunity to review one of their iPad cases.

Snugg Logo

TheSnugg I received is a gorgeous leather case. I selected the Snugg iPad 3 Case Cover and Flip Stand in Orange Leather to review. The Snugg offers cases in more colors than I’ve seen elsewhere…colors like red leather, electric blue leather, baby blue leather, and pink leather.

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As much as I love the look of my Snugg, I love it’s functionality too! The Snugg has a little tab to hold a stylus and another tab that you use to tuck the cover into so that you can stand your iPad up. The tab on the back is nice and sturdy and I don’t worry about the case collapsing and the iPad falling down. Additionally, the Snugg features a smart cover that turns the iPad on and off when you open and close the cover.

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My favorite feature of the Snugg is the elastic strap located on the inside cover. I couldn’t figure out what the strap was for, until I read another review that mentioned that it’s used to slip your hand into to help hold onto the Snugg, such as if you are using your iPad in bed. I thought that was a pretty genius idea. I don’t know about you, but I’ve dropped my iPad onto my chest/face a couple of times!

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The Snugg iPad 3 Case Cover and Flip Stand in Orange sells for $34.99, which, in my opinion is a great deal.  I would definitely consider purchasing another Snugg in the future. You can purchase the Snugg, along with many other products such as other tablet cases, smart phone cases, Kindle and Nook cases, and other accessories at www.thesnugg.com.

 

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary Snugg iPad 3 Case Cover and Flip Stand to facilitate this review, however, the opinions expressed are, as always, my own.

Comfort and Harmony Portable Swing Review

When I found out I was pregnant with Luke, the first thing I realized was that a LOT had changed in the 8 years since I had registered and received all of our baby gear. New products were on the market and new innovations had been made.

With most of our baby gear still in good shape (even though it was all 8 years old), I wouldn’t allow myself to purchase new. It just seemed too wasteful. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t want new stuff for Luke. That said, I was ecstatic when I was given the opportunity to review the Comfort & Harmony Swing in Sandstone Fashion.

ch swing

The swing is a portable baby swing, which means it folds up and is easy to move about the house. As all new mom’s eventually find out, having something portable that allows you to move your baby around the house is essential when trying to accomplish anything more than sitting on the couch all day!

The swing arrived unassembled, but it was very easy to put together. I managed to put it together, without getting frustrated, in less than 20 minutes during Luke’s witching hour while the older two kids ran around the house.

Comfort and Harmony

I love this swing. Even better, Luke loves it. We have a full-sized swing, but for some reason, he prefers the Comfort & Harmony Swing. He coos and giggles and kicks his feet whenever I put him in the swing. I literally enjoy watching him in the swing because he gets so excited.

The Comfort & Harmony Swing in Sandstone Fashion has some great features that you won’t find in other swings. My favorite features include:

  • A five-point harness to keep your baby safe
  • A timer, which helps with battery life
  • Adjustable recline
  • Two volume settings for the music, which you can also turn off

That last feature, the volume control and music is a huge plus.  Our full-sized swing has music, but the tunes are beyond annoying.  The tunes included with the Comfort & Harmony Swing are both soothing and pleasing.  I think the music is a little loud even on the lowest setting, but it’s nothing that would deter me from buying the swing or from turning the music on.  Additionally, the swing is aesthetically pleasing with it’s neutral colors and works well for both little boys and little girls.

Overall, we really enjoy the Comfort & Harmony Swing in Sandstone Fashion. In fact, right now, it’s my “go to” piece of baby gear.  The swing is available online only at Target.com and retails for $59.99.

Connect with Comfort & Harmony on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about the swing and their other great products.

 

This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Comfort & Harmony. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Juicy Juice Fruitfuls Review & Giveaway

CONTEST NOW CLOSED.  Congratulations to #1, Shari, the winner of the Juicy Juice Fruitfuls Giveaway!

My kids are a little bit weird. Yes, I just called my kids weird. They prefer milk and water to most other drinks. Weird or not, the fact that they choose healthy options makes me proud. But every now and then, I like to give them a treat. I prefer that it’s a healthy treat, but let’s be honest. When it comes to beverages, there’s not much out there in terms of healthy.

Enter Juicy Juice Fruitfuls. Juicy Juice Fruitfuls are an all-natural juice beverage that have 35% less sugar than regular juice, yet still provide a refreshing full taste and and full serving of fruit in every juice box!

Product Highlights:

  • 35% less sugar than regular fruit juices
  • Juicy Juice Fruit Promise: Every box provides 1 serving of fruit (1/2 cup) from the fruit group (Source: USDA)
  • All natural ingredients: No added sugar, sweeteners, preservatives, or artificial flavors
  • Hydrating: A naturally refreshing blend of fruit juice and and fresh water to help hydrate active kids
  • Great for the lunchbox: Comes in convenient, ready-to-go packaging
  • Four fun new refreshing flavors: Apple Quench, Punch Splash, Berry Cherry Burst, and Orange Strawbana Blast

The fact is, kids consume WAY too much sugar. The info graphic to the left is a nice visual display of how much sugar kids consume. I don’t know about you, but the thought of my kids eating 6 1/2 lunch boxes full of sugar each year makes me cringe!!

So, I know the big question is, “How does it taste?”

It’s good. Like the description, even though Fruitfuls has 35% less sugar than other fruit juices. It has just enough flavor without tasting watered down, and it was perfect for my kids because most of the other fruit juices are too sweet for their tastes. Our favorite flavor is the Berry Cherry Burst.

For more information about Juicy Juice Fruitfuls, visit http://www.juicyjuice.com.

Interested in trying Juicy Juice Fruitfuls yourself? One lucky reader will win 5 coupons for one free Nestle Juice Juice product (any size or flavor) by entering the giveaway below.

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment answering the following question: What flavor Juicy Juice Fruitfuls do you think your family would enjoy the most?

Additional Entries (one entry each, leave a separate comment for each entry please!):

– Subscribe to The Daily Dribbles using the email subscription widget in my sidebar. Leave the email address you subscribed with in the comment
– Follow The Daily Dribbles on Twitter (dailydribbles) and leave your Twitter name
– Follow Juicy Juice on Twitter and leave your Twitter name
– Tweet this contest (One tweet per day, please leave a comment for each tweet)

Contest ends Monday, December 24, 2012 at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen amongst valid entries utilizing the random number generator at http://www.random.org and notified via e-mail. Winner has 48 hours to claim prize. Contest open to US residents only.

Disclosure: Nestlé has provided me with product samples to facilitate my review.

Wittlebee: A Review

Have you heard of Wittlebee? Until last month, I had no idea what Wittlebee was all about.

Wittlebee is a children’s clothing club. The goal of Wittlebee is to keep parents well stocked with amazing kids clothes. Wittlebee creates custom packages for members based on their children’s age, style preferences, geographical location, etc.

For a monthly fee of $39.99, parents receive a box containing six clothing items, with a retail value of approximately $100. When you figure it out, each item of clothing ends up costing you less than $7. That’s not bad at all! Wittlebee boxes include brands such as Calvin Klein, American Apparel, Baby Gap, Carters, Tea Collection, etc.

The way that Wittlebee works is pretty cool. Parents go online and fill out a “style profile” to help the stylists put together the perfect box based on your style preferences. The style profile includes questions such as: sex, age, size, the types of clothes you are looking for (short sleeved shirts, long sleeved shirts, onesies, pants, shorts), the graphic style you prefer (characters, plaids, stripes, solids, favorite colors, clothing style (casual, preppy, hipster, sporty, mix and match), accessories needed (socks, hats, etc.), anything you don’t want to receive, what climate you live in, and then finally, whether or not you’d like a personal phone call from a stylist to more accurately complete your style profile.

Once your profile is complete, the stylists put together a custom box just for you, and then ship it out. Did I mention shipping is FREE?

We were so excited to receive our Wittlebee box. I originally put it together requesting sizes that I thought would fit Buster. However, almost everything in the box ran a little big, so all but one thing ended up fitting Buddy better than Buster.

Here’s what our box looked like when it arrived. The clothes we received were from Crazy 8, Gioberti, and American Apparel.

One of the outfits ended up being perfect for Buddy’s first day of school. Here he is modeling it.

And here are the other items we received in our box. The navy blue top is the only thing that ended up fitting Buster.

Overall, I was very happy with our Wittlebee box. There is one small exception. The pair of plaid shorts are quite big for a size 5. I didn’t think it would be an issue until I realized that the shorts are missing the elastic and button for the adjustable waist. I’m not sure if they aren’t supposed to be adjustable waist (though the slits/holes are sewn in), or if that was just a mistake. Either way, it will be awhile before either of my skinny boys can wear those shorts. Aside from that, the clothing was in perfect condition, and everything is very much our “style.”

If you’re looking for an easy way to supplement your child(ren)’s wardrobe, I would highly suggest you check out Wittlebee at www.wittlebee.com, or on their Facebook page.

 

Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary Wittlebee box to facilitate this review.  My opinions are, as always, my own, honest, truthful opinions.

Fresh Produce: A Review

I really don’t like shopping for clothes for myself. I’d much rather shop for my boys. I enjoy picking out nice things for them and dressing them in nice clothes.

When I do shop for myself, I’m often buying either casual clothes, or stuff for work. I rarely buy what I consider “fun” clothes. My wardrobe basically consists of jeans, sweatshirts, sweaters, blazers, pant suits, and t-shirts. Notice I didn’t mention skirts or dresses. I really don’t like to dress up. I find most “dress” clothes to be uncomfortable, and I’m the type of person who won’t sacrifice comfort for fashion.

Enter Fresh Produce.

Fresh Produce is a women’s clothing retailer, co-founded and run by a mom entrepreneur.  The clothing is made primarily in the U.S.A. and you can find Fresh Produce clothing in more than 500 specialty retailers throughout the United States and the Caribbean.  The best part about Fresh Produce is that they are dedicated to designing feel-good clothes that women want to wear every day.  I can honestly attest to that.

Fresh Produce invited me to take a look at their summer collection and choose an item of clothing to review.  I browsed their website, paying particular attention to their simple skirts (because every woman should have at least one skirt), cover-ups for the beach (our home away from home during the summer) and clothing for cruises (because cruise line clothing is sooo comfortable).

In the end, I chose the Jersey Tiered Skirt from the simple skirt line.  It looked comfortable and casual, my two requirements for any clothing item that enters my closet.

I ordered the skirt in the color pebble, and size medium. I read the reviews and also used the size chart to determine my size. The reviews stated that the skirt ran a little on the large size, so I felt comfortable ordering the medium.

My skirt arrived within just a couple days from when I placed the order, and while the color was a little lighter than I expected, it was a pretty color that pretty much matches everything. I’m low waisted, so the skirt was a little longer than I liked, so I just folded the waist band over once, and it fit perfectly.

The skirt arrived just in time for me to wear it to a bridal shower I had to attend. I paired it with a simple black top. It was really hot out that day, but the jersey material helped to keep me cool. I received many compliments on the skirt. And even though I don’t like to dress up much, I felt comfortable all day. I will definitely wear the skirt again…probably many more times. I’d actually like to order a couple more in different colors.

Here’s a picture of me in the skirt I ordered. It’s not the greatest picture due to the direct sunlight (and me squinting), but it gives you an idea of the color and shape of the skirt.

If you’re looking for a some comfortable, casual, and most importantly, stylish clothing, make sure to check out Fresh Produce!

 

Disclaimer: Fresh Produced provided me with a complimentary Jersey Tiered Skirt to facilitate this review. All opinions are mine.

Totes Boots Giveaway

CONTEST CLOSED. Congratulations to #19, Oka, the winner of the boys Totes boots giveaway.

It’s Winter. Did you know that? Here in Michigan, it’s hard to tell. We go from freezing cold one day, to 50 degree temps the next. It certainly has been an odd Winter thus far. I’m just waiting for the real Winter to hit…and I have a feeling that once it does, it’s going to be bad.

Because we live in a northern state, we get a lot of snow and ice. And because we get a lot of snow and ice, we have to be prepared for the extreme elements. That means that we need really warm coats, thick snow pants (with reinforced knees because my kids can put a hole in any knee), a few pairs of gloves and mittens for each child, and of course, really warm, waterproof, and comfortable boots.

For the past couple of years, I’ve been purchasing Totes brand boots for my boys. I tried to go the cheap no-brand route before, but wet feet, squished toes, and complaining kids doesn’t make it worth the few (literally few!!) bucks that I save.

Recently, I participated in a field test program, sponsored by Sears, featuring Totes boots. I received a free pair of Totes boots in return for my honest feedback. Buddy was the lucky recipient of the new boots. He was so excited to get a new pair because as a mean mom, I was going to make him use his same Totes boots from last year because they are that durable (as long as your kids feet don’t grow speedy fast).

We tried out Totes Youth Boy Rick boot.

I love that the boots are easy to get on and off. The velcro straps up and down the boot ensures that it opens wide so that you don’t have to try and force the foot into the boot. Another nice feature is that the boots actually stay on! There’s nothing worse than playing in the snow and having your boot fall off. The velcro straps help ensure that the boots stay on your feet. And probably most important of all, Buddy really like the boots, because according to him, “they look cool!”

The Totes Youth Boy Rick retails for $34.98 at Sears, but, courtesy of Sears and Totes, I’m going to give away one pair of Totes Youth Boy Rick boots (sizes 11-6) to one lucky reader!

-How to Enter the Totes Youth Boy Rick Boots Giveaway at The Daily Dribbles

Mandatory Entry: Tell me about your favorite part of Winter.

Additional Entries (one entry each, leave a separate comment for each entry please!):

– Subscribe to The Daily Dribbles via email using the widget in my sidebar and leave the email address you used to sign up (if you have already subscribed, just leave your email address)
– Follow me on Twitter (dailydribbles) and leave your Twitter name
– Tweet the following (One tweet per day, please leave a comment for each tweet): I entered to win a pair of boy’s Totes winter boots from @dailydribbles and you can too! http://bit.ly/xFuIQw

Contest ends Friday, January 27th, 2012, at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen using the random number generator at http://www.random.org. Winner will be notified via email and has 48 hours to respond to the email. If the winner doesn’t respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Contest open to United States residents only.

Disclosure: I was provided with one pair of Totes Youth Boy Rick boots to facilitate my review. My opinions are just that, my own.

Something About Silver: Review and Giveaway

CONTEST CLOSED! The winner of the $40 gift card is #21, Stasha.  Congratulations Stasha!

I am a HUGE fan of hand stamped, personalized jewelry. Beyond my fondness of its look, I love that I’m able to wear a piece of jewelry that really means something to me, as well as fits my personality.

Something About Silver specializes in hand stamped jewelry. They offer a wide selection of keepsake necklaces, bracelets, rings, and charms created just for you. After choosing a product, Something About Silver allows you to personalize that piece by choosing among a selection of 8 different font types, several different necklace lengths, design stamps, charms, and birthstone crystals.

I’ll be honest and admit that I don’t wear a lot of jewelry. I wear my wedding set and a pair of diamond studs on a daily basis. Wearing a necklace or a bracelet feels “fake” to me, as if I’m dressing up and playing pretend (I blame it on the fact that I was raised with four older brothers and never embraced my “girly” side). However, when I put on my Something About Silver Little Gems Necklace, I feel comfortable. I especially love it when people ask me about my necklace. I’ve found it’s an excellent conversation starter, and I use it tell people about Something About Silver, my blog, and of course, my two awesome boys.

From the moment I received my necklace, it was obvious that Something About Silver cares about quality. The necklace itself is beautiful. But beyond that, the necklace came in a little linen bag, tucked inside a jewelry box that was tied with a ribbon. It’s always so nice when companies take the time and care to package their products in an aesthetically pleasing way.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for someone (be it a holiday gift or otherwise), I highly recommend that you check out what Something About Silver has to offer. You won’t be disappointed.

I’m very excited to announce that one lucky commenter will receive a $40 gift certificate to purchase something of their own from Something About Silver.

-How to Enter the Something About Silver Gift Certificate Giveaway at The Daily Dribbles

Mandatory Entry: Check out Something About Silver’s website and let me know what you would use the $40 gift certificate to buy.

Additional Entries (one entry each, leave a separate comment for each entry please!):

– Follow The Daily Dribbles publicly via Google Friend Connect and tell me you are
– Follow me on Twitter (dailydribbles) and leave your Twitter name
– Follow Something About Silver on Twitter and leave your Twitter name
– Tweet the following (One tweet per day, please leave a comment for each tweet): I entered to win a $40 gift certificate for hand stamped jewelry from @SASjewelry and @dailydribbles and you can too! http://thedailydribbles.com/?p=2056

Contest ends Friday, December 9th at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen amongst valid entries utilizing the random number generator at http://www.random.org and notified via e-mail. Winner has 48 hours to claim prize. Contest open to US residents only.

Disclosure: I received a Little Gems Necklace from Something About Silver to facilitate my review.

 

Something About Silver has been added to The Daily Dribbles 2011 Holiday Gift Guide.

The Daily Dribbles Holiday Gift Guide

Tea Collection: Children’s Pajamas Review

We are a pajama family.  What I mean by “pajama family” is that we love pajamas. Little secret here…95% of the time, as soon as I get home from work, I head upstairs to my bedroom and put my pajamas on.

I have one criteria for pajamas. They must be comfy. Comfort is not negotiable when it comes to pajamas.

When Tea Collection offered to send me some children’s pajamas to review, I jumped at the opportunity. From my review of their clothing back in the Fall, I knew that Tea had quality clothes, so I was really excited to check out their pajamas.

Tea sent me two pairs of boys pajamas, one pair for Buddy, and one for Buster.  Buddy received the Jumping Koi pajamas, and Buster received the Origami patterned pajamas.

The boys enjoying their new pajamas

Let me tell you, Tea did not disappoint. The pajamas are extremely comfortable. They are 100% cotton and feature a very fine ribbing throughout, which helps them fit comfortably while still fitting snug. Right now, they are the boys favorite pajamas. Another great feature of the pajamas is the fact that the shirts are a big longer than you find with most sets. This helps to keep the tummy covered in whatever sleeping position your child might find themselves in. For my wiggle worm kids, this is a huge bonus.

Tea offers fashionable clothing inspired by beauty the designers encounter around the world. The clothing is not only modern and fun, but it’s also high quality. If you’re considering purchasing clothing for the holidays (or anytime!), I highly recommend you check out Tea’s children’s clothing.

Tea’s children’s clothing has made The Daily Dribbles 2011 Holiday Gift Guide.

The Daily Dribbles Holiday Gift Guide

Just Dance 2: A Review and Giveaway

CONTEST CLOSED. Congratulations to #88, Kelly D!!

You’ve all heard of Just Dance by now, right? If you’ve been following for awhile, you may remember the “Dance Off’s” I used to participate in, and even won one week.

Ubisoft, the creator of Just Dance, released Just Dance 2 late last year. Being such a huge fan of the original Just Dance, I knew I had to have Just Dance 2.

Just Dance Cover

Ubisoft did not disappoint. Just Dance 2 is just as much fun as the original, and even has additional features not included in the original version. One of those features is a “Just Sweat” mode, where you use it as more of a workout, which I really like. Back when I was doing the weekly “Dance Off’s”, I was practicing at least 3 times a week for 20 to 30 minutes and I even lost some weight. So having a mode specifically for working out is great.

Another new feature is the “Duet” mode. Certain songs are created to allow you and a partner to interact with one another, by doing different, but complimentary moves during the song. It’s really fun, but hard because you have to make sure you’re following the correct on-screen icon in order to score points.

Just Dance Duet

And, I really like that if you get bored of the over 40 hits (including Katy Perry’s Firework and Ke$ha’s Tik Tok), you can download additional songs.

The game is really easy to play…even my 6 year and 3 year old join in on the fun sometimes.

GIVEAWAY: Because I love the game so much, I am giving one away!

MANDATORY ENTRY: What’s your favorite song (not necessary to be on the Just Dance games) to shake your groove “thang” to?

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: Please leave a separate comment for each entry!
– Follow The Daily Dribbles on Google Friend Connect
– Follow The Daily Dribbles on Twitter (please leave your Twitter handle)
– “Like” The Daily Dribbles on Facebook (please leave your user name)
– Sign up to receive The Daily Dribbles via email (can do this in my sidebar)
– Follow @justdance_game on Twitter
– “Like” Just Dance on Facebook and leave your username
– Tweet this giveaway (leave the direct link to your tweet): I want to win the Just Dance 2 #giveaway from @justdance_game and @dailydribbles! http://thedailydribbles.com/?p=1324

Contest ends Monday, April 4th at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen amongst valid entries utilizing the random number generator at http://www.random.org and notified via e-mail. Winner has 48 hours to claim prize. Contest open to US residents only.

Disclosure: Ubisoft sent me Just Dance 2 to review, however, I already owned a copy. Therefore, I’m giving the copy I received away to one lucky reader!

ABC is for Circus: A Book and Game Review and Giveaway

CONTEST CLOSED. Congrats to #1, Emmy for winning the ABC is for Circus book and Memory Game.

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AMMO Books is a Los Angeles-based publishing house that focuses on the rich, colorful world of arts and culture, and creates must-have one-of-a-kind books.  The books are unique and beautiful and could easily become something to put on display.

I was able to review the ABC is for Circus board book by Patrick Hruby. “Hruby is a Los Angeles-based illustrator.  Influenced by artists and designers such as Charley Harper, Paul Rand, and Mary Blair, Hruby has gone on to develop his own stunning and modern aesthetic.  CMYK Magazine recently named Hruby as one of the Top 100 New Creatives.”

ABC is for Circus is a chunky board book, filled with amazing colors and designs.  The illustrations draw in the child, captivating them with the beautiful colors, while also teaching them letter recognition.  My youngest son loves to read ABC is for Circus, often asking for me to read it to him multiple times in a row.

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ABC is for Circus is available at www.ammobooks.com for $14.95.

I was also given the opportunity to Patrick Hruby’s Memory Game.

The Patrick Hruby Memory Game features a selection of Patrick Hruby’s bold and imaginative illustrations from ABC is for Circus.

The game offers two different ways to play. Younger children can play with nine pairs or fewer, while more experienced game players can play will all 36 pairs.

My oldest son loves to play this game, and he and myself, as well as my parents sat down to play the challenging version. It was definitely challenging, but my son held his own! He surprised us with his awesome memory and tied with my dad and myself, winning 10 pairs!

Patrick Hruby’s Memory Game is available at www.ammobooks.com for $15.95.

I’m excited to share that you can win your own copy of Patrick Hruby’s ABC is for Circus and Memory Game right here, on The Daily Dribbles.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me about your favorite children’s book, either your favorite when you were a child, or your child’s favorite book

Additional Entries (one entry each, leave a separate comment for each entry please!):

– Follow The Daily Dribbles publicly via Google Friend Connect and tell me you are
– Subscribe to my blog via email (can do this via the widget in my sidebar) and let me know which email address you used to sign up
– Follow dailydribbles on Twitter and leave your Twitter name
– Tweet about this giveaway. Include @dailydribbles in the tweet. One tweet per day, leave a comment for each tweet.
– “Like” me on Facebook (widget is in my sidebar)

Contest ends Monday, January 24th at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen amongst valid entries utilizing the random number generator at http://www.random.org and notified via e-mail. Winner has 48 hours to claim prize. Contest open to US residents only.

Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of Patrick Hruby’s ABC is for Circus and Memory Game for purposes of this review. No further compensation was received and all opinions are mine.