Norman PhartEphant measures roughly ten inches around and he is one of the softest, most cuddly toys that I have encountered. I have owned many stuffed animals, but Norman owns the market on soft and huggable, for sure. When it comes to the farting, Norman farts in eight different sounds! I don’t know if that’s the same thing as being multilingual, but I can say that I don’t know another elephant that can do that!

Lil B unwrapped Norman as one of his first presents. Like most five year old children he is not against a cuddle toy. If it’s soft and seems inviting, Lil B will hug it…at least for a minute. He’s all boy though and likes to have something gross or adventurous to keep him busy. So, before he learned about Norman’s talent he was ready to toss him aside after a quick snuggle.

Then he learned that Norman could fart. That was when all bets were off. He had to be able to make him fart. He pulled his tail. Then he pulled it again. By the third time he was doing a fart dance and pulling his tail so long that Norman sounded like he was on permanent gas release! Of course, he thought this was fabulous and wanted to keep it up as long as he could. Everyone thought it was quite amusing at the very least.

According to the story on Norman’s Website, he is an African Elephant that came to live in a US zoo. Norman loves his new home, but the new diet is causing plenty of problems with gas! The new friends and family that Norman has made all look beyond the smell that comes from him. At the zoo he is surrounded by all different kinds of animals, all with their own talents. Norman is so popular and well loved, a book is expected to be put out sometime towards the end of 2009.

If you’re considering purchasing Norman for someone in your life you can do so through Norman’s website. Each PhartEphant will cost you $24.95, unless you buy more than one at a time, then the price goes down to $21.95 each. While this price is a bit higher than I might have expected, seeing how much Lil B loves Norman would have made it well worth the price. I have seen many stationary stuffed animals that cost more than this, so when you consider that and all of Norman’s talents, it’s not a bad price.

If you have children (or a husband, brother, boss, or nephew) that think that bodily humor is a gas (pun fully intended) then you should pick up a Norman PhartEphant for their next special occasion. When they learn Norman’s special talent they will be sure to love him. He’s gross enough to please the boys in your life and cute and cuddly enough to make mom happy, too. What more could you ask for?

To see/hear Lil B with Norman (in action) visit our YouTube Page. Yes, he does indeed say Farty Underwear. That’s what Norman makes him think of!

Technorati Tags: Birthday Bash, Review, Toy Review, Stuffed Animal, Norman PhartEphant, Gas, Animal, Zoo, African Elephant, Elephant

Check out how handsome Lil B’s Smooshie is and find out why he calls it a kick butt kick!

Technorati Tags: Smooshie, Plush Toy, Kick Butt Kick, Lil B, Video, Kid, Review, Fun, Birthday Bash

So, what do you think of Norman? Would you buy him for your kids? Let us know by leaving a comment.

Technorati Tags: Norman Phartephant, Toy Review, Happy Birthday, Lil B, LI Kids, Literary Illusions, Video, Farty Pants, Farting Elephant, Plush

In my house, we go through a lot of ice packs, use of the heating pad, and spend a lot of money buying soothing scented air freshener. In our house alone we have someone with arthritis and diabetes, a person in a wheelchair who has a lot of muscle pain, someone with severe PMS and migraine headaches, and an autistic, bipolar child. The Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends are absolutely perfect for our household, due to all the various health issues we face.

I (Dominick) am in a wheelchair due to a progressive muscle disease. I have had a lot of issues due to a bone fracture, which has led to many other health problems. I am in physical therapy on a regular basis and this leads to many aches and pains. Add in general aches not necessarily caused by therapy, and I’m spending a lot of time icing up and heating up my muscles.

I’ve tried the cold packs, which burn and stick to your skin. I’ve tried the heating pads, which can burn if they get too hot. I’ve tried the various creams and lotions, such as Icy Hot. Nothing works quite as well as our Sootheze Toasty Chocolate Bear. I can heat him up or put him in the freezer before therapy and he’s ready to soothe those achy muscles once my therapy is over.

I (Ashtyn) get really bad cramps. I also get very bad, migraine style headaches. These are especially harsh when I’m dealing with other issues of PMS. Any ache or pain can be eased with my Sootheze Bear. The only relief I’ve found for my headaches is closing my eyes in a dark room. I put my Chocolate Bear in the freezer, then put him on my head as I lay in a dark room, inhaling the healing, aromatherapy herbs and breathing in the in the delicious scent. This doesn’t make my headache go away completely, but it certainly makes my headaches more manageable. For cramps, I just pop the little guy in the microwave and cuddle him to my stomach. He soothes the cramps and makes life easier!

My mom (Ashtyn’s) has bad arthritis. She also is diabetic. We’re always looking out for bruising and tenderness on her legs and feet. When she’s having trouble with pain or aches from arthritis or other issues, She curls up on the couch with Sootheze Bear and he makes her feel better. He’s become a part of the family and everyone loves to cuddle him. Her favorite part is the aromatherapy, which calms her down, something that can make aches, pains and arthritis flair ups worse, when a person is tense.

Finally, our teenage son has Asperger’s Syndrome (an autistic spectrum disorder), Bi Polar Disorder, and the jury is out on if he has ADHD. He is hyper, gets bad headaches, and has moments of uncontrollability. Hugging the Sootheze Chocolate Bear is one way to calm him down. The aromatherapy contains lavender, an herb known to calm and sooth. Sure, it doesn’t make his problems go away completely, but if it gets him to sit for a short while, it’s worth it. The cold and hot pack is also something he can press to his aching head. It’s a win-win situation having the Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends Chocolate Bear in our house.

I was excited about receiving our Chocolate Bear, which I (Ashtyn) have nicknamed Hermie. We’re considering purchasing other Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends, so everyone in the family has their own. There are just so many benefits to having a Sootheze Toasty Spa Friend. There is also a wide variety of products to choose from, as not only are there Bears, but there are also Bunnies, Wild Animals, Barnyard Animals, Chamois Neck Wraps, and Marine Life Toasty Spa Friends.

Positives & Negatives:

There are many more positives to owning this bear than negatives.

Just check them out:

Positives:
-Multipurpose pain relief – Hot/Cold
-Aromatherapy calms and soothes which can help ease pain
-Relatively Affordable
-Adorable
-Large Variety of Toasty Spa Friends to choose from
-Well made
-Though it will wear out, seems to be long lasting

Negatives:
-Kind of big (unless you get the juniors) to put in the microwave (if your microwave is small, especially)
-is said to wear down over time (though depending how often you use the product could take a very long while)

Pricing & Availability:
Sootheze has a website that is available online at http://www.sootheze.com. Here you can find all of the locations that offer Sootheze products. I put in my zip code in the location finder and multiple locations within an 1-2 hour distance popped up. Most of the locations were stores such as the Whole Foods store in Ann Arbor, MI. Sootheze Toasty Spar Friends are also available at Senior Centers in the area, which are using these Toasty Friends to ease the pain and lack of companionship, providing comfort to the elderly.

You can also purchase Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends through the website’s online store. I found Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends at a wide selection of online stores by searching for Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends on Google. Depending on where you purchase your Toasty Friend, the price will vary a bit, though not by much. For example, the junior Toasty Friends are less than $20 at most retailers.

Our chocolate Bear cost between $30-$40. This price is reasonable considering all the uses we’ve gotten from our Sootheze Chocolate Bear, Hermie. He’s fun, cuddly, and serves his purpose as a Hot & Cold, Aromatherapy bear. This is something the whole family can enjoy and isn’t so expensive that most people can and will be able to purchase their very own Sootheze Toasty Spa Friend.

Price: 4 out of 5 stars

Requirements & Instructions:
Hermie came with instructions on how to put him in the freezer and heat him up. The instructions should be followed. They are pretty simple though. You just have to have a freezer and microwave big enough to accommodate the size of your Toasty Spa Friend. Our microwave is kind of small, so Hermie filled up nearly the entire thing.

When heating your Toasty Spa Friend up, do not heat them for more than 1 1/2 minutes. You should heat them up in 30 second intervals, flipping them over, every 30 seconds. You can then place the bear to your sore and aching body or put them under the covers with you to warm you up. The heat can last anywhere from 1 to 4 hours.

Our freezer is kind of small merely because it’s usually full of food. We had to make space for Hermie to fit whenever we needed to freeze him. You must place your Toasty Spa Friend in a plastic bag so their fur doesn’t stick to the freezer or take on the freezer burn/odor. The bear will remain cold for at least an hour once it is frozen. You don’t have to do anything for the aromatherapy to work. Just cuddle the bear, inhale, and enjoy.

It’s easy to use the Sootheze Therapy Bear and other Toasty Spa Friends. Even a child can use them and they are cuddly enough your child will want to have them as a comforting cuddle friend when they are sick and/or hurt.

Durability:
We’ve had our Sootheze Bear for a few months. He’s constructed very well. He seems to be made of the finest quality and despite the flaxseed used to stuff the bear eventually wearing out, the freezing/heating up and the scent of Hermie is as strong as it was the first time he was used. If this continues, Hermie will last for a few years, or more.

With as much as we use him, it’s a great investment to purchase a Sootheze Toasty Spa Friend. When the flaxseed and aromatherapy stop working, Hermie will still be sturdy enough to make a great cuddle bear. His fur is very soft, but it hasn’t fallen out and his body is weighted, which makes it feel almost like you are holding a baby when holding him.

Durability: 5 out of 5 stars

Fun Factor & Overall Appeal:
Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends aren’t toys, but kids don’t know that. This is a great way to ice up or heat up an injured child without them even realizing they are using a form of therapy/medicine. Everyone in the family, of every age is going to love using a Toasty Spa Friend. My mom is in her early 60s and she loves Hermie. Our 4 year old nephew loves to cuddle and pet Hermie whenever he comes over. Every age in between can and will find a use for a Sootheze Toasty Spa Friend. So, even if Hermie isn’t a toy, he’s still pretty fun.

Because Hermie and the other Toasty Spa Friends are both fun and have a purpose, I can see the long lasting, overall appeal of them. I know that in the few months we’ve had Hermie, we’ve found a multitude of uses for him. He’s a great asset to our family and we plan to get more Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends, so everyone in the family can have their own.

Fun Factor: 4 out of 5 stars
Lasting Appeal: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Everyone has moments where they need to be calm, soothed, and they need their aches and pains eased. Whether your have a sick child, a chronic illness, or you just seek companionship, the Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends are perfect for making you feel better and easing your woes. Sootheze Toasty Spa Friends are loved by everyone in the family regardless of age. You should pick up your very own Sootheze Toasty Spa Friend today.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Sootheze, Toasty Spa Friends, Aromatherapy, Heat Relief, Cold Pack, Therapy Bear

I initially asked to review the Snow Leopard for the mere fact that it was absolutely adorable. The pictures of the black and white spotted stuffed animal won me over without even seeing it in person. We actually received the adorable Snow Leopard that I was hoping for and a cuter than it’s picture Panda, which is actually two out of the three available animals, the other being the Polar Bear.

I decided to do these reviews in one due to the fact that the animals have the same features, so when it comes time to buy one of them it will really come down to the preference of animal your child has. With that in mind, I wanted to make sure that the review offered all the information about the animals without it being repeated, so I added it in one, like this.

Before I actually begin reviewing these stuffed toys, I need to point out that this is truly more than just a toy. If used like it seems to be intended, you will notice that it teaches your child tenderness and compassion, especially towards animals. As your child rubs the leopard’s boo boos and tends to his care he or she will begin to see that you can’t be rough with animals because they need your help and love, just like everyone else.

Lil B has been playing with both the Snow Leopard and the Panda Bear since we received them. He didn’t want to play with the Panda at first, because he loved the snow leopard so much, but soon decided that he would take the Panda home with him and would keep the Leopard here. Despite this being a Barbie brand toy, Lil B loves playing with the animals and has showed us that just because it’s labeled Barbie it doesn’t mean that it’s catered mainly towards girls.

Positives & Negatives:

Positives:
-Teaches Love and Compassion
-Teaches Tenderness
-Educates about Endangered Species
-Multipurpose Toy (works as a stuffed animal or for intended purpose w/ accessories)
-Works straight out of the box
-Comes with many added extras
-Suitable for a Variety of Ages
-Fair Price
-Suitable for Boys and Girls
-Allows animal lovers to play vet safely

Negatives:
-Repetitiveness (Barbie speaks every time the child hits a button and always says the same thing)
-If not rubbed, the boo boo goes away on its own pretty quickly

Pricing & Availability:
All of the Barbie Cure ‘N Care animals are available just about anywhere that you buy toys. You can easily pick them up online at nearly any major web store from Amazon to Toys R Us. From the small amount of price checking that I did I would say that Toys R Us currently offers the best deal in terms of actual price, with all of the animals being just under $30. Amazon also offers them, but the prices range from $30 to $50 depending on the animal you choose.

At $30 with everything you need included, I feel that it is a fair price for a great product. As the price moves up, I cannot help but feel like Amazon is trying to up their own profit, but that won’t reflect on my thoughts of the pricing because as a consumer you are able to buy this a number of other places where it is more reasonably priced.

Requirements & Instructions:
Everything that you need has been included in the package with your animal. There are a number of accessories that allow your child to care for the Snow Leopard or other animals. Included in the box with the Endangered animal is a passport and certificate, bandages, a baby bottle for feeding, syringe, thermometer, and some tweezers. Everything your child needs to help heal their favorite Endangered Animal is available.

Durability:
This is one of the softest stuffed animals I have come across. You can’t help but want to cuddle it. While the Snow Leopard is the cutest in my opinion, the panda certainly grew on me, as well. The pieces that come with the animal would be the most vulnerable to destruction, but they are well made and will only be damaged if your child sets out to try and destroy them. I suppose you could squish some of them if you stepped on them, but they are large enough to notice, so that shouldn’t be a problem.

The animals themselves are soft and well made. You shouldn’t have any problem with them. From the looks of them they should manage to stay in good condition and in some cases they will outlast your children’s interest in them. It’s always nice to have toys that outlast your children, especially if you have children of different ages. This would make a perfect toy for siblings, because if one outgrows it you could allow the other child to play with it. The Barbie Cure ‘N Care Endangered Animals are good for children three years old and up, so it’s perfect for families with both toddlers and older kids.

Fun Factor & Overall Appeal:
Four year old, Lil B absolutely loved the Barbie Cure ‘N Care animals. At first I wasn’t sure that he would because his dad thought that he wouldn’t like them. Apparently, we were both wrong. This pirate toting bad guy put away his pirate gear, so he could love on some animals! He cradled the snow leopard as they sat down to feed the animal and he petted them gingerly when their boo boo spot lit up and Barbie told him to rub it. It was fun to watch him try and flip the animal over to find one of the multiple spots that could light up so he would find it right away.

I offered to give Lil B a shot because he seemed to be thrilled that the syringe was available. He declined my offer but said that he would give it to the Panda. He was very gentle when he did it and things continued this way as he played. When anyone says that they are going to take the animals he proclaims that they are his and he wants them! From what I can tell he loves taking care of them, but when he is tired or in one of his four year old grumpy moods then he likes to snuggle them. I think he enjoys how soft and cuddly they are, which is something I like about them, too.

Overall, he played with these on his own for a few hours before tiring of them. Sometimes he would include me and other times him and the animals would enjoy themselves on their own. He never complained about the toy and the only complaint I had would come with Barbie’s continuous talking when Lil B would hit a button on the animal to find one of his red light boo boos. Still, it’s a small annoyance and it allowed us to have a good discussion on what an endangered animal is and why we need to help them.

Bottom Line:
Lil B adores the Barbie Cure ‘N Care animals and I wholly agree with his assessment of them. These toys are reasonably priced, somewhat educational, and teach children excellent lessons on the importance of caring for animals. They are also sweet and snuggly, which is never a bad thing. If you have multiple kids of different genders and ages, these will work for both children equally with boys and girls liking them just the same, despite the Barbie logo and voice over.

I highly recommend these toys to any parents of budding animal lovers or future veterinarians. You can pick any or all of these up at nearly any toy store, so if you are in the market you should definitely pick one up.

Price: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Durability: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Ease of Assembly: 5 out of 5 stars
Fun Factor: 5 out of 5 stars
Child Readiness: 5 out of 5 stars
Lasting Appeal: 5 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 4.83 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Barbie Cure ‘N Care, Snow Leopard, Panda Bear, Polar Bear, Mattel, Toy Review