Sometimes you find a little something that makes you so giddy you just can’t wait to share it!  The iGo Green Charge Anywhere is one of those things.  I got my hands on this device at the SV Moms Bloggers/Brands Symposium (yes, it was “swag”) and I’m already fending off JavaDad for ownership of it.  This is more than just a multi-device charger, it is an energy-saving device and a traveler’s delight.

Let me break it down for you.  First — it is a charger with the ability to charge two devices simultaneously.  It has two USB ports and then you can buy from iGo’s selection of 3,000 tips whatever adaptor tip your power-hungry device needs.  For example, maybe you need to charge an iPod and a phone.  Or a phone and a camera, or perhaps some of those handheld games your kids lug around.  You can get tips for ALL your small devices and carry just ONE charger (okay, iGo only promises to have tips for 95% of the small electronic devices out there, but that’s a LOT!)  Did your shoulder just shout HOORAY in relief — think how much lighter your carry-on will be!

But it gets BETTER!  The iGo Green Charge Anywhere plugs into a wall to get an initial charge for an internal battery, and then you can charge your devices away from a wallanywhere.  You know, like in the middle of a conference, where there are often no accessible outlets!  Or on an airplane.  Or while at playgroup.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had my iTouch die at the most inopportune time (i.e. when I desperately need it to entertain a small child on the verge of a meltdown).  According to the company representative at the Symposium, the battery will apparently hold about three charges before it needs to be plugged into the wall again. 

More good news… it comes with a six-foot cable!  So you can charge your phone or device and use it at the same time!  Heaven!

And, no more guilt about getting rid of chargers when you get rid of a device.  A small tip is so much less of an investment ($9) and takes up less space in the garbage (though maybe you have a friend who could use it?) than yet another charger.

The giddiness continues for me because I’m always looking for quick ways to do a better job of helping our environment and the iGo Green Charge Anywhere helps you suck less… power.  “Vampire Power” is the term for the power used by devices we leave plugged in even when we aren’t using them.  Even if they aren’t turned on, they still make a small draw on your power supply.  iGo claims their devices use 85% less “standby” power than standard charging devices when plugged in.

I’ve already used mine to charge my iTouch (in the unplugged mode) and it did so quickly.  I’m not only planning to order more tips for my other devices so I can lighten my load for my next conference and future trips, I’m contemplating buying one of their laptop chargers (these are stronger than the Charge Anywhere, which is meant for small devices) so I don’t have to jockey for outlets when using my laptop.

Given not only my husband’s reaction to it, but the reaction of other husbands with sister bloggers came home with their complimentary iGo Green Charge Anywhere chargers, I suspect this may make a popular Father’s Day gift as well!

iGo Green Charge Anywhere is $49.99 and is available on the iGo.com web site.  This product is ideal for anyone who wants to reduce “charger clutter,” travels with devices a lot (even if that just means locally but in their car a lot!), or is constantly frustrated by devices running out of juice at the most inopportune times.  Or who just wants to reduce “vampire power.”

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Disclosure:  I was given a free iGo Green Charge Anywhere and tip at the SV Moms Brand/Blogger Symposium.  And no, you can’t have mine.  All claims about product performance are based on information provided by the company, but opinions about how much I am enjoying it are purely mine! Product photo is property of iGo.com.

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The JavaKids and I have been on many long car trips together and I’m always looking for more ways to make the ride bearable for all of us. While my oldest has finally gotten to the age where he doesn’t drop everything I give him, my daughter still does. Enter, the answer to many of my car trip problems… the Snack and Play Travel Tray by Star Kids.

I actually own a few different travel trays, but this one has features that far surpass the others. First and foremost, it is a SOFT tray, which means that if we get in a car accident, it will merely softly collapse, posing less danger to my kids than hard trays which can either push into the gut of a child or become a hard, airborne object.

Second, it has a raised edge on three sides, so pencils, crayons and other objects will not roll off. For JavaGirl, this is key, as she is always dropping things, and with the tray, I am no longer listening to screams of frustration (or wanting to scream with frustration myself) about something that has fallen beyond her grasp while I am speeding down the road.

It passes the “wipe test” — it is pretty easy to wipe clean after eating a fast food kids meal with a damp cloth.

My daughter rarely rides in a stroller, so I did not test this out in a stroller, which is one of its advertised uses.  In the car, I found it had the best fit in the Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat when I ran the strap through the back of the seat (which in no way interferes with the safety function of the seat) and since it has a two-sided buckle, my daughter could take it off herself when she got tired of it. 

While a nice attribute, the pockets on the side are pretty deep and because the tray is so wide (a great feature for coloring), it makes reaching pencils, crayons that fall to the bottom of the pockets difficult. I get around this by encouraging using a pencil case in the pockets — it’s easier to grab the case out of the pocket than an individual pencil or crayon.

I questioned whether a soft tray would be sturdy enough for coloring, but it surprised me — it seemed to be sufficient for JavaGirl’s needs.  In fact, during a long drive to the Outer Banks, I found myself jealously coveting her tray and wishing Star Kids made a larger version for moms who were stuck in the passenger seat up front.

Although initially I found the tray a bit wide and deep, I found that adjusting the strap and running it behind the back of the car seat rather than around my daughter made a difference and overall I found this tray to be the best solution of the various car trays I have tried — it offers the best in convenience, comfort, and safety of any other product I’ve tried.  The fact that it cleans up well and can easily pack up and store nicely in the car when you don’t need it are additional pluses in my book!

This product retails for approximately $19.99 and is available at boutique stores, Amazon.com and Babies R Us.

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Disclosure: I was sent a Snack and Play Tray to review.  I participate in the Amazon Associates Program.

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Book: Bundle of Trouble Delivers a Good Mystery

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I’m proud to introduce Caffeinated Reviews, the sister site to Caffeine And A Prayer. I have always loved telling my friends about products — the good, the bad, and the ugly and since launching Caffeine And A Prayer I have been asked to look at products and give an opinion from a mother’s perspective. [...]

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