Peppa Pig Helps Celebrate the Grand Re-Opening of The Children's Zoo at the Bronx Zoo
My kids have been long time fans of Peppa Pig. The story lines are simple and family oriented and they find the show pretty entertaining. I can always hear them laughing at some the family's antics and they now see muddy puddles in a whole new light!
We were pretty excited to hear that Peppa Pig will be visiting our near and dear Bronx Zoo for its Grand Re-Opening of its Children's Zoo on Saturday, May 30th and Sunday, May 31st. Guests will have an opportunity to take pictures with Peppa, make their own masks and receive a free bookmark (while supplies last). They will also get to meet some cool new animals and engage in some awesome new experiences. This is one event my kids are not going to want to miss!
We hope to see some of you there!
-MRM
We were pretty excited to hear that Peppa Pig will be visiting our near and dear Bronx Zoo for its Grand Re-Opening of its Children's Zoo on Saturday, May 30th and Sunday, May 31st. Guests will have an opportunity to take pictures with Peppa, make their own masks and receive a free bookmark (while supplies last). They will also get to meet some cool new animals and engage in some awesome new experiences. This is one event my kids are not going to want to miss!
We hope to see some of you there!
-MRM
Chuggington Live Giveaway!
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.
The North American premiere tour of CHUGGINGTON LIVE! The Great Rescue Adventure rolls into New York City’s Beacon Theatre on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, 2015. The live-action, musical children’s show, based on the popular TV series, gives young fans and their families the opportunity to experience the train-tastic adventures of the Chugginton trainees, Wilson, Brewster and Koko.
This brand-new production features impressive trains with working features and movements that bring the Chuggington TV series characters to life on stage. A fun, two act musical, this live show is presented before a giant LED video wall featuring animated locations and background action sequences from the popular TV series.
Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster Charge By Phone (1-866-858-0008) and all Ticketmaster Outlets. Tickets are available in person at MSG, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre Box Offices beginning Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 10:00AM.
For the latest announcements, socialize at:
www.twitter.com/BeaconTheatre, www.facebook.com/BeaconTheatre, www.instagram.com/BeaconTheatre
Or visit the event page at:
http://www.beacontheatre.com/events/2015/may/chuggington-live.html
For your chance to win a family 4 pack of tickets to Chuggington Live! at the Beacon Theatre your choice of May 16th or May 17th, 2015, answer the question below! (Contest ends May 10th, 2015)
This brand-new production features impressive trains with working features and movements that bring the Chuggington TV series characters to life on stage. A fun, two act musical, this live show is presented before a giant LED video wall featuring animated locations and background action sequences from the popular TV series.
Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster Charge By Phone (1-866-858-0008) and all Ticketmaster Outlets. Tickets are available in person at MSG, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre Box Offices beginning Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 10:00AM.
For the latest announcements, socialize at:
www.twitter.com/BeaconTheatre, www.facebook.com/BeaconTheatre, www.instagram.com/BeaconTheatre
Or visit the event page at:
http://www.beacontheatre.com/events/2015/may/chuggington-live.html
For your chance to win a family 4 pack of tickets to Chuggington Live! at the Beacon Theatre your choice of May 16th or May 17th, 2015, answer the question below! (Contest ends May 10th, 2015)
Chugginton Fire Patrol Rescue
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.
This past Saturday, we attended a “traintastic” Chuggington celebration at the New York City Fire Museum in Manhattan! The firefighting-themed fun included a sneak-peek screening of “Fire Patrol Rescue,” a chance to meet with the director, a visit from a real FDNY officer and an awesome art project.
We watched two episodes of the new Chugginton series that will be released on DVD Tuesday, March 31st. All the children in attendance watched intently and could be heard singing the theme song. The episodes focused on learning new skills, working together, fire safety skills and learning how to put out a fire. There was also lessons on the importance of having an evacuation route, good communication skills and team work. The shows were a great introduction to talking about fire safety in our own home. It even gaves the adults an important reminder to have a safety plan in case of an emergency and make sure kids are aware of evacuation routes. Look for the newest member of the Chugginton family, Asher, in the 6 episode DVD pack with great bonus features on March 31st, 2015! -MRM |
|
|
|
|
|
Celebrating Bob Marley CD
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
My boys love music and I have to admit they have a special place in their hearts for Caribbean music, most likely because of their rich Caribbean heritage and they have been listening to Caribbean music even before they were born. There are a few key artists that my husband and I have made sure the boys are familiar with and Bob Marley is at the top of that list. In honor of Marley's 70th birthday, the album Celebrating Bob Marley is a tribute featuring a selection of some of Bob Marley's most timeless songs sung by by Aaron Nigel Smith’s 1World Chorus. My boys love singing along to all ten tracks and are excited to listen to the talented children's chorus. This digital album has quickly grown to be one of their all time favorites to listen to. Get yours as soon as it comes out on 4/28!
-SD
Celebrating Bob Marley (Track List)
1. Jamming
2. Three Little Birds
3. No Woman No Cry
4. Smile Jamaica
5. Bend Down Low
6. Wake Up and Live
7. One Love
8. Lively Up Yourself
9. Is This Love
10. Redemption Song
This ten-track collection was performed entirely by Aaron Nigel Smith’s 1World Chorus- a collaboration of children 7 to 18 years of age, from Kenya, Colombia, the United States and Jamaica. Judah Marley, 10 year old granddaughter of the late reggae icon, also makes a guest vocal appearance on “Bend Down Low.”
-SD
Celebrating Bob Marley (Track List)
1. Jamming
2. Three Little Birds
3. No Woman No Cry
4. Smile Jamaica
5. Bend Down Low
6. Wake Up and Live
7. One Love
8. Lively Up Yourself
9. Is This Love
10. Redemption Song
This ten-track collection was performed entirely by Aaron Nigel Smith’s 1World Chorus- a collaboration of children 7 to 18 years of age, from Kenya, Colombia, the United States and Jamaica. Judah Marley, 10 year old granddaughter of the late reggae icon, also makes a guest vocal appearance on “Bend Down Low.”
Kidz Bop 27
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
My family enjoys music and I am often reluctant to allow my little ones to listen to current pop music due to some of the "mature" content & language. I am happy to have found Kidz Bop and now my little ones are able to sing/dance to the latest music. My little ones love their copy of Kidz Bop 27 and some of their favorite songs are 'All About That Bass", "Shake It Off" & "Fancy".
-SD
-SD
Monster 500 Cars & Playsets
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a sample of this product to facilitate my review, all opinions are my own.
Monster 500™ Graveyard Gauntlet Track Set
My little racers enjoy racing their diabolically designed Monster 500 die cast cars on the 8 ft. long Graveyard Gauntlet Track Set. They send their cars racing past the pendulum of peril & through the jaws of an eye popping giant skull where the checkered flag raises to announce the winner. The track set was easily set up with a little help by daddy (no batteries needed) and the boys had a great time racing each other for hours.
|
Monster 500™ Toxic Terror Trap Playset
The Monster 500 Toxic Terror Trap Playset (requires 3 "AA" batteries) was a hit with my boys. They loaded their cars onto the elevator and squealed at the twisting toxic monster and cheered their die cast car on to avoid being eaten by the mutant alligator awaiting them at the bottom.
|
Monster 500™ Large Vehicles
There are 4 larger Monster 500 vehicles (4 inches high & 5 inches long): Zoom Zombie™, CrocPot™, Lead Foot™ and Flattop Frank™. for little ones who love to collect. Each vehicle has scary lights & sound action that is activated by the touch of a button.
The Monster 500™ Racing App
Join the battle for Monster 500™ supremacy in this frighteningly fast racing app. Fight other monsters as you navigate the death-defying tracks to the finish. Pick up weapons, avoid toxic spills and other creepy obstacles as you race. The App is FREE at the App Store and Google play.
There are 4 larger Monster 500 vehicles (4 inches high & 5 inches long): Zoom Zombie™, CrocPot™, Lead Foot™ and Flattop Frank™. for little ones who love to collect. Each vehicle has scary lights & sound action that is activated by the touch of a button.
The Monster 500™ Racing App
Join the battle for Monster 500™ supremacy in this frighteningly fast racing app. Fight other monsters as you navigate the death-defying tracks to the finish. Pick up weapons, avoid toxic spills and other creepy obstacles as you race. The App is FREE at the App Store and Google play.
Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke: Animal Tales (CD Review)*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary CD for review purposes.
The Animal Tales CD is full of funny and educational songs all about our animal friends.
Recorded by GRAMMY-winning producer Dean Jones, Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke's fourth family music album reflects an ongoing interest in animals. My boys love animals and really enjoyed listening and singing along to the CD. Some of their favorites are "Katy Caterpillar" which captures the mysterious metamorphosis of a caterpillar, "The Bear Song" where they learned about eight species of bears and "Armando Armadillo" filled with fun armadillo facts. This CD is a great addition to our family friendly music library.
-SD
Recorded by GRAMMY-winning producer Dean Jones, Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke's fourth family music album reflects an ongoing interest in animals. My boys love animals and really enjoyed listening and singing along to the CD. Some of their favorites are "Katy Caterpillar" which captures the mysterious metamorphosis of a caterpillar, "The Bear Song" where they learned about eight species of bears and "Armando Armadillo" filled with fun armadillo facts. This CD is a great addition to our family friendly music library.
-SD
Amazing Zhus Magical Meet-Up
*Disclaimer: I received free products in order to host the Cepia, LLC sponsored Meet-Up. The opinions here are my own.
We were selected by Mom Select to host an Amazing Zhus Magical Meet-Up with some friends and the boys were ready to share the magic. We received an Amazing Zhus Magician Pet ($29.99) includes 1 Magician Pet, 1 Magic Wand and 3 Magician Cards & Two Amazing Zhus Stunt Pets ($12.99) and an Amazing Zhus High Dive ($19.99) plus an Amazing Zhus Magician Shell Game ($9.99) to introduce our friends to the magical amazing world of the Amazing Zhus! Everyone loved playing and interacting with the pets and had a great time watching them perform their stunts and magic tricks! We divided into two groups and had a Stunt-Off where each group chose an Amazing Zhu stunt pet and showed off their favorite stunts. Our guests also had fun "chatting" with the interactive Amazing Zhus who make over 200 funny sounds. We gave everyone a magic wand, a magician hat and a fortune telling fish for them to create and perform their own magic tricks!
-SD
The Amazing Zhus magician Pets are motorized pets that will amaze your friends that will amaze your friends as they perform magic tricks and gravity-defying stunts. The Amazing Zhus Magician Pets can correctly guess the answers to the Magician's Cards-- without even looking, follow the Magic Wand wherever you lead them, or predict the pea's location in the Shell Game trick--every time.
-SD
The Amazing Zhus magician Pets are motorized pets that will amaze your friends that will amaze your friends as they perform magic tricks and gravity-defying stunts. The Amazing Zhus Magician Pets can correctly guess the answers to the Magician's Cards-- without even looking, follow the Magic Wand wherever you lead them, or predict the pea's location in the Shell Game trick--every time.
|
|
|
Wubble Ball, A Bubble You Can Play With!
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. I received a sample of this product to facilitate my review, all opinions are my own.
My boys have been captivated by the idea of a bubble they can play with ever since seeing the Wubble Bubble Ball commercial so they were beyond excited when they found out we received one to review. We set out to our neighborhood park with some friends to try it out. It took us a while to figure out exactly how to inflate it using the battery operated pump provided (don't forget to grab batteries) but after we figured it out, we were able to inflate our Wubble Bubble ball to 3 ft in less than 3 minutes. The kids, and hubby were ready to play and immediately began tossing it around the park. They ran after it, kicked it, punched it, jumped on it and had a great time just running after it, even passer-bys stopped to take a look and smile at the gigantic bubble we were playing with. The kids tirelessly enjoyed the Wubble Bubble Ball until it was bounced on a sharp stick and began to deflate. We will be requesting a replacement ball and will make sure there are no sharp objects around our play area next time.
-SD *Inspired by his children's wish for a real bubble to play with, NSI President Frank Landi developed the Wubble™ Bubble Ball to keep children's love for fun, active play alive. *Wubble Ball is available at Target, Toys R Us and online at www.wubbleball.com. Wubble Ball is on Twitter (@WubbleBall) and Facebook (facebook.com/wubbleball). *Wubble has won numerous toy awards, including an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, a National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, a Mr. Dad Approved Award, a Parent's Choice Award and the Dr. Toy Best 100 Picks Award and more! *Wubble Ball's are not indestructible, but they have a lifetime replacement guarantee (http://guarantee.wubbleball.com/) . It costs $6.99 to replace a Wubble under the guarantee *Target selected the Wubble™ Bubble Ball as a 2014 Top Toy for the Holiday Season |
|
SparkBoxToys allows you to #PlayLearnReturn
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Toys, toys everywhere has been the theme of my cozy NYC apartment since my first son was born almost 5 years ago. The toys seem to multiply and now with baby #3 on the way, we are running out of space! Thanks to SparkboxToys we can: Play, Learn & Return. SparkBoxToys is a curated educational toy subscription service that is designed to make kids smarter & help make a parent's/caregivers life easier. SparkBoxToys brings personalized / age-appropriate learning toys to children. With a simple monthly membership, parents will receive high-quality learning toys selected by experts and tailored to a child's developmental needs. When you are done with the toys, you simply send them back for more…so no clutter or waste! We signed up, received our box of toys and the boys were super excited to play with everything! The box included toy product cards with playtime ideas, mesh bags for toys on the go, welcome letter & referral coupons and return label & batteries if needed. The 4 toys we received were age appropriate and engaging, they had hours of fun playing with everything. When it was time to send the box back, the boys were very helpful gathering the pieces and bagging them in the mesh bags provided and sealing the box with the return label provided. The whole process was simple and best of all, it didn't create any extra toy clutter in my house!
-SD Get 50% off the first month on any regular subscription code THIRTYMOMMY sign Up here. |
|
Just Say Hi! (CD Review)
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary CD for review purposes.
Brady Rymer, a Grammy nominated family music artist known for making music with a "rock and roll heart" (New York Times) released Just Say Hi!, his seventh album of original songs on June 17th. Brady and his band, The Little Band That Could, play accordions, the mandolin, an acoustic guitar, keyboards, bass, drums & a sax accompanied by their joyful voices. The feature sing, "Just Say Hi" encourages listeners to reach out and make new friends.
The CD includes 11 tracks that had my boys moving from the first beat. Some of our favorites are "Get This party Started", "Dance 'til I Drop" & Gettin' My Ya Ya's Out". The upbeat, family friendly tracks are perfect for a summer road trip soundtrack that everyone will appreciate and sing along to.
-SD
The CD includes 11 tracks that had my boys moving from the first beat. Some of our favorites are "Get This party Started", "Dance 'til I Drop" & Gettin' My Ya Ya's Out". The upbeat, family friendly tracks are perfect for a summer road trip soundtrack that everyone will appreciate and sing along to.
-SD
The Littlest Pet Shop new season & toys!
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received an invitation to attend the screening & a gift bag.
We recently attended a screening for the new season of The Littlest Pet Shop series on HUB TVnetwork and were introduced to some of the new toys coming out. Having never previously seen an episode of the show, I was excited to check it out.
"A" and I really enjoyed the show and shared a few giggles. The animated characters were silly, dramatic and lovable at the same time. After the episodes we got a sneak peek of the new line of Littlest Pet Shop toys coming to a toy store near you this Fall! -SD The premiere episode airied Saturday, May 31st at 9:30am EST on the Hub TV Network BLYTHE BAXTER and her father live in Downtown City above the LITTLEST PET SHOP, a day camp for all kinds of amazing pets, including doggie diva ZOE TRENT, head hedgehog RUSSELL FERGUSON and resident artist monkey MINKA MARK. Big adventures ensue when BLYTHE discovers she can miraculously talk with her animal friends and notices these pets may be small in stature, but their personalities are larger than life! Fans can follow the adventures of BLYTHE and her friends on the “Littlest Pet Shop” animated series, created by Hasbro Studios and airing on The Hub TV Network in the US. This fall, LITTLEST PET SHOP empowers fans to “Be who they wanna be!” with a new way to play that offers the freedom to design their own PET SHOP world, their way. Fans can create their own Downtown City, with customizable style sets and figures inspired by the “Littlest Pet Shop” animated series. Fans can collect and stack the style sets vertically or horizontally to create a unique ‘city skyline,’ then decorate and style the sets with Deco Bits -- unique, small accessories that plug into the environments for a little added glamour – as well as stickers and other decorative pieces. Fans can also collect and customize 100+ new pets, straight from the entertainment! |
"A" hanging out with Penny Ling after the screening
"A" playing with some of the new Littlest Pet Shop toys (available Fall 2014)
|
TumbleLeaf : an original kids series from Amazon Studios
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary invite to the screening & received a gift bag.
Tumble Leaf is a brand new Amazon Studios original kids program that delivers entertaining educational content straight to your Amazon Fire TV or other mobile device. You can use your Amazon Prime account to stream content on demand and receive free two day shipping on most purchases on Amazon.
We were invited to #TumbleleafMamarazzi hosted by The Moms this past weekend for a sneak peek! We were introduced to Fig, a small blue fox and joined him and his friends on adventures filled with scientific discoveries! Check out the free Tumble Leaf app featuring six games inspired by objects and activities from the show. Here’s the link to the app: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KI2R68O -SD |
"T" & "A" having fun in the Bosco photo booth!
"T", "L" & "A" posing & showing off their Tumbleleaf cookies!
|
Let's Play Football book & App!
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary book & playdate material.
We recently received a copy of the brand new Let's Play Football book and decided to share it with some of our friends by hosting a sports themed playdate! The boys were excited to share the book & app with some friends while enjoying some yummy snacks provided by GoGoSqueez & Honest Kids. First, we read the hardcover book, then we made sports themed bracelets & pictures. Next, we played a few games of sports BINGO then checked out the Let's Play Football app (FREE). Everyone enjoyed the book and I liked that it includes a glossary in the back to help everyone remember the proper terminology. The kids enjoyed letting the app read while they followed along in the book as well as playing a few games. The book was a hit with everyone...including me who does not know much about Football!
-SD Let's Play Football is the story of a papa bear, his young cub, their passion for one sport - Football, and their favorite team - the Bears. Follow this father-son journey that takes them from Training Camp through Game Day as they learn, together, the rules of the sport and the culture of the game. Stunning illustrations, adorable characters and a great story, this is designed to teach kids (and parents) the basics of football in a fun and interactive way. |
Listening to the story & completing sports themed activities
Following along in the book while the app reads
|
Songs From a Journey with a Parrot:
Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes from Brazil and Portugal
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary book/CD for review purposes.
This book/CD set of international children's music is a great addition to our growing collection. The picture book is illustrated with vivid illustrations and Portuguese lyrics followed by English notes about the origin and context for each song. The CD features 30 traditional songs that range in musical styles: samba, modinha, fandango and bossa nova that are performed by native speakers from both countries.
Songs from a Journey with a Parrot: Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes from Brazil and Portugal invites children on an authentic musical journey exploring the ties that bind the two countries. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean, from Porto to Rio, this collection of traditional songs and rhymes include lyrics about everyday life, work and play, courtship and love. Songs about the neighbor's rooster, white doves and golden parrots, a sailor from Bahia, water sellers in the square, or a circle dance called the ciranda, reflect a rich childhood musical tradition handed down for centuries in these Portuguese-speaking countries.
Author: Magdeleine Lerasle is an early childhood educator and researcher specializing in teaching language to children, and an author of Songs
in the Shade of the Olive Tree.
Illustrator: Aurelia Fronty is an illustrator and textile designer whose work includes I Have the Right to Be a Child, One City Two Brothers, and Up
and Down the Andes.
Producer: Paul Mindy is an award-winning musician who received the Georges Brassens Prize to honor his work in Brazilian music. He is an
arranger, composer, singer and percussionist.
Songs from a Journey with a Parrot: Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes from Brazil and Portugal invites children on an authentic musical journey exploring the ties that bind the two countries. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean, from Porto to Rio, this collection of traditional songs and rhymes include lyrics about everyday life, work and play, courtship and love. Songs about the neighbor's rooster, white doves and golden parrots, a sailor from Bahia, water sellers in the square, or a circle dance called the ciranda, reflect a rich childhood musical tradition handed down for centuries in these Portuguese-speaking countries.
Author: Magdeleine Lerasle is an early childhood educator and researcher specializing in teaching language to children, and an author of Songs
in the Shade of the Olive Tree.
Illustrator: Aurelia Fronty is an illustrator and textile designer whose work includes I Have the Right to Be a Child, One City Two Brothers, and Up
and Down the Andes.
Producer: Paul Mindy is an award-winning musician who received the Georges Brassens Prize to honor his work in Brazilian music. He is an
arranger, composer, singer and percussionist.
The Sounding Joy: Christmas Songs In and Out of the Ruth Crawford Seeger Songbook (CD review)
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary CD for review purposes.
I was excited to listen to this CD because we don't currently have a wide collection of Holiday music. I immediately began to hum & sing along to the tunes; my little ones picked them up quickly and joined in. The songs immediately brought me back to my childhood and my holiday memories of faith, family and traditions. Visit here for a FREE song download. This CD is a great addition to our new Holiday music library.
-SD
The Sounding Joy is the spirited collection of folk carols drawn from Ruth Crawford Seeger's 1953 songbook. Elizabeth and her luminary list of family and friends celebrate the spirit of community and and traditions that existed in the time before the commercialization of Christmas. Natalie Merchant,
Aoife O’Donovan, Amy Helm, John Sebastian, Dan Zanes, Happy Traum, and many others including special guest Peggy Seeger all add their voices to pay tribute to a collection revered in the canon of American music. CD $14.98 Download $9.99
-SD
The Sounding Joy is the spirited collection of folk carols drawn from Ruth Crawford Seeger's 1953 songbook. Elizabeth and her luminary list of family and friends celebrate the spirit of community and and traditions that existed in the time before the commercialization of Christmas. Natalie Merchant,
Aoife O’Donovan, Amy Helm, John Sebastian, Dan Zanes, Happy Traum, and many others including special guest Peggy Seeger all add their voices to pay tribute to a collection revered in the canon of American music. CD $14.98 Download $9.99
Merry Christmas, Splat ...and more Winter Stories (DVD review)
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I was given a complimentary copy for review.
We are getting into the holiday spirit with a new addition to our Holiday DVD collection, Merry Christmas, Splat...and more Winter Stories from the Scholastic Storybook Treasures series, which brings best-selling children's storybooks to life and promotes a love of literature. We enjoyed watching all the books "come to life" on the screen and we even learned a few things from the stories. This DVD will surely get lots of views this holiday season and beyond.
Click here for a Merry Christmas, Splat printable!
-SD
*Merry Christmas, Splat (written and illustrated by Rob Scotton, narrated by John Keating)
*Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas (written by Julia Rawlinson, illustrated by Tiphanie
Beeke, narrated by Katherine Kellgren)
*Snowflake Bentley (written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian, narrated
by Sean Astin)
*Owl Moon (written & narrated by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr)
FEATURES
* Read-Along Function
*Behind-the-Scenes look at creating the animation for Fletcher
Holiday Specs
According to the National Retail Federation, American consumers will spend over $6 billion on holiday
decorations. Holiday Specs make those decorations look like they’re worth every penny! Holiday Specs 3D glasses transform Christmas lights, city lights, streetlights, or any bright single point of light into dazzling holiday images of snowflakes, reindeer, Santa, candy canes, elves, ornaments, gingerbread men, snowmen, angels or Christmas stars. They add true holiday magic to any holiday party or greeting card and they're just perfect for stocking stuffers.
Check out the terrific Holiday Specs Spectacular contest on Facebook - it runs now through November 22. Fans are invited to submit photos of their favorite holiday light displays or decorations to the Holiday Specs Facebook page for a chance to win their very own Holiday Specs 3D glasses. The grand prize winner will receive 100 custom designed glasses with their family name and design of their choice! Weekly prize winners will receive a package of 25 Holiday Specs. The winner will be determined by the number of Facebook likes the photo received.
Holiday Specs come in packages of 25 or more, starting at $1.50 each, at www.holidayspecs.com. Also available are Holiday Magic 3D Viewers that bring lights to life and are sold both individually or in a 5-pack, starting at $4.00.
decorations. Holiday Specs make those decorations look like they’re worth every penny! Holiday Specs 3D glasses transform Christmas lights, city lights, streetlights, or any bright single point of light into dazzling holiday images of snowflakes, reindeer, Santa, candy canes, elves, ornaments, gingerbread men, snowmen, angels or Christmas stars. They add true holiday magic to any holiday party or greeting card and they're just perfect for stocking stuffers.
Check out the terrific Holiday Specs Spectacular contest on Facebook - it runs now through November 22. Fans are invited to submit photos of their favorite holiday light displays or decorations to the Holiday Specs Facebook page for a chance to win their very own Holiday Specs 3D glasses. The grand prize winner will receive 100 custom designed glasses with their family name and design of their choice! Weekly prize winners will receive a package of 25 Holiday Specs. The winner will be determined by the number of Facebook likes the photo received.
Holiday Specs come in packages of 25 or more, starting at $1.50 each, at www.holidayspecs.com. Also available are Holiday Magic 3D Viewers that bring lights to life and are sold both individually or in a 5-pack, starting at $4.00.
Baze and His Silly Friends: The Best Day Ever (CD review)
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary CD for review purposes.
My little ones love music, especially albums that get them singing and dancing; Baze and His Silly Friends, The Best Day Ever did just that! MY 4 year old and almost 2 year old immediately started moving and grooving with the first track, "Poor Mother Goose" all the way through the last track, "Dah Day: The whole CD is filled with fun lyrics, great music and subjects all kids can truly relate too.
-SD
After garnering a Parents' Choice Award for their 2009 album, Toddlerville, New Jersey-based kindie rock band Baze and His Silly Friends decided to rev it up a notch by producing an all-star lineup of "Guest Silly Friends" on the band's third kids'/family CD, The Best Day Ever! (Doodle Hollow Records, $13.99, for ages 3 - 7, run time 29 minutes.)
Joining Baze and His Silly Friends are kindie music faves Lucky Diaz, Suzi Shelton, Kira Wiley, Yosi, and Dave Lambert (The Fuzzy Lemons), as well as Stacia Newcomb ("Star" on PBS KIDS Sprout's The Good Night Show), Andrew Freeman (The Offspring, Lynch Mob), and the legendary Tom "Bones" Malone, one of the original Saturday Night Live band members and an original Blues Brothers Band member, who currently plays trombone in the CBS Orchestra for The Late Show with David Letterman, as well as with almost everyone else in the music biz.
-SD
After garnering a Parents' Choice Award for their 2009 album, Toddlerville, New Jersey-based kindie rock band Baze and His Silly Friends decided to rev it up a notch by producing an all-star lineup of "Guest Silly Friends" on the band's third kids'/family CD, The Best Day Ever! (Doodle Hollow Records, $13.99, for ages 3 - 7, run time 29 minutes.)
Joining Baze and His Silly Friends are kindie music faves Lucky Diaz, Suzi Shelton, Kira Wiley, Yosi, and Dave Lambert (The Fuzzy Lemons), as well as Stacia Newcomb ("Star" on PBS KIDS Sprout's The Good Night Show), Andrew Freeman (The Offspring, Lynch Mob), and the legendary Tom "Bones" Malone, one of the original Saturday Night Live band members and an original Blues Brothers Band member, who currently plays trombone in the CBS Orchestra for The Late Show with David Letterman, as well as with almost everyone else in the music biz.
Skylanders Swap Force takes over Times Square for "Swaptoberfest"
Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.
Images courtesy of Getty Images
Activision Publishing Inc brought the world of Skylands to life for one day in Times Square to celebrate the upcoming launch of Skylanders Swap Force. The makers of the Skylanders® franchise invitited fans to experience the world of Skylands during the “SWAPtoberfest” event. Kids who visited Times Square participated in a variety of “SWAPtoberfest” themed activities plus select Skylanders costumed characters attended and lots Skylanders-branded prizes were given away to fans. Portal Masters also had the opportunity to win a Skylanders SWAP Force Starter Pack and play the game in advance of its official launch. Actor, James Marsden (“Anchorman 2”) hosted the event and emcee Zach Gordon (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” “Pete's Christmas”) were both on hand to play games with the Skylanders fans and present prizes!
Skylanders SWAP Force will be available in North America on Xbox 360™, PlayStation® 3, Nintendo Wii™, Nintendo Wii U™ and Nintendo 3DS™ on October 13, in Australia on October 16 and in Europe on October 18. It also will be available day and date with the launch of Xbox One™ and PlayStation® 4.
James Marsden (“Anchorman 2”), Zachary Gordon (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) and hundreds of kids ushered in the launch of Skylanders SWAP Force by transforming Times Square into Skylands.
Surrounded by everyone’s favorite Skylander characters people from all over New York and the world celebrated the start of “SWAPtoberfest” by playing the new title and participating in various Skylander themed activities.
From becoming a Wash Buckler in the Skylanders photo booth to indulging in some after school snacks the day proved to be fun for the whole family and left everyone eagerly awaiting the October 13, 2013 official launch date of the No. 1 game in the toy/video game genre
Skylanders SWAP Force will be available in North America on Xbox 360™, PlayStation® 3, Nintendo Wii™, Nintendo Wii U™ and Nintendo 3DS™ on October 13, in Australia on October 16 and in Europe on October 18. It also will be available day and date with the launch of Xbox One™ and PlayStation® 4.
James Marsden (“Anchorman 2”), Zachary Gordon (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) and hundreds of kids ushered in the launch of Skylanders SWAP Force by transforming Times Square into Skylands.
Surrounded by everyone’s favorite Skylander characters people from all over New York and the world celebrated the start of “SWAPtoberfest” by playing the new title and participating in various Skylander themed activities.
From becoming a Wash Buckler in the Skylanders photo booth to indulging in some after school snacks the day proved to be fun for the whole family and left everyone eagerly awaiting the October 13, 2013 official launch date of the No. 1 game in the toy/video game genre
Lloyd H. Miller's S.S. Booklyn (CD review)
|
Children Make Terrible Pets and More Stories about Family (DVD review)
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary DVD for review purposes.
We have become extremely excited to receive and review the amazing line of Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVDs, so when we got the Children Make Terrible Pets...And More stories About Family DVD, the boys just couldn't wait to watch it. The feature story about Lucy, a young bear who meets a little boy in the forest and decides to bring him home as a pet, is a wonderful story for children of all ages. My boys love how Lucy tries and tries to prove that her mother is wrong but in the end everyone has to admit that "Children Make Terrible Pets".
Peter Brown's beloved children's book arrives on the small screen as the featured story on the brand-new Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD, Children Make Terrible Pets...And More stories About Family.
The other stories on this compilation include All the World (by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee, narrated by Joanne Woodward), Crow Call (by Lois Lowry, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, narrated by Julia Fein) and Elizabeti's Doll (by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, illustrated by Christy Hale, narrated by Lynn Whitfield) are an amazing collection of stories about family. We really enjoyed the content and underlying themes/messages behind them. This Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD is definitely one every family should have.
-SD
Features
*Read-Along Function
*Author Interviews with Peter Brown, Lois Lowry, and illustrator Marla Frazee
Program Information
Type: DVD
Running Time: Approx. 42 minutes + extras
Genre: Kids'/Animation
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Peter Brown's beloved children's book arrives on the small screen as the featured story on the brand-new Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD, Children Make Terrible Pets...And More stories About Family.
The other stories on this compilation include All the World (by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee, narrated by Joanne Woodward), Crow Call (by Lois Lowry, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, narrated by Julia Fein) and Elizabeti's Doll (by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, illustrated by Christy Hale, narrated by Lynn Whitfield) are an amazing collection of stories about family. We really enjoyed the content and underlying themes/messages behind them. This Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD is definitely one every family should have.
-SD
Features
*Read-Along Function
*Author Interviews with Peter Brown, Lois Lowry, and illustrator Marla Frazee
Program Information
Type: DVD
Running Time: Approx. 42 minutes + extras
Genre: Kids'/Animation
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late and More Stories by Mo Willems (DVD review)
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary DVD for review purposes.
As soon as we received this DVD, we were anxious to find out more about the pigeon who tries to stay up late on the cover. We were not familiar with the Mo Willems pigeon stories and was quite happy with the animated adaptations of the story...so much that my toddler "needs" the pigeon books to add to his bedtime book collection! Both boys (ages 1 & 3)were glued to the three stories: "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late", "Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion" and "Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct". I was really impressed with the Read-Along function because the boys were both hearing and seeing the words being used in the story. This DVD has definitely become one the boys favorites and they can't seem to get enough of the silly stories! They definitely have all 3 stories memorized and are constantly asking to make a batch of Edwina's delicious chocolate chip cookies.
-SD
DON’T LET THE PIGEON STAY UP LATE! (Featuring the voices of Mo Willems and John Scieszka) It’s getting dark out, but one stubborn Pigeon is NOT going to bed! Will you let him stay up late?
KNUFFLE BUNNY FREE: AN UNEXPECTED DIVERSION (Featuring the voices of Trixie, Cher and Mo Willems) Trixie and her family set off on a fantastic trip to visit her grandparents – in Holland! But it seems Knuffle Bunny has different plans.
EDWINA, THE DINOSAUR WHO DIDN’T KNOW SHE WAS EXTINCT (Featuring the voices of Cher and Mo Willems) Everyone loves Edwina, except the class know-it-all, who tries to convince everyone that dinosaurs are extinct.
Features:
*Read-Along Function
*Interview with Mo Willems
*Recipe for Edwina's chocolate chip cookies
-SD
DON’T LET THE PIGEON STAY UP LATE! (Featuring the voices of Mo Willems and John Scieszka) It’s getting dark out, but one stubborn Pigeon is NOT going to bed! Will you let him stay up late?
KNUFFLE BUNNY FREE: AN UNEXPECTED DIVERSION (Featuring the voices of Trixie, Cher and Mo Willems) Trixie and her family set off on a fantastic trip to visit her grandparents – in Holland! But it seems Knuffle Bunny has different plans.
EDWINA, THE DINOSAUR WHO DIDN’T KNOW SHE WAS EXTINCT (Featuring the voices of Cher and Mo Willems) Everyone loves Edwina, except the class know-it-all, who tries to convince everyone that dinosaurs are extinct.
Features:
*Read-Along Function
*Interview with Mo Willems
*Recipe for Edwina's chocolate chip cookies
rubber baby buggy bumpers (CD review)
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary CD for review.
We had a great time listening to our Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers CD during family playtime. The songs were catchy, silly and made the kids sing & dance. "T"'s favorite tracks are #1: Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers, #3: Zoo Wacky Zoo, #9 "Don't Touch My Stuff and #11: To Bee a Wood Bee. This CD is a nice addition to our family music library that everyone can enjoy.
-SD
The Grammy nominated, nationally touring act Trout Fishing in America, is back with their wittiest collection of original story-songs yet. Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers features tongue twisters, mind-benders, spooky situations and instantly identifiable slices of a kid's life. From the creepy feeling of stepping in a gooey substance that is definitely "not mud," to witnessing the disturbing sight of your sister kissing her boyfriend, to exploring a "Zoo Wacky Zoo" where tigers do the tango, the wildly imaginative songs and situations with every track.
-SD
The Grammy nominated, nationally touring act Trout Fishing in America, is back with their wittiest collection of original story-songs yet. Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers features tongue twisters, mind-benders, spooky situations and instantly identifiable slices of a kid's life. From the creepy feeling of stepping in a gooey substance that is definitely "not mud," to witnessing the disturbing sight of your sister kissing her boyfriend, to exploring a "Zoo Wacky Zoo" where tigers do the tango, the wildly imaginative songs and situations with every track.
iDollhouse/iFirehouseI was introduced to the Appventures iPad, iPhone & iTouch play cases at Toy Fair 2013. I was instantly drawn to the playcase because it was more than just a case: it was an interactive toy that transforms your idevice into a virtual playhouse. There are two options the iFirehouse and the iDollhouse and both contain lots of interactive activities as well as a figure with a scannable QR code. I like that this product combines technology and traditional play patterns with the use of the figures that can be used without the technology. My toddler "T" (3 years old) and my niece "L" (almost 2 years old) loved playing with the iDollhouse together and solo. My son "T" loves taking his iFirehouse whenever we leave the house in hopes that mommy will let him use her iPad. The case has been able to entertain and occupy the toddlers for some time as well as spark their imaginations and encourage inquiry based learning through their questions.
-SD *Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received samples to test and review. All opinions are my own. |
|
|
|