Baby in the Kitchen's Review Blog

We are moving!!!

2011-10-26T17:49:00.001-07:00

Find brand-new reviews and content over at Cait's Picks!!!!

Fabulous Fall Rhymes

2011-10-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

Now that I have a two-year-old, I am trying to teach her some fun seasonally-related rhymes and finger plays. Rhymes are very important and helpful in teaching language skills to young children. Here are a few we have been doing. Do you have any to add?

Counting Apples
A fingerplay
Five red apples
Hanging on a tree
(five fingers held up)
The juiciest apples you ever did see!

The wind came past
And gave an angry
frown (shake head and look angry)
And one little apple came tumbling down.

Four red apples, etc.

Squirrels
Counting poem

Five little squirrels sitting in a tree.
The first one said, “What do I see?”
The second one said, “Some nuts on the ground.”
The third one said, “Those nuts I found.”
The fourth one said, “I’ll race you there.”
The Fifth one said, “All right, that’s fair.”
So they shook their tails and ran with glee.
To the nuts that lay at the foot of the tree.

I’m a Little Pumpkin
Tune: “I’m A Little Teapot”
I’m a little pumpkin,
Orange and round.
You can talk to me
I can’t make a sound.
But if you scoop me out
And put a candle in,
Carve me a face,
I can grin and grin!

Falling Leaves
Tune: “London Bridges Falling Down”

Pretty leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down.
Pretty leaves are falling down, all over town.
Some are orange and some are brown, some are brown, some are brown.
Some are orange and some are brown, watch the leaves fall down.
Some are yellow and some are red, some are red, some are red.
Some are yellow and some are red, leaves fall on my head.

Counting Apples and Squirrels are from Preschool Rainbow.
I’m a Little Pumpkin and Falling Leaves are by Jean Warren and are posted on Preschool Express.

Spooky Buddies- Halloween Safety Tips and Buddy Cards

2011-10-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

We recently checked out the adorable movie, Spooky Buddies film by Disney. My daughter absolutely loved seeing the puppies running around, talking and wearing costumes!!! The film was extremely cute and was not scary in the least (thank you, Disney for not giving my child nightmares)!

Spooky Buddies sent over some Halloween safety tips and buddy cards that I thought you might want to check out before heading out with your children next Monday. Click here to download them!

Spooky Buddies DVD

2011-10-25T11:39:00.001-07:00

I am elbow-deep in Halloween shopping, both for myself and for Ava girl and I came across this DVD, I am definitely going to pick it up for Abes--Spooky Buddies!They have a sweet and delicious recipe for doggie biscuits, I think Abes and I will definitely make these for our two wiener dogs!!!Click here for some other fun Spooky Buddies activities.Want to score it for less? Click here to get $5 off!

Disney's Winnie the Pooh DVD + Blu-Ray

2011-10-25T11:35:00.001-07:00

As you may remember, we were lucky enough to check out Disney's Winnie the Pooh advanced screening this summer. Ever since then, my daughter has been talking non-stop about Pooh and his friends, specifically about Tigger and how he goes, "BOINGY BOINGY BOINGY BOINGY!!!!!!"

Our favorite part of the movie was a slapstick type of sequence of events where all the characters are frightened by a monster called the "Backson". As adults, we were able to read the note Christopher Robin mis-spelled, so we were able to laugh at the tongue-in-cheek humor that follows. The younger crowd of viewers (those who are not yet reading) will be on the edge of their seats, waiting for the "Backson" to appear and fall into the trap Pooh's friends set for him!

She has asked repeatedly to watch it when we are settling in to watch a movie and snuggle. As of today, she now can watch Winnie the Pooh to her heart's desire! It was officially released today on DVD + Blu-Ray!!!

We absolutely love the silly and heart-warming story about Pooh and his friends and Pooh's incredible love of honey. The movie is filled with delightful adventure and had Ava and my husband and I giggling throughout!

The DVD and Blu-Ray each have bonus features which provide even more entertainment and fun!

Blu-Ray Features:
Exclusive bonus short “Mini-Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Balloon” – In this
charming short, Pooh comes up with a daring plan to get a hold of some honey by fooling a
group of bees.

“The Ballad of Nessie” - The animated short film included in the theatrical release is the
heartwarming tale of how Nessie found her new home in the Loch Ness.

“Winnie the Pooh and His Story Too” – A fun and informative behind-the-scenes look at
the film, designed for the whole family. Hosted by John Cleese (narrator of the film), and with
occasional help from Pooh himself, this featurette explores Winnie the Pooh‟s history from his
beginnings as a character in a book, to his continued life in the movies. The filmmakers
reveal how they worked to keep the look of the characters and settings in this movie
consistent with their first appearances on-screen in 1966. Pooh, being a bear of very little
mind, finds much of this confusing, but the Narrator and the filmmakers make it all clear to
Pooh – and you!

Deleted Scenes introduced by directors, Stephen Anderson and Don Hall – 5 deleted scenes
including “The Tummy Song,” “”Rabbit‟s Friends and Relations,” “Original Eeyore Intro,”
“Original Tigger Intro” and “Pooh Searches for a Tail”

Sing-Along with the Movie – Follow the red balloon and changing word colors to seven
song lyrics featured in the film.

Disney Song Selection – “Winnie the Pooh Theme Song,” “The Tummy Song, “A Very
Important Thing To Do,” “The Backson Song,” “It‟s Gonna Be Great,” “Everything is Honey”
and “The Winner Song Finale”

If you want to score a copy for your family, check out this coupon for $5 off!

If you have future animators at home, be sure to check out this neat activity below- learn how to draw Tigger and Pooh!!!

Stay up-to-date with all things Winnie the Pooh:
“Like” them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WinniethePooh
Follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/disneyanimation
View exciting trailers, video clips and more at www.Disney.com/WinnieThePooh

We received a sample to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

BusyFit Workout DVD

2011-10-25T11:22:00.000-07:00

If you know me in real life then you know I am busy. Like, busy-busy. In addition to being a mom to an awesome toddler, I am a wife, doggy-mommy, kitty-mommy, special education teacher, and a photographer/business owner! Oh yeah, and I blog!
I work with a nutritionist to help stay on top of my health goals and my biggest downfall is exercise.
I just don't have time.

I recently received an email about a new workout dvd called BusyFit. BusyFit is designed to help hard-working, pressed-for-time professionals achieve optimal help without wasting time in the business world.

Business Executive Rob Basso and Personal Trainer Matthew Basso have
joined forces to develop and unveil their first fitness DVD, BusyFit
($29.99 plus tax, shipping and handling; sold on amazon.com or
mybusyfit.com). Designed specifically for busy business
professionals, the DVD allows participants to execute their workout in
only 25 minutes.

This focused workout allows participants to carve out the time
necessary to exercise. BusyFit is strategically designed to get
results, allowing the body to respond favorably in the shortest amount
of workout time. The BusyFit program includes a brief warm-up, basic
mobility, and 10 exercises that address both major muscle groups and
assisters.

I was really excited to check this out so I popped it in as soon as my daughter went down for her nap. The work out was challenging and fun and was completed before I knew it!

According to BusyFit, their DVD workout will help
In 25 minutes, the BusyFit workout will help burn fat, strengthen your muscles, increase endurance, and increase core strength.

I am excited to finally not need an excuse after all these years of feeling like I was just too busy to take care of myself!

We received a sample of the BusyFit DVD to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

Jake and the Never Land Pirates

2011-10-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of Jake and the Never Land Pirates? Well Jake and the Never Land Pirates is cable's #1 series among boys ages 2-5 and is on track to be Disney Channel's #1 preschool series ever.
Rickey and I recently had the opportunity to review the Jake and the Neverland Pirates DVD. This movie is so cute! Rickey loved it! This DVD comes with 7 episodes of Jake and the Never Land Pirates! Jake and his friends Izzy (with her super cute boots); Cubby and the pirate Skully go on all sorts of adventures! They are always on the look out for Captain Hook!

This DVD also comes with a cd of songs from the movie! This saved me from a Rickey melt down on more than one occasion when driving Rickey home after a long day. He quickly got caught up by the catchy tunes and he loved it! The album has songs from the show including: "Hot Lava," “Aw Coconuts,” "Pirate Password,” and the arrrghhh-rated “Talk Like a Pirate.”

This DVD also comes with an eye patch so your kiddo can pretend to be a real pirate! How cute is that!

Rickey and I highly recommend this DVD for your little pirate!

This DVD retails for the suggested price of $19.99 in the U.S. and $24.99 in Canada, the Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Yo Ho, Mateys Away! DVD also comes packaged with a bonus 7-track CD sampler and a pirate eye patch.

Jake and the Never Land Pirates series stars the voices of Colin Ford (TV’s “Supernatural”) as Jake, Madison Pettis (TV’s “Cory in the House”) as Izzy, Jonathan Morgan Heit ("Bedtime Stories") as Cubby, David Arquette ("Scream 4") as Skully the lookout parrot, Corey Burton (TV’s “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”) as Captain Hook, and Jeff Bennet (TV’s “Johnny Bravo”) as Mr. Smee.

We received a sample of this DVD to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own. Thanks to our contributor Jen for her review!

Puzzles by Plasmart

2011-10-25T11:06:00.000-07:00

I recently checked out the three different Perplexus mazes and one snap puzzle made byPlasmart, Inc. The Perplexus mazes are 3D games where playersmust maneuver a small marble around challenging barriers inside a transparentsphere. Unlike traditional flat-surface mazes that are composed of one path,Perplexus houses various challenging tracks with multiple barriers and providesa three dimensional experience. On top of being entertaining, Perplexus is alsoan educational toy, and can help aid a child’s development. It is a great challengingtoy for children and will help them to exercise their motor and dexterityskills along with improving their hand-eye coordination.

The Rookie is recommended for ages 4 and up, the Originalfor ages 6 and up and the Epic ages 8 and up. The difference is the complexity and number of challengeswithin each maze.

The Orbo is a snap and match game reminiscent of an arubics cube. It is made for children ages 3+ and teaches valuable matching, color, and thinking skills.

I found these toys to be a lot of fun and interesting to sit downand challenge my mind and test my own hand eye coordination. I am 31 years old and decided I wouldgive them a try. I was hooked. As I was able to get through certainhurdles within the maze I could wait to get past the next task. I think for a 4 year old this toy mightpose a challenge and might be difficult for them to do but in time they would grow to love it.

We were provided with samples of these puzzles to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

Redakai Championship Tin and Starter Pack Review

2011-09-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

Starter Pack- The Hot New Card Collecting game.

Recently I was given the opportunity to review RedaKai the newest card collecting game. From Spin Master, the people who gave us the Bakugan game comes this awesome new collection. This is a really cool product for the following awesome reasons.

First, it is easy for beginners. I must admit I have never played something like this and was a bit intimidated by the idea of it. Upon opening it and exploring it with a group of 9-10 year olds I was quickly sold. The advanced rules were pretty simple and the rulebook is also straightforward. It was easy to pick up on but I can see it can be complex as you start “deck building”. This is a cool “indoor recess” or family game for this reason.

Next, the cards look amazing. The 3-D and see through cards are so cool. The looks alone are enough to draw anyone in!

Finally, I felt like this is a great card collecting game for all kids. The straightforward rules are simple yet engaging and it manages to move into a more complex game for experienced players. I can easily see this “catching on” and with the show on Cartoon Network its sure to be a success.

Championship Tin

My 11 year old nephew loves playing games (video) or otherwise. My nephew was more than happy to help me review this Redakai Championship Tin. When I asked for his help I forgot that when he was younger and we played card games that he was a big fat CHEATER! Card games have come a long way since he was younger! The Redakai game comes with 3D cards! How cool is that?

This game was easy enough for my nephew to follow the directions, although you better believe I read them too to ensure that there was no cheating! As a mom I loved that the cards were made of thick plastic so when my crazy toddler got ahold of them he didn't ruin them. The cards stack on top of each other so keeping score is easy! It was also nice that the game can in a tin that held all of the pieces in one piece!

The Redakai Championship Tin comes with a deck ofcards and accessories to hide yourcards from your opponent (SO THEY CAN'T CHEAT!) until you are ready to attack.

This Redakai Championship Tin also includes 43 X- Drive Cars; 3 Character Bays; 1 Card Screen with Kairu Counter and 1 Draw Deck.

The Suggested Retail Price is just $29.99.

Thank you to our contributors Gia and Jen for checking these games out! They were provided with samples to help facilitate this review. All opinions are their own.

JEM and The Holograms Season One

2011-09-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

Eep! I was so excited to get my hands on Jem and the Holograms Seasons One! In the 80's, Jem was IT! The hair! The music! She was so fabulous! Now I get to relieve the fun with my daughter, I love it!

JEM is a great series that follows JEM (Jerrica) and her band, The Holograms in their adventures on stage and off! Think all the coolness of Hannah Montana with all the awesomeness of the '80s!

This is a 4-DVD set from SHOUT! Factory & Hasbro and is jam-packed with 65 original episodes AND some additional bonus content!

JEM And The Holograms: Season One is currently available for pre-order but will be out October 11.
We received a copy of JEM to help facilitate this review.

Mission Headquarters by MatchBox

2011-08-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

Here is a really cool product from MatchBox. The Mission Headquarters is from their Sky Busters line. This toy has some really great features. It includes one plane and several movable parts and compartments. The best part of it all however is the portability. It is the perfect grab and go toy for your little one (ages3+) and it even has a handle!

I tested it out with some 5 year olds. It was a complete success! The movable parts and compartments were a huge hit. The “secret” expanding feature was also very popular. Overall a really great toy!

We were provided with a sample toy to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

POCOYO- Dance, Pocoyo, Dance DVD!

2011-08-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

Does your child love to dance? My 20 month old son instantly starts boogying whenever music comes on. So it's no surprise he absolutely loved the new Dance, Pocoyo, Dance! DVD.

Pocoyo is a Spanish pre-school animated television series featuring a small Spanish boy who is full of curiosity. Pocoyo and his animal friends, Elly the elephant, Pato the duck, and Loula the dog, are so adorable and the music encouraged my son to continue having fun for quite some time. He clapped after every song!

The multi-award-winning animated television series Pocoyo is now featured in a new half-hour timeslot during the weekends on Nick Jr., on Saturday’s and Sunday’s at 1.00pm ET/10am PT, complementing the current weekday broadcasts at 4:25 pm Eastern/1:25 pm Pacific. Pocoyo also airs on Univision’s Planeta U on Saturday mornings at 8:30 am; and on select PBS stations nationwide(check local listings).

Check out the interactive website for kids and parents, Pocoyo World!

Wanna learn more about Pocoyo? Check them out on facebook, youtube, twitter, and here at N Circle Entertainment.

Want to save some money? Pick up a bottle of Langers Juice to learn how to score a free dvd!

We received a copy of the Dance, Pocoyo, Dance! DVD to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

Miracle-Gro Kids Grow-A-Plant from Peachtree Playthings

2011-08-03T06:23:00.001-07:00

Ava and I recently had the opportunity to review a Miracle-Gro Kids Grow-A-Plant from Peachtree Playthings. We were so excited when it arrived and were pleased to see it was pretty easy to set up, and the instructions were very clear. We planted tomatoes and peppers and waited for them to grow! Ava loves checking in on "her garden". It's funny, she is not really a picky eater, but she is even less picky when she gets to PICK her own food! Amazing! We are now able to go out, pick what we would like for dinner, and then prepare it together in the kitchen. Not only does she get to learn where her food comes from, she gets to learn how to turn it into a delicious meal, it's really fun!

We checked out their website too, and loved reading through the recipes, facts, and learning activities.

Thanks to Peachtree Playthings for the opportunity to review a growing kit. We are excited to pick up the green house next! All opinions are our own.

Go See: Winnie the Pooh

2011-07-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, my family and I headed into the city nice and early for an advanced screening of Winnie the Pooh. The screening was held at The Ritz 5 and while it was my first visit, it's an old favorite of my husband's- he used to go to The Ritz with friends in high school and college.

As we sat down, I knew Ava was excited, but as the newly updated theme song began to play, I caught myself tearing up a bit - it reminded me of my parents and my childhood! How many times did they sing about Christopher Robin in the Hundred Acre Wood before bedtime to me and my siblings?

Ava clutched her Tigger stuffed animal as the characters began to show up on the screen. She yelled each name as the character appeared and giggled incessantly for the first 10 minutes. She just could not believe her buddies were right in front of her on that screen!

The movie was made by Disney and is inspired by A.A. Milne's books. This particular movie is based on three different Winnie the Pooh stories by Milne.

Winnie the Pooh begins with a problem- Eeyore has lost his tale!! Pooh, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl, Piglet and Tigger come together to find Eeyore a new tale, but as they do, they take on a new mission---find Christopher Robin! The gang mistakenly thinks Christopher Robin has gone missing when Owl mis-reads a note left by CR on his front door.

Owl also mistakenly announces that CR has been taken by a certain make-believe monster which sends everybody into a tail-spin of worries.

The movie was light-hearted, silly, and not one-bit-scary. The ending was just as precious as you would expect it to be and I have to admit, had my husband and I giggling throughout as well!!

You can check out some fabulously fun family activities here.

Stay informed with the movie on facebook! This movie opens everywhere today, July 15!

My family received passes to attend an advanced screening of Winnie the Pooh. All opinions are our own.

Razor Pocket Pros Finger Scooter Toy

2011-07-14T05:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a cool little Razor Pocket Pros Finger Scooter Toy we were psyched to try out with the kids! It’s made by Pocket Pros and is modeled after the Razor scooters. It is intended for the 6+ crowds as it features lots of small parts and even a tool!

My test crew was two 7-year-old boys and they immediately recognized the Razor scooter. They loved how the scooter “folds” like the life sized Razor scooter and easily fit into their pocket. It came with changeable wheels and a little tool to change the wheels. This is an awesome feature. It also came with changeable handlebar covers too. So, each kid could “customize” their scooter to their liking.

There are quite a few really cool features to this little toy. First, the ability to customize the wheels and handlebar covers. Next, the tool made the kids feel like they were actually “working” on their scooter. Finally, the little parts all move created lots of fun! This is a cool little collectible toy that packs hours of entertainment yet still fits in a child’s pocket. A pretty cool little toy!

We received a sample of this produce to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

This review was by our contributor, Gia.

Pokemon Pop N Battle : Tepig

2011-07-14T05:32:00.000-07:00

Here is another cool toy from the Pokemon characters. The Pop N Battle comes with a launcher and attack target. It’s a great game for the 4+ crowds. My little guys loved launching the pokeman at the intended target. Once they actually hit the attack target and the little “trap” shut, they were all sold!

Play it alone or battle with friends, either way it’s a great little game! The Pop N Battle itself is brightly colored and features a PokeMon character that is launched into “battle”. We received the Tepig character that is a very cool looking pig. This toy features some smaller pieces but we were pleased with the overall durability. This is a cool game for any child but especially for a PokeMon fan.

We received a sample of this produce to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

This review was by our contributor, Gia.

Disney Pixar Cars 2 Jeff Gorvette

2011-07-14T05:23:00.000-07:00

If you have a little one who loves the Cars movies, this will be the perfect toy for you! Disney Pixar through Mattel has released a new line of Cars toys for the Cars 2 movie. We received Disney Pixar Cars 2 Jeff Gorvette, a cool little yellow corvette with an American Flag painted on him. The detailing on this guy is awesome.

He is the size of a typical racecar and fits in small hands, so he is good for hours of racing! Jeff Gorvette has a ton of detail, like I said before. His paint is bright and he is constructed well. I tested him out on a few kindergartners and he was a total hit! I did not even have to tell him his name, as he is easily recognizable.

They loved him and asked when we could get Jeff’s other buddies Mater, Fin McMissile, and Lightening McQueen. These guys are also available! So, collect all the Cars 2 figures for hours of enjoyment!

We were provided a sample of this product for review. All opinions are our own.

Thank you to our blog contributor Gia!

Captain Cuffs - Fisher-Price Hereo World Rescue Heroes

2011-07-14T05:14:00.000-07:00

Recently we had the opportunity to review Fisher-Price Hero World Rescue Hereos Captain Cuffs. While Captain Cuffs is awesome, he is a bit too advanced for our little guy. He is intended for ages 3-8, so he headed to the classroom with me for some free time! I am a special education teacher and my students aged 5-7 loved him!

There are so many things as a parent/teacher that I love about him. First, he is incredibly durable. Next, he comes with many parts/pieces that are made to actually last. Finally, he is equipped with moving parts that are easily manipulated by little hands (your little one will LOVE the actionator feature).

Overall Fisher-Price Hero World Rescue Hereos Captain Cuffs was a complete success with my crowd and I can foresee him lasting the test of time in any household.

Thanks Fisher-Price for the awesome Captain Cuffs!

Thank you, Gia, our newest blog contributor!!!!

Sushi-Themed Cloth Lunch Set by Brookiellen Designs!

2011-07-11T00:37:00.000-07:00

At this point, I try to stay away from plastic and wasteful packaging as much as possible. Not only is it better for the environment, it's better for the health of my family- way less toxins getting into our food. Having a toddler, lunch accessories are a must. I teach M-W and Ava goes to a babysitter. On my days off, we are often out and about, meeting with friends, or running errands. I don't know if you have ever met my child but she can EAT! She loves to eat and often requests snacks throughout the day.

My girl Brooke at Brookiellen Designs hooked us up, big time! She sent over some of her brand-new products- an insulated lunch sack, a sandwich bag, and a snack bag! The lunch sack snaps closed and has a handle for easy toting, and the snack bags have a waterproof nylon lining. They perfectly accommodates a few snacks or a full lunch for Ava.

Since receiving the snack bags a few weeks ago, we have used them so often, and we get tons of compliments on them. People love the sushi design (we are so in love with it!), and people love the earth-friendly way to port toddler snacks!

I love the velcro closures and the easy-to-clean insides- just wipe with a damp towel. If something icky gets on it, simply hand wash it or put it in the washer! We actually used ours up in the Poconos on the beach and on the dock for food and believe it or not---our iphones fit perfectly in them!!!

I cannot wait to buy some more, to stock up for our fall back-to-school time. The hardest part will certainly be deciding which pattern to choose!!!

If you're interested, head over to her shop, she JUST returned from vacation, so these will be flying off the shelves!

We received samples from Brookiellen Designs to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

It Gets Easier! ...And other lies we tell new mothers

2011-07-10T16:32:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to review this funny and informative book by Claudine Wolk. It Gets Easier! And Other Lies We Tell New Mothers is packed with really good information that I REALLY could have used after having Ava!

The book addresses common issues women face while pregnant, during labor, and those oh-so-stressful months after the baby has arrived. I have to be honest, it was tough, and I am very guilty of saying those three words~ "It gets easier". I mean, it does, because you (hopefully) will sleep again, and if I have sleep, I can handle anything, but as a mom of a feisty two-year-old, I cannot say it's gotten easy. Ha!

I am the type of mom who likes to prepare. I research. I read blogs. I talk with other moms. But I never really quite felt ready. I have to think that if I had gotten my hands on this little ditty, I might have had half a clue!

Wolk tells it like it is, without being crass and condescending. She writes with experience and humor- something that is invaluable to a new mom.

I love the layout of the book, it's easy-to-navigate and easy-to-follow. There are tips offered in the side bar, and Wolk includes a summary at the end of each chapter.

Both sides of the breast-feeding debate are addressed, birth plans (and how much of a waste of time they are) are discussed, and there's a whole chapter dedicated to the often-debated idea of schedules. Wolk includes a resource section in the back, including websites, books, blogs, and my favorite, a New Mom Glossary--LOVE IT!

I think I have found my new baby shower go-to gift, as it truly addresses all important topics for new moms!

We were provided with a sample of this book to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

Aqua Doodle!!!

2011-07-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Aqua Doodle by Spin Master

Daddy checks out Aqua Bear!

Having a toddler in the home, we are in the artsy-crafty stage. Painting, coloring, markers, pipe cleaners, you name it. The messier the better. I am totally cool with mess and never mind letting Ava go crazy with finger paints (at the table of course), but there are times when mess just is not an option, like at Granny’s house, on vacation, or in the car.

We have discovered two toys that satisfy the greatest of artists, and please the tidiest of moms~ Aqua Doodle Bear and Aqua Doodle Mat! These toys each come with their own marker (which can be used interchangeably) and both can be drawn on, even the bear!

By the end of the week we were writing abc's and drawing all the

little pictures around the mat for Ava!

I have not even gotten into the best part yet--- the markers will work once they are filled with water, and! They only work on Aqua Doodle Products!!!! Write with them on your skin, just water. Write on a chair, just water. Write on the dog, just water. Pretty dang sweet, huh?

These toys occupied my two-year-old, my husband and I, my mother-in-law (who is an artist!) and my step-father-in-law. We played with them in the car, in the cabin and on the dock.

After a few minutes, your drawing will begin to evaporate so there is no need to clean, no need to put them in the washing machine, easy-peasy. Ava was completely mesmerized by the fact that her handprints, foot tracings, and drawings would disappear after a bit. “Where are my toes?” was a common expression around the house!

Thank you to Spin Master who provided samples of these products to help facilitate this review, unknowingly to them---just in time for vacation!!! All opinions are our own.

Chuggington Playset: Wash and Fuel Set

2011-07-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

Chuggington Playset: Wash and Fuel Set

I may have a daughter but that does not mean she is not into trains. Give the girl a car or train set and she can play for hours. Imagine her delight when I introduced the Chuggington Wash and Fuel Playset (say that ten times fast!) by Learning Curve Brands! This set is so up her alley- she loves doing the things that mommy and daddy do- cleaning and getting gas included!

The play set is designed for ages 3+ but as a 2+ year old, she was able to get a lot out of it with adult supervision.

She loved zooming the two cars around the track, but was also very impressed when I showed her how to control the crank which allows the trains to race around the track on their own!!! The coolest feature by far is the fact that the trains communicate with each other! They have tons of phrases which is very impressive.

As a mom and a teacher, I am thrilled to see just how much this encouraged Ava’s social-emotional skills, her imaginative play skills are exploding these days, thanks to awesome toys like this.

Thank you to Learning Curve Brands for providing such a fun toy for us to play with this summer, it sure is getting it’s use over here! All opinions are our own.

Growums!

2011-06-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

Remember our Growums giveaway in May? On Mother's Day, Ava and I planted our Growums seeds and have been patiently waiting for them to grow into herbs we can use while cooking.

I am happy to report, ours are still thriving! They are just about ready to be put into little pots! Ava and I are so excited to check on our plants, and to water them daily. We have been keeping them outside during the day, and inside at night, but a few times we left them out during insane storms by accident. Guess what? Our little babies are still growing!

I tend to have a very-non-green thumb, and I am so impressed! We have been following tips and our progress on-line and really appreciate the reminder emails we receive telling us what we should be doing!

The Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game

2011-06-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

We are just loving all the awesome Dinosaur Train goodies we have been reviewing! The latest and greatest from this Jim Henson creation is a board game for kids aged 4+. I tested this out with my students who are 3-5 years old. They all LOVED it!

The directions are simple and easy-to-follow. The pieces are bright and colorful, and let's be honest, there are dinosaurs and there are trains, what more could you ask for?

From Dinosaur Train, "In this game, players will choose a character – Buddy, Tiny, Shiny, Don, Cory, Tank or Mr. Conductor – and try to move the fastest along the tracks. Speed through the three dinosaur eras: Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous along the beautiful scenery. Special Stopwatch spaces will help you get closer to the nest, while Dinosaur Crossing spaces will send you back. The first player to reach the nest area in the center of the board wins. (For 2 to 6 players ages 4+; SRP $12.00)."

We loved it! Thanks for the opportunity to review this game! All opinions are our own.

Let's Party! with Pocoyo Dvd

2011-06-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

If you have a young child at home, you know Nick Jr. and PBS very well. We recently discovered Pocoyo and have been loving watching it together!

This spring, Pocoyo is teaming up with his pals to help you celebrate “Best Friends Day” on June 8 and celebrate the longest day of the year, “Summer Solstice” on June 21^st with a backyard camping party! And don’t forget Father’s Day on June 19^th! There are a lot of reasons to have a party!

You can head over to entertainmentthateducates.com, to download all kinds of fun (and free!) printable party materials, including party coasters, party invitations and party hats!

When you're finished printing party supplies, make sure you head over to Facebook to check out Pocoyo's fanpage! Your children will love visiting and registering at Pocoyo World - there's lots more fun to be had! I know Ava and I LOVED Pocoyizing ourselves, too! I am still trying to make twitter fit into my busy-busy life, but if you're active on it, you should definitely check out their twitter, too.

Ava and I loved checking out Pocoyo's new DVD, Let's Party. This 90-minute DVD is broken into several episodes which was really great for Ava's attention-span. We could watch it in chunks. We were completely entertained as we followed Pocoyo and friends as they were at a birthday party, tea party, and a welcome home party!

The episodes include:

Who's on the Phone

Whale's Birthday

Pocoyo's Puppet Show

Party Pooper

Everybody's Present

Pocoyo's Present

The Great Race

Elly's Tea Party

Pato Underwater

Baby Bird Bother

A Present for Elly

Farewell Friends

To learn even more about Pocoyo, follow Three.Sixty Marketing + Communications on Twitter!

Ava and I received a sample of this DVD to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

Gomu Erasers

2011-06-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

My daughter Katie (5 years old) and I just received these adorable Gomu erasers. Katie
immediately wanted them out of the package and figured out that the came apart
right away!

She loved the little heart and lunch box looking one. After a few minutes
of playing with the removable pieces , Katie wanted to try to use them as erasers. I
was so excited to see how durable they are…even after lots of rubbing!

We then discovered that you can go online to Gomu Eraserland and earn points for your erasers and see
which erasers are worth the most points. Since Katie is new at using the computer,
I loved this idea and it gave us the opportunity to talk about numbers! This a great ,
affordable, educational and functional toy all wrapped in one! ! These will make
great party favors and stocking stuffers , the removable parts can be traded with
friends! How fun!

We can’t wait to buy more!

Thank you to our contributor Tish and her daughter Katie for testing these cool little erasers out!

We were provided with samples of this product to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

Go See: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

2011-05-27T03:41:00.000-07:00

Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was worth the wait. Of course, with Johnny Depp's return as the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, we knew there would be laughs, deceit, and of course, mutiny.

The movie starts with Gibbs being tried as "Jack Sparrow." Captain Jack comes to his rescue, where Gibbs informs him there is an imposter "Jack Sparrow" who is getting a crew together. Captain Jack finds the imposter and immediately knows who it is: Angelica. Jack finds himself on a ship with Angelica, sailing to the Fountain of Youth. But whose ship is it? None other than Blackbeard's, of course! And without Jack's help, they won't make it to the Fountain of Youth in time. So with twists and turns when you least expect, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is bound to leave you wanting more.

Thank you to Dianna, our contributor, for checking out the movie and for writing up this post.

Dianna was provided with two complimentary passes to attend an advanced screening to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% her own.

Go Read: Dinosaur Train Books!

2011-05-25T05:45:00.000-07:00

Abers and I recently had the opportunity to check out some brand-new Dinosaur Train books, in honor of Get Caught Reading Month.

Get Caught Reading Month is organized annually by the Association of American Publishers to stimulate a love of reading in people of all ages. Sid the Science Kid and Buddy from Dinosaur Train are teaming up and are participating in a free poster campaign (flat shipping applies) that supports Get Caught Reading Month. These are great for teachers or parents, check them out here!

We got to review three Dinosaur Train books, all of which are aged 3-5. There is:

Buddy and Friends

This colorful board book follows Buddy as he meets many of his friends from the TV show. This is a fun introduction to the various species included on Dinosaur Train. We still LOVE board books around here. I like that Abes can sit in her special chair and read and read and read, and I do not have to worry about her tearing any pages- this is wonderful during laundry time!!!

Next, we got to check out A Surprise for Mom!

This book details a sweet adventure that Buddy takes as he searches for the perfect gift for his mommy, ya gotta love that.

Lastly, we read Tiny Learns to Fish . Mr. Pteranodon takes the kids to the pond to learn to fish, but they encounter some difficulties when they get there. In the end, team work makes it happen!

As a teacher and as a mom, I love these books because they're colorful and teach important life skills in a fun and exciting manner. Since I am a teacher, I tend to support these stories with questions like, "What do you think this book is about?"

"What do you think will happen next?"
"Where did Buddy go with his friends?"

Following up with questions like this is so important and truly does help children retain what they just learned!

If you want to purchase these books for your little reader, check them out here:

Want more information on Sid the Science Kid or Dinosaur Train? Check out these great websites:

Dinosaur Train on PBS: http://pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain/

The Jim Henson Company: www.henson.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hensoncompany
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hensonparents

Geocache: www.geocaching.com/dinosaurtrain

SID THE SCIENCE KID and DINOSAUR TRAIN air on PBS KIDS (check local listings for details).

We were provided with samples of these books to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

MMCH: Mickey's Great Outdoors

2011-05-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

If you have a toddler in your house then you surely can sing all the songs from Mickey Mouse Club House. My daughter was smitten with the show with her first viewing. Now, at 2 years old, she loves following along and rocking out to "Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggety dogggggggg"!

Ava really enjoyed helping me test out the new dvd- Mickey's Great Outdoors. It includes 1 Mickey Mote, a DVD, and a Digital Copy! As an avid iphone/ipad user, Ava LOVED having her very own 'mote (remote) to participate in her viewing experience. As a mom-on-the go, I really appreciate the digital copy- and I wish we had it when we flew to Texas last month! When you have a digital copy, you can transfer a copy of the movie from itunes to your ipad. Pretty neat, huh?

Anyway, back to Mickey- just like the other movies in the series, Mickey's Great Outdoors follows Mickey Mouse and his buddies on a fun adventure. There is lots to be learned along the way, all while providing fun entertainment for you and your child!

This DVD is available in stores TODAY!

We were provided with a sample to facilitate this reveiw. All opinions are our own.

Growums!

2011-05-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

As I told you in a previous post, I will be posting some reviews of really fun products. I am not really ready to post about Growums yet, but I just had to let you know what I'll be doing in the next few weeks!

Today, these showed up at my door:

When I left the Toy Expo, I was also given this:

Growums are themed garden kits, that have an interactive platform on Growums.com to teach children all about growing their own food, "from seed to harvest". Cartoon characters represent each type of herb/veggie/fruit and really make gardening exciting for children! I thought it would be neat to do an on-going post about these little gardens to help you get the full effect. Stay tuned!

Thank you to Growums for providing us with samples of the aforementioned gardens and for sponsoring the giveaway, I'm so psyched to test them out!

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure!

2011-05-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure is a hilarious movie from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment about a girl named Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) who wants to go to NYC to audition for a show on Broadway. When Sharpay goes to audition she finds out the part is for her dog Boi. After Sharpay and Boi’s audition they meet their competition Roger and his dog Countess.

The main girl in the play is played by Amber Lee Adams. Amber Lee Adams is very mean to both the dogs and Sharpay and Roger. Sharpay told Amber how mean she thought she was. Amber very mad and Sharpay got fired!

Sharpay has to return home from New York to work which she really doesn’t want to do. Thankfully, she wasn't home long- the directors called her back for another audition and from there she gets the adventure of a lifetime!

I really liked this movie a lot, and so did my cousin who came with me. It was funny and really entertaining!

The DVD combo pack is available in stores TODAY!!!!!

This post was written by our teen contributor Monica! Thanks Monica for writing a great review!
Monica and her mom were provided free passes to see Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure in the theater, as well as a free copy of the dvd to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% Monica's.

PetCakes!

2011-05-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

PetCakes!!!

It's a pet! It's a cupcake! It's both, and it's a-dor-able! PetCakes just debuted their Series two line and that's what I got to check out. Ava girl just can't get over the fun factor with these little guys- if she's playing in the kitchen, perfect, we have cupcakes. All other times though, she's bathing them, feeding them ba-bas, and taking them for walks in the kitchen. Insanely cute, right?

These little guys are perfect for travel or for taking to daycare- they're precious and snuggly, yet they are not too big. At $14.99/PetCake, you cannot go wrong!

Thank you to PetCakes for providing us with samples of PetCakes and for sponsoring the giveaway.

Go See: HOP

2011-04-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

HOP is the story of E.B., the teenage son of the Easter Bunny, who does not want to follow in his father’s footsteps but rather be a rock and roll drummer. So he travels to Hollywood to pursue his dream.

While there, he meets Fred (James Marsden), an unemployed slacker who just got kicked out of his house. The story follows E.B. and Fred on their adventures as they attempt to be successful.

I took my 10-year-old son to see HOP. The characters and animation in the movie were really good. Despite it being a kids movie there were some jokes that I would have considered “over the head” of most children under 12 but my son still liked it. I enjoyed Russell Brand, the voice of E.B..
Brand brings both comedy and sweetness to the character. E.B. was so adorable you just wanted to grab him off the screen and hug him! James Marsden, as Fred, gave an OK performance. I could have done without the appearance of David Hasselhoff. He added nothing to the movie whatsoever.

The music was very cute and had everyone bopping in their seats.

It was nice to see a different type of holiday movie (Easter). Overall I would give the movie 4 starts out of five.

The film is helmed by Tim Hill, director of the blockbuster Alvin & the Chipmunks and produced by Chris Meledandri’s Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me). HOP opened in theaters everywhere April 1.

http://www.iwantcandy.com/

Thank you to HOP for providing our blog contributor Gina with a set of tickets to help facilitate this review!

Oneida Stainless Flatware for Toddlers

2011-03-22T18:37:00.001-07:00

I had the extreme pleasure of trying out Oneida's Paul Revere Child and Baby Flatware 6 Piece Progress Set. I am currently in the process of weeding out plastics whenever I can, so this couldn't have arrived at a better time.

The set comes with six pieces in a lovely box, which is just perfect to give as a gift.

There is a set of flatware for babies, and one for toddlers/big kids. My daughter is totally digging her new flatware. They look just like mommy and daddy's, but they fit her tiny hands!

The flatware is dishwasher safe, and is 18/8 stainless steel with a brushed finish. Ava LOVES that she is allowed to use a knife- it's little and not very sharp, but is perfect for exploring and strengthening her cutting skills.

This particular set is currently on sale~ regularly $30, it's available for $24.99, check it out today!

Thank you to Oneida for providing my daughter and I with a sample of this set to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

Go See: Mars Needs Moms

2011-03-10T12:00:00.001-08:00

Mars Needs Moms was fun filled, heart warming story about a little boy who has this wonderful adventure as he is trying to rescue the very person he took for granted: his MOM! We laughed throughout the movie and teared up at the end...a sign of yet another awesome Disney Movie! My girls loved the characters and I appreciated how life-like the human characters were! That was fascinating! We were last to leave the theater as we enjoyed watching the actors make the movie as the credits rolled along. For what it's worth, this mom is highly recommending Mars Needs Moms!

The fun did not stop when they turned on the lights...What an exciting day! We enjoyed every activity that followed at the Franklin Institute as well as the movie! My kids were excited to learn about Mars. The science experiments were of high interest. My little one, 7 years, was dressed as an astronaut during a demonstration~Very cool! She was in her glory! My older one, 10 years, soaked up the information on star gazing/star chart. She loves looking for stars with her make and take project. We greatly appreciated everyone's time and effort in making this such a valuable-FUN-experience for our family!

This post was written by our site-contributor, Melissa! Thanks, Melissa! Tickets were provided free of charge to her as a thank you for writing this review. All opinions are 100% her own.

That's a Wrap! by Cutey Baby Diapers

2011-02-15T18:00:00.000-08:00

I use cloth diapers on my daughter. Yup. I do.

Yes, it's VERY clean. No, it's not icky. Why, yes, it is INSANELY CUTE and fashionable!!

One of my favorite cloth diaper companies was started by a mom like me, just a few short years ago. The brand is called Cutey Baby and the diapers are functional and as their name suggests, CUTE!

My daughter and I got to check out their brand new diaper~ "That's a Wrap!" and their biodegradable flushable liners.

These diapers are so easy to use, just place the soaker inside the shell of the diaper, and place on baby. We like to use the flushable liners for a quick and easy clean up. You can check out a video right here that explains this further:

The diaper kept my girly-girl and her clothing dry. Clean up was a snap. I LOVE the new patterns in this collection, they are unique and trendy. I also really like the fact that these diapers are sized (S, M, L) so they do not carry extra bulk and fit nicely with my daughter's outfits.

Check out Cutey Baby's website here.
Follow Cutey Baby on Facebook!
Locate a store near you.

Thank you to Cutey Baby, we loved testing the sample you sent. All opinions are 100% our own.

Dinosaur Train Make a Match Game

2011-02-15T09:25:00.000-08:00

My love of Dinosaur Train by the Jim Henson Company is growing and growing. I love their brightly colored, well-thought-out toys and games. As you all know by now, my daughter and I love watching Dinosaur Train together. Imagine our delight when we got to test out their new game, based on an old classic, Dinosaur Train Make a Match. As a teacher and a parent, I love games that foster learning in a way that is fun!

In the Dinosaur Train Make A Match game, Buddy and his friends sharpen children’s memory skills in this special matching game that features a Buddy figure! The game features “Take Buddy” cards, “Wild Cards” and “Lose a Pair” cards to add to the excitement. Players count their matching card sets at the end and add extra points for the player holding Buddy to determine who wins.

The Dinosaur Train Make A Match Game is for 2 to 4 players, ages 3 to 6, and is available at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide for just $9.99.

Check out this link to play a fun counting game called Flying with Buddy.

Connect with the Jim Henson Company and Pressman Toy Company here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hensoncompany
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hensonparents
Geocache: www.geocaching.com/dinosaurtrain

Pressman Toy: www.pressmantoy.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pressmantoy

Twitter: @pressmantoy

Thank you to Dinosaur Train for sending my daughter and I a copy of Dinosaur Train Make a Match to review. All opinions are 100% our own.

Moon Dough Magic Zoo

2011-02-06T10:06:00.000-08:00

As you may remember from the fall, we LOVE Moon Dough! My toddler loves to smash it, to build with it, and to make shapes with it. As a teacher, I love using it with my students who all have special needs- it's perfect for strengthening fine motor skills, which in turn, strengthens a student's pre-writing skills. With both my daughter and my students, we use Moon Dough to make letters, numbers, and shapes. Best of all, Moon Dough never dries out, it lasts forever!

I thought my love of Moon Dough could not get any stronger, until a box mysteriously showed up at my door- the Moon Dough Magic Zoo! The box contains:

1 Magic Molding Zoo
2 Winder Walkers
3 Animal Molds
1 Fence Mold
3 Colors of Moon Dough

Not only can you make animals, you can set them on top of the winder walkers so they move around by themselves! No matter how many times she sees it, my toddler thinks the moving animals are just hilarious. She loves it!

Moon Dough provides hours of creative fun with my daughter, we are fans for life!

Thank you to Moon Dough for providing us with the Moon Dough Magic Zoo to review. All opinions are our own.

Dinosaur Train Footy Pajamas

2011-02-06T09:40:00.000-08:00

As you all know, by now my daughter is no longer a baby, but is totally in a whirlwind of approaching-two-toddler-talking all the time-running-climbing-coloring-dress ups- Tinkerbell- Yo Gabba Gabba goodness! She is tons of fun and totally nuts. One of her favorite things at Christmastime was the train under our tree. Every once and while, she looks at me and says, "Oh no, TRAIN!?" or "SANTA?" (who rode the train). It was around Christmastime that she really started getting into trains and train-related shows. This is also the time she started loving Land Before Time (I LOVED that as a kid!). Imagine her excitement when she discovered the show Dinosaur Train on PBS! It's a Jim Henson creation and combines little kids' two favorite things: dinosaurs and trains!!! Their new episodes just returned and debuted on January 17 and we have been loving them (you can view it here!)!

I was thrilled when I received an email asking me if I would like to review a set of Dinosaur Train PJs!!!! The package arrived and I couldn't wait to get them on Ava. As so as they were washed ready to go, I presented her with them...."OH BOYYYYYYYYY! RAWR!!!!!!!" she squealed and she grabbed at the Buddy the Dinosaur heads on her feet!

These sweet Dinosaur Train™ Striped Footed Pajamas are available at Kohl’s. The dinosaur appliques and striped pattern on these footed pajamas offer timeless touches, and the footed design keep toes toasty. SRP is $26.00, available in sizes 2T-5T.

Pretty cute, right? When I say these jams are warm, I wish I could let you reach through the computer and feel them. They are border-line fuzzy! Delish!!!! Plus, who doesn't love a gorgeous little toddler in footy pajamas?

You can follow The Henson Company in two different ways:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hensoncompany
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hensoncompany

Thank you to The Henson Company for providing us with a pair of these pajamas to review. All opinions are our own.

Dinosaur Train- Dinosaurs in the Snow DVD

2010-12-09T06:04:00.000-08:00

By now you know we love PBS Kids and the wonderfully entertaining shows they have. One of our newer favorites is Dinosaur Train----Dinos+Trains=Happy Toddler!!!! Add in there the fact that the show is created by Jim Henson, you now have happy parents!

Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs in the Snow follows Buddy and his dino family on a trip to the North Pole. Your children will love riding along with Buddy as he learns all about the North Pole. The show presents Life Science in an age-appropriate manner so children can understand and not feel confused or overwhelmed and I love that!

The DVD runs 120 minutes long and includes several other episodes such as Night Train and Fossil Fred- 8 total episodes. The DVD also has an interactive game, coloring pages, a Dinosaur Reference Guide, and information for parents.

PBS graciously provided us with a copy of this DVD to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

Mickey Mote + DVD Play Set

2010-12-09T05:23:00.000-08:00

By now, I thought I had seen it all until the "Mickey Mote" arrived at my door----the hottest new Disney toy for Preschoolers! The Mickey Mote is a child-sized remote control that allows children to interact with their favorite characters!!!

Our Mickey Mote came with Handy Manny: Big Construction Job - DVD with Mickey Mote
and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Numbers Roundup - DVD with Mickey Mote. The remote itself is really cool- chunky and colorful.

There are three modes- Level 1, 2, and 3. Level 1 allows children to answer simple questions about the show--like colors, shapes and sizes. Level 2 presents children with more challenging higher level questions. Level 3 allows children to sit back and relax, it's an auto-play mode.

I tried this out on my preschool aged cousin while my daughter "tried" to help. I have to say, both girls loved it! It was easy to figure out after a quick read of the instructions and the girls had a lot of fun answering the questions (my daughter yells YELLOW and TWO for everything though hahahah)!

The Disney shows we know and love are entertaining and educational, but for us, this took it to the next level. As a mom and a teacher, I approve!

Thanks so much to Disney who provided us with a Mickey Mote and two DVDs to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

The Mrs. McVeigh's Magnificent Manners Show DVD

2010-11-28T05:51:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of Mrs. McVeigh's Life Camp yet? As a crazily-busy mom, there are several things that need to happen every day in order for our house to keep running- one of them is time management, another, organization.

The mission of Elise McVeigh's Life Camp is to "help moms and their families find a balance in their lives". They offer seminars, workshops, and have their own DVDs. We had the opportunity to review The Mrs. McVeigh's Magnificent Manners Show DVD. While my daughter is still a bit young for this (they're aimed at children 3-10), I really enjoyed watching it and seeing the mini lessons presented in such a fun manner!

From their website:

Love the webisodes with the wacky Professor "Mannered" and Mrs. McVeigh? Now you can see them on a full length (approximately 30 minute) DVD! Your child will learn meeting and greeting, resturaunt manners, table manners, how to set a table, how to write a thankyou note and more. Mrs. McVeigh uses the same techinques she has used in her manners classes that has worked for thousand of children. This DVD is so entertaining that your child won't even notice that he is learning how to have magnificent manners.

It is my firm belief that all children (and adults), should observe table manners, and know how to write a thank you note---and that is something I see lacking often!!!!

Like the sound of this DVD? Win one by leaving a comment below!! Winner will be notified by email after midnight on 12/4.

Thank you to Elise McVeigh's Life Camp for providing us with a review copy and giveaway copy. All opinions are our own.

Disney's The Search for Santa Paws

2010-11-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

It's here, it's really here! The 2010 Christmas Season is upon us!!!!! What better way to get in the spirit than to snuggle up with family and watch Christmas movies old and new? My daughter is finally old enough that we can sit and watch some of my favorites from when I was a child, AND we can discover new favorites to be enjoyed year after year! Today, I want to tell you about a new movie, a fresh release, hot off the press!

Disney's The Search for Santa Paws!!!!

I know what you're thinking- Disney + Christmas and you cannot get much better than that, and I whole-heartedly agree! This is a truly endearing film that is available on DVD and Blu-Ray (we love the Blu-Ray option!) and runs about 88 minutes.

As stated in the movie:

“Someone once told me that the spirit of Christmas is embodied in the hearts of children, untouched as of yet by the doubts, fears and disappointments of the adult world.”

--Santa Claus in “The Search for Santa Paws”

How true, how true. This movie does address some very real issues (Santa gets into an accident in the beginning, and the orphans in the story are going through some very hard times), but if you watch it with your children, you will be able to answer any questions or concerns that arise from them.

The movie reminds me of one of my favorite childhood films, Annie (maybe it's the orphan angle?).

Anyway, in the begining, Santa gets into an accident and suffers from amnesia. From there a whole story unfolds that ultimately tells us the story of Paws and how he became such a huge part of the North Pole! The movie is the prequal to the 2009 movie Santa Buddies.

How I loved re-living the wonderment of the Christmas Season through my daughter's eyes, and let's face it, any movie that stars Santa and a gorgeous fluffy dog----I'm there!

Guess what? I have a special coupon for you---$10 off the Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack!

Thank you to Disney for allowing us to preview this film to help facilitate this review! All opinions are our own.

Disney's Tangled

2010-11-24T04:57:00.000-08:00

As a Mommy Blogger, I had the distinct pleasure of attending an advance screening of Disney's new movie, Tangled. Remember Rapunzel? WELL! She's back! She's back in 3D, and in amazingly gorgeous detail!

We decided to take our daughter and our cousin who is four-and-a-half-- both were totally giddy, and it was our daughter's first trip to the movie theater. I am really not sure which of the four of us were more excited!

Both girls got a kick out of the 3d glasses and my little cousin was astonished by the fact that the movie looked "funny" without the glasses on. I will admit, she was a little sad at the end of the movie--she did not want to take them off!

The movie itself was really good. I grew up watching Disney movies and this one did not disappoint. The kingdom's most-wanted BANDIT finds a nice tower to hide in for awhile and is slighly taken aback to find Rapunzel trapped up there, wanting to get out, with spunk, fiest, and 70-feet of hair!!!!

This movie has a good moral, lots of funny scenes, and true to all Disney movies, really warms your heart!

You can check the fanpage and become a "fan" on facebook here!

Tangled arrives in theaters nation-wide TODAY!

We were provided four tickets to attend the screening and to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

Tellurian Baby Products: Baby Oil, 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash, Shampoo, Body Wash, Lotion, Diaper Cream

2010-11-12T11:49:00.001-08:00

Have you heard the awesome news- Tellurian Naturals has launched a baby line of natural products!!! Tellurian Naturals was created by Jane Leeves (of Frasier fame!) and Ron Lewis (founder of Cosmetic Technologies) and the name means "pertaining to the Earth". Jane and Ron have teamed up to create line of natural body care that is both people and Earth friendly.

I am really excited about their latest venture--a Baby Line!!!

I had the pleasure of reviewing the Baby Oil, 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash, Shampoo, Body Wash, Lotion, Diaper Cream and I must tell you I am VERY happy with the results.

Baby Oil: I tested the Unscented, Scented, and Soothing-Calming varieties. The oil was a nice consistency- not too watery, not too oily, not too thick! Both the scented and soothing-calming oils smelled DELICIOUS. The scents are light, airy, soothing, and not overwhelming at all. You have to take a good inhale to smell it when you open the bottle---there is no nasty wall of perfume waiting to pummel your nasal passages, just sweet and simple goodness!

Lotion: I tested the regular lotion and use it everyday on Ava. The lotion has a very faint, warm scent and leaves skin feeling nice and moisturized! I love the consistency, I think it's just right for baby---not too thick! I don't know about your kid, but mine is a wild lady and does not lay long for any type of lotion rubdown. She giggles, squirms and rolls away! I find that with this lotion, I am able to get it all rubbed in quick enough- before she's gallavanting down the hall.

Diaper Cream: The diaper cream is nice and thick and treats diaper rash really well. The main ingredient is Zinc Oxide, and then contains soothing and protecting emollients to help baby heal.

Body Wash: This tearless body wash is mild enough to use on babies and smells really good. Again, the smell is not overwhelming, it's really sweet and simple. I love that it comes in a bottle with a pump. When you are juggling a toddler, a wash cloth, and a slippery bottle of body wash, the bottle always seems to go flying into the tub! Not so with Tellurian Baby! It sits nicely on the tub and makes washing much less stressful (for mommy!).

Shampoo: The shampoo had more of the same goodness- tearless, gentle, mild scented, and even has ingredients that help shine and condition hair!

2-in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash: You already know what I am going to say---it's awesome. There's a pump to make bathing easy, and you can use it on the body and hair which is very convenient for those quick bathtimes!

Body Wash: The Body Wash is more goodness, soapy but not too soapy, yummy-smelling, but not overwhelming. It's mild enough to be tearless and comes in a pump bottle which I probably will never ever be able to buy a normal bottle again because I love this so much!!!!!

These products are not tested on animals and are manufactured in an organic factory! Check out the website for more information regarding specific ingredients and to purchase.

Thank you to Tellurian Baby who provided us with samples to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Heavy Duty Dump Truck by Playmobil

2010-11-11T19:48:00.001-08:00

I don't know any little boys that don't love construction vehicles- dump trucks, diggers, bulldozers, you name it, they love it. They love filling dump trucks with toys and dump, dump, dumping them all over the place!

The Heavy Duty Dump Truck by Playmobil is very realistic. It's detailed and will thrill any young boy. The set comes with a truck, a construction worker, four boulders, a ladder and a toolbox, complete with five tools!

This is a part of the Construction line by Playmobil and can be played with alone, or with one of the many other awesome toys Playmobil has to offer.

Thank you to Playmobil for providing us with a sample to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

My Take Along Princess Fantasy Set by Playmobil

2010-11-11T19:36:00.000-08:00

Though I can hang with the best of them, I am a girly-girl to the core. I love pink, I love fluffy skirts (not on me haha), I love pretty jewelry, cute shoes and beautiful bags! I am pretty sure we are just born that way because my mom was NOT super girly and she always giggled and said, "Where did you come from?"

I always wondered if I would end up having a daughter who was a total tomboy and so far she is not. She is a carbon copy of me! She loves dress up, loves purses, loves her baby dolls, and loves pretty dresses (girl after my own heart!!!).

Imagine our excitement when the My Take Along Princess Fantasy Set arrived at our house!
The carrying case looks like a beautiful treasure chest and holds 147 pieces of fantasy goodness!!

Your daughter will have tons of fun with the king, queen, prince and princess figurines, and with all of the tiny pieces that help put the finishing touches in any princess's life!

For more information or to find more products by Playmobil, visit their site here.

Playmobil graciously provided us with a sample to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

My Take Along Farm Set by Playmobil

2010-11-11T19:11:00.000-08:00

By now, you guys know I love Playmobil, and if you have EVER visited Baby in the Kitchen, you KNOW I love visiting my local farms with my family to purchase produce. Playmobil's My Take Along Farm Set perfectly supports what I teach my sweet daughter --farms are awesome!

The set contains 61 pieces and is geared for children ages 4+. Everything folds neatly in a beautiful red barn. Both boys and girls will have a wonderful time playing with the four figurines, all the animals and tools, and in and around the barn!

I have said it before and I will say it again, sometimes it really is nice to get back to much simpler days- when toys were not electronic and this is no exception---I LOVE IT!

For more information or to find more products by Playmobil, visit their site here.

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Playmobil graciously provided us with a sample to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

Playmobil 123 LARGE ZOO

2010-11-08T19:45:00.000-08:00

I am so very excited to tell you about more Playmobil
goodness tonight----The 1,2,3 Large Zoo set! This is actually geared toward the younger crowd - 18 months and up!!! My daughter went nuts for this. She yelled, "ohhhhheeee!" at each animal as we took it out of the box.

The set has the signature Playmobil look, but the pieces are chunky enough for little hands and it does not include any little parts that may be choking hazards.

The Zoo comes with people (three adults and two kids), nine animals (giraffe, elephant, bird, 2 horses, sheep, bunny, zebra, and a monkey), and also includes a fence, a tree, a tractor, and some smaller accessories like food, a bench and a cart. With so many people, annimals, and accessories, kids can let their imaginations run wild!!!!

Thank you to Playmobil for providing us with this set to help facilitate this review.

All opnions are our own.

Pinkalicious-Junior Scrabble

2010-11-08T19:30:00.001-08:00

Who doesn't love Scrabble? I sure do and I loved returning to my childhood while playing this awesome game. This is Pinkalicious-Junior Scrabble, so it can be played the "regular way" (crossword-style word game), or there is a more supported version for younger players who are just getting comfortable with reading and spelling- LOVE THAT!

So you have a timeless classic game that supports learners young and old, and then....it gets splashed with PINK! And it has images from the Pinkalicious stories!!!!! No my friends, it does not get cuter than this! I cannot wait to play this with my daughter. Kudos to Pinkalicious and Fundex for teaming up to create a very cool (and educational) product.

Thank you to Pinkalicious for providing us with this game to help facilitate the review.

All opinions are our own.

Playmobil Transport Set #4041 Conveyor Belt with Mini Excavator

2010-11-07T04:55:00.000-08:00

When I was a little girl I LOVED Playmobil. All the nostalgia comes flooding back the second I see their signature font or their signature little figurines. The people are about 3 inches tall, bend at the waist, and are dressed in a uniform or costume that matches the type of playset they come with. Playmobil toys are the quintessential detailed, creative, imaginative play toy.

I had the pleasure of reviewing the Conveyor Belt with Mini Excavator and all I can say is WOW! The excavator looks just like the one my Uncle Chuck would bring to our farm each year to help mom and dad in the field! On special occasions, we got to take a ride through the field with Uncle Chuck on the excavator and we always felt SO COOL!

The conveyor belt is extremely detailed and allows for hours of fun hauling boulders up and down (they are included). The set also comes with two figurines, several tools, and nine boulders.

This is part of the Transport set, all of which can be found on Playmobil's website.

A huge thank you to Playmobil for providing this set to us to help facilitate the review! All opinions are 100% our own.

Mega Bloks Ultimate Action Dragon Destroyer

2010-10-26T17:59:00.001-07:00

Earlier, I gave you some background on Dragons Universe....a world where it's man vs. beast, or specifically, human soldiers battling against alient-like dragons! YIKES! Kids love this kind of stuff, and they will LOVE the detailed toys that are in the Dragons Universe collection.

I had the opportunity to check out the Mega Bloks Ultimate Action Dragon Destroyer which includes two dragons, a ship, a removable dragon blaster with electronic battle sounds and light fx!!! There are built-in flight controllers, which makes this "pretend" play seem pretty dang real!!!!

I cannot get over how cool and intricate these toys are. In my last post I mentioned that my 24-four-year old brother would love these, and as I was writing up my review (and playing away!!!), my husband could not help but become interested, too! He commented that he wished he had these to play with as a kid!

Megabrands provided us with a sample of this product to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

Mega Bloks Thomas Adventure on Misty Island

2010-10-26T17:34:00.001-07:00

Are you looking for an amazingly fun gift this holiday season that won't break the bank but really presents as a "big" present? I can help you with that. If you know any little people who are about 2-4 years old, more than likely you know someone who is a fan of trains. More specifically, you know someone who is a fan of THOMAS!!!

Mega Bloks has partnered with Thomas to bring to you Mega Bloks Thomas Adventure on Misty Island, a 101 piece set for 3+ year olds. This set contains buildable Thomas and James trains, tunnels, barricades, canyons, tracks, and of course enough pieces to build a tall mountain that both Thomas and James can ride up, down and around!!!

Forget about stretching the train track as far as the eyes can see, this set challenges children to go higher and higher, with neat accessories to make their experience very life life (or just like the show!). My daughter and niece LOVE trains and are so smitten with this set! They love building the track and making Thomas and James go-go-go!!!

This is a really innovative set and the added dimension of height takes it to a new level of coolness!

You do not want to miss out on this one, pick one up today!

Megabrands graciously provided us with a sample of this product to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

MegaBrands Color Blanks

2010-10-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

Do you have any guesses as to what the above photos may be?
I will give you a hint: Anything you want them to be!

What?

This insanely cute line of toys by Rose Art is called Color Blanks!

Rose Art sells 10 different models including monsters, pets, and shapes. Each figurine is completely blank and comes with tools to encourage creativity from children aged 6+. Each box contains 1 figurine, 1oz. of clay, 3 mini permanent markers, and 1 sticker sheet. The possibilities are endless and kids will have so much fun planning and creating.

These make great gifts and are great activities to complete at a party or sleepover!

Ridiculously sweet, huh?!

Megabrands graciously provided us with sample Color Blanks to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

Pinkalicious Goldilicious Unicorn Plush

2010-10-26T16:12:00.000-07:00

I am REALLY excited to tell you about our next item on the 2010 Holiday Gift Guide. For all the precious little girls in your life----I present to you, Goldilicious!!!! A 12" tall, soft, plush, beautiful unicorn with long flowing mane and tail, a removable tutu, and a sparkling pink sewn-on necklace!

You will remember Goldilicious from the Pinkalicious series of books and I guarantee your little girl will feel so special owning her very own unicorn (I know mine does). Along with her Pinkalicious plush, this sweet unicorn rarely catches a break from my daughter. She calls her Pink's Horsie and allows her dolls to take turns taking a ride (I have even caught Ava riding Goldilicious around)!!!!

The unicorn itself is really well-made and is soft enough to sleep with! Whether it's Pinkalicious and Goldilicious, or Ava and Goldilicious, there are fun times to be had--nothing can stand in their way!

Read more about Pinkalicious on her official website here!

A huge thank you to Jakks and Pinkalicious for providing us with a Goldilicious Unicorn Plush Toy to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

Pinkalicious 3-in-1 Card Game

2010-10-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

I am loving the classic games that are spun with something extra special, like Pinkalicious artwork and themes!

We got to check out the 3-in-1 Card Game set that features Cupcake Snack, Golden Wands, and Princess Purple. Each game is filled with artwork by Victoria Kann, authur of the wildly popular serious, Pinkalicious.

The Cupcake Snack game is based on the classic game of Slap Jack, Golden Wands is based on the classic game of Crazy 8's, and Princess Purple is based on the classic game of Old Maid.

Though Ava is too young to play these right now, I am really excited to be able to teach her these wonderful games when she is ready.

I actually had to read the directions on each of these games before playing because it has honestly been way too long since I have played them. It was nice to put down the computer and just have some good old-fashioned fun!!!

These are small enough that they would make wonderful stocking stuffers!

Read more about Pinkalicious on her official website here!

Thank you to Pinkalicious for providing us with the Pinkalicious 3-in-1 Card Game to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

Mega Bloks Deluxe Dual-Blast Dragon Hunter

2010-10-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about Dragons Universe yet? If not, sit back and be prepared to be impressed! Dragons Universe is about another world where it is man vs. beast. In this imaginary world that is immune to time and space, the soliders battle alien-like dragons called Predavors.

Intrigued yet?

Made by Mega Bloks for children aged 6-15, this 151-piece Dual-Blast Dragon Hunter set will surely excite the boys on your list this holiday season. The set includes a fully buildable Dragon Hunter and a Predavor Dragon!

Equipped with missile launchers that really fire, a flight controller that facilitates real flight, lights and real flight sounds, this toy is a must-have for all little boys this year. My brother (at 24 years old) would STILL love this toy!

For more information about Dragon Universe and Mega Bloks, click here.

Mega Bloks graciously provided us with a Dual-Blast Dragon Hunter
to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

Mega Bloks Play'n Go Musical Train

2010-10-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

By now you know my family is a huge fan of Mega Bloks. I loved the Pirate Ship, and I still love the basic block sets that they sell, and it seems they just keep coming up with more and more to help expand imaginary play skills in toddlers and young children.

I recently had the opportunity to check out the Play'n Go Musical Train that is out on the shelves this holiday season. My daughter went ga-ga for it! She loves the characters, the music, and the train that goes with the touch of it's smokestack. I love it's farm theme, I love the fact that children can build the track, but that it's not overwhelming. There are 20 pieces, including two train cars, a farmer, a cow and a sheep. We practice animal sounds while building, singing and playing. What a blast!

My daughter recently began to express a love of trains and yells "Choo choooo" whenever we approach a train station and now she is smitten with the fact that she can play "choo choo's" whenever she pleases!!

Mega Bloks graciously provided us with a Play'n Go Musical Train to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

UNO: Pinkalicious

2010-10-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

Everybody loves a classic game- especially a classic card game. UNO and I go way back. It's a wonderful game that the whole family can enjoy.

It is recommended for ages 7+ and 2-10 people can play at a time.

UNO is perfect for boys and girls, though this set will appeal more to girls- it's PINKALICIOUS-themed!!!! So fun! Not only are the cards all Pinkalicious-themed, they come in a beautiful, durable tin for easy transport!

We especially love to take UNO to the beach, on trips that involve flying, to holiday dinners with lots of family members- it's easy to throw into my purse and provides hours of laughter and fun!

I cannot wait until my daughter is old enough to learn this fun game, but for now I'm having fun playing UNO with my little cousins!!!

Read more about Pinkalicious on her official website here!

Pinkalicious provided us with the game Uno to facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

Mega Bloks Pull Along Musical Pirate Ship

2010-10-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

This toy is SO neat. There are many great toys out there, but so often they seem to fit in the same old mold. If there is one thing little kids (especially little boys) love, it's PIRATE SHIPS!

Take the coolness of a pirate ship, add in the fact that it's big, colorful, and chunky (perfect for little hands), add in the even greater fact that it is MUSICAL---you have a win-win toy! My daughter absolutely loves this toy and pulls it all over the house.

The Pirate Ship set contains 20 pieces and makes for hours of fun imaginative play! Each time the boat is pulled, a sweet little pirate song plays, which encourages those new walkers to keep testing out their skills!!

The set also includes a pirate, two sharks, a monkey, a canon, and a working trapdoor!!!

It's really nice to see something so cool available to the little guys!

Thank you to Mega Bloks
for providing us with a Pull Along Musical Ship to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

Pinkalicious Cloth Doll

2010-10-26T12:22:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, I told you about the sweetness that is Pinkalicious. Pinkalicious is a lovable little girl who stars in a series of stories for children and young readers.

Books are WONDERFUL and help children learn and grow in so many ways, but how much fun would it be to have a doll of Pinkalicious--to take to the playground, to sleep with at night, and to play and imagine with!

Thankfully, the good people of Pinkalicious felt the same way. This review is of the Pinkalicious 18" soft doll, available online and at Walmart. The doll wears a crown, holds a princess wand, and of course, wears her iconic fairy princess dress.

To be perfectly honest, my daughter is CRAZY for this doll!!! She takes her Granny's house, to babysitting, she sleeps with her at night, and she feeds her in her pretend kitchen. Pinkalicious is quite familiar with a day in Ava's life and has been a very good little companion.

People compliment Ava on her "beautiful little doll" everywhere we go. On Saturday, we met up with a photographer for our family photo shoot, and the photographer said, "Oh, cute, Pinkalicious!" Turns out her niece also loves Pinkalicious and also hangs out with her all the time.

This doll is a doll after my own heart, it's everything I would have wanted as a little pink- she's fun, she's cute, and she's PINK!!!!

Read more about Pinkalicious on her official website here!

Pinkalicious provided us with a cloth doll to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own. No monetary compensation was received.

Kidz Bop Dance Party Wii Game

2010-10-21T04:12:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love an awesome Wii game?! In our family we have a lot of kids. By a lot of kids, I mean, A LOT. For example, we had four boys born on my husband's side SINCE JANUARY, and one girl on my side since January!!!! Wowsas, I know! Our "kids" range from the tender age of 1 month old and span all the way up to the age of 30. Often, the kids naturally branch out into natural age or gender-related groups to play, but to be honest, there have been many a holiday dinner than ends with EVERYBODY packed into the living room, taking turns playing Wii! We have done Wii Sports
to death. Don't get me wrong, we still love the game, but this year, we are ready for something new!

I know you have heard of the CDs by Kidz Bop, an ingenious company that takes popular songs and remakes them into kid-friendly versions, complete with appropriate language and "kid" voices. The songs are familiar and fun, and kids LOVE them. I actually had this funny moment last night while listening to a CD by Best Pals with my daughter---all children love music, but MOST children really love music by voices they can relate to!! My daughter kept cackling and yelling "MORE MORE!!!!!!".

Anyway, back to Wii. Wii and Kidz Bop have teamed up to create Kidz Bop Dance Party! Awesome, no? Rated "E" for everyone, kids of all ages (even grandma!) will love rocking out to 24 popular dance hits, including "Party in the USA" and "Paparazzi". The moves are relatively easy to master, though putting them all together is quite another story.

The game is fun and exciting and is sure to bring a lot of laughs to any family game night!!!!

Thanks to Wii and Kidz Bop for providing us with a copy of the game to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

Kenzie Krawlers

2010-10-19T22:42:00.001-07:00

Okay. If you know me, then you probably know my daughter. If you know my daughter, you are probably familiar with her sweet yet sassy fashion sense. This girl LOVES headbands, purses, tutus, mommy's heels, you name it, she rocks it. She even loves her daddy's Phillies hat! From day one, I have put her in baby leg warmers. Though I love the ones I purchased from national retailers, I was left wanting homemade, local products.

So I made my own.

And they sucked.

It seems you need to know how to sew a straight line in order to make fashionable items for babies or other humans.

Back to the d r a w i n g board.

Enter, my friend and client, Renee. Renee is a new mommy who is also a super fast runner and a VERY creative lady (Need a blanket crocheted? Need decor for your nursery? How about some photography? Renee is ON it!)

In between changing diapers, taking naps, going for runs, and loving on her sweet little girl, Renee is PUMPING out LEG WARMERS! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not only are the designs beautiful, they are really well made!!! Ava has several pairs and loves them all equally. Okay, I lied, she loves the purple and black spider pair the most, but really is always very happy to wear any pair. They are soft, well-made, good-looking and functional!!!

Why put a baby in Kenzie Krawlers?? Why not just put them in pants?

Well here are my top 5 reasons:
1) Diaper changes are a breeze. No pulling pants on and off!
2) Potty training is a dream- going pants-less but don't want your little one to freeze? Kenzie Krawlers are your answer!
3) You can protect those little knees from scrapes and bumps that can easily occur during crawling, stair climbing, and general baby-ness!
4) They are perfect for days that start out with a chill in the air and end with a warm, bright sunshine. Throw them in your diaper bag and easily put them on before entering a cold mall or restaurant!
5) Hello? They look AWESOME!!!!

These are perfect for any little girl or boy, and are great stocking stuffers. These also make beautiful baby shower gifts!

All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you to Kenzie Lish Baby Boutique for sending us a few pairs of Kenzie Krawlers to help facilitate this review.

My Little Pony

2010-10-19T22:05:00.001-07:00

As a child of the '80s, I grew up right in the middle of the My Little Pony craze!!! I LOVED them and between my sister and I, we had a TON! Imagine my surprise when I learned that the ponies are still around!!

It gets better. The ponies have gotten a makeover. And they have a brand new TV show!!

The show is airing on the new network called The Hub. The Hub is a collaboration between Hasbro, Inc. and Discovery Communications. It carries shows like Strawberry Shortcake, G.I. Joe, and Fraggle Rock, and aims to bring children and their families together with play and humor.

I had the opportunity to check out the figurine of the unicorn named Rarity, seen above. Her hair is bright purple and silky, and her hind has the classic colorful markings of all My Little Ponies. Rarity comes with a saddle, comb, and a little bird friend and is recommended for girls aged 3+. These make great stocking stuffers because they are relatively small.

So, I told you the ponies got a makeover....what has changed? The most obvious change was to their eyes. They are bigger and almost a bit flirty with very long eyelashes. The pony's body is slimmed and less chunky.

This line is pretty brand-spankin' new, but you can check out this page to see where you can purchase these little cuties!

All opinions are 100% my own. Hasbro provided me with one pony to help facilitate this review.

Zoobles Mini Figures

2010-10-19T21:20:00.001-07:00

For some reason, little kids like little things that do cool stuff.

I cannot quite put my finger on it, but as a mother (this means I happen to also be a grown up), I still like little things that do cool stuff!

Have you heard of Zoobles yet? There is an entire line of little animals in the Petagonia Collection that will keep you and your little ones busy for hours. In the far off mysterious Isle of Zooble live many tiny little creatures called Zoobles. They present in the shape of a round little ball and out of no where, POP open and transform into a cute quirky little creature!!

Recommended for girls aged 4-9 years old, these magnetic little animals are sure to be a hit this holiday season. Believe it or not, there are hundreds of different characters, and there are a bunch of different themed play sets, including an undersea playground and a treehouse!

All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you to Spin Master for providing one Zooble to help facilitate this review.

Moto Frenzy: The Ultimate Micro R/C Motorcycle by Air Hogs

2010-10-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

Remote control vehicles have come a very long way since I was a kid. I remember my little brother having huge/noisy/clunky cars that were clumsily controlled by a remote. You will not even believe how svelte this little motorcycle is by Air Hogs (is svelte an appropriate term to use when describing such a manly toy as this??;))!!!

The Ultimate Micro Motorcycle happens to be the smallest micro r/c ever created...but do not let it's size deter you- this thing is small but MIGHTY!

Boys aged 8+ can imitate their favorite motocross riders by racing along a track, making sharp turns, and popping wheelies! The rider is poseable, which opens the door for even more awesome tricks!! Each package comes with one moto frenzy (one rider + one bike), and one controller. Controllers are battery operated and take six AA batteries, which are not included. Check out the website to purchase and to see the accessories are available- including stunt ramps!

What little guy in your life wouldn't love something as crazy as a Moto Frenzy!? Actually, I know a few girls who would also love this...!

Thank you to Air Hogs for providing us with one Moto Frenzy to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% my own.

MEGA Bloks Building Imagination Bag Classic 80 pcs

2010-10-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

There is nothing my daughter likes more than big, chunky, colorful toys-----and she just recently learned to build with what she calls "bocks". She loves building with blocks but as a young little one, she has a lot of difficulty balancing blocks without constantly knocking them down accidentally.

Enter: MEGA Bloks
.

They are big, they are chunky (perfect for little hands!), they are colorful (hello, great for teaching colors naturally!!), and oh, can we ever build with them! MEGA Bloks are recommended for toddlers who are 1+ years old- mainly because a child needs to have some fine motor control when using these. That being said, at 18-months-old my daughter LOVES these!!!! At two-years-old, my niece LOVES these! At 27-years-old, I LOVE these!!!

It says so right on the packaging (a durable bag with a zipper that can be used over and over again---great for taking to Grandma's house, too!), the possibilities are endless and I have to say, we have not yet come close to getting bored with our Bloks. We build horsies, barns, characters from our favorite tv shows and books, family members, cars, even food!

These Bloks are perfect for boys or girls, which is always nice for play dates, siblings and family gatherings--they can ALL enjoy it!

Want to know something even cooler? MEGA Bloks is celebrating their 25th birthday this year with an amazing chance for families to win $25,000 for their children's future!! Click here for the full press release which details the contest and how to enter!

In case you wanted to know something EVEN COOLER than that, Mega Bloks is going to give one of you an 80-piece bag!!! Click here to enter.

All opinions are 100% my own. MEGA Bloks provided me with an 80-piece bag of "bloks" to help facilitate this review.

Sid the Science Kid: Gizmos & Gadgets

2010-10-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

I am not going to lie, before becoming a parent, I could not stand a lot of the children's shows that are out there. I had a hard time finding one that challenged children in a way that is not watered down, yet is still age-appropriate. One day I was at my aunt's house and my young cousin was watching a cute show about Sid....the Science Kid. I was intrigued!

Sid the Science Kid airs on PBS Kids (I know, LOVE PBS Kids, or PEEBEE-ESSKIDZ as our cousin calls it) and is created by the beloved Jim Henson!

The show uses humor, music and animation to "promote exploration, discovery and science readiness among preschoolers".

I had the pleasure of reviewing Sid the Science Kid: Gizmos and Gadgets, a 115-minute long DVD that includes four different episodes; The Broken Wheel, My Slide, Sid's Amazing Invention, and The Tree House. The episodes were cute and funny and definitely kept us entertained. It's really nice when kids can enjoy an episode of a tv show while learning some very important concepts, and Sid the Science Kid most certainly does that.

Thanks to Jim Henson for giving us a copy of Sid the Science Kid: Gizmos and Gadgets to help faciliate this review. All opinions are 100% our own.

Disney Tangled Featuring Rapunzel Fashion Play Doll

2010-10-15T06:31:00.000-07:00

Looking for a great stocking stuffer this holiday season? Look no furthur---this is the cutest thing. Disney has made a miniature version of the Tangled Featuring Rapunzel Doll. She is about 3 inches tall but still boasts the very long hair that goes with the character in the movie.

The doll comes with two ball gowns in addition to the one she is wearing in the box. Children will love braiding, brushing and styling her beautiful 10" long locks.

Little girls will love recreating scenes from the movie with this petite sweetie!

All opinions are 100% my own. Disney provided me with a Disney Tangled Featuring Rapunzel Fashion Play Doll to facilitate this review. No monetary compensation was provided.

ZhuZhu Pets

2010-10-14T14:32:00.000-07:00

Omgosh----these little hamsters are the cutest, funniest "pets"! I am sure you have heard of ZhuZhu Pets, ever since they debuted, they have been a HOT item among the 4 and up crowd (and their parents who are left to run around finding these little stinkers on the shelves!!).

They're hairy, they squeak and make noise, they "scatter", "scoot n' scurry", what else could a kid want?

While most kids would be totally satisfied with collecting just these little cuties, ZhuZhu Pets has expanded their line to include some really exciting themes--ZhuZhu Princesses (Complete with a Castle!!!), Kung Zhu (complete with Battle Walkers), and ZhuZhu Babies (Complete with a Nursery, Pre-School, Tot Gym, Playground, and Strollers).

ZhuZhu Pets are tiny and easy to take to Grandma's house, or on road trips. There are lots of different styles and colors, and are really fun for boys or girls!

All opinions are 100% my own. I was not paid to write this review.

ZhuZhu Pets provided me with one hamster to help facilitate the review.

The Dinosaur Train- Buddy Mini Plush

2010-10-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

Looking for a small but mighty gift this year? Maybe as a stocking stuffer? Look no furthur than Learning Curve's line of products. They recently teamed up with Jim Henson in a variety of toy/tv ventures, one of them being Dinosaur Train.

Dinosaur Train is a children's show that is presented in short segments (perfect for those young attention spans). It has an underlying scientific theme while partnering the two things preschoolers love best: dinosaurs and trains! The episodes follow Buddy, a preschool-aged t-rex who rides the train with his adoptive family to embark on fabulous adventures all over the world.

Dinosaur Train is a PBS kids show, so you know it will be entertaining yet wholesome. Baby A is JUST getting into trains, but her two-year-old cousin LOVES them and LOVES the show! We just started watching it and look forward to learning more about the characters and the show.

Learning Curve has an awesome line of toys to support everybody's love of Dinosaur Train. One of my favorites (besides the train sets of course) are the mini plush toys. They are soft and sweet, and are the perfect size for little hand and toddler beds! At $9.99 you cannot beat the price either. Baby A loves "rawr-ing" each time she sees it, and it seems to prompt a giggle and a "that's so cute" from my husband.

The plush toy is perfect for car rides/travel, to take to daycare for naptime, and to sleep with at night. You can check out the other stuffed animals that are available here...I have a feeling Santa will have to bring a few of Buddy's friends to our house this Christmas!

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Learning Curve provided us with a Buddy plush to help facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% ours.

Disney Tangled Featuring Rapunzel Braiding Friends Hair Braider

2010-10-08T04:14:00.001-07:00

I am really looking forward to seeing the Disney movie Tangled! It is a new take on the old classic, Rapunzel. In the movie, you will still see the tower and you will still see the long, long hair, but beyond that, you will be met with a vivacious teen who schemes and bargains with a young man named Flynn to get out of the tower where she's been locked away.

Mattel and Disney have come up with a really cool doll that fits right in with the movie---a doll that comes with little animal friends that braid her hair!!!

I am not even kidding----this sweet doll fits on a green plastic stand, next to small forest animals. With a quick snap, her hair is in place and ready to style. Simply turn the crank and watch a beautiful braid appear! True to the movie, she has TONS of hair, so little girls will have a blast styling, braiding and brushing.

The doll does not have to be on her stand at all times, she is removable and can easily be transported or interact with your child's other dolls. The set also comes with a brush and a few hair clips for stylish fun!

Due to the small pieces that are included with the set, this doll is recommended for children aged 3+.

Thank you to Disney for providing us with a Rapunzel Braiding Friends Hair Braider to facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure

2010-10-08T03:37:00.000-07:00

We love Dora. Oh do we love Dora, or "Doo-wah" as Baby A calls her. Nickelodeon released this 52-minute long fully animated feature in November of last year and now that my daughter is old enough, we are checking it out this year!

By now, you all are familiar with the bi-lingual character, Dora, who likes to go on short adventures with her Backpack and her pal, Boots, all while dodging the lovable villain Swiper!

True to the movie's title, adults will totally recognized this adapted classic story line, only this time, it's Swiper who gets on the naughty list for "swiping" a star from Dora's Nochebuena party. To help Swiper get back in good standing with Santa, Dora accompanies Swiper to the past, present, and future to learn about the true meaning and spirit of Christmas.

The DVD has all your favorite characters, new fun and exciting songs, and extra scenes for extended viewing pleasure. Baby A and I really enjoyed watching "Doo-wahh" and her buddies and are so super excited for the holiday season to arrive! I never ever mind putting Dora on for Baby A, the show is tolerable to watch, and I love how educational it is, while still being fun!

Thank you to Nickelodeon- they provided a copy of this movie to us to help facilitate the review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Moon Dough

2010-10-07T17:31:00.000-07:00

It's getting colder and and the kids are going to be playing inside more as winter rapidly approaches. Is that enough to make your blood pressure rise, mom? Breathe deep and repeat after me, "It will be okay...we have options".

Kids love all types of modeling clay and dough, but no matter how cool the colors are, no matter how fun the accessories are, there is always one problem---it.dries.out. Like seriously, no.matter.what.you.do! No matter how many times you nag little Jenny, there will always be a missed ball of dough, or a corner of the container left open. Noooo!

It might make you crazy enough to start making your own out of flour and water, but before you get all nutty on me, hear me out.

I have the answer. The answer to all your crusty-dried out-dough issues!

MOON DOUGH.

It's magical. I'm not making false claims, it says so right in their tag line, hehe! Moon Dough does not dry out. Ever. Ever-Ever. Even better, it's for the little guys- ages 2-4! Talk about a mom/teacher's dream- clean, fun, safe, non-drying imaginative fine motor play! EEP!

The dough is soft and squishy, reminiscent of a marshmallow (please don't eat it, and while you're at it, don't let the kids eat it either:)). It comes in durable, cute, colored moon-shaped containers and we tried it, it really does not dry out, should your little babes leave some out. The possibilities are endless when playing with Moon Dough, and if you need some inspiration, you can purchase accessories for it, like this awesome Magic Barnyard!

All opinions are 100% mine. Spin Master provided me with a tub of Moon Dough to facilitate this review.

iXL Learning 6-in-1 Learning System

2010-10-07T03:22:00.000-07:00

You thought you had seen it all by now, right?

Well think again.

Fisher Price. You know it. You love it. So many of us grew up with it. Now our children are growing up with the brand, and it's wonderful. You can still buy the simple classics like the Chatter Telephone, Pull-a-tune Xylophone, the stacking rings, and the shape sorter....

Well. Weeeeeell.
Fasten your seatbelt. Fasten a couple seatbelts.

What would be your most perfect toy to not only help you teach your child, to help you entertain your child on long car trips, and to help you teach your child creativity?

Enter the iXL Learning System.

This little device has SIX different modes; Digital Reader, Game Player, Note Pad, Art Studio, MP3 Player and Photo Viewer. What does that mean? It means you and your child can read books on the iXL 6-in-1 Learning System. If they come across a challenging word, they can just click on it and the iXL will say it for them! Children can also set the iXL on Read-to-Me mode, or they can learn about what they are reading in Interact-with-Me mode.

The iXL also has a game mode, making it a hand-held portable game system that teaches numbers, letters, and sequencing. Children can draw, stamp, and color in the art studio, and they can listen to FOUR HOURS worth of MP3s (it IS headphone compatible!!). In notepad mode, kids can trace upper and lower case letters, and numbers. Last but certainly not least, they can import and view photos from any PC or Mac (usb cord is included).

Licensed software is available ($24.99 each/sold separately): Ni-Hao Kai Lan, Disney Princess, Handy Manny, Batman^TM, Toy Story^TM and SCOOBY-DOO!^TM , Shrek^® and SpongeBob SquarePants^TMsoftware CDs currently available;

The iXL Learning System is recommended for children aged 3-7. Check out some cool video of this product in action at http://www.youtube.com/fpixl.

All opinions are 100% mine, Fisher Price provided me with an iXL Learning System to help facilitate this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Paper Jamz Drumset

2010-10-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

Okay. Be prepared to be blown away by the coolness that is Paper Jamz! Paper Jamz is a line of drum sets and guitars that are PAPER-THIN. There are no strings, no drum sticks, yet you can play them like real instruments!

Recommended for kids ages 8 and up, this is a toy for almost everyone in the family - you can even get an amp for it! Imagine how fun Thankgiving will be- post-turkey, the family can take turns channeling their inner rockstar!!

I got to see it in action in NYC when the Kicking Daisies rocked out on them. If you are an actual musician, then you can put the drums in free mode and you can actually play them. If you are not quite as experienced, you can check out three of the more supported modes-Perfect Play (play perfect drums to the 3 hit songs that are included); Rhythm (control the rhythm for each song); or Karaoke.You can sync up with other Paper Jamz instruments and play as a band, or for after-school solos, they are even compatible with headphones (major bonus, huh, moms?).

All opinions are 100% mine.

Paper Jamz graciously provided me with a drum set to facilitate this review.

Pinkalicious- School Rules!

2010-10-05T04:08:00.000-07:00

As a mom to a young daughter, I will admit that sometimes I find myself extending my childhood through her---returning to favorite books, favorite toys, and even visiting childhood PLACES!

Unfortunately for me, Pinkaliciouswas not around when I was little, but fortunately for Ava, she's here now and isn't going anywhere! I first heard about the series by Victoria Kann while working with one of my students with special needs- her classroom teacher read Purplicious to the class and then we followed up with a lesson about colors. I was hooked instantly.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending an event in New York and I got to meet Victoria Kann! THE Victoria Kann. I was completely starstruck and found myself rambling about teaching and photography and Baby in the Kitchen and of course, AVA!! She was kind and laid back, and decked out in pink (LOVE!). She started writing these books when her girls were young, to teach them about nutrition and why we need to eat sugar in moderation (Hello, girl after my own heart!).

Pinkalicious: School Rules! is now part of the I Can Read series of books, which are books about beloved characters that are categorized into stages to support beginning readers. Pinkalicious: School Rules!is a Level 1 book, which is for readers who are starting to sound out words. The sentences are short, the words are familiar, and the concepts are simple enough for young children to read and understand on their own. Pretty cool, huh?

Pinkalicious: School Rules! is about a little girl named Pinkalicious who misses her unicorn, "Goldie", while she is at school. To alleviate her sadness, she decides to bring "Goldie" to school! Of course, it is against the rules to bring a unicorn to school, but when Pinkalicious begins to cry, her teacher allows "Goldie" to stay, just this once. "Goldie" may stay at school, as long as Pinkalicous teachers her all the rules---and she does!

The story is entertaining and visits the concept of rule following while at school. The illustrations are beautiful and colorful and the story leaves your heart feeling fuzzy and warm. There were a few larger words like "Pinkalicious", though I do not think this would prevent a child from enjoying this book. A teacher or parent could easily teach the large words during a picture walk.

Read more about Pinkalicious on her official website here!

You absolutely must check out the Pinkalicious books, toys, and games line which are growing by the day (of course we will have some more to check out, too, so check back)!

All opinions are 100% my own, I was not paid to write this review. I was provided a copy of Pinkalicious School Rules to facilitate this review.

Royal Princess Castle Deluxe Playset

2010-10-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

As a special education teacher, I use a TON of Velcro. I use it to make picture schedules, positive reinforcement charts, job charts, etc. LOVE me some Velcro. Imagine my surprise when I learned that they have a kids line that makes creative playsets---all made out of VELCRO!!!!

Awesome.

The Royal Princess Castle Deluxe Playset is made by Velcro Kids and is designed for kids aged 3 years old and up and just made it's debut this fall. This playset is three-dimensional, is durable, portable, interchangeable, and folds completely flat for easy transport and storage. The characters' clothing is completely interchangeable and is made out of a tear-resistant plastic film.

The castle can be customized by moving the floors, rooms and decor with a simple peel and stick. My sister and I would have loved playing with this when we were little- the possibilities are near endless!

*All opinions are 100% my own. No monetary compensation was given for this review, though a playset was given to me by Velcro Kids to help facilitate the review.

Leapster Explorer

2010-10-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

Oh, the things they come up with these days!!! Leap Frog is at is again with cutting- edge technology that is laced with fun and learning. Today's exciting review is of the LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Learning Game System
. The Leapster Explore debuted this summer and is promising to be one of the IT toys this holiday season. Recomended for children ages 4-9, the Leapster explorer is a fully portable system that boasts a beautiful, bright, easy-to-see touch screen (I don't know about you, but thanks to our ipad, ipods, phones, etc, my daughter already knows how to scroll through touch screen pages!).

With the Leapster Explorer, you can insert game cartridges which are sold separately and range in price from about $18-$30. The games range in age and skill level and feature many popular characters and movies such as Toy Story, Tinker Bell, and Spongebob.
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The Explorer is much more than a hand-held game system though, just like mommy and daddy's high tech toys, this is fully compatible with apps! Children can read e-books (great for trips!), download apps, play online, do flashcards, watch videos AND there is an accessory that will give the Explorer Camera and Video Recorder capabilities!!!! Love, love, love it!!!!

A huge thank you to Leap Frog who provided me with a Leapster Explorer to help facilitate this review. I was not compensated monetarily and all opinions are mine only.

Best Pals Dolls

2010-09-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

Any of you that know me in person know I am a sap. I am nostalgic, can be a little retro, and have no problem sharing with anybody that I still have my favorite childhood doll and bear (Emma and Elizabeth)~ they have moved twice with me and always remain close (whether that would be in my closet or in my heart). Honestly, if I didn't already share a bed with my husband and two mini dachshunds, I am pretty sure I would still sleep with Emma and Elizabeth.

Imagine my excitement when I met Kathy and Janet Lennon (yup, of Lawrence Welk Show and Lennon Sisters fame!!!) to hear about their beautiful toy line. Best Pals is a little girl's dream. Literally. Sisters Kathy and Janet have created exact replicas of their childhood ragdolls, handmade just for them in 1949 by their nana and mom. HOW COOL IS THAT?!

It gets better, these dolls are CUTE! They are soft and sweet. They are made of safe materials. They are vintage and retro and eco-friendly. Want to know something more amazing? They are UNDER $30. And they have friends (even a boy doll!!!)--there are multi-cultural "Pals", holiday dolls, mini dolls, and paper dolls. These precious little dolls take us back to a much simpler time, a time when we named our dolls, we dressed and undressed them, we nurtured and loved them, had tea parties with them (yup they have that too!), sang with them (of course there are cds!!), and just plain old used our imaginations to play!

My daughter has the brunette doll, "Kathy", and LOVES her. She sleeps with her, takes her to babysitting, and to the park. We feed her "ba-bas", help her go "night-night" and cover with with "blank-dees" (blankies). Ava looks for her baby before bedtime and has a full-on tantrum if she's not in her crib.

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There are a lot of cool toys out there today, but I will always love a sweet simple baby doll that teaches a child unconditional love.

Thank you very much to KatJan, Inc. for providing me with a "Kathy" original doll to help facilitate this review. I was not compensated monetarily for this review.

Play Mobil Fire Chief and Car

2010-09-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

Many of you will be so totally excited to relive your childhood through toys this holiday season. I know that is one of the biggest and unexpected perks since becoming a mommy~ I cannot believe how many of the same toys are still around to share with my daughter.

Today's toy is by Playmobil~ specifically, the Fire Chief and Car. This is a 45-piece set that retails between $19 and $23. The set comes with one rescue worker, and one vehicle. The car is a jeep-style convertible that holds many tools needed to complete a rescue mission~ a mega phone, cones, first aide kit, fire extinguisher, laptop, etc. This toy is amazing by itself or can be combined with any of the other toys in the Rescue series, and would also pair well with some of Playmobil's other sets; Hospital, Life in the City, and Transport, just to name a few!

Playmobil's toys are known for being made with safe, quality materials that are durable and beautifully made. All toys are colorful and appealing to children of all ages (my one year old totally wanted in on the action---though she'll have to wait to play with this one, the pieces are small and are a choking hazzard). As a mom and a teacher, the most appealing aspect to me is the imaginative play that is facilitated by the variety of toys, themes and accessories. No batteries are required, no lights flash, there are no buttons to push...just old-fashioned creative fun---mommy likes!

As mentioned above, due to small parts being included, this toy is recommended for children ages 4-10.

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The Playmobil Fire Chief and Car will be featured in our Holiday Gift Guide which you can find here.

A huge thank you to Playmobil for providing me this toy to help facilitate this review. I was not compensated monetarily to write this review.

Welcome!

2010-09-30T11:43:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Baby in the Kitchen's Review Blog! We thought it was time to host a separately blog so all our reviews are in one easy-to-navigate spot.

Enjoy!

www.babyinthekitchen.com