Growums!

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!

Oneida Stainless Flatware for Toddlers

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.

Moon Dough Magic Zoo

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

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.

Mickey Mote + DVD Play Set

 
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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Playmobil 123 LARGE ZOO

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

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

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

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

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.

Pinkalicious Goldilicious Unicorn Plush

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

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

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.