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Fabulous Fall Rhymes

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

The Rookie is recommended for ages 4 and up, the Original for ages 6 and up and the Epic ages 8 and up.  The difference is the complexity and number of challenges within 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 down and challenge my mind and test my own hand eye coordination.  I am 31 years old and decided I would give them a try.  I was hooked.  As I was able to get through certain hurdles within the maze I could wait to get past the next task.  I think for a 4 year old this toy might pose 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

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 of cards and accessories to hide your cards 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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!!!

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

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!

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

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.