Rave and Review

Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods Holiday Toys

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 10

I’m a huge fan of organic toys for a number of reasons, but especially for all the ways organic products work to better our earth and leave our planet beautiful for our children.  Toxin-free, adorable, and eco-friendly, there are a lot of reasons to choose Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods for your little one.  We were thrilled to hear about the line at BlogHer in September and even more so when some fun toys arrived on our doorstep.

My son simply loves the Dandelion Holiday snowman book and plush that came to play and it certainly makes us all feel festive as we approach the holiday season. Thank goodness Dandelion toys are quality made and ready for play, because my little one loves them “exuberantly” and carries {drags} them everywhere.  Thank goodness they are also both machine washable, as I’m sure they will both need some cleaning after all this love.

The organic velour Dandelion Snowman Cuddlie is colorful and fun and has soft corn stuffing which makes it ideal for snuggling {and teething} all winter long.  The soft cloth “Build A Snowman” book is perfect for pairing with the plush and is oversized for little hands to manage.  It has a cute little candy cane binding to secure the pages and make them fun to turn.  Even though my son is only 13 months and not anywhere near reading age, he likes to flip through the soft book and feel the crinkle of the pages while touching the shapes and colors in the book.

My daughter is 3 and also loves the Dandelion toys, so her favorite thing to do is read the Build A Snowman book to the snowman plush.  She did notice right away that the snowman described in the book is different than the plush toy in a few ways {button color, arms, hat color and shape}, but we just explained that, like people, every snowman is a little bit different than the rest.  She was happy with that, but she does tell everyone that the book is wrong still.  I guess you can’t win them all as a parent!

As colder weather sets in and we get our first snowfall of the year, I have a feeling that the snowman book and plush will get played with even more.  There’s nothing more fun than a snow day and now we will be able to have our own snow fun year-round in our living room!  I feel good about giving them to the kiddos and they love all the colors, shapes, and fun of the toys that are perfect for snuggling, playing, and learning.

If you are looking for some great environmentally friendly holiday toys for your little one, look no further than Dandelion Toys.  See the Dandelion for Baby website for all their great baby-to-toddler toys.  From dolls to bears and learning toys for babies and toddlers, there are so many great products to choose from that your little one will adore.  Going green was never so cute and fun!

A big thank you to Dandelion Earth-Friendly Goods for sending toys for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Our LeapFrog Learn, Create, Share Party!

Holiday Gift Guide - Day 3

Being big fans of LeapFrog and their collection of education toys and software for kids, I’m sure you can imagine just how excited we were to learn that we were going to get a chance to check out and share the newest LeapFrog offerings this holiday season.  As the host of a LeapFrog party, we received a box full of LeapFrog educational products and instructions for how to create a memorable playdate for a group of friends and neighbors.  It was the perfect timing, too, with a preschooler who is really excited about learning her letters and very interested in trying to read on her own.  Even though she has a well-loved Scout puppy and a Tag Jr system, I hadn’t realized how ready she was for some of the older LeapFrog items.  Needless to say, we couldn’t wait for the party to start checking everything out.

The day of the party finally rolled around and the little ones were simply giddy with excitement.  Not only was the party going to take place at their aunt’s house with “cousins” and friends they don’t see very often, the box of goodies packed along for the ride was irresistible.  Once the kids and parents arrived, the excitement in the room was palpable. 

To keep the party running smoothly and keep the chaos to a minimum, we split the group into smaller “teams” to visit each of the stations.  We set up the Tag Reading Station on the comfy love seat, and the Tag Geography Station on the coffee table so we could use the Tag pen for both.  The Coloring Station was set up in the dining room and then the Mobile Station with the LeapPad was all over the place in a makeshift “photography studio”, “movie set” and then a game area where small groups could play together. 

The Tag reader was a hit for parents and kids alike, especially the new Tag Interactive World Map that takes geography to a whole new level.  Instead of memorizing details about places they have never been, the Interactive World Map helps personalize the experience for your child.  By telling facts about the location and offering games and races you can complete, it helps make learning really fun and was something even us adults had a blast with.  Of course, we also liked to snuggle up with the little ones in a cozy story time, reading along with the Tag Story books.

But, the huge hit of the party was certainly the LeapPad, which none of the kids wanted to put down.  In fact, we even had a child start crying when they were called to eat dessert because she was having so much fun playing and didn’t want to stop.  That’s got to be some sort of record for a child to turn down a cupcake for an educational game, right? 

I had only briefly been introduced to the LeapPad while at BlogHer this past summer, but the rest of the partygoers had never seen it yet.  Expecting a handheld game like we’re all used to, the guests were simply wowed by the new LeapPad as I had been a few months earlier.  If you’re wondering exactly what it is, think iPad for kids.  Instead of traditional handheld games that are button oriented and require higher levels of tech-savvy in order to operate, the LeapPad is so awesomely intuitive with its large kid-friendly touch screen that kids are able to play as soon as you hand it to them. 

What’s really cool about the LeapPad is how expandable it is.  Instead of games that you can only play by inserting cartridges, the LeapPad lets you download apps as you would to your i-whatever.  Then, you can merely access the game you want by clicking on the icon on the main menu.  The touch screen has other really cool functions that lend well to learning, of course, like the fact that kids can trace their letters directly on the screen to help them learn them correctly as they would with an actual pencil or helping to guide the game characters more accurately than a joystick or button can. 

Besides learning games, books, videos, apps, and activities, the LeapPad also has a camera {with video recorder}, motion sensitivity, and numerous other touch screen functions, all of which add to the fun of the Pad.  It also remembers your child and grows with them to give tailored lessons and track their progress.  Once  your child has mastered letters and sounds, you can graduate to science and math, geography, music, and more, making this system able to grow with them via their downloads and games like other learning systems can’t. 

The kids at our playdate were between the ages of 3-11, with most of the partygoers towards the lower end of the age range and no one had a problem learning how to use it.  In fact, the lone 1 year old even got the concept quickly and can operate the LeapPad {though probably doesn’t understand just how cool of a gadget he’s playing with}.  With our extreme age ranges, I was really surprised by how well all the kids took to the LeapPad specifically, with the older kids {and parents} gravitating to the interactive map.  Overall, I thought the age range offered a good mix of experiences.  The older kids were able to do tasks that the younger kids couldn’t, like the more advanced geography tests, but they were also able to help with the littler ones nicely. 

If you are looking for a WOW holiday present for your little one, I would highly recommend anything in the LeapFrog family, but especially the LeapPad tablet.  Seriously, our little one has barely set the thing down since it arrived {unless she ran down the batteries and was waiting for a replacement} and still adores it.  In fact, we all simply adore it – I enjoy playing it with her and watching her learn and I also like having a “secret weapon” in our diaper bag that I can pull out if we get stuck at a Dr’s appointment.  The kids at our party who weren’t lucky enough to go home with a LeapPad have asked us to bring it at every event we’ve seen them at since, and I know for sure a few of them will be opening one this holiday season. 

You can learn more about the products featured at the LeapFrog website. LeapFrog products are available online and at most major toy retailers.

We received some LeapFrog toys to play with and share with our party guests.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Make History Come Alive with Hands-On History Books from innovativeKids {Review & Giveaway}

How do you make history interesting for young children?  You make it interesting by bringing history to life, immersing them in the stories and people that shaped our past.  The perfect way to do just that is the Hands-On History Books  from innovativeKids, which offer an interactive way to learn while having fun.  The new release, Letters for Freedom: The Civil War is a great tool for learning about the people, places, and stories, as it makes the 150 year old war come to life before your eyes. 

I have always loved history and learning about the triumphs and trials of the decades and centuries before me, but even with this love of history is a dislike for most history books.  Most history books seem to skip right over the interesting parts of the story, reducing everything to its most basic state and losing a lot of the heart of the story. 

By contrast, I love talking with people who have lived through huge historical events, hearing their versions as to why it happened, how it happened, and what their feelings were during , before, and after.  To me, the Hands-On History book Letters for Freedom: The Civil War is like a cross between a history book and enjoying a first-person accounting of the war, which makes it actually fun to read. 

  Letters for Freedom: The Civil War is set up like a timeline, showing the state of the country leading up to the war, major battles and turning points, and how the war progressed through the years.  Instead of a dry timeline like a text book, what’s unique about the book is that each page has something interactive to help the story come to life.  With flaps, folds, pull-tabs, removable letters and more, it makes reading the book more like looking through a personal scrapbook that really pulls you in and makes you excited to read more.  

As much as I love the chronological progression with each turn of the page, I also love that Letters for Freedom takes detours from the timeline to explain important people, side stories, and more that shaped the course of the war that give an even better understanding of the events.  By including actual letters to and from key people {including President Lincoln and Robert E. Lee}, it allows you to get a better idea of who the history makers were and what they were thinking and feeling at the time.

Whether you have a child who is struggling with history or you simply want a great book to read with your kids, Letters for Freedown: The Civil War is a great read.  With coffee-table book good looks and fun to flip through pages, you just may find the whole family learning and retaining a good deal of the rich history of the Civil War.  Here’s hoping there’s more Hands-On History titles being released that we can collect to help us travel back into time as a family and enjoy history together.   

Be sure and Like the company’s new innovativeKids Facebook page to show them some love!

http://www.innovativekids.com/

One lucky winner will win a copy of Hands-On History Letters for Freedom: The Civil War! 

To enter simply visit innovativeKids and tell me another product of theirs you love

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Enter to #win a beautiful Hands-On History Book from @innovativeKids and @raveandreview. Read their #ravereview here: http://t.co/OkI7QwH5

3) "Like" innovativeKids on Facebook (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (2 extra entries, just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website  (1 extra entry, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {3 extra entries}

On October 30th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

39 Marci said... I like the Groovy Tube Book Dino-Might!

Thank you to innovativeKids for sending their new book to be adored.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

The Many Adventures of Zylie the Bear {+ huge discount tomorrow 8/20!}

Day 31 - Get Out and PLAY… with a snuggly plush friend

There are few things more exciting than a bear with a passport showing up at your door.  Unless of course that bear also has a map, a tote, a satin-lined coat, her own book, and some of the cutest accessories you’ve ever seen.  Meet Zylie the Bear, the most amazing travel friend, adventure seeker, and snuggle partner a kid could ever want.

If you had witnessed the excitement that overwhelmed our house when Zylie the Bear arrived on our porch, you would understand the love that can exist between child and bear.  Just one look at the adorable Zylie and you will truly see what all the fuss is about.  Quality details, soft fur, and a stunning face paired with posable limbs make it clear that Zylie the Bear is no ordinary stuffed animal - she’s a childhood friend.

Zylie the Bear is a fashionable and cuddly bear that is the star of her own book, “The Adventures of Zylie the Bear.”  Spending her days traveling the world and learning about the people and places she visits, Zylie is always up for anything.  If my daughter hadn’t already been so taken by Zylie upon first meeting, their shared love of adventure would have sealed the deal.  

These past few weeks we found Zylie to be the perfect travel partner since she is fun and interactive like a doll, but also snuggly and soft for the journey as well as for bedtime once you get there, making her like two toys in one.  Throw in some of her adorable accessories like her tote, diary, and passport, and she’s endless amounts of fun for little ones.  The only thing that would have made her a better travel partner would be a special Zylie the Bear child-sized backpack that Zylie could ride in to keep clean, have a great vantage point, and hold all of her various accessories.  Since my daughter loved traveling with her so much, I might be forced to make my own backpack carrier for her and her flair at some point.     

Speaking of flair, in addition to the adorable skinny jeans and signature flounce top she arrived in, Zylie also has a whole line of fashionable clothing you can purchase separately, thanks to their esteemed clothing designer Katie Fong.  Something we really loved is that because Zylie is 18” tall and is built more like a doll than a bear, she can use some of the accessories I kept from my doll collection growing up.  This had led to hours upon hours of creative play and now when we are out we are always on the lookout for Zylie-sized items to add to the fun.  

In addition to Zylie the Bear, you can also purchase Shen the Panda, who is featured in the Zylie stories.  This is great if you have more than one child or simply if Zylie needs a friend {other than your child, of course}!  In addition to being simply adorable, Zylie and Shen also serve as strong role models for kids and introduce them to different cultures and places, which helps your child learn about the world around them.  Find out more about how Zylie and Shen are helping kids with more than geography at the Zylie the Bear Goals page!

Want to know how to get a great deal on Zylie the Bear for your little one?  Mark your calendars for tomorrow, August 20th and check out the Amazon.com/Deals at 5pm PST.  I’m not sure of the details yet, but hopefully you will be able to take advantage of a discount to buy!  Find out more at ZylietheBear.com or follow them on Facebook to hear about promotions and discounts, including the Amazon.com deal! 

A big thank you to Zylie the Bear for sending a new friend to love.  We all simply adore her and are looking forward to expanding our collection this year.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Great Books for Exploring the Great Outdoors with Kids {Review & Giveaway}

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 28

With warm weather here we now spend quite a bit of our time outdoors, specifically, digging in the dirt in our garden.  Since this is my daughter’s first year that she can really explore on her own, she is reveling in her independence and likes to spend her time alone in her fairy garden surrounded by her plants and digging up bugs.  Periodically, she will stop to show me something exciting she has found as I tend to our vegetables, asking me hundreds of questions about all the new things she uncovers and sitting mesmerized as I answer her questions.

This is all quite lovely, and I really look forward to spending this time with her, but what I really don’t like is that most of the time, I have no clue at all what the answers are to the questions she asks me.  I may have a vegetable garden, but no one ever has mistaken me for outdoorsy.  I don’t know birds, don’t know trees, and I really, really don’t know bugs.  To be clear, I just barely know my vegetables. 

So, what do I do when I don’t know something?  I look it up, that’s what!  In light of my child's insatiable curiosity, I have two new go-to guide books from Blue Apple Books to help make sense of all things nature.  As great as they are for learning, they are also some of my new favorite books to read with my daughter.

Bugs by the Numbers: Facts and Figures for Multiple Types of Bug Beasties by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss –  The name alone might have you thinking that this is just an infant’s counting book, but you would be incorrect, because it is way more than that.  This isn’t a simple 1 grasshopper, 2 butterflies, 3 ants type of counting book, instead it actually includes really fascinating facts in an easy to learn format that makes reading about bugs truly fun. 

Bugs by the Numbers has insects from termites to walking sticks and breaks down facts about each bug in various numbers.  Each page focuses on a new bug and then offers a few numeric-related facts about them.  Even cooler is that the bug graphics themselves are made out of numerals and the book has fold out flaps to add interest, all of which makes each page exciting and eye-catching for all ages. 

How Things Work in the Yard by Lisa Campbell Ernst – The perfect easy to understand book for little gardeners and a great way to answer all the “why”s your little one can dream up.  How Things Work in the Yard describes the inner workings of numerous everyday objects and things that a youngster would find in their backyard  -- including acorns, bubbles, wagons, ants, fireflies, clouds, snails, birds and more. 

Each page is brightly colored and contains numerous facts and labels to describe even complex ideas in an easy-to-understand language that is perfect for youngsters.  I should admit that even though the book is designed for young kids, I still thought it was fun to read and the facts were actually quite interesting, which is why I love reading it to my daughter. 

I'm so glad we found Blue Apple Books this summer and found a great way to bring the backyard indoors and learn together.  If you have a little one that is interested in nature and exploring, I would highly recommend both Blue Apple Books titles for some fun reading this summer.  They are a great way to sneak a little learning into fun reading and keep little ones excited about what they might find if they dig a little bit.
 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win How Things Work in the Yard and Bugs by the Numbers from Blue Apple Books!

To Enter: Tell me how you get your children interested in the great outdoors.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar {2 extra entries, must be verified to count}

2) "Like" Blue Apple Books on Facebook

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following {daily Tweet, just post link here}

Trying to win two great books from Blue Apple Books and @raveandreview - perfect for exploring with little ones! #giveaway http://bit.ly/rl5zpH!

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage {just post the URL where I can find your writeup}

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website {2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R}

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com {I will never, ever contact your email recipients}

8) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {3 extra entries}

On August 26th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

A big thank you to Blue Apple Books for sending the sample books to review and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

American Girl Seattle Grand Opening {Review & Doll Giveaway}

It was a big week for girls of the Pacific Northwest.  On Saturday, July 16th a brand new American Girl Store opened in Alderwood Mall just a bit North of Seattle.  To celebrate the opening, girls came from all around to get a chance to see inside the store and shop, most of them bringing along their beloved dolls from home.

I’ve visited both Chicago and New York American Girl Stores in the past with my daughter so I knew somewhat what to expect, but this time it was different because my daughter was really old enough to appreciate it.  And, this time we were mere moments from our house in the brand new “Seattle” Store so I didn’t have to worry about fitting our purchases into crammed luggage.  Can you say "dangerous"? 

By now I’m sure you know how much my daughter loves {no, make that adores} dolls, girly things, and all things miniature.  That in mind, you will not be surprised at all that she was willing to roll out a sleeping bag and take her nap in the store if I would have let her.  Luckily, we had a few hours free for “girl’s day” that allowed us to take our time wandering through the store without boys rushing us along. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I should admit that I'm secretly very excited that she loves the store so much.  Maybe it’s because I'm filling my lifelong void that comes from having no American Girl Doll of my own, or maybe it's because I may never be too old for life-like miniature replicas, but whatever the reason, I was giddy with excitement as my daughter and I walked hand-in-hand through American Girl Place.

For those of you who have not visited an American Girl Place and don't know about the magic that awaits, let me give you a little background.  American Girl is not just a doll store; in fact, even though the dolls are simply exquisite, they were not the sole reason I grew up flipping through the American Girl catalog and wishing I lived in NYC and Chicago so I could visit their showrooms, it was the fact that American Girl Place has everything a girly girl could wish for. 

The AG Alderwood location may be a bit smaller than the multi-story mega stores that we’ve visited before, but it still has all the charm and allure of the big stores, with a bit more manageable footprint for the medium-sized mall.  Whether dining in the American Girl Bistro, watching dolls get makeovers at the Doll Hair Salon, browsing the bookstore or shop, attending craft days or even making their own matching Creativi-Tees, visiting an American Girl Place in Alderwood can be a quick trip, or you can make it a full-day event. 

My daughter and I spent quite a bit of time in the Bitty Baby area since she had brought her doll from home and she had a blast playing with the accessories on the showroom floor like the Bitty Twins’ Double Jogging Stroller which all the little girls were lined up to play with.  From there we made our way through the historical favorites dolls to the My American Girl® dolls and then to Kanani, the 2011 Girl of the Year, pausing frequently to oooh and aaah over all the adorable accessories, lovable pets, furniture, and miniatures that are the hallmark of the brand.  With so much more to see and do that we didn’t get to in our visit during the Grand Opening weekend, I predict there is going to be a whole lot of time spent at Alderwood Mall in our future. 


Want to experience a little bit of the American Girl magic?  Check out the Seattle Store if you are in the Pacific Northwest or see the full product line of books, dolls, and accessories on the American Girl website.  You can even play games and more in their online AG activity section!
 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will their own Kanani Doll, the 2011 American Girl of the Year!

Here's a bit about the beautiful Kanani from AG: 18" Kanani features long, wavy medium-brown hair and hazel eyes and is available for one year, launching with two books that tell her story and an array of outfits and accessories such as a paddleboard set, a plush Hawaiian monk seal, and a shave ice stand! To share in the Hawaiian spirit of helping others, American Girl is partnering with the National Wildlife Federation^® (NWF) to help raise awareness of endangered animals, like the Hawaiian monk seal featured in Kanani’s stories. With the purchase of every Kanani plush monk seal sold in 2011, American Girl is donating $1 (up to a maximum of $100,000) to NWF’s efforts to help children throughout the United States gain an appreciation and understanding for America’s most vulnerable animals through various educational programs and activities.

To Enter: Tell me what doll or accessory you love from American Girl!

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar {2 extra entries, must be verified to count}

2) Tweet about this Giveaway after following {daily Tweet, just post link here}

Have you entered the American Girl Doll #giveaway from @raveandreview? Win your own Kanani Doll http://bit.ly/n0PxFj!

3) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage {just post the URL where I can find your writeup}

4) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website {2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R}

5) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

6) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com {I will never, ever contact your email recipients}

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {3 extra entries}

On September 15th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#850 LOLI6287 said... How could you not love Kit? She's adorable spunky and has the best accessories!

A big thank you to American Girl for letting us tour their facilities and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Paddywhack Lane Playsets {Review & Giveaway}

When I was young, my sister and I bonded over miniatures.  While we had varied interests growing up, the one thing we both loved was small dolls and figures.  Our collection became so beloved to us that it was the one thing we salvaged when my mom was getting rid of all of our toys later in life.  Not wanting to break up the set, these figures ended up at my sister’s house and every single little kid that comes over falls in love with them as we did all those years ago.

I was hoping to find something similar for my daughter to play with at home and had been on the lookout for cute miniature dolls that she could grow up with.  Then, a few months ago, my daughter found the cutest little playsets from Paddywhack Lane and I knew they were perfect.  One look at her face told me that she was smitten, as did the fact that she carried two of the boxed playsets around the toy store for the entire time we were shopping. Even though we didn’t leave the store with the sets that day, I already knew that they were going to be the perfect birthday present for my daughter and made plans to sneak back to purchase them.

Once I held one up close and saw all the detail in the set, it was easy to see why they had been the toys that my daughter gravitated to in the store.  Each Paddywhack Lane Playset comes with a 3.5″ dress up friend {aka “Costumed Kid”}, tons of accessories and even a pet to play with.  It’s these little accessories and pets that give them an extended play value you just don’t see in many toys these days and makes them perfect whether you’re on your first set or you have amassed a collection.  Once you add in the Paddywhack Lane books that make the characters come alive in play, it’s easy to see why these little toys are well on their way to becoming #1 on every child’s wishlist.

From a mom’s perspective, I really couldn’t have handpicked a better collection for her to fall in love with, as the series plays on all of my “loves” – it’s got classically cute characters, it encourages reading, and it challenges kids to use their imaginations to enjoy this magical time of make believe and pretend play.  Add that all together, and it’s easy to see why I’m as enchanted with Paddywhack Lane as my daughter is.   

As cute as the Paddywhack Lane Playsets are in the store, once my daughter got the packages open we realized what amazing quality their toys are.  Not only are the accessories adorable and fun, they are also made of this great heavy-duty material that gives them texture and dimension that is truly life-like. This quality of construction and materials is especially noticeable in the different Paddywhack Lane figures.  Whereas many poseable dolls only move in 5 spots which makes playing with them difficult and awkward, Paddywhack Lane characters have 9 different points of articulation, which makes them the ideal toy for children who like to immerse themselves in pretend play.

Now that my daughter has completely fallen for the two playsets she opened for her birthday – Courtney’s Tea Party and Anthony’s Treasure Hunt – we are going to slowly add to her collection each season and surprise her with a new Paddywhack Lane “Costume Kid” to love.  Our hope is that eventually she will have a whole set of characters and accessories that is reminiscent of the collection my sister and I had all those years ago and become her reminder of the magical moments of her childhood she spent playing with them. 

Paddywhack Lane’s new picture book “The Costume Trunk” and line of coordinating toys is now available at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide as well as at local specialty shops and online at www.paddywhacklane.com.  I love the Courtney Costume Trunk, it would be perfect for storing all the little accessories and am seriously hoping they make a toy version of that adorable tree house from the book!  Perfect big present for the holidays!

As if you needed another reason to "like" them, Paddywhack Lane is giving away a $200 Gift Certificate to Barnes & Noble on the Paddywhack Lane Facebook Page right now!

One very lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Paddywhack Lane Playset and Book!

To Enter: Simply visit Paddywhack Lane and tell me what set you would choose {warning, it's a tough choice!}

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like Paddywhack Lane on Facebook - remember to enter to win their $200 Giveaway! (2 extra entries)

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Paddywhack Lane has the cutest toys and gifts! Enter to win a playset and book from @raveandreview and @PaddywhackLane http://tinyurl.com/3juf9c6

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (3 extra entries - just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries)

On July 12th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to #116 Jessica H. said...I liked Paddywhack on FB. Screen name: Jessica Hendrickson

Thank you to Paddywhack Lane for making my daughter's birthday wish come true as well as offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food by Adrianne Hunter

I admit it…I was extremely intimidated when I started making homemade baby food for my daughter.  In fact, I didn’t even attempt it with my oldest because I figured there was no way that I would have the time or energy at the end of an already busy day.  After encouragement from a friend, and help from An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food I’ve conquered my fears and have truly grown to love the process and the high quality food that results from my efforts.

My best advice for someone just starting to make their own baby food?  Make it fun. But, how do you make it fun if you don’t even know where to start?  By reading the new book, An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food, you’ll learn simple and straight-forward ways to make baby food.  The book gives step-by-step instructions and useful tips for all the different stages of eaters, telling you what to make, how to make it, and when. It helps to make the process simple by covering some of the common concerns with homemade food such as storage, and how to prepare food for daycare and travel.

Adrianne Hunter, the author of An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food, offers the following advice for parents who might be considering making their own baby food:

“It’s not as scary as you may think it would be! It’s actually pretty easy as long as you know the basics. Once you have the basics, you can get as fancy as you like or just keep it simple. All you need is a little time and a little knowledge, and the rest is easy. This book gives all the tools you need without all the extra stuff.”

Making homemade baby food is a fun and enjoyable; I’ve even started getting my three year-old involved in the process!  I started making baby food because of the nutritional value, but quickly realized the true cost saving benefits. The amount of money I save from making homemade baby food is shocking and continues to offer just another incentive to homemade.  I never would’ve imagined that I could make my own quality food so cheap and yet so simple.
The cost savings can be huge, especially over time.

Store Bought Baby Food      vs.    Homemade Baby Food
1 oz of Bananas = $0.23               1 oz of Bananas = $0.01
1 oz of Peas = $0.23                     1 oz of Peas = $0.04
1 oz of Sweet Potatoes = $0.23    1 oz of Sweet Potatoes = $0.04
1 oz of Applesauce = $0.23           1 oz of Applesauce = $0.03

An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food covers in detail some of the estimated savings and author Adrianne Hunter says:

"Looking at the store prices, they don’t seem too bad, but if you keep multiplying these prices over and over, serving after serving, it definitely adds up over the months. For example, if you bought a jar of bananas (a typical jar is two ounces) for one meal a day, every day of the week, that is a total of $3.18 a week. Homemade bananas would equal $0.14 for a week. So, by making one serving of bananas, you are already seeing a savings of 12.5 percent over buying one serving. Keep in mind that is only one meal a day. After a while, you will be feeding your baby three times a day not to mention that your baby will be growing, therefore needing larger amounts of food. So, the cost will only go higher and higher …”

If you are thinking about getting started making homemade baby food Adrianne Hunter’s An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food is the perfect tool to lead you in the right direction. The book lives up to its name as far as keeping baby food making simple – and thus enjoyable for Mommy and delicious for Baby!

Check out An Easy Guide to Making Homemade Baby Food from Diversion Press or visit Amazon.com to buy

A big thank you to Diversion Press for sending a cookbook to review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

SmartLab Toys Art and Education Kits {Review & Giveaway}

A girl after my own heart, my daughter likes nothing better than a good art project.  Close second on her list of loves would be jewelry, so of course I was excited when I heard about the Snap Fashion Jewelry Studio from Smart Lab that would allow us to easily create our own custom rings, bracelets, hair accessories, necklaces and more. 

By using a really simple tool that allows you make fabric covered snaps that can be used to create various different jewelry and fashion accessories, Snap Fashion Jewelry Studio is incredibly easy to do.  Because it doesn’t require glue, tape, sewing, or staples, it is also very minimally messy, which means that it is easy to do as quick as you would like without having to prep and prepare longer than you actually get to create. 

Adding to the ease of creating is that the kit comes with everything you need to start crafting right away.  As someone who frequents a lot of craft stores, I really love it when you buy an art kit and it contains everything you need to start right away.  The Snap Fashion Jewelry Studio definitely fits that as it comes with 25 snap tops, 16 precut fabric prints, various snap-in jewelry backs, jewels and accessories, the all-in-one snap maker, and a book to explain how you can really make the most of your kit.

Although the kit is designed for ages 7 and up, this was the perfect art project for us on our girl’s night craft party when we had two adults to every child.  We let the little ones layout and design their own creations and then us adults were able to take those designs to make beautiful snaps for them with the press of a handle.  The best part is that the whole process is super quick, taking mere seconds, which means it’s great for even those with short attention spans. 

Once the snaps are completed they are all ready to become adorable accessories for kids by connecting them to the various snap-in jewelry backs.  The kit includes various backings including a necklace, rings, bracelets and more that are easy to change quickly by popping them on and off to create the perfect custom jewelry for kids. 

As the kids get older, I am looking forward to getting even more creative with them.  The included book had a whole bunch of wonderfully crafty ideas that even I was excited about as well as accessories that are going to make our projects even more fun.  After having been introduce to SmartLab Toys and having such a wonderful experience, I will definitely be returning to check out the rest of their extensive educational toy line.

While at the SmartLab site, you should check out the downloadable activities for kids to help pass any rainy day.  Be sure to like SmartLab Toys on Facebook and follow SmartLab Toys on Twitter for more great ideas, discounts, and more.  And, speaking of discounts, until June 30, 2011 you can enter the discount coupon code BLOGBUZZ at checkout and receive an additional 25% off of your SmartLab purchase!

Price:  Snap Fashion Jewelry Studio from SmartLab Toys retails for $24.99.  You can find it at SmartLab Toys, on Amazon, and at select retailers.  

 
One very lucky Rave and Review reader will win their choice of 1 SmartLab Kits! 

To Enter: Simply visit the SmartLab Toys website and tell me what toy you would prefer if you win

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like SmartLabs Toys on Facebook or subscribe to the SmartLabs Newsletter

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Who doesn't want to win an awesome toy from @SmartLabToys and @raveandreview? http://bit.ly/lQzENu

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! (3 entries!)

On May 20th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US and Canadian Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to: #148 Michelle C said...http://twitter.com/MrsMChappell/statuses/71000188705177600 Today's Tweet!
This is a MamaBuzz review.  Product for review was provided free of charge from SmartLab Toys as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

WordWorld Goes Interactive {Review & Giveaway}

About a year ago, I ran across the strangest looking toys at a local store.  They were cute animals, structures and more and they were constructed out of the letters of their names: for example, a sheep made out of the letters S-H-E-E-P and a barn made out of the letters B-A-R-N.   After reading the packaging, I realized they were based off a show called WordWorld, so I made a point to check out an episode to see what it was all about. 

I found out that WordWorld is an award-winning animated show on PBS Kids and it is just as cute as the toys that sprang from it.  Admittedly, when I first started turning it on, my daughter was a bit young for spelling, but I for one loved it.  Not only were the stories cute, I loved seeing how the letters would come together to create a visual of the item it represented.

Every episode focuses on one mission: learning to sound out the letters that make up the things around us and building a word by teamwork.  Kids learn that each letter has an important role and they all must work together to succeed.  Once the word has been spelled, of course there’s a song and dance as the object magically appears on screen. 

Once I saw that first episode, I decided that when the time came to start teaching letters, WordWorld would be a great way to do it.  And, now that my daughter is really getting excited about the alphabet, I  knew this was the perfect time to re-introduce WordWorld and immerse her in language in a very fun and interactive way. 

I started recording a WordWorld episode once a week and found that, as I suspected, she pretty much adores it.  While I’m not a huge fan of television at a young age in general, I make the exception when the show involves her using her imagination, learning her letters, and interacting with the characters in such a positive way.  Even though it’s still a little  advanced for her, she seems to be soaking a lot of it in and it’s just so much fun to watch her learn and see her pick up so much more than I ever imagined!

But, not only does my daughter absolutely love the show and yelling out whenever she sees a letter she recognizes, she has also fallen in love with their interactive eBooks and activities that are free on the WordWorld site as well as their $.99 iPhone app.  As a child growing up with an advanced appreciation of all things electronic, she has been using the computer while supervised for quite some time, so she was thrilled when I introduced her to something that combined her very first loves: my electronics and cute children’s books.

The free eBooks and activities are actually quite cute and I find myself suggesting we play them together numerous times during the day.  We both agree it is even more fun to create words ourselves with the WordWorld gang that it is to watch them do it on television.  Since the spring weather has been cold and damp, reading the eBooks and doing the other free activities on the site has kept us sane at home.  Then, when we are out an about and find ourselves in a waiting room, we love the WordWorld iPhone apps and episode downloads that can take our fun on the road! 

If you are searching for a way to keep your little ones entertained on a road trip, during a rainy day, or when the summer boredom strikes, WordWorld is the perfect solution.  Whether you are watching it on PBS or DVD, reading the eBooks, playing with the iPhone app, or doing one of their many adorable activities, there are many ways to enjoy your favorite characters and have fun learning at the same time.

  Find out more about WordWorld’s free online resources for parents and teachers at WordWorld.com.  You can find interactive eBooks, play fun online games and download coloring pages and activity sheets.  Parents can even take WordWorld on-the-go via interactive iPhone/iPad eBook and WordBuilder applications or by purchasing episodes of WordWorld on iTunes.

 
One very lucky Rave and Review reader will get a WordWorld Prize Pack that includes a DVD and a code to download the iPhone App for free!

 To Enter: Simply visit WordWorld and tell me your favorite feature, show, or activity

And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Like WordWorld on Facebook

3) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

Words will come alive with a WordWorld DVD and app from @raveandreview and @WordWorld click here to find out more http://bit.ly/heGwu3! 

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button or logo in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

8) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On May 20 at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn via Random.org, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to #19

polly said... entered children's book giveaway!

A big thank you to WordWorld who provided the sample for review as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.