When listing off the things my son loves, there’s really no debating the order. His list of loves goes like this: 1) Me, hubby, and his big sister 2) His MAM pacifier 3) What he refers to as his “magic” blanket that he can’t sleep without
As you can imagine, when I heard that MAM was coming out with a line of personalized pacifiers where you could add your own text to the center, there was really no question at all that we needed one. The only real question was how we were going to personalize it. Once we were on the site and ready to customize, there was a few moments of discussion and then we both agreed on the perfect personalization.
We could have gone with his given name, a funny saying, or just his initials but in the end we went with “Danger”, a shortened form of “Dangerous Dimples”, which we have called him since he was born and now speaks to his wild side as well. After it was chosen, it was as easy as choosing a color, a font and size and then mere moments later we had a set of two ordered for only $19.99.
Once they arrived a few days later, I was really excited to show them to everyone. I thought they turned out really cute and love that the words are actually engraved into the pacifier so they won’t scratch off or fade with use. I’ve seen other cheap printed-on pacis and was really excited that these look nothing like those; the MAM versions are really well done and, even better, they are also the only brand of pacifiers that my little one will use!
I already knew that as soon as my little man saw them he was going to go crazy, so I made sure to open them beforehand and get them all cleaned up and ready while he was napping. When he woke up it was mere minutes and he had found his new paci, which he promptly traded his old one for.
As I suspected, he loves his new pacifiers and has been using the two of them for the past week now. Of course, he can’t read and has no idea that his pacifiers are personalized just for him, but he does like all the attention it gets him. Now, when the woman in the checkout line at the grocery store calls him “Danger” she is sure to get a dose of his famous dimples, to which they always exclaim “those dimples are dangerous!” Exactly. For more information, visit Mam personalized pacifiers. Bonus: Receive 20% off ANY MAM Personalized Pacifier set when you use coupon code MAM20 at check out! {hurry, this offer expires on February 29th!}
Features: • MAM soothies developed along with dentists & designers allow healthy jaw • Engrave with your child’s name, nickname, or your own clever saying • BPA-Free • Available in 2 sizes and 3 colors
They are also having a Facebook contest where you can win some of these awesome personalized pacifiers!
We received a set of two pacifiers for review from MAM and Child's Play Team Mom and we simply adore them. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.
Open ended and imaginative play is paramount in our house. When shopping for toys we search out toys that inspire creativity and learning, and that search always leads us to Magic Cabin. I’ve talked before about my love affair with Magic Cabin’s wide assortment of toys that grow with your kids, and once again I’m raving about the fun that starts when a Magic Cabin box is opened.
And, whose eyes wouldn’t light up if they saw a box full of gorgeous toys and treasures from the pages of the Magic Cabin catalog?
This past year was all about dolls here at Rave Central – doll accessories, doll furniture, and more – and the Magic Cabin catalog was the source of much of our inspiration. Really, it’s hard to not get inspired while searching through the Magic Cabin catalog. Page after page it shows children playing in dress up clothing, engaging in imaginative play, and nurturing creativity with heirloom quality toys and gifts.
The first thing we fell in love with this year at Magic Cabin for doll play was the Kathe Kruse Spring Fairy Dolls because we are very into fairies these days. We love designing their homes and making miniature fairy gardens, and the Kathe Kruse Spring Fairy Dolls are the perfect size for this kind of creativity.
Since we live in tulip country and the pretty and colorful flowers are such a big part of our spring, I knew the Kathe Kruse Tulip Fairy would be a great addition to my daughter’s garden room. Once she arrived I knew she was perfect. The Spring Fairy Doll is less than 9 inches tall, so she could easily go on a display shelf or even in a larger doll house, but she’s also really fun to play with since she has a flexible and posable fabric body.
We decided to make a special “swing” for her suspended from one of the shadowbox shelves of my daughter’s wall mural and she is simply stunning on display. Like all Kathe Kruse, the Spring Fairy Doll is simply exquisite and classic, the kind of doll that you pass down for generations to enjoy.
Magic Cabin was my first introduction to the amazing Kathe Kruse dolls, a German company that makes handcrafted Waldorf-style dolls, and now I’m hooked. Magic Cabin has an extensive collection of these cotton dolls with mohair tresses that are great for any collector or for those looking to make a special little girl’s day. If you haven’t checked out their line of dolls, I would recommend you do so – you won’t be disappointed. They even have a beautiful Easter doll with a basket of felt eggs, holiday dolls, and Fall Fairies that would delight any doll lover.
Another essential Magic Cabin doll accessory is the Combi Doll Furniture line that encourages imaginative play with your little one. The line is made of beautiful Baltic Birch and comes in two different colors {natural oil finish or red stain} to match your play area. Besides being USA made and gorgeous enough to keep in a main room in your house, what I love most about the Combi Doll line is that the products promote creativity. Not only do they encourage imaginative doll play, they also are very open-ended toys that can be used for many different play situations.
My favorite of their line is the Combi Chair which goes from a highchair to a doll desk simply by flipping it on its side. I love this as it works for both baby dolls and for the “older” big girl dolls my daughter is now very into. But, as cool as this is that the Combi Chair is 2-in-1, my daughter made it even more awesome by adding two more uses for the petite little chair. By flipping it upside down while in desk mode, my daughter has decided it is a “car” for her smaller toys and they use it to drive all over our living room.
And, then my favorite use: as a puppet theatre. By turning the chair upside down while in high chair mode and covering with a blanket, you have the perfect make believe theatre to play with. We’ve spent so many days thinking up stories to act out and entertaining each other for hours that this is now our new favorite toy. We’ve now added backdrops and made some little finger puppets and have a great rainy day/snow day activity.
If you are doll shopping for spring, you should start at Magic Cabin and check out their amazing collection of Kathe Kruse as well as accessories for everything from baby dolls up to collector dolls. My favorite tip is to check out the Magic Cabin Exclusives that, to me, define the very nature of open ended and extended play toys. I seriously could shop there for every little kid on my list this year!
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $50 Magic Cabin gift card to spend however you like!
To Enter: Visit Magic Cabin and tell me how you would spend your $50!
And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}
2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup
1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!
On March 20th 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. US addresses only.
A big thank you to Magic Cabin for this review and giveaway opportunity. All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.
Every kid needs a robot, right? PlanToys thinks they do, which is why they have released the new PlanToys Build-A-Robot. This isn’t your typical one size fits all robot, this is a special friend that kids can build to their specifications, and with their own distinct personality.
Like everything PlanToys, the wooden Build-A-Robot is quality made and simply adorable. Using eco-friendly and sustainable products, the Build-A-Robot is heirloom quality and ready for hours of play. Made with interchangeable heads that kids can alternate between, removable legs, and removable and positionable arms, the Build-A-Robot allows kids to create their own special ‘bot quickly and easily.
Our little builders couldn’t have been more excited about building their own robot. They each had a ton of fun changing the heads of the robot, making up their own stories and games for each new friend they created.
Run! An angry robot is storming the town!
No, no, not an angry robot, just hungry for strawberries. Now we’re all friends and everyone is happy – just look at the happy ‘bot!
This is what play time at our house usually sounds like, with the kids taking turns personalizing the robot and building towns and robot houses out of blocks.
Even though my son is just over a year old, he was easily able to figure out how to change the robot head just by pulling it off and pushing the new head back on. Unscrewing the legs and replacing them was a bit advanced for him, but our three year old has no problem helping him. Luckily the robot rarely ever sits down since they are so busy playing with it, so the legs pretty much always stays upright – unless of course the robot is practicing Taekwando... or eating strawberries at our daily tea parties.
While we eventually plan on displaying the PlanToys Build-A-Robot in our little guy’s room since it’s so adorable, it’s great that he can play with the robot as well since it’s so well made and durable. It’s a rare toy that can spend all day playing and then be displayed beautifully when the day is done, but that’s exactly what the Build-A-Robot is.
If you’re looking for the perfect toy to inspire imaginations and provide hours of play, the Build-A-Robot would be a perfect bet. Whether you are displaying, playing, or both, it is sure to delight your little one. Check out some of the other new PlanToys items just released and in stores now. We got to see some of them in person at the ABC Kids Show in September and let me tell you, they are amazingly adorable!
Just look at all this cute-ness! Wouldn't these look perfect in the new dollhouse from Santa?
A big thank you to PlanToys for sending the Build-A-Robot for review. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this rave review.
Why does it seem that food tastes better when it’s displayed on beautiful serving pieces? It can’t just be me that has noticed that the most gorgeous serving pieces are usually empty first or that the manner in which you serve food has a lot to do with how that food is perceived. I’ve experimented with this firsthand these past few weeks and have confirmed that food is 100% more appealing when served on a Wendell August canvas.
While I was queen of plastic and paper serving pieces in the past, Wendell August has made a believer out of me, and I don’t think I could ever go back to disposable pieces ever again. In fact, I love Wendell August so much that their amazing handmade Waterfall Chip and Dip Set has been used almost continuously since it arrived.
Whether it was taken back and forth to holiday gatherings, used as a centerpiece for our parties, or simply as a functional and beautiful accent piece when filled with shelled nuts, everyone has been raving about the Chip & Dip Set from the Wendell August Waterfall Collection. And, once you see it in person you will see what all the fuss is about.
From its gorgeously hand-hammered aluminum base to its elliptical shaped bowl, everything about the Chip & Dip Set from Wendell August is simply stunning. It has a higher shine to it than I had garnered from its pictures on the Wendell August site and in person it is even more gorgeous than I had anticipated it would be. We’re talking party-stopping elegance that makes it a point of conversation as well as delicious food.
But, as much as we love beautiful kitchen wares here at Rave Central, we wouldn’t be raving about it if it weren’t absolutely practical as well. Since our family is big on veggies, chips, snacks, and dips, we’ve tried it with just about every appetizer you can imagine. From hummus and pita to veggies and ranch, the Wendell August serving set has handled every food beautifully.
We especially like the size of the 12” tray that doesn’t overwhelm a tabletop but still holds a good deal of food, the low lip of the tray that keeps round veggies from rolling off but isn’t a deep bowl that is hard to fill and serve out of, and the fact that the dip bowl nests wonderfully in the tray and stays in place even when jostled. It’s this kind of quality that can only come from a company that still makes every product they sell individually by hand right here in the USA and with an attention to detail you just don’t see these days.
I really couldn’t be happier with the Wendell August Chip & Dip Set and would highly recommend it for anyone that does even a small amount of entertaining each year or for those that are looking for an awesome looking centerpiece that is a beautiful as it is functional. While you’re checking out the Chip & Dip Set, be sure to take a look at all of the other Wendell August creations. I don’t know about you, but I have about a dozen new items on my wishlist from the Wendell August collection, starting with the Tracery Oval Tray or Luncheon Tray, their nursery series, and the Dogwood Keepsake Chest!
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Wendell August Waterfall Chip & Dip Set of their very own!
To Enter: Visit Wendell August and let me know what other gorgeous item of theirs you have your eye on.
And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}
1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter. Simply tweet the following after following us both:
Gorgeous entertaining with Wendell August @HandMadeUSA metal pieces! Enter the #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/oRcoymFp
2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup
1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!
On February 14th 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. US addresses only.
The Wendell August Chip & Dip set for review and the giveaway were offered at no charge to us. All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.
Even if you don’t know Steiff by name, I can guarantee you that you would recognize them if you saw them. With their signature yellow “Button in Ear” {or, rather “Knopf im Ohr} tags and their classic good looks, they are the quintessential teddy bear company and the makers of the cutest plush animals ever. Since 1880, the German company has been a collector’s dream; with yearly specials, limited editions, and one-of-a-kind qualities since they are created mostly by hand, Steiff tend to hold or increase in value each year as well as making for an irresistibly cute collection when displayed.
I can still very vividly remember the first time I saw a Steiff display case up close and got to see all the amazing detail that goes into each plush animal. With their classic mohair collection, play collection, baby line, and limited edition sets, it became very clear what all the hype was about. Even though I was only a teenager, I decided right then and there that if I ever had a child, I would give them a classic Steiff collection. Years later, I was in a high-end Seattle boutique with a baby on the way and saw that same signature yellow Steiff tag display and was immediately drawn to it.
I knew my baby needed her own little Steiff animal to love and fell in love with the “big foot” Classic Mohair Teddy in pink for 2008, which would be my daughter’s birth year. We decided that we would wrap up the small mohair bear for her first Christmas and hopefully begin a life-long tradition. After she opened that bear on that first magical Christmas as a family of 3, we built a special display shelf in her room for it where we could see it every time we went into the nursery. Surrounded by all the beautiful and special keepsakes of her first year, the Steiff bear simply looked perfect.
The pink Mohair Teddy has since been joined by a small collection of the Steiff mini mohair animals we’ve picked up in our travels and gave to our daughter for her first big holidays. On her birthday we added a miniature brown bear to the collection, on Easter we added the Dossy rabbit, and the next Christmas we added a classic Steiff elephant. I love that each animal is representative of a certain season or specific time and my daughter loves that they are the perfect size for playing with as well as displaying.
Weeks after my daughter’s second Christmas, we found out we would soon be a family of 4 and we began to collect Steiff for our second child as well. This included a little cutie for him to come home from the hospital with, a matching light blue “big foot” bear made out of mohair for his first Christmas, and a mini dark brown bear for his birthday. While he’s still too young to play with his Steiff collection, he enjoys looking at it with us and cuddling with the more child-friendly stuffed animals.
So, now that Christmas is fast approaching again, I’m betting you’ve already figured out we will be continuing the tradition again this year and there will be some new Steiff plush animals under the tree to open. The only difference is that this year the kids will be giving each other their special Steiff animals. My daughter will be gifting the Sissi Piglet to her brother and he will giving her the Cappy Frog as her special present.
With how much my daughter loves everything {and I do mean everything} about the holidays, I was really surprised that her big thing this year is asking how many more days until her brother can open his pig. Not only did she decide on the special pig for him all on her own, she also made her own wrapping paper and then wrapped it up special for him. As you can imagine, the excitement has been almost too much to bear as she eagerly awaits Christmas morning when he will open it. If only she knew that he has also gotten her a Steiff animal of her own, the Cappy Frog, I don’t think I would be able to get anything done all day.
Quite honestly, this is what I am waiting for the most as well. I love our Christmas traditions we’ve created as a family and to me Steiff animals under the tree is one of the most important. Even though this year we are branching out and not getting Steiff mohair animals for the display shelf, I’m excited about them having special Steiff animals they can play with that were special presents from each other. With the perfect mix of cuteness and realism that makes Steiff animals unlike mass-produced stuffed animals, I know both the Sissi Pig and the Cappy Frog will become fast friends for life.
If you haven’t already found the Steiff website, I would highly recommend checking it out. I had fun perusing the online catalogue and looking up all the little Steiff friends we’ve acquired throughout the years {as well as creating a wishlist for future holidays}. Since we’re starting a collection for both kids, I love that I could find out more about the animals we own and was happy to note that a good portion of our collection has a specific release date listed which corresponds with the year we purchased it. As we get more Steiff friends it will make it a lot easier to remember when we bought each one throughout the decades.
If you’re looking to expand or start a Steiff collection, you should start your browsing at http://www.steiffusa.com/. To find a retailer near you, you can check out the Steiff Store Locator here - I will warn you that this is by no means a full list of retailers, since numerous stores near me carry the Steiff animals but only 5 come up on this list for the entire state of Washington. You will typically find Steiff animals in high end retail shops and boutiques, but a large selection can even be found at FAO Schwartz and other big retailers as well as online.
A big thank you to Steiff for sending some adorable plush animals this holiday season. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review - we simply adore Steiff and hope you do, too!
All of us at Rave Central are big builders. We’ve often said that the only thing better than using your imagination to build whatever inspires you is building your masterpiece and then playing in the structure you’ve just created. While up until now we’ve used furniture and bed sheets to make our life-size creations, now we’ve got a better way utilizing Roylco Straws and Connectors, an easy way to make your creations into play structures.
So, how much fun is it? Our 400 piece package of Roylco Straws and Connectors had literally been in our house 15 minutes and we already had a house and car built using nothing but straws, connectors, and our imaginations. Even though the pieces were built from uniform straws and connector pieces, I was simply amazed at how easy it was to make them into recognizable shapes of all kinds.
Even better for creating masterpieces with your Straws and Connectors is the fact that the straws are bendable, able to be cut, and folded completely in half if you would like. This allows you to make curved pieces, abstract shapes, and smaller designs easily using the same pieces you would use for the larger and geometric designs. While we didn’t create any permanent bends in the pieces or cut them, I did utilize a nice curved “canopy” for our coupe and windshield and it worked out nicely.
Since the Straws and Connectors arrived at our house, we’ve been playing with them quite a bit and seeing how creative we can get as a family. We love that we can make just about anything we can dream up, and we also love that the fun only gets more intense after we’re done building and the imaginative play starts. And, since we are so big on forts, I am really excited that we could still easily throw a bed sheet on the top of a sturdy little structure and it would become an enclosed play space that the kids could design and play with.
If you have a budding architect, inventor, or simply loves to use their imaginations, Roylco would be a huge hit for the holidays. From creating play areas like spaceships, boats, and houses to learning about math and science using a fun and captivating toy, you really can’t go wrong with a set of Straws and Connectors. Just be prepared ahead of time that you may have as much fun as the little ones!
Bonus: Roylco is also offering a 20% coupon off Straws and Connectors now thru December 20th on their website, www.roylco.com, using coupon code STRWS20.
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Roylco Straws and Connectors 400 piece set!
To Enter: Let me know what other Roylco product you love
And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}
1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter. Simply tweet the following after following us both:
Just dreaming of the fort I would build with @Roylco Straws and Connectors if I #win the #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/G8pE0vkO
2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup
1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!
On January 10th 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. Open to US and Canada.
This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:
#149 Rosey said...I am an e-mail subscriber.
This review & giveaway was made possible by the awesome Family Review Network. A big thank you to Roylco for sending the Straws and Connectors for review and for offering the 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.
When I was young, my mother and I bonded over dolls. Whereas I liked reading, arts and crafts and cooking, my mother preferred dancing, music, and writing. However, we both liked dolls. I think this is a big part of the reason that every year when I was growing up there was a doll or doll accessory under the tree waiting for me, whether it was homemade or store bought. Now with a daughter of my own, I am completely thrilled that she adores dolls as much as I once did and am really excited that dolls are something she and I can bond over like my mother and I did all those years ago.
Every year when Christmas rolls around, I think of the magic of finding something from Corolle dolls under the tree and I can’t help but get excited. I used to dream about what doll or accessory I might find waiting for me and now I get just as excited planning what my daughter will find. I can’t help but think that this must have been how my mom felt all those years ago and I feel like in some ways we bond all over again as I tell her which doll or accessory we’ll be opening on Christmas morning.
In looking through the Corolle catalog over the past year, there are some amazing “Wow” presents that would be perfect under the tree this year:
The Corolle three-wheeled jogging stroller. My daughter has had doll strollers before, but nothing like the Corolle Jogging Stroller. As soon as she saw it, she squealed with delight and kept exclaiming that it was “just like Mama’s”. As soon as it was put together, she grabbed onto it and began to run. And run… and run.
Anyone who knows my daughter just re-read that past line, because they have probably never, ever seen her run. Even though she’s incredibly strong, she’s really not naturally athletic and prefers to walk, spin, and skip over jogging any day. But, once she held onto the Corolle Jogging Stroller, she took off and ran for an amazing 1.7 miles. Yes, you read that right. It turns out, my daughter just needed to be motivated by Corolle Dolls in order to enjoy running! Another “first” with Corolle Dolls!
The Corolle Coquette Blonde. Speaking of firsts, my daughter is *almost* ready for a doll with hair, which means I will finally be able to get her one of the Miss Corolle dolls I love. If you’ve got an older girl, I would highly recommend checking out the Miss Corolle line {as well as the Les Cheries line} that are perfect for your growing Corolle fan. Just think of the hours your daughter would spend brushing and styling the hair of her Corolle and dressing her for school, riding lessons, and a wintery walk.
The Corolle Cradle. Quite possibly the cutest doll bed ever, the Corolle Cradle in soft pink is perfect for putting your baby down for a long winter’s nap. You may remember that a Corolle Doll Bed was our “wow” Christmas present two years ago, and even after 24 months it is still one of the most beloved toys in our house. When it’s not beautifully storing her Corolle collection, it is set up for her beloved Cora doll {the Bebe Do} with its classic Corolle floral print bedding.
The Corolle Bebe Amour. This is my daughter’s newest addition to her doll collection. Her Bebe Amour is named after her, tucked in with her nearly every night, constantly using my son's high chair/bouncy seat/swing, and is lovingly dressed in my daughter’s 3 month old clothing each day. The size of a real 3 month old baby, the Bebe Amour would be the perfect gift for a new big sister, an older girl who loves baby dolls, and a great way to make your Corolle collection grow with your child. And, doesn't my little girl look thrilled with her new best friend?
The Corolle Navy Blue & Pink Carriage. When talking “wow” gifts, you would be remiss not to mention the classic Corolle Carriage. Is there anything more precious than a girl pushing a carriage with a beloved doll? The Navy Blue & Pink Carriage is the epitome of the classic carriage and would wow just about any girl, regardless of age. Maybe that's why this classic ride has been top of most little girl’s lists for years.
The Corolle Bebe Charmeur. I’ve seen the Corolle Dolls Facebook page discussions and hands-down the crowd goes wild for the Bebe Charmeur every year around the holidays. If you are looking for the classic Corolle Doll, you don’t need to look any further than this little beauty. A friend recently opened one of these classic baby dolls for her 2nd birthday and you would not believe the reaction from the party guests as they took turns carrying the baby, still in the box, around lovingly. Can’t you just picture her leaning against the fireplace or displayed in the Corolle Cradle on Christmas morning?
As you can see from our list, Corolle has classic dolls for every age and stage, and any of their extensive line would be sure to wow this holiday season. The Corolle brand is amazing in that it provides decades of open-ended and creative play for your little one with its dolls and accessories that grow with your child. Even as their interests and abilities change, it ensures that whatever doll you choose can be a life-long friend.
For more WOW gifts, visit corolle.com and take a look at all the goregousness that your little one could open on the big day!
A big thank you to Corolle for sending the jogging stroller for review. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.
While I didn’t want for much growing up with 4 siblings and built-in best friends, I always thought there was a void in my life that a doll house would have fit perfectly. I wanted a doll house so much, in fact, that I made my own: first out of cardboard, tape, and glue, and then, with my grandpa’s help, I eventually made a wooden one out of scrap pieces in his workshop. As you can imagine, these weren’t exactly the houses I had envisioned and I always swore that if I had a little girl, I would make sure that she had her own doll house to play with.
As fate would have it, I did have that daughter, and as luck would have it, she also adores dollhouses. Thank goodness I found BigJigs Rose Cottage in time to make my promise to myself come true. Like everything from BigJigs, the Rose Cottage is simply adorable and exactly what childhood memories are made of. Just picture for a minute the cutest starter dollhouse imaginable and that’s exactly what the Rose Cottage looks like.
Besides being the dollhouse of my childhood dreams, the Rose Cottage is also extremely practical. For one thing, it comes with all the furniture and people you need to get started! For all those parents out there who have put together the doll house, the kitchen, or the playset the night before Christmas only to find that there’s nothing to actually play with, you will understand how important this is. There’s really nothing worse than an exciting toy that can’t be played with, and BigJigs understands that it’s the accessories that make play fun.
And, you should see all the numerous amazing accessories that the Rose Cottage comes with! It has an entire house full of furniture, small appliances, and décor just waiting to be moved into any of the adorably painted rooms of the Rose Cottage. Once the furniture is in place, all that’s left is moving in the family of 4, their dog and cat, and inviting the grandparents over for a visit.
The second thing we love about the Rose Cottage is the clever design that allows for easy and fast setup, and the fact that it can come apart for storage. Since each of the pieces connect like a big puzzle that fit together perfectly, putting it together is actually quite fun and something that only takes a few minutes. But, my favorite thing about the design is the fact that the house has a front to it that can be shut when the dollhouse is not being played with. This means all those little pieces that have a tendency to migrate out of the house stay put, and it also means that clean up simply involves shutting the front of the house and all you see is the adorably painted front with windows that open and close.
Quite honestly, I wouldn’t expect anything but perfection from BigJigs after seeing some of their extensive line recently. They truly are one of those companies that understand that toys should be well designed, durable, and adorable. Maybe that’s why for 25 years BigJigs has been inspiring imaginations with their truly amazing products in Europe and why they are in high demand everywhere they sell. I really couldn’t be more excited that they have brought their innovation to the States, and just in time for the holidays, too.
Be sure to check out the entire BigJigs line of heirloom quality toys to find something perfect for every kid on your list. From castles to trains and tracks, there’s a playset for any interest and any age, including over a dozen that I would love to play with. While not every BigJigs heritage item has made it to the States yet, you can still find a good selection at Maukilo.com that would make any playroom substantially more fun.
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $25 gift certificate for BigJigs Toys to spend at Maukilo.com
1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter. Simply tweet the following after following us both:
Dying to #win the BigJigs wooden toys GC #giveaway from @Maukilo and @RaveAndReview. Love the BigJigs Rose Cottage! http://t.co/pz8dFxBe
2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup
1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!
On January 18th 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.
This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: ryanac32!
A big thank you to BigJigs for sending the Rose Cottage for review and for Maukilo.com for offering the 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.
Everyone close to me knows I’m a huge sucker for handmade, especially when we’re talking about jewelry. I love the imperfections and character of items created by hand and I love that each purchase has a unique story behind it. This, of course, means that I was enthralled with the Something About Silver website upon first glance. They literally had everything I was dreaming of that I hadn’t found in stores near me and I was blown away by cuteness overload.
As a mom, I can’t think of anything more special than handmade jewelry celebrating my kids, so I loved window shopping at the site and taking in all that cuteness. Whether you are creating a custom jewelry piece from their extensive catalog of charms, tags, and baubles or you are buying a pre-designed piece that is ready for shipping, you are creating a silver keepsake sure to be cherished.
While I simply adore their bracelets, rings, ornaments, and charms, my favorite pieces are their hand stamped silver necklaces that I feel should be part of every girl’s jewelry box. With stacked pieces, brag tags, wax seals, charm necklaces and more all personalized with initials, names, dates and even birthstones, their silver necklaces are the perfect gift for any woman in your life. No matter what design you choose, you can be sure that it is destined to become the most beloved piece in her collection.
We got to review the Little Petals hand stamped silver necklace this past month and I love it so much that it hasn’t been taken off since it arrived in its gorgeous linen packaging. I’ve gotten so many compliments on the necklace and everyone has been raving about how unique and fun it is with its dainty flower shaped tag paired with a small circular tag. I personally love the concave design of the charms which adds some dimension and interest as well as the dual shapes that make it unlike any other personalized pieces I have seen before.
The Little Petals necklace is both fun and feminine at the same time, and I love that it goes with absolutely everything in my wardrobe. Thank goodness it is so well made with rounded edges, smooth stamping, and gentle concave design that all make it completely comfortable for all day wear. Unlike other necklaces I own that pinch, pull, or don’t lay quite right, the Little Petals necklace from Something About Silver is just perfect and I don’t even notice I’m wearing it until I get yet another compliment.
But, not only do I love the beautiful and quality pieces you can find at Something About Silver, I also love that their designs are also completely affordable on any budget. Whether you want to design a Mother’s Necklace, a family tree set, or you want to mix and match their various designs to create a one-of-a-kind custom piece, Something About Silver is the perfect place to really get creative.
If you’re looking for a personalized present for you or for a special someone, you should definitely check out Something About Silver and create a completely personal gift that is sure to wow. While it’s too late to create a custom piece before the holidays, you can still order their other gorgeous pieces that are in stock and send them with rush shipping to make it here in time. Or, better yet, create a little card that tells your recipient that you would like to design a custom piece from Something About Silver with them – that way you can be sure you get the exact right keepsake they've been dreaming of. Bonus: use coupon code "raveandreview" for 10% off your jewelry and keepsake order when you do start creating!
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $40 gift certificate to Something About Silver!
To Enter: Let me know what you would most like to create in their extensive catalog
And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}
2 Extra Entries - Sign up for the Something About Silver Newsletter {left sidebar of website, half way down you will see the link to sign up}
1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter. Simply tweet the following after following us both:
Dreaming of personalized keepsake jewelry this year. Would love to #win @SASJewelryGC #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/feih7EZ1
2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup
1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!
On January 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.
A big thank you to Something About Silver for offering the 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.
If you haven’t noticed, Christmas is a big deal here at Rave Central. Whether it’s decorating the tree, baking Christmas cookies, or holiday crafts, if it has to do with Christmas, we love it. This means that we’re always on the lookout for Christmas decorations to add to our collection and make the holidays extra merry and bright.
In my never-ending search for holiday décor, I ran across Personal Creations a few months ago and was in holiday heaven. Whether you are shopping for personalized Christmas ornaments, stockings, or holiday gifts, Personal Creations really does have it all. Immediately, I found something I wanted, something I needed, and something I would love to wrap up for someone special.
Every December when I was growing up our fireplace was the center of our decorating. I vividly remember our long line of 7 stocking holders down the mantle, each holding our stockings and I knew that’s what I wanted to eventually do for my kids as well. But, since our fireplace does not have a mantle, I was debating what I wanted to with our new handmade personalized Christmas stockings so we could still display them in a festive and fun way.
Thank goodness Personal Creations had the perfect solution that was quickly added to my list of holiday must-haves. The answer for my dilemma was simple but actually quite ingenious and still very festive-looking. The Metal Stocking Holder with 3 holders from Personal Creations is a stand-alone stocking holder that allows you to display your stockings beautifully, even without a mantle.
When the Metal Stocking Holder arrived, I took one look in the box at the beautiful, yet heavy-duty, construction and was so excited that I just had to put it together immediately. Luckily, putting it together was quick and easy, just a matter of screwing down four inch tubes to the base and then slipping the personalized picture frame stocking holders in and it was ready for display. Once it was together, I was simply in love. At 35” wide and 40” high and with beautiful design throughout, it is a nice and impressive once put together and has made our mantle-less house a positive instead of a negative.
Some really cool things about the screw in design that I hadn’t realized while looking at the website: the base is entirely flat and able to be stored easily, there is a little bit of give to the design and the holders themselves aren’t prone to bending if bumped into accidentally or if the stockings are overfilled, as well as the design makes it easy to place the picture frame holders in correctly since they aren’t directly screwed into the base itself. Some of the reviews on the Personalized Creations site made it seem as if the holders were “wobbly” and I was a bit worried about quality, but one look at how it is constructed and I was incredibly relieved. While the removable frame holders are able to move in the base slightly for function’s sake and to prevent injury to the core if bumped, the design is really quite brilliant and I would describe it as anything but “wobbly”.
Another bonus of the design that I hadn’t realized was that the Metal Stocking Holder is expandable. The base itself comes with 3 holders, but then you can just buy more holders as you need them. To get the look pictured here, we got 2 more frame holders and added them to the base. Now that we’ve added our stockings and displayed it in front of the tree we’ve gotten so many compliments on the piece both from visitors as well as online when I posted a picture of it to my social media page, and the general consensus is that it is a beautiful piece that really makes our space come together. If you think it’s cute now, just think of how gorgeous it will look when we get our Christmas pictures back and I am able to fill the frames on the stocking holders to personalize them!
Even though I would eventually like to move the Metal Stocking Holder to the fireplace at some point to really make my dream of stockings hanging by the fire a reality, this spot in front of the tree was chosen in part as a third line of defense in preventing a 13 month old from having access to the tree, the ornaments, and everything below… and it has worked beautifully. To me, it was a better option that not being able to decorate at all with a curious toddler, and makes the fact that half of our tree is a little bare feel more put together.
From how much we absolutely love the Metal Stocking Holder, I know I will be returning to Personal Creations again and again as we finish collecting all the holiday decorations I would eventually like for our home. For instance, the buy one get one free stocking and ornament set for $19.99 that I just saw advertised on TV from Personal Creations. I went to the website and clicked on the “Hear about us on TV?” star and then went to the special link to see the deal. Based on what I have heard about their gorgeous stockings and ornaments, I wasn’t really surprised that I saw 471 positive reviews listed!
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $50 Gift Code to Personal Creations!
To Enter: Visit the Personal Creations site and tell me what you would spend your gift card on
And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}
1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter. Simply tweet the following after following us both:
Don't you love Personalized Creations? I am entering to #win the awesome #giveaway from @RaveAndReview and @PCGifts! http://t.co/ps3agMqU
2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup
1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!
On December 16th 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.
This giveaway is closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: #116 Denise S said...I like the Star Stepping Stones.
A big thank you to Personalized Creations for providing the Metal Stocking Holder as well as the 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.
