Rave and Review

Magic Cabin Encourages Imaginative Doll Play {Review & Giveaway}

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}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/AAAc91xn} and tag Magic Cabin and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like Magic Cabin on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following {feel free to personalize it!} after following us both:

Thinking of how I would spend $50 at @MagicCabin if I #win the #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/AAAc91xn

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.

Seattle Readers: Win a Photo Sitting with Alecia Smith Photography! {$325 Value}

I resolve to: Finally get a good family picture

No one ever says “I wish I didn’t have so many pictures of my family”.   Because, really, that would be just plain crazy.  Who out there doesn’t want beautiful images of their family showcasing their personalities and the love you have for each other?  So, why not make a change this year and finally schedule that family photo sitting you’ve been putting off? 

This past Fall we were lucky enough to win a family portrait session from Alecia Smith Photography at the Pacific Northwest Blogger Meetup organized by the lovely Mandy {Harper’s Happenings} and beautiful Chelsea {The Paper Mama} and I was incredibly excited to get some professional pictures taken of all of us.  As in, really, really excited.  

Admittedly, we have a lot of pictures around here since I’ve always got my camera at the ready, but we have very few pictures of the 4 of us.  Like 10 pictures, total, and in two of those I’m blinking.  While we’ve done the mall portrait studio in the past with its boring backgrounds and its 20 minute timeslot, doing something like hiring a professional photographer to shoot a family sitting was really exciting. 

We got to choose everything down to the location, the time {so we could account for naps, drive time, etc} and date and we could design our shoot any way we wanted.  Alecia was really easy going and seemed down for just about anything, so I googled an area and scoped it out the day of and in doing so we found this rustic log cabin tucked away in the center of Tukwila, WA.  Instead of going with a Christmas-y theme like I had originally planned, at the last minute I just chose some fun “fall themed” outfits that had enough color in them that they would look good on a Christmas card, but wouldn’t look funny hanging all year round and Alecia just ran with that theme from there. 

The sitting itself was also really laid back and fun, unlike many of those mall sittings we’ve done in the past that take bribery and tears before you get one image that you all don’t look goofy in.  Alecia didn’t try to force poses and she basically let our kids run wild as she chased after them with a camera, something I love because I really just want to capture who they are right now and document this stage fully.  I figure we will eventually have enough control over a family sitting that all of us are looking in the same direction at the – gasp – same time, so now’s the time when we should get the really fun ones of us laughing and enjoying ourselves, even if they aren’t your typical family shots.   

After the shoot with Alecia was over, I couldn’t wait for the picture reveal so we could pick some shots to frame and send out to family.  When the pictures arrived via her secure viewing site, I loved each and every one of them.  Honestly, the hardest part was narrowing it down to our favorites and then which images we wanted as part of our sitting package. 

It took us a while but finally we narrowed it down and found the images we couldn’t live without and then we marked them as favorites and sent them off to her.  We debated for a while about whether we wanted to add pictures to the sitting since we could have always purchased more for her reasonable rates, but in the end we decided that we want to do another sitting with her in the spring and we’d get some extra pictures then.  Because wouldn't a spring Seattle photo sitting be simply gorgeous?

If you are dreading family pictures or putting them off because they just seem so daunting, I would highly recommend just making an appointment with Alecia Smith Photography.  I was so happy I had finally scheduled a family sitting {even without waiting to lose all the baby weight, for my son’s stitches to fully heal, or for better coordinated outfits, etc} and will never look at the gorgeous pictures of this day and feel anything but happy that we made it happen.  I loved it so much that I’m going to try and do a 6 month sitting from now on... I just can’t think of a better way to document all the amazing milestones coming up!

Check out all of Alecia's amazing work at http://aleciasmith.com/ {you can even sneak peek our sitting right from her home page!]

Who wants to win a photography package from Alecia Smith Photography?  Perfect for Mother's Day, maternity, family shoot, you name it!

Here's what you get in your $325 Photo Package:

-1 hour on location session for up to 4 people {additional persons can be added $30 each}
-A private 30 day online viewing and ordering gallery
-Fifteen professionally enhanced digital image files
-Session location to be within 20 miles of zip code 98023 {wiling to travel, mileage fees apply}
-Session is to take place before May 31, 2012

To Enter: Visit AleciaSmith.com and let me know what kind of shoot you'd like to plan with her

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Like Alecia Smith Photographer on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/atVlCHyb} and tag Alecia Smith Photographer and R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Seattle #Giveaway! Win a photo sitting for your family {$325 value}! Enter to win @RaveAndReview http://t.co/atVlCHyb

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. Must be willing to travel to Seattle area - or to pay Alecia to travel to you.

All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review. 

 

LaDainian Tomlinson & Kellogg Help Football Fans Throw a Pro-Style Party {Giveaway}

It wouldn’t be farfetched to call Super Bowl Sunday a national holiday.  Instead of a holiday focused on baking, distant family and presents, February 5th is all about football, spending time with friends, snacking, and fabulous commercials.  And, if you’re a football fan, it’s the day you wait all year for.   

We plan ahead for weeks on what we are going to do for the big day – what party we will attend, who we will bring with us, and what kind of beer to buy.  But, the one thing we never plan for is what food to bring, because you will most likely find us stressing at the deli counter the day of, trying to find something everyone will love.

That was last year, my friends.  This year we’re taking some tips from the pros and planning a truly SUPER Super Bowl menu.  And, by pros, we do mean Kellogg.  Oh, and pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson.  Kellogg and L.T. are teaming up to release some great tips, tricks, and insider treats to make any party amazing, and we will definitely be turning to them instead of the teenager behind the deli counter this February. 

And, I do mean amazing.  Just look at what you can create using just a few simple ingredients!  While I’m partial to the Cheez-It Spicy Touchdown Tenders, hubby has specially requested the Grilled Cheese Marinara and Chili Con Carne and they all look easy enough that I could easily do both the day of.  I have bookmarked and printed quite a few other recipes I want to try throughout the year.

While reading through some of the delicious-looking recipes I was really surprised to read some of the ingredients.  Most of us already have Cheez-Its and Town House Crackers in our pantry, but I bet you didn’t realize you could make so many dishes out of them.  I was simply blown away by the range of game day recipes listed as well, all the way from crowd-pleasing appetizers to gourmet main dishes and desserts.

I also loved L.T.’s party planning tips and tricks as well as his helpful videos at SnackPicks.com.  My favorite tip was how to estimate how many food and beverages to have on hand for your number of guests, which is something that will come in handy well after the big game.  I also love how he suggests getting the whole family involved in game day prep and stocking up on all-star ingredients like Cheez-It crackers, Town House Flipside crackers, Keebler cookies and Rice Krispies Treats instead of boring party faire. 

And, why not?  They are delicious, versatile, and you already know everyone loves them!

Be sure to check out all the great tips below from Kellogg and L.T. as you're planning your big game party, you are bound to find some amazing tips and tricks to make your party a fan favorite!

• Crunch the numbers: Count on guests each eating between 8 - 12 servings of appetizers over a two-hour period. Plan on two nonalcoholic drinks per guest during the first hour, and one for each hour after that. Buy about a pound of ice per guest for drinks.
• Tackle the food prep early: Make as much of the food ahead of time as you can. Peel, chop and prep veggie trays a day or two in advance. Dips and desserts can be made the day before. If you'll be making anything in a slow cooker, prep all your ingredients the day before, so that all you have to do when you wake up is put them in the cooker and turn it on.
• Stock up on all-star ingredients: Make sure you have plenty of the snacks your team really likes. Crowd-pleasers like Cheez-It® crackers, Town House® Flipside® crackers, Keebler® cookies, and Rice Krispies Treats® make adults and kids alike happy, and they can be used as ingredients in other dishes or paired with tasty dips and spreads, too.
• Create a winning game plan: Pick your game day snacks based upon the teams that are playing – if one of the teams is from Texas, serve your guests Chile Con Carne. If there is a team from Wisconsin, serve First Down Jalapeno Cheese Dip.
• Run a surprise play: Try a new recipe like Spicy Touchdown Tenders that get a surprising, crunchy kick from Cheez-It Hot & Spicy crackers. Serve them with some Buffalo sauce and they'll be the MVPs of your party.
• Call on your special teams: If you want a great dessert, but don't bake, ask your baking friends to work their magic for the party. Get the resident chili expert to make his best, and let your friend the décor expert set the scene. They'll enjoy working in their zones, and you get a few things taken off your to-do list.

• Let the Pee Wee League play, too: Let the kids help out with party prep, too. Older ones can help you make food and younger ones can set out utensils, cups and plates. You can appoint some special "Trash Referees" to patrol the party and help clean up plates and cups during the game, so there's not a big mess to clean up afterward.
• Control the crowd: Every party will have die-hard fans that want to focus on the game as well as casual fans that are there for the party and the ads. Set up televisions in two different viewing rooms that cater to both fans’ enthusiasm so everyone can enjoy the game in the atmosphere they choose.
• Prepare for fumbles: With so much excitement and food, someone is bound to have an accident. Keep cleaning supplies like paper towels and rug cleaners handy for an emergency. Also, protect your furniture as best you can by placing extra coasters on tables.
• Share the home field advantage: Not all of your guests will be cheering for the same team, so be sure to decorate your party with both teams’ colors to make everyone feel at home.

Want to win a fabulous "Big Game Gift Pack" valued at $100? 

One lucky winner will get a prize pack that includes one $75 Visa Gift Card, one Cheez-It™ Snack Cracker Bowl, one box of Sunshine® Cheez-It® Original snack crackers, one box of Keebler® Town House® Flipsides® Original crackers, one box of Keebler® Soft Batch® Chocolate Chip cookies, one box of Kellogg's® Rice Krispies Treats® Original bars and recipe cards!  Awesome, right?

To Enter: Simply comment below answering the following question: When entertaining for football’s biggest game, what plays do you make to ensure the home team is happy?

And, as always, there's extra entries!

• Post this give-away information on Facebook and link to R&R's Facebook page (1 entry)
• Retweet the giveaway post using @raveandreview and the URL to this blog post (1 entry per day)
• Post this give-away information on your favorite sweepstakes or blog site (1 entry)
• Subscribe to RaveAndReview.com (1 entry)

Giveaway ends at 12:00 p.m. ET p.m. ET on January 24, 2012.  Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Giveaway winner will be selected using Random.org from among all eligible entries received during the Giveaway and will have 48 hours to respond and confirm his/her prize.  See Offical Rules HERE

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

106 Ashley Hatten said... shared on twitter

https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/160792229751951360

Build Your Own Robot with PlanToys

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.

Entertain Beautifully with Wendell August Waterfall Chip & Dip Set {Giveaway $60 ARV}

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 - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/oRcoymFp} and tag and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like Wendell August on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

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.

Original Christmas Classics come to DVD {Review & Giveaway}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 28

Nothing gets you in the spirit of Christmas quite like watching some holiday movies, whether it’s classics from your youth or new adaptations of well-loved stories.  When I think of holiday classics, the first thing that comes to mind is the animated and stop-motion movies I grew up watching about Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, and the Abominable Snowman.

Since we don’t watch much TV anymore at our house, I was hoping I could eventually find these movies of my youth on DVD so I could share them with my kids.  Of course I was thrilled when I saw that they were going to be re-released in Blu-ray just in time for Christmas so we could enjoy them together as a family.  Just one look at the front cover of The Original Christmas Classics Blu-ray box set and I'm immediately taken back to childhood when my sister and I would wait all year for the movies to start playing on our favorite TV station.

This family-friendly box set contains four of the most beloved holiday TV specials of all time that you are sure to remember, including the Rankin/Bass classics “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Frosty Returns.”  If you're like me, you don't think the holiday season is the same without these holiday classics to kick off the magical season when snowmen sing and every kid waits up to see Santa. 

This year we were even more excited when the old classics I loved as a child were joined by a new title that we could all enjoy together for the first time.  This year I was also thrilled to add to our holiday movie list with the VeggieTales The Little Drummer Boy movie.  I personally love The Little Drummer Boy story and adore Veggie Tales so I was already certain I would love it, but wasn’t so sure how well it would go over with the entire family. 

Once VeggieTales The Little Drummer Boy started and we got all settled with our popcorn and drinks, the kids sat transfixed.  It was only 5 or so minutes in when my daughter turned to me and said “I’m in heaven watching this with you”.  Seriously, if that doesn’t put you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will.  

Like all VeggieTales movies, The Little Drummer Boy is an all-veggie cast of characters who have wit and wisdom to spare.  In this remake of the holiday classic, Junior Asparagus stars as The Little Drummer Boy, a lonely and heartbroken child who finds the true meaning of Christmas when he stumbles upon the birth of the baby Jesus.  My daughter epecially liked the songs and the energy in this film, and even though the subject can be a little serious with the underlying story of the Romans and poverty it still manages to have a message of hope and love.

Whether you are reminiscing about Christmas past and signing along with your holiday favorites or you are enjoying a whole new take on a classic story, curling up with the family and having a movie night. 

The Original Christmas Classics box set retails for $44.95 and VeggieTales The Little Drummer Boy will be available wherever DVDs and Blu-rays are sold, including on Amazon.com where you can get it in time for Christmas!

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win both DVD titles!

To Enter: Let me know what you how you kick off the holidays

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/Lhq5kzHk} and tag and R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

The holidays are even more merry w/ great classic Christmas movies. Hoping I #win the DVD #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/Lhq5kzHk

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 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. US and Canadian addresses only.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to Candie who said: I love to kick off the holiday by setting up my tree.  Thank you!

The DVDs for review and the giveaway were offered at no charge to us but all opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

BigJigs Wooden Trains and Railways {Review & Giveaway}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 27

There are certain toys that every young child needs, regardless of gender.  On the top of that list, of course, is a wooden train track.  Maybe this is why wooden train sets still remain one of the most classic Christmas gifts of all time, and are sure to be delighting children of all ages this year.  There’s just something special about using your imagination to build your own train and then zooming down the tracks you’ve designed - over bridges, under overpasses, and coming to rest at their destination. 

For 25 years BigJigs has been famous for their amazing train sets in Europe and now they are bringing that expertise to the States just in time for the holidays.  If you haven’t been introduced to BigJigs before, you will definitely want to check out their amazing line of wooden heirloom quality toys and playsets, starting with the two we reviewed this holiday season, the Polar Glacier Playset and the Rose Cottage Doll House.  Whether you have a little world explorer or you have a castle or doll enthusiast, there is something wonderful waiting for you at BigJigs.

And, their wooden train collection is definitely amazing.  One look at the extensive BigJigs Rail collection and I’m sure will be blown away as I was.  From train stations, mountains, and suspension bridges all the way to specialty cars, engines, sheds, personalized trains and more, BigJigs truly does have it all to create your own mini metropolis. We got to check out two pieces in the BigJigs Railway line these past few weeks, the Princess Train and 20 piece My First Train Set, and both of these are simply exquisite. 

As with almost all of BigJigs products, their My First Train Set delivers a fun toy that has exceptional quality and beautiful design, as well as one of my favorite features – their products are sold as sets with all the pieces included that you need to kickstart the fun.  In the case of the 20 piece My First Train Set, I was thrilled to find that it comes complete with a small circular track, two houses, some trees, and a 3 car train, which is perfect for my son’s age and stage.

The Princess Train is a four piece princess carriage themed train set that is perfect for the girly-girl train enthusiast, which I think is pretty awesome since that describes my daughter perfectly.  This is a great add-on piece since it is compatible with all wooden railways and adds a great feminine touch to any train set.

These past few months have been all about BigJigs at our house and it’s clear there’s no end in sight.  With a BigJigs Doll House and the BigJigs My First Train Set and Princess Train to be opened on Christmas morning, you can imagine what kind of amazement and excitement will be sure to follow.  I’m not preparing myself for a fun holiday, I am preparing for an epic morning that will culminate in each child meeting their perfect toy match. 

My son who loves anything with wheels is going to be over-the-top excited about his first train set and my daughter is going to love being able to play right beside him.  Just picturing them playing together makes me wish Christmas morning was here now.  To say that the BigJigs Railway playsets are going to be well-loved is an understatement; they are going to be the start of my little engineers learning about gravity and cause and effect, using their imaginations to build, and discovering how things go.  What could be more magical than that?

While not every BigJigs heritage playset 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

To Enter: Let me know what BigJigs set you have your eye on {Click link to see Maukilo's selection of BigJig Toys}

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Like Maukilo Toys on Facebook

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Dying to #win the BigJigs wooden toys GC #giveaway from @Maukilo and @RaveAndReview. Love the wooden train set! 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:

26 Ryanac32 said... RSS feed

A big thank you to BigJigs for sending the trainsets 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.

Our Christmas Tradition: Steiff Classic & Collectible Plush

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide – Day 26

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!

Build Anything With Roylco Straws and Connectors {Review, Giveaway & Discount Code}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide – Day 25

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 - Like Roylco on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/G8pE0vkO } and tag Roylco and R&R on Facebook

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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.

Corolle Dolls Wows this Holiday Season

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 24

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.