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.

The Builder Bag {Review & Giveaway}

In terms of great educational toys, you really can’t go wrong with building toys.  You just can’t beat the learning that happens when you let your little ones create whatever their heart desires with no rules but that of gravity and physics. 

I love watching my kids build and manipulate all the small pieces to see what a pile of blocks, bricks, or connectors can become.  Unfortunately, the drawback of all this creativity is that building sets have so many small pieces to scatter across the floor, misplace, or clutter up the toy box.  Luckily for me, there’s a genius new product called The Builder Bag that not only solves these problems, it also gives the kids a great place to play!

Essentially a play mat that cinches to become a carry-all tote, The Builder Bag is the perfect solution to playroom clutter and missing game pieces.  Available in two sizes and three colors and even with its own peg hanging system to keep it even more organized, The Builder Bag is now an essential part of our play.

While the design of The Builder Bag is pretty simple, it’s the details that make it awesome enough to have been awarded the PTPA Seal of Approval.  With oversized and reinforced grommets and sturdy carrying handles and cinching string, it’s built kid-tough but is still easy for even toddlers to use.  It’s simple to lay out and get to creating, and it’s just as easy to clean up when the creating is through. 

In fact, it’s FUN to clean up, which is not something you hear very often.  Or, ever.  When was the last time your kids asked to clean up and then squealed as they simply pulled a string to tidy hundreds – or thousands – of little pieces all at once?  Whether your little one is into Legos, Playmobil, TinkerToys, CitiBlocs, Lincoln Logs, SuperStructs, or even just little figures you will love how easy it is to keep all the little pieces in one place and ready to play, and then just as easy to clean up when they are done. 

Simply carry The Builder Bag wherever you want to play, use it as a great play mat to set up your town, your farm, or your new creation, and then cinch, carry and store them up on the pegs until the next time you are ready to create.  The ease of setup and clean up means it’s easy to play on a whim without having to have hours set aside, and the beautiful way to store them makes them the first thing your little one will grab when it’s time to play. 

When I first heard of The Builder Bag, I knew it would be perfect for all of our little building blocks and figures since the kids play with those constantly and have a hard time corralling the little pieces, but I didn’t realize how much I would adore the design.  I love that the open Builder Bag is the perfect “backdrop” to their farm, their schoolyard, or their town and that they incorporate the bag into the play itself, and I also love how much less stressful playtime is when it doesn’t involve a buckets of small pieces being dumped into my living room only to be scattered by playing kids. 

But, even better than the love my husband and I feel for The Builder Bag would be how much my kids enjoy playing with it.  Whereas they loved their blocks and animal figures before, for some reason when you add a Builder Bag playmat, the toys become irresistible and the kiddos just can’t get enough.  Maybe it helps that they don’t mind picking up when they are done now that you can do so with the pull of a string, or maybe it’s just that there’s less setup when all you have to do is open a bag and all your favorite toys are in one place, but whatever the reason, we are all thrilled. 

If you have toys with small parts, building toys, or thousands of figurines that need a practical and fun place to call home, you will absolutely love The Builder Bag.  I love ours so much that I am ordering some more bags for our peg system and plan on getting my nephew a set, too.  Manage playtime, conquer clutter, and not have to waste time cleaning up?  Yeah, I’ll take two of those!

Find out more about The  Builder Bag at their site and see what color options and size options would suit your little builder.  For more ideas and inspiration from the man behind The Builder Bag, you should check out this great article Scott wrote for PTPA!

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Builder Bag in their choice of color as well as a set of Builder Pegs!

To Enter: Visit The Builder Bag site and let me know something you learned as well as your favorite color of Builder Bag.

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/dwGKfv5a} and tag The Builder Bag, PTPA Media and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like The Builder Bag and PTPA Media on Facebook {one for each}

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 all:

@TheBuilderBag makes playtime fun and cleanup easy! Enter the #giveaway from @PTPA and @RaveAndReview http://t.co/dwGKfv5a

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 4th 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

A big thank you to The Builder Bag and PTPA 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.

Tegu Blocks Asks "How Do You Roll" {Review & Giveaway}

If you’ve come to my house to play in the past few months, chances are you were immediately asked if you wanted to play with Tegu Blocks. If so, you probably had the same reaction everyone else does when asked if you want to play: a shrug and an “I guess”. But, once the felted Tegu tote is pulled out that houses our beloved Tegu Blocks, immediately everyone is excited.

“Whoa, are these magnetic blocks?!?” Why yes, yes they are.

I vividly remember the first time I saw them at a store; I probably played with them for a good 20 minutes, blown away by their simple design that makes them so incredibly awesome and fun to play with. They may look like a beautiful set of wooden blocks upon first glance, but once you hold them, connect them, and build with them, you will be hooked.

Because let me tell you, Tegu Blocks are not your average building blocks. Instead of buildings held together simply by gravity and luck, Tegu Blocks are very different in that you can build some truly amazing stuff with the power of magnets. You may not be able to see the magnets, hidden deep within the wooden block, but the satisfying click they make when they connect tells you it’s there.

Although Tegu Blocks are, admittedly, toys, it certainly hasn't stopped all of our adult guests from playing with them as well.  In fact, the adults seem to like them just as much as the little guys do {which is a lot} and play with them just as much.  Whether this comes from a void that we all felt with a lack of magnetic blocks in our own youths or merely the fact that these little blocks are a great stress reliever is anyone's guess, but I'm willing to bet it's a combination of the two. 

While our kids showed us that these blocks not only stick to each other, but they also stick to the fridge, the washer and dryer, and anything else magnetic, we taught them that putting them away is almost as fun as playing with them... seriously.  I guess it's no wonder that Tegu Blocks have just been awarded our favorite Seal of Approval, the PTPA Media Award!   

So, with how much fun we've had with our Tegu Blocks over the past few months, I didn’t believe it when I first heard that Tegu Blocks were going to get even cooler.  But even I was surprised that the claims were actually true. When a small box holding one of the new Tegu Mobility packs – the Maddy Micro – arrived, I knew our fun with Tegu was just beginning because now our creations were now going places.

The Maddy Micro has removable magnetic wheels that allow it to roll across the floor, but the real fun is when you remove the wheels and add in some traditional Tegu Blocks for even more squeals of glee. Because Tegu Blocks are all magnetic, you can simply pop the new Mobility Wheels onto any Tegu blocks and see what kind of good times you can create.

Speaking of getting creative, Tegu loves to see all their young fans' creations and has even created an awesome contest called "How Do You Roll?" that lets your kid design the next Tegu car!  The contest is open to kids aged 4-10 and the prize is simply amazing - as in a trip to Honduras cool.  You can enter to win right from their "How Do You Roll?" sweepstakes site, but before you go...

How would you like to win one of these new Tegu Mobility Cars?  Of course you would!  Here's where it gets cool - for every 25 entrants Tegu will giveaway a car to a lucky Rave & Review reader! {i.e. 25 entrants = 1 winner, 50 entrants = 2 winners, etc!}

To Enter: Visit the "How Do You Roll?" sweepstakes site and comment below to let me know that you have entered to win the amazing Tegu Honduras grand prize {not to mention their awesome runners-up prizes}! Ready, Set, GO!

Here are the prizes you can win in the "How Do You Roll?" Sweepstakes: 

One (1) Grand Prize: The design experience of lifetime for your child. Design, Name, Package, Produce, and Share the next Tegu Magnetic Wooden Car (watch video for more details)

Two (2) First Prizes: $480 value for you and three friends. One each of the Tegu Mobility line: Dart, Hatch, Maddy Micro, Riley Roadster

Five (5) Second Prizes: $194 value. One Mahogany Original Set + Wheels + Travel Tote

Want more entries?  After signing up on the Tegu sweepstakes website, login to gain additional entries by doing the following {this is not through R&R, these additional entries are through Tegu ONLY}:

20 entries: Email friends
10 entries: Share on Facebook {Please tag Tegu Toys and Rave & Review on Facebook}
10 entires: Share on Twitter using @Tegu and @RaveAndReview
25 entries: Submit designs for the next Tegu car {great activity for kids!}

There’s no limit to the number of entries you can earn. Do each action every day to maximize your chances!  The sweepstakes ends at the end of January {1/31/2012}, so get going today and you might just be on your way to the Tegu factory and the memory of a lifetime.  Terms & conditions in the sweepstakes can be found here.

On January 31st at 11:59pm PST a winner(s) will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner(s) will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.

A big thank you to Tegu for sending the Maddy Micro for review and for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

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.

Squinkies Introduces Cars, Comics and Characters for Boys {Review & Giveaway}

I've talked before about how much my daughter loves Squinkies.  But, with all their pink packaging and princess-themed collections, what I didn't expect was how much all of her male friends would like them as well.  It's true - they didn't mind a bit that they were originally marketed towards girls, they just liked the toys and wanted to play with them as well. 

And, can you blame them?  I've gone on record stating that if I was 20 years younger I know I would own the entire Squinkies Surprize Inside collection and that has become even more true as the collection of Squinkies available has grown to include just about every character I loved growing up. 

Perhaps you don't have a young child who begs you for Squinkies for your collection or you haven't been in a toy store for a few years and don't know Squinkies from Squash.  Here's what you need to know:  Besides being miniature {which is a huge weakness of just about every kid I know}, Squinkies also have a great extended play value as they can be jewelry, pencil toppers, and tiny little take anywhere toys that make them easy to transport to friends’ houses and more. 

Each set comes with a variety of squishable and squashable miniature Squinkies characters and accessories, each enclosed in a clear plastic ball that can be used to store them in or to add to playtime as well.  Similar to the plastic bubble that small toys are vended out of in arcades, they are about an inch and a half in diameter and house all the adorable little Squinkies as well as making them perfect for displaying, playing, and more.

And, now Squinkies are truly for every kid with the addition of their male-targeted series.  Even though these new car, comic, and character themed Squinkies are designed with boys in mind, like their pink counterparts, we found kids of both sexes adored them.  Like the Surprize Inside series, the new boy's Squinkies line comes with their own accessories such as cars, trucks, skateboards, superheroes, skulls, and more that are sure to provide hours of fun. 

Whether you have a Marvel Comics fan, a Hot Wheels aficionado, or a Disney's Cars fanatic, your little one is sure to be delighted by one of the new Squinkies sets.  They have certainly been a huge hit in our house and with every kid that has come to play - so much so that we bought a few of these sets for holiday gifts this year and plan on getting more throughout the year.  If you're looking to counteract some of the pink in your kiddos Squinkies collection or have a little boy who has been dying to play, you will definitely want to check out the new series from Squinkies here.

http://www.squinkies.com

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win some Squinkies Boys Pack of their very own!

To Enter: Let me know what Squinkies set your little one would love

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/zIwl9SvH} and tag and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like Squinkies 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:

Love the new boy themed @squinkies! Hoping I #win prize pack #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/zIwl9SvH

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 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.

The Squinkies 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.

Zubels Organic Hand-Knit Toys

Are you constantly searching for organic toys for your kids?  Have you noticed that when searching for organic toys, many of the selections that pop up are for babies?  It’s extremely rare that you can find organic toys that can grow with your child and go from rattle to playmate, but that’s exactly what Zubels do. 

Their organic cotton, hand knit toys are made with eco-friendly dyes and are squeezably soft and ready for snuggling, but they are also ready for play time for years to come.  Zubel's newest line is especially play-ready with the addition of the fall and winter characters that includes football players, cheerleaders, and more to get your child imagining and playing.  Find the colors closest to your team's colors and get your little one some players and fans and you've got hours of fun while watching the game on TV.

We got to check out a football player from the Zubels line a few weeks back, and even though my son has no idea what football is or why his new little friend is wearing a helmet and protective gear, he does know how super soft and snuggly he is.  My daughter, on the other hand, realized quickly what he was and began showing him how to play {in her limited view of how the game is actually played}, which was pretty cute. 

Since he has arrived, our Zubels football player has been a constant during play time and at naptime as everyone wants to play with him and snuggle him.  I love that it’s such a quality made toy that I don’t worry about seams ripping, ends fraying, or anything else you run into with lesser-quality toys.  This is a truly awesome thing as I see a whole lot more play in his future.   

In addition to being eco-friendly, organic, adorable, and fun to play with, Zubels are also incredibly affordable.  I personally love this as it means that I can get more of them for my little guy and really add to the playtime fun.  And, judging from how much both of my kids love the Zubel we received, we will definitely be getting more.  For instance, that adorable pirate.  And Red Riding Hood.  And the mermaid.  Simply swoon-worthy, right?

Zubels start at under $15, which makes them completely affordable for baby showers, birthdays, and for starting a little collection for your little one.  Most designs come in various sizes as well to add to the fun.  See the full selection at zubels.us

A big thank you to Zubels and An Island Life for this review opportunity.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this 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

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/pz8dFxBe} and tag Maukilo Toys 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:

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

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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

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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.