Thank you to Build a Dream for providing us with a car from their collection of cardboard playhouses. All opinions are my own.
Inspiring imagination in Baby C. is something that, as a parent, I am very committed to. While I love technology and fully embrace it, I do realize that it’s very easy for kids to just be focused on that aspect of play and miss opportunities to be creative in an un-plugged way. I don’t see many young kids outside poking at puddles with sticks these days, you know?
So I love the products from Build a Dream Playhouse; they do double-duty in the creativity department!
Build a Dream Playhouses was founded by a Cleveland father dedicated tothe futures of the City of Cleveland, the State of Ohio, and the imaginations of children. Reflecting on his city’s hard times, he collaborated with the world famous Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates, a group of 3 to 9 year old children, and the Smurfit Stone Container Corporation. What they came up with is what they believe to be the most innovative, fresh, and fun playhouses on the market.Continue reading »
(Be sure to check out all the other great Gift Guide items and giveaways here.)
I know you’ve heard me say a number of times how much I love books, and especially Christmas books. Now someone has found a way to extend the joy and excitement that comes with Christmas stories; there is “The Night After Christmas” book.
“The Night After Christmas” picks up where the iconic “The Night Before Christmas” book leaves off. It takes you back to the North Pole with Santa after the presents have all been delivered and the children are all snuggled in bed with their new gifts. I always wondered what Santa did on Christmas night – and now I know!
Baby C. has let me read this to her a few times and she loves the illustrations. I’m sure this will find a home in our yearly reading rotation. I’ve heard from a few others that it’s quickly become a much-loved book in their homes. I think you will love it, too.
Where to Buy:
“The Night After Christmas” is available in both soft cover ($8.99) and eBook ($0.99) form from retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Buy.com.
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What is your favorite “new” Christmas book?
I received a product in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are 100% mine and my family’s.
2011 Holiday Gift Guide – Suggestions For Babies/Toddlers (Be sure to check out all the other great Gift Guide items and giveaways here.)
I think pretty much everyone has caught a commercial for the Gyro Bowl at one point or another. We’ve seen it dozens of times and have sometimes wondered – with a hefty dose of skepticism – whether the bowl actually works. Well, it does.
We received a Gyro bowl recently and so far everything we’ve put in it has stayed put while we’ve twirled it around. Granted, we haven’t tried liquids yet (that particular experiment is an “outdoor fun” kind of thing and needs to wait until warmer weather), but everything else has been fine. Baby C. loves playing with it, too; she turns it around and around, and tries to spin the inner portion.
If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer for the tot set, this could be a good choice. In addition to the fact that it will keep their snacks from spilling all over the car on trips to Grandma’s, it also doubles as a bit of a toy and will give them a little distraction.
The Gyro Bowl is BPA-free and top-rack dishwasher safe.
(Be sure to check out all the other great Gift Guide items and giveaways here.)
It can sometimes be hard to find age-appropriate video games for the preteen set. Many games kids consider too “babyish”, some are too complicated in the game play and many are too graphic. The Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL is none of those things.
Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL is a brawler video game with 26 playable characters from shows like Johnny Bravo, The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory and many more. There are six play modes: story mode, battle mode, arcade mode, PTE mode, Fight the Drones mode and training mode; with both story mode and battle mode up too 4 players can play together (or against each other!). You’ll also find 26 different battle arenas in which to play. Cool items and characters can be unlocked in the PTE store using the coins you earn battling.
A2 tested out the game for us first. He thought it was okay, but shared that he felt kids 8-14 would probably enjoy it most. I also think that adults who enjoy some of the Cartoon Network TV shows would enjoy this game as a fun break from more “serious” games, too. (I always enjoy a good Dexter’s Lab.)
The controls are very intuitive, especially for those familiar with the brawler genre. All of the character each have four special moves, but this doesn’t make the game complicated.
Below is a screen grab of a battle scene with Johnny Bravo so you can have a feel for what the game play looks like. As you can see it’s all fun, cartoon-y stuff, not blood and gore.
You can also check out the video below from the developers.
Where to Buy:
Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL is rated E (Everyone age 10+) and in addition to the PS3 version($39.99) it is available on the Xbox 360 ($39.99) and Nintendo Wii ($29.99).
Want to Win?
One winner will receive a copy of Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion XL for the PS3. To enter fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Reminder: Rafflecopter sometimes takes a moment to load; if you don’t see it after a minute, please try refreshing your browser.
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I received a copy of the game in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are 100% mine and my family’s.
