I grew up in the 80’s, the decade of leg warmers, Nintendo, Ray-Ban’s and Rainbow Brite.  My mom says she still has my childhood Rainbow Brite doll. And did you see my vintage Rainbow Brite T-shirt?  Rainbow Brite is back! She’s undergone a bit of a makeover but still delights children with her “empowering and imaginative adventures as she spreads her messages of courage, kindness, and hope.”  Did you know, that Rainbow Brite was actually a series introduced by Hallmark? (I didn’t!).  So who is Rainbow Brite?

Not so very long ago, a little girl name Wisp appeared in a colorless and unhappy world. Through courage, kindness and friendship, Wisp became Rainbow Brite and transformed the unhappy world to Rainbow Land, a magical place where all the colors in the universe are created.  Now, Rainbow Brite is one of Rainbow Land’s four Sky Powers, characters whose magical powers determine the cycles of Rainbow Land’s days and seasons. With the help of her friends, her magnificent horse Starlite, and her magical Color Belt and Star Scepter, Rainbow Brite travels to the far corners of the universe, bringing hope and happiness to everyone she meets.

This month, Rainbow Brite and her friends debuted in Target and Toys R Us stores nationwide.  To celebrate, I have 5 Rainbow Brite CD packs to giveaway, which include Rainbow Brite games and activities.

Win It! Simply leave me a comment with something new and interesting you learned on the Rainbow Brite site.  Comments will close on March 12, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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I did not receive compensation for this post.  The giveaway CDs were supplied by MomSelect.

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Kathy Pease!

Late last year, my son received a play kitchen from Step 2 that he plays with almost daily.  He’s 2 1/2 and loves pretending to cook in his kitchen (among a variety of other activities involving pretend play).  He also loves cooking with mommy in the “real” kitchen.  Of all the toys we’ve reviewed and purchased, those that allow for 0pen-ended, imaginative play are our favorites.

GummyLump is an online toy store offering educational toys for children ages 0-6.  The company offers quality toys, many of which have won awards for their excellence.  If you were to peruse through the list of brands offered by the company, you’d find renowned brands such as Melissa and Doug, Haba, Hape, and Manhattan Toy.  If you’re a Melissa and Doug fan (as we are), you’ll be happy to know that GummyLump offers their entire line.

My son recently added the Slice and Bake Cookies Play Food Set to his kitchen assortment of play food and toys. This wooden set includes 12 sliceable cookies, 12 decorative toppings, a kitchen mitt, wooden cookie sheet, knife, and spatula.  The set helps teach children basic shape and color recognition, beginning math skills, fine motor and eye/hand development, and creative expression (according to the company).  As soon as we received it, my son was ready to “dig in.”  We sliced, baked, decorated, and ate our cookies.  We sorted and counted them.  My son even took some of his other “toys” to continue decorating them.

We have several Melissa and Doug puzzles/toys and one of the things I appreciate about the company are the “pearls” they suggest for additional play activities.  Some of the suggested extended play activities include having your child sort the cookie toppings by similar groups, asking your child to count the cookies and the toppings, and asking your child to tell a story about the cookies.  What’s great about many of their toys is that they’re open-ended and allow children to use their imagination to play. The set is durable and I imagine my son won’t tire of playing with it.

Right now if you buy 3 Melissa and Doug Play Food Sets, you’ll get the 4th set free.  The Slice and Bake Cookies Play Food Set retails for $19.95 but is currently on sale for $15.96.

Win It! One of you will win a Slice and Bake Cookies Play Food Set, courtesy of GummyLump.  Simply leave me a comment with the name of another toy you like from their website. Comments will close on February 1, 2010 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

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I did not receive compensation for this post.  I did receive a product, courtesy of the company, in order to facilitate my review.

I can hardly believe that we’re 3 days away from Christmas. My husband finally had an opportunity to put our Christmas tree up for our little boy.  I was planning on wrapping his gifts this week, but I’m still in the hospital.  

Fortunately, he’s had a few new toys at home to play with while mommy recovers, including the Yo Gabba Gabba Boombox from MegaBloks.  I recently reviewed their Play ‘N Go Table (I know our little girl is going to enjoy when she’s a bit older) which my son has a blast playing with.  And as strange as I find that show to be, the Yo Gabba Gabba Boombox is actually quite entertaining.  My son is very much into stacking, building, and lining things up, so blocks are a great toy to encourage his development.  

MegaBloks combines music, familiar characters, and building blocks together for a fun, educational toy.  The boombox comes with 23 pieces including colorful blocks and characters from the show.  The boombox plays four songs and stores all the pieces neatly away.  Children can also push a button to make the two characters from the show dance.  MegaBloks sells several Yo Gabba Gabba themed sets that can be intermixed with this set.  

Children get to use their imagination with this toy.  My son particularly enjoys stacking and building the blocks.  Younger children who may be learning their colors and shapes will definitely enjoy playing with this.  Right now it’s out of stock on the website, but I found it on Amazon.com.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive products, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

Boutiques are one of my favorite kinds of stores to shop in.  Unfortunately, I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to frequent the ones in my area, as I get closer and closer to my due date.  What’s great about boutiques is that they offer unique items, you often can’t find in other stores.  But that also means that sometimes you’ll see something you like, and it won’t be there again if you don’t buy it in that moment.  

Most of my shopping this year has been completed online.  I buy from a variety of types of stores, depending on who it is I’m shopping for.  I recently happened upon a quaint, online store that I would definitely categorize as being a children’s boutique.  LinenKids specializes in natural linen products for children, linen and wooden toys, accessories, and bed and bath linens.  The company was started by a mom who is passionate about unique organic products.  Here is a little more information about the company:  

LinenKids features special, luxurious, hand-crafted kids’ clothes and accessories that are made from natural, Lithuanian linen. My clothes are beautifully made by skilled local craftswomen, following traditional techniques and styles.  

I was most impressed by the Christening section (I can’t imagine why) which offers some of the most exquisite baby outfits I’ve ever seen.  Their wooden toy section is also neat and offers beautifully crafted, imaginative toys for children.  Their toys are eco-friendly and colored with child friendly, water based paint.  We received a cute Bear Wooden Toy that I think we’re going to put on our tree (if my hubby gets motivated to put it up this weekend!).  

Because the company is in the European Union, prices are in Euros and shipping could take up to 2 weeks.  But if you’re looking for a unique, eco-friendly gift, you may want to check out LinenKids.

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

I can’t believe that Christmas is almost here!  Ten days and counting.  Are you ready?  We don’t even have our tree up yet (that’s first on my hubby’s to-do list this week).  And shopping?  I’m about half-way done!  If you can believe it, I actually find children to be the most difficult to shop for…especially when the children are not my children.  Some parents offer a list (which I greatly appreciate), but most say that “anything will do,” which isn’t entirely true.  

As a parent, I look for a few key features when shopping for a toy. Safety and long-lasting value are very important to me.  I really like educational, open-ended toys that challenge a child and stimulate his/her imagination.  In the past, we have purchased several toys from VTechkids and have been very happy with them.  The company prides itself on developing quality, innovative educational products for children.  We live in a society highly focused on all things technical.  Rather than sheltering children from “electronics” I think it’s important to expose them to age-appropriate content.

VTechkids recently launched a new line of toddler toys (designed for children over the age of 18 months) called Jungle Gym.  Toddlers like my son, need to be active daily.  My son does not do well when he hasn’t had a chance to run, ride his bike and just release his energy.  The new line is designed to stimulate both the mind and the body through active play.    The animal theme immediately piqued his interest.  And the bright colors are very attractive.  Most important, toddlers will start learning the basic foundation for letter, number, color, and object identification. 

We received the Ride & Learn Giraffe Bike, courtesy of the company.  Immediately, I thought about the potential it has to teach my son how to eventually learn to ride a bike…and I was impressed.  The basic premise of the toy is that as a child pedals, he/she is learning.  There are five play modes and tots will learn the alphabet and count animals (among other activities).  It’s relatively easy to put together and requires 3 AA batteries.  

The age range is 18-36 months, but I’m not sure my son would have fully understood all of the concepts at 18 months.   The bike is adorable and relatively sturdy (although my son could tip it over if he decided to).  The funniest thing my son has done is ride the bike, then come back squawking, saying he is a parrot!

The Ride & Learn Giraffe Bike retails for $49.99 and is available at Toys R Us and Walmart

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

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When I look back one year ago, I think of how much my son has developed.  His speech, his fine and gross motor skills… He wakes up singing, has gotten much better at riding his scooter, and does things that constantly amaze us.  A few weeks ago (ish) my son was playing in his room while I took a quick shower.  When I got out I went to his room. He looked up at me and stated proudly, “I made a tower for mommy!”

Last year we reviewed a Sesame Street Building Set by K’NEX.  I remember showing him how to put the pieces together.  Over the last year we’ve played with that set numerous times.  It’s incredible to see how he has developed in one year.

This year we had an opportunity to review the Neighborhood Collection Police Station Set by K’NEX.  It features 2 of my son’s favorite Sesame Street characters…Ernie and Elmo.  While the set does come with instructions on various building options, it’s definitely open-ended and left to the child to create what they wish.  It fosters creativity and imagination.  And…my son will spend a long time playing with it.  He’s actually combined some of the pieces from the first set we received with this set for even more building creations.

The set includes 44 parts which includes Elmo and Ernie.  K’NEX offers 4 Neighborhood Collection Sets that can be combined to build an entire Sesame Street neighborhood. Most children are familiar with the Sesame Street characters, which is definitely why this is an attractive toy for toddlers and preschoolers.  Along with the coordination required to build, the sets encourage the use of a child’s imagination and creativity.  Because they the set has various colors and patterns, it’s a great way to teach children how to sort and arrange the parts accordingly. One of the things we like to do is build according to color. Each set also comes with a Play & Learn activity sheet featuring educational activities that can be done during or after building.

Right now, K’NEX is holding a Make a K’NEXion contest where you have an opportunity to win over $1,000 worth of K’NEX toys and be featured on the K’NEX web site. Simply make a video with your creation making sure you include select K’NEX products. The 10 best videos will be featured on K’NEX and the winning video will receive $1,000 worth of K’NEXToys.  The contest ends on December 7, 2009.

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Sarah!

Some of my favorite toys are those that get children outside and moving (and second only to those that inspire creativity and imagination).  We are fortunate that we live in a state that enjoys a tremendous amount of sunshine throughout the year.  Little Tikes is a company with a longstanding history of making toys that promote active, imaginative play.  My son just adores his Cozy Coupe and I like that it gets him outside and moving.

This year, the Snap, Pass & Punt Football Trainer is favorite among parents and children (and it helps that we’re in football season!). Children as young as two can learn the basics of football with this toy that allows children to kick and throw a football around.  Younger children will need a bit of help, but older children can definitely enjoy the practice it gives them on their own.  The “auto-snap” football trainer launches the football into the air so a child can catch it.   There is a pedal (you can see from the picture) that the child steps on which then launches the football into the air.  The child puts the ball back to reset it.  I really like that it’s ready to play with once opened, and doesn’t require the use of batteries.

Fortunately, the two balls that the set comes with are soft and made from foam (which means my son won’t break anything or hurt anyone).  The set also comes with a kick off tee and 2 boundary markers to simulate all the aspects of the real game.

The Little Tikes Snap, Pass, & Punt Football Trainer retails for $29.99 and is available online and at retailers nationwide.

Win It! One of you will win a Snap, Pass, & Punt Football Trainer.  Simply leave me a comment with another toy you like from their site.  Comments will close on December 1, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Add the “Holiday Gift Guide” button to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure it’s up for the duration of the gift guide!)

Check out my Holiday Gift Guide and leave a comment on that site about a product you like! (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaysurvivalguide

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Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

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For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I did receive a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Maggie C!

This year’s holiday season is sure to bring out the best in toys from a variety of companies.  And if you’re like me, choosing the right toy…one that will turn your tot into a little genuis…isn’t necessarily straightforward.  There are things to think about…like price and availability and durability and lasting value.

JAKKS Pacific has an incredible holiday lineup of toys for children.  Some of my favorite brands represented include Discovery Kids, GX Racers, Girl Gourmet, and Style Six.  Here are just a few holiday gift ideas, courtesy of the company:

If your children enjoy animals (what child doesn’t?) Discovery Kids Smart Animals Eco-Systems allow children to collect, build, and play with a full set of miniature animal habitats.  Or better yet, check out their Yuck Bugs! toys.  Fortunately (for the sake of moms) they’re not real!

Little boys love cars.  And racing.  And things that go go go!  Just released this summer are the GX Racers.  They combine speed with stunts and just look like a lot of fun.  My picks?  The GX Motorized Launcher and GX Racers Tightrope Terror Playset (because I want to see these cars defy the norm).

When I was a little girl, I had a little play oven that my mom and I would bake small cakes in.  These days, little girls can make edible gourmet cupcakes and design cakes (for the aspiring Martha Stewart) with Girl Gourmet’s line of “fun and fashionable bakeware.”  Baking is not only fun, it teaches children about life (because we all know how great of a cook I am!).  New to the line is the Girl Gourmet Candy Bead Studio.  These necklaces and bracelets look good enough to eat (and fortunately, they’re edible!).  The set includes a vacuum-molded beading compartment and bead guide along with the resources required to make 24 edible necklaces and bracelets.

If you have a crafty tween, check out Style Six’s fashion activity kits.  Where was this when I was growing up?  Girls can design their own t-shirts, jeans, purses, hats, belts, and more using silkscreen, airbrush, stencils, felt, paint, ribbons and gems (so cool!).  A perfect activity for aspiring fashion designers!  Check out the entire line of activity kits.

Much of JAKKS Pacific’s toy lineup includes activities that will inspire creativity and foster learning.

Win It! One of you will win a Girl Gourmet Candy Bead Studio!  Simply leave me a comment with ANOTHER product from the site that you’d like this holiday season for your child.  Comments will close on December 1, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Add the “Holiday Gift Guide” button to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure it’s up for the duration of the gift guide!)

Check out my Holiday Gift Guide and leave a comment on that site about a product you like! (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaysurvivalguide

Enter Shannon’s giveaways (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

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Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

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For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

My son and I spend a good part of our day reading…it’s part of how I’m teaching him about shapes, colors, numbers, letters, and animals.  But there is only so much reading that can be done.  After all, he’s two and needs just as much time playing as he does reading.  I spend many of my days at home (I know it doesn’t seem that way) and I have to get creative with our activities.  Along with reading and coloring, we also play with toys.

I actually find shopping for toys to be a little difficult, given the sheer number of them available.  Even when I narrow it down by age and gender, I’m still left with way too many choices. So I’m left looking for other characteristics such as safety, price, and overall lasting value.  JAKKS Pacific designs, develops and produces toys for children.  You are probably familiar with brands such as Discovery Kids and Girl Gourmet.  Stay tuned as I will have another post with some awesome fun and educational toys offered by JAKKS Pacific.

If you’re looking to teach your child about science and animals, Discovery Kids toys make the perfect gift.  The Scanopedia Electronic Talking Encyclopedia is an interactive way to get children excited about animals while teaching them fun facts.  I’ve never seen a toy like this, so I was highly impressed with the way it works.  Who would have thought that any toy with the word “encyclopedia” in it, would be fun?  But my son really enjoys it.  

The electronic scanner can be used on the Smart Animals (which are sold separately) to hear special effects and learn unique facts about that particular animal. You can use the Scanopedia by itself to reveal information about animals and maps through activities and games, and with the included interactive poster (which is HUGE by the way).  The Scanopedia is truly an encyclopedia with over 2,500 sound effects, facts and quizzes and more than 200 animals to learn about.    

The Scanopedia and Smart Animals can be used with children for years as they grow and develop.  Right now my son particularly enjoys talking and playing with his Smart Animals.  He also really likes when we scan the map together and hear interesting animal sounds.  As he gets older, he’ll enjoy the games and quizzes.

The Scanopedia Electronic Talking Animal Encyclopedia retails for $29.99 and Smart Animals retail for $4.99-$12.99.  Both are available at retailers such as Toys R Us and Walmart.

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

Thanks for stopping by, this giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Amy P!

The other day I let my son play in his room while I quickly did the dishes (fortunately, there were no mishaps!).  Silence…I quickly run to his room knowing full well that he’s either in trouble or deeply engaged in play.  Fortunately, he’s playing quietly (a rarity).  “Mommy…I made a tower…it’s for you.”  And boy did he ever.  I look at him and the “tower” he’s created, bewildered and proud.  My 2 year old can stack blocks…well….apparently we did something right!  As a parent, I sometimes wonder if everything we’re doing with my son (the reading, the playing, the interacting) is sinking in.  After you’ve read the same book for the 5th time or played with the same toy repetitively you start to wonder.  But I was filled with so much joy and awe as I saw what my little boy had created…for mommy.

When I to to the toy store with my son, I’m overwhelmed.  Green toys, mean toys (yes…I said it!), toys that sing and dance and bark (yes!), learning toys, stuffed toys, high-tech toys…toys toys toys!  It’s great fun when you bring your toddler to the toy store (no sarcasm here…nope!) because he wants EVERY toy on display.  And he will let everyone in the store know about his wants (especially if they’re denied).  What do I as a parent look for in a toy? Safety, affordability, long-lasting value, educational value, and so much more.

We recently received a Play N Go Table to review, courtesy of Mega Bloks.  Children not only enjoy playing with blocks (the stacking…the building), they learn from playing with blocks.  All of that stacking and building promotes the development of hand-eye coordination, can help children learn shapes and colors, and can be used to teach preschoolers math.  Blocks also encourage children to be creative since their is no right or wrong way to stack and build them.

One of the things that sets this toy apart from others is it’s transportability.  My son has a few different types of block sets that we’ve gotten him and they just end up everywhere.  I like that when we’re done playing, my son and I can clean them up and store them neatly away.  The set comes with 20 Maxi Mega Bloks pieces including a little car and boy to add to the fun. And, you can add to this set by purchasing additional blocks, figurines, and animals.

The Play ‘N Go Table retails for $39.99 and is available for purchase online.

Win It! One of you will win a Play ‘N Go Table.  Simply head on over to the site and take a look around.  Come back here and leave me a comment with another toy you’d like for your child from the site.  Comments will close on December 1, 2009 at 10 pm PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Add the “Holiday Gift Guide” button to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure it’s up for the duration of the gift guide!)

Check out my Holiday Gift Guide and leave a comment on that site about a product you like! (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaysurvivalguide

Enter Shannon’s giveaways (Maximum of 1 Comment for this).

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files