VeggieTales Christmas Books #VeggieTales

December 6, 2015 by 3 Comments

Can you believe that Christmas is right around the corner? One of my favorite things during this season is the love and laughter in the air. The spirit of Christmas is full of kindness, sharing and forgiveness. VeggieTales Christmas themed soundboard books are a great way to remember and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with your children.

My son loves VeggieTales- the TV show, movies, live show, and of course the books.  These cute singing veggies are a great way to bring the reason for the season to your family.  It’s easy to get caught up with the material things, the hustle and bustle, and all the rush-rush of the holidays- sometimes, we really need to take a moment and remember what it’s really about, and to be grateful for all we have and what we’ve been given.

VeggieTales Christmas themed soundboard books are a fun and interactive way to teach children the true meaning of Christmas.

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About the books

Silent Night:

Join Junior Asparagus, Laura Carrot, and all your favorite VeggieTales characters as they stage a Nativity play based on the lyrics of “Silent Night.” Silent Night teaches children about Jesus’ birth and is a fun, great way to keep children talking, and singing, about the true meaning of Christmas.

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Away in a Manger:

Join the VeggieTales character as they star in this colorful retelling of the birth of Jesus, featuring the lyrics of “Away in a Manger,” sung by Junior Asparagus. This fun-yet-reverent Nativity book is a great way to keep little ones talking – and singing – about the true meaning of Christmas.

You can follow Veggie Tales on social media as well-

Website: www.veggietales.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeggieTales

Instagram: @veggietalesofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VeggieTales

Join the conversation: #VeggieTales

These books are available in stores everywhere, as well as online and on Amazon and Barnes and Nobel. They are easy to pick up, not expensive, and a great way to remind your kids of the real meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and yours from me and mine.

Filed Under: book review, Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, holidays, kids, review Tagged With: ,

Great Gifts For Your Kids

December 6, 2015 by 2 Comments

The cold and eventful festive days are coming up quickly, which means lots of fun events for adults but long stuffy days indoors for kids! Being stuck inside during holidays can be boring, making your little ones cranky.

Let me introduce to you some creative solutions to beat the hard-to-cure holiday cabin fever! Cooper and Kid–creatively curated kits designed especially for kids to have fun while learning. Squirrel King–craft kits that transform a child’s reality into an imaginative world of colorful squirrels and the homes they live in. And last but not least, Zoonicorns–the unique combination of unicorns and zebras into adventurous plush toys, with a creative children’s book to bring the characters to life.

STEM learning kits

Cooper and Kid is all about making dad cool again and doing what matters most–bonding with the kids! Cooper & Kid has everything a dad needs in the winter for educational fun (think STEM) with his kids! Each Cooper Kit is fun-in-a-box with endless hours of amusement…no more mindless TV shows! Each kit contains a huge box of fun, with themed projects, toys, books and ideas that dads and kids will truly enjoy. Together they can build rocket ships, take off with sky lanterns or explore the world of butterflies — there is so much to create and discover!

An activity book guides dads through the theme and the contents of the box for hours of fun. Plus, the shipping box turns into a toy too! Sign up for the Cooper & Kid subscription online and every three months a Cooper kit is delivered to dad at home. The subscription price is $65 per quarter.

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The fun, unique and ingenious Squirrel King kits are a swirl of intellect, engineering and creativity delivered with a hands-on approach that inspires a thirst for knowledge. Designed for ages 8 and up, the Build with Stickers kits combine two things kids love — stickers and building. Each colorful kit includes novel stickering techniques — no glue involved — and all the materials for children to build, create and explore, making awesome toys in the process…and making those rainy days educational and fun! With Build with Stickers kits, STEM (science, technology, education and math) principles are explored in an age-appropriate manner.

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The new Build with Stickers Kits are available on the Squirrel King Craft website and at select retail stores, priced from $5.99 to $7.99. The original Squirrel King Craft kit is also available on the website and in over 200 stores across the country, and in a range of choices for $9.99 to $69.99.
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Zoonicorns are enriching youth with life adventures™ and creating wonderful imaginative worlds.  My son really enjoyed the book and the plush zoonicorn- something to cuddle and a friend to take to bed later and give him good dreams, just like the young animal in the story.  He thought that was fun.  As my child often has bad dreams, this was comforting to him.   The book was cute, with an easy to follow story and adorable illustrations.  I would recommend this to any parents with young children of either gender.

Fairy-tale Zoonicorns are enchanting creatures that pop up in the dreams of young zoo animals. Zoonicorns are unique, plush toys for children that a combine an exotic animal (zebra) and a mythical creature (unicorn). The Zoonicorn herd is ready for adventure in the enchanting world of your youngster’s imagination and keep them occupied for hours on end.

Super-soft Valeo is the leader of the Zoonicorn pack, who likes to pal around with animal friends like African giraffes. Shy and gentle Promithea is a good friend who can be trusted to keep your little one’s secrets. Playful Ene likes to catch forty winks before bouncing to life to rumble and tumble with. Outgoing Aliel loves to speed around and will challenge any kid to keep up with her.

Each Zoonicorn is $9.99 or you can get the entire family plus children’s book for $49.91

Filed Under: book review, crafts, education, Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, review, toys Tagged With: , , , , ,

Get Your Loved Ones a Membership to the Newark Museum

December 6, 2015 by 5 Comments

NJ Museum

Founded in 1909 as an institution of art, science and industry by famed museologist John Cotton Dana, the Newark Museum is New Jersey’s largest museum, and one of the most influential museums in the United States. Bringing together art and science, the Museum allows for an educational and inspirational journey through 80 galleries of world-class collections including American, Asian, African and Classical. The Museum boasts the largest collection of Tibetan art in the Western hemisphere, the 1885 National Register Ballantine House, and one of the leading collections of American Modernism in the country.

The Museum complex also includes the Victoria Hall of Science, the Alice and Leonard Dreyfuss Planetarium, the Junior Museum, the Billy Johnson Auditorium, the Alice Ransom Dreyfuss Memorial Garden, an authentic Schoolhouse from 1784, and the Newark Fire Museum.

The Newark Museum’s distinguished art collections are international in scope and importance, and include 18th- to 20th-century American Painting and Sculpture; an important collection of Decorative Arts including the nation’s most acclaimed collection of pots; the Arts of Global Africa; a world-renowned Asian Art collection; Classical Antiquities, representing Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman societies and an unparalleled collection of ancient glass. The Museum’s holdings in the Natural Sciences include a far ranging 75,000-specimen collection.

The Newark Museum is a nationally recognized leader in arts education, with one of the most impressive museum education programs in the country. Offerings include lectures, gallery talks, group and public tours, classes and arts workshops for adults and children. Most drop-in art and science programs are free.

PURCHASE A GIFT MEMBERSHIP TODAY!

Visit our website at www.newarkmuseum.org or contact Membership Department at 973.596.6686 or lbyrd@newarkmuseum.org

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, holidays, lifestyle Tagged With: ,

Stackins Stackable Friends for the Holidays @funrise_toys #Stackins

December 5, 2015 by 3 Comments

Have you heard of Stackins Stackable Friends™ ?  They are really adorable, and would make the cutest stocking stuffers this Christmas, or gift for any child who loves cute stuffed toys.

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Stackins Stackable Friends™ is a collectible line of stackable plush animals with adorable facial features, available in two sizes, small and medium. These plush pets are perfect for stacking in play rooms, trading, sharing with friends or snuggling!

Claire’s newest furry friends include Dottie the Ladybug, Shiner the Mouse, Ivy the Blue Owl and Bouquet the Skunk   (pictured top to bottom).

Funrise is supporting the launch via an interactive Stackins microsite with videos, games and product information. Stackins animated webisodes will follow the fun antics of these furry friends and can be viewed on the brand’s YouTube Channel.

Stackins Stackable Friends™ are also available at Walmart stores nationwide.

Stackins Stackable Friends is Funrise Toys’ latest toy line featuring a collectible line of adorable animal-themed plush toys. Stackins Stackable Friends are currently available at Wal-Mart and Toys ‘R’ Us retail stores nationwide.

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Just in time for Christmas and the holidays are these newest, tiny Stackins!

Stackins Pictured: (Left to Right) Shiner The Mouse, Sparkles The Unicorn, Fawna The Deer, Rosie The Robin

I know a little boy that will love getting these adorable holiday themed Stackins in his stocking- time to get them while the getting is good and there are still some left.

Happy holiday shopping to you and yours- let me know how you like these cuties!

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, toys Tagged With: , ,

Great Books for Snoopy and Disney Princess Fans

December 5, 2015 by 2 Comments

This winter, Thunder Bay Press presents three titles perfect for any pop culture fan’s collection: The Snoopy Treasures by Peanuts expert Nat Gertler, Disney Frozen Crochet by Kati Gálusz, and Disney Princess Crochet by Jana Whitley and Jessica Ward. 

Timed to the release of The Peanuts Movie, The Snoopy Treasures (November 2015; $34.95; ISBN: 978-1-62686-440-5) tells the story of everyone’s favorite beagle from the beloved childhood pet who inspired his creation, to his status as a cultural icon and beyond.

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This comprehensive guide is divided into 12 sections covering Snoopy’s origins, his alter egos from Joe Cool to the Flying Ace, his family at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, his friends in the beloved Peanuts gang, and his prevalence in pop culture – in songs, movies, books, plays, parades, museums, and even NASA, who named a lunar landing module after him as they prepared to put man on the moon in 1969.

Each page features original Peanuts panels, side-by-side comparisons showing the evolution of Snoopy into the universally recognizable style we know today, photographs from the Schulz museum, and ten pieces of pullout memorabilia: an original Schulz drawing, a Snoopy baseball pennant (popular dorm décor in the 60s and 70s), a letter from President Ronald Reagan to Schulz, a bookmark, a bumper sticker, a punch out model of the Red Baron’s plane, the last Peanuts strip ever printed, and more.

Lifelong fans and first-timers alike will discover something new within the pages of this in-depth compendium, making The Snoopy Treasures the perfect holiday gift for Snoopy lovers of all ages.

disney frozen

Disney Frozen Crochet (November 2015; $24.95; ISBN: 978-1-62686-443-6): Do you want to crochet a snowman? How about Elsa and Anna, too? Let it go and create all twelve cuddly characters from the Frozen tundra! All the materials you need to create Elsa and Anna are included, and your creativity is sure to snowball from there. The Queen of Cold and all her friends will make great gifts, or adorable additions to your own collection. Don’t hesitate! For the first time in forever, let these characters melt your heart.

  • 12 adorable crochet characters, including Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Sven, and more!
  • Step-by-step instructions accompanied by full-color photos in a 76-page book.
  • All the materials you need to make Elsa and Anna are included.
  • Kit includes 8 colors of yarn, crochet hook, stuffing, safety eye beads, 4 colors of embroidery floss, tulle, and a tapestry needle.

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Disney Princess Crochet (November 2015; $24.95; ISBN: 978-1-62686-444-3): Create 12 of Disney’s most enchanting characters! A full-color, 76-page instruction book with detailed patterns and colorful photos will guide you from “once upon a time” to “happily ever after” using your yarn and hook. To start you off, the kit includes all the materials needed to create Cinderella and Ariel. Each amigurumi princess is sure to be a treasured part of any crochet collection!

  • Detailed instructions to make 11 Disney princesses— Ariel, Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Jasmine, Tiana, Rapunzel, Mulan, Snow White, Pocahontas, and Merida—and Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother.
  • Full-color photos accompany step-by-step instructions in a 76-page book.
  • Kit includes 9 colors of yarn, crochet hook, stuffing, safety eye beads, red embroidery

floss, and a tapestry needle.

  • Featured projects are Cinderella and Ariel.
Filed Under: book review, crafts, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, kids, review Tagged With: , , , ,

Wubble Balls, Fun For All #WubbleX #GloWubble

December 4, 2015 by 5 Comments

Disclosure- I have received the below in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are my own and honest.

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Welcome to the world of Wubble.  The nifty new ball/bubble/balloons that are part bubble, part ball, part wiggly fun.  Wubble is now not only in the form of the regular Wubble which can inflate up to 3 feet, but now includes the WubbleX and Glo Wubble.

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First up, a look at the Wubble X.  The Wubble X is very similar to the original Wubble but inflates to a portion of its size with the included helium can.  The addition of helium instead of air or CO2 makes a big difference.  Now your Wubble floats around the room, sticking to ceilings and overturned hands as if by magic.  Wubble X makes a game of catch so much more strange with the subtraction of gravity.  The little guy liked to make believe he could use ‘the force’ to float his Wubble.  A Wubble X would be the perfect toy for a play room on a rainy or snowy day when there is nothing to do but stay warm and dry inside with a nifty new toy.  What I really liked about the Wubble X is the addition of lubricant to help ease the inflation of the Wubble, and stickers to complete the seal on the Wubble so there was little accidental leakage.

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Next we take a peak at the Glo Wubble.  This brings the familiar Wubble to night time play where your big, bouncy bubble now glows as it bounces around.  These are great fun at night or in a play room with the lights out.  Its a surreal sight when more Glo Wubbles are added to play time outside.  Wubbles floating, bouncing, squishing, and squashing everywhere.

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A Wubble would make a great toy to keep a group of kids busy before a holiday meal in a play room.  OR a great Summer toy as well.  As you add more Wubbles to the equation the more giggles come out.

Wubble balls retail for $19.99 each and the original and Glo Wubble include a pump while the Wubble X retails for $7.99 and the helium can retails for $7.99.

 

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, review, toys

Entenmann’s and Sara Lee Snacks for the Holidays

December 2, 2015 by 5 Comments

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but at  times, it can also feel like the most stressful. Holiday  season can make everyone a little crazy. Between shopping, entertaining, holiday parties and every day  life, schedules are constantly booked and families are always running around.

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Using already prepared foods is one of the simplest ways to create holiday bakery delights. This season, Kathleen Robbins, head baker at Entenmann’s and Sara Lee Snacks, is introducing half way to the holiday’s recipes, which are easy to make and save time during all of the holiday madness.

Founded in 1898, Entenmann’s bakery has over 100 sweet baked goods, including a wide variety of delicious donuts. The Entenmann’s Dreamy Chocolate Bars feature the Entenmann’s classic Rich Frosted Donut. This cake-style donut is drenched in rich, wonderfully smooth chocolate. Bite into one, hear the crack of the Rich Frosted shell and enjoy the soft yellow cake interior.

Baked into a delicious chocolate bar, the Entenmann’s Rich Frosted donut is mixed together with flaked coconut, caramel popcorn and a few other ingredients, guaranteed to be a delicious delight your family will enjoy. Double the batch and have an extra on hand for the perfect hostess gift. Check out the recipe here!

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The Entenmann’s name has stood for the finest quality in baked goods and that same commitment extends to the Entenmann’s single serve coffee selections. Working with the finest coffee growers around the world, selecting only 100% Arabica beans and roasting them into small batches ensures consistent quality coffee with every roast. Packaged immediately after roasting to lock in freshness, Entenmann’s coffee cups, available in classic and dessert flavors, are great for Holiday entertaining and were created to be the perfect complement to Entenmann’s baked foods or savored on their own any time of day.

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Sara Lee, the iconic American brand, delivers a new way to snack with fresh baked, individually wrapped snack cakes. Do you love brownies? How about chocolate chip cookies? If you said yes to either, then the Sara Lee Snacks Brownie Chocolate Chip cakes are perfect for you! With rich fudge brownies and sweet chocolate chips, this cake was made to please all chocoholics! The Sara Lee Snacks Brownie Chocolate Chip Cake Jar features the Brownie Chocolate Chip cakes, put together with whipped cream, chocolate pudding and hot fudge. This easy “how-to” is the perfect treat for home and will be a hit for all of those holiday parties!

Filed Under: food, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, holidays, review

Gifts That Give Twice With World Vision For The Holidays

December 1, 2015 by 32 Comments

Looking to give a beautiful, unique gift this year? Maybe you want to do something even better then that- maybe you want to give a gift that gives back. World Vision lets you do both- you can not only give beautiful gifts that the gift-ee will love, but when you buy, your money goes to those who need it most. World Vision is Fair Trade, and helps artisans make a living wage that they can raise their families on.

This year more than 50 percent of holiday shoppers plan to purchase holiday gifts online. Look into new gift ideas that give back with just a few clicks of the mouse from the World Vision Gift Catalog.
More than 250 items, ranging in price from $10 to $39,000, are available online and in the print catalog to help improve quality of life for women, children and families in the U.S. and around the world. Give help where it is needed most and receive handcrafted gifts that are beautiful accessories:

African Soapstone Box – New to the 2014 World Vision Gift Catalog, the hand-carved African Soapstone Box is a safe place to store necklaces and rings. Coated in light blue with an image of a giraffe, this ornate box features pretty details that will complement nearly any decor. Donations go toward the Kenyan artisans who crafted the box to help provide medical care for their families. $85

 

Royal Silk Scarf – A recent addition to the Catalog, this gorgeous silk scarf adds color to the holidays and supports the needs of children and families worldwide, including those in the community where it was crafted; the luxurious silk was woven by Vietnam’s Ma Chau villagers, who receive fair wages & sustainable income through their craft. $95
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Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, clothes and shoes, fashion, gifts, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, holidays, review Tagged With: ,