Some fun at Hasbro!

February 16, 2011 by 10 Comments

Elmo and Cookie Monster stole the show at Hasbro!
Sesame Street and Hasbro have decided to work together for the next ten years- so that is good news for us mommies- more fun stuff is sure to be coming out. I got a great preview of upcoming toys, and this is going to be a great year! From their new superheroes and Transformers (all of which have designs especially made for the younger fans! This is great for dads who want to play with their little guys- My husband was so excited to see that there are some great toys that are PERFECT for Little Man- not too advanced or with small parts, and just the right size for his little hands!) all the way to their Fur Real Pets and adorable dolls- the best way to describe them? WOW!

Cookie, the new doggie friend (with [Read more…]

Filed Under: travel

Day 2- NY Toy Fair

February 15, 2011 by 2 Comments

Hey all- so this was my second (Third, if you count Hasbro on Sat) day at Toy Fair- and my last! I just got home- what a fun few days! There was so much to see and so many fun people to meet. Not to mention super-fun toys everywhere!
These have been LONG days- so I’m sorry for the lack of posts. I will make it up to you, I promise, LOL. And if you are a Twitter follower, I have been sending out updates there as well.

SO!
Let me tell you some of the things I saw today. First, I went to Goldberger Toy where I got to hang out with a few other bloggers in the Goldberger nursery. We saw some of their adorable dolls, and even some really cute bath toys.
Heading back to the Javits center, where the Toy Fair was located, the Zhu Zhu hamsters wanted to show us what was coming up for 2011! There will be a movie, and some [Read more…]

Filed Under: travel

Getting ready…

February 11, 2011 by 3 Comments

Getting ready to go to the NY Toy Fair!  I am so super excited, and I will be on my way tomorrow.  Actually, I will be there tomorrow, LOL.  Hope you are up for lots of Tweets and photos, bloggy buddies!
There is sure to be lots to see and do!
I will try to get up one more fab contest before I go!  🙂   Peace and love!

~Samantha

Filed Under: kids, travel

LegoLand Fun!

January 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
LEGO® STAR WARS™ Days Returns to
LEGOLANDÒ  Discovery Center Chicago, Jan. 28-30
CHICAGO (January 5, 2011) – The Jedi, Droids, and Clone Troopers return to LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Chicago for three days of intergalactic fun as we celebrate LEGO® Star Wars™ Days from Friday, Jan. 28 through Sunday, Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
“We are so happy to host another LEGO Star Wars Days,” said LEGOLAND Discovery Center’s own Master Model Builder, Daniel Morey. “The last event was extremely popular and brought so much satisfaction to our guests that the LEGOLAND Discovery Center team can’t wait to make more memories in late January.”
The intergalactic weekend includes:
·        Star Wars themed Model Builder Workshops where visitors can build an exclusive Slave I designed by LEGOLAND Discovery Center’s very own Master Model Builder.
·        Opportunities to assist the Master Model Builder in an R2-D2 group build.
·        Life-sized LEGO Darth Vader and LEGO R2-D2 models that give guests the best photo opportunity in the galaxy.
·        500 clone trooper and battle droid minifigures that are set for battle in MINILAND, a LEGOLAND Discovery Center exhibit featuring Chicago’s most iconic buildings recreated using LEGO bricks.
·        A scavenger hunt to find ten characters hidden throughout MINILAND with the chance to win a family four-pack of Annual Passes.
·        A Star Wars Speed Building Competition rewarding the fastest and most accurate builders.
·        Discounts in our Retail Shop.
About LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Chicago
LEGOLAND Discovery Center is a family entertainment destination with over 2 million LEGO  bricks and nine attractions including: Model Builder Workshop; Jungle Expedition; Dragon Ride; Technicycle; LEGO 4D Cinema; Build and Test; LEGO Factory Tour; and MINILAND featuring iconic Chicago landmarks.
Located at the Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Rd. in Schaumburg, LEGOLAND Discovery Center is 30 minutes from downtown Chicago by car. Adult Admission is $19. Child Admission is $15. Special annual pass and ticket offers are available at www.LEGOLANDdiscoverycenter.com. Winter hours are Monday-Sunday from 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Last guest admission is two hours before closing. LEGOLAND Discovery Center is a part of the Merlin Entertainments Group.
Lucasfilm, Star Wars™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd.  All rights reserved.  All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.
Filed Under: travel

Holiday Gift Guide- Noodle Head

December 7, 2010 by 85 Comments

We travel quite a bit. (Can you tell?) When I came across these really cute, really fun Travel Buddies from Noodle Head, I just had to see about doing a review. Noodle Head had the most adorable selection of Travel Buddies pillows for children, and we had a lot of fun picking out our favorite pillow!

Little Man had a few favorites, but chose the Brown Bear in the end. This cutie will be just the thing for those long car trips! Little’s new Brown Bear Travel Buddy lives in the car full-time. We have a decently long commute to work- about 45 minutes each way- and Little often uses his bear to catch a few zzz’s in the car. I just hook it on the seat next to his car seat, so when he wants it, he can just reach over and grab it. I would say he uses it about half of the time. We are taking our next long trip soon, so I know this Noodle Head will get a workout!

Fighting sleep!

On another day, as you can see, he lost the battle, LOL
Snuggles to go!
Travel Buddies™ neck pillows are designed to comfortably support sleepy heads on planes, trains, and automobiles. Kids will want to take them everywhere and won’t leave them behind!
Age: 18 months +

We also received a matching Brown Bear “Bag Buddies” that can attach to any bag. These cute “luggage tags for any bag” are not only great for luggage, but also for other kinds of bags. I am currently using ours for Little Man’s school bag. I have an insulated bag that I keep his sippy cups in (there is a “bottle bag” inside of the insulated bag, so it’s twice insulated, I guess?) as well as a few “extras”, like mittens, straws, chap stick, sunblock, etc. It’s where Brown Bear Bag Buddy hangs out, marking his territory in adorable style! Bonus? If Little is being whiny, I can detach the bear and now he has a toy to play with. And, since it said “machine washable”, I have tossed it in the washing machine and it came out OK. I hung it to dry. Yay for machine washable!

Our Bag Buddies™ luggage tags let kids personalize any bag, backpack or stroller. A sturdy Velcro strap keeps this little travel companion [Read more…]

Filed Under: review, travel

I’m BA-AACCKKK!!

November 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I am now back from Chicago’s Toy and Game Fair- and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!!!  (Tomorrow- I’m shot, LOL)
I had so much fun and met so many great people.
I will post pictures and tell you all about it after I shower and sleep, haha…
~Samantha

Filed Under: travel

Some Pics from Salem, MA

November 5, 2010 by 1 Comment

Update 2014- My apologies- these photos collapsed during the transfer and are quite small now.

Back view of the House of Seven Gables

Here are some pictures from Salem, MA…I LOVE Salem- especially at Halloween time!
As most of you know, I am an education major with a history concentration.  I’m in grad school with aspirations of a doctorate.  So you can imagine the love of Salem that I have, it is one of my favorite American cities!  LOVE it!  If you have never been, go, it’s so fantastic.  I  finally got to see the House of Seven Gables on the inside- it has thwarted me the past few times I went, but I got to see it this time.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: travel

Salem

October 21, 2010 by 2 Comments

Hey guys- I’m not going to be posting for a few days- I’m really going to miss you!   🙂 
But I am hoping to have fun in Salem, MA!  Thanks for sharing your Salem stories!  I’d love to hear any good places to stop- I was only there once, I’d love to try some new places! 
I will have pictures when I get back! 
Hugs!
~Samantha

Filed Under: travel