Inspire Imaginations with Sharingland Pop-Up Playhouses!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Looking for an unique gift that will get hours and hours of play and inspire imaginations for all ages?? Then plan on buying that big roll of holiday giftwrap as newcomer Sharingland, makers of enchanting cardboard playsets, has the perfect present for wide-eyed boys and girls. Once unwrapped and opened to its full potential, these magical playhouses measure 45 inches tall by 45 inches wide! More than just works of art inside and out, the five themed sturdy playhouses spark imaginations and sharing.

The five pop-up playhouses are sturdy and inviting for active preschoolers. Children intuitively know how to explore the inside of a very large box. However, these playhouse kits are not just cardboard boxes; they are a starter point for a memorable adventure. Each of the five playhouses boasts 90% recycled and 100% recyclable materials that comply with the all-important CPSC safety requirements. Parents appreciate the easy-to-assemble and easy-to-store kits that sit flat in a closet, on a shelf or under a child’s bed.

My preschoolers are really going to love the Space Odyssey Playhouse Kit when we do our Earth/Space unit in May! But for now, I had my son check it out and he LOVED It!

It’s been almost 50 years since man first landed on the moon. Reignite the passion for an out-of-this-world adventure with this space capsule, all ready for take-off.

Added pieces like jetpacks, tele-transporter armbands and a few Martians (!) makes this a memorable way to introduce STEM subjects.

It was pretty easy to assemble and I love the fun extra props like jetpacks, armbands and even Martians!

This would make a really fun gift idea for any lucky preschooler this Christmas!

Buy It:

You can purchase all these playhouses online at www.sharingland.com

Disclosure: A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Nurture Your Child's Imaginations with #littleadventures Dress-Ups #redefiningprincess #Giveaway

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

I have a little girl that likes to get dirty, wrestle with her brothers but also LOVES dressing up as her favorite princesses, play pretend and dance and sing to her favorite Disney songs!

So I have learned over the years that most dress up dresses just don't last in our house! One second she may be dancing around the house in her play princess dress and the next second she may be wrestling in it or running around outside in it! And don't even get me started on trying to clean one of those fancy play dresses!

And that is why I instantly fell in love with Little Adventures and their soft, washable, affordable dress ups. Now my daughter can be anyone she wants to be, anytime of day and do whatever she wants in it...because thes Little Adventures dresses are machine washable, soft and comfortable and easy to put on and off!

The company was started 15 years ago by two moms who were tired of itchy, scratchy dress ups that fell apart and were not washable. Their little customers take naps, play outside, and go to the store wearing these dress ups, then play and play some more! These adorable dress-ups at affordable prices are the perfect fit for little ones. They are comfortable with no itchy underskirts or fabrics, completely finished seams and hems, and no buttons or ties to frustrate little fingers! The stretch bodices accommodate a variety of sizes making each size more versatile. All items are made with quality fabrics and trims that are comfortable, washable and guaranteed!

And Little Adventures doesn't just limit their selection to girls! They are dedicated to nurturing imagination and magic that live in ALL young children and adults too! Their wonderful collection features princess dress ups, magical mermaids, boy costumes and even adult costumes as well! i

Check out some of my favorite items from Little Adventures:

AMULET PRINCESS

This gorgeous new addition will be a hit with your little girl. The comfortable stretchy purple velvet bodice has intricate white trimmings, organza overlaid sleeves, and a purple amulet at the neckline. The full satin skirt is trimmed with delicate white designs and organza hip drapes. 

My daughter loves Princess Sophia AND the color purple so this is the perfect birthday gift for her! She will receive at for her birthday at the end of this month so I don't have a picture yet but I will definitely update this post to show you the grin on her face while wearing this gorgeous dress! Plus, I love it because it is machine washable and stretchy, soft and very comfortable!

And to make her even happier, she gets to match her favorite doll because her doll has the same AMULET PRINCESS DOLL DRESS! 

She is going to LOVE dressing up alongside her doll! The dress is easy to get on and is also machine washable for easy cleaning!!

And to go with this beautiful dress, I got my daughter the CHUNKY WHITE CRYSTAL DIAMOND JEWELRY SET because she LOVES jewelry! It will look gorgeous with this dress!

These bright, modern necklace & bracelet sets are made from high quality beads and jewels, and stretchy elastic jewelry thread for easy, comfortable wear. A fashionable addition to any of our dress ups, or a perfect accessory for everyday wear. It features high quality beads and jewels and stretchy elastic jewelry thread for easy, comfortable wear!

My daughter's very favorite princess is Merida from Brave. Sadly, Little Adventures was out of stock of that princess dress in my daughter's size at the time I was ordering but I got the next best thing: the SCOTTISH PRINCESS DOLL DRESS!

Now my daughter can dress her doll up like Merida and I know she is going to love it!

This stunning new dress is the complete match to our new elegant Scottish Princess dress up. The bodice is made from lavish dark teal crushed velvet, with intricate gold edging and silk puff sleeves. The full velvet skirt is edged with gold satin and adorned with gold edged hip drapes.

So if you have a princess in your house (or a prince!), make sure you head over to Little Adventures and check out their full selection of dress up clothes! They are so fun for all ages and Moms love them too because they are easy to wash and so comfortable for their children!

Buy It:

You can purchase all Little Adventures dress up clothes from their website

Win It:

Little Adventures is generously offering (1) $75 worth of Little Adventures product to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) $75 worth of Little Adventures products

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Thank you to Little Adventures for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Fun Toys that Encourage Creativity & Imagination

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Pretend play is the heart of childhood and one of the greatest ways a child learns. With imaginative play, kids are free to be anyone and do anything. They believe that anything is possible – because with pretend play, it really is! It is also one of my favorite activities to watch my children do because their personalities just come alive and I learn so much about them!

I am always looking for new toys to encourage my children's creativity and imaginations. Check out two of my new favorite pretend play products on the market:

One of my favorite things when my babies were little was carrying them in a baby carrier or wrap. My daughter watched me do that with her little brother and now she gets a chance with her baby thanks to the HABA’s Luca Baby Carrier and is LOVING it!

HABA’s Luca Baby Carrier is the perfect accessory for little “mommies” playing house. This cushioned carrying seat is for 15 inch HABA dolls and others of that size, and is made of washable polyester.

It rests comfortably around the child's neck with a simple and safe hook and loop fastener and it features an elastic front pouch for a secure hold. My daughter has never been prouder than she is when she is "wearing" her baby like her mommy did for her! Her proud smile is priceless!

For ages 18 months- 4 years. MSRP: $19.99. Available online at www.HABAusa.com


My children have been begging to take baths lately because they all want to play with the new Yookidoo® Submarine Spray Station!

With this fun spray station, your children can make bath time a nautical adventure! Its circulating pump system attaches to the bottom of the tub and draws water up through the yellow submarine into the diver shower head. Kids can squeeze the sides of the diver to make a gentle stream to create their own in-tub washing station, car wash or rainstorm.

This smart toy also encourages exploration of cause and effect and improves fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem solving skills. My children love spraying off the toys, watching the water spin the shapes on the station, and it has made my youngest scream a little less when he is getting washed! :)

For ages 2-6 years. MSRP: $29.95. Available online at www.Amazon.com

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Unique Gift Ideas from Bonjour Petit

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Still looking for that “it” gift for your favorite boy and girl?

This year, consider a “wow” gift from Magicforest’s vast European collection of art-infused (music, theatre, cinema) toys for tots as young as two!

Launched in January 2015, Bonjour Petit is an online retailer whose French/American team is dedicated to bringing the finest toys from Europe to the United States via importer Magicforest.

Check out my favorite gift idea from Bonjour Petit!

Cinema Box 

$40 • Ages 4+

The enchanting lets-show-a-movie kit is designed for preschoolers and older. Young theatre-goers can pass out tickets, view several stories illuminated by a flashlight, and then narrate what they see on the "screen." There’s a cowboy flick, a pirate tale, a superhero adventure and more.

Movie night without a TV, laptop, or smartphone? It's possible! Spend some true quality time with your little one as they setup this cinema box! Complete with everything needed for a night at the movies, this set comes with a pad of programmes, detachable cinema tickets, a projection storybook torch and 5 interchangeable discs with 8 illustrations! When projected onto a wall, each disc tells a colourful story with vintage-style illustrations.

My children love using their imagination and doing "grown up" things so I knew they would love to sell tickets to their very own theater show!! What a fun way for children to learn, imagine and tell a story of their very own!

Magicforest also makes it possible for parents to give kids the world, and keep within their household budget! How? They offer lush stocking stuffers from Europe priced $5 to $25!

My favorite stocking stuffer from Magicforest are the Town & Country Transfers!

Town & Country Transfers 

$5 • Ages 3+

Playing with these transfers will bring grownups back to their childhood! Preschoolers and their siblings can sit at the kitchen table or enjoy on a holiday road trip while creating a colorful world on a black and white sheet of paper with stunning, vivid colors and items full of whimsy.

You can choose from two themes- Country and City. Both are so fun for children to create their own world where the possibilities are endless!

The picture page measures 24 x 8 so lots of room to create your city scene or country landscape. Younger kids will want to use a pencil to transfer the image so they can see where they have already rubbed.

I love these transfers because they encourage my children to think ahead, use their creativity and work on fine motor skills, patience and most of all FUN in kids three to 93! We can do these as a family or the children can do them on their own!

Buy It:

You can purchase Magicforest’s Toys instantly online from www.BonjourPetit.com, where gift-wrapping and free shipping over $75 are available.

* Thank you to Bonjour Petit for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Spark Imaginative Play with Your Girls with Build & Imagine Playsets!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

My husband is an engineer and definitely thinks like an engineer in all facets of life...and therefore, he thinks our children will naturally be engineers too! :) So far, my oldest really shows signs of loving to "engineer" things, as he likes to say!

And my daughter got a chance to show off her budding engineering skills with the awesome Build & Imagine play-sets that are designed for girls and adds an important “A” for art to the vital fields of a STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and math).

That’s the mission behind Build & Imagine, an empowering toy line for youngsters ages 4 and up that starts them on a road to innovation. Three magnetic construction sets are packed with foundational STEAM learning yet are enchanting for endless hours of imaginative play.

Each Build & Imagine StoryWalls play-set is made of colorfully illustrated magnetic panels that a child joins together any way she likes. The result is a scene that she brings to life with the enclosed dress-up dolls and more than 40 magnetic costumes and props. The illustrated details act as story starters, sparking imaginative play. Toy industry experts have taken notice including Dr. Toy, Parents’ Choice, The National Parenting Center, Mr. Dad and many others.

My favorite part about these play-sets is that they defy the "norm" for girls' toys. In other words, no princesses, ballerinas or fashionistas, whatever career that is. With these sets, my daughter gets to "build" and "engineer" just like Daddy and her brother! They get to play right along with her and she gets to be in charge! :)

Perhaps for the first time, young girls get to brace walls at angles, test the front door and work together with siblings to secure the roof. Since all sets are interchangeable, children collect additional sets to build bigger towers or design a town. With each new set come endless storytelling possibilities.

My daughter received the Day At The Beach set and it was instantly a hit! With this set, my children can build a scene and imagine countless stories...over and over again!

Emily and Lucas can’t wait for their day at the beach working at the surfside café & shop. Between running the café window, the surf shop register, and the lifeguard stand, there is always action to keep them busy. After the lunch rush, they catch a few waves to try out Emily's latest surfboard designs.

This set includes Emily and Lucas dolls, 10 illustrated building panels, and more than 40 action packed magnetic accessories.

Features a walk-up cafe window, surf shop double doors, lifeguard stand, surfboard workshop, food prep kitchen, cafe seating, surf scene, beach gear, rescue gear, outfits, tools, and yummy food!

My children had a blast building together and it makes for a great activity for a rainy day or a perfect activity for the upcoming winter months! Children can work together, imagine together, and build together - girl included! :)

Buy It:

You can purchase the Day At The Beach set for $39.99 from the Build & Imagine website.

Also, look for Build & Imagine StoryWalls play sets online and in stores. Find Build & Imagine at e-tailers such as amazon, The Grommet (watch its awesome 2-minute video), Kohl’s, Fat Brain Toys and Zulily.

Build & Imagine will be featured in upcoming catalogs such as Hammacher Schlemmer, Mindware and Museum Tour Toys. You might even tune in to QVC and catch their products in play. Browse inside Pottery Barn Kids or over 150 neighborhood toy shops.

* Thank you to Build & Imagine for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Inspire Your Children's Imaginations with the NEW Sprouts Toys

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

My children LOVE imaginative play. They have such great imaginations and I never know where it will take them throughout the day!

Lately, their imaginations have taken them to camping in our living room in a tent, making waffles and having a fire thanks to the New Sprouts line of imaginative play items for ages 2+!

They absolutely love the NEW Waffle Time and Camp Out from Learning Resources!

New Sprouts® Waffle Time

Rise and shine – it’s waffle time! Little ones can cook and serve homemade waffles with this gourmet breakfast set. Waffle iron lid moves up and down to give children the realistic experience of making their very own waffles. Butter, syrup and strawberries top off this tasty breakfast treat. Made from durable plastic, and perfectly sized for little hands.



Includes:

• Waffle iron
• 4-piece waffle
• 1 syrup bottle
• 2 strawberries
• 2 pads of butter
• 2 plates
• 2 forks

Waffle iron measures 6” D. Grades: Toddler +

My children absolutely LOVE having real waffles for breakfast so when I gave them the opportunity to "make waffles" any time they want with their own waffle iron, their eyes lit up and they haven't stopped playing with it since I opened the box! They love that they have their very own waffle maker just like Mommy and they can top their waffle with butter, strawberries and syrup!

New Sprouts® Camp Out!

Gather around the campfire! Every day can be a campout with this adventurous set. Little ones can safely build a fire, roast a hot dog and have s’mores! Both the marshmallow and the hot dog fit on the fork for roasting. The glow-in-the-dark lantern adds to the adventure, day or night. When finished, all the pieces store in the handy duffle bag. Plastic pieces are soft and durable for long-lasting fun!

Includes:
• 2 Logs with flame
• 1 Lantern
• 1 Fork
• 1 Hot dog
• 1 Marshmallow
• 1 Chocolate bar
• 2 Graham crackers
• 1 Duffle bag

Duffle bag measures 9”L x 5”W. Grades: Toddler+

My children have several tents and love to play in them but they have now been able to bring camping up another level with the Camp Out items!

They LOVE the logs and flame, roasting a hot dog and carrying the lantern around in the "dark" to help them see! :)

I absolutely LOVED watching their imaginations take off with both these new Sprouts products from Learning Resources. They were so fun and durable and I know they will be played with for years to come!

Buy It: 

You can purchase the New Sprouts sets for $24.99 each from the Learning Resources website.

* Thank you to Learning Resources for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Grow Imaginations This Spring with @PacPlayTents & Giveaway

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

I am a BIG advocate for children playing outside and learning, growing, imagining from their natural surroundings! Too many children these days are stuck inside playing video games, watching TV and sitting around that they are missing out on the free things in life: God's beautiful nature, climbing trees, running through the grass, playing at the park, soaring through the sky in a swing and so much more!

That is why I am so excited for this summer because we finally have moved to a house with a BIG backyard for my children to play in and so far this spring THEY ARE LOVING IT! They beg to go outside all day long and I LOVE saying YES!

I also love showing them some fun games to do outside that I played when I was a child! I just showed them how to have Sack Races with the awesome Cotton Canvas Jumping Sacks from Pacific Play Tents and they instantly LOVED IT! They are naturally competitive and very active so this was a great activity for them!

And I definitely trust the fun products Pacific Play Tents are making because with 25 years of making award-winning tunnels, tents and toys, Pacific Play Tents knows kids have better things to do than to be plugged into a smartphone, tablet or watching TV.

Kids need time to play, daydream and pretend and Pacific Play Tents offers busy parents and grandparents products to kick start their little children's imaginations. Kids love the challenge of a sack race across the rec room and “no-school-days” are the perfect time to paint on a Pacific Play Tents canvas teepee! Watch how quickly kids climb into an enchanting tent or wriggle through a tunnel.

Ready, Get Set....

These jumping sacks really are a foolproof way to get kids active! You can choose a set of 2 or the 4-pack that features a contrasting colored pocket on each cotton sack. The bag has a flat bottom and is super-stitched to withstand plenty of short and long races. Long handles that are reinforced ensure kids of all heights feel comfortable. Once the grownups explain the rules, let the kids make up their own racecourse complete with a finish line.

I love that these Jumping Sacks are durable, colorful and can be used by children as young as 3! Plus, they even have little pockets in the front for carrying "treasures" that children find as they play!

GO!

My children loved picking out their favorite color to jump in and then switching colors around with a new race every time! These are definitely going to be a family favorite and perfect for when friends, family and neighbors come over to play!

Best of all, it is fun and great exercise and I know they will be enjoyed for a very long time in our house!

She didn't win but had a blast doing it!

Here are some other features:

• Durability and the opportunity to teach about colors
• Heavy-duty cotton canvas
• Great cognitive challenges plus movement and cardiovascular benefits
• Bag with a flat bottom and superstitched seams
• ‘Kangaroo’ pocket for essential game storage
• Long, reinforced handles
• Set of four sacks
• Endless array of games such as “Jumping Sack Race”, “Egg n’ Spoon Race”, and “The Three-legged Race” to name a few
• Stimulates your child’s imagination while keeping them busy and active

So this summer, I highly recommend you get your kids outside, enjoying the beautiful weather, nature and their imaginations! And if you need a little help in the imagination area, I highly recommend Pacific Play Tents, their Jumping Sacks and all their other fun products!

Buy It: 

You can purchase Pacific Play Tents products on their website, www.PacificPlayTents.com. They are also sold just about anywhere from big box stores like Walmart and Target to a multitude of online sites. Click here to find a retailer near you! 

Win It:

Pacific Play Tents is generously offering (1) $50 Pacific Play Tents Gift Card to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) $50 Pacific Play Tents Gift Card 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Thank you to Pacific Play Tents for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*