Brilliance Award Winners & Giveaway

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

You ever walk through a small, locally-owned toy shop???!! I have and it is quite the experience -- it is WAY different than walking through the big toy stores that you know exactly what they will have. Local toy shops always offers unique, fun and creative toys for all ages and I love looking through their selections and seeing toys I have never heard or seen before - but ones that are still just as fun, exciting and creative as the bigger toy companies!

But, of course, then comes the decision of which awesome toy to buy for my kids and I get so overwhelmed because they are ALL awesome! How do I know which one they will play with for a long time? How do I know which one they will love? How do I know which one others have loved?

That's where the awesome Brilliance Awards come in! 

Someone had the brilliant idea five years ago to cull through 10,000 high quality kids products that overflowed the shelves of the 17 Brilliant Sky Toys & Books stores and pick a few favorites. They dubbed them the Brilliance Awards. This can really help parents decide which games and toys are really fun and stand up above the rest!

Based on the belief that the right playthings give children a gateway to physical, emotional and cognitive development Brilliant Sky Toys & Books provides the highest quality products in an atmosphere that is both active and interactive. Its unique aesthetic approach is vibrant yet warm, exciting yet comforting and exploratory yet safe. From rich colors and woods to low sightlines and custom fixtures the Brilliant Sky sensory experience is unlike any other.

In all, the 2014 Brilliance Awards covers 10 different brands with price tags from $9.99 to $39.99 with most toys running about $24.99 to $29.99. For the fifth year in a row, parents and grandparents can use this brilliant list as a guide for holiday shopping, birthday presents and Thanksgiving homecoming gifts.

What I love about the winners this year is that they are all low tech! In this day and age that is hard to find but I definitely love low tech toys for my children so this really impresses and excites me!

The Brilliant Sky chain chooses its Brilliance Award Winners upon quality, the value of open-ended play and the simple beauty of a child's fascination and delight. With the huge variety of toy buying occasions coming up, there’s truly something for everyone represented in this great group of toys. From finger puppets, arts & crafts kits, dolls and building bricks, it’s evident that childhood playtime really hasn't changed that much!

There were three favorites that I got to pick out and receive and I am so excited about them:

Lottie Dolls - Autumn Leaves 

Ages 3+  $19.99

Designed in Britain and winner of 10 toy awards, Lottie is a new, innovative fashion doll who stands for positive contemporary values. Her bright, vibrant clothes, silky hair, and creative accessories are tailored to reflect a young girl who is happy, brave, imaginative, and bright - the most positive role model possible. And she stands on her own two feet -- figuratively and literally. At 7", she's the easiest size for girls ages 3 - 9 to clasp, and thanks to bendable joints, she can stand and assume different poses.

My daughter is going to absolutely LOVE this doll for Christmas! She is the perfect size for her little toddler hands and she is going to love dressing her, snuggling her and playing with her!

Create Your Own Storybook 

Ages 6+  $19.99

Imagine holding a real book, written and illustrated by your own child. Kids' minds are alive with imagination. Their stories are so unique and amusing. They love to draw, create and write. Just think how they'll respond when you tell them to write a story and it'll actually become a book -- bound and printed. This kit includes everything -- it only lacks a child's fantastic creativity. Blank sheets, with a border frame to draw in and lines to write on, are waiting to be filled. (The finished book will hold 12 pages, but 18 template sheets are given in case an elbow gets bumped or the storyline changes.) Create a separate sheet for every page; draw a picture on the cover sheet. Fill in the info sheet with the child's name, book title, and dedication. Place all the completed pages into the postage paid envelope and drop in the mail! Creatively Ever After will ship back the final product in 4 to 6 weeks.

This is a great gift idea for any creative child! I LOVE that they really make it into a real book that can be cherished for many, many years! What a great keepsake!

Super Stadium Baseball Game

Ages 6+ $39.99

Create a realistic ball park where you get to strike out your opponent with fast balls and curve balls. Throw a variety of breaking balls at different speeds. Your opponent won’t be able to predict the pitch you will throw! A unique magnetized infield creates ball movement when the pitches are thrown. There is a spring-loaded bat, counter for balls, strikes and outs. Hit singles, doubles, triples, foul balls and home runs! Choose to bat right or left-handed. Strategically position fielders. The only thing missing are the Cracker Jacks!

This is a great gift idea for the athletic child in your life! They will love creating baseball game after baseball game!

Congratulations to ALL of the 2014 Brilliance Award winners! 

See the entire list below from youngest (3 years+) to oldest (8+) recommended ages.

· Squigz Starter Set (24 pieces)
· Plus-Plus Mini-Basic (480 pieces)
· Lottie Dolls
· Doodle Quest
· Create Your Own Storybook
· Super Stadium Baseball Game
· LoopDeLoom
· Sew Cute Sets
· Illustrated Adventure Stories and Illustrated Fairy Tales
· Paint Your Own Porcelain Bowls

So, this holiday season (and any season!) consider shopping at your local Brilliant Sky Toys & Books! It is truly the place where everyone can find their way to play. Visit them at www.brilliantskytoys.com.

Buy It: 

You can purchase all these toys at 17 specialty stores across the country from Tennessee and Iowa to Texas and North Carolina and at their website, www.BrilliantSkyToys.com.

Win It:

Brilliance Sky Toys & Books is generously offering (1) Toy from Brilliance Award Winners to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) Toy off the Brilliance Award Winners List
Winner can choose from: 

· Squigz Starter Set (24 pieces)

· Plus-Plus Mini-Basic (480 pieces)

· Lottie Dolls
· Doodle Quest
· Create Your Own Storybook
· Super Stadium Baseball Game
· LoopDeLoom
· Sew Cute Sets
· Illustrated Adventure Stories and Illustrated Fairy Tales
· Paint Your Own Porcelain Bowls

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Support & Shop at Your Local Toy Store!

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

The holidays are drawing near (even if you don't want to believe it!) and one of the things at the top of my children's gift wish lists every year is new toys! It just seems like you can't go wrong with toys for children - it seems toys are made to be fun for a wide range of ages and both genders these days!

If you are on a toy hunt this holiday season, let me recommend you check out your local toy store! You will find a fun, happy atmosphere where the employees have a passion for children and the toys they offer! You can get your questions answered directly and they always have an AMAZING selection of toys to choose from because that is their specialty! Plus, more of your dollar stays in the community and it creates a multiplier effect in the local economy. For each dollar you spend at independent toy business in your community, three or more times as much typically goes back into the local economy compared to a dollar spent at retailer owned by a chain.

This year ASTRA (the non-profit American Specialty Toy and Retailing Association) has put out a “Best Toys for Kids 2013” list and it is really helpful for finding a great gift for any age group that you are searching for!

Over 550 of America's top independent and neighborhood toy retailers have selected the Best Toys for Kids. Drawing upon their expertise, experience, and commitment to fulfilling play, ASTRA members hand-picked the most engaging, unique, open-ended, fun, and safe toys for your children. The 2013 Best Toys for Kids list features toys that deliver exceptional value and expand a child's imagination, toys that invite discovery and exploration, toys that get kids moving, toys that build creativity, toys that fascinate babies, and even toys that delight hard-to-shop-for pre-teens.

Check out some of the great toys I received from the 2013 Best Toys list:

Our favorite has got to be the Seaplane from Green Toys! I LOVE that it is made from recycled materials, is safe for my children to play with, and IS SO FUN!

Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs that save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this buoyant yellow and green floatplane features a spinning propeller and chunky, oversized pontoons perfect for coasting into any port.

Specially designed to float when taken into the bathtub or pool, young captains can easily navigate from water to air and back again. Little-hand friendly, this toy is specifically designed for toddlers and preschoolers in mind. Great for teaching mini-minds how things work.

Because it’s made from recycled plastic jugs, it’s your good-for-the-environment toy purchase. Double bonus? Dishwasher safe.

Want another great reason to LOVE ASTRA??? Then check out the “I Heart My Neighborhood Toy Store” campaign that the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is kicking off where they are giving you the chance to win some exciting prizes!

Head over to the “I Heart My Neighborhood Toy Store” campaign contest page and enter one (or both!) of the two sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes from the toy companies we love! Enter through November 8, 2013 for a chance to win a Grand Prize that includes a chance to win a trip for four to have some fun in the sun with Thomas & Friends and Hard Rock Hotel:

Thomas & Friends™ invites you on the family vacation of a lifetime at select all inclusive Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Note: This Sweepstakes is open to legal U.S. residents except for residents of Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and other foreign United States territories. Click here to view the official rules and regulations.

You can also enter for a chance to win Featured Prizes including:

• One gift basket of Kidoozie products from International Playthings valued at $250
• One gift basket of Calico Critter products from International Playthings valued at $250
• One gift basket of earlyears products from International Playthings valued at $250
• Gift certificates for Playmobil products. Two winners will receive a $250 Playmobil gift certificate each to be redeemed at an ASTRA-affiliated retailer
• One gift basket of assorted Best Toys for Kids winning product from ASTRA valued at $250

So remember this holiday season to head to your local toy store for all your toy shopping and don't forget to head over TODAY to enter for a chance to win some great prizes from ASTRA, including a trip for four!

For more information, check out ASTRA on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheWoohooFactor and Twitter at @TheWoohooFactor

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