Fun Stuff — Page 4

Your Little Princess Can Party with Cinderella – Learn How #DisneyPrincessWMT

“A dream is a wish your heart makes when you’re fast asleep.” – Cinderella… I bet you sang that as you read it, didn’t you? Yep, Cinderella is one of those movies that is such a wonderful classic. One of my very favorites as a little girl. Well, heck, I guess almost all of my favorite movies as a kid were Disney Princess movies! Which is why I’m ashamed to admit… I’ve just recently introduced Abby to the princesses. She’s two. Why didn’t I do this sooner? We just always let her watch whatever new kids movies were available on our On Demand… I’ve actually purchased very few DVD’s for her. But we recently hosted a Fisher Price Houseparty, and Abby got a chance to play with the new Little People Disney Princess Castle – and she plays with it EVERY day! She loves to sing along with the “sin-sesses.” So, I realized it was time to have her get to know all of my faves a little better – starting with Cinderella!

“A letter from the prince…he’s having a ball…and all eligible maiden’s are to attend… why that would mean me too!” – Cinderella

How sweet is this set, right? A pretty dress for my pretty little princess – and a matching Cinderella tiara too of course. Why Cinderella? Well, in addition to being the very first princess movie that I watched as a little girl – on October 2, Disney is releasing it again on an updated and upgraded Blu-Ray/DVD with bonus content. Very cool. The only other princess that Abby has watched is Rapunzel from Tangled {whom she simply adores.} So we’re going to celebrate the launch of the movie with a super cool event coming up at Walmart, and host a princess-perfect party for the little girls we know too. I am seriously pretty darn excited about it all. Like, I want a Cinderella dress too…..

“Bippity Boppity Boo!” – Cinderella

Walmart is going all out to help celebrate this great re-release of Cinderella – You’ll find amazing displays around the store, filled with new toys, dresses and accessories, and even a super clever pumpkin display in the produce section. Love it. If you head down to check it out – make sure to visit your store’s Halloween section too – there’s where I found the majority of the dress up gear. The regular kids section had a limited selection, but is filled with the prettiest new toys and playsets for little girls…

“If you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true.” – Cinderella

I love that there is a whole section in the kids toy department devoted just to Cinderella. There are big displays and great signage… It just makes it all feel a little more “special” – more magical. {That must be the little girl in me talking….} And you’ll also find more than just Cinderella, there are also great sets featuring the other princesses. I mean, every princess needs some girls to pal around with, right? {You can see more of the selection in my Cinderella shopping trip on Google+, or visit the Disney Princess page on Walmart.com.}

“Cinderelly, Cinderelly – Night and day it’s Cinderelly!” – Cinderella

Remember I told you that we’re also going to be hosting a movie party too? Well, that of course means that I needed to stock up on party supplies. And Walmart did not let me down – they have a huge selection of Cinderella party gear too! We stocked up on favors, plates and napkins, and those cute reusable cups that are less than a buck a piece. I also saw a big Disney Princess castle pinata, that I’m really debating going back for.

Disney Princess Retailtainment Event at a Walmart Near You!

Ok – this is the awesome in-store event that I mentioned. I seriously think it is going to be a blast – On October 6, between 11-3, select Walmart stores across the country are inviting Cinderella lovers of all ages to visit the store for an afternoon of fun. Dress as your favorite Disney princess {Abby will be wearing her new dress and accessories!} and join them for pumpkin decorating, coloring sheets, games, and other interactive activities. Abby is going to LOVE seeing all of the other little girls dressed up too. And make sure to download the new Disney Princess Royal Ball app – for iPhone or get the Android version here. This wasn’t live yet when we shopped – but it is now. Use it to scan the Augmented Reality markers on Disney Princess items around the store to access tons of cool stuff. You’ll love it!

“One shoe can change your life.” – Cinderella

Stocked up and ready to plan our party! I can’t wait to share pics with you guys soon – You can keep an eye on Twitter for hashtag #DisneyPrincessWMT – That’s where I’ll be sharing photos on the 6th of Abby partying in her dress during the in-store event. And then I’ll get to work on gathering up all of my creative ideas for the party – We’re also going to be inviting some little Princes too, so I need to get some boy goodie bags put together. Stay tuned – in a few weeks I’ll share party pics with you… Think cupcakes and candy and lots of sparkles. Ahhh…. All of my favorite things!

Follow Disney on Twitter, and Cinderella and the other Disney Princesses on Facebook – to stay updated on new products and promotions!

Tell me – will you be visiting Walmart for the Disney Princess Party? Who’s your favorite princess?

{Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Disney Consumer Products, Inc. #CBias #SocialFabric.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 30, 2012 Filed Under: Shopping, Fun Stuff | 2 Comments

Lilikin & Friends – Extra Special Friends for Extra Special Kids

“Raising kids is part joy and part guerilla warfare.” – Ed Asner… If you’re the mom of a toddler, you understand what this quote means, right? It’s a never ending battle of wills… You tell them to eat their veggies, so they throw the veggies – along with the entire plate, fork, placemat, and bib, onto the floor. You tell them to play nice with the other kids, so they whack them over the head with a foam sword for the third time. Ah… The joys of motherhood. Well, now there’s a super cute trio of plush dolls that are sure to win your fussy one over, even during the grumpiest of days – Meet Lilikin & Friends.

Lilikin & Friends – Extra Special Friends for Extra Special Kids

“It’s not that they’re depressed or anything; they’re just hard to impress. They’re like that guy who, instead of laughing uproariously at a hilarious joke, simply declares dryly, “That’s funny.” It’s a little hard to tell, but they really would love to get to know you. Whether you’re happy, sad, or just plain confused, your new friends understand and will stay by your side. They can turn frowns upside down, and make smiles shine even brighter!” – Isn’t this the perfect way to teach toddlers that those wild waves of emotions that they feel are ok? They also a great partner for kids with Autism, {and they even have a special set of Autism Awareness Special Edition dolls that raise money for the Canadian National Autism Foundation. Very cool, right?} – They show them that it’s ok to not always have the smiley face that everyone expects of you. These little dolls are adorable, and meaningful – and we’ve fallen totally head over heels from them in our house!

We love Lilikin & Friends – and know YOU will too!

There are three different adorable plush friends available – Lilikin, The Melancholy Grey Kitten. Mollycoddle, The Ultra-Dainty Albino Bunny {love, love, LOVE her adorable tutu.} And Eleven, The Small-for-his-Age Monkey. I am so glad that I found Lilikin & Friends – I know so many moms who have kids with disabilities or challenges. What a great way to show them that different is ok, by giving them a little plush buddy to love on that’s also a little different. As kids, we need to identify with others – so having a doll that’s “like us” means a lot. My favorite toy as a kid was my Cabbage Patch doll that had brown hair, brown eyes, and wore one of my old baby dresses – Just like me :) These toys are great for any kiddo – but can have some extra special meaning for extra special kids!

You can visit Lilikin & Friends online – learn more about these adorably soft little buddies, and order right from the site. And make sure to show your support by following them on Facebook and Twitter – to stay updated on new products and promotions!

{I received a complimentary product from the lovely Rachel Florio PR – Celebrity Baby Trend Expert – to review for this post. Only the best products make it onto Sunshine and Sippy Cups – We love Lilikin & Friends, and know that you will too!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 20, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | No Comments

For Everyone Who Ever Needed a Restart on Life

Wreck-It Ralph smashes into theaters everywhere on November 2nd…. Have you heard about this very cute new film from Disney? I love movies with a great message – and I’m really excited to watch this when it comes out, and talk to the kids about the ideas and emotions going on in this movie. It’s all about Ralph, who’s struggling with being stereotyped as a “Bad Guy” – when he just doesn’t feel like a bad guy. So he goes on a journey to try and discover who he really is – Not just who everyone else TELLS him he is. I think that this is an awesome message for kids – to not let outside voices make your choices for you. To always strive to be YOU. Love it. And – it’s totally silly and adorable as it tells the story. Get a peek here…

About Wreck-It Ralph

From Walt Disney Animation Studios and Emmy®-winning director Rich Moore comes “Wreck-It Ralph,” a hilarious, arcade-game-hopping adventure. For decades, Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) has been overshadowed by Fix-It Felix, Jr. (voice of Jack McBrayer), the good-guy star of their game who always gets to save the day.

Tired of playing the role of a bad guy, Ralph takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a journey across the arcade through multiple generations of video games to prove he’s got what it takes to be a hero.

On his quest, Ralph meets tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch) from the first-person action game Hero’s Duty, and feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) from the candy-coated cart racing game, Sugar Rush, who may just be his first real friend. But everything changes when a deadly enemy is unleashed, threatening the entire arcade and Vanellope herself. Ralph finally gets his chance to save the day—but can he do it in time? “Wreck-It Ralph” crashes onto the big screen on November 2, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

What do you think?

Have you ever struggled a bit with figuring out who you are, want you want, and where you fit into the world? I’m sure just about every kid goes through this as they grow up. But a lot of us go through this again as we become moms…. Maybe everyone expected you to become a stay at home mom, but you missed your previous identity at work. Or maybe you’re like me – I went from running retail stores, doing displays and merchandising displays, working hard and playing hard. I was well known locally, and recruited several times to come in and help save struggling stores. Then, I suddenly found myself at home, changing diapers, caring for my live-in nephews… And not really feeling very “important” anymore. I missed getting dressed in the newest fashions – You know, things that weren’t covered in baby spit up. But just like Ralph, I realized that with a little soul-searching, I could make a new identity for myself, that felt right, and made me happy. {Does this all seem like too deep of thinking for a cartoon? Lol.}

“Like” WRECK-IT RALPH on Facebook and”Follow” WRECK-IT Ralph on Twitter – to stay updated on new promotions and news. And check out the #WreckitRalph hashtag for more fun sneak peeks at the movie before it smashes into theaters everywhere on November 2nd! And enter the Play & Win Sweepstakes! Complete missions, earn coins, and get the chance to win a hero’s journey from Adventures by Disney: http://di.sn/k3h. Good luck!

{Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this post. I’m on the Disney Blogger list, and get fun updates to share. I love Disney, and love to share the inside scoop on the best new films for families – Hope you enjoy getting a peek at upcoming movies too!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 13, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 1 Comment

Let’s Dress Up: Barbie Kids Fall Fashion Show

Girls just wanna have fun…. Almost every little girl loves pretty new clothes, right? A new dress to swish around in, or a pretty shirt with bows and sparkles, make any day a little more special. {Even for me….} So when Abby and I got a package in the mail, and found a BIG box of goodies from the new Barbie line of fashions for little girls, we were super excited to check it all out. I’ve always been a total girly girl – and while Abby does love playing with dinosaurs and dump trucks too, she’s a sucker just like momma for some accessories and ruffly things. Love it. If you’ve got a little princess on your hands too – you’ve got to check out the new Barbie fall gear – we’re lovin’ it.

“A girl must be two things – Classy, and fabulous.” – Coco Chanel

Here’s a little peek at the adorableness of these new fashions – Every piece is really well made, and great attention to detail. Fun fabric bows, pretty puffed sleeves on the tees, lots of sparkles, ruffles, rhinestones, and pink. We were hooked right away! It’ll be totally easy to find all of this great gear too – It’s available at Walmart, and runs from $5-$14.99, and is in sizes 2T-5T.

The Barbie™ branded collection includes fashion sets of tops, tunics, skirts or leggings that feature playful details girls love like ruffles, fun prints and sparkly finishes. The collection also includes iconic graphic tees featuring glam embellishments like bows and sequins.

I didn’t see these yet when I shopped our local Walmart yesterday, but they should be arriving soon. You can also find some adorable choices at Amazon… check out the super cute Barbie Kids Clothes there. {Plus, most qualify for free shipping – and there are loads of fall clickable coupons on Amazon right now too.} And – if you want to see more, check out Abby showing off her new outfits in the video. I’ve been super sick {just found out that I have Whooping Cough, oh my!} – But I managed to get a couple clips and pics of her swirling and twirling around the kitchen. I love how new clothes always make you want to dance…

“Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music.” – William Stafford

Abby just turned two, and in the past couple weeks, has gotten really interested in helping me pick out her clothes in the morning. If I don’t pick the “right” things, she’ll try to take them off all morning – and end up running wild in just a diaper and sandals, lol. She was SO super excited about these new tees that they are now a total go-to in the mornings. {So as soon as I find them at a local shop, I’ll be stocking up on more – Let me know if you’ve seen them!} I figured that since she loved them so much, these might help some of you other busy mommas who have a bit of a morning getting-dressed challenge too – try these, and I betcha your little one will love ’em too!

$5.00 off (1) BARBIE Apparel item for Girls

Little girls have a magic all their own… Encourage it to grow.

From sequins to sparkles, patterns to possibilities, Barbie™ fashions are designed for a little girl, allowing her to go wear-ever her imagination takes her. Parents and girls alike love the on-trend fashion and the endless combination possibilities — all at Walmart’s everyday low prices. This collection was specifically created to allow for easy dressing (even the littlest hands can learn to dress themselves). So check it out today, and stock up on fun fall fashions for your little fashionista!!

{Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Barbie Clothing. I received a sample package to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 30, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 7 Comments

Why I Will Never Be in the Olympics

The Olympics Closing Ceremony Rocked… Did you see the Spice Girls?? Total blast from my much-cherished past high school days. {I don’t care what you say. I loved ’em, and still do…} And, the athletes over the past week that I’ve been watching have been mind blowing – I’ve loved the gymnastics routines since I was a little girl, totally amazes me every single time. The synchronized swimming at the Olympics seriously is beautiful. It’s all so impressive… As I sit on my couch, with snacks, watching these athletes rock it out. But my out of shape mom bod is not the only thing stopping me from becoming an athlete…

someecards.com - I could never be an Olympic sprinter because I couldn't go 10 seconds without checking my phone.

Anyone else have this problem?

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 12, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | No Comments

Baby Gender Predictor Tool

Baby Gender Prediction

Want to get a prediction of whether your baby-to-be will be a boy or a girl? There are a ton of old wives tales out there – some women are just sure that they can tell what you’re having based on how much weight you’ve gained, how fast your hair is growing, or whether you’re carrying the baby high or low. Some have “tests” to predict your babies gender, like the ring test – In this test you hang your wedding ring from a string over your belly. If the ring swings back and forth your baby is a boy. If it swings around in a circle then it is a girl. But – one gender prediction test that is actually very often right is based on the Chinese Gender Chart, which some claim to be around 90% accurate. I know that when I tried this while pregnant, it predicted me having my little girl, and it’s been right about most {but not all!} of my friends as well.

Chinese Gender Predictor Tool

I’ve seen lots of charts, lists, and graphs that you can use to see what the Chinese Gender Chart predicts for your new baby – but now EverydayFamily.com has a great baby chinese calendar automated tool you can use to see what your prediction is. Just fill in the dates in the boxes, and hit submit – and it’ll give you your big news. Whether you believe in this stuff, or just want to have a little fun – it’s a great little tool to use when you’re expecting. Or – test it out for accuracy – enter the dates for a child that you already have, and see if it gets it right! Share your results in the comments below…. Did it get it right??

{Disclaimer: This post content was created for Link Vehicle, and compensation was given to share my opinions on this tool. Photo Credit to HandmaidenbyMaria.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 12, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 2 Comments

5 Steps to a Bathroom Mini-Makeover for Summer Guests #CGC #CleanHands.

Bathroom Mini-Makeover Tips for Summer Entertaining…. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, we do a ton of entertaining around here, especially in the summertime. {See some of my fave ideas here – Party Drinks and Party Foods. Very fun stuff.} And with a ton of people here all the time, and a pool that people need to change in and out of swimwear for, my bathroom gets a lot of traffic. It’s clean, but it needed a little spruce up. So I’ll share a few fun ideas you can use too to make your own bathroom a little more guest ready. Easy peasy and very fun – keep reading…

Tips for a Bathroom Mini-Makeover

It doesn’t take a lot to make a bathroom more welcoming to guests – A few nice touches that show that you’re thinking of them can really make an impact. If you do a ton of entertaining too, whether it’s all summer, or year round, making your bathroom more guest-friendly is a great way to be a nice hostess. Here are a few of my tips for making over your bathroom to make it ready for visitors…

Guest Basket: I love this list of items to include in a guest bathroom hospitality basket – things like band-aids, lotion, soap, tums, etc. Leave it on the counter, or in an easily accessible cupboard, so that guests that come to visit can easily find anything that they might need in any type of emergency. Super helpful, super smart.
Clean House: Cleaning a bathroom can be a totally quick project, and really easy to keep up with. Basic maintenance, like using cleaning wipes each time you’re in there, a quick cleaning spray in the shower, or a quick steam mop on the floor – those all lead up to a nice clean room that’s ready for guests. Use this bathroom cleaning checklist to get you started.
Wall Art: A few cool pieces of art on the wall can really jazz up a space, and make it much more fun for guests. If you’re looking for rad ideas, check out my Creative DIY Wall Art Ideas board on Pinterest. Tons of cool stuff to create, on a budget. Which means that you can update for every season.
Clever Gadgets: I absolutely love clever little ideas to make the bathroom more fun, and functional. Things like an awesome fabric holder to store an extra roll of toilet paper behind the main roll, the Aqueduck that helps kids wash hands on their own, a disinfecting toilet brush holder, cool idea products like this make life a little easier on your guests.
Convenience: It’s great to have hand towels for guests to dry their hands on – but at the same time, when you really think about it, it’s kind of weird to reuse the same towels that 5 other people have used right before you! To make sure each of your guests have a fresh place to dry their hands, pick up the super awesome new Kleenex Hand Towels. They are more sturdy than tissues, and super helpful for guests. And, you can customize the package really quickly to make them a bit more fun – keep reading for a bit of inspiration.

Use these few tips to inspire you to spruce up your own bathroom for summer entertaining and all of the guests that come along with it. Whether you jazz up a guest bathroom, your main bathroom, or the Master Bedroom bath like me – a few simple touches that show guests that you care and are thinking of them, make parties a lot more fun, and guests will memorable.

bathroom mini-makeover project

Makeover Your Kleenex Hand Towel Dispenser

This is a simple project – and you’ll throw it away eventually. How many craft projects do you create knowing you’ll toss it in the trash in a few weeks, lol? But – it takes only a couple of minutes, is super inexpensive, and adds a fun little detail that’s a big help to your guests too. Here’s what I did – Step 1: Grab some adhesives. {This is an awesome time of year to stock up on school supplies super cheap, so you have extras crafty stuff all year.} Step 2: Gather a few fun scrapbooking embellishments. I chose sparkly die cuts and pretty rhinestones. Step 3: Glue on your goodies! Now you have a super fun addition to your bathroom that guests will really appreciate.