So true, right?
I love number 5 – my little girl is at that stage right now. Not sure where this came from originally, but I found it today on Text Funny Pictures on Facebook. Feel free to share this around – It’s too funny not to, right?
Become a Playmanitarian – Giving Back
Playmanitarian – Making a Difference While Having Fun!
I love when a brand makes it simple and easy for you to give back, do good, and help others. So many of us want to do the right thing – but we don’t always know how or where or what to do. TrashCanKidz is a new company with a social conscience, with a passion for changing the way that children around the world get involved in social causes. Their mission is to be Ambassadors for the world’s abandoned generation of children – the orphans of the world, the kids living on the streets or in dumps, the children who need to be drawn out of the shadows, and shown that they DO matter.
“When the lives and the rights of children are at stake, there must be no silent witnesses.” – Carol Bellamy
TrashCanKidz are totally adorable characters that you can only “adopt” with an invitation from an Ambassador. {Which you can get from me – I’ll give details in a minute, keep reading…} When you adopt your new Trash Can Kidz, you get a unique code that allows you to register online, get your own Ambassador invitation code, and then join The Forgotten World – an online game that teaches your child how they can make a difference in the lives of other children, and help make their world a better place! Every time you purchase a TrashCanKidz, 20% of the revenue from your purchase is donated to EarthKids International.
“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” – Helen Keller
I chose to adopt Rose from the Trash Can Kidz site – and Abby loved her as soon as she arrived! She stands about 14″ tall, comes packaged in a trashcan style backpack, and includes an adorable little teddy and blanket. The details are so well done – this is a really high-quality item. She is dressed in rags, to help your child learn empathy towards those orphaned children that are being supported with this purchase – yet still, she is a totally adorable doll. From the pretty pink flower in her hair, to the gold buckles on her tiny sandals – she is perfect. Abby is still too little to understand the meaning behind this doll – but her older cousins that live with me get it. I’ve showed them the website, and they have played the game – and I was so proud when they later began asking questions…. “How do kids become orphans?” and, “Are there other ways that we can help those kids?” – Giving back is incredibly important to me, and organizations that help children are where I direct most of my time and money. To see such great thoughtfulness, compassion, and interest from the boys made me really happy.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
EarthKids International – The Heart of TrashCanKidz – partners with the amazing World Vision to use the donations from each purchase made to learn where the greatest need is, and support projects that can provide for the basic needs of these abandoned kids.
Did you know…
- There are an estimated 143,000,000 orphaned children around the world.
- Every single day, 5,760 more children become orphans.
- There are in excess of 100,000,000 street children in the world.
These children are the forgotten, abandoned generation of our world today. With all of the attention paid to issues to protect unborn children – we need to also remember those children who have been born into countries where they are thrown aside, and barely able to survive. It can seem like a depressing issue, the type of overwhelming problem that you can’t do anything about – But when you make the choice to invest in a TrashCanKidz doll for your child, your purchase can directly support the work that Earth Kidz International is doing to change things!
Your purchase can make a real difference in the life of a child!
- Visit TrashCanKidz.com – Click Shop, then click to buy a Carry Me Kidz.
- There are several great styles of Kidz to choose from, and right now they are each $20 off.
- Use this access code when prompted: 325898560 – this is your exclusive invitation code to get into the site!
Now – sit back and wait for your new friend to arrive! I hope that you love it as much as we love ours – and THANK YOU for using your purchasing power to make a difference!
Find TrashCanKidz on Facebook – and connect on Twitter!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
Learning to Save the World with Mega Bloks Police Force Set
“Play is not only our creative drive; it’s a fundamental mode of learning.” – David Elkind, Psychologist
We had never used Mega Bloks until just recently – But now that we’ve tried out a couple of sets, I’m a huge fan! I don’t know why I didn’t pick up a set earlier, since we’re such big fans of building, creating, and imaginative play in our house. Our first time checking them out was during our Thomas & Friends Party – and after trying them I realized that we’ve totally been missing out. There are sets for every age and skill level, the quality is great, and the kids totally get lost in imaginary worlds while they play… I loved listening to the boys talk about saving Abby’s dolly, and how “Police men can save the whole world sometimes…” Love these kids.
“The child amidst his baubles is learning the action of light, motion, gravity, muscular force….” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Look at the fun details on this Mega Bloks Blok Squad Police Force
Learn More about Mega Bloks
You can find Mega Bloks at most major retailers – Get this Blok Squad Police Force
Learn more about Mega Bloks on their website – or Follow them on Facebook to stay updated on fun promotions and events.
{Disclaimer:As a member of Team Mom, I received a complimentary play set to review and share with you. All photos, opinions, and overuse of exclamation points is 100% my own – I love Mega Bloks!}
How I Fell in Love with Moon Dough…
“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” – Kay Redfield Jamison
We love creative stuff here at our house… We like to paint, and color, and build, and create. But when we’re in the mood for some molding fun, I usually mix up our own homemade play dough – The Best Homemade Play-Dough Recipe. The kids had asked for Moon Dough, but honestly, I figured, “how much different could it be then the stuff we make now?” So when Team Mom asked if I wanted to review the new Moon Dough Ocean Pals, to try out the new and improved Moon Dough formula, I figured we’d give it a shot.
“Play is the beginning of knowledge.” – Anonymous
The Moon Dough Ocean Pals set arrived, and the kids were SUPER excited to rip it open! I made them slow it down, so I could check this out too. The Play Set comes with a bunch of cool stuff:
- A cute ocean themed reusable play mat to encourage imagination.
- 3 different easy-to-use Push & Pop tools.
- 1 fun twisty mold.
- 2 different Moon Dough color options to play with.
I laid out all of the great goodies that were included in this fun package, and opened up the first package of Moon Dough to try it out. What at first feels like a piece of smooth Styrofoam quickly turns to a squishy marshmallow-like texture in your hands. I really can’t hardly describe it, but it’s super cool! I’m pretty proud of our awesome homemade dough, but this stuff is so different – Even the teenagers at our house were impressed! The tools included in the set are simple, but perfectly made – the kids were able to easily make really cool shapes, and had a blast with this set!
“Play builds the kind of free-and-easy, try-it-out, do-it-yourself character that our future needs.” – James L. Hymes Jr.
Moon Dough is hypo-allergenic, and wheat-free, making it a great option for any family with allergies. I was skeptical of the whole “never drys out” claim, but so far so good! The kids have left the lid off of plastic container we store it in for days at a time, and it’s just as good as new. So – I started out really skeptical, but the Moon Dough sets have totally won me over – I even bought another one for the kiddo’s for Christmas. The best part? It’s super easy to clean up too!
Learn More
Learn more about Moon Dough online.
{Disclaimer: This post was written for Team Mom – I received a complimentary Moon Dough product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions and photos are mine – Love this stuff!}
5 Reasons You Do NOT Want to Miss this Year End Sale Blowout!
Ginormously Humongous Sale Event!!
Yes – I’m serious enough to use pretend words about this sale event…. It’s so big that real words can’t even cover it, lol. I had been hearing about this quite a bit, and maybe you have too – so this morning I decided to finally go and check out the big Blowout Sales at Totsy, and myohmy! I’d say about half of each sale section is already sold out – Wow!
5 Reasons You Do NOT Want to Miss this Event:
- Great stuff for kids – Up to 71% off on Kids Plush and Toys!
- Stock up for Summer – Savings of up to 80% on swimwear for babies to big kids!
- Shoes on Clearance – Ed Hardy shoes 58% off, babies shoes up to 68% off – plus designer shoes for mom too!
- Speaking of Mom – You’ll find designer handbags as low as $19 bucks, plus a whole fashion event at sales of up to 86%!!
- Share with Friends – When you share these amazing sales with your friends using the easy share buttons on their site, you earn FREE credit to spend on the site – see details on Totsy.com. Love this!
And… With every purchase you make through Totsy, we will plant one tree in the name of your child to help reduce the effects of deforestation. Who says shopping can’t save the world?
Let me know what YOUR favorite find is today!!
Busy Mom Solution: Tricycoo is Stylish, Affordable, and Fun!
This is what happiness looks like…
As moms, we always want to find the best and brightest products for our children – from healthy snacks, to the coolest toys – we want them to have the best. But sometimes we settle for lower quality in toys and gear due to tight budgets. Well, I have found a new “Busy Mom Solution” product to solve this problem – The Tricycoo from Joovy is made by a family owned company, with factories right here in the US. Like all Joovy gear, it’s made from only the best quality components – plus they offer the greatest customer care and support you’ll find. And best of all – this is one of those rare toys that can really grow with your child. Not only does it have awesome features that adjust to your growing child’s needs, but it’s such great quality that it will actually LAST long enough to make it through several stages! It’s hard to find well-built quality kids toys these days at affordable prices – but you’ll find some amazing choices on Joovy.com!
“Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music.” – William Stafford
Every detail has been thought of on the Tricycoo – and they are so much fun! This little bell on the handlebars delights Abby so much – she laughs and claps every time she gets it to ring! And it has a great retro type of sound – it reminds me of riding my bike around the neighborhood when I was a little girl.
“PLAY GIVES CHILDREN A CHANCE TO PRACTICE WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING.”- FRED ROGERS
Another super great feature of the Tricycoo is the fun basket in the back – perfect to carry a mid-size diaper bag when we go on walks or on a trip to the park. And when we use the Joovy inside, Abby loves to fill the basket up with her “babies” – a random assortment of stuffed cats, dogs, or maybe even reindeer! It’s not big enough to be bulky or in the way – but definitely big enough to store all of your stuff. Super helpful.
“THAT’S THE REAL TROUBLE WITH THE WORLD, TOO MANY PEOPLE GROW UP.” – WALT DISNEY
Kids never stay the same size for more than a few minutes – Everyone said that it would go by so quickly, and you know that it’s true. But you don’t really know it until you watch it happen to your own little one! It can be hard on a momma to realize they’re not a baby anymore – and sometimes it’s hard on the wallet to keep up with buying new toys and new gear for those fast-growing kiddo’s! That is what I love most about the Tricycoo – it’s meant as a beginner tricycle for kids as young as 18 months, {although Abby got hers last month at 16 months, and she fits perfectly!} – and it totally adjusts through each stage to fit your child as they grow. In the beginning, there are While your child is a beginner, there are “baby surround arms” to keep them safe while they learn balance. There is a little footrest that works perfectly while they get used to riding on it. As they grow, they can first use the pedals “unlocked”, so that they spin freely – then “lock” them and they can use their own push-power and ride like a big kid! While they’re learning, you get to control the bike by pushing and steering with the Parent Push Handle – It is SO cool that I can steer her around while we go on walks – Love this feature.
Learn More
As you can see – the Tricycoo comes in four super cheerful colors, and adjust from a beginner tricycle to a big kid bike! {Suggested for 18 months to 44 pounds}. To learn more about the Tricycoo, and all of the other totally amazing Joovy products – check them out online at www.Joovy.com.
Follow them on Facebook and Twitter, to stay updated on new products and fun promotions!
And check out my album on Google+ to see more pic’s of this great kids tricycle – We had an incredible time trying it out and taking pictures, and it is definitely one of my very favorite kids products that I’ve seen this year!
{Disclaimer: We were provided with a complimentary Tricycoo from Joovy to review and share with you – but all photos, opinions, and overuse of exclamation points are my own – I love the Tricycoo!}
Richard Scarry’s Busytown Playsets Bring my Childhood Favorites to Life! {Giveaway}
“That’s the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up.” – WALT DISNEY
Do you remember Busytown? – The Richard Scarry books were some of my absolute, hands down, total favorites when I was a little girl. I loved being able to explore all of the pages filled with busy little characters in busy little vehicles, buzzing around their busy little town. Abby and I love to read Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy Town
“Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted.” – GARRISON KEILLOR
My favorite character from the Busytown books was the little worm in his apple car – so it was super fun to see him as a part of one of these sets!! Abby loooves to drive him around…. “Vrrrmmmmmm.” These sets are some of my absolute favorite toys that we have!
I had at first assumed the track would be made of wood, but it’s actually plastic. And I like it way better than I had at first thought that I would! The pieces are really light and easy for little hands to put together – but still sturdy enough to be durable when played with by tiny toddlers! Abby is only 15 months old, and as her 5 year old cousin constantly tells me while trying to share these toys with her – “She doesn’t know how to play right!” That means she likes to sit on the track, smack the cars into the roofs of the houses, and just generally wreck havoc on the whole Busytown community :) She smiles and giggles, and I can smile after seeing that these pieces seem to be super unbreakable! Seriously – they are really good quality – love it.
The sets are all incredibly fun on their own – but even cooler when you have a few to combine together! These are the play sets that we were lucky enough to get to try out:
- Richard Scarry’s Busytown Roadway Starter Playset
– This is the cute little set with Lowly Worm and his Apple Car! It comes with enough pieces to build an oval track {or combine them with other sets to extend the roadways} – plus a bookstore, traffic sign and signal.
- Richard Scarry’s Busytown Fire Station Playset – The fire station includes more track, a fire station and truck, as well as an adorable little Fireman Pig! Our favorite part is that you can put the fire truck inside of the station, and with the push of a little button – it launches the fire truck out through the doors and onto the track! Abby thinks this is hilarious!!
- Richard Scarry’s Busytown Town Hall Deluxe Playset with DVD – This is a total must-have if you’re fans of Richard Scarry! It includes so many fun pieces, as you can see above – plus the DVD is really fun for kids, so that they can watch the characters come to life on the screen! All of the details are really well done, it all is such great quality, and it really is so much fun to play with. {Yes, I have fun playing with it too :)}
“Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music.” – William Stafford
Now YOU have a chance to WIN all three of these amazing Busytown sets for your family! Use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form to enter – and don’t forget to come back daily for your BONUS entries too! {And did you see that HUGE list of giveaways in my sidebar?? Make sure to enter those too – the more you enter, the more you can win! Good luck – and Happy Holidays!
Don’t forget to check them out on the web – BusytownMysteries.com – for tons of fun!
