PetCakes {Review&Giveaway}

Last year my children were addicted to Zhu Zhu Pets, and while they still adore the furry little creatures they have also began to explore the vast world of toys, thanks in part to Nickelodeon and all the toy commercials.  Normally Lil Diva prefers baby dolls and monster trucks to stuffed animals, but that all changed as soon as she was introduced to PetCakes!  

If you’ve never heard of PetCakes let me be the first to fill you in on what you are missing!  Petcakes are adorably delicious pets with a major sweet tooth!  Here’s some more about PetCakes from their website:

Well Made™ Toy Manufacturing Corporation, introduces PetCakes™, a new collectible plush pet line that will be a sweet treat for children ages 3 & up. Each PetCakes animal features a "frosting" hat, comes nestled in its own cupcake wrapper and has its own whimsical backstory. At first look, children will see a delicious cupcake but will then be surprised by the pet they find snuggled inside! Combining sweet faces and cuddly plush with a clever cupcake theme, PetCakes are collectible and provide hours of open-ended imaginative play. PetCakes make perfect gifts for a special friend and for pet lovers. They are ideal for birthday party favors, stocking stuffers and as rewards for good grades. Most of all, PetCakes deliver the kind of fun kids eat up! Lil Diva LOVES her PetCake Twinkle Sprinkles! 

We received 4 of the cute and cuddly PetCakes for our review; Coco Coconut (the poodle), Blueberry Buddy (the Shar Pei ), Twinkle Sprinkles (the Beagle and Lil Diva’s favorite PetCake), and Randy Candy (the loveable and oh-so-cute mutt).  As soon as Lil Diva laid eyes on the PetCakes it was over, she was head over heels for the puppies in an instant.  I do have to say that they are very cute, and I love the idea of presenting them in “cupcake wrappers” with icing and sprinkles and a cherry…very cute and very original!  I generally don’t let my children have stuffed animals (because stuffed toys are like potato chips—they can’t stop at just one), but I made an exception for the PetCakes.  Lil Diva really does love her PetCakes, Twinkle Sprinkle goes with Diva wherever she goes…they are inseparable and it is adorable!  I can’t tell you how many moms have seen Lil Diva carrying around her little puppy at the store and stopped and asked where we got it from and how cute it was…if that’s not good feedback I don't know what is! 

Look for a whole new line of PetCakes debuting in 2011, the line will feature new puppies, kittens, bears, rabbits, raccoons !  You can check out PetCakes and SO many more great holiday gift ideas in MIBR 2010 Holiday Gift Guide!

Buy it!  

You can purchase PetCakes in specialty stores and online at toysrus.com!

Guess what?  I have 2 PetCake plush toys to give away to one of my very lucky and wicked awesome readers!  Details on how to win below!

Win it:  Mandatory Entry!

To enter this giveaway please visit the PetCakes website and look around, come back and leave a comment  telling me which of the PetCakes you think your little one would like best.  This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are allowed!

Extra Entries!

Please leave separate comments for each additional entry!

1 Extra Entry Each

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2 Extra Entries

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3 Extra Entries

***Clarification!!!  It was brought to my attention that this part of the Extra Entry options is a bit confusing so I want to clear up any doubt.  For Tweeting (which you can do daily, up to 3 times) you get 3 extra entries each time you Tweet.  So if you Tweet tomorrow only once that is 3 extra entries…or if you Tweet tomorrow all three times that is 9 extra entries. 

For Facebook you can only share once daily, but that one time is worth 3 extra entries as well.  I hope I made it a little easier to understand…if you still have questions please feel free to email me @ a_proffitt79(at)yahoo(dot)com!***

Tweet this giveaway on Twitter, be sure to include @Allie_23 in your Tweets (up to 3x per day per length of giveaway)

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5 Extra Entries

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**If you’ve entered all of MIBR Current Giveaways (accessible on the sidebar) you can get 5 extra entries.  Just leave 5 comments saying “I’ve entered all of MBIR giveaways!”**

This giveaway ends on December 7 , 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim his prize, failure to do so within 48 hour time-frame will result in winner forfeiting his prize and mew choosing a new winner.

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Scholastic Holiday Collection {Review+Giveaway}

All of my children love to read, I find my oldest daughter’s reading for fun all the time and the babies love when mommy and daddy read them their favorite stores (over and over and over).  I have to admit that I really love that they enjoy reading so much…it makes all of the time I spent reading to them when they were babies worth it!


I was recently given the opportunity to review two of the books from the Scholastic Holiday collection; Captain Sky Blue and It’s Christmas David.  Lil Man and Lil Diva were very excited for me to read the books to them.  They both really enjoyed It’s Christmas David and it has become one of the books they request most often.  Both books make great additions to your home library and they are a nice change from the more traditional holiday stories.

















Give the gift of reading to your child this holiday season! Scholastic books make the perfect stocking stuffer for any child on your list.

We have a HUGE prize pack filled with the most popular children’s books in the marketplace to offer one lucky reader! Titles include CAPTAIN SKY BLUE, IT’S CHRISTMAS DAVID, OOK and GLUK as well as TONY BALONEY, ODIOUS OGRE and I SPY CHRISTMAS A CHRISTMAS TREE!

Win it:  Mandatory Entry!

Visit The Scholastic Store online and look around, come back and leave a comment telling me which other titles (aside from those listed) you think your child would like.  This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are available!

Extra Entries!

Please leave separate comments for each extra entry option.  Please also make sure that you leave your email address in your comment or that it is visible on your blog or profile.

1 Extra Entry Each
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2 Extra Entries Each
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3 Extra Entries Each
Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (please include @Allie_23 in your Tweets) up to 3x per day per length of giveaway
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5 Extra Entries Each
Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post
**If you’ve entered All of the current giveaways on MIBR (listed on the sidebar under Current Giveaways) then you may  have 5 extra entries into this giveaway (as well as this giveaway) just leave 5 separate comments saying, “I’ve entered all of MBIR giveaways!”.**
This giveaway ends on December 4 , 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim his prize, failure to do so within 48 hour time-frame will result in winner forfeiting his prize and mew choosing a new winner.

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My Pillow Pets {Review+Giveaway}

What’s fluffy, furry, and pulls double duty as a pillow and a cuddly adorable stuffed pet?   I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials on TV and run across an ad for them once or twice online, of course, I’m talking about the ever popular Pillow Pets the IT toy/pillow/awesome furry friend this holiday season!  Several times over the past few months both of the babies have begged for a Pillow Pet, and even though I’m pretty sure they don’t have a clue what a Pillow Pet even is, I have to admire their tenacity.  

In case you’ve been living under a rock (and I’ve said many times that I do not discriminate against those who do) allow me to clue you in on the world of Pillow Pets.  

All about the cute and cuddly Pillow Pets from their website:

“Since 2003 Pillow Pets have been bringing smiles to faces of all ages.  The concept for the snuggly companions was the brainchild of a San Diego-based mother of two, who had grown tired of picking up stuffed animals strewn about her children’s rooms. What began with a simple goal of transforming a traditional stuffed animal into a functional item for children has grown into an amazing jungle of popular products.

Made of high quality, super soft chenille, Pillow Pets plush folding stuffed animals make the most precious snuggle pal for you or your loved one.  An ideal naptime companion—not to mention a comforting partner on road trips or airplane rides—Pillow Pets plus folding stuffed animals are anything but just another stuffed animal.  Extremely versatile, these unique creations have a strap that closes underneath to transform them into friendly pets.  Simply open the strap and the pet becomes a pillow. “

Perky the Penguin as a pillow

Perky as a soft and cuddly penguin pet!

Pillow Pets are available in a variety of furry friends to fit every child’s preference; Ms Lady Bug, Magical Unicorn, Tardy Turtle, Snuggly Puppy and so many more.  We received Perky Penguin for our review, partly because my youngest Kinley loves penguins and partly because Mommy has a weakness for them!  Perky Penguin is everything you would expect of a child’s plus toy, soft, cuddly, and oh-so-very cute, but he is also functional and fun to play with.  I have to admit that while reviewing our Pillow Pet I had a blast (yes, moms can have fun too) Perky Penguin is just as adorable, soft, and snuggly in real life as he looks online and on TV.  I just know that Pillow Pets are going to be a huge hit this Christmas! Make sure you check out Pillow Pets in MIBR 2010 Holiday Gift Guide ! 

Buy it!

You can purchase Pillow Pets online at getpillowpets.com!

How would you like to get in on the act early?  Well, Pillow Pets is giving one MIBR reader their very own Pillow Pet!  Very cool…no?

Win it:  Mandatory Entry!

To enter this giveaway please visit getpillowpets.com and have a look around, then come back to this post and leave a comment telling me which Pillow Pet you (or your little one) like best.  This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are counted!

Extra Entries!

Please leave separate comments for each additional entry…also make sure to include your email address in each comment or make sure that it is visible in your profile (I can’t let you know that you won if I can’t email you!)

1 Extra Entry Each

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3 Extra Entries Each

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5 Extra Entries

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If you’ve entered All of the current giveaways on MIBR (listed on the sidebar under Current Giveaways) then you may  have 5 extra entries into this giveaway (as well as the Hayneedle giveaway) just leave 5 separate comments saying, “I’ve entered all of MBIR giveaways!”.

This giveaway ends on November 30 , 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim his prize, failure to do so within 48 hour time-frame will result in winner forfeiting his prize and mew choosing a new winner.

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Littlest Pet Shop 3 Biggest Stars for Nintendo DS {Review}

g Every year for Christmas my kiddos ask for games for their DS’s and DSi’s and every year I am at a loss over which games to get.  I like for them to play games that are age appropriate (no violence), educational, and of course fun.  With the caliber of games available for the DS and DSi I have so much to choose from and that can get very stressful.  There is however one series of games that I always know will be a hit, especially with my 8 year old, Littlest Pet Shop!


I received the Littlest Pet Shop 3 Biggest Stars game to review.  Since I was the only one home when it arrived I grabbed my oldest daughter’s DS and popped it in.  Now I have to admit I am not very good when it comes to playing the DS’s…the original Nintendo and Super Mario were my system and game of choice (and will probably always be my favorite) but I quickly caught on and with Lil Man at my side (and helping when he could) we sat and played the game for an hour. 

Here’s some more about Littlest Pet Shop 3 Biggest Stars from the Hasbro website:

Get ready Team Blue Stars to go for the gold! It's time to hit the arena for the LITTLEST PET SHOP Biggest Stars competition--and this time your pets are in the spotlight! 

Ten fun and challenging mini games are your pets' tickets to the big time. Practice makes perfect as you help your pets become the best gymnasts, models, ice skaters, dancers, flyers, fashion designers, and more. Then pack up their cute team uniforms and the dozens of super-fun accessories you've customized in two tints of blue because it's time to hit the road! 

The Biggest Stars competition is the event of year, when the pet-triplet judges look for teams that are a triplethreat; cute, peppy and totally talented! Good thing that with your help, all your LITTLEST PET SHOP pet's Biggest Stars dreams really can come true! 

The Blue Stars feature six exclusive pets including the show-stopping pony and the sassy poodle.
 


Sounds like a ton of fun huh?  If you’re looking for a fun game for the little girl in your life then this is definitely it!  Make sure you check out this and all of the other Littlest Pet Shop games available for Nintendo DS and DSi! 

Buy it!

You can purchase the Littlest Pet Shop 3 Biggest Stars wherever Nintendo DS games are sold!

Be sure to check out Littlest Pet Shop 3 Biggest Stars and so many other great gift ideas in MIBR’s 2010 Holiday Gift Guide!

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K’NEX Review

When I was a kid I loved building things, whether it was dirt roads for my cars (yes I most certainly played with cars), or trying (rather unsuccessfully) to build a camp fire in my backyard I was always trying to construct something.  It warms my heart when I see my own kids set aside their latest tech toys and instead opt for more creative play.  And nothing inspires more creation than building the things they things of their imaginations.   

K’NEX is a brand that helps children be more creative by letting them use their imaginations to build and play.  I have always been fond of K’NEX and have purchased many, many building sets over the years for my kiddos.  In my opinion, any toy that inspires a child to be more creative earns big points in my book.  For those of you who are not very familiar with K’NEX let me introduce you.

Here’s some more about K’NEX from their website:

K'NEX is the next generation of construction sets. It inspires creativity, builds self-confidence and encourages interaction among children and parents. The possibilities are endless!

We believe that our product, K'NEX, is unique and worthwhile; that it is capable of enriching the lives of those who use it, both through pure enjoyment and through its educational impact; and that these genuine qualities must be sustained with all the innovation and creativity we can muster.

First and foremost I want to say that I am very impressed with K’NEX and their ability to create building sets for kids of all ages; from sets for children as young as 2 up to teens and even adults, K’NEX seems to know what kids and parents want and they always seem to deliver big!  We received several items from K’NEX to review for our Holiday Gift Guide the Neighborhood Collection Firehouse Building Set, the Vertical Viper Coaster from the Thrill Rides collection, and the 350 Piece Value Tub.  Of all of the building sets we were sent to review the Neighborhood Collection Firehouse set was my favorite, I love that even the babies can get their creative juices flowing with K’NEX! 

Here’s a little more about each of the building sets from the K’NEX website:

Neighborhood Collection Firehouse Building Set
 

Firefighter Ernie to the rescue! Your child will enjoy hours of fun building the Sesame Street Firehouse - along with Elmo and firefighter Ernie - and creating his own Sesame Street neighborhood! Includes "Play & Learn" activity sheet and additional building ideas. Loaded with 43 parts to build the fire house, Ernie, Elmo, a fire hydrant and a fire truck crossing sign. Pairs perfectly with the Neighborhood Collection Fire Truck for lots of building fun and after building play. The fire house door even opens to drive the fire truck through! Look for all the Neighborhood Collection Building Sets so your child can build his own SESAME STREET Neighborhood!
Price:  $23.99

Vertical Viper Building Set



Collect & Build Vertical Viper, #2 of 3 in the new Amusement Park Series! Motorized for exciting performance that sends the car up the chain lift and speeding down the track! This set comes with over 300 parts, primarily rods & connectors, to build a K'NEX thrill ride that stands over 1.5 feet tall! And if you collect Corkscrew Coaster and the Ferris Wheel (sold separately), you can have a working amusement park right in your home! Recommended for builders ages 7+. Requires 2 "AA" batteries, not included.
Price:  $21.99

350 Piece Value Tub



Loaded with 350 parts to build anything you can imagine - cars, planes, boats, ferris wheels and more! Plus, building ideas for 20 different models are included to get you started. The sturdy storage tub makes clean-up easy and is a great place to store all your building parts or partially built models. And, the 350 PC Tub works with other building set brands, so there are even more building possibilities! For ages 7+.
Price:  $21.99

Of course, the 3 K’NEX building sets mentioned above are only a few of the many, many sets available! 
Make sure you check out the K’NEX website for a complete product listing. 

You can purchase all of the above mentioned K’NEX products wherever K’NEX products are sold! 

K’NEX building sets make the perfect holiday gift for every child on your list…so make sure you pick a few up on your next shopping trip!  And make sure you check out Misadventures in Baby Raising’s 2010 Holiday Gift Guide for the latest and greatest holiday gift ideas!

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