Don't Worry!

I know I have been absent for a week now, and don't worry everything is fine.  Christmas was great but I was very busy and very sick so I decided to take a much needed break.  I'm still a little congested but doing much better and will be back to blogging tomorrow, starting the New Year off right!  In the meantime I wanted to wish you all a Happy, Healthy, SAFE and Super Fantastic New Year.  We are staying in this year and celebrating at home.

Until tomorrow my peeps!  Happy Happy Happy New Year!

Need a last minute gift idea?

If you are still looking for a last minute gift idea for your mini-gamer, how about the DaGeDar game for Nintendo DS.  This game is based on the hot new children's game DaGeDar where you roll and race balls in almost a pinball like way.  This gamet has three modes that will take you through the game's thirty three courses.  This game has 100 unlockable DaGeDars, each one has its own stats like speed or accelaration.

The fist mode is the Championship mode, where you choose a character and race against an opponent. There are three championships to start with, followed by another three when you beat those, and then the final championship is a best of three.  There is a practice more where you can learn and try to get better and better.



The racetracks are fast and action packed but you do have to be careful and watch out for different blocks and gaps.    There is a Time Attack mode where you race set a new best time but there is also a target time for you to beat. Beating the target time will unlock a new racers, which you can also do by winning a championship.

My son is 4, he loves fast paced racing games, so this game was right up his alley.  He loves DaGeDar so he was super excited to see that there was a gmae like this for his DS.  This is one of those games that doesn't get boring because there are laways new DaGeDars to unlock.  You can play is as one or two players and it retails for only $19.99.

If you need a great last minute stocking stuffer or gift for a kid that loves speed and racing, this is the perfect game

Need a Stocking Stufer Idea?

I have posted about Gogos Crazybones in the past, and I have told you all how nutty my kids were over them and how much they played with them.  Let me tell you, all this time, they still play with them.  My son especially, still gets excited over opening a new pack and plays with them constantly.  I bought him a plastic storage container for his collection, and it is full.
Gogo’s Crazy Bones are the perfect gift, gift topper, goodies for classmates and school Holiday Parties, or stocking stuffer for boys and girls ages 3-11. They are available in Limited Edition Collector Tins, individual packs, Gogo's Play Mat, and many more variations.  The ones that I have seen the most in stores are the individual packs (come with 3 Gogos and 3 stickers) and the collectible tins, and prices range from $0.79 - $19.99. Series 1-3 are currently all available across North America.

Each Gogo's character has unique skills that work to improve kids math and social skills. With all of the diverse members in the Gogo’s family, kids can use their imagination to play a variety of games, or get creative and make up their own! Our favorite game is Battle, and you play by lining up your Gogos across from your opponents, then you flick or toss your Gogo across to try and knock down your opponent's Gogos.  Little man is pretty good at this game, but he always has to use his favorite Gogos.

If you are looking for a place near you to purchase Gogos (I have bought them at Wal Mart, Target, Toys R Us and Walgreens), you can visit their website www.gogoscrazybones.com  be sure to follow @GogosMosh on twitter and like them at http://Facebook.com/gogoscrazybonesfans.

He Just Wasn't Havin' It!

Two nights ago was little man's Holiday Program at pre-school.  We had been preparing for it for quite sometime and he was very excited, as were we.  I had long conversations with him about making sure he sings the right words to the songs and not Jingle Bells, Batman Smells (thank you older sister) and We Wish You a Merry Cheesecake (thank you Pandora).  He got to wear a shirt he picked out, a green button down, also known in our house as handsome guy shirt, and his new shoes.  My husband got off work early and both my mother and mother in law came to watch.  What you have to understand about my son is that you really don't know what you are gonna get at any given time.  His last school performance (only I attended, it was during the school day) he was singing and dancing, and encouraging his friend who was not singing, to sing.  I was expecting similar enthusiasm this time around.  I had to leave him in his classroom with his teacher and classmates so that they could line up, and then I went to the gym to find my seat.  Now I'm not exactly sure what happened in the 10 minutes that I did not see him, but when the kids walked out, he was not happy.  In fact, he was in full pout mode.  So this is what we got from him during the program.....

And so on, and so on....then he just sat down and pouted some more.  My guess is that he didn't get to stand by someone that he wanted to stand by and that just started it all.  After they sang, Santa made a surprise visit and that just freaked him out even more.  He has always been fine with Santa until this year, this year he is scared.  Well no use getting mad over what I can't control, this will definately be a Holiday Program I will never forget.



W-W-W-Winners!

Yes ladies and gentlemen, only 5 days 'til Christmas and the insanity here at my house has reached a new level.  I'm telling ya, all I want to do is sit around by the fire with my family sipping hot cocoa, but right now, this mom is on Mission Make Christmas Happen.  Ok, so I exaggerate a little but I could use a couple of extra hours in the day.  So on to winners.  The first winner is for the flash giveaway (that was longer than a flash)

The winner of the Rock N Learn Dance With the Animals is #5 Beth Elderton
The winner of the Pokemon Prize Pack is #6 Singlewith3
The winner of the Chick-fil-A Prize Pack is #1 Janet W.

Congrats, emails have been sent so check (check your spam if you didn't get it)

Helping Our Furry Friends #CBias #ILoveMyK9

About a week or two ago I told you all about my shopping trip to get items for a gift basket which we were going to donate to Tails Humane Society, and if you missed it, you can read about it here.  Well, we got it all put together and the kids were super excited about going to deliver it.  So here it is...

Little man didn't want to part with the squeaky toys, he kept sneaking in a squeak here and there.

They were so proud of it and couldn't wait to take it there.  I didn't check their hours so the first time we drove out there it was closed.  So the second time I made sure to get online and see if they were open before we went all the way out there.



Here they are in front of Tails, ready to deliver the goodies!

The place was packed, I think they were doing some special adoption event for cats and kittens, the vlounteers were really busy and all we really got was a quick thank you.  For me its not a big deal, I guess I just wanted the kids to feel like the donation was appreciated.  They were quickly distracted by all the little furrballs so it was ok.  We also went in the back to visit the doggies.  There were no puppies but lots of adult dogs who were waiting to be adopted.  One sweet yellow lab was in a large room and laying on his bed with the saddest eyes.  It broke my heart seeing him there, he looked like he missed his owner, or didn't understand why he had been abandoned.  I hope that sweet guy finds a family to love him.  The kids wanted to take him home but we just can't right now.  Hopefully all the pups there are enjoying their treats and toys as well.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias all opinions, ideas and photos are my own.



Got Our Groove On with ABBA You Can Dance!

We wanted to take some time out from the Holiday craziness to just have some fun.  Originally, I had wanted some of our friends to join us for this laid back, fun night, but with every one we know trying to get ready for Christmas, shopping 'til they drop and visiting with family....it ended up just us.  What I came up with was the Pizza, Pajama, and ABBA You Can Dance party!  Why ABBA?  Because the music is great, I have loved it since I was a kid, and now my kids like it too.

MMMMmmmmm....Greasy pizza!  Think I ate about four slices!

Boo Boo made some decorations (it says Dance Time!)

First up was Alexis and Maddox, oh yeah, check out the disco ball by the fire place.  Their favorite songs are Mama Mia and Marionette, I think they're hillrious to watch.  Little man didn't even mind too much that in some of the some of the songs he had to be a girl.



I was next.  Yep I got a solo role, and check out those jammies.  This game had us in stitches, trying to figure out the moves.  We actually started naming some of them ourselves, there's the snake and the choo choo and oh yeah, the tip toe!

Yes!  We even got Dad to dance, this never happens.  And he is smiling!  This game is so much fun, the moves are simple enough for kids to do but still so much fun.  There are 26 timeless songs to choose from, even the popular "Dancing Queen"  I love the fact that the words of the songs are on the screen, apparently I have been singing the wrong words to some of the songs.

This game is perfect for family game night, or a friend game night and you can buy it for $29.96 on Amazon.

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the http://www.clevergirlscollective.com/">Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.



In the Spirit of Giving Back #CBias #DisneyCFK

A week ago I finally found a giving tree, you know the kind that you take a tag from that has a childs age and interests or clothing size and you shop for them and bring it back.  I was looking for one for the simple service project I was working on for Disney Champions for Kids, so I finally got to go and shop for it.  I went to my local Wal Mart to stock up on Disney themed items to fill a stocking for a child in need.

The tag I took off of the tree was for a girl but when I started shopping I saw all the great deals on Disney merchandise (Cars2 stuff yeah!) that I started buying both boy and girl items.  I only bought one stocking but I knew all the things I got would not fit in there.

There was also a group of High Schoolers in the store at the same time as me that were shopping with their teachers, for needy children.  They were shopping with money rasied by a local organization.  The mood was awesome and very Christmasy.  It makes you feel so good that you are able to really make a child's day by doing something so easy, like shopping.

I wanted a Disney themed stocking but unfortunately this is all I had to choose from at my Wal-Mart.

Lots and Lots of Pretty Princesses!  I got two of these, Ariel and Tiana and they were priced so reasonably!

I also bought some soft, warm, Minnie Mouse Pajamas

Here is my cart prior to checking out, I put back that pink sweatshirt after I discovered it was damaged, it was the only one left too.

After I came home I went through all he stuff that I bought.  I had stuff for a boy and girl so I decided to make two "stockings" for the giving tree.  The other one was primarly Cars 2 stuff.  Since these items were going to the giving tree, they had to be unwrapped.  I sort of stacked them then tied them with a ribbon.  I had some other items I had collected for donating so we put everything in a big green tote bag, ready to deliver.

At first, Little man wanted to keep some of the toys but I explained to him a little the purpose for donating them, that some kids needed them more and that they did not have everything he had here at home.  After our talk he was ready to play Santa!

Sissy was all ready to go!

Here is the giving tree!

I'm hoping my kids learn something from this, that giving is more important than receiving, and that it is so important to help those around us.  To see all the photos from my shopping trip, you can check out my Google+ album by clicking HERE.

**This shop was compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  All opinions, ideas and photos are my own**

Flash Giveaway! Rock N Learn DVD!

Oh-Em-Gee, 10 days 'til Christmas!  I'm going to be doing some awesome Flash Giveaways, starting with one right now.  First, let me tell you all the boring stuff:  

     

This giveaway (as well as all future Flash Giveaways) is open to U.S. residents only, you must be 18 or older to enter.  Any prize not claimed within 48 hours will be given away to someone else, so check your email, including the spam folder.

Ok, now for the giveaway:

Ok, leave me a comment with your email address to be entered, that's all I need from you.  Giveaway will be over tonight at MIDNIGHT!!  Good Luck!

Win a Chick-fil-A Prize Pack!

Guess what, Chick-fil-A Cow Watches are now available in Kid’s Meals!  But wait, want to win one from me?  I'm giving away a Chick-fil-A prize pack consisting of

• Five Cow Watches!
• Two Chick-fil-A Plush Cows!

All you have to do is take the super short quiz below and then in a comment leave me your results and email address.  This is open for US residents ONLY.  When you are done, check out the other portion of the widget that gives you 10 Family Holiday Activities to make your Holidays super fun!

This giveaway will end on 12/18 (at midnight) so hurry up and enter!  I will be choosing a winner at random and emailing, winner will have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen.

Kidorable is not just great rain gear...

Anyone who has ever seen my kids rain gear always asks me where I got it, well its from Kidorable, of course.  They really have the cutest, well made and durable kids rain gear around.  But I don't know how many of you know that raingear is not the only products that they carry.  They have plenty of items to keep your little one warm this winter with super cute hats, gloves and scarves.

They have many styles for both boys and girls, and you really can't beat their prices.  I ordered my daughter some of the character gloves with the little people on the fingers, I remember having a similar pair when I was little and they were my favorite.  I'm putting them in her stocking and can't wait to see her face when she sees them.  Kidorable creates clothing items that children love because they're colorful and playful and stimulate their imaginations. 

You can head over to their site and take a Holiday Gift Buying quiz, its fun. quick, easy and educational, because it is disappointing to give a gift that a child is mesmerized with for 10 minutes, then never plays with again. But its even worse to give a gift that is never loved at all. It doesn't matter if you are giving toys or socks - the key is to find gifts with lasting play value.

So go check out their great selection and take a shot at the quiz, see how well you score!

Winners!

Can someone please slow down time??? 10 days til Christmas Eve, can it be?  I'm so not ready, I haven't even mailed cards yet, oh boy.  Ok I finally have winners to announce so ya-hoo!

Winner of the Kimochis giveaway is #4 Jennifer Brown

Winner of the Pet Cakes is #8 Dree Getz

Winner of the Silk Prize Pack is #4 JC

Winner of the Kidorable Umbrella is #25 Stephanie Phelps

Congrats, emails will be out shortly!

Nex Deals on Crocs!

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