A few weeks ago I post about an amazing young girl names Lulu Cerone.  At just 14 years old she has created her organization LemonAID Warriors which encourages others to fundraise and make a change.  Well Lulu was catching the attention of not just her peers but also the company that makes Monster High products.  If you think about it, it is a perfect partnership.  I mean Monster High dolls are unique and independent girls, and that is exactly what Lulu embodies.

To encourage other girls to create their own “fantastic” Philanthro-parties for fundraising, Monster High alum Emily-Anne Rigal of WeStopHate, as well as Lauren Pareskian and Molly Thompson of Kind Campaign, to help Lulu kick off “Ghouls Helping Ghouls.”  This new campaign’s focus is to help those share tips and tools, from one ghoul to another.

Do you have a tween who wants to give back? Through June 9th, Monster High will give Philanthro-party hosts an opportunity to win $1,000 to donate to the cause of their choice.  For more information, visit Ghouls Helping Ghouls.

In honor of Lulu’s efforts and her partnership with Monster High, I have an awesome Monster High Prize Pack to giveaway!

WIN IT:  (1) US winner will receive a Monster High Prize Pack

Need help entering a giveaway?  Check out my blog post for some help!

GIVEAWAY ENTRY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  I received $100 from Merck Consumer Care, and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience. This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Merck Consumer Care.

As a stay at home mom of three I honestly dread the summer.  Don’t get me wrong I love my kids but I feel so helpless in entertaining them all day long!  This summer I have decided to make a change.  I have made a list of everything I want to do with my kids, like a bucket list, and my goal is to do every one of them.  While I don’t have an endless wallet and admission for three kids to different places can add up fast, I had added a lot of free places to my list.  First off there are so many parks in our area that we haven’t visited, and my kids love exploring new parks just like they do an amusement park!  I had good intentions last year but we got busy or lacked energy.  This year though I think my kids are a better age to do things and I don’t want another summer to go by with us wondering what we really did!

When my boys’ teachers ask them “What did you do all summer?”  I want them to have answers!  Like I said though my list includes many free places and the ones that do cost money I will be looking for coupons or Groupon deals for.  Places like the different parks in the area, splash pads, activities at the library, even visiting the mall to walk around for a treat.  I will have three kids at home with me 7 days a week and I want them entertained and I am all about creating memories.

The Active Family Project is a campaign that was launched to help moms with family-friendly tips and advice.  It was created with partnership with Merck Consumer Care, Inc., a health and wellness initiative designed to help moms overcome their worries about doing it all and being their best.  The project wants moms to be active with the ones they love!  It includes resources for fun family-friendly activities, and enjoying a healthy and active lifestyle.

Don’t miss out on entering the Family Playdate Sweepstakes to win weekly prizes including a Family Beach Vacation Prize Pack!  Sweepstakes ends 11:59:59pm ET on 5/26/13.

VISIT:  Check out the Activity Finder and read more at www.activefamilyproject.com

Disclosure:  I was sent this product to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Honestly puppets creep me out but when I saw the new line from Lilliputiens at HABA, my mind was changed.  Lilliputiens is a company from Belgium where all the toys, patterns, fabrics and characters are 100% its own creations.  A team of five young and trend-conscious moms create the soft toys that any child is sure to love.  With different shapes, colors and noises, these hand sewn and handmade products are adorable.

Here are some of the Lilliputiens products from the new collection for 2013:

I got the chance to check out Reversible Snow White 8″ Story Doll with my little one, and honestly I want to keep it on my desk as it is that amazing!  First off I chose this doll because I love Snow White and I want my daughter to grow up listening to her princess story. With this puppet I can tell the story of Snow White by showing off Snow White, the Wicked Witch AND the Evil Queen!  Okay so the dwarves and Prince Charming are missing but this one doll is like three dolls in one!  By just flipping this soft handmade doll inside out or folding over a piece, the doll easily transforms.  It is not a scary puppet or creepy, but a beautiful doll that any child will definitely cherish (or adult Snow White fan like me.)  My 22-month old, Olivia, carries her Snow doll everywhere with her.  She is amazed at how the doll transforms and loves how I can make the story interactive for her.  While this doll is for ages 9 months and up, I think a child up to 5 or so would enjoy it as well.

So the Reversible doll is a little on the expensive side ($47.99) but I look at it like it is three dolls in one and with the craftsmanship, its worth it.  I am thinking of getting the Reversible Red Riding Hood doll next as that doll transforms into Red Riding Hood, Grandma and the Big Bad Wolf!

BUY IT:  Check out the new Lilliputiens products at www.HABAusa.com as well as HABA products can be found nationwide at over 1,000 U.S. specialty retail stores and in specialty catalogs and websites.

Disclosure:  I was sent this product to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

My kids love candy, I know shocking right?! Well Radz has come out with an interactive toy, candy and online expierence for kids.  First you start with a Radz candy dispenser featuring one of the new friends - Scratch the Tiger, Bandit the Zebra, Spanky the Monkey and Squeak the Penguin.  They are part of the new Radz Gone Wild collection which includes candy dispensers, mystery glasses, lanyards, candy refills, and a Radz Plus code that accesses free Apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

So first we started with a Radz candy dispenser which I filled with the citrus candy pellets.  The candy is available in Orange Burst, Apple Smash, Strawberry Splash and Radzberry Crush.  Then we attached a lanyard accessory and then added on the mystery glasses!

We haven’t used the code online yet at www.RadzWorld.com but I love that added bonus is offered!  Its like an interactive Pez dispenser!  When I was little, Pez dispensers were a must have with their little pop out candy bits, and now my children can live their own collectible candy experiences!  Filling these dispensers are super easy, even my kids figured it out.  Just twist the hair and pour the candy in.  We did it over a bowl since it will spill while your pouring and we didn’t want to waste any candy!  My kids thought it was so silly how then the candy dispensed out the animals mouth!

The online world of Radz was designed for tech savvy preschoolers and older kids who are looking for a safe online world.  Each of the Radz packages include an access code to get started online playing games.  There are different games and activities for kids to check out featuring their favorite Radz characters.

Overall, I love the concept and functionality of the new Radz World candy dispensers.  They are adorable, fun and best of all reasonably priced.  They are perfect treats for kids and if your kids are like mine they won’t want to take them off even when they’re out of candy!  The dispensers can be clipped on belt loops, lanyards, backpacks or whatever else your child wants to hook it on!  Oh and in case you’re worried about an allergy like me, Radz candy is produced in North America and is gluten-free, peanut-free and kosher certified.

Stay Connected with Radz World:

BUY IT:  Look for the Radz Gone Wild collectibles for $3.99 to $5.99 at retailers near you from Hobby Lobby to Hallmark franchises to Cracker Barrel.

WIN IT:  (1) US winner will receive two Radz Gone Wild Candy Dispensers

Need help entering a giveaway?  Check out my blog post for some help!

GIVEAWAY ENTRY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Click on the Image to Enter Giveaway that ENDS TONIGHT!

DVD “Team Umizoomi: Animal Heroes” (Ends 5/22)

DVD “Nickelodeon Favorites: Once Upon a Rhyme” (Ends 5/22)

• Soft Scrub Mold & Mildew Gel (2 Winners Ends 5/24)

• Chick-fil-A Free Salad Coupons (Ends 5/24)

• Book “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum” ( US/CAN Ends 5/27)

• Pampers Diapers & Wipes (Ends 5/27)

• Ergo Comfort Rug by GelPro (Ends 5/27)

• Mother’s Day Prize Pack -$130 Value (Ends 5/27)

• Book “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum” ( US/CAN Ends 5/27)

• The Young Scientists Club Kit (Ends 5/27)

• $50 Visa GC & Frito-Lay Prize Pack (Ends 5/29)

• Bratz Doll (Ends 5/31)

• DVD “Pocoyo: Pocoyo’s World” (Ends 5/31)

• $50 Visa GC (Ends 5/31)

• Caillou Bath Time Activity Set (Ends 5/31)

• Little Caesars $15 GC (Ends 6/3)

• Red Robin $25 GC (Ends 6/5)

• Bkeepsakes Personalized Children’s Book (Ends 6/5)

• Book “Because I’m Your Dad” (Ends 6/5)

• “Lots and Lots of” Trucks & More DVDs (Ends 6/5)

Disclosure:  I was sent this product to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have two boys and I don’t know about other kids, but my boys could watch trucks and cars for hours!  I found a DVD for them featuring construction trucks and honestly I have seen that DVD more than I’d like to admit, I can even recite all the words and songs.  So I did a search online for more videos and found Marshall Publishing and Promotions, Inc., a media company that recently trademarked “Lots and Lots of.”

I got the chance to check of some truck DVDs and my boys were over the moon when they saw them.  They were so excited to watch these real life trucks in action that I had to set up each of my sons in a different room so they could both watch the DVD they wanted.

LOTS AND LOTS OF MONSTER TRUCKS 2 DVD SET

THRILL TO OVER 2 HOURS OF SPECTACULAR, BONE-JARRING, EAR SHATTERING, MONSTER TRUCK CRASHES, FLIPS, ROLLOVERS, RACING, WHEELIES, FREESTYLING AND DONUTS FEATURING SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS TRUCKS IN THE WORLD! WITNESS THE AMAZING ACTION OF YOUR FAVORITE “OLD SCHOOL” ORIGINAL MUSCLE TRUCKS FROM THE EARLY 80’S TO TODAY’S HIGH-FLYIN SUPERCHARGED MEGA-MOTOR MACHINES! CRANK UP THE VOLUME AND LET THE HIGH VELOCITY SOUND TRACKS AND SUPERCHARGED SPECIAL EFFECTS TAKE YOU TO THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT!

DISC 1 – THE BIGGEST AND BADDEST You won’t believe your eyes as these “OLD SCHOOL” muscle machines fly through the air – flipping, twisting, tumbling and crunching their way to the ground with parts exploding everywhere! See all your favorite vehicles smash, crash, spin and roll out of control! Plus there’s mud-bogging, demo derby, motocross, daredevils, truck pulls and more! Modified Chevy Trucks and Ford Trucks like you’ve never seen before!

DISC 2 – TOUGHEST TRUCKS ON EARTH NOW IN WIDESCREEN! Get ready for the thrill of a lifetime as we capture the incredible freestyle and racing thrills and spills action of today’s hottest monster trucks! See Bigfoot®, Tailgator, Barbarian, Bounty Hunter®, Outlaw, Hot Tamale, Avenger®, Big Dawg, Double Trouble, Toxic, Equalizer and many more! Plus, out of this world freestyle Motocross, Tuff Trucks, Quads, the car crunching Transaurus, RC Trucks, Kid KJ and more! This is one monster truck experience you’ll never forget!

LOTS AND LOTS OF TRUCKS 2 DVD SET  - AS SEEN ON TV! – OFFER NOT IN STORES!

HARD WORKIN TRUCKS DVD Volume 1

Hey good buddies, no matter what your age, if you love trucks we guarantee you’ll love this giant new DVD collection! It’s jam-packed with lots and lots of ground-pounding, dirt-flying, close-up action! You’ll see trucks of every shape and size; there’s so many trucks in this program you’ll hardly be able to count them all – it’s the Biggest Truck Show on Earth!

You’ll thrill to the crunching power of massive steam shovels, watch in awe as mighty logging machines saw through massive trees in seconds and witness real fire-fighting rigs in action!

Plus, there’s tow trucks, toy trucks, and plenty of trucks and tractors from down on the farm! See everything from big-rigs on the road and garbage hauling trucks to giant dumpers and mini-dozers – you’ll find them all in this fantastic collection!

Spectacular camera footage combined with award-winning music by James Coffey and lots of real-life sounds make the thrilling action of these mighty machines a favorite among young and old alike!

PLUS BONUS SECTION ON THE HISTORY OF TRUCKING IN AMERICA!

MIGHTY TOUGH TRUCKS Volume 2 DVD LENGTH: 40 Minutes

If you love trucks, get ready for more of the most exciting truck action you’ll ever see! ‘Lots and Lots of Trucks” brings you closer than any other video program to witness the awesome action of the world’s biggest and most powerful trucks as they do their heavy work! No other videos bring you as many trucks in action as “Lots and Lots of Trucks” – it’s the biggest show on wheels!

You’ll see the big rigs rolling down the road – hauling, pulling and moving cargo of every kind. Then, visit a major truck manufacturing plant to see how some of the toughest trucks on earth are built.

“Lots and Lots of Trucks” takes you on location to watch in awe as big cranes, steam shovels, and heavy haulers work together on a major construction sight. Plus, you’ll also thrill to military trucks of every shape and size on the move over all kinds of rugged terrain! And, don’t forget there’s racing trucks, toy trucks, and more of the biggest diggers, dozers and dumpers in the world!

Spectacular camera footage combined with award-winning music by James Coffey and lots of real-life sounds make the thrilling action of these mighty machines a favorite among young and old alike!

These three DVDs have become my sons’ go to videos.  They love having these DVDs on whether they are just watching them or have them on in the background while they are playing with their trucks.  I love how I was able to satisfy both my kids, one loves construction trucks and the other monster trucks.  I have never seen a monster truck video before so this one was especially nice to find!  Each of the videos features just the trucks in action, no actors or in-appropriate dialogue.  There is music and sounds playing making your kids (or yourself) feel like you are right there watching them.  Honestly these DVDs are a great break from the regular cartoons they watch and they are somewhat educational.  My boys like to name the different trucks and I am amazed they can remember them all!  All three of the DVDs I received too are “As Seen on TV” ones, which we have seen commercials for and my boys are always enthralled by.  These DVDs are not available in stores either, which makes them extra special to get.

Don’t have a truck or monster truck fan?  Marshall Publishing also has DVDs all about Trains, Planes, Firetrucks, Animals, Spanish, Space and More!

Want to see the videos for yourself?  Check out their YouTube channel!

BUY IT:  Check out the Marshall Publishing and Promotions, Inc. to start shopping and I am sure you’ll find at least one (if not a lot) DVD for your child (or yourself!)

COUPON:  Get Free 1st Class Shipping for Monster Trucks using MMB2 and  Lots of Trucks using MMB3

WIN IT:  (1) US winner will receive a DVD of your choice from Marshall Publishing and Promotions! (subject to availabilty)

(Just one of the videos you can choose from!)

Need help entering a giveaway?  Check out my blog post for some help!

GIVEAWAY ENTRY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  I was sent this product to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Most of the time my boys are not shy, but when it comes to asking them questions they are quiet as a mouse.  When I ask “What did you do at school today?” it is not uncommon for me to get either no answer or a “nothing.”  I think the problem for my boys is they have had speech delays and are embarassed by their voices.  To get them more comfortable using their voices, I am constantly asking them questions and probing them in conversations.  Anything to get them thinking and speaking, I am all about!

A few months ago I posted about a company called Super Duper Publications and their products that I fell in love with, well now they have got me again with some more cool products!

All About You, All About Me Fun Deck

What is your name?
What do you like to do on rainy days?

These questions and more will help your students sharpen their ability to ask and answer basic questions. Students can use the 56 question cards to talk about themselves and learn about others. The deck includes basic questions, open-ended questions, content cards, and game ideas. Use the cards one-on-one or share them as a group. Cards measure 2 ½” x 3 ½” and are stored in a sturdy storage tin.

This is an awesome tin of questions for so many different reasons.  First it helps to spark conversations with your child, with questions that I wouldn’t have thought of.  It’s amazing how easily I draw a blank when asking my kids questions other than “How was your day?”  This tin offers 56 cards of questions that I can ask my kids or they could ask me!  It is a great game for the car or for kids to get to know their friends.  Ask a few or ask them all, and then store them nicely in a tin.  It is a great ice breaker or just a way to get to know your kids, at that time, and then ask them again later since their minds will change!

MagneTalk Early Classifying

It’s a magnetic revolution!!! Super Duper combined real photos with the ever-popular world of magnetics to make this first game in the MagneTalk series. Your students will definitely be “attracted” to this life-like game, as they improve their classifying, vocabulary, critical thinking, and fine motor skills.

Early Classifying has 5 categories:

• Transportation – car, bus, motorcycle, airplane, boat, helicopter, fire engine
• Clothing – sneakers, socks, jeans, bathing suit, shirt, cap, coat
• Animals – cat, dog, cow, horse, lizard, zebra, chicken
• Food – apple, grapes, corn, peas, pizza, hamburger, cookie
• Around the Home – chair, sofa, cup, cell phone, bed, lamp, television

This innovative game includes:

• Colorful magnetic game board (14″ x 18″)
• 35 photo magnetic, vinyl tiles (1 ½” x 1 ½”) with seven different photo magnets for each of the 5 categories
• Game ideas

Lately I have been looking for activities for my 4 year old to get him ready for kindergarten.  He is a smart little cookie and I want him to keep thinking and working on things.  The MagneTalk Early Classifying board is a magnetic board where your child needs to classify different items to the category they belong in.  I put out all the little pieces and explained the different categories and let my son put the items where he thought they belonged.  It was interesting to see his logic, such as how he wanted to put all the items in Around the Home category because technically they are all items inside the home!  After he classified the items, we talked about their names and just about the items’ uses.  It was a great activity and one that surprisingly he wants to do over and over.  It may seem like a simple board and that once your kids do it once they won’t want to do it again, but my 4 year old loves to keep challenging himself.  Maybe he wants to see how fast he can classify everything or other ways he can classify the items, but he definitely is getting his use out of it.

Overall, Super Duper Publications has won me over.  They have so many amazing products and the best part is they offer Free Shipping with a $20 order!  The only problem I have is there are too many great products that it is hard to narrow it down!

Stay Connected with Super Duper Publications:

BUY IT:  Check out Super Duper Publications to start shopping and don’t forget they offer Free Shipping with a $20 minimum order!

Disclosure:  I was sent this product to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Because I’m Your Dad

Author:  Ahmet Zappa

Published:  April 2, 2013

Binding:  Hardocover

Because I’m your dad, you can have spaghetti for breakfast, French toast for dinner, and rocky road ice cream in the bathtub.

In a text that’s both playful and loving, a father expresses his hopes and dreams for a one-of-a-kind relationship with his child. Whimsical monster characters bring the silly and sweet scenes to life and keep the book universal. The book’s ending, a moving tribute to the author’s father, guarantees intergenerational appeal.

Because I’m your dad, I will do all of these things for you and more . . .
because that’s what my dad did for me.

I absolutely love this book!  It is not only adorably illustrated but the wording in the book is so perfect.  It made me smile, almost cry (because my kids are growing up so fast) and laugh.  My kids laughed and laughed at the monster dad and his son.  My husband loves that this is a special book for him and our boys.  It seems like so much is geared towards moms, that this is so cute for dads and their children.  Wether a boy or girl, this book is perfect for any child.  It is a hardcover picture book that is a quick read, but long enough to tell a story to children.  It also sparked up conversation with my kids over other things that their dad would do, such as “Because I’m your dad I will jump on the trampoline with you” “… play Skylanders with you.”  This would make a perfect Father’s Day gift too for any dad!

Here are some cute Dad Coupons to give to a dad in your life for Father’s Day or just because!  (Click them to print)

BUY IT:  Look for Because I’m Your Dad on Amazon for $15.99 (on sale now though!)

WIN IT:  (1) US winner will receive a Because I’m Your Dad Prize Pack that includes Monster Bowling Game and a copy of Because I’m Your Dad

 GIVEAWAY ENTRY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  I was sent this product to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have said it before, but I am not crafty.  Now yes I can follow directions and am obsessed with re-creating my pins from Pinterest, but I need guidelines to follow.  I wish I was that crafty mom that can look a cardboard toilet paper tube and a plastic lid and come up with a whole craft from that, but I can’t.

WummelBox is a company that has made it easy for moms like me that want fun crafts and activities for their kids, but need some help getting started.  Each WummelBox contains everything needed to immediately begin creating and exploring.  It is a kit that is full of 3-4 themed projects, such as Nutrition, Music or Color & Light.  They are designed to inspire kids and spark ideas.  It is a subscription service too where you can sign up so your child (or as a gift) can receive a WummelBox each month to get going, but you can buy just one WummelBox if you want to try it out first.

I got the chance to try out a WummelBox with my kids (6, 4 and 1) and they had a blast!  Now first I will say I did have to help them get started, but then again its a great way to spend time with your kids.  I showed them how I did the different steps and I could tell they were soaking it all in.  The kit we tried was themed around music.  We made a drum, a chiming set, and played a game where we tried out different sounds of things.  It is a simple kit with nothing too fancy, but it is very well put together and encompasses great ideas inside.

The kit is not something either that we will use once and never again, the pieces can be used over and over like regular toys after we create them.  Without our WummelBox though I would have never thought of making the items we did.  The box inspired me to look around and show my kids other ways to create music and sounds.  We basically spent the entire day talking about different sounds and noises.  I plan on putting this box away when their done with it and breaking it out in a few weeks and going through the music “lesson” again.  That’s if they even let me put this set away!

Overall, I think WummelBox is a great idea and any child would love to have it.  I know my boys were super excited to get it in the mail and already asked when the next one would come!  I love that they are not throwaway craft ideas, but rather ones my boys want to play with again and again.  The first kit even came with scissors, so we have them for the crafts!  WummelBox is designed for children ages 3 to 8 years old and created by experts.

BUY IT:  Check out the WummelBox website to get started, with the boxes ranging from $34.95 for 1 box to try out, $24.95 per month for a 3-month subscription, or $19.95 per month if you sign up for a year!