Loopz Game by Mattell

Do you remember the classic Simon Game from the 80's?  Ok, maybe I'm dating myself, but it was a fun game. If you found Simon as addicting as I did, you better check out the Loopz Game!

Loopz is a game that involves changing patterns of light and music. Loopz tests skills like reflex, timing, and memory - all in one game! Think you are up for the challenge?

This game is made of four semi-circle rings that, depending on the game, flash in a patterns or different sequence's of light and music for you to follow.  Your job is to repeat the pattern correctly as you pass your hand through the semi-circles. 

There are 7 games in all (Repeat the Beat, Rhythm and Flow, Versus Mode, Reflex Master, Musicology, Freestyle DJ, and Music Studio).  There are several levels of play as well.  The longer you play, the more games you complete, the faster the patterns appear and the more difficult they become.  Don't worry, you get three chances to fix any mistakes before the game is over.  There is also a single player feature and multi player feature for up to four players.

I had so much fun playing this game with my husband.  I think our favorite was the reflex master.  I loved the speed challenge as the game progressed.  We played several times, and I am proud to say, this is one game I actually beat him in! 

This game helps to keep your  reflexes and memory in check.  Not only is it good for adult memory retention, imagine how this advanced memory game helps children advance in their memory and thinking skills.  This game will really get the family moving, and all this while having fun!

Loopz is for ages 7 and up.  It retails for $26.99.  Loopz is also on the Kmart's Fab 15 holiday list.  You can shop for any of the items on the Fab 15 list at local Kmart stores nationwide or online anytime at http://www.kmart.com/. Toys featured on the Kmart Fab 15 list range from $14.99 to $79.99.  Starting on Sept. 25, and for the remainder of the holiday season, families are invited to go online to www.kmart.com/fab15 and vote for their kids’ favorite Fab 15 toy. Each time families submit their vote they will have a chance to win one of the Fab 15 toys which will be given away every day. Plus, they’ll be registered to win the grand prize - a FULL set of the Fab 15!

See the list below for the full list of Kmart’s Fab 15 Toy List!

1. Barbie Video Girl
2. Cuponk
3. Dance Star Mickey
4. Explore with Dora & Perrito (sold exclusively at Kmart)
5. FurReal Go Go My Walkin’ Pup
6. Hot Wheels R/C Stealth Rides
7. Lego Atlantis Exploration HQ
8. Loopz
9. Moon Dough Magic Barnyard
10. Nerf Stampede
11. Paper Jamz Guitar
12. Tonka Ricochet R/C
13. Toy Story 3 Buzz Lightyear Deluxe Action Wing Pack
14. V Reader
15. Zoobles Gift Pack

For more information about this awesome game, visit playloopz.com.

Kmart provided me with the item above in order to facilitate the review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Mega Bloks Play n' Go Musical Train and 3 in 1 Fire Truck Ride On Review

I have found that at 18 months, kids want to play with toys that may be appropriate for a 3 year old, but either are developmentally or physically too young to be able to play with a toy safely.  Safety is one of my main concerns and when it comes to Mega Bloks, I have no concerns.  The Mega Bloks are prefect for little hands!  They are also the perfect size not to be swallowed.  I have finally found a brand of toys perfect for my little guy that I feel comfortable letting him play with on his own.

Mega Bloks Play'n Go Musical Train  and Mega Bloks: 3-in-1 Fire-Truck Ride-On have got to be two of the cutest toys for the 1+ crowd this holiday season.  We LOVE Mega Bloks in our house.  Mason started getting into Mega Bloks about 2 months ago and he has been full steam ahead!  These are the first Mega Bloks play set I have introduced him to and I can honestly tell you that he has NOT stopped playing with them since I received them for review.  

If you are looking for a toy for your little one that is fun and can be safely played with, check out the Mega Bloks Play'n Go Musical Train.  This "farm-themed" railway has all the necessities any little budding farmer needs.  Included in this 28-piece buildable railway, you will find a train with 2 train cars attached, a Farmer, a Cow and a Sheep figurine, the railway track, archway and blocks to create a tunnel for the train to go through, complete with swing doors.  There are also special accessory blocks like bunnies, vegetables, and a duck crossing.

I set up the train tracks for Mason and he immediately pressed the smoke stack and off the train went!  He followed the train around the track wiggling to the song, "Old McDonald".  The train chugged around and whistled as it went.  I love the amount of possibilities possible with the Play'n Go Musical Train.  I can easily see Mason spending hours of imaginative play with the train and recreating the tracks over and over again.  He also took the train off the  track and let chug around on our hardwood floors.  It moved so it easily without the track too!

The Play'n Go Musical Train retails for $29.99 and is appropriate for ages 1 and up.

Have a cat stuck in a tree?  Your little one can imagine they are a real fire fighter while riding to the rescue with sirens calling all around the backyard!  With endless possibilities, the 3 in 1 Red Fire Truck will make any little kid happy. 

Mega Bloks: 3-in-1 Fire-Truck Ride-On is one of the best ride on toys we have come across for Mason.  This is a 3 in 1 Fire Truck toy that has a large sterning wheel, lights, fire truck siren sounds, and a "open-top bed" that can hold an array of toys, blocks, balls, or just about anything else.  Mason likes to collect stones from our backyard and push the truck back over to the patio to dump the stones all over. 

This Fire Truck also can be used  as a "push-behind walker" to help early walkers get around on their own.  Mason is a very steady runner these days, but he still love to push his toy truck around instead of riding on it.  He also loves to sit and ride on it, all while playing with the fire hose lever activating the lights and sounds. 

I love that you can play and build with additional Mega Bloks right in the bed of the truck.  This is a nice feature that offers even more play possibilities.  This fire truck is really a perfect size.  Little ones can easily climb on and off the truck by themselves.  This will definitely help develop and strengthen those leg muscles!

Mega Bloks: 3-in-1 Fire-Truck Ride-On is perfect for children 1 and older and retails for $39.99.  It includes 11 pieces in all. 



Mega Bloks is celebrating its 25th birthday by giving families the chance to instantly win $25,000 for their children's future.  How do you win?  Purchase an 80 piece Mega Bloks bag and you could win one of  25 Mega Bloks prize packs valued at $500 each, as well as offering them $5 off their next Mega Bloks purchase,  From October 1 to November 30, 2010.  There are two ways to enter and win actually - in-store and online. At all major retailers in North America, participants can simply purchase the award-winning 80-piece Mega Bloks bag and peel off their in-pack peel off contest card to instantly get the chance to win the grand prize of $25,000 for their children's future or one of 25 Mega Bloks prize packs valued at $500. Participants also have another chance to win one of 25 Mega Bloks prize packs valued each at $500 by going online and registering at www.megabloks.com/25. Good Luck!!!!!!!!

Mega Brands provided me with the product reviewed above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game Review and Giveaway (Closed)

We are quickly becoming big Dinosaur Train fans in my house.  For years, Mason's older cousin is into dinosaurs of all kinds, shapes, and sizes.  Now when he comes over to visit with Mason, they will sit together and watch Dinosaur Train.  Seeing this happening, I was very excited to have the opportunity to review, Pressman's new Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game.

Right off, the packaging is eye catching!  You have the bright and colorful character of Dinosaur Train right on the cover!  The game board and playing pieces are just as attractive.  The greens, blues, and yellows used to create the landscape and train tracks are very inviting.  It makes you want to jump on in and get the game started!

To start off, you have to choose a familiar character from the show - Buddy, Tiny, Shiny, Don, Cory, Tank, or Mr. Conductor.  The object of the game is to move along the tracks through the three dinosaur eras, Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous.  You win the game by advancing closer to and being the first player to reach the nest.  Mr. Conductor tells you how many spaced to move.. There are also "Stopwatch" spaces that let you move closer to the nest and "Dinosaur Crossing" spaces that send you backwards.  The first player to reach the nest wins!

The Dinosaur Train All Aboard game is a great game that the whole family can enjoy.  It is age appropriate for the 4 and up crowd and it engages children to continue practicing numbers, counting skills, and critical thinking skills.  If you are already a fan of Dinosaur Train, you will easily see how this game brings the educational aspects of the show to the game.

This game is recommended for ages 4 and up and is for 2-6 players.  It includes the game board, pocket watch spinner, 7 movers, 6 stand movers, and the rules of the game.  It retails for about $12.00.
  

If you are not yet familiar with the hit TV show, Dinosaur Train, here is a little bit of information about it from 360 Marketing and Communications Company:

"Dinosaur Train embraces and celebrates the fascination that pre-schoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains.  This top-rated, award-winning series, which airs on PBS KIDS, encourages basic scientific thinking skills as the audience learns about life science, natural history, and paleontology.

The stars of Dinosaur Train are Buddy, and adorable preschool age Tyrannosaurus Rex, and his adoptive Pteranodon family who board the Dinosaur Train to embark on adventures to prehistoric jungles, swamps, volcanoes, and oceans.  Paleontologist, Dr. Scott Sampson, is also featured."

Check out more about Dinosaur Train at www.pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain.  You will find additional learning resources for parents and teachers like activities, games, videos, and more.



 

Congratulations to Danielle M!  The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond.  If no response is received within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be chosen.

There are four things you can do to earn an entry.  Please fill out the form for EACH entry, including each bonus entry.  You may enter once per day, including multiple entries.  Multiple entries other than daily entries will be deleted.  This Giveaway will run from 12:30pm on 11/8/10 to 12:30pm on 11/15/10.



Jim Henson and Pressman Toys provided me with the product reviewed above in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Playmobil's Advent Calendar Pony Ranch Review

Growing up, Advent Calendars were always a big deal in my house.  Every year we would buy an Advent Calendar in anticipation of the Christmas season.  I had to take turns with my sister opening the numbered doors and I could only imagine what waited to be uncovered!  Would it be a sparkly picture or a real treat, like a piece of chocolate, waiting for me behind the little paper door?

This is definitely a tradition I will carry on in my family for Mason and Playmobil is helping to make that happen.  Introducing Playmobil's new Pony Ranch Advent Calendar for your Advent Calendar adventure this holiday season.  This Pony Ranch Advent Calendar will bring smiles to both girls and boys alike as it helps to countdown the days until Christmas.  Like a traditional Advent Calendar, it contains 24 surprise items, one for each day of Advent. 

Included is also a pony ranch backdrop so you can create the pony ranch scene as the figures are unveiled from the box.  The Pony Ranch Advent Calendar also features a pull out windows that hold the Playmobil figures.  Other accessories included in this play set are three figures, horse, ponies, donkey, mule, stable equipment, and pony stalls, just to name a few.  What is particularly nice about this play set is when the holidays are over, it can remain out for year-round fun!

The Advent Calendar Pony Ranch is recommended for ages 4 and up.  It retails for $18.99.  Make sure you get yours today so you have time to create a new tradition or keep and old one going.

For more information, don't forget to check out http://www.playmobil.com/index.html.



Playmobil provided me with the item above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Pinkalicious Review (Pinkalicious Doll, Book, Activity Easel)

I am new to the Pinkalicious trend that little girls everywhere have already fallen in love with!  Now, I too, have fallen in love with all things pink.  By creator Victoria Kann, Pinkalicious celebrates all things pink and inspires girls that being themselves is just perfect!

Pinkalicious Cloth Doll-18 inch

This Pinkalicious Cloth Doll is just one of the sweetest dolls I have seen yet.  She is so soft and is just begging to be played with!  She is dressed is a beautiful pink fairy princess dress that is made of the softest satins I have felt on a doll.  Her angel wings look like they are covered in lace and are fluffy and soft.  She is complete with a magic star wand and tiara to finish off her ensemble.  Little girls will spend hours playing with this special doll while recreating scenes from the Pinkalicious stories.  This doll is for children ages 3 and up and retails for $19.97.  It is available at Walmart. 



Pinkalicious: School Rules! (I Can Read Book 1)

Pinkalicious: School Rules is about what Pinkalicious likes and does not like about school.  She misses her unicorn, Goldilicious, and decides to bring her to school one day.  It continues with Goldie getting into trouble and Pinkalicious must teach her the rules if she is to stay in school for the day.  Pinkalicious teaches Goldie rules like being quite at reading time, no pushing others while standing in line, and playing nicely with other kids.  This is a great book that reinforces expected behavior, not only in school,
                                                       but in social situations generally. 

Pinkalicious: School Rules is a great book for early readers in Kindergarten or older.  On the inside page of the book, there is an explanation of the 5 Levels of reading the Pinkalicious series offers.  School Rules is a Level 1 book which explains, "The Beginning Reading Series has short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts for children eager to read on their own".

Pinkalicious: School Rules retails for $3.99 and can be purchased at places like Walmart, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders.



Pinkalicious Activity Easel



When I was a little girl, I had a glitter sticker collection from Fluf-N-Stuff.  I used those stickers to decorate my drawings, coloring books, diary...you name it, I glitter stickered it!  Pinkalicious has done the same buy introducing their new Pinkalicious Activity Easel.  What little girl doesn't love the color pink and being creative with stickers, paper, glitter glue and markers? 

Check out this Pinkalicious Activity Easel.  This kit contain everything any little girl needs to draw, create, or share with her friends and family.  When she is done drawing, she can display her art work on the easel for everyone to see. Pinkalicious just keeps coming up with great new and creative products.

The Pinkalicious Activity Kit  is for ages 4 and up.  It is available at Walmart and retails for $14.99.  This kit contains:

• 1 Easel
• 1 Drawing Pad with Pink Paper
• 1 Stencil Sheet
• 4 Markers
• 1 Glitter Glue Stick
• 2 Sticker Sheets

For more information about Pinkalicious, check out http://thinkpinkalicious.com/.  You will find more resources for parents and teachers, kids, product information, and information about the author, Victoria Kann.


Pinkalicious provided me with the products above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Cra-Z-Cookn' Cotton Candy Maker by Cra-Z-Art

When I was little, I had the Snoopy Sno Cone Machine.  I loved sno cones so much, I actually remember setting up my sno cone machine one summer day so I could try to sell them!  I love cotton candy too, but I didn't have a cotton candy maker.  After trying the Cra-Z-Cookn' Cotton Candy Maker, I wish I had.

If you love cotton candy as much as I loved sno cones, the Cra-Z-Cookn' Cotton Candy Maker is for you.  I have to be honest, I have not had cotton candy in YEARS, but I have a feeling that cotton candy will become a staple once Mason realizes the sugary goodness.

I was particularly interested in this product because the cotton candy makers claim it "makes REAL cotton candy REAL fast".  Can it be that easy?  The answer is a resounding, "YES!", it is that easy.

Assembly of the Maker was a matter of connecting the plug, plugging it in, twisting the bowl to the ON position and letting it heat up.  There are suction cups on the bottom of the machine, so it securely stays in place while you are using it.  Once it is heated and ready to go, all you have to do is slowly add the floss sugar mixture into the column cap and watch the cotton candy appear!  Don't forget the paper wand to hold your cotton candy treat.  It takes a little practice to get the perfect cotton candy shape, but with practice, it shouldn't be too hard.

The cotton candy maker was so easy to use and so much fun.  We tried the Banana flavor and it tasted great!  I can tell you it tasted so good, my husband ate my stick of cotton candy and I had to make myself another one. 

The whole experience really brought back memories of being a kid at the circus, cotton candy in hand.  The whole process was pretty quick and there was hardly any mess.  A little sugar ended up on the counter after the first pour of the sugar floss, but once the machine started producing the cotton candy, all the sugar stayed in the bowl.  The machine also broke down easily for cleanup.

The Cra-Z-Cookn' Cotton Candy Maker is great for kids aged 10 and up.  This is a fun toy to keep at home for rainy days, movie night, or would be great to bring out for parties.  Believe me, it will be a huge hit with the kids.  It retails for $39.99.

The Cra-Z-Cookn' Cotton Candy Maker includes the Cotton Candy Maker unit, Power Pack, Paper Cones Tool, and Instructions.  I wish the Cotton Candy Maker came with 1 pack of sugar floss as a starter pack, but refill sets are available.  They retail for about $6.99.

Don't forget to check out more cool products by Cra-Z-Art on their website at: http://www.cra-z-art.com/products.php

Cra-Z-Art provided me with the product above in order to facilitate the product review.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Homemade Silly Goop

This is a fun activity for kids and parents alike!  Just be sure your child is old enough to know not to stick a handful of this in their mouth!

SILLY GOOP

Materials

• 1 cup liquid corn starch
• 2 cups glue
• Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

• Start with the liquid corn starch in a bowl
• Add in the glue.
• Mix with hands.
• Add food coloring and mix well.