Rave and Review

Free Sheet Battery Offer with Sony VAIO S Series Laptop {$150 ARV ends 12/31}

Are you in the market for a new laptop?  Check out this awesome deal that includes one of the most raved about laptops of the year and the amazing sheet battery, which gives you power all day!  Whether you travel a lot and need your laptop for long stretches of time or you simply like to go cord-free at home, the Sony sheet battery will soon become your new laptop must-have. 

Unlike other extended life batteries, the Sony sheet battery is so slim and lightweight that it's barely perceptible when it's attached to the laptop over the internal battery.  Since the Sony VAIO S Series is one of the lightest in its class and the sheet battery adds a negliable weight, you will be as surprised as I was that it adds some serious power to an already amazing 6 hour battery life.  Not only does it give you a whopping 12 hours of power, it also has a great design that spreads the battery out over the entire base of the laptop, giving you a balanced work surface and a streamlined laptop that can fit into snug laptop cases, carry-ons, and briefcases.

Amazing, right?  So, what are you waiting for?  For a limited time the sheet battery is available for FREE {$150 ARV} when you buy a VAIO S 15.5" before 12/31 at retailers like Sony Style, Amazon, NewEgg.com, HH Gregg, Fry’s, Tiger Direct, and several other retailers across the country!

Here are some details on the deal that goes through 12/31 - www.sony.com/batteryoffer.

Sony VAIO S Series Features:

• Intel^® Core i5 or i7 processor for visibly smart performance
• Genuine Windows^® 7 Home Premium (other Windows editions available)
• Up to 12 hours battery life (with free extended sheet battery)¹
• 15.5" LED backlit Full HD display (1920 x 1080)
• AMD Radeon graphics with up to 1GB VRAM offers premium performance
• Available solid state drives for rapid boot-ups and quicker application access
• Type in low light with the backlit keyboard with integrated number pad
• Available with Blu-ray Disc or CD/DVD player/burner
• Protect your PC's data with fingerprint sensor and TPM
• USB 3.0 technology (transfer data up to 10X faster than USB 2.0)
• Starting at $999.99

A big thank you to Microsoft and Sony for sharing this special with us.  Stay tuned for additional posts about the Sony VAIO S Series and Microsoft SkyDrive as we get a chance to check some of them out.

Squinkies Introduces Cars, Comics and Characters for Boys {Review & Giveaway}

I've talked before about how much my daughter loves Squinkies.  But, with all their pink packaging and princess-themed collections, what I didn't expect was how much all of her male friends would like them as well.  It's true - they didn't mind a bit that they were originally marketed towards girls, they just liked the toys and wanted to play with them as well. 

And, can you blame them?  I've gone on record stating that if I was 20 years younger I know I would own the entire Squinkies Surprize Inside collection and that has become even more true as the collection of Squinkies available has grown to include just about every character I loved growing up. 

Perhaps you don't have a young child who begs you for Squinkies for your collection or you haven't been in a toy store for a few years and don't know Squinkies from Squash.  Here's what you need to know:  Besides being miniature {which is a huge weakness of just about every kid I know}, Squinkies also have a great extended play value as they can be jewelry, pencil toppers, and tiny little take anywhere toys that make them easy to transport to friends’ houses and more. 

Each set comes with a variety of squishable and squashable miniature Squinkies characters and accessories, each enclosed in a clear plastic ball that can be used to store them in or to add to playtime as well.  Similar to the plastic bubble that small toys are vended out of in arcades, they are about an inch and a half in diameter and house all the adorable little Squinkies as well as making them perfect for displaying, playing, and more.

And, now Squinkies are truly for every kid with the addition of their male-targeted series.  Even though these new car, comic, and character themed Squinkies are designed with boys in mind, like their pink counterparts, we found kids of both sexes adored them.  Like the Surprize Inside series, the new boy's Squinkies line comes with their own accessories such as cars, trucks, skateboards, superheroes, skulls, and more that are sure to provide hours of fun. 

Whether you have a Marvel Comics fan, a Hot Wheels aficionado, or a Disney's Cars fanatic, your little one is sure to be delighted by one of the new Squinkies sets.  They have certainly been a huge hit in our house and with every kid that has come to play - so much so that we bought a few of these sets for holiday gifts this year and plan on getting more throughout the year.  If you're looking to counteract some of the pink in your kiddos Squinkies collection or have a little boy who has been dying to play, you will definitely want to check out the new series from Squinkies here.

http://www.squinkies.com

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win some Squinkies Boys Pack of their very own!

To Enter: Let me know what Squinkies set your little one would love

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/zIwl9SvH} and tag and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like Squinkies on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Love the new boy themed @squinkies! Hoping I #win prize pack #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/zIwl9SvH

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On January 26th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US and Canadian addresses only.

The Squinkies for review and the giveaway were offered at no charge to us but all opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Zubels Organic Hand-Knit Toys

Are you constantly searching for organic toys for your kids?  Have you noticed that when searching for organic toys, many of the selections that pop up are for babies?  It’s extremely rare that you can find organic toys that can grow with your child and go from rattle to playmate, but that’s exactly what Zubels do. 

Their organic cotton, hand knit toys are made with eco-friendly dyes and are squeezably soft and ready for snuggling, but they are also ready for play time for years to come.  Zubel's newest line is especially play-ready with the addition of the fall and winter characters that includes football players, cheerleaders, and more to get your child imagining and playing.  Find the colors closest to your team's colors and get your little one some players and fans and you've got hours of fun while watching the game on TV.

We got to check out a football player from the Zubels line a few weeks back, and even though my son has no idea what football is or why his new little friend is wearing a helmet and protective gear, he does know how super soft and snuggly he is.  My daughter, on the other hand, realized quickly what he was and began showing him how to play {in her limited view of how the game is actually played}, which was pretty cute. 

Since he has arrived, our Zubels football player has been a constant during play time and at naptime as everyone wants to play with him and snuggle him.  I love that it’s such a quality made toy that I don’t worry about seams ripping, ends fraying, or anything else you run into with lesser-quality toys.  This is a truly awesome thing as I see a whole lot more play in his future.   

In addition to being eco-friendly, organic, adorable, and fun to play with, Zubels are also incredibly affordable.  I personally love this as it means that I can get more of them for my little guy and really add to the playtime fun.  And, judging from how much both of my kids love the Zubel we received, we will definitely be getting more.  For instance, that adorable pirate.  And Red Riding Hood.  And the mermaid.  Simply swoon-worthy, right?

Zubels start at under $15, which makes them completely affordable for baby showers, birthdays, and for starting a little collection for your little one.  Most designs come in various sizes as well to add to the fun.  See the full selection at zubels.us

A big thank you to Zubels and An Island Life for this review opportunity.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review. 

Help Make Your Home Cozy with Blinds.com

A couple months ago I read a piece of home buying advice that I wished I had heard back before we bought our house in 2006.  The author of the article was talking about the hidden costs of buying a home and at the top of her list was “count the damn windows”.  Her point  being that lots of light may be awesome during the day, and may even be the reason you fell in love with the house, but at night and during early morning, window coverings are going to be essential. 

Obviously, I did not follow her advice before we bought, and it wasn’t two days into home ownership that I was kicking myself.  Thousands were spent on window treatments right when we were already strapped for cash after moving.  Once we had all the blinds, shades, and drapes we needed for the necessary rooms, we decided to wait on the rest.  But, then when the guest room became a nursery in 2007, and we realized we would eventually need a solution in there, too.  By 2011 I was still scarred from the window treatments shopping that I still hadn’t gotten around to getting a permanent solution for controlling the amount of light that was now waking my toddler far too early each day.

A few weeks ago Blinds.com came to my rescue, offering me a chance to finally complete my baby nursery – for my now 3 year old!  After spending some time on the site I thought I knew what I was going to order and was ready to buy some white faux wood blinds when I started debating about whether I wanted to go with a contrast cotton tape, cordless, or traditional corded blinds.  Because my daughter’s room has a very specific color scheme and already has white furniture in it, I decided to take the advice from Blinds.com and order a few free samples of the wood colors and cloth tape colors we were considering. 

I was so excited when the samples arrived promptly, and even more so that they came in a plastic portfolio case {great for taking shopping or when decorating} and with a coupon to use for your order.  Can I just say how awesome that is?  I’ve ordered blinds samples before from other window treatment companies in order to match the wood grain in our upstairs TV room and never have I been so impressed with a company’s delivery.

After seeing the wood samples and cloth samples, I was incredibly happy I ordered them.  It’s hard to get the nuances of wood grain and color schemes when shopping online, especially since computer monitors can vary so greatly, hence why they recommend ordering samples before committing to purchasing. 

Once I had the samples in my daughter’s room, we realized that the color we had originally decided on was not the best match for the rest of her wood furniture and that going for a matching cloth tape instead of a contrasting color would probably be the best for her to “grow” with considering she might eventually grow out of her garden mural {sniff, sniff} and want a different color scheme entirely.  Having a more neutral palette would definitely be preferable to having to replace a perfectly good window treatment on color alone.

After we figured out the perfect color and measured {twice}, it was just a few minutes on the Blinds.com site to choose all the features we wanted on our new window treatments.  Once ordered, we got the blinds promptly and couldn’t wait to get them up to stop the early morning wake ups.  The blinds were easy to hang and it was minutes of prep before they were secured in place, the cord child-proofed, and valance installed. 

As soon as we got the blinds up in her room, I know we made the right choice in terms of color and type of treatment as the blinds blend seamlessly into her room décor – not distracting at all, but still very elegant and clean.  As beautiful as they looked once installed, I really wasn’t expecting my daughter to love them as much as she does.  She has a pretty adorable room, complete with custom mural and HearthSong Pink Wooden Kitchen, but once those blinds went up she was over the moon excited and was raving about her “special room”… had I known that new blinds would make her adore her room this much, we would have ordered from Blinds.com years earlier!

Thinking about getting some new window treatments for the New Year but not sure what to buy?  Check out their handy Blind-Finder, which can walk you through all of your choices and help you find the best fit for your house.  Bonus: you can get some great deals on Bali blinds and shades through the rest of this year.  Wouldn't 15% off look wonderful in your bedroom/bathroom/kitchen/livingroom?

A big thank you to Blinds.com for sending a blind to review as part of the Blinds MOB group.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Get $10 Credit with Amex Serve Account! {+ $100 Giveaway}

This post is sponsored by Serve from American Express. Sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 11 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account!

'Tis the season of splitting tabs, joint presents, and babysitters.  With dozens of birthdays between mid-November and Christmas, it feels like we're constantly out to eat or shopping as a group and then figuring out who still owes what, whether that check ever got cashed, or wondering why on Earth we forgot cash... again.  But Serve is out to change the way you handle these situations and make sure I'm never stuck creating an IOU spreadsheet ever again.

Serve is the brand new online and mobile money account from American Express that allows you to send and receive money easily, whether you are at home or on the go.  Instead of having to collect bank account information, write and cash checks, or caravan to an ATM, Serve allows you to send and receive money to and from any other Serve member using just their email address or cell phone number.

By managing your account online, through your smartphone, or through their convenient pre-paid card, you can ensure that you will always know how much money you have and control where it gets divvied up.  With your online dashboard you can get the complete overview of your accounts, subaccounts {great for kids, employees, etc}, as well as send and receive money and view past transactions.  Through your mobile app on your smartphone you can manage your account and handle transactions on the go.  Then, as a final convenience, Serve accounts also include a prepaid, reloadable card that you can use to make purchases online and offline wherever American Express is accepted in the US.

To try out the Serve mobile app, we invited two couples out to dinner with us to celebrate all of our birthdays {yes, we all have birthdays within weeks of each other}.  We decided to make a night of it and celebrate having babysitters in the middle of the holiday season so we booked a table at Barrio in Seattle and then bought tickets to a show afterwards.  We enjoyed a leisurely dinner and drinks by candlelight {fun fact: over 380 flickering candles make up the wall and table decor at Barrio}.  When the bill came we split it like normal but, then as a birthday surprise we then credited each of their Serve accounts.

In preparation for the night I had each of them sign up for a Serve account the week before telling them about the free $10 promotion for new signups.  Then when the time came to reimburse, all I needed was their email address or cell phone number and they had their money.  The best part about using Serve this way is that our friends actually accepted the credit on their accounts.  Since I am positive they wouldn't have accepted cash or a check and would have walked out the door insisting that they pay their way, I love that I now have a "sneaky" way to pay people back. 

Side note: All of our babysitters who refuse to let us pay you, beware - Serve is going to make sure that I have a way to reimburse you for donating your Saturday to watching my kiddos if it's the last thing I do!

Since setting up a Serve account is so easy, there's really no reason not to do it.  It's a great way to help you manage your money by making it easy to send and receive while still being safe and secure because it's backed by a trustworthy company, and it's a fabulous way to make sure you stay within spending limits with a prepaid card. As if that wasn't enough, now you can get $10 in your account just for signing up!  If you'd like you can also refer friends to Serve and get up to $5 for each one that signs enrolls, up to $50.  While I haven't tried this feature yet, there are quite a few people I think could really benefit from a Serve account and I am definitely going to be referring them.

If you haven't already created an account, now is the perfect time to do so and help make the holiday season easier to manage.  While there are some personal information required such as the last 4 digits of your social security number and some security questions to answer, you aren't obligated to give financial institution information, give up your first born, or go through a credit check.  Just a few answers and your account is created, $10 deposited, and your Serve card is sent in the mail for you to use - isn't that simple?

I personally love how easy it is to pay with Serve and plan on using the heck out of it over the next few months.  From all of our divvying up meals, tabs, and gifts this holiday season it has actually been quite handy to have and I'm excited to use all of the features.  Be sure to connect with Serve via Facebook and on Twitter

Win It: One lucky Rave & Review reader will win $100 credited to their Serve account!

Mandatory Entry: Just head over to Serve and sign up for an account, then come back here and leave me a comment.  Be sure to leave your email address that you used to sign up for Serve with.

This giveaway will end on December 31st. The winner will be picked by Serve. The lucky winner was Ann F! Thank you all for entering!

Remember to sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 7 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account! Official sweepstakes rules and regulations may be found by clicking here. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Travel Light with the QuickSmart Line {The Backpack Stroller Review}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 29

The holidays are right around the corner, and for most of us that means traveling.  We all know that traveling with young kids has its own unique challenges and considerations, most of which are even more prevalent in the busy, over-crowded, and over-packed holiday season.  The biggest challenge for parents of young kids is how to offer the comforts of home without compromising mobility... and that’s where QuickSmart comes in.

I remember the first major trip with our daughter as an infant was an exercise in patience.  From a Tetris-style packing of our sedan with a stroller, playpen, and all her other assorted gear, to realizing that we really, really should have brought the high chair, we definitely learned a lot about how not to travel with an infant.  Since traveling is a big part of our lives, I knew we needed to come up with a solution that would allow us to continue to explore as a family and enjoy a life on the go.

If I had been able to purchase every single one of QuickSmart’s amazing products back then, I would have done so happily.  Specifically, I would have gladly traded the 40 pound pack n’ play for the 3-in-1 Travel Bassinet {which is a changing mat, structured sleeper and shoulder bag packed into one}, and traded wrestling with a sweet potato-covered toddler in my lap for the Easy Fold High Chair {which folds down to a height of 9” with the tray attached}.  Both of these would have made traveling with a tot so much easier and fun that we just might have done it more. 

I’ve talked before about the utter amazement I felt playing with all the QuickSmart gear at the Funtastic booth during the ABC Kids Show in September and how I truly felt like I was seeing the future of baby gear, but nothing can compare to actually test driving them with little ones.  In our rigorous test driving the QuickSmart Backpack Stroller with both a young toddler and a preschooler, I quickly realized how ingenious the design really is. 

Not only it is the only stroller that fits inside a backpack, it’s also a great, compact stroller for quick and easy trips just about anywhere.  Since my son has gotten so heavy I’m not able to carry him for long periods of time anymore and unfortunately I require strollers to get around on a daily basis.  This isn’t a problem if we’re just exploring around town, but the problem comes when we need to transport the stroller along with other gear or we end up at a less-than stroller-friendly location.  While the QuickSmart Backpack stroller won't replace your big and bulky "everyday stroller" with all the fancy cupholders and storage compartments, it truly is the best travel stroller ever made. 

This holiday season has convinced me that having a super compact QuickSmart stroller might just be the best thing that ever happened to our on-the-go lifestyle.  In the overcrowded Seattle downtown and the last-minute mall shoppers, the QuickSmart backpack stroller pretty much saved my sanity.  Being able to have a compact stroller capable of navigating the crowds and the narrow aisles has made it possible for us to get out as a family and enjoy the magic of the season. 

Instead of feeling like I was constantly in the way of others or feeling like there were certain areas I would never be able to get close to because I wasn’t able to fit the stroller, the QuickSmart takes up no more of a footprint than a standing adult does.  Once we laid down the ground rules that all long-legged toddler feet had to be resting on the footrest at all times lest we come to a complete halt, we were ready for a day filled with crowds, holiday excitement, and some really un-stroller friendly areas we don't ususally get to explore. 

I love that I can easily slip right through aisleways and doorways and get right where I need to be with the QuickSmart backpack Stroller, whether that’s in a long line or it’s strolling around on crowded sidewalks.  Having the whole wheel area of the stroller open and unobstructed also adds to this feeling of nimble-ness and makes it my top pick for small areas and lots of people.  Not feeling like I was going to run over toes or into walls made the crowd not bother me a bit, and we were all able to enjoy the last few days of all the beautiful decorations and lights of our beautiful city. 

As well as getting around town and mall effortlessly, the truly amazing thing is that after we’re all worn out and ready to go home, we can still all fit in the car, even after making a few purchases.  I’ve talked before about my compact sedan and how hard it can be to get all of us and our gear back and forth, but what most people don’t realize is how many times we can be holding that perfect gift in our hands and have to put it back on the shelf instead of purchasing because we simply cannot fit it in the car unless we go back home, drop off the stroller, and try and reclaim some of our trunk space.  Calling this a pain doesn’t even begin to describe how frustrating this can be – especially when you can’t get back to purchase in a reasonable amount of time. 

However, with the QuickSmart Backpack Stroller, we still have so much trunk space available that we could fit every single present under our tree in our car with us and still have space for the QuickSmart ScrambleBug Ride-On Toy we reviewed earlier this year.  Even if we found the perfect gift that took up the whole trunk, we could still easily fit the Backpack Stroller in the backseat of our car, in between the two kids’ massive car seats, or in a real bind, it could ride in the passenger seat with me. 

While the QuickSmart Backpack Stroller has been simply amazing around town, I can only imagine how awesome it will be on our next family plane ride.  We found out the hard way on our way to BlogHer that airlines don’t accept any liability at all for damaging your stroller – whether you check at the counter or at the gate – and unfortunately have a ruined stroller to prove it.  The airline’s suggestion to us: If we have to bring a stroller we should drive next time.  My suggestion: Get the QuickSmart Backpack Stroller, the only stroller that can fit in the overhead compartment on an airline.  If that’s not truly brilliant, I don’t know what is.   

Here's why you need the QuickSmart Backpack Stroller:

• Lightweight: Weighs only 11 lb in its backpack
• IT FITS IN A BACKPACK!
• Has a 45lb weight limit, which is on the higher end of most strollers and well into the preschool years for most children
• 5 point safety harness
• 1 position recline
• Retractable hood for shade
• Aluminum and steel frame that is tough, yet lightweight

Find out more about their gear, how to use it, and why it is awe-inspiring on QuickSmart’s YouTube channel.  To purchase from the line, check out the QuickSmart's products on Amazon.com or BabyAge.com to get the most up to date prices as well as the fastest shipping.  Be sure to check out QuickSmart on Facebook and Twitter as well to keep up on all their amazing products!

Original Christmas Classics come to DVD {Review & Giveaway}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 28

Nothing gets you in the spirit of Christmas quite like watching some holiday movies, whether it’s classics from your youth or new adaptations of well-loved stories.  When I think of holiday classics, the first thing that comes to mind is the animated and stop-motion movies I grew up watching about Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, and the Abominable Snowman.

Since we don’t watch much TV anymore at our house, I was hoping I could eventually find these movies of my youth on DVD so I could share them with my kids.  Of course I was thrilled when I saw that they were going to be re-released in Blu-ray just in time for Christmas so we could enjoy them together as a family.  Just one look at the front cover of The Original Christmas Classics Blu-ray box set and I'm immediately taken back to childhood when my sister and I would wait all year for the movies to start playing on our favorite TV station.

This family-friendly box set contains four of the most beloved holiday TV specials of all time that you are sure to remember, including the Rankin/Bass classics “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Frosty Returns.”  If you're like me, you don't think the holiday season is the same without these holiday classics to kick off the magical season when snowmen sing and every kid waits up to see Santa. 

This year we were even more excited when the old classics I loved as a child were joined by a new title that we could all enjoy together for the first time.  This year I was also thrilled to add to our holiday movie list with the VeggieTales The Little Drummer Boy movie.  I personally love The Little Drummer Boy story and adore Veggie Tales so I was already certain I would love it, but wasn’t so sure how well it would go over with the entire family. 

Once VeggieTales The Little Drummer Boy started and we got all settled with our popcorn and drinks, the kids sat transfixed.  It was only 5 or so minutes in when my daughter turned to me and said “I’m in heaven watching this with you”.  Seriously, if that doesn’t put you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will.  

Like all VeggieTales movies, The Little Drummer Boy is an all-veggie cast of characters who have wit and wisdom to spare.  In this remake of the holiday classic, Junior Asparagus stars as The Little Drummer Boy, a lonely and heartbroken child who finds the true meaning of Christmas when he stumbles upon the birth of the baby Jesus.  My daughter epecially liked the songs and the energy in this film, and even though the subject can be a little serious with the underlying story of the Romans and poverty it still manages to have a message of hope and love.

Whether you are reminiscing about Christmas past and signing along with your holiday favorites or you are enjoying a whole new take on a classic story, curling up with the family and having a movie night. 

The Original Christmas Classics box set retails for $44.95 and VeggieTales The Little Drummer Boy will be available wherever DVDs and Blu-rays are sold, including on Amazon.com where you can get it in time for Christmas!

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win both DVD titles!

To Enter: Let me know what you how you kick off the holidays

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/Lhq5kzHk} and tag and R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

The holidays are even more merry w/ great classic Christmas movies. Hoping I #win the DVD #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/Lhq5kzHk

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On December 26th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US and Canadian addresses only.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to Candie who said: I love to kick off the holiday by setting up my tree.  Thank you!

The DVDs for review and the giveaway were offered at no charge to us but all opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

BigJigs Wooden Trains and Railways {Review & Giveaway}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 27

There are certain toys that every young child needs, regardless of gender.  On the top of that list, of course, is a wooden train track.  Maybe this is why wooden train sets still remain one of the most classic Christmas gifts of all time, and are sure to be delighting children of all ages this year.  There’s just something special about using your imagination to build your own train and then zooming down the tracks you’ve designed - over bridges, under overpasses, and coming to rest at their destination. 

For 25 years BigJigs has been famous for their amazing train sets in Europe and now they are bringing that expertise to the States just in time for the holidays.  If you haven’t been introduced to BigJigs before, you will definitely want to check out their amazing line of wooden heirloom quality toys and playsets, starting with the two we reviewed this holiday season, the Polar Glacier Playset and the Rose Cottage Doll House.  Whether you have a little world explorer or you have a castle or doll enthusiast, there is something wonderful waiting for you at BigJigs.

And, their wooden train collection is definitely amazing.  One look at the extensive BigJigs Rail collection and I’m sure will be blown away as I was.  From train stations, mountains, and suspension bridges all the way to specialty cars, engines, sheds, personalized trains and more, BigJigs truly does have it all to create your own mini metropolis. We got to check out two pieces in the BigJigs Railway line these past few weeks, the Princess Train and 20 piece My First Train Set, and both of these are simply exquisite. 

As with almost all of BigJigs products, their My First Train Set delivers a fun toy that has exceptional quality and beautiful design, as well as one of my favorite features – their products are sold as sets with all the pieces included that you need to kickstart the fun.  In the case of the 20 piece My First Train Set, I was thrilled to find that it comes complete with a small circular track, two houses, some trees, and a 3 car train, which is perfect for my son’s age and stage.

The Princess Train is a four piece princess carriage themed train set that is perfect for the girly-girl train enthusiast, which I think is pretty awesome since that describes my daughter perfectly.  This is a great add-on piece since it is compatible with all wooden railways and adds a great feminine touch to any train set.

These past few months have been all about BigJigs at our house and it’s clear there’s no end in sight.  With a BigJigs Doll House and the BigJigs My First Train Set and Princess Train to be opened on Christmas morning, you can imagine what kind of amazement and excitement will be sure to follow.  I’m not preparing myself for a fun holiday, I am preparing for an epic morning that will culminate in each child meeting their perfect toy match. 

My son who loves anything with wheels is going to be over-the-top excited about his first train set and my daughter is going to love being able to play right beside him.  Just picturing them playing together makes me wish Christmas morning was here now.  To say that the BigJigs Railway playsets are going to be well-loved is an understatement; they are going to be the start of my little engineers learning about gravity and cause and effect, using their imaginations to build, and discovering how things go.  What could be more magical than that?

While not every BigJigs heritage playset has made it to the States yet, you can still find a good selection at Maukilo.com that would make any playroom substantially more fun.

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $25 gift certificate for BigJigs Toys to spend at Maukilo.com

To Enter: Let me know what BigJigs set you have your eye on {Click link to see Maukilo's selection of BigJig Toys}

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Like Maukilo Toys on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/pz8dFxBe} and tag Maukilo Toys and R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Dying to #win the BigJigs wooden toys GC #giveaway from @Maukilo and @RaveAndReview. Love the wooden train set! http://t.co/pz8dFxBe

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On January 18th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

A big thank you to BigJigs for sending the trainsets for review and for Maukilo.com for offering the giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Our Christmas Tradition: Steiff Classic & Collectible Plush

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide – Day 26

Even if you don’t know Steiff by name, I can guarantee you that you would recognize them if you saw them.  With their signature yellow “Button in Ear” {or, rather “Knopf im Ohr} tags and their classic good looks, they are the quintessential teddy bear company and the makers of the cutest plush animals ever.   Since 1880, the German company has been a collector’s dream; with yearly specials, limited editions, and one-of-a-kind qualities since they are created mostly by hand, Steiff tend to hold or increase in value each year as well as making for an irresistibly cute collection when displayed. 

I can still very vividly remember the first time I saw a Steiff display case up close and got to see all the amazing detail that goes into each plush animal.  With their classic mohair collection, play collection, baby line, and limited edition sets, it became very clear what all the hype was about.  Even though I was only a teenager, I decided right then and there that if I ever had a child, I would give them a classic Steiff collection.  Years later, I was in a high-end Seattle boutique with a baby on the way and saw that same signature yellow Steiff tag display and was immediately drawn to it. 

I knew my baby needed her own little Steiff animal to love and fell in love with the “big foot” Classic Mohair Teddy in pink for 2008, which would be my daughter’s birth year.  We decided that we would wrap up the small mohair bear for her first Christmas and hopefully begin a life-long tradition.  After she opened that bear on that first magical Christmas as a family of 3, we built a special display shelf in her room for it where we could see it every time we went into the nursery.  Surrounded by all the beautiful and special keepsakes of her first year, the Steiff bear simply looked perfect. 

The pink Mohair Teddy has since been joined by a small collection of the Steiff mini mohair animals we’ve picked up in our travels and gave to our daughter for her first big holidays.  On her birthday we added a miniature brown bear to the collection, on Easter we added the Dossy rabbit, and the next Christmas we added a classic Steiff elephant.  I love that each animal is representative of a certain season or specific time and my daughter loves that they are the perfect size for playing with as well as displaying.

Weeks after my daughter’s second Christmas, we found out we would soon be a family of 4 and we began to collect Steiff for our second child as well.  This included a little cutie for him to come home from the hospital with, a matching light blue “big foot” bear made out of mohair for his first Christmas, and a mini dark brown bear for his birthday.  While he’s still too young to play with his Steiff collection, he enjoys looking at it with us and cuddling with the more child-friendly stuffed animals.

So, now that Christmas is fast approaching again, I’m betting you’ve already figured out we will be continuing the tradition again this year and there will be some new Steiff plush animals under the tree to open.  The only difference is that this year the kids will be giving each other their special Steiff animals.  My daughter will be gifting the Sissi Piglet to her brother and he will giving her the Cappy Frog as her special present. 

With how much my daughter loves everything {and I do mean everything} about the holidays, I was really surprised that her big thing this year is asking how many more days until her brother can open his pig.  Not only did she decide on the special pig for him all on her own, she also made her own wrapping paper and then wrapped it up special for him.  As you can imagine, the excitement has been almost too much to bear as she eagerly awaits Christmas morning when he will open it.  If only she knew that he has also gotten her a Steiff animal of her own, the Cappy Frog, I don’t think I would be able to get anything done all day.

Quite honestly, this is what I am waiting for the most as well.  I love our Christmas traditions we’ve created as a family and to me Steiff animals under the tree is one of the most important.  Even though this year we are branching out and not getting Steiff mohair animals for the display shelf, I’m excited about them having special Steiff animals they can play with that were special presents from each other.  With the perfect mix of cuteness and realism that makes Steiff animals unlike mass-produced stuffed animals, I know both the Sissi Pig and the Cappy Frog will become fast friends for life. 

If you haven’t already found the Steiff website, I would highly recommend checking it out.  I had fun perusing the online catalogue and looking up all the little Steiff friends we’ve acquired throughout the years {as well as creating a wishlist for future holidays}.  Since we’re starting a collection for both kids, I love that I could find out more about the animals we own and was happy to note that a good portion of our collection has a specific release date listed which corresponds with the year we purchased it.  As we get more Steiff friends it will make it a lot easier to remember when we bought each one throughout the decades. 

If you’re looking to expand or start a Steiff collection, you should start your browsing at http://www.steiffusa.com/. To find a retailer near you, you can check out the Steiff Store Locator here - I will warn you that this is by no means a full list of retailers, since numerous stores near me carry the Steiff animals but only 5 come up on this list for the entire state of Washington.  You will typically find Steiff animals in high end retail shops and boutiques, but a large selection can even be found at FAO Schwartz and other big retailers as well as online. 

A big thank you to Steiff for sending some adorable plush animals this holiday season.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review - we simply adore Steiff and hope you do, too!

Ottilie & Lulu Face Essentials Gift Sets {Review & Giveaway - 5 winners!}

My daughter is already really into makeup and hair care and loves to get ready right next to me and feel like a big girl.  Unfortunately, she has really sensitive skin that gets red and chapped if she uses harsh ingredients so I can’t share my face products with her.  This means I am always on the lookout for great skincare and hair care products that are safe for her to use on her delicate skin but still are fun for her and make her feel like a big girl. 

Thank goodness we found the PTPA Winning Ottilie and Lulu, the makers of skin and hair care products specially formulated for girls aged 7-14 that are in between the “kid stage” but not quite ready for adult products.  This is the perfect time to help them develop their own morning and nighttime routines, which will help them care for their skin as they move into their teen years.  Each of Ottilie & Lulu’s products are ideal for younger girls as they contain vitamins and anti-oxidants to clean, protect and soothe their delicate skin. 

When I was offered the opportunity to review products from Ottilie & Lulu, I knew this would be perfect for our morning ritual as my daughter get ready for school beside me.  Once the samples arrived, I was really excited that they look like real skincare products like I might use, but they are designed with young girls in mind and have real girls right on the packaging.  I love that she gets so excited to use them and that she feels like such a big girl having her own special skincare set. 

Although feeling like a “big girl” and developing her own beauty routine are wonderful, I love that the Ottilie & Lulu set was the perfect chance to teach my daughter about skincare that can help save her life.  I’ve heard the statistic numerous times now that says that 80% of the damage done to skin happens before the age of 17, and that just scares me immensely.  While I am diligent with sunscreen and sun protection, I love that the Ottilie & Lulu set opened the door to talking about the ways that she can protect herself if I’m not around. 

The Ottilie & Lulu Essentials Gift Set we reviewed includes the Everyday Facial Moisturizer & Sunscreen SPF 20 (2,5 fl oz/75 ml), Clean Skin Face Wipes (30 Wipes), and Moisturizing Lip Balm Ball SPF 20 in a white polka dot organza bag.  Although we love the entire Ottilie & Lulu Essentials Gift Set, our favorite product is the Clean Skin Face Wipes that are made with 100% cotton and are incredibly soft.  Since I use makeup remover wipes, this has been something my daughter had been requesting for a while now and I had thought it would be nearly impossible to find for young girls that wouldn’t dry out and irritate.

If you have a young daughter between 7-14 years of age {approximately}, I would highly recommend picking up some Ottilie & Lulu products to help make the morning and evening face and skincare routine fun.  Your daughter will love that they are just like your beauty routine and you will love that they don’t contain all those harsh ingredients that can harm her skin.  And, you can both feel good knowing you are laying the foundation for a lifetime of protecting her skin and developing good habits.   

Buy It: You can purchase the Face Essentials Gift Set at Ottilieandlulu.com { with free shipping on orders of $25.00 or more}.  You will also find them available for purchase on Amazon.com.

Want to win one of 5 Ottilie & Lulu Face Essentials Gift Sets with a retail value of $34?  Of course you do!

To enter, simply visit the Ottilie and Lulu site and comment on this post telling me what product you love the most.

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Like Ottilie & Lulu on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us all:

I'd love to #win the @OttilieAndLulu Face Essentials #giveaway from @RaveAnd Review and @PTPA! http://t.co/w1bTL6nl

3 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On January 12th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

A big thank you to Ottilie & Lulu for providing the review sample and the giveaway for one lucky winner.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.