Because It's Christmas - Group 5 UNWRAPPED - Indoor Gardening Kit from Green Toys GIVEAWAY

The next toy in our Because It's Christmas Kids and Charity Giveaway, Group 5, has the honor of being awarded the Dr. Toy Green Toy Company of the Year, the Oppenhein Toy Portfolio Gold Award, and Parenting Magazine Toy 25 Toys of the Year! Created by Green Toys (who else?), YOU have a chance to win and the Relief Nursery of Collin County in Plano TX will receive an Indoor Gardening Set!

With this environmentally friendly indoor gardening kit from GreenToys, young green thumbs can watch nature at work by growing an indoor garden in just days. The set is complete with organic seeds and soil. Includes three yellow planters, one green planter tray, orange trowel, three packets of organic seeds (teddy bear sunflower, zinnia and basil), and three expandable soil disks. The pots, trowel and tray are all made from recycled milk jugs, right here in the USA.

The product is indicated for ages 5 and up but I imagine with a little supervision, there absolutly NO reason why our younger friends could not enjoy this as well. The boxed set measures 6 x 16 x 5 inches, a great shipping and wrapping size.

Of course, all of you ECO/GREEN friends out there will love what Green Toys strives for.

From the manufacturer:
We use recycled milk containers as the main ingredient in creating our toys. Yes, the exact plastic milk jugs that you and your family drink from every day. When you finish your milk and toss the container in the recycling bin, these milk containers are collected at your curb by a local recycling company, who then sorts them from all the other types of plastic. Next, the milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic. Our toys are truly local creations. Every step in the process, from milk container recycling to toy production to final assembly, occurs in California. Our raw materials and toys aren't shipped from overseas, which saves a lot of energy and reduces greenhouse gasses. It also guarantees your toys won't get seasick before they get to your home! We strive to minimize packaging, and all of our boxes use as little material as possible. All products are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. So, not only are they earth-friendly and ready for your recycling bin, they are really easy to open for those little fingers just itching to get at the toys!!

Plus they are super duper safe! Green Toys products are tested by nationally recognized, independent, third-party labs (located, yes, in the USA.) They contain no traceable amounts of Phthalates or BPA. They are also designed without any external coatings, eliminating the fear of lead paint.

Green Toys products pass a plethora of tests, including:

Consumer Products Safety Standard Specification, ASTM F963

California Prop. 65 restrictions on lead & cadmium

FDA regulations for food contact

California regulations prohibiting phthalates in toys

Voluntary testing for no BPA (Bisphenol-A)

I just love this garden set. All the parts are really strong and high quality, it's amazing they are made from recycled milk containers. The seeds are all organic, and it comes with compacted soil that looks like a hockey puck but fluffs up into a full pot of soil. Very cool!!! And my 7 year old is all about finding out how things work and giving things a try. She will LOVE it!

ENTER TO WIN AN INDOOR GARDENING KIT

Note: by entering this giveaway, you are actually entering to win all the toys in Group 5. The more individual posts you enter, the more of a chance you have to win the Group prizes. The entries will be combined from all posts and a winner selected, so you have a chance to win the Group prizes even if you only enter on one post.

To enter to win an Indoor Gardening Kit from Green Toys Inc., do the following:

• Visit Green Toys Inc. and look around.
• Come back here and leave a comment telling us what you like best about the site.
  

That’s it!

To earn extra entries:

• Post our Because It’s Christmas button on your site (you can find the code for it on the middle right sidebar) - 5 EXTRA ENTRIES


• Blog about this giveaway and link back here and to Green Toys Inc. (the links must be active/clickable) - 5 EXTRA ENTRIES


• Subscribe to our updates. - 1 EXTRA ENTRY


• Enter a Because It’s Christmas giveaway over at What's That Smell? and come back here and tell us which post/giveaway you entered on. - 1 EXTRA ENTRY PER POST/GIVEAWAY ENTERED


• Enter a Because It’s Christmas giveaway over at 3P's in a Pod and come back here and tell us which post/giveaway you entered on. - 1 EXTRA ENTRY PER POST/GIVEAWAY ENTERED

Please leave separate comments for each additional entry, ie: if you blog about this, leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway will run through Nov. 30th at noon central time and is open to the USA.



Because It's Christmas began Nov. 10th on my blog, 3 P's in a Pod and you won't want to miss a minute!

Christmas+Giveaway

Bella Sara and Baby Bella - A Horse Girls Delight!

Let me introduce you to my horse girl, P2. This child is ALL about horses - Big ones, little ones, pretend or actual, she is 100% completely in love with horses. No surprise then really, when not too long ago while we were waiting at our local Target to check out, that P2 discovered a wonderful new thing - Bella Sara Trading cards. Little did she really know that the cards were just the tip of the wonderful iceberg!

Bella Sara trading cards can be used to activate and nurture virtual horses in the online world of Bella Sara at www.bellasara.com and are actually one of the hottest new games for girls for this upcoming holiday season. This amazing and fun-filled Web site features horse jumping and riding games, puzzles, coloring books, interactive storybooks and much more. Each Bella Sara trading card features a stunningly designed and imaginatively artistic horse image along with an inspirational saying that promotes inner beauty, emotional strength and self-worth.

Developed by Danish social worker Gitte Odder Brændgaard to encourage young girls to accept and express their feelings, Bella Sara cards have become available in 15 countries and the Web site has users around the world from 240 countries.

Baby Bella - the foals - is the latest in the line of the Bella Sara trading cards. On November 6th, a 10-day celebration begins on the website. They will introduce Bella's new baby and daily gifts for Bella Sara fans. The foal's gender will remain a secret until the launch of the promotion, when kids will be able to download the foal for a limited time. In addition, website visitors can download some of the babies' birth certificates, read Bella's journal and other parents' stories and have access to special pass along codes that change daily.

There will also be a contest, in which winners from various age groups will win Bella Birthday packages consisting of decorations and special guest goody bags, as well as full sets of Bella Sara merchandise and accessories.Wow!

Watch:

Are you as dazzled as I am?

We were recently sent a couple of sets of Baby Bella trading cards to review from Team Mom and I cannot thank them enough! As a grown up Horse girl, I know I am in love with the beauty and helpful, positive message that horses can reflect. That beauty and helpful, positive message has been perfectly captured in the Bella Sara cards and world. Baby Bella will help to make that whole 'Circle of Life' thing complete. Bravo to Hidden City Games for providing this fantastic oasis for girls of age 5 and up!

If you know a horse girl, RUN - do not walk - to your nearest Target, Toys r Us, Walmart or others and help open your sweetie's eyes to a whole new world of enchantment and value today.

This review was made possible thanks to Team Mom.



Because It's Christmas begins Nov. 10th on my blog, 3 P's in a Pod and you won't want to miss a minute!

Bella+Sara

Let's Play Games! GIVEAWAY!

Would you like to win these two games?

Clothespins!Beddy Bye BabyHere is how -

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This Contest is now closed. Watch for the Winner to be announced Soon!! Be sure to subscribe to my blog so you won't miss a thing!!

The Prize:

One copy of the Clothespins! game and one copy of the Beddy Bye Baby game. See my Review of Clothespins! HERE and my Review of Beddy Bye Baby HERE for more information about the games.

How you can win:

To enter and win both games, just leave me a comment on this post with your favorite game from Briarpatch and what your favorite childhood game was.

To earn more entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra entry. Please leave a separate comment for each one.

• Subscribe to my feed.
• Add me to your Technorati Favorites and I will do the same in return.
• Leave a comment on another post on my blog.
  
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to Briarpatch.
• Place my button in your sidebar.

This giveaway is open to US addresses only. Good luck!

Who is eligible:

You must have a US mailing address. You don't have to be a blogger to win, just supply a valid e-mail address. Make sure to leave me that email address though because if I cannot get a hold of you, you cannot win!

When the giveaway ends:

The giveaway will run now through Sept. 13th at 11:59pm CST. I'll pick one winner using Random.org as soon as possible after that. You may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a new site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

Bonne Chance!!

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
[tagname tagname]

Lullaby and Goodnight...Review of Beddy Bye Baby Game

Little girls and baby dolls... is there anything sweeter than watching your baby rocking her baby? Well now there is a new chance for your angels to care for their babies... Playing the Beddy Bye Baby game by Briarpatch!

What I Learned:
To play, each player selects a baby and carriage in pastel pink, blue, yellow, or green. On turn, players roll the rattle die and move their carriages down the path to beddy, while collecting a teddy bear, baby bottle and snuggly pajamas. But don’t be surprised if baby is sleepy, playful or fussy! The first player to enter the nursery with all of baby’s needs and snuggly tuck in baby wins the game. Like many Briarpatch games, no reading is required and up to 4 people can play -- making this a fun addition to family game night.

What I Liked:

Beddy-Bye Baby is a great game for the pre-school set and is particularly appealing to older siblings who are learning to cope with a new baby in the house - that is probably why P2 liked it so much - she asked to play it again and again! The contents of the game are all sturdy and should be able to survive many turns with little hands. As compared to some games, I found this one to be a bit more sedate, which was actually a nice variation to have. The game's activities reinforce listening and following instructions as well as good sportsmanship.

What I Didn't Like:

Being a more sedate game, some children may lose interest more quickly like P1 did. Also, this seems to be a game that would be of minimal interest to a rough and tumble boy, making it a poor choice for some families.

What I Say:

It is a simple game, allowing children to pick up on how to play quickly and without much prompting from adults. If you are looking for a game that will fit in with your child's love of dolls and nurturing, then look no further. It retails for about $19.99 and is available on the Briarpatch website or Amazon.com.

Do you know a child who would love to play Beddy Bye Baby? Briarpatch has graciously offered to give one of you, my fabulous readers, your very own Beddy Bye Baby game. Head on over HERE for the chance!

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
Briarpatch+Games

Are You All Washed Up? - A Review of Clothespins!

When I say, "Have you Played Clothespins!"?, you immediately think I am talking about some crazy game at a baby shower, right? Well, no more!

Here's What I Found:
Meet Briarpatch's new Clothespins! game. Designed for ages 5 and up, this is a rummy-style game where you score points by completing clotheslines full of matching patterns or items of laundry. It sounds simple but there is a twist - draw a bird card and you can steal another players laundry! This of course, makes for pained groans, huffy breathing and loads of laughs.

What I Liked:
The cards are made from a sturdy cardboard that should survive grimey little hands. The concept of the game was simple enough that my 5 and 6 year old had no trouble learning how to play. The matching and ordering helped to reinforce concepts they are covering in school and gave my 6 year who needs LOTS of work on good sportsmanship the chance to practice it. The fact that it is a fun game with bright, colorful designs was a bonus.

What I Didn't Like: When we received the game, there were no instructions included. We tried to make sense of the game without them but really could not get very far. We emailed Briarpatch, who sent us a new set of instructions but it took them a couple of weeks to reply. Anyone who has spent any time around kids knows that that amount of time can feel like an eternity to them.:) Once they arrived though, it was smooth sailing from there on out.

Any guesses who was winning?:)

What I say: Overall I liked the game and we have enjoyed playing it. The instructions advise on how to simplify the game if needed so I really feel that a wide age range could play, making it a great family gift. The game retails for $12.99. You can buy Clothespins! from the Briarpatch website or Amazon.com.

But why should I have all of the fun? Briarpatch has graciously offered to give one of you, my fabulous readers, your very own Clothespins! game. Head on over HERE for the chance!

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
Clothespins!+Games

Share and Share Alike

What I Found: I was recently sent a game from the cool new Hasbro/Playskool game that is part of the Noodleboro collection called the “Learning to…Share Fun Park Game”. My daughter P2 took one look at the brightly colored box and she could not wait to play it.

What I Liked: It took a few minutes to assemble all of the parts but in no time, we were ready to get started. Since the big focus of the Noodleboro games is to reinforce Social Skills, they had provided some real bonus items - A book that has a story relevant to the game and sharing as well as an audio CD that is filled with fun stories and songs. P2 was excited to hear the new CD and loved the music and she could not wait for me to get to the end of the story so she could, "see what happened!" Too cute!

The game itself is made for ages 4+ and has pieces that are sturdy and made to be handled. There are short, easy to understand instructions that are written in both English and Spanish. The game was quite fun for both of us. Designed as a Fairground, my daughter really loved rolling the die, collecting the tokens and doing the different activities.

What I Didn't Like: The instructions say that the game is designed for 2 to 4 players. I found that having only 2 players actually decreased the impact of the lesson in sharing. We were both getting tokens and neither of us really were ever in need so there really was no impetus to share. When we played again later with 3 players, the lesson came across much more clearly.

What I Say: With birthdays and the Holidays fast approaching, I would certainly say that the Noodleboro games are true keepers! You cannot beat having your kids learn the lessons you need them to while have loads of fun.

If you hurry, Mom Central is raffling 200 Noodleboro games off to Moms who sign up here.

They retail for $24.99. You can also find many Noodleboro products online at Hasbro as well as at Target and Walmart stores.

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
Noodleboro+Games

What Does Bob the Builder Want to Be When He Grows Up?

That's easy! A K'NEXpert!

Seriously! The 2008 K'NEXpert Search is a contest for builders aged 5 to 12. The idea is to build an original, creative model made entirely from K'NEX. Sounds like a lot of FUN to me! The finished products are judged on creativity, uniqueness and detail, and must fit into one of the following four categories:

A. Futuristic - (Think Space ships, Robots, etc! Use your imagination!)
B. Vehicles - (Cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc. If it goes, it will 'fly'!)
C. Amusement Park Thrill Rides (Sounds self explanatory to me:)
D. Ultimate K'NEX Model - Build anything you want with K'NEX Bricks, Standard K'NEX AND Micro K'NEX parts (Must include all 3 types of parts).

That's it! So get those creative juices flowing in those kids of yours (it'll keep them occupied for DAYS!) and let them apply.

WIIFY? (What's in it for you? ...hehehe... made that one up)

Does a $10,000 Savings Bond sound good? That is the Grand Prize! They also have other prizes up for grabs for those creative daredevils who can prove their K'NEXpertise. These include nine $1,000 savings bonds, K'NEX building sets and an invitation to visit K'NEX headquarters. All winners will also receive discounts off K'NEX gear and their own gallery page at www.knex.com, which will be updated throughout the year with pictures of the winner's designs and creations.

The 2008 K'NEXpert Search runs from July 2, 2007 to September 28, 2007 so there is STILL TIME!!!. To get more info and to enter the contest, head over to the K'NEXpert Search official site!

About K’NEX Brands

Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the world’s leading integrated construction systems for children. Winner of over 200 international awards and recognitions, K’NEX seeks to build young minds with its exciting product line and critically acclaimed K’NEX Education program. For more information, please visit www.knex.com.

Be sure to check out my other blog, 3 P's in a Pod!
K'Nexpert+Search