Educational Insights Grandma's Trunk & Play Foam Review & Giveaway

Nothing makes my son smile more than playing games. He also does not like to lose but, has accepted it with games. The things I like about the Educational Insights Grandma's Trunk Alphabet Game is you don't have to lose. It's not a traditional game and you can get as creative as possible and many people or few people can play. Beautiful colored cards, fun learning and riddles is packed in to Grandma's Trunk.


 All though I did not have enough children around to test all the games on the instructions, we played several different versions. I first read the clue cards and my son guess the item I was talking about. Later he did the same, except he can't read so he made up his own clues. This help advance his critical thinking, descriptive details that they will be looking for on his Kindergarten test. While he already knows his ABC's, practicing them can not hurt so I had him to put the cards in order from A to Z, then had him tell me another item each letter begins with, instead of the picture on the card.

One of the next games we played was I had him only pack food cards for grandma, them clothing, then house items, etc. That helped him recognize items for specific uses. When we did the story of what grandma packed with the cards "shuffled & mixed", he had to tell the story from the cards drawn. No matter how mixed up, he had to think of how to incorporate that item in to his story. Yes the story did get a little crazy but, his creativity came alive and he told a story. This was his favorite game so far.


Not only did we get to play around with the grandma trunk game. We got to get creative with some play foam. It is not as messy as it sounds and it's not that sticky. It's kind of like making rice crispy treats without the "sticky sticky." Very easy to clean up. Some had glitter in it. My son mixed it and said he was making a pizza.

Rules: Win Education Insights Grandma's Trunk Alphabet Game & Play Foam, US entry, 48 hr. Disclosure: Samples was sent for my honest review as a Education Insights Mom. All opinions are my own.

Club Penguin’s in-world holiday party

Club Penguin Decks the Igloos for Massive Holiday Extravaganza
The #1 Virtual World for Kids Hosts Yuletide Party with Opportunities to Receive Gifts Daily

Burbank, Calif.—December 16, 2011—‘Tis the season to be jolly and Club Penguin is inviting all penguins to partake in a cool celebration.  This week, Disney’s Club Penguin (clubpenguin.com)—the #1 virtual world for kids—kicks off its Holiday Party with exciting enhancements to the in-world experience.  The island will have a festive holiday feel and Santa’s Sleigh will fly across the sky. 

Players will also be able to participate in fun holiday activities including baking cookies and holiday-themed games like the “Sled Challenge.”  There will also be opportunities for players to receive a present each day by clicking on the doors of a large advent-style calendar that will count down to the holiday.  The event is happening now until December 25.  Penguins are invited to put on their Santa hats and join the party.




Some highlights of the 2011 Club Penguin Holiday Party include:
Club Penguin Becomes Winter Wonderland: The island will be fully transformed into a holiday oasis of yuletide cheer.  The sky dims to early morning, snow falls on mountaintops, and Santa’s sleigh flies across the sky.

Countdown Calendar and Gifts Daily: There will be a large advent-style calendar counting down to the holiday beginning December 14.   More lights turn on as the days go by and users can click on the doors to receive a gift each day.

Make Holiday Cookies at The Bakery:  Users on the “members” side of the bakery will be able to create cookies, wear an apron, and do a special dance to serve cookies to customers on the non-member side of the room.

Santa Sled Room:   Players can compete in the “Sled Challenge” three times to claim three different Holiday Ornament outfits.

·         Coins for Change: There will be locations throughout the world where players will be able to donate their virtual coins as part of the Coins for Change event, which kicks off December 15 and runs through December 27.  Coins for Change empowers Club Penguin users to donate virtual coins they earn playing games online to real world causes that matter to them.  This year, kids will be challenged to fill the island lighthouse with donated coins, and if this goal is reached, Club Penguin has committed to doubling its overall cash donation to $2 million,

Disclosure: Shared on behalf of sponsor for readers, nothing received.

#LeapFrogParty was Hopping!! & LeapPad Wowed

The LeapPad is the must have toy for the Holiday Season!! With that said while purchasing it buy the AC adapter for home use and rechargeable batteries for on the go. It will save you time later because it will be used that much.

On Sept 27, the Leap Pad from Leap Frog arrived and I put it up till I had a minute to look it over with my son. The next day my son was home from school with strep throat and I also had it, we cuddled up and begin exploring the Leap Pad. WOW!! this little kids toy holds bundles of activites. No waste of money here this product is a cover it all product. A library of 100+ cartridge games, apps, digital books, videos and flash cards (sold separately) and it works with all Leapster Explorer games and apps.

First he had to explore the camera & video apps with 5" touch screen. My own little photographer and video maniac. We created personalized backgrounds & photos while adding our names. I adore the vocabulary lesson and the letter tracing. Games, book download, pet center, drawing center. My son loves the drawing center and his artwork has taken off with it.

Unfortunately, the device could not be connect before the party for me to get apps. It's was programed to reset, so I didn't want that to happen. Apps cost $19.99 and I can't wait for my son to try Alphabet Stew, he loves to practice spelling. The LeapPad is not just a toy it's a learning tool, with age appropriate lessons and games wrapped up just the way children like it. It ranks number 1 on my Christmas list for children and probably explains why my local Walmart has devoted an entire shelf with LeapPads on it.

After getting familiar with the products it was time to share with our guests at our Learn, Share, Create Party. Once the children got a hold of the LeapPad, they were in the zone so to speak. Moms tested it too and watched their children use it. It was very popular, no doubt. The children also enjoyed playing with the Leap Frog Interactive Map, Tag Books & Tag Pen. We printed frog mask for our guest to color. We also had activity sheets, coloring pages, and guests carried coupons home with them provided by sponsor.

Party Gusts were served a variety of special treats including Swamp Juice, Frog Cupcakes, Insect Cookies, Logs and Frog Egg Marshmallows. Can't forget popcorn, it makes you hop better. Frog on a log cupcake tops the cake with grass, water, Lily Pads. Printable frogs adorn the drink cups.

We retreated out side to give the little frogs some jumping room. We had frog hop races a short legged frog race & a long jump frog race. Played Frog in the pen and then we even played LeapFrog. The adults had to do it too, I may have to share that video. While winding up the play the children jumped on the trampoline and showed their best frog impersonations. Guest left happy and hoppy with special party favors I purchased for each of them. Our #LeapFrogParty was Hopping!! & LeapPad Wowed.

Disclosure: I was supplied with LeapFrog products to keep while participating in Mommy Parties in order to host and share with party guests. All opinions are my own.

Kids Party World - Party Supplies

Kids Party World has a huge selection of party supplies and Kids Party Themes. I discovered they have fun unique Birthday Party Supplies and Pinatas and Games that is unavailable at many other party stores.

Kids Party World also carries a variety of cake decorations, cupcake stand kit, cake and cupcake toppers. You can see below just a small selection of themes at Kids Party World.

It's does not have to be a birthday for my boys to enjoy a party. They are always ready to celebrate and love decorating for parties. Kids Party World sent my family some Scooby Doo Supplies. My boys love the Scooby Ears, they are simply adorable and very fun for children than a traditional party hat.

KidsPartyWorld.com is the largest supplier of children's birthday party supplies in all of New England. State of the art, climate controlled 7,000 sq. foot warehouse is a kid's birthday party supplies universe. Check out Kids Party World for a creative touch for your upcoming party.

Follow Kids Party World on twitter @ http://twitter.com/kidspartyworld

Follow on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/#!/KidsPartyWorld

Disclosure: Company or PR provided me with a complimentary product for trial. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Wham-O Review & Giveaway

My boys have always been a fan of the Wham-O Slip 'N Slide and now they love their new lawn game. The Wham-O Frisbee Horseshoes game is a twist to the classic horseshoe game with frisbee throw action.

My boys gave it a try and watch out when the oldest throws like a frisbee. His direction is a little off, so he liked doing it the regular classic horseshoe way, plus he likes to get close.  I told him it would take practice and he would get better. I had to try the frisbee throw and was surprised at how close I actually made it to the stake.

Wham-O Frisbee Horseshoe Game is a great way to get outdoors this summer and play. 2 stakes 4 Horseshoe Frisbees are included together. The frisbee shoes are a good weight to throw, not heavy, but just right for little ones.

We would like to thank Wham-O for being a part of the Hotter than Summer Event. One reader will win their very own Wham-O Frisbee Horseshoe game!!! Super thanks to our sponsor!

RULES:
Contest closes 11:59pm Eastern July 19, 2011.
Open US winner has 2 days to respond to my email
Leave your email in to post or available in profile, I will not search for it


MUST complete Mandatory Entry. Winner will be chosen by random org. Entries that does not follow the rules will not win.


Mandatory Entry *Follow Life Is A SandCastle via Google Friend Connect & tell me a fact from Wham-O History.

********EXTRA ENTRIES***********
*Blog about the giveaway linking Wham-O & Life Is A SandCastle (5entries)
* Follow both on twitter & tweet " #giveaway Wham-O Frisbee Horseshoe game @whamotweets @lifesandcastle http://t.co/TWRWstH #contest #win 7/19" (1 daily)
*Become a Wham-O Facebook fan. (5 entries)
*Become my face book fan. (2 entries)
*Subscribe to my blog by email. (2 entries)
*Enter (current) The Night Owl Mama or giveaways on my site- one entry for each you enter.
*Grab the "Hotter Than Summer" Button @ top left side of my blog (2 entries) But if you already had it and commented on extra entry link before May 1, you get (5 entries).
*Add my regular button (2 entries)
*Add this giveaway to a contest linky & leave link (3 entries each link, up to 3contest listings)


Disclosure: Company or PR provided me with a complimentary product for trial and provided a giveaway. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Pressman Toys Review & Giveaway

For many years Pressman Toys have been entertaining children though the hot summer months. Board games are a great ways to beat the heat and spend family time together. Pressman Toys roots stretch back to the 1920's and continued with the formula of successful entertainment and games since. Pressman Toys produce hundreds of board games, travel games, cards games, for kids & adults.

Adding many favorite licensed characters to their games allowed Pressman Toys to take games to another level for the players. My children enjoyed the Dinosaur Train characters, so to my son, it is like he is guiding his favorite characters along the game board. My son tried the Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game and it strengths his counting & direction skills. He has fun, spinning the pocket watch spinner wheel. Counting & following dinosaur foot prints, as his game piece racing to the nest.

Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game accommodates 2 to 6 players, ages 4 and up. Thanks to Pressman Toys for sponsoring "The Hotter Than Summer Event " & for giving one reader the very same game.

RULES:
Contest closes 11:59pm Eastern May 28, 2011.
Open US winner has 2 days to respond to my email
Leave your email in to post or available in profile, I will not search for it

MUST complete Mandatory Entry. Winner will be chosen by random org. Entries that does not follow the rules will not win.

Mandatory Entry *Follow Life Is A SandCastle via Google Friend Connect & Visit Pressman Toys and tell me a product you love & the link to the product.

********EXTRA ENTRIES***********
*Blog about the giveaway linking Pressman Toys & Life Is A SandCastle (5entries)
* Follow both on twitter & tweet " #giveaway Pressman Toys (Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game) @pressmantoy @lifesandcastle http://t.co/1RFBjVP #win 5/28" (2 daily)
*Become my face book fan.(2 entries)
*Become Pressman Toys Facebook Fan.(3 entries)
*Subscribe to my blog by email. (2 entries)
*Enter The Night Owl Mama or giveaways on my site- one entry for each you enter.
*Comment on one non giveaway post on my site(2 entries)
*Grab the "Hotter Than Summer" Button @ top left side of my blog (2 entries) But if you already had it and commented on extra entry link before May 1, you get (5 entries).
*Grab regular button (2 entries)
*Add this giveaway to a contest linky & leave link (3 entries each link, up to 3contest listings)

Disclosure: Pressman Toys provided me with a complimentary product for trial and provided a giveaway. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Dinosaur Train Make A Match Game Giveaway

I just got it out yesterday about new Dinosaur Train products hitting the shelves. The newest product is the Dinosaur Train Make A Match game, Buddy and his friends sharpen children’s memory skills in this special matching game that features a Buddy figure!

To begin play, 48 game cards featuring favorite Dinosaurs from Dinosaur Train are shuffled and laid face down in 6 rows of 8 cards each. Players take turns turning over any two cards—so all players can see them—to find a matching pair. The game features “Take Buddy” cards, “Wild Cards” and “Lose a Pair” cards to add to the excitement. Players count their matching card sets at the end and add extra points for the player holding Buddy to determine who wins.

The Dinosaur Train Make A Match Game from Pressman Toy! is for 2 to 4 players, ages 3 to 6, and is available at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide for just $9.99. The hit television series Dinosaur Train™ airs daily on PBS KIDS®

RULES: Contest closes 11:59pm Eastern Feb 24, 2010
Open US winner has 5 days to respond to my email
Leave your email in to post or available in profile, I will not search for it
MUST complete Mandatory Entry. Winner will be chosen by random org. Entries that does not follow the rules will not win.

Mandatory Entry: Win a Dinosaur Train Make A Match Game by following my blog Google Friend Connect and tell me your favorite Dinosaur Train Character.
********EXTRA ENTRIES***********

Follow all 3 and tweet once a day "#giveaway Dinosaur Train Make A Match Game @hensonparents @pressmantoy @lifesandcastle http://t.co/eLUU7vU #win 2/24"

*Become my face book fan.

*Become a Facebook Fan Pressman Toy & Henson Company (2 entries each)

*Subscribe to my blog by email. (2 entries)

*Enter any giveaways from the other All 4 U Event Bloggers or giveaways on my site- one entry for each you enter.

* Get All 4 U Event or my regular button (2 entries each one)

*Add this giveaway to a contest linky & leave link (3 entries each link, up to 3contest listings)

Disclosure: Please note this giveaway was presented by PR or Company. No product was reviewed. I did not receive any other compensation. All opinions are my own.