Disney Guilty Party

Guilty Party, out next week, is a fun mystery party game, exclusively for Wii. The game tells the tale of the Dickens Detective Agency as they solve crimes set in motion by a criminal known as Mr. Valentine. There’s been a crime… can you follow the clues to find the Guilty Party? Players step into the shoes of the Dickens family and work together to explore crime scenes and play mini-games to collect clues and interrogate suspects. It reminded me a little of a board game… like Clue, but in video game format. The game’s characters and locations are inspired by classic detective lore, as you can see in the screenshot below. My favorite character was the Agatha Christie-esque Charlotte. There are 8 to choose from, and you can play alone or with up to four people in head-to-head gameplay or cooperative modes.

Maya’s favorite part of Guilty Party was the mini-games. There are dozens of them that are unlocked during gameplay. In these games, the Wii Remote becomes a lock pick, a flashlight, a magnifying glass, and more. Quick wits and reflexes are needed to win, but it adapts to your skill level, which I found really neat. Players then discuss and piece together the clues in their detective notebooks to deduce the identity of the culprit.

The concern many parents have when considering a new video game is ‘replayability’ – will my kids want to play the game again and again? Yes. Once the mysteries are solved, players can play Guilty Party again with a new set of clues, suspects and mini-games. Like a board game, it’s a different experience (and a different ending) every time. You can also just play the mini-games by themselves.

BUY IT! Guilty Party, rated E for Everyone, will be released this upcoming Tuesday, August 31, 2010, for a suggested price of $39.99. The target audience is kids ages 8 -12, though my 6-year-old daughter played it with me; I just had to read all the text to her.

Tip: Order it now from Amazon and get $10 off a future video game purchase.

Disney Sing It Family Hits

Fans of Disney’s popular video-based karaoke series, Sing It, expressed a demand for songs from Disney’s classic movies, so Disney Interactive Studios complied and created Disney Sing It: Family Hits! It features songs and videos from classic Disney films like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book as well as contemporary favorites from films like The Princess and the Frog, The Lion King, Aladdin, Cars and Toy Story.

This karaoke game allows players to sing solo, partner up for a duet, compete head-to head, or pass the microphone around to up to 8 players in Family Mode, while viewing full screen videos directly from the movies. The Princess and the Frog’s Anika Noni Rose provides fun vocal exercises and techniques to help players improve their performances. To relive key moments, the Sing It Encore Mode enables players to play back their performances and add fun effects to customize their tunes. This made for a good laugh!

I found the game to be easy to follow and very entertaining. My only disappoint lies in the song selection. I only liked maybe 20 out of the 30 songs. I have a feeling Disney is saving some of my favorite songs for a future release. There’s a lot of talking in some of the Disney songs (like Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo) which makes them a little awkward to sing at times. Toy Story’s ‘You’ve got a Friend In Me’ was a lot of fun to sing along to. A song from Toy Story 2, not so much. I can’t even remember the name of it. It was really slow and obviously forgettable! You can’t unlock any new songs in this game, but can unlock new awards and Disney themes, which aren’t really a big deal. You can choose to sing up to 20 songs in Spanish, though. That’s what sold me on the game!

BUY IT! Disney Sing It: Family Hits is Rated E for everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). It’s available now for Wii and Playstation 3. $39.99 for the standalone game, and $49.99 if you get the bundle that includes a Logitech microphone. The target audience is kids ages 4-8, but Disney fans of all ages may enjoy it.

Disney Sing It: Party Hits

Living up to its name, Disney Sing It: Party Hits is packed with current hits from the biggest names in pop music. You’ll find songs that teens and tweens want to sing, from artists such as Justin Bieber, Black Eyed Peas, Jonas Brothers, Jordin Sparks, Paramore, Selena Gomez, Kelly Clarkson, One Republic and many more.

Demi Lovato plays the part of the in-game vocal coach, teaching players various ways to improve their vocals, from breathing and pitch exercises to learning how to harmonize in a duet. As far as game play goes, players can sing solo, or up to 8 can compete in new competitive modes, including Sing Off, Performance and Karaoke mode where players have the ability to reduce the vocal level of the artists. You can also record and create fun special effects with the Encore voice effects feature.

I sang the Black Eyed Peas’ Boom Boom Pow… and really got into it LOL. Then Maya chose a Selena Gomez song. Naturally. I recognized the video from seeing it on Disney Channel. I only played Party Hits for a few minutes, but I have to say I enjoyed this game more than Disney Sing It: Family Hits. The target audience is girls ages 8 –12, but fans of the pop music that’s found on Disney Channel/Radio Disney and mainstream radio will probably love it as well!

BUY IT! Rated E for Everyone, Disney Sing It: Party Hits will be available on October 12th of this year for both Wii and PLAYSTATION 3. The game will be sold as a standalone (for $39.99) or bundled with one Logitech microphone (for $49.99). You can preorder it on Amazon.

As part of their effort to keep everyone smiling this summer, a few weeks ago 1-800-FLOWERS.COM gave me the opportunity to send a personalized smile to someone special in my life. The decision was easy – my sister. She’s always so thoughtful and supportive, and is an amazing aunt to my daughters. She was beyond happy and very surprised! I borrowed these photos from her Facebook account. Shhh! Her status update:

“I’ve been having a stressful week at work – among other things – and my sister thought about me and made me cry when I arrived to the house to see this!!! I LOVE THEM!”

Making her cry wasn’t really my intention, but I figure it was a happy cry! I was so thrilled to see the photos my sister took of her sunny bouquet. I recently sent a floral arrangement to my grandma from a different company and wasn’t happy that it was delivered in a box, when it specifically said in the order details that it wasn’t going to be. She had to set it up herself… and well, let’s just say it didn’t turn out like the photo on the website and I was a little disappointed. But anyway…

The ‘It’s Your Sunny Day‘ bouquet from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM looks just like what I imagined it would look like… and with the HUGE lily and yellow roses, maybe even better!

BUY IT!
Visit 1-800-FLOWERS.COM for a huge selection of gifts and flowers, like those pictured below. Right now you can send a summer smile and save up to 50% in the Summer Rose Sale.

It’s Your Sunny Day ~ Berry Beautiful ~ Summer Rose Mix Bouquet

WIN IT!
Giveaway is closed. Winner has been contacted and listed here.
Now I get to spread some happiness to my readers! Winning a $50 gift card to 1-800-FLOWERS.COM will make one of you smile, I’m sure! To enter, please visit 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, take a look around, and tell me in a comment which bouquet you’d love to give or receive.

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by feed reader or email (or let me know if you already do).
• Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway: #Giveaway! Win a $50 gift card to 1-800-FLOWERS.COM! Make someone smile http://ridingwithnohands.com/?p=10818 #RWNH
  
• Tweet about this giveaway once a day for the duration of the contest (leave a comment each time).
• Link to me in your sidebar or blog roll. Feel free to grab my button (at the bottom of the page).

1-800-FLOWERS.COM sent my sister a complimentary bouquet of flowers in exchange for this post, and is also providing the giveaway prize. Thank you! Contest ends July 22nd, 2010 11:59 pm EST. US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry & a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a list of all my latest giveaways!

Eco-Friendly Care Packages: Show your kids you love them—and the Earth

This summer, millions of kids will pack up their bags and head off to camp. Spending time away from home and in the heart of nature is an amazing experience that teaches children to be independent, confident in the wild, and comfortable around people from many different walks of life. But whether they’re overnight newbies or camp regulars, your kids can still become homesick. And that’s totally normal: A study of 329 male campers aged 8 to 16 found that 83 percent experienced homesickness on at least one day during their stay at an overnight camp.

Don’t hop in the car to go pick up your kids just yet. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can reassure your child and make him feel at home while he’s away. For example, have your child help you choose the camp he will attend, because having some say can make him feel more comfortable with being away. Or you can create practice separation situations before camp starts by having your child sleepover a friend’s house.

My favorite way to remind my kids that I love them when they’re away is to send a care package. Instead of loading it with candy, video games and plastic toys, though, I prefer healthy, eco-friendly goodies. After all, since they’re communing with nature, shouldn’t they be eating and playing as naturally as possible, too?

Here are a few ideas to get your green camp care package started:

• Healthy Snacks: Food that fuels kids—try homemade granola, dried fruit, nuts and trail mix—rather than sending them on a sugar high, nuts and dried fruits will keep them energized for all of the activities their counselors have planned.
• Outdoor Essentials: Chemical-filled sunscreens, bug repellants and other personal care products don’t mesh so well with the green ethos of the great outdoors. Be sure to opt for a kid-friendly and a natural shampoo & body wash that biodegrades completely, sunscreens and insect repellants that will keep your little ones sunburn and bug-bite free—without toxic chemicals—during their days at camp are key. Many camps now require non-chemical sunscreens to keep their lakes healthy as many chemicals can kill fish and plant matter.
• Love Notes: Nothing says “I love and miss you” like a hand-written note from Mom and Dad. Pick up a box of eco-chic note cards that are made from 100% recycled paper, some even have wildflower seeds imbedded right into the paper fibers. Once your little camper has finished reading your loving words and his homesickness has been assuaged, he can plant the missive in the ground and spread your love for him and Mama Earth around.

_________________________________________________

The California Baby Suncare Basics Tote would be a great addition to a camp care package! It includes:

• No Fragrance SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick
• Swimmer’s Defense Shampoo & Bodywash
• Swimmer’s Defense Hair Conditioner
• Soothing & Healing Spray
• Citronella SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion
• No Fragrance SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion
• Calming Moisturizing Cream
• Baby Banz Sunglasses (which could be given to the camper’s little brother or sister )

For this reason, babies’ eyes tend to gravitate toward high contrast images. Objects with the boldest, clearest edges are the ones that will most attract a baby’s attention. Wee Gallery takes full advantage of this, and makes gorgeous black and white products especially for infants.

I was sent Wee Gallery’s latest set of Baby Art Cards, the Black and White Collection, for review. This boxed set includes an anteater, dalmation, lemur, panda, penguin and a skunk, but there are other collections available, including garden, jungle, sea, farm, dino, woodlands, and pet themes. The cards measure 5×7 and are made of recycled art board so they are very durable. They have rounded edges, are printed with soy-based ink, and are laminated with food grade lamination, so the cards are safe.

How can Baby Art Cards be used? You can place them along the side of a crib and make a wee art gallery for baby. Or turn the cards into a cool mobile with the stainless steel Kikkerland mobile kit, also sold on the website. Once babies are old enough to reach for the mobile, the cards can be framed and hung on the wall, or used as flash cards to help kids learn about animals.

My toddler is almost 3 years old, but found these cards very interesting. I left them out on the coffee table for her. She played with them for a bit, we discussed the different animals, and she put them back in their box and took them upstairs to her room, like a bear hiding something in her cave. That right there proved to me that she loved them, as she only keeps a few things in her room to play with.

BUY IT!
If you’re looking for a unique gift for that mom-to-be that has everything, keep Wee Gallery in mind. Each set of Baby Art Cards sells for $12.95 on their website, and you might also see them at baby boutiques around the country. In addition to the cards, you can also find greeting cards, wrapped canvases, wall graphics, and more, all with the same whimsical illustrations. Visit www.weegallery.com for more information, including a downloadable print that you can test on your baby to see if he/she responds to it.

WIN IT!
Wee Gallery is kindly giving 3 of my readers a set of Baby Art Cards. The same collection pictured above. To enter, please visit www.weegallery.com and tell me, in a comment, about another product that interests you.

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by feed reader or email (or let me know if you already do).
• Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway (one time): I just entered to win a set of Wee Gallery’s Baby Art cards – ! http://tinyurl.com/baby-art #RWNH
  
• Link to me in your sidebar or blog roll. Feel free to grab my button (at the bottom of the page).

Wee Gallery provided me with a complimentary sample for review, and 3 more for giveaway. Contest ends May 2nd, 2010 11:59 pm EST. US entries only, one person per household. Leave a separate comment per entry & a valid email address. Winners, chosen at random, have 3 days to claim their prize.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a list of all my latest giveaways!

Everyone knows that babies can hear sounds in womb. I remember whenever I’d go to the movies, my daughters would move around and kick so hard, right along with the action going on on the screen! Bellybuds are wearable speakers for expecting moms that desire to play prenatal music and sounds to a developing child in utero.

What I find really interesting is that this idea was conceived by a DAD! Father-to-be and co-founder of Belly Buds, LLC, Curtis Williams, was seeking a better way for his wife to play music to their yet-to-be born daughter. Bellybuds consist of a pair of simple, two-inch modular bellyphones that plug into any standard mp3, digital music player or sound device, and can be placed anywhere on the abdomen. The circular disks gently adhere to the growing belly with a medical-grade, reusable and skin-safe hydrogel.

Bellybuds have a fixed, maximum sound level strong enough to penetrate to the womb. They reach the baby at a decibel level roughly equivalent to a casual conversation and lower than the mother’s heartbeat. Along with playing music, they can be used to share sounds such as recorded voice messages from loved ones. How awesome would this be for a mom whose husband is a soldier stationed overseas?

When mom is done sharing music and sounds with her baby, bellybuds are easily stored on the included “dock” and placed in the accompanying pouch for portability and safe-keeping.

BUY IT!
The bellybuds bellyphones Deluxe Pack makes an excellent pregnancy or baby shower gift and is available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $49.99. Bellybuds bellyphones are the first of what will be a full line of audio products from the company for expectant moms and their babies! For more information, please visit www.bellybuds.com. You can also learn more by following bellybuds on Facebook and Twitter.

WIN IT!
One reader will win a bellybuds Deluxe Package, valued at $50! To enter, please leave a comment telling me who you’d give this to if you win… or would you keep it for yourself?

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by feed reader or email (or let me know if you already do).
• Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway (one time): A giveaway for parents-to-be! Enter to win bellybuds bellyphones – http://bit.ly/cBy0Lr #RWNH (pls RT)
  
• Link to me in your sidebar or blog roll. Feel free to grab my button (at the bottom of the page).

Bellybuds has provided the giveaway prize at no cost to me, in conjunction with a Team Mom campaign. Contest ends May 1st, 2010 11:59 pm EST. US entries only. One person per household may enter. Leave a separate comment for each entry & a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a list of all my latest giveaways!

Earlier this evening we went to our local Build-A-Bear Workshop with the sole purpose of checking out two new furry friends that are available for a limited-time-only, and just in time for spring! Blossom Bunny and Cheerful Cheeks Chick. We were sent a $25 gift card to make our very own bunny, and had a lovely time!

If you’ve never been to a Build-A-Bear Workshop, you really should. The process is so fun… for adults and kids alike! I’d recommend going on a weekday, as we had the store to ourselves. There are eight stuffed animal-making stations – Choose Me, Hear Me, Stuff Me, Stitch Me, Fluff Me, Dress Me, Name Me and Take Me Home. A master Bear Builder associate will guide you through each phase of the bear-making process, which will become second nature to your kids after they’ve done it a few times!

• Choose Me. As soon as we stepped foot in the store, I told my girls that we’d be taking home a Blossom Bunny. There were no complaints, as she’s so darn cute! I asked MJ if she’d like to get the Chick, too, and she responded with “Yeah! I wuv mah duck!” so we grabbed one of those as well. {Its cheeks light up!} This brings our Build-A-Bear family to five, though there are more than 30 varieties of stuffed animals available, ranging in price from $10- $25.
• Hear Me. We always skipped this station in our previous visits, but I thought – what the heck! I’ve got a gift card! – and let them each choose their sound. MJ loved pushing all the buttons. Over and over. I finally decided on a Giggle sound for her. Maya took a total of 1.5 seconds to choose “Single Ladies” from Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. You can listen to this here. She makes her bunny dance to it, which is hilarious. I’ll try to get it on video one of these days. You can even record your own sound, a 10-second message, which is pretty cool!
• Stuff Me. With the help of a wonderful master Bear Builder associate, the girls each took turns stuffing their new furry friends. They each gave them a quick hug, to check them for the right amount of huggability, and chose a small satin heart from a nearby bin. “I wub it?” MJ asked. This warms up the heart. “I kiss it?” And she did. Then they each made a wish, and placed the hearts inside their stuffed animals. My favorite part of the entire process!
• Stitch Me. The stuffed animal is sewn shut. Before stitching the furry friend, a barcode is inserted, in case it were to ever be lost.
• Fluff Me. The girls gave their furry friends a bath, and brushed the ears and poof of orange hair, respectively.
• Dress Me. You can choose from hundreds of furbulous outfits and accessories. This is probably the most time-consuming part! Since we have two new outfits, we decided to skip this, resulting in a “But, mom!!!” moment. I was about to grab that Easter egg outfit show above, but I restrained myself. Barely.
• Name Me. Here you go to a computer, where your child answers a few questions about their new furry friend and gives it a name.
• Take Me Home. Our two new furry friends were each placed in their very own carrying case, along with a customized birth certificate. Then it was time to pay and bring them home, where they are now snuggling with their new owners in dreamland.

BUY IT!
If you want to get your hands on a Blossom Bunny ($18) or a Cheerful Cheeks Chick ($20) you should do so soon, as they’re only available for a limited time and might sell out with Easter almost upon us. Build-A-Bear Workshop knows that moms are very busy, so for this special season they’re not only providing a selection of bunnies and other stuffed animal friends, but guests can also receive an Easter basket and candy as gifts with purchase! Up until April 4th you can get a FREE Easter basket and candy with a purchase of $20 or more. Note that this isn’t guaranteed – only while supplies last, and may vary by store.

WIN IT!
One beary lucky reader will win a $25 gift card! It can be used in any Build-A-Bear Workshop store or online at www.buildabear.com. To enter, please leave a comment telling me who you’d give the card to if you won. Or would you keep it for yourself?

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by feed reader or email (or let me know if you already do).
• Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway (one time): Giveaway! Win a $25 Build-A-Bear gift card from @ohMariana! http://tiny.cc/babw
• Become a fan of Build-A-Bear on Facebook and leave a comment to say you did.
• Grab my button (at the bottom of the page) and link to me in your sidebar or blog roll.

Two $25 gift cards, one for myself and one for giveaway, were provided to me at no charge by Build-A-Bear Workshop. Contest ends April 4th, 2010 at midnight EST. US entries only. One person per household may enter. Leave a separate comment for each entry & a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a list of all my latest giveaways!

American Greetings PhotoWorks now makes creating beautifully designed and personalized photo books easy and fun. PhotoWorks recently launched this new book creator, PhotoWorks Studio, and with it a new line of photo books called Studio Books, offers the easiest and most creative way to create with confidence while recording life’s special occasions and milestones. With Studio Books, you simply add your digital photos to American Greetings’ uniquely designed templates and select from specially chosen colors, fonts, artwork, and backgrounds.

I chose the pink baby book design. I like it because it’s not overly baby-ish, but very modern and spring-like with lots of pinks and browns. As moms, we try to capture every moment from the start, often by creating a baby book designed especially for each child. But with increased demands at home and at work, finding the time to create truly memorable keepsakes is sometimes easier said than done. If you’re like me, and have nothing but blank pages in your child’s baby book, this might be the perfect alternative for you!

Visit www.PhotoWorks.com to check out the service. When you click on “Get Started” the site will prompt you to sign up if you’re new to PhotoWorks. There’s no software to download; it’s all done over the web.
You can download a printable PDF how-to guide or watch a video tutorial that shows you what you need to do. If you have an issue, customer service is available instantly via live chat, a 1-800 number, or email.

The PhotoWorks Studio application is very simple. First you should create an album with all the photos you’d like to use. You have the option of using autofill to automatically place your photos in the book, or you can fill the pages yourself one by one. Either way, you’re able to move photos around, so I found autofill to be a better choice, since it’s easier than starting from scratch. Within the application, you can mix and match design elements, add text with a text editor that lets you change font, color, and size, and view alternate layouts and backgrounds in real time. It takes around 15-30 minutes to complete this project, depending on the level of personalization, but you can save your work and go back and finish it later. When finished, you can easily order copies of your creation, or email an online version to distant friends and family. Currently offered in wedding, baby, travel, and everyday themes, Studio Books will soon expand to include photo book templates to capture birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other special events. Below is a screenshot of the PhotoWorks Studio application.

The book is 8.5″ x 11″, hardcover with a stitched binding, printed on archival quality paper, and priced at $39.95 for 20 pages. Additional pages (up to 80) are 99 cents each. PhotoWorks has a special offer for new members – free standard shipping on your first order! Enter code: myfirstorder at checkout. If you’re interested in buying one of the Studio Books, right now they’re offering 20% off with code: easiestbook. You can only use one coupon code at a time, though, so you’ll have to decide which one works out better for you.

It took a while to compile recent photos of all my cousins (thank you, Facebook!), but I pulled it off, and my grandma should be receiving her PhotoWorks Studio Book soon. I found the site very easy to use, and the process of creating the book to be user-friendly and fun. I’ll definitely be using PhotoWorks again.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of American Greetings PhotoWorks and received a free photo book to facilitate my review.

If you’re going out shopping some time this week, consider buying something Valentine-themed for your little ones! Below are some ideas from Hasbro, one of the largest toy makers in the world! I’ll be going to Toy Fair in NYC next week, and will hopefully bring back lots of news from Hasbro and other fun brands about what will be hot in the toy universe this year.

	Littlest Pet Shop Valentine’s Pets These sweet Lovebug and Guinea Pig pets are ready to celebrate friendship with their favorite friend — you! With their fun pet-sized accessories and their adorable smiling faces, these two are sure to make it feel like Valentine’s Day all year long! You may find different sets, depending on where you shop. For ages 4 & up. $5.99
	My Little Pony Valentine Ponyville 2-pack Add Sweetie Belle & Pinkie Pie to your little girl’s My Little Pony collection! The two pony figures have removable hair so you can mix and match as you help your new friends primp for a party. The cookie plate and candy box accessories make sweet gifts to share with all their friends! For ages 4 & up. $5.99
	Play-Doh Valentine Heart box With a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. But if you surprise someone you love with this creative heart-shaped valentine filled with 10 fun-size cans of Play-Doh compound, you know they’ll get hours of fun out of it! For ages 2 & up. $4.99 P.S – You can also find a Play-Doh Valentine’s Bag filled with 20 one-ounce cans of red/pink/white compound for around the same price. Perfect for sharing with your child’s classmates in lieu of the customary candy and cookies. With the To/From stickers that are included, these can also take the place of traditional cards!
	Playskool Valentine Sweetheart Spud This cool cupid is ready to shoot its arrow and wing its way to your heart! Anyway you mix and match these parts, it adds up to one sweet spud! Potato body comes with arrow headpiece, arm with bow, arm with sweetheart, 2 wings, set of eyes, mouth, nose and set of feet. For ages 2 & up. $5.99
	Scrabble Valentine’s Day Card Kit & Game The perfect gift for a Scrabble-lover, this kit lets you tell that special someone just how you feel with a customized, Scrabble-style greeting card. Just choose your letter tiles, then place them on top of the card with the provided adhesive dots. With the leftover tiles you can grab a quick game of Scrabble on the heart-shaped gameboard. Maybe you can even score some bonus points for using romantic words like love, kiss or hug! Includes blank greeting card, 100 wooden letter tiles, packet of adhesive dots, mini-gameboard grid (on bottom of heart box), envelope and quick game guide. For ages 8 and up. $7.99

BUY IT!
With the exception of the board game, I saw all the products above at Target, but I’m sure you could also find them at Toys “R” Us, Walmart, and other retailers, as well as www.hasbrotoyshop.com. I spied the Valentine’s Day Scrabble in the games section at my local Barnes & Noble. As these are seasonal items, be sure to call ahead to see if your local store still has them in stock.

WIN IT!
Hasbro would like to give one of my readers a Sweetheart Spud like the one pictured above! To enter to win, please leave a comment telling me what your favorite Hasbro toy is, past or present. Visit the Hasbro Toy Shop if you need ideas!

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by feed reader or email (or let me know if you already do).
• Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway (one time): Toy giveaway! Win an adorable Mr Potato Head ‘Sweetheart Spud’ from @ohMariana! http://tiny.cc/sweetspud
• Grab my button (at the bottom of the page) and link to me in your sidebar or blog roll.

Hasbro provided the product for giveaway. Contest ends February 20th, 2010 11:59 pm EST. US entries only. One person per household may enter. Leave a separate comment for each entry & a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a list of all my latest giveaways.
Be sure to enter to win the Strawberry Shortcake doll, another great gift idea from Hasbro!

We’ve had Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Surprise for a few months now, and she still gets played with often. Though this doll is best for kids 3 and up, she’s been officially adopted by my toddler, as her big sister tends to prefer the tiny 3-inch mini dolls and Berry Sweet Roadster instead. This lovely redhead is about 11 inches tall, and has the signature strawberry scent, flowing hair, and cute Strawberry Shortcake outfit.

The sweet surprise is that you can use a “magic” pen to reveal her eye shadow, lip color and berry beauty mark! Just fill the applicator with water, pop it in the freezer, and once it’s cold, use it to “apply” the makeup. BUT I wouldn’t buy this doll solely for the makeup feature, as you may be disappointed. The color-changing aspect works, just not as smoothly as I’d like. Since you have to actually remove the makeup using hot water first, the whole “makeover” process doesn’t work as well as you see in the commercials, but very few toys actually do. Kids don’t seem to care either way, from what I’ve noticed. Maya thought it was cool at first, but now only pulls the applicator out of the freezer when she wants to show the doll off to a friend.

That said, this is a lovely doll. She smells yummy and comes with hair clips, extensions, and fun sticker accessories. She has poseable arms and legs, is lightweight, and fits well in MJ’s hands. She especially loves brushing her bright red hair! I put away the makeup applicator and the hair clips, when she’s playing with her, by the way, since they’re small.

If you’d like to learn more about Strawberry Shortcake toys, be sure to read my previous post – “Strawberry Shortcake – which toy do I choose?”

BUY IT!
You can find Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Surprise at Kohl’s, Walmart, Toys “R” Us, and Amazon.com for around $20.

WIN IT!
One of you will get to surprise a special little girl in your life with a Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Surprise doll of their very own! To enter, please leave a comment telling me what you’re doing for your kids for Valentine’s Day.

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by feed reader or email (or let me know if you already do).
• Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway (one time): Toy giveaway! Enter to win a Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Surprise doll from @ohMariana! http://tiny.cc/berrysweet
• Grab my button (at the bottom of the page) and link to me in your sidebar or blog roll.

Hasbro provided me with the doll pictured above for review late last year, as part of my holiday gift guide. Contest ends February 20th, 2010 11:59 pm EST, so obviously the winner won’t receive their prize by Valentine’s Day. Sorry about that. US entries only; one person per household. Leave a separate comment for each entry & a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim prize.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a list of all my latest giveaways!

For me, Valentine’s Day is a day like any other. After all, I tell my family I love them every single day. I don’t need a holiday to remind me of that. I do take the time to do a little extra on that day, though, just for fun, and want to encourage you to do something special for your significant other as well.

Think about your last date night. Or the last time you held hands, even! Has it been too long? Is your relationship stuck in a rut? Sometimes we just need to snap out of it. We need a little something to wake us up, to reignite the spark. And that’s where Eden Fantasys comes in.

I have to admit I was always curious about purchasing one of those toys, but it wasn’t until someone from Eden Fantasys contacted me that I took the time to actually browse a website of this nature. Primarily an adult novelty store, Eden carries a huge variety of products, including adult toys, sensual products, lingerie and dress-up accessories, and erotic media. But it is so much more than just an adult toy store.

The community is what has me going back again and again. A blog that’s fun to read. Interesting interviews. A forum where you can ask just about anything. What else do I like about Eden Fantasys?

• The reviews. Find detailed reviews written by real people. Ask questions, and you’ll get an answer from someone that has actually used the product.
• The customer service. Same day shipping, which is free on orders over $59. Discreet packaging, too. So inconspicuous that you won’t even know what it is until you open the box! And you know how with every other online store you buy from, you’re automatically added to their mailing list and receive dozens of unwanted emails and catalogs? Not the case with Eden Fantasys.
• Easy-to-navigate website. The search function makes it simple to find what you’re looking for. Once you’re on a product page, you can view the actual size of the product and even listen to the sound it makes (if applicable). Pretty cool feature.
• Fantastic ezine. Sexis. Features articles about ‘Sex and all things sexual,’ like this recent article about getting a vasectomy that I’m about to forward to my husband. (Think he’ll get the not-so-subtle hint?)

My first experience with Eden Fantasys was with the Swirl Daisy vibrator. You can visit the website and read some very candid reviews of it that I totally agree with! It’s fabulous. One of the top 100 in the traditional vibe category, as a matter of fact. Waterproof. Fun. Comes in pink or purple. Easy to use. And only $26.99. That’s not TMI is it? Because my mom reads this blog!

In the interest of full disclosure: Yes, I was sent a product to review, but am now a customer as I’ve bought a few more things! And, heck – I even signed up to be a contributor! (Haven’t done anything with that yet, though. And did I just say “heck?”)

A few ideas to spice things up this Valentine’s Day:

Oh, and one last thing? Move the TV out of the bedroom. Happy Valentine’s Day!