Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Cali Candy Cane Winner

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Congratulations Jule Ann!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Groovy Girls - Cali Candy Cane

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Made by Manhattan Toy

ABOUT CALI CANDY CANE:

DESIGNED FOR AGES 3+

Cali Candy Cane is as sweet as they come. Her velvet red dress and green and white striped stockings reveal her tasteful holiday personality. Her hair is full of candy cane colors with a mixture of light blonde and red highlights. Cali Candy Cane is as festive as they come, from her stocking cap to her cute green handbag.

MY THOUGHTS:
So I have been waiting for a while for this doll to arrive as I knew my now 3.5 yr. old daughter would LOVE her. I was right. The first words out of her mouth were "Thank you mommy, It's exactly what I wished for." LOL. My daughter has a tendency to over dramatize everything, but it still warmed my heart to hear her be so excited!

I absolutely love the groovy girls collection, though, honestly, this is the first one we've actually owned. April and I spent a great portion of the afternoon playing with Cali. The detailing on her is so beautiful. She has a red dress and a small handbag. The dress can come off with the simple snipping of one dart on her back, but I like that it's attached initially giving the parent the option of whether or not they want their doll's clothes to be able to be taken off. I find that my children always like taking the clothes off, but this time I opted to leave the stitch there and told April that the clothes are sewn on so they don't come off. Same thing goes for the handbag. You can take a stitch out if you want it to come off.

April says that her favorite part of the doll is the shoes. I think I better start saving now as April is already showing signs of being a shoe a holic! LOL.

I have to say that I have two favorite parts of this doll. I LOVE the green eyes that she has as many dolls have blue or brown eyes so it's refreshing to see a different color. The second thing is that the entire doll is plush so if you have kids fighting over the doll at least nobody gets hurt in the process :D

This would make a great gift for a little girl or even boy. My 2 yr. old son loves Cali too :D I think he just likes how soft she is and he really likes to pet her hair. All in all a great toy for any child.

Product available online at www.manhattantoy.com or a Specialty Store near you.


GUESS WHAT?! IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME AGAIN!

That's right, Manhattan Toy has offered a Cali Candy Cane doll to one of my readers! This contest is open to US and Canada residents only!

HOW DO I ENTER? Well I'm glad you asked...just follow the instructions below and Good Luck!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
"Like" Manhattan Toy on Facebook (HERE) AND Visit www.manhattantoy.com, browse their toys, and leave a comment stating what other Manhattan Toy products your child would like and why. Make sure you leave your email address in your comment too. No email address, no entry.


For additional entries -
1. Follow Manhattan Toy on Twitter (HERE) and leave me a comment telling me you did.

2. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link to your tweet (one entry per day)

3. Refer a friend to my blog, have them follow it, and have them leave a comment that you sent them. (1 entry per each referral).


THIS CONTEST CLOSES ON NOV. 28th at 11:59 PM so enter soon and often! Winner will be notified on Nov. 29th and will be chosen using Random.org

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

A Lancaster County Christmas

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by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Read the Back:
Jaime drove up a long lane, using the fence rails to guide her along the snow-covered road. When she reached the top of the lane, the sight nearly took her breath away. Before her was a farmhouse glowing with buttery lights, smoke from the chimney rising to the sky. A cozy, welcoming beacon in the storm.

From the Cover Flap:
Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband, Sol, the Christmas gift they have both longed for--news that a baby was on the way. But as usual, she is disappointed. The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big Amish family isn't likely to become a reality. Will those empty chairs at the table ever be filled?

Then a winter storm raging outside blows an impatient young woman and her husband into the Riehl home on Christmas Eve--and into a much slower pace of life.

Both couples are about to find out if they can weather the storm--and if miracles still happen at Christmastime.

MY THOUGHTS:
What a charming and heart-warming tale. I think that any reader can find a character within this story that they can relate to. As always, I enjoy reading further about the lives of characters that Suzanne has introduced me to in her other books. I feel that by reading more and more of her books I really get to understand the characters and how they interact as well as get a general feel for the landscape of Lancaster County. This story takes us through a Christmas weekend when young couple C.J. and Jaime end up stranded at an amish farm. It's refreshing to read a book that openly talks about how things happen for a reason and that God always has his hand in life's happenings. I enjoy how through the simplicity of Amish ways, God's plans and love for all shines through. This book is an absolute treasure and I would recommend having your Kleenex ready as it will tug on your heartstrings in many different ways.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Rocket Boost Iron Man

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Designed for Ages 3 & Up

Product Description:
Power up and prepare for battle with this awesome electronic Rocket Boost Iron Man figure! When enemies start to engage, make this figure’s battle cannon accessories spring into place, so he’s ready for whatever they throw at him. His light-up eyes and rocket pod accessories show he’s prepared for a knock-down, drag out battle and, when you press his chest button, you’ll even hear battle sounds and phrases like, “Hero up!” When the moment is right and it’s time to really shake enemies to the core, press his foot trigger for jet battle sounds and deploy his “wings” to their full 11 inches! No bad guys can possibly win against you and this mighty “metal-clad” warrior!

Includes 2 “AA” batteries.

My Thoughts:
I bought this for my 2 yr. old for his birthday and he just loves it! At this age he really enjoys pushing the buttons to hear all the sounds and phrases as well as opening and closing Iron Man's wings. A friend's almost 3 yr. old son was at my son's b-day party where Iron Man was in attendance and he was playing much more interactively with Iron Man. He was making him fly around the room and moving his arms and legs. I really like the chunky design of this toy as it makes it easier to move the parts and I just feel like it's not going to fall apart on me. The effects are well done and the phrases are clear and easy to understand. This would make a great addition to any little boy (or girl's) toy collection and can be found at most major retailers.

DISCLAIMER: I was in no way compensated for this review. All opinions are my own. I purchased this item on my own.

Playmobil's My Take Along 123 Noah's Ark

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ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Designed for Ages 1.5 yrs. and up

Set Includes:
Noah & his wife
One Ark w/ Loading Ramp
2 Giraffes, Elephants, Zebras, Lions, and Doves
Feed Bag
Water/Food Trough



PRODUCT FEATURES:
Removable Deck for Storage
Latched Roof on Deck
Boat Floats
Handle for Easy Portability


MY THOUGHTS:
I love Playmobil 123 sets as they are built for little hands. The pieces are chunky and well built so there is no worrying about parts making their way into airways. I purchased this set for my son's 2nd birthday and he just loves it. He was immediately drawn to the toy because of the handle on top. He grabbed on and walked off with it (once we got it out of the box)! One of the reasons I bought this toy was to try it in the bath. While the box didn't specifically state in words that this toy would float, it did show a picture of the boat in water so I decided to hope for the best. I was so glad I did. This boat is PERFECT for the bath! My son really enjoys making the animals get in to the ark and his laughter as each of the animals float around in the water is priceless. Since this is a high quality toy I made sure to set everything to dry after playing in the bath, but the pieces are designed to get wet and dry very easily. The only down side to this toy is the fighting over who will play with it in the tub! This would make a great Christmas gift to any little boy or girl and is available at many different retailers.

DISCLAIMER: I was in no way compensated for this review. All thoughts are my own. I purchased this product on my own.

Mooney's Bay Bistro

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Located at:
731 Ridgewood Ave.
Ottawa, ON


We decided, on a friend's recommendation, to stop in to Mooney's Bay Bistro for a nice Sunday Brunch. We were not disappointed! My breakfast consisted of two eggs, ham, home fries, toast, and coffee for $4.99! Each of my kids had an egg, toast, bacon, and home fries and juice for $3.99! I really like the fact that you can switch out your home fries for fruit for an additional $1. This makes eating healthier that much easier. Our waitress was very polite and was kind enough to bring out mega blocks and coloring supplies for my 2 & 3 yr. olds. The food was amazingly prepared as asked and was delicious to boot! Can't wait to head back there again :D

You can view their menu HERE. Please check them out and let me know your thoughts here when you do!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Deadly Pursuit (Guardians of Justice #2)

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by Irene Hannon


Read the Back:

A stalker with deadly intent . . .
A woman who protects children . . .
An ex-Navy SEAL turned police detective.

Social worker Alison Taylor has a passion for protecting children. But now it seems she needs protecting. When her tormentor's attentions take a violent turn, she calls in reinforcements--her police-detective brother, Cole, and his new partner, ex-Navy SEAL Mitch Morgan. As her relentless stalker turns up the heat and the danger intensifies, Mitch takes a personal interest in the case. Because protecting Alison has become more than a job; his future depends on keeping her safe.

Filled with nail-biting suspense and heart-melting romance, Deadly Pursuit is Irene Hannon's storytelling at its very best.

My Thoughts:
Irene Hannon does it again! This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. This book contains the characters in Fatal Judgement, but is more focused on Alison. True to Irene's style there is an ever budding romance aspect as well as the action and suspense we've come to love. This book is a great read and keeps you entertained the entire way through. If you loved Fatal Judgement, you'll love this one too. If you haven't read Fatal Judgement that's okay as the characters are reintroduced throughout Deadly Pursuit so you need not read the books in succession. Pick up your copy and enjoy!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.