As a doll collector and doll lover, one of my favorite parts of compiling the holiday gift guide each year is checking out the Corolle baby dolls. This year we are bringing you another great doll and accessories from Corolle.
Gaby is a 14″ baby doll with the signature vanilla scent that Corolle is famous for. Gaby Goes To Nursery School is a doll and accessories set that let’s little ones role play just like a real mom or dad. They can get Gaby ready and pack her included snacks (cookie and apple juice) in her backpack along with her security blanket and pacifier.
Gaby has eyes that close when you lay her down and a soft body with vinyl limbs and head. No hair to get dirty and tangled, she has molded hair that wipes clean. She comes wearing a one piece overall set that looks like 2 pieces. The back has hook and loop fasteners, so it is easy for little hands to dress and undress Gaby. Gaby has little vinyl flats on that come off to show her detailed, chubby feet.
Her little knees are full of little dimples and make her irresistible. Gaby’s thumb can fit and stay in her mouth if her pacifier is left at home and she is fussing. She is weighted so she can sit on her own.
Corolle makes many outfits for this 14″ doll in their mon grand poupon Corolle clothing collection . We could not resist the HappyReindeer Dress and Coat along with the pink ankle strap shoes. You can find Gaby and her accessories on our 2018 Holiday Gift Guideat Mommy Ramblings.
Check out our video below to see more:
Giveaway:
Corolle is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Gaby Goes To The Nursery Set, Happy Reindeer Dress, Happy Reindeer Coat and Pink Ankle Strap Shoes! Thank you to Corolle for sponsoring this amazing giveaway and for the review doll and accessories. Open to US Residents.
Corolle Gaby Goes To Nursery School Gift Set & Accessories Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below: Good Luck!!!
You might remember we have blogged about Package From Santa in the past and how excited our son Luke was to get his package. He especially loved the card that had a special piece of Santa’s magic suit.
This year we ordered a Silver Package From Santa and added the special card with the piece of Santa’s magic suit. We were able to go on the Package From Santa website and choose the type of letter we wanted.
We chose the one that addressed doubt in belief. I was so happy we did because as our son, Ethan read it, he seemed really impressed and said that kids in school were saying that Santa was not real. This letter may have helped us keep that magic alive a little longer.
Beyond the letter, there is a flight path that is personalized to where we live and a very nice photo of Santa in his sleigh. There is a special North Pole stamp on the envelope that adds another bit of credibility. There is even more! FREE! All-New 2018 Personalized Video, Phone Call, and Printable Nice List Guide with Every Package!
You still have time to order your own. We have a Special Offer: Mommy Ramblings’ readers can Save 25% Off Any PackageFromSanta.com Program. Use Promo Code FAM2060 at when you order HERE!
The air is getting colder. The leaves have all fallen. Stores are starting to advertise upcoming sales, and all the signs are clear: Christmas will soon be here!
Okay, that’s a little dramatic, but it is true that another holly jolly season will soon be upon us, and I bet you’re already planning ahead for what you’ve got to do.
There’s obviously gift lists to assemble, you’re calling your mom to figure out who’s hosting the Christmas dinner (“Oh! I am?”), and, bless you, you’re probably stressing over how you’re going to decorate this year.
Every proud homemaker knows that having a theme at Christmas is essential for transforming a house into a home. It’s not that you’re being vain or anything, but you know that having a house that feels warm, welcoming, and, dare I say jolly, are key to helping enhance the joy of being reunited with your friends and family during this special time.
With that being said, it can be a pain. It takes time, and it can be tough to keep things fresh and interesting, trying to come up with a new, engaging theme, year after year. To help you out this season, and take some of that burden off your shoulders, I’ve put together a few ideas that you can use to really spruce up your house for all of your guests, whether you’re hosting or not (“Yes. You are.”).
Classical Style
Classic Christmas themes work extremely well because they’re, well, tradition! These are the common color and design staples that leave your guests with no doubt that you treasure the season, and look forward to it every year. It may not be revolutionary, but it’s effective, and when the goal is to relax with those closest to you, and focus on quality time with each other, sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
To capture the perfect classical look, stick with shades of dark greens and bright reds, as well as gold and silver. Common design elements include Christmas trees, reindeer, Santa’s sleigh, and turtle doves. Sticking with naturals decor items, like a real Christmas tree, and a pine need centerpiece, is also a great way to accentuate this style.
Traditional Style
Traditional style during the holidays is all about keeping the same sense of warmth and comfort that you find in classical style, but eschewing a lot of dynamism in favor of a more subtle impression. To that end, the reds, greens, and other colors that make up the classic Christmas palette remain, but are presented in subtler ways.
To start with, you don’t have to go overboard with Santa statues, reindeer napkins, nativity bookends, and all other manner of Christmas staples. Instead, you can do simple things, like swap out the throws or pillows on your couch for some dark greens and reds, or incorporate a subdued, but elegant rug to introduce just a hint of the Christmas spirit into your living space.
Unconventional
If you’re someone who’s never been one to just go along with the crowd, or forced yourself to keep up with the latest trends, good for you! It takes a lot of courage to live your life that way, and you can use that same philosophy to decorate your home for the season, and leave quite the impression with your guests.
You can use colors and designs that mean something unique about Christmas to you, and incorporate them into your decorations. Maybe one Christmas your family took a trip to the beach, and you have a seashell that represents that trip; or maybe you the most cherished gift you ever received was a pair of socks your mom knit for you, and you use them as the centerpiece of your table.
The possibilities are endless with this approach, and the more unique to you, the better!
This is a collaborative guest post. The views and ideas do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
By Brianna Caplan Sayres; Illustrated by Christian Slade
If your kids love trucks and all things construction as much as mine do, you need to check out this book! This is a great picture book to read as a bedtime story during the Christmas season. Your little one will love finding out what diggers, tractors, forklifts and tankers do to get ready for the holidays. This festive new book is perfect for fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Little Blue Truck.
About the Book:
From trimming the tree and singing carols to gathering gifts and putting out milk and cookies for Santa, Christmastime for the beloved vehicles of Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? looks a lot like yours. Even Zambonis celebrate . . . on ice! Enjoy the rollicking rhymes as you watch the truck families prepare for Santa and even help pull his sleigh!
BRIANNA CAPLAN SAYRES is the author of Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? and its sequels, illustrated by Christian Slade. She lives with her husband and their two boys in Seattle. You can visit her on the Web at briannacaplansayres.com or facebook.com/authorbrianna.
CHRISTIAN SLADE’s classic, distinctive art style can be found in picture books, novels, and graphic novels for children. He holds an MA in illustration from Syracuse University, as well as a BFA in drawing and animation from the University of Central Florida. He lives with his wife and two children in Florida. Visit him on the Web at christianslade.com.
Giveaway:
Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky reader will win their own hardcover copy of “Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas?”! Thank you to Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this festive giveaway. Open to US residents.
Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas? Hardcover Book Giveaway Rules on Mommy Ramblings:
Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!
This is a sponsored post as a blogger partnering with Air Bud Entertainment. As always my words and views are 100% my own. @airbud @airbudofficial #puppystarchristmas
Oh my goodness, the Christmas season is in full swing. I really want time to slow down, so we can savory every day leading up to Christmas. We are trying to do fun things this season, embrace our holiday traditions and keep the stress to a minimum.. We started our Advent Calendar, went to a community Christmas craft party and pictures with Santa and then it was time for a movie night! We were so excited that Air Bud Entertainment launched the holiday season with an exciting all-new family movie adventure!
Puppy Star Christmas is available on NETFLIX and Digital HD now!
Unwrap The Holiday Season With Air Bud Entertainment’s Exciting All-New Family Movie Adventure!
A song and dance-filled movie for the whole family, PUPPY STAR CHRISTMAS continues the fantastic adventures of the talking (and singing) canine characters that have recently gained overwhelming popularity in the PUP STAR franchise of films. These action-packed and song-filled family stories, feature an adorable cast of dogs including talking Yorkie, ‘Tiny,’ and ‘P.U.P.,’ the street-smart rapping mutt who stole Tiny’s heart.
Check out the trailer below:
The all-newmovie begins as Tiny and P.U.P tie the knot in an elaborate song with the largest dance number in franchise history, before introducing audiences to the couple’s delightful litter of four precocious new puppies. The mischief, fun and adventure continues, as Christmas nears and pup siblings ‘Cindy,’ ‘Rosie,’ ‘Charlie’ and ‘Brody’ inadvertently stow away on Santa’s sleigh, ending up at the North Pole where they uncover an evil plot to steal the world’s Christmas spirit.
Several days ago, we received a huge package of goodies to celebrate the debut of Puppy Star Christmas.
Check out our unboxing video below.
We build and decorate a gingerbread creation every year, it is one of our favorite Christmas traditions. With all the goodies we received from the nice folks at Air Bud Entertainment, we could not wait to get started on a Puppy Star Christmas themed Gingerbread House!
The movie features a gorgeous gingerbread house that we certainly cannot compete with as far as, architecture and perfection go. However, we certainly were overflowing with anticipation and enthusiasm.
The kids were excited that we were going with the Puppy Star Christmas theme, because it allowed us to add so many fun doggie inspired elements.
From the Puppy Star Christmas logo on the front of the house to the dog bone candy trimmed windows, we think we did a dog-gone good job!
It was so much fun, and messy too, but that just adds to the festivities. With kids, we are not aiming for perfection, but for the experience to be fun and memorable, and it certainly was!
Check out our video below to see some of the gingerbread house decorating antics that went on in our kitchen.
After our masterpiece was done, we all felt it was time to have a family movie night and turn on NETFLIX to watch Puppy Star Christmas. With steamy hot cocoa in hand, we sipped and laughed our way through this holiday-themed movie that really helped get us in the holiday mood. My kids love the dogs and who can resist puppies?
More about the movie:
Live-action talent in PUPPY STAR CHRISTMAS reunites the film’s original cast including Makenzie Moss (Steve Jobs) as Tiny’s best friend, Lou; David Deluise (The Wizards of Waverly Place) as her father, Denisse Ojeda as the family’s loyal nanny ‘Ida’; Reggie De Leon (Disney’s stage version of Aladdin) as Tiny’s manager ‘Shep;’ and features the return of Jed Rees (Deadpool) as the misunderstood bad guy ‘Roland.’
A tail-wagging selection of talent returns to provide voices for the film’s canine stars, including music and YouTube sensation Mackenzie Sol (The X-Factor) who returns as ‘P.U.P’; and 14-year old singing sensation Kaitlyn Maher (Santa Paws), who returns as the voice of Tiny and sister Scrappy.
The film also returns the voices of George Newbern as Tiny’s nemesis Bark, Diedrich Bader as Kano, and Jorge Diaz (Disney’s Elena Of Avalor) as the beloved Telenovela star ‘Julio’. The film’s puppy litter of new canine voice talents joining the franchise in PUPPY STAR CHRISTMAS includes Chloe Coleman (Big Little Lies) as Charlie, Dillon Fontana as Brody, Oakley Bull (the upcoming feature Beautiful Boy) as Cindy and Vivienne Rutherford as Rosie.
PUPPY STAR CHRISTMAS is produced by Air Bud Entertainment, the creative force behind the #1 live-action, direct-to-home movies in the family category. The film is directed by “Air Bud” and “Disney Air Buddies” veteran Robert Vince, produced by Anna McRoberts and written by Robert Vince and Piers Rae.
The Gingerbread house decorating brought a bright spot to a very sad part of our weekend. We had to say goodbye to our 16-year-old cat, Max. Max was a Pixie Bob cat who thought he was more dog than cat, even if our Westie, Maltese and Bulldog did not agree. Even though Max lived a long life, it was sad to have to let him go. However, Max was suffering from some health issues that were causing his quality of life to be severely altered.
Our kids were sad, and our youngest had hoped the doctor could somehow “fix” Max. It was hard for all of us, and we are still dealing with the loss of our sweet feline family member. The Gingerbread house let us focus our attention on something fun. You know what they say about the healing power of laughter, the movie certainly provides for plenty of that as well.
I hope you all are kicking off the Christmas holiday season in style and fun too. Let me know if you watch Puppy Star Christmasand put your thoughts in the comments.
This joyous, heart-tickling holiday event based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved book and featuring the voice of Boris Karloff has delighted viewers of all ages since its 1966 debut. The fun begins when the grumpy, grouchy, Yule-hating Grinch plots to ruin the Who’s Christmas. Can he steal their holiday spirit by stealing their holiday treats? Or does Christmas…perhaps…mean a little bit more?
This is one of my favorite Christmas movies! Now, this Ultimate Edition has more Grinchy fun for everyone!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Magnificently narrated by Boris Karloff and directed by animation genius and cartoon legend Chuck Jones, How the Grinch Stole Christmas tells the story of the miserable Grinch, who wants to sabotage Christmas for all the Whos in Who-ville. The Grinch thinks that by stealing the Whos Christmas trees and presents, he’ll succeed in stealing their joy. However, when Christmas morning arrives, the Grinch is taken by surprise when he notices the Whos greet the day joyously singing Christmas carols regardless of the fact that their village has been completely stripped of holiday gifts, decorations and treats. The cheerful attitude of the Whos prompts the Grinch to ponder the true meaning of Christmas and he slowly comes to realize the spirit of the season is not generated by material possessions. Will the Grinch have a change of heart and consider returning the Whos’ Christmas gifts?
The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat – The Grinch is up to his old tricks again in The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat, the Emmy Award-winning special directed by legendary animator Friz Freleng. In this special, the Cat in the Hat encounters the Grinch while picnicking one day. He refers to the Grinch as Mr. Greenface, which the Grinch takes an as insult, prompting him to retaliate by building a series of outrageous devices designed to cause all sorts of disruption. First, he creates a “Vacusound Sweeper,” which distorts any and all of the sounds within a 50-mile radius of the Cat in the Hat. Then he creates the “Dark House,” which is the direct opposite of a light house and puts the Cat in the Hat into complete darkness. He then uses the “Flummox Deluxe” to further warp the Cat in the Hat’s surroundings, which sends him and everything around him into complete chaos. Will the Cat in the Hat figure out a way to stop the Grinch and outsmart all his crazy devices?
Halloween is Grinch Night – When the Sour-Sweet wind starts to blow in Who-ville, all the Whos take cover because this signifies the beginning of Grinch Night, an evening in which the Grinch descends upon Who-ville to terrorize all its citizens. As the Grinch sets out on his journey to Who-ville, he encounters a courageous young Who named Euchariah, who attempts to stall the Grinch from reaching Who-ville. The Grinch however puts Euchariah into a trance in which he encounters all sorts of strange creatures who try to intimidate him. Will Euchariah manage to snap out of the trance in time to stop Grinch from reaching Who-ville?
We of course have added Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Ultimate Edition to our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide here at Mommy Ramblings.
Giveaway:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Ultimate Edition on Blu-ray! Thank you to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for the review Blu-ray and for sponsoring this Grinchy Good Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings.
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Ultimate Edition Blu-Ray Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!
Blaze and AJ are bursting back onto DVD with the all-new release, Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze Saves Christmas. Available now, this high-speed collection of holiday and winter episodes follows Blaze and his friends as they deliver presents on Christmas, save a little bunny, catch a cake and put their newfound ninja skills to the test.
Produced by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Media Distribution, Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze Saves Christmas arrived just in time for the holidays. You can find Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze Saves Christmas on Mommy Ramblings’ 2018 Holiday Gift Guide.
Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze Saves Christmascontains the following episodes:
Monster Machine Christmas – When Crusher sends Santa’s magic bag of presents flying, he must team up with Blaze and AJ to quickly deliver all the presents by Christmas morning.
Breaking the Ice – Robot Blaze climbs, grinds, and ziplines his way to save a little bunny trapped on top of a melting glacier.
Catch That Cake! – After Crusher sends Darington’s birthday cake rocketing away, it’s up to Blaze to get it back in time for his party.
Ninja Blaze – Ninja Master Blackbelt is training Blaze and AJ to become powerful ninjas when Crusher and Pickle accidentally launch themselves onto an icy mountain. Now, Blaze and AJ must use their new ninjas skills to rescue them.
Giveaway
Nickelodeon is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze Saves Christmas DVD! Thank you to Nickelodeon for the review DVD and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US Residents.
Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze Saves Christmas DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!
I love sharing classic stories with my children. The Velveteen Rabbit is probably one of the most beloved children’s books of all time.
When the Velveteen Rabbit first arrives in the nursery, he is snubbed by the other toys. But the Rabbit soon makes friends with the Skin Horse, who explains how toys can become “real” if they are loved enough.
The Velveteen Rabbit longs for this to happen, and one day he finds that he has become the Boy’s very favorite toy. They play together through a long, golden summer, Rabbit becoming shabbier and shabbier as he becomes real to the boy who loves him. The rabbits in the garden think otherwise — how can Rabbit be real when he can’t leap and hop?
When Boy takes ill with scarlet fever and Rabbit must be discarded, a magical fairy appears to transform him into a real, wild rabbit, though her parting words remind him that he was always real to the Boy.
A perfect gift for delivering an old favorite to a new generation, this beautifully illustrated version of Margery Williams’s time-honored tale is the first in a series of Nosy Crow classics. We love this book so much, you will find it on Mommy Ramblings’ 2017 Holiday Gift Guide.
Giveaway:
Candlewick Press is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of The Velveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real! Thank you to Candlewick Press for the review book and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
The Velveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
We really like to choose toys for our kids that are fun and educational. That is why when we saw the Gadgets & Gizmos Invention Kit, we knew it was one that our kids would love and let’s face it, I knew my husband would love it too!
This is the ultimate kit for every aspiring inventor! The open-ended kit is packed with parts that kids can mix and match to make tons of gadgets and gizmos.
The step-by-step guide is easy to follow to create 8 projects, like a catapult, helicopter, hydraulic lift car and so much more including their own unique creations.
When they build and invent with this kit, they are exploring exciting science and engineering concepts. My son Ethan is interested in becoming an engineer so this is very exciting to him. The first thing they built with this 180 piece kit is an air powered rocket launcher. After building it, the testing it was super fun for all the boys!
We love this kit so much we are adding it to Mommy Ramblings’ 2017 Holiday Gift Guide.
Giveaway
Lakeshore Learning is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Gadgets & Gizmos Invention Kit! Thank you to Lakeshore Learning for the review kit and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.
Gadgets & Gizmos Invention Kit Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Unique gifts like personalized books, board games, placemats and more celebrate the recipient and can even include their family and pet in the fun. I See Me!makes it easy to give gifts that will make every child a star.
I love giving I See Me! products to my kids. The look on their faces, when they discover they are the main character of a special book, is truly priceless. This season, I created some really special gifts for my kids on the I See Me! website. It is so easy to add personalization and photos to create unique and treasured gifts.
I know my son Ethan is going to love the personalized USA Road TripStorybook I created for him. It is such a fun book, that will really spark his curiosity and imagination with a fun and factual geographic exploration of the United States. In the story, he receives a personalized driver’s license, hops into a magical car, and learns state names and key monuments during the journey across America. He will take a rest stop in our own state of New York to learn a few extra fun facts!
I was able to easily personalize this road trip adventure with my son’s name and the state we live in. I selected his skin tone and hair color, and uploaded a photo of his face to be incorporated throughout the illustrations!
He is going to love it, and at the end of the book, he will see a personalized map of the United States. The book even includes a list of all 50 states with their capitals, so he can check off the names of the states that he has visited! We ordered the gift set which included a scratch off state map that he is going to just love! I cannot wait to see his face when he opens it.
For our son Luke, our dog lover, we choose the If My Dog Could TalkStorybook. I customized it for him and our American Bulldog, Delilah. I was able to choose from twelve illustrated dog styles and five colors to create a dog that really resembled our dog.
The book includes Delilah’s name and the names of four of our family members, this really makes it fun to read! This book is also a nice way to celebrate a new puppy or dog adoption or remember a lost pet. Your dog’s name and the names of up to four family member’s names (children or adults) are also included throughout the story and illustrations! Plus you can add a personal message and up to two photos on the dedication page.
For a really special gift, the book can be ordered with a personalized bandana, ornament or placemat for you pet. We ordered the book with the bandana and a personalized Christmas ornament that we already have on our Christmas Tree.
Another great gift idea on their site that is fun for the whole family is I See Me!’s new, Our Family’s Race Across the U.S.A. board game. This game makes family game night so much fun! It is a brand new addition to their extensive product line.
Take an adventure across America as you move your piece along the game board. Personalize up to six game pieces with photos of your family member’s faces so they can “travel” from space to space. Your family’s names will also be incorporated into the game board artwork! Create lasting family memories with this uniquely personalized keepsake.
If you order by December 17th and use code CELEBRATE when you checkout, you can save 30%! This is the perfect chance to get a special gift at an amazing price! Click HERE to get started.
We love I See Me! products so much, we have added them to Mommy Ramblings’ 2017 Holiday Gift Guide.
Giveaway
I See Me! is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Personalized, Our Family’s Race Across the U.S.A. Board Game! Thank you to I See Me! for the review items and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.
I See Me! Our Family’s Race Across the U.S.A. Personalized Board Game Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
Hello, I’m Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
