Category Archives: Holiday

November 29, 2014 · 12:17 am

Shop World Vision #GiftCatalog For Gifts That Give Back & Giveaway!!!

I don’t know if you ventured out on Black Friday today, but I sure didn’t. I’m so glad too after seeing some of the craziness on the news tonight. If you are looking for a meaningful gift that truly depicts the sentiment, “it is better to give than to receive”, you should check out the World Vision Gift Catalog. The Catalog is filled with over 250 poverty-fighting gifts starting at just $10. When you choose to give where it is needed most, you can receive a handcrafted gift for your generosity.

Choose from handcrafted gifts like Cinnamon Boxes, Serving Spoons, Beaded Necklaces, gorgeous Cuff Bracelets and more that you can keep or give to loved ones this season. It may seem odd to give the gift of a goat, chicken or clean water but it could mean life for someone living in poverty. Take a look at the 2014 World Vision Gift Catalog and consider giving a life changing gift this holiday season.

To order from World Vision’s Gift Catalog, visit www.worldvisiongifts.org or call 855-WV-GIFTS. You can visit with World Vision on Facebook and Twitter. Since it began in 1996, the World Vision Gift Catalog has grown in popularity as a gift-giving alternative; more than 844,000 people helped someone through the Catalog in the last fiscal year alone.

Look at these gorgeous hand crafted serving spoons from Kenya. These are just one of the many gifts available when you give and they are perfect for entertaining or giving to someone who does.

Would you like to have a chance to win a set of serving spoons. If so, just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

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Filed under cause, Christmas, Giveaway, Holiday, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings

Tagged as #GiftCatalog, #HolidayGiftGuide, Gift Catalog, Gifts, Giving, Handcrafted, Help, Kenya, Meaningful Gifts, Mommy Ramblings, Poverty, Serving Spoons, World Vision

November 24, 2014 · 6:08 pm

Lakeshore Learning Beginner’s Science Lab Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

Are you looking for gifts for the kids on your holiday gift list that are as much fun as they are educational? If so, you should check out Lakeshore Learning. They have a full inventory of educational and fun toys for all ages and many are on sale. You can view their Holiday Flyer and see for yourself the wide selection and great prices. Click HERE for a coupon that will save you 20% on any regularly priced item. There is also an additional coupon you can use in store and online on the back of the digital flyer!

We picked the Beginner’s Science Lab from the Holiday Flyer for our budding scientists.

The boys were thrilled to see the huge box filled with all kinds of science equipment and materials.

Building a volcano was the first project. It was very simple, there is a non-toxic paper mache mixture that you just add water to and mix with your hands. Then on some wax paper you mold into a volcano shape and form the opening. It must dry for a couple of days before you can have an eruption. Ours is drying but we will take a video and update this post in a couple of days.

Another great experiment, is the liquid layers, using pancake syrup, cooking oil and colored water, the boys observed how the colored water formed a ball that actually passed through the oil layer into the water layer. They thought that was really neat. We have some more experiments lined up for today and they are really looking forward to it.

We love this Beginner’s Science Lab so much we are adding it to our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide. Would you like a chance to win one? Great! Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!! Open to US Residents. Many thanks to Lakeshore Learning for the review kit and for this awesome giveaway!!!

Lakeshore Learning Beginner’s Science Lab Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings:

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Filed under Christmas, Education, Entertainment, Family, Giveaway, Holiday, Holiday Gift Guide, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review, Sale, Shopping, Special Offers, Toys

Tagged as #HolidayGiftGuide, Beginner's Science Lab, Coupons, Educational, Experiments, giveaway, Holiday Flyer, Holiday Gift Guide, Lakeshore Learning, Learn, Mommy Ramblings, review, Save, Savings, Science, Toy, Volcano

November 21, 2014 · 5:49 pm

Star Kids, Snack & Play Travel Tray Is Perfect For Holiday Traveling!!!

The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year! If you are traveling over the river and through the woods by car, boat, plane or train with kids, bring lots of activities. Little ones have a harder time gauging the time it takes and lucky us if they are great sleepers in the car, but we are sure to hear at least 10 “Are we there yet?” questions. Having fun things they can do in the car can eliminate at least 5, maybe even 6 of those.

The Snack & Play Travel Tray is ideal for traveling and it is perfect to use with your car seat, on airplanes and even strollers.

The Snack & Play Travel Tray is made of a soft, durable, 100% nylon that is easy to clean. The tray easily buckles around the child or stroller, has large mesh storage pockets for all their toys and books and a 2 inch wall to stop things from rolling off the top and falling.

Star Kids Products is an innovative children’s product manufacturer that specializes in making fun and safe products for busy, traveling families. Travel tray makes a great gift. Snack & Play Travel Tray can be purchased through their retail network. You can follow Star Kids on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to stay in the know. Mommy Ramblings is adding the Snack & Play Travel Tray to our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide.

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Filed under Baby, Baby Gear, Christmas, Giveaway, Holiday, Holiday Gift Guide, Review, Toddler, Toys, USFG

Tagged as #HolidayGiftGuide, 2014, Airline, Car Seat, Car Trips, Holiday Gift Guide, Mommy Ramblings USFG, Star Kids Products, Stroller

November 11, 2014 · 11:44 pm

SentoSphere, Optical Mysteries Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

My husband is a scientist and a mathematical whiz, so I knew he would be ecstatic to delve into Optical Mysteries from SentoSphere with our boys. I was not wrong, am I ever? 😛 He poured over all the experiments and said they were very educational and interesting.

He was able to show the kids how energy from the sun can be harnessed for solar power. There were lots of fun experiments showing the effect light has on colors. Creating your own rainbow and building a kaleidoscope were other fun activities included in this kit. They are still having fun and learning every day with these great experiments.

Includes:

• 1 solar panel

• 1 spinning board

• 1 LED light box

• 1 DIY kaleidoscope

• 1 optical fibre

• 1 trick (illusion) box

• 3D glasses

• 3D pictures assortment

• 4 bottles of ink

• 1 pipette

• 1 mirror

• 1 paintbrush

• 10 optic tests

• 1 illustrated instruction leaflet

For ages 8 years and older

If you have a little scientist on your holiday gift list, you should check out Optical Mysteries. Mommy Ramblings is adding it to our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide.

Sentosphere is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own Optical MysteriesKit. Thank you Sentosphere for the review kit and for sponsoring this illuminating giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.

Sentosphere, Optical Mysteries Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Filed under Christmas, Holiday, Holiday Gift Guide, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Toys

Tagged as #HolidayGiftGuide, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Mommy Ramblings, Optical Mysteries, review, SentoSphere

· 12:01 am

Chicken Soup for the Soul: “The Cat Did What?” Review & Giveaway!!! 3 Winners!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

Cats some people love them and some people are not cat people or at least they don’t think they are until they become an accidental cat lover. That’s just one of the 101 amazing stories of magical moments, miracles and mischief in The Cat Did What? from Chicken Soup for the Soul. The book is filled with stories of all kinds. Stories that will make you laugh, bring a tear to your eye and have you shaking your head. I loved the story of how a new kitten rescued to comfort a 12-year-old cat who was incredibly lonely after losing her long time feline companion. The new kitten and then adult cat wanted nothing to do with the ailing cat but at the end of her life, this cat called Murray became a different cat and laid with the older cat, comforted her and stayed with her the whole day. After she died he never showed that side of him again. That was a very emotional story but there are stories to make you laugh and nod in agreement as well.

If you have a cat or animal lover on your holiday wish list you may wish to check out this book for them. Mommy Ramblings is adding it to our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide.

Our feline friends constantly surprise and charm us with their silly antics, their loving connections with our family members, and their surprising intelligence. You will enjoy reading all the 101 amazing and humorous stories in this collection about the mischief, miracles, and magic our cats bring to our lives. This collection will make you laugh and touch your heart and after reading these stories we know you’ll say, “The cat did what?” You can purchase this book on Amazon.com.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Three lucky blog readers will win a copy of The Cat Did What? Thanks to CSFTSP for the review book and for sponsoring this Purr-Fect giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US Residents.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cat Did What? Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Tagged as "The Cat Did What?", #HolidayGiftGuide, book, Cats, Chicken Soup for the Soul, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Mommy Ramblings, review

November 9, 2014 · 7:25 pm

Gamesformotion’s Chocolate Classic Games Are Sweet!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

Do you feel that in our high-tech world families are losing connection with each other? Do you see families out at dinner engrossed in text chat, Facebook, games or email instead of having quality face time with each other? If you are looking for a way to bring the family together, I may have the answer. Chocolate! You must be thinking, “What?” Hold on though, because I’m not finished. Chocolate is just the start. What about combining chocolate not with peanut butter but with classic games? Now, I’m sure you think I have lost my mind but I truly want you to keep reading. This month in major retail stores like Target, CVS, Kmart, Amazon.com, Meijer and Fred Meyer, Bed Bath & Beyond and select smaller distributors with retail prices starting at only $9.99. you will find just that. Gamesformotion puts a sweet spin on our favorite childhood games by releasing them with Belgian chocolate playing pieces.

Candy Land, Monopoly, Clue, Guess Who?, Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit and more will feature game pieces you can eat. The games will have all the essential features as their famous counterparts, except that the cards and letter tiles have been replaced with the finest Belgian milk chocolate encased within playing piece printed wrappers. The rules for he games have been slightly modified to ensure they are fun and easy to play. So now instead of playing solely for the bragging rights of winning, you can win all the chocolate you could hope for. Now that’s something to pass GO for!

How fun would these games be at your holiday parties and gatherings or to have a family game night to connect during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season? Bet the family would come running to check out and play for chocolate and in the process spend some quality, fun time together. Now that would be sweet in more ways than one!

I recently had a chance to see these games for myself and I guess I should say taste them too, yum! They look like the classic games but there is a chocolatey good surprise under the lid. How fun to give as gifts and to enjoy as a family! Mommy Ramblings likes them so much we are adding them to our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide! Check them out at a store near you and let me know what you think.

Disclosure: I was provided with product samples for this review, as always my words and views are 100% my own.

Free Shipping at Winterland and LEDgen Lighting with Coupon Code in Post!!!

My little ones are so adorable, when we go into a store and they see all the Christmas decorations they want to buy everything to decorate, they are so excited! I think the best part of the holidays is seeing that wide-eye wonder in the faces of your children. If you are looking to do some Christmas shopping for decorations and lighting, check out Winterland and LEDgen Lighting.

Winterland, Inc. was started more than twenty years ago with a passion to create holiday decorations that make a dynamic and awe-inspiring statement. Concept after concept, they dare to be different. How? They’re committed to listening to their clients and working hard to provide solutions that are tailored to their needs. Winterland thinks about Christmas every day of the year. While they’re putting the decorations away in January they are already planning for next Christmas. Their team of designers are constantly looking for the latest trends, while at the same time remembering the classic elegance that many people look for during the holiday season. Whether it’s decorating the tree in the corner of the living room, putting up a 50 foot animated tree in the center of a shopping mall, or creating a fantastic drive through light park experience for your community, Winterland has been there, done that, and is here to make it easy for you.

Their goal is to exceed your expectations for creativity, personal service, value, and delivery. They do it with every single customer because they take the holiday season seriously. Winterland’s flexible and willing to accommodate their customer’s ideas. They are willing to create custom designs for their customers!

LED lights are the most efficient light source available to date and represent the greatest breakthrough in lighting technology since Edison’s invention of the incandescent light bulb. LEDs are rapidly replacing incandescent and fluorescent lighting in a variety of functional applications including traffic lights, vehicle lights, industrial lighting, and emergency exit signs. LEDs are a low-maintenance, energy efficient solution for anyone looking for dynamic lighting displays. They are also versatile and can be used in many creative applications featuring a variety of brilliant colors and decorative styles to choose from. More reasons why LEDgen Lighting LEDs are the better choice for seasonal and decorative lighting:

Get Free Shipping on your order this holiday season at Winterland or LEDgen Lighting Holiday Stores. Use code GUIDE when you checkout! You can find Winterland and LEDgen Lighting on our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide.

50 Foot Animated Tree from LedGenLighting on Vimeo.

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Filed under Christmas, Collectibles, Holiday, Holiday Gift Guide, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Shopping

Tagged as Christmas, coupon code, Decorations, free, Free Shipping, Holiday Stores, LED, LEDgen Lighting, Mommy Ramblings, USFG, Winterland

November 7, 2014 · 4:29 pm

anaMalz Wooden Creature Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

You might just get overloaded with cuteness in this post so fair warning given. anaMalz, are the cuddliest wooden creatures you will set your eyes and hands on!. Designed by Louise Causon-Scott and her partner Tim Scott in Australia, these little heartbreakers were first brought into the world in 2007. anaMalz have legs you can move and fabric embellishments along with the cutest expressions. They open up a world of imaginative, creative play for kids and as a parent I love that!

anaMalz has won more than 15 industry awards including the Australian International design award. The poseable figures each have their own unique markings that make anaMalz unique, individual and fun to collect. anaMalz wants to give everyone a chance to help make nature grow so a part of the proceeds of every anaMalz is donated to preserving nature forever

anamalz

When you enter your registration code found on your anaMalz hang tag and become an anaMalz Guardian, you will receive a real Guardian certificate. Help anaMalz protect nature!

anaMalz Trio

anaMalz are made from a wood known as schima superba or “needlewood” (also known as Chinese Maple) – a fast growing tree harvested in a forest plantation in China. All waste wood from the manufacturing process is given to a local farm to grow mushrooms. All anaMalz are carefully hand painted using child friendly paint, tested under EN71, ASTM, CPSIA accreditation. The glues used are formaldehyde free and pass all EN71, ASTM, CPSIA testing. Fabrics are tested and have passed EN71, ASTM, CPSIA standards and contain no AZO dyes.

Anamalz-lion-giraffe-alligator

anamalz-Giraffe

anaMalz-Giraffe-Figure

We have a lion, giraffe and alligator living with us and they are so much fun, we will definitely be expanding our family!!! Mommy Ramblings thinks aniMalz are a marvelous gift choice this holiday season so you will find them on our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide.

anaMalz-Alligator

anaMalz-Alligator-Figure

anaMalz-Lion

Animalz 7

Would you like to win some anaMalz? I know you do, so enter our giveaway below to win 2 anaMalz cuties and good luck!!! Thank you to anaMalz for sponsoring this giveaway and for the review animals they provided to Mommy Ramblings!!! Good Luck!!! Open to US Residents.

anaMalz Wooden animal giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Filed under Christmas, Collectibles, Dolls and Dollhouses, Education, Family Fun, Giveaway, Holiday, Holiday Gift Guide, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review, Toddler, Toys

Tagged as #HolidayGiftGuide, 2014, anaMalz, Animals, Creatures, Figures, Gifts, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Mommy Ramblings, review, Wood, Wooden

· 12:59 am

Draw-A-Saurus Drawing Book By James Silvani Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

Random_House_logo

My seven-year-old loves drawing and he’s really becoming quite the artist. He was thrilled to see Draw-A-Saurus arrive. A quick scan of the pages filled him with inspiration to create. I have no doubt our home will be filled with his dinosaur drawings and I am sure his little brother will be trying his best to follow right along. If you have a dino-loving artist in your home or on your gift list this holiday season, this book would be the perfect fit! Mommy Ramblings is adding Draw-A-Saurus to our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide. Keep reading to see how you can win a copy in our giveaway.

This in-depth yet accessible dinosaur drawing guide combines humor, creativity, and the latest dino research to show artists young and old how to breathe life into drawings of their prehistoric favorites.

Prehistoric Pencil Power!
Even though they lived some 65 million years ago, dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles continue to rule today. From movies to comics and cartoons, these ancient, giant beasts are everywhere you turn. Of course, who wants to just read about or watch these dinos when you can learn how to use pencils, pens, markers, and more to draw your very own?

Cartoonist James Silvani combines easy-to-follow art exercises with the latest, greatest dino-facts to help you create fun and cool dinosaur doodles all by yourself. With lessons on old favorites like T-rex and stegosaurus, as well as lesser-known (but still awesome) creatures like the massive argentinosaurus, Draw-a-Saurus has everything the dinosaur fan could ever ask for (outside of their very own pet dino!).

Of all the creatures to walk the earth, nothing captures the imagination and fascination of children (and children at heart) quite like dinosaurs. Even though they lived 65 million years ago, dinosaurs are morepresent than ever in movies, comics and cartoons. Draw-A-Saurus takes readers on a pre-historicadventure, giving expert lessons on drawing their favorite dinosaurs.An accomplished cartoonist that has worked for Disney, Marvel, and Dreamworks, James Silvaniknows how to break down these complex creatures into easy, step-by-step lessons that make drawingthese colossal creatures an accessible and fun activity. Draw-A-Saurus is more than your average doodle book. Each dino-drawing lesson is accompanied by fun facts and the latest information on old favorites like T-rex and velociraptors, along with some less heard of (but equally awesome) dinosaurs like:

Struthiomius, who has a beak instead of teeth
Pteranodon, whose hands and fingers evolved into wings
Protoceratops, who was roughly the size of a sheep!
Argentinosaurus, the largest animal to ever walk the earth

With easy-to-follow art exercises that mix creativity with the latest dino-facts, Draw-A-Saurus has everything the dinosaur fan could ever ask for.

JAMES SILVANI is an artist and illustrator and has drawn characters for Disney, Warner Bros.,Dreamworks, Lucasfilm, and Marvel Comics. Currently he is a comic book illustrator for titles likeDisney’s Mickey Mouse, DuckTales, Darkwing Duck, and The Muppets. Silvani has drawn dinosaursand other prehistoric beasts since childhood, and now puts those skills to use in art workshops atlibraries, schools, and comic book conventions. Silvani is a resident of Kihei, Hawaii.

Would you like to win a copy? Random House is sponsoring a giveaway and one lucky blog reader will win their own copy of Draw-A-Saurus. Thank you Random House for the review copy and for sponsoring this dino-riffic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

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Filed under Books, Christmas, Holiday, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review

Tagged as #HolidayGiftGuide, 2014, Art, book, Dinosaurs, Draw-A-Saurus, drawing, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, kids, Mommy Ramblings, Random House, review

November 2, 2014 · 2:53 am

Updates and a Sneak Peek At Upcoming Giveaways!!! #Lundby #iCube

Wow, it has been a busy few days. My youngest little one was sick most of the week with a fever, cold and cough. Poor little guy. He got better just in time for Halloween and had a good time trick or treating. It did get pretty cold even with a shirt and thick hoodie under his costume so we were more than ready to get home and enjoy some hot chocolate! Hope you all had fun with your kiddies.

I have been busy working all week and finished a busy month with my marketing business. I also have some great news to share. I was hired as an instructor at an online blogger university to teach Time Management which will start this winter. Lots of prep on that and more to come. We are in the middle of a porch project and waiting for the few nice days this week to finish. Soon we should have a reveal on that project. Lots of other reveals to come.

Anyway, some upcoming giveaways you might like are one from iCube for multiple winners and another from Lundby. Take a look at some sneak peek photos. We also have a steam mop with portable steam cleaner coming up too and much, much more!

Lundby 2014 3