Tag Archives: #HolidayGiftGuide

November 14, 2014 · 1:04 pm

Eco Vessel, Insulated Steel Bottles Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

We use water bottles all the time. I want my kids to use high quality bottles that are free of any toxins and are easy to care for. The Eco Vessel Twist is a triple insulated kids stainless steel water bottle with fun designs and colors. It is a large enough bottle that it is good for younger kids, older kids and even adults would look fine using. It holds a full 12 ounces of water.

Features I love are that it has a leak-proof twist cap, and it fits car cup holders, the bottles are great to pack because the triple max insulation keeps drinks cold for up to 36 hours and hot for 8 hours. This is essential when we go on trips because I can pack drinks and not have to keep pulling off to go to a convenience store because they want a cold or hot drink. They make getting where we are going a more pleasant experience and of course we make better time.

The full bottle designs are fun and add a lot of style to the bottle. This is a great water bottle that is perfect anywhere they go. There is even a removable tea strainer

The Boulder Triple Insulated Water Bottle is a Vacuum Insulated 25 ounce Stainless Steel vessel. This bottle is great for long trips, hikes, biking, sports events and really anywhere you go. It has the same great leak prof drinking spout as the kid’s bottle and is perfect for water, coffee, hot chocolate, soup and more. TriMax® triple insulation keeps liquids cold for up to 36 hours and hot for up to 8 hours. The wide mouth on the bottle is great for adding ice cubes and for filling. There is a removable tea strainer.

The bottles are free of BPA, phthalates and liners and made of premium #304 stainless steel.

You can find Eco Vessel on our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide because their products make great gifts for everyone on your holiday gift list this season.

Eco Vessel is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will have their choice of the Kid’s 12 oz Eco Vessel Twist or 25 oz Boulder Triple Insulated Water Bottle in the color/design of their choice (subject to availability). Thank you Eco Vessel for the review products and for sponsoring this refreshing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Eco-Vessel Triple Insulated, Stainless Steel Water Bottle Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →

15 Comments

Filed under Christmas, Giveaway, Health, Main Page Post, Mommy Ramblings, Review

Tagged as #HolidayGiftGuide, Bottle, Cold, Drinks, Eco Vessel, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, hot, Insulated, Mommy Ramblings, review, Stainless Steel, Water

November 12, 2014 · 2:50 pm

Doll Houses Are Not Just For Kids!

I was introduced to the world of Lundby doll houses a little over a year ago. A doll lover and collector all my life, dolls and doll houses are something I never outgrew. I am not alone, Lundby has a wide collector base of women and men who collect the houses, furnishings, restore older houses and love to talk about and share their collections on online forums.

There are several Facebook pages where Lundby lovers and collectors do just that. Lundby is timeless, loved by children, tweens, teens and right up to adults, the charm of Lundby just grows over the years. Enjoyed by generations, Lundby love is passed down and these quality Swedish doll houses become family heirlooms. Today, you will find older Lundby doll houses in great demand and many collectors are enthusiastically restoring the older homes to their modern glory. Much more than a hobby, Lundy collectors have a passion!

Last year you may remember our review of the Lundby Smaland Doll House and accessories.

Well, this year our Lundby Smaland doll house expanded with the addition of two rooms, garden area, several new furniture sets and great Christmas sets. In fact our Lundby home is decked out or should I say the halls have been decked with Christmas magic. The floor addition was easy to assemble, my young son even got in on the action and helped to secure the walls. The house has real working lights which add a warmth and the new Christmas sets are a festive touch with a glowing fire in the fireplace and candles that light up on the tree. Under the tree, wrapped in shiny paper and gold cord are gifts and you don’t need to peek to see there is a Smaland doll house just ready to be unwrapped come Christmas morning.

The details on the furnishings are amazing, the kitchen cabinets have real working drawers that you can put things in, the refrigerator opens, the pots, pans, dishes and utensils are realistic and even the bathroom has toothbrushes and rubber ducks.

The house is sure to draw oohs and ahhs from young and old and is the perfect gift this holiday season that will bring joy for years to come. Mommy Ramblings has added the Smaland doll house and accessories to our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide. Some of the new additions to our Lundby Smaland Doll House were: Smaland Garden Lundby Smaland Floor Extension Lundby Smaland Kitchen Furniture Set Lundby Smaland Childrens Bedroom Set Lundby Smaland Fireplace Set Lundby Smaland Christmas Tree Set Smaland TV and Accessories Lundby Smaland Garden Furniture Set Of course with the new addition we had to expand the family so we welcomed two bouncing babies! The older kids needed some attention too! Sibling rivalry gets bad when a new baby is brought home, imagine two! They were so happy to have a trampoline and pedal car to focus on. Can’t get enough Lundby? You can download the Lundby Living Magazine HERE! Are you ready for some exciting news? Lundy is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own Smaland doll house, Smaland 2 room floor extension, both of the Christmas sets and 2 sets of furniture of their choice (subject to availability)! Isn’t that awesome? I thought you would think so! Thank you so much to Lundby for the review products and for sponsoring this incredible giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents. Lundby Smaland Swedish Doll House, Extension, Christmas Sets & Furniture Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!! Continue reading →

40 Comments

Filed under Christmas, Collectibles, Dolls and Dollhouses, Giveaway, Main Page Post, Review, Toys

Tagged as #HolidayGiftGuide, Accessories, Christmas, Collect, Doll, Doll House, Dolls, Furniture, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Lundby, Miniatures, play, review, Smaland, Swedish, toys

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:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →

12 Comments

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:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →

6 Comments

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

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.

Get a Free BanZ Slip Case & Sunscreen Sample With Coupon Code In Post!!!

As parents we want to protect our kids from everything harmful. BanZ is the place to shop when you are looking to protect your baby or child from sun, wind, loud noises and more. Founded in Australia, BanZ has a complete protection collection of sun safety products for children ages 0-12. Sunglasses, hats, hearing protection and swimwear are available in multiples styles and sizes as well as sunscreen, swim goggles and more. Right now you can get a FREE BanZ Slip Case & Sunscreen Sample when you use the coupon code FREE at checkout. You can follow BanZ on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Mommy Ramblings thinks that BanZ is a great choice for holiday gift shopping this year for gifts that really say you care! You can find BanZ on our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide!!!

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:

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →

15 Comments

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.

Draw-A-Saurus Dinosaur Drawing Book By James Silvani Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →

13 Comments

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 · 11:28 pm

ChargeHub Universal 7 Port Charger and CableHub Review & Giveaway!!! 2014 #HolidayGiftGuide Pick

We are a very high-tech household, the amount of tablets and smartphones that need charging could be intimidating. It’s nice to have charging stations throughout the house. Looking for something that can connect multiple devices neatly is hard to find. The ChargeHub was the answer to our needs, a universal charger with 7 USB dedicated charging ports that deliver 48 Watts of power even with 7 devices simultaneously attached. The ChargeHub was awarded Best of CES 2014 by iPhone Life Magazine as one of the most innovative new iOS related products.

chargehub counter

The ChargeHub was designed and developed by Limitless Innovations, Inc. The ChargeHub was born when they identified a market for a USB mobile device charger unlike any on the market. The ChargeHub impressed us with its versatility and power. Patent-pending SmartSpeed Technology allow any port to charge the connected device at max charging speed regardless of whether it’s an Apple iOS or Android device.

Chargehub

Chargehub open

Chargehub all open

Chargehub ports

Chargehub closeup

Chargehub Charging

We attached iOS and Android devices and they all charged fast and fully. The CableLinx Value Pack contains 4 short-length USB charge and sync cables for the 4 most common types of tech devices on the market today. These flat cables are great for connecting our devices to the ChargeHub and gives us a nice neat charging station look for any area of our home.

CableLinx Value Pack Black

You may notice the familiar picture on our ChargeHub, that’s another great feature. There’s a free online DesignStudio that allows users to personalize their ChargeHub with photos, text, logos or graphics. This makes it a perfect choice for fundraising or to give as promotional gifts!

The CableHub is the answer for taming messy, cord clutter. The CableHub will organize up to 7 cords, cables or wires at one time and keep them stable and tangle-free! The CableHub will reduce exposed cords whether for safety, aesthetics or convenience.

CableHub Package

CableHub White

You can wrap cords up to 10 feet long around the weighted disc and snap the unit shut. It was a simple process to contain the long cords many of our devices have for charging to make the charging area tidy and safe. The CableHub is a personalized cable organizer available in 13 colors and 2 shapes. Use the online DesignStudio to customize the top with a personal photo, logo, text or artwork. The CableHub will beautify your space by cutting cord clutter and showcasing your unique design.

Chargehub organizer

Chargehub organize cables

Chargehub organize cables 1

Chargehub organizer cable

Mommy Ramblings is thrilled with the ChargeHub and the CableHub and is adding it to our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide! They are a great gift choice for almost anyone on your gift list.

Limitless Innovations is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own ChargeHub and CableHub. Thank you Limitless Innovations for the review products you so beautifully personalized for us and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents. Good Luck!!!

Limitless Innovations ChargeHub and CableHub Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →

18 Comments

Filed under Giveaway, Review, Tech

Tagged as #HolidayGiftGuide, 2014 Holiday Gift Guide, Android, CableHub, Cables, ChargeHub, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, iOS, Limitless Innovations, Mommy Ramblings, review, Universal Charger

December 21, 2013 · 9:20 pm

ChicoBag, Nomad Tote In Brittany Blue Review & Giveaway!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

ChicoBag_LOGO_Bubble

Are you traveling this holiday season? If you are and you have kids, you know for sure you will have a lot to pack. Have you ever been on a vacation where you discover you need to buy extra luggage or bags to cart all the souvenirs or hauls from shopping you did while there? I know because this happens to me all the time! Wouldn’t it be nice to be prepared for that?

The Nomad Tote is such a great life saver for times like that because it can be stored so compactly in its own storage bag when not needed and takes up no room at all. They’re great to have in the car, in your purse, to pack with you on trips and will act as a safety net. Forget your beach bag? Not a problem, with the Nomad, it’s there in a flash to hold everything you need. It’s also machine washable so you don’t have to stress about a little dirt which is inevitable with kids. Whether you pack it full for a weekend getaway, a trip to the gym, an outing at the farmer’s market or just pack it compactly for just-in-case, the Nomad Tote will not let you down!

Nomad Tote Brittany Blue

This large bag fits comfortably over your shoulder and has 3 exterior pockets and an interior zippered pocket. Mommy Ramblings thinks the Nomad Tote makes a great gift this holiday season so we are adding it to our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide.

Nomad Tote

Nomad Tote Blue

ChicoBag is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a Nomad Tote in Brittany Blue! Thank you ChicoBag for the review tote and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.