SimAnimals Africa Wii Game Review

SimAnimals Africa is a new simulation game available for the Wii and Nintendo DS. Players are given the ability to help take care of the animals of Africa, make friends with them, and maintain their lands.

My Thoughts...

SimAnimals Africa is a game that I think kids will really love. It's quick and easy to master the controls and objectives, and players are given new abilities and goals as they play. The graphics are whimsical and engaging, and there are many ways to interact with everything around you, from the animals to the landscape.

An interesting and fun feature is that you can play as the animal as well as yourself. For instance, I was given a challenge to fill a dry watering hole. First, I had to make friends with an elephant (each animal has its own name and personality) by petting it and feeding it, and then I could play as that animal and control it. I had him go to the larger watering hole, drink water, and then spray it into the smaller watering hole. Elephants can also water dying trees this way.

You start out in a valley full of zebras, and as you move throughout the expansive African plains and deserts, you come upon more species of animals. I like that it gradually exposes you to new animals and different types of challenges as you play. There are also new things to do with the animals and more ways to interact.

Conclusion...

I think SimAnimals Africa will especially appeal to children and young teens. I found that it didn't hold my interest enough for me personally to keep playing, but I know I would have enjoyed it as a kid. My nieces and nephews (11, 9, 4) do love it. I would recommend it for any child who loves animals and enjoys playing with their Wii.

Now you have to check out this Wii gameplay video!



Ready to buy?

You can purchase SimAnimals Africa for the Wii for only $36.99 at Amazon.com.

Disclosure: The review product was sent to me free of charge by the company or manufacturer in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own content, my own true experiences with the product(s), and my own opinion. :-)


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Shabby Apple Creamsicle Girls Dress Review

Shabby Apple is a wonderful online boutique dedicated to providing "great dresses that make dressing simple". All of their dresses are stylish and sophisticated yet simple - no tank tops, cardigans, or other wear necessary. And they have many that would have really flattered my pregnant shape back when I was still with child.



One of my problems with dress-buying is finding something that I think might look good on me. Every woman has a different shape, after all, and it takes quite a bit of searching to find something that will fit and flatter! Thankfully, Shabby Apple has an extensive selection searchable by style, occasion, and body shape. I really really love that and found quite a few dresses through that last search that I would love to try on myself.

But I decided to let my daughter be the first to try on one of their lovely dresses. Yes, Shabby Apple also carries some beeeeautiful girls' dresses! Check out a few of my favorites from their collection:

Our Thoughts/Review:

We received the Creamsicle girls dress in 18-24 months to review. I love the unique style and pattern, don't you? It is very toddler-friendly with its two tie closures (there is a snap closure as well inside) and is flattering with its bell sleeves and empire waist.

What I like: The fact that it is so easy to take on and off. It is also very comfortable for her to wear, something you don't always find in dresses. Emma hates the fuss of pulling things over her head and I can tell from the way that she acts when things are itchy or uncomfortable. But donning this dress didn't even phase her - she went right on being her silly little self and proceeded to use the couch as a trampoline.

This dress is very versatile. It can be elegant and something different from the normal that will make your little princess stand out. Most importantly, it is very comfortable. Kids need to be comfortable so I think that this makes it a wonderful purchase. Emma is 19 months and has a little room to grow into this dress and fill it out a bit. I recommend checking the measurements of your child when you purchase - don't just go for whatever your child's age is. They have a wonderful fit guide that can be found here.

Possible con? The tie closures could be a con for toddlers who don't know any better and keep untying them. Emma had no problem with this, however. Other than that, I have no complaints. :-)

Conclusion: Shabby Apple rocks! I absolutely love their dresses, both for women and girls. I would happily purchase a dress from them in the future.

Want the Creamsicle girls dress? You can buy it from Shabby Apple for $34.00 right now!

Discount Alert!

Use the coupon code kindredspirit10off and get 10% off your purchase!

I have to mention that I especially have my eye on this Nancy Drew dress in the Sale section right now. How CUTE is it? *sigh*

Thank you, Shabby Apple, for sending me the Creamsicle dress in exchange for an honest review! This review is 100% my own opinion, my own experiences with the product, and in my own words. I was not reimbursed in any other way.

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Sarah's Choice Movie Review

Sarah's Choice is essentially the story of every girl. Every girl finds herself facing tough decisions regarding love, morals, and right and wrong, and Sarah, young career girl on the fast track to becoming very successful, is facing the toughest decision of all. She's pregnant, unmarried but living with her boyfriend who may or may not be serious about her, and is certainly not ready to be a mom.

Her Christian mother and sister want her to keep the child. Her physician says it's not a child and that if she cannot provide a good home, she should move forward with abortion. With pressures on all sides, Sarah can hardly think for herself. Her boyfriend doesn't seem to be thinking at all. Then she starts having dreams - dreams about herself and a child... and she starts to wonder if the dreams could possibly be from God.

The question is, can she make a decision she can live with?

Behind the Scenes Video:

My Thoughts: I've been excited about Sarah's Choice ever since I first heard that Rebecca St. James was going to be in a movie. Rebecca is amazing - she's influenced me since I was a teen. She's a singer with a beautiful voice and a unique flair to her music, and hers were the first CDs I ever bought as a teen. I absolutely love her Christmas CD (something different from the traditional - your kids/teens would love it, I'll bet!). So she and I have a history of sorts, and I was waiting impatiently for the movie to be released.

I found Sarah's Choice to be a very moving Christian film. Rebecca was definitely one of the best actresses, and you could tell she really felt her part. I think that's because she has a passion for helping people, and this is a place that girls really need help with. It can be so hard to know what to do when you're being pressured from all sides, but in the end, it's your decision, the one you have to live with. Just make sure that you can live with it. That was something the movie covered well, I thought.

What I liked about it: I love that this movie encourages researching things for yourself, not just trying to make a decision based on others' opinions. After the doctor compares Sarah's unborn baby to a wart of all things, Sarah goes to the internet to find out for herself how much of the baby is developed. She finds that the baby already is developing a brain and eyes. *12/22 - I am aware that not all doctors pressure girls into abortion, and I wouldn't say this doctor in this movie was exactly pressuring Sarah. It was just the wart comparison thing that bothered Sarah and me, too. All doctors are different, of course, and have different ways of dealing with this situation.

I also liked that they brought in the point of view of a woman who had been forced to abort her child at a very young age. The friend talked about how happy she was that she didn't have to deal with a teen, and and that she had plenty of time in the future to start a family, but inside she hurt every time she thought about how old the child would be as each year passed. It was a decision she had to live with for the rest of her life, and it was extremely painful.

Though this is a Christian movie, I didn't think they came on too strong or that it would alienate anyone who watched it. Sarah feels things that most of us do or have at some point in our lives. I could relate to her when it came to hard decisions (not the career woman thing so much but we all have our selfish pursuits) and I think that those that watch it will feel her pain as she tries to navigate the emotions inside and around her and make a decision that she won't regret.

This movie is very pro-life (as I am), obviously, but there are no graphic scenes of abortion or tactics like that to scare people from having an abortion. This is simply the story of a girl's heartfelt struggle to make a life-changing decision.

Could it have been better? It could probably have been written a little better, though I'm not sure what exactly should have been changed. Well, I felt that Sarah's relationship with her boyfriend wasn't developed enough visibly - I never really knew why they were together and what connected them. That is my only complaint, though.

Family-friendly? Yes. No sex, no graphic scenes of abortion, no foul language - this movie is very family-friendly.

Conclusion: A very touching film exploring the thoughts, emotions, and consequences of the abortion decision in a very positive, thoughtful manner. I enjoyed it and highly recommend it for viewing with the family and/or youth group!

Find out more about Sarah's Choice at Pure Flix.

Wanna own it?

You can purchase Sarah's Choice from Amazon.com for only $17.99.

I received a copy of Sarah's Choice courtesy of Pure Flix in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own opinion and in my own words.


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Scholastic's Storybook Treasures DVDs: The Night Before Christmas AND Animal Antics

Storybook Treasures: The Night Before Christmas

I love the holidays, don't you? And the holiday DVD's you can unpack from your Christmas boxes and watch every night of December (and maybe even November! lol). Before my daughter was born, I had only collected movies for adults like Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, and The Santa Clause. Now I've begun my collection of children's DVDs and I'm having a blast doing it!

One of my favorites comes from Scholastic Storybook Treasures. As you can tell from the few Christmas movies for adults I mentioned I have in my collection, I'm someone who truly appreciates classics. I love classic movies, classic books, and classic storybooks for children, so the Storybook Treasures The Night Before Christmas ...and other classic holiday tales DVD set totally appealed to me!

This two-DVD set includes all of the following classic storybooks read aloud with gorgeous animated illustrations and optional read-along words at the bottom of the screen:

The Night before Christmas ♥ Seven Candles for Kwanzaa ♥ In the Month of Kislev ♥ Too Many Tamales ♥ Max's Christmas ♥ Morris's Disappearing Bag ♥ The Little Drummer Boy ♥ The Twelve Days of Christmas ♥ Great Joy ♥ The Clown of God ♥ Merry Christmas, Space Case ♥ Sam and the Lucky Money

Did you know that each story/poem/song has won at least one award? My favorites in this series are The Night Before Christmas (extremely whimsical and cheerful), Max's Christmas (about little bunnies who want to see Santa Claus come), Morris's Disappearing Act, and Merry Christmas, Space Case. Another thing I really like about these DVDs is that there is a selection of stories showing how all different people celebrate the holidays, including Kwanzaa (Seven Candles for Kwanzaa), Hannukah (In the Month of Kislev), and the celebration of Christ's birth (The Little Drummer Boy).

This set is, without a doubt, a treasure for the holidays, and one your children will want to pull out year after year. I recommend it!

Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics: Animal Antics

This set of seven DVDs is just too much fun! I'm an animal-lover, and I can tell that my daughter is already as well. She goes for the stuffed animals more than dollies, just like I did as a child. I knew she would enjoy the Animal Antics set. From puppies and kitties to horses, cows, and owls - almost every animal imaginable is in a story! This is a great learning tool for teaching the types of animals in a fun way. Some of our favorites are Harry the Dirty Dog (remember that one?) Chicken Little, The Bear Snores On, Make Way for Ducklings, and I, Crocodile. See a list of all of the stories here.

See a sample video: Harry the Dirty Dog



Eight hours of animal-related stories read by well-known voices like Sarah Jessica Parker and Meryl Streep - Another highly-recommended set of stories on DVD for your little one!

Each of these sets is for ages 2 or 3 and up, but my 19-month-old daughter enjoys them immensely. The stories are fairly short (2 hours and 4 minutes for the Christmas set and 8 hours total for the animal antics set) so she has no problem with them being too much for her short attention span. Each story is narrated by a new person and is filled with new and different illustrations and animations, so they keep her attention pretty well. We love Scholastic Storybook Treasures and love to share them with our friends!

Want to own them?

You can purchase Scholastic Storybook Treasures: The Night Before Christmas ...and other classic holiday tales for only $11.96 right now from the Scholastic Store! Use the coupon code SSHAP5 to get 15% off plus free ground shipping.

Scholastic Storybook Treasures: Animal Antics is available for $49.95 at www.newkideo.com.

I received the review product(s) free of charge from the company/manufacturer in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own content, my own true experiences with the product, and my own opinion. :-)

Growing Tree Toys ♥ Melissa and Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set Review

Little girls love to copy mommy, don't they? Until I had my own little girl, I had no idea how it felt to be mimicked and echoed. It's a good feeling, isn't it? (Most of the time, lol)

I especially love to include my little one in the kitchen. She's too young to understand that she's not to touch the hot stove or oven, so I have to be extra careful, but she does have her own mini wooden kitchen and she likes to "cook" there while I'm cooking and baking.

I think one of the reasons that play food and play kitchens are so popular is because it's a child's way of copying mommy and practicing for the future. I like to encourage that, so I'm always on the lookout for quality educational toys for my little one. Kids don't need a ton of toys, but what they do get should be well-made, fun, and versatile.

That's one reason I like Growing Tree Toys. They have a super selection of quality learning toys for all age groups. You can search for toys by category, read helpful reviews, and find information on the developmental benefits for children for a specific toy. I really have a blast looking through their toys, though it gives me a bad case of the "I wants". ;-)

My Thoughts: Thanks to Growing Tree Toys, I received a Slice and Bake Cookie Set by Melissa and Doug. I have to tell you how much I LOVE Melissa and Doug toys. Everything I've purchased and reviewed that was made by them has quickly become a favorite, both of my daughter and myself. Their toys are well-made, versatile, and fun - the kinds of toys I don't plan on ever throwing out or giving away. They're "save them for the grandchildren" toys.

My Thoughts: Although the Slice and Bake Cookie set is under the "3 and 4 year old" category, my 18-month-old completely loved it. She is a very observant little girl and immediately knew that this was a toy that should never be ignored. Probably because mommy had "toys" just like it.

This play set contains 30 pieces including cookies that attach to each other (making a cookie dough roll) with velcro and can be put in the cookie tube (just like buying pre-made dough, lol), various decorative frostings that attach to the tops of the cookies, a knife and a spatula, a kitchen mitt (yay for teaching safety around hot things!), and a cookie sheet. The cookies also attach to the cookie sheet. There's really so much to do, for younger and older kids. Emma's favorite part of it right now is sticking the Velcro pieces together and then slicing them with the "knife". Everything is very well-made, as usual, and is bright and attractive. Even I love this set!

Video review:

Conclusion: Love love LOVE! No cons.

Find Growing Tree Toys online:

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I received a Slice and Bake Cookie Set courtesy of the Growing Tree Toys Blog Sponsorship Program in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own content, my own true experiences with the product, and my own opinion. :-)

MyHairStylingTools.com Karmin G3 Pro Flat Iron ♥ Review and Giveaway

The day I discovered the power of the flat iron was the day my "bad hair days" became almost nonexistent. I say almost because there are still bad hair days, but wielding my flat iron generally takes care of the problem. I'm a girl who has strange hair... it's frizzy, curly, wavy, wonky, and frustrating. Oh, and it is allergic to damp weather - we're talking instant PUFF.

So of course I move to a state where it rains 29 days of the month on average. *huff*

I think most people start cheap, and that's what I did when I bought my first flat iron. I found cheap, just to see how it worked. It's not really a good idea, because not all hair straighteners work well, and it can make you think that it isn't for you, that your hair will never look sleek or smooth. *insert sniff and sigh* Truly, though - I think that pretty much anyone with almost every hair type can benefit from using a really nice straightener. Like this one:

I was given the opportunity to test my first $100+ salon-quality flat iron thanks to MyHairStylingTools.com. I was a bit skeptical at first about its ability to outdo my $30.00 flat iron, but after using it the first time, I was a skeptic no longer. Those people who swear by their expensive hair-ware are telling the truth! At least when it comes to the Karmin G3 Salon Pro flat iron.

So let's talk about the awesome features of the Karmin G3!

• Lightweight, easy-to-use design
• Tangle-free swivel cord
• Temperature settings for all hair types
• On/Off switch
  
• The iron reaches your desired temperature very fast
• Pure tourmaline ceramic plates
  
• The ability to straighten, curl, flip, and add volume and body - all with this one tool!

I wondered about the benefits of using pure tourmaline ceramic plates as opposed to the ceramic coated plates on my old model. Both my research and my experience tells me that the pure is better by far. I've found that the G3 Salon pro is much lighter than my old iron. It also heats up faster. Additionally, it is said that one of the benefits of tourmaline ceramic is that it keeps the heat even, thereby styling your tresses evenly and reducing the chance that you'll burn your hair.

The Karmin G3 Salon Pro comes with a very helpful manual instructing the new lucky owner of their flat iron in the arts of straightening, adding curls or waves, flipping the ends, and adding volume and body to your locks. I couldn't wait to try them all out and was very happy with my results! Yes, even my hair can be tamed!

My Experience:

Okay, you knew there had to be before and after pictures, right?

I had to not smile in the first one, they always do that on TV - LOL.

Pictures really are worth a thousand words, aren't they? I am really loving my Karmin G3 Salon Pro - it is truly the nicest flat iron I've ever used. I'm very pleased with the ease of use (I love that it is lightweight!), the swift heat-up time, and its excellent performance and versatility. It has lived up to all of my expectations and even surpassed them! I would recommend it without hesitation.

The only suggestion I would have for the manufacturer is that an automatic shut off after a certain period of time would be nice. I did leave it on all night once. But it does have an on/off switch and I have learned to be diligent in remembering to shut it off when I'm done.

About MyHairStylingTools.com:

I ♥ MyHairStylingTools.com! They have a wonderfully large selection of high-quality hair tools along with reviews, the ability to ask questions about products before buying, and a direct email to a hair care expert for free advice! But what really impressed me about their company is their 100% Satisfaction Guarantee ("If for any reason you are not satisfied with the item, return it for either an exchange or a full refund."), their Low Price Guarantee ("We guarantee we will not be undersold!"), and their UPS tracking and free shipping with all orders over $75.00.

Buy it!

You can buy the Karmin G3 Salon Pro on sale right now for $134.95 (in white) and $139.95 in pink or black. Don't forget that shipping is free! Also check out their hair dryers, curling irons, hair shears, and hot rollers while you're there!

---- Giveaway now closed ----

Prize info: MyHairStylingTools.com is generously giving one of you a Karmin G3 Salon Pro flat iron just like mine (not including heat-resistant mat)! Open to US only.

How To Enter (mandatory): Visit MyHairStylingTools.com and tell me in a comment what other product you like and why!

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You can Copy/Paste this Sample Tweet:

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Giveaway will be closed on December 31 at midnight and winner notified by email and posted on my blog - good luck, everyone!

Disclosure: The review product(s) were sent to me free of charge by the company or manufacturer in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own content, my own true experiences with the product(s), and my own opinion. :-)

See full review, giveaway, and disclosure policy here.

MySims Agents Wii Game Review

I've been on the fence about Sims games since they came out and I first played The Sims on my PC. I quickly was drawn in and played it way too much for about a week or two, but eventually life (real life, lol) distracted me from the game. I don't have the game anymore (it was actually my sister's). Fast forward to now. I haven't played much in the way of simulation games in awhile, and wouldn't have thought I had time. But when EA Games asked me if I wanted to review MySims Agents, I agreed wholeheartedly. I'm a gamer mom through and through, and writing game reviews is so much fun for me... almost as fun as playing them!

The Experience
It took me about five minutes to become completely immersed. I. Love. This. Game! It's nothing like what I expected - it takes a lot of brain work as you solve puzzles, search for clues, and and take in your surroundings in a whole new way. The characters are engaging and there is so much around you to explore - this game is right up my alley. I really think the people who wrote and developed MySims Agents are extremely talented. The dialogue between characters is witty and humorous - at times I would find myself laughing out loud at something a character said. Though they don't speak English. There are subtitles. Some of the things they do (like the ability to lie down and sunbathe on the beach, splash in the water, or take a break and dance between cases) and their babbling voices are about the only things reminiscent of The Sims.

Here's the Deal:

You start out by creating your sim - there are a lot of fun appearance, clothing, and accessory customization options , and you "earn" more options as you play the game by solving cases and finding treasure chests along the way. This keeps things interesting and fun. After making your sim uber cool-looking, you are tossed into a quaint little neighborhood as an amateur sleuth. Soon you're picked up by a secret agent who is impressed with your skills and gives you a job as another agent. You start out solving little nothing cases like finding a girl named Poppy's dog, or finding out who sent the flamboyant hairstylist (with poofy pink hair, yikes) flowers, then work your way into more dangerous cases. The bad guy behind a lot of the town problems is a guy named Morcubus. As you're playing the game, you know he's a guy that needs to be dealt with and you'll probably be facing him in the end. I haven't finished it myself yet, but I hear this game has a cliffhanger ending that gives you hope that there will be another. I'm excited about that.

Controls:
Using both the Wii remote and the Nunchuk, I found it very easy to navigate my sim through the game. There were really no overly frustrating challenges (jumping from box to box, etc) that would make me want to throw the remotes, which is nice. The controls are quickly mastered. You use the nunchuk joystick button to move your sim around, and point and click with your Wii remote.


Difficulty:
The actual running around and searching for clues, talking to people, etc, is simple and will be fun and easy for young people, too. I would say that kids who can read will enjoy this more because all of the communication and clues are found in subtitles. I appreciate this because there's no way I would want to sit through all of that talking. I can click through non-relevant parts and move on to solving the case.

I think this is ideal for young people 10 and up because there are some really challenging puzzles requiring math and critical thinking to solve throughout the game. Four types, actually: The first type involves fixing various broken items by putting gears and screws in the right places; in the second, you move levers up and down and side to side to pick a lock; in the third, you are given a number of molecules that must be linked with a certain number of other molecules (math, ugh); and in the fourth, you must move the pointer through a maze. I loved them all, though I had to get my husband to help with the molecule game at one point. If you're buying this game for a child, I would be prepared to assist now and again as they need it. There's no way to move on in the game without beating each of the puzzles.

Multiplayer? This is a one-player game.

Replayability:
This would be fun to play again, after some time has passed and you don't remember all of the details. You are given the opportunity to recruit people to be your fellow agents, and there is a lot of strategy involved in helping them grow in smarts, athleticism, etc. That's something that could keep you playing until you had it all the way you want.

Follow the leads!

Pros:

• Entertaining storyline, engaging characters, and laugh-out-loud moments
• It's easy to learn the controls and what you need to do to move on in the game
• Challenging brain puzzles (mini-games) throughout
• Fully customizable sims with opportunity to earn more options as you play
• You move around a lot, so there are always new surroundings and things to explore.
• The graphics are great, especially the background graphics.

Cons/Suggestions:

• Although nothing is torturously long and you can skip through scenes you don't want to watch, when you're customizing your sim it takes a minute to load your options. It seems a bit unnecessary, especially since the agent clothes, street clothes, and costumes are all on different screens and there is a loading time between each category. It would be nice if they were all in the same place.
• I love being able to click around my surroundings and explore - I would really like it if the game had been longer or there had been more places to solve cases in.
  
  Other than that, there was nothing that made me think, "Oh, I don't like that."

One of my favorite characters, Yuki (black spikey hair). She's rather obsessed with biting people. Yikes.

Conclusion:
A very entertaining interactive game that I think children, teens, and adults should all play! My husband and I watch Monk all the time and love detective stories, so I think this game especially appealed to me because of that. I really enjoyed the challenge of finding clues, solving problems, and trying to figure out "whodunit". :-) This is one of my top Wii game recommendations!

Find out more about MySims Agents and view screenshots and trailers at EA Games.

Buy it!
You can buy MySims Agents for only $40.00 with free shipping at Amazon.com right now!

MySims Agents is also available on DS (I have not played that version).

Thank you to EA Games for sending me a copy of MySims Agents for the Wii free of charge for review and testing purposes!

{Holiday Gift Giveaway #25} Gummy Lump (Rock and Trot Rocking Horse)

One of my favorite online toy stores, Gummy Lump, is back with a spectacular giveaway! Remember my review of the awesome Russian Building Blocks from Gummy Lump? I've had nothing but positive experiences with them and absolutely love their selection of toys. You can find puzzles, push/pull toys, doll houses, furniture, pretty much whatever your child is into, you can find there!

Other things I like about Gummy Lump:

• Easy online shopping (filter by age, category, and brand)
• Huge selection of high-quality toys
• It's easy to find the clearance, specials, and toys under $10.00
• They're very nice to work with and have great customer service
• They carry all of my favorite brands like Melissa and Doug, Haba, and Radio Flyer
  

My Thoughts/Review:

Thanks to Gummy Lump, I was able to review the Melissa and Doug Rock and Trot Plush Rocking Horse.

Check out that expression on my little one's face! That kind of exuberance is the reward every parent wants to see when they give their children gifts. I am one happy mommy. :-)

When I was first checking around online for the best deal on a quality rocking horse I could find, I thought I wanted a wooden horse. I'm a huge fan of wooden toys and it seemed like a good idea at the time. But when we received this rocking horse, I knew that it was perfect. I love the plush softness of the horse, it's so much more realistic than a wooden one would have been - and much more comfortable for my toddler. She's also really into animals right now (she is a zhu-zhu pet addict) so the realistic look really appeals to her. The horse is well-proportioned and well-made, and has a really sweet face. I love the design.

Rock out!

I thought you might like to see Emma rocking - all by herself! She's 18 months and it's the perfect size for her.* I was really relieved to see that she could do it all on her own. She's also figured out how to rock across the room, which I thought was really funny. Watch this video:



*Note that this toy is recommended for ages 2 and up.

Sound Effects:

The Rock and Trot Rocking Horse is totally adorable and a great rocking horse, but that's not where the coolness ends - squeeze this horse's ear and you'll hear a clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop and a resounding neigh! It takes two AA batteries that are not included. The battery pack is safely tucked into the horse's abdomen (it requires a screwdriver to get to the batteries, so safe from tiny prying fingers) beneath a velcro closure. I appreciated that safety measure since Emma watched me curiously and wanted to know exactly what I was doing. Thankfully she can't get to the battery pack at all.

Conclusion:

I couldn't be happier with this toy and am so glad to be able to recommend such a great product to you all! There are no negatives to it that I can find at all!

Where to buy it - and discount code!

You can buy the Melissa and Doug Rock and Trot Rocking Horse from Gummy Lump for only $79.96 right now! It normally retails for $99.95, so this is a great deal - especially with free ground shipping! :-D Use the coupon code KS5Off to get free ground shipping and $5.00 off $100.00 or more!

Find Gummy Lump Online:

Become a fan on Facebook!
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Prize info: One very lucky commenter will win a Rock and Trot Rocking Horse! The duration is going to be only a week long so that the winner can receive their prize by Christmas! Giveaway open to US and Canada!

How To Enter (mandatory): Visit Gummy Lump and tell me what else you would like to own! Please leave your email address in your comment or make sure it's in your public profile so I can let you know if you win!

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Win a Melissa and Doug Rock and Trot Rocking Horse from @gummylump and @kindred_spirit - Ends 12/10, open to US and Canada! http://bit.ly/7OLQzA

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Giveaway will be closed on December 10 at NOON Pacific and winner notified by email - good luck, everyone!

Disclaimer: The review product(s) were sent to me free of charge by the company or manufacturer in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own content, my own true experiences with the product(s), and my own opinion. :-)

See full review, giveaway, and disclosure policy here.

{Holiday Gift Giveaway #24) Boutique NRF New York

I discovered Boutique NRF New York and met Alev, the talented seamstress and designer behind it all, earlier in the year while browsing Etsy for boutique dresses for girls. Alev's creations are, simply put, breathtaking. Especially her beautiful applique dresses and "flirty tops" - they truly inspire and never fail to put a smile on my face. I follow Alev's blog faithfully and love to see her new designs when they're released... I only wish I could buy them all!

In June, I interviewed Alev and reviewed an applique dress she custom-made for Emma. I was so happy with Emma's dress, and I had her wear it for as long as possible because it was our favorite. Sadly, it's too small for her now... I can only hope that my next child is a girl so that I can dress up another little one in Emma's dress! ;-)

My sadness over having to put away Emma's Boutique NRF New York dress ended when Alev made us another dress and agreed to give one away as well! I'm sure you're just as excited as I am about someone winning a dress from this wonderful boutique!

First, my review:

Alev made this sweet owl print dress. It fits perfectly, with maybe a little room to grow - Alev is very good at sizing her dresses. Note that the undershirt is mine. This is a sleeveless dress with lacing at the edge of the sleeves and buttons closures in the back.

I really can't say enough good about Alev and her boutique - she's wonderful to work with and her clothing is very well-made.

Emma's last dress from Alev lasted through many washes and never ever came apart despite Emma's active little self. I anticipate that this dress will be the same! Another thing that I really like about Alev's dresses is their comfort level for Emma. I've bought dresses before that Emma just hated - not fitting over her head but fitting everywhere else, scratchy material, etc. I've never had a problem with Boutique NRF NY, and Emma just goes on her merry way when I put the owlie dress on. I'm really happy with the style and the way it fits.

I recommend Boutique NRF New York very highly for either pre-made or custom-made dresses and clothing. I'm sure you and your little one will be very happy with your order!

Check out Alev's 100% Positive Feedback!

Buy it!

You can buy a dress for a special little girl in your life from Boutique NRF NY for anywhere from $40.00 to $150.00. Shipping is free right now!

Holiday Deal!

FREE SHIPPING WITH ALL USA PURCHASES!!!!
BUY ONE SAVE 10% OFF OF YOUR TOTAL
BUY TWO SAVE 15% OFF OF YOUR TOTAL
BUY 3 AND MORE SAVE 20% OFF OF YOUR TOTAL

Find Alev Online:
Boutique NRF New York Etsy Store
Boutique NRF New York Ebay Store
Boutique NRF New York Blog

Giveaway Closed

Prize info: Alev of Boutique NRF New York is going to custom make a girl's dress for one lucky winner! This giveaway open to US only.

How To Enter (mandatory): Visit Boutique NRF New York and tell me what you love! Please leave your email address in your comment or make sure it's in your public profile so I can let you know if you win!

Extra Entries (Optional) (Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry)

Get 1 extra entry for each: Add my button to your sidebar ♥ Become a Facebook Fan ♥ Follow my blog ♥ Subscribe to my blog by feed reader ♥ Subscribe to my blog by email ♥ Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit) ♥ Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available) ♥ Share this giveaway on Facebook ♥ Sign up for the Boutique NRF NY mailing list

You can use this sample tweet:

Win a toddler/girl's boutique dress from Boutique NRF New York and@kindred_spirit http://bit.ly/7uRFkB

Get 2 extra entries: Add my Giveaway Extravaganza Button to your sidebar. (Find it in my right sidebar)

Get 3 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link to me and to Boutique NRF New York.

Giveaway will be closed on December 15 at midnight and winner notified by email - good luck, everyone!

Disclaimer: The review product(s) were sent to me free of charge by the company or manufacturer in exchange for an honest review. This review is 100% my own content, my own true experiences with the product(s), and my own opinion. :-)

See full review, giveaway, and disclosure policy here.