Snap To It Family Time

With winter break coming, have you thought about what you and the kids will be doing for two weeks?  I like thinking of creative ways we can share family time together that we can all enjoy.

Thanks to Revell for sending sample product for review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

What ideas come to mind?  The weather can be unpredictable sometimes.  Planning things outdoors can sometimes be back fire, so I try to have back up plans.

Did you ever build a model as a kid?  Model car, plane, train, etc...  How much fun was it?

Scooby-Doo Bi Plane Snaptite Model Kit-

Model Includes:

• Highly detailed bi-plane

• 3 Characters ready to fly (Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, and Velma)

• Fun and bright model design

Lil Bit got help from Daddy.  The directions are numbered, have big pictures, and only a few steps that are easy to follow.

Kit does come with a caution to position all parts carefully because they will only snap together once.

Toy Feliz - Navidad con PADRES Contra El Cancer

Ya terminaste todos tus compras para Navidad?  Andas loca perdia por todo lugar como yo?  No te preocupes, todavia hay tiempo.

Mi hija le encanta a la nueva princesa Sofia.  Sofia the 1st.  Ella recibio un paquete por correo y que feliz se puso.  Dentro del la caja encontro 2 de los juguetes que Mattel estara ofreciendo para las fiestas de PADRES Las Posadas.

Hasta en la hora de comer, Sofia la acompana.  Los animalitos son de plastico y se pueden limpiar bien facil.  Estan del perfecto tamano para llevarlos a todos lugares.

Toy Feliz esta aqui para ayudar que termines tus compras.  Puedes usar un cupon de $5?

Mamas en Los Angeles, Houston, y Miami, desde hoy asta Enero 7, pueden recibir este descuento.  Como te preguntas?  Visita la pagina www.toyfeliz.com para imprimir tu cupon.  Lleva el cupon a tu tienda Walmart para recibir un descuento de $5 en compras de mas de $20.  Si necesitas ideas, has click en Juguetes para ver los mas populares de hoy.

Mattel to Benefit Children with Cancer and their Families this Holiday Season

Mattel estara fundando el programa del grupo PADRES Contra El Cancer - PADRES Las Posadas estas Fiestas Navidenas.  Mattel donara jugetes y actividades para los mas de 1000 ninos/as y sus familias que participaran en estas fiestas.  Para mas informacion visita:  www.iamhope.org 

If you are not done shopping this year, you are in luck.  Go to www.toyfeliz.com to print out your $5 off coupon on any purchase of more than $20 at your neighborhood Walmart.  You can also check out the hottest kids toys, what comes in the box, etc...

 Mattel has partnered with PADRES Contra El Cáncer (PADRES), a non-profit  organization that provides much needed emotional and financial support, as well as bilingual health education to children with cancer and their families. 

With ‘toy feliz, Mattel is sponsoring PADRES Contra El Cáncer’s Annual Holiday Parties, which provide families who have a child undergoing treatment with an opportunity to enjoy the holidays in a fun-filled and safe environment. As part of the partnership Mattel will also be making toy donations to PADRES families at local hospitals in Miami and Los Angeles.  To learn more about PADRES, visit www.IAmHOPE.org  

Hang'Em and Hatch'Em Eggs

We took out our Christmas tree decorations from storage to have them ready to hang up on our tree.  Every year many families have a tradition of getting an ornament for the kids.  Sometimes the ornaments are sentimental ones, or they could be playful ones.  But if you are like me, you do not want something the kids can break.  

Christmas Ornament Grow Eggs are so cute and your kids will love them.  Remember when I told you about the Easter Eggs, click here, these are fun just like those.

We had not went to pick out our real tree, so we pulled out this little tree.  Lil Bit loved them.  They are ready to be hung on the tree and are so festive.  The colors are perfect and the animals are always so adorable.  We received these to review but will be getting more for Lil Bit's tree.

Promise Monsters Review

Are you still looking for Christmas gifts?  Need a gift idea or stocking stuffer.  Do you have a hard time teaching your kids abut good deeds?  Or have you started teaching your kids about kindness to others?  Here is a unique idea:

Promise Monsters, an adorable new line of plush toys that helps kids spread cheer this holiday season and year round.  The high-quality, hand-sewn plush monsters each come with kind “Monster Missions” for kids to complete, such as sneakily leaving nice notes on your neighbor’s doorstep or saying something nice to every person they encounter for a whole day. Complete the deed, and points are earned that can be redeemed online for toy accessories, more missions and even charitable donations.

Inspiration for the cuddly characters came from a simple drawing by co-founder and company president Michael Bogan’s son, and evolved into an exciting way to do good deeds and earn rewards. There are three different monsters ($29.95)–Frank, Squiggly and Spike–and three smaller Smarshmallows ($9.95) in multiple colors. You can purchase the toys online or at select independent toy retailers. Right now, shipping is free!

Spike $29.95

One of our original Promise Monsters, Spike is made with super-soft and fuzzy materials, and has posable arms, a bonus pairs of socks, and the cutest little feet and tail you've ever seen. He's tough and mean and all yours.

My thoughts-Spike, the promise monster is soft and cuddly.  He may look mean, and tough but he is so the opposite.  I like that he came with a mission, like all promise monsters do.  These monsters help teach smaller children good deeds, kindness, and and it rewards them too.

***Disclosure-Sample product was received to review.  Any and all opinions expressed are my own, honest opinions.

Freaky Pets Review

Are you looking for stocking stuffers or Christmas gifts for your little ones?  Have you heard of Freaky Pets?

The Pets are real, living, breathing creatures that just happen to look exactly like plush toys that transform from cute to cranky, and a little like Oscar the Grouch! 

Now, a little background because Freaky Pets don’t ever want anyone to feel like a stranger! Freaky Pets are from Petania, an ancient place that is 4,000 miles southeast of the Ben & Jerry’s plant in Vermont (they’re kinda obsessed with Ice Cream, just like Snape!), just north of the equator, and a little south!

My thoughts-Freaky Pets is a 2 for one.  It is a soft stuffed animal that transforms.  It is a good size for kids to carry around and play with.  It is really easy to transform from nice to cranky.  Just turn you Freaky Pet around and open the velcro.  The transformation is that easy.  Lil Bit liked her Freaky Pet going to nice to cranky and back to nice.

Check out Freaky Pets on facebook for more information.

***Disclosure-Sample product provided to review.

Baby Alive Baby Wanna Walk Doll

Your BABY ALIVE doll is ready to walk – and she can really "learn" do it with your help and loving care!   She has lots to say, too, with more than 40 fun phrases and sounds like "Hold on tight!" and "I did it!"    Walking makes her happy, but she’ll be happiest when you scoop her up and give her lots of hugs to show her how proud you are!  Adorable BABY ALIVE doll wants to you help her walk and give her lots of love and care. Doll talks and walks on her own.

My thoughts-My Lil Bit is learning to walk and her Baby Alive is too.  She can speak English and Spanish.  I love that the doll talks to her and asks her for help walking.  When the doll falls, she asks for help.  She can walk on her own and with help.  The doll can easily be switched from Emglish to Spanish or back to English.  Lil Bit loves to hold her hands.  Learning to walk has never been this fun, I don't think.  My mom who speaks mostly Spanish loves that she can switch the language back and forth.  We speak both languages in the house, so it is perfect.  Even Lil Bit switches back and forth.

Baby Alive is the perfect Christmas or birthday gift for any little girl.

***Disclosure-Sample product was provided to review.  Baby Alive has been Lil Bit tested and Independentmami approved.

Cuddleuppets Review

What are Cuddleuppets?

It is a blanket that is a puppet. 

-Available in 6 colorful animal styles

-Make your puppet dance, wiggle, talk, and more!

-Expands into a blanket (39'' x 28'')

-Warm and fuzzy for ultra comfort

My thoughts-My daughter loves her green crocodile.  She loves to cuddle with her soft blanket.  It is her perfect size.  The puppet is great for telling stories or pretend time.  She takes it everywhere.  And since it is soft, I know she cannot hurt herself while playing with it.  She has so much fun with it.  And as you can see in the last picture, she fell asleep with it.

***Disclosure-Sample product received to review.  Cuddleuppets has been Lil Bit tested and Independentmami approved.

Monkeez Review

Are you looking for unique ways to teach kids the importance of philanthropy and helping others? Consider enlisting the help of some Genuine Monkeez.

Monkeez Makes a Difference is the first-of-its-kind innovative and interactive experience that teaches children the importance of helping others through kid-friendly tools including the best-selling Genuine Monkeez and Friends™ plush characters, online games, real-life Do Good challenges and a special donation on a child’s behalf to one of three nationally renowned charities of his or her choice.

The fun and education starts with the purchase of a Genuine Monkeez and Friends plush character featuring a special Monkeez Makes a Difference tag, which are available at www.MonkeezAndFriends.com and at independent retailers across the country. There are more than 90 plush designs in multiple sizes to choose from.

With an adult’s help, children follow the instructions on the tag and visit www.MonkeezAndFriends.com. There, they can enter the code and watch videos about each charity that partners with Monkeez Makes a Difference, including Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Samaritan’s Purse and Best Friends Animal Society.

Children can select which charity they would like to contribute to, and Monkeez Makes a Difference donates 10 percent of the wholesale cost on their behalf. By selecting the charity of their choice, children unlock the door to an interactive and educational online world. Children can revisit www.MonkeezAndFriends.com as many times as they’d like to play educational games and learn more about what they can do to help others.

For more information or to order, visit ww.MonkeezAndFriends.com.  

My thoughts-I like the concept of teaching our kids  about charity.  I think the plush toys are really cute and perfect for all kids of all ages. 

 ***Disclosure-Sample product was received to review.  Monkeez have been Independentmami tested and Independentmami approved.

Xia-Xia Giveaway***CLOSED***

Xia-XiaPets.com

Xia-Xia Pets are electronic pet crabs that are full of surprises. Each pet crab comes with a colorful hermit crab shell and a little friend inside.

Additional hermit crab shells are sold separately, and all of the crab toys can wear any of the hermit crab shells.

Adorable, dancing crabs from the magical land of Xia-topia. Have fun exploring Xia-XiaPets.com, where you can find out even more about the dancing crab toys that are skitter-scattering their way into everyone's hearts!

My thoughts-Great Easter toy basket stuffers, birthdays, etc! Our kids loved our Easter egg hunt we had with this wonderful toys inside.

Want to win a Xia-Xia basket for your little girl? Here is how to enter:

1) Who and why do you want to win this basket for? (1 entry)
2) Linky Share. (1 entry)
3) Tweet. (1 entry/per tweet, unlimited)

Win a Xia-Xia basket @independentmami #giveaway ends 4/12 http://tinyurl.com/78qoem5

This giveaway ends 4/12/12 at 8 am. 1 winner will be randomly selected. US only. Please leave your email in the comment. Good Luck. Winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize.

***Disclosure-We received the Xia-Xia party to review. No monetary compensation was received. These are my honest opinions.