Happy New Year To all My readers.
I hope 2016 brings you more joy and happiness than 2015 and beyond.
I am hoping for things to look up in 2016 for my family.
Sams Club Last Minute Gifts On Sale
There is only 2 shopping days left before Christmas. Sams Club has some great last minute gift ideas and you get a great deal on them.
Gift Cards:
$50 iTunes Gift Card – $42
$30 Starbucks Gift Card Multipack – $28
Kids:
Neenah Paper Astrobrights Journal, Ruled, 5 1/8″ x 8 1/4″, Green, 240 Sheets – $7.50
Disney Frozen Elsa Shaker Pendant With Chain – $38.00
Tech:
Sharper Image Visual Charge 6 Port USB Charging Hub – $29.98
Sweets:
Dark Chocolate Butter Toffee Almond – 18 oz. – $9.98
Stockmeyer Shortbread Cookie Tins (14.1 oz., 4 pk.) – $9.98
Gift-wrapped Belgian Chocolate Truffles – $9.98
Fashion:
Elizabeth Arden Red Door Eau de Toilette Spray – 3.3 fl. oz. – $35
Expandable Stackable Bangle – $35
These are all awesome gifts and perfect for everyone in the family. Everyone loves gift cards, and the Starbucks gift card comes in a pack of 3. You can give out 3 $10 gift cards to different family members.
I received the Disney Elsa Shaker Pendant and it is absolutely gorgeous, plus the box it comes in makes it feel like your getting something expensive. It’s the perfect gift for any little girl that loves Frozen.
Disclosure: No formal compensation was received. Products were provide for sharing this post. All opinions are 100% my own.
The Smurfs 3DS Review
The Smurfs are back for a brand new adventure, meet all your favorite characters in the new 3DS Surfs game.
Help Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Hefty Smurf and all their friends rebuild their village, but Gargamel and his cat Azrael are lurking around so beware not to get caught while searching for supplies in their dangerous lab.
Unlock mini games and all new characters.
*** This game was a bit confusing to me at first as you mainly just build Smurf Village. So it seemed a little slow, but after the mini games started unlocking it started to get more lively.
The mini games consist of breaking wood, collecting rocks and more to help build Smurf Village.
My kids love being able to design and create their own surf village. The graphics bring it all to life on the Nintendo 3DS, my kids said they felt like they could really be there. This game is perfect for smaller kids as it seems to be just at the right on par with their age. For Tweens and teens it might be to easy.
You can get The Surfs on Amazon for $26.99
Disclosure: No formal compensation was received for this post. A product was provided by Ubisoft. All opinions are my own. Page may contain affiliate links
Wordless Wednesday: Being Herself
She is just being herself.
Gravity Falls For Nintendo 3DS review
Disney and Ubisoft have introduced a new game just for kids. Gravity Falls Legend of the Gnome Gemulets is a brand new game where Mabel and Dipper explore together to save the Mystery Shack. In this game you can switch between the two characters to defeat objects and Jeff the Gnome to save the Mystery Shack.
The graphics in this game are phenomenal, and allows you to go through levels and obstacles with no problems.
**Gravity Falls The Legend of the Gnome Gemulets is so much fun. I had trouble putting it down the first day. Mabel and Dipper work together with their own talents to defeat the gnomes and save the Mystery Shack. Mabel can swing over rocks and trees with her graveling Hook and dipper can shrink with his flashlight. Every level you have a giant gnome to fight at the end, Mabel uses her sleeves from her sweater to whack her enemies and Dipper uses a battle cuff.
I am stuck at the last level Jeff the Gnome becomes a giant and is relentless at defeating Mabel and Dipper.
You can learn more about Gravity Falls Legends of the Genome at Ubisoft and buy it here.
Disclosure: No formal compensation was received for this post. A product was received from Ubisoft.
2015 Hess Toy Truck is The Best Yet
Every year we get my son a Hess Toy Truck, I know this is a tradition in many families, but we just started a few years ago. They are different every year and bring joy to so many children every year. The year they are introducing the 2015 Hess Toy Truck and Rescue Ladder
The 2015 Hess Fire Truck and Ladder Rescue is a red fire truck with oversized tires, swiveling fire hose nozzles, LED lights, a searchlight, a slide out ramp, and 4 sounds. The smaller fire truck has a rotating ladder, moveable nozzles and a push activated Friction Motor.
This year Hess has placed 100 numbered silver edition fire trucks in random boxes.
*** I have to say this is one of the best trucks yet, not only is it red instead of the usual green and white, the lights are brighter, sound is louder and it just sticks out above all the others. The lights are of course Red White and Blue just like police sirens. The spotlight can be turned around to face any angle.
You can learn more about the 2015 Hess Toy Truck on their website. Unfortunately they are already sold out this year, and the only place you can find them is Ebay and Amazon.
Disclosure: No formal compensation was received. A product was provided for review.
Walgreens Disney Soho NY Villains Cosmetic Bags
Walgreens has a beautiful and fun new line in their cosmetic department. Disney Villains, bringing everyones favorite characters to life through bags and makeup.
They already have the Dare to Dream collection featuring your favorite fairytale characters, now featuring the original Villains: Maleficent, Snow White’s Evil Queen and Ursula. Available exclusively at Walgreens, the Villains collection contains six new cosmetic bags that will make being bad look so stylish.
This collection, including a weekender, organizer, train case and round top purse kit is inspired by the favorite foes of Disney’s classic tales. Known for versatile, long-lasting and on-trend cosmetic bags, LONDON SOHO NEW YORK® blends these infamously wicked characters and functional design in this latest collection to let out your dark side in style.
**This bag is so cute and functional. My kids love Disney Villains, there favorite is Maleficent of course. The Walgreens Disney Soho Ny Villains Cosmetic bags come in different sizes and can hold just your basic makeup for outings, or upgrade to the bigger bag and hold all your makeup.
We received a smaller bag which was perfect for my daughter to hold all her makeup that she loves to carry around.
You can find these bags as well as the cosmetics in the line at Walgreens stores and online.
Hello Kitty Musubi Kits with Spam
We love Spam, it’s one of our favorite pairings with eggs for breakfast. My kids on the other hand don’t like the look of it. We have to make something out of it or hide it. Spam is introducing their new kit for the holidays, the Hello Kitty Musubi Kit.
It’s the perfect way to get the kids interested In Spam and their meal.
Hello Kitty Musubi kits are the perfect stocking stuffer for any foodie-enthusiast or anyone who loves Hello Kitty.
The recipe for the Hello Kitty Musubi is….
1 12-ounce can SPAM Less Sodium, cut lengthwise into 8 slices
1 cup steamed white sushi rice
1 nori sheet, cut in half
1 yellow bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
Hello Kitty musubi mold
Pack sushi rice in the Hello Kitty mold. Remove rice from mold and set aside.
Using a sharp paring knife, cut two small round circles from the nori for the Hello Kitty eyes and 6 thin strips from the nori for the Hello Kitty whiskers.
Using a sharp paring knife, cut a small bow shape from the red bell pepper.
Using a sharp paring knife, cut a small round dot from the yellow bell pepper.
Place the nori eyes and whiskers on the Hello Kitty rice mold face. Add the red pepper bow on the right side near the ear. Place the yellow bell pepper as her nose.
Place approximately 1/4 cup of sushi rice in a musubi press. Place a slice of SPAM Less Sodium on top of the rice. Remove rice and SPAM block from the musubi mold or can. Cut a 1-inch strip of nori and wrap it around the block of rice and SPAM Less Sodium. Seal the nori on the bottom with a bit of water.
Form two small balls out of sushi rice for the Hello Kitty paws. Press the Hello Kitty face gently against a short end of the rice SPAM block. Use a toothpick if you wish to secure the Hello Kitty head to the body. Gently press the rice balls to the bottom of her face to resemble paws.
You can buy the Hello Kitty Musubi kit here.
I’ve partnered with Hormel Foods as part of the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. Throughout the year I’ll be receiving product, coupons, giveaways and promotions. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.
Kmart’s Fab 15 is Perfect for those last minute Gifts
Christmas is only 12 days away can you believe it. I still have not done all my Christmas shopping I have been so busy this year. Luckily I have the Kmart’s Fab 15 to guide me in my last minute shopping.
Kmart boasts ridiculously awesome toys and games for kids of all ages and stages, which comprises Kmart-exclusive toys and hot brands like Disney’s Frozen, Star Wars, LEGO®, Barbie™ and NERF®, is carefully curated based on industry trends, input from parents and kids, and more than 50 years of experience in knowing what toys kids love to play with and find under their Christmas trees.
Kmarts Fab 15 has a suggestions for kids of every age.
The Kmart Fab 15 list of hot holiday toys includes……
Ages 1-2
• Playskool Sesame Street Play All Day Elmo by Hasbro
Ages 3-5
• Hot Wheels® Ultimate Auto Garage by Mattel®
• Imaginext Ultra T-Rex by Fisher-Price®
• Paw Patroller by Spin Master™
• Disney Frozen Sing Along Elsa Doll by Jakks Pacific®
• VTech® Kidizoom® Action Cam
• Star Wars Signature Lightsaber by Hasbro®
• Zoomer Kitty with Toy Mouse by Spin Master™ (Kmart exclusive)
• MONOPOLY Here & Now by Hasbro®
• Monster High® Boo York Floatation Station™ with Astronova™ Doll by Mattel®
Ages 6-8
• Holiday Auburn Barbie™ 2015 Doll by Mattel® (Kmart exclusive)
• FurReal Friends Star Lilly the Unicorn by Hasbro®
• NERF® Zombie Strike Doominator by Hasbro®
• Hulk Smash RC Vehicle by Jakks Pacific®
Ages 9+
• LEGO® Friends Pop Star Show Stage
Kmart’s Fab 15 list features the hottest toys for the 2015 holiday season, which have been tested by Kmart’s first-ever Kid Toy Advisory Board – a select group of kids of Kmart employees who are serving as toy experts and holiday toy consultants.
My kids have a few items on their list featured in Kmart’s Fab 15.
2015 Holiday Barbie
Hot Wheels Auto Garage
Kmart now carries Shopkins Items too, another hot holiday item.
These products are so fun and great gift ideas for the kids in your life. Choose your favorite or choose them all. Kmart’s Fab 15 can be found in store or at Kmart.com/toys
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the Role Mommy Writers Network and Kmart. All opinions are 100% my own.
Winners for December
Jurassic World on Blu-ray- Ronald Oliver
Barnes and noble Maker faire- Shelly Peterson
Memorex tablet- Marcia Goss
Paper towns- Amy Orvin
Didn’t win? Don’t worry I have a few other giveaways going on.
Santas helper ends tomorrow.
Just listed Maze Runner Scorch Trials, and a $75 JCPenny gift card