Tumble Leaf - An Amazon Original Series

* I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Amazon Studios. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and promotional item to thank me for participating.

Amazon just keeps giving me more and more reasons to love them. I have been a happy Amazon shopper for years. Seriously, I buy everything from them from diapers and wipes to furniture and clothes. We do so much shopping on Amazon that we have been subscribers to Amazon Prime for two years now. And we love it. When my son was first born I managed to watch the entire series of 7th Heaven on Amazon Prime Instant Video. I love the wide selection of shows and movies for me and for my kids.

Now I have a new reason to love Amazon Prime Instant Video.... Tumble Leaf.

Synopsis:

Created by Drew Hodges and Bix Pix Entertainment, Tumble Leaf follows “Fig” the fox who lives in a wrecked schooner ship by the sea with his best friend “Stick,” a caterpillar who lives in a tiny basket strapped to Fig’s forearm, as they discover adventure, friendship and love around every bend.

Fig is a storyteller and an adventurer – an inquisitive, intelligent, and gentle creature who loves nature and the great outdoors. At the start of each day, Fig and Stick are eager to play -- to discover new things about his world, with his eyes, ears, mind and heart open to inspiration. By playing with an object that he finds in his “finding place” in each episode, he learns about science, critical thinking and the world around him.



I am fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mom to two fabulous little ones. But being home with them all day can be a bit exhausting and mommy needs some down time. So we popped in a screener of the first 6 episodes of Tumble Leaf to see what this new Amazon Original Series was all about.

Each episode is short and sweet and filled with fun and adventure. Fig and Stick are lovable little buddies who find themselves in all kinds of predicaments. They are curious and adventurous and manage to learn tons of new things as they explore the world around them... all while having fun and making my daughter laugh.

I love the way these characters think. They take the ordinary and make it extraordinary! This show is truly going to inspire little minds to think outside the box and create their own solutions. I love how science is such an important theme throughout. These two really make science fun! My daughter has been looking at things in a much more scientific way ever since she was introduced to Fig and Stick!

You can check out the first episode for free on the Amazon Studios website. In order to watch the rest of the series you will have to become an Amazon Prime member. But as I said before, it has tons of benefits! You can learn more about Amazon Studios by clicking HERE.  There is also a free Android App that you can check out HERE.

Anytime Costumes - Girls Costumes Review

I have a little girl who loves to dress up! While Halloween may be a big deal for her... she truly believes that anytime is a good time to put on a costume. Her imagination is huge and loves to transform herself into something or someone else and I love encouraging that creativity in her!

Anytime Costumes is the perfect place to shop for all of those fabulous costumes to help her on all of her imaginative adventures. Her latest adventure was something new for her. She left her usual world of princesses and fairies and transformed herself into a super hero! Check out the trailer!

Check out my very own Violet, from the Disney movie The Incredibles! She recently saw this movie has been leaping around the house fighting off Syndrome for weeks. Now she can do it in style! Anytime Costumes has so many fun costumes like this to choose from, you can check out even more girls costumes here.

My daughter is only 5, but I ordered a size up (for the 7/8 size category) so that there would be room for her to grow. There is definitely room for her to grow, but it doesn't look like it's way too big. I think it was the perfect size choice for her. The costume is well made with minimal pieces. The main part is a one piece bodysuit that Velcros in the back. The belt is attached (which I love - one less piece to lose!) and the mask connects with Velcro.

She has been having a blast running around in this bright and eye catching costume. I would definitely recommend checking out Anytime Costumes for all of your costume needs!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Around The Clubhouse World - on DVD Today!

Join Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and all Their Trustworthy Pals in 

The Newest Global Adventure on Disney DVD

MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: 

AROUND THE CLUBHOUSE WORLD

On Disney DVD May 20, 2014

Pack your bags and grab your passport. Join Mickey, Minnie and pals on a whirlwind trip Around The Clubhouse World! Climb the Eiffel Tower in France and say “bonjour” to Mademoiselle Daisy and Monsieur Donald Duck. Then, rescue Gondolier Goofy when he goes adrift in Italy’s Grand Canal; solve the mysterious riddle of Pharaoh Pete’s pyramid in Egypt, and meet a dancing dragon at the Great Wall of China. With your help – and the right Mouseketools – your Clubhouse friends can get their special passport stamped at each wonderful location. Featuring over two hours of song-filled fun, including four additional episodes, this global adventure proves it’s a small world after all!

My Thoughts:
My son is a huge Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fan. At only 17 months old, he can stay engaged with an entire episode of his favorite show. He loves to get up and dance to the Hot Dog dance and goes crazy for his favorite character, Donald. So I knew that this new DVD would be a hit with him, but my almost 5 year old daughter was all into it too!

I love this DVD because it introduces kids to places all around the world in a way that is easy for them to understand. My daughter was even walking around saying bonjour to everyone! Mickey and his pals make all the adventures so much fun as they discover new places and new things. And of course, they keep the kids interested and engaged by asking for their help.

It was awesome to be able to talk to my daughter about all the cool places she saw in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Around the Clubhouse world. Now she wants to travel the world to hear different music and see different sites. It's the perfect introduction for kids to learn that there is so much more to the world then where they live.

Toy Story of Terror - Comes to Blu-ray August 19th

We are BIG Toy Story fans in my house!

The “Toy Story” Gang’s Frightfully Fun Adventure

Releasing for the First Time on Blu-ray™ & DVD!

                                                                                           

On Blu-ray + Digital Copy, DVD, Disney Movies Anywhere, and Digital HD August 19th

Never-Before-Seen Bonus Features Include Parody Vintage Toy Commercials,

Deleted Scenes, Audio Commentary, and Much More!

Muppets Most Wanted - Coming to Blu-ray August 12th

THE MOST WANTED FAMILY MOVIE OF THE YEAR!

DISNEY’S MUPPETS MOST WANTED

Bring Home the Fun on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and Digital HD August 12th

Also Available on Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD & On-Demand!

“Unnecessarily Extended Edition” Features Hilarious Bonus Content,

More Music, More Mayhem, and More Muppets!

We are really looking forward to adding this movie to our collection!

I'm Not Cute! - Sterling Children's Books

I'm Not Cute!

By Jonathan Allen

Welcome back, Baby Owl! With visions of himself as a "huge, scary, sleek, sharp-eyed hunting machine," the adorable little creature goes out for a walk in the woods. But every animal he meets thinks he's so cute, fluffy, and huggable! Poor Baby Owl. "I'm not cute!" he shouts. Then mom comes along - and she agrees, before coming up with the perfect solution. It's a real hoot that every kid will relate to.

$16.95 (CAN $18.95) - Hardcover with Jacket - Ages 3 to 5

My Thoughts:

This book is endearing and engaging. Those are two things I am always looking for when I settle in with my daughter for a story before bed. My daughter and Baby Owl have some things in common. My little one is 4 going on 16. She is miss independent and she has the self confidence to maker her truly believe that she is unstoppable. And while she can still says she's cute... she can't stand when I call her my baby. In her eyes she is all grown up, ready to tackle the word, and I am just holding her back when I want to cuddle just a few minutes more. 

We really enjoyed reading this story together... and I loved how it opened a door for me to tell her... you are a big girl, you can be independent in many way, the world is at your hands... but you can also still be my baby. You can still get hugs and kisses and be tucked in at night. And when you wake up you can tackle the world with your big girl smile and huge heart. Just like Baby Owl can be anything he wants to be... and still be cute. 

This is a wonderful book to share with any child, as they can all relate in some way! 

The Custom Vinyl Shop Review and Giveaway!

I really love the idea of using vinyl decals to decorate your home. They are so easy to put up and can make such a big impression. The Custom Vinyl Shop has a fabulous selection of vinyl decals for every room in your house. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work them on bringing you a review and giveaway.

The entire process with The Custom Vinyl Shop has been a pleasure. I began by browsing their selections online. While I did go into pretty much every category just to take a peek.. I didn't need to. They put so much time and effort into creating categories to help you narrow it down and find just what you are looking for. This is great for those who want a more narrow search for something specific. I happen to enjoy browsing... so checking out all the categories was right up my alley.

In my mind I knew where I wanted to put a decal. We have a landing on our staircase that is visible from our front door. So when we have guests over they are always looking at our staircase, which is decked out with family photos. I thought the landing would be the perfect place to put a sweet sentiment that goes along with our family photos.

I selected the decal "It's the moments together that change us forever," and chose a black matte finish to go along with our black photo frames. Once I placed my order it arrived very quickly in just a few short days. I was so excited to put it up that I did it before my husband was done with work. It was so simple to put up and I am thrilled with the end result.

We have already received compliments on how beautiful it looks and how it just adds something to the staircase. I could not recommend The Custom Vinyl Shop enough! I highly recommend that you take a look at all they have to offer. And if you can't find what you are looking for they will work with you on your very own custom design.

GIVEAWAY
The Custom Vinyl Shop has been generous enough to offer a $30 gift code to one of our lucky readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet The Happy's!

I am so excited to share a new toy from the makers of ZhuZhu Pets... The Happy's! When I saw these adorable little pets I knew that they would be a big hit with my daughter. She desperately wants a puppy, so from the minute we opened her new pal she has been playing with it, feeding it, and just all around loving it!

From doing tricks for Happy Treats to racing after their Chase & Play ball, The Happy’s really play with you! Just like real puppies and kittens, they love to spin, sit, pounce and play. Appealing to boys and girls, kids can even train The Happy’s to do more tricks with the interactive Happy Treats.

My daughter was thrilled to be able to invite some friends over for a Meet The Happy's play date.

The kids at this party ranged in ages from 1 to 8... and every single one of them had a blast! These toys are recommended for ages 4+, but with my supervision my son had a blast chasing all of these furry friends around the house. He thought they were hysterical! The girls had a much better understanding of these toys and how they worked. They were running all over letting their pets follow them. They loved using the interact treats to make their pets do things. They were a hit all around!

These are definitely going to be a hot toy! They provided hours of fun and entertainment during our party. My daughter has been playing with hers ever since and her friends each got to take one home, too. They are all asking to meet up for another play date with their "pets."

* I received free products in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.