One of the newest and cutest toys on the shelf at your local toy store is the Teacup Piggy!   These little pigs are based off of real live teacup pigs, tiny enough to fit in a teacup, that are so popular right now.  The electronic toy teacup piggies, prophesied to become as beloved as the Zhu-Zhu Pets, come in several different colors and with many optional accessories including outfits, glamour and limo sets, and more.

Each Teacup Piggy playset comes with the piglet, a birth certificate (they each have a name), a hairbow, a bottle, and a teacup, and they each say over 20 different phrases.  But the sweetest features are that when you lay the piggies on their sides they’ll start snoring (little piggy snores), and they also come with bottles so that you can feed them (and they make the appropriate noises for chow time, too).  When they’re done eating, they’ll tell you that they are full – and if you stroke their backs they’re happy!

A Mom’s Thoughts

I received a Teacup Piggies playset along with an accessory set and an outfit for review.  As soon as I released our piggy from the package and set it from “Try me” mode to “On”, she introduced herself as “Jade” and told us that she loved dollhouses.

She has more of a teen girly voice than I had expected, but it is clear and easy to understand.  Some of the phrases she says are:  “Please take my picture with your camera!”, “Decorating dollhouses – love it!”, “LOL!”, and she does a lot of giggling.  She also will start sleeping soundly if you lay her on her side, and ask you why you are waking her up when you put her upright again.  She has two other touch-sensitive sensors – one on her back and one on her nose.  If you leave her for awhile she’ll say she’s sleepy and ask to take a nap in her teacup.  After about 15 minutes, this toy will automatically turn off.

I have to say that my 2-year-old loves this toy!  She thinks it is beyond hilarious that when she pushes on the pig’s nose that the pig says, “Oh! That tickles!  My nose is sensitive!”  She also loves the little accessories and outfit, especially the bow and bottle (both come with the pig), the sunglasses, and the outfit.  And no wonder, this piggy is super cute!  Even turned off, it’s great for imaginative play.

Watch this video and see my daughter’s delight with this piggy for yourself!

Buy it!

Teacup Piggies are very reasonably priced at $12.99 for a Teacup Piggies playset (including piggy, teacup, bottle, birth certificate, and hairbow), $5.99 for a fashion set (outfit), and $12.99 for deluxe accessory sets.  You can find them at stores such as Toys R Us, Walmart, and Walgreens.   Purchase online at Toys R Us here!

I’m giving away one Teacup Piggies playset!

{Prize} Teacup Piggies playset
{Eligibility} Open to the US only.

{Mandatory Main Entry } Visit Toys R Us and look around at the Teacup Piggies, then come back and tell me in a comment which one(s) you think your little ones would like the most!  Please leave the name of the piggy in your comment!

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each unless otherwise noted:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• Become a fan of Teacup Piggies on Facebook or follow them on Twitter (1 extra entry each)
• Grab my Maternity Event button (sidebar) and put it in your sidebar for 2 extra entries!
• “Like” my Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Page
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available!) – You can use the Retweet button in the top right corner of this post if you want.
  
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share this giveaway in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)
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• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)

• +5 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Giveaway will be closed on September 30, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website (either in this post or in a new winner’s announcement post).  Winner will then have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will have to re-draw another winner.  Good luck, everyone!

I would like to thank ToyQuest for providing me with the product reviewed above so that I could share my thoughts and experiences with you.  This post is 100% my own opinion and written in my own words, and was not edited or reviewed by anyone.  I do not feel obligated to write a positive review – I’ll always share my honest thoughts on products.

I’ve fallen absolutely in love with these unique handmade wooden block sets handcrafted by mom Brooke of Magen’s Bay!  You’ll find a myriad of patterns and colors (for girls, boys, or gender neutral), and the blocks are available in several set sizes from sets of 6 to sets of 50.

Blocks are really a basic staple of a child’s toy collection, aren’t they?  These are more than what you’ll find in the store – they’re lovingly made by a fellow mom; cut, sanded, designer papers applied and sealed over several times with nontoxic varnish.  These blocks will make a fashion statement in any nursery.  :)

A Mom’s Thoughts

Thanks to Magen’s Bay, I received a set of six Alphabet Animal Blocks for review.

I am so pleased with the quality of these blocks!  They are exceptionally well-made and are cuter than any other set of blocks I’ve come across in stores.   They are safe for little ones, made with nontoxic materials and with all edges sanded down.

I love the combination of letters and animals, two things that my 2-year-old is crazy about right now.  She enjoys not only stacking and building with them, but naming the animals and the letters.

I’m crazy about this online store and recommend them highly!  In fact, I think you should run, not walk, straight there and make an order.  Her prices are very reasonable.  These animal blocks are $18.00 for the set of six.  She also has sets of 30 blocks for $36.00.  You can’t beat that!

Discount Alert!

Magen’s Bay is offering 20% off your order, just make sure to mention you came from Kindred Spirit Mommy and she’ll refund you after you make the order.  :)

Now for a giveaway!

Magen’s Bay wants to give one of my readers a half set of 15 blocks – winner’s choice!

{Prize} Winner’s choice of a set of 15 blocks from Magen’s Bay!
{Eligibility} Open to the US only.  (Anyone can enter, but if you are outside of the US you will need to pay shipping.)

{Mandatory Main Entry } Visit Magen’s Bay and look around, then come back and tell me in a comment which set of blocks you will choose if you win!  (You can change your mind later)

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each unless otherwise noted:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• Follow Follow or Subscribe to the Magen’s Bay blog by RSS (1 extra each)
• Add Magen’s Bay to your favorites on Etsy (requires an account).
• Grab my Maternity Event button (sidebar) and put it in your sidebar for 2 extra entries!
• “Like” my Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Page
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available!) – You can use the Retweet button in the top right corner of this post if you want.
  
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share this giveaway in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)
• Add my button to your sidebar
• Follow my blog, Subscribe to my blog by feed reader, and/or Subscribe to my blog by email (1 extra each)
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)

• +5 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Giveaway will be closed on September 14, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website (either in this post or in a new winner’s announcement post).  Winner will then have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will have to re-draw another winner.  Good luck, everyone!

Disclosure:  I was provided with a set of blocks from Magen’s Bay so that I could share my thoughts and experiences with you.  This post is 100% my own opinion and written in my own words, and was not edited or reviewed by anyone.  I do not feel obligated to write a positive review – I’ll always share my honest thoughts on products.

I first discovered Zoobies Plush Pets about a year and a half ago, and I instantly wanted one so bad!  And not just for my sweet little daughter – I wanted one for me!  I’ve always loved stuffed animals, and I think that whoever thought this concept up is a genius.

Anyone who has ever sighed over their hoard of stuffed animals and decided it’s time to give some away because they’re just taking up SPACE will love these plush treasures.  Why?  Because they are not only soft stuffed animals – they also convert to a blanket and the body can be used as a pillow while the blanket is unrolled!

Thanks to Zoobies, I was able to review the Zoobies Pet I most coveted:  Khimba the Koala and Baby Kai.

Not only is this pet extremely soft (like uber real pet soft!), it comes with a detachable baby koala.  My daughter attached herself to Khimba’s “baby” and has carried her everywhere.

I myself love the Khimba “mommy” because she contains something lovely inside:  a soft and cuddly blanket that I found to be surprisingly large!  I had previously assumed that these pets were for children and that the blanket was child-sized, but was pleased to find that I can easily cuddle up with a book and Khimba’s blanket.  And it is also extremely soft.

Features:

- Microbead stuffed head
- 100% polyester blanket
- Everything is machine-washable
- Blanket zips on/off

Another awesome  feature is that the blankets are easy for children to roll up and stuff back inside the pet’s “stomach”.  This really is the ultimate sleepover toy!

The quality of the Zoobies Pet I received far surpassed my expectations.  I thought that the concept of a pillow/blanket/pet was a terrific one, but I’m so pleased that Zoobies has gone to extremes to make sure that the quality of their products is one of the best you can find!  I highly recommend these pets – they make excellent gifts!

Buy It!

You can order Khimba the Koala and Baby Kai for $32.00 at www.Zoobies.com.

Also find smaller “Baby Zoobies” and large “Jumbo Zoobies”!

Disclosure:  I was provided with the product reviewed above thanks to www.zoobies.com and Chic Execs so that I could share my thoughts and experiences with it with you.  This post is 100% my own opinion and written in my own words, and was not edited or reviewed by anyone.  I do not feel obligated to write a positive review – you’ll always find honest reviews here!

If I could have all wooden toys for my kids, I would.  Wooden toys and puzzles promote children using their imaginations rather than relying on push-button instant entertainment, something we have too much of nowadays.  This is one of the reasons I love places like ImagiPlay, toy companies that provide us moms with the best of wooden toys and games!

A Mom’s Thoughts…

Thanks to ImagiPlay, my two-year-old Emma and I were able to test and review three of their toy sets:

First, the Veggie Cutting Set, which retails for $24.99.  This is a very well-constructed set with no flaws – we love it!  Seriously, it’s so nice that the play cutting board is nicer than any cutting board I’ve ever had.  If I purchased a full-size cutting board of that quality it would probably cost $50.00 at least.  It’s heavy and solid wood.  Can you tell I have some cutting board envy?  ;-)  I’ve considered stealing it for a miniscule cheese platter.

Next, the Kitty Alphabet ColorMeUp Puzzle, retailing for $19.99.  Another toy of quality!  My only problem with this puzzle is that it would be way too hard for my two-year-old to put back together – in fact, it was almost beyond me!  My husband helped me put it back together.  *turning red* I really think this is a great puzzle for older children, and the fact that it has a letter of the alphabet on each kitty piece makes it a fun learning tool for toddlers.  If you, like me, are teaching your little one the alphabet then this is a fun way to teach it, having your toddler set each kitty out in the right order or just using the kitty like flash cards.  The puzzle comes all in natural wood color and includes a tiny set of paints so that your child can paint the kitties him/herself.  Such a great set!

Finally, we have the Three Chicks Puzzle, retailing for $11.99.  This is one of my favorites because of the smoothness of the wood pieces and the cuteness.  It is great for Emma because it’s just enough of a challenge for her to put back together.  But it’s also simple to figure out.  Another terrific thinking toy that is cute to set up and play with!

See, they’re really cute in person!  :)

You can find ImagiPLAY toys in most Whole Foods Markets and online on their website, www.imagiplay.com.

Discount Alert!

ImagiPLAY is offering a coupon code to my readers for 35% off your order – enter at checkout best-toy35.

ImagiPLAY Online!

Fan them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter

ImagiPLAY is generously offering one winner all three of the toys reviewed above!

{Prize} One winner will receive the Three Chicks Puzzle, Kitty Alphabet Puzzle, and Veggie Cutting Set.
{Eligibility} Open to the US only.

{Mandatory Entry } Visit ImagiPLAY and look around, then come back and tell me in a comment what else you would love to buy for your little one!

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each unless otherwise noted:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• Follow ImagiPlay on Twitter and/or Facebook (1 extra for each)
• For 3 extra entries: “Like” my Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Page
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available!)
  You can use this sample tweet: I just entered to win three (3!) wooden natural toy sets from @ImagiPLAY and @Kindred_Spirit http://bit.ly/952CnL #giveaway
  
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share this giveaway in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)
• Add my button to your sidebar
• Follow my blog, Subscribe to my blog by feed reader, and/or Subscribe to my blog by email (1 extra each)
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)

• +5 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and Made By Mardi

Giveaway will be closed on August 17, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website (either in this post or in a new winner’s announcement post).  Winner will then have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will have to re-draw another winner.  Good luck, everyone!

Disclosure:  I was provided with the products reviewed above so that I could share my thoughts and experiences with them with you.  This post is 100% my own opinion and written in my own words, and was not edited or reviewed by anyone.  I do not feel obligated to write a positive review – this website is about honest experiences with products!

I love the Little Tikes brand.  They come up with the coolest toys, playsets, and accessories for kids of all ages – even babies and toddlers!  And no matter what you’re looking for, they always have something your little one wants that is in your price range.

Little Tikes Deluxe Ride & Relax Wagon Review

Thanks to Little Tikes, I was able to test and review one of their awesome Deluxe Ride & Relax Wagons.  It’s kind of a cool story the way I received it for review.  Little Tikes asked me if I would like to review a wagon and I said yes (of course), not being specific about which one I wanted.  I was thinking that I really loved all of the wagons on their website.  And what should end up at my door but the obvious king of all wagons!  I was floored!

So was my husband when he saw all of the pieces.  ;-)

Arrival and Assembly:

The Deluxe Ride & Relax Wagon comes in a very large box and with basically nothing assembled, so be prepared to have a helper!  Or, like me, have your husband do it.  ;-)

Now, I am really really REALLY glad I had my technical-minded husband there to help, because one glance at the instructions and I was overwhelmed.  Basically a bunch of pictures and diagrams with no written instructions.  And let me tell you, it wasn’t all easy to figure out, especially because this wagon has so many awesome features – you have to be sure you get everything together right.  It took us about 1 1/2 hours to get everything completely put together.

But check out the RESULT!

These kids are looking really impatient, don’t you think?  ;-)

Features You Will LOVE:

• Seats that flip up to reveal storage below or can be placed so that kids can sit with their feet in the wagon for a comfortable ride.
• Adjustable umbrella canopy for sun protection.
• Seatbelts!
• Drink holders and cooler attached to wagon.
• Converts from regular wagon to bench wagon!
• Removable sides.
• Drain in bottom of wagon.

Left:  Cooler holds up to six cans of soda and can be stuffed with ice, too.
Right:  Storage area and drain below.  Can also be set up so that kids can sit in an upright position with their feet on the bottom of the wagon.

My Thoughts:

This wagon is so nice for walks at the park, a picnic, playing around outside, and even helping transport gardening stuff (it’s handy having that drain).  Emma really enjoys is having me run around the yard pulling her in this wagon, and I think that’s what most kids would be doing with it.

It’s very easy to pull around, and has special wheels that are made to make less noise and swivel to turn sharp corners.  The wheels work nicely, but sometimes they do have a hard time turning on wet grass or slippery terrain.  I think it’s because I usually only have one light little kid in it and it can have a hard time getting some traction.  On the concrete everything works perfectly, though.  This said, I never have trouble getting the wheels back on track and it doesn’t annoy me in the least – so it’s not a con for me.  It’s awesome that the wheels are able to swivel and that the wagon maneuvers so well on concrete and dry terrain surfaces.

Keep in mind that the size and weight of this wagon are going to make transportation a bit of a hassle if you have a small vehicle.  But the nice thing about the size is that it easily holds both adults and kids.

Converts to a bench!

Easy to convert to a bench – perfect for parades and picnics!

Video Demo:

This is kind of rough, but a fun representation of how well it rides at different speeds.  Sorry about the bumpiness… I defy anyone else to take a smoother video while running backwards and holding a camera! ;-)

Final Thoughts:

This is a GREAT wagon – very well-made and with useful features.   If you are looking for both a sturdy wagon for the kids to play with and something you can take on outings that the whole family can enjoy, I believe you’ve found the best wagon for the job!

Buy it!

The Little Tikes Deluxe Ride & Relax Wagon can be purchased for $129.99 from the Little Tikes website.  If you buy it from Amazon.com, get free super saver shipping!

Find Little Tikes Online…

Send for a free toy catalog by mail
Sign up for their email newsletter
Follow them on Twitter
“Like” them on Facebook

I would like to thank Little Tikes for sending me the wagon reviewed so that I could share our thoughts and experiences with it with you!  This post is 100% my own opinion and in my own words.

I was recently introduced to PakNaks, and I’m loving them!  These interchangeable velcro stick-on “charms” have a high cute factor and an even higher fun factor.  At first I thought that they were just for kids to stick onto their backpacks and bags, but after receiving them and looking around online to see what others used them for, I’m finding that there is much more to them than that!

Don’t you love the flowers on the lamp?  What’s even better is that you could decorate a child’s room in any theme because all of these PakNaks are easily interchangeable!

Here’s how it works (and my thoughts):

Each PakNak charm is soft, bendable and 3-D, giving it almost a pet-like quality that kids will love!

Peel off the backing of the Velcro circle and stick it to anything – it can be a backpack, purse, notebook, laptop, clipboard, or the side of a bunkbed… just let your kids have fun with it!  The sticky side is super adherent and the directions say to let it stay undisturbed for 24 hours before messing with it.  Of course, trying to keep my 2-year-old away from these new and exciting colorful little bugs was much too hard, so I let her play with them right away.  And we had no trouble with it staying stuck, thankfully.  But if it had been a backpack or something like that, I would have hidden it away until later.

Here’s what we did with ours:

I bought Emma this magnetic chalkboard from IKEA and it’s waiting to hang on her wall.  Right now, we have it out in the living room so she can draw and be near us.  I decided that some of these PakNaks would be a cute addition and fun for her to draw around, so on they went!  And we love the result!  And yes, that is my quick artwork, not my 2-year-old’s.  But she’s quite a good artist, too. ;-)

Another fun feature of the PakNaks is that they each have a name and a little bit about them on the information card like where their home is, their favorite food, best friend, favorite activity, etc.  So cute!

There are over 40 PakNaks to pick from and you can also buy more Velcro backings or “fuzzy coins” for even more PakNak fun!

I like these PakNaks so much I’m saving Manfred the Snail for something special.  I just haven’t decided what yet…

Buy It!

PakNaks can be purchased for $3.99 each at the PakNak Store.

{Prize} Winner’s choice of three (3) PakNak charms!
{Eligibility} Open to US and Canada.

{Mandatory Entry } Tell me in a comment which PakNaks you would choose if you won!

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each unless otherwise noted:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• For 3 extra entries: “Like” my Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Page
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available!) (50-follower minimum)
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share this post in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)
• Add my button to your sidebar (make sure it links to kindredspiritmommy.com!)
• Subscribe to my blog by feed reader and/or Subscribe to my blog by email (1 extra each)
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)

• +5 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.

Giveaway will be closed on June 21, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website (either in this post or in a new winner’s announcement post).  Winner will then have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will have to re-draw another winner.  Good luck, everyone!

I received a sampling of PakNak charms from PakNak so that I could share my thoughts on them with you!  These are my own experiences, my own opinions on the product, and in my own words.

Toys and Games Online is one of my favorites of the popular CSN Stores (200 plus stores!).  They have a terrific selection of toys to pick from including but not limited to Little stuffed animals, games and puzzles, toddler development toys, and outdoor play toys for all ages.  Not only that, but their prices are great, and it’s easy to find sales!  One thing I really appreciate about ToysAndGamesOnline.com is that you can search by category, age of your child, toys for boys or girls, and toys by cartoon character – making shopping much simpler and a lot more fun.

Since it’s Spring and the weather is warming up, I thought it would be the perfect time to search for some fun outdoor toys for my two-year-old, Emma.  Let me tell you, Toys and Games Online is outdoor toy heaven!  They have ride-on toys, playhouses, slides and swing sets, bikes, and much more.  And it seems that no matter what you want, they have something in your price range!  I was limited to $40.00, and was trying to decide between a tricycle and a slide.  I decided on the slide, and I’m so happy with my choice!

We received the Little Tikes Jr. Play Slide for review.

Toy Arrival and Ease of Assembly

It was very easy to order online, and arrived quickly from Toys and Games Online.  It came in a box with the slide wrapped in plastic and required NO assembly whatsoever! Awesome!

My First Impression

I immediately unwrapped the slide and unfolded it, putting it in the center of our living room for my daughter to play on.  She loves to slide at the park, so I anticipated her loving it.  I was also babysitting another 2-year-old at the time and it was an instant hit with them both!  They climbed up both the “right” way and the “wrong” way and took turns nicely… well, most of the time.  There were some tiffs over who was going to go down next or whining over someone sitting too long at the top.  You know, the normal stuff, lol.

Features We Love

• The bottom of the slide is curved upward so that little “hineys” land softly and there’s no sudden jolt as they hit the ground.
• The slide folds and unfolds in a snap, making putting it away easy and quick.
• It’s small enough to fit in your closet!
• Product size is 39″ Wide x 23 Inches High – not too intimidating for little ones and still fun for older toddlers.
• Weighs only 10 pounds – I can easily grab it in one hand and my daughter in the other to put it away when we’re done playing outside.
• The base is wide and it is very sturdy, making it perfect for little ones learning to climb!  It’s low to the ground, so any falls will be very minor.
• Small enough for indoor and outdoor play!
• Weather resistant and easy to clean.

Action Photos

(Click to enlarge)

Video Demo

What Some Moms May Not Like

I really can’t think of anything moms might not like – except maybe children fighting over the slide.  ;-)  The only thing that I don’t quite agree with is the age recommendation.  I think a three- or four-year-old would be bored with this slide.  My daughter is two and I think she’ll be able to enjoy it for awhile now, but I know that she will like the next size up more as time passes.  Honestly, I almost wish I had gone for the next size up this time.  This is perfect for ages one to two, maybe a small three-year-old, but not something that will thrill the older toddlers as much as the younger. The older kids can always race cars or help their dolls slide down it, though.  :)

Final Thoughts

I’m so happy with this slide, the Little Tikes brand, and the swiftness of Toys and Games Online in sending me my order!  I’m already planning on buying the slide that is the next size up for my daughter in the next few months, too.

This is a top recommendation – a toy that gets kids outside for some exercise, is safe,  and is super easy to “put together”.  Love it!

Buy it!

You can buy the Little Tikes Jr. Play Slide from Toys and Games Online for only $41.99 right now!  Please note that there is an exact same slide with different colored steps for only $39.99 found here!

Orders over $69.00 ship free!

Connect with CSN Stores Online

Follow them on Twitter
Fan (“Like”) them on Facebook
Visit their blog (for savings!)

I would like to thank CSN Stores for sending me the product reviewed.  This review is 100% my own opinion, in my own words, and was not influenced in any way.

When Emma was 15 months old, I received and tested a Melissa and Doug puzzle for Ebeanstalk.com.  And we loved it!  Ebeanstalk really has a great toy selection and the prices are good, too.  I enjoyed working with them before, so when asked to do it again I happily accepted!

Ebeanstalk is a toy website dedicated to selecting the best toys by age and kids toys. The in-home feedback of bloggers and moms like me around the country help to make sure Ebeanstalk continues to provide the best educational toys for your child. Check it out for yourself!

What You’ll Find at Ebeanstalk

Books, wooden toys, classic toys, plush toys, pretty much anything you could possibly want for children of all ages!

A Mom’s Thoughts…

This time, Ebeanstalk sent me this adorable Jumbo Shape Sorter to review:This toy is targeted for ages 1 – 2.  My daughter has had shape sorters before and she really likes them – she isn’t tired of them at almost two, something I’m happy about.  There’s always something new to learn, and I love that she’s able to practice naming her colors and shapes.

What makes this shape sorter special and different from the norm is the fact that the plastic shapes all connect to each other, giving babies the perfect opportunity to learn about connecting and disconnecting the toys as well as sticking the right shapes in the right slot, shapes, and colors.

After all of the toys have been put in the body of the elephant, you press the ears and they come out of the trunk!  Turning the “tail” turns the green body of the elephant so that the shape slot you want is on top.  My daughter enjoys playing with this unique toy.  Her favorite aspect of it is the connecting shape pieces, though.  She carries them around in a bucket and plays with them constantly!

As you can see, my daughter is “cheating” and putting the toys in through the trunk.  lol

Final Thoughts and Purchasing Information:

This is definitely the cutest and most unique shape sorter I’ve come across.  We recommend it!  I do want to mention that the shapes tend to fall out of the elephant’s trunk whether you press the ears down or not, but that doesn’t diminish the play experience at all.  I still wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.  :-)

You can purchase the Jumbo Shape Sorter for $17.95 on sale right now at Ebeanstalk.com.

I would like to thank Ebeanstalk for sending me the product reviewed so that I could share my thoughts on it with you!  This review is my my own opinion and experience with the toy and company.

If you’ve found yourself wandering through the children’s aisles at Target lately, you’ve probably seen the Sassy Toys brand products for babies and toddlers in the baby bath area, baby feeding area, and toy area.  They really have very cool-looking, unique products that  you can’t help but get excited over!  I’ve had the chance to try quite a few things from their line, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you!  Mainly because this is a brand I truly love now.  :-)

Sassy Baby Bath Toys

What you’re seeing above are two sets of Sassy’s bath toys – the Sassy Baby Bathtime Pals Squirt and Float Toys and the Sassy Baby Pour and Explore Cups.  Both have been extensively tub-tested by my 22-month-old daughter, Emma, and we found them to be a definite success when it comes to tub-time fun!  Emma’s favorite and the set I recommend the most is the Pour and Explore Cups.  She loves them!  These cups stack on each other, and water can move through each cup while they’re stacked or separate, setting off the little spinner inside the top cup, the floating toy inside the second cup, and the little beads in the third cup.  Water drains through tiny holes in the bottom of the cup, and they’re great for holding under the faucet and pouring water into.  At only $6.99 for this set, I think this is a great deal!

Emma also really likes the Bathtime Pals toys.  These brightly colored little sea creatures squirt water and make great floating toys.  Their cons are that they are a little hard for Emma to squeeze and fill up herself (meaning mommy gets asked to do it every time), and that it takes longer than we would like for them to fill up with a decent amount of water to squirt.  What we like is their extreme cuteness, the fact that older kids would have no problem playing with them as squirt toys in the bath, and the fact that they are nicely made.  Another great deal at $4.49 for the set!

Both of these sets would be great for pool-time fun as well as in the bathtub!

Sassy Baby Feeding Time

Sassy Baby Feeding Products are awesome!  Who doesn’t need containers of all shapes and sizes for food storage and transportation?  And bibs?  That’s a no-brainer, we never have enough bibs.

The Sassy Baby On-The-Go Feeding Set has been so useful for me.  I fill the biggest container with the two divided compartments with cheerios and raisins (one type of snack on each side), and it fits perfectly in my diaper bag for car trips, church, or family outings.  The lids are very secure on each container, I don’t have to worry about spillage at all.  The very cool feature of this set is that all of them nest securely in the biggest container so that storage is a snap and it doesn’t take much space at all!  I think this set is perfect for moms of picky toddlers who don’t want their food to touch – you can refrigerate everything separately!  Or there might be a small amount of food from dinner you want to save for your child’s breakfast the next morning.  The perfect size container will there for you.  This set retails for only $5.99, can you believe it?  Making you even happier, it’s BPA free!

The Clean Cuisine Pocketed Feeding Bib totally changed the mealtime nightmare for me.  I used to clean food out of the sides of the high chair, the floor, everywhere after mealtime.  But this pocketed feeding bib is awesome!  It is big and has a huge pocket that can capture every dropped crumb.  The coolest thing is that I don’t have to launder it after every meal – I just take it to the sink and rinse it off or wipe it off, then hang it on a drawer to dry!  The pocket is held in pocket form with velcro, and you can unfold it to clean it if need be.  The neck is cotton lined and it closes securely with velcro.  The back of the bib (against baby’s skin) is lined with terry cloth (I like that because it dries quickly).  You can purchase this bib or the one for girls (pink with a ladybug) for $5.99.

Sassy Baby Toys

This is the Sassy Baby Bucket of Beads – one of the coolest toy ideas for a restless toddler ever!  First, the bucket.  Babies have almost as much fun playing with the bucket as they do with these large plastic beads.  The lid screws on and off, and Emma loves to dump everything out, then put each bead back in the bucket with a “plunk”.  We also love the brightly colored, multi-shaped beads that come in the bucket.  They are plastic, light, and easy to grasp, and connect to each other. The purple flower beads you see in the picture have two or three places to connect to other beads, so you can really make some interesting shapes and designs with them.  But our favorite thing to make is a giant classic necklace.

At $9.99 for this big plastic bucket with a handle for carrying and a myriad of beads, we highly recommend this toy set for ages 6 months and up!

My Thoughts on the Sassy Brand

I’ve had a very positive experience with Sassy products and would be happy to purchase anything Sassy in the future!  I’m going to be keeping an eye on Target’s selection and Amazon.com’s deals, for sure.  I’m happy to recommend them!

Find Sassy…

You can check out all of the Sassy toys and products available at Amazon.com here!  They are also available in-store at Target and you can find a limited selection at Target.com.

View all of the Sassy baby toys, Sassy bath toys, and Sassy feeding products at SassyBaby.com and check out their online shop!  You can also find great information on baby’s development and milestones by age there.

{Prize} Sassy Baby Wants to give one lucky winner a super prize pack including the Bucket of Beads, Pour and Explore Cups, and the On-the-Go Feeding Set in boy or girl colors!
{Eligibility} US only.

{Mandatory Entry } Check out the Sassy baby/toddler toys, Sassy bath toys, and Sassy feeding products at SassyBaby.com, then come back here and leave a comment telling me one item from each category you would like to own (besides the products in this review).

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post from February or March! (leave a comment here telling me which one)
• Add my button to your sidebar (make sure it links to kindredspiritmommy.com!)
• Become a Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Fan
• Follow my blog, Subscribe to my blog by feed reader, and/or Subscribe to my blog by email (1 extra each)
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available!) (50-follower minimum)
  
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)

Giveaway will be closed on March 19, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website – good luck, everyone!

I would like to thank Sassy Toys for sending me the products reviewed above so that I could share my thoughts on them with you!  This review is 100% my own opinion and experience with the products, and was not edited or reviewed by anyone.

I am an Amazon.com Affiliate.  :-)

I really have a lot of fun looking for inspiring developmental toys for my daughter – I think I love the new toys we come across as much as she does!  Our favorites so far have been shape sorters, wooden puzzles, and blocks.  Watching her expression when she figures out what she’s supposed to do with the toys is priceless, I love every moment.  :-)

When I was given the opportunity by Buckle Toys to review one of their Buckle Turtles, I was delighted!  I really think interactive-type toys are the best.  I remember having a stuffed animal when I was a kid that had lots of little features: velcro, a shoe to tie, a button, and a buckle.  It was simply awesome to me.

About Bucky the Buckle Turtle:

Bucky is a soft, colorful plush turtle friend with quite a few fun features for your child.  He has a small pouch in his shell that opens and closes with a zipper, four different types of multicolored buckles, six colored shapes on his shell, and the numbers 1 through 10 on his front, revealed when all buckles are undone.  He is recommended for Ages 1-4.

Learning Opportunities:

Teach your children their shapes, colors, and numbers.

A Mom’s Thoughts:

We like this cute and colorful turtle and think he is a great distraction/challenge for long car rides, stroller rides, or just when Emma needs something to do.   He is bright and colorful, definitely appealing to small children, and I appreciate the incorporation of shapes and numbers as well.

One of the buckles was a bit too hard for my almost-two-year-old to unbuckle herself, but that didn’t bother us at all.  I’m sure she’ll get better at is as time passes.  Until then, she gets help with that one buckle.

One thing we really like about this toy is that he can be attached to the stroller, car seat, or high chair.  He also has a small zipper pouch (his shell) that you could put pacifiers or small things like that into.

Check out the action photos below… I loved watching her expressions as she played with him – she was so focused!

About Buckle Toys

This company was started by a mom who decided to create for her one-year-old son a cute, educational toddler toy with buckles.  Buckle Toys are designed especially to keep children busy and active at those times moms need something to hand their restless, bored child (doctor’s office waits, car rides, plane trips, restaurant outings, etc).  Keep an eye out for new buckle toys to be released in the near future!

Find them Online

Fan Buckle Toys on Facebook
Follow Buckle Toys on Twitter

Buy It!

Bucky retails for $24.99.  Right now, you can purchase him for $19.99, 20% off.

{Prize}  Buckle Toys is giving away one Buckle Turtle to one lucky winner!
{Eligibility} US only.

{Mandatory Entry } Visit www.buckletoy.com and read through the FAQ – come back here and tell me what you learned about Buckle Toys in a comment.  :-)

Optional Extra Entries – Get 1 extra entry for each:
(Leave a separate comment for each extra entry!)

• Fan Buckle Toys on Facebook
• Follow Buckle Toys on Twitter
• Add my button to your sidebar (make sure it links to kindredspiritmommy.com!)
• Become a Kindred Spirit Mommy Facebook Fan
• Follow my blog, Subscribe to my blog by feed reader, and/or Subscribe to my blog by email (1 extra each)
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit)
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets available!) (50-follower minimum)
  
• Stumble/Digg/Facebook, or share in some other way (email, etc) (1 extra each)

Giveaway will be closed on March 10, 2010 at midnight PST and winner notified by email and posted on this website – good luck, everyone!

I would like to thank Buckle Toys for sending me the Buckle Turtle free of cost in order to write a full and thorough review.  This review is 100% my own opinion, my own experiences with the product, and in my own words.

See full review, giveaway, and disclosure policy here.