South Florida Blogger- Family Fun, Reviews, Giveaways, Crafts, Recipes, and More! Get Cozy and Stay Awhile!
I just love Fun with a Purpose – Highlights.com and the Highlights Hidden Pictures Club. So much so that I was featured in one of their recent newsletters (see photo above). Any of the Highlights Magazines make great gifts for children. My own children look forward to receiving their Highlights Magazines in the mail each month.
Check out my Highlights Hidden Picture Club Review!
Disclosure- We received the product(s) mentioned below to facilitate our review. We received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% our own.
Sure I sometimes have fun playing with my girls and their toys but I haven’t been this excited about a toy since I was a child. We received a Pinypon Ski Lodge to review and when I say this is a COOL toy, I mean it literally. The Pinypon Ski Lodge comes with an ice skating rink that you actually add water to and freeze it so you can have your Pinypon figures really skate across the ice. HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!?
So let’s get down to the review. First I love that it is easy to remove the toy pieces from the package. The lodge and components are secured to the box insert with just a few twisted wires so I was able to take everything out of the box in a matter of seconds. With children who have LITTLE PATIENCE this is important to me.
There are a bunch of parts to “assemble” but they are all easy things like attaching doors that just snap right in, decorating the tree and the snowman, and applying the decorative stickers. So all the “assembly” needed is actually fun. I was very impressed with the details of the entire play set. The stickers that you apply to the set are so pretty and decorative but my favorite accent detail on the ski lodge is that the cardboard background is held on and attached by little plastic flowers. I’ve never seen anything like it.
There is so much to do with the Pinypon Ski Lodge. It comes with 3 characters who all have interchangeable parts as well as 2 different faces. There is also an adorable puppy, lots of furniture, skis, a snowmobile, a snowman, a tree to decorate, and lots more. There is an elevator for your characters to ride in to get to the top of the slide. Open the gate at the top of the slide and characters can slide down on the sled, snowmobile, or even with nothing at all. My daughter loves setting up all the little play pieces to pretend with the figures. The knife and fork are so tiny and adorable but we do suggest playing with this set away from pets and small children because of the small pieces.
When you fill the ice skating rink with water make sure to keep it level in the freezer. I suggest putting it flat in the freezer first and THEN pouring water slowly into it rather than walking across the room with such a shallow container filled with water. Also, you don’t need to fill it to the top as the water will expand. Yeah, I forgot that so our ice skating rink had a small ice hill on the side of it. After about 20 minutes or so of playing with the ice skating rink we put it back into the freezer to refreeze the parts that melted and my daughter played with the rest of then set until it was frozen again. I’ll admit that I don’t always like playing with my girls figures and such but I had fun playing with this set. It was like being a little girl again.
Visit Pinypon online: http://www.pinypon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PinyponUSA
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Disclosure- I received the item(s) mentioned below to conduct my review. I received no other compensation and my opinions are 100% my own.
Ready for some total cuteness? Kawaii Crush is a new line of adorable toys. Kawaii means cute and it comes from Japan. Everything in Kawaii Crush has adorable faces on it. Each of the Kawaii Crush girls have a totally adorable, over-the-top crush on their most favorite thing! It’s all about the things they ♥ Amanda Panda Pop loves Pandas and Sunny Bunny Hop Hop loves bunnies. What’s Your Crush?
The Kawaii Crush Hyper Happy Mall comes with the Hyper Happy Mall playset, 1 Exclusive Kawaii Crush Doll, 3 pets, and over 40 play accessories. (Note~ the Sunny Bunny Hop Hop figure shown in the pictures is sold separately and not part of this set.) There are 5 fun places to play inside the mall including a pet shop, a fashion boutique, and a snack shop. Head to the pet shop and grooming center to give your pet a bath or adopt a new one. In a shopping mood? Check out the fashion boutique where you can try on new fashions. Then take a ride up the elevator to the second floor where you can enjoy a yummy meal at the snack shop. And don’t forget to stop by the photo booth for a photo session with your friends. There are even 2 different backgrounds to choose from. With so many accessories the Hyper Happy Mall is full of endless play. Even with a ton of toys my girls still complain that they having nothing to do when I tell them to go play with their toys, especially if they have to play by themselves. They really like to play together with figures and play sets like this but my 7 year old really enjoyed playing with the Kawaii Crush Hyper Happy Mall by herself. She took pride in how she set up each store and was coming up with different story lines for each character. She had fun changing the clothes on the figures in the boutique and having a casual meal with them in the snack bar. And of course she loved the happy faces on everything. The pieces are very small so younger children might need a little help with the accessories. The only “complaint” she has is that the arms and legs don’t really move. You can sit the figures down by bending them at the waist but she said she wishes that the arms and legs would have moved more. Of course that didn’t seem to hinder her playing.
I don’t often post pictures of packaging but I wanted to point out that I really like the packaging for the Kawaii Crush set. Some toy packages these days take forever to open and are really frustrating, especially when you have excited kids who just want to play with their new toy. The packaging for the Kawaii Crush Hyper Happy Mall set isn’t like that. The pieces are attached by easy to cut or untie twine, a few plastic and cardboard flaps that are just held by tape, and a few pink plastic locking pieces that just need to be turned a quarter turn to release the toy. It took about 2 minutes for me to get all the pieces out which makes for happy children and a happy mommy.
Right now you can grab some Kawaii Crush coupons when you like their facebook fan page. Plus you’ll be entered to win $1,000. If you post a picture of your child playing with Kawaii Crush you will be entered to win $2,000. This promotion ends Oct. 14th and the coupons are valid until 10/31/13 so grab them now!
Make sure to check out the Kawaii Crush website for fun and games from free printable pages to cute sticker labels. You can even find out what your Kawaii Crush name is. Mine is CORI SAMMIE SPRINKLE TOP. What’s yours?
Enter to win a Kawaii Crush Hyper Happy Mall Playset:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I received the product mentioned below to facilitate my review. I received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% my own.
Something mysterious has happened to the Classic Fairytale Princesses…A secret curse has been cast upon their fantasy world, turning them into supernatural Zombies! Now the Little Mermaid, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Belle are all beautiful zombie princesses in Wow Wee’s Once Upon a Zombie doll collection. I’ll admit that as a mom I don’t quite get the whole zombie appeal, but my girls love this stuff. The creepier the better!
We received Zombie Sleeping Beauty and despite stitches going down both sides of her face, she really is beautiful. Like the rest of the Once Upon a Zombie dolls, Sleeping Beauty is fully articulated, has beautiful rooted hair, and gorgeous glass eyes that are captivating. My girls are already talking about which zombie princess they want to get next! Each doll comes with a stand so girls can display their dolls when they are not playing with them.
Once Upon a Zombie also has an app where girls can “zombify” themselves. Take a picture with your smartphone or iOS device and then add effects and stickers with the app. You can even send your zombie self to your friends via facebook, twitter, or e-mail.
Here’s my zombie self. I took the picture first thing in the morning with no make-up so I really didn’t need to add effects to zombify myself!
Check out all the Once Upon a Zombie Princesses:
Disclosure: I received the products mentioned below to facilitate my review. I received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% my own.
Moose Toys has launched a new line of adorable, whimsical figures called The Zelfs. Their hair reminds me fondly of the troll dolls I loved as a child but Zelfs are even more cute and lovable. Zelfs emerge from the secret garden of Zardenia where they dwell in different “fabitats” from the Water Wave Garden to the Witchbrew Bistro. Each Zelf has its own unique persona and a Zelf power represented by a Zelfmark. Girls can spend hours of hair-raising fun with Zelfs and their accessories that can be used to style both the Zelfs’ crazy hair or their own. Zelfs are collectible and come in 3 sizes- small, medium, and large.
The small Zelfs come in either a matte, glitter, or pearl finish. Each can be displayed in the planter that it comes in or used as a pencil topper. There are 36 different small Zelfs to collect and they come with a collector’s guide to keep track of your Zelf collection. My girls really liked that the Zelf inside the planter was a surprise so they didn’t know which style they received until they opened it. I think the small Zelfs would make a great “good luck charm” as a pencil topper during a big test at school. My girls have already asked if we can get some more small Zelfs soon so they can collect more! At only $1.99 each they make great prizes for behavior charts, etc.
The medium Zelfs each come with a charm, hairstyle accessories and comb for hair styling fun. There are 12 medium Zelfs to collect plus the ultra-rare Clover Zelf (Miss Clover). Medium Zelfs also come with a collector’s guide to keep track of your collection. They are available at major toy retailers nationwide and will make great stocking stuffers this holiday season. While the small Zelfs make great pencil toppers, the medium Zelfs are great for girls to take with them for play on the go. Our medium Zelf’s name is Vampula because she is a vampire and her Zelf power is beauty. She’s adorable and looks pretty good for being over 400 years old!
Large Zelfs come in 3 different finishes to collect- glow-in-the-dark, glitter, and pearl and 6 different personalities. They each come with a hair brush, two hair clip extensions, three hair ties, and of course the collector’s guide to learn more about each Zelf’s personality. The large Zelf we received is Mermalade. She is a Zelf who loves water and loves to explore. My girls love mermaids so this was the perfect Zelf for us. The large Zelf’s are great because they come with several fun hair accessories that girls can use on their Zelfs or themselves.
Want more Zelf fun? Zelf’s have a fun Venus Fly Trap Spin Salon Playset. The Spin Salon comes with an exclusive medium sized Zelf, Tressa, with purple and green hair. Girls can twist and twirl their Zelf’s hair by opening the Venus Fly Trap’s mouth, closing it on their Zelf’s hair, and pushing the button on the salon’s chair so it will spin around and twirl the hair. It was a little difficult for my girls to use the salon chair. You need to twist the hair a bit before you put it inside the Venus Fly Trap’s mouth and it sometimes falls out when you twist the chair. That was the only frustrating part for them. The playset also comes with 2 hair extensions, one hair clip, a tiara, a hair brush, and a collector’s guide. The salon features storage drawers on one side to hold all of your Zelf’s accessories as well as a place on the other side to hold all of your Zelf’s hair extensions. For easy clean up I love that my girls can store their Zelfs right inside their salon playset. The salon folds together for easy storage which is important, especially now that we have a puppy around who will eat anything! My girls are having lots of fun braiding, twisting, and twirling their Zelfs’ hair and I’ll admit that I am having fun playing with their fun hair, too. There is just something about their crazy hair that’s fun to mess up and play with.
Find Zelfs on Facebook and the Zelf Website
Disclosure: We received a Beatrix Girls doll to facilitate our review. We received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% our own.
Introducing The Beatrix Girls- A New Line of Collectible Pop-Star Dolls to Empower and Inspire Girls Through Their Music, Fashion and Lifestyle!
The Beatrix Girls is a new line of beautiful 12 inch dolls that are more than just a typical doll. The Beatrix Girls are pop stars and create their own original music and videos. Each of the 4 Beatrix Girls band members have developed personalities, back stories, and more. Brayden, Ainsley, Lark and Chantal live and interact in the human world—producing real music, real hits, and real fans. Kids can join The Beatrix Girls’ fan club, collect their music, watch their videos, and vicariously live the fantasy of being a pop-star through play.
As a mom of 2 daughters there are dolls that I won’t let my girls play with because they dress inappropriately for my taste or I just don’t think they show good values to my daughters. I love that the Beatrix Girls have their own style but they dress in a way that I wouldn’t mind my daughters dressing. They may only be dolls but to young girls they become real when they watch their videos and listen to their songs. They empower and inspire young girls through their fashion, music, and lifestyles. Through their stories girls learn that it takes perseverance and tenacity to achieve their goals. That is a lesson that I try to instill in my own daughters.
Another message that the Beatrix Girls promote is making the world a better place which is so important to my own daughters who get involved in our community to make positive changes. I love how each girl has a fully developed personality with her own substance, style and traits that my girls can admire and identify with. When you watch the videos, they are not high budget productions. They are created with the actual dolls so their lips don’t move and you can see the hands of the people moving them. But that is part of the charm of The Beatrix Girls. It shows girls that they, too, can create different scenarios and story lines for their dolls to act out. I think these dolls truly inspire creativity and imagination in girls.
We received Brayden to review and right away my girls were admiring her cool sense of style. They love that she has dark purple hair and bright purple eyes. My older daughter likes to write stories and has written a few songs with her class at school so she loved to learn that Brayden is the main song writer for The Beatrix Girls. We went to The Beatrix Girls site and checked out all of their songs and videos and my girls can’t wait until new ones are added. My girls are hoping to collect all 4 girls so they can make their own videos. We hope in the future that The Beatrix Girls come out with accessories like guitars, a drum set, new clothes, etc. so they can really pretend to be them with props and all! Here is one of our favorite videos.
• Brayden: “Hey, I’m Brayden: I was born in Hollywood California and my brain is always bursting with new song ideas, which is why I’m not just the lead guitarist but also the main song writer for The Beatrix Girls. I write songs that reflect real life experiences, friendship, and lessons like standing up for who you are. My passions are music and the environment! My friends and I are the hottest act in the world, but most importantly, we are great friends who care about each other and the world around us. I love to dress in stylish minis, sky-high heels and lots of jewelry. I mix those with geometric prints, clashing patterns and lots of soft bold metallic and leather. My style is different and edgy with a cross-over appeal.”
• Ainsley: “Hi. I’m Ainsley and I’m from the deep-south, but I’m definitely not a typical southern girl. I am a charming southern belle and can be quiet as a church mouse when we sip mint juleps together on the porch, but put me behind a drum set and I turn into a Riot Grrrl. My passion for drumming, coupled with a lot of hard work, got me the gig with my three best friends, as the drummer for The Beatrix Girls! I love the “modern antique” look. I favor rich, feminine fabrics like laces, florals and brocades cut into modern silhouettes that highlight my figure. I channel classic Southern Belle with my corsets hats and gloves, but I’m thoroughly modern in how I put it all together.”
• Lark: “I’m from Boston, okay? I live my life by three B’s: Beans, BoSox and Bass Guitar. Now I’ve added a fourth B… Beatrix. Aside from my love of music, I LOVE extreme sports – surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding – I’m a champ! I’m often referred to as the “rocker chick” of the group. I’m a bit grungy, a little bit punk. My passion for sports and music has not only won me many competitions, but it earned me my spot as the lead bass player with my three best friends! I like layers and ripped up jeans by day, and by night I like appropriating boys’ looks into feminine hot outfits. Combat boots with frilly dresses, skinny jeans with suspenders, sneakers with everything. I avoid pinks and other bright colors, but then again, with my fiery hair, I don’t need much color from my clothes.”
• Chantal: “I am Chantal and I come from Montreal Canada. I speak Français and English. I play the keyboard and sing. People say I’m “mellow”, logical and level headed, but I am often… “bent out of shape”… by the silly things people say and do. When this happens I am likely to “flip out.” I love to play the piano and sing, and I work very hard at both. I’m a snappy dresser and typically stick to the classics. I love the clean, mod look of the 50s. I like to wear soft, subtle silk blouses and dark, tight, Capri type pants or mini skirts with fishnet stockings. I like high heeled shoes, but not too spiky. I like to wear my silver bracelets and a slinky silver necklace.”
The Beatrix Girls will be available in October 2013 in major retail stores like: Toys R’ Us and Justice.
Follow The Beatrix Girls and Sign Up for Their Newsletter:
Website / Newsletter: TheBeatrixGirls.com
Facebook: facebook.com/TheBeatrixGirls
Twitter: twitter.com/thebeatrixgirls
Pinterest: pinterest.com/thebeatrixgirls/
YouTube: youtube.com/user/TheBeatrixGirls
Want to win your own Beatrix Girls Doll?
Enter below:
Disclosure: We received a copy of the game mentioned below to facilitate our review. We received no other compensation and all opinions are our 100% own.
Our whole family loves Phineas and Ferb. I’ll admit that sometimes my husband and I watch it when the kids aren’t even home. Don’t let my husband know I told you but it is one of his favorite shows. Shhhhhh! So when we were offered the chance for my girls to review the new Phineas and Ferb Quest For Cool Stuff game, we jumped at the chance. We chose the Nintendo 3Ds version but it is available for other game systems as well.
There’s a whole lot of stuff to do during the last week of summer vacation and Phineas and Ferb want to do it all! Join these charismatic brothers of invention as they create, travel and explore in their quest for artifacts to fill out the Museum of Cool. Perry the pet platypus, aka Agent P, has their backs when bumbling villain Dr. Doofenshmirtz unleashes his latest obscure “-inator” devices designed to take over the entire Tri-state area!
Key Features:
Play as Phineas, Ferb and Perry/Agent P as you interact with supporting characters from the show including Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Candace, Isabella, Buford and whiz kid Baljeet.
Experience two unique play mechanics:
Exploration Mode: Switch on-the-fly between ambitious innovator Phineas and silent, but stoic “Man of Action” Ferb as you explore their backyard, a lost temple, underwater caverns, and the surface of the moon!
Action Mode: Transform Perry from subdued pet mode to super Agent P: jump, run, crouch, slide, hang from ledges, fight robot “inators” and sneak past traps and obstacles in Doofenshmirtz’s diabolical lab. Build and play in the A.T.T. (All-Terrain Transformatron Vehicle). Upgrade the A.T.T. by assembling new parts like pinchers, drills, rocket boosters and headlights that you need to access new areas. Customize the A.T.T to your preference with colors, sounds and decorative parts.
Unfold an intertwining four episode storyline as Phineas and Ferb hunt for lost treasure and travel the world while crime-fighting Agent P embarks on a secret mission to foil the Dr.’s zany schemes.
Defeat Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s flying Norm Bots and robot hordes including the Patroller, Jumper, Charger and other “get-rid-of-cool-stuff-inators.”. Avoid Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s nasty lab traps: collapsing floors, laser beams and falling boulders!
Collect sprockets then use them to buy spare parts for the A.T.T.
Swing by Phineas and Ferb’s backyard Museum of Cool to access special items and loot you’ve collected on your adventures:
Ferb’s Amazing Fun Trinkets include some of the most coolest artifacts the boys discover including the lost Atlantis hieroglyph, floating baby head, Meap’s Mustache, caveman’s first stone wheel, and more.
What my girls thought:
This game is really cool because it has Perry and all our other favorite characters in it. There are all different settings such as underwater, in outer space, and in a temple. There are different levels- some are easy and some are hard but both girls are able to pass the levels without getting frustrated. Buford times you in some of the levels so you have to finish the level quickly. My favorite parts of the game are finding the secret treasure chest, finding secret passages, finding Ducky Momo, and helping Baljeet and Isabella. Any Phineas and Ferb fan will love this game.
Disclosure: We received the product discussed below to conduct our review. We received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% our own.
Mega Bloks Barbie Build ‘n Play Super Star Stage is a great toy for children to practice following directions. My girls are 7 and 9 and they were able to put the entire set together without my help just by following the instructions included with the set. They really worked well together taking turns following each step to assemble the stage. My girls have had other similar building toys in the past that didn’t come with directions on a specific structure to create and they always had a hard time figuring out what to create and quickly got bored with them. With the Mega Bloks Barbie Build ‘n Play Super Star Stage there was a goal of what the completed project would be and I think that really helped my girls. But don’t think that they weren’t able to use their creativity. Once they completed the stage, my girls have had so much fun creating different concert scenarios with both the figures that are included in the set and then adding all of their other small figures as the audience. The stage sat out on my living room floor for days and my girls created detailed story lines while they played. The only reason it came off of my floor is that we adopted a new puppy and my girls had to quickly scramble to get the set off the floor when we brought him home. Otherwise I think the set would still be on my living room floor. Now they are having fun playing with it in their bedrooms. Once put together, the set is easily movable from room to room.
The Mega Bloks Barbie Build ‘n Play Super Star Stage features both lights and music to engage children and encourage them to create their own concerts. My girls both thought that it was fun to follow the instructions to complete the project. My girls both said they felt good when they were able to complete the project themselves. They only thing they needed help with was pushing a few of the pieces together a little bit tighter so they wouldn’t come apart. We do suggest that you compare all the pieces required to complete the set with the pieces that are in the box to make sure you aren’t missing any pieces BEFORE you start building. It makes it much easier and much less stressful. We thought we were missing a piece when my girls first started building to I had them lay out all the pieces and compare them to the parts chart. We then realized that what we thought would be more of black/grey transparent piece and it turned out to just be a clear transparent piece. My girls are already asking for more Mega Bloks Barbie sets. They will definitely be on our holiday list this year.
Disclosure: Disney paid for my flights, lodging, and expenses for this trip but all opinions are 100% my own.
If you have a Little Mermaid fan on your shopping list then you are in luck this year. With the upcoming Diamond edition of The Little Mermaid coming out soon on DVD, Disney has a whole line of great new The Little Mermaid themed consumer products. The Little Mermaid is loved by such a wide audience from children to grown women so I love that Disney has products for every Ariel fan.
When I went to Los Angeles a few weeks ago I was lucky to be a part of a Little Mermaid dinner where we were given a sneak preview of many of the new Little Mermaid products and now I get to share them with my readers. Enjoy!
Toys and Dolls
Photo Copyright Disney Consumer Products
Disney’s Animators’ Collection Ariel Doll Deluxe Bathtub Gift Set
This 16 inch doll comes complete with seashell bathtub, terrycloth bath costume, satin nightdress, Sebastian, and even a DINGLEHOPPER! This is a great doll for a toddler and is available at the Disney Store with suggested retail price of $49.95.
Photo Copyright Disney Consumer Products
The Little Mermaid Plush Collection
This plush collection features all of your favorite characters from The Little Mermaid including Ariel, Prince Eric, Ursula, Flounder, Scuttle, Sebastian, Max, Flotsam, and Jetsam. They are available at the Disney Store with suggested retail price of $9.95 to $19.95.
Photo Copyright Disney Consumer Products
Disney Princess Mermaid-to-Princess Ariel
My girls love this doll. She sings two different songs from the movie as she transforms from a mermaid to a human and back again. She features a beautiful shimmering gown and sparkly tail. It is made by Mattel and has a suggested retail price of $24.99. If your daughter loves to play with Barbie dolls, this one’s for her!
Photo Copyright Disney Consumer Products
Disney Princess Ariel Royal Ship
Take your adventures out to sea with this fun 2 level, expandable ship. Includes vanity, mermaid-princess bed, and lots of other treasure surprises! It is made by Mattel and has a suggested retail price of $49.99.
Photo Copyright Disney Consumer Products
The Little Mermaid Deluxe Doll Gift Set
I love this deluxe gift set. Not only are the dolls beautifully done but it features 2 exclusive 12″ characters, Ursula and for the first time ever, her alter-ego Vanessa! This 5 piece box set also has little Scuttle, Sebastian, and Flounder figures so your little one can act out her own undersea adventures. You can find this set at the Disney Store and it has a suggested retail price of $79.95.
Under the Sea Surprise Ariel
My girls love playing in the shower and bath with dolls and this special doll has a magical surprise. When you place Ariel in water her fins light up to create a magical rainbow of color. She also sings and says sounds and phrases from favorite movie moments. She is one of my favorite Ariel dolls and I know my girls would love playing with her. Who am I kidding? I would love playing with her myself. Who said a grown mommy can’t play with dolls? It is made by JAKKS Pacific and has a suggested retail price of $29.99.
Holiday Princess 2013- The Little Mermaid
Look how beautiful the 2013 Little Mermaid Holiday Princess is with her sparkly white and turquoise dress, tiara, and dangling earrings. Is it too early to add her to my wish list?
Dress-up/Pretend Play
Photo Copyright Disney Consumer Products
Ariel Costume Collection for Girls (left) and Ariel Musical Light Up Dress (right)
Dressing up as the Little Mermaid has always been my daughters favorite costume and Disney has some really beautiful costumes available. The Disney Store has the Ariel costume, tiara, and wand with a suggested retail price from $12.95-$44.95. Want a little extra sparkle and shimmer? JAKKS Pacific’s Ariel costume both lights up with magical motion-activated lights and also plays “Under the Sea”. I was like a little kid when I saw this costume for the first time. I had the Disney rep push the button several times so I could hear the dress sing and flash it’s lights.
Apparel and Accessories
Photo Copyright Disney Consumer Products
Little Mermaid Tanks and Tees
I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the grown-up style of the Little Mermaid Tanks and Tees that are available at Hot Topic with a suggested retail price starting at $9.00. They also have other Little Mermaid merchandise, too, so make sure to check it out. I love that there is so much stuff for the older Little Mermaid fans!
Photo Copyright Disney Consumer Products
Ariel Long John Pajamas
This cuddly pj set is made of 100% organically grown cotton and has ready-to-grow cuffs to keep the fit neatly in place. My girls dream of a night cold enough in FL to wear these pjs but you can find them at Hanna Andersson with a suggested retail price of $42.00.
Photo Copyright Disney Consumer Products
Ariel Charm Bracelet
Charm bracelets are so much fun and this is one of my favorites. It features 10 charms of favorite characters and icons from The Little Mermaid on a silver-tone link bracelet. It is bright, colorful, and will go with any fashionista’s wardrobe. You can find this beauty at the Disney Store with a suggested retail price of $16.95.
Cosmetics
Disney Reigning Beauties Ariel Collection by Sephora
I am so excited for this collection. I won the nail polish set playing trivia at the dinner and the colors are so pretty. My favorite is the sparkly white which looks great by itself or over other colors. Sephora has an assortment of cosemetics, a signature fragrance, and other accessories inspired by our favorite red-headed mermaid. I love the attention to detail on the packaging. Look at the hidden figures in the barcodes. Who do you see?
Ornaments
I don’t have a Christmas tree but I LOVE LOVE LOVE these ornaments. The Ariel on the right is my favorite. I need to think of a creative place to put her because I WANT ONE!
What are your favorite Little Mermaid products?
Disclosure: We received 1 Live Ladybug Land with live larvae from Insect Lore to facilitate our review. We received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% our own.
I think we have a very girly girl house. My girls love sparkles, dolls, make-up, nail polish, and more. BUT they also love bugs! All types of bugs. The catch observe, and release butterflies, dragonflies, and more all the time. We went to watch a blimp take off a few months ago and they were more interested in catching grasshoppers! So when I saw the Live Ladybug Land from Insect Lore, I knew they would love it. My girls were so excited to be able to see the whole ladybug life cycle first hand. When you order the Live Ladybug Land from Insect Lore you have a choice of ordering it to be shipped with the live larvae or you can order it to be shipped with a certificate to order the live larvae later. This is great if you are giving the Ladybug Land as a gift or if you aren’t ready to start with your live larvae yet. When you are ready to order your live larvae you simply return the certificate with the additional shipping fee and they will ship your live larvae to you when you are ready.
Once your ladybug larvae arrive in their shipping tube, open up the small magnifying cap from the top of the habitat and empty the contents of the tube into the habitat. The larvae and their food are in the tube so make sure it all empties into the habitat. Then drop a few drops of water on the sponge in the top crater. They habitat comes with a dropper to easily add water as needed.
My girls had so much fun watching their larvae move around. They were amazed at just how different the larvae looked from a full grown ladybug.
In a little over a week our larvae started attaching themselves to the sides of their habitats and turning into pupas. As pupas they still didn’t look like full grown ladybugs but there were getting close to looking that way. My girls waited with anticipation for our ladybugs to hatch from their pupas. For 2 girls who don’t always have patience, this was a great lesson.
Our ladybugs finally emerged from their pupas and their spots eventually darkened. My girls were so excited to finally have ladybugs! They observed them for a few days, fed them raisins, and then decided to release them outside.
We watched out ladybugs fly onto the bushes by our house. We had hoped that they would stick around and we would see them again but when we checked several days later, we couldn’t find anyway. This was a great learning experience for my girls. We have watched the butterfly lifecycle in action from InsectLore and this was equally as amazing. Once you release the ladybugs, you can clean the habitat and save it for the next time you want to order more larvae. This is a great set for any family or classroom teacher! We’re looking forward to ordering Insect Lore’s praying mantis kit next!
