A Little Disney for the Holidays

Welcome to those of you joining me from FOCUSED ON THE MAGIC and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 2nd stop on our Magical Blogorail.  This month, we’re sharing about Disney Holiday Gifts.

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There’s no way around it.  We’re big-time Disney fans at my house, so there is bound to be some Disney gifts under our Christmas tree each year. 

In the past, these gifts have included things like:

• Movies
• T-shirts
• Pajamas
• Stuffed Disney Characters
• Ornaments
• Disney Gift Cards
• And last year I treated myself to a Disney tree skirt

This year, there will be some different Disney gifts under our tree. . .

My kids all collect Disney pins, and I recently decided to start my own pin collection (since I got such a nice set upon graduating from the College of Disney Knowledge).  Disney World Personal Shopper had a bunch of Disney trading pins for sale on their Facebook page, so I ordered a bunch (some for each member of our family – including Brian, who hasn’t started collecting yet – I guess he and I can share!)  I’ll put some back for future gift-giving, but will definitely include some pins in stockings!

They also had an adorable Christmas Mickey on sale (sold out in the parks), so I had to splurge and order him for ME!

Gracie did the majority of her Christmas shopping on our September trip to Walt Disney World.  So my mom will be receiving some awesome soap from Basin (love that place!)  I also happen to know that she got Ian what will be our family’s very first Vinylmation.  An e-mail from the Disney Store last week inspired me to do a little extra shopping of my own, and I ordered a Vinylmation for each one of us (so there will be 6 new Vinylmations joining our family this Christmas! I wonder what they will be?!

Ashley and I had fun looking at all the Disney Cookbooks on our last trip.  I just so happen to know that she picked one up for me, so I’m pretty excited to receive that!

On Ashley’s birthday weekend away, we found the most beautiful calendar of Thomas Kincaid Disney prints.  When she looked at me and said “Can you buy me this for Christmas?” I couldn’t resist!  I’m guessing some of those prints will end up framed and hanging in her room!

And, last but not least, my Gracie has  become quite the reader lately – devouring books.  She’s been loving several of the series’ published by Disney Hyperion, so I ordered her a new series that I’m hoping she will like.  (Gee, I hope she doesn’t ever read my blog! Just in case, I won’t name the series!)

What about you?  Do you shop Disney for Christmas? 

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Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is DISNEY ON WHEELS.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Loop should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
 
1st Stop ~ Focused on the Magic
2nd Stop ~ Heidi’s Head (you are here)
3rd Stop ~ Disney on Wheels
4th Stop ~ A Glass Slipper Vacation
Final Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky

Just Dance Disney

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. #UbiChamps #JDDisney

Last week, we received a fun surprise in the mail – the Just Dance Disney Wii game!  Previously, we had tried the ABBA version of Just Dance.  We had so much fun with that one that we knew we just HAD to have the Disney version, since we’re all such huge Disney fans! 

The game did not disappoint!  We’ve been having so much fun playing it this week.  The kids enjoy it, but it seems like I am the one who always says “hey, let’s dance!” 

There are a few different modes of play that you can choose from. 

First, you need to select your song.  You can choose from a playlist, from the song list itself, or (if you’re feeling an overabundance of energy) just go for the non-stop shuffle!  So far, we’ve always opted to choose our own song from the Songs heading.

There is a nice selection of songs from a wide variety of Disney movies and shows.  There are oldies – like The Bare Necessities from Jungle Book, right on up to songs from current Disney Channel favorites, like Good Luck Charlie.  We’ve tried most of them now and they’re all quite fun and a great work-out.  I have to confess that I’m not a huge fan of exercise – but playing is a great way to “sneak” some exercise in!

One of my favorites to do is this one:

In addition to regular dance mode, there are also some other options like “bubble pop” and “freeze & shake” – both of these are the regular dances with extra challenges thrown in (for more fun and more points). 

While Ian can beat us all at Disney Sing-It, so far I’ve been kicking his butt at Just Dance Disney – so, yes, I’m pretty excited about that!

This game would make an excellent Christmas gift for any Just Dance or Disney fan in your family!  Up to 4 players can dance at the same time (but you do need some room to spread out).  You can find Just Dance Disney at many stores and various online retailers – my favorite is Amazon.com (affiliate link).

Badge of Honor by Susan Marlow

A quick search for “Susan Marlow” on my blog will yield you the links to many past posts, sharing my thoughts on her great fiction books for children.  My girls and I have much enjoyed reading about Andrea (Andi) Carter in the Circle C Adventure series.  Susan’s series for young readers, about a young Andi, were also very much enjoyed. 

Now, I’m pleased to announce that Susan has a brand new series out – this one a little more geared toward boys.  This new series is called Goldtown Adventures and the first book is AVAILABLE NOW! 

In Badge of Honor, twelve-year-old Jem Coulter knows that the gold rush is over since the last of it was panned. But when an old prospector named Strike finds flecks of gold in their claim on Cripple Creek, Jem hopes that maybe they can strike it rich.

When Jem's father accepts the job of sheriff for their lawless town, it's up to Jem to keep their broken-down ranch running. But Strike suddenly goes missing and the Creek mysteriously dries up, and Jem is determined to find out why. Will Jem be able to manage the responsibility of the ranch and discover the mystery of what is going on at the Creek?

The goal was to read this book aloud to Ian, but he was not paying any attention.  Truth be told, I’m kinda glad it worked out that way, because it allowed me the opportunity to curl up in bed with this book and finish it more quickly, on my own. 

And I confess – I don’t care if this book is geared toward 8-12 year olds.  I loved it!  It held my interest the entire time, and the plot twists had me guessing ‘til the end.

If you have a young boy (or girl - the main character in this series is a boy, but his younger sister has a recurring role and the story is definitely interesting enough for girls too), I’d highly recommend getting him started on this new series!

You can read some sample chapters here. If you decide to buy the book, you’ll also benefit from downloading the free study guide.

Have a Crafty Kid? Try Kelly Kits!

Kelly Kits encourage art play using a wide variety of creative tools & materials beyond what coloring books can offer and are the perfect holiday gift for your creative kiddo!  For 72 hours only Kelly Kits is having a site wide sale where all products are 10% off!  Get your favorite little artist a years worth of art kits or a special gift pack with 5 activities that explore the five discipline of art:  Drawing, Painting, Print Making, Collage & Sculpting!

I have some kids at my house that would LOVE these kits!  Who will YOU be buying for?

Meet Master Moves Mickey!

Fisher-Price has long been a go-to toy manufacturer for our family.  Ashley’s 19 now, but her first Christmas (at just one month old), she received a Fisher-Price tape player to attach to her crib – and the following year was filled with LOTS of Little People!  And I still remember playing with my own Little People, many years ago! 

So, when we were given the opportunity to try a new toy from Fisher-Price, this one with a Disney twist (another favorite around here), we were thrilled!  Enter Master Moves Mickey! 

When Master Moves Mickey (otherwise known as “M3”) arrived, it was like Christmas at our house!  Ian and I couldn’t wait to get him out of the box and see what he could do.  We played and danced with him and then he took up residence on my desk (because he’s just way too cute to throw in the toybox!) 

In addition to Mickey, we also received 4 M3 t-shirts and 4 little towels (to wipe the sweat from your brown after all that dancing!)  Since Ashley is a nanny, she thought it would be fun to take both Ian and Mickey to work with her and have a Master Moves Mickey Party with the kids.  THEY LOVED IT! 

They started out their party by making refreshments together.

Then, they got down to business (dance business, that is!)

If you have busy little ones in your life, Master Moves Mickey would make a great Christmas gift this year!  And, dare I say it?  He’d also make a great gift for that Disney Lover in your life too. Yes, I admit, even if I didn’t have kids, I’d get a kick out of this little guy.  His dance moves seriously make me smile! 

Master Moves Mickey can be purchased directly from Fisher-Price and is also available at your local department and toy stores.  Currently, I’ve found the best price to be at Amazon.com (with FREE Super-Saver Shipping!) 

What do you think?  He looks pretty cute, huh?  Will your kids find M3 under the Christmas tree this year?

 

SPECIAL THANKS to Ashley, Ian, and the Three E’s for enjoying Master Moves Mickey for the sake of this post! 

NOTE: I received Master Moves Mickey for free with the hopes that I would share him with others and post about him on my blog.  I was not obligated to post a positive review.  This post contains an affiliate link.

Homemade Granola

At our house, we’ve been making a good bit of homemade granola lately.  We love granola and it’s so expensive to buy in the stores.  Plus, when we make it ourselves, we know exactly what goes into it! 

The other morning, while eating some granola for breakfast, it hit me that a batch of homemade granola would make a great Christmas gift – for friends, family members, neighbors, etc. 

I’ve been trying to take the commercialism out of Christmas for the past several years now; so I’m all about homemade gifts and “gifts from the heart.  You know the ones I’m talking about – the ones that you can tell the giver really put some thought into, whether it was hand-made or picked out just for you. 

And, if commercialism isn’t enough to make you change the way you give gifts, maybe the current state of the economy is.  If finances are demanding you cut back this year, why not consider some homemade gifts? 

Here’s an idea . . . Go out, buy some nice containers and fill them with homemade granola. 

(The container in my picture is part of a set of 3 that I bought at Aldi’s for, I think, $5.99.  But, there are really nice holiday, festive designs available now too.)  Another great container idea is mason jars!  They look especially nice if you add a scrap of material and a ribbon to the lid!

Here’s the recipe we’ve been using for our granola (from our church cookbook), but you can find lots more recipes online (just do a Google search).  I also recently purchased a Fix It & Forget It cookbook, and saw a new slow-cooker granola recipe that I’d like to try (with peanut butter).

Ingredients:

• 4 c. Old-Fashioned oats
• 2 c. All-Bran cereal
• 1/2 c. coconut
• 1 c. chopped nuts of choice (we’ve been using sliced almonds)
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 c. oil
• 1/3 c. water
• 2 T. vanilla

NOTE: The original recipe calls for 3/4 cup of both the brown sugar and the oil.  We’ve reduced it and it tastes just fine.

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and spread into a shallow baking pan.  Bake at 325 for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring frequently.  Cool.  Store in an airtight container. 

Christmas Music Already? (Giveaway)

I love music.  I love Christmas.  So, it makes perfect sense that I really love the combination of the two – Christmas Music! Each year, we try to add at least one new Christmas cd to our collection.  And, each year, I think how the Christmas music season just doesn’t last long enough! So, I’ve been known to dig out my collection early and start listening. 

Lately, we’ve been listening to some new Christmas cd’s in the  van.  I’d like to tell you about them (then, offer a giveaway, so that you can enjoy them as well!)

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GRAMMY-nominated and BEC Recordings’ artist Jeremy Camp has released a Christmas project this holiday season titled Christmas: God With Us. This is Camp’s first full-length Christmas project in his 10-year career. The album is produced by Brown Bannister and Ben Shive along with Camp. Camp’s Christmas album is filled with holiday classics as well as the original title track “God With Us.” Fans will hear favorites such as “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Joy To The World,” and “Mary Did You Know.” Although these are traditional songs, Jeremy takes a fresh approach to the arrangements on his album.

Heidi Says . . . I am really enjoying this album!  Jeremy has a rich-sounding voice and gives these traditional songs a bit of a country-flair.  I don’t think there are any songs on the album that I don’t like.  I’m especially fond of “God With Us” – a song that Jeremy and his producers wrote together.  I think it’s hard to write a Christmas song that rivals the greats of old; but this one is excellent.  Its easy to pick up on and sing along with.  I’m sure this album will be a family favorite.

This Christmas, our friends from down under, Hillsong, bring us an album full of inspiring and festive songs soon to become Christmas classics. The seasons may be flipped with December falling in the middle of summer for Australia and there may not be snow, sleigh rides or “chestnuts roasting by an open fire”, but there is a common love for a baby born in a manger over 2,000 years ago. God incarnate. God amongst us. The greatest reason to sing this year and every year – sun or snow.  The first Christmas album from Hillsong in over 7 years features last year’s popular radio single “Born Is The King”, new arrangements to classic Christmas hymns as well as brand new songs to help keep our minds and hearts focused on the true reason for the season.

Heidi Says . . . Of the 3 albums that I received, I expected this one to be my least favorite, but I honestly don’t have a least favorite – I like them all for very different reasons.  I really enjoy listening to the voices of Hillsong on this album.  “Born Is The King” is a particular favorite, and I know I’ll like it even more when I’ve committed it to memory and can sing along.  I haven’t had this album as long, but I know we’ll all enjoy listening to it throughout the holiday season!

Rising singer/songwriter Josh Wilson releases his first full length Christmas album, “Noel”, this October as a follow up to last year’s hugely successful Christmas tour (Noel: A Unique Christmas Experience) and the #1 Christmas single of 2011, “Jesus is Alive”. Known for being one of the top songwriters and multi-instrumentalists in the industry, Wilson has been hailed as “the future of Christian pop” by media and his albums are regularly named to Year-End Top Ten Album lists. He has released numerous No. 1 hits including “Savior Please” and the powerful track “Before the Morning,” which landed the No. 4 spot on Billboard’s Year-End Christian Songs chart.

Heidi Says . . . I’ve been a fan of Josh Wilson since I heard “Before the Morning” several years ago.  The message behind that song really met me where I was at the time.  Immediately upon popping Noel into the cd player, you can tell that it’s classic Josh Wilson.  He has a very distinct sound, which I love!  His voice is so friendly and makes me feel like I’d like him just as much in person!  The 2 instrumental works on this album are great.  There are also 2 duets – one with Mandisa that is a lot of fun! 

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Now for the giveaway . . .

I have one of each of the above albums to give away.  And because I’m in the Christmas spirit, we’re going to make this as simple as possible . . .

All you have to do is leave me ONE COMMENT.  In the comment, tell me about your favorite Christmas song or cd and why it is your favorite. 

Then, also tell me which cd listed above that you would most like to win.  Listing your 2nd and 3rd choice will make your chance of winning a little bit better!

Next Saturday, November 10th, I will randomly select THREE winners, who will each receive one of these great cd’s to enjoy! GOOD LUCK!

 

NOTE: I received the cd’s mentioned above for free, in the hopes that I would share about them on my blog.  I only share things that I personally use and think would be a good fit for my readers.

Gummy Bear Ear Buds ?!

A few weeks ago, we received something rather unique in the mailbox - - - Gummy Bear Ear Buds. 

These are made by Sakar. They are sold at novelty stores – such as Hot Topic – and I’ve seen them online ranging in price from $9.99 to $18, and up.

They look amazing like real gummy bears.  And, if the looks aren’t enough, they’re scented as well!  I’m not exactly sure who would want a scented gummy bear in their ears; but there is something cute about it, right?

We got the green gummy bear ear buds to check out.  Now, I must confess – I am NOT an ear bud fan in the least little bit.  I’m a product of the 80’s, when giant head phones were in style (and I think it’s absolutely hilarious that they’re coming back around – I mean, seriously, a little iPod with HUGE earphones makes SUCH a unique statement).  But, anyway, back to our regularly scheduled blog post . . .

I passed the ear buds on to Gracie because ear buds just don’t stay put in my ears and I knew she’d get a huge kick out of them.  She’s 11 – what 11 year old wouldn’t love these things?!

I’m assuming that the green buds should smell like lime or green apple.  I’m rather sensitive to smells and I don’t pick up much of a scent on these at all.  Gracie doesn’t smell it either.  So, if you’re after them for scent alone, I may recommend another color/flavor choice. 

While she’s been using them faithfully for a week or so now, she has mentioned that she has trouble keeping them in her ears, and  that  the sound isn’t what she would consider to be “the best”, but she wouldn’t necessarily discourage someone else from buying them.  I mean, there’s always the fun factor!

So, what do you think?  Have you seen these?  Would you consider them a fun gift idea for someone on your gift list this year?

Do You Redbox?

Thanks to smiley360 and Redbox, my family had an entertaining weekend! We were so well-entertained, in fact, that I realize now – after  the weekend has almost come to a close – that I totally forgot to take out my camera and take pictures.  I think part of that was because we were doing what we love best – hanging out as a family, watching movies, and playing games.  It’s what we do best – and we don’t think to immortalize it in photos. 

Anyway, have you rented movies from Redbox yet?  We find Redbox quite intriguing and handy.  Intriguing because we’re trying to figure out how that not-so-large box contains plenty of each movie – and how you can return your movies to ANY Redbox location – so what keeps them from running out of certain titles?  Handy because we don’t have cable tv (which, where we live, basically means we don’t have tv), so we depend on Netflix for our entertainment.  But, Redbox supplies those just-released movies that we’re anxious to see.

So, what did we pick to entertain us this weekend? 

When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world and into ours - in fact, smack dab in the middle of Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, the Smurfs must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down. (Rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for some mild rude humor and action.)

Our thoughts . . . we loved it so much that, when we returned our movies to the Redbox at Walmar today, we bought our own copy of this movie!  Adorable.  As a person who was not a huge fan of any Saturday morning cartoons (though I did occasionally watch the Smurfs), I must say these little creatures are much more adorable in this movie!

This summer, Judy Moody is planning the most super-duper, double-rare summer vacation ever with best friends Rocky and Amy. Except that it turns out Rocky is going to circus camp to learn to tame lions, Amy is headed off to Borneo with her mom to save a lost tribe and Judy is stuck home with her pesky little brother Stink and second-best friend Frank Pearl. Just when she thinks things are as rotten as they can be, her parents announce that they will be going to California and Judy will have to stay behind with her Aunt Opal, who she's never even met! It looks like Judy's best summer ever has just become her way worst summer ever. But feisty, fearless Judy Moody never gives up. With help from some unexpected sources, she's headed for a summer full of surprises. (Rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for mild rude humor and language.)

Our thoughts . . . Glad I rented this one, rather than buying it.  It was ok, but not the kind of movie I’d want to watch over and over again.  Gracie, who has read the books, said lots of it was taken directly from one book or another – which made the movie much more interesting for her.

In this 19th Century-set story, Jane Eyre suddenly flees Thornfield Hall, the vast and isolated estate where she works as a governess for Adèle Varens, a child under the custody of Thornfield's brooding master, Edward Rochester. The imposing residence - and Rochester's own imposing nature - have sorely tested her resilience. With nowhere else to go, she is extended a helping hand by clergyman St. John Rivers and his family. As she recuperates in the Rivers' Moor House and looks back upon the tumultuous events that led to her escape, Jane wonders if the past is ever truly past. (Rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for some thematic elements including a nude image and brief violent content.)

Our thoughts . . . This one was a disappointment. I was anxious for a new adaptation of the book (which Ashley and I read together last year for school).  This one just didn’t do it for me. I realize it’s a long book and there’s a lot to squeeze into a 2-hour movie; but they just missed so much. I think that, had we not read the book and seen another adaptation previously, we wouldn’t have even really “got” the movie. 

Oh, and get this --- did you know that, in addition to movies, you can also rent video games from Redbox?  We got to try out Go Vacation for the Wii. 

Take a trip to Kawawii Island, a virtual resort for the entire family with dozens of co-operative and competitive activities and events to meet the needs of each and every family member. There's something for everyone from extreme activities like sky diving, surfing and white water rafting to sports like beach volleyball, skiing and tennis. Want to explore the island? There's horseback riding, scuba diving, snowmobiles and many different vehicles for travel around the expansive locales. Take some time to relax and play some miniature golf, have a snowball fight, shoot water guns or play some carnival games. Go Vacation encourages parents and kids to participate together in group activities featuring simple gameplay, multiple challenges, hours of play and fun for the whole family! There's never a dull moment when you Go Vacation! (Rated E10+ by the ESRB for Cartoon Violence.)

Our thoughts . . . Well, let’s just say that Brian, Ashley, and I haven’t had a chance to try this one  because Gracie and Ian have been quite the little game hogs.  The first words out of Ian’s mouth the past  few mornings are “Can I play Go Vacation now?”  Seriously.  I can say this – it’s cute to watch!  You can choose a generic Mii character, or use the one you’ve already got set up on the Wii.  The outfits on these Miis and the settings on the games are really realistic and cute.  It looks a bit confusing for me; but the kids picked it right up, with no problems.  I think it’s a keeper!

So, here’s the rundown . . . Redbox Rocks!  I’d love to hear about your experiences with Redbox.  Any good movies to recommend?  Do tell!

Oh, and here’s some fun information for you - - - Redbox is also hosting a cool contest that your readers might want to know about. The Redbox 12 Days of Deals & Prizes offers daily prizes from December 13 thru December 24. Text FUN to 727272 for instant savings of 25 cents - $1 off of your movie and game rentals, as well as a chance to be entered to win a daily prize from Redbox. Each day, a random drawing will select a winner with top prizes from Sony, Wii, Barnes & Noble, Activision and more.

And the coolest part is the disclaimer - - - I got all this (5 free Redbox rentals and a Wii game that we get to keep and enjoy) from smiley360 – just for trying it out and writing about it on my blog.  Simple enough, right?  You could too – just click on the smiley360 link and sign up TODAY!

Kids 7-12? Great last-minute gift idea (& giveaway!)

A few months ago, I had opportunity to share a review for an online social media site for girls, called Always Icecream.  Since the writing of that review, the founders of the website have released a new site for boys called Clever Dragons.

=> Both sites are geared toward children ages 7 – 12. 

=> They both providing various opportunities for playing and learning.  The learning portions include various subjects, such as language arts, math (both basic and advanced), geography, science, music, art, history, computer skills, foreign language, and Bible.

=> Kids love playing the games because they can earn fun rewards like medals (for achievement), virtual pets, and ice cream $coops (Always Icecream) or gold coins (Clever Dragons).  These things  can be used to access other fun content on the websites.

=> Parents love the sites  because they can control the fun.  Each week, parents receive e-mail reports with updates on their child’s learning progress.  Parents receive a complimentary account, alongside their child’s account, and can use this to enable or disable the “community features” (which enable children to communicate with other members).  Parents are also able to customize educational content and reward additional $coops and/or coins for things kids to “in real life” (such as chores and music practice, etc.)

=> Unlike some other social media websites, Always Icecream and Clever Dragons are safe for kids.  All content on the websites goes through a moderation process, contains no advertising, and is blocked to search engines.

=> While a large percentage of the children using these websites are homeschooled, homeschooling is not a requirement for membership.  The founders are homeschool parents, however, and the educational content on both sites has originated from that personal experience. 

Here’s a quick run-down of the features you can expect to find at Always Icecream and Clever Dragons:

• Learning Games and Rewards
• Educational Videos
• Shops and Games to Spend Rewards
• Weekly Progress Report to Parents
• Friends and Profiles
• Comments and Messages
• Entertaining Games and Videos as Rewards
• Social Games like Pet Sitting and Arts Shop
• Moderation prior to being visible to other members

And best of all --- Always Icecream and Clever Dragons guarantee your satisfaction. Your child will have fun and learn relevant skills – or you get your money back!!


So, if you’re looking for a last-minute gift idea for  that special child in your life, I’d love to recommend a membership to one of these websites.  The regular one-year membership price of $29.99 will currently get you an extra 6 months of membership for free (that’s 18 months for the price of 12).  You can sign up to join Always Icecream here, or Clever Dragons here.  Payment  can be made using credit card, debit card, or PayPal. 

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Guess what?  I’m giving away 4 FREE MEMBERSHIPS! 
I have one (1) LIFETIME membership to give away,
and three (3) ONE-YEAR (18 month) memberships.

If you’d like to win one of these memberships for that special child in your life,
simply fill out the form information below.

I’ll leave this contest open until
Thursday, December 22nd, at noon (est).
I’ll contact the winners right away, via e-mail,
so we have plenty of time to get those memberships set up before Christmas!

Rockin’ the 70’s with ABBA!

I lived through the 70’s (all but the first 2 1/2 months of  them, to be exact)! While I would definitely choose 80’s music over 70’s, there are definitely a few 70’s bands that I’m loyal too – one of which is ABBA.  So, when the opportunity to try the ABBA You Can Dance Wii game came my way, I jumped at the chance.  I knew my kids would love the game itself, and I would love the music – a win-win situation, right?

We decided that in order to properly “break in” this game, we should have a dance party at our house.  Turns out, that we (a) picked the wrong night, and (b) don’t have many crazy friends.  But, thankfully, we do have one crazy friend who was actually able to come to the party on the scheduled date – so we went ahead with it.  As is often the case, it only takes a few crazy  people in a room to have a TON of fun – and that’s exactly what we did.

To get started, we made way too much food! A couple types of dips, crackers, beer bread, cocktail weinies (which were  a party staple in the 70’s), punch, and chocolate-covered pretzel rods were on the party menu.  I think the weinies were the collective favorite – I actually just chopped up regular hotdogs and threw them in the crockpot with a mixture of ketchup, brown sugar, and (the secret ingredient) some grape soda (that just so happened to be sitting on the counter when I was mixing up the sauce!)  Yum!

After eating, we were ready for dancing.  I went up against Brian, Ashley challenged me, Gracie challenged Ashley, Ian challenged Gracie, and we all took a round with our guest – another Brian.  Needless to say, there was a whole lot of laughing going on!

We tried to be as authentic 70’s as possible, so we added a disco ball to our living room, and  broke out our old lava lamp.

 

For the sake of the 70’s, I even parted my hair down the middle and tried to make it flat (no success there).  We saw the lovely ladies of ABBA sporting big flowers in their hair (which just so happen to be back in style), so Ashley and I added a flower to our hair as well.  Ashley broke out one of our new tie-dye Mickey shirts, while Gracie pulled out one of her favorite retro tees for the event.

 

Now, enough about us!  Here’s a bit about ABBA You Can Dance:

From the creators of the award-winning Just Dance® franchise comes ABBA You Can Dance. Featuring 26 timeless songs, including “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” “Fernando,” “Waterloo,” and “Take A Chance On Me,” ABBA You Can Dance invites you to unleash your inner dancing queen and hit the dance floor with one of world’s biggest music sensations. Dance with up to four players or join in on vocals; ABBA You Can Dance is unforgettable fun for friends and family of every generation.

KEY FEATURES

*The Timeless Music of ABBA
Enjoy all the hits – 26 in all – from ABBA’s rich catalog of classic songs, now digitally remastered for Wii™ and your home entertainment system.

*You Can Dance
Unleash your inner dancing queen and play for fun or to set a new top score to challenge yourself and others. Play any way you want with up to four friends.

*Mini-Musical
Perform a story through the music of ABBA! Experience the magic as you play a role in a mini-musical of ABBA’s songs.

*Karaoke Mode
Up to two additional friends can join in on vocals. Simply follow along with the on-screen lyrics.*

*A Must-Have for Fans
Get immersed in the amazing world of ABBA with authentic content including their music videos, live concert footage, and classic photos!

*Wii-compatible microphone required, sold separately.

And here are our thoughts on it:

“I think that ABBA You Can Dance is a great game for multi-generational playing! After all, we had people from 5 – 45 playing the game, and everyone was laughing, singing, dancing, and having a blast!  My favorite song to dance to (and I’m pretty good at it, if I do say so myself) is Knowing Me, Knowing You.  My only issue with this game is that the karaoke portion of the game is not scored – it’s really ‘just for fun’.  I’d much prefer the scoring on the singing, as that’s more my area of expertise!  Anyway, all in all, I’d definitely recommend this game – especially if you were/are an ABBA fan, and you like to have fun!” ~Heidi

“I think this game is cool.  It’s fun for all ages. My favorite song to dance to is Fernando (I currently have the high score for this song!)  I also like Does Your Mother Know. As for the karaoke portion of the  game, Mama Mia is probably my favorite. We already had the ABBA GOLD cd, so I knew a lot of the songs; but some of them were knew to us. I think we’ll have lots more fun playing this game in the future.” ~Ashley, age 18

“I like ABBA You Can Dance. We already had a Grease game that you could sing and dance along with, but I think I like this new ABBA game better. My favorite song to dance  to?  Really any one that I can beat Ashley on (I’m the competitive one!) I would recommend this game to anyone who likes the 70’s!” ~Gracie, age 11

“The ABBA game and the ABBA party were  fun. I wish I could beat Gracie and Ash at the games.  And mom. I need to practice more. I think people should buy this game because it’s fun and it makes me laugh.” ~Ian, age 5

If you’d like to add ABBA You Can Dance to your Wii game collection (so that you can have as much fun as we have), you can do so by purchasing the game at Amazon.com or Toys ‘R Us. Both these sites sell the game for $39.99.

NOTE: Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

Wreaths of Maine

My delivery men always get a nice reception at my house.  The kids and I all get excited when we see the UPS or Fed Ex truck pull up out front.  We can’t wait to tear into the packages and find out what is inside!  Some packages are, obviously, more exciting than others.

Last week, one of those “extra exciting” packages arrived, via Fed Ex.  I was careful when opening this one  because I knew what was inside.  I couldn’t wait to see it and to hang it on my front porch. . .

 
Isn’t it gorgeous?!
I just love the way it looks against the bricks.

Have you ever had a live wreath?  This is the second time we’ve had one, and I just love them!  This one came from Wreaths of Maine and, not only is it beautiful, it is so well put together.  It’s very full and thick and constructed of lovely, healthy greenery (no brown stuff here!).  The “extras” give it a nice touch, I think.  The bow came packaged inside the wreath (so it wouldn’t get flattened during delivery) – it was very simple to attach it to the wreath with the wires.  I already had a nail on my porch, so I attached the wreath to that – took about 2 seconds and the results are gorgeous!

Living in the northeast (PA, to be exact), and having a front porch that only gets the morning sun, I know a live wreath can last all winter long here.  That makes it totally worth the pricetag, in my opinion! 

I was out shopping for a Christmas tree this weekend, and had opportunity to look at and price some Christmas wreaths as well.  I could have spent anywhere from $25 to $50 dollars on a store-bought wreath that was not nearly this thick and full and made from plastic (or other fake parts).  Sure, they might last from year to year (if properly stored), but they look cheap and somewhat tacky too. 

Wreaths of Maine offers a variety of wreath styles, ranging in price from $31 to $42 dollars.  In addition to the wreaths, they also have a swag, a spray, and pine roping available.  They’re all beautiful and made from fresh-cut greenery.  And the best part – they are made right here in the good old US of A!

 
A cute boy and a gorgeous wreath – nice combination!

As if the aromatic, balsam fir wreaths weren’t enough in and of themselves, there’s more . . .

Wreaths of Maine offers a great fundraiser program for homeschoolers (or anyone, really).  If you’ve got a young entrepeneur in your home – or a group that’s looking to make some extra cash – you should definitely look into this fundraising opportunity.  You can  go door-to-door, selling wreaths, and earning commissions.  This would be a super homeschool project for your kids – teaching them social skills and small  business – as well as giving them some extra holiday money.  Wreaths of Maine supplies all the paperwork you need for a successful fundraiser, including full-color brochures and carbon order forms.  I’d highly recommend this, and hope to use this fundraiser in our homeschool next fall. 

Don’t believe me?  Then head over to the Homeschool Crew blog and see what other members of the Crew have to say about these wreaths.  You can also learn more about Wreaths of Maine by visiting their website or Facebook page.

NOTE: I received the wreath pictured above in exchange for my posting about Wreaths of Maine here on my blog. I was not obligated to write a glowing review. All opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

K’nex Mario™ & Yoshi™ Finish Line Building

Last year, I had opportunity to review a product from the K’nex for Education line.  That was all it took to get Gracie (11) interested in – and possibly even addicted to – K’nex!  She has since purchased several K’nex building kits with her own money. And Ian (5) has become a K’nex fanatic as well.  (So far, his favorites have been the Monster Truck building sets.)

When I was asked if I’d be interested in reviewing another K’nex product, I knew I had to say “yes”.  Thing is, though, we had no idea what we’d be getting to review. I figured it didn’t really matter – my kids would love anything from K’nex.

But, boy, were they thrilled when the box arrived and we opened it to find this:

Man, those Mario brothers have been around, haven’t they?  I remember my younger brothers playing Mario brothers games way back in the 80’s! 

Gracie and Ian made short order of emptying the contents of the box and organizing them to start the building process.  This particular set is for ages 6 and up, so Gracie took the leadership role and really didn’t want Ian to help – but he insisted!  Here are some pictures of the building process:

 

It didn’t take long to get the track together!  Then they were ready to work on the cars:

Here’s some general information about this kit from the K’nex website:

Bring Mario™ Kart™ Wii to life! Race Mario™ and Yoshi™ to the Finish Line of the Mario™ Circuit Track. The set includes the parts to build Mario™ and Yoshi™, 2 Wild Wing Karts with super-fast, battery-powered motors, a buildable Goombas obstacle and 2 collectible items from the game: a Red Turtle Shell and Bullet Bill! Also includes 16 pieces of buildable, interconnectable track that creates a closed loop - combine this set with other sets from the Mario™ Kart™ Wii Series to build even bigger tracks!

Features...

• Build Mario™ in his Wild Wing Kart and Yoshi™ in his Wild Wing Kart
• Buildable Finish Line
• Buildable Goombas obstacle with swinging action
• 2 Super-fast, battery-powered motors for karts
• 2 collectible items: Red Turtle Shell and Bullet Bill
• 16 pieces of buildable track create a closed loop

The kids had a ball playing with this set! I was amazed by how fast the  cars can go!  We have since seen this set for sale in several stores, and  Ian has expressed an interest in collecting more of the sets in this series to add to our track.  This particular set sells for $49.99.  Other sets in the series range in price from $9.99 to $99.99, so there’s something for all your gift-buying needs.  I would venture to guess that most boys would love to find something like this under the Christmas tree! 

I have never been disappointed with K’nex products.  They are durable and built to last. Though seemingly pricey, they are both educational and valuable, as your kids will get years of use out of these!

I’ll leave you with a video that we took of the cars moving on the track: