2013 Holiday Gift Guide: Primula Push + Serve 3 Qt. Whistling Tea Kettle

I was provided the below mentioned products in exchange for this post and placement in the Holiday Gift Guide.

     I personally like to drink tea.  Most often I drink iced tea, but on occasion I like a cup of hot tea.  I drank lots of tea during pregnancy and soon after for lactation.  Tea is a comfort drink.  I don't like coffee so tea is something I can drink on a cold day to warm up inside.  Primula has an array of Tea Kettles.  I was provided the Push + Serve 3 Qt. Whistling Tea Kettle as part of the Holiday Gift Guide.      

     The Push+Serve 3 Qt. Whistling Tea Kettle is fashionable with its red matte finish and is also available in brushed stainless steel, matte black, and matte marigold.  Some of the features of this kettle is a wide trigger spout that was designed for safety, convenience and ease of use.  It has an over sized base that will fully cover flames from a gas stove.  It is also fully functional on electric or ceramic cook tops.  It has a high arched handle that gives is a dramatic silhouette.  It can be easily used one-handed while keeping the hand away from hot water or steam.  The kettle features a traditional whistle sound to alert you when your water has reached a boil.

     This tea kettle would make a perfect gift for anyone that likes tea even occasionally.  Its design is beautiful and it functions well.  Primula carries many great products that make great gifts.  As I look at their website I am drawn to the Iced Tea Piture and the Flavor it Piture 3 in 1 beverage system.  They also have products for the coffee drinker on your list.

Buy it:  Primula Push and Serve Stainless Steel Whistling Tea Kettle, 3-Quart, Matte Red

Connect with Primula on facebook and twitter.

Thank you to Primula for sponsoring this post 

 I was provided the above mentioned products in exchange for this post and placement in the Holiday Gift Guide. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced. disclosure

Stocking Stuffer: Thomas & Friends The Thomas Way Plus Giveaway

I was provided the below mentioned products in exchange for this post

     Thomas and his friends go down the track, clicky-clack as they learn to be really useful engines.  Thomas and his steam engines learn that they must work together to stay on track and reach their destination.  The Tomas Way DVD contains five great adventures plus a bonus episode.

     The engines on Sodor find that there is always something new to learn.  Thomas and duck learn how to steam ahead together with a special delivery.  Luke and Millie found out what its like to drive in each other,s tracks , literally.  Percy steams straight into a lucky encounter with Bill and Ben.  Caitlin learns how things are done.  Paxton went off to recover Thomas' last puff.  It is so busy on Sodor, but it is important steam ahead.  The best way is the Thomas way.

Episodes Include:
>  "The Thomas Way"
>   "The Switch"
>  " Percy's Lucky Day"
>  "Calm Down Caitlin"
>   "The Lost Puff"

DVD Special Features
>  BONUS EPISODE  Luke's new Friend
>  Lift & Load Crane Game
>  Guess Who? Puzzles

Buy it: Thomas & Friends: The Thomas Way

Win it:  One (1) Arizona Mama reader will win their own DVD The Thomas Way

Enter in the Giveaway Tools form below! This giveaway will be open until 12/21  at 11:59PM (MST).  Open to US.

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Thank you to Lionsgate & HIT Entertainment sponsoring this post and giveaway

 I was provided the above mentioned products in exchange for this post. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced. disclosure

2013 Holiday Gift Guide: Kickboard USA Mini Micro 3 in 1 Scooter

I was provided the below mentioned products in exchange for this post and placement in the Holiday Gift Guide.

     Since becoming a parent I think the thing I love the most on Christmas morning is seeing excitement and happiness in my boys.  Every year I really want to find them each a present that is so exciting for them.  I love to see their little faces light up.  This year Evan's big exciting present will be the Kickboard USA Mini Micro 3 in 1 Scooter.  I just know when he walks out and finds it under the tree that he will be excited.  Evan is always trying to ride Jayden's scooter, but it is too big.  I am so excited that this scooter is made just for Evan's size.

     The Mini Micro 3 in 1 scooter is the perfect ride on that grows with your child from 1 to 5 years old.  Starting out at 1 year old you can set it up with a ride on seat.  At age 2 the scooter can transform to a stand on scooter with short O bar and then converts to the Mini Micro with TBar at age 3.  It literally grows with your child.  The wheels are made from Polyurethane which helps it have a smooth, quiet ride.  It has a low deck and soft edges, as well as a rear spoon brake to provide a little extra measure of security.  This scooter can be used for children up to 44 lbs.  And since I know Jayden didn't get to this weight until recently, I know that Evan will be able to use this for many years.   The Mini Micro is available in Pink or Blue.

     Kickboard USA has scooters for all ages from toddlers to adults.  They even have a luggage scooter to help with your luggage at the airport.  What a fun way to get to your gate.


Buy it:  Micro Mini 3-in-1 Kick Scooter, Blue

Connect with Kickboard USA on Facebook and twitter.

Thank you to Kickboard USA for sponsoring this post 

 I was provided the above mentioned products in exchange for this post and placement in the Holiday Gift Guide. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced. disclosure

2013 Holiday Gift Guide: HABA Water Friends Angler Set

 I was provided the below mentioned products in order to provide an honest review.

     After all the great items I have reviewed from HABA this year I could not have a holiday gift guide without including them.  HABA is a company built on quality and tradition.  HABA strives to grow their product range.  They have 15 employed inventors that are regularly developing new and innovative toys that really spark the interest and curiosity of children.  HABA has captured the attention and interest of my boys with so many great toys and they did it again.  I was recently sent the Water Friends Angler Set to include in the Holiday Gift Guide this year.

     I just knew this would be a hit with my boys.  My only caution was a concern that they would both want it and fight over it.  The water friends angler set The set includes 5 soft fish with a loop in their mouths and a single fishing pole with a string and a hook.  I first pulled this out on the floor with Evan and Jayden.  right away they both wanted a turn to play.  The chunky handle of the fishing pole fits great in the boys hands and it helps them to have control.  Of course Jayden was much better at catching the fish.  But with a little help Evan could do it also.  They both loved catching fish.

     Later when it was bath time we decided to play with the set in the bathtub.  Evan was so excited to see the fish floating around.  He could barely keep the fishing pole still to catch one.  He needed a little help, but loved pulling the pole up to find a fish on his hook.  There are 5 different colorful fish.  The fish are soft and the outside is made from Lycra.  After bath time I make it a point to squeeze all the water out of the fish.  This is a fun set that grabs the interest of both of my boys 5 years old and 15 months old.

     HABA has so many great gift options for all ages of children.

Buy it: Haba Water Friends Angler Set

Thank you to HABA USA for sponsoring this review. 

 I was provided the above mentioned products in order to provide an honest review. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced. disclosure

{Never} Wordless Wednesday ~ Park Fun

Going to the park can be challenging since Jayden and Evan are different ages and play in different areas.  But when I took them this past weekend Jayden was such a sweet big brother.  He played on the little playground with Evan and showed him everything.  Evan was loving it cause he loves his big brother.

I love that Evan likes to follow Jayden everywhere.  He loves his big brother so much!

My boys have their ups and downs, but in the end I think they will grow up to be the best of friends.  

First Round of Holiday Gift Guide Winners

YAY!! Its time to announce some winners again.  Some of the Holiday Gift Guide Giveaways have ended.  These are all great gifts to give or to receive.

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All winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize or a new winner will be picked.  Thank you to all who entered.  If you didn't win then keep trying there are more great items listed in my sidebar or go to the Holiday Gift Guide post.  There are also a few more to come!! 

Fall Frenzy Indie Author Kindle Paperwhite Giveaway

Now is a great time to curl up with a blanket and catch up on some reading with the cold weather of fall sweeping in. Here's a list of some incredible trending indie authors. Be sure to pick your favorite and vote on Facebook! Then, go below for your chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite!

The Hollow Man by Paul Hollis

Based on true events, follows a young field analyst from a U.S. government agency assigned to study emerging terror tactics. He's charged with watching over the unpopular prime minister of Spain, Luis Carrero Blanco. When a terrorist's deadly plot kills Blanco, the analyst begins a cat-and-mouse chase across Europe with Chaban, the mastermind assassin, narrowly escaping death again and again in this fast-paced thriller.

Genre: Thriller

E-Book Price $4.99

Chosen: Path of Heros by Kyla Price

Kyla Price weaves a tale of high school, high wizardry and high adventure, as four teenagers are drawn to the parallel world Kambia, whose Empress faces a great threat from an evil overlord. “Now is the time to assemble the Chosen.”

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

E-Book Price: $9.99

Night Chill by Jeff Gunhus

In his debut novel for adults, bestselling MG/YA author Jeff Gunhus (known for his Jack Templar Monster Hunter books) has won outstanding reviews for his supernatural thriller which has drawn comparisons to Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Come see why this novel is consistently on the Amazon horror bestseller lists. Also look for the new audio book from Audible.com and Amazon available mid-December.

Genre: Horror

Price: $2.99

What Will Not Kill You … A Memoir by Annemarie Duparc

Retired Magistrate pens memoir confronting feminist issues like sexim in the workplace, along with societal plagues like depression and divorce. This memoir is a story as well as a study of sustained resilience. You'll not find slavery, poverty or exile in the author's background. Her distress was not collective but individual, brought on by circumstances which fostered a sleep disorder and depression. Perhaps therefore harder to survive, and yet so common in our society, although hardly acknowledged.

Genre: Memoir

Price: $15.26

The Curious Caves of Honey Cove by Samantha McDermott

"A city girl is challenged by a handsome beachcomer to uncover what is going on in the ominous caves and which nice townspeople are involved in it."

"If you're exhausted from mankind's blood-and-gore history that continues into the present and will continue evermore, if you're weary from the savage stories in the news, which the Hollywood entertainment industry loves to pick up and produce; if you would like a gentle, heart-warming story--without the gratuitous grisly graphics--placed in a bracing rocky-beach setting, I recommend this shining and witty book, The Curious Caves of Honey Cove, by Samantha McDermott. This is a mystery but it's not just a mystery! This wise author will renew your faith in humanity.” - Bonnie Langhaar

Genre: Cosy Mystery

Price: $9.99

Aztlan by J.D. Parker

Four teenagers stumble upon a terrorist plot to spray nerve agent over Southern California from crop dusting planes, they video the planes getting ready to take off from the desert outside Los Angeles, steal the terrorist’s laptop and some antidote to the nerve gas, contact Homeland Security and flee across the desert pursued by the terrorists and Special Forces sent to rescue them as Los Angeles reels from the devastating attack from the one plane that wasn’t shot down before reaching the city.

Genre: Thriller

Price: $9.99

Now For Your Chance To Win!

Thanks to Reader Spoils, one lucky reader will win a Kindle Paperwhite!

Enter To Win a Kindle Paperwhite

One winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries to receive a Kindle Paperwhite valued at $139.00! To enter, complete the tasks on the GiveawayTools form below. Don't forget to vote for your favorite book AND come back for daily entries! The event ends on Monday, December 16th at 11:59pm and is open to US residents only. Good Luck!

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Arizona Mama is not responsible for prize fulfillment.  I was not compensated for this post.  

Casey Our Elf Magic Elf Is Back And Brought A Friend #elfmagic

I was provided a magical reindeer this year to help with this fun adventure. 

     We were excited to find that Casey our Elf Magic Elf is back.  It all started the other day when Jayden sat down to write a letter to Santa.  He asked if Casey could come back for a visit again this year.  And by the way, Jayden is doing so well at his writing.  After he wrote his letter we put it in an envelope and mailed it out to Santa.  And when we woke up this morning we found Casey was here and he brought a friend, a magic reindeer.

     Jayden was so excited to see that Santa received his letter and Casey is back.  His face was priceless.. so wish I had my camera ready when he saw him.  He immediately grabbed him off the table and ran to tell his daddy that Casey is back.  John was in the bathroom so he banged on the door and said open up daddy.  And what a great surprise to have a reindeer here to visit too.  They brought along a little book about our magic reindeer so we read it together.  We found out that the reindeer didn't have a name and we needed to name him.  So Jayden began thinking of names.  While Jayden was thinking Evan gave Casey and Rudy both kisses.  Daddy helped him come up with a list and he decided on Rudy.  So we are happy to introduce our new Magical Reindeer friend Rudy.  We are excited to share our time leading up to Christmas with Casey and Rudy.  And hopefully they don't get into too much trouble this year.

     Today we went to meet my photographer friend to take our Christmas pictures and Jayden had to take Casey and Rudy with us.  They got to watch while we took pictures at the park and Casey even snuck into a few.  Rudy was a little shy and didn't get in any.  He is still getting used to our family.  Tonight before bed Jayden helped to get Casey and Rudy a glass of ice water and 2 crackers.  He thought they might be hungry tonight.  We need to get some nuts and berries, because Rudy likes them.  Jayden then carefully sprinkled each Casey and Rudy with the magic sprinkles.  He went to bed wondering where he will find them in the morning.

Looks like Casey and Rudy are up to some mischief.  Be sure to follow me on Instagram as I expect I will be sharing some of their elfcapades there.

If you want to get in on Elf Magic then now is the time with a great Cyber Monday deal.

I was provided a magical reindeer this year to help with this fun adventure.  All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced.  

2013 Holiday Gift Guide Museum Tour Toys Plus $30 Gift Certificate Giveaway

I was provided the  below mentioned products in order to provide an honest review

   Often as parents we take our children to experience fun places like museums and science centers.  The excursion is often fun and educational.  As your leaving there is a gift shop that you'd love to purchase your child products from but for what ever reason your not able to.  Maybe they are closed or maybe you just don't have the money.  Later you'd like to get that great product, but don't want to drive down town to just purchase it.  Well, recently I was introduced to Museum Tour and its the place to find all these great products without having to drive across town.

   The Museum Tour website and catalog was developed by a former museum director.  After being an educator and president of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry she realized a need for helping parents find great educational products often found at museums and science centers.  After all parents are a child's first and most important teacher.  The Museum Tour website makes it easy for parents to create fun learning opportunities for their children beyond the museum and science center walls.  They have a large assortment of great educational products.

     I was sent a couple of items to represent what Museum Tour carries.  First we were sent the Ultimate Volcano Kit.  Volcano's are really something that is not easy to teach about since it is not something that many people have seen in real life.  Plus I wanted this item because I thought it would be a fun activity for Jayden and John to do together.  My husband has been working over time lately and doesn't get to see the boys much.  They started out with painting the ceramic volcano.  It was so fun watching them paint together and decide what color to put where.  Then they let it sit and dry.  After it was good and dry we used the provided powder and volcano color along with vinegar.  The volcano can be erupted over and over if you want.   The set also includes 3 genuine volcanic specimens (a real geode, obsidian arrowhead, and floating pumice).  It also has an activity booklet that includes some different challenges.

     The second item we received was the Anteater Bug Vac.  Now Jayden is always interested in bugs.  He always wants to capture them.  I knew he's love this product.  It is actually shaped like an anteater and it is a small vacuum that sucks up bugs into its long nose.  Then they fall into the bug cup that is in his belly.  The bug cup is easily removed and even has a magnifying glass on top.  You can use it to observe your captured bugs and then release them again.   This product I had a little trouble with at first.  When I contacted the company they found out that the manufacturer said you have to use specific batteries.  I had never heard of this, but figured it was worth getting the specific batteries.  We received some of the Kirkland brand batteries and honestly I was surprised that the bug vac worked.  I had never heard of certain brands working or not working in products before.  I had been using energizer so not just some random batteries.  Either way the batteries worked.  Jayden went on a bug hunt.  It took a while cause it was getting cold outside, but then he found a small baby cricket.  He quickly vacuumed him up.  It was so easy to use and then his new found bug was in the Anteaters belly.  We removed the bug cup to get a closer look.  The magnifying glass helped to show more details of the bug.  Then after we looked at him some we let him go.  Jayden was then on a hunt for more bugs.  He really is having a great time with this toy.  Now he wants to go bug hunting every night.

     Museum Tour Toys are educational and fun.  With the holidays upon us it is a great time to get those products you saw at the museum or science center, but were unable to before.  They would make great gifts.  Museum Tour Toys has a large selection of great educational products to choose from. You can shop their site by age or by product type.

Buy it: Ultimate Volcano Kit $19.95 and Anteater Bug Vac $19.99

Win it:  One (1) Arizona Mama reader will win a $30 Gift Certificate to Museum Tour Toys.

Enter in the Giveaway Tools form below! This giveaway will be open until 12/15 at 11:59PM (MST).  Open to US.

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Thank you to Museum Tour for sponsoring this post & giveaway

 I was provided the above mentioned products in order to provide an honest review. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced. disclosure

2013 Holiday Gift Guide: Super Duper Games & Stocking Stuffers Plus 15% DIscount Code

 I was provided the above mentioned products in exchange for a review

     I have come to really love products from Super Duper.  They have so many fun and educational games.  Jayden loves to play games and anything to help him educationally is great.  Super Duper was extremely generous and sent us a bunch of products for the holiday gift guide this year.  I am excited to tell you about some of the things we received.

     First up we received the Go for the Dough Board Game.  This is a simple, fun game that targets 6 different learning objectives.  The game includes a game board, Foam dice, 6 foam car game pieces, 480 Dough Dollars, and a booklet with some suggested answers.  First you decide what your objective is for the game and choose those dough dollars.  You can choose from synonyms, categories, rhyming words, multiple meaning, opposites, and definitions.  We started out with rhyming words when we played.  During their turn a  player will pick a dough dollar and find an answer.  In our game we used rhyming words so if the dough dollar said car then we would need to name a rhyming word.  Once we identified a rhyming word we would roll the dice and move that number of spaces (between 1-3).  Then we place out dough dollar int he middle of the board.  The first player that lands on grandma's house gets to pick up all the dough dollars in the middle.  You continue to play as the players go back to the pizza place and back to grandmas house to deliver.  After all the dough dollars are gone each player counts how much money they made and the one with the most wins.  This was a really fun game.  Jayden loved it and I was happy to see him working on his rhyming words.  I was surprised how much he already knew.

     Next we were sent the MagneTalk Meal Time and MagneTalk Telling Time.  Both of these items are based around a magnet board and pieces.  The Meal Time Set includes 48 different food magnets tiles that can be sorted into food groups.  You can then put together a meal with items from each food group.  Jayden had fun sorting the foods, but had the most fun deciding what to put on the plate for me to eat.  The Telling time set includes number tiles and "sentence maker" tiles.  In the Telling Time set your child will learn to tell time using the traditional clock and a digital clock.  So you set one of the clocks and have him or her represent the same time on the other clock.  Children can also make a sentence about the time.  Say the clock is set for a meal time then the child can put a sentence at the bottom that says, " I eat at ___ O'clock in the morning."  There are so many ways to use this board and teach about time.  There are 24 number tiles and 47 make a sentence tiles.

 

    Next we received the Classifying Photo Fish Magnetic Game and Story Prediction Fun Deck.  The Classifying Photo Fish game is sure to be Jayden's favorite.  The set includes 2 11" lightweight fishing rods equipted with a magnet for catching fish.  There are 5 different categories and the players work to catch fish in each of the categories.  There is a 36" X 23" plastic pond for the fist to "swim" in as you are catching them.  It is so fun to go "fishing" while learning.  Children can catch the fish and identify what is on the fish and which category it belongs too.  This game can go on forever with Jayden.  He loves to pretend to fish.  The game also comes in a fun plastic tackle box.  The Story Prediction Fun Deck includes 56 cards to help your child with predicting what will happen next in a story.  Children can read or listen to the short story being read.  They then pick from the list of choices what they think will happen next.  They  use the decoder light to highlight which answer is correct.  The set all comes in a nice tin for storage and travel.  This would be a good game for a road trip to keep kids busy.

     

     The last item we received is a great stocking stuffer idea.  It is called an electronic spinner.  This is a great stocking stuffer for anyone that loves games.  Jayden loves to play games and we have so many of them.  Many games require a spinner to decide how many spaces to move.  The spinners are easily broken since they are made from cardboard.  With the electronic spinner you can replace those broken spinners and have one that makes sounds and lights up.  You can turn the sound off if you wish.  This is going to be great for replacing some of our game spinners.

     So it almost goes without saying that Super Duper has lots of great educational and fun games for your little one.  There are many games for children with a speech delay, but all the games are fun and educational for everyone.  Make sure you check in with Super Duper tomorrow for Cyber Monday.  I expect they will have some great deals.  Plus remember they always have free shipping on all orders over $20!!

     I also have a 15% off code to use on anything on their site and it is good until December 20!!  Use the code: DHVRBWSV at check out.  

Thank you to Super Duper for sponsoring this post.

 I was provided the above mentioned products in exchange for a review. I was not compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced. disclosure