3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires: Holiday 2010

Showing posts with label Holiday 2010. Show all posts

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Merry Christmas from 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires!

I know it's Christmas morning and many of you may be busy opening gifts with your families, but I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I hope you are spending it with someone you love. If not, I hope you have warm memories of past Christmases that bring you joy.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday!

"Our Three Garnets"

This is a tree ornament our nearly 7 year old son made. It is a group portrait of himself and his little brother and sister. Can't you see the resemblance? . . .

Holiday 2010 Review: Kung Zhu (Nintendo DS Game)

The Zhu artifacts, which the Kung Zhu Warriors have sworn to protect, have been stolen and it’s your mission to find them to restore peace and serenity to the city of Zhu. All your favorite Kung Zhu Warriors are included in this action packed, amazingly fun Kung Zhu game. My 9 year old Zhu Zhu Pet lover, Avery, has had a blast playing this exciting game for the Nintendo DS. Avery loves that you can “level up” your warrior and he loves battling the opposing tribe, called the Skull Tribe. You can also learn combo moves, quick moves, and even silly, special moves all with great visual effects.

(Click any image to enlarge)

This game is sure to entertain any Zhu-lover in your life who is old enough to understand mildly complicated games. As an added bonus, it came with a limited edition Kung Zhu pet named Tull, which both my boys have had a blast playing with.

Kung Zhu for the Nintendo DS can be bought now at most major retailers including Walmart and Amazon.com. The gift version includes the limited edition hamster and retails for $34.99.

Thank you to Activision for providing a complimentary product sample to base this review upon.

Holiday 2010 Giveaway: Get It All Done With These Time-Saving Tips ($50 GC) [CLOSED]

You may think that the holiday bustle ends on December 24th, but it really does not. Holiday parties continue for those who cannot get together by Christmas Day and plans for New Year celebrations follow. Not to mention the crowds of people exchanging gifts and taking advantage of post-holiday sales. So what can you do to make it through the last two weeks of the year without becoming overly stressed about time? Here are a few things you can do that actually take a few extra minutes, but will save you time in the long run . . .

1) Use MapQuest to map out a less-traveled route for wherever you are going. We live near a very highly populated retail area. Even if we are just going to visit friend's, traffic is always a huge factor. If we do not plan ahead, we will very likely be late to arrive at our destination.

2) Delegate some of your responsibilities. Instead of trying to be super-human, ask for help from your spouse and your children. If you need to, you can ask for help from a relative for one afternoon or hire a responsible teenager you know to help you with some chores or to watch your children, so you can get all these extra holiday-related tasks done.

3) Take advantage of in-store pick-up offered by many retailers. Many retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Sears, and Best Buy, offer online ordering with in-store pick-up. Not only is this a great way to avoid shipping charges, but you do not have to wait through a check-out line. Rather you just go to a special pick-up area with your receipt, where the line is usually much shorter.

4) Sign up for online banking to keep track of your finances. Before I leave to go shopping, I always check my account balances online. If I need to, I can make an instant transfer, so that I have enough money in my debit card account to shop. If you have web access on your mobile phone, then you can even do this right from your cell phone while away from the house.

Visit BankOfAmerica.com or Bank of America on Twitter to find more great tips about saving time and streamlining your finances.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Bank of America and received a Bank of America preloaded gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate. This contest is hosted and fulfilled solely by 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a $50 Bank of America gift card.

Limitations:

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Leave a comment telling me one way you save time during the last two weeks of the year. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.
2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) For 5 extra entries, use the Bank of America locator to tell me how many Bank of America Branches & ATMs are in your state. Remember to leave TEN separate comments with your answer.

4) For 1 extra entry each, if you are a Friend of mine on Facebook and/or if you have "liked" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 1 extra entry, follow Bank of America on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile. (The extra entry for "liking" BOA on Facebook has been removed because it was not the official Facebook page of the brand. All extra entries completed prior to 9:16am EST on December 21st, 2010 will still be valid entries.)

6) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)

Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, January 3rd, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Family Fun with Hot Chocolate & Gingerbread Houses

Less than a week before Christmas, we decided to it would be fun to spend some family time together. The children are so excited about Santa coming, that I think they are going to burst. We try very hard to teach the children that the holidays are not just about toys, but also about giving to others and being together with family. This year we adopted an angel from an online Angel Giving Tree. Yesterday, we visited my in-laws, but I also want to create some special holiday memories with just our little family beyond Christmas morning.

We started off with The Polar Express Instant Hot Chocolate, which came in a gift pack of 4 varieties from BJ's Wholesale Club. The twins opted for chocolate milk, but our oldest son and I were looking forward to this gourmet hot chocolate. He selected the White Chocolate, but I was anxious to try the Peppermint. Our son very much enjoyed his, but I think it was extremely rich and he could not finish the whole cup. Of course, he might have been full from all the marshmallows he had. He always asks for them on the side, which I have never understood. I absolutely loved the Peppermint hot chocolate . . . so much so that I think it may make it on my favorite products of 2010 list!

I had purchased mini gingerbread house kits from our local Five Below store . . . one for each child. Then I received this gorgeous Lyndon Reede Gingerbread House Kit during last month's BJ's Wholesale Club event. This made the activity even more fun because my husband and I had a house to decorate too. This kit came with a gingerbread tree, as well. The candy that was included was top of the line, especially the decorative gum drop Santa Claus and Snowman.

The children were anxious to eat our creations, so I had to take a photo of our little gingerbread neighborhood before it was devoured . . .

Thank you to BJ's Wholesale Club for providing complimentary product samples for our family activity.

Review: SlapWear Watches by So-Mine For Adults or Kids

I don’t know about you, but I have very fond memories of the slap bracelet craze of the 80’s. I was in elementary school when they became popular and I remember begging my mom to buy me some. A few weeks ago, my 9 year old son, Avery, came home with a slap bracelet that he’d traded a silly band for at school and it took me back to being in elementary school myself. Since that initial slap bracelet, Avery has been begging me for more. That’s why when I was given the opportunity to review a Slap Watch from SlapWear, I jumped at the chance. My model for the watch is my 5 year old nephew, Jevinn, because I’m trying to save this for a Christmas present for Avery.

This watch is very well made with a silicone band that provides comfort and security while wearing. It’s available in 8 colors and the watch face and band are interchangeable, so they can be customizable. One size fits all, they are stainless steel backed, and the battery is replaceable, so it will last a long time. I really can’t find anything negative to say about this watch. It is stylish, unique, fun, and very well made. I know that Avery is going to love it and I think any child would.

You can buy a So-Mine SlapWear Slap Watch on MySlapWear.com. It retails for $19.99, which includes first class USPS shipping.

Thank you to SlapWear for sending us a complimentary product sample to base this review upon.

Holiday 2010 Review: Cascades Boutique Eco-Friendly Christmas Trees

Unique, beautiful, and fun would be the best way to describe the recycled cardboard Christmas tree I received from Cascades Boutique. This rare eco-friendly Christmas tree can be summed up in one word from my 3 ½ year old son, “Awesome”.

Upon arrival, I was shocked to find out how heavy the box was. I was expecting regular cardboard, but this is very strong, sturdy cardboard that will undoubtedly last a long time. Popping the perforated pieces out from the cardboard was, by far, the worst part of this tree. It popped out easily, but did take some elbow grease and gave me several paper cuts. This part of the process only took five minutes or so, and was totally worth the paper cuts because of how much I love this tree.

Putting it together was a snap and I had it all together within a couple minutes, thanks to the video on their site. Once together it stands about 4 feet tall. We were all in awe of its beauty, even when it was plain white. I decided to decorate it with hand prints that I can add to every year and I let the kids paint the cardboard “ornaments” that belong on it. I think the result is stunning and so unique. I have gotten many compliments on it, and it’s only been up for a few days.

If you are looking for an eco-friendly, one-of-a-kind Christmas tree, check the Cascades Boutique. They have several designs and sizes of trees to fit any budget or need and you won’t be disappointed. This particular Moderno design costs $37 for the solid white and the solid green or $40 for the printed, and is definitely worth it. I plan on reusing mine for years to come.

Thank you to Cascades for providing us with a complimentary product sample to base this review upon.

Stocking Stuffers 2010: Hasbro Spider-Man & Transformers Action Figures

No holiday stocking for an early grade school-aged boy is complete without at least one action figure. Hasbro has lots of new ones this year priced at $9.99 or less in the Transformers, Spider-Man, and Star Wars brands.

One of the newest lines for Transformers is the Transformers Power Core Combiners. This new assortment is for the collector and the builder. Each of the figures in the 2-pack combine, but you can also combine figures from multiple packs to create larger robots. The 2-packs retail for $9.99 each, but there are also 5-packs available for $19.99 each. This line of Transformers is recommended for ages 5 and up and comes with complete instructions. The set we received featured Smolder and Chopster.

One super hero who is always a hit in our house is Spider-Man. There is a huge variety of Spider-Man action figures available starting at $6.99 . We received the Web-Slinging Spider-Man, which is recommended for ages 4 and up. This particular figure was perfect for our nearly 4 year old son. It does not have multiple small parts like some figures. The suction cups work well on windows, the refrigerator, laminate tabletops and counter tops to prompt imaginative play.

If you are shopping for siblings, do not feel you need to purchase figures from the same line. My boys have no qualms about combining similarly-sized figures from different brands in their pretend play scenarios.

You can see all the available Hasbro action figures on Hasbro.com and HasbroToyShop.com . Of course you can find Hasbro figures at your local ToysRUs, Wal-Mart, Target, and most places where Hasbro toys are sold.

Thank you to Hasbro for providing us with complimentary product samples to base this review upon.

Holiday 2010 Review: Leapster Explorer Camera and Video Recorder

One thing our nearly 7 year old son has been anticipating for many months is the release of the LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Camera and Video Recorder attachment. This little gadget plugs into the bottom of your existing Leapster Explorer and enables the device to be used as a digital camera for kids. For just $24.99, this attachment not only turns the Leapster Explorer into a camera, but it also can record video, as well.

From what I have experienced in the past with children's digital cameras, my expectations about the photo quality produced by this product were not high. Although I do think that this camera would work best outdoors or with very bright indoor lighting, I was pleasantly surprised by both the photo and video quality. You can see a brief demonstration in the video below . . .

The ability to take photos and record videos is only part of this gadget's appeal. The software that accompanies it is all self-contained. Your child can draw with the Leapster Explorer pen right on the touch screen to add elements to photos. Other special effects capabilities are stretching and stamping on photos, as well as adding themes and turning someone from a photo into a character within learning games.

With the attachment, the Leapster Explorer can hold up to 1000 photos. Our photos and video were taken with moderate indoor lighting. I found that the photo quality produced was much more clear and less grainy than the other children's digital cameras we have owned in the past. The video camera function does not seem to keep up well with quick movement, but other than that, I was pretty happy with the video quality for a children's toy.

If you are gifting a Leapster Explorer to a child this holiday or your child already owns one, then I highly recommend that you consider adding this camera attachment to his or her gifts. It significantly added to the value and the enjoyment of the Leapster Explorer for my son. We have owned other children's digital cameras that have disappointed both him and myself in the past. They ended up sitting collecting dust. That will not be the case with the Leapster Explorer Camera and Video Recorder.

To learn more about this product, visit Shop.LeapFrog.com, where you can purchase this and other LeapFrog products. You can also find this item on Amazon.com, where it is eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping.

Thank you to LeapFrog for providing us with a complimentary product sample to base this review upon.

Giveaway & Review: Crayola Fun For Rainy & Snowy Days [CLOSED]

If you are seeking out the perfect gift for the child who has everything, here are some great gift ideas from Crayola that range from $5 to $30 . . .

The first gift idea is a box of classic Crayola crayons. These are not just any crayons. When you see Crayola crayon packages specially marked with the Crayola Story Studio Bonus, you will find a code inside the box which gives you 6 months of full access to the Crayola Story Studio.

On Story Studio, you can turn your child's photo into a 2-dimensional coloring page character. After the software generates the character, you can adjust the features to make your character just right. Here are the ones I made of my 3 children . . .

After the characters are made, you can put them into stories with different themes. Below is a 6-page story I printed out of my oldest with a racing theme. He was able to customize some of the elements in his story and the story reads with his name as the main character.

You can find specially marked boxes of Crayola crayons for as low as $5. To me, the hours upon hours of enjoyment my 3 children will experience from having full access to the Crayola Story Studio is worth ten times that.

Here are more unique gift ideas from Crayola . . .

The Crayola Model Magic Presto Dots ($19.99) give children a new way to use modeling compound. Although Crayola Model Magic is safe for children 3 years old and up, this particular set is recommended for ages 5 years and older because of the skills required to create a Presto Dots sculpture.

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The Crayola Wonder Sound Studio ($29.99) adds a new element of fun to drawing with the mess-free Crayola Wonder markers. With this board, your child can add sound effects to various areas of their artwork, so that you will hear that sound when the area is pushed or even colored upon. This product is recommended for children 3 years and older.

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The Crayola Explosion Spin Magic ($19.99) uses a special activator to make your child's artwork glow in the dark. Then there are two ways to create a cool spinning display . . . like a mobile or a lantern. This product is recommended for ages 6 years and up.

To learn more about these and other unique Crayola products, visit Crayola.com or Crayola on Facebook, where for a limited time you can gain access to exclusive product coupons.

Thank you to Crayola for providing complimentary product samples through MyBlogSpark for us to base this review upon and for providing additional products for our contest prize.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a Crayola Prize Pack (ARV $74) containing the following . . .

Glow Explosion Spin Magic
Mess Free Color Wonder Sound Studio
Model Magic Presto Dots
64ct Crayola Crayons w/Bonus Studio Story Access Code

Limitations:

How to Gain Entries:

Browse the selection of Crayola products offered by the Crayola Store. Then leave a comment telling me the name of one product your child would love (aside from the 4 featured in this article). You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

3) For 10 extra entries, register yourself on Crayola.com. Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments telling me you did.

5) For 1 extra entry each, follow Crayola on Twitter and/or "Like" Crayola on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook profile.

6) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9) Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)

Random Drawing:

Good luck in the drawing!