textbands winners

i admit that i have been a little slow getting to this giveaway. okay, okay, a lot slow!  i apologize for my tardiness.  i feel like i am finally starting to get my life back in order after that crazy strike.  now that we are about to finish up our first full week of classes, i am starting to get a feel for what our lives our going to be like this year--absolutely crazy!!

it makes me feel happy and a little less crazy to be able to give things away.  the winners of the text bands packages are...

amy!  yay!

and...

...lili!  yay!

 i can't wait to hear what crazy combinations your kids come up with!

winx club fairy doll flies into our home

as the big kids and i sorted out new school supplies, lilianna felt a little left out of the festivities.  it seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce her to a winx club fairy. 

i haven't heard of winx club previously, but it turns out that wins club is a  new nickelodeon show: "an animated modern fantasy series that follows six best friends – bloom, stella, flora, musa, tecna and aisha – enrolled in alfea college, the finest fairy school in all the realms. when trouble arises, the winx club members transform into beautiful fairies who use their unique magical powers to fight villains and save the world from evil. 

"now fans of the show can collect all of the fairies and relive the group’s magical adventures with the new line of dolls, play sets and role-play items from jakks pacific and creative designs international. parents and their kids will have the chance to rock out and style their favorite winx club characters including bloom, stella and flora when they ‘come to life’ as part of the all-new doll collection.

"the winx club fashion dolls will feature two different lines, basic dolls and deluxe dolls. the winx club concert collection basic dolls (srp $12.99) feature the winx club in their stylish concert fashions. the winx club deluxe fashion dolls (srp $19.99) feature trend-setting outfits and spectacular wings that showcase the winx club in their beautiful believix transformation, with removable wings that can be worn on all winx club fashion dolls.

of course the three older kids were immediately jealous of lilianna's new 'treasure.'  they've all had a turn to play with her, even tate!  similar to a barbie doll, the wings give the doll an added dimension of fun for the kids.  the wings are (a little too) easily removable.  lilianna takes them off frequently and they are very easy to put back on.  her clothes and boots are easy to take on and off as well.

i haven't seen the show, but i think these dolls are a fun alternative to barbie dolls and have provided hours of enjoyment for my kids already.  i'm pretty sure that more of these dolls will be on at least one christmas list this year!

i received the information and a free sample doll in exchange for writing this review.  regardless, the thoughts and opinions are all mine.

text bands: letting kids express themselves (w/giveaway)

have you ever watched one of those scrolling marquis and wondered what kinds of things you would put up, if you had one of your own?  now your kids can have the chance to express themselves however they like with hallmark's fun new text bands.

similar to a plastic watch, the text bands let you input any message you like (up to 10 characters), and have it scrolling across your wrist.  if you see a friend with a text bands, you can fist bump, high five or shake hands and your will trade messages with each other.  it certainly beats passing notes in class the old fashioned way!  they are available at hallmark gold crown stores ($14.95 for a starter kit).

my girls took theirs to the cubs game last week.  it was a great opportunity for them to think creatively as they figured out various messages to express their own personalities and to send messages to each other.

they are a little bulky for continuous wear, but the girls have had fun with them on longer car trips and at events that don't require their full attention.  i would like to see what happens if some of their friends get them, and they have more friends with whom to share messages.

as if that weren't enough, "hallmark just launched fan mail – a program allowing people to nominate the biggest “belieber” they know, or someone they simply want to thank, congratulate or recognize in a fun way to win a pack of hallmark justin bieber greeting cards and a $5 hallmark gold crown store gift card. the swag will be delivered right to the nominee’s doorstep.

"the selection of cards could include a bieber fever fan kit card, a bieber door hanger or many other well-wishes from the biebs. also inside the package will be a card telling the nominee that they have a secret fan, as well as an online code to unlock the identity of their “fan.”

"for more information or to nominate someone yourself, visit www.hallmark.com/fanmail. the program ends oct. 31, 2012, so there are many opportunities to nominate loved ones.

if you would like to give text bands a try in your family, i have two packs of two bands to give away.  leave me a comment below telling me what message you would like your text band to display.  i will choose a winner on september 17, using random.org.  must be 18 and a usa resident to enter (don't forget to leave your email address so i have a way to contact you!).

i received two text bands from hallmark for my kids to try out for the purpose of this review.  i have also been given the information above and two sets of text bands to give away.  regardless, the thoughts and opinions expressed here are purely my own.