11/30/11: Lovable Labels Review and Giveaway

CONTEST CLOSED:  CONGRATULATIONS EMILY!
I love seeing Moms who find a problem that needs solving based on their own experience and develop a solution to fix it.  Lovable Labels was born exactly from that reason.  It all started with a Mom who had a child entering daycare and had to label all belongings.  We all have had this experience.  Either it is school, camp, daycare or somewhere that you are asked to label your children's belongings.  This can become a tedious task.  Lovable Labels is a super cool and durable solution to this issue!

"Don't lose it, label it!" is there motto.

Lauren's Super Cool Lunch Box.  Read on for a chance to win!

I was fortunate enough to receive the Holly Jolly Holiday Pack!  It includes all the essentials.  Wrapped in a pretty red foil package, the recipient will receive 15 Multi-Purpose Stickers, 40 Slimline Labels, 12 Shoe Labels, 24 Press N' Stick Clothing DOTS (6 Large, 6 Medium and 12 Small) and 2 Mini-Metal Tags. Everything you need to cover the basics and more!

What a super cute gift for anyone on your holiday list.  You can even customize them with a little label image.  My daughter chose a ballerina.  Here is the MiniMetal tags.

It also looks so cute on her Dance Bag.

Or her backpack.

I don't know about your children but Lauren loves to add lots of tags to her backpack.

The stickers are super cute.  They can be added to anything.  We put one on her folder.

As a child I know with the name Gilda I could never find any personalized items with my name on it.  Now I would have had no problem with these.  These ones are adorable for shoes.

Or these that stick on clothes.  This would work perfectly with all the extra clothes you need to send to daycare or camp. 

As you can see there are plenty in this package.  Lauren was loving it.

Give Lovable Labels some love:Check out their Lovable Labels Website

Like the Lovable Labels Facebook Page

Follow them on twitter:  @MyLovableLabels

Check out their blog:  http://lovablelabelsblog.com/

Here is how to enter to win some Lovable Labels:

1 entry for each item:

- Comment here on this post on what items you would label first with Lovable Labels.  (comment section at the bottom). Note if you are logging in anonymously please include your email so I can contact you. Also if you have problems, just Preview the comment and it should work. Make sure you see comment posted.

Additional Entries:

- Subscribe to Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog (and verify the subscription to be valid) and leave a separate comment that you did.

- Subscribe via Google Friend Connect to Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog (on the Right hand side)

- Already a subscriber (thank you) then leave a comment stating you are

- Share this link on your Facebook page and leave a comment here stating you did.

- Follow me on Twitter @galiberti If you already follow me, just leave a comment here that you are a Follower.

- Follow Lovable Labels on Twitter @mylovablelabels and leave a comment here that you are a follower. 

- Tweet this Giveaway (you can do this daily): Win Lovable Labels from @galiberti.  Don't lose it, label it!  http://bit.ly/s38hoq #Giveaway @mylovablelabels

Contest closes Saturday, December 10th, 2011.  US only.

Winner will be chosen by Random.org.

Disclosure: I received these Lovable Labels in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received.

11/30/11: Prima Princessa Presents Sleeping Beauty Review and Giveaway

CONTEST CLOSED:  CONGRATULATIONS BARBARA!
There is a wonderful line of DVDs where Prima Princessa (an animated little ballerina fairy) teaches young children about ballet steps and explains a live performance of Ballets featuring the London England's world famous Royal Ballet live at the Royal Opera House.  You may have read my earlier post on "Prima Princess Presents the Nutcracker" and I thought I would now share a newly released DVD Prima Princessa Presents Sleeping Beauty and offer you another chance to win this wonderful DVD that would be a great holiday gift for any little girl on your list.  Lauren's last birthday party was at her Dance School where they did Ballet and of course she takes Ballet so this was great reinforcement of some of the complex names Ballet steps have. 

My little ballerina.

The video was adorable and 60 minutes long.  Lauren and Evan got in to the video.  Evan is now taking Hip Hop so he has a little bit of an interest in dance.  He even tried a plie or two.  At one point Fred our Shetland Sheepdog got in to it as there were dogs playing chase to illustrate chasse.

Lauren practicing with the girls.

She loved the music, and I loved how there was a little narration through the video of what was going on in the Nutcracker which features England's world famous Birmingham Royal Ballet.  Plus periodically it would go to little dance lessons.  The video is only $6.99 and would make a great stocking stuffer.

As one of my lucky readers you can win a copy here! See more details below.

If you don't win you can buy it on Amazon here and at http://www.primaprincess.com/ and in-stores at ToysRus Wegmans, Krogers in Louisiana and Texas, and Albertsons.
After the show there are extras including a tea party and crafts! Prima Princessa Presents Sleeping Beauty is a show your child will want to watch over and over again. Airing on select PBS stations during the spring and summer.  Also on the Prima Princessa Website you can find a ballet dictionary, ballet coloring pages, preschool games, ballet number and alphabet games for kids, ballet tutus, and listings of ballet schools nationwide.  

Here is how to enter to win this DVD:

1 entry for each item:

- Comment here on this post on who you would like to give the Prima Princessa Sleeping Beauty DVD to.  (comment section at the bottom). Note if you are logging in anonymously please include your email so I can contact you. Also if you have problems, just Preview the comment and it should work. Make sure you see comment posted.

Additional Entries:

- Subscribe to Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog (and verify the subscription to be valid) and leave a separate comment that you did.

- Subscribe via Google Friend Connect to Evan and Lauren's Cool Blog (on the Right hand side)

- Already a subscriber (thank you) then leave a comment stating you are

- Share this link on your Facebook page and leave a comment here stating you did.

- Follow me on Twitter @galiberti If you already follow me, just leave a comment here that you are a Follower.

- Follow Prima Princessa on Twitter @TutuZone and leave a comment here that you are a follower. 

- Tweet this Giveaway (you can do this daily): Win a Prima Princessa Sleeping Beauty DVD from @galiberti.  http://bit.ly/uWxVgC #Giveaway @TutuZone

Contest closes Wednesday, December 7th, 2011.  US only.

Winner will be chosen by Random.org.

Disclosure: I received the Prima Princessa Presents Sleeping Beauty DVD in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received.

11/27/11: Edaville Festival of Lights Fun

We love going to Edaville every year for Festival of Lights.  We go every year and were so disappointed last year when we thought they might close, luckily they are still open for business and better than ever.  They have Polar Express Train rides and the Festival of Lights this year.  Check out their website or Facebook page for times, prices and details.  Here is our annual picture on the Train.

 Here the kids are on the earlier train during the day.  On Saturday they are open at 2, so we decided to get there early.  I am glad that we did as the lines for the train got long later in the day.  Though we did realize with 2 trains running the line moved very quickly.

 Daytime view.

 

 Evan checking everything out on the train.

 Lauren checking out everything.

And of course you have to go to see Santa.  We had a very short line which was nice. 

The little girl in front of us in line was seeing Santa for the first time.  It broke my heart to find out that she asked Santa for a new heart as she had numerous open heart surgeries.  Really put things in perspective and realize how truly lucky we are.

Evan looking cute.

Lauren liked this Gingerbread Girl.

Hanging out with the reindeers.

Here the kids are with their good buddies.  I grew up with their Mom as my neighbor since I was 3 and we are still best friends now..

Checking out the lights.

Of course my camera can't capture it well.

And of course the kids have to ride some rides.

What another wonderful trip to Edaville.  Can't wait to go again soon.

Disclosure:  Tickets were provided to me for review purposes of Festival of Lights.  No other compensation was received.

11/26/11: ZooLights at the Stone Zoo

We have fun each year going to the Stone Zoo during all the seasons.  We love their ZooLights event.  We go every year, here is last year's post.  I don't remember this in past years, but this year they had a reindeer you could take your picture with.  Look how cute.

The Zoo is all adorned for the holidays.

The kids checking out the decorations.

 You start down the path and can see some animals along the way along with the lights.  I really liked this super cute monkey.

 Then you can go to Santa's Castle.  Santa is there for pictures and there is a path to walk through with lights and cool decorations.  Evan especially likes the big area of tracks with numerous running trains.

 Decorations.

 The pretty lights.

 Go to their website for tickets. 

More about the display:

This winter wonderland attracts thousands of visitors each year who get into the holiday spirit by strolling along tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling lights. Upon entering the Zoo, guests will visit Yukon Creek, which not only features dazzling holiday lights but is also home to bald eagles, a North American porcupine, a gray fox and reindeer. Children will want to make sure they visit with Santa, who awaits their arrival in Santa’s Castle. Jolly Old St. Nick will be available for photos through Dec. 23. After visiting with Santa, enter a magical holiday world filled with fairy tale characters and dancing plush animals.

ZooLights opens Thursday, November 24 (Thanksgiving) and runs through Sunday, January 1, 2012. ZooLights is open 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. and is closed on December 25.

 And if you aren't worried enough about the holidays, here is a countdown!  Wow this year has flown.

Disclosure:  The Stone Zoo provided passes to the Zoo.  No other compensation was received.

11/26/11: Dub Garage Blazerz - Holiday Gift Guide Toy for Boys

Adding to my Holiday Gift Guide is a fun toy for any boy on your list called Dub Garage Blazerz.  Or as I learned, this could be added for any dog on your list.

The toy is cool that it plays music, lights up and goes forward and backwards.  There are 5 buttons on the top of the car to press for it to to each action.  Here is Evan getting creative with his play.

Here it is in the box.  It does include batteries which is always a plus when you have an impatient child waiting for you to open a toy.

 More info from the Toy State Website about the Blazerz.  Light up the night with DUB Garage Blazerz! This one is all about the light show – headlights, tail lights, underglow lights, hood scoop lights, and even a light-up vehicle interior that shows a dramatic cityscape through the windows! Signature DUB Edition vehicle styles are fitted with motorized forward and reverse driving action, great music, realistic vehicle sounds and fun vocal phrases. But, the star of this show is the lights. Lights, lights, and more lights! Turn on the hip hop beats and watch Blazerz glow!

 Evan having fun with it riding it all around the house.

 Fred our dog was very intent on this car following it around and barking at it. It was pretty funny to watch.

Disclosure:  This toy was received for review purposes.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions are my own.