Holiday Gift Guide : Be You With Lottie Doll This Christmas & Giveaway

This review was written my Danielle from Happenings of the Harper Household for our Holiday Gift Guide Event. 

I married into an awesome family- one that values each person and will be there for you no matter what, just because you are family. While I love them dearly, those silly people left me with little chance to birth a baby girl (the last girl born in the family was 60+ years ago!). Good thing I love my boys to the moon and back anyway! So when I had the chance to review a Lottie doll by Arklu, I was a bit out of my element. But when I looked into Lottie further, I knew that this was the doll I would want my own little girl to have (and by the way, my boys LOVED her too).

Meet Lottie, a wholesome doll alternative for girls aged 3-9 with a correctly proportioned body (except for her head) and childlike features (no makeup, high heels, or jewelry, and she can literally and figuratively stand on her own feet). She’s all about letting girls be girls, doing all the activities a child would do, not growing up too quickly, and presenting a healthy view on body image. Lottie embraces the idea that girls can be strong, smart, bold, and powerful, and can essentially do anything a boy counterpart can do in life. In other words, she encourages girls to Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You.

We received a Pirate Queen Lottie to try out at home and see how great she was. And, can I say, I was impressed! The first thing I noticed when I took Lottie out of her box was how different she felt in my hands than a traditional Barbie or Bratz doll. Her skin and hair were much softer, her feet were flat, and she was just over 7 inches tall. She had more of a straight waist, a flat chest, her knees were bendable, and her hips were an actual ball-and-

socket joint. Plus, she comes in a cute, re-usable doll box bag with handles to carry her and her accessories around in.

We also received an extra outfit for Lottie- the gymnast Raising the Bar outfit. I loved how many accessories there were, and my boys had a blast dressing her up with all of the different accessories. Everything was made of brightly colored materials, easy to put on, and had lots of attention to all of the small details. I also noticed that all of Lottie’s clothes were pretty modest compared to some other dolls currently on the market, and that’s something we value in our family.

Reese spent a lot of time playing with Lottie’s soft Saran nylon hair, and attaching different pieces to her outfit like bows, award medals, and pirate logos. Aiden enjoyed trying the different outfits on Lottie and posing her differently around the living room. In fact, Lottie was so much fun for them that they ended up fighting over her and we had to set up a timer system. Boys…

Lottie is available globally in 14 different countries including the US, and can be found on Amazon.com, the Lottie website, or your local neighborhood toy store (in 2014). She has won 15 awards in the US, UK, and Canada, and has the approval of many industry and child development experts.

Lottie dolls make a fun Christmas gift and are affordable with a price of $19.99 per doll and just $9.99 for each accessory kit. You can choose from a variety of smart and savvy professions, outfits, and activities such as Robot Girl Lottie, Butterfly Protector Lottie, Kawaii Karate Lottie, Girls United outfit (soccer), Body Boarder outfit, Raspberry Ripple outfit, Sweet Dreams outfit (pajamas), and even Biscuit the Beagle or Seren the Welsh Mountain Pony accessories set.

Ready for a giveaway? 

Arklu has offered to give one lucky reader a Lottie doll and an additional outfit. Enter the giveaway below and remember to Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You!

The 2013 Mother's Day Gift Guide Event Has Officially Begun

 

Hi, everyone! It's that time of year again when we come together and celebrate amazing moms around the world! Just like last year, Happenings of the Harper Household and Children Teaching Mama have teamed up for our  Annual Mother's Day Gift Guide Event, which features great gift ideas moms are sure to love!

Click Here to take a look at the gift guide and what to see what is in store. From now until Mother's Day, we will be posting reviews of the items in our guide and most of them also include a giveaway! With 12 items in our guide, one will be posted almost every day up until Mother's Day.

Take a look at the guide and let me know which one you are most excited about having a chance to win.

We wish you all good luck and hope you have a wonderful and happy Mother's Day!!

Stork Stack Monthly Baby Gift Box Review & Giveaway

With all of the products available these days, it's hard to know just what to purchase for my little ones! I love trying out new baby items and buying them for friends who have babies. However, something that looks useful or cool often turns out to be just the opposite and we sometimes end up disappointed. Wouldn't it be great if there was a service that sent some great mom-approved baby items every month, all boxed up and ready to try? Well, worry no more about finding the perfect gift for a new or expecting mother, be it for yourself, a friend or family member! Stork Stack is here to help!

My Thoughts
I wasn't sure what to expect when receiving a "Stack" from Stork Stack and, when the box arrived, I couldn't wait to see what we received! I picked out a box for a 1.5-2 year old since they can be customized to fit the baby's age.

The package was nicely wrapped up, just like a gift should be, and Liam wasted no time seeing what goodies he could find for himself.

The Stork Stack included several great items, including:

• 2 Peter Rabbit Organic Fruit Puree pouches (One of Liam's favorites!)
• Lunch board book by Denise Fleming
• Spuds All-Natural Forks & Spoons Set
•  Itzy Ritzy Bento Monkey Lunchbox
• Pure Matters for skin, nails & hair Biotin Supplements

Liam loves reading books, so he immediately went for the board book and started looking at the pictures. Board books are so great for younger kids and last much longer, so this was perfect! He also took out his Peter Rabbit Organics fruit purees and claimed them for himself.

My favorite is definitely the Itzy Ritzy Bento Lunchbox. It is so cute and will be perfect when Liam goes to daycare and preschool, which will be here before long! It's cute, useful and unique. I also love that there was something included just for Mamas. As someone who takes vitamins and supplements, I was excited to receive the Biotin supplements. 

I can honestly say, this is an awesome gift for moms and moms-to-be! They will absolutely love getting a Stork Stack filled with great gifts. This is something I will purchase for friends in the future. It's such a great idea and it saves me from making the mistake of picking out duds at the store. Plus, you will save money, too. Pricing starts at $28 and you will receive items totaling a value of $50+! Need another reason to choose Stork Stack? For every 3 month membership purchased, they donate 1 Stork Stack to a family in need. A 6 month membership ensures 3 Stork Stacks will be given and a 12 month membership includes 6 Stork Stacks to be donated! So, by gifting a membership for yourself, a friend or a family member, your purchase also includes a donation to a worthy cause!

Be sure to follow Stork Stack on Facebook & Twitter to keep up with all the latest news, promotions and more!

Now that you've heard about Stork Stack, would you like a chance to win one?

One Reader Will Receive A Stork Stack Full Of Wonderful Baby & Mama Gifts!

Give The Best Presents This Holiday Season: Shutterfly Photo Books Giveaway 2 Winners US & CA #SFLYphotobook

I am one of those moms who brings a camera everywhere just in case the perfect picture opportunity arises. I take thousands of pictures every year, documenting everything that happens to our little family. This year Josiah turned 5 and started kindergarten while Liam, on the other hand, turned 3 and can recite the entire alphabet! They hit so many milestones and grow up so quickly that I don't want to miss a minute or forget them. Unfortunately, my mom and dad, or Granny and pop as the kids know them, lives three-hundred miles away from us and doesn't get to visit much. However, I have found the perfect gift for them this holiday season: a photo book from Shutterfly!

Liam is such a big boy at 3 years old! He loved his Care Bears cake!

This is such a great way to show, step by step, how much the children have grown and all the fun experiences they've had this year. We have given photo books for other occasions in the past and they are always a hit with grandparents. My mom-in-law sits hers out on her coffee table to show off her grandbabies. I know my parents will enjoy looking at all of the pictures and it will make a perfect keepsake, something they can cherish for many years to come.

Shutterfly Photo Books: The Best Gift Ever for the ones you love!

Will you give photo books to family and/or friends this holiday season? I love Shutterfly's photo book program. It's easy and there are so many options for backgrounds, themes and styles. You can customize the book just the way you want it. The process is not only easy, but fun! I love making photo books.

Ready For A Giveaway? 

Thanks To Shutterfly, Not One, But Two Readers Will Win An 8x8 Hardcover 20-Page Photo Book. Plus, this giveaway is open to US and Canada Residents!!

Sesame Street Toys On Sale NOW

This weekend I am at home supposedly packing for our move coming up very soon, but somehow I landed on the computer and started searching for Christmas presents. I usually purchase just about everything online and more from Amazon.com than any other. That's why I thought I would share some deals with you going on right now.

1.
If you spend $20 on select Sesame Street toys (Liam's favorite), you get $5 off!! That's such an awesome deal. The Sesame Street Lunch Box Play-Doh kit is 30% off right now at only $9.08 and is eligible for free shipping. Pair that with the Sesame Street Super Grover Remote Control that is 40% off and only $11.29 (and free shipping eligible also)! Since you hit $20, you will only end up spending $15.37 total!
*** Right now Amazon checkout is taking $5 off each item you purchase, so I just got both of those toys for only $10.37!!!!!!***


2.  25% Off Fisher-Price Toys - For a limited time, selected Fisher-Price Toys are 25% off. There are some great ones listed, too. Josiah loves the Imaginext toys and there are several on sale. Liam loves Thomas the Train sets and those are also on sale.

Framed Posters Make For A Perfect Gift Idea

I have always loved collecting posters, even as a child. The first poster I remember hanging on my wall was for the movie Dirty Dancing. Unfortunately, I didn't put it in a frame, so after several years it had holes and was completely ruined. I hate to think how much it would be worth today if I would have taken better care of it.

When I was in college, I studied abroad for a semester in Germany. While there we took several weekend trips, including one to Amsterdam! While there I couldn't wait to visit the Van Gogh Museum. Seeing his artwork in person, with all of the amazing detail, was just breathtaking. After walking through the museum I went to the gift shop and noticed several of the famous paintings printed out on posters. Immediately I had a great idea! I could purchase these posters and find wholesale poster frames for them, too. These would make perfect gifts for family members.

I carefully placed the art in a protective tube and the posters traveled with me to several countries. These well-traveled posters safely made their way back to the United States and then I got to work making them into perfect gifts. I quickly realized just how difficult it can be to find the right frames unless you know exactly where to look online, especially when on a budget. Luckily I found some great prices and was able to transform the posters into beautiful gifts. The frames really completed the gifts and I could not wait to give them.

My mom's favorite flowers are roses, so I gave her one of the rose prints by Van Gogh. She loves the print and frame so much that it is now hanging in her bedroom. She is always showing off her poster, telling others all about my trip to Europe and where the poster was purchased. It is so nice to see that my mom enjoys looking at her art and now others can enjoy it, too!

Miss Lucy's Monograms Personalized Overnight Travel Bag Review & Giveaway

During the summer and winter months we seem to do much more traveling than any other time of the year. We go on vacations, usually for the weekend, and visit relatives for special occasions and holidays. For over a year I've just been using a reusable shopping bag for packing our things. I've needed an overnight bag for quite a while and was so excited to work with Miss Lucy's Monograms for a review of the cutest overnight travel bag ever!

About Miss Lucy's Monograms

As a teacher of 33 years, the owner of Miss Lucy's made the decision to retire from the occupation she loved dearly and turned her focus to starting a business selling items she has always loved... monogrammed accessories!   She has always loved the monogram, and when she started miss lucy's monograms her desire was to offer an opportunity for the monogram customer to take part in the creating  and of course, the purchasing,  of fun-loving, classic, personalized  accessories!  From polka dots to damask... to solids... to houndstooth... to zebra...to much more,  our monogrammed accessories have a creative twist and will certainly be a bright, practical addition to any wardrobe!    

My Thoughts

I love everything monogrammed! Little children's outfits, bags, purses... you name it, I love it. That is why I was so excited to work with miss lucy's monograms. The Overnight Travel Bag I received comes in several designs and colors. I love polka dots, so I went for the black and white polka dots bag with my initials in a beautiful pink font. I couldn't wait to receive my bag and when it got here, it was even better than I imagined.

The bag has just enough room to hold items for an overnight or weekend trip. It looks small, but it is actually just very compact and you can put more than you think inside. This way you aren't lugging around a huge suitcase when all you need are a few things on an overnight trip. During the summer, we often take weekend trips as a family because my husband has more vacation time. This is the perfect bag for these trips because I'm able to fit everything I need into the bag and then pack up the kid's items in their own bag.

I actually had to go on a business trip a few weeks ago and decided to use the bag as a computer bag. It was the perfect size for my computer, camera and iPad. This made carrying around all of my necessary electronics much easier. Since that time, the bag has become my computer bag and, when I need it for an overnight trip, I can easily take out the contents and add clothes! Needless to say, I love this bag and want another.

So, who else loves monogrammed items? 

Thanks to miss lucy's monograms, One Lucky Children Teaching Mama Reader Will Also Receive a Monogrammed Overnight Travel Bag In Their Choice of Designs and Colors!

Celebrating Dad Official Giveaway Event Post #CelebratingDad

We love our Dads and husbands! This giveaway event is to celebrate all they do and have done for us over the years. Full Time Mama and Coping With Frugality put together this fun giveaway event and we are so excited it has finally begun!

There are 39 participating blogs, all of them with packages for Dad worth over $25! So, once you enter ours via Rafflecopter below, be sure to use the Linky list at the bottom to hop over to the next blog. There are some awesome prize packages, many of them worth over $100, so don't stop here!

Plus, many of us decided to put together a Grand Prize Package! One Lucky Winner will receive $100 via Paypal. You must click HERE to enter that giveaway.

So, are you ready to see what we have in our package? 

One Lucky Winner Will Receive ALL of the following:

Prize #1:

1,000 Places To See Before You Die

A Book by Patricia Schultz

Description: A book highlighting 1,000 amazing places to visit around the world with 600 beautiful photos included!

Value: $19.95

 Prize #2

$20 Amazon.com Gift Card

Description: This is sponsored by us at Children Teaching Mama. Winner can pick from a Gift Card sent to your address OR an e-gift card emailed to you!

Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter! The giveaway event ends on June 10th. A winner will then be chosen, emailed and announced via the Rafflecopter form! The winner will have 48 hours to respond. If no response is received, another winner will be picked. Good Luck!

Luna B. Tee Review & $20 Gift Credit Giveaway

When I was younger, I loved shopping for myself and I still do, but more than anything I love buying new cute clothing for my kiddos. I get so excited when I find a shop, online or in town, that has a variety of goodies I know my boys will enjoy. When I saw a review for Luna B. Tee, I was immediately drawn in to their adorable collection of personalized apparel. From shoes and dresses to t-shirts and lunchboxes, they have many great gift ideas and items children and parents alike will love.

About Luna B. 

Sport your name & personality in "living color" with our custom printed personalized T shirts in short & long sleeves by Luna B. Tees. With vibrant graphics printed on 100% ring-spun cotton, we have totally unique designs for babies, toddlers, girls, boys, and even moms & dads.

 Our unique, personalized baby gifts will show how much you care and make wonderful keepsakes from these precious times. Shop for your family and get personalized gifts for birthdays, bridal and baby showers, Christmas, or any special event.

My Thoughts
I have to admit, I had a tough time deciding on only one t-shirt to review! There were so many adorable t-shirts for both boys and girls, but I finally picked a personalized birthday number shirt called The Texan! Josiah's 5th birthday was just yesterday, so I knew he would get a kick out of his own personalized t-shirt. He was so proud to be a "big boy", turning 5 years old!

One thing I absolutely love about Luna B. Tee is that you can not only personalize the shirts with names, but you can choose different colors to fit your little one's personality. I choose blue and green for Josiah, two of his favorites and it looked adorable. I followed the sizing chart on the website and got the size 6 shirt, which fit perfectly. The shirt was beyond cute and also one of the softest shirts Josiah has. It is a higher quality, thick shirt; something I look for in clothing for them because I want them to be durable and last for quite a while.

Mr. Personality!

The first time he wore the shirt was at his birthday party last weekend. Josiah proudly wore his shirt around, showing everyone how old he was turning by pointing. It was so funny! He also wore it yesterday on his actual birthday. He loves this shirt and I know he'll be showing it off for months to come! Liam's birthday is coming up in September, so I have a feeling I'll be purchasing a t-shirt for him as well! They also have gifts for men, so you could get a Father's Day present, too!

Ready for a giveaway?

Savemore.com Daily Deals $11 Freebie Today

 SaveMore.com is offering up an $11 voucher to AlwaysFits.com (they sell creative and unique gifts) for ONLY $5 (note that the value of the voucher may also be applied towards shipping). You’ll find this offer in the National Online Deal listed in the upper right sidebar. Even better, SaveMore.com is still offering up a FREE $10 credit whenever you go here and sign up for a new account! That means that the $11 voucher to AlwaysFits.com will be totally FREE with your $10 new member sign up credit! And AlwaysFits.com has quite a few items priced under $11, so FREE with the voucher! You can also buy a $25 voucher for $12, which, with your $10 credit for signing up would be only $2! Totally worth it for these very cute items on there!


Fine Print: Expires October 15, 2011. Shipping not included in voucher, but value of the voucher may be applied towards shipping costs. Redeem online at AlwaysFits.com. Limit one voucher for yourself or as a gift.

Thanks Hip2Save!

Plastic Jungle Offers The Perfect Father's Day Gift Cards At Discount Prices

Father's Day is coming up on June 20th and will be here before you know it. If you are anything like me, you procrastinate about getting a present and then, at the last minute, you scramble to get something. This year, why not put a little forethought into your gift? Give your husband or Dad something you know they will like at discounted prices!

Plastic Jungle is the largest secured gift card exchange site and, with hundreds of merchants to choose between, you are sure to find the perfect gift card for Father's Day! Even better, you can save up to 35% off AND get you will get FREE shipping. Plastic Jungle also offers other features, including replacing lost or damaged gift cards. If you do end up procrastinating, no worries because Plastic Jungle also offers an eCODE option for fast delivery and online use!

Does your Dad like Home Depot, Best Buy or Outback? Those are just a few of the gift card choices you have at Plastic Jungle. Personally, I would go for a Borders gift card!

What more could you really ask for?

I know! At Plastic Jungle, you can not only purchase gift cards at discount prices, but you can also sell your unused gift cards! Just enter your gift card information and you'll receive an offer from Plastic Jungle up to 92% of the gift card value. You can exchange your gift cards for Paypal credit OR Amazon.com credit! So, make a little money and spend a little money for your Father's Day present. Easy peasy!

Which gift card would your Dad like?

Red Envelope Review and &50 Giveaway

I have been a fan of Red Envelope for many years and was so excited to work with them on a review.
What is Red Envelope? An online store featuring unique and personalized gifts perfect for any and every occasion. Red Envelope ensures their products are not only of exceptional quality, but also exclusive, meaning you will not find many of the items anywhere else.

You can order via catalog or online to make ordering easy and hassle-free. You can even request a free catalog by clicking HERE. Be it Valentine's Day, Christmas, or a baby shower, Red Envelope really has you covered. Personalized gifts make for a wonderful keepsake present, especially for babies and first-time parents. Take a look today and fall in love with Red Envelope!

My Thoughts

I look around Red Envelope all the time just for fun and had actually just purchased my husband a Valentine's Day present right before this review. As I may have mentioned in the past, he is super-difficult to buy for and I never know what to get him, but when I saw the Sliders Mini-Burgers Set, I knew he'd love it. Yes, indeed he did and couldn't wait to make full use of it!

For the review, I chose the Family Keepsake Quilt, which is a quilt displaying a tree with 12 picture pockets to display your family beautifully and uniquely! As the quilt is cotton and very soft, I still haven't decided if I want to hang it in our cabin or use it as a couch throw. It's a great keepsake, displaying our family name on the bottom, too.

In order to make hanging easier, there is actually a pole pocket already provided in the quilt so, no bothering with extra sewing or trying to get it to stay up correctly! Home decorating is very simple with Red Envelope. I was very surprised at the quality of the quilt and how bright and beautiful the fall colors are. It is the perfect decoration to liven up any living room or family room area.

Buy It

Purchase the Family Keepsake Quilt On Sale Today For Only $49.99 & Use Code: 10OFFRED for an additional 10% off your purchase! What a deal!

Win It

Thanks to Red Envelope, One Children Teaching Mama Reader Will Win A $50 Gift Card! Thanks Red Envelope!

How To Enter

Take A Look Around Red Envelope and Comment Below About What You'd Like To Buy!

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Plenty of opportunities to increase your chance of winning! This Giveaway is open to US Residents and Ends April 27th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn by random.org. An announcement will be made on the blog and the winner will also be contacted by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.