I always say that you can tell how old someone is by asking them what their favorite Disney Movies were as a child.  If they say Snow White, Cinderella, or Sleeping Beauty – you know you’re dealing with someone a bit older.  But if they say Aladdin, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, or, my personal favorite Beauty and the Beast, then I know I’m dealing with someone who is close in age.

It’s funny how experiences that I treasured as a child have come back around full circle so that I can share them with our two kids.  I can very vividly remember sitting in the theater watching Beauty and the Beast at age 9 – falling in love with the music, the story, and of course – that yellow dress.  Naturally, at 29 I was totally geeked out to share that same experience with my family – to see the twinkle in my kids eyes as they watched the story unfold.

I’m so thankful to the folks at Disney, who were kind enough to invite the four of us to do just that last Saturday at the El Capitan Theater (the same place that I attended the premiere of Cars 2) in Hollywood.  We didn’t tell them where we were going until we were almost there – and then they kept shouting “We’re going to HOLLYWOOD!”.

I’ll take awesome parents for 500, Alex.

We felt like royalty ourselves when we got to the check-in table and discovered that we were special guests and were allowed to skip the line.  One day, when our kids no longer think I’m cool, I’m going to show them this post as proof that I am, indeed, cool.

Did I mention that Beauty and the Beast has been remastered and is being released in 3D?  We rocked our 3D glasses didn’t we?

What the kids didn’t know was that two very special people were making a surprise appearance at this sneak peek – so imagine how my heart melted when Belle and the Beast waltzed out on stage and I see both of my kids sitting on their knees, stretching out their arms waving and yelling at them with the world’s biggest smiles on their faces.   Belle and the Beast thanked us for coming to see their movie, and then there was a confetti explosion and I thought my kids might explode with excitement themselves.  They were literally bouncing in their seats.  Pure magic.

Before the movie itself started, we got a preview of something that we had been waiting a long time for – Tangled Ever After!  My daughter is the world’s biggest Tangled fan so this was a real treat for her.  She literally giggled throughout the entire short – she loves Pascal especially, and she even told her grandparents about how funny it was on the phone later that day.  My son’s favorite line from Tangled is “They just can’t get my nose right!” and without spoiling anything from you I can tell you that there is a little tribute to that line in the short as well!

We loved every second of Beauty and the Beast in 3D – and it was an amazing experience.  The movie still moves me to tears – I was sniffling at the end of the movie.  Just wait until you see the ballroom scene in 3D – you will be blown away!

Beauty and the Beast 3D hits theaters TOMORROW, January 13th – so be sure and check it out with your kids this weekend!  What a great way to introduce them to the movie that captured our hearts 20 years ago!  By the way, you can like Beauty and the Beast on Facebook for up-to-the moment updates!

Thank you so much Disney for this very special day with my family – we are still talking about it!

PS – Do you watch Modern Family?  We watched Beauty and the Beast in 3D all while sitting a few rows away from “Manny” who is played by Rico Rodriguez.  Kinda awesome!  We also got to see Zachary Levi who is the voice of Flynn  in Tangled.  :)

Yesterday I was in Costco and as I was perusing the vitamin section I hear  the strains of a song I know, all too well, coming from the electronics section –

“Everybody looooook left!  

Everybody loooooooook right!  

Everywhere you looooook I’mmmmmmm

…standing in the spoootttttliiiiiight!”

And right there, in the middle of Costco, I surprised myself and everyone around me by practically shouting Zazu’s line –

“NOT YET!”

Which led to this tweet.

Oh yeah.  I’m totally that girl.

The Lion King has always been my ultimate favorite Disney movie.  I knew every line, every song, every word to this movie (and apparently still do).  I even had the soundtrack.  It didn’t hurt, of course, that I was 11 years old with a huge crush on Jonathan Taylor Thomas (who is the voice of Simbaa).

Then of course there is the very cool connection of my cousin, Ernie Sabella, being the voice of Pumbaa in the movie.  Not that he knows me, or anything, but related we are.  And at 11 years old?  That made me like, totally cool.

Of course, The Lion King has just been re-released in theaters in 3D, but as of yesterday, October 4th, it’s also available as The Lion King: Diamond Edition on Blu-ray 3D & Blu-ray Hi-Def Combo Pack.  You can save $5 on your purchase with the coupon below (click the image to be redirected)!

And of course, the folks at Disney always have such fun items to go along with each release – I love these Fun Food Ideas (featuring Pumbaa, of course!).

And these coloring and activity pages (which are always such a hit in our house!).

So, if you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend with your kids, try out some of these fun food ideas and then pull up a tub of popcorn and pop in The Lion King.  I know we will be. (And I’ll try not to annoy the kiddos by singing every single line, but hey – I’m not making any promises.)

Oh yeah baby, you read that right.

Jem and the Holograms: The Truly Outrageous Complete Series is going to be available on DVD beginning October 11, 2011.

When I received the email telling me this very fact, I responded exactly like this…

O

M

G

When I was a little girl, Jem was my ABSOLUTE favorite show.

I can still sing the theme song.

You pretty much just made my month.  And I’m not even kidding.

I would love to share Jem with my little girl, and share my obsession (and hidden rock-star dreams – pre Hannah Montana days, of course) with my readers.

I’d love a review copy of the entire Box Set if possible.

You have no idea how happy this makes me.

Thank you!!

Erika

And guess what, y’all?  They sent it to me.  I’m the proud owner of the 11 DVD Box set.  I’m in Jem Heaven.

This is one of those giddy pieces of nostalgia that I want to hold on to forever.  I had no idea I could even find Jem on DVD, much less have the complete series?  Shut the front door.

Remember I said that I could still sing the theme song?  I just tested myself out with this clip while my very kind and patient fiance’ pretended like he didn’t need to plug his ears.  It’s official, I can totally still rock out to this, and sing almost all of the words.  And oh man, lemme tell you, it’s 80′s-tastic, and I’m lovin’ it!

The series “JEM and The Holograms” ran from 1985-’88 in first-run syndication and still boasts a loyal and vocal fan base. It is frequently credited with influencing fashion in the late 1980s and beyond, and launching the careers of female pop-rock stars and music groups.  The series follows Jerrica Benton, whose discovery of Synergy, a powerful computer companion, allows her to transform from co-owner of Starlight Music into rock star Jem.  Teaming with her sister and best friends who form The Holograms, Jem sets out to make their musical dreams come true, even as she battles against the ruthless Eric Raymond and his musical protégés.

This would have been on my Christmas list in a heartbeat this year.  I’m sure there are lots of other 30-40 somethings who would agree with me.  I can’t wait to share Jem in all of her glory with my daughter – I have a feeling she will love it just as much as I do.

You already know that I’m a huge Disney fan, especially classic Disney.  So when I heard that Dumbo was being released on Blu-Ray and DVD in honor of the 70th anniversary, I knew it was something we had to have in our collection.  After all, I’ve been riding the iconic Dumbo ride at Walt Disney World ever since I can remember…and it was especially nostalgic when I got to ride it with a film crew back in January for the Lifetime Moms / Disney Parks Commercial shoot!

This movie is being released for the first time in high-definition, and has been flying off shelves since it’s September 20, 2011 release date.  We have the DVD/2 disc Blu-Ray combo pack, but it is also available as standard definition 1-disc edition, or just a high-definition 1 disc release – so it fits all budgets and preferences.  They all come with quite a few “extras”, such as:

DVD:

• Deleted Scene – “The Mouse’s Tale
• Deleted Song – “Are You a Man or a Mouse?”
• Taking Flight: The Making of Dumbo – A journey back to the origins of the film as everybody’s favorite baby elephant takes wing.
• The Magic Of Dumbo: A Ride of Passage – Witness the excitement and magic of Disneyland’s most popular ride through the eyes of a child.
• Audio Commentary with Pete Docter, Paula Sigman and Andreas Deja
• Sound Design Excerpt from The Reluctant Dragon
• Original Walt Disney Television Introduction

Blu-ray:

Everything on the DVD plus:

• Cine-Explore
• Disney View
• “What Do You See?” Game
• “What Do You Know?” Game
• “Celebrating Dumbo” Featurette
• Animated Short: “The Flying Mouse”
• Animated Short: “Elmer Elephant”

Movie Download (Standard Definition & High Definition Versions):

• Deleted Scene – “The Mouse’s Tale”
• Deleted Song – “Are You a Man or a Mouse?”
• “Celebrating Dumbo” Featurette

Every now and then Lifetime offers to send me a screener for a new show as a part of my role as a Lifetime Mom. Just reading the title for their newest unscripted show (that means “reality show”, y’all) Glamour Belles made me giddy.  The title pretty much told me I all needed to know – I’d love it.  For those of you not as convinced – here’s the recipe for Glamour Belles.

1 hearty dose of a hilarious Southern woman named Paige, who owns Joann’s, a dress shop

Add a dash of her mother, Joann, the store’s original owner, who has a penchant for leopard print

Mix in Jared, the store manager and the man that Paige calls her “gay work husband”

Top with a sprinkle of colorful customers, from brides and beauty queens aged 7-70

And BAM! Glamour Belles.

Trust me.  It will give your current favorite show a run for it’s money.  Warning: don’t watch this show if you don’t like to laugh.

I’ll admit that the night that I sat down to watch the screener I was grumpy.  It was late, my daughter had gone to bed later than expected, and I could feel the weight of several deadlines pressing down upon my shoulders.  By the time it was over, I had tears streaming down my face from laughter and was desperately pushing the menu button on the DVD player remote, hoping to God that there was an extra episode.

There wasn’t.  I have to wait 2 more weeks to see the 2nd episode!  Ack!

Check out the 30 second trailer below if you don’t believe me. It will definitely leave you giggling!

Check out Glamour Belles this Wednesday, April 6th, at 10 pm/ 9 pm CT on Lifetime. Guaranteed to cure all grumpiness.

That’s where Fancast comes in.  It debuted in January 2008 and now has more than 10,000 hours of online video programming; with more than 60,000 videos available, including over 13,000 full-length shows.  That translates into “Erika can watch episodes of Glee at 3 am anytime she wants to.”  Squee!!  Also of note – tons of behind the scenes stuff, gossip, news on what shows are on the brink of cancellation, etc. I enjoy that stuff almost as much as I enjoy watching the shows themselves!

So, if you are looking for a place to catch an episode of one of your favorite shows, or if you are looking for something new to watch – check out Fancast!  Now, if you’ll excuse me…the cast of Glee is singing my name.

Everyone here has a story about how they know a local celebrity.  They sat on a plane next to Robin Roberts, or shopped alongside of Jamie-Lynn Spears in Walmart.  (Please, she counts, ok?)  My story is that my 3rd grade teacher was Harry Connick Jr.’s godmother.  Heck, my best friend Emily from elementary school even dated her son and got to meet him on several occasions, if my 3rd grade memory serves me correctly.

See, the thing is…I don’t really get that excited about Ms. Spears in Walmart, but I’m pretty crazy about Harry.  See how I did that, there?  The whole calling him by his first name thing?  Yeah, that’s how I roll.  I’m sure it wouldn’t creep him out at ALL.

I love him in movies and on TV, but my favorite thing that he does, by far, is make music.  Flat-out incredibly amazing music, if it’s even possible to use that many descriptive thingies in a sentence.

Told ya I was crazy about the guy…I mean, ahem, his music.

Harry (more first name basisness) has just released his newest album, Your Songs, which is a) one of the best collections of familiar songs that I’ve heard in a while and b) really, really good.  I just caught a segment of him on the local news, and he seemed to think this was his 24th album to be released.  TWENTY-FOURTH, PEOPLE.  How many other modern musicians are this prolific?  Not only does the guy sing the most amazing Christmas music that you’ve ever heard (sorry, Bing, it’s nothing personal) but with this album he proves that he sings the classics just as well!

Anyone from New Orleans will immediately hear the influence of the city on the CD, even in these very classic songs.  My favorite track on Your Songs is “Your Song” coincidentally, enough – though “And I Love Her”, “And The Way You Look Tonight” also make me swoon.  Aw heck, the entire album makes me swoon.

If you’re not crazy about Harry, you should be!  Thanks to One 2 One Network I had the opportunity to get a first listen of this album, and now you can too!  One lucky Chic Shopper Chick reader will win a copy of his new album, Your Songs.  To be entered to win, leave a comment below letting me know why you are or want to be crazy about Harry!  You may also tweet about this contest for an additional entry (by clicking the little button at the top of this page!)

PS – Already crazy about Harry?  Then go check out some of the behind the scenes stuff that led up to making this album!

Contest ends October 15th, 2009 at 11:59 pm CST.  Winner will be chosen at random and notified via email.

For the rest of you with rowdy 2 year olds or simply not enough time on your hands to catch this movie in theaters, CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC is being released on June 23rd on Blu-ray and DVD! If you aren’t familiar with the movie, the main character Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) takes a job for the less-than-glamorous Successful Saving in order to support her out-of-control spending habit. Hilarity ensues and romance blossoms with an amazing supporting cast including Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, Kristin Scott Thomas, John Lithgow, Krysten Ritter, and John Goodman! Bonus material includes bloopers, deleted scenes, a music video, and much much more!  I’ve been told it was hilarious, and I can’t wait to see it!

Check out the trailer from the film, and a bonus bloopers reel from the film below!

Win It! I’m so excited to have partnered with Touchstone Home Entertainment to provide one of my readers with her very own copy of the Blu-Ray Disc of Confessions of a Shopaholic! Leave a comment here to be entered to win. One runner-up will win a copy of the DVD as well! That’s two chances to win! Leave a comment here, and stumble, subscribe, or blog about this contest with a link back here for additional entries. This contest ends June 21st, 2009. US entries only, must be 18 or older to enter, no purchase necessary to win.

PBS is airing a special of this talented group of singers which was a process 2 years in the making.  Think of it as a sort of Making the Band, but um, with some serious talent and no emphasis on dancing.  You can check out the airdate for the special in your city, check out a short promo video, or find out if Yanni Voices will be on tour in a city near you.

Thanks to the One2One Network, I had the opportunity to preview the Yanni Voices CD and DVD – and as I said above I was really very impressed.  If this sounds like something you would like then it’s your lucky day, because I also have a copy of the CD and DVD to givaway to you, as well as some Godiva Chocolate Truffles to sweeten the deal.  Talk about your ultimate de-stress package!

Win it! To enter just leave me a comment below telling me why you would like to win this for yourself or someone else!  It’s that simple!  After that, every other (pertinent) comment left on this site on other posts from now through February 23rd will count as an extra entry each.  You don’t need to come back to this post and tell me you commented on another post, I can stalk track you via your email/ip address.   As usual, extra entries are also available for stumbling Chic Shopper Chick (leave your stumble name), subscribing to my site, following me on Twitter, and blogging about this giveaway with a link back here.  That’s it, so good luck!

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on February 23rd, 2009.

Don’t believe me? It’s got a great mix of going-out-with-my-girlfriends and rockin’ in the car tunes, mixed in with others that just make you want to sway a bit and sing along, mushed together with ones that make you want to bust out the hairbrush-microphone and pretend like you’re the opening act at the VMA’s.

What?!  Ok, well, maybe that last one is just me.  (But I would totally rock the VMA’s.  Totally.)

The song I keep hitting repeat on is Erin McCarley’s “Love Save the Empty”, though I’m also totally lovin’ Lily Allen’s “Smile”, as well as the great stuff by The Cure, Wilco, R.E.M, and Maroon 5.  Oh, and as an added treat – you can hear Scarlett Johansson sing “Last Goodbye”.  For the record, I am totally impressed with her deep soulful voice – I am a sound believer that actresses do not automatically equal singers/musicians – but in this case it was a good call.

Be sure to grab a copy of the He’s Just Not That Into You Soundtrack – it was just released this past Tuesday, Feb. 3rd and the movie will make it’s premiere tomorrow, February 6th!  (And give me a call if you’re going – I’m willing to bet this is one that hubby won’t want to go see with me!)

Win it! I have a copy of the soundtrack plus this super awesome hoodie to give away to one lucky CSC reader!  (And wow, I don’t think it will look like that on me…)  For your initial entry, leave a comment here on this post.   Something more than “I want to win” would be great!  After that, every other (pertinent) comment left on this site on other posts from now through February 13th will count as an extra entry each. As usual, extra entries are also available for stumbling Chic Shopper Chick (leave your stumble name), subscribing to my site, following me on Twitter, and blogging about this giveaway with a link back here.  Good luck!

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on February 15th, 2009.

You can return to the magical world of Narnia in the second installment of C.S. Lewis’ timeless epic The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian which was released on DVD on December 2nd, and it’s a must-own!  It is available on DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def, as well as a special two-disc Collectors Edition perfect for holiday giving. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian packaging also includes a special DisneyFile, a digital copy of the movie that can be viewed on a variety of portable devices for the whole family to enjoy anytime, anywhere.  I recently loaded Wall-E onto my MacBook and watched it from the comfort of my bedroom while I was waiting for my hubby to get home.  DigitalFile is a huge plus, in my opinion!

According to the press release, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian features even more groundbreaking special effects and breathtaking action than its predecessor. William Moseley, Georgie Henley, Anna Popplewell and Skandar Keynes return as Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, the Pevensie siblings, along with Academy Award® nominee Liam Neeson ( one of my ultimate favorite actors and a 1993 nominee for Best Actor, Schindler’s List) as Aslan the Lion and Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton (2008 winner for Best Supporting Actress, Michael Clayton) as the White Witch. They are joined by Ben Barnes (Stardust) as Caspian, heir to the Narnian throne, with Sergio Castellitto (Arthur and the Invisibles), Eddie Izzard (FX: The Riches), Warwick Davis (the Harry Potter films) and Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent) appearing as new residents of Narnia.  Whew!  That is quite the cast!

In The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the Pevensie children face a perilous mission and a greater test of their faith and courage. They find a world in which 1,300 years have passed. The White Witch is gone, the realm is ruled by a cruel tyrant and Aslan has been missing for over a thousand years. The four children embark on a remarkable journey to restore magic and glory to the land. Accompanied by Trumpkin, a valiant dwarf, Reepicheep the talking mouse and a suspicious Black Dwarf named Nikabrik, they raise an army of Narnians to rise up against the evil king Miraz.  Check out a clip from the movie below!

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, is now on DVD, Special Collectors Edition DVD, and Blu-Ray on Amazon — you have 4 days left to order things in time for Christmas while still qualifying for Free Shipping, so check it out!  If you have other Amazon shopping needs, please search for them through the search box in my sidebar – doing so will help to support this site!

There aren’t many things in the world that compares to the bond between women. A great friend can feellike a sister: someone to share secrets with, laugh with over embarrassing moments, or turn to for support. Growing up I didn’t have any siblings, though now I have 2 wonderful sisters and a  great sister-in-law, but I had always relied on friends to step in where a sister would have been! Kate Jacobs first novel, The Friday Night Knitting Club, earned rave reviews because of it’s true understanding of this bond. The Sequel. Knit Two, is also really powerful, as it brings us back into the lives of the original characters five years after the first book left off. This time, 18-year-old Dakota runs her mother’s knitting store part-time with the help of the knitting club. With a focus on the challenges, joys, and friendships of these characters, this book is a powerful read for any woman.

I didn’t read the first novel, but after I finished the second one, I’m going to go out and buy the first one to fill in the blanks (hey, a lot of good movies were made that way!).  The book was excellent, and even though I hadn’t read the first one, I was able to keep up and get really involved in the characters.  If you are looking for a good read this Holiday Season on your break from work or a great gift for a girlfriend this would be an excellent choice!  You can read more about the author, Kate Jacobs, as well as purchase Knit Two on her website.

Knit Two

Paramount Home Entertainment has completely simplified gift-giving for you last minute Holiday Shoppers!  With their wrapped and ready DVDs, you have 3 great options for gifts for this year, including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Iron Man, and Kung Fu Panda.  They come wrapped in adorable paper (that doesn’t give anything away) with a removable cardboard sleeve over the top.  When you are ready to “gift it” you can just take the sleeve off, stick a bow on it, and you’re ready to go!

You can order them now on Amazon, or, if you freak out on Christmas Eve and remember that you forgot to get a gift for someone, you can always stop by the store and grab one — you won’t need anything else!  I’m giving hubby his copy of Indiana Jones this year already wrapped and ready – it will be perfect for his stocking, and it saves me time wrapping gifts (because frankly, it’s a daunting task with a 22 month old wanting to “help”.)   What gifts do you wish were already wrapped for you?

Horton hears a cry for help from a speck of dust, and spends his time trying to protect the tiny creatures who live on it (the inhabitants of Whoville).  Meanwhile, the other animals in the forest think their favorite pachyderm friend has lost it. Matters just get worse when the clover that Whoville is on is picked up and carried away by a Eagle!  This movie is really so fantastic, and we all loved it, from start to finish!

You can pre-order your copy of Horton Hears A Who! on DVD or Blu Ray Disc right now on Amazon!  It would make a great stocking stuffer for anyone in your family!

Win it! I have 2 copies of Horton Hears A Who to give away to 2 lucky Chic Shopper Chick readers.  Each winner will also receive a pair of these adorable Horton ears!  To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Leave a comment here telling me why you’d like to win.  A little effort please, no “Enter me” or “I wanna win” type of entries will be accepted.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
  
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 14th, 2008.

Welcome to Day 4 of the Chic Shopper Chick Gift Guide!  Today we are going to focus on Kids and Baby stuff — but don’t forget to check out the other great items we’ve discussed so far!  Day One was all about Holiday Traditions, Day Two was about Entertaining and Hostess Gifts, and Day Three was all about finding the perfect Stocking Stuffers!  Today is about one of my favorites — things for kids!  Let’s jump in to some of my new faves for this Holiday, in no particular order!

Green Toys Tea Set – I am so so so so (did I mention so?) in love with this Tea Set from Green Toys!  Made entirely of recycled milk jugs, it makes me feel good to give Little AG something fun to play with that also supports the earth.  Check out my full review on the Green Toys Tea Set – I know you will love it too!  You can buy the Green Toys Tea Set from Amazon for just under 25 bucks, or if tea isn’t your thing, check out the Green Toys Cookware and Dining Set which might be a little more gender-neutral.  Stay tuned for a giveaway of the Green Toys Tea Set coming up really soon!

2008 Holiday Barbie – I couldn’t resist adding in this timeless classic to my guide this year.  A collectors item in her own right, the 2008 Holiday™ Barbie® Doll is gorgeous!  Not to mention, this is the 20th anniversary Holiday Barbie, so she is looking especially fantastic!  I especially love her gorgeous earrings, and if they weren’t Barbie-sized, I might snatch them for wear myself!  Barbie is decked out to look like a delicate snowflake, and I know when you see her you won’t be disappointed!

Water Babies – They’re back, and I swear they feel JUST like the real thing (ok, not JUST like it, but still, wow)!  If you remember the Water Babies from long ago, you won’t be disappointed.  Even I think that they are pretty darn cool, and well, I have a real baby and have no need for a baby doll.  However, Little AG started pointing and saying “BAAAAYYY BEEEE” the minute she saw it!  They Water Babies come in two sizes, 9 inch Water Baby and the 13 inch Water Baby.  They even come with a funnel to make filling easy, as well as a teddy bear, storybook, diaper, and bottle!

Hyper Dash – New for this season from Wild Planet, I am loving this awesome game.  Designed to keep kids moving and on their feet, Hyper Dash will have your kids running all over the place (in an organized matter) in no time!  The “tagger” is hand held, and calls out voice commands to the players to “tag” the targets that have certain numbers and colors.  One of my favorite parts about Wild Planet’s Hyper Dash is that your kids can play solo or compete against their friends (or you!) to get the highest score!  If the single tagger isn’t enough — you can always go for the Hyper Dash Double Dash that includes 2 taggers!

Barbie Care N Cure Wildlife Doctor – It has Barbie in the name, but there is really no Barbie involved at all!  This stuffed animal lights up in different areas that teach the child about the animals health, and responds to feeding, touch, care, etc.  With Little AG loving animals as much as she does, this was a must-buy for Christmas this year!  It’s also a great way to teach your kids about protecting and caring for Endangered Animals.  My favorite is the “Snow Leopard” Barbie Care ‘N Cure Wildlife Doctor – but you can also choose a Koala Bear or Polar Bear.

Rhino Rampage Game – This fun but simple game has players stacking up little birds with the goal of reaching the Rhino’s back.  You’ve go to be careful though, because you never know when the Rhino will go on a rampage!  (Ok, it’s really when you roll the Rhino on the dice and the player pulls the Rhino’s tail, but that didn’t sound nearly as cool!)  This game is simple enough for everyone to play, but a whole lot of fun for kids of all ages as well!  Little AG loves pulling the Rhino’s tail in this lots-o-fun Rhino Rampage Game!

Girl Tech Stylin’ Studio – This really really cool toy from Mattel makes me wish they had such a thing when I was a little girl, because I know I would have LOVED it!  (Seriously, I was the makeup and makeover queen!)  The Girl Tech Stylin Studio however, allows girls to create a digital makeover — meaning no messy makeup and lipstick fiascoes are in your future with this nifty gadget!  The Stylin’ Studio comes equipped with a touch pad and a built-in digital camera, so it makes things easy because everything you need is in one place!  My niece is getting one of these for Christmas and I know she is just going to love it!

Scene it?  Disney Channel Edition – Our new favorite channel here at home is the Disney channel (funny how quickly things change, isn’t it?) and this fun DVD game is a gem!  It has hundreds of trivia questions that will keep you on your toes for all things Disney Channel!  You can play fun games like spotting the difference between two difference scenes, identifying theme songs from ringtones and a bunch of other cool stuff!  If your kids love the Disney Channel, they’ll love playing the Scene It? Disney Channel Edition.

Imagination Movers:  Juice Box Heroes – This show on Playhouse Disney has quickly become a favorite in my house.  I have to admit that it’s my TV show of choice, mainly because I enjoy these very talented and fun guys and their awesome music as much as Little AG does.  This is the first CD that the Imagination Movers have released in cooperation with Disney (there were others prior to the Disney partnership) and it is some of their best music, tweaked and better than ever.  I can’t wait for Santa to bring this to Little AG this year, I know she is going to love it.  This is one CD that, when she gets out of the car, I will leave playing.  You can pick up a copy of Imagination Movers: Juice Box Heroes on Amazon.

Animal Scramble – Another home run from Wild Planet, this game works in a similar manner to Hyper Dash.  The base (the giraffe) calls out an animal (four choices — a monkey, parrot, tiger and elephant) and the child scrambles around the room to “tag” that animal with the giraffe.  Then, you are given the amount of time it took you to tag all four – with the idea being that you beat your time.  It also has options for team play, and the giraffe tells you when it should be passed to the next player.  However, this is another great activity that kids can play by themselves while still being active, which I love.  Wild Planet Animal Scramble even has a hide and seek feature, which is a lot of fun!  On sale on Amazon for 19.99.

Cherry Blossom Market – A part of the Playskool Dream Town collection, the Cherry Blossom Market is a great alternative to the much bigger Rose Petal Cottage (or the Rose Petal Cottage Mega Pack that comes complete with all the accessories one could ever even dream of!) for those of us that have limited play-space in our houses.  Little AG already loves to “help” mommy at the grocery store, so this is really quite perfect for her.  Don’t forget the accompanying accessories, like the Cherry Blossom Market Produce Stand, or the Scoop ‘N Smile Ice Cream Set.  Read my complete review of the Playskool Cherry Blossom Market and while you’re there, don’t forget to enter to win one too!

My Little Pony Scootaloo RC on the Go – For girls, this is a great “girly” alternative to the Remote Controlled Car.  Even the remote is shaped like a Butterfly!  The My Little Pony theme will bring back memories for little girls and their mothers!  I personally really love this toy — it works on carpet (which is good for snow/rain days) but works even better on our hard kitchen floor.  The remote control has three big buttons which are great for little hands, and Little AG quickly figured out what each one did (including the horn!).  I’m already a fan of the My Little Pony Scootaloo RC On The Go, and so is Little AG.

Fisher Price Kid Tough DVD Player – This SAVED my life last weekend!  We traveled 5 hours for my dad’s 50th Birthday party and this made the journey so much more bearable!  Bring a few of your kiddo’s favorite DVD’s and they can take this anywhere you go.  We travel a lot, so I can already foresee that it will get TONS of use (seriously, TONS).  Plus, it really does hold up to it’s name — Kid Tough.  It is build to survive drop after drop, which is nice because you don’t have to run behind them making sure nothing happens!  It has a 3.2 inch color screen and rechargable batteries that hang in there for a full two hours!  My favorite features:  the two big handles (for little hands!), kickstand in case they want to stand it up somewhere and not hold it in their laps, and the headphone jack.  Because the whole plane full of people does not want to hear the theme song for “My Friends Tigger and Pooh” over and over again.  You have two choices — to buy the Fisher-Price Kid Tough Portable DVD Player (in Blue) or you can opt for the Fisher-Price Kid Tough Portable DVD Player (In Pink).  Don’t forget to get the Kid-Tough DVD Player On-the-Go Kit (which includes a car charger for those long car rides) and the matching DVD Player Case in Blue or DVD Player Case in Pink!

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Smart Bounce & Spin Pony – With the exception of the really long title this is actually a really cool interactive toy for toddlers.  You set up the Pony with a wireless receiver and your toddler (12-24 months) can bounce and spin on the Pony to make actions happen on the screen.  You can choose levels of difficulty, so that the youngest of kids will learn about cause and effect (they bounce, the animal on the screen moves) and the older children can learn things like the alphabet and numbers.  The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Bounce & Spin Pony has 5 different learning sites:  A to Z Zoo; Count & Grow Farm; Colorful Home; Shapes at Shore; and Opposites Playground.  Bonus:  the toy works without being connected to a TV.  If you choose the stand alone option the Pony still plays music and interacts with your child!

Jeep 2-in-1 Baby Carrier — Even the smallest ones on your Christmas list need a gift, and what a better gift than something that will benefit both mom and baby?  I love the Jeep 2-in-1 Baby Carrier because it holds infants from 8 – 26 lbs, and Little AG was a big girl so I needed something that could support her even as she reached the upper end of that spectrum.  One of my favorite features is the roll-up mesh front which allows the air to circulate and kept Little AG cool in the stifling Louisiana heat.  I also love how the indicator on the latches turn red when they are snapped into place correctly, because it alleviated all stress that I felt about her being secure.  It comes in a variety of colors, and the price (under $45 bucks!) is extremely reasonable , especially when you compare it to some of the other baby carriers.

European Sleep Sacks from Violet’s Peapod — Another suggestion for your little ones, check out the high-quality European style sleep sacks from Violet’s Peapod.  Little AG has slept in a sleep sack from her earliest days and still sleeps in one even as she approaches 2 years old.  It’s a great way to make sure they stay warm, and you don’t have to worry about blankets being loose in the crib, because it places babies at a higher risk for SIDS.  These sleep sacks are San Francisco-made, made of 100% natural fibers (cotton with a wool filling), and absolutely adorable and unique!

Karito Kids — I love these dolls from Karito Kids that allow your kids to give 3% of the purchase price back to the charity of their choice.  Not only are these dolls teaching kids about giving back, they are also teaching kids the importance of understanding and appreciating the differences between cultures.  You can choose a doll from Italy, Australia, the United States, Mexico, China, and Kenya.  Each doll comes with her very own story book, and you can also purchase additional clothing for them.  These full-sized dolls are pricey, but are extremely well made and will be loved for years, and passed down through the generations.

Furreal Friends Tumbles, My Rollover Pup — Little AG is facinated by “puppies” and has been for as long as I remember.  The FurReal Friends Roll Over Pup makes her squeal with delight.  It rolls over and back, while barking and making cute puppy noises.  She watches it roll over and cracks up laughing!  It’s better than your typical stuffed animal becuase it actually moves and reacts when you pet it on the tummy, and she looks surprised each and every time.  The mechanism inside of it makes it kind of hard, so it’s not an animal to take to bed at night, but it certainly serves its purpose as a really fun toy!  We love it, and it comes highly recommended!

Little Mommy Gotta Go Doll — Did you know that pretending to be an adult is crucial to a child’s early development?  This doll, meant for girls ages 3 and older, allows them to step into the “mommy” role to help the doll use the potty.  It even comes with a sink so that “mommy” can help her wash her hands afterward, and a toothbrush to brush her teeth (complete with tooth-brushing sounds!)!  My favorite part about this toy is that it doesn’t use any water to create the effect — meaning it is a mess-free toy, which goes a long way in our house!  It’s a fun toy that will interact with your child – the doll sings little songs and says fun phrases too.  The Little Mommy Gotta Go Doll is perfect for little girls who are at the potty training age.

Sing & Learn Musical Mic — This little mic is really cool.  On top of actually working to amplify your voice when you talk into it (I might know this because I played with it for 10 minutes while Little AG waited impatiently!) the Sing & Learn Musical Mic lets you choose from jazz, classical and rock ‘n roll style music.  Our favorite quality though (because remember, I have a child that is pretty obsessed with animals) is that it also features 12 animals and fun animal sounds. All you have to do is turn the ring on top of the mic to hear each sound.  Lots of fun, and a great toy for the car!

Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker — I love the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker so much that I’m giving this to my niece for Christmas.  The Cupcake Maker comes with four cupcake flavor mixes and frosting. The cupcake flavors include red velvet, chocolate, yellow, and cinnamon sugar and the frosting flavors include chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and cream cheese. The mixes only require water and you can bake them in the microwave!  It comes with everything you need, including a mixing bowl, measuring spoon, spatula and water dropper.  Our favorite part was actually frosting the cupcakes with perfect little swirls.  Pick up the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker at Amazon where they are currently $10 off!  A great deal!

Face Off Frenzy — This really cool product for the Holiday Season is easy to put together and exceptionally quiet (with the exception of the squeals that will be coming from your kids!).  It requires no batteries, no electricity, and will work on carpet!  It’s like playing a little game of air hockey in your living room!  PowerBand Technology creates high-speed ricochet action without the need for air!  You will love it, and so will your kids! Face Off Frenzy is a great deal and is available for under $50 on Amazon!

Swaptop (Kitchen and Workbench) — These awesome, awesome toys are going to be the hit of Christmas this year!  The transformable Workbench or Kitchen also turns into a desk!  I love that it serves a dual purpose (especially when you are dealing with limited space as we are) and that kids will love playing with both.  When Little AG gets tired of the kitchen play, we quickly lower the top to create a desk and pull out one of the “drawers’ which becomes a little bench, and Voila! she is coloring quietly in no time.  It’s nice because it also has little drawers where we store her crayons and coloring books, and in the bottom are her teapots and “cookware”.   The one pictured here is the workbench swaptop, but if you click the link above you can see the kitchen too.

Zoobie Pets — A must-have for anyone traveling with a child!  A Zoobie Pet is a stuffed animal, a pillow, and a blanket all in one.  They are the most adorable things I have ever seen, and talk about mixing fun with function.  There are tons of different animals to choose from, and the detachable blankets have to be the SOFTEST things ever.  EVER.  Even I want to cuddle up with it, that is when Little AG isn’t shooting me curious looks for stealing it.  We have Tamara the Tortise in all of her full sized glory, and a Crocodile Zoobie Baby who is a smaller version, but with all of the same great perks.

Thanks for checking out my guide for Kids and Babies for Christmas 2008.  If you didn’t see what you were looking for above, please use the Amazon search box below to look around!  Don’t forget to check out From Dates to Diapers and An Ordinary Life to discover more great Christmas Gift ideas!