Pump Up the Fun with Pump it Up Party and Scribblenauts Unlimited - Giveaway

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Most of you have probably heard of Pump it Up.  You can host your child's birthday party there. They have lots of fun inflatable bouncing  and sliding sensations that all kids know and love. I have friends all over the country who have been to dozens of parties with them, and they are always a hopping success. The best part about it for the parents, is the convenience. The company sets it up and cleans it up when you're done. They even provide the food, drinks, party packs, and balloons.  It can't get any better than that right? Pump it Up has over 150 locations nationwide.



Right now, Pump It Up has a special promo running. They are helping with the release of the newest video game release of the Scribblenauts franchise – Scribblenauts Unlimited. This is a really great game that helps kids of all ages exercise their imaginations through a series of puzzles and challenges.  We received an advance copy of the game as part of the Pump it Up promotion, and it has quickly become one of my kid's favorites. This game is unique because it requires kids to use their imaginations and their spelling skills. Maxwell can make just about anything appear by typing out the word. You have to help solve problems and explore worlds by thinking of objects to help Maxwell along the way. The original game was great, but the 3D effects in the storytelling of  Unlimited make it even cooler than the first. Plus there are even more levels to explore. Seriously, this is the only game that I actually will play along with my children. The only downside is that its one player which means you either need one for each kid or there will be some arguments.

As part of the celebration, they have a really fun contest on the Pump It Up Party Facebook page called the Imagination Challenge. The premise of this challenge is to get those creative juices flowing and help Scribblenauts main character, Maxwell, reach the top of the Slippery Slope inflatable at Pump It Up using any solution imaginable. The grand prize is a Family Home Entertainment Center (retail value of $1,000) and Scribblenauts Unlimited and a Wii U™.




 And I have even more great news! One lucky winner is going to receive a copy of Scribblenauts Unlimited for 3DS! To enter, just complete the Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway ends 12/26/2012 and is open to the US only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to Pump IT Up for for offering this great prize.


 a Rafflecopter giveaway


***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way.  Please note that I  am not responsible for the delivery of this prize and can not be held accountable if, for any reason, is it not received. Furthermore, I am in no way liable for any injuries that may result from the use or misuse of this product. ***

Manischewitz® Chanukah House Decorating Kit Review

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The Manischewitz® Chanukah House Decorating Kit consists of a Vanilla cookie base for assembling your creation and an assortment of toppings and additions to outfit the house as your imagination envisions it!  The toppings include blue, white, and yellow icing, sprinkles, mini beads, fondant, sugar, and custom sugar decorative pieces of a Star of David and a Menorah, both which are exclusive to Manischewitz®.  There is also a Chanukah Sugar Cookie Decorating Kit that contains 4 Vanilla Trans-fat free cookies shaped like Dreidels and Menorah’s.  Decorations for the cookies includes four icing colors; light blue, dark blue, yellow, and white; and a mix of blue, yellow, and white sprinkles, and mini-beads.  SRP for the Chanukah House Decorating Kit is $14.99, and the Chanukah Sugar Cookie Decorating Kit has an SRP of $9.99.

“The Chanukah House Decorating Kit and the Chanukah Sugar Cookie Decorating Kit are sure to enhance the level of excitement of Chanukah for families,” said Paul Bensabat, co-owner of Manischewitz®. “Increasing the fun during this time of year is the new Chanukah House Kit Contest which will be sure to bring out the creativity in people while bringing family and friends together, an important element of life that we hope everyone experiences.”


Our Thoughts 

Let me start out by saying, I just did a gingerbread house kit with my children that I bought from the store about a week ago and the Chanukah House kit was so much better. I loved the fact that it came with an edible stand and the sugar decorations definitely kept my kids from screaming at me to make the icing look "just like the picture Mom!"
With the different colored icings, my children were allowed to let their imaginations run wild with decorating instead of just using white icing as the only option. The directions were very clear cut and took a whole 20 minutes to create the house from start to finish, according to my kids' decorating discretion. Of course, eating it lasted much longer than that!
The Chanukah House Vanilla Cookie Decorating Kit is a great craft to do as a family to get ready for the upcoming Holidays and it's perfect for dessert!
Reviewed by Jackie 

***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way.***

Book Review: A Father, A Son and a House Full of Ghosts

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Something unaccountable was going on in their home.  Objects would appear and disappear at random, lights would go off and on under their own recognizance, a vomit smell protruded a section of the dining room, and a strange drawing appeared on a bedroom wall.  These are only a few of the mysterious happenings. A quest for answers soon becomes an obsession, and a father learns that he and his son are sharing the house with three ghosts. The truth is then revealed as to who these house guests were, when they came, and why they were there. Find out what was discovered in the true story of a man, his son, and their search for answers to the unexplainable ongoing occurrences in their 100 year old Somers Point home.        A Father, A Son and a House Full of Ghosts is a true story.  It is the story of an extraordinary event happening to an ordinary person.  It is the unexpected happening to the unsuspecting.  The characters are real, the dialogue is real and the stories are real. Also Available from Gregory Young: About the Author New Jersey native Gregory Young began experiencing paranormal events in his home in the year 2004.  Ghosts and spirits were never on his mind when he bought the 100 year old home. Ghosts and spirits were never a hobby of his and the entire concept of ghosts and spirits appearing in his house sounded much like a fantasy.  In other words, this was nothing that he went looking for.  But when things started appearing and disappearing around the house, pictures would tilt behind his back, the kitchen range would work itself, lights would go off and on by themselves, and doors would  unlock on their own, he knew he had something going on.  The ghost stories go on and on...




    Where to Buy The full collection of ghostly tales by Gregory Young are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and his website, Jetty Books.   My Thoughts    As a lover of ghost stories, I was really excited about reading this book. The house in question and the gentlemen who wrote it both hail from South Jersey, not far from my own home town!  In this novel, Gregory Young shares his own personal experiences with the spirits in his home.  Mr. Young purchased a home in Somers Point, NJ that was over one hundred years old. Almost as soon as he moved in, strange things started happening. Lights would flicker and objects would appear in places that shouldn't have been there. Don't worry. This isn't going to turn into the Amityville Horror.  This is a refreshing story that reveals some interesting truths about the spirits that walk among us. You will follow Greg on his journey to discover who is sharing his home and where they came from.  He  talks with a psychic and a medium, and the answers he finds aren't quite what he expected. I found this book to be both entertaining and enlightening. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Book Spotlight - Make Magic! Do Good! by Dallas Clayton

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Hardcover picture book ~ ISBN: 9780763657468 ~ $17.99 ($21.00 CAN) ~ 112 pages ~ age 7 and up From an exciting new face in children’s literature comes a book of illustrated poems full of wisdom, wonder, and whimsy.

About Dallas Clayton:
Called "the New Dr. Seuss,” Dallas Clayton is known for his vivid use of colors, powerful themes, out-of-the-box-thinking and magical word play, Clayton has carved out quite a path for himself in a very short period on the book scene earning big name celebrity endorsements as well as multiple brand collaborations. Clayton makes his home in Los Angeles, but can be found touring the world relentlessly, reading to kids from preschool to college age, painting murals, playing music and spreading his message of the importance of following your dreams. Visit the world of Dallas Clayton online at: http://dallasclayton.com/

About Make Magic! Do Good! A boy with a beard tries to stay six forever. A frightful monster lives a million miles away, but is equally scared of you. A magic rope hangs from the sky, next to a sign saying "Give me a try." In this brightly illustrated selection of playful, often provocative poems, ideas run the gamut from stopping your lightning-fast running to help others keep up, imagining a store that sells colors never before made, or admitting you’ll never know all the answers (and sleeping better at night). Following the runaway success of his self-published debut, Dallas Clayton’s quirky, captivating collection makes it clear that this rising talent, whose work has evoked comparisons to Dr. Seuss, Maurice Sendak, and Shel Silverstein, exudes a spirit and style all his own. Details attached and online at: http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763657468&pix=n

Our Thoughts
Make Magic! Do Good! is an adorable book filled with fun poems and  artwork. Each page is a new story. There are poems about a boy with a beard, caterpillars getting ready to become butterflies,  and a shark with no teeth to name just a few. There are ninety five pages of poems and each one has its own unique illustration to go along with it. Each poem is its own stand alone tale, so you can read them one at a time or back to back.  You could even open to one random page for a quick, funny poem. This book reminds me a lot of a poem book that was really popular back in the 80s called Where the Sidewalk Ends.  If you enjoyed reading that book when you were a kid, you will have fun reading Make Magic! Do Good! with your children. All of my kids ,who range in age from one twelve, enjoyed reading the poems. This book a great selection for kids of all ages.
 
***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way.***

Bob The Builder®: Teamwork Time DVD Giveaway

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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Everyone’s favorite builder and his Can-Do Crew are back for more adventures in construction and collaboration in Bob the Builder^®: Teamwork Time, a collection of five episodes coming to DVD, Digital Download and On Demand December 4, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Demonstrating the power of positive-thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and follow-through, join Bob and his Machine Team as they work together and have some fun to get the job done. 
DVD SYNOPSIS Dizzy wants to prove she’s a whiz at being helpful but learns that being thoughtful is what really gets the job done! Spud goes missing before a big performance. Can Dizzy save the day so the show can go on? Roley is determined to do a weather rap and soon learns that safety comes first! When Scrambler fails to build a tree house on his own, he finds it takes a team to get a project off the ground. Scratch learns that some problems are best shared and comes up with a solution by getting everyone to work together. Hold on to your hard hats and see why the best plans start with teamwork!

Episodes include: · “Whizzy Dizzy” · “Stage Struck Dizzy” · “Roley’s Weather Rap” · “Scrambler’s Best Idea” · “Bob and the Trampoline”
DVD BONUS FEATURES · “Down on the Farm” Music Video · “I’m a Tractor” Music Video · “Picking up the Pieces” Music Video 
PROGRAM INFORMATION Year of Production: 2012 Title Copyright: © 2012 HIT Entertainment Limited and Keith Chapman. The Bob the Builder name and character, related characters and riveted logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited. Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. and other countries. Type: TV on DVD Rating: Not Rated Genre: Children/Family/Animated Age Target: 2-5 years old Subtitles: NA Closed Captioned: English Format: 4x3 Full Screen (1.33:1) Feature Running Time: 55 minutes DVD Audio Status: English and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital Program Website: www.bobthebuilder.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bobthebuilder Twitter: @CanWeBuildIt

One lucky winner is going to receive a copy of Bob the Builder^®: Teamwork Time, .   To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway will end on 12/27/12. If you have already won this title on another blog, you are not eligible to enter or win. Open to the US only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to Lion's Gate for offering this fantastic prize.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway



***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way.  Please note that I  am not responsible for the delivery of this prize and can not be held accountable if, for any reason, is it not received. Furthermore, I am in no way liable for any injuries that may result from the use or misuse of this product. ***




 

8 Ways To Give Christmas Gifts Without Spending a Dime

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Maybe you are knee high in bills this year.  Maybe you recently lost a job.  Maybe you are college student with little cash to spare. Whatever your situation, Christmas can certainly add oodles of stress to a pocketbook that's nearly empty.

But, just because you may not have bundles of cash in hand, it doesn’t have to mean that you can’t give generously at Christmas. There is a vast selection of gifts that cost nothing (or close to nothing).

1. Crop: If you like to scrapbook, make a page for a friend or loved one. Use materials you already have to save money. If you have children, relatives will go ga-ga over your gift.  If you are short on ideas, make a page detailing what you appreciate about the recipient- this will truly be a treasured gift.  If you're a student away at college, you can make a page showing your life at school for a younger sibling who misses you.

2. Write: Some people are always hard to buy for, whether you have money or not. Why not buy a nice card and then include a handwritten letter. Not a note, but a real letter. Grandparents particularly enjoy receiving letters as they are not always in the loop electronically (on Facebook, email, and so on.) It doesn’t cost you anything to spend 20 minutes jotting down details of your week, a few childhood memories and a quick “I miss you”.

3. Read: Hunt down free magazine subscriptions. Search the internet for deals and freebies. You can often find magazine subscriptions for free and rather than sending to yourself, have them sent to someone on your gift list. Then write a note in a card to let them know the subscription is a gift from you! Keep your eyes open. Everyone loves getting a brand new magazine to read each month and they’ll remember who gave it to them.

4. Bake: If you enjoy baking, head home and get in the kitchen. Fresh baked goods are always appreciated and do not cost much. The best part is that you likely have most of the ingredients on–hand already.  You don't need fancy containers, either.  Use a mason jar and some ribbon, or cover a paper plate with wrapping paper, then put cookies, brownies or other goodies atop and wrap with saran wrap. 

5. Craft:  Chances are, if you sew, draw, paint, or use any form of craft materials, you likely have extra materials on hand.  Create simple ornaments or other holiday decorations from felt, glass beads, small drawings, or other form of craft medium to gift. Everyone loves a personal touch.  My favorite ornaments, to this day, are the Raggedy Anne and Andy ones my grandmother made from clothes pins, yarn, and scraps of fabric.

6. Brag: College students this one is especially for you: Normally, you are discouraged from bragging but its ok with parents. Wrap up your grades or an “A” paper. They miss being part of your day-to-day education and will be thrilled to be included. Reading a paper, whether they understand the subject or not, will make them proud. You can’t buy that.

7. Watch: Children, that is. If you have older siblings, relatives, or friends with children, volunteer to babysit. It may seem hokey to you, but they will love the opportunity to get out of the house knowing they have a babysitter they can trust. Better yet, make a simple card gift certificate for a free night of babysitting or two and tie a nice ribbon around it to gift. 

8. Record: Many of your friends and family are likely just as strapped for cash as you and do not expect a gift. You can, however, burn a CD of holiday songs for them. (Just be mindful of copyright laws, there are a lot of free tunes available for copying.) 

The key to remember is that no one expects you to buy them an expensive gift. They are just happy to see you and spend time with you. Don’t stress the gift; you don’t need to spend money at Christmas to make your family and friends happy.Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook

Hot Toys for 2012: Klutz Books #Giveaway

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Are they books or are they toys?  It's a bit difficult to niche Klutz into any one category.  There may be a need to create a new category, one just for Klutz's creative play options and the sheer joy their entertaining products offer for children and adults alike.

My favorite Klutz book are the DIY style craft titles like "Capsters" bottle cap jewelry art and "Beaded Bands" (pictured) featuring loom-woven bracelets.

Everything you need to create: information, materials, directions, ideas, and inspiration are included in each well-designed Klutz guide. Upon opening, multiple projects will be at your finger-tips awaiting your creative input.

For example, as you can see below, "Beaded Bands" comes with a custom loom, over 900 glass and specialty beads, closure beads, cord, beading thread, and 3 needles equipping the reader to create a wardrobe of beautifully beaded bands that can be worn wrapped, stacked, or stylishly solo.


If crafts aren't your "thing," Klutz offers craft, art, science, building, game, and oodles of other terrific expressive book styles to suit every interest, hobby, or passion. You'll find books on topics like "Make a Mummy, Shrink a Head, and Other Useful Skills" to "Star Wars Folded Flyers" and "Lego Crazy Action Contraptions."

I could rave on and on about the quality and content of Klutz books (really I could because they are totally supercalifragilistic!) but I simply send you to explore the world of Klutz for yourself at http://www.klutz.com and within seconds I'm certain you'll agree there's a wide-range of highly-attractive, clever, interesting titles to choose from.   
If you need help finding the perfect book for someone on your holiday shopping list, Klutz has a really nifty Gift Finder http://www.klutz.com/giftfinder on their website to help you find the perfect selection.

WIN IT!

The Creative Moms Media group has teamed up to bring you the Hottest Toys of 2012 to put on your shopping list this holiday season. Thanks to the generosity of the Klutz folks, one (1) reader will win one (1) Klutz Books Prize Pack! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  Klutz provided product for review purposes.  All thoughts and opinions are that of Rural MomEmail ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook