Brandon and his Cars & Transformers

Brandon does get a bit spoiled with toys. His favorite thing to play with are vehicles. Hubby and I used to collect die-cast cars that we keep in a display shelf. Now that Brandon is now a toddler, we have passed on some of them to him. When I was his age, I don't remember getting many toys and all these cool stuff back then.

Anyway, daddy had been surprising him with his favorite character toys lately: Transformers and Disney Cars. You should see the look and a big smile on his face. It was quite cute!



Transformers: Optimus Prime & Bumble Bee
The Transformers were a little tricky to put back together as the front parts would easily pop open. I had to press the middle to keep it in place.  It transforms (unlocks) by pressing a little button on the top.







Disney Cars Mack Truck with Trailer
Daddy found one with the perfect size we wanted and the trailer opens up. It's not the big one (which is pretty expensive) and not the tiny one (which the trailer doesn't open). The Lightning McQueen die-cast we already have is the perfect size to fit in Mack's trailer.




Disclosure: This product was purchased my own and all opinions expressed are my own personal and honest thoughts.

Best Food for Your Baby & Toddler Book Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

Baby Brandon's Adventures
Holiday Gift Guide presents...
Great Expectations: Best Food for Your Baby & Toddler

From First Foods to Meals Your Child Will Love

Description:
The definitive guide to infant and toddler feeding—from first foods to meals your child will love To ensure that baby gets the best, most wholesome, and natural food possible, go homemade! The newest entry in the acclaimed Great Expectations series focuses on easy preparation of nutritious baby and toddler meals at home—from the first finger-foods to more than 130 delicious kid-tested recipes that will lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating.

The book teaches parents how to select the right food, set up a pantry (with a guide to key kitchen equipment), establish smart eating routines, and introduce a wide variety of tastes and textures. It also explores today’s most pressing nutrition issues: Should you buy only organic food? Is it healthy to restrict a toddler's calorie intake? Is a vegetarian diet good for a very young child? Additional resources include information on breastfeeding and food allergies, as well as a comprehensive listing of whole foods companies and products that make healthy eating faster and easier.

About the Authors:
Jeannette Bessinger, owner of Balance for Life, LLC (www.balanceforlifellc.com), is a board certified holistic health counselor and award-winning lifestyle and nutrition educator. She currently acts as a consultant to several public and private groups and coalitions working to improve the health of schools and cities in the U.S. Jeannette has recently begun an innovative personal chef service, Balance Meal Solutions, providing delicious, seasonal meals designed to help families meet their health and weight goals.As co-founder of the Real Food Moms (www.realfoodmoms.com) with Tracee Yablon-Brenner, RD, CHHC, they provide busy moms with quick answers for what to feed their children with their books, real food products and informational website.

My Review:
After reading this book and following Jeannette Bessinger's recipes and recommendations, I find it has been very helpful. The information on nutrition are very well put together and I have been using it as a guide for creating healthy food for our little Brandon. This guide focuses on feeding children at every stage from birth to 3 years. It will show you how prepare home cooking as easy as possible. It has also given me ideas for making great meals for the whole family. Brandon had always been a good eater, but only occasionally he does get picky. He eats what we eat, which is great.




BUY IT
These books are available for purchase directly from Sterling Publishing website at http://www.sterlingpublishing.com or on Amazon.com.

WIN IT
One (1) lucky reader will have a chance to win a copy of Great Expectations: Best Food for Your Baby & Toddler. Chosen winner will be selected via Random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize. Make sure you leave your email so I can contact you.

This is a mandatory entry:
1) Simply tell me in the comment below what is your favorite homemade food for the family.

For Additional Optional Entries (Post in a separate comment for each additional entry):

2) Follow me on Google Friend Connect (2 entries)
3) Follow me on one of my other 2 blogs via Google Friend Connect - listed below followers on the sidebar (1 entry each)
4) Follow me on Twitter @jennieyuen (1 entry)
5) Follow SterlingBooks on @SterlingBooks (1 entry)
6) LIKE my Facebook Page at Jen's Reviews and Giveaways (1 entry)
7) LIKE my OTHER Facebook Page at The Art of Jennie Yuen (1 entry)
8) Post about this giveaway on your blog with the URL in the comment. (3 entries)
9) Tweet about this giveaway by tweeting the following. (3 entries):  
Win it: Great Expectations: Best Food for Your Baby & Toddler Book from @SterlingBooks. Review & Giveaway @jennieyuen http://bit.ly/glggWz
 

Contest is open to US & Canada. Contest closes December 29, 2010 11:59pm (PST).


Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a review of my opinion. Thanks to Dean Draznin Communications, Inc. and Sterling Publishing. The opinions expressed are my own personal and honest thoughts. No other compensation was given.

Giveaway Contest Winners List (Nov 20 - Nov 27)

Read on for winners for the giveaways that ended between November 20, 2010 and November 27, 2010. Are you a winner?

Winner has been selected and announced for the Prize Pack from Paper Shower that ended November 20, 2010.

Congratulations to.....

3 Giggly Monsters (#3) with the comment:

Following you via gfc.
m*********n@yahoo.com
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 2:37:00 PM

I have sent you an email. You have 48 hours to respond.

---

Winner has been selected and announced for the My True Nature Baby Bath Products Review & Giveaway that ended November 27, 2010.

Congratulations to.....

Erin (#77) with the comment:
i signed up for newsletter #2
Saturday, November 20, 2010 6:32:00 PM

** NOTICE: Erin, you are the winner but I do not have your email (and could not find it in your profile). Please respond with a comment ASAP. Otherwise a new winner will be selected. Thanks!






A NEW winner is announced as I have not heard back from the above individual. The winner is...

409cope (#81) with the comment:

I follow you on twitter as 409cope.cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com
Monday, November 22, 2010 9:50:00 AM

Thanks everyone for participating in my giveaway contests. Check out my other current giveaways.

Pampers Gifts to Grow Points (November 2010)

Time to share those codes again. Hurry and enter them before they expire. Lots of points for you here! Please comment and let me know you used them and I will continue collecting the codes for next month's list. Thanks!



THANKS2VETERANS (10 points)
NOVFACEBOOK2010 (10 points)
PAMPERSGTG10PTS (10 points)
GIVETHANKS10PTS (10 points)
PAMPERS4MOMSOND (10 points) expires June 30, 2011




53983270233478 (100 points - this code is only valid for new members who registered at pampers.com between 10/28 and 11/30)

My Sticker Art by Alex Toys - Review

Baby Brandon's Adventures
Holiday Gift Guide presents...
My Sticker Art by Alex Toys


With the My Sticker Art by Alex Toys, your child can create four vibrant pictures with hundreds of stickers in four fun themes: pizza, cookies, city and garden. This fantastic craft kit includes 4 Little Hands plastic frames to display their art when their done.

Features and Skills

• If your child needs help peeling stickers, begin peeling a corner of the sticker and let your child do the rest.  This will help develop the muscles of the hand and you will see in time, that it will become an easier activity.   
• Take one of the fun themes and create a picture. Ask your child to pick the stickers that have to do with the theme. For example, the stickers that would go on a pizza.
• After they are done they can frame their masterpiece.
• The stickers are repositionable so they can use them over and over again.

I was given the opportunity from ebeanstalk.com to review this fantastic sticker art set for little Brandon. He is always eager to try new things. With the My Sticker Art, it gives Brandon the opportunity to get creative. He had sticker fun before, but this is kinda unique that he can make a picture and frame it up for display.  There's no need for glue, so no mess. It was nice and simple. We did one artwork each day. There were plenty of stickers for each scene, but we didn't use all of them. I helped Brandon peel off the stickers and tell him where the object goes. I'd let him stick wherever he wants in the right place. This also gets him educated in recognizing objects too. I love learning toys.



Pros: It was easy to set up and very colorful. There were so many stickers to give little Brandon some creativity. It's also quite fun to do.
Cons: The stickers didn't stick very well. The edges would occasionally curl off the paper. I had to rub it down to keep them in place. I think if I had it laminated, it would keep quite well.



There are many varieties of baby toys available at eBeanstalk that babies and kids can have fun and help develop their motor skills at the same time. Little Brandon loves vehicles. Don't most boys do? Here are a few that Brandon liked when we were browsing the website.





Disclosure: I received the My Sticker Art Kit from eBeanstalk at no charge in exchange for a review of my opinion. The opinions expressed are my own personal and honest thoughts. No other compensation was given.

Brandon's Snow Day

It was snowing heavily. It was snowing all day. Just before lunch, I took Brandon out for a bit of fun in the snow. He learned to make snowballs and also learned to make snowmen.


This one is my favorite (a photo of little Brandon and his little snowman). I helped him make the snowman and took the photo before he knocked it down. This is an entry to GiveawayBlogs.com "2010 Holiday Photo Contest".


Contest Prizes :
1. $100 Amazon Gift Card
2. 18x24 Museum Wrapped Canvas Print from UPrinting.com
(Free Shipping is for US Residents only. Incase of a Non-US Resident winner, he/she will have to shoulder charges for expedited shipping and shipping outside US.)

Finding Brandon a New Backpack

It's time to shop around for kids backpacks for little Brandon. He needs a new school bag to put his toys and library books in. I guess it will be his first real school bag. He's currently using a little plastic see-through one, but we need one that is more practical. There's a lot of different backpack styles and designs and it's going to be tough to choose a favorite one. Here are a few styles I like so far, but I'll let him decide too.

Workman Publishing Children's Books Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

Baby Brandon's Adventures
Holiday Gift Guide presents...
Children's Story Books and New Releases from Workman Publishing


Perfect Piggies! Book and Plush Set by Sandra Boynton

Give a piggy for cuddling this holiday season It’s a book, it’s a toy, it’s a perfect gift. It can even be accompanied by music. The song, "Perfect Piggies," is available as a download from the Workman website. Reminiscent of a cappella swing, it’s a celebration of the homey—of beauty in the eye of the beholder, of sunshine and fresh air, and a place to put up our hooves when the day is done. And, of course, the catching energy and rhythmic language of a beloved original:

We are all perfect piggies and we know what we need. It’s really very simple, very simple indeed: a troughful of food, a place in the sun, and a little bit of comfort when the day is done.

A perfect pairing, it combines Perfect Piggies!, a celebration of round noses and curly tails, floppy ears, and pleasing plumpness, with an adorable, huggable pink plush pig, the fuzzy embodiment of everything Perfect Piggies! stands for.

Little Brandon enjoys books, as always. We both love Sandra Boynton's books. Her stories are humorous and the illustrations are fun to look at. Brandon was excited that this book came with a cute toy that is just like the characters in the book. Of course, he can't read yet, but he likes to look at the pictures and have me read the stories to him. This would make a great gift for babies and kids.








About the Author

Sandra Boynton has been a bestselling Workman author for 25 years. She's written the New York Times bestseller Chocolate: The Consuming Passion,the national (and New York Times) bestselling musical for the whole family, Philadelphia Chickens, the phenomenally successful Boynton on Board series (led by Barnyard Dance!),and the one-of-a-kindGrunt, the sublime collection of Pigoroian chant. All told, her books have over 15.3 million copies in print, a number that will already be out-of-date when you read this. She lives with her family in western Connecticut.


INDESTRUCTIBLES

Vibrantly illustrated and impossible to destroy, INDESTRUCTIBLES are just for baby! These illustrated storybooks printed on paper-like, nontoxic material that can’t be ripped, torn, or punctured when in the hands and teeth of babies. Washable, foldable, and easily portable, these are a diaper bag must-have.

Indestructibles are the 100% baby proof, chew proof, rip proof, completely washable, and nontoxic series of books. Books built for the way babies read, Indestructibles are printed on an amazing nontoxic, paperlike material that holds up to endless chewing, gumming, gnawing, grabbing, bending, and pulling. They’re made for baby to hold, grab, chew, pull, and bend, and are designed to create an even more special bond between reader and baby. Printed without words, the parent gets to make up the story, or just cuddle with baby while they explore together.


These books are great! Brandon occasionally rips my magazines, so I buy him board books. Indestructibles are indestructible and rip-proof. He enjoys looking at the pictures. Without any words to read, I tell him the stories and he would remember it by recognizing the pictures. And because there are no words, Mom and Dad are encouraged to make up their own stories around the pictures - perfect for parent-baby bonding.

The creators of Indestructibles are Amy Pixton, a mother of triplets, and her mother-in-law, Kaaren Pixton, an artist and children’s educator.











BUY IT
These books are available for purchase directly from their website at http://www.workman.com or on Amazon.com.

WIN IT
One (1) lucky reader will have a chance to win the copies of INDESTRUCTIBLES Books. Chosen winner will be selected via Random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize. Make sure you leave your email so I can contact you.

This is a mandatory entry:
1) Visit the website at http://www.workman.com and tell me in the comment below what is your favorite Indestructables Book.

For Additional Optional Entries (Post in a separate comment for each additional entry):

2) Follow me on Google Friend Connect (2 entries)
3) Follow me on one of my other 2 blogs via Google Friend Connect - listed below followers on the sidebar (1 entry each)
4) Follow me on Twitter @jennieyuen (1 entry)
5) Follow Workman Publishing on Twitter @WorkmanPub (1 entry)
6) LIKE my Facebook Page at Jen's Reviews and Giveaways (1 entry)
7) LIKE my OTHER Facebook Page at The Art of Jennie Yuen (1 entry)
8) LIKE Workman Publishing on Facebook (1 entry)
9) Post about this giveaway on your blog with the URL in the comment. (3 entries)
10) Tweet about this giveaway by tweeting the following. (3 entries):  
Win a copy of the Indestructibles rip-proof and non-toxic books from @WorkmanPub. Review & Giveaway @jennieyuen - http://bit.ly/i4IAtX
 

Contest is open to US & Canada. Contest closes December 24, 2010 11:59pm (PST).


Disclosure: I received a set of children's books from Workman Publishing at no charge in exchange for a review of my opinion. The opinions expressed are my own personal and honest thoughts. No other compensation was given.

The 2010 Aflac Holiday Duck

Macy's and Aflac have teamed up this holiday season to sell this limited edition 2010 Aflac Holiday Duck. Proceeds from the sale of this Aflac Holiday Duck will be donated by Macy's and Aflac to benefit pediatric cancer treatment and research at a children's hospital. With your purchase, you can help make a difference in the lives of these children and their families.

This year's Holiday Duck is dressed in a light blue/baby blue colored scarf and holiday hat. The duck is adorned with a silver snowflake on its chest. When you squeeze it, the duck squawks "Aflaac". The Aflac Holiday Duck comes in a six-inch size for $10 and a 10-inch size for $15.

This is a US charity program and I am sharing this to all my American friends as well as my Canadian friends. My family (the hubby and little Brandon) and I will be traveling again and taking a road trip for our cross-border shopping. We do this quite often as we live very close to Washington State. I am thinking of picking up a couple of the adorable Aflac Holiday Ducks for my friends and support the cause.



For more info or to order, please visit the following websites:
http://www.aflacholidayduck.com
http://www.macys.com


Disclosure: I received a complimentary Aflac Holiday Duck at no charge from Aflac in exchange for this post and review of my opinion. The opinions expressed are my own personal and honest thoughts. No other compensation was given.

120 Sing Along Songs & Activity Set Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

Baby Brandon's Adventures
Holiday Gift Guide presents...
Children's Music CD Gift Sets from Twin Sisters Productions


120 Sing Along Songs & Activities: 4CD/4Booklet Gift Set

120 learning songs, silly songs, party songs and more on 4 CDs! Plus, 4 removable activity books with 120 fun things to do with kids—all packaged in a fold-open hardcover book! CDs include: 30 Learning Songs, 30 Party Songs, 30 Playtime Songs, and 30 Silly Songs. Activity Books include 30 Learning Activities, 30 Party Activities, 30 Playtime Activities, and 30 Silly Activities. Product is meant for Ages 2 to 8.



30 Silly Songs:
Children are guaranteed to S-M-I-L-E with this collection of 30 silly, goofy nonsense songs! Plus, never run out of things to do with these 30 easy and fun activities to do with kids included in the booklet!

30 Party Songs:
Mave and wiggle, laugh and play with this collection of 30 party songs and musical games! Plus, the booklet features 30 simple activities and games ideal for any kids' party or playtime!

30 Playtime Songs:
Young and old will sing along with these 30 all-time favorite children's songs! Have fun together with the 30 easy and fun activities to do with kids!

30 Learning Songs:
Learning is as easy as singing great new songs. Learn the alphabet, letter sounds, days of the week, colors, shapes, numbers, animal sounds, personal safety rules, and more! The booklet features 30 fun and easy learning activities to do with kids!

I received the opportunity to review the 120 Sing-Along Songs set. The set comes with a hard cover flip-open book that keeps the contents organized. Brandon enjoyed the songs. He recognized some of the songs that we sang during circle time from the Family Drop-In Program we go to. Sometimes we listen to the CDs during our playtime at home and sometimes he'll follow along with the tunes. This assortment keeps him entertained and educated.








When I received the CDs and book set, I thought the illustrations looked familiar. Then I went to look for the other CD/Books set we already have (the 30 Children's Songs with 12 mini books). Oh, and what a surprise... I just realized it was also created by Twin Sisters Productions. I bought this set via AVON (I'm also a rep). I love their collection of children's songs.



About Twin Sisters Productions:

Twin Sisters Productions is a leading producer of educational music resources for children and families. The award-winning product line includes lullabies, classical music, original relaxation music, preschool and early childhood learning, reading readiness, math, foreign languages, social studies, science, musical plays for the classroom, inspirational music, and more.

Fraternal Twins Kim Thompson and Karen Hilderbrand have always been close, and have always worked well together. This company was born out of a love for children and seeing the wonderful look of pride on their faces when they have mastered a concept, and have had fun doing it!





BUY IT
There are many other wonderful children's books and music CDs available for purchase at directly from their website at http://www.twinsisters.com or on Amazon.com.

WIN IT
One (1) lucky reader will have a chance to win the same copy of the above 120 Sing Along Songs & Activity Set (4books/4CDs). Chosen winner will be selected via Random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize. Make sure you leave your email so I can contact you.

This is a mandatory entry:
1) Visit the website at www.twinsisters.com and tell me in the comment below what other products they have that you like.

For Additional Optional Entries (Post in a separate comment for each additional entry):

2) Follow me on Google Friend Connect (2 entries)
3) Follow me on one of my other 2 blogs via Google Friend Connect - listed below followers on the sidebar (1 entry each)
4) Follow me on Twitter @jennieyuen (1 entry)
5) Follow Twin Sisters Productions on Twitter @TwinSistersProd (1 entry)
6) LIKE my Facebook Page at Jen's Reviews and Giveaways (1 entry)
7) LIKE my OTHER Facebook Page at The Art of Jennie Yuen (1 entry)
8) LIKE Twin Sisters Productions on Facebook (1 entry)
9) Post about this giveaway on your blog with the URL in the comment. (3 entries)
10) Tweet about this giveaway by tweeting the following. (3 entries):  
Win a copy of children's 120 Sing Along CD set with books from @TwinSistersProd. Review & Giveaway @jennieyuen - http://bit.ly/eHbShx
 

Contest is open to US & Canada. Contest closes December 22, 2010 11:59pm (PST).


Disclosure: I received a set of children's music CDs with books from Twin Sisters Productions at no charge in exchange for a review of my opinion. The opinions expressed are my own personal and honest thoughts. No other compensation was given.

Kidorable’s Thanksgiving and Christmas promotions

Looking for a smart holiday deal? Check out Kidorable’s Thanksgiving and Christmas promotions.

Kidorable will provide Free Freight via UPS Ground on all orders placed between November 28 through Sunday, December 5.

Head over to http://www.kidorable.com website and use coupon code GRATEFUL2 at checkout to get free shipping on any order, big or small.

PLUS, the first 12 days of December, Kidorable will be giving lucky winners FREE products every weekday.  All you need to do is become a fan on their Facebook or follow Kidorable on Twitter and share the excitement with your friends.

To enter, just post a comment on Kidorable' Facebook page or retweet each Giveaway.  Winners will be randomly drawn every weekday at 2pm CST.  The first contest will be announced November 30.

For all your child's rainy day needs visit www.kidorable.com

Life Without Plastic Cereal Bowls Review & Giveaway

Baby Brandon's Adventures
Holiday Gift Guide presents...

I don't really like using plastic bowls/dishes or containers due to some health risks. I remember when I was told that heating food in a plastic container (even if the label says microwaveable) is not very good for us. Covering a ceramic dish with saran-wrap and heating in the microwave is bad too. Toxic chemicals can develop and can be harmful to us if consumed over the long term.

There are alternatives to plastic such as aluminium, stainless steel, wood, ceramic, etc. These bowls are the perfect gift for this year's holiday. Whether it's for your kids, your relatives, or friend with kids, they will enjoy it.

I was given the opportunity to review the kid's cereal bowls and the stainless steel sandwich container from Life Without Plastic created by Sanctus Mundo, a brand of products that contain little or no plastic at all. They are dedicated to helping our families and children and making the environment better by encouraging us to reduce the use of plastics.

The interior of these kid's bowls is made of high quality stainless steel and the outside is made of stable and durable polypropylene plastic. Dimensions: 12 cm (4.7") diameter X 6.5 cm (2.6") height. Volume: approx. 1 1/2 cups.

The four bowl set comes with four colors, each with a different design:

- Pink Rabbit
- Blue Dolphin
- Green Frog
- Yellow Tiger


The bowls are great for Brandon to use. We used it for cereal, snacks, fruits, and even warm food for lunch and dinner. Since these are stainless steel, it is not microwaveable. Brandon likes the colorful bowls and the cute characters printed on the side. Ever since he noticed these new bowls, he wanted to use them instead of the melamine bowls that he's been using.

Here's a little tip from LifeWithoutPlastic: The lids from standard yogurt containers (750g/26oz) fit nicely on these bowls for keeping leftovers fresh.







The Stainless Steel Sandwich Box is compact and fits a standard sandwich perfectly. There are no latches for the lid, so I used rubber bands to keep it in place. Because it is metal, it has a bit of weight. I like it that it's durable and reusable and easy to clean. The only thing I'm worried about is dropping it and putting a dent on the corner. I dropped my aluminum water bottle before and made an ugly dent. ugh!




BUY IT
There are many other wonderful children's dish and cup set available. The bowls with the stainless steel interior comes in a set of four at price of $19.99. If you like to purchase individual bowls, each costs $6.95.





The bowls come in an eco-friendly designer box by Matthew Langille. As an artist myself, I give him a thumbs up for the great artwork.









WIN IT
One (1) lucky reader will have a chance to win a kid's cereal bowl set with the stainless steel interior. Chosen winner will be selected via Random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize. Make sure you leave your email so I can contact you.

This is a mandatory entry:
1) Visit the website at LifeWithoutPlastic and tell me in the comment below what other products they have that you like.

For Additional Optional Entries (Post in a separate comment for each additional entry):

2) Follow me on Google Friend Connect (2 entries)
3) Follow me on one of my other 2 blogs via Google Friend Connect - listed below followers on the sidebar (1 entry each)
4) Follow me on Twitter @jennieyuen (1 entry)
5) Follow LifeWithoutPlastic on Twitter @LifeWoutPlastic (1 entry)
6) LIKE my Facebook Page at Jen's Reviews and Giveaways (1 entry)
7) LIKE my OTHER Facebook Page at The Art of Jennie Yuen (1 entry)
8) LIKE LifeWithoutPlastic on Facebook (1 entry)
9) Post about this giveaway on your blog with the URL in the comment. (3 entries)
10) Tweet about this giveaway by tweeting the following. (3 entries):  
Win a set of kids cereal bowls with SS interior from @LifeWoutPlastic & reduce use of plastics. Review @jennieyuen - http://bit.ly/9TYCJX
 

Contest is open to US & Canada. Contest closes December 18, 2010 11:59pm (PST).


I am also participating the Holiday Gift Guide with other participating blogs.



Disclosure: I received a set of the kid's bowls and sandwich box from LifeWithoutPlastic at no charge in exchange for a review of my opinion. Also thanks to Sanctus Mundo. The opinions expressed are my own personal and honest thoughts. No other compensation was given.