Winners !

Congratulations winners! I will be emailing you soon.

Tropical Traditions Shredded Coconut - pamalot said... 21  

Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner - Soozle said... 22  

 Please check out the live giveaways and more interesting giveaways to come! Thank you all for your time and enthusiastic participation. I wish you all a great week.

Before I sign off for today, I wanted to share  a part of my daily devotion. It was truly such a warm assurance to my prayers and I feel lifted up in my spirit.Hopefully someone else will be blessed too as they read this. 

God guides us, often by circumstances. At one moment the way may seem utterly blocked; and then shortly afterward some trivial incident occurs, which might not seem much to others, but which to the keen eye of faith speaks volumes. Sometimes these things are repeated in various ways, in answer to prayer. They are not haphazard results of chance, but the opening up of circumstances in the direction in which we would walk. And they begin to multiply as we advance toward our goal, just as the lights do as we near a populous town, when darting through the land by night express. --F. B. Meyer
If you go to Him to be guided, He will guide you; but He will not comfort your distrust or half-trust of Him by showing you the chart of all His purposes concerning you. He will show you only into a way where, if you go cheerfully and trustfully forward, He will show you on still farthcr. --Horace Bushnell
 May you see God's guidance in every step you take this week! 

"The Gruffalo" from NCircle Entertainment ( R+G) 8/19

Ncircle continues to provide remarkable entertainment for children..this time with a real classic. You will just fall in love with this movie after you watch it. Children will watch it over and over again! So, what's a Gruffalo? Ask the mouse. 


The mouse who just wanted to enjoy a nut is faced with hurdles before he reaches his destination where he will enjoy all the nuts he would want. Sounded simple.But it became an herculean task as the mouse looked delicious to some bigger members of the forest. The mouse apparently had a brain much bigger than the biggest members of the forest. The twist in the story can easily be anticipated by adults but, children will watch in high anticipation of who is going to eat who! 

This movie is a short and cute story and a perfect example of how a storybook can be brought to life. We watched it for a Friday Family Movie Night and it was nice to watch something without any violence and having to fast forward because of something being inappropriate for my son. 100% child friendly.

Release Date: 8/16/2011

You can buy it for $8.99 at NCircle.

You also have the chance to win The Gruffalo DVD right here!

Please ensure that your email is mentioned in all or at least 2 of your entries.
 
Mandatory Entry:

- Follow my blog on GFC

Additional entries ( 1 entry each, leave a comment)
   
  •   Fan NCircle on Facebook 
  • Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter. 
  •   Follow on Networked blogs 
  • Become an email subscriber 
  • Enter any other giveaway 

This Giveaway is open to US & Canada until August 19, 2011.Random Generator will choose a winner.
 
(Disclaimer: Thanks to NCircle Entertainment  for sponsoring this review and giveaway through a free product. I was not monetarily compensated for this review.All opinions are my own.)

Classic VeggieTales Characters are Back from the I Can Read Series! (R+G) 8/19

Bob, Larry, Junior and many other beloved VeggieTales characters return with more fun-filled stories that teach children strong Christian values.  

In four vivid new books, hitting shelves just in time for the new school year, beginning readers will be enriched with lessons from their favorite VeggieTales characters, while also learning the fundamentals of reading with I Can Read!'s simple text format. The books include:




















JUNIOR BATTLES TO BE HIS BEST
A Lesson in Self-Confidence

When all his friends are competing in the Battle of the Bands, Junior sits out the chance to play his tuba in front of a huge audience. He doesn't think he's very good. With the help of his friends and his faith in God, Junior finds the courage to jump onto the stage and perform with his friends in a winning number.

BOB AND LARRY IN THE CASE OF THE MISSING PATIENCE
A Lesson in Being Patient

Bob and Larry are on the case of the Masked Door Slammer when the Pod Squad threatens to ruin their investigation. But the Pod Squad really wants to learn from the best. In the end, Bob and Larry learn that patience to teach others yields the best teamwork.

THE FAIREST TOWN IN THE WEST
A Lesson in Playing Fair

Sherriff Bob and Deputy Larry have their hands full when the Ratt Scallion gang blows into town. It's up to Bob and Larry to settle the chaos, reminding both the residents and the Ratt Scallion gang that there is nothing to gain by behaving badly.  

BOB AND LARRY'S CREATION VACATION
A Lesson about Creation

Bob and Larry take off for a wonderful adventure across the world so they can see all that God created live and in person. In just seven days, Bob and Larry follow the path of God, discovering all of what he was able to accomplish in one week. They even rest on the seventh day, just as God did.  


There are some books that are an instant hit with my son and this set of 4 books are one of those super-hits! Though he loves to read with me, he took the initiative of taking the books by himself and spent time looking at them. So the presentation of illustrations and well-spaced words have successfully paid off! We really liked the way the book kept his attention. The stories are short, interesting and thrilling with humor incorporated to make it more interesting.

Illustrations are very colorful and fill 3/4th of the page, leaving room for 4 lines per page. Words are printed in large print and every effort has been made to make it appealing to a small child.

The books are amazing and even made way for some crunchy cucumber snack as we read them ! " I am eating Bob!" Even if you have never watched or read veggie tales before, you will enjoy these books.

It was excellent for a read aloud session although I felt it would be hard for young readers who are beginning to sound out word and sentences to pronounce or read words like "detective" or "badger". It could be made one step easier to read by simplifying the words.

You can buy the above books for $3.99 each from Zonderkidz.

1 lucky winner will have the chance to win these books right here!

Mandatory Entry:
  • Follow my blog on GFC  ( 1 entry)
Additional entries ( 1 entry each, leave a comment)
  • Fan Zondervan on Facebook
  • Follow Zondervan on Twitter
  • Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter.
  • Follow on Networked blogs
  • Become an email subscriber
  • Enter any other giveaway
This Giveaway is open to US & Canada until Aug 19, 2011 .Random Generator will choose a winner and will be announced.
 
(Disclaimer: Thanks to Zonderkidz  for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. All opinions expressed here are only my own.)

Zonderkidz: "Made by God" , A Colorful Five-Book Collection that Teaches Children about their favorite animals (R+G) 8/19


God's four-legged creatures, mysterious amphibians, critters that soar, and other animals are celebrated in this fascinating new series, MADE BY GOD  from the popular I CAN READ! brand. Teaching children ages 4-7 fun facts about their favorite animals, MADE BY GOD is a five-book collection of intriguing photos and simple text that will entice beginner readers. Level-two readers will enjoy learning about their favorite animals with every turn of the page.







In BARNYARD CRITTERS ($3.99), readers will learn that male cows, called bulls, can weigh up to 3,000 pounds and that pigs actually like to live in clean pens.   
  
In CURIOUS CREATURES DOWN UNDER ($3.99),they'll discover that the koala's favorite food is the leaf of the eucalyptus tree and that certain kangaroos can jump six feet into the air.   

In POLAR PALS ($3.99), readers will find that the polar bear's favorite food is the seal and that the emperor penguin is the largest penguin in the world.  

In FOREST FRIENDS ($3.99), young readers learn that moose can run up to 35 miles per hour and that porcupines are talented tree climbers.   

And, in JUNGLE BEASTS ($3.99), it is revealed that anteaters can eat up to 30,000 ants in one day and that elephants are the largest land animal on Earth. 

These books are the perfect example of " a picture is worth a 1000 words". Just with 4 lines in a page, and high resolution photographs of animals make it simply stunning for little ones. There are some new animals that my son was excited to see ( ok, even me!). Some of the names of animals were sort of hard to pronounce but the "how to spell" option in brackets is an excellent idea.He has learned many new words in the form of animal names and even facts about them. This is a book that can be used till your child exhausts learning all the facts from this book.

The books are just the right size to carry and light enough for a young reader to hold. The pictures cover 3/4th of a page and grabs the attention right away. Then there is no way that a child can say no to knowing more about the animal! You have to see the photographs to believe it! 

I was thankful to have these books to share with my son to teach him about the variety in God's creations. It also teaches children about the habits and habitats of each creation .

You can buy the above books online at Zonderkidz.

1 lucky reader will have the chance to win the above books for your little ones!

Mandatory Entry:
  • Follow my blog on GFC  ( 1 entry)
Additional entries ( 1 entry each, leave a comment)
  • Fan Zondervan on Facebook
  • Follow Zondervan on Twitter
  • Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter.
  • Follow on Networked blogs
  • Become an email subscriber
  • Enter any other giveaway
This Giveaway is open to US & Canada until Aug 19, 2011 .Random Generator will choose a winner and will be announced.
 
(Disclaimer: Thanks to Zonderkidz  for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. All opinions expressed here are only my own.)

Back-to-School with Skechers! ( R+G) 8/27




Haven't found the perfect shoes for those busy little feet? Look no more!

Last winter, I learned the art of shopping for shoes for my little boy,  through an incident. At pre-school, all the children in my son's class were able to put on their shoes without help. My poor baby struggled with it everyday and the teacher told me that I should make him do it everyday at home. I was encouraging him at home even though he took a lot of time. It made me think- the shoe had velcro and it was his right size, so why is he struggling? Then I observed that the top hole in the shoe through which he slides his feet in were small and thus causing him difficulty to get in.

I went to a shoe store and bought a pair of canvas with velcro, to make it easy for him to put it on.He did put it on with ease, but I wasn't too happy with the sole of the canvas as it wasn't absorbing the pressure off his feet. It was a hard sole. But it was meant for indoors in his pre-school, so it was ok until I found another comfortable pair.

I recently had the chance to review a pair of Skechers Luminators and only wish I had known about Skechers earlier.



I have to highlight the generous amount of space to slide the foot in! Yeah, I know, the LIGHTS. But let's talk about quality first as it matters the most in shoes.
  • Nubuck leather and textured synthetic upper
  • Textured toe and heel bumpers for added safety
  • Metallic mesh panels for cooling effect
  • Metallic overlay detail
  • Side S logo
  • Luminators and space logo detailing
  • Front lights and top strap lights glow brightly with every step!
  • Wide front strap with alien symbol light up effect
  • Side Hook and Loop closure for a perfect fit
  • Front elastic fabric panel for easy access
  • Padded collar and tongue
  • Soft fabric shoe lining
  • Cushioned insole
  • Shock absorbing midsole
  • Aggressive trail styled traction outsole is ready for any adventure!
  If your child has trouble making bunny ears to tie the laces, think VELCRO! The velcro is pretty wide and provides a lot of grip and keeps it in place. Yes, there are LIGHTS that light up on the velcro.I will get to it shortly.


The sole is made of aggressive trail styled traction or simply put - the child will not skid and fall off while moving in these shoes as the design has a lot of grip on it. So take off and never mind the floor!


Cushioned insole and shock absorbing midsole, provides a lot of comfort for little feet. This feature is very important as children are active and pressure and shock during movement should not be sent back into their legs.It will make them easily tired during activities.

The textured bumpers in the toe and heel ensure safety while kicking rocks or biking  whatever action role your  child loves to perform!

The lining in the shoe is made of soft fabric and feels like it can breathe and not make feet feel very hot inside. I did not hear any complaints from my son saying it was hot.

And now let's get to the fun stuff..the LIGHTS! They do have some bright lights that will light up on the velcro strap and on the sides of the shoes every time the strap is opened. It also lights up when the sole touches the floor hardly. It will be a fun feature until the lights last. But I would be a perfectly satisfied customer as long as the shoes continue to function as shoes mainly.

The lights can be alluring to children and my toddler was so attracted to the shoes for the light but I sort of highlighted how "comfortable" they felt. I did not want him to stop wearing the shoes after the lights go off for some reason. It looks like it has some mini batteries buried somewhere in the strap.Not sure of the technology, but even if it has batteries, it will be of no danger.

So are you convinced that Skechers can be a quality and fun choice for your child this year?You have the opportunity to win a pair of Skechers Luminators right here on my blog!

Mandatory Entry:
  • Follow my blog on GFC  ( 1 entry)
Additional entries ( 1 entry each, leave a comment)

This Giveaway is open to residents of  Canada until Aug 27, 2011 .Random Generator will choose a winner and will be announced.
 
(Disclaimer: Thanks to Skechers Canada  for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. All opinions expressed here are only my own.)

STRIDER Prebike : Review + Coupon code

I was pretty pleased when I was sent the Strider for review! My little man who was getting bored with his tricycle needed something more challenging. And with the beautiful weather, it is time to get out and move ! Strider arrived and it took a few minutes to assemble it.He felt no hesitation to try something new. He hopped on and till today there is no stopping him. When we bring it in, he goes around on it inside the house too.That's how much he loves it!

How does riding a Strider™ benefit a child?
 
With the light weight and simplicity of a Strider™, young riders soon feel confident and in control. At this young age, bicycles are simply too tall, too heavy, and too complex for youngsters to feel this sense of control. Advances in coordination and balance follow quickly as do the development of the thought processes necessary for steering, crossing obstacles, backing up, and doing tricks. To watch this development of thought and skill is actually quite amazing.

I chose a bold and vibrant green color for my review and it looks strikingly beautiful and stylish!

 
  • Light as a Feather! 
Okay, maybe not a feather, but at only 6.9 lbs your toddler will have no problem maneuvering over any obstackes with this bike.

  • How Low Can You Go!
With one of the lowest and most adjustable seat heights the Strider™ PREbike accommodates riders as young as 18 months and up to 5 years of age.
  •    Feet Seat!
The Strider™ PREbike is the only running/balance bike with frame integrated Launch Pad™ foot rests ergonomically located below the saddle. Launch your child's skills to the next level: gliding with feet up, riding while standing up, jumping & bunnyhopping
 
 It is a fabulous bike, extremely sturdy and well built with excellent designing. After seeing the bike, I truly believe that an 18month old will have no problems riding this bike. I only wish I had this bike for my son earlier! If you have a 18 month old, do not invest in expensive trikes or bicycles.Save yourself some bucks. Go for this and your child can straightaway graduate to a real bike with pedals. Your child would have had enough training in balancing, they will easily ride a pedal bike with very minimal frustration. A little frustration is ok ( smile). My son's favorite thing is to ride it on the grass without shoes and feel the grass.
Glad he likes nature! ( giggle) Shoes are highly recommended for roads though.


 The weight of the bike is very manageable for a 2-3 yr old if they fall with it. They can easily pick it up by themselves. There is no worry of getting hurt by a poking pedal. My son even carried the bike on a 6 flight staircase by himself. He for once felt not needing help with something! Strider is a real "tool" to develop and aim at getting the balance to eventually ride a bike. 

The handle bar is structured for little hands and my son had absolutely no problems with it. He even hung a bag filled with little cars on the handle bar and mentioned that he was going shopping for more!



The seat is adjustable according to the child's height - Adjustable from 11" to 16" (up to 19" with optional 305mm XL Seatpost).

The most important thing in a bike is the tire. And Strider took care of it really well - All terrain, puncture-proof, moulded foam... no flats, ever! You can't complain! 
At $129, you cannot go wrong with the value and quality that comes with it.

It also comes with an integrated footrest which the rider can use while gliding downhill on a slope. This feature is simple but well thought of and integrated in the bike.

In a few weeks, he learned his balance and I clicked a photo while he was doing his balancing act. Strider made it so easy for him to learn, which otherwise is  perceived a hard-to-achieve goal.





You can see how much even I have been enjoying taking pictures of the little rider on Strider. I think Strider is extremely photogenic and looks great in its bright colors.Perfectly matches the personality of my bubbly little toddler! Strider comes in many colors and I love them all.



You can also opt-in to buy various accessories as the rider grows and learns with Strider. For eg. the  brake option is available for an advanced rider.

Does the Strider™ have brakes?
 
The beginning rider should only use his/her feet against the ground to control speed and to stop. For the advanced rider, the Strider™ is designed to accept an optional foot-operated rear friction brake that not only stops the Strider™ quickly, but also creates a cool skid mark when applied hard!

Have more questions about Strider? Hop over to read the interesting facts about Strider in their F.A.Q section.  Connect with Strider in their Facebook page to learn what others have to say about Strider and also to get the latest buzz from Strider.

Riding a bike should be a fun and simple physical activity for little ones.It should not appear to be rocket science for them to figure out different parts of  a bike in order to ride it. That's what Strider is about- simple, pure fun that encourages and motivates a specific skill in order to achieve a higher skill. Isn't this why they say "learning is fun"?  Absolutely!

Strider is offering a coupon code for my readers to use for free shipping and a free bell when you purchase a Strider PREbike. The coupon code is valid only Canadian residents and is valid until August 31, 2011.


The coupon code is "ToddlerTalesStrider" .


Hope you enjoyed reading this review!


 (Disclaimer: Thanks to the sponsor  for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. All opinions expressed here are only my own. I reserve the copyright for personal photographs posted on this review.)

Winners!

Thanks to all who participated in the Mega Toddler Giveaway! It is time to announce the lucky person who will get all the wonderful toys and games..so here we go..

Mega Toddler Giveaway - Andrea said... 57  

Mealtime Toddler Board Book - Jen P said... 25 

Stay tuned for some interesting "Back to School" giveaways. If you haven't subscribed by email, you may want to do that so that you do not miss the fab giveaways in store! Say what to a neat pair of Skechers for your little one just in time for school? Love it? Keep checking back!

Have a great and blessed week!

Zonderkidz' The Berenstain Bears - 3 books (R+G) 8/6

Reading Zonderkidz books, not only inspires young lives but takes me back to my childhood every time and makes me reflect on how books have influenced my life. I am so thankful for good books like these. You can also see that we have been reading a lot of books this weekend!


In The Berenstain Bears Show Some Respect, the whole Bear Family learns a thing or two about respecting their elders.
 
We have enjoyed every single page of this book. My son understand the story and grasps the simple and valuable lessons that simply oozes out right after the very first read! It has provided quality reading time and one of the best books ever.



In this Berenstain Bears® Living Lights™ level One I Can Read, the Good Deed Scouts help Mama Bear with her household chores. 
 
How much work can be done with just an extra hand? My wishful thinking! It is a wonderful read to help little ones know that a simple help can mean so much to someone else. Perfect to get them to understand the importance of helping around at home!



In The Berenstain Bears and the Little Lost Cub helping a lost cub find his mother is a perfect good deed for the Scouts. Through this search the cubs are reminded that God rejoices whenever any one of his creatures is found.

The Scouts are up for yet another good deed! And this time they help a lost cub. This story is very simple with a nice ending and a lesson to learn. My son loved the part when the police officer steps in. He was so excited with the new twist in the story and it got more thrilling for him. Was really enjoyable!

You can buy the above books online at Zonderkidz.

1 lucky reader will have the chance to win the above 3 "beary" cute books for your little ones!

Mandatory Entry:
  • Follow my blog on GFC  ( 1 entry)
Additional entries ( 1 entry each, leave a comment)
  • Fan Zondervan on Facebook
  • Follow Zondervan on Twitter
  • Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter.
  • Follow on Networked blogs
  • Become an email subscriber
  • Enter any other giveaway
This Giveaway is open to US & Canada until Aug 8, 2011 .Random Generator will choose a winner and will be announced.
 
(Disclaimer: Thanks to Zonderkidz  for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. All opinions expressed here are only my own.)

Mega Toddler Giveaway - June 27-July 22, 2011

Note: This post will stay as a sticky post / the top post till July 22, 2011. 
Please scroll down for more posts and giveaways.

It is finally here! All the fun and exciting prizes in one bundle and for ONE winner ! Hurrah! Make sure you do all the entries to maximize your chances of winning. I had to take off 1 of the books in the prize pack as I have not yet received them.But I added 2 games from the Cars 2 edition. Yippeee for your Cars fan!

I want to thank all the sponsors for helping me make this giveaway possible. So here we go..prizes of total $320 value!

LeapFrog's Scribble & Write

 

LeapFrog's My Pal Scout : R+G

LeapFrog's My own LeapTop

TONKA TS 4000 DUMP TRUCK Vehicle

Tonka R/C Ricochet

Crayola Beginnings Color Me A Song

Hasbro's Memory Game - Cars 2 Edition

SORRY! Sliders Disney Pixar Cars 2 Edition

 NCircle Entertainment - Animal ABC's and Animal 123's 


 

Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD series

Zonderkidz: S is for Snowman

Zonderkidz : Thank you God

 The above prizes are a part of one prize pack and one winner will receive all the above products. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada.

Here is how you can win it:

Mandatory Entry:
  • Follow my blog on GFC and tell me who would you like to win this prize pack for. ( 1 entry)
Additional entries ( 1 entry each, leave a comment)
  • Follow "Toddler Tales by Mommy" on Twitter.
  • Follow on Networked blogs
  • Become an email subscriber
Additional entries ( 2 entries each, leave a comment) 

  • Tweet once a day about this giveaway " Enter this #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/655k78e & win a Mega Toddler Prize, ends July 22"
  • Post the "Mega Toddler Giveaway" badge and leave a link in your comment.
Additional entries ( 3 entries each, leave a comment) 
  • Blog about this giveaway and leave a link.
  • If you blog on different days, you can leave a link in your comment and claim entries.
This Giveaway is open to residents of  Canada until July 22, 2011.Random Generator will choose a winner and will be announced.
 
(Disclaimer: Thanks to all the above sponsors  for sending me the featured products for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.All opinions expressed here are only my own.)