Archive for the ‘Holiday Gift Guide’ Category

Christmas is only days away and New Year is right after! Can you believe it? I’m preparing myself to begin working on photo books and albums from all my 2011 endeavors. My 2011 was certainly a year full of so very much. I have been looking for place to easily make photo collages, calendars, digital scrapbooks, and cards to share with family and friends. I had been using one program currently but it’s been very limited in what I can do. And though I love the look of scrap-booking by hand, it often becomes quite expensive purchasing papers, embellishments, and more.

I recently was given the opportunity to try out Picture Collage Maker Pro.  This is a useful and helpful software program that gives people the opportunity to easily create and share photo collage projects of all kinds. In fact, right now they have a Special  Christmas Edition that contains 26 abundant brand new professional Christmas templates to create Holiday cards to send along to friends and family. I love that you can choose whether or not if you’d like to print or send your creations by e-mail or regular post. You can even create desktop wallpaper of all your favorite photos!

I’ve been using this software for about a week now and I’ll have to say that it’s very user friendly! There are options to use pre-made templates, but you can also customize and create your very own quite easily. There are backgrounds, stickers, photo frames, and any more items and tools to create a one of a kind gift or greeting that’s specific to you and your family to share or keep for yourself.

There’s a resource page which you can download add on templates to include in the program! Tutorials and design ideas and suggestions also can be found. If you fan the software created Pearl Mountain on Facebook you’ll be able to download some great bonus templates too! If you sign up for their free newsletter you’ll be in the know of when new templates and updates are available.

Overall I am really happy with Picture Collage Maker Pro. It’s user-friendly. It doesn’t slow down my computer like other collage sites and programs I’ve used. It has lots of great pre-made templates to choose from for holidays, seasons, and so much more. I couldn’t be happier!

You can purchase Picture Collage Maker Pro for $ 39.90 off their website or you can try to win 1 of 20  license for free here on my blog! Please enter below through Rafflecopter!

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I’m really pleased to see a lot of parents going back to the basics for kids toys this year! Arts & crafts, blocks, dress up items,  stuffed animals or figurines, musical instruments, and puzzles are classic toys that every child should have and play with. Honestly, what could be better than those battery free types of toys that provide hours upon hours of imaginative play?

Speaking of a classic, who hasn’t built a fort with blankets strung across chairs or other furniture growing up? I know I did. I remember having hours of fun with my sisters building and playing inside our own secret little space often crafted with our own bedding and our mothers clothes pins for hanging laundry. This method worked okay but almost always ended up with our sheet falling down constantly!

I had been wanting to get my daughter a tent to play in. She had one but somehow the poles got misplaced during our move. Poles sort of scare me too with a baby boy around. I could just imagine a pole popping out of place breaking things around the house and possibly even seriously injuring somebody. There had to be something better out there and this is when I found out about The Happy Kid Company, A company that specializes in forts for kids.

We were sent a Fun Fort in Hot Pink to review. And here’s why we love it;

• Easy to securely put up & take down with stretchy Velcro adjustable loops
• It has corner pockets that add extra stability or to hide treasures!
• Can be used indoors and outdoors (water resistant)
• It’s washable and super durable
• Included are 6 extra stretchy extension loops
• It’s portable and store able without taking up much space.
• A free matching tote bag is included!
• Can be made into a fort, teepee, tunnel or canopy
• Provides  endless hours of imaginative play

My daughter has been using her Fun Fort to encircle her bunk bed. It’s really easy to put up and take down. She absolutely loves it and I do too. We are both happy that it’s stayed put. We also can’t wait to take it outdoors for play this Spring and Summer!

The Fun Fort comes in Blue, Lime and Hot Pink, and can be purchased for $34.95  from The Happy Kid Company or at Amazon.com! Be sure to check out the other types of forts they offer too! This toy is well worth the investment, I guarantee it.

**Deal Alert**

In honor of the Parents’ Choice Silver Award, The Happy Kid Company will be discounting THE FORTAMAJIG FUN FORT! for a limited time when purchased till the end of the year. Simply visit The Happy Kid Company’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/thehappykidcompany for more details.

Win It!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was sent the above product mentioned for review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.

Do you know any kids, teens, or adults that like to create spectacular imaginative things with blocks? If so, you are going to want to check out Nanoblocks! These blocks are micro-sized building blocks (about 1/8 the size of a traditional LEGO-style building block) that allows building of 3-D objects that can literally fit into the palm of your hand.  Developed in Tokyo, Nanoblock blocks lock firmly together, thanks to their patented design.

I was able to review the Sagrada Familia which comes from the Nanoblocks “Sites to See series. This set is a level 4 difficulty with over 550 assorted pieces in various shapes and sizes. I haven’t completed putting it together yet because I have no doubt it’s going to take a few hours even with the very detailed instructions. I thought I would mention to that you aren’t limited to making the sample creation on the box either. You can make whatever you’d like letting your imagination take you.

NanoBlock’s are sure to be a hit with both boys and girls that love building boxes. Some of the series lines include animals such as penguins, dolphins, and pandas to name a few. And in the “Sites to See” series builders can reproduce popular travel locations such as Kinkakuji Temple, Eiffel Tower, and the The greatest, smallest Giant Banyan Tree on the planet!

NanoBlocks are available in a variety of kit sizes and prices start at $10.00 and up depending on which sets or series lines it’s from. Age recommendation is for ages 8 and up. These would make awesome stocking stuffers this Holiday season too!

You can purchase Nanoblocks at places like Think Geek, Toys R Us, and at Amazon.com.

Disclaimer: I was sent the above product mentioned for review. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited or reviewed by anyone. I was not compensated in any other way for this product review.