Green Toys is an awesome company that does everything it possibly can to reduce their carbon footprint and offer great products for children of all ages! I love this company and will continue to support them in buying products from their numerous lines for my own children and to share praises with everyone I know!

My nearly 1 1/2 year old son Owen, has lately been spending his days playing with the Mini Vehicle Set from Green Toys. This particular set comes with four vehicles: an white Ambulance, Blue Police Car, Yellow Taxi, and Red Fastback! These cars are mini sized making them ideal for the hands of young children and easier to control!

The unique design of this set of vehicles features no metal axles or external coatings. No BPA, phthalates or PVC. Packaged with recycled and recyclable materials and printed with soy inks. I for one am really loving the durability as my son has thrown, stepped on, gnawed (still teething), and put these cars through the ringer so to speak. We’ve let the kids play with these in tub, sand box,in and outdoors and still the cars look as good as brand new!

Overall I’m very pleased with these made in the USA set of vehicles from Green Toys. Honestly, you have to love a product that’s great for the environment being made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs and that’s completely safe for your kids!

If you are thinking of purchasing the Mini Vehicle Set, it will cost you anywhere about $18 depending on where you purchase it. I found the Green Toys Mini Vehicle Set (4 Pack)on Amazon.com for $17.50 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on all orders over $25.00. (note that prices change often on Amazon so be sure to check the link to see the latest offered price).

Disclaimer: I was sent this set from Green Toys to 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.

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.

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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.

Air Picks are pretty neat. They are shaped like an actual guitar pick just slightly larger. Currently there are three picks to choose from Classic Rock, Rebel Rock, Rolling Stones. Fans will rejoice in being able to play songs such as Jumping Jack Flash, Satisfaction, Born to be Wild, Smoke on the Water, and Sweet Home Alabama to name just a few.

Users can select which song they’d like to strum in rhythm with on the back of the pick itself. There’s also a whammy bar button on the back to really mix things up. It’s not completely full proof, you have to “play” correctly in order to really rock out releasing the chords at the right time.

There’s no volume control but I found this not an issue as it’s not too loud or to quiet. I liked that there’s a clip that you use to hook to a belt loop or backpack though can easily remove it too if you so choose. Batteries for this toy are included which is a plus as well. No body likes receiving a battery operated gift and not having the batteries at the ready to use it, especially  during the Holiday.

Overall this toy would totally make a fun stocking stuffer this year for kids ages 6 to 13 years old, especially if they like music too. Air Picks retail at $11.00 each and can be purchased in numerous places such as Think Geek, Amazon.com, Target, and at the at the Ohio Art Toy Store - www.world-of-toys.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.

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.

What is a FyrFlyz toy? It’s basically a really cool LED light up toy that uses precision balance to provide for tons of fun in the dark! It basically works by swinging, twirling, and spinning the two strings on the toy in all sorts of ways to make really fun multi-color light shapes! I will admit it took a few minutes to figure out how to work these toys but after that we were good to go anytime we picked it back up. Very easy!

FyrFlyz come in three different color combinations, Cyclone (green and white), Nytfyr ( red and white), and Blue Angel (Multi Color and Blue). There a small on and off switch on the backside of the toy and batteries for these are included and can be easily replaced hassle free.

This toy may be suited best for outdoor use or in a room with a good amount of space for safety sake of not hitting someone else or breaking things! They would be the perfect toy to bring along when camping, attending firework shows, or any other night time outdoors activities as they are the perfect size to stuff in a pocket. Age recommendation is children 8 and up but I think the younger ones would enjoy this too.

You can view some of the  amazing light show tricks that can be preformed at FyrFlyz.com. I for one love the challenge in trying to figure out new fun designs and patterns with the Fyr Flyz and can only imagine kids will too! If you are interested in picking up one of several of these cool toys for the kids in your life or someone you know that’s a kid at heart, you can purchase them for $8.99 at Toys R Us and other retailers.

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.

We also were sent several of the Habitat sets (retail at $29.99 each) from their glow in the dark Hexbug Nano line as well as HexBugs from the Galielo Collection (retail at $7.99 each). These sets take playing with the Hexbugs to completely different level! Children  have lots of fun  putting together multiple sets weaving in and out of places to make a really huge track that lights up in places they see fit! With the track sets the mixing things up and the reoccurring playtime factor is huge in prompting constructing in all sorts of new ways to play!

I’m usually not a fan of battery operated toys but these have won me over! These little bugs take batteries which are called Power Cells. And these batteries do last for quite a long time. We’ve had had HexBugs in our home since Easter and their batteries are still working without needing replaced. Though when you do, note that power cells are very affordable at 4.99 for a two pack and are very easy to install.

My own children and friends of our families children really loved playing with these toys and had a blast with all the great Hexbug Nano things we received for our 2011 Halloween Party! Nothing but a good time ensued and everyone is really enjoying all the Hexbug goodies thanks to Mommy Parties and Hexbug giving us the opportunity to promote and review these great toys. I’m sure most if not all of the children that took home habitats and Hexbugs of their very own will be adding more to their Christmas list for 2011 and letting all of their friends know about these fantastically fun toys!

If you are personally thinking about Christmas, keep in mind that HexBugs  would be a fun little toy to start collecting for kids of all ages preferably recommend for  ages 3 and up. What’s neat too is that included with each bug you purchase is a code in which the owner can register their bug online to learn  science and play fun games! Gotta love toys that are not only fun but educational too! Plus, they make great stocking stuffers! Hexbugs are available at major retailers nationwide and at www.hexbug.com

Disclaimer: I was sent the above product mentioned for review through Hexbug (through MommyParties). 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.

The  Little Mommy My Very Real Baby Doll wasn’t that much of a hit with my 3 1/2 year old daughter. After playing with this doll for a day she’s been tossed in the toy box and hasn’t made a return. This doll talks a lot and where as saying lots of different phrases she gets through about all of them in 5 minutes and then starts repeating them again. It’s cute that she’ll give you hugs, kisses, eat, sleep, and needs an boo-boo to be fixed but like I said, after awhile all that kind of got old. Her movements are kind of loud and if not held in the right way can jam up. This doll is also very hard so she wouldn’t be a good toy for snuggling or sleeping with. Her clothes aren’t removable so that was kind of a downside because my daughter likes to play dress up with her dolls. I think this doll is an okay doll for about 30-35 dollars but no more than that. Three out of 5 stars.

The  Fisher-Price Kid-Tough See Yourself Camera is the perfect gift for any 3-7 year old girl! My daughter was beyond thrilled that she was getting her own camera to use after always wanting to take part in taking the family photos. This camera gives her such independence and I love that I don’t have to worry about it accidentally getting broken because it’s super durable!

The buttons on the camera are very large, straight to the point, and easy to use! The special effect features are really fun as your child can add graphic stickers, frames, and more. The free pc software that comes from the manufacturer Web site has where your child can make books, cards, and other fun things!

We love this camera not only takes photos but videos too! This camera takes mildly decent photos and videos in low light but even better when outdoors or in more lighted areas.

The rotating lens on the camera is really neat because you can take pictures of yourself or whatever is in the front view of the camera. Overall this is a fantastic product and I’ll probably be purchasing one in the boy colors for my son when he’s older! Five out of Five stars!

Each doll arrived in great condition from Amazon.com. I found the packing very easy to open and that’s a plus for parents who have excited kids jumping up and down trying to get you to open a brand new toy. Honestly with some things you almost have to take wire cutters to a box to free a toy, which seems over the top ridiculous in most cases.

We have both Ella Song & Makayla Song! How fun to have gotten sister dolls! Each dolls comes with an accessory, a key chain charm, special online code, mini profile book, and an outfit.

The dolls clothes can be removed easily so if your child wants to play with them in the pool or tub they can easily do that. You don’t have to worry about their hair getting ruined because they are all plastic.

We checked out the crib life website together because I always supervise my child online. We found the site cute, colorful, and easy to navigate. Your child can play games, watch videos of their doll, and print activities out.

My daughter loves the included charm key chain. And was pretty excited that she could attach it to her backpack! I found the charm to be made well and quite durable.

The mini profile book has where your child can write down when she got her doll, her own birth date, favorite color, and other bio details.  Included as well is a list of accessories parents can purchase for their child’s doll.

There are a few other crib life friends to collect as well as fashion accessories. Overall I personally love the size of the doll and like that it doesn’t need batteries. It seems to be made extremely well and I think it’s perfect for any little girl that loves baby dolls.

You can find Ella & Makayla Songon Amazon.com for 16.99 each and both are eligible for free super saving shipping.

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.

Zhu Zhu Babies Fun Time Sleepover Set

They are cute, cuddly and fit into the palm of your hand! The Zhu Zhu Pets line of babies has made it’s way into our home and hearts! And in order to celebrate these fun toys, we worked a end of the summer party around them!

To begin our party we had an afternoon tea decked out with cookies and crackers to cater to the taste children and parents too. Who can refuse home baked cookies right? After our snack, we brought out the Zhu Zhu Babies to be played with and the kids all lit up right away! What’s more exciting than a new fun toy to a child and one as popular as the Zhu Zhu pet was a sure winner.

We got set a whole set of the Zhu Zhu Babies to play with among other things! Each baby comes with its own swaddling blanket, stroller, and three accessories. I love that there’s so many to collect! My personal favorite is the octopus one and my daughter Melody is quite taken with a little pink bird that has a music note on it’s nappy.

One fun thing about the Zhu Zhu’s is that they have plenty of great playsets to collect for the children in your life. The themes of the sets truly are endless. We were sent the Zhu Zhu Baby Fun Time Sleepver set to enjoy at our party. This set is absolutely adorable! It has a three tiered cradle that swings back and forth along with a rockers, and a high chair big enough for three babies. What’s so cool is that the cradles and rocker are Zhu Zhu powered. You simply put a larger Zhu Zhu pet on it and it’s moving forward motion sets the gears to produce a turning motion.

My daughter helping me set up for the party...

These don’t take batteries and don’t move forward on the ground like the other types of Zhu Zhu Pets. I acutally prefer them because no matter what all the larger one we kept getting hair in the wheels. Speaking of wheels, later during the party we had stroller races on the kitchen floor. What fun that was!

The babies are cute as is but you can also purchase fun little outfits! We received a few and the kids really got a kick out of accessorizing them.

Buy It: I’m sure these are going to be a must have during the 2011 Holiday season. You can find places to purchase Zhu Zhu Pets on the Zhuniverse. Feel free to Like Zhu Zhu Pets on Facebook to learn more about their great products.

The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to The Hosting Company and MomSelect who supplied the products for the review.

The Tonka Tonka Chuck Flip The Bounceback Racer is a decent little RC car, good for small kids, around the age of 3 and up. It’s a sturdy little guy and survived getting sat on by a 3 year old and running into several walls. It feels tough too.

One issue well worth noting is the controls only allow for forward and back. The front wheels do turns slightly, so the car will move around more than just straight. It’s good at going around small objects.

It is designed to be able to flip over, so that is a real bonus. It means your not having to continually flip it over.

It also talks while rolling around. This could be a terrible thing, but the voice is generally pleasant, and the comments it makes are general ‘do that again!’ and ‘that was amazing!’ types of comments, so while there are only a few (20+ according to the box), they don’t get annoying.

The car and controller have a fairly short range. I’d say no more than a couple yards, if that far. For young kids this is good, as it wont get far away from them. There is also two frequency settings, so two can operate in close proximity without problems.

In total, it uses 8-AA batteries. As of this writing, I’m not sure how long they will last, but if it gets used a lot, might be worth getting some rechargeables.

The price of $50 is a bit high, in my opinion, for a car that only goes forward and back, but I think what you are paying for is the quality and sturdiness of the car. It might not be a good choice for older kids because of the steering limitations, but the simplicity is good for younger children, and it should stand up to the abuse they will inflict upon it.

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.