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.

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” -Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!

Dr. Seuss has always been near and dear to my heart. I grew up being read the books by my mother, in return I read them with my younger sisters, and now I’ve been sharing them with my own children. Titles we love and I almost know completely by heart include Go Dog Do, Ten Apples Up on Top, Green Eggs and Ham, and In a People House. And let’s not forget the first TV special I’ve seen The Grinch who Stole Christmas. My children currently are in love with the series The Cat in the Hat Knows Alot About That!

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.

I was blessed with the opportunity to review the  Make It Yourself Candle Kit to feature in my 2011 Holiday Gift Guide! The Multi-Colored Make It Yourself Candle Kit  assembled exclusively by A Toy Garden is a lot of fun! In my mind this candle making kit is the  perfect craft to do together with family and friends during the holiday season!What this kit includes is 12 8×8 inch sheets  of 100% honeycombed beeswax in 12 different beautiful colors, 4 yards of quality wick, and very easy to follow instructions.

My daughter and I used the candle making kit together to create such pretty candles! I first prepped the beeswax since it was stored in a cooler place with my blow dryer to make sure it was warm enough to roll. I then cut the wick to the proper size and then let my daughter help me roll each candle out!  We also brought out my mini clay cutters to use to add different shapes such as stars to each candle!The candles came out great and my daughter was so proud of her creations! I look forward to trying out some different combinations because the combinations of candles you can make are endless!

I think hand crafted  candles are wonderful gifts and how extra special if the receiver knew you made them yourself! I recommend checking out A Toy Garden! They have a fantastic selection of arts and craft items among the vast selection of toys that encourage imaginative play! Keep in mind that it’s not too late to order the The Multi-Colored Make It Yourself Candle Kit to enjoy with your own friends and family this season! It’s also available in Christmas or Hannukah colors, and in natural beeswax.

Get Connected: Visit a  www.aToyGarden.com | Fan a Toy Garden on Facebook! 

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.

Recently I was contacted and asked if I was interested in reviewing a brand new product called the Soft Peek-A-Boo Blocks by BKids. I jumped on the opportunity being very eager to share my thoughts about these toys  here on my blog and among other mothers that I know with younger children.

In the  Soft Peek-A-Boo Blocks set there are nine blocks total. All of the blocks come in a variety of colors that are very stimulating to the eye of children. Six of the blocks are soft where as if you squeeze them, they’ll squeak. And the remaining three blocks are made of a harder plastic that can be opened to insert one of the softer blocks creating a peek a boo window.

There a fun designs on each of the blocks that includes number 1-6, specific animal characters, shapes , and other images such as flowers, clouds, trees, and more. The variety of images and different textures makes these fun for baby to discover and great for one on one time in teaching them new to them things! By no time your little one is bound to learn their colors, different animal names and sounds, and numbers…it all depends on how much time you invest with your child and these wonderful blocks!My 10 month old son Owen is quite the fan of these blocks. I take time each day to play with them with him and other times I let him have a go at it all by himself. It always really pleasing to watch my kids learning something new on their very own. He can pick these blocks up easily, as they are just the right size. He’s got new teeth coming in so the soft blocks have been great for him to safely chew on with no sharp edges!

I’ve been watching him pick the blocks up and look at the images on them. He will take his little pointer finger and poke at the blocks and say something in baby talk that I can’t quite understand but it’s really cute to see him so taken with the toys! He’s doing pretty well  stacking and balancing blocks and then laughs and claps when they get knocked over.

Overall this set of blocks is highly recommend by me! The reaction I get from not only my 10 month old son but my 3 year old daughter in play deems this toy as must have.  If interested in purchasing the Soft Peek-A-Boo Block set know it retails for $19.99.

If you are still doing your Holiday shopping for the children in your life I encourage you to check out the BKids website and look at all the other great toys that are offered.

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.

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.

Lately, I’ve been going through a lot of my daughter’s baby toys  to see if they are worthy to be passed along to her baby brother. A lot of the items were gifts or picked up at rummage sells, I’m not even sure what some of them are made out of and it’s frightened me after some research to find that some of these toys have even been recalled for small parts  that came loose that have led to choking and some even had lead paint. All the reason to replace many of the toys with those that are all natural because these toys will go in the mouth of my 7 month old teething baby boy.

I have a few favorite eco-conscious toy company which include Green Toys which has a fantastic line of toys but I was looking for something softer for my son and there products are made of harder plastic. While searching, I came across  a company called Dandelion, Earth Friendly Goods of which I found to have a fantastic selection of  organic baby & children toys!

A classic toy that I’m sure every parents has purchased for their children is a shape sorter. You know, those square shaped toys that have many random shape to push in and take out. They are a great developmental game, encouraging exploration and tactics. My daughter had one but I wasn’t entirely happy with it. It was hard to open and it had semi sharp edges which could potentially hurt a child if it was fall on. I often wonder what the companies who made these were thinking. I was happy to see that Dandelion had an alternative to a regular run of the mill shape sorter and pleased that I was able to review one!

The organic cotton soft shape sorter from Dandelion is an awesome toy and a must have for any infant! The soft material that the sorter is made out of is organic cotton and the inside filling is made from corn! This toy is super soft and it entirely machine washable. I can vouch that after several washes, this toy holds shape fantastically!

My son adores this toy! He really likes all the different shapes which are circle, square, triangle, and star. Each shape is fun to shake, rattle, crinkle and squeeze. Each shape has it’s own different texture and pattern too being made from organic velour, waffle weave, terry and canvas.These are totally safe and won’t hurt tender gums that babies have when teething.

I adore everything about Organic Soft Shape Sorter by Dandelion including packaging the toy came in which is 100% recyclable and printed with vegetable inks. I highly recommend this safe and practical toy for babies ages 6 months and up. It would make a great gift for the special baby in your life!

You can purchase Dandelion Classic Organic Developmental Sorter for 23.44 right now on Amazon with free super saving shipping!

Get Connected with Dandelion for organic baby toys on their  store, website, blog, Facebook and Twitter!

**Be on the look out because I’ll be offering a giveaway of this product as well as a few others by Dandelion!

Disclaimer: I was sent the Organic Soft Shape Sorter by Dandelion 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.

I was excited when I contacted by Aurora to review their latest line of toys with children called Softy Soakers.These toys involve water but without a big wet mess! And anything to do with water during the heat of Summer is win over here and I am sure it would be for everybody else too.

I was  sent three Softy Soakers from  Aurora’s “Fanta Sea” collection, the hammerhead shark, seahorse, and alligator for my children to play with and enjoy. It was sheer wonder to see how these toys work! I’m not sure but I may have been more excited than the kids!

How it works is that you simply place Softy Soakers in water and the plush expands from practically nothing into a full size, eight-inch plush animal! So I tried it out filling a bowl full of water and adding the toys. I gently massaged the toys as suggested for speedy water absorption and after about 40 seconds these toys were quite plump in size! I then dried the toys off with a towel and gave them to the kids to play with!

The water stays contained in the toy and how that’s done, I have no idea. It leaves me in wonder, honestly! Overtime the toys will eventually dry up and then you can start the re-hyrdating process again!

Overall I’m very happy with the Softy Soakers product line and can’t wait to see what Aurora comes up with next.

Aurora Toys can be found online or at zoos, Hallmark, gift shops and other stores, you can also order them online.  (MSRP $10.00)

Get Connected: Join Aurora’s Facebook page to keep up with their great products!

-Win It-

Thanks to Aurora, one of you will win your very own Softy Soaker!

To Enter: Let me know something fun you did this Summer with the the children in your life!  Open to US and Canadian residents only!

Extra Entries:

1. Blog this giveaway, link back to this post. (2 extra)

2. Follow on Twitter @erinlowmaster & Tweet (daily entries available)

3. Post this giveaway on a Giveaway Linky/Site and let me know where!

4. Email a friend(s) about this giveaway. (Leave name of friend)

5. Subscribe to my blog by RSS or E-mail (Feed Burner) and let me know!

6. Become a Facebook Fan of Connected2Christ and leave me a comment there letting me know you are coming from this giveaway.

Giveaway running till 08/31/11 . Winners will be notified shortly afterward by email. Please respond within 48 hours or you forfeit your prize to another participant.

DISCLAIMER: My thoughts are mine own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for hosting this giveaway or review other than the sample above mentioned.