Celebrate 5 Years of Journey Girls As They Travel To Italy! @ToysRus

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Journey Girl Collection Travels To Italy and We Went Along at Toys R Us!

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Journey Girl Dana

Recently my daughter and I were invited to Toys“R”Us  Times Square, NYC to celebrate and learn all about Journey Girls (Toys R Us Private Label). Emily loves dolls and so does her mommy (me)! After being a boymom for sixteen years before Emily was born there were really no dolls in our house. We are definitely making up for lost time before the magic of doll play disappears. Before the event we had only heard a little bit about Journey Girls, so we could not wait to get acquainted  with our newest friends. We were both beyond thrilled to hear that Journey Girls would be going on an Italian adventure- being Italian this made the event even more fun. 

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Beginning this September, customers will find their favorite dolls outfitted in styles perfect for their next Journey Girls adventure, an Italian excursion, in stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com/JourneyGirls. Featuring fresh faces, trendy fashions and delightful accessories, the Journey Girls collection is comprised of seven 18-inch dolls that offer children the opportunity to take imaginative, adventurous journeys with characters they can identify with.

Emily was thrilled to be able to choose any one of the Journey Girls that graced the event. It was really sweet to watch the girls think and rethink about which doll to choose. They had to decide between:  Chavonne, the multitalented performer; Callie, an aspiring dancer; Dana, the animal lover; Kelsey, who loves to seek out exciting new adventures or participate in extreme sports; Kyla, an amazing artist; Meredith, the energetic team athlete; and Mikaella, the latest addition to the Journey Girlswho loves cooking and baking. Emily chose Dana because she loves animals and because she was wearing glasses-two things in common. It was absolutely adorable to watch the bonding taking place between girls and dolls! 

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Emily was thrilled to chat fashion with the Journey Girls clothes designer.

During the event the girls were able to change outfits on their dollies, test out all of the upcoming furniture that included a school desk and chalkboard set, a wheelchair set, hair salon set, kitchen set and more. They also created nametags, colored pictures of Italy, and feasted on hand made and decorated canolis! What a day. It was getting to visit Italy. My favorite stop was the photo booth where Emily and I were photographed on the streets of Italy. Magnifico!

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Canoli making was such a delicious treat!

This September in preparation for the 2015 holiday season, Toys“R”Us is stocking its inventory with new, adorable fashions and accessories that help extend imaginative play. From furniture and pets, to stylish clothing and hair salon sets, all fashions and accessories are quality made, realistically detailed and scaled to fit 18-inch dolls. The brand also offers a wheelchair and crutch accessories set, providing children with disabilities the opportunity to reflect themselves during playtime. To coincide with the launch of the latest dolls, new Journey Girls accessories will debut in Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online atToysrus.com , including a Best in Class School Set, Birthday Celebration Set and Pet Grooming Set.

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If social media is your thing, and I know for most of us- we just live in it, Toys R Us will be celebrating along with us all! To celebrate the gal-pals’ fifth anniversary trip to Italy,  parents and kids are encouraged to share their Journey Girls experiences with @ToysRUs on Instagram and Twitter, as well as Facebook.com/Toysrus. Fans are invited to post photos of themselves and their dolls traveling the country – or even the globe – as well as engage with one another and Toys“R”Us using #JourneyGirls. For enthusiasts looking for Journey Girls inspiration online, the Toys“R”Us Pinterest page, Pinterest.com/Toysrus, will feature the dolls’ different fashion looks, delicious Italian treat ideas, do-it-yourself arts and crafts and more. Emily and Mommy are SO there! 

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Meet the Journey Girls!

The following Journey Girls dolls will be available for $39.99 each, exclusively at Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com/JourneyGirls for ages 6 years and up, beginning this September:

Check out a little bit about each Journey Girl: 

Journey Girl Chavonne from Toys“R”Us

Chavonne, a multi-talented performer, will guide the girls through Milan, the City of Theatres, in a black-and-white striped top under a vibrant pink petite coat and trendy floral pants that match her navy slip-on shoes. No batteries required.

Journey Girl Callie from Toys“R”Us

Callie will seek out the best shops to show her friends the latest fashion trends, while wearing a black-and-white mini dress paired with an embroidered, blush colored jacket and elegant pink shoes and headband to complement her entire look. No batteries required.

 Journey Girl Dana from Toys“R”Us

Dana, an animal lover, will be sure to stop by her favorite parco nazionale and protected reserves which are home to a variety of wildlife, all while dressed in a silver knit sweater and brown faux-fur vest with jeans, along with a leopard-print tote bag and chic brown boots. No batteries required.

 Journey Girl Kelsey from Toys“R”Us

Adventure seeker Kelsey will challenge herself by taking on the best hiking trails and exploring marine life within Italy’s 4,000-plus miles of coastline! While out on the town, Kelsey will sport a grey and blue embroidered shift dress with navy headband, as well as a navy and emerald faux-leather shoulder handbag and navy flat shoes. No batteries required.
Journey Girl Kyla from Toys“R”Us

Kyla is ready to find the best spots rich with art and culture, dressed to explore the Italian art scene in a ‘Ciao!’ printed top with striped sleeves, pink wrap skirt, a black and white clutch and floral and classic pink flats. No batteries required.

Journey Girl Meredith from Toys“R”Us

Meredith’s athletic charm will help inspire all her friends to partake in awesome quests in Italy, and her sense of style will shine bright, as she dons a blue sparkle t-shirt, white striped circle skirt, pink handbag and trendy pink shoes. No batteries required.

 Journey Girl Mikaella from Toys“R”Us

Mikaella, outfitted in a purple knit sweater with silver embroidery detail, metallic silver brocade pants, black flats and an elegant silver and pink envelope clutch handbag, will lead her friends to the finest cafes and pasticcerias in town. No batteries required. Available now in Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com. 

Disclosure: A media invite was extended to Diane Sullivan and family to attend this wonderful Toys R Us Journey Girls event in NYC. All opinions are that of my own and my daughter’s, Emily and are completely honest. Please contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net and @3decades3kids across the social media platforms. No compensation was given for this post. Product samples were provided at the event. Thank you Toys R Us. We both enjoyed getting to know about Journey Girls and taking a mini trip to Italy- via Toys R Us Photobooth.

Necknapperz The Perfect Travel Friend For Kids! #Travel #kids @necknapperz

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Necknapperz The Perfect Travel Friend For Kids!

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Our family loves to travel. Most of the time we are in the van for hours having fun on our roadtrips. Along the way we are always looking for ways to make the trip more fun and more comfortable for our kids. My youngest daughter falls asleep all the time in the car and I am constantly trying to come up with ways to keep her head in one spot. Most times I end up in the middle van seat with my arm holding up her head. It’s not a great position to be in. When we came across Necknapperz I could have not been any more thrilled about testing it out. Our Necknapperz arrived just in time for our last trip.

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Necknapperz is a great travel item for kids! It’s a friend while they are awake and a supportive neck pillow when they are asleep.  Kids can snuggle and play with the adorable animals and then easily transform it from a loveable plush animal into an ergonomic neck pillow at naptime.  Bonus: Most kids will be able to transform the Necknapperz from plush to pillow by themselves! We checked out the dolphin Necknapperz which was adorable. They are also available as a unicorn, wolf, monkey, lion, elephant, piggy and more. Check out all the choices here: http://www.necknapperz.com/brands/Neck-Napperz.html

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necknapperzwindowWhen I asked my daughter what she thought of Necknapperz – Her response was, “Absolutely adorable! Can I get them all?”. I kindly explained to her that she only had one neck, but who knows, we may have a few friends in the future. By the way, Mommy tested it out, too! Very comfy. Necknapperz combine ultra-soft fabrics with space-age micro-beads and high quality craftsmanship for the best in comfort and support for your kids. In addition, each Necknapperz neck pillow unzips and completely transforms into a huggable plush toy unlike some of the predecessors that simply present a pillow that folds in half to produce an imaginary friend like Pillow Pets or provide the neck pillow with the head of an animal character on the end. If you are looking for a neck pillow that transforms to and from a cute animal, definitely give Necknapperz a go. You will not be disappointed! Check them out on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/NeckNapperz.

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan was given a Necknapperz and compensated for this post. All opinions are that of my own and honest. Contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net or @3decades3kids across Social media platforms. 

Brickfest Live! A Must For All Lego Fans!

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Brickfest Live! – A Must For All Lego Fans!
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Recently our family was invited to check out Brickfest Live! Anyone that knows us knows just how much we love Legos! We have been a Lego family since forever! There are shelves in our house dedicated to Lego Star Wars, Lego Marvel Superheroes, Lego Harry Potter and assorted Lego creations from throughout the years! Legos are a great way for our family to spend time together building and having fun. So, when we were invited to Brickfest, we could not wait. It was a first for us and we really had no idea of what to expect. Let me tell you up front  Brickfest totally surpassed our expectations.
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brickfestgamesBrickfest Live is a family-friendly convention in which people gather together to show off their incredible Lego sculptures and express their love for all things Lego! It’s for all Lego fans, ages from toddler to oldie. While we were there, my family got the chance to try out some of the newest Lego games like LEGO Jurassic World, along with a number of other titles. There was also a trivia contest which my children enjoyed partaking in very much! The highlight of the entire experience had to be the Lego-themed mini-golf course, which was a perfect attraction for all. Nine holes of Lego fun. Our entire family played and really loved it. My daughter also had the chance to build her very own race car out of Legos and then race against other convention-goers. Her car came in first. There was no actual prize and you didn’t get to keep the car, but it was so much fun. 
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There were many different Lego sculptures to see, including some that glowed in the dark and some that had working trains! One of the highlights of Brickfest was all of the different building areas. They were set up throughout the mini convention and there were more than plenty of bricks available to built to your heart,s content. They even had a gigantic round sitting area where kids could sit amongst big lego pieces and build right where they sat! One of my favorite stations was the Book Station- filled with beanbag chairs and stocked with Lego books courtesy of DK Publishers. It was a great place to take a rest and read your favorite Lego title.
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So, if you are looking for a great event to attend alone or with the family, Brickfest is just for you. You can check out more about Brickfest here including pricing and dates they will be in an area by you. PS: Bring your pockets filled with cash, you will definitely want to leave with a Lego in hand. Many of the vendors have pieces to buy alone including hard to find figures and sets. Em had an awesome time building her own Lego girl figures and adding accessories, while my sons found some one of a kind Legos. Big or Small there was something for all. See you at the next Brickfest! http://events.brickfestlive.com/
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Disclosure: Diane Sullivan was extended a family pass to attend Brickfest in order to facilitate this review. No compensation was given for this post. All opinions are that of my own and honest. Please contact me Diane@3decades3kids.net or @3decades3kids across social media platforms. 3decades3kids.net 

The Gazillion Bubble Show #NYC @BubbleShowNYC

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The Gazillion Bubble Show 

Written by Diane Sullivan

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To me there is nothing more magical than a bubble. It just seems to make everyone smile. It’s ageless and it seems that few people can resist the beauty of a bubble. Maybe it connects us parents to our childhood days or maybe it’s just watching the pure joy it gives to our own children. Where there are bubbles there are smiles. There were definitely plenty of bubbles at the Gazillion Bubble Show in New York City. The Gazillion Bubble Show is held at New World Stages on 50th Street, NYC. The show is perfect for any age.

GazillionBubBubbleOur show was hosted by Deni Yang, who was a wonderful bubble artist since the age of four. His parents were the original Gazillion Bubble Show hosts in other cities where the show still takes place. Deni Yang took us through his life and love for bubbles, showing us many different ways of making bubbles happen. The show featured bubbles-big and small, bubbles inside of bubbles, smoke bubbles and more.

My daughter was beyond thrilled to be chosen to participate in the show. She was called on stage and put inside of a giant bubble. I doubt she will ever forget that moment of fame. She was also presented with her very own Gazillion Bubble prize. During the show a total of five children are chosen to come on stage. If your child is not chosen, don’t worry, there is an opportunity both before and after the show to take a picture inside of a bubble. There is also a mini gift shop in the theater lobby filled with many Gazillion Bubble choices. The prices are reasonable for the bubbles ranging from $4.00 and up.

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During the show Deni Yang told different stories of his life and created bubbles that not even your imagination could begin to think of. Children of all ages and adults alike were in awe of all the spectacular bubble acts!, I personally loved when a little girl was taken on the stage and a story was told of  Deni’s cousin in Hawaii who dreamed of snow. Since there is no snow in Hawaii he created a wonderful snowland for her out of bubbles. In just a few seconds of dimming the lights and bringing them back up, the stage was transformed into a bubble paradise. There were bubbles everywhere. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like for Deni’s cousin to experience this wonderful sight. What a dream come true. I wish I could have provided more pictures but they have a very strict photo policy and I did have to put my cell away more than once. 🙁 I really wish I could have at least gotten a pic of Emily on the stage-Maybe they should have a photographer grab it for future shows. It’s definitely something that would have been a momento.

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As a bonus, Deni Yang preformed a breathtaking lazer act. The music was wonderful and the audience was filled with enthusiam! The show was definitely upbeat and the audience was completely taken by the magic of bubble blowing and the energy of the lazer light show. If you are in the New York City area or planning a visit, check out the Gazillion Bubble Show. If you are local the Gazillion Bubble Show also offers birthday party packages. See you at the show! Check out more about the Gazillion Bubble Show http://gazillionbubbleshow.com/

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan was given media tickets to facilitate this review. No compensation was provided for this post. Please contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net and everywhere else as @3decades3kids.

 

Disney Princess Palace Pets Magical Lights Pets

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Disney Princess Palace Pets Magical Lights Pets

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How incredibly adorable are the new Disney Princess Palace Pets Magical Lights Pets?

 

 

Anyone that knows me, knows how I live in a basic Princess inspired house. Ever since Emily was born our house has transformed from a boy’s world to pink everywhere. We have every princess known to mankind and I am loving every minute of being a girlmom after all of these years. Emily has been a total fan of the Disney Princesses since birth and just about melted when she first heard about  Blip Toys’ Disney Princess Palace Pets. How could she resist them. They are just simply adorable. We have sets of the originals and the glitter ones and now I am happy to say we have the new glowing ones living among us.

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Matey (Ariel’s puppy) Slipper (Cinderella’s kitty)

 

 

 

 

 

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Sultan (Jasmine’s tiger) Bibbidy (Cinderella’s pony)

These glowing 2.5” figures have a vibrant new look! There’s a lot of shine coming through these Magical Lights Pets! They are frosted from head to toe with glitter accents and sparkling hair that light up with the push of a button. Girls can “crown” their royal pets with the removable tiara that also lets their glow shine through! The fall 2015 collection features: Sultan (Jasmine’s tiger), Matey (Ariel’s puppy), Slipper (Cinderella’s kitty), Pumpkin (Cinderella’s puppy), Bibbidy (Cinderella’s pony), Summer (Rapunzel’s kitty), Blondie (Rapunzel’s pony) and Bloom (Aurora’s pony).

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palacepetslightupinboxEmily and I just have a wonderful time role playing with all of the princesses and her new Disney Princess Palace Pets Magical Lights Pets. We have had night time parties where they light up the room with their glow and Em plays for hours having each of the palace pets accompany their official princess. We are both looking forward to the release of the newest Palace Pets toy- their very own castle. Who’s more excited Mommy or Emily? It’s pretty much a tie at this point! So, who else is in? I did not think they could get any more adorable with the glitter- but, the light up is just a total win with us! Check them out here: disney-princess-palace-pets-magical

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan was sent samples in order to complete this review. No compensation was given for this post. Please contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net.