Sustainable Toys From @Tegu Create an Imaginative Environment #GivingGreen #NGGiftGuide

 Sometimes I run across a toy that I just absolutely love as soon as I see it. Recently I saw this wooden car on one of my favorite sites, Tegu, and had to have it for my son! Not only is it a working car, it's made out of magnetic wooden blocks and can be configured different ways. How awesome is that?

Tegu is a magnetic wooden block company based out of Honduras that had the vision of a for-profit business that would effect the lives of Hondurans. Their name is derived from the city their blocks are manufactured in. From the fully independent toy company they are to the partnership they've created with local schools, Tegu is changing employment standards in Central America for the better.

Beautifully Crafted Wooden Blocks
The wood that creates these beautiful blocks is hand picked by local Honduran cooperatives who are certified by the Forest Stewardship Counsel. The FSC processes facilitate the forest's natural regeneration cycle. By being selective with what trees are cut down they can make sure that the forest has time to replenish and regrow before cutting more trees down.

The magical combination of Honduran hardwood and magnets creates an imaginative tool for children to learn and expand their abilities to play and create. The "click-clack" sound of two Tegu blocks coming together ignites new possibilities and allows children to push and pull new ideas together over and over.

The Hatch
Our Hatch car from Tegu includes 10 classic Tegu magnetic wooden blocks and a super awesome compact canopy to create the look of a classic car. With the included wheels, this car really moves! And can be used to create more than just a car if wanted.

As soon as my son took the blocks out of the package he was putting them together like he'd done it a hundred times. But when he wanted to make the car just like it was on the box, he asked Daddy for help. Together they figured it out and in no time they were racing their car down the sidewalk.

Creative Exploration
Tegu not only has these awesome cars, they also have an extensive selection of amazing block sets. From pocket versions that are easy to take in your day bag to full sets perfect for the classroom, there's a Tegu block set for everyone.

I love the variety. And that doesn't stop with the sizes of the sets. The sets also come in different colors. The perfect classic look of the Natural colors is a great way to show off the gorgeous beauty of this Honduran hardwood. Like the look of the classic wood but want something a bit richer? Check out the Mahogany stained sets. Simple and elegant but still just as durable and fun as the Natural sets.

Need a little color in your life? Well there's room for that with the beautiful blues, oranges, grays and greens of the Nelson sets and the more natural greens and browns of the Jungle sets.

Tegu offers a great selection of blocks and cars that are perfect for this gift giving season! Head on over to the Tegu website to check out the vast selection of blocks available and fall in love with the company just like I have.

Want to keep up with the latest Tegu has to offer? Like Tegu on Facebook or follow them on twitter at @Tegu.

Tegu is a proud sponsor of the Noise Girls Winter Gift Guide giveaway. Head on over to see great ideas for you and your family this Winter season.

Head back to enter to win one of three amazing prize packages featured in this giveaway, one of which includes the winners choice of a Hatch or Dart Tegu car. And make sure to check out our complete Winter Gift Guide for ideas on what to give this holiday season.

The Perfect Gifts from @KnockKnock and Clump-O-Lump #NGGiftGuide

 This holiday season I've found just about the coolest online store ever. And it has everything you need for this upcoming gift giving season. I've found something for everyone on my list and much more. What's this awesome store you ask? Well... it's Knock Knock!

Knock Knock was founded in 2002 by Jen Bilik with the mission of creating witty, design-driven gift products and books, along with anything else that might strike the Knock Knock fancy.

Their products aspire to bring humor, function, organization, and aesthetics to everyday life. And they believe that people are intelligent enough to appreciate wit, wordplay, and conceptual thought. Whether Knock Knock is producing sticky notes or a volume of thoroughly researched nonfiction, they strive not to dumb down as they create.

I was lucky enough to check out two of their products and I have to say... I'll be back for more!

Meet Shark-O the Shark. He's a member of the Clump-O-Lump family and is a pretty awesome guy. Not only is he super plush and cuddly, he can also come apart and be dissected with the pull of a zipper! And he's quickly become a favorite amongst my kids.

Clump-O-Lumps are the perfect gifts for your kids this year. Not only are they a great way to use our imagination, you can also combine different Clump-O-Lumps to create new animals. What do you get when you cross a shark and a squid? A squark!

There are 6 members of the Clump-O-Lump family:

• Tig-O the Tiger
• Frog-O the Frog
• Shark-O the Shark
• Bee-O the Bee
• Squid-O the Squid
• Bird-O the Bird

And that's not all! For a limited time you can choose from the Clump-O-Lumped bunch and receive a mixed up buddy of your own!

Knock-Knock not only sells these loveable Clump-O-Lumps, they alsomake some pretty awesome things. SO many awesome things that I had a hard time deciding what I really needed to try out. But as soon as I saw it I knew I needed it... this Personal Library Kit is not only a throwback to checking out books before the time of computers but also makes borrowing books a lot more fun!

With a surplus of books in my home it's hard to keep track of which ones I lend out and which ones I've just put away for another time. So by utilizing this kit I can make sure I have documentation of which books are out and when they need to come back to me.

I've also had thoughts of using this kit as a great alternative to gift tags this year. How cute would these be on a package wrapped in brown paper? Simple and festive!

This Personal Library Kit comes with the following:

• Book Information Card
• Card Envelope
• Date Stamp
• Ink Pad
• Pencil

 You simply attach the envelope onto the book you wish to loan out, fill out a book information card (with the information about the book and the person borrowing the book) and stamp it with the date. You stamp the card envelope in the book with the return date so that the borrower knows when they should bring it back to you.

Keep the card in a Rolodex (or a safe place) until the book is returned. Then add it back to the envelope and wait for the next person to borrow it. What a great way to keep track of where your books have traveled!

Like what you see?

Head on over to the Knock Knock website to see more awesome ideas for gifts and useful items to keep track of everything you need to keep track of! You can also find Knock Knock on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at @KnockKnock.

What would you get from Knock Knock?

Knock Knock is part of the Noise Girls Winter Gift Guide giveaway. Head on over to see great ideas for you and your family this Winter season.

Head back to enter to win one of three amazing prize packages featured in this giveaway. And make sure to check out our complete Winter Gift Guide for ideas on what to give this holiday season.

Disclaimer: I received Shark-O the Shark and a Personal Library Kit for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Staying Cozy with Our Wisey 2-in-1 Footmuff from @AbesMarket

With exercise comes excuses. And I am great at making up excuses!

But with all of the tools I have at hand, I'm running out of excuses. My latest tool? This awesome Wisey 2-in-1 footmuff I received from Abe's Market. It not only keeps my daughter all comfy and cozy in her stroller, it also allows me to run outside with her as the weather changes and the cooler temperatures roll in.

No Excuses But Plenty of Options
And with the comfort of my daughter taken care of, there is no excuse to not go out and run when it's not 75 degrees out. And since my stroller comes with a rain shield, she can stay comfy and cozy AND dry even if it's raining and I'm getting wet.

I absolutely love  the versatility of this 2-in-1 footmuff. Not only does it zip all the way up and all the way down, but it also includes a blanket in the pocket in the front for added warmth. The blanket can also snap down if only the legs need to be covered. This is huge for us since my daughter hates having blankets on for long periods of time.

If there's just a slight chill out, we can roll the blanket all the way down and use it as a foot rest so the fleece lining keeps her warm.And it's recommended for up to 24 months. Since my little girl is a bit petite I'm sure it'll last a bit longer.

Abe's Market Has Everything
What I love about Abe's is the fact that they don't only carry awesome stroller blankets. They carry just about everything you can think of under one roof. And?? Most of the items carried are eco-friendly! How awesome is that? 

With competitive price points to match, Abe's is a great place to shop this holiday season.

Too often we buy products without knowing where the product was made or what country it originated from. At Abe's Market you can discover great natural products and have the unique opportunity to learn more about them – straight from the products' creators.

This valuable background goes beyond what can be found on a label. Who makes the product? What's in it? Where is it made? How? You can even chat directly with sellers to ask specific questions so you know that you can trust and be comfortable with the products you bring into your home!

Check out what Abe's Market has to offer and see if something catches your eye by visiting their website.

Want to be the first to hear about the latest and greatest products added to the market? Like Abe's Market on Facebook or follow them on twitter at @AbesMarket.

And don't forget to check out the Abe's Market Natural Living Noise Girls event coming October 26th!

What would you get from Abe's?

Disclaimer: I received a Wisey 2-in1 Footmuff for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Comfort and Style for Toddlers with Wee Urban #FashionistaEvents

 While attending BlogHer'12, I received a gorgeous modern organic onesie for my daughter from a company I wasn't too familiar with. As soon as I got home I immediately looked up Wee Urban and my jaw dropped. Omg. How cute are these clothes?

Now I have an issue with shopping on sites. There are just too many patterns, styles, and colors to choose from. Wee Urban is totally different and I love it. Not only do they have simple and chic designs, they also have a limited number of pieces each season. So if you want something, you need to get it!

Our long sleeved onesie was a little to warm for our higher temperatures lately so as soon as we started to feel the crisp Fall air outside, we tried it on. And the 18-24 month size fit my daughter perfectly.

This giraffe patterned brown onesie is made with 100% organic cotton interlock and is uber soft. Their rich colors and one of a kind designs appeal to a simpler style. I love that i can pair this onesie with just about anything in my daughter's closet and she still looks super cute.

Because of the stretch of the cotton, I am pretty sure that my daughter will be fitting into this onesie for quite some time. That means this will more than likely be our go-to shirt this winter. I can already see the layering outfits we can create!

Not only is Wee Urban's giraffe collection cute, they also have an adorable owl print and monkeys right now! Check out their shop for gorgeous clothes and blankets. And they'll be adding some great gift sets soon.

Ranging from newborn sizes to toddlers, there's sure to be a perfect piece for your cutie! I know I'm eyeing the giraffe dress for my daughter and cannot wait to see what's next for Wee Urban.

Check out Wee Urban on Facebook or follow them on twitter at @WeeUrban to keep up with the latest styles and selections. 

The Simmworks Family Blog will be participating in the Fall Fashionista Giveaway Event, the web's exclusive "All Fashion Only Fashion event this October.

Wee Urban has offered to giveaway the winner's choice of a Wee Urban Dress or Romper into the Simmworks Family Blog prize package (up to $38 value). So remember to head back on October 11th to enter to win!




Disclaimer: I received a Wee Urban onesie for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

All Girl from her Head to her Toes {Organic Kids Nail Polish}

When I found out my second child was going to be a girl I was ecstatic!

As soon as I saw the ultrasound and her girly parts I screamed out, "It's a girl!!" before the tech even had time to announce it.

So imagine my reaction when my daughter started to become obsessed with all things girly. Every time I put on lip stick or lip gloss she requests some as well. And when her daddy told her no, she came to me after I put mine on and asked for a kiss because she knew that would put lip stick on her too (she even smacked her lips after kissing me!!).

She has even started to notice when I put nail polish on and begged me to paint her toe nails after I finished mine.

Since I knew some of the ingredients in my nail polish, I started searching for an alternative nail polish for my little girl. One free of chemicals and nasties. That's when I stumbled upon Piggy Paint! 

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Piggy Paint is a natural, non-toxic nail polish made especially for little toes.

Why is it the safe nail polish?

Piggy Paint is:

• Non-toxic 
• Low Odor 
• Water-based formula 
•  Hypoallergenic 
• Fun, vibrant colors 
• Dries to a hard, durable finish 
• Cruelty-free 
• Safe for use during Pregnancy!

That means I don't worry when my daughter asks me to paint her nails for the 100th time. And another awesome fact about Piggy Paint? It's made in the USA!

And how cute are these painted piggies? Adorable, right?

I was lucky enough to find Piggy Paint sold in my favorite online store, Mama's Emporium. And not only does Mama's Emporium carry Piggy Paint Nail Polish, they also carry just about any natural, organic product out there.

If there's something you absolutely love to use and don't see it in the store, simply contact Mama's Emporium and make a request for them to carry that item! How awesome is that? They truly are a one-stop shop to all natural and organic baby essentials.

For more information about Mama's Emporium, head on over and check out their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter. There are always awesome sales, contests, and new product information announced!

Disclaimer: I received a Birthday Bash Set of Piggy Paint in a Mama's Emporium giveaway. No review was requested or required for winning. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

 

Dance all Day and Raise a Ruckus with Hullabaloo #FamilyArtsFestSD

When we get in the car the first thing I hear from the back seat is, "Can you put Hullabaloo on??"

Yup, that's right. My kids are Hullabaloo groupies. They get upset when we miss a concert, know the words to just about all of the songs, and love watching the YouTube videos of Joann with Sign4Baby signing along as Steve sings. They also love watching the Hullabaloo Steve channel on YouTube as well.

So when we heard there was a new Hullabaloo CD, Raise a Ruckus, being released, there were many excited screams and yells. And as soon as our shiny new copy came in the mail we popped it into the computer and started dancing along!

And the new release paired with the upcoming Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival (enter to win tickets!) left my kids very happy. 

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Once my kids went through the songs on the CD a few times they started to choose favorites. And since our after nap/pre-dinner dance party is still a daily occurrence, I now get requests for specific songs on the new CD each afternoon.

My daughter is obsessed with "Raise a Ruckus" and as soon as she hears the first few notes she starts moving her feet and her booty along to the beat. It's fresh, catchy tunes and lyrics put a smile on her face and a skip to her step.

Now my son still prefers "Blah Blah Blah" from Hey Everybody but his second most requested track is "Rocket Shoes." He's also made a request for a pair of rocket shoes for Christmas. I told him maybe we could get him a cape...

If you're looking for a feel-good, upbeat CD for your kids that won't leave you wanting to wear noise-cancelling headphones in the car, I highly suggest checking out Raise a Ruckus by Hullabaloo. Not only will you be tempted to sing along, you might find yourself playing the CD when the kids are no longer in the car...

To experience Hullabaloo, head on over to their website and check out their store. You can listen to a snippet of each song and get a feel for just how awesome Hullabaloo is.

The album is available everywhere on iTunes, Amazon.com, CDBaby and virtually all online music retailers so head over and download your copy today!

Interested in winning a copy?

Simply fill out the rafflecopter form below before September 20th at 11:59pm for your chance to win a copy of Raise a Ruckus! This is a great alternative for those who cannot make it to the Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival. You can simply put on the CD and have a festival of your own at home!

Top 10 Gifts for a One Year Old

As it nears closer and closer to my daughter's first birthday (how did that happen!?) I've began to think about what top ten items she would love to receive from us as well as suggestions for friends and family members who want to give her something.

Some of the items I've thought of are items we've already used and love with our son and others are new items we've played with or used at friends houses and play places. Do you have any other suggestions to entertain a 1 year old? You know, besides cardboard boxes and pots (and the given money for her college education)? I'd love to hear them!

I've included pinks and purples in with the blues and greens because honestly, my kids don't care about the colors yet, just about the toy and playing with it. My son plays with dolls and my daughter plays with trucks. And I'm cool with that. 

1. Little Tikes Push and Ride Doll Walker
We played with this push toy at our last visit to Kidding Around and Miss M just loved it! She sat on it and let me push her around. And the whole time she was on it she was grinning from ear to ear. When I stopped pushing her long enough to take a picture she started crying. That was immediately resolved by pushing her around again. And after we were done with riding on it she used it to "walk" around a bit. Win-win because it serves two purposes. 

2. Music Instruments
My daughter is already in love with drums. She constantly steals her brother's drum and drum stick and beats just about everything she can find on in (including poor Sophie the Giraffe). So when I saw this music set from one of my favorite toy brands, B. Toys,  I knew that it would be a perfect fit for our home. And while we haven't used it yet I've heard rave reviews from many friends about the instruments included and the durability of the product.

3. Pull-Along Toys
Now this is a toy that my son received for his first birthday by our dear friend Alanna. And he still plays with it. He's almost three! He was able to play with this toy as he crawled around on the ground, when he started to toddle and now he runs through the house with the snail behind him. I've never seen a snail run so fast!

This snail has taken quite a few beatings over the years but still looks as new as the day we took it out of the box. Miss M is having quite a fun time chasing after the snail, and her brother. And I love Plan Toys. They are an awesome toy company that use green materials and green manufacturing. They not only make quality toys, they are a quality company I love to support.

4. Fisher-Price Little People: Animal Sounds Farm
Every little kid needs a Little People farm. Seriously. They're awesome. I find myself gravitating to our farm every time I go into my son's bedroom to play. And Miss M loves playing with her brother's animals and farm. She even puts the animals in and out of the barn. There's also a tractor that goes greatly with this farm. The farmer gets to ride around in the tractor and a little piggy pops out of the hay bale in the back. M laughs every time she sees it!

5. Baby Stella Doll
My son asked for his first doll at about 18 months so we purchased one at the mall we were at and didn't really put much thought into what doll we bought. We have three baby dolls now but whenever my daughter tries to play with them (or gnaw on them) her brother quickly takes them away. So I know I need to get a doll just for her. This Baby Stella doll is perfect. Soft, small and cute, just like her! And I'm considering getting a boy doll for my son so he can play with her.

6. Activity Cube
We got this awesome Activity Cube for my son's first birthday. He and his friends still play with it to this day. This cube is a great investment. It is a great toy from kids ages 6 months to 3+ years. And even though I can't find our exact cube for sale anymore I still have seen great reviews for it. And there are plenty of activity cubes out there to choose from.

7. Bath Accessories
While this isn't technically a toy we really love our faucet covers. When our kids started getting more mobile in the bath tub we knew we needed to protect their little noggins from hitting the bath faucet. And we wanted to make bathtime fun. So we got a super cool Crayola octopus bath faucet cover and were gifted an equally cool Boon Flo cover.

And toys to go in the bath as well as something to scoop up the toys (like this awesome Boon frog) are also great gifts for a 1 year old. I know my son loves playing with his Discovery Toys stacking cups and his Fisher Price Amazing Animals™ Tubtime Tugboat™ the most. Baths stop being about getting clean and start being about having fun in the water!

8. Sensory Balls
My kids love balls. They love to throw them, attempt to eat them and bounce them. We have them all over the house. But the best ones I've found for one year olds are the ones they can get a grip on. We found a large pack of sensory balls at Costco last Christmas and they have held up very well. Half are in the house and half are in the front yard. What kid doesn't like to play with balls?

9. Blocks
We have many different sets of blocks for the kids to play with. From soft, cloth blocks to squishy, squeaky blocks to wooden blocks. Each different set helps teach the kids to stack, line up and make fun structures. Every kid needs a good set of blocks to play with. And the best part about these sets is that they don't just last for a small period of time, most of the block sets we own will be used for a few years. Especially the wooden one. That's a favorite of my son's right now (thanks Aunt Miranda for buying them!).

10. Anywhere Chair
Every kid needs their own sized chair. Whether it be the Anywhere Chair or one similar, smaller, child-size chairs always seem to attract kids of all ages. My son loves to grab a book and pretend to read in his chair. He also likes to watch movies while sitting in it. When he was 18 months old I remember that he grabbed his chair, dragged it into the living room and pushed it into place between mine and my husbands chairs. It was so adorable! He wanted to be just like us. So we know we'll have to get our daughter one of her own for Christmas this year. It just makes sense!

This is not a sponsored post. I either own and have used the toys with my own children, or have heard great reviews from reliable friends and family. I was not compensated by any of the companies listed above. The opinions stated are my own. 

Scored on E's 1st Birthday Present!

Joseph and I took E out tonight to get a Christmas tree (pictures to come soon) and while we were out we stopped at GTM to see if there were any gifts for one of E's friends (his 1st birthday party is tomorrow).

While we were there we picked up a bunch of random stuff. Because that's what you do at GTM. We got some grits (I've never had these and really wanted to try and make cheesy grits cause they sound fabulous!), some Electrasol, some Bobs Red Mill pizza crust mix, some modeling clay that turned out to be all dried up :( and some brown sugar.

As we were nearing the toy and "large items" aisles I left Joseph and took E to the toys to see what we wanted to get him. We couldn't decide on one of two items so we went to find Joseph to see what he thought. As soon as I saw him he said, "Look! They have that cube thing you want to get E for his birthday. You think it's a good deal?"


I looked at the price tag and thought yeah, good deal! I think they go for $100 elsewhere and it's only $75. So we picked it up and bought it. I just got online to check the price of it elsewhere and here's what I find.... SCORE! We basically saved $100 and it's in perfect condition... just a few rips in the box :)

I couldn't be happier. Now we have Christmas AND E's birthday complete. Here's to enjoying the holidays...