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.

Staying Fit and Balanced with the @AuroraeYoga Synergy Mat {Holiday Gift Guide}

One thing I've learned while on my journey to become more fit and healthy is that we all need balance in our lives. That balance not only keeps us whole and upright, it also helps make sure that we aren't forgetting anything. And with any good workout routine there needs to be balance.

Aside from the cardio and weights, mind-body exercise is a great way to pull together everything we're working on in creating a healthier body and really helps center our thoughts and our ability to work out on a more deeper level.

Recently I've added a yoga class to my workout routine and I'm happy to say that I'm starting to feel more energized and relaxed as I increase my level of cardio and weights. With the addition of yoga and the deep stretching I'm now doing, I'm able to go farther and push myself more in other areas of exercise. My limbs and muscles feel good and I feel more at peace with the body I have.

With any fitness routine, there are always tools that help create a better experience. And recently I was introduced to Aurorae Yoga. Their site carries everything needed for an amazing yoga experience including:

• Yoga Mats
• Yoga Bags
• Towels
• Yoga Straps
• Yoga Blocks
• Aromatherapy Mist

and much more! 

I received Aurorae Yoga's "Synergy" Mat-Towel combo and I must say that I am in love with this mat! While other mats I've used have been pleasant, this Synergy mat is by far the best yoga mat i've used. It's comfortable, padded, and the perfect length!

The Synergy mat is a great way to practice yoga and to use for stretching before working out. The combination of the Yoga mat bottom and the skidless microfiber towel top surface creates a space that is both inviting and relieving for hands and joints. The more you sweat the better you can grip the towel!

With it's beautiful, bright colors and gorgeous embroidery stitching around the perimeter you won't have any problem showing this mat off in class or to your friends at home. I recently went out of town for a family wedding and took my yoga mat with me to stretch before working out.

The Synergy mat made working out while on vacation easy and fun. And the portability of this mat is excellent! I haven't yet had a chance to make a carrier for it but the mat is very light weight. This mat also works great for different varieties of yoga. So whether you're practicing bikram, Ashtanga, or hot yoga, you will find that this mat works wonders!

I've been using the Lavender Meditative Mist Aromatherapy while using my Synergy mat and the combination of the aromatherapy and the yoga has allowed me to work on breathing, stretching, and finding my inner balance. By giving myself 10 minutes for peace, quiet and tranquility I've found that I'm more patient (especially with the kids), I'm enjoying myself more, and I feel better throughout the day.

The mat has also provided a place for teach my children a few moves. They are having an amazing time learning different stretches. My son recently took a few gymnastics classes where he learned a few stretches. So he decided to teach his sister his favorite position, downward dog.

By bringing yoga into the home (instead of simply participating at the gym) I've opened up a door for teaching my children the balance of exercise as well. I've also created an added bond with them. Every morning after I drop my son off at school, my daughter and I get to our stretches before our little dance parties. Before you know it she'll be showing me her favorite position!

Aurorae Yoga products are the perfect gift for this holiday season. Bring some comfort and relaxation to someone you love by purchasing the Aurorae Yoga Synergy towel-mat combo or allow them to take a moment to themselves with the Aromatherapy mist.

You can find Aurorae Yoga on Facebook and follow them on twitter at @AuroraeYoga. For safe and reliable purchasing, check out all of Aurorae Yoga's products on Amazon.

Aurorae Yoga will be including a Synergy towel-mat (an $89.95 value) in the Noise Girls Winter Gift Guide giveaway starting November 1st.

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 a Synergy Yoga Mat-Towel for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  
 

Enjoying Holiday Cheer with Christmas Mouse from @PaperHatPress

I walked by Macy's last night and was surprised to find Christmas decorations already up and shining. The first winter holiday commercial started airing last week and a chill is in the air. Christmas countdown is on and that means one thing... preparing for the craziness that is my favorite time of year!

And in preparing for the craziness, I love to step back and enjoy the moments I have with my children during this time of year. The excitement on their faces, the anticipation as we count down to the time that we get together with all of our family and celebrate the birth of Jesus.

My kids absolutely love presents, don't get me wrong, but I see the joy they get when they're amongst all of the people who love them and my heart just melts.

Creating Christmas Cheer
In preparation of the coming holidays one of my favorite companies, Paper Hat Press, has come out with a personalized holiday book called Christmas Mouse. The story follows the path of a little mouse on Christmas Eve who makes sure that Christmas morning turns out just right for it's owner, your child!

Following along the journey of this mouse adds that bit of sparkle and joy into the Christmas preparation and I cannot wait to see my kids as they follow the story and read along. We'll be using this book to help build the excitement of Christmas morning for our kids and I know that they will love the special personalized touches along the way.
 

Personalized Fun with Christmas Mouse
If you're looking for a great way to include the children in a more festive way as we prepare for a busy holiday season, I highly suggest checking out the latest book in the Paper Hat Press family. Christmas Mouse is a sweet and joyful story filled with bright illustrations.

Children are sure to fall in love with this book and enjoy reading about the journey of Christmas Mouse on Christmas Eve. The thought of going to bed and what goes on while they sleep is not only exciting but entertaining as well. And waking up Christmas morning to surprises around the house and gifts under the tree is exactly what I'm looking forward to watching my children experience.

Share the personalized story of Christmas Mouse with a child you love this holiday season and bring the joy of the holiday to life! Christmas Mouse will be available on the Paper Hat Press website very soon so stay tuned and be the first to know when it hits the store!

You can also check out their great selection of personalized books and notebooks while you're there. We absolutely love our copy of Little Super and are already eying a few of the notebooks and sketchbooks available for stocking stuffers.

Visit Paper Hat Press on Facebook and follow them on twitter at @PaperHatPress to find out the latest on sales, new books, and fun information about the stories created.


Paper Hat Press has excitedly agreed to include a copy of Christmas Mouse and a notebook of the winner's choice in the Noise Girls Winter Gift Guide giveaway starting November 1st.

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 a personalized copy of Christmas Mouse for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  

Hexbug Warriors Battling Robots and Battle Arena

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My kids are absolutely obsessed with the HEXBUG line. From the first moment they held their first little vibrating nanos they were hooked. They would race their bugs together in different habitats and create elaborate mazes for them to crawl through.

Then we upgraded to a larger HEXBUG collection by adding the Crab, the Scarab, and the Spider. And just as they loved their Nanos, they loved this larger version of HEXBUG equally as well.

One of the major differences between HEXBUG and other toys on the market is it's simplicity. The fact that my kids can turn them on and off and control where they go by following them around and blocking them with their hands, feet, and other toys makes them feel in control.

HEXBUG Creates a Positive Robotic Experience
If you haven't yet heard of HEXBUG, let me take a step back and share a little information about these fun toys. From the HEXBUG website:

"By leveraging our robotics expertise, we entered the toy industry in 2007 with the launch of the HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures product line. HEXBUG was designed to give children a positive experience with robotics at a young age. Our passion for robotics, as demonstrated by our VEX Robotics program, was the main catalyst fueling HEXBUG's inception. Hence, the brand was born! 

People are drawn to the HEXBUG brand for our products’ fascinating behavior, intelligent bug-like attributes and eye-catching packaging. Some of the products are so animated, they even fool cats, dogs and some humans into thinking they are alive!"

I can attest to how fascinating these little bugs are. They have kept my children occupied for hours on end playing and exploring the world around them. And they've definitely scared a guest or two into thinking they were real bugs!

A New Bug In Town
When I saw the HEXBUG Warriors at BlogHer'12 this year I was ecstatic and knew that these would be the "it" gift to give this year. Especially for my 3 1/2 year old son and 5 year old nephew. How could they not love these amazing Warriors?

Not only do they come with armor, but they have removable parts! And they can battle each other in this awesome Battle Arena. The Battle Arena comes with two HEXBUG Warriors to battle together. Additional HEXBUG Warriors can also be purchased.

These HEXBUG line come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. And I'm sure that your child will be able to find their perfect bug.

The latest line now not only comes with their choice of color, but also with their choice of weapon and armor as well. From the spinning blades of Bionika to the spinning ninja-star like armor of Viridia, these bugs are meant for battle! And boy do they put on a show.

Now the HEXBUG line may be recommended for children between 5-12 years but my younger children are quite obsessed. And my daughter has become even more obsessed than my son (if that's even possible!). Since we like to play with our kids, we are usually supervising them closely as we play together with the HEXBUG collections.

Not Just for Boys
The HEXBUG Warriors might look like the perfect gift for boys, but don't dismiss them for girls. My daughter, as I've said before, loves these little robotic creatures. She's very much the tomboy when she wants to be and idolizes anything her older brother loves. That includes HEXBUG.

Not only can these HEXBUG lines inspire kids to think outside the box, they might spark some interest for robotics and engineering. With the interest my daughter has for all things mechanical, I could totally see her creating great things in the near future. And if I can supply her with innovative toys that get her thinking, I will do just that.

The Perfect Gift from Stocking Stuffer to Ultimate Surprise
With the varieties of sizes, shapes, and styles, the HEXBUG line is the perfect gift this holiday season. From stocking stuffers to larger gifts that will make any child smile with delight, if you're looking for an innovative, fun toy this holiday season, you have to check out HEXBUG and their new line of HEXBUG Warriors! I know we'll have a few under our tree this Christmas.

To find out more about HEXBUG, visit their website. And make sure to visit HEXBUG on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at @HEXBUG to keep up with the latest on all buggy news.

What's on the top of your child's holiday wishlist? 

Disclaimer: I received a HEXBUG Warriors Battle Arena for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.