TOMY Dinosaur Train Motorized Arctic Adventure Train Set

Jump On Board the Dinosaur Train! – Motorized Adventure Train Set Giveaway

By: Ashley

If your little ones are anything like mine, trains carry with them some type of mystic power. Atticus has really only had push trains to play with, minus a small fling with a Christmas Train. That all changed today! My son truly fell in love with the new Dinosaur Train Motorized Arctic Adventure Train Set by TOMY. If you haven’t seen these motorized trains yet, you definitely need to check them out.

We don’t let Atticus watch a lot of TV, but what he does watch tends to come from educational DVDs or almost any kids stuff from PBS… including Dinosaur Train. That’s probably why he was excited at just the sight of the Arctic Adventure Train Set. Actually, letting him hold the box in the car got us through some sticky traffic in the car! He was so excited that he was actually holding the box and studying the pictures of what looked like such a cool toy! By the time we got home, he had listed almost EVERYTHING pictured on the box!

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The Dinosaur Train Motorized Arctic Adventure Train Set had three BIG features that I look for in toys.

· Easy to Assemble – The train tracks easily snap together and stay connected whether on carpet or hard flooring. You do have to add 2 AAA batteries to the train engine, but that quick and easy.

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· Easy to Use – The engine of the Dinosaur Train Motorized Arctic Adventure Train Set is easy to turn off and on. You simply press down on the smoke stack to start the train, and press down again to turn it off.

· Multiple Uses – There are many different levels of play to the Dinosaur Train Motorized Arctic Adventure Train Set. There’s the obvious train play – taking the train around the track or letting the train go around the tracks on its own. Kids will also love playing with the dinosaur figurines that come with the set, moving the trains on other surfaces, bringing other vehicles onto the track, and with the imagination of a child, the possibilities are endless!D Train 3

The only downside to the set would have to be the cardboard scenery. It didn’t really last long with Atticus, but older kids might do better. To be honest, I don’t think it’s really necessary to get the most out of the train set. It’s just an added bonus if your little ones like it.

We really enjoyed playing with the Dinosaur Train Motorized Arctic Adventure Train Set. It’s great to have such an interactive toy designed around an education series like PBS Kids’ Dinosaur Train! Atticus is a little bit younger than the recommended 3+, but still LOVES his new train set. Be sure to follow @TOMYNewsUS on Twitter

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This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Pauline M.

About Ashley: Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

I received a product to review from the manufacturing company or a representing PR firm. There was no monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed were my own.

Just in Time for Baseball Season: Sports Illustrated Kids’ Pro Files: Baseball

Sports Illustrated Kids’ Pro Files: Baseball – A Great Book for Kids JUST IN TIME for Baseball Season!

By: Ashley

Sports Illustrated Kids has just released a book all about baseball.  Sports Illustrated Kids’ Pro Files: Baseball features statistics and bios from some of the best players in Major League Baseball. The amazing photography, kid friendly writing, and plenty of charts, diagrams, and tables make this a great book for adults and kids alike! DSC00826

As a former teacher, I LOVE how this book is an interesting non-fiction text for readers. It can be pretty tricky to find non-fiction, but  Sports Illustrated Kids’ Pro Files: Baseball has really delivered. You can use this book to go over so many of the features of non-fiction text that your kids will be studying in school. The amazing colors and captivating design of the pages will keep your readers tuned in and excited to see what’s next. You can even read some of the sections of this book as a directional How To! You can help your little one understand how directions are written, how to interpret them, and how to pitch a ball like a pro all at the same time! Worried that you won’t be able to help much in the drills? Not to worry. Experts have broken down skills and created drills that are easy to follow in this book. DSC00830

Sports Illustrated Kids’ Pro Files: Baseball highlights many of today’s biggest baseball starts. Included in the book are:

·       Justin Verlander

·       Joe Mauer

·       Evan Longoria

·       Albert Pujols

·       Roy Halladay

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While this book is recommended for ages 8-12, you can definitely make it work for both older and younger readers. My little guy is (almost) 2 and LOVED this book. He’s pretty into anything that involves a ball, and once he saw the pictures… it was all over. He actually likes to turn to different pages and try to mimic what the players are doing. I’m sure that it looks a lot different on him than it would an 8 year old, but it just goes to show you how engaging  Sports Illustrated Kids’ Pro Files: Baseball really is!

By now you are probably wondering where you can pick this up for your own Grand Slammer. That’s easy! It’s available at www.sikids.com/profilesbaseball and retailers nationwide. Get yours before the season really gets rolling!

A product was provided for review by the publishing company or a representing PR firm. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions expressed are my own.

About Ashley: Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

Behind the Movie Mirror Mirror: An Interview with Armie Hammer The Prince

Mirror Mirror’s Prince Alcott Really DOES Believe in Love at First Sight!

By : Ashley

When you think of a fairytale prince, you probably think of a charming young man, as handsome as he is strong , courageous, honorable, and ready to save the day at a moment’s notice. I’m here to tell you that Armie Hammer is all of that and more in the new movie Mirror Mirror. The best part about Armie Hammer both on and off the screen? His down to earth sense of self, sense of humor, and love of the acting craft.

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If you aren’t excited about Mirror Mirror yet, I’m letting you know that you should be. ;) This is a great family movie that boys, girls, men, and women will all enjoy. In fact, the Prince (Armie) has been described as “someone men can relate to and women will fall in love with.” When asked about this description, Armie said that, “My first reaction is ‘thank you.” He continued to explain that, “When I initially took this role, I wasn’t really thinking about anything other than ‘how do we make this not just Prince Charming?’” Hammer and the film’s director, Singh Tarsem, worked very closely together and made this role more than your average Prince Charming. Part of what made Armie’s performance as the prince so authentic was his dedication to research. In fact, that’s how he says he usually prepares for any role.

“I try to take as intellectual approach as possible by learning every little thing I can about it. When it was J. Edgar… (it was about) living in that time and feeling a certain way. (For Mirror Mirror) it was about understanding the concept of royalty. How did a prince live in those days?” Through this approach, Hammer was able to realize that this prince, who usually had so much done for him, wanted to know what else was out there. "No wonder this guy was on an adventure,” Hammer says. “He wanted to get away from all of that."

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Mr. Hammer definitely won all of us in the interview over when he was asked about love at first sight. As you can imagine, the concept plays an important role in Mirror Mirror. It’s always good to know if one of the major stars can support such a romantic idea. All I can say is… SWOON… Here’s what he had to say:

“I do believe in love at first sight, but I wouldn’t if I didn’t experience it. When I first met my wife, I remember everything she was wearing the first time I saw her. And that was almost six years ago at this point…So, I do believe in love at first sight, and I think that’s something that I recognized in the script… I feel like I can bring some truth to that. I have actually been through that… Lucky me."

There you have it folks! A real life Prince Charming. Stunning good looks, a down to earth personality, a great sense of humor, and passion for his craft. What more could you ask for in a prince?

To see more of Armie Hammer as Prince Alcott, check out Mirror Mirror coming March 30 to theatres everywhere. Visit Mirror Mirror on Facebook

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Travel and expenses were covered by Relativity Media for the Press Day.

About Ashley: Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

Behind the Movie Mirror Mirror: Interview with Lily Collins Princess Snow

An Interview with Mirror Mirror’s Lily Collins – Just as Perfect in Person

By: Ashley

“Perfect” is such a strong word that can bring up a lot of different feelings, but when I use it to describe Lily Collins… I really can’t think of anything better. She is eloquent, intelligent, kind, genuine, talented, beautiful, and… well… as perfect as any princess that has ever hit the silver screen. I’m sure all of that (and more) is what the makers of the new movie Mirror Mirror saw when they cast her as the legendary Snow White. I was lucky enough to sit down for a roundtable interview with her and some other parent bloggers earlier this month and felt so comfortable speaking with such an impressive young woman.

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At only 22 years old, some might think that taking on an iconic role like that of Snow White would be a pretty daunting task. When asked, Lily noted on how the script already established that this was a modernized version of the character we all know. She continued that there “wasn’t as much intimidation of trying to stay true to the original, it was just making sure I was someone that young girls could relate to. I didn’t want to be this caricature of a fairytale princess that was already in cartoon form. I wanted to be someone that young girls could look at and say, ‘She’s a friend of mine.’” Collins attention to her audience didn’t stop there. It seems as though the audience and message of the movie was something extremely important to her. It was fun for Lily to, “go from this young, wide-eyed, innocent girl who is unaware of what’s going on around her… (and) put in this fairytale princess dress. … And then as the story goes on, Snow grows up and becomes more mature and more of a young woman.” This theme of growth and maturity is one the Collins felt very closely connected to. She even said her own experience filming Mirror Mirror was very similar; coming in new and unaware, leaving a film star with even greater experiences.

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Meeting Lily Collins was incredible. Her demeanor, he grace, her elegance, all impressive. It’s no surprise that her style icon is Audrey Hepburn. For me, it was so easy to see. I think it is Lily’s natural beauty and old Hollywood class… not to mention the OBVIOUS physical similarities… that says “Audrey” to me. In the movie you also see the similarities in acting. Collins says it best by saying, “I think it’s old time movie stars that have a quality that isn’t as noticeable today because there are so many quick shots in a film. You don’t stay on one person for a long period of time. And with Audrey or Elizabeth Taylor, you stayed on someone’s face to see them go from one emotion to another.” It’s no surprise to hear the Collins prepared for her role as Snow White and, “studied her (Audrey Hepburn) and just the way that she used her body and her posture and her hands. She was very much a princess in her own way… For people to say that they saw that is huge for me, because that was definitely an inspiration.” All of this preparation is obvious when you see the elegance the Lily brings to the role of Snow White in Mirror Mirror.

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It’s obvious that Lily was a great fit for the role of Snow. It’s just as obvious that she has her feet on the ground, a good head on her shoulders, and is not afraid to go after what she wants. After waiting until she was around 16 years old, Collins hit the world of Hollywood auditioning for parts. She says that she “took every NO, as a “not right now.” It might be that attitude, along with the support of her mother, that helped get her to where she is today. As far as advice for young girls? Lily says that you should “always appreciate your mom. You need to know that you can always talk to her.” She also notes that it isn’t always going to be easy to work towards your goals, but that’s kind of part of it. “What’s the worst that can happen? You get told ‘no?’… You’re young. You’re supposed to try new things!” LC Snow 1

With all that in mind, I hope that you can see what an amazing young woman Lily Collins is. All of her talent and genuine passion for what she does is what brings her character (Yes… HER character) to life in Mirror Mirror. Lily says “Passion is one of the only things that is truly universal.” Make sure you check out her passion for acting… and a GREAT family film by seeing Mirror Mirror on March 30. Visit Mirror Mirror on Facebook

Travel and expenses were covered by Relativity Media for the Press Day.

About Ashley: Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

The Hunger Games – A Movie That IS As Good As the Book

By: Ashley

The odds were most definitely in my favor as I was able to make it to a press screening of The Hunger Games. As a HUGE fan of the books, and a movie go-er who is often disappointed by books brought to the big screen, I was equally excited and nervous. However, when the movie ended and the credits started to roll, I knew that Lionsgate had truly made a wonderful movie.

 

The Hunger Games is a movie that fans of the book will love as it accurately brings the story by Suzanne Collins to the screen. Fans will see the scenes that made movies in their minds played out in a larger than life way. As a true fan of the novels, I couldn’t help but compare the two looking for differences, noting what was left out, and noticing the book to movie changes. Did I notice a few differences? Yes. Did they take away from the story, or bother me? NO! The Hunger Games movie did a phenomenal job of staying true to what is an amazing story.

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As for movie go-ers that are not already fans of the book, they will leave the theatre completely attached to the characters, contemplating societal and political ideals, and begging to know what comes next in the story. Don’t worry, this movie does a fantastic job telling the complete story, so reading the book is not necessary for watching. (Though I must say, reading the books is something that should be on EVERYONE’S list…) The storyline in The Hunger Games is captivating for tweens, teens, and adults of all ages. Intense action scenes, a well done love story, amazing sound effects, and a star-studded cast are only a few of the things that make The Hunger Games a must see movie. Did you not know that this was a star-studded cast? Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, and Donald Sutherland are just some of the names that stand out on the cast. Top all of that off with Jennifer Lawrence playing an amazing protagonist, Liam Hemsworth playing her best friend, and Josh Hutcherson as the strong male tribute… you’ve got yourself a MUST SEE MOVIE!

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That’s it. This is a MUST SEE MOVIE! So, whether you’re going to wait in line Thursday at midnight, or go early Saturday morning… GO SEE IT! =)

The Hunger Games Movie Poster

Disclosure – Ashley was able to attend a press screening thanks to Lionsgate (or a representing PR firm) of the film in order to write this review.

About Ashley: Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

Munchkin Click Lock Sippy Cups – A GUARANTEED Leak-Proof Seal

By: Ashley

The world of sippy cups can be a little overwhelming. I know that sounds a little ridiculous, but it’s true! There are so many types, styles, brands, colors, and price points, that it’s tough to know where to begin. That’s why having a brand like Munchkin is great. You can always rely on them for high quality, kid friendly, cost conscious products. Their new line of Click Lock sippy cups is no exception.

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About a year ago, I reviewed Munchkin cups and my only complaint was that it was tough to know when the cups were sealed properly. I had a cup leak in my purse/diaper bag once, and it wasn’t pretty. The new Munchkin Click Lock system solves that problem! I can honestly say that “clicking” these cups closed is easy… and secure! The video put out by Munchkin not only shows how tightly these cups seal, but cracks me up at the same time.

From the website:

Munchkin’s new line of Click Lock™ Cups are just right because they just CLICK. These cups feature a simple click-and-lock lid to securely close for a leak proof seal – guaranteed. Parents will see, hear and feel the cup lock, so they have triple assurance against dribbles and drips. Munchkin is so confident these new cups are mess-free, we are backing up the promise with a 100% replacement guarantee.

Click Lock™ cups are available in an assortment of vibrant colors, fun artwork, licensed characters, and styles including sippy, trainer, straw, flip straw and Big Kid™ spout-less. Because sometimes things in life just click!DSC00722

Munchkin sippy cups have been a staple in our house for awhile now, and I’m sure our collection will keep growing. There aren’t a million pieces to keep up with, many of the lids are interchangeable, the lids and cups are all easy to clean, everything is BPA free, and best of all… THEY DON’T LEAK! After all, isn’t that the most important thing to consider when you hand a drink over to your little one? I think so!

You can learn more about Munchkin products, including their Click Lock technology cups, by visiting their website.

Munchkin provided samples for this review.

About Ashley: Ashley is the president of our local MOMS Club. Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

Beginning Bath & Beauty Skin Care Products for Baby By Maclaren

By: Ashley

It wasn’t too long ago that I became a HUGE fan of Maclaren. I was in the market for a lightweight, yet durable, stroller and quickly learned that no one (in my very humble opinion) could match Maclaren. That’s why, I was SO excited to learn about Maclaren’s line of skin products! If a company could make such amazing gear that made life easier for both parents and children, I couldn’t wait to see what that same dedication would do for a skin care line. Let me start off by saying, I was NOT disappointed!

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“Maclaren makes skin care stuff? Who knew?” That was literally what I said when received the samples of products for this review. Now, a shower, some lotion, and some body balm later, I am fully supporting the Maclaren Beginning line. What makes this stuff so special? Here’s what Maclaren has to say…

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(These are) products offering everyday personal care for the entire family (mothers, fathers, babies and children). beginning…everyday, a natural and gentle range of holistic bath and body care products, delivers real therapeutic benefits based on holistic aromatherapypractices, and is made from the purest ingredients safe for sensitive skin.

Now, here’s what I have to say! I’ve kind of gone back and forth about what I think of the potentially dangerous chemicals found in lotions, shampoos, soaps, etc. It’s a tough spot to be in when you want to do everything you can to keep your babies healthy but also need to be cost conscious and… well to be honest, not afraid of everything in the world. That’s one of the reasons I really like the Maclaren Beginnings line. The products are natural… but don’t cost an arm and a leg. A little more than some of the other more traditional baby products, yes… but, for high quality skin care, suitable for sensitive skin, that leaves your body and mind feeling luxuriously relaxed…? Beginning is a GREAT product line.

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Product Line Descriptions:

Replenishing Body Lotion: Enriched with the moisturizing and anti-aging benefits of avocado, almond and chamomile oils, this water-based, non-greasy body lotion is specially formulated for delicate and sensitive skin. An organic essential oils blend of relaxing lavender and regenerative avocado oil, combined with moisturizing almond oil, glycerin and cocoa butter, boost the skin’s defenses against the damaging effects of UV rays while softening and soothing the skin.

Gentle Cleansing Face and Body Wipes: Made from soft organic cotton and lightly scented with organic lavender essential oil, these alcohol free cleansing wipes are gentle enough for use on body and face. Known for its anti-bacterial and soothing properties, lavender essential oil leaves skin clean, fresh and stress free.

Gentle Softening Shampoo: Created using only the mildest ingredients to cleanse and moisturize the hair and scalp, this gentle softening shampoo leaves hair shiny and silky. A comforting blend of soothing lavender and restorative mandarin essential oils, combined with hydrating aloe and glycerin, make this gentle shampoo rich in healing properties.

Gentle Moisturizing Hair Conditioner: Specially formulated to complement the beginning gentle softening shampoo, this mild conditioner is lightweight in texture, leaves hair moisturized and hydrated, and has the calming scent of lavender oil. A blend of mandarin oil, aloe Vera juice oil and glycerin provides hair with repairing and restorative benefits.

Hydrating Lip and Cheek Balm: A distinctive blend of organic Shea butter, bees wax and jojoba oil hydrates and moisturizes lips and cheeks. This balm is infused with a light lavender scent and specially formulated with natural vitamin E to protect sensitive skin.

Indulging Body Butter: A rich, buttery moisturizer providing an intensive dry skin treatment, this body butter has a lightweight texture for quick absorption. Highly moisturizing with a blend of organic Shea and cocoa butter, as well as soothing aloe Vera and almond oil, this special formulation leaves skin hydrated and soft. For ultimate relaxation, it is lightly fragranced with a blend of revitalizing orange and sensual ylang ylang.

Aromatherapy is another added plus of the Maclaren Beginning line. Whether it’s the relaxing scent of lavender, or the energizing burst of mandarin orange, they have done a great job of using just the right amount of scent. I don’t use scented things very often because I can get overwhelmed by smell. The natural scents in Maclaren Beginning are just right.

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Check out MaclarenBaby.com to try out these products. You can also find them at some other online stores. Perfect for new moms, baby shower gifts, and more!

MomStart is an Ambassador for Maclaren and received products for review.

About Ashley: Ashley is the president of our local MOMS Club. Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and writes her own blog at Momicles.

“Build Greatness in Kids 1 Fort at a Time” – Fort Magic Product Review

By: Ashley

As soon as I saw the YouTube video about Fort Magic, I knew this was a toy that I wanted in my home for years to come! I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite memories from childhood is building blanket tents, forts, houses, cars, castles, and more with sheets, chairs, couch cushions… you name it! Once I even found some duct tape! (FYI – It was great for holding the sheets up on the walls, but not so great when it took the paint… and pieces of drywall down during clean up. OOPS! ) Before I keep going, you should definitely check out this video.

We all know how creative our kids are and how strong their imaginations are. Fort Magic loves to say that you can “build forts as big as your imagination,” and that couldn’t be a more true statement. Kids can build castles, pirate ships, teepees, tunnels, submarines, race cars… they could build anything they can imagine.

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Fort Magic is extremely user friendly. You can think of it as almost a giant set of Tinker Toys. There are various sizes of rods (straight and curved) along with different connectors and joints. You can follow some of the diagrams for ideas or just build on your own. Once your structure is framed using the rods, you use the blanket clips to attach any sheet, blanket, or piece of fabric to the frame. This is a HUGE improvement over the duct tape and couch cushions that I grew up using! It’s a huge improvement over the old dryer box that Fort Magic founder and CEO Erika Pope-Gusev’s son was playing in, too!

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I had the chance to speak with Erika over the phone and was completely impressed with her passion for her Fort Magic product. Erika got the idea for Fort Magic when her son had spent days playing with a dryer box. She watched him played, his imagination running wild, and knew that she could do something better. That’s when she turned a normal box fort into a complete building set. Erika values the imagination and outside the box thinking that kids seems to bubble over with and wants to keep it that way. She sees Fort Magic as a way to keep kids active, busy, and creating! DSC00379

What’s next for Fort Magic? Well, they’re on their way to producing fabric covers to go with the sets. That way you can have covers specifically for your Fort Magic. Erika is also working to create educational links to the Fort Magic kits. She home schools her children and explains how Fort Magic could be a great resource for other families who home school, or just families in general. Tactile learning experiences are never a bad thing!DSC00399

Check out Fort Magic when you can. I had a blast building with Atticus. He is a little small to do it on his own, but you better believe I’ll be hanging on to this for later on. I don’t need him finding the duct tape!

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and active with our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

What Would You Ask The Cast of the Movie Mirror Mirror? #MirrorMirror

Mirror Mirror – Getting Ready for a Fairy Tale Visit!

By: Ashley

On Friday, I will get to head out of the rainy PNW and take a Fairy Tale whirlwind trip. Why do I call it a “fairy tale trip?” Because I’m going to a screening of the latest fantastical film from Relativity Media , Mirror Mirror. If you haven’t heard about this movie yet, you should definitely check out the website and catch the trailer. This is an action version of the classical tale, Snow White. Julia Roberts plays the evil stepmother (Yep, THE Julia Roberts), and the picture is made complete with the beautiful princess played by Lily Collins, and the handsome prince played by Armie Hammer.

 

 

What would you ask Snow White & Prince Charming?

Here is where I need the help of all you awesome MomStart readers. On Saturday, I will get to sit down with the prince and princess themselves for a roundtable interview! I’ve been doing my pre-trip prep and thought asking you guys for help on the list of questions would be a great idea. I’ll be there with some other VERY talented Mom Bloggers, so these questions need to be great! =) Here are some of the things I’ve learned so far about these 2 young movie stars.

Lily Collins plays the most beautiful girl in all the land, Snow White. After doing a little research, I learned that Lily actually started out as a journalism major. Most of her first “roles” were that in the field of news reporting, both writing and appearing as an anchor/reporter. She’s the daughter of Phil Collins, but is known more for her own work that just the name of her famous father. You can check out more of Lily’s biography here.

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Armie Hammer has had some success on both the small and big screen. His “breakthrough role” is considered to be that of the Winklevoss twins in 2010’s The Social Network. He spent his childhood growing up in Dallas, TX, the Cayman Islands, and LA. To learn more about the handsome prince from Mirror Mirror, you can look here.

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So, two young, up and coming movie stars! Please leave any questions that you’d like to have me ask in the comments below. I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it!

 

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and active with our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

Bamboo Dreams by Yala Designs – Sleep, Dress, and Dream Soft Cotton Goodness

By: Ashley

Two weeks ago, you could have asked me the difference in Bamboo Dreams viscose from bamboo and plain old cotton, I probably wouldn’t have been able to tell you much. That was 2 weeks ago though, and that was before I tried on a dress from Yala Designs Bamboo Dreams Collection.

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The Bamboo Dreams Collection is incredibly soft. I am not kidding when I tell you that I said “Oooo” when I first put on the Bamboo Dreams Izzy Dress and felt how amazingly cozy the Infinity Scarf was. I’ve always been a fan of high quality clothing, and gorgeous colors are just an add on. Wearing something made from bamboo? Even better! However, once I really looked into the story behind Yala and read about their personal and company values, I knew I was in love with a new brand.

The Bamboo Dreams Collection has an amazing line of clothing for men, women, and children. aptly named “Bamboo Dreams” since it is made from bamboo! The collection actually started out as their famous “sleep sack” though. They still sell sleep sacks and now have complete lines of bedding sets, too. All of the Bamboo Dreams collection is Oeko-Tex certified. That means that the pieces have been screened for harmful substances. It also guarantees the safety of the fabric and dyes and it lets you know that their production methods are environmentally friendly.

Yala began as a family business… and it still is! They seem to have a very close connection among each other, and a close relationship with all of their workers around the globe. They work hard to speak with workers and friends, visit all of their facilities often, and celebrate special occasions. It’s obvious to see how much Yala honors the relationships it makes far and wide.

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As for me and Yala? I can honestly say that I will be a regular Yala customer. The fit of the dress combined with its ease of wear is amazing. The viscose made from bamboo is the perfect suitcase, on the go, mom, busy woman fabric. You can dress their pieces up for business, or down for relaxing with your family. I was so excited about my Yala dress that I even wore it when we went to film our segment for Lifetime’s The Balancing Act. That dress took me through the entire day, endured a couple of spills, an airplane flight, and was still comfortable and stylish by the time I went to bed. After a trip through the washer and dryer it was good as new.

According to the tag, “To Yala is to wander this world with intention, a joyful step, and an open heart. It is to delight in the right now and to embrace what’s next…” Well, I am ready to Yala. Are you? If so, you should enter this giveaway!

You could win a $75 gift card to Yala Designs!

YALA COUPON CODE:

If you can’t wait until the giveaway is over, we also have a coupon code for you. You can enter the code START20 to get 20% off of your Yala purchases! This code won’t last long, so use it quickly.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Wanda M.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

 

Ashley received Samples.

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and active with our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.