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Mattel’s Disney Princess Ultimate Dream Castle

November 25, 2011 By 378 Comments

Matte’s Disney Princess Ultimate Dream Castle is amazing in detail and stature. In the box it actually looks a little small but once it’s all put together it’s taller than the kids. It took my husband an hour and 20 minutes to put together (of course that was with four little hands helping, perhaps it could have gone faster).

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A little tea party while daddy was putting a few things together.

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No tools needed for assembly, well except to put in 2 double A batteries for the doorbell, and toilet that flushes. Zoe snapped a few pieces into place all by herself

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Once the Disney Princess Ultimate Dream Castle was finished the playtime began. One, Zoe already has a few princesses plus Mattel sent us one of the  2-in-1 Ballgown Surprise Princesses (sold separately from the castle). So the kids put the furniture in and we found that each princess had their own room. Zoe was sad to find out that Mulan and Jasmine didn’t get their own room. Jasmine did have a flying carpet elevator, but Zoe felt that just wasn’t enough.

But that didn’t hold her attention long, she played and played and played with the Disney Princess Ultimate Dream Castle. Of course Miles got in on the fun too. He played with Rapunzel, but she doesn’t have a room either. . IMG_5807

So, who does have a room? Ariel has a bathtub in the bathroom, Sleeping Beauty has a bed in the bedroom, Snow white has a mirror and make up dresser, Tiana has the kitchen to cook in, and Belle has the dining room to serve in. I suppose you could say the tower is for Rapunzel to let down her hair, either way, this castle is not lacking at all. Everything you need except the batteries is included in the castle. The furniture is outstanding, the entire dining room set and even a bath towel. It’s amazing. Plus Zoe was tickled pink when she found that it made sounds. I remember her running from her room, Mommy, Daddy, you have to come see the sounds it makes. She’s in heaven, and even understand that we’re going to donate it to a child that is in need.

Now for the 2-in-1 Ballgown Surprise Princesses. They sent us two Cinderella’s so we’re donating one of those the The Holiday 2011 Tweetdrive. But the other one we had to open and play with it. Zoe loves that the dress changes from one dress to another and she even took it to show in tell for the letter C.

Watch how easy it is to change the princess’s dresses. I love the two-in-one costumes:

 

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winners, Crystal C and Sarah.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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Disney Princesses Splashing little Hearts Under The Sea Swimming Ariel & Sisters

August 23, 2011 By 19 Comments

Princess Zoe is a princess through and through. A few years ago at Target they had princess costumes at a ridiculously low price so I bought all the dresses they had left for Zoe and she’s WORN them out. She loves anything princess. Now thanks to Disney and Mattel, Zoe can take princess time to the bath tub and swimming pool. Zoe loves to reenact all of the different princess movies with her friends. They play the princess, the evil witch and the prince. The toys and costumes help them feel like they are really there as they play their own versions of each princess movie, like The Little Mermaid.

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Now we can’t take a bath or shower without Princess Ariel joining us. The Disney Princess Swimming Ariel has become a favorite during outside play time too. Of course she also loves the Disney Princes Ariel & Sisters for outdoor play because she loves those little princess dolls and it’s a good thing because she’s getting a dollhouse for Christmas. The little princess collection is the perfect size for her coming dollhouse. Shhh don’t tell her, it’s a secret as Christmas is a few months away yet.

So the Disney Princess Ariel & Sisters is the first time in Mattel’s Disney Princess line where girls can play out their mermaid adventures with Ariel and her two sisters, Alana and Arista! All three dolls have magical tops that change color when dipped in water and playful swivel hips that mimic mermaid-like movements. We did have a little trouble changing the color, we figured it had to be cold water.

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The Disney Princess Swimming Ariel makes water play a splash away. Turn the seashell at Ariel’s waist and then place her into the water to see her really swim.  Watch as her tail moves up and down to swim through the water just like in The Little Mermaid. She does float and moves forward just a bit. The kids like passing her back and fourth in the bathtub. And here’s a video of Zoe when she first got her Little Mermaid Disney Princess Swimming Ariel.

We received samples for this review

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How to Throw a Cars 2 Party With Mattel Discount Code

July 5, 2011 By 9 Comments

My son is all about Cars, the last party we had for him was just us but we still decorated in Cars. Now that’s it’s all about Cars 2 I imagine that next year we’ll be using Cars 2 as our theme. When throwing any kind of party first you have to start with decorations and when it comes to kids, it’s best to go over the top. We checked out our local Target and found a great selection of Cars 2 decorations, cars 2 invitations, cars 2 party favors and cars 2 thank you cards.

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Now what kind of goodies will you serve?

I have two really great Cars 2 themed ideas for snack time at your Cars 2 party. You have to check out these Cars 2 Whitewall Tire Cookies and these Tow Mater Cupcakes. Both are sure to be a hit.

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After you get all the decorations and snacks taken care of, you’ll have to think of some games. Since Cars 2 is about traveling the world it’s a great learning opportunity with your friends and play mates. Get out a world map and discuss different cities and what you would like to see and visit. Example:

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· Lightning McQueen and Mater visit the streets of Japan and Europe throughout film. Develop a wish list of places to visit and chart out a dream road trip using stickers and a world map.

Another Cars 2 party game idea is to make license plates. With cardstock paper and glitter glue, kids can create their own license plate design. And one finally idea I had was for you to let each kid pick a double digit number and they can decorate it pin it to them. Then you can take them outside for a race around your front or back yard.

And you can’t have a Cars 2 Party without Cars 2 Toys right?

Mattel has provided us with this discount code to use for the rest of the summer.

· CARS2BL
Offer: 20% off all Cars 2 items until 8/1
Limitations: One user per customer, limit 5 units per order

Here are some Cars 2 Toys and activities you can do at your party with them.

Race for “World’s Fastest Car” Title

· Perform Lightning McQueen’s stunts from the movie by loading two Cars into the Cars 2 Tokyo Spinout Track Set set’s dual launchers to watch the vehicles zip, whirl and race to victory.

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Secret Agent Man

· Invent spy missions and take Cars 2 Secret Spy Attack Finn McMissile with you to crack the case. Loaded with top secret spy weapons, firing missiles, sound effects and thrilling transformations, kids will become super sleuths.

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Ka Chow!  Cars 2 Grand Prix

· Recreate scenes from the Cars 2 movie, like the final World Grand Prix Championship race scene. Create a race course from point A to point B. Line up the Lights and Sounds Die-Cast Assortment Cars and designate someone to start the race with the checkered racing flag.  Kids push their cars to the finish line.  The real working headlights, revving sounds and signature phrases of the Die-Cast will make it feel like Lightning McQueen and friends are really speeding around the course to take home the win.

If you’re anything like us you already have a house full of Cars die cast cars. So I thought it would be fun to have a quick conversation about die cast cars with Miles.

We received samples from Mattel to facilitate this review.

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A Barbie Girl In A Billion Dollar World Barbie: A Rare Beauty

November 30, 2010 By 3 Comments

RareBeauty_official1I was a Barbie fanatic growing up. I never wanted to let go of my Barbie dolls and grow up but thank goodness my parents knew what was best for me. Or did they? No, they did, I didn’t need a Barbie Doll Dream House at age 8 a mirror was a much better choice, but now I can relive the Barbie dream through my daughter. She has a Toy Story Barbie, and so does my son, so they can play Barbie together. She is getting new Barbie clothes for Christmas from her aunt, she’s making her some home made Barbie clothes. Isn’t that awesome? We can dress her and change her clothes and, wait, this is supposed to be about a book I think.

Rare_Beauty_teaserOh and I think dh picked out a new Barbie for her in a purple dress. WINNER!

Ok, now onto Barbie: A Rare Beauty! When Sandi Holder met the 11½ inch tall American icon, Barbie was turning heads in her Red Flare outfit, a rich red velvet tent coat, and sporting the brunette Bubblecut she donned in the early 60s. Now owner of Doll Attic in Union City, CA, the celebrated Barbie doll expert is presenting her incredible collection in BARBIE: A Rare Beauty. I’m thinking Sandi made her fantasies into a profession. She used her dolls, “collection” have you.. to create the glamorous guide to Barbie’s first 50 years. In her book she showcases stunning vintage dolls, classic fashion sets, one-of-a-kind rarities, store displays and many never-before-seen items—all acquired by Holder during two decades of Barbie doll collecting.

Three Barbie dolls are sold every second according to Mattel and I would believe it. These staggering statistics, especially in today’s economic times, prove that Barbie is ageless, even after celebrating her 50th birthday in February 2009. Born Barbie Millicent Roberts, the doll first appeared at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. The Rare_Beauty_FIRSTsly, side-staring Ponytail Barbie doll wearing a black and white striped, one-piece swimsuit appeared seemingly out of nowhere amongst the era’s one-dimensional paper dolls and chubby baby dolls, selling for a mere $3. That same Barbie doll, shown in BARBIE: A Rare Beauty, earned Holder a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2006 after it sold for more than $25,000 at a Doll Attic auction. Holder’s biannual auctions continue to be a mainstay of her business, offering some of the rarest Barbie dolls and accessories.

Reading Barbie: A Rare Beauty made me reminisce of my little collection of dolls that I had. I still love Barbie and everyone does. So Barbie: A Rare Beauty is the perfect coffee table book. It’s going to start conversations and you’ll have people looking at it never wanting to put it down. You’ll see them smile as they come to a page that reminds them of the doll they used to have. Holder’s book is fun, informative, fabulous to look at and is a great read. The novice collector won’t be lost and the seasoned collector can find plenty to look at, including some never before seen items. It’s great for everyone!

About Sandi Holder:

Unlike the plastic megastar, Holder’s road to prominence wasn’t paved with pink boxes, pilgrim heels and ponytails. Two decades ago when her son fell seriously ill and Sandi suddenly needed to generate income while staying at home, she and Barbie got down to business. With such an impressive resume of over 100 positions, from fashion designer to school teacher to three-time presidential candidate, Barbie was the perfect silent partner in Holder’s plan. Immersing herself in all-things Barbie, she began attending doll shows, buying duplicates and assessing the market and was soon selling vintage dolls from two plastic milk crates in her garage. In 1989, she opened her Doll Attic in a storefront in the San Francisco Bay area.

Holder was named Mattel’s first Dealer of the Year in 2004 and was the 2006 recipient of Barbie’s Best Friend Award given by Mattel designer Carol Spencer at the National Barbie Convention. She has appeared on The Today Show and the Doll Attic has been featured in The New York Times, CNN.com, Newsweek, and others.

 

I was supplied with Barbie: A Rare Beauty in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

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