Holiday Gift Guide: Zumba Kids and Zumba World Party Wii Games!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

It's that time of year again!  Time to start making those holiday gift lists.  Here at ABCD Diaries we'd like to make that process a little less painful:)  We will bringing you our annual Holiday Gift Guide in which we hand pick the coolest gifts for the whole family and everyone else on that gift list this year.  From now until mid-December we will be highlighting these wonderful gifts.

Today, we are bringing you a great gift idea for fitness lovers, young and old: Zumba Wii Games!

"Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), publisher of the Zumba® Fitness video game franchise that has sold more than nine million copies worldwide, unveiled today the new Zumba® Kids gameplay trailer and fresh screenshots that showcase the fun, high-energy dance-fitness experience designed for kids aged 7 to 12. Zumba® Kids will arrive on Kinect for Xbox 360 and Wii™ on November 19th.

Watch the new Zumba® Kids HERE.

Based on the global dance-fitness brand that pioneered “exercise in disguise,”Zumba® Kids lets kids play and express themselves with 30 easy-to-follow routines, creative mini-games and multiplayer mode (two players on Kinect for Xbox 360 and four players on Wii). Featuring 30 songs including contagious Zumba originals and hits from hot artists like Justin Bieber and Willow Smith, the game enables kids to build self-confidence and discover new rhythms as they move to more than 20 different dance styles -- more than any other kids game!  

Developed by Zoë Mode and rated E for Everyone, Zumba® Kids is slated to release November 19th on Kinect for Xbox 360 and Wii™. For more information please visit the official site at www.zumbafitnessgame.com/kids."

• For the older fitness fans, check out Zumba Fitness World Party:
• "Get fit to 40+ new routines and songs including chart-topping hits from Lady Gaga, Daddy Yankee and Pitbull, fresh Zumba originals and eclectic tracks from regional musicians; Full soundtrack to be announced
• -Move to 30+ dance styles from around the world including Salsa, Hip-Hop, Tahitian, Calypso, Bollywood, Cumbia, Reggaeton and Irish Step, plus new additions like Plena, Blues, Capoeira and Girly Funk
• -New visual presentation makes you feel as if you're traveling the globe and joining a global jam with your favorite celebrity Zumba instructors
• -Enhance your workout with the streamlined Progress Tracker Plus that tallies all of your stats: technique score, calories burned, achievements earned, goals met, etc
• -Set personal fitness goals or work toward pre-set goals to guide your work out"

What we thought:  We reviewed both Zumba Kids and Zumba World Party for the Wii and they were so much fun!  They whole family enjoyed playing these games together and even though we were "working out" we still had so much fun and a lot of laughs:)  These games would be great for the fitness lovers on your list both young and old:)  ABCD Diaries gives Zumba Kids and Zumba World Party an A+!

Whole Foods Market for Holiday Entertaining!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

"Between the shopping and the crowds, the holidays can be extremely stressful for consumers. Just in time for the holiday rush, Whole Foods Market is making gift giving and holiday entertaining easy and hassle free this year with creative gift ideas for everyone on your list.

We’ve got your shopping list covered - from wine that will impress the in-laws to cozy socks perfect for the little ones’ stocking stuffers and everything in between.

Here are some of our favorite goodies this holiday season:

Fine wine without breaking the bank –

·      Don Simon Brut – This Spanish sparkling wine is a crowd-pleaser and GREAT value.  It perfectly pairs with with appetizers, hors d' oeuvres, and creamy cheeses for all of your holiday celebration needs orcelebratory toasts! ($6 for 750 mL, WFM exclusive)

Gifts that give back –

·      L.I.F.E. Line products – Give back to your community (the neighbors, babysitters, etc.) with a branded coffee sleeve, bracelet or change purse. Proceeds go to CTC (Comfort the Children) International, a non-profit working alongside Kenyan communities to create sustainable change.

·      Whole Foods Market™ and Whole Catch® Frozen Appetizers – Make party prepping easy and painless with deliciousappetizers like Tandoori Chicken Samosas, Mini Quiche Trio, Chicken & Vegetable Egg Rolls, and Buffalo, Coconut, and Popcorn Shrimp.

·      365 Everyday Value® Holiday Goodies – The perfect treats to satiate those sweet tooths, Whole Foods Market’s private label brand, 365 Everyday Value® offers an array of holiday cookies and ice creams! Cookies areavailable in Chocolate Candy Cane CrèmeCookies, Holiday Shape Cookies (in Butter and Gingerbread), and Pumpkin PieCheesecake. Ice creams available in Peppermint, Egg Nog, and Pumpkin.

·     Whole Foods Market™ Baking Grinders/Seasonings  – Brand new line of spices for the holiday season.  Fresh grinded spices are the freshest way to keep and impart spices.  These unique combinations will make any dish better and more flavorful.  Makes it fun to experiment with.

·    Allegro Coffee® Celebration Café— A distinctive coffee with a world full of taste, as this years blend will be made from two sources: Guatemala and Ethiopia.  What’s more is that the coffee is certified kosher, and Allegro donates 5 percent of their net annual profits to support both the communities where their products are grown and their local neighborhoods."

What we thought:  We reviewed several of the items above and were so pleased with all of them!   The L.I.F.E. Line products so cute!  The wine bag would be a fantastic hostess gift.  You could stuff the stocking for a teacher gift.  The coin purse and coffee sleeve would be perfect stocking stuffers.  Everyone loves a gift that gives back and what a great cause!  The Kettle Corn and Shortbread cookies were a huge hit and disappeared between the four of us:)  I love the idea of the spice grinders...blends of yummy spices in neat combinations make for a super easy rub this holiday season and the Murray River Salt was great too!  The Allegro Coffee would be great to have on hand for those holiday guests.  Whole Foods Market is your one-stop shop when it comes to healthy foods and fun gifts this holiday season!  ABCD Diaries gives Whole Foods Market an A+!

Holiday Gift Guide: Prima Princessa's Ballet for Beginner's Book + Giveaway!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

It's that time of year again!  Time to start making those holiday gift lists.  Here at ABCD Diaries we'd like to make that process a little less painful:)  We will bringing you our annual Holiday Gift Guide in which we hand pick the coolest gifts for the whole family and everyone else on that gift list this year.  From now until mid-December we will be highlighting these wonderful gifts.

Today, we are bringing you a great gift idea for the ballerina princess on your list:  "Prima Princessa's Ballet for Beginners"!

"Thanks to the charming, illustrated Prima Princessa’s Ballet for Beginners, budding ballerinas can enjoy a privileged peek into the dancer's world. The fairy Prima Princessa ushers readers into New York City's famous School of American Ballet (SAB), the official academy of the New York City Ballet. Through stunning photography, they'll enter SAB's classrooms and get an intimate look at how elite dancers train. The visit begins in a pre-ballet class, moves to SAB's Children's Ballet Division (11-year-olds), and finally arrives at the near-professional Advanced Ballet classes (16-year-olds). Along the way, newcomers to ballet will learn about the school's dress code; see close-up images students demonstrating all the basic positions. (There's also a glimpse at boy's class, too!) The on-the-page performance is absolutely inspiring, with every dancer in perfect, elegant form: all photos and instructions have been checked and approved by the Directors at SAB for accuracy. And most exciting of all is watching a girl get ready to go on stage for a dress rehearsal, applying her makeup and preparing her costume. It's the stuff of which dreams are made, and is a uniquely beautiful and inspiring introduction to ballet!"

Prima Princessa Ballet for Beginners:

Available on Amazon.com

Hardcover $11.27 and Paperback $7.16

What we thought:  A loves ballet.  She is a huge fan of the Prima Princessa DVDs and she was super excited to review this book.  It is really well-illustrated with detailed descriptions and pictures and is really helping A learn correct ballet moves.  This book would make a great gift for the little ballerina on your gift list!  ABCD Diaries gives Prima Princessa's Ballet for Beginners an A+!

Holiday Gift Guide: Quilted Arc Organizer from Staples!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

It's that time of year again!  Time to start making those holiday gift lists.  Here at ABCD Diaries we'd like to make that process a little less painful:)  We will bringing you our annual Holiday Gift Guide in which we hand pick the coolest gifts for the whole family and everyone else on that gift list this year.  From now until mid-December we will be highlighting these wonderful gifts.

Today, we are bringing you a great gift idea for the list-maker on your list: the Quilted Arc organizer from Staples!

 "The Quilted Arc is very chic looking and essentially turns into a customizable organizing system. Perfect for any busy person on the go, also has a beautiful holiday pen to accompany it. This would be a great holiday gift – affordable and aesthetically pleasing and a lovely addition to holiday gift ideas."

What we thought:  I am in love with a planner:)  The Quilted Arc is absolutely gorgeous!  It is full of pages for note taking and list making...some of my favorite things:)  Staples also sells a number of goodies to help keep your stylish Quilted Arc organized including page flags, dividers, and task pad.  I've always used a notebook for a planner, but the Quilted Arc takes the cake for my favorite way to keep organized this holiday season!  ABCD Diaries gives the Quilted Arc an A+! 

Look Your Best this Holiday Season with CREO Care Hair Trilogy + Giveaway!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

"CREO CARE is dedicated to providing products that unlock and support one’s natural beauty in a healthy and environmentally responsible way.

We accomplish this by maintaining the high test standards with regard to the quality, origin and efficacy of the ingredients we use. In other words, if it is not good for you, not good for the environment and/or fails to comply with the standards set forth below, we will not use it.
We pledge that 100% of our ingredients are and will always be:
-Sulfate Free
-Silicone Free
-Free of synthetic fragrances
-Animal Cruelty Free
-TEA Free
-DEA Free
-Oxide Free
-Paraben Free"

We recently reviewed the Hair Care Trilogy from CREO.  These products are gentle, but effective.  They smell great and leave my hair feeling and looking clean.  CREO is offering the Hair Care Trilogy to one lucky reader!  Enter below:

Holiday Gift Guide: Midnight Promise Perfume

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

It's that time of year again!  Time to start making those holiday gift lists.  Here at ABCD Diaries we'd like to make that process a little less painful:)  We will bringing you our annual Holiday Gift Guide in which we hand pick the coolest gifts for the whole family and everyone else on that gift list this year.  From now until mid-December we will be highlighting these wonderful gifts.

Today, we are bringing you a great stocking stuffer idea:  Midnight Promise perfume!

"Here’s a fragrance that you’ll definitely want to make a promise to: Bellegance Perfume’s Midnight Promise.

Inspired by Moroccan Gardens, Midnight Promise features notes like amber, vanilla musk, sandalwood, oak moss, fresh vetiver, red mandarin and cinnamon.

Midnight Promise, Bellegance Perfume’s first fragrance, was created exclusively by perfumer Sarah Horowitz and fragrance designer Karen Dubin. It will be first introduced at Sniffapalooza Fall Ballin New York City in late October.

Sarah Horowitz is the owner of a successful fragrance company,  Sarah Horowitz Parfums, and the Co-Founder of Original Scent, a custom fragrance retail experience in Pasadena, California. 

Karen Dubin is a fragrance expert and Founder and Director of Sniffapalooza, an event-based group of fragrance aficionados that originated in New York City and now unites perfume enthusiasts from around the world.

Midnight Promise, bottled and manufactured in France, will soon be available online and in stores beginning with a suggested retail price of $105.00, available initially in a 2.5 ounce size. The product can be ordered at www.belleganceperfumes.com."

What we thought:  Midnight Promise is a really lovely scent.  The packaging is pretty too and it would make a wonderful gift or stocking stuffer this holiday season.  ABCD Diaries gives Midnight Promise an A!

Go-GURT Review #MyBlogSpark

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone. The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

The kiddos love Go-GURT, especially the Strawberry Splash flavor.  One loves them frozen and one loves them straight from the fridge.  I love that they are a good source of Calcium and a low fat treat.  Plus they are super easy to clean up:)  Go-GURT is now made with natural colors and flavors and no high fructose corn syrup and is a good source of vitamins A and D. Go-GURT is the perfect lunchtime snack!  Find out more at the Yoplait Go-GURT® website - www.yoplait.com/products/yoplait-go-gurt

ABCD Diaries gives Go-GURT an A+!