Hearts For Hearts Girls Gathering!

“Hearts For Hearts Girls is a charitable doll line and fashion collection from Playmates Toys, which seeks to empower girls to become agents of change in their communities, their countries and around the world. The line features six dolls {update, there are now 8 dolls} inspired by real girls from real places allover the world. Each authentically dressed and lifelike doll has her own story to share and is working to change her community in ways unique to her home country. A portion of each doll sale is donated to a non-profit organization that helps children from that doll’s country. Playmates Toys is working with non-profit partner World Vision to make this possible.

The Hearts For Hearts Girls dolls come to life with a fully interactive website that lets girls discover different cultures, read about girls who have overcome challenges, and engage with the dolls through a range of activities. Each doll comes with a special code that lets girls unlock a free membership to the kid-safe website at www.hearts4heartsgirls.com. All girls are welcome to visit the website, but the special code that comes with purchase provides access to a larger array of games and also lets girls create their own “myHeart” page. This special page displays things that girls care about, ways in which they want to help girls or their community, and words to help express how they feel as a Hearts For Hearts Girl. They can change the page as often as they like!”

We were lucky enough to receive a party pack from Hearts for Hearts Girls and MommyParties.  Our Hearts for Hearts Girls party was so much fun!  The dolls are beautiful and each comes with a story.  I love that the stories are based on the cultures, climates and geographies of real life girls.  These dolls and their stories bring issues from around the world to life for little girls and make these issues easy for them to understand and relate to.  What a great way to get young girls aware and involved in helping different causes even outside of their immediate environment!  Our guests enjoyed playing games, making crafts and sampling some delicious treats based on these dolls.  The girls especially loved making the water bottle banks to collect donations for their cause.  We had a blast!  ABCD Diaries gives Hearts for Hearts Girls dolls an A+!

Find out more by visiting the Hearts For Hearts Girls Facebook Page and their website.

Disclosure:  ABCD Diaries was provided with a party kit for our participation as a member of MommyParties and MomSelect. All opinions are our own.

Leap Frog Touch Magic “Rock ‘n Learn” Party...

"It's so amazing to watch our children explore the world, learning along the way. What makes it even better is when they are having so much fun, they don't even realize they're learning! LeapFrog is the go-to brand for creating innovative toys and learning solutions that delight parents and kids. That's why we're so excited to introduce you to Touch Magic™ learning toys by LeapFrog!

What is Touch Magic? 

Touch Magic™, a new product line from LeapFrog, brings intuitive touch technology to preschool toys for the first time. Combining fun, learning and creativity, Touch Magic learning toys use touch technology that recognizes every tap, touch and swipe to bring each product to life."

Check out the Touch Magic toys we had at our party:

• Touch Magic Rockin' Guitar
• "The Touch Magic Rockin' Guitar brings musical fun and develops preschool skills with every little touch. Kids can choose to play solo without a backup, play along with a band or select electric or acoustic guitar to songs including: Rockin' Robin, Itsy Bitsy Spider, If You're Happy and You Know It, and Pop Goes the Weasel. Plus, they can customize their play experience by adding guitar riffs, silly sounds and drums."

• Touch Magic Learning Bus
• "Learning the ABCs is a key step in developing early reading skills. The Touch Magic Learning Bus takes children on a musical journey filled with educational discovery and games. With a simple touch, preschoolers can also use the six piano keys and two drum pads to play along with songs that include Wheels on the Bus, ABC Song and an original Rockin' School Bus. The interactive surface with glossy, smooth graphics encourages exploration and features more than 40 touch points that allow kids to play their way through core learning skills."

What we thought:  Our Leap Frog Touch Magic party was a huge success!  Both the moms and the kiddos alike were really impressed with this new line of Leap Frog toys. Everyone loved the smooth, glossy surfaces of the toys which made them so easy to use, kind of like an iPad or tablet.  Both the guitar and the school bus had a ton of different touch points that really delighted the little ones.  They teach lessons in letters, numbers, music and more and in true Leap Frog style, the kiddos really loved learning with them:)  The Touch Magic technology is awesome and I would recommend these toys to any parent of preschoolers!  ABCD Diaries (and EVERYONE at our Touch Magic party:) gives these Touch Magic toys from Leap Frog an A+!

Disclosure:  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.

Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Brand Review...

"Whole Foods Market's 365 Everyday Value brand offers products that are formulated to meet all of Whole Foods Market’s quality standards, meaning you won’t find any artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colors, flavors or hydrogenated fats in these picks. We have a variety of organic goodies that will not only get your seal of approval, but your little ones' too."

Check out these goodies that would be great for back-to-school:

Fruity Snacks On-The-Go:

·       365 Everyday Value Organic Fruit Cups – Each 4 oz. cup offers a full serving of fruit in 100% organic fruitconcentrate. Try one of these delicious varieties: Diced Yellow Cling Peaches, Diced Pear, Diced Peaches & Pears and Pineapple.

·       365 Everyday Value Organic Applesauce Cups – Made with 100% organic apples, this naturally sweet snack comes in three flavors, (Unsweetened, with Berries or with Cinnamon) and will keep little bodies and minds growing strong.

·       365 Everyday Value Organic Thompson Seedless Raisins—Available in 1.5oz packs, these make for healthy snacking…anywhere.

The Lunchbox Essentials:

·       365 Everyday Value Organic 100% Juice Boxes – Each box packs 100% RDA vitamin C, making these a great way to quench kids’ thirst.  These come in the following fruity flavors: Apple, Five Fruit Punch, Orange, White Grape or Lemonade.

·       365 Everyday Value Organic Small Batch Breads – Make a healthy sandwich with our 100% whole grain breads, including:Touch of Honey Whole Wheat, Mighty Multigrain and Early Bird Multiseed. They’re low in saturated fat and are a great source of fiber.

o   Tryspreading one of our 365 Everyday Value Organic Fruit Conserves (in Strawberry and Berry Mix) for a tasty treat.

·       365 Everyday Value Organic Baby Carrots – These veggies are packed with the vitamins kids need to succeed.

·       365 Everyday Value Organic Animal Cookies—Available in classic vanilla, these bite-sized favorites come in individual packs, making these portions just the right size for lunchtime.

Cheesy Favorites:

·       365 Everyday Value Organic Quack-N-Bites Cheese Crackers – Available in convenient single-serve pouches, these cheesy bites offer fun duck facts for learning on-the-go.

·       365 Everyday Value Organic Mozzarella String Cheese & 365 Everyday Value Colby Jack String Cheese – All made with milk from cows not treated with rBGH.  

Save a tree or two by packing your kids’ lunch in a reusable Better Bag. Made from 80% post-consumer recycled plastic and just 79 cents, this bag is a quick, eco-friendly lunch tote solution at a very easy to swallow price.

Don’t forget to pick up some of these items to make your lunch packing even easier:

·       365 Everyday Value Sandwich Bags

·       365 Everyday Value Snack Bags

·       365 Everyday Value 100% Recycled Lunch Napkins

What we thought:  We sampled several of these items including the applesauce, cheese crackers, juice boxes, raisins and fruit conserve. I must say, we enjoyed every single product!  This is wonderful news, because when we shop we usually choose the cheapest brand and since Whole Foods store brand is priced so affordably, we know we can get great products at great prices!  These goodies would all be fantastic additions to any lunch box or yummy afternoon snacks:)  ABCD Diaries gives Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value brand an A+!


Disclosure:  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.

Celebrate 25 Years of The Magic School Bus!

"Not many children’s brands can stand the test of time, entertaining and educating generation after generation. THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, is one such brand.  This September, as children head back to their classrooms, they can hop aboard the world’s most famous school bus for exciting and unforgettable lessons as Scholastic Media re-launches to DVD the timeless, Emmy Award winning TV series.

On September 4, Scholastic Media and New Video, the distributors of the award-winning Scholastic Storybook Treasures series are partnering to release the perennially popular series in several configurations featuring all new packaging and never-before-released content.  THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS: THE COMPLETE SERIES ($79.95srp) brings together all 52 episodes of the program – including 30 which are available for purchase for the first time – on 8 DVDs. Featuring a striking 3D lenticular cover with new artwork that makes the vibrant characters leap off the page and that will encourage kids to ask the question “how did they make that?” , the collectible thin-pack set also includes a guide for kids with teasers, trivia and experiments, plus a Parents’ Guide with lessons and learning options. This interactive guide creates wholesome and healthy entertainment for the entire family."

What we thought:  This comprehensive DVD set of Magic School Bus episodes is every teacher/homeschoolers dream!  It is great for getting kids to understand basic science concepts in a fun and entertaining way.  In my experience, Ms. Frizzle and the gang has been a huge help in explaining scientific subjects that I was having trouble getting across.  The kiddos actually ask to watch these episodes outside of school time during their "free" TV time which is fantastic!  This collection, along with our Magic School Bus books, will be an essential part of our science curriculum this fall! ABCD Diaries gives The Magic School Bus DVD Collection an A+!  


Disclosure:  We were given samples to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.

Almost Naked Animals Banana Cabana Party!

"Are you ready for a family-friendly trip to the Banana Cabana, a beachfront hotel full of fun, sun and mayhem, without leaving the comfort of home? 

On September 25, 2012 Volume 1 of Almost Naked Animals, Cartoon Network’s top-rated animated series for kids aged 6-11, will be available on DVD. Based on the quirky designs of Noah Z. Jones, Almost Naked Animals features an ensemble cast of underwear-clad animals, led by Howie, the fun-loving, hospitality challenged canine manager of the beachfront hotel, Banana Cabana."




We were lucky enough to review a party pack of Banana Cabana goodies:)  Our kiddos think this show is pretty funny.  They were super excited to get to review the DVD and the other Almost Naked Animal items including a t-shirt, a tote bag, a notebook, a coaster and a few gag items like a Whoopee Cushion and a fake ice cube with a bug in it:)  
If your kids enjoy this cartoon, they are sure to love the DVD.  It is full of some of the funniest episodes of the series.  ABCD Diaries gives Almost Naked Animals Vol. 1 an A+!


Disclosure:  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.

Master Lock Personal Safe Review and Giveaway...

"Master Lock 5900D SafeSpace^TM – this personal safe provides students with protection for smart phones, cash, credit cards, keys, jewelry, cameras and more while on-the-go. The oval-shaped, foam-lined case features an integrated cable that can be securely anchored to a fixed object or used as a handle for convenient carrying. The 5900D SafeSpace is available in white, grey and pink and retails for $19.99."

What we thought:  This is a really neat little safe.  It would be perfect for college students who live in dorms or share apartments.  It is small enough to be inconspicuous, but is secure enough to keep your stuff safe.  It is easy to use and can be anchored, an extra layer of security:)  ABCD Diaries gives the SafeSpace an A+!

QVC Lock and Lock Set with Beach Tote Review...

We recently had the chance to review this nifty all-in-one set from QVC:

Lock and Lock 3-piece Storage Set with Beach Tote

QVC Item # K33167                                                                            Approximately $22.00

What we thought:  This storage set is perfect for days at the beach, picnics at the park, backyard BBQs and much more.  It is really well-made and cute to boot:)  The bowl/lid combos work perfectly to keep all of your food securely inside the dish using the Lock and Lock method.  They are big enough to hold family-size portions, simple to use and clean up easily.  The tote bag has handles and a shoulder strap to make it easier to transport your goodies from place to place.  ABCD Diaries gives the Lock and Lock Storage Set with Beach Tote an A+!

Find this set and other great deals at QVC!

Disclosure:  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.