Mama Sparkles Holiday Gift Guide - Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved

Welcome to Mama Sparkles' Holiday Gift Guide! This week, I'll be sharing a few of my favorite gift ideas for everyone on your list. Be sure to check back often as I add more items.

If you're a Disney fan who likes rhythm/motion games, you need to play this:

This new innovative game for the Xbox One, allows players to enter the magical realm of Fantasia. The concept is loosely based on the original Fantasia short starring Mickey Mouse. The goal of the game is to match the on screen patterns with your hands and arms. It's brilliant. One or two players can play, and the game requires Kinect. Last weekend we went to Disneyland, and Bean couldn't wait to get to Innoventions so he could play the game. I think it's fast becoming one of his favorites:

He even had a few cast members commenting on what an awesome player he was! The eclectic song list includes a great mix of classical pieces as well as modern ones. The graphics are also gorgeous and add some great dimension to the game. It's so easy to just pick this one up and start playing immediately. Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved is available on Amazon. Is this on your wish list this year?

Mama Sparkles Holiday Gift Guide - Disney Princess Hairstyle Books

Welcome to Mama Sparkles' Holiday Gift Guide! This week, I'll be sharing a few of my favorite gift ideas for everyone on your list. Be sure to check back often as I add more items.

It's so much fun having a little girl...but I have no idea what to do with her hair! Most of time it's just hanging in her face. I don't think this makes her very happy.

Let's try something different, shall we? I received these two books to review and to help me with my dilemma:

Disney Princess Hairstyles: 40 Amazing Princess Hairstyles with Step by Step Images and Disney Frozen Hairstyles: Inspired by Anna and Elsa are beautifully put together and offer clear, concise directions for creating gorgeous hairstyles. Classics like Cindrella's bun, Elsa's Frozen braid plus other favorites from Rapunzel, Snow White, Tiana, Belle, Pocohontas, Merida, Belle, Ariel, and Aurora are all represented here. There's also a helpful braiding tutorial at the beginning of each book:

All hairstyles are shown with a colorful, attractive backdrop on a real model so you can see what it's actually supposed to look like:

Okay, here's my attempt at doing hair for my princess. We went with Belle, since that's her favorite.

Not bad for a first attempt at doing hair, right?! There was quite a bit of squirming involved, but even so, I think she looks beautiful and definitely a lot happier. Both books are available on Amazon and make wonderful holiday gifts!

Magical Moments with Disney Poster-A-Page

Time Home Entertainment Inc. recently released a series of Poster-A-Page books. Two books, Disney Princess: Fairy Tale Moments and Disney Junior Sofia the First: Practice Makes Perfect are now available. My little princess Pinga spent all day with her book.

The Disney Princess: Fairy Tale Moments book has 100 glossy, full color pages for her to flip through, and all of her favorite princesses are in there! She talks non-stop about Snow White, Belle, Aurora...she loves them all! The pages feature inspirational or fun sayings on them as well.

These are no ordinary pages, either! They are actually posters. Each page is perforated, and easily removable. Nine supersize pull out posters are included, and are great to use as room decorations, door signs or festive backgrounds. Pinga has hers hanging up on the wall beside her bed.

There is also one large coloring poster page. Pinga had a lot of fun with this.

These books retail for $12.95. Which one is your favorite?

Armadons!

Bean has a new toy:

That right there, is an Armadon. Basically, it's a really cool transforming motarized robot which for boys, is a dream come true! This particular Armadon is Thorn, one of the Stealth Fighters - this bad boy attaches to his wrist and launches into action with the touch of a button. If you launch them onto a smooth surface, you can then slide, spin or race them around. Drone Fighters Aerial Fighters and Ground Fighters are also available. Add another Armadon and a friend to the mix, and you could have some awesome battle action!

Bean had a lot of fun with this. He gets a kick out of pushing the button and watching it fly off his wrist! Plus, the idea of a transforming robot that comes to life is pretty sweet to him.

Armadons are reasonably priced at $9.99 - $19.99. Get yours at Toys"R"Us!

Thank you to Armadons and Maria Bailey for this review opportunity.

Princess Pinga - Disney Princess Costumes Review

Pinga is a typical little girl, which means she loves princesses! Especially Disney princesses. Maybe it's because we showed her the movies. Or perhaps because her bedspread has princesses on it. Then again, it's probably because I call her my little princess. Whatever the reason, she loves them and always wants to dress up like one.

Anyway, I showed her Beauty and the Beast, and ever since she saw the movie, she's wanted Belle's pretty yellow dress. I actually think Pinga looks a lot like Belle, so I was excited to get Belle's Sparkle Deluxe Children's Costume for her from Wholesale Halloween Costumes. Here she is:

She's talking on her princess phone because that's what they do, you know. She puts the costume on, then pretends to be Belle and calls her other princess friends. Adorable. The costume itself? Is awesome. Not only does it come with the dress, but it also includes the petticoat and headband. She already had the shoes, so this is perfect. The costume has great detail and feels soft and comfy. It also seems quite durable - a huge plus, since she's been wearing it practically every day. I can only imagine what she would do with the Belle tiara and wand that are also available. She'd flip! She really does look like Belle, don't you think? The website has a lot more Disney Princesses to choose from too, so this just may the first of many more to come. Ariel or Aurora may be next!

Mama Sparkles Holiday Gift Guide 2013 - Disney Classics Box Set

Welcome to Mama Sparkles' Holiday Gift Guide! This month, I'll be sharing a few of my favorite gift ideas for everyone on your list. Be sure to check back often as I add more items.

Over the past couple of days, I've been listening to Disney music non-stop. I was sent this absolutely amazing Disney Classics Box Set, that would make an equally amazing holiday gift this season!

Four CD's are included in the collection, which contains over 90 classic Disney songs

The CD's include Disney Modern Classics, Disney Theme Park Classics, Disney Timeless Classics and Disney Television Classics. Nearly 90 years of Disney productions are represented, which makes for an awesome listening experience. I love listening to old favorites like "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio, and new favorites such as "Happy Working Song" from Enchanted. I wasn't familiar with a lot of the television classics, but I've definitely discovered some shows I need to watch! We're going to Disneyland in a week, so the Theme Park Classics has been getting its fair share of play time. I have never felt so exhilarated than after listening to Michael Giacchino's version of Space Mountain!

The CD box set is the perfect gift for any Disney lover! It's on sale at Amazon for only $32.12. At that price, there's no way you can go wrong.

*We received the Disney Classics Box Set for reviewing purposes from Entertainment New Media Network.

App Review - Playtown My Story Maker

Bean and Pinga love to steal my iPod Touch and play with it. I'm always searching for new, free apps to put on there for them, because I don't have very many. I was asked to check out Playtown, a story maker app that Bean has been having a lot of fun with lately!

This app is free to download, and there are add-ons that you can purchase for $1.99. There are different themes you can choose from - Bean of course loves the pirate theme and has created all his stories around that one. He can dress up his characters, move them around, choose music, and even narrate and record his own story.

Then he can save his story, play it back and share with others. Credits even roll at the end! Here's a sample of Bean making his story:

So fun! Playtown is geared towards kids ages 3-9. Download it for free from iTunes or Google Play.

*I received a free download of Playtown as well as compensation for this review. All opinions are my own.

Halloween Wigs!

So, this Halloween Hubby has suggested a costume for me that I think would be really fun to try and make, and put my own twist on. The one thing that has to be just right though, is the wig! I got this one from Halloween Adventure. If you're looking for costumes, this is a store you want to check out! They have tons of costumes for practically every theme - but what's a costume without accessories? This place has it all! Check out the wig that I got:

Can you guess who I'm going to be? This wig also came with this great headband:

Totally Katy Perry, right?! The wig came in a sturdy box and feels a lot like real hair. It's also washable, although I haven't tried washing it yet. I was a little nervous, because I've tried wearing wigs before and they also slide off my small head. This one has a handy clip that makes it feel secure though, so I don't foresee any problems. I love all the cascading curls and I'm excited to put the rest of the costume together!

What are you going to be for Halloween?

Thank you to Halloween Adventure for this review opportunity.

Puffs Fresh Faces

When Bean was a baby, I wrote this post about Boogie Wipes and how awesome they are. Now, the same company that brought you these handy dandy wipes, have also come out with Puffs Fresh Faces. They sent me this nifty package in the mail:

They come in three different scents, and just like the Boogie Wipes they contain saline, which I'm convinced is a magical ingredient. They are perfect for wiping away sweat, makeup, dissolving mucus and moisturizing skin. I like to use the lavender scent before I go to bed. I discovered that even after I wash my face, there is still leftover makeup and so these have been great for removing those unseen little bits of dirt. Plus, they make me feel refreshed and ready for a good night's sleep! Hubby even tried them out and they did wonders for his greasy skin. I even gave him one of the little travel packs to take to work with him. Here's to fresh faces!

Have you tried Puffs Fresh Faces? What do you think about them?

Read and Write with LeapReader

School has just started back up for my eager first grader. It's been so exciting to see him excel with reading and writing. It seems he gets a little bit better each week. Recently, he had some friends over to party and play with his new favorite educational toy. We were given two LeapReaders, with a variety of different products including:

Learn to Write Letters With Mr. Pencil Writing Workbook
Talking Words Factory Writing Workbook
LeapFrog Disney-Pixar Monsters University 3D book, with glasses
Get Ready for Kindergarten book
Talking Words Factory Flash Cards
Two LeapReader™ Sampler books

That is no ordinary pen. The LeapReader a truly interactive experience. It not only helps your child read books, but he or she can also play fun activities, games, and practice writing too! The writing aspect is probably my favorite feature. With the special LeapFrog Learning Paper, the LeapReader guides your child's hand into making perfectly shaped letters. And the LeapReader can only write on this special paper, so you don't need to worry about making a mess!

Monsters University 3D was a big hit with Bean!

Bean was already a huge fan of the LeapFrog DVD's, and they are how he first learned his letters. The LeapReader is a wonderful addition to the line and I anticipate many years of good use for both Bean and Pinga!

The LeapReader retails for $49.99 and is geared towards ages 4 to 8. Be sure to check out LeapFrog on Facebook for the latest products and sales.

Thank you to MomSelect for this fun party opportunity!

Gettin' Fresh with The Fresh 20

Thank you to The Fresh 20 for sponsoring this post .

One of my biggest challenges in life is that mysterious question, "What's For Dinner?" Here's the thing: I like to prepare simple recipes that don't involve dumping Cream of Chemical soup, or a plastic tray in the microwave. I want healthy, unique recipes that my whole family will eat, and that don't require hours to prepare. Does this even exist?

Yes. Yes, it does. The Fresh 20 provides simple meal plans that will put an end to "What For Dinner?" There are a number of different plans you can choose from, which cater to your individual needs. I've been using the Classic plan for a while, and I love it. Recipes are included for five weeknight dinners, using 20 fresh ingredients per week. Clear, simple directions for grocery shopping, prep work and making the actual recipes are included.

I love the recipes! They are exactly what I was looking for, and some of my all time favorite meals have come from this program. I also love the fact that they also include sides, because that's something that I usually forget. Check out the meal plans to learn more and to see pictures of a typical week of meals. They've seriously thought of everything!

The Fresh 20 is running a photo contest! TODAY is the last day to enter. Submit a photo or video of how your kid(s) get fresh with fresh ingredients in their lunches or snacks. Then add a 50 word narrative to the photo/video and you’re entered. The amazing prizes include $250 cash, a food processor, Fresh 20 subscriptions, and more!

Have you ever tried The Fresh 20? How do you incorporate fresh ingredients at mealtime?

Hello Kitty NBA Collection!

Hello Kitty cheering on the NBA? Tell me more! Given my love for all things Hello Kitty as evidenced here and here, I jumped for joy when I found out about the new collaboration between the NBA, Sanrio and apparel company, Topline, Inc. The pop icon Hello Kitty, is featured on a collection of women’s and girls’ t-shirts, and represents more than ten NBA teams.

Check out the super cute shirt I received:

Love Lakers...and Hello Kitty.

I've got serious b-ball skills

 I'm ready for the NBA

Wanna be awesome just like me? Get your own Hello Kitty NBA shirt on the NBA website. They are also available at Lids.com and Fanatics.com. Different designs are available, so be sure to check out all the links and cheer for your favorite team in style!

Go Platinum with Cascade

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

One of my favorite features of our new home is the beautiful kitchen. In our old place, I literally had one counter of work space, which was covered in ugly tile with grout that was impossible to clean. Only one person could fit comfortably, and I was constantly washing dishes by hand. This is our new kitchen:

It's not huge by any means, but it feels that way to me. The smooth countertops are glorious, I have plenty of space to prepare food, and perhaps best of all is the fact that there's a dishwasher!

I was so excited to no longer have to hand wash my dishes, but first I had to learn how to actually use the dishwasher. Turns out there's a myriad of options for dish soap and it's hard to know which one to buy. We started off using another kind, but hubby didn't like the way it made the dishes smell. Cascade Platinum Pacs came at just the right time:

To me, the cleaner pacs are actually really cute and colorful! And my dishes did seem to sparkle afterwards. Hubby had no complaints after using this soap, so we have found a winner!

Want sparkling dishes too? Learn more about Cascade:

Cascade Website

Cascade Facebook Page

MyPlatinum Instagram Contest Enter this, and you could win a new dishwasher or kitchen!

Here's a short and sweet video of Gail Simmons from Top Chef. She's partnering with Cascade and has some awesome tips for presenting food in a way that makes you want to actually eat it!

Happy dishwashing, everyone!

Start the New Year with Entertainment!

To start the New Year off right, we recently went through all of our stuff and realized that we have way too much of it. We've got stuff literally spilling out of closets, books falling off shelves and no more space under the bed. So we're in the middle of purging, which feels great. I've also made two goals: to spend less money, and not to bring any unnecessary material possesions into our home.

In order to do this, I'm enlisting the help of The Entertainment Book. Whenever we have a birthday, holiday or special occasion, I'm going to try and give the gift of Entertainment, rather than a material object! I've got a chock full of restaurants, attractions, movie tickets, travel deals, grocery coupons and much more in the San Diego area, so I'm confident I'll be able to achieve my goals! Discounted movie tickets would be perfect for my birthday coming up. I'd also love an elegant dinner out for our anniversary...

Right now, Entertainment is offering 2013 books for over half off the regular price! You can also download mobile coupons for even more savings. Head on over to buy your copy and start your New Year off right!

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Create Memories with Marianne Richmond

So, now that I have two kids, I also have a ton of unorganized pictures lying about in piles. With my son, I wanted to do a scrapbook but I had to accept the fact that I just wasn't crafty enough for that. I ended up putting a few photos in an album and stopped there. And the pile of pictures has been growing ever since then.

Well, here's something a little more my speed: these memory books by Marianne Richmond are just the thing for people like me, who want a beautiful scrapbook without all the hard work. You can customize and personalize it however you like and the pages are cute and already decorated for you. All I have to do is add the photos! There's even space to handwrite little notes.

There is a complete line of book themes available, so you can create this a special gift for your daughter, son, granddaughter or grandson - whoever you want! This a great keepsake and would make a wonderful graduation or birthday gift. Check them out at The Organized Parent for only $15.95 each!

Use the code 21699 during checkout for 15% off your order until March 15th.

*Thank you to The Organized Parent for this review opportunity

Jillie Willie Aprons Review

I've been on a cooking kick lately, which is slightly unusual for me. I think it has a lot to do with this Jillie Willie Apron. Seriously, how cute is this? It's not only trendy and chic, but it's functional too. There's a row of pockets hidden underneath the ruffle, so you can keep things organized while cooking in the kitchen. Love it!

This definitely beats cooking in an unflattering, old fashioned apron. These are so fun to wear that they make cooking more fun too! Other styles are available as well, including one with an attached kitchen towel. How clever is that? I'm constantly losing my kitchen towels and I love anything that makes my life easier, especially when I'm cooking.

These are affordable, at $35.95 and would make a great gift as well. There are even cute rubber gloves to match these aprons! You definitely don't see cute rubber gloves everyday. You can save 15% on these fabulous Jillie Willie aprons through the end of February. Just enter code 21698 at checkout. Click the button below to start shopping!

*Thank you to The Organized Parent for this review opportunity.