Whimsical Paper Hanukkah Menorah Centerpiece Decoration - Easy DIY Kids Jewish Holiday Craft

Crafts

Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights starts the night of December 21 and ends on December 28 this year. The menorah candelabra that Jews light each of the eight nights of the holiday -- adding an additional candle each evening -- is one of the most familiar symbols of this holiday. This craft idea from Crayola makes it possible for every child to make his or her own decorative paper menorah, one that makes a very beautiful table centerpiece that you can reuse year after year. Since it doesn't involve real candles it is not only safe, it's fun and easy to make and something that you and your child can craft together.

Photo from Crayola.com

Find free how-to directions by Crayola for this and several other really charming Hanukkah crafts that you can make together with younger kids and that older children can create on their own HERE

Feel free to add links to your own favorite Chanukah arts and crafts in a comment below.

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A Family Friendly Thinking Board Game That is Fun for Family & Friends or as a Holiday Party Icebreaker

Games

WIN this game! Details below post

Few family friendly board games are as fun or suitable for holiday gatherings and other celebrations for parents and kids where everyone knows each other as they are for those parties where people get together who may not necessarily know each other. Say Anything, an innovative game from NorthStar Games, is one of the rare examples of non-electronic entertainment products that actually appeals to both types of crowds. 

My daughter & I have a laugh at a house party
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Families and friends that play this who know each other well will be surprised at all they really don't know about how each other thinks.  While those meeting each other for the first time over this game will likely have just as good a time since this is the perfect ice breaker for parties, too.

For sure Say Anything is an amusing game whether you know the other players or not. I found this out first-hand by playing this game in both settings. 

Say Anything Family Edition Game
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

The first time I participated in the game was at a party sponsored by NorthStar Games during SheCon New Media Expo in Miami earlier this year where I met many new people for the first time. Then just recently we played Say Anything at a party at home that I held for friends and my own kids in conjunction with the consumer food brand Sabra and House Party.
  

Big Kids Playing Say Anything at SheCon Expo in May

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

As these situations demonstrate this game is entertaining no matter what the occasion. My fellow players and I were talking, laughing and having fun in no time whether it was a group of us adults playing this hilarious game together at a business party or a more casual gathering at home with a mixture of friends and family -- both adults and teens -- enjoying this.

The kids & adults loved playing Say Anything at our house

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

For 3-8 players, ages 13 and up, this game is as easy as 1-2-3 to get up and running

1. Ask one of the 5 questions from the card you draw

2. Everyone else writes their answer on their dry erase board and turns it face up in the middle of the table

3. You then secretly pick the answer that you think is best, marking it on the spinner which you turn face down. Then everyone else bets on the answer they think you picked.

Luke Warren, NorthStar Games, SheCon Expo Exhibit Hall
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Learn more about Say Anything and watch the video of this game in action.

Nobody says it better than NorthStar Games, "So dig deep into your heart or just come up with something witty - this is your chance to Say Anything!"  
 

Say Anything Family Edition has a suggested retail price of $19.99 and the standard Say Anything is $24.99. Available at Barnes & Noble, Target, Toys R Us, and Amazon.

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FTC Disclosure:  I attended the SheCon Expo '11 party that NorthStar Games sponsored. In addition, the brand sent me the game to facilitate this review. MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

The Smurfs Movie Now on Blu-Ray, DVD + Ltd Holiday Edition 3-Disc Set Home Video Review & Giveaway

Movie Review & Giveaway

Entry details below, Giveaway ends 12/22/11

As of today, December 2nd, the hit kids animated feature film The Smurfs is available in-store and online in Blu-Ray 3D, DVD, digital formats. Tying in with this new retail movie release especially for Christmas, Sony Pictures Animation is also offering a limited edition 3-disc Holiday Blu-Ray & DVD  boxed gift set that includes The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol a special mini movie. As if that's not exciting enough for Smurfs fans, viewers will have access to a huge array of interactive bonus application options that are synced to run on a second device such as an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch while watching the Blu-ray version.

Earlier this week, along with a small group of select mommy bloggers covering entertainment and children's movies, I was invited to Sony Animated Studios in Culver City, California for a special holiday event to witness Sony's innovation first-hand. Judging from my experience, I'm betting kids will enjoy watching the stand-alone world-class The Smurfs film that thrilled young audiences in theaters. 

But, youngsters are in for an even more fun experience if they also tap into the interactive components which allow kids to watch the Smurfs on their TV at the same time they tackle all kinds of fun app activities on an Apple hand-held device. For sure, the new app called Smurf-O-Vision is loads of fun providing bursting virtual soap bubbles and popping kernels of corn as kids touch an iPad loaded with this app. No doubt, it will keep children busy and happy for hours, allowing mom and dad a little break.

To celebrate the Sony Pictures milestone launch into home entertainment, Mommy Blog Expert is hosting a The Smurfs DVD giveaway, giving you the chance to win one of the new products to enhance your own family holiday celebration this year. Read on for details to win.

The Smurfs Movie
DVD Holiday GIVEAWAY

Ends 12/22/11 

WIN The Smurfs DVD that includes

• "Find The Smurfs(tm)" Game - Find as many hidden Smurfs(tm) as you can to earn the most smurfberries! 
• Blue-pers 
• Happy Music Montage 
• 2 Commentaries 
• 2 Featurettes "The Smurfs(tm): Comic Book to the Big Screen" & "Going Gargamel"

HOW TO ENTER

 

Just leave a comment(s) below this post!  Contest ends December 22, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Winner will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying why you want to win this prize.  Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Optional Extra Entries

Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below.  Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1.  Follow MBE on Twitter

2. Like MBE on Facebook

3. Subscribe to MommyBlogExpert

4. Follow The Smurfs Movie on Twitter

5. Like The Smurfs on Facebook

Super ***Bonus Entries***
You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day.  Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.


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GIVEAWAY celebrates @Smurfsmovie DVD Blu-Ray 3-Disc Ltd Ed. Set Release Review http://tinyurl.com/84bcta6 #xmas #movie RT 2 #WIN

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Watch for more about the event I attended and all the Smurfs branded merchandise that will be in stores this holiday season.

FTC Disclosure:  I attended the Sony Pictures Animation The Smurfs Launch Holiday Mom Blogger's Event which included previews, lunch, gift bag, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Studio. MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. Sony Pictures is providing the prize and shipping for this giveaway.    See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.