Holiday Gift Idea Toy for Kids 5+ Educates & Stimulates Creativity Thru Building Blocks

Toys Review

Since ancient times simple toys like miniature building blocks have been adored by children in a variety of cultures worldwide. In fact, I recall one of my own fondest memories as a Baby Boomer growing up in the 60s: Spending hours on end building and, of course knocking down, structures constructed with colorful wooden blocks. Today some younger children still play with wood blocks like I did and other generations before. However, more often than not -- just like my own family did when they were little -- modern kindergartners and early elementary age students probably are more likely to be seen playing with plastic creative building playsets like the Blok Squad Construction Site that Mega Bloks recently introduced.
 Mega Brands Blok Squad Construction Site Playset
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

My own kids are already teens, so I gave this Mega Brands toy to a good friend who just had a new baby last week but also has two older boys that will soon enter grade school. The very next day she told me that her sons, especially the five year-old, was already having a great time building various construction vehicles with the 395 pieces this Mega Bloks playset comes with.
My son with his first Mega Bloks in the late 1990s
Vintage family photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

The little boy I gave the Blok Squad Construction Site toy to this week will soon be moving into a new home that his family is building right now. For sure, he really had a blast opening his present and playing with all the construction workers and equipment -- including a 4x4, Track Loader, and Road Roller that he made with this set. I have no doubt that this young fellow and his brother will be occupied with this interactive non-electronic toy for hours creating and learning while building his motor skills while mom nurses and diapers the new baby. Come to think of it, for all those reasons and more that explains why this was so well received.

Talk about a toy or game that moms, dads and kids will all be excited about receiving!
 
A Bobcat Tractor at a real construction site in my neighborhood 
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

The creative and educational toy featured in this review is part of the company's new Every Day Heroes Collection that introduces kids to essential community people such as construction workers, fire personnel, and the police. Each set can be enjoyed alone, but with two or three of these special sets your child can build an entire Bloktropolis. 

Blok Squad Construction is designed for ages 5 and up. Made by Mega Brands, it is priced at a very affordable $19.99 and is available at Toys "R" Us, Walmart, and Amazon in-store and online in the U.S. Plus in Canada, you can buy this at Walmart CDN, Toys "R" Us (online and in-store), and Zellers.

I hope you'll share your own or your child's experience with playing with Mega Bloks and link to photos of your own with this fun toy. Happy Holidays!







FTC Disclosure: Mega Brands provided the Mega Bloks product reviewed to facilitate this post. However, 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.
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Olivia Family Movie Review Giveaway

Movies

Review and Giveaway


Every weekend in December Kidtoons Family Matinees is proud to present a foursome of fave Olivia movies at select local theaters nationwide
  • Olivia Talks Turkey
  • Olivia's Snow Day
  • Olivia Builds a Snow Lady
  • Princess for a Day
So guess what? To celebrate this month's family friendly movie theater program Kidtoons Films is providing an awesome Olivia Grand Prize Pack featuring books, DVD, toys and poster for MommyBlogExpert to giveaway to one lucky reader.
  


MBE partnered with Kidtoons Films for this post

First, enter to win a really fun gift basket loaded with great stuff for children right here on Mommy Blog Expert. All you have to do is leave a comment and your contact info below this post; full contest details below. After you've entered the contest, be sure to see the movie trailer plus download the free Olivia coloring page.



Olivia 8-Prize Package includes everything pictured 

  • Olivia: Princess for a Day DVD
  • Big - Olivia Plush
  • Mini - Olivia Plush
  • Olivia Kaladeiscope
  • Olivia Builds a Snowlady Book
  • Olivia Princess for a Day Book
  • Olivia Puzzle
  • Olivia theatrical poster

HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post, Contest ends January 2, 2012 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 @mommyblogexpert on Twitter
2. Like @mommyblogexpert 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.

Tweet:
Olivia Wintertime Cheer Grand Holiday Family GIVEAWAY @KidtoonFilms Movie #toys #DVD #kids http://tinyurl.com/867mpko RT 2 #WIN




Mommy Blog Expert is excited to be one of the few blogs to hosting Kidtoons family friendly monthly movie giveaways in connection with screenings for children in theaters nationwide. Past Kidtoons movie giveaways on MBE include: Spookley Square Pumpkin,  Care Bears: Share Bear Shines, Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas, Barbie A Fairy Secret, Little Engine That Could, Strawberry Shortcake: Sky's the Limit, Olivia and the Great Outdoors, Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails, Babar and the Adventures of Badou: Swing Into Summer, Candy Land The Great Lollipop Adventure, Sid the Science Kid, Spookley Square Pumpkin 2011, and Thomas & Friends Day of Diesels.

Each Kidtoons giveaway is unique, based on the monthly movie offering. But, they're always family friendly and wholesome for children, so don't miss out on entering the current giveaway as well as subscribing to MommyBlogExpert, so you'll be the first to know when next month's giveaway is announced.



LOTS More 
Family-Friendly Giveaways!
Currently Being Hosted by Mommy Blog Expert

ENTER Them All HERE


FTC Disclosure: Kidtoon Films is providing the prizes and shipping for this giveaway.  However, 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.
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Wordless Wednesday: Life is Not a Through Street - Stop, Smell & Enjoy The Images of Fall

Nature
Beauty in my neighborhood 

All iPhone Images in this Wordless Essay
by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Life is... 



What kinds of beautiful natural things have you seen today where you live? Please leave a comment and share.






FTC Disclosure:  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. 
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Movies on Demand Holiday Video Releases

Movies


Eventhough my children have worked professionally in feature films and television with Academy Award winning actors and actresses like Nicolas Cage, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek, Catherine Keener, and many others, I never get tired of Hollywood and movies.
 

Sissy Spacek Blast from the Past
Sissy Spacek with me & one of my triplets


MBE Partnered with Movies on Demand for this post

I still love watching both on the big screen and at home. So, when I learned that Movies on Demand (MOD) makes it possible to access the films you want to see at the push of a button -- many available the same day as when they are released on DVD and some reportedly 28 days ahead of competing rental options like Netflix and Redbox -- I had to share the deets in a post for my readers. MOD is also providing this blog's readers to win a nice prize package that includes a $25 Visa Giftcard plus other prizes.

Giveaway Details below, Ends 12/20/11


Movies on Demand's Holiday Season lineup of new releases includes some really good movies that I know I'm going to want to see since I missed them in theaters.  You can stay up to date on the brand's new releases on the brand's constantly updated YouTube Channel.


Feature films released on MOD this week
  • Cowboys & Aliens, 12/6
  • The Hangover 2, 12/6
  • The Help, 12/6
  • Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom, 12/9


Leonard Maltin tells you more
So, what are you waiting for? Go grab some new releases today. But, before you do, be sure to enter the Movies on Demand giveaway Mommy Blog Expert is hosting. Scroll down for details on how easy it is for you to win.


Movies on Demand
 Holiday GIVEAWAY
Ends 12/20/11
Hollywood Hills Sign Los Angeles


The Movies on Demand prize package includes
  • $25 Visa Giftcard
  • Fast Five T-shirt
  • Movies on Demand tote bag

HOW TO ENTER
 
Just leave a comment(s) below this post!  Contest ends December 20, 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 @mommyblogexpert on Twitter
2. Like @mommyblogexpert 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.

Tweet:
Visa Giftcard @MoviesonDemand #Giveaway ~ Easy entry, just Comment & UR entered to #WIN http://tinyurl.com/7wmb9p6 @momspark #movies RT
 
LOTS More Family-Friendly Giveaways!
ENTER Them All HERE

FTC Disclosure: This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I was compensated for my time investment and work on this campaign. Thoughts are my own. All prizing for MSM giveaways is handled by a third party unless otherwise noted. For this reason prize fulfillment can take upto 90 days after the winners information is received. See additional details on MommyBlogExpert's disclosure policy at the bottom of this and every page on this blog.
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Say Anything Family Board Game Giveaway

Giveaway

MBE partnered with North Star Games, post contains affiliate links

WIN Say Anything from North Star Games, the award-winning family friendly board game featured in a recent Mommy Blog Expert review that gets everyone to think. This game is non-electronic, making it perfect entertainment and fun for kids and adults getting together at any holiday party and all year round at occasions when family or friends gather.


Say Anything Board Game Giveaway

NorthStar Games
 Say Anything GIVEAWAY
Ends 1/2/12

HOW TO ENTER

 
Just leave a comment(s) below this post!  Contest ends January 2, 2012 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 @mommyblogexpert on Twitter
2. Like @mommyblogexpert on Facebook
3. Follow @northstargames on Twitter
4. Like @northstargames 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.

Tweet:
GIVEAWAY Say Anything @NorthStarGames Family Friendly Board Game http://tinyurl.com/7oarjst #holidays #kids RT 2 #WIN

 
LOTS More Family-Friendly Giveaways!
 
ENTER Them All HERE


FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert received this game for review on a separate MBE post. NorthStar Games is providing the prize and shipping for this giveaway. I did not receive any other payment or  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.
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
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