Arthur Christmas Giftbag Giveaway Holiday Family Animated Comedy Movie Fun, Ends 12/23

Movie Review & Giveaway

Entry details below

Since Thanksgiving weekend Arthur Christmas -- the 3D CG-animated family comedy presented by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation in theaters nationwide and produced by Aardman -- has been spreading holiday cheer to kids, parents, and even adults without children. That's because in this version of the legend of Santa Claus you'll see the semi-retired fat jolly guy in red like never before: Going high tech, no longer delivering presents via the old-fashioned chimneys of Christmases past. I don't want to spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it yet, so suffice it to say that Santa is more of a figurehead nowadays with a huge family of other Santas that actually get the job done, including Arthur who is Santa's youngest son.

Leave a Comment on Post to Enter, Contest details below
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

This is the first Sony film collaboration with Aardman, the award-winning animation company previously only known for stop-motion films like Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Voices in Arthur Christmas are performed by James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, and Ashley Jensen and the movie was directed by Sarah Smith. Rated PG, the soundtrack features the song Santa Claus is Comin' to Town by teen heart throb singer Justin Bieber from his new album Under the Mistletoe.

With such a hilarious release in theaters right now, it's hard to believe that this is not the only holiday themed entertainment being offered by Sony Pictures Animation this season. Earlier this month Sony released its The Smurfs Limited Edition 3-disc Holiday Blu-Ray & DVD set that includes The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol, a special mini yuletide movie, as well a first-ever two screen interactive option called Smurf-O-Vision that allows viewers to watch the Blu-Ray version and interact with The Smurfs simultaneously on a second device such as an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

Thanks to the motion picture brand, I am excited to be hosting another Mommy Blog Expert - Sony Pictures Animation holiday giveaway. This time you have a chance at winning of some official Arthur Christmas movie merchandise direct from the studio. Read on for details and enter to win now by leaving a comment below as Christmas is just around the corner. No doubt, lots of Arthur Christmas fans would love to win this fun, festive holiday package so please share this with your friends and family too.

Arthur Christmas  
Gift Bag
Holiday GIVEAWAY

Ends 12/23/11 
 

One winner receives all Arthur Christmas logo merchandise

• Tall 15" Felt Embroidered Hat
• 10-Page Activity Book
• Sticker Sheet from the Movie
• Colorful Bookmark
• Christmas Button
• Candy Cane Pen 
• Gift Bag

HOW TO ENTER

 

Just leave a comment(s) below this post!  Contest ends December 23, 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 Arthur Christmas on Twitter

5. Like Arthur Christmas 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:

Festive Christmas Holiday @ArthurChristmas Giftbag GIVEAWAY http://tinyurl.com/c4cvgv6 @SonyPictures #xmas #movie #kids Pls RT 

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FTC Disclosure:  Sony Pictures Animation and Arthur Christmas have provided the prizes for this giveaway. 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.

5 Ways How to Teach A Child To Shop for Holiday Gifts for Family & Friends

Parenting

As moms and dads it's natural for many of us to want to give gifts to our children at the holidays and we derive great joy from doing so. But, as frugal parenting expert Ashley Grimaldo wisely points out, there's an even bigger thrill that comes when our children are on the giving end, getting that same excitement and sense of fulfillment watching others open gifts that they chose or gave.  For sure, learning how to select and give gifts isn't something most of are born with and there's a high likelihood that just about any child would benefit from a parent's help and guidance to learn the ropes.

Store Shelves Overwhelm us all, especially kids

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Here's some of Grimaldo's tips for helping children with holiday gift shopping

1. Prepare your child for the experience.
Dragging a kid through Toys 'R Us without buying him something is like parading a starving man through the buffet line and telling him not to eat. So, the first step is to talk to your child before you go to the store, then when you actually go shopping together, remind your the child of the reason for going to the store for this particular trip.

2. Shop sales and use coupons.
Children learn frugal shopping by example both in-store and online. Start now -- even within the context of gift shopping -- by giving your child the opportunity to help you find and take advantage of deals and coupons. Don't forget to visit sites like CouponSherpa for coupon codes for Target and other stores where you will be shopping together. And, by all means, teach kids about shopping securely and safely, especially online.

3. Brainstorm ways to personalize the gift.
This can be a simple as drawing a picture inside a blank holiday card and have you write down what they'd like to say in the card. You might also suggest that older kids make handmade wrapping paper with a paper bag, magazine cutouts, stickers and stamps. Also talk about matching gifts to people like not giving sugar cookies to Grandma because she's a diabetic. The lesson being taught here is gift giving is a great time to really think about what others would appreciate rather than what you'd like to give the recipient.

4. Consider homemade presents.
Working together with your child, come up with some DIY present ideas they can craft mostly without your help using whatever fine motor skills they've developed. Once you gather the materials necessary for them to make these independently, encourage them to work alone but also let them know that if they need your help they can always ask for it.

5. Take advantage of Free Shipping Day on Friday, December 16.
Many companies will be offering free shipping for those who buy online on December 16. Here's where you can turn online shopping into a math lesson, comparing prices in newspaper inserts to those online.

What did you learn about gift giving from your own parents when you were a child? And if you have children of your own what have you taught about the art of shopping for presents for family and friends? Do you have any advice you can share as a comment below this post?

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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.

Professor Wormbog Mercer Mayer Kids Book

Book

Mercer Mayer Review and Giveaway

Since 1966, award-winning author Mercer Mayer has been writing and illustrating fantastical children’s picture books and has personally penned more than 300 titles to date. For 2011 his book Professor Wormbog in Search for the Zipperump-a-Zoo -- which was originally published in 1976 -- was reintroduced and is currently available in hard cover as well as e-Book formats. This particular title is the same original classic story that launched Mayer's renowned Little Monster Series that has sold millions of copies. 

MBE partnered with FastPencil, Post contains affiliate links

Like his other titles, Professor Wormbog was born out of the author's personal experiences growing up in Arkansas. As always, Mayer's animal characters in this book are as monster ugly as they are approachable and charming.  In fact with his illustrative style, it's no surprise that this story and many others he's written -- such as the Little Critter series -- are widely regarded as classics for three generations and counting.  Not only are Mayer's books lots of fun to read, each has valuable life lessons that help children who read them to develop socialization and language skills within a creative story-telling context.

If you are not already familiar with this author's work, you can exprience the writer/illustrator's true wit first hand in the YouTube below. Running approximately 9 minutes, Mercer Mayer reads Professor Wormbog in Search for the Zipperump-a-Zoo -- in the character of the Professor's brother Reginald Wormbog. Come to think of it, this is so cute and lively, you'll likely want your child to watch this with you.

Professor Wormbog in Search for the Zipperump-a-Zoo, Copyright 1976 and 2011 by Mercer Mayer, is published by Fast Pencil Premiere. Available on Amazon for $16.95 in color illustrated 8x10" hard cover; also $4.99 as a PDF or EPUB download.

Mercer Mayer's

Professor Wormbog in Search for the Zipperump-a-Zoo 
Book Giveaway

ENDS 1/10/12

WIN A Hard Copy

HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post, Contest ends January 10, 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 author @mercermayer on Twitter

4. Follow publisher @fastpencil on Twitter

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:

Professor Wormbog Zipperump-a-Zoo by Mercer Mayer Review & Classic Book #Giveaway http://tinyurl.com/7agr62c #kids #books RT 2 #WIN

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Mommy Blog Expert is an Amazon Affiliate and we receive a small bit of compensation, at no extra cost to you, when you make a purchase by clicking on our links.

FTC Disclosure: The publisher provided the book to me to facilitate this review and also is providing the prize and shipping for this giveaway.  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.

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!

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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.

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.

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Currently Being Hosted by Mommy Blog Expert

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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.