Drawing with Mark Review and Giveaway

One of my favorite things to do in my free time (when it happens) is to draw. I've done it since I was little and although I am not at a professional level, I have found and followed some helpful hints over time. I was relieved and somewhat surprised when both of my boys took up the same passion I have. They both love drawing and although their styles differ between the two of them and myself, I have been able to help them with the tips I know. Of course, there is a limit to my knowledge and it was pretty early on that I started to realize I needed assistance.  I have supplemented my abilities with how-to books and short tutorials but there isn't anything compared to having a professional right there to help you. I was pleased to be introduced to Drawing with Mark.

Drawing with Mark takes you, or your little artists, on a fun and creative journey in each episode. You join professional illustrator, Mark Marderosian as he teaches you some of the basics on learning to draw. Mark has over 25 years of experience and has worked with some of the best known names in children's publishing, entertainment, and animation. In each episode of Drawing with Mark you join Mark on a "field trip" of sorts to a fun location, it is then followed by TWO separate drawing lessons. Each episode also features colorful animation, fun facts, suggested reading lists, and much more! The DVD I received there were two episodes, and a bonus episode.

The first episode, "Take Flight", had you being introduced to a real pilot! You got to learn all about a plane and flying, and then learn to draw a jet plane and a helicopter. In episode two, " As the Wheels Turn", you visit an auto museum and learn about both old and new cars, you get to learn how to draw an antique car, and even design a car of the future. In the bonus episode on my DVD, "A Day at the Fire Station", you visit a fire station, talk to real fire fighters and learn to draw a fire truck!

I love how Mark's passion for art and drawing comes forth in these videos.  He is able to take a seemly difficult image and break it down so that no matter your age or skill level you come out an accomplished artist. 

A perfect gift for the holidays or any time! A great gift for children whether or not they are art lovers! A DVD fits right into a regular sized stocking and doesn't take much wrapping paper to wrap! Drawing with Mark is a gift that has the potential to keep giving. Your little budding artist could discover an untapped talent, it could give a child that is already interested in drawing the extra little push to show them that they can do it, it's a gift that is much more than the material item.

Would you like put your art skills to the test?
If so,  I have three Drawing with Mark DVD's to giveaway.

This giveaway is open to US Residents only
Ends Sunday, December 31st at 8pm cst.

Entry is simple:  Using the activity sheets above draw Rex, the Dog, or a Superhero and share your sketch on Facebook by tagging both Margie Brill and Drawing with Mark.
Once complete return to this giveaway and leave the link to your post in the comments.
One entry per image

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The Pink Hat - Join One Girl Who's Standing Up For What's Right

 Looking for a last minute gift for a young girl?  The Pink Hat, by Andrew Joyner could be just what you are looking for.  

The Pink Hat shares a story of a hat that goes missing one day and the journey that follows.  It is first grabbed by a cat, some kids, a baby, and a dog until it makes its way to a little girl who takes it home.  She cleans it up and claims it for her own.  Then comes the day, January 21, 2017, when she puts her pink hat on and discovers she is not the only one with a pink hat.   Rather there are people all around her wearing them in support of women's rights.

I have given away more than I should have already, but if you are looking for a book that shares the message of the empowerment of women The Pink Hat is just what you are looking for.

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Sometimes You Need A Little Utter Nonsense In Your Life

Having a family game night is something that I grew up with. I loved it, even though sometimes a competitive relative/sibling would get upset and quit halfway through. I recently started this tradition with my children and have even, on occasion, been able to have my brother and his wife over to play games as well. We enjoy games that make us laugh or really build suspense while you're playing. As my children have grown, I have started gathering games that would include them as well. When asked to review Utter Nonsense, I jumped at the chance, it is a game I have been intrigued by and wanting to try for a while now. What better way to let you know that this game is a perfect holiday gift, than to try it out and tell you all about it?

Now, the rules of the game are as follows:

1. Start be selecting the initial Nonsense Judge, who is the person deemed to have the stinkiest feet.
2. The Nonsense Judge deals 7 Phrase Cards to each player, then selects an Accent Card from the top of the deck.
3. Once the Accent Card is revealed fro the round, players select one Phrase Card from their hand to say in the accent indicated, beginning with the player to the left of the Nonsense Judge, moving clockwise.
4. It's up to the Nonsense Judge to decide which player's phrase and accent combination is the funniest, and that player wins the round.
5. The winning player retains that round's Accent Card and becomes the Nonsense Judge for the following round.
6. Once a player wins 5 rounds, he or she wins the game.

I reviewed the Family Edition of the game (there is also a Naughty Edition), and a sample Holiday Pack filled with holiday themed accents and phrases (32 Cards in total). There was just something about my 9-year old son saying "What exactly is Nog?" in a Grinch type voice that had me convinced the game was worth it. After playing a few rounds with the Holiday Pack we moved on to the cards in the actual game box and played until ultimately my younger brother won. He has always been pretty decent at accents. All of mine kind of sounded like a Scottish Pirate... I obviously need some practice. The accents are plenty, with the Holiday Sample Pack including accents like: The Grinch, Rudolph, a Caroler, Buddy the Elf, a Mall Santa, and Mrs. Claus. The Family Edition includes far more accents, with a few being: A robot, a surfer, Grandma, a vampire, a baby, a nerd, or saying something like you're out of breath, or excited. Utter Nonsense Family Edition is for ages 8+, 4-20 players, and takes around 30 mins to complete a game. The family edition has 50 Accent Cards and 450 Phrase Cards. The combinations don't have to make sense and you don't have to be good at accents. I could see where a phrase can be altered by using jargon relating to the region or culture the accent originated from, so just make it your own and hope for the best!

Utter Nonsense would make a great gift for the holidays, but don't limit yourself to just the Christmas season, grab the game on your way to a friendly gathering or while your heading to a family get-together.

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Beanstalk Jack

From Paper Canoe Company comes an album that will bring back nostalgia to parents, and will be a fun retelling of the classic tale of "Jack and the Beanstalk". The Paper Canoe Company is co-founded by Tami Stronach and Greg Steinbruner, Tami's name may sound familiar to the older crowd (no offense meant, I am part of that crowd), she is most known -to millions- for her haunting performance as The Childlike Empress in the iconic film, The Neverending Story. The Paper Canoe company is more than excited about their album, Beanstalk Jack.

Beanstalk Jack references the American tradition of folk music that embraces a powerful message and then shifts to include 60's, 70's, and 80's-style pop and rock. Beanstalk Jack tells the story of "Jack and the Beanstalk" with the addition of a refreshing girl-meets-boy twist, a tribute to the spirit of optimism, and more than a hint of youthful rebellion. Jack, the intrepid hero, armed with his guitar, climbs the beanstalk to seek his fortune. At the summit, Jack meets the giants daughter Harmony, and steals her heart. The two run away to follow their dreams and make music together, leaving the giant to languish in the celestial dust. The album includes songs with inspiration from The Beatles, Dolly Parton, Simon and Garfunkel, and Woody Guthrie. The album features the following tracks:

• Beanstalk Jack
• Daydream
• Let Me Be
• Milky Cow
• Bestest Bargain
• Lucky Jack
• Look at Us Now
• Upseedoodledo
• It's a Big World
• Lonely Boy
• Hey Wow
• Fee Fi Fo Fum
• Lay You Down
• All the Pretty Things
• Steal Away
• Get on Down the Beanstalk

Teaching children that music can be used to tell an entire story, and showing the fun of music at the same time, Beanstalk Jack is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
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HP Sprocket 2-in-1

I have been playing with HP's new Sprocket 2-in-1, and to say I have found my favorite device  would be an understatement.   This small portable gadget is a camera and printer all in one that allows you to not only take and print phone instantly but also print your favorite photos right from your phone.   Before I tell you how it works, let me tell you what it can do.

HP Sprocket 2-in-1:

· Pocket-size printer, about the size of a smartphone, this printer goes anywhere. It can easily fit into your bag or backpack, and it's so light you'll barely notice it's there.

· Seamless Bluetooth connectivity that allows you and your friends to connect and wirelessly print from the printer.

· Up to 313 x 400 dpi (dots per inch) color resolution allows for high-quality instant photos.

· Simple paper load, just open the top of the printer, drop paper in, and start printing. Get started right away with the included 10-sheet pack of photo paper.

· Easy social media printing, easily print your photos from social media. Connect your social media accounts to the HP Sprocket App and instantly turn any of those photos into colorful prints.

· Built-in 5 MP camera, equipped with LED dual color flash, allows you to capture and print photos in the moment.

· HP Sprocket App  that allows you to easily customize your photo before printing it. Tap the Edit button to add a filter, frame, sticker, text, emojis, or to crop your image.

Included with the HP Sprocket 2-in-1:

·         HP Sprocket Photo Printer

·         USB cable, wriststrap

·         HP ZINK Sticky-Backed photo paper (10-sheets)

·         Warranty sheet

·         Regulatory sheet

I have used my Sprocket 2-in-1 for a direct print from the device and by using my camera roll on my phone via the app.

Taking a photo directly from the device is simple.  Simply turn it on, look through the view finder, snap the pic and it prints automatically.   One thing to point out is, unlike a digital camera or your phone you do not see the image on a screen before it prints.    Today I took a photo of the area across from my desk and within seconds of snapping it the image was printed and ready for display.

For my second print out I turned to my camera roll and using the Sprocket app I selected a photo taken over the weekend.  With the help of the editing features I was able to add a festive holiday boarder and add in the year. After confirming I was synced up to the bluetooth I was able to print it out as well.

The only problem I have with the Sprocket 2-in-1 is that I know as soon as our daughter finds out I have one she will be claiming it for her own, just like she did with the original Sprocket I received last year.

Thank you to Mom Select for my HP Sprocket #Sponsored

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Crinkle Crinkle Little Star

If there is one thing that is true about babies and toddlers, it is that they love to touch. As the first sense they develop, it makes perfect sense that you would want to use this to your advantage in their learning and development. One way to do this is with board books, there are so many different ways to add interaction to a board book and all of them keep the attention of little ones. Take a little one through an interactive journey of the night sky this holiday with Crinkle, Crinkle, Little Star, a book by Justin Krasner & Emma Yarlett, made perfectly for little hands.

Crinkle, Crinkle, Little Star keeps babies interest in a number of ways; the melody of your voice while reciting the rhyme will be soothing, the colors of the pictures will catch their attention and as you move through the stages of nightfall you may be able to teach them a few new words as well as colors, and the delightful and fun crinkle of both the cover and the end page are sure to be an exciting experience for any little ones. As your baby grows, they'll develop fine motor skills simply by exploring the book, teach them to trace the outline of the constellations explored within, and they'll also learn to turn a page (a skill that I still use quite often!).

A great gift for baby showers (or new parents in general), birthdays, and the holiday season! Crinkle, Crinkle, Little Star is sure to become a fast favorite for your little learner.
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Zero Down by Blue Orange

Blue Orange games has a fantastic track record with keeping every situation fun and this Christmas is no different. The next time you have a get-together ask your guests "How low can you go?" No, this isn't an invitation to a competitive game of limbo, this is a challenge for a game of Zero Down.

Zero down is a subtle card game where your ultimate goal is to cancel out your point value by either number or color. This is a game where you don't want to earn points, so keep canceling out your points and keep a close eye on your opponents so that you are the first one to get to zero! For ages 8 and up and for 2-5 players, Zero Down gives everyone a chance to play. Play as many rounds as there are players and the one with the LEAST points at the end is the winner!

The perfect size for stockings and under the tree, in Zero Down you'll cancel out your hand, while maximizing your fun!

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Osmo Coding Jam & Base

This Christmas, find the perfect balance between learning and play with Osmo. The newest trend in children's tech seems to be coding, and it has really taken off. What is coding exactly? Well, speaking simply, coding is what allows our computers, apps, and websites to operate the way they do. Codes are assigned to certain actions within the app (or website etc.) and when the code is put in, the action then follows. Osmo takes interacting with an iPad a step further for your child, it introduces hands on play, and allows the use of items outside the screen, their game Coding Jam, allows children to create music, by using code.

Coding Jam lets children create their own music and each block is part of an open-ended music studio with dozens of characters and instruments. Music can then be shared with family and friends, who can then vote on which tune is the most Jamtastic tune of the day. This will give children more confidence in their creations and help grow a love of coding and music. The game comes with 23 magnetic coding blocks including: walk, jump, grab, loop, sequentials, sleep, and multipliers. You also get stackable storage and the app with purchase. Osmo Coding Jam offeres more than just a fun, new way to play, children will learn:

• Coding Fundamentals
• Pattern Recognition
• Sequencing and loops
• Rhythm, Harmony, and Melody
• Creative Coding

The base is needed to make this and other Osmo games work, it allows the app to read the play pieces that are in the play area, simply plug the iPad into the base and clip on the reflector. The base works with multiple iPad models including: iPad 2, iPad (3rd Generation), iPad (4th Generation), iPad Mini, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, the 9.7-inch and 10.5-inch iPad Pro. This gives iPad users the benefits of being able to play the Osmo system and Coding Jam no matter which generation or model you may have. The perfect Christmas gift for inquisitive young minds, and a great gateway to introduce your little ones to technology.

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Blue Orange Games Dr. Microbe

I'm definitely part of that group of parents who seem to constantly be trying to get their children to unplug, its hard when sometimes, even at school, they're in front of a screen multiple times throughout the day. To combat this, my husband and I decided to buy a lot of fun games and start a weekly family game night. The only rules being that it had to be a board game, and everyone had to agree to play the one chosen. We've been lucky to have assembled quite the collection of classics, but its the Blue Orange games that are constantly crossing our table. Our Blue Orange games have been acquired either by them being given as a gift, us buying them ourselves, or sometimes even more exciting, as a review. On of my sons favorite things to do is try out a game and tell all of their friends about it the next day at school. We were asked to check out Dr. Microbe in time for Christmas and I think we all had fun giving this one a game night test run.

Dr. Microbe is a logic race game, the box design is colorful and draws your eye, not to mention the little window in the front that gives you a peek at all of the microbes. The back of the box has the following description: "Help Dr. Microbe complete her research! Sort the microbes into your petri dish using your tweezers, and a bit of logic. Work fast to figure out the missing microbes and superbugs and snatch them up before your opponents do. Be the fastest scientist in the lab to win!"~ The game comes with: 49 microbes, 5 petri dishes, 4 lab tweezers, 54 challenge cards, and an illustrated rules book. The game is for ages 8 and up, and for 2-4 players. Once all of your game pieces are set up, you choose a challenge card and everyone races to place the microbes into their petri dish so that it matches the challenge card. once you do that you must find the superbug and complete the empty spot in the petri dish. You have to be quick though because everyone else is doing the same thing! 

 

 

Your superbug must be a different shape and color than the microbes.  My youngest son is 7 and had a little trouble understanding the game, I related the idea of the game to him as a "missing addend" sort of puzzle, he is learning about them in school and the connection seemed to work enough that he was able to keep up during the game, enough to have fun and even win once! Much like bacteria and microbes, Dr. Microbe has variants, or other ways to play the game. These variants make the game a little harder, and especially for older and more experienced scientists, more fun. One of the variants lets you sabotage the other players petri dishes by placing a virus piece in the dish with their microbes. The other player must then remove, or pass the virus to another petri dish before continuing. After completing 5 cards correctly, you've won the game! The typical game time is around 15 minutes, and the 5 rounds can move pretty fast depending on the speed and quick thinking of your players.

As my kids have grown I've learned that the more fast aced games are the ones that hold their attention and the ones that they are always asking to play. I like when the games also test their brains and really make them think, Blue Orange games never misses the mark when it comes to the proper game for an age group, and what's even better is that they have games for all age groups and learning levels.
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Who Knew Socks Could Be This Comfortable

There's nothing I enjoy more on a cold day than comfortable and warm clothing and a cup of hot coffee. Although I have many comfortable clothing options, an outfit is never complete without a good pair of socks, and a good pair of socks is hard to find. Enter The Comfort Sock, now, I'm not exactly a sock snob but I know what I like in a sock. It has to be soft, and comfortable enough to wear all day with whichever of my shoes I chose to pair with them, the more shoes that I can wear them with, the better.

The people at The Comfort Sock have a hand in every step of the sock development process, this means that they research the market and pick out the latest trends and product innovations from around the world and they repeat this for the fiber, yarn, and structure of each of their socks. The Comfort Sock has even created many of their own revolutionary construction technologies like Arikool, a one-way moisture transport system. TCS determines the blend, the leg length, the welts (this is the cuff), heel gores, and even the toe seams so that no part of the sock gets through production without ensuring that it is the best option. The Comfort Sock is created by people who "eat. breathe, and sleep socks", and while I cant attest to the eating or breathing part of the sock life, the sleeping part is good. I'm not usually a person who can sleep in socks because my feet cant breathe under my mountain of blankets, but with The Comfort Sock, I had no issues. The Comfort Sock is available for men, women, and children and comes in styles including (but not limited to): Knee high, crew, no show, over the calf, and quarter. Among all of these different styles there is a range of benefits so that everyone has the opportunity to have their perfect sock:

• Arch Support
• Blister Resistant
• Breathable Cotton
• Breathable Mesh
• Comfort Toe Seam
• Cushion
• Diabetic
• Durable Reinforced Heel & Toe
• Energizing Compression
• Fast Drying Polyester
• Moisture Control
• Non-Binding
• Soft Acrylic
• Spandex for Fit
• Stay in Place Tab
• Wool for Warmth

With all of the possible benefits of a Comfort sock, it's easy to see why people love them. Providing the perfect sock for everyone, the people at The Comfort Sock really so eat, breathe and sleep SOCKS, they make sure they do their job perfectly so that you can love your socks. Life is too short for uncomfortable socks.
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Albert: A Small Tree with a Big Dream

Halloween is past and it wont be long before Christmas is here. My husband always gripes at me for starting the Christmas traditions before Thanksgiving is over but I just cant help it. We have a handful of Christmas movies that we watch every year and this year we are more than delighted to add another to the list! The newest movie to be added to our Christmas collection is Albert: A Small Tree with a Big Dream from Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media.

Available on November 14th, just in time for the holidays, Albert makes his DVD debut. Albert is a tiny fir tree who dreams of becoming Empire City's most famous Christmas Tree. Along with his friends Maisie the palm tree and Gene the weed, he begins the trip of a lifetime to make all of his dreams come true. Their journey isn't easy though, because on the way they encounter the villainous and prickly Cactus Pete and even a swarm of hungry rabbits! In spite of these hardships, the trio discovers the true meaning of friendship and teamwork, and saves Christmas along the way!

Let Nickelodeon and Albert help you get into the Yuletide spirit with an adventure that excites as well as inspires. Albert: A Small Tree with a Big Dream is the DVD you need for your holiday movie night!

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Break the Ice This Holiday When You Play Personalogy

With the holiday season comes the dreaded family get together, relatives that you haven't seen in months, maybe years, and the possibility of new family members that you may not have even met yet. If you don't want to spend your gathering in solitude or awkward silence, it is best to have something to break the ice. Personalogy games has fun games for your groups that get the party moving and may even teach you something you didn't already know about your family members, friends, or significant other.

Personalogy Games has two different versions of their conversation starting game, one for an adult setting, and one that is perfect for families. The Original Party Edition is geared towards a more adult setting (not in the mature content sense, just questions that a younger child might not fully comprehend). Questions like "Which of these holds the greatest value for me and why?" and "Which city reflects my current social life best and why?" will really get the party moving. Perfect for date night, a dinner party with friends, or even a bachelorette party. The Family Fun Edition gets the whole family laughing and really tests how well you know your relatives. With questions like, "What is my favorite dessert and why?" and "What am I most scared of and why?", it is easy to see why this game can get a family to connect without them even realizing it. Perfect for road trips, sleepovers, birthday parties, and since its the perfect size to fit in your purse you can even use it while waiting at the Drs. office. Each game runs the same way, you try and predict the opponents answer and the reason why. Guessing the way your significant other, child, or best friend will answer the question is half the fun, hearing how they react to your answer, whether right or wrong is the other half!. What's great about the game is that it could give the opponent a little insight into how you see them, maybe they'll even learn a little bit about themselves while playing the game! Both games make great gifts, or even stocking stuffers and would be great as an early present for the holidays, open when they arrive, and play together later! Personalogy is creating more versions of their game to release, the possible future editions are: Flirt (Date Night), Kid's Club, Sports Challenge, Teen Talk, Worldview, Pillow Talk (Couples Only), and Girls' Night Out.

A refreshing change to the typical party games, Personalogy is the game that you and your family needs. In todays social atmosphere, people don't really express themselves and just talk like they used to, getting to know someone is typically achieved by comparing what they like in the media to what you like. This game really lets you connect with people, and you may just find a friend where you didn't know you had one.

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Mister G's - The Mitzvah Bus

The holiday season is about more than Christmas, there are a number of holidays celebrated by many different people and teaching your children a little bit about them is always a good idea. The perfect accompaniment to your holiday season is Mister G's Parents' Choice Gold Award-winning album, The Mitzvah Bus.

Mister G, the recipient of the first songwriting scholarship in the history of Berklee College of Music, brings a new level of song-craft and production aesthetic to the children's genre. Using his experience as an adult artist, as well as his past as a teacher, his songs are perfectly geared towards, and immediately engaging for children, parents and instructors. His songs meld together lessons in creativity, literacy, and multiculturalism. His newest album includes 14 original songs in English, Hebrew, Spanish, and Yiddish. The Mitzvah Bus spans genres from funk to folk, and rock to ska, and features lyrics celebrating family, food, and language. Songs on this incredibly diverse album include:

• Challah-lalala
• The Mitzvah Bus
• Hanukkah
• Hola Shalom
• Camp
• Latkes for Breakfast
• Bevakasha
•  Matzah on my Mind
• Shabbat Shalom
• Purim Party Song
• Tokhes
• Flood's Gonna Come
• Naturaleza
• Lilah Tov

Open your holiday season to much more than the Christmas spirit with Mister G's The Mitzvah Bus, available at iTunes, Amazon, and the Mister G website.
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Nintendo Switch Gear Club Unlimited

If there is anything that you'll find on every child's Christmas list, its a game, while not every child is going to ask for a video game, games come in all varieties and you are very unlikely to find a child who doesn't want a game of some sort. My children (as well as myself) prefer games of the video variety, and we enjoy many, across multiple platforms. Recently, our hearts have been captured by the still new Nintendo Switch, and the games it boasts. One of those games, Gear Club Unlimited, takes all of the family on a ride that they won't soon forget, and also allows you to race against other family members in the heart pumping rush to the finish line.

With over 400 races, the challenges are endless, not to mention all the fun that is to be had racing against others people as well (up to 4 players at a time). You can collect all of the worlds top cars from the most renown manufacturers and customize them in your garage before taking them back to the track to try out all of the new upgrades you purchased. Gear Club Unlimited is more of a racer than a simulation game, by this I mean that it will feel more like a certain famous plumbers racing game as opposed to true racing simulations. However, this in no way takes away from the fun of the game or all of the competitions to be had between you and your siblings... or you and your children.

Released November 21st, Gear Club Unlimited is the perfect game for the racing lover in your family, a perfect gift for Christmas and just the right size for a stocking!
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Stuff Your Stockings With Books This Christmas

 

This year my family has turned over a new leaf. My husband and I have always been avid readers, we have a small library of books and our two boys have seemed to take on the same love of books we have. This year their interest in books has expanded so much that more than half of their Christmas gifts are books that they have requested! I'm so astounded by this development that I wanted nothing more than to share this love of books with some of my other family members and their little ones, and I am fortunate enough to know of a company that can help me accomplish it. Barron's Educational Series Inc. has so many fun and adorable books and I've got a few that will get you into the Christmas spirit.

Its never too early to prepare for Christmas, it all depends on how much space you have to store what you buy, and how patient you are knowing that awesome gifts are waiting to be given. We usually start in September, just because it keeps us from experiencing any last minute panic close to the holidays. I have four books to tell you about that are perfect for any little ones this year:

• Santa's Sleigh - A short and sweet book that tells a small tale about what Santa does when his reindeer are sick. The book and pages are in the adorable shapes of the sleigh, Santa, and one of his beloved reindeer.
• Musical Christmas Tree - A super cute read that takes you all around the Christmas Tree as everyone gets ready for Christmas! This impressive and fun book lets you listen to the tune of Jingle Bells ( the batteries are replaceable!) and also has small Velcro "ornaments" that allow you to connect the two sides of the book and have it stand as a tree! Use it to decorate or read, either way it will bring Christmas joy!
• Christmas Eve - Join two children as they prepare for Santa's arrival! Each page is filled with a fun rhyme and followed by a quick find-and-seek for each scene. Festively adorned with metallics and glitter, this book is sure to catch the eye of every young reader.
• Santa's Workshop - Santa isn't feeling well and it's almost time for Christmas! Join Mrs. Claus, the elves, and the reindeer as they all work together to help Santa feel like his old self! This book let's your little ones use their imagination and play through the story themselves! It includes the Rudolph Saves the Day! storybook, a foam workshop model, stand-up pieces like Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, Rudolph, and all of the other reindeer, as well as a floor mat!

Seize the opportunity to get a head start on some awesome and fun Christmas gifts with Barron's Educational Series Inc. They have the perfect books for gifts for any reason and their books are always fun as well as educational! Few things are better in life than instilling a love of reading, Barron's will help you do just that.

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Family Game Night Mr. Bucket

Buying games for my children is usually prompted by a little bit of nostalgia, I tend to first buy them games I played when I was younger and liked before something new and unknown. One game from my childhood was a game from Pressman called Mr. Bucket. It was actually my younger brothers game but, only being 4 years older than him, I played as well. It was a game I liked playing with my siblings because it was just constant movement and chaos, in a fun way.

The Mr. Bucket game is really easy to learn, its for ages three and up and you need 2 to 4 players. The idea of the game is to get all three of your colored balls into the bucket before he spits them out, so that all of yours are in the bucket at the same time. This is made harder by the fact that Mr. Bucket is rolling around on the floor, spinning, and of course, spitting the balls out. If you manage to do all of that, simply pick Mr. Bucket up off the floor by his handle and he stops moving and spitting out balls. 

 

 

You then have time to reset and play again! We tried Mr. Bucket out on our kitchen floor, I'm fairly sure the carpeting in out house is too fluffy for the wheels, however I can see the game functioning on a very low carpet, but working the best on a bare floor. The game includes Mr. Bucket, 4 shovels (one of each color), 12 balls (three of each color), and the complete instructions for both the assembly (super easy and fast) and the game rules. Mr. Bucket does require 3 AA batteries that are not included with the purchase. What I enjoyed best about this game is that you never know who is going to win. Although, the kiddos that are a little quicker on their feet will have an advantage. Mr. Bucket also fits nicely back into its original box when everyone is done playing.

Mr. Bucket is a great game to keep kids engaged, and a nice change from video games that don't allow children to be active. Mr. Bucket will get them up and moving, and most of all having fun!

 
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