The Best Easter Basket Fillers

Easter is coming up quickly and I am so excited for it! I've found that my holidays have been even more over the top this year because of how difficult Covid has made everything.

One of my favorite things to do is to watch the excitement on my kids' faces as they dig into their Easter baskets! And the bunny has some really great plans for this years' baskets.

Disney Doorables are the most adorable little versions of Disney Characters. With multiple series and your favorite characters, my kids are obsessed with collecting them all!

Squishmallows are without a doubt one of the hottest toys right now.  You can find them in so many stores (if they're not sold out!) but these bunnies are adorable.

Polly Pocket has always and will always be a favorite.  Her little houses and playsets are perfect basket size!

Playdough Cloud Slime is probably the only slime I allow in my house.  This cloud slime is fluffy and not sticky and I have not yet found it stuck in my carpet anywhere!

Smushy Mooshy surprise toys are another one of those crazy hot blind bag collectibles that I know my daughter is hoping for!

5 Surprise Mini Brands are adorable identical replicas of many favorite toys and food products.  These are perfect for playing with LOL dolls or Barbies!

Mr Potato Head Tots - all the fun of Mr Potato Head, but in a smaller smaller, more adorable form! My son is loving collecting these blind bags!

I've always believed that Easter Baskets should be filled with little things (that fit in the basket) and at less than $10 each for everything on this list, it's easy to have a full Easter basket filled iwth fun without breaking the bank.

xo, Heather

LOL Surprise Dolls - Hot Holiday Toys!

LOL Surprise dolls are all over BOTH of my children's Wish Lists this year. My kids are obsessed and love these little collectibles. They are so hard to find in stores, but Amazon has been amazing with pre-orders and stock levels!
Links may be affiliate links. 

The dolls are available in all sorts of packages!  The Big sister dolls include outfits and accessroies and can be found in the series: Under Wraps Dolls - Series 1, Under Wraps - Series 2, and Glam Glitter. Walmart will be releasing a BLING series for the holiday and as soon as they do, I'll post in my Facebook group- along with tons of other discounts and coupons! The Pearl Surprise includes a Big sister, a lil sister and accessories. The Bigger Surprise is new this holiday season and includes wigs for the 2 dolls included!

My kids especially love the Lil Sisters. They newest Eye Spy series is our favorite! There are even a few boy characters!

Additionally, they have Pets Series, and the animals come with their accessories as well! Emmalee is asking for a Biggie Pet, which is a very large pet, that has extra surprises with it! There is also a new Interactive Pet - which is just like those interactive monkey toys that go on your finger, but with a LOL twist!

The biggest LOL item this summer will be the House! It comes with 85+ surprises! The house includes a family and so many accessories!

There are also so many activity books: Press Out and Play Book, 1000 Sticker Book, Tin of Books, Lil Sister Coloring Book, and Stick and Style Dress Up Book. Additionally, a Glow in the Dark Scrapbook or a Light Up Diary would be a great gift! Emma really loved the Creativity Case and Stylin Studio and the Secret Message Jewelry craft kits she saw this weekend. This Activity Tray would be great for all those crafts and even eating lunch!

LOL clothing exists too! From Fur Duffle bags to Tshirts and pajamas, there is so much!

My favorite LOL item this year is the #OOTD Countdown. With more than 25 pieces and with 25 doors, it will make the most perfect countdown to Christmas calendar as well! Emma is going to be so excited when she sees how many LOL items she will be getting this holiday!

xo, Heather

Family Favorites from Sweet Suite 2018

Once again, I had the great fortune of attending Sweet Suite in NYC and this time Emmalee came along.  There were so many amazing things shown in preparation for the holiday season but here are a few of my favorites for the family that really stood out!

1. Nintendo Switch

I know... I know... we are crazy not owning one already but in my defense, I was worried about Tyler and it.  The fact it can move around and be lost is terrifying but he's done so well with his tablet this year so I think Santa might be bringing this as a family gift this year!

2. Monster Match

We love, love, love this game! It's such a great game for families and so easy even my 4 year old is playing with us! So far, I'm the undefeated champion! It's a fast paced game but there's a ton of strategy behind it too.  The fact that it travels easily makes it a winner for sure.

3. Mad Matter

If we could have spent all night at this booth we would have! Mad Matter is a super soft modeling compound that squishes and cuts in the coolest ways. I especially love that it doesn't stick to anything except itself so no more mess on couch or floor!

4. Real Cooking Mini Tart Maker

Nothing says happy family in our house like cooking breakfast together on the weekend. This mini tart maker is perfect for making individual sized tarts in the morning.  Each person can choose their own fillings and unlike other treat makers, they include a recipe for making your own pastry so you're not constantly buying refills!

5. Glove A Bubble

These are so much fun. Full disclosure- I've purchased at least 10 more since Sweet Suite! They are perfect for bringing to the park, over a friend's house, or just for playing in the back yard.  It's so easy the 4 year old can get hundreds of bubbles with a couple waves of his hand! The animal designs are super cute and since I've purchased than for less than 42 at Walmart-- it's easy to stock up!

6. Razor Scooters

Razor scooters have been around forever and are obviously the number 1 choice when it comes to scooters, but the Razor Jr Lil Electric Scooter is my new favorite! It's perfect for the kids-- it has 3 wheels and a sturdy base, plus it's electric! No more trying to push off and ride.  Tyler likes to stand o it and hit the butto so it goes! The scooter tops out at 2 mph but the kids just love it!

7. Kids First Microscope

Anything that encourages learning is a go in our house and Emma freaked over this microscope! It's bright and colorful and includes 24 slides with 3 images so my kids can start to explore.  They also include blank slides so we can investigate things we find on our nature walks. It's perfect for the whole family!

8. VTech Kidi Star Karaoke Machine

Emma has been asking for a karaoke machine and this is one looks like so much fun! Anything made by Vtech is usually a win and this looks no different! While it can be plugged into an mp3 player, it also includes 8 of its own songs, some games, a disco light, and a voice changer! You can even record yourself for up to 2 minutes.  Emma had a blast jamming out with this at Sweet Suite so I can only imagine what both kids would do in the living room!

9. Ooze Labs Slime

Hear me out... I hate slime... like really despise the stuff but Ooze Labs are pretty cool.  Each comes in it's own tube and they are so much cooler than regular slime. There's slime that glows in the dark, magnetic slime, glitter slime, and magic sand.  Our favorite is slime that responds to sunlight!

10. Basic Fun Arcade Games

Sometimes it's fun to go retro and the retro arcade games from Basic Fun are perfect for the whole family! Tyler loves Pac Man but I'm hoping to grab Frogger sooner rather than later!

Tyler and Emma picked out their favorites too-- be sure to check back for those posts soon!

xo, Heather

NYC and #SweetSuite18

July has been the absolute busiest month, basically ever. We had cookouts, birthday parties, cookouts, beach days, sleep overs, we saw a play, and so much dance including the national competition, but in the middle of all of it, Emmalee and I found ourselves in NYC for #SweetSuite18.

Sweet Suite has been one of my favorite events for the past few years.  It's one of the most amazing blogging things I do.  The Toy Insider gathers the most exciting toys for the holiday season and brings in brand reps and it's literally the biggest night of play that there is.  I have always gone solo so I was thrilled this year to learn that Emma could come with me.

We took the train in from Connecticut and spent some time walking up 5th Ave- a visit to the Eloise store and some macarons were the perfect start!

We made our way to Central Park as well. I've always wanted to spend a whole day inside but that will have to wait for a bit still.  We did see some gorgeous skylines and even found a carnival!

We were most excited to find the carousel! For all the years I've been in Central Park, I have never found the carousel so we were very excited to do it for the first time!

We had a great morning and the best part of the day hadn't even happened yet! We grabbed a cab and headed to Chelsea Piers for the biggest night of play!

One of the biggest highlights of Emma's night was meeting the family behind Sandaroo, her absolute favorite youtube family. It was honestly adorable and she lit up over it all.

We were so excited to check out the newly created Pop Insider hangout and the amazing balloon maze to get into the venue!

Trying to decide what was our favorite, just isn't possible so we put together a collage of our favorites from the night!

There were so many amazing toys and we'll be making another list of Emma's favorites for this holiday season to share soon!

xo, Heather and Emma

Beaker Creatures

This cool toy was provided in our swag box from #SweetSuite18 however all thoughts and opinions are our own!

One of the cool new toys we saw at Suite Sweet is called Beaker Creatures! STEM learning and mini science centers are always a hit with the kids and these Beaker Creatures are the perfect "bath bombesque" toy!

Emma and Tyler really wanted to make a video so check it out below!

Beaker Creatures can be found at Learning Express, specialty stores, and Amazon (aff link here).

Be sure to let me know what you think of them!

xo, Heather

Saving Money for A Trip to Build A Bear

When you are little, numbers don't hold the same value. To many little kids $100 is enough to feed the world so when my 6 year old daughter said she wanted to save up her money to go to Build A Bear, I wasn't expecting much from her.  I told her if she raised $20 I would bring her.  And she worked her butt off. Asking to do extra chores (which she never got paid for previously), and negotiating via "If I do.... will you give me $1?" was both entertaining and productive.  She would tell others she was saving up to go and would smile from ear to ear as they handed her a dollar to add to her savings.

I watched with pride as she counted the money she earned. The day she hit the $20 was amazing. She was beaming with pride so we made plans to go a few days later. We've been before but this trip was special.  She saved for it.  She was looking at prices and deciding what to get. I told her that she could pick her bear with her money and I would buy her two outfits.  When the doll she wanted was more than $20, she negotiated again, asking for me to pay for the extra part of the bear and buy her one outfit.  Deal.

Build A Bear has always held a little magic for me.  Both David and I worked there, at separate times, and it was him wearing his Build A Bear shirt at a bar that made me first notice him, so a trip to Build a Bear always makes me smile. 

In the grand scheme of things, it's just a stuffed bear. I easily could have purchased it for her without any issues but there was so much value and magic in her working so hard for it. Did I mention that now that she's saved up for Build A Bear, she wants to save for another Disney vacation?

xo, Heather

Holiday Hot Toy: Paw Patrol Lookout Tower

I was provided this toy in exchange for a review, however all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Shopping for both of my kids has been ridiculously easy this year. They love all the toys that are out and I think so many of them are actually adorable and fun! Tyler has been a huge fan of Paw Patrol over the past year and it's one of those shows that I am actually okay with him loving! The characters are super cute and the show is literally based around being helpful and good to others!

It was no surprise to me that much of Tyler's holiday wishlist revolves around Paw Patrol: more characters, the Ride on Quad, the Air Patroller Plane, and the Paw Patrol My Size Lookout Tower.

The Lookout Tower would absolutely be a WOW present this year. It's 3 feet tall and works with all of the other regular size Paw Patrol vehicles he already owns. Here's a quick commercial:

But let's be honest, watching our own kids play with the toys is so much better! I love that the My Size Lookout Tower is large enough for Tyler to play with his friends. 

The end of the slide is the coolest- it shoots the pups in the air and into their vehicle! The rortating base allows each pup to jump into their own vehicle.

He's always all smiles when it comes to Paw Patrol!

The working elevator moves the pups up and down if needed. The My Size Lookout Tower also has lots of different buttons that activate things like lights and sounds, or the pups' signature catch phrases!

It's such a great toy and we are hoping Santa leaves it under our tree! Otherwise, you can purchase it at Amazon, Target, Toys R Us, or Walmart, as well as lots of other major stores! Let me know who you'll be picking it up for!

xo, Heather

Holiday Hot Toy: LuvaBella Doll

The LuvaBella Doll was provided in exchange for this review, however, as always all thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I may get a commission or credits for sales when you use my affiliate/referral links.  You are not required to use my links though I appreciate when you do.

If you've been watching the hot holiday toys at all, you know that Luvabella and Luvabeau are HOT this year! 

These interactive dolls provide hours of playtime for kids. Your kids will never get bored with Luvabella because she's constantly changing! You can cover her eyes for a game of peek-a-boo, tickle her tummy and toes to make her giggle, or place a hand on her chest to gently listen to her heartbeat. You can even hold her feet to hear her say “mama” and begin to babble! The more you play with her, the more she’ll talk! Her babble will transform into over 100 clear words and phrases! We are so lucky that one was sent to us to try out and play with!

Luvabella comes with four fun interactive accessories, including a spoon, bottle, pacifier, and Lambie toy.  When she gets hungry, she’ll open her mouth and chew as she eats! Tyler loves burping her after she eats!

I will admit that at first I was a bit on the fence about the doll. The idea of a robotic, interactive doll was a bit frightening to me but the doll is actually really cute in person! I love that both my kids enjoy playing with her!

Now I'm still learning video but you absolutely have to see the doll in action to understand how fun it is! Check out our quick video and let me know your thoughts!

Luvabella dolls are sold at Amazon, Walmart, and Target, but can be super hard to find right now so if you see one, grab it! My kids love Luvabella so I'll be looking for another to add to our toy box!

xo, Heather

American Girl's New App: WellieWishers: Garden Fun Game

Growing up I loved American Girl dolls.  I obsessed over Samantha and Molly. I loved their clothes and accessories and when the catalog would come in the mail, I would spend hours pouring over it, dreaming of owning one. Now that I have my own daughter, she is also in love with American Girl dolls.

Her first doll was bought by my mother, with a full trip to the Natick American Girl store.  A second was added with her second hand Emily doll. Then a Bitty Baby joined the party. Then American Girl introduced their new line of Wellie Wishers and Emma and I both fell in love. Instead of 18" soft body dolls, the Wellie Wishers are 14" hard body dolls. Their smaller bodies are a bit easier for Emma to play with.   Emma already has 3 of the dolls, and is asking for another from Santa so we were especially excited when we were contacted to try out the new WellieWishers: Garden Fun Game.

WellieWishers are a sweet and silly group of girls who each have the same big, bright wish: to be a good friend. And now with the WellieWishers: Garden Fun app, little ones can learn how to be a good friend as they play. From hidden object and tea-party planning minigames to nurturing their own garden and customizing the backyard garden with stickers, little kids are invited to join the WellieWishers to discover what makes friendships grow.

The content is tailored to kids ages 5-7, offering good-quality entertainment from a well-loved, trusted brand partner in American Girl. And, with school back in session, it’s a great opportunity to reinforce the values young ones are learning in class, so they can practice their caring and empathy skills while outside of preschool or elementary school.  

Even though American Girl is often marketed towards girls (even though they added a boy doll!) I love that both my boy and girl love the games. When we're at dance and waiting for Emmalee, Tyler often grabs my phone and starts to play. When we're in the grocery store, Tyler will take my phone from my bag and start to play.  Thankfully, even though it's a game full of content, it doesn't destroy my battery!

Each of the little games inside of the app offer creative content for kids.  The app is free but some of the extra content does cost money (no more than $3 from Google Play!)  My kids especially love finding the hidden objects game!

In a world full of technology and "scary things" on the internet, I love that American Girl has created an app that the kids love to play with that also encourages creative and empathy, just like the rest of the American Girl line does! Grab the app on iOS and Android today!

xo, Heather

Shopkin World Vacation DVD Review #ShopkinsWorldVacation

Perfect rainy afternoon. Can you guess Emma's favorite travel destination? @shopkins_world #ad

A post shared by Heather (@heathgiff) on Oct 14, 2017 at 11:59am PDT

Few things are loved in our house more right now than Shopkins. They are everywhere. Our house has Shopkins coloring books, tshirts, pajamas, figures, streaming shows, and now, a DVD! Emmalee was beyond thrilled to receive the new Shopkins World Vacation movie in the mail!

The DVD says "Kooky Cookie win the trip of a lifetime to London, but it’s not long before plans start going awry… soon Kooky Cookie and her pals are hopping from Paris to New York to Tokyo. But with the mischievous Biscuit Bandits on the loose, can the Shopkins and Shoppies save the day?"

We knew it was going to be great, especially since we loved Shopkins: Chef Club last year! We had a rainy day yesterday so we grabbed our passports, some popcorn, and cozy blankets and piled up on the couch.

I knew my girl would love it, but I was surpirsed by how much my 3 year old loved it! He kept asking us to go back to when they meet Pinkie Cola and he loved the "bad guys"- they're just as funny as bad, but still made me kids nervous about what would happen next!

The movie is full of adventures and laughs, and even a few icon scenes that you may recognize!

Emmalee loved the movie and since watching it has requested every single one of the Shopkins World Vacation Dolls and the Season 8 Plane so she can take them all on adventures! Obviously one of the first playsets on my list is the Oh La La Macaron Cafe-- France is Emma's favorite!

You can pick up your own copy of Shopkins: World Vacation as a digital copy (available now!) or the DVD version (available the 17th!) from Amazon.

xo, Heather

Emmalee's HasCon 2017 Picks

Hasbro hosted it's first ever HasCon this year in Providence, Rhode Island and we were lucky enough to attend, thanks to some tickets provided by Hasbro. Emmalee was absolutely in love with the toys.  We're huge Hasbro fans anyways, but we're taking a quick minute to highlight her absolute favorites from the show!

In no particular order....

1. Baby Alive

Emma has been asking for a Baby Alive for months.  She loves the idea of feeding and changing the diapers! There are so many different ones, ranging from as low as $15 so they are a great toy to keep on hand for the girls in your life!

2. FurReal Pets

Emmalee loves Pandas and was extra excited to find a Fur Real Pet Panda at HasCon! It's an adorable little toy! Tyler preferred the bigger Tiger, aptly named Tyler!

3. My Little Ponies

There are so many new ponies! Pirate Ponies and Mer-ponies! We could have spent all morning just coloring and playing!

4. Littlest Pet Shop Rings

The Littlest Pet Shop Animals are adorable and now they are micro-sized to wear around everyday!

5. Equestria Girls Dolls

These dolls premiered at HasCon- how fun! Sadly, they won't be out until Spring but Emma is obsessed and I'm sure we'll be adding them to the rest of our MLP collection!

6. Doh Vinci

I was actually surprised that Emmalee loved the Doh Vinci! We recieved one a couple years ago and she tried it, got bored , and walked away.  At HasCon, she would have been occupied for hours with it! It even made it's way on to her Wish List! I can't really even describe it- it's almost like PlayDoh (but it doesn't get under your fingernails!) but you use the device to use it almost like a caulking gun and then it hardens!

7. Disney Tangled Dolls

We've always been big fans of Tangled and now we love watching the TV show, so why not add a few more Rapunzel dolls to our collection?

8. Descendents Dolls

The Descendants quickly became a favorite of Emmalee's- she's even being Evie (the duaghter of the Evil Queen) for Halloween! I love the premise of the show, and any show that helps kids deal with their own feelings of belonging are great in my book! The detail on these dolls are gorgeous!

9. Hanazuki

This was a big favorite! We had never even heard of the brand before but Hanazuki has a Netflix series, plush dolls, and collectible treasures!

10. Sit and Spin

Such a simple toy, but always a favorite-- even when I was a kid! Check out the huge one in the background... seriously bummed they wouldn't let me have that one.

11. Trolls stuffies

Trolls are pretty adorable already, but these mini, super soft plush toys are the cutest version of Trolls I've seen! They're the perfect size for stockings!

12. Star Wars Forces of Destiny Dolls

These dolls are seriously B.A. I love them and I love that the show gives my little girl a strong, courageous show full of strong females... not just one that starts as meek and learns to be strong, although, knowing my kid, Barbie and Rey will be swapping clothes at some point.

13. Disney Frozen Collection

This is another set that isn't actually out yet but will be soon! Even though Frozen has been around for years, with a new short coming out, the characters got an update. A few pieces are already available on Amazon, but the rest will be coming up soon!

There was so much to see, we absolutely didn't get to share it all in this post but these are a few of Emma's favorites! Which is your favorite?

xo, Heather