Cuddle Covers
Cuddle Covers was a big hit in my house, in my car, under my daughter, under my dog.
Yeah, it's a keeper and that's straight from the mouth of a budding teenager who I thought would be too old. And what I found out is: you are never too old for fun snuggles like you get with Cuddle Covers. (Man, that sounds like a marketer talking which I am not . . . well, at least for this product . . . . .) But, really, this is a cute one that I would definitely consider buying down the road as a present for someone else.
From the website, it appears that Cuddle Covers come in a variety of styles and you can cover your own pillow or buy an official Cuddle Cover pillow. Cuddle Covers come as Berry the Bear, Louie the Lion, Kit the Cat, Max the Dog, Don the Dinosaur, Izzy the Unicorn.
We are on the go ALOT these days. One more big trip next week and I am looking forward to life calming down for a litte bit. Or at least until summer hits. We have a big road trip planned as we always do to my mother's in North Carolina. I have a feeling I know which pillow will be in the car for the trip. Since I drive the whole 10 hours, I don't get my turn with Berry the Bear. Maybe once I get there. Anyone out there offering chauffeur services for review? Just kidding. . . . but not really.
Cover your own pillow or buy one from Cuddle Covers.
Zip 'er up!
Good for ALL ages!
{Disclosure: I received a Cuddle Cover and pillow for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.|
Travel: What you will see as a Disney VIP
I was multi-tasking during this year's Disney Social Media Moms Conference, thanks to the awesome Rayovac outlet centerpieces and despite the warning by the adorably hilarious Mary Ellen Hooper to turn off my cell phone, when somewhere off in the distance a voice broke through my conscious, halting my attempts to compose an semi-intelligent email on the small screen of my Droid in a dark conference room.
"107, anyone? 107?"
"Oh, Oh, Oh, Me, Me, Me."
107 was the lucky little number printed on a conference badge I wore around my neck and the very same number just pulled to win the V.I.P tour of Disney World! Yeah, wow, is right! Here I was invited by my dear friend Jo-Lynne to come to this awesome conference and I won the BIG prize, to go in any park on any ride with a special front-of-the-line tour guide for SIX hours.
Woohoo!!
But, that's not all. In a move not that far from rewards you see on the TV show Survivor, they told me I could invite not ONE, not TWO, but up to TEN people on the tour (including myself).
Because so many others were already booked on other awesome tours, like the African Trek (which I am totally doing that next year if I get invited back) or they brought their own families, I took only two others but I was not disappointed with my choices! Thank you, Debbie and Amy. You make great park buddies! {Missed you, Melissa and Jo-Lynne!}
Debbie and I stopped by the Yacht Club gift store to become real Disney Tourists!
You can see us almost being blown away below. (Just kidding. That's the Disney Magic Shots which are so way cool!)
And, because, we were provided with a very cool tour guide, Lorie, I wanted to share some of the tips I learned during our time at Disney on a celebrity worthy 6 hour guided tour.
Whew, almost lost our friend Amy there.
1) Go left, everyone turns right in lines.
2) Go early to favorite rides, especially the Pirates of the Caribbean ride which does not have a fast pass.
3) Getting a VIP tour means skipping long lines and getting through the park quickly where you can then relax in shows or at one of the many awesome eating places later in the day.
4) Work around the shows you want to see. Pick shows before or after your tour if you really want to take advantage of the rides.
5) Stand to the middle left in the haunted mansion. For some reason, it's the better place to be.
6) Star Tours has over 50 different scenarios. It's come a long way since I was younger.
7) Ask Disney photographers who aren't walking around with live characters about "Magic Shots," animations they can add to your photos. For example, the balloons you see above, Tinkerbell, etc.
Getting a VIP tour also means a private car delivers you into parking spots park right behind rides and you walk right into the park like a celebrity. No long walks or tram rides. A mirror on the way in reminds employees, "Who are you keeping safe today?"
9) But, getting a VIP tour does not mean you will get a view of the underground happenings. But, then again, we didn't think to ask either.
10) You are also responsible for your own food.
11) Normally this privilege costs $300/hour and we had a six hour tour!
12) Relax and enjoy. Ask lots of questions! The tour guide has lots of great insights for the same or future visits.
And, the tour guide drove us right up to the last dinner of the conference at the new Art of Animation Resort where we reunited with several Philly women! We have to go a long way these days to see people from our own back yard. Fancy that!
Philly Women Reunite!
Check out all the photos of our tour on the embedded Flickr Stream below. I was trying out my new Sony camera from Christmas and captured some excellent shots of all the topiaries created for the Epcot flower show too. {I was so happy to meet Sony rep Drew earlier in the trip who showed me some tips on how to use my Sony a65!}
What a truly magical adventure!! If you can afford it, go for the VIP treatment!!
Bigjigs Toys Freight and Rail
When I first received the opportunity to talk about Bigjigs Toys, I immediately thought of my 2 year old nephew who would LOVE the train sets. He doesn't live in my area so I had my daughter assemble the set for this review and I will pack it up and give it to little J this summer.
I actually enjoyed watching my 13 year old take out all the pieces and with the precision and passion of a puzzle maker, she got out the tool kit and got to work. A few of the parts needs screwing together but fortunately they don't have to be unscrewed to fit back in the handy box.
What I thought was cool were the little emergency vehicles and cars designed with the same size wheels to work on the same tracks. Overall, it is a very cool set and I know my nephew will love it.
Bigjigs Toys has now opened an online store so now you don't have to be a specialty store to get their cool toys. You can shop online!
Bigjigs Rail comes nice and tidy in a handy box!
The Freight set is coming together!
All ready to play!
{Disclosure: I received a Bigjigs Train set for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.}
Virtual Food Blogger Bake Sale Linky
Post a picture of baked goods this week and come back here to link up in support of the in-real-life Food Blogger Bake Sales going on nationwide on April 28, 2012. Help me reach our team's virtual goal of $1000 or more by donating now to this worthwhile cause.
Donate Now to Help End Childhood Hunger http://join.strength.org/goto/VirtualBakeSale
{Please add this link to your post:} Help end childhood hunger. Support Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale by donating online to the 2012 No Kid Hungry campaign via the Little Miss Muffin Team HERE. Buy a virtual baked good – calorie-free and help us reach our goal of $1000!
Support the 2012 Food Blogger Bake Sale http://join.strength.org/goto/VirtualBakeSale
{Disclosure: I received a Villeroy & Boch platter and a Little Miss Muffin doll for posting about the Food Blogger Bake Sale, in support of Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Campaign. All thoughts and opinions are my own.}
Visit http://eshop.villeroy-
Nickelodeon Floam and Gak are BACK!
Our fun box of Floam and Gak arrived last week at the perfect time: Spring Break! Nickelodeon reformulated their classic concoctions and kids are going to more pleased than ever!
We received three containers of Gak in red, green and blue and three of Floam in red, blue and yellow.
The instructions called for kneading the Gak on a plastic surface which also came in the box. As the girls played with it, it became more pliable and less "wet." It also shrunk.
The Gak was great for stretching, blowing bubbles, bouncing in smaller balls and making silly noises with when putting it back into the container.
And, then my other daughter returned from her European adventure to Paris, a gracious gift by my sister, and out came the Floam! My youngest went the simple route and made a beautiful basic flower.
With much art to inspire her, my oldest set to work replicating Monet's pond, a place she visited on her trip. She combined colors to get the effect she wanted. With some Floam still left over, she also made Van Gogh's Starry Night! I was pleasantly surprised with their Floam and Gak experience!
