From the site: “We work hard to supply the very best products for your family long-lasting, heirloom quality items that will last well into the next generation. We delight in delivering and sharing the stuff memories are made of: a handmade bow she’ll wear in her kindergarten photo, a wooden train under the Christmas tree, the soft blanket he will take everywhere he goes. It’s all here, waiting to be loved by someone special.”

Isn’t that the sweetest thing? Almost makes me want to fly out to Texas just to see this store in person! However, the next best thing is being able to visit their extensive online store of the most adorable items you’ll find anywhere. They have everything from bedding to gifts to toys and books.

We were lucky to have been able to review Dottilicious - a Wall Candy Arts Wallpaper consisting of 80 dots in various sizes and colors. The great thing about Dottilicious is that you can place them on the wall and if you find you don’t like where it is, just peel it off and stick again. No mess, no stress! With dots ranging from 1″ to 10″ the design possibilities are endless! It was so easy to apply and and the vibrant colors made a great addition to Girlie Girl’s room. I’m almost tempted to buy a set for my room, too!

And if that’s not enough, check out some of the other great items from Sugarplum Dreams:

Win it!

Sugarplum Dreams has generously donate one item of the winner’s choice up to a $50 value. To enter:

• Stop by Sugarplum Dreams before midnight, Nov 29th.
• Then come back and mention in comments which item you’d like to win. That’s it!
• A random winner will be selected and notified on Nov 30th.
• The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn more entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry.

• Subscribe to my feed.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to Sugarplum Dreams.
• Place my button in your sidebar.

This giveaway is open to US addresses only. Good luck!

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Today’s question is:

What are you thankful for?

We’ve decided to take a family vacation to Southern California next month and we leave on Christmas Day. We plan to spend Baby Bug’s 3rd birthday and New Year’s Eve in the Magic Kingdom. How cool is that?

I’ve been doing some research and heard that they have birthday party packages at the various character restaurants complete with goody bags for all the kids. Have any of you ever done that before? Do you think it’s worth the price?

Also, just how crazy crowded is Disneyland on New Year’s Eve? Is the fireworks show different than the ones they usually have?

Any advice?

I wish he could stay home a little longer.

OMG! Did I really just say that? Someone please take my temperature.

All kidding aside, having him home was actually a lot better than I ever expected. You see, when we first met we were already both working for the airlines and was used to the “passing ships in the night” lifestyle we had. It doesn’t work for everyone but it works for us.

Anyway, he turned out to be the perfect stay-at-home dad. Since Girlie Girl was off track for school, she was home for almost 4 weeks with him and Baby Bug. They spent every.single.day either at the beach or at the park. Even on my days off he would take them out early in the morning so I could sleep in and they would stay out for most of the day so I could make some attempt to catch up with my blogging.

It turned out to be a great experience for everyone. He was able to bond with his daughters, the girls got to hang out at the beach, and I was able to get my things done, too.

Shhhh . . . don’t tell anyone but I’m going to miss having him home.

One great way to keep track of this and develop a treasured keepsake is through growth charts. And boy do I have the perfect one for you from Olive Kids!

From the site: “We created Olive Kids to offer parents like us, and their kids, an affordable alternative to the character based entertainment licenses. Our emphasis is on color and fun, because we believe kids rooms should inspire creativity and play - not be an advertisement for a TV show or movie.”

We received the canvas growth chart to review and we loved it! It’s made with high quality canvas, personalized with Baby Bug’s name, & is the perfect addition to any child’s room. The colors are bright and colorful and you can chart your child’s growth up until they’re 5 feet tall. The markings are printed at 1/8″ intervals for acurate measuring.

Thanks to Olive Kids, we can now keep track of our girls’ growth and they’ll one day be able to look back with fond memories.

Win it!

Olive Kids has generously donated a personalized canvas growth chart (value $50) to one lucky winner. To enter:

• Stop by Olive Kids before midnight, Nov 24th and check out their great products.
• Then come back and mention in comments your favorite one. That’s it!
• A random winner will be selected and notified on Nov 25th.
• The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn more entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry.

• Subscribe to my feed.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to Olive Kids.
• Place my button on your sidebar.

This giveaway is open to US addresses only. Good luck!

From Amazon.com: “Learn about China’s ecosystems and meet the endangered species that live in them. Mission: China is the newest edition of Xeko, the award winning trading card game that introduces kids to threatened species and the world’s conservation “hotspots.” This mission includes animals like the beloved Giant Panda, critically endangered Snow Leopard, and ferocious King Cobra. The Xeko Mission: China starter set is packaged in a stunning pagoda box decorated with animals from China’s habitats and dragon illustrations that capture the mysteries of ancient Chinese culture. This game will inspire the next generation of eco-leaders through enriching and exciting game play. All Xeko collections are playable with one another, and players mix and match to build custom decks. Winner of Creative Child Magazine’s Game of the Year Award (2007). The starter set includes 42 cards, an oversized game mat, rule book, play guides and a heavy-duty deck storage box.”

This game is aimed at kids 8 years or older so I knew Girlie Girl would have some difficulties with it. However, with my help we were able to get through it relatively easily. I really liked that it focuses on conservation, endangered animals, and the environment - all very important issues that I want my girls to learn about. The large Eco-map was very authentic looking and the illustrations really helped to drive the point home.

But what I really liked were the color-coded cards that made it easier to figure out which ones link together to form a strong Xeko-system to win the game. All in all, we really enjoyed playing Xeko Mission: China and found it to be a real eye opener. Anything that combines fun and education is always a winner in my book!

Win it!

How would you like to win a XEKO MIssion: China game & Panda plushie? To enter:

• Stop by XEKO website before Nov 22nd and check out their Xekopedia.
• Then come back and mention in comments your favorite Xeko terminology. That’s it!
• A random winner will be selected and notified on Nov 23rd.
• The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

• Subscribe to my feed.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to XEKO.
• Place my button in your sidebar.

This giveaway is open to US addresses. Good luck!

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Today’s question is:

Where do you live and what’s the weather like there?

We live in a big world with many different experiences and wonders just waiting for us to explore. Unfortunately, most of us do not have the time or resources to embark on these amazing adventures. That’s why I rely on the internet to expose my girls to things they will probably never get the chance to see.

I’ve recently been introduced to My Wonderful World sponsored by National Geographic and found it to have come really great features for the whole family. And with Geography Awareness Week coming up, this is the perfect time for you to check it out!

“Take your kids on a virtual whirlwind tour of the world  this November with MyWonderfulWorld.org, a National Geographic-led campaign to give kids the power of global knowledge. During Geography Awareness Week (Nov 16-22), explore a range of geo- activities all designed to engage kids in exploring their world while they become more informed global citizens. You can take a geo-tour of global hotspots on a virtual globe, including  polar regions, coral reefs, and great cities. Explore earth’s marine ecosystems as you pilot an underwater vehicle. Hear from young people living and working around the world. Go to mywonderfulworld.org/gaw to see the world in new ways!”

Explore the world without ever leaving home!