Review: New G.I.Joe Retaliation Toys from #Hasbro

I am slow on getting this done, but I assure you, the toys are pretty darn cool!

G.I. Joe is back, and even as a girl, I loved the show and toys as a kid. It might have had something to do with the fact that the lady who took care of my sister and I had three boys and we played with their toys, but I really had so much fun with them and I love that this franchise has continued. I now have the original theme song in my head playing over and over as I type this you should know LOL.

What is a Nonmom to do when asked to check these out…well, she enlists first her husband (he was partial to the mask LOL) and then a younger friend who became her ‘experts’.

Here’s what Aeden had to say about the line:

Snake Eyes Mask:  For the snake eyes mask I like how Hasbro followed the design of the mask like in the movie. I also like how it’s only the front of the mask not all away around. I wish that the mask could have come with sounds or a felt backing to make it more comfortable. Overall I like the mask.

Cobra Commander: For the Cobra Commander I like how it comes in a separate box and I also like how the Cobra Staff can add an cobra on top and how it shoots a missile. On Cobra Commander himself I like all the detail that went into the toy and into the weapons. There is nothing really I don’t like about this toy.

Ninja Speed Cycle: For the Ninja Speed Cycle I like the overall look of the cycle. I also like all the detail into some spots where barely anyone would look. I like how the missile fires and how extra stuff can be added on. I wish Hasbro would make it turn as it goes though.

Micro Force Five Pack: For the five pack I like how there can be multiple combinations with the pack. I also like how you can see all the characters in the pack. I wish the characters were a bit bigger and I think that there should be a bigger pack.

Micro Force Two Pack: For the Micro Force two pack I like how there could be many combinations but I would have liked to have seen the package in plastic because I would like to see the figures I’m getting. I wish that there was jumbo pack of the two pack for a mystery collection. On the other hand I do like the design of the figures and I appreciate how much detail and time went into these toys. ***Nonmom note: These small packs immediately screamed ‘loot bags’ at me. Love them for that or road trips.***

Nonmom’s take on the line overall is that it’s very cool how Hasbro has updated it, but it’s still very much the G.I. Joe I remember. I love that there is adaptability for the different age groups too with Micro Force and then the bigger figures for different levels of play. The level of detail never ceases to amaze me. I look at some of the toys I used to play with (yes I’ve kept a lot from my childhood) and the details are so much more in-depth now.

I’m also a fan of how you can get packages in different sizes for the Micro Force in particular. The larger pack can be for say, a birthday present, and the little packs for a treat after a good report or test at school or a big win in sports etc.

Check ‘em out!

Review & Ideas for #Easter from #Hasbro

Yes that’s right, ‘EB’ (aka The Easter Bunny) will be here in a matter of days and the munchkins will have their baskets at the ready and the race will be on for who can get the most eggs.

At least…that’s how it was at my house growing up. To this day I still get excited about it and wish I could re-live the hunt.

This year ‘EB’ and I got to talking and after a few consults, several emails and some covert tweets, he agreed that he would help me out and put on an early one for a special munchkin. Potential hiding places were mentioned and mapped out, a basket purchased and the eggs have been checked and are ready to be filled. But then I had some guilt kick in and thought maybe having all sugar wasn’t the best idea.

And then I lucked out and my wonderful friends at Hasbro gave me some ideas for making Easter just that much more special and I wanted to share them as soon as I got them so you could incorporate some strategies too!

I clearly remember waking up Easter morning and seeing the chocolate bunnies that had been left for us as well as usually a small gift or two. Obviously the gift lasted longer than the chocolate.

As a Nonmom, I seek to inform and help everyone, not just fellow non’s, with keeping up with what’s hot with the kids so we can avoid the deer in the headlights look at the store.

This year there are some uber-cute ideas for both the boys and girls and indeed, for the whole family. I love coming up with fun ways to combine things so I’m doing a mix of sweet and treat for the munchkin.

First up: obviously we have to look at the egg hunt. I mean come on, this is me! EB and I are combining a few eggs with treats in them and then these ones, filled with Play-Doh! If you’re a regular reader you know how I love Play-Doh so you know I’m hyper about this.

But it isn’t all just regular Play-Doh. There’s a new one. The Play-Doh PLUS! It’s softer and when you use it with regular Play-Doh, think of it like icing on a cupcake. It flows a little differently. Very cool. A jar of this will hopefully be in my Easter Basket . And the bunny and chick stamps which are also just for Spring and have the Doh in them plus stamps on their feet for more fun play. EB was partial to these. He liked hopping the bunny .

And then there’s the other additions to the Easter Basket. Toys! Small or larger, there are options for all price and age points and here are a few:

1. On the larger side, and I must say, utterly adorable, is the FurReal Friends Hop ‘n Cuddle Bunny. I of course named her Flip Flop and had her hopping around the kitchen. She comes with batteries and acts like a pet bunny for your munchkin. She’ll hop in a circle, sniff and when she’s idle for a minute she’ll even go to sleep until playtime resumes.

2. My Little Pony Littlest So Soft Cottonbelle. Ok, this one I let keep her name. I grew up with My Little Pony and they are so cute! She comes with accessories and can be cradled and babied by your little one. I do love the simply sweet toys sometimes…says the girl who has a rather large toy collection herself to this day .

3. For those Angry Birds fans (aka ‘Ang-gee birds) we have some fun treats too. The Star Wars Angry Birds have been incredibly popular and there are two options here that will make the little ones ecstatic on Easter morning.

We have the larger Power Battlers (age 4 and up) so this can qualify as the bigger in size gift. You simply pull back and watch ‘em go! Or Hasbro have come up with these lovely little grab bags containing  smaller Angry Birds. These ones are definitely smaller so are age 5 and up. I love these little bags, they remind me of when I used to collect stickers or cards as a kid, the perfect basket addition or even potential loot bag item for parties! See, Nonmom’s know stuff too!

4. Another of my recent favourites, Beyblade. I still have a lot to learn on these ones admittedly, but now they are getting even more advanced than I knew.

These ones are have ‘Spark’ so are brighter in colour and some even have holographs on them. They are more customizable than before and come in attack and defense styles. I really really like Beyblades, but they are definitely for the slightly older kids as there is assembly required (part of the fun) and have smaller pieces etc.

5. Littlest Pet Shop ‘Hide and Sweet’.

Again, a perfect way to offset the extra sugar that the kids don’t really need, is including a few toys and these ones are adorable for the season as they hide in their favourite treats! So thy still get the treat, but it’s got a Littlest Pet Shop Pet in it…and well, it’s not edible LOL. LPS is incredibly popular and aren’t just a small toy, they have their own world and community online so they take the classic toy and pair it with the new tech so you get the best of both worlds.

6. Last but not least. For the family, why not a fun game? Where’s my Water? from the Disney app is fun for everyone. It comes with a fun board reminiscent of a certain game on a game show where price guessing comes into play? You drop marbles into courses designed by the cards you choose and hope you get the water in the bath for the gator. If you get your water marble in you get the card, when you get 3 cards, you win. I am all over this. Holidays really are supposed to be for family time and you know how I love spending time with board games.

Adding a toy or two to the basket instead of having quite so many sugary treats is something I really like. The Easter egg hunt is all about adventure and going on a mission to find treats…well there’s no firm rule it has to be all chocolate is there? I think a mix, or, for kids who may be sensitive or have allergies, arranging with EB for some Play-Doh eggs or simply having a mix of toys, and most importantly, fun family memory making time, would make the time spent just as fun.

I am beyond looking forward to the hunt here in a few days and EB and I are frantically finalizing our plan so he gets enough rest for the big day and I don’t wear him out. He’s got a big job ahead of him! I’ll let you know how it goes…I am counting down!

Happy Easter!

#MarchBreak Ideas from #Hasbro and Nonmom!

That’s right, March Break is upon us and even as a Non, believe me, I notice it.

I must admit I even look forward to it.

It’s not because I go away anywhere, it’s not because I get time off, because I don’t.

But I freely admit I count down to it for one mega-reason: LESS TRAFFIC!!! LOL Sorry, couldn’t resist.

I know that growing up we never did the big trip for March Break, but my parents and parents to this day, struggle with ideas of how to keep the kids busy during this time so that everyone can have some fun.

The weather affects a lot of plans for sure, but here are some indoor tips from my friends at Hasbro combined with some of my own that I really liked. I also really liked how they organized it by day. If it were me, and I’ve seen some of my parent friends do this so I know it’s possible, I would make a bristol board visual countdown for the kids on this. Oooh! Maybe like an advent calendar of sorts but for March Break? (For my crafty friends, it should have glitter….cause everything needs glitter right?)

Hasbro gave these suggestions, and I really like that they’re low-tech in a lot of ways. It’s all about being a kid and I really really like that. It makes me smile so much when I see the kids play with actual toys like we used to, I can’t help it, I want to join in constantly. I’ve also added my ‘two cents’ as it were….oh my, is that phrase going out of style soon in Canada with the loss of the penny? Sorry, back to March Break……

Monday: Family Game Night! Kids pick the first game and maybe mom and dad pick the second and so on? I think that would be fun! It would also be the perfect cap for a day out at perhaps the zoo? That’s one of my favourites. I so love animals. The meerkats are my favourite. Love those guys!

Tuesday: Play-Doh fun! Seriously, who doesn’t love Play-Doh? I do. I keep a stash of it for when munchkins come over….but I also keep another stash for me LOL. Perhaps watch a movie and then make stuff from that movie with the Play-Doh and have a contest to see who gets to pick the next movie?

Wednesday: Host a Beyblade tournament. Ok seriously, I tried this out last year for the first time and I was HOOKED! This would be a blast! But it doesn’t just have to be for the boys either, the Dizzy Dancer fans can also have a tournament, maybe a dance-off? This could work well as a play-date too. You could turn this into a whole day thing too but making a ‘stadium’ and flags etc for the teams, or an equivalent stage for the Dizzy Dancers. For the girls, they could also make tutu’s. It’s fun. I made one for Halloween. Easy peasy too. Here’s the tutorial on how I made mine, took me all of 40 minutes.

Thursday: An Easy-Bake day for the girls! You could make this into a whole girly day and also have mani’s and pedi’s and make it into a Princess day! Add a couple Princess movies, tiaras (they have them at Target and also Michaels) and you’re set.

Friday: Building day with Kre-O and the Transformers! These kits will absolutely keep the kids busy for a few hours, and mom and dad too if they do one too.  Cap the day off with pizza night and a Transformers movie marathon. Why not make the pizza part even more fun and make themed personal pizzas? Yellow peppers and pineapple for a Bumblebee fan on a pita as a crust for example? Maybe strawberries, blueberries and yogurt parfaits for Optimus Prime? Have fun with it and you won’t go nutty on the budget either.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. This is one thing you miss out on as a Non but I am happy to brainstorm for my friends anytime!

Enjoy!!!

Family Day fun with #Hasbro

Family Day when you’re a Non still counts, it’s just on a smaller scale people-wise…but not fun-wise…and the fun can be achieved in the same way too.

I like getting back to basics and taking  a break from my keyboard and monitors from time to time and I decided that for Family Day weekend I would do just that.

My friends at Hasbro sent over some great games to try out, and none required a computer which met my weekend fun criteria to a tee!

First off, I tried out Jenga Boom. OMG. The box even has a ‘fuse’ coming out of it. The giggling commenced. NonDad took too long for my enthusiasm in coming downstairs so I of course tried it out first. It went ‘boom’. And it rocked! The object this time is to ‘take a block from the bottom and put it on top, and take a block from the middle and put it on top’ ***giggle*** but this time on a platform and with a timer. You press the play button when you make your move and then stop it when you’re done all the while hoping that there’s more time on the fuse, if not, BOOM! This was far too much fun.

Next up was Draw Something which comes from the partnership between Hasbro and Zynga. I think I rocked it. NonDad disagreed. He didn’t understand my superior drawing…I think it’s gallery worthy myself . Can you guess what it is?

The object of the game is to draw and have identified what it is you’re drawing. You take a card and there are three choices on it and they are worth varying amounts of points or coins. The first to 15 coins wins. It comes with everything you need and it’s perfect for travel too as it’s compact. Definitely one to take on vacation or in the car. Again, I love games.

And last but NEVER least was Clue. One of my all-time favourite games EVER!!!! And it’s been updated. And it’s cool. The characters have been updated and given a fresh look and so has the board with new rooms like the garage and the bathroom. The game remains true to its roots, which is important to me, but it updates in a way that will attract the new generation too. Who did it? Was it Miss Scarlet, in the garage, with the lead pipe? I’ll never tell .

Family Day may be over, but that doesn’t mean family time should take a backseat. NonDad and I have been making a conscious effort to spend more time together and since this is stuff we both like and enjoy, it’s our go-to. The classics never go out of style, but the new stuff is fun too! Board games make me nostalgic for fun times at the boat as a kid and teen and make me want to snuggle up and ignore the clock.  Plus, board game days are cost-effective, buy the game and love it over and over again!

How do you spend family time?

Review: #Play-Doh Valentine’s Treats without the Sweets!

Have I mentioned how much I love Play-Doh? Cause I totally do and always have. I admit it, I have a small secret stash that I say is for kids when they come by but really, it’s for me. I just love playing with it, I love the scent, it’s great stuff.

And my friends at Hasbro have put on their creative hats again and come up with these great little bags of pink, red and white Play-Doh to give out as Valentine’s! How adorable is that?!

Of course my inner crafterista is popping up for another session and what I’m thinking is a cute heart tag, three of these in a little bag tied with more cute ribbon (I have a stockpile of craft supplies I need to start using up) and maybe a little car toy for a boy or a lip balm or nail polish for the girls.

It’s cute, it’s simple, and it’s fun!!!! Valentine’s doesn’t have to be all about chocolate, although yes it is nice, for me at least, this year I’ll pass, I’d rather have a treat without the sweet and keep on my plan .

What would you package these up with?

Nonmom’s Picks for #Holiday2012 with #Hasbro Part 3

It’s the 17th of December now and have you finished your shopping? I haven’t. I remain incredibly behind this year and I fear I will be one of the last-minute shoppers running through the store, but I’m going armed with a list so hopefully I’ll be in and out quick too. 

I have several amazing munchkins in my life who today’s installment of my pick’s would love to have this year so sit back, relax, and read along.

1. Furby

I’ve blogged about him before but yes, Furby is back and cooler than ever! You can feed him, speak to him and learn Furbish (his language) as well as check on him and care for him via an app! Yes, there’s an app for Furby. I just really think that’s a cool feature.

What I like about this guy is that the kids get a multi-level toy. What do I mean by that? They get a soft toy that they can touch and hold, it interacts with them with speech and eyes and movement and it has the technological link that is such a part of kids’ lives now. What I also like about this toy is that it learns and teaches and so can your munchkin as they both learn languages and how to interact and how personality and behaviour evolve. It really is a smart toy and I for one want one for me!

 

 

2. Baby Alive Baby Wanna Walk

I got to see and try out this doll earlier this year and she is adorable! She comes in blonde or brunette too! Hasbro really does a great job with this line of dolls and one is no exception to that. The doll really does learn to walk with your little one’s help and says over 40 things too. When she does a good job and gets snuggles as a reward she responds to her ‘mommy’. This teaches nurturing and patience to the child and also affection. Who doesn’t love hugs? I know I still do! Little girls, and yes, a lot of boys too, do indeed love their dolls or ‘babies’ and Baby Alive takes that and adds to it with interactivity. Another one to check out for sure!

3. The Furreal Friends toys!

Baby Butterscotch My Magical Show Pony and Bouncy My Happy-to-See-Me Pup are the two toys from this line that I’ll spotlight but wow, has this line ever changed and impressed me over the years with its realism.

How many of us have heard little girls asking for a Pony for a gift? Well, Butterscotch answers that request with flying colours, and no stable fees .  She is  a “soft, cuddly, miniature pony that responds to your touch, moves her head and ears, and makes pony sounds just like the real thing! When you pet her, your pony moves her head in your direction or nuzzles up to you to show how much she loves you. She makes sweet pony sounds and even moves her ears. When you feed her her carrot, she makes munching sounds.”

And then there’s Bouncy. Oh my, I had far too much fun playing with her. If your munchkin asks for a puppy and that’s not in the cards, this one comes house-trained and will have your little one smiling from ear-to-ear. “Put your new little friend on the ground and she’ll jump and spin when you’re close! And how will you know when she’s as happy as can be? When you pick her up and pet her, she’ll make happy puppy sounds — just like a real puppy!”

 

 

4. 1D Figures

Yes, One Direction, the dolls! I was actually pretty impressed when I saw these. The level of detail is pretty impressive and you can absolutely tell that they are each unique and they look like the guys in the band. ANY tween would love to have her favourite guy under the tree. I know this toy is a bit trendy and normally I look at different factors, but hey, sometimes you gotta have fun right? The fact that the detail is so high with these make them a bit more than just a regular doll so I’m pretty good with these as a choice for the  tweens I know. I’m willing to bet there will be more than a few screeches of joy when these are opened up .

Stay tuned, Nonmom has more this week for your list completing needs!

 

Nonmom’s Picks for #Holiday2012 with #Hasbro Part Two

Have you finished your shopping yet? How about the tree? Is it up? Mine isn’t…..eeeek! But I lost 4 days with the ‘cold that was totally unwelcome’ so I’m using that as my excuse. At least I’ve got MOST of the cards in the mail….I ran out of stamps…..I have to get more, dang!

But I digress. This post is all about toys for the little boy munchkins in your life and I know I have a few in my life so I’ve been checking into these pretty closely in trying to decide who gets what.

First on the list we have the Transformers. I should announce my bias here, I am a fan. I was when they first came out when I was a kid, I just think they’re cool. So, what does Hasbro have for the kids in this genre? Well, the Transformers Weaponizers figures. Check. Out. Bumblebee. (Can we tell he’s my fave?)

These Transformers have four different modes, glowing power-up lights, and weapons that spin into action! They come with blasters, and their weapons deploy in both robot and vehicle modes for more options in play. You can alternate between Robot Mode, Weaponized Robot Mode, Vehicle Mode and Weaponized Vehicle Mode too. I know I’m like  broken record with this but I’ll say it anyway, I like when toys have options and do more than one thing. Here we have a Transformer which could simply transform and be cool, but with the added features they’ll be sure to be played with more and for longer. Smart.

But there’s more with the Transformers line. The Kre-O Transformers Destruction Site Devestator is for the slightly older boys (8 and up) and for those kids that like a challenge this is the set to get for sure. This 560 piece set lets them build 9 different combinations: 1 giant robot, 4 different vehicles or 4 different robots! Build SCRAPPER, DRILL BIT, SCAVENGER or HIGHTOWER as vehicles, then tear them down to rebuild them as robots. Or build one enormous DESTRUCTION SITE DEVASTATOR robot with a drill bit as one hand and a grappling claw as the other! This 9-in-1 set also includes 6 KREON figures: CONSTRUCTICON DEVASTATOR, Construction Foreman, IRONHIDE and 3 Construction Worker figures.

Next up we have the newest thing from the Beyblade line. A dome! I got to try it out and I can see a lot of kids really enjoying this one. I got introduced to Beyblade last year and must admit I got hooked rather quickly… hubby and I squared off several times…which reminds me, another tournament is in order .

Normally the stadiums for Beyblade tournaments are open topped, but this brings a whole new level to it and of course, some new Beyblades too. I cannot get over how how techy these tops are and how many different factors the kids have to consider when building them and competing with them. It’s a toy, yes, but it also has them thinking strategically and using some engineering to get the most out of their turn.

These have quickly become a favourite of mine for the boys.

Next up we have the Nerf N-Strike Hail Fire Blaster. WOW. I have a lot of guys in my life, and they’re a lot older than the recommended ’8′ minimum, who would absolutely love to have this under the tree this season. It holds 144 Nerf darts. That’s just awesome. It’s even customizable…which I KNOW is something my guy-friends are going to be all over. Here’s the 411 from Hasbro to get the guys drooling:

“(The) rotating ammo rack gives it the highest capacity of any NERF blaster. The HAIL-FIRE blaster comes with 4 Quick Reload clips and 24 Elite Darts, but it can hold up to 4 more Quick Reload ammo clips and up to 144 darts! The blaster’s acceleration trigger powers up the motor for semi-auto blasting that lets you unleash a storm of revolutionary Elite Darts at your target. Fire at targets up to 75 feet away!”

I’m concerned my hubby will see this post and want one…I think I may be heading out to get him one if he does . See, even big kids can benefit from this post!

And last but so not least is a fun combo that is sure to please the kids: Angry Birds and Star Wars. Yes Hasbro has brought the massively popular Angry Birds Star Wars app to life with this fun AT-AT Attack Battle Game.

The set features the favourite “STAR WARS characters re-imagined as high-flying ANGRY BIRDS and villainous pigs! Stack, launch, and destroy with the AT-AT Attack Battle Game, which includes 21 blocks to create the massive, signature AT-AT, a LIGHTSABER launcher and 12 ANGRY BIRDS STAR WARS figures – including two that are exclusive to this set! Players can also unlock ANGRY BIRDS STAR WARS in-app content with a special code in each pack”.

I know I have seen so many of my friends kids’ playing Angry Birds on their parents iPads and iPods and I also see that (happily since I’m a huge fan myself) the Star Wars phenomenon continues with the kids to this day so I’m pleased to see a pairing of the two in a fun and creative way. Hasbro really is taking play to the next level and realizing that technology isn’t going away but kids can still get the tactile experiences that come along with being ‘kids’ too.

So there we have my picks for the boys! Happy shopping…I’ll see ya out there myself! Stay tuned, the girls are up next!

Nonmom’s Picks for #Holiday2012 from #Hasbro

Today I’m spotlighting some of the wonderful toys available this season for the munchkins from my wonderful friends at Hasbro. I had the opportunity to see and play with a lot of these at the Holiday Preview event a few months back  and I just know that faces will light up when these are opened over the holidays.

Since there are just so many cool things I want to tell you about, this post will focus on the littlest munchkins, the pre-schoolers.

1. Playskool’s Poppin’ Park Learn ‘N Pop Lion

Yes, that’s a mouthful, but I really like that this is a fun toy but it also teaches.  The bright colours are designed to appeal to the munchkins and it teaches motor skills when they have to place the balls in the lion’s mouth and then crawl or walk after them to do it again when they pop out. The lion also counts as it is fed and it doesn’t count in only English either, it counts in 4 languages! What a great way to introduce new languages!

2. Tonka Chuck & Friends Tumblin’ CHUCK Dump Truck

I first met Chuck a couple of years ago at my first Hasbro event and I have adored him ever since…conveniently so has my nephew and now my other ‘nephew’ who even takes the little Chuck I gave him to bed with him (how adorable is that?).

I got to try this Chuck out earlier this year and when I first saw him I thought ‘oh cute, a new Chuck’, then he started doing tricks. I couldn’t stop giggling. He’s still Chuck and can be pushed and take loads etc., but he also does so much more…and he talks too!

From Hasbro: “Roll your TUMBLIN’ CHUCK vehicle backward – he somersaults back toward you! Load him up to see how much he can hold, or watch him do his dump truck sit-ups, push-ups and jumping jacks! When you roll him along in Roll-Along Song Time mode, he hums a song for a musical tune-up and he changes the speed of his tune to match how fast you roll him! Your TUMBLIN’ CHUCK vehicle reacts to how you play with more than 80 phrases and sounds. When playtime is over, he’ll go into naptime mode.”

For the little diggers and builders in your life, this is a definite must-check-out.

3. Play-Doh Sweet Shoppe Candy Cyclone Set

I love Play-Doh. And I got to try this one out too. And it’s just plain cool and fun. The munchkins can make their own ‘candy’ treats with this tres cool machine. They can make lollipops that are swirly, small little candies and more. And seriously, I love Play-Doh. I keep a small stash of it for when my friends kids come over too. It’s so much fun!!!

4. Playskool Sesame Street Come ‘N Play Cookie Monster Kitchen Cafe

Cookie Monster and a kitchen, it just works doesn’t it? While I do love Elmo, I am also a big Cookie Monster fan, come on, those googly eyes and that great voice, I just love him!

There is so much to do in this cafe, from cooking on the burner that makes a sizzling sound to reading the recipes to serving your customers through the window, Mommy or Daddy’s little chef in the making will have their hands full making their creations for meals while you make yours. Again, there is more than one thing to do with this and I like that it has healthy foods and ‘recipes’ listed in the recipe book on the stand.

5. Playskool Rocktivity Walk ‘N Roll Rider

And last for today, but certainly not least, this super-fun toy converts from ride-on to walker so it can last longer for play and grow with the child, but it also plays over 15 rockin’ tunes while they play. I love that!!! I know, I get way too excited, but the fact that is also has that component, and it’s not just one or two songs over and over (which does admittedly get to me sometimes) is cool. The music plays when the rider is in motion so it encourages them to keep moving to keep it playing…and kids moving is a good thing in this day and age for sure.

Plus I like toys that grow with the kids and are useful for longer than 3 months at a time and are durable. There are two models of this as well, one that is blue for the boys and of course, one that is pink for the girls.

So that concludes part one from Hasbro, stay tuned for more this week!

Adventures in kid parties as a Non with a little help from #Hasbro

I did it! I threw a kids party (ok, it was kinda sorta really girly) and it was successful!

I got the girls lovely Princess Tiaras, because they are both Princesses, and honestly, what girl doesn’t love a good sparkly tiara at age 4? It was all I could do to not grab one for myself.

Then it was down to the business at hand. They had a mission, have some fun, play with cool new stuff and have some more fun.

And did they ever take their jobs seriously! Check this out:

Making Play-Doh Princesses with the new sparkle Play-Doh and the Disney Princess Prettiest Princess Castle Set was taken to with a great deal of gusto. And seriously, the sparkles were awesome. I love Play-Doh. Always have, always will.

Then it was on the new Littlest Pet Shop Fairies Fairy Fun Rollercoaster playset. Assembly was required, and my mommy friends figured this would be a good test for me, I think I impressed them as I did manage to figure it out….with a little help from one of the Princesses of course .

This playset is utterly adorable! It comes with a few Littlest Pet Shop creatures (which could not be cuter if they tried) and the characters can do a bunch of things like climb stairs and race along the track, take a swing and of course play around the set too. Princess Coco just loved having them climb the stairs and race along the ramps. I must admit, I did too.

Next up was manicures and a Disney Princess movie (Princess Coco picked Aladdin…..admittedly one of my favourites, I love Robin Williams as the Genie). Apparently the fact that I had the OPI Minnie Mouse red went over well with the girls, so did my various shades of pink. Yay! Nonmom did good!

The little girls didn’t sit still too long, and really, who did at that age? And when one of my furballs decided to brave a trip to say hello to them well that was just a riot. Smudgie appeared and was very cautious on the stairs and then the girls tried to pet him and he of course ran. It was adorable. Both girls were cute trying to fund his hiding spot and really it was all in fun but we did have a good laugh seeing the cat run and then the girls right after him.

Last but by far not least we gave Twister Dance a try.

Too. Much. Fun.

I haven’t giggled that much in ages! Instead of the traditional Twister mat you have the dots and you place them on the floor in different patterns according to which song you are ‘playing’ to. We of course went Britney. DJ Abby handled the button pushing for Laural and I and Jackie giggled and snapped away with the camera at our attempts.

One thing I still have to try out is the really cool option to plug your MP3 device into the game (it even has a dock space on the top of the game speaker) so you can have your own music play and dance to it. I’m trying to convince NonDad to try it with me but he keeps giving me a strange look LOL.

Overall, I am beyond thrilled that I was able to share in the fun of a kids party that I actually put together and it was a success. The girls went home with big smiles and the mom’s and I agreed we will definitely be doing it again sooner rather than later.

Thank you so much to Hasbro for the toys and games! I know a few more items that are going on my shopping list and being recommended for the holidays now for sure!

See, NonMom’s can still have some of the munchkin experiences without the munchkins. You just have to be lucky enough to have such wonderful ones in your life that their parents are happy to loan you for a few hours .

Planning a kids party when you’re a Nonmom

When you’re a Nonmom like me there are many many occasions that sadly, you miss out on. I remember the fun of birthday parties as a girl and sleepovers too. But if you’re a Nonmom you can’t experience that right? WRONG!

Instead of feeling like I’m missing out I’m taking it as a challenge to throw a party for my friend’s lovely daughters and share in the memories that they get to have…and get my munchkin fix in at the same time .

NonMom’s just wanna have fun too after all!

I talked to my darling wonderful friends at Hasbro Canada about helping me with this and they went above and beyond building on my initial idea.

How am I going to do this? Well, it’s going to be a girly afternoon/evening (depending upon bedtimes of course, even as a Non I remember those well) full of fun!

We are going to play the new Twister Dance, which I got to try at the Hasbro Holiday Preview event at the end of June (OMG it is so much fun….I think the kids may end up sitting as us ‘adults’ compete on this one), try out the new Littlest Pet Shop Fairy Fun Rollercoaster Play Set, play the trendy (cause I do my research!) 1D Girl Talk game and make our own Princesses and Prince Charmings with the new Play-Doh Disney Princess Prettiest PrincessCastle Set!

I am also using my knowledge of my friends to include a mani/pedi part as well as a Disney Princess movie or two.

I am beyond excited! I think we need Tiara’s too. I better get on that. And cupcakes.  And we should make a craft too…with glitter. And coffee for the moms and Nonmom.

I better warn NonDad to hide that day .

I’m calling in all moms, dads, grandparents etc. on this one, what else do you think I should add in? I want to maximize this special day after all