Lalaloopsies All Grown Up: Lalaloopsy Girls Dolls, Show and Music Video! {Review & Giveaway}

There are some lines of toys or television shows that my children enjoyed when they were younger and then promptly outgrew. That's for babies, Mom.

On the other hand, I love it when a company takes a well-known, much-loved brand and adapts it so that it is still just as fun, interesting and appropriate for kids as they get older. What better way to continue the imagination and creativity yet in a way that children will still deem it cool?

Case in point, Lalaloopsy, the #1 collector brand for girls, which have now debuted all grown up as the fashion dolls Lalaloopsy Girls!

More than just modern rag dolls, the background behind the original Lalaloopsy gang is simple: they magically come to life when their final stitches are sewn. Each of the ever-expanding line of characters has its own unique personality and characteristics that comes from the fabrics that were used to make them, showing girls everywhere that it's okay to be yourself.

But now, for the first time ever, Lalaloopsies are have become fashion dolls called Lalaloopsy Girls with the motto Stitched Together... Friends Forever! Just check out their music video to get a taste of the glitter, friendship and fun that Lalaloopsy Girls are bringing:


Pretty awesome, right?

But that's not all. To continue the Lalaloopsy-palooza as these dolls take front and center, they are also hitting the small screen with a one hour animated special premiering on Nickelodeon this Sunday, September 7th!

Be sure to tune in at 12pm for Lalaloopsy Girls: Welcome to L.A.L.A Prep School for another semester at the Lalaloopsy Academy for Learning Arts. Some new students have just enrolled and now Jewel Sparkles, Mittens Fluff ‘N’ Stuff, Pix E. Flutters, Bea Spells-A-Lot, Crumbs Sugar Cookie, Spot Splatter Splash, Tippy Tumblelina, Peanut Big Top and Cloud E. Sky must learn to navigate this very fun and quirky school.

You're not going to want to miss seeing the Lalaloopsy Girls attending unique classes, joining silly clubs and making new friends along the way. Here's a peek at the fun that is going to be airing on Nickelodeon on Sunday!


I have always loved that all Lalaloopsy dolls promote the idea that it's okay to be yourself and be different by being sewn from various fabrics, as this is always a quality all little girls need to hear... so I was just as excited as my girls to see one of the new Lalaloopsy Girls dolls in person to welcome her unique style and personality!

Bea Spells-a-Lot was sewn from a school girl's uniform and loves math, reading, studying and her pet owl — hooray for a doll that promotes the greatness of school!

Coming adorned with a bow and glasses, Bea also has a pair of pajamas, a comb, two hair clips, her pet owl and a hair clip for her new human pal. All that's left is playtime!

My girls have had a great time incorporating Bea Spells-a-Lot into all sorts of games, make believe and pretend play and I love hearing them talk about all of her knowledge and her love of learning as they play.

As a bonus, the pink streaks in Bea's long hair have the ability to change color (to a light purple) when dipped in ice water, so that unique twist adds to the excitement and fun of having this studious pal.

Retailing for $19.99, Lalaloopsy Girls are recommended for ages 5+ and can be purchased in stores near you or online from Amazon. You'll find much more information about the full line of these creative new dolls by visiting LalaloopsyGirls.com and connecting with them on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will get to bring the grown-up rag doll fun to their house  as well, because...

One lucky person will win a Lalaloopsy Girls doll!

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A big thank you to Lalaloopsy Girls for providing a doll for me as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Nenuco & Her Little Sister by Famosa {Review}

 

Sometimes I look at my children and can't believe that it has been nearly eight years since Big Sister E entered our lives and suddenly turned my husband and I from a couple into a family.

As well as giving up our lazy weekend mornings and endless free time for relaxing, the dynamic in our household changed because my husband and I had this living, breathing little being who needed us to provide for her every minute of the day.

After two years of getting used to a responsibility that enormous, we doubled it by adding Little Sister B to our household and completing our family of four. As well as the changes that meant for Daddy and I, it was a near-magical experience to be able to provide Big Sister E with a playmate, companion, secret-sharer and best friend that she would now have for a lifetime. 

But that's not to say that she really had any understanding of the concept of being a big sister. A baby? What do you do with one of those? So, while I will forever cherish having two girls and getting to see them grow up together, one thing that I would have done differently is prepare Big Sister E a little more before her sister's arrival with something amazing like Nenuco & Her Little Sister by Famosa.

A leading Spanish toy company that has been manufacturing toys for over 50 years, Famosa has long been known for crafting high-quality dolls with engaging and unique features... which have been favorites of my girls for quite some time now. Our Nenuco Sleep With Me Baby Doll & Cradle is constantly moving from one room to another and class is nearly always in session with our Nenuco Let's Play School doll and playset!

Therefore, I had no doubt that one of their newest additions, Nenuco & Her Little Sister, would be just as well-received. What better way for any girl to practice feeding, bathing, dressing and nurturing as she prepares for a new sibling in her life?

A double doll set that is appealing to any child expecting a younger sibling, Nenuco & Her Little Sister feature matching jumper outfits and easily showcase the sweet, innocent bond that sisters share.

As always, the details that Famosa put into these Nenuco dolls are just the right touches to make them that much more special.

The individual eyelashes, the adorably cute carved lips, ears, fingers and toes... the little sister even has a soft, huggable body and a delicious baby powder scent. Love!

As I suspected, these sister dolls have been a wonderful inspiration for all sorts of imaginative play in and around our house.

The big sister takes care of the little sister, helps get her food, gives her baths, puts her to bed, holds her hand during doctor visits and more — all things that warm my heart knowing that my daughters are only subconsciously recreating the care, affection and devotion that passes between them.

Although bringing home a new baby can be a bit baffling and frightening for a little girl, giving her the ability to physically act out her own mothering before and after her sibling arrives can greatly ease any worries. I love that Famosa has created the perfect embodiment of the nurturing relationship between sisters and that this set can be treasured for so many years of wonderful play!

Retailing for $26.99, Nenuco & Her Little Sister dolls are designed for ages 2+ and can be purchased from Toys "R" Us or on Amazon as an amazing gift for any soon-to-be big sister or existing sisters. Be sure to visit the Nenuco website to find out more about their full line of high quality dolls and accessories — and check out their fun free games, coloring pages, puzzles and parent sections while you're there!

You can also connect with Nenuco on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube so that you can stay up-to-date with everything that this innovative company has to offer.

Other than the Nenuco & Her Little Sister that I was provided by Famosa in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Fun and Learning Combine in the Nenuco Let's Play School Doll and Playset by Famosa {Review}

It's no secret that there is no shortage of dolls out there. Small, large, baby, adult, realistic, out-of-this-world... it seems as though no matter what style you're looking for, it's probably available.

But what is it about certain dolls that have the ability to become favorites? The ones that end up more than just another discarded plaything, but give children the ability to make a connection?

Those are the special few that are treasured and become more to the child than just a doll, they end up a true friend. So, is it possible to find one company that not only carries high quality, well made dolls for girls as well as boys, but also adds features or themes that allow them to grow and learn?

There is. They're found from Nenuco, of course, the name known for their entire play world of dolls, accessories, outfits and more that educate and amuse children from two years and up.

Nenuco, the creative and fun world from parent company Famosa, has been a favorite around here since our introductory Nenuco review last fall and the love definitely hasn't lessened. Everything from the little details to the high quality of our Sleep With Me Baby Doll & Cradle has resulted in it being reached for time and again.

However, as baby dolls (and their owners) grow up, Nenuco has realized that their adventures do so as well. Therefore, their dolls come prepared to do everything from visiting the doctor to traveling in the car to heading to the spa... and now, going to school!

Big Sister E and Little Sister B adore playing school and pretending to be teachers, so they couldn't have been more excited about the arrival of Nenuco's new Let's Play School doll and playset.

Coming complete with everything needed to transform any bedroom, play room, living room or more into a classroom, this playset puts all of the highlights of school into one place.

Including a 16.5" doll, lesson plans, a miniature desk, matching teacher and doll glasses and much more, the girls couldn't wait to ring the bell to signal that school was in session!

Everywhere we looked, we saw adorable details that Nenuco had included to take this playset to the next level. The clock, bell, wipe-off board and crayons, stickers, spinning schedule, teacher name tag... it was all here!

With lessons in everything from science to geography to math, my girls have had a blast planning out day after day of school. There are so many activities that they make sure to plan enough time for lessons, snacks, bathroom breaks, naps and more — and they love taking turns being the teacher or being a student over and over.

Plus, what better way to be studious than by pulling on your glasses and being the best teacher you can be?

Whether your child is anticipating heading off to school, they have dreams of growing up to be a teacher or you're just looking for a gift that is a little more unique than all the rest, the Nenuco Let's Play School by Famosa would make a wonderful addition to any young girl or boy's collection.

This is one doll and accessories set that allows kids to realistically emulate the role of being a teacher and all of the responsibility that comes along with it. And not only Nenuco has easily captured that creativity and fun with their Let's Play School set, but it can quickly and easily be packed up and brought anywhere!

Available online from Amazon, national chains online and on store shelves now, this adorable doll and playset is recommended for ages 4+ and retails for $39.99. Find out much more about the full collection of Nenuco's dolls by visiting their website and connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

You'll also want to head over to Nenuco's Facebook page (as well as sister site, Pinypon) because Famosa is hosting giveaways there that you'll definitely want to enter!

Other than the Nenuco Let's Play School that I was provided by Famosa in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Miniature Mix-and-Match Fun with the Pinypon Weekend Getaway Hotel {Review}

Although my girls have their share of sibling bickering, the times when they are talking, playing and laughing together as best friends are the ones that warm my heart and soul.

And, although their creativity and imaginations can provide plenty of instances of joy without anything more than markers and paper, the fun is only increased with the addition of toys that they both adore.

Most recently, the pint-size world of Pinypon dolls, outfits and accessories by Famosa has had them both smitten (we were introduced to the line last month with our Pinypon giveaway) so, without a doubt, they were thrilled to expand our collection with the latest playset, the Weekend Getaway Hotel.

Coming complete with five Pinypon characters (four dolls and a cute pet turtle), a car and 50 accessories to really bring this hotel to life, the Weekend Getaway Hotel provides an entirely new location for these mix-and-match friends to eat, sleep, relax, swim and more.

The girls were beyond anxious to begin playing with our new Pinypon pals and, after the length of time that it took for the assembly of the Pinypon Ski Lodge, I wasn't surprised to see that this playset also included a large number of small pieces and an even larger number of stickers.

However, thanks to the step-by-step numbered instructions...

...and some patience, I soon had the entire hotel put together and ready for miniature two-legged and four-legged guests to come and stay.

Could Famosa have included any more adorable little details into this playset? Everywhere you look there are additions that make it more and more cute!

Whether the Pinypon hotel guests want to check in at the friendly service desk, get a good night's sleep, take a swim in the pool, get a drink or snack from the juice bar or more, it's all here in a colorful way.

Immediately the girls loved the large number of rooms, big and small, throughout this hotel that allowed for people and pets to move about. Sleeping, swimming, watching television... no matter what sort of adventures and days that they planned for their Pinypon pals, they had a way to make them happen.

Plus, for as many fun additions there are for human guests, the Pinypon Weekend Getaway Hotel has nearly as many special places for pets to play and eat!

Each time that the girls have played with this hotel, they seem to discover a new detail, room, piece of furniture or more that makes their eyes light up.

Mama, did you know that you can turn the stairs over so that they're a slide? SO cool!

As well as the interchanging of the stairs/slide, these small figures include the unique Pinypon feature that captivated my kids from the first time they played with them — you can mix and match everything!

The clothing, accessories, hair, feet and even the faces can all be swapped from one character to the next by easily pulling them apart or turning the face around to the other side to create an entirely new persona.

If you're looking for a fun way to introduce Pinypon to your household or just to continue the love this holiday season, the Weekend Getaway Hotel is a great way to provide interactive miniature adventures for quite some time to come.

It even comes with a special necklace key to "lock" the hotel at night, making the entire thing extremely portable, easy to clean up and compact to store!

Visit Pinypon.com to find out more about this miniature mix and match world (safe for ages 4+) and be sure to connect with them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube so that you won't miss new additions, fun information and more. The Pinypon Weekend Getaway Hotel retails for $29.99 and is available exclusively at Costco stores nationwide and on Amazon.

Other than the Pinypon Weekend Getaway Hotel that I was provided in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product and this company.

Nenuco Sleep With Me Baby Doll & Cradle by Famosa {Review}

While tech devices become more and more popular with kids of all ages, there are some things that they just can't replace. The warmth of snuggling with a stuffed animal, the feel of turning real pages in a book and the connection that a girl or boy makes with a doll, just to name a few.

But what is it exactly that is so enchanting about a doll? That it can be a best friend? A confidante? A provider of safety and comfort? Yes to all of those... but also to one more: the feeling of truly being Mommy or Daddy.

Born with a maternal instinct, little girls (boys, too, of course) are eager to have a chance to take care of their own baby, just as their parents did for them. And there's no better way to encourage that and allow kids to thrive and nurture than with adorable baby dolls and accessories that mimic real life, right?

Which makes it no wonder that my girls are head over heels in love with their Nenuco Sleep With Me Baby Doll & Cradle from Famosa.

A leading European toy company that has been manufacturing toys for over 50 years, Famosa has long been known for creating high-quality dolls with engaging and unique features... which we quickly found in our recent Pinypon review.

But while I had suspected that my girls would be excited about the unique, miniature world of Pinypon, I hadn't anticipated that they would be quite as enamored with Nenuco, Famosa's popular brand of affordable and adorable baby dolls.

From the moment that they saw the colorful box...

...there was nonstop chatter about the cute baby, her own bed, the music it would play and more.

Once we had all of the pieces removed from the box, the girls happily began playing with the doll and her accessories while I assembled her cradle.

I always appreciate when a company goes out of their way to ensure that their instructions are clear and easy to follow and Famosa did just that with this Nenuco product.

In just a few short minutes I had all of the cradle pieces snapped into place and AAA batteries (not included) installed for the lights and music. It was time to officially welcome our newest baby!

I love the unique features that this set includes, as it takes the concept of a doll much further than simply an item for play (although it does that quite well).

First, the details.

The cute cutouts on the cradle, the added touch of the pink bows, the quality stitching on the blanket, the color-changing star and soft lullabies, the soft pink pj's... adorable! Plus, not only does this baby come with her own pacifier and bottle, but the cradle has designated holders for each one so that they are never far away when needed.

The baby herself smells of sweet baby powder (I get my "mom fix" by taking big sniffs of her), has a soft, huggable body with cute, molded little fingers and a sweet, content face. As a bonus, both of my girls love the way that her eyes close when she is laying down and then open wide when she is brought to a vertical position.

However, what makes the Sleep With Me Baby Doll & Cradle especially unique is the way that the cradle itself provides two ways to play: whether as a standalone cradle or attached to a bed.

Therefore, during the day your child can partake in all of their parenting routines and be able to feed their baby, bathe her, dress her, play with her, take her for walks (Little Sister B took her for a 1.5 mile walk recently just because she thought she'd like to get out in the fresh air) and more...

...and then when nighttime rolls around, the legs of the cradle quickly and easily adjust to attach right on to any type of bed (standard frame, platform, etc).

What a great feature! I love how quick and easy it is to simply configure the legs of the cradle so that they work for the type of bed that your child has and that it is just as easy to slide the cradle right into place.

In just a few minutes, your child can rest assured that their baby is safe and close all night long!

Whether your child is anticipating the arrival of a new baby in the home, one has recently arrived or you're just looking for a gift that is a little more unique than all the rest, the Nenuco Sleep With Me Baby Doll & Cradle by Famosa would make a wonderful first doll or an addition to any young girl or boy's collection.

Whatever it is about a doll that allows kids to realistically emulate the nurturing role of being Mom and Dad, they're just the thing for teaching responsibility and celebrating everything from major milestones to giggly everyday moments. Nenuco has easily captured that innocence and fun with their Sleep With Me Baby Doll and I love the way that the whole set helps express and encourage it... day AND night!

Available online from Amazon, at Toys 'R Us or at Kmart, this adorable doll and cradle set is recommended for ages 3+ and retails for $29.99. Find out much more about the full collection of Nenuco's dolls by visiting their website and connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Other than the Nenuco Sleep With Me Baby Doll & Cradle that I was provided by Famosa in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Pinypon, the Interchangeable New Miniature World for Kids! {Review & Giveaway}

While my daughters seem to be increasingly interested in technology and just about all devices and gadgets, I've been happy to see that it doesn't mean they shy away from the creative, imaginative possibilities that come with classic, traditional toys.

After all, no matter how far computers and phones are able to come, there's just something about playing with blocks, dolls, cars, pretend food and more that can't be replicated.

And, when it comes to those dolls, I don't think that there's one that my girls have met that they haven't loved. They play with the larger, somewhat-realistic baby dolls, dressing them, changing their diapers and putting them down for naps. They play with the Barbies, putting them through various adventures that typically end up with one tiny missing shoe. And, as of recently, they play (utterly engrossed) in the miniature world of Pinypon by Famosa.

A leading European toy company that has been manufacturing toys for over 50 years, Famosa has long been known for creating high-quality dolls with engaging and unique features.

But while Famosa may not have previously been a common household name here in the U.S., now that they have debuted their Pinypon collection, a colorful line of mini, interchangeable friends, get ready to hear about not much else this holiday season.

Around here, Little Sister B had been introduced to Pinypon at a friend's house (and was already obsessed), so the day that the Pinypon Ski Lodge and Pinypon Car & Tow arrived, she was literally jumping up and down clapping in joy to see them!

Perfect for the winter weather that has arrived here in the Midwest, we began by pulling the pieces of the Ski Lodge out of the box so that we could get right to work making a fun place for our Pinypon friends to ice skate, ski, ride a snow mobile, build a snowman and more.

Although I was initially slightly overwhelmed at the number of tiny parts that this set includes...

...I found that the illustrated assembly instructions Famosa included made it easy to follow along and pop pieces into place and place stickers in their locations.

It did end up taking a bit of time to get every last little piece into place, but that just meant that when the Ski Lodge was finally complete, the girls were even more excited to examine all of the adorable aspects!

While toys often include cute details, Famosa takes things entirely to the next level with the amount of detail that they included in this Ski Lodge, all of the accessories, the three Pinypon characters themselves and even their little dog.

The ski lift, ski slope, tiny snow gear, working doors and drawers, decorations for the tree and snowman... I'm certain that every time we have looked at this set that we have found new and adorable touches that we hadn't noticed before!

And if allowing your Pinypon friends to ski, sled or snowboard down the slope isn't enough fun, the Ski Lodge also comes with an ice skating rink that holds actual ice! Simply add water and (carefully) place in the freezer and voilà!

I'm not sure that my kids have ever been so excited about ice before they had their own miniature ice rink!

Plus, along with the endless entertainment of the Ski Lodge itself, the addition of the Pinypon Car & Tow has been just right for cross country travels for friends to come and go for their winter adventures.

The girls have loved the storage in and on the tow and trunk and the way that the Pinypon character can hop right in and hit the road with this great little vehicle!

With all of the Pinypon figures, pieces and accessories, my girls already had all of the tools they needed for endless imaginative play... but then these dolls are even more fun because you can mix and match everything!

The clothing, accessories, hairstyles and even the faces can all be swapped from one character to the next by easily pulling them apart or turning the face around to the other side to create an entirely new persona. How cool is that?!

Whether Pinypon is a familiar name in your household or this is the first that you've been introduced to this miniature world, if you have a young girl in your life (4+) that enjoys dolls, I can almost guarantee that she'll be thrilled with all of the fun Pinypon options available.

Each of these dolls and play sets are cute, innovative and portable while inspiring creativity and imagination all winter long and beyond!

Visit Pinypon.com to find out more about this miniature mix and match world and be sure to connect with them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube so that you won't miss new additions, fun information and more. The Pinypon Ski Lodge retails for $39.99 and is available at Toys 'R Us while the Pinypon Car & Tow retails for $12.99 from Kmart or Toys 'R Us.

Plus, thanks to the generosity of Famosa, one person will soon be able to immerse the girl in their life in smaller or larger dolls as well, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of Pinypon Snow Ski Lodge, Pinypon Snow Adventure Car & Tow or Nenuco Sleep With Me Baby Doll & Cradle from Famosa!

Find out more about this baby doll in my Nenuco review - we love it!

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A big thank you to Famosa for providing a Ski Lodge and Snow Cars for me to review as well as the choice of product for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.