Magneatos {Review & Giveaway} Guidecraft Educational Toys and Furniture

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Louis H!}

I have always thought that one of the most universally loved types of toys are those for building. From simple blocks to pieces that connect to one another, I'm pretty sure I've never come across a child that doesn't get inspired to try to construct and build all of the structures that their imagination holds.

However, the common issue that we seem to come across is finding items that work for multiple ages. Big Sister E gets bored with large, simple stacking blocks and Little Sister B is too young to understand Legos (or be trusted with them). So what's the happy medium? What toy is original, entertaining and can be enjoyed by a variety of ages? We now have to look no further than the amazingly fun Magneatos from Guidecraft.
Wondering if my daughters would grasp the concept of Magneatos without any explanation, I opened up the brightly colored box and let them reach in.

It took somewhere around half a second before their eyes lit up at just how easy it is to play with these unique magnetic pieces.

"Look! They stick together this way! But then they don't stick on this side!" There's something almost magical about magnets, at least in this house. Little Sister B always gets a somewhat quizzical expression when they hold tight together and Big Sister E loves to hold them just close enough and watch them jump to one another.

The mystery and excitement over the Magneatos balls and rods didn't end with just discovering their magnetic ability. Considering the only limitations to playing with the Magneatos Jumbo Master Builder Series 148 pcs set are your imagination and the distant thought of running out of pieces, it was time for the three of us to be creative.

From simple to complex, constructing with our Magneatos was easy and fun. The large, plastic pieces were easy for small hands to grasp and the magnets were plenty strong enough to hold together as we built horizontally or vertically. Using the balls as connectors made it possible to create any angle and the varying length and flexibility of the rods just made innovation even more likely.

There aren't any instructions or guidelines that come along with Magneatos, so Big Sister E and Little Sister B (and I) were able to really use our imagination to decide what to do next. Even though Big Sister E needed a little extra help getting the Y-shaped connectors attached to the triangle, square or rectangle "sides," the challenge just increased the amount of time that she wanted to continue playing.

I was really pleased with the overall quality of all of the Magneatos pieces and the way that the well-made, colorful items have a modern look but classic appeal. Each time that we have pulled them out has made for a different experience and Big Sister E has yet to show any signs of boredom.

Designed for ages 2+, Little Sister B is still a little on the young side for the Magneatos, but she too has continually had a great time with them. Watching her examine and test out each one, I can easily see how much she is being stimulated and is learning new skills. Everything from colors to shapes to dexterity, as well as individual play or collaboration happens every time we open the box.

And when it is time to put away the Magneatos, I'm thankful that they easily store back in the box without any problem. Whether playing alone or sharing in a group, the creativity, increased self-esteem and laughter that have come along with this magnetic building set has only added to our enjoyment and has reinforced what Guidecraft stands for: smart, well-crafted products which allow children's minds and imaginations room to truly wonder and grow.

From furniture to art to toys, Guidecraft has something for every age and interest - you can't go wrong! Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will be able to bring home magnetic creating and building entertainment, because...

One lucky person will win a Magneatos Jumbo Master Builder Series 148 pcs set from Guidecraft! ARV $60!

To enter to win: Visit Guidecraft and tell me another of their amazing products that you love.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Guidecraft on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed of the Guidecraft blog and/or become their Friend on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: Guidecraft has so many amazing products! I just entered to win a Magneatos Jumbo Builder 148pc set at Thanks, Mail Carrier: http://bit.ly/aieRz4
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a 148pc set of Magneatos (ARV $60) from @Guidecraft for creative building fun! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/aieRz4 #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Guidecraft. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on September 24th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Guidecraft for providing a Magneatos Jumbo Master Builder Series 148 pcs for review as well as a sunsuit 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.

First a memory foam mattress and now a minivan. What's next?

My husband wants a minivan. He actually has for quite a while.

He has gone through phases in the past where he has decided we "need" a particular item, but they seem to have passed. The idea for a memory foam mattress ended up with us on a mailing list where we receive fliers showing couples sleeping happily... but I managed to talk him into buying one of the many nice mattress toppers that are available on the market instead.

He also talked in depth about putting a whirlpool tub into our master bathroom, which does sound nice, but is it all that practical? I suppose the girls would like to take a swim in there once in a while.

Then there is the reoccurring discussion over our "need" for a massage chair. Does he know how much those things cost? Not to mention how much space it would take up? And did I mention the cost? The mattress toppers weren't completely cheap either, but it's not exactly the same level of spending.

Most recently, we've been talking about minivans (again). I think I've been avoiding them solely based on my own preconceived notions of what a minivan represents: middle-aged parenthood. Our house is already filled with toys, our days are already planned around the kids, now we have to drive the vehicle that is the symbol of children?

There are huge pros to having a minivan, of course, namely the comfort, safety and increased space that we would have. I like the thought of the girls' car seats being far enough away from each other that any "She's touching me!" issues would be resolved. And having doors that open on their own would be handy... and being able to transport large items without calling on friends or family... and having all that legroom...

Hmm, suddenly a minivan doesn't sound all that bad. But am I ready for one?

Do you have a minivan? Do you love it?

Join Ameda's campaign to support breastfeeding moms and win!

I believe that breastfeeding is a personal decision. Even if I personally think that it is the right thing to do for both mother and baby, I would also never pass judgment on the choices that other moms make for themselves and their children.

What is truly important? That moms are supported and proud that they have done their best in raising their children. And that's where Ameda comes in.

From now until September 15, 2010, Ameda, a proven leader in breast pump innovation and trusted by moms and hospitals for over 65 years, is running a campaign to support breastfeeding mothers - and giving away some great prizes to go with it!

Inviting women nationwide to share their story on why they chose to, plan to or have breastfed, simply go to their I Breastfeed Because website and join in. Through video upload or comment submission, every contribution will result in a charitable donation ($5 per video and $1 per comment) from Ameda to the National Milk Banking Association of North America.

While you're there, check out the video from actress Bethenny Frankel of the Bravo show Bethenny Getting Married? to hear her thoughts on the bond, nutrients and role that breastfeeding has played in her life.

As well as supporting a good cause, all visitors who share an I Breastfeed Because video, comment or tweet will be entered into a sweepstakes to win some amazing prizes. The grand prize winner will receive a $2,500 American Express prepaid gift card to build the nursery of their dreams and 25 second prize winners will each receive one American Express prepaid gift card valued at $50!

Head over to I Breastfeed Because by September 15 to find out more information and the official rules. And then be sure to upload, comment and tweet (you can enter all three ways) for a chance to win these great prizes and share your thoughts on breastfeeding. Here's to happy and healthy moms and babies everywhere!

i play. Two-Piece Sunsuit {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Marvon!}

September? Already? Are you sure?

Even though I feel as though this summer went by extremely fast (actually, all of the seasons feel that way to me), I have some wonderful memories of places that my family went and the fun that we had out playing in the sunshine, grass and water.

In fact, if I were to sum up the great times that we had, it would be done best in pictures:

There are more. Lots more. We went on vacation to the beach in the Caribbean, we swam in the pool, we played at the splash park and in the yard... and, in just about every picture, I can look back and see my smiling, happy girls wearing their amazing Two-Piece Two Tone Sunsuit and Two-Piece Stripe Sunsuit from i play., Inc.

I don't take any chances when it comes to my daughters and being out in the sun. Big Sister E has extremely pale skin and, even though hers isn't quite as light, Little Sister B's complexion is far from something I would call dark, too. We've used traditional swimsuits in the past and the amount of time spent listening to whining as I applied sunscreen to every exposed inch was never pleasant.

And that wasn't the end of it. Having to reapply, constantly check for red shoulders and in general worry about what harmful effects the sun was having on my kids just wasn't how I wanted to spend my time outdoors. These sunsuits, however, are the perfect solution.

The Nylon/Lycra combination of these sunsuits makes them stretchy and comfortable, not to mention strong and durable enough to withstand use after use. I LOVE that they are two pieces, making getting dressed and undressed (and trips to the bathroom) extremely easy, especially compared to one-piece girls' swimsuits.

The bottoms of both sunsuits have an Ultimate Swim Diaper built right in, which is fantastic for children still in diapers. I couldn't be happier with the super absorbent inner layer and wick-away lining right there in the shorts and saving myself the hassle or money of buying separate swim diapers. And even though Big Sister E hasn't worn a diaper for ages, she likes having the added layer to keep her from feeling too exposed in just a pair of shorts.

Then there is the protection. I am familiar with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) ratings, of course, but when I learned that the Two-Piece Two Tone Sunsuit and the Two-Piece Stripe Sunsuit are UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) 50+, I wanted to find out more.

After doing some research, I found that a fabric with a UPF rating of 50 will allow only 1/50th of the sun's UV radiation to pass through it. In short, this means that by wearing these sunsuits, the fabric is reducing my daughters' UV radiation exposure by 50 times. 50! Considering the Two Tone suit has sleeves past the elbows and shin-length pants, Big Sister E's extra-fair complexion safely stayed that way all summer long.

But i play. doesn't stop at sunsuits when it comes to protection from the rays. The Solid Flap Sun Protection Hat that Big Sister E is wearing in many of her pictures was a great way to keep her head, face and neck as safely covered as the rest of her. With its water resistant UPF 50+ fabric, baseball cap brim and long, wide neck flap, there was no way the sun was going to peek through.

For the days that we weren't around water, i play. extended Big Sister E's ability to have great sun protection with a Breatheasy Sun Protection Shirt. Soft and light, this shirt easily slipped on an off over her head and, keeping the sun away and letting the air through, she was able to stay cool and relaxed while beating the heat.

This summer would not have been the same without i play., Inc. Given the choice, Big Sister E strongly favored her "shorts swimsuit" every single time and Little Sister B had no complaints either. Both girls were comfortable and happy and we received multiple comments from other moms on how impressed they were with the idea of a great sunsuit, sunhat or sun protection shirt for their own child.

Based on values that prioritize protecting our earth and our children, i play. offers fun, healthy and safe products of all kinds that you and your kids are sure to love. From adorable layette to sweet little rain boots to fun water socks and shoes, i play.'s high quality and affordable prices will keep you coming back for more. Available online or in retail stores across the country and worldwide, you can easily find these amazing products throughout the internet or check them out in person at your favorite nearby store.

Plus, thanks to the generosity of i play., one person will have the chance to provide their child with superior sun protection, because...

One lucky person will win a Two-Piece Stripe Sunsuit
from i play.! ARV $26.99!

Winner will have their choice of boy or girl version as well as size.

To enter to win: Visit i play. and tell me another of their amazing products that you would like to own.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you sign up for the i play., Inc newsletter (found on the bottom of their homepage), follow them on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave the following message on their wall: i play., Inc has incredible products! I just entered to win a Two-Piece Stripe Sunsuit at Thanks, Mail Carrier: http://bit.ly/9ylcQ8
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN an incredible i play Two-Piece Sunsuit ($27) for stylish safety from harmful rays! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/9ylcQ8 #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and i play. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on September 24th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A huge thank you to i play. for providing two sunsuits, a sunhat and a sun protection shirt for review as well as a sunsuit 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.