Add Music to Playtime with the LEGO Jams Children’s CD-Giveaway #LEGODUPLOPlay

Music has always been a big part of my life. My father plays guitar, my mother plays piano and through my youth I learned to play piano, clarinet, saxophone and trombone. I am a huge believer in the power of music on a child’s intellectual development and it’s one of the reasons that I’ve featured so many amazing children’s musicians on my site.

LEGO DUPLO understands the effect that music can have on creativity too. In fact, a 2011 study of parents with children between one and five years of age revealed that among children that listen to music during playtime, 55% of children are happier when music is coupled with play; 50% are more excited to play when they hear music and 43% act sillier when music is coupled with play.

boy playing with lego duplo blocks [Read more...]

LEGO DUPLO Products are Now 20% Off at Indigo Stores-Giveaway #LEGODUPLOPlay

As a book-lover, I’ve always been a fan of Indigo, but it wasn’t all that long ago that visiting an Indigo store meant trying to keep impatient children entertained as parents quickly flipped through books deciding what to buy. Luckily for parents and kids everywhere, those days are over!

Indigo has grown and developed a lot over the years and has gone from an adult reading location to a family destination featuring educational toys, games and a special Indigo Kids Play Area. I can spend time sipping a coffee and browsing the latest new book titles while my boys have a blast entertaining themselves in the play area or attending special in-store events. It really makes a visit to Indigo a little break from the everyday for my boys and me!

indigo kids play area [Read more...]

Wordless Wednesday with Linky-Things That Make Me Happy

happy lego minifigures

Lego Minifigures! Especially the evil robot with the ray gun!

assortment of sexy shoes

Having cute shoes and boots for all occasions!

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Sharing the New LEGO DUPLO Toddler Toys at a LEGO DUPLO Party! #LEGODUPLOplay

I love being a LEGO DUPLO Play Ambassador not just because my boys love LEGO but also because I get to be the first to learn about all the newest products available for children. Recently, LEGO DUPLO released a line of Toddler building sets and not only did I get to be one of the first to learn about them, I even had the chance to share the products with friends at a LEGO DUPLO party!

The new line of toys includes a Toddler Starter Building Set, Toddler Build and Pull Along set and Toddler Build and Play Cubes set perfect for combining fun and learning for little ones that are experiencing LEGO DUPLO for the first time. I received one of each of the new toys, a Brick Box and two Bricks and Books sets along with a fabulous party kit full of activities and games to help make my get-together unforgettable. And since the LEGO brick recently celebrated its 55th Birthday, I decided to have my party then. What better day could there be to share new LEGO DUPLO products with others?

kids eating at lego duplo party [Read more...]

Find Great Gifts for the Whole Family at Overstock.com

I used to enjoy Christmas shopping in malls and department stores when I was younger, but with two boys to bring and the challenge of trying to hide whatever I’m buying from their inquisitive eyes, I’ve started to do as much of my shopping as possible online. It took me a little while to really embrace the online craze, but now that I have, I’m hooked. Having everything I need for Christmas come right to my front door is so much easier than braving crowds!

o.co logo

That’s why I immediately fell in love with O.co, also known as Overstock.com. This online superstore has all kinds of top brand name products for kids and adults at amazing prices. And best of all, shipping is free on your first order! I recently got the chance to pick out one of the products from Overstock.com to see for myself the variety and quality of the products the store offers and I couldn’t wait. [Read more...]

Giving Back During the Holidays with LEGO DUPLO-Giveaway #LEGODUPLOPlay

Christmas is a time of giving, but it’s also a time of giving back. While I love the fun and excitement of finding great gifts for my family, my friends and my boys, I also want to make sure that I raise my boys knowing that what really make Christmas special is helping others. That’s why every year I make sure that we’re thinking about the people outside of our family as well as our loved ones.

I have a strong belief in community and that’s why my number one cause to support is the local food bank. Every year food banks provide needy families with special Christmas hampers containing the food to make a Christmas dinner and a present for each child in the house. While food donations are a huge help to our Regina Food Bank during most of the year, Christmas is different. The items for the hampers are purchased fresh and so monetary donations are incredibly important when the holiday season arrives.
food [Read more...]

LEGO DUPLO Makes Learning Part of the Fun #LEGODUPLOplay

What I love about playtime is that it’s really not ever just playtime at all. Life is full of learning and there’s no better way of illustrating that than by watching a child engaged in what seems like simple entertainment. Whether it’s two toddlers developing basic social skills by sharing toys with one another or older kids learning to follow instructions by assembling a complex toy, children are almost always learning, even when it looks like they’re not!

In fact, one of my very favourite pastimes is to take a few minutes and just watch my boys playing together because it gives me a glimpse into the way that unstructured play can help them learn. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled when I was chosen to become a LEGO DUPLO Play Agent. Building with LEGO bricks is one of those activities that just naturally encourages creativity and both my boys have loved LEGO DUPLO since they received a tub of the bricks for Christmas two years ago. So having the chance to test out new LEGO DUPLO products each month had both boys absolutely giddy with anticipation.

boy playing with lego duplo [Read more...]

Wordless Wednesday with Linky-Young Photographer

zack lego collage

Zackary took these pictures because he was so proud of what he built. For some reason, looking at them makes me really, really happy!


If you have a Wordless Wednesday post, feel free to link it up below; I’d love to check it out!