Spring Into Action! Get out, and play! New Outdoor Toys by Antsy Pants to Get Your Kiddos Moving Found at Target!

Kick off the warmer weather with fun, outdoor activities that will get kiddos (and parents) moving! Mixing up outdoor activities can be a fun way for kids to stay active as well as give their motor skills a boost, build their confidence, and increase social skills. Kids love to be challenged, and as parents, we have to set the bar higher with each age group, but do so in a fun and nurturing way, which is why I love Antsy Pants. They have the coolest products that encourage pretend play, creativity, and lots of fun! A big plus is that many of their play sets are super easy to put together, so playtime can be set up in just minutes!

Antsy Pants has the answer to turn your backyard into a bonafide play space that will challenge your kids physical, creative, and cognitive abilities in fun ways!

The floor is lava! Stack challenge! Color call challenge! Okay, I made the last two up, but that’s what kids want all the time—to be challenged! Take active play next level with Antsy Pants Stepping Stones! Kids will strengthen their balance by hopping from one colored stone to another. Call out the stone colors and turn this fun way to strengthen core muscles into a full body, standing game of twister! Add in that extra challenge of not falling off of the stone into the “hot lava” will keep kids engaged, laughing, and strengthening their bodies all at the same time! Stack them up for easy storage once playtime is over. You can play with the Stepping Stones indoors, too. Indoor play can be a bit more toned down by color sorting with other toys, or even stacking them. Will it fall challenge? Wobble Challenge, perhaps? They are $19.99 for five stones at Target for ages five and up.




Be the inflatable tire master with this colorful and fun 5-pack of Giant Inflatable Tires! Strengthen your agility and get a full body work out by lining up the tires to make running slightly more of a challenge. Kids with sensory disorders will also benefit from tire runs! Hop, run and take giant steps throughout the obstacle course. Stack them up to create the ultimate tire castle! Uh oh! They’ve been knocked down by baby bro or baby sis—stack them up again, but do it even faster! There are so many fun ways to play with these tires, I could go on all day! Get the set for $19.99, for ages four and up, at Target. Note that Target's website is wrong, and states that there are six tires in the set - there are actually five tires, which is plenty!

The Antsy Pants Tumbling Gym Mat has always been somewhat of the be all end all of the physical play. You can use the mat to become a Pretend Olympic gymnast! Go for gold in the All-Around Tumbling Floor Exercises. I have bronze in Just Rolling All-Around. Seriously, these durable, colorful mats will inspire to move in ways your kiddo didn’t know he or she could! With the soft mat to catch their fall, it gives them that added feeling of invincibility. Add the mat as a grand finale of a makeshift obstacle course so kids can get the sillies out by rolling and wiggling around. Grab the mat for just $39.99, for ages four and up at Target. After play time is over, fold up the mat for easy storage.

Strengthen core muscles and balance with The Gym Balance Beam by Antsy Pants. Mastering balance is so important—stretching before the big game requires balance! Connect the balance beam to the Antsy Pants Gym Mat to enhance play. Use the beam indoors or outdoors, too! Grab this fun balance beam for $39.99 at Target.

Antsy Pants is known for their lines of children’s products that inspire creativity, fuel the imagination, and are just a lot of fun! We have the starter kit along with the donut shop cover. You can easily switch out covers on the structure to change out what your kiddo wants to do at that moment. From a lemonade stand to a pet clinic to a farmer’s market—the possibilities of play are endless! This is why I love Antsy Pants’s new line of outdoor toys that can be used indoors and outdoors. Get kids up off the couch, off the iPad, and outdoors with these fun toys that will inspire play the old fashioned way. Challenge your kiddos with a fun obstacle course styled arena of fun in your own backyard! 

Now, you’re ready for play time! Thank me later, play now! Be sure to check out more products by Antsy Pants to be the masters of play -- all day! 

Video and Toy Review: Cry Babies Mini Baby Dolls that Really Cry! Perfect Toy for Little Mommies and Little Daddies!

Meet the sweetest Cry Babies ever! Cry Babies are adorable babies that cry real tears. Cry Babies are the hottest baby dolls on the market at the very reasonable price of just $7.99 at Target, your little one will love taking care of the little sisters of the bigger Cry Babies! 

Feed Cry Babies with their water-filled baby bottle and give them a pacifier or a whirly lollipop when they're crying. You can feed them in their chair, and put a bib on them so they don't soil their cute outfit, too. Each Cry Babies mini-doll comes with interchangeable accessories, and has an easy to fill and drain the water reservoir to produce real tears! You can fill the baby bottle up with water, then feed your Cry Babies mini doll, and when playtime is over, you can squeeze out excess water with an easy to remove the cap at the top of her head. Each doll comes with her own accessories and is dressed in a cute outfit. You can mix up accessories, but not the outfits as each Cry Babies doll has her own unique personality. Lala loves to be dressed as a mouse, Coney loves bunnies, and so on. 

Every little girl or boy will thoroughly enjoy taking care of these sweet Cry Babies dolls. You may remember them from their bigger sisters that came out last year that really cried! To stop them from crying, you just had to give them a pacifier. The same idea goes for these the mini versions of Cry Babies! Also, coming out soon will be a whole collection of playsets and mini homes for the new mini Cry Babies dolls to live in. Check out Cry Babies’ adventures on their YouTube channel, too, and you can meet new Cry Babies! You can find all Cry Babies dolls and toys by IMC Toys at Target, Walmart, and on Amazon. 

Cry Babies will make the perfect gift to promote pretend play and will improve social interaction with other children. My kids love Cry Babies, especially my youngest who gets a kick out of Coney’s cries. Thank you IMC Toys for sending us Cry Babies for our review!  Check out our YouTube unboxing video below!

Video and Toy Review: Toy Story 4 Forky Action Figures by Thinkway Toys Which One Should You Buy?

Which Forky should I get? I have been asking myself this for two months! I ended up buying two different Forky figures by Thinkway Toys. Free Wheeling Talking Forky is $25.99, and Walk and Tap Forky is $13.99. They are both very different, but do you really need two Forky action figures? 

You can take a closer look at the two Forky action figures and watch our unboxing video, or read on! You should check out our video only because you’re going to want to hear some wacky Forky sayings!

Toy Story 4 FORKY Free Wheeling Talking Action Figure $27.99  With the press of a button, you can hear some awesome spoilers said by Forky. He gives you a closer look into his neurotic mind, and then you get a glimpse of a little spork coming of age. Isn’t it wonderful that Disney Pixar has given life to the mundane item on the planet? I love it! This is why Forky is already such a beloved character for Toy Story 4. We have all made our own “toy” when we were kids. My son made a whole family out of play doh for his favorite show Big City Greens (I haven’t had the hard to throw them away even though they’re all crumbly and gross). Back to the action figure, Forky can speak with the press of a button and the help of one AAA battery. When you move him, he has wheels to to glide. His arms move just be rocking back and forth, and they are somewhat poseable. There is no real mechanism that coincides with the wheels at the bottom. His eyes are googly and they move just like Forky. His expression is a happy one so I would say this is Forky who has already accepted his fate as Bonnie’s toy. All that being said, he has a lot of capabilities. The price seems to be right, although, I think it would have been better at $19.99, that’s just me. 

Toy Story 4 Walk and Tap FORKY is $13.99 at Walmart and for ages four and up. Walk and Tap Forky is on the cheaper end, but it has its perks! For real pretend play or for recreating key movie scenes during playtime, Walk and Tap Forky may be the Forky for you. He has a funny Weekend at Bernie’s style smirk on his face. His eyes are not googly eyes, but they don’t move, sadly. His arms coincide with the mechanism of the wheels, so when you move him he wobbles back and forth creating the signature Forky the spork gait. Forky cannot walk properly due to his massive popsicle feet and lower play-doh torso. When you move Walk and Tap Forky, his little popsicle feet ta in succession, and it is just the cutest thing ever. I wish that his eyes did move  - that would have been the best addition to this figure. Otherwise, I think the price is right, and his features are fun for kids! 

During pretend play, do you need a doll that talks? Some may disagree, and that may actually hinder the imaginative process. I found both of my children gravitating towards Walk and Tap Forky. I would prefer Wheeling Talking Forky, because I love his phrases, and kooky hums - it’s like all of Tony Hale’s character personas got into a car together and started talking at the same time over loud music. I love it. 

Overall, for a child, I would definitely go with Walk and Tap Forky, it’s the best bang for your buck! Kids will love the way he moves, and parents will love the price. What do you think? Did I make the right choice? I already own both, so it’s easy for me to say. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!

This blog post contains affiliate links. I get a small percentage of the purchase price at no cost to you. If you click on the link and purchase, it helps run my blog and toy channel, as well as help me buy my coffee, which I so desperately need while raising two young boys. Thank you so much! Tiffany 

Video and Toys Review: A Whole New World of Toys by Jakks-Pacific Celebrating Live-Action Aladdin

We’re taking a first look at the brand new Aladdin toys line produced by JAKKS Pacific in preparation for Guy Ritchie’s Live Action version of Disney’s 1992 Aladdin. Read on, it’s going to be good! Do you trust me? Read below, and watch the full unboxing video here. 

Disney Aladdin Movie Poster (Photo: Disney)

Just like a magic carpet ride, the soaring, free-wheeling rollercoaster that is the upcoming Aladdin movie, has kept Aladdin fans on the edge of their elephant-shaped thrones. The last Aladdin trailer, however, gave this 90’s kid an Abu styled sigh of relief! The live action Aladdin sincerely has the heart, the comedy, and action that the original Disney movie had, and I can’t wait to watch it with my own street rats, I mean, my sons. With every big movie release, there is the release of toys and JAKKS-Pacific has what you need starting today at major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Amazon — all for kiddos aged three and up. 

JAKKS-Pacific’s line features a collection of toys that highlights whimsical movie moments and will pull at the heartstrings of parents. Pretend to play toys and dress-up clothes and accessories will give playtime magical notes of creativity and storytelling. 

Princess Jasmine Musical Doll is inspired by Princess Jasmine’s pivotal movie moment when she sings the song, “Speechless,” which is supposed to leave the viewers speechless as well. The 15" doll embodies this iconic scene from head to toe, and it includes a tiara, intricately designed true to film dress and shoes. The doll is stunning! Swoop her up in your magical shopping cart for $29.99 at Target, Walmart, Amazon, and other major retailers.

You ain't never had a toy like this! Well, you may have a while ago. Newly redesigned for the live-action Disney’s Aladdin is the Magic Genie Lamp. JAKKS-Pacific’s original Magic Genie lamp was more child-like then, whereas the newly designed Genie lamp has more than movie-quality elements, and really looks like it was found at the Cave of Wonders. Ask the Genie lamp a question, then rub the lamp, and watch and feel the lamp come to life! The shaking element really adds to the creative play, and the responses will give your kiddos lots of giggles with funny phrases. Hit the lights to watch it light up! It's so cool to hear Will Smith's voice come through as the Genie in this totally cool toy!

Jakks-Pacific’s costume line is glorious! Inspired by costumes from the film, the Princess Jasmine outfits will give your kiddo the ultimate film experience from head to toe. 

Start the magical transformation with Princess Jasmine’s wig, the wig is a film-inspired hairstyle worn by Princess Jasmine. The wig is a long flowing hairstyle and has three removable hair clips. 

The “Whole New World” outfit can be found in the classic teal-blue, harem style outfit with golden appliqués, peacock feather elements, and an attached cape. Relive that magical moment by pulling out a special carpet to sing the song from that iconic scene! 

The Princess Jasmine fuschia/red dress is new dress for the film, that can also be found on the Princess Jasmine doll is one of regal quality. With printed fabric, golden accents will give your little one the feel of a real Princess. Pair this outfit with the Princess Jasmine Musical doll to recreate movie moments! 

Finally, no dress up outfit is complete without the accessories. The Jasmine Royal Accessory Set is a deluxe six-piece set that is designed to match the “A Whole New World” outfit with its golden and teal tones. The deluxe set includes a tiara, a pair of shoes, a cuff bracelet, and a pair of earrings. Outfits $29.99, 3+. Wig, $19.99, 3+. Deluxe Accessories Set, $19.99, 3+. Spawning a whole session of pretend play, PRICELESS!

Settle down for a cup of tea with the Agrabah Tea Set as this tea set is literally inspired by the magical city of Agrabah. You have the sultan’s palace as the teapot with lift up lid, a genie bottle sugar bowl with lid, two clear cups, fancy gold saucers, and golden spoons. This nine-piece set will give your kiddo plenty of pretend play! You can even fill the cups with real water to give it a more realistic experience. Make sure the water is cold, though! Startup playtime by purchasing this set now for just $19.99. Kids ages three and up will enjoy sipping on tea and talking of the magical qualities of the mythical city of Agrabah. 

Finally, end the day of magic by putting this adorable “A Whole New World” Jewelry box on your little one's nightstand and listen to the iconic song from this amazing film. Add a touch of royalty to this moment by wearing the included ring. The jewelry box features the moment when Aladdin and Jasmine went on a magic carpet ride. For just $24.99, experience a whole new world of play with this iconic piece. 

I am honestly getting teary-eyed with this post! Big thank you to JAKKS-Pacific for sharing this first look with us! Be sure to check out our unboxing video, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more Aladdin-inspired toy unboxing videos and skits using these amazing toys by JAKKS-Pacific. 

First Dibs on FUN! 10 Reasons Why You Should Buy the First to Play Pass for LEGOLAND New York Resort!

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Buy a First To Play Pass for 2020 LEGOLAND®  New York Resort's Grand Opening!

Imagine this. This time next year, you may be stepping on the grounds of the promised land - LEGOLAND® New York Resort. Where kids can play all day, and parents can act like kids with no apologies. This is one of the many reasons why being among the First to Play at LEGOLAND New York Resort is so important! This spring break in NYC, I'll be dreaming about staying in a fun, LEGO®-themed resort room, waking up to a yummy breakfast, and then hitting the theme park for more LEGO®-themed fun, then I wake up! All of that LEGO® goodness doesn't happen until 2020. I want first dibs on the fun, so I am grabbing First to Play commemorative passes for myself and family. I'm tired of the same old thing! I want LEGOLAND®, and I want it now! I had the honor of attending the First to Play event in NYC at the beginning of April, and I left with such a sense of relief. Finally! A place to play!

If you’re still on the fence about ordering your First-to-Play tickets, I have compiled a list as to why I think LEGOLAND® New York Resort tickets are such a good value - at just $94.99 per person! My family and I do a lot of things over the weekend, and a lot of those family outings cost more money than we should spend. Since LEGOLAND® New York Resort is so close to the city, I feel like having an annual pass there will give us the most bang for our buck as well as always giving us a place to visit! See my list below, and you be the judge! If I convince you, let me know in the comments below. 

1. The first to play pass is only $94.99 per person, and it’s good for one year at  LEGOLAND®  New York Resort. Breaking it down for a family of four, and 48 weeks (I took into account some peak blackout dates), that’s just $8.08 (including tax!) per family of four per week for days of LEGO fun! Adding in tolls, gas, and food would be additional of course, but your main entertainment is totally covered!  

2. LEGOLAND®  New York Resort is only 65 miles away from New York City. There will also be shuttles to  LEGOLAND®  New York Resort that will make the trip up there seamless for New Yorkers without cars! 

3. Kids get to see a different side of New York! New York isn’t just skyscrapers, hot dog vending carts, and subways. New York is avast with rich culture, expanding greenery, and the Catskills Mountains (not too far from Goshen, NY)! See it all while traveling up to Goshen, New York where  LEGOLAND®  New York Resort’s home will be. 

4. Play and stay at LEGOLAND®  New York Resort! With  LEGOLAND®  New York Resort’s new hotel opening along with the theme park, you can play all day and then relax in your own LEGO® themed Resort room. With four different themed rooms to choose, there is something for everyone - Ninjago, LEGO® Friends, Castle, and Pirate-themed rooms! Plus, the hotel will be open year-round while  LEGOLAND®  theme park takes a break during the colder months. Inside the hotel, you can enjoy plenty of LEGO related activities with their Master Builder classes, as well as holiday-themed festivities, and visits from  LEGOLAND® characters!

5. Visit  LEGOLAND®’s Miniland, it’s own version of New York landmarks and landscapes! I got to see the unveiling of the Oculus at the LEGOLAND First to Play event on April 4 in NYC, and the Oculus for Miniland is a scaled down model of the famous World Trade Center Transportation Hub, which acts like a subway and PATH station, and a huge mall! Its made if 40,000 LEGO Bricks, and I even got to take an even smaller model home! The Oculus is in downtown NYC commemorating those lost on 9/11. The building illustrates a dove with clipped wings. The building inside is stark white, but the heartbeat itself is all New York City. What a way to bring such hope, promise, and eternal memory then by including this amazing structure?

6. Visit seven lands within  LEGOLAND®  itself that are built on fun and totally kid-powered like Factory Street, Bricktopia, LEGO Ninjago World, LEGO® Castle, LEGO® City, LEGO® Pirates, and Miniland, you will be totally immersed in a LEGO-filled dreamland!

7. Kids will be able to take the wheel and drive around LEGO® City, and be certified LEGO drivers with their own LEGO License! 

8. Get an Exclusive invitation to be amongst the first to play at  LEGOLAND®  New York Resort, and show off your commemorative first to play pass!

9. Play all year long at  LEGOLAND®  New York Resort with your First to Play Pass! (Blackout dates apply, including peak times during summer season and holidays. Operating Calendar will be posted closer to Park opening.)

10. Be the first to play at  LEGOLAND®  New York Resort. That’s right! Be one of the first families to set foot on the premises, and experience 50+ never before seen attractions and rides that only  LEGOLAND®  New York Resort has to offer! 

Yes, that’s more than 10 reasons! As a tired parent, and even more exhausted New Yorker, I am stoked about how New York is the home of our favorite LEGO® bricks. The 2020 Grand Opening of LEGOLAND® New York Resort is just the beginning of the awesome that awaits! I ordered my tickets for my family! Let me know if you did, too, in the comments below!

Make sure you follow LEGOLAND® New York Resort on Facebook and Instagram - they are always posting fun activities to do, as well as, meet-ups at the main hub in Goshen, NY! I am pumped! Are you?! Awesome awaits! Stay tuned to our blog and our YouTube channel more for LEGOLAND® New York Resort news!

Celebrate Spring Easter Fun with Becca's Bunch! DIY Decorate an Egg Activity

It's nearly Easter time, so decorate the holiday table with some kid-friendly flair! Becca's Bunch is a Nick Jr. favorite in our home, as we love the arts-n-crafts style animation and all of the wonderful themes that Becca and her friends offer with their many adventures. Give your kids the task to decorate some eggs (hard-boiled, or fake eggs - you can find pre-colored plastic eggs at Target in the One Spot or at Michael's). If you use the plastic eggs that open, you can fill them with little surprises or candy for the Easter egg hunt! If you have pinecones outside too, decorate them with some glue and glitter to commemorate the Pinecone Bunny on Becca's Bunch. Make sure you see our photos below of our finished eggs, and other ideas to create your own Becca's Bunch Easter eggs.

Right click and save as, or use the download link above. Make sure you share and tag your creations with Becca's Bunch!

We used our pre-colored eggs from Target and matched up the colors to the Becca's Bunch gang! Becca and Pedro came out pretty good, but Russell and Sylvia could use some help! Marcello had so much fun. I was able to get dinner ready without being told that "I am bored" for an hour straight. Thanks, Becca's Bunch! Share in that same quiet time - whip out the kid-friendly paints or even markers and decorate some Becca's Bunch themed eggs! Download the printable here, or see the image below. Be sure to share your creations on social media and tag Becca's Bunch -- Instagram: @beccas_bunch or on Facebook: @BeccasBunch! 

Other ways to create your Becca's Bunch! Use the printable as a guide, and share your creations with Becca's Bunch! It's all about expressing yourself. 

• Markers: You can use markers to decorate your eggs as well! Or you can draw your own Becca's Bunch eggs. 

• Mod Podge: Or you can cut out the Becca's Bunch eggs on the printable, and mod podge onto fake eggs. Either remove the paper and see a cool imprint on the egg or glue it entirely to the egg, and carefully sand the edges. 

• Play-Doh: If you have play-doh, you can create your own eggs by adding colors to an egg, or forming an egg out of play-doh. 

Be sure to check out Becca's Bunch and watch their Easter special where they search for pinecones left by the Pinecone Bunny all over Wagtail Woods! Watch Becca's Bunch Nick Jr. (US) and CBC Kids (CANADA), or head on over to Becca’s Bunch YouTube to watch all of the best clips and compilations from the series.

Thank you Becca's Bunch for sharing this adorable activity with us and our readers!