Star Wars Forces of Destiny Figures

Star Wars Forces of Destiny Figures
by Hasbro

About Rey of Jakku and BB-8

Rey always stands up for what she believes in, and BB-8 is a feisty, loyal droid. After becoming close friends on the desert world Jakku, they stick together no matter what.
Imagine epic adventures as they journey across the galaxy searching for the legendary Jedi Luke Skywalker with this Star Wars Forces of Destiny Rey of Jakku adventure figure with BB-8 friend. This highly poseable figure features beautiful rooted hair, and a vest, boots, belt, arm wraps, and skirt she can be dressed in. When they face danger, place Rey's lightsaber in the figure's hand and squeeze her legs to see her strike! Re-create the battles and stories of Star Wars with these true-to-entertainment companions.
• Includes: Adventure figure, droid, lightsaber, holster belt, vest, pair of boots, 2 arm wraps, skirt, and blaster.

My Thoughts

I remember when in the 70s I got the Princess Leia doll.   She was bigger than the other dolls I had but I was delighted to have her.  Fast forward to 2017 and a new line of Star Wars dolls have made their appearance on the market.  The Star Wars Forces of Destiny dolls look much more like the characters than my old Princess Leia…    My daughter had spotted them already in one of the toy store Christmas catalogue and thought they were just fabulous.  I wasn’t too sure about them until I saw some at the Wal-Mart near our home. They are absolutely stunning!

I saw the detail in the costumes, the features in the face, and the beautiful colors.   Hasbro has done a tremendous work in bringing these women characters to life for little girls.   I have received Rey of Jakku with BB-8 to review.   I love the little strands of hair falling on both side of the face.  One arm is bend and a lightsaber is included.  Press the legs together and Rey will swing the lightsaber.  As for BB-8 the head will spin just like the real character in the movie. 

I find that this doll is really well done and I suspect that many kids who love Star Wars will enjoy playing with it.  

Other figures are part of the Star Wars Forces of Destiny are Endor Adventure,  Jyn Erso Adventure, Princess Leia Organa and R2-D2,  Rey of Jakku, Sabine Wren, and Chewbacca. 

As you can see each and every one of them are absolutely special in many ways (well except Chewbacca to be honest – I think he is a bit too scary…).  

GREAT NEWS!

Hasbro Canada has agreed to give away one Rey of Jakku & BB-8 to one of my readers.  Fill the requirements below for more chances to win!

Note: Contest is open for Canadians only!  Contest is on until November 30th.   Draw will be on December 1st.  I will contact the winner in order to get the mailing address and pass the information to my contact at Hasbro Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Star Wars Forces of Destiny dolls are available for purchase at your favorite store, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

AMAZON.CA

  

AMAZON.COM

Note that on Amazon.com you will find the Ashoka Tano doll.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Hasbro Canada for sending me the above mentioned products for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

I Love DK Promotion

It’s the time of the year when DK Canada has a special promotion going on.   To celebrate the I Love DK promo I will tell you a bit more about one – no wait two – no THREE special books that my kids really love to look at at different times in the year.

My love for Lego started when I was five years old while I was in France during the Christmas holidays because my dad was getting trained in Lyon.   Back in 1974, Lego didn’t have a huge market in Canada.  However in Europe that was a different story.   I received my first Lego box that Christmas and – yes I have to admit it – still have the blocks from back then.

As I grew up Lego was a part of my life and I used various books to build new things.   So when I became older I packed these Lego with the hope that one day they would be loved by my own kids.   That plastic container followed me when I moved near my university and followed me when I move for work in the Ottawa region.   Eventually, I had kids of my own and when they were old enough the container came out of its hiding place.

Nowadays, Lego can be found everywhere… Even I have a special box which allowed me to build birds.  But when I have the opportunity to review books related to Lego it is always a love affair in my house.

So today I will be presenting you three beautiful books that would help your kids to expand their imagination when playing and building with Lego.

The first book I had the opportunity to put my hands on was The Lego Ideas Book.  This book is simply amazing and contains numerous ideas where you and your kids can build from.    Not only will it give you building tips but you will find ideas that will spark your own imagination.   The book is divided in six sections full of construction ideas.  

• Planes, Trains & Automobiles cover any vehicles that  you can think off.
• Town & Country will guide you in how to build a building whether it is in town or in the country.
• Out of this World is a section that will present anything from out of space.
• In Days of Old will bring back in time and guide you in building Medieval structures.
• A World of Adventure will bring you into the world of pirates, Vikings, the jungle as well as robots.
• Make & Keep will guide you in building useful items like desk organizers or board games.

Each section always start by presenting some of the bricks you might need to complete the ideas included in it.    Some people might find that it is unfortunate that some pieces are not easy to get and I understands their problem because not having special pieces to build the ideas in this book could be discouraging.

The second book that my kids are enjoying is Lego Play Book.  The book contains numerous ideas for Lego fans – young and old – to develop new skills.  There are five sections in this book that contains ideas based on a specific theme:

• Once Upon a Time – Jack’s Journey, Fairy Tale Cottage, Enchanted Forest, Forest Flora, Fairy Tale Creatures, Quests, Troll Bridge, Castle Siege, Giants, Giant’s Kitchen, Fairy Tales Characters, Undersea Characters, Dragon, Fairy Tale Castle, Meet The King, Castle Comforts, Castle Stables, Castle Entertainment, Castle Ballroom.
• A Small World – Tiny Travel, City Life, Downtown, City Park, Race Track, Vehicles, Cargo Haulers, Oil Platform, On the Sea Floor, Monsters of the Deep, Ocean Life, Micro-Africa, Prehistoric Beasts, Dangerous Dinosaurs, Micro-Castles, Historical Buildings, Metro Skyline, Outer Space, Future Worlds.
• Go Wild – Nature Trail, On Safari, Safari Giants, Safari Truck, Barnyard Beasts, Farm Fowl, Alphabets, Creeping Critters, At the Zoo, Made-Up Creatures, Tropical Fish, Marine Life, At the Poles, Artic Animals.
• Things That Go Bump in the Night – Fright Night, Spooky Circus Train, Nightmare Carnival, Haunted House, Witch’s Hovel, Monster Motors, Monster Race, Sweet Dreams, Something in the Bath, Mad Scientist’s Lab, ‘Bots on the Loose, Robot Rampage, The Mummy’s Tomb, Skeleton, Vampire’s Castle, Graveyard.
• Wish You Were Here – Earth Mission, Beach Nuts, Ice-Cream Stalls, Beach Accessories, Beach Boats, Hotel Pool, Making a Splash, Beneath the Sea, Extreme Sports, Adventures Up High, Mountain Biking, Water Adventures, Skiing, Snow Transports, Ski Hotel, Holiday Postcards.

Though there isn’t Step-by-Step instructions in this book, it is easy to see how the builders made the various ideas presented in it.   In the pages titled Handful of Bricks, each fan builders included in the book were given a handful of common Lego elements and asked to make as many different models as they could using only the pieces provided.  In these two pages, you can see how creative the builders have been in coming up with fun little constructions for the readers.    Even if I am personally not a big fan of the section titled Things That Go Bump in the Night – I am not a big fan of scary monsters and vampires and such – I find the builders are very ingenious.      My most favourite section is definitively the Go Wild one with all the various creatures that can be build with Lego bricks!

 

The latest title that was released last year is Lego Awesome Ideas.  This new book contains new ideas that will unlock the secrets of LEGO building and show your child how to create a world with their imagination.   When

The book is packed with stunning photography and informative text as it demonstrates how entire models are built up.  Also, the reader will obtain step-by-step visual breakdowns and offering alternative ways to build models.   Each chapter can be easily explored as it steadily creates a themed world and ultimately showcases a dynamic diorama of the complete build, showing readers that they too can build up an entire LEGO world from scratch — model by model, brick by brick.

The book covers five worlds:

• Outer Space: mech walker, all-purpose robots, forklift robot, space rover, space equipment, planetary pod, space door, sci-fi doors and walls, gear doorway, research lab, hydroponics bay, lab tools, aliens and alien life, space-plants and scenery, micro-scale spaceship, micro-space fleet, micro-scale space buildings, Zycon shuttle, and outer space diorama.
• Modern Metropolis: basic building, modular buildings, city buildings, city museum, building roofs, tables and chairs, furniture, around the city, making a car, city vehicles, auto bumpers, lights, signs, signals, farmer’s field, crops and vegetables, plants, on the farm, leisure activities, farmhouse, and modern metropolis diorame.
• The Wild West: wagon, wagons roll, western scenery, cavalry fort, jailhouse, around town, Wild West saloon, building signs, tow items, steam train, train carriages, old mine, rolling riverboat, outlaw hideout, and Wild West diorama.
• Fantasy Land: fantasy house, cube village, fantasy roofs, fences and pathways, waterfall, fantasy river, flowers, fantasy creatures, tree slide, tree-house, castle walls, castle tower, fancy towers, castle features, cream-pie catapult, and fantasy land diorama.
• The Real World: cell phone, technology, stationary, kitchen scale, bathroom, science kit, banana, fruit and veg,  gingerbread man, cakes and pastries, popsicle, frozen treats, candies, box of chocolate, and real world diorama.

The book will show how to build the most imaginative world using techniques that will be easy to follow and do for anyone – kids or adults alike.   The images included in the book are bright and will demonstrate what the instructions are explaining.  I really enjoyed looking at all the examples included in this book.   I am speechless to see how the Fantasy river is made – so easy to do…. if only we had all the pieces required.  Another favorite of mine is definitively the butterfly and the flower gallery.  Oh and the adorable crayon box is just the perfect one to build for playing with dolls for my daughter.

These three marvellous books are packed with tips and techniques as well as inspiring ideas that anyone – young and old – could accomplish in their creation.   They are a perfect gift for a Lego fan that desire to have more ideas.

Now dear reader, here’s a special announcement from DK Canada.   DK Canada is asking you to use the hashtag #ILoveDK to nominate your favourite book on DK Canada’s Twitter and/or Facebook or on this page as a comment.  Don’t forget to tell us why you particularly love this DK book as well.   On Valentine's Day the people at DK Canada will select one of the reviews as a "winner" and that reviewer will win a $250 DK shopping spree where they get to choose $250 worth DK books of their choice.  Isn’t it fun?

So don’t wait a minute longer and tell us which book from DK Canada you love and why.   You have until the end of the month to do so!

The three books I have presented are available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

 

 

 Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for allowing me to promote I Love DK. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

I Love DK Contest

Every February DK Canada create a boutique of our most popular books as selected by readers. Throughout this month of January DK ask their readers to submit their choices for their favourite DK book of all-time.   Out of the submissions, they will pick 20 of the top books and offer them up at 30% off in February.

So everyone who votes between now and January 30th will be entered into a draw for a $250 DK shopping spree where they can choose whatever books they like from our website!

So if you want to have a chance to win the shopping spree – click on the icon below and tell DK Canada what is your favourite DK book of all time!

Good Luck everyone!

BlueWater Seafoods Gluten Free

For more than 50 years, BlueWater Seafoods, located in Lachine, Quebec, has been dedicated to preparing high quality, great-tasting seafood.   More recently, BlueWater took the steps necessary to ensure that all of its Grill Fish products are gluten free. Did you know that an estimated 3 million people in Canada are living with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. And while the absence of gluten in the diet of a person with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity alleviates uncomfortable symptoms, it is often a challenge to find gluten free products that are satisfying and taste good.

Now people with gluten intolerance can trust BlueWater Seafoods as their grill fish is gluten free.   The high quality fish is flame-grilled and lightly seasoned in a variety of mouthwatering flavours.     You can trust that the same great taste will be found in the gluten free products.  You have a choice of grill fillets, grill salmon, grill haddock and grill tilapia.  If I had a choice I would go directly with the tilapia or the haddock as I really enjoyed both of these fish in the past.   The company has also implemented procedures to avoid cross-contemination and an on-going monitoring and testing is done in order to ensure that the grill fillets are gluten free

For the purpose of this review, I have received a coupon for me to try on of their products.   At the store where I was, my husband and I decided to go with the Pan Sear Haddock as there was not a lot of choices of BlueWater products.   The fish was lightly coated and had garlic and herb seasoning.  

On the night of the day Pope Francis was voted, we decided to have fish with the kids.   The Pan Sear Haddock contained two large fish fillets which was enough for us parents.  So we made fish sticks for the kids.   Honestly, the fish from the Pan Sear Haddock was delicious and would have made a better choice for everyone in the family.   I almost wish they would do a family size box for this variety.  With six in the family, there was no way we could feed everyone with two fillets.

The Pan Sear products can be cooked either on the stovetop or in the oven.  We decided to cook everything in the oven and the fish was crispy in the outside but melting in the mouth from the inside.   And the best part is that the filets were not oily whatsoever when we served them. 

We had a fabulous meal and we enjoyed it a lot.  My two oldest kids wanted to taste it so I gave them a bite each.  They couldn’t believe the difference compared to their fish stick.   Blue Water Seafoods definitively has high quality fish when making their products.  

I would like to encourage everyone to try one of their products in a near future. 

GIVEAWAY

Three of my readers will win a coupon for a FREE BlueWater Frozen Seafood Item of their choice and a convenient reusable bag for their groceries.   Follow the instructions below to participate.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Thanks to BlueWater Seafoods for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes and for offering this giveaway to my readers. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Shaun White Supply Co Review and Giveaway.

If I say Shaun White would you know who I am talking about?    If so you would recognize the name of the two-time Olympic gold medalist and skateboard champion.    He is definitively a guy passionate about sports as he excels in skateboarding as well as snowboarding.   What you probably don’t know is that Shaun White has partnered with D6 Sports to create his own action sports product line, Shaun White Supply Co. (SWSC). SWSC creates, produces and delivers authentic products at the highest specs at price point.   Shaun White Supply Co. offers a product line that includes skateboards, BMX bikes, stunt scooters, protective gear, ramps, rails, and other various products. 

So when I got approached with the opportunity to review a product from SWSC, I was ecstatic and fearful at the same time.   Why?  Well my oldest son has been wanting a skateboard for quite some time and honestly I wasn’t too comfortable with it – knowing how he is at home going to fast and hurting himself all the time.    But I also sensed that it was time for him to grow and learn to be wise.  So why not…?    However, I also asked for an helmet to protect his head (and all my other kids head eventually) which was granted.  Keep reading to find a special announcement at the bottom of this review!

The Black Helmet.

The black helmet comes in two sizes – small/medium and large/extra-large.   We received the L/XL helmet and let me tell you that it is quite comfortable.  The helmet has been built specifically for Shaun’s demanding riding style.   It has been designed to protect you just in case you don’t land.    The outer shell is quite hard and it is ergonomically designed for a better fit.   Comfort lining is included and you can also add some more if necessary.  Also the straps are made of durable nylon and the buckles of hard plastic.   With this helmet on your head, you can be sure that you head and brain will have the highest protection possible.  

Here’s how the helmet look like on myself…  now I am unsure I will venture on the skateboard once the spring season comes back but I know my kids will have the highest protective gear for their head. 

The skateboard.

I have received the Sketch Hand Skateboard.   This skateboard is a complete deck built to the specs of Shaun White with Urban and Street skaters in mind. The deck is 31.875” long by 8” large. Let me tell you that I am impressed with the size of it.   It is well made and the wheels turn smoothly.   Check out the design under the skateboard.

I particularly like the fact that the top of the skateboard is quite large to allow your child to slowly build up confidence with it.    Sorry no picture of me on the board – my confidence is not there yet! LOL

However, I can tell you that I am impressed with the quality found in the board itself.  The thickness and the way the wheels are attached to it is impressive.  Okay I will admit that I am not a grand connoisseur of skateboarding but I have seen other skateboards in stores and this one surpasses them.

Also I have learned that every product has been rigorously tested, changed and tested again until Shaun and his team felt the SWSC standards were met. It was important to White that not only could SWSC’s products be used by him in competition, but that they could also be used by youth and beginners.

So as you can see, any of the products of SWSC would be the ultimate gift for the action sports enthusiast, or someone just getting their feet wet.  This holiday season is the perfect time to get kids moving and introduce action sports to those who have always wanted to shred like their favorite professional athletes!   Why not get a skateboard and an helmet to encourage your kids to get out and try something new this year? 

 

Shaun White Supply Co. also offer ramps and other protective gears for the kids.

 

GREAT NEWS!  A GIVEAWAY

Shaun White Supply Co. has agreed to send one Sketch Hand Skateboard to one of my readers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Thanks to DKC for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Groovy Girls Lana Ladybug and giveaway

Groovy Girls Lana Ladybug
From Manhattan Toy

About the doll

Lana is as cute as a bug in this styling' red, white and black polka dot dress and shoes. Her beautiful red hair has black highlights and is held back with a cute antenna headband. Lana is part of the Special Edition Flutterflies collection with fantasy colored hair and detachable wings. She'll make a great gift for any gal!

My Thoughts

I was approached this year to review and giveaway a Groovy Girls doll named Cali Candy Cane.   Having already reviewed Cali Candy Cane last year, I suggested that I review another of their Groovy Girls and when I saw Lana Ladybug I couldn’t resist requesting that one instead – after all I love anything that his ladybugish so she would be a perfect addition in my office.  I was delighted to get a positive answer from Manhattan Toy.  Watch my vlog about the doll and look for the delightful giveaway from Manhattan Toys!

Product available online at www.manhattantoy.com or a Specialty Store near you, even on amazon.com.

GREAT NEWS!   A GIVEAWAY FOR MY READERS

Manhattan Toy has agreed to giveaway one Lana Ladybug Groovy Girls for one of my readers.  Following the instructions below to discover how to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Thanks to Manhattan Toy for sending the product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Léonie Maplelea Girls Review and Giveaway

I was recently offered an opportunity to review and giveaway a product from Maplelea.   For those of you who don’t know Maplelea Dolls– think of American Girls with a Canadian flair.

I have stumbled on their website a few times since Jasmine came to the world and dreamed that one day she could have one.   She is now four years old and I know that she will enjoy spending time with the one I picked for her.  

I had two options I could choose one of the original Maplelea Girls or I could select a doll from their new collection titled Maplelea Friends.   Though the Maplelea Friends have a much larger selection of dolls which reflect the diversity of Canada’s population, I decided to go toward a specific girl in the Maplelea Girls.  I chose Léonie for our review.   Why?   Well it is quite simple.   My husband paternal grand-mother had the name of Léonie.   His grand-parents moved from Quebec to Northern-Ontario and I myself was  born and raised in Quebec.    Jasmine has never met her great-grand-mother Léonie unfortunately.   But when I told my in-laws about this opportunity and showed them the Léonie doll on the website, they just couldn’t believe that she was dressed in red which was the favorite color of my father-in-law’s mom.

 
2004 – 90th Birthday of Léonie Lussier (with my father-in-law, my husband and my two oldest kids, Alexandre and Dominic)

What are the Maplelea Girls?
Before there were Maplelea Girls, there was Avonlea Traditions. Avonlea Traditions Inc. is a Canadian owned and operated company founded in 1988. Avonlea began by developing products based on Canada's ever-popular storybook character, Anne of Green Gables and quickly secured a position as the world's largest distributor of products based on this famous storybook heroine. Avonlea Traditions grew beyond “Anne” to design, produce and distribute a large range of award-winning dolls, fine collectibles and giftware.

In 2003, after more than a decade of research, Avonlea Traditions introduced the Maplelea Girls, a line of high quality, Canadian-themed, 18” vinyl play dolls with story journals. Three years later, Avonlea Traditions sold all its other product lines so it could focus exclusively on the Maplelea Girls. The Maplelea Girls line has experienced rapid growth in recent years and offers an ever-increasing range of products specially designed for girls aged 6 to 12. 

This fall, the company is introducing a new selection of doll for your little girl - The Maplelea Friends – which was created to represent the diversity of Canada’s population.   This new line of dolls offers a wide variety of hair, eye, and skin tones from which you can choose.   The dolls come dressed with a graphic tee and corduroy skirt, footless tights and silver shoes designed with a maple leaf detail on it.   The dolls are similar to the MapleLea Girls.   Twelve different styles are available this year. 

Parents will be pleased to know that considerable Canadian talent has gone into creating the Maplelea Girls. All sculpting, designing, researching, writing, illustrating and translations are done by Canadians. The dolls, journals and accessories are all safe, meeting both American and Canadian standards and are regularly tested by independent third party laboratories to ensure compliance.

Our Thoughts
When I first showed my mother-in-law the doll on the iPhone of my husband while visiting them her first reaction was “Oh my goodness, look at what she is wearing Gerry!” to which my father-in-law answered without even looking “Red clothes.”  They couldn’t believe that the doll’s name was Léonie, that she wears red clothing and that she had an heritage from Quebec.  They loved it right away without having even held it in their hands.

When I received the package I had to wait a few hours before being able to put my eyes on Léonie.   The package itself it out of this world.   Once I remove the paper ribbon from around the box, I proceeded to lift the cover of it.   I was immediately in awe, lifting the box and Léonie looked at me with her bright hazel eyes.    The eyes are magnificent, the hair smooth and radiant.   She was beautiful.   The face, arm and legs are made of vinyl but move easily from the body.  The body part is made of soft material that is very nice to hug and squeeze.    Her clothes are stunning – with red boots that looked like leather, a skirt that combines an underwear and the top that is perfect for her body.     Inside the package, I also found a beautiful blue journal containing pages about Léonie and blank ones to fill out for my daughter.   And if you worry about language the journal comes in both official languages!   And each time you purchase a new outfit for the doll, you will also get new collectable and blank pages for the journal.

Not too long after the visit at my in-laws mentioned above, they came over for supper and I had the opportunity to show them the doll. The first reaction of my mother-in-law was that the box was quite heavy and that it was very sturdy. Then she proceeded to open the box with my father-in-law next to her. Both were in awe with the doll. They took her in their hands and admired all the details. My father-in-law made sure that all limbs were working well and started changing his voice to make her talk. It was precious to see this since he has a gift of making the kids laugh when doing that. My husband and I were laughing because it is so natural for him to do that when he picks up any kind of doll or stuff animal.

This doll is definitively a special doll for any girl.   Even though these dolls are designed for kids ages 6 to 12, I think that a mature 5 years old can take good cake of one of them.   Each and every one of the doll are fabulous and would please any little girl in your life.   I chose Léonie for personal reasons as you have read above and also because my daughter has the same color of hair.    I’ve decided to do a little vlog so I can present Léonie to all my readers via video.   Please watch this and continue reading for the giveaway!



Here’s another thing I have discovered from MapleLea.  They offer a special spa program (actually it is a doll replacement program) for whatever accident might occur to the doll – whether the puppy chewed on a leg or the younger sibling ripped an arm off.   You have to undress the doll when sending her in a suitable packaging and ship it to Avonlea Traditions with the amount of 56$ plus 9$ of flat shipping for a total of 65$.   The doll (a new one that is) will be returned after spending two days (business days that is) at the spa – refreshed and looking wonderful.   She will also wear a comfy spa gown and matching slippers as well as get new pages for the journal.    I find this replacement program very original and out of the ordinary.    

The price tag attached to such a doll is 99.99$ Canadian.   Yes it is pricey but when you look at the quality offered for the doll and how it is made, I totally understand the price. And the fact that they offer a flat fee for shipping is interesting as any little girl in Canada could have a loved one order it online.   Now you question might be “Honestly, Canadianladybug, would you have purchased such a doll for your daughter?”   I have to say that more than likely not because we don’t have that kind of budget for birthdays and Christmas (we have four children plus five nephews and nieces).   However, I might consider such a purchase for my daughter simply because her birthday (which is Dec 19th) is very close to Christmas assuming she would understand that this big present is for both celebrations.  

Jasmine will indeed get this doll for her birthday and I promise to post her reaction to this beautiful doll soon after.   An update with her reaction will be posted on Canadianladybug Reviews! near Dec 19th.

Now dear reader would you like to win one of the MapleLea Girls?   If so continue to this special giveaway that I am having in November.

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GREAT NEWS!  
A GIVEAWAY FOR MY CANADIAN READERS…

Since I chose one of the original dolls, I was informed that my giveaway will be for one of the six original dolls at the choice of the winner.   You will be able to choose between Alexi, Brianne, Jenna, Taryn, Léonie and Saila. The company will ship directly to the winner before Christmas.  However, please note that this giveaway if for Canadians only (or Canadians living abroad but can provide a shipping address in Canada). All you have to do is follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below.

 
 

I will draw the winner on November 26th and send an email to that person. Don’t forget to leave your email address in the first mandatory comment as this will allow me to contact you!  The person has 24 hours to reply to my email.   In the event the person doesn’t reply within 24 hours, I will choose another winner.    Once the winner replies to my email with their delivery address and phone number, I will send the information to my contact at KidsStuff PR which in turn will inform MapleLea Girls so that the doll can be shipped and received before Christmas!

Have Fun and Good Luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
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Where can you find the Maplelea Girls? Maplelea Girls are not found in retail shops for the simple reason that the company keeps its costs down by selling directly to the consumer. Plus many Canadian girls do not live near retail outlets that sell high quality specialty toys. By offering a flat $9 shipping fee for any size order traveling anywhere in Canada, all girls have equal access to the product line. Orders can be placed online at www.maplelea.com or by phone at 1-800-668-4339 24 hours/7 days a week.
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Disclaimer: Thanks to KidsStuff and MapleLea Girls for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes and for offering this incredible giveaway to my readers. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

DK Readers Lego Friends Titles and a contest at DK Canada

There are two new DK Readers in the series and this time little girls who are fans of the Lego Friends will be delighted because the books are all about the friends living in Heartlake City!

The first book is titled Friends Forever and is considered a level 3 book on the DK readers chart.   In this book you will meet the girls of Heartlake City – Mia, Stephanie, Emma, Andrea, and Olivia – and discover how different their personality are.  But in the end they have something in common – friendship!

The second book is titled Welcome to Heartlake City and is considered a level 4 book. In this book, you are invited to take a tour of Heartlake City!   You will meet the LEGO® Friends as they hang out at all the hotspots such as the tree house, beauty parlor, the idyllic Whispering Woods, and their favorite café. There are always lots of cool things to do in the city. But most of all, the girls just like hanging out with each other!

Both book gives more background on the universe of Lego friends.  My daughter, who is four years old, has received one Lego Friend items last year and since then she plays with Stephanie whenever her brothers are playing with Lego.   Having a selection of Lego specifically for girls is marvelous.   These two books will not only present the girls and what they like to do but it will also transport my daughter in Heartlake City to discover the place where they live.  

I am slowly bringing more books more geared toward her taste and her gender.  These two books are definitively a great addition for her personal library. 

The DK readers is a multilevel reading program which will enable your child to become more confident with his/her reading skill as they grow.   There are five levels in the DK readers reading program:

• Level 1 Pre-level: This leaver is perfect for the child who is learning to read.  It contains high-frequency words, a picture word strip, a picture glossary and a simple index.   It also uses labels to introduce and reinforce the vocabulary.  Adult participation is highly recommended.
  Level 1: This level is perfect for the beginning to read child.  Simple sentences and limited vocabulary are use for strengthen the reading skills.   This level also contains a picture glossary and a simple index.
  Level 2: This level is ideal for the beginning to read alone child.  You will find longer sentences and an increased vocabulary.   Information boxes are also spread throughout the pages and will provide extra fun facts about the subject of the book. 
  Level 3: Level 3 is mostly geared for kids in the reading alone category.  This level support a more complex sentence structure as well as a comprehensive index, an alphabetical glossary and information boxes.
  Level 4: Finally, this level is for proficient readers. Kids at this level will enjoy having a rich vocabulary and challenging sentence structure if the subject if of interest to them.   An alphabetical glossary, a comprehensive index as well as addition information complete the book.

If you have a little girl who loves the Lego Friends, I think she will be delighted to have books based on these characters.    And the best part is that more titles on Lego Friends are planned for March 2013 with a level 2 titled Summer Adventure and a level 3 titled Let’s Go Riding.

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A CONTEST FOR LEGO FANS!

DK Celebrates LEGO and the love of creativity!

As the world's bestselling publisher of LEGO books we want to celebrate our joy of the brick with a month-long photo contest – with a fabulous prize of an amazing collection of DK’s LEGO books worth over $200!

We want to see what creative kids ages 14 and under can make with their LEGO. Simple send us a photo and at the end of the month our Canadian LEGO Fan Builder extraordinaire Deborah Higdon ( featured in the LEGO Ideas Book ) will select a winning creation. Your kids can enter as often as they like with different creations. Throughout the month we will be posting the photos on cn.dk.com/legopix as well as on our Facebook page and Twitter feed @DKCanada.

TO ENTER:

Send a photo of your LEGO creation ( don’t forget that you can enter as many times as you like with different creations ) to us at general@tourmaline.ca (jpgs only, no larger than 5 mb). Please include the headline For the Love of LEGO in your email. One lucky entrant will win a DK LEGO Book collection worth over $200!

Deadline for submissions is October 31st, 2012 6 EDT

For more details check out the Lego Boutique at DK Canada.

Good luck everyone!

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The books Friends Forever and Welcome to Heartlake City are available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca, amazon.com and for the Kindle.

AMAZON.CA

  

AMAZON.COM

  

KINDLE

  

Lego Book – and a contest for young Lego fans

Lego Book
From DK Canada

About the book

Discover all there is to know about one of the world's most beloved toy companies.

Beautiful pages reveal, explore, and celebrate the fascinating story of LEGO® bricks and the history behind them in this newly updated edition of The LEGO® Book. Along with 56 new pages, a timeline highlights key moments in LEGO history, and special features spotlight numerous groundbreaking and momentous achievements. Includes new and updated information about LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Ninjago, LEGO Friends, and much more.

Explore all the main LEGO toy systems, the LEGOLAND® theme parks with their amazing animated models, and the LEGO Group's spectacular diversification into films, video games, and the visual arts. Incorporating clear instruction panels on how to create great models from just a few simple bricks, The LEGO® Book is truly a treasure perfect for any LEGO fan!

The LEGO® Book Q&A with author Daniel Lipkowitz

What made you want to become an author?

I've always been an avid reader. As a kid, I read whenever and wherever I could, especially adventure, sci-fi and fantasy stories. Sometimes I would devour six or seven books a week! Although I originally planned to work in the sciences, reading and writing were always big passions of mine, and when the opportunity arose, I jumped at the chance to start writing stories for (and about) LEGO characters and sets.

When did your fascination with LEGO® first start?

I've been a fan of toys that you can interact with and change around all my life, too. I got my first LEGO sets when I was four or five (I think they were #709 Police Boat and #897 Mobile Rocket Launcher) and would spend hours taking them apart and building new things out of the pieces. I must not have been very good at sharing, though, because my dad and I had to have our own separate collections of LEGO bricks.

How did you get your start writing comic and animation scripts for LEGO® bricks and minifigures?

When I first joined the LEGO Group in 2001, I started out testing and proofreading the website at LEGO.com, but what I really wanted to do was create stories. I was eventually able to start writing some episodes and character bios for the BIONICLE theme, and that led to story work on Knights' Kingdom and EXO-FORCE. Pretty soon, people at the company were asking me to write books, comics, TV spots and short animations, which was incredibly cool for me!

What has been your favorite storyline that you've developed for LEGO?

I liked working on EXO-FORCE and Knights' Kingdom (though I didn't develop the original story for either theme), and I've got a soft spot for Pharaoh's Quest. And of course I've gotten to write for some of my favorite licensed themes, like Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Lord of the Rings – the big "Search for R2-D2" storyline that ran in LEGO Club Magazine comics and online animations throughout 2009 is definitely one of my favorites. But the very top was the story that I wrote for the Adventure Designer level of LEGO Master Builder Academy. It was created to inspire members to make up their own stories and build them out of their LEGO bricks, and I really enjoyed putting it all together.

What was your favorite part of the The LEGO® Book to work on?

Although it was also the toughest part to write, what I really liked the most was researching and writing about the history of the company and its earliest toys. I learned a lot of new things!

Do you have a favorite LEGO® character?

I think the character that I'm fondest of is Ryo, the eccentric inventor and pilot from EXO-FORCE. His habit of treating his battle machines like they're real people was a lot of fun to write. Second to him would be the minifigure battle droids from LEGO Star Wars – those poor little guys are hilarious!

The LEGO® Book has a fascinating timeline of LEGO® history running throughout it. What do you think is the most groundbreaking achievement in LEGO® history?

I can't think of anything more important than the development of the original plastic "Automatic Binding Bricks" in 1949, and the patenting of the stud-and-tube connection system in 1958. Everything that the company is about today comes directly from there!

What is the most remarkable LEGO® Super Model you've seen in person?

One of the LEGO Master Builders here at the office built an enormous Republic Attack Cruiser from the Star Wars prequels some years ago. It was an incredible model, full of secret details like an upside-down lightsaber battle and a movie theater hidden inside. I swore I'd find a way to bring it home someday...but I never managed it. I don't think it would have fit in my car, anyway.

After all this time why do you think LEGO® is still such a popular, sought-after toy?

Because no matter how many special pieces and themes we may create, at the end of the day a LEGO set is a toy that you can take apart and turn into anything else that you can possibly imagine. What could be more perfect and enduring than that?

Our Thoughts

As soon as I took out this book, one of my kids jumped on it.    All of them loves Lego and can build for hours when motivated especially when there is a contest (see below for more details!).    When I got this book, I seriously thought that it would contain step-by-step ideas for the kids to explore and develop their Lego skills.   Ah!  I was so wrong.  This book is not an idea book but more like a book that unfolds the story of Lego as a company and the brick itself! 

Literally  it is a  trip down memory lane…   As soon as I skipped through the pages, I could identify some of the Lego package I have received when I was younger in the 70s (and I still have the blocks and instructions believe it or not!) Now my own kids plays with them!  *grin*  Here’s two of the boxes I had received.   The box on the left with the characters on it, I received when I was in France while my dad was training in Lyon.    I was five years old then.

  

The book starts with how it is a family business and how Lego became a trademark toy over the years.   Back in 1974, I believe that it wasn’t easy to find Lego toys in Canada but in the years that followed the famous boxes found their way on the Canadian market.   You will also get a timeline to discover what major products were developed in what year.     You will also have the opportunity to read more about the patent and the brick itself, learn when the first of some of the elements came out on the market and discover how the Lego bricks are made. 

Once you have gone through history and discover how they are made, you will explore the pages where the various play themes are presented.  Then you will discover the amazing creativity of the people who helped to put Legoland together.   These pages have brought major reactions from my kids.   Now my dream is to bring my kids to LegoLand in Florida and even to the one in Denmark where everything started.  

In the book, you will also get to learn about the Lego Master Builders which has definitively picked the interest of Dominic.  

Lego fans will love to learn more about the history of the famous brick as well as discover the play sets that were created through the years.    I am pleased to have this book in the house because it motivates my child to read more. 

******************************************

A CONTEST FOR LEGO FANS!

DK Celebrates LEGO and the love of creativity!

As the world's bestselling publisher of LEGO books we want to celebrate our joy of the brick with a month-long photo contest – with a fabulous prize of an amazing collection of DK’s LEGO books worth over $200!

We want to see what creative kids ages 14 and under can make with their LEGO.   Simple send us a photo and at the end of the month our Canadian LEGO Fan Builder extraordinaire Deborah Higdon ( featured in the LEGO Ideas Book ) will select a winning creation. Your kids can enter as often as they like with different creations.  Throughout the month we will be posting the photos on cn.dk.com/legopix as well as on our Facebook page and Twitter feed @DKCanada. 

TO ENTER:

Send a photo of your LEGO creation ( don’t forget that you can enter as many times as you like with different creations ) to us at general@tourmaline.ca (jpgs only, no larger than 5 mb). Please include the headline For the Love of LEGO in your email. One lucky entrant will win a DK LEGO Book collection worth over $200!

Deadline for submissions is October 31st, 2012 6 EDT

For more details check out the Lego Boutique at DK Canada.

Good luck everyone!  

******************************************

In the meantime, to discover the whole history of Lego and learn more about the famous bricks, don’t forget to grab a copy of the Lego Book (revised edition) at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned book for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.