“Hello, Megan!” his voice boomed. I love Santa and the magic he brings, and he did just that in our very first video from Portable North Pole (PNP) video. PNP lets adults makes free personalized video messages from Santa that are sent to your smartphone and computer. It brings a bit of magic from the North Pole to wherever you like.
My daughter received her first PNP years ago, when it first started eight years ago. I was an early adopter, and all on my own. When they reached out and asked if I wanted to share PNP and that one of my readers could win a free code, I said “yes,” in large part because my daughter, who is now 13, said the other night, “No video from Santa this year?”
PNP is a holiday favorite and tradition in our house. At random times throughout the year one of us will say, “Hello, Megan!” in our best booming Santa voices, which never come anywhere close to how he says but the attempt always makes us laugh.
We’re definitely not alone. Over 100 million PNP videos have been viewed worldwide. Check out a sample video here:
I love that it’s not scary at all and very positive. This message from Santa promotes and reinforces good behavior, in a kind and encouraging way.
PNP is available an app for iOS here and for Android here. The mobile app includes the Kids Corner designed for little ones to view their Santa messages and play exclusive games where you sort gifts by color, shake ornaments off a tree, and interact with the funny elves.
There is also a grown up version for big kids, too, and that’s a big hit in our house! The two minutes of footage and personal customizations are an entertaining way to spread the cheer all season amongst friends, family, colleagues, and romantic interests.
You can make your video for free, but there are also upgrade to a Gold Pass that gets you unlimited premium videos and unlimited calls. So fun! Enter here, and good luck!
I hope that PNP is as big a hit in your house as it has been in mine! May Santa bring joy and magic to us all!
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Prior Post: Last minute gift idea: Delicious cake from It’s a Bundt
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]]>The tag line is “Her new job is purrrrrr-fect!” and I’m pretty sure this would make a perfect gift for a preschooler in your world. As an added bonus, it comes with a pet vet collar inside for your little one’s stuffed animal.
When I mentioned the Doc McStuffins: Pet Vet DVD to my mom, she said that had watched the Disney Junior show with my four-year-old niece. She said that both she and my niece were fans and my mom gave Doc McStuffins two thumbs up. Trust me, getting her seal of approval is huge.
If you don’t know my mom, or just appreciate having multiple sources, you might also want to know that Common Sense Media agrees with her, saying, “This thoughtfully crafted show caters to preschoolers’ increasing awareness of themselves and the world around them by centering on a bright, curious young girl who likes to help her friends, who wants to be just like her mom, and who’s learning that there are many things that are within her power to fix.”
You can enter the Doc McStuffins: Pet Vet DVD giveaway to win a copy here:
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Best of luck!
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Prior Post: Tips for co-parenting during the holidays from VProud.tv
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]]>Parents love Sheriff Callie’s Wild West for the humorous touches, including those like the town saloon that serves milkshakes, which may go over their little one’s heads, and that it teaches many valuable messages, such as the importance of telling the truth and helping others. It’s also possible that I thought the trio of singing prairie dogs that reinforce the show’s theme was a bit like a Greek chorus, but so far I haven’t found anyone willing to confirm my theory or just tell me that I’m really weird.
The show is set in Nice and Friendly Corners, where lovable Calico cat Sheriff Callie (voiced by Mandy Moore), along with her deputy woodpecker Peck and their fun-loving cactus sidekick Toby, watch over their pleasant little frontier town, ensuring that everyone follows the “Cowpoke Code” of fairness, honesty, hospitality, cooperation and hard work. Utilizing the folklore of the Old West to impart lessons about good morals, manners and social ethics for kids age 2-7, “Sheriff Callie’s Wild West” is the perfect mix of good ol’ friendship and laughter for your little one.
Common Sense Media says, “[T]he Wild West is a new setting for this age group, and Sheriff Callie and crew make it a delightful little jaunt to this genre.” Their reviewers added, “Catchy songs and the show’s cute incorporation of its Old West theme give this show real flair, and the fact that it casts a pink boots-wearing girl as the town sheriff goes a long way to bridge the gender gap as well.”
You can bring home the first Western for preschoolers with “Sheriff Callie’s Wild West: Howdy Partner” on DVD when it is released on Tuesday, October 13th! It’s filled with 5 action-packed episodes and a FREE exclusive pop-up play set packed inside.
You can enter below to win one of 15 copies of the DVD. Best of luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to US residents, 18 or older. Winner will have 24 hours to claim prize or another name will be drawn.
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]]>Thankfully, your kids don’t have to put bags on their heads to enjoy a wonderfully Disney Halloween. The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Monster Musical arrives on Disney DVD on September 8, in time for Halloween! Join Mickey and all his friends in their favorite fun and spooky adventure. It is nearly 2 hours long and comes with a reusable exclusive Trick-Or-Treat mini-tote.
What’s the Mickey’s Monster Musical DVD about?
Put on your favorite Halloween costume and get set for a spooktacular full-length adventure. Visit the creaky castle of kindly “Count Mickula” and help your Clubhouse pals solve a puzzling riddle: Who, or what, is making a curious clanging, banging noise? With the right Monster Mouseketools and help from YOU, this mystery will soon be history!
Then, enjoy two more exciting episodes as you search for pirate treasure with Captain Mickey and don your dungarees for delightful fun down on the farm. Packed with singing, dancing, laughter and surprises, Mickey’s Monster Musical is a high-spirited treat that can’t be beat.
Love it! How do I win?
It’s easy to enter the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Monster Musical DVD Giveaway below.
Good luck!
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PRIOR POST: 10 great education quotes for back to school
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]]>I got these two adorable Disney Infinity 3.0 figures at Disney Social Media Moms Conference in May and they greet me at my desk each morning. They also remind me that the release of Disney Infiity 3.0 is just a few weeks away! My family isn’t the only one that’s excited for the release. I’ve teamed up with bloggers who are also excited for and XBox One and Disney Infinity 3.0 giveaway!
Just head to the Rafflecopter widget below and follow/like the bloggers who have joined together to purchase this prize and you could be the one lucky winner of both a Disney Infinity’s new 3.0 starter pack and an Xbox One! Best of luck! Or, if you’re more excited about the Star Wars characters featured in Disney Infinity 3.0, may the force be with you!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
TERMS & CONDITIONS: This giveaway is open to US residents ages 18 and over and ends at 11:59pm EST on August 25. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. Number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Approximate retail value is $407.00. Products will be purchased and shipped from Amazon.com and mailed to winner directly. One winner will be selected. This is a giveaway sponsored as a group buy, which means the bloggers pooled their money together to purchase this product for you. All liabilities and responsibilities with product after shipping is the responsibility of Amazon.com. Winner will drawn by Rafflecopter from all verified entries, contacted by email provided, and announced on this page at the end of the contest. Winner has 48 hours to respond or prize will be redrawn. Entrant is responsible for the email address they provide, whether through typing it directly or through the Facebook entry method. My Crazy Good Life is not responsible for lost or misdirected emails. All prizes will be awarded. No prize substitutions allowed. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook and we hereby release Facebook of any liability. Facebook and Amazon.com are not a sponsor of this giveaway. Prize is mailed directly by Amazon.com and might require confirmation of delivery. Protected tweets do not count as an entry method for tweeting. Tweets must come from a public account. Bloggers in this group giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. What Disney Infinity 3.0 character are you most excited about? 
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Disney Shout! App Review: Fun for the Whole Family PRIOR POST: How to Win at Breakfast: This Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe Don’t miss a post! Subscribe to Mom Factually’s completely safe, spam-free email list in the box in the top right corner of the page! Please like Mom Factually on Facebook. You can also find MF on Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.
And I adore the tagline, “The Future is Blastastic!”
“Miles from Tomorrowland” is an intergalactic adventure that charts the outer space missions of young adventurer Miles Callisto and his family – mom and ship captain, Phoebe; mechanical engineer dad, Leo; tech-savvy big sister, Loretta; and best friend robo-ostrich pet, Merc – as they help connect the galaxy on behalf of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority.
Miles, Merc and the Callisto family explore wondrous and diverse new worlds, taking young viewers and their families on a futuristic journey designed to fuel kids’ natural interest in space, and at the same time reminding them of the importance of what lies close to home – the family bond.
Join Miles, his family and Merc on a super-galactic adventure! This value-packed DVD includes the premiere episode plus 4 additional episodes, nearly two hours of fun. In addition, included inside every DVD is an exclusive clip-on Blastboard Flashlight that you can’t get anywhere else! Buy your little space explorer “Miles from Tomorrowland: Let’s Rocket” on Disney DVD on August 11th!
I’m not the only one who is a fan of Miles, Merc and Common Sense Media says, “Parents need to know that Miles from Tomorrowland sparks preschoolers’ curiosity about outer space through the characters’ exciting intergalactic adventures. . . . There are moments of suspense when characters appear to be in danger, but they’re quickly — and happily — resolved. This series is brimming with model behavior, from Miles’ eagerness to help to his mom’s can-do attitude, as well as some epic family road trips that are fun to watch.”
You can win the Miles from Tomorrowland: Let’s Rocket DVD in the giveaway below.
Good luck!
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PRIOR POST: Check out the trailer for “The Finest Hours” and learn why it was significant to me
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]]>Don’t give up! It’s never too late to pick up a book. While that’s certainly true, it’s much easier said than done when you have a child who is a reluctant reader or just not feeling motivated over the summer.
The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge can help with the motivation, especially with the fun Reading Under The Stars theme. Love that they’re linking reading and science for both double the fun and learning. Science often gets short shrift.
The Scholastic Parent Facebook page has lots of tips to encourage summer learning. Check out Scholastic’s top 10 summer reading tips for keeping kids’ noses in books and smiles on their faces:
The first and third suggestions are working the best for us this summer. My daughter is a fan of the Reading Timer App, and watching her numbers climb is keeping her going. I love that she’s seeing that a little bit each day can really add up.
I am also keeping my mouth shut about her reading choices. It isn’t easy, but it’s working. A few of her books may be a little below her reading level, but she’s really into them. I’m trying to take what Judy Bloom said about parents worrying too much about what kids read to heart. Her recent advice to kids: “I say go and read. Read what you like to read.”
It’s summer, and while I’m hoping that she picks some more challenging books, she’s reading and therefore, the mission is accomplished.
[THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED]
To help you get that mission accomplished, Scholastic is offering a giveaway to one lucky Mom Factually family. It will include:
* The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System book with audio CD edition
* MISSION: Mars book
* Harry Potter poster
* 2 glow-in-the-dark Reading Under the Stars bookmarks
* Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge printables
* EVEREADY flashlights (set of 2)
* EVEREADY batteries (set of 2 AA packs)
* Captain Underpants trading cards (2 sets of 12)
* Captain Underpants temporary tattoos (1 set)
* Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life tote bag (1)
* Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life wristbands (set of 2)
Good luck!
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