Fisher Price

Fun in the Sun… with $500 in Fisher-Price Toys!

June 23, 2016 By Lena

Popping in today to tell you about an AH-MAZING summer contest from Fisher-Price!

Three (3!) Canadians will be treated to a Fisher-Price prize bundle valued at $500 each. Included: everything you need for an entire season of summer fun! (I’m looking at you, Jeep Wrangler!)
201606-SummerSweeps Click here to enter the sweepstakes. I really hope one (or all) of my readers nab this awesome prize. After you enter, don’t forget to check out the Fisher-Price Playtime Guide to find the best toys for any age. I have it bookmarked for all my gifting needs… and okay, to engage in a little nostalgia. How I loved being a Fisher-Price mom! Good luck all – contest ends July 3, 2016.

Dance to the Beat with Fisher-Price Dance & Move BeatBo!

October 9, 2015 By Lena

NOTE: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

We’re a family of dancers. My husband, bless his heart, will be 40 this year… but he moves like a 24-year old, especially at corporate events.

(I’ll wait while you click this link to an Instagram video from earlier this year.)

Did you spot Ryder busting a move? He was *slightly* overshadowed by his father’s theatrics. And of course, you all know that Reid has been in dance for years… and there’s been more than one reference on this blog of me grooving on a speaker in my clubbing days. Yeah, we like to move it to the beat!

Does your child like to boogie? Introducing Fisher-Price Bright Beats Dance & Move BeatBo, an adorable animatronic pal that encourages baby to get up and move – and helps teach baby, too!

pTRUCA1-20920855dt The toy includes 3 modes that “grow” with baby:

In Dance ‘n Move Mode, BeatBo’s shaking hips, nodding head and lively music encourage baby to move around. Think of it as a mini concert, just for baby!

Next, Learning & Games Mode helps teach baby ABCs, colors, counting and more, and even features the “Freeze Dance” – far and wide one of the most entertaining games for little ones.

Finally, the Customized Sing-Along Mode lets mom or baby record a phrase, and – I’m not even kidding – BeatBo will remix it into his favorite song. Isn’t that just awesome?

(See BeatBo in action here.)

Now, we know that babies learn through play. In fact, as children play with toys, with one another, and with adults, they acquire and improve the skills necessary for formal learning in later stages of their lives. BeatBo’s fun music and motions encourage baby to move, shake and dance along, helping to exercise gross motor skills. The colorful lights, dancing motions, music, lights and variety of textures all help stimulate baby’s senses of sight, hearing and touch. And by pressing BeatBo’s tummy or feet, baby’s discovering that their actions make fun things happen – a great introduction to cause and effect. …

Need a Moment? Don’t Worry, Fisher-Price has you Covered.

June 4, 2015 By Lena

Oh, those Fisher-Price Mommy Moments.

From the moment your baby cries for the very first time… to the moment he takes his first step. And, every little thing in between. These are the moments we’ll always remember; the ones we’ll come back to again and again, reliving them as if they were happening before our very eyes. Those smiles. Those giggles. Those perfect memories, frozen in time.

And sometimes, the moments are as simple as sneaking in a shower, a second cup of coffee, or a long overdue phone call to a friend.

Need a moment? Don’t worry, Fisher-Price has you covered.
Fisher-Price, the world’s most trusted brand in toys, is there to support today’s parents with toys that are geared to each and every stage of your child’s growth, including all those milestone moments. Their wide range of innovative baby gear and fun and engaging toys are all designed to help today’s busy mom make the most of her time together with baby.

Today, I’d like to invite you to follow along as we share our #FPMommyMoments at our Twitter Party on Thursday, June 11th at 8pm EDT. Simply follow @thesocialcommon and @Listen2Lena and share your moment by answering the questions, remembering to add the #FPMommyMoments hashtag. To thank you for joining us, we’ll be giving away eight (8) prizes of Fisher-Price’s most sought-after gear, including a GRAND PRIZE valued at $750!

RSVP below for a chance to win, and we’ll see you on Thursday night! …

Fisher-Price Moms Top 10

March 25, 2015 By Lena

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

I’ve often heard that it’s better to have a “difficult” baby the first time ’round. The colicky, demanding, trouble-making type. And the rationale behind this? Subsequent babies will be a cakewalk, because you’ve already experienced the worst.

In theory, this sounds reasonable.

Reality? I had one of those difficult first-time babies, and let me tell you, I did not feel reassured. I felt exhausted, defeated, moody, irrational, and exhausted. (Did I say exhausted twice?)

Often, all I hoped for was a mommy moment. A chance to brush my hair or brew a cup of coffee. A few minutes to sit down and catch up on email, or finally finish the book I started while I was pregnant. And from time to time, I longed to have a shower longer than 6 minutes.

(I won’t lie. Now that my kids are older, I take 25 minute showers, because I can.)

So, I improvised. I purchased toys and baby gear from the most trusted toy brand in the world, Fisher-Price, and boy, did I ever use them. I used a Jumperoo when I needed a moment to freshen up; I let my son play with the Rock-a-Stack while I made dinner. And just before nighttime, during that crucial moment of slumber, I allowed the sweet melodies of the Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium soothe my baby to sleep.
For me, it’s a Top 10 Pick.

Earlier this year, I was asked by Fisher-Price to select my favourite products in the baby toy and gear categories. And when my list was set, I was amazed to see how closely it mirrored the selections on Fisher-Price Mom’s Top 10. The website showcases moms’ favourite toys and baby gear – the products that baby loves, parents’ trust, and most importantly, allow mom a chance to sneak in that #fpmommymoment. …

Make the Time to Play

February 3, 2015 By Lena

I spent about 20 minutes this morning looking for an old Facebook post from 2009. It was over a year after I had my first child, and shortly before I would become pregnant with my second. In the status update, I bemoaned my son’s ability to monopolize all my time.

“Is it too much to ask to have 5 minutes to myself? Mommy, play with me. Mommy, watch me. Mommy, give me. Mommy, pick me up. Mommy, I’m hungry. Argh!!! I love my kid but I need to find just 5 more minutes in the day! Signed, a woman who spends more time playing with cars than making meals.”

Today, that little boy is almost 7 years old. He wakes, clothes and washes himself. He comes home from school and finds his own snack. And when I hover… when I ask if he needs anything… he says, “No. I’m okay.”

And it’s in these moments, when a I look upon the independent, strong-willed and eccentric little man before me, I’m so happy I made the time to play.

For today, and forevermore, I will cherish the moments we got down on all fours and pushed cars across the floor. When he’s busy with homework, I’ll think about the nights we were busy building blocks. When he leaves home, I’ll recall our play home, and how he’d never leave without blowing me a kiss goodbye.

Do you make the time to play?

Fisher-Price is a company that has earned my trust, support, and unconditional endorsement. All of my “play time” memories are firmly attached to their toys, and I know that in years to come, I’ll fondly reminisce about those moments of interaction, love and bonding between mother and child. …

Reid and Ariel Sitting in a Tree…

April 20, 2013 By Lena

Six months ago, Disney’s The Little Mermaid was not on my radar.

I mean, why should it be? I have two young BOYS. Boys who like cars, and colouring pictures of cars, and making car engine noises, and sleeping with their cars… in car pajamas, of course. So while we are well equipped with Disney Cars movies, figurines and basically anything with a Lightning McQueen image emblazoned across the front, we did not own anything princess-y. At all.

Of course, that was before THIS happened – From my post “The Most Magical Place on Earth…”

As we walked along Fantasyland, little Reid kept telling us that he wanted to see the “beautiful fish”. Confused, we tried to find Dory from Finding Nemo, and then showed him pictures of Flounder. “No, no, no!” he cried. “I want the Bootiful Fish!” he said, pointing at Ariel’s Grotto. Ah! The Little Mermaid! We journeyed under the sea and stood in a short line to meet Reid’s new favourite character. Once inside, he became bashful; putting his head down and hiding behind me. It was so enduring! His first crush – on a Princess, no less! After a little coaxing he gave her a huge hug and then sat down beside her, grinning from ear to ear. (Ryder, who’s too cool for school, was also convinced to get in the picture, though he was decidedly less impressed.) Watching Reid blush, smile and flirt was definitely a tear-jerking moment – but can you blame me? My little boy is growing up!

Well, that was that. He fell hard for Princess Ariel and wanted everything to do with the world of The Little Mermaid. (I didn’t have the heart to tell him she was already taken.) In fact, at the Art of Animation’s gift shop, my husband and I were both surprised when he walked straight to the Ariel figurine and pointed – “Her.”

And that’s when it happened. The colossally bad move on my husband’s part….