The Hot Toy of 2013 - Playskool's #BigHugsElmo (Review & Giveaway)

I was 14 years old when I discovered Tickle Me Elmo in a toy store in August 1996. You squeezed him and he let out his signature giggle. Elmo’s laugh is so contagious, I just knew he would make me feel better on crummy days. I begged my Mom to buy him for me for Christmas. “What does a girl entering high school need with a Sesame Street toy?” she retorted.

Fall came, and the colder the weather got, the more popular Tickle Me Elmo became.  There were stampedes of people whenever a retail store got a shipment. It became pretty clear that no matter how badly I wanted Tickle Me Elmo, he was not going to be under the tree. Christmas Eve came and along with it, the tradition of our parents allowing us to open our “biggie” (aka most expensive) present. My box was roughly the shape of the one Tickle Me Elmo came in. It couldn’t be him….could it?

Unbeknownst to me, my Mom had returned to the toy store that day in August. My very own Tickle Me Elmo had been hiding in our hall closet all those months I openly pined (and whined) for him, my Mom holding her breath that he would stay silent in the box, preserving the surprise. 

Ladies and gentleman, Big Hugs Elmo is the hot toy of 2013, and I’m so happy (and a little relived) that my daughter already has him before the holiday rush.

I'm a new PTPA Blogaholic!

Hello friends.

I don't know if you noticed, but a shiny new button appeared in the right column today.

I am a proud and excited (newbie) PTPA Blogaholic!

PTPA stands for Parent Tested, Parent Approved. It’s a community of parents across North America sharing valuable feedback about the products we bring into our homes and to our families.

You too can be a parent tester (with or without a blog!). Check out the Parents section of the PTPA website here. And the best part? It's FREE. All you have to do is make sure your profile is at 80 per cent and fill out an evaluation to reviewing the product to help determine whether or not it gets the PTPA Winner's Seal.

So make sure you watch out for the seal in my upcoming posts!

What would be your dream item to test?

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

The Joy of Teethease

Hannah cut her first tooth about a week ago. And if her gums are any indication the second bottom tooth, and her top two teeth are days from coming in.

So it couldn't have been better timing for me to be chosen as a PTPA (Parent Tested, Parent Approved) tester for a Teethease pendant.

This product is amazing. In short, Mom (or any caregiver) wears a fashionable necklace with a pendant that is designed for baby to chew and suck on to relieve teething pain.

Hannah was attracted to the pendant right away - due to the great colour and shape, she loved just watching me swing it back and forth in front of her eyes.

Of course, the pendant also worked great to relieve teething pain (its actual purpose) - instantly. Because the pendant was around my neck, I didn't have to waste time search for it in the diaper bag, or have to run into another room to retrieve it.

It was also very easy to clean and is dishwasher friendly. All Teethease pendants are made from 100% silicone and are free from BPA, PVC, phthalates, latex and heavy metals and meets all of Health Canada’s Safety Standards.

As she gets a little older (and gets more teeth), I'm sure she'll grab on to the pendant herself - knowing relief from teething is just an arm's length away.

Teethease products can be purchased on their website, or at Lil Niblets and Evymama (both stores in Toronto).


© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.