Spending your hard-earned dough on a vacation this year?  How about a Springfree Staycation instead?!?!

Springfree Trampolines are the absolute safest trampolines available and they’re the MOST fun too!  By removing the springs and replacing them with flexible fiberglass rods, Springfree Trampolines eliminate 80% of common accidents!  Pretty ingenious if you ask me.  The complete enclosure is also a great feature, protecting you as you jump and allowing you to safely soar!  It completely eliminates a bad mood too.  How can anyone help but break into smiles and laughter while jumping… and jumping… and jumping?!?!

What’s the cost for a vacation these days?  How long does it last?  How far will your money take you?  In this economy it seems everyone’s adopted at least a little frugality!  We think giving your family a Springfree Staycation instead is the way to go!  It will far outlast any vacation plans and promote great habits like family exercise, activity and interactivity long term!  The “Get out from behind that television set!!!”, right??  I know that in our family nothing compares to the fun that we have while bouncing on ours:).  The giggles and grins are unmatched and our Springfree Trampoline really has added SO much to our life.

There really are some pretty amazing health benefits too!  Did you know that “rebounding” (another more serious name for bouncing on a trampoline) is one of the absolute best things you can do for your health???  Take a look at these health benefits of rebounding and then tell me how your last budget trip to Disney did any of it…haha!  We saw you there with the mouse-shaped ice cream sandwich…:)!

It looks much better and takes up much less space than the usual trampoline.  It’s easy to set up, and have you ever found yourself wishing you had a rubber room to put the kids in??  HA!  That in and of itself… and it can help take off the baby weight… and keep the kids happy and busy… and, well, you get the point.  All of this is what make it yet another of our Favorite Things!!!

To win your very own Springfree Staycation (Model SF40 valued at $949!!) simply visit www.SpringfreeTrampoline.com and leave your comment on this post letting them know what you think about their products, company, or their website!!  You know how it works and what to do .  This SWAG ALERT will be open for daily entry until we say so!  Good luck!

Also, check out what our BFF’s over at MommiesWithStyle.com , Popshopology.com and CarAndCaboodle.com said about Springfree Trampolines too!

PS – Don’t forget the new “RETWEET” button just below to get an EXTRA ENTRY!!!

Not able to get out and see the world with the little ones in tow?  Don’t sweat it!  Have a summer ahead of you with busy bodies to keep…busy?!  Not a problem!  Little Passports is a fun way to keep your kids busy and teach them about the world beyond your backyard!

My boys can’t get enough if this!  They carry the little suitcase around and fill it with all kids of treasures and they love the world map that comes with the first month Explorer Kit.  What I love most about Little Passports?!  It’s not a one time toy!

Each month the characters, Sofia and Sam, travel to a new country on their magical scooter and share their experiences with your child.  Your child will receive a personalized package via postal mail that includes an adventure letter, fun souvenirs, activities and access to the online Boarding Zone full of games and activities!!  How FUN is that?!  I think this is a perfect gift for birthdays too!  At only$10.95 per month, it’s really cheap fun!  Think about it, you can’t take an adventure to Japan for $10.95!  There are so many opportunities for fun and learning and great family time!

Whether you know it or not, you’ve heard the sound of a toy piano before. Kids love them, but they’re not just toys. They’ve also been used in countless recordings by artists such as Radiohead, Tori Amos, Evanescence and Dresden Dolls. Classical musicians have also embraced their distinctive, bell-like sound, recording entire solo toy piano albums.

Chances are, when you’ve heard a toy piano, it was a Schoenhut. Their name has become synonymous with the toy piano sound. In fact, the modern form of toy piano it was created by Albert Schoenhut in 1872, when he was only 17 years old (ambitious much?). He took the old German toy piano (which was made with brittle glass bars), and substituted strong metal bars, which changed the sound considerably as well as making the instruments far more durable. And a classic was born.

All Schoenhut pianos come with the Schoenhut patented Learning System, which includes a color-coded overlay for the piano and a songbook with corresponding color-coded notes, which makes it fairly easy to teach your child some songs, even if you’re not Beethoven.

My First Piano II

This adorable shiny red piano immediately conjured images of a tiny Elton John, wearing tiny glasses, singing Tiny Dancer. It’s compact two-octave range means that it’s pretty portable, and my 2 year-old son, Noah, is drawn to this piano’s glossy finish in the same subliminal way that I’m drawn to shiny red sports cars. This is not a precision-instrument however, it’s a toy, so keys occasionally trigger the wrong notes. For instance, when plunking the middle C several times in a row, an occasional B would sound. This of course, will never matter to Noah. The tone is glorious for such a tiny instrument. As is the phenomenon with full-size upright pianos compared to grand pianos, the sound is dense from reflecting inside the smaller cabinet… which means you hear less attack and more sustain on the notes… which means (how technical can we get when talking about toys?) the sound is a bit less percussive and more melodic than the grand. Everyone still with me? A very fun unit to play.

My First Piano I

This “My First Piano” is very similar to the red model reviewed above, but comes in a smaller 18-key size. This means less range, but more portable. Still shiny!

Traditional Spinet

This model earned the distinction of being the only toy piano ever played in Carnegie Hall. The sound has more depth than the “My First Piano” series, because of the larger cabinet. It bridges the gap nicely between the little guys and the Baby Grand Piano.

Baby Grand Piano

Beautiful, spacious and (once again) shiny, the baby grand is a full three octaves, meaning Noah can brush up on Moonlight Sonata… just as soon as he learns what that is. The lid even raises, and it comes with a music stand. All it’s missing is a tiny candelabra. Because it can be with the lid raised, the tone is airier than the upright, as the sound has more room to spread out. This unit didn’t have the wrong-note trigger issue that the upright did, but because there are more extreme high and low notes here, the notes on the fringes were harder to keep in tune. But this piano was also very fun to play, and it is more than enough keyboard for Noah!

Bottom Line

I highly recommend any Schoenhut piano, but as far as these models go: the uprights are great for smaller children (1-3yrs), the Spinet would be well-suited for 2-5yrs, and the grand is one to grow into (3 & up), as Noah is currently a little intimidated by its scope, though he loves running over to it, hitting some keys, and running away.

In the studio, they are all very useful. I prefer the smaller models for their portability, and will use them when I need a more “singing” tone, while the grand is a bit hard to find a spot for in a little recording booth, and suited more for percussive passages.

All are fun, sound great, and are (most importantly) VERY SHINY.

SWAG ALERT: Win your very own Schoenhut Model 3005 Baby Grand Piano in your choice of black, red, or white!!!

To enter, visit www.ToyPiano.com leave your comment on this post letting Schoenhut know what you think about their wonderful products! You know how it works and what to do . This SWAG ALERT will be open for daily entry until we say so, so enter away:)!!!
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Summer is here and the kids are doing that beautiful thing they do…play OUTside!  When I found the Nature Bag, I knew that my boys NEEDED it!  They are boys, so naturally outdoor adventures are their thing!  This little organic nature activity bag helps connect children with their natural environment and teaches them more about how to take care of our planet!  These pictures are of my boys trying out their Nature Bag during a trip to the zoo!

The Nature Bag is a simple and fun way to get your kids involved with the beauty and wonder of nature.  My littlest walks around the yard with the magnifying glass saying phrases like, “Well, that’s a mystery!” and “Isn’t this interesting!”  (Yes, he is a genius, by the way.)

I love the idea of giving something to my kids that is earth friendly, safe (no contaminated plastic here!), and contributing to the greater good.  Through the manufacturing of the organic cotton bag and bandanna, your Nature Bag purchase is contributing to the source of income of families in KV Kuppam, a district in Southern India.  How’s that for being a good example to your kids!

The kind folks at Nature Bag have given our readers $5 off your purchase with code: Bellaziza, so get a Nature Bag, get outside and have some fun with your kids this summer!!!

Tasha

Sure, “Rubber Ducky makes bath time so much fun”, but today’s bathing beauty has so many more choices at his or her soapy little fingertips.  Take Boon’s spunky line of bath toys, for example.  Rub-a-dub-dub, indeed!  Their bath shapes, games and Bug Pod are enough to make the three men in a tub want to stay there all day long!

Naturally, my four young children bathe for pleasure as much as they do to get clean, and they love Boon’s bath creations.  With the funky shaped Splat and Water Bugs games to keep them busy, their fingers turn to raisins long before they are actually ready to get out.  Even the actual cleaning is fun now with the Scrubbles!  As an artist, I appreciate the modern colors and organic shapes, of the Bath Goods too.

Don’t even get me started on how adorable and functional the Bug Pod is!  Not only is it dotted with holes which keep water out and toys in as it sits securely fastened, either with the included double-sided tape or screws on the side of the tub, the ladybug also doubles as a scoop. When bath time is finally over and brightly colored toys bob and float in the water, a simple scoop of the ladybug over the surface of the water, a fun task which even a child can do, collects all the toys for easy storage.

Until the next bath time rolls around.  Which, in our house, is bound to be before too long with fun bath toys like these that just beg to be played with!

Fun, cute and practical…our Favorite!!

Brooke Mueller Sheen, Charlie Sheen’s wife and new mother of their twin boys, is a BuckleyBoo fan right from the start!  Max and Bob are almost a month old and are already set to learn the fine art of buckling!!

The BuckleyBoo teaches your child how to master the ever challenging and always intriguing buckle.  It’s great for many age levels too!  Get your own at www.Buckleyboo.com for the great price of $19.99 – $29.99!!

Just a reminder to everyone… this is the last week to enter for the incredibly fabulous Plan Toys $1,000 Toy Makeover!!!

YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED to win V.I.P. SWAG, so CLICK HERE to subscribe to our weekly update email!!!

THIS WEEK ONLY: CLICK HERE & enter this giveaway up to THREE times per day per email address with DIFFERENT comment/feedback for Plan Toys EACH TIME! The purpose is to give our friends at Plan Toys the benefit of all of your creative ideas and critical feedback, so let loose and make your voice heard!  They want to hear from YOU so that they can get even better at what they do!!!  (Hard to imagine, we know:)!!!)

GOOD LUCK TO ALL and stay tuned for our NEXT V.I.P. SWAG Giveaway coming up soon!!!

Extravagant?  Who, us?  You know we love to spoil our readers and our Favorite toy experts are helping us do just that!  This week we will be giving away some super duper SWAG from the best of the best, the always Eco-friendly, kid safe, and imagination inspiring Plan Toys!!

We are giving away to one very lucky reader the whole shebang – the Plan Toys Kitchen Center, Dishwasher, Fridge, Toaster, Microwave, Assorted Fruits & Veggies, Breakfast Menu, Cooking Utensils, Tableware Set, AND Food & Beverage Set all valued at a grand total of $950!!!

Plan Toys has asked that you, our fabulous readers, suggest what you would like to see included in PlanToys products, their website or any other efforts made by their very socially conscious company.  How would YOU suggest they improve? To enter, please visit www.plantoysusa.com, and comment on this post answering their request.

This SWAG ALERT will be open for daily entry until Monday, January 26th at midnight PST.  Our same fabulous SWAG ALERT rules apply, including EXTRAS, but if you need a refresher on the details just CLICK HERE or visit our “SWAG INFO” page by clicking the tab at the top right of this page.

A HUGE THANKS to all of our friends at Plan Toys for this generous giveaway, and of course to you for reading BellazizasFavorites.com!

PLEASE NOTE:

Plan Toys has asked that you, our fabulous readers, suggest what you would like to see included in PlanToys products, their website or any other efforts made by their very socially conscious company.

How would YOU suggest they improve?

To enter, please visit www.plantoysusa.com, and comment on our original post answering their request.

Thanks!!!

THIS JUST IN:

“EXTRA ENTRIES” on V.I.P. SWAG will be limited to those for referring new confirmed subscribers as of today.  All entries previous to this post will of course be counted and DO BE ON THE LOOKOUT since we just may surprise you and open it back up again randomly for another big EXTRA ENTRIES fest:)!

So again, just to recap, our current V.I.P. SWAG ALERT will be open for regular daily entry until Monday, March 30th, 2009 at midnight PST, but EXTRA ENTRIES will be limited to those for referring new confirmed subscribers. Thanks,  and GOOD LUCK to all!!!

We’re ringing in 2009 with our absolute best SWAG yet!  Oooh yes, we’ve done it again!  You thought the Phil&Teds Vibe was great, but a $1,000 Toy Makeover from Plan Toys!?!?  Too much?  Not for our fabulous readers!  Just think of all of the incredible and totally green toys that you could get from Plan Toys with $1,000 to spend!!!  This could take some time and thought, so we’ll give you plenty of chances to make your decision and enter for this, our biggest and best giveaway yet!!!

To enter, FIRST, you must be a Bellaziza V.I.P.! This is done by subscribing to our updates via email.  Most of you already are, but without subscription and that V.I.P. status, you will not qualify to win this SWAG.  You can CLICK HERE to sign up.

Plan Toys has asked that you, our fabulous readers, suggest what you would like to see included in PlanToys products, their website or any other efforts made by their very socially conscious company.  How would YOU suggest they improve? To enter, please visit www.plantoysusa.com, and comment on this post answering their request.

This V.I.P. SWAG ALERT will be open for daily entry until Monday, March 30th, 2009 at midnight PST. We will announce the big winner on Tuesday, March 31.  Our same fabulous SWAG ALERT rules apply, including EXTRAS for referring new confirmed subscribers only. If you need a refresher on the details just CLICK HERE or visit our “SWAG INFO” page by clicking the tab at the top of this page.

Thanks in advance for your feedback on behalf of our wonderful friends at Plan Toys, and GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!

UPDATE (1/6/09):

Just FYI, as of Tuesday January 6, 2009, “EXTRA ENTIRES” on V.I.P. SWAG will be limited to those for referring new confirmed subscribers.  All entries previous to this post will of course be counted and DO BE ON THE LOOKOUT since we just may surprise you and open it back up again randomly for another big EXTRA ENTRIES fest:)!

So again, just to recap, daily entries through March V.I.P. SWAG ALERT will be open for daily entry until Monday, March 30th, 2009 at midnight PST, but EXTRA ENTRIES will be limited to those for referring new confirmed subscribers. Thanks,  and GOOD LUCK to all!!!

This week’s Holiday SWAG features one of our Holiday Gift Guide picks from Plan Toys!  But since we’re in the season of generosity, this week’s SWAG will have TWO lucky winners!  We are giving away two amazing products from Plan Toys!!  The Barn Set including the Tractor and Trailer, Farm Animal Set and Vegetable Garden and the Road and Rail Play Set-Railway Station.   DOUBLE ENTRIES THIS WEEK ONLY, as we have 2 separate prizes!!!

The rules for entry are a little different this time since we have double the SWAG, so please do read carefully.  We’re giving you more chances to win, but you need to submit your entries correctly for them to count!!  MAKE SURE TO MENTION “PLAN TOYS FARM SWAG” OR “ PLAN TOYS TRAIN SWAG” IN YOUR COMMENT SO WE KNOW WHICH IS WHICH.

To enter, go to www.PlanToys.com and take a look at their products. THEN simply comment on this post saying what you love most about their products, their website or their company.

Entries without suitable comments will not be counted out of respect for our fabulous readers and our wonderful sponsor. Entries such as “wow”, “I would love to win this” and “very nice” do not make the cut.  We are looking for your opinion on our sponsor’s product.  Your feedback is valuable to our sponsors and is one of the reasons we are able to provide such amazing info and prizes for you!

You may enter TWICE per email address per day as there are two individual prizes.   Mention “Plan Toys FARM SWAG” or “Plan Toys TRAIN SWAG” in your comment.  (One FARM and one TRAIN entry per day per email address.)  EXTRA ENTRIES are also available as always for blogging about us, referring new confirmed subscribers, and/or adding our button to your blog or website. Just leave a comment telling us how you earned that extra entry (plus any relevant info like your blog address or referral’s email address).  Please do leave separate comments for each, as your comments are your actual entries.

We’re making a list and checking it twice as our list of Favorite Things for the 2008 Holiday goes on!  If you peeked inside our 2008 Holiday Gift Guide, we know you fell in love with the Plan Toys Barn Set.  Well be prepared to fall head over heels because we are about to show you even more from the BEST toy company for all us eco-friendly toy buyers!  Plan Toys is a toy company like no other!  Their slogan, “Green Toy-Green Company” is not just a catch-phrase, it’s their promise to you and I that their toys are 100% safe for the Earth and our children.  When I unwrapped each toy from paper, not plastic, my heart smiled and I gave the Earth a wink.  All of their toys are made with organic materials from the non-latex rubber wood right down to the non-toxic paint.  It’s not very often that you can save the Earth and make your kids happy all at the same time!  And it feels so great knowing that your purchase is making an impact, not just making someone else rich.

Speaking of the Barn Set, can we tell you how adorable it is?!  Forget those tacky plastic barns, this toy is for the kid (and parents) with excellent taste!  Our favorite thing to do with the barn is the working pulley that can be used to feed the animals…over and over and over again!  The easily accessible interior keeps little hands busy and happy as they can take the roof on and off as they please.  Purchase your own Barn Set here at Amazon.com where we found it for $97.88 (worth every penny!)  Let’s not forget the handy dandy green tractor and cart that provides hours of fun in itself!  It really is so unique with its real rubber tires and elasticized tailgate!  We also found the tractor on Amazon for a great deal at $48.86!  Check out the vegetable garden set and the farm animal set at Amazon as well for great deals and free shipping!  Hurry!!  If you order in the next few days, you can still get them in time for Christmas!

Other than their commitment to being Earth and kid safe, Plan Toys are so very well built.  This is evidenced by their recent win of this year’s very prestigious Oppenheim Platinum Best Toy Award for the Road and Rail Playset!  I had the man of the house do a once over of the Road and Rail Playset – Railway Station (the new favorite toy in our house right now) and even he wouldn’t put it away at bed time!

This train set is unlike any other you will ever buy.  The quality is unmatchable and it doesn’t hurt that it is oh so cute!  The best part, it all folds up and fits into the Railway Station which also serves as a storage box! And talk about versatile,  the tracks fit together with any of the conventional wooden train track sets (Thomas the Tank Engine, Brio, Pottery Barn Kids, etc…) and, of course, with all of the other Plan Toys PlanCity sets.  Click here to find a great price of $185 at Amazon.com…a steal for such a great product!

From preschool toys, baby toys, furniture to die for and the cutest little doll houses ever, Plan Toys has something for everyone, and you ALWAYS know that it’s safe for your kiddos.  THAT is Plan’s promise.  Visit them online today at www.plantoysusa.com to find that perfect something for your perfect little someone!

Congratulations to subscriber, Lisa C., who is the winner of $200 Schylling SWAG for girls, and commenter #83, Kristy V., to  who is the winner of $200 Schylling SWAG for boys!  We are doubly happy for you both!

Please stay tuned for more of the best just for you including another great SWAG ALERT from Plan Toys, another one of our fabulous Holiday Gift Guide sponsors!  The Holidays are here and we have a lot to SWAG you with!!!

Also, check out our Definitive 2008 Holiday Gift Guide to get lots of EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS, on all of your holiday shopping this season!

Merry Christmas to you from Schylling Toys!  This week’s SWAG will have TWO lucky winners!  We are giving away two gift certificates that can be used online at Schylling.com!  (1) $200 for Girls and (1) $200 for Boys!  DOUBLE ENTRIES THIS WEEK ONLY, as we have 2 separate prizes!!!

The rules for entry are a little different this time since we have double the SWAG, so please do read carefully.  We’re giving you more chances to win, but you need to submit your entries correctly for them to count!!  MAKE SURE TO MENTION “GIRL SWAG” OR “BOY SWAG” IN YOUR COMMENT SO WE KNOW WHICH IS WHICH.

To enter, go to www.Schylling.com and take a look at their products. THEN simply comment on this post saying what you love most about their products, their website or their company.

Entries without suitable comments will not be counted out of respect for our fabulous readers and our wonderful sponsor. Entries such as “wow”, “I would love to win this” and “very nice” do not make the cut.  We are looking for your opinion on our sponsor’s product.  Your feedback is valuable to our sponsors and is one of the reasons we are able to provide such amazing info and prizes for you!

You may enter TWICE per email address per day as there are two individual prizes.   Mention “GIRL SWAG” or “BOY SWAG” in your comment.  (One GIRL and one BOY entry per day per email address.)  EXTRA ENTRIES are also available as always for blogging about us, referring new confirmed subscribers, and/or adding our button to your blog or website. Just leave a comment telling us how you earned that extra entry (plus any relevant info like your blog address or referral’s email address).  Please do leave separate comments for each, as your comments are your actual entries.