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Boredom Busters Your Kids Will Love + Giveaway



The winter months can lag after so much excitement at the end of the year. Keep kids entertained and occupied with these fun (indoor) games!




ZipLinx Hi-Fly Set (Blip Toys): This high-flying, chain-reaction activity set delivers the eye-popping payoff of the classic domino run— but ZipLinx launch pieces up to 3 feet in the air for the finale! The magic of the system is not only the ease of set-up but there’s also no accidental starts. That means your design literally won’t “pop” until you insert the special Linx Launcher Key! Available now on Amazon. (MSRP $19.99; Ages 6+)




Cake-N-Bake Challenge (Hey Buddy Hey Pal): A totally different kind of action-packed family game with a delicious, rainbow-layer, foam cake as the center of attention! Object of the game is to, well, just be the fastest baker! Players race to stack their cake slices based on the order on a game card. The first to correctly stack their cake wins a candle, and whoever collects six candles wins and gets to wear the included chef’s hat. ALSO great for preschoolers learning their colors - plus no reading required!! Available on Amazon (MSRP: $27.99; Ages 4+)




Blackbeard’s Treasure Hunt (Vango Toys): Avast me hearties! This newest kid’s action game from Vango has all the pirate-loving tropes for young swashbucklers! Follow the treasure map, unlock a treasure chest, and collect the booty of gold doubloons that spill out of the Chest! Takes both luck. . . and strategy. Yo ho ho... this sounds like a lot of fun!!! Available at Target (MSRP: $19.99; Ages 4+)


These are great for any boredom buster or winter indoor activity. Makes for great family fun!

Giveaway time!  Win all of these cool games!

Giveaway ends on Friday 2/24/23 at noon and I will announce a winner that same day!  Good luck!

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Make Bath Time Fun for Your Toddlers



 

Thanks to playmobil for sending us all of these fun bath toys! 

 When it's bath time for your toddler, things can get hectic.  Adding some fun learning toys to bath time can be a game changer.  Kids love to play in the bathtub and I am thrilled to introduce these toys to your routine.

Playmobil 1.2.3 Aqua Water Slide with Sea Animals is for ages 1 1/2 to 4 years old.  Promoting motor and cognitive skills AND having fun is a winning combination.



The Water See Saw with Boat is my fave! It promotes imaginative play while having a great creative experience.



The Water Wheel with Baby Shark is so much fun.  Simply attach the water wheel to the wall or side of the tub using the suction cup. Then, place the figure inside and close the fish door. Now the real action begins! Fill the cup with water and pour it over the wheel to make it spin.



  All of these bath toys are available on Amazon.  We love to make learning fun and these are a perfect way to make bath time a fun and educational time.
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Your Kids Will Love These

Just Toys Intl. sent me some awesome products that would be great gifts for kids on Valentine's Day!  They would also make wonderful Easter Basket fillers (Easter isn't really all that far away!).  All of these products can be purchased directly from the website, or on Amazon.

 

 

Nearly every kid I've encountered loves to play Minecraft, and they also love slime almost as much.  MINECRAFT SLIME combines the two!  This new officially licensed Minecraft Slime is priced at $8.89 each.  You'll have fun playing with, squeezing, and stretching the non-sticky, wet and soft green slime.  Each blind box comes with a Minecraft cube filled with different colored slime and one of seven different Minecraft character figures, including one rare figure.  This rare figure will be found in 1 of every 24 cubes. Collect all 7 figures!

The MINECRAFT MINE KIT is priced at $11.99 each.  Now you can mine for real stones with this officially licensed Minecraft Mining Kit with a chance to uncover real gold or diamonds.  Shaped like a Minecraft block, this kit includes a prize buried within the compacted sand that must be dug out with a real Minecraft iron pick axe.  Each kit comes with a toy iron pick axe to dig with and one collectable stone (figure).  There's a limited chance of finding a REAL certified gold nugget or diamond (1 in 12 chance to find gold and 1 in 24 chance to find a diamond).


Another thing that's very popular with kids these days is Sonic the Hedgehog.  These Sonic the Hedgehog Craftables are priced at $9.99 each and your kids will love them!  You'll be able to b
uild the world of Sonic the Hedgehog one Craftable at a time!  There are four different scenes to collect, and you can link your Craftables together to create unique scenes.  These exciting buildable scenes feature all of your favorite Sonic the Hedgehog characters including Sonic the Hedgehog himself, Tails, Super Sonic and many more.


Each of these convenient officially licensed Sonic the Hedgehog Hand Sanitizers comes with one of multiple characters holding a bottle of antimicrobial gel.  This is a great way to help reduce the number of germs on your child's hands.  No rinsing with water or drying with towels is needed.  These 75% alcohol based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands, but do not eliminate every kind of pathogenic microorganism.  The hand sanitizer meets U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) healthcare personnel hand washing requirements.  It’s perfect for on the go uses when traveling outside of the home or spending a day at school.  It clips perfectly to backpacks, purses or keychains.  They are priced at $8.99 each and your child will want them all!

 

Just Toys Intl. has a many different licensed products, including My Hero Academia, Hello Kitty and Five Nights at Freddy's.  Visit their website to see their full selection.

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Fast & Furious Spy Racers Sahara streaming on Netflix December 26

 


Get ready for the Netflix Original Series, Fast & Furious Spy Racers Sahara, streaming on December 26th.  I am sure this will make it to the #1 spot on Netflix!  Make sure to mark your calendars for this one.

From Universal and DreamWorks Animation, the season three trailer for the hit Netflix original series Fast & Furious: Spy Racers follows the crew on a mission in the Sahara.

Inspired by Universal’s blockbuster Fast & Furious franchise, teenager Tony Toretto follows in the footsteps of his cousin Dom when he and his friends are recruited by a secret government agency to take down nefarious crime organizations across the globe. 

This season, when the menacing Cleve Kelso and his experimental storm satellites take down Ms. Nowhere and Gary during an operation in North Africa, Echo steps up as de facto leader, much to Tony's chagrin, and the Spy Racers embark on a dangerous mission across the Sahara. Will they be able to save their crew or will Kelso and his league of villains be too powerful for the Spy Racers to survive in the harsh desert? 

Watch the trailer below!




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Your children can learn to play music by playing a video game

Has your child expressed interest in learning to play the piano, only to struggle with actually learning it once they begin lessons?  Lessons can be expensive, and it's just not worth it if they do not effectively teach your child.  Every child has their own learning style.  They get bored quickly and it's hard to find standard lessons that will stick with them.  But what does practically every kid like to do?  Play video games!  Well, now there's an awesome solution:  Kings & Kingdoms.  This is a game that kids will love to play, and while they are playing, they'll be learning to play music without even realizing it!  They have a 30 day free trial if you want to try it out.  You can use a regular keyboard if you want, but it's so much cooler if you purchase the X-Key controller because it's like a piano.  I was recently given the opportunity to try out the game, and was provided with an X-Key controller.  My kids LOVE it!  And they are learning as they play!

Keys & Kingdoms is the world's first role playing game that teaches real musical skills in a completely new way.  It doesn't matter if a child has had any previous music lessons or not, once they start playing this game, they will be creating music within minutes!  The game incorporates a revolutionary teaching method called the Sight Reduction Method, or SRM.  It slowly removes all visual cues/aids as sources of musical information and trains kids to play anything by ear, instantly.

   

With the absence of sight cues, kids won't suffer through the frustrations of trying to read music.  Instead, they'll learn to recognize musical notes by ear and then play them back on a real instrument.  It promotes creativity and lets them play music in their own style.  You can access Keys & Kingdoms from your desktop, laptop or IOS mobile device, so you can play any time, no matter where you are! 

Get started by downloading the game, connect a keyboard (use your existing keyboard or boost the learning experience with the X-Key controller available at checkout) and then just enjoy the game as your child masters music.  Parents receive weekly emails with a report on the child's progress through the game as they learn valuable music skills and enjoy hours of fun.  You can see how your child becomes less dependent on sight reading over time.  You can also see the hours your child has logged in for training that helps them recognize and play music by ear.  And you can gain insight into the time your child spends creatively playing their own unique music.    

Your kids will have so much fun playing this game because it sends them on an epic journey across five different islands, battling villains, opening chests and saving Harmonia.  And while they are doing that, they are learning and practicing piano playing.  Imagine the joy and the sense of pride they will feel (and you will feel as well) when they sit down at a real piano and begin playing a song that they learned in the game!

So go ahead and let your kids play a video game.  But let that video game be Kings & Kingdoms because they will also learn to play the piano.  It's for kids age 6+ and there is no prior piano experience necessary.  It's a fun and engaging game that will keep your children entertained for hours at a time while they unknowingly practice their piano lessons.  And it's a fraction of the cost of traditional music lessons, plus it double as entertainment as well!  It's a win/win for everyone!

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Check out the newest line of build sets from Plus-Plus: Plus-Plus GO

If you've never built anything with Plus-Plus, then you really need to try it.  It's such a simple concept, but it's so much fun!  Kids of all ages enjoy them - even the adult kids!  The pieces are all the same, shaped like a puzzle piece, and they can interlock in any way you choose.  Whether you do a flat build, or a 3D creation.  And now they've come out with a new line of sets called Plus-Plus GO!  They've added wheels and a new smaller baseplate that allows you to build vehicles that will roll.  They provided me with two different sets from their new line, so I could try them out for this review.  You guessed it... I love playing with these things just as much as my kids do!


The Plus-Plus GO! Street Racing Super Set comes with everything you need to build and stage your own little drag race.  For $49.99 you get 900 pieces in a dozen different colors, 12 wheels, 4 baseplates and instructions to create 3 cars and accessories.  Build two street racer hot rods and the police cruiser to chase them in hot pursuit.  Customize each vehicle to suit your personal tastes.  Build a traffic light and some street barricades to throw in as well.  Be creative and use your imagination and this set will provide hours of fun!


The Plus-Plus GO! Hot Rod Set includes 240 pieces in 10 different colors, 4 wheels, 1 baseplate and instructions to create the Hot Rod.  It's priced at $17.99.  You can build the Hot Rod, race it and customize it.  It's so much fun!

Plus-Plus GO! has already received the ASTRA award for Best Toys for Kids int the Construction Category.  Building these 3D models will challenge kids to develop their fine motor skills while encouraging the use of their imagination.

Plus-Plus is made in Denmark in a zero plastic waste factory powered by renewable energy.  Each piece easily connects to the next and lets your imagination create colorful flat mosaics or work in 3D to make more intricate builds.  You can even make curves thanks to the unique design of this deceptively simple shape.  You can even download their free app for even more building ideas.  This is a perfect STEM toy to develop fine motor skills, focus and patience - as well as design, imagination and creativity.  If you haven't tried Plus-Plus yet, what are you waiting for?!
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Add lights to your creations with E-Blox

I was lucky enough to receive a starter set from E-Blox for review, and my kids are creating some awesome masterpieces that really light up!  E-Blox are compatible with other toy bricks sets, so you can build with your existing bricks and use the E-Blox to light your creations up.


The E-Blox Power Blox Light Up 3D Starter Kit has a retail price of $32.99 and comes with everything you need to get started except a 9V battery to power it and a small screwdriver to install the battery.  You can even download build instructions from the website, or look up instruction videos online that will walk you through several creations, like the simple robot (they call it an alien in the video), the heart and the light tower.  This is recommended for age 8+, but slightly younger children will also enjoy it with proper supervision.  It's not for ages 3 and under due to the choking hazard of the small pieces.

 

As you can see, the video walks you through each step to building the cute little guy that is pictured on the front of the box.  It shows you how to insert the battery into the E-Blox battery box and testing to see if it works.  It goes on with the complete instructions on assembling the alien (or robot) and even gives trouble shooting tips and suggestions.  It's very easy to follow.

  
The Starter Kit comes with 25 Power Blox pieces, in different sizes, that can be used to create the designs on the back of the box, or use your imagination and design your own creations.  There are different colors of light bricks too (blue, green and red), which I thought was cool.  You can purchase additional E-Blox sets and combine them to create a bigger masterpiece.  Or combine them with your existing building bricks and the possibilities are endless!  Create buildings, vehicles, robots and more!  Imagine the joy on your child's face when they see their creation light up!

   
You won't find this Patented Technology in any other toy brick set.  It will stimulate young minds with creativity, imagination and science, making it a great addition to any STEAM curriculum.  There are no wires, you build the circuits directly into your projects as you light up the 3D circuits with the unique power block.  You'll love using your imagination to create awesome structures, combining other toy bricks with your E-Blox to enhance and bring lights to every creation you can come up with.
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Fun games with a fishing theme!

Looking for something to keep your kids occupied this summer?  Check out these great games that I received from Goliath Games for review!   


With a retail price of $24.99, Shark Bite is a great game for 2-4 players.  It's recommended for age 4+ and my kids have a blast playing it.  To play, you just place the fun and colorful sea creatures into the game unit (the shark), snap it open and start playing.  Players take turns rolling the die and fishing for the sea creatures using the fishing rods.  The thing that really makes this challenging and exciting is the fact that you never know when the shark is going to bite!  When you least expect it, the shark will jump up and its mouth will snap closed.  This causes screams, squeals and laughter!  Can you make your "catch" without getting bitten?  

     
Shark Bite comes with 1 hungry shark, 12 colorful sea creatures, 1 fishing rod, 1 die, 1 sticker sheet and complete instructions.  The great thing about this game is that it doesn't need batteries!  So pit your fishing skills against your family and friends and see who wins!

 
Let's Go Fishing gives you another chance to show off your "fishing" skills.  This is a 1-4 player game and is recommended for age 4 and up.  It has a retail price of $16.99.  This is the original version of a well known and well loved fishing game that parents will probably remember playing as kids.  It teaches hand-eye coordination as players use their mini fishing poles to try to catch the most fish.  It's challenging because it the game board spins, and the fish open and close their mouths, so you have to time it just right in order to hook your fish.  Are you fast enough to catch more fish than your opponents and win the game?

      
Let's Go Fishing comes with the deluxe motorized game unit (requires 1 C battery, not included), 21 colorful fish, 4 plastic fishing rods and complete instructions.  This game is perfect for traveling, as well as playing at home.  It will keep your little ones occupied for hours as they try to out-fish each other!
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This craft kit is a craft and activity in one!

I received these cool DinoMazing products from EggMazing for review.  These are perfect for your little budding paleontologist or anyone who loves dinosaurs. 


You can get a DinoMazing Egg Decorator Kit for just $27.99, and that price includes the shipping!  This craft kit is actually a craft, and an activity!  First, decorate your dino egg by popping it into the decorator and using the different colored markers to create a cool design.  Easily create your designs as the decorator spins.  As you color the egg, you will see the cracks in it.  You can decorate the eggs with stripes and lines, as well as any designs that you think looks "prehistoric".  Once you have your egg decorated, crack it open to see what type of dinosaur you have.  Each egg has a surprise mini collectible dinosaur inside, and it's dripping in colored slime!  The kit includes one decorator, two plastic eggs (each containing a mystery dinosaur and slime) and six colorful markers.  The decorator requires 4 AA batteries, which are not included in the kit.

         
For $4.99 (and again, that price includes the shipping!), you can a Mystery DinoMazing Egg Refill.  There are six dinosaurs to collect:  Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Pterodactyl, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor and Ankylosaurus.  You can even swap the dinosaurs' head and limbs to create your own breed!  Another great thing about the decorator is that you can use it to decorate regular hard boiled eggs as well!  So you will be able to decorate eggs any time you want to with no need to purchase the refills unless you choose.  This would make a great summer activity for any little one.  It's even fun for adults!  So pick one up for your dinosaur fanatic today!
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Personalize your T-Shirt with Chalk of the Town!

I received this product from Chalk of the Town for review and I'm really excited about it!  These T-Shirts were invented to be decorated with bright, precise chalk markers.  It lets you create new designs every time you wear it!


Chalk of the Town is available in both kids and adult sizes, so they're not just for kids.  Let's face it, we adults like cool shirts too!  You can get a short sleeve kit for kids that comes with a shirt and 3 chalk markers for $29.95.  Kits in adult sizes is just slightly more.  You can also choose long sleeve kits, stencils & markers, Tote & Patch Kits and single T-shirts.  Each shirt, patch and tote features a chalk board panel that you can really write on.  You can choose the shape of the chalk board, the designs available are speech bubble, heart and unicorn.  T-Shirt colors include Raspberry, Purple, Brilliant Blue and Lime Green.  

You get to decide how you want to decorate your shirt!  You can draw a picture or write a message.  Whatever you choose!  You can decorate your shirt for holidays or special occasions, or just in every day designs.  Tired of your design and want to change it up?  Just erase it and start over again!  The possibilities are endless.  You can create matching shirts with family members and friends, or be totally unique! 

  
I love these shirts, and I love that they allow my children to express their creativity.  And they love being able to decorate their shirts in any way that they choose.  And people always notice these shirts and comment on how cool they are.  So pick up some for your family!  Your kids will love them!  And you can accessorize with the patch kit and the tote kits!
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Railway Empire for Nintendo Switch


United States, 1830: ‘The New World’ is in its ascendancy. Industry is booming, and the race is on to establish the most dominant and powerful rail empire in all of North America. It’s time to outthink and outmaneuver your competitors as you lead your company into the 20th century!

In Railway Empire, you will create an elaborate and wide-ranging rail network, purchase over 40 different trains modelled in extraordinary detail, and buy or build railway stations, maintenance buildings, factories and tourist attractions to keep your travel network ahead of the competition. You’ll also need to hire and manage your workforce if you want to ensure an efficient train service, whilst also develop over 300 technologies ranging from mechanical improvements to the trains themselves to workplace infrastructures and advanced amenities as you progress through five eras of technological innovations.

However, you can’t just build and research your way to the top – the competition never sleeps, and to keep your business on track you’ll have to survive against up to three rival tycoons. To get to the top you may have to resort to more cutthroat tactics as you attack and sabotage your opponents through raids and industrial espionage.
With the Railway Empire – Nintendo SwitchTM Edition you can extend and manage your rail network on the go. You will also get access to the DLC Mexico, The Great Lakes and Crossing the Andes unlocking new scenarios on regional maps, additional soundtracks, locomotives as well as introducing the night & snow mode.
Features:                                                                                             
  • -      Exploit the economic opportunities of the United States in an extensive campaign, working your way step by step from coast to coast across this great continent.
  • -       Lead your Railway Empire to success by establishing a comprehensive rail network and optimizing transportation of passengers and goods.
  • -        Master challenges and objectives through a range of scenarios, or create your perfect railway network in construction mode without any financial pressure.
  • -      Over 40 historically accurate locomotives and more than 30 different wagons can be acquired over the course of the game, and must be put to use in the best way in order to take advantage of their strengths and weaknesses.
  • -      Invest in over 300 new technologies across five different eras to progress and maximize the potential of your rail network.
  • -      Compete with up to three rival companies, and even sabotage their efforts with the use of bandits and spies.
  • -       Includes the additional content: Mexico, The Great Lakes and Crossing the Andes



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Share these classic games with your kids

I received these classic games from Goliath Games and I am thrilled to review them!  These are classic games that I remember playing as a child, but they have been updated with fun new designs that are perfect for kids.  They are perfect additions to the family game collection for family game night.

  
Mastermind for Kids is a challenging game of logic and deduction.  Kids get to test their code cracking prowess as the try to find the secret code.  There are three levels of play, so kids can learn and grow with the game.  Mastermind is a great strategy game, it's one of the world's most popular games ever!  It's easy to learn, fast to play, and it's different every time.  The Code maker sets a secret code, then the Code breaker tries to match the code using logic, deduction and a little bit of luck.  After each move, the Code maker gives clues to the Code breaker.  With lots of possible code combinations, every game is guaranteed to be a brainteaser.  The winner will be a true Mastermind!


Mastermind For Kids comes with a plastic game base with a Rocky Mountain tray, 72 adorable jungle animals in 6 colors, 12 red scoring pegs and complete instructions.  All of the game pieces can be stored in the game board.  This is a 2 player game that is recommended for ages 6 and up.  It can be purchased at Walmart, Amazon, Kohl's, Barnes & Noble and KMart.

 
Mancala is thousands of years old, tracing its lineage to ancient Egypt.  Legend has it that workers played the game during rest periods while building the pyramids.  But the game is great for modern times as well.  It has gained new popularity as one of the world's most intriguing and clever two player games.

Mancala For Kids is a special kids edition that replaces gemstones with cute plastic animals.  To start the game, you place all of the animals in the pockets of the board.  When it's your turn, choose a pocket and scoop up all the animals in it, them drop them back into the pockets one by one as you circle the board.  The object is to collect the most animals by the end of the game and there are just a few easy rules you need to follow.

 
The game comes with one high quality, solid wood hinged playing board, 48 colorful animal playing pieces and complete instructions.  All of the pieces are stored inside the game board, which folds up for easy storage.  This is a 2 player game that is recommended for ages 6 and up.  It can be purchased at Amazon, Walmart and KMart.

 
The object of Sequence For Kids is to be the first player to make a sequence of four same color chips in a row using only your own chips.  Play a card from your hand and place your chip on a corresponding character on the board.  When you have four in a row, you win!  Use a Unicorn card to place your chip anywhere you want.  You can remove one of your opponent's chips by using a Dragon card.  This game can go back and forth so quickly that you never know who will win until someone does!

 
Sequence For Kids comes with a folding game board, 42 playing cards, playing chips (21 red, 21 yellow, 21 blue and 21 green) and instructions.  This is a 2-4 player game and is recommended for ages 3-6.  It can be purchase from Amazon.

Your kids will love these classic games, and you will love introducing them to them.  So if you're looking for new additions to your family game night, consider giving these a try!
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These games are great additions to your family game night!

I'm always on the look out for fun games to add to our family game night collection.  I've just added a couple of new games to ours that I was given by USAopoly for review.  They have tons of great games, check out their site to see their full selection!


First we have ASTRO TRASH.  You need 3-5 players for this game, and it's recommended for age 6+.  You can purchase it on Amazon or at Target for the suggested retail price of $19.99.  Awards it has won include Recommended by MENSA Mind Games 2019, Creative Child Magazine 2019 Game of the Year - Kid's Dice Games category, The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval 2019, Tillywig Award Best Family Fun 2019, Play on Words (PAL) Awards 2019 and Good Housekeeping Toy Awards - Best Board Game 2020.

  
To play Astro Trash, each player must get rid of all the trash on their play mat at the expense of the players to their left and right.  Players simultaneously roll three dice and rapidly move the "trash" according to the direction, quantity and color indicated on the dice.


The game comes with 15 dice, 5 individual player mats, 1 oversized central play mat, 50 colored plastic pieces, 11 trash trophies and the rules.  This is a very fast paced game and the whole family will have a blast playing it!


The second game I received is GEEK OUT! DISNEY.  You need 2 or more players for this one and the recommended age is 10+.  You can purchase it directly from the website.  The suggested retail price is $19.99.  


The social interaction and bluffing party game takes on a new twist that levels the playing field for all Disney fans!  Players outbid each other across 90 years of Disney magic to find out once and for all exactly who is the biggest Disney fan!


This game comes with 120 cards, 1 custom game board, 1 die, player tokens, 20 bid tokens and the rules.  So you think you know all about Disney?  Play this game and prove it!
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A doll that's made for the water

I was provided with this doll by Madame Alexander for this review.  


Little girls love dolls.  And they want to take them everywhere with them, even the bath tub.  But if the doll isn't designed for water, it can ruin them.  But the Splash and Play Mermaid is designed for time in the tub.  It's just as beautiful in the water as it is out of it.  And you can get one for your little girl for the MSRP of $49.95.


This doll is fully submersible and comes dressed in the cutest mermaid outfit.  She is wearing blue shorts with a fish scale pattern and a white t-shirt with pink sea shells made to look like a sea shell bra.  She also comes with a pink hooded mermaid towel with a green mermaid tail.  She has a bottle and a fish toy as well.  

 
At 12", this doll is the perfect size for a little girl to hold and cuddle.  Your daughter will love wrapping up in her own hooded towel, while she dries her doll with the mermaid towel.  She can even take her doll into a swimming pool with her, because everyone knows that mermaids love to swim!  

Splash and Play Mermaid is recommended for ages 2+ and will make a perfect summer companion to any little girl.  Being made for water play means that this doll will quickly become a favorite that is taken everywhere.  Bath time will be something that is looked forward to because your daughter will love exploring the underwater "mermaid kingdom" while she bathes.  And while you most likely won't have any trouble getting her into the bath tub, you will have trouble getting her out of it!
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