You remember last September when I posted about a creativity contest that LEGO was having? Well, the winners are in and the verdict is something we all knew already:

kids are amazing, compassionate, and creative

Liona P. (8 years old) “When her little sister Aulola passed away, Liona used creativity to help her remember fond memories about her sister. Using a blank book, photos, wrapping paper, and other art supplies, she created “Lola’s Little Scrapbook” that the family regularly turns to on the 6th of each month to honor her memory.”

Max W. (11 years old) “Self-proclaimed ‘Inventor Kid’ Max’s first creation, the ‘Great Granny Booster Step,’ was a special wooden step for his great grandmother who could not climb into the family mini-van on her own. The wooden step was so useful for his great grandmother, Max has continued to be creative and invent many different solutions for other people in need.”

Wow

Those kids used their creativity in inspiring ways and also won $5,000 to use towards future projects. There were 10 winners in all, and when they open entries for the 2008 contest I’ll be sure to let you know.

My Contest

True, the prize isn’t $5,000 (and reading the entries won’t make me cry like a baby), but it is still a pretty good one. One lucky winner will get a LEGO Big Rig set.

Plus a Bionicle

And a LEGO keychain for you!

Where to buy

If they haven’t sold out yet, you can get LEGO Bionicles on the LEGO web site as well as on Amazon.

The LEGO Big Rig is currently on backorder, but it looks like it may ship in time for Christmas from the LEGO Store and also Amazon for $30.

How to enter this contest

Just leave a comment on this post by Midnight Pacific, Thursday, December 13th and you’re entered to win a LEGO Big Rig set, a Bionicle (not necessarily the one pictured), and a cool LEGO Keychain for you!

Prize valued at approximately $44. Open to legal residents of the United States 18 years of age and older. No purchase required. One entry per person. Void where prohibited by law. Important contest rules and details. By submitting your Name and Email address, you agree to receive relevant promotional emails and contest follow up communications from Momsational and eMoms at Home, in compliance with our strict privacy policy and contest rules. Your information will never be rented or sold to third parties. Please note that we cannot guarantee you will get your prize in time for Christmas.

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I love Scholastic, and now I have one more reason. They have this really great Gift-of-the-Month club which makes gift-giving SO SIMPLE. I love that. Are you a grandparent, aunt, god-mother or anyone else struggling to think of something that will really knock Junior’s socks off the next time you send a present? Do you want to make a big impression?

Then how about giving them something they will enjoy all year long? The Scholastic Gift-of-the-Month Club (in case you didn’t figure it out from the name) sends the lucky recipient great loot all year long. What better way to engrave your name on the lucky child’s brain than that?

How to enter

Just leave a comment on this post by Midnight Pacific time, Monday, December 10 and you’re entered to win the super-deluxe first month’s shipment from the club of your choice! There will be TEN winners!

Prize valued at approximately $20. Open to legal residents of the United States 18 years of age and older. No purchase required. One entry per person. Void where prohibited by law. Important contest rules and details. By submitting your Name and Email address, you agree to receive relevant promotional emails and contest follow up communications from Momsational and eMoms at Home, in compliance with our strict privacy policy and contest rules. Your information will never be rented or sold to third parties. Please note that we cannot guarantee you will get your prize in time for Christmas.

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My youngest child will be 3 in a couple weeks, and all he wants to do is be just like his big brothers. For Christmas (shhhhhh!) he’s going to get some toddlerized remote control cars like these sets.

Remote Control Mack Crane - $39.99 at Back to Basics Toys

Remote Control Ducati Grand Prix Set - $59.99 at Back to Basics Toys

Remote Control John Deere Front Loader - $34.99 at Back to Basics Toys

Where to buy

These vehicles plus lots of classic wood toys are available at Back to Basics Toys.

And order by November 30th using these codes and get great deals:

EDISC1 for 50% off shipping
EDISC2 for 12% off products

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Sick and tired of reading about toys recalled for high lead levels? Me too. But kids love those wooden train sets, so what are you going to do? Lucky for you I’ve found a sweet wooden train set which is also lead-free.

The Little Engine That Could Wooden Toy Train Set was recently featured on ABC and NBC, and sales of this toy have skyrocketed.

Where to buy

Craftsbury Kids has this great train set in stock right now for $36.90

Have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow!

UPDATE: I love that you all love this cute little train, but unfortunately this is not a giveaway :) I see from the comments that there is some misunderstanding about that… If you want one of these sets I suggest you grab one from Craftsbury Kids soon in case they sell out from all this pent-up demand.

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Among other things, My Princess Closet has elaborate dress up costumes for girls. With names like Honey Bee, Lady Bug, Little Bunny Foo Foo, Pretty Princess, and Woodland Fairy you know you’re getting something special.

Aren’t those adorable? Do you know a child who would love to wear one? Then you’re in luck :)

And be sure to check out their fancy dresses and Christmas dresses — beautiful! And in the spirit of giving back to the community, they also offer “Gifts that Give Back” and products that benefit their local children’s hospital. I love to see philanthropy mixed with entrepreneurial spirit.

How to enter

Just leave a comment on this post by Midnight Pacific time, Wednesday, December 5 and you’re entered! One winner will get to select one of the above mentioned dress up costumes.

Prize valued at $100 - $150 depending on the costume selected. Open to legal residents of the United States 18 years of age and older. No purchase required. One entry per person. Void where prohibited by law. Important contest rules and details. By submitting your Name and Email address, you agree to receive relevant promotional emails and contest follow up communications from Momsational and eMoms at Home, in compliance with our strict privacy policy and contest rules. Your information will never be rented or sold to third parties. Please note that we cannot guarantee you will get your prize in time for Christmas.

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Are you looking for something special and fantastic for your child’s next birthday party? Here’s something cool that is perfect for those kids whose birthdays are in the cold part of the year. My three kids all have winter birthdays, and coming up with something interesting when you can’t take the rugrats outside can be a challenge.

How about a movie birthday party?

Throw a sheet on the wall and hook a portable projector up to your computer or DVD player and you’ve got your own movie theater!

Projector123.com rents these projectors and it couldn’t be simpler. You just make your reservation online, they ship the projector to you the day before you need it, and then you give it to the FedEx guy the day after your party. Easy peasy.

But wait, you say, you also want some cool movies to show? No problem. How about “Meet the Robinsons” — released on DVD October 23 — it would be a bit party hit.

I’ll also throw in “Shrek 3.” It comes out on DVD November 13 and would be a hilarious addition to your party.

But what to do after the kids have eaten a pile of cake and ice cream as big as their head? Give them something new and fun to play with, of course.

This fun set of 24 Gorilla Blocks will let the kids get their ya-yas out while not causing tears from clonked heads or broken furniture.

And if all that doesn’t make for a great party, I’ll eat the Gorilla Blocks!

What. You want more? OK, how about lots of winners!

First prize:

• Weekend projector rental
• 24 piece set of Gorilla Blocks
• Meet the Robinsons DVD
• Shrek 3 DVD

Second prize:

• 24 piece set of Gorilla Blocks
• Meet the Robinsons DVD
• Shrek 3 DVD

Third prize:

• Meet the Robinsons DVD
• Shrek 3 DVD

Awe-some, no?

Where to buy

Do you just want to get the loot right now instead of waiting until the end of the contest? I understand.

Projector123.com will be more than happy to rent you a projector for your party. Head on over and see how easy it is to get started.

You can find Meet the Robinsons at Amazon for $17, and they also have Shrek 3 for just $16.

Foamy, kid-friendly Gorilla Blocks from JAKKS Pacific are available at Amazon. Grab a bunch of sets and build yourself a village.

How to enter the contest

Just leave a comment on this post by 5pm Pacific, November 9th — my middle child’s 5th birthday :) — and you’re entered!

Approximate prize values: Weekend projector rental: $100-150. DVDS: $60. Blocks: $30. Open to legal residents of the United States 18 years of age and older. No purchase required. One entry per person. Void where prohibited by law. Important contest rules and details.

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I know it isn’t even Halloween yet, but if your family likes to celebrate the days leading to Christmas with an Advent Calendar, now is the time to make sure you’re ready.

If you’re lucky enough to have a traditional Advent Calendar socked away in the attic, now is the time to pull it out and make sure you have all the pieces and that everything is nice and clean. I’ve spent a few late November evenings ransacking the garage to find where I put it all away last year, but if you start now you’ll have plenty of time to do this and be reasonably stress-free.

If, however, you’re looking for something new to try this year, I have found some great Advent Calendars for you to check out.

1. The Advent Calendar that will make me Mother of the Year

This is what I got for my 3 boys and I guarantee they will lose their minds when I bring it out. Every day the 2 oldest spend several hours doing Legos, and this is going to be fantastic. (The Lego Advent Calendar is also available at Amazon.)

They make a girl version in the Belville line, but I don’t know… Do girls like Belville, or do they like the “regular” Legos instead? You be the judge. (The Lego Belville Advent Calendar is also available at Amazon.)

You say your kids aren’t Lego fans? How about Playmobil! (The Playmobil Advent Calendar is also available at Amazon.)

2. Paper Die Cut Advent Calendars

This is the style I grew up with. It was always so much fun to open a door every day and see what was behind it! (The Disney Princess Advent Calendar and Cars Advent Calendar are available at Calendars.com.)

And of course there are always the Chocolate-filled Advent Calendars. Yum!

You can get both the Santa Chocolate Advent Calendar and the Christmas Tree Chocolate Advent Calendar at Amazon.

3. Make your own Advent Calendar

And as long as I’m doing this post in October, I’ll mention that you do have time if you’d like to make your own Advent Calendar. Aren’t those cute? And since they’re not ginormous projects you actually have some hope of finishing them in time. (The Dimensions Snow Friends Advent Calendar Felt Applique Kit and Bucilla Santa’s Toy Shop Advent Calendar Felt Applique Kit are both available at Joann.com)

4. Fabric Advent Calendars

This is the kind of calendar we have had until this year. I think they are very sweet, and absolutely perfect for small kids. Every day they just take a small, stuffed decoration from one of the numbered pouches and stick it onto the tree with the velcro fasteners. Nothing can break, if they put it in their mouth it isn’t a big deal, and if they manage to get it off the wall when you’re not looking the mess is minimal. Ask me how I know this! (The Cutout Christmas Tree Advent Calendar and Christmas Tree Advent Calendar are available at Shop.com.)

5. Unique Wood Advent Calendars

Isn’t this gorgeous? The wood pieces are held in place by magnets so even small kids will have sucess when it is their turn to choose the piece for the day. (The Wood and Magnet Advent Calendar is available at Bellacor.)

This beautiful Kurt Adler Nativity Advent also has magnetic doors and beautiful features. It is available at Amazon.

So there you have five great kinds of Advent Calendars that will work in families with kids. I hope you like them!

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The folks at LEGO sent my kids one of their LEGO Mosaic Kits and I have to say I am impressed. Not only are they more fun than I thought they would be, but they have lead my kids to use their LEGOs in a whole new way.

The set comes with a clear, flat LEGO board that you set on top of one of a number of included paper patterns. You then use those tiny, square LEGOs to create a mosaic. Very cool! And now my boys have yet another LEGO-ing technique under their belt. I may never get them out of the playroom at this rate…

I’d also like to mention a contest that LEGO is having where you have a chance to win $5,000. Just go to Lego Creation Nation and click where it says “Creativity Awards.” Entries must be received by Monday, September 17, 2007, so get cracking!

And just to spice things up, I’m having a giveaway too. Just leave a comment on this post and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a cute LEGO keychain. You’ll be the coolest parent or teacher on the block… well until they see you drive away in your minivan.

Leave a comment on this post by 5pm Pacific time, Tuesday, September 25th and you’ll be entered to win one of three LEGO keychains. Details.

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