Books in a box countdown to Christmas Day 2

Today was a great day, the girls loved their books. They unwrapped "Ladybug Girl at the beach" by Jacky Davis & "Five Silly Monkeys" by Steven Haskamp. I am so thrilled with the books I got so far, they love them but today was extra special. Victory sure loves Monkeys : )

Books in a box countdown to Christmas Day 1

So today there were 2 books to unwrap which made the girls very excited. We decided to do it right after supper in our living room by the tree. Victory unwrapped "Tinkering Tink"  an embossed storybook by Laura Driscoll and her sister Jaden got "My Little Pony Twilight Sparkle's Magical Journey" by Hasbro. They couldn't wait to read them! Jaden read the My little Pony one and daddy read the Tinkerbell one. It was great, they wanted to keep on going though, lol. Tomorrow will be day 2, stay tuned!

Books in a box countdown to Christmas!

Today starts the books in a box countdown to Christmas in our home. I bought over 30 books, some that are Christmas related and some that aren't. I wrapped them and labeled them from 1-25. I also decorated a box to put the books in under the tree. Each day starting today the kids will unwrap a book or 2 or 3 depending on how many are labeled with the days' date and we will read them together. I decided to do more than just the 25 books because I have 2 young children and wanted them to have more turns at unwrapping. This is a "Victory Test" twist on the "25 books to Christmas" tradition that is normally seen. I will share daily as we unwrap and embark on the adventures that each book will bring. Have a Merry Read!


The emptier the box gets the closer we are to Christmas!

Honest Diapers & Training Pants

When I saw the Honest diapers by Jessica Alba on sale I had to try them! What I first noticed was the super cute colorful creative patterns. Upon further observation I learned that not only did they look good but were also free of harsh chemicals such as: fragrances, lotions, latex and chlorine. I also noted that they are made with plant based and sustainable materials. Victory is on the petite size and weighs only 26 pounds but the size 5 diapers fit her well, she appeared to be very comfortable while wearing them. As far as absorbency goes they seem to be comparable to the Huggies snug and dry. The stretchy waist band was a plus for Victory's small waist and the bloom pattern was also very cute. In addition to the diapers I also purchased the training pants in size 2T-3T which are also plant based, eco-friendly and have a nice cloth like feel to them. They do not have the same easy open sides as the Huggies pull ups however they can easily be torn for quick clean ups. The princess pattern is so adorable and Victory actually looks forward to wearing her "princess undies". As far as absorbency is concerned I would say that they are average and prefer the toughness of the Huggies pull ups. That being being said you cannot compare Huggies, Pampers, Luvs, etc which contain chemicals to the eco-friendly Honest Brand. I compare the absorbency between the 2 brands in this review so that you can get an idea of what you're getting. The training pants are not meant for overnight or long periods of time as they will leak. They are best if used as a potty training tool in conjunction with frequent trips to the potty and changed immediately if any accidents occur. I recommend these diapers to any mama that is looking for a chemical free alternative or for any baby with sensitive skin.The Honest Diapers/Training pants also come in a variety of colors/patterns.

My First Kenmore 2-in-1 Vacuum Cleaner

Victory is really into brooms, mops & especially vacuum cleaners so I decided to get her one of her very own. I started my search by looking for a toy vacuum that most resembled my bagless Eureka. I was stuck between the Dyson toy vac or this one but after a visit to Kmart I decided to get her the Kenmore. When I first saw it, I thought "wow, this is soooo cute"! I brought it home determined to wait till Christmas but when I looked into her little longing eyes I just had to give in. So 5 minutes later I was breaking open the box when I realized that the toy needed 3c batteries. I desperately starting searching when voila they appeared out of no where beckoning  to me from atop the fridge. I then raced over eager to get it working when I realized I needed a Phillips head screw driver. Sulking I almost gave up when out of the corner of my eye I spied the coveted sneaky old screw driver. Now back to reality: The battery compartment is on the back of the little hand vac that connects to the base, it is very easy to unscrew. After all that I couldn't wait to give it to Victory so I had Jaden my 7 year old bring it out for her while I took pictures. The look on her face really was priceless, it was almost like love at first site! For at least 3 days this thing was constantly making noise, she wouldn't put it down! My advice to you it to buy a good pair of ear plugs while your at it, don't forget some extra batteries. I was very surprised to find out that the vacuum actually picks up a little here and there which I thought was really cool! The hose wouldn't stay on really well and soon became a chew toy, crunch... I solved that by hiding it somewhere behind the couch, shhhhh. The small part that holds the hose came off very easily and wouldn't stay on but that could be because this vacuum is recommended for ages 3 and up and not built to withstand the abuse from a younger toddler. My 7 year old really liked it so I decided to get her a Dyson toy vac for Christmas which I will review as soon as she gets it. Overall I feel that the Kenmore could be a little better quality but for the price I really can't complain. I would probably purchase it again and again just to see Victory's face light up. I've only seen it in pink and feel that they really should have it in gender neutral colors. 

Melissa & Doug Caterpillar Gears Toddler Toy and Vehicle Gears Toddler Toy

These toys are a definite must for your little ones wooden toy collection; they are durable, colorful and so much fun! These gear toys are great for learning colors and developing fine motor skills. The child can match the color of the gears to the pegs and rotate them as slow or fast as they please. The caterpillar and vehicles actually look like they are moving! Other than Victory constantly losing the gears and them ending up under our couches; this toy really is great. The manufactures recommended age is 18+ months.

Please note that I combined these toys to make it easier for my review however they must be purchased separately. 

Vehicle Gears Board Toddler Toy

Caterpillar Gears Board Toddler Toy

Hape - Pound & Tap Bench with Slide out Xylophone

First off I am going to start off by saying that we love wooden toys so this toy was a must have in our home. It is made of solid wood and durable child safe paint and meets or exceeds all applicable safety standards. The child can pound on the 3 balls from the "Pound and Tap Bench" with the included mallet sending the balls tinkling over the xylophone. The xylophone can also be pulled out and played solo, which is great for on the go. This toy comes in beautiful colors and is one of Victory's favorites. I can easily see this lasting for years and will most likely end up making another child happy once Victory outgrows it. If you're on the market for a xylophone; this is the one for you!

Great for developing fine motor skills in little ones!