December, 2015 - sparkleshinylove

Roxymandy December 19, 2015

Beados Gems Easy Design Studio Review + Giveaway

Beados Gems Review + Giveaway

I’ve been testing out a lot of toys this month with my son, and I’m not sure which one of us has had more fun!

The latest was the Beados Gems Easy Design Studio, and it was really fun to play with.

The set includes different coloured beads that you could funnel through a pen which distributes into a pattern that you can make into jewellery.

The set up was really easy, and all we really needed to do was load the beads into the top of the funnel, and we were ready to go.

Beados Gems Review + Giveaway

The pen used to distribute the beads is really neat! You just push a button on the top to release the colour bead you would like, and pressing the button on the pen releases it into the stencil.

There were a few templates included, but you could make anything you wanted easily.

Using the pen was much easier than placing them by hand (which was really difficult, I tried).

Beados Gems Review + Giveaway

Once I completed the pattern, I sprayed the beads with water and let it sit for 30 minutes so it would set. I was sceptical that water would work at all, but it fused the beads together.

The set comes with pieces to make a ring, bracelet, necklace or just fun shapes!

I for sure had a lot of fun using it! My son is only three, and since the toy is for ages 4+ it was a little difficult for him to maneuver, but he still had fun playing with it.

Beados Gems review and giveaway

Now you have the opportunity to win a Beados Gems Easy Design Studio for yourself!

Enter via the Facebook post found on my sparkleshinylove Facebook page here. Just comment on the post, tagging a friend to enter. You may enter as many times as you like as long as each person tagged is different.

This contest closes on Monday, December 21st at 9:00am est. It is open to Canadian residents only.

Good luck to everyone who enters!

Roxymandy December 18, 2015

Sago Mini Superhero Review

Superheroes are so fascinating to children, and my son is no exception to this. One day he decided that superheroes were the coolest thing ever, and from that day forward he wanted to be one. He loves wearing capes, and playing games where he gets to save someone from “bad guys”. The only problem comes in when he tries to fly. This is a common problem I’m sure for most parents with “superhero” children.

When my son saw a photo of the new app Sago Mini Superhero, he was beyond excited for the launch!

Sago Mini Superhero Review

The main character is Jack the Rabbit, and he flys through the cityscape saving the day and encountering his other friends along the way.

Sago Mini Superhero Review

I love that Sago Mini apps are so easy for kids to navigate. My son started playing Sago Mini apps when he was three, and he has never become frustrated or confused in navigating them. They are so user friendly for toddlers, and they come with fun surprises!

I loved that the CN Tower was featured in the app as well! It’s a great tribute to the home of Sago Mini headquarters in Toronto.

Flying around town trying to help friends and to fix problems for others is a great message to send the users of this app, and I love the influence it’s had on my son. He talks all about how he helped his friends in the game, and that’s an amazing thing.

To learn more about Sago Mini Superhero, visit the website here.

Roxymandy December 17, 2015

Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop-Up at Yorkdale

Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop Up at Yorkdale

We all have them. You know, that one uncle you can never find the right gift for? Or the friend who buys you a fabulous gift every year while you feel the gift you are giving them is bland?

Christmas is stressful for a number of reasons, but the pressure of finding the right gift can be overwhelming.

The good news is that I can fill you in on the perfect spot to find the memorable gift you need. The Brika Pop-Up shop at Yorkdale has everything you have been looking for that you didn’t know you or someone else can’t live without.

Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop Up at Yorkdale

I was unable attend one of their workshops at the pop up earlier in the month so I thought I’d swing by to see what the shop was all about. Turns out I didn’t want to leave.

They have some of the most unique gifts out there! I have shopped the Brika website before so I knew about the fabulous things it has to offer, but I had never seen it all in one place before.

I wanted two of everything – one as a gift for someone, and one for myself!

Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop-Up at Yorkdale

The Pop-Up includes a DIY corner with a colouring wall from Screech Owl Design. There is also a gift wrapping station where you can wrap the gifts you just bought. I loved this idea, and the wrapping materials were so pretty.

I loved that they carry Lovefresh products as well which smell amazing.

Why you should visit the Brika Pop-Up shop at Yorkdale

Makeful has sponsored an event space where weekly workshops are taking place, and it’s a very cool area to hang out! I’m so sad I missed the wreath making workshop I was invited to because I’m sure it was amazing.

Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop Up at Yorkdale

There’s even a cafe! It services drinks, snacks, and baked good by Moo Milk Bar.

Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop Up at Yorkdale

Why You Should Visit the Brika Pop-Up at Yorkdale

Artisans featured include Bizu Jewelry, Meera Lee Patel and Designed by Artists. One of the artists mi cielo was featured in my Holiday Gift Guide for Kids last week on the blog – I have to get my toddler one of their shirts with Mr. T on them!

The Brika Pop-Up will be open at Yorkdale Shopping Centre until the end of January 2016, and you can also visit Brika online here.

Roxymandy December 16, 2015

Creating Fun Art with BLO Pens Super Activity Workshop + Giveaway!

Sometimes it’s a stress reliever to just do some colouring. Have you seen all of those adult colouring books that are all the rage right now? I have to admit, sometimes when my son asks me to colour with him I actually have a great time, and then he has to ask me to stop because I take over!

This week we tried out the BLO Pens Super Activity Workshop, and I had a little too much fun! It’s a super cute kit that makes it easy to create fun art projects with the use of the BLO Pens and stencils.

Included are 15 BLO Pens, 16 stencils, and 40 sheets of paper. The markers can also be used as simple markers for drawing, and they are washable and non-toxic!

Creating Fun Art with BLO Pens Super Activity Workshop + Giveaway!

The box doubles as a station to actually create the art which I thought was very smart and convenient!

Getting the markers ready was pretty easy, and all you had to do is blow through the cap to create with colour.

Creating Fun Art with BLO Pens Super Activity Workshop + Giveaway!

After trying it out myself I let my son give it a try. The BLO Pens are for ages 4 and up, but my son is 3 (and a half he always says!) so I let him give it a try with my supervision.

He was actually really good at it, but the kit is very foolproof. All he had to do was use the stencils to create a beautiful picture!

I think this BLO Pens Super Activity Workshop is the perfect holiday gift, so I am giving one away on the blog!

To enter, all you need to do is tag someone in the comments below this Facebook post tagged here to have a chance at winning. You may enter as many times as you like as long as you tag someone different each time.

The contest ends on Sunday, December 20th 2015 at midnight, at which time one person will be randomly selected from the entries. This contest is open to Canadian residents only.

Good luck to everyone who enters!

Roxymandy December 16, 2015

Review of Vichy Aqualia Thermal Extrasensitive

My skin goes a little crazy when the weather changes, and when I travel. Here in Canada the weather has been warm, cold, rainy and occasionally snowy, so I’ve been battling the conditions when it comes to my skin.

I also just travelled to New York City and for some reason being on planes tends to make my skin break out, and/or I get strange rashes or irritated patches after travel! It’s really frustrating knowing that it’s going to happen, and being unsure as to why exactly, and how to prevent it.

Over the last few weeks I have been calming my skin with Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal Extrasensitive Soothing Ultra-Calming Care cream.

Review of Vichy Aqualia Thermal Extrasensitive

It has a fresh fragrance, and it has a medium-thick consistency. I tend to get rashes around my chin, and I had one when I started to use this cream. Sometimes I worry that fragrant creams will irritate my sensitive skin, but it didn’t happen that way in this case. It felt great to apply to my face, and it was not irritating to my skin.

I would cleanse my skin at night, and then I would apply a small amount to my face and neck. I also applied it in the morning, but to be honest I don’t cleanse in the morning (I know, it’s horrible!) so I would just apply it when I woke up,and then applied my makeup.

I didn’t have any issues with it bothering my skin or causing it to break out – it actually did quite the opposite and was very soothing.

Review of Vichy Aqualia Thermal Extrasensitive

The formula includes highly concentrated in Vitamin B3, and Vichy Thermal Spa Water. It is a very hydrating cream! It isn’t so thick that my skin would get oily, and because of it’s consistency it was easily absorbed into my skin.

It’s preservative, paraben, alcohol and colourant free. I really love that it only pumps out what you need for a single use. You really don’t need much of this cream for coverage, and it’s in a great air-tight container.

I have been using it every day since I received it, and my skin seems very happy about it!

For more information on Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal Extrasensitive, visit the Vichy website here.

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review, but all opinions are fabulously my own.