This week I’m bringing you our third holiday gift giveaway from Aurora World.  You may remember the Yoohoo & Friends giveaway I had on my blog last spring.  Well, now I’d like to present these Retro Yoohoos!

These little are guys very cute. They are around the same size as the original Yoohoos. (You can get them in the 5 inch or 8 inch size.)  And they feature the same brightly colored fur, big eyes, poofy tails, and fun sound effects.

But unlike the Original Yoohoos, these guys are dressed up for a funky night out on the town.  Just imagine your favorite character from Saturday Night Fever or Footloose transforming into a cute and cuddly stuffed animal. (Sounds fun, huh?)

I think kids will love these. For some reason kids always seem to like retro stuff.  And the Aurora company has created a Retro Yoohoo to fit anyone’s taste, from Pammee Pop Singer to Lemmee Punk Rocker.

For my review I received Yoohoo 60’s British Rocker and Lemmee Disco Dancer.  Both of these are simply adorable.  You can look at them immediately and tell exactly what they’re suppose to be.  It’s definitely a very unique twist on the original Yoohoo & Friends.  My favorite thing about them is their big eyes and poofy striped tails. It just makes them so cute!

I think these would even be a good gift for the young at heart.  If you know an adult who loves stuffed animals and also grew up loving the Beatles, why not get them the 60’s British Rocker Yoohoo?  Or how about theYoohoo 80’s Dancer for your 80s kid?

Buy it! You can purchase your Retro Yoohoos online at Aurora World.

Connect! Became a fan of Yoohoo & Friends on Facebook or follow @yohoofriends on Twitter.

Win it! One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a Retro Yoohoo & Friends Toy.

As promised, here’s another fun holiday review & giveaway from our friends at Aurora.  This week I’m sharing the adorable Cheeky Charlie and Carmen line with you!

As you probably guessed already, Cheeky Charlie and Carmen are monkeys! These guys are of the same high quality that I’ve come to expect from Aurora World.  And like other Aurora collections, they come in a variety of sizes and styles.  They are a very soft and cuddly plush toy, and they come in bold, beautiful colors.

So what sets Cheeky Charlie & Carmen apart from other toy monkeys you may find.  Again, these are some really adorable monkeys, from their cute little eyes and big smiles to their long tails, which believe it or not, actually hold a little surprise!

For example, I  received Wrangler Cheeky Charlie and Carmen BFF.  Wrangler Cheeky Charlie holds a rope in his tail, while Carmen holds a banana in hers.  Too cute!  It’s just another one of those little things that the guys at Aurora have done to make these toys extra special!

Another thing that sets these guys apart from the competition is that they wear little outfits, complete with headgear.  Wrangler Cheeky Charlie has on the cutest cowboy pants and vest, a red bandana, and a cowboy hat, while BFF Carmen wears a cute orange & pink flower shirt with a matching headband.

And there are a lot of other styles available, so you should be able to find something for everyone on your list!

Buy it!  Purchase your Dreamy Eyes and other great toys online at Aurora World.

Connect! Check out Aurora on Aurora World on Facebook

-2 for liking Aurora World on Facebook

-1 if you follow Simply Sweet Home on Twitter.

-2 for subscribing to Simply Sweet Home via email.

-2 for “liking” Simply Sweet Home on facebook.

-1 for subscribing to my RSS feeds through Feedburner.

-1 for sharing this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook.  (Sample Tweet: I want to win a Cheeky Charlie Toy! http://bit.ly/h5L58B @SimplySweetHome #HolidayGiftGuide #giveaway) (Limit one entry per day.)

In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she’s honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. But it’s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Magic Warble” in its final resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart.”

Victoria Simcox weaves a wonderful fantasty tapestry. She takes a girl (Kristina), who’s an unpopular outcast in our world and transports her to Bernovem, where she’s popular and well liked.  She also takes a group of popular wealthy brats and by transporting them to a magical world where they’re wealth means nothing, she shows their lack of character. 

Written on two levels, the exterior storyline’s  plot and characters create emotions that will make the reader feel the fear and embrace the joy that is contained within the book’s pages.  While the interior storyline (the one that is developing in the reader’s mind), is a good depiction of the rewards and punishments that should be associated with good and evil behavior.

The classic struggle between good and evil, combined with a world inhabited by mythological creatures, and an unlikely “chosen” hero, will make you want to read into the wee hours of the morning and is sure to be loved by children and adult fantasy lovers alike!

Buy a Copy:  Just in time for the holidays you can order your copy directly from the author  or at Amazon.

Connect: Check out The Magic Warble on Facebook
Follow Victoria’ Simcox’s Blog

Win it!  One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a copy of The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of the Magic Warble to review. The opinions are mine.

I absolutely love all the different toys at Aurora!  Previously I’ve had the opportunity to review toys from their Yoohoo & Friends line as well as Milly the Pinkest Kitten.  And now, just in time for the holidays, I will be presenting you with not one, but three different Aurora toys that will be just perfect for your gift list! And the best part is that you’ll have the opportunity to enter to win each of these toys!

The first collection of toys from Aurora World that I’d like to introduce to you is Dreamy Eyes.  These are just about the cutest plush toys I’ve seen!  Each toy is 10 inches long and is soft and fluffy with big “dreamy” eyes.  And there is a large collection of toy animals available from cats and dogs to farm and jungle animals.

The toy I received is Lea Lamb.  She is absolutely adorable!  I was very impressed by how soft and cuddly she was! (She’s so soft, when my husband saw her, he even cuddled her, but shhh, that’s a secret!)  And of course, I can’t help but love her big eyes, which I think make her look like, not just a toy, but a sweet little friend (if that makes sense).

She’s also the perfect size for all ages.  I typically think of stuffed animals being for toddlers, but I think that older children will also love cuddling with a Dreamy Eyes toy.

Dreamy Eyes toys would also be ideal if you’re looking for some stuffed animals to place in a new nursery.  They would be so cute on a shelf or on top of a dresser in your baby’s room, and they’re perfectly soft so the baby can play with them when he/she gets a little older. 

And speaking as someone who intends to decorate a nursery in the near future (ahem), I would love to have more of these and would definitely recommend them to you this Christmas season!

Buy it!  Purchase your Dreamy Eyes and other great toys online at Aurora World.

Connect! Check out Aurora on Aurora World on Facebook

Win it! One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a Dreamy Eyes Toy, a $12 value. (For US Residents only)

Mandatory Entry: To win, check out the Dreamy Eyes line, and then come back here and tell me which animal is your favorite. Deadline to enter: December 12

-2 for liking Aurora World on Facebook

-1 if you follow Simply Sweet Home on Twitter.

-2 for subscribing to Simply Sweet Home via email.

-2 for “liking” Simply Sweet Home on facebook.

-1 for subscribing to my RSS feeds through Feedburner.

-1 for sharing this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook.  (Sample Tweet: I want to win a Dreamy Eyes Toy http://bit.ly/e1P6Tg  @SimplySweetHome #HolidayGiftGuide #giveaway) (Limit one entry per day.)

Disclosure: For hosting this giveaway, I received a free Dreamy Eyes toy to review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Continuing with our Holiday Gift ideas, here’s something a little different for moms and moms-to-be.

Brash Music and Tree Top Records, companies that partnered to create and produce “Cradle Rock” (http://www.cradlerockstore.com/), announced that Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” greatest hits from Johnny Cash and chart topping singles from Kenny Chesney would be the first three albums in a lullaby series, hitting stores October 26th. Soothing sounds from instruments such as the vibraphone, glockenspiel and mellotron are used to create lullabies based on famous, iconic artists and albums in the country, rock and pop genres.

“The ‘Cradle Rock’ lullabies are unlike any other in the marketplace today, since we wanted to focus on iconic artists and albums that appeal to music fans across a wide variety of genres,” says Steve Jones, CEO of Brash Music. “Each project is produced with child and parent in mind, so the melodic structure and tempo of each song stays true to the original.” Jones says most lullaby releases are a collection of hits or compilations by various artists. “While some projects in the Cradle Rock series follow a compilation model, most are replications of entire albums in lullaby form. Additional Cradle Rock albums in development include U2’s “The Joshua Sleep Tree,” Black Eyed Peas’ “Sleep-pea Hits” as well as lullaby albums inspired by Nickelback, Carrie Underwood and The Eagles to name a few.

David Williams, president of Tree Top Records and executive producer, says “Thrillaby” is based on Michael Jackson’s Thriller and follows the famous album’s track listing from start to finish. “’Thrillaby’ is the perfect introduction to one of the greatest albums ever recorded, complete with irresistible melodies from the ‘King of Pop.’” The Kenny Chesney collection is stacked with number one singles, “Including the soothing, country hits representing his greatest work,” says Williams. Johnny Cash fans will appreciate lullabies based on American Records’ “The Legend of Johnny Cash, Volume One.” “Even though this project features ‘greatest hits’, it focuses on a period of recordings Cash did with legendary producer Rick Rubin,” adds Williams.

Dating back to ancient cultures, science demonstrates the importance of lullabies in the development of children. “Babies are actually born with a basic sense of timing, rhythm and tone,” says producer Stephen Gause, “which is why soothing lullabies help speed up the process of falling asleep.” Gause says the albums are for true and dedicated music fans who want to share popular music with their children. “Cradle Rock” albums, distributed by The Warner Music Group, will be available at http://www.cradlerockstore.com/,  through all digital distribution services like iTunes for $9.99, and at music retail outlets across the United States for $11.98.

Personally I love the concept behind the Cradle Rock cds.  I’ve seen cds featuring kid-friendly versions of pop tunes, but I’ve never thought of lullabies! I think this is such a great way to bond with your baby. You can play him/her a soft tune to sleep by that’s also catchy and familiar to you. Brilliant!

I happen to be a huge country fan, but I also love oldies, and I like some pop and rock, so it was really neat to get to listen to the lullabies featuring music from Michael Jackson, Kenny Chesney, and Johnny Cash. 

First off, I loved the way the music was arranged.  The songs were immediately recognizable, yet even the most upbeat of songs were soft and soothing.  Upon receiving this collection to review, I was most interested to hear how Michael Jackson’s music was going to be incorporated into lullabies.  Growing up, Thriller was my brother’s favorite tape, and “Beat It” was his favorite song.  I have to admit that I giggled a bit when I first started listening to the song, but I have to say that the arrangement worked!  The song was made into a great lullaby!

Secondly, as I listened to the cds, I came across some songs that I knew extremely well and others that I wasn’t very familiar with.  But interestly, I actually enjoyed the unfamilar songs just as much as the ones I knew.  I mean, obviously if you purchased a cd of Kenny Chesney lullabies, you must be a big fan and would know all the songs, but  what I’m trying to say is that, I think someone could pop in one of these cds, knowing absolutely nothing about the artists, and they would still really enjoy the musical experience.

Overall I think babies and parents alike will enjoy these cds.  The musical arrangements are very whimsical, yet soothing, and although I love traditional children’s music, I think parents will definitely welcome the change from the traditional lullabies and kid’s music they may be accustomed to.  And with other artists like Carrie Underwood and Nickelback having their music added to the collection, I think everyone should be able to find something they would like to listen to with their baby. I, for one, am very excited that The Eagles are on the list.  They’re one of my favorite bands, and I would really love to hear lullaby versions of their hits!

If you have a baby or you’re expecting, and you like any of the Cradle Rock artists, you should definitely check out these cds.  And if you know someone who has a baby or is expecting, these cds would make a really great holiday gift!

Win it! One Simply Sweet Home reader will win 3 Cradle Rock cds featuring music from Kenny Chesney, Michael Jackson, and Johnny Cash.