*Giveaway* CC Blasts Off with Mattel Toy Story Zing-Ems Playset

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UPDATE: Congrats to noreen, who won the Toy Story Zing-Ems Playset! And sorry for the delay in announcing the winner. (How long can I blame baby brain? :) Please email me at losangelesstory@gmail.com with your mailing address. Thanks to everyone who participated!

It was a fast-moving and bumpy race to the finish, as CC pitted Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and Rex (or Trixie, as she calls him) against each other during playtime with Mattel's new Toy Story Zing-Ems Playset this weekend.

The new playset (SRP: $14.99), which we had the chance to review thanks to the Mattel Disney Insider program, combines pinball-inspired action with cute 2-inch versions of Buzz Lightyear and the Toy Story gang (SRP: $6.99 per two-pack) for a portable kid-friendly thrill ride.


CC turned it into a race between the three characters, and you'll see that Trixie/Rex was the winner. She had a great time flinging the figures around the space-age race track, placing obstacles in their path and generally wreaking havoc at the dinner table.

The playset is a fun opportunity for getting kids to use their imaginations. Whether it's a race for points or a chance to see how many times each character can get around the set in one minute, kids ages 3+ should have lots of fun with this one.

*** GIVEAWAY ***
I'm giving away 1 Toy Story Zing-Ems Playset, which includes a Buzz Lightyear figurine.

To enter, leave a comment below telling me your child's favorite Toy Story character and why.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter and retweet this giveaway. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page and share the giveaway.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so. 

Good luck, and I will announce the winner on Monday, Feb. 4!

Congrats Newbery & Caldecott Medal Winners

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Congrats to Katherine Applegate and Jon Klassen, who won top honors in the children's lit category. Applegate took this year's Newbery Medal for her book The One and Only Ivan, Klassen won the Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in This is Not My Hat.
Ivan tells the story of Ivan the gorilla, who lives within glass walls at a video arcade. While he doesn't really miss his home in the jungle—he thinks about art mostly—he begins to reconsider home when a baby elephant arrives, alone and without her family.

Klassen took the award for his illustrations in This Is Not My Hat, about a tiny fish that steals a hat from a huge—but sleeping—fish.

Congrats! And can't wait to read these to CC.

How You Can Protect Valuable Assets at Home *Sponsored*

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Amethyst safe from Casoro Jewelry Safes

While we obviously never want to have to think about our belongings being taken from us, it's always wise to consider prevention and safety. And when it comes to protecting valuable assets such as jewelry -- whether it's the expensive kind or the sentimental variety -- Casoro Jewelry Safes, located here in Southern California, is a stylish alternative.

Did you know that jewelry accounted for the most homeowners' insurance claims in 2011, according to the Insurance Information Institute? That was even ahead of electronics and furniture.

Casoro offers a wide range of jewelry safes that are sturdy (315 pounds to over 1,000 pounds, depending on what you need), sport a variety of colors (love the ivory one, pictured above) and an option for fire protection.

While price points start at $2,595 and move upwards to more than $5,000, this family-owned business in Santa Ana is eager to make purchases personal. In fact, it was one of owner Shep and Nancy Bryan's local customers who suggested developing the specialized jewelry safe.

For more information and what you should consider before buying a jewelry safe, take a look at the Casoro Jewelry Safes buying guide.

Casoro Jewelry Safes
1415 E. McFadden Ave., Ste. L
Santa Ana, CA 92705
800-538-0600

Happy Groundhog Day!

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Punxsutawney Phil the Groundhog (Photo via National Geographic Kids)

Happy Groundhog Day! Looks like our Pennsylvania friend Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow.

Granted I always forget what that means. Of course, I have a 50/50 chance of getting it right, but still.

Anyway, it looks as if we can look forward to an early spring! Woo-hoo!

And speaking of cute, furry animals, did you know that the National Wildlife Federation makes it possible for kids (anyone, really) to symbolically adopt an animal? Kids can adopt a snowy owl, a harp seal, bison and lots of other animals. Just make a donation, and they'll receive goodies such as a stuffed animal, poster and a certificate of adoption. That, plus the knowledge that they're helping to protect our world's wildlife.

How fun!

'My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Adventures in the Crystal Empire' Review

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The latest DVD installment from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, released by Shout! Factory Kids in December, is a new favorite for CC.

In Adventures in the Crystal Empire, the ponies, led by bookish Twilight Sparkle, embark on another adventure that once again pits light forces against the darker ones looming over Equestria (is that the draw for the Bronie crew?), and it's up to the brave ponies—and Spike—to save the day.

In the two-part episode, the Crystal Empire is a magical place that appears in the arctic north of Equestria. The crystal ponies, not so crystal-like in the beginning, are downtrodden because of an evil overlord pony that's controlling their world.

Princess Celestia asks Twilight Sparkle to lead the charge, along with pony friends including Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack and Fluttershy, to bring happiness back to the kingdom.

CC was completely entranced, watching as the ponies tried, made mistakes and, ultimately, *spoiler alert* saved the day.

At one point, I asked who the pink pony was. (I blame baby brain for my forgetfulness.)

CC looked at me, exasperated, and said, "Pinkie Pie! Don't you know your ponies?!"

Her favorite, though, is Fluttershy.

"Why do you like Fluttershy so much?" I asked.

"Because she's so sweet and shy," CC said.

That surprised me, given how boisterous CC is.

Regardless, the ponies came through once again, teaching CC about persistence, confidence and friendship.

Mattel's Toy Story Color Splash Boat & Buddies *Giveaway*

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CC, before she rips open the Mattel Toy Story boxes.

UPDATE: Congrats to Barbara, who won the Mattel Toy Story Color Splash goodies!

Bath time -- or pool time, for that matter, here in sunny SoCal -- is way more fun when you have toys to create splashy stories with. In fact, CC loves to put on a show anytime she needs to put soap to water.

That's why it was extra fun for her to receive Mattel's Toy Story Color Splash Boat (SRP: $19.99) and two Toy Story Color Splash Buddies Two-Packs (SRP: $8.99 each), as part of Mattel's Disney Insider Program, to help create imaginative aquatic adventures come bath time. She was able to try out these fun, color-changing toys and introduce a mini Buzz Lightyear, Partysaurus Rex and a particularly grumpy-looking octopus to her brand of bath-time fun.



Kids can definitely get creative with these toys, as CC did, inventing rescue stories and dividing the figures up into separate teams.

While the figures change color depending on the temperature of the water, the boat itself features flashing LED lights (what kind of party doesn't have flashing lights?), a rescue dinghy that doubles as a water scoop, a trap door and a squirting rubber ducky -- not to mention a squiddy dreadlocked Partysaurus Rex himself. (Check out a sneak peek of the upcoming toon, coming this fall.)

*** GIVEAWAY ***
I'm giving away 1 Mattel Toy Story Color Splash Boat and 2 Color Splash Buddies packs, courtesy of Mattel.

To enter, please leave a comment describing your child's favorite bath-time adventure.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter and retweet this giveaway. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page and share the giveaway.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I will announce the winner on Friday, Nov. 9!

Coming Attraction: 'Littlest Pet Shop' Premieres on The Hub + 'My Little Pony'

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'Littlest Pet Shop' on The Hub

The Hub has an exciting Saturday planned -- for those kids, including my own little girl, who are crazy about a certain group of ponies, as well as a new herd of colorful, talking creatures.

In addition to airing the season premiere of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic (Saturday at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT), The Hub will premiere a new series, Littlest Pet Shop (Saturday at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT).

CC and I caught a sneak peek of Littlest Pet Shop, and it looks like a clever and colorful Saturday morning addition. The show centers on Blythe Baxter, a little girl who has moved to the Manhattan-esque big city with her pilot dad (sans mom, but that goes unexplained). Blythe is precocious and very sure of herself -- a positive trait I love for my daughter to see.

In fact, when she bumps into a couple of "mean girls," she stands up for herself from the get-go. Talk about a great example for little girls.

Blythe and her father move into an apartment above the Littlest Pet Shop, which is in danger of closing. In the opening two episodes, this fashion-forward little girl discovers that she can talk to the little critters -- which include a monkey, dog, gecko, hedgehog (not a porcupine!) and a skunk -- and that they need her help.

But can Blythe help save the pet shop?

The show is gorgeously animated, with candy-colored animals, cityscapes and fashion. It definitely pops off the screen. What's also interesting is the pairing of Littlest Pet Shop alongside My Little Pony. Both shows seem to have the same smart-girl sensibilities. That is, they're headlined by clever girls who aren't afraid to show off their smarts -- or their (often dry) senses of humor. They're also confident enough to put friends in their place, should they go off track.

CC enjoyed the episodes -- and especially loved when Littlest Pet Shop dog Zoe burst out into song. Look forward to checking out more!