Who’s Your BFF? – Friendship Day Twitter Party

Did you know that this Saturday, July 30th is International Friendship Day?

Friends are an important part in all of our lives, they are our family whether it be by blood or in our hearts.

The international holiday dates back to 1958- just 3 years after The Lennon Sisters made their debut on the The Lawrence Welk Show on Christmas Eve 1955. Even before America embraced them, Kathy and Janet Lennon were inseparable. They were “Best Pals” in every way. They grew up holding hands and taking care of one another, and today they have a line of adorable plush dolls and play sets, fittingly called Best Pals.

This Friday we are celebrating Friendship day with a Best Pals Twitter Party!

We will chat about our first friendships, the importance of friendships new and old and also will be giving away amazing prizes during the party- you will not want to miss!

So join us!

When: Friday, July 29th 8pm ET

What: Friendship Day Twitter Party

Where: Twitter – hashtag- #BestPals

RSVP by leaving your Twitter handle in the comment area & qualify to win one of the below prize packs:

Mini Best Pals set  (Value $20)

These are two adorable miniature Best Pals dolls in a fantastic mini valise!  Super cute, very retro.

Best Pals Doll of YOUR Choice and a Best Pals Sing Together CD (Value $45)

Choose from one of the 6 Best Pals dolls (Kathy, Janet, Lily, Sofia, Isabelle or Danny), and enjoy the Best Pals Sing Together CD – a sing-along CD of classic children’s music featuring Kathy and Janet Lennon.

The Aqua Lennon Sisters Paper Doll Set (Value $65)

A reproduction of a set originally produced in 1958; along with the Kathy and Janet Best Pals dolls.  The dolls are reproductions of two handmade ragdolls given to Kathy and Janet Lennon in 1949.

**Grand Prize**  (Value $100)

Two Best Pals dolls (winner can choose from 6 dolls), a Best Pals Tin Tea Set and the Best Pals Sing Together CD.

Gender and Toys- Does it really matter?

Today on The Big Toy Book Live! we talked about a bit of a hot topic- That hot topic? Genders and Toys. Does your son play with a doll? Does it really matter?

Below is a recording of today’s Big Toy Book Live in case you missed it.

Be sure to join us every Monday at 1pm ET to talk toys, play and parenting – and win some fabulous prizes too! Easy participation- sign in via Facebook or Twitter! Look for our Livestream tab on our Facebook page!

Hope to see you there next week!

Part 1
http://cdn.livestream.com/embed/thebigtoybook?layout=4&clip=pla_c672bb65-101e-40c6-9bdf-725eddfcb26c&autoPlay=false&mute=false

Watch live streaming video from thebigtoybook at livestream.com

Part 2
http://cdn.livestream.com/embed/thebigtoybook?layout=4&clip=pla_3f6096a8-4cb4-4671-9b4b-4c536763b947&autoPlay=false&mute=false

Watch live streaming video from thebigtoybook at livestream.com

The Big Toy Book Live! – Creating A Love For Reading

Today we hosted our very first Big Toy Book LIVE! Show on Livestream. This year the show will be where we meet with our community to discuss parenting topics, trends and of course- toys. Similar to how our Twitter chats ran last year, this year our Livestream show will have a slew of great toys for you to win each week.

The Big Toy Book LIVE! will be held every MONDAY at 1pm ET on Livestream

Livestream allows you to sign in and chat during the live show via Facebook and Twitter which is what we love most!  You can find a tab for our Livestream channel on the left side of our Facebook page {detailed instructions on how to participate to follow}.

Before March came to an end, we wanted to chat a little about some of the books and reading toys we love most.

Below is a recap of the cha and the products highlighted  (because the recording function didn’t work during the live show- whoopsie!)

Leap Frog’s Tag Reading System

The LeapFrog Tag Reading System brings stories to life like never before. Simply touch the Tag Reader to the pages of specially printed storybooks to instantly hear the voices, music and sounds within each story. Your child can also touch the pen to the words in the book to help them with word recognition and reading skills.  Other educational skills include: Consonants Vowels Vocabulary Phonics skills Word recognition Phonological awareness Listening and reading comprehension

Love Thomas & Friends? Lets Vote Them To The Top & Celebrate!

.Thomas and Friends have been loved by children for years.

This year with a new movie release and a ton of fun new toys appearing on many children’s toy lists this holiday, Thomas & Friends has been nominated by The Toy Industry Association for Toy Property Of The Year!

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And we are helping them celebrate this honor in a huge way!

Join us on Twitter

Wednesday, December 8th, 10pm (ET)

for a #THOMASPARTY

Follow our official Twitter handle: @TheBigToyBook

Follow our Big Toy Book Moms and Toy Experts: @Toyinsidermom @ToyTrendExpert @ToyBookShopGirl @ToyBook

RSVP by leaving your twitter handle in the comments below.

(Never been to a Twitter Party? We can help!)

ABOUT THE PARTY:

For years, Thomas and Friends has been teaching children important values such as Team Work, Friendship and following their dreams.

During our party, we will be talking about each of those important lessons as well as talking about our favorite team of trains, Thomas & Friends!

5 Party Prize packs!

Each prize pack will include:

1 – 35 piece Mega Bloks Thomas & Friends Play Set

1- Lion of Sodor DVD

GRAND PRIZE

Our Grand prize for the night will include a plethora of truly great Thomas Toys, books, DVDs & More!

To win the Grand Prize- Tweet out the following

” Vote Thomas & Friends for Toy Property Of The Year http://bit.ly/ftx69G #ThomasParty ”

Grand Prize winner will be chosen at random and will be announced at the end of the party

See you there!

Contesting details:

Prize Pack winners will be chosen by random draw and Q & A participation.

1 prize per person

All winners must be present to win. If winner does not respond within 24 hours we reserve the right to choose another winner.

ALL PRIZES ARE OPEN TO US AND CANADA

2010 Holiday ALL-DAY Toy Extravaganaza {Twitter Party}

Now that we have all had a chance to check out some of the great Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, we here are The Big Toy Book are ready to ring in the holiday season with our annual Holiday Toy Extravaganza!

Last year we partied online all day long with over 300 of you and gave away over 18 of the hottest holiday toys!

Since it worked out so well last year with our hourly pre-party leading up to our official Twitter Party we decided to do the same this year. After all, we want to make sure you all get a chance to join in the fun!

(Never been to a Twitter Party? … No worries! Get the details on how to participate here)

Here is how our 2010 Extravaganza will work–

JOIN US TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30th on Twitter

Follow us official Twitter handle: @TheBigToyBook

Follow our Big Toy Book Moms and Toy Experts: @Toyinsidermom @ToyTrendExpert @ToyBookShopGirl @ToyBook

RSVP by leaving your twitter handle in the comments below

Between the hours of 12pm and 5pm we will be giving you a chance to win a pre-party prize!

12pm

Monster High Doll (Exact Style TBA)

1pm

Lego Duplo Set (58 pcs)

2pm

Velcro Kids Pirate Ship

3pm

LaLaLoopsie Doll (Exact style TBA)

4pm

Mighty Beanz Star Wars

5pm

Fuzzoodles (Exact set TBA)

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{{ Take a break… grab some dinner… put the little ones to bed…. pour a glass of wine…}}

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JOIN US BACK ON TWITTER at 9pm (ET) for even more chances to win!

Our toy experts will be talking about trends, answering your questions and giving suggestions for little ones of all ages on your list!

During our chat we will be giving away the 8 more hot- holiday-toys:

Mega Bloks Ultimate Action Dragon Destroyer

Olivia 2-in-1 Transforming Playset

LalaLoopsie Doll (exact doll TBA)

Fin Fin Friends Tropical Aquarium

Bop It Bounce

Toy Story- Buzz Blast Off

Twinkle Twinkle Little Violet

Paper Jamz Guitar

** Just ADDED TO PRIZES–

MONSTER HIGH CLAWDEEN

MELISSA AND DOUG CUPCAKE SET

POCOYO PLAY SET

**

GRAND PRIZE

$50 Big Toy Book Cash for you to do some holiday shopping in our Private Sale Store!

Grand Prize $50 Big Toy Book Cash

To win our GRAND PRIZE: Help us spread the word by retweeting this message

” Join This Holiday’s Biggest Toy Extravaganza w/ #thebigtoybook Tues. Nov 30 ALL DAY LONG http://bit.ly/eZJaOR”

See you there!

Contesting details:

Winners will be chosen by random draw and Q & A participation.

Winners at pre-party are eligible to win at 9pm Party.

1 prize per person at 9pm party.

All winners must be present to win. If winner does not respond within 24 hours we reserve the right to choose another winner.

GRAND PRIZE IS OPEN TO CANADA RESIDENTS…. ALL OTHERS ARE US only.

Grateful Giveaways!

Tis’ the season of giving!

We are super excited about the event we are sponsoring this week because we get to donate to one of our favorite charities- Toys For Tots!

Starting  today, November 15th thru November 19th, 12 big hearted bloggers will be hosting The Grateful Giveaway Event where they will be  adding a new giveaway every hour for 12 hours!

In addition to sponsoring one of their giveaways, we here at  The Big Toy Book will be adding toys to our Toys For Tots Toy Pile.

You can check back and watch that pile grow through out the week to see the toys that will be putting a smile on the face of some deserving children this holiday season.

While you are watching the toy pile grow, we also encourage you to join in the fun by following Grateful Giveaways on Facebook and by visiting the bloggers sites to enter to win some fabulous prizes!

Links for the hosts can be found on our Toy Pile Page.

Best of luck!

The Holiday Giveaway Bash

We have a bunch of really exciting stuff on the horizon this holiday, and we are excited to tell you that we are kicking things off this week by sponsoring a great prize for  The Holiday Giveaway Bash.

The Holiday Giveaway Bash is being hosted by 12 fantastic blogger who work hard year round seeking out some of the best deals on the internet.

Together with these bloggers we are giving you a chance  to win a $50 credit to our private sale store as well as this really cool Inceptor RC Remote Control Helicopter  by Interactive Toy Concepts.

We chose this item as part of the giveaway because …well, its cool!

Who doesn’t love remote control toys? This one not only flies but it also is rechargeable via USB!  How great is that? (You can cross off batteries on your list for Christmas)

The Inceptor RC Remote Control Helicopter is now 20% off in our Private Sale Store.

To enter to win in the Holiday Giveaway Bash, visit these participating blogs:

• Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
• Bargain Briana
• Common Sense with Money
• Coupon Cravings
• Frugal Coupon Living
• Mommin It Up
• Moms Need to Know
• Passion for Savings
• Saving Cents with Sense
• Southern Savers
• Stretching a Buck
• The Savings Lifestyle
• Moms Need To Know

Good Luck!

- Corine

Sweet In The City- Blogher 2010

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When I first started working with The Big Toy Book Moms, and Laurie and I sat down for the first time- there was one thing we both agreed on from the get-go, and that was that when Blogher 2010 came to New York City- we wanted The Big Toy Book to have a presence amongst all of those amazing women (and men).

Through out the planning process, the plans changed multiple times but we never lost sight of why we were doing it- it was for the bloggers. We wanted them tomeet the brand, the brand wanted to meet them- and we wanted it to be as enjoyable and stress-free as it possibly can be … for hundreds of conference attendees, with tons of events to squeeze into just 3 short days. It was hard- but we soon came up with the final plans- and Sweets In The City was born!

Planning events are always fun- and stressful at the same time. Anyone who’s ever planned as much as a birthday or a bbq knows this. You prep, you plan. You prep, you plan.

Then the week of your event arrives and you’re overwhelmed with excitement along with maybe just a teensy dash of nervousness with all of the logistics being executed … deliveries, catering, set-up, Oh- My!

Can you say, Holy Boxes- Batman!

But at the end of the day if everyone can say they had a few laughs and good times with friends- it becomes easy to see that it was all worth it.

And I believe that perfectly describes Sweets In the City.

We laughed, played games like Bubble Talk, Beamz and Perplexus; connected, relaxed and enjoyed the sweet things in life like cupcakes, wine and friendship… and as the party planner- that is an amazing feeling.

Thank you to all who came out to meet our team- whom, by the way was in the room together for the 1st time ever! (It’s true, our Toy Book Shop Girl joins us via satellite, phone,  email and the world wide web every week  from Seattle!)

And an extra BIG thank you to @nycitymama & @mommyinstincts for the extra helping hands… as well as our partner sponsors whom helped make our fabulous swag suite, extra fabulous!

*All Photography Courtesy of Tammy Cedar Photography

- Corine (aka- Complicated Mama)

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To see more photos from the night, view our “Sweets In The City” Flicker album.

Gearing up for Blogher 10' & Sweets In The City

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It seems this week has been a whirlwind as we gear up and prepare to attend the Blogher Conferences, as well as host our sweet suite party Friday night-

The Big Toy Book Moms are so excited to meet all of the many amazing bloggers attending. It is going to be a great time connecting over, cupcakes, cookies, wine & being entertained by the very cool people at Beamz!

While we pack, prepare, and continue to connect with everyone via, twitter, facebook and …face to face (woot!!), we wanted to thank our truly amazing swag bag sponsors- who have generously provided some truly amazing gifts for all of Friday’s guests.

Also want to give a special thank you to all who attended our pre- blogher Twitter Party Monday night! It so much fun chatting with you all and giving some people who could not attend the conference or our event- the chance to win some swag!
We will be sure to share some pictures, videos and some great stories when we return.

-Corine

Complicated Mama

#SweetsInTheCity Pre-Blogher Twitter Celebration

During the Blogher conferences in NYC this week, we will be hosting a sweet suite party- which will include the some of the sweetest cupcakes, wine and {of course} swag bags around!

Because we understand that not everyone can make the conference (and because we are so psyched!), we wanted to throw a virtual pre-party of sorts to allow some non-Blogher attendees the chance to win some of that fabulously SWEET SWAG!

Inside of our gifting suite, we will have swag bags filled with some great products from:

& More!

And at our Twitter Party you will 3 chances to win!

Join us!

Who? @thebigtoybook @sharpiesusan @sharpiewhit @deltachildren @sprigtoys @complicatedmama

What? Sweets In The City – Pre-blogher Twitter Party

We will be chatting about conferences, blogging, and more!

When: Monday, Aug 2nd 9pm (et)

RSVP using the linky below  & be sure to use the #Sweetsinthecity hashtag to qualify to win!

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