Tip: If an action states you can earn 5 extra entries for it (for example, subscribing to the Every Kind of Mom blog), you only need to tell me once to earn your 5 extra entries, it does not have to be posted 5 times. I have had some questions about the extra entry process so I thought I would address it.

Hope this helps!

(Release Date: September 14, 2010)
Copies for Giveaway: 1

Dora the Explorer:  Dora’s Slumber Party is being given away!  What a great way to surprise the kids by being the lucky winner. See below on how to enter, and here is where you can read the Dora’s Slumber Party review. Contest Ends September 15, 2010. Winner will be announced on September 16.

 Enter for a chance to win a FREE copy here! Below are the details on how to enter.

To Enter:

Simply reply to this post with a comment!

Earn Extra Entries…

• Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site, blog, or facebook (tell me where you advertised it and provide the link to me) 10 Extra Entries
• Follow everykindofmom on Twitter 5 Extra
• Subscribe to my Blog 5 Extra (RSS feed at top)
• Email your friends,family, or anyone you know with this giveaway link and carbon copy: contact@everykindofmom.com 1 Extra Entry per email address
• Tweet this giveaway link: http://everykindofmom.com/?p=761 and tell me
• Uses any of the share links at the bottom of this post 2 Extra (for each one)
• Post a comment on any other blog entry on this site, and come back and tell me where you did 3 Extra

Contest runs until September 15, 2010, 11:59 pm Pacific Time,
Winner will be selected by random on September 16, 2010. Winner will be posted on September 6, 2010
Giveaway Rules and Terms are found here: Giveaway Rules

 Dora the Explorer:  Dora’s Slumber Party
DVD hits stores September 14, 2010  

Would you like to join Dora’s Slumber Party?  My kids do!  This DVD is really cute and the perfect DVD to surprise your kids with on a weekend.   In Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Slumber Party, they can curl up with blankets and teddy bears as Dora and her friends get together for a sleepover in a compilation containing six of Dora’s bedtime adventures.  As with every Dora episode, your kids can join Dora and her friends as they search for their bedtime stuffed animals, wish upon a star, and wake up their friends during this exciting slumber party.

Explorer: Dora’s Slumber Party Episode Synopses:

• Boots’ Cuddly Dinosaur - As bedtime approaches during Dora and Boots’ sleepover, Boots can’t find his cuddly dinosaur.  The friends realize that Boots’ dinosaur must have fallen out of his bag at Play Park earlier that day. In their quest to help Boots find his cuddly dinosaur, Dora and friends put baby animals to sleep by singing a Spanish lullaby, help Benny find all of his stuffed animals, soar through the air in a balloon, and make a wish on their friend Little Star.  With lots of help, Boots finally finds his cuddly dinosaur at Play Park, just in time for bed.
• Louder – Every morning Red Rooster must wake the Sun from its deep slumber.  Dora and Boots decide to help Red Rooster get to the Highest Hill so he can wake up the Sun. Along the way the friends practice making lots of noise and wake up the frogs, the boat and the pigs.  With lots of practice, the friends wake the Sun just in time for morning.
• The Lost City – Dora and her friends have lost their most precious toys and will do anything to get them back.  The friends discover that toys must go to the Lost City when they are lost, but the city is very hard to find. Dora and Boots embark on an Indiana Jones-like adventure as they race through the Number Pyramid and take a quick shortcut through the Jumbled Jungle.  If they find the Lost City, Dora will get back her lost teddy bear, and all her friends will find their favorite lost toys.
• Little Star – As Dora and Boots get ready to make a wish on the first star that appears in the sky, the star falls.  It’s now up to Dora and Boots to bring Little Star back home to the Moon, so everyone can make their wish. They will have to take Little Star on a long journey over the Troll Bridge, and past Tico’s Tree to help get the star all the way back into the sky. 
  Song: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”
• Super Babies’ Dream Adventure – As the Super Babies get ready for their nap, the Dream Fairy is nowhere to be found.  The Dream Fairy’s Golden Rooster got locked out of the Dream Castle and couldn’t wake her up, so she was still a sleep.  The Super Babies decide to wake up the Dream Fairy by embarking on a journey through the Giant’s Forest, up to Dragon Mountain and finally to Dream Castle.  When the dream fairy is awoken with her Golden Rooster, she delivers happy naptime dreams for all of the babies. 
• Dora Had a Little Lamb – Mary had a Little Lamb, but now Little Lamb is lost.  Dora and Boots jump into a big book of Nursery Rhymes to bring Little Lamb back to her best friend, Mary.  Along the way to Mary’s House, Dora, Boots and Little Lamb pick pickled peppers with Peter Piper; help the Itsy Bitsy Spider climb up the Water Spout; ride a cow over the Moon; put Humpty Dumpty back together again; and even catch a ride in a motorized bath tub. 

For those who don’t know…  Dora is a seven-year-old Latina heroine whose adventures take place in an imaginative, tropical world filled with jungles, beaches and rainforests.  She explores her world just as preschoolers do everyday, and the show is designed to actively engage its audience in an interactive quest using a variety of learning techniques. 

In every episode, Dora and Boots (Regan Mizrahi) invite the audience to participate in an exciting adventure, where each step of their journey consists of a problem or puzzle that Dora and the audience must think their way through in order to solve the next problem.  Dora is proudly bilingual and uses her knowledge of English and Spanish to communicate with her friends, overcome obstacles and reach her goals.  In each episode, Dora teaches Spanish words or phrases to the viewers and then asks them to use it to solve a problem and forge ahead.  Ultimately, Dora and her best friend, Boots, triumph, and the story always ends with a “We Did It!” anthem.

Dora the Explorer is truly a favorite of my kids and this particular DVD is one of the best, with a DVD running time of approximately 147 minutes.

ENTER the GIVEAWAY for this DVD! click here

1.  Halloween Scavenger Hunt – works for all ages, kids and adults.     All neighborhoods are different, so since you may the list of items they have to find, you can customize their list for the area you are in.  Another option is to simply send them to the local mall and have them hit up the stores and shoppers for their random objects.. 

2.  Bobbing for Apples – with a twist.   Bobbing for apples is a given at any Halloween event.  You do not have to just use a standard  washtub/bucket/black cauldron and apples.  For an added kick, try coloring the water, or throwing in some rubber snakes, spiders, or worms. You can probably find some other gross things to throw in the tub too, like fake eyeballs and severed fingers.  Surround the cauldron (safely) with a little dry ice or an Ultrasonic Water Mist maker for a spooky effect.  

3.  Scavenger Art Contest — Take the items collected from the scavenger hunt and have the teams create something “freaky” from the them.  Provide extra tools, like scissors, glue, etc….  and see what happens.   Best creation wins.

4. Guess What This Is! — the nastiest touch & feel game you can play. I do not know if this game has a name other than that, but that is what I call it.  This game happens to be my favorite for freak-out entertainment.  Here is how it goes:  In advance, you get a box, which on one side you pick really nasty smelling items and place them there, then match them with something slightly less harmless to touch on the other side.   The key of this game is that you are telling the teams to identify the item they touch.  The trick is, you are making them smell something other than what they are touching to mess with their minds.  Feel free to get very creative here.  It can be extremely enjoyable to watch, and makes for great conversation later.

5.  Pin the Skin on the Skeleton– Eeew!  Just like pin the tail on the donkey, but not the same game.  Instead of a donkey, get a paper skeleton and put it on the wall.  Mark a spot on the skeleton for the players to “re-skin”.  You can use flesh colored material (or latex if you can find it) and a push-pin, or if you really want to freak people out, buy a chicken and use real chicken skin (NASTY, but really gross and funny!).*  Blindfold them and let them try and hit the mark.  Closest wins.
NOTE:  If you use real chicken skin, which is NASTY, but totally gross and great for Halloween, be sure to have hand sanitizer ready and have them wash their hands after their turn.  Not recommended for young children who will stick their fingers in their mouths. 

Halloween is all about having fun, so don’t take anything to seriously.  Stay safe, have a great scare, and enjoy the chance to become something or someone else for a change!

Visit the Halloween Category for more ideas and posts about Halloween

 

Go Diego Go!:  Diego’s Ultimate Rescue League
DVD hits stores August 31, 2010  

Another Go Diego Go! DVD hits the stores tomorrow with 3 new-to-DVD episodes.  My kids were completely thrilled to see this DVD and were really glad they got to view it before its release. 

In Diego’s Ultimate Rescue League, Diego and his friends test their rescuing skills as they travel underwater and up tall mountains to save animals.   These action-packed expeditions take preschoolers in a virtual around the world experience.  They can join Diego, his friends and the Animal Rescue League undergo a test to earn a World Rescuers’ patch; help Bottlenose become an ocean animal rescuer by saving the ocean animals from a tsunami-like wave and a devastating oil spill; and climb a treacherous mountain to reunite Prince Vicuña with his parents.  The DVD includes the double-length Ultimate Rescue League episode, in addition to two more action-packed Diego episodes. 

 Go, Diego, Go!: Diego’s Ultimate Rescue League –  a little about the episodes:

Diego’s International Rescue League

Diego has assembled an elite team of world rescuers to endure a challenging test that will earn them their World Rescuers’ patch.  Diego’s team includes Juma – the African desert expert, Shanti – the Indian forest expert, Burgin – an expert diver and surfer from Borneo, Yang – a panda rescuer who can climb up the tallest and most treacherous mountains of China, and team captain Diego – who’s rescued animals from every corner of the globe – even the frozen tundra of Antarctica! The team assembles on Rescue Island, where they must race against the clock in their Rescue-Flyer to identify and return five mystery animal eggs to their respective habitats before time runs out.

Ocean Animal Rescuer

Bottlenose wants to become an ocean animal rescuer just like Diego and Baby Humpback Whale. Bottlenose must swim fast and rescue the baby sea turtles from a giant wave that could devastate the population. Then Diego, Baby Humpback, and Bottlenose must work together to rescue the ocean animals from a dangerous oil-spill before it gets too close to their natural habitats.

Diego Rescues Prince Vicuña

Prince Vicuña embarked on an extensive exploration and has yet to return to his parents, the King and Queen, who long for their lost son.  Diego and Messenger Vicuña are quick to develop a plan of action.  Diego and Messenger Vicuña run into some trouble as they realize the Prince is over the mountain, near Puma Pass.  Diego decides to use a special climbing hook and rope to climb up the mountain toward Puma Pass to rescue the Prince.  After a successful rescue, we take the Prince back to Vicuña Valley, and reunite him with his joyful parents.

All in all, I still recommend all the Go Diego Go! DVDs, but this one didn’t interest my little audience as much as some as the others have.  Thus, although a fabulous DVD for preschoolers and young school-age kids, this one gets only 4 out of 5 stars.  But, who knows, your kid may think its worthy of the full 5!

This DVD is available most places on August 31, 201 for a suggested retail price of  $16.99 .  Of course, its usually cheaper at Amazon.com and at some Big Box and warehouse stores.

DVD Running Time:  Approximately 94 Minutes

The best game I have ever played at Halloween is one I call “Guess What This Is!”. It can be the most fun and seriously disgusting game could ever come across — and it is all what you want to make it. I do not know if it is referenced by any other names, I just know that it is my absolute favorite freak-out game that I got from my mother-in-law. It is a “touch and feel” guessing game, but with a twist. Here is how the game is played:

1. Put something horribly smelly in a box. Tell them they are going to be trying to identify the items they touch, but that they get to smell it first.

2. Pair the smelly object with something that makes sense — in the same box. For instance, my mother-in-law (yes, she really did this to her kids) put doggie doodie in a box on one side, and a ripe peeled banana on the other side. Believe me, a banana was not exactly what they thought they touched, but it is a great match for the game.

3. Blindfold the player or team, and begin. Cut a small “smell hole” on one side of the box. Hold the box up at nose level and have them sniff. Then, turn the box around, have the same player reach in and touch it and try and guess what it is. It is completely gross and one of the funniest things to watch. Do it by teams or individually, depending on your number of people.

This game is an awesome opportunity for some great laughs and disgusting Halloween fun. Whoever guesses the most items right wins. Just be sure you remember to keep the paired items straight… make sure they do not accidently touch the smelly stuff! MORE GAMES will be posted shortly, check back and see!

—————————————————- Go the the EveryKindofMom Halloween page for the latest Halloween online discount codes and promos —————————————————-

Music - One of the biggest mistakes people make is forgetting to have background music.  You don’t have to have a full-fledged dance party or state of the art surround sound, but you do need to play a little spooky music to set the mood.  You can switch it up to some upbeat music once all your guest arrive, but to start it out right, you want some creepy tunes to get the party’s blood pumping.  Don’t forget to play “Monster Mash” at some point — it’s always a favorite.

Great Food - Don’t just put some snacks out in a bowl.  You can create some real creepy appetizers and buffet tables to go with the Halloween theme.  Try creating a full “dead body buffet” or simply put out some hot “fingers” or some “mold and mildew dip”.  There are a ton of food items to put out if you just look around the internet.  Most are creations from tasty favorites, with and added creative twist (often made with some simple adjustments and food coloring).  It’s a lot easier than you might think.

Games – no party is complete without a little healthy competition.  Put a ghoulish spin on bobbin for apples, do a Halloween scavenger hunt, or play “pin the skin on the skeleton” (like pin the tail on the donkey… but not the same thing!).  Use your imagination and there are endless possibilities.

Decorations -  the simplest way to get the Halloween flavor going is to dim the lights.  So shut them down and use holiday lights or replace bulbs with less wattage.  You can also rent (or buy) a fog machine for added effect.  After that, it can be as simple as draping fake spider webs and strategically placing fake bugs and spiders everywhere. 

Invitations and Guest List -  I listed this last because it is the absolute first thing you should do, and is the part often put off.  When planning a party, invitations need to be given out in advance, so people can book your party on their schedule ahead of time.  If you really want the bash to work out, invite them in September, and follow up with a reminder in October.  The best thing about getting the invitations out in advance is that it lights a fire under you to get your party together more quickly.

Parties do not have to be complicated, they just have to be organized and, if you are not creative, there are plenty of sources for help.
—————————————————-
Go the the EveryKindofMom Halloween page
for the latest Halloween online discount codes and promos
—————————————————-

Whether for children, adults, or both, there are (and will be more) plenty of great Halloween ideas already on this blog! See the Halloween category for food, recipes, game and decorating ideas, and check out the Halloween Discount Page for online discount codes and promotions.

Promos and discounts tend to change often, so they will be updated weekly or more to get you the best deals.

I really had no idea that fog machines were so reasonable. They come in a variety of sizes, depending on the amount of fog you need and your particular budget.  If you really do not like the smoky atmosphere you can also find nifty devices called Ultrasonic Mist Makers, or make use of a little dry ice.  The dry ice gives a foggy effect, but is not something I would leave unsupervised with children around.  Dry ice is very, very cold and can give a child some frostbite in a hurr An ultrasonic mistmaker is a low voltage mist maker that use very little water, and can be plugged in almost anywhere.  The greatest benefit of the ultrasonic mist maker is that It can be used both indoors or out, and in smaller less-ventilated rooms. 

When it comes to creating an awesome Halloween atmosphere, I have come to the conslusion that no set up is complete without a little spooky fog, in any form.   By far, the most awesome site I’ve found so far to get all kinds of effects and costume stuff is at SpiritHalloween — if you need anything at all, I recommend visiting it and checking it out  (note the special offers from this site below — you can get your 10- 25% off by clicking on the banner or using the codes, plus look for the Halloween Discounts page for more updates)  Enjoy!

• Get 20% off 1 item at SpiritHalloween when you use the coupon code SPAF20! Hurry, this offer ends 10/29/09!
  Click Here
• Get 25% off 1 item – MUST put this code in at checkout: SPIRITBG25      Click Here
• For 10% off entire order click the banner below.