Fab Frugal Mama

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Hot Wheels & Barbie: Favourites in My House! #FFMGiftGuide {Reviews & a #Giveaway}

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Today’s featured review is actually two reviews… Hot Wheels® & Barbie™from Mattel.

Hot Wheels Triple Track Twister Track Set

Ask anyone who knows me and they’ll tell you I’m a complete girlie-girl. I love makeup and manicures; shopping and pretty, sparkly things. So, as a Mama of a girl and a boy, I have to remember to do the stuff my son likes sometimes, not just the things my daughter and I enjoy doing. And that’s not always easy, since I grew up in a house full of women. (But I digress…)

For as long as I can remember, my son has been enamoured with vehicles of any kind – construction vehicles, race cars, rescue vehicles, tractors, trains… you name it. So it’s no surprise that he loves Hot Wheels.

When he recently got the chance to play with the Hot Wheels Triple Track Twister Track Set, my son was in heaven! Despite the age recommendation being 5+, he didn’t take long to figure out exactly how it worked. And, let me tell you, this toy really does have it all… from the action of multiple cars racing on the track (perfect for playing with a few friends) and amazing gravity-defying curves, to daring loop-de-loops and iPad interactivity (free app download required), this is one slick toy. I could barely tear my son away from it after almost an hour – a long time for a three-year-old. He was having so much fun and especially loved when the cars crashed while passing each other on the loops.

This is a definite winner, and a toy any child who loves cars and racing would be thrilled to receive. I will warn you, though – the extreme crash-’em-up-fun is best enjoyed in a kid-designated play area. Walls could get marked and items broken if you attempt to play this in your living room!

Hot Wheels® Triple Track Twister Track Set from Mattel

Barbie Dreamhouse

When I was a little girl, the best-loved (and most coveted) playdate address was that of one Barbara Millicent Roberts. It was in Malibu and, boy, was that house dreamy…

I’m referring, of course, to Barbie’s Dreamhouse! And, despite last summer’s cross-country tour in search of a new home, Barbie has decided to stay in Malibu. (Home is where the heart is, after all!)

Instead of moving, Barbie decided to give the Dreamhouse a complete makeover, so the new, improved Malibu mansion is more pinktastic than ever before! It has three storeys of fabulousness, including two cool elevators – a center elevator and an elevator just for fashions and all new furniture. This glam, new Dreamhouse is so much more than I could have ever conjured up… they’ve thought of everything, from a working doorbell, light-up mirror and “flushing” toilet to someone singing in the shower! (Added bonus: all the features to keep all the accessories in place. I wouldn’t want to knock anything down as I’m, er… I mean, my daughter is playing with it. 😉

Needless to say, this is one holiday gift that is sure to put a perma-grin on any little girl’s face (and maybe her Mom’s face, too!). Since my daughter and I have a shared love of Barbie, this is just one more way we can spend fun, quality time together. I never had this dream toy as a child, so now I’m getting the chance to enjoy it with her.

Both the Hot Wheels Triple Track Twister Track Set and Barbie’s Dreamhouse are included in Walmart’s Top Toys list for 2013 and it’s no wonder – either of these toys would make amazing gifts this holiday season (they’re definitely NOT on the #unwishlist! 😉

Win it!

Yep – you read it right!! I’m so thrilled to be giving away a Barbie Dreamhouse (you can get it now at Walmart.ca for $100!) courtesy of the AMAZING folks at Mattel Canada!

Giveaway is open to legal residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) aged 18+, and ends on December 1, 2013 at 11:59pm ET. Full terms can be found at the bottom of
the Rafflecopter form. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Comments

  5. Nancy says

    My daughters! They are obsessed with the show (everything Barbie), Barbie and the dream house and would go crazy if they got this.

  6. Christine says

    I'd love to win this for my daughter! Barbie Dream House is on her wish list! She loves playing with her collection of Barbie and Ken dolls. This would totally blow her away!

    Thanks for giving us the chance to win 🙂

  9. Annie1 says

    I would win this to donate to a local charity! I know it would make a little one so very happy!

    thanks

    Rafflecopter Name is Anne Taylor

  15. jules nowell says

    my 7 year old daughter is barbie crazed. I would love to see her face with this under the tree on christmas morning. (and… I always dreamed of it as a child, but never got one.. I "may" be living variously through her, but that's ok, right?)

  27. Brandee H says

    My niece would love playing with this. She is new to Barbie. Ny son would love it too! Although it would likely become the site of a superhero battle with him!!

  28. Doris says

    I would gift this to my very young niece. I used to love Barbies when I was a kid. To give her something as fun as this would be amazing!!!

  31. bellz says

    my son would love this hot wheel track and my besties girl would love the dream house. i had a barbie dream house when i was small and i loved it so much.

  36. Haylie Langwald says

    I'd love to win this to donate to Toys for tots. This would make a little girl, or sisters, very happy this Christmas.

  37. Lindsay Cyr says

    This is so awesome! It's so much cooler than the Barbie houses they had when I was a kid 🙂 I would love to win this for my daughter, she would go crazy for this!

  38. loven mommy says

    I always wanted a Barbie dremahouse wheni was kid. anything Barbie really. my sister and I would play for hours. honestly I don't get those monster dolls so i'm more then pleased to keep the Barbie tradition going with my daughter. who right now wants nothing more then Barbie house and Barbie ponies and Barbie puppies. she must sound just like the 5 year old me.

  45. Dianne says

    My granddaughters would love this. They have a lot of Barbie dolls that they play with for hours. They would have even more fun with a house for them.

  46. dorcontest says

    The little girl within me would love to keep the dollhouse and play with it. But the 48 year old women within me will give it to my niece and I will watch her play with it…. I may jump in though 🙂
    DOREEN LAMOUREUX

  73. Tennille says

    We are more of a Hotwheels household (seriously how many of them do we need) but this would be an amazing prize to gift to my local food bank!

  75. marlene smith says

    i have always had Barbie when i was a little girl and so did my girls so now it's my granddaughters turn to grow up with Barbie and as for the Hot wheels my grandson collects them as a hobby like my Father used to do he's following in Great grandpa's steps

  79. Amy Brown says

    My daughter would love this, she asked for it last year but it was out of budget so I got her a much smaller one, she's asked for it again this year (still out of budget) she says "but mommy it has an elevatoooorrr!!!"

  81. Maya Fitz says

    My niece would go bananas over this! I had one as a child and have so many fond memories of it. Would love for her to experience that as well.

  114. Christy Martin says

    I would love to win this for my nieces! Like most girls, they love Barbies and are enjoying their mother's old dolls and clothes! It would be nice for them to have a nice modern addition!

  117. Angela Ethier says

    I remember wanting a Barbie Dreamhouse when I was a kid, but we could never afford it. I would love to win it for my best friend's little 5 year old girl!