little. lovely. - Life's better when you add a little lovely.

$100 Toys-R-Us Voucher Giveaway

Sponsored by Nuffnang

Sometimes the best presents are least expected. Let me explain.

Last week, I received a parcel in the mail containing a Thomas Steam n Speed. Last year, Hunter was fascinated with trains and had asked for Thomas and Chuggington trains for Christmas. Throughout the course of the year he’d spent hours building tracks, taking his trains on journeys.

A whole twelve months later, which let’s face it is an eternity when you’re four, I wasn’t sure he’d be as excited to receive this gift. I put the package at the top of our bedroom closet with other parcels I’d received and planned to give it the Special Christmas Present Treatment.

Then, I was unexpectedly admitted to hospital. On the second night of my admission, Mike brought two sad little people to visit me. They were missing their Mummy and snuggled with me on my hospital bed. We talked about their days before H asked me about the large box he’d seen at the top of our closet. Feeling some Mummy guilt, I told him we could open the package when I arrived home.

So we did.

On arriving home I went straight to bed and H&C came and climbed in to open the package. There was Thomas, his remote control, instructions and a little squeezable container used to fill Thomas with water for his steam. I was hoping for fifteen minutes of rest before normal life ensued, but I was pleasantly surprised.

H ‘read’ the instructions in bed with me while Charlotte went in search of batteries. Then, they played together with Thomas on my bedroom floor and in the hall while I rested. For an hour. It was a perfect way to ease back into being at home.

H&C took turns controlling Thomas with the small remote, while the other stood as a bridge for him to pass under. They were fascinated by the cold ‘steam’ lit from his funnel by a blue light and kept laughing as he tooted down the hall.

To say I was pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoyed the gift is an understatement. I never would have guessed it would be such a hit and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

For your chance to win a $100 Toys-R-Us gift voucher leave a comment about a present that has surprised you.

Competition Terms and Conditions

{giveaway} Children's book Parrot Carrot

Every child has one of those books. The ones they never tire of, insist being read over and over and over again. 

For us, it used to be Where The Wild Things Are. Now it's Parrot Carrot. I received a copy several weeks ago from the illustrator,  Jon Foye and showed it to Hunter.

We read it once, then twice and before I knew it, we'd read it so many times we could both recite the entire book. The best part was that Hunter belly laughed each and every time we read it.

It's his new favourite book. There's also a great iPhone app you can download for your kids.

I have a copy of Parrot Carrot to give away to one lucky reader.

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post explaining why you would love a copy of Parrot Carrot. Entries must be received by 9:00am Monday, 12 December 2011.

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One winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, 12th December 2011 and the winner's name will be published on this post.

 

Giveaway: New Dora the Explorer DVD

If you've read this blog for any amount of time you will know I'm not a huge fan of commerical characters. I generally think their designs are garish and content lacking but there's one exception in our house - Dora.

Charlotte is crazy about Dora. Literally obsessed. She pretends to be Dora and asks a million times a day if she can watch her on television. 

Several weeks ago, we were invited to attend the premiere of the latest Dora DVD, Dora the Explorer: Enchanted Forest Adventures. It literally took me two seconds to accept because I knew just how excited Charlotte would be.

Charlotte was thrilled to meet Dora and grabbed my iPhone to take photos of her favourite friend. (You can see her in the photo above snapping away like a true paparazzi.) After meeting Dora, we watched the new DVD and Charlotte stood on her seat, dancing and singing the entire way through the screening.

To celebrate the launch of Dora the Explorer: Enchanted Forest Adventures, I'll be giving away a copy of the DVD to one lucky reader. 

For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post explaining why you would love a copy of this DVD. Entries must be received by 9:00am Wednesday, 26 October 2011.

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One winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, 26 October 2011 and the winner's name will be published on this post.

{giveaway} Six months of Blossom Bands valued at $65

At two, Charlotte still doesn't have a lot of hair. It's growing, but at a very slow rate.

When we're out and about, strangers have been known to comment that she's a very pretty for a little boy. (Uh, that would be because she's a girl.)

I love adding headbands and clips to her hair to make her look more feminine and am completely smitten with the Blossom Band in the above image.

Today's giveaway is particularly exciting because it's a six month subscription to Blossom Band's Blossom Band of the Month club, valued at $65. That's a great prize to help you continually update your daughter's look.

For your chance to win, follow Blossom Bands and little. lovely. on facebook and leave a comment on this post between now and 9:00am Wednesday, 24 August 2011.

Winner: Randi - "My littlest girl has that same problem - her short hair and spunky attitude always get her mistaken for a boy. I'd love to win ... I like both of you on facebook!"

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One winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, 24 August 2011 and the winner's name will be published on this post.

Annual Survey: {Giveaway} Win one of four BlaBla Dolls

The 6th August is little. lovely.'s second birthday. My how time flies.

I'm using this milestone as a time to reflect on this little space I've created and work on ways I can make it better for you, my lovely readers.

So, I've put together a short survey to give me a better snapshot of who you are and what you enjoy. As an incentive to help me improve this little part of the blogosphere, I'm personally giving away a BlaBla Doll to FOUR of my lovely readers who take part.

For your chance to win, simply complete the survey by Wednesday, 9 August 2011. Be sure to leave your email address (the last question in the survey) so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway has closed.

Winners: Stella W, Alicia K, KTW, Sally-Anne Brookes. All winners have been notified via email.

Thank you for your feedback.

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*Four readers who successfully complete the entire survey will be chosen at random on Thursday, 11 August 2011. Winners will be contacted via email and their names will be published on this post.