I like to think that every year I find new, creative gifts to give the kids. I also enjoy making them gifts when I can. But I’ve found that sometimes its easier to depend on their favorite characters and toys that they enjoy playing with for years. For my oldest that happens to be Transformers toys. He has enjoyed transforming robots to vehicles for 5 years now.

I remember when the first Transformers movie came out, he was too young to watch it but he loved the toys. The Transformers products were everywhere! That Christmas we bough him some Transformers toys and since then he’s grown a quite a collection, including the KRE-O Transformers sets.

Hasbro KRE-O Transformers sets provide him with hours and hours of entertainment. Some of the bigger sets can take him a long time to build..which he likes! I enjoy watching him concentrate on building the robots, but I enjoy playing with him even more. Its our thing and always has been. The younger two are not old enough to play with the sets so him and I like to pull out the sets to build during naptime. He likes to get really creative with the scenes.

Check out the vehicle version of a robot. Geez and to think I thought my toys were cool when I was younger. :)

The figurines are hilarious! Check out the guy on the left, he’s out of focus but I like how he has a hot dog in his hand, ketchup on his shirt, and a megaphone in his other hand. Hows that for detail? The expressions are pretty funny too!

The Kre-O Transformer sets make a great gift for older kids and for the younger ones the Cycle Chase and Decepticon Ambush are perfect for ages 6 and up.

If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer idea KREON Micro-Changers Mystery Bags are great for the older kids. Its a small bag filled with a mystery character that can transform from robot into a jet or insect. My son loves these! He likes being surprised and is always excited to see what new figure he’s going to add to his collection. To learn more visit Kre-O Transformers on Facebook and Twitter.

What are some of your kids favorite toys?

Thanks for stopping by!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love instagram? I’ve made a lot of great friends through instagram and have been able to get to know fellow bloggers. Whats great about instagram is you can connect with people you have never met on a whole new level. I recently had the opportunity to find an outfit for my husbands casual holiday party. I have a very simple, casual style so I wanted something that I felt comfortable in. Yesterday I went to Sears to see what I could find and then did something completely out of my norm..I asked my instagram friends to vote on the outfit I would buy!

I’m going to be honest I cringed at the thought of everyone picking one of the outfits that was a little more dressed up than I would usually pick. It was stylish but the outfit is the one that  I was least comfortable in. I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone and thought it would be fun to see if everyone picked it.

Luckily everyone picked the one I thought was the perfect balance for me.

Outfit number three is the outfit I would have picked last and outfit number two is the one I WOULD have picked. Outfit 2 was SO me. It was basic, simple, no patterns, and a neutral color. Does that sound boring? HA! Its honestly what the majority of wardrobe looks like.

Outfit number one was secretly my favorite. It wasn’t too dressy to the point that I would be uncomfortable but it was dressy enough that I can wear it to parties or dates with the hubs. What I like about the outfit is that I can pair it with jeans for a casual lunch date outfit or with black pants for a more formal event. Oh and I also bought a watched that looks like a bracelet to go with the outfit. Its hard to see in the picture but I love it!

Have you watched the latest Sears commercial? I think its hilarious! She’s wearing some seriously adorable outfits in that video. I like how she’s quietly revealing where she purchased them in the beginning then basically yelling it at the end. Oh and the dentist part! HA! That’s exactly how I felt when I told my neighbor about my new outfit, but I’m really excited with the one I purchased. #styleSurprise

If you’re looking for a holiday outfit Sears has a coupon right now for 20% off clothing and accessories. There’s also a searsStyle sweepstakes you might want to check out. You can find out more about the latest Sears fashion by visiting them on Facebook and Twitter.

So what do you think? What outfit would YOU have picked?

A  big thanks to all my instagram friends for helping me select an outfit. :)

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and Sears. #CBias #ad #searsStyle

Do you have a blog and want to make new friends? Then join me along with some other fabulous ladies in our November Blog hop!

Are you ready to network??
Are you prepared to make some new bloggy friends??
Well, here’s your chance!

[Read more...]

Hi friends, are you excited about the weekend? We’re surprising the kids with a little vacation and I know they’re going to be excited!

Today I’d like to introduce you to my new sponsor, Kelly from Live.Laugh.Rowe. Kelly writes a lifestyle blog filled with mounds of inspiration. On her site you will find everything from delicious recipes, to crafts and home decor tutorials. Take a look at some of my favorite tutorials:

 Candy Corn Pots

 Pottery Barn Inspired Decor

 Painted Soap Wraps

Kelly also hosts Thee Networking Blog Hop every month. If you have a blog be sure to stop by and meet new friends.

To see more creative and inspiring tutorials visit Kelly at Live. Laugh.Rowe.

Thanks for stopping by!

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email me at apumpkinandaprincess{at} gmail {dot} com for details, I’d love to help promote your blog or shop.

So last week/this weekend didn’t go as I had planned. I had so much going on and posts planned through the weekend..then my site was attacked. Umm yeah, if you tried to visit sometime last week you might have noticed. Apparently some started having issues with it as early as Tuesday but I didn’t become aware of the problem until Friday morning.  The ad network I was a part of used a third party with a malware ad which affected my site. I read somewhere that some 10,000 + blogs were affected because of it. Google blocked my site, which was a nightmare! Luckily I was able to find out about the issue from a few other bloggers on a facebook group who were having the same problem. I removed the ad, deactivated my account with the network and finally had my block released from Google late Saturday night. I’m pretty sure I cried happy tears when I read on my webmaster tools that Google did not find any malware on A Pumpkin & A Princess. It was a HUGE sigh of relief to know the whole ordeal was over with.

I want to say THANK YOU to all my readers who took the time to email and facebook message me letting me know you were having problems with my site. I am seriously blown away with everyone’s support, thank you it means a lot knowing someone is reading this little ol’ blog of mine. :)

I also couldn’t have made it past this whole ordeal without the support of my awesome friends who were so supportive during those stressful days and my husband (the biggest supporter of my blog) who kept me smiling throughout all of it.

So now I’m back! I have some fun posts coming up this week too. I have a few crafts to share including a Halloween one using Mod Podge, a recipe I wasn’t able to share last week, and an Avengers themed family night.

In case you missed it there’s an awesome Silhouette CAMEO promotion going on right now. You can read about it {here} and the link to purchase with the discount code {PUMPKIN} is http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/blog-special-media-1.aspx

There’s also a $50 VISA gift card and Raisinets gift basket giveaway going {here}.

And last but not least the Lifestyle Crafts giveaway winner has been announced.

Congratulations Jamie C.

Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad to be back. :)

This post brought to you by Glade Fall Collection. All opinions are 100% mine.

One of my favorite things about Fall are the scents that give you the comforting feeling that autumn is in the air. We don't have that cool, crisp air yet but that hasn't stopped me from bringing that autumn scent into my home. With my new Glade® Autumn Harvest candle my home smells like Autumn has arrived, despite the weather saying otherwise. It has a woodsy scent that reminds me of hiking Yosemite on chilly Fall days. You see prior to my younger two being born my husband, oldest son, and I used to hike Yosemite at least twice a month. Our favorite time to go was during the Fall when the bright yellow and orange leaves covered the Yosemite Valley. It's absolutely stunning during the Fall and now that the little ones are getting older I can't wait to start going again. The new Autumn Harvest Glade® candle is the perfect concoction of spices and that Earthy wood-like smell Autumn brings. The candles' glass is also a nice brown color, making it perfect to add into your Fall decor. To give mine something a little extra I took a piece of brown ribbon and a {Styled} by Tori Spelling Owl Pendant to embellish the candle. I simply tied the ribbon tightly around then sat back and admired my cute little Autumn candle. What are some of your favorite Fall scents? I'm excited to try the new Maple Pumpkin candle next.

The Autumn Harvest candle is exclusive to Walmart, where you can find a $1.50 off coupon on two products from the Glade Fall Collection.