A VERY MERRY MAXIM GIVEAWAY!!!

This just in!  Maxim Enterprise Wooden Toys has just announced an AMAZING giveaway!  You can be entered to win this beautiful EverEarth Bamboo Nativity Set (valued at over $150.00) just by "LIKING" their Facebook page and then "SHARING" this contest with your friends!

If you are already following Maxim on Facebook, simply click "SHARE" to share the contest announcement on Facebook and you'll be ENTERED!

The official start of the contest is Thursday, December 13th and ends at Midnight on Sunday December 16th.  One winner will be drawn on Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  The Nativity Set will be shipped out to the winner that day to make it to your home before Christmas.  Happy entering!  Don't forget to Follow Maxim Enterprise on Twitter HERE and visit their website HERE!  Keep an eye out for the winner drawing video posted on Maxim's FB page on Monday!

Again:  LIKE + SHARE = ENTRY

Enter the contest RIGHT HERE!!!     Good Luck!

MAXIM ENT Toy Fair Contest!

SUPER DUPER CONTEST ALERT!

Maxim Enterprise has just announced the Create-A-Character Toy Fair Contest.  They are looking for artists of ALL ages.  If you love DIY and creative play with your kids OR if you are a seasoned professional artist send us pictures of your custom Create-A-Character or Wood Chuck!  The Create-A-Character and Wood Chuck are fun little wooden figures that you can paint and customize into your own fantastical character.

All entries will be posted on the Maxim Enterprise Facebook page and winners will be featured on display at Toy Fair 2013 in New York City!  Here are some examples of some Create-A-Characters:

Spend some quality creative time and join the fun!   Visit the Maxim Enterprise website right here and Visit the Maxim Enterprise Facebook page right here to learn more and be sure to "like" their page!  Happy Creating! 

A Sculptural Reflection on Election 2012

Well then!  Election day 2012 is just about over, which means our phones will stop ringing a little less and our eyes and ears will (hopefully) stop being bombarded with cheesy commercial ads and social network campaign posts.  In just a few hours, we will find out who the leader of our nation will be for the next four years.  Cant you just smell all of the anxiety in the air?!

I thought I would share one of my sculptures I made about 5 years ago in honor of this day.  A mega throwback for me, but one I have always been proud to call my own.  Above is Abe vs. Abe.  Made of wood and plaster, it is a chess match that could never be won.  

Its title: Stalemate. 

I hope tonight does not end in such a circumstance and we all, as human beings, can move on with our daily lives, with our families, and celebrate just how fortunate we all our, despite political differences.  

In light of all things negative elections bring, I was blown away by all of the effort put forth by the people of New Jersey and New York who, through extremely tough times, made it a priority to get out there and vote.  The determination of those residents, made me proud to be an American.  It is actions and efforts such as that, that remind me, we are all in this together.

Whew!  Now back to our regularly scheduled programs!!!  My daughter LOVES this guy, so I thought I would share him too (also from about 5 years ago).  A hybrid toy by me.  His name: Barefeet. (of course)  Good Night!

And this, which I cannot claim as my own, but I borrowed (dont know who the artist is) from a friend's FB page. Because its funny and we all love Play-Doh.

You can now find and follow me on Bloglovin!  www.bloglovin.com

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Pledge to November

I pledge to November that I will no longer be the worst blogger on the block.  Wait, let's back up a second.

Ahem.

The last blog entry I made started out with "it's Labor Day already?!" Here we are, today, the 5th of November, the day before Election Day 2012.  Wait, what? How did it come to this? Summer is long gone, Halloween has past and here I am, proclaiming myself the worst blogger--maybe not the worst ever, but ya know.  I have been very active in the Twitterverse and I've got a bundle of great followers there, but for those of you looking for more meat, I'm here to deliver.  Yes, there was a funeral, my birthday and a bad case of pneumonia in the past couple of months but that is no excuse for being absent.  Actually, all of those listed above are reasons to write. Things to web log, yes?

Again, here I am, a day before the election, two days before my daughter's 3rd birthday, five days before her party, 10 hours away from my next bar shift, and 7 hours before I have to cleanup the apartment before the sitter arrives.  Playing catch up.  I'm not stressed at all. I swear. Why am I not stressed? Because we have all been here at some time or another, right? Right?

This November 2012 is the start of a new me--Christina--Maxim Mommy.  I will become one with my blog, I pledge.  I will document, I say!

 This brings us back to the start of this post.  I pledge to November that I will no longer be the worst blogger on the block.  I will write for the next 20/25  days of the month. (20 because I have to set a realistic goal, right?). Soon I will have followers/subscribers and they can keep me in check...that's my 'hope for November'.

Happy Clouds. Happy Days. Happy Mom.

Um, Its Labor Day weekend already?!  Where oh where has the time gone?! I didn't mean to be away for so long but I have been busy with everything from potty training, tantrum taming, learning all of the lyrics to every Yo Gabba Gabba song ever made, and of course playing with any wooden toy i could get my hands on.  What can I say? Its been great fun, except for the tantrum taming...um, that I can't quite call "fun".

Anyhow, I found a bead fun toy that would make even Bob Ross so excited he'd do a little dancey dance.  This, my friends, is the Rainbow Bead Fun by Maxim toys.  It makes my heart feel super happy.  Just look how happy this educational rainbow is!:

Oh, and yes, as you can see I have also discovered InstaGram.  Addicted.  You can find me on Instagram as steenalopez.

I love the design of this Bead Fun.  Its so modern and goes with just about any decor, it would probably even look good in an office.  Its perfect for any child 18 months or older.  The bright colors, multiple shapes and happy clouds will keep a little bean engaged while learning important things like counting, shapes, colors, and how to be a happy little cloud. aw.  There is also a happy little flower accent on the base.  As always, the toy is made from solid wood (except for the wire rainbow), so it will last for generations.  You should be able to find this wonderful gem in stores and online.  I am crazy about it!

That's all for now.

I will be back sooner than later with surely something fun to talk about, like our trip to the Poconos in PA last weekend. Everyone loves a story about a screaming child in the car, right?

Hey, do you have any classic, fun, wooden toys you loved as a child?  Tell me all about them in the comments section.  ALSO you can now find me now on Twitter right here!