My youngest recently turned 9. Of course we had a birthday party planned for him, complete with cake, presents, and friends. But then I was given an opportunity to make his party even more exciting!

The generous folks at FyrFlyz sent us a box of their light-up spinning toys so that we could have a party and share the fun gizmos with other kids. What perfect timing! We were able to combine Xander’s birthday party with the FyrFlyz party, handing out the toys as party favors to each guest. I don’t know who had more fun--the birthday boy or the guests!

Haven’t heard of FyrFlyz? You surely will soon--these are among the hottest toys of the 2011 holiday season. And, since they are typically priced at only about $10, they make for perfect stocking stuffers or small presents.

The concept of these toys is really quite ingenious--and simple. If you look at the picture, you can see that the toy is basically two pieces of plastic that are tethered to a central piece which has tiny lights. To play, simply hold each plastic end and apply enough force to make it spin. What results is an amazing light show--and addictive fun.

Our FyrFlyz Party

Once we had completed all of the planned activities for Xander’s birthday party, it was time for the FyrFlyz toys to come out--and boy, were the kids ever excited! There are three varieties of FyrFlyz, but we had only two of the options. No matter, though…the kids were just happy to be able to have one, let alone have the choice of a color!

We let everyone play with the FyrFlyz for a bit to get acquainted with how they work. Damien, our 10-year-old, had been practicing with one of the toys prior to the party, so he was on hand to help anyone who needed tips.

I had my laptop out and set to the website for the FyrFlyz Trick Gallery. My sons and the party guests enjoyed looking at the various types of tricks that are possible with the FyrFlyz. The videos at the Trick Gallery and at the FyrFlyz Masters of the Night webpage were of particular interest to all of the kids.

For Xander’s birthday party we planned to have several of the kids spend the night. So, once it started to get dark my husband took the boys up to the attic playroom to put on a light show. Knowing that the dark environment would be an excellent place for the kids to show off their new FyrFlyz skills. Check out the video below to see how the boys had fun doing tricks with their new toys.

Get FyrFlyz for your Kids

Want to buy some FyrFlyz? You can find them at Toys R ‘Us, Amazon.com, and other toy retailers. Some drug stores, such as CVS and Rite Aid also carry the toys. Or, you can search for a store near you on the FyrFlyz website at their Store Locator.

I did receive a box of FyrFlyz toys from FyrFlyz via MomSelect (thank you!), but all opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

If you have kids or grandkids–or if you have nieces or nephews, friends with children, or young cousins–chances are you have bought Melissa & Doug toys. I know I have! The brand has such an incredible variety of unique, fun, and educational toys. I definitely enjoy the Melissa & Doug toys much more than all of the plastic, electronic, noisy toys offered from other brands, don’t you?

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North “Poll!” You’ll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Voting is super easy–all you have to do is click on the circle in the box containing your favorite Melissa & Doug toy. Do that and you’ll earn a coupon good for 25% off of everything at MelissaAndDoug.com. You have to vote by midnight ET 11/20/2011, but your coupon will be good through 12/31/11.

So click on the image above and go vote! The only difficult part is choosing just one toy…I liked them all! Here are a couple of my faves:

I had the incredibly fantastic opportunity recently to choose a pair of Heelys to have sent to my home for review. My first thought? I’d get a pair in a size that would fit my sons. After all, at the time of the opportunity my youngest son had a birthday coming up. So what could be better than to surprise him with a pair of Heelys? (And–bonus–since my sons wear just about the same size in shoes, they could both enjoy the skate shoes!)

Other reasons why I chose to get Heelys for my kids? Well, I have a back and hip disability and I’m not able to be on my feet all that much–let alone slide my hips around in such a way as to be able to skate. And my husband…he fell off of a skateboard several months ago and fractured his wrist, so I didn’t want him on any more wheels.

Our Heelys

Here are the Heelys I chose:

If you take a look at the second picture, you’ll notice that these Heelys have 2 wheels in the heel. Most Heelys have just one wheel; however, the company now has a line of skate shoes that have 2 wheels in each shoe.

I chose these shoes because I thought my youngest (who just turned 9) would have an easier time learning to use them over the shoes with single wheels. I do think that the extra wheel helped my sons gain their balance on the Heelys faster. But, in retrospect, I might have chosen a single-wheel pair simply because it isn’t all that convenient to remove the wheels to wear the Heelys as regular shoes. It doesn’t really matter, though–my sons don’t ever seem to want the wheels out anyway.

Thoughts about the Fit

My son was absolutely thrilled to see the Heelys on his birthday–and so was his older brother (age 10). They both wanted to instantly take them out for a spin. Xander, the birthday boy, obviously got to go first.

He found the Heelys to be quite comfortable–in fact, he didn’t want to take them off that evening at all! He even begged me to allow him to wear them to school. I suppose I could have by taking out the wheels, but Xander wanted the wheels left in…I definitely couldn’t let him do that. I was pleasantly surprised that the Heelys fit him so well, as we often have trouble finding comfortable shoes for Xander’s wide feet.

For Damien, the Heelys were just a bit tighter–but then, that was to be expected since his feet are a bit bigger. Damien still found the skate shoes plenty comfortable for rolling around out on the sidewalk and at the playground.

Skating in the Heelys

Neither of my boys was immediately able to skate in the Heelys. But, after some practice they were eventually able to master the technique. I think they found the Skate 101: Tricks and Videos on the Heelys website to be quite helpful. I know that both Xander and Damien are still periodically checking out the tips in the videos so that they can try to improve their skills.

From observing the boys I could see that skating in the Heelys is quite different for them than using their roller skates or using their skateboards. It takes a completely different approach and requires different techniques. But, I could also see that the boys had an easier time learning to use the Heelys because they had already conquered the basic skills of using roller skates and skateboards. I think that having an understanding of those techniques helped them understand how to use the Heelys better.

Info about Heelys

Interested in getting some Heelys for yourself or for your kids? Now is a great time to do so! Here’s why:

Heelys is throwing a Black Friday special: Between November 25 – November 28, buy any pair of Heelys and get the second pair for only $25!

or

Buy a Nano (pictured here; it is an inline footboard to fit all single-wheel Heelys) and get a pair of Heelys for $25–and get free ground shipping on all orders!

Need more information? Head to www.heelys.com to find out about Heelys products. At the site, you will also find a Responsible Skating agreement for parents and kids as well as The Heelys Playbook, which is a checklist of equipment for safe skating.

This is a guest post.

A Detailed Explanation of Santa’s Outfit

Written by JezzaD on behalf of Crew Clothing. Crew have recently released their winter range, perfect for Christmas gifts and goodies.

This is a guest post.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement of preparing a delicious Thanksgiving meal that we lose sight of the real purpose of the holiday. In addition to spending time with our beloved family and friends and eating a lot, we should also remember to take the opportunity to be grateful for the things we have. Remembering what we are grateful for is something we should do more often than once a year, but Thanksgiving is the ideal time to start. This Thanksgiving, use the occasion to create some gratitude reminders for you and your family that you can use all year round. Here are some ideas.

Gratitude Token

Select a small object that will always serve as a reminder for you to be grateful. For example, pick a small stone and carry it with you always in your pocket or purse. Every time you see or touch the stone you should be reminded to be grateful. You can use any small trinket you wish. When you come across it in your daily activities, take a second to stop and be actively grateful for something specific. Use it to find positivity in whatever you’re currently doing or recall something good in your life.

Write It Down

A good way to be grateful is to put it on paper, or even a file on your computer. Keep a notebook or journal that is specifically for gratitude. Once a day or anytime the mood strikes you, take out your notebook and write down something you are grateful for. You will be surprised at how long your list can get in just a short time. If you are having trouble thinking of something new or just need some inspiration or a pick-me-up, take out the notebook and read through your previous entries. Reading all the things you are grateful for is a good way to refresh your memory.

Make it a Family Effort

Your family might just be one of the main things you are grateful for in your life, so involve them in your quest to create gratitude reminders. At the dinner table, go around in a circle and have each person name something they are grateful for until no one can think of anything else. Hopefully this takes a while! Have one member write everything that is said down on a piece of paper, and have this be your family’s master gratitude list. Challenge each other to be grateful every day, and encourage each other to point out things to be grateful for whenever someone is feeling down. Keep the list somewhere that every family member can see it often, like on the fridge.

Make a Craft

Search online for craft projects inspired by gratitude, like creating a large heart with inspirational phrases written along the edges. Complete a project with your kids, and use it as an opportunity to teach them about the importance of gratitude. Make sure that you are grateful for the time you spend together doing this, too! Once a month do a different project.

If you make it a point to create gratitude reminders for yourself, soon being grateful will become second nature. You will automatically be grateful for positive things in your life, and you will more easily find something good in any negative situation. This Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start, and by next Thanksgiving make it your goal to inspire gratitude in everyone you meet.

Grammarly the most accurate grammar checker on the web wants to help you create polished material as you journal your gratitude for all things good. Consider reviewing our grammar rules before getting started.

Thanks to everyone who entered the FRESCHETTA Proud to Support Pink Prize Pack Giveaway! Random.org selected entry #1 as the winner:

Congrats go out to Rebecca Mayglothling! Enjoy your prize pack!

Be on the lookout for more upcoming giveaways.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is coming to a close–but you have a chance to show your support all year long if you win this FRESCHETTA prize pack! This prize pack includes:

• one coupon to try any variety of FRESCHETTA pizza, 12 oz or larger


• two pairs of FRESCHETTA Proud to Support Pink earphones (one for you to keep and enjoy and one to share with a friend or family member as a reminder to be proactive about health)

FRESCHETTA  has been working to raise money for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center through their website at www.ProudtoSupportPink.com. You can help by purchasing specially marked packages of their pizzas and pizza crusts and then entering the codes inside at the website. For each code entered, FRESCHETTA is donating $1 to the center, for a total of up to $50,000! You can also win one of 50 pink iPod Shuffle players–visit the website for more details.

FRESCHETTA sent me one of their Proud to Support Pink prize packs, and I absolutely LOVE the earphones! They work perfectly with my Nintendo DSi. I plan to give the extra pair to my sister (shhhh…don’t tell her!)–and since they came in such a pretty drawstring bag, I won’t even need to wrap them!

Now about the pizza. I’m on a diet, and it can be difficult to find frozen foods that aren’t too caloric or way too fatty. I was really pleased with all of the choices I had with FRESCHETTA, though! There were actually a lot of options for me–and I could have more than one slice without going over my calorie and fat limits!

I chose the FRESCHETTA Simply Inspired Harvest Supreme. It was absolutely amazing–and with only 350 calories per serving (and the serving size was 1/3 of the pizza!) I was able to have a tasty and completely satisfying meal without even feeling like I was on a diet. What could be better than that?

So, do you want to win your own prize pack? Of course you do!

Mandatory Entry

Tell me–what is your favorite FRESCHETTA pizza?

Visit www.freschetta.com if you want to view all of the varieties. Be sure to leave your email address so I can get in touch with you if you win.

Optional Entries

Please leave a comment with your email address for each extra entry that you complete.  Also, leave your username (or a part of your username) when applicable so that I can verify that you have completed an entry.  Entries that cannot be verified cannot be chosen as the winning entry.

• Like Frugal Fun Family’s Facebook page.
• Follow Frugal Fun Family on Twitter.
• Follow Frugal Fun Family publicly on Google Friend Connect.
• Follow Frugal Fun Family on NetworkedBlogs.
• Subscribe to Frugal Fun Family’s RSS feed.
• Retweet this giveaway, using the button at the top of this post.  Leave the link to your tweet in your comment.  You can do this once per day.
• Like this post on Facebook, using the button at the top or bottom of this post.
• Post this giveaway on another giveaway website, blog, or forum.  Leave the link to your post in your comment.  (3 entries)
• Blog about this giveaway.  Leave the link to your post in your comment.  (3 entries)
• Add Frugal Fun Family to your blogroll. Leave a link to your website in your comment. (2 entries)
• Add Frugal Fun Family’s button to your sidebar. Leave a link to your website in your comment. (3 entries)

RULES: This giveaway is open to residents of the United States.  The giveaway ends Saturday, 10/29/11 at 11am EST.  I will use Random.org to choose a winner, and the winner will be notified via email.  The winner will have 48 hours to confirm; if no confirmation is received, I will choose another winner.  Good luck!

I did receive a FRESCHETTA Proud to Support Pink prize pack from the FRESCHETTA Fresh Connection Team (thank you!), but all opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

Title:  Planet Earth: Special Edition DVD Set

Run Time: About 9.25 hours (+ 6.5 hours bonus material)

Number of Discs: 6

Release Date: October 4, 2011

Own it On Blu-Ray: http://bit.ly/nAUZjd

If you haven’t seen this series, you have to have heard about it–after all, it won the Emmy for best Nonfiction Series in 2007 and a Peabody in 2008 (among many others). And even if you don’t keep up with the awards shows, you may have heard Oprah praising the series. Or maybe any one of the other 6 million or so other people who watched it when it premiered on the Discovery Channel in the United States. It’s even possible that you could have heard about it from any of the 11 million or so UK viewers who were the first to be able to enjoy this series.

Really, though, if you haven’t seen Planet Earth, now’s your chance. As of October 4th, the series is available on Blu-ray and DVD. You can get either the Planet Earth: Special Edition or the Planet Earth: Limited Collector’s Edition.

I got a chance to review this series, and it was just as amazing as I expected.  Because this series was filmed in high definition, the imagery is just stunning. Even if you don’t like watching nature films–like my husband–you will be enthralled (just like my husband was). Of course, my husband and sons loved watching the parts like the pirhanna feeding frenzy and the desperate lion on a hunt. As for me? I really enjoyed watching the camels–for some reason, camels aren’t often shown in nature shows, so it was really cool to be able to watch them in their natural habitat. One scene showed camels eating snow…how cool is that?

Bonus Features

There are many bonus features included on the DVD set and the Blu-Ray set. Here were three of my favorites:

• Sneak Peek at Executive Producer Alastair Fothergill’s next blockbuster project, Frozen Planet.
• Snow Leopard:  Beyond the Myth —  Visit a secret cave to see where generations of snow lopards return each year to raise their young.
• Secrets of the Maya Underworld —  See the labrinthine system of underground rivers that the Mayans believed were portals to the underworld.

Does your kid like WWE? If so, he’ll love this costume. Damien (age 10) sure does!

CostumeSuperCenter gave me an opportunity to choose one of their new Halloween costumes to review—and, since I had gotten Alexander (age almost 9) a costume back in April (see my review on his Demon of War Costume from Wholesale Costume Club), it was only fair that I let Damien choose this time. That was the plan, anyway.

See, since Damien knows how to browse websites quite well, I found the site for him on the kids’ laptop and let him have at it. I figured he would be able to find a costume quite easily. Not so. He couldn’t decide on anything.

I stepped in and found some for him to look at. He discarded all of my initial ideas. So, I kept looking. Then I found the Rey Mysterio costume.

Winner! Winner!

He was soooo excited when he saw it—and no wonder, as this is his favorite wrestler.

Trying the Costume

Once we got the costume from CostumeSuperCenter Damien couldn’t wait to try it on. Then we had a small problem. Damien is super tall—the costume, not so much. The pants were high waters and the sleeves of the shirt were a bit short. Also, Damien is rather skinny. So, the shirt fit rather loosely and looked sort of saggy…and since the shirt is supposed to be the wrestler’s skin, that wasn’t good.

These were easily solved, though. As you can see in the photos, the shirt doesn’t look saggy or loose. All I did was simply clip the extra “skin” at the back where it wouldn’t be seen. I will probably stitch it before Halloween so that we don’t have to worry about a clip falling about.

What about the shortness of the pants and the sleeves? As for the pants, we figure that won’t be an issue once he gets out on Halloween to trick-or-treat. But if he is just walking around (like at a school party) he can wear the pants low on his hips so that they reach lower on his ankles. We’ll also try to find different shoes for him to wear that rise higher on the ankle.

The sleeves—I plan on getting him a pair of gloves that look like a wrestler might wear to go with the costume. Problem solved.

Costume Quality

The mask is just amazing. Damien has already said that he plans to use it long after Halloween, like when he is playing. It is comfortable for him to wear, so there won’t be any issues of him wanting to take it off in the middle of trick-or-treat (as we have done with other masks).

The pants are a bit thin; however, they are like real clothing unlike a lot of costumes. In fact, if I had let him, Damien would have probably wanted to sleep in them!

The shirt isn’t quite as comfortable—but only because of the padding inserts, which are totally necessary for the costume. The padding is done well and looks good. I also like how the velco at the back of the neck adheres; it doesn’t seem as if it will come loose easily.

All in all, both he and I are quite happy with the costume. I haven’t seen it anywhere else, so he’ll be quite an original this Halloween!

This is a guest post by Amy Brantley.

A quick glance inside a costume shop will reveal that Halloween can get quite expensive, really fast. While these costumes are worthy of a Hollywood horror film, it just doesn’t make sense to spend a few hundred dollars on something you’ll wear once. Thankfully, you don’t have to. There are a number budget friendly places to find Halloween costumes.

Yard Sales

If you live in an area that stays rather warm, you might be able to find some bargains at yard sales. The best thing about yard sales in that the seller usually just wants to get rid of everything, not make a lot of money. This means that you can usually haggle on many of the items you find. For example, you might find a costume for $10 and a box of Halloween decorations for $5. Chances are the seller will be willing to sell you both for $10-12.

Thrift Stores

Remember that costume you almost spent $200 on last year, chances are you might find something like it at a thrift store. Many people that were eager enough to buy these costumes donate them. This means you can score an unbelievable deal. It’s not uncommon to see high-dollar costumes for sale in thrift stores for $20. Why spend the big bucks when you can have an expensive costume for a fraction of the cost? Even if you’re not looking for an entire costume, thrift stores can also be a great place to find accessories, which can often be found for less than $1 each.

Dollar Stores

Dollar stores can be a wonderful place to find kids’ costumes. Stores such as the Dollar General and Family Dollar offer costumes for less than $20 and often have accessories and makeup for $5 or less. This is one of the least expensive ways to score the latest and greatest Halloween costume, while sticking to your budget.

Discount Department Stores

Last, but certainly not least, discount department stores, such as Walmart or Kmart, are a great place to buy fancier looking costumes, while sticking to a budget. The prices range from $20 to $50, but they are close to what you would find in an expensive costume shop. Best of all, as it gets closer to Halloween, the prices will drop. Just don’t wait too long or all the good costumes may be gone.

As you can see, there’s no reason to pay over $50 for a Halloween costume. In fact, if you shop around, you may be able to dress a family of four for less than $100 this Halloween. The key is to start at yard sales and work your way down the list of options. If luck is on your side, you might not even have to shop in department stores to find your next spooky costume.

About the Author: Amy Brantley is a full-time writer with a passion for saving money – especially around the holidays. She also enjoys writing about cooking, personal finance, and finding unsecured bad credit loans for those with poor credit scores.