droolicious : giveaways

Gamer Giveaway: Win a Freaky Creatures MMO Starter Pack

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Sure, its heroes may look a little menacing, but that's part of the fun of Freaky Creatures, the new massively multiplayer online game that lets your wee beasties build and battle with their own little monsters. Of course, with this MMO, there are a few real-world items you need to get started, and we've teamed up with the Freaky Creatures folks to offer 5 lucky Babble readers a Freaky Creatures starter pack that includes just those goodies!

Five winners will score a Freaky Creatures starter pack like the one pictured here, which includes two battle-ready creature figures as well as a reusable 1GB flash drive that lets you unlock the game and start customizing your virtual creature with some 3.2 billion different potential combinations. To enter, just email us at babblecontest@gmail.com with your name, address and daytime phone number, and "Freaky Creatures giveaway" in the subject line. We'll draw five winners at random from the pool of entries next Friday, May 1.

Freaky Creatures is rated E10+ for crude humor and fantasy violence -- the game also has some fun community and interactive features that fall outside of the ESRB's rating scope, so be sure to give it a whirl before turning your kids loose in the Freaky Creatures universe. Or, if you're like me, just grab your laptop and play alongside 'em. [Freaky Creatures]

Earth Day Giveaway: Win a Xeko Pals 'Hairy' Lemur Doll (ends 4/22)

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Considering its Earth-friendly angle -- think Pokémon with a green-centric purpose -- we're thrilled to be working with trading-card game Xeko on an Earth Day giveaway, the prize for which is this adorable "Hairy" Xeko Pals doll.

A hairy-eared dwarf lemur from Madagascar, Hairy is life-sized (around the size of a softball, to be exact) and made from a soy-based fabric and filled with soy stuffing. Like its fellow Xeko Pals, Hairy also comes with a mission code, which gives you unlimited play of the "Hairy the Nibbler" game at xeko.com.

To enter, simply email your name, address and daytime phone number to babblecontest@gmail.com. One lucky winner will be selected at random from the pool of entries on Earth Day, which is next Wed., April 22.

Even if you don't score a free Hairy of your own, you can still save with this exclusive coupon code for Babble readers: Enter "gogreen" at the Xeko Store to save 15% off your entire order between now and Oct. 31, 2009. (The code can be used more than once, so keep it handy.)

Check out our past coverage of Xeko to help you get in the mood for Earth Day '09 -- and good luck!

Giveaway: Win 2 New Nintendo DS Games from Ignition Entertainment

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:00:00 GMT

To celebrate the launch of its two new kid-friendly Nintendo DS titles, Ignition Entertainment has teamed with Babble to give away three copies of each game to six lucky Droolicious readers!

For the younger gamers, we've got Boing! Docomodake (screenshot above), which has been drawing rave reviews since its arrival on U.S. shores. Though based on a popular Japanese mobile-phone mascot, the game is anything but a typical "we licensed it, now you play it" affair. You play as the lovable mushroom-dude Papa Docomodake, weaving through a variety of challenges in a race to find your family of fungi and get them to the Docomodake Forest's annual festival on time.

The game (imagine a sort of bizarro-world Super Mario Bros. with double the cuteness) is clever enough when you're navigating it with button controllers, but the real fun comes when you break out the stylus. You can split Papa Docomodake into "Minis," tiny versions of the main man that let Papa get into smaller areas of the challenge. Drag the Minis with your stylus to slide into previously unreachable spaces, or use them to fill gaps so Papa can keep cruising toward his destination.

For older players, we've got the equally well-reviewed Blue Dragon Plus (screenshot above), whose name your kids may recognize from the Cartoon Network series Blue Dragon. If the grown-ups in your house are into role-playing games, they may find themselves lining up to tackle this one, too. The Blue Dragon saga centers on a boy named Shu and several of his friends, who have the ability to control phantom shadows that can mirror their masters' actions. Blue Dragon Plus finds Shu & Co. emerging from a world-shaking battle to face a sinister horde of new adversaries.

Though the action is mild and the gameplay easy to follow, this one's strictly for the more advanced DS navigator. Kids who haven't yet learned to read or have trouble grasping role-playing features such as item collection will just end up handing the game to their older siblings, anyway. For those kids, however, Blue Dragon Plus packs over 30 hours of thrilling, customizable gameplay, as well as more than an hour's worth of high-quality video content that'll further immerse them in the story.

OK, so how do you win 'em?

Easy: Just email us at babblecontest@gmail.com with your name, address and the game you're entering to win. (Only one per winning entry, and three winners per game.) On March 31, we'll draw six winners at random from the pool of entries.

Good luck, and happy gaming!

Giveaway: Win a LeapFrog Tag Reading System + 2 Dr. Seuss Books!

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Happy National Reading Month! To help mark the occasion, we're teaming up with LeapFrog to give away 10 of the company's award-winning Tag Reading Systems to lucky Droolicious readers. And since this month also happens to mark another very special event -- the 105th birthday of Dr. Seuss -- LeapFrog has thrown in two classic Seuss titles redone especially for Tag: The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. That's around $78 worth of reading fun altogether!

Read along with the kiddoes, or turn them loose with Tag's interactive talking pen so they can explore pages, passages and individual words in the Seuss classics or the equally fun Ozzie and Mack, which comes as part of the Tag core system. And be sure to visit LeapFrog.com during National Reading Month to sign up for the 1 Million Reading Hours Pledge, LeapFrog's new program to encourage a love for reading. You'll get a free reward certificate and a $10 coupon toward Tag products at Toys "R" Us when you sign up to pledge participation.

As for this contest, here's the skinny: To enter, just email us at babblecontest@gmail.com with your name, address and daytime phone number. We're keeping the giveaway open all month, so spread the word -- 10 winners will be chosen at random on March 31.

Good luck!

The Babble Review: Pluto Kids Tees & Giveaway!

editors — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:07:00 GMT

In my neighborhood Pluto's Big Brother, Big Sister and I (Stroll) BKLYN tees are all the rage. In fact, I just impulsively bought yet another one for a holiday gift.

For everyone else, Pluto lives on Etsy and has a vast array of $24 tees in multitudes of cuteness. We've highlighted the couple behind Pluto before, but feel you need a reminder as you make your gift list this year. Whether you go the Pacifist or the Metallikid route, there will be a tiny tee here for you. Shop Etsy, it rules. – April Peveteaux

We have a Metallikid tee in size 3-6 months to give away! Send an email to babblecontest@gmail.com with the subject line "My Kid Rocks" to win.

Get it at Etsy for $24.

Editor Picks: Maternity - Childish GP Jean & Giveaway

editors — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:14:00 GMT

My endless search for maternity jeans that don’t fall down and/or make me feel like my stomach is being cut in half has ended with the GP jeans from Childish. These soft and stretchy jeans (minus the big blue band that seems to come standard with all maternity pants) almost make me feel normal. You know, if not for the ginormous bump atop the frayed waist.

Childish is the LA-based maternity and baby wear company created by Skye Hoppus, wife of Mark (Blink 182) and a former MTV exec. So naturally these boot leg, three-snap sassy pants are also celebrity-ready, as they are named after iconic mom, Gwyneth Paltrow. And no matter how you feel about Duets, these jeans are in tune with your butt.

For real, these are the jeans you slip on for your trip home from the hospital while telling everyone, “Wow, I can’t believe I fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans, already!” They’ll totally buy it. – April Peveteaux

We have a Nicole shirt from Childish to give away! Send a note to babblecontest@gmail.com with the subject Childish to win.

Babble Giveaway: Win a LeapFrog Didj + Hannah Montana Game! (Ends 12/1)

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:04:00 GMT

When we first got some hands-on time with Didj, LeapFrog's new learning-game system designed to knock that learning-averse DS Lite out of your kids' hands, we went gaga: Not only does Didj play like a typical high-quality handheld -- which is to say, it blows away the simplistic graphics and gameplay usually associated with learning games -- but it also packs enough character-based kid allure to keep little ones returning to it.

This week, in fact, LeapFrog announced the latest in its series of licensed games, a Hannah Montana title aimed at girls in 3rd through 5th grade, and we've got a copy of the game and a Didj to play it on ready to give away to one lucky Droolicious visitor!

To enter the contest, just email your name, address and daytime phone number to us at babblecontest@gmail.com. On Dec. 1, we'll draw one winner from the pool of entries to receive a brand-new Didj ($89.99 value) and Hannah Montana game ($29.99 value).

Here's the skinny on the game -- which helps to teach multiplication, division, vocabulary, and time management skills -- straight from LeapFrog:

Help Miley study so Hannah Montana can take the stage! Miley is scheduled to perform as Hannah Montana this weekend, but only if she passes her big test at school on Friday. With four days to go, can you help Miley make the grade? Use your skills to fly through quizzes and puzzles so the show can go on! Earn points as you play to customize the game with outfits, dance moves and special effects for Miley's concert, and choose the skills you need to study for school!

For the full specs on Didj and the LeapFrog Learning Path online tool exclusive to all three of the company's "LeapFrog Connected" systems, visit the LeapFrog shop.

Very Big Toys: Win a KooKeys Plush Toy + Online Access Code! (Ends 10/31)

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Each KooKeys plush toy comes with a code that kids can use to access a safe online universe where they'll customize their own KooKeys avatar, personalize its world, and dive into fun interactive games. The toys, which start at $12.99, are available in stores now, but we're offering 5 lucky Babble readers the chance to score a free KooKeys plushie of their own!

To enter, just email us your name, address and daytime telephone number at babblecontest@gmail.com. At 5 p.m. EST on Friday, Oct. 31, we'll choose five winners at random from the pool of entries to receive a KooKeys plush toy (not necessarily the ones shown here) and accompanying online access code.

If you can't wait till then to have one, visit KooKeys' store locator to find a retailer near you. Good luck!

WIn a Freehand Baby Carrier (But Not from Us)

Aaron Burgess — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:45:00 GMT

The brainchild of the mom behind the fleece baby-carrier cover Peekaru, TogetherBe's new Freehand Baby Carrier features a reversible print, a shortened body, and the ability to be worn either over your belly or as a backpack. As of this month, TogetherBe is also giving parents a chance to score a literally free Freehand: Visit the company's site to submit a haiku about how baby carriers make you feel, and you'll be entered for a shot at winning your own carrier.

Note that Babble has no connection to this contest, folks -- we're just sharing the tip. In fact, after visiting TogetherBe's contest page, we were a bit confused over just how long the contest was even supposed to be active, considering the Freehand just launched on Aug. 7 but the rules make it seem as though the contest runs from May to the end of July. We're squared away now -- one giveaway every month, for an entire year -- but that didn't stop us from writing our own haiku in frustration:

Oh, Freehand contest
Please accept my entry form
Via time travel

Giveaway: Win 1 of 5 'Where the Wild Things Are' DVDs

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:04:00 GMT

On Aug. 26, Scholastic Storybook Treasures will release an all-new DVD edition of Where the Wild Things Are... and 5 More Stories by Maurice Sendak, but we're giving five lucky Droolicious readers the chance to score their own free copy of the DVD now. Just send an email to babblecontest@gmail.com with your name, address and daytime phone number -- winners will be chosen at random on Friday, Aug. 29.

Previously available on VHS, this edition of Where the Wild Things Are includes the title classic and In The Night Kitchen, along with four other Sendak short stories -- "Alligators All Around," "Pierre," "One Was Johnny" and "Chicken Soup With Rice" -- all sung by Carole King.

In the event you don't snag a copy in our giveaway (or you just can't wait till we pick the winners), you can order the DVD for $12.99 at Amazon.

Win a New Mountain Hardwear Backpack Every Day Till Aug. 31

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Well, OK, that may be stretching things a little, but if you're in need of a rugged new carrier for back-to-school or baby gear, make sure you have Mountain Hardwear's site bookmarked between tomorrow and Aug. 31. You can enter the "Pack-a-Day" giveaway for a chance to score one of five different rugged, high-end backpacks from the company's Urban Reality series (shown here, L-R: the $120 Guardian and $120 Sentinel), including the as-yet-unreleased Natural 22, which isn't due to hit stores until spring of 2009.

Link to the game is here, and good luck!

Chatterbox Giveaway Winners

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:04:00 GMT

Big ol' thanks to everyone who entered our recent giveaway for the Chatterbox! We're happy to announce the following winners, each of whom will be receiving a free edition of the conversation-starting card game from the folks at Chatterbox Games:

Diane M. of Hartford, WI

Marissa K. of New Haven, CT

Susan C. of Berwyn, IL

Krystal R. of Santa Cruz, CA

Meredith G. of Roslyn, PA

We'll be having more giveaways soon, so watch this space!

Giveaway: Win a Chatterbox Conversation-Starting Game (ends 6/15)

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:04:00 GMT

The school year may be behind us, but that doesn't mean the citizenship skills your kids spent the past year building need to wither. In fact, with The Chatterbox, you can keep those skills in shape without the kids suspecting they're getting a lesson: Though no bigger than a recipe-card holder, The Chatterbox packs 140 game cards in six life-skills categories, each divided into age-appropriate questions (3-6, 7-11, and 12 and up) designed to get the family talking, the kids thinking, and everyone working together to build character, harmony and conversational skills.

Sound too good to be true? My family's been using The Chatterbox since April, and I can attest to how much quality time it's given us (it's also been a life-saver on road trips), but it's also gotten accolades from California First Lady Maria Shriver, in addition to being selected by Nicole Richie for a VIP celebrity giveaway as part of her ongoing charity work.

And now, the reason you're reading this: Thanks to the nice folks at Chatterbox Games, 5 lucky Babble readers will have a chance to score a Chatterbox of their own (retail value: $24.95). To enter, just send your full name and email address to us at babblecontest@gmail.com. On Sunday, June 15, we'll choose 5 winning entries at random from the pool of entries. Good luck!

Enter to Win LeapFrog's Brightlings Exploration Station + a Shot at $25K Toward College Tuition

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:02:00 GMT

We're giving away LeapFrog's award-winning new Brightlings Exploration Station ($39.99 retail value) to three lucky readers! Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years, the Exploration Station offers three playing modes and helps to teach concepts such as counting, language and opposites through fun interactive play with the Bitty Brights pals (three included).

To enter: Just email us at babblecontest@gmail.com with your name, address and daytime phone number, and "Brightlings Giveaway" in the subject line. Contest begins today and runs until Monday, Nov. 26, when three winners will be selected at random from the pool of entries.

Don't stop there: Once you've finished entering, take a second to show the world how smart your child is! Enter the LeapFrog Learning Moments contest for a chance to win $25,000 toward college tuition. Find out more at http://www.leapfrog.com/learningmoments.

Sit 'n' Stroll Giveaway: We Have a Winner!

aprilpeveteaux — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:26:00 GMT

While it was very painful reading your entries, we are pleased to have picked a random winner out of these great and awful stories. SelimaCat is the proud new owner of the Sit 'n' Stroll! Good luck to everyone in your travels this holiday season and thanks for checking out our 7 Days of Strollers and for sharing your tales with us here at Babble.

And The Winner is....(drumroll please)

Karen — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 02:27:00 GMT

We've picked a winner to receive the Knocked Up DVD! Wanna know who it is?

The lucky Babble reader is Tori from Radioactive Girl. Congrats Tori!

Giveaway: Knocked Up DVD Reminder

Karen — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:31:00 GMT

Click here to enter.

And don't forget the Chicco Stroller Giveaway as well!

Giveaway: Win a Copy of the Knocked Up DVD!

Karen — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:27:00 GMT

Knocked Up stars Emmy Award winner Katherine Heigl, who plays Alison Scott, Ben Stone's one night stand. Little does Ben (Seth Rogan) know what's in store when his one-time lover shows up 8 weeks later, pregnant.

Comedy ensues as the pair try to make a go at maintaining a relationship, despite having very little in common.

Win the DVD by signing up today on our main page to receive the Daily Babble newsletter. Click here and look for the box that says "Get the Daily Babble newsletter."

You must leave a comment below telling us you signed up though - good luck!

We're also giving away a Chicco Stroller! Details here.

Giveaway: Win a Chicco Stroller!

Karen — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:47:00 GMT

Here at Babble, we're all about real parents, real kids and real life. Write a post on your own blog under the theme "Real Parenting" and link it back here for a chance to win a Chicco Stroller! Your post could be about the raw emotions you felt as a new parent, about the silly advice you took from someone (or not), or your most embarrassing moment as a parent. Be creative, be honest and be yourself. Here's the scoop:

Once you've hit publish on your masterpiece, post the link in the comments on this post and we'll draw at random on September 30th. Don't have a blog? Post your story in the comments! Don't have a kid? Then whattya need a stroller for? :)

So, about the stroller:

The Chicco Ct0.1 Stroller is the perfect full-size stroller to meet the needs of your on-the-go lifestyle. With its sturdy aluminum frame and compact 3D fold, the Ct0.1 can hold children up to 50 pounds but is still easy to transport. Included in the features are a four-position, fully reclining seat, an adjustable leg rest, a five-point safety harness, and an all-season canopy. For added convenience, the Ct0.1 provides a parent cup holder, a child’s tray, and a large storage basket. Best of all, the Chicco Ct0.1 Stroller is compatible with the KeyFit Infant Car Seat. Chicco is an Italian company that produces high quality, safe, and stylish products, and the Ct 0.1 is a premier stroller in their line. Go to http://www.chiccousa.com/giveaway.php for more information.

BONUS! From September 1 through September 30 they are giving away one Ct 0.1 stroller a day. There are no strings attached, you just need to fill out a survey and you'll be eligible. That gives you TWO chances to win!

In summary:

1) Fill out the survey at Chicco;

2) Write a post under the theme "Real Parenting", link it back here, and post your link in the comments.

Good luck! We'll announce the winner on October 1st!