droolicious : princess

Turn Your Frog Into a Prince

Heather Kuldell — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:05:00 GMT

Between hearing fairy tales as in our childhood and reading them to our kids during our parenthood, we know that princesses kiss frogs in hopes of releasing a prince from a terrible curse. The Magic Frog to Prince kit eliminates the need for sloppy amphibious experimentation or smooching. The kit is simple enough: It’s a frog in a cup. Add water, and the frog transforms into a prince. Dump and refill the water, then watch the prince triple his size. For only $6 at Fred Flare, it’d make a silly Valentine’s Day treat.

CES 2009: Blank CDs and DVDs Get The Disney And Marvel Comics Treatment

Chris Ford — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Many people are saying that recordable media (blank CDs, DVDs, Blueray discs and the like) are on the way out and in the future it's going to be all about streaming and downloading content. But people haven't thrown out their CD and DVD burners yet. KDT USA makes blank discs with all sorts of DIsney and Marvel Comics characters and brands printed right on the top, for a blank disc that's just a little more special.

The Disney licensed discs come in all sorts of themes, the best selling of which are (not surprisingly) Disney princesses, Spiderman, High School Musical and Hannah Montana. They cost $1.39 individually or $8.99 for a ten pack. It seems to me if you're thinking about a party favor for your kid's birthday party or something like that, you could do a lot worse than a mix of your kid's favorite songs with a Spiderman or Hannah Montana picture on the cover.

They should be available in stores, and you can check out the manufacturer's web site at KDTUSA.com

Fit for a Princess: Royal Coordinates Set

AmandaHill — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Aside from being fabulous, this pink Royal Coordinates set is perfect for the princess in your life. The artwork on the t-shirt is so amazing. It would really stand out. The set is available in sizes ranging from 3 months to size 4. If a onesie would better for you instead of a t-shirt, it is also available.

This lovely coordinate set is just another great product from my new favorite online store Ooh Lala Mama.

5 Gifts for Your Little Princess

SunnyChanel — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:23:00 GMT

There are some facts that you just can’t deny. Girls like princesses. Well, most of them. If you find yourself with a tiara encrusted toddler or little girl, procuring presents that don’t have “I’m a Princess!” exclaimed loudly on it or that have one of the various Disney royals such as the iconic Cinderella, Belle or Ariel branded on them can be quite the challenge. Here are five presents perfect for the princess in your life that doesn’t scream mass commercialism or have an overtly “I’m a total diva” tone.

Topsy -Turvy Priness Doll (above)
It’s two, two dolls in one! Yeah, this ain’t no infomercial worthy schlocky piece of kid-dom. This is a totally classic doll that gives your child the choice between two different princess characters, the Day Princess and the Night Princess. $38 here.

Melissa & Doug 24-Piece Magnetic Princess Elise Dress Up Set
For those who like to play dress up, in a small scale, the Melissa and Doug 24-Piece Magnetic Princess set includes a colorful array of magnetic outfits and accessories to use create all sorts of looks for this wood based princess. $8.75 here.

Royal Puppet Theater
Every princess needs her own kingdom. This castle puppet theater includes a cast of puppet characters such as the King (a lion), the Queen (a elephant), a Wizard (a unicorn), a Princess (a pig), a Prince (a bear), and a court jester (a monkey). The cardboard theater includes velvet curtains and folds flat for easy storage. $69 here.

Wooden Foldable Princess Castle
Every little princess needs a castle. This wooden foldable castle by toy superstar Melissa and Doug has hand-painted details and includes “two removable turrets, balconies, flying buttress, flag and a working drawbridge” yeah, you can’t disappoint a kid with a flying buttress. And best of all, Amazon has it on sale right now for $57.67 (regularly $99.99).

Princess Toddler Bed
Every princess needs her beauty rest. The Princess Toddler Bed is a perfect (and pretty) transition from crib to big girl bed. The pink bed is detailed with gold flourishes and has gold crown finals on each of it’s four posters. You can get your bed fit for any and all toddler princesses here for $198.

Star Baby: The Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl Protects Violet’s Shoes

SunnyChanel — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:30:00 GMT

The Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl was spotted at the Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles over the weekend. He carried his 2 ½ year old daughter Violet, perhaps to protect her adorable and ever so sparkly Morgan + Milo Glitter Mary Janes (Reg. $38 now $26). These imported sneakers feature a padded footbed for comfort and a Velcro closure for convenience but most importantly they are glamorously glittered, and really, what little girl doesn’t love glitter.

Big Deal: Disney Princess and Cars Rug On Sale At FLOR

Chris Ford — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:58:00 GMT

I'm a big fan of the interchangeable carpet tiles from FLOR, but one design that they have that is almost never on sale is now on sale. The six tile Disney Princess rug and the six tile Disney Cars rug are now 44% off.

Each rug is 3 feet by 5 feet and is compatible with other FLOR tile colors too, in case you'd like to use it as a part of a bigger floor covering design. I've had FLOR tiles in my home now and I love them. Now I have to make sure my daughter doesn't see these or she'll be bugging me for her own princess rug.

Disney Area Rugs - Princess or Cars by FLOR, $59.99 (was $99.99) at the sale page of FLOR.com

Sleeping Beauty Released From Her Deep Slumber In The Disney Vault Tomorrow

Chris Ford — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:10:00 GMT

Tomorrow is a big day in our household. Sleeping Beauty, the favorite princess of my eldest daughter, is finally being released from the Disney vault tomorrow. Sleeping Beauty the movie that is, not the princess. But where is the best place to pick up your copy (assuming you haven't already pre-ordered it)?

If you're looking for extras, Best Buy has a special promotion going on for the release. If you purchase the movie (in either DVD or BluRay), you will get a free Sleeping Beauty Alarm clock (exclusive to Best Buy). If you purchase Sleeping Beauty with two other Disney releases (Tinker Bell and The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning), you'll get a "free lithograph of the classic film's theatrical release." The price for the DVD at BestBuy.com is $14.99. Here's a link to the info about the promotion.

Amazon.com doesn't have any special promotions going on, just the same low price of $14.99 for the DVD and $23.95 for the BluRay edition (which also comes with a bonus DVD of the movie for playing in the car or in the kid's room).

Interestingly enough, the Disney Store online is selling the DVD for $19.99 with no special promotions, though I was in a Disney Store last week and they were offering a free lithograph (which quite frankly didn't look that great) with every Sleeping Beauty pre-order.

So I think the choice is clear. See you at Best Buy tomorrow.

Spit Up: What Does a $47,000 Child’s Bed Look Like?

SunnyChanel — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:17:00 GMT

You think I’m kidding? Sadly I am not. There is a girl’s bed out there that is priced at stunning $47,000 dollars. As much as a Lexus, more than the average U.S. yearly salary, or the price of a beach house in Gulfport, Mississippi. The interior of the coach measures about 6 ft in diameter so it’ll be spacious enough for your little princess. I should also add that the price STARTS at $47,0000 and is “subject to change”. But you better plan ahead on picking this up for your girl’s next birthday since the delivery time is over six months being that each coach is handcrafted in England or wood and fiberglass. $47,000…really? Geez. Order yours here!

The Babble Review: Prima Princessa Presents Swan Lake DVD

Chris Ford — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:15:00 GMT

Taking a break from the (sometimes) mind-numbing confines of Nick Jr. and Noggin can be a good thing, and if you've got a little girl who is deep in the throws of princess mania, you might want to check this out. Prima Princessa Presents Swan Lake is a DVD aimed squarely at these little girls, and does something that I wasn't expecting. It doesn't try to teach ballet, nor does it present a professional performance of Swan Lake without explaining what is going on. What it does do quite well is convey the beauty and fun of ballet (and the classical music it is based on) without boring the kids watching it.

The forty minute program is broken down into two alternating parts - one that shows the individual acts of Swan Lake as performed by the Paris Opera Ballet, and then another that shows young girls (and one boy) performing the individual ballet steps. During the Swan Lake segments there is a voice-over explaining what is happening in terms of the story, which not only makes it easy for kids to understand, but also for those of us who don't make it to the ballet as often as we should. The other segments feature children from the School of American Ballet showing the ballet positions and other steps, as well as what those steps are based on.

My four year old daughter seemed to really enjoy the entire program, and even asked me to play it again after it was over. For her it's hard to miss with a princess story and video of young kids doing ballet. My two year old daughter was mildly interested, though it really wasn't the sort of program designed to keep the attention of someone her age. From my perspective, the voice-over (the voice of "Prima Princessa" herself) was a little annoying after a while and the overall production quality still has that "indie video" feel, but having a kids DVD where the soundtrack was entirely made up of classical music was a really nice change of pace.

Overall, I think if you've got a daughter or young girl in your life aged 3 or above who you suspect would probably enjoy something like this, it's a safe bet that she will. At the very least it's worth checking out a clip on the web site.

Check out Prima Princessa Presents Swan Lake at PrimaPrncessa.com or buy it for $19.99 from Amazon.com.

7 Days of Video Games: Disney Princess Enchanted Journey

Chris Ford — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:03:00 GMT

If you've got a Wii and a little girl who is really into princesses, then chances are you've probably looked this game over. And while in my experience it's not really a very good video game per se, it does have one thing that makes it better than most of the games on the Wii we have (and I'm not just talking about the fact that it features the Disney princesses). It's a game my three year old daughter and I can actually play together, which is what it's really all about.

The game is pretty simple. You get to be a princess (that you customize with hair, dress, jewelry etc.) that goes around and helps all of the Disney princesses. There are Jasmine, Cinderella, Snow White and Ariel "stories" that you become a part of, and you run around their respective kingdoms helping defeat bad goblins that turn into butterflies with your magic. Sounds mind-numbing, right? Well, it kind of is, but my daughter loved it not just for the stories, but because she could play too.

The game is played with the Wii "Nunchuck" (the thumb controller that attaches to the normal "Wiimote" controller) and the "Wiimote." You use the Nunchuck to run around in the game, and you use the Wiimote to wave your wand and shoot magic at the bad guys. The way my daughter and I played it was she was in charge of the wand and I was in charge of running our character around the map. The system worked out really well, and after a few weeks of playing it here and there we even finished the game.

The game itself doesn't seem to be written very well. It has lots of glitchy moments when you can't figure out where you're supposed to go, the audio levels are all over the place making it hard to hear the story sometimes, and to play you have to be physically much closer to your television than most other Wii games I've played. It also doesn't look nearly as polished as most other Wii games out there, but if you're looking for a game that you can do with someone who quite frankly isn't coordinated or old enough to play a video game by themselves, then this is a game you might want to check out.

Ultimately, it's a good example of how well the unique Wii controller system works, and how it's the best video game system out there for families.

Buy Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey for the Wii for $19.99 (cheap) from Amazon.
And shop Amazon for a Wii System (if you can find one).

Wall Decals for Dreamers

Erin Behan — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:03:00 GMT

I was one of those kids with imaginary friends who played in imaginary fantasy lands, and I know I would have loved Les Invasions Emphemeres' wall decals. Available in two styles from My Sweet Muffin, the stickers are $92 a set and are 25' x 41', the perfect sized headboard to any child's bed. I can't decide if the Princess (above) or Fortress (below) are more dream-worthy, but I can see sleeping under the influence of both.

Pretty Pretty Princess Game

Chris Ford — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:28:00 GMT

Let me say first that there is nothing "cool" or "modern" about this game. But if your young daughter is a princess-loving little girl like mine is, you'll definitely want to check it out. Pretty Pretty Princess is the most basic of games. But even basic games can still be fun.

This is how you play - you spin the wheel and land on an item of jewelry. Then you take that piece of jewelry out of the box and put it on. The person who gets all the pieces of jewelry first wins (there are a few pitfalls here and there, but basically that's it). I realize it sounds mind-numbingly dull, but remember, it's not for you. It's for your little girl. It does help with learning to take turns and being a good sport about not winning, but it's pretty far from an educational toy. And I think some things should just be about doing something fun with your mom and dad.

Pretty Pretty Princess Cinderella Edition, $14.95 from Amazon.com (And for a little girl's birthday, this game and a book are one of my go-to present ideas).

FLOR Carpet Tiles for Kid's Rooms

Chris Ford — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:07:00 GMT

If you're decorating your son or daughter's room and are looking for something warm to cover the hardwood flooring, FLOR might be a good alternative. They now have carpeting options for children's rooms, including Disney Princesses, Pixar Cars and Classic Pooh.

But what exactly is FLOR? FLOR is a company that makes tile-sized squares of carpet that you buy individually and then arrange any way you want. You can use them to create anything from an area rug to wall-to-wall carpet. The designs they have for kid's rooms are really great too. If you would rather shy away from the Disney Princess thing, they have other, more modern designs (like the puzzles design pictured above) that look really cool. I've used them for years and have been very happy.

Just don't tell my daughter they have the Princesses. Please.

Disney / FLOR Kids, available for $4.09 to $6.20 per square foot from FLOR.com

Hand Made: Does Your Princess Need A Crown this Halloween?

chrisjordan — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:00:00 GMT

Can you tell by my latest Halloween costume posts that my daughter wants to be a princess for Halloween? And that her desire to be a Disney princess clashes with my desire for no licensed characters? I can't be the only one, can I?

Sadly, I think I am losing. But I have found another adorable hand made princess crown made from washable fleece with button accents. This crown is durable and perfect for playing with all year round.

Available at World of Whim for $20

Too girly? Fiddle-dee-dee!

aprilpeveteaux — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:45:00 GMT

The Kaiya Eve multi- tiered lacy petticoat makes me want to coach my little one into speaking with a Southern accent and quoting Scarlett O’Hara. When I dressed her up in a pink and yellow number, she actually twirled. Or swished, or maybe just took a step and this ultra fem dress-up item did all the work. Either way, I have to wonder if all this pirouetting about will make my daughter more likely to fall into the Princess trap. But it’s so damn cute; I’m just going to think about that tomorrow…

Get your own at Poshie Tots - $80

Emotional Armor: Empowering T-shirts for Girls and Boys

chrisjordan — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:02:00 GMT

I love this line of t-shirts. My daughter can be an empowered princess. Or a "tough warrior princess." Or "constant reminder of the extraordinary." The t-shirts are meant to motivate, inspire and celebrate the good inherent in all of us.

Available at Emotional Armor in sizes 2-12 , $39 for 100% pre-shrunk cotton long sleeved t-shirt. Be warned, you may have trouble choosing just one.

Big Deal: Urban Baba for your Urban Princess

Mir — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 14:03:00 GMT

You have to love these Urban Baba princess t-shirts for all kinds of reasons: They're plain enough to match everything (and make you happy) but the puff sleeves add that princess appeal (to make her happy); they come in a variety of colors; like all of Urban Baba's products, they're manufactured in the USA; and they're currently on sale at Jax for just $15 apiece.

Now that's princess chic I can get into.

Sandbox Threads Tee Tells Truth, Yo

Kelly Mills — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:58:00 GMT

For a while we were very pretty sparkle pink princess, and hey, maybe it was necessary. But in the middle of my 75th conversation with my kid about how the princesses should save themselves, not wait for Prince Charming, I wish we'd had this shirt. Cuz let's find an ambition that has nothing to do with bloodlines, 'kay? From Sandbox Threads, for $18.95. Write it off as a campaign contribution.

Ye Olde Maiden Costume

Kelly Mills — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:29:00 GMT

This Castle Maiden costume is made of velour with gold trim, and while it's a nice change from the typical pretty pretty princess fare you mostly see, it's a little too "Huzzah!" for me. Velour doesn't breathe well, the headress looks uncomfortable, and at $82, you'd better hope the kids get a lot of use out of it. I think only Katherine Hepburn (A Lion in Winter) can pull this kind of stuff off.