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MY REVIEW

Before Linus was born, I went hunting for some new and exciting toys. I knew I was going to need some help keeping Gus and Elliot busy, and I found the Quadrilla wooden marble run sets that looked amazing. Quadrilla sent us the Twist & Rail Set to try out and it’s our whole family’s new favorite thing.

My boys love building, and this marble run set is the best kind of building because at the end you get to watch marbles go crazy! The Twist& Rail Set includes:

– 34 coloured blocks with 8 different functions
– 3 short curve rails
– 4 big curve rails
– 2 long straight rail with 5 holes
– 1 big twist
– 1 red seesaw
– 10 basic-rings
– 22 lilac high adjusters
– 6 hole shutters
– 10 speedmakers
– 5 speedmakers and hole shutters
– 50 coloured marbles in a bag
– 20 page instruction book with phasepictures for easy build up

The instruction booklet is awesome with lots of track ideas – the pieces are kind of complicated for my brain and I haven’t dared to create my own track, but Elliot and his neighbor friend have!

The pieces are all solid wood, most are painted in bright fun colors, and the set is indestructible and so heavy duty. It comes with some really fun pieces like the big twist and seesaw. The marbles run smoothly and we all love the plinking thunking sounds that the marbles make!

We also got the Sound Blocks Extension Set to review, and it’s our very favorite. A simple picture wouldn’t do it justice, so watch and be amazed!

VIDEO

Quadrilla’s marble run sets are such unique and interactive toys that are awesome for kids of all ages and encourage all kinds of building and problem solving developmental skills. There are so many different basic, extension, and expansion sets to keep things interesting. And because they’re made from wood, they’ll last forever, through children and grandchildren!

Thanks to Quadrilla for sponsoring this review & check out all their great marble run products just in time for Christmas!

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The Twig block winner is Beth T! She said, ” My Christmas list is long with the names of little children who would love these blocks. Does that count as “needing” them? I certainly need great gift ideas, and these blocks are great!”

Send an email to kelseyatvanillajoydotcom BEFORE SUNDAY to claim your prize. Congrats!

THE PRIZE

One lucky reader will win a set of Twig Blocks from Fat Brain Toys!

MY REVIEW

Blocks are as classic as toys come, only blocks now are so much cooler than they used to be! New and unique shapes take classic building games to a whole new place.

Fat Brain Toys is a source of hundreds of unique and stimulating toys, and the Twig blocks are one of their own products that has won a handful of awards for being super awesome!

Here’s some info about the set:

• Twig – Modern building blocks designed for learning, fashioned for fun
• Constructed of all highly renewable materials
• Each Twig set consists of 72 wooden pieces and a cotton drawstring storage bag
• All precision-cut blocks are compatible with one another
• Complete interactivity between components
• Limitless combinations for open-ended play
• Ages 3+

My boys love blocks and they particularly love to use them with other kinds of toys to make something crazy. Blocks are so multi-purpose and they definitely play well with other toys. Elliot especially loves to build what we call Wonky Towers and then (of course) knock them down!

Gus was having a great time putting a few of the blocks on his little glow stick bracelet. The simplest things provide the greatest pleasure…

The colors are bright and fun but the best part of this blocks set is the unique shapes. All the pieces fit together for endless combinations, but most importantly, the things you can build from these blocks look way more fun and funky than regular blocks.

Thanks to Fat Brain Toys for a great product – be sure to find some favorites on their website in time for Christmas!

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The Summer Infant winner is Carrie! She said, “My fave Summer Infant product is the video monitor – I think it would ease my curiousity and concern about what the heck my baby is doing when she should be sleeping.”

Send an email to kelseyatvanillajoydotcom BEFORE SATURDAY to claim your prize. Congrats!

THE PRIZE

One reader will win the Slim & Secure video monitor from Summer Infant! ($135)

MY REVIEW

One of my biggest worries about having a third baby has been protecting him from his older, curious, and often mischievous brothers, particularly when he’s asleep.

Solution? Video monitor.

With the Summer Infant Slim & Secure video monitor that we received for review, I can keep my eye on baby at all times, even when he’s asleep alone in his room.

The Slim & Secure monitor is super handy – it’s lightweight, cell phone sized, runs on a 10 hour rechargeable battery, and has great picture (color or B&W-ish night vision) and sound quality. The video turns off after a little while for convenience at night, so it can be used just as an audio monitor if that’s all you need. You can also manually turn off the camera on either the receiver or the camera unit.

There’s a battery icon on screen at all times so you know when it’s time to plug in as well as brightness and sound adjustments right on the receiver unit.

Because the receiver unit is about the size of a cell phone, you can carry it attached to your clothing or stand it up on its own. The connection is secure for up to 350 feet and the 2.5″ digital screen is just the right size for easy viewing.

Here’s a short video for more information:

Knowing I can always see what baby is doing and who may or may not be bothering him puts my mind at ease during the day and at night as well. I love being able to check on him without the risk of waking him up too!

{Thanks to Summer Infant for sponsoring this review!}

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