It is so important, especially in the times that we are currently living in, to encourage and support the young girls in our lives to embrace and love themselves. Too often they are told to be and act in a certain manner that differs greatly from their personality and their hopes and dreams. Young girls should be encouraged and celebrated on expressing their personalities, being creative and chasing their dreams – even if that doesn’t fit into the perfect image of what society thinks a young girl should be or dress like.
Gwen Stefani’s animated series Kuu Kuu Harajuku is all about celebrating the power and uniqueness of young girls. The series follows the lives of five young girls, Love, Angel, Music, Baby and G, and their band HJ5. G is the leader of this group of fearless young girls who are ready to take the world by storm through music and fashion. The show’s setting is inspired by the street fashion and creative youth culture of the Harajuku district but takes place in a magical fantasy world. The series follows the girls adventures as they travel around the world performing and getting caught up in adventures that fosters loyalty and friendship.
Young girls can now bring the Kuu Kuu Harajuku world to life with the animated series new fashion doll and doll line from Mattel! Mattel infuses the popular Japanese harajuku fashion with the dolls show imagery, allowing young fans to customize and create their own fashions, interchangeable outfits and accessories. Each of the five band members brings their personality to her fashion, brand and doll. Fans have the opportunity to connect with their favourite character and use their own creativity and imagination to bring the doll’s personality to life.
Kuu Kuu Harajuku teaches us about loyalty, being true to ourselves all while expressing ourselves the way we want to (go ahead and rock that fashion accessory or item regardless of what anyone else says!). Too often girls are taught to only like certain clothes or styles but this series teaches us to love and show off our style with pride!
Two new DVDs featuring a selection of the popular television series are now available for purchase (Music Baby and Super Kawaii). The Music Baby DVD and Super Kawaii DVD can be purchased online at Shout Kids. Each DVD runs roughly from an hour and a half to two hours long.
Series Clip
The Giveaway!
My Canadian and American readers can now enter to win a Kuu Kuu Harajuku prize pack valued at $70 that includes: 1 doll purse, 1 fashion doll, Kuu Kuu Harajuku Music Baby DVD, Kuu Kuu Harajuku Super Kawaii DVD. Enter via the rafflecopter form below – good luck!
In Awoke, Katya must decide whether she values the simple and easy life she created for herself over the complex and difficult world now asking her to stand and fight.
About Awoke
Katya leads a normal life any teenager would be envious of – popular, pretty and dating the high school elite. Not she enjoys the spotlight, mind you. She wants everyone to believe she is normal.
But when Katya sees the real reason behind the earthquakes plaguing everyone in Boston, the truth rattles and shatters the perfect normal illusion Katya created for herself. An ability to see unearthly creatures and manipulate waves of life energy labels her as anything but normal. And it’s an ability that attracts unwanted and dangerous attention.
She reluctantly finds herself in the company of Gregor, a handsome member of an international spirit military team called the Kyrios. Her simple decision to help thrusts Katya in a world of the undead spirits, betrayal and a perpetual battle between undead monsters and the wardens that keep them in their place.
Katya must decide whether she values the simple and easy life she created for herself over the complex and difficult world now asking her to stand and fight.
My Thoughts
Awoke is an exciting adventure that sees a young teenager fighting against the undead spirits who are causing havoc on an unsuspecting world.
Katya hides behind the image of a normal teenage life, she is popular, pretty and dating the most popular boy in school. Inside though she hides some pretty big secrets – even from herself at times. She wants to ignore those secrets so that she can be normal and make her Mom happy. But in one moment everything changes. Katya meets a young man, Gregor, who is a member of the Kyrios who fight the undead spirits.
He sees in her something special and different. He knows there is more to her then even she can begin to imagine. This starts her down the path of finding her true calling which is full of monsters, lies, betrayal and even some romance.
This is the perfect novel for young adults and teenagers a like. The characters are well-developed and you can relate to them, who wouldn’t want to be Katya and have the powers she has? Not to mention the budding romance between her and Gregor? I loved the way the plot was woven and was not expecting the betrayal that occurred that really changed the way I thought the plot was going. I loved how the ending left it open for a second part in this series as I would really love to see what is next for Katya and Gregor and their fight against the undead. If you have a teen that loves supernatural adventures like the Shadowhunters, then this would be a great novel for them.
K.T. Conte is a lover of books, people and all things wild and crazy. She received her B.A. in English from Boston College and her law degree from Suffolk University Law School. While she has and continues to be a licensed attorney, her first love has always been books from the tender age of 2. Originally from Massachusetts, K.T. currently lives in New York City with the monsters in the closet, her husband Everett, a couple of building fairies and her dog, Champ.
A captivating tapestry of murder, betrayal, and family, Venetian Blood is the story of one woman’s brave quest for the truth—before it’s too late.
About Venetian Blood
Struggling to forget a crumbling marriage, forty-year-old Anna Lucia Lottol comes to Venice to visit an old friend—but instead of finding solace, she is dragged into a police station and accused of murdering a money laundering count with whom she had a brief affair. In the days that follow, Anna, an US Treasury officer with brains and athleticism, fights to clear her name in a seductive city of watery illusions. But as she tries to pry clues from a cast of uncooperative characters who implausibly deny what she sees and hears, she begins to question whether they are hiding something…or she is losing touch with reality. Racing to unlock secrets, she succeeds instead in unleashing a powerful foe bent on destroying her. Will she save herself and vanquish her enemies, including her darkest fears?
My Thoughts
I visited Venice in my mid-teens and I fell in love (and not just because my family on my Dad’s side come from there!). There is an air of mystery and history on every street mixed in with romance. It just has a special quality about it that I just can’t quite put into words. I was so excited to read this novel based in Venice and it did not disappoint me at all. She captured the mystery of Venice into her story that is full of its own mystery and history.
We have Anna who is trapped in a scandal of murder and an affair. This is in the backdrop of an even greater scheme of lies, money laundry, secrets and murder. She is trying desperately to clear her own name plus work an active case. No one in the city wants to quite help her as they try to protect their own citizens and the secrets that they hold.
I loved every moment of this well written novel. It pulls you in and leaves you craving more. It is very well written and suits the tone of the novel and setting. It is an exciting and suspenseful novel from start to finish – I could not put it down in fear I would miss what was coming next! I have to admit, I never saw the ending coming. It was an incredible and well-played out. Venetian Blood is a definite must read novel.
Christine Evelyn Volker became intrigued by foreign cultures at an early age, which propelled her to study Spanish, German, and Italian. After pursuing an MLS and an MBA, she was drawn to international banking and became a senior vice president at a global financial institution. Her career brought her to Italy, where she immersed herself in the language and made frequent visits to Venice. A native New Yorker, she resides with her husband in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, where she heads a local library non-profit organization and writes about environmental sustainability. She is currently at work on her second international mystery, this one set in the rainforest of Peru.
Despite just meeting each other, Tillie and Noah’s lives have been mysteriously intertwined for many years in Ta’Mara Hanscom’s The Pretender. From the moment they met, Tillie and Noah wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but a deliberate omission will keep them apart-and that same omission will be responsible for the escape of a murderer, and a bride’s deception.
Join Ta’Mara in celebrating the release of the second printing and new covers by entering to win her $75 prize basket giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:
A copy of The Pretender
A $75 Amazon gift card
A decorative box containing measuring cups, ten recipes from the book, a potholder, a kitchen towel, pepper and salt grinders, kitchen utensils, and an olive oil dispenser
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on October 11. The winner will be announced October 12 on the Litfuse blog.
Disclosure: This is part of a blog tour that I received a digital copy of a book for. All opinions expressed are my own. This giveaway is run by Litfuse.
With school starting up this month and the return of many after school activities, the focus on family down time can be pushed to the back burner. While we sometimes have to do a give and take at home, it is so important to carve out time for your family. This could be setting aside twenty minutes a day or a couple of hours together once a week. It is important to choose what works for your family so that way you know you will stick to it.
The best way to use that family time? Play fun and interactive games and activities that get you talking and laughing!
Raincoast Books has put together nine games, activities and books that help strengthen the family bond through laughter. We tested out Royal Bingo and After Dinner Amusements: Family Time and had an amazing time!
This majestically illustrated bingo game features portraits of 64 royal icons from around the world. Spot famous faces like William and Kate, or meet some less familiar figures such as the playboy prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein. Each royal is further brought to life in an accompanying booklet, which details their personalities, foibles, gaffes and romances. Who will reign supreme?
Who doesn’t love learning about the royal families? When I saw this game I thought immediately of my Mom who is a HUGE royalty fan. She loves the English royal family but will read books, magazines and more about all the royal lineages. This game was pretty cool as you were able to learn about more than just the popular royal names and you were given a bit of background about each one. It takes Bingo to a whole new level while being great for young and adult players a like although I have a feeling that adults will love and appreciate this one a tad bit more!
This is a fun little twist on classic games and activities and offers easy amusement during family dinners, holiday gatherings and road trips! This miniature deck of cards features fifty thoughtful and playful questions about the past, present, and future – a great way for family members to connect and learn new things about one another.
This was an amazing way to get our kids and us talking about our family – what we loved and more! It had great questions and thought starters. We pulled it about an hour before bed time and let the kids choose three questions. While we answered the questions we also found ourselves discussing even more about what we want to see more of in our family time, what we want to do in the upcoming year, etc. We also set a monthly mini golf challenge and formed our teams. It was fantastic to have this time dedicated to talking about us.
From a gorilla in a party hat to a hedgehog rat-a-tat-tatting on his drum, these animal friends from different habitats—the jungle, farm, woodland, and Arctic—know that togetherness is something to celebrate. Featuring twelve double-sided uniquely die-cut pieces by artist Junzo Terada, this fun puzzle offers (nearly) endless combinations, providing hours of entertainment.
The newest book from Herve Tullet magically responds with bursts of color and moving shapes, empowering children by letting their imaginations liberate and direct each page’s reaction. Tullet’s books define the genre of participatory bookmaking, encouraging readers to explore and interact with the physical book in all its dimensions. The reward is tremendous: a journey of whimsy and sheer fun that extends well beyond the book’s pages.
Who’s safe when there are cannibals hiding among you? That’s the question at the heart of this fast-paced game of social deduction in which cannibals and pioneers face off in a fight for survival. Set in the winter of 1846, players are members of the ill-fated Donner Party wagon train, stranded atop a mountain with no food. Rowdy, outrageous, and full of deception, this party game packs a delightfully wicked twist!
Based on a unique and original format, this game contains 20 story-telling puzzle pieces printed on both sides. Each piece can be interchanged or flipped over to allow for all kinds of plot twists and turns, and there are even two alternative endings! When all the puzzle pieces are used, they stretch out to over 8-feet long to tell your own mega ghost story!
Press out, slot together and play with your very own T-Rex, Triceratops, Apatosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Pteranodon. Created by talented paper artist and engineer Sato Hisao, each of these detailed 3D models comes with easy-to-follow assembly instructions. No scissors or glue required!
Graphic design guru Tim Leong presents STAR WARS trivia via playful pie charts, bar graphs, and other data-driven infographics. From a Venn diagram of Yoda’s idiosyncrasies to an organizational chart of the Empire to a line graph of Grand Moff Tarkin’s management decisions, STAR WARS SUPER GRAPHIC shines a new light on the much-adored universe. Equal parts playful and informative, this visual love letter to the vast STAR WARS universe will enchant fans of all ages.
Mix and match with this classic matching game, which includes 36 robust, jumbo-size cards featuring charming illustrations by Greg Pizzoli that will have kids ready to pack up their bags and explore the world! Children will adore pairing colorful images of suitcases, taxis, stop signs, and other classic travel imagery as they develop memory, concentration, and identification skills.
The Giveaway!
Now my Canadian readers have the chance to win one of the above games or activities of their choice to help them plan out their own family activity night! Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
