Big Hugs Make the Perfect Gift Plus Big Hugs Elmo #Giveaway

Someone once said to me that "a hug is the universal medicine" and I couldn't agree more.
Do you remember all the times, good and bad, in your life where you received a warm and genuine embrace from someone? The feeling of receiving a hug during a time you need it most is indescribable. It's something that is only felt deep within the heart.

One of the things I teach my children every time they see someone they care about feeling sad or when they want to show their love is to give them a great big hug.
My daughter is old enough to understand the effects and meaning behind hugs, however my son is too young to fully grasp the meaning but not young enough to truly feel the effects. There's no age limit for that.
He knows how good hugs from mommy, daddy, his sister or grandparents feel when he's fallen down and hurt himself or when he takes his wobbly steps as he learns to walk and gets happy praises and big hugs in celebration.

I'm now slowly compiling my holiday gift list for all the special people in my life and there is no doubt in my mind that Big Hugs Elmo would make one of those special little people on that list VERY happy this year.

On top of being a PTPA Winner, Big Hugs Elmo has also gained the stamp of approval in my family!

My son is currently still teething and he gets bouts of tearful episodes (poor baby!) and I noticed how much more calm he gets when Elmo is around him.

He absolutely adores his furry friend and not only for his comforting embrace but because of all the amazing and fun features included!

There are so many ways to play with Sesame Street Big Hugs Elmo! When you give Elmo a great big hug, he'll hug back, say fun phrases or sing a sweet song about hugs! Press Elmo's left foot and he will invite little ones to join in on 1 of 4 imagination activities. There are 50+ animated sounds and phrases like, "Elmo loves getting hugs from you," 

"Let's pretend we're rabbits! Boing, boing, boing," and "Move to the beat!" When children lay Big Hugs Elmo down in a flat position, he'll become sleepy, sing a lullaby and make sleeping sound effects. 

I have to admit that Elmo's sweet lullaby has even put me to sleep a couple of times. So sweet! 

Features: 

• Hug Elmo and he'll move his arms to hug back 
• Pretend with Elmo: There are 4 fun imagination scenarios: astronauts, rabbits, frogs & horses 
• Dance with Elmo: Move Elmo around - he really responds 
• Sing along with Big Hugs Elmo: Plays 3 fun songs 
• Nap time: Lay Elmo down to hear a sweet lullaby and sleeping sound effects

This past Halloween, Big Hugs Elmo even tagged along as Talan's "Partner in Cuteness-Crime". :)

To learn more about Big Hugs Elmo, visit: www.hasbro.com/playskool/en_CA/sesamestreet/bighugselmo/

If you're on Social Media, PTPA is currently hosting a fun 'Spot the Seal with Hasbro' Contest that offers you many chances to win some seriously amazing prizes including Big Hugs Elmo and many other PTPA-winning Hasbro Products!
For more information, visit: ptpa.com/2013/10/10/spot-seal-hasbro/.

Thanks to Hasbro, as a BHE Brand Ambassador, one of my lucky readers will have the opportunity to win another Big Hugs Elmo of their own this month {ARV $69.99}

1) Leave me a comment below telling  me what your favourite feature is on the Big Hugs Elmo

2) Enter via rafflecopter below for additional entries

The contest will close and a winner will be selected at random on November 17, 2013.

Open to US and Canada (excluding Quebec).

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

----
Disclosure: I am participating in the Hasbro Big Hugs Elmo Blogger Campaign by PTPA Media and received product and compensation as a thank you for participating. The opinions expressed on this blog are my very own.

Read More

Why Hugs Mean So Much featuring #BigHugsElmo plus #Giveaway

I remember the time when I was a 6 and my dad removed my training wheels for the first time.
The feeling of riding freely on two wheels on my big girl bike on my very own was incredible.
But when I fell off and scraped my knees and arms, I also remember the pain. Oh, the pain was so bad. My mom cleaned my horrible wounds with alcohol (how I hated that alcohol) and the stinging made it even worse.
My tears would not stop but the moment my mom wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me tightly close to her (I could feel her beating heart going so quickly because she was feeling my pain too) I felt so much better.
This was one of the first memories of my childhood that I can actually still remember.

I was 15 years old, my parents just picked me up from my close friends house after a day filled with laughter, and you know, all that fun teenage girl stuff.
I was on a natural high when I stepped into my parents car ready to head home for dinner.
I noticed my mom was quiet and didn't even greet me.
My dad looked somber.
What was going on here? Did I do something wrong?
As we moved along, my dad suddenly broke the cold silence. "Your Lola Pay (Lola means Grandma)..." I became frozen in my seat.
My grandma (my mom's mom) was like my 2nd mother. She took care of me for many years and I had a very close bond to her. It wasn't until she moved back to her country across the other side of the world that she got very sick. I didn't even realize how sick she was. I would talk to her on the phone and see pictures of her beautiful, smiling face. She never showed her pain or sorrow around us, ever.
"Lola Pay passed away today."
 My eyes started to burn from forcing my tears in... I didn't want to cry in front of my mom.
When we got home, my mom, like a zombie and without words for the remainder of the night, crawled into her bed and slept for the rest of the day.
I couldn't even imagine how she must have felt. Losing a mom? She was extremely close to her mom.
I remember walking into her room after I had my cry and then embracing my mom for the longest time.
I can't even recall when a hug meant so much then that very moment.
My shoulders wet from my moms tears and mine, it was the hug that mattered so much that night. No words, just the hug.

It's amazing how much hugs can really help and make a difference in how a person feels.
Whether you're a child, a baby, a teenager or an adult... everyone can always use a good hug.

I was thrilled to be selected as a new ambassador for the latest must-have plush toy of 2013 from Hasbro, Playskool's Big Hugs Elmo!

My kids have always had a love for Sesame Street and especially for that happy little Elmo!

There's something about the colour red and his friendly and positive disposition that makes kids feel comfortable and excited.

It's also great to know that Big Hugs Elmo has recently been awarded the PTPA Seal!

I didn't tell my children that they were expecting Big Hugs Elmo to be delivered to us, so I was pleasantly surprised at my daughters reaction when it got to us!

The fact that Elmo finally hugs you back is ginormous in the eyes of a 4 year old and 12 month old (and umm... a 30 year old too).

But that's not all he does!

Elmo is so super smart that he says things and reacts depending on how he's being held. Very responsive!

He also sings 3 different songs including for nap time.

My son takes Elmo ev-ery-where.

It's actually quite challenging to have a Big Hugs Elmo hanging around on an already small change table when trying to change a 12 month old's dirty diaper.
But overall, it's really special seeing how my kids react and feel about having Big Hugs Elmo around.
It's definitely a must-have for your child, especially if they love Elmo! And who doesn't love Elmo?

“A hug is a great gift. One size fits all. And it’s easy to share!” – Playskool

I'm thrilled to be giving a Big Hugs Elmo away courtesy of Hasbro to one of my lucky readers.
I will also be giving away another one for next month as well, so stay tuned!

The contest closes October 18th, 2013.
Open to Canada (including Quebec) and US residents.

1) Leave me a comment below telling me when a hug meant so much
2) Additional entries available via rafflecopter below

Good luck! And don't forget to give someone a nice, big hug today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I am participating in the Hasbro Big Hugs Elmo Blogger Campaign by PTPA Media and received compensation as a thank you for participating. The opinions expressed on this blog are my very own.

Read More