Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel
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3 Mins Read

The BIG Barbie Christmas Gift Guide for 2018

It was an exceptional year of big birthdays and launches for Barbie this year – and I was there!

Barbie made her first appearance on 9 March 1959 – 59 years ago! Since then she has been updated in colours, shapes and sizes to be more inclusive. She now also has more careers to inspire girls to be more when they grow up – and it is for this reason that I’m including Barbie on my gift guide.

Over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide!

Barbie® Color Surprise™ doll

As a kid I would’ve killed to have a Barbie like this. You (or your little girl) can change the color of Barbie® doll’s hair from pretty pastel shades to bolder, brighter hues with ice cold water. Simply spray with the included bottle and watch her pastel pink, blue and purple hair become bold pink, teal and purple streaks. Use the four hair stencils (with iconic patterns) and stencil tool to create designs as you spritz water to alter the doll’s hair colors for unique, customized looks.

Barbie® Dreamtopia Rainbow Cove Castle

A beautiful castle inspired by the colorful land of Rainbow Cove™ will spark all kinds of storytelling. It has four magical play spaces and 15 pieces, that include a puppy.

Barbie® Cooking & Baking Ultimate Kitchen

Your daughter’s Barbie could have the Ultimate Kitchen playset with working features and amazing accessories! Kids will have all the ingredients they need to prepare delicious dishes, from simple snacks for one to gourmet dinners for family and friends!

Barbie® DreamCamper™

Now this is my favourite! It reminds me so much of all my family holidays as a child… We never had a camper, but we camped everywhere and saw so much of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. I was a very lucky child to have grown up in a time where our adventurous spirit could still just hit the road.

The amazing Barbie® DreamCamper™ transforms from a stylish RV into a spectacular campsite – with 35+ pieces and endless ways to play!

Everybody wants a Fashionista that looks like them – right?

Barbie now has so many different shapes, sizes and colours that you might just be lucky enough to find your doppelganger in the Fashionista range. My personal favourites include:

Barbie® Fashionistas™ Doll 97 – Petite with Brunette Waves
Barbie® Fashionistas® Doll 48 Daisy Pop – Curvy
Barbie® Fashionista® Doll 67 Cactus Cutie – Tall

Career Girl Dolls – Inspire your Daughter

Have you heard of the Dream Gap Project? If not, click here to read more.

Barbie® Robotics Engineer Doll
Barbie® Chef & Waiter Dolls
Barbie® Astronaut & Space Scientist Dolls

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Mickey Mouse takes over! {WIN}

If you’ve stepped out into any toy store recently you would’ve noticed a “larger than normal” presence of Mickey Mouse (and Minnie) toys. This is due to the big birthday coming up on 18 November – and here you were thinking it was for Xmas.

Since I have a baby just days away I thought I’d start with all the wonderful Disney Baby things you can get – thanks to Prima Baby.

The Disney Baby ring rattle is the cutest little thing, perfect for little hands to grab onto. So colourful and perfect for those precious early play times.

I did say I’m going all out baby for this post… Wouldn’t you want a Mickey Comforter? I can see many fun play time hours on this!

I do have bottles from number 1, but a girl can look – can’t she?

 

And of course you can also get a milk powder dispenser with Minnie or Mickey on it.

DISNEY BABY MICKEY MILK POWDER DISPENSER

Now we are getting to the part where baby is getting a little older with itchy gums and little hands that want to explore and touch everything – and this Disney Baby Mickey Mouse teether activity toy is just what baby will want.

It’s not all about the plushies… anything with wheels was always a winner for Lexa and I’m hoping little miss Lily will also enjoy a bit of vroom-vroom. Can I have this for my desk – pretty please!

DISNEY BABY MICKEY RACING KART

One of the very first things Lexa mastered was to sort shapes – and that was before she was 1! Her shape sorter wasn’t this fancy, but you never know what may arrive from all the aunts and uncles!

DISNEY BABY MICKEY AND FRIENDS SHAPE SORTER

You can never have too many rattles! Lexa had a few and inevitable they all ended up being missing for a few days. Plus the little car is a soft teether. (2-in-1 mum!)

DISNEY BABY MICKEY KEY RATTLE
DISNEY BABY MICKEY KEY RATTLE

I have a thing for cameras so this list would not be complete without me sneaking in a cute camera!

There are so many toys I would like to include on this list, but you will be reading all day if I did! However, I can tell you that toys aren’t the only things you can get from Disney Baby either…

Some people say don’t give a dummy and others swear by it. For me personally I don’t see why a baby can’t use a dummy when they need it in the early years. This Disney baby natural pacifier is only suitable for 6+ months, but it is just too sweet not to include on the list.

When you have a pacifier, you need a pacifier case – because there is nothing worse than thinking of all the germs floating in the air with a new baby.

Then, when baby is older you will need plates, spoons and other utensils!

DISNEY BABY MICKEY MICRO SET
DISNEY BABY MICKEY CUTLERY TRAVEL SET

Win a Disney Baby Mickey & Minnie Mouse plushie set!

Prima Baby has generously sponsored a Disney Baby Mickey Activity Plush and Disney Baby Minnie Activity Plush combo. I’m kind of jealous that I can’t enter my own competitions, but I’m going to be so happy for whomever gets to have these little rascals!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&Cs

  • Competition closes 18 November 2018
  • Prize is sponsored by Prima Baby.
  • Prize consists of a Disney Baby Mickey Activity Plush and Disney Baby Minnie Activity Plush combo.
  • Only completed entries will count.
  • The competition is open to all fans of Goddess, who are Residents of South Africa and over the age of 18.
  • By entering the competition, you are deemed to have read and accepted these terms and conditions. All entry instructions form part of these terms and conditions.
  • If the winner is chosen and there are noted irregularities (i.e. the email address or person does not exist, is not delivered to a person, or is forwarded to a person with a different identity etc.) the winner will be disqualified and a new winner will be drawn.
  • Any entries received after the closing date will be invalid. Goddess accepts no responsibility for any errors of any other kind which may restrict or delay the sending or receipt of an entry, or for delayed or lost entries.
  • If we are unable to contact a prize winner, we reserve the right to pick another.
  • All entries will be examined and the prize shall be awarded to the winner selected at random by Goddess from all eligible participants who have correctly entered the prize draw in accordance with entry instructions. No correspondence will be entered into.
  • The winners will be notified via Facebook and/or Instagram, and the prizes will be issued as soon as possible.
  • The winner has 48 hours to respond after the winner announcement.
  • The prize will be delivered via courier.
  • Prizes are not redeemable for cash.
  • Goddess reserve the right to cancel or change the promotion at any time and will endeavour to give you advance notice of any such change or withdrawal. However, in some cases, advance notice may not be possible.
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Its DIY Mickey Day!

Mickey Mondays are the best. It is the one day of the week I get to spend looking at Mickey everything – without feeling guilty!

Today’s article is all about DIY. Making Minnie bows, Mickey Oreo figures and more. If you want more than what is on this article, follow my Mickey Mouse Pinterest board 🙂

Have you read my other Mickey Monday articles?

  1. I want a Giant Mickey for Xmas!
  2. It’s Mickey Monday while counting down to 90 years of everyone’s favourite mouse!

Mickey Mouse Christmas Ornaments

I am almost 100% sure that my Christmas tree will feature Mickey Mouse and Barbie this year… because Christmas trees needn’t be ordinary.

Follow this easy step by step to make your Mickey and Minnie ornaments.

Who doesn’t have old baubles that have seen better days? Upcycle them to become Mickey Mouse baubles.

Christmas wreath with a twist – yes please!

Minnie and Mickey Mouse Accessories for your head 🙂

I’m not judging because both Lexa and I have Mickey Mouse caps – and we have both worn it out in public. Wave at us if you see us!

Nifty with pins and cottons?

I think my mom will love this section… all the info she needs to get a Christmas prezzie for me. Here is the pattern for the coin purse.

…and if you want to crochet a Mickey Mouse granny square… here you go 🙂

Mickey Mouse baby booties… get the pattern here. I wonder if I can get the pattern in adult size 🙂

Couldn’t find the pattern for this Mickey Mouse pillow, but I know the people who know how to can figure it out…

Want a Mickey Mouse scarf? No problem because here is the link to the pattern!

I know, I know… all this DIY is making you wish you can crochet and knit! Seriously tho, how cute is this Mickey Mouse beanie?

Mickey Mouse Yum!

I promised Mickey Mouse Oreo figures and I delivered… here are 2 ways to make your very own:

And if you want Mickey Mouse Cupcakes… it can’t be easier than this!

Now that you’ve made the cookies you’ll need to put it in a Mickey mouse box. Get this free printable Tsum Stum (stacking) Mickey Mouse box here.

…and here is another Mickey Mouse box for your Mickey mouse cookies 🙂

For the Kids!

Keeping the kids busy is a top priority over weekends and holidays. I would never even have thought of painting a Mickey on paperplates… but guess who is off to buy red and black paint now.

Imagine how awesome you kid’s room will look with this shelf.

Remember cutting snowflakes and hearts as kids? This is better, so much better! Cut Mickey Mouse snowflakes, get the how to here.

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I want a GIANT Mickey for Xmas!

So I missed (my) Mickey Monday, but I will pretend today is Monday and just publish the post I wanted to anyway – because magic!

Who has heard of the giant Mickey Mouse statues that stood in Sandton (until this past weekend)? Well, I went to see them and they were absolutely awesome. There was one that I would put in my office – he had an Africa necklace, giraffe skin arms, leopard and zebra skin legs and the most beautiful traditional print on his pants. This Mickey is what South Africa is – bright, colourful and awesome.

If you still don’t know, Mickey celebrates 90 years from making his first appearance in Steamboat Willie. You can read some fun and interesting facts about Mickey Mouse on last week’s article.

Here is a peek at the awesome statues painted by South African artists.

There is more to the traveling exhibition than Mickey Mouse standing around looking pretty. You can buy Disney clothes, watches and more as well as keep the kids busy at the colouring-in station, race cars and tablets with Mickey content…

Also, just because it’s Disney and there are Mickey’s I’m mentioning this… Dischem has Disney Micropopz! I want Mickey… more than one. Please, thank you and goodbye!

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Barbie’s hottest Instagram styles of September 2018

I’m quite enjoying looking through Barbie’s closet on her Barbie Style Instagram account. I wish I had the time to style my own outfits after hers, but being a mom sometimes mean that I live in jeans and Ts.

Let’s kick of September’s favourite looks with this gorgeous black and gold ensemble.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BntkJJSlm5z/?taken-by=barbiestyle

The textile twist that took it… I would actually wear this while wandering the streets of Rome.

Yes, please and thank you for this retro pop of pink.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn9AsUig1x5/?taken-by=barbiestyle

This month we end on the right foot with these sparkling shoes!

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Let’s close the Dream Gap

Yesterday I felt so proud of our Proteas, our national women’s cricket team. My heart literally burst when I got to spend just an hour with these wonderful ladies. Some of their stories are so inspiring – from being chosen to play for the national team at 16 to coming from a small town in KZN…

There were two players that stood out for me, Chloe Tryone and Moseline Daniels. I will still publish my interviews, but what I took away from my interview with them was that wearing the Protea on their hearts means more to them than we can ever imagine and they will give their everything to keep on representing South Africa.

It is so important for girls to know that there are no limits to what they can achieve and women like Chloe and Moseline (and the rest of the team) is what our girls need to see more of.

There is one little lady who champions global initiatives for girls to realise their limitless potential, Barbie. Her new global initiative, the ‘DREAM GAP PROJECT’ is a multi-year campaign that will raise awareness around limiting factors that prevent girls from reaching their full potential.

Research* has identified that starting at age five many girls are less likely than boys to view their own gender as smart and begin to lose confidence in their own competence. Cultural stereotypes, implicit biases and representation in media work together to further this issue. In the United States, this has been referenced as the “Dream Gap,” but there are similar trends seen around the world.

Girls’ belief in themselves is impacted by these limiting factors, so Barbie is dedicated to funding research, highlighting positive role models and rallying a community around supporting girls through The Dream Gap Project.

“Since 1959, Barbie has inspired the limitless potential in every girl and we believe that empowering them at a young age is a catalyst to unlocking their full potential,” said Lisa McKnight, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Barbie. “The goal of The Dream Gap Project is to leverage Barbie’s global platforms to educate society on gender biases and inspire any supporter of girls to join us as we can’t do this alone.”

The notion of a Dream Gap is still a relatively new concept and is under-researched, especially in girls 5-7 years old. To help, the brand is collaborating with Associate Professor Andrei Cimpian of New York University to fund a two-year post-doctoral fellowship on this issue. Globally, Barbie will work with local researchers to extend these studies and find out more about girls around the world.

“Our research is just the beginning — we need to dedicate more resources to this important topic so that we can better understand how to support girls,” said Andrei Cimpian, Associate Professor at New York University. “This collaboration with Barbie is a large-scale, ambitious effort to explore this important phenomenon and share what we know about childhood development to a mass audience, so we can help close the Dream Gap.”

The brand is dedicated to helping close the Dream Gap and will be focused on:

  • Raising awareness through impactful content developed to provide adults with resources on how they can support the girls in their lives available on Barbie.com. Barbie also created a new digital spot, that builds on the “You Can Be Anything” campaign and explains the Dream Gap.
  • Showing girls more role models by highlighting at least 10 empowering female role models each year globally. Because telling a girl she can be anything is just the beginning, actually seeing that she can do anything makes all the difference.
  • Leveraging Barbie as a role model and connecting with girls through inspiring content that is centered on teachable moments. By continuing to infuse purpose-driven themes in content, such as Barbie Vlogger, we are addressing issues that girls face in a unique and approachable way.
  • Continuing to offer empowering products that allow girls to play out their dreams, while showing them they have choices. From the Inspiring Women series to highlighting underrepresented careers, Barbie is encouraging imagination, expression and discovery.
  • Rallying partners around the world with any like-minded companies who are dedicated to girls’ empowerment.

To learn more about the brand’s commitment, please visit barbie.com/DreamGap and join the social conversation with #CloseTheDreamGap.

*Study conducted by researchers at New York University, the University of Illinois and Princeton University.

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It’s Mickey Monday while counting down to 90 years of everyone’s favourite mouse!

Did you know that Mickey Mouse will be celebrating his 90th birthday on 18 November 2018? Here are 9 more things you probably didn’t know about Mickey Mouse:

  1. His very first appearance was in Steamboat Willie on 18 November 1928. Talk about a long career!

  2. He was voiced by the late great Walt Disney from 1928 to 1966! A number of voice actors has since given Mickey his voice.
  3. He has 3 aliases namely Mickey, King Mickey (Kingdom of Hearts) and Bob Crachit (Mickey’s Christmas Carol).
  4. Mickey has played in 22 short films from 1928 to 2013, 11 full-length films from 1934 to 2004 and 6 television series starting from 1955!
  5. He has a pet dog called Pluto.
  6. His significant other is Minnie Mouse.
  7. The very first Mickey Mouse from Steamboat Willie may be public domain by 2024.
  8. There is a one-of-a-kind 2ft/0.61m tall 24-karat gold Mickey Mouse (Celebration Mickey) that weighs 100lb/45 kg. Currently he is for sale, but be warned he is valued at over $4,000,000! However, Celebration Mickey is certified to be an authentic, one-of-a-kind piece by Disneyland Resort. It is signed with the Disney Corporate Trademark on the side of Mickey’s right foot. Disneyland Resort further guarantees that it is the only sculpture of its kind that will ever be made.
  9. In 1930 the German Board of Film Censored prohibited the screening of the cartoon The Barnyard Battle because Mickey was depicted as a soldier fighting his cat enemies that was wearing German-like helmets.

If you caught the Mickey Mouse fever again (like me) you may want to check out all these amazing things you can now own as an adult!

Let’s start with my amazing Mickey cap from Typo! I think I can wear it out – you let me know in the comments below if I can get away with it.

Mickey Mouse Hat from Typo

Typo has a selection of jewellery, stationery and badges for you to choose from.

Pandora also has a selection of delicious Mickey Mouse charms for your bracelet or locket to choose from. These are some of the pieces I have:

Mickey Mouse and Pandora

A Swarovski Mickey Mouse! If I was a collector of ornaments this would be on my desk right now. Unfortunately it retails at almost R5,000 – but it is gorgeous! If however you feel like you really want a Mickey Mouse ornament they also have 2 other options whose price tags are a little smaller.

Swarovski Mickey Mouse Celebration

I’ve also acquired a Mickey Mouse ears headband and wore it out to an event at Montecasino. You are never too old to have fun! Check out my Instastories highlights here.

I’m also planning on seeing the Mickey Mouse statues in Sandton this week… This will be shared next Monday.

Share your memories of Mickey with the hashtags #Mickey90 & #Mickey90Africa.

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Developmental Toy: Lalaboom beads

Lalaboom beads has added numerous basic but essential play values into one simple, yet effective toy – involving manipulation, textures, eye-hand coordination and intellectual challenges.

Some of the primary functions of this unique new toy include: Snap, twist, mix ‘n match, construction and lacing.

SNAP FUNCTION: 6 months and up. This is the primary function of the item, allowing manipulation and sensory exploration of various bead textures, colour recognition, gross motor skills and hand/eye coordination.

TWIST FUNCTION: 12 months and up. Has a screwing system that allows each bead to open and close easily.  Boosts motor skills and general coordination.

LACING FUNCTION: 12 months and up. Thanks to an inner hole, kids can string several beads.  Lalaboom is the first toy that offers a lacing function below 18 months and the best part is there are no small parts.

COMBINATION MIX ‘N MATCH: 24 months and up. All beads are interconnected allowing unlimited combinations.  Children can stack and play with half beads as well.

CONSTRUCTION: 18 months and up. Child can use half or whole bead to stack and divide any part of the construction.

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My Little Pony Tour 2018

My Little Pony is bringing more of the magic of friendship to fans when the My Little Pony 2018 – Live Show visits Durban and Johannesburg during September and October.

Join all your favourite pony friends on their friendship journey filled with wonder, adventure, lots of laughter, music and all out entertainment.

Brought to you by My Little Pony in partnership with ToysRUs and Sun International, show tickets are available from Computicket.

Rockwood Theatre at Isibaya, Durban Mardi Gras, Carnival City, JHB
28 September 29 September, 1 & 2 October 3 – 6 October
1st Show: 12:00 – 12:45 1st Show: 12:00 – 12:45 1st Show: 12:00 – 12:45
2nd Show: 15:00 – 15:45 2nd Show: 16:00 – 16:45 2nd Show: 16:00 – 16:45

Ponify your world and get ready for the 2018 My Little Pony Friendship Tour with an awesome variety of My Little Pony characters and playsets, all available from your closest ToysRUs store.

There’s something for every pony fan, including the latest addition to the family The My Little Pony Equestria Girls fashion dolls. Each 28cm doll is dressed in a stylish outfit, complete with fashion accessories that match their character personalities, with their cutie marks inspiring the design on each of their outfits. Follow Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Apple Jack, Sunset Shimmer and friends at school dances, battle of the bands where the power of friendship makes anything possible. Follow this link for some quick “Get the Equestria Girls look’ advice or to create Rainbow Dash inspired hair.

Inspired by My Little Pony: The Movie, join the underwater adventure with the Flip & Flow Seapony figures, each sporting a mermaid-like tail with colorful liquid inside. Flip them upside down to see the liquid appear and disappear. Imagine magical fun with My Little Pony: The Movie Seapony Figure Assortment, where each seapony figure has a beautiful mermaid-like, poseable tail decorated with glitter. Open the necklace accessory to reveal a treasure inside. Show off your undersea style with the My Little Pony: The Movie Glitter & Style Seapony Assortment, with their signature cutie marks on the back fin, their eyes and wings are detailed with glitter too. Keep the stylin’ fun going with long, colorful hair and undersea-themed accessories

Cuddle up with the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Plush Figures. The larger-sized soft and floppy plush pony figure is a huggable friend for My Little Pony fans, perfect for bedtime snuggles. Recreate magical play experiences with the MLP Pony Friends. Each 7cm figure is decorated with a personalized design. Style their mane and tail with the comb accessory as you imagine the ponies getting ready for the Friendship Festival.

For more Pony fun follow My Little Pony South Africa on Facebook.

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