What would you do with an extra $1000 to spend this holiday season? How about I make the answer to that question a little easier with your chance to win $1000 cash in the Christmas Cash Giveaway event! Thanks to some amazing supporters of Raising Reagan and some all around awesome bloggers and shops, we were able to come together collectively with a CASH PRIZE of $1000!

What happens when Daylight Savings Time ends? Your clock goes back an hour and most mommies and daddies forget and wake up earlier than expected. Mommy said she remembers one time waking up and running to the supermarket at 7am, which in reality was 6am, because she forgot that the clock went back an hour. It's great for those wanting an extra hour of sleep but what does that extra hour do for us little ones? 

Growing Up Madison is teaming up with Tiffany Reviews It All for an amazing Giveaway opportunity for my readers. Not only are the prizes great for your little ones but mommies get to join in on the fun too. There will be 20 winners in all so your chances of winning are pretty good. 

As most of my readers know I'm obsessed with owls. If you are new to my blog let me tell you that mommy and I have an obsession with owls. They are everywhere in my room, on my blog and even on my Facebook page. The name Madison is almost synonymous with the word owls. Mommy says that there should be a picture of me in the dictionary near that word. Mommy was even thinking of having me as a little owl for Halloween. That would have been a sight to behold. Unfortunately for mommy, and fortunately for me, mommy couldn't find an owl costume. One day while searching around on Etsy, her favorite place now to find unique products, she happened upon this shop that sold her favorite bird. Let us introduce you to Baby Bella Donna.

With Halloween just a day away mommy and I want to share a few Halloween Safety Tips.  I also get to show off my costumes that I wore last year when I celebrated my very first Halloween. Halloween is all about candy, the day that my siblings get to eat all the candy they want, well the good candy that is. I don't get to eat candy too often so I'm really looking forward to this day as well.

Mommy loves to travel and being a military family we expect to travel quite a lot. I just turned 21 months but so far I've been to the Caribbean twice and have visited a few other places as well. There's nothing like traveling to a new place whether its by air, sea or land. When mommy was given the chance to review Little Passport World Edition she was thrilled. Little Passports is a subscription service for children ages 5-12. It takes your child to a whole new world and the experience is something you may not want to miss. My brother Mikael who is 8 got the chance to use and review it. Now what does he think? Read and find out.

Mommy and I were recently given the chance to review an amazing product. I love playing with electronic and interactive products and this combined both of them together making for all day fun. There is nothing better than learning and having fun along the way. Babies have been getting more into electronics and Creative Baby is there to help us with fun and engaging activities. Let me introduce you to the i-Mat My Animal World from Creative Baby. 

This post is sponsored by Activision.

When mommy and I recently contacted Activision, we had no idea what we would get in the mail when they responded by asking us for our address. After all, Activision is known for their more popular games such as the Call of Duty franchise which mommy and daddy and my big sister love to play. They're also known for their kid-friendly games too like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Angry Birds and Star Wars. Were we surprised when the UPS delivery guy dropped off our package and inside was one of the most wanted games for the Holiday season. You guessed it! Skylanders Swap Force Starter Pack for the Xbox 360. Skylanders Swap Force is also available for the PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and is available for pre-order for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.


Now Skylanders Swap Force is the third installment in a top-rated franchise, and fortunately for us, we already had the first two. Mikael is a major fan of the game and just has to have them all. The game can be very addicting, and even mommy has played. After all the game is rated E for everyone. Now if you haven't played the very first two, there is no need to fear. Skylanders Swap Force is an entirely new game and is one of those games you can just pick up and play.

Embark on an exciting new adventure with the Skylanders and the SWAP Force. For generations, the SWAP Force protected the volcano that replenishes Skylands' magic. That is until an epic battle caught them in an eruption that blasted them apart, sent them to Earth and gave them the ability to swap powers. Only you can mix and match their tops and bottoms, put them on the new Portal of Power and help save Skylands.

Starter Pack includes 1-Video Game, 1 Portal of Power, 3-Skylanders Figures, 1-Character Collector Poster, 3 Sticker Sheets with Secret Codes and 3-Trading Cards.

$74.99 - Rated E for Everyone  

Now onto the actual review of the game! The gameplay as we mentioned before is very similar to the other games, but the graphics seem a little bit more updated. They look a lot crisper which is all for the better in my book. The levels are also a little longer compared to Spyro's Adventures and definitely longer than Giants. A level can actually run you about an hour long so this gives us a lot more time to interact with the game. One thing we noticed about the new Skylanders Swap Force is that the fact that the characters can now jump. It might not be a big thing but having never been able to jump before it makes the game a bit more interesting.


The new characters are fun, but the great thing about Skylanders is that if you already have characters from your old game they also work. That's an added bonus for us since we already had quite a few of them. It is fun collecting them though, and the included poster tells you about all the others that you can collect. It is fun swapping the characters as well giving them extra powers that they won't usually have. They're connected magnetically, so it's straightforward to do. For example, the two characters that come with the Skylanders Swap Force are named Blast Zone and Wash Buckler. Once you combine them, they now become Blast Buckler and Wash Zone and now have their own unique moves that wouldn't otherwise be possible.


There, however, is no more heroic challenge as there was in Giants. Mikael enjoyed playing the heroic challenges in Giants so was a little disappointed. There, however, are mini-games that he can play that have been introduced in this new version, so that makes up for it. There is also no mid-game saves which is something we were hoping to see. We're hoping Activision brings this to their new Skylanders game next year.


The game is very addicting. You can be playing for hours

Mommy did a video of Mikael playing Skylanders Swap Force showing you how fun and easy it is to play.



This would surely be great for the little gamers in your life and even the big ones too. Skylanders Swap Force certainly gets everyone in our household Thumbs Up! You can buy your own Skylanders Swap Force Starter Pack wherever video games are sold worldwide.


Disclosure: Growing Up Madison receives products in order to conduct reviews. No monetary compensation was provided unless noted otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own. Some posts may contain affiliate links that I receive commission for payment from in exchange for referrals. In the event of a giveaway, the sponsor is responsible for delivery of the prize, unless otherwise noted in the posting. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be a good fit for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Mommy and I were recently contacted by Baby's First Dolls to do a review of one of their newer dolls the Baby's First Dino Roar. Mommy and I had never heard of the Goldberger Toy Company before so once again mommy does what she does best. She took a look at the company and decided that this would be a great collaboration not just for me but for my readers as well. It's not very often you find a doll of very good quality that is age appropriate and also budget friendly. Not everyone can afford to plunk down over a hundred dollars on a doll. 

Mommy has been under the impression that I needed a new doll since the ones I currently walk around with have definitely seen some good times. I got them last Christmas so mommy decided that it was time to start looking for a new one for this Christmas. While doing her regular research mommy happened upon this company that had the most beautiful dolls. They dolls were from different countries and had such a beautiful story behind them that mommy decided to contact the company to see if I could get one. They agreed and now I get to introduce to you Hearts for Hearts Girls from Playmates Toys. 

A few months ago mommy and I did a post called my Favorite Toddler iPad Apps. Since then I've added a few more apps to the ones that I love and may have to do a revised version of that post.  While searching the internet for other items related to the iPad mommy happened upon this up and coming, amazingly wonderful company that was in the process of making something special for us little ones. Something that totally changes the way we play with your iPad. Yes we love playing around with your iPad but now we can actually play WITH your iPad and iPad mini as well. Introducing Tiggly Shapes!  

Mommy and I had an entirely different post scheduled for you today but we've decided to do it next week instead. The good thing about that is mommy and I don't have to think about what we want to do next week. It's already there for you.

This is once again a big kids review that I had nothing to do with so mommy and my brothers are once again going to take over. Booo for them!

When it comes to video games our household can be considered a gamers paradise. We're talking about all the popular systems here including the Wii U, Playstation 3, PSP, Nintendo DS & 3DS and 4 Xbox 360's. Did I really just say 4? Yes I really did! The Xbox 360 is our system of choice and no-one likes to share and when I say no-one I mean no-one.

When I was offered the chance to review Rayman Legends for the Xbox 360 I couldn't pass it up. After all we've played the original Rayman Origins and we loved it. Can this live up to its predecessor? Well lets find out together.

Mikael loves to test out video games. While he's into the more kid friendly games, Kyle the older is into the sports games, go figure. Now on to our review of Rayman Legends which is also available for the Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii U, PC Download and Vita.



Rayman Legends is one of those games that you can just pick up and play. No instructions needed! Just grab your controller and start jumping. Yes there is a lot of jumping involved but nothing too complicated that Mikael who is 8 and autistic couldn't figure out on his own. He actually enjoyed the challenge. Yes it does get harder as the levels go up so don't think that it's going to be all easy.

The colors and graphics really do stand out. Although it has more of a cartoon effect it does not detract from the game but makes it look even more beautiful.

Now for the fun part. 4 people can join in on the fun on the same console. This makes for a great multiplayer party. The mini games and challenges that the game offers are really fun and addicting. You can find yourself playing for hours on end. The music is also a lot of fun on so many levels, kinda reminds you of Mario. You can really get caught up in this game.

I think the daily challenges is what sets this game apart from Origins as well. Its fun trying to beat your friends on Xbox Live's scores and getting gold!

There are quite a bit more collectible as well so don't forget to pick them up in each level. The lums are also quite fun to collect and you get to collect 600 on each level helping you to complete the level. Don't forget those cute, adorable Teensies that you also need to help rescue. You just can't help yourself.

With unlimited lives you and your kids would have a blast playing Rayman Legends. No hurt feelings that you're going to end up dying and restarting from the beginning. Don't you just hate those games? Mikael really had a blast and Rayman Legends gets his Two Big Thumbs Up!

Here is a clip of actual gameplay of Rayman Legends done by Mikael.





About Rayman Legends for the Xbox 360:

The Glade of Dreams is in trouble once again! During a 100-year nap, the nightmares multiplied and spread, creating new monsters even more terrifying than before! These creatures are the stuff of legend… Dragons, giant toads, sea monsters, and other evil villains. With the help of Murfy, Rayman and Globox awake and must now help fight these nightmares and save the Teensies!

• Four-Player Co-op: Once again you and 3 friends can save the Glade of Dreams in online or offline co-op. Jump in and jump out at any time during the 80+ levels of gameplay!

• 3D Boss Battles: The bosses have a big advantage over Rayman's gang-- an extra dimension! Dragons and other epic creatures can attack from all angles, so you'll have to be on top of your game to defeat them.

• Rayman Rocks: See if you have what it takes to be a Platforming Hero-- jump to the beat of a drum, punch to the bass line, even zip-line during a guitar sustain. Timing and rhythm are the key to completing these maps set to music.

• New Online Challenge Mode: Connect with your friends through a variety of challenges that will test your skill and speed. Check the leaderboards to see where you rank around the world.

You can purchase Rayman Legends on Amazon.com and wherever video games are sold.


Disclosure: Growing Up Madison receives products in order to conduct reviews. No monetary compensation was provided unless noted otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own. Some posts may contain affiliate links that I receive commission for payment from in exchange for referrals. In the event of a giveaway, the sponsor is responsible for delivery of the prize, unless otherwise noted in the posting. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be a good fit for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

With Halloween just around the corner there are lots to think about besides candy. Although mommy and I have a post already scheduled and ready for you with tips for Halloween Safety, there is just one more thing that we want to tell you about. A company that you may want to think about for the Halloween Season.

Now this company is not just for Halloween, its perfect for the times when you're out and about with your children, even that trip to the park. Kids can disappear in a heartbeat before you even realize it. We're here one moment and the next moment we're gone. We're little magicians. Now it's great to have your child memorize your house or cell phone number but when a child is scared they sometimes forget even their own names. That's where SafetyTat comes in.



SafetyTat decided to send mommy and me a pack of their Quick Stick Write-On! My brother Mikael is the model for this product. He is 8 and autistic with a severe speech disability so it is difficult understanding him at times. It is even more difficult understanding him when he is excited or scared.



SafetyTat are very simple to use and comes with included instruction and everything that you need. Even the tattoo marking pen is included so no need to go hunting for a permanent marker. Once the SafetyTat is applied to your child's skin and you write your mobile number on the tat, it is on there until you decide to take it off. Safety Tate is made from a micro-thin elastomer with medical grade adhesive that is hypoallergenic and skin safe.


Mikael is much darker than am I in complexion which is why mommy and I decided he would be the best fit for this review. Mommy wanted to see if it really would work on someone as dark as Mikael. SafetyTat claims that since the tattoo is opaque and highly vibrant that it works on ALL skin shades equally well. It was time to put it to the test. Here is Mikael 3 days after having his SafetyTat placed on his arm.


As you can see it really is vibrant and you can make out everything that is written on there. We did notice that it did have a few wrinkles in it from him taking his showers and playing but it is still on. The phone number is also still very legible as well. So far everything that they've mentioned turned out to be true. It is waterproof and does last for some time. Now Mikael has a way of getting help if he ever becomes lost which I hope will never ever happen. It is great knowing that if it did happen that with mommy's mobile number on his arm someone will find him and call us alerting us to his whereabouts.

Now here's the great thing about SafetyTat, they are also available in Allergy/Medical Alerts  as well as tats for our senior citizens. You can't forget them now can you? SafetyTat is not only great for us little ones but for the older folks as well.

About SafetyTat:

"The idea for SafetyTat temporary child ID tattoos was born of necessity one weekend at an amusement park. On Labor Day Weekend, Baltimore Mom, Michele Welsh and her husband, there with their three small children, felt out-numbered. To stave her panic, she quickly wrote her mobile phone number on each of their arms with a ballpoint pen. As she did this, she thoughtfully explained to each of them the importance of staying close to Mommy and Daddy. She also told them that if they were separated that the number on their arm was a way to reconnect with them. 

Throughout the day of fun, Michele had to rewrite the number several times as it smeared or washed off. Several parents in the park stopped her to ask if that was her number on the kids' arms. Each time, they loved the idea. 

The day was a success and the idea for SafetyTat temporary child id tattoos was born."

You can connect with SafetyTat via their website as well as their social pages:


Disclosure: Growing Up Madison receives products in order to conduct reviews. No monetary compensation was provided unless noted otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own. Some posts may contain affiliate links that I receive commission for payment from in exchange for referrals. In the event of a giveaway, the sponsor is responsible for delivery of the prize, unless otherwise noted in the posting. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be a good fit for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I love reading or maybe I should say I love being read to. I've enjoyed books for as long as I can remember. Mommy and I always say that you're never too young to learn, you're also never too young to read. Books take you to another world filled with adventures. I can be a princess or anything I want.

When Laughing Giraffe Books contacted mommy to do a review and a giveaway for my readers mommy took a look and said "sure". You can after all never have too many books. Well that's mommy and my philosophy and I'm sure you would agree with me.

Once again our quest continues to bring you all-natural products that you and your family can enjoy. Yes, I did say, family, not just your little ones. Today I bring you two products that I think you will love because mommy and I do. They are from the NATURAWL line of products. Now not only do we love NATURAWL because they're all-natural but with every purchase, a tree is planted. Even better for our environment.

Now NATURAWL decided to send me two products as I mentioned before and although they are from their Baby Line of Products they can be used for so much more. The first product is the NATURAWL Baby Soothing Seas Baby Booty Balm.


Now as the name suggests this is for babies booties, as in a diaper rash prevention cream. The ingredients were all that mommy and I could read such as Sweet Almond Oil which is the first ingredient, Organic Rose Petals, Organic Calendula, Lavender and other essential oils. There was nothing that we were worried about. It is also non-petrolatum based so it is not greasy and sticky. It does come in a glass jar so be careful and don't drop it. It has a very light pleasant smell so you will feel great about using it as well, nothing overwhelming.


Now mommy and I have also found because this isn't greasy or sticky that it is really great for dry skin. I do have sensitive and dry skin, especially with the change of weather. Mommy would use it on my legs and arms and it leaves a slight sheen as you can see from the photo above with mommy's finger. I also didn't break out so I would certainly recommend for those with sensitive skin as well.

Now the other product was the NATURAWL Soap Berries Organic Laundry Wash. Mommy and I were really curious about this since we had never used soap berries before to do our laundry. The soap berries are the dried fruit of the Ritha tree and the saponin released is a 100% substitute to normal detergent. We had actually never seen them before now and we couldn't wait to try them to see if they worked.


They actually worked!! WOW! Was mommy shocked! Mommy didn't expect them to really work but they really did. My laundry wasn't too dirty but they did come out clean. Granted mommy didn't use them on extremely dirty clothes so she can't guarantee that they will work if your clothing is super dirty. They do work on babies' clothing though and even your own lightly stained ones. The good thing about the berries as well is that they are fully compostable. No plastic containers to fill up landfills. Yay for NATURAWL.

Now Mommy plans to buy more of these berries because they do work out to be more economical in the long run compared to other detergents. NATURAWL definitely gets my Two Tiny Thumbs Up!

About NATURAWL:

Plant-based organic body and home care lifestyle products using only the purest  raw ingredients made available by nature.  Free of chemicals, pesticides, synthetic fragrances and dyes. 82-100% organic. Fair-trade, eco-conscious and sustainable materials. 98% plastic-free packaging.  Crafted in small batches. Approved by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics.  + Every product purchased plants a tree.  

nat.u.ral;  existing in or formed by nature / having little or no processing and containing no chemical additives. 

raw;  uncooked / in the natural, uncultivated, or unrefined state.

You can connect with NATURAWL via their website or their social media pages:

Disclosure: Growing Up Madison receives products in order to conduct reviews. No monetary compensation was provided unless noted otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own. Some posts may contain affiliate links that I receive commission for payment from in exchange for referrals. In the event of a giveaway, the sponsor is responsible for delivery of the prize, unless otherwise noted in the posting. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be a good fit for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Once again mommy and I have found another all natural hair care, but not just hair care, company for you. Even the name sounds magical. Fairy Tales, making my dream of having hair care products that are organic and all natural and just better for you come true. Fairy Tales is known for their Lice Repel products but today I won't be reviewing those.


Mommy and I received the Fairy Tales Super-Charge Detangling Shampoo and the Fairy Tales Static Free Leave-In Detangling Spray.

First, let me review the Super-Charge Detangling Shampoo. Here is what is listed on the website:

"Soft, silky locks plus no more tangles!
Loaded with Pro-Vitamins and natural plant extracts to soften unruly locks, improve manageability and eliminate tangles!
Aloe and jojoba oils restore softness and shine
Formulated without soy, gluten, dairy and nut oil
Paraben free, bio-degradable formula
Great for all ages and hair types" 

Mommy and I decided to put this to the test. My hair hadn't been washed in almost 2 weeks so it was super dirty and I got pictures to prove it. Now the following photo shows my before and during shots.


Let me say that you DO NOT need a lot of product to get that rich lather that you see in my hair. Mommy and I like products that you don't because it then lasts a very long time. It also has a really nice smell too. Mommy kept saying that it smelled like coconuts or more like coconut popsicles that she used to eat in the Caribbean. Checking the ingredient label there is no coconut product in there so mommy was mistaken but it does smell pretty yummy. It is also tear-free. It rinses out pretty easy and does leave your hair feeling softer and a lot cleaner as well. Unfortunately for me though my hair was tangled. I do have rather thick hair so I blame that. Not many products actually do what they claim to do but this one delivered as far as leaving my hair soft and clean. Now check out how clean my hair looks in this after photo.


My hair was not only clean but also did feel a lot softer than it did before and it smelled really good too. Mommy wasn't lying, it really did smell like something I could eat. You may want to be careful with your little one and this because they might think that it's something to eat.

Now on to my Static Free Leave-In Detangling Spray. Once again here is the description as listed on the website:

"No more struggles with comb or brush – and eliminate hat head too!Mom’s favorite detangling spray instantly softens, smoothes and conditions. Eliminates frizz, static and fly-aways.
Aloe vera, rose hips, sage and pro-vitamin B5 nourish and hydrate hair
Formulated without dairy, soy and nut oil. Contains gluten.
Can be used on damp or dry hair
Great for all hair types"

Now, this product claims to be great for all hair types. I have very thick hair as you may have noticed and it gets tangled A LOT! I always have to have a detangling spray on hand after I get my hair washed and whenever I am getting my hair combed. That is why after washing my hair it was the perfect opportunity to test this detangling spray.


My hair is still damp in the above photo since mommy towel dried most of the water out of it. This spray once again also smells pretty good. It has the identical smell of the shampoo. It also did an amazing job on my hair. I only had to spray a little amount and with my brush I was able to brush out my hair, knots and all without any problems and no crying.


Can you see the difference in my hair in this after photo? I have now found another detangling spray that I simply love. The great thing about these products besides them being free of harmful chemicals is that the price is also pretty good.

Now remember I said that Fairy Tales wasn't all about hair care. They also sent me their Fairy Tales Bug Bandit. Once again here is the description taken from their website:

"Natural oils are blended with moisturizers to provide long lasting protection while on the go! DEET free, non-toxic and pesticide free bug repellent helps to repel mosquitoes, flies, fleas, gnats and other biting insects.
Lemon Eucalyptus oil, soybean oil, cedar bark, citronella, peppermint and rosemary blend
Natural formula is proven effective in children over 3
Alcohol Free formula helps moisturize skin
Perfect for the whole family"

This stated in the description that it was perfect for the whole family but had a warning on the bottle that states: Use on children over 3 years of age only. Being only 20 months mommy decided that I wasn't going to use this but instead used it on my brothers who are much older.

We are currently having lots of mosquitoes here in my state. With the season changing and all the rain we recently had we needed something that would keep us safe from all the bugs. You can certainly smell the lemongrass which is mostly what you do smell when you spray it on. Mommy and I aren't sure how this works but it did keep the mosquitoes away according to my brothers. You do need to spray frequently to keep them at bay though, so you may want to keep at least 2 bottles in stock.

In conclusion, if you're looking for products that are all natural, organic, does not contain harmful chemicals and does work then Fairy Tales products are the ones you're looking for.  I am loving my Fairy Tales products and I do have to give them my Two Tiny Thumbs Up!

About Fairy Tales Products:

Naturally Caring for Families since 1999! That is what Fairy Tales Hair Care is all about and we are so proud to be the makers of the leading line of professional hair care for children -providing affordable, high-quality natural products for families.
We are dedicated to delivering the highest quality products loaded with great ingredients at an affordable price. Our formulas are free of harsh chemicals, pesticides, toxins, paraben and sulfates. And with the growing concern regarding children’s allergies, we are now dairy, gluten and nut-free too!

You can connect with Fairy Tales via their website and also their social media pages:



Disclosure: Growing Up Madison receives products in order to conduct reviews. No monetary compensation was provided unless noted otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own. Some posts may contain affiliate links that I receive commission for payment from in exchange for referrals. In the event of a giveaway, the sponsor is responsible for delivery of the prize, unless otherwise noted in the posting. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be a good fit for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."