The tradition of a Corolle Christmas continues

I’ve been thinking a lot about traditions these days. With my kids we’ve had 8 Corolle Christmases now, and I had at least a half dozen Corolle Christmases growing up. That’s 14+ years of Corolle dolls and accessories under the tree as the present that wows, and I can’t help but feel incredibly grateful. You … Read more

Corolle dolls are adventure-ready

Our vacations almost always include water, which isn’t that surprising considering we’re literally surrounded by water here in the Pacific Northwest. The one problem with spending so much time at the beach and lake is that there are certain things that just aren’t water-friendly, like electronics and toys with small parts. Thank goodness that Corolle … Read more

Non-candy Easter treats from Corolle dolls

Sponsored postMy kids really aren't big on candy, which makes me really happy. Sure, they get the occasional treat at school or during holidays, but I never load up on holiday candy because it just takes up space in my pantry after the kids forget all about it. Since I already know what happens when they get bags and baskets of treats, I'm always thinking of creative things I can give them in their Easter baskets, and I always think Corolle first.

If anyone thought that having a real live baby of our own would diminish the kids' love of all things Corolle, they were wrong. Baby dolls are a very big deal around here and show no signs of going anywhere anytime soon, so I love the idea of getting them each a little surprise in their Easter baskets that can add to all the doll play and make it even more fun. 6a0105362badb1970b019b02d6ed77970b-800wi

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Celebrating #GivingTuesday with kids

Sponsored post Cristmas wishes come true with CorolleSince my last post was about giving thanks for all the wonderful things in our lives, I thought it fitting to also feature #GivingTuesday, a day dedicated to giving back. The idea of Giving Tuesday is a simple one: you simply find a cause and find a way to give. Whether it be time, energy, money, supplies, donations, just give whatever you can.

For us, we like to give back numerous times a year, not just this one day every year, but I never turn down a good opportunity to teach the kids about helping our neighbors, our community, and making the world a better place, so Giving Tuesday seemed like the perfect opportunity. And, this time of year there are so many ways you can involve the kids, so in honor of #GivingTuesday, I thought I would share ideas to get kids involved in giving.

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Travel buddies: Corolle Dolls on the go

Sponsored postThere hasn’t been one single vacation we have taken in the past 4 years that we didn’t take with us a Corolle doll {or 6}. Even when space is most precious and we’re confined to just carryons, we always manage to make room for Corolle. While the reasons behind this are many {comfort of home, favorite toys, open-ended toy, etc}, the main reason is that the kids travel better with them. Corolle in PortlandIt started when my daughter was little because she wanted her own baby just like brother that she could cradle, tuck in, and babywear, but then it turned into much more than that. We realized quickly that the kids slept better with their special babies, played better with each other, and had more fun on long plane, train and car rides with Corolle in tow. Corolle cuddle time

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Big things are happening at Rave & Review

A few days ago we made our big announcement on Facebook and wanted to announce it here as well.  10702030_10203968401946844_5441819550814117220_nThat's right, in just a few short months we will be welcoming baby #3. Hello, party of 5. Goodbye, compact sedan.

This has felt like the fastest pregnancy ever so far, but I will likely be singing a very different tune come December. I imagine the last month is going to drag by with all the Christmas craziness and I'm exhausted beyond belief, so I'm just going to enjoy the fact that I still have a good amount of energy to expend each day.

So, everyone wants to know: are the kiddos excited for their little sister to arrive? I could tell you how they lovingly kiss my belly a few thousand times a day, or all the sweet things they say to me about all the things they can't wait to do with their baby, but I think these pictures say it all. Meeting Corolle babiesThese kids were clearly made to be big siblings.

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Corolle Dolls for your beach babies

Sponsored postOur vacations almost always include water, which isn't that surprising considering we're literally surrounded by water here in the northwest. We spend our summers with our toes in the sand, splashing in the sound, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The one problem with spending so much time at the beach is that there are certain things that just aren't beach-friendly, like electronics and toys with small parts. Thank goodness that Corolle dolls, which are one of my kids absolute favorite toys, are definitely water-ready, as long as you know which dolls to choose. The perfect Corolle babySince the kids can't go on vacation without bringing a baby, I was really excited to learn that we already owned a few water-approved dolls in our Corolle nursery. Whether you go with the soft bodied Tidoo dolls or with Emma and Paul, there are multiple options for your beach babies to play down by the water, including some awesome water and sand accessories to really enhance the doll play.

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Corolle Dolls have our hearts

Sponsored post basic disclosureCorolle Dolls is a brand that I will never grow out of. My love of the brand started in my own childhood when I grew up playing with their baby dolls and then later collecting their older dolls as a young girl.

Even well after I was done playing with dolls and had purged all my old stuffed animals, my old toys, and my once-sentimental items, I just couldn't get rid of those Corolle dolls I had loved so much. Instead, I packed them away and hoped that one day I would share this love of Corolle with my own children. I was thrilled when not just one, but both of my children gravitated towards the brand at a young age, and even more excited that they loved their dolls as much as I used to. Sleeping with CorolleIn fact, I think it would be fair to say that they love their Corolle dolls even more than I had as a child, which I never, ever thought was possible. Their babies are not treated merely as dolls, their babies are truly friends that go everywhere with them, sleep with them, and are part of nearly every game they play.

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Corolle dolls offer a best friend for every age and stage

Sponsored post basic disclosure Best friends for every age and stage
My daughter is a hard-core doll fan. She spends nearly all day with her Corolle dolls, and they have quickly become more than just mere dolls; they are friends.

But, while my son is still very much into baby dolls, my daughter alternates between playing mommy and playing with her more grown-up dolls, like the Corolle Les Cheries dolls. These beauties have become my daughter's new favorite toy and she is on a mission to collect every single one Corolle makes.

Best Friends Les Cheries

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Giving Corolle dolls this holiday season

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I am 100% convinced that every little kid needs a Corolle doll. Regardless of gender or toy preferences, I truly believe that every toddler needs to have their own doll to love. And, as it turns out, the experts agree with me.

It was through our co-op preschool that I first realized the importance of doll play for both girls and boys. The textbooks all agree that not only is doll play fun, but it also helps with social and emotional skills, verbal skills, role play, and helping to grow their imaginations.
Corolle Dolls Collage

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