Geomag: Product Review

This was the best little delivery for my little kiddies!

Combining two highly regarded, educational, tried and true play concepts - magnets and construction toys - presenting Geomag which will see your kids opening their mind to be their creative best. 

Geomag is the ultimate open-ended creative construction toy enhanced by the magic and intrigue of magnets, ensuring that the educational benefits that kids learn during play are ones that will stick!

Produced in Switzerland to the most stringent international toys standards, Geomag is now entertaining and inspiring Aussie kids from three to 103, all while providing a wealth of educational benefits developing math, problem-solving, spacial, coordination, creative and thinking skills.  

The characteristics of movement and the fascination of magnetism makes Geomag a unique construction toy. Fun and easy for little hands to manipulate, Geomag ensures that creativity never gives way to frustration. Kids can build ambitiously, big and fast, limited only by their imaginations.

Here is what Geomag looks like (and PS: it is THE perfect gift for Christmas).

The four inspiring lines of Geomag are as below:

GEOMAG CLASSIC Colour:  

This classic set combines magnetic rods, non-magnetic spheres and various accessories to build unlimited models and constructions in a very simple and fun way.  

Five colourful sets containing between 30 to 120 pieces starting from $30 rrp

GEOMAG CLASSIC Panel:

The addition of bright and transparent panels that give more rigidity, colour and appeal to the rods and sphere constructions.  Triangles, squares and pentagonal panels in many different colours across five sets containing from 22 to 180 pieces. From $20 rrp

GEOMAG E-Motion Magic Spin: 

E-Motion expresses the concept of dynamism contained in the Geomag play activity and allows kids to build fun creations in motion, giving life to surprising optical effects.  This collection has special accessories and instructions to create spinning tops and many dynamic constructions.  Available in three various sets starting from the basic ‘speedy spin’ up to the ‘magic spin’, these sets contain from 10 to 38 pieces.  From $30 rrp

GEOMAG Glitter:  

Glitterised rods and panels in new fashion and glamour colours.  Girls will love making creations with magical sparkly effects. Geomag Glitter is available in four sets with a piece count from 22 to 68. From $20 RRP.

STOCKISTS: 0419 432 761

Available at a range of toy stores including Australian Geographic and Kidstuff

www.geomagworld.com ~ Instagram: @Geomagworld #geomag

Highly recommended by TwinnieWorld and Josie's Juice!

Jimmy Giggle's Christmas Party: WIN tickets + album release

Jimmy Giggle!

Mention his name and kids go kinda nuts... and with good reason! Jimmy Giggle is fun and kids respond to his particular brand of joy.

And now, he is bringing the Jimmy Giggle’s Christmas Party Tour to excited kids of all ages.

In fact, there has been a huge demand for Jimmy Giggle’s Christmas Party Tour, with a fifth Melbourne show announced! The response to this tour has been wonderful and this cements Jimmy’s reputation as one of Australia’s most popular children’s entertainers.

Jimmy Giggle is set to light up this festive season adding plenty of cheer to the holiday celebrations with the release of a brand new album, followed by live Christmas shows in Melbourne and Sydney. The magic of Christmas will come alive with Jimmy - joined by Hoot and Hootabelle, the super talented songstress Ali McGregor and a very special guest appearance from Santa and his elves - YES! They will be performing some of your favourite Christmas songs live on stage this December. These shows promise to be the highlight of the summer holidays for children and parents alike. And you know what it's like, parents! School and daycare holidays start, and boom: mum and dad need to be entertainment central.

For tour and ticketing details, visit: www.livenation.com.au.

There is also an exciting new album! Jimmy Giggle’s Christmas Party, just released.

This album features some very special Australian prominent artists and guest celebrities - see track listing below.

Tickets are selling fast for these very limited shows - be sure to get in quick!

JIMMY GIGGLE’S CHRISTMAS PARTY TOUR DATES:

THE CONCOURSE, CHATSWOOD: SATURDAY DECEMBER 19

ENMORE THEATRE: SUNDAY DECEMBER 20

SYDNEY ARTS CENTRE, MELBOURNE: MONDAY 21, TUESDAY 22 DECEMBER & WEDNESDAY 23 DECEMBER.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW.

For complete tour and ticket information, visit:
www.abc.net.au/abcevents and www.livenation.com.au

AND! The Jimmy Giggle 'Christmas Party' album, available November 6.

Jimmy Giggle is set to light up Christmas adding plenty of cheer to your celebrations with the release of a new album.

2015 ARIA award winning nominee, Jimmy Giggle, has teamed up with some very special guest celebrities and prominent Australian artists, such as David Campbell, Tina Arena, Justine Clarke, Deb Mailman, FiFi Box, Kate Miller Heidke, Ali McGregor and Lah Lah to deliver you and your family the Christmas album of the year. Jimmy Giggle’s Christmas Party is chockoblock full of covers of everyone’s favourite Christmas carols, plus a few reworks and originals, including: Deck The Halls, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Frosty the snow man and many more. All these favourites will have will have the whole family singing along and having a hoot of time for this years festive season!

Giggle and Hoot is an award winning ABC TV children’s show starring best friends Jimmy Giggle, Hoot the Owl and Hoot’s best owl pal, Hootabelle. Giggle and Hoot focuses on preschoolers lives and routines through friendship, laughter, imagination and music. It airs every day on ABC4Kids and reaches over 2million people each week across 5 metro cities.
Purchase now at ABC Shops.

Tracklisting:

1. Jingle Bells (FiFi Box)
   
2. Rudolph The Red nose Reindeer (Hoot)
   
3. Santa Clause is coming to Town (Deb Mailman)
   
4. Deck the Halls (Tina Arena)
   
5. Frosty the Snowman (Lah Lah)
   
6. Jimmy’s Christmas Present
   
7. Jingle Bell Rock (Ali McGregor)
   
8. Twelve Days of Christmas - Giggle Style (Ali McGregor, Lah Lah,
   Hoot & Hootabelle)
   
9. (Everybody’s Waitin’ for) The Man with the Bag (David Campbell)
   
10. ZatyouSantaClaus?(JustineClarke)
    
11. SilentNight(KateMillerHeidke)
    
12. WeWishYouAMerryChristmas(DavidCampbell,JustineClarke
    & Deb Mailman)
    
    For more: www.abcmusic.com.au
    
    And here is the cute as album cover:
    

Stevie Jacobs: Minions ‘Summer Entertainment’ VIDEO + DVD release

Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has partnered with everyone’s favourite 'Today' weatherman and father of two, Stevie Jacobs, to star alongside the Minions in a new video designed  to help parents keep their kids entertained this summer. Here is the reel, below, with more info on the Minions mission:

Research shows that children gain understanding about the world by seeing, touching, tasting, smelling, moving and hearing. According to the National Quality Framework*, we can enhance the choice and quality of learning experiences by supporting flexible use and interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Understanding the importance of balancing indoor and outdoor play in childhood development, the new Minions ‘Summer Entertainment’ video provides parents with some tips to help inspire their kids to experience Australia’s great outdoors this summer.

Stevie Jacobs said, “We are on the road a lot and are fortunate enough to take our girls with us. We always see every outing not just as an adventure, but as an opportunity for Isabelle and Frenchy to learn something new.”

“Using the Minions as an avenue to talk to children, on a level they understand, will no doubt inspire them to want to get outside and explore Australia’s beautiful beaches and national parks, or create their own family adventure.”

From bobbing for ducks at a theme park to jumping into waterfalls on a hike and visiting Australia’s iconic landmarks, like the Minions’ favourite The Big Banana, Stevie has enlisted the help of everyone’s favourite yellow henchmen to provide some easy-to-understand tips that families can follow to ensure little minds are engaged and inspired to go exploring.

The video, featuring the Jacobs family including Stevie, wife Rose and kids Isabella (4) and Francesca (2) and the Minions, can be seen on The Viewing LoungeYouTube page. Minions is out now on 3D Blu-ray™, Blu-ray™, DVD & Digital with UltraViolet™.

Listed below are top tips to keep kids entertained this summer, curated by Stevie Jacobs and the Minions. WE LOVE THEM ALL!

1. If you’re feeling like a dare devil, grab the family and hit up one of Australia’s theme parks:
   • Zoom around on a roller coaster
   • Challenge your family at bobbing for ducks
   • Laugh at yourselves in the Mirror Maze
   • Take in the view from the Ferris Wheel
   • Finish your day with a banana ice cream – that’s if the mischievous Minions don’t eat them first!

2. Warm your vocal chords with the best travel songs or games to play on a road trip:
   • 10 green bottles sitting on a wall
   • Wheels on the bus
   • Eye-spy with my little eye
   • 20 questions
   • Play who can spot the Minion yellow cars?

3. Spend a day at the beach:
   • Play a game of family cricket
   • Grab a board and learn to surf – make sure you follow the surf safety tips!
   • Build a Minion sized sandcastle
   • Play a game of tag and run down the sand dunes
   • Have a beach BBQ

4. Take a family hike in a national park:
   • Pack your bag and go hiking – don’t forget your boots, hat and lots of water to explore the great outdoors
   • Play a game of spot the animals and see if you can find some friendly Australian wildlife hiding in the trees
   • Find a canyon, open your lungs and play a of Mr Echo (Echo Echo)
   • Find a waterfall, pop your bathers on and jump right in!
   • Spend a night camping under the stars

5. Visit Australia’s iconic landmarks:
   • Awe at the sails of the Sydney Opera House
   • Have a snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef – bring your stinger suit!
   • Visit one of Australia’s famous zoos
   • Don your Akubra and hit the outback
   • Head up to Coffs Harbour and explore the BIG BANANA!

More about The National Quality Framework:

The National Quality Framework (NQF) is the result of an agreement between all Australian governments to work together to provide better educational and developmental outcomes for children using education and care services. As part of the 2015-16 Budget, the Australian Government allocated $61.1 million over three years to June 2018 to support states and territories to implement the NQF. For more information, see here.

More about 'Minions':

The breakout stars the world fell in love with in Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me global film franchise headline their own movie for the first time in Minions, available on 3D Blu-ray™, Blu-ray™, DVD & Digital with UltraViolet™ now.

Since the dawn of time, Minions have served (and accidentally eliminated) history’s most despicable villains. With the tribe on the brink of collapse, three unlikely heroes - Kevin, Stuart, and Bob - embark on a journey to find a new big boss. When their quest leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Academy Award(R) winner Sandra Bullock), our three heroes must face their biggest challenge yet: saving all of Minionkind... from annihilation!. 

Dr. Dimensionpants - DVD Giveaway

Dr. Dimensionpants, Season 1 Volume 1, is here!

We love this, just for the funny name!

Releasing 29 October, The series follows Kyle Lipton, who, for all his life was just like the other kids – playful, happy and without a care in the world until one day an inter-dimensional portal opened up and dropped onto his lap a pair of glowing pants. Now Kyle is Dr. Dimensionpants, a super-hero with a super intense attitude who must deal with the constant threat of inter-dimensional villains bent on destroying the Universe! Okay, not the universe but his hometown of Ganderville, which is like the universe to a 12-year-old boy.

He's a super-hero with a super intense attitude! Kyle Lipton must learn to master his powers as he saves the universe from unspeakable horrors. What a guy! Hey, nice pants...

RRP: $14.95 and it's in the family DVD genre, and it's ideal for kids aged 2-12 (and big kids!)

Stars: Samuel Vincent (Tom & Jerry), Richard Ian Cox (Dragon Ball Z), Ian James Corlett  (Cinderella).

Here is all you need to do to be in the running to win one of TEN copies:

'Like' the Josie's Juice Facebook page

- Follow me on Instagram and Twitter if you are on the social media platforms.

- Share this link on your Facebook wall

- Email me at josiegags@optusnet.com.au so I can contact you in case you are a winner. If you don't enter a valid email address I spend lots of time trying to track you down, or simply give the prize to the next person - not fun for anyone!

Simply send me your entry and mailing address via email at josiegags@optusnet.com.au).

*Competition is open to Australian residents only. Winners will be drawn by end of November, 2015.

'Under Wraps' DVD Giveaway

Here's another cute DVD giveaway up for grabs! See below for details on how to enter.

Here's the fab DVD blurb:

This Halloween, Director GORDON CRUM and Writer ALISON ROSS (The Naughty List) have teamed up to bring you an exciting, new animated adventure the whole family will enjoy. Featuring the voice talent of DRAKE BELL (Superhero Movie, Jerry Maguire), BROOKE SHIELDS (Hanna Montana, The Blue Lagoon) and MATTHEW LILLARD (Scooby-Doo, She’s All That), follow young Danny as he falls into an adventure of a lifetime, accidentally unleashing a centuries old curse involving mummies, pharaohs and nefarious villains.

Danny and his older sister Eleanor are used to accompanying their archaeologist parents on trips all over the world. While Danny’s stoked for a real Indiana Jones-style adventure, his parents think he’s a little too young to join them and their assistant Peter on their expedition for the Pharaoh’s lost tomb. But when Danny sneaks into the tomb and takes home an eerily glowing talisman as a souvenir, he wakes the next morning to find his parents have been turned into mummies.

Join Danny and Eleanor in this spine-tingling adventure as they frantically look for clues to reverse the curse and turn their parents back into humans in Under Wraps, yours to own on DVD from October 1, 2015.

From the director Gordon Crum (The Naughty List, Voltron Force), the producers Susan Norkin (Babylon 5, Babylon 5: In the Beginning), Heather Puttock (Wolverine and the X-Men, Transformers: Rescue Bots), and writers Alison Ross (The Naughty List, Transformers: Rescue Bots), Melissa Rundle (Sparkles & Smiley Kill the Internet, Frozen in Time), and with a fun cast: Drake Bell (Superhero Movie, Jerry Maguire) Brooke Shields (Hanna Montana, The Blue Lagoon), Matthew Lillard (Scooby-Doo, She’s All That).

The movie is RRP $19.95, 45 minutes in duration, and is a family movie, rated PG. 

Here is all you need to do to be in the running to win one of TEN copies:

'Like' the Josie's Juice Facebook page

- Follow me on Instagram and Twitter if you are on the social media platforms.

- Share this link on your Facebook wall

- Email me at josiegags@optusnet.com.au so I can contact you in case you are a winner. If you don't enter a valid email address I spend lots of time trying to track you down, or simply give the prize to the next person - not fun for anyone!

Simply send me your entry and mailing address via email at josiegags@optusnet.com.au).

*Competition is open to Australian residents only. Winners will be drawn by end of October, 2015.

Caesarean section + baby PHOTO - VIRAL PIC

A raw photograph of a mother and her baby just three days after birth by caesarean section has been over 59,000 times on Facebook.

Helen Aller, who is eight months pregnant, took the black and white photo of the unnamed woman - who was scared of having a C-section - and her newborn lying next to her C-section wound.

Helen shared it online on her page Helen Carmina Photography, and it has since been seen 11.5 million times and liked by over 200,000.

Helen, who is a mother of two, posted on Facebook: "I didn't expect this image to reach so far."

See her full caption and the photo below:

EDIT: I didn't expect this image to reach so far. I understand everyone has their own opinion which they are entitled to, all I ask is that comments are not rude or hurtful and are kept respectful. If it is not to your taste please hide it from your newsfeed.Thank you!!

I photographed this mama's pregnancy a while back and she was telling me how terrified she was of having a c-section. Well last week she went into labor but had to have an emergency c-section after complications. She asked me to come over this morning and shoot this particular image as her worst nightmare proved to be what saved her and her child's lives.

Please feel free to share and tag image, however please do not crop alter or remove watermark.
www.helencarminaphotography.com

Caption: Helen Carmina Photography
One lovely mama from way across the pond just sent me this and I think it sums up completely what a lot of us need to remember......thank you Victoria Secret-Garden ❤

'Dinotrux' on Netflix Now Streaming: VIDEO

It's a new trailer from the clever crew at Netflix Australia/NZ!

'Dinotrux' is here, from those clever people at Dreamworks, and your little kids (and big kids) will love it. And it is streaming right now on Netflix. Don't have Netflix yet? DO IT. Click right here.

Here is the blurb:

Welcome to a world of giant creatures that are half dinosaur, half construction vehicle and all awesome in DINOTRUX, the Netflix original series from DreamWorks! Meet Ty Rux, a massive Tyrannosaurus Trux, and his best friend Revvit, a razor-sharp Reptool. Together, the Dinotrux and Reptools join forces for the first time ever to build a bigger, better world and battle back against the biggest and baddest of them all: D-Structs, who threatens to wreck everything they’ve built.

My kids (seven year old twins) LOVED it the screener we watched together - immediately!

Here is the fab cover art for the show:

And the official trailer:

And a shot from the series:

Need something a little more your age group? Head to Netflix for their seriously good docos. Click here for some incredibly good content.

Josie's Juice is part of the very exciting 'Stream Team' for Netflix Australia.

David Beckham: "...you have no right to criticize me as a parent…"

You tell 'em, David Beckham.

In Australia, we say this: mind your own beeswax.

Responding to an article in The Daily Mail, with the jarring headline:

Why does Harper, four, still use a dummy? Experts warn David and Victoria Beckham's little girl may end up with 'speech or dental issues' if she continues to use one.

In reply, just a few hours ago, David posted this on his Instagram:

Why do people feel they have the right to criticize a parent about their own children without having any facts ?? Everybody who has children knows that when they aren't feeling well or have a fever you do what comforts them best and most of the time it's a pacifier so those who criticize think twice about what you say about other people's children because actually you have no right to criticize me as a parent ...

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/6NZyxMTWdt/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Why do people feel they have the right to criticize a parent about their own children without having any facts ?? Everybody who has children knows that when they aren&#39;t feeling well or have a fever you do what comforts them best and most of the time it&#39;s a pacifier so those who criticize think twice about what you say about other people&#39;s children because actually you have no right to criticize me as a parent ...</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-08-10T16:23:24+00:00">Aug 10, 2015 at 9:23am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>

Kardashian Kids at Big W: PHOTOS

You probably saw on the various news outlets that the kool kat of the Kardashian Klan Khloe Kardashian was in Australia, and she was spuiking the new Kardashian Kids range… guess what, you guys: it's super cute!

Kardashian Kids - the lovable children’s apparel collection designed by Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian West and Khloé Kardashian - has just launched online and will be instore at Big W on August 6, 2015.

“My sisters and I are perfectionists, especially with our kids' line. We want the clothes to be chic and stylish, but also items that will actually be worn and played in,” says Kourtney Kardashian. “Design details like fabrics, structure, waistbands and hems are all equally as important to us as what the clothes look like.”

Here are the pics of the range, then read on for more:

Says the blurb:

The highly anticipated range for little girls features an assortment of adorable designs from every day styles to special occasion items including woven broderie lace dresses with rose gold button finishes, playful soft tulle skirts with rose gold foil polka dot details, loveable one-pieces with girly tulle ruffles and two piece sets in fun geometric prints.

“We thought, if our own kids want to dress in tutus or try on our clothes, why
don’t we give kids stylish outfits that are super cute, but also reflect styles that their moms would wear? ‘Mommy and me’ style is everywhere right now! The white lace dress, bomber jacket and peplum top are all pieces that could match mom’s looks,” adds Kim Kardashian West.

In addition to offering exclusive Australian styles, the debut Australian range will be the only Kardashian Kids collection worldwide to offer designs up to size 7T for little girls.

“We are delighted to welcome Kardashian Kids to BIG W. The collection is a wonderful addition to our existing children’s range, and a great example of providing our customers access to great brands and beautiful styles at everyday low prices,” comments Alison Jones, General Manager of Marketing, BIG W Australia.

“We're really proud to have a collection that is simple, stylish, functional and in great fabrics and shapes,” says Khloé Kardashian. “Most importantly, it's a fun collection that little girls will love. We want to make fashion fun for them!”

The Kardashian Kids Spring 2015 range for little girls will be available from size newborn (000-24mnths) to Toddler (3-7yrs) and retail from $20 to $35 exclusively online at BIG W starting July 28 and inside BIG W stores nationwide starting the August 6.

Fans can stay up-to-date on the latest Kardashian Kids news by following on
Facebook (facebook.com/kardashiankids), Instagram (@kardashiankids) and Twitter (@KardashianKids)