Build A Dream Playhouses Review And GIVEAWAY! 7/22

Something I have noticed as a mother is that young children are very easily amused and have limitless imaginations. As a matter of fact, my kids are sometimes more entertained by the box a gift comes in than in the gift itself! When my 11 year old, Kyle, was younger, he would spend hours with markers, a large wardrobe box, scissors, and other craft supplies creating a fantasy world all his own. In this world, he could be whomever his heart desired... A firefighter...a superhero, a rock star...The possibilities were endless. My toddler is now intrigued by cardboard boxes, as well. She likes to climb into them with her dolls and will play quite happily. Yes, it's safe to say that kids have a great fascination with boxes. With a simple cardboard box, wonderful things like playhouses, forts, and castles can be created with a little imagination and a lot of heart. Imaginative play is something I am a huge advocate of. It allows children to embrace their creative sides and hone their unique talents. It allows them to escape to a different world where they can be the all-star quarterback on a winning team or the princess in a tall tower, awaiting her Prince Charming. In this day and age, too many kids spend far too much time in front of the television. This is quite a shame, in my humble opinion. The TV doesn't nurture creativity or allow a kid to be...well, a kid!

That's why I was so excited to have the opportunity to work with the nice folks at Build A Dream Playhouses. Who is Build A Dream? They are an awesome company that takes the simple cardboard box to an exciting and inspiring new level. Build A Dream Playhouses offers eco-friendly, fun solutions to the summer mantra of "Moo-ooom, I'm Bored!" with their amazing and fully interactive line of unique playhouses that can be fully customized to each and every child's wildest dreams! They provide the design and the framework, and your child designs it the way THEY want to! How cool is that?! Build A Dream Playhouses is also based out of my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio! (Gotta show some love to my home state!) Here is a little more about this company, taken from their website:

"The cardboard box has been an outlet for children’s creativity for years. We have yet to find an adult that cannot recollect a childhood memory of playing in a box. From traveling through time, to flying through space, to sailing the open seas, a child’s imagination allows a cardboard box to transcend all that is material. THAT is the essence of Build a Dream Playhouses.™ We believe that imaginative play is absolutely critical to the developing minds of children. That is why we created a line of products centered on creativity and imagination. We supply the blank canvas for children to paint their dreams. It is truly amazing to continuously see our products transform into unique, one-of-a-kind playhouses. Cardboard allows our products to be colored, painted, decorated, and customized to please every child’s dreams. Corrugated cardboard is also extremely durable and safe for children. Each and every product is tested to conform to the standards of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). We have also gone the extra mile to do testing not mandated by law to further ensure the safety of our products that we bring to market. In addition to the commitment that we have to our valued customers, we also feel that as a company we have a commitment to our environment. Our products are manufactured from 80% recycled materials that result in an end product that is 100% recyclable. Our distribution center is located only 38 miles away from our manufacturer, which drastically reduces the fuel consumption required to ship our products."

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I was thrilled to receive the Pop N' Play Kitchen from Build A Dream Playhouses for my review. For one, cooking is one of my greatest passions. I love spending time in the kitchen, making home cooked meals for family and friends. My 11 year old has recently begun showing great interest in the culinary arts, and frequently acts as my "mini sous chef" as I am preparing our meals. Just the other evening he had a great time helping me dredge some chicken tenders in a spicy batter before they went into the deep fryer. He also helped me make baked potatoes!

My 18 month old is also a curious little girl when it comes to food. She does not have the palate of your average toddler, either. She won't touch most toddler foods, and loves things spicy. One of her favorite meals is my spicy shredded beef chimichangas! When I am cooking, she often watches me with great interest. She also loves playing with pots, pans and play food. She is far too young to join me in our kitchen, though. But with the Pop N' Play Kitchen, this gives both my toddler and my preteen a creative outlet to pretend cook together! (Build A Dream Playhouses products are intended for children ages 3+. While I do allow my toddler to play with this kitchen, it is only under adult supervision.)

When we received our Pop N' Play Kitchen, we were immediately struck by the size and quality of this product. Sure, it is made of cardboard, but it is by no means flimsy. As a matter of fact, it is quite durable! This awesome kitchen came already assembled and ready to paint. One of the best features is that when my kids are through playing with their kitchen, it folds completely flat for easy storage. Another thing I absolutely love is the attention to detail shown within this great pretend kitchen. It has counter tops, a stove, cabinets, and even a refrigerator and freezer that open and close! There are also fun embellishments like a hand towel, shelves with "jars" and "utensils", and even a carton of milk in the fridge and some ice cream in the freezer! Build A Dream Playhouses have laid out the framework for an amazing pretend culinary experience for children young and old!

We painted our Pop N' Play Kitchen as a family. Well, those of us old enough to wield a paintbrush, I should say. My 11 year old did the bulk of it, and my husband and I were there to offer our assistance as well. We took the kitchen outdoors to paint, since we chose a permanent Acrylic paint for our little family project. I have to say, this was a lot of fun to create, and we enjoyed bonding time with our oldest child. The kitchen came out quite snazzy, if you ask me! Here are some photos, from start to finish!

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Packed in its shipping box!

Ready to paint!

Daddy touching up some trim.

Our finished Pop N' Play Kitchen!

Sophie exploring her new kitchen. I think she's probably looking for Daddy's hidden chocolate stash!

Overall, we LOVE our Pop N' Play Kitchen from Build A Dream Playhouses! This is such a fun idea, and is a great family activity to take part in. I love the detail and care put into these great playhouses, and I love the simplicity of the whole concept of imaginative play. Yes, where children are concerned, many times simple is better! This great product allows kids to use their imaginations as they are teleported into a world of fun pretend play. Build A Dream Playhouses has several different models to choose from, including a great castle and even a Lemonade or Snack Stand! How cool is that?! Who said cardboard had to be boring?

BUY IT:

You can purchase this and many other great designs on the Build A Dream Playhouses website.

You can also connect with them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!

For even more fun, be sure to check out their blog!

WIN IT:

One very lucky follower will receive a Build A Dream Playhouse of their choice! How awesome is that?!

Please complete the mandatory entry FIRST. Also include a valid e-mail address in each comment so I can contact you if you win! Feel free to use the following format to prevent spammers from bugging you! yourname(at)aol(dot)com.

MANDATORY ENTRY:

• You MUST be a public GFC follower of this blog
• Visit Build A Dream Playhouses and tell me another product you love or something you have learned!
  

EXTRA ENTRIES:

• +2 Like Build A Dream Playhouses on Facebook. Leave user name. 
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       Feel free to use the following tweet:

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• +10 Grab my button and leave the URL where I can see it!

This giveaway is open to US residents 18+ and will be open until 11:59PM EST on 7/22/2011. I will choose my winner using random.org. I will post the winner on this blog as well as tweet, share on Facebook, and contact them via e-mail. The winner will then have 48 hours to respond or I will be forced to redraw. Thanks for entering, and good luck!

***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***