Over The Top Mommy

American Girl

American Girl Branches Out with New Body Book for Boys

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

For the first time, American Girl, a decades-long leader in helping millions of girls navigate through adolescence, is extending similar advice to boys and their parents with Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys. american-girl-guy-stuff-coverWith boys facing many of the same questions and concerns about their changing bodies as girls do, the brand felt it was important to collaborate with Dr. Cara Natterson, New York Times bestselling author and mom of a 2 for this new book. Dr. Natterson is also a board-certified pediatrician and author of American Girl’s wildly successful The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls series has sold nearly 6 million copies and is considered the “go-to” resource for parents and health-care professionals alike.american-girl-guy-stuff-1

Using a down-to-earth tone and illustrations that deliver just the right balance of facts and humor, Guy Stuff helps boys ages 8 and up prepare for the changes their bodies will go through as they grow and develop. Topics cover everything from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to shaving, acne to voice cracking, pubic changes to moodiness, peer pressure to bullying, and everything in between.

“Parents have written to me for years, asking for the boy version of The Care and Keeping of You. And while we’ve done a good job of educating girls on puberty and their changing bodies, boys have been left behind on this topic—and that’s simply not fair. Boys go through puberty, too, and they deserve the same information that girls get about how to grow up in a safe and healthy way. It’s time we change the social norms and start including boys in discussions about puberty, health, and wellness, beyond what may or may not be taught in the classroom once or twice a year.” – Dr. Cara Natterson

Guy Stuff addresses boys directly with age-appropriate and practical information that answers their questions about how their bodies work, what will change through puberty, handling new emotions and feelings (and that it’s okay to express them!), and how to adopt healthy living strategies for a lifetime. And just like its girl counterpart, Guy Stuff empowers boys to take control over their health, while also encouraging open conversation with parents and other trusted adults about questions or worries they may have.american-girl-guy-stuff-book-2
Guy Stuff is a head-to-toe guide, covering a wide range of physical and emotional topics, including:
Body Basics: Breaks down basic facts about boys’ bodies and explains the common changes of puberty (“You Will: Grow taller, sprout hair, sweat more, develop muscles, see changes in skin and hair texture, get a deeper voice, see changes to private parts, and experience new emotions.”) and discusses the importance of establishing healthy habits and having a good attitude.
Heads Up: This chapter covers everything boys need to know to keep their heads and face in tip-top shape, including hair care, acne, sun protection, and oral hygiene.
Reach: Explains the essentials of nail care and maintaining healthy hands, underarm hair and controlling body odor, plus breaks down the changes boys’ chests will undergo.
Belly Zone: Acknowledges that bodies come in different shapes and sizes, and shares detailed information on healthy hydration, food, nutrition, and essential vitamins and minerals.
Big Changes: Tackles changing hormones, private parts (including erections), moods, and voice.
Get Going: Covers legs, height and growing pains, feet, fitness and exercise, sport safety, the importance of good sleep, and even bed-wetting.
Your Inner You: This section delves into new feelings and emotions boys may be experiencing during puberty, including topics on peer pressure and bullying, plus letting guys know that it’s not only okay, but healthy, to express their emotions.

Guy Stuff  is priced at $12.99 and is now available through the American Girl catalogue, at americangirl.com, at American Girl retail stores, and nationwide through retail and online booksellers.

Images are property of American Girl and used with permission. 

“An American Girl Story: Summer Camp, Friends for Life” Now Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Viewers can now stream the Amazon Original SpecialAn American Girl Story: Summer Camp, Friends for Life” on Amazon Prime Video in the US, UK, Germany and Austria.This is the 4th special from Amazon Kids and you and your family are going to love watching this one together.

american-girl-summer-campWe were so excited to get a sneak peek at the special. As fans of the American Girl brand, we love any and all things “American Girl”. I feel like this special sends a powerful message to all girls, which is what I love about all of the American Girl toy, books, and movies….they help to empower girls!american-girl-story-friends“An American Girl Story: Summer Camp, Friends for Life”  is about friends Z (Zoe Manarel, The Nightingale) and Paz (Alison Fernandez, Logan) who arrive at S.T.E.A.M. camp excited for tech heaven. When the administrator(Camryn Manheim) surprises everyone by restricting their devices, they think their summer’s doomed. (No cell phone use is allowed.) 

_DSC0265.nefThings take a mysterious turn when they meet Jordan (Monique Green, Marriage of Lies), an enchanting “counselor” who sends them on an adventure, opening them up to a world of possibilities, including befriending a third camper, Drew (Lauren Donzis, Liv and Maddie).

_DSC0689.nefThis special, directed by Alison McDonald (An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win).

Here’s a preview of the special:

“Summer Camp, Friends for Life combines the relatable themes of friendship and collaboration in a fun and engaging S.T.E.A.M. camp environment. Our customers will be inspired by Z, Paz and Drew as they work together toward solving the mystery presented to them.” – ,” Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios.

One of the reasons I was really drawn to this special was the emphasis on S.T.E.A.M.(Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), as it related to girl. Females are often underrepresented in schools, in these subjects of study, and in the workplace, holding jobs in these fields, Teachers in elementary, middle and high schools currently encourage their female students to take interest in these areas of study and join in on S.T.E.A.M. focused activities and classes, in hopes of fostering their love for these areas and even motivating females to pursue further studies at the college level. I appreciated how the special even made mention of the first female civil engineer and the history of how S.T.E.A.M. came to be accessible to girls from all walks of life. S.T.E.A.M.is such an important topic!An American Girl Story: Summer Camp, Friends for Life is available for Prime members to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Prime Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online at http://www.amazon.com/originals, at no additional cost to their membership. Customers who are not already a Prime member can sign up for a free trial at http://www.amazon.com/prime.american-girl-story-summer-camp-2Even more exciting news is that American Girl also announced plans to bring its newest contemporary character Z (short for Suzie) to life via a beautiful 18-inch doll, along with several outfits and accessories, like Z’s dog and scooter, as well as items that reflect her film making interests, including a camera, smartphone, and tripod. The Z doll will be available beginning today at the American Girl brand store at Amazon, through its award-winning American Girl catalogue andmericangirl.com, and at all American Girl retail locations nationwide.

Images and clip are property of Amazon Studios and American Girl. 

American Girl WellieWishers Foster Character Education Through Play

We received products in order to facilitate this post. Some images and logos are property of American Girl All opinions are 100% my own.

Have you met the WellieWishers yet? They are new lifestyle brand for American Girl, aimed at girls ages 5 to 7. (Although my own daughter is older than that and adores this collection.) The WellieWishers are an adorable group of girls who each have the same big, bright wish: to be a good friend.wellie-wishers-dreamThe group of friends consists of Emerson, Camille, Kendall, Willa, and Ashlyn. welliewishers-group

They imagine and play in an enchanted neighborhood garden supervised by Aunt Miranda and through their heartwarming and humorous adventures, the WellieWishers help a girl to learn how to “stand in another person’s wellies” to discover the skills of empathy, kindness, and compassion that will help her be a good friend.play-helps-childrenAs a mom, and an educator, I feel the importance of providing children with the opportunity to play can help their social-emotional learning. Character education for children is more important than ever and just giving them time to play, allows them the chance to learn how to get along with others, be empathetic, show kindness and share responsibility for others’ well-being. The WellieWishers are a great tool to do this because their “story” involves all of that. When children explore the world of WellieWishers, they “step into their colorful garden boots” and get ready for stomping in mud puddles, putting on shows, and helping friendships grow.welliewishers-willa-dollMy daughter was so excited when we received a “Willa” doll and her pet rabbit “Carrot” on our doorstep to review. They are so cute and all of my nieces ,who visited our home over the holidays, wanted to play with them.american-girl-welliewishers-willa-dollThe WellieWishers are a little bit smaller in size than the traditional American Girl dolls. I actually like this size and it’s easier for a littler girl to tote them around. Willa has beautiful hazel eyes, freckles, and 2 strawberry blonde ponytails. american-girl-welliesShe comes dressed in a super cute outfit that consists of a hedgehog print floral skirt, a tee with a hedgehog face on it, and a coordinating headband that has bunny ears on it! However, my favorite part of her outfit are her ladybug wellies. They are so cute!american-girl-willa-and-carrotWillie has a pet bunny named “Carrot”. (It’s sold separately.) Carrot comes with an aqua-colored bunny hutch that opens up and has a ramp so Carrot can “walk the runaway”. The door has a cute little heart cutout window for Carrot to peek out of from the inside.american-girl-hutch-heart-windowamerican-girl-carrot-drinking-waterThe accessories include a little name sign that you can fasten to the side of the hutch, a carrot-shaped water bottle for inside, a food dish and some pretend carrots. Carrot is so soft and cuddly.american-girl-carrots-hutchamerican-girl-welliewishers-carrotAs you can tell, we are slightly enamored by the WellieWishers. I love everything about them and what they stand for. To view the whole collection, go herewelliewishers-logo

You can also see the WellieWishers’ adventures come to life in their all-new animated series on Amazon. Here’s a sneak peek:

You can join in on the conversation and share your own friendship moments by following #WellieWishers.

Images and clip are property of American Girl and Amazon.

 

American Girl Store Will Join The Shops at Mission Viejo For the Holidays! Grand Opening Celebration 11/15!

IMG_5984Calling all American Girl fans! Something very merry is happening this holiday—an American Girl store is coming to The Shops at Mission Viejo! They’ll be celebrating with a grand-opening weekend party, and they’re inviting you, your girl, and your most-fun friends to join in on all of the fun!

L_RET_CORP_15041_035 The store will feature a curated assortment of the popular American Girl dolls, books, and accessories, along with the signature Doll Hair Salon! The temporary store will be open for shopping until early 2016 to celebrate the wonderful holiday season! L_RET_DHS_15041_035In addition, during the Grand Opening celebration, girls will receive a free gift and craft while supplies last, and can enter to win a Grace doll and paperback book.

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So who’s ready for the holiday season to begin already? I know I am! I cannot wait for this Grand Opening Celebration on November 15! Will YOU be there too?

Connect with American Girl on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. All images property of American Girl & Simon Malls.

Come Meet Olivia Rodrigo, star of the American Girl Movie, Saturday, 10/17, at Williams-Sonoma South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa!

come-meet-OliviaMeet Olivia Rodrigo, star of the American Girl movie, “Grace Stirs Up Success” and Chef Amanda Haas, Williams-Sonoma’s Director of Culinary this Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Williams-Sonoma South Coast Plaza!

WS15D0492Williams-Sonoma is introducing a line of exclusive, branded products as part of the partnership the brand launched in June with American Girl. The new line includes a dedicated, hardcover cookbook, now available, called Baking-Recipes for Cookies, Cupcakes & More.

american-girl-baking-book-coverThe illustrated book is 90 pages and contains 40 images with 30 recipes that complement the American Girl cooking classes Williams-Sonoma introduced this summer. The American Girl by Williams-Sonoma line ranges in price from $9.95 to $59.95 with products available at Williams-Sonoma. American Girl stores will also carry all non-food products from the line and at its retail stores nationwide, starting October 8.

american-girl-apronsIn “Grace Stirs Up Success”, Grace has a special talent for baking and a passion for making delicious dreams come true and Williams-Sonoma aims to inspire cooks of all ages. Williams-Sonoma President, Janet Hayes comments, According to Williams-Sonoma President, Janet Hayes, the partnership between Williams-Sonoma and American Girl and the development of the product line is another exciting way that aims to engage the entire family in the kitchen.

AG WS 2At the in-store event, Amanda and Olivia will bake together and take questions from the audience with cookbook signing to follow. This fun baking demo and signing celebrates the product launch of Williams-Sonoma for American Girl.

american-girl-williams-sonoma-graceThis is a ticketed event. Secure a ticket by visiting Eventbrite or contacting the hosting store to purchase a ticket. Ticket price includes the new Williams-Sonoma cookbook, Baking-Recipes for Cookies, Cupcakes & More. All guests will also receive a copy of the American Girl DVD “Grace Stirs Up Success” as a bonus!

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Williams-Sonoma South Coast Plaza is located inside at:
3333 Bear Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 540-1397

*Proof of purchase required. Returns prohibited. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Images property of Williams-Sonoma and American Girl.