We Heart Our Neighborhood Toy Store - Do You?

Disclosure: This is a #sponsored post written as part of an ASTRA campaign for Neighborhood Toy Store Day 2013.

Big chain stores are great but we absolutely LOVE our neighborhood toy store. Why? They carry awesome products including those hard to find specialty or boutique items that we just can't seem to get anywhere else, hold in-store events and just have that friendly, homey feel that makes you not only feel welcome but keeps you coming back many times over. 

We recently got the chance to try out one of those awesome products, the X-treme Sticker Maker Set (by Creativity for Kids/Faber-Castell USA Inc.) thanks to ASTRA. My girls adore stickers. They create stories with them, decorate their room and furniture, stick them on themselves, etc. So when I pulled the X-treme Sticker Maker Set out of the box, it was to cries of pure glee. 

They were dubious as to how these "coloring" sheets were going to produce stickers but churn out stickers they did much to their absolute delight. The kit is so easy to use - they did it all by themselves. 

You can even make stickers of your own photos and other small pictures, etc. We plan to use it to make personalized cards for upcoming birthdays. For now, the Lil Divas are coloring and creating stickers to their hearts content. They've even managed to sticker themselves (as usual). It's easy to see why this set is one of ASTRA's Best Toys for Kids 2013.

While we love our local toy store for supplying products like the X-treme Sticker Maker Set and visit often I had no idea there was a day set aside specifically to support neighborhood toy stores! Did you know that? It's an awesome idea and I'm happy to spread the word because these awesome stores deserve a little recognition and support. It's not easy being the little guys in a big pond and they provide an awesome service. 

Neighborhood Toy Store Day is an annual event coordinated by ASTRA (the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association).

So, are you ready to show your neighborhood toy store some love? This weekend many stores are officially kicking off the "holiday" season. Can you believe it's that time already? I can't but it's true and what better way to make a dent in your holiday shopping than by supporting your favorite neighborhood toy store. OUr local store even hosts wish lists for kids for birthdays, holidays and other important events. What kid doesn't like creating a wish list? 

Check with http://yourneighborhoodtoystore.org to see if your fave store is participating. Then show your love/support by shopping there on Saturday, November 9th. 

If you can't get to a Neighborhood Toy Store you can still have some shopping fun by entering the first ever "I Heart My Neighborhood Toy Store" sweepstakes being hosted by ASTRA. You can enter to win some pretty cool prizes like - 

-   A grand prize vacation package to select all inclusive Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic courtesy of Thomas & Friends™

-   Featured prizes including gift baskets or gift certificates from Kidoozie, earlyyears, Calico Critters and Playmobil (retail value: $250 per prize)

-   A gift basket of assorted Best Toys for Kids winning products from ASTRA (retail value: $250)

Doesn't that sound fab? I know! Go on - check it out & enter now!

Special thanks to ASTRA for providing us with the above mentioned products for this review and for being dedicated to promoting creative and open-ended playtime for children. 

Disclosure: We received the above mentioned products courtesy of ASTRA for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Your experience may differ.