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20 June 2016

summer strategies

We are all happy that school is out and that Julia is here all day now. Despite it being just one more body in the house it's so wild how much the dynamics shift drastically among the kids. For better or worse, she enjoys playing mother hen to everyone and I'm realizing that we need to have a couple of very loose objectives for the summer months.

At the top of my short list is to try to streamline the afternoons when the three youngest are napping. Having special and dedicated activities for quiet time makes for a, "less fighting, more harmonizing" environment which makes me happy and hopefully more productive on the cleaning/blogging/dinner making/laundry folding front. We learned last summer that the it rains almost every single day during the summer months here in Florida and usually in the afternoon so I'm trying to encourage a bit of creative, imaginative, and independent (emphasis here) play beyond their usual backyard activities. 

So, with all of that said! You can imagine my excitement over Sago Mini releasing its first playset: Jinja's House this past week.


I made a big deal about setting a rug out on the porch because it was raining but still pleasant outside. The kids had been asking and asking and asking and ASKING to open the package that had come a few days prior and when we finally opened it -- it did NOT disappoint. 


The compact playset opens to almost two feet wide and comes with a variety of accessories (along with characters Rosie and Jinja) and provides endless possibilities for that sought after creative play. 

Jinja's House is thoughtfully designed with everything coming in mini "moving boxes" so the kids could enjoy moving Rosie and Jinja in their abode. They also included little play pizza slices which was right up Julia's tiny thing loving alley. 


Julia kept instructing Sebastian to go set the table in the "diving" room which you would tell confused him but being the people pleasing second born that he is, he obliged. Then they enjoyed some fine diving dining. 


I knew the kids would be big fans of Jinja's House and truthfully I thought it was more Julia's cup of tea since she loves to play house but I was pleasantly surprised when the little kids woke up from their naps and both Julia and Sebastian were both still happily lost in Rosie and Jinja's world. 

Because there are small pieces involved, it's important that we keep it up and away from Bosco and Phoebe which works out really well because ...


... everything fits inside the fold-up house and is held together by attached elastic making for easy clean up (my FAVORITE) and makes it transportable (hello airplane entertainment). 

I'm pretty picky when it comes to toys in this house and would never tell you about something we didn't absolutely LOVE and we really adore Jinja's House. If you're in the market for some summer time or anytime entertainment you can buy Jinja's House here!

Sago Mini is generously giving a Jinja's House along with a $500 Amazon Gift Card away to one lucky Camp reader.
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for reading and playing!

373 comments:

  1. My daughter loves little playscapes like this! I love that this one is portable!

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  2. What a fun little toy! Also, can I say how HAPPY it makes me that you are back to blogging! Love the Camp :)

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  3. I (and my son) love all the Sago Mini games and this house is so adorable! I have had my eye on it since they released it.

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  4. I love the look of the little house! My girls love "little things" so I think this would be right up their alley and I'd also love to win it because it CLEANS UP EASILY!!! <3

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  5. Thank you! The play set looks perfect for my youngest. I am looking for travel play, too. Seems like it would work great!

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  6. This is the most adorable little playhouse. I was the kind of kid who would have loved something like this and I'm sure it would delight my kids as well.

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  7. How cute! Love how small it is!

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  8. This brings me back to my tiny Polly Pocket days! My girls would love to play with this together, and I love that the tiny pieces can all easily be corralled when finished playing.

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  9. Oh my so fun! My youngest will love this!

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  10. I would have loved this when I was little and my kids aren't going to entertain themselves. (I mean, they will, but this would help.)

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  11. ahh this is right up my kids alley and much cuter than shopkins which is their current tiny obsession

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  12. What a fun summer activity! My daughter and her friends would love these.

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  13. My three year old daughter will love this. I love that it all cleans up nicely.

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  14. This is too cute! If my nieces didn't have a million toys from their grandparents I would want to get them one!

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  15. My my little girls are obsessed with tiny things and also with containers to keep those tiny things in - this is a perfect toy for them!

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  16. My niece loves all things tiny!!

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  19. Such a cute idea, my daughter would love this!

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  20. my daughter would love this! such a cute idea!

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  21. Could see this providing some much needed harmony amongst mine!

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  22. My kids will love this and I love that it's portable. Will make it super easy for travel on summer weekends away!

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  23. I have two girls one who loves to organize all things tiny and the other one who will paly with dolls all day long so this set would be a big hit at our house.

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  24. My children all love playing with play mobil and calico critters, so I'm sure they would love to win Jinja's house.

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  25. So so cool! Also this might be your best giveaway ever!!

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  26. My youngest would love this. He has so many hand me downs, it would be perfect for just him. He loves the app too.

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  27. I'd love to win it for the wintertime, when my daughter will be older and cooped up inside!

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  28. So cute! My 3 year old would love it!

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  29. Portable perfection...great idea for plane travel!

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  30. This is adorable! Who doesn't love tiny things?!

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  31. Love how neat and small this folds up!

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  32. So cute! We love the "little bitty" stuff too!

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  33. My daughter and son would both love it!

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  34. We would take this to restaurants with us to entertain the kids after eating.

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  35. I love that it folds up and my son would love the characters.

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  36. I love the creativity it would inspire!

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  37. I love the easy cleanup and carry!

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  38. I would have loved a toy like this as a child! I think my older boy would too.

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  39. Compact imaginative play is a win in my book!

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  40. We need all the help we can get with contained, easy to clean up toys!!

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  41. My littles would love this...and I love that it can be kept together & away from the baby!

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  42. I love that it's quiet and doesn't have 493736 tiny pieces. Simple and sweet!

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  43. We are always looking for toys that really engage the imagination and this looks like it fits the bill perfectly!

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  44. I have a 3 1/2 year old foster daughter who would LOVE this! I love the colors in the playset, so cute!! and the fact it's portable, holla!

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  45. Love how compact it is. I remember having Polly pockets when I was little and this kind of reminds of it. Small, cute, fun.

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  46. This is right up my daughter's alley!!

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  47. So fun! I love the easy clean up

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  48. We so need something like this for our quiet time too!

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  49. My kids love the Sago Mini games on our Ipad. They would love this little set!

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  50. Oh this is so cute! My son Ted would love playing with this set. He loves things he can open and close and he would love that he can take it with him!

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  51. Looks so fun. Always looking for things that we can take on our road trips that don't involve the iPad!

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  52. I think my boys would love this as an alternative to their lego obsession!

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  53. I've never seen these! My tiny-things-loving son would flip. We've got lots of air travel coming up, this set would be perfect!

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  54. this is super cute! Wish it had been around when I was a kid!

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  55. My kids love some Sago Mini!!!

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  56. I also love how the play set cleans up super easily!!

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  57. Winning this play set would solve my problem of what to buy my 3 & 4 year old nieces for their birthdays...I'm all about problem solving.

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  58. My 5 year old would love this playset! Ever since baby sister was born last summer she's had to get used to sharing everything. I'd love to be able to give her something that is just "hers"!

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  59. Would love it because it's so portable!

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  60. My son has been asking for this but I didn't think the house could stand up to his Threenager antics. Surely if it wan withstand Camp Patton we should be a-ok ����

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  61. Thank you! This looks like a great activity for my daughter!

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  62. Because we live away from family, we travel a lot, and I know this little play house would provide lots of entertainment for my four year old! It's so adorable.

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  63. I love how cute and portable this is!

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  64. Perfect for my little friend who travels between parents in the summer!

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  65. My grandkids would love to play with this playset!!

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  66. This would be amazing for my boyfriends almost 5 year old sister!

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  67. I like how tiny this gets when not in use!

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  68. Would love this for my nieces!

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  69. We need Jinja's house because we just downsized and I'm looking for some small on space big on fun toys for my big kid.

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  70. I love how detailed and compact this is! 💕

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  71. My toddler would LOVE this. She is so into playing house! And since I'm heavily pregnant this summer, we won't be going out as much. She needs lots of activities around the house.

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  72. transportable fun for a summer move!

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  73. Looks like a set my 5 year old would have fun with.

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  74. I would love to win this playset so my daughter could be entertained while I'm nursing the baby. :)

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  75. I need things to occupy my 3 year old daughter because we have a newborn and my husband goes back to work tomorrow! #helpme

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  76. Joony would love tinkering with all the little pieces and compartments. Plus, it folds up well enough for him to take to church and play with!

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  77. This is so fun! My niece would love it!!

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  78. This is adorable! My daughter would love this, and love taking it with us everywhere we go!

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  79. This would be the perfect thing to keep my youngest occupied during his brother's piano lessons/art classes, etc!

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  80. I've been looking for a smaller play house for my son. This looks great!

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  81. My daughter would love taking this with her everywhere she goes!!

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  82. I've been looking for a smaller play at for my son. This looks great!

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  83. My 4 year old and 3 year old girls would love this! Anything to encourage them to play nicely together! My ear drums can only handle so much screaming ;)

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  84. So cute! Reminds me of a little fold up set I had as a kid!

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  85. Can't wait for mine to be old enough to play with it!

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  86. This is perfect for travel fun!

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  87. That is the cutest! I need. My baby needs. My house needs. We all need.

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  88. Can't wait for mine to be old enough to play with it!

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  89. Always looking for something new to entertain the kids during the hot summer months!!

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  90. My daughter isn't old enough yet, but I bet my nephew would enjoy this!

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  91. My girls love "little" things. They would love this!

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  92. My little boy love his pee-pol (aka people aka small figurines)! This would be so fun for him.

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  93. I love that it is easy to carry! I would love this for my niece!

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  94. So fun! I know my niece would love this!

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  95. I've never heard of Jinja/Sago Mini but that playset is super cute. I love that it's self-contained!

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  96. It looks wonderful! Jinjas house is adorable!

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  97. I would Love to win this because I really like that it's portable! And look like fun. I think my two littles would enjoy it very much!!

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  98. What a great portable plays etc! I would take with us when we go up north.

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  99. This set would be great for long car trips!

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  100. Grace would be allllll over this!

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  101. Oh my gosh! My two oldest LOVE toys like this!! And I love anything that gives them reason to use their imagination!

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  102. My daughters would love this! I like that it is portable and all the pieces fit inside for easy clean up!

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  103. I am a pediatric occupational therapist and my moods would love this play set! I can work on so many skills!

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  104. My daughters love to play with figurines and I know they would enjoy this set! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  105. I love how easy it looks to clean up and carry!

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  106. I love how easy it looks to carry and clean up! Two very important things ;)

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  107. My two oldest girls would love this. They love little houses and little people and since we live in an apartment, this would be the perfect size because it folds up small when you are done playing.

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  108. This seems like the perfect gift for my two nieces!!!

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  109. My kids would love this! And it'd be super handy to entertainment them on our cross country road trip!

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  110. Being an interior designer and a mama to be, this house looks right up my alley for soon to be child to love!

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  111. This is so freaking adorable!!! I have three little girls and one boy... And boy oh boy is this on my list!

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  112. I love how small and compact this set is and easy cleanup is a huge bonus!

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  113. I love the bright colors and simple design!

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  114. That toy is so cute, even I would play with it lol!

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  115. All things little for my daughter. She'd Love this. And I love how neatly it folds back together.

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  116. How fun! My crew would love this!

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  117. My son loves little pieces and sets like this. I love that it's portable! Already added it to my Amazon wishlist!

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  118. My 3 year old would flip over the compactness of that little house ❤️

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  119. My daughter would flip over that little house! ❤️

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  120. How fun! My kids would love this!

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  121. Seems perfect for my 4 year old nephew!

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  122. My three kids would fight over this!

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  123. My girls love sago mini and tiny things so this is a win for us!

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  124. My 5 year old would love this. We travel a lot and it would be great to bring along everywhere!

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  125. This would be perfect for my nearly four year old who's birthday is in August!

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  126. I have a daughter and son a little younger than Julia and Bash - its funny to read about the exact same dynamics in your family as mine re tiny toys and sharing/bossing from the big sister. These little play sets are super cute and preferable to something like Polly pockets I think - not so gender determined.

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  127. What a perfect toy for travel!

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  128. Such a sweet set! Always looking for unique toys for my little one!

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  129. Perfect little play house for those living in small places!

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  130. My 3-year-old would def have fun with this, esp since we do alot of traveling (by car) and he loves bringing too many toys with him. These are a perfect size!

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  131. I am a nanny for some little girls who love "little things." This would be right up their alley!

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  132. I've been looking for a little playhouse like this, because we are doing some long term traveling. This is great!

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  133. My daughter would love carrying things around in the little house!

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  134. I love the way it provides some structure while leaving room for imaginative play!

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  135. My 4 year old loves all things tiny.

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  136. Looking fur something new to entertain my 3 year old while nursing my newborn, this could be it!

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  137. These are so cute! I definitely see myself giving these as birthday gifts in the future!

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  138. This is so adorable! My son would love it!! :)

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  139. That is super cute! My daughter would love it.

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  140. My daughter would love it. I love the compact nature of the box.

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  141. i would love the set so that my daughter could have something besides the ipad to play with on long plane rides!

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  142. This would be so great for all the trips to the lake we're taking this summer!

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  143. My daughter would love playing with this. She's very into tiny things!

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  144. My oldest daughter would love this! And I love that I can all be packed and folded up!

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  145. My little girl would die. She loves tiny things, and I love stuff that makes zero mess!

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  146. Oh the cuteness. This is the perfect pack-up toy to have at Aunt Korin's house for small visitors.

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  147. My boys would love this! And I would love a $500 Amazon card.

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  148. Oh my goodness I feel like my daughter would love that. Heck, I honestly want to play with it. I like tiny things like Julia does haha.

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  149. My boys love making up stories and would have fun with this.

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  150. My 3 year old is dropping her nap! Love this for quiet time. So cute!!!!

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  151. I was just googling airplane entertainment and this looks perfect!!

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  152. We're moving in a few weeks and this would be the perfect toy to keep out and unpacked for my 4-year-old daughter to play with during the transition.

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  153. My 4 yr old LOVES SAGO MINI games on the ipad

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  154. We travel often and I'm always on the lookout for great travel toys. Looks like this would be a perfect option for a plane!

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  155. My daughter is also a member of the tiny things loving club. Love this.

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  156. How fun! My 3.5 y.o. broke his heel bone & would love something new to play with since he can't run around for the next 4 weeks.

    Thanks!

    Nicole

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  157. My niece is about to be a big sister to a newborn and I'm sure would love something fun like this to play with while her mom is busy with the baby!

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  158. What a fun little playhouse. I am pretty sure one of mine with also love the Harvey the dog plush!

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  159. How adorable! Our 4th babe just arrived and it would be a great quiet time toy for the older two.

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  160. My 4 yr old loves itty bitty playthings. This would be perfect!

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  161. My kids LOVE tote along toys! This would be great!

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  162. This is so fun! And I love that J can carry it around like a purse! Avalon would be all over that :)

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  163. My daughter loves tiny things, playing house and purses - it's really perfect.

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  164. I love the way it all fits together! Perfect for a trip to grandma's house.

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  165. Doll houses are the best! And I've got 4 little ones who would love it!

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  166. Adorable! My niece would absolutely love !

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  167. What a neat toy! I'm sure my LO would love it just as much. Love the portability aspect too. :-)

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  168. It's so cute! Reminds me of Polly pocket !

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  169. I'd love to win it for my little girl for our travels.

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  170. This would be great for my little guy-- at home and traveling. Especially since we're working on independent play too. Plus it's too flipping hot in Las Vegas to go outside, so inside stuff is great.

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  171. My niece and nephew would be all about this!

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  172. Omg what a great you to take on summer vacation!

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  173. No need to be entered into the raffle, but I just had to stop by and say Julia looks 9 years old in these photos! Not sure if it's the suntan, outfit, or what, but she is growing up too fast!!

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  174. Choices choices! This would be the perfect gift for my niece who LOVES imaginative play and all things small! Buuuuut, my threenager son is just starting to discover his imagination and I feel like he'd love it too!!

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  175. So cute! I would have loved that when I was little! I share Julia's love of tiny things. I would love to give one of these to my niece. Her mama just had a new baby and this seems like it might entertain her while mama nurses.

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  176. This would be great for my son!

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  177. We need this set for all our summer road tripping! It would be perfect to have an open-ended, closed-packaging toy to bring along.

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  178. Some favorite little ones would love this.

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  179. While my daughter might be too young to play with all of the pieces, she has recently discovered her love for a purse to carry on the hook of her arm. So I know she would absolutely love carrying this all over the place!

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  180. The portability looks awesome!

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  181. Not only is it just so cute I love how portable this playset is!

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  182. I love how compact the set is, that it's not plastic (except accessories), and also that it is not gender specific! My son would love this! Adding to my Amazon wish list to hint for grandparents.

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  183. I'm due with baby #2 in 3 weeks and have been searching for quiet time activities for baby #1 so winning this would be huge! Thanks for the chance :)

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  184. My neices would adore this. Would be so much better than keeping track of all of Polly Pockets shoes as my daughter couldn't do when she was that age.

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  185. I love how it looks perfect for travel, and my daughter would probably want to carry it around like a fun little purse.

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  186. that is so sweet - and with $500, i could get each of my four girls their own set. they go gaga for miniature stuff.

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