DISCLOSURE: I was compensated for attending this event sponsored by Nick Jr. and Mom.me. All thoughts and opinions below are my own.
Boom Zahramay! (Did I spell that right?!) Those are the hippest magic words around these days thanks to two genie sisters named Shimmer and Shine. I should know. Because I have two little sisters here who are convinced they’ve got special powers. (They kinda do.)
Having little girls is pretty magical in itself: I call it ponytail power. As my girls grow, there’s a part of me that’s feeling their little-girl-ness slip away — they’re newly-6 and almost-5 now, they’re not babies anymore. They talk, they argue, they come up with plans… they’re people with their own ideas. And me, the ‘mom,’ finds myself wanting to magically return to when they were 2 and 3 (even though, when they were 2 and 3, I kept wishing they were a little bit older… you know that thing). So, every time we get to go on an adventure together, I’ve started paying more attention to their little-girl-ness, just so I don’t miss it.
Lucky for me, I’ve had two animated genies on my side lately.
Thanks to Nick Jr., Mom.me and ClubMomMe, my My LadyP, LilMiss and I recently got an up-close look at what it means to have our most special, little-people wishes come true in pink, purple, yellow and blue at LA’s famous Petersen Automotive Museum with the fabulously-famous Shimmer and Shine (from Nick Jr.)
If you haven’t heard of this most epic preschool series for kids, get with it, mamas: because our house is all about this duo of tiny genies and their beyond-amazing pink and blue ponytails. Shimmer and Shine is an adorable animated series that follows the magical adventures of twin genie sisters and their human friend Leah. There’s also a crazy opening song that my girls happen to be obsessed with singing — a song that, once it’s in your head, you can’t really get out (in a way that makes you feel happy, seriously). The series features a social-emotional curriculum about the importance of teamwork, resilience and overcoming obstacles (you know we’re big on resilience here at TheFABMom!) And yes, I am also totally envious of their amazing ponytails. (Big time.) Maybe that’s why my girls have been sporting more ponytails lately?
We met the gorgeous creator of these new, favorite little characters of ours, Farnaz Charmatz (pictured in the center of pic above — plus, I dare you to watch this video of Farnaz talking about how she created the series, you will WEEP). We also got to meet the young voices behind Shimmer and Shine (also pictured above). These two sweet, teen actresses were so friendly with my daughters… they even let my LilMiss try to snag their jobs for an afternoon (right in front of Farnaz, by the way).
After the impromptu auditioning (proud stage mom, here), we got right to playing… and playing… and playing. Let’s start with the bling: Getting decked in Shimmer and Shine Wish Granting Shimmer Bracelets was the first order of business. The pink jewels light up and sparkle, and show Shine and Nahal (the cute little pet) inside with all sorts of music and sounds (ages 3+). My six year old thought she was pretty hot stuff…
Then… Boom Zahramay! It was all about the DOLLS. (And Nahal, the soft tiger/cat/pet. That is a tiger, right?!!!?!? Hey, my favorites are the ponytails, remember?)
My LilMiss continued her show-and-tell with Shimmer and Shines’s voices and creator Farnaz — as though these ladies needed any extra information at all about these genies and their fabulous hair…
You might notice the magical Shimmer and Shine Magic Flying Carpet in these pics (on the pillow, just above)? Yeah… let’s just say that we already have this toy at home — got it from Grandma at our recent birthday celebration here — and it is a HIT. Shimmer and Shine’s carpet flutters by itself across the floor, and then, if you pick it up and start tilting it up and down, you can hear over 40 of Shimmer and Shine’s most magical (and, funny, I might add) phrases. (ages 3+).
My LadyP got a big kick out of Shimmer and Shine Wish & Spin Shine. This genie comes to ‘life’ — dancing, singing and spinning around and around — if you clap your hands or press the magical genie bottle necklace it comes with (ages 3+). It’s really super-cute. Especially because the ponytail really goes flying… lol.
After we exhausted the toys, (literally, my girls were obsessed for about an hour), they chilled out with a magical story-time with Farnaz…
…and then hijacked Blaze and the Monster Machines’ cool ride — taking Shimmer and pet Tala with them, by the way. (Video of this most hysterical Q&A coming soon, thanks to Mom.me.)
It was a day that two little girls’ wishes came true. It was a day when my wish came true.
What did I learn? That my little girls, as grown-up as they sometimes try to act, are still LITTLE. They have dreams, wishes and magical ideas that go beyond what I can even begin to imagine or talk about… and I only get a glimpse when I just let them be. We love you Shimmer and Shine.
Boom Zahramay!
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Get to know Shimmer and Shine weekdays at 12pmET/PT on Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr.
Blaze and the Monster Machines, an animated preschool series that follows the amazing monster truck Blaze and his eight-year-old driver AJ, explores action-packed adventures, the physics of how things move and everyday technologies. It airs weekdays at 1:30pmET/PT on Nickelodeon.
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