A Mom's Balancing Act

Outdoor play is one of summer time's biggest highlights! With winter lasting a good part of the year here, we're always excited to get out and enjoy the warm weather while it lasts. As Kaelyn gets older she's able to do more and more, so it was important to us that we had plenty for her to do while we spend time outside this summer. One thing we knew she'd absolutely adore, was a sandbox. As I searched for one, I came across Hayneedle.com and their amazing selection of stores and products!
It wasn't until Hammocks.com was launched in 2002 that founders, Doug Nielsen, Mark Hasebroock, and Julie Mahloch saw the potential for more sites, each devoted to a product category. After several years of hard work and growth, they took their vision variety and revolutionary online shopping to the next level, and in August 2009, they unveiled a new name and a new, easy-to-navigate website...Hayneedle.com. Hayneedle includes over 200 online specialty stores for home, work and play. Each store is devoted to a single product category which makes finding what you need easier than ever! What better way is there to shop than from one place with a huge selection of items at great prices?! Between their selection and great customer care, Hayneedle has become a place where people shop for anything they could possibly need.

When I came across Hayneedle, all I could think was 'WOW'! I love the idea of having over 200 stores all in one place. It makes shopping easy and fun. You'd think with so many stores that finding particular products would be difficult, but with a well organized site like Hayneedle, I've had no problem at all. As I searched their site for a sandbox, I quickly came across one that caught my eye on AllSandboxes.com and was very excited when I learned we were going to have the opportunity to review it.

Hayneedle sent us the KidKraft Big Top Covered Wooden Sandbox to review.

Features:

Solid wood panel construction
Cross dowel hardware
Canopy protects kids from the sun
2 storage bins under seats
Holds 400 lbs. of sand (not included)
Includes perforated liner
Mesh cover with ties
Recommended for 18 mos. -5 years
Seat height is 9 inches
39.4L x 35.4W x 67.3H inches

Like many parents, I was familiar with the brand KidKraft and the fact that they are a name parents trust for great children's products. I knew the sandbox would be high quality, but had no idea how impressed we'd be with all it has to offer until it arrived on our doorstep!

I was looking forward to setting it up for Kaelyn to use, and the following weekend the weather was nice enough for my hubby to do it. I have to admit that I was a little nervous about all the pieces when he laid them all out, but it was very easy to put together and didn't take him as long as I thought it would.

Once it was all set up, I couldn't get over how sturdy it is and what great fantastic quality! It's definitely the great quality one would expect from KidKraft and something that's made to last. With the solid wood panels and sturdy cross dowel hardware, I can see this product lasting season after season and being around for many years to come!

It's also one of the most adorable sandboxes I've seen! I love the circus looking canopy. It's fun, and best of all, has helped to shade Kaelyn from the sun while playing. I did expect that it might be a little bit bigger, but once we started using it more I have decided that it is the perfect size. Kaelyn has played in it with a friend of hers and together they were able to play in it just fine.

The first time I saw the KidKraft Big Top Covered Wooden Sandbox on the Hayneedle website, I was drawn to it because I loved that there were built-in seats. So many sandboxes require that children sit right in the sand, so I liked this option a lot! Kaelyn still sits in the sand a lot when playing, but I think it's a nice feature to have. I know that when I'm sitting and playing with her, I love having the seats there to use!

Not only are the seats great for sitting, but on two of the sides they are made to hold toys and digging utensils. I absolutely love this feature and like how it helps keep everything in it's place when Kaelyn is done playing in it.

One thing I really wanted to be sure our sandbox had was a cover of some kind. We have many cats that roam the neighborhood and would probably love to use our sandbox as their litter box. That's why the blue mesh liner was a must and something I'm very happy KidKraft thought to include. We simply slide it up when Kaelyn is playing, and slide it down when she's done. There's no need to even untie it if you don't want! It's so easy to use and very effective in keeping the cats and other things out.

We are SO happy with this sandbox and have received many compliments on it from others who have seen it. It's perfect for backyard use and something I know our kids will get plenty of use out of over the years. Kaelyn loves playing in it and asking anyone who is visiting to play in it with her.

The KidKraft Big Top Covered Wooden Sandbox is only one of so many great products Hayneedle offers. Whether you're looking for patio furniture, home accessories, or even pets & animal products...they have it all and more! I am so happy to have come across Hayneedle and will definitely be visiting their site more in the future. I'd highly recommend checking them out when you get the chance...if you're like me, it will probably become your new favorite place to shop online!

Hayneedle Backyard Promotion: Also, this summer Hayneedle is giving away a $15,000 Hayneedle Backyard to one lucky winner and 5 others will win a $150 Hayneedle Gift Certificate! All you have to do to enter is to do the Hayneedle Hustle and submit a video. The grand prize winner not only wins the $15,000 Backyard, but Eduardo Xol from ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover Edition is going to consult with the lucky winner to ensure they select the best items for their space! To learn more, you can visit the Hayneedle Facebook Page.

Buy It: You can purchase the KidKraft Big Top Covered Wooden Sandbox at AllSandboxes.com on the Hayneedle website for $129.98.

Win It: Hayneedle has generously offered one lucky reader a KidKraft Big Top Covered Wooden Sandbox like the one we received!!

Mandatory Entry - visit Hayneedle and leave a comment letting me know another product they offer that you love.

Extra Entries: (Only valid after the mandatory entry has been completed. Leave 1 comment for each extra entry)

1. 2 extra entries- subscribe to A Mom's Balancing Act via e-mail (found along the side column) and leave TWO comments letting me know.

2. 5 extra entries- blog about this giveaway (linking to this post and Hayneedle) and leave FIVE comments with the URL to that post.

3. 3 extra entries- Grab my 'Gearing Up For Summer' event button and leave THREE comments with the URL to your blog.

4. 2 extra entries- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (You can tweet once a day for an extra entry every day)! You can copy and paste:

Gear up for summer & WIN a KidKraft Big Top Covered Wooden Sandbox from @Hayneedle @MomBalancingAct http://tinyurl.com/2v298f5 Ends 6/22

5. 1 extra entry- Post my blog button or blog URL to your blog and leave a comment with the URL to your blog. (If it already is, leave me a comment letting me know)

6. 1 extra entry- Follow Hayneedle on Twitter

7. 1 extra entry- Become a Fan/Like A Mom's Balancing Act on Facebook

8. 1 extra entry- Share about this giveaway on Facebook Share

9. 1 extra entry- Become a Fan/Like Hayneedle on Facebook

10. 1 extra entry- Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect

11. Enter any of my other current giveaways. Leave me a comment on which one(s)....ONE entry for EACH giveaway you enter!!

Leave one comment for each entry you complete above including with each, your e-mail address so that I can easily and accurately contact the winner!!

This giveaway will end June 22nd and is open to the US Only (as Hayneedle only ships to the US)!

**The products for this review and giveaway were provided at no cost by Hayneedle. This was not a paid post and my honest opinions have been given. The experiences and opinions of others may differ from my own.**