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A Sweet Surprise for your little Valentine

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I’m all about avoiding candy on Valentine’s Day, so I buy my daughters a card, a balloon, and a small toy instead. A Strawberry Shortcake doll would be a sweet alternative to candy, that while a great option anytime, would be extra special on Valentine’s Day. After all, she may be tiny, but Strawberry Shortcake has a huge heart!

We’ve had Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Surprise for a few months now, and she still gets played with often. Though this doll is best for kids 3 and up, she’s been officially adopted by my toddler, as her big sister tends to prefer the tiny 3-inch mini dolls and Berry Sweet Roadster instead. This lovely redhead is about 11 inches tall, and has the signature strawberry scent, flowing hair, and cute Strawberry Shortcake outfit.

The sweet surprise is that you can use a “magic” pen to reveal her eye shadow, lip color and berry beauty mark! Just fill the applicator with water, pop it in the freezer, and once it’s cold, use it to “apply” the makeup. BUT I wouldn’t buy this doll solely for the makeup feature, as you may be disappointed. The color-changing aspect works, just not as smoothly as I’d like. Since you have to actually remove the makeup using hot water first, the whole “makeover” process doesn’t work as well as you see in the commercials, but very few toys actually do. Kids don’t seem to care either way, from what I’ve noticed. Maya thought it was cool at first, but now only pulls the applicator out of the freezer when she wants to show the doll off to a friend.

That said, this is a lovely doll. She smells yummy and comes with hair clips, extensions, and fun sticker accessories. She has poseable arms and legs, is lightweight, and fits well in MJ’s hands. She especially loves brushing her bright red hair! I put away the makeup applicator and the hair clips, when she’s playing with her, by the way, since they’re small.

If you’d like to learn more about Strawberry Shortcake toys, be sure to read my previous post – “Strawberry Shortcake – which toy do I choose?”

BUY IT!
You can find Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Surprise at Kohl’s, Walmart, Toys “R” Us, and Amazon.com for around $20.

WIN IT!
One of you will get to surprise a special little girl in your life with a Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Surprise doll of their very own! To enter, please leave a comment telling me what you’re doing for your kids for Valentine’s Day.

For extra entries:

  • Subscribe to my feed by feed reader or email (or let me know if you already do).
  • Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway (one time): Toy giveaway! Enter to win a Strawberry Shortcake Sweet Surprise doll from @ohMariana! https://tiny.cc/berrysweet
  • Grab my button (at the bottom of the page) and link to me in your sidebar or blog roll.

Hasbro provided me with the doll pictured above for review late last year, as part of my holiday gift guide. Contest ends February 20th, 2010 11:59 pm EST, so obviously the winner won’t receive their prize by Valentine’s Day. Sorry about that. US entries only; one person per household. Leave a separate comment for each entry & a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim prize.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a list of all my latest giveaways!

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Comments

  1. We also avoid candy around here for Valentine’s day, mostly because our son won’t eat it! (He’s sort of weird like that.) Instead, we do a card, stickers, a special lunchbox treat (red fruit salad this year) and have family dinner by candlelight.
    .-= Jen L.´s last blog ..Comfort Food Saturday: Parma Rosa Sauce =-.

  4. I plan on getting my son a new leapster game and my daughter a doll. Some gushers, oreos, and hershey kisses for the treats.

  16. i am going to have a cupcake party. it will be great fun. red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. we will also be playing “pin the aarow on the heart”, stack the candys contest and other fun things for my little group. i am babysitting my brothers kids. 2 teens and a tween. all girls, then there is my 2 year old and the lone boy. my son. he is 6. lol it should be fun
    i will probly have some others
    lynnnjoe@hotmail.com
    .-= Lynn Matthews´s last blog ..Two of a kind, working on a full house: ShopAtHome.com $50 Godiva Chocolates Gift Card Giveaway =-.

  18. i follow you on twitter and i tweeted!
    https://twitter.com/LynnAnnMatthews/status/8744727541
    lynnnjoe@hotmail.com

    lol i had a strawberry shortcake doll when i was little. she had smelly sticks inside her. i know because i pulled off her head and got them…lol
    i wonder this one has smellies in her. i hope my daughter dosent let history repeat
    .-= Lynn Matthews´s last blog ..Two of a kind, working on a full house: ShopAtHome.com $50 Godiva Chocolates Gift Card Giveaway =-.

  30. 4 V-Day im hosting a party for my 2 girls & 14 of their friends…..they have to wear RED or they don’t get in !!!!

  32. we usually make pink stuff for dinner and make cookies and then I make each of the kids their own special card and give them each a box of chocolates

  41. Well This year me and my 3 kids are going to make cards for each other and exchange a hand made gift. Then we cook a special meal for dad and we all eat dinner together with a movie. It should be a good day

  43. I subscribe via emails. I’ve loved Strawberry Shortcake when I was a kid. Thanks for the chance.

  48. I am taking my kids out for dinner and then we are going bowling. After we get done with those, we will go home to eat cheesecake and open presents (which is usually toys or money).

  50. Sending grandkids really special cards with gift cards so they can buy what they “want” or “need”!!

  52. Well the Love Bug comes to our house in the morning leaving them candies by their bedroom doors. I also make a special dinner and we have a chocolate fondue.

  54. Cards and an out of state visit to the son. I would love to give this doll to the granddaughter.

  55. They have little mailboxes we got years ago, and I fill them with different goodies leading up to Valentine’s day.

  67. On Valentine’s day we are going to our oldest daughter’s grave. She was laid to rest on Valentine’s day, four years ago. So we let the youngest daughter make and take a Valentine card to her big sissy. We will then take the kids out for a nice dinner and a movie. Just being together is all I could ask for.

  71. I just make my son a little goodie bag and we color valentines for his grandmas. Thanks for the chance.

  82. We’re going to call our neice and nephew and tell them Happy Valentines Day since we live so far away.

  83. I plan on dressing my 4 month old in a little tutu (as a naked baby pose), take a picture and send it out as valentine cards for friend and family.

  84. Last year we started something new w/ our girls. We send out Valentine cards to all their cousins thru the mail. The girls and cousins love it. 🙂
    .-= Michelle´s last blog ..I can’t help it =-.

  85. My two little girls are going to help me make rice krispies and mold them using a small funnel then wrap them in foil to look like kisses. And make a tag (like a kiss tag) saying “A kiss for you from…” and send them to their cousins. I am also having a Subway Gift Card Giveaway going on at my blog. Going on until the 11th. Come on by and enter to win!!!! https://www.rockridgetreasuredpupscontest.blogspot.com

  86. We are taking my daughter to her favorite resturant The Rainforest Cafe for lunch so mom and dad can go out later for dinner.

  90. we take pictures and make special valentines cards to send to family and friends and have a special dinner with yummy deserts

  95. I set up Valentines placemats at their seat at the table, with heart plates and Valentines cups… and each one of my girls get a little red bucket filled with candy and little toys! Then we will make heart shaped pancakes!

  99. I am already getting some crafts together! We are going to be making home made valentines as well as a few other crafts!

  100. My kids are older but we are going to take the grandchildren out for lunch at the Malt Shoppe~their favorite place 🙂

    deb55106(at)gmail(dot)com

  103. I am planning on serving heart shaped pancaked for breakfast and then giving my daughter a large stuffed bear-pillow with a card that has a single chocolate in it.

  105. Me and my two boys (Alic 13yrs & Ethan 10yrs) usually get dressed in our finest and find a new fancy resturant to have a valentine dinner followed by a movie. This year my little princess (Gaia 1yr) will be joining us on our yearly tradition.

  110. For Valentine’s Day this year, I hope to let them have a sleepover with some friends because there’s no school the next day due to President’s Day. 🙂
    roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
    .-= Anita´s last blog ..A Little Blog-Hopping =-.

  121. I have grandkids out of state,so ive already mailed them a package with candy,card an a stuff animal for Valentines Day,the 2 that live near me will get the same an we will bake Valentines cookies too

    vlbelk(at)hotmail.com

  125. What a sweet little doll! My children and I will be making each other valentines, and creating a yummy heart shaped pizza. Thanks for this great giveaway!!

  126. I always wake them up with a goody basket full of love! Candy, treats, and special toys! I love making them feel special!

    Melissa

  128. My girls LOVE Strawberry Shortcake! We are having a little party with friends at our house!
    .-= Thrifty & Chic Mom´s last blog ..Free Valentine’s Day Craft ebook =-.

  129. I’ve purchased big foam hearts and ribbon and finger paint for the kids to make a heart for their dad. 🙂

  130. On Valentine’s Day, the kids and I are going to make Daddy a Heart Cake & then we’ll hand out Valentine’s Day crafts & candy to friends & family. They’ll get their gifts that morning so they can play all day.
    Thanks for the chance!
    Kelly Deaton – secrets_girl23@yahoo.com (aka) dkad23@gmail.com

  133. I’ll be drawing a heart with Smucker’s strawberry preserves on the top of the farina in everyone’s bowl, serve heart shaped pancakes, and at dinner they’ll find my heart-shaped red velvet cake. That’s in addition to special Valentine’s cards and a must-have which is the Sweethearts candies.

  136. I will get them each a card and put a $10 bill in it. I used to buy them candy, but it never got eaten.

  141. I have two girls a year apart in age. Twins the hard way. So everything has to come in twos. I bought two heart chocolate boxes and two Love Dragons hold “I Love You” hearts; one’s pink and one’s red to have some sort of distinction.
    .-= Mommy2Bears´s last blog ..Sleepytime Driving =-.

  144. We’re making heart-shaped cookies with lots of red sprinkles for my grandson’s Pre-K class.

  145. I’m sending my kids, their spouses, and their kids cards for Valentine’s Day. I also gave the older grandkids Valentine’s pencils for school.

  146. I am planning to make a big breakfast complete with pancakes, eggs, sausage and toast. They are also getting some chocolate candy and a movie each, thanks.

    kport207 at gmail dot com

  147. My 18 month old has become obsessed with Dora the Explorer so we have gotten her a video so she can watch Dora anytime.

  164. We are going to bake cookies or brownies together. We are also having a small valentines day party on Saturday.

  165. My daughter & I are spending a special Valentine’s day together making cookies and rice krispie treats. 😀

  168. The kids and I are doing some special crafts and making heart-shaped cookies!
    .-= Katie´s last blog ..Updated. =-.

  173. I am baking a heart sahped cake and making little goodie bags for them with their favorite candies in them. Then we will have a pizza night with a movie.

  175. For Valentines Day I am taking my daughter for a massage and a pedicure…after that…we will take my grand daughter (her daughter) all of us have reseverations for dinner at her favorite mexican eatery.

  179. I plan on watching my grandchildren, who live with me, while their parents go out, and having homemade cupcakes and pizza.

  181. I’ll probably just make a special breakfast. I’m trying to push my husband into getting take-out for dinner. Maybe a few chocolate treats will be thrown in there. 🙂

    weird chick online at gmail dot com

  187. We have a special dinner with heart sugar cookies for dessert..and I always give them a special treat!

  190. I am giving my two-month old girl, Alivia, a small plush “Olivia” the pig (from Nick Jr. tv’s show). Fitting, huh?! 🙂 I have subscribed to your site and confirmed it also!

  193. I’m giving my kids coupon books with coupons for things like a homemade ice cream sundae, renting a movie and staying up 30 minutes longer.

  199. I don’t have kids, but I got candy for my best friends daughter & that’s who I’d give this to if I win.

  209. i made my teens a fantastic meal for valentines. Being teens,and boys, all they care about is food
    jenzen1969atgmaildotcom

  214. I bought little boxes of chocolates for my kids. and we made valentines themed crafts

  226. What I did for my girl on Valentine’s day was to get her a little heart with chocolates. Her favorite thing is those boxes of assorted chocolates.
    Wow, Strawberry Shortcake has come a long way from the ’80’s.

  231. We spend Valentines day together watching movies or what ever they want to do that day. Something special for them.

  232. We spend Valentines day together watching movies or what ever they want to do that day. Something special for them.

  233. We had a really low key Valentine’s Day with just some heart shaped lollipops. Thanks for the chance to win. mrsmchappell at gmail dot com

  238. Since my granddaughter lives a long way from me, I’d like to send her a doll for valentine’s day.

  239. I made a special cake for my son for Valentine’s. He likes pirates so I made the cake in the shape of a pirate ship.

  241. My hubby and I took our daughter to the Zoo and then to a restaurant for dinner. It was a great day.

  243. For Valentines Day I made my kids homemade chocolates, got them a few plush toys and a Wubbzy DVD. They had a blast.

  244. We gave her a basket with a small plush monkey, Sleeping Beauty (mini) and a leapfrog book (Scooby Doo).

  245. I painted their house. Really! Wasn’t the best Valentine’s Day but they need help on fixing up their first house they ever had, as it is a disaster.
    This is adorable and their little girl would love it! I remember my kids playing with these when they were little!

  251. I bought my three kids chocolate candy heart boxes and little heart cups with little toys and stickers inside.We spent the day watching movies and eating candy.

  260. We went out to eat for Valentine’s Day although actually we celebrated on Saturday the night before.

  271. We made heart shaped sugar cookies and little heart shaped cakes and decorated them and we all got Valentines. That is the cutest doll and I know a little girl that would just love her. Thanks for having the contest!

  274. I got the teens iTunes cards with hearts on them, and got the baby a stuffed bear with a heart. We also filled up the candy jar with Hershey’s candies in holiday wrappers.