Melissa & Doug is one of my all-time favorite toy manufacturers because they create some of the most innovative and high-quality toys on the market today!  One thing's for sure, if my daughter receives a Melissa & Doug toy of any kind, she's guaranteed to love it.

Now, thanks to their new Terrific Twenty list, you can easily find the hottest holiday toys for your little one.  Right now, you can also enter to win one of these amazing  toys in the 20 Days of Terrific Twenty Giveaway on Facebook.  Enter just one time and you're automatically entered for all 20 days!

Of course, Melissa & Doug have also graciously offered to give away one of their Terrific Twenty toys right here on Mommy Living the Life of Riley too!  Keep reading to find out which one and enter to win!

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When I had a daughter, I made up my mind then and there to give her toys based on fun and not on stereotypical gender roles.  I was quite the tomboy when I was a girl and pride myself on being able to do a variety of tasks, from sewing to woodworking.  Fun is fun, no matter whether it is a toy predominantly played with by either girls or boys.

The Home Depot Master Carpenter's Workshop is just such a toy.  This tool bench for kids includes a myriad of tools, "wood" pieces and adapters of all kinds.  Want to see your little one's creativity and imagination launch through the roof?  Then keep reading to learn more about this unique children's tool bench from Step2!

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Most of the time, I'm bummed when the weather turns sour.  When it's raining, my daughter can't play outside, errands take a lot longer to run, thanks to more traffic and dangerous driving conditions, and of course, it's harder to stay dry and comfy.

When the rain begins to pour, I whip out my trusty umbrella and head outside, giving no thought as to the quality of the umbrella I've been using.  If the wind would blow too hard, my umbrella would always fold up on me, giving me a drenching.  Once I was inside again, my umbrella seemed to take forever to dry and subsequently soaked everything it touched in the meantime.

Thankfully, I finally discovered the best umbrella to use in bad weather...my new Cheeky Umbrella!  Keep reading to learn more!

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Keeping a preschooler entertained all day in a way that's both enjoyable for her and for me isn't always easy.  That's why I love finding games that we can play together which also help her develop new skills.

I've long been a fan of Peaceable Kingdom's Cooperative Games collection because these games allow you to play together with your child instead of compete against them.  Riley and I recently had the chance to review two award-winning board games from Peaceable Kingdom.  Keep reading to learn more!

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One of the things I love most about giving presents to my daughter is watching her little face light up with excitement and amazement at what she receives.  The "Woohoo Factor" is a powerful thing, for it gives back just as much excitement to me when I see my daughter with it.

With the holidays around the corner, us parents are beginning to search for those precious toys that are guaranteed to give our kiddos the "woohoos"!  That's why ASTRA, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, is kicking off their 3rd annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day on November 10th, 2012.  Keep reading to learn more!

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If you're lucky enough to have a little girl in your life, then you're well aware of how special and magical their dreams and fantasies are.  My daughter, Riley, seems to live in her own tiny world of fairies, rainbows and unicorns and loves to make up imaginative tales and games based on this wonderful land.

Disney's Secret of the Wings is a computer-animated comedy based on the lovable Disney fairies characters.  In Secret of the Wings, Tinker Bell ventures into the mysterious Winter Woods and meets a frost fairy named Periwinkle – and a magical secret is revealed!  The DVD and Blu-ray editions of this movie will be released tomorrow, October 23, 2012.

Now, thanks to JAKKS Pacific, your little girl can relive the mystery and wonder of this exciting film with the Disney Fairies Secret of the Wings collection of toys.  Keep reading to learn more!

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