We embark today on a timeless athletic journey of epic proportions! (no exaggeration)

March Madness!

In fact, as I write this, my desk looks like this....

Last year we did a candy challenge for march madness...
This year? SODA!

Here's how it works:
1. Check back here EACH weekday for a new challenge.
2. Look at the 2 sodas facing off and choose your favorite
3. Leave a comment on the blog post
4. Winner announced the next morning

Each winner will receive a free vintage soda of your choice! Prize must be collected in one of our stores at these malls -Gateway or Riverwoods.

Here is today's first contest!

Shirley Temple vs. Orange Pineapple

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Congratulations to Crissa Robertson!! Stop by one of our stores to pick up your free soda next time you're around :) Thanks for entering!

I LOVE this time of year.

Spring is here. Easter is coming soon.

AND, new products have begun arriving here at Blickenstaff's!

This year we have decided to really turn things upside down by ordering TONS items we've never carried before. We've kept a few of the classics, but we will end up with over 1,000 products we've never had before.

1,000!

I'm SO excited about all of the new products that I've decided I only want to give away new products here for Friday Freebies. This means you'll be able to win things that have just arrived!

A few days ago we got in a Jellycat order and this plush lamb is perfect for Easter!

Leave a comment here telling us which Easter animal you would rather have for a pet; chick, lamb, duck, bunny? (definitely a bunny for me!)

Share this on Facebook and we'll get you an extra entry!!

The winner will be announced on Monday morning! Have a great weekend!!

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Congratulations to Rhonda Miller who said, "I think I’d rather have a bunny. Their so cuddly." Thanks for sharing on Facebook as well! I will email you this morning to coordinate shipping of this cute little lamb! Thanks for entering! Check back this Friday for our next Friday Freebie!

Have a great week everyone!

In the world of toys there are certain brands that have been so successful that they have basically created their own niche. At the top of that list is LEGO! Each year they release new lines that are beautiful and just plain fun to play with. I love visiting their booth at the toy fair because it feels like visiting a top secret shop with all of these new goodies. There booth is always closed off and the only way in is to have an appointment. It's all very hush-hush.

Well, in order to make room for some of the new Lego sets we will be bringing in, I decided it's about time to retire some of the old stuff. Today we're giving away this awesome Lego Atlantis set!

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment here on the blog telling us if you would ever live in an underwater city like Atlantis! (As for me, yes I'm totally in!) We will announce the winner on Monday morning. Like last week, I will give an extra entry to anyone who shares this on Facebook - and last weeks winners did :)

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Big congratulations to Tausha Rondeau who said, "who lives in a pineapple under the sea?! We would! We would!
I also shared on FB! " You're the WINNER of our Atlantis Lego set! Thanks for sharing on Facebook! Check back this Friday for another giveaway!

Each month here at Blickenstaff's, we choose a game of the month. This month we've selected the Ticket to Ride Series. All of the Ticket to Ride games will be 10% off in the store, and what better way to kick off Ticket to Ride month than by giving away one of the games.

We've got the Ticket to Ride card game we're giving away today! All you need to do is leave a comment here on the blog telling us if you would rather travel on a train, plane or automobile! 

To mix things up this week - we'll give you 2 additional entries if you share the link we posted on Facebook with your friends :)

We'll choose our winner and email them Monday morning!

As always, we would love for our winners to post a pic to our Facebook (or their own and then tag us) so that people can see the winners!

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Wow! We had such a great response to this giveaway that I've decided to give 2 games away!! Thank-you for sharing this with your Facebook friends!

Congratulations to:

Mandi : "I’m obsessed with this game to a point it’s the only app I’ve paid for on my phone so I can play it whenever I want."

and to,

Heather: "I think I would really like to travel by train somewhere. Just slow down, enjoy the ride, and the company!"

I will contact each of you via email to let you know you've won! Check back here at the end of the week to see what we'll be giving away this week!

Spiders and Ants and Caterpillars, oh my!

Nobody likes having bugs around the house. Unless of course the bugs aren't slimy and disgusting. Thanks to Hexbug, kids can play with all of the creep crwlers they want without having to touch gross little pests!

These little guys run around just like bugs!

Today we're going to be giving away one of these fun little Hexbug Nanos! All you need to do is leave a comment here on the blog telling us what bug you hate the most!! (I'm from Texas and will always hate cockroaches!)

We'll choose (1) person to win this awesome toy on Monday morning!!

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Congratulations to Katie who commented, "I know it’s not a bug, but I’ve had 3 too many run ins with lizards in my BEDROOM to care for them much. I get the heeby jeebies just thinking about it! (My kids love hexbugs!)"

I've contacted you by email. Please post a pic with your prize to our Facebook so everyone can see our winners :)

Check back this Friday for our next contest!

Last year we had one game that we just couldn't keep in stock - Spot It! Blue Orange knocked it out of the park when they developed this simple, fast-paced and incredibly fun game. I have played this game with ages ranging from 5- 74 (thanks grandma!) and everyone has loved playing it. Even the teens who think they're too cool for "kiddie" games have loved this one! I met with Blue Orange at the Toy Fair earlier this week and they've got several new games that we'll be getting in in the next few months!

Since I am so excited about Blue Orange right now, I've decided to give away Spot It this week for the Friday Freebie giveaway!

We would love for you to Spot Us on our different social media channels! To enter for this great game, go follow us on one or more of our channels:
Facebook: facebook.com/blickenstaffs
Instagram: @blickenstaffs
Twitter: @blickenstaffs
YouTube: youtube.com/blickenstaffs

Leave a comment here on the blog and tell us which one of these social media channels you like using best :) I will choose a winner on Monday morning!

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Happy Presidents Day everyone! Congratulations to our big winner today, Joy Jacobson!! I'll shoot you an email this morning so that we can get your prize sent out! We would love for you to post a picture of you with your prize to our Facebook :) Keep an eye out this Friday for our next Friday Freebie giveaway! Thanks for entering everyone!