Furreal Friends

If your kids are bugging you about getting them a pet for the holidays, Furreal Friends may be just what you need to get them off your back. My husband and I first saw these furry creatures at Toys "R" Us and they scared the crap out of us...they are that life-like. Especially the cat...if you are a cat person then I am sure you will think it is adorable but for me...I'm still having nightmares about that cat. It purrs, it opens it's eyes, it moves it's head! It even rolls back so you can scratch it's animatronic stomach!

There's a bunch of other animals to choose from as well. The chipmunk is a little strange. As per the website: "It acts just like a real baby chipmunk!" Umm...how exactly does a chipmunk act?

Oh wait...

Project Runway for Wii

Finally a video game I can get into! Atari is working on a video game based on the hit fashion reality show Project Runway.

Here's how it works:

The Project Runway video game will put players in the role of an aspiring fashion designer. Similar to the show, players will be presented with different challenges as they create designs and adorn models with hair, make-up, and accessories. Players can then become the model and strut their creations down the runway using the Wii Balance Board(TM) accessory. Capturing the true essence of Project Runway, the title will feature the show's talent.

The game is expected to launch in Spring 2010.

Scene It? Twilight Edition

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. and Screenlife announced the availability of Scene It? Twilight(TM) game, a new edition to the Scene It? family of entertainment trivia games. Scene It? Twilight(TM) will be available in the Scene It? DVD boardgame, available this October, as well as on Wii(TM) this Fall.

As per the press release:

Scene It? Twilight Deluxe Edition, the DVD trivia boardgame includes:

-- TWILIGHT content: On-screen puzzles, movie clips, sound bytes, music
and trivia questions pulled directly from the very successful first
TWILIGHT film.
-- All-new puzzle types: Puzzles including "Alice's Vision" and "Locker
Picks," sure to satisfy both Team Edward and Team Jacob fans around
the world.
-- Bonus features and activities: Bonus activities like "Which Cullen are
You?", and an exclusive downloadable bonus feature for hardcore fans,
which provides all the planning elements for hosting the ideal
TWILIGHT-themed party.


Scene It? Twilight for Wii features will include:

-- Rich-media trivia content: Over 500 multiple choice questions based
on movie clips, music and audio from the TWILIGHT movie.
-- New user interface: The new Scene It? Twilight Wii version presents a
new look and feel, giving fans a great reason to play both the Wii and
the DVD boardgame versions.
-- Motion functionality: Use your Wii Remote to buzz in and beat your
opponent!
-- New gameplay modes: Single and multi-player modes and new scoring
systems keep the game close, exciting and challenging enough to please
all TWILIGHT fans.

You can pre-order the boardgame at Amazon.com for $29.99.

2009 Hot Toy List for the Holidays from Toys "R" Us

Toys "R" Us unveiled its annual Holiday Hot Toy List, which includes 36 new toys specifically chosen for outstanding value in quality, price and play. Included in this list is the "Fabulous 15", representing the best new toys of the holiday season. Here's a look at the top 15:

BAKUGAN BATTLE BRAWLERS(TM) NEW VESTROIA(TM) Maxus Helios(TM) 7 in 1 from Spin Master $39.99

ChixOs(TM) Pink Design-A-Luxury Loft from Spin Master $26.99

Color Me a Song(TM) from Crayola Beginnings(TM) $24.99

Disney Netpal from ASUS $349.99
Disney-Pixar Toy Story Interactive Buddies Talking Action Figures (Buzz and Woody) from Thinkway $99.99

Disney Princess: Just One Kiss Princess Tiana Doll from Mattel $89.99


Fast Lane JLX OVER DRIVE(TM) RADIO CONTROL ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE from Toys"R"Us $159.99

Laugh & Learn(TM) Learning Farm from Fisher-Price $79.99

Little Mommy(TM) Baby Ah-Choo(TM) from Fisher-Price $34.99

Mindflex(TM) from Mattel $79.99

NERF N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS-35(TM) from Hasbro $34.99

Star Wars Fan's Choice Anniversary Edition Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser from LEGO $109.99

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN CONSTRUCTICON DEVASTATOR from Hasbro $99.99
Wii Sports Resort(TM) from Nintendo $49.99

Zhu Zhu Pets(TM) Hamster from Cepia $9.99

LeapFrog Alphabet Pal

My son received the LeapFrog Alphabet Pal this weekend as a gift. This plastic caterpillar has buttons on each of its legs that when pressed will either say a letter of the alphabet, sound out a letter, name the color on the leg, or play a song depending on what setting it's on. The toy is cute, although it is a bit annoying (as most kid's toys are). Everytime the cord attached to the caterpillar is pulled, the alphabet song starts playing. And after about 100 times of hearing the song, you may be ready to throw the poor caterpillar out the window.

Interesting fact: The LeapFrog Alphabet Pal will not let you sound out dirty words. Yes, I tried it. Yes, my husband tried it. And everytime you even come close to sounding out a dirty word, the caterpillar starts to giggle and says "That tickles!". Pretty cool that they thought of this little parental control, just in case you have a precocious older sibling or an immature parent playing with it.

The Art of Coloring

When I was little I used to color all the time...my grandmother would buy me lots of coloring books that would keep me occupied for hours. So I did a little search to see if coloring books have evolved since the 80's and boy have they ever! Here are some companies that sell unique coloring books. Not only are these books beautiful, but they will open up your child's mind (or yours) to something beyond a Disney character.

Dover Publications:

Dover Publications sells a bunch of coloring books with themes from modern art to world history. Each page has a caption on it which allows your child to learn about what they are coloring. Plus you can't beat the price of these books. They range from $3.95 to $6.99!

Mindware:

As per their website: MindWare is an innovative company dedicated to creating “Brainy Toys for Kids of All Ages.” The site carries a nice selection of fun coloring books.

Click here to print out a sample page from this book.

Click here to print out a sample page from this book.

Rosi Flo's and Johnny Joe's Colouring Books:

This by far was one of my favorite finds! These coloring books are so unique because they allow the child to not only color, but to draw in the heads, arms, and legs thereby using their imagination to create their own characters. The books are constructed with thick pages to avoid showing through or damaging the pictures on the next page. The company is based in the UK but you can buy the books on Amazon.

This is what an unfinished page looks like:

And this is what it can look like with a little creativity:

Edward and Bella: The New Barbie and Ken?

Mattel is launching a line of Twilight dolls, specifically the Bella and Edward characters. The dolls will go for $25.99 which isn't terrible especially if you have a kid who wants both dolls. They are expected to be available November 2009 (just in time for the New Moon release). For the older Twilight collector (and you know who you are), The Tonner Doll Company has already released their own Bella and Edward. Except the Tonner dolls are a little pricier ($125.99!). Here's pics of both doll sets. FYI: I do not own any of these. I'm bad but not that bad. :)

The Mattel dolls:

The Tonner dolls:

Toys! Toys! Toys!

When was the last time you went into Toys R Us, Babies R Us, or Buy Buy Baby and saw a toy NOT made in China? Pretty hard to find. In fact, I was shocked when my mother-in-law pulled out a Fisher Price toy from the 70's (my husband's old toys, yep she still has them!) and it said that it was made...wait for it...in the USA!

Over the past few years there have been numerous recalls of toys manufactured in China. Everything from lead paint to kerosene has been added to these toys! I know manufacturing these toys in China is what keeps the prices low and allows you to buy your kid 100 Thomas the Tank Engine toys (which by the way were recalled in 2007 because the Chinese factory that made them used lead paint), but maybe it's time to invest in some safer toys.

Here are a couple of sites that sell American-made, European-made, earth-friendly, and green toys:

Oompa:
Oompa sells European wooden toys, baby toys and gear, educational toys, and modern children's furniture. There motto is: No Batteries. No Blinking Lights. No Cartoon-Themed Toys. Period. All of the toys are safe, eco-friendly, non-violent, and from manufacturers who provide safe and nurturing environments for their employees.

Moolka:
The Moolka site carries a huge collection of European-designed toys, children's furniture, room decor items and other accessories. A lot of these toys are also manufactured in Europe. On their website they have listed the brands that they carry, where they have been designed, and where they have been made. http://www.moolka.com/jzv/inf/safety

FatBrainToys:
Fat Brain Toys claims that they carry the single largest selection of American-made toys. They also carry quality toys from around the world. It looks like the business started as a mom and pop shop and has grown to be a pretty big company offering over 5,000 in stock toys, games, and gifts.

Green Toys:
The toys sold on this site are made of recycled materials and are 100% made in the USA. Green Toys sells a line of classic children's toys. Even the packaging is 100% recyclable. The toys are tested in the USA and contain no traceable amounts of Phthalates or BPA. They are also designed without any external coatings, eliminating the fear of lead paint.

Alphabet Puzzle Mat

I ordered an Alphabet Puzzle Mat for my son to put in his play area (under his Lil' Playzone). My husband and I put it together last night and it's great. Very bright and quite cushy. I had bought an Alphabet Puzzle Mat from Buy Buy Baby awhile back, but then I returned it after I read the description on the package that said it was only good for children 3 years and up because the small pieces can be a choking hazard. This puzzle mat from One Step Ahead is actually the only one that I could find that is designed for babies (no small pieces).

Li'l Playzone with Lights and Sounds

I am a happy woman today. I figured out a way to keep my kid safe in my living room without gating him in like a farm animal. Enter the Lil' Playzone. This thing was literally delivered today...I was waiting (somewhat impatiently) all weekend for it. My son has become an expert scooter and unfortunately he's been scooting into places he shouldn't be. The colors of the play yard are very bright and fun plus one of the walls has a bunch of toys on it. It was very easy to put together, no tools needed, just snap the gates together and you're done. I bought it with two extensions to make it a little bigger. The Playzone itself is kind of small if you don't buy extensions. If you have a huge living room, you may want to invest in two of these and just connect them. So far it's working out pretty well, but then again, it's only been three hours.

This is the Playzone alone:
This is the Playzone with two extensions:

LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table

The LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table is my son's favorite toy. He can sit and play with this thing for 15 minutes straight (that's a long time in baby time), giving me a much needed break from chasing his butt (he only scoots) around the living room. Here's a description of the product from Toys R Us:

A favorite among moms and kids alike, the award-winning Learn and Groove Musical Table by LeapFrog engages and entertains with more than 40 learning songs, sparkling lights and lots to spin, slide, push, pull, open and close. Introduces the alphabet, numbers, colors and sounds and features 15 musical activities in both English and Spanish and more than 40 songs and melodies. Sliding the trombone introduces numbers and counting 1 to 10 in English and Spanish. Three activites with the Learn and Groove Musical Table introduce opposites such as open and close, up and down, lights on and lights off in English and Spanish.