Face-Off Frenzy (Giveaway CLOSED)

Note:  This giveaway is a part of the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival!  Thanks for stopping by, and be sure and visit all of the other great giveaways going on as a part of the Carnival!

I have a confession to make.  I have a competitive side – and um, it can get pretty intense.  It doesn’t usually appear during important times in my life when a little competition could actually benefit me, like vying for the best grade average in school or some other time when competition could have actually been “productive”.  Oh no, my competitive side comes out during silly things like video games, and *ahem* AIR HOCKEY.

No need to re-read that bit, I definitely said Air Hockey.  Think what you will — but I grit my teeth and play air hockey like it’s nobody’s business.  I can thank my mom for that — she is the one who taught me to play, and taught me to love it.  Oh yeah, and she never “let” me win.  If I won against her – it was because I earned it!  Of course, an air hockey table was a bit of a large thing to keep in the house growing up, so we only got to play the occasional game, but it was still a blast.

Oooh but wait!  FunSlides came up with a solution that makes my 8 year old self (and, um, perhaps even my 26 year old self) VERY happy.  Called Face-Off Frenzy, it is basically like air hockey, except it’s portable, easily stored and uses powerbands instead of electricity (no electric whirr).  It is so so cool, and it really emulates the speed of real air hockey!  It can be played on all indoor surfaces- a table, hardwood floor or carpeting and is perfect for kids and adults. Check out the video below to see how it works!

So, would you like to win Face Off Frenzy for your home?  To enter, leave a comment here with your favorite game as a child.  As usual, extra entries are available for stumbling Chic Shopper Chick (leave your stumble name), subscribing to my site, following me on Twitter, and blogging about this giveaway with a link back here.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on February 3rd, 2009.

Two for “Green” Tea? (Giveaway CLOSED)

Note:  This giveaway is a part of the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival!  Thanks for stopping by, and be sure and visit all of the other great giveaways going on as a part of the Carnival!

Back in October I wrote a review of one of my favorite all-time toys – the Tea Set from Green Toys.  I am still completely enamored with this awesome toy – and Little AG is as well.  It is very sturdy, lots of fun, and best of all it’s completely green!  Even the packaging it comes in is recycled!  This tea set is made up of recycled milk jugs and is completely BPA and Phthalate free.  Heck, they’re even dishwasher safe!

One lucky Chic Shopper Chick reader will win their very own Tea Set from Green Toys.  The set includes a Tea Pot with a Lid, a Sugar Bowl with Lid, Creamer, 4 Spoons, 4 teacups, and 4 saucers.  To enter, leave a comment here (and a little effort is required.  No “enter me” or “I wanna win” type entries are accepted, but you don’t have to write a book either.  It’s all about balance people. kthxbai).  As usual, extra entries are available for stumbling Chic Shopper Chick (leave your stumble name), subscribing to my site, following me on Twitter, and blogging about this giveaway with a link back here.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on February 3rd, 2009.

My Little Pony RC Scootaloo (A Giveaway!)

I grew up with a father who loved cars — working on them, driving them, even watching them race around a track.  I suppose it was inevitable that I would develop a love of things that “go”, but as a girl, it was oftentimes hard to find toys that would do so and ones that were simultaneously “girly” enough.  When I saw the My Little Pony Scootaloo RC On The Go (included in my 2008 Holiday Gift Guide for Kids) I immediately started gushing about how I would have loved to have something like that when I was a little girl.  Little AG will have her turn with the RC Scootaloo this Christmas, and thanks to Hasbro, your little girl will have her turn too!

Hasbro Toys has generously offered one lucky Chic Shopper Chick reader the chance to win a RC Scootaloo on the Go of their very own, or to give as a gift!  To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Tell me what toy you always wanted as a child.  Also, tell me who this would be for!  (Must have both to qualify!)
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 22nd, 2008.

Smart-e-Bear makes me Smil-e! (A giveaway!)

When Little AG was little we had one of those stuffed animals that responded when you pushed on its paws, etc.  It was cool for our purposes at the time (to stop the screaming and crying) but as she got older she quickly lost interest because it was very limited in the activities it could do and songs it sang.  We all got sick of the ABC’s.  My other complaint was that it was very hard because of the battery pack and operating mechanisms, which isn’t the best for a toddler or baby.  That toy got a new home a while back, but we recently had the opportunity to review the Smart-e-Bear (ok, we actually have the Smart-e-Dog) which is similar in style to the aforementioned toy, but way cooler for older kids.

First of all, when we took it out of the box I was all but doing a happy dance at how soft our Smart-e-Dog was!  No hard battery packs, and I actually had to squeeze the thing a few times to really understand it.  I couldn’t believe the level of interaction that our Smart-E-Dog was capable of all the while still being so very squishy.  Little AG immediately took it in her arms and fell onto the ground to give it a big Bear (Dog?) hug and started barking at him (yes, we just make animal noises in our house).  Then, she discovered he could actually “play” with her.  We played a few rounds of Simon Says, right out of the box, before we were able to even attempt to personalize it any further.  Yes, you read that right — you can personalize your Smart-e-Bear to fit your child.  That means, if you are all IF I HEAR ONE MORE ROUND OF ABCs I MIGHT JUST JUMP OUT THE WINDOW like I was then you can simply CHANGE it and add something different!  Do you hear angels singing?  I know I did.

Our Smart-E-Dog came with his very own USB cable so that we could plug him into our computer to personalize him.  I kinda felt like I was setting up a really, really puffy iPod.  We did have to register and download the software, but it was free, and very very simple (read: easy to do at 2 am Christmas morning!).  Now our Smart-E-Dog actually says Little AG’s name, which she basically thinks is hilarious.  Every time he says it, she looks at us like “Did you hear this guy?  He totally just said my name!”  We like that.  The Smart-E-Bear software works kinda like iTunes — there are lots of great options.  However, some options come with the bear, others you can purchase for 99 cents – which really is a steal in my opinion — because it means that it will be quite a while before Little AG outgrows this guy.  In some ways, the toy can always be  new!

Oh, and did I mention that the Smart-E-Dog will work with headphones?  Yes, so even if you are sick of playing Simon Says, you won’t be tempted to hide him under a bed somewhere.  I’m also thinking that this little guy will be great for longer car rides and flights.  You can try out the Smart-e-Bear, Smart-e-Dog, or Smart-e-Cat online before you buy to see what you think, and I have to tell you that it’s identical to what our dog does, so it will really give you a good feel for what you’re getting yourself into.  The perfect Christmas Gift for anyone ages 2-6 on your list! Oh, and I forgot the BIG plus for us — he will be able to speak French very soon — great for Little AG who is learning both English and French.

You can buy these awesome little guys on Amazon — the Smart-e-Dog is currently $81.43, the Smart-e-Cat is currently $73.81, but best of all, the original Smart-e-Bear is majorly on sale for $43.99!  I know it can seem pricey, but I really think that the longevity of this toy will impress you, and you will definitely get your money’s worth.  I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

Would you like to win a Smart-e-Bear, Smart-e-Dog, or Smart-e-Cat for a kiddo in your life?  Follow the easy-peasy instructions below and they just might find one under the tree!

• Visit the Smart E Bear website and then come back here tell me your favorite feature of these little guys!
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 14th, 2008.

Playskool’s Cherry Blossom Market – A Giveaway!

Ok, I’ve already ranted and raved over my extreme love for it in my Christmas Gift Guide for kids, but it’s worth another mention here:  one of my favorite picks for Christmas this year is, beyond a doubt, the Cherry Blossom Market. We have one of these at my house (I just couldn’t wait until Christmas to give it to Little AG – it looked like so much fun!) and it has been a fun activity for us daily since we broke open the box.  Speaking of opening the box, it was very easy to put together, though I did take the time to read the instructions for once (rather out of character for me!) but it was in one piece in a flash (when I saw the small box I was slightly worried).  The fabric that it is made out of seems easy enough to wipe clean, and at the most, needs a sponge with some warm, soapy water on it.

And really, what little girl doesn’t dream of owning her own little store!  Now they can with the Cherry Blossom Market from Playskool — perfect for those of us who want to give our little ones a playhouse of their own, but with limited space.  A smaller addition to the Dream Town collection (we also love the Rose Petal Cottage, but it’s twice the size, therefore it would take up twice the amount of room in my house!) this sweet and playful market will not disappoint!  I love the beautiful fabric walls of the Playskool Cherry Blossom Market — one side is adorned with flowers and the other functions as the inside of the market itself.  Little AG especially loves “serving” mommy outside of the walk-up window or helping me to pick out some fresh produce at the Cherry Blossom Market Produce Stand.  When we’re finished, we sit down and enjoy some special Scoop ‘N Smile Ice Cream!  Oh, and did I mention it comes with a cash register and even some play money?  We love it!

I am confident that your little grocers will love this toy as much as we do, and they would love to find this from Santa Claus come Christmas morning!  It’s on sale at Amazon right now (link above) for only $35.99 (and free shipping!) which I feel like is one of the best deals that you can possibly get this Holiday Season!

Even better, would you like to win a Cherry Blossom Market to give as a gift?  Follow the easy-peasy rules below and you could be playing “shop” on Christmas morning!

• Leave a comment here telling me why you’d like to win.  A little effort please, no “Enter me” or “I wanna win” type of entries will be accepted.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
  
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Visit my friends Kristin at An Ordinary Life and Christine at From Dates to Diapers and leave them each a comment.  Come back here and leave two comments to let me know you did so.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.
  • Add me to your blog roll. Not just my button in your sidebar, I’d love to be on your blog roll! Let me know about it in a separate comment!

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 12th, 2008.

Christmas Gift Guide 2008: For Kids & Baby

Welcome to Day 4 of the Chic Shopper Chick Gift Guide!  Today we are going to focus on Kids and Baby stuff — but don’t forget to check out the other great items we’ve discussed so far!  Day One was all about Holiday Traditions, Day Two was about Entertaining and Hostess Gifts, and Day Three was all about finding the perfect Stocking Stuffers!  Today is about one of my favorites — things for kids!  Let’s jump in to some of my new faves for this Holiday, in no particular order!

Green Toys Tea Set – I am so so so so (did I mention so?) in love with this Tea Set from Green Toys!  Made entirely of recycled milk jugs, it makes me feel good to give Little AG something fun to play with that also supports the earth.  Check out my full review on the Green Toys Tea Set – I know you will love it too!  You can buy the Green Toys Tea Set from Amazon for just under 25 bucks, or if tea isn’t your thing, check out the Green Toys Cookware and Dining Set which might be a little more gender-neutral.  Stay tuned for a giveaway of the Green Toys Tea Set coming up really soon!

2008 Holiday Barbie – I couldn’t resist adding in this timeless classic to my guide this year.  A collectors item in her own right, the 2008 Holiday™ Barbie® Doll is gorgeous!  Not to mention, this is the 20th anniversary Holiday Barbie, so she is looking especially fantastic!  I especially love her gorgeous earrings, and if they weren’t Barbie-sized, I might snatch them for wear myself!  Barbie is decked out to look like a delicate snowflake, and I know when you see her you won’t be disappointed!

Water Babies – They’re back, and I swear they feel JUST like the real thing (ok, not JUST like it, but still, wow)!  If you remember the Water Babies from long ago, you won’t be disappointed.  Even I think that they are pretty darn cool, and well, I have a real baby and have no need for a baby doll.  However, Little AG started pointing and saying “BAAAAYYY BEEEE” the minute she saw it!  They Water Babies come in two sizes, 9 inch Water Baby and the 13 inch Water Baby.  They even come with a funnel to make filling easy, as well as a teddy bear, storybook, diaper, and bottle!

Hyper Dash – New for this season from Wild Planet, I am loving this awesome game.  Designed to keep kids moving and on their feet, Hyper Dash will have your kids running all over the place (in an organized matter) in no time!  The “tagger” is hand held, and calls out voice commands to the players to “tag” the targets that have certain numbers and colors.  One of my favorite parts about Wild Planet’s Hyper Dash is that your kids can play solo or compete against their friends (or you!) to get the highest score!  If the single tagger isn’t enough — you can always go for the Hyper Dash Double Dash that includes 2 taggers!

Barbie Care N Cure Wildlife Doctor – It has Barbie in the name, but there is really no Barbie involved at all!  This stuffed animal lights up in different areas that teach the child about the animals health, and responds to feeding, touch, care, etc.  With Little AG loving animals as much as she does, this was a must-buy for Christmas this year!  It’s also a great way to teach your kids about protecting and caring for Endangered Animals.  My favorite is the “Snow Leopard” Barbie Care ‘N Cure Wildlife Doctor – but you can also choose a Koala Bear or Polar Bear.

Rhino Rampage Game – This fun but simple game has players stacking up little birds with the goal of reaching the Rhino’s back.  You’ve go to be careful though, because you never know when the Rhino will go on a rampage!  (Ok, it’s really when you roll the Rhino on the dice and the player pulls the Rhino’s tail, but that didn’t sound nearly as cool!)  This game is simple enough for everyone to play, but a whole lot of fun for kids of all ages as well!  Little AG loves pulling the Rhino’s tail in this lots-o-fun Rhino Rampage Game!

Girl Tech Stylin’ Studio – This really really cool toy from Mattel makes me wish they had such a thing when I was a little girl, because I know I would have LOVED it!  (Seriously, I was the makeup and makeover queen!)  The Girl Tech Stylin Studio however, allows girls to create a digital makeover — meaning no messy makeup and lipstick fiascoes are in your future with this nifty gadget!  The Stylin’ Studio comes equipped with a touch pad and a built-in digital camera, so it makes things easy because everything you need is in one place!  My niece is getting one of these for Christmas and I know she is just going to love it!

Scene it?  Disney Channel Edition – Our new favorite channel here at home is the Disney channel (funny how quickly things change, isn’t it?) and this fun DVD game is a gem!  It has hundreds of trivia questions that will keep you on your toes for all things Disney Channel!  You can play fun games like spotting the difference between two difference scenes, identifying theme songs from ringtones and a bunch of other cool stuff!  If your kids love the Disney Channel, they’ll love playing the Scene It? Disney Channel Edition.

Imagination Movers:  Juice Box Heroes – This show on Playhouse Disney has quickly become a favorite in my house.  I have to admit that it’s my TV show of choice, mainly because I enjoy these very talented and fun guys and their awesome music as much as Little AG does.  This is the first CD that the Imagination Movers have released in cooperation with Disney (there were others prior to the Disney partnership) and it is some of their best music, tweaked and better than ever.  I can’t wait for Santa to bring this to Little AG this year, I know she is going to love it.  This is one CD that, when she gets out of the car, I will leave playing.  You can pick up a copy of Imagination Movers: Juice Box Heroes on Amazon.

Animal Scramble – Another home run from Wild Planet, this game works in a similar manner to Hyper Dash.  The base (the giraffe) calls out an animal (four choices — a monkey, parrot, tiger and elephant) and the child scrambles around the room to “tag” that animal with the giraffe.  Then, you are given the amount of time it took you to tag all four – with the idea being that you beat your time.  It also has options for team play, and the giraffe tells you when it should be passed to the next player.  However, this is another great activity that kids can play by themselves while still being active, which I love.  Wild Planet Animal Scramble even has a hide and seek feature, which is a lot of fun!  On sale on Amazon for 19.99.

Cherry Blossom Market – A part of the Playskool Dream Town collection, the Cherry Blossom Market is a great alternative to the much bigger Rose Petal Cottage (or the Rose Petal Cottage Mega Pack that comes complete with all the accessories one could ever even dream of!) for those of us that have limited play-space in our houses.  Little AG already loves to “help” mommy at the grocery store, so this is really quite perfect for her.  Don’t forget the accompanying accessories, like the Cherry Blossom Market Produce Stand, or the Scoop ‘N Smile Ice Cream Set.  Read my complete review of the Playskool Cherry Blossom Market and while you’re there, don’t forget to enter to win one too!

My Little Pony Scootaloo RC on the Go – For girls, this is a great “girly” alternative to the Remote Controlled Car.  Even the remote is shaped like a Butterfly!  The My Little Pony theme will bring back memories for little girls and their mothers!  I personally really love this toy — it works on carpet (which is good for snow/rain days) but works even better on our hard kitchen floor.  The remote control has three big buttons which are great for little hands, and Little AG quickly figured out what each one did (including the horn!).  I’m already a fan of the My Little Pony Scootaloo RC On The Go, and so is Little AG.

Fisher Price Kid Tough DVD Player – This SAVED my life last weekend!  We traveled 5 hours for my dad’s 50th Birthday party and this made the journey so much more bearable!  Bring a few of your kiddo’s favorite DVD’s and they can take this anywhere you go.  We travel a lot, so I can already foresee that it will get TONS of use (seriously, TONS).  Plus, it really does hold up to it’s name — Kid Tough.  It is build to survive drop after drop, which is nice because you don’t have to run behind them making sure nothing happens!  It has a 3.2 inch color screen and rechargable batteries that hang in there for a full two hours!  My favorite features:  the two big handles (for little hands!), kickstand in case they want to stand it up somewhere and not hold it in their laps, and the headphone jack.  Because the whole plane full of people does not want to hear the theme song for “My Friends Tigger and Pooh” over and over again.  You have two choices — to buy the Fisher-Price Kid Tough Portable DVD Player (in Blue) or you can opt for the Fisher-Price Kid Tough Portable DVD Player (In Pink).  Don’t forget to get the Kid-Tough DVD Player On-the-Go Kit (which includes a car charger for those long car rides) and the matching DVD Player Case in Blue or DVD Player Case in Pink!

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Smart Bounce & Spin Pony – With the exception of the really long title this is actually a really cool interactive toy for toddlers.  You set up the Pony with a wireless receiver and your toddler (12-24 months) can bounce and spin on the Pony to make actions happen on the screen.  You can choose levels of difficulty, so that the youngest of kids will learn about cause and effect (they bounce, the animal on the screen moves) and the older children can learn things like the alphabet and numbers.  The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Bounce & Spin Pony has 5 different learning sites:  A to Z Zoo; Count & Grow Farm; Colorful Home; Shapes at Shore; and Opposites Playground.  Bonus:  the toy works without being connected to a TV.  If you choose the stand alone option the Pony still plays music and interacts with your child!

Jeep 2-in-1 Baby Carrier — Even the smallest ones on your Christmas list need a gift, and what a better gift than something that will benefit both mom and baby?  I love the Jeep 2-in-1 Baby Carrier because it holds infants from 8 – 26 lbs, and Little AG was a big girl so I needed something that could support her even as she reached the upper end of that spectrum.  One of my favorite features is the roll-up mesh front which allows the air to circulate and kept Little AG cool in the stifling Louisiana heat.  I also love how the indicator on the latches turn red when they are snapped into place correctly, because it alleviated all stress that I felt about her being secure.  It comes in a variety of colors, and the price (under $45 bucks!) is extremely reasonable , especially when you compare it to some of the other baby carriers.

European Sleep Sacks from Violet’s Peapod — Another suggestion for your little ones, check out the high-quality European style sleep sacks from Violet’s Peapod.  Little AG has slept in a sleep sack from her earliest days and still sleeps in one even as she approaches 2 years old.  It’s a great way to make sure they stay warm, and you don’t have to worry about blankets being loose in the crib, because it places babies at a higher risk for SIDS.  These sleep sacks are San Francisco-made, made of 100% natural fibers (cotton with a wool filling), and absolutely adorable and unique!

Karito Kids — I love these dolls from Karito Kids that allow your kids to give 3% of the purchase price back to the charity of their choice.  Not only are these dolls teaching kids about giving back, they are also teaching kids the importance of understanding and appreciating the differences between cultures.  You can choose a doll from Italy, Australia, the United States, Mexico, China, and Kenya.  Each doll comes with her very own story book, and you can also purchase additional clothing for them.  These full-sized dolls are pricey, but are extremely well made and will be loved for years, and passed down through the generations.

Furreal Friends Tumbles, My Rollover Pup — Little AG is facinated by “puppies” and has been for as long as I remember.  The FurReal Friends Roll Over Pup makes her squeal with delight.  It rolls over and back, while barking and making cute puppy noises.  She watches it roll over and cracks up laughing!  It’s better than your typical stuffed animal becuase it actually moves and reacts when you pet it on the tummy, and she looks surprised each and every time.  The mechanism inside of it makes it kind of hard, so it’s not an animal to take to bed at night, but it certainly serves its purpose as a really fun toy!  We love it, and it comes highly recommended!

Little Mommy Gotta Go Doll — Did you know that pretending to be an adult is crucial to a child’s early development?  This doll, meant for girls ages 3 and older, allows them to step into the “mommy” role to help the doll use the potty.  It even comes with a sink so that “mommy” can help her wash her hands afterward, and a toothbrush to brush her teeth (complete with tooth-brushing sounds!)!  My favorite part about this toy is that it doesn’t use any water to create the effect — meaning it is a mess-free toy, which goes a long way in our house!  It’s a fun toy that will interact with your child – the doll sings little songs and says fun phrases too.  The Little Mommy Gotta Go Doll is perfect for little girls who are at the potty training age.

Sing & Learn Musical Mic — This little mic is really cool.  On top of actually working to amplify your voice when you talk into it (I might know this because I played with it for 10 minutes while Little AG waited impatiently!) the Sing & Learn Musical Mic lets you choose from jazz, classical and rock ‘n roll style music.  Our favorite quality though (because remember, I have a child that is pretty obsessed with animals) is that it also features 12 animals and fun animal sounds. All you have to do is turn the ring on top of the mic to hear each sound.  Lots of fun, and a great toy for the car!

Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker — I love the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker so much that I’m giving this to my niece for Christmas.  The Cupcake Maker comes with four cupcake flavor mixes and frosting. The cupcake flavors include red velvet, chocolate, yellow, and cinnamon sugar and the frosting flavors include chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and cream cheese. The mixes only require water and you can bake them in the microwave!  It comes with everything you need, including a mixing bowl, measuring spoon, spatula and water dropper.  Our favorite part was actually frosting the cupcakes with perfect little swirls.  Pick up the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker at Amazon where they are currently $10 off!  A great deal!

Face Off Frenzy — This really cool product for the Holiday Season is easy to put together and exceptionally quiet (with the exception of the squeals that will be coming from your kids!).  It requires no batteries, no electricity, and will work on carpet!  It’s like playing a little game of air hockey in your living room!  PowerBand Technology creates high-speed ricochet action without the need for air!  You will love it, and so will your kids! Face Off Frenzy is a great deal and is available for under $50 on Amazon!

Swaptop (Kitchen and Workbench) — These awesome, awesome toys are going to be the hit of Christmas this year!  The transformable Workbench or Kitchen also turns into a desk!  I love that it serves a dual purpose (especially when you are dealing with limited space as we are) and that kids will love playing with both.  When Little AG gets tired of the kitchen play, we quickly lower the top to create a desk and pull out one of the “drawers’ which becomes a little bench, and Voila! she is coloring quietly in no time.  It’s nice because it also has little drawers where we store her crayons and coloring books, and in the bottom are her teapots and “cookware”.   The one pictured here is the workbench swaptop, but if you click the link above you can see the kitchen too.

Zoobie Pets — A must-have for anyone traveling with a child!  A Zoobie Pet is a stuffed animal, a pillow, and a blanket all in one.  They are the most adorable things I have ever seen, and talk about mixing fun with function.  There are tons of different animals to choose from, and the detachable blankets have to be the SOFTEST things ever.  EVER.  Even I want to cuddle up with it, that is when Little AG isn’t shooting me curious looks for stealing it.  We have Tamara the Tortise in all of her full sized glory, and a Crocodile Zoobie Baby who is a smaller version, but with all of the same great perks.

Thanks for checking out my guide for Kids and Babies for Christmas 2008.  If you didn’t see what you were looking for above, please use the Amazon search box below to look around!  Don’t forget to check out From Dates to Diapers and An Ordinary Life to discover more great Christmas Gift ideas!

My Friends Tigger and Pooh: Our Christmas Must-Haves

If you’ve read this site a bit in the past, you know that Little AG has a thing, a love, an OBSESSION with Tigger.  However, most everything involving the Playhouse Disney show “My Friends Tigger and Pooh” easily qualifies as well.  Along with the 9 tiggers that we already have living in our house, I wanted to highlight a few of the things that will be on our Christmas list for Santa this year, just in case you have a little Tigger fan at home, too.

Of course, we have to start with the My Friends Tigger & Pooh – Super Sleuth Christmas Movie.  Even though it’s not new this year, we have to have it as a part of our collection.  Plus, I am pretty much a Christmas fanatic, so I HAVE to have anything that is a “special Christmas edition”.  That being said, you can be sure we’re getting a copy of this ASAP!  (Look, I’m already listening to Christmas music, why not add in Tigger, Pooh, Darby, Roo, etc and make the kiddo happy at the same time?) You can snag it for $13.99 on Amazon.

Our next must-have is the Fisher-Price Super Sleuth Changing Tree.  Seriously, this was not an option to pass up this year (if you ever saw my daughter turn on the projector in our living room, hand me the remote to the TV, point at the wall and say “Grr peas?” {Tigger Please?} you would totally understand why).  This baby has hidden doors, slides and ramps (to launch them out of the Changing Tree on their scooters, of course) as well as lots of lights, sounds, and a total of 30 different missions.  It’s way cool!  I have been stalking it for a while, as Amazon wasn’t carrying it and it was about 70 bucks, but thankfully, now it’s down to $43.49, so grab it while you can!

I’m also lovin’ this My Friends Tigger & Pooh Wooden Puzzle with Sound — it has 5 large pieces and even plays a few sounds!  It’s perfect for Little AG’s little hands, even though I can see that we will probably always be missing one piece — isn’t that how it always works with puzzles?

Of course, Little AG’s Christmas will not be complete without the Fisher Price “Think Think Think” Darby – I can sing that song in my sleep.  Even seeing someone tap the side of their head 3 times makes me want to burst into song!  Darby is about a foot tall, and she not only sings the “Think Think Think” song, but she also has mysteries for us to solve!  Little AG spotted her in the store a while back, and I practically had to pry the thing out of her hands.  I’ve gotta say, it is pretty neat!  $34.99 at Amazon.

Lastly, I don’t think I can resist this Tigger Bounce Chair – it’s pretty inexpensive and I can almost picture Little AG tackling it when she sees it!  The chair has an inflatable seat that creates a “springy” effect, and he also says fun phrases and has 3D facial features.  Oh, and a big plus — the cover is removable and washable!  Plus, for $34.99, I’d like to think of it as a steal!

What about you?  Know any other Tigger must-haves for us for Christmas?  What character/toy/show does your child love the most?