• Monthly Archive:: November 2013

    It’s a rainy day-before-Thanksgiving here in NY, and if you’ve got cooking and/or baking ahead of you this afternoon, you may want to set the kiddies up with some indoor entertainment. My girls happen to be fans of Guess How Much I Love You, a storybook that’s been so well-read, its pages have been tattered and torn over the years (a good indication of a favorite book in our house). The endearing story of Little Nutbrown Hare and his father comes to the small screen in Guess How Much I Love You: Hidden Treasure, a DVD compilation of seven animated episodes straight from the Disney Junior TV series. The story lines are timeless childhood lessons, like learning to look for the extraordinary in the everyday [&hellip

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    Happy (almost) Thanksgiving! If you’re looking for something to do with the kiddies over the long holiday weekend, may we suggest a movie or two? Just released on DVD The Snow Queenis , an animated version of the fabled tale by Hans Christian Anderson that demonstrates the power of family (a fitting tribute to the holiday season). In this story, the title character threatens to freeze the entire world in a blanket of ice as she takes a young boy captive. When his sister Gerta sets out to save him, she is faced with a number of patience-testing challenges along the way. Be sure to have  plenty of popcorn on hand for this edge-of-your-seat story…And if you’ll be heading out to the movie theater, we’re [&hellip

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    How many toys are on your holiday shopping list this year? If you have kids, or are buying gifts for your nieces, nephews, grandkids or any other special little someone in your life, we’re betting that there are plenty of playthings topping the list. If you’re still trying to figure out what’s hot for kids this year, let us help simplify your shopping by turning to the just-released 2014 Toy of the Year Awards (TOTY) list of finalists. We were invited to a product showcase highlighting all of the nominees earlier today, and boy was it a feast for the eyes and ears! Set against the backdrop of New York’s Bryant Park ice skating rink, a total of 84 toys in 12 different categories were [&hellip

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    My daughter’s bus driver just told me it’s supposed to snow on Sunday. Already? I was just admiring the still-ripe roses and their unseasonal bloom on our garden trellis. We’ve been so spoiled by the mild fall here in the Northeast, that it’s hard to believe it’s nearly December. Since so many of you will be sitting down to Thanksgiving leftovers in the coming week, we thought we’d share a useful product idea to make your oven accident-proof. Spud Spikes are a cooking nail that, when inserted into a pre-cooked potato, prevent blow-outs and allow for even cooking. The result is a tasty side dish, and less clean-up. We think they’re more effective than jabbing a fork into your pretty potato skin over and over….And [&hellip

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    With the holidays approaching faster than I can handle, I’m starting to realize that the kids will be home from school before we know it. And with this year’s Christmas break lasting a full two weeks (!), that means lots and lots of family time. If you’re looking for something that will take the sting out of all that ‘quality’ time, may we suggest a weekend away? If that’s not possible (hey, join the club), how about updating your toy closet with some new board game titles? One new game that has us salivating–and with good reason–is What Would You Do For A Klondike Bar? Call it ice cream charades, if you will. Players begin by rolling the Challenge Cube and then choosing a fellow [&hellip

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    “Did the mail come?” It’s the same question my 9-year-old asks the minute she steps off the school bus. And sadly, unless it’s her birthday or another holiday, the answer is usually a resounding no. Because both my daughters have always enjoyed playing post office–we’ve even gone so far as to create a makeshift mail stop in our backyard tree, complete with leaves as letters–it’s no surprise that someone would someday make a toy that sends mail…for real. This year, we’re in awe over Toymail and Mailmen, a unique plaything combo that goes beyond standard post office delivery. It starts with toy Mailmen, a line of silly-faced mailboxes that connect to your home WiFi via a free app. Next record any message you like, at [&hellip

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    It’s not even Thanksgiving, and it feels like the holiday crunch has already set in. People are racing around town like they’re trying to score the last Big Hugs Elmo before it’s sold out. The shopping malls are already piping in “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is scheduled to air two days before you’ll be gorging yourselves on turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. (Is anybody ready for a nap yet?) Since the holiday season tends to take its greatest toll on the kiddos, we make sure to ramp up the sleep quotient as the clock ticks closer to Christmas Eve. That way, we’re assured a jolly holiday and hopefully a virus-free one, too. If you happen to have a little one [&hellip

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    Can you put a pricetag on a good night’s sleep? If you happen to be a new parent or a worldwide traveler, it’s probably something you don’t get much of.  So, if you’re wondering just how precious those zzz’s are, would you consider investing in one of the latest trends in sleep aid? We’re not talking about popping a pill or drawing a hot bath. Philip Stein, maker of high-end watches, jewelry and other lifestyle accessories, has created a Sleep Bracelet that’s designed to give you the quality rest you so desperately need, especially during the start of an especially exhausting time of year. How does it work, you ask? The $300+ bracelet is designed with perforated holes that allow your skin to breathe more [&hellip

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    My 9-year-old loves her Nintendo DS more than me. I don’t take it personally, and of course, I’m only half-kidding. But the truth of the matter is, if I were to take a toy away from her as a form of punishment, it would be her DS. Much as I’d love for it to be otherwise–for me, taking my books and magazines away would be pure torture, and her 5-year-old sister, her crayons and markers–I know who I’m dealing with. Because in our house my fourth grader can only play her DS after a set amount of time (and, of course, after all her homework is done), she knows she must make her choices wisely. If you’re thinking I’m a cruel mom, then hold that [&hellip

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    One of my 5-year-old’s favorite toys these days is a dress-up playset with a cut-out of a girl desperately in need of a wardrobe change. Simply by swapping out one swatch of fabric for another and closing the frame, she can update the look of her playmate in seconds. I can only wish changing clothes was this easy in real life! What mom hasn’t followed the parental advice of laying out the next day’s outfit the night before…only to have  a temperamental tot change her mind the following morning? Well, we may not be able to fix that, but you may be able to strike a deal with your little fashionista with Lotty Dotty, a line of girls’ designer shirts with interchangeable elements that can [&hellip

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