A week into the New Year, and we get socked with a blizzard and frigid temps. With a day off from school and a lingering cold for this mommy, we were forced to stay indoors…and that means Christmas toys get extra game play. Luckily, my girls received some real winners (no sarcasm intended), and have been happily keeping busy with their gifts. But of course, since we received a promo item whose packaging I couldn’t resist, we just had to open it up. The nondescript Creativity Can was cloaked in an air of mystery…ok, soI like being dramatic–but the truth of the matter is the plain brown paper-clad canister would not reveal the identities of its contents (35 pieces worth), only its “nutrition label” promised [&hellip
The Playful Walnut Archive
Do you wear your heart on your sleeve? I sincerely hope not — that would hurt!! Silliness aside, you’d be hard-pressed to find a tween today who doesn’t know her emoticon vocab. And if you’re super-cool, you’re also familiar with Emoji, a series of texting symbols courtesy of our Japanese friends. No matter where you roam, we think the new Emoji Icons line from The Maya Group will know just how to speak your language. These collectible accessories let kids express themselves in a way that’s instantly understandable, without saying a word. With Emoji Bands, you can arrange the icons on a bracelet and let the world know how you’re feeling. Change of mood? No worries, simply change your message. With over 80 icons, you [&hellip
Let the countdown begin! Our eyes and ears are peeled for the sound of Santa’s sleigh. Did we just hear reindeer hooves on the roof? If your kids can hardly wait another moment, we’ve found an entertaining way to maintain the momentum and keep them occupied (you do have all those presents to wrap, don’t you?). We got our hands on School Zone’s new app Jolly Try-n-Spy, a clever app that lets kids show just how observant they can be. Each of the 10 jolly Christmas scenes contain hidden pictures. They start out black and white, but once you locate the hidden images, the screen turns full color as Santa and team ride across the sky. Each time you play, the time it takes for [&hellip
Got a guy who’s glued to the tube when he should be putting up the Christmas decorations? Know a man who knows his Peyton from his Eli…and then some? Then have we got a gift idea for you. The 2013 Topps Football Complete Set has everything your resident football fan needs to know about his game, no matter which team he favors. (And hey, let’s not discriminate; we know a few female fans who can quote all the stats with the best of ‘em.) The whopping 440-card set is the encyclopedia of the NFL, and will satisfy the most diehard of your game-watching buds. So, if you’re hard-pressed to come up with a suitable gift for your sports-loving guy or gal, this is one that [&hellip
When I was a kid, I chopped off my Barbie doll’s hair and gave her a bob. I figured she’d need a sensible hairdo if she’d be blasting off into space. That may sound like the makings of a future scientist, but alas, I became a writer. I still like the fact that I was able to transform my doll into something that was more my speed: a thinking hot chick rather than a fashion doll who aspired to nothing more than acquiring 100 pairs of heels. Sure today’s Barbies have morphed into career girls and the like, but I still can’t relate to their kitten heels and tiny waistlines (and neither can my girls). Lucky for today’s kids, British-based Lottie Dolls have made their [&hellip
Our first day of snow this season, and I’m already sick of the white stuff. OK, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration (it does make all the outdoor Christmas decorations more picturesque). But the freezing temps and slippery travels that go along with it? Yeah, I’d be happy to skip all that. Because we can’t exactly fast-forward to spring (heck, it’s not even technically winter yet!), we can fantasize about hopping a plane and flying far, far away to a remote tropical island, “a land where palm trees sway,” as a favorite Christmas song of ours goes. Once you’ve gotten your head out of the clouds and your feet are back on snowy ground, consider getting creative with your decorations to make all this [&hellip
Is a tablet on your kid’s wish list this year? If you’re in the market for a model that will keep him happy, but that won’t break the bank, we’ve found what you’re after. We got our hands on an advance copy of the VTech InnoTab 3S, and think it’s going to make many a kid very happy this Christmas. Targeted at ages 3-9, this tablet spans a wide age range–and with good reason. It comes loaded with plenty of apps–20 in all and others you purchase separately–including a MP3 player, art studio, calendar and friends list. We don’t personally know any 3-year-olds who are penciling in their playdates, but this definitely offers big-kid appeal for budding tweens making note of their friends’ b-days and [&hellip
Someone once said if you talk to your plant, it just might help it grow. But did anyone ever think that your precious greenery would talk back–or, at least, have something to say? It’s the very reason we are loving this very cool gardening gift that makes a perfect present this Christmas. DuneCraft’s Message Beans are like no other terrarium set we’ve seen before. This all-in-one-kit comes with everything you need to produce a plant with a hidden message. Simply open the planter, put your terrarium together, plant your seeds, water…and wait. In a week’s time, you’ll be treated to a delightful surprise: leaves declaring a special message. We love the Merry Christmas Bean, a seasonal sprout that certainly makes a statement for your favorite [&hellip
When I was a kid, I accidentally left my box of crayons outdoors on a very sunny, hot day. Once I realized what I had done, I returned to find an amazing creation: a truly one-of-a-kind colossal-sized crayon. Despite its uniqueness, it wasn’t exactly practical for coloring (I could barely hold on to it with one hand!). Naturally, I didn’t want to part with this, but eventually gave in to reason (in the form of my mother). Today, that cool factor can be brought to life again, albeit in a less cumbersome fashion (was some future Crayola exec spying on me back in the day?). The Crayola Melt ‘n Mold Factory is one of the more novel craft toys we’ve seen this season. We love [&hellip
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