1. Moshi Monsters – My children are mad about the Moshi Monsters online games and I was pleased to see that the brand is making a big push to bring them offline, as well.  They are making a push for Moshi Monsters in offline toys and play with plush figures, collectible Moshling figurines, TV programming, and a magazine.  They understand that kids can only manage so much online time a day, and I’m grateful for that.  My kids love the Moshi Monster magazine that I brought home and I can’t wait to introduce them to the rest of the line.  The brand has made waves in the UK, where it originated, and it’s only a matter of time before it comes our way.

Cars AppMates

2. Cars 2 AppMATes – Disney has created a new way to integrate technology and kids with this new line of toys that comes to life digitally when used with an Apple IPad, transforming the tablet’s screen into a virtual playmate. I know that my son will go gaga for this.  The line inspired by Cars 2 features miniature vehicles with special bases that are recognized by the Cars app with no cable or Bluetooth connection required.  All you have to do is download the free Appmates Cars apps from the iTunes app store and place your favorite Appmates character on the screen and play. ($19.99 SRP)

Voice Rockerz

3. Voice Rockerz - My daughter flipped when over the Voice Rockerz which I gave to her immediately after Time to Play.   She loves to sing and dance and has a slight obsession with Selena Gomez.  The interactive microphone ‘magically’ changes a child’s voice as they perform with just a tap of the included accessories – a ring and bracelet – to the Mic target zone. Kids can sound like stars and elevate their performances to new heights with the Mic’s incredible voice effects. Tap the ring to the Mic to activate the Hi-Note voice effect; tap the bracelet to the Mic to change up the show with the Echo-Tastic voice effect; or tap the ring and bracelet in succession to uncover the Robot-Riffic voice effect.  It’s a cool device and well worth the $24.99 SRP.

The DeGeDar Game

4. The DaGeDar game for boys from Cepia features collectible balls and playing cards for more than 100 different characters, each of which comes with a codes to unlock details of the characters online.  Cepia are the creators of Zhu Zhu Pets and it’s their first foray into the digital space. Currently, DaGeDar can be purchased at select Toys R Us and Walmart stores! DaGeDar Balls and Tracks are sold separately and range from $4.99 - $19.99.

5.  Blue Sky Heli – I had a sneak peek at a new Bluetooth 3-channel helicopter, with full gesture controls that easily connect and follow movements from an iPhone, iPad or iTouch.  My husband is admittedly obsessed with electronic airplanes and this one looked unbelievable.  It has sound effects and force feedback vibrations which simulate a real life flying experience, while Gryo Stabilization design makes for easy flying.

And one extra mention:

Hearts for Hearts Dolls

6. Hearts 4  Hearts Dolls - I have to admit, I may more into dolls than my daughter, and these caught my attention.  There are six dolls available, all with their own stories, clothing, and culture.  When you buy a Hearts For Hearts Girls doll, a portion of the purchase price is donated to children’s causes in those countries.  Great concept.

And there was more!  A lot more.   Stay tuned for more to come on holiday shopping for your kids in the upcoming weeks. What are some of the toys you’re looking at to get your kids for the holiday?

Disclosure: I have been given a few items from Time to Play, but not all of them.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

This past Saturday I dragged my husband and kids into the city bright and early, not an easy feat in my house.  For one thing, my hubby is english and he likes to call home on Saturday mornings.  For another, my family just aren’t morning people, none of us really are.  On the weekends, we all like time to CHILL OUT.  But I was invited to what I thought was going to be quite a special event hosted by Disney and I was quite demanding that we get up and out.

And indeed it was worth the early trip in.  It was a an event hosted by the folks behind the new line of Cars 2 inspired toys, the new Disney/Pixar film.  The line is called Ridmakerz.  It’s a car set that kids can easily customize by collecting different cars and accessories.  There’s Lightning McQueen and his friends, Mater, Finn and Francesco, and they come with custom options as tires and wheels, blown engines and hood scoops, side pipes, spoilers and much more.

Built on RIDEMAKERZ’s patented customization system, each custom accessory is designed for easy interchangeability and maximum customization across all characters and across the entire line.   With additional accessories available, there are nearly endless customization options.  Kids can mix and match to create millions of combinations, tricking-out their favorite Cars 2 characters with snap on spoilers, tires, side pipes, rims and magnetic roof accessories, engines, hood scoops and repositionable decals.  My son has really embraced the line.   They make great additions to his play dates and he is really proud of his set of new, innovative cars. They each came in a box that is meant to be each car’s garage.  After my son uses them, he neatly places them back inside their respective garages.

I have to also add that this event was superbly run.  There was a table full of kid-friendly food, a full bar with kid’s drinks (i.e. juice boxes), lots of photo opportunities and the brand’s “ZEO” walked around and introduced himself to all of us. He answered questions and really embraced all the media in the room.  Even better, when I got home, there was a thank you email in my inbox from HIM.  Usually these emails are from publicists.  I thought this was very cool. Here’s his message:

Hi Holly,
I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say Thank You for taking the time to come play with us today! I am so excited about the opportunity we have to empower kids by letting them turn their favorite toys into THEIR toys…expressions of themselves that THEY create. It’s only through people like you that we can let more people know, and that only happens if people like you truly make an effort to see and experience us. You did, so I am grateful.
Thank you and RIDE ON!
Larry

The entire line of Disney•Pixar Cars 2 toy cars from RIDEMAKERZ is designed for kids ages four and up.  For more information, connect with RIDEMAKERZ online at RIDEMAKERZ.com or facebook.com/ridemakerz.

Disclosure: I was provided free admission to this event and free merchandise to facilitate this review but all opinions are my own.

Kids love Captain Jack Sparrow, Barbossa and Blackbeard from the new film that released last month, Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tide , and now Lego has made a set of models based around them.

Their new Pirates set includes 3 minifigures: Jack Sparrow, Blackbeard and Barbossa with wooden leg.  It features the Fountain of Youth with skeleton figure, waterfall and translucent elements.  There are 125 pieces and the set comes with a free poster.

MTV debuted their own Lego recreation of the trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and it’s really fun. Watch it and tell me what you think.  Like it or not?

Disclosure: I was provided with a set of Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides legos to facilitate this review.

When my daughter found out that Squinkies is now available for the Nintendo DS, she was really excited.  For one thing, she was excited to play the game. For another, the game includes four ultra-rare, lovable Squinkies exclusively available only through purchase of the video game.  She was really happy to add more creatures to her growing collection.

In the game, players become the Squinkies Princess searching for all of her friends in The Land of the Squinkies. As the player completes various mini-games and solves dynamic puzzles, more Squinkies are found and added to the players’ growing collection. With more than 250 friends to collect, players are sure to find all of their favorite Squinkies friends throughout the entire adventure.

Faithful fans are also rewarded with codes in specially marked Squinkies toys which will unlock new content within the game. Fans can collect up to ten different codes for a Squinkies adventure.

The games are simple and my daughter was able to play them skillfully (she’s 8).  She may outgrow the game and toys one day very soon, so I’m enjoying my “little girl” while I have her.

Squinkies for Nintendo DSTM is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is now available for $29.99. For more information please visit www.squinkiesvideogame.com.

Also, check out a video about the game here:

Disclosure: This game was provided to me free of charge to assist this review by Activision, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Last month at Toy Fair I came across a lovely collection of pillows and charms called Poofin.  Two moms created the brand as a way for kids to collect the things they care about most.  First, there’s the Poofin Star, a plush, soft star-shaped pillow.  It has a hole for kids to stuff charms, also soft, which have pictures of their favorite things – butterflies, ice-cream, soccer balls and puppies – into.  When they want to show their friends, they can take them out via a zip on the pillow for easy storage.  The goal is to have a customizable collection that defines a child’s interests.  Charms cost $4.99; the star-shaped pillows cost $24.99

The Poofin Star pillow is made from 100% polyester materials using PVC-free printing inks and dyes and a lead-free plastic zipper. All Poofin products are independently tested by TUVRheinland – one of the largest safety testing groups in the world – and are certifiably lead-free and PCV-free. Poofins can be purchased at www.poofin.com.

My son is really psyched about his new Poofin pillow.  He’s already filling it with special memories.  It’s a key to self-discovery.

I’m always looking for toys that send positive messages to my daughter.  She’s turning 8 soon and is more influential than ever.  Go! Go! Sports Girls are ready to teach little girls like my own a strong but subtle message to have healthy life skills, positive attitude and the determination to be strong & pursue their dreams.

My own daughter is a soccer player and so we were excited when we received Cassie the Soccer player Go! Go! Sports Girls doll.   A plush doll dressed in soccer uniform, carrying a soccer ball, there is nothing sassy about her.  It’s nice to have a doll who’s not trying to prove anything.  She’s no barbie doll or Bratz doll; rather she’s innocent and out to prove that matters is being true to yourself.  The SRP of each doll is $14.

Dream Big Toy Company, the creator of the dolls, also feels strongly about giving back. A portion of their profits is donated to organizations that encourage girls to participate in physical activity and develop healthy lifestyles.  They’ve also partnered with Girls, Inc, a fab company who’s goal is to remind girls that girls can do anything and become anything they try.  Membership is free.  Check it out here.

When the Land of Nod catalog came a few weeks ago, my 6 YO delved into and started scoping it out.  I was surprised at how many things he circled, as I am not quite the type to go through catalogs.  One of the things he fell in love with was their bean bags.  For days he asked me when I was going to order it.  Then of course, my daughter started asking for one, so I had to order two.  I stalled as long as I could before I eventually made my purchases.  I have to say, they’re really awesome.  They have comfy brushed cotton twill covers, and they’re personalized, each with their name.  My kids love watching TV in them and find them very relaxing.  I was worried about having space to store them, but they squeeze nicely into the corner in the den.  Their covers are durable and 100% cotton for easy wash.  The cover and insert were delivered separately but came within a few days apart of each other.  The SRP is $105 on their web site.

At the Brooklyn Baby Expo put on by my friends at AChildGrows.com, I brought home a fab bag full of eco-friendly baby items.  One that caught my eye was a new line of toys called B.  I was instantly drawn to the beautiful packaging.  Their boxes are akin to box wrap, simply undo the tabs, flip the package over, wrap it back around the box and it’s ready to give.  Alternatively, the boxes can be used to store markers, collections or other valuables.  The colors on the package are beautiful, too, and very earthy. This toy definitely caught my eye. They have a wide collection of toys on their web site which all include a gift for mom and dad in every box, not promotional materials.  All packaging is recycled and all inks used in packaging are soy-based and all varnishes are water-based.  B. is committed to children and donate 10 cents per toy to Free the Children, the world’s largest network of children.

Lastly, in the same bag, I stumbled across a book called Planet Home by Jeffery Hollander, the co-founder and chief-inspired protagonist of Seventh Generation.  The book is a useful guide to “cleaning and greening the world you care about most”–your home. The book runs through every room in your home: the kitchen, the bedroom, the nursery, kids room, family/living rooms, bathroom, utility rooms, laundry room, and home office, and gives you ways to save money while making the home healthier and more eco-friendly.

The book contains checklists on the safer and less safe ingredients for cleansers, recipes to make your own cleansers, cupboard staples everyone should have that can clean most things without harsh chemicals (i.e., who knew you could polish silver with natural toothpaste?), tips on healthy cookware and a very useful guide to safely prepping and storing foods.  Order the book on Amazon here.  The SRP is $19.99.

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided to me free of charge, such as the Go!Go! Soccer Girl Doll, the Poofin pillow and the items in the Brooklyn Baby Expo bag.  The Land of Nod were not provided to me fro this review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Vamplets

When I was at Toy Fair a few weeks ago, there were a few toys in particular that caught my eye. One was a new line called Vamplets. I’m a True Blood fan, and I’ve read a few books in the Twilight series, but I wouldn’t say I LOVE vampires.  I think they’re intriguing, though, and they definitely have different stories to tell than your average Joe.  That’ s the appeal to these characters – their history, relationships, peculiar needs (darkness versus light, drinking blood, sleeping in coffin, living for hundreds of years).

Vamplets are interesting, to say the least.  They come from the world of Gloomvania, as imagined by the artist and product designer known as G-Ra. They’re quirky, they’re cute, they’re kind of creepy, and they embrace the whole vampire trend that has taken over America. The Vamplets product line consists of collectible hand-stitched plush, accessories and apparel.  There are 6 creatures: Evilyn Nocturna, Cadaverson Nighshade, Lily Rose Shadowlyn, Burton Creepson Jr., Count Vlad Con Gloom and Midnight Mori.

When I met the guys behind the Vamplets at the show, I immediately told them I had to review them.  They really stood out at Toy Fair as something I hadn’t quite seen before.  So, I received a package of two Vamplets in the mail today, which included Count Vlad Von Goom and Evilyn Nocturna.  The guys behind this brand are really creative, the copy describing each doll is clever and tells a story behind each one’s life.  On the packaging, we are wished condolences on the delivery of our baby vampyres, that the burden will bring DREADFUL RESULTS.  Evilyn is “slightly mad & totally bad, you  don’t need a hunch…she’d prefer you for lunch!”  Count Vlad is “so cute but so cruel, descended from drag, blood is always his favorite snack!”    We were sent a disappearing bottle of blood for the Vamplets that we are told to keep on hand at all times, as well as an escape-proof coffin.  We have been warned!

My kids got a kick out of the vampets, feeding them blood from a bottle, but their curiosity was immediately peaked to find out more about these strange creatures.  so we logged onto www.vamplets.com to find out more about them.  There’s a nursery, town hall, funeral parlor and a Hall of Horrors.  Each doll has a code under each one’s diaper that lets you print out and create an undead certificate.  Each Vamplet has its own personality and the site tells you more about their bloodsucking needs.  It also has a forum and blog, shop and list of stores where you can purchase the Vamplets.

Disclosure: I was provided these toys to facilitate my review, but I was not asked to express any particular opinion.  All opinions are my own.

Starting today, Build-A-Bear Workshop will match each Guest’s $10 donation when a St. Jude party is scheduled up to the first 1,000 St. Jude parties.  The entire ten dollar donation will be directed to St. Jude to support life-saving research and treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  In honor of each Guest donation to the hospital to help with their important research and treatment, Build-A-Bear Workshop will, in addition, give a St. Jude patient a gift card to experience the fun of making their very own furry friend at any Build-A-Bear Workshop store nationwide and in Canada.

The joy of going to an event like this today is experiencing a truly good initiative which has the sole aim to do good, to make a difference.  While my son happily built his own build-a-bear with the other children, we met local children who came to help celebrate, we heard from Maxine talk about the initiative and we heard Marlo Thomas spoke about her own involvement with the hospital.  Take a look here:

We also met 3 children who are current residents of the hospital: Ella, Alejandro and Cameron.  Young children suffering from cancer or another catastrophic disease, they are all celebrating milestones in their treatment and were brought to the store to celebrate.  My son joined in their playtime with the build-a-bear leaters while I met Ella and her passionate mother, her biggest and fiercest advocate, who told me Ella’s story.  It put everything in perspective for me. Watch here:

Here are some photos from the memorable event:

Ella and her fiercest advocate, her mother

Entertaining the kids from St. Judes at Build-a-Bear

Marlo Thomas entertaining the kids from a NYC elementary school

The board of stickers from each young participant

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the nation’s leading research and treatment center for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.  No child is ever turned away because of a family’s inability to pay.  They cover all costs for treatment, travel, food and lodging for patients and one family member.  St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with the medical community worldwide.  St. Jude has the largest protocol-based pediatric brain tumor research program in the country and has one of the largest pediatric sickle cell disease programs in the country.  St. Jude discovered a way to lessen side effects, making radiation treatment more effective for virtually all cancers.

This is the type of event I dream about as a blogger.  It was an opportunity to teach my son about generosity and altruism.  I have high hopes for the Build-A-Bear/St. Judes partnership.  Please book your BAB party today and make a difference.

Disclosure: I was invited to this event as a blogger.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

As soon as I walked into the Javits Center last Tuesday and saw a life-sized Lightening McQueen car built out of 325,000 Lego pieces, I knew it was good thing I was on my own.  There is no way kids should be ever allowed to enter Toy Fair, or certainly not my own kids.  My son actually had a melt-down before school as I was leaving for Toy Fair..  He was convinced that I was going to see toys he had only dreamed about.  He was right.  I did see everything!

As far as toys go in the digital space, there was evidence that more physical games are inching closer and closer to the world of smart phone and tablet apps.  Angry Birds had an impressive presence, showing off its new merchandise to accompany its app’s increasing fame, as well as a new app, Angry Birds: Knock on Wood. More and more companies are launching iPads for kids, like Fisher Price, VTech and LeapFrog.  Fisher Price’s iPad stood out, mainly because it’s meant for children 6-months and up. It goes to show you how parents are giving into their children’s growing demands for gadgets, particularly the iPad.  The fair included a technology expo called Engage!  I was surprised to see that, despite the conference that accompanied the expo with the same name, with a wonderful line-up of sessions and accomplished speakers from all over the industry, there were only about 20 booths to represent the growing digital presence.   I hope that the expo’s offerings expand next year.

There were a lot of companies that particularly caught my eye, including Zhu Zhu Pets, Lego and Mega Brands who have some of the hottest new toys around.  Another one was Madame Alexander.  Growing up as a little girl with a passion for dolls, I thought they had a stunning collection.  It took me down memory lane.  Their collection spans the the past and future, with beautifully crafted dolls. Some of their collections include the American Ballet Theatre dolls, the Tudors (based on the Showtime show), Pinkalicous, Favorite Friends, Peter Pan, The Addams Family, Cissy, Alex Runway, Little Women, the Wizard of Oz, Angelina Ballerina, Olivia the Pig, Holly Hobbie, Rainbow Brite and so many others.

One of my daughter’s favorite series, Fancy Nancy, is also represented by Madame Alexander, and I am happy to announce a giveaway!  Fancy Nancy Ohh La La It’s Beauty Cloth is a doll that I love.  It retails for $59.95.  She’s a cutie and just came out on the market.  Kids of all ages will love her.  And I’m giving one to the winner of this contest!

You can win a Fancy Nancy doll by Madame Alexander on the Culture Mom today.

Disclosure: This doll will be provided to the winner, free of charge, with no requirement or agreement of review requested in turn from myself.

When I was offered the opportunity to review the new iCarley 2 iJoin the Click! game for Wii, I could not resist.  Not only is my 7-year-old obsessed with the Nickelodeon program, but so is my 6-year-old son.  I actually spent a few years working for the company.  My daughter asks me almost daily why I left and can I please return? She really wants to meet Miranda Cosgrove!   “Sorry,”  I have to tell her, “I can’t go back in time, and I left to pursue other dreams.”  It doesn’t quite matter what I say at this point, anyway.  She has to accept it.

Anyway, when the product arrived, as usual, I handed it right to my kids to test.  They couldn’t wait to try it out.  They learned quickly that it only accommodates one player at a time, which is fine when it’s just the two of them.  But when friends come over, it’s not ideal.

The game puts the player right in the middle of the iCarly world as a new student at Ridgeway High interacts with all of the show’s characters, and they get to go on quests for crazy items and stop by all of Carly’s hangouts. Players help Carly make the best webisode by utilizing the “LIVE in 5” mode to choose props and new show topics. Players can import their own pictures and images of themselves, their friends and even their pet, which my kids haven’t done yet, but it’s a very cool feature.

Like most Wii games, my kids enjoy this game, and it’s one that they have consistently picked up and gone back to play over and over since they got it in late November.  I’d say it’s a hit in my house, which is a good thing because I am certainly not for having left Nickelodeon.  If I hear, “can you just go work there for a few weeks so I can visit the set of my favorite shows?” one more time, I might scream.  But not in your ear.

iCarly 2: iJoin The Click! is available internationally on Wii™ and Nintendo DS™. The game is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. For more information, visit www.activision.com.

Disclosure: This product was provided to me for this review, but no opinion was expected of me.

Squinkies – Who would have known that these little miniature collectibles would be such a hit with my daughter? She takes them everywhere she goes in a bag and her friends bring them over on play dates and they trade.  Squinkies are found in different shapes of animals, pets, ponies, kittens, girls, fairies and many more.   SRP: Ranges from $13.99-$19.68 for packs of multiples.  Great stocking stuffers or small Hanukkah gifts for one of the eight nights you need smaller gifts before the bigger ones come.

Mixed Pups – The Mixed Pups are the newest and some of the cutest collectible toys this holiday season.  Mixed Pups are created by Jazwares and geared toward girls ages 4-7.  Mixed Pups are pocket sized dogs that girls can take apart and use their imaginations to create their own Pup design.  Mixed Pups, for kids ages 4 and up, range in price from $5.99 for the single packs, $9.99 for the double packs, $4.99 for the accessories, $19.99 – $24.99 for the playsets and $7.99 for the plush.

Fin Fin Friends – My daughter digs having Fin Fin Friends, pretend fish live in an aquarium in her room.   When she pours in water, the fish come to life and swim, express emotions and act like real fish.  It’s almost as good as having real fish in her room.  The fish have a SRP of around $10 and the play sets are around $30.

Paper Jamz Instant Rockstar – My son is a musician-wannabe and loves these feather-weight musical instruments he can carry around the house strumming tunes he knows.  The Paper Jamz guitar combines technology and play which allows for circuit-embedded paper.  There are no strings.  SRP: $24.99

Pinkalicious Large Soft Dolls - An 18″ doll that comes with a magic wand, tiara and wings.   My daughter, who is now 7, loves the majestic way about her and the fact that she is, of course, pink. SRP $19.97 She also loves the Pinkalicious Small Soft Dolls. This 12″ doll is outfitted in a medieval dress reminiscent of Goldilocks.  SRP: $9.97

Electra Doodle by Cra-Z Art - The CRA-Z-ART™ Electra Doodle Creative Light System is the first product of its kind to hit the market. The Electra Doodle allows young artists to design, create and animate using colorful light.  The Electra Doodle™ allows children and adults to play electronic games, solve mazes, do dot-to-dot games, and create kaleidoscope designs. My kids love drawing and doodling on an electric board that lights up.  It’s great for their senses, as well as their reflexes.  Made for children ages 5 and up. SRP: $29.99

Kidz Bop – The new Kidz Bop Dance Party for Nintendo Wii that just hit stores last month.  Labeled as the “ultimate party in your own living room,” it really is.  My kids are moving and grooving and loving this new game.  It features 24 songs from current top 40 musicans like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Keha, Michael Jackson, Disturbia and Rihanna.  Kids are the singers of the songs, just like on the Kidz Bop CDs.  Some of the lyrics have been altered to fit the tates and minds of children. SRP: $39.99

Kung Zhu Pets – The Kung Zhu Battle Hamsters, the militant arm of Zhu Zhu, is a hit in my house.  The new line will feature Special Forces, Ninja Warriors, Rangers, and the Skull Tribe Battle Hamsters, along with armor/battle gear, vehicles, and training arenas.  They dart around, scurry from place to place, and coo and squeak based on the unique environment they encounter. But all that changes when the hamsters encounter the magical “Tablet of Zhu,” a special training ground that transforms the Zhu Zhu Pets into Kung Zhu Special Forces or Ninja Warriors, ready to do battle against each other. Great for boys who are into war and battles, like my five-year-old.  SRP: Retail on each set, zhu zhu pet and armor, is about $20.

B-Smart Barbie Laptop -  Girls age 3-6 will enjoy the 8 interactive educational activities and games featured in this Barbie Little Learning Laptop.  It’s really for children about to start pre-school.  I love any toy that advances girl’s technology skills. SRP: $19.99

Best Pals – The Best Pals dolls remind me of the rag doll that I loved as a child.  They are traditional rag dolls, made of soft cloth and yarn.  They have embroidered faces and yarn hair.  They come in a variety of hair colors, blond or brown, and skin colors, white or black.  Their dresses are old-time and they come with Mary Jane shoes, knit stockings and beaded baby bracelets.  They are inspired by the original hand sewn rag dolls made for Kathy and Janet Lennon by their mom and nana when the sisters were 6 and 3-years old.  Their line also includes mini dolls, a tea set, a doll trunk gift set, paper dolls and several CD sets. Dolls are $24.95.

Nano Bridge Battle Habitat Set – Your kids will love battling their HEXBUG Nanos (crawling bugs) with the Bridge Battle Habitat Set. Nanos can enter the arena through one-way gates and battle against one another until only one remains.  Each Bridge Battle Habitat Sets comes with 2 extremely rare Nano mutations and 29 easy connect pieces, giving your child the freedom to get creative and see how many ways their Nanos can battle!  They crawl around like real bugs.  My kids can play this for hours and hours and never get bored.  SRP: $39.99

ISL Learning System – A learning and entertainment device with a Story Book, Game Player, Music Player, Art Studio, Note Book and Photo Album.  It comes with three colors – pink, blue and silver.  My son has really enjoyed learning about words and it’s been great for word comprehension.  For kids ages 3-6.  SRP: $79.99.

Tangled Rapunzel Hair Braider Doll – My daughter has loved playing with this barbie with hair she can braid.  She has to crank the wheel to get the perfect braid.  It will make seeing the movie next week even more fun.  SRP: $24.99

The products featured in this review were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing and review. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on my views and opinions. Please note that these opinions have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.