superdumb supervillain: Bake Me A Cupcake, As Fast As You Can
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Friday, September 05, 2008

Bake Me A Cupcake, As Fast As You Can

***WINNER PICKED 9/19 (LATE!!! I totally blanked!!!) WITH RANDOM.ORG***
***CONGRATULATIONS, Hannah!!!***

her comment...
I love the Gorilla Blocks! How fun!




At four (and a half!), Roo is more than able to get her own drinks and snacks. She always wants to help in the kitchen but it's sometimes hard for me to back off and let her do things her way. I think this is part of being raised by a woman who wouldn't let me have an easy bake oven because I might burn the house down. I have control issues, obviously. Bob is considerably more laid back about letting Roo loose in the kitchen. I really have to make an effort to relax when she is wielding knives or working around hot things. That's why I was excited when I heard about the new cooking-centric line of toys by Jakks Pacific.

Girl Gourmet is a collection of fun bakeware and accessories for young cooks. We got to try the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker, which lets kids bake single serve cupcakes in the microwave in 30 seconds and then ice them with a swirly frosting dispenser that looks a bit like mommy and daddy's stand mixer. I can't even begin to tell you how much I would have loved the Girl Gourmet sets as a child. The pastel colors and miniature utilitarian objects are totally girly and charming.



Roo loved the entire process. From mixing the cupcake batter in the teeny bowl to scraping it into the tiny pleated paper cup with a wee spatula, she was entranced.



She was particularly keen on pushing the handle down on the frosting spinner. This is supposed to be done SLOWLY and GENTLY, two things that are anathema to my lovely daughter. Combined with my own inability to mix frosting from a powder, this was a messy proposition. Add one small spoon of warm water to frosting mix. How hard could that be?


Umm, apparently mommy can't mix two tablespoons of instant frosting to the proper consistency. One of my first jobs after college was working in a cookie bakery, so this was particularly embarrassing for me. I am generally a pretty proficient baker. But somehow I totally suck when you're just supposed to add water. I flubbed the microwave settings, too. It's supposed to take 30 seconds but our archaic microwave needed a full minute to bake a cupcake.



I think Roo was emboldened by my suckiness. She wanted to keep plugging away at it! We made all four of the mixes included in our Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker starter kit, so we could each have one to try. Mommy, Daddy, Roo and Jasper. Roo was obsessed! Even when I decided to make the frosting extra stiff since I was erring on the side of runny and we ended up with a tootsie roll/turd looking garnish:



She ate that one herself. Because it was the lone chocolate frosting in the bunch. That's my girl! I've certainly made prettier cupcakes before but Roo had way more fun with these. I kept apologizing for messing up the mixes and she said that it was still "SO FUN!!!"



The Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker retails for about $30. Refill mixes are available and I would suggest buying a bunch, unless you're old hat with the microwave or easy bake type cookery. I'm also contemplating some trial and error mixing of my own since I read a microwave cake in a cup recipe somewhere a while back. I'll let you know if I find a cheapskate solution. Or if I just splatter stuff all over my kitchen, which isn't unlikely! Roo's dying to try the Girl Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwich Maker, too, which looks more Naomi-proof…



To enter and win your own Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker, please comment on this post with your favorite toy from the Jakks Pacific website.


Entries will be accepted through September 17th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:




***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

142 comments:

  1. You'll need to get Jasper the Creepy Crawlers oven so he can bake some bugs. I'd bet he'd be eating them though.

    I too would have loved this as a kid. I had the Holly Hobby oven (the ruthless competitor to the Easy Bake) and I burnt the tips of my fingers plenty of times. I can't believe my parents didn't take it away once the cake mixes were done.

    I'm glad Roo had such a great time!

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  2. the creepy crawly stands out for me too as fun-
    loved the descriptions that were so real of how the chocolate icing looked like turd tootsie roll--hmmm

    don't worry about not being perfect and it ending up perfect because it was a learning experience for your daughter and great memory which will stay in her head alot longer than a perfect day, it shows your daughter its ok if things do not turn out perfect like the stores

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  3. the super terminator top secret all terrain attack vechile for my grandson

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  4. my son loves the road champs toys

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  5. i love Funnoodles! my nieces and nephews really love noodles in the pool, but funnoodles look like animals! such a great float for pools.

    qtelee143@yahoo.com

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  6. FOr some reason (mainly because I don't know what half of the brands or tv shows are from the other things), I chuckled at the dragon funnoodles. So much more fun than the regular ones, 'cause they are either snakes or water launchers anyways!

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  7. My kids would love the Eyeclops.

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  8. My kids would have so much fun with the Eyeclops! It would be fun and educational for them.

    samsakara@twcny.rr.com

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  9. This looks terrific for my three young children! I know they would flip for the chance to make cupcakes with their own special tools. Thanks for a great contest!

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  10. Road champ toys are good for my son.

    angelina115@hotmail.com

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  11. My son saw the super terminator top secret all terrain attack vehicle and now he wants it.

    rebbi511 at peoplepc.com

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  12. Pac Man plug n play! WOOT WOOT!

    This baking stuff looks awesome; the fun of Easy Bake without the agony of waiting 45 minutes for a light bulb to cook your 2" cake.

    I love it. I want to collect them all!

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  13. The Blo Pens look like fun!
    khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  14. I like the Dora the Explorer items!!!
    cjnedrow@gmail.com

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  15. My daughter thought the Gorilla Blocks were great.


    Ellen
    eering99@hotmail.com

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  16. gorilla blocks for my grandson

    joliexox@hotmail.com

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  17. I think Gracie would really like the Tuta Bella line.

    Thanks for the chance.

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  18. Blopens Air Coloring Set. How fun!
    jennem22 at yahoo dot com

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  19. I need an Eyeclops.

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  20. ethan would love The Bionic Eye that plugs into your TV!
    thanks!
    moore.g@insideconnect.net

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  21. My kids would love the Dora the Explorer art sets.

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  22. we'd love the funnoodles!! The cupcakes look pretty darn good to me :)

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  23. Road Champ cars-You can never have enough.

    risanjax@metrocast.net

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  24. I like their Dora The Explorer arts and activities sets.

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  25. Your story reminds me of a time when my niece and I had a lip gloss kit go wrong. It was missing the main ingredient! I like the Pink Power breast cancer Care Bear the most. I'd love to try out the cupcake machine too!

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  26. I loved road champ toys

    herry123_us@live.com

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  27. I love the Gorilla Blocks! How fun!

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  28. I would love the Dora The Explorer activity toys. My granddaughters love Dora. Thank you so much!
    judybrittle(at)aol(dot)com

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  29. The EyeClops has been on my daughter's Christmas list since last year.

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  30. The Fun Noodles sound like a blast!

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  31. My boys would love the Backyardigans Magnetic Paper Dolls

    but they would love the cupcake maker too!!!

    jolie at jolieannephotography dot com

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  32. The Blopens look pretty cool, but the Gorilla Blocks are by far my favorite - they look like such fun for little ones!
    belinda_streak(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  33. My daughter would like this. I really like the Rocky action toys.
    -Terra
    partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  34. Fly Wheels XPV Vehicle
    luckydolls123[at]verizon[dot]net

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  35. Love seeing that Creepy Crawler Bug Maker Oven is still around ;)

    ladyblue1112000[at]yahoo.com

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  36. My niece would love this, she is always "baking" away. As much baking as a 5 year old can do :)

    Love your site, very fun

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  37. The Eyeclops looks like fun for my son and the baking stuff would be something that my daughter and son would enjoy.

    cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  38. Fly Wheelz are great! My son has a few of them and they are so much fun! Thanks!

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  39. Gorilla blocks are awesome! The funnoodles came in at second. kdgalo (at) gmail (dot) com.

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  40. I like the RC and Infrared race cars. thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com

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  41. Love the Fairly Odd Parents art and activity kit - it is one of our favorite shows to watch with the kids!

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  42. EEEK! They sell those BloPens. Those things are so fun! Sage and I have spent many a rainy day with the BloPens and stencils. SO much fun!

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  43. Super Terminator Top Secret All Terrain Attack Vechile

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  44. I like the Barney instruments.
    maquel@emmiekate.com

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  45. I think the blowpens look like lots of fun for my girls.
    eslewis_(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  46. Terminator top secret all-terrain attack vehicles for my nephew! Wow would he love this!

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  47. I love their pokemon products. My son is a HUGE pokemon fan.

    http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
    melanieadey at hotmail dot com

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  48. I've never tried them but think the Blopens looks really fun, for kids of all ages...myself included! :)

    lilacflowers180 AT yahoo DOT com

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  49. I would like the Radar Extreme 2005

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  50. The blo pens for our family. Thanks for the chance to win!!

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  51. The Fun Noodles do look really FUN!

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  52. the gorilla blocks definitely
    petteytiffany@yahoo.com

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  53. The sponge bob sleeping bag is cute.

    Mommymeng@gmail.com

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  54. My daughter would love this. We would both have so much fun. I also love the spa factory items. So cute.

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  55. My daughter loves the Slumber bags. She sleeps in hers every night!

    brookeaheaton(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  56. My kids would love making forts with the gorilla blocks! FUN!

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  57. Ooh, i think the Blo-Pens look like tons of fun!
    pposwaps(AT)gmail.com

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  58. i like the gorilla blocks. always loved building when I was small.

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  59. The funnoodles look like so much fun! Summer is over, but they would be great for the pool next year!

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  60. I like the windwheels from 'Go fly a kite'!
    treflea4[at]gmail[dot]com

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  61. I love the slumber bags! Thanks for the great giveaway!
    ann dot guns at mac dot com

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  62. Hello! The "Gorilla Blocks" are great for boys and girls. Please enter me in your drawing for the cupcake maker! Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  63. The fly wheels look like fun!! Great giveaway!

    seeryusfam@msn.com

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  64. I love the Gorilla Blocks....hours of fun! ~Thanks

    tonihacka@hotmail.com

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  65. We have been wanting the Eyeclops. This is a great giveaway and my daughter would love it.

    teaandthee at gmail.com

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  66. I think the Dora the Explorer Felt Playset would be really popular at our house!
    Thanks!
    Megret
    musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com

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  67. What a great contest. My neice would love the slumber bag for visits with us.

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  68. The blo pens look like fun. Maybe a bit messy but still fun.

    My niece adores cooking and making cupcakes. I bet she would love this.

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  69. the Blopens sound fun
    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

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  70. I love the blow pens! and fireworks gel pens/pencils!

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  71. my daughter is into the pokemon toys, especially the playsets and figures
    jceko77@yahoo.com

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  72. The tutubella doll is really cute. germandarius{at}gmail.com

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  73. My kids would all really think that Nickelodeon slime was waaay cool!

    ajcmeyer AT go DOT com

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  74. I'm not sure if it counts as a toy but I love their slumber bags - especially the Spongebob Squarepants one. Thanks for the chance! afdr3d@umkc.edu

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  75. The fun noodles, thank you. Icetwofire[at]aol[dot]com

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  76. The classic Creepy Crawlers is my favorite. I remember my brothers making it and my kids do too! You can't go wrong with that.
    doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
    Elizabeth

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  77. I love the Eyeclops!

    kelli at pfrog dot net

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  78. Tuta Bella for sure! Thanks for hosting! We love cupcakes & cooking in general.

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  79. My son would love the Rocky action figures!

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  80. my son loves the road champs toys.
    erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

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  81. My girls would love this set and we have also heard the Eyeclops is really cool!! Thanks!!

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  82. Tu Ta Bella oll is cute. blims613@spetnik.com

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  83. I've been wanting the Eyeclops since last Christmas. It would be cool to win for this Christmas!!! I think I would like to play with that thing.

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  84. I love this cupcake maker, I look at it everytime I go to the toy store - it's a must have on my daughter's christmas list!

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  85. oh these are so cute!! i honestly like the cupcake maker the best. my neices would die for that! thank you!!!
    thewehrungs@yahoo.com

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  86. Sounds like your little Roo had a wonderful time.

    My kids would love the Blopens.

    purehrt555(at)yahoo(dot)Com

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  87. The Spa Factory looks like a lot of fun!

    legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com

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  88. The spa factory playset looks fun.
    ksieker(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  89. So embarrassed to say that I need to get the Barney Cell Phone. My middle child loves phones AND Barney. How perfect, right?

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  90. I would love the blopens for my girls!

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  91. The All Terrain Attack Vehicle looks cool.
    gkstratos@yahoo.com

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  92. wow now this is realy grate i love to try and win this for my little ones cousent i think she get a kick out of this thanks

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  93. My kids would love the eyeclops. My niece would love the cupcake baking set. khong0707 at yahoo dot com

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  94. My son would love the RC & Infrared Vehicles!

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  95. I wish I could say that I love the RC & Infrared Vehicles for a child, but my husband would love them more than any child! Sad, huh? jeepcutie82 at msn dot com

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  96. My daughter loves to help me cook, she would adore the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker. Also, the Gorilla Blocks are really great, those would be a ton of fun!

    Thanks!
    xpsundell(at)gmail(dot)com

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  97. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  98. The eyeclopes is fun even for an adult...my nephew has one!

    I think this cupcake maker would be a blast! I loved my easy bake
    mom2maria at hotmail dot com

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  99. TU TA BELLA FASHION DOLL is the winner here!

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  100. Great giveaway. Love the Blopens art supplies.

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  101. The TU TA BELLA fashion doll assortment looks like it would be cute! Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  102. My nephew would love Creepy Crawlers!

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  103. The Creepy Crawlers Bug Maker oven looks like a lot of fun.

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  104. Love the Gorilla blocks :)

    froggypartyof2@aol.com

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  105. The Eyeclops looks really cool. My kids would love that! They also would love the cupcake maker, and I would too haha. I wish they had that when I was a kid.

    Thanks for the contest!

    jesslag77 at yahoo dot com

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  106. Funnoodles are ny favorite. garrettsambo@aol.com

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  107. Definitely the I Love You Barney doll. Barney stuff is pretty hard to come by these days and I have a BIG fan.

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  108. The RC cars definitely. My husband and son would love them.

    My daughter and I love the Gourmet Girls line!

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  109. Creepy Crawlers! Thanks for the contest!

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  110. I love the Gorilla Blocks. Thank you.

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  111. I like the Spa Factory, I think my girls would enjoy that AND the cupcake maker, how fun!!

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  112. My little one would love this prize. She is always trying to be Mom's little helper in the kitchen as well. I am also a huge fan of the Cabbage Patch newborns. Reminds me of my childhood!!!

    sherri419 at gmail dot com

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  113. I like the Gorilla Blocks.

    Thanks!

    carissaad at aol dot com

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  114. Both of my kids would have a lot of fun with the Gorilla Blocks.

    miranda_e19[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  115. there was a beautiful butterfly kite that i had found. that would be a great treat to spend the day flying kites. fun, fun, fun!!

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  116. The Backyardigans magnetic paper dolls set.

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  117. Spa Factory would be one of my favorites for my girls.

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  118. A slumber party (or a make believe camp out) would be even more fun woth one of their slumber bags! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

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  119. I think the Go Fly A Kite kite is the makings of an awesome afternoon. Thanks!

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  120. the creepy crawlers look like fun! my nephew would like that!

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  121. Yes, I can see this getting a lot of use in the house, mostly when someone wants just a little something sweet. lol After looking at their site, learned they make an amazing noodle called the Funnoodle. Wish they sold those around here.

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  122. the creepy crawlers look like fun! my mason would like them!

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  123. I like the Spa Party Spa Sleepover for Three™ playset

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  124. The creepy crawlers bug maker is too cool.

    short_jennifer excite com

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