Neighborhood Toy Store Day- Shop Local on Saturday!

I first learned about the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), a non-profit organization that supports independent toy stores, back in 2009 when we received a fabulous Great Pretenders knight/dragon reversible cape and hood to review. Jasper still dresses up in that set almost daily, which I think is the perfect testament to the value of products selected as ASTRA Best Toys of the Year. They inspire creativity and are made to be kid-friendly and durable, unlike many mass-marketed toys which seem to fall apart right out of the box.

ASTRA's third annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day is coming up this Saturday, November 10th. You can use the handy search tool to find your local independent toyseller. (Ours is about three miles away and it's amazing- we could spend all day in there. And they'd probably even let us!) They most definitely have "The Woo-Hoo Factor:" smart, local and unique. 

We received two items from the 2012 Best Toys roster to review  and both were HUGE hits with our family.

The Loopdedoo spinning tool uses embroidery floss to create wrapped bracelets in any color combination you can dream up. It's a simple machine, using two cranks and hooks and no batteries. It's entirely kid-powered! It does take some manual dexterity so it's best for older kids. Roo is 8 and she needed a little bit of help tying the ends off and making sure it didn't unravel. She made bracelets for everyone! 

There are tutorial videos online to help instruct you in the more complicated patterns. It's a gift that keeps on giving, especially since the materials (yarn or floss) are so inexpensive. I could see adding handmade clay or shrinky dink charms, or even stamped metal. I may or may not have stolen this machine to keep in my office for future projects. It's pretty darned cool!

 Tenzi, by Carma Games, is a dice game that the whole family can enjoy. It consists of four sets of ten dice each and the rules are blessedly simple: you keep rolling until you get all ten dice showing one number. Tenzi is suggested for 8+ but Jasper is five and I actually think that it's a good tool to help smaller kids recognize number groups. (Obviously, you'd want to keep it away from toddlers who like to put choking hazards in their mouths!) All of us had a blast with this and it got quite competitive.

We haven't gotten past the original Tenzi rules yet but there are many, many variations. I'm actually thinking about picking up another set with different colors so we can have more than four people play at once. There's something very satisfying about hearing all the dice slap down on the table. It's super portable, too, so you could easily slip it into a bag for road trips.

 

Don't forget to shop local at your neighborhood toy store this Saturday, November 10th!

Keep up to date with the best in independent toys by liking The Woohoo Factor on Facebook or follow @TheWoohooFactor on Twitter. You can also search hashtags #toystoreday #localtoystore #shoplocal.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am a member of Child's Play Communications'Team Mom network. We received the toys pictured to facilitate this review. No additional compensation has been provided.  As usual, all opinions are my own. 

Tail Towns - Friendly Gaming on Facebook

Tail Towns Friends is a new free-play Facebook game that blends cute critters with a pastoral Kinkade-esque landscapes and soap-opera intrigue for a social media-enhanced gaming experience like no other. 

Unlike other FB games I've played, Tail Town Friends has detailed graphics and voiceovers that make it pretty addictive. It doesn't surprise me that it's the latest offering from Ganz, the makers of the insanely popular Webkinz retail/gaming phenomenon. The storylines are linked with collectible figurines that you can buy in real life. These figures are really sweet, hand-painted and very detailed. Each comes with a code so you can play the character in the game and have new goals to achieve, as well as an exclusive virtual item. This is our TT Friend, Chef Angelo:

 I assumed Tail Towns Friends would be a game for kids since the characters are so cuddly and sweet looking but there's some dramatic tension in the script. Nothing too wild to prevent your tweens from checking it out but it definitely requires more reading comprehension than a little kid can handle. I wish it was available on a standalone website, too, since Roo doesn't have her own Facebook account and I don't want her to play around on mine. Of course, that would mean I'd have to stop playing it myself. Ahem.

Here's what my orchard (NOT a farm, man!) is looking like currently. Just wait until I get a fancier house and some topiaries… 

You can send in-game gifts to your FB friends and, of course, the ever-popular requests. Tail Towns Friends might be a wee bit addictive. Just a gentle warning!

For more info, visit @tailtowns and on Pinterest at TailTowns.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received the figurine pictured to facilitate this review. No compensation has been provided. As usual, all opinions are my own.

Bop It! Smash

It's hard to find games that amuse both kids. Jasper's attention level is much shorter than Roo's and he has a tendency to get bored midway through and either steal all the pieces or make up his own rules, which pretty much ruins it for his poor sister. 

It's also ridiculously hot here in Kansas so the kids don't want to go outside unless it involves swimming or getting into a car to go somewhere air conditioned. I can't say I blame them– the high is supposed to be 111º today. Anyway, it's been kind of a pain trying to keep them entertained and moderately active indoors without hurting each other.

That's why I was pleased to receive Bop It! Smash, a new handheld interactive game that is deceptively simple but hopelessly addictive. The idea is to "catch" the flashing light as it speeds through the dots- you have to get it in the middle zone or you get trash talked. Yes, the game chews you out. It has arcade-like sounds and music and makes snarky comments that crack kids up. You can play it in three modes: solo, pass it, or multiplayer with up to six players. At first, the kids were annoyed because it's kind of hard. But then they figured out the rhythm and really got into it. I liked seeing them root for each other and using their reflexes. 

I must admit that Bob and I enjoyed trying it out, too, although I have to say the kids are waaaaay better at it!

Like Bop It! on Facebook and for more ideas on keeping your whole family engaged this summer, visit Family Game Night on Facebook and follow Family Game Night on Twitter.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that we received the game shown above to facilitate this review. All opinions, however, are my own.

Family Game Night

As part of TV Turn Off Week, which encourages families to resort to non-electronic forms of entertainment, Hasbro is challenging American families to spend some quality time together on Wednesday, September 23rd- tomorrow night! It's Family Game Night and everyone is invited to participate. Just gather your friends and family together for some unplugged activity… you might be surprised at how much fun you can have without staring at the boob tube. Or the internet, for that matter…

We received some Hasbro games to jumpstart our Family Game Night fun. A couple were old favorites: Guesstures, Boggle, Scattergories as well as one that's new to me: The Game of Things, which comes in a cool wooden box and is sure to get your friends giggling in no time.



The one I am most excited to play, though, is Connect 4x4, which is a 3-D update of the old Connect 4 game. My neighbors had the original when I was little and I coveted it! Now I can't wait to teach my kids how to play.



For more information and suggestions for age-appropriate games and snacks, check out www.familygamenight.com. For a limited time, you can earn bonus Box Tops for your favorite school with the purchase of certain Hasbro games.

If you're feeling adrift without some kind of electronic device plugged in, you can always pick up Family Game Night for Wii or PS2… just remember to play them with someone you love!

Roo's New Addiction (free offer)

Last Christmas, one thing kept appearing on the top of Roo's lists for Santa: Puppy in My Pocket. I knew she was obsessed with dogs but when she kept scrawling it all over, I assumed it was something she'd made up. Umm, no. Puppy in My Pocket is a line of teeny-tiny flocked puppies (and kitties and ponies and jungle animals, and now babies!!! scroll down for a picture…) that are ultra-collectible in the preschool/kindergarten/early elementary school girl world. You can even wear them as charms these days. Who knew?



Now Roo's discovered Pocketville, an online world where kids can play games, decorate their own environment, and adopt virtual "In My Pocket" pets. She loves creating and making over her own avatar and playing the free games to earn Paw Points to buy food and toys for her puppy, BoneCupcake.



Pocketville is 100% secure and no open chatting is permitted. All users are anonymous and can't share personal details with other players. Kids can learn responsibility by taking care of their virtual pets and virtual piggy bank account. I think it is helping Roo to learn hand-eye coordination and keyboard/mouse skills, too. The only drawback I can see with Pocketville is that Roo wants to monopolize my computer all the time now…

BlueSuitMom got us started in Pocketville with a voucher for 250 free tokens and the same offer is available for everyone! Simply use code B9GX8NUDYS when you register to play in Pocketville. (Offer expires on September 30th, 2009.)

Horseplay

I've written before about the Bella Sara trading card phenomenon. They have added two new product lines to their stable (sorry, I couldn't resist). The first is Bella Sara Treasures, which expands the collectible trading card packs to include a sticker and tattoos, as well as codes to enter for points on the website.



The other new addition to the World of Bella Sara is Bella Sara Miniatures. These look like regular Bella Sara card packs but inside is a tiny collectible flocked horse and a bonus code for website gameplay.



We received two Kallistas (Bob renamed her Calista Flockhorse) but there are twenty different horses to collect in the Bella Sara Miniatures series. I love how teeny tiny they are and so soft. Roo likes how colorful they are.



Enter the Bella Sara Treasure Hunt Contest to win fabulous Bella Sara prizes- now through April 30th.

Last-Minute Fair Trade One-stop Shopping!

***WINNER PICKED 12/27 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, Brooke!!!***

her comment...
I like the Traveline Robe Set.


Taraluna is an online boutique that offers something for just about everyone on your holiday shopping list. Their wide variety of merchandise isn't the only benefit of shopping at Taraluna: they take great pride in sourcing responsibly-made, quality merchandise that you can feel good about giving. Or keeping all for yourself…



First up, check out their distinctive Holiday decor. They have handmade ornaments from all over the world. My favorite holiday decoration is The Working Woman's Wreath, which is made up of Guatemalan worry dolls and certainly beats spray-glittered plastic holly berries on your front door!



Need a gift for teacher? Try something from their selection of Fair Trade Organic Chocolate. Giftee have a green thumb? Surprise him or her with the The Garden Makers Culinary Herb Garden Kit. Taraluna offers has a wide array of artisan-crafted jewelry and natural spa products for luxurious (but responsible!) gift giving. I love their winterwear options, especially the scarves and hats made from recycled silk saris. This recycled silk sari earflap hat is available in adult and kid sizes. I think it is super cute and I imagine very warm, since it is lined with cozy fleece.



Expecting mama or new baby on your list? Taraluna has you covered with a variety of beautifully handcrafted, Fair Trade, organic and natural products just for them. Do you have crazy kiddos like mine underfoot? Check out Taraluna's selection of wooden toys and puzzles or fun and educational games. Roo and Jasper received two of Taraluna's top-selling kid's items to review: Number Hunt!, a board game that teaches math alongside play, and the ImagiPLAY Pushalong Dog, a wooden dog-on-wheels. Roo liked Number Hunt's gorgeously colored jungle animal illustrations and trying a new way of practicing counting but I think that at 4 1/2 she's still on the young end for the strategy aspect of the game. It would probably be better suited for Kindergarten or early Elementary-aged kids. Or at least it would be more fun for parents to play Number Hunt with older kids!



Both of my kids fell in love at first sight with the unassuming little blue Pushalong Dog. I actually had to take him away several times because Roo and Jasper were snatching him from each other! Rarely have I seen one toy create such lust in a four year old and 16 month old… makes me wonder if they would both be as ga-ga over the similar ImagiPLAY Pushalong Hybrid Car! (The car is available in GREEN, of course!) At $15, this is a perfect gift for either gender and works well with other toys, too.



I am including a series of photos that show Jasper's unbridled love of the Pushalong Dog simply because I thought they were hilarious.






To enter and win a $25 gift certificate to Taraluna, please comment on this post and let me know your favorite item from their HUGE selection, aside from the items mentioned above.


Entries will be accepted through December 26th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.



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!***

Tell Me A Piggy Story

***CONGRATULATIONS, Andrea Shops (non-blogger)!!!***

her comment...
They have a lot of cool stuff for kids. I like the Travel Toy Tote by Alex.
It looks great for those long car rides. =)

Please email me to claim your prize!




Little Jet Set specializes in travel gear for kids and they offer almost anything you could possibly want to make your holiday trip with kiddos in tow go smoothly. I love their collection of kid-friendly luggage, airplane and road trip accoutrements. But don't assume you can't enjoy Little Jet Set at home, too! They have a great selection of toys and games for holiday gift giving whether you're a globetrotter or a homebody.

We got to try two of Little Jet Set's best offerings for creative kids. First up, the Tell Me A Story Mystery in the Forest cards by eeBoo.



eeBoo is known for its remarkable illustration work and this game is no exception. The concept behind the Tell Me A Story is great: each sturdy, heavy-duty card has a full-color image and your child uses them as a starting point to illustrate his or her own story. This is a fantastic alternative to all of the bells and whistles on most contemporary toys because it fosters imagination and narrative ability. Roo, being naturally loquacious, loved it immediately!



There are other themes in eeBoo's Early Learning Literacy series, including LIttle Robot's Mission Tell Me A Story cards and the Write Me A Story line, which encourages kids to keep their stories for posterity.



We also received the What's A Dragon Art and Activity Backpack by The Piggy Story. This is a well-appointed backpack for little doodlers, complete with a ten-piece double-sided washable marker set, activity book and doodle pad. All of The Piggy Story products feature signature prints that are absolutely adorable.



This dragon set is perfect for Jasper while the Pretty Princess Art and Activity backpack is more in tune with Roo's pink-lust. I love how there is a place for everything in this backpack, including slots for the pens and a removable pouch for other supplies that tend to fall to the bottom of a bag. The laminated finish make it very durable and easy to clean, too.



I also love the Doggy Diary print… I just wish they had a corresponding kitty print! Maybe on lavender. Hint, hint.

To enter and win your own What's A Dragon Art and Activity Backpack by The Piggy Story or Tell Me A Story Mystery in the Forest cards, please comment on this post with your favorite item from Little Jet Set.


Entries will be accepted through November 12th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader and leave an extra comment letting me know.



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!***



Be sure to stop back by during the week of November 10-14, Angie, Candice, Cheryl, Kathleen, Kristin and I will be hosting a bloggy Tea Party with fabulous reviews and giveaways– and no kids' stuff allowed! Get into the mood by putting our button on your sidebar (code is below, just copy and paste):

<a href="http://superdumbsupervillain.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="tea party" src="http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm402/Katwalck/teaparty.jpg"/></a>

They Trade Horses, Don't They?

Bella Sara, the girl-centric trading card phenomenon, is expecting a stable-full of new arrivals this fall. Baby Bella is the new series of cards featuring baby horses from North of North. We received a couple of packs, courtesy of Team Mom, and Roo is smitten. She loves the fanciful artwork on the cards and, of course, the gorgeous horses with their fancy names and inspirational quotes. She is also fascinated with the online world of Bella Sara where you can enter the codes found on each card and keep a virtual stable full of all of your horses. We haven't delved into much online entertainment with her yet, aside from the odd YouTube search, so I can't say with any authority how Bella Sara's usability compares with other toy-based online gaming. It seems a little arduous to me, constantly clicking to feed and groom your horses, keep them fed, etc. Roo could probably spend hours doing it, though, so obviously I am just old and boring…

At $3 a pack (7 cards), Bella Sara cards won't break the budget. If you have a daughter who loves horses and hoarding treasures, she will most likely love this, too. I think it would be even more appropriate for slightly older girls, especially beginning readers who will be able to read the mottos and names on the cards by themselves. Roo loves the online stuff but needs a lot of help with reading and manipulating the mouse. She would enjoy Baby Bella more if I wasn't messing with her baby horse rearing!

Family Game Night

***WINNER PICKED 9/25 WITH RANDOM.ORG***


***CONGRATULATIONS, #116: DEY!!!***


her comment...
I Spy Spooky Night looks great. Thanks for the giveaway,
I'd love to win I Spy Private Eye.




Beddy Bye Baby is a board game that is totally irresistible to little girls. Its simple goal is to collect cards representing the necessities (bottles, PJs and lovey bears) so that you will have everything on hand when your baby needs it with the ultimate goal of putting that little tyke to sleep. It's basically the board game equivalent of playing with baby dolls and Roo loves it. I was surprised at how much fun we had playing it all together as a family. I didn't even mind when she wanted to play it over and over again…it's definitely much more fun than putting a real baby to bed!



Another fun game by Briarpatch that we were able to try is I Spy Private Eye, which combines the elements of memory card games with the cube-juggling fun of Boggle. A built-in timer gives you thirty seconds to memorize all of the pictures on the nine cubes, then you pick a card and see how many items you can remember. The competition gets pretty heated, for both kids and adults!



To enter and win your choice of either Beddy Bye Baby or I Spy Private Eye, please comment on this post with which game you would like to win, plus your other favorite game from Briarpatch. There will be one winner for each game!


Entries will be accepted through September 24th 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!***