As simple as this....

I've been trying to figure out what my daughter wanted for her 5th birthday, so I decided to take her to the store and just have her tell me what she wanted, and in typical girl fashion, she pointed to every single thing in the store... much to my disapointment. Obviously I can't get her everything, nor would she play with everything, so I went back to square one and asked myself, "okay, what does she like to play with?" and then I remembered that she's always in her brother's room playing with his Lego's, so I thought, " oh boy, would she love some girly legos!!! Well girly legos I thought would be simple, but they are actually in the minority when you realize just how much they market towards boys, but over the weekend, I did manage to find a tub of girly colored legos at the lego store in our mall. $14.00, which is cheaper than what I was finding online so I'm happy :D she actually picked it out while we were there and was just goin' crazy over it so daddy bought it while her back was turned. Of course she started crying since she though she isn't getting it, but boy will she be surprised! This is something I definitely know she'll play with because she's always playing with her brothers. Now maybe she'll leave her brother alone :D

Here's the link to the lego set I bought:
Girly Lego's

Appreciating what they have

Usually I tell you what toys that I've bought for my children and how they liked them, but today I'm just going to talk about the importance of having your children appreciate what you have already given them.

Do you tend to go overboard on christmas? On their birthday? While these are special events, the true meaning of why we celebrate them can get lost quite easily under the mountain of presents. Remember, the child's expectations of how many gifts they will receive is based on how many they've gotten before. So if one year you splurged and got them everything they ever wanted, they will expect that again the next year and then if they don't get what they "expect" they are dissapointed.

We keep it very modest in our home. Most of the toys that we buy for our children we do on special occasions only. If I think they need a new toy during the year, I make sure they aren't with me when I buy it, thus removing the need for the children to associate store shopping with "getting" and thus avoiding having the child screaming "but I want it!" I think you know what children I'm talking about!

I can tell you it works because this is how I've been with my kids since they were born. They have NEVER begged me for things while I am out shopping because they don't know to do that.

At christmas time, we keep the focus on God and it's his birthday we are celebrating. The kids get one present from each member of the family. (except the grandma that goes overboard of course, and there's not much you can do about that)

At Birthday time, it's the same concept. Not big, lavish parties. We have a small party at home with cake and about 2 gifts from the family and my kids think it's the best birthday ever!

You may think we're mean, but we do love our kids. We love them enough to show them the true meaning of things, of life, and that it's not all about what toys they get. It's about love and appreciation for what we have.

New Winnie the Pooh Shirt Available

I have a brand new winnie the pooh shirt available for a limited time. It's brand new. my daughter LOVES the super sleuths, but this isn't her size so I'm passing it along.

I wanted my readers to have the first chance to bid on it so here it is:

Winnie the Pooh girls 2T shirt

thanks for looking!

Cute, Affordable Disney Shirt

If you have a boy in your household, chances are he like the Nightmare Before Christmas movie. In fact, a lot of adults (ahem* including me) love it too! So if you've been looking for a shirt for your child, I am offering one on ebay right now. The price is lower than I've seen and it's the only one on ebay in this particular style, so check it out~

click on the link to see the shirt:

New with Tags Nightmare Before Christmas Boys Shirt

Thanks for looking :D

Keep them busy for hours!

Kids love this stuff! You can mold it into anything you like, then tear it up and start over again, and it's fun for adults too.

What am I talking about? A great invention called Play-dough!

My kids play with play-dough more than they play with any of their other toys right now. If I need a moment of peace and quiet, I pull the play-dough out and let their imaginations sore!

obviously play-dough has been around for a long time and you can buy it just about anywhere, but did you know it's quick and easy to make your own?

here's the recipe:

1/2 cup salt
1 cup flour
1 tbsp cream of tartar (found in the spices section of your grocery store in a small jar)
1 tbsp oil
1 cup water
food coloring of your choice
or you could also use kool-aid and that will make it smell good too! (although I wouldn't recommend for small children since they may think it's okay to eat it!

Put all the ingredients together in a sauce pan on low/med heat stirring constantly. when the dough looks about right, take it off the heat and allow it to cool off.

Fun Ideas for Spring Break!

I am doing these with my own kids and there just isn't time for boredome here!
These are some things that I think are just out of this world fantastic and easy to do with your kids:

1. This is my absolute favorite: Crayola MESS FREE Color Wonder Finger paintsI bought mine at Michael's Craft store, but if you don't have one of those or maybe want to find it on the cheap, just take a look and compare prices here.

If you haven't heard of this stuff it is like the greatest stuff ever... for parents and kids! Your kids can finger paint with this stuff and it won't leave a mess for you to clean up anywhere! It only colors on the "special" color wonder paper that comes with it (you can buy it separately as well) but I was getting pretty sad cuz we are renting you know, and I just can't afford to have my 3 year old spilling paint on the carpet or some other nightmare. For me, this has been the ultimately perfect decision. I don't have to be nervous when she's painting. just enjoy watching her paint and not even have to clean up after her! You have to try this stuff if you haven't already! I am in love :)

2. Put a Puzzle together
I bought one with 50 pieces and pretty easy, but enough that it's fun for us (the parents) too. I put together the more difficult pieces, and kids love to sit there and play with the puzzle pieces and help you put it together. It really gets you and your kids together so you can bond. You can find some really cool 50 piece puzzles here.

3. Painting easter eggs
I'm sure everyone is going to be doing this sometime this week and this is loads of fun as well. I found some really awesome kits here.

4. Read a book about spring or St. Pats day
Kids love to be read to, and it's especially fun on special occasions to read books about whatever it is. I found some really adorable books here for fantastic prices.

5. Cook something together

Well, I think these five ideas will keep you busy enough today and through the week, so Happy St. Patricks Day and Have Fun!

How to Make the Perfect Easter Basket for Your Toddler

Author: Arlene Pellicane



Article:
Browsing online, I saw a toddler Easter basket selling for $65.
Since when does a parent have to spend so much money on a basket
filled with a stuffed animal, candy and plastic grass for a
two-year old? You can spend a lot less and create a basket
that’s even better because it’s tailor made just for your
child.

Here’s how you make a perfect Easter basket that will not
break the bank and make a great impression on your terrific
toddler:

1. Start with a basket you already have at home. Don’t buy
that Easter basket at the grocery store that you will use once
and then pitch into your garage to be lost forever. Can’t find
a basket? Look for a small plastic storage bin, decorate a
shoebox, or extra plastic wastebasket. Nix the cellophane wrap.

2. Skip the candy and load up on healthier treats instead. Your
toddler’s favorite fruits or crackers will do just fine. Or
try a new brand of cracker. If your toddler is asking for candy,
just include one small chocolate egg or a few peeps. Remember
the less your toddler is exposed to candy, the better!

3. Instead of filling plastic eggs with candy, fill them with
beans instead. Tape them up with colorful electrical tape and
you’ve got a new shaker instrument. You can also fill the eggs
with small toys or stickers.

4. Include items you need to buy anyway: a toothbrush with one
of your child’s favorite characters, nice socks, new character
underwear or pajamas.

5. Great toys to include are inexpensive items like crayons,
sidewalk chalk, coloring books, toy cars, stickers, play doh,
rubber duckies and other toys for the bath.

6. Celebrate the coming of spring with some outdoor activity
toys like a Frisbee, bubbles, or ball.

7. Write them a simple note that says “I love you” or
“Happy Easter.” Encourage them to say each letter in your
note.

Create your basket with your toddler in mind. Include some of
his or her favorite things and you’ll be sure to have a hit!
And it will cost you a lot less than $65.

Creative Kids!

My son got a ton of Marvel cars of all of his favorite characters for christmas this year (Hulk, spiderman, batman, the list goes on) and he loves them, but what caught my eye was when I walked in his room one day, and saw how he had arranged them...



I was actually impressed! It looks to me that he has shaped them into a transformer!

MEGATRON DECEPTACON

This is, of course the baddest of the bad deceptacon robots from transformers, Megatron! We were lucky to find this toy as I had not seen it in the stores around town here.

It is a bit complex for the toddler to shift it into the ship it changes into, but my son always just plays with him as is, so we haven't had any problems with it. And he loves it! he absolutely adores Transformers.

I give this toy a 9 out of 10!

Transformers Movie Review

This is the perfect movie (in my opinion) for kids and adults alike. We all love this movie. We bought it when it came out and we still laugh at Shia's jokes even though we have heard them a hundred times.

This movie is truely a classic to ad to your collection. My 3 year old even likes this movie!

We did a Transformers birthday (per request) for our son and the picture says it all. He was a happy boy!


What else can I say? TRANSFORMERS ROCKS!!!

Compromising on a Birthday Cake Budget

There is no doubt when you have picked out the perfect gift for your child.
My son's birthday was a hit this year. He went back to school bragging to all his friends what he got for his birthday. It made me feel so great.

How I did it was simple. I asked him what he wanted, and I did it. You may think now hold on! I can't afford to do everything my child wants me to do. Maybe not. I know I can't, but I can improvise, which is what I did this year!

He wanted everything transformers all the way down to the cake. I could not afford to get a huge sheet cake with the extra kit you have to buy at the store to make it transformers. We could never eat the whole thing anyway!

All the cake was for the kit was completely blue with red icing flames, with a transformers toy on top. That cake was $25!

I decided to get a 1/2 sheet cake for $6.99, and had them make it blue with red trim. (this is PLENTY of cake for a family of 4), had them write his name on it, then I searched for something transformers to put on top of the cake.

I couldn't find a toy I was happy with, but I went to the party store and found a gummy transformer with the same coloration as the cake (I think that's optimus prime) and put that on top.

So then I cut out the part of the package to the gummie that said transformers and put it on the cake as well as a header.

I thought the end result was perfect and my son loved it!

The Real "Santa's Helpers"

When will this stop? Personally, I think this may only get worse, because even if they tried to fix what is going on in china, or stop buying their toys, our markets will crash. America is just making way too much money off of chinese products.

We, as consumers need to take a stand and hit them where it hurts, (their pocket books) otherwise, this will continue on for the rest of our lives.

I found this video to have a wealth of information. It is a year old, but has anything changed?

This is an interview with Charles Kernaghan, Executive Director of the National Labor Committee.

Interesting Find....

I found a video today while researching the toy recalls, and found this to be important enough to post.

This video is of an amateur filmer that went to his local walmart one day, to find that the store is selling it's chlorine products for swimming pools right by the children's toys, when it says on the chlorine bottles, "keep out of reach of children", it is stocked from the top all the way to the floor where children can easily reach it.

What is wrong with this picture?

Found! American Made Toys!

I have been searching and searching for this and finally I found an easy to navigate site where you can buy American made toys. This is a HUGE help to those of us that want to play it safe and stay away from China's toys. I even heard a terrible story a few days ago that said they poisoned their kids at a local school there in china. Most kids that ate their school lunch that day became ill. I am very concerned about China and so whenever I find something useful, I will pass it along to you.
This is the site I found. It will take you directly to the page where you can search for American made toys.

http://www.fatbraintoys.com/specials/made_in_america.cfm?source=google&kwid=made+in+america&gclid=CPO36sPxpZACFUWoGgod3lMd7A

A Brand New Grandma!

My kids Grandma was recently forced to retire due to her growing number of health problems.

The root cause: Obesity. She has been obese all of her life and has always been scared of surgery, but she didn't have much of a choice at this point. They told her if she didn't lose weight, she'd be in a wheelchair soon.

Many grandmas share this same story. I know, I have seen several since I started to research different surgical options with my mom.

Lapband surgery was very attractive to my mom. She would be up and running after 1 week recovery, which is actually quicker than it used to be for lap band surgery.

Lapband is also the least invasive form of weightloss surgery with the least hospitalization, and the quickest recovery. With other surgeries such as stomach stapling and gastric bypass, unexpected complications can arise.

My mother weighed the pros and cons of all, and in the end opted for the gastric bypass about 6 months ago. With the lapband, she would have been required to drive every month or 2 to her doctor 1 1/2 hours away to get the band adjusted and she thought it more practical to just get it over with and just do the gastric bypass.

In six months time, she has lost a total of OVER 100 pounds, and is starting to feel better. Yes-just starting! Her recovery was not fun at all and more painful than she thought it would be, but now she is well enough to start enjoying dropping a different size every week, and we are happy to have a healthier grandma.

To find out more about the lapband surgery, click on the link below.
central florida weight loss surgery

Stocking stuffer Idea :)

I had a few things already planned to go in my kids stockings, but then my ideas ran out. This is a simple idea which you may or may not have already thought of, but hey, it's not bad and it's pretty much free.

Everytime we go to Burger king, my 5 year old is way more interested in which toy he's gonna get instead of if he will have a hamburger or chicken, so the last time we were out I told him if he didn't stop talking about it, he couldn't have a toy. So of course, he wouldn't listen to me and went on and on about it. So I took the toy away from him. He did not see what it was, so I put it in my purse and started thinking. My husband gave me this funny look and he could tell what I was thinking... stocking stuffer!!!

He was laughing at me, but I think it's a great idea. and guess what? you already bought the kids meal, so it's free! he will be more than happy to see it on Christmas morning.

Shop Safely For Toys, Amidst Growing Number Of Recalls

Author: Judy Griscom

Article:
Dolls. Trains. Play sets. Accessories.

It use to be that safety considerations associated with
children's toys were limited to choking hazards. We're familiar
with the warning, "Never give small toys to children under 3
years of age". Recently, though, there have been new problems
that make us almost long for the days when a choking hazard was
our only safety concern.

Companies that parents have relied upon for quality toys for
years are now being tested, undergoing public scrutiny and
issuing recalls on their products due to substandard and even
hazardous production. Virtually every manufacturer is being
questioned regarding the quality of the products they offer.
With the holidays quickly approaching, what can parents do to
find great products and gifts for their children that will
capture their interest, but most importantly, are also safe for
children to use?

First of all, check out any toy company or product with a click
of the mouse by visiting The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) website. The CPSC posts their recalls on all
products they have reviewed as soon as they are available. While
recalled items are typically pulled from the stores as soon as
the announcement is made, early shoppers need to pay close
attention to recall announcements for toys they may already have
purchased.

Next, invest some time researching your gift ideas. Many online
toy companies are now linking to safety guides on their sites.
They are adding toy safety guides for the product lines they
carry, and are also contacting their vendors to ensure the
products they are selling are safe and thoroughly tested.
Whether you intend on shopping online or at a brick-and-mortar
store, do your homework first and check out what other companies
are saying about the toys you are considering. Look for products
recommended by "toy authorities" such as Oppenheim and Dr. Toy.
They closely review children's products and make recommendations
according to their own standards. Their product selections are
not immune to possible hazards, but it is infrequent that their
choices are recalled.

Another suggestion is to change your overall shopping process.
Look for smaller, more specialized stores that take the time to
carefully screen each product that is offered. A smaller store
tends to focus on fewer vendors, giving them greater control
over the products that are sold. Check each vendor for a safety
statement, indicating their commitment to providing quality,
safe products to purchase. Buying name-brand items makes them
easier to identify in a recall, rather than a generic version
with no well-defined brand name. Keep receipts and/or model
numbers for easy reference and returns, should a recall be
issued.

Look for online sites and stores that sell products from
reputable manufacturers. Many vendors and manufacturers will
happily provide information regarding their product production
to help allay any concerns that may arise in regards to quality.
If manufacturer information is not available for a product,
chances are it is not from a quality manufacturer. Take notice
of manufacturer information on product packaging as well.

Many problems have been noted among toys manufactured in China,
which has led to a common thought that all Chinese-made toys
made present problems. The reality is that it is quite possible
to manufacture quality toys in China, as long as the U.S.
companies focus their efforts on production and quality
assurance, and follow up with thorough testing of the end
product. If anything good can come from the recent recalls, it
may be that vendors are now becoming more aware of the need for
quality control, and the responsibility they have in assuring
the consumer that they are taking the necessary steps to provide
the level of quality and safety that parents require.

Finally, as a caregiver or parent, please remember that all toys
are potentially hazardous, depending upon how they are used by
the child. Make sure to read the packaging and instructions.
Production companies package products for children with age
guidelines posted clearly on the label. These age specifications
are provided for safety reasons and should be followed when
buying toys and products for children. Toys with small parts
should not be given to children under 3 (or any child who
habitually puts objects in his or her mouth) to avoid a possible
choking situation. Read any instructions or warnings that are
included with the product to ensure proper use and care. Anyone
who will be using the product should be made aware of the
appropriate way to use it.

Children need adequate supervision to make sure they use toys
and products appropriately. And, for those toys that are just
too tempting to be used the way they are intended? Store them
for a rainy day - next year.

About the author:
Judy Griscom is a preschool teacher and mother of two boys. She
recommends that parents review WonderBrains' href="http://www.wonderbrains.com/help/toy-safety-guide.html">toy
safety guide to find out more about toy quality and safety.

An alarming find!

I thought I was pretty careful in chosing toys n' such for my children this year. With the rediculous number of recalls from items from china, including but not limited to: Beef sold here, toys, etc, we all need to be diligent.

What I don't get is how they can continue to get away with this. I heard a story on the news last night about beef being recalled that was dated October 10 and they say, "If you have it, don't eat it, throw it out". HELLO! If anyone DID have meat dated OCTOBER 10, I think we would have ate it already! How can this continue to happen? I have seriously been considering going vegetarian because of this ongoing problem.

Now about toys, I guess America just doesn't make it's own toys anymore. I was very careful in my selections this year, though I did not read the labels. I shopped at my local PX thinking surely it would be made in the USA, nope! I bought my son a castle set with a dragon, etc, ... Made in China! Barbie: Made in China, Childrens watches from Wal-Mart: Made in China, Lite Brite: Made in China, Playdoh Creations Bucket: Made in China. Black spiderman Venom: Made in China.

So what did I buy that WASN'T made in China? A Coloring book: Made in Ashland, Ohio and guess what the crayons... Made in the USA! (crayola brand) Thank God for that at least! It would be pretty terrible if the coloring book was made here and the crayons in china!

Other things that you can find that are not made in china: Clothes. I purchased some Old Navy Clothes for christmas that were not made in china.

:) So good luck to everyone this year. It is slim pickin's for American Made products. I am not too worried about my China selections since my kids are old enough they do not put things into their mouths, but I would be extra careful if you have babies!

'Made In China' Toys: Is Your Family Safe?

Author: Sarah Corlett

Article:
With the massive number of recalled goods manufactured in China
this past year, there is certainly cause for concern. From pet
food to children's toys, the products found to be contaminated
or simply unsafe have hit families where they can truly be hurt.

A statistic that cannot be ignored is the fact that products
made in China account for 80% of all toys sold in the United
States, and a similar pattern holds true for the rest of the G8
countries - the richest nations in the world. All of these
countries maintain high government-enforced safety standards in
the manufacture of toys, but China is behind in such regulation
and they find themselves short-staffed to enforce the
regulations they do have. The fact of the matter is, as long as
large corporations such as Mattel look to shave dollars off of
their bottom line by having their manufacturing done in the
developing world, rather than within the G8 countries where
their toys are primarily sold, these sorts of problems will
continue to arise. The factories where these goods are being
produced use cheap components and even cheaper labour. I know
it's a cliché, but you do very often get what you pay for.

There are some people who have spoken up in defense of the
practice of farming out manufacturing jobs, as well as other
jobs requiring large numbers of workers (such as call centres),
to the developing world, saying that it reduces costs to the
consumers. Frankly, I believe that it only increases profits to
the companies that use these factories. However, when companies
cut costs, somebody somewhere has to pay them - and it seems
that it usually ends up being the shopper that is buying their
toys. We're seeing it now, in the massive recalls that have
probably only just begun.

That is not to say that China hasn't felt the sting of this
global controversy. The head of the Chinese toy factory at the
centre of the lead paint dispute took his own life in one of his
warehouses shortly after the world-wide August 2007 recalls that
brought so much negative attention to the country's
manufacturing industry. Mattel has announced stricter scrutiny
of its own products prior to their distribution and some members
of the government of the United States have called for
legislation to detain Chinese made products at customs for full
safety inspections before allowing them to enter their country.
With such a negative light shining on their manufacturing
industry and the Olympics coming to Beijing, the Chinese
government is likely to step up regulation in its manufacturing
industry to counteract the bad public relations that they have
received thus far. What that will mean to large companies like
Mattel is hard to predict at this point, but I think that a
higher cost for toys at the cash register is a small price to
pay for the safety of our children.

About the author:
Sarah Corlett runs the successful toy resource The Toy Maker:
www.the-toy-maker.co.uk

10 Classic Toys That Are the Perfect Choice for Children's Gifts

Author: Chris Robertson

Article:
Buying Christmas gifts for children is always a delight.
Invariably, the experience brings me back to my own childhood,
and I fondly remember the thrill and wonderment of seeing
beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts and discovering the
surprises that lay beneath the wrapping. Perhaps that's why
today, whether I'm shopping for boy's toys or girl's toys, I
almost always select the classics. Here are my top ten favorite
Christmas gift selections.



1. Monopoly. Some have called Monopoly the world's greatest
board game. I call it a classic. You can't help but become a
land baron when faced with a board full of properties waiting to
be purchased and you can't help but be delighted every time you
can collect rent or pass "Go." The classic Monopoly board game
makes a wonderful gift, as do the junior edition games and
special themed edition games.



2. Star Wars. It's been 30 years since George Lucas made history
with the "Star Wars," and its popularity has never waned. When I
am in the market for boy's toys, I always start with Star Wars
toys. Whether it's the Darth Vader Potato Head, a play light
saber, or the Lego Star Wars video game, you can't go wrong with
Luke and his friends.



3. Legos. What's a childhood without Legos? I love buying my
nieces and nephews sets of Lego bricks. With Duplo Legos for the
little tykes, everything from Harry Potter sets to Bionicles for
the older kids, and Technics for the serious builders, you can't
go wrong with Legos.



4. Bicycles. When I think back to my childhood, I remember the
freedom of getting together with my friends to ride our bikes
around the neighborhood. From explorations of nearby parks and
rivers to daylong expeditions to other parts of the city,
bicycles were central to our lives. When buying and giving bikes
as Christmas gifts, I feel like I'm giving a gift of joy and
independence.



5. Play-Doh. Childhood wouldn't be complete without Play-Doh.
Even the scent of Play-Doh transports me back to my youth. I
love giving Play-Doh as Christmas gifts, especially because
there are so many more options today. There are sets with
themes, such as Winnie the Pooh, Farm World, and Hairdresser,
that give kids hours of imaginative fun.



6. Jigsaw Puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles make perfect children's gifts
for kids of all ages. There are those made out of wood for
preschoolers, those with relatively few pieces for young
children, and those with several hundred pieces for those who
are experienced puzzle solvers. Plus, jigsaws are perfect rainy
day toys.



7. Roller Skates. Roller skates are great for exercise and for
increasing balance and coordination - and are a whole lot of
fun. Whether they're strap on skates for little tykes or inline
skates for tweens, roller skates are always a hit!



8. Dolls. When it comes to girl's toys, there's nothing more
classic than dolls. Of course, today's dolls are capable of
doing just about everything except going to school - but that
makes them all the more fun!



9. Magic Sets. Every boy goes through a phase where he wants to
learn magic. The magic sets I've bought over the years have
entertained and captivated boys, who love learning the skills
behind the tricks.



10. Scrabble. Perhaps because I recall spending hours and hours
playing this classic word game with my family, I love giving
Scrabble boards as Christmas gifts. Boys and girls both love the
game, which also comes in a junior edition, and I like knowing
that my gifts are both fun and educational.



It's as much fun for adults to give toys as is it for children
to receive them - especially when you can relive part of your
own childhood by giving toys that you enjoyed while you were
growing up.





About the author:
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon
International, one of the worlds MOST popular href="http://www.majon.com">internet marketing companies.
For tips/information, click here: href="http://www.toytoyse.co.uk">toys Visit Majon's
Toys and
Games directory.