I received tons of Noah-themed toys when the Cat was born. They ranged from the more subtle plush cuddly animals to the board books that used words like “evil,” “lazy,” and “kill.” I was frustrated by the latter of course, since although I want my kids to know the Noah parable, I don’t think scare-tactics at newborn-hood is a good route.

The Parent Bloggers Network allowed me to receive free-for-review several pairs of animals from Caboodle! Toys LLC’s “Noah’s Pals” collection. These are not hastily put-together figurines...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

The familiar orange-pink swirled envelope came in the mail last week. This time, enclosed within was a DVD offering a free trial of NoodleNet, a safe way for kids to browse the internet. Sometimes it will be a fabric softener sample, or a DVD of a new television show, such as when "Meerkat Manor" came out.

I still have fond memories of the show "Cover Shot," for which I voted on a "final shot" as one of the original VocalPoint members. I was in "the Club" so early in the game that I actually voted on the design of the envelopes in which VocalPoint sends their product samples, coupons, and announcements!

Why did I become a member?

The Parent Bloggers Network is at it again, bringing me fun and educational toys that end up being life-savers!

This latest find is the Talking Telescope from Discovery Kids. The Cat adores astronomy, so this is perfect for him.

I still have a little "planets" song in my head from the Cat's Kindergarten class last year. They bopped up and down as they sang. And in preschool, the Cat made a beautiful large green planet. One of his favorite DVDs for quite awhile was "Baby Galileo." He has a glow-in-the-dark T-shirt of constellations and printed out a star chart for extra credit to bring to school. One of the books in his "store" at home (for reward for accumulating enough chore/behavior points) is a very, very heavy book on space.

Convinced that he'd love a telescope?

The Cool Mom Picks Mother's Day Guide is out!

No, CMP does not employ me, nor do they give me anything (other than satisfaction) for kissing their behinds; but the truth is that CMP has led me towards unique, earth-conscious, well-made, and attractive products time after time.

It was through CMP that I found out about tiny*prints, which ended up being "THE" place from which to get Holiday Cards. During a New Year's party, one otherwise trendy woman was aghast that she had used another company. She hadn't heard of tiny*prints until their spectacular cards ended up in her mailbox from people who were clearly more fashion-forward than she. We discussed the issue at length.

As I noted in my New Year's Post, the majority of the gifts I bought for Christmas were from stores I found through the Cool Mom Pick's Holiday Guide, such as Modern Tots.

I trust The Cool Moms. And once you check out the listed products, so will you.

Yes, now. Go see The Cool Mom Picks Mother's Day Guide now!

Awhile back, I reviewed Noah's Pals. They have been a big hit in our household. The kids love them. Spliggle has become quite the zookeeper. In fact, he pulls up the couch cushions to create his "doctor house," which is really a veterinary clinic. The animals we received back then, as well as some additional figurines that Santa brought last Christmas, have stood up to my boys' rigorous play-acting.

Recently Spliggle acquired some other figurines for his collection. While on a trip to Target to purchase who-knows-what, Splig made a beeline for a display of Anamalz (such as this tiger and the polar region set pictured above) conveniently displaying Target's orange "clearance" stickers, boasting prices of around $2 per pack.

Score!

Anamalz are wooden animal figurines touted as being "environmentally friendly." They are made of organic maple wood and textile (ie, the legs are rope.) They are water-based (ie, no crazy lead or oil paints,) created in a sustainable environment, and are handmade. The felt of the crocodile's back or the lion's mane is created from recycled materials. These toys are safe for children to play with, and through discussion of how they are made and what they represent, quite educational as well.

The product and concept was created in Australia, a country for which I have a great deal of fond memories; in less than a month it will have been twenty years since I went there to perform at the World Expo in Brisbane. But I digress...

Like Noah's Pals, Anamalz also contributes a portion of its proceeds to environmentally-friendly groups in the hope of saving real-life animals through the purchase of their handmade ones. I hope that since Splig plays with so many animal figurines that he will be compassionate to real-life ones.

When I visited the Anamalz website, I was delighted to discover that they do music as well.

These are truly great toys, and the company seems to be doing much more than just "toying around." I am glad Splig happened upon these; they are frequent patients in his "doctor house," although they are in perfect condition!

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Anamalz has not sent me any free samples, paid me to say anything nice about the product, or otherwise encouraged me to write about their product. We simply happened upon the product by complete luck. I was impressed enough with the product and the company to create this post.

Splig (age 4) had a playdate recently. He took out a Kubit2Me cube and immediately his friend's eyes opened wide, "What is that?" He thew the cube at her and she stroked the fur on the side. They ended up playing the Lil Scholars ABC's game. While Splig is still learning his letters, his nearly-age-5 year old friend was able to identify nearly all of them. Meanwhile, the Cat (age 7) wanted to play, so I told him he had to give an example of a word that started with that letter, and it couldn't be the item pictured on the card, since that would be too easy. If they had done the 123's version, I would have had the Cat do a multiplication exercise, while Splig and his friend would have only had to identify the number and/or a simple addition problem. All three kids were essentially playing the same game, but it was adjustable to their particular academic levels.

The basic tools of Kubit2Me are a large fuzzy cube and a set of cards. The user places several cards in each of the cube's pockets. What happens next varies depending on the game played. Although the "official instructions" recommend the players choose to whom to throw the cube, I modified it: I had the kids throw the cube to specific people. The reason for this was two-fold: First, so nobody was left out; Second, so the kids were not confused or conflicted (ie, Will I hurt his feelings if I toss it to her?)

The person who catches the cube pulls out a card from the pocket that is facing upwards on the cube (or any other direction agreed upon by the group.) In our case, I had the kids yell out the color that it landed on so they could also practice their colors (of course all three kids found this easy.) The player then either identifies what is on the card (letter, number) gives an example of what is on the card (what is the letter's sound, what is that number multiplied by 3), or if the card contains a question, answers the question.

Some of the games for older kids include "Truth or Dare," and "Now You're Talkin'." A related exercise is the downloadable-for-free "Free to Be Me Icebreaker" All games use the same cube, so simply get a deck of the question-cards to play a new version of the game.

While the "Lil Scholars" games are more "basic preschool education" in focus, the question-related cards are more social-skills related. These cards contain basic questions like "If you could live under the ocean or on the moon, which would you choose?" A variation of the game ("How Well Do You Know Your Friend?") has the other players guess the cube-holding player's answer before he or she answers.

The variations of Kubit2Me are numerous, so it is definitely important to establish the ground rules before playing the game. The Cat likes to invent rules as he goes for any game, so while the game is flexible, it is important to stay consistent.

Lil Scholars was too easy for the Cat (unless I added more challenging requirements for him,) but was definitely a good exercise for Spliggle. The social-skills oriented aspects of the game are great for the Cat, though. In fact, it was through one of my posts about the Cat's social difficulties that Kubit2Me's creator decided to contact me about her game. She describes it as "a line of self expression games that are all about getting kids to open up." Indeed, Creative Child Magazine recently named the game its 2008 Creative Child “Game of the Year” Award - although this distinction does not appear to be on the website (which reads 2007) yet - From the press release:

"A unique interactive, relationship-building game called Kubit2me Lil’ Scholars Edition has earned the 2008 Creative Child “Game of the Year” award in the preschool educational games category. Two other Kubit2me games, Truth or Dare and Now You’re Talkin’ Editions, also received a 2008 Preferred Choice Award."

The game provides the questions which is half the struggle when making conversation. This way, kids can appreciate the opportunity to answer (it is their turn to talk!) and learn to listen (rules are rules, when another player has the cube, it is their turn!) In this way, kids like the Cat who have difficulty with social convention can learn these rules in a non-threatening way. Logical thinkers can literally "play by the rules" to practice listening to others and taking turns. One possible variation of the game is for the player holding the cube to select the question and ask it to the next player in the rotation. This way, the player gets the practice in asking questions as well as in answering questions.

According to its creator, Kubit2Me is regularly being used in therapeutic settings. I can definitely see how this social game can be used as a tool for conversation and taking turns. For kids who do not yet know their body parts, 123's, or ABC's, these quizzes can be useful as well. An "emotions" deck also presents a challenge to kids for whom reading emotions is difficult. For kids with sensory needs, the cube is soft and quite fun to touch. (I would like one in a pillow shape!) Likewise, it is large enough and soft enough so those kids with low muscle-tone (as some kids on the spectrum have) would be able to catch it without a problem.

My kids enjoy Kubit2Me. Splig's playdate was definitely intrigued, so perhaps her mother will go purchase it as well. I need to get some of the Cat's classmates over so they can play the Free to Be Me Icebreaker - that is, unless they go play soccer first.

But...

My one concern about the game is that it does seem a bit "girly." The cube has cute denim pockets and comes with little stickers and glittery bracelets (which Splig loves.) I can see groups of young girls playing the game for fun, but my gut reaction is that boys would only play it if they were in an educational setting or in a mixed-gender gathering. Since Splig is rather "girly" for being a boy, and since the Cat doesn't seem to notice gender roles, the game is definitely fun for them, but there are certainly some of the Cat's classmates who I wouldn't want to suggest play the game. That said, there are a few young men who I think would enjoy the game.

All in all, this game can be used for many different reasons in many different settings. The kids love the cube and the questions provide fun icebreakers. Check out the Kubit2Me website to learn more

See that large quiz-link in my sidebar? Take the quiz. Really.

Everyone knows I am not much for developmental-stages quizzes; after all, it is deviance from such things that ends up with those pesky labels and what-not about which I write on The Karianna Spectrum. Every kid develops at a different pace, and I dislike anything that causes panic about "delays." But this quiz isn't about trying to measure developmental stages; rather, it is designed to suggest activities based on the particular point your child happens to be. It isn't a "tsk tsk" task, but rather a suggestion, a personalization. If your child knows "a" but doesn't yet know "b," Savvy Source will suggest activities to build on "a" to help develop "b." No judgment on whether your child is "behind," just ideas about fun things that might be appropriate for your kid while trying to develop things he or she hasn't yet mastered.

The quiz is from The Savvy Source, sponsored by LeapFrog's TAG system. Of course it doesn't surprise you that this all comes via The Parent Bloggers Network.

I took the quiz using Spliggle's abilities and then created some activities based on their list, such as listening to a song while using makeshift "rhythm sticks" and playing a simple rhyming game. Although some activities may seem "obvious," I frequently can't think in creative ways when faced with the dreaded "Mommy! What can we do?" question, so suggestions are very welcome. The graphic above-left is a screen-shot of Splig's links. It shows the various categories for which Savvy Source will recommend activities. Inside each category, specific activities are tagged with your child's name as a particular interest.

Savvy Source is more than just the quiz: members can access preschool ratings and descriptions of camps and classes. The quiz data is stored along with the suggested activities, so it isn't necessary to complete the entire quiz in one sitting or to memorize all the suggested activities. The activities are free, by the way. Although there are recommended products to buy, the real benefit of the quiz is finding out what parents can do at home to enrich their child without joining the flashing-lights and loud-sounds bandwagon.

So what about the LeapFrog TAG? That is a plastic "gizmo," yes? Yes. But it is worth it.

I've got to admit that while I was a fan of LeapFrog's earlier reading systems in theory I was less a fan in practice because those plastic book-holder thingies were a bit heavy and the kids couldn't snap-in the books without assistance. Storage was an issue, too, since the rigid plastic thing was larger than what typically fits in a bookcase, and the book cartridges inevitably ended up lost. Still, I was impressed with the work that LeapFrog has been doing.

But the TAG is such a fabulous improvement. The "reader" is a single wand that serves as a "remote" for the books as well as a storage device (no lost cartridges!) The wand can read the entire book, specific words, or create a little quiz based on the book. There are many titles of popular books available in TAG format. Splig loved the "Ozzie & Mack" book that came with the TAG, but has been reading "Pirates! The Treasure of Turtle Island" over and over and over again. (See his selection of books in the graphic at right)

The Cat knows how to read, but he still appreciates having the TAG wand available to properly pronounce a word about which he may be uncertain. Both boys enjoy having the books and wand in the van, a place where Mommy certainly can't read a book but would like to encourage her kids to do so. The wand is so portable that it is easy to bring along in the "busy bag" with a few of the TAG books.

The TAG reader wand holds five books at a time. The child's library online holds all the books, so it is easy to upload whichever books desired into the wand. The wand also reports back via the child's "Learning Path" to show the parent what skills the child has worked on, what activities the child enjoys doing, and how their learning is progressing. (To use this properly, I should ban the Cat from picking up his brother's wand, since that would skew the data - Ooops!) Readers can collect rewards for finishing various activities.

The LeapFrog TAG is a truly interactive and personalized system. Both it and the Savvy Source quiz are good opportunities to learn more about our kids' interests, learning styles, and progress, all while having lots of fun.

Both boys were ecstatic when Trick Tracks from Hot Wheels arrived thanks to the Parent Bloggers Network. They received two separate packages on different days, so the enthusiasm was doubly-exciting.

First they got the Triple Stunt Starter Set. A few days later, they received the Power Loop.

Both package-arrival days, the boys crowded around me as I opened the box. They tried sticking things together before I had a chance to unfold the instructions. But as it turns out, I should have just let my eldest go at it on his own. My attempts to set up the stunts ended up incorrect; but my seven-year old figured it out fine. It was like a bad movie where the lead character keeps repeating the same error:

- The first Hot Wheels package arrives and I was ready to cry because I didn't get it right. Eldest saves the day.

- The second Hot Wheels package arrives and I was ready to cry because I didn't get it right. Eldest saves the day.

Why I was incapable of sticking together the little plastic bits? I don't know. I stuck something in slot A that should have been slot B, but I swear I couldn't tell from the illustrations. I think my son was doing it in a logical fashion, which makes more sense than trying to decipher drawings. (Of course, my son's version matched the drawings exactly.)

The track is plastic, as are the various connectors. The track is pretty slick, which means it can be difficult to snap together some of the junctions, especially since the little plastic buttons have the potential to have a little "spillover" from the mold from which they were created. I would have appreciated metal snaps or something else a bit more secure than plastic-on-plastic for some of the pieces; but, the truth is that even with one loose side (we couldn't "snap" it in,) the trick still worked well.

Similarly, I didn't quite understand how everything was supposed to work. The instructions read, "All green buttons are launch buttons. Red buttons are reset buttons."

There are no red buttons. Or at least I don't know what the red buttons are.

There are some green buttons (which means "a dual-lever on which there is a green circle," not an actual button,) but from what my boys figured out, the surest way to launch is to slam a car into a blue-gray cone-shaped thing that serves as the end of one stunt and the beginning of another. If done properly, the car ending one stunt will trigger the next. This means you must have more than just the single car that comes with the Trick Tracks.

I was also a bit confused about the enclosed rubber-bands. While I figured out the most obvious one (which triggers a loop-d-loop,) there was another one that I simply couldn't figure out from the drawings. I think the other bands were extras in case of snapping.

My boys were able to get the majority of the stunts to work properly, no thanks to my confusion. Even though I think there are some other actions that can be performed with the set-up we have, the boys are extremely happy with the combinations they've devised.

View the video below to see the glee:

Once the Trick Tracks are set up, one must either have a very large storage space, or one must dismantle the various loops. I used a large storage container so that we could store both the Triple Stunt Starter Set and the Power Loop together along with the instruction sheets, extra rubber bands, and the cars.

As I find them, I'll add the boys' existing Hot Wheels cars to the box so that everything will be organized. It is unlikely that customers will want to dismantle the whole set to the point where it may fit back in its original box, but sticking the Trick Track in an existing train-table or large bin with toy cars works.

The boys continue to take out the box of Trick Tracks even though they weren't big car-guys before these Hot Wheels products arrived. They've added in their own little touches, like paper canopies that go over the track, or elephants onto which the cars can leap when released from the Power Loop. These toys certainly have the potential for creative combinations and additions.

Both both the Triple Stunt Starter Set and the Power Loop can be found at Amazon - plus I'd recommend getting a bunch of cars so the stunts can continue domino-style or when the cars get shot into the air, over an elephant, and slide under the couch.

Sigh.

It seems that something entitled the "Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act" will go into effect in two months.

I learned of this unfortunate piece of news via Cool Mom Picks' announcement of the issue. I look towards Cool Mom Picks for fun and unique toys and gift ideas. As they note in their post about the CPSIA, most of these cool finds are from smaller shops or parent-run businesses which simply won't be able to afford the licensing required under the new guidelines.

The gist of it is that in an effort to prevent unsafe chemicals (ie, lead, psychotropic drugs, and other things) that have been in the news as being unwanted components of [mass-marketed, cheap-o, usually imported] toys, the CPSIA will require thorough testing of products before they are allowed on the shelf. While the idea behind it is "good," the result is that only the large manufacturers will be able to comply with the law.

Ironic, since it is large manufacturers cutting corners that have created the unsafe environment in the first place. It is the independent and smaller businesses that take the time to use natural methods and high-quality components -- check out CMP's Safer Toy Guide to see some of those excellent companies that we may find missing in a couple months.

Will this cause a domino effect: small local businesses must shut doors, so communities lose sales tax revenue, so money that could have gone towards road safety, schools, and other community-bettering facilities will be less? My town doesn't have a Walmart. And I sure don't want us to have one!

Husband and I typically end up with multiples of the same gift, like the year we both got each other America. Typically the duplicates end up because Husband will talk about how much he wants something, so I'll buy it for him. But days before Christmas, he'll go out and purchase whatever is already wrapped under the tree.

So I stopped listening to his first choice, figuring he'd get it for himself. I focused more on the "lower down" priority items.

Last year he kept talking about a slingbox. But I thought I knew better. I wasn't going to purchase something he'd no doubt buy on his own during Thanksgiving sales or Pre-Christmas sales or Friday Fry's sales.

The day before Christmas, Husband mentioned how excited he was that he'd be getting a slingbox for Christmas. He assumed that is what I had already bought. He was ecstatic.

Except I hadn't bought one, of course.

Not wanting to disappoint him, I quickly went online to Best Buy and did an in-store pickup order. While the store itself had long lines and packed aisles, the in-store pickup line was small. We were out of the store - coveted present in hand - in less time that it took us to find parking.

And so, my first tip to those of you who have waited too long to shop for Christmas (or the latter half of Hanukkah) is to see which big stores have in-store pickup. It is easy to browse online for that perfect gift, and typically is pretty easy to pick it up since most stores have separate lines for their online sales.

(The one exception I found to this was when I bought a camera at Circuit City - the closest store was sold out, so I purchased it at a store a half hour away. Guess what happened? That store didn't have it when I arrived, but discovered that my local store did! In the end I got my camera, but that particular excursion took a lot of driving and involved confusion.)

Another idea is the dreaded overnight shipping - yet for stores like zappos.com that already ship overnight, you're golden. Still, most overnight shipping options are pretty pricey, so you might want to brave the malls.

Or, you could buy something that is electronically fulfilled, such as an iTunes gift certificate or an Amazon.com gift certificate delivered via email.

Plenty of websites offer extended content for a fee. No, I am not suggesting purchasing "adult materials" for your preteen cousin. Rather, for kids there are sites like Club Penguin, a favorite of my boys. While the basic experience is plenty of fun, being a member allows the little penguins to accumulate coins to purchase pet puffles, buy snazzy new outfits, and deck out their igloo like budding interior designers would. In the Cat's case, that means purchasing as many toy trains as possible to create a "rug."

For older folks, there is Happy Neuron. I learned about this brain fitness website shortly after I had realized that I wasn't very good at the Brain Age DS game. (And don't even talk to me about Big Brain Academy.) "Mommy brain" is no myth: my brain is so filled with details of appointments, tasks, and managing other folks' lives that I don't have time to read or do puzzles to expand the other parts of my brain.

As we age, our brain "sags" just like our bodies do. Those who keep mentally fit by exercising their brain end up faring much better than those who don't. Plus, it is fun (until the computer tells you that you are mentally weak, that is!)

Happy Neuron is offering a 20%-off holiday special on a year's membership to the website. Members have access to 35 games (plus 5 beta Wii games.) The games fit in five categories: visual-spacial, attention, executive function, memory, and language. Each game has several difficulty levels, plus the program itself will recommend games based on the user's weaknesses.

I tried using the "coach" function whereby the computer is supposed to take me through an optimum combination of games based on my preferences, time available to "work out," and my past performance. Unfortunately, this feature didn't work for me (I was given a login free for the purposes of review, but perhaps this is a feature only available to full members, not reviewers.) And so, I tried out the five free games.

Does it surprise you that on the "split words" game that I was able to do the one about football but did horrifically on the "agriculture" one? (I can still hear my grandmother's tsk-tsk from many years ago when she learned I couldn't tell the difference between different types of cows. Sorry, I don't know anything about farming.) I thought I would do fantastically on "Catch the Ladybug" because after college I was a research assistant in a visual psychophysics lab. We did lots of "search" experiments, and since I had to program and test such things, I became very good at visual search. But my downfall in this Happy Neuron game was my trackball skills. I saw the ladybug immediately, but had a hard time rolling my way over. Perhaps a traditional mouse would be better in this instance.

There are other games that rely on time where an individual's ability to move the mouse becomes a limiting factor. This concerns me for the grandparent-set who might otherwise benefit from these mind-enhancing games. For these folks, those games without a time limit (but which will still record time) would be more accurate: as their time decreases with practice, the improvement can be attributed more to mental performance and less to mousing-ability. But for games that stop if the user fails to provide the answer, the individual wouldn't be able to practice the actual task unless the time required could be increased.

I love that there are a variety of games to "train" the user so the "workouts" are not boring. The site has a section on brain fitness science, plus has recommendations for other (sometimes offline) products. In addition to the aforementioned Wii games in beta, there is also a "Happy Neuron Junior" program in development. The Cat loves various games, particularly online. Although some of the games I've played through Happy Neuron are perfectly appropriate for him, I imagine the "junior" version will have aspects (such as in the "language" category) that will better fit his grade level.

Consider Happy Neuron for that otherwise difficult-to-buy-for adult. Grandmothers have enough perfume, bath oil, and lotion. And does Granddad really need another tie? Young(er) adults would like these games, too, so don't think your recipient needs to have grey hair. (I think my parents are sharper than I am at this point, anyway.)

Or maybe spend some time on the site yourself; it certainly wouldn't hurt! After all, the present I am getting for Husband is one that I hope to get myself at some point. This is one year where I'm actually hoping for a duplicate (but not expecting it.)

According to Eco Child's Play, an exemption for natural materials has been proposed regarding the potentially problematic CPSIA.

I've already noted how I am concerned that something well-intentioned but misguided such as these regulations might provide unsafe choices since our options will be limited. Of course, local commerce, small craftsmen, and unique items are all in jeopardy.

This latest report indicates that there may be exceptions to the laws which will go into effect February 10, 2009. But these are not a foregone conclusion. Please visit Save Homemade! on Cool Mom Picks for more information and how you can help.

I cannot play the guitar, as evidenced by this photo in which I am holding the thing upside down (apparently.) And then there is my son, who was so obsessed with a pink ukulele that when he randomly found a $20 bill mere feet from a store selling pink ukuleles - right after I told him I wouldn't use my money to buy him one - he purchased it himself. (I mean, how could he not given that the gods were apparently smiling down on him?)

So when Mom Central put out a call to try Guitar Hero for the DS, of course I responded. Not because I think I'm a rock-star, but because I clearly need the help. More so, I wanted to try out these games because I knew my boys would be interested. After all, they spent a good portion of Thanksgiving watching my brother play Guitar Hero on his Playstation.

I figured, if my brother can do it, so can I! (But, um, apparently he's the one who got the guitar talent.)

Halloween is over, which means tomorrow is Christmas.

Or, at least that is what it seems like.

Not so long ago (and yes, before all the Halloween candy) Toys 'R US released its "Holiday Hot List." You remember Cabbage Patch Kid Mania in the 80's, Tickle-Me-Elmo craziness a decade and a half later, and then the Tickle Me TMX a few years later? There is always an "IT" toy that causes grown men and women to push and shove like a preschooler... to get a toy for a preschooler.

It is best to avoid the juvenile theatrics and just get the toy now, before the holiday shuffle. (Or, figure out another cool toy.)

Well, surprise, surprise, my kids already own some of the items on that list - like Bakugan and Wii Sports Resort (oh, how the adults love Wii Sports Resort, too!) And my kids also have Zhu-Zhu Pets.

A couple months ago, Mom Select got me in touch with the folks creating Zhu-Zhu Pets. After all, I already have a cat and a fish (and occasionally butterflies and ants) - I can't add a real hamster to the list. My kids saw the little promo and were hooked. I agreed to host a Hamster Party. Yes indeed, I cleaned my house to open it up to hamsters. Well, and the kids for whom the hamsters would come to life.

Yesterday I got a pretty awesome email from LeapFrog. Turns out, they are holding a most-excellent contest: a $3,500 Star Wars Sweepstakes! The prize is an All-Out Star Wars Party Kit for the kids, plus a Merry Maids gift card for the winning parent so that party clean-up is a breeze. (NICE TOUCH, LeapFrog!)

What is included in this spectacular, galaxicical, fantastical party?

- Costumes and light saber toys
- Deluxe party kit, with life-sized wall graphic and R2-D2 trash can
- Amazon gift card
- A LeapFrog Tag, Leapster2 or Didj system with Star Wars game or book
- Merry Maids gift certificate to clean up the mess
- ...and more!

Just head on over to the LeapFrog Star Wars contest page and enter. You can enter EVERY DAY. So, do it. Plus, once you enter, you'll get a landing page that touts free shipping on any of the Star Wars products Leap Frog carries. For example, there is a Limited Edition Leapster 2 Star Wars gift pack.

Last night LeapFrog sponsored a talk with Larry Magid on internet safety. (We also had some excellent food at the Four Seasons Hotel, including a to-DIE-for mashed potato bar - YUM!) Mr. Magid is the co-director of ConnectSafely.org and founder of SafeKids.com.

Surprisingly, the talk meshed well with my own beliefs about risk (not nearly as high as my parents or many others would believe) and how to approach privacy. I had been expecting a scare-fest, but instead the advice was realistic and practical.

The Cat (age 8) has an email address, but he knows I see what is on it (and I delete SPAM off it.) He knows not to give out personal information, although I admit I worry if he is anyway. Spliggle doesn't yet have an email address and doesn't yet really know his own information well enough to give it out. But, of course we will talk to them both as the need arises.

We've considered putting a filter on the Cat's computer because he's pretty Google-savvy, but Mr. Magid explained a filter is mere "training wheels" since the real world isn't filtered. We all know that an overprotective parent actually ends up hurting a child because he cannot fend for himself. But then of course a too-permissive parent ends up putting their child at risk. As with parenting in general, internet safety is about striking a balance.

Last Sunday was my son's end-of-year soccer party. I was the "team photographer" and had lovingly created Blurb books of each player. I really wanted to see the families' reactions to my books, as well as to enjoy a slide show of the team. Plus, I welcomed a chance to socialize instead of just scurrying away post-game to another commitment.

But Jill Asher told me that the Silicon Valley Moms Holiday Party - sponsored by Chevy - was a not-to-miss event. Fellow SV Moms told me it would be worth it to skip the soccer party.

And oh yes, it was worth it.

Now, I'd like to think I'm not a completely greedy person, but let's just say my calm approach to the event turned into a surprised excitement along with that ooooh, I wonder if I can get me some of that.

And there was a lot of that to be had:

Last autumn I had the pleasure (and chaos!) of hosting a Zhu Zhu Pets party in my home. We were definitely curious about hamsters that didn't involve food or poop, and my kids' friends agreed. Apparently, the rest of the nation did as well, as Zhu Zhu Pets ended up on the "must have" lists of many kids during the holiday season. It was certainly thrilling to have been part of the start of a Zhu-volution!

It is no surprise, then, that my kids and I were excited to learn about Kung Zhu. I immediately jumped at the chance Mom Select sent my way to put on another party, this one with Special Forces and Ninja Warriors!

It can be overwhelming and exciting to get so much free stuff.

BlogHer didn't used to be such a swaggy experience, but it has certainly morphed into a legitimate place for companies to distribute information about their products. In some cases, it is simply a brochure; in other cases, it can be something huge like a pair of slimming designer jeans, an expensive curling iron and flat-iron, or a Powermat. (All three of these were at the fabulous Getting Gorgeous event.)

I'm not going to debate the whole whore-i-ness that can accompany an experience like this other than to say that I started out as a blogger first, and a reviewer second. I decline "swag" that I know will not fit me or my audience, unless it is something that I know will benefit someone else, such as diapers (I received one this year from PlaySkool) or infant clothing (I received a sleep sack from the Mom Central suite.) I have a favorite family shelter who will happily pass on such items, including the formula I received from Similac a few weeks ago, to families who need them.

It is unrealistic that I can review all the products that I received from this year's event. Just as in years past, the effects from "swag" tend ripple rather than gush. While I might not immediately mention a product here, I may several months down the line. Plus, my purchasing habits may change based on the products I see, or the brands with which I interact. Finally, people in real life learn and see about the things that I use on a regular basis.

We've got bugs. Thankfully (hopefully? knock on wood) not the bed-bugs everyone's been talking about. (Yes, I've already purchased some diatomaceous earth and various sprays just in case. )

No, I'm talking about a different kind of bug I brought home from New York City - the Hexbug Nano. I was fortunate to grab the last "Hexbug Nano Starter Pack" from the MomCentral suite. My boys loved the tiny set so much that we soon got a full "Hexbug Nano Habitat Set", plus of course another couple Hexbug Nanos. (In fact, my youngest son was thrilled to find some pink and aqua ones while we were purchasing a birthday present for his friend a couple days ago. Of course I gave in, because I think the little bugs are pretty cute, too.)

Essentially, the hard plastic bugs run around, jittering on their soft plastic fringed legs the way a real bug would. It almost appears that they "sniff out" where to turn in their little environment. This effect is a result of their vibrating motion. The Hexbug Nano website has more information about what makes this particular toy realistic, but my kids just love it because it is fun.

I've known of Amy Turn Sharp's wooden toy shop Little Alouette for quite awhile now, but it wasn't until this summer that I got to see her handiwork firsthand. Thanks to a discount in the Social Luxe Lounge giftbag during BlogHer, I ordered a bunch of toys for my 1-year-old niece. And then even though maple egg shakers might seem like a baby or toddler toy, I think my school-aged sons will get a kick out of finding a couple in their stockings this Christmas.

Heck, even I'd like to have a little shaker to hold once in awhile; the smooth wood is comforting, and tossing it up and down or between hands can be a great "fiddle activity" or stress-reliever. There, you heard it from me: adults love baby toys. (No joke, I'm also seriously considering getting a cashmere chime ball because it seems like something cool to play with.)

(Yeah, I know what you are thinking - how can we possibly discuss gift-giving holidays when it is still summertime? Well, I'm in denial that school starts in less than two weeks, so I might as well get a jump on December.)

When I was invited to the Big Toy Book's Sweet Suite Event (featuring KidzVuz) during the BlogHer Conference, of course I accepted. Who doesn't like toys?

There were certainly several products that caught my eye at the Suite, such as the new zombie and glow-in-the-dark Hexbugs. (I posted about Hexbug Nanos last year after seeing them in the Mom Select Swag Suite during BlogHer; they appeared at Mom Select this year, too, in addition to the Big Toy Book event.) The zombies will be out at Halloween, and I'm definitely eager to grab them up!

And then even though I have boys, my fairy-loving youngest son would adore Light Sprites. I watched a demo at the Suite of how the "lite wand" can pick up any color and transfer to the playsets. It is tons of fun, and will appeal to those who love sparkles, light, and sprites.

There were plenty of amazing products at the Suite, but by far the one that will likely end up in Santa's sack this year (shhhh!) is Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. My boys are both Wii fans, and definitely adventure fans. They love collecting little characters and moving through video game worlds.

This game is different, though. The characters aren't just on the screen; they are physical collectible figures. These figures enter the virtual game when the player puts the character on top of the portal. Poof! The character shows up on the screen!

The progress of the character is attached to the actual figure. For playdates, the child can just take their character(s) and enter the game over at his or her buddy's place. The characters work across platforms, so even if one child has a Wii and the other has an Xbox 360 or PS3, not to worry - both kids' characters will work wherever they are. And when it is time to go home, the child leaving can just stick the figure in his pocket; no need to wait for a "save point" in the game, since all items and abilities will be saved to the figure. (If the character is wearing a hat in the game when the playdate ends, then the character will still be wearing the hat in the game back at home.)

Ever since August, my sons have been excited about Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. I knew this would be a special game, and it certainly is! We received the game shortly after its October release, and have been playing it frequently.

The most notable aspect of this game is that the individual characters are physical figurines that come alive using the "Portal of Power." Instead of selecting a character on-screen, the player plunks a physical character down on the Portal to join in the game. Each character has its own levels and items which travel with the figurine. My son can play at our house on the Wii, but then take his character to his friend's house to play on the Playstation or Xbox, or to a P.C., or to his D.S., and his character will still have on the same hat it did while playing on the Wii. The character's attributes and power are the same no matter the platform used.

Over the summer, we took a trip to Chicago in celebration of my husband's birthday, the timing of which coincided with my younger son's birthday. As a treat, we allowed our "secondary" birthday boy to pick out his own friend at the Build-A-Bear Workshop at the Navy Pier.

Right before Christmas, I received a recall email. Thankfully the recall is voluntary - because there is no way my son will give up this special memento of a meaningful trip - but it is still frustrating that we spent a lot of money on something that is likely going to fall apart faster than more-quality toys. (In fact, this bear's nose started to fall apart right after we returned from Chicago, so I was already frustrated by the lack of quality.)

I broke the news to my son last night (because he brought the bear into bed to snuggle with it - and the more snuggle-action, the more likely the substandard fabric will rip.) Not surprisingly, he produced lots of tears (and lots of snot.) He didn't want to say goodbye to his special bear, choosing instead the option that this bear would be for "looks" only. We set up a little bed for the bear next to my son's bed, so my son could still see him - and carefully touch him - but it pains him to no longer be able to snuggle with his toy.

My son is 7, so I know that if an eye fell out (as the recall text indicates may happen) he wouldn't intentionally swallow it like a curious preschooler might. But I can see how his lovable snuggling might cause potential damage if his bear is one with the substandard fabric.

I'm disappointed, and my son is of course very sad.

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Please read ahead for the official recall text in the event that you or a loved one have a "colorful hearts" bear that you may wish to exchange given this voluntary recall:

Up in Northern California we are just far enough away from Disneyland to not go all that often, and yet close enough so that we get a little envious when our fellow Californians seem to go every weekend. But, we NorCal folks have our own little mini-fantasy lands in our malls with the Disney Store. My local mall's version is pretty small, but tomorrow is the Grand Opening of a new Disney Store at the Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara. This is a new "concept store" that goes beyond the traditional stuff-on-a-shelf display cases. For example, the store includes a Disney Princess castle with a magic mirror, where children are encouraged to play and interact. Each time a child waves a magic wand in front of the mirror a Disney Princess will appear, bringing the fairytale to life. For those who aren't into princesses, there is an interactive CARS world. And don't miss the Disney Store Theatre.

This new Disney Store includes elements that are unique to Santa Clara. Disney characters on the walls are placed in historic landmarks such as the Santa Clara Depot, the Santa Clara Interlocking Tower, Mission Santa Clara de Asis, the Harris-Lass Historic Museum, and much more. I know my son will get a kick out of seeing his favorite characters interacting with familiar local places. (See, Mickey, Belle, Aurora, Donald Duck, and Cinderella don't all just live down in Anaheim or Orlando!)

The official Grand Opening begins at 10am on Saturday, April 28. The first 500 guests to attend the grand opening celebration will receive a free gift. From noon to 4 p.m. a meet and greet with Mickey and Minnie Mouse will take place in the mall's center court, with an opportunity for guests to take photos with the characters.

Of course, the Disney Store hopes you'll buy some great goods while attending the Grand Opening; the Disney Store will donate 10 percent of grand opening day's sales to Make-A-Wish®. Sounds good: you can make both your child's and another child's wishes come true all in one day!

I'm eager to check it out for myself tomorrow!

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Disclaimer: Disney Store logo, photo, and some descriptive text are from Disney Store North America. Although I was invited to a preview event, I was unable to attend. I hope to attend a small media walkthough tomorrow morning to experience the magic on my own. I received no compensation for this post; I'm posting because I enjoy Disney magic.

My Disney-crazy son and I awakened early this morning in order to go to the Santa Clara Disney Store grand opening at the Westfield Valley Fair. We both wore Disney attire, and were thrilled to go behind the scenes at the store before it was open to the public.

My son was particularly enthralled with a magic mirror in the princess castle display that played a movie clips from various Disney movies. Each piece of merchandise around the display (tiara or wand) played a different clip. So Cinderella's wand would play one clip, while Arial's tiara would play another one. Kids wave their favorite princess' tiara or wand in front of the magic mirror to activate it. (Tiara and wand each have their own separate clips per princess.) New and seasonal characters will activate the mirror from time to time, so each visit to the Disney Store might be different for your child.

I loved the pixie dust on the floor (embedded into the floor; don't worry about tripping!) and was thrilled to see a display for Brave the flick coming to theaters June 22nd featuring the fiery Princess Merida. I also got a kick out of seeing Toy Story cowgirl Jessie's very sparkly cowboy hat. My son loved the chandelier. Clearly, we like sparkle!

The stuffed animal tower is interactive: a tunnel beneath the tower provides a little hiding nook, while a button on the side creates wacky sounds. Twisting a lever prompts the tower's top to spin around. The Disney Theater is also interactive: it operates like a jukebox so kids can select their favorite clip to watch while Mom and Dad are in the check-out line.

My son called the new Santa Clara Disney Store the "best store ever" and wished to share his impressions with you:

Remember, the Disney Store will donate 10 percent of grand opening day's sales to Make-A-Wish® - so come on down!

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Disclaimer: My son and I received a gift bag for visiting the store today; it was a privilege to walk through prior to the official Grand Opening. I will receive no further compensation or commission. We just love Disney and enjoy spreading the word!