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Shopping for Zoobles Toys

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This year should be nicknamed the ‘year of the animal’ due to the plethora of animal toys that are available. Zoobles are yet another animal toy that has been getting a lot of attention this season. These toys are popular with girls for their adorable shapes and innovative design. If you are looking for a cutesy-toy for a young child then it’s hard to go wrong with these clever critters.

Created by the toy company SpinMaster (which by the way is also the creator of the all-too famous Bakugan and TechDech), Zoobles are cute creature toys that target kids ages 4 and up. This toy is similar to Bakugan in which the cute creature comes out of its shell when it is placed on top of a magnetic hotspot, which is embedded in their home or nest. You can also put the sphere (known as a Happitat) inside its home when you want to keep it in a safe place. The toys will only “magically” pop out if you put it on top of a hotspot.

View the Zoobles for Sale at Amazon

Zoobles toys can be sold separately, allowing your kids to collect their favorites, but there are also several playsets that are available. These playsets provide a home for the Zoobles and come with several hotspots to make the Zoobles come to life. The available Zoobles playsets include a treehouse playset, undersea playground, or a simple rest nest. Your kids will be able to play imaginative games using their cute creatures and their magical home.

These toys are highly collectible and come in a variety of animal shapes including dogs, cats, bunnies, mice and more. Because of the characters’ cute appearance and the blending of colors it is very hard to resist purchasing a set for your kids. Since each creature is totally different from the others it is really fun to collect them all to see all of their appearances.

Of course these toys are not for older kids, but for younger kids both Zoobles and the similar Squinkies make for a great gift idea.

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Scrabble Flash Cubes

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Almost everybody has played Scrabble at least once in their life with family or friends, and most people have probably really enjoyed the game. Not only is it challenging but it is really quite fun-especially if there are a lot of players. If you are fond of playing Scrabble you will be happy to know that there is now a new version of the game called Scrabble Flash Cubes.

Basically the game is very similar to the Scrabble we know and love, it’s just that the cubes version has a new twist to it. It sort of feels as though the old Scrabble game has been touched by a bit of new technology. Instead of the traditional wooden squares that held different letters, the new Scrabble uses electronic tiles. These tiles will read the letters so that the players will be aware of the spelling and will be able to correct it within the allotted time if the word is spelled incorrectly. When a word is made the tiles will then beep and light up.


Find Scrabble Flash Cubes for Sale at Amazon

There is also an electronic timer that has been set automatically at 75 seconds per player, but it can be set to a specific time depending on what the players have agreed on. The timer can also be used for the Flash Game, which is one of the new games that you can play with this new version of Scrabble. The Flash Game’s basic rules are that the player is given five tiles and should make as many words as possible in 75 seconds. For every word that he or she got correctly, the timer will add 5 seconds to their time, thereby giving the player more time to think of other words. Other games that can be played using Scrabble Flash Cubes are Five Letter Flash and Pass Flash. You can even make up your own games if you choose.

Scrabble Flash Cubes is recommended for ages eight through adults. This is a great party game and a nice, portable alternative to the Scrabble games we’ve all grown up with.

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Squinkies by Blip Toys ‎

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Squinkies are little toys that come in an egg-like container. They are actually pretty similar to those toys that you get in a toy vending machine, except you can purchase them in any toy store. These types of toys are sometimes known as a squishy squashy because they are soft and squeezable. These toys are totally safe for little kids since there are no loose pieces, unlike some dolls that have removable parts which a kid can easily injest. Your kids will love the cuteness of the toy and will enjoy collecting the whole bunch.


The nice thing about Squinkies is that you’ll never know what is inside until you open it, after purchasing it of course. You don’t even choose which ones you get since they come in bubble packs of 16 Squinkies toys. There are literally hundreds of characters available, so each time you open one it is a complete surprise. You can get a mini kitten, dog, fairy, boy or girl or other kinds of characters. These toys have a hole underneath so your child can use it as a pen or pencil topper as well. They can even begin their own collection of Squinkies, though it will take you a while to collect them all.


Check Out the Squinkies for Sale Now at Amazon.com


There are a lot of things that can be done with these adorable toys. One of the best ways of playing with Squinkies is by creating a mini scene such as a park or a house with the toys your child had collected over time. However, there also Squinkies that are available in sets. That means by purchasing a set you will know approximately what kind of toy you will have but you still can’t see what exactly you will get. These sets come in different names such as the Cupcake Surprise Bakeshop, Gumball Surprise Playhouse and the Squinkies Palace Surprise. With these sets you get 9 themed Squinkies and a mini playhouse/stand to house your figurines.

These toys are one of the hottest Christmas gifts of the season, so don’t hesitate if Squinkies are on the top of your child’s wishlist.


Squinkies Cupcake Surprise Bakeshop

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Disney Princess & Me Dolls

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Walt Disney princesses are a favorite characters of little girls and some teens as well, whether they admit it or not. These are the stories that they grew up with, complete with a Prince Charming and a happily ever after ending. Because of this it is no wonder why the Disney Princess & Me dolls are one of the bestsellers in toy stores this year.

These dolls are available in five different Disney princesses: Belle from Beauty and the beast, Tiana from Princess and the Frog, Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, Ariel from the Little Mermaid, and Rapunzel. The dolls are 18 inches tall, which is the normal size for a doll, so it can fit right into a large doll house and is convenient enough to carry around. These dolls are ideal for kids ages 4 and up. The dolls’ physical appearance is more like a child version of the princesses instead of the adult version that you see in the movies. Maybe it’s done so that the kids will treat it more like they are of the same age or something. But personally I like the original appearance better than the baby appearance. The Tiana doll (which is the main character in the most recent Disney princess movie) also came as a surprise (but not in a bad way) to me since she is not yet as well known as the others.

Check Out the Disney Princess & Me Dolls for sale now at Amazon.com

The dolls can be sold separately or by set. The price for a single doll is about $60. Yes it is a bit expensive for a doll, but since it is Disney these items will still fly off the shelves at any price. The dolls can be set in different positions as there are articulation points in the doll’s arm and leg joints, neck, hips, and waist. It can also be dressed up in different dresses and basically they can interchange dresses if you have the complete collection. There are also several dresses and accessories that are sold separately.

Collecting these Disney Princess & Me dolls can be quite enjoyable, especially if your child is a fan of Disney movies and dolls in general. If you’re looking for a cute gift for a young girl these dolls are a good choice.

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Review of the Loopz Memory Game

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Loopz is one of the newest toys by Mattel and shows big promise that it’s going to be one of the hot bestsellers for the Christmas season. It is a game that is very similar to “Simon Says” but definitely a lot more high tech. Loopz is considered to be a memory game since in order to play you have to memorize the beat and repeat it back.

This new toy is made of hard plastic and has 4 loops (2 on each side). The upper loops lights up a blue color while the lower two loops light a red color. It is played by following the beat that the device produces. When you turn it on and adjust the settings to a certain type of game it will begin playing a song. Certain loops will light up and you will have to follow it by putting your hands on the correct loops. At the first few levels the patterns are short but will become longer as you progress. If you get one move wrong it will tell you to “keep trying” and show you the pattern again. The loops have a motion sensor, which is why when you insert your hands on the loops it will light up as well as make a sound. The game has a volume setting which parents will greatly appreciate as it can be quite noisy-especially if the patterns are very fast and very long. Although it can be quite fun if there are constant errors and repetitions the sounds can be very annoying unless you are the one playing the game.

Check Out Loopz in Stock at Amazon.com

My take is that Loopz is actually a pretty fun party game when you have a few friends to play it with. It is also a nice deal if you consider the fact that with just one toy you can play 7 different games. The games are: repeat the beat, reflex master, rhythm and flow, musicology, Freestyle DJ, Music Studio, and versus mode. My favorite is musicology, but they are all worth playing and require that you use your memorizing skills.

The Loopz memory game is available in stores at a price range of about $40. It is recommended for kids ages 7 years and above as it may be too challenging for younger kids.

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Kung Zhu Battle Arena

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The Kung Zhu Battle Arena is a new accessory for the Kung Zhu Ninja Warriors series. The Ninja Warriors, for those who don’t know, are the Zhu Zhu pets that are geared towards young boys. These tough-looking hamsters dress up in battle armor and fight each other in a variety of ways, according to your child’s imagination.

The Battle Arena is an optional accessory that is sold separately from the hamster toys. This arena will fit up to four Zhu Zhu pets comfortably and lets them “battle” with each other by literally bumping into each other. If you are wondering why these cute pet toys have to battle, then you probably don’t know much about this new set of Zhu Zhus. There are actually two groups of Zhu Zhus that are ideal for the arena. These are the Ninja Warriors and the Kung Zhu Special Forces. There are also armor sets for each bunch so that when they go into battle in the arena they will be protected and will not get seriously hurt (or damaged). Although these groups of hamsters are mortal enemies, playing with them is really just good, clean fun for your kids. Strap the hamsters into the armor and they are ready to go and fight for freedom (or whatever it is that they are fighting for). If you have a child who loves stuffed toys and battles games this would make an excellent gift.

You can check the latest price for the Kung Zhu Battle Arena at Amazon.com here

Keep in mind that if you purchase the battle arena you don’t get the hamsters. The arena costs around $30, but there are some stores that sell packages with discounts if you also want to purchase some fighting hamsters to use in the arena. This toy is recommended for kids ages 4 and up.

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Singing Justin Bieber Dolls

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Justin Bieber, known simply as JB, is a very popular teenage singing sensation who makes the girls go gaga with songs like “Baby” and “One Less Lonely Girl”. He was discovered on YouTube in 2008 by a his current manager and the rest, as they say, is history. Due to his popularity it was inevitable that a singing doll would be created out of his image, hence the Singing Justin Bieber doll. These dolls range in price from $25 to $35, so you can have your very own singing Justin Bieber in your bedroom for a reasonable price this holiday season. This toy will be released on December 1, 2010 but it is recommended to pre-order online as these toys are expected to start flying off the shelves once they are released.

This toy targets every Justin Bieber fan out there who simply can’t get enough of their idol. And since he has a throng of teen and pre-teen fans, there are definitely a lot of people looking to collect these Bieber look-alike dolls. As of now there are five Bieber dolls to collect, each with its own accessories and a special tiny JB magazine. But there are actually only two singing dolls at the moment. One is of Justin in a leather jacket and sings the song “Baby” and the other depicts him holding a guitar and sings his hit “One Less Lonely Girl”. The outfits are based on the actual clothing he wore in each respective music video.

Justin Bieber Singing Dolls are currently on sale at Amazon.com

These figures are about 12 inches tall, so girls can keep them just about anywhere-on their bed stand at home or in their locker at school. No matter where they are kept JB’s sweet baby face is sure to brighten their day. If you know of a teen or preteen who is a big fan of the Bieb, these singing dolls make for a great gift.

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Dave the Funky Shoulder Monkey Review

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Dave the Funky Shoulder Monkey is one of the toys that has recently hit the market in the US for the holiday season. This adorable toy monkey straps to the shoulder so that kids can carry him around like a toy parrot. However unlike toy parrots Dave can do many more actions. There is a mini wireless remote control that you can easily hide inside your pocket or in your hand. Because it is unique from most of the available toys it has became one of the biggest bestsellers in the toy market around the world. In some areas it was instantly sold out, which is why the factory had to open another branch to meet the demands of the customers.

Dave looks like a baby Capuchin monkey so one of the nice things about this toy is that it does not look like a plastic toy monkey that is obviously fake. This toy is recommended for kids ages 5 and up, but adults have become fascinated with this product as well. There are about 30 actions and sounds that Dave can do. He can laugh, cry, fart, nod, wave, and even burp. These actions can be done depending on what mode you put it in such as conversation mode, action mode, greeting mode, and puppet mode. How can the toy do all this, you might ask. There is a microchip embedded into the stuffed toy and when you press a command or mode it is detected by the microchip thereby making the monkey work.

Dave the Funky Shoulder Monkey is now in stock at Amazon

I like this toy because it is unique in that there are not many products like it available right now. The price of this toy is around $50, so as a mid-ranged gift it is actually quite affordable. If you know a child who loves animals and electronic gadgets they will surely be delighted with this funky monkey toy.

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Kung Zhu Ninja Warriors Review

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The Kung Zhu Ninja Warriors are one of the newest groups of hamsters from the Zhu Zhu collection, and unlike most of the Zhu Zhu pets this bunch are a tough lot. By tough I mean that they really look tough-complete with a serious face that is ready to go and fight (though I still think they are furry and cute in their own way). These Zhu Zhus appeal primarily to boys and give them a chance to play with other kids in an interactive way. I like to think of them as plush action figures as they appeal to kids who like playing with GI Joe-type toys. These hamsters are recommended for kids age 4 and up as there are some small parts, making them not ideal for younger kids.

There are actually eight of these hamsters in all but they are divided into two groups- the Ninja Warriors and the Special Forces. I think it’s a great idea for the toy company to divide the Battle Hamster series into two factions so that children can create their own story-line between the two bunches. The Kung Zhu pets have four characters: Azer, Drayko, Yama, and Thorn. Thorn is the grey hamster and Azer is the brown one. Drayko is black and Yama white. Even their colors give them a sense of seriousness. Aside from that they also squeak, although it’s more of a grunt compared to the cute squeaking of the regular Zhu Zhu pets. The squeaking sounds come from pushing the nose of the hamster. You can also have the hamsters do battle in the Kung Zhu Battle Arena, which is sold separately.

Kung Zhu Ninja Warriors for sale at Amazon.com

The nice thing about the Kung Zhu Ninja Warrior series is that you can dress them up in battle armor if you want them to fight in the arena with the Special Forces bunch or other kinds of Zhu Zhu Pets. This armor will make the Ninja Warriors look cool, but it also protects them while they are bumping into each other in the arena. The battle armor is also sold separately, but since these accessories are not that expensive it’s not really that bad. You can purchase a Ninja Warrior separately at around $10 to $12 or you can purchase one set which has all the 4 members at around $25 to $30.

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Waterford Christmas Ornaments for 2010

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Waterford is famous for their crystal products that make for a wonderful decoration for the home during the yuletide season. They are especially famous for their 12 Days of Christmas ornament collection which has dazzled us for many years. One of the most anticipated events of each Christmas season is the release of the new Waterford ornaments, and this year is no exception as the company has released a number of beautiful new designs. Here are some of our favorite Waterford Christmas Ornaments for 2010.

No Christmas tree is complete without a beautiful snowflake ornament and the new Waterford Snow Crystal Pierced Ornament is something any snow lover would love to have. The ornament is made of fine crystal and really glistens in the light as it hangs gracefully from the tree. The ornament comes with a jeweled hanger and is dated so you will always remember the year it was received.


View the Waterford 2010 Snow Crystal Pierced Ornament at Amazon



Bells are practically synonymous with the Christmas season and anyone who has watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” knows that the sound of bells signifies that an angel has gotten their wings. Enter the Waterford 12 Days of Christmas Bell-a set of twelve different bell-shaped crystal ornaments that will add the ring of the holidays to your home. You can collect all twelve or buy them individually. If you can only choose one my personal favorite is the Twelve Drummers Drumming 12th Edition for its pretty Lismore pattern.

12 Days of Christmas Bells



For those who want to add a pinch of color to their tree the Waterford 2011 Times Square Ball Ornament is a wonderful addition. This edition is a replica of the ball that will drop in Times Square on New Years Eve. This ornament is a great gift for both young and old and the perfect way to welcome the new year.



Times Square Ball Christmas Ornament: 2011 Edition



If you are looking for the perfect ornament to commemorate your first Christmas together Waterford’s First Christmas is sure to please. The ornament depicts two swans who form the shape of a heart and the wording will help remind you of your first Christmas for decades to come.



Waterford 2010 Our First Christmas Ornament

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