ASTRA Best Toys For 2009
December 9th, 2009ASTRA - The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association’s mission is leading the way through play by providing quality products that help children have fun, achieve success and lead happy, healthy lives. Toys that get you back to the basics. Toys that teach children to imagine and play, not sit behind a video game or in front of a TV for hours.
The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) was founded in 1992 on a simple premise: to bring members of the independent toy industry together to help each other succeed. Since then, they have grown to be the largest association for companies in the toy and children’s products arenas, with more than 1,000 members, including:
• Independent toy retailers
• Specialty toy manufacturers
• Manufacturers’ representatives
• Industry affiliates
• Suppliers and service providers
• Other children’s businesses including furniture, equipment, publishing and entertainment companies
This year ASTRA has put together a list… The Best Toys for Kids: 2009 which was released by the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) just in time for Christmas! It contains toys for good, old-fashioned, make-it-up-yourself, belly-laughing play that’s great for kids. It’s a great reason to pass by the hordes of anxious, exhausted shoppers at the usual big box stores and try a new way of more relaxed, productive shopping for toys that are actually healthy for your kids. Shopping in specialty stores locally which you can find here on ASTRA’s store finder!
This year’s winners are:
Infant Play (0 - 12 months)
* Sophie Giraffe by Calisson In
* Natural Skwish by Manhattan
Toddler Play (1 - 3 years)
* Twilight Ladybug by Cloud B
* Wee Wedgits by ImagAbility
Pretend Play - Role Play
* Tea Set from Recycled Milk jugs by Green Toys
* Shopping Cart by Melissa & Doug
Pretend Play - Fantasy Play
* Reversible Knight/Dragon Cape and Reversible Knight/Dragon Hood by Creative Education of Canada
* Egyptian Pyramid by Playmobil
Constructive Play
* Automoblox Vehicles by Manhattan Toy
* Magformers Multicolored 30pc Magnetic Building Set
Creative Arts Play
* Create Your Own Pop-up Books by Faber-Castell Creativity for Kids
* Sticky Mosaic Twinkle Tiaras by The Orb Factory
Scientific Play
* Snap Circuits Green by Elenco
* Power House Green by Thames & Kosmos
Active Play
* Ezy Roller by Ezy Roller
* Original Djubi by PAV/Moonracer
Game Play (3 - 7 years)
* Chickyboom by Blue Orange
Game Play (8+ years)
* Bananagrams by Bananagrams
Just For Fun
* Mini collectable Eraser by BC Office
Classic Play (Older)
* Doinkit Darts by Marky Sparky
Classic Play (Younger)
* Magnatiles by Valtech
SO, this holiday season check out these great products and more by visiting your local ASTRA retailer.
I was provided with sample products by ASTRA to facilitate this review. I was in no other way compensated and all opinions are those of my own.
New England Soup Factory Cookbook
December 8th, 2009
Winter brings thoughts of holidays, joy, and COLD weather meaning that there is no better time to break out the recipe book for soups. A comfort food that dates back for years and years helping to warm our bodies and soul.
Chef Marjorie’s commitment to sourcing only the best ingredients that local markets have to offer has allowed her to joyfully simmer soup from scratch, capturing seasonal flavors at their peak and creating wholesome, satisfying meals in a bowl. And now you can get Marjorie’s homemade recipes in this new cookbook.
The cookbook is a savory collection of our customers’ favorites. You’ll find recipes for Soup Factory classics like Spicy Chickpea and Butternut Squash. The recipes have easy-to-find ingredients, simple instructions and plenty of mouth-watering photography to showcase how to present each soup.
This is the BEST cookbook! It contains full color photographs for the recipes and is elegantly laid out. You won’t want to miss the Chili Con Carne, or the Tomato Soup made with fire-roasted tomatoes. Marjorie Druker is passionate about soups. She fell in love with soups when she first heard the story Stone Soup. After attending Johnston & Whales, Marjorie created the menu for the popular Boston Market restaurant chain, and soups were always her favorite. “My niche is taking what people like to eat and turning it into a soup,” she says.
The New England Soup Factory restaurant has won the Best of Boston award four times. People skip school to eat their soups. A pregnant lady in labor stopped by the restaurant on the way to the hospital to satisfy a last-minute craving. New England Soup Factory soups are like no other soups. And now you can recreate these delicious soups in your own home. The New England Soup Factory Cookbook contains 100 of Boston’s best-tasting traditional and creative soup recipes. The book also includes a chapter on sandwiches and salads to accompany such soups as . . .
* New England Clam Chowder
* Wild Mushroom and Barley Soup
* Curried Crab and Coconut Soup
* Raspberry-Nectarine Gazpacho
* Cucumber-Buttermilk Soup
It’s the perfect gift for soup-lovers, out-of-town friends and your own cookbook collection. Order a copy today…your taste buds will be thanking you!
V.Smile Motion™ Active Learning System
December 5th, 2009
For years we as parents have been able to rely on VTech to bring some of the best educational toys to us. This year is no exception. In this edition of the Holiday Gift Guide I would like to introduce you to the V.Smile Motion:Active Learning System.
You can put your child in motion while driving home lessons in math, reading, science, spelling and more with V.Smile MotionTM TV Learning System! V.Smile MotionTM is a breakthrough gaming console that combines wireless, motion-activated play, web connectivity and educational gaming into a system that plugs directly into your TV! Meaning …that your child will have a blast playing AND learning at the same time! The V-MotionTM Active Learning System is recommended for children ages 3-7 years and has a suggested retail price of $59.99 (Games from $24.99). It can be found online and at retailers Nationwide. I Love the V.Smile Motion! It is fun, it is educational, it gets kids to move and they have so many great cartridges for kids to choose from. They can play alone or with a friend to make learning even MORE fun!
V.Smile MotionTM has all of your child’s favorite characters including Scooby-Doo, Thomas the Tank Engine, Winnie the Pooh and Spider-Man, as well as new ones like Disney Fairies, Pixar’s Up!, Handy Manny, and Ni Hao Kai Lan.
Your child will love these wireless action packed toys that guide them through age-appropriate skill levels and developmental activities. Plus children can use the V.Link to track scores and earn bonus online games at www.vsmilelink.com. The exciting “Action Mania” Smartridge comes included with the console.
V.Smile MotionTM Active Learning System Features:
* Wireless, motion activated joystick is also for left-handed or right-handed children
* This learning system is 100% compatible with the entire V.Smile Smartridge library
* Use V.Link to track your scores and earn bonus online games
* Comes with Action Mania sampler Smartridge
Other great products to consider from VTech this year are:
Bugsby TM Reading System and Starter Book Bundle - (3-7 years) ERP: $29.99
Jungle Gym: Ride & Learn Giraffe Bike - (18-36 months) ERP: $49.99
V.SmileTM Cyber Pocket - (5 years+) ERP: $49.99
“I was given a V.Smile Motion Active Learning System by VTech for my holiday guide. I was allowed to keep the product, but the opinion I am sharing remains my own.”
Get A New Habit…
December 3rd, 2009
As the holidays approach we all get concerned about over-eating, eating the wrong foods, not drinking enough water, not getting enough exercise. And all of those concerns are brought front and center on New Years Day when resolutions are made to really do better during the new year. Did you know that health related resolutions are the most commonly made ones? They are also the ones most commonly broken.
This year, there is help. Help to remind you of the goals you have set for yourself. Help to remind you to stay on track. That help comes in the form of Habitwise.
HabitwiseTM fundamentally changes the way people adjust their behaviors and form new habits. With the use of habit development systems - they help individuals, families and communities generate good health through the power of healthy habits. Helping you make better decisions today for a healthier tomorrow.
Whether you are faced with the challenge of weight loss, improving nutrition, or simply finding structure for your daily choices, Habitwise will prove that small changes can inspire you to achieve big goals. These bracelets are a very easy way to guide and monitor behaviors. It’s simple, once an action is performed, the color-coded bracelet is moved to the opposite wrist. That is it. And for men they have chips that are moved from pocket to pocket. So, one wrist shows goals for the day, the other shows your accomplishments
They have even set up a system for kids. A system to help them track eating habits, exercise habits, etc…the possiblities are endless…with all of their products. You could really use any system to track and control any habit you may have or use them to implement a new and healthy habit into your life.
So, start your New Year off with a New You thanks to Habitwise!
These make perfect gifts for anyone in your family and they will thank you for years to come. They are also the perfect size for a stocking stuffer. These are only available online through Habitwise.com, you can see all of their products HERE.
I was in no way compensated for this post. I just happen to believe they have a really great product that can help all of us live a little healthier. Please remember that individual results may vary.
It’s A Puzzler!
December 2nd, 2009
We love puzzles…of every kind. But throughout the winter months you can bet that we have a jigsaw puzzle going. It is what we do on those cold days when we just don’t want to get out. And well, we are all addicted to them. My Mom started the tradition when we were very young. There would always be a puzzle going in our Dining Room, because it was the warmest room in our house. We lived in a very old house growing up…it was built in the 1890’s. It has no insulation and was always very cold in the winter and steaming hot in the summer. So as we all gathered in the central dining room around a table next to the old wood heater we would sit and work on a puzzle, catch up on daily events and just hang out as a family. It is a tradition that I remember fondly and have passed onto my own children.
Now, every Christmas we all look forward to getting a new puzzle from my Mom. Once we have completed our puzzle we will usually trade with one of my sisters so that we have another new one to complete…and I gift puzzles to my own children as well. We look for hard ones these days…and this is one that I found this year that I fell in love with:
I love, love, love all of the Alex Beard products, but his puzzles…oh his puzzles are fabulous and hard. Of course he has some that aren’t quite so difficult, but I am loving this Peacock puzzle BECAUSE it is hard. It isn’t going to be done in a day or two as so many of ours are. The quality is so good, meaning that this puzzle will last us for a long time, no matter how many time we put it together…and the hard ones, we do over and over again for the challenge.
Check out all of Alex Beard’s products, you will find so much to fall in love with. There is something for everyone on your list including the kids!
Alex Beard Studio provided me with a sample product for review purposes. I was in no other way compensated for this post, I do just really happen to love all of his stuff!
Get Out! (giveaway)
December 1st, 2009
That is right…I said to GET OUT! Get Out and play. Get Out and live…all the while being a little greener along the way. Get Out! is chockful of eco-friendly ideas to help families, classrooms, and groups get outside, learn about nature, experience the world in new ways, and take a hands-on approach to green living. There are chapters on being an eco-friendly consumer and eco-friendly eater, as well as on choosing an issue and taking a stand, make for a well-rounded yet easy-to-use handbook for making a difference indoors and out. Making this a great gift for the families in your life that are looking to make an impact on our environment.
Tip # 143 - Participate in an Earth Day Event. These include fairs, festivals, educational talks and hands on activism like park restoration, tree planting, and river clean-ups. (more information is included in the book)
The kids and I have all enjoyed this book. It has given us some really creative ideas to reduce our Carbon Footprint while enjoying the outdoors and enjoying spending some time as a family.
Erin’s favorite? # 24.
Tate’s Favorite? # 58.
You will just have to get the book to figure out what those things are, but I can assure you…it has been fun!
Open to any page to find something to do today. The payoff is huge: not only is nature just plain awesome to be in, but research shows that spending time enjoying nature can actually improve our physical and emotional health. Bonus: Kids who learn to love nature will naturally do more to conserve it. Eureka!
Get Out! shows you ways to:
* Get Started: Cool Ways to Embrace Nature Today
* Go Further: Projects, Plans, and Outings
* Get Smart: Be Green Consumers-and Eaters
* Get Active: More than Just the Three Rs
* Get Involved: Take a Green Stand
With Get Out!, green living is fun and easy. And at $10.99 it makes an affordable gift for several people on your list this year. For more information or purchase visit HERE.
Or, you can enter to win a copy! Thanks to Get Out! and Free Spirit Publishing I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader!
To Enter: Leave a comment stating one thing that you do regularly to live a little greener. All entries must be received by December 8th at 5 PM EST. All entries must have a valid US mailing address. Winner will be selected at random and will have 3 days to respond to the verification e-mail.
Want Extra Entries:
Blog about this contest and The Get Out! book, with a link back to here (leave link where the post can be found).
Subscribe to The Post-It Place (either by a reader or request in your comment to be added to the e-mail list for contests and giveaways).
Place my button on your blog (leave link it can be found at).
Follow me - Jillybean01 on Twitter and Tweet this contest making sure to use the @Jillybean01 (leave ID in a comment and I will follow you back).
Follow Me on Facebook.
Get Out and free spirit publishing provided a sample and the product for giveaway. All opinions are those of my own and were in no way influenced by an outside source.
iKnow! (GIVEAWAY)
December 1st, 2009
What do iKnow? iKnow lots of things, at least that is what I like to think. It is also what I tell my kids, just don’t tell them that I really don’t know everything. One thing I do know is that there are some really great new learning DVD’s called iKnow by Take Pride Learning that take children everywhere on an adventure of a lifetime. The adventures teaches them to read through a 3-part system in conjunction with the San Diego Zoo making leanring fun and exciting! They will get to meet all kinds of exciting animals as they journey through the alphabet making this the perfect gift for the pre-schooler in your life this Holiday Season!
iKnow Animals, Letters & Sounds
This 3 DVD Collection is the start of the learning adventure. When kids view reading as a fun and enjoyable activity, their reading skills improve naturally. This captivating DVD Collection guides your children on an incredible journey with the animals in Africa, through the Rain Forest, and the San Diego Zoo. This sensational program leaves them eager to venture deeper into the exciting world of reading and wanting to discover more.
Learn More
Iknow Play Cards
iKnow ABC Cards
This deck is stacked with 52 letter-animal playing cards. Two complete alphabets - all 26 letters, animals A to Z. Each letter is textured so a child can feel, see, and say the letter. iKnow Cards use the same animals and graphics from the DVD Collection for repetition and consistency to improve learning. Take these cards with you anywhere for hours of fun and learning.
Learn More
iKnow TV
iKnow Online Games
Children can apply what they learn from the DVD Collection in 5 additional online adventures! Familiar animals, letters and sounds strengthen the connection between concept and learning. Children experience the same basic skills again, which reinforces what they’re learning, and they take an interactive role in the process gaining greater confidence in their learning abilities. These adventures focus on phonics, the alphabet, vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension.
You can learn more about iKnow HERE or the iKnow DVDs and Playing cards can be purchased HERE
And thanks to iKnow and Take Pride Learning you can enter to win a set for yourself!
To Enter: Visit the THIS site and leave me a comment telling me why you would like to win it. All entries must be received by December 8th at 5 PM EST. All entries must have a valid US mailing address. Winners will be selected at random and will have 3 days to respond to the verification e-mail.
Want Extra Entries:
Blog about this contest and The iKnow DVDs, with a link back to here (leave link where the post can be found).
Subscribe to The Post-It Place (either by a reader or request in your comment to be added to the e-mail list for contests and giveaways).
Place my button on your blog (leave link it can be found at).
Follow me - Jillybean01 on Twitter and Tweet this contest making sure to use the @Jillybean01 (leave ID in a comment and I will follow you back).
Follow Me on Facebook.
Take Pride Learning supplied a sample product for review and for giveaway. I was in no other way compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Please remember that individual results may vary.
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