Silly Monkey Stories: A Letter to the Elf on the Shelf (a.k.a. Bob)

Last year, we introduced our children to The Elf on the Shelf.  We even watched the DVD and read the book.  Our children couldn't agree on a name for him, so they named him Bob Jake Luke Makenzie, Jr.  We call him 'Bob' for short.  Ever since last year, Bob has been keeping a watchful eye on the children from the beginning of December until Christmas Eve.  He hides in a different spot around the house, so the children have fun trying to find him every morning.

One morning recently, the children found a note from Bob with the words "Be good" on it.  Well, they promptly ignored that advice, but decided to leave him a note of their own.  Our nearly 7 year old daughter had been practicing letter writing at school, so she took on the task of writing a letter out that reflected the thoughts of all three children . . .

On the morning the children found that note from Bob, he was sitting on top of the curtain rod in the living room, which explains how the children's letter was addressed . . .

Do you have a silly Holiday story to share about your children?  I'd love to hear it!

Happy Holidays!!

Click here to read all our Silly Monkey Stories!

We Shopped the Carter’s Friends & Family Event with a Printable 25% off Coupon Valid Thru 12/24 (#CartersFam #MC)

I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Carter’s. I received a gift card to facilitate my shopping trip and to thank me for participating. All opinions expressed are my own.

You all know that I am a shopper at heart, so you may be as surprised as I was to find out how unaware I was of two things.  The first thing is that Carter's sells clothing up to a size 6x for girls and size 7 for boys.  I always thought that, once my children passed the toddler and preschool stages, they were done with clothing from Carter's.  I was mistaken!  The second thing I learned is that there is a Carter's Babies and Kids retail location not too far from us.  Once I got over the shock of my lack of knowledge, we ventured out to pay a visit to our local store.

I was pleased to find a huge sale going on when we arrived at the store.  This, along with the Carter's Friends & Family Event coupon in my wallet, made me even more excited to shop for our nearly 7 year old twins!

The Carter's store was divided by age groups and gender.  The girls' section was full of cheerful brights and pastels.  My favorite section was the denim for girls, which came in skinny and boot cut in a variety of washes.  My philosophy is that a girl can never have too many pairs of jeans!

Since our daughter is a daddy's girl, we bought her not one, but two graphic tees that let the world know it.  We also found two pairs of skinny jeans, one in a faded denim wash and the other in a pastel.

The boys clothing did include some bright colors and pastels, but there were also plenty of choices for neutral colored pieces.

I ended up choosing a graphic tee, a graphic thermal, and three pairs of pull-on cargo pants for our son.  He was thrilled because, even though he looks so cute in them, he dislikes wearing jeans.

Now, if I have you wondering whether you have a Carter's store near you, you can find out by using their store locator.

Before you shop, you must remember 3 things!  First, be sure to print the Carter's Friends & Family Event coupon below to save 25% off your purchase (some exclusions apply).  This coupon expires on December 24th, 2013.

TO PRINT:  Be sure that your printer is on and ready to print.  Click the image below to enlarge.  Then right-click on the image and choose print.  Use your browser's back arrow to return to this page.

The second thing you need to remember is to checkout the enormous amount of clearance merchandise in the store.  Even though the coupon does not apply to clearance items, it is very much worth a look.  The third thing you should remember is, if you are not a Carter's Store Rewards Member, you should sign up while you're in the store.  I did and received $10 in rewards for every $50 I spent.  I spent a little over $100 on clothing for end-of-winter and springtime and received $20 in rewards that I will be returning to use after the Holidays.

A few other things you may not know about Carter's stores . . . 

• There are building blocks, wooden puzzles, and other wooden toys in-store to help keep your children occupied.
• The store carries Melissa & Doug toys, making it possible to shop for infant, toddler, and kids clothing, as well as toys, all in one stop.
• The stores also sell children's shoes up to a size 12.

Remember, if you shop, come back and tell me all about what you purchased!

The Shark Rocket Ultra-Lightweight Upright Vacuum Offers Power and Versatility

Thank you to Shark for providing a complimentary vacuum sample for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

We have a messy house (a very messy house). Cleaning up after 3 kids, 3 cats, 3 hermit crabs, and 3 fish is not easy, especially with our schedule. It seems like by the time we get done with everything at the end of each day, cleaning is the very last thing we have the time and energy for. And as result, we welcome anything that can make those tasks easier.

Over the years we have tried many different vacuum cleaners, all with varying degrees of success (or failure). My basic theory now is that big and expensive vacuums are better than small and “gimmicky” vacuums. We must have tried 4-5 lightweight and compact vacuums over the years in the hopes of making the task easier. I would say all have failed as we stopped using all of them. It is really a shame too, because lugging my full sized vacuums up and down the stairs is not a joy.

When I learned of the opportunity to try the Shark Rocket Ultra-Lightweight Upright Vacuum, another compact vacuum, I was equally weary and excited. Weary because of our history with small vacuums, but also excited because it was a Shark, a brand I have always had some luck with.

The Shark Rocket Ultra-Lightweight Vacuum is very compact and sleek in appearance. It looks a great deal like a ultra high end competitor’s vacuum I see for $400. It has a pistol style grip, bagless canister, and a long tube leading to the powered vacuum head.

This Rocket comes with all of the accessories you would expect with a full sized vacuum, let alone a compact machine.  In addition to the standard assortment of accessories, this Rocket comes with a “Pet Glide Tool” (hard floor head) that can also do furniture and a telescoping crevice tool.. Both the standard powered head and the hard floor head pivot for maximum control. Just flip your wrist and the head turns. It required very little effort to pivot both heads.

Two items that came with the Rocket Ultra-Lightweight Upright that really made me happy was a wall hook for storage and a giant bag to keep all of the parts together. Can you imagine that? After all of the years I have owned vacuum cleaners this is the first one that did anything at all to account for all of the extra parts. I wonder why such a simple and inexpensive solution to an issue we all have took so long to fix, and so simply? Kudos Shark.

How did the Shark Rocket Ultra-Lightweight Upright Vacuum clean? Pretty darn good. For a compact and lightweight vacuum it is fairly powerful. I was easily able to clean out the crevices in my laminate wood floor. This Rocket was a joy to use on the stairs with the super long cord. The unit is so light and easy to control and it made short work of piles of cat hair and dust.

Emptying the unit is as easy as standing over your trash bin and pressing one button, gravity did the rest. I didn't have to reach in and pull anything out manually, all the dirt, cat hair, and dust just fell out. To change or clean the filter is as easy as flipping a tab on the top of the unit. Shark did a great job of making this Rocket easy to maintain, a feature easily as important as being lightweight.

The Rocket Ultra-Lightweight Upright does what it is supposed to do. It is light and easy to use, has great suction, and comes with all of the accessories I need to keep my house clean. The Shark Rocket Vacuum is likely the nicest compact vacuum we have owned to date. It is so light and user-friendly, my 9 year old son just lost any excuse to not vacuum the floors….

You can buy the Shark Rocket Ultra-Lightweight Upright Vacuum most places vacuums are sold for the retail price of $179.99, but Shark sells this Rocket directly for just $159.80.

'Owl' Always Smile When I Hang This Ornament on Our Christmas Tree! #cbias

As a blogger, it is easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of Holiday features throughout the fall season.  It's exciting to introduce our readers to gift ideas, new products, and to give some of those products away.  As Christmas approaches, I am looking forward to that whirlwind settling so that I can take the time to appreciate the things about the Holidays that make this time of year joyous for me.

One of the things that makes the Holidays special for me online (aside from shopping) is the community.  I am only a member of an extremely small number of blogging communities and am an active member in just two.  One of these communities is Social Fabric run by Collective Bias, who is in large part responsible for helping me to improve my blog's content over the past year and a half or so.

Another benefit of being part of a supportive community like Social Fabric is that I have had the chance to cross paths with a great number of bloggers who were never on my radar before.  One of these bloggers is Heather of Girl Gone Mom.  If you've never visited her parenting lifestyle blog, I highly recommend that you do.  As part of this year's Social Fabric Ornament Exchange, Heather sent me this adorable owl tree ornament and this lovely Holiday card.  If you follow me on Pinterest or Twitter, then you know that I am infatuated with owls.  I have been for quite some time and it is hard to believe that this is my very first owl ornament.

Thank you Heather!!  I'll always smile when I hang this ornament on our little tree every year!

Angry Birds Go! Jenga Pirate Pig Attack Game Puts a New Twist on a Classic Game

Thank you to Hasbro for providing a complimentary Hasbro game sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Angry Birds has long been a favorite of most kids and even adults, and they have come out with a new game that will certainly become a treasured game in most houses. Angry Birds Go! Jenga Pirate Pig Attack takes the Angry Birds craze and mixes it with a well-known and loved game, Jenga, to create an adventuresome game that kids are sure to love.

In this game, the pirate ship is set up in a very Jenga-like way and those ornery pigs are defending their fortress. The two players each have their own car (either the red birds or king pig) along with slingshot launcher that they launch at the ship and try to knock down the pieces and pigs. You earn points based on what you knock down and the highest points wins! This is a fast-paced game and is over pretty quickly so they can play again and again.

Setting up the pirate ship is difficult, I won’t lie there, because it has to be very carefully set up and falls apart fairly easy because it’s supposed to at game time. My 12 year old can do it (if he musters all his patience), but my 6 year old cannot. This game is recommended for children ages 8 and up, so bear in mind that, if you buy it for young children, you will be doing most of the set up yourself. My kids really love launching the cars and knocking the ship down; they really couldn’t care less about points. They enjoy playing the game and it’s quickly become a favorite of theirs.

Angry Birds Go! Jenga Pirate Pig Attack Game can be purchased at the Hasbro Toy Shop and at many major retailers nationwide for approximately $29.99.  Right in time for the Holidays, this game is currently promotionally priced at $12.99 on Amazon.

Also look for ANGRY BIRDS GO! from Rovio Entertainment, a recently released mobile game app for Android, iOS, and Windows devices.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

SOL Republic Tracks V8 On-Ear Modular Headphones

Thank you to SOL Republic for providing a complimentary Tracks V8 Headphones sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you have ever read any of my reviews, you already know I am smitten with SOL Republic products. This year I was sent the Tracks V8 On-Ear Headphones to try and review. I will cut to the chase and tell you I loved them (surprise!). I promise to come clean with one imperfection however! As the proud owner of two sets of higher end SOL Republic headphones already, I was very curious to see how the entry level set compared to their pricier offerings.

The Tracks look great and come with the signature indestructible headband that all their sets do. I absolutely love the classic and simple lines of the Tracks, but they somehow also seem to convey a wilder side. The set I chose have a flat red headband and glossy black ear cups. Sizzle. The thick rubber cord is also red with a black volume control mirroring the look of the headset itself. Hot.

If you are not familiar, all SOL Republic headphones are modular and can be broken down for travel. And like all other SOL Republic sets, you can mix and match the components to create a custom pair unique to your tastes and personality (extra components sold separately). The Tracks feature SOL Republics signature thick rubber cord that does an excellent job resisting tangles. Fear not placing the cord in your pocket, for it will emerge untangled!

How do they sound? Great to put it simply. I was surprised to hear how well they compare to my Anthems and Master Tracks, both more expensive models. I can hear a difference for sure, but for $99 headphones the sound is fantastic. The Tracks feature SOL Republics deep bass and the rest of the range is superb.

I see so many celebrity endorsed headphones out there on the market and wonder why people buy them, how much of your money is going to the brand and not the quality of the product? Don’t get me wrong, SOL Republic works with some celebrities too, but they aren't the brand. Every SOL Republic product I own is far better than its higher priced competition and the Tracks aren’t an exception. I don’t know how many times I have tried $300 headphones in stores and think to myself, “My Tracks sound as good (or better!) and cost a fraction of this price.”  This is all my own opinion of course, but I challenge you to go try them for yourself. Compare the $99 Tracks against any Beats by Dr Dre or the Sony X series, regardless of their price.

So what is wrong with the Tracks? I promised one imperfection: The cord is too short! I would love to see an extra foot of cord. The Tracks are designed to work with mobile devices, but a longer cord would be better suited for people using them on their PC’s or sound systems. That’s it, the very worst thing I can say about them!

Big surprise: I highly recommend the SOL republic Tracks with the V8 Sound Engines. They sound nearly as good as my more expensive sets and they are an excellent choice for budget audiophiles. If you appreciate great sound and your budget is tight, you will not be disappointed with the Tracks.  You can purchase this SOL Republic product at Best Buy, Amazon.com, RadioShack, GameStop, and most places where quality electronics are sold.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Shop 'n' Share: #RadioShack Has You Covered For Holiday Gift Ideas For the Whole Family! (Sponsored by #MC)

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for RadioShack. I received a gift card to facilitate a shopping trip and promotional item as a thank you for participating.  All opinions expressed are my own.

As a child, I remember visiting our local RadioShack store with my Dad a countless number of times.  It was the place to shop for electronics, even if you were just looking for a power surge protector.  In 2013, there are many places to shop for electronics and gadgets, but RadioShack will always be among the top choices of trusted technology retailers on my list.  My husband and I are happy to have a RadioShack conveniently located in our local mall.  Aside from some specialty stores for mobile phones, Apple, or Microsoft products, the only other electronics retailer in the mall is a modest section in one of the anchor stores.  This RadioShack store must be a lifesaver for anyone who wants to finish all their Holiday shopping in one trip to the mall.

Many families save most of their major electronics purchases for Christmas gifts.  My family is the opposite.  If we need (or want) a new TV, tablet, or mobile phone, we usually do not wait to purchase it as a gift.  Instead, for the Holidays, we buy smaller thoughtful items for each other and for other people on our list, which often includes gifts in the tech and gadgets category.

I was delighted to see a sign for RadioShack's Holiday Cash promotion at the front of the store.  For every $50 a customer spends, they will earn $10 in Holiday cash that the customer can redeem one at a time during the specified dates on most purchases (with some exclusions).   That $10 could pay for a stocking stuffer or batteries for the gift you purchased during your first visit!

Although our local RadioShack store is likely smaller than freestanding locations, I was still amazed at how much they could pack into this mall location.  They had some of the most sought after gifts of the season, such as no-contract mobile phones, the newest smartphones, tablets, gaming systems, and more.  I was also extremely impressed with the selection of toys, which included modular remote control cars, quad copters, and learning toys.  For more gift ideas, visit RadioShack's Holiday Hub.

If you have stockings to stuff this year, RadioShack also has you covered with fun and useful items sized perfectly for a stocking.  Not only were there gift cards for Xbox Live, Google Play, iTunes, and more, there was a huge assortment of external battery portable chargers for mobile phones and novelty USB thumb drives.  I even found special edition Hexbug Nanos that pulled Santa's sleigh!

That day, I was shopping at RadioShack to check off a few things on my husband's wishlist.  An intercom system for the house was something that has been on his list for a long time.  Because I know it's not a common gift idea for the Holidays, I was happy to be able to find one for a decent price.  Also, my husband's alarm clock stopped working many months ago and he has been using his smartphone's alarm clock app in its place.  We both miss being able to glance at the clock to know what time it is instantly, so I picked up a digital alarm clock for him as well.

Since I spent more than $100, I received two $10 Holiday Cash coupons.  I will be returning to RadioShack soon to get the batteries I need for all our gifts plus a compact external battery for my smartphone.

If you haven't shopped your local RadioShack lately, be sure to make a point of stopping in.  Nearly 2,000 store locations have received a makeover with more to come.  I hope ours is on the list of stores to be reset in 2014.  As a sneak peak, checkout the new RadioShack Speaker Wall below . . .



To learn more about what RadioShack has to offer, visit www.RadioShack.com.

2013 Holiday Tech & Gadgets Gift Guide on 3G2S

Product samples of some of the items featured below were provided to facilitate this gift guide.  All opinions expressed are our own.


1. SOL Republic Deck Wireless Speaker ($199.99) - The Deck wireless speaker by SOL Republic and Motorola combines style and performance. The Deck is the only wireless speaker that has Heist Mode, a feature that allows up to 5 users to stream music to the speaker for a dynamic listening experience. Another exclusive feature unique to the Deck is Super-Power Wireless, allowing connected devices up to a 300 foot range from the speaker. The unit boasts an extra loud volume for outdoor use and a rechargeable battery that provides many hours of listening between charges. The speaker broadcasts in all directions providing a 360 field of music supported by a deep bass. The Deck can also be used as a speakerphone when paired with your smartphone.  The Deck is the perfect gift for music lovers who like to bring their music with them and share.

Keep an eye out for my full review of the SOL Republic Deck coming soon.  To learn more about the SOL Republic Deck, read our review and visit www.solrepublic.com.

2.  VTech InnoTab 3S Wifi Learning Tablet ($99.99 Now $69.99) - The InnoTab 3S by VTech is a tablet made especially for kids yet is full of features found in many tablets made for adults. The InnoTab 3S connects to you home's wifi and offers a completely controlled web experience. Parents can add approved websites to the units pre installed list of kid friendly sites. The InnoTab 3S is chock full of preinstalled learning activities, games, books, and art applications. Parents can go online to the Learning Lodge and add content at any time, some free and some for purchase. The unit boasts a 5” screen, rotating 2 megapixel camera, SD card slot, and 4 gigabytes of onboard storage.  The InnoTab 3S is a full featured tablet packed in a kid friendly package. This kid tablet is no toy. The unit offers extensive parental controls as well.

If you aren't ready to spend $300 or more for an adult tablet for your child, the InnoTab 3S is a great bridge tablet. The InnoTab 3S is the perfect choice for kids ages 3-9, who are asking for a tablet this holiday season.  This tablet comes in Blue, Pink, and a special edition Dora the Explorer model.

To learn more about the InnoTab 3S, visit www.VTechKids.com.

3.  Mobile Edge Mini Messenger Bag  ($49.99) - The Mobile Edge Mini Messenger bag is designed for tablet or netbook PC users who do not want to carry a full sized laptop bag. For anyone who needs to carry IT tools and related items in addition to a tablet, the Mobile Edge Mini is a perfect solution. The bag is made from rugged nylon and mesh with large zippers and plastic clips. This Mobile Edge messenger contains two padded compartments that can easily house any full size tablet or 13” ultrabook computer. The outer compartment has many divided sections for other gear. There is a small zippered outside pocket that is perfect for keys. This unisex tablet bag also has a bottle pocket and a second buttoned compartment (perfect for a flashlight) on each side of the bag. The Mobile Edge Mini Messenger bag is the perfect gift for the mobile professional.

To see color choices and more detailed information visit Amazon.com or BestBuy.com.

4. Jabra Freeway Bluetooth Speakerphone  ($99.00) - This speakerphone by Jabra allows for complete hands free calling in your car and much more. The Freeway automatically turns on and off when you enter or exit your car using its sensitive motion detection. The battery boasts a 14 hour talk time with a 40 day standby and can recharge from your car's 12 volt outlet with a provided charger. The unit can also charge using an included USB cable. The Jabra Freeway Speakerphone doubles as a bluetooth speaker by playing music through your car's FM stereo, as well as streamed from your mobile device. The Freeway is sleek in appearance and looks equally at-home in your car or on an office desk. The unit is small and light and attaches easily to a car's visor. This bluetooth speakerphone offers excellent sound clarity and microphone sensitivity. The Freeway is a perfect gift for anybody who likes to chat in the car or requires high quality hands free communication. It also makes an excellent speaker for your mobile media.

Visit www.Jabra.com for more information, including a product video.

5.  SOL Republic Tracks On-Ear Interchangeable Headphones V8  ($99.99) - The Tracks headphones by SOL Republic are handsome and simple in design. The Tracks are modular and the components (available for purchase separately) can be changed to suit any taste creating a truly unique set of headphones. The sound is rich in bass without sacrificing the rest of the range suiting many tastes in music. The ear pads are soft and the headband is virtually indestructible.  At $99.99 the SOL Republic Tracks offer a high quality experience at a fraction of the cost of its peers.  These headphones would be the perfect gift for anyone who appreciates the sound of high quality audio.

To learn more about these on-ear headphones, read our review and visit www.solrepublic.com.

6.  Jabra Style Bluetooth Headset  ($49.99) - The Jabra Style is a small and svelte bluetooth headset. It may very well be one of the smallest headsets you have ever seen for a mobile phone. The earpiece fits almost entirely in your ear and the clip is clear so the unit is fairly inconspicuous. The Jabra Style is very easy to use as most of the features are automated. The unit detects the ambient noise and adjusts the volume automatically. In fact, the only button on the Jabra Style is the off/on button that doubles as the answer button. It is refreshing to find a top end headset that is so easy to use. The Jabra Style would be a great gift for anybody who likes to chat while they drive, workout, cook, or just about anything else that requires them to keep their hands free.

For more information about this and other Jabra products, visit www.Jabra.com.

7.  Lightscoop Deluxe  ($36.95) - Lightscoop is a swiveling detachable mirror you can put on your D-SLR camera to bounce the light from your flash off other surfaces, such as the ceiling or a wall.  This results in photos that have lights and shadows that are soft, rather than the harsh ones resulting from using a direct flash.  This little gadget slides right into the slot where you would normally attach an external flash and works best for cameras with nice bright flashes.  The Lightscoop is most effective when used with ceilings that are approximately 14ft high or lower and walls that are no more than 4ft away.  The Lightscoop Deluxe folds for easy storage.  Also available is the Lightscoop Jr. ($18.95), which comes with a storage pouch and works well on many compact cameras with bright flashes.  Remember to visit the product pages to be sure which Lightscoop product will work best with your type of camera.  Both products would make perfect gifts or stocking stuffers for that special photographer in your life.

To learn more about these and other Lightscoop products, visit www.lightscoop.com, Lightscoop on Facebook, and on Twitter.


More tech and gadget gift ideas will be added to this Holiday Gift Guide through December.  Remember to check back often and to follow @_Karen on Twitter to keep up with what's new!

2013 Holiday Toy Gift Guide on 3G2S

Product samples of some of the items featured below were provided to facilitate this gift guide.  All opinions expressed are our own.


1.  Playmobil Spy Team Command Vehicle  ($64.99) - The Spy Team Command Vehicle comes with a host of accessories and figures to create a complete play experience. The Command Vehicle features an actual combination lock safe, firing missiles, and a secure chamber for locking down the most vile criminals. The set also includes 4 figures, guns, tools, toy money, and all of the accessories one would expect a team of spies to carry on a mission. The tires are grippy rubber and the front suspension really works powering the Spy Team Command Vehicle over the most challenging terrain.

Assembly should be easy for an adult, but a child may need assistance. Assembly requires about 10-15 minutes of your time. The Spy Team Command Vehicle would make an excellent gift for any aspiring spy hunter age 7 to 12.

You can learn more about the Spy Team Command Vehicle and other Playmobil toys at www.Playmobil.com.

2.  Dollie & me 18" Dolls by Madame Alexander  ($39.00) - Dollies are 18" fashion dolls made by Madame Alexander, who has been the gold standard in dolls over nearly a century.  Created with young girls in mind, these high quality yet affordable 18" dolls would be the perfect gift for any girl age 3 years or older, especially if you find American Girl dolls to be too costly.  There are currently 8 different dolls available, each with varying hair, eye, and skin color, modeling a stylish outfit complete with accessories.  You could choose a doll that resembles your little princess or perhaps one that looks like her best friend.

Dollie & me Matching Sleepwear  ($25.00 - $30.00) - What better gift to go along with a new Dollie for Christmas than matching pajamas or a nightgown for your little girl and her doll?  This Gingerbread Printed Nightgown is just  one of many styles available.  Dollie & me fashions come in girl's sizes 2T to 12 and the doll outfits fit most 18" dolls, including American Girl dolls.

To learn more about Dollie & me dolls and fashions, visit www.dollieme.com.

3.  Red Toolbox Billiard Table  ($49.99) - This billiard table is fun to use, but is unique because it comes unassembled and part of the entertainment of it is building this table together as a family project. This is a Level 2 project which is slightly harder and requires cutting, sawing, drilling, and other things that require adult assistance. The instructions are simple enough and only should about an hour to assemble. Once assembled, this table is a perfect, mini-sized version of regular pool table and comes with all the items needed to play the game including chalk for the sticks and a brush for the felt table. The Red Toolbox Billiard Table is perfect for any child who loves to make things, be creative, and see the fruits of their labor. Recommended for ages 8+ because of small parts.

Red Toolbox 8 Piece Toolset  ($39.99) - Perfect for building your billiard table or any other project, this child-sized toolset is great for small hands that love to be helpful with crafting and other handiwork. This set includes a bar clamp, hammer, tape measure, hand saw, 2 Phillips head screwdrivers, file, and safety goggles. Each is well-made out of durable materials and will likely hold up for many years.

To learn more about the Red Toolbox building toys, read our review and visit www.reevesintl.com.

4.  Playmobil Take Along Modern Dollhouse  ($59.99) - This new dollhouse by Playmobil is the perfect gift for any child 4 years or older who has a big imagination and needs an entertaining toy that can be easily taken along to a friend's or relative's house.  Playmobil sets are well-known for the awesome details in both their decals, as well as the numerous accessories that accompany each toy.  This set requires minimal assembly, but includes quite a few decals.  Be prepared for up to 20 minutes of set-up before this gift is ready to be played with.  Children will be delighted by drawers that open, tiny toiletries, a flat screen TV plus audio and video components that fit perfectly in the TV stand, everything needed to set the table for a meal, and a wide variety of foods to stock the refrigerator.  Also, if you have a child who loves to collect Playmobil figures, then he or she will be delighted with the boy, girl, baby, and 2 dogs that come with this dollhouse.

To learn more about the Playmobil Take Along Modern Dollhouse and other Playmobil toys, visit www.playmobil.us.

5.  Makedo Make Anything Kit for One  ($25.00) - Makedo’s award winning building system takes things that would usually be trash and turns them into hours of creative play. The Make Anything Kit for One contains 1 safe-saw, 29 re-pins, 29 re-clips, 6 lock hinges, and an inspiration poster. You bring the supplies and your own creativity to make anything you can think of. The Makedo supplies are made of high-quality plastic and are completely reusable so once you’re done with one masterpiece, just take it all apart and store the Makedo parts away until you are ready to create again.  This kit would be the perfect gift for a child age 5 years or older who is learning to repurpose and recycle things around the house.

Learn more about this and the other Makedo kits on their website, www.mymakedo.com.

6.  Glitzi Globes  ($7.99 - $19.99) - A new toy for 2013, Glitzi Globes by Moose Toys is a collectible toy that is also a mini craft.  Each Glitzi Globe comes with everything a child needs to make a glitter-filled snow globe, including the dome, the base, a character figure, 3 floating charms, and a glitter tablet.  Just add water and assemble the globe.  The finished globes can be used to display, used as pencil toppers, made into jewelry, and more.  Glitzi Globes would make the perfect gift for a crafty child age 5 years or older, who loves to collect cute and sparkly things.  Currently, this new toy line is available in the Glitzi Globes Glitzi Showcase, the Glitzi Globes Starter Kit, and the Glitzi Globes Themed Three Packs.

To learn more about Glitzi Globes, read our review and visit www.glitziglobes.com.

7.   Words With Friends Magnetic Game and Message Board  ($19.99) - You can now play Words With Friends, the popular mobile game app, at home! The Words With Friends Magnetic Game and Message Board contains a metal game board, 104 magnetic tiles, a tile bag, 4 metal tile racks, hooks, a dry erase marker and eraser, and all the parts to mount it right on your wall. Play goes just as it does on your mobile device, but you can instead play with the members of your family and even write little messages to each other. It is well made, fun, and sure to delight any word-lover you know.

Learn more about this magnetic version of Words With Friends here. This game can be purchased at most major retailers nationwide.

8.  B-Daman Crossfire Toys  (starting at $8.99) - B-Daman is a television show on the CW, which has been made into toys in which players launch marble-type balls into one another using their B-Daman launcher. This fast-paced game requires precision, skill, and fast fingers to defeat your opponent. B-Daman Crossfire’s vast line of toys is sure to appeal to children ages 6 and up (due to small parts which present a choking hazard). Whether they play alone or with others, they are sure to be delighted.

To learn more about B-Daman Crossfire Toys, read our review. To see their full line, visit www.HasbroToyShop.com.

9. Disney Planes Blu-ray/DVD Combo & Disney Planes Toys  ($4.99 - $29.99) - If you have a Disney Pixar Cars movie fan to shop for, then the Disney Planes movie might just be the perfect gift or stocking stuffer you're looking for.  Filled with action, dynamic characters, and important life lessons, Planes is a wonderful choice for a family movie.  This film teaches children to not be afraid to dream big, the importance of fair play, not to judge others by their appearances, and so much more.  Of course, what gift would be complete without a Planes toy or two to bring those movie characters to life?  The collectible and affordable die-cast figures would make fun add-on items to your movie gift.

To learn more about Disney Planes, visit movies.disney.com.

10.  Keekee the Rocking Monkey  ($24.99) - Blue Orange Games has done it again with this fun game designed for 1-6 players ages 3 and up. Keekee loves juggling balls and trying to balance herself on her favorite banana rocker. Players take turns placing balls in Keekee’s arms, on her head, or on the banana and try not to let Keekee fall over. This game is simple to set up and to play, but not so simple to master, making it a fun challenge. Keekee the Rocking Monkey would make a great gift for any child as young as 3 years old because the concept is easy to comprehend and reading is not required.  This game is also sure to please parents who are fans of wooden battery-free toys.

You can learn more about this and other Blue Orange Games products, by visiting www.blueorangegames.com.

11.  Breyer Chalkboard Horse  ($14.99) - Breyer is best known for its collectible model horses, but also offers playsets, activity sets, and other horse-themed toys.  Whether a child has already started their Breyer Horses collection or is looking forward to owning their very first, the Breyer Chalkboard Horse would make a fun and unique gift.  This 9.5" black horse comes with 4 pieces of chalk for drawing and a small sponge that can be moistened to clean off the horse when it's time to start a new design.  When the weather is too cold or too wet outside for drawing with chalk, this chalkboard horse would make a fun quiet rainy day activity.  This horse comes in a ready-to-wrap box and is recommended for ages 6 and up.

To learn more about this and other Breyer products, visit www.breyerhorses.com.

12. Wok ‘n Roll  ($21.99) - In this entertaining game from the Therapy Shoppe, players use tongs to remove colorful plastic food from a wok while the surface vibrates, gyrates, rocks, and rolls. This fun game requires fine motor skills, visual motor skills, sorting, color recognition, and counting, but hones these skills without children realizing it. Designed for 1 to 4 players ages 3 and older (because of choking risk with the “food” pieces), this game would be a fun gift for any child, but especially those who need to develop those skills. This game does require 2 “AA” batteries, so be sure to include them with your gift and it’s worth noting that the game needs a solid, stable surface in order to function.

Learn more about this and the Therapy Shoppe’s other amazing products at www.therapyshoppe.com.

13.  Glow Pets  ($29.95) - From the makers of Pillow Pets comes Glow Pets. Glow Pets are plush animals that double as comfy pillows and they glow! These plush toys come with internal LED lights that are just bright enough to make the dark a little less scary.  The internal lights are also easy to turn on and off with a handy button and each one comes with a built-in 20 minute shut off timer, in order to avoid wasting batteries or burning out the bulbs while children are sleeping. In addition to the Glow Seal, Glow Pets are also available in a Bear, Zebra, Turtle, Unicorn, Pup, Penguin, and Snail.  This plush toy (approximately 15") would be the perfect gift for a child 3 years or older, who is afraid of the dark or just needs a little extra security during the night.

You can learn more about Glow Pets by visiting www.glowpets.com.

14.  Blingles Glimmer Glam Styler Studio  ($19.99) - Blingles is a line of gem craft kits that was introduced in 2012.  For 2013, they have expanded their line to include the new Blingles Glimmer glitter kits.  The Glam Styler Studio has all the tools a child needs to create gem-adorned glitter stickers, which can be used to decorate phone cases, diaries, notebooks, and almost anything with a smooth flat surface.  It comes with 4 wells of colored glitter, clear gems, a glitter brush, a gem pen, plus several sheets of specially designed stickers.  The Blingles Glimmer Glam Styler Studio would make a delightful gift for a child age 6 years or older, but would especially be perfect for tweens.  You could also pair it with the Blingles Bling It Beauty Case ($14.99), which comes with a locking mirrored beauty case that can be decorated with both Blingles gems and Blingles Glimmer stickers.

To learn more about Blingles and Blingles Glimmer products, read our review and visit www.myblingles.com.


More fun gift ideas in toys will be added to this Holiday Gift Guide through December.  Remember to check back often and to follow @_Karen on Twitter to keep up with what's new!