The "IT" Toy of the Year?

The Doc will be in at our house this Xmas!

Remember when Tickle Me Elmo came out and there were riots at stores because people had to have it for their children at Christmas? And the Furby? And Play Station 2? Or 3? And all the hype surrounding Nintendo Wii? I will never forget that episode of South Park, where Cartman can't wait until Christmas to get his Nintendo Wii so he freezes himself in the middle of nowhere and Butters is supposed to unthaw him, but forgets, and he isn't unthawed until like the year 3013? And by that time the Wii is totally obsolete (obviously.) And then the episode of The Office where Dwight buys all those princess dolls and sells that at an absurd mark-up because they are the "it" toy of the holiday season? Yeah, I watch a lot of tv.

I am a sucker for these kinds of things now that I have kids. Last year it was the Elmo Rocks doll that I told my parents M "had to have" so they bought it weeks before her birthday (which is the first week of December) and had it shipped to our house. She opened it, and was full of excitement, and sang along with Elmo...for about five minutes. I think in the past year she has used it for a grand total of 30 minutes...tops.

Well today I just started pinning some stuff on my "Christmas Gifts 2012" board on Pinterest, specifically for the girls. Now Val doesn't really need presents. She will be 4 months old when Christmas rolls around, for crying out loud. I could give her an empty milk carton and she would be all giggles. She is way too young for gifts this year. But M, she has her big third birthday coming up in just 4 weeks, and then of course Christmas right after that, and I feel like this is the first year that she actually understands what happens during the holidays. Plus, I LOVE giving people gifts. I like to put a lot of thought into gifts, give them something creative, or something they would never buy themselves, but possibly hinted at wanting some time in passing. That is why Christmas is my jam!

So while I was pinning things, I did a search for Doc McStuffins, as that is M's latest favorite "program" as my husband and I jokingly call her shows (that is what my 89 year old grandmother calls all her shows she watches on tv and I just love it.) I came across this fabulous doctor's bag, which I know she will die for (and will probably drive me insane as she tries to check my heartbeat for the 1000 time, but I will smile and let her) and then saw this interactive doll as well.

As I do with all my purchases on Amazon, I first read the reviews. I saw that multiple people said not to purchase it on Amazon as you could find it at Target or Toys R Us for half the price. And then one of the reviews referred to it as the "IT" toy of the season, and to get it fast. Well, you know I had to have it then!! So I looked on those two websites, only to find that it was sold out online - but is listed for $29.99. I did a search online to see if I could pick it up in stores and it was sold out at every Toys R Us within 50 miles, as well as Target...in the northeast! So I tried my parents zipcode in Florida - SOLD OUT EVERYWHERE!!

No wonder on Amazon it is listed for $60, double the price of everywhere else! You can't get it anywhere and it is already November. And of course it says on there "only 6 left" so obviously they are a hot commodity! I took a second to think about this - was I really going to spend $60 on a toy, that I had never seen in person, that is really only $30 in value (and probably cost $5 to make) just because it seemed like the most popular toy of the season? You bet I was.

And now that I have purchased it, and thought about it a little more as I write this post I now think that this is the greatest marketing ploy that a toy company could come up with...

Release a toy (or game), that features a recently popular or new animated character, in a limited quantity  (maybe one or two per store) to Target and Toys R Us just before the holiday season, when the dedicated shoppers start their shopping. Have someone go online and and write reviews on the sites talking about how this is the greatest toy they have seen all year, and a "must have" for your little girl (or boy.) Toy then sells out, due to high demand and low quantity. Mark up the toy by double and sell on Amazon, now calling it the "IT" toy of the season, and mention how you "can't get it anywhere else."

Put in shopping basket...check out! Done!! You got this idiot Mom you marketing geniuses!

Watch when I got to Target next time it is on sale for $9 and there are 1000 of them. Blurg.

Mama J & Moo's Favorite Things: Toys

As we don't have Oprah's Favorite Things to look forward to anymore (how will I know what crazy expensive cashmere sweater to not buy, and be insanely jealous of the audience receiving for free this year??) I figured I would start writing a recurring post featuring some of my and M's favorite things. I have gone on somewhat of a spending spree in the last few months in the toy department (and furniture, and shoes...) so I figured I would share with you some of our latest acquisitions. These are great for your kids, as well as gift ideas for friends:

1. V-Tech Sit & Stand Alphabet Train: While visiting some friends in New York, M got to try this baby out...and we had to pry it from her hands when we left. So, in true Mama J fashion, I decided we needed to have it, and have it ASAP. As soon as we got in the car I fired up the Amazon App on the iPad and purchased - it arrived the next day. And we have played with it every day since. M spends a good amount of time each day playing with this, and it is amazing how fast she was able to start recognizing letters, as well as the pictures on the other side of the blocks. She loves to ride it around the house, as well as walk behind it when I detach the seat portion. Great learning tool, you can walk and ride it, it teaches you colors and numbers, in addition to letters...I love it, she loves it...your kid will love it too!

2. Shoenhut My First Piano: I have wanted one of these since the day I found out I was pregnant. Who doesn't like small replicas of big things! I got this off Zulily.com a few weeks ago, but it was more for me than it was for her if I am being totally honest. M does like to spend some time every day on her "PEE-ano" basically just banging on the keys and laughing hysterically. She does love when I play her favorite songs, but gets annoyed when I spend too much time playing it and ignoring her..."Mama all done piano now!" I think I just need to get myself a piano in the future as the two octaves of keys isn't cutting it. I think it is a great gift for a two year olds birthday though!

3. Playmobil Take Me Along Ark: This is going down as the best gift from Grandma to date. My mom purchased this at a tiny toy store in Rhode Island because she wanted something we could take out to dinners with M to keep her entertained. We don't go out to dinner without it! The pieces are all made so that they are big enough so as not to be swallowed, and you can even take them in the bath with you (although you will have to dry them out afterwards as some retain water for a bit). We log a ton of time with the "Noah & Gladys' Ahhk." Why Gladys? Well Noah's wife's name is never mentioned in the bible, so I named her Gladys. She looks like a Gladys. :)

4. Playmobil Family House: Another Grandma gift. This is not portable like the Ark, but M can't get enough of it. I love that she is at the age where she can start moving things around and making sounds and acting out a mother daughter relationship with the toys (well, makes them "give kisses").

5. Educo Creative Peg Puzzle: This was totally an impulse purchase at a fancy toy store. I felt like I was being talked into it by the saleswoman, and thought I would end up giving it as a gift, but it turns out that M actually really likes it. I was surprised how quickly she was able to understand how it works, but she got it after a few tries and loves to sit and take the pieces off and put them back on. Plus it is a visually a pretty toy, so I keep it out on display. I find a lot of kids are drawn to it when they come over for play dates, so I think it would make a fabulous birthday gift!

Best (Free) Toy Ever

I frequently buy Marlo toys, largely in part because I get pretty bored playing with the same toys with her every day. I love to see that excitement when she sees something new, and finally figures out how it works. But then a day or two later she wants nothing to do with it. Another $20 (or more) down the drain. She has a few toys that she loves to play with all the time, like that thing where you push a button and something pops up, and then she can close it and repeat...but that only lasts about 5 minutes a day if we are lucky.

Thanks to Grandma we have stumbled across the greatest toy in the world (at least Marlo thinks so)...the box. I have always heard that kids like the packaging of toys/gifts much better than the toy/gift itself, but it has never been true for us until now.

I came home from running errands to find my mom doing laundry with Marlo on the floor, inside a box that was on its' side. I could hear the giggling and excited breathing the moment I walked in the door. I went upstairs to find her doing her excited seated dance (legs going real fast with arms flapping), as she spun around on her bum inside the box squealing. It was the cutest thing ever.

For the 4 days my mom was staying with us the box moved from room to room, and every time she was placed next to it the excitement set in. Last night as she was playing with my mom on the floor of the kitchen, I suggested that my mom (a very talented artist) decorate the box before she left...and so it became Marlo's Cottage, the greatest free toy ever.

Marlo spent about 45 minutes it in this morning, spinning around, looking out the windows, giggling, opening and closing the doors. It is seriously the greatest thing to happen to her in her 11 month old life. It is portable, it is free, it can easily be recreated if something were to happen to it, and she totally entertains herself with it. I put her Rody in the back window of it and it took fun to a whole different level this morning...

If you are looking for something fun and easy to do, get a box, get out some markers and an exacto knife and build your kid a box house. I promise, they will love it.

I can't wait until we get a new fridge to build Marlo's Mansion!

A Toy Story

My daughter was given a Sophie the Giraffe Teether, by one of my husband's co-workers who said it was his child's favorite toy. I had seen this fancy baby toy in fancy baby stores before, and thought people who spent the $23 for a teething toy were crazy, so I was happy to receive it as a gift. Sophie sat in a box in the closet until we were under the impression that my daughter had begun teething, so we took her out of her packaging and introduced her into the mix.

She instantly became my daughter's favorite thing in the world. Now, she is only 7 months, so really whatever I stick in front of her is her "favorite" thing, but she chewed on Sophie like it was an everlasting gobstopper. She would fall asleep with one of Sophie's legs in her mouth...she gummed those ears until the color faded. She kept her busy...and quiet...we loved her.

While I was unpacking last weekend after returning to Boston from a family vacation, I asked my husband, "have you seen Sophie?" Last we remembered seeing her was as we were rushing out the door to leave Friday evening, and I quickly grabbed her to give to my daughter for the ride down.

I tore through our luggage (which as you know is a lot when traveling with a baby), and she was no where to be found. I called my parents, and they couldn't find her at their place. They called the clubhouse where we ate Friday night...nothing. I flipped couch cushions, tore apart the car, undid the pack n play again...nothing. She was officially missing.

And it was me who shed a tear. Instantly I thought of Sophie alive, having fallen out of the car somewhere along the way, hobbling with a limp down the side of the highway trying to make her way back to us. Yes, I had just seen Toy Story 3 (and could quote you every line to 1 & 2). Yes, I cried for the last 20 minutes (ok sobbed) of the magical movie that it was. And yes, I do secretly believe that all the toys do come to life when we aren't looking (Sophie & Alby the Dragon definitely had a thing going...he is currently crying it out in the bottom of toy chest). I know, I am a little bit crazy (little?) but I was the heartbroken one when Sophie disappeared. My daughter has no clue that her little chew toy is gone - she has since moved on to Jaques the Peacock...not really a chew toy, but hell she doesn't care!

I found myself looking for her in the car repeatedly, hoping that she would somehow appear like Woody and Buzz did next to Andy in the backseat, but alas, she is gone. And has since been replaced by Sophie 2. Unfortunately for Alby, Sophie 2 has struck up a relationship with Burberry Bear....

No I did not cave and spend $23 on a chew toy...that is what Grandma's are for.

This Toy Is Totally Worth It...

I stay at home with my son WTJ which is a true blessing. We have tons of fun together and I’m so fortunate to have not missed a moment of his life. Being at home is awesome but being home also means I am 100% responsible for his entertainment which seems easy at first but can be hard once your child is old enough to grow tired of his toys or realizes he wants you to play with him all the time to the point where you can’t even go the bathroom without him following you in there.

In order to keep everyone happy in this situation you have to find a way to teach your child independent play. I am happy to be down on the floor with WTJ playing but you can create a monster if you never leave them to play on their own. When I saw this beginning to happen I had to take action! Was the answer to buy more toys? Better toys? Bigger toys? Well, yes and no.

We live in a condo that doesn’t have too much room for toys so how could I keep him from getting bored? It’s great to mix things up and go to playgroups, the museum, the aquarium, Gymboree and friends’ houses but the truth is you still spend A LOT of time at home with your kid. If we had more space I am sure we would own half of Toys ‘R Us but since we don’t we have to choose wisely.

One of my best investments yet has been the STEP2 play kitchen. We have a basic model (again, the space issue) but you can get anything from simple to deluxe depending on how much you want to spend and how much floor space you want to give up. The kitchen may come with some accessories depending on the model you choose but we have found that my son prefers to play with real items – like my empty spice containers (plastic of course), rolled oat cartons, Tupperware, spoons and milk cartons. We taught him how to stir, taste and season (with the spices) and he will spend a good chunk of time over there doing that by himself throughout the day. It has been most helpful when I am actually trying to cook myself and can convince him to go make something in his kitchen while I cook in mine. My husband and I get a good laugh each night as we are picking up the play area and see where WTJ has stashed things in the STEP2 kitchen -- the creativity is great to see!

I would recommend a STEP2 kitchen once your child is around 12 months old. Anything that has buttons to make sounds and doors that open will provide hours of entertainment. You of course will have to invest some time teaching your child how to use the kitchen when it first arrives in your home but after that they will have a nice way to play independently and you may even be able to get something done! These kitchens are built to last and you can use them indoors or out – I’m pretty sure once we do have more room and more kids this kitchen will be replaced by a bigger one but for now it’s perfect!

To Learn More About Step2 kitchens visit: www.toyrus.com or www.step2.com

Consignment Sales

After you've ruined your 1oth "fancy for baby" outfit, you're going to realize "new" isn't all it's cracked up to be. It usually has blueberry stains or spit-up on it after the first wear. That's where used-stuff sales come into play. Keep your eyes out for notices about kids used-clothing and equipment sales. Churches, Moms of Multiples groups, active mother's associations, schools, etc., all tend to have frequent sales. They're a good and easy way to refresh your supply of play clothes or even find a "dress-up" outfit for small change. Baby Revolution holds frequent sales - hit up their October 31st sale for things like snow boots, mittens, holiday attire - things your child will wear infrequently or grown out of fast. Most often have toys, strollers, and other equipment - an extra set of things to keep at grandma's house.

Ode to the Matchbox Car

Oh, Mothers.

Banish the thought of that handmade wooden toy that will teach your child how to multiply and must be purchased at that charming, overpriced toy store. Embrace the painted metal, made in China, that will teach your child how to do nothing, except say "vroom," and can be purchased in every charmless store...and even airports.

Your two year old boy will never find more joy in any toy. And you will celebrate the inflation-free price! Every thing from childhood seems to cost ten times more, but the lowly car still hovers around a dollar. Buy ten, buy twenty! And hear the joyful "vroom" in the car, in the plane, while you're enjoying your ten minutes of "me" time. The car will turn post-vaccine cries into tears of joy. And you can lose half your collection under the fridge and it will be okay - you'll have so many you won't even know that one is permanently wedged in your dishwasher. Into the bath, into oatmeal, into your fancy lotion that is the last vestige of your pre-baby life the cars will go, but they will still last for your next child.

And then, you will step on the hook of the tow truck that you thought was so cute in its smallness. And the love affair will lose some of its luster. And then you will pass that box in the grocery story, and your child will spot those wheels. And you will weigh the cost of ten minutes of your screaming child or a week with a hole in your foot. And you will choose the car and your pain and get a precious smile. And all will be well with the world.