Mommies With Style

At February’s Toy Fair, Disney Online previewed their fabulous World of Cars Online website — free-to-play browser-based, virtual world based on Disney/Pixar’s “Cars”. Since that is my four year old’s favorite movie, he is going to love the features — which are designing your own car, making new friends and playing mini-games. The premise is that Lightning McQueen and his friends are helping new race cars train in Radiator Springs, which is growing due to new businesses opening.

Kids Can:
• Create Their Own Race Car – Pick the body style, color, name and more to make it totally their own. This was cool and kids are going to really enjoy being creative.
• Explore the Road – Drive beyond Radiator Springs to explore Carburetor County. Enjoy backroads racing and adventures with Mater and others!
• Community –  Kids can see when their friends are online and interact with them to create a Cars Community.
• Race and Play –Cars can warm up the road on a variety of tracks to win badges and trophies. They can also play mini-games like Lightning Storm and Ramone’s Paint Blast to earn coins and more!

If you want to upgrade from Free-to-Play to Subscription, you’ll get access to:

o Paint jobs, gear and accessory purchases to customize your Car and home
o A Pro Racing Career and access to exclusive Piston Cup race tracks
o Special Events and Adventures

Bottom Line: Kids are going to really like the World of Cars Online. It offers children a chance to be creative with making their own cars and have adventures driving around Radiator Springs. Best of all, it’s mostly free (if you want to change your car more than once, you’ll have to get a subscription). Parents create an account, and then create sub-accounts for their children. They can monitor their child’s progress on the site.

The site will officially launch later this year – but it’s in Beta now, so take a look!

So people are loving my nephew Sully’s review on YouTube of new game Battlefield Bad Company 2.  Apparently it’s the hot new game to have.   (It’s currently ranked #4 for games on Amazon so that has to say something, right?)

Here Sully does a review of it – it’s hot off the shelves so check it out.  If you want to impress a nephew, grandson or teen boy, get this game.

Released March 2nd – rated Mature.   Get it on Amazon with free shipping for $49.95.

My time at the Toy Fair in NYC was kicked off by Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story 3 Event, showcasing the more than 250 new Toy Story 3 Toys. The newest Toy Story movie will be released on June 18.

In the film, Andy is now 18 and going off to college. His parents donate his toys to the Sunnyside Day Care Center — which looks terrific…. at first. Things quickly deteriorate and the toys need to be rescued. Will Andy get there in time? Click here to watch the trailer.

To unveil the Toy Story 3 toys, the Green Army Men repelled from the ceiling in “take-over” mode to look at some of the new toys releasing this Summer and into the 2010 Holiday season.  John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, Lee Unkrich, director, Toy Story 3, Darla K. Anderson, producer, Toy Story 3 and John Ratzenberger, voice of Hamm, were on hand to introduce the new toys.
(more…)

Amazon e-tailer Hubbagames has it listed for $34.79 (plus $3.95 shipping), which is better than the $49.99 Amazon and everyone else has it listed for.  If you’re looking to purchase, snatch it up at the discounted price while it lasts.

For him: My husband tells me a good pen not only looks the part, but feels the part. And he’ll look like a stud in the boardroom wtih a Faber-Castell Mondoro Pen. With a barrel made of polished precious resin and the cap and ends created of polished and chrome-plated metal, this masculine pen is a gift to write home about (and he will. With a pen.)

For the techie: The ridiculous amount of wires gathering around our charging station was overwhelming my kitchen, so it was a huge relief to get to test the Powermat, a mat that allows many electronics to charge wirelessly. The pad comes with attachements for cell phones (check yours on the list before buying), ipods, Nintendo DS’ and more. But if you want to lay your electronic device flat on the pad, you’ll need to buy additional attachments that will allow them to charge without a wire. Its a bit of an investment, but so worth it if the wires are making you batty. And for the traveling techie, Powermat released a travel item that folds up and takes up much less space. (By-the-way, you’ll still need to plug the mats in to an outlet.)

For your tween: If she has a DS, then run, run, run to the store and grab her one of the Style Lab games by Ubisoft. It is just so fun to apply and reapply make up with Makeover and to create jewelry in their Jewelry Design game. If she’d prefer a game a little less Diva, try out Ubisoft’s Imagine series which includes games like Zookeeper and Soccer Captain.

For your 5ish-year-old: While my 6-year-old still hasn’t lost a tooth, he’ll be prepared to lose one because he’s getting a pillow from The Wiggly Tooth Factory. Its an adorable mini-pillow-sized tooth with a pocket, available in fun fabrics with a so cute face. Someday (and likely, his dentist predicts, close to his 7th birthday) he’ll hide his tooth in the pocket to be replaced by a magical toothfairy (who already has a stack of golden dollars, hidden away.) Anyway, I know its a little close to Valentine’s Day, but this one is so cute that I had to mention it. So order now. Because even if you don’t gift on Valentine’s Day, you just never know when you’re going to need a Tooth Fairy Pillow, and you don’t want to be without!

For your Mother-in-Law: We gave my MIL a Reisenthel Shopper e2 bag for Christmas this year (and kept another for us.) She just melted over this bag. Its perfect for the weekend traveler, the shopper and, well, the bag lady. This bag expands, bottoms up, allowing for you to fill your bag more than you planned. Which you know your Mother-in-Law is likely to do.

For your Preschooler: My 4-year-old grabbed the Yubo lunchbox as soon as he saw it. He loves pretend-play and the box looks like a little piece of fancy luggage. So when he opened it and realized he could fit a sandwich and two snacks inside, he was in heaven. (It comes with containers). Plus, it comes with a freezer pack made to fit inside perfectly. All the pieces fit perfectly inside and the lid slides right on. The bonus feature: you can change the look with interchangable faceplates.

For baby: California Baby’s I Love You! Collection offers massage oil, spritzer and bubble bath made with all-natural, organic aromatherapeutic products specially blended to encourage relaxation and relieve tension. Baby will love the attention. And afterhours you and hubby may want to borrow it.

 We wish you all special time with your loved ones this Valentine’s Day!

Thanks to California Baby, Yubo, Reisenthel, Wiggly Tooth Factory, Ubisoft, Faber-Castell, Powermat and their agents for providing samples for Mommies with Style.

My kids received a lot of games under the tree. And you know my love of games. Some highlights (with quotes from the kiddos):

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage When Big opened this one my 27 year old sister let out a sigh, “I really wanted that one!” Well, too bad, so sad, Big loves this game and he’s not giving it up. This game isn’t just fun, its creative fun.

Players mix up fancy jumps and moves to score points. But the creativity comes in as you learn to create your own jumps. Says Big, “its fun because you can do tricks and practice so you can be a good snowboarder.” He doesn’t like to use the Wii balance board for it, and its only an option when you play. Middle says the balance board slows him down (which, probably, is a good thing to do tricks, but they’ll learn this in time.) (By the way, Big tells me this game requires Wii Motion Plus to make it really work for him.)

My sister’s jealousy over Shaun White Snowboarding didn’t last long because she was quick to open Just Dance. And she squealed. Seriously. I had no idea but this was on the top of her wish list. Score one for the big sister! She says its “great for friends to just laugh and have fun but also a great work-out.” (I wonder how the neighbor below her apartment likes this one.) Apparently, this was a very hot gift this season amongst the teens and twenties. They love to jam to the music and are playing it with their friends. I’ll have to remember this one for babysitter gifts for the future.

(more…)

In just 4 minutes, players of Fast4Words add letters to a grid, making words to gain points. A combination of Boggle, Scrabble, Crossword Puzzles and a little Connect Four, this its a great skill-builder that keeps you on your toes as you try to gain points creating your words.

Another “wordie” game, Keesdrow is “Word Seek” backwards. Players are truly seeking words, and you’ll find them backwards, forwards, left, right, up, down and diagonally. The board changes with each game, so players can play again and again and always be challenged to find more words.

Both games are definitely for families with older kids, who can already read and have a good understanding of words as they can be backwards, forwards, diagonal, vertical and horizontal. We’ve also played without the kids, creating a great challenge for friendly-game-night. Educationally, they incorporate spelling and reading but, moreso, they’re great thinking and focusing games, with a bit of stragety. Wordies, be sure to put these two in your carts to add them to your collection.

 Both games were provided as samples from their parent companies for this review.

I was sent several of Ubisoft’s Imagine series for the Nintendo DS. Can I just tell you how cool these are? If I had the Imagine series (and a DS) when I was a tween I would have been able to live my dreams virtually, to give them a try before jumping in and trying out a career.

In Imagine Teacher Class Trip, tweens oversee a class on an academic competition retreat. The “teacher” uses classroom managment skills and grades papers.

In Imagine Boutique Owner a tween becomes a manager/owner of a tiny boutique. As she plays, she is faced with challenges like listening to and pleasing the customer, making change and, eventually, designing new store areas, stocking them and working to make them succeed.

We also have Imagine Zookeeper and Imagine Artist, but I haven’t explored those as well. (Once I gave my son the DSi to play Battle of Giant Dinosaurs, also a sample, I haven’t had much time to get back on.)

Thanks to Ubisoft for sending sample games (and the DSi).

Although I definitely have some fun memories of my Dad playing Pong and Frogger with us on our first game system, an Atari back in the ’80s, those memories and those games seem pretty lame compared to the kind of comphrehensive game play for everyone that the Wii can provide.  (Not to mention the upgraded technology in the last 20 years, of course!)

We’ve had our Wii just shy of two years now and we really do have a game for everyone in our house.  We even have games we play over the Internet with my parents from their Wii down in Florida, which provides endless entertainment.

I’m starting this review out this way because I know not everyone has a Wii yet and I definitely recommend it for all ages.  If you don’t have a Wii, don’t just skip over this review.  There are games for toddlers, games for kids of all ages.   There are games you can play and games your parents can play.  Really!   There is truly something for everyone. 

This year the price has come down for the first time since the system released – you can now get the entire system for $199.99.  Check your local stores – I do know they are limiting only one Wii per house at various stores.

Below is my list of Holiday Picks for the Wii this Holiday season:

Birthday Bash - Over 20 classic birthday party games including Pin the Tail, Hot Potato, Present Frenzy, Balloon Popper, Musical Chairs, Sack Race and many more.   It’s a lot like Carnival Games – mini games that are fun for the whole family.  $17.99 on Amazon.

Animal Crossing: City Folk - okay, okay you could call me a tad obsessed.  But read my review from earlier this year (“I think Mommy likes this game more than the kids“) to see why.  We adore this game.  Everyone in our house plays this from my 3-year-old on up through my 36-year-old husband; it’s definitely a family affair.  $39.77 on Amazon.

It’s also available for the Nintendo DS.  I bought it back in November for a road trip and it’s virtually the same game and same fun.  It’s called Animal Crossing: Wild World, and although it’s tough to find in-store (I tried 3 stores), I was able to order it off Amazon with no issue for $33.48 with free shipping.I would imagine this one’s adorable for a girl to play.  Pick a baby (boy/girl) and care for it by teaching it how to walk, talk and play.  Potty train them and grow them through the toddler years.  $29.99 on Amazon. 

My First Baby Steps – A great game for girls.  Select a baby (boy or girl) and feed them, teach them how to walk and much more.  It’s cute – hours of simulation fun at a basic level.

And if you like that, check out Imagine’s Party Babyz where you can dress your baby and play games with them.  This one’s $14.99 (currently 25% off) on Amazon.

Family Fun Football – this game is described as “catering to the casual gamer,” which is alright by me as we have young kids in the house.  I look at this one as a good intro to playing football games on the Wii.  “Family Fun Football offers a coaching playbook that makes it easy for everyone to learn and understand the game of football.”  It’s $29.99 on Amazon.

Currently the#1 selling video game on Amazon is Super Mario Bros.   Santa may have to bring this one to our house as I have fond memories of playing the original on our first Nintendo when I was in high school.  You can have up to four players on screen with this game which makes it a fun all-play game for the entire family.  $49.99 on Amazon.

Samples of some of the above games were provided for review purposes.

I have to tell you, I think ASTRA (American Specialty Toy Retailing Association) gets me. Just like me, they’re not too into commercialism and way more into products that make a child do, think and learn. Which, as anyone who has been reading my reviews the past 5(!) years knows is completely my style of toys.

This year, ASTRA created a Best Toys for Kids 2009 list and I’m feeling pretty proud that nearly everything on their list  of 21 items is something that we either already own or is on our list for the holidays. Seriously.

So, if you’re having trouble helping your kids come up with great gifts for this holiday, a few of ASTRA’s and my favorites include:

• Automoblox (read our previous reviews  and whoa! Check out their new Hot Rods!)
• Magformers building sets (I’m shocked at just how many hours my kids have created and recreated with this simple, magnetic triangles and squares)
• WeeWedgits (we have the bigger ones, reviewed here, but I’m adding these to the list for little because these are another toy that provides hours of creative play)
• Tea Set by Green Toys (already wrapped and ready to gift to Little, reviewed on MWS last year.)
• Melissa & Doug Shopping Cart (what preschooler doesn’t go into a boutique toy store and start pushing the sample? My kid’s had it on his holiday and birthday wish lists for 3 years now.)
• Bananagrams  (The four-year-old sees me playing Scrabble all the time and has now asked for Bananagrams. It may be over his head, but it’ll be great to use for years.)

It was hard for me to highlight just a few. Honestly, the entire list of 21 are all favorites. I just finished adding the few we don’t have to our Amazon Wish List. Here’s hoping Santa’s reading!

Automoblox, Wedgits and Green Toys were previously provided as samples for review on MWS. ASTRA sent Bananagrams, Mini Collectible Erasers by BC Office (which are very cute for the stockings) and a Tea Set by Green Toys as a sampling of their awesome list.