droolicious : holiday 2008

Holiday Return Policies: The Good, the Bad and the (Mostly) Ugly

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Merry day-after-Christmas! As you survey the carnage from yesterday's festivities, you may already be thinking about what to do with those fugly polyester PJs from Grandma and the still-unopened Calico Critters and Playmobil playsets you simply don't have the energy to clean up anymore. None of which, of course, came with gift receipts.

Well, you're in luck, because in its annual survey of stores' ever-changing return policies, ConsumerWorld.org has everything you need to know about which stores will make it easy to take back your unloved unwrapables (Wal-Mart) and which are growing increasingly devious in their attempts to keep you from making an exchange (hey Target, where's my gift receipt?).

The site also includes a number of online retailers' return policies, too, so even if you got a bum gift from, say, Buy.com, there's still hope for a decent return on it.

ConsumerWorld.org: 2008 Holiday Return Policies [via Consumerist; image via Satan's Laundromat]

Child Menorah Costume

Erin Behan — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:34:00 GMT

If the Christmas celebrants get to dress up as elves, wise men and shephards, certainly the Hannakah celebrants can don a menorah outfit ($12.95)--or perhaps a torah ($17.47) is more your child's style. While I've never been to a Hanukkah celebration that included costumes, seems like it would be a lot of fun to have a shiny menorah join the party. Costume craze has something for just about every holiday ... who knew?

Giant Hanna Andersson Sale!

Meredith Broussard — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Were you craving one of the adorable Hanna Andersson sweaters from our holiday gift guide? Good news! Today is the first day of the twice-yearly Hanna Andersson blowout sale. And by 'blowout,' I mean 'up to 70% off.' How's that for a holiday gift?

Sale includes the boys' version of the Up In The Cabin red sweater dress featured in the Babble holiday gift guide for just $19 (marked down from $49.50). Score! Also, outerwear is an additional 20% off today only.

More info: HannaAndersson.com

Etsy: Cool Gift Tags for Your Little Monkey

Erin Behan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:54:00 GMT

Aspire to the perfect wrap job? Then don't stop with the wrapping paper--you've gotta think all the way to the gift tags. And these Little Monkey tags ($7 for a set of 4) from Ouou's Etsy shop do the trick. While the cherry red color certainly works for Christmas, the Gocco screen printed design is good all year long, and a very sweet way to put the fnishing touches on a well wrapped gift.

Modern Take on the Keepsake Ornament

Erin Behan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:28:00 GMT

If you're a new mom or dad, you're probably already getting a few Baby's First Christmas-style ornaments, some of which may be of dubious taste (which is fine--hey, they're family), but maybe you want a pretty ornament to remember the milestone. Get yourself over to Paloma's Nest Etsy site and snap up one of these 2008 keepsake dove ornaments ($22). The piece is made of white clay, is fired, and has a protective treatment to keep it looking fresh.

Big Deal: Hable Construction Stocking Sale

Erin Behan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:59:00 GMT

I love Hable Construction stockings a lot (in fact, I wrote about them in last year's 5 days of Stockings feature). So, I'm super psyched to find select styles on sale at more than half off. The coral felt stocking, normally $135 is now just $65. There's four more stockings that are just $65, but act quickly because the stock is limited and the season is upon us. Hable Construction's handmade felt stockings are put together by a women's cooperate in Hungary and use traditional applique techniques.

Green Baby: Your Very Own Recycling Truck

Meredith Broussard — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Encourage your kid to go green with this recycling truck from Playmobil.

If you've ever stood with your toddler and watched a recycling (or garbage) truck empty a dumpster, you can probably imagine the utter joy your child will experience upon receiving his or her very own recycling truck with dumpster lift.

If you haven't had the pleasure of this particular experience... what are you waiting for?

Playmobil recycling truck, $49.99 at Amazon.

Etsy: Even Stockings go Eco-Friendly

Erin Behan — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

It's stocking time! And why not go all eco-friendly on your stockings with these cute, inexpensive handmade Christmas stockings from Etsy. Designed by KatiePatatey, these 12-inch long Matryoshka lady stocking ($7) are made from Ecospun felt, a material spun from recycled glass bottles. KatiePatatey has a variety of designs on her site from which to choose.

Cool Holiday Gift: Personalized Book

Erin Behan — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:32:00 GMT

It's no news to parents that kids, especially pre-school aged ones, love their name, and they love anything that's personalized just for them. That's one reason this book is so brilliant, but there are a ton of personalized books out there, what makes this one special? The way the personalized story is told, both visually and in the text. You can flip through the book itself at Freckle Box ($19.95 or $34.95 for soft or hardcover), but the basic idea is that today is the day "Hannah" needs to learn her name, and then she sees it spelled out in various forms of nature. The photos are beautiful to look at and walking through nature is a rather calming way to learn something new.

Hat tip: My Mom Shops

Cyber Monday Deals: Huge Sale at Tea Collection

Meredith Broussard — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Have you been drooling over the Skjolden Ski Sweater from Tea Collection featured in the Babble Holiday Gift Guide? Now's your chance to get it-- and everything else at Tea Collection-- for 25% off.

Get 25% off at Tea Collection using coupon code GIFT08 through 12/03; free shipping on orders $100+.

Cyber Monday Deals: The Complete List of Online Discounts

Meredith Broussard — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:05:00 GMT

Ready with the credit card? Here's the ultimate wrap-up of Cyber Monday discounts on kids' toys and gear:

Land of Nod: free shipping on most purchases w/coupon code WINTER; get the adorable personalized stockings pictured above for $25 each.

Discovery Store: $10 off $50, free shipping over $75

Lego Store: free shipping over $99, $10 off orders over $100, $20 off orders over $200, $30 off orders over $300

Back to Basics Toys: 10% off everything w/coupon code EDISC84; free shipping over $85 w/coupon code EDISC83

The Scholastic Store: up to 75% off on sale items; free shipping on $39+ w/coupon code AFFTGS or coupon code SSTGS

PBS Shop: $10 off $50 w/coupon code PBSFRIDAY; $5 off bestselling titles; free shipping; $10 off $65+

Leapfrog: 25% off everything, free shipping over $50

KB Toys: $5 Off $100 w/coupon code LSGENQ48; free shipping on lots of toys; up to 50% off Fisher-Price toys

Toys R Us: free shipping over $25 on select items; free shipping on Mattel toys, including Barbie; buy a Star Wars Wii game, get 50% off any other Wii game; free shipping on lots of video games, plus $30 off Guitar Hero. Check the site for details.

eToys.com: up to 60% off and free shipping on select items

Gap: buy one, get one free on select holiday sweaters

Macy's: free shipping over $99 with promo code MERRY

Land's End: free shipping, daily St. Nick's Pick discount items (today: outerwear)

Overstock.com: free shipping

Target: free shipping on 5,000+ toys

eBay: $1 holiday doorbuster items hidden on the site, including a 65-inch Panasonic plasma HDTV and a 2009 Chevy Corvette; daily deals; occasional free shipping

PayPal: cash-back incentives and lots of online discounts from 5 percent to 30 percent off at various stores, including Toys R Us, eBags, and Overstock.com; free shipping on Elmo Live; free shipping on eBay items

If this isn't enough savings, check out Consumer Reports' blog for tips on where to find promotional codes, how to compare online deals, and how to save lots of cash this holiday season. Happy shopping!

Sprig Discover Rig a Literally Kid-Powered Green Toy

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:39:00 GMT

Made in Canada from a combination of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic, the Sprig Discover Rig also has an eco-friendly motor to match its green construction. The internal generator juices up as your kids roll the car around during play, and once it's fully charged, little ones can activate three different play modes to enjoy lights, a rumbling engine, and safari-adventure sounds.

$49.99 from Toys"R"Us. [The Daily Green]

Pre-Holiday Reminder to Check the US CPSC Recall Site

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:04:00 GMT

Not to seem xenophobic or anything, but it seems fair to assume that the more incoherent a toy's packaging is, the more likely that toy is to end up on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's Toy Hazard Recalls site. And, you guessed it, this toy TV from Los Angeles-based company-no-one's-ever-heard-of OKK Trading was recently yanked for violation of the federal lead-paint standard.

If you haven't already bookmarked the CPSC's recall pages (see below) or signed up to receive recall alerts, now is a good time to do it. Though we're not seeing as many life-threatening toys from major manufacturers as we were last year, there's still plenty of time before the holidays.

US CPSC Recalls and Product Safety News (main page)

Toy Hazard Recalls

Infant/Child Product Recalls (Not Including Toys) [RSS Feed]

Up Yours, Recession: Here's a $2,500 Titanium Trike

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:47:00 GMT

As luxury gifts go, this Dutch-designed $2,500 titanium tricycle at least has practicality in mind: Your tyke would have to wrap the thing around a tree after leaping a school bus just to put a dent in the thing.

Considering that the trike will probably go unused after a few weeks of mild play, you might want to aim a little lower this holiday season, especially if you're worried you'll be standing in a bread line by January. A Slinky, for instance, makes a fine gift.

If you've gotta have it all, though, more power to you: The trike is an exclusive offering from the owner of Loopfietsjeswinkel.nl, which I've given up trying to pronounce. [Via OhGizmo!]

Ho-Ho-Ho, Halloween's Over!

Aaron Burgess — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Not that the impending shopping rush hasn't been crammed down our throats since, oh, before the economy collapsed, but here's a nice, affordable little way to kick-start your holiday '08 toy purchases: Playmobil's Santa Claus figure/stocking stuffer, just $3.29, and it comes with everything you see here (except for the snow -- you can keep that, Old Man Winter).

Photoshop for Juniors: vTech KidiArt Studio

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:04:00 GMT

The vTech KidiArt Studio includes a digital camera so kids can grab still photos, but where true junior-shutterbug appeal is concerned, the toy's really cool features don't show themselves until post-production.

The studio connects to your TV (for general editing fun) and PC (where you can also print and email your creations), and includes software that lets kids draw and color on their photos, make stop-motion movies, and customize cards and posters.

Normally $80, it's on sale now for just under $60 (with free shipping) at Amazon.

Swinxs, the Anti-Videogame Console

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:04:00 GMT

We're pretty sure that even the next generation of Wii won't incorporate all the couch-potato-crunching features in the European-designed game console Swinxs. While it connects to your PC and includes 10 games (more games, quizzes and songs are also available online), Swinxs does most of its work in the real world.

The console talks to players (which it recognizes by name), referees games and explains the rules to you while keeping track of each player's score. Games -- including musical chairs, hide and seek, obstacle courses and "duck-duck-goose"-style circle games, are simple and very much active, with Swinxs recognizing players based on which of the four wristbands they wear.

Check out the official video for a close-up -- bet you won't be lugging your Xbox 360 into the sand anytime soon:

€ 149,95 (ships worldwide) from swinxs.com.

Boom Bat Makes Every Hit Feel Like a Grand Slam

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Chunky enough for 3-year-old fingers to grip like a pro, the Boom Bat delivers a resounding, bassy "BOOM!" with every hit (thanks to its drum-head-style surface), ensuring that even if your kids can't knock one out of the park, they can at least get the attention of everyone in the neighborhood.

$14.99 from Target.

DIY Air Hockey Table from SmartLab

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:04:00 GMT

Slap-Shot Science, the 32-page book included with this DIY kit from SmartLab, may seem incidental to the real, working air-hockey table (complete with blower) kids get to build, but the book is packed with info on the science and physics behind the beloved contact sport. Kids (and you, for that matter) will learn about friction, air pressure, Newton's Laws of Motion and other concepts while also getting detailed, diagrammed info on some killer air-hockey maneuvers.

$19.99 from Target.

Explore Space From the Comfort of Your Home PC

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:04:00 GMT

Hubba-Hubble: The Slooh Explore's remote-telescope interface.

If the kids or your budget can't yet handle a real working telescope, the Slooh Explore Space Prepaid Telescope Card lets you bypass both obstacles while still nurturing the whole family's inner astronomer. The card gives you a year's worth of connectivity (via your Web browser) to a high-powered observatory in the Canary Islands, virtually guaranteeing incredible, pristine-quality access to the night sky anytime you log in. And, unlike what you might run into with a real telescope, Slooh Explore answers the kids' tough questions, with audio segments, narration and alerts to upcoming space missions all being part of the interface.

$49.95 from Amazon.

Uncle Milton StarScope Telescope Brings Kids 103x Closer to Having the Moon

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:04:00 GMT

Maybe you can't even figuratively give your kids the Moon this holiday, but the 38x and 103x magnification on the StarScope Telescope from Uncle Milton (home of the original Ant Farm) lets you get close enough. A nice "big gift" for the budding astronomer, the StarScope comes with software that turns your PC into a multimedia planetarium, providing the coordinates kids need to dial the telescope's viewfinder onto their preferred celestial body. Stick a Planet Earth boxed set into the stocking and you're golden.

$174.99 from Entertainment Earth.

Look Out! It's the Spy Gear Roll-In Blaster

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Among the gazillion new levels of secret-agent coolness in Spy Gear's 2008 line, the Roll-In Blaster stands out -- and blows up -- as one of the coolest. You roll the softball-sized distraction into a room, and it dramatically stands itself up before exploding into pieces, complete with sound effects to fry Mom and Dad's last remaining nerves. That, of course, makes it all the more appealing to kids, as does the fact that they can rebuild it to wreak havoc again and again and again.

$11.99 from Amazon.

Little Cave-People, Big World: Duplo Dino Valley

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Creating dinosaur toys that'll appeal to little kids is like shooting fish in a barrel, but as our review from yesterday of a new Hot Wheels toy proves, not all dinosaur play sets are created equal. Scoring high marks for both durability and preschooler appeal, the Duplo Dino Valley from LEGO delivers a prehistoric experience that rivals anything in big brother or sister's toy chest.

The jungle play set is inhabited by three cave-people (one a cave-kid), as well as big and little Triceratops, Pteranadon and T. Rex figures, and despite a few potential choking hazards (hence the 3-and-up age recommendation), the blocks and figures are chunky enough for little fingers to manipulate without coming off like "safe little-kid toys." Admittedly, your 3-year-old may not be able to build the set exactly as it appears in this photo, but that's why you're here to help.

$49.99 from the LEGO Shop.

Very Big Toys: Spy Gear's New Board Games

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:04:00 GMT

Wild Planet's Spy Gear gadgets are perennial favorites among junior secret agents (and I've got three mini 007s at home who will attest), but the company's recently unveiled board games bring the action out of the kids' hidey-holes and into family game night.

Spy Trackdown ($39.95; pictured above) puts you in the role of a secret agent whose mission is to save the world from an evil mastermind -- essentially the same plot of any spy thriller ever made -- but this time, you're also competing against other super-spies in a race to snag the crime boss. You move through 52 cities in six continents, traveling by plane, boat, motorcycle and helicopter and stopping to receive secret messages from headquarters that tell you how close you are to your target. The game includes a fun little gadget -- the Spy Phone -- that transmits cuztomized clues to each player, and through memory, deductive reasoning and stealth (you'll definitely want to keep tabs on how the other players are moving), the best spy wins.

While Spy Trackdown can be played in about an hour, the new Spy Wire ($29.95, above) is a bit faster-paced: You compete against another player in a race against the clock, furiously sliding tiles to close circuits and defuse a bomb while collecting all three of your opponent's detonators. It's a bit too quick-moving for little players to handle -- although they will dig the explosion sound effects -- but older kids or anyone who's got the patience to get through a round of Perfection will eat it up.

Very Big Toys: Hot Wheels T-Rex Rampage Set Reviewed

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Hot Wheels seems to have learned a lesson after its unfortunately, if aptly, named T-Wrecks play set kept falling apart: Take the T. Rex off the track if you want to give kids a dino set worth keeping. That said, the T-Rex Rampage Play Set is basically a collection of individual Hot Wheels City pieces with a plastic dinosaur added -- and while the individual pieces aren't much sturdier than any Hot Wheels play set before them, they're at least built to fall apart this time, with various trigger points that the dino can hit, Godzilla-style, as it makes its way through the city. (The electronic sound effects, which include roars, explosions and general sounds of destruction, are a nice touch.)

My boys, ages 5 and 8, put it through the paces and haven't gotten bored yet (which is saying something), and the only mildly frustrating experience so far has come via the helicopter mounted atop the skyscraper, which loves to come undone regardless of whether the T. Rex is attacking it. Their little brother, age 2, is obsessed with the set (particularly the car launcher) despite being proof positive of why the age recommendation is 4 and up: He unwittingly causes more damage than the dino anytime he sits down to play.

Here's hoping that someday Hot Wheels, Matchbox and their ilk will design play sets that are as strong as the cars they're built to accommodate, but for now, this is one of the more reliable sets out there. Damage counter starts at $39.99 from Amazon.