Not sure what to expect from him this year. I imagine we’ll all get some good laughs. Hymie came to us from Elf Magic. There’s still time to adopt one of these unique 10-inch tall elves into your family. They’re all pretty adorable.

We didn’t have a tradition like this when I was growing up, so I’m happy to incorporate it into my family now. My girls will wake up tomorrow morning to find that Hymie has returned from the North Pole to hang out with us through Christmas. Can’t wait until tomorrow morning when they see their Elf Magic Elf!

This is the Epson LabelWorks LW-400 (MSRP $49.99).  I’ve been using it for labeling files, power cords, clothes, drawers full of crafts, sippy cups, lunch bags, etc.  I’m a labeling freak, especially when it comes to home and office organization.

Here are just some of the useful features of the LW-400:

- Prints labels up to ~¾” (18 mm) wide
- Variety: 14 fonts, 10 font styles, 300+ built-in symbols, over 75 frames, bar codes and more
- Built-in Memory: store up to 50 self-created label designs
- Specialty Print Modes: a variety of flag, tab and wrap style labels — ideal for cables, wiring and more
- Asset Tagging: easily print barcodes for products and merchandise
- Types of Tape: double-sided tab, iron-on, glow-in-the-dark, reflective, metallic, strong adhesive, fluorescent and decorative tapes

(Info above adapted from Epson.com)

I find the label maker very easy to use.  I’m a big fan of Epson products because of their quality.  Also, the $50 price tag doesn’t break the bank.  It’s quite a convenient little electronic to have around.

Here’s a great product overview video from Epson about the LabelWorks LW400:

Since we’re on the topic of Epson and home/office organization, I have another product review coming soon of the Epson WorkForce Pro GT-S50 Document Scanner so, stay tuned.

I recently attended the Activision Games for Girls Summit that was held in the Chicagoland area.  I’m glad I did because I learned about many products that are sure to be big hits with the grade schoolers and tweens this holiday season.

Here is a preview of the hot game titles for girls that were showcased at the summit:

Lalaloopsy for Nintendo DS

Reunite all the familiar Lalaloopsy dolls with their lost pets to build incredible friendships and unlock exciting crafting activities.

Zoobles for Nintendo DS

Care for and nurture these lovable companions while exploring 6 distinct lands in Zooble Isle, each featuring a diverse range of characters.

ZhuZhu Babies for Nintendo DS

Travel around the world and visit exotic cities with the ZhuZhu Babies to help find Razz and bring him home safe and sound.

Squinkies 2 for Nintendo DS

Learn to navigate the mall in a quest to invite the other lovable Squinkies to a fantastic Squinkies party. Collect magic coins along the way and unlock secret characters.

Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo for Nintendo DS

Explore the Wooly Wilderness in search for rare Moshlings to add to your Moshling zoo.

Last but not least, one toy/game that I know my kids are highly looking forward to playing with is Wappy the dog and Nintendo DS game.

Wappy Dog and game for Nintendo DS

Connect Wappy, the robotic pet toy with the virtual world.  Care for and raise Wappy, the interactive puppy to adulthood through an immersive experience communicated through the Nintendo DS.

Any of these games would make great gifts for tweens grade school age children.  Christmas is just a few days away!  Are any of these games something you would consider putting under your tree?

If you like to fill Christmas stockings with things like candy and small gifts, then here are a couple of fun ideas for you.

First, the little guys pictured above are Xia-Xia Pets (pronounced shah-shah).  They are hermit crabs and suddenly, they’re all the rage. Hey, when I was younger, I liked little toys that walked around, too, so I can see why they’re in such high demand. And, my goodness, just look at them! They’re adorable! Perfect stocking stuffer size. There are also accessories available…fashionable little shells with two tiny surprises included:

There are several playsets for Xia-Xia.  I’m featuring the Confetti Cottage here because I was sent one for review.

It’s a home/carrier for Xia-Xia.  Lovely.  I like having a place to store the tiny toys that my kids adore so much.

The other two habitat playsets are the Copacabana and Rio de Trio Village playsets.

The next item I was sent to feature are called Bizu Beads.  Looks like they are pretty happenin’ accessories.  They are beads, in the shape of animals that go from bracelet, to tiny animal toy, back to bracelet.  I know my six year old will absolutely dig these.

Here is a video of Chris Byrne, The Toy Guy, reviewing the Bizu Style Studio:

Time Out Play Magazine and I would like to help out someone in the stocking stuffer department. We have the following products up for grabs:

• One 2-pack of Bizu Rock Beads (pictured above) (MSRP $6)
• One Xia-Xia (MSRP $11)
• One Xia-Xia Shell (MSRP $6)
• and the Confetti Cottage for the Xia-Xia (also pictured above) (MSRP $13)

Note: Confetti Cottage will not fit into a stocking. Total prize value is around $36

How to enter:

Leave your entry comment on this post. For your entry comment, visit the Xia-Xia Pets website and take a look at the different Xia-Xia’s and Shells. Come back here and let us know which one(s) are your favorites. (PS: Your must list a choice or two for your entry to count – so please do visit the product’s site.)

Giveaway is open to individuals within the continental US. Deadline to enter is Monday, December 12th at midnight, PST. A winner will be chosen at random from the comment section of this post and notified via email (Be sure to double-check your email address when you leave your comment).

Other giveaways happening right now:

• Fossil Fighters Champions for Nintendo DS
• Bratz Masquerade Doll
• Tonka Roadway Rigs Road Crew truck
• Set of holiday DVDs

Alright, this one is for all of the young, aspiring archaeologists out there.  Fossil Fighters Champions for Nintendo DS is quite an adventure.  Kids find and clean dinosaur bones and use the fossils to create and bring to life “vivosaurs” to send to battle.  The more clean the dinosaur bones, the stronger the vivosaur.  The goal is to have a few tough vivosaurs to enter into competition.  From what I have seen, the vivosaurs look pretty rad and the battles are epic.

Fossil Fighters Champions also works with DS Download Play, so three other friends can link up wirelessly with their DS’.  Imagine becoming an archaeologist with your friends.  Awesome.  The game is also compatible with Nintendo 3DS.

I’m giving away a copy of Fossil Fighters Champions (MSRP $30).  How to enter:

Leave your entry comment on this post.  For your entry comment, visit the Fossil Fighters Champions website and take a look at all of the different vivosaurs in the Fossil Museum.  Come back and let us know which one(s) are your favorites.  (PS: Your comment must list an actual vivosaur name from the museum for your entry to count – so please do visit the site.)

Giveaway is open to individuals within the continental US.  Deadline to enter is Monday, December 12th at midnight, PST.  A winner will be chosen at random from the comment section of this post and notified via email (Be sure to double-check your email address when you leave your comment).

I’m giving everyone a second opportunity to enter this giveaway.  Tweet this post.  You can find the option to share this post via Twitter at the bottom of the post (Just click the green “Tweet” or “Retweet” button and a new window will pop up allowing you to customize your Tweet).  Come back and leave your second entry comment on this post, letting me know you’ve Tweeted and what your Twitter username is.

*Click here to enter the Bratz Masquerade doll giveaway.

*Click here to enter the Tonka Truck giveaway.

Pictured above are: Kirana (the vampire), Brielle (tea party princess), Finora (the witch), and Lian (the fairy).  They are the Bratz Masquerade dolls.  I have yet to really get to know any of them, as my oldest daughter is just 6, and we’re just now getting into the “bigger” kid toys and games.  These Bratz dolls are great for kids 6 and up.

One reason I am drawn to this particular set of dolls is that there is more to them than just imaginary play.  A little more bang for your buck, if you will.  Each doll comes with a kid-sized mask, that becomes magically interactive when they visit the Bratz website.  I can’t wait to post a video of ours!  Seriously.  I can’t wait.  I love the cool things you can do with technology now.

The accessories you see pictured above, with Lian, are what is included with each of the Masquerade dolls.  A mask and hair brush for the doll, a mask and make-up for the child.

So, this is fun...  I’m giving away one of the Bratz Masquerade dolls (MSRP $21.99)!

The winner will have their choice of one of these dolls: Kirana (the vampire), Finora (the witch), Odelia (the Egyptian Mummy), Geneva (the Sea Goddess), or Lian (the fairy), based on product availability.

You can view the entire line of Bratz Masquerade dolls by clicking here. (Please note: not all of the Masquerade dolls are available as prize choices.)

How to enter:

Leave your entry comment on this post.  In your comment, list your first and second Bratz Masquerade doll choice (as listed above). Giveaway is open to those within the continental US.  Deadline to enter is Monday, December 12th at midnight, PST.  A winner will be chosen at random from the comment section of this post and notified via email (Be sure to double-check your email address when you leave your comment).

I leave you with a video review of the Bratz Masquerade dolls from Chris Byrne, The Toy Guy.

Having a daughter who’s been shifted from babysitters to two different preschools to kindergarten over the past five years, it’s been important for us to make sure her belongings are labeled.  Belongings such as: shirts, pants, shoes, lunch bags, backpacks, hats, gloves…are ya pickin’ up what I’m puttin’ down?  Everything.  Every item needs to have her name on it.

So, writing her name on everything is big fun.  Truthfully, I opt for placing durable labels on her stuff.  And now, we have a toddler who is about to get labeled, too.  Oh, then there’s this fact – the girls’ clothes are getting harder to separate when coming out of the dryer.  The bigger the little one gets, the more often her clothes end up in her big sister’s pile.  Then, big sister ends up wearing a size 3T shirt.  Anyway, easy to spot, color-coded labels are where it’s at.  Things like this make sorting piles of little girl clothes much easier.

Lovable Labels aren’t just limited to identifying kid’s stuff.  One of my biggest pet peeves is a slew of unlabeled wires.  Label your wires! Please?  And, hey!  Whaddayaknow?  We’re so close to the holidays, Lovable Labels would make great stocking stuffers.  Kids love stickers.  They can then help you label all of their stuff!  Win!

We were sent a free pack of the Toddler Toes labels, so we could check out their quality.  These sturdy, waterproof, multi-colored labels will not only serve as a means of identification, but will also help her learn her left foot from right foot.

Just browse through Lovable Labels‘ website.  They have many ideas for organization and identification.