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

OH YEAH!  Toys for boys!  Hey, just because I don’t have boys of my own doesn’t mean I don’t like them.  You’re talking to a girl who grew up with seven older brothers and no sisters!  I have played with my fair share of Tonka trucks and Star Wars action figures.  And G.I. Joe? Pccchhh!  Who else do you think took Barbie out on dates?  It wasn’t always Ken, I can tell you that much!

Anyway, I love Tonka trucks, so I’m thrilled to be able to offer a Tonka – Road Crew – Roadway Rig (MSRP $20) for grabs courtesy of Time to Play Magazine and Chris Byrne, The Toy Guy.

Check out Chris’ review of the Roadway Rigs:

How to enter:

Leave your entry comment on this post. In your entry comment, let us know if you played with Tonka trucks when you were little!

This 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).

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.

Pictured above are Hoptom and Topsy-Turvy.  They live in Alphaland.  Seriously, they do!  Where else do you think Alphabeasts would live?  Anyway, these two cuddly, plush beasts are just two of twenty-six.  Twenty-six Alphabeasts, that is.  You can check out the entire collection HERE.

These plush toys are soft and make perfect companions for movie-watching, long car-rides, or sleepovers.  They are flat, like a pillow and very easy to transport.

One side of the Alphabeast has a capital letter and the other has a lowercase letter and kids kinda love ‘em, as you can see.

The MSRP of these little dudes is about US$20 and you can purchase them HERE.

Take a look at this guy!  He is our Monster Bug and he’s alive and kicking.  Well, maybe not “alive” but he is pretty bright and colorful!  Monster Bug was assembled with a creative toy construction set called Laser Pegs.  Laser Pegs are small, plastic LED pieces that connect to one another.  Each peg illuminates when connected and plugged in to a power source (see our illuminated Monster Bug above).

Here are some of the pieces, so you can get a closer look:

Doesn’t matter if you have boys or girls, this product is fun for all to play with.  Our daughter, who is just shy of turning six, has a blast creating different models.  Here’s a look at some of her creations:

…with a little help from her daddy

Super fun!  There are so many different models you can create.  There is a list of models on the website that you can use as a reference.   You can purchase Laser Pegs kits and/or individual pieces (I say, go for a kit).  This is an awesome gift idea.  Keep it in mind when you’re shopping for the kids.

If you are a puzzle/word game addict like I am, you’ll definitely need to get your hands on a SCRUBLE Cube.

The SCRUBLE Cube is like a cool twist (pun intended) on some classic games.  It has similarities to Scrabble with the look and feel of Rubik’s Cube – with its own new set of rules.  There are a few different ways to play the game, one being creating words across one, two or three sides of the cube to score points.  There are several ways to earn bonus points, which also adds to the challenge.

What I like about this game is its portability.  You can throw the 4x4x4 cube into your purse and feed your brain on the train on your way to work.  Spice up a playgroup, bring SCRUBLE Cube along and challenge the other mom’s to create words other than, “No”, “Settle”, or “Down” (three of my most overused words).  It can be done!

Anyway, great game.  Big fun.  Excellent pastime.  Check it out!

Since it’s the gift-giving season, I’ve been compiling my list of gift ideas for my preschooler.  Top on my list was an art desk, because she is always busy creating masterpieces with her markers and crayons.  Guess where all of her drawing tools and artwork is?  On our dining room table.  So, when I was offered the Step2 Master Activity Desk (MSRP $80), you bet I jumped on the chance to check it out and talk about it.

I’m stoked.  This art desk is the perfect solution for us.  There is a place for all of her markers, crayons, paper and her precious artwork.  Her very own space to imagine and create and I get my dining room table back.  Perfect.

The desk also makes her feel “important”.  I work from home and she watches me at my desk.  Having her very own desk gives her a sense of importance and independence.  Hopefully it will help keep her creative juices flowing.  We may have a budding artist on our hands.

Next up is educational gaming.  We’ve got a Leapster2 ($80) and she plays with it quite often.  Her favorite game to play is Wall-E.  We’re pretty huge LeapFrog fans here in this house.  Excellent products.  You’ll hear me talk about them more in an upcoming post.

We also have a tiny sprout who was born this past summer.  She’s just discovering the world around her.  She’s starting to enjoy looking at and playing with toys.  We don’t have this exact product but we do have something similar that she loves to “talk” to.  It is K’s Kids School Bus and Finger Puppets Set (MSRP $35).

It’s fun to put on the animal finger puppets that we have and entertain our five month old.  If anything can get her to “talk”, it’s these finger puppets.  I think I need to get the K’s Kids School Bus and Finger Puppets Set.  I’m pretty sure she would dig it.

If you think your kid is pretty creative, or creative enough to win a year’s worth of free toys, you could consider entering the Imagination Nation Contest.  1st place price is free toys for a year (up to $2,400).  The 2nd and 3rd place toys aren’t too shabby either.

So, what are you shopping for this gift-giving season?

My iPhone keeps me company while I’m feeding the baby or swaying her to sleep.  It also provides entertainment to my four year old when she’s restless.  Half of the apps I have are for me and half are for her.  Not to mention I have at least three movies loaded and some episodes of Blues Clues.

Now that I’ve professed my geeky love for my phone, I’ve got to tell you about a couple of new apps that were just released.  They are here just in time for the holiday and they are HOT.

If you don’t know who the Grinch is, or the adorable people from Who-ville, then I guess you’ve been living under a rock.  Two new notable iPhone apps are all about the Grinch and we can’t get enough.

The first one that I fully abuse every day is the Dr Seuss Camera – The Grinch Edition ($2.99 at the iTunes app store (app store > photography > Dr. Seuss camera – The Grinch Edition)).  Here are some of the holidayriffic photos I’ve taken since downloading the app:

They are scaled down in size here but the originals are easily greeting card size.  I have been showing them off to friends and family and I have about a thousand more where these came from.  It’s too fun and we all get a good laugh.

Next on the holiday list is Grinchmas ($1.99 at the app store (app store > games > Grinchmas)).  You can be nice or you can be naughty in this one.  Throw snowballs or presents at the Who’s houses, depending on your mood.  Don’t worry, we’re pretty sure no Who’s were injured while playing the game.

Here are a couple of screenshots of the light-hearted Grinchmas app:

These two apps are available for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Soon I’ll post a list of the other apps we enjoy…hopefully, if you have an iPod Touch or iPhone, they will keep your kids entertained on the long trips to visit family and friends for the holidays.  I know they will work like a charm for me!

Thanks to Oceanhouse Media for providing me with promo codes for these two apps.  They would have been well worth it to purchase!

Dads, take notice. The awesome folks over at Mascotopia offer puzzles like this one as well as blocks, crib mobiles, and plush toys for just about every MLB, NFL, and NCAA team imaginable. It couldn’t be easier to immerse your little ones in the teams you love. Now if you could only teach ‘em your alma mater’s fight song.

When we were kids we built tents out of blankets and chairs. Those makeshift tents of yesteryear just don’t compare to the Andrew play tent from Simply A Boy. The sturdy frame is made of solid pine and the cover comes in assorted colors to make a tent that is 5 feet square by 5 feet tall when open. It also looks a little like a teepee. How cool is that?