Neighborhood Toy Store Day- November 10, 2012 #toystoreday

Posted on by Mandy

neighborhood toy store day

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of shopping in a locally owned toy store then you know the wonder it holds inside and the excitement such a shopping experience can be.  There’s just something about a small store full of toys as opposed to a big chain store with just a few aisles of toys.  Even better?  Most of these stores carry unique lines of toys often not found in the big chain stores.  The atmosphere is usually much more welcoming and the shop owners can give you personalized service and recommendations on what toy will bring your child enjoyment for months and even years to come. 

This Saturday, November 10, 2012 is the third annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day, sponsored by the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), celebrating the benefits of shopping local, with participating stores hosting in-store events and activities for the entire family.  You can visit ASTRA’s website and find expert recommendations on toys for all ages.  If you live near a locally owned toy store, I encourage you to take your family and enjoy the “woohoo factor” that toys bring out in children of all ages.

To get into the spirit of National Toy Store Day, we were sent a few toys from ASTRA’S “Best Toys For Kids 2012” list to enjoy together as a family.  I wish I had thought to have my camera ready when I revealed these toys to my son.  He definitely had the “woohoo factor” going on!  Can you remember the joy and excitement new toys brought you growing up?  I still can and I love seeing his face light up when it comes to toys!

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Hands down, the E-Rangers Headquarters by Playmobil was his absolute favorite.  He is 7 years old, so if you’re looking to impress a kid around that age this holiday season, I promise you will not go wrong with this toy! 

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E-Rangers Headquarters
By PLAYMOBIL
For ages 7-12 years

This futuristic world by Playmobil is equipped with an LED spotlight to illuminate the terrain, knockout cannon to disable enemy vehicles, a functional solar fan module, four E-Ranger figures, one robot figure, and more! Ages 7-12.

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My son is also crazy about building blocks, so the Nanoblock Musical Instruments Grand Piano was also a hit an he was amazed at how realistic something this small looked.  Great stocking stuffer idea for the kid that loves to build!

 

nanoblock musical Instruments
By Ohio Art Company
For Ages 8+

These amazing micro-sized building blocks create 3D musical instruments! The details are amazing, yet your creations fit in the palm of your hand. Collect the Violin, Grand Piano and Gold Electric Guitar in the nanoblock musical series from Ohio Art. Ages 8+.

We also received the game Mine Shift which will be fun to play during Thanksgiving Break!

You can follow along for more information on Neighborhood Toy Store Day on these social media outlets:

Facebook: Facebook/TheWoohooFactor

Twitter: @TheWoohooFactor (hashtags: #toystoreday #localtoystore #shoplocal)

Head out to your locally owned neighborhood toy store this Saturday and take home some wonderful memories!

*Products pictured above were provided to me to facilitate my post. ALl opinions are my own.

Election Day Is Here

Posted on by Mandy

Election-Day

Today is the day we go to the polls and elect our President and other various state and local government officials. I’m not going to lie to you, I’ve been sitting on pins and needles about this ever since the debates.  I feel very strongly about this election, probably more so than I ever have before, and my stomach is going to be in knots until the results come in tonight. 

I won’t get to vote until I get off work, so I’m prepared to stand in line with the “after work” crowd, and it will be a crowd I’m sure.  Afterwards, I plan to curl up on the couch (after my “mommy duties” of making sure the kid has done homework, been fed, and bathed) with my blanket, the cats (and possibly the kid if he is interested), the laptop, and cup of decaf coffee and watch the returns come in.

How are you feeling about this election?  Nervous?  Confident?  Ambivalent?  One thing I am positive of is that I am really glad to see the campaigning come to a close. 

Questions Kids Ask

Posted on by Mandy

question mark

 

I knew it would happen at some point in parenthood…the day when my child would come up to me and ask, “Why is the sky blue?”. Isn’t that the universal question of kids? We even went through the phase of him asking simply “why?” after every answer we gave him about anything. It was maddening and endearing all at once. We gave him age appropriate answers. “Because God made it that way” was my personal favorite. He was satisfied and that was that.

Recently, however, his little brain seems to be working overtime.  He’s asking questions that leave me completely dumbfounded.  Here are just a few:

Why can’t you see a smell?

How come WE can’t touch wires but birds and squirrels can sit on them and not get electrocuted?

Who made God?

Ohhhhh kkkkkkk…..

So, I did what any modern parent would do.  I went to Google, of course! 

I learned that birds aren’t good conductors of electricity, and unless they are touching the ground AND the wire at the same time, the wire simply “ignores” the bird, if you will.  Apparently, some people can see a smell (a phenomena called synaesthesia).  And the last question?  There are plenty of answers on Google, but I don’t know if I actually believe some of them, and beside…I feel like someday when I get to heaven that’s a question I can ask Him myself.  What’s he fun of living without a little mystery, right?

So tell me, what “deep” questions do your kids ask that leave you stumped.