Big weekend, Big News!

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TGIF Everyone! We are so excited the weekend is here, especially because it is a long one!

How great are long weekends in the summer?

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Last Friday I was at the EVO Conference, learning and speaking with some of the most brilliant people in the blogosphere, so we had to take a break from our weekly TGIF Giveaway- however this week we are back at it & hope you will join us today at 2pm (et) on Twitter for #thebigtoybook TGIF giveaway!

Before we ring in the weekend with our giveaway this afternoon, we wanted to share with you all some great news-

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1.) Our Private Sale Community opens up officially on Tuesday Jul.6 ! All of you founding members who signed up- will finally get the chance to see what all the buzz was about… and we are opening up with Melissa and Doug! Great stuff!  So keep an eye out for that “we’re open” announcement on Monday to check it out.

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2.) Because our Private Sale Community had a late launch we will be moving our Twitter Party to July 15th (9pm ET), and you will not want to miss it! We have some really exclusive deals to be had during that time as well as some fantastic giveaways!

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and lastly,

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3.) Since we moved back our Twitter Party, and because there was some confusion around our Toy Story 3 contest is being extended!!

You can still post pictures of your Toy Story to our Facebook page, and get people to “like” it up until Jul.15th!

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To clarify, the scavenger hunt list does not have to be complete-it is just a fun guide.  You could have 5,10,or 20 toys in your picture and some could be the “official” Toy Story toys, and some not. All Toys qualify! We just want to see what your little ones are playing with!  So take those pictures. Post them up… and win that fabulous play table from Delta Kids!

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Have a happy and safe 4th of July weekend!

Tell Us Your Own Toy Story & Win a Toy Story 3 Play Table!

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We did indeed go to see Toy Story 3 this weekend and just as expected, we loved it.

When we got home, my son started collecting his toys around the house that resembled the toys in the movie. To my surprise, we had most of them! Not the licensed Toy Story toys (though of course we have those too), but the classic toys. The chatty phone, the big baby, a stuffed bear, a piggy bank… it became a scavenger hunt. .

The picture in this post is only a partial picture of the Toy Story we were able to create in our house… Mr Potato Head & Mr. Prickle Pants were camera shy.

We had so much fun with our scavenger hunt, we thought it would be fun to see what Toy Story you can create in your house and turn it into a super fun contest!!

Here is how it will work:

Tell us your toy story

Print out our Toy Story 3 scavenger hunt list.

Find as many characters you can in your house . They don’t have to be the licensed toys- just toys that are similar.

Think outside of the {toy}Box – ie.) Any Cowboy can be your child’s Sheriff Woody

Set up your own Toy Story scene and/or let your child play with the toys to tell your Toy Story

Take a picture of of the scene or of your child playing with the toys

Post to our Facebook wall

Encourage your friends and family to “like” your Toy Story picture

1 Entry per family. Contest will run from Jun 22 through Jul 15th

Winner will be contacted Thursday Jul 15st prior to our Private Sale Twitter Party! 9pm ET (#Thebigtoybook)

The entry with most likes will win this really cool Toy Story Play Table by Delta Kids Furniture.

Collectible Toys- for show or for play?

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When I was a child, my mother started a Barbie collection for me.  Swan Lake Barbie, Holiday Barbie, Nutcracker Barbie- I have them all still in their box, just as picture perfect as the day I received them.

I can remember in my late teenage years, I would often tell my Mom how silly I thought the collection was. All of these beautiful Barbies- never touched or played with- and never will be.

Years later, I now have a better appreciation for the collection my mother started for me years ago for sentimental reasons- though when I look at the dolls in their boxes I still think “she should have let me play with these”.

Because of this, now as I  look forward to starting my own daughter with a doll collection, I find myself being drawn to the plush dolls she can play with, like those in Madame Alexander’s “Play Alexander” line. These still may not be something I would want an 18 month old teething on, but when she is older and able to care of them better I believe she will love playing with them.

There is however already one play-friendly collection I have started with my children at a very young age.

I’m talking about….

… Mr. Potato Head.

I am not sure when this collection started,  could have been a birthday or Christmas but over the years we have collected many different types of Potato Heads since you can find them for just about every occasion, holiday and profession- there are even Spud Bud Pets!

It seems there are many other Potato Head fans out there too- because this Easter, Spud-Bunny was impossible to find in local stores and the week before Easter these cute little bunny toys were only  available on line !

My kids love their Potato Heads. It encourages them to use their imagination and they love mixing up the characters facial features and accessories to make silly faces.

This fall Think Way Toys is introducing a Toy Story Mr. Potato Head that will allow for traditional play but will also have the animated functions as well (and yes, it even comes with a set of “angry eyes”!) This is sure to be a hot item come this holiday season that I am sure will be on my kids lists.

When it comes to our Mr. Potato Head collection, I am not sure they will stay as perfect as they were when they first arrived- but some toy collections aren’t meant to stay perfect. Sometimes worn in toys equal well loved toys and for us- that is what Mr. Potato Head is- well loved.

Do you collect any particular toy for your child? Do you let them play with it or do you keep it in the box for value in years to come?

-Corine

Sharing 5th birthday wishes on Facebook

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It seems like just yesterday, my baby looked like this:

But sadly, it was not just yesterday. It was years ago– 5 to be exact! I know 5 doesn’t sound very old to many, but to me- it is. I’m still figuring this parenting thing out and my little man goes and turns 5 on me? Who gave him permission to do that? Certainly not I.

Every year when Ryan’s birthday rolls around I am bombarded with questions of “what does he want?” …  “What is he into?”. Sounds like easy enough questions- but they always catch me off guard- even now- … FIVE … (gulp)  …years later.

The beauty about this year though is that I was able to tell my friends and family- who are all on facebook (sometimes for better or for worse- with their Farmville addictions) to check out my facebook stream… all of my sons wishes were posted right there from The Big Toy Book.

So for instance–

As soon as I posted the toys, people who saw it would comment on them “calling” their gift so that no one else made the same purchase (a la my son’s 4th birthday when we wound up with 3 Ben 10 Omnitrix’s) It became a game of “I saw it first” amongst our family. It was also great because even if they didn’t get to “call” the toys we wished for- it gave them a sense of “what he is into these days”… and most of all it took the pressure off of me having to come up with gift ideas on the spot.

The Wish button can be found on the bottom of all products on The Big Toy Book. Check it out when you have a chance- its a lot of fun- and slightly addictive  to play around with.

If you’re looking for ideas for a 5 year old super hero like mine- here are some other toys he wished for from The Big Toy Book-

Buzz Blaster

Scooby Doo 3-D Haunted Mansion Game

Play-doh Fun Factory

Iron Man Arc Chest Light

Bakugan Battle Pack

- Corine

From Mismatched Tots to Teens with Sweet 16's -Where does the time go?

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Sometimes when I am traveling through the blogosphere, whether it be on twitter, blogs or forums- I begin to miss the days my children were in “The Sweet Spot” for the cool toys being introduced.

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You see, working in the toy industry, the Moms that I speak to in the blogosphere most- have young children. So even though, I am a Mom- I’m often reminded that I am not the Mom of babies any more… and sometimes, it makes me feel OLD.

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I have lots of nieces that are still in that age group, my sisters girls are 8 and 5 (yes, we’re a family of ALL girls) who  I love playing with. My 3 (yes, 3) teenage girls however -are out of the “sweet spot” -though they still help me and the team with our toy evaluations because even as teens- kids are as  honest as it comes.

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That being said, beyond toys-  My journey through the stages of parenting has left me with so much insight that I love to share with the “newer” Mom’s – because let me tell you… there’s nothing like teenagers!

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When you watch your 3 and 4 year olds asserting their independence by insisting on picking out their own clothes,  your biggest issue is deciding whether or not it’s worth the fight when nothing they have on matches… but just wait til’ you see what teens can piece together!

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Sometimes I bite my tongue and other times I say “ask your dad if he likes it” because typically- he is tougher on this issue than I am.  Then again, there a was a dress code violation a few months ago with my middle daughter- who had went dress shopping without me for a Sweet 16 she had been invited to.

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The night of the party she waltzed down the steps about 3 minutes before her ride was coming to pick her up.  I took one look and sent her right back upstairs.  She didn’t pout, she didn’t cry, she didn’t say boo.  She came back down, dressed much more appropriately, handed me the dress in question… without question…..because she already knew.  I didn’t even have to raise my voice on this one.

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When did my role as Fashion Police-Mom transition from approving mismatched outfits to approving what they believe to be “cool trendy” dresses?

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This is the same child who at 3, used to come back from anywhere…so dirty!!  She had a little song she would sing to me that went simply “I’m a dirty kid and I don’t care”.  We still sing it to her to this day!

And while she is a bit older than in this photo and her appearance and wardrobe choices may have changed….there is still so many things that have remained the same. When we bake together, most of the flour still ends up all over her just like in this picture. My little girl, even as a teenager- still loves any chance she gets to be messy. And just today I had to leave work early, as this same daughter of mine was still calling for Mom when she didn’t feel good at school. …Of course, today the school nurse isn’t the first to alert me, now I receive text messages (and yes, probably from class), but the need is still the same. She is still my baby.

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So babies by age, or babies in our hearts (always), there are still doctors to run to, tears to wipe,  hugs that feel even better when they are older (because they are not as generous with them as they were when they were  little & mismatching clothes), and important opinions being formed on burning hot topics… like  who is better- Buzz Lightyear or Mr Potato Head…  I’ll keep you posted as my family and I tackle this tough one!

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-Laurie

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Wednesday with The Toy Insider Mom: Toy Fair Trends

It has been one busy week with Toy Fair. So many great toys, 4 days hardly seems long enough to see them all.

Our very own Toy Insider Mom, Laurie Schacht highlighted some of the shows hottest trends this morning on The CBS Early Show and on Good Morning America! We’re very excited to share the clips with you for today’s Wednesday’s with the Toy Insider Mom post!

If you have questions you would like to submit for next week, please submit it in the form below!

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Wednedays with The Toy Insider Mom: The "Play with me" factor

Photo credit: The Goldberger Company

Gearing up for Toy Fair next week- we are beginning to see some really cool toys being announced this year.

When I look at toys the very first question I ask myself is- will this toy call out to a child…’“play with me”?  If the answer is no,  I keep walking.

When I was a child my sister had a favorite- Little Lost Baby (anyone remember her??). We couldn’t go anywhere without her. Once we were on the road for close to an hour- traveling to upstate NY- when we suddenly realized my sister had forgotten her baby doll! The panic! So my Dad did what any parent in such a predicament would do-  turned the car right around to go back and get her.

So what made Little Lost Baby so special?  She called to my sister “Play with me!” You see, Little Lost Baby was both versatile and snugly- it was in essence what I describe as, yummy! She had 3 or 4 different faces that changed by a mechanism in the back of her neck.  She would cry or laugh or coo…or of course sleep and with the exception of her face… the doll was soft and snuggable.  My sister slept with her every night.

When it comes to plush toys- a child should be able to hug it, to love it, and to sleep ON it…even if it does cool things . This year you will see new plush items hitting the market, like Animal Planet’s endangered species line.  These plush animals not only move and make sounds… they are a great learning tool for kids, making them aware of the animals that risk extinction…and the best part is– they’re soft! (Yummy!)

I have some favorite Toy Story toys that will be on shelves this holiday season. Some will call to your child for the yumminess and some will call to your child for the down right “coolness” -Like the new Toy Story Mr Potato Head- No matter how cool Mr. Potato Head is (and he is awesome), he is still the real deal that you can take apart, put together and change his expressions. Kids love that.

We saw some cool trucks calling to our little boys this past holiday season. They sang, danced and rolled to you when called like Tonka Chuck and Matchbox’s Rocky the Robot Truck -but the greatest part of these trucks? They can also be played with just like a regular truck, so if the batteries aren’t them, or a child wants to fill the truck up with dirt or toys- they can! These kinds of toys provides imaginative enjoyment for years.

Building sets have called “play with me” to children for years because it is like finding a brand new toy every time it comes out of the box. My kids used to love the playmobil circus set when they were younger.  The big top would take quite a while to rebuild each time..but each time the kids would use the set to tell a different story. That’s the beauty of blocks- your child can build a castle one day and a city the next- changing out the characters & making their experience different time after time.

This year as our children get more computer savvy, we will be seeing more and more toys where kids can actually create and download their own apps! Manufactures know that computers are calling to our children each day, so they are finding new and exciting ways to incorporate that appeal into their toys.

So whether your child is engaging because of technology, creativity, or simply cuddling- the bottom line when checking out all of the cool new toys, like those being announced next week at Toy Fair is to make sure that toy screams “PLAY WITH ME”.

If the answer is “yes!”- don’t let it pass you by!

-Laurie

Have a question for The Toy Insider Mom? Submit for next week’s post here!