Reviewing Toys

The Wyker’s Toy Store in Hunstville, Alabama has had to close their doors. The store has been around since 1888, talk about letting go of history this was one toy store that just kept pushing through the good and bad times of America. The store hasn’t always been a toy store though, through the years it has changed just like the family that has owned it.  Many this week are talking about their stories and memories of this little store.

“When my kids were little, we could only find certain toys here and we came every year and we put all their toys on lay a way,” said Sondra Farley.  

“My daughter came in from Atlanta this weekend, and saw the ad that said Wyker’s was going out of business on tuesday and she said mother, please go and get me something for my future children from Wykers because I have so many good memories,” said Lola Peters.

This wasn’t just some old toy store like a Toys R Us or something like that, it was one that knew the people that came in and people really trusted. This store was known for specialty toys that you may not be able to get at other toy stores, no big box items was their big thing.

The kids got a Spotz Maker a few years back but have finally ran out of all the little images to make buttons and stuff with. So what does that mean? For me it means I’ll be  on the hunt for more but thought I’d mention this fun little craft machine to readers. First I’ll share with you some of the fun things they made and then the details.

While using this machine the girls were able to make over a dozen little buttons, or SPOTZ as they are referred to on the box. One got to make a purse that held all her little gems, this purse would go everywhere with her for the first three months. You can also make little necklaces, keyholders, make one for your friend, trade them with each other and many other fun things. Mine would even do games with them.

SPOTZ Machine:

10 jazzy jotz
30 colored holders (plastic circles that holds them in)
30 pre-printed images to choose from
2 blank sheets to design their own
8 rhinestone stickers (not saying where these ended up)
30 clear protective sleeve pieces

It does need a 3 AAA batteries. On the outside of the machine there’ll be little charms to put on it and there is a drawer to hold all your items plus spots to hold your SPOTZ and one will even light up. My girls loved that feature.

The machine costs: $29.99 at Amazon and the little pics and holders cost: $11.99 for 20 spotz.  I think this is a great summer fun activity to keep them busy during the hot days.

Summer is here and you know what that means, bikes, water toys and lots of time outdoors. So how does a mom/dad prepare for those kids being home all day and on the loose? Using safety is the best way, when it comes to kids there are over 280,000 accidents that occur from bikes every year and I’m not meaning motorcycles but bicycles.

Safe Kids, the first and only international nonprofit organization dedicated solely to preventing unintentional childhood injury, estimates that more than 130 children die from bicycle-related injuries, and more than 280,000 are treated in emergency rooms. And in a recent Safe Kids report, “Headed for Injury,” of those children wearing helmets, one in three children are not wearing their bike helmets properly – putting them at risk.

The first safety rule should always be your kids know the signs of the road, #2 should be that they have the proper gear. If they are riding a bike, scooter, skates, etc they should be wearing a bike helmet. But not just any helmet or one that is just on top of their heads. I’ve seen too many times where a child just wears a helmet but never buckles it up. It must be buckled correctly, tightened but not too tight or too loose and off they can go. Bells Sports has a helmet line that does not allow a child to wear it wrong and a parent can feel great about it. I got a few to review which will be coming up shortly, they have them in all sizes so there is no guessing your child’s size and instructions for those that may not know how to put them on. For the toddler that loves to unsnap things, these are slightly harder so they can’t, which means mom and dad must. A definite bonus. Reviews coming up.

IMG: The Life of a Home Mom

This month when you order your child a Happy Meal from Mc Donald’s you’ll find the Kidz Bop CD inside. Be prepared mom and dad, you are about to be begged to listen to the tiny tunes.  I must say the one thing I really like about the Happy Meals, besides my kids have a treat at the end is that we get to pick what’s in their little meals.

Instead of fries you can pick: apple dippers (with dipping sauce)

Instead of soda you can pick: apple juice, low fat milk and chocolate milk.

Have you been by McDonald’s lately? Oh the other reason I love McD’s is because they (at least in my area) have the Red Box Machine, where I rent movies every week.

I thought with each review some of you might be interested in other items the company may have coming out or just recently came out, so here’s some for Little First Act Discovery.

Puzzles

-  count n’ match
-  build-a-dream  (This looks like the most interesting)
-  do-re-mi xylophone
-  music rainbow
The Build-a-Dream can actually be built into a drum and each block (puzzle block) is one color and their color is wrote on them. So children can learn their colors and the words that go along with it. My son just loves banging away on things so this would be his favorite toy.

My First Instruments

-  My First Harmonica
-  My First Recorder
-  My First Percussion Instruments

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Over at Hotel Chocolat they are giving their hotel guests one unique item, the Loves Barbie chocolates in honor to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. Want one?

Inside each box has 8 different chocolates with the Barbie silhoutte. Here’s the flavors:

Hazelnut - Naturally coloured, vibrant pink white chocolate with a smooth milk chocolate and hazelnut praline filling.

Milk Chocolate - Naturally coloured, powder pink white chocolate with a silky 40% cocoa milk chocolate filling.

Strawberry - Naturally coloured, soft pink white chocolate with a fresh and fruity strawberry crème filling.

Vanilla - Silky smooth, creamy white chocolate made with lots of cocoa butter and Madagascan vanilla.

Don’t these sound scrumptious? Here’s the link to the hotel page for Loves Barbie, you can even order one yourself.  Happy Birthday Barbie!

The Ohio Art Company has unveiled one of their Etch A Sketch drawings of President Obama for the Black History Month. Wow, this took someone a lot of time to do it. I could never draw anything on these things.

On the etch is a picture of Obama and in the background you see the United States Flag flying with a picture of Abraham Lincoln.

The artist is George Vlosich III who began drawing on these things at the age of 11.  He’s been working or sharing his drawings with Etch A Sketch ever since. 

Can you picture being this talented? If you can do something like this take a shot of it and send it to me, I’ll gladly post your work right here.

IMG: Newscom.com

I can’t recall who sent this to my youngest but it is definitely one of his favorites. Course for me there is one issue with it…..THE NOISE! This is a yellow dump truck with big wheels and when you push it forward it drives straight by itself, it’ll even roll over items like toy dolls, his sisters,  etc. But it does have a noise too, so you may want to make sure this toy is put up at night so they don’t find it first thing in the morning.

Pros:

-  Toy doesn’t break easily
-  not recalls on it
-  the dump part works
-  it drives by itself
-  no batteries needed

Cons:

- it’s LOUD

I give this one a 4 out of 5 due to the noise. But for entertainment for my little one it gets high marks.

Lego Star Wars is turning 10 this year. Can you believe it? To be honest I thought they’d been around a lot longer then that. But in honor of their celebration they are going to be announcing more.

Here’s a bit of trivia. Did you know that Lego has issued over 180 different Star Wars products during the 10 years? You’ve got starships, big scenes and of course 250 minifigures from the Star Wars series. The big thing in the past year seemed to be the Star Wars Clone Wars, movie and tv cartoon.

What’s to come?

- 3 sets of Classic Trilogy Special Editions
-  Darth Vader: 
-  Battle of Endor: This will have 12 minifigures

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Fisher-Price online has a toy sale going on but you have to hurry because they are selling out like crazy. There is one toy you won’t be able to get because they have already sold out are: Little People Sweet Valentine.

Sales:

-  Amazing Animals Roll & Roar Habitat: Lion or the Polar Bear $9.99 ($16.00)
-  Amazing animals Hippo or panda $4.99
-  Dress-up adventure Springtime Dora $6.99 ($25.00)
-  Laugh & Learn counting animal friends book $7.99  ($10.00)
-  Little People wedding celebration $9.99 ($15.00)
-  Laugh & Learn teddy’s shapes and colors book $7.99 ($10.00)
- Doodle Pro Designs: Heart or Easter $4.99
- Easy on Infant Carrier $39.99
-  Rescue-a-Friend Baby: Elephant, Spider Monkey, Baby Lion, Baby brown bear, baby maned wolf (each) $14.99

They also have a ton of the swings, Planet Hero characters that range from $6.99-$9.99, there are a few that get up to $24.99.