Hunger is one of those problems we try to shelter our children from knowing about, but as much as we can try to hide the truth about their peers going hungry, it is still happening to millions of children, across the United States, every day. With astronomically high unemployment rates, Ellerbee takes a look at the Hunger problem in America today and how it is affecting children in this nation.

Nickelodeon issued a press release about the upcoming show, which will air tomorrow, Sunday, December 4, 2011.

This holiday season, when you’re thinking about candy and cookies and cakes, turkeys and roasts and big family feasts, think about this: While millions of American kids fight a battle against obesity, other American kids don’t have enough to eat. According to the government, at least one in seven American families’ lacks consistent access to food. Nick News with Linda Ellerbee hears from these kids in the new half-hour special, “What’s For Dinner? Hungry Kids in America,” premiering Sunday, Dec. 4, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. Beginning Monday, Dec. 5, the special will be available on Nick.com and at iTunes.com/Nick News as a free podcast.

“Imagine living in America and going hungry. Imagine feeling powerless to change that,” said Linda Ellerbee. “In this special, kids share their stories—often stories about the shame they feel in asking for help—and talk about places and programs that have helped their families.”

Shaykia (14) of Baltimore, Md. is the oldest of three. Her single mom works at a restaurant part-time, but the food starts running low during the last half of the month. Sometimes Shaykia gives her food to her little sisters. She also writes poems to express her feelings about the situation as she doesn’t want other kids to know what her family is going through.

Kristoffer (14) of Branford, Conn. is also one of three kids who often don’t have enough to eat. One of the programs his family takes advantage of now is the Tuesday night free dinner at the Community Dining Room, a program to help hungry people. His dream is to grow up, get a good job and make money so he never has to live this way again.

Clinton (15) from New Braunfels, Tex. has limited his own eating since his dad lost his job. His family has applied for food stamps and uses a food pantry two times a month. Despite their struggles, Clinton stays positive and says he is grateful for what they do have.

Cameron (15) of Lewiston, Maine and Joshua (10) of Miami Beach, Fla. are making efforts to do something about hunger. Cameron, whose dad lost his job, started working at Lots to Gardens, a youth-driven organization that converts empty lots to gardens. Once a week he’s able to take three pounds of vegetables home. His family is eating healthier now and the money he earns helps them financially. Joshua created Joshua’s Heart Foundation to help poor and hungry people in his community by giving them food. The organization has raised more than $150,000 and has helped over 7,200 families. “One person can make a difference but it’s easier with more than one,” said Joshua.

Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is now in its 20th year and is the longest-running kids’ news show in television history. It has built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important issues of the day. Over the years, Nick News has received more than 21 Emmy nominations and recently won its ninth Emmy Award for Under the Influence: Kids of Alcoholics in the category of Outstanding Children’s Nonfiction Program. Additional Emmy wins for outstanding children’s programming include: The Face of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer (2010); Coming Home: When Parents Return from War (2009); The Untouchable Kids of India (2008); Private Worlds: Kids and Autism (2007); Never Again: From the Holocaust to the Sudan (2005); Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan (2002) and What Are You Staring At? (1998). In addition, in 1995, the entire series won the Emmy. In 2009, Nick News was honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award for best Network News Documentary for Coming Home: When Parents Return from War — the first-ever kids’ television program to receive this prestigious award. Nick News has also received three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to Ellerbee for explaining the impeachment of President Clinton to kids, as well as a Columbia duPont Award and more than a dozen Parents’ Choice Awards.

Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA – News, VIA.B – News).

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Oneida Stainless Pro Series – Stainless Steel Multi-Pot
The Oneida Stainless Steel Multi-pot is such an awesome part of the kitchen that I wanted to use it as soon as I unwrapped it from the packaging. Whether you’re making pasta, steaming some vegetables, or making a delicious winter soup, Oneida and the Stainless Steel Multi-pot have got you covered. This is the first multi-pot I have owned and I knew I was going to love it from the moment I started using it. Cooking is a breeze no matter what you make with this pot. Just drop your pasta into the colander and you can cook and drain it all in the same pot. Steaming vegetables has also never been easier. Oneida gives you plenty of excuses to make family-style meals that the whole family can enjoy, all in one pot.

You can learn more about the Oneida Stainless Steel Multipot at the Oneida website. You should be able to find this where fine kitchen products are sold online or offline. It currently has a list price of under $70 on Amazon.

Cuisine Foundations: The Chefs of Le Cordon Bleu
It doesn’t seem to matter whether you know how to cook or you’d just prefer to eat, most people are familiar with the Le Cordon Bleu name and reputation. This is one of the reasons that I am thrilled to recommend Cuisine Foundations. Sold in a box set, you receive two books that will take any cook and make them a chef, if only for a meal. Not only that, but if you can’t cook this will be sure to propel you to at least a basic cook status.

If you have no cooking knowledge reading or looking through Cuisine Foundations can be a daunting task, but if you read and follow the basic instructions you will find that cooking is easier than you ever thought it could be. With a wide range of recipes you have the ability to start in your comfort zone and venture into the unknown once you are more comfortable. Each book offers plenty of full-color illustrations, step by step instructions, and the ability to look up cooking terms as you need them. The Cuisine Foundations set also includes a Chef’s Tea Towel.

Any foodie that likes to cook from recipe books needs this set. This will end up being the foundation for any gourmet meals cooked by new chefs at home, so if you’re buying for the person that loves to cook you should really consider this set for their present this year. Amazon has the Cuisine Foundations Set available for around $50.

Capresso Automatic Milk Frother – FrothPRO
The Capresso FrothPRO is the absolute perfect gift for the budding barista. Coffee drinks are incredibly popular these days, but they are also unnecessarily expensive. That being said, with a FrothPRO and a cappuccino, espresso or even a coffee maker there is no reason why someone can’t create the same amazing drinks at a fraction of the price. The froth PRO includes settings for hot, warm, and cold and you can choose to froth or just warm something up. While the froth setting will help to create delicious coffee based drinks, the warm setting is perfect for creating hot chocolate or just warm milk, if you like that sort of thing. The froth PRO is a standalone small appliance that won’t take up much space. It even includes an auto shut-off feature for safety. Two frothing discs and one heating disc is included. All parts are even dishwasher safe, so even cleanup will be a breeze.

I love our Capresso Froth PRO and use it often. While it may not seem to be the normal holiday gift, if you have a coffee shop fan in your family, this will be an invaluable present and they will love it!

The FrothPRO is also cost effective as far as presents go. You can order this through the Capresso website for $59.99. If you really want to splurge (or let your relatives feel like they live in a coffee shop) you might even want to consider the Capresso Impressa C9 One Touch Coffee Maker.

NuWave Oven
The NuWave Oven was something I had been curious about for some time. Whenever I see something on an infomercial I tend to write it off and move on, but I kept coming back to this intriguing item. The thing I liked the most about this was the convenience factor. Cleanup is simple and there is almost nothing that this oven won’t do. The NuWave oven will fry, bake, broil, grill, and dehydrate. I am sure it does other things, but you get the idea. You can cook poached eggs in the NuWave for breakfast and have ribs for dinner. You can even cook meat from a frozen state.

Using three cooking methods (infared, convection, and conduction) the NuWave Oven offers a fast, easy, and simple way to get dinner made in a healthy, delicious way. The NuWave doesn’t take up too much space but it will hold plenty of food. It comes with an extender ring to allow it to hold more food, but to give you an idea, without the ring it will cook a ten pound turkey. If you add the extender, the turkey can be as heavy as sixteen pounds! After hearing about this I considered buying it just for the convenience during holidays. I don’t know about you, but I always need more room in my oven. Foodies might be shocked at this present, but everyone I know that has one loves it. It will just take one meal for them to be incredibly thankful (if they aren’t to begin with).

You can learn more about the NuWave Oven at the NuWave Oven Website. This is available through the website for $120 and you receive numerous free extras at the time of purchase.

Conserving Now – Bring Your Own – Family Starter Eco Kit
If you have someone in your family that wants to make shopping trips easier or that cares about the environment then Conserving Now needs to be on your radar. Offering a host of eco-friendly products including ways to educate classrooms on the environment, Conserving Now offers excellent products at fair prices. We received the family starter eco-kit, which includes two oversized cotton totes, a set of three market bags with a cinch bag for storage, a bag recycler, some door hangers, and some static clings. While things like the door hangers and the static clings have not really been used by us, I have found the bags to be invaluable. They are huge, hold a great deal and are incredibly well made. With that in mind, these make a fabulous gift for shoppers and people hoping to avoid plastic bags in the future. These bags would easily hold the contents created in a small to medium shopping trip.

You can learn more at the Conserving Now website. The Family Starter Eco Kit is available on the website for $40.99.

Green Ostrich – Preserve Recycled Plastic Large Apple Green Colander
Green Ostrich offers a host of products that are all eco-friendly. Offering everything from kitchen products to various school supplies, Green Ostrich has you covered. I was shocked to find out how much I loved the Preserve line they carry. We recently moved and I was missing some key kitchen essentials so we decided to focus on those things. We received one of the Plastic Large Apple Green Colanders and its been love at first use ever since. Not only is it sturdy and made to last, it’s also incredibly inexpensive. I have priced other (non eco-friendly) colanders of this quality and found then to be in the $20 range. The Preserve colander is $8 less than that. It’s also a vibrant, gorgeous color. If you’re looking for practical gift options, I highly suggest putting this towards the top of your list.

You can learn more about the Preserve line and the Apple Green Colander at the Green Ostrich website. The Preserve Apple Green Colander is available on the Green Ostrich website for just over $12.

Green Ostrich – Preserve Recycled Plastic Apple Green Tableware Pack
Preserve eco-friendly tableware made me consider switching to completely eco-friendly dishes. While I have yet to make the full transition I will say that for about the last month this set of dishes (cups, plates, and bowls) has been our main set. We use them for the majority of our casual meals and snacks. As someone that needs to diet, I love the plates because they are a tad smaller than some dinner plates, which means less food. I still end up getting enough, but find that I am not taking too much because there just isn’t room for extras. Cleanup is simple and these packs come in a variety of great, vibrant colors. We chose the green and I absolutely adore them! These would be great for young families, college students, and people considering the switch to eco-friendly products.

You can learn more about the Preserve line and the Recycled Plastic Apple Green Tableware Set at the Green Ostrich website. The Preserve Apple Green Tableware Set is available on the Green Ostrich website for just under $20.

George Foreman Healthy Cooking Smart Kitchen Multi-Cooker
One of the coolest brands for cooking with small appliances these days is George Foreman Healthy Cooking. I have used George Foreman products in the past and it seems that everything works fabulous for my needs. We have an Evolve Grill that we received awhile back and I use it often. I was thrilled to try the Multicooker because it’s not what you’d normally expect from the George Foreman Healthy Cooking name. However, it works just as well as other products in the brand. Sporting a 26-cup (5 quart) cooking space, the Smart Kitchen Multicooker can steam rice, cook vegetables and meat, and is the perfect space to make delicious soups and strews. Like other Smart Kitchen products, this Multicooker is nonstick so you do not need to use excessive amounts of butter or oil. It’s also a cinch to clean. The Intelli-Probe has cook settings for rice, steaming, and different temperature settings including searing for stews and other foods. A stainless steel steaming basket is also included for fish, vegetables and other foods. Best of all, when you’re done cooking you can remove the pan (which is quite stylish) and bring it to the table for some delectable family style meals. This makes an excellent gift for the entire family or your favorite foodie.

You can learn more about the Smart Kitchen Multicooker at the George Foreman Healthy Cooking website. Some other great options (I have yet to try, but have my eye on) include the Skillite Searing Skillet and the Panini Grill. You can order the Smart Kitchen Multicooker at the George Foreman Healthy Cooking website. It’s normally $80, but is currently on sale for $40 so it’s the perfect time to buy one. We’re also giving one away so make sure to enter for your chance to win one!

TJ Maxx Kitchenware Products
I have been a TJ Maxx shopper for years. While the clothing section can always be hit or miss, I often find amazing deals on home products. If you’re looking for a brand name cookware set at the fraction of the price or you want some beautiful accent pieces to brighten up your kitchen TJMaxx is the perfect store to look. On a recent trip I purchased some glass canisters for around $12. They sit on my counter holding dried pasta, sugar, and flour. This is just one of the great finds that was available that day. From knife sets to gourmet pans, TJMaxx has just about everything your kitchen might need and could be missing. This makes TJMaxx an excellent option for holiday shopping. If you have any picky relatives or friends you’re buying for, TJMaxx offers such an eclectic range of products that you shouldn’t have a problem finding something for everyone. If you find you like what you see, but can’t find that perfect gift you can even consider a gift card, which would allow the gift participant to do the shopping for themselves.

You can visit the TJ Maxx website to find a store near you!

Novica Hand Blown Glass Products
We have had the pleasure of writing about Novica products in the past. We received a few items from them when we moved into our home. One of the items that we received, the Spirals of Thought Glasses in Blue were a huge hit. These handblown glasses are absolutely amazing. They are thicker than your average glasses and the art work involved in creating these offers something simple yet dynamic. The spirals running through the glasses are fabulous. Our friends love them and we use them all the time. Purchasing from Novica also allows you to support artisans from around the world. The glasses we purchased were made by a duo of artisans that are incredibly talented. The men hail from Mexico and offer a number of different products through the Novica website.

You can learn more about The Spirals of Thought glasses at the Novica website. You can currently purchase these glasses for under $40 and there are a host of other amazing products available on the site.

Noodle and Boo Reed Diffuser
I’m a sucker for any product that adds a light, breezy scent to the room. The Crème Douce scent of the Noodle & Boo Reed Diffuser is simply exquisite. It combines the scents of peach, water blossoms, mixed berries, clover honey, milk and vanilla beans. You’ll get a whiff of the individual scents, which combine to form a sweet, delicate flavor within the air. What I love about the Noodle & Boo Reed Diffuser is that the scent isn’t overpowering. Just the right hint of each scent combines to form a new, layered scent that gently wafts through the room or any other environment where you place it.

This gift is great for those who are looking for ways to make their home unique. This is definitely an original product. So many air fresheners do not last, but this reed diffuser is continuous, leaving the room smelling delicious. To find out more about Noodle and Boo visit the following website.

Don’t forget to visit our other holiday guides:
Food – Books – Toys

Technorati Tags: 2010 Holiday Gift Guide, Gift Giving, Ten Items, List of Ten, Home, Kitchen, NuWave, TJ Maxx, Novica, Recycled, Preserver, Capresso, Le Cordon Bleu, Oneida

Ripley’s Believe it or Not: Enter if You Dare

About the Book: This book is filled with a selection of wacky, crazy and incredible facts. There are also features relating to these facts and interviews with the people associated with the stories included in this book. The book has been newly designed for this new year edition. Within the book, you will find information on how to access the fully-integrated Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Enter if you Dare website, where you can gain access to a plethora of video clips that accompany the book. In the gatefold section, there are eight. amazing pages worth of tales of vampires that are said to be “true”! There are also additional pullouts with amazing, full-size images that are downright shocking!

What Makes it Great: If you asked our son he would say it was because it is filled with odd and interesting facts that are simply unbelievable! He asks for these books every year, so it’s kind of a tradition in our house making sure that he gets them for Christmas. They are always some of his favorite presents every year, too. This makes a great gift for an older child or an adult that likes learning about oddities and things that are too weird to normally be true!

You can learn more about Ripley’s Believe it or Not: Enter if You Dare on the Ripley’s website. You can also purchase this online, at Amazon for under $18.

Guinness World Records 2011

Check out some of the new Guinness features: New to The Guinness Book of World Records 2011 edition is a new design. To usher in the new decade, those behind this infamous book have given it a new, eclectic design with a fun, poster-style motif sure to remind you off the circus, the wild west and there are even pressed WANTED ads. The records are presented GPS style. Starting in Greenwich, London, the starting place of time, Guinness takes us round the world, city by city, to find wild, crazy, and amazing, world record setting feats. There is an extensive glossary, that is bound to help you learn new words, and a selection of spreads on the Space Shuttle being retired this year, the 75th year (Diamond) Anniversary of Television, a Pop Culture Chapter with information on all your favorite movies, comics, manga, graphic novels, DVDs, and more, and, of course, information on Mr. World Record Breaker.

What Makes it Great: It seems silly even filling this section out. Everyone knows what makes the Guinness Book great. Filled with record breaking items, the Guinness Book gives the average guy or gal a chance to be a record holder. I know in our house, every year this is a must-have gift for our son. He’s been collecting the Guinness books ever since he discovered them when he was around five years old and he’s not planning to stop any time soon. The Guinness book is one of those rare gifts that works just as well for an eight year old as it does for an eighty year old!

You can learn more about Guinness 2011 at the Guinness World Records website. You can pick up the Guinness 2011 at Amazon for under $17.

Crave by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz

Description for Crave: The rare blood disorder that Shay was born with has confounded even the most dedicated of doctors, including her step-father, Martin. Shay’s mother married him who was one of her doctors, and he has been trying to figure out both what is wrong with her blood and how to find a cure for Shay. He even stopped work on his world-renowned leukemia research to help Shay. Things change for Shay when she turns 17. Not only is she given new blood transfusions, but she begins to feel stronger. These transfusions comes with a price and soon Shay is having weird visions…visions that include vampires.

What Makes it Great: Vampires are all the rage these days. Normally, I am pretty against them because while I love vampires, I find that writers usually mess them up. Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz do a nice job building characters that we can enjoy. Fans of Roswell might recognize the names Burns and Metz as they used to write for the show prior to creating this book concept. Shay is an interesting, if not sometimes frustrating, character that suffers from a debilitating illness that limits her life. Through a series of events Shay’s life soon changes and the things that happen make it easy to lose yourself in what appears to be the first novel in a future series.

You can learn more about Crave at the Simon and Schuster, where you can purchase the paperback for $9.99. You can also pick this up at book stores and department stores where books are sold.

Slayed by Amanda Marrone

Description for Slayed: Vampire hunting is a legacy for Daphne and her family. The sixteen-year-old is a part of the Van Helsing family of vampire hunters, a tradition dating back hundred of years. Daphne is not thrilled to be passed down such a legacy, especially when her parents are off decapitating vampires for money. Daphne craves normalcy. She’s tired of moving around and wants to settle so she can actually attend school and make friends. Instead, this young vampire has left her fate in the hands of her family, spending her life going from motel to motel, but never without a hefty supply of garlic!

Daphne’s life changes forever when the Van Helsing’s must head to a small coastal town in Maine. These vampires have no fangs, but they enjoy eating small children, a new breed of monster they have never seen. Along the way, she meets and falls for a boy, Tyler Harker, but he is the son of her family’s slaying rivals, so their relationship can never be…or can it?

Tyler Harker, AKA, the son of the rival slayer family. What’s a teen vampire slayer to do?

What Makes it Great: Amanda Marrone has a knack for writing books about teenage girls that have parents that just don’t get where they are coming from. Daphne is seventeen (though I felt she was written slightly younger) and she wants to be normal. Vampire slaying isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be unless you’re Buffy. Making use of the Dracula line of characters, this future tale will make fans of the classic novel curious and it will thrill teenage girls that love fantasy. This is a fun, light-hearted kind of read that goes by relatively quick. Vampire-loving, fantasy enthusiasts should enjoy this young adult novel.

You can learn more about Slayed at the Simon and Schuster website. You can purchase this wherever books are sold. It is currently available in paperback form through the Simon & Schuster website for $9.99.

Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

Description for Crusade: Jenn has been training and living at the Sacred Heart Academy Against the Cursed Ones in Spain for the past two years. She is one of a select few who have pledged to defend humanity or die in the process. With each passing day, vampires gain power, and the fierce battles she will face against them are just beginning. When a family member dies, Jenn returns to San Francisco, which has become a stronghold for her enemies. Alone without her slaying team, Jenn feels isolated and knows she has put herself at risk just being here. She also misses Antonio, her fighting partner, whom she has fallen for, despite the odds and dangers of having any form of relationship with him. When Jenn faces a massive betrayal, she begins to doubt herself and her cause, but she must rely on her head, her heart, and her training to stay alive.

What Makes it Great: Girls that like a little romance with their violence, fear, and intimidation are going to be mighty fond of Crusade. In a world where vampires reign supreme, ruling the world through violence and fear, there are only a handful of people able to fight the good fight and keep them at bay. As you might imagine, its a fight that these rare vampire hunters probably will not win. While Crusade takes a couple of chapters for some to warm up to, the writing is captivating and the story should prove to be pleasing to the teenage audience that it was written for. Teenagers will appreciate this in their stocking or as a gift because not only will it entertain them, but it’s the first in a new series, so now is the perfect time to pick it up!

Crusade is available at major bookstores and other stores were books are sold. You can learn more about Crusade on the Simon & Schuster website, where the hardcover is available for $16.99.

The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith

Description of The Other Side of Dark: Katie Mullens has gone crazy. She was normal once, before her mother died…before she started filling her sketch pads with insane drawings filled with darkness and blood. Law Walker knew Katie before she went crazy, when she was just your average, talented, artist, but he does not know the truth behind her artwork. Katie sees dead people, in accidents, from suicides and in a variety of other fashions and then she draws them. Law wants to get to know Katie better, even if his father is against this, especially since Katie is white and potentially dangerous. One of the dead people she sees has a secret and Law needs to know it, even if it is more shocking than he anticipated.

What Makes it Great: The Other Side of Dark succeeds on so many levels because the author had the ingenious idea of taking a good old fashioned ghost story and melding it with history, romance, and a nice dose of suspense. Smith’s writing cuts right to the heart of things. She has a way of putting words on a page that let you know exactly how her characters think and feel. This gives the reader a chance to really feel the characters emotions and it enhances the connection between the reader and the book. While I am new to Smith’s books I look forward to reading more of her work as soon as possible!

The Other Side of Dark is available in hardcover format for $16.99 and e-book format. You can learn more about the book at the Simon & Schuster website.

Blank Confession by Pete Hautman

Blank Confession Description: Even in a new town, Shayne Blank is in trouble right away. The new kid on the block, the other kids find him to be weird. Though he seems smart and fearless, there is something that isn’t right concerning his background. Then, one day, Shayne walks into the Police Station in town and confesses to a murder. This shocking revelation leads investigators down the road into an even more complicated series of events than even they could have anticipated.

What Makes it Great: Told through alternating viewpoints, when the new kid in town walks into a police station to confess to being a murderer, it’s up to the reader to get a grasp as to how the new kid got himself into that situation. Hautman is known for his writing skills and with that in mind, this would be a great gift for his fans. The only real downside to this book is that it goes by fairly quickly. It’s not very long, but it is a compelling story and it does not make any attempt to overstay its welcome. If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer and need an intriguing book, this might work out well. It’s the perfect size to peek out of a stocking and it will be an easy read to finish before school is back in session.

You can learn more about Blank Confession on the Simon & Schuster website where it is available for $16.99.

The Mortal Instruments Box Set by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments Boxed Set Description: The Shadowhunters-touched by angels and charged with protecting innocents—battle demons and other evil in the bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

City of Bones: When Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder. Much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with odd markings. This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons—and keeping the odd werewolves and vampires in line. It’s also her first meeting with gorgeous, golden-haired Jace. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in an ordinary mundane like Clary? And how did she suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

City of Ashes: Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what’s normal when you’re a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend, Simon. But the Shadowhunters won’t let her go—especially handsome, infuriating Jace. Clary’s only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil—and also Jace’s father. When the second of the Mortal Instruments is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help his father?

City of Glass: To save her mother’s life, Clary travels to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters—never mind that by doing so she is breaking the Law, which could mean death. Even worse, Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by Shadowhunters who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight. Luckily, Clary finds an ally in the mysterious Sebastian, who holds a strange attraction for her. As Valentine musters a demon army, can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their ancient hatred and work together? And can Clary harness her newfound powers to help save them all—whatever the cost?

What Makes it Great: This is the perfect series for a middle or highschooler looking for something new and interesting to keep them busy. I have seen this series compared to the likes of Harry Potter, Twilight, and even Percy Jackson and the Olympians. While I admit, I have not read most of those series, I will say that I loved this one. The world is similar to the others, in that this is a fantasy style book, as well. However, comparing this to Twilight does a great disservice to Cassandra Clare, who seems to have a decent grasp on writing and plenty of talent. With strong characters, a well drawn-out plot, and excellent storytelling The Mortal Instruments set will be sure to please any book addict between the ages of ten and forty.

You can learn more about the Mortal Instruments Boxed Set at the Simon and Schuster website, where you can also purchase it for $26.99.

Garden of Shadows by VC Andrews

Garden of Shadows Description: Before Flowers in the Attic there was a young girl, filled with hope and innocence. That woman was Olivia, soon to be Olivia Foxworth. Despite to feel joy in her life, the happiness she expects to feel from marrying rich and powerful Malcolm Foxworth and living in Foxworth Hall never appears. Malcolm barely pays attention to her, and she is stuck in a gloomy, lonesome, forboding, and huge mansion. With nothing to do but let her emotions fester, life in the Hall sets the stage for an evil that will triumph over the lives of her children, as well as their future generations to come.

What Makes it Great: V.C. Andrews is one of those writers that is so dramatically scandalous you can’t help but want to read her soap opera style of writing. Her characters border on ridiculous at times. No matter what series you are reading you know that someone is going to fall and end up in a wheelchair and there is going to be a plot that includes incest in some form or fashion before the end of the series. I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone that was on the younger spectrum of their teenage years. It contains rape, incest, abuse, and plenty of other adult topics. While the graphic nature of these things are not always laid out, it’s still a pretty scandalous for younger audiences. If you’ve read Flowers in the Attic, this prequel is certainly worth checking out. It will lead you to a much better understanding of how Olivia Foxworth came to be the woman that she ended up being later in life.

Garden of Shadows is a reprint from the original novel which came out in the late 80s. You can pick up either print on Amazon for under ten dollars.

The Dragon’s Apprentice by James A. Owen

Dragon’s Apprentice Description: The sequel to The Shadow Dragons, takes place seven years later. John, Jack and Charles are finally able to make it back to the Archipelago of Dreams. This reunion, though joyous amongst the three and their friends, is overshadowed by the threat of Ecthroi, primordial Shadow, and the threat of the splitting of Time. This trio must travel through a forgotten Door from the Keep of Time, which was destroyed, in the hopes of restoring time. There, they must seek the Dragon’s Apprentice. Failure means the end of both of these worlds, but success comes with its own drama.

What Makes it Great: Our son read the previous book in the series and made us swear that we would get him this one. Since then, he has read it several more times. Despite the high number of pages in these books, time seems to fly when reading them. The writer, James A. Owen has a great grasp on what it is to tell a story, so you will be shocked at how fast reading this will go. If you are buying for someone that has never read the other books in this series, it would do you best to start from the beginning. However, if you know someone that has read the other books and has been waiting for this one, you have to get it for them. Fans of the previous novels will not be disappointed.

You can pick up The Dragon’s Apprentice at Simon & Schuster where it is available for $17.99.

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Rot & Ruin Description: Benny Imura is more than just your everyday teenager. He is living in a zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America. In this world, it is every teen for himself. Teens must find a job by the time they turn 15 or they end up losing half their rations. Benny is not thrilled at riding shotgun with his older brother, Tom, who is a zombie hunter. Not wanting to lose his rations he has no choice but to become Tom’s apprentice. Thinking the job is going to suck, Benny soon learns there is much more to this job, and being human, especially in this chaotic world he lives in.

What Makes it Great: It’s a zombie book. Do I really need to say more than that? Zombies battle it out against the Bounty Hunters that are there to make some cash by bashing in some zombies. I had no clue who Jonathan Maberry was until reading this, but you can bet I will be keeping him in my sights now that I know what he is capable of writing. This is the first in the series, so get it while its hot. Zombie, horror, and violence/action fans will really enjoy Maberry’s take on the modern day zombie and the cash-for-hire hunters that are trying to get rid of them.

You can pick up Rot & Ruin through the Simon & Schuster website for $17.99.

Technorati Tags: 2010, Holiday Gift Guide, LI Kids, Top Ten, Books, Literature, Teens, Tweens, Reading, Must Have, Holidays, Christmas, Chanukah, Hanukkah, Winter Celebration

For the Little Mommy/Daddy

Loveable Look-A-Like
These dolls are awesome for all the right reasons. They might not look like something your child would initially take to, but if they have anyone in their life that they miss or wish was with them, the Loveable Look-A-Like could be the perfect solution! On the outside, the Loveable Look-a-Like dolls are androgynous and rather basic. They have on a white shirt and some jeans, which makes them perfect for both boys and girls. It also makes it perfect for turning a doll into your child’s favorite person no matter who they are. You just take a picture of your child’s favorite person or the one they miss the most and iron it onto the doll’s face. This is absolutely perfect for young kids that have parents in the military. We had a young reviewer check this out for us and we put her daddy’s head on it, because he is away in the war. Alexis pointed out that the head looked kind of funny (it is ironed on, after all), but it reminded her of her daddy and for that reason alone, she loved it.

We received the Do-it-Yourself Doll Kit which was easy to handle and its cost effective at $25. Loveable Look-A-Likes also offers personalized kits for $10 more or $15 more if you’d also like a personalized t-shirt. Either way, this is a great gift for children that have recently lost someone or have a parent that is currently away from home.

Fisher Price – Little Mommy Play All Day
If you know a little one that wants to be a parent (boy or girl) this is going to be a fabulous toy for them and it will be sure to make their holiday brighter. The Little Mommy Play All Day also works as an excellent toy to get back at a friend or sibling. Just give it to their child and watch the parent pull their hair out. This only works if they do not like toys that produce excessive amounts of noise, so keep that in mind, if you’re purchasing solely for revenge. The Little Mommy Play All Day is a talking baby doll that has plenty to say! She is motion activated so if you so much as nudge her she is talking! The one we received even speaks in Spanish occasionally, though I am not sure if that makes her defective or if they all do that. In fact, she knows up to 50 phrases and responses to basic play activities like rocking, flying like a birdie, and dancing. The doll takes 3 AA batteries, but they are already installed, so you will just need more for later. Alexis loves this doll so much she wants to play with her all day.

With that in mind, I am sure that $35 is more than a fair price for the Little Mommy Play All Day!

Precious Baby Doll – Katya
Precious baby dolls allow your child to adopt a baby from another destination. While it’s nice to have a doll that shares the same features, it’s even better to have a doll that is unique. Precious baby dolls are absolutely gorgeous with fine details down to a tee and a sweet baby smell that is reminiscent of real children. We received Katya Irina to check out and I fell in love with her. Our child reviewer, of course, feels the same way!

Each Precious Baby Doll is 17 inches long and has a cloth body with arms, legs, and has a face made of vinyl. The hands and feet even look real, which goes to show the amount of fine detail put into each doll. All babies are dressed in accordance to their culture/home location. Each doll (there are currently four to choose from) costs $69.99. In addition to the dolls, books about the dolls homeland are also available. Each book costs an additional $9.99. With or without the books these dolls are highly recommended. They are so beautiful it almost seems like a crime to let them be toys, but knowing the joy a child will get from one of these dolls makes it a worthwhile gift consideration.

The Precious Baby Dolls are our most expensive doll option on this guide this year, but they are also the most precious and well crafted in the bunch, too. The folks over at Precious Baby Dolls want to extend our readers a special deal, which makes this holiday gift even sweeter. You can use the following coupon code to get an additional $10 off on each doll:

Katya doll = 1000
Kimberly doll = 1500
Sophia doll = 2000
Li Ming = 2500

For the Little Professional

“The Budding Artist”: – Kidzsack
Kidzsack is perfect for the kid on the go that likes to color and has an artistic streak. This great back sack comes in a variety of designs and includes eight washable markers so your kids can create the perfect scene for the moment. Then when they are ready, they can wash it out (or you can, of course) and start all over again. In the meantime, they can use the bag to carry their favorite possessions when they are out and about. Whether they are going to school or to a friends house, the Kidzsack can transport all of the items they need. They can even toss their markers in there and finish coloring their bag in the car, if it’s not completed when they leave the house. If you’re looking for an inexpensive, but fun, eco-friendly gift idea for kids, you should really consider Kidzsacks. Not only are they practical, they are lots of fun, too.

The main Kidzsacks designs include Jungle, SeaLife, Sports, and Castle. There are plenty of custom designs available as well to suit the taste of most children. You can pick up a Kidzsack for $23.00, which includes shipping and handling charges. This might be a bit pricier than your average book bag, but this is one that your child can create and re-create as the mood strikes. The artistic quality alone (and the eco-friendliness) makes it well worth the purchase!

“The Banker”: Zillionz Savings Goal ATM Bank
If your child uses a jar or standard piggy bank to hold their money, the Zillons Savings Goal ATM Bank might be something that they would enjoy greatly. There are a number of great things about this bank. First off, it teaches your kids about ATMs and banking. It’s always a nice lesson to let them see that the ATM isn’t an endless money pit and that you need to put money in to get it out. If they have siblings, this is always a great way to keep the money safe and hidden, as you need the credit card and pin number to deposit the money and to get it out. CT loves banks like this, so we knew we had to check this out. It ends up being a great solution for kids that are saving up their money for something and it allows them a little independence in handling their money, too, which is a good thing. Some people have had problems with change being miscounted, but we have not experienced this issue. It ends up being both a practical present for older kids and a fun, amusing toy for younger ones.

Amazon has the Zillions Savings Banks available for just under $30. If you’re hoping to buy something for a younger child I would recommend looking for something else, as the Zillions Bank is not going to be as popular with the kids that just want a toy and not a safe way to handle their money. However, if you have a child looking to keep track of their dough and have a safe way to do it, this would be perfect!

“The Sports Star”: One World Futbol
I could say plenty of great things about the One World Futbal. I could talk about how it seems sturdy enough to last for life or how great the blue color is. I could even go into the fabulous concept behind the futbal and why I feel the way I do. What it all comes down to though is that your kids are gonna love this! From a purchase perspective, you can’t go wrong with this ball. It will never go flat even if it is punctured because it is made using state-of-the-art technology that requires no stitching. It also carries the same rebound characteristics of traditional soccer balls.

However, the real reason to buy a One World Futbal has little to do with the pretty color or the durability (though these are certainly nice reasons). More importantly, when you purchase a ball for yourself, someone else receives a ball through an organization that helps people in need. So, buying one of these balls for your budding sport’s star means that someone in a third world country or another impoverished area will also receive a present, as well.

Purchasing a One World Futbal is simple. Just visit the One World Futbal website and you can purchase them right there. The balls are listed for a price of $39.50, which secures a ball for you and one that will be sent to charity. Two One World Futbals for under $40 is not a bad deal at all. In fact, it’s one of the best on this list!

“The Sports Star”: The Pro Mini Hoop
The SKLZ Pro Mini Hoop is by far the best constructed and most durable mini-hoop I have ever seen for home use. While I was not expecting much for this relatively inexpensive product, I am happy to say that this really does appear to be a mini basketball hoop. Basketball fans will absolutely adore this whether it’s for a younger child needing some excitement in their bedroom or some older kids wanting to have some dorm room fun. Sporting a shatter-proof backboard and a spring-action breakaway rim this is the closest thing to real basketball you’ll find inside a house. The backboard can take shots with ease and the rim won’t break should you decide to practice your jump shot. The weakest part of this set is the basketball and even that is fine, should you decide to keep the one that comes with the set. Everything you need construction-wise is included, with exception to the pump required to inflate the basketball.

You can learn more about the Pro Mini Hoop or other SKLZ products by visiting the SKLZ website. The Pro Mini Hoop is available on the site for just $29.99 or if you’d prefer a larger backboard you can opt for the Pro Mini Hoop XL for just $39.99.

“The Roadster”: Road Rippers RC Motor Muscle Car
Perfect for car lovers of any age, the Road Ripper RC is suited for kids seven years old and up. These great remote control cars come in a small variety of popular car models and various colors. We received the yellow car from the various product options and it was a hit with everyone in the house. The best thing about Road Rippers is the level of realism that you will find here. These babies have working radios, lights that come on and off, and realistic sounds. They are controlled completely via a remote control and they are simple to use. If you have a boy (or girl) that loves cars and is growing up, but isn’t too old this would make a great gift. Toys like this are still toys, but they are a little more adult, so the kids can’t say you’re treating them like babies. They will love it and chances are, so will you.

Road Rippers RC cars take three AA batteries for the remote, which are included in the box. You will need an additional four AA batteries for the car, so you might want to keep that in mind. You can learn more about these cars at the Road Rippers website. The Road Ripper RC cars are available at most major retailers for under $30.

For the Little Builder

NASCAR 88 Amp Energy Car Building Set:
Knex offers some of the coolest building products on the market. Whether you’re five years old or 25, Knex has something inventive and challenging for you to create. This building set, the NASCAR 88 AMP Car, was made for budding race fans. Kids interested in NASCAR and current fans of Dale Jr will really enjoy building this stock car and playing with it when it is all done. The Knex NASCAR 88 Amp Energy Car includes 100+ K’NEX bricks, rods and connectors, as well as wheels for push play. There is also a Dale Jr. K’NEX-man to complete the set! After all, it wouldn’t be a true 88 car without Dale Jr!

You can learn more about the Knex NASCAR 88 Amp Energy Car Building Set at the Knex website. According to the Knex website the 88 car is suitable for ages five years and up. You should be able to find this in stores that sell Knex including the Knex site, which has it listed for just under $15.

K’Nex Speed Demon Coaster
Unlike the 88 car, the Speed Demon Coaster by Knex is suitable for someone nine years old and older. Standing over three feet tall, the Speed Demon Coaster includes over 625 colorful K’NEX pieces, including a coaster car, motor, chain lift and track. That’s right, this is a fully working coaster! I don’t know who enjoyed this more, the kids or the adults. I suppose it didn’t matter, the point is that everyone truly enjoyed it! It takes some time to build but that is because it’s just that big! The instructions are easy to follow and are color coded so there shouldn’t be any problem putting this together. Once it’s together your kids (or the adult that gets this bad boy) can watch the coaster car move to the top of the peak only to fly down through 19 feet of twists, turns, and loops!

Available for only $30 the Knex Speed Demon Coaster is definitely a bargain! You can learn more about the Speed Demon on the Knex website. The website should have a link for purchasing, but you shouldn’t have a hard time finding these locally at stores like Walmart and Target.

Miscellaneous Goodies

Glide Table Top Shuffleboard:
I know what you’re thinking. Shuffleboard?!? For kids?!? I thought that too, until we received the Glide Shuffleboard. Suitable for pairs of players or teams ages six years old and up, the Glide tabletop Shuffleboard game will have kids and adults competing and having a ball! Zabazoo offers plenty of unique gifts for the whole family. Glide comes with four different colored stones that you slide along the four foot long board. The rules are the same as traditional shuffleboard and it will take some talent to ensure that you knock our your opponents with ease. Whether the kids win or lose though they are bound to have loads of fun. Parents will also appreciate the easy cleanup and the ability to have this out or fold it up and keep it up and away unless in use.

You can learn more about the Glide at the Zabazoo website. The Glide is available at numerous stores online, including Amazon where it can be found for $24.99.

Z Wind Up Toys:
The holiday would not be complete without some uniquely fun and totally outrageous stocking stuffers. I remember a time when parents would use the stocking to add all those little gifts that wouldn’t go over well if they were wrapped up. You know, things like shampoo and toothpaste. Well, if you must you can still add those things, just throw in a few Z Windups and it will transform your child’s stocking into something fun and exciting for them! As they plow through the deodorant and the chewing gum, a few of these windup toys are guaranteed to put a smile on their face! Z’s Windups come in a variety of designs that are sure to please every child in your house.

The Z’s Windup store will give you a clue as to just how many options are available. At around $5 a piece (some toys are more or less), these make a great inexpensive addition to the stockings in your home. Some personal Windup favorites include Larry Slider, Cookie, Ferris, and Basie!

We hope that this list has helped you to complete your shopping this year. If you’re looking for other gifts make sure to check out our other guides and suggestions!

Food

Technorati Tags: 2010, Holiday Guide, Hot Holiday Toys, Dolls, Building Sets, Unique Gifts, Holidays, Presents, Kids, Board Games, Children’s Gifts, Shopping, Gift Guide

Make sure to stop back by and let us know if you tried any of the items below and if you enjoyed them as much as we did! We cannot wait to hear what you think!

WineTime Chocolate Bars:
WineTime chocolate bars and actual wine have something in common. Reservatrol is a powerful antioxidant that is found in grapes. It has such health benefits that scientists have claimed that it could explain how French citizens can have such a fatty diet and yet remain fairly healthy. WineTime Bars take the reservatrol from the wine and create a chocolate bar that you won’t soon forget. The suspected health benefits are nice, but they wouldn’t mean much if the chocolate didn’t taste good. Come to find out, I would be pleasantly surprised with what I received in WineTime. Each bar contains various super fruits (cranberry, pomegranate, acai, and blueberry), along with dates and almonds all hiding in delicious dark chocolate. The result is a chewy, rich chocolate bar that tastes fabulous and is healthier for you than you could imagine.

You can pick up WineTime Bars at the WineTime website, where you can learn more about Resveratrol and about WineTime. Pricing options include a 10 bar pack for $29.90, a 20 bar monthly package for $59.80, and a 40 bar “family pack” for $89.70.

Green and Blacks Organic Chocolate Bars:
There are no words to describe how much I truly love Green & Black’s organic chocolate bars. I like to consider myself a chocolate snob. Not all brands do it for me. I tend to only prefer dark chocolates and find milk chocolates to be revolting in most cases. However, Green & Black’s tends to be an exception to this rule. The folks at G&B’s were nice enough to send us a variety of the bars to try out. Among the options were Milk, Dark, Toffee, Peanut, Maya Gold, and Mint. All of them were fabulous, though I personally was partial to the dark, toffee, and peanut. I liked the mint, but you have to really enjoy mint to enjoy this candy bar because it offers an intensley strong mint flavor that many mint chocolate bars lack. If you’re planning chocolate in the stocking this year, do yourself a favor and get Green & Black’s for the whole family – they have a variety of selections that are sure to satisfy all the different tastes in your home.

You can learn more about Green & Black’s at the Green & Black’s website. If you are looking for some stocking stuffers you can find Green & Black’s in most places where chocolate is sold, including stores such as Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, and Kroger. Prices will vary, but in most cases you find find Green & Blacks for around $2 a bar.

Cari-Free Lollipops:
CariFree Lollies are great for kids and parents whether we’re talking holidays or anytime of year. Kids will enjoy the five tasty flavors including cherry, grape, lime, citrus, and raspberry. Parents will like the fact that each lollie contains .5g of xylitol, which helps to fight cavities and removes cavity-causing bacteria. This is a perfect mid-day treat because it will get some tooth defense in between the morning and night brushing. These are sugar free, but still taste good so kids should like them as much as any other lollipop. According to the website, you shouldn’t eat more than 20 of these per day. I don’t know anyone that offers their child more than 20 suckers though, so this shouldn’t be a major issue though. These would be great for stocking stuffers. The kids don’t even have to know that they are good for them and their teeth!

You can learn more about CariFree products at the CariFree website. Currently a 24-lollie, variety pack comes to $12.50 on the website. Prices likely do not include shipping.

PopChips:
PopChips are the best and most mysterious chips that you will ever truly enjoy. They taste like traditional chips. They taste fried, fatty, and utterly delicious. The funny thing is that they aren’t fried and they aren’t fatty. They are delicious though! Offering a chip with some good crunch and fabulous flavors, PopChip offers a healthy snack alternative that tastes about a million times better than baked or other healthy chips. These yummy chips taste like the chips that you crave without all the crap you don’t need. As a result after one of these chips you will be hooked and that won’t be a bad thing. With flavors like Parmesan Garlic and Cheddar Potato, traditional chip lovers should be very happy. They are also inexpensive (no more than most regular brands), All-Natural, and easy to find (available at Whole Foods, Target, and other retailers).

Check out more about PopChips or Read our PopChips Review!

The Fresh Market Good Cheer Basket:
We often have adverse things to say about gift baskets. After receiving a stale, seemingly outdated gift basket from Bea’s Gift Baskets earlier in the year we’ve been weary about the things that we consider for review in this area. However, The Fresh Market looked so yummy it was hard to say no. So, we agreed to check out The Good Cheer Basket and come to find out this was the best gift basket we reviewed all year! Filled with tasty goodies like pistachios, peanuts, sesame sticks, crackers, Nueske’s Summer Sausage, stone ground mustard, Jelly Belly’s, and other great items, The Good Cheer basket will be sure to please even the pickiest snacker. A box of Back to Nature Chocolate Chip Cookies and some amazing, Kell Bran Caramel Popcorn are also included. At $49.99 the Good Cheer basket is worth every penny.

The Fresh Market also offers a number of other holiday goodies and gift baskets to suit all tastes and budgets.

Navitas Naturals Chocolate Kit:
One of the best part of the holidays is the food! I love baking and enjoying the fine treats that we get to make each year. The last couple of years we’ve received a chocolate making kit each year to review. I was nervous with my first one, but I’ve since learned that there is nothing to making chocolate in kits like this. Navitas Naturals makes chocolate making a snap with easy instructions and all of the ingredients laid out as they should be. You can choose from a variety of kits that offer additions of the most important super foods into your chocolate. If I didn’t know better I would think the super foods were an excuse to eat more of the chocolate! These make great family gifts for friends that love chocolate. They are inexpensive, delicious, and offer a chance for some fun family friendly memories.

You can learn more about these Organic Chocolate Making Kits at the Navitas Naturals website.

Vosges Baking Mixes: When I received an email from Vosges and it included the moniker “Haute Chocolate,” I couldn’t help but laugh. That was because at the time, I was not very familiar with the company. I knew they offered chocolates and yummy eatables, but that was about it. The folks at Vosges offered to send us some baking mixes to see if they would make the cut for the guide. We received Vosges Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, Caramel Toffee Chocolate Chunk Brownies, and Super Duper Sugar Cookies. All I can say is you HAVE to try these! Vosges definitely earned the haute chocolate label they use! Each box comes with all of the dry ingredients in the box. All ingredients are the top of the line and it shows in the final result. Make sure to read your boxes for all the instruction you need to make the perfect dessert. In order to make most of the mixes you will need things like water, oil, milk, unsalted butter, and/or vanilla depending on the mix. A card with detailed instructions comes with each mix, allowing even the most inexperienced baker a chance to shine in the kitchen this holiday!

Vosges mixes are perfect gifts for your favorite foodie. Alternately, if you like to give food oriented gifts that you’ve baked yourself you could pick up some Vosges mixes and make some cookies and brownies that will blow your mind. You can learn more about these amazing bake mixes at the Vosges website.

Fairytale Brownies:
Earlier in the year we reviewed Fairytale Brownies. They did not ask to be included in this gift guide, but they did submit their product for review and they were so good we felt we couldn’t leave them out here. You can choose between two flavors of Fairytale Cookies or a scrumptious selection of brownies. In a standard dozen you receive such flavors as Original, Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Cream Cheese, Espresso Nib, Mint Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Pecan, Raspberry Swirl, Toffee Crunch, Walnut and White Chocolate. It’s been awhile since we indulged, but if memory serves correctly there was not one specific flavor that we didn’t like. We even went as far as to fight over a couple.

Okay, we’re not proud of it, but they were so good, we just couldn’t help ourselves. A standard dozen is around $40, but for the moist, melt-in-your-mouth brownies that you receive you won’t think twice about what you paid for them. They are worth the price you pay as they end up putting a smile on the face of everyone I have seen eat one. It’s no wonder the brand name is Fairytale Brownies – it’s hard to believe these are as good as they are. We even won a few brownie haters over when we tried them out last time!

You can learn more about these delish brownies at the Fairytale Brownies website or you can check out our Fairytale Brownies review!

Swiss Colony Products:
Swiss Colony is one of those brands that nearly everyone is familiar with. Chances are you’ve received their catalogs and have viewed their website. If you’re like me, despite all this advertising and the delicious appearing food, you’ve never tried them. Rectifying that was one of the best decisions that I made this whole holiday season. I’ve only had a chance to try two things from Swiss Colony so far, but I can say that they will not be the last things we try. We received the Reindeer Torte (ribbons upon ribbons of rich fudge creme and tender chocolate cake blanketed in milk chocolate) and some Incredible Spreadables with Crisps. In the case of the latter item, we received the $19.95 set that includes Mellow Cheddar and Herb Garden Cheese along with three flavors of crisps. I don’t recall asking for either item, but I have to say that the whole review team loved them! The items arrived just before lunch and we had to force ourselves to stop eating the crisps and cheese and start eating our lunch. On the plus side, the Reindeer Torte provided some excellent dessert and the combination of both items made some future customers out of us!

You can learn more about all of the delicious items for gifts (or to indulge on your own) at Swiss Colony. We will also be reviewing both items soon (look out for the links to come soon).

The Fresh Market Pumpkin Butter:
Rounding out our holiday guide this year is Pumpkin Butter from The Fresh Market. I was skeptical about this when we first received it, merely because of the presence of apricot in the butter. Dom loved TFM Pumpkin Butter more than any pumpkin item that we’ve had recently. I liked it, though I admit, I was not as in love with it. I felt that in many bites I got more apricot and less pumpkin. Ignoring the pumpkin name, the flavored butter is actually quite good. If you have a fan of jellies, jams, and flavored butters in your family, this will win them over. Each bottle is available for $5 and is well worth every penny.

To learn more about TheFreshMarket Pumpkin Butter or other great products in the lineup we recommend checking out The Fresh Market website.

Technorati Tags: 2010 Holiday Gift Guide, Yummy Food, Season’s Greetings, Season’s Eatings, Candy, Cookies, Chocolate, Gift Basket, The Fresh Market, Vosges, PopChips, Holidays

First off, they are made by Dr. Dre. That might seem like a little thing to you, but as people that grew up listening to his music we thought it would be good to try out headphones created by someone in the music business. I mean, if a musician (who is said to be a perfectionist) cannot get a pair of headphones right then their might not be any hope. Next, they are incredibly expensive. Don’t get me wrong. We don’t review things on the basis of how much they cost. We do like to find out if expensive items are worth the money though and we like to offer you, our readers, this information, as well.

First impressions were quite impressive. Beats by Dre arrives in a hard red box with a black slip cover that announces the Beats by Dre label. When the slipcover comes off you see the white logo on the red box. The box opens and on one side there is a black case that includes the actual headphones. The other side opens up to include instructions and manuals, two soft cables with additional adapters, batteries, and a micro-fiber cloth.

The headphones come in a case where they fold up for easier and more complete transport. You can use Beats by Dre with any smart-phone, your computer or laptop, or any stereo that has headphone support. The cord of your choice just hooks in under the right earpiece and once you put in your batteries you’re ready to start listening to music.

The batteries are placed in through the right earpiece. You just turn the side and it opens up. Place in your batteries and snap it back shut. The opposite side has a small on/off switch that you will need to toggle before use (otherwise you won’t be hearing anything). The color on the on/off switch will alert you of when you need to change your batteries.

If you are using Beats by Dre with your phone you will notice that a small switch box is a part of the cord. When you get a call, just click the button and your music will pause while you take your call. When the call is over the music will resume! Also, a great feature of these headphones is the mute feature. Just press the plate on the right ear and it will mute your music (Note: this does not pause it, only mutes it). This comes in handy when someone is trying to talk to you when your music is on.

All of this having been said, one of the most important things – actually the most important thing is always going to be the sound. If the sound isn’t good on a pair of headphones then none of the other stuff really matters. The fact is that Beats by Dre offers the most incredibly sounding headphones that I’ve found, to date. I’ve reviewed headphones that I’ve loved, but these take the cake. The sound is the most authentic stereo sound that I have experienced.

One of the best things about the sound on the Beats by Dre headphones is that you do not have to turn these up loud to experience impressive audio. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. They don’t recommend turning them up too high as it can cause damage to your ear. Still, I normally have mine up (on other models) from 70-100% volume. This ensures that all sounds are blocked out and it’s just me and my music.

With Beats by Dre I had the volume no louder than 30 ever and usually kept it at a comfortable 24. When people spoke to me, I had to hit the mute button, otherwise I would not be able to hear them. Despite the low sound, the padding of the headphones keeps the sound in and allows it to sound excellent. Even at the low level the music was highly detailed. I didn’t go past the 30 mark because I found if I did that it would be too loud, but I suspect that the sound would be equally as impressive. Normally you have no choice but to turn it up, so I love that with these, you can get that amazing, fine-tuned sound at a level that doesn’t damage your ear in the process.

The bass is by far the most ear-popping element to be heard here, but all aspects of music are represented well. Each instrument and sound, no matter how seemingly small, appears as a full, distinct sound. So many headphones will represent one element of music better than the others, but Beats by Dre hits all of the right notes in every, single song.

I honestly would be shocked to find a pair of headphones with a better sound. Beats by Dre makes me want to listen to music all day long. The crisp, clear sound is so impressive that it’s hard to want to be without these for long. Music lovers need a pair of headphones like this.

The final compliment I have, and it’s a little, but important one, is that these headphones are nothing short of sexy. I don’t think of headphones in terms of sex appeal normally, but these are quite fashionable. Black, silver, and red are the main colors here with black playing the predominant role, red handling the lining, and silver playing the star of the center of the earpiece.

You can purchase Beats by Dre in a number of high-end electronic stores online and in traditional stores. Brookstone.com sells them for $299.95 and they are worth every penny. If you’re in the market for a stellar pair of headphones with mind-blowing sound then pop on over to Brookstone and pick up a pair of Beats by Dre. I couldn’t recommend these highly enough if I tried.

Technorati Tags: Headphones, Music, Beats by Dre, Monster, Dr. Dre, Stereo, Bass, High Quality, Luxury, Sexy, Fashion, Back to School Review, Product Review

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: May 4, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.99

We are both children of the 80s. The Saturday morning cartoons of the 80s were what we grew up watching. Having reviewed Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s, Vol. 1 and Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970s, Vol. 1, we’ve been waiting for a chance to watch classic cartoons from the 80s. Well, here it is and while some of it is cool, there are some disappointing aspects to this release.

We expected The Smurfs, The Flintstone Kids, and other Hanna-Barbera shows to dominate this set. Instead, we have a lot more of Hanna-Barbera competitors, Ruby-Spears’ cartoons represented. That is okay because Ruby-Spears isn’t all bad. BUT, most of these cartoons aren’t as well known as the Hanna-Barbera titles. Some we had never even heard of and others are just plain awful, like the Chuck Norris animated show, Karate Kommandos. We assume some didn’t air as prominently in the Midwest, like Goldie Gold and Action Jack. We never even remember these shows being on.

Don’t get us wrong. There are some cool shows on here. We’ve been waiting for The Flintstone Kids to be put out, in any form, on DVD. Both of us watched this show all the time, as kids. We’d all but forgotten about The Biskitts, those cute “little” puppies, every person from the 80s knows Mr. T, unless they were living in a cave, and I (Dom) finally got to refresh Ashtyn’s memory of what a monchhichi was. So, essentially, in this set, fans of 80s cartoons are going to win some and lose some. Ultimately, it will be up to each person to determine whether there are enough winners in the bunch to merit a purchase.

While we’ve been waiting for Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1 to come out, we cannot help but feel a sense of disappointment that more of our favorite cartoons were not included in this set. The source material for some of these cartoons isn’t as great as today’s but most of it has held up well. If nothing else, it has given us a chance to introduce the kids to a bunch of retro, lesser known cartoons they have never seen.

Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1 Episode Synopsis’
There are 11 different cartoons in the Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1 set. Some of the shows feature multiple segments and episodes. These shows are spread out across two discs. Here is a list of the episodes with a description of the shows and episodes.

Disc 1

Goldie Gold and Action Jack
Episode: “Night of the Crystal Skull”
Original Air Date: September 12, 1981

Think Richie Rich, a little ditzier, in female form and you have Goldie Gold. Goldie Gold is the richest person ever. She has more money than anyone else in the world. With so much money and time on her hands, Goldie has to do something to pass the time. Goldie owns the newspaper, the Gold Street Journal. Her boyfriend, Jack, aka “Action Jack” works for the paper. Jack, Goldie, and her dog, Nugget, use the paper to allow them to investigate crimes and save the day.

In “Night of the Crystal Skull”, Goldie arrives at her party to find men dressed as Incan warriors kidnapping two astronauts and a professor/scientist with the knowledge of how to create a space shuttle. When Goldie and Jack go to the Gold Street Journal, they are attacked by the Incans. The two chase them back to Peru. There they discover the Crystal Skull Masked man’s plot to take over the world, which they must stop.

Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos
Episode: “Deadly Dolphin”
Original Air Date: September 15, 1986

Chuck Norris is a douche and his cartoon just seeks to prove that. I think he just likes hearing his name (if parents played a drinking game for every time anyone says Chuck or Norris, they’d have alcohol poisoning in the first 2 minutes). Hearing it makes Chuck Norris giddy. Sure, he wants to teach kids lessons, and his show supposedly has moral values, but who wants to spend 20+ minutes seeing a badly drawn, bushy mustached, Chuck Norris kick butt? The funny part is, Chuck Norris really takes himself seriously in the live action sequences before and after the main show. Wow…

I will give Chuck credit. He has a crew that help him, including a totally annoying kid. I never watched this show when it originally aired, and I can definitely see why. In “Deadly Dolphin”, Angel Fish and Super Ninja capture Dr. Sanford. Angel Fish reads Dr. Sandford’s mind to discover how to get in Sealab. With control of Sealab, they can control the seas, something their boss, the Claw, has hired them to do. It is up to Chuck Norris and his rag tag team of Karate Kommandos, Tabe, the fat sumo champ, Pepper, the Tech expert/mechanic, Pepper’s brother Reed, who is Chuck’s apprentice, Too Much, the young Asian boy, and the samurai, Kimo, to stop them.

The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley
Episode: “Tall, Dark & Hansom”
Original Air Date: September 10, 1988

There were quite a few cartoons based on live-action actors in the 80s. One of the later shows was The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley. This vehicle for Martin Short has the comedian playing the spastic and weird Ed Grimley. The show is part live-action, part animation. Ed Grimley is just as weird as you’d expect Martin Short to be in cartoon form. His quirks are on full display in the episode presented in this 80s cartoon set.

In “Tall, Dark & Hansom”, the spike-haired E, is sad that his Cousin Lamar is sick, but is happy because this means that he is taking over driving Lamar’s horse and buggy for the day. Ed is celebrating with music, when we meet his talking rat, Sheldon, and his biting fish, Moby. Ed gets excited when his attractive neighbor, Miss Malone, says hi to him. He also is friends with Miss Malone’s little brother, a young, destructive boy named Wendall, who introduces him to a walkman and some loud music. Unfortunately, when he goes to do Cousin Lamar’s job, Ed has trouble getting the horse to move.

The Amazing Gustav Brothers interupt the action right before the horse looks sure to get it when a piano is about to fall on him. The brothers, Emile and Roger, teach about gravity. Emile jumps out of a plane with no parachute to show how gravity works, before returning to the cartoon with Ed. Ed manages to get the horse, Leonard, to move, but loses his cousin’s job for him, in the process. The show is interrupted again with a live action portion. In it, Count Floyd (Joe Flaherty) tells kids scary stories. This story is about an archeologist, Dr. Smite, who was investigating inside a pyramid, when he discovers a headless mummy. The kids seem unimpressed. The animated show returns with Leonard the horse entering a horse race to impress a female horse he has a crush on. In the end, Ed saves the day, though we won’t tell you how.

The Flintstone Kids

The Flintstone Kids was our favorite of all the shows in this set. We have fond memories of watching this show when we were kids. The segments are all from different episodes of the show. The first is a full length episode of the show, while the other are segments that became a central part of the show. These segments are, Captain Caveman and Son, Dino’s Dilemmas, and Flintstone Funnies.

In this quirky, Flintstones spin off, Fred, Barney, Betty, Wilma and the rest of the gang are young kids. They have the same kind of wacky adventures the adult Flinstone cast has, only they are much shorter and have to answer to their parents!! The regular characters are joined by their friend, Philo Quartz, the mean bully, Rocky Ratrock, and a spoiled, filthy rich girl who thinks Freddy is cute, Dreamchip Gemstone.

Episode: “The Bad News Brontos”
Original Air Date: October 4, 1986

Fred is the pitcher of the kids’ losing baseball team, the Bedrock Brontos. When Edna, Fred’s mom, takes on the job of coach, they start to improve and start winning. With the Brontos set to be the town champs, Rocky, who is on the Bedrottens team, bullies Fred into betting on the game. The prize is a seat next to Wilma at the baseball banquet afterwards. Rocky uses Dreamchip Gemstone to keep Fred up late the night before the game. With Wilma mad because Freddie can’t stay awake, things turn from bad to worse when she finds out about the bet!

Captain Caveman and Son
Episode: “Invasion of the Mommy Snatchers”
Original Air Date: September 27, 1986

The Flintstone kids are watching their favorite TV show, Captain Caveman and Son. In Bedrock, on the show, mothers are being kidnapped. Their only hope is Captain Caveman and his son, Cavey Jr. Unga-Bunga!! Kids are crying, running around causing trouble, and upset because their moms are gone. Captain Caveman and son try to search for the women. A man has a clue and after getting it, Cavey Jr. has Captain Caveman dress up as a mom to get abducted. When Riff and Raff the two headed alien arrive in their UFO to get him, they realize these child aliens aren’t willing to do what they are told and release the moms.

Dino’s Dilemmas
Episode: “Dreamchip’s Cur Wash”
Original Air Date: September 27, 1986

Freddy and Dino visit Dreamchip at Gemstone Manor. There, she asks Freddy to convince Dino to test out her new dogasaurus washing machine. She doesn’t want to ruin her expensive pet, Fluffy’s fur. Dino is forced into it by Fred, but it is humiliating, as is Dreamchip constantly calling him a mutt. Dino has a plan to get even and Freddy apologizes for letting Dino be humiliated in the first place.

Flintstone Funnies
Episode: “Princess Wilma”
Original Air Date: December 16, 1986

A sick Wilma is stuck in bed. Her dad won’t let her meet Betty at the Bedrock Mall. Sad about missing her mall trip, Wilma imagines being a real princess and doing whatever she wants. Princess Wilma has a magic mirror. She wishes for a true fairytale. When Sir Rocky of Ratrock shows up, her father, King Slaghoople, makes a decree. Whoever beats Sir Rocky wins Wilma’s hand in marriage. Enter Sir Freddy of Flintstone, who sets out to win the hand of the fair princess.

Mister T
Episode: “Mystery of the Golden Medallion”
Original Air Date: September 17, 1983

In a more successful live-action inspired, Ruby-Spears production, Mr. T, an 80s hero, fights the bad guys. AND…he’s not nearly as annoying as Chuck Norris while doing it. After a brief live action intro (in which Mr. T says, “I Pity the Fool!”), Mr. T joins his team, a group of young gymnasts in San Francisco, in cartoon form. The team solves mysteries and kicks butt while doing it, but you probably already figured that out.

The team gets a new gymnast, Woody, and they are none too pleased While Woody is performing, someone swipes all the gold medallions and Woody is unable to get his first place medal. Spike, gymnast Robin’s little brother and the boy who has hero worship for Mr. T, stumbles upon the thieves and he is kidnapped by them. The team must set out to find him, but nobody wants to work with Woody to find Spike. With Woody helping Mr. T and his mohawked dog, Dozer, the team soon realizes just how much they underestimated Woody.

Disc 2

The Biskitts
Episodes: “As the Worm Turns/Trouble in the Tunnel”
Original Air Date: September 17, 1983

Imagine The Smurfs living in a castle instead of mushroom houses, and as little dogs instead of tiny blue creatures. These dogs even sound like Smurfs. We think some of the same actors that voiced The Smurfs voiced The Biskitts. The pups live in a castle on an island in the swamp. They are protecting royal treasure. Of course, they have a Gargamel-esque character, King Max, who wants nothing more than to take the treasure. His entire quest revolves around finding the island castle and, in turn, the treasure.

In “As the Worm Turns”, Sweets gets a pet caterpillar, Fuzzy. Fuzzy is hungry and eats up their entire garden. In the meantime, King Max has the hounds out to find Biskitt Island. With King Max looming near the castle, the Biskitts have as much trouble hiding their castle as they do with Fuzzy, who the other Biskitts say must leave due to his destructive eating.

In “Trouble in the Tunnel”, The Biskitts are flying bone kites. It is a beautiful day, and Shiner convinces Scat to polish the treasure, by saying it is a big honor. Inside the castle, Scat heads off to polish. Outside, the ground begins to shake and quake. Something is going on beneath the island, and they soon realize it is a mole. When King Max discovers the mole has some of the Biskitt’s treasure, he realizes he can use it to his advantage to find the island. Scat, who has followed the mole, learns of the plot, so it is up to the young Biskitt to warn the others.

Monchhichis
Episode: “Tickle Pickle”
Original Air Date: September 10, 1983

Dom had a Monchhichi when he was 2. His little monkey sucked his thumb. This show is definitely for the younger crowd. These monkeys are simply adorable. The cute little Monchichis live in the trees. They have to live high up to avoid the Grumplins. The Grumplins are evil looking monkeys who wish to ruin the lives of the Monchhichis.

Go to Page 2 of the Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1 DVD Review.

Couric, who lost her husband in 1998 to colon cancer, knows first hand how difficult it is to talk to children about death and grieving after the loss of a parent. Her children were under 10 when her husband passed away. Now, she has the chance to help other families tackle the difficult task of explaining grief, loss, and death to children when she helps a variety of Sesame Street characters host the PBS special, When Families Grieve.

In the special, Elmo and his cousin, Jessie, must deal with the death of her father, Elmo’s Uncle Jack. The Sesame Street characters provide helpful strategies that allow children to grieve, yet keep their parents in mind, even after they’ve passed away. We’ve posted some clips of the special, so you know what to expect when it airs on PBS.

When Families Grieve is set to air on PBS at 8 PM EST on April 14, 2010. You should check your local listings to verify the time in your area.

To find out more about this special, visit the Sesame Workshop Grief page.

Technorati Tags: Sesame Street, Grief, Elmo, Muppets, Katie Couric, Death of Parent, Loss, Children, Cope, PBS

Famous Figures of Ancient Times: Movable Paper Figures: Nothing inspires children more than making their learning time fun. A great way to introduce historical figures to kids between the ages of 6 and 12 is with movable paper figures. Kids slightly older and younger will still want to play with these figures and cutting them out and putting them together is a great project for younger and older children to do together. The book also contains a selection of facts about all 20 of these amazing figures from history.

In our house, favorite figures included Hannibal (who comes with his elephant), Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, though these are just a few of the figures your child will be able to play with and learn about. The book retails for $19.95. You can find out more about the Famous Figures Book at http://www.figuresinmotion.com, and don’t forget to check out our full length review.

Holiday Recommendation Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing: This is the 2010 Annual release of fun, weird, wacky, and hard to believe facts and stories by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! We have a child in our house who loves to read about the unbelievable. If you have any relative (of any age) that likes to read about weird, unbelievable, and amazing feats, stories, and events then this book is bound to make the perfect holiday gift. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing features 256 pages full of out of this world storytelling.

What’s more is that this is the first edition by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! that offers links to the Ripley’s website. These links take the reader to a selection of videos that feature accompanying stories about some of the amazing people and stories brought to the public by Ripley’s. The entire family is able to enjoy this great book, and it makes a great, semi-educational addition this holiday season. For more on Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Seeing is Believing, check out our full length review on this book.

Holiday Recommendation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Heritage Book: As your children age and grow, it is the personal gifts they are going to cherish the most. While all the hip fad toys will fade away, it is those personal presents that have meaning that they’ll hold onto. This holiday, consider buying your child My Heritage Book for this very reason. The book is individually designed for your child’s unique heritage. It discusses a specific culture based on the parents’ individual family history, which is also the child’s family history.

There are many nationalities you can choose to include in the book. There is even something offered for Native Americans and Native Hawaiians. You can add up to four different heritage types for the book and it is even personalized with your child’s name and a greeting from whoever orders the book for the child. My Heritage book can be purchased for more than one child or it can be personalized further for one child with middle name and birth date included. Our heritage book features French, German, Native American and Polish. The book contains excellent information and will make an amazing holiday gift for any child. For more information, check out our full length review of My Heritage Book.

Holiday Recommendation Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

When Santa Turned Green: Being parents, we’ve tried to be conscious of the issues affecting the world around us and have tried to instill this in our children. One of those issues pertains to the environment. We live in this world, so we need to take care of it. While our oldest is more conscientious of this, our five year old nephew, Lil B, is just beginning to learn about the environment. To help him, we gave him When Santa Turned Green.

This book takes two concepts young children are bound to get excited about; Santa Claus and helping the environment. The story points out that everyone, including Santa, has to worry about the environment and the effects our actions have when we decide not to go green. This book is absolutely adorable with colorful illustrations and a great story to go along with it. For those looking to teach their children about going green, this is a must buy book this holiday season. For more on When Santa Turned Green, check out our full length review.

Name Your Tune personalized CD: What’s better than a selection of songs that features your child? Younger kids get very excited when they are included in songs and other creative projects, so the Name Your Tune personalized CD is bound to be a hit in your house. We had one made for our nephew, Lil B, and he won’t stop listening to it! This is an innovative gift your child is going to be surprised to get as a holiday present.

The songs included on the Name Your Tune personalized CD go from standard classics like “Old MacDonald” (your child is the farmer) and “Wheels on the Bus” to newly created songs like “Boom Boom, Ain’t It Great To Be YOU!” and “Hello, How are You?” No matter what song is sung, these personalized songs will delight your child and provide them with a unique gift this year. To learn more about the Name Your Tune personalized CD visit their website and read our review.

Alex Beard Popup Puzzles: Alex Beard is an exceptionally talented artist. Before we reviewed the puzzles he designed, we’d never heard of Alex Beard. The pop up puzzles were something the teen and the 5 year old did together. While Lil B wanted to see the popup puzzle, the teen had to put it together for him. This is recommended for ages 10 and up most likely for this reason. If you have an older child and younger child, we recommend they play with the popup puzzles together because the younger kids are definitely going to be fascinated by them. We wouldn’t recommend a young child under the age of 5 put this together, though.

The Alex Beard popup puzzles have a jungle theme. We were sent the giraffe and the elephant. These popup puzzles are extremely affordable, look excellent and are very well constructed. We highly recommend the Alex Beard popup puzzles as a gift for your children this holiday season. For more information on Alex Beard visit his website and check out our full review on these puzzle sets.

Crayola Crayon Town – My House: Crayola has always been a trusted name in our house, so we were thrilled to receive the Crayola Crayon Town – My House set. This is a set your child can not only color and design, but he or she can then construct their very own Crayon Town, 3D My House environment. The playset is more than just a coloring activity though. It comes with the playmat, vehicles, accessories, and figures. Old crayons can even be used to help construct trees.

Lil B is very artistic. There was no doubt he’d be the recipient of the toy. He played with it with his best friend, Lil E. The boys loved coloring the playset and then once it was colored, they spent hours playing in the town they created. If your kids like Crayola and are between the ages of 4-6 (the boys are both 5) then this is a perfect holiday present. For more on the Crayola Crayon Town – My House Playset, read our review.

Uberstix Pirate Ship: We’ve had a budding pirate in the family for the past few years. Lil B loves anything pirate related. So, when we had the chance to review the Uberstix Pirate Ship, we jumped at it. The awesome thing about the Uberstix Pirate Ship is that it is made completely of recycled materials. Your child will use the recycled materials to build a real, floating pirate ship. This is a great way to get the kids into going green.

We can’t tell you how neat this pirate ship is. It looks so intricately designed and yet you are using things like plastic cups and paper clips for the design of the ship. This toy is economical, fun and will last a long time, so your child will enjoy playing with their pirate ship more than just the one time after they put it together. This is a building project parents can enjoy with their children and is one of our top toy picks/holiday must haves this season. For more on the Uberstix Pirate Ship check out our review.

Would You Cahootie: We designed the paper version of the toy Cahootie is making, back in elementary school. A group of us would predict our futures. Who would we marry? Would we be rich? What kind of job would we have? It was all so dazzling back in those days. Now, a new generation of kids can experience the wonder of the paper game in many different ways thanks to the various products by Cahootie. While the teen thought it was kind of lame, though he got into it when nobody was looking, the five year old was certain the Would You Cahootie was magic.

The Would You Cahootie asks ‘would you rather’ type questions and kids get to decide between the answers. While this isn’t going to be something the older kids will want to get into and adults will think they are pointless, except for nostalgic purpose, the younger crowd really seems to like the Would You Cahootie. For more on all the products available by Cahootie, visit the Would You Cahootie website.

Eye Can Art (Sumi-e): Children who are interested in art projects will love the art kits by Eye Can Art. We can only speak for the Sumi-e, because that is the kit that we received for Lil B. B is a very creative child, so he was ready to get painting right away. This kit is great for younger children as it teaches them a easier, structured way of painting. The kit contains black watercolor paint, sponges, sumi-e paper, a bamboo brush, other items to help with the creative process and an instruction guide.

After going through the instructions with him more than once, Lil B went to town and had a ball painting with the Eye Can Art (Sumi-e) Kit. If you have a budding artist or a child who just likes to express themselves artistically, Eye Can has other kits, too. These kits aren’t just for the younger crowd. Older children will enjoy them, as well. For more on the various Eye Can Art kits, visit the Eye Can website, and don’t forget to check out our review.

Color Me Tables: What’s better than a table that’s functional? How about a table you can color on? Color me tables are a unique new idea for birthday parties, slumber parties, or any kid’s event. Your children can even color them on their own! The table is constructed of a very sturdy cardboard material that can be colored on with crayons and markers. We got the birthday theme for Lil B and he took it to his friend’s birthday party. All of the kids there had a blast coloring.

Color Me Tables also are available in Teatime and Underwater Aquarium themes. This is one of those toys that is creative, but remains functional long after the project portion of the playtime is over. Once the tables are designed, kids can sit at them and use them as they would any other kid’s sized table. The only difference is kids actually design the table and chairs themselves, which makes them even more excited about this playset. For more information on Color Me Tables, visit the Color Me website and check out our review.

Technorati Tags: Color Me Tables, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Seeing is Believing, Alex Beard, Crayola, Crayon Town, Uberstix, Pirate Ship, Would You Cahootie, Eye Can Art, Famous Figures of Ancient Times, Movable Paper Figures, Holiday Gift Guide, Learning Presents, My Heiritage Book