These are a few of my favorite shoes for girls, although I have to admit, it gets a lot harder to find nice shoes for them once they are out of the toddler years. I have some here for you, because I am just that awesome. I’ve got all price ranges, from some very cute shoes for under thirty, to quite pricey at over one hundred.
Mootsies Tootsies Kids – Peaches
Simonetta Kids – Isa Matelasse Ballerina
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And, my all time favorite:
Since when is how much you spend on a kid a barometer of how much you like them? With the economic climate as it is, there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting good value for your money. Christmas 2008 is all about getting the most bang for your buck, and these toys will definitely ease the financial burden on your already strained wallet.
Cranium Hullabaloo This is a fantastic game for kids four and over that will not only get them moving, it will help them learn, too! Cranium makes some great games, and this one is no exception. How often can you find a game that is as goofy as it is educational?
Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube I’ve featured this toy before, and it still ranks as one of the best for the infant/toddler set. Babies are completely fascinated by the lights that are sychronized to various pieces composed by Mozart. My son would play with this for a very long time, and when you’ve got a young one, it is a rare toy that holds their attention so well.
Vtech – Tote ‘N Go Laptop Plus This portable laptop, just like the ones that “big people” use, features 30 learning activities such as math, language, games, and music to keep your preschooler entertained and challenged.
Barbie iDesign Ultimate Sylist Allows your budding fashionista to create unique fashion looks, design her own runway show, watch a tape of the show on the big screen, create magazine covers and play games! Tres fun for the younger set.
LeapFrog Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo Little ones learn about animals and their sounds and the letters A to Z with each spin of the wheel! Music, lights and swirling patterns encourage exploration. Babies develop motor skills by batting the wheel again and again.
Scientific Explorer’s Spa Science Chemistry Kit Chemistry takes on a whole new meaning when you use the Spa Science Kit at home to make your own fragrances. Blend natural and organic ingredients to make your own fresh products, including bath and aromatherapy oils, oatmeal soap, facial masks and more.
Knex Value Tub 400 pieces This cool kit includes 400 colorful building pieces, as well as a spring motor that powers whatever they can make, including trucks, motorcycles, and aircraft. Comes with an instruction book for inspiration, and after that, they can let their imaginations soar!
Melissa and Doug 100 Piece Wood Blocks Set If you’ve got to get a gift for a young one, this is one of the best things you could ever buy them. Blocks are one of the fundamental learning toys, and Melissa and Doug make quality eco-friendly and safe products.
LEGO Batman Scuba Jet: Attack of the Penguin Not many of these popular sets feature the Penguin, so snap this up while you can! Lots of special, fun details make this one cool toy.
Wild Planet Hyper Jump From the makers of the super-popular Wild Planet Hyper Dash, this new game will definitely get them to sleep well at night! The center pod calls out commands, and kids use their bodies to tag targets by hopping and jumping. It will give you a workout, too!
As a young girl in the seventies, I rapidly devoured the entire Nancy Drew series with gusto. I loved that Nancy had such freedom to tool around town in her little convertible, and was jealous that her dad never seemed to make her report her every move like my parents did.
However, I always wished that she and Ned would just get it on or something, already. Even to my young mind, they were a bit overly chaste. And this coming from a Catholic schoolgirl. Or maybe that explains it.
Anyhoo, you can relive the past with these uber fantastic Nancy Drew notecards from Fred Flare, which feature some of the iconic book covers. And they’re only fifteen bucks!
*Due to popular demand, here is a list of the latest and greatest toys for girls this holiday season!
The list below contains toys and gifts for all age ranges and budgets. With my handy lists, just imagine, gift-buying can be almost as fun as gift giving!
Looking for more hot Christmas toys? Go here!
Looking for some hot Christmas toys for boys? Go here!
Nintendo DS Lite Coral Pink This is one of the holiday’s most wanted toys! Smaller and lighter than the original DS, this revolutionizes game play with with ultra-bright dual screens, adjustable backlighting, stereo sound, and touch-screen technology. Connect wirelessly to Nintendo’s WiFi Connection and play against someone on the other side of the room or the other side of the world!
Hannah Montana Malibu Beach House Taking a cue from the Barbie classic, Hannah Montana now has her own beach house. It’s the exact replica of the house on the show, and features many iconic furniture pieces, such as the swing she writes her music on. Comes with over 75 accessories and even stickers to decorate!
Barbie iDesign Ultimate Sylist Allows your budding fashionista to create unique fashion looks, design her own runway show, watch a tape of the show on the big screen, create magazine covers and play games! Tres fun for the younger set.
Disney Clickables Fairy Charms This Fairy Charms starter set includes a jewelry box, 3 Clickables, and a charm necklace. Touch a Clickable charm to the jewelry box and pixie dust will sparkle and music will play as the charm unlocks clothing and accessories for her Fairy in PixieHollow.com.
Girl Crush Jewelry Maker The only limits are her imagination! Lets her design and make jewelry of all types! Forget the stuff that’s in stores, have her wear original pieces of art!
Barbie & The Diamond Castle Playset on sale! This enchanting castle has a magical light show with music, “hidden” jewelry throughout, and lots of rooms and furniture are provided for Barbie to play in. A Princess Liana doll and Sparkles puppy are also included.
Girl Tech Stylin Studio For older girls who have grown out of the Barbie phase, this studio features a digital camera that hooks up to their computer as well as a touchpad console which enables them to create their own digital makeovers and cool effects for hair, accessories, and makeup. Once they are done, results can be printed out or emailed to friends and family!
Baby Alive Learns to Potty Young girls are usually fascinated by babies, and they will love playing “Mommy” with this realistic doll. They can mix her special food and feed her with her own bowl and spoon. She’ll let you know when she needs to go potty, but you’d better hurry! Comes with many accessories for hours of imaginative fun. Also comes in African American and Hispanic versions.
Kidcraft Large Kitchen on sale! Rated as the best wooden kitchen set out there! Easier to assemble than most, this kitchen features a pink refrigerator and freezer, functional doors, microwave and oven with clear doors, a clock and phone, as well as endless hours of “cooking” enjoyment!
Back by popular demand, we here at Teeny Manolo are delighted to share the latest and greatest in video gaming with you!
Oh, for us old people, the totally confusing world of video games! Remember when the biggest thing out there was Pong?
I will only be referring to “game system” games today, not PC games, which are a whole other ball o’ wax. By game systems, I mean XBox, PlayStation, and Wii games. Not to mention that there are actually four different versions of the PlayStation platform, and now you know why I said it can get a little confusing. These games will also be tilted towards the young ones, so don’t be expecting Grand Theft Auto.
First of all, are you looking for the system itself?
Go here for the Wii.
Go here for the XBox 360.
Go here for the PlayStation 2.
Go here for the PlayStation 3.
Go here for the Nintendo DS.
Go here for the Nintendo DS Lite.
Now, on to the games!
Rock Band is one of the biggest games for this holiday season. It’s available for all gaming platforms. Hurry before it sells out! And even better, it’s on sale!
Guitar Hero World Tour Allows up to 8 players for rockin’ fun. Includes a mode to compose, edit, and share original music. A great game for parties, or for any time!
Mario Kart with Wii Wheel Mario and all his friends are up for a race! Fantastic graphics and tons of race courses amount to tons of fun for the entire family. Trust me when I say it’s adddicting!
Active Life Outdoor Challenge Get in on the action! Using a special mat, you and your kids can play over a dozen games with multiple levels such as river rafting, mine-cart challenge, and log jumping!
Super Smash Bros. Brawl All new, this game includes lots of characters from the Mario and Nintendo universes duking it out on more than a dozen different platforms. A must have for Wii fans.
Viva Piñata Create your own garden and more than 60 types of piñatas. Regardless of skill level, find challenge in keeping out sour piñatas, perfecting your garden, and keeping your new piñata friends happy.
NHL 09 Take your created player online and join a team with friends, or scout for players. Featuring 6 vs. 6 online team play, the ability to level up your player, tournament brackets, and awards at the end of every season.
FIFA Soccer 09 Play professional soccer your way in FIFA Soccer 09. It features new Custom Team Tactics that give you all the tools to become a first-team coach. Go inside the game engine to customize the positioning and support play of your teammates and decide exactly how your team will play in any situation.
LittleBigPlanet Imagine a world that’s yours to shape, build and explore. A community-based game in which players meet on a planet scattered with individual plots. It puts the power of absolute creation into your own hands. If you can see it, you can enhance it. If you can’t see it, you can invent it.
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows Rated “Teen” this game features an all-new combat system that allows for three-dimensional battles that can start on the street and end up on rooftops as Spider Man tries to save New York City.
MLB Power Pros 2008 MLB Power Pros delivers a unique flair to America’s favorite pastime with an original visual style, pick-up-and-play gameplay mechanics and deep gameplay modes.
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures Takes the fun and creative construction of LEGO and combines it with the wits, daring and non-stop action from the original cinematic adventures that enthralled audiences everywhere.
Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir Delve into the latest evolution of search-and-solve fun! The game showcases highly detailed interactive scenes in which players look for cleverly hidden items in order to solve the case, an experience made for the added ease and interaction of stylus controls.
Kirby Super Star Ultra Get ready for Kirby overload! With so many adventures waiting to be unlocked, there will never be a dull moment as Kirby runs, floats, copies enemies and uses Helpers to fight King Dedede and Meta Knight.
Disgaea Rated “Teen” Completely remade to take advantage of Nintendo DS, the game offers a deep strategy RPG experience with an exceptional story, a fantastic script, and a host of loveable characters and settings.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village Sets players loose in a Victorian dream world as you and your guide, Professor Layton, explore a quirky Victorian village where everything is a puzzle.
To me, the best kind of toy is one that is both fun and functional. Can you learn something while having a blast? Even if it is something extremely simple about physics, or about colors, it certainly makes parents feel better. Children learn more through play than we think they do. From toddlers to teens, I’ve rounded up some of the best educational toys for gift-giving.
Doorway Puppet Theater
Ideal for homes that don’t have the space for a full-sized theater. Well heck, I’m going to say that unless you have some sort of mansion, this is probably the way to go.
Deluxe Play Cube
Absolutely ideal for toddlers. I was lucky enough to inherit one of these cubes, and they are fantastic. They are durable, last forever, and kids are endlessly fascinated with them.
Classic Acoustic Guitar
Why spend twenty dollars on a guitar that is just going to break in a few months? Spend a few extra dollars for this award-winning guitar that features nylon strings, real turnable machine heads, and an accurate fingerboard. Also comes with a songbook and color-coded finger position markers for easy learning.
>Lockstitch Sewing Machine and Kit
Indulge your future Project Runway contestant with adjustable stitch lengths, 2 speeds, easy drop-in bobbin, foot pedal, and dual power options. Features a case with thread, trim, ribbons, and a booklet for project ideas.
Giant 6-Foot Motion Tower
I cannot wait for when my own son is big enough for this! Your budding engineer can build a tower up to six feet in height, complete with ball trampolines and baskets. Kit comes complete with tracks, funnel, motorized elevator, 6 balls, and instructional CD that teaches physics and engineering principles. Just like the ones in museums!
Super Art Table
Their inner Van Gogh is channeled through this chalkboard tabletop surface featuring 3 recessed cup holes, 3 cups, printed canvas storage bag, paper roll, and a child-safe paper cutter. The paper roll holder feeds paper from under the table to the tabletop.
Smart Globe Deluxe
Touch the wireless interactive pen any place on the SmartGlobe and learn thousands of amazing facts about the world. Compare populations, learn flying times between destinations, hear national anthems, understand currencies, and so much more. Includes USB connection for downloading up-to-date world news and new information.
Deluxe Circuit Kit
Children learn the basics by building electronic experiments such as alarms, flashlights, doorbells, and more ~ even launch a propeller with the dual-speed fan. We have one of these, and we love it, especially the propeller!
Piano Wizard
Award winning Piano Wizard’s four-step process to reading music makes learning to play the piano fun and easy. Includes 100 songs and lessons, and a 49-note digital keyboard that plugs right into your Mac or PC. Fun for the entire family.
Power House Energy Kit
Kit The award-winning Power House helps early teens discover the ways energy can be created from sun, wind, plants, and electro-chemical reactions; Kit comes with an incredible 96-page full-color lab manual that introduces key concepts and describes dozens of experiments and scientific activities.
Winter is coming, and we all know what that means.
Dry, flaky skin. The stresses of being exposed to dry heat inside the house and then outside in the cold are enough on their own to cause your skin to freak out. Add to that all the extra handwashing we tend to do during cold season, and you’ve got yourself the makings of a possible skin disaster.
It can creep up on you quickly, and before you know it, you’ve got red, irritated skin that’s starting to crack. Ouch!
What can help heal your hands lickety split?
The consensus seems to fall on L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Creme as being the best out there. It’s a tad pricey at around $25, but a little bit goes a very long way. It’s thick but not too thick and has a light, pleasant scent.
On the value side of things, the winner is Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. It can be had for around four dollars a tube, and each 2 ounce tube contains 200 applications! It’s fragrance-free and although it goes on a bit heavy, it absorbs quickly and does indeed deliver a high dose of hydration.
Care to share your favorite hand lotion?
Over the past few months, I have been to more kid birthday parties than I care to remember. But one thing that has struck me is the utter and complete waste of giving children bithday cards.
Seriously, they could give a crap about cards. Unless there is money or a gift certificate inside. But even then, the card is tossed and the contents kept.
So I began to ask myself, why even bother buying a card? That’s an extra buck or two per child that I don’t need to spend, and in this economy, the extra buck or two can be quite handy to have.
And since I have my own slave labor over here, what is to stop my son from becoming a cheap, one-man card making operation?
Not a thing, my friends. Not a thing.
Just think of the personalization! Think of the less waste! Think of the child’s pride in creating something so special for their friend!
There are no drawbacks here, people.
If we all just had our kids start making all of our birthday cards, we could change the world, I tell you!
A revolution, if you will, one card at a time.
