2008 Hess Toy Truck With Front Loader
Monday, December 22, 2008
I have to admit, I didn't realize that there was such a huge Hess toy truck tradition. Hess has been making toy trucks since 1964 and each year they keep getting better and better.Last week I received the 2008 Hess toy truck for review and cannot recommend it enough. When I took it out of the box I handed it to my seven-year-old daughter to try out. Her assessment: She loves it!
My youngest daughter, who has a firetruck she absolutely adores, came back to me after playing with the Hess truck for over an hour and declared it is much, much better than her firetruck. That is saying a lot since she cannot be parted with her beloved firetruck.
The Hess truck has 38 working lights, which incidentally are a huge hit with my daughter. It also has authentic ignition, horn and backup alerts that are amazing for a young child's vivid imagination. With the Hess truck comes a front loader with 18 working lights, a motor which moves it forward and backward, a movable bucket arm, and a working shovel.
You can purchase the Hess truck for $22.99 (a steal!) at participating Hess gas stations. Take a look at one of the 2008 Hess truck commercials.
And visit http://www.hesstoytruck.com to find participating locations near you where you can purchase the truck for the holidays. It also comes with four Energizer batteries included.
- Jennifer James, Editor
On the Net: www.hesstoytruck.com
Labels: boys, girls, holidays, toys
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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Last Minute Shopping Tips from PresentProfessor.com
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Okay, so you're looking at the calendar and realizing you have just 1 week till Christmas--and you still have shopping to do. Where do you turn? For kids, it's all about the toys. For you, it's "How do I not have to step foot into a crowded toy store replete with frustrated parents and empty shelves?" Thankfully, Amazon allows you to order up till Thursday, December 18 and still qualify for free shipping for orders over $25. Some great, current deals on toys:
- Barbie My House (more like Barbie "My Studio Apartment") $14.99.
- Melissa and Doug's 10-piece Band in a Box ($7.99)
- Chou Chou-Mommy Make Me Better Doll ($11.99)
- Eyeclops Bionicam --a seriously cool portable magnifier with LCD screen that zooms items to 400x their original size, complete with a flash drive for storing and sharing your finds ($19.99.
Don't forget Best Buy's store-pickup option, available till 3 p.m. on December 24. I love DVD boxed sets--they offer your recipient hours of content to pore through and are often a great value. The complete Godfather collection ($34.99; $54.99 for Blu-Ray) is an offer that you, perhaps, cannot refuse. And complete seasons of a wide variety of TV shows (Smurfs, The Shield, Friends--just make sure you give them to the right people!) go for just $19.99.
For the serious procrastinator, a trip to the grocery store may be in order. There, you can pick up tins of tea, bags of Starbucks coffee, pretty bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and real maple syrup (as opposed to the Mrs. Butterworth variety, which is as close to real maple syrup as it is made by a homely woman wearing an apron). For the kids, buy a magazine--then fill out the subscription form inside, giving them a year's worth of reads. And don't forget a hunk of chocolate for yourself--you've earned it, shopper!
For more tips visit PresentProfessor.com
Labels: boys, girls, holidays, kids, toys
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 9:47 AM,
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Strategies for Buying Lead-Free Toys This Holiday Season
Sunday, November 30, 2008
As parents, we are all more aware about toxic toys especially as concerns about foreign-manufactured toys reached a peak last summer.ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, shares four safety strategies to make sure your holiday gifts are free of lead and other dangers:
1. Know what toys to avoid. Steer clear of no-name toys and, regardless of your child's age, don't buy toys with small magnets, even if the magnets seem safely contained within the toy. Don't buy metal jewelry, especially the cheap stuff, for young children or allow them to play with key chains or items with metal charms. If you have an infant or toddler who still puts almost everything in her mouth, don't buy squeezable soft plastic toys or books. Unless it says "no phthalates" on the package, there's no way of knowing if they contain the chemical or not.
2. Buy according to a kid's age. Look for manufacturer's recommended age ranges on toy packaging. Age grading is more than a friendly hint. It can alert you to a possible choking hazard, the presence of small parts, and other dangers. And think twice before buying a toy with small parts for a child older than 3 who has a younger sibling. Keep all small round or oval objects, including coins, balls, and marbles, away from kids under 3.
3. Check for recalls. Before shopping, go to www.cpsc.gov, a government Web site, to see whether the toys you plan to buy (and the toys already in your home) have been recalled. Also, sign up for free e-mail notices of recalls at www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. And if a product you buy comes with a registration card, fill it out and send it in so you will be notified directly by the manufacturer if the item is recalled. It's up to retailers to take recalled toys off store shelves but, once a recalled toy is in your home, it's up to you to keep it away from your family or return it ASAP.
4. Watch where you shop. Be leery of drugstores, airports, and dollar stores. They've been known to carry flimsy plastic toys with dangerous sharp edges or small parts that can break off easily. Thrift stores, consignment shops, yard and garage sales, and eBay often have toys in excellent condition, but check to see that they're well made and have no small magnets or parts. Wash the toys before giving them.
On the Net: www.shopsmartmag.org
Labels: boys, girls, safety, toys
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 5:50 PM,
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THE Perfect Stocking Stuffer for Kids
Monday, October 27, 2008
We cannot be more enthusiastic about Wett Giggles soap and fingernail brushes. First, all of the characters, nine in all, are absolutely cute and adorable from Beatrice (left) to Cato (below). And all of the Wett Giggles' nail brushes (which are encased in the glycerin soap) are named after a Shakespearean character because the creator of Wett Giggles, Karen St. Clair, loved to read Shakespeare when she was in school. Nice touch.Each Wett Giggles organic glycerin soap is fruit-scented, made with shear butter and essential oils and is lovingly hand-made one at a time and comes with its very own soap holder so as not to ruin its shape too quickly or leave colorful soap suds all over your sink.
Your kids and all the ones you know will love finding one of the Wett Giggles at the bottom of their stocking this holiday season. Wett Giggles make bathtime fun and they also help children learn the importance of maintaining clean hands and fingernails.
Each soap with the nail brush is $10. Save 15% with any order over $20.
On the Net: www.wettgiggles.com
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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Stop the Presses!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Nintendo Wii In-Stock and available at ToysRUs.com
That is all.
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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$2 Off Global Wonders
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Parents everywhere are talking about the new entertainment and educational children's DVD series Global Wonders (TM). Be among the first to own the series debuting at Target and Toys "R" Us on October 21! Click here to download a coupon for $2 off your purchase of any Global Wonders DVD.Don't forget to register on www.globalwonders.com to receive updates and promotional offers on a future library of titles covering cultures from around the world. Please share the news with your friends by forwarding this email.
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 1:41 AM,
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It's PLAYSKOOL's 8O Year Anniversary
Monday, September 29, 2008
It's hard to believe PLAYSKOOL is 80 years old, but it's true. This year PLAYSKOOL has developed great new toys to celebrate their momentous occasion like their Playskool Mr. Potato Head Celebration Spud
.The PLAYSKOOL Celebration Spud comes with 80 special parts and pieces including a festive party hat, birthday cake and fire extinguisher to put out all those candles this potato is ready to party.
(PLAYSKOOL/Ages 2 years and up/Approximate Retail Price: $24.99)
BUY Playskool Mr. Potato Head Celebration Spud
Labels: boys, entertainment, girls, kids, toys
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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Introducing Maru: New Doll With Ethnic Appeal
Monday, September 22, 2008
It's great that doll makers are now taking into consideration the ethnic diversity of the nation's children when making toys. Maru, a Hispanic doll, is based on the story of an 8-year-old girl who is new to the country and her friends, Tanya and Jaime, who help her adjust. Maritza Gutierrez, who has been in the marketing business in Miami for the last 25 years, wanted to create a doll that reflects the lives of young girls like Maru."In writing this book and creating these dolls, I want to bring to life a Latin girl's journey to the United States," said Maru and Friends(TM) creator Maritza Gutierrez. "I hope to help create a better sense of understanding and unity among young girls."
Chronicling Maru's journey to America and her life here is a storybook that comes with the doll. Maru and Friends(TM) dolls are already available for purchase at http://www.maruandfriends.com/ . Each doll comes complete with outfit and storybook and is made from the finest materials. These dolls are recommended for girls 3 years and up.
Source: Maru (TM)
Labels: entertainment, girls, toys
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 7:03 AM,
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