Toys bring out memories

Nothing brings back the childhood memories more than toys from our past. While putting together my holiday shopping list a toy that comes to mind when I think back on the holiday get together's with my family are my Lincoln logs. 

I used to sit for hours just my brothers and I with those logs building cabins of our dreams. Not only did we create a castle for my Barbie Princess but I helped them construct a fortress for their G.I Joe's and Army men figurines. Lincoln logs weren't just for one or the other girl/boy, but for everyone to play together. That was my favorite part. It wasn't a gender specific toy so it didn't matter who was playing everyone had a good time together. Lincoln logs are such a classic toy that is still continuing to make children all across the world smile. 
   
Toys are something every culture can understand, and toys like Lincoln logs, Lego's, and Slinky's will bring joy to every heart. I'm sure this Black Friday, Lincoln Logs will be a major hit among all the top toy deals! They have all kinds of different style sets now that I didn't have back when I was a child. With all the "new" toys on the market these days Lincoln logs just seem to be one of those toys that has always and will always do well with the children. Again, one of my favorites!

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Forever Stamps Difficult to find at Post offices, available at Amazon

The Postal Service release of All New Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer stamps to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Christmas special has been a huge hit. One Amazon seller has reported sales of over 20,000 stamps! If you buy a book of the Rudolph stamps at Amazon today, Social Commerce will donate 5% of net profits to UNICEF  

Train Sets by Lionel

 Nothing says the holidays to me more than a train set. I spent hours under the Christmas tree with my grandfather and his collection. Every year they added new accessories, like houses and people, and my siblings and I would exercise our creativity as we made up all sorts of adventures. The little passengers took epic journeys, even though they were really just traveling an endless loop.

The only thing more exciting than the track coming out for the holidays was the time we got to visit the neighbor that had a permanent installation in his basement. His train didn’t just go in a simple loop; it went around hills and bends and over bridges. This guy had sections that were town and sections that were grass and tress. It was such a treat for our imaginations.

We learned at a young age that these weren’t for kids to play with alone, that they were breakable and if we did something wrong the line could stop running! We were never allowed to operate them without an adult watching us, and so we grew up knowing that these were a cross-generational family item. This thought is reiterated today just as strongly as it was back then, when even one of the main characters on the hit TV series The Big Bang Theory, loves them. Sheldon Cooper collects them, and even has his own conductor hat! Train sets will continue to be a  classic and awe-inspiring gift.

VTech Toys

Ever notice the look on your baby’s face when they learn something new through their own discovery? These self-accomplished moments are a parent’s greatest reward. To help fulfill them, VTech created the Infant Learning series of toys. These unique interactive learning toys directly respond to what children do naturally – play! Using innovative technology, these toys react to baby’s interactions, making each play experience fun and unique as they learn age-appropriate concepts like first words, numbers, shapes, colors and music. More importantly, VTech’s Infant Learning toys develop baby’s mental and physical abilities by inspiring, engaging and teaching.

VTech is an award winning electronic learning toys company offering the best learning toys on the market today.

Classic Learning Resources Toys

Growing up, one of my favorite toys was my play cash register. I spent hours “selling” everything in the house to my parents and brothers, from food out of the market set set to my brother’s own plastic farm animals. It is exciting to see that sets like these that meant so much to me over 20 years ago are still popular today. Clearly the learning skills that are involved in these items are universal. The cash register helps children to not only learn how to count and sort money, but it also helps kids to understand that money is a limited resource, and once they have spent all of their “play” money they lose their purchasing power unless they can earn more! Early economics!

Of course, technology has advanced and the toys today have more features, such as voice recordings, other sounds, and interactive lights. They are also made bigger, so the money is the same size as real cash and coins. Many shoppers use coupons and credit cards today, and these devices accommodate both (something my decades old one did not). Don’t even get me started on how awesome the built-in scanner and scales are! These kids will be ready for their first retail job at the age of 4!

In addition to engaging the imagination and group play, these modern play cash registers also have built-in games, so children can be entertained for hours on end. Watch for many of these play cash registers to be featured Black Friday Toy Deals this year!

Batman Forever: Sheet of 20 USPS Forever Stamps now available at Amazon: Real US Postage in 8 Designs

Can you believe Batman is 75 years old?  First introduced in 1939, this sheet of US Postal Service Forever stamps pays homage to the iconic superhero and includes 4 bonus stickers with different incarnations of the Bat Signal.

For 75 years, Batman has protected Gotham City from the forces of evil. Since his debut, he has become one of the most iconic super heroes in history. This year, the U.S. Postal Service® chronicles the evolution of the character, from his origins to present day. This new issuance showcases eight unique designs in a sheet of 20 stamps. Four versions of the iconic DC Comics super hero are depicted from four eras of comic book history. In addition, there are four incarnations of the Bat-Signal. The first row of stamps features Batman with his fists clenched. This muscular, determined Caped Crusader has spent the Modern Age of Comics defending Gotham City from its most notorious villains. The second row of stamps displays Batman dramatically staring up at the Bat-Signal.

By the Bronze Age of Comics, artists had encased the super hero's spare black bat emblem with a yellow oval. The insignia became the crime fighter's trademark. The third rowof stamps shows Batman swooping into the frame with his cape flying behind him. The image, from the Silver Age of Comics, accentuates the super hero's signature glowing white eyes and utility belt. The bottom row of stamps highlights Batman as first envisioned by creator Bob Kane during the Golden Age of Comics.

 The super hero's black cape and cowl and gray suit formed his iconic visual identity. A column on the left side of the sheet includes four different circular stamps. Each is affixed with a different Bat-Signal, the spotlight Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon sent into the night sky to summon Batman. The background illustration features a silhouette of Batman standing on a bridge with the skyline of Gotham City looming above him. The flip side of the sheet features two illustrations of Batman and text about the history of the character. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp sheet. Made in the USA.

The Snow Glow Elsa Doll

Parents of little girls everywhere are on the lookout for the best Black Friday toy deals that include Frozen merchandise! Frozen has taken the world by storm since its release before Thanksgiving last year, 2013. This holiday season Disney has released the Sing-Along version of the DVD as well as plenty of dolls to satisfy the needs of all parents of Elsa, Ana, and Olaf fans.

The most popular Frozen doll (as well as one of the most popular toys out there this year) is the Disney Frozen Snow Glow Elsa Doll. It is in so much demand that there have already been news reports of parents getting into fights over this item in stores. This interactive doll speaks movie phrases and sings the most favorite song, making it no wonder that she has claimed so much attention. Elsa has a magical snowflake necklace that, when touched, will illuminate and prompt her to speak one of 15 movie quotes. Lifting her arm will get her to sing “Let It Go”, the megahit song from the film, while her dress sparkles and her necklace lights up.

Elsa’s crown is included, as is her little snowman friend, Olaf. Elsa can speak and sing in English or Spanish, and requires three AAA batteries that are not included. The doll is 15” tall. The dress is covered in screen printed snowflakes with glitter outer layer, and an inner satin layer printed with a teal snowflake pattern. The glitter may flake off, but the design will remain, as will toddlers love for the Frozen characters, quotes, and songs.