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  

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.

Legos – From wooden toys to those things we step on in the night…

Legos are another timeless toy that has delighted children and adults for generations. The ancestor of what we know today was born in Ole Kirk Christiansen’s wooden toy workshop in 1934.  The company was named Lego from the Danish leg godt – play well.  By the early 1950s, about half the toys produced were plastic (although it was felt they’d never replace wooden ones.)  Ole Kirk’s son improved the design of the interlocking feature in 1958, but it would be another 5 years until just the right material was found and the Lego as we know it today was born.  It was also in the 1950s that themed sets were first released.  Themes found today include Star Wars, Superheroes, City, and Creator. They aren’t just for kids – check out Legos and see what YOU can build!

Ever After High Hat-Tastic Cerise Hood Doll

Created by Mattel in 2013, Ever After High is a web series and dolls about high school students based on popular fairy tales.  Cerise Hood is the girl who has kept her parentage a secret - her mother is Little Red Riding Hood and her father is Mr. Badwolf.

Green Toys

 Green Toys are made entirely from recycled plastic milk jugs (HDPE #2 plastic), making it an environmentally responsible product. As sturdy and durable as toys come, it is designed to withstand active play. The packaging is also made from recycled materials, printed with soy inks, and contains no plastic films or twist ties.Use these toys to teach your child about recycling, helping the environment, saving energy, and reducing greenhouse gases. By showing that environmental responsibility can be fun, you can encourage your child to protect and respect nature.

K'nex Titanfall - Ogre Titan Building Set

As the battle in Angel City rages, the Ogre Titanfall is the heavy hitter that can inflict and withstand more damage that other models.  Build your own Ogre Titanfall with the special K'NEX set.

K'NEX Education - Intro To Simple Machines: Levers and Pulleys

K'NEX doesn't just make fun toys - they make educational ones as well, such as this Intro to Simple Machines: Levers and Pulleys set. Great for use at home or in a classroom, instructions are included to make 8 replicas of real working machines (one at a time).

Retro Toys – Do you remember these from your childhood?

Retro seems to be a new buzzword these days – retro clothes, retro shoes – so how about some retro toys?  There are a LOT of toys still around that delighted us (and our parents, and even our grandparents.)  We’ve already mentioned a few, such as Tinkertoys and Playmobil.  How many of the ones below do you remember?

Spirograph – I loved this toy.  I spent hours making all kinds of designs in all kinds of colors… on every piece of paper I could find, including those I shouldn’t have used.  Spirograph is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Simon – I still remember when Simon first came out.  As soon as I saw what it was, I said I have to have one of these!  (Yes, this was before computers and game consoles were everywhere.)  

Operation – I didn’t have one of these, but my friend did and I was so jealous.  The premise of Operation is so simple, yet so challenging.  The one piece I could almost never get out - the charley horse.  I’d lose every time on that one!

Rubik’s Cube – Released worldwide in 1980, the Rubik’s Cube exploded in popularity.  I had a love-hate relationship with the Rubik’s Cube.  I was completely determined to solve it but never could get more than 4 sides.  Finally got a hold of a hint book so I could ‘solve’ it myself! 

Trouble – Admit it – you sat there at some point just repeatedly popping the dice to get on your parents’ nerves.  But it was so much fun to do!  This board game is still around, both in classic and new editions.

Board games… I think that’s a topic for another day (like tomorrow.)

Fisher-Price Octonauts Gup Cleaning Station on Sale at Amazon!

The Octonauts from Fisher Price are based on an animated British series about undersea adventurers.  The characters use vehicles called GUPs in their exploration - this set is great to wash GUPs as part of bathtime fun!

From the Manufacturer

When missions get messy and leave a Gup in less than shipshape condition, the Octonauts can pull into the Gup cleaning station! Use the foam roller to clean up your Gup and then squeeze the pump to activate the station's Gup wash! Includes Tweak in a mini Gup-D water squirter and suction cups so you can secure your cleaning station to the tub wall!

K'nex Titanfall Angel City Campaign Building Set

The smash RPG Titanfall takes place in the battleground known as Angel City.  Build your own creations and fight epic battles with the Ultimate Angel City Campaign K'NEX set.

K'nex 52 Model Building Set with 600 pieces

K'NEX are now a childhood staple and this 52 Model set is a great way to start the fun.  It has over 600 pieces and is named such because it comes with 52 model ideas to build!

Family and Strategy Board Games

There is no better way to spend your time than playing family and strategy board games, they are sociable and can be great fun to play. Whether you choose to play with friends or family they are a great way to pass the time and can make great gifts at Christmas or for Birthdays.

Strategy board games are a particularly fun style of board game and really let you get involved in tactics and decision making. They also really help to develop the intelligence and interest of younger players so can be a great learning tool.

Lionel Trains Crayola G-Gauge Freight Set

The Lionel Corporation has been making electric trains since 1900 -  surprisingly the first one was meant as a store display, but customer interest sparked the company to begin manufacturing them for sale.  Since then Lionel Trains have sparked the imagination of untold numbers of children and adults, including this special Crayola set.

Nanoblock Hello Kitty and Mimmy in The Park

Nanoblocks are very small building blocks introduced in Japan in 2008.  Similar to Legos but on a much smaller scale, the products now include licensed sets, such as this Hello Kitty and Mimmy In the Park set.

2012 Santa and Sleigh Sheet (20 x Forever Stamp)

Nothing says Christmas like the image of Santa and his reindeer flying over the rooftops in his sleigh.  These beautiful US Postal Service Forever stamps are a colorful rendition of this image.