Whitmor Kids Storage Collection 6436-1523-DS 12 Bin Organizer Primary

storage
Good for storage, but overpriced. Also unit is unstable and could pull over easily, I mounted boards to bottom to stabilize it.
Would recommend
Decent quality, does not tip over, easy to assemble, bins are a good size for small toys and books, balls, and puzzles.
Good storage
I picked up one of these on sale at Target. Ours is neither pastel nor primary colours, something in between I think, with a white frame. I'd love to get another set, or even two, but they are terribly overpriced considering what you get and you have to put it together which can be dodgy. I think if I could find some somewhere for less that forty bucks I would buy again, otherwise it's just not worth it.
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Step2 Infant to Toddler Swing 1-Pack (Turquoise)

We are so happy with this swing. Our grandchildren fit comfortably and it is study and safe. GREAT product!
We love this swing! It is study and comfortable for our toddler grandchildren! GREAT product!
The swing was delivered quickly too! We had a bucket type baby swing but it was getting uncomfortable to fit the legs into the holes but this swing is EXCELLENT and I'm probably going to purchase a second one soon because of the kids all wanting to swing on this one!
Great swing. Easy install on a tree branch using eyebolts.
This swing is very well made and seems very sturdy. The rope and hardware looks like it will last a long time. Installation was very easy. I hung this swing up yesterday on our tree branch. I used two 12" eyebolts, a 15" drill bit, 4 nuts, 2 washers, drill gun, a ladder, two carabiners (260lb rated) and two 8" pieces of 1/2" rope (280lb rated). I got all the needed items from my local home store. Used a yosemite bowline knot on the top and a few slip knots piggy-backed to a 2nd failsafe knot where the seats rope connects to my rope. After about an hour I had the swing done. We put our 8 month old in it. He was ecstatic. Was laughing, all bugged-eyed. Probably thought this was the coolest thing in the world.

Overall, great swing for our little guy.
Swing
My grandson loves, loves this swing. They have it tied to a tree and he begs to go swing! This swing sits your baby upright unlike others.
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LEGO Education Community Minifigures Set 779348 (256 Pieces)

Excellent set of people an accessories
My son loved setting up these people and their accessories. There are no "instructions" (unlike the typical themed sets) and so he was left to his imagination (and the box cover) for how to assemble them. He also used some of the people in a diorama for a school project.

In general, good wide assortment of people and accessories for general purpose lego sets, and a good value for the price.
Great value
Lego minifigures without buying an entire building set are so difficult to find. I searched the net and Ebay incessantly and refused to pay $9.00 a figure so was very pleased to find this on Amazon at a great price. This set contains a great mix of male/female figures and the accessories are great!
Good addition to existing Lego
I used this set to fill plastic eggs for our grandchildren for an Easter Egg Hunt. I put the pieces together before putting them in the individual eggs. The children were all delighted, and have apparently already spent a lot of time sorting them, and having fun with them. I think that they go very well with the other Lego that they have or different kinds, and also enable the younger child to join in more with her older siblings..
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KidKraft Two Step Stool - Natural

Gives your kid a safe step up!
We have high sinks, faucets that don't extend very far out, and a child who is only barely at 50th percentile for height (just turned 2 at time of purchase). As we looked to encourage her to wash her hands (initially, just for general cleaniless, but later more frequently with potty training), I had a hard time finding a stool that was high enough her her to step up onto easily AND that would get her high enough to actually wash her hands. This stool is the solution!!

We first saw the floor model in a store but they had none in stock. We later bought online but for about $22-25. We have two - one in the kitchen, and one in a bathroom. The stool is heavy (read: sturdy, not going anywhere while your kid is going up/down), but was easy to assemble (arrives packaged flat). The stool is *not* a spacesaver, but given the drawbacks that other stools posed and the intended user, that was not our primary focus. We looked at more complex, expensive models (tower-like) that are...
Nice - but where's the skids?
This is a very nice looking and sturdy stool. It was also very easy to put together. I gave it 4 stars because I'm using it on a wood floor and it slips unless I super glue rubber band strips to the bottom.
Dangerous
The step stool doesn't line up flush against the cabinet. As my toddler leans forward over the sink the step stool moves right out from underneath him. I can't imagine why they would design a step stool this way. I would not recommend it for use on wood or linoleum floors without some other protection against sliding. At this price, you can do much better.
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Step2 Easel For Two with Bonus Magnetic Letters/Numbers

Great value!
I ordered this easel for my 2 year old son after reading many excellent reviews. He loves the magnetic side so we are using it to learn small words. The easel includes some magnetic letters and numbers, which I was pleasantly surprised to see. Although they are fairly small, which could pose as a choking hazard. Overall, he really enjoys his new easel and I was satisfied with my purchase.
Perfect gift for brother and sister
I bought this easel for our 6 year old grandson's birthday. I figured he would like it, and I hoped it would be something his 3 year old sister could enjoy also. It was a big hit. They both could draw to their hearts content at the same time without interfering with each other. Another plus is the clip at the top of each board. We discovered that was wonderful for paper drawings and those large coloring sheets. We added washable dry erase markers and sidewalk chalk to give them many options.
Wonderful Easel
My toddlers LOVE this! It is loads of fun and very durable/washable. Buying large construction paper is easier than the rolls of paper btw.
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LEGO Architecture Fallingwater (21005)

Less of a toy, more of a Lego showpiece
First things first, this isn't really a "traditional" Lego set: while all the pieces are things you'd recognize from 25 years ago, the set is clearly aimed at a much older audience. The box even states its recommended for 16+. I'm 30, a big fan of architecture and I've always enjoyed Legos (but hadn't bought a set in over a decade), so when I heard this set had been created I leaped at the chance to place it in my new home. I'm not disappointed.

When constructed, the structure isn't big: the base measures 10" x 5" and its 4.5" high, but its quite complex (more complex than the sets I remember as a kid) and feels substantial when completed. There are well over 800 pieces and approximately 100 pages of instructions. The instruction book also includes a few short essays on Frank Lloyd Wright and Fallingwater. The assembly instructions are well done and putting it together took several hours but no confusion.

You can't tell by looking at it, but the structure is...
Great fun for FLW Fans
With over 800 pieces, this Lego set is great fun to put together. This is the first of three Lego Architecture set I've gotten this year - and it was by far the most fun to put together - plus it looks great. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes Lego and Frank Lloyd Wright. The Guggenheim Lego set is also fun, but it took a fraction of the time to finish. As far as missing pieces go, that wasn't a problem. Plus you can get replacement pieces from Lego through their website.
Great toy for an older child or adult
This was a Father's Day gift for my husband. He loves architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright and Legos, so it was the perfect combination. He loved the set, and we had fun putting it together. However, I was surprised at how small the end structure is. The size is in the description, but it still is quite small when all assembled. It's hard to believe so many pieces can go into such a small building. Regardless, it's a nice set to have and we look forward to buying other sets from this collection of Legos.
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LEGO Super Heroes Tumbler Chase 76001

When You Have Read This Review, You Have My Permission to Buy.
I have been waiting a long time for The Dark Knight Rises Lego product or products and this one did not disappoint me. The cost is extremely reasonable and the amount you get for the forty dollars is a lot more and a lot better quality than I expected. The Tumbler may be smaller than the Tumbler set from 2008, but the car is extremely durable, easy to build, and easy to roll around. The Tumbler holds flick-fire missiles that pop up from behind the cockpit. They are covered by two flaps. The cockpit holds one minifigure.
The Bat is a lot better than it appeared to be on the box. The cockpit holds two minifigures just like in the movie and there are two separate arms that move independently in two places. The first place is where the arms connect to the cockpit; this joint twists around and moves side to side. The second place is right where the arm connects to the end piece with the small propellers; this joint can adjust up and down. Each joint is easily adjustable but it stays...
An Excellent Set
As a fan of the Nolan Batman trilogy, I ordered this set as soon as it was released. The Bat and the Tumbler are smaller in scale compared to the Dark Knight Tumbler, but I wouldn't penalize Lego for that (if the vehicles were to scale with the 2008 set, this set would probably cost $80-$100). Let me go over the pros and cons of this set:

Pros:
*The Bat is fairly accurate with guns, missiles, propellors, two seats, and tow cable
*The Tumbler has a speed booster and missiles
*Vehicles are to scale with each other (unlike the 2008 set where the Tumbler was huge and Joker's truck was small)
*Bane and Commissioner Gordon are movie accurate

Cons:
*Batman wore black, not gray in the movie
*Commissioner Gordon comes with an unrealistic two-barreled gun

Overall, the pros stand out and the cons are minor. I am very satisfied.
Batman Tumbler Rules
A great LEGO for any occasion. My 9 year old son is a fanatic and loves Star Wars and super hero inspired LEGOS.

Amazon was fast and efficient and cheaper than Target.
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LEGO Quinjet Aerial Battle 6869

Well-constructed LEGO version of the Quinjet
I'm a recent convert to the cult of Lego collecting. I grew up with the toys, but was brought back into the fold as an adult. And being a huge comic book fan growing up, this Marvel line has been something that I've really looked forward to.

This is the biggest set in the Marvel line so far, comparable in price to the DC Batcave. While it feels like you're getting a little more in the Batcave for the money, the Quinjet definitely doesn't disappoint.

MINIFIGS:

1. Iron Man - The torso of this figure is exclusive to this set, bearing the circle-shaped power source rather than the triangle-shaped one in the other Iron Man set. Either way, this is an awesome figure and easily the coolest in the set. I was worried his helmet would be too big after looking at the pictures, but it's really now. It looks so, so cool.

2. Thor - This figure is also available in the cheaper Hulk's Helicarrier Breakout set. It looks great. I wish the hair was a darker...
EXCLUSIVE MINI-FIGS, BUT A LITTLE PRICEY...
Overall, this is an awesome set for any fan of the Avengers Legos. Here's my breakdown of pros & cons...

PROS:
-2 exclusive mini-figs: BLACK WIDOW & IRONMAN (w/ the "power circle" on his chest; the IRONMAN 'fig from the HULK set has a triangle on his chest).
-Shield's QuinJet is pretty large, was a fun build (even for an adult), and there's a button on top that releases a section of the Jet's underbelly to allow the "launch" of a drone-looking weapon (as you can see on the box).
-LOKI's flying "charriot."

CONS:
-The MSRP of $69.99 is a bit high (in my opinion) - especially if you have the other Avengers sets, which would mean you're only acquiring 2 new mini-figs, and IRONMAN's not even "new" just "upgraded."
-Although the QuinJet is quite large, it does not provide enough additional seating or internal space to place all of the Avengers (i.e. there's nowhere inside the Jet that the HULK mini-fig will fit).
-Another con about the...
LEGO Quality Keeps Getting Better!
Boy, i'm 20 years old now and i've had LEGOs for as long as I can remember. I'm overly excited about the new Avengers sets. As a major comic book fan I couldn't wait to get my hands on this. I got it in the mail today (as well as two other sets) and built this one straight off.

The ship took a long time to build. It's a pretty decent amount of pieces and took my brother and I about an hour and a half to put together fully, once it's together it's gorgeous. A very nice replica of the ship from the movie with tons of little compartments for characters and vehicles. There's also a main cockpit and a secondary cockpit for other agents or avengers. The wings fold into all different combination to make the ship fly in unique directions.

The characters are all really well made and fit perfectly with the set. All around a great product for ALL AGES to enjoy!
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Kryptonite 997986 Black 18mm New York Fahgettaboudit U-Lock

Best lock out there, good for big cities but heavy as a brick
I got my bicycle stolen the second time I locked it up in the city with a cable lock only, so I spent many hours researching locks to make sure it wouldn't happen again.

This lock is widely regarded as the most secure lock currently available, and weighs much less than the fahgettaboudit chain locks (which seem to be about equally secure). Mine weighs 4 lbs 6 oz, and to lock the tires I need to also use a 12 oz 4 foot Kryptonite cable lock. So the whole locking system is about 5 lbs, which is a lot.

The most important feature of this lock is the small size, which doesn't allow thieves to get their manual tools like levers or car jacks in to break it. The only known way of breaking this lock is to saw it by hand (at least a half hour of intense effort), or to use a powered angle grinder (probably at least 5 minutes). So most thieves would end up cutting through the frame of the bike if they really wanted it.

There are other small U locks that are...
kryptonite fahgettaboudit Lock anti theft protection
purchased this lock after my bike was stolen, primarily due to $4500 antitheft protection that comes with lock. worth noting that my old bike was stolen while locked up with a heavy duty Krytonite chain lock.

Anyway, received the lock, seems solid enough, but was a disappointed after reading all of the various conditions and qualifications related to the anti theft protection, which basically renders the protection worthless. First of all, they only pay for the deductible for your insurance not for the replacement of your bike, so you need to have insurance in the first place for this to have any value. Secondly, you need to provide so much back up information: bike registration, bike receipt, lock receipt, etc where it makes it very cumbersome process to even apply for the protection in the first place. Then there is the rigourous post theft requirements: report teft to police within 72 hours, mail notice to Kryptonite within 7 days, report to insurance company. most...
Paid for itself, worth every penny
I've been using this lock for over a year now, and it's worth every penny. I live on a college campus in Los Angeles, and park my bike outside at night. My last bike was stolen when a thief cut right through the $30 U-lock I had. After that experience, I bought the Fahgettaboutit to protect my new bike.

Sure enough, a few months in, someone attempted to steal my bike while I was at work. The thief failed miserably, managing only to cut through the vinyl sheath on the shackle and scratch the paint on the steel. I think that the thief may have even broken his bolt cutters, because he didn't snip the cable that secured my wheels. The jerk did take the time to unbolt and steal my fork, brakes, handlebars, stem, and shifters, but in saving my frame and wheels this lock paid for itself and then some.

After replacing the stolen components, I invested in a Pitlock set to protect my wheels, brakes, and fork. Most of the remaining hex bolts have been filled with solder to...
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POOF-Slinky 0C4769 Ideal 100-Trick Spectacular Magic Show Suitcase with Instructional DVD

THIS IS FUN!
My 11 year old son LOVES THIS! He is having fun practicing all of the tricks and then performing for the rest of the family. I admit he fooled me on a couple of the tricks! For a starter kit, this is great. The price was right and he is learning a lot of fun things.
Lots of fun
We have had this for some time. The suitcase is cardboard and did not hold up to repeated opening and closing and use. However, this magic set was otherwise wonderful. It was easy for my son to watch the dvd, learn the trick and then preform it. He is 9 and has really enjoyed the tricks. There are a variety of tricks that are good for younger children (9) to do and then are some that are harder that he will have to grow into with dexterity.

Enjoy
Great toy
My 8 and 10 year old love this toy. It's great practice for talking in front of people. There are lots of tricks they can figure out on there own with help from the DVD included. Buying all those tricks separately would cost a fortune. The hat and tricks were a much better quality than what I even expected.
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My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope

Hard to beat its total value in a beginner microscope
Let's cut to the chase: If you're looking for an inexpensive microscope for younger children, the Duo-Scope would be very difficult to beat for features, quality, and cost.

After reviewing several sources on inexpensive microscopes, I took a chance for Christmas on this less documented model. I'm glad I did.

PROS:

* Solid construction. Despite its light weight, it feels like a coherent whole and has no rattling pieces. The objective lenses click nicely into place and the mechanics have a silky feel when operated. This model considerably betters the microscope I had as a child growing up in the Sixties, so some items ARE better made today than yesteryear.

* Smooth focusing wheels that don't clunk through the mechanism's gearing.

* Permanent, bright light sources from two separate LED bulbs. Far better than mirrored scopes.

* A pointer in the optic field--a nice addition to a low cost scope.

* A plethora of...
Good scope for the money
As a physician, I have a great deal of experience with microscopes. The optics on this scope are quite good for the price, and although some parts of the scope are of cheaper quality(such as the battery compartment), they put the money where it counts. Intuitive design, and surprising illumination at high magnification(400x). As a bonus, this scope also features above-stage illumination, which allows examination of opaque objects such as insects- making the scope easier to use for younger kids who cannot prepare traditional slides. Finally, included supplies such as dust cover(!), scalpel, probe, prepared slides, well slide, stain, cover glasses,small petri dish, lens paper and test tube allow the budding scientist to set up a home "lab". Excellent for ages 8-13
Very Nice Microscope
I bought one of these for my 10 year old. I was very pleased with this purchase. This microscope is well made, durable, and contains quality optics. It is as good of a microscope as you would find in a high school lab. With the upper light you can zoom in on coins, seeds, etc. with clarity. It makes a perfect birthday gift.
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Fisher-Price LP Disney Klipklop Stable

A Review of the Little People Klip Klop Princess Stable

WARNING: what's NOT pictured
I don't know why no one else mentioned this but the one I bought has a permanent gate in the middle of the bottom ramp slide preventing any horse from using it. It's not pictured on the box or in my instructions but I was very disappointed to find that the bottom ramp is not fun because they molded a plastic gate in the middle of it! So if you put a horse there he stops after a couple klip klops and that is frustrating for a little one. I don't know why Fisher Price changed it because the slide would have been a fun part of the toy.

Besides that one flaw, I have to say I love the rest of the toy. The horses are so cute and it's fun to watch them klip klop down over and over. It also has lots of pretend play potential with the stable and food troughs. I got it for my infant daughter and my almost 3 year old son loves it! He won't stop playing with it so I think it's not just a girly toy. I know FP makes a knight version of this but it's not as fun at all. So I let...
SO much fun!
I think I play with this more than the kids haha. My 5 year old and my 1 year old do love this toy too. It's very entertaining and cute and is also well made. I highly recommend this toy to everyone.
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Fisher-Price Rock, Roll 'n Ride Trike XL

Great trike for toddlers and beyond!

You Will Get More Than Your Money's Worth
This is so reasonable in price and provides so much fun for so long. We gave it to my son when he was one year. He is two and still uses it every day. He can't do the pedals yet but he goes around the block on this propelling himself with his feet. Its extremely sturdy and balanced and is not prone to tipping. In fact, he has only fallen a couple times and that was when he got on or off and just didn't swing his leg over it far enough. Yep, there are more expensive nicer looking trikes, but this is fun and relatively safe even before they can pedal. And my son still has fun to come on this one once he learns to pedal! Update: My son used this trike until he turned 6!
Last year's model had some flaws....
I purchased the previous version of the Rock, Roll & Ride for my eldest son when he was two. The idea is great -- anyone with at least one kid knows that multitasking toys are a wonderful idea. However, as a tricycle, this does have a few flaws.

The biggest flaw we found is with the plastic "tires." They look cute, but are really slippery, so they don't grip the ground well. My son had a really hard time learning to pedal because he'd get the movements right, but the trike wouldn't go anywhere... he just literally spun his wheels. Then, my husband wrapped rubber bands around the tires to help them get some traction, and that helped Jake long enough to get the hang of it. Also, if you use this outside, the tires get pretty scraped up, so you might not want to bring it back indoors where it could scratch your floors.

Another flaw was the short push handle, but according to the specs for this model they have lengthened the pushbar, which can only be good. I'm 5'6"...
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Mooshka Sing Around the Rosie Doll - Myra

Tried 12 dolls, and none worked well
I was so excited when I found these dolls online- they are different than all the others my daughters already have, and our youngest LOVES "Ring Around the Rosie" and can play it non-stop.

After reading one review stating that the reviewer received 2 dolls, neither of which worked, I decided to check it out in stores this weekend. At the first store, I tried 7 dolls, and none worked (the song starts and stops, starts over again; a couple sounded like a skipping CD). At the second store, I tried 5 dolls, and none of them worked properly.

However, if you clasp the dolls hands together, the magnetization keeps her hands together and keeps the song playing. If that is sufficient for your child, then the doll is great. But if you have a child who is set on holding her hands in a circle to do "Rosie," you might be disappointed.
Singing Mooshka Myra
Mooshka seems to be the new rage. Great for the 2-5 yr age demographic. I found one at Target out of pure luck as they seem so new they are hard to come by. ($24.99)
Easily squeeze Myras hands and she sings Ring Around the Rosie. Her hands are magnetic and can be clasped together for super easy singing. It's repetitive which can be annoying for adults. Haha

One thing to note, the singing dolls have magnetic hands and the regular Mooshka dolls and Mooshka Tots dolls have Velcro hands so they technically all cannot hold hands. This was a disappointment to my daughter. We also have Dasha the regular Mooshka. So hopefully more singing dolls will be on the market soon.

Ebooks are available currently for free download on Apple products only. I called the manufacturer and an Android version is in the works with no estimation on a launch date.

**Manufacturer claims Android ebooks will be available by the end of October. They just have some glitches to...
Fun for your little girl!
My 2 1/2 year old absolutely loves to play ring around the Rosie with me and her big sister! I wanted to wait until Christmas to get this doll but found it at Target for $24.99 and couldn't wait to give it to her! She LOVES it and has played with it non stop!! The only problem is if she let's go of one of the hands then clasps it again- the song does start over from the beginning- so it takes longer for the doll to sing - ashes, ashes, we all fall down- which is my little girls favorite part of the song! The doll and packaging are very nice and super cute!
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LEGO Star Wars Rancor Pit 75005

Rancor pit, Lego 75005
This is a good kit, has a few nice minifigures, but the price is a little high. The kit comes with 380 pieces, to average out to about $0.14-0.15 a part (at MSRP). Bad news, the Rancor is 19 pieces alone. So you are really getting a bare bone lego kit for a increased cost due to it being both "Lego" and "Star Wars". But if your a fan, then your a fan and you will pay. I do like how the new Jabbas palace stacks with this set, unfortunately the tower in Jabbas palace will need to be detached to stack, and gate must be closed when they are stacked. Minus these few gripes this is a great kit. The trap door in the palace does lead right to the Rancor pit which is nice. There are some nice minifigures to go along with the action of the set. The Rancor is huge! About twice the size of Jabba. I was watching Star Wars Episode 6 while put this together and my girlfriend quite frankly thinks I'm a bit nuts, but having the movie in the background only increases the fun factor of any Star Wars...
Cool set, but not quite worth the price
I was very excited to get this set, especially with its ability to join with Jabba's Palace but when I finished this one, I was left a little unimpressed. The mini figures and the set are both pretty cool, but for $60 I just feel that there could have been more to the set. I could see $40 or $45 if only for the Rancor, but there is not enough pieces to really warrant the expense. To sum it up, this is a great addition to the bigger picture, but is a little lack luster on its own.
A true star wars fan can't ignore this!
I'm really impressed with this set. You can join it with jabba's palace and create one big scene with a working trap door (see my jabba's palace review), or if you don't have the palace, then you can just leave it how it is and it looks great. There is a lot of playability in this set. The gamorrean guard is the same one in jabba's palace. But he's still a good addition. he doesn't come with a weapon. Malakili is a new figure. I really like his sad face with a tear. he comes with a scythe sort of thing. I love him! Luke is a new version. He comes with his famous bone from the movie. He also has a double-sided head. The rancor is probably my favorite minifig (alongside the ewoks and Malakili). He comes with a chain attached to his arm cuff. He also has a hinged jaw allowing him to eat a minifig. He is fairly big. his claws and hands can move. He is the main reason why people want to get this set. HE IS GREAT!!! The skeleton is just a standard lego skeleton, but he's really cool. He...
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TEKTON 2841 Everybit and Electronic Repair Screwdriver Bit Set, 135-Piece

Damn impressive set -- well worth buying!
TEKTON 2841 Everybit and Electronic Repair Screwdriver Bit Set, 135-Piece

This is an impressive kit, with just about every conceivable bit type (14 in all, not the 12 stated in the Amazon ad) - in a huge variety of bit sizes. Even if you have an extremely well-equipped shop as I do, odds are that it lacks many of these bit types. Bits lock into their respective places in the molded plastic case, with that bit's type and size clearly marked; so if one is missing from the case, you'll know which one it is. The bits themselves are S-2 steel (for you metallurgists) with a sandblasted finish, and seem to be as good as those in my Bosch bit set. I'll probably never use them all - but none has broken so far. Off-center holes in the centers of security bits would be an indicator of poor quality; but the holes in my Tekton security bits are well-centered.

The larger of the two included drivers is a ratchet type, but can be set to non-ratchet. Its end cap unscrews,...
Just got the new set!
I originally had the 105 piece set. This set blows that one away. The upgraded screw driver is micro drive. The little mini bit set has everything you would need, plus it comes with the pentalobe driver for the iphone 4 and up. Great warranty and customer service also, highly recommended.
Bit broke the first time I used it
These bits are very brittle! I bought the set largely to get the spanner bits. One tooth broke off the bit the first time I tried to tighted a security screw on a new emergency phone. These look very nice when you open the box, but the quality is poor.

Update 4/2/13: I emailed Brennan at their support site. The bits were replaced quickly and without questions asked. They do have good customer support. For this I have upgraded my rating from one star to three stars. Hopefully the replacement bits will not break.
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My Little Pony Exclusive 12Pack Pony Collection Set Includes 6 Special Edition Ponies!

These put "Little" in My Little Pony:) Too cute!!!
My 3 year old got the 4 pack tube (despite the price, oy!) for her birthday. We, of course, lost a couple of them. Well, I saw this 12 pack elsewhere (yes, it is much cheaper at TRU), and got it for her. She is totally absorbed in these little things. She loves reinacting the episodes of MLP: Friendship is Magic with them.

As stated, there are 12 total ponies. There are the 6 main characters~ Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie Pie. The 6 bonus ponies are named Gardenia Glow, Beachberry, Peachie Pie, Coconut Cream, Skywishes and Sweetsong. There are only 4 molds, apparently, because there is not much variation in pony positions. (Not a problem for kids, but seems to be with MLP: FIM purists.)

These ponies ARE small~ about 1.5 to 2 inches tall. And yes, since these are small, they can get lost easily. My daughter is young, but DOES try to be careful with her ponies. I am a bit anal retentive though, and keep...
Mini ponies
Bought this at TRU for my 3yr old before Christmas around $25. She loves them! As a bonus, she matches the ponies to the cards included in the box. Each card has a picture and a little detail about the personality of the pony. We purchase the ferris wheel & the little carriage to go with these ponies. Big hit!
too much
These come close to being what I'm looking for: animation accurate, modeled (not brush-able) pony figures. However, the lack of original poses for each of the mane 6 is ultimately what prevents me from getting too excited about these (that and the price..geez). While I'm sure the "special edition" ponies may be a nice bonus for some, really Hasbro, all I'm looking for is an animation accurate set of the mane 6. I want six ponies.. not four ponies.. not 12. six ponies that look like the show, modeled, and with their own distinct poses that represent their personalities from the show, because that is how I came to love ponies in the first place, and I would like the toys to evoke that same sucrose-y joy and excitement that the animation does.

Tolerantly yours,

a mildly frustrated brony
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LEGO City Fire Station 60004

Really? Nobody rated this yet?
Well, as usual, this set is awesome. Attention to detail is second to none, but that's normal for Lego. The roll up doors are very cool. The vehicles and the station itself are very well done. I love the street lamp! I wish I could post my photos of this set, as I enjoy photographing my Lego sets. (That's how I justify my ongoing interest in Legos in my adulthood) Anyway, as with all Legos, I love this set, and any child's imagination will be peaked. I never complain about Legos, but one problem I encountered was that the truck does not sit well in the bay. It either wants to roll too far forward or too far back, sometimes rolling right out the back door. This was easily fixed by installing two wheel chocks, which the rear wheels rest on, keeping my truck exactly where I want it. In my case, I had two extra pieces in my set anyway, and they're the little triangular pieces which were perfect for the job, (and in fact are used in real fire departments to avoid backing up too far) but...
Really great set.
This lego set is a little bit more pricy than the police set of the same size that i've seen. Don't pay more than $80 for this set. Wait for price to change to around $80. I've been watching for a week now and it started off at almost $100 and went to $81, and is now $79 at the time of this writing. This set is well worth $100, (that's what i paid) but don't. I also saw it on sale at Target in Orlando Florida for $75.

The set is awesome. It has a lot of pieces at 752. It has a few unique pieces. The 16x16 dark bluish gray baseplates (it has 3 of them) are a pretty rare piece on Brick Link. The garage doors are crazy expensive on bricklink. Same with most of the windows. All the other pieces i've seen are pretty common. I love how lego adds little things to the set like pans for cooking food, sinks to wash your hands in and out side lights.

I always think the buildings without walls look silly but my son doesn't seen to care, and it keeps their piece...
pirate ambuss ship
the pirate ambuss ship has 756 ps. and it has 9 minfigeres. Also,it has maps and sords and spears and a crosbow and 2 keys. also, it has big sails.
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KidKraft Uptown Espresso Kitchen

Amazing kitchen! Kids love it!
I am thrilled with this kitchen. I have a 3.5 year old daughter and 2-year-old son. This kitchen is just the right size for them to play with together and not push and fight constantly. I selected it because I have a boy and girl and did not want to go with a pink kitchen, which so many of them are. I also love this kitchen for the details. The water/ice dispenser is not just a drawing as it is on so many kitchens. You can actually put a cup in there and pretend you are getting water. It has a phone which my kids love. My daughter "called" her Grandma and Papa who live in another state several times on Christmas morning to talk to them about the sandwich she was making Papa and the cookies she was making Grandma. The chalkboard is real and they have had fun writing on it. There is even a removable cutting board in the cabinet underneath the sink! I highly recommend the KidKraft Metal Accessories Set with pots,...
Great looking kitchen, good customer service from Kidcraft.
We've had this kitchen for 8 months now and with the daily abuse that it takes from my children, I'd say that it has held up very well. When we first put the kitchen together, we noticed that one of the stove knobs was smashed -- like someone had stomped on it. We called Kidcraft and they quickly sent us a brand new part within a week. Anybody that has seen my children's playroom always compliments on how amazing the kitchen looks. It's a step above the plastic play kitchens and comes in a gender neutral color, which is great for my son and daughter. I'd give this product 5 stars if it weren't for the smashed knob, but Kidcraft resolved the issue quickly, so kudos to them. If you're looking to buy this kitchen online, try looking at the bulk warehouse (you know... the one that starts with a "C" and ends with an "ostco") first. I got it for $30 cheaper there than anywhere else it was advertised.
Best toy kitchen for my needs
I spent a lot of time looking around for a kitchen to buy for my 3 year old daughter. I also have a 9 month old son who will eventually play with this as well, so there were a few things that were extremely important to me in finding the right kitchen:

1. Size. Something substantial enough that they wouldn't grow out of too quickly. Height as well as ability for multiple kids to play was critical. Also needed enough space to actually "play". A lot of the kitchens I saw were small with some burners and a sink but no flat area to "cut" vegetables or place items.

2. Storage. With all of the stuff that comes along with a toy kitchen, it was critical to find something with ample storage. Many kitchens had a lot of little drawers and spaces, but nothing that could even fit the Melissa & Doug cookie set (I read in another review that the toy fit easily in the oven)

3. Gender neutral. Not a deal breaker, but would be nice to have something my son...
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MTG Magic the Gathering M14 Magic 2014 Fat Pack (9 Booster Packs)

More than Satisfied, Great Deal
So where to start? Well let's start with the most important part, the cards.

Now before I elaborate, a few cards I received in this pack, essentially repaid the cost if I sold them. Now, of course this doesn't mean everyone will, but just saying it is very well possible, just as finding a $20 dollar card in a $4 dollar booster pack is.

Overall I received 3 foil cards, a rare, uncommon, and common, the former two both being worth $11 dollars. I only got two mythic rares, but both were useful, and one of them is the last $10 dollar card, (which was Chandra, Pyromaster, the Planeswalker).

Remember, every booster pack has one rare or mythic rare, with a chance for a foil card. Making 2/9 of the guaranteed rares mythics, and 3/9 of those packs had foil cards. Not bad percentage wise.

But like getting lucky and getting cards that paid back the cost, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I got cards that made a great deck. (A Library Shredder Deck if you're...
Exactly what I needed
So after years of being bugged by my friends... I finally gave in. I ordered this and the Magic the Gathering M14 Core Set 2014 Deck Builder's Toolkit set. The deckbuilder set was exactly what you expect, but that's not why you're reading this.

The fat pack, what's in it?
- 9 2014 Booster Packs and an 80 card land pack
- 2 foldable card boxes (featuring artwork from the set)
- a collector's guide and a learn-to-play insert
- an 80-card land pack
- a "Spindown" life counter (20 sided dice basically, featuring the set symbol)

*Note, that as all the boosters are random, you may or may not get a solid deck out of this box, if it's all you're buying!

Never bought a booster before?
Here's how it works: You get 15(ish) cards. One of them is guaranteed to be a "rare", or a rare "mythic" quality card. How awesome they are, varies. You also get 3 "uncommon"...
Sweet little package.
This is a very nice package to get for a new set. You get everything described, plus there is a heavy paper sleeve around it all, under the shrink-wrap, which can be opened up into a poster of the red fire-caster if you want. Everything was well packaged, and there was no damage to anything.

The box is very nice looking, heavy enough to be durable, and small enough for starting collections or just bringing a few decks for casual play to a local hangout. I've purchased about 20 booster packs beyond what came with this pack and it is all still fitting inside the box, but likely won't for much longer. Therefore, I'd estimate the capacity of the box to be about 450 cards (unsleeved).

The 20-sided die/life counter is a nice addition, which I've seen most people using at Friday Night Magic events. The two smaller deck-boxes are appreciated as well, though they are too small to fit cards in sleeves, so I've ended up using them to just have a box of basic lands to...
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Pure Fun 9005MTH 40-Inch Mini Trampoline with Handrail

They fixed the welding defect? Nope.
A few reviews mention a welding defect that breaks over time. It appears that they have fixed this by adding a couple of extra bolts. It made assembly a little be trickier, but we have done a lot of bouncing with no problems...

Edit: One year later the welds broke without a lot of heavy use. A lot of fun for the price, but don't expect it to last forever.
Fun Trampoline
We love this trampoline. I set it up in front of the TV so my 3 year old daughter does not become a couch potato by sitting on the couch all day. The only drawback is that if you want to move it from room to room, you have to take the handrail off. The handrail does come apart easily but I feel as though evertime you unscrew it from the legs that the screws are losing their thread. But overall fun and my daughter and I can go on it together.
Poor construction
I bought this trampoline for my 90lb preteen who loved it. She jumped while watching tv every day for a week. That was as long as the product lasted. The metal portion that the leg screwed into came off the base so now one of the legs is broken off. I don't consider it safe without all the legs attached and am trying to figure out how to return it.
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PUGG 6 Footer Portable Training Goal Boxed Set (Two Goals & Bag)

Perfect Foldable Goals. Great for Small games 6v6
Background:
I have played soccer with the following setups:
Initially I organized pick up soccer games with cones, which lasted about a Month
PUGG 4FT Goals(blue ones) 2-3 Months
PUGG 6FT Goals(Yellow ones) 1 Year
Franklin 5x10FT Goals. Purchased Early July 2010

Pros:
1) Easy to Setup
2) Includes 2 goals and Carry Bag for Goals
3) Each Goal comes with 3 Stakes to hold the goal to the Ground. They also supply replacement stakes.
4) Super Light Weight ( under 3lbs guess??)

Cons:
1) Size. Its great for a quick pick up game. I have played upto 8v8 with these goals. But if any adult stands in front of the goal, it is very difficult to score.
2) Plastic Stakes break when stepped on, or pressed into the ground with feet. They warn against this.
3) Taking a full on hard shot by an adult, sometimes sends the goal flying, even when pegged into the ground.

Recently Upgraded to Franklin Premier...
These are the pop-up goals you want
I have used this with my U-12 team now for several weeks, and I have been very happy with the quality of this product. A coach for another team that I was working with had purchased a different set of pop-up goals from Agora that was an inferior product compared to this. The three stakes that come with each goal are each attached with a velcro strap so that you won't lose them, and there is a little pocket that you can slide each stake into so that it doesn't snag on anything. The goals take seconds to set up/tear down, and it is really easy to collapse the goals. You also get an extra set of three stakes, and the carrying case.
Awesome Goals!
There are several types of portable goals out there, but these are the best. They are very well made and have withstood heavy use (hard kicks and kids being rough with them). The toughness of these goals is complimented nicely by the ease with which they can be set up and taken down. Finally, the bags they come with have a handy strap that makes carrying them very easy, which is important because you most likely will be carrying other stuff (soccer balls, cones, water bottles, etc.).

One final note, the zipper on one of my bags broke right away (the zipper is very important because it keeps the goal from falling out when carrying it in the bag). When I contacted PUGG directly ([...]), they replaced it for free (including shipping) right away. This is a excellent product from a company that provides excellent service. These goals are a little bit more than the competition, but they are worth the money.
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Zoomer

A Fun Trainable Toy
Over the last few weeks I have been playing with this robotic dog at home and have to say that my daughters and I have had a lot of fun. Seeing that we do not have a dog at home (though our kids want one) this robotic dog came at the perfect time to calm some of the badgering that we were receiving from our girls.

The Dog itself was a very complex toy. When I say complex, I am not saying difficult to use, but instead sophisticated and technologically advanced for a toy. The dog comes with a list of commands that you can train your dog to perform and through some trial and error the dog will learn (as a real dog will learn) how to perform these commands. It does take some time and patience to get the commands right, but when you do the fun can commence and you can have a dog that will do some cool tricks and will even follow you or a toy around a room.

By simply touching your dog's head you are able to command the dog. Usually this works the first time you...
Best pet ever!!
What a great dog!! He does as he's told, doesn't run away, always ready to play, doesn't shed or make a mess. And will tell me that he loves me every time!!! I am so in love with my Zoomer!!!
zoomer rocks!!!!
zoomer is the most alive toy i have ever played with! it is really fun to play with and it is like a real puppy. go on[...] for more information.
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LEGO Chima 70008 Gorzans Gorilla Striker

The gorilla-mech is awesome...but sadly it's top-heavy
This set contains four minifigs, one mech and one small tree with a small flying vehicle attached to it's top.
The minifgs are three gorillas (Gorzan, Grumlo and Gloona) and one raven (Rizzo). The minifigs are , as always, awesome! "Legends of Chima" has become my favourite LEGO-theme primarily because of the minifigs. I already have a lot of raven minifgs but it's the first time I'm getting so many gorilla minifigs. The gorilla minifgs are just beautiful. Lovely printing and detailing. Gloona minifig carries "fists" which are , I think, the first time LEGO has released this piece. Even the hammer-head pieces (one each for Gorzan and Grumlo) are a first-time-ever. So that's one of the many good things in this set. The raven minifig (Rizzo) is also very nice. Rizzo carries one assembled-weapon. I generally hate the assembled weapons from LEGO as I feel that they look lame and that thye should be made from a single-mold rather than assembling it. But this assembled weapon is...
Grandson will be thrilled!
What can I say...they're Legos. The arrived promptly, well packaged for travel. These are the exact ones he wanted for Christmas, so I am positive they will be a hit.
Awesome set
This is a great set that does many things. My 7 year old saved up his money to buy it, and put it together in one afternoon. It has a lot of parts for the price.
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Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother

Does the job, but some silly drawbacks
We got this for our kid when he was about two or three months old and have used it fairly steadily since (he's just over seven months now). In general terms, it does a pretty good job of soothing him and, after countless kicks of varying magnitude, it seems to be holding up well. It's hardly a perfect product, however, and some things would likely have me reconsidering whether I'd buy it again.

Good stuff:

* Music is tolerable, though quickly redundant (it didn't take my wife or me long to be able to hum along with the playlist of classical snippets).
* The 'underwater' lighting effect is pretty cool.
* Wind-down of light and sounds is gentle and well done.
* Star button is easy for baby to smack to turn on the fun.
* Crib light function is helpful.

OK stuff:

* The remote has its own agenda and doesn't always work. When it does, it's a good thing to have. When it doesn't, it's frustrating. Partly due to what seems to be a...
Good aquarium BUT...
I've heard great things about this aquarium and I'm excited to give it a try. My biggest complaint so far is that it doesn't fit onto the railing of our crib. Our crib is a pretty standard size (made by Pali) so I'm very frustrated and disappointed to see that it doesn't fit. We still want to give it a try as our baby really seems to like it so we're going to find a way to make it work. My sister- and brother-in-law had the same problem with it and their crib. Another few inches of strap and this would fit perfectly. It's a HUGE oversight on the part of Baby Einstein!
Safety Issue
I never review things, but thought that I should for this item. The movement and music are great, but the latch that attaches it to the crib was defective on ours. Just the weight of us pushing the button to turn it on caused the latch to fail and the whole thing fell into the crib. Thank goodness it didn't hit the baby, but we stopped using it immediately.
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Lil Characters Unisex-baby Infant Lion Costume, Brown, 6-12 Months

Lil characters unisex-baby infant lion costume, brown, 6-12 months

99.9%Satisfied!
This costume was absolutely adorable on my 13 month old. I bought the 12-18 mos size and it worked out perfectly. Everywhere he went in this costume, people could not help but comment on how cute he looked. My only negative comment is that when I received the costume, the lion's mane, around the face, shed a lot of loose pieces from when the mane was cut. It seemed like it was one solid piece and the cuts were made, but the material that frayed was not cleaned out. I sat down on two separate occasions and pulled all the loose pieces out of the mane. I finally got them all after a couple attempts. It did not continue to shed, it was just full of loose pieces from the original cutting process. I haven't washed the costume yet, so I can't comment on how well it stands up to the washer and dryer. Overall, I would recommend this costume! I loved how my son's face stood out with that curly lion's mane around it. He had Halloween portraits taken in this costume with his twin...
mommy likes it, baby doesn't
I was hoping my 1 year old wouldn't mind the big mane since she doesn't mind hats, but she can't move her head easily in this and tries the entire time to pull it off. Also, the mane sheds everywhere, and my baby tries to eat the fuzzies that come off. And the bodysuit is way too short on her. I ordered 12-18 months, which is what she wears now in normal clothes. My advice is to buy a different costume even though this is super cute!!
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Razor A2 Kick Scooter (Blue)

Makes A Long Trip Fun!
My son started kindergarten this year, half a mile away from our home. He didn't enjoy walking the distance, but the scooter solved the problem. He just LOVES scooting around the streets, and mastered the technique within a week.Now getting home is fun. The scooter moves and works great. All of the kids in NYC have them - I've even heard of a kid who mastered the skill at age 2. I was really confused when I was shopping for a scooter...I wasn't sure from reading the ads, whether this scooter was actually appropriate for a 4 year old. It's been fine. I highly recommend this scooter for kids who want to get around quickly.
A Customer
Scooter is sturdy, well made and looks great! It glides smoothly and handles nicely. Low to the ground with nice handle bars and grips. I bought this for my grand daughters three years ago and

they had never ridden anything but little kid toys. Each easily learned to handle and ride with very few mishaps. I think it is pretty safe for a ride-on type toy. (we bought helmets and thankfully have never had any bad landings). Now three years later I am still watching them ride working up a good healthy

sweat and loving it!! So, I just purchased scooter number 4 for

one of the girls who has practically worn the wheels off (I hope

I can talk her into the replacement of her favorite toy). She is nine now, the age where girls need outdoor exercise and fun.

WELL WORTH THE MONEY!!A GOOD CHOICE FOR KIDS MOVING UP TO BIG KID TOYS.
high tech version of low tech fun and exercise
I bought this scooter for my daughter (7 yr old) and my husband was on it so much I had to buy another one. They take them everywhere. It is great for camping to get around the campgounds. It breaks down easily to store under car seats. I really recommend this scooter.
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Fisher-Price Deluxe Monkey Bouncer

Wonderful Bouncer!
I bought this because none of the other bouncers seemed to 'cradle' a newborn. The little lamb bouncer is almost identical to this in appearance and comfort but does not bounce - it's stationary. This is the best of both worlds because it is very cozy for a new baby yet has the ability to actually bounce (you have to use your hand to make it bounce - it's not automatic). Also, while both the little lamb bouncer and this bouncer have a vibrate feature, the little lamb shuts off after 10 minutes. This bouncer's vibrate stays on until you turn it off. My daughter loves to be bounced on a yoga ball and it was killing my back and I can bounce this aggressively enough where it simulates me bouncing her on the ball.
Save your money-don't get the rainforest version!
Like many, we registered for the rainforest bouncer b/c the baby bargains book said it was the "best". We recently bought this one for when we visit my parents house. It was fairly affordable and seemed to offer similar features to the rainforest (both have music, lights and vibration). If I had to register all over again, I would opt for this one over the rainforest bouncer. I like the toy bar on this one much better. It offers a variety of toys that each make a different sound and can be manipulated. They toy bar height is high enough that an older infant can reach for the toys, pull on them and inspect them. The height also allows us to easily place the baby in and out of the seat without removing the bar. The rainforest toy bar sits much lower-essentially lap height, and the toys can only be twisted. Most of the engagement or hype with the rainforest version is passive, eg looking at the twisting waterfall or the moving monkey. If you are choosing between the two, you won't be...
Love it!
We had a Fisher Price bouncer for our daughter 3yrs ago and decided to buy another for our little boy. It's a great bouncer! Nice vibrating feature that soothes a cranky baby and bright colors to keep him interested. I don't see why the previous reviewer gave it only 1 star. The legs are suppose to be spaced out...that's how it works! It's no different than any other bouncer we've seen or previously owned. It's absolutely worth the money!
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Stiga Performance 4-Player Table Tennis Set

great for the price takes your game up a notch or two!
I was tired of the old paddels that came with the table. The winter competition was getting mundane. I bought this kit and it took our little group to a whole new level. I never new what a difference a new softer paddle and ping pong balls with some grip left on them could do for game. This was a great buy for the money I consider it a stepping stone to yet another level of ping pong play.
Great affordable paddles
Nonexpensive, creates decent spin, good control, and handle fits nicely in the hand. The balls are decent too. Safe buy if you're looking for a decent set of paddles.
decent paddles
I bought these paddles to go with my new ping pong table. I have enjoyed hours of play with them. Now let me explain the reasoning for my 3 star review. I gave only three stars because first the handles are not the most comfortable things in the world and i have found myself using the paddles that came with the tables for the reason that they are more comfortable. second and this is the second star off the rubber that makes up the face of the paddle has started to peel off, no more than a quarter inch but peeled nonetheless. but on the up side the paddles seem to give excellent control of the ball probably due to the "grippieness" of the rubber that is on the faces of the paddles. i think that if you are a serious ponger then these paddles may be for you but if you are like me and don't keep score you may want to find a paddle with a more comfortable paddle that you will enjoy playing with for longer periods of time.
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LEGO Mobile Police Unit 7288

Fun and engaging
I bought this for my seven year old son to play with while we stayed with relatives. He worked really hard every spare minute and put it together perfectly. The directions are TERRIFIC! He played with it like that for about a day before the "modifications" began. it is now some sort of 4 wheeled police boat. These toys are Great for the imagination, and they give confidence and a sense of accomplishment. I would highly recommend it.
LEGO Mobile Police Unit 7288
Despite the fact that I have never seen a police semi in my life doesn't mean that LEGO didn't do a great job making one. I really like the details on the inside. It goes great with other city and police sets. I just don't think that if they were trying to be secretive about tracking a criminal that they would ride around in a semi with giant words like "police" printed all over it but maybe thats just me. The best part is the magnify glass actually well magnifies!

The Cab
Pros
detective driver
lights and mirror pieces
looks good
cons
none but I cannot figure out why it has those large doors are they supposed to be more storage

Minifig:
There's a SUPER COOL detective/police chief, a motorcycle police officer, and a robber.

Trailer
Pros
The inside is awesome it has places to put everything
Awesome, lots of space in the middle, cool new computers, TV, includes magnifying glass an coffe maker with mug...
Lego police unit
I highly recommend the lego police unit. It is so much fun for our son to play with.
He plays with it whenever he has time, taking it apart and putting it back together again.
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Thomas & Friends: Preschool Steam 'n Speed R/C Thomas

Smoke is cool, but controller seems bad
My 4-year old loves Thomas and all things train related. He was really excited to open this and start using it. I didn't tell him about the smoke in order to gauge his reaction. Overall, he liked it, but wasn't overly impressed. The main disappointment is that the remote control seems flaky, making it very difficult to operate the toy.

When the toy works, it's really cool. The "steam" seems to be cool mist similar to what's produced by an ultrasonic humidifier. The smoke stack also has a blue LED light that shines whenever it makes the smoke so that you can see it easier.

I really liked the fill bottle, which stores on the underside of Thomas, and the train is designed that it leaks very little even if turned upside down. My son had as much fun refilling Thomas as using him.
It worked pretty well on both firm plush and berber carpeting,

The remote is IR (infrared) so it has to be close and able to see Thomas. I noticed that my remote was...
A Big Hit!
My son, Joel (2), loves this train! When we first pulled it out of the box, he played with it and just said thank you. After I put the batteries in, and he heard the whistle and saw the steam, he laughed and gave me a big hug! He is in love with this train. We played with it until it was time to sleep and even then I had to take the remote controller from his hand after he fell asleep.
Sure it takes a lot of batteries but it is durable (it survived a trip down the stairs) and fun. To me, it is well worth the money and the batteries.
Fun and durable
My nephew LOVES Thomas. He is captivated by him and everything trains. When I presented him with this toy, he was so excited. The train is small enough for him to move around with but not too big that he can't do it by himself. The remote is the perfect size for his hands and the buttons large and very easy to use. The steam is a bonus. It really lends authenticity to the train and I think it's amazing that it's cool to the touch and I don't have to worry about him getting burned. He has been playing with it for several days and still isn't bored with it. It's very durable and doesn't have any small parts or sharp corners. I would recommend getting some self-charging batteries though, as you could be going through them like crazy if your little one plays with it for an extended period of time. I would definitely purchase another one!
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Melissa & Doug Shopping Cart

Finally, a steel shopping cart!
The Melissa & Doug Shopping Cart was an unexpected find after going through screen after screen of overpriced plastic junk.

This cart is all steel, except for the plastic handle (which has a steel core), the folding plastic "kids" seat for a doll and the plastic wheels. This cart looks like the real ones in the stores and it's built to last! Assembly is a breeze, too.

The two front wheels rotate 360 degrees for steering and they are mounted on spring loaded "legs". If you child leans into the cart from the front or sides, it will compress causing a rubber "foot" to hit the floor and stop the cart from moving forward or backward. There are also rubber "feet" on the left and right sides.

The only "dangerous" thing I can see with this cart is where the plastic wheels are minimally covered by steel "fenders" for mounting purposes. I can foresee a pinched finger or two in our daughter's future, but you can't shield your children from everything in the world...
Excellent toy, but has a few issues
I love this shopping cart and my kids could play with it for hours. It is well made and is one of the cutest things in the M&D lineup. However, the metal cart scratches furniture and walls more than other plastic carts. Ours also has a place on the bottom where the steel spindle is a little rough and my kids seem to scratch their hands on it when they play with it. If you have good furniture I would opt for a plastic cart, if your furniture is beat to heck already this is a great little cart. :)
Best of the Best
This shopping cart looks so much like the real thing - it's awesome! Not surprised, coming from the M&D brand. I didn't understand what the straight legs were for, until my dh showed that when you push down on the cart, it actually pushes down, onto the pegs, to make sure kids aren't jumping in the cart and making a car out of it - it will just stop and stay on the legs. Genius! I love that it has the folding seat for HuggyBear or Baby, or whoever my little girl loves at the moment. PERFECT toy. My daughter is 2, by the way. Younger than recommended, but I like to think she's a little advanced. :)Great Buy, Great Product!
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Furby Boom Figure (Waves)

I just LOVE my furby Day-Dah <3
Okay, so I should first admit that I'm a 30 year old man (child). Yes I did buy a furby boom...and yes I do LOVE him.
Okay, lol now with that out of the way...on to my review! :D

I LOOOOVE my furby!
I bought a furby when I was a teen in 2000 and I can remember just how much fun I had with that little fur ball. Hands down he was the coolest toy I had ever owned. I remember a particular time when I had an aunt staying over and she took over my room for a few days. I remember at about 12 at night just hearing an extremely loud scream!! Apparently she picked up my stuffed animal I had on my dresser and she was NOT expecting it to start talking to her! lol
I loved that furby. I actually still have him sitting on a shelf.

Now I've been eyeing these new furbies since they re-released them last year in 2012. I had always planned on picking one up eventually, but have been putting it off till now. For some reason every very so often I get into a mood where...
ferby boom
Ferby boom is a very adorable toy, i have always. Liked the older ferbys i had one when i was a kid. This ferby is awsome i just love it. My almost three year old loves it too,and my four year old likes it too. I like the app that gose with this ferby it expands play and it makes the ferby more fun. I also just love the blue wave color. The ferby is worth the sixty dollar and i highly recommend this toy!
there is an extra sparkle in the eyes of my daughter
First off, I am the parent of a ten year old Furby addict. At last count she has a collection of nine assorted Furbies ranging from plastic McDonald's Happy Meal toys, some vintage models from the 90's & 2000's, 2012's revival, Party Rockers, and this latest "Furby Boom".

Upon learning of the new model, she began saving her own allowance money by helping with age appropriate tasks around the house, then one she had saved enough, asked my wife to order the blue wave designed model.

Once it shipped, I tracked delivery and stood by with my camera when I heard/saw our UPS delivery driver pull up. The rest was captured on video (where you can hear that I am very obviously suffering from a hideous cold).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB6TJkN_TCQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

It has been a few months since then, and I still find my daughter playing with her Furby Boom, busily working to feed it, play games with, or help hatch an egg containing a...
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Radio Flyer My 1st Scooter, Red

difficult to use
I bought this for my 3 year old at Christmas. I was worried that he was not the most stable and good at balancing, so i thought this would be a good first scooter.

In the past 6 months he hasn't shown a lot of interest. I have watched him struggle to use it, fall, wobble, have me carry it after getting a few houses down our street. He got a little better, but looked awkward and unsafe.

All his friends have the 'mini-kick' scooter, and all seemed to be doing great. In the end i broke down and bought him one too. 2 days ago. 2 days later, he hasn't stopped using it. Loves it, is steady, smooth, doing tricks, and won't stop riding it for miles and miles (literally miles).

Conclusion - I was initially sold on the Radio Flyer design features figuring it would be an easier scooter for him to start with. But the steering and bulk of it make it very hard for a little person to use. I heartily suggest spending a little more on a mini-kick..
Just okay
I was a bit disappointed in this scooter because it's not as sterdy as I would have liked it to be. I though my son would play with it all the time but it's not so easy for him to maneuver he's 2 1/2 but begged for it before he got it. Once he got it he didn't touch it.
Great Product
Got this for our four year old son. It is quite sturdy and does not topple over easily so we feel more safe and secure with him riding it. Would repurchase as gifts as well
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LEGO Ninja Turtles Turtle Lair Attack 79103

Awesome Ninja Turtles Lego Set with Plenty of Figures and Accessories!
Of all the Lego sets out there, the Ninja Turtles sets may be be the most fun. It brings me back to my days growing up with the turtles. This set is a very well made, large set (488 pieces). It has 5 figures, 10 Weapons and a ton of other turtle related accessories. This particular set is set up like a training facility with a lot of different areas you can play in with your characters. It has a lot of playability. It is not just a set to build and stare at like a museum piece. With so many pieces and figures, it will let your child's imagination run wild. Highly Recommended!
Lego's ROCK!
As always Lego's rock this house. We've yet to purchase a set we are disappointed with. My children are always eager to put them together and this is no different.

Great attention to detail. Entertains my children for hours!

Will definitely purchase the rest of the series of Lego's b/c it's 'discontinued'
lego ninja turtles
Got this for my 6 year old son and he loves how the lair is make to look like its underground in the sewer.
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LEGO Creator 7346 Seaside House

Lego's mid-2012 Creator House
I am the nut-job parent that you'll see in some of the other Lego reviews. I grew up with Lego and returned to it when I had kids. Obviously I am terribly partial to Lego, but I'll give you the best review I can so that you can make the decision that is right for your kids. I do not receive free sets or compensation for my Lego reviews.

This set arrived in June of 2012 and is part of Lego's wonderful Creator line (more on that below). The last time Lego did a beach-themed house was 2008 with set #4996. This year's set is a vast improvement, and though there has been significant price appreciation, the design is much better and it includes a far more interesting selection of hard-to-find bricks, especially the many light-blue bricks. The main build for this set is a modest two-story house with a red roof, stairway, upstairs deck, and plenty of doors and windows. What sets this design apart are the many small details. The beach has a sand castle and breaking waves. The side...
Great Set, Great Value
This set is a pretty neat addition to the creator series. It has a lot of parts you don't normally get with other sets like a surfboard, like preserver, crab, fish, and grill. The set itself is very neat. you can open up the top to place stuff inside, or place stuff on the top floor as the back of the roof hinges open. It has a lot of doors and windows. It also has a lot of detail compared to other creator sets. On the side of the house there is a shower area with towel rack. It is creative how Lego designed it. You also get a seagull, but the design of that is different than the one you get in the Lighthouse Lego set. This one is a little smaller and not as detailed in the other creator set. You also get a figure exclusive to the set so its a great starter set for a child just starting out with Legos.
Incredible play value
My 12 year old daughter received the Seaside house for Christmas this year (her younger sisters also received Legos of various sorts). I knew she was interested in having some Legos (we had had a great time visiting the Lego exhibit in DC last summer) but wasn't sure if this kit was going to be a-build it-once-and-admire-it type activity. Once she (and her sisters) opened the sets, I didn't hear from them for hours. I had to drag them away for Christmas dinner. The 12 year old builds, rebuilds and then builds again. These have not gotten old at all. She absolutely loves the set. This is really a clever set with lots of fun details (lego waves, houselights, palm tree, etc!) She's a quiet, introverted person so the Legos are a perfect activity for her and helps get her away from the iPod/iPad screens. All three daughters (12, 10 and 6) build their houses together and then create stories with their Lego people. Then they tear them down and build them differently. I just can't...
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Lil Characters Unisex-baby Newborn Lobster Costume, Red/Orange, Small (6-12 Months)

Couldn't be happier!
I was so excited to find this costume. We live in Southern Louisiana so for us it is a crawfish but it works perfectly. The quility is better than expected and it is even cuter in person! I can't wait until my little man's first Halloween and he is sure to be a hit!
So stinking cute
My daughter was about 9 months when we dressed her in this. My husband and I wore aprons and chefs hats and carried her in a large pot! People couldn't stop laughing!! We entered her in her daycare costume contest and she won all three categories! Sweeped the competition. If you are looking for a non traditional girls costume, this one is sure to bring a smile to everyone who sees it. My mom thought I was crazy:)
Disappointed in quality for the price
For almost $40, I wouldn't expect to have to make repairs to this costume before it is even worn. The cotton that is supposed to make the eyeballs bulge out fell into the cap, requiring me to rip into the lining to reposition the stuffing. (The eyeballs are also significantly smaller than in the picture, and without the stuffing in place the pupils completely disappear, making it look like the lobster's eyeballs are rolling into the back of his head.) The flippers are not sewn to make individual toes. There is one big toe, and then it is sewn straight across. The quality in the photo is NOT the same as the item I received. Very disappointed.
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LEGO DUPLO Disney Princess Cinderella's Castle

Great as a stand alone or addition to any duplo set
I bought this set for my three year old as an add on to the gender neutral big tub set. It's a great addition, but with all the blocks you get, it's a great stand alone set too. Following the directions, you can build a fancy castle, but you are not limited to just that. I looked at other sets, but they seemed to have mostly figures and not many blocks. This has both. My daughter loves building castles and this will get many years of use. She also likes that cinderella's skirt is removable so she can dress up the other Lego figures we have.
Fun for little ones
My 3 year old really enjoyed this as her first Lego. Her older brother puts Legos together all of the time, so it was nice for her to have her own!
The initial set up took less than ten minutes for me, and she's been able to keep it together and take it apart a few times on her own.
Marvelous lego set
My 23 month old granddaughter absolutely loves this set, and so do I. Here is why:

1. There are lots of pink and purple colors, which she likes.

2. She likes opening and closing the doors to the gate, putting Cinderella and Prince Charming in their beds (which come with blankets), and moving around the chairs, mirror, and table top that come with this.

3. The turrets fascinate her, and she discovered that she can actually use them as whistles (kids always think outside the box).

4. There are so many interesting configurations that you can build with this set, and the included booklet gives detailed instructions on how to do several.

Bottom line: My granddaughter has lots of fun with this.

Update December 11, 2012: Somehow my granddaughter managed to lose the Cinderella figure in my house. When I called Lego customer service to order a replacement, I learned that due to licensing restrictions, Lego cannot sell figures...
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DEWALT D26451K Corded 3 Amp 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander with Cloth Dust Bag

Whole House Sander
I used one of these sanders to remove heavy textured paint from the plaster walls of my 1890's Victorian in Maryland. This involved sanding every inch of a 3000 square foot house with heavy grit (60 grit) paper over a three month period. I estimate that I ran this unit for over 30 hours a week for the entire three months without a break. I still have it and it works fine.

The unit has a couple of problems that I noted over time:

1. The dust collector is cloth over a steel spring that tears where the cloth meets the hard plastic base of the dust collection bag.

2. The pad that accepts the hook-and-loop paper sometimes tears when removing the paper. This is easily replaced, but isn't cheap to do.

3. While the dust collector works pretty well (until it tears, that is), it is small and you have to stop work often to empty it. This is not a problem with the small jobs I use it on now, but it was annoying when I was sanding the walls...
Tough little sander
before this unit, I had an off-brand $30 4" square pad sander that I used to polish the intake manifold on my car. It burned out after probably less than 40 hours of use.

I bought this sander as a replacement when I bought a house and decided to refinish the wood floors. I rented a drum sander to remove the bulk of the old finish, but I had to trace around the edge of all the rooms to remove the material. I bought this sander for $69 at Lowes and about 20 sheets of 40 grit paper, and this little sucker hummed away for hours and knocked out all the excess finish.

After about a week of walking over the exposed wood, painting walls, and moving scaffolding, I had to do a once-over on the wood to clean it up. I hit the whole floor (about 500 sq. ft.) with 60 grit, then did it again with 100 grit. This little sander cleaned it up beautifully, and I was surprised that it ran under heavy cyclic loading for about 5 hours without a hiccup. My knees didn't do as well...
I love this sander, it is unstoppable
I love this sander. Next to my Bosch "Sawz-all" this is my favorite power tool. I have used it on prejects that range from sanding the body work on my race bike to sanding the plaster walls in our 1903 Craftsman house to sanding woodworking projects. This sander is built to last and can be used as hard as you want. The only comments I do have is 1) you need to be careful when remmoving the sandpaper from the hook and loop disc, it is best to pull the sandpaper off in a direction that is parallel to the surface of the pad, basically pulling the sandpaper back over itself. If you pull it off perpendicular to the surface of the pad, the hook and loop pad tends to pull apart. 2) The hook and loop pad tends to get chewed up if you are not careful about replacing worn sandpaper. But that said, after almost three years of hard use mine is still on it's first hook and loop pad and is now more like a 4.5inch sander than a 5inch sander.....time to replace it.
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Lazer Tag Nerf Two-Player Battle System

A TON of fun, especially in larger groups
This is an excellent product that is a lot of fun for many ages. Thanks to this unit we have an active club going strong. Forgive the long review, but this unit deserves it in my mind.

Pros
Fun - It is a blast, especially in groups. This really is for adults as well as kids, and if you get a group of people together to do this, you will have a blast. There are many videos of people playing with this and previous generations on Youtube. Search 'Phoenix LTX', 'Tagfest', 'Lazer Tag Team Ops', and you'll probably find a lot.

Range - These taggers (guns) have a range of about 350-400 feet, maybe further (maybe a bit less in bright sun).

Features - These taggers have several features to enhance the playability. a) 10 or 25 tags - you can set a switch to set your 'life' at 10 or 25 tags. This can help balance some scenarios where differences in numbers or age/experience might make things unfair. b) Indoor/outdoor mode - this helps reduce the...
Awesome!
My 12 yr old son loved playing Lazer Tag at our local Lazer tag center for his birthday. His friends have this system (last year's model)and because it comes with two taggers, someone would get left out. So, I got this and now they have 2 on 2 battles outside and even in the house. This system is awesome! Very accurate.
Great Lazer tag guns back in Stock at 59.99, don't pay more
I was sad to see these out of stock and being sold for double and triple the price. It's great to see them back in stock and for under $60.00. The suggested retail price is 49.99. Once the repricing engines kick in, expect to see more lower priced options.

Pros:
1. Durable
2. Long lasting battery life
3. Works with shotgun versions selling for $399 or more.
4. Team play

Cons:
1. No shotgun attachments forsale
2. Vultures selling for more then suggested retail price
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