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Showing posts with label hot christmas toys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hot christmas toys. Show all posts

Mensch On a Bench Gives Elf On A Shelf Some Company.




Originally I was going to title this post "Mensch On A Bench Gives The Elf On A Shelf Some Competition." but given the relatively small amount of Jews and the growing number of mixed marriages, 'company' was a more appropriate term for the new holiday combination book and toy.



NPR reports that during a visit to a store last holiday season, Jewish father Neal Hoffman felt bad telling his son Jake that he couldn't have an The Elf on the Shelf . The widely popular Christmas toy is intended to watch children's behavior for Santa. Hoffman kept thinking, maybe there could be something similar, but rooted in Jewish tradition.


above: Neal Hoffman with the toy inspired by his son.

Hoffman, a former Hasbro employee, decided Mensch on a Bench was the answer. "A mensch means a really good person. It's a person that you strive to be," he says.

He raised more than $20,000, using the crowdfunding website Kickstarter, last spring. Since then, the interest has been tremendous. After the product arrived "we sold out in two weeks," Hoffman tells Michel Martin, host of NPR's Tell Me More.


above: In a few short years, the "Elf on the Shelf" picture book and accompanying elf doll transformed from a local Atlanta phenomenon to a national sensation sold in 12,000+ stores. About 2.5 million had been sold by December 2011.

Hoffman decided early on that Mensch on a Bench wouldn't be just a toy. An accompanying book is inspired by the story of Hanukkah.



In it, a fictional character called Moshe tells Judah and the Maccabees he will watch over the oil while they sleep in the Temple. "They say, oh Moshe, thank you so much. You're such a mensch sitting on that bench, watching over the oil!"


above: Jake Hoffman inspired his father to create Mensch on a Bench.

He also created eight rules for having a mensch. "They range from singing and playing dreidel and doing latkes with your family, to having the mensch watch over your menorah. ... Also, one night of Hanukkah, you're not going to get presents. You're going to go out ... buy presents for somebody in need, and you're going to give them to somebody else."



Mensch on the Bench tells the story of Moshe the Mensch, who was in the temple with the Maccabees when they won the war against the Greeks. There was only enough oil for one night and everyone was exhausted from the war and wanted to go to sleep. But what if the oil went out while the Jews were sleeping?

From the back of the temple, Moshe offered to stay up all night and watch the oil. He would sit on the bench all night. Judah called him a Mensch...and a child joked "The Mensch on the Bench" and so the name stuck.

The Mensch on the Bench book and doll tells the 8 rules of having a Mensch, which are meant to drive more jewish family traditions and re-enforce the values we want to hand down to our children.

The Mensch On A Bench is already sold out on their site, but can be pre-ordered for 2014

From Teddy Bears to Technology, The Top 50 Christmas Toys For The Past 100 Years









If a child of 1910 could glance at today’s toys, he or she would likely be confused by the endless games consoles, gadgets and TV-inspired toys. Back in the early twentieth century, the teddy bear was the most popular toy, followed by train sets and construction-themed toys. There was not an electronic device in sight!

However, you can see definite themes running through the popular toys of the past 100 years. For example, although the construction-based toys faded from fashion for a while, in the 1980s Lego became a must-have toy. And the board game shot to the top of wish-lists in the 1930s and 1940s, and experienced another surge in the 1970s – and even today, although replaced in many homes by the computer game, board games are still wheeled out when the family gets together for the festive season!

Dolls continue to be popular too, with the Bratz Dolls of 2000 following the success of the first Barbie in the 1950s. Similarly, boys still have action figures on their Christmas lists, perhaps changed in name from GI Joe to Power Rangers but fundamentally the same.

The computer marks the big change, though. From the first video game in the 1970s to nowadays, games consoles have soared in popularity. This Christmas, a console or handheld device is sure to be on most children’s wish-list.

source: cashgenerator

Nibble Nibble Little Mouse, Who Is Nibbling On My House? $15,000 Gingerbread House.




The Edible Gingerbread Playhouse by Dylan's Candy Bar is one of the more outrageous gifts in this year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. The full-sized playhouse stands 6.6 feet tall by 5.25 feet wide and 4.1 feet deep.

It's handcrafted with 381 pounds of gingerbread and 517 pounds of icing and includes giant cookies, lollipops, gummies, mints, gumdrops, and a candy-encrusted roof. There's even a lollipop tree inside.



CEO and self-proclaimed Candy Queen Dylan Lauren (daughter of fashion legend Ralph Lauren) was inspired as a child when she watched the classic movie Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. With Dylan's Candy Bar locations throughout the nation, she's made all our dreams come true.

Edible Gingerbread Playhouse by Dylan's Candy Bar
Price $15,000.00

For all the delectable details, call 1.877.9NM.GIFT.

Slutty Barbies, Gangsta Baby Dolls And Serial Killer Action Figures




When I was a little girl, my choices for baby dolls included Mattel's Baby Tender Love, The Crissy Dolls (whose hair grew with a push of their belly button) or a Talking Mrs Beasley doll.
The kind of dolls that when stuffed into a stroller, didn't garner much attention from passers-by.


above: the innocent dolls of my youth

But things certainly have changed (as they should- to some degree) and the Gangsta Baby Dolls both thrill and repulse me simultaneously. I'm not going to go into a dissertation about the increase in violence, how MTV ruined the world, lol... or how kids are not what they used to be. You all know that already. But in this post, I just wanted to show you the available dolls on the market that reflect those changes in society and culture.

Now, if I saw one of these dolls in the arms of a toddler, I'd have to do a double take... but I may also have to ask where it was purchased. Luckily for you, I've added the link to buy these bizarre but fab Gansta babies by Mezco.


buy the Gangsta Babies Pookie Doll here.


buy the Gangsta Babies Big Deuce Doll here.


Buy the Gansta Babies Rey Rey doll here.


Buy the Gangsta Babies Benjino Doll here.

My Barbie Doll drove a corvette, not a hog. But things have changed, now Barbie is a leather chaps-clad chopper chick. And she has a huge tramp stamp on her back. At least she comes with a helmet.

Harley Davidson Barbie Doll:

Buy Harley Barbie here.

Since tough chick Barbie (above), needs a friend to hang with, there's Hard Rock Cafe Goth Barbie and Hard Rock cafe Runway Barbie:


both Hard Rock cafe barbies are available for purchase here

And although there were some 'monster dolls' like Frankenstein or Dracula, there certainly weren't any Action Figures known for their blood-lust and the murdering of innocent people, like these actions figures modeled after popular pop culture serial killers and drug dealers.


Pre Order the Dexter Action Figure here


Buy The Hannibal Lechter Action Figure here.

You'll notice, no one has the nerve to mass market a Ted Bundy Doll or a John Wayne Gacy doll, but there's really not that much of a difference.

Drug Dealer dolls:

Buy the Scarface action figure here.

As an adult, I can appreciate the dolls above, and would even buy them, but would I buy them for my kids? I'm not sure. Would you?

Pleo for the Pedia Set: Playskool's Kota The Triceratops



Above: Kota The Triceratops Animatronic Dino For Kids

First off, the good and the bad news: He doesn't actually walk (he moves his head, opens his mouth, roars and responds to certain stimuli like touch and sounds).

This is good for parents who don't have to worry about the dino and passenger falling down stairs, leaving the room or accidentally plowing into an expensive piece of furniture.

This is bad for those who thought who were absolutely wowed at the thought of a walking dinosaur upon which toddlers could 'ride'.

Either way, this is Pleo For the Pedia set. And yes, I bought one for my nephews today.


Hasbro's PLAYSKOOL goes prehistoric with the introduction of the KOTA The Triceratops Dinosaur. Featuring sophisticated electronics, animatronics and design, this 'life-size' baby dinosaur 'comes to life' creating a magical experience for preschoolers.



Measuring over 40-inches long KOTA The Triceratops reacts to touch and sound with realistic dinosaur noises and movements.

Featuring sensors in eleven areas on his body, KOTA will react to touch by moving his head, tail and horns or giving a friendly dino roar.



With KOTA The Triceratops children will enjoy the simulated experience of 'riding' a dinosaur; kids can ride comfortably on his back in a spring-loaded seat, holding onto a handle hidden behind the dinosaur's head.

To enhance the fantasy play of going for an adventure on a triceratops, while 'riding' KOTA children will hear fun jungle sounds and a kid-friendly 'roar'.



toy description: It’s fossil-sized fun standing just over 2.5 feet tall. A hidden handle helps kids hold on once they climb onto the dinosaur’s back. Realistic stomping sounds add to the make-believe fun as kids bounce in place on the spring seat. Talk to KOTA the Triceratops and he roars back with expressive tail, head, eye, mouth and horn movements. Touch his nose with your hand and KOTA “sniffs” it! In fact, it’s easy to trigger all of his sensitive spots – try tickling his belly or chin to make KOTA “laugh”. And when you think this pretend dinosaur has worked up an appetite, be sure to “feed” KOTA his leafy snack – it really sounds like he’s munching on it! Four different adventure-themed tunes set the mood for your child’s wild imagination as he embarks on a dino-filled "rides." But don’t worry! A convenient volume control switch lets you adjust the level or turn it off. KOTA the Triceratops may look thick-skinned, but just one stroke on his scaly-like fabric “hide” will prove he’s really a soft and snuggable playmate who’s ready for all of your child’s dino-roarin’ escapades.




Dinosaur figure comes with leafy snack and instructions.
Requires 6 “D” batteries (not included).


Retail price is set at $299, but as of yesterday, the best online deal I could find was at Amazon for $239.00 and free super saver shipping.

Buy it here from Amazon. Or here from Hasbro.

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