1. 1-2-3 Stomp!: Wild Planet has some really fun, educational toys. I especially like their Smart Step games, because there are so many good things being learned at the same time. Kids have to listen, take turns and such while being active. I like 1-2-3 Stomp because it teaches four different educational skills (numbers and colors, number sequences, finding missing numbers along with addition and subtraction). As a parent, anything that makes learning fun is top on my list! (Ages: 3+, $29.99 SRP)

2. Bakugan 7 in 1 Maxus Dragonoid: Bakugan is HUGE right now. I understand why. I watched the show with my son and it’s very smart! The characters on the show really have to use strategy and their imagination in order to win various battles. Each battle is different, because you don’t know which Bakugan your opponent will use. I was (pleasantly) surprised and impressed how the show and toys teach kids to process information and respond quickly. This particular Maxus Dragonoid is a combination including 1 Bakugan and 6 Bakugan traps. They all combine to form an ultimate fighting monster. (Don’t worry if you have no idea what I’m talking about. Your sons will…) These seven pieces are not available anywhere else besides in this set, so if you have a little Bakugan player/collector, you will definitely want to get this. (Ages: 5 to 15; $39.99 SRP)

3. Disney Just One Kiss Princess Tiana Doll: Did you read my review of The Princess and the Frog movie? If so, it will be clear why I picked this doll. Princess Tiana is a doll that little girls from all racial and ethnic backgrounds would love! (Ages: 3+, $24.99 SRP)

4. LeapFrog Scribble and Write: It is no secret that we are big fans of LeapFrog around here. I like the way that this particular toy grows with the kids. They start off by tracing lights in order to draw simple objects. As they get older, they use it to learn/practice their upper and lowercase letters. I won one of these systems at Blogalicious. I will give it to Sean, but I have a feeling that Michael will be using it as well. (Ages: 3 to 6; $21.99 SRP)

5. Play-doh Burger Builder: After an incident with my sons grinding play-doh into my carpet, I was tempted to take this suggestion off my list. It is a great toy though. Most kids love playing with play-doh. They like making shapes with it even more. This set combines both, because it provides tools for kids to mold a variety of burger related food products (i.e. patties, lettuce, pickles, fries, etc.) More than anything, I just like to see kids’ role play and come up with their own concoctions! (Ages: 3 to 7; $14.99 SRP)

6. Strawberry Shortcake Playset – Berry Cafe: I wrote about how much I love Strawberry Shortcake on this giveaway post. Yes. This is also one of our holiday giveaways! (Ages: 4-8; $34.99 SRP)

7. Technosource Printies Pets Design Studio : I saw these Printies at the Time To Play holiday showcase. I really like that they are a simple, affordable gift option. Basically, you buy a themed set (monsters, pets, etc) for your kids and let them go online to design/customize their character. Once they are happy with their designs, they print it out on the special Printies paper. Then, they pop out the pre-stitched design; stuff it with the included stuffing and stuffing tool. The best part is that they close it simply by pressing the pieces together. There is no sewing or ironing needed. What I especially like is that the variety of designs makes this a fun project for both boys and girls. I even enjoyed creating a stuffed animal myself, so you might want to join in on the fun. (Ages: 6+; $19.99 SRP)

8. The Wonder Forge Dr Seuss Super Stretchy ABCs: This is another “makes learning fun” game pick. My kids love Dr. Seuss. (So do I!) I also liked the “Twister” game when I was growing up. (Do you remember that game or am I aging myself?) Anyway, this game is a blend of the two. Basically, kids twist their bodies in the game to reach different areas on the oversized alphabet mat. It’s a simple, but engaging concept that works both the mind and the body. I’ll take that! (Ages: 3+; $24.99 SRP)

9. Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Action Figure – Constructicon Devastator: It is the biggest Transformers robot ever – bigger than the AUTOBOTS and the DECEPTICONS. (I do not follow Transformers, but my husband and son really like the series.) The Devastator figure is created by combing six detailed vehicles, including one that makes sounds as it converts to be part of the larger robot. Lights and sounds of things being destroyed are two of the biggest appeals of this toy. This is also the most expensive toy for kids on my list. It is a great toy, but I would only get it if my kid were a die-hard Transformers fan. If so, they will enjoy hours of recreating movie scenes with the six vehicles (LONGHAUL, MIXMASTER, SCAVENGER, RAMPAGE, SCRAPPER, and HIGHTOWER) – both separately and combined to make the Devastator. Please note that this toy requires 2 AA batteries. (Ages: 5+; $99.99 SRP)

10. Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Mr. Squiggles – Light Brown: I don’t quite get the (mass!) appeal of this electronic toy, but the kids love them. When I was little, we all had real pet hamsters, but times have changed. I had not even heard of a Zhu Zhu pet when my son put it on his holiday “wish list”. Believe me…these pet hamsters make kids happy when they scoot around or when they are snuggled. The squeaks are also a special touch. The plus side for parents is that we don’t have to feed and clean up after these pets! (Ages: 3+; $69.95 SRP)

Congrats to the winner: Yvonne C.

Oh, you all are going to LOVE me for this giveaway. Actually, I love you for it, because without you, I would not have been chosen to participate in this review and giveaway program.

Anyway, last month someone from Coach reached out to me and asked if I would like to be a part of Coach’s Holiday Blog-a-Day program that would be taking place from November 20th to December 19th. Basically, Coach asked thirty of their favorite bloggers (including me –yay!) what we are most excited about from Coach this holiday season. If you visit www.coach.com/holidayblog each day during the promotion, you can read what each blogger has to say about Coach, including GIVEAWAYS, reviews, pictorials and such. Although, I knew that I would be knee-deep in holiday giveaways and gift guides, I answered a resounding, “Yes!” (Of course…it’s Coach!)

The theme for my Coach Holiday picks is my favorite color for the fall – the color purple. If I could only choose three Coach bags as holiday gifts, they would be the following:

1. The purple leather Maggie purse for me

2. The purple textured metallic Audrey bag as a giveaway for one of you!

And (to mix it up a bit)

3. The multi-colored Op Art Darcy Clutch

-Let me give you my review of my new best friend, Maggie ($348 SRP) first. She’s beautiful. I have been getting “oohs” and “aahs” since she first came into my possession. As one of my twitter friends wrote:
“WOW, I mean wow… that is beautiful LOVE the color You will have it forevr bc it is impossible to kill Coach, qual is amazing” (FYI: She can spell. Twitter just limits you to 140 characters.)

I agree. You know that I’m a simple, stream-lined type of gal, so I love the classic shape of the bag. The color is gorgeous. I am such a typical New Yorker in that I live in black/dark colors. One of my dear fashionista friends gave her seal of approval, “It’s good to see you with some color.” Exactly. As far as the quality – it is impeccable. Coach is such a classic brand. I remember how even back when I was in high school (almost two decades ago – ouch!), Coach was the “bag of aspiration” for many of my friends. Whenever any one of us was lucky enough to be gifted a real (not knock-off, I hate knock-offs) one, the rest of us would be equally happy. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Only one note of caution: If you do get a (non-black) colored Coach bag, be careful not to let anyone get ink marks on it – especially not within the first week. If by chance they do, don’t try to get the ink mark out yourself. You will probably end up discoloring a bit of your bag – and crying (or at least be near tears until you realize that in the grand scheme of things, you can always flip the bag around). I’m not saying that this happened to me. I’m just saying…

-I chose the Audrey bag ($598 SRP) for one of you. I chose her for several reasons. First of all, it is a beautiful and stylish bag. It has a classic shape, with a little texture to make it extra special for the holiday season and beyond. I also like that you can wear it either as a handbag or a shoulder bag. When I’m out with the husband, I can do a handbag. If the kids are along, it is shoulder bag all of the way. Lastly, I chose it for practical reasons. (If a giveaway is over $600, the winner must pay taxes on the prize.)

-My last choice is the multi-colored Op Art Darcy Clutch ($498 SRP). This pick is a departure from my normal style. I like to mix it up a bit sometimes though. I’m a woman – it’s my prerogative. I picked Darcy because I like clutch purses. I feel so classy when I carry one. I especially like the design (it’s simple yet modern at the same time) and color mix of this particular clutch. Isn’t she lovely?

Now, for the part that you all have been waiting for…

It’s challenging to put together holiday gift guides for moms, because we have such a wide variety of interests. This year, I have reviewed a lot of great products. That’s why I’m simply going to pick my top five favorites as holiday gift ideas…

1. Breville 800GRXL Die-Cast Indoor Barbeque and Grill: I wrote the following about the grill on this post:

Normally, my husband is not excited about the items that I review or give away on this site. However, he was really happy about this one! I let him know that he would have to work for it though by sharing his thoughts. Here are the 5 things that we like the most about the grill:

1. It is versatile. The height adjusts so you can grill a variety of foods from pancakes to thick cuts of meat.

5. It is a healthy choice. You have the option of draining the fat into the included dip tray. (My husband doesn’t really care because he has a crazy metabolism. He can eat whatever he likes and not gain an ounce.) ($249.99 SRP)

2. HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer: I did a giveaway for the printer on this post. Prior to that, I was able to tinker around with one at a HP event in NYC where I observed the following:

It’s the world’s first web-connected home printer. I came home and shared with my husband that he would love this printer because it easily prints out correctly-formatted maps. (We have a GPS, but my husband always likes to have directions on paper also…just in case.)

-It has multiple uses. Along with the fun web feature, the printer also prints, faxes, copies and scans. ($399.99 SRP)

3. Kodak Zi8 HD Pocket Video Camera (Black) NEWEST MODEL: I have raved so much about this video camera this year, so obviously it made my top five list. Until a better product comes along, it is my current small video camera of choice. It’s so easy to use. I especially like that you can switch between photo and video mode and that it takes good video even in low light situations. Two things to note when using it: 1. Get close to your subject, so that it will pick up the sound (or get an external microphone – it has a jack); and 2. Use the lowest resolution setting that you need, because the 1080 high definition video takes a LONG time to download. ($179.95 SRP)

4. Panasonic Toughbook: This is my favorite aspect of being a part of Panasonic’s Living in HD program. As a LiHD family, we have been loaned a suite of products to test out over time. So far, this notebook has passed the test with flying colors. The top three personal reasons that I think this laptop would make a great holiday gift for any mom are the following:

1. It is nice and light.

2. When I travel, it allows me to do my work on the airplane or in the hotel so that when I come home, I am e able to spend time with my family.

3. My husband is a teacher. I am a parenting writer/blogger. We had one PC before we became a part of the Living in HD family. Since both my husband and I do a lot of our computer work at night after the kids are in bed, sometimes we would jockey for computer rights! Earlier this year, I was all set to buy a laptop since my workload had been expanding. Then, we found out that we had been accepted as part of the program (yay!). I really enjoy using the laptop. With the wireless mouse, it’s just as easy as using the PC. Now, both my husband and I get our work done in a more timely fashion…leaving us more “non-work” time to spend with one another.

Unfortunately, this particular model has been discontinued, but you can check out the updated/even better Toughbook versions on Panasonic’s Mobile Computer site.

5. Tillia Beauty: Gifts don’t have to be expensive. I wrote the following about two of this beauty company’s bath product on this post:

I loved the two products that they sent me to review so much that I kept one for myself and gave the other to my own mom! Tiffany Lerman, who designed the line, is a mom of two who wanted to introduce products so that moms could indulge themselves. She hit the mark. I love, love, love the Pink Grapefruit Bubble Bath ($20). I keep walking around with it open telling the visitors to my home, “Smell this!”, because it smells so fragrant. I can’t give this product a better compliment than to say that it has made me (a shower person) go back to taking baths at least once a week. I’m also impressed that the company is able to make such wonderful products (did I mention that they are paraben-free and eco-friendly?) at such reasonable price points ($12 – $30). Tillia is definitely one of my top Bath & Body company picks!

We love playing video games together as a family. The Wii is our platform of choice. We also value the DS/DSi to keep the kids occupied during travel by subway or car. (Thankfully, we don’t have the crazy 3-4 hour daily subway school commute anymore. It’s such a gift to be able to walk back and forth to school.) Meanwhile, here are the five games that my family has enjoyed reviewing the most this year. They are all Rated “E” for “Everyone”

1. EA Sports Active: I wrote the following about my experience with this game on this post:
This game really is like having a personal trainer in a box. (It just doesn’t call you when you miss a session – hence the two month completion time. Also, instead of being priced per session, it’s a one time cost of $60.) On Day 1, I did the workout at high intensity. “I’m pretty fit,” I thought to myself. “I can pretty much so do my Tae-bo workout without breaking a sweat.” Let’s just say that I was so wrong. I almost vomited after the first workout, because I was so nauseous. This exercise system works out muscles that I didn’t even know existed in my body! I did the rest of the program at medium intensity. That was a much better fit. Still, fast kickbacks and squat lifts are not my friends at any level.

More than anything else, I like that this 30 day system mixes up the exercises. It’s never exactly the same set. I think that’s why this workout makes me break a sweat every day – my body never gets “used to” doing the same thing. Also, since I get bored easily, this was one of the few exercise routines that kept my interest. ($59.99 SRP, but it is currently on sale for $49.99)

(Update: I’m excited because this Friday, I’ll be starting a new 6 week challenge with the updated version of the system: EA Sports Active: More Workouts. Wish me success!)

2. Style Savvy: I was introduced to this game at a Nintendo Holiday Games Demo back in September. Budding fashionistas will love this fashion video game. Personally, I like that it’s more than just playing with clothes. There is also a business side to it, because the game makes the player the manager of their own clothing boutique. Two valuable life skills – math (purchasing inventory, monitoring store funds) and people-skills (i.e. learning to please a variety of customers) are taught. Another neat aspect is that it actually includes real-life fashions (i.e. items from Charlotte Ronson’s fall 2009 clothing line) that are available for download in addition to the 10,000+ items (clothes, shoes, accessories) already included in the game. All of that is great, but will (primarily) little girls like it? So far, the answer has been a resounding “yes”. In fact, I couldn’t pry it out of the hands of my little girl tester. Granted, it was primarily about the “cute clothes” to her…($29.99 SRP)

3. The Legendary Starfy: I wrote the following about this game on this post:
One other game that deserves special note is a Nintendo DS game called The Legendary Starfy. It’s Michael’s new favorite DS game which he gets to play during his prekindergarten commute. I still don’t understand how he picks up these games without being able to read the instructions, but he does. In this one, Starfy (the hero) fights various nature-themed obstacles (i.e. ocean currents, pits, etc.) while simultaneously fighting his enemies. (I like that the opponents are comical, not especially scary looking.) The thing that I like the most about this game though is the variety. There are several different settings with their own series of mazes, puzzles and challenges that keep players on their toes. (That’s especially great for my little one who gets bored once he has something down to “a system”.) Michael really likes Starfy’s power to change into different forms (Monstar, a dragonthat spits fire; Starpedo, an Arctic seal with acrobatic abilities; Starfright, a spooky specter; and Roostar, a super-squawking chicken that lays sonic eggs) and his various skills and abilities (especially the Star Spin forceful attack).

My two cents: “Awww. Starfy is so cute!” ($29.99 SRP)

4. Toy Story Mania!: We attended a Disney Fall Blogger Party last week and there were many video games to try out. This is the one that my son liked the most. (This and another racing game, but that game is not out until next year.) This game has received mixed reviews by various media sources, but we like it. I think that if your kids like the Toy Story movie, they will really enjoy this game. If they have visited Disney and played the “Toy Story Mania” game there (like we did), they will love it. In fact, that’s the first thing that I said, “Oh, it’s like the Disney ride.” Exactly – that is because parts of the game are just like the Disney attraction. Other parts are original. It is not a super difficult game, but it is fun and you can play together as a family (as a group or as competitors). Parts of the game are in 3-D which my son likes. Most of all, I think that Michael likes the shooting aspect of this game. That is because we don’t allow our kids to play games that shoot at people. Number targets and such – like in this game – are fine with us though. ($49.99 SRP)

On a total side note, I think that we might be fighting an up-hill battle with this “no guns” policy – these kids make pretend guns out of things like my eyeglass case?!

5. Wii Sports Resort: I wrote the following about this game on this post:
One neat thing about the Wii sports Resort game is that it comes with one Wii MotionPlus accessory. (We’re going to buy another one so that we can play the games against one another rather than just single players.) It makes the game even more interactive, because it notices more movements that you make with the Wii remote controller. I like it for the most part even though it makes me stink at playing basketball – the one Wii game that I was the best at using the regular remote. Oh, well.

The setting is a tropical island and it has 12 resort-themed sports. Some of the sports (like Swordplay) are really easy. The youngest of kids can play that one. Sean actually scared me with how good he was at Swordplay. That little boy can attack! My husband and Michael are really good at table tennis. (I’m not.) Other sports (like basketball) take a little more skill. Others (like golf and bowling) are just a step above the original Wii Sports game. All in all, I think that this is a great family game. ($49.99 SRP)

The thing about picking toys for very small kids is that each kid is so unique. At this stage, my kids primarily liked stackers, books, blocks, lego-type sets and music instruments. Most of all, they like the boxes that I receive my deliveries in! However, we always get each of them at least one special gift during the holiday season. Below are ten great picks:

1. Crayola Beginnings Baby TaDoodles Drop & See Playset w 3 TaDoodles Balls (2009): Crayola TaDoodles were a big hit at our house last holiday season when Sean’s aunt bought him a gift set. Now that he’s a little older, he prefers his brother’s “big boy” crayons (still Crayola). There is so much to like about this particular set. Kids get to work on their motor skills (with the push-and-pull levels and buttons that make sounds). They also get to be creative as they see the three TaDoodles travel through the rainbow colored set mixing colors and such. Note that this toy requires 3 “AA” Batteries (Ages: 9+ months; $24.99 SRP)

2. Fisher-Price Learn To Fly Abby: What can I say? After spending the day at Sesame Street, I fell in love with Abby Cadabby! This plush Abby is super cute because it allows your kid to help her learn how to fly. Each time the child touches Abby with the wand, it causes Abby to get closer to flying. The third/final touch causes Abby to fly (lift up on her tippy-toes and quickly flap her wings – she doesn’t actually fly like a remote-controlled airplane). If your kids are Sesame Street fans, this toy will be a big hit. Note that this toy requires 4 “AA” batteries. (Ages: 18 months+; $37.99 SRP)

3. Fisher Price Manny’s Fix – it Motorcycle: I first saw this toy at the Toy Fair earlier this year. I knew that it would be a hit for several reasons. First, it’s Handy Manny, a very popular preschool character. (My kids don’t watch the show as much anymore due to changes in their schedules, but it was a past favorite.) Secondly, it features a cool motorcycle. Lastly, I think that kids will enjoy tinkering around with the different parts. They can change the bike into a chopper by following the enclosed blueprints. I really like how these Manny toys really help the kids to feel like mini mechanics. (I was going to recommend the Fisher Price Manny’s Repair Shop which has several projects instead, but it’s a little large for those of us with limited space.) Note that this toy requires 3 AAA batteries. (Ages: 3 years+; $34.99 SRP)

4. Infantino Tummy Time Activity Center: For some unknown reason, neither of my kids were big fans of tummy time. Little activity centers like this helped a bit. There is a wide variety of this type of product, but I especially like this Infantino one. Each of the four sides has a variety of activities. I especially like the peek-a-boo mirror (a big favorite with most kids) and the water pouch fish tank. What is neat is that it grows with the kids. (My kids tended to enjoy this type of toy more when they could sit up and play with it.) (Ages: 0 months+; $$22.99 SRP)

5. I reviewed the Leap Frog Tag Junior on this post. I wrote:

I also received the LeapFrog Tag Junior book pal for Sean. My husband Reggie used the included USB cord to download the stories from the LeapFrog website. The timing could not have been better. Since Michael is in school, Sean goes to “home school”. Reading is a large part of what we do. Fortunately, both of my sons already have a love for books. The Tag Junior simply allows Sean to “read” books both alone and with me … What I do like about this system is that it helps me to better my reading skills with the kids. Since the books are interactive, they make sounds and ask questions along with reading the text. That helps me think of ways to make other books come alive when I’m reading with the kids. I also like that the TAG Junior is helping Sean with basic beginner reading skills (i.e. he’ll listen to what the reader is saying and run his fingers under the words from left to right like he’s “reading”). It’s very cute. (Ages: 2 – 4 years; $34.99 SRP, but it’s on sale right now!)

6. Learning Resources Counting Fun Fruit Bowl: This is one of those simple, durable educational toys that both kids and parents really enjoy. Basically, it’s just 5 plastic fruits in a bowl. What makes it neat is that the pieces of each fruit is numbered and they come together/pull apart. It’s a very easy way to teach basic math (counting, fractions and such). My kids like to play grocery store, so this is a great way to have them play without damaging my real produce! (Ages: 3 – 6 years; $18.99 SRP, but it is on sale)

7. Hit Toy Let’s Go Thomas: I have mentioned how much my boys love Thomas at the moment. (I have seen little girls watch Thomas shows and they enjoy him too.) We usually get our kids one gift based on their favorite character of the moment. If you’re like us and your little one loves Thomas, they will love this interactive Thomas that talks, sings and chugs along. (His blushing cheeks and reactions to voice commands are also big hits!) Note that this toy requires 3 C batteries. (Ages: 18+ months; $49.99 SRP)

8. Skip Hop Animal Ball Trio: Sometimes it’s hard to find unique gifts for infants. I like this one because it’s cute, affordable and safe. It’s a set of three soft balls and one ring. The balls (which have different textures) chime, rattle or squeak. Best of all, you can attach it to practically anything with the ring. (Ages: 0 months+; $15 SRP)

9. I reviewed the U-Play Mat on this post. You can read the full review there, but here is a bit of what I wrote:

-I like that it “forces” parents to actually get down on the floor in order to interact with their kids. I don’t know about you, but at times, I can get caught up with the “busy” nature of life. I must admit that at certain times, “Can we play…?” is my least favorite question! However, I know how important it is for my kids to see me slow down, sit down and actually play with them.

-It is well designed. Besides the quality of products, it’s important to me that they are self-contained. (I’m a clutter-phobe.) The mat comes with a tote bag where you can neatly place the mat and cards. I just put everything in the bag and place it in my kids’ closet. Yes! (Ages: 0 months+; $49 SRP)

10. Yo Gabba Gabba Muno’s Groovin’ Guitar – Assortment. I was going to suggest the Yo Gabba Gabba! Boom Box because it’s a more recent offering, but I decided to stick with a family favorite. I bought this for Sean for his second birthday earlier this year. He and Michael take turns “playing guitar” on it. Sean especially likes the Yo Gabbab Gabba! show, so he’ll go and get his guitar and pretend to play along to the songs on the show. When the kids are not playing air guitar, they can listen to pre-selected songs by pushing the corresponding button on the guitar. It’s also sturdy – which is important, because kids are creative. Around here, one day it’s a guitar, one day a surfboard… (Ages: 2 – 5 years; $22.99 SRP)

This year has been a fun blur. I’ve been fortunate to see a lot – including a huge amount of toys and games. I’ve had a chance to see toys at work – at shows and fairs as well as in homes. Suffice it to say, I’m all toyed out at the moment! This year for my holiday guide, I’m including my favorites: 10 infant/toddler toys (Monday); 5 gaming picks (Tuesday); Update: 5 “mommy” picks (Thursday) and 10 preschooler/early school year toys (Tuesday -11/24). Enjoy!

Meanwhile, there are a lot of different gift guides out there. Here are some of the ones that I like:

-Amazon.com’s Holiday Toy List

-Disney FamilyFun Magazine’s 2009 Toy of the Year Awards

-Dr. Toy’s Best Picks – 2009 (Dr. Toy also has a Best Green Products list.)

-Funfare’s Hot Dozen 2009

-Time to Play Mag’s Most Wanted Toys

-The Toy Insiders’ The 20 Hottest Toys for 2009

And

-TOYS”R”US 2009 Holiday Hot Toy List

(Cool Mom Picks also has a consistently good holiday guide with non-mainstream products – primarily indie/emerging designers and mom/women-run companies. It’s not up yet, but be sure to keep checking back there for that one!)

11/26 Update: 5 Minutes for Mom also has a great link-up of various gift guides from around the blogosphere. You can find it here.