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Saturday, September 12, 2009

Saturday Swag-urday

Is back on the scene, crispy and clean.

Can anyone name the song those lyrics are from? Anyone? Anyone?

First person to guess wins, I don't know, something!

Anyway.

Moving right along.

I've decided to start my Christmas shopping.

I know, it's like technically still summer (although 'round these parts it really hasn't been feeling like it).

But, I walked into Michael's the other day and they had all their holly holiday stuff twinkling all over the place already.

IT'S NOT EVEN HALLOWEEN YET!

So, I figured it's safe for me to start reviewing (and giving away!) toys for the holiday season.

But, seriously, don't feel obligated to use my suggestions as X-mas gifts.

By all means, do whatever you like with them.

Just do me one favor.

It's bound to happen that someone will say, "Wow, what an awesome gift idea!". And when they do, be sure to say, "Why thank you. I got the idea from this amazingly intelligent, beyond cool website, run by this super trendy soon to be famous blogger called PBD."

No sweat off your back and it's like the least you could do, right? I mean, I've done all of the hard work to locate and/or review all of the biggest hits on your gift giving list, the least you could do is tell all your peeps about me.

Just sayin'.

So to jump off PBD's Ultimate Bomb Diggity Gift Giving Guide of 2009, let's start with something sure to get your little people's creative juices flowing.

Melissa and Doug hand puppets.

We got ours courtesy* of allchildrensfurniture.com, a member of the CSN family of stores.

They kindly sent the dudes three hand puppets: a knight (which they named Sir Fight Man), a King (named King of the Land), and a princess (affectionately named The Gril, not a typo, that's just how #2 says it).

We set up our homemade puppet theater (which is just some PVC piping fitted together, with fabric fahsioned into makeshift curtains, in front of their handy-dandy-mostly-empty-cause-the-toys-are-on-the-floor toy box. Low budget=high fun!), they made up their story line, and off they went.



See? Three hand puppets and you too can have a theatrical masterpiece like "Knights, Blood, and Mind Control" (but you have to call it something else or #2 is going to sue you for copyright infringement, or punch you in the gut, whichever one is most effective).

King: #2
Knight: #1
Princess: #2
Villain (played by a non puppet): #2

Sound effects: #3
Set design: Dumb Mom
Writter: #1
Director: #2

They had so much fun coming up with their story line and building their set.

They didn't even care that the only audience member (#3) talked through the entire production, threw things at them, and streaked naked across their stage. Twice.

I've definitely been surprised at how much they have enjoyed these.

I honestly didn't know they could work together long enough to do something like this, but they did and it was pretty good (when they weren't laughing hysterically at themselves).

We had a blast. A TV-Gamecube-DS-free-good-old-fashioned blast.

Not really into puppets? Feel free to pop on over to allchildrensfurniture.com and check out all of the other toys and games (not to mention furniture and room decor) they offer. I spent hours (literally) going through all of their options before I settled on the puppets. Possibly that's because I'm an indecisive worry wart, but it could really just be because they have so much to chose from. YOu'll have to check them out to see for yourself!


*In case you were wondering, "courtesy" means free as it is used in this case!

20 comments:

Carma Sez said...

LL Cool J "Born to Love You"

You are starting your Christmas shopping already!! Gah! Now I'm getting stressed ;-)

Amanda {My Life Badly Written} said...

Trik Turner - "Black Sheep"

I LOVE Christmas shopping look forward to your reviews.

Nicole @ WhenDidIBecomeMyMom.com said...

Wow! A TV-Gamecube-DS-free-good-old-fashioned blast. And look you told me where I can gets me somes. :-)

Definitely goin to check it out. Baby girl loves when daddy makes the teddy bears "dance" and "talk" so it's not a stretch to think that puppets will work well in my house.

TooFatties said...

Black Sheep "The Choice is Yours" circa 1991...middle school baby!

KK said...

I know, I started to look at the Christmas ornaments at Hobby Lobby the other day and then I thought STOP this is wrong!

Mira is triplet crown said...

Well apparently your song challenge is challenging. Three choices already. As for getting stuff free. One of these days you're going to tell me how you do that? Is it a matter of how many readers you have? Proving traffic worthiness? Very nice puppets.

DiPaola Momma said...

yeah um I SUCK at the whole name that tune without actually having a tune and well I'm OLD as dirt so it's likely a song WAY to hip for moi!

Them Puppets though are GREAT! We do the sock puppy theater here. Maybe it's time to upgrade to the real thing? Can I just say though that they sort of remind me of the two old farts from the muppets (before your time? he he).

My Trendy Tykes said...

.....you can get with this or you can get with that
You should get with this cause this is where it's at!

PICK IT UP PICK IT UP PICK IT UP !

: )

mamma b said...

I wanna go Christmas shopping too. Is it too early to be playing "Here Comes Santa Claus"?

KMServino said...

I'd be playing Christmas music already if my husband would let me. I can't WAIT to decorate too!

Alicia said...

fun!! i love the puppet show!

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice said...

What?! give you credit? Pah Shaw I would totally take credit for being the brilliant one. Isn't that was blogging is all about ROTFL JK
I can't believe they had xmas stuff out. they must be really expecting a bummer xmas season w the econ

Liz Mays said...

I like those crazy puppets! You know you can let multiple personalities have it when you play with puppets. (I don't have them, mind you, but I think it would work)

Jennifer said...

I'm shopping late this year. I always go early and end up spending tons of money because I keep shopping right up until Christmas so this year I'm waiting.

KatBouska said...

Kainoa is terrified of puppets...I'll be sure to let him know where I got the great idea. He will grow up fearing your site. ;)

ps It's never too early to start buying Christmas presents. I buy Christmas gifts for myself all year long.

Dumb Mom said...

Nice, Tuboflard! Knew I could count on you, though since you were there when I was christening this song in my cross color pants and hoop earrings it's almost not fair. Engine, engine #9, on the NY transit line, if my train falls off the track, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up...could go on if I need to! But, I know you remember the awesomeness that was 8th grade so I'll stop there.

Mama Cas said...

What a coincidence...I started my shopping yesterday. Sometimes, when you see something, you gotta get it because it will NOT be there the next time. I was in that kind of store.

ck said...

I love the handwriting on that sign. Kids' handwriting rocks!

I think I should bring my older daughter over to play the part of the princess. She's got lots of experience...

supahmommy- somethin's wrong with that girl said...

I sooo remember riding in a hooopty .. 10th grade singing that.

I think we passed you.. in your pants... and yelled an obscenity. For that... I am sorry.

:)
d

Nicole @ Chic and Cheap Nursery said...

i am a believer that christmas shopping is always done best at the last minute. it just doesn't feel right if i don't have to fight someone for the item i am going to purchase.

love Melissa and Doug toys.

Giving away two copies of the movie Extract starring Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck. Contest ends 4/2/10.
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