Santa gift ideas; Qwirkle Board Game

Games Magazine Award: Best Family Game Runner-up 2007.
Mensa Best Mind Game Award Winner 2007; Major Fun Award Winner 2007.

An addictive strategy game in the tradition of Sequence, Scrabble, and Othello, the Qwirkle Board Game from MindWare has a simple, straightforward premise: match tiles and win points. But the real joy of the game lies in plotting and scheming your way to victory. Winner of the Parent's Choice Gold Award and a Mensa Select National Competition Winner, Qwirkle is destined to be a family game night favorite. This game is designed for ages six and up and for two to four players.

Mix, Match, Score, and Win

Qwirkle consists of 108 wooden blocks with six different shapes in six colors. Using the blocks, players attempt to score the most points by building lines that share the same shape or color. The simple setup makes this an instant winner for younger kids, while adults will enjoy strategizing to win.

Review of Qwirkle Board Game
Love it for all ages I recommend this game. My other favorites are Blokus, Othello and Rummikube, all the same genre, fun, easy to explain and play and yet a challenge.

Santa gift ideas; Rory's Story Cubes

Rory's Story Cubes, The cube is a pocket-sized creative story generator, providing hours of imaginative play for all ages

There are infinite ways to play with Rory's Story Cubes. You can play solitaire or with others. Here are some suggested uses: Party game or ice-breaker, Literacy development, Speaking and listening skills, Creative inspiration, Mental workout, Problem solving. Rory's Story Cubes is a pocket-sized creative story generator, providing hours of imaginative play for all ages. With Rory's Story Cubes, anyone can become a great storyteller and there are no wrong answers. Simply roll the cubes and let the pictures spark your imagination.

Review of Rory's Story Cubes
Limitless fun, helps you exercise your imagination! Rory's Story Cubes are a fantastic toy/educational activity. Roll the dice, and create a story on your own, inspired by the images.

Santa gift ideas; Spot it

Spot IT Game

Product Features

• Contains four fast, challenging mini-party games in which all players play simultaneously
• Designed for all ages and packaged in a travel-size tin, Spot it develops visual perception and matching skills
• It supports quick mental processing and sharpens cognitive skills in a fun atmosphere
• The symbols are universal and easy to remember but the variety of imagery will challenge any eye
• Travel size

Put your visual perception skills to the test with Spot It, a fun, fast-paced, and simple card game that everyone aged 7 years and up can enjoy. In a group of two to eight players, you'll draw cards and match symbols, like light bulbs, snowmen, or puppies, but with one catch--only one matching symbol exists between any two cards. The first person to spot the matching symbol and call it out wins.

Spot it game consists of 55 circular cards. Because the game requires quick mental processing, it moves fast, challenging your visual perception, memory, and matching skills. Your group of two to eight players will delight in spotting the matching symbols and agonize over getting beat to the punch by a faster player.

Spot it spot the Matching Symbol to Win, playing this card game is easy. Simply draw two cards at random and place them face up on the table so that everyone can see. Find the matching symbol between the two cards. The first player to call out the name of the matching symbol wins. The winning player then draws two new cards, places them on the table, and repeats the process. And spot it lets players choose from five individual mini-games with separate rules and objectives. Choose such contests as The Tower, The Well, Hot Potato, The Poisoned Gift, or Triplet and play them in any order. The player who wins the most mini-games becomes the champion.

Review of Spot it gameFast fun for all! What more could one want for a summer game at the beach?!!

Great Family Game There are several different ways you can play and every hand is different, so you don't get bored. It is also small and even fits in my purse.

Santa gift ideas; FIJIT Friends Willa Interactive Toy

Willa, a smart, fun, and funny Fijit Friend, is an interactive toy that'll become your child's new best friend. With supple skin that enables amazing movement, this trend-setting purple Fijit Friend has several interactive features, including voice recognition, beat detection, dance mode, and over 150 built-in responses. Recommended for ages six and up, Willa will be a fast and lasting friend that chats, dances, jokes, and performs.

Product Features

• Girls can poke and squeeze Fijit's soft, tactile skin that enables lifelike movements and fun surprises
• Fijit can respond more than 100 built-in phrases and jokes!
• Recognizes different types of music and perform different dance moves
• Features voice recognition, beat detection capabilities, and includes her own original songs too!
• The 5 AA batteries included (the "try me" batteries) inside your Fijit Friend upon opening are for demonstration purposes only. Please remove these batteries and replace with 5 new AA batteries so your Fijit Friend is ready to interact with you at optimal performance.

Willa

Meet Willa, the Trend-Setting Fijit Friend
Willa is always a step ahead of the latest and greatest, whether it's fashion or whatever's new and cool. She's confident, stylish, and a natural leader. Like all Fijit Friends, Willa was created when a gooey science experiment was brought to life by the power of music. She loves to laugh until her sides hurt, dance until she's dizzy, and be herself with her one true bestie.
The Fijit Friends Interactive Toy Collection consists of four different Fijit Friends (sold separately), each with their own different personalities and jokes.

Review

Just a few additional comments for clarification,
There was no problem with the toy responding as long as it was commanded with a normal, clear voice. Shreiking or yelling at it didn't cause any response or an incorrect one. As an adult, I did find some of its actions amusing and I did laugh out loud over some antics. I still never found it too loud. Again, it was a gift for an 11 year old girl. In terms of the content of the jokes and much of its other interaction I think from 9 up would be the appropriate ages for kids to 'get' the jokes.

Fijit Friends Are Robotic Friends For Girls From The Future
I was a little apprehensive about purchasing the Fijit Friends after reading the reviews but am glad I did. I must admit, when we first got the Fijit Friends we were disappointed. It didn't respond to anything we were saying. Then we noticed it says on the package that the "batteries included are for demonstration purposes only, change batteries immediately". It takes 5 AA batteries. We swapped out the batteries and everything worked as advertised. You have to also make sure that you switch the button underneath to the on position instead of the try me mode. If you have done that correctly Willa will say "What do you want to do now?" This is the home mode.

Santa gift ideas; Mattel Monster High Toralei Stripe Doll with Pet Sweet Fang

Monster High Toralei Stripe Doll The ghouls from Monster High are freakishly fabulous. The kids from Monster High are the coolest ghouls in school with their fashions, accessories and scary cute pets.

Features of Mattel Monster High Toralei Stripe Doll

- The ghouls from Monster High are freakishly fabulous!
- Toralei Stripe is the daughter of The Werecat
- Doll is fully articulated so she can be posed in many different ways
- Includes doll, pet saber-tooth tiger Sweet Fang, diary, doll stand, brush, and accessory
- Collect all your favorite Monster High dolls!



Review of Monster High Toralei Stripe Doll

Toralei Stripe, Monster High's Catgirl
All in all, if you are a fan of the show, or this line, you will probably be really thrilled with her, even if she is a "bad guy", her doll is simply lovely.

In your FACE brick and mortar stores!
Just as my title states, in your FACE brick and mortar stores! After driving to the four corners of the earth looking for this doll, Amazon.com comes through in a pinch. I ordered it Tuesday morning and received it Wednesday evening. WTF?! WTF indeed!! Needless to say, I can sit at home and relax while everyone else is clawing at each other at the department stores to get this.