Punch The Monkey!

One evening while procrastinating on the internet (no surprise there) I came across this blog post over at Operation: Write where blogger “Jaybird” reminisces about spending hours playing the “Punch the Monkey” game at the now defunct Treeloot.com to try to win the fabulous Plush Monkey prize.

I too, spent many hours fighting this evil tree, spending hours just to get to the mini-game only to get the same result.

I spent some time trying to track down a playable copy of the minigame, just so you could understand what one had to go through, but alas, even the Internet Archive hated that monkey..

After countless clicks, and days upon days of playing (no cash either by the way..) I finally scored enough hits on the Monkey to beat the game!

Sixty-Eight weeks later (It was over ten years ago, it certainly felt like that long) This arrived in my mailbox!

and yes.. it really did take me eight months to find it..

Tags: Hello again Friend, Punch the Monkey - win $20, Treeloot

iddy biddy steps for a greener world

This is part of a series of posts related to my recent trip to the American International Toy Fair in New York City.

I’ll admit I knew about these before Toy Fair.  My mom has the whole set.  But the people at the booth were some of the friendliest at the show, so they’re worth talking about!

Idbids are “Green Toys.  Each plush is made from 100% organic cotton colored with all natural dyes.  They promote being kind to the earth and taking “iddy biddy steps” which make “a biggie big difference” in saving the earth.

The three plush (Scout the Cloud, Lola the Flower, or Waverly the Raindrop) can be purchased separately or in an “Eco-Friendly Starter Kit” that includes an organic cotton backpack, field guide (which includes 10 iddy biddy steps kids can complete), color storybook, and access to the online portion where kids can receive a certificate of achievement when they complete their iddy biddy steps, as well as choosing which of three charities to help out.

They’re a great gift idea!  And they help the earth too!  It’s the only one we’ve got!  Check them out at Idbids.com!

Tags: Green Toys, idbids, lola, scout, Toy Fair 2009, waverly

The Circle of Life

This is part of a series of posts related to my recent trip to the American International Toy Fair in New York City.

But the sun rolling high;  Through the sapphire sky;  Keeps great and small on the endless round…   *ahem*

They’re friends, and they eat each other! It’s a complicated relationship..

Meet Food Chain Friends

Created by Pintsize Productions, Each of these adorable plush has it’s own species name and backstory, as well as conveniently fitting in the stomach of the one a size bigger!

Pictured above is the “Alpha Series” (which you can purchase as the set of five or in smaller sets of two or three)

“The Fraaky, the tiniest creature of the Daro prairie, scurries to and fro, bonking into things and feasting on dust too small to see with the naked eye. His best friend and main predator is Skitter, with whom he loves to play a great game of tag. The Skitter is similar to the Earth rabbit in size. He likes to hop to great heights, but often bops his head on low hanging branches. His large ears allow him to hear things miles away. His favorite pal is the Sleeth, with whom he likes to play hide-and-seek. The Sleeth is a slug, snake like creature that slithers through the tall Daro grass. He loves to play games and can often be seen chasing his own tail! He eats anything in sight, especially the Fraaky! The Herkin is the furriest creature on Daro. He likes to roll around in the prairie grass to cool off on a hot summer day. He plays hopscotch with the Skitter on lazy days. And the Skitter is tasty too! The Lankum is a slow creature, but his tongue is fast and he loves to talk! The Lankum is shy and embarrassed by his appearance. He shares much more than a meal with the Herkin!”

Also available is the “Beta Series” (in a set of five or smaller sets of two and three)

“The Zezzel is the tiniest and most active creature in the Daro Forest. His favorite food is the moss of the Floober trees where he also takes cover inside the bark. The Skoodle looks very much like an earth snail. However, his shell is not completely hard, thus exposing his body through swiss-cheese like holes! He snacks on the bark of the Floober tree where he occasionally finds a delicious treat, the Zezzel! The Fergel is a lot like the Earth squirrel, but he has a very large mouth! He jumps among the Floober trees staying a step ahead of the Vextie! His favorite snack is his pal, the Skoodle. The Vextie is the fastest and sneakiest creature in the Daro Forest. He is reminiscent of an Earth lizard. He enjoys snacking on moss and Fergels and Skoodles and an occasional Zezzel! But he scatters when he sees a Frokol! The Frokol is a jolly creature, but rather dull. He loves to hear himself talk and rarely notices when someone creeps away from the conversation. He has vacuum-like lungs that can suck the bark off the Floober tree and little creatures, too!”

The depth and storyline behind each of these characters goes far deeper, all while teaching children science!

Be on the lookout for my personal favourite, the “Gamma Series”, available soon!

Tags: Food Chain Friends, Pintsize Productions, Plush, Toy Fair 2009