Sea Monkeys: Strange and Amazing!

When you were a kid, did you ever see the ad on the back of the comic book for Amazing Live Sea Monkeys? I know I did. I always wondered if they were real or what they were. The pictures that illustrated the advertisements were strange to be sure.

Well, it didn't take much exploring, even before the days of the internet, to find out what Sea Monkeys really were. (I won't spoil it for you.) But, while the mystery was gone, the curiousity of discovery and learning was still there. I don't know why I never sent off for any, but now I don't have to. And, you don't have to buy a comic book and send off for them either. Just go on over to Town Square Toys and order some Sea Monkeys of your very own.

By the way, Sea Monkeys have moved up and are living large now. Used to be you could only order the Sea Monkeys and grow them in your own mason jar or tiny aquarium. Now you have several different places to grow, and raise, and enjoy your Sea Monkeys. There is Sea Monkeys on Mars, Sea Monkeys in the City, Sea Monkeys Hang 10, and Sea Monkeys on the Moon. Crazy!

Town Square Toys on Amazon

Click here and check out out little storefront on Amazon! It is a little Town Square Toys oasis in the middle of Amazon itself.

Toys in the Movies: Another Blog

We have a second blog about toys in the movies that you can find at Town Square Toys. You should check it out. Leave a suggestion or two if you would like.

Back to School Sale!

We have a great Back to School sale going on right now. You should check it out! Seriously. http://www.townsquaretoys.com/category_s/261.htm Have fun and thanks for visiting!

Clay Play Tools Playset Toy by Melissa and Doug

The kid in me loves this toy. So does the artist in me. Melissa and Doug did a fabulous job in designing this toy: there is such a wealth of textures and possible activities that this toy provides. You have a rolling pin, two more textured rolling pins, five textured blocks, a cutter, and four tubs of colored dough. Even the lids of the dough cups have an animal shape that can be imprinted. The set is designed with bright primary colors. And, with a little help and inspiration, your little one can be shown how to make the secondary colors as well so you can have a rainbow of colorful creations. The box is sturdy and wooden, great for carrying everything around. I wish I had had one of these when I was a kid. *sigh*

Knights and Dragons Figure Toob by Safari Ltd

Okay, earlier I was talking about the Safari LTD Toobs and how cool they were. I thought that I would just get a little more specific about the Knights and Dragons Figure Toob. I know we have talked about knights and such here before; this little tube of fun is just a miniature battle waiting to happen. What you have in this Toob are eight knights, two horses, one catapult and a dragon. Four knights are obviously on one side and four are wearing opposing colors. Most of the knights are bowlegged so that they can take turns riding the horses. That is cool. The plastic that they are made of is pliable enough that they fit well and stay put. The dragon is cute. The catapult arm is flexible so that you can pretend to fling stones in battle. I guess you could put a pea or a rice grain on it and actually flick something, but we haven't yet. I really like the portability and packaging of the Toobs in general and I think they did an excellent job on the characters in this one. Long live the King!

Uglyworm Plush Doll by Ugly Dolls is Quite Ugly

We have mentioned Ugly Dolls before and mentioned how they came to be. I just was thinking about the ugliness of them today and my mind wandered to the Uglyworm. I am not sure what it is that makes him both ugly and endearing at the same time. I would have to say that the thin and unkempt hair is not doing him any favors. His one huge eye makes me think of Mike from Monsters Inc., and of the mythological Cyclops. So, that sort of makes up for the hair. He has no arms or legs, but a pleasant shape. He is soft and green, more like Kermit the Frog than Oscar the Grouch. And, the two sharp teeth are kinda cool as well. You do have to be careful with him, and the other Ugly Dolls, because once you give them a hug, you won't want to put him down.

Smencils and Snifty Pens - check them out!

Smencils are scented pencils made from 100% recycled material. Each smencil comes in an individual freshness tube. Sheets of newspaper are rolled tightly around the #2 graphite writing cores until pencils of typical thickness are formed. Each one is put into its own corn-based biodegradable Freshness Tube. Smencils maintain their scent for 2 years! If you are looking for a cool, innovative and environmentally friendly product, then look no further than Smencils.

Snifty writing pens are a colorful and wonderfully scented way to work! The ink of the pen is black and the scent of each pen comes from the tip and clip. They write wonderfully smooth and smell even better! There are 4 scents to choose from, choose your favorite scent from the dropdown menu above or better yet - choose them all! Great for work, school or home use. Made from non-toxic materials and recommended for ages 3+.

Lots of cool smells to choose from!

Toobs are Too Cool! Safari LTD is awesome!

Okay, some Safari Toobs came home with us the other day and I just have to say that they are the coolest! I already dig Safari and their line of figures. The Toobs are just really neat. You see it's a tube of little animals or people that you, or your kids, can play with. The Toob is a clear, square shaped, tube with a string handle and a cap that features a spinning globe. Actually my niece and nephew liked the lid almost as much as they liked the little creatures from the Toob. There is just a coolness and a cuteness about these Toobs of little guys that your family will love. Come and check them out! - Brian

Toymaker Spotlight: Corolle

When we decided to pick up the Corolle line of dolls, I was not particularly excited. This was not because I didn't like the brand, but because I am a guy and don't get excited about dolls. But as a father of a little girl, I get to meet a lot of dolls and other little friends. As I spent some time checking out the Corolle catalogue and actually seeing the dolls in person (that sounds weird), I was able to see how amazingly well crafted they are. If you have a little girl, she will find an excellent toy and friend in a Corolle doll.

-Brian

Here is a little bit more about Corolle from their website:

Corolle is located in the Loire Valley , the storybook region of France that is famous for its scenic beauty and magnificent chateaux.

The Corolle design team aims to create dolls that look and feel as real as possible with faces that are often inspired by real children.And just as you would find in a haute couture fashion house, Corolle’s design studio is where a staff of professionals works to develop the Corolle look, sketching their designs and choosing the fabrics that will make them come to life.

Since its founding in 1979, Corolle has won more than 30 international awards for design and play excellence, including two DOTY awards (Doll of the Year) as well as awards from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Dr. Toy and National Parenting Publications (NAPPA), among others.

Today, Corolle dolls are sold in more than 29 countries around the world.

Rubik's Cube Toy by Winning Moves

If you are a child of the 80's, like myself, you will remember the Rubik's cube. Love it or hate it, it was and is an icon of puzzle toys. I will have to admit that I cannot recall ever solving the cube. I did take one apart with a screwdriver and reassemble it, but I don't think that counts. My brother did solve it. He bought the book that shows you how. I think I may still have that book. I digress.

The Rubik's cube is still one of the world's most popular and recognizable puzzle toys, and for good reason. It is small enough that you can take it with you almost anywhere. It is only one piece, so you can play with it anywhere as well, and not have to worry about missing parts or losing parts. It has tremendous replay value for a person who loves to solve puzzles. Even if you have figured out how to solve it, you can keep practicing and working at it and finding shortcuts to increase your speed.

My nephew acquired a Rubik's cube recently and, of course, figured out how to solve it. My boys spent some time with him and became enamored with the puzzle. Now we have the 4X4 cube in our store, which is just a bit more complex. We got it for my nephew for his birthday. He loved it and solved it frighteningly fast. It was fun to watch all the cousins at a recent family gathering all trying to solve the various Rubik's cubes around the room. Maybe I will pick one up and try to solve it myself. You can do the same at Town Square Toys.

-Brian

Rush Hour Toy by ThinkFun

I love this game. You have to maneuver your car out of the traffic gridlock. There is only one exit. You can't pick your car up, but must slide it back and forth only. Similarly, you can only slide other cars and trucks out of the way, you can't just remove them. (Many times, on the way home from the office, I wish I could just remove some cars and trucks!) Anyway....

It sounds easy, but it can be mind crunching and complicated. The game has cards which conveniently hide in a little drawer and tell you how to set up the board. Then, you have to figure out and plan your escape. There are dozens of puzzles and varying levels of difficulty.

The best part for me is watching my kids figure out the puzzles. I can almost see the gears turning inside their heads as they try and try again to figure out the solution. I think that this game does a fabulous job of stretching their logical and spatial skills. You should definitely try it out.

-Brian

Toymaker Spotlight: Mellisa and Doug

One of our favorite Toymakers is Melissa and Doug. We carry a ton of their toys. Actually I think we carry several tons! They have some of the coolest wooden toys and puzzles; the toys you remember as a kid, those all-time, classic toys. They really believe in the toys that they make and produce, and they are a great group of people to work with.

-Brian

Here is a little bit more about Melissa and Doug from their website:

Twenty years ago, we started our company in the garage of the home where Doug grew up — we had to be careful not to disturb Doug's parents who were still living there! Thanks to your support, we've been able to move into a real office down the road, a building that actually has separate ladies and men's bathrooms! Our philosophy has remained the same over the years–to make each and every customer a happy and permanent member of the Melissa & Doug family, while offering products with tremendous value, quality and design. We've always welcomed customer suggestions, and we continually strive to make improvements to our products. We're honored by the faith you place in us and view it as our responsibility to continue to earn your trust in the years to come!

The ABC's of Magnets

If you are looking for an innovative way to get your kids to practice spelling, then you need some ABC magnets. If you are an educator and you are looking for a new and fun way to get your kids involved in the classroom, then you need some magnetic letters too. Smethport Toys makes a great set of magnetic letters. Each letter is about 1 3/4 inch tall and there are 120 letters included in the reusable storage bucket. Unused letters can simply be placed back in the plastic tub and stored for later use. There are multiples of popular letters so several words can be spelled at once. The bright colors and great larger size makes them easy to use for little hands. The same manufacturer also makes magnetic numbers - so even math can be fun too!

- Steph

Cake Pops!

I got a call from a customer today saying she had ordered our mini cookie cutters to make cake pops. I didn't even know what cake pops were but after a little googling, I am now educated on the adorable new treat! If you are interested in trying them, then you need some mini cookie cutters. This cute little Bella Bistro set includes 12 stainless steel cutters ranging in size from 1/2" - 2" inches wide. They are perfect for cake pops or for mini cookies!

For more info on cake pops, click here!

They are truly adorable.

- Steph

Shape and Color Sorter Toy by Lauri Toys

My 4 year old daughter loves to draw. However, occasionally she tears herself away from the coloring books and crayons to do something else. We got her the Lauri Toys Shape and Color sorter and she has had alot of fun with it. When she was a little younger, she used to make piles of the different colors: red, yellow, green and blue. She would them switch it up and make piles of the different shapes: heart, stars, squares and triangles. This toy has small pegs that the child can stack their sorted piles onto. The sorter builds color recognition, sorting skills, shape identification and develops hand eye coordination. She loved to mix and match the shapes to make multi colored stacks and create her own combinations. If you are a fan of toys made in the USA, Lauri manufacturers about 99% of their items in Smethport, PA.

Steph

50% off SALE!

Get active with a play ball! This entire category is on sale – 50% OFF!!! There are many styles to choose from; including animals, flowers, flying things, dots and bugs. There are big and small play balls so no matter what age you are shopping for, we have the perfect ball for them.

Toy Sale: Spring has Sprung!

Spring has sprung and everyone, kids and parents alike, are ready for some fun! Make their outside play time even more fun with our Bugs and Butterflies category. We have put everything in the store that features bugs and butterflies in a special place so it is easy to find exactly what you are looking for. This category includes butterfly nets, picnic tea sets, bug catchers, craft kits, balls, games and so much more! Stock up so you are ready when they are!

Corolle Dolls are In!!!

At Toy Fair this year, we added the Corolle doll line to our store. We love them and know that you will too!

From their website: Corolle is located in the Loire Valley , the storybook region of France that is famous for its scenic beauty and magnificent chateaux.The Corolle design team aims to create dolls that look and feel as real as possible with faces that are often inspired by real children.And just as you would find in a haute couture fashion house, Corolle’s design studio is where a staff of professionals works to develop the Corolle look, sketching their designs and choosing the fabrics that will make them come to life.Since its founding in 1979, Corolle has won more than 30 international awards for design and play excellence, including two DOTY awards (Doll of the Year) as well as awards from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Dr. Toy and National Parenting Publications (NAPPA), among others.

- Steph

Rubik's Twist

I think this toy is a great enjoyable way to pass time. My family decided we were going on a trip and me and my brother wanted something to do in the car. My brother saw this toy and bought it with his money. Now we are playing with it like crazy. It is so cool to make creations like ball, cat, cobra, triangle, rooster, wolf, terrier, and more (these creations are way harder than you think). My brother and I made the ball in less than 21 seconds each after five days! My dad says he had lots of fun with it when he was little and now we have a great time with it too. This toy is fun and enjoyable for all ages! Hope you have fun making new creations.

-Micah, age 11

Etch a Sketch a Trip Down Memory Lane

Ah, the classic of classics: the wonderful, magical Etch a Sketch. How many hours did I wile away as a child, trying to make the perfect square, or the straightest diagonal line? How many times did I get confused going left or right or up or down? Did I ever make anything truly resembling a circle?
There was just something cool and mysterious about the Etch a Sketch. All of its wonderment was contained in an elegantly simple device. Two knobs and you could, theoretically, create a masterpiece. (I never did.) But I always enjoyed drawing and erasing and drawing again. And, trying to understand what made it work!
Well, if you want to ruin the mystery, you can get some amazing information about the Etch a Sketch, how it works and when it was invented, by checking out this Wikipedia article, here.
You can also go here to check out some amazing Etch a Sketch art, yes I said art.
When you are done with that, come to Town Square Toys and then get yourself your very own classic of classics. You can even pick up a pocket size version if you want to.
-Brian

Octopus A Plenty

Earlier in the blog, Steph mentioned that we went to Sea World. Even earlier in the blog, I talked about the Giant Pacific Octopus. Well, worlds did indeed collide. While at Sea World, the family and I saw a Giant Pacific Octopus, for real, in the aquarium. It was totally cool. I am a big fan of octopi. If you are a big fan, check out the octopi we have at Town Square Toys. I hope you find something that you like!

-Brian

A Safe Safe

Our boys are too big for a piggy bank and too young for a debit card, so we got them the steel safe by Schylling Toys. It is perfect for a child's bedroom or closet and they love it. It has a little door that opens up and they can put all their treasures inside. There is a little money drawer at the top where they keep their cash and the big compartment at the bottom can keep their special items. This comes in handy when you don't want you brother to get to your stuff - especially if you are forced to share a room with him. They have their own secret password or pin and no one can get in except the owner. There is a little bell that rings if someone "breaks" in so the owner will immediately know. If your kids are too big for a piggy bank and too young for a debit card, this is a perfect "safe" solution!!!

-Steph

Playing Doctor...

If your child aspires to be a doctor, nurse or veterinarian - why not get them a real working stethoscope by Aeromax Toys? Aeromax makes amazingly accurate costumes, like astronauts, train engineers and race car drivers. They also have a great working stethoscope! Most little doctors start out with the plastic doctor set, which is great, but often need some extra additions to the set. If they want to "listen to your heart", wouldn't it be cooler if they actually could? This perfect little stethoscope takes their pretend play to the next level. It comes in black and pink.

- Steph

Let the chores begin!!!

I hate to clean house. I don't like to use the word hate often but when it comes to cleaning house, I can honestly say I hate it. However, my children have not developed such a hate. I think the difference is I require some daily chores and my mom never did. Had I been taught to do a little everyday, maybe it wouldn't be such a drag now. If you have ever seen a 3 year old try to use an adult sized broom, then you know - having the right tools makes all the difference. There are many good child sized cleaning items on the market, but I think Schylling makes some of the best. They are good quality and have great prices. For under $20, your child could be sweeping, mopping and dusting. For an additional $23, they can also iron on a child's sized ironing board with a metal iron. (Don't worry, the iron doesn't really heat up.) The price is great and they really can work with these tools. Why not start them early and instill a love for cleanliness while they are young and eager to learn?

-Steph

Getting Wedgits

We visit a lot of toy stores. We are always curious to see what others are selling and so we go on spy missions to check out the competition. One of our favorites is in Franklin, IN and its called Imagination Station. On one of our visits there, we discovered Wedgits. I had never heard of them but they had them out on a play table and my kids were instantly hooked. We were in the store for about 30 minutes and had to tear them away! We went home and I forgot about them and then after a market trip, we were given a sample. The rep said, "Take them home, give them to the kids and then you will order them!" So, like good buyers, we did just that. And enthusiastically, soon after, we ordered them - just as she had said we would. They are "blocks" in rhombus and octahedron shapes and the stacking, nesting and aligning is endless. I looked at them and just didn't get it. My kids looked at them and instantly loved them and jumped right in building and creating new buildings, towers and structures. There are instructions included but like with Lego sets, my kids move past them very quickly. There are wheels to add on to make vehicles and advanced design card sets for many more creation plans. If you own them, you too will "get" Wedgits.

-Steph

Sea World at Home

We just got back from a trip to Sea World San Antonio. It was the first time we had taken our children and we all had a blast. While visiting the gift shop, I realized we carry almost all of the sea life figures we would need to have Sea World at home. There are sea lions, walruses, dolphins, seals, whales, sharks, eagle rays and even Shamu (killer whales)! They are great for bath tub fun or just pretending anywhere. They are small enough to take along on trips or carpooling time and hold up to the toughest kids. We are so excited to get to relive our favorite Sea World moments at home!

-Steph

A Dragon You Do Not Have To Slay

Put away your sword and lance, oh mighty knight! This legendary beast need not be slain. That is right; without an arrow being fired, you can bring home this wonderful, mythical beast. Folkmanis has created an amazing and colorful creature that your little one can control as his or her very own dragon! It is the magnificent Earth Dragon! This beast is over 19 inches tall and has a workable mouth. I am not sure which Folkmanis puppet is my favorite, but this one definitely makes the top 10. (Probably because I am a sucker for a cool dragon.)

I feel obliged to mention that although the Earth Dragon in pictured with all manner of gemstones surrounding it, we don't really keep jewels around the toy store. Sorry.

If you feel that this benevolent beast is a bit too big and brash, you might want to check out our smaller Blue Dragon. Or, if you are just going for all around cuteness, try the mini Red Dragon. It is a finger puppet!

-Brian

Say "Good Day" to "Goodnight Moon"

If you have never read the story, "Goodnight Moon," you need to as soon as you can. It is such a cute, sweet, short story. We have read it to all of our kids; it is a great bedtime story. I remember having two copies around. We had the paperback version and the smaller, board book. Each had the same story in it. It was good to have two copies. The worst thing that could happen would be to not find it when you were looking for it! Those with small children know what I mean.

Anyway, at Town Square Toys, we not only have the books, but we have other Goodnight Moon items, such as:

The Goodnight Moon Plush Bunny by Crocodile Creek
The Goodnight Moon Boardgame by Briar Patch
The Goodnight Moon Mini Cube Puzzle by Mudpuppy
The Goodnight Moon 1 2 3 Counting Board Book

and much more!

I feel the need to mention the Goodnight Moon Glow Jumbo Floor Puzzle, also by Briar Patch, because it glows in the dark and I love glow in the dark stuff.

For some interesting insights and information on the book, you can also check out this Wikipedia article.

-Brian

Reach for the Stars and Then Take a Bath

The Star Crayon by Alex Toys is a pretty cool toy. It is a plastic star, with 6 different colored crayons built into the tips. Our daughter has one that she uses regularly during bathtime. She makes the most beautiful and colorful pictures you can imagine. (Of course, I may be biased.) The drawings easily wash down the drain whenever bath time is over. But, if you are like us, we tend to leave the art up for extended periods of time.

Now, earlier this year, we had a princess party at our house. All of the princesses had lovely parting gifts to take home with them. Amongst the gifts, was a Star Crayon. They are perfectly sized for gift bags and baskets. If you are having a party in the near future, for boys or for girls, be sure to grab some of these. They would be a wonderful and colorful addition, to be sure!

You can always count on quality when you purchase any toy by Alex. We love carrying their line of toys here at Town Square Toys. Try them out; you won't be disappointed.

-Brian

Oball Mania

A soft ball full of holes that is easy to catch, safe to throw and comes in wild colors, it's Oball! These balls are so cool. Often, in Texas, it's too hot to go outside and play. My kids have a playroom and the cool thing about Oballs is that they are safe to use inside too. Little hands find them easy to throw and catch - because of the handy holes throughout. Big hands find them fun because you can get some speed on them but they won't hurt anyone you throw them at. They are perfect for playing catch, indoor basketball or just a friendly game of catch and pass. They are great for working on gross motor skills and coordination.

They come in 4 inch, 4.5 inch, 6 inch and 7.5 inch sizes. There are regular oballs as well as jellies which have a cool jelly finish, like those shoes from the 80's. There is also a football and a recent addition is rattles.

The REAL Reason for Easter

Easter is not just about ducks and bunnies! Easter is a time when I celebrate the resurrection of my Savior, Jesus Christ. He had been arrested (see Matthew 27) and falsely accused. He had been led to a cross where He was crucified. He lay in the tomb for 3 days and then he AROSE (see Matthew 28:2-6). This is THE story. He came to die for my sins, He bore my sins on that cross and He rose again as a testimony of who He was – who He is to me. He is my Lord. During this Easter, let’s focus on Him!

Owning a toy store often finds me thinking about how many people view holidays. However, I know THE reason for Christmas and Easter. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. He left His heavenly home to come to earth to be a human example to us and to teach us how to live our lives and to suffer and die on the cross to bear my sins, your sins. Easter is about His resurrection from the dead and how that gives us hope for eternal life with Him in heaven. Yes, we sell ducks and bunnies in our store and we buy our kids gifts at Christmas time, but we also teach them the real reason for Christmas and Easter. It’s ALL about Him!

If you would like to talk more about this, please let me know. If you need some ducks and bunnies, you can find them in our store. But my heart is that you also NEVER forget who it is all about!

Steph

2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:2-6

Blood and Guts

I am not a fan of battle. First of all, I’m a girl. Secondly, it is scary. Thirdly, I’m a girl! I would rather everyone just get along and be happy with one another. However, I am a grown up and I realize that it’s not that easy and battle has occurred and will continue to occur. I also have a husband and 2 boys who have fighting in their DNA. I know that it’s on the boy gene. I’ve read Bringing Up Boys! So, if they are going to fight – we might as well give them accurate toys! I am a home school mom too and anytime we can throw a little history into the mix, we should.

I have not found any knights better than Schleich. They are hand painted models that are 1:20 in scale. They have knights with different colors so that one boy can be the fleur knights and one can be the lion knights. The horses coordinate in color as well. You could also go with crusader versus black knights. These could be introduced right along with a history unit on medieval times and battle techniques. There are other battle machines like battering rams, catapults and quintain. My kids have a huge bucket of Schleich knights and horses and they love setting up elaborate battles. And, since it’s done in miniature form, this cuts down on the plastic sword and light saber fighting in real life…so it’s a win win!

Stupendous Fancy Nancy

Fancy Nancy is a book written by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. They are published by Harper Collins (who has a great interactive website for kids to explore the world of Fancy Nancy). The books are about Nancy, a normal little girl who has a flair for the fancier side of life. The books are about Nancy's daily life and how she desires for others to understand her need for flair! They have amazing illustrations that depict this story in vivid detail. The hardcover books even come complete with glitter on the covers, of course! Nancy wouldn’t have it any other way. Teachers and parents alike will LOVE the fact that these books teach very young readers very sophisticated words like: fuchsia, plume, frilly, tiara, stupendous, accessories, posh, limousine, chauffeur, parfaits, curtsy and dressing gown. These books also explain what these words mean so children immediate relate to this new vocabulary and because it's Nancy using the words, they don't seem complicated at all. It's an incredible concept and little girls LOVE it. What little girl does not love being fancy, feeling like a princess and wish everyone around her would "get it"? The first book in the series is Fancy Nancy. Other titles include Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly and Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy. Since the hardcover books have come out, there have been SO many additions to the line!

There are:

- Paperback "I Can Read" books (which are specifically designed for early readers)
- Sticker books
- Nancy's Favorite Fancy Words Book (which is really an ABC book)
- The Fancy Nancy Board Game
- Fancy Nancy Card Game
- Glitter puzzles & Cameo puzzles
- Fancy Nancy Dress Up Game
- Fancy Nancy Color forms Set
- And perhaps best of all – DOLLS!!

The cloth plush dolls by Madame Alexander come in 18 and 29 inch varieties and come with all the special details you would expect Fancy Nancy to have. She has a tutu, fuzzy shoes, moveable glasses, hair bows and a tiara. She is truly an amazing doll!!
Come on, get Fancy!

I Saw a Giant Pacific Octopus

I was in the warehouse the other day, helping Steph ship when I went by the aisle that has the Safari animals. Specifically, I noticed the octopi. They were all staring at me. Have you ever noticed how weird their eyes look? Anyway. I picked up an octopus and gave it a look over. Specifically, I picked up a Giant Pacific Octopus. It was a pretty good sized animal. The coloring was very natural and realistic. I haven't seen many octopi in real life, but I do tend to watch them on TV. I was intrigued by the level of detail on the suction cups. There are so many of those suckers (no pun intended) on each octopus, and each one is painted. The whole line of Safari animals have that same level of quality. Of course, with Amy and Steph picking the toys, quality is one thing you can always count on when you shop at Town Square Toys.

Our boys have really enjoyed the Schleich line of figures; they have collected a veritable zoo of different animals and they have amassed a huge army of knights on horseback and infantry soldiers. Our little girl plays with the Schleich sea creatures at bath time, she has whales, dolphins and even a manta ray.

I think, however, that Safari line of animals may make a more notable appearance at our house soon. They would be a welcome addition to any toy collection. You should stop by and check out the Safari line that we carry and see if there is something there for you.

Town Square Toys in the Dallas Morning News

Our store was recently mentioned in the local paper. It was so very exciting! I bought several copies of the paper to hand out to friends and family and told everyone. It felt just like the movies. If you want to, click this link to the Dallas Morning News and read all about it. It is a short and sweet article about Steph and Amy as two homeschool moms with an entrepreneurial bent. Russ and I are even mentioned as well. Just a little insight into our store. I hope you enjoy it. - Brian

Style Me Pretty Baby Doll by Madame Alexander

My little girl is SO into doing hair. I love the Style Me Pretty dolls by Madame Alexander. This baby doll allows her to do hair anytime, without risking her own hair in the process. Even though my girl is a blonde, she prefers the brunette doll. There are alot of brunnettes in the family, so maybe that's why. This doll comes with georgeous brown eyes that open and close, beautiful long brown hair and many accessories. There is a comb, a brush, a bow, a clip and several pony tail holders. She also has on a cute pink outfit with a pink kitty complete with a crown. This baby doll is durable and has a soft body. She has pretty pink bows in her pig tails (also a favorite style for my daughter). My little girl connects with the doll because she has the same hairstyle, same eye color and same accessories as she does. This is a great doll for a little girl who has outgrown her baby dolls but isn't quite old enough for Barbies or Only Hearts Club dolls. She is perfect for pretend play which is so popular around age 4-5 years. She is also small enough to be carried around everywhere if your little one gets REALLY attached. Madame Alexander has been making incredible collectible dolls for years and years and their branch out into play dolls has been very successful. They are proving to be a versatile manufacturer who really gets dolls. There is a big difference between a collectible doll and a play doll and some manufacturers would have trouble making the switch. Madame has done it well. I hope the Sweet Baby Nursery line grows, we love them!!!

Do you want princess dress up shoes???

We need some feedback. Owning a toy store, we try to tap into what our customers are thinking. However, we wonder if we always get it right. So, here's the question of the day...do you want princess dress up shoes? There are tons of dresses to choose from. There are even more tiaras, gloves, slips, boas and other accessories to choose from. However, there are not very many shoes to choose from. Unless you want to buy them at the dollar store, that is. We all know what happens to those. We have been searching for some quality, yet affordable dress up shoes to go with all those beautiful dresses. As you know, no outfit is complete without the perfect pair of shoes! So, please comment and let us know if this is something you want. Have you looked for them? Where do you buy your princess shoes? What kind are you looking for? We would LOVE your input!

Dripstik

MADE IN THE USA by a mother of five! Dripstik keeps kids' clothes clean by catching the sticky drips from ice cream cones or any frozen treat on a stick. Two products in one: One end holds frozen treats on a stick. Flip the Dripstik over and the other end holds ice cream cones in almost any size and variety. Saves parents time from cleaning up colorful puddles from forgotten desserts. Makes an easy birthday party favor! Serve ice cream without stressing about guests making a mess, then simply send the Dripstik home with them. Perfect for road trips. Indulge your children with stops at ice cream shacks without worrying about the upholstery. Let them get the cone instead of a cup and spoon. Helps disabled or elderly persons, letting them enjoy ice cream with self-sufficiency. Durable, soft plastic is long-lasting and easy-care-- simply pop into the dishwasher!

Jack Popz

It was love at first sight! We found Jack Popz in 2008 at Toy Fair, loved them and ordered them by the end of the show. This is big deal for us because normally we don't order anything we've never heard of. However, they were very well put together - had a great booth and it was something we knew our kids would use. There are probably 200 plush toys between our 2 households. Our 7 collective children are constantly taking plush toys from one house to another for various games and sleepovers. What we needed was Jack Popz! We love the styles and the fabric choices. You would think that this toy skews girls, but of our 7 children - 5 are boys. Each child, except the oldest, owns a Jack Popz. It was cool to see them think about which style they wanted and how many pets they wanted to transport. Now, when we need to travel with the pets, it's easy and convenient. They LOVE being able to see the pets little heads! This line was created by moms who love Webkins and saw a need. We love adding that kind of line. It's a great specialty item and you will not find them in the big boxes. This would be a huge hit at a birthday party if you are looking for something truly unique. The price is great too! What more could you ask for?