Lego Play Day 2 - The Sequel

Today is the repeat of our first Lego Play Day.  Read about it here:  http://townsquaretoys.blogspot.com/2011/06/lego-play-date.html

It is going to be so much fun!  I hope you can come by.

Toy Review - Spot It by Blue Orange

This game is awesome.  It is easy to learn and fun to play.  The game rules say that it is for ages 6 and up and I have found that to be true.  I have played it with kids as well as adults and it really is a blast!

There are several different ways to play, but they all center around matching your card with another card.  Now, each card has several images on it.  Any two cards will have one, and only one, matching image.  The image may be a different size, but otherwise it will be the exact same image.  It seems like it is not possible, but the brainiacs at Blue Orange games have figured out how to do it.  The games are fun and intense.  They are also, at times, hilarious; you know you just have to match two images and you know that you are staring right at them, and yet you can't see them.  It is funny.

I highly recommend this game.  If you need a great game for a game night, this is the one you want.  It is also a good travel game since it comes in its own portable tin.  Try it out today!

Whimsy

What is whimsy?  The dictionary defines it as capricious humor or disposition; extravagant, fanciful, or excessively playful expression.  Here at Town Square Toys we hope that you always feel a bit of whimsy when you come to visit.  Why are there clouds painted on the walls?  Why are there tiny Army men on patrol throughout the store?  Why does a pig have fairy wings?  Why does our stuffed cheetah (I have named Walter) sometimes wear a crown made of Zoobs?  The answer to these questions is whimsy.


When kids come to our store, we want them to play and explore.  See how high that ball bounces.  Shoot those foam darts.  Try out that flashlight.  Play on our Thomas the Tank Engine train table.  Play house on our Calico Critters table.  Read a book to a giant stuffed Panda.  Try on a tiara.  Have fun!  Be whimsical!  Kids are only kids once.  Bring them by our store for a whimsical day sometime.

Marshmallow Shooters are a Fan Favorite!

I remember when the concept of marshmallow weapons first made an appearance around these parts. The first one I ran into was fabricated from pvc pipes and made to resemble a machine gun of sorts, with two handles. The barrel had an elbow at the back end that stuck up, a bit like a periscope. What you were supposed to do, was load a little marshmallow in the back and blow, thereby launching the confection projectile across the room or yard. Of course all I could think about was a kid running around the yard while trying to blow on this monstrosity, only to trip and crack a tooth on the pvc pipe. Needless to say, the mechanism did not get a lot of play.

Well, the Marshmallow Shooter, by Marshmallow Fun, found the solution to that problem. By adding a pump action air compressor to the design, little mouths are kept away from the hard plastic. And, the Shooters come with magazines, so you don't have to load the marshmallows one by one. Marshmallow Fun also has little, marshmallow sized, foam pellets that you can use if you don't want to cast sugar all over your house. Save the real marshmallows for when you are outside for the bugs to eat or the rain to melt away.

By the way, there is a Marshmallow Blaster for shooting large marshmallows or mixed shots; somewhat of a marshmallow blunderbuss. That is what is pictured above.

We also found that if you let the marshmallows get a little stale, they shoot a bit better. Fresh and sticky marshmallows tend to hug the barrel and not go as far.

As a side note: my nephew likes to dress up as various super heroes and action figures. He often is a clone trooper from Star Wars. His weapon of choice, even though we are out of marshmallows, is the Camo Series Marshmallow Shooter. Cute.

By the way, I chased a proverbial rabbit earlier and found out a bit more about marshmallows on Wikipedia. Did you know that there is a Marshmallow plant? Sounds like something from Willy Wonka! Read for yourself.

Dripsticks: What a Great Idea!

If you have kids of any age, you know that when your kids eat ice cream cones and popsicles, a fair majority of the sugary sweetness will end up on the kid, rather than in the kid. We live in Texas and it is often quite entertaining in the summer months to see if the kids can eat their melting ice cream faster than it can drip all over creation. What a mess! If only their was a simple idea that could work towards solving this problem.

These things are awesome. They can hold either a popsicle or an ice cream cone. They are made of plastic, so you can use them over and over. They are even dishwasher safe. They come in six different, bright colors. They have a good solid feel to them; something you and your child can really grab onto - it is much easier to hold a Dripstick than a cone that is turning to mush or a small popsicle stick. I truly think that you will love this product and use it over and over.

Check out a more complete description here. Or, go to Town Square Toys and get some for yourself.

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*

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.