According to retail sales data from The NPD Group, year to date through October, the doll category is entering the holiday season with dollar sales up 1 percent compared to year ago. The Fashion Themed Dolls segment is the main driver of this growth with year-over-year sales growth of 6 percent through October. This increase [...]
NPD: Fashion Dolls Still in Fashion for the Holidays
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Coming to America, Rilakkuma-style
US-based fans of San-X's ursine Rilakkuma and his pals, Korilakkuma and Kiiroitori, will be happy to hear that finding his products just got a whole lot easier. Aliquantum International, also known as AQI, has purchased the rights to bring the characters to America. At this moment, you can find merchandise at Hot Topic and FAO, with prices ranging from US$8.99 to US$199.99.
Not that familiar with the characters? Here is a primer: The trio live in Tokyo with a lady named Kaoru. While she is off working, the three friends make up ways to entertain themselves.
Some of what makes Rilakkuma so appealing is that he seems to invite creativity and imagination. Even his face is somewhat of a blank slate. I think that quality is what makes him appeal to all ages of toy collectors. Well, that and the fact that they are so darn cute to begin with.
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Rotofugi x 64Colors Forest Yeti Marshall
Fall has been very good to Marshall collectors. First it was the Smell-me Marshalls and soon, the new Forest Yeti Marshall from 64Colors and Rotofugi + Squibbles Ink. Due in December, Forest Yeti will bring some of the charm of the outdoors to your collection.
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Easy Holiday Meals At P.F. Chang’s
This post brought to you by P.F. Changs. All opinions are 100% mine. This year when we're out holiday shopping we like to stop for a bite to eat. You'll often find us inside places like P.F. Changs. Not only are the meals delicious but they even have something for the kiddos too! You Must… [read more]![]()
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Massive List: Black Friday Gaming Deals First off, Happy...
Massive List: Black Friday Gaming Deals
First off, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who reads/follows ALBOTAS. We’ve been incredibly busy with this holiday season, as you may have noticed by lack of posts.
I’ve decided that while I wait for this food to deflate in my stomach, I have time to compile a couple of sales for Black Friday/Cyber Monday on Amazon that are totally worth it. I’m not posting any store sales, because if you’re not already aware of them right now, chances are you’re too late.
You should be at home reading this list and shopping online instead of leaving your house tonight in search of cheap copies of Dishonored or Skyrim,avoiding all chances of getting stabbed or trampled by swarms of angry Walmart shoppers.
Anyway, read on for an easy-to-read list of sales for the PC/Mac, all consoles (including PS4 and XBOne), and current handheld devices.
Before you scroll down and look at what I’ve listed, keep in mind Amazon is doing flash sales on a TON of great games and devices until Monday. Pay attention to them this entire weekend. I just saw Animal Crossing New Leaf go for $25 and there’s a huge slew of games going on flash sale real soon at specific times of the day, so even if I did snuff the Wii / Wii U list below, keep in mind Amazon is doing flash sales for those consoles as well.
Currently $50 on PS4 and Xbox One:
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag XBOne |PS4
- Battlefield 4 XBOne | PS4
- Call of Duty: Ghosts XBOne | PS4
- Dead Rising 3 XBOne Exclusive
- FIFA 14 XBOne | PS4
- Forza Motorsport 5 XBOne Exclusive
- LEGO Marvel Super Heroes XBOne | PS4 ($40!)
- Madden NFL 25 XBOne | PS4
- Ryse: Son of Rome XBOne Exclusive
Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 Deals:
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag360 | PS3 ($35)
- Battlefield 4 360 | PS3 ($35)
- Batman: Arkham Origins 360 | PS3 ($30)
- BEYOND: Two Souls PS3 ($35)
- BioShock Infinite 360 | PS3 ($20)
- Call of Duty: Ghosts 360 | PS3 ($40)
- Dead Island: GOTY Edition 360 ($10)
- Diablo III 360 | PS3($40)
- Dishonored GOTY Edition 360 | PS3 ($20)
- Dragon’s Crown PS3 ($30)
- FIFA 14 360 | PS3 $35
- Gears of War: Judgment 360 ($20)
- Grand Theft Auto IV + Episodes 360 | PS3 ($15)
- Grand Theft Auto V PS3 (Digital Only, $40)
- Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix PS3 ($20)
- The Last of Us PS3 ($35)
- LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 360 | PS3 ($30)
- Madden 25 360 | PS3 ($35)
- Max Payne 3 360 | PS3 ($10)
- Ni No Kuni PS3 ($15)
- Rayman Legends 360 | PS3 ($25)
- Saint’s Row IV 360 | PS3 ($30)
- Sleeping Dogs 360 | PS3 ($15)
- Splinter Cell: Blacklist 360 | PS3 ($25)
- Tomb Raider 360 | PS3 ($15)
- Twisted Metal PS3 ($10)
- Uncharted Dual Pack PS3 ($15)
- Uncharted 3 PS3 ($15)
- WWE 2K14 360 | PS3 ($35)
Wii / Wii U Deals:
PC/Macbook Deals (Repost from last week):
- Bioshock Triple Pack (PC/Mac) $15
- Borderlands 2 + Borderlands GOTY (PC) $12
- Bully Scholarship Edition + Manhunt + Manhunt 2 + Midnight Club 2 (PC) $8
- Burnout Paradise: Ultimate Box + Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (PC) $6
- Civ V Gold + Brave New World (PC) $20
- Dead Island GOTY + DLC (PC) $33
- FTL: Faster Than Light (PC/Mac) $5
- GTA Trilogy + Grand Theft Auto IV (PC) $11
- Guacamelee! Gold Edition (PC/Mac) $10
- Mass Effect 3: Digital Deluxe (PC) $10
- Max Payne 3 + Season Pass (PC/Mac) $7
- Mirror Edge + DLC (PC) $5
- Saint’s Row IV (PC) $30
- Shatter (PC/Mac) $2.50
- Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition (PC) $15
- To the Moon (PC) $3
- The Walking Dead Pack (PC/Mac) $7.25
- The Walking Dead: 400 Days (PC/Mac) $1.25
- The XCOM Collection (PC) $10
- TONSSSS of other deals happening for digital/PC/Mac games on Amazon. Seriously, don’t miss out.
Vita Deals:
- Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate ($25)
- Dragon’s Crown ($30)
- LittleBigPlanet ($20)
- Lumines: Electronic Symphony ($12)
- Murmasa Rebirth ($20)
- Persona 4 Golden ($20)
3DS Deals:
- Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate ($25)
- Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance ($15)
- Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy ($15)
- Scribblenauts Unmasked A DC Comics Adventure ($25)
- Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers ($23)
- Shin Megami Tensei IV ($30)
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From our sister site, blindboxed: blindboxed’s 2013 Black...
From our sister site, blindboxed:
blindboxed’s 2013 Black Friday List
It’s almost Black Friday, one of the few days per year where you can spend an entire paycheck on indulgences and not feel bad! We’re going to collect all of the info we can on designer toy deals and store them right here. So check back often and hit the link for the full list of Black Friday sales.
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Purchase Reasonably Priced Incontinence Products from Online Stores
It is always beneficial to have incontinence products in the home especially if there are elderly people around who are not in a position to take care of themselves. These products are widely available in departmental stores but the price of these is rather high. If you have several dependents in your family and need […]
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Pop! Game of Thrones: Series 3 from Funko
I somehow feel "crippled" here … by not having seen the series, all I can do here is just paste images and sprinkle a little bit of info, instead of relishing in the toy-ness of the pieces … be that as it may, here are images of Funko's "POP! Game of Thrones: Series 3"! Availability slated for January 14th -except for "Daenerys Targayen" to be had in February 18th- so do check in with your fav retailers for dibs!
I wonder if Funko could actually make the THRONE itself -purely as diorama- scaled to the vinyls … would truly make an epic diorama tho … perhaps as an incentive for procuring all 3 or more series? hhhmmmm
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Lightning Returns: FFXIII Lightning PAK gallery
Holy cow. I thought I liked the design of the Lightning Play Arts Kai from Final Fantasy XIII-2, but this one takes the cake for me. I really hope somehow I can get my hands on the Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII version of Lightning, because this outfit looks incredible when done on this figure! I really like her updates as a whole, but putting it together in this new Play Arts Kai figure really brings it to life.
The AmiAmi Blog put up a gallery with their thoughts on the figure, so be sure to check it out to see the rest of the photos. She has now been released, so you should hopefully be seeing her in stores soon, but if you'd like to order her now; the sites she was up for pre-order at seem to still have her available. Maybe Santa will be extra nice this year and find a way to bring me this figure of the lovely lady!
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Set Photos from 'Transformers Age Of Extinction"
Here's a look at head-on images / shots of BUMBLEBEE and OPTIMUS PRIME -in vehicle mode- from the upcoming Transformers Age Of Extinction, along with other humans on-set, and as well director Michael Bay filming in China, and "terrorizing" the lead actress with a severed giant green robo-hand/claw … ohman I am SO looking forward to this film now! LOL
Image Source: Facebook.
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Costumes Games and Toys for 16 Year old Boys and Other Ages
Costumes Games and Toys for 16 Year old Boys and Other Ages
Choosing the hottest toys and games is an art form in today’s world. When a game becomes in demand, it becomes more difficult to locate the plaything more [...]
Related Top Toys Blog posts:- Halloween Costumes Toys and Games for Teen Boys and Other Ages
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- Halloween Costumes Games and Toys for One Year Old Girls and Other Ages
- Must-Have Halloween Costumes Toys and Games for Teen Boys and Others
- Must-Have Costumes Toys for Thirteen Year Olds and Others
- Toys and Games in 2013 for Five Year Old Girls and More
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"Hellboy" by Ario Anindito
"...after spending years of art directing TV commercials and movies, I finally got back to my root, drawing. Here's the one and only, "Hellboy". 2B mechanical pencil on plain white paper."Said Indonesian artist / illustrator Ario Anindito - whose work I adore! I've still a Darth Vader Ukiyo-e poster I snagged from him circa STGCC I've still not had a chance to feature, but I have a mascot sticker design from the dude! [Available to purchase in a set HERE and/or HERE] AWESOME work all around, buddy!
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Shopping for a Girl? Consider Science and Engineering Toys
A small group of toymakers and others are trying to break gender stereotypes by making toys to get girls excited about science and engineering.
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Despicable Me 2 Minion Dave Talking Action Figure
Despicable Me 2 Minion Dave Talking Action Figure -- $34.97
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VTech Switch and Go Dinos - Jagger The T-Rex Dinosaur
VTech Switch and Go Dinos - Jagger The T-Rex Dinosaur -- $45.00
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My Little Pony Crystal Princess Palace Playset
My Little Pony Crystal Princess Palace Playset -- $15.99
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Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk – Eggnog Fudge Ball Recipe
There’s nothing better than the sweet and creamy taste of eggnog this holiday season. At our house you’ll find our fridge stocked with all the nog your holiday heart would ever desire. That’s right from November until January I require a constant supply of eggnog! For 150 years, Eagle Brand® has always been an essential part of… [read more]![]()
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Keep it spooky!
Just because Halloween is over does not mean your children can't keep celebrating. It's fun to dress-up. Whether your five-year olds sits down for dinner dressed as a space ranger, sleeps as a princess or joins you at the grocery store as a costumed crusader, role-play develops learning skills. Imagination soars and halloween costumed are recycled for as long as they fit. I have kept all of my children's Halloween costumes and often lend them out to littles.
Here are a few ideas that can keep spooky play alive during the year.
WIKKI STIX
These sticky lines of yarn and wax do not require glue and paint. They are an arts and craft activity that can be used to make letters, pumpkins, faces and numbers. Great for at home or classroom use and on the go, keep these in a Ziploc bag in your purse for a quick activity to create some busy time. The Halloween Trick or Treat kits can be bought online that come in packs of 30. Ideal for classroom fun, fall decor and just creative art. Some make masks which offer additional play value. http://www.wikkistix.com
Here are a few ideas that can keep spooky play alive during the year.
WIKKI STIX
These sticky lines of yarn and wax do not require glue and paint. They are an arts and craft activity that can be used to make letters, pumpkins, faces and numbers. Great for at home or classroom use and on the go, keep these in a Ziploc bag in your purse for a quick activity to create some busy time. The Halloween Trick or Treat kits can be bought online that come in packs of 30. Ideal for classroom fun, fall decor and just creative art. Some make masks which offer additional play value. http://www.wikkistix.com
Imaginetics Make-A-Monster This board and magnet set has 33 safe magnets that stick on a magnet sheet that is designed to open and look like a book. The monster theme is completely customizable and perfect for take-along play. I suggest keeping this in your purse when you go out to restaurants. (The crayons and placements can get old). http://www.amazon.com/Imaginetics-Make-a-Monster/dp/B00CICN7U8
Reading is always a plus. For middle school readers, Lovecraft Middle School (Quirk Books) is a series of chapter books with creepy themes that pre-teens and middle school readers enjoy. The cover of each book is spooky in itself and the 3D images change based on how you hold the cover. Creepy and fun, the titles our testers read were Creature, Teacher's Pest and the Slither Sisters but the most favored story was Professor Gargoyle.
Robert Arthur begins the seventh grade at Lovecraft Middle School that has two-headed rats lea
Each holiday is a special time of year but when you household holds toys themed to the holiday, reuse them all year long. Kids change their interests often so this will stretch the play value they receive.
-Marianne
Reading is always a plus. For middle school readers, Lovecraft Middle School (Quirk Books) is a series of chapter books with creepy themes that pre-teens and middle school readers enjoy. The cover of each book is spooky in itself and the 3D images change based on how you hold the cover. Creepy and fun, the titles our testers read were Creature, Teacher's Pest and the Slither Sisters but the most favored story was Professor Gargoyle.
Once Upon A Zombie Dolls
Familiar princesses we all know are zombie-fied! A curse was cast upon turning them into supernatural Zombies who need to claim their world back. A totally different play pattern of "princess" play. There are 6 dolls in the collection, Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle, Rapunzel and Snow White. Then, kids can zombie themselves with an included app.wowwee.com/ouazdolls/about
Risk The Walking Dead Board Game
Based on the popular television show, this is more of a tween/adult game. Gameplay is like the regular game of Risk but players face off against one another in order to claim territories on a map, win bonuses, and eliminate opponents.
Players battle on a map depicting the southeast region of the United States featuring 32 territories and six zones. Players need to maintain self-preservation from the undead that spawn at the start of each player's turn in hopes of attack. The gameplay cards refer to story events from The Walking Dead series and players face rewards and penalties depending on the situation. The game ends after a fixed number of turns, but players can also choose to battle until all but one player is eliminated. usaopoly.com
-Marianne
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Mint Chocolate Chip Creamy
In collaboration with 3DRetro.com, Gary Baseman introduces Mint Chocolate Chip Creamy, the newest of their Creamy vinyl toys. Available exclusively via Gary Baseman's Webstore, the Mint Chocolate Chip Creamy will also be released together with a signed, limited edition print. The figure is a limited edition run of 200 pieces and will be available beginning […]
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Hot Wheels New: 2 Movies + Star Wars Diecasts
There are not one but two Hot Wheels movies coming, one animated and one live action. The live action one seems to make no sense but that’s never stopped anyone from making a movie. The story centers on a washed-up Illinois State Trooper who, after a dangerous military device falls into the hands of a […]
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