Toys R Us Opening At Midnight Black Friday

Toys“R”Us will open its stores nationwide at midnight on Thursday, November 26, to give toy shoppers access to their Black Friday deals five hours earlier than ever before. The company is catering to all types of shoppers, from those who want to stay up late and shop as early as midnight, or those true Black Friday powerhouses who start at 5am. They’ll also have special stocks of some of the “must-have” toys this year.

Here’s what bargain-seekers will find at Toys“R”Us this Black Friday:

• More than 70 outstanding doorbusters available between midnight and 1pm
• A preview of more than 100 unadvertised “Mystery Deals” on Toysrus.com at 12:01am on Wednesday, November 25, available in-store on Black Friday between midnight and 1pm
• 50 additional doorbusters available beginning at 5am until 1pm
• Nearly 25% more hours to grab hot deals on Black Friday
• Tens of thousands of highly sought-after Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters ready to find new homes
• More than 250,000 FREE Crayola 64 Boxes (an incredible value) gifted with ANY purchase, along with access to receive an $18 Crayola coupon

If you’re a Facebook user you can visit Toys R Us on Facebook to access a special RSVP application to receive a special sneak peek, on Monday, November 23 at 12:01am, of the deals and discounts that will be available in-store on Black Friday.

Here are some of the doorbusters that will be available at Toys“R”Us stores beginning Thursday, November 26 at midnight through Friday, November 27 at 1pm, while supplies last:

• FREE $50 Gift Card with the purchase of ANY iPod touch
• Buy 1 Get 2 FREE on ALL Batman Dark Knight 6” Action Figures
• TWO Bakugan Season 2 Booster Packs for Only $7.99
• Save $200 on Furreal Friends S’mores Pony – Was: $299.99; Now: $99.99
• Save $80 on Little Tikes Jump ‘n Slide Bouncer – Was: $229.99; Now: $149.99
• Save $60 on STEP2 Neat & Tidy Cottage – Was: $159.99; Now: $99.99
• 65% Off Sleeping Beauty Styling Head Vanity – Was: $69.98; Now: $24.49
• 60% Off SanDisk 8GB Memory Card – Was: $49.99; Now: $19.99
• 50% Off ALL V-Motion and V-Smile Software
• 50% Off Vtech Learning Laptop – Was: $29.99; Now: $14.99
• 50% Off Nextar 2GB MP3 Player with Video – Was: $34.99; Now: $17.49

Here’s a list of some of the doorbusters available at Toys“R”Us stores on Friday, November 27 beginning 5am through 1pm, while supplies last:

• Save $100 on 12’ Trampoline and Enclosure – Was: $279.99; Now: $179.99
• Save $75 on Razor E300 Scooter – Was: $249.99; Now: $174.99
• Save $60 on Flexible Flyer Kingston Swingset – Was: $159.99; Now: $99.99
• Save $50 on Harley Davidson Rocker Ride-On – Was: $149.99; Now: $99.99
• Save $50 on Coby 7” Portable DVD Player – Was: $99.99; Now: $49.99
• Save $30 on Avigo Street Style/Spectrum 20” Bikes – Was: $79.99 (each); Now: $49.99 (each)
• 60% Off Star Wars Clone Trooper Blaster Game – Was: $49.99; Now: $19.98
• Over 55% Off DS Guitar Hero On Tour/Decades 2-Pack Bundle – Was: $69.99; Now: $29.99
• 50% Off You & Me Little Twins – Was: $34.99; Now: $17.99
• 50% Off Select Wii Fit Accessories
• 50% Off Bakugan BakuBowl – Was: $26.99; Now: $13.49

They’ll also have other hot deals available at Toys“R”Us stores during the during the 2-day sale all day Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28, while supplies last:

• Select Nintendo DS Games Available for Only $9.99
• Select Wii Accessories for Only $10 Each
• 70% Off ALL Dreamtown Role Play Sets by Playskool
• 60% Off TRANSFORMERS Bumper Battlers – Was: $10.99; Now: $4.39
• 50% Off ALL $6.99 “R” Superbuy DVDs – Was: $6.99 (each); Now: $3.49 (each)
• 50% Off Doodle Pro Dora & Diego – Was: $19.99 (each); Now: $9.99 (each)
• 50% Off Nerf N-Strike Recon CS-6 Blaster – Was: $24.99; Now: $14.99

Toys“R”Us stores will have special hours for Thanksgiving Weekend. They will be open Thursday, November 26 at 12 midnight – Friday, November 27 at 10pm. They will open Saturday, November 28: at 7am and stay open until 10pm.

Happy shopping!

Image Toys R Us

Disney- Humana~ Operation Planet Savers

Operation Planet Savers is an Earth friendly game that challenges kids to mental and physical missions tied to the new Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ G-Force 3D movie, coming to theaters on July 24th.

As an OPS Player kids complete weekly training missions that require real-world activity. The missions train the young game-players to become G-Force agents. Players can earn virtual prizes, like new G-Force holograms – unique to Humana and Disney – and sneak peeks at G-Force movie clips.

Operation Planet Savers players also compete each week for prizes like an iPod nano and the grand prize – walking the red carpet at the G-Force movie premiere in Los Angeles. You can check out one of the weekly agent winners in this video.

According to Grant Harrison, Vice President of Consumer Innovation at Humana:

“OPS is much more than an online game; it’s ‘on the ground’ as well – a unique game that gets
kids out in their backyards playing and having fun. Being inactive as kids can impact their long-term health, which is one reason we’ve created a game that gets kids off the couch, out of the house and on a
mission. We couldn’t have a better association for a game like this than with Disney.”

Operation Planet Savers began June 1st and continues through June 28th. It’s free to play the game, and all children under the age of 16 are welcome to play, but the game is geared to 7-9 year olds.

The OPS website is secure, and any child must have a parent or guardian’s permission before they can embark on their “missions.”

For more information, please visit Humana Games and click on “Operation Planet Savers.”

Image courtesy of Humana Games

We Have a New DSi

My son got a new DSi last week, so we’ve been checking out all the applications. He’s having a blast recording his voice and playing it back. He’s taking pictures of everything, himself, the dog, whatever’s going by when we’re riding in the car…

We checked out some of the online applications, and the store. I’m trying to figure out how to download books to either the DSi or the DS Lite. If I can figure it out I’m going to adopt his DS Lite.

I’ve been thinking about getting an iPod touch, but if I can do the same thing on the Nintendo DS, I’ll just take over his DS Lite. Of course as soon as I get it all set up he’ll decide to reclaim his old DS and I’ll be out of luck.

Check out the Prizes in the b5media Lifestyles Channel Blogtoberfest Two Week Giveaway Event

Tomorrow will kick off the beginning of our Second Annual b5media Lifestyles Channel Blogtoberfest Two Week Giveaway Event! This year, we’re happy to introduce our sponsors, who with a combined effort, are giving away over $7,000 in prizes. Go through the list and see what you can’t live without, or would just love to give to someone you know. Now, to make things especially fun, we’ve mixed up the prizes and placed some on unlike sites so it won’t be so easy to figure out where those prizes are lurking.  Check out the prizes that will be up for grabs: Read more

Play Poker with b5media at BlogWorld Expo and Win Something!

Thanks SO much to Gayla for writing this great post up!

For all you b5media fans and readers – b5media will be at Blog World Expo November 7th, 8th and 9th. As a special feature, b5media is going to be hosting some special games during event. The b5media Poker Game! And, if you happen to be a winner at poker, you’ll walk away with some pretty grand prizes such as iphones, wiis, ipods and xbox’s.

Here’s how it’s going to work –

Attendees of BlogWorld Expo can collect b5 chips throughout the conference in several ways:

Be seen wearing a b5media T-shirt – $1000 chip
Answer b5media trivia – $500 chip
Tell us our secret password – $500 chip
Awesome swag trade – (depends on how good the swag is )
Drop business card in box – $250 chip
Use your chips to play poker and win (or lose) even more!
Beat b5media’s CEO – Jeremy Wright – DOUBLE your chances

Each day, b5 will have an auction in our booth (at 2:30 Thursday and Friday) and attendees can use their chips to bid on the prizes. As noted, we will be doing a secret password. You can find these passwords in various b5media blogs (Psst…see below for the first secret password!). Participants only need to approach someone in the b5media booth with the password and they will get a token.

b5media’s booth number is 309.

So, if you’re going to the Expo – and you’d like to get a $500 chip to start with (so you can bid on our fabulous prizes), the first secret password is: “b5alicious”.

Watch for more secret passwords scattered about b5media.

I’m not able to attend the Expo, so please have enough fun for me too!

12 Best Toys of 2007 from Toy Wishes Magazine

Toy Wishes Magazine has come out with a list of this holiday season’s hottest toys. They are called the “Hot Dozen”. There is definitely a theme to most of the toys. See if you can tell what it is.

1. American Idol Talent Challenge

DVD with 12 songs with and without vocals from the show – Talent Challenge lets you sing alone or with a star

Cool voice mixer attaches easily to your TV (cable included) and DVD player for just the right vocal blend

Use your DVD’s remote to select real judge’s comments from the show and to view outrageous auditions

Adjustable echo effect for pro vocal sound.

Comes with Microphone and AC adaptor

Price: $49.99

2. Aqua Dots Super Studio

The Aqua Dots Super Studio has everything you need for the complete Aqua Dots experience. All you need is water and imagination Create multiple designs using the included templates. You can even create your own designs! Wow your friends with unique designs using Aqua Dots beads. Adding water makes the Aqua Dots magically come together. The built in dryer makes finishing off your creations quick and easy.

Price: $24.99

3. Barbie Girls

Finally, an MP3 player that is perfect for girls of all ages who can’t get enough of Barbie! Barbie Girls allows girls to connect to their favorite things: music, fashion, and going online. It’s the next generation of fashion doll play! This doll is actually an MP3 player that holds 512 megabytes of music, for young ladies with an eye for fashion and an ear for music! Just plug this USB MP3 player into your computer and transfer all your favorite songs for your listening pleasure. What makes this MP3 player so unique is that it allows hip young girls to customize how they want their Barbie Doll to look! Mix and match trendy clothes, change the hair color, and accessorize to the fullest with this hybrid of a doll and an MP3 player!

Price: Device: $59.99. Fashion Pack: $9.99. Deco Pack: $9.99

4. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle for Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, XBox 360, Playstation 2

The third game from the Guitar Hero series is here, and ready to rock your face off. Channel your inner guitar god as you thrash your way through all sorts of venues, In addition to standard Guitar Hero features you know and adore, this game features all kinds of killer new options, such as the new multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a bevy of exclusive unlockable content and authentic rock venues. The expanded online multiplayer game modes will also allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status. Best of all, check out the new songs! Fresh downloadable content will be offered on multiple platforms, and players can now shred to a set list from many of the greatest rock songs ever recorded.

Price: $119.99
Read more

Welcome the Music Channel!

Did you see the announcement? b5media recently launched the latest channel in the network, the Music Channel.

My intention was to peruse the many blogs in the channel a bit, find a few favorites, and share some new finds with you. What happened, instead, was that I stumbled onto BritMusicScene, and onto this post, specifically, about an 80’s edition of Guitar Hero. Oh My Gosh…I cannot wait! I can already feel vast expanses of my life being wasted away, and the return of the streaming colored dots running through my head at all hours of the day and night, whether I’m playing the game or not.

Oh yeah, baby.

So, go check out the new channel, and check out the contest, too! There’s cool stuff to win.

American Idol Happy Meal Toys

Yet again, I fail to understand why the toys included in the Happy Meals from McDonald’s are representing a show that most kids aren’t watching. Unless I’m just wrong (that happens fairly often), is American Idol a show that most kids in the under 10 set are glued to? I was confused, too, last summer when the kids’ meals were promoting a movie (Pirates of the Caribbean) that kids weren’t even allowed to see!

I mean, yeah, our kids were enjoying the American Idol microphones and iPod type toys (right until we “forgot” them at Grandma’s). And I’m sure there’s money exchanging hands somewhere that makes this seem reasonable for someone. I just think that, if we’re going to use these meals to promote movies and shows, aren’t there enough kid-focused shows to associate with the toys? Do we need these meals to promote adult-oriented entertainment? I just don’t get it.

Anyone care to enlighten me? (On this specific topic, not on stuff just in general. )

Photo Credit

Music and Language

I’ve recently starting thinking about getting my daughter started in piano lessons, or some other type of music lessons. I took several years of piano as a kid (never dedicated enough to it), and several more years of clarinet. Though I thought I might someday do something with all those years of practicing, the only musical thing I play at all anymore is Bald Man’s iPod!

According to a new study out of Northwestern University, all those years of lessons were not in vain. My sister (a musician herself) pointed me to this article at Northwestern’s website sharing the results of the study.

From the article:

The study, which will appear in the April issue of Nature Neuroscience, is the first to provide concrete evidence that playing a musical instrument significantly enhances the brainstem’s sensitivity to speech sounds. This finding has broad implications because it applies to sound encoding skills involved not only in music but also in language.

The findings indicate that experience with music at a young age in effect can “fine-tune” the brain’s auditory system. “Increasing music experience appears to benefit all children — whether musically exceptional or not — in a wide range of learning activities,” says Nina Kraus, director of Northwestern’s Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory and senior author of the study.

So, the next time your kid is looking for something to play, maybe it’ll be time to start him or her playing an instrument. And with all of those years of lessons refining my auditory abilities, maybe I still have a fighting chance of learning Urdu with Hsien.

Do your children play instruments? How early an age did you start them?

My London Toy Fair 2007 Adventure Part 1

This morning, I was all psyched to go to London Toy Fair until I drew back the curtains and saw this:

Snow! For the first time since I moved to London a year ago, there was snow. We had a lot of fun playing in it but I knew it would be trouble.

The subway train I needed to take was severely delayed so a journey that should have taken me one and a half hours ended up taking two and a half hours. As the announcements rang through the stations, I wondered if I should even bother at all but I forged on. I didn’t want to waste my first opportunity to attend a trade show as a memeber of the Press.

Welcome to Toy Fair!

I pinned on my badge and grabbed the official Toy Fair bag for brochures and other materials.

Read more

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