Backseat Drawing

I found this game online the other day (click here) and am convinced that my kids will LOVE this!

One player instructs another player to draw something, using only basic clues. The cluegiver cannot reveal what is being drawn. Everyone has to guess what the object is before time runs out!

In the regular version... the cards with the items to be drawn are just listed. In the junior version, the cards have simple drawings of things that look pretty easy to explain!

Tyke Lights

I live with some little girls that would absolutely go nuts for these! These are heat-free lights are made of durable plastic and are perfect to light the way for little ones. My girls would love these for reading at night for a bit before they go to bed. There are three settings for the lights... high, low and a fifteen minute dimmer!!!

$13 each. Click here for more information!

Rubik's Cube 360

Welcome back Mr. Rubik!!! The idea with this new twist on the original cube is to get the colored balls from the inner sphere into the matching slots on the outer sphere by twisting and shaking them through holes. Available at Amazon.com for $15.

Melissa and Doug Craft Kits

Melissa and Doug toys and puzzles have long been favorites of mine. I love their durability... and the quality of the materials that they use.

I've recently discovered their craft kits. What fun!!! You can find their products at their website, Melissa and Doug. They usually have a good selection of products on sale... or are offering a discount on qualifying orders.

I've also found, on occasion, their puzzles at T.J.Maxx.

Make your own Puzzle Kit - $7

Decorate your own Whiteboard Kit - $13

Monkey Business Bungee Jumper

My kids would go nuts for this toy! It is a Monkey Business Bungee Jumper and is billed as a safer and lighter poto stick.

$13 at amazon.com.

Super Slide by Sportspower

It is HOT in Arizona!! HOT, HOT, HOT!

Time to break out outdoor waterslides. I love that these are affordable for home use!!

This water slide is available at Costco.com for $250.

Pogo Sticks

Last year, as an impulse purchase, we bought a couple of pogo sticks for our kids for Christmas. It ended up being one of our best toy purchases ever.

The kids, all of them, love them. And when we have friends over to play, they always end up jumping with one of the sticks.

This one is available at Dick's Sporting Goods for $35.

This Place is a Zoo

My husband wants a boxer puppy for Christmas... I think I found one.


But wait... my 7 year old daughter wants a Chihuahua for Christmas... What is a mother to do? A mother that has said for the last 20 years that she won't be getting a dog... she isn't a dog person?

I think I found a solution. Both of those adorable, lifeLIKE puppies above are actually
stuffed animals. They look very realistic when their tummys are moving in and out like they are really breathing. These breathing puppies come with their own blanket to lay on and a cardboard carrying case as well as a certificate of adoption and a care manual. They are $32.50 each and you can purchase them at This Place is a Zoo. I love it!!! What an amazing idea!

Perhaps your family is more exotic... and you need something a little more grand? Check these guys out...

This ostrich is 30" tall and is $99.

The granddaddy of all stuffed anmials is this guy... when sitting this gorilla measures over 28" tall and retails for $299.00.

Be sure to check out This Place is a Zoo. It looks like they might just have every animal you could think of!!

Worry Dolls

In Guatemala, before going to bed, children tell one worry to each doll and then put the dolls under the pillows. When they wake up in the morning, the worries are gone.

I love this idea for the worrying child. And the dolls are so cute.

Worrydolls.com sells 1 basket, with 6 dolls, is $2. You can also get 12 baskets, also with 6 dolls each, for $13.

100 dolls ranging in sizes from 2/3" to 2" for $15. These are perfect for crafting, or to simply use for your own worries, or to give as gifts. Also available at worrydolls.com.

Webkinz

Webkinz are the Beanie Babies for this generation of kids. And I love them! And so do my kids.

The following description comes from the Webkinz website... Webkinz pets are lovable plush pets that each come with a unique Secret Code. With it, you enter Webkinz World where you care for your virtual pet, answer trivia, earn KinzCash, and play the best kids games on the net!

My kids earn time on the computer and they almost exclusively play with their pets when they get computer time. I love to listen to them create fun worlds for their little pets!

Monster Kit

Yikes... this is $250... more than I would spend for a plush... but if I could, I would! What a cute idea. Your child draws a picture of a monster, you send the image to the designers at North American Bear Co. and they reproduce your child's design as a plush monster.

Play Tents, etc.

This adorable Fashion Show red carpet playhut is available here. I can imagine the fun my girls would have with this. It costs $50 and includes free shipping!

This tent, called the Fantasy Palace, is available here and is priced at $58, also with free shipping. I LOVE it!

chasing fireflies

Entire outfit, minus the shoes, $148

I got the cutest catalog in the mail today from chasing fireflies. It is on the pricey side for my personal comfort level, but it was fun to daydream as I looked at all the darling items throughout the catalog. Here are a few of my favorite things from the catalog.

Astronaut costume $60

Party animals tea set $150

Motorcycle t-shirt $34

Cottage purses $64

Owen and Mzee plush set $20 ...

ok, I may actually get these cute little guys. For more information about the sweet true story of Owen and Mzee, a 130 year old tortoise and a baby hippo, who defied all odds and became friends, click here.

My Pillow Pets Giveaway!!!

The wonderful folks at My Pillow Pets have generously offered to give a Pillow Pet to one lucky Laugh Until Your Cheeks Hurt reader!

So... here we go for an awesome giveaway!

Leave a comment by midnight Tuesday, August 19 and one randomly selected reader will receive a Pillow Pet! Tell me which Pillow Pet you think is the cutest.

Style to be determined...

My Pillow Pets

Recently I purchased some of these adorable My Pillow Pets for my youngest children. I love them, and they love them! They are every bit as cuddly as they appear! They can be 'unfolded' to lay flat, thus they are called pillows. My kids sleep with theirs every night!

For more information, please see the My Pillow Pets website.