If you were to ask me about my first Christmas present memory, it would be a toss-up between stepping on my brother’s Optimus Prime and breaking it before he even had a chance to play with it and getting my Barbie dollhouse. It was three stories high and glorious. Although I don’t remember how old…
Mommy Gearest’s 3rd-annual Glorious Gift Guide
I can hardly believe this is my third go at a holiday gift guide. Every year, the process becomes overwhelming and every year I vow to simplify. But here’s the problem: it can’t be simplified. And that’s because you can’t buy your way into my gift guide. Every single product that comes through our front…
Hey, Mattel…game ON!
I was born in the 1970s. And we had little more in the ’80s than Super Channel and Atari, so my family played games. I never took to most card games, but I still love a good board game. Many of my favourite childhood memories revolve around board games, like that time we were playing…
Mommy Gearest’s Glorious Gift Guide, part IV: 4+ years old
_________________________________________________________________________________________ What happens when you give dozens of parent-and-baby testers some of the newest – and potentially hottest – toys and gear? You get a parent-and-kid-approved list of the must-buy gifts this holiday season. Welcome to PART IV – the final part in my series of 2012 gift guides – which is aimed at four…
Mommy Gearest’s Glorious Gift Guide, part II: 12 to 24 months
_________________________________________________________________________________________ What happens when you give dozens of parent-and-baby testers some of the newest – and potentially hottest – toys and gear? You get a parent-and-kid-approved list of the must-buy gifts this holiday season. Welcome to PART II, aimed at toddlers who are about 12 to 24 months old. I find this a really tough…