Cards Against Humanity: Third Expansion

Shut up and take my money!
As long as there are new expansion packs filled with cards with phrases I have to explain to my wife with filthy diagrams, I'm going to buy them. You should too.
Expansion Packs are Definitely Worth It
If you own (or are going to buy) the full Cards Against Humanity game, you should absolutely buy this. The cards added provide a little more longevity to the enjoyment you'll get out of the game by keeping it fresh. I have already bought the previous 2 expansions, and each time you put new cards in the deck, it adds so much replay value to the game.

I will order any future expansion packs that come out immediately, as I did when this one came out. This game is awesome and the expansion packs are a definite necessity.

So for those that haven't got a clue what this game is...it's Apples to Apples, but for adults. This is not a game for your children, unless you're a horrible parent.

Gameplay: Each player grabs 10 white cards. Each round, one player grabs a black card. The black card has either a question, or it has a statement with one or two fill-in-the-blanks. The other players in the game pick the white card or cards (if there's two fill-ins) and put...
most fun you will ever have save for being balls deep in a squeeling hog firing a shotgun in the air
I was introduced to this game at a party and immediately looked for a copy I have never laughed so hard in my life. It took 6 months before I could buy a copy for less than the ridiculous prices on eBay. It is now a permenant addition to our weekly game group and I keep it in my trunk to play anywhere anytime
Click to Editorial Reviews

LeapFrog LeapPad2 Explorer Kids' Learning Tablet, Green

Differences between the original LeapPad and the LeapPad2
We gave the original leappad to my 4yo daughter last Christmas. She absolutely loved it. In fact she loved it a little too much, as it started to interfere with bedtime. Unfortunately I accidentally left her leappad on an airplane. She was crushed.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I saw the announcement for the leappad2 and thought this might be a way to make up for my mistake. We preordered from Amazon, and it arrived today. If you have the original leappad, here are some differences that I noticed:

* I couldn't open the box without tearing/cutting it. Leapfrog seems to have glued down every flap. I was hoping to open it, download the apps, configure it, and repackage it so i could wrap it up as a present. But that wasn't possible without damaging the box.

* It is definitely faster/snappier. The upgraded CPU is a noticeable improvement.

* The battery covers are significantly improved. With the old one, you could use the stylus...
Hands down the best choice for a child-friendly tablet
If you want a child-friendly tablet-style device, this is the best one on the market as of October 2012. But you have to understand what you're getting and why this is desirable. There are a lot of positive reviews that are a bit inflated, and many negative reviews that are simply unfair in their expectations. Here's my realistic parent-friendly review...

First, the LeapPad is more rugged and more child-friendly compared to an iPad, iPod, or Android tablet. I know parents who prefer to let their kids play apps on those more sophisticated devices, but if you go that route, you're taking a risk with a more expensive and more fragile device. You're also opening up a potential can of worms since those devices usually include unrestricted access to the internet (which may expose your child to inappropriate material or allow him/her to accidentally make purchases, etc.). The LeapPad's more durable casing allows young children to hold and carry it with less likelihood of damage...
3 year old loves it! Great improvement over the original.
I was really excited to receive the new LeapPad2 because I saw the recommended age changed for 4-9 years to 3-9 years. My son just turned 3.

Firstly, we own the original LeapPad, which was a huge disappointment. My main complaint was how slow it was. The LeapPad2, I'm happy to report, is much quicker! Not as quick as an iPad, but quicker than the original version. Setting both side by side the LeapPad2 reaches the main screen and loads games much quicker. Also, the resolution on the LeapPad2 is significantly clearer than the original.

Right out of the box I had to add 4 AA batteries (not included) and connect to a computer for setup; all easy enough. I was able to download some new apps for my son and gave it to him to play with the next morning.

The included stylus is easy for him to use, but he still prefers to use his finger. I imagine he'll want to use the stylus more as he gets older. I like that the games are educational and challenging. At the...
Click to Editorial Reviews

Spot It

Fast fun for all!
I just bought the game and played it several times with adults and with 2nd, 3rd, and 5th graders. It is great fun and very simple to understand and play.
The goal is to be the first to identify a match on a pair of cards and to call out out the name of the figure in common. It is exciting to spot the match, frustrating to know there is a match which one cannot see, and disappointing when one is beaten to the punch. The game keeps everyone engaged. All the children laughed as we played, and all wanted to play again and again. And the youngest (7) and oldest (65) of us were winners. What more could one want for a summer game at the beach?!!

If you lose a card or two the game is still just as good.
Fun game for the whole family, even the 4 year old
The game says it's for 7 and up and is billed as mostly an adult party game. But I have to say, my 4 year old LOVES it.

We have only played "The Tower" version of the rules - where each player has one card and tries to spot their matching symbol on the top card of the pile as soon as it is turned face up. The first time we played it, we (the adults) would close their eyes and not look at the center card while we counted to 5. This allowed our daughter to have a head start since her visual discrimination skills are not nearly as developed as ours. Each time we played the game, we ended up counting to a lower number until finally, she didn't need any lead time at all.

I highly recommend this game to parents of preschoolers, early grade schoolers, and any kids with reading difficulties. Being able to quickly spot the differences in letters, to decide if it's a "b", "d", or even a "p" is critical to being able to read. This is a fun way to boost those skills as well...
Great Family Game
We got this game to take with us on a family trip and it has quickly become a fave around our house. It's hard to find games the whole family can play (Our kids are 4 and 8). There are several different ways you can play and every hand is different, so you don't get bored. It is also small and even fits in my purse, so it travels well and makes a great game to take to restaurants or the doctors' office (anywhere you might have to wait).
Click to Editorial Reviews

Cards Against Humanity: Second Expansion

It's for the dolphins.
I held off on buying Cards Against Humanity, as I wasn't sure about their political stance on dolphin safety. Now that this second expansion solidifies their views, I am more than willing to purchase. Thanks Cards Against Humanity.
More fun than playing with a stick!
This game is not for the faint-hearted, and it will offend all your friends in the first 3 hands. After you get past the initial anger and shock, it's a heck of a good time and a very bonding experience. Pushing the limits is not an accurate description - it takes your limits, laughs at them, and continues on its merry way.
Awesome
When I opened this up, the first card said 'a bigger blacker dick'. That's all you need to know. Best game ever
Click to Editorial Reviews

Hot Wheels 5 Car Gift Pack (Styles May Vary)

good
The toys that fascinate my nephew, luy colors are cute. They have good grip for small hands. Roll well. Good price for the pack
Absolutely divine.........
My son loves cars and I love watching him play with cars, Hot wheels have always been of good quality. These cars are perfect...perfect price too!!!
Great cars!
My son loves the cars and I know he'll have years of fun with them! The wheels are very smooth and the wings of the red one really help the speed.
Click to Editorial Reviews

The Elf on the Shelf A Christmas Tradition with Blue Eyed North Pole

This is a tradition that will carry on for generations!
This is a tradition that will carry on for generations!

HOW IT WORKS:
The kit comes with an elf doll and a book. The book explains that Santa has sent an elf to watch over the children and the elf reports back to Santa each night. The kids get to decide the name for the elf together - this is a touch decision! You read through the book with your child, it explains all the rules, then each night you move the elf to a new spot. One of the rules is that the children cannot touch him - this is a great rule because although he's a sturdy doll, I think he might get loved out much too quickly if they were allowed! The author was so thoughtful to think of all these helpful rules.

Rules:
* The children cannot touch the elf or he will lose his magic
* The elf can listen to what the children tell him, but cannot talk back, that's Santa's law.
* The elf flies back to the North Pole each night and tells Santa what he has seen - when he comes back he goes...
So much fun!
My kids just received this Thanksgiving day as a gift and I am now ordering them for every child I know. It is such a cute idea. Santa sends the elf to watch the children and then the elf reports to Santa every night and comes back to a different spot in the house. My kids wake up with a running start to see who can find the elf first. The kids must name the elf and they really enjoyed that as well. It is such a nice tradition to help make the Christmas Season even more fun and special. I know it will be with our family for a very long time.
Elf on the Shelf - VS - Christopher Pop-In-Kins
I have a 3-year-old and considered entering the insanity that is "Elf on a Shelf." In reading reviews, I discovered an alternative: "Christopher Pop-In-Kins" Our local library had a complete gift set of both mischievous elf stories and companion elves. Here is a comparison..

THE STORIES ARE INCREDIBLY SIMILAR
I am utterly stunned by the similarities in the two stories. In fact, I am amazed that the author of the "Christopher" book (written in 1985) hasn't sued the "Elf" author (written in 2005) for plagiarism.
* Both elves have been sent by Santa to keep an eye on their assigned child/children and report back to Santa
* Both elves relocate within their assigned home each evening
* Both elves are not to be touched by the children in the home
* Consequences for touching either elf is the same--he/she will have to go back to Santa for awhile
* Both elves are to return to Santa on Christmas eve
* Size of books are almost...
Click to Editorial Reviews

Crayola Marker Maker

Lots of Fun - My Daughter Loves This!
This is a great set for younger children. My daughter is 9 years old and was so excited to get this. She had a blast for over an hour playing around making markers and concocting colors and she still has plenty to make.

What you get is a nicely made and completely contained kit that folds open for use and folds up to carry and store. Then you get parts for making 16 markers including the nib, tube, foam insert, end cap and cap. There are three ink bottles and two mixing tubes. There is a mixing chart as well to use as a guide but you can also create your own color combinations. Coming up with fun color names adds to the creativity.

My daughter had a blast making her own markers, labeling them and writing with them. She especially liked watching the ink wick up the foam insert and nib.

I like how they are self contained, there is very little chance of making a big mess and parental involvement includes just basic supervision.

Refills are...
Very neat set - make real markers
I didn't know what to think when I ordered this set. Will the kids enjoy it? Will it be a fun project? Will the markers actually work? Will is be hard to do or really messy?

The reality was, this was a fun project, the markers works just as well as store bought markers (same construction) and the mess was minimal as I was the one who poured the ink.

Is there opportunity to make a giant inky mess? Yes, but that pretty much comes with the territory with any ink/paint project. By me doing the project with the kids, there was virtually zero mess and also very little clean up. Just be sure to do this project on a space that isn't harmed by washable marker ink. (Unfinished wood floors, upholstery, etc.)

After figuring out where everything went, the project just zipped along. The most confusing aspect was the marker parts onboard storage, which ended up being unnecessary as we went through the entire kit in one sitting. A few details about the kit:...
Fun and Educational
My 5-year old niece LOVED creating her own markers! Kids 8 and up may not need an adult to help, but under that and an adult may need to help squeeze the ink for the child. Otherwise, children can do most everything else themselves. It's easy to use, and surprisingly not too messy at all. The ink is not washable, so you'll want to put newspaper down just in case the ink drips. Kids can learn about colors in a fresh and unique way. They can mix their own colors with a helpful chart or try their own. Plus, they can create labels on each marker to name their colors whatever they wish. And when supplies are low, you can purchase additional ink or markers separately as needed. The wait time for ink to soak into the marker is only a couple minutes.
Click to Editorial Reviews