Search Results for: blog do you zhu zhu

What’s on Your Child’s Christmas Gift List?

The Salvation Army’s red kettles have been out since before Halloween, the bell ringers got to work last Friday and some guy is selling Christmas trees across the street from our church. I guess that means I should be done with my holiday shopping, right? A year ago this week I was in desperation mode trying to track down a bunch of motorized rodents—-a.k.a. Zhu Zhu Pets-—to put under the Christmas tree for my kindergartener. This year Zhu Zhus are passe and Zoobles are all the rage. For the blissfully unaware, Zoobles are brightly colored creatures that fold into balls … Continue reading →

Countdown to Christmas… Toys

Thankfully, my young daughter hasn’t begun her annual countdown to Christmas. Or as it is referred to around our home: “Honey, be careful with that Sharpie when you cross off the days on the calendar!” Such was not the case last year, when she started begging Santa for Zhu Zhu Pets at the beginning of September. This year (thankfully) my child is not obsessed with one toy in particular; rather, she wants a few toys from each aisle of Toys R Us. We’ll see if Santa delivers. In the meantime, despite being more than two months out from the official … Continue reading →

Do You Zhu Zhu?

Zhu Zhu Pets—-the cute and cuddly, life-like motorized toy hamsters—-are the bane of many parents existence right now. I know, because I was smack in the middle of Zhu Zhu mania a few months ago. I thought things were bad back then, but after witnessing an ugly riot over the battery-powered rodents in a local Toys R Us last week, I’m beginning to re-evaluate the importance of getting my hands on the interactive furballs in time for Christmas. My 5-year-old daughter is the proud owner of Mr. Squiggles and Chunk, but instead of embracing her good fortune, my kid acts … Continue reading →

Zhu Zhu Mania!

I don’t drink, but I now see why other parents do. I seriously considered knocking back a few stiff libations after spending countless hours (see: THREE SOLID WEEKS) trying to get my hands on a Zhu Zhu Pet. A Zhu who? If you have a young child at home, then I don’t have to explain, but for the rest of you moms and dads, who haven’t been sucked into Zhu Zhu hell, allow me to elaborate. Zhu Zhu Pets are the hottest toys since Tickle Me Elmo, Cabbage Patch Kids, the Tamagotchi “digital pet,” Furby, and every other must-have plastic … Continue reading →

79 Animal Rights, Welfare, and Service Organizations Worthy of Your Donations

Using ratings generated by Charity Navigator and the American Institute of Philanthropy, I’ve compiled a list of the top-rated animal rights, welfare, and service-related charities. These are ones that scored either four stars from Charity Navigator (their highest rating) or As from the American Institute of Philanthropy. Charity Navigator and the American Institute of Philanthropy evaluate “the financial health” of non-profit organizations to determine which ones are using their money most effectively. What this means to you is that you can rest assured your donation dollars are being well utilized for the cause they were intended. Charities are listed in … Continue reading →

Nightmare Shopping Trip

I’m not referring to the time when your 2-year-old had a meltdown in the middle of Target when you refused him the toy snake he wanted. Or, the time when you had to battle a gazillion other parents to snag the last Zhu Zhu for your kid’s Christmas stocking. Or, the time when your eyeball was nearly knocked from its socket by a mother who just had to have the box of electric blue Peeps you were fingering. No, I am referring to a real nightmare shopping trip that ends up with you and your spouse in jail and your … Continue reading →

Parents Brace for Pumpkin Shortage

Moms and dads with their own versions of Linus van Pelt at home may be bracing for a scarier Halloween than ever before, thanks to a girl named Irene. Make that Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene. The ferocious weather pattern that ravaged the Northeast late last month could make picking the perfect pumpkin nearly impossible for hundreds of thousands of families living along the East Coast. A large number of farmers in New York and Massachusetts reported total losses of their crops, including a few growers, who told ABC News that roughly 15,000 to 20,000 pumpkins, washed away during Irene. According to … Continue reading →

Crazy Easter Parents

I just got back from Target where I learned that apparently Jesus was crucified so that procrastinating parents could elbow you in the shoulder in order to get the last package of electric blue Peeps. Elbows in shoulders, ribs, jaws; shopping carts running over feet and ramming hips; short tempers and long lines… Remember the reason for the season, people. Geez! Note to self: Bring shin guards the next time you head down the candy aisle on the day before Easter. The kicker (and I mean that literally) to my shopping rant is that I was done collecting goodies to … Continue reading →

Santa Threat Worked Like a Charm

I’d brag more if I didn’t feel so darn guilty about it all. Okay, the guilt is not that overwhelming, but it’s enough to make my confession list. So, Santa made it to our home in the wee hours of Christmas morning. He came, he unloaded, his reindeer left carrot crumbs on the kitchen floor, and now he’s gone for another three-hundred-sixty-something days. Now how am I going to keep my kindergartener in line? For six solid weeks I relied on the big guy’s impending visit to encourage my young daughter to be on her best behavior. “Santa’s watching,” I’d … Continue reading →

Childhood Obsessions: The Freakin’ Fish Song

“Do fish know that it is Christmas? DofishknowthatitisChristmas? DO FISH KNOW THAT IT IS CHRISTMAS? Or.Are.They.Confused?” The aforementioned words, sung to the tune of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” may be the death of me yet. Thanks a lot PBS! For 58 straight minutes on Thanksgiving morning my 5-year-old sat motionless in front of the television, completely and utterly entranced by “Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas.” At the time I was elbow-deep in raw turkey carcass, unstuffed stuffing and uncooked potatoes. Consequently, I was grateful that good ol’ George the monkey was occupying my kid while I got … Continue reading →