8 Awesome Toys You Can Still Get By Christmas

If you follow me on Instastories (and if you don't, uh, get on it!), you may know that we celebrated Christmas early this year. We're going to be out of town on the big day*, and there was just no way I could get all of our presents there and back. So we did a full Christmas this past weekend with my family, and then Santa will come while we're on vacation.

As a result, I got to see which toys my kids loved the most--and I'm sharing them here now. If you still need a last-minute gift for your little ones (or for a niece, nephew, etc), this is a good place to start. My kids loved all of these, and (as of writing this post!), they are all still available and able to get to you by Christmas. Hurry!

{clockwise from top left}

Poopsie Pooey Puitton Slime Surprise: Okay this is actually the only one that I haven't seen a reaction to yet. (Though I heard Santa might be bringing it. ;) My daughter desperately wanted this after spotting it on YouTube, though, so I'm confident she'll love it. It's a big, plastic poop-shaped homage to a Louis Vuitton bag (they must be thrilled, by the way), stuffed with all sorts of sparkles and mix-ins to create a bunch of different slimes. (There are also other goodies like a keychain.) It was sold out for a long time, but they have it at Walmart at least for right now. Run!

Moj Moj Squishy Toy Claw Machine: This is an actual working claw machine where you can "win" mystery eggs filled with assorted squishy toys. It was a gift for my daughter, but both kids are already obsessed with it. (In fact, my five-year-old son has gotten so good at it that I'm actually looking forward to having him try out his skills on a "real" claw machine now!) This has been one of the hottest toys of the season, so it's sold out most places online, but there are still a few sellers on Amazon who seem to have it!

Learning Resources Beaker Creatures Liquid Reactor Super Lab: I love this, because it's a fun, "boy" twist on all of those blind bags and surprise eggs that are usually geared towards girls. The lab comes with a few pods (you can buy lots of extras) that you place into the "reactor liquid" and then it bubbles and you see what creature you got. Each one also comes with experiments, which is a nice twist. My science- (and surprise-) loving son adored it.

Kano Harry Potter Coding Kit: This thing is awesome--and a very cool gift for Potter-obsessed kids. It works with an iPad and kids can build a wand and then teach it all sorts of spells. I love that it's a more active, educational version of screen time, and that it teaches coding. My daughter was thrilled when she unwrapped this. Can't wait to see her start to code!

iLoom Deluxe Starter Pack Digital Friendship Bracelet Loom: I was SO excited when I randomly stumbled on this on Amazon, and my daughter was equally blown away when she opened it up. It's a physical loom that you hook up to your iPad. The app then tells you exactly how to create very elaborate friendship bracelets and gives you step by step instructions as you go. The patterns are complicated, but the app makes them easy because it shows you where to put every string, as you do it. My daughter was making an elaborate chevron bracelet minutes after we set it up. 

Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven Baking Star Edition: I had one as a kid and loved it, but for whatevver reason, we never bought one for my daughter. So this year, we got it for my son. He loves to cook and has already had a lot of fun making cookies with it. I also love that the price is really right with this one. Under $35! (Funny story: This edition is mostly white with a little gold and magenta, so not super girly-looking. Still, my son unwrapped it, got super excited, and then pointed to the magenta design and said--genuinely perplexed--"Why is it pink?" His reaction was cute but also kind of sad. He loved it, but was honestly confused why, in his mind, it seemed to be geared towards girls. Anyway, he loves it. Great, classic gift for any kid.)

Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Rocket: Stomp Rockets have long been my go-to birthday gift for little boys. They love them, and they're not super pricey. I recently found this glow-in-the-dark version, and gave it to one of my son's friends. He was jealous, so I got him a set for Christmas this year. He's excited to use it.

Little Live Scruff a Luv Mystery Rescue Pet: One of the hottest toys of the season, this is a gift that is, again, probably intended for girls (pink packaging, etc), but there's really no reason boys can't play with it. This year, it was one of the top things my son was asking for. It's a cute concept: You "rescue" a sad looking ball of fur that you then have to wash and groom in order to find out what animal (cat, dog, or bunny) it actually is. Then, you dry it off and it becomes your stuffed animal. My parents bought him the blue one, and he had a lot of fun washing it in a bowl of water, and was thrilled when he learned it was a bunny. (I'm actually shocked this one is totally still in stock, because again, it was one of the biggest launches of the year, but it's there--at least for now!)

Do you guys have your shopping done yet? That is probably the biggest advantage of having "early Christmas"--I'm totally done now! (And if you need any more last-minute gift ideas, check out my favorite-things gift guide with great gifts for her, and my beauty gift guide!)

Have a wonderful holiday!

*I know it's a total internet no-no to say you're going to be out of town, but since my dog (who does NOT take kindly to strangers coming into his domain, to say the least) and my actual dog walker are staying in our house while we're away, I feel okay about it. ;)

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13 Cool Things You Need to Click On Today

If you follow my Instagram Stories, you know that I spent yesterday at a big toy show called TTPM with my daughter. It's kind of heaven for little kids, because you get a peek at the brand-new (and soon-to-launch) toys and you leave with a killer gift bag. (FYI, I always let my kids choose one or two toys to keep, and then we put the rest in storage until December when we donate it to a holiday toy drive.) 

There was a ton of great stuff at the show, including the feminist backpack shown above from 7AM Enfant. I need one for my daughter--and maybe one for myself, too!  (Side note: Would you be interested in seeing some of our favorite toys from the show? Maybe in a gift-idea post?) 

This weekend we've got some fun family things planned, plus I'll be working on some DIY projects for my son's upcoming birthday party. Whatever you're up to this weekend, I hope you make it a great one. Here's a few fun links to check out in the meantime.

• Speaking of Insta Stories, you may have seen me rave on there about my new Rothy's camo loafers. I'm obsessed! They are so comfy, so cute, and they are made from (get this) recycled water bottles! (You would never know though. Somehow they feel like cloth.) Anyway, if you're interested, you can get $20 off your first purchase if you use this link.

• Um, how cute is this breezy, $105 romper?

• This maxi dress is so pretty. Feel like it would be so easy to dress it up or down.

• Always looking for good sleeveless tops that I can wear with jeans, and this one is such a cute twist on a basic shape. (Love that it's under $100, too!)

• Need these slip-on sneakers. Love the thick gold stripe and the fact that they're just around $50 bucks!

• I made this cauliflower rice earlier this week and it was the best I've ever had. SO. GOOD.

• What do you do when you find out your dad isn't really your dad? My friend Kelsey wrote a beautiful piece for Refinery 29 about how those ancestry DNA tests completely changed her life.

• This post from Landyn makes me want to go on a Disney Cruise!

• The actress who plays Anna in the Broadway production of Frozen had a panic attack and couldn't go on stage. Absolutely loved her honesty and openness about it.

• I couldn't stop watching this video of New York in 1911. You so rarely seen moving images from this time period--and perhaps never as high-quality as this--so it's really, really cool to watch. People from the Victorian era...they're just like us! 

• This story about a troop of homeless (!) Girl Scouts really moved me, so I forced myself (heh, heh) to support them by buying cookies from them online. Note to self: Buy more Samoas next time.

• Pretty much every one of my Facebook friends were posting this funny New Yorker piece about having it all, so you may have seen it, but if not, it's definitely worth checking out!

• For me--and pretty much anyone currently working in magazines--ed2010 was a godsend that helped launch my career. So it was with a heavy heart that I read this poignant piece about why they are discontinuing their formation of college chapters. It's very sad, but also a realistic sign of the times. It's hard to accept, but magazines are dead, guys. And on that note...

Have a great weekend! ;)

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Gift Guide: The Best Gifts for Little Boys

Yes, I'm doing a little gender stereotyping here, but I can't help it--I'm going by what my little guy likes. (And he likes many different things! Case in point: This year, in addition to cars and space books, he actually asked for a tea set...! Santa is bringing him this one, FYI.) So, as you're shopping, here's some fun stuff that moves, fixes, or explores for your little dude. (Or little girl! I bet, she'll love a lot of this stuff, too.) 

{top row}

Magic Science for Wizards Only Kit - Again, no, this does not have to be just for boys. (My daughter loves it, too!) But it just happens to be one of my go-to birthday gifts for boys. It's good for ages 5 and up (but will interest kids as old as 12 or so), and uses common household items for the experiments, so it's not like you have to throw it away when the ingredients run out.

Bob the Builder RC Super Scoop - Your little guy can use the remote to make him go, dig, stand up, and do other fun things. You don't usually see remote-control toys that aren't race cars, so this is kind of fun and different.

Intelex Hooty Owl Warmer - This little stuffed animal is filled with calming lavender. You can warm him in the microwave to keep your kid cozy at night and help him fall asleep or insert a cold pack to soothe ouchies. (Also comes in purple!)

PlayTape Classic Roads Series - It's a roll of tape that looks like a street! So smart. Just run it down a hallway, through a bedroom, in a hotel room, wherever, and you've got an instant race track to play on. It would make a fun stocking stuffer. Or give it to a kid in a gift bag with a few Hot Wheels cars and boom--you're done.

{middle row}

Hannah Andersson Star Wars Holiday Pajamas - Star Wars characters as ornaments on comfy two-piece pjs. Too cute!

Black & Decker Jr. Mega Tools Kit - This is another go-to birthday gift for me. Little boys love it. Last time we gave it to someone, my three-year-old saw it and cried because he wanted to keep it. So they'll be one under the tree for him this year.

{bottom row}

Thomas and Friends 3-Piece Adventure Kit - This set is brilliant in its simplicity. You get a flashlight, a camera, and binoculars--all stuff that little kids love to play with--all emblazoned with their favorite character and all for just $20. So. Smart. (Even better: The same set comes in tons of other characters, too. There's Batman (and weirdly that one's only $10!), Frozen, Spider-Man, and many more.)

Bug's World Real Insects Collection - My curious little boy it going to love this one. It has ten real insects encased in lucite, plus a magnifying glass to check them out up close.

Step2 Hot Wheels Extreme Thrill Coaster - Hard to tell in the photo above, but this is big. As in, you'd better have a yard for this one! There's a ride-on car and then there's a structure with a (very tame) roller coaster-like drop. Please don't tell my kids that this exists. (Note: The Hot Wheels one is the new, slightly souped-up version. This is the previous one that is basically the same thing--but it's over $100 cheaper!)

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Gift Guide: The Best Gifts For Little Girls

{top row} Madame President doll // Coco Chanel book // Num Noms Lip Gloss Truck // beanie  {middle row} Elsa Uggs // Necklace // Spacepop doll // Pottery Cool // printed sweatshirt {bottom row} one-piece pajamas // rain boots // unicorn hoodie // nail art collection

Several of these items are on my own girly girl's list; the others she just might find under the tree in a few weeks. Here's a few fun ideas for your own little fashionista. Enjoy!

{top row, from left}

Madame Alexander Madame President Doll - We couldn't have the real thing, so while this is hardly the next best thing, it's still pretty great, right? (Note: They also have a black version!)

Coco Chanel book - These books are the cutest way to introduce your little one to important women in history. (There's also Maya Angelou, Amelia Earhart, and Frida Kahlo.)

Num Noms Lipgloss Truck Craft Kit - It looks like a playset (and it is), but it's also a kit to DIY her own flavored lip glosses!

J.Crew Food Beanie - At first glance, it's a standard Fair Isle hat. But look closer and you'll find burgers and ice cream cones woven into the pattern. (Get 30% off with code SHOPGIFTS)

{middle row, from left}

Uggs Elsa Coronation Boots - These are definitely pricey, but if you have a Frozen lover in your house, they're kind of amazing.

J.Crew Beaded Necklace - This beaded ice cream cone necklace is adorable. (Get 30% off with code SHOPGIFTS)

SpacePop Athena Doll - These brand-new, Barbie-sized dolls from the Madame Alexander company come with really cool, inventive clothes, amazing hairstyles, and pets! 

Pottery Cool - Artsy girls can create bowls and other products at home with this toy potter's wheel.

Children's Place sweatshirt - This cute sweatshirt reminds me of Lisa Frank stickers.

{bottom row, from left}

Tucker + Tate One-Piece Pajamas - My daughter has a similar pair of one-piece pjs. (We call it her onesie.) She LOVES them, because they're super comfy and warm.  

Havaiana Glitter Rain Boots - You'll want to steal these pretty, glittery boots for yourself.

Cat & Jack Unicorn Hoodie - This adorable sweatshirt has a gold horn and a rainbow mane--and it's under $20!

My Look 8 in 1 Super Nail Salon - This awesome set comes packed with tons of nail polish, stencils, glitter, and more.

Before you go, check out the hottest holiday toys, the best beauty gifts, and last year's list of gifts for girls.

'

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Gift Guide: The 14 Hottest Holiday Toys

Some of the coolest events I attend each year aren't beauty events (although those are pretty cool). Really, it's the holiday toy previews that tend to be the most fun. There are some fun toys out there, you guys. 

So, to kick off my 2016 holiday gift guides (they'll be lots of them over the next two weeks!), I wanted to share a few of the best toys I spotted this year. Scoop them up now (that is, if you're not already too late!). Your little ones will thank you (or, well, Santa) later. 

{top row}

Barbie Hello Dreamhouse: It seriously puts any regular ol' dollhouse or dreamhouse to shame. It's wifi-enabled, it plays different songs and sounds in each room, it responds to voice commands, and there's a working elevator. Can I move in?

Furreal Friends Torch My Blazin Dragon: He makes noise, he moves, he responds to touch, and he breaths some (surprisingly realistic-looking) fiery mist. He also comes with a cute marshmallow on a stick that changes color when you "roast" it over the fire. He's totally adorable and not at all "girly," so little boys will love him, too.

Shopkins Happy Places Happy Home Playset: Okay, so you already know about Shopkins, right? (They're those little plastic grocery-shaped figures that kids obsessively collect and trade.) Well, meet the new iteration. They're all shaped like pieces of furniture and various things found in a home. You collect them to try to fill the house. If you're going to buy Happy Places, this Happy Home itself is a good place to start. You can also get individual sets. Your kids will go nuts for them.

Hatchimals: Hands down, this is THE toy of the season. You know how your parents always tell the tale of how they stood in line for hours outside of Toys R Us waiting for your Cabbage Patch Kid back in the '80s? Well, meet 2016's Cabbage Patch Kid. It's a stuffed animal stuck in an egg that breaks out of its shell when you interact with it. Once it's out, it dances, talks, plays games, etc. It's cute, it's fun, and it's impossible to get. Seriously. If you don't have one yet, you may be out of luck. Amazon has them severely marked up. As does Ebay. And then, of course,  there's always the option of standing in line outside of Toys R Us...

{middle row}

Star Wars Smart R2-D2: It's like having your own robot...who happens to be the world's most loveable droid. He responds to your voice (and follows your commands), plays music, dances, recalls popular Star Wars characters, and more. So fun for any little Star Wars fan.

Real Cooking Ultimate Baking Starter Set: This line is cool, because it includes real, usable kitchen tools, plus easy-to-use mixes. (Think Easy Bake oven mixes, but you cook them in the real oven and they taste way better.) This starter set is a good way to begin. It includes two no-slip mixing bowls, three measuring scoops, a silicone cupcake pan, a whisk, a bowl scraper, pastry bags and a decorating tip, two cake mixes, three frosting packets, tons of different sprinkles, and this super cool egg-cracking gadget that allows kids to break eggs themselves, mess-free. You can also order additional sets separately like these cute cake pops and cones. My daughter baked these mini donuts and they were easy and surprisingly tasty! (Also available at Amazon, if you prefer.)

Our Generation Sweet Stop Ice Cream Truck: The truck plays music and has working lights, but what's really impressive is just how much stuff it comes with. Tons and tons of different ice creams, popsicles, frozen treats, etc, etc. It's all incredibly detailed and really cute. FYI: The truck is meant for Target's Our Generation line of dolls, but it fits American Girl dolls perfectly. Just saying...

Build-A-Bear Workshop Stuffing Station: I find this thing beyond adorable. It's a mini version of the "stuffing stations" found in Build-A-Bear stores, so it allows kids to stuff their own bears at home! It comes with supplies to stuff (and dress) two bears, but you can order more. It even comes with the little plastic hearts to stick inside. What kid wouldn't love this??

{bottom row}

Lil Lockitz Memory Studio: This was one of my favorite toys that I saw this year. It's just so simple and fun. Using colored paper, glittery stones, charms, and more, your kid can make fun, one-of-a-kind necklaces, bracelets, and keychains in seconds. It's a fun, crafty, perfect rainy-day activity and the finished products are really cute. This Memory Studio is kind of the deluxe version. You can also get smaller packs like this one for just $5 to $10.

Fisher Price Think & Learn Code-A-Piller: Designed to give kids (think preschoolers up to 8 years old or so) an early introduction to coding, here they'll learn to reconfigure the settings using problem solving and sequencing skills. Perfect for your budding little Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs.

Trolls Poppy's Fashion Frenzy: It's simple, but any little kid who loved the Trolls movie will love this. It's a set of four figures with lots and lots of hair to brush and style. What more do you need?

Yummy Nummies Smore Maker: City kids can pretend they're camping with this easy, no-bake way to fake-make s'mores. There's no heat and no cooking (the included, light-up campfire is just for fun), but the s'mores are edible! 

Skylanders Imaginators: This is a new world to me, because this is not something my daughter is into and my son is still too young, but apparently Skylanders are hot right now and this is the thing to have. For the first time ever, kids can make their own Skylanders totally from scratch, choosing their powers, their name, their catchphrases, even their look (and it gets crazy detailed here. Apparently there are 20 different options for just ears alone). 

Disney Singing Elena of Avalor Doll: She sings, she comes with a cute little guitar, you can dress her up, and she's under $16. Your little girl will go nuts.

So, what do you think? Which toy is your fave? Or is there a great toy I missed? (And, while I have you, here's last year's hottest toy gift guide if you'd like to check it out.)

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Gift Guide: The 15 Best Gifts For Little Girls

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 (on major sale!) // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15

Earlier this week, I gave you some holiday gift ideas for little boys. Today, it's the girls' turn. A few of the items I've highlighted here are things my daughter already owns and loves (the fashion book, Flipsies. Whiffer Sniffers, Fashion Plates) and others are things that she's going to find under the tree next week (Shopkins ice cream truck, leopard scarf, T-Swift ornament). The rest are on our wish list. And, now, hopefully yours, too. Here we go:

1) Shopkins Ice Cream Truck: If your five to nine year old daughter isn't obsessed with Shopkins yet, it's only a matter of time. This is one of the hot new Shopkins toys for the season. Someone actually stopped me in Target the other day and asked what to get for her friend's six year old daughter. I literally handed her this.

2) Whiffer Sniffers Bitsy Berry and Smore: Fashion girls have Fendi puff balls dangling from their bags, and the kindergarten set has these little food-scented guys. Some are sold in normal packaging, but the most coveted ones are only found in blinded "mystery packs," so you don't know what you're getting until you open it up. You open them, sniff them, then clip them to your backpack. (My daughter has three and wants more, more, more. Kids, man.)

3) Fashion Plates Deluxe Kit: Who else was obsessed with this toy as a kid?? I lived for it, so I was so excited to buy my daughter the updated version. She's had it for about a year now and absolutely loves it. It's become a go-to birthday party gift for us. 

4) Land of Nod Home Sweet Play Home Canopy: I've loved this thing forever, but I was actually planning on waiting to purchase it until my daughter's birthday. But it's suddenly, inexplicably on clearance and is now under $100! (Looks like the sale price is only going on through tomorrow, so RUN.) I just think it's such a sweet, pretty way for your little one to get some private reading or chill out (or time out?) time. (And while we're at it, how amazing would this one be for a boy's room? It's on major sale right now, too.)

5) Meri Meri Days of the Week Hairpins: Cute, right? I would totally wear these. Great price, too.

6) Taylor Swift Ornament: My daughter developed a serious affection for Taylor this year. (Case in point: Every night I tell her a story and her one demand is that it include TS in some way.) This ornament is perfect for the little T-Swift fan in your life. I love that it's wooden and handmade--not some cheesy, cheap piece of crap. And if you ask, the artist will personalize it for you!

7) Flipsies: Flipsies are a new line of electronic learning toys from VTech for girls ages four to nine. They're interactive and they say different things depending on how you dress them and which dolls and playsets you pair them with. They're also incredibly--almost strangely--affordable. (The set shown--Jazz and Drum Set--is $5!) My daughter got Jazz a few months ago and has really loved playing with her.

8) Crewcuts Leopard Faux Fur Scarf: I snatched this up for my daughter back on Black Friday, and right now, it's on sale again! (40 percent off with code SHOPNOW). It's stylish, supersoft, and has built-in pockets on the ends. It may be the first thing I actually borrow from her.

9) Kitten Print Pom Pom Hat: Love that this hat is cute--but not overly cutesy. Is it weird that I'd totally wear this myself?

10) Ultimate Fashion Factivity Book: My fashion-obsessed girl owns and loves this. There are TONS of games, activities, and stickers inside. Highly recommend for plane trips or rainy days!

11) Whimsy Tails Mermaid Tail Blanket Bag: Picture a handmade sleeping bag, cut in half and shaped like a mermaid tail. Now picture your daughter's little legs snuggled inside it while she watches TV or reads. So. Freaking. Adorable.

12) Emoji Watch: My daughter does not have a phone, but somehow, she knows about emojis. And for some reason, she absolutely loves them. So, even though she can't tell time yet, she'd adore this watch. And it's under $20!

13) Girl Scouts Cookie Oven: I was ob-sessed with my Easy Bake oven back in the day. This new version takes the idea, but specializes in making GIRL SCOUT COOKIES. Back in the fall at a toy show, I tried some Thin Mints that had been baked in the oven. They were definitely not clones of the original boxed Thin Mints--the home-baked ones were much chewier--but they weren't half bad for being made by a six year old in what's essentially a plastic-and-tin box. I finished mine!

14) Clarks Pink Suede Desert Boots: As you may remember, I have a serious boot fan on my hands. Well, these are next our list. Clarks makes super high-quality shoes and I especially love the fun color combo of this pair. (They come in other, more neutral colors, too.)

15) Monster High Dolls: My daughter is a bit on the young side for being into Monster High, but she fell hard for them a few months back. Imagine a scarier, slightly skankier version of Barbie. There are A MILLION different MH dolls (rough estimate), but I'm leaning towards getting her one in the "Boo York" line (shown). For obvious reasons.

That's it! Do you have a little girl to buy for this season? What's on your list for her?

And, before you go, don't forget to check out my other gift guides. I've got the best gifts for little boys and book lovers, plus the hottest holiday toys and what's on my own personal holiday wish list this year.

Gift Guide: The Best Gifts For Little Boys

Clockwise from top left: train // dinosaur // Sands Alive // t-shirt // basketball hoop // ride-on Thomas the Train vehicle // ice cream truck playhouse // shape sorting truck // pancake set

Please tell me I'm not the only person who still has a ton of shopping left to do. If that's you, too, I've got you covered. Today we're focused on the boys. Little ones. Think two-ish to four-or-five-ish, though several of these things could work for older kids. A couple of these items I've already bought for my 2.5 year old son for Christmas (the ice cream truck, Thomas), a couple he already owns and loves (the b-ball hoop, the Melissa & Doug truck), and the remaining items are on our list.

And one note: I based this gift guide on things I know my own son would like. I am not making a larger statement on gender or saying that only boys can like basketball or trains. There's plenty of stuff your daughters would like here, too. In particular, I know that my daughter is going to go nuts for the playhouse, the ride-on train, and the pancake kit. So let's hope my son shares! 
;)

Clockwise from top left: 

Lionel Crayola Imagineering Play Set: My son is just starting to get really into trains, so I love Lionel's new licensed sets for the littlest guys. This one is durable plastic, so kids can bang it around to their heart's content, and it comes with dry erase markers, so they can personalize the cars with their name (or unintelligible scribbles).

Galloping Butch Action Figure: This T-rex from the latest Pixar movie, The Good Dinosaur, moves his legs at the push of a button and manages to look both cute and scary. I've had my eye on it for months--ever since I randomly sat next to a toy buyer from Amazon over the summer at a conference and she told me that--out of everything--this was going to be the hot thing for little dudes this season. 

Sands Alive Glow Starter Set: My daughter is already really into this moldable sand-like goo, and I know my son is itching to play with it, too. He'll love this glow-in-the-dark set that comes with a flashlight and special glasses to help you get your glow on.

DeLaMaison Personalized SuperKid T-Shirt: I bought these personalized tees for two little boys for birthday parties earlier this year and now I think my son needs one, too. I mean, what kid doesn't want to be a superhero? 

Little Tikes Basketball Hoop: We bought this for my son for Christmas last year and it's still a hit with him this year. Great for indoor or outdoor use (we keep ours in the playroom) and I like that you can adjust the height several times, so it's usable for years.

Power Wheels Ride On Thomas the Train Vehicle: I debated on this, because...space. But it's too darn cute. Kids as young as one can drive it (it goes 2 mph!) by pushing a button. He's going to go nuts.

Oto Ice Cream Truck: We've been wanting to get my son a playhouse for awhile now, but again...space. That's part of the reason I loved this one. It's actually cardboard, so you can flatten it and stick it under a bed or something when it's not in use. Also, it is just so. freaking. cute. I had a hard time deciding between this one and this adorable taco truck, but in the end, ice cream won out. (Doesn't it always?)

Melissa & Doug Animal Rescue Shape-Sorting Truck: My son got this for his second birthday, and it's been one of the only toys that he has played with consistently ever since. It's great for pretend play, for learning the different animals, and for sorting. Perfect mix of fun and learning. Plus, the wooden pieces are sturdy and super well-made--especially considering the under $16 price.

Melissa & Doug Wooden Flip and Serve Pancake Set: M&D makes the best food toys. We already have several sets that we bought early on for my daughter, but I hadn't seen this one until recently. My son loves to "cook" (he makes a beeline for the play kitchen every day when he gets to school), so I'm hoping this encourages him to imagine, pretend, and someday become a chef and cook for me in my old age.

Be sure to check out my previous guides: The 9 Hottest Holiday Toys, What's On MY Holiday Wish List, and The Best Gifts for Book Lovers.

What's your favorite item on this list? And what are you getting your little ones this year? I'm always looking for ideas!

Gift Guide: The 9 Hottest Holiday Toys

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

Earlier this fall, I got the opportunity to go to some big holiday toy previews. They were worlds away from the beauty events I usually attend, but they were so much fun! I got a glimpse at tons of new toys, my daughter was ridiculously jealous, and the whole thing kind of made me feel like a kid again.

So, to kick off my 2015 gift guide posts for both adults and kids, I thought it would be fun to share nine of the hottest toys of the season. These are the ones guaranteed to nab you the title of Best Mom (or Aunt) Ever. They're also the ones that are sure to sell out, so grab 'em now.

1) Little Live Pets Cleverkeet Parakeet: Do your kids want a pet? Try to stave them off by giving them this interactive singing, talking, dancing toy bird. All the fun, none of the poop. (Also available in pink here.)

2) Disney Sing-A-Long Elsa Doll: This year's most-wanted Elsa blows last year's most-wanted Elsa (remember my saga trying to buy one??) out of the icy water. She says 15 phrases in English and Spanish and comes with a microphone so your little girl can duet with Elsa, singing the full-length movie version of "Let It Go." (Ear plugs sold separately.)

3) Furreal Friends StarLily My Magical Unicorn: She responds to your child's voice and touch, she has over 100 sounds and movements, she lights up, and she's sooooo pretty. (Those lashes tho!)

4) Crayola Crayon Carver: Unwrap a crayon, stick it in the slot, and the machine grinds any word or phrase (think anything from OMG to a name) directly into the wax. Think of it as insurance that no one's stealing your kid's crayons ever again.

5) Shopkins Shoppie Doll: Shopkins (those little rubber characters that kids collect, trade, and generally go batshit over) are still huge. And this season, they've launched dolls. Each set includes a doll, her purse, two exclusive Shopkins, and the undying love of your Shopkins-obsessed girl. (BTW, if you have a wee Shopkins fan, check out this cute Shopkins ice cream truck, too. It's also poised to be huge this season.)

6) Pie Face: This game is going to sound like the worst thing ever. But that's because you're not five. Kids are going nuts for this game, which is basically Russian Roulette only with whipped cream. Real whipped cream. Yes, you get whipped cream in your face. Make Daddy play it with them.

7) Stikbots: These are so cool. (Seriously. I kind of want them for myself.) They are little plastic, bendable stick figures that you can pose a zillion different ways. You use your phone to take photos of them, then the app creates a stop motion video. Such a cool little gift for your budding filmmaker. 

8) Yummy Nummies: These shelf-stable boxes of fun contain all your kids need to make anything from pizza to gummy candy to cupcakes to chicken nuggets. (And yes, you can really eat it all!) Think part cooking class, part chemistry set, part lunch. 

9) Disney Descendants Dolls: The made-for-TV movie about the high-schooled-aged kids of the Disney princesses is a phenomenon right now. (My daughter has already requested a Descendants party for her birthday next year.) So, naturally the dolls are super hot right now. You can't go wrong with Mal, Evie, or a two-pack set complete with Bieber-esque prince.

So, what's your favorite toy from the list? And which toys have your kids been asking for? (I'd love to hear!)

I'll be back over the next few weeks with more gift guide posts, but in the meantime, check out last year's guide--all stuff from my own personal holiday wish list.)

Planning to Buy Your Kid An American Girl Doll? Read This First.

If you have a daughter of a certain age (oh, 5-ish to 9-ish), she's likely bugging you for an American Girl doll for the holidays this year. (Plus said doll's bed. And birthday dress. And pet. And lunch set.)

If you're like me, you've probably been putting off the big AG purchase for as long as possible because the dolls are definitely an investment. But then suddenly she starts paging through the catalog every day when she gets home from school and talking about her favorite dolls constantly and requesting to watch the movies. And then you know you've fallen down the American Girl rabbit hole and you can't get up.

So I loved when I saw that American Girl is doing something really cool this year: Through Monday, if you purchase a doll, they will give another one to a girl in need. I probably would have normally waited until the last minute to buy the thing, but when I saw this promotion, I knew it was time.

Full-priced merchandise is also 20% off today though December 12 with code GIFT20, which is no small thing.

This year, Santa (he always gets the credit for the good stuff, huh?) will be bringing my daughter Julie. (She's been going back and forth between Maryellen and Julie for weeks now, but finally decided on the blond 1970s chick.) And I just love that, because of the purchase, another little girl somewhere will be getting one, too.

(And ICYMI, while you're doing some shopping, check out my post on the best Black Friday deals!) 

This post is NOT sponsored and I receive NO compensation if you buy a doll. I just thought the concept was very cool.