I typically cover girls’ products, trying my best to go beyond princesses and dolls.  Ultimately, many girls love princesses and other girly-ish toys, but other that, what else is there?   Two words: cupcakes and pets.

I was introduced to Petcakes, a new collectible plush toy, at the Time to Play Spring and Summer Showcase.  Well Made Toys, the brains behind these plush toys, had the foresight to combine two things that many girls crave:  lovable pets and the ongoing trend of cupcakes.

The pets have silly hats that look like frosting and are in a cupcake holder.  At first sight, they look like plush cupcakes, but after a closer look, they’re cute little pets, too.

Wouldn’t these PetCakes make ideal birthday gifts for the party circuit?

The first series includes four “flavors:” Twinkle Sprinkles, Coco-Coconut, Blueberry Buddy and Randy Candy.  PetCakes retail around $12 and are still very new, so I don’t have any information yet on where to find them.  I will be sure to update as I get more information.

I received a product sample to facilitate this review, but as always, all opinions on NKT are my own.

*By the way, our family deserves a world of thanks for not only putting up with us, but for giving us a place to stay so that our family can stay together while we wait to close on our house.  Much love to our super supportive family members, including my newest assistant product reviewers.

Beyond premiere week, more guest stars are expected to pop into Gabba Land including, Erykah Badu, Rob Dyrdek, The Killers,  Mix Master Mike, Angela Kinsey, among others.

In the barrage of celebrities deeming YGG a cool show, in reality, many of us already now just how cool Muno, Foofa, Toodee, Broobee, Plex and DJ Lance are…

I spotted Brooke Shields and Chris Noth at the Yo Gabba Gabba Live show earlier this year!  In fact, the YGG gang is gracing the pages of one of my favorite magazines, Entertainment Weekly, solidifying what we already know: Hollywood Goes Gaga over TV’s Hippiest Kids’ Show.

It is the coolest kids’ show on TV, a growing phenomenon that’s a hit with both preschoolers and their indie-rock-loving parents. It’s very much a children’s program, of course but the guests and pop culture references make it particularly grown-up (and celeb) friendly. Jack Black, Andy Samberg, Elijah Wood, and30 Rock’s Jack McBrayer have appeared on episodes, while Christina Aguilera, Jason Bateman and Dennis Quaid have been spotted at Yo Gabba Gabba live events, Brad Pitt even dressed up as its host, DJ Lance Rock, for Halloween last year. Then there’s the music. Over the first two seasons, Indie-rock stars like the Shins, MGMT, and the Ting Tings stopped by to perform, and season 3 will bring tunes from the Flaming Lips, the Killers, and Weezer. “The Music Yo Gabba Gabba! offers is like no other kids’ show,” says Aguilera. “It’s nice to have something my son, Max, enjoys that’s also fun for me.”

Should you ever find yourself shooting an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba!, be sure to bring lots of water. The show’s cavernous Downey, Calif., set has no air-conditioning, and workdays are often long and steamy. “It’s pretty hot and intense,” says Scott Schultz one of the creators of the show. “They tell me it’s too expensive to air-condition, but how do you tell that to [season 2 guest] Jack Black when literally between takes we’d have to stop and blow-dry the sweat off?”

There will be a Yo Gabba Gabba! movie, which could be out as soon as next year. Director Jason Reitman is reportedly involved in some capacity, althoughChristian Jacobs (co-creator) won’t offer anything more than a wink and a nudge on that front. “We’re working with some cool people on the script,” he says. “Everything else is just ‘up in the air,’ so to speak.” (Feature, Page 48)

Check out some sneak peek clips: Weird Al and Weezer on YGG!

And btw, did someone say Yo Gabba Gabba movie??

Beyond the obvious girl toys–dolls– Toy Fair showcased a lot of girls’ (and guys’) best friends, too.  Continuing the ongoing trend of taking stuffed animals to the next dimension, here are just a few of the many, many pet-themed toys I learned about at Toy Fair.

Littlest Pet Shop

One of Hasbro’s best selling girls properties that are best known for their cute, beady eyes, The Littlest Pet Shop, has quite a few new goodies this year. Just a few of the many new additions to their line include the Rescue Tails Center that will give girls a platform to care for their pets. This set comes with an ambulance with a light-up X-ray machine and plenty of accessories to provide thorough check-ups.  Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 10

For the jet-setting pet lovers, The Littlest Pet Shop is also launching its Postcard Pals, which comes with mail-able postcards for each of the 15 different pets, ranging from beavers to flamingos.  Locales include beach, jungle, forest destinations among others.  Retail Price: $6.99/Available: Spring 10

And what’s a pet without a stylish petsitter?  This fall, The Littlest Pet Shop is introducing Blythe, the first doll in the LPS lineup.  Blythe comes with a pet and will be available in assorted outfits, ranging from vintage, plaid and cold weather cute.  (Although, at this stage of winter, my kind of “cute” in cold weather comes in the form of my bulky but warm coat, probably the exact opposite of Blythe’s stylish repertoire!)  Blythe, who is as bright-eyed as the LPS pets, is sure to dazzle the petsitting scene with her “cute” get-ups.  Retail Price: $12.99/Available: Fall 10

One of my faves of the new additions to the LPS line is definitely the PetTriplets.  The Triplets come in eight different sets of pets including bunnies and bears.  Afterall, good things come in threes.  Retail Price: $12.99/Available: Spring 10

Other new additions to the LPS line include:

Paw Powered Cruiser Playset, Go Mini Pet Carriers, On the Go Accessory Purses and My Collector Diary

FurReal

Hasbro’s line of pet-themed toys also includes FurReal Friends.  This line is introducing a number or super cute toys this year, and one that I even Facebooked about, but I’ll just mention a few for now.

The FurReal Friends Luv Cubs is a new line of baby animals that know how to show some love.  They engage in play and will respond to touch to share the love.  The Luv Cubs come in a variety of animals, including Teacup pups, birds, chimps, bear cub and kittens, and feature each respective animals’ sounds or motions.

Harimuka Puppy Collection

Ban Dai’s Harimuka is a line that I absolutely adore because it challenges creativity and showcases girls’ inner fashionista. Among this line’s fun new offerings, Harimuka is introducing its Puppy Collection which will allow designers to outfit their fashionable pets.  The Puppy Collection uses the same technique as the dresses, and some puppies can fit snugly in purses for added measure.

Rescue Pets

Another pet-themed line that has some notable new furry friends is Rescue Pets from MGA Entertainment.  This line that teaches kids to adopt strays and how to care for them has three new themes this year: Special Delivery Babies, an updated Swim To Me Puppy, and Train And Play.  Besides teaching kids the responsibility of pet ownership and how important it is to adopt a pet, what I like about Rescue Pets is that it isn’t gender-specific; adopting pets is suitable for boys and girls.

Special Delivery Mommy

The Special Delivery Mommy Rescue Pets features a mama pet that is expecting babies. There are six styles including a yellow kitten, white and gray kitten, Cocker Spaniel, Chocolate Lab, Piglet or Hamster.  What’s interesting about these pets is that the babies are a surprise, so you don’t know what the baby will look like.  In some cases, kids might even get a totally different baby animal or multiples.  Retail:  $24.99/Available Fall ’10

Rescue Pets Swim to Me Puppy Lifeguard

Swim to Me Puppy Lifeguard is a water-loving pet that’s also a lifeguard.  The pup swims, er, actually doggie paddles when placed in water.  It also walks when its collar is pressed or when wearing his leash.  Retail: $29.99/Available Fall ’10

Rescue Pets Train And Play Puppy

The Train and Play Puppy was perhaps the most memorable pet that I saw at Toy Fair, well, because it does exactly what it implies.  After kids train this puppy to do tricks for treats and train them to sit and roll over, this little guy poops its little treat out.  The pup does six different activites: walk, beg, eat, go to the bathroom, sit and bark.

That’s hands-on learning for you!

Stay tuned as I dissect even more findings from this year’s Toy Fair!