It’s a big week for video game releases, with tomorrow’s launch of the new Punch-Out!! game for Nintendo’s Wii as one of the most noteworthy.
Little Mac is back with other existing characters from the existing Punch-Out!! with the only new character called the Disco Kid. The video boxing game, that was loved by many since the NES days, was reinvented with the Wii’s motion-sensitive Remote and Nunchuk controllers. The appeal of a retro game, combined with new technology, has a lot of original Punch-Out!! fans talking.
There are various reviews out on the new Punch-Out!! but one that I found incredibly comprehensive, complete with graphics is over on ign.com. And from what it sounds like, the new Punch-Out!! is a big hit.
Tag: big kids
Mameshiba: talking beans the next Hello Kitty?
Word on the street says a talking bean with a puppy-dog face is poised to be the next popular character from Japan.
Talking bean, huh?
With $30 million in retail sales, 250 products and 20+ licensees in the matter of months, it’s safe to say, Mameshiba is a licensing phenomenon in Japan. Mameshiba, literally translated as bean-dog in Japanese, are described as characters that spout random bits of trivia and have a quirky tone and family-friendly message that appeals to kids and adults. With a face that cute, how could you not love the Mameshiba characters.
It sounds like Mameshiba gained popularity from an ad campaign and has since gained so much popularity to become a household name. Other than keychains and small stuffed toys, it looks like there are various products like cell phone accessories with the Mameshiba license. I’m so intrigued by these talking beans.
The Mameshiba characters include Fava Bean, Tiger Bean, Red Bean, Soybean, Chili Bean, Almond, Edamame, Peanut, Lentil, as well as Jelly Bean and Coffee Bean characters. There are also a trio of Green Peas, a Chickpea and “The Scream,” based on the famous painting of the same name by Edvard Munch. Thought-provoking bits of wisdom include, “Did you know that the color of a hippo’s sweat is pink” and “Did you know that mosquitoes have 47 teeth?”
Flip Flop fanatics rejoice
Dubbed the “World’s Best Flip Flop”, Havaianas have been a staple in Brazil for many
years, but are making their mark stateside. For a few years now, while walking in the City, I have always noticed the simple-looking rubber flip flops that boast a tiny Brazillian flag on its straps. Once I learned that they were Havaianas, I began to see them everywhere all the time!
As a flip flop fanatic, I can never have enough flip flops! Some families wear Crocs, we wear flip flops! But unfortunately, I have yet to find well made and comfortable flip flops for kids—that is, until I came across Havaianas for kids! They come in a spectrum of vibrant colors and look super comfy, making them perfect for the beach and for everyday wear. Kids and Baby Havaianas can be found at various stores such as giggle and Flip Flop Style for Kids!
While we’re talking about Havaianas, moms and dads, this is for you: I thought I’d mention that the Gap is stocking them as well! Gap stores nationwide will begin carrying select Havaianas styles and colors for women and men through August, with select stores carrying Havaianas year-round. As a way to usher in summer, from now until June, the Gap will have a concept called the Urban Beach Flip-Flop Shop on 54th and 5th Ave in NY. Fellow flip flop fanatics will have a chance to customize a pair or two of their own Havaianas at the Make Your Own Havaianas customization bar. Hello, summer! Hello, flip flop season!
Children’s Book Week
Children’s Book Week is well underway this week, which got me thinking about all of our current favorite books, as well as my own classic favorites. The Elmo books, the Sandra Boynton books and the Barefoot books, they’re all great. But as a book lover, who’s now a mom, I hope my love for books rubs off. I try to foster good reading habits with frequent visits to the library, reading as often as I can and reading WITH him daily. I love being surrounded by newspapers, magazines and books–lots of books. Judging by the way the kid scales the couch to get to our bookcase to “read” my books, I think we’re on to something.
One of my all time favorite children’s books is, hands down, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I love that book and can’t WAIT to relive the story with the kid. Max’s adventures illuminated my imagination as a kid, and it’s sure to illuminate many more kids’ lives with the movie version’s October release. I love how the book is described as, one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up. As exciting as it is that Where the Wild Things was made into a movie, (by one of my favorite directors no less –Spike Jonze who’s done everything from Beastie Boys videos to award winning movies like Being John Malkovich) the book version will always be my favorite.
But, check out the trailer! It looks pretty good!
So, favorite children’s books? I want to hear ’em. What excites you? What are yours and what are the kids’ favorites?
Yummi Bears Organics
As kids, my brothers and I took the good ol’ Flintstone Vitamins, which, if I remember correctly, were one of the only options for vitamins for kids way back when. Since then, the kid market has flourished with so many innovative products, including those of Hero Nutritionals, the creators of the first gummy vitamins.
Hero Nutritionals has recently added Yummi Bears Organics to their Yummi Bears Gummy Vitamins product line. The organic option is GMO-Free, as well as allergen, gluten and casein free. The Yummi Bears Organics are manufactured with natural flavors and colors, too. The organic product line is gelatin free and vegetarian approved, so parents, rest assured, there are no harmful pesticides, no insecticides, no growth hormones and no antibiotics added to the gummy vitamins.
The organic product line touts five different varieties, including the Multi-Vitamin & Mineral; Immunity Shield; Brain Boost; Super Vision and Bone Builder. The vitamins are best recommended for kids over 2 years old. Hero Nutritionals, including the Yummi Bears Vitamins and the new organic products can be found at health food stores and great stores like Whole Foods.
Moms and dads, the gummy vitamins are so popular, they even offer Slice of Life Gummy Vitamins for Adults.
Don’t forget to check out the $1 off coupon they have, too.
Wellness Wednesday
I’ve been so inundated lately with press releases and content ideas (which is awesome!), so in an effort to organize future NKT content and have some semblance of a comprehensive calendar of topics to cover, I will slowly but surely introduce daily topics. Today, and hopefully more Wednesdays to follow, will be Wellness Wednesday which will include products and suggestions on promoting wellness for kids.
The “wellness” umbrella is quite large, so even though it’s still a broad topic, it should give us a chance to cover new and innovative products a little more effectively. I’m so excited to announce another great giveaway and review, so stay tuned this afternoon!
Y Water? Why, of course!
What do you get when you combine a nutritious drink that can be multi-purposed as a toy? Well, besides my kid’s sippy cup.
I’m talking about Y Water.
On first impression, I was so intrigued by the eye-catching packaging. It’s almost like abstract art that contains a kiddie drink. In a similar vein of the wildly popular Vitamin Water, Y Water drinks, which are aimed at kids, are organic, low calorie beverages with vitamins and minerals. Y Water which hit the shelves in 2008 comes from Venice Beach, Ca. Y Water can be bought at various Whole Foods and health food stores on the West Coast, and seems to be making its way here on the East Coast.
Google Doodle: What I Wish for the World
The fun folks at Google have done it again. This time, they’re tugging at my heart strings with their latest Google Doodle competition. This year’s theme, What I Wish for the World, encouraged students in K-12 to mesh their doodled ideas with Google’s logo. As a company that dreams big and thinks big, it’s no surprise that the finalists’ entries are nothing short of amazing—as is the national winner’s prize!
The National Winner will win a $15,000 college scholarship to be used at the school of their choice, a trip to the Google New York Office, a laptop computer, and a t-shirt printed with their doodle. Google will also award the winner’s school a $25,000 technology grant towards the establishment/improvement of a computer lab.
It’s so hard to choose, but I think this is my favorite:
The artist is 5 year old Miriam Elizabeth Lowery from Austin Peay Elementary in TN. She says her wish for the world is that everyone would get along and treat one another in a nice and loving way. We could all be friends!
I second that, Miriam!
You can check out all Google Doodle finalists and vote for your favorite until the end of the week.
Little Allergies Allergen Block
If you’re my pal on Facebook or Twitter, you may have already heard how we spent the entire day and night last Friday. We fulfilled my personal nightmare by spending the day at the pediatrician and later the ER due to a case of hives that spread all over the kid’s body as a result of unexplained allergies. What looked like the Chicken Pox or something similar, our poor kid was miserable and itched every single inch of his body. The doctors suggested that the kid most likely has outdoor allergies, which will need to undergo testing. Now we know!
Had I not been so distracted by said allergies and subsequent visits to the pediatrician and ER, I would have had a chance to sort through the generous swag bag that I received from last week’s Mom’s Nite Out. In it, I received a box of Little Allergies Allergen Block. Little Allergies Allergen Block is a gentle, water-based gel which is applied topically. It’s drug-free, making it safe to use with other medications since there are no side effects.
Ironic or impeccable timing, I’m not sure, but I definitely can’t wait to check it out.
Read More
Michelle Obama visits Sesame Street
In between meeting with diplomats and helping to promote the President’s new foreign policies, the First Lady took some time out last week to visit Elmo and the gang at Sesame Street. Michelle Obama visited Sesame Street to tape a Public Service Announcement with Elmo as part of Sesame Workshop’s Healthy Habits For Life initiative. Mrs. Obama and Elmo discussed eating right, exercising regularly and being a healthy and positive role model for children.
“If you want your child to have healthy habits, practice healthy habits, because you’re your child’s role model,” The First Lady suggests in the PSA.
I thought the news about planting an organic garden at the White House was pretty cool, but Mrs. Obama’s visit to Sesame Street is just as much a highlight for her, as it is for her fans!
(photo credit: Richard Termine)