With two kids I am always searching for fun, cool and neat toys for them to play with. So, traipsing through the seemingly never ending makers of toys, I found a company that made products that I liked…and if I like them the kids have to like them…right? So, let me introduce you to Manhattan Toy, a company that makes a little bit of everything and it’s all great. So I gave a yell, and Heather answered…cool. Not only did she answer, but she sent me the 2009 marketing kit and said “tell me what you like”, a dangerous thing. So I made a list, and it had about everything in the catalogue and told her to surprise me. That she did!

Ok, so in case you don’t know this Manhattan Toy is the maker of Groovy Girls, those really awesome dolls you see everywhere…and if you don’t it’s not my fault you don’t pay attention. So, Ellie got to test out Lycia, who is totally cute; she makes me wonder if I could actually pull off pink striped hair. Anyways, not only is she cute but she comes with an RSVP code…what’s that? Kids can log on to the GroovyGirlsRSVP website and connect with other kids around the world…and since Ellie is just a bit young for that, I was the one logging on to see what it was all about, the RSVP code gets them special access. And it is only slightly addictive…I am sitting here alternating between designing “my” clothes and trying to write. You can also practice your dance moves…I made my online alter ego do the funky chicken. Ellie like to play with Lycia, who she calls the mommy doll, along with the other two Groovy Girls she has…no I don’t know why.

We also got to test out the new peach Baby Stella doll, which is really cute. The outfit is really soft and removable for when she gets dirty, and she also has a binky (pacifier) that attached to her mouth magnetically. She is a good weight, not too heavy but not too light either…for some reason Ellie doesn’t like dolls that are really light. The Baby Stella collection also comes with a lot of other accessories like a sleep sack, highchair, stroller, wooden cradle, rocking horse, and clothes…I didn’t get those, but I want them…maybe when Ellie gets a little bit older and enjoys the dressing up part of dolls.

No, Heather from Manhattan Toy didn’t forget about Eve…Eve got to test out the new Baby-Ville Pull Musical, which is really cute. You can attach it to the stroller or carseat and give it a pull, and music plays. Eve and I like it because it actually plays music for a little while instead of 5 seconds. It also has a mirror in which Eve can admire her cuteness. The petals of this flower shaped musical make different kids of noises and have cute baby faces on them; we all know that babies love other babies…now I am wondering how exactly I can get Eve to be one of the faces of Baby-Ville!

I was also sent two Automoblox to review…and I have to admit since these are for older kids the review is all me…and I could see me collecting these. Not necessarily to play with, but to look at because they are sooooo neat. Basically you buy a couple, then you can take them apart and put them beck together matching pieces from one to pieces of another…they have changeable wheels, changeable people, changeable rims, changeable body blocks and interchangeable roofs…I am loving it. I tested out the sparts car (zoom zoom zoom) but they also make a sedan, a pick-up, a compact, a minivan and an SUV…all in different colors. I hope Ellie likes these when she gets older…it will be a good excuse to go and buy some more. I also got to test out the mini pick-up truck which is smaller and a little less complex…they make mini everything too and I am loving it. The wheels of the mini are a little squeaky, but nothing some WD-40 can’t cure. I have to admit to leaning towards the full size better, but that is just because I love the intricacy and look.

The final product that was sent was the new Snuggle Bug, which is a little baby that you can put in and take out of a pouch; the pouch is lined with a slippery material which makes it really easy to do. Ellie likes the one, when I gave it to her she started rocking it saying “rock a bye sleep tie” over and over…very cute. And Eve loves it because she can chew on it…with teeth coming in that is no surprise.