Photo courtesy of http://www.anbmedia.com/

Innovation First International, known for their clever robotic HEXBUGS has partnered up with Moshi Monsters creator Mind Candy to produce sickeningly adorable Bobble Bots!

These bobble headed monsters, set to release in March of this year, will feature the same nano technology, and customizable environments that HEXBUG boasts, but will also integrate the online community, and cute collectable Moshlings that makes Moshi Monsters so popular.

With an estimated 50 million users worldwide, Moshi Monsters is a kid safe (ages 6-12) online community, where users can adopt and customize one of six Moshlings, they can then solve puzzles and play games to earn the community’s currency; Rox, as they navigate Monstro City. Users are also allowed limited and filtered interaction with other users. The basic version is free, with the option to purchase a membership which offers additional bonuses, as usual.

Bobble Bots will have its own similar site, and their habitats will resemble those found in Monstro City – allowing users of the site some familiarity. Each Bobble Bot will also come with a code to unlock extra fun goodies on the website, ensuring interest in online play remains.

As of right now the Bobble Bots website is void of information (their Facebook page is the same, but still worth following to get updates when they happen) but they do offer an option to sign up for their newsletter and with launch just a few short months away, information is bound to start trickling down soon.

I, personally, can’t wait to check these out when they release!

Mattel has partnered with pop culture favorite, Tokidoki to make a Tokidoki Barbie. This Barbie is considered a collectible Barbie series.

Tokidoki Barbie has a pink bob,tattoos, leopard print tights, and a Tokidoki purse. She’s also walking the signature Tokidoki dog figure, Bastardino.

As part of the collection, there is also a Tokidoki Barbie tshirt, and purse. The purse has such a cute lining!

While online community seems astonished by a tattoo’d Barbie, she’s already sold out with backorders starting. Parents are worried that this Barbie will encourage kids to get tattoos.

“It’s teaching kids to want tattoos before they are old enough to dress like that,” Kevin Buckner, of Virginia, told a local television station.

Tokidoki Barbie is not the first time Barbie has sported tats. In 2009, she sported tattoos that kids could remove and paste anywhere. Some stores pulled that Barbie after complaints. The other collectible tattoo Barbie was in collaboration with Harley Davidson.

The first look at these figures has been revealed on Halo Waypoint at http://halo.xbox.com, and you can see the current Play Arts -Kai- action figures at www.square-enix-shop.com/usa.

Thanks to Peg for the tip.

It was only after hugging the panda and talking with Aaron from Squishable that I came to know of some of their geekier offerings. To start with, Squishable has many animals you can pick from like the panda, an owl and even a narwhal. But they also offer a dragon, unicorn, Cthulu and a plush android robot. All of these come in their larger form which you could almost use as a pillow of sorts, but some also come in a mini format perfect for your shelf or younger kids. I checked out just about each of the Squishables while speaking with Aaron and then moved along happily to enjoy the rest of the show.

But the story continues when after I got back from PAX East, a nice box was waiting for me which held a large Cthulu and mini android Squishable! These were taken to my office and shared with my co-worker. Cthulu still lives sitting between my desk and the window but I brought the little android home. I have to say, Cthulu has made for some great de-stressing for both myself and my co-worker. We’ve tossed him around the office, and even my boss thinks he’s cute. At home I’ve caught my cat snuggling up to the mini droid when he’s been left on the couch, but she’s always moved too quickly before I could snap a picture.

Squishable just goes to show that you can never be too old to enjoy a fluffy animal. Even if it is an Elder god. The large Squishables which are approximately 15 inches of fluff run from $38-$45 and the mini 7 inch Squishables go for around $20. It’s a great gift for the geek in your life, or for kids!

During Steph’s recent trip to the Toy Fair, she found out that there will be a line of Angry Bird plushies and toys. But maybe you (or an angry birds fan) can’t wait that long. If you are crafty, then obsessively stitching has a post for you.

The person behind Obsessively stitching has created a step by step post that shows you how to make the Angry Bird into a plushie as well as those darn pigs! The instructions are step by step and include pictures. You will need a sewing machine though!

This is a perfect project for gifts or for decoration. Obsessively Stitching seems like a great blog to follow overall. I love her recent post about making clothes for a Blythe doll. Something I’ve wanted to purchase for years, but I know Matt would never understand. Her blog makes me want to get my sewing machine out of the closet and create. But that will have to wait until I have a sewing room. ^_^

Santa is busy going around the world delivering toys to all the boys and girls, but there is one thing to remember, that toy packaging may be recyclable.

I remember every Christmas the bags and bags of packaging. Never really occurred to me that most of the packaging could be recycled instead of thrown away.

“Currently, up to 80 per cent of toy packaging is suitable for kerbside recycling programmes and work is being done to provide alternatives to elements that are currently not recyclable. We would urge everyone to please recycle or reuse as much packaging as possible to avoid it ending up in the bin.”

Here are some tips from the British Toy & Hobby Association tweeked a bit to for us Americans:
1. Safety info and instructions: retain and store in a single safe place at home for future use. This also allows you to safely pass toys on to new owners.
2. Small packaging and plastic bags: please keep away from children at all times. These will need to go directly into your bin if they cannot be recycled.
3. Boxes: retain packaging if it doubles up as storage and keep big boxes to tidy away presents over Christmas.
4. Cardboard and moulded pulp: break down for kerbside recycling.
5. Plastic windows: separate from card boxes and pop the cardboard out for recycling.
6. Plan ahead : have separate recycling and rubbish bags ready for the present opening.
7. Wire ties: these cannot be recycled but can be reused by adults, for instance as garden ties.
8. Plastic: blisters/windows marked PET or PETE can be recycled but check your local authority service first online.
9. A tip tip: additional materials can be recycled at municipal recycling facilities and local tips – check local facilities online.
10. Recycle now: for information on what you can recycle in your area.

Enjoy your gifts and have a Merry Christmas!

I believe these adorable bears were showcased at the recent Star Wars Celebration Convention. On September 24th, Build A Bear stores will be selling the next bears in the Star Wars series. From September 24-26, consumers can get a free poster with purchase.

The bears in the set are Han Solo, Star Wars Bear, Princess Leia, and C3PO. They are so cute! I’ll be picking up the Han Solo and the Princess Leia. I can’t resist! The Star Wars Bear is $22 and the others don’t have a listed price.

The first Star Wars bears were: Anakin Skywalker, Clone Trooper Beary, Darth Vader, and a Jedi Knight. The prices on the first series go from $37 – $40. So cute!

Sanrio is celebrating 50 years of bringing the world a dose of cute. To celebrate, they are teaming up with Build-A-Bear Workshop to allow fans to make-their-own Sanrio friends. Chococat, Keroppi, and My Melody will be joined by Hello Kitty at the store.

The partnership starts on August 20 and lasts until supplies run out. Hello Kitty and Sanrio characters will also be featured in the online virtual worlds of Build-A-Bear.

“We are excited to celebrate this special milestone by partnering to introduce an extended variety of make-your-own Sanrio friends,” said Founder and Chief Executive Bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Maxine Clark. “Our Guests will delight in the opportunity to share some fun with Hello Kitty together with all her new friends.”

Guests can actually RSVP buildabear.com/rsvp to make an appointment during August 20-22. With the RSVP, guests can gt two free Sanrio tiny clips with purchase of a new Sanrio Collection Friend. I’m pretty sure I’ll collect them all.

A Halo: Reach figure by McFarlane. (No pictures yet exist of the Play Arts -KAI- models.)

Play Arts -KAI-, Square Enix’s line of premium-quality action figures, revealed a new series of figures based on characters from Halo: Reach yesterday.

The company will produce figures of six characters in Halo: Reach: Noble Six, Emile, Jun, Carter, Kat and Jorge. The releases will be split into two separate “volumes,” with three characters per volume. Volume 1 is scheduled for a Fall 2010 release, while Volume 2 is slated for a release in early 2011. No price has been set.

“The Square Enix Merchandise Division is dedicated to creating collectible action figures that combine high production value and excellent articulation,” said Kanji Tashiro, Merchandise Director of Square Enix, Inc. “The HALO series has captivated fans across the globe, and we are thrilled and honored to be making action figures for its latest entry. We’re confident that even HALO fans that are not familiar with our products will be pleasantly surprised with what we have crafted.”

The Play Arts -KAI- line also includes characters from Final Fantasy XIII, Fullmetal Alchemist, Bayonetta and more. To view the full current lineup, visit the Square Enix Shop.