Ready2Robot Battle Pack

Kids love collectable toys. The excitement of discovering mystery figures and building collections to play with and swap, adds an extra element of fun to collectable ranges. Ready2Robot allows kids to build, swap, and battle interchangeable, mix & match mechbot creations and collect warrior pilots that come in their own slime pod. Add a bot blaster that shoots missiles and get ready for an epic robot battle.

The Ready2Robot collection lets you build, mix & match your own custom bots, and battle your friends in a robot-brawl. The arms, legs, weapons and pilots are all interchangeable so you can create your ideal battling robot.

Freddy was very pleased to receive a Double Trouble Ready2Robot Series 1 Battle Pack, which provides everything you need for the ultimate one on one battle! Armed with 2 mechbots and 2 Pilots (one is a mystery figure and one is visible in the box) you can build and battle right out of the box. 

The mystery mechbot comes in a special four layered pod that can be unboxed to reveal all the individual  parts of the mystery bot. The unboxing was a big part of the enjoyment of this toy, as each layer was explored to reveal the individually packaged component parts. The slime pod, which is fitted into the base of the base, hides the pilot and Freddy really enjoyed getting him out of the green goo. Freddy unboxed Tenderizer and Spacehog to battle against his Tank mechbot and Three Pete pilot in a Double Trouble battle. The pod is reusable and can be linked to other pods to create battle arenas or it could be used as a display stand for your favourite mechbot.

All the limbs, bodies and weapons fit together in any combination, so you can customize your mechbots for battles in hundreds of different ways. The pilots also fit into any bot so you can customise your battles using your favourites. The Battle Pack is a good stand alone toy in its own right, but the collection can be added to to increase the potential for mixing and matching and battling with different bots.

Freddy was really impressed with the bot blaster that shoots real missiles. He used it to fire at both his mechbots in a last-man-standing battle. The little toys themselves look really impressive with good attention to the detailing. This toy combines robots, battling, unboxing surprises and slime - that is pretty much the perfect combination!

For more information and to watch an animated battle that brings the characters to life visit: www.ready2robot.com. The Double Trouble Battle Pack retails at £19.99, but is currently on offer at Smyths Toys for £14.99.

The Ready2Robot range is available from stockists such as Smyth's Toys:
www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/construction-and-cars/robots/ready-2-robot/c/ready-2-robot

Sweet Pups - discover the magic hidden inside

The latest collectable toy is due to be launched at the end of this month and they already promise to be hugely popular. Sweet Pups, from Trends UK, are a range of soft, plush puppies hidden inside delicious looking pretend pastries. With 12 adorable breeds to collect in series one, there is a perfect puppy for everyone or you can collect them all.

Sweet Pups look like the most delicious croissants, macaroons and sticky buns on the outside, each scented with the sweet aroma of cinnamon, chocolate, strawberry or toasted bread. Inside, there is a sweet surprise, just waiting to be discovered.

You can transform the Sweet Pups toys from the delicious looking, sweet scented pastries into cute and cuddly plush puppies simply by turning them inside out. Your favourite puppy will be revealed – ready to love and play with. You can choose from twelve different breeds including Chewy Chihuahua, Raisin Pup, Pretty Poodle, Sweety Peety or Rocky Roll.

We've received a Buddy Roll Sweet Pups toy, which is a sugar roll pastry concealing a cute, plush tan and brown puppy with big blue eyes. The toys come individually packaged in a clear plastic dome with a cardboard sleeve, so you can see which one you are getting. Sweet Pups are a very novel, quirky toy that combine patisserie favourites with the cutest puppy dogs. I'm sure they'll have huge appeal to children who love collectables and cuddly toys with a unique twist.

Sweet Pups will be available from Claire’s Accessories and Amazon for £7.99 rrp from next week and are suitable for ages 3 and up. 

Num Noms Surprise in a Jar - new plush, scented Num Nom toys

Num Noms have added an exciting new product to their range of collectable, scented toys. The new Num Noms Surprise in a Jar sees the brand introduce huggable plush toy versions of favourite Num Nom characters that come squished into a cute, reusable, plastic mason style jar.

The plush toys have the same delicious, food inspired names and fragrances as the original Num Noms. We received a jar containing the lovable Sadie Seeds, the pink strawberry scented Num Nom who wears a silky, green bow in her foliage! The plush toys are visible in their packaging, peeking out through the jar, so you know which one you are going to get, making it easier to collect the ones you want.

Once the plush toy is out of the jar, it's surprising just how big and cuddly it becomes. (In fact I'm not sure you could never get it back inside the jar!) The toys are well made using soft materials and have the same detailing as the original Num Nom toys. With button eyes and nose, embroidered lashes and seeds, velvety leaves and silky bow, Sadie Seeds looks very sweet and her strawberry scent is very fragrant. Children will love to hug them and sniff these plushies!

They will make ideal Christmas presents for Num Noms fans this year. The sweetly scented toys are perfect for little ones aged 3 and up or are a lovely, novelty gift for grown ups too. Num Noms collectors will enjoy adding these big cuddly Nums to their Num Noms collections. For play or display, these toys are an exciting addition to the ever growing range.

As the jar is reusable, children can use it as a storage container. There is a coin slot on the front of the jar making it a lovely money box  to encourage children to save their pennies. It would also be perfect for using as a sweetie jar or for storing treasures. However, it made perfect sense for Freddy to use it as storage for his favourite little Nums!  I really like that the packaging is completely reusable rather than something that just gets thrown away. That is a real plus.

You can find the Num Noms Surprise in a Jar toys at The Entertainer, Claire's, Toys R Us, Tesco and Amazon retailing at around £10.  Other plushes available in the Surprise in a Jar range include Sara S'Mores, Sprinkle Donut, Bella Bubblegum, Pinky Puff and Mint Cream.

Num Noms Series 4

Get ready for the brand new Series 4 of Num Noms and a brand new Num Noms magazine! The cute, colourful, collectable scented Num Noms can be combined to create all new mix and match flavour and scent combos. With inspiration taken from desserts and baked goods (think cookies, cakes, creme buns, donuts and pies) new characters include Mocha Frappe, Madelyn Macaron, Jan-illa Creme and Razzy Froyo. 

There are some 4.1 starter sets including Cookies & Milk, Tea Party, Ice Cream Sandwiches and Frozen Yogurt packs. The Ice Cream Sandwiches range is mouthwateringly cute with three exciting new Nums. Terry Berrywich, I C Sandwich and Wintergreen Creme Nums bring the scent of strawberry, mint and chocolate together. They come with food inspired accessories such the Ice Cream Sandwiches' handy scoop and tray to make your own stacked Num Nom creations. Each starter pack also includes a flavoured lipgloss Nom.

The Dessert Tray Lunchbox has nine scented Nums plus one mystery Num and two flavoured glitter lip gloss Noms in an attractive box with a dessert spoon handle. Scents of birthday cake, pumpkin spice, vanilla, ice cream and sugar wafer combine. There is also a Sweets Sampler Lunchbox that includes even more sweet treats.  The mystery Num adds an element of surprise to your unboxing. Which mystery Num will you discover?

New glitter lip glosses bring some pizazz to the Noms, and with flavours such as B-Day Meringue, Orange Swirl and Bubbly Drop. They are not only fun but practical and nice to use too.

Also for Num Noms fans, there is a new official magazine out now! The monthly magazine boasts 36 pages and is packed with puzzles, competitions, colouring and comes with free exclusive Num Noms branded gifts and stickers and is aimed at 5 - 9 year olds. It's colourful and fun and is the perfect addition to the brand.

The starter packs are £9.99 and the Lunchbox packs are £15.99. Add them to your Num Noms collection and create thousands of different flavour and scent combinations.

Tonka Tinys - Tonka Trucks in Miniature!

Tonka is a brand that has been around for ages. My 28 year old son played with Tonka toys when he was younger. He had a big yellow, tipper truck, which he loved. It is still going strong today and has been played with by his younger siblings over the years.

Tonka now has a brand new way for kids to enjoy their products, with the Tonka Tinys range. Tonka Tinys are collectable miniature scale vehicles, which come in 20 designs including police pick-ups, quarry dump trucks and helicopters.

They are available in a three pack (with two vehicles on display in the blister pack and one hidden surprise) and in blind garage packs, making collecting them fun. The little grey plastic garages have a yellow lift up door and can be used to store the vehicles in. They also slot together, keeping them attached to each other, making a neat row of garages.

Each vehicle is made with great attention to detail including working wheels and some have tiny moveable parts. They are well made and built to last. Kids will love collecting them all. Which vehicles will your kids find?

The three packs (which are new for this year) cost £5.99 and the blind garage packs are £2.49 each. New playsets and new waves of vehicles will be added for autumn. They are suitable for ages 5 and up. Find out more at: http://funrise.com/tonka-micro-site/index.html

My Blue Nose Friends - Meet Flip, Spangle and Scuttle!

Another four new additions to the My Blue Nose Friends have joined the range of super cute collectibles.  Each with the distinctive blue nose, patchwork design and individual personality, they bring the number of characters available to well over 100. We were sent three of the new characters Flip, Spangle and Scuttle to add to our My Blue Nose Friends collection.  (The fourth character is Bixie the Cocker Spaniel.)  They are lovely little toys that have masses of appeal.  Spangle was voted the favorite new character in our household as we love his shiny, golden fabric and blue button nose.

Here are the new characters official bios!

Scuttle the Crab is the inquisitive little creature who loves to explore. When you need a friend, Scuttle is a rock you can always depend on.  

Bixie is the cute Cocker Spaniel who loves a snooze, but when you’re in the room, he’s all ears!  

Flip is the dippy Gecko who’ll turn your life upside-down, but don’t worry, his feet always land on solid ground.  

Spangle is a shimmery Starfish who’s the best friend you can imagine - she will stick with you from beginning to end!

They are available now from: bycarteblanche.com, Amazon, Clintons, WH Smiths and independent retailers nationwide. RRP £5.00.

Visit the ‘Official My Blue Nose Friends’ Facebook page to join in with the buzz and chat about the new characters.

My Blue Nose Friends

A few Christmases ago, my eldest son introduced us to the My Blue Nose Friends toys when he bought one for each of his sisters and brother.  Everyone fell in love with the gorgeous soft toy animals who each had their own personality that perfectly matched the sibling who he gave them too.  That is the beauty of this range of  adorable plush toys, which are made by the creators of Tatty Teddy and Me 2 You, you will find one that is perfect for you.

Four new My Blue Nose Friends are being added to the collection: Smoo, Comedy, Spirit and Twist.  This makes a grand total of 111 My Blue Nose Friends to choose from.

Smoo the Highland Cow will clamber up the steepest slope to make sure she stays by her owners’ side. 

Comedy the Hyena will have fans in tears of laughter as she just loves to make everyone smile! 

Spirit the Lemur is bursting with energy but will always have time for a quiet moment with his owner.

Twist the Snake has a spellbinding personality and will conjure the perfect solution should there be a problem!  

Yo can visit the ‘Official My Blue Nose Friends’ Facebook page to chat to other BNF fans and find out about new launches and products including apps.  This summer, My Blue Nose Friends celebrates its 5th anniversary with the launch of four further Friends to add to the collection.

We were sent the new four toys and I have to admit making some 'awww' noises, especially when I saw the Highland Cow, Smoo.  I love the attention to detail on each individually designed soft toy, with their little sewn on patches and of course their blue noses. 

Each beautifully made super cute collectable character is available from bycarteblanche.com, Amazon, Clintons, WH Smiths and Independent Retailers nationwide, RRP £5.  They really do make a lovely gift.

Xia Xia Interactive Hermit Crabs

The latest collectable has hit the stores in the form of the new Xia Xia Hermit Crabs from Character.  These fun, cute crustaceans have scuttled all the way from the Caribbean to delight children with their crab like movements and interchangeable shells.

We were sent the pretty little Bimini crab and the Confetti Cottage to try out.  Kizzy loves micro toys so she was really impressed by the Xia Xia Crabs (although she didn't have a clue how to pronounce it.)  I really liked the packaging that the crab came in, it looked really attractive and interesting.  It would make a really nice alternative to an Easter Egg if you want to avoid buying chocolate for your children.

The crabs move around with scuttling movements.  They interact with  their environment and if they hit an object in their way they scuttle off in a different direction.  The movement is really erratic and 2 year old Freddy was giggling his head off after watching Bimini negotiate the obstacles on the kitchen floor.  The fun motion makes the Xia Xia Crabs much more interesting than many of the other similar plastic toys on the market.

The crabs come with a removable shell and hiding underneath is a little micro-toy.  Bimini had a cute cupcake.   They are very small and probably  best kept away from younger siblings.  New shells can be purchased separately or swapped from other Xia Xia crabs to mix and match the designs.

The Confetti Cottage habitat is a little home for the crabs.  It is also a convenient carrier and storage for your collection.  It has a little door,  window in the roof and a drop down front.  The roof has a handle to carry it around.  It is a playset for the crabs to play in, although it is a bit of a squeeze getting Bimini in upright with her shell on, which I'm sure would be a source of frustration to younger children.  Kizzy ended up lying her down to fit her in.  The Confetti Cottage can be attached to other playsets to build the ultimate Crab City.  The cottage seems quite robust and I like the design and colours which are very appealing.

The Xia Xia Crabs are another collectable from the company that brought us Zhu-Zhu pets.  As with all collectables, the potential to spend a fortune can be a huge pitfall to some parents.  At approximately £10 each they are quite an expensive product for something so small.  However, as far as collectables go, they are colourful, fun, cute and original.  The quirky movement really is entertaining and quite unique.

Find out more at the Xia Xia Pets website.