International Playthings is expanding their popular 2011 Whirl ‘n Wear line and are introducing new headbands and charms to the collection. If you’re not familiar with the line, go take a look at what they have to offer here. If you have an elementary age or tween girl, these make great gifts and a fun Birthday Party activity.

Here’s what’s new for 2012.

Whirl ‘n Wear Headbands

Whirl ‘n Wear Headbands allows little girls to add glam to their hairstyles with easy-to-sticker headbands and clip-on decorations!  These decorations easily pop on and off, allowing girls to change their style and their headband with their moods!

Hip Bands

Brightly colored headbands feature hip decorations such as a guitar and peace sign!  This accessory set includes 2 headbands, 4 end caps, 6 stickers, 5 decorations and 5 clips.

Hip Bands

Swinging Bands

Three-dimensional style has never been so swinging!  This accessory set allows little girls to create a beaded ribbon that hangs down from the headband and can swing back and forth.  With many beads to choose from, young girls will love to create unique hair accessories.  Set includes 2 headbands, 4 end caps, 6 stickers, 3 decorations, 3 clips, 20 small charms and 2 feet of clear, elastic string.

Swinging Bands

Glamour Bands

Shiny, metallic and big are the decorations included in this set.  Heart, moon, crown and more are sure to dazzle!  Set includes  2 headbands, 4 end caps, 6 stickers, 5 metallic decorations and 5 clips.

Glamour Bands

Whirl n Wear Charms

The ease of using Whirl ‘n Wear Charms makes it suitable for younger children but also grows with children as their creativity expands.  The new accessory packs are designed for use with the brand’s Spectacular Spinner, the easy-to-use magical stringing machine.  With Whirl ‘n Wear Charms, the fun is endless!

Alphabet Charms

With 24 large charms and a sticker sheet, children can create personalized jewelry with names, expressions and more!  The set also includes 24 small charms, 6 fasteners, 2 keychain attachments and 6 feet of clear, elastic string.

Alphabet Charms

Sea Life Charms

Unique sea life shaped charms are fun to link to make bracelets, keychains or more!  The accessory pack includes 16 large charms, 24 small charms, 6 fasteners, 2 keychain attachments and 6 feet of clear, elastic string.

Sea Life Charms

Precious Charms

Adorable Russian doll charms, smiling faces and baby shoes are just some of the unique, precious charms included in this set.  With 18 large charms, 24 small charms, 6 fasteners, 2 keychain attachments and 6 feet of clear, elastic string, children are sure to have fun creating jewelry for themselves or as gifts!

Precious Charms

Stay tuned for when these will be available in stores and online.

GUND, one of the leaders in plush toys. announced three new plush lines they’ll be unveiling at this year’s New York Toy Fair. We’ve already told you a little about Boo, The World’s Cutest Dog, an addition to their plush line!

What else do they have in store for 2012? Have a look below!

NEW GUNDimals
GUNDimals are realistic-looking plush dogs, cats, farm animals and wildlife. From Dalmatians to orangutans, designers use meticulous manufacturing techniques such as airbrushing and ironing to make these cuddly collectibles look as real as possible.

GUNDimals are available in three sizes — medium, small and beanbag, for children 1+. They will be available at http://www.gund.com and specialty shops nationwide in March and will retail starting at $10.

NEW GUND Girls
Ideal for fashion-obsessed youngsters, GUND® Girls are huggably-soft 17-inch fashionistas with unique personalities and signature styles. The BFFs—as in “best friends in fashion”—come with one removable outfit for dress-up play.

GUND Girls Brooklyn, Sloan, DeeDee and Emma all sport colorful hair highlights that show off their funky fashions, while unique, chunky shoes keep their style young and playful. GUND Girls retail for $30 at http://www.gund.com and specialty shops nationwide, and are recommended for children age 3+.

And we have to mention Boo again….

NEW Boo
Boo, the ultimate Internet sensation with nearly 3 million Facebook fans and the star of his own book, calendar and YouTube videos, is finally available in plush! The real dog counts fashion designers and celebrities among his famous fans and has been featured in countless magazines and blogs. The GUND® version of Boo is the spitting image of the celebrated dog…right down to his loveable smile!

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Which line is your favorite? I am loving the look of the GUNDimals. My whole family has a soft spot for plush and these look amazing!

DisneyStore.com is having a weekend sale on already marked down Cars merchandise.

This Weekend Only: Take an Additional 25% Off Cars Items at Disney Store with Promo Code: MCQUEEN. Hurry, Expires 2/5/12!

Some of the Cars products on sale include Cars pajamas, Cars playsets, Cars swimwear and tons of Cars toys.

We are huge fans of Xploderz here at ToyXplosion. Huge. Our boys own the Xploderz XStormer 1000,which they received last summer and it was by far one of the most used toys in our home. Well, outside of our home actually.

The company has just released a new gun to their arsenal, which brings a new mid-range blaster to the pack. It’s the Xploderz XBow 1500 and it looks down-right awesome.

Xploderz Bow 1500 Description

More ammo and more distance, Xploderz creates ammo strong enough to shoot huge distances, yet soft enough to disintegrate on impact. Get ready for your next backyard battle with the Xbow 1500. This air-powered blaster is powerful, yet light and easy to maneuver.

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What are Xploderz you might ask? The coolest ammo on the planet.

The revolutionary firing and ammunition system of the Xploderz line allows kids to achieve record distances without compromising on safety. The hydrated ammo is strong enough to shoot long distances, yet soft enough to disintegrate on impact. “It’s a safe and cool alternative to paintball and airsoft,” says Ron Brawer, a partner in The Maya Group, which makes Xploderz. “Kids love that they never run out of ammo. They get the experience of paintball without the pain.”

I’ve been hit with many of these little hydrated pieces of ammo and it doesn’t hurt. I would recommend it for kids ages 8 and up because the little guys might not enjoy being pelted with these.

If you’re looking for a unique and fun toy to add to your summer line-up, check out the Xploderz line.

There’s a new Polly Pocket toy in town and it’s getting girls geared up for summer fun. Check out this playset! It’s the Polly Pocket Flip ‘N Swim Pool Playset.

Polly Pocket Flip ‘N Swim Pool Playset Description

Let Polly doll dive into fun with the ultimate pool party play set. High and low dives double the adventure. Launch Polly doll off the high diving platform and watch her flip multiple times down the diving ramp and slide into the pool. A tire swing, snack shop, lounge chair and pool toy provide additional activity to ensure the best pool party ever. Includes 1 Polly doll, pool playset, and countless pool-themed accessories. Additional Polly Pocket Dolls sold separately.

Get ready to share a fantastical world of castles, missions, dragons and trolls with your preschooler as Nickelodeon launches a new CG-animated series titled “Mike the Knight”. The new show kicks off Friday, February 3rd at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT.

Mike the Knight centers on Mike, a young boy with a bright future ahead of him. The son of the King and Queen of Glendragon, he is determined to follow in his father’s footsteps to become a brave and noble knight. With the triumphant motto, “Be a knight, do it right,” the would-be hero is joined in his adventures by a host of medieval characters, including his trusty steed Galahad, two friendly dragons, Squirt and Sparkie, and his sister, Evie, a wizard-in-training. In every episode, a mission is set and Mike rises to the challenge with the help of his closest friends. Mike the Knight taps into children’s fascination with fantasy/medieval elements without removing them from the familiarity of their everyday lives.

In the series premiere episode, “Mike the Knight and Galahad the Great/Mike the Knight and the Scary Dragons,” Mike is so keen on making Galahad look good, he doesn’t realize what he’s dressing him in is stopping him from getting around the horse riding course! In the second half of the episode, Mike’s dragons Sparkie and Squirt try to act scary. Sparkie is better at it and Mike doesn’t notice how upset this makes Squirt. When a forgotten Squirt gets stuck in the tower, Mike learns to be sensitive to his friends’ feelings.

Here’s a preview.

The schedule for the Feb. 6 premiere week for Mike the Knight is as follows (all times are 12:00 p.m. ET/PT):

• Monday, Feb. 6 – “Mike the Knight in the Mission Mess”/ “Mike the Knight and the Trollee in Trouble”

Mike’s hasty horse riding results in the Throne Room being filled with magical earth, and he tries to hurry to clean it all up. But when that leaves Evie in trouble, Mike learns that slow and careful does the trick. / Mike thinks only knights should rescue stuck Trolls even though Evie was asked first. But when he get stuck himself, he realizes that actually helping whoever’s in trouble is more important than who’s doing it.

• Tuesday, Feb. 7 – “Mike the Knight and the Buried Treasure”/ “Mike the Knight and the Tale of Sir Trollee”

Mike hears about buried treasure at the end of the rainbow from Trollee and abandons his promise to help with Squirt’s rainbow party. But when the treasure turns out to be a turnip, he has to do it right to save Squirt’s day. / Mike wants to win a tournament but he needs another knight to beat so he elects Trollee. Trollee doesn’t know how to be a knight and gets upset. Mike soon learns that playing fair is more important than winning.

• Wednesday, Feb. 8 – “Mike the Knight and the Smiley Treasure”/ “Mike the Knight and Evie’s Birthday Present”

Mike thinks he’ll be better at guarding a bunch of bananas without his dragons’ help. When the bananas go missing one by one, Mike learns that everything is easier when you accept a little help from your friends. / Mike thinks the perfect birthday surprise for Evie is a knightly cake – but, trying to keep the surprise isn’t as easy as he thought.

• Thursday, Feb. 9 – “Mike the Knight and the Fluttering Favor”/ “Mike the Knight and the Tricky Trail”

Mike and Evie compete to win the Queen’s favor. They try to outdo each other with doing good deeds for the Blacksmith, but end up just ruining things for him. It turns out that working together is a much better way to win. / Mike is so keen to show off his tracking skills that he rushes ahead impetuously and, scoffing at the trail Sparkie thinks he’s found, gets everyone lost. Mike has to learn that a big part of tracking is being slow and careful.

Preschoolers and their parents can visit the brand-new Mike the Knight page on www.nickjr.com, Nickelodeon’s award-winning website, to watch Mike the Knight videos, print coloring pages, and find games and activities just right for Mike the Knight fans.

Every kid should know how to work a yo-yo, or at least have tried their hand at one. Yo-yos are one of those classic toys every kid should have! If your child likes to yo-yo, do I have the gift pack for you.

Yomega has a 3 pack of yo-yos they call their Yo to Pro set.

Yomega 3 piece gift set comes with Brain, Fireball and Raider yo-yo’s along with an Ooch carrying holster, Brain Lube and extra string. This set encompasses their complete Yo to Pro system by offering a Yo-Yo from each category-Rookie, Player & Pro.

The company has quite a few videos on YouTube giving you some Yo-yoing advice and how-to’s. In the video below, they’re talking about their beginner yo-yo and why it’s so special.

The elves at the Monster High Doll factory have been busy, busy, busy! They have released two more new dolls to their hugely popular line. Tell me parents of girls – do you love or hate these dolls?

Mattel Monster High Operetta Doll

Operetta is the daughter of the Phantom of the Opera. The set includes the doll, pet spider Memphis “Daddy O” Longlegs, diary, doll stand, brush, and accessory. This daughter of the Phantom is ready to rock the howlways playing her coffin-shaped guitar. Dressed in her Rockabilly style with denim capris, heeled saddle shoes, and a little white jacket with a piano key print, she screams musical talent.

Mattel Monster High Nefera de Nile Doll

Nefera de Nile is the daughter of the Mummy and big sister to Cleo de Nile. The set includes the doll, pet Scarab Beetle Azura, diary, doll stand, brush, and accessory. Nefera de Nile, daughter of the Mummy, shares the sophisticated style of her younger sister Cleo de Nile. Her wrap skirt is accessorized with a snake necklace, jeweled earrings and a dramatic hairpiece. She carries two Egyptian-detailed bags and comes with pet Scarab Beetle, Azura.

I’m such a sucker for toy videos aren’t you? You’re not? Well. Anyway, I’m assuming I’ve been under a rock for awhile because I have never played with Nanoblocks.

I was reading an article about what toy retailers are looking for in 2012 and one toy store owner said Nanoblocks sold really well right before Christmas. In fact, they sold out of the sets. So, I decided to do a little digging about these things called Nanoblocks and I found a gem of a video. It shows the building of the Nanoblock Himeji Castle.

For those of you not familair with the Himeji Castle, according to Wikipedia, it’s “a hilltop Japanese castle complex located in Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture. The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period.”

Here’s a picture of it.

Image via Wikipedia

Just amazing.

Here is the Nanoblock version.

Building the Nanoblock Himejo Castle Video

The builder said: “I spent approximately 9 hours on this, and shot a picture for every stack completed. It was fun, and I really love the outcome of it. Although 9 hours is a little short, but it’s still well worth the money.”

Check out more Nanoblock sets below. They’ve included some of the world’s most loved and visited structures.

Although I never purchased a Bozo the Clown bop bag (I would have had nightmares for weeks on end), we have purchased over the years super hero bop bags for our two boys. How long did they last? Oh, about 10.5 seconds. Okay, I’m exaggerating just a little. They lasted a few days. Yes, only a few days! So, I stopped buying them and my boys had nothing to punch but each other. Poor guys.

Instead of being clever after purchasing failed after failed bop bag and maybe thinking of a way to make them better, I just didn’t buy them anymore. But one family decided to take matters into her own hands and reinvent the bop bag. (Does that make them smarter than me? Dang it.)

Earlier bop bag versions were made of non-biodegradable material and can be found filling up our landfills. It can take these bags hundreds or even thousands of years to degrade naturally into the earth.

The solution?

Introducing the Eco-Bonk

Cute looking aren’t they?

Donna Brin, President and Co-Founder of Pueri Elemental LLC, said ”We wanted to give our son the active-play experience that we remembered, but couldn’t get past the environmental concerns. There had to be a way to make this toy better?”

About Eco-Bonk

Eco-Bonk, the first inflatable bop bag that is made from biodegradable plastic and developed, manufactured and assembled in the USA. Eco-Bonk offers superior quality, rugged durability and peace of mind that it is healthier for children to play with and safer for the environment around them … our plastic is manufactured with a revolutionary additive technology, enabling it to degrade naturally into the earth in 9 months to 5 years.

Pueri will donate 1% of the sales proceeds to Wildlife Alliance, the leader in providing direct protection to forest and wildlife in the Southeast Asian tropical belt. Your Eco-Bonk purchase comes with a web storybook free trial that gives young readers an opportunity to connect with, relate to, and ultimately befriend Eco-Bonk creatures through beautifully animated interactive stories that bring parenting challenges into an animal’s world and empower children to think for themselves, to learn about wildlife and to embrace charity.

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You can bet I am ready to give these newly designed bop bags a try. I mean, let my boys give them a try. The Eco-Bonk will make its debut at the 2012 New York Toy Fair.