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Once again, some of the top hot items this year are all out of stock in many places. Top on that list in game consoles (predictably) is the Nintendo Wii which is pretty much out of stock almost everywhere right now. You may be able to find it on the most popular auction site online but it won’t last there either. The others, Sony Playstation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 (all versions) are very available. There appear to be no shortages of them. Nintendo DS Lite is also available.

Now if you do find the Nintendo Wii, I would suggest that you grab it, pay for it and hurry toward the closest exit signs before someone wants to grab it from you! People get nuts this time of year. Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2, both for Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PS2 & PS3 are available at the moment though I would get it while it is still on the shelves. Wii Fit, on the other hand, may be a bit hard to find as it is out of stock in several locations.

Game consoles and games with them are not going to stay available too long since they are the main hot toy for the season.

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Okay, that was pretty obvious. However, those of you who have left it to the last minute are riding in a spot you may not like. Those toys that you wanted to get for your kids may not be available any longer. Ah but then some of them will be still in stores and online right where you left them. So, what IS available and what is not? Here’s a list of things that are hot items and still available:

1) Elmo Live- new for 2008 season. He acts just like the real guy on Sesame Street. He is available most places though out of stock online in one place.

2) Kid-Tough Waterproof Digital Camera–From Fisher Price. Kid tough. Preschool approved. Available in most places although out of stock in one place online.

3) Webkinz–works with the website. Is not available in two nationally known stores but is available online.

4) Kota The Triceratops–interactive riding toy for preschool. Available in stores and most online stores. Out of stock in one online auction.

5) Ready for School Learning Center–by Fisher Price. Out of stock most stores and some online stores. Very hot item.

6) KidKraft Large Play Kitchen–hot item this year. Out of stock most places.

7) Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro RC Car–little car that defies gravity. In stock in some places though limited. Hot item.

8 ) Air Hogs Havoc Heli Radio-Controlled Helicopters–small helicopters. In stock in all places.

9) Nerf N’ Strike Vulcan–Hasbro. Even though there was a recall on this item, it still remains strong. Out of stock in many stores. In stock online.

10) Nintendo Wii–out of stock in most locations both in stores and online. If you find this one, grab it!

I do realize that sometimes the money is not available until a certain time. We are all going through that right now. However, if you are diligent and determined, you can find those toys that you are looking for. Just remember to allow for shipping time if you purchase anything online. It does take time during this season for the mail to get through. If you have a choice, by all means use UPS, FexEx or whatever other delivery service is available. But get to that shopping now. You really do not have much time left.

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We are heading into the times when toys and games, game consoles and other goodies will be out of stock in the stores and online. I took a good look at my toy list and found that most of the hottest toys are already out of stock in many places. That does not bode well if you intend to wait until next month or if you are one of those last minute shoppers. Last minute shoppers often lose out on the best deals and the greatest toys because they put this all off until one too many minutes have past them by. Folks, this is like trying to find a hotel in las vegas when the convention is in town. You can’t do it! Isn’t it about time to wake up and smell the coffee? Do the research, get online, take a look what is out there and go for it now while there are some options available.

I have told you about some really awesome toys and games, consoles and others. For instance, the Wii console is out of stock in several locations. That was to be expected. The Wii Fit is also out of stock. Some of the toddler riding toys are gone because they are a hot item this year. Elmo Live is still available. If the names Fisher Price or Playskool are on the toy, they are getting depleted quickly. Fisher-Price Ready for School Learning Center is almost gone for now. U Command Wall-E and Hasbro Nerf N’ Strike Vulcan are both out of stock in most places right now. If the toy is interactive with the child, it is likely to be very popular and out of stock.

The Christmas buying season has begun. It’s getting earlier and earlier every year. I remember a time when no one set up Christmas decorations until two or three weeks before Christmas. Then it went to right after Thanksgiving, then right before. It has gone back to before the October day that I do not celebrate and soon it will be backed up to September. So, toys are getting sold quickly now. If you think that the last minute will work now, it is likely to be a madhouse and worse this year. Take a deep breath, make out your list and check the listings in the paper and online…and then GRAB IT because if it’s a hot toy, you will not see it in a couple of weeks. Happy Shopping.

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Something that I have a passion for is teaching children to be more than the school systems offer them, get them started earlier than most school systems choose to do and, in general, give them a shot at doing more for themselves. Our school system has the policy of “dumbing down America” and I want that to stop. It can but it will take one step at a time. It will take the individual parents saying NO to that by teaching them at home to supplement what is taught in school. Learning toys help to accomplish that, in my opinion.

V Motion Active Learning System from V Tech offers more than just a game. Not only does the child get exercise, they can learn many things that will help in school. Spelling, math, reading, science, spelling, solving puzzles, hand/eye coordination and much more are portrayed in such a way that the child is learning and having fun at the same time. Using the wireless controller, they can choose the option they like: using the joystick or use the motion of the controller itself that will control the characters on the screen. Imagine going down a bobsled course on screen and directing that race by just tilting or moving the controller.

This console system won the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval and the Creative Child Seal of Excellence award. With the games included, teaching numbers, letters, and shapes for younger crowd and older children can work on skills like counting, vocabulary, and matching, it’s no wonder they won the award. Their favorites from the big screen and little one; Dora the Explorer, Spiderman, Kung Fu Panda, and Scooby Doo help teach them through the Smartridge system. With puzzles, races and sing-a-longs, children are able to see things differently and learn from it. Six different types of games are there for your child to start with right away. This console is capable of playing two at once. The second controller is sold separately and also requires 4 AA batteries. There is one downside. It has no capability to be plugged in. Totally battery powered.

Recommended for ages 3-7 years. Included in the box are: console with Action Mania software, 1 controller, 4 AA batteries, 3 AAA batteries, Smartridge, V-link, wrist strap and user’s manual.

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This is a handheld game console that fits just about anywhere you want to put it; backpack, purse or just plain riding with you wherever you happen to be going. Pick a color! They have 8 distinct color combos sure to make you want one right now. Go ahead and take a gander at the great colors; cobalt/black, polar white, crimson/black, onyx black, metallic silver, metallic rose, coral pink and limited edition pink ribbon. You get ultra-bright dual screens with touch-screen technology to enjoy the games you pick. This is Wi-Fi ready to connect to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and get on with the game! Play people across the room or across the world.

The game console is so different that you can interact with it beyond anything before. You can experience the real time game play with the other players. And with the free connection service, you can play people from around the world. With the dual screens, you can see a true 3D view. This game console is so portable that you can have it with you and play while you shop and buy Phentermine unless, of course, you are already getting enough exercise with the console in hand. It is capable of 6 different languages as well. Not bad at all.

There is so much information on this one that you will simply have to go see for yourself. But I do believe that this is yet another one that will be in limited supply during the Christmas shopping times.

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This one is a hot item this year as it’s out of stock in several places at this time. So, if you are really wanting it for Christmas, keep your eyes on your searches and keep your MBT shoes handy when it becomes available so you can get there while they have them. The styling studio has a built in camera that connects directly to the monitor. It is capable of digital makeovers using your own computer! It has loads of effects for make-up, hair, clothing and accessories. With a touchpad console you can print out your new look or email your friends!

Recommended for ages 8-15 years.

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I have already talked to you about the Wii and the Playstation 3. Now it’s time to give a heads up on the Microsoft Xbox 360. According to the description, this console is a much smaller one than the previous console. I will be totally honest with you here. I don’t understand some of the features on this particular item. Most of it has to do with the capabilities due to the high end CPU, the graphics, the ATI processor and much more. It supports HDTV but works great with standard televisions as well. You can have high def video, DVDs play, music, photos and connections to the internet.

It also has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive that plays the movies and games as soon as you set it up. When you are ready to save your game, you can choose between the 60GB hard drive that comes with it or a 64 MG flash memory unit that is sold separately. Xbox also gives you XBox live which is a silver membership online.

Included in the box are: the Xbox 360 console, a detachable hard drive (60GB), a wireless controller, Xbox live headset, a standard AV cable, the ethernet cable, a detachable faceplate, Xbox live silver membership. My only recommendation here is that you can get this console in a number of hard drive sizes. I think I would get the most for my money. The one with a 20GB hard drive is somewhat cheaper but the hard drive space is so limited.

These are currently available in several national chain stores.

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This is one post where I think I bit off more than I could chew. There are sooooo many of them that I have no way of listing all of them here. So, I thought I would write up some things about some of them. As for availability, you can get them in several locations, at least for the moment. No clue how available any one of them will be at or near Christmas time.

For the console itself, they are definitely available in several hard drive sizes. It seems to me that if you are spending that much money on a console that you would want to do your research about the best deal all around. I do realize that sounds so basic but there are folks who do not do that and wish they did. For me, if I were going to buy one, I would want something with a lot of space. I have seen anything from a 20GB (I would not waste my time or money) to 160GB. The prices I saw ranged from $399 up. The best deal was one that’s $499 with a game pack that will be available on Nov. 30th but they want a pre-order to insure availability.

Games. My goodness there are a lot of them.

For sports fans, especially basketball, there’s a new release called NBA 2K9. They say there is an improved dribbling system and you can change your shots in midair..which would definitely be a selling point for me. Great graphics, a player scouting system and more customization than before. Other features are too numerous to mention here but it appears to be a fantastic buy for yourself or that special sports fan in your life. One price I saw was $56.99.

LEGO Batman looks like a lot of fun. You can be Batman, Robin or one of the 12 nasty villains. The weapons will be unique to the character. Characters can be customized for much more fun, environments can be built and transformed. Special superhero powersuits with new moves make this game one that will keep you busy for hours. Designed for two players. Price seen–$49.99.

Silent Hill: Homecoming–new to PS3. The newest chapter in the ongoing story. New graphics bring this place to life like never before while solving deadly puzzles to learn the dark secrets of Silent Hill. This one has a price of $56.99 where I looked.

For hunting fans, this one is definitely for you! Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2009 has it all. You hunt dangerous animals but watch out since they are also hunting you! This is a completely unpredictable environment full of unknown dangers like piranha infested waters, avalanches and stampedes of elephants. Don’t miss your shot at the beast or you might have to fight it with a melee defense. Oh, and watch the area. There may be another animal about to attack with the first one. Savage animals..lions, grizzlies, jaguars and many more. Affordable price at $36.99.

That’s it for now but you get the idea. There are far too many titles to mention here on one post. However, I will be mentioning others from time to time.

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This is another game console that you use with your television set. The console comes with an 80 GB system, Duelshock 3 wireless controller (whatever that means) and a membership to the Playstation network. It is Wi-fi ready! With the size of the hard drive on this Playstation 3, you can have all your favorites on it. There is a build in Blu-ray player for the best picture quality in high def. This gives you the ability to see and hear all your DVDs and CDs.

This is the console only. All games are purchased separately.

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