World of B Toys!

Welcome to the World of B!

B toys are creative, intelligent, delightful, vibrant, yet simple! All the toys are lead, phthalates and BPA free and are made of wood, plastics, cloth, ribbon and many such materials!

We have owned B toys for over a year now, and none of them have broken or malfunctioned yet.  We have thus far adopted the Zanny Zoo (pictured on right; courtesy: Target), Wheeee-Is, Param Pum Pum, One Two Squeeze Blocks, Meowsic (see toys here)!  We have also gifted several of these toys to our friends and they absolutely love them! 

B Toys can be purchased at Target ($cheapest$), Amazon and sometimes Costco.  For more locations, click here.  You can also find them on Facebook!

B Toys also supports Free The Children, which is the world's largest network of children helping children through education, with more than one million young people involved in innovative programs in 45 countries.

Micheals - Art Events

Visit Michaels Crafting Events to explore your creative inspiration!  Every weekend, Michaels conducts artsy events for young kids (ages 3+) to adults.  Events include: painting, knitting & crochet, jewelery making, scrapbooking, soldering, cake decoration, seasonal (Christmas ornament, Thanksgiving events)... and much more. 

Michael's also provides space for organizing kids birthday parties!

Holiday Light Spectacular @ Turtle Back Zoo

Experience the Turtle Back Zoo in the winter as 100,000 bulbs and 40 lit displays illuminate the zoo this holiday season!

Address: 560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052
Phone: 973-731-5800

Fees: Admission is free for 2011!

Dates: December, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16 to 23, 26 to 31, and January 1

Time: 05:00 pm to 09:00 pm

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Help keep the gift of giving alive! Turtle Back Zoo will be collecting non-perishable food and unwrapped new toys for the needy each evening of holiday lights. Help the lights shine a little brighter this year with your donation.

Winter Holiday Spectacular @ The Children's Museum (Paramus, NJ)

Step inside the fully decorated Winter Wonderland at the The Children's Museum in Paramus, NJ. Each museum exhibit at the wonderland area will be transformed into a festive, holiday theme!  Come meet Santa, listen to holiday sing-a-longs, story time, and puppet shows and more...

Other specials:

• Make a special holiday craft in Santa's workshop
• Princess Meet and Greet from 11:00 am to 01:00 pm
• Super Heroes and Surprise characters 02:00 pm to 04:00 pm

Address: 599 Valley Health Plaza, Paramus, NJ 07652 
Phone: 201-262-5151

Fees: $14.99 per child, $10.00 for adults

Dates: December 10, 11, 17 and 18

Time: 10:00 am to 06:00 pm

Santa Claus Special @ The Whippany Railway Museum

It's the time of year when Santa Claus invites one and all to celebrate the coming Christmas Season with Family and Friends by riding the rails onboard the Whippany Railway Museum's Santa Claus Special excursion trains.

Trains depart rain or shine from the Whippany Railway Museum grounds in Morris County, New Jersey. The ticket office opens at noon on the day of the event, but it is highly recommended that you purchase your tickets ONLINE in advance. Tickets can be purchased here.

The 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursion from Whippany to Roseland and return allows riders time to enjoy the Spirit of the Season and the merriment on the train. During each excursion, Santa makes his way through the train and visits with every child onboard. Santa's helpers follow along, giving the kids a special gift from Santa. Be sure to bring your camera and take pictures of the kids with Santa, so they can always remember their day onboard the train!

In order to allow time for ticket printing & processing for excursion events, online ticket sales may end 3 to 4 days prior to departure. After that time, any available seats for that excursion will be sold on the day of the excursion at Whippany Ticket Office on a first come first served basis. 

Address: 1 Railroad Plaza, Whippany , NJ (map)
Phone: (973) 887-8177

Fees: Adults (age 13 and up): $13, and Kids: $8

Dates: December 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18

Time: 01:00 pm, 02:00 pm, 03:00 pm and 04:00 pm

Rainforest Canopy @ The Children's Museum (Bridgewater, NJ)

What: Rainforest Canopy at The Children's Museum!

Where: 120 Finderne Ave, Bridgewater, NJ (map)

When: Sunday, January 8th, 2011 between 10:00 am and 02:30 pm

Coco Key Indoor Water Park

Zip around New Jersey's Ultimate Indoor Water Park... CoCo Key is located at 915 New Jersey 73 Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 (contact: 856-234-7300) (@ NJ Turnpike exit 4). A tropical escape from the everyday just got easier (even in winter)!!

CoCo Key is perfect for small kids, with most of the area having water depth of around 1-2 feet, and steps, spouts, slides easily accessible... even a toddler can very easily navigate through the water park.  There are very few slides which are steep or super fast, so if you are looking for a thrilling experience for older kids (teenagers +), this might not be a place for you!  Plus, this is park is completely indoors and not very easy to get lost in!  You can choose to stay here over night as well. 

Paint Your Own Pottery!

Pottery Painting is a great way for kids of all ages to explore their creativity!  It is also a no-stress activity for Mommy, since there is no clean-up involved! :)

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Make Me Take Me is located at 248 Raritan Ave., Highland Park, NJ 08904 (contact: 732-246-3888, 800-630-6056). They accepts walk-in painters and also takes reservations for parties.

How it works:

1. Choose from a selection of ceramic pieces.

2. Paint using any of the colors offered!

3. Make me Take Me glazes and fires it, and the pieces are ready for pick up in 7 days.

Cost: Studio fee + ceramic piece.

Studio fee of $5 for children and $7 for adults.

Ceramic pieces start at $2 a piece.

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Color Me Mine has several locations in NJ (and several places around the world) as listed below:

30 Olcott Square, Bernardsville, New Jersey 07924 (contact: 908-953-9000)

3130 State Route 10, Denville, New Jersey 07834 (contact: 973-989-0004)

3710 Rt.#9, Freehold, New Jersey 07728 (contact: 732-780-7811)

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549 Route 130, Hamilton, New Jersey 08691(contact: 609-581-9500)

254 E. Ridgewood Ave. Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450 (contact: 201-612-3320)

438 Springfield Ave. Summit, New Jersey 07901 (contact: 908-598-0248)

1877 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, New Jersey 8753 (Ccntact: 732-864-9300)

They accepts walk-in painters and also takes reservations for parties.

How it works:

1. Choose from their selection of over 600 ceramic pieces.

2. Paint using any of the 60 colors!

3. Color Me Mine glazes and fires it, and the pieces are ready for pick up in 7 days.

Cost: Studio fee + ceramic piece.

Studio fee of $6 for painters 9 and under.

Studio fee of $9 for painters 10 and older.

Ceramic pieces start at $3 a piece.

The Children's Museum Survey

Here is a link to the survey designed by the Director, Tom Davidson, of The Children's Museum of Somerset County (located at Bridgewater, NJ).  Your involvement in the survey will enable The Children's Museum to design their program for 2012.

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Disclaimer:  The survey was recieved by me via email as a part of the mailing list for The Children's Museum, and is just my attempt to spread the word. 

Holidays Around The World @ The Children's Museum (Bridgewater, NJ)

What: Holidays Around the World at The Children's Museum!

Where: 120 Finderne Ave, Bridgewater, NJ (map)

When: Sunday, December 4th, 2011 between 01:00 pm and 05:00 pm

Chocolate Show @ NYC

What: Chocolate Show

Where: 125 West 18th Street, New York, NY (map)

When: November 10th through 13th, 2011

The 14th Annual New York Chocolate Show, presented by Event Internationalis the largest show completely dedicated to celebrating all things chocolate. Considered the chocolate hub of North America, this show brings together more than 65 fine chocolate companies to present a diverse array of fine chocolates and chocolate-inspired products that tantalize the senses.

This year’s Chocolate Show will also feature book signings by award-winning authors; cooking demonstrations in two culinary theatres featuring renowned chocolatiers and pastry chefs who will share secrets of the trade; a Kids Zone dedicated to fun-filled activities for young chocolate lovers and more!

You can buy your tickets here!

Robots @ The Children's Museum - Bridgewater, NJ

What: Robots at The Children's Museum!

Where: 120 Finderne Ave, Bridgewater, NJ (map)

When: Saturday, November 12, 2011, between 10:00 am and 03:00 pm.

Welcome!

I am a busy Mommy of twins, who loves to plan, organize and participate in events which are fun, educational and affordable.  This includes trips to museums, play gyms, safari, festivals, farmers markets... finding good value for money on kids items... helping spread the word about activities, charity events and surveys!

This blog is my attempt to put together all the research I do and fun things I have found in one place.  Activities listed here are by no means solely owned by me or organized by me.

Hope you can find some interesting "Things To Do" for your family on my blog!