Because trouble comes in all sizes.
Meet Pax and Clementine, the latest plush dolls from Monster Factory’s new collectable Mini Monster series. I first came across the Monster Factory line of Mini Monsters at the 2013 New York Toy Fair earlier this year. I reached out to the good folks at Monster Factory to review a pair of Mini Monsters, namely Clementine and Pax, since I wanted to gauge what the reaction would be from both girls and boys.
When I was asked to enter the #SuperMilkMan contest, admittedly I was filled with doubt. Could I live up to the standards portrayed in the commercials by the legendary Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock? Then it hit me. I’ve been a father for over seven years contending with real life challenges. There’s no break for a touch up of make up. No trainer to keep me in shape on a daily basis. Nor will any of my parenting victories be marketed and publicized to every corner of the planet. I win every day by making sure my family remains healthy and strong. That includes a diet that’s rich in protein and essential nutrients. I am #SuperMilkMan, it’s just what I do.
Being a parent can be challenging. Time has a way of speeding up if you don’t put on the brakes from time to time to take it all in. That’s the idea behind the Starbucks VIA Moment video contest which I was asked to promote by my friends over at Life of Dad. Dads are encouraged to create Vine or Instagram videos, highlighting a “#VIA Moment” that focuses on a time when at a moment’s notice, a dad might really need a sastifying cup of coffee.
We love start-up stories like this. Vlad Dragusin’s biography on KickStarter states “I am an architect and designer living in Brooklyn, NY. I also became a dad a few years back, and toy design became my passion ever since.” The result of his labor of love? Wonderful vintage wood toy cars that evoke the classic lines of American vintage cars from the 1950s to 1960s. His company, Candylab Toys has already achieved its funding goal on Kickstarter, so production of MO-TO: Modern Vintage Toy Cars, will begin in the near future.
The ability to record quality sound at a moment’s notice requires a uniquely designed portable audio recording device. Several manufacturers offer stand alone hardware solutions providing this functionality. Yet RODE Microphones has chosen to disrupt the status quo with the RODE iXY Stereo Microphone (MSRP $199), a device which they describe as” the ultimate recording microphone for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch”.
It’s hard to believe how quickly the Summer has flown by this year. For many kids, camp has ended or is coming to a close. Most blockbuster Summer movies have already been seen along with copious amounts of popcorn consumed. The majority of toy manufacturers won’t be releasing new toys until the Fall for the holiday season. It seems we’re collectively up to our ears in Summer doldrums. We at CuteMonster.com say “not on our watch!” We’ve teamed up with Hasbro to give away the Kre-O Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise Construction Set.
Teaching kids about geography and culture can be a tall order for parents. Although both subjects offer a wealth of unique and exciting information, the learning process requires a sustained level of focused attention and patience to be successful. Although kids are natural explorers, they are not a tolerant bunch by any means of the imagination. They absorb information like sponges but more so on an organic level rather than a structured environment. So how does one engage children in geography and culture? Enter Barefoot World Atlas, a universal app for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.
Play acts as the catalyst for artistic expression. I’d wager most artists interpret their work as one’s mind at play. The inspiration for creativity can be derived from a myriad of sources including toys. Nathan Sawaya, a lawyer turned full time artist, tapped into his imagination by creating works of art using LEGOs. I was invited to see his latest captivating exhibit, Art of the Brick, in NYC at Discovery Times Square. in short, his work is amazing, especially considering the meticulous nature of building with LEGOs in scale. I’m elated to be able to share the opportunity to see the exhibit which is why CuteMonster.com is offering the chance to win one of four 3 -Pack of tickets to Art of The Brick.
Growing up, my friends and I often waged epic battles between monsters and robots. The stakes were high and the rewards intangible. Movies such as “Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla” set the creative standard for destructive mayhem, bad acting, and awful storyline inherent to the genre. A successful formula that connected with 12 year old boys worldwide. Inevitably after a successful string of hits for the genre, interest began to wane. The resurgence of the Transformers reignited the imagination of a new generation. Yet a proper story including Robots and Monsters remained conspicuously absent in the 21st century. Enter Director Guillermo Del Toro’s modern vision of the Robots vs. Monsters movie, “Pacific Rim.”