Holiday Shopping with Mattel #HotHolidayToys

What kind of Holiday shopper are you? Do you make a list of ideas or do you ask your family members to write down things they would like? Perhaps you do both or maybe you’re a shopper that just hits the stores and buys whatever inspires you?

Holiday Shopping Tools with Mattel

To help you with your Holiday Shopping for your kids, check out Mattel and see their great collection of toys. You can create a wish list, that will surely make your shopping easier. Why not have your children browse the website and see which items they like? It’s great way to see what they really want! I’m really loving their interactive Gift Guide. You just check off a few things (like how old they are, their gender, etc…) and you get a custom gift guide. It’s a genius tool! I used it this morning to figure out what I should get for my nieces and nephews.

Hot Holiday Toys

On the Mattel site they list the Hot Holiday Toys of this year. It just so happens that the Barbie Dreamhouse is among them! My daughters have been asking me for a one FOREVER! We came across it in a store this weekend and Emanuelle tried to pick it up to put it in the cart (it’s almost as tall as she is). I told her that I would put it on the gift list if she wanted. Of course she said YES! I’m quite excited that they will be getting one this year! I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they open the gift on Christmas day! Seriously, I don’t know how we are ever going to top this gift.
Side note: I always wanted a big Barbie house ever since I was little, so not only will they be happy with it… it’s a childhood dream of mine coming to life!

List Shopper

I’m a shopper that works with a list. It helps me stay on track and worry free. I create my list (spreadsheet) online, this way I have access to it anytime, anywhere PLUS I can share it with my hubby. Everyone that I will be shopping for is listed on the list. I have columns of gift ideas beside each name. I usually start writing ideas on the list during the summer. Each time I think of something or that special someone mentions a specific item, I access my list right away and insert the idea. Once the item is bought, I highlight it in Green. If I have ordered the item but I have not received it yet, I will highlight it Orange until it arrives. Below you’ll find a mini example of my list system, my actual list is way bigger. haha

Gabrielle	Barbie Dreamhouse	Clock	Bed sheets
Emanuelle	Barbie Dreamhouse	Bed sheets	Coloring Book
Sébastien	Travel Mug	Coat	Hat & Gloves

 

Holiday Shopping Adventure

The list helps me stay on track with my shopping. However, sometimes I get a little sidetracked…. A few years ago I was in the toy section picking up toys for my daughters when I came across a toy display with only one toy left. I can’t remember what the toy was, but it was something that was not on my shopping list. I grabbed the last toy, checked it out and thought it looked like something my eldest would like, so I placed it in my basket. As I walked away I stopped a little further down the row to another display. As I looked at the display I heard someone sigh not too far away from me. A woman was standing at the toy display that I was previously at. She looked disappointed, obviously she was planning on picking up a toy from that display… but I had grabbed the last one. That toy was not on my list, but it surely was on hers. With no hesitation I took the toy out of my basket and headed back to the display. The lady looked up and I handed her the toy. She looked at me uncertain until I told her that she could have it. She was so happy and thankful. The smile she gave me was probably bigger than my daughter would have given me. Gosh did that feel good!

Have you started your shopping? Do you have a holiday shopping adventure to share with me? Have you ever wrestled (haha) with another parent for a toy? Drove for hours searching for the perfect toy for your child?

Mattel is hosting a Top Toy Twitter Party on November 21 at 9pm EST, make sure to check it out!
If you want more ideas, follow #HotHolidayToys on Twitter.

Have a great day!!

“Disclosure: I am part of the Mattel Holiday Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”