Holiday Shopping!

GIVEAWAY ClOSED - Congratulations to Stroke of Living and Fidget!


I am by no means an early holiday shopper. You'll never catch me in line for Black Friday specials, fighting for markdowns and waking up at the crack of dawn is not my idea of fun. You are more likely to find me doing my shopping online (usually at the last minute) and I have to say I find this stress free. This year is different. I was contacted by Borders and asked if I'd like a $100 giftcard to shop in their new Toy & Games section for my son. Borders is one of my favorite booksellers - I am actually a member of their rewards club and buy many of the books for my family there. So, this was a no brainer for me. I wanted to see what Borders had to offer in their expanded Toy & Game section and I was more than happy with the selection. The toys and games they carry are geared toward learning which is requisite for all the toys I purchase for my son.



When I entered the store I was immediately asked if I needed help by the store manager Jeremiah! I let him know that I was there to pick up my giftcard and shop. He gave me my card and I started shopping. As I was perusing the selection, at two different times I was assisted by very friendly staff members. Overall, I really enjoyed my shopping experience and going in early before the crowds was a bonus (I might stop my procrastinating ways and shop early for the holidays in the future)!

Borders selection includes some of my favorite toy brands including Doug and Melissa which was on sale - buy one get half off. Now that is a bargain! The other toys were buy 2 get one free which helped stretch my dollars even further. Finally, I had to add books/games to the mix and I shopped on the bargain table, buy 3 get 1 free. Here is what I was able to purchase with the $100 giftcard.



Melissa and Doug Basic Skills Board - $19.99
Melissa and Doug toy Stacking Train - $8.49 (50% off price)
Craft Paper Bag Puppets - $12.00
Splash Art - $17.99
Tall Stacker Pegs and Peg Board - $0 (buy 2 get 1 free)
Green Eggs and Ham Sticker Book - $3.99
My Pets Book - 0 (buy 2 get 1 free)
Dinosaurs Carousel Book - $4.99
Lift Flap Animals Book - $2.99
Animal Picture Dictionary 1st Encylopedia - $0 (buy 2 get 1 free)
Dinosaur Book and Blocks - $7.99
Smart Kids Dino IQ - $14.99

total savings: $38.47!



My son is a big fan of dinosaurs so of course several of the books had a dinosaur theme. At the end of the shopping spree I spent $99.00 - yes, I am that good! At my Borders they are doing a community service project, you can buy a bag of coffee for $9.95 and donate it to the troops. As a member of the rewards club I had $5.00 that I could add to my purchase and with that and an additional $5.00 from my pocket I was able to participate in the service project. And on top of all that? I was able to get a free drink from the coffee shop!

I have always admired Borders for their service projects and was happy to participate. If you have a child(ren) to shop for this holiday season, I think you will enjoy the selection at Borders. Need an incentive? Well, Borders provided me with the opportunity to share the wealth with you!

Giveaway

I have two $100.00 Borders Giftcards to give to my readers!

I am so glad to be able to spread some holiday cheer. All you have to do is visit Borders and check out their toy and game selection. Come back and leave a comment telling me a game or toy you played with growing up and why it would be a good choice for kids today.

That is it! Nice and easy- visit Borders and come back here and leave a comment! Good Luck!

This contest is open until Friday, November 27th at 9pm EST. I will contact the winners by email, please be sure to leave an email address if you are not on blogger. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winner notification. After that I will choose a new winner.

* Disclosure - I received a $100.00 Borders giftcard to conduct this review and giveaway.




Comments

Wow, you got all that for $100? Nice job!

I remember playing Yahtzee and Boggle as a kid with my sister. They are great games because they have an educational aspect to them, so they definitely would be great for kids today. Simple quick and easy too!

Thanks!

kim@accidentalmommies.com
Jamie said…
Well, I never have played any games on the Borders website! I remember Candy Land growing up. It's a great game for kids of all ages. It's colorful. You learn colors and counting in a very simple and sweet way!

Thanks!
jamie@colorsplashstudio.com
Liz Dwyer said…
I remember playing with a science kit similar to the "My First Science Kit" - and although I did not turn out to be a scientist, it was great for a the same reason that it's great for kids today: The child gets to make the science experiments happen which takes science from an abstract to a concrete concept.
*Tanyetta* said…
I looked at the list TWICE. I know that I have to be old enough to remember something on this list but, I'm drawing a blank. I remember the Memory Game. It's a great learning tool especially for children that aren't reading yet. They race to find as many matches to the puzzle pieces.

tanyettam@gmail.com
5webs said…
I am ancient(40) so the toys and games that Borders have are none of the ones that I played with back in the olden days when I was kid. But Borders carries lots of books that I used to read like the Little Golden Books and some of the Sesame Street books, like There Is A Monster At The End Of This Book, which is my favorite because it features Grover.
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
i loved see n says as a child! i learned words, heard them out loud, & got to pull the string! lol

the Melody Express at borders looks sooooo fun! it's a train that plays music that the child can create themselves! my dad always had model trains when i was young & i was a music major, soooooo, i would LOVE to buy this for my nephew!!!!
BessieAkuba said…
As a child my favorite toy to play with was the Etch A Sketch, it was supposed to help with developing creativity and self expression :-/

bessie@thefabulousdogooder.com
It is funny because my brothers and I loooved to play with Legos when we were little and now my youngest is a member of a competitive Lego league. I saw the logo on the Borders site- didn't know they sold them =)

Thanks for the giveaway...
melissa at organizedlifebydesign dot com
Courtney B said…
legos i used to play with legos, but i really like the Sorting Shapes Cupcakes on their website. :) Thanks so much for the chance!
randio said…
The Zingo game reminds me of the bingo games we played as kids.
Asianmommy said…
I loved Boggle as a child. My sister & I were very competitive about it, too. :)
jlmk said…
I didn't have any of the toys listed on the Border's website. But, I did have tinker toys and I think they're a classic imaginative toy!
mickeyfan said…
The game I always hated was Risk. Mostly cuz my brother and his friends always ganged up and killed me!
Amber said…
I played Bingo growing up and I think the Hello Kitty Big Roll Bingo would be fun to play with my girls!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
I loved Scrabble as a kid. Seriously. Can't wait for Roo to be old enough to play...
I am on the older side too so they didnt have any of mine but my son grew up with legos and I played with him.
I love borders books and buildt my sons book collection from there and have already started my daughters since they have one right in the hospital she was born in and her doctor is there too
Kathy Sykes said…
Yes, I too must be really old school because I didn't have any of those toys either BUT I did have a Mrs Beasley doll from a family affair tv series that I absolutely loved! I also have many flash cards (the set I remember most was famous African Americans) and I know that children of all races would benefit from learning of people of all cultures who have made a difference in this country.
BTW, I am just becoming familiar with Doug and Melissa products too.
They are great.
kathysykestn@yahoo.com
strokeofliving said…
I certainly don't envy you with the holiday shopping and all. If I gift, It's always a baked good. People always appreciate the personal touch. And sweets are always a great idea
;-)
Unknown said…
I see they have the new mini American Dolls...I loved my American Doll, (too many years ago) and my daughter loved hers, it would be great to buy one of these for my granddaughter.
I like the Good Time Crafts set on the Borders site. (My kids love to do crafts.)

Growing up, Uno was a family favorite. I still like that game - colors, numbers, matching - it's good for a wide variety of ages.
kc@mominthecity.com
Bridget said…
Wow borders has some great stuff! I really liked playing with my little peoples stuff, a great way to use your imagination!
Amarie said…
Now, this is a giveaway where you can actually score some quality gifts! When was a kid, my favorite toys were the ones that required you to be active - jump ropes, jacks, and and even kabangers! (Remember kabangers?? lol)
Michele said…
Thank you for the giveaway. One of the toys I liked to play with when I was younger was Chalk because, you could use your imagination to create anything you want! I have taught my children today that by using chalk, you can express yourself in many ways.
Anonymous said…
I love Legos and used to play with them all of the time. They definitely help to foster creativity among children.

guolan27@gmail.com
Lim said…
We used to play Tiddly Winks. You could take turns or just go fast. I guess it helps develop fine motor skills. Mom would play with us sometimes too! I didn't recognize most of the ones on the Borders site, so I guess I'm older than I want to admit.
Anonymous said…
I had a My First Chemistry Set and I thought I was really something. It would be an appropriate gift now to help my children learn science better.
You are a smart shopper girl! I am impressed. I shop at Borders all the time and I really enjoy it. Like you, I am all about the educational games and fortunately so is my daughter-in-law. I love toys that teach kids and they have a good selection of them.

Growing up, my Mom was very crafty and she started me early. I had all those craft kits to make the potholders and the bracelets and stuff and now I am buying the same things for my granddaughters.
Unknown said…
I loved playing Yahtzee as a kid.
Lilly said…
I remember that I had a diary really similar to this Pink Diary with Lock. Every girl loves to write about her feelings and dreams. And to me it's important and a great way to deal with all the changes that come when you are growing up.
Thanks for the chance.
mverno said…
legos was super fun-it gives the children a sense of accomplishment and keeps their mimd moving
mverno@roadrunner.com
paryjeja said…
I liked the toys and games at Borders...there were some great ideas there. I loved playing with my Lincoln Logs growing up. It was a simple toy but it let you use your imagination. More and more kids today need that.
paryjeja at sbcglobal dot net
Mysharona said…
nothing better than lincoln logs for imagination play.
peg42 said…
I remember playing Uno and Goldfish growing up. I think that playing games like this, helped me learn the importance of sportsmanship and how to win and loose graciously.
Thanks so much.
melody said…
i loved Candy Land and Hi Ho Cherry O, and i'm giving my niece Candy Land this christmas.
Anonymous said…
Oh lookie....it's a chemistry set. Yep, I loved playing with chemistry sets when I was little. I did so want to blow a hole in the ground.
Lots of cool things at Borders Toys and you did an incredible job shopping! Little Mekhi is going to be so excited this Christmas.
Erin said…
I loved playing Bingo as a child, so it looks like Zingo would be a lot of fun!
sweepmom said…
I played for hours and hours with Legos. They are great for kids. They really allow kids to use their imaginations to create something uniquely theirs.
I remember the Little Golden Books. My late grandmother used to give them to my kids. I have saved them all. I also like Candyland.
Unknown said…
I used to play Yahtzee all of the time growing up and it would be great for kids because it helps to teach math and decision-making while also being competitive and fun!
bogiesmom said…
I didn't see anything I played with as a child--maybe I'm just too old! But I work for a public school system, and we recently purchased some paper bag puppets kits for classrooms. I would recommend them for kids today--what fun! Thanks for the chance to win a giftcard. I love Borders!!
Mamushi Love said…
When I was a toddler 'til I was about 7, I had a toy called Alphie II. It was a robot with little slide cards to play fun games that help stimulate the mind (in my opinion). We still have things like that now, just more advanced, which is why an Alphie would still be a nice toy for kids.
Jean said…
we played with Lincoln logs - that was a safe thing to play with
Anonymous said…
Great contest. I love Borders. I'm going to check them out and get all nostalgic, then I'll be back.
Anonymous said…
"Make Your Own Sock Puppet" We used to make them as a children and they were so fun. They are good for kids now because they would have to use their imagination and make up everything on ther own

jmcharries@cox.net
Lisa said…
When I was a kid, I would always play bingo with my dad. it was so simple and easy that even my 4 year old can play too. I would def. recommend that game for everyone in the family. I would love to try the new Zingo at Borders.
Pat said…
I'm too old to have played with any of the games Borders sells today. I remember one of my favorites was an ant farm. I could spend hours watching them at work!
Laurah said…
I love the Paper Bag Puppets kit! We made these growing up, but it was just a lunch bag and some crayons. The kit looks way more fun and would be a great way for kids to express their creativity.
marcia goss said…
I had a chemistry kit when I was a kid. I loved science,and went on to study biology and chemistry in college. It's a great gift for any young scientist.
roserpa said…
I don't see a toy/game that I had has a child, but I really liked playing trouble. It is a fun game that can be played by children or children and adults. Thanks for the contest.
jennielee226 said…
My first chemestry kit reminds me of the chemestry kit that I had as a child. It may even be the same one but I am not sure. It is so good for kids because the hands on expierience gets them interested in science and that intrest will carry over to school. jennielee226 (at) gmail (dot) com
lsfish said…
Mind blowing science would be fun, no games I had but we loved Uno
Claire said…
I remember asking Santa for a volcano kit one year.. that was a lot of fun :)

thefatesarevicious at yahoo dot com
Anonymous said…
Awesome haul for $100! You know how to shop! ;) I like the way you think.

As for me, when I was about 9, I loved the American Girls dolls! Borders has the entire American Girl doll collection. I think they're a great choice for kids today becausedolls come in a vdifferent ethnicity so that no girl has to feel "left out", and each Doll's book counterpart is a strong role model, rather than scantily clad barbie dolls with skewed measurements :/
Thanks for the lovely giveaway!

shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com
maweisberg said…
i would like to win this
buzzd said…
I remember Candyland and think it is still fun for kids now. Bright colors and fun images make for a great game
Stacy said…
Memory Game and Lego's
dawn0124 said…
I played the Matching Game growing up. The Dinosaurs! Matching Game at Borders would be a good choice for kids today because they will have fun while developing their memory, concentration, and matching skills. In addition they will learn the names of a variety of amazing dinosaurs!

dawn0124[at]optonline[dot]net
Elena said…
How neat that they have a paper bag puppets book! I remember making all sorts of puppets from paper lunch bags. Thanks for the contest!
Anonymous said…
I loved playing with my cabbage patch kid dolls with my sister. I loved braiding there hair and dressing them up in different clothes. I loved using my imagination when playing with the dolls. I think it would be a good choice for kids today because you use your imagination and they are not stick figure dolls like barbie.

samsakara@twcny.rr.com
clynsg said…
We played matching games, but they were usually in the form of card games (ie, Old Maid). They are still good games for children because they are not only fun, but develop memory skills.

clynsg at yahoo.com
Unknown said…
We were very poor and didn't have many games or toys. But I did have a favorite Raggedy Ann doll, and we had a Monopoly game as well. They were very, very special to us. I don't know if anyone even remembers Raggedy Ann, but I think little girls still love dolls. And Monopoly, even today, can get kids excited about buying and owning things -- it definitely worked for me!
Mary said…
We loved playing games like the matching games that they carry. I love that games foster family togetherness. You can't play alone, you need to bring everyone into the fray.

mamie316(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
magic5905 said…
S'Match. I love memory games and this is great. Kids need to have good memories and remember what they saw and this is a good way for them to build on that.
magic5905@mbarqmail.com
Heidi Gail said…
I used to play Scrabble with my mom. She always won, but it was good for family time as well as my vocabulary and spelling skills. Kids today could really use some help in those areas.
lisa said…
I like the Make Your Own Sock Puppets for small children. I loved this as a kid, it teaches kids to use their imagination and occupy themselves. msmith572@yahoo.com
jzagarjr said…
I played Candy Land growing up. It was a fun game and probably still is today.
Unknown said…
my mom loved yahtzee so we played this alot when I was young!!


Thanks for entering me! Great Contest!

Janna Johnson
janna@FeedYourPigBlog.com
jannajanna@hotmail.com
www.FeedYourPigBlog.com
Anonymous said…
I remember playing Boggle all the time. I just thought it was fun but now I realize I was developing a pretty good vocabulary. Very sneaky that Boggle.
ferret0903@aol.com
Anonymous said…
We loved Monopoly and Yahtzee.

adr1001025[at]msn.com
virgomomwriter said…
I absolutely loved paint by numbers, and I'm glad to see that Borders carries them. They helped me develop a keen eye, attention to detail, and patience...which are good traits to have nowadays.
~ Cee ~ said…
I was very nearly too old for the American Girls craze, but was given a doll for Christmas one year that I absolutely loved. My mom made a quilt for her, as well. I think American Girl dolls are wonderful for children today because there is a doll for various points in American history, and the stories are always very compelling with information in each book to encourage children to continue to read and learn about a particular point in history. I was a history major, so maybe it had even more of an impact ;) Thank you for this opportunity!
ceevegnashville [at] gmail [dot] com
krstrpp said…
We used to love playing the various Memory Match card games when we were little. The "S-Match" game would be perfect for the kids because it's fun for all ages. The older kids like to race the timer in a "Memory/Match Extreme" game. Thanks for the chance to win a Borders gift card! (krstrpp at hotmail dot com)
Joannie said…
We grew up playing games like dominoes and checkers! We also played a lot of card games such as Old Maid, Concentration, Battle, and Go Fish.
hi_joan_elliott at hotmail dot com
Brent said…
None of those were around 50 years ago (i'm 58). I was fond of monopoly, checker, and chess. All those are enjoyed by my 13 year old son.
Carol said…
I loved to do puzzles when I was a kid (and I still do)! I have always bought my children puzzles to do as well.
D Q said…
I remember playing Candy Land when I was a child. I loved that game.
djeanq(at)gmail(dot)com
llinda29 said…
I did not hae may toys and I like Beckett the Panda Bear - Borders Exclusive
McKim said…
The only games I remember having growing up were Monopoly, Candy Land and Life. We did a lot of puzzles. It really improved our concentration.
MOMMY-MOMO said…
ahhh candy land for sure! what a classic. My son is still to young to play it, but i look forward to the age! You got great stuff! I've been wanting to get my son that wood puzzle train!

mommy-momo@live.com
aajacques said…
My favorite game as a kid was clue, I think it would be good for kids because it makes them think but it's also fun.
Unknown said…
Being raised surround by brothers I remember sitting at the kitchen table helping them assemble models. It was one of the few occasions where we were all engaged and silent! I enjoy doing this now for my kids. Every other week, we have a model day. One son love wood models, while the other is more into Eractor Sets, my girls are usually doing something crafty.

Thanks for the contest.
1stopmom said…
Some of my favorite memories involve Connect Four and Uno. They are fun for the entire family even the smaller ones.

I love the dinosaur stuff you picked up. I have a little dinosaur expert myself. I am going to have to check it out.

onestopmom(at)hotmail.com
Kim said…
I loved Legos as a kid. We use them in my classroom to help the preschoolers with their fine motor skills.
avonbaby87@gmail.com
Anonymous said…
I don't recognize any of the games on the Borders site, but growing up I loved playing Scrabble. It helps with spelling and is fun for the entire family!
Unknown said…
I loved Connect Four! That was our neighborhood game.
Anna said…
Legos! I love legos still. Such a great way for kids to be creative, use logic and spatial skills.
Mami2jcn said…
I like the Hello Kitty Big Roll Bingo at Borders. As a kid I collected a lot of Hello Kitty items, and of course, bingo was and continues to be a great game!

mami2jcn at gmail dot com
Andrea Hatfield said…
I like the American Girl dolls that they carry. I used to play with dolls when I was little and I had so much fun playing pretend.
Sherri said…
We were huge Yahtzee fans! My kids love it so much too.
Kidazy said…
Borders doesn't carry any of the toys I played with as a kid but when I was little I had one of those Fisher Price Televisions that you wind up and it plays songs while the picture rolls across the TV screen, I LOVED it! They actually still have it today. I think it makes a great toy for kids because it introduces them to traditional songs for kids (none of this Lady Gaga stuff off the radio!) and keeps them engaged visually as well!

amysweepstake at yahoo.com
Colengal said…
Oh I like the Josephina Mini American Girl doll and book. I think I know just the little person who would love it.
Anonymous said…
I do not see anything I played with. The game I remember the most was Monopoly. We would have tournaments with friends and had lots of fun. I love all the American Girl dolls. They are adorable. semtaylor(at)yahoo(dot)com
Jennifer Wilson said…
I didn't see it for sale at Borders but I loved Candyland with all the bright colors and it teaches color recognition!
Anonymous said…
i see the "Make your own Sock Puppet" and that totally takes me back to My days when me and my friend would play puppet shoes and have a script and do it on the other side of the kitchen counter So the "audience" could watch.
haha!
actually some of them were pretty good--

panicxduh@yahoo.com
jbeckett said…
I played Monopoly with my brother when I was young, and still think it is a fun game for children.
Mommy 2 Bears said…
I played Memory a lot as a kid. It was a game I could play alone or with a friend but it I think it helped me to concentrate on the task at hand rather than my mind wander.
Anonymous said…
I loved playing Concentration (Memory) and Bingo. I would have matches with my teddy bears mangles Barbies. Mot only are they games that can be played alone (big plus) but they also help develop the memory and cognitive skills.
Brad said…
I played Monopoly as a kid. I know my kids would love playing it, and I love spending time playing with them.
bluedragon51 said…
Candyland is a timeless classic.
Darlene said…
I didn't see anything on the Borders website that I played as a child or even with my daughter when she was younger. I do think board games are good when you play as a family. When I was a child Monday nights were always Monopoly nights. We played Monopoly and then my mom would fix us all a special treat. I looked forward to those game nights.
E (E Kay) said…
When I was little you couldn't pry me away from my dolls. I think it's important for kids to have an outlet for their imagination.

miss.emmi@yahoo.com
Tracey said…
I played with my bike most. I could imagine it was anything. A car, a taxi, a horse. I was also getting outdoors and excercising while riding my bike.
traymona[at]aol.com
I played boggle and monopoly as a kid, and I play them now with my children to teach them spelling and counting, plus economics. I didn't see these game over there, but I did see a manicure set I want to pick up for my 8 year old. It says it teaches about the chemistry of manicures, so Science YAY!!!!!
Tia said…
I loved Boggle (and still do) and Perfection (it scared me everytime the timer went off). I also liked a game called Bargain Hunter.
nhmummab@comcast.net
clc408 said…
I remember playing a lot of board games and I think they are great for learning and social interaction. I'm impressed with the selection of toys at Border's. Thanks!
Starla said…
My favorite games as a kid were Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land and I think they both helped with colors, rules, comprehension and so on. I never played those games they have now as a child, but I think those "Perfume" and "Spa" science kits are really cool and I've seen them work in person.

Thanks for the great giveaway!

its.a.hit at gmail dot com
Anonymous said…
There are so many new toys from when i was a kid. The classic would have to be an American Girl Doll. I know that a child would love that because its a classic version of a doll.

somedaynewyorker@yahoo.com
Holy cow this would be a dream come true kind of prize to win!! I went to the site and my brain went into overdrive!! I love the toddler toys and books :0) The Farm Finger crayons look cool and we are starting to experiment with William and crayons (that just scared me to type). So many cute things!!!
Funkidivagirl said…
I loved playing Yatzee as a kid. But I really liked the Wild Things stuffed animals at Border's and would love to get them for my kids for Christmas.
hen I was young, I played with my American Girl dolls quite a bit...they really fueled my love of history, even at an early age!

Thank you for the entry Renee! :)
My favorites were Yahtzee and Clue. I'd like to get My First Backyard Explorer Kit for my niece, we love to explore!


@RachelFerrucci

http://mamarucci.com
Allison M. said…
Well, I don't remember any of those games but I'm pretty sure my mom could've bought me perfumy and I would have loved it.

One of my favorite games was Dream Phone. That was one hell of a pink phone.

confessionsofacohabitant@gmail.com
I loved Memory growing up! The Dinosaur Memory game at Borders would be perfect for my son who just discovered the world of Dinos!
Thanks for the great Giveaway!
sksweeps said…
I haven't played any of the games at the Border's site, but do have fond memories of Twister and oh do I ever love Legos. I'm talking the 'old style' Legos where you just got a bunch of them and used 'your imagination' to build stuff, take it apart and build something else.... I'm not as fond of the kits - designed to build one thing and that's it. No imagination required = not so good in my book, plus the kids only do it once (maybe twice), and then it's 'been there, done that' and they want another kit/toy/whatever!
Unknown said…
I never had anything that I see on the Borders site, but I grew up with Boggle, Scrabble and Yahtzee and still love those games to this day and have shared them with my kids and now grandkids
Aracely said…
I purchased the boys toys from Borders last Christmas which is why I was soo happy to find this giveaway! I've always loved playing bingo, we play it at a slower pace with the boys while they learn to recognize their letters and numbers.
crystal said…
I love Borders and try to visit Borders Outlet store whenever possible!!
I found the Lisa Frank Coloring Collection. I enjoyed Lisa Frank products when i was growing up. I had stationary sets and little bright girlie things that i carried around in my little purse.
I think Lisa Frank is a great brand today because it helps little girls be more creative and also make pictures and notes for loved ones;)
cyclona66(At)Aol(dot)com
Cary G said…
Chutes and Ladders! I think as a game it'd keep kids interested even today.
Unknown said…
I see Steven King wrote a new book its off to borders for me.
ChrisNY2 said…
I liked to play Scattergories. It's a great game for older kids to learn analytical thinking skills!

chrisny2(at) aol(dot) com
Unknown said…
Okay, there wasn't a thing on their site that I played with as a kid, but I'm going to go ahead and tell you some things that I know my kids would love that I loved back then. I loved board games like Life and Monopoly. These are great for my kids because it gives them something to do other than play the Wii!
taterbug said…
I had a perfume making kit similar to the Scientific Explorer: Perfumery Kit. It sure brings back memories. Thanks for the great giveaway!

cathyandharold at gmail dot com
Elkaye said…
Growing up I played a lot of jigsaw puzzles and card games like uno. The puzzles were great for thinking and motor skills and the card games are great for socializing/interacting with others.


elkaye[at]gmail[dot]com
Jen lleras said…
I had no idea that they had so many books and non-book options for children. books is my sons favorite, thing. he's a total nerd and I love it! I would pick out some pop up books (his fav) and some stacking toys too! he's 10 months. I would love to fill our tree with educational toys this year.


jennifer.lleras@gmail.com
K. Rock said…
I used to play with legos and I remember having an Etch-a-Sketch. Those were funtimes. I hope to give my kids the same toys.
Unknown said…
I want to get my son the Alex Pirates of the Tub toy. He is 4 and loves anything to play in water.
Talibah said…
Connect Four was one of my faves. But, now, my 7-year-old beats me at it...Go figure!
kdkdkd said…
I loved Chess from the earliest age- From the website the Make Your Own Sock Puppet kit is a classic - loved doing that when I was a kid!
Tina12312 said…
I loved Yahtzee and Scrabble and still do. Games like this are great fun to play with your kids. Thank you!
Kathleen W. said…
What a great bunch of toys that you got, at good prices too.

I love Borders, especially their bargain books section. I could spend hours in that store.

One of my favorite toys growing up was paper dolls. I don't know why, but they occupied me for hours. I loved dressing up the dolls, and carefully cutting out their clothes, and also drawing clothes for them. I think kids now a days would still like playing with them, and I think it helps them become more imaginative in acting out scenarios and learning to be careful with paper toys (not bending them, cutting them out).

The Pirates of the Tub bath toys look fun!
Sarah said…
I played the children's version of Scrabble - it is a great game for learning how to spell and for increasing vocabulary. I remain fascinated with the game as an adult.
Anonymous said…
I had something almost identical to My First Science Kit! It is really good for kids because they learn all kinds of things that sometimes are not even taught in school. It is also fun so they get really interested in it

gmmerrell@yahoo.com
jlafount said…
Electronics playboard. Where you would make experiments from a workbook to demonstrate science. A great tool to interest kids in scientific ideas
Unknown said…
I had a diary when I was a tween/teen. I think this is still a good idea for kids so that they can get their feelings out and it also helps with writing skills.
mogrill said…
I used to LOVE Yahtzee. We used to play for hours. Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
Deborah said…
I used to love Candy Land when I was little, and when my son was a toddler, he loved it too. I liked it because it taught how to count and identify shapes and colors. asthenight at gmail dot com
mscoffee77 said…
I loved Fisher Price little People when I was little and my kids love them now. They are great for the imagination!

mscoffee77(AT)juno(DOT)com
Karen said…
this would be a great gift for our kids so that we could restock their library since they are constantly complaining that we dont have any new books to read
Carolyn G said…
I really loved Candy Land and Tiddily Winks when I was small. Then as I got older, I really liked board games of all kinds like Monopoly, life, Clue.
Jennifer said…
I remember playing Monopoly, Sorry, Uno, and Skip Bo a lot! Which they still have all of those games today! I think they will always be great games for family and friends to play! Candyland was great too!
Anonymous said…
I loved my chemistry set when I was younger. It was so much fun to create and learn about new things so the My First Chemistry Kit on their site would be perfect.

hebert024 at aol dot com
wendy wallach said…
I remember loving Boggle and it would make a great game today to help kids with spelling

madamerkf at aol dot com
taxchyk said…
One of the featured brands I noticed was Legos. Would it be too embarrassing to say I still get on the floor to play? Better yet is when we get all 3 generations in the house in on the action.
Gypsycat said…
Wow, I didn't know Mythbusters had books!! My son is 8 and a big Mythbusters fan. Toys sure have changed since we were kids. Glad to see Legos still going strong though. My mother-in-law has my husband's old Legos that she has given to our kids. Our favorite toy as children has become a favorite of our kids as well! *sigh* Brings back such happy thoughts!
I recall playing connect 4 and tic tac toe as a kid. It can help kids to improve concentration and coordination. letessha@yahoo.com
Unknown said…
I love all the think smart games for kids - like Zingo and Gnu.
Also a great book for the holidays is Pirate Gingerbread Men. My boys love it.
more4momsbuck(at)gmail(dot)com
I remember playing the classic memory game. Borders has S'Match which adds to the classic memory game by challenging players to find matching pairs by color, number or category. These added challenges makes this game a good choice for kids today.
renski17@fortaj.com
Jill said…
I remember having a pretty diary when I was growing up (I wonder what happened to it?). I love their Pretty Diary with Lock. I know it would be wonderful for my daughter. Help her write down all those thoughts she has.

tutucuteforme(at)hotmail(dot)com
Unknown said…
I didn't see it on the site but my daughter loves the "snow" kit!
Michelle said…
I see that Borders carries Lisa Frank stuff, which I looooved as a kid. The stickers, the paper, the pens, the colors - I loved it all! I'd be curious to see what they have now. Although I don't have girls, it would be a good toy to trade and share with friends and inspire creativity.
Petula said…
This is a fabulous giveaway. With four children this would definitely expand the budget to include some fun stuff. My children love books and games... right up my alley. :) I didn't realize they have such a big selection.
Frankie said…
I didn't play withe any of the toys there but I'd loved to have had the science kit!! It is good for kids because it can spark their interest in the sciences and also its fun!!!! Yeah this is coming from a chemist. Just be sure to watch them so they do not get into trouble. Good luck with give away! I hope I win!! Oh and I'll have to be sure to thank Petula for telling me about it.
hannibol06@msn.com
cstironkat said…
I didn't have any games listed on the Border's website. I loved Careers growing up and I think kids today would like it too.
Unknown said…
guess who was awesome then & still today!

autumn398 @ yahoo.com
GroverFamily said…
i like the eric carle touch and feel stroller cards
amalgrover@ hotmail.com
kyl neusch said…
Etch A Sketch is a classic and it is still fun today
Erica C. said…
I like the Make Your Own Sock Puppet kit! That's cute.
C.Gwynn said…
I don't recall any of the toys listed on Border's page. As a child my siblings and I would play Candy Land for hours. Our family would spend hours playing board games together. Fun memories.
Leslie said…
My favorite game growing up was Scrabble (still is!) and I think it would be great if kids today would play it because it would definitely expand their spelling and vocabulary skills.
Smooshy said…
my brother and i played with legos constantly, a great way to get creative!
marthajane said…
I loved to play Yahtzee as a kid - and still enjoy it. It's great for math skills and I like it because it's appropriate for most ages.
Jodi said…
I loved to play Jacks, and I think that is something that kids would still like today.

purehrt555(at)yahoo(dot)com
Peggy said…
I loved and still do Yatzee. Good for the entire family to play! But, our most favorite is Boggle!
chad sexington said…
Mmmmmmmm boooooooooooks.... drool.... The great things about books is that there are always new ones that you haven't read yet. Be they old or new, there is always something fantastical to read about. Thanks for this awesome giveaway, I could do most of my extended family holiday shopping at Borders with one of these babies in my pocket :)
sweetsue said…
I played a lot of Scrabble when I was kid. I think it is a good game for today's kids because it teaches spelling and math.
smchester at gmail dot com
nms147 said…
yatzee. love that game
nms147 at hotmail.com
Anonymous said…
Gotta be Lincoln Logs and let your imagination FLY! Those are the best toys for kids!
Stephanie said…
I remember playing memory a lot and I played it with my kids when they were younger. I think it's a great way to learn if you are a visual learner and it is still a great standard for learning various things today.

stephaitken@gmail.com
Jenny Grace said…
Boggle! Loved it as a kid, loved it now! Who wouldn't love it?
fidget said…
I loved Boggle as a kid- any word game, really. I think playing word games is great for kids because it expands their vocabulary and helps with skills like spelling


Thanks for the great give away

Fidgetblogs at gmail dot com
Chilihead said…
I've loved Borders for years! Now my kids ask to go there every Saturday and we hang out finding new books to read.

I thought several of their games looked like great gifts, especially the Myth Busters ones.

My kids both used to LOVE Rush Hour, Jr. edition and my son is asking for Boggle this year for Christmas. I loved Boggle when I was a kid b/c, as a lover of words, it was always fun to find patterns and fit them together as words.
My brother and I played the board game "Payday" all the time as kids. It teaches how to use a calendar, the days of the week, math and the fundamentals of budgeting and money. Sounds boring, but we actually had a ton of fun playing! Every kid likes to pretend they are rich.

(By the way, we have that Melissa/Doug stacking train. My little guy likes playing with it.)
Oooh! I SO had a pink diary with a lock when I was little (not the specific one on the Borders site, but one similar to it)... I wrote a lot about this boy named Sean, who paid me NO attention in real life, but who was an absolute STAR in my diary fantasy life... LOL! (Which is why I'm SO keeping one of the keys to my daughters' diary locks when they're old enough to have them...).

And though I didn't have it when I was little, my girls have the Disgusting Science kit; it's LOADS of fun and keeps them super busy on Sunday mornings. How could you possibly go wrong with tips for how to make boogers, scabs, and blood?! They SUPER heart this kit.

Great giveaway, Renee!
Oooh! I SO had a pink diary with a lock when I was little (not the specific one on the Borders site, but one similar to it)... I wrote a lot about this boy named Sean, who paid me NO attention in real life, but who was an absolute STAR in my diary fantasy life... LOL! (Which is why I'm SO keeping one of the keys to my daughters' diary locks when they're old enough to have them...).

And though I didn't have it when I was little, my girls have the Disgusting Science kit; it's LOADS of fun and keeps them super busy on Sunday mornings. How could you possibly go wrong with tips for how to make boogers, scabs, and blood?! They SUPER heart this kit.

Great giveaway, Renee!
Oooh! I SO had a pink diary with a lock when I was little (not the specific one on the Borders site, but one similar to it)... I wrote a lot about this boy named Sean, who paid me NO attention in real life, but who was an absolute STAR in my diary fantasy life... LOL! (Which is why I'm SO keeping one of the keys to my daughters' diary locks when they're old enough to have them...).

And though I didn't have it when I was little, my girls have the Disgusting Science kit; it's LOADS of fun and keeps them super busy on Sunday mornings. How could you possibly go wrong with tips for how to make boogers, scabs, and blood?! They SUPER heart this kit.

Great giveaway, Renee!
Swistle said…
You are my kind of shopper.

When I was little I played with a Little People house. It opened up and you could rearrange the furniture and put the people in the holes cut out for them. I think dollhouses are classic kid toys because they allow for realistic "this is like my own life" pretend play---but from a GODLIKE POSITION OF POWER BWAH HAH HAH!!!
Jes*In*CO said…
Good old fashioned Crayola Crayons (or colored pencils) were my favorites... And still are. I love that they are easy to use, anyone can do it, and they inspire creativity:)

I LOVE Borders... This would be an awesome win! Thanks:)
hale2005 said…
Make Your Own Sock Puppets was great and would be good for an only child.
hellrzr(at)juno(dot)com
Pat said…
I played with Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs, still a good choice for kids today because you use your imagination.
pkildow at gmail dot com
Anonymous said…
All of the memory games. I remember when I was a kid, I would play any type of memory game I could find. And I remember I used to show off and show my parents how smart I was. I think games like this are great for kids today. They are fun and they build the minds of our children. It is instills the fact that learning can be fun!! Thanks for the giveaway.

heidibokor @ yahoo . com
Anonymous said…
All of the memory games. I remember when I was a kid, I would play any type of memory game I could find. And I remember I used to show off and show my parents how smart I was. I think games like this are great for kids today. They are fun and they build the minds of our children. It is instills the fact that learning can be fun!! Thanks for the giveaway.

heidibokor @ yahoo . com
Kelly said…
I remember playing with Mr. Potato Head when I was little. I still think he's alot of fun, plus he's great for kids to learn manual dexterity. Thanks for the opportunity for a Borders card...my kids go crazy for books!
thekingskreations@yahoo.com
Cecelia said…
Oh, I remember LOVING paper bag puppets. My dad would take them and tell stories or chase me with them, or we'd have conversations back and forth. Great fun! I think they're classic and any child loves the play-acting and simple fun. Great stuff! Thanks for holding the contest - Borders is a favorite!

celialarsen(at)gmail(dot)com
Happi Shopr said…
I love Memory as a child and it's still good today to teach memorization skills to the kiddos.

trinitygsd at yahoo dot com
wow, some great items you got there. I really like that they have all sorts of craft kits too. i used to make stuff all the time growing up and it's a fun way to be creative. they have candy land and diaries with locks. all sorts of fun items.

-Lauren
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com
Honey Mommy said…
I remember playing Memory games, and my son still loves them today. My older brother had model airplanes like this:
http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=781968002441

and I think my boys would love them!

honey2mommy(at)gmail (d0t) com
momznite said…
They have mini American Girl dolls like Kit and Molly. While American Girl dolls weren't available when i was a child, my sister and I had lots of fun playing with dolls. I think doll play is good for development of communication skills and social problem solving skills.
shawn said…
Ok. Never played most of the games on the borders site. My favorite was boogle and its good for spelling words
throuthehaze said…
I played with American Girl dolls when I was a kid and I think they are still a great toy today because dolls never go out of style. It is a great way to stimulate a child's imagination.

throuthehaze at gmail dot com
momznite said…
Following on Blogger
latishajean said…
I remember playing yahtzee when I was younger and still do love to read nice giveaway thank you!
tishajean@charter.net
Unknown said…
I remember playing games like dominoes and chess from a young age. Problem solving skills from games like that would good for kids still.

Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com
Dave said…
I always loved playing with Legos as a child. Though I can't find any specific Lego sets listed, Lego is listed as one of the Featured Brands on the Borders website. Thank you for the chance to win.
Anonymous said…
A favorite of mine was always Scrabble. I lived word games. They are still great for kids because they learn new vocabulary and learn to think quickly

jmcharries@cox.net
Reading said…
I love the Bingo game. As a child, I loved to play Bingo. There was just something about screaming BINGO!

lizzi0915 at aol dot com
Anonymous said…
I played witht his toy that was part camera/part book. It was so cool.
kathy55439 said…
My boys love to play Hi Ho Cherry O.... I loved to play Uno as a kid with my sister.....
CAROLINA said…
Rather than board games, we played hopscotch, jump rope, roller skating (no blades back then). Hey, these would be great activities today so the kiddies can get some exercise.

The "quite time" activities involved playdough, numerous hand of Go Fish, and battle ship.
Kathy said…
Wow, you got some great finds. Growing up, we were rarely in the house. Weather permitting, we were always playing outside. If it was too cold or raining, we played the old board games and my dad had bought PONG!

sayos11 at yahoo dot com
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