Gift Giving Superstitions and Legends

Superstitions:  There are a lot of superstitions and legends involving the giving and receiving of gifts. For instance it was at one time considered bad luck to give a pair of scissors or a knife as a gift because it was feared that the act would “cut” the friendship in half.  Therefore knives were never given as wedding gifts as it was believed they would lead to a broken marriage.

Also never give anyone a pair of shoes as a Christmas gift because they would make the person you give them to walk away from you.   When you give someone a gift of a wallet or purse be sure to put some money into it, even if only a coin, to ward off bad luck.  At one time bakers would throw in an extra roll when you bought a dozen as a “gift” in case any of the other rolls were too small.  This “gift” became known as the baker’s dozen.

Urban legends:  Legends are told as having happened long, long ago whereas urban legends are set in contemporary times and told as having happened to people known either personally to the teller or to someone known by a person the teller knows.  The places and names change as they are updated to fit current times and all carry a warning or lesson of some sort.  There may even be some truth to the story although the people and places have been changed so many times that it becomes hard to determine what the truth actually was.

One such tale recounts a king’s offer of a gift to a famous golfer (sometimes the golfer is named other times he is just “a famous golfer”) who after first declining the gift asks for a golf club only to find to his amazement that the king has bought him an entire golf course.

In several different legends, although the people and circumstances change the story and its warning are the same.  A son (nephew, daughter, niece…) is expecting a very expensive gift (car, house, inheritance…) from his father (uncle, aunt…) but receives a bible.  In a fit of anger he throws the bible at the giver and leaves not returning until the givers death when he notices the bible from so long ago, opens it and finds the (key to the car, check to the car dealer, will leaving him everything etc.).

Then there are the one-up-manship legends.  Two or more siblings vie to get the best gift for their mother (houses, cars, jewels) with one going to great expense to get a bird (myna, parrot…) that has been specially trained (to read the bible, sing opera, speak Italian…). The mother politely thanks all (while letting them know their gift wasn’t very practical) then speaks proudly of the child who had the sense to bring her the delicious chicken.

There is also a true story of two brothers who re-gifted the same pair of pants back and forth wrapped in very creative ways, from rolling them into a 3′ long 1″ wide pipe to stuffing them into the glove compartment of a car that they then had crushed and delivered in time for Christmas.  The pants went back and forth for 25 years before they finally fell apart.

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td><img src="" /><td></tr><tr><td><td></tr></table>Have Fun With a Toy Hobby

Some adults never seem to grow up. They seem to retain their childlike wonder at the world around them. These are the adults who have started a toy hobby. Kids like to hang around with these adults because they seem more like kids. Sometimes having a child or a grandchild can spark an interest in toys. Be that as it may, a toy hobby will keep a person young at heart.

Many women love dolls and never outgrow them. Some prefer baby dolls, some fashion dolls, and still others go for antique or decorative dolls. Often an interest in dolls will spill over into a craft interest, as the doll lover begins to craft clothing and accessories for favorite dolls. Sometimes the hobbyist becomes skilled at crafting the dolls themselves. Some types of dolls that are often hand-crafted are rag dolls and cloth bodied dolls with ceramic heads. It is not uncommon to find older women who have an entire room of their homes filled with special dolls on display.

Older men, on the other hand, (and sometimes women, too) often like cars and trucks. Antique metal cars are hot collectibles, with some older ones being quite valuable. Matchbox cars have always been loved, but so have the large Tonka dumptruck, road grader, and bulldozer. You can bet the grandkids will want to play with your trucks and cars.

A toy hobby that is extremely popular is collecting Beanie Babies. These small velour animals, made by the Ty company, each have a personality all its own. You can find Beanie Babies in every type of animal you can think of. A similar hobby is collecting teddy bears. There are many Beanie Baby teddy bears, but a teddy bear collector will probably want to branch out to collect other types of bears. In fact, many bear collectors have figurines and other items collected in addition to their teddy bears.

Wooden toys are popular among adults, both to craft and to collect. There is something quaint and pleasant about a child playing with a handcrafted wooden toy. Wooden toys make attractive home accents wherever they get dropped, which is not something you can say about the latest plastic gizmo. People who like country decorating often prefer wooden toys for their kids.

You don’t have to outgrow toys! A toy hobby will keep you young at heart and make you a favorite among the kids in your neighborhood. Whether you collect toys or craft them, a toy hobby is something you can play around with!

Choosing Kid Safe Toys

The Holidays are approaching and our thoughts turn to gifts for our loved ones. Do you have a toddler you’re shopping for? Make sure you are choosing safe toys for your tot. You should always make sure you are selecting toys that are for their age and skill ability. It is frustrating for a three year old to try to play a game meant for a seven year old. Some toys may prove to be a safety hazard if it contains sharp edges. Small parts fit easily into a toddler’s mouth and could be a choking hazard. Small children and infants seem to automatically put items in their mouths.

Electric toys with heating elements are to be bought for children over eight years of age. Don’t be tempted to buy these because they’re a bargain and would be fun to play with. When children are playing unsupervised any toy with electrical heating elements are unsafe and can be hazardous.

Read labels before buying. Labels give age and safety recommendations to guide you in which age group the toy is suitable for. Also, look at the instructions. If you can’t understand them, then probably your child won’t be able to understand them either. Avoid another safety hazard for your tot by immediately throwing away all plastic wrappings from the toys. These are a suffocation hazard.

Some of the toys that are on the list are by well-known toy companies including toy companies that we trust to make safe toys for our tots.

Do your research and buy the toys that are suitable to the age of your child.

X-mas in RuneScape. 2008.
Video Rating: 0 / 5

This ad is for a Coca Cola Christmas promo to win a trip to Santa’s New York Workshop aired in Australia in 1996. This Video has been put on YouTube for Historical Purposes, if it’s a problem I will remove the clip.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Patented “Vacuumatic” technology is a fascinating curiosity, applied to both these toys, which ultimately sold 4 million units. Vac Man stretches just like his nemesis, Stretch Armstrong, but he can also bend, shape, pose and remain in any twisted position!
Video Rating: 0 / 5

NERD ALERT!!! My 2nd kitchen cast. Electronic circuits & bent toys used to help create an electric storm soundtrack: Kawasaki keyboard, pink barbie violin & a photo resistor with blinking LED oscillating audio circuit. More on tinkerrings & recordings here – hurricanelulu.blogspot.com www.myspace.com

a review of ultra magnus

Pixel Dan reviews the upcoming action figure stands designed for Mattel’s Masters of the Universe Classics figures. The stands go on sale February 15th on MattyCollector.com. Special thanks to Mattel for the review sample. For more on MOTU Classics, visit www.he-man.org.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

My Review of the Incredible Hulk Power Glow Mask & Hulk Smash Hands Movie Toys. ForAll The Latest Releases & Pre-orders for Transformers, Marvel, DC, GI Joe, TMNT, and More Visit www.bigbadtoystore.com For All Your Transformers Needs Buy From http Subscribe to my Vlog Channel at www.youtube.com Twitter Me! www.twitter.com My Blog, Videos, Updates, Transformers News & Reviews at www.thetransformersmatrix.com and http If you like my vids please subscribe to my channel. Sundays 1pm-3pm Pacific Standard Time Special Fan Live Show Saturdays 3pm to Whenever on www.blogtv.com Support My Friends Sites www.procustomizers.com http shad445-shadowconmaximus.blogspot.com http www.tfwire.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

ThatNewToySmell.com's coverage of DC Universe Classics Wave 12 continues, as Pixel Dan reviews the glow in the dark version of The Spectre. See more reviews at www.thatnewtoysmell.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5