Photo Credit: Kelly Knox

Your love of all things geeky goes strong all year long, so why not geek up your holidays as well? Thanks to the wealth of original, handcrafted cards on Etsy and Redbubble and independent stores like Monkey Minion Press, you can find a fantastic selection of geek-themed holiday cards online. Here are some noteworthy notes—and it’s not too soon to order them now!

© Redbubble Artist rydiachacha

Have a Timey-Wimey Christmas

Doctor Who is known for memorable Christmas specials, making the Doctor a more than worthy companion for your Christmas cards. Etsy seller comradecards has a collection of geeky greeting cards for birthdays and holidays, but Season’s Greetings from the Doctor will get a smile out of any Whovian this Christmas.

Over on Redbubble, you’ll also find a Christmas sweater version of the Tenth Doctor and Rose wishing you a Happy Christmas. (No way this can be called an ugly Christmas sweater – the mini 3-D glasses are too adorable.)

The TARDIS also makes an appearance on many custom cards offered at Etsy, but “All I Want for Christmas is Who,” found in the shop sweetgeek, might be the most awwww-inspiring.

Deck the Halls with Braaaaains

Zombies shamble their way into everything lately—even the most wonderful time of the year. Monkey Minion Press offers undead options for the holidays, such as this zombified Hanukkah card and a Christmas card with a distraught Santa.

Pixelated Paper Goods

Video game inspired holiday cards are another fun way to send your best wishes to your gamer friends this year. Over in the Esty shop theRasilisk, you’ll find a several pixel art holiday creations, like this Super Mario themed Christmas tree.

If your friends and family have whiled away the hours in Hyrule, this merry The Legend of Zelda Christmas card from Redbubble artist Tom Clancy is a surefire hit.

© Redbubble Artist Renato Roccon

Heroic Holidays

Your favorite superheroes can even get in on the holiday action. This stunning “Season’s Greetings from Wonder Woman” from Redbubble artist Renato Roccon will catch the eye of any friends you send it to, and you’ll probably want to keep one for yourself to include in your holiday decor.

If your tastes run to the more irreverent, though, Batman and Robin can come to your rescue with a meme-inspired card by bern67. The meme might be ubiquitous, but this version of it is sure to get a smile from your Reddit reading friends.

And More!

A “Ho Ho Ho” from Darth Vader, holiday greetings for chemistry geeks, Season’s Greetings from the Lannisters, Trek the Halls… There is a card for every flavor of geek out there. You can even take a geek-themed family photo and print your own custom holiday cards. And if you do, we want to see it!

The post Geek Up Your Holiday Cards This Year appeared first on GeekMom.

If you’ve been on the fence about picking up Nintendo’s Wii U, Super Mario 3D World is the reason to finally get one. Not only does Super Mario 3D World give you all the fun that Mario games typically offer, it has one of the best multiplayer experiences for families of almost any game I’ve played.

© Nintendo

Super Mario 3D World opens the same way as any other Mario game, with Bowser and a kidnapping. But in a welcome twist, this time it’s not Princess Peach in Bowser’s clutches — and she’s ready to immediately run to the rescue. Bowser has set his sights on the Sprixie Kingdom, and Mario and the gang must travel to their colorful world to free its cute inhabitants.

Up to four players can take control of Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach, and their abilities will feel familiar to anyone who spent hours glued to Super Mario Bros. 2. After struggling to play Skylanders Giants and LEGO Marvel Super Heroes with our four-year-old, Super Mario 3D World plays like a dream. Entering and leaving the game can be done at any time. There is no tethering or split screen; players who fall behind (i.e. the four-year-old) are lifted in a bubble to join the others quickly. If one player enters a pipe, the others immediately join them, rather than keeping anyone waiting inside for the others to eventually make their way there.

As for gameplay itself, it takes just a moment to adjust to the 3D world of the Sprixie Kingdom and then the fun begins. The game takes advantage of the touch screen and microphone on the Gamepad; players use it to find hidden Mystery Boxes, as well as interact with platforms and breakable objects.

Along with the typical Mario power-ups like mushrooms and fire flowers, Super Mario 3D World features the endlessly amusing cat suit. When Mario, Peach, and the rest pick up a Super Bell, they transform into an adorable, soft kitty with a powerful attack. New Double Cherry power-ups create doubles of Mario, and even the Tanooki suit makes a reappearance.

Super Mario 3D World is a stress-free and frustration-free family game experience, and flat out fun. The game is available now for the Wii U at a retail price of $59.99.

GeekMom received a promotional copy for review purposes.

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Mario Party: Island Tour © Nintendo

The holidays are a time for coming together with friends and family, to give thanks, spend time together, and make memories by OWNING them at Mario Party: Island Tour. Thanks to Nintendo and GeekMom, you can make that happen this holiday season!

Mario Party: Island Tour is the latest installment of Mario Party fun, this time ready to go on holiday road trips on the Nintendo 2DS or 3DS. Single players and groups of up to four players can play seven new boards and 80 mini-games with Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and all your favorite Super Mario Bros. characters.

No DS? No problem! Enter below for your chance to win a Mario Party Travel Pack, which includes:

• Nintendo 2DS system and travel case
• Mario Party: Island Tour
• Mario plushie toy
• Nintendo water bottle
• Mini-backpack

Entry is open to U.S. residents only. To enter our giveaway, just log in to Rafflecopter with your Facebook account or email address (use a valid email so we can let you know if you win) by December 6, 2013.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for additional entries! If you already like/follow us, it will still enter you in the giveaway.

Winner(s) will be chosen randomly using Rafflecopter and notified by email. If there is no response in two days, then a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Give Thanks for Giveaways! Win a Nintendo 2DS and Mario Party: Island Tour appeared first on GeekMom.

© Disney

If my daughter’s costume-clad class on Halloween is any indication, Sofia the First is a definite hit with the princess-loving preschool set. Earlier this year I was enchanted by Disney’s app Sofia the First: Story Theater, and the new app released this week featuring the petite princess improves upon the same formula.

Sofia the First: The Floating Palace is a new adventure based on the Disney Junior special of the same name. This time Sofia heads under the sea thanks to the power of her extraordinary amulet, where she makes new friends and embarks on an adventure to save a mermaid princess. Grown-up Disney fans watching along might also get a small thrill seeing Ariel (voiced by Jodi Benson) return in a cameo in both the movie and the storybook app.

The digital book is beautifully illustrated and animated. It’s a full-length interactive story that closely mirrors the Sofia the First episode, although it does spare some details to improve the flow of the storybook. Sofia’s voice actress Ariel Winter returns for the crisp, quick-paced narration, although I again wish that the app offered word-by-word highlighting in the narration to encourage beginning readers.

Like Story Theater, The Floating Palace app includes the “royal theater,” where kids can use puppets, music, and the microphone to create their own show. Stories can be saved and replayed time and time again — which might be good or bad, depending on your point of view. The improvements in the theater delighted my daughter, including the ability to wave an arm or flap a mermaid fin. She also squealed when she noticed her Sofia puppet moving her mouth along to match my daughter’s recorded dialogue.

© Disney

The Floating Palace story is entertaining, but the royal theater is where you’ll get the most app for your buck as your kids make their own magic time and time again. If you’re heading on a road trip for the holidays, or in need of a last second digital gift, little Sofia fans will love this app.

Sofia the First: The Floating Palace is available for the iPhone and iPad for $4.99 in the App Store.

GeekMom received a promotional copy for review purposes.

The post Sofia the First: The Floating Palace is Another Charming Digital Storybook appeared first on GeekMom.

© Nickelodeon

If you have a preschooler, chances are you can sing the Bubble Guppies theme song. In your sleep. With catchy music, jokes that give little ones the giggles, and a colorful underwater world, it’s easy to see why Bubble Guppies is a hit with the preschool crowd.

Tonight you’ll get the unique opportunity to combine your preschooler’s love of the Guppies with your own fandom. In a primetime special airing tonight on Nick, you can start your little ones on their path to Middle Earth with the Lord of the Rings homage “The Puppy and the Ring.”

The hour-long episode takes Molly and Gill to the kingdom of Bubbledom, where the Night Wizard — voiced by Jeffrey Tambor of Arrested Development — has taken the Ring of the Sun, threatening to enshroud the magical land in darkness forever. Together with Bubble Puppy, Molly and Gill embark on a quest to find the ring and return the balance to day and night.

If it takes a Bubble Guppies special to spark my preschool-age daughter’s interest in The Lord of the Rings even just a little bit, I’m all in!

Bubble Guppies airs tonight at 7:00 PM ET. You can also get ready for the premiere with The Puppy and the Ring maze pack and puzzles from NickJr.com.

The post Bubble Guppies Meets Lord of the Rings Tonight on Nick appeared first on GeekMom.

© Mattel / Disney

As big of a fan as my daughter is of staring at video games and apps, her favorite thing in the world is to play is with her Barbies and princess dolls. I’m always on the lookout for ways to spice up our time huddled around the dollhouse to keep both our attentions captured and get the most out of our play time together.

The Ultimate Dream Castle from Disney and Mattel offers a chance to combine the imaginative play of a dollhouse with the technology of an iPhone app to create a magical experience. But with my unending effort to get her away from the screens to make full use of her imagination, is that even an option I want to give her? My daughter and I put the Ultimate Dream Castle and its app through the princess paces to see if screen time and play time can live happily ever after together.

To begin with the obvious, yes, this castle is a lot of pink and purple plastic. Any princess-loving little one would be delighted to find a three-foot tall castle under the Christmas tree this year, so it’s immediately a safe bet to get one if you have ample room in the budget.

The layout of the palatial dollhouse is open and wide, which was nice for getting my comparatively giant hands in there with room to maneuver, an ability we lack in our current dollhouse. On each of the three floors, there are rooms themed to favorite Disney princesses, which are accompanied by accessories like an oven or little friends like Pascal from Tangled.

The biggest hit of the Ultimate Dream Castle was the elevator fashioned out of Rapunzel’s hair, which spins princesses up and down the outside of the castle. My four-year-old spent the most time with that feature, concocting elaborate reasons why a doll might need to travel by hair, and then making the princess promptly throw up from motion sickness. Play-time gold.

Magic Mirror‘s AR in action.

She was so enamored with the elevator and castle, in fact, that she had very little interest in the iPhone/iPad Magic Mirror app made for the castle. I wasn’t particularly saddened by that, as playing with her Barbies and princesses is a fantastic way to engage her imagination, but I wanted to check out the app to make sure we were getting the most out of the castle.

Magic Mirror includes games and activities, as well as effects triggered by the castle’s rooms that can be viewed through the iPhone’s camera. Like most AR apps, there is a struggle with getting the app to respond in just the right spot. It might be because the room didn’t have enough light, but after several frustrating tries of attempting to get the app to recognize an area of the castle, my daughter wandered away and went back to playing with her dolls. The times the app did work, it did little more than give her a smile, and didn’t add much to the overall play experience.

As the games in the app can be played without the castle, and a code to get Magic Mirror free comes with the toy, it’s not a complete lost cause, but our time with the Ultimate Dream Castle showed us that she prefers to keep her dollhouse play time and screen time separate. Even if the app worked 100% reliably each time, nothing can trump her limitless imagination and the adventures with (dizzy) princesses it creates.

The Ultimate Dream Castle comes with more than enough “real life” accessories and play time possibilities that the interactive app shouldn’t be the main reason to pick this castle over any other dollhouse. The Magic Mirror app would work well as a pause between playing sessions or when the family is out and about, but the Ultimate Dream Castle stands on its own as a dream-come-true dollhouse for any lucky kid who loves to play with dolls.

The post Once Upon a Screen? A Look at Disney’s Ultimate Dream Castle appeared first on GeekMom.

To: Jabba © Kurt S. Adler

Like GeekMom Amy, my family participates in a gift exchange every year. We’ve gone the Secret Santa route to save money and add even more enjoyment to the gift-giving experience. Not only do we keep the name we’ve picked a secret, like a traditional Secret Santa, we’ve also started adding themes to our gift exchange to give it a bit of a fun challenge.

Here are the basics for a Secret Santa gift exchange, along with some twists on Secret Santa themes for a grand geeky gift-giving gala.

Secret Santa Basics

If this is your first Secret Santa rodeo, don’t fret! There isn’t too much involved in setting the exchange up.

1. Draw names from a hat (or a virtual hat like Elfster) to see who has who. This usually takes a few attempts with a real hat because someone invariably draws their own name.

2. Set a price limit and a date for the exchange.

3. Choose a theme, like one of the examples below.

4. Procrastinate and Google “Secret Santa ideas.”

5. Panic and order something like a King Kong whisk, which is actually a pretty awesome gift.

6. Exchange gifts. You can reveal yourself as the giver immediately, or let the recipient try to guess.

Secret Santa Theme Ideas

Themes for your Secret Santa gift exchange give everyone equal footing for a starting point, in case you happen to draw a co-worker who started two days ago or a family member you haven’t seen in years. Themes also give you the chance to show off your creativity in front of your family, which is what Christmas is all about. You can even combine themes, like “handmade” and “Doctor Who,” if your family particularly enjoys a challenge.

• Handmade gifts. This doesn’t necessarily mean something you made; we called it “the Etsy Christmas” the year we chose that theme.

• Gifts that start with the letter of the recipient’s first name.

• Gifts that start with a randomly chosen letter.

• Gifts of a specific color.

• Fandom gifts from a common family love, such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel or DC Comics, and the like. Many franchises have official stores, and Etsy again is a phenomenal resource for unique gifts.

• Board games – we have several suggestions!

• Books or comic books.

• Gifts only from a particular store, like ThinkGeek or WeLoveFine, or only local stores and small businesses.

If you have an idea for a theme, or even a go-to Secret Santa gift, share it in the comments below!

The post GeekMom Holiday Traditions: Secret Santa Geek-Style appeared first on GeekMom.

Image: © Nintendo

You’ve been working so hard to find the right gifts for the loved ones on your list—but don’t forget to treat yourself this holiday season! Enter now to win a copy of Super Mario 3D World for the Wii U and give yourself one of the best games out for the console.

© Nintendo

Three lucky winners will receive a copy of Super Mario 3D World thanks to Nintendo of America and GeekMom. In the latest installment of the Super Mario franchise, Bowser has set his sights on the Sprixie Kingdom, and Mario and the gang must travel to their world to free its cute inhabitants. Super Mario 3D World boasts frustration-free family fun in a bright and colorful world.

Entry is open to U.S. residents only. To enter our giveaway, just log into Rafflecopter with your Facebook account or email address (please use a valid email, so we can let you know if you win) by December 17, 2013.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for additional entries! If you already like/follow us, it will still enter you in the giveaway.

Winners will be chosen randomly using Rafflecopter and notified by email. If there is no response in two days, then a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Get Yourself a Little Something: Win Super Mario 3D World! appeared first on GeekMom.

Art by Jonas Löfgren © Toca Boca

Toca Boca is back with another excellent, entertaining app for the iPhone and iPad, Toca Lab. Toca Lab encourages little scientists to run different experiments on “elements” to discover something new.

© Toca Boca

Like all Toca Boca apps, there’s no text to wade through, so your little one can begin learning about experiments and science before they can even read. The game features 118 elements, each busting with personality. Once an element is selected, testing different lab tools on the element can result in the creation of something new.

The game promotes open exploration without time limits or penalties. Kids simply try the lab tools on every element to their heart’s content. It’s important to note that the game isn’t scientifically accurate—freezing or electrifying an element won’t turn it into something else, for example. It might be better suited to younger kids who don’t know much about science, serving instead to encourage experimentation and highlight the joy of discovery rather than teach chemistry concepts.

There’s also a bit of a learning curve with navigating the app. If the experiment doesn’t result in something new, kids have to press the arrow at the top of the screen to return to the lab. The same arrow selects an element in the periodic table. It took my daughter a few tries before realizing she had to navigate using the arrow, but the frustration has since disappeared.

With 118 elements to discover and a number of experiments to run on each, Toca Lab offers replay value and fun at a low price for an app. The game is available for $2.99 on the App Store for the iPhone and iPad.

The post Experiment With Fun in Toca Lab appeared first on GeekMom.

Recess Monkey. Photo © Kevin Fry

2013 is almost over, and the eventful year brought many fantastic offerings in family entertainment—including noteworthy releases in children’s music. From covers of The Beatles to energetic original tunes, here are GeekMoms Amy and Kelly’s picks for our top 10 favorite kids’ music of 2013.

Frances England: Blink of an Eye. One of the best albums of the year is the latest indie-rock treat from Frances England. Her mellow style lets you flow seamlessly from grooving during the daytime to winding down at nighttime. The lyrics have kid appeal, while they tug on the heartstrings of parents.

Justin Roberts: Recess. Kids’ music favorite Justin Roberts is back with one of his best albums yet. Like much of his other music, Recess seems plucked right from the id of his listeners, with danceable songs about robots, princesses, trains, and that long, long wait for recess.

Underbirds: Underbirds. Kindie rocker Todd McHatton has been showing up in many a collaboration this year, including an awesomely bizarre pairing with Mista Cookie Jar and a Halloween adventure with Lori Henriques. However, the most epic collaboration was the album he released with Morgan Taylor of Gustafer Yellowgold fame. These guys are both amazing on their own, but magic happens when they get together.

The Not-Its: KidQuake! When kids really want to rock out, there’s nothing better to rock out to than the The Not-Its. They rock with a sense of humor, though, which will draw in grown-ups and kids who think they’ve outgrown kids’ music. Also, we highly recommend seeing The Not-Its live as no other band is so adept at getting kids out of their seats to dance.

Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke: Pleased to Meet You. If you want your kids to like punk but aren’t quite ready to sit them down with The Ramones or The Sex Pistols, give Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke a listen. The best track is “Animal Alphabet,” which is no easy task, since alphabet songs can be so teachy or condescending. This one, though, is a sing-along with style.

Caspar Babypants: Baby Beatles! Caspar Babypants, Seattle’s kindie rock star, released a Beatles cover album in the fall. Baby Beatles is a collection of kid-friendly Beatles tunes, with lyrics unaltered but the music tailored specifically to tykes’ attention spans. If The Beatles’ original work hasn’t captured your tot’s interest yet, Baby Beatles is the perfect introduction to their songs.

Recess Monkey: Desert Island Disc. Recess Monkey, another Seattle kindie band, are well-known for high energy, upbeat, and earworm-worthy songs. Desert Island Disc, the prolific band’s second release in 2013, is a change of pace that’s as refreshing as a cool breeze on a summer day. Beautiful orchestrations combined with Recess Monkey’s whimsical style made this one of GeekMom’s favorite albums of the year.

Charlie Hope: Sing As We Go! The aptly named Sing As We Go! from Charlie Hope is the perfect family road trip companion. Not only does the singer-songwriter’s newest release have fantastic collaborations with Elizabeth Mitchell and Morgan Taylor, Hope’s spins on nursery rhymes and traditional songs are irresistible for singing along.

Danny Lion: First Songs. It’s almost impossible for a preschooler to not get up and dance after the first track on First Songs, called ”Dance Happy,” begins. A former preschool teacher, Danny Lion (AKA Dan Flannery) knows how to make young kids smile.

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band: Lishy Lou and Lucky Too! With a vintage variety show feel, Lishy Lou and Lucky Too! is a unique offering in this year’s children’s music. While the spoken sketches between songs are a little too cheesy for grown-ups (and probably a lot of kids), the upbeat songs more than make up for them. The album  includes a memorable ode to Amelia Earhart (“8000 Feet”) and the catchy “Thingamajig.”

GeekMom received promotional copies for review purposes. All album covers copyright of their respective holders.

The post The Best Kids’ Music of 2013 appeared first on GeekMom.

Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard #4, Art by David Petersen © Archaia

2013 was a great year to be a comic book fan. From publishers big, small, and self-published, several single issue comic books stood out from the crowd as exceptional works of art and story. Here are GeekMom’s favorite comic books of 2013. Swing by your local comic book store and pick one up!

Leaving Megaopolis (Self-Published), Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore – The best comic book I read this year was Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore’s Leaving Megalopolis, which was a Kickstarter project and isn’t available yet to the general public. I thought I’d like it because I like Gail’s work, but this has to be the best thing she’s ever done. I hope it’s on Amazon or available to the public soon. – Corrina Lawson

Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard, #4 of 4 (Archaia), David Petersen - This issue was my favorite, mainly for the Bill Willingham story. His writing is great in Fables, but certainly not kid-friendly. Combining his style and imagination with an awesome family series like Mouse Guard was a home run. - Lisa Tate

Batman and Robin #18 (DC Comics), Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason - A Batman comic with no text seems like an odd choice for one of the best of the year, but Tomasi and Gleason masterfully capture anguish and grief in an unforgettable single issue. - Kelly Knox

Smallville: Season 11 #56 (DC Comics), Bryan Q. Miller and Jorge Jimenez – If I could put every issue of the “Olympus” arc on my top ten list for 2013, I would. Smallville: Season 11‘s version of the first adventure of Wonder Woman and Superman had me impatient for Fridays so I could read the next digital installment. - Kelly Knox

Art by David Aja © Marvel Comics

Hawkeye #11 (Marvel Comics), Matt Fraction and David Aja – Another issue with almost no text that still makes a huge impact, Hawkeye #11 is told from the unique perspective of Clint Barton’s dog, Lucky (AKA Pizza Dog). The icons showing how Lucky sees (and smells) the world are innovative and thought-provoking, like the series itself. - Kelly Knox

The X-Files: Season 10 #6 (IDW Publishing), Joe Harris, Elena Casagrande, and Silvia Califano - For me there was no question about my favorite single comic issue of 2013—Joe Harris’ The X-Files #6 stood head and shoulders above the rest. Although the opening five-part arc had set up the return of Agents Mulder and Scully in classic style, issue #6 returned Season 10 to the show’s popular Monster-of-the-Week format. There was the tense and creepy pre-”credits” set up, some nice scenes at FBI headquarters (including the return of the basement office), an appearance from everyone’s favorite boss D.D. Skinner, and some brilliant banter between Mulder and Scully themselves—consistently one of my favorite aspects of the show.

Finally, #6 had Mulder and Scully going about their usual roles: Mulder off investigating in the field and generally riling up the locals with Scully left behind to do autopsies and lab work; the pair staying in constant contact via their surgically attached cell phones. The flashbacks to TV episodes and the cliffhanger ending were just the icing on the cake of an issue that, in my opinion, really proved to me that my beloved X-Files was really back again. - Sophie Brown

The post GeekMoms’ Best Comic Books of 2013 appeared first on GeekMom.

© Marvel Comics

After the rousing success of the first comic book massive online open course Gender Through Comic Books, instructor (and new comic book shop owner) Christy Blanch and the Canvas Network are back with a new MOOC.

Over six months, students in Social Issues Through Comic Books will use comics as a lens to view “current social issues… while understanding how popular culture is shaped by its surroundings.” In a message to her former students from the Gender course, Blanch listed some of those issues, including immigration, social inequality, addiction, and more.

Once again, Blanch will be calling on industry talent like Denny O’Neill, Jeff Lemire, Mark Waid, Donny Cates, and, new for this course, “academic specialist” interviews.

Enrollment is free plus the cost of reading materials, including issues of Scalped, Daredevil, Swamp Thing, and more. The course runs March 10 to August 18.

The post SuperMOOC Returns! Study Social Issues Through Comic Books appeared first on GeekMom.

“Sink or Float” STEM Science Station. Image Courtesy © Lakeshore Learning

My preschooler is constantly begging to “do science,” and I am always happy to oblige. I was delighted to learn that Lakeshore Learning, a toy store specializing in educational toys, is offering new “STEM Science Stations” to encourage science exploration. As big of a fan as my four-year-old is of splashing in water, I knew we had to start with the “Sink or Float” kit to explore buoyancy.

The “Sink or Float” Science Station is packed with 8 activity cards and materials to complete each one. The card features one question to kick off the activity, and the little learner is tasked with experimenting with the floating and sinking items in the kit. On the back of each card, there are additional questions to help guide the activity, along with discussion questions to explore the buoyancy principles behind it.

While the cards provide fantastic guidance for the kids getting their hands wet, to my dismay I found that there are no facts or additional information to answer the inevitable follow-up questions. When pressed to explain the how and why behind the ability of some things to both sink AND float, I found myself unable to answer coherently. If I had prepared ahead of time — which I will for next time! — my daughter would have taken more away from our playtime.

The other STEM Station activity boxes offered by Lakeshore Learning cover magnets and motion. The kits are better suited to groups such as schools and homeschool groups to fully participate in the activity and discussion, but they can work well for a snowy afternoon at home with the kids.

Lakeshore Learning is offering a special discount for GeekMom readers! Use this coupon for 20% off one nonsale item online or in stores.

GeekMom received a promotional copy for review purposes.

The post STEM Science Stations Float Kids’ Boats appeared first on GeekMom.

It’s no secret that many of the GeekMoms are fans of Nikola Tesla. In February, an intriguing new fiction trilogy that pays homage to the inventor and scientist kicks off in Tesla’s Attic.

As book one in the “Accelerati Trilogy” by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman, Tesla’s Attic introduces us to Nick and the unexpected twists his life takes after an unimaginable tragedy.

Fourteen-year-old Nick, his younger brother, and their father move into a ramshackle Victorian house after their old home burns down. But when Nick opens the door to his attic room, and is hit in the head by a toaster, it’s just the beginning of some weird experiences. After getting rid of the odd antiques in a garage sale, Nick befriends some local kids—Mitch, Caitlin, and Vincent—and they soon discover all of the objects have extraordinary properties.

What are these strange objects Nick has discovered? And how is it all tied to Nikola Tesla?

Middle-school kids who love science and supernatural adventure–and readers of all ages who have a soft spot for the artifacts of Warehouse 13–might find Tesla’s Attic to be right up their alley.

Here’s your chance to get an exclusive first look at the full feature-worthy trailer for the first book, courtesy of Disney-Hyperion. Tesla’s Attic hits bookstore shelves on February 11, 2014.

The post Exclusive! Discover the Secrets in Tesla’s Attic appeared first on GeekMom.

“Armored Amour” by JD Hancock / licensed under CC BY 3.0

Ah, Valentine’s Day. For some couples it’s just another day on the calendar; for others, there better be wining and dining–and geeking out. If you’re in the gifts-and-chocolate camp, here are ideas for some go-to gifts to give the geek mom in your life to show her how much you love her.

Or, even better, treat yo self and show yourself some love this Valentine’s Day by picking up one (or more) of these fabulously geeky finds selected by the writers here at GeekMom.

© ThinkGeek

Who wants lingerie when you just want to be snugly on chilly nights? Lounge in comfort and timey-wimey style with the TARDIS Boot Slippers. They’re warm and cozy for these last days clinging to winter.

And yes, I’m sure the slippers are bigger on the inside. Even the box the slippers come in is worth keeping! $49.99, ThinkGeek - Kelly Knox

© ClintonStudios

If your lady love swoons more over Dark Lords than Time Lords, the Star Wars Quote Rings from Etsy seller ClintonStudios might be just what you need to declare your love on Valentine’s Day.

The handmade rings can even be customized with a special message. $20, Etsy - Lisa Tate

© BeeesBeads

Always be close to your geeky lady’s heart with the Arc Reactor Heart Pendant. Fans of Tony Stark and The Avengers will love this one-of-a-kind “Heart Reactor” from Etsy seller BeeesBeads.

You can also find a Tesseract necklace and other geeky jewelry in the store that’s just begging to be given away on Valentine’s Day. $14.99, Etsy – Kelly Knox

© Marvel

Speaking of Avengers close to our hearts, Thor: The Dark World is coming to Blu-Ray and DVD at the end of the month.

But rather than giving your loved one a raincheck for a gift that you won’t have in hand for a couple of weeks, you can buy the digital version now on Amazon and iTunes and curl up on the couch together for a Valentine’s Day movie night. $19.99 (Digital), Amazon/iTunes – Kelly Knox

© Alfred’s

If you’ve been watching the final season of How I Met Your Mother, you might have a new soft spot in your heart for the ukulele.

Combining romance and just a little bit of geekiness, the ukulele is a sweet gift for your favorite mom that also helps her learn a new skill. Teach Yourself to Play Ukulele will have her strumming the strings in no time. $74.99, Amazon - Sarah Pinault

© Walter Foster Publishing

Another skill that Ted Mosby approves of? Calligraphy. If the pen and paper are more your favorite geeky mom’s style, give her something new to obsess over with a beginner’s Calligraphy Kit.

She’ll appreciate a gift that’s not your run-of-the-mill chocolate box, and also enjoy having the peace, quiet, and time to sit down and try her hand at something new. $19.99, Amazon - Samantha Cook

© Pixelosis

Etsy shop Pixelosis works jewelry magic with just beads and wire.

For gamer-moms, you can’t beat the handmade Pixelated Heart Container Earrings for Valentine’s Day–although the small Game Boy earrings are almost irresistible. $25, Etsy – Kelly Knox

© MayFair Games

Speaking of gamer-moms, if she’s a fan of Settlers of Catan, you can turn your next family game night into date night.

Crack open Rivals for Catan and enjoy some one-on-one time together as you match wits and fight to control your domain–so, you know, a typical night. $20, Amazon - Sarah Pinault

© WizKids

Another good date-game-night option is Quarriors! from WizKids. What geeky-mom doesn’t long for “Uber Strategic Hexahedron Monster Combat Mayhem” on Valentine’s Day?

The only thing better might be “Uber Strategic Hexahedron Monster Combat Mayhem AND Chocolate,” so maybe pick up the Chocolate Gaming Dice Set from ThinkGeek for a truly memorable night. $69.99, Amazon - Sarah Pinault

Last minute tip: If you’re reading this the day before Valentine’s Day and panicking, Target can be your last resort. This year the retail chain is carrying Star Wars and Justice League themed Valentine gifts and chocolates, so you might still score a geeky gift with minutes to spare.

The post What to Give a Geeky Mom For Valentine’s Day appeared first on GeekMom.

Photo © patchattack / Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

For better or worse, goodie bags are a birthday party staple that seems to be here to stay. That doesn’t mean you have to load up your kid’s friends with plastic junk, though. Here are 32 fantastic suggestions for goodie bags that aren’t stuffed with little plastic toys from Oriental Trading Company or tons of candy.

Read on for ideas from GeekMom and our readers who shared their wisdom in our original post about goody bag alternatives. (Thanks, commenters!)

• One year I used boxes of Crayola crayons as balloon weights! Each kid got to take home a weighted balloon and a dollar-store coloring book. – GeekMom Patricia
• I ironed-on Thomas the Tank Engine pictures on little 4×4″ canvas bags. Then I bought ONE large Thomas the Tank Engine coloring book, and gave each bag 3-5 pages from the coloring book along with a 24-pack of Crayola crayons that were $0.25 each at a back-to-school sale. – GeekMom Patricia
• For the last few years we’ve had “hands on” parties and the kiddos leave the birthday parties with things used – i.e, a Flamenco party for my daughter meant all the girls got to wear the dresses and flowers in their hair for the party and KEEP them. – Autumn
• My twin boys’ science party all the kiddos decorated lab coats, had notebooks, pens, and a list of how to recreate the experiments. – Autumn
• For my daughter’s last birthday, we did a sundae bar and bought dollar store sundae glasses for each child. They loved them! One of her friends had a screen printing party and the kids had to bring their own shirts and pillow cases. – Cherie
• Last summer I found very nice $2 boxes of sidewalk chalk at Target and ribbon tied a sheet of .50 stickers and voila! A useful and fun outdoor project! – Jane Berger
• Custom coloring books made from clipart to go with the theme of the party (magical creatures, dinosaurs, pirates). – Ellen
• Painting cheap tiles with ceramic paints. – Ellen
• Customized sets of Yu-Gi-Oh cards made to feature the kids attending the party (using a free online template). – Ellen
• I picked up a number of interesting items over several months (books, folding fans, decks of card, refrigerator magnets, etc.) The kids each got a bag containing two random items, with the instruction to swap until they had something they liked. This was incredibly entertaining for both the middle school aged party attendees and all of the adults in attendance. – Ellen
• We also do crayons that I pick up at school supply time for super cheap. As a kid who loved to draw (and eventual artist), I have always loved crayons and always see a use for them in our house. – Cheryl
• Last year, my 4 year old had a Spider-Man birthday so I raided Oshkosh of their $5 T-shirts for boys and girls picked one our for each attendee (plus a few extras). I tied them each to a very long string of yarn with their name on the end and hid them throughout the yard. With the strings all tangled up, it looked like a spider’s web. – Stephenie
• Flower pots paired with seeds or a small seed kit can create a party favor that lasts months after the birthday party. You can even add a few items related to the party theme, and paint and personalize the pot if you have the time. – GeekMom Kelly

Photo: Kelly Knox

• For a favor a little over $2, you can dress up watercolors with a ribbon and stickers or a printed label. – GeekMom Kelly
• Large bubble wands are also cost-effective and easy to decorate with a party theme — and can double as entertainment as an outdoor birthday party winds down. – GeekMom Kelly
• Tea cups for a tea party – decorate them. - Chris Rusanowski
• Chocolate coins and a “real” money pouch for pirate party (for a treasure hunt during party). - Chris Rusanowski
• At my son’s third birthday it was a Thomas party at a train store. The goodie was a wooden train they painted. – Angie
• For my older kid who turned 8, we did T-shirts that they decorated with fabric markers. Marvelous all around. – Valerie
• For his 4th birthday, it was jungle theme. So, hubby and I made safari belts with pockets that contained magnifying glasses, cheap compasses, and some plastic pretend camping things. – Ann-Marie
• For his 5th birthday, we had a space party. With only 5 kids invited, we made a bit more effort and created rocket jet packs out of postal tubes. Inside we put glow sticks and glow stars for your bedroom walls. – Ann-Marie
• I am going to let the kids decorate their own crowns and take those home as party favors. – MJ
• For my daughter’s upcoming birthday (fairies and kings theme), the kids will make terrariums (fairy gardens) in glass jars. I also made a simple cloak with faux velvet for each of the boys coming and bought fairy wings for each of the girls. – Rachel
• We did a scavenger hunt for the items that went in the goodie bag. We made the kids run all over the park to find the objects like small frisbies, a bubble wand, small balls and a couple of candy stops. It was fun and they got some exercise. – VandyJ
• We buy $5 Amazon gift cards to give to folks, suggesting that they purchase 5 songs. – Anne
• My favorite that we have done is kites! We got a bunch on clearance at Target the year before. – Lisasjm
• I’m sewing the loot bags so they can be reused, and putting things in them like pieces of amethyst. I got a good deal on a bulk pile of Audubon Jr. Nature Guide type books for around 50 cents apiece. – AliA
• My eldest chose Wonder Woman for her 7th birthday party theme. It was the same thing I had chosen for my 7th birthday. Instead of goodie bags, I went to Michael’s and got blank T-shirts in blue ($2.50 each) and then printed out a Wonder Woman as Rosie the Riveter saying “Girl Power” image and ironed them on the T’s. The T-shirts then became the “thank you gift.” – Natali
• The past few years we have done a pool party and as each kid arrives, they get a pool toy as a favor. I can usually get rings or diving toys for 3/$1 in the dollar aisle in Target. – Karen
• What we’ve done for my children’s parties is create thank you notes ahead of time — something like “Thanks for coming to my party! Hope you had a good time!” or something. The kids have a blast decorating these with stamps and stickers, etc. Then we attach those to a little Lego set, a mini-fig or a small book. (Once, when my daughter was 3, we just attached them to balloons! Seemed a little cheesy but the kids LOVED it.) – Shannon B
• When all of the party guests were fifth grade Webelos Cub Scouts, ready to move to Boy Scouts, everyone got a real (but low end) $4 compass. – Sharon

Do you have even more ideas to share? Let party planners know in the comments below!

The post Happy Birthday! 32 Kids’ Goodie Bags That Are Actually Good appeared first on GeekMom.

Cover Art by Sara Pichelli © Marvel Comics

Ms. Marvel #1 hit comic book store shelves last week to a good amount of fanfare and hype. Since the series was announced, it’s been covered everywhere from CNN to USA Today to Stephen Colbert, garnering attention as the first comic book series to feature a female Muslim lead character. So now that it’s here, does the issue live up to expectations?

It exceeds them.

The first issue introduces us to Kamala and her life in Jersey City, where she feels alienated from her family (who just don’t understand why she writes Avengers fanfic) and her peers, who seem to live free from the rules Kamala’s parents impose. An ordinary-teen-turned-hero isn’t a new concept. Kamala might remind veteran comic book readers of other familiar characters–over at DC Women Kicking Ass, Sue sees some Stephanie Brown in Kamala; at Comicosity, Jessica Boyd views her as a potential Peter Parker for this age.

Art by Adrian Alphona © Marvel Comics

So while the teen hero isn’t new, Ms. Marvel #1 is a rare comic book that speaks to every reader regardless of their age, gender, background, or beliefs, thanks to writer G. Willow Wilson’s portrayal of Kamala as relatable and full of personality. Rather than Peter or Steph, I see myself in the new Ms. Marvel–someone who sees the world of superheroes from afar, and can’t help but wonder what it would be like to be a part of that universe.

Or as Kamala puts it, what it would be like to be “beautiful and awesome and butt-kicking and less complicated.” Basically… Captain Marvel.

“Captain Marvel represents an ideal that Kamala pines for,” Ms. Wilson said. “She’s strong, beautiful and doesn’t have any of the baggage of being Pakistani and ‘different.’ ”

[Editor] Ms. Amanat said, “It’s also sort of like when I was a little girl and wanted to be Tiffani-Amber Thiessen,” from “Saved by the Bell.”

For anyone who has dreamed of being someone else, someone stronger, or prettier, or just plain super, they’ll see themselves in the pages of Ms. Marvel #1. The response to a call for photos for “#IAmMsMarvel” on Twitter and Instagram shows the wide range of new fans of the series.

#IAmMsMarvel Tweeters

While the road Kamala is on certainly won’t be an easy one, I can’t wait to see where it takes her. The series is off to a fantastic start, and it’s worth mentioning that the work by artist Adrian Alphona is gorgeous. If you’ve never read a comic book in your life, consider picking up this one.

The post I Am Ms. Marvel appeared first on GeekMom.

© Candlewick Press

The long-running PBS Kids series FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman has been off the air for a few years now, much to the dismay of wannabe Fetchers everywhere. Geek kids found a lot to love in the one-of-a-kind show. If you’re unfamiliar with the series, Ruff Ruffman was the animated canine host of his own game show that was part cartoon and part reality. The real-life kid contestants, called Fetchers, participated in challenges that often involved scientific processes and creative problem solving.

My daughter is a fan of FETCH! thanks to the PBS Kids app and reruns on our local PBS channel, so she was ecstatic to hear that Ruff Ruffman would be making a return this year–in the pages of new books from Candlewick Press.

FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman: Doggie Duties and FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman: Show’s Over feature the show’s lovable characters Ruff, Blossom, and Chet in adventures that are simultaneously entertaining and educational. Both books are early reader chapter books aimed at kids age 6-9.

At the end of each book, kids will find science activities related to the story. Show’s Over features a study of buoyancy well-suited to my 4-year-old; she enjoyed crafting aluminum foil boats in different shapes to see what floats best. (Luckily, the book does provide some scientific explanation for what we were seeing in our experiment, unlike my  previous failure explaining buoyancy.) In Doggie Duties, kids and parents can create a detailed water filtration system out of many items found around the house.

Photo: Kelly Knox

As excited as we were to see Ruff Ruffman in action again, it was disappointing to discover that the books are re-tellings of existing FETCH! episodes (minus the contestant challenges). Hopefully if the series sees a revival in book form, original stories and experiments with my daughter’s favorite dog-and-game-show-host will one day follow.

Doggies Duties is available today in paperback and hardback; Show’s Over makes its debut in April.

GeekMom received promotional copies for review purposes.

The post FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman Returns in New Book Series appeared first on GeekMom.

© ThinkFun

Robot Turtles is back!

With an unbelievable run on Kickstarter as the highest funded board game in the site’s history—and over 20,000 games shipped to backers—it only makes sense that Robot Turtles would find its way to a mass market. ThinkFun is now taking pre-orders on the preschooler board game, which is planned for release this June.

Robot Turtles creator Dan Shapiro talked a little about the release of the game in a note to the game’s original backers:

This summer, [ThinkFun owner Bill Ritchie] will be putting Dot, Beep, Pangle, and Pi on store shelves, with all the gameplay of the original plus some cool enhancements. I’ve seen previews of the graphics and they’re seriously snazzy–the same turtles, but with brighter backgrounds and shinier colors (including gold foil!). The box will hold the pieces better; no dump-and-sort. The rulebook will not fall apart when you open it. And content of the rulebook will be completely redone, making it waaaay easier to get started.

The game now retails at $24.99. Pre-order bonuses include a free Special Edition Expansion Pack that doubles game play and features new challenges, game tokens, and accessories. Once Robot Turtles is released in June, you’ll be able to find it at Target.com and neighborhood toy stores across the country.

So if you missed your chance to get in the original Kickstarter, this is your opportunity to get your young learners on the path to programming!

The post The Return of Robot Turtles appeared first on GeekMom.

Noelle-Pikus Pace celebrates with her family in Sochi. © AP Photo/Michael Sohn

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the women’s skeleton event featured two fierce competitors from Team USA. Noelle Pikus-Pace, one of the women representing the U.S., had some very special fans cheering for her in the stands—her husband and kids.

After a disappointing finish in the Vancouver games in 2010, Noelle Pikus-Pace decided to put her family before her Olympic career. In the years since, Pikus-Pace has returned to the skeleton track, but determined to have her family with her every step of the way.

For Sochi, Pikus-Pace created an unusual training schedule for this year’s event, but one that many moms can easily picture in their own day-to-days. Once she dropped off one of her young kids at preschool, Pikus-Pace squeezed in a workout, toting along her toddler to the track to play as she ran. (Bringing along sandbox toys for him to play with as she trained? Brilliant.) Skeleton training came in the evening when the kids went to bed.

And all that hard work paid off: Pikus-Pace earned a silver medal on Friday in women’s skeleton.

Pikus-Pace shows all moms (and dads) that even on days when you’re changing diapers or making school lunches, you can still fight to make your dreams come true.

It’s not just Olympians who work hard to reach their lifelong goals. Geek moms might recognize some of these creative minds who “have it all,” working hard to fit in their dreams while staying focused on family time. These artists often squeeze in work while the kids are at school or sleeping nearby:

• Captain Marvel scribe Kelly Sue DeConnick gets up at 3:00 AM every day to write multiple titles, including her creator-owned series Pretty Deadly.

• Matt Fraction wrote the first outline for what would become Hawkeye #2 in the car while his two kids napped.

“The Birthplace of Harry Potter.” Photo by Stafford Student, Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

• J.K. Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter novel in coffee shops and cafes while her baby daughter slept next to her.

• Singer-songwriter Frances England, well-known for her sweet kids’ albums, composed her first songs while keeping an eye on her son in the bath. She also writes while cooking, or as she waits for her kids to finish a martial arts class.

While we’re not all destined for Olympic medals, you can always think back to these hard-working parents for inspiration when contemplating reaching for dreams of your own. But if you’re just getting started, what are the best ways to find the time to explore your own creative outlets? Over at GeekDad last week, David Faith tackled that very question.

The post Reaching Your Dreams With Your Kids By Your Side appeared first on GeekMom.