When you hear the word “doll,” the first thing that comes to mind is “Barbie”. The major difference between dolls and action figures is that the former is oriented towards girls, while the latter is oriented towards boys. Dolls usually include matching outfits while action figures generally include clothing and accessories that you might not see every day.

Look at Barbie. Since her inception in 1959, Barbie has been the quintessential girls’ toy, what with her interchangeable clothes, pink cars, and Malibu Beach House variations. Though the collection later included Ken, of course, Ken was by no means an action figure. His clothes, like those of Barbie, were typical day-to-day outfits, albeit ones that was masculine.

By comparison, your typical “action figure” is muscular, especially to an exaggerated degree, and might include weapons as accessories. Two classic examples that come to mind are Thundercats and G.I. Joe. Thundercats characters, while somewhat human-looking, were normally yellow or gray-tinted, with overdeveloped muscles; their outfits consisted of tank tops or tights. Most Thundercats figures, whether male or female, included a weapon; Lion-O, for example, was packaged with The Sword of Omens, a longsword with a fiery-red handle.

G.I. Joes, while not as muscular as the Thundercats, still looked physically fit and generally included accessories such as machine guns, knives, and grenades. Can you really argue that these weren’t designed for boys? That isn’t to say that girls never played with them, but that’s not what the marketing companies had in mind.

Other popular dolls include American Girl and Ashton-Drake, both of which are also oriented towards young girls. On occasion, some adults may collect dolls of this type, because of their realistic appearance and value, if kept in good condition.

Another classic action figure collection that may come to mind is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, whose very name suggests action, and perhaps violence. Like G.I. Joe and Thundercats, the Turtles, armor, and play sets with vehicles such as tanks and artillery-studded cars. Again, while some girls may have found the Ninja Turtles appealing, they were primarily popular with boys. The villains, too, were distorted and mutated, such as Shredder and his henchmen, Bebop and Rocksteady. Perhaps these figures were meant to appeal to the same boys that liked aggressive competitive sports and war games.

Today’s action figures vary somewhat, but again, their appearance as a whole is about the same. Perhaps, even as times change, people’s mindsets tend to stay the same. The toys produced for boys and girls, for the most part, reflect this.

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Is the gathering area (a.k.a. family room, living room, den, great room) in your home chaotic and cluttered? If so, try the following prescription to create a calm, comfortable and orderly space you’ll love to relax in and entertain family and friends.

Pin down the purpose(s) of your room. Is it your intention to use the family room as a place to watch a movie, curl up and read, play with the kids, take a short nap and gather with friends? Whether you have the foregoing functions in mind or something different, move objects unrelated to the purpose of your room (shoes, clothing and the ironing board) to other more appropriate quarters of your home.

Specify the major categories of items to be kept in your family room. For example:

Reading – books, magazines and newspapers

Media – TV, VCR, DVD, stereo, videos, CD’s, DVD’s and remotes

Toys – dolls, action figures and vehicles

Games – board games, puzzles and cards

Collections – photos, baseball paraphernalia, etc.

Sort everything in your family room into piles that represent the major categories identified in step #2. Begin with all surface items, and then move to objects stored in baskets, drawers, and cabinets. Smart tip: If you haven’t edited your belongings for a number of years, you will find it easier to sort large quantities of things by using a large box to hold the contents of each major category; the boxes will ensure your piles don’t spill over and get mixed up.
Cut out the clutter and organize what remains. Working with one category at a time, evaluate each item using the following rules: don’t keep anything you don’t love or use; reduce multiples of any single item; recycle all but the current issue of magazines and newspapers; dispose of broken and unwanted items by pitching them, giving them to someone else, selling, or donating them. Then put the remainder of items in order. For example, eliminate: duplicate pictures, out-of-focus pictures, and unflattering pictures. Then arrange the pictures you want to keep by date or theme, such as home, family, school, vacations, etc. Smart tip: As you’re weeding out clutter from each major category, let go of 20% more stuff than you have room for, that way new acquisitions will have a ready made home.
Arrange your room for comfort and functionality. When you have one space that serves multiple functions, consider setting up your room in zones – each to accommodate a different activity. For instance:

Reading and gaming. Place a game table and chairs where you have a good light source, it makes a great spot for perusing the paper and playing board games. The same table top can also double as a place to set out snacks when you have friends over. Mount shelving or spot a bookcase on an adjacent wall to house books and gaming materials.

Watching TV. Pick a good place to locate your TV and hide electronic gear in cabinetry if you don’t want to see it. Coordinate the arrangement of key seating pieces so you can readily see the screen (and take advantage of the view, if applicable). Position a magazine rack nearby and toss a throw over a plush armchair so you can cover up and catch a cat-nap when it’s chilly.

Playing. Tuck toys into baskets or storage ottomans that blend with the aforementioned zones. These types of containers offer an ideal way to store distracting clutter and make the family room a welcoming adult space after the kids have drifted off to dreamland.

If needed, use containers you have around your home to accessorize and containerize items that are easy to access. Family rooms are a magnet for books, papers, magazines, and supplies that get piled on the floor and table tops. However, you can organize these items with budget friendly solutions you likely have around your home.

Shoe boxes of the same size and color can be used to corral photos, letters, CD’s and more. Using multiple containers with the same color and symmetry will elevate the ordinary into an appealing collection.

Fruit crates, baskets, and sturdy totes can be used to hold books, magazines and newspapers.

Pottery, glass jars, and mugs are good holders for pens, clips, rubber bands, and push pins.

Ice cube trays, muffin tins, box lids, and cutlery trays make great drawer organizers.

Vintage luggage and picnic baskets stacked on top of each other work well as side tables and make for durable, attractive storage.

Slip items you want to confine into their new vessel and place them where they’ll be pretty and practical. That’s it! You now have a family room that’s organized, easy to clean, and makes smart use of your space.

Stay tuned-the next addition of the Decluttering Blueprint will be released soon.

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I love it when you call me Big Poppa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE8ts9pmdFE&hl=en

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Short version as this actually took 2 1/2 hours to do everyone. Will put that up later. 1/6 scale Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, David Tennat, and Tom Baker sculpted by Chan Ada www.wantedactionfigure.com Painted by DollyKim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhXbJGy_QfE&hl=en

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Sometimes it seems that when you are doing well, people you care about the most may not be as enthusiastic about it as you are. It can be frustrating, to say the least. Don’t let those, who put down your good luck or accomplishments, get you down. Instead, use their lack of interest or support as motivation to do even better things. Remember, you don’t need anyone’s approval, just your own. Don’t let others’ negative or indifferent attitudes affect your desire to grow and prosper.

When I left my ex, money was really tight. I researched apartments as I packed to leave, and found some that were really nice. Unfortunately, not having a current rental history (we lived in his place) made the landlord of one particularly nice unit deny my application. It was devastating. It was a cottage, with solitude and had charm and character. So, the neighborhood was less than wonderful, it had its own private garden to access through locked gates. To me, it was perfect, despite older appliances. Frustrated, I looked even harder at apartments, renting a suite in a hotel until the right place was found. To my surprise, after seeing ten different places, I found a really lovely one. It was much more elegant than the little cottage, and in a top neighborhood, near the ocean. Situated on a lake, nature was all around. This quiet place; complete with big windows, more square footage and new appliances, was absolutely perfect. And, they accepted me! It cost a little more than the other place, but that was not a problem. By going beyond what was originally planned, my situation improved more than was ever expected.

Starting a diet can be hard. When the weight finally begins to come off, some friends may try to sabotage your success by encouraging you to eat fattening foods. Don’t listen, and stand your ground. It takes perseverance and willpower to keep the weight loss going. Trust me. I lost 40 pounds by not listening to other people’s suggestions of “One slice of pepperoni pizza won’t hurt,” or “Have some cheesecake, I won’t tell anyone.” Don’t fault them for it, but be firm in your conviction, to not overeat. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Some people may get mad, but who cares? It’s their problem, not yours. Doing good things to make your life better and healthier are never anything to be ashamed of.

When I was much younger and blonder, my boss at a phone operator job used to mistake me for the coffee vendor. He used to bark at me to make his coffee, not to dark or too light. What a flaming jerk. I was a phone operator, not someone to make the perfect coffee for him. Secretly, I wanted to tell him to go to a coffeehouse and leave me alone, but I kept my mouth shut. He assumed that I was brainless, but liked my phone work. I put up with it for awhile, and then thought to myself, “What on earth am I doing? I can do better than this!” Sick of being called, “Baby” or “honey,” I gave my two weeks’ notice and got a better job in a publishing company, making double what my old job paid previously. It just took a little motivation and belief in myself. The new job had a respectful boss, who didn’t belittle and gave bonuses every year. It felt good to be treated well for my accomplishments, instead of being thought of as some sort of doll to play with.

When you have a dream, it is your job to work hard and accomplish it. Anyone who doesn’t believe in your dreams doesn’t need to hear about it. Keep it to yourself and be content knowing you are following your heart. Your values, likes and dislikes are your own, as are your dreams. Don’t follow others’ dreams, and don’t let anyone try to control you. It is your life. You are responsible for yourself and your own decisions. If you surrender your personal power to others, many will gladly tell you what to do or think. Believe in yourself. You can do it, and if you haven’t yet, then be patient. Think about the task at hand as a puzzle, and set out to figure it out, one step at a time. Each successful step towards your goal is a victory, so be proud of it. In time, goals will be accomplished, and your confidence will grow. Someday, people who didn’t believe in you may change their minds. If they don’t, be satisfied knowing that you accomplished your goal on your own. Be your own friend, and supporter. Give the world the best you’ve got, and good things will come back to you in return. Just wait and see.

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Coming from a non-American childhood, action toys are a novelty for me. Back in the country where my childhood passed we had totally different toys – including action toys. Most of the toys were based either on cartoons or on imagination of an artists in the doll factory. There were plush animals making squeaky noises, remote-controlled tanks and lunar vehicles (Lunohod-1 was the hit); there were dolls with really strange facial expressions that could close and open their eyes and smaller dolls that couldn’t do anything but were a good throwing material.

We did not really have that much of action toys selection. There were tons of other stuff, but specifically action toys – like figures from Halo, Aliens or even hockey players – no one actually thought it would be a good idea to produce. Of course, there were no Halo, neither Gears of War, nor even a single action figure of a hockey or soccer player. And forget about Elvis, that guy was outright banned while he was still alive.

What kids did was made action toys themselves. There was a scrapyard nearby my school with all kinds of telephone wire cuts and pieces scattered around. We collected the wires and weave action figures from those wires as we saw fit. We had built armies of foot swordsmen, squadrons of horse raiders, platoons of riflemen, machine gunners and sub-machine gunners. Battles that raged on our floors were rival only to those of ancient China and its terracotta armies. The best part of all of this (at least our parents appreciated this the most) the whole enterprise was absolutely free. There was, however, an incentive, since all died soldiers (or rather materials they were made of) would be divided by the winner and the looser of the battle. Called that spoils of war.

These days, obviously, are not the days of toy soldier conscription. The action toys, to paraphrase a well-known motto, are few, are proud and are very expensive – at least to be bought in similar quantities. Oh, and the fun part of scouting a scrap yard for wires of necessary colors and actually building your action figure are long gone. Instead, the action figures – whether produced by McFarlane or Neca – are almost photo realistic representations of the original, no matter be it a NFL football player or a Halo 3 Master Chief. Even more so, manufactured action figures have more accessories, more movements, look better and overall, probably more fun to play with.

In all honesty, sometimes I miss the childhood with self-made action toys, armies of wire soldiers and all the fun associated with it. On the other hand, when I see how toddlers, teenagers, and sometimes very much grown-ups are happy when they get their hands on one of the latest action figures – or an old one they’ve been dreaming about for so long, I think it’s a small price to pay.

Toy Rocket

BUY IT HERE: www.gmv.com.au Top IFBB Pro RONNY ROCKEL from Germany takes you through an inspiring and intense full body workout, not just once but twice! In this hard core training DVD, see the exact style and form for all the exercises that Ronny performs in his regular workouts. The first part of his training was shot in Las Vegas, 2 days before the 2008 Mr. Olympia. Ronny shows you his training pre-Olympia style, in his rock hard condition – hard core as ever! He flexes and poses each bodypart as he works out. In top contest shredded condition! You also see Ronny training back in Germany, in a complete body workout, shot over 4 days in the period immediately prior to travelling to the Olympia. Includes some German chat in this segment which is also 100% hard core training. You also see some glimpses of Ronnys trainer, Mr Germany, Manuel Bauer. This German footage was exclusively shot by Matthias Busse with thanks also to Team Andro. On the day after the Mr. Olympia contest, while still shredded, Ronny poses in brilliant sunshine – poolside in Las Vegas for Waynes camera. See lots of oiling, tensing and posing both in ¾ body scenes and in extreme closeup. This is followed by a dive into the cooling pool and some amazing impromptu pool posing! The DVD also includes the backstage Iron Man tanning booth, prejudging and posing highlights from the 2009 IRON MAN PRO where Ronny placed 3rd, plus Ronnys appearance at the 2009 ARNOLD CLASSIC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhlkMrsDg6s&hl=en

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Zapf Creation AG is Europe’s leading brand manufacturer of play, functional and mini dolls and accessories. Headquarters are in Roedental/Coburg (Germany). The company’s most popular brands are BABY born, Baby Annabell and CHOU CHOU. The company’s play concepts are successful all over the world and designed especially for girls between three and eight years of age.

Accessory and doll clothes designers follow trends in children’s fashion and general lifestyle products to incorporate these into the approximately 70% of new products launched each year.

The United States represents the single largest market, Europe’s top five toy markets of Great Britain, Germany, Spain, France and Italy make up more than 60% of the global toy market for the Zapf Creation Company. Their market segment is the global doll market, which includes:

o Fashion dolls

o Play and functional dolls

o Mini dolls

The core business of Zapf Creation is play and functional dolls with accessories. The most popular branded play concepts is the BABY born that is sold in 65 countries throughout the world.

The Zapf Creation AG employs 408 employees, of which 233 are based in Roedental and 175 work for the Group’s international subsidiaries.

The original company was established in 1932 by Max and Rosa Zapf. The company was acquired by TA Triumph-Adler in 1992. The company is currently known as Zapf Creation AG.

The high-quality branded play concepts are produced by selected suppliers in China. In October 2002, the Zapf Creation was one of the first German companies to adopt the ICTI standard. The ICTI Code of Business Practices defines mandatory work and social standards which must be met by company’s suppliers. Compliance is monitored regularly by Zapf Creation and its authorized auditors.

Zapf Creation is very much aware of their close relationship and connection to children all over the world who acquire and play with their toys. They are deeply committed to the welfare of children and support the SOS Children’s Villages organization. They are a long-term sponsor of the nine SOS children’s Villages in China. The Zapf Creation also supports the organization’s German institutions.

The Brands of Zapf Creation

BABY born (for girls aged 3 to 8 years) is unique. The doll has eight life-like functions that require a battery for operation. BABY born’s life-like functions makes role playing with BABY born particularly realistic. The functions include:

o Eating a special baby food

o Drinking water

o Shedding real tears

o The doll can be bathed

o The doll can use its potty or wet its diapers

Accessories for BABY born are exactly the same as everything that is needed for a real baby. The BABY born play concept places no limit on a girl’s imagination. The doll will sometimes be an infant that needs care, while for other girls or at other times, the doll serves as a playmate and accompanies the girl wherever she goes.

Baby Annabell (for girls aged 3 to 8 years) is Zapf Creation’s youngest baby. The play concept is focused upon mother-child role and is supported by the appropriate accessories. The doll is soft, sweet and functional, which encourages girls to pay attention. The doll reacts to sounds and movements, sucks on a bottle or pacifier and makes realistic facial movements. Baby Annabell also sheds real tears. This doll reacts randomly and differently to its environment and promotes girls’ social skills of loving, caring and taking responsibility.

CHOU CHOU (for girls aged 1 to 8 years) is soft, cuddly and comes in various sizes with or without functions and is distinguished by a natural flexibility. There are accessories for mother-child role play and stylish clothes for the CHOU CHOU dolls.

The Love me CHOU CHOU is Zapf Creation’s most active doll possessing many life-like functions that include:

o Kicking its feet

o Says “mama”

o Makes quiet babbling sounds

o Cries

o Sucks on bottle or pacifier and makes realistic facial movements

Cute Rock-a-bye CHOU CHOU can laugh, cry, make babbling sounds and drink from her bottle. When the doll is placed down, she yawns and she will go to sleep if softly rocked.

Although the dolls mentioned in this article are the newest creations from Zapf Creations, keep in mind, 40 years from now they will be in the same category as our Vintage dolls from the Baby Boomer years. Follow the link in the resource box of this article to see Zapf dolls from the baby boomer years.

Source: Zapf Creation AG Online

Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with the Zapf Creation AG Toy Company or any of its employees. This article is offered for information to the would-be and avid vintage doll collector.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box

© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved

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To most people dolls houses are designed for the amusement of children or collectors, and serve no real purpose other than to keep one occupied; or, in the case of children, out of mischief. However, just a little research into the history of the dolls house reveals a far more interesting background than one might imagine.

Spanning across thousands of years, the humble dolls house has changed significantly in not only appearance, but also function. The earliest known examples of what we would now call dolls houses were miniature homes, discovered in Egyptian Tombs and thought to be created over 5,000 years ago. Built out of wood, it is believed the models, which included servants, furnishings and livestock, served religious purposes.

It was the 16th century however, which saw the introduction of dolls houses for entertainment purposes. Known as ‘baby houses’, the models were cabinet display cases made up of different rooms, which were decorated with such things as miniature household items. The design and architecture would have been painstakingly created and they were intended for the sole purpose of adults.

It was mainly the wealthy who owned them, since in those days, the building of a dolls house would have been commissioned by specialist craftsmen. Especially favoured by the mistresses of rich households, guests would bring small presents, such as dolls house dolls, wooden dolls house furniture or accessories, as a thank you for their hospitality.

As time passed, however, the function of the houses changed. Interestingly, they became educational aids for young girls, in order to teach them about the function of a household and to learn domestic skills.

By the mid 19th century, and helped along by the advent of mass production, the popularity of dolls houses soared, and due to their much lower cost, the majority of girls in the western world owned one.

Nowadays, dolls houses are a great gift for children and collectors alike. Their design has advanced a long way since their inception and it is possible to buy them in a range of different options, for example wooden dolls houses, and for a variety of purposes.

Many collectors relish the opportunity to recreate past eras or present events, often opting to build the dolls house themselves. There are also a large number of museums and shops dedicated to the art of dolls houses and their history, which just goes to prove the popularity among the older generations.

However, it is said that dolls houses are a great way to help children develop social skills and confidence at an early age, and it can be argued that the passion many collectors develop for dolls houses stems from early childhood memories of playing with them.

Indeed, dolls houses can be a great way for parents to bond with their offspring, since it is possible to build and decorate them together. What’s more, with a wealth of items available, such as dolls house furniture, accessories and dolls themselves, they make a great gift for children.

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Picking out furniture for your child’s room can be both fun and exasperating. The trick is to balance the scales somewhere near the middle of fun and practical. Bedroom furniture with themes or colorful motifs may be fun and can add character to your child’s room, but if they don’t have enough storage or if they can be quickly outgrown, they may not be the right choice.

When buying bedroom furniture or a bedroom set for your child, its wise to look five or even ten years down the road and see if you can picture a more grown up version of your little one still getting use out of it. Not that it’s always a necessity for a child to be stuck with the same bed or dresser forever, but having that choice is far better than being forced to replace perfectly usable furniture. Unless you have a little linebacker or power forward on your hands, a twin or double bed could last in to their teens. That is, unless it’s carved out of a plastic racecar or looks like something out of the Barbie playhouse. This is especially important when buying for ages 10-12. These “tween” years are the transition period when action figures and dolls are replaced by skateboards and make up.

Storage is always a concern in a child’s room. Whether it’s clothes, toys, sports equipment, or school stuff, there never seems to be enough drawers and shelves to house everything. There are a few ways to add storage and still save space, however. Raised beds, such as captain’s beds, can provide tons of storage with under bunk drawers, while study lofts can do the same and also give your child a built-in desk area for studying. Other options include bookcase headboards, armoires, and media cabinets. A desk with a top hutch unit is also a great way to add storage while not sacrificing floor space.

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