Soon the hot summer weather will be here, which leads to enjoying a cool ice cream treat. If you plan on visiting your local Häagen-Dazs sho...

Soon the hot summer weather will be here, which leads to enjoying a cool ice cream treat. If you plan on visiting your local Häagen-Dazs shop, you might be surprised to see a new shop design.

Note: I was invited as media to this event. However, any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.




Earlier this year, I visited the Häagen-Dazs Shop in Bronxville, NY and met with the Häagen-Dazs team to learn more about the new design and features coming to new Häagen-Dazs shops going forward.


“The new Häagen-Dazs Shop was designed in collaboration with Interbrand Design Forum to be both modern and classic, like our ice cream,” said Justin Chafe, Marketing Manager for The Häagen-Dazs Shop Company. “We are focused on providing an exceptional experience for guests to enjoy the brand’s super-premium ice cream, gelato and sorbet while staying true to our artisan roots.”



“Häagen-Dazs is such an esteemed brand. Everything about it is super-premium but there was room to elevate the retail experience to align with its other touchpoints,” said Tom Kowalski, lead designer on the project for experience design agency Interbrand Design Forum. “The aesthetic reflects the old-world traditions and craftsmanship at the heart of the brand.  You can see this in the classic details like the tin ceiling, the carved wood stools and the ice cream cone-shaped syrup pulls which give the space substance within a contemporary setting.”


The aim for the remodel Häagen-Dazs stores is to give customers a more premium experience with a focus on three key goals: simplify the ordering process; create a tasting station to sample new flavors; and, lastly, minimize the “ordering pressure” so the experience is more enjoyable.

The shops areas are broken into sections where customers can "experience" these 3 goals.



Taste Station

Customer can sample from the various flavors of ice cream, gelato, sorbet and frozen yogurt the shops offer. Also on view are delicious ice cream bars which are hand-dipped in either milk or dark chocolate.


Create Station

After making an order, customers are able to watch the making of their treat. I order an banana shake and saw the process step by step.


Enjoy Station

Once you have you treat you can enjoy in comfort.

Get ready to enjoy your favorite Häagen-Dazs treats in a new way!


About Häagen-Dazs Shops

The first Häagen-Dazs Shop opened in Brooklyn, NY in 1976, giving consumers a new outlet for Häagen-Dazs pure, super-premium ice cream. Today the Häagen-Dazs Shop system in the United States is made up of more than 200 Häagen-Dazs Shops, franchised by The Häagen-Dazs Shoppe Company, Inc., which proudly offer top quality indulgent desserts that start with Häagen-Dazs products.

For more information about Häagen-Dazs , visit www.haagendazs.us/shops
Join Häagen-Dazs’s fan page at - www.facebook.com/HaagenDazsUS
Follow Häagen-Dazs on Twitter at - www.twitter.com/HaagenDazs_US

With Easter less then 1 week away, my son's after school is getting ready for some egg hunting activities with PLAYMOBIL Eggs. Not...

With Easter less then 1 week away, my son's after school is getting ready for some egg hunting activities with PLAYMOBIL Eggs.

Note: I received product sample for review purpose. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

We did a pre-easter egg hunt with the younger kids around the playroom and it was so much fun.


I tried to hide the eggs really well but these kids are great little hunters. They looked all over the play room and in any area the eggs could hide.


Of course they found the PLAYMOBIL Eggs. There was one winner for the boys and another winner for the girls. The kids were super excited that the "hunt" for eggs lead to each of them getting a PLAYMOBIL playset prize inside.

Next week we'll have a full Easter party where the other older kids will take their turn "hunting" for their eggs. Can't wait for the fun!


Fun PLAYMOBIL figures are hiding inside each Egg guaranteeing creative play for both girls and boys! With various exciting themes, the PLAYMOBIL Egg is the perfect addition to this year’s Easter Basket. The Possible Eggs include: Princess with Vanity Station, Fun at the Beach, Pirate with Rowboat and Boy with Children’s Tractor.

The PLAYMOBIL eggs are available for purchase on the PLAYMOBIL USA site and at specialty retailers for an MSRP of $9.99

During Toy Fair NY 2015, one of my favorite booths to visit was Bandai America Incorporated, who are manufacturer and master toy licensee of...

During Toy Fair NY 2015, one of my favorite booths to visit was Bandai America Incorporated, who are manufacturer and master toy licensee of popular toys brands including Power Rangers®, Big Hero 6, SprüKits, among other preschool, collector and hobby product lines.

Note: I attended Toy Fair NY as media. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

When I walked into the Bandai America booth,  I was excited to see a few toy friends including my favorite personal healthcare assistant. Baymax!

Bandai’s new creative Hatch ‘n Heroes toy line is a fun and surprising way to play with all you favorite characters. Each figure starts in its simple oval shape “egg” which you can transform into your favorite Disney and Pixar characters. A couple twists and you have an iconic figure to play with.


The Big Hero 6 Hatch ‘n Heroes (SRP $6.99) includes Nurse Bot Baymax and Armored Up Baymax from Disney’s Big Hero 6. Each sold separately.


The Toy Story Hatch ‘n Heroes (SRP $6.99) includes your favorite characters from Toy Story. Characters included are Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Rex, Bullseye and the Alien. Each sold separately.


The Cars Hatch ‘n Heroes (SRP $6.99) includes your favorite characters from Cars. Characters included are Lighting McQueen, Mater, Francesco, The King, Sherriff and Red. Each sold separately.


With Bandai SprüKits, kids and adult fans can build their favorite action figure characters including those from DC Comics, Microsoft’s Halo®, Dentsu, and Pokémon (new for 2015) and have their creation look like a great collectable action figure without needing any glue, paint or scissors, as is typically expected in a model kit.

SprüKits are offered in three building levels to accommodate builders of all abilities. Level 1 figures are designed to be entertaining and easy to assemble. For those builders looking for the next challenge, Levels 2 and 3 kits increase in complexity and build time, which delivers a larger figure with sharper details, and increased articulation.


New for 2015 is Pokémon’s Pikachu and Mewtwo.


For 2015 new 52 Batman, The Dark Knight Rises Batman, New 52 Superman, and the Original Comic The Joker.


New from DC Comics for 2015 is the The Dark Knight Rises Bane, and New 52 Flash.


The “Big Hero 6” line from Bandai America will includes a variety of action figures, play sets and role play items, many with enhanced sound and light features.


Articulated with detailed styling, Baymax and Fred come to life in the “Big Hero 6” 6-inch Feature Figures (SRP $12.99), each character boasting its unique display of strength and power. Launch Fred’s fireball with his spring-loaded feet or just bounce him around. Baymax’s power-punching feature activates with a pull back of his fist and let it fly.


These Hiro Hamada or Baymax masks (SRP $9.99) featuring comfortable padding with an adjustable strap, fans can take on the evil forces of San Fransokyo as “Big Hero 6” heroes with these great looking masks.


With Armor-Up Baymax (SRP $19.99) you can transform Baymax from his 6” white nursebot form to an 8”-crime fighting super hero. Twenty body armor pieces construct a powered-up Baymax, growing two inches in height while preparing for battle in his red armored suit.


Now entering into its 22nd season, Saban Brands and Bandai celebrate the legacy of the Power Rangers series with the launch of Power Rangers Dino Charge. This season is all about unleashing the power of the Dino Chargers to power up a collection of dino-fueled battle gear, Zords and Megazords!


Unleash the battle power with the chomping Dino Spike (SRP: $29.99)! The Dino Spike is more than a fun battle-play sword – it features awesome chomp action, light and battle sound effects. Insert any Dino Charger to “Charge It Up” with even more effects! Then, pull the lever to unleash giant chomping teeth and even more battle sounds! The Dino Spike comes with 1 Dino Charger.


Charge Up your Dino Charge battle gear and Zords with the Power Rangers Dino Charge Dino Charger Power Pack (SRP: $7.99)! Included in each pack are two Dino Chargers and one Dino Zord. The push of a button activates 4-sided flip-through graphics on each Dino Charger! Attach the head and tail pieces of each Dino Zord to the Chargers to morph your Charger into a Dino Zord, or mix and match the head and tail pieces to make all new Dino creations!


The centerpiece of the Power Rangers’ Zord Builder arsenal is the iconic Deluxe Megazord! The Dino Charge Megazord (SRP: $34.99) can morph between 3 Dino Zords to form the massive Megazord and bring the ultimate strength to the battle.


Kids can rev up the action with these all new and improved Power Rangers Dino Cycles (SRP: $14.99). Each Cycle comes with an exclusive articulated 5-inch Figure. You can morph the Cycle into two separate attack Dino Zords! Mix and match Cycles with the Deluxe Megazord or any of the other Zord Builder items to create powerful Megazord combinations.


Take down evil monsters with the help of the Power Rangers Mixx N Morph figures (SRP $9.99)! Mixx up parts from Power Rangers, Zords, Megazords, and more to create the ultimate battle figure. Collect and combine with other Power Rangers Mixx N Morph figures to create endless fun combinations! Each sold separately.

During Toy Fair 2015 Spin Master Ltd. unveiled exciting additions to many of its brands featuring breakthrough technological advances with n...

During Toy Fair 2015 Spin Master Ltd. unveiled exciting additions to many of its brands featuring breakthrough technological advances with new robotics and announcements of dynamic new licensing partnerships.

Note: I attended Toy Fair NY as media. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

A few items in the Spin Master booth that caught my eye included:

Sick Bricks is the only video game that lets you mix and match characters to create your own, then instantly beam them into a world of conflict play using collectible figures and exclusive mobile optical beaming technology. The game features more than 70 fun and exciting characters that mix and match to create hundreds of custom characters with exciting new powers.

Sick Bricks Figure Assortments Single Pack SRP: $2.49, Double Pack SRP: $3.99, Team 5-Pack SRP: $8.99

Collect, build, stack, swap, and optical beam™ Sick Bricks figures from teams like Ninja, Space, Monster, City, Mutant and many more! You can even mix and match the parts between your real world Sick Bricks figures to create wicked new combos! Optical Beam™ your new Sick Bricks characters into the game to create new more powerful combo characters! Also discover each characters unique special powers in the game.

Sick Bricks Big Sick Packs SRP: $6.99

Build vehicles, monsters, and playsets! Optical Beam™ these sets into the Sick Bricks game to overcome the toughest challenges!




PAW Patrol In a global partnership with Nickelodeon, Spin Master will continue to build on PAW Patrol's phenomenal success in 2015 with a wide range of new toys, vehicles, plush and a wide array of consumer goods.



Little Charmers

A new property developed in partnership with Nelvana. Airing on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., Little Charmers is a fantastical new preschool brand that embodies the magic of friendship in the whimsical land of Charmville and stars Hazel, with her two BFFs, Lavender and Posie, flying past Mount Sparklemore and Ogre Valley on their training brooms.

Look for lovable doll versions of Hazel, Lavender and Posie, coming this fall, all dressed in their signature charming outfits and iconic headbands right from the show.

Just as the next generation of Star Wars movies is preparing to launch, Uncle Milton’s is introducing the next generation of Star Wars Scien...

Just as the next generation of Star Wars movies is preparing to launch, Uncle Milton’s is introducing the next generation of Star Wars Science toys with six new, innovative items in 2015.

Note: I attended Toy Fair NY as media. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

Use a Jedi Force Levitator to suspend objects in mid-air, a light blaster to create phosphorescent light-up Star Wars scenes, a Jedi Holocron that can read your mind, and the power of your concentration to move holograms with the amazing new Force Trainer!

Featuring innovative technologies and real science-based toy experiences, these new toys will inspire kids through science while providing fans of all ages with fun new ways to experience the world of Star Wars.


The Force Trainer II (SRP of $119.99) magical scenes are re-created through hologram images and a wireless headset with real brainwave sensors that read and interpret your levels of concentration. The more you focus, the more successful you are in moving and controlling the hologram image and successfully completing the Jedi challenge.

There are 10 different Jedi training levels through which fans can advance from Padawan to Jedi Knight to Jedi Master, with instruction and guidance from Jedi Master Yoda. Additional Jedi challenges will also be available for download on updated versions of the app as new Star Wars movies are released.

Jedi Force Levitator – Now Star Wars fans can magically suspend and move objects in mid-air just like a real Jedi, using an invisible electrostatic force. Force push with the Jedi Training Rod. Then, Force pull using just your hands! Includes three different targets and a Jedi Training Rod with real static electricity generator inside. Ages 6+ . SRP: $24.99.


Millennium Falcon UV Light Battler – Create glowing, phosphorescent Star Wars images, then watch them magically disappear! Just release UV light from the blaster to charge and create a glowing scene or drawing. Then, you can shoot UV light blasts at Imperial Ships using the Millennium Falcon Light Battler with realistic sound effects. Or, draw on your image with UV light. Includes scene stencil, UV light screen, and glow-in-the-dark decals for added fun.


Jedi Holocron: Try and outsmart the Holocron?then watch it read your mind! Using a proprietary Star Wars 20Q algorithm, the Holocron magically guesses whatever Star Wars person, place or thing you are thinking of in 20 questions or less. Based on Star Wars information from all six Episodes and the new Star Wars Rebels TV show on Disney XD, the Jedi Holocron provides hours of interactive, thought-provoking fun! Ages 6+. SRP: $24.99.


Galactic Battle Wonderscape: Create and display glowing, light-up, Star Wars scenes, magically suspended in gel! See chemistry in action as ingredients mix together to form a unique suspension gel. Then, place the different images into your Star Wars scene and display it with the light-up base. The dual mode light base includes ultraviolet light that activates glowing scene components and creates an amazing glow-in-the-dark Star Wars scene for your room! Ages 6+. SRP: $24.99.

Lightsaber Crystal Growing Lab – Kids can now grow and display their own lightsaber crystal! Just mix together a liquid solution and watch it crystallize and grow over time into a real crystal, just like the kind Jedi use to complete building their own lightsabers. It also comes with a light-up Star Wars display base with both blue Jedi and red Sith light colors to choose from.

For more information on Star Wars Sci ence, visit www.unclemilton.com/star_wars_science

During Toy Fair NY 2015, Alex Brands shared announcements of major licensing deals with Nickelodeon and the recent acquisition of the SHRINK...

During Toy Fair NY 2015, Alex Brands shared announcements of major licensing deals with Nickelodeon and the recent acquisition of the SHRINKY DINKS brand, along with a preview of products including infant/preschool toys, games, science kits, craft & activity kits, art supplies and Made in USA products from POOF and SLINKY.

Note: I attended Toy Fair as media. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.



A few highlights I saw at the ALEX BRANDS booth include:


The Alex Brands licensing agreement with Nickelodeon offers a broad array of products based on popular characters; SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora and Friends. 27 PRODUCT DEBUTS, including Bath Games, Mosaics, Rub Art, Scra- ti, Shrinky Dinks and more


SCIENTIFIC EXPLORER - Offers many ways to expose children to science at a young age in a fun and engaging way. New products will help kids create a Jurassic paradise with Dinoland Crystals, make a giant bouncy ball that glows with Mold N' Glow Mega Ball, build a kaleidoscope with DIY Liquid Kaleidoscope and design a bug city with BUGPODZ Metropolis.


ZOOB® - Building sets foster imagination and interactive creations, with pieces that can move after they are put together stimulating further play. 2015 product introductions include two new themed-based collections – construction and space.


Each collection is available in three different sized kits with easy to read instructions for four different epic-sized models. With the ZOOB® Galax-Z Z-Star Explorer™ kids can transform it into three different space-themed builds, and the ZOOB® Z-Strux™ series of construction models include a driller, loader and crane.


SLINKY® - celebrating its 70th Birthday, SLINKY will build on that legacy with exciting new line extensions such as Giant Plastic Slinky, the new Sound FX Slinky with ten new sounds and products featuring the ever-lovable Slinky Dog.

For more information about ALEX BRANDS®, please visit www.alexbrands.com