Can I just unplug the TV until Christmas?

It seems every Christmas, when my kids sit down to write their letters to Santa, I get surprised by some out-of-the blue request. An Air Hog's RC Zero Gravity Micro Car? I had never heard them mention it before. A Swim to Me Puppy, really? Then the episode of SpongeBob ends and on come commercials for, you guessed it, the car and the dog with goggles. No wonder the Zhu Zhu Pets are sold out. The commercials are on all the time.

I think I should unplug the boob tube for two months. But wait, that would require I spend more time talking to my children. Maybe we should make it DVDs only in our house until Christmas (I kid, people! I actually like talking to them, really.)

It was about this time last year that the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood sent a letter to the CEOs of 14 toy companies asking them to market to parents, not kids, this holiday season to save parents some grief. 

The Toy Industry Association of America responded with this defense: "If children are not aware of what is new and available, how will they be able to tell their families what their preferences are?"

Brace yourselves folks. With the industry facing another year of dismal sales, their phasers are set for STUN to dazzle the kids and to KILL for the dent they want to put in your wallet. You will no doubt be hearing about it.

-- Sharon Kennedy Wynne

More Veteran's Day deals -- free Lowry Park Zoo admission, discount pet

In addition to the many events that are slated to honor veterans on this day, here are a couple more.

At Lowry Park Zoo today, Military personnel and three direct dependents receive free admission with Department of Defense ID.

And if you want a new pet, the SPCA Tampa Bay will offer Veteran’s Day adoption and boutique specials for military families and individuals today through Sunday. Specials include:

-- Adoption fees for cats (1 year and older) will be waived.

-- Pocket Pets, which are rabbits, gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs can be adopted for $5. 

-- All dogs, cats, puppies and kittens adopted from the SPCA Tampa Bay will go home with an Iams Adoption Kit.  

-- Armed Forces members also receive a 15 percent adoption day special on specified toys and accessories found in the SPCA Boutique.  Military IDs must be shown to take part in the special adoption and boutique rates.  Adoption hours are 11a.m. to 7p.m. Tuesday-Thursday;  11a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday;  11a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

-- Sherry Robinson

Zhu Zhu Pets endangered this holiday season

 No doubt you’ve heard that the American black bear and the loggerhead sea turtle are endangered species. But I’d like to introduce you to one that perhaps you weren’t aware of yet: Hamsterous Artificialious. Or, by its common name, the Zhu Zhu Pet -- the hottest toy of 2009. If you don't believe me, check out what these toy experts had to say.

The Zhu Zhu pet is a battery-operated hamster that crawls through an elaborate and colorful tunnel system or rolls around in a plastic ball. It is covered in synthetic fur, and it is soft, cuddly and wonderfully playful. But best of all for parents is that it is a plastic and synthetic object that neither eats nor defecates like a real, living, breathing, pungent wood shavings hamster. And it retails for only $9.99.

Although its native habitat -- the vast tundra of shelves at Toys R Us, Target and online retailers -- has not been threatened in any way, the Zhu Zhu remains oddly absent during this retail season. When I approached what I thought was the nesting Zhu behind a blind of Hannah Montana wigs, I found the end cap empty -- only a sign in the place where the backup AA batteries should have been.

LIMIT 4 ZHU ZHU PETS PER CUSTOMER PER DAY.

This confused me since there wasn’t a single one there, let alone my allotted four. I asked a store employee who amidst his laughter told me there was a truck coming in on Saturday, but no one knew if the Zhu squared would grace it.

So my hunt continued through every retailer in central Florida, the Interwebs and some Chinese restaurants that I really don’t want to talk about. All seemed lost and I was about ready to give up when it suddenly dawned on me -- where are more than half of the animal and plant species on this planet located?

 The Amazon.com.

It is here where I would finally end my search for the near-extinct Zhu Zhu. I excitedly signed in. I drooled at the “if you order in the next sixteen minutes you can have this item by tomorrow!” I was even contemplating becoming a preferred, elite, platinum, triple bonus club rewards member when I saw the price tag delicately poised at the bottom of my virtual shopping cart. There was a 4 in front of the $9.99 that was the advertised price on other sites. My $10 fake hamster was now $50 before tax, shipping, and desperate mother excise fees.

At this point, the Amazon backs out like a Brazilian bartender after last call on Mardi Gras, and a “third party” dealer steps in. Or should I say, “A LIMIT FOUR PER CUSTOMER PER DAY” dealer.

Yes, there is a black market even in the pretend animal trade, and be prepared to pay if you go there.

As of today, all of the online retailers Web sites still show the toy out of stock, but I’ve been assured that more are on the way. My advice to you if you are looking for the near-extinct hamster and want to pay the reasonable retail price rather than the inflated prices on eBay or Amazon? Keep your eyes on the look out now, and grab one when you see one. Sign up for the email alerts for when the item becomes available on Target.com, eToys, Walmart.com and Toys R Us.com.

Best of luck on your hamster hunt.

-- Tracey Henry, the Suburban Diva

[Zhu Zhu Pets]

Sign up now for holiday camps

Just before spring, my friend Sharon tried to warn you that you should pick out a summer camp. Well now, with just a few weeks to go before Thanksgiving and then the winter holidays, it's probably a good idea to check out what camps are available while school is out. To help you, I spoke with folks from several day camps that will be offered during those weeks. But I am pretty sure I didn't get to all of them. So if you know of some, please let me know. I will be happy to add them to the list. In the meantime, hit print and decide which camp your little darlings will be attending.

-- Sherry Robinson

Sarah Jessica Parker: Quote of the Day

"I love the smell of diapers; I even like when they're wet and you smell them all warm liked a baked good. I love the smell of Balmex. Love it." -- Sex and the City's Sarah Jessica Parker on her love for the icky side of parenthood in the December issue of Elle magazine. It's a good thing she loves it since the birth of her twins by surrogate in June.

Maclaren umbrella strollers recalled after kids lost fingertips in hinge mechanism

Many products get recalled throughout the year and you might have a habit of tuning it out. But here is one to definitely pay attention to, Mommas: Maclaren USA, along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has voluntarily recalled about 1 million strollers because some models have been involved in the amputation or laceration of tiny fingertips.

That's pretty scary so hustle on over to the CPSC Web site to get all the details and see photos of some of the models that were involved. The strollers were sold at Babies“R”Us, Target and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers nationwide from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360. Maclaren has received 15 reports of children placing their finger in the stroller’s hinge mechanism, resulting in 12 reports of fingertip amputations in the United States.

The single and double umbrella strollers, which were made in China, have the word “Maclaren”  printed on them. The models included Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.

If you have one of the strollers, conact Maclaren toll-free at 1-877-688-2326 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET weekdays or visit the firm’s Web site at www.maclaren.us/recall. Be forewarned that I had difficulty getting on the site and the toll-free phone number was rsng busy. Until you get through, I would advise not to use the stroller. If you finally get through by phone or on the site, you will receive a free repair kit for the stoller.

If you have had an accident, the CSPC would like to hear from you. Contact the agency here.

-- Sherry Robinson

[Maclaren USA]

Update: CVS gets in on giving back cash for bringing in your own bags

Update: Here's more good news on the green front. At CVS, after you buy a Greenbagtag for 99-cents, you attach it to any reusable bag (not just the ones on sale at CVS). Then when you take in your own bags, the tag and your ExtraCare card are scanned and after four visits, you get back $1 in Extra Bucks. Seems small but again, every bit helps.

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The folks at Target, who among other things sell a stunning variety of reusable shopping bags and totes, are now offering not-so-subtle incentive for Mommas to use them.

And no, not a "thank you" note for sparing the Earth. We're talking money, folks -- a nickel off your Target tab every time you use a reusable bag for your goods.

Here's the wild part. It's not just Target's own totes that net you the nickel-bag deal. It could be one of those bags from Publix or Michael's or JoAnn's or Sweetbay. (Oh, you know you've got about 30 of them stashed in the trunk of your van.)

Target is getting pretty aggressive about attracting us Mommas for the holiday shopping season -- slashing prices as much as 50 percent on toys like Barbie and G.I. Joe, according to this Reuters report. But this bag deal is one that goes on all year long.

So remember, the next time you're popping in there for Halloween candy (or sneaking in with the kids' Christmas list stashed in your purse), take that reusable bag. It's good for the Earth AND your pocketbook.

--Sherry Robinson

We have a winner!

I thought of Karsen at my Sunday morning tennis match. I'm brand-new to tennis, and at one point I told myself, "every time we say 'deuce,' I'm a winner!"

Now, if only I could sell that concept to my beginning U-6 soccer players.

Karsen, in particular, insists that "winning" is when he gets the ball in the goal. The game score means nothing. If he didn't score, he didn't win.

What he doesn't appreciate is that, after three weeks of hugging the bench, he finally got into the game on Saturday. He ran as hard as his legs would carry him, moved the ball up the field and withstood tackles that knocked him clear to the ground. It was a huge developmental leap, and I tried to explan to him that this makes him a winner. I'm not sure if he heard me.

Karsen comes from a family of athletes. I shouldn't let this wig me out, but his dad works for a professional sports organization. It's clear that Karsen has speed, agility and intelligence. He gives me hugs, brings me crayon drawings, and shows more promise with each practice. It's great to think of the athlete he will be with a little more maturity. Best of all, his mother and I have talked, and we seem to be on the same page.

Go Karsen!

Marlene Sokol, Times Coach 

Suri Cruise, drop that baby bottle!

Last year, when a photo surfaced of then 2-year-old Suri Cruise sucking a bottle, the blogosphere went nuts. Kids aren't supposed to still be on the bottle that long, are they?

Apparently, though, Tom and Katie play by their own rules. A photo of Suri and her mom taken Wednesday (sorry folks, can't show it to you, but I can give you the link) shows the now 3-year-old celebutot still hasn't graduated to sippy cups.Yep, she's still hitting the bottle.

C'mon TomKat,  three years? Really? Most experts say that a child should be weaned from the bottle by a year old. Letting a child continue sucking on the bottle beyond that age can lead to tooth decay and even ear infections.

Maybe you're rich enough not to worry about paying for the dental bills and other health complications that will afflict your child. But if you don't stop it now, think how much harder it will be to wean her at 4...or 5...or...(shudder). Look, just do it, OK? You'll be glad you did and so will she.

--Sherry Robinson

Free and cheap things to do with the family this week

We sprang forward, we fell back, and still our wallets are stuck. Here’s some free and cheap things to do while we wait for the next time change.

From 6-8 p.m. Friday, there will be special events for the opening of the new IMAX theater at the AMC Woodlands Square in Oldsmar. And the first movie shown will be Disney's new A Christmas Carol. There will be music, prizes and face painting. And there will also be a collection of unwrapped toys to be presented at the annual Mayor's Breakfast, a joint event of the cities of Safety Harbor and Oldsmar on Dec. 11. The toys and funds  raised through the breakfast go toward helping needy families in both communities. You have to pay to see the movie, but the other events are free. The theater is at 3128 Tampa Road, Oldsmar.

Friends of the wild nature park on Lake Maggiore in St. Petersburg present Art Arbor at Boyd Hill, an autumn family festival on Saturday with arts and crafts vendors, live music, food court, plant sale, wildlife presentations and environmental exhibits, guided tours and children’s activities. It runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S, St. Petersburg. Free; $2 suggested donation.

His plane is a star!
Joe Shepherd and his 1937 Lockheed Electra that he flew in the new movie Amelia will be in town as part of Airportfest, Friday and Saturday at the Peter O. Knight Airport on Davis Islands. The Electra is one of nearly 100 vintage and modern aircraft that will be on display at the free fest. It runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

There’s no need for gloves at the Boxer Bash. This party is for fans of the cute dog with the intelligent face. There will be food, raffles for a Bucs game package and other prizes, contests, adoptable dogs and shopping for both people and pets, and lots of doggie activities and agility demonstrations. It runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Al Lopez Park, 4810 N Himes Ave., Tampa.

The 2009 version of the Hillsborough County Fair is vintage Old Florida: frog jumping, pig racing, bronco riding, pageant queens and lots of livestock. It’s all on the corner of State Road 60 and Sydney-Dover Road Friday through Sunday. The fair will offer midway rides and an array of events that harken back to blue ribbons, candied apples and home-baked pies. The ranch rodeo, which kicks up Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., includes bronco riding, calf-doctoring, wild cow milking and team branding. Gates opem at 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. Admission is $5 for ages 8 and older and parking is free. Armbands for the midway rides are available every day.

The big Junior League sale is back!  Support the local economy and get ahead on holiday shopping at the sixth annual Junior League of Tampa holiday market, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Florida State Fairgrounds Entertainment Hall, 4800 U.S. 301 N. Find clothing, jewelry, accessories, art, entertainment, giveaways and more. jltampa.org.

It’s the first Friday, so the block party Get Downtown will be cranking on Central Avenue between Second to Third streets in St. Petersburg. There will be live music by the Venturas and drink sales benefit the Christmas Toy Shop.

Skate if you love the troops next Wednesday. United Skates is hosting a Veterans Day Skate from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $6 per person and includes admission regular skate rental. Anyone with a military ID will receive free admission for up to four people, so round up a soldier. It’s at United Skates of America, 5121 N Armenia Ave. in Tampa.

Photo: [CHRIS ZUPPA | Times]

-- Sharon Kennedy Wynne and Sherry Robinson