Zhu Zhu Pets™ Toys in Burger King Kids Meals NOW!!

Hello Zhu Zhu Hunters!

It has been a long time... TOO LONG... since I updated the blog.  For that I apologize.   We certainly have a lot of catching up to do!

I have been keeping an eye on the fast food sites, and I am very pleased to announce to you that starting this week, Burger King has Zhu Zhu Pet™ Kids Meal toys!!  I have been anxiously awaiting the day when a ZZP would show up in a happy meal ☺

There are 16 different toys, 4 each of 4 different types.  In honor of the event, my 4 year old and I had Kids Meals for lunch.  At our BK, there are currently these four available:

It appears that the car/skateboard/surfboard hamsters are interchangable on their various accessories.  (I have not opened Mr Squiggles or Pipsqueak.... those are going in stockings!).  You can remove the hamsters and play with them alone, as well.  They are actually quite large, approx half the size of a full-size ZZP!  

I purchased my daughter and myself the Kids Meals for lunch, and I was able to buy the 2 other toys for $1.80 each.  Inside the toy package, there is a $5 off coupon for the ZZP Wild Bunch or Kung Zhu Nintendo games for use at Toys R Us.

These are some really cute, fun toys.... collect all 16 if you can! 



Zhu Zhu Pets™ Easter Baskets, Series 3 Hamsters, and Twitter party TONIGHT!

Hello, Zhu Zhu Fans!

Thanks goes to Rebecca for giving me this heads-up: you can order Zhu Zhu Pets™ themed Easter baskets from Build-a-Bear's website!  These may also be available in stores...can anyone confirm or deny this?  There are 4 different versions to choose from, consisting of a hamster, outfit, automobile, $5 B-a-B giftcard, basket, and candy.  Prices are $30-35 each.

Series 3 hamsters have arrived!  They were available on TRU.com several days ago, but out of stock right now.  As you can already guess, tons have shown up on eBay.  If you have a TRU nearby, you may be able to grab Spottie, Rocky, Moo, or Tex for your Easter baskets.  TRU is running a "Buy 2 get 1 free" ZZP special online.... or a free ZZP with any accessory $12.99 and up....so this may also be available instores!

Last but not least:

TONIGHT!

There will be a St. Paddy's day ZZP Twitter Party tonight from 7-8pm EST.  Remember, there WILL be prizes!!  Last time I won a Winkie and red coupe!!

Are you ready for another fantastic Zhu Zhu Pets Twitter party with Mom Select? I love to party with hostess @MomTalkRadio and the ladies of Mom Select, but we're even more excited than usual because this party combines our favorite furry friends with the fun of St. Patrick's Day!

Instead of leprechauns and pots of gold, we'll be chasing those lovable hamsters as they Zhu-Zhu-Zhoom into the twitter-sphere. With new hamster friends coming out all the time, there's

more Zhu Zhu Pets than there are colors in the rainbow! Join the party for a chance to win great prizes and get a head start on your collection.



Zhu Zhu Pets(TM) St. Patrick's Day Twitter Party

Date: Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Time: 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. EST

Location: #LuckyZhuZhu

Host: @MomTalkRadio (Maria Bailey, Founder of MomSelect)



Grab the kids and settle in for a green-themed Zhu Zhu

extravaganza! Make sure you brush up on your Zhu Zhu knowledge by visiting the

hamster blog on http://www.zhuzhupets.com/. These critters may be small but they have huge personalities and lots of unique facts, including their own symbols, birthdays and collector numbers! Party attendees will even have the exclusive opportunity to share their thoughts on creating the NEWEST Zhu Zhu Pet. Now, that's luckier than a four-leaf clover!

Series 2 Zhu Zhu Pets... $5.99 this week at Aldi!

Hello, Zhu Zhu Maniacs!

Here is a huge heads-up... this week at Aldi stores, Zhu Zhu Pets™ are advertised for $5.99 each!  Special purchase items are generally available on Wednesdays, but our store often puts them out the afternoon/evening before.  Although I am not sure which ones will, in fact, be in stock, Series 2 hamsters are the ones pictured in the paper ad and on the website.  I plan on stopping by our Aldi store after school.  We are making a couple of Zhu Zhu Pets™ baskets for our school's big fundraiser, and I will give you a guess who is in charge of them!

You may have noticed that Walmart has RAISED the prices of the large hamsters to $9 each.  This is after they have been on rollback to $7.44 for at least a month.  If you have an Aldi store near you, Walmart will match the $5.99 price.  However, our Walmart has only had Series 1 hamsters in at this point.

A little birdie told me that some Series 3 hamsters are starting to show up!  More about that tomorrow....

Fluffy the bunny is HERE!

Good Morning, Zhu Zhu Fans!

The above photo was posted on my local Hallmark chain's Facebook page just a little bit ago!  Fluffy is finally here!

They have already shown up on eBay... of course!  It appears that the retail price is $12.95. 

Zhu Zhu Pets™ in Japan(ese)...and more Kung Zhu!

Good Morning, Zhu Zhu Addicts!

A few days ago, I noticed a link added to the very top of the Zhu Zhu Pets™ homepage that directs you to the ZZP section of the SegaToys site.  Looks very cool, huh?  My trusty page translator was very helpful on this website.  It appears the hamsters are going to retail for 1000 Yen (about $11 US dollars) with a release date of April 3!  Some of the names might be changing a bit... for instance, my translator is saying Mr. Squiggles name is "Mr. Sukuiguru".  I think I sort of like it ☺

♥♥♥

I always enjoy the articles StLouisToday.com does regarding Cepia and Zhu Zhu Pets™.  Their newest one can be found HERE.  They talk about the sweeping wins at the TOYT awards, as well as some of the new product lines to be introduced.  (From what I have read, it sounds like the new products will start showing up around May/June). 

I really think the Kung Zhu is going to be huge.  Some of those Bakugan and Pokemon-loving boys who felt the original ZZPs were too girly or little-kidish will jump right on these!  They don't look so sweet, do they?  I am excited to see what happens when these are released!

My favorite quote from the article: "Parents can also expect Zhu Zhu Pets-licensed bedding, pajamas, crafts and backpacks to follow."  I can't wait to get my girls new backpacks for school!

Kung Zhu Hamsters Photo!

Good Morning, Zhu Zhu Fans!

I have been scouring the Internet since yesterday, trying to find some photos of the Kung Zhu™ line of hamsters that were unveiled at the Toy Fair 2010... and today I found some!  Though I don't have a boy (yet), I do have 5 nephews who are totally into Bakugan.  I can see how this hamster line will appeal to the boys who enjoy this sort of fighting toy!
"There's also a much-anticipated Kung Zhu line of battling hamsters geared primarily for boys aged 8 to 12.


Katz said the Kung Zhu line will have eight initial characters split into two battling groups called "Special Forces" and "Ninja Warriors."


"We're using a smart chip technology to create good and evil action figures that come to life," said Katz.


"As you put them through training, these characters will transform their personality," he said.


Katz said the Kung Zhu hamsters start off as "cute" and "mild-mannered." Then they become "fighting, battling warriors."


"You can actually hear that transformation take place," Katz said.


Kung Zhu hamsters feature snap-on armor, weapons, vehicles and a "battledome."


"It's all the things that boys really love," said Katz. "But the coolest thing is that you don't know who the winner or the loser is going to be."

Cepia's Zhu Zhu Pets™ ROCK OUT at the TOTY Awards!

Good Morning, Zhu Zhu Addicts!

"Cepia, LLC Sweeps with Top Honors and Two Category Awards for Zhu Zhu Pets"

This seems to be the buzz today on Twitter and the toy websites after this weekend's Toy of the Year (TOTY) awards.  Cepia's Zhu Zhu Pets™ took the overall Toy of the Year award, as well as winning in the individual categories of Girl Toy of the Year and Innovative Toy of the Year.  This is a HUGE accomplishment for any toy company, and the fact that Cepia is a fairly young company makes it all the more sweet!

New York Toy Fair...and Congrats, Ms. Hornsby!

Good Saturday Morning, Zhu Zhu Maniacs!

Starting tomorrow, New York welcomes the 107th International Toy Fair!  Though it is open to trades people only, it will be exciting to see what new, fun things come out of this expo.  According to the website, over 100,000 products will be available to view.  I hope we get a sneak peek of what Cepia has up its sleeve for the coming year!  The Toy Fair runs Feb 14-17.

 

The festivities begin with tonight's "Toy of the Year" awards.  Zhu Zhu Pets™ are nominated in the categories of "Girl Toy of the Year" and "Most Innovative Toy of the Year".  Good luck Cepia!  I hope you win!

♥♥♥

Also, a big congrats to Natalie Hornsby, VP of Marketing at Cepia LLC.  She will be a keynote speaker at the Engage! Conference, speaking of the innovative techniques she employed to promote Zhu Zhu Pets™ into their rock-star status.  This conference is running concurrently with the Toy Fair (and in the same building, it appears).  Very cool! 

Zhu Zhu Pets™ Becoming Global! And Even a Cartoon!

Good Morning, Zhu Zhu Hunters!

On Monday, February 15th, it appears that the Zhu Zhu Pets™ will make their retail debut in New Zealand!  According to the article, it seems as though it will be the original 4 hamsters (plus Patches), along with the original accessories/house pieces.  Retail for hamsters will be $29.99 each. 

Remember when Mr. Squiggles was in Japan a few weeks ago?  I think I might know the reason now!  Sega Toys in Japan recently licensed the rights from Cepia to sell ZZP's in Japan and all over Asia!  It appears that they will start showing up in retail shops in April of this year. Sega is also working to develop a manga (comic book) version  to be out sometime this year. 

Most exciting??  Well... they plan to broadcast an animated version of Zhu Zhu Pets™ sometime around Spring 2011!  Japan animation, known as anime, is my absolute favorite type of cartoon, so I am very excited about this.  Anyone remember Hamtaro?

They could almost pass for Mr Squiggles and Chunk!  LOL

Rocky and Friends to Appear Soon?

Hey Zhu Zhu Peeps!

Back in mid-October, a cryptic message was posted on the Zhu Zhu Pets™ official blog.  My favorite tech-savvy friend reversed the track so we could hear the message (you can see/hear the original post here).  Eight new hamsters were hinted at, even before Jilly and friends hit the market!

In the CNN interview from my last posting, it was said that new characters would be released every 6 weeks.  I think that time must be drawing near!  The names in that cryptic recording appeared to be Rocky, Moon, Spotty, Tex, YoYo, Cappuccino, Jinx, and Peachy.  Yesterday, a cartoon picture of a "new friend" Rocky was posted on the official blog.

That super-fast sneak peek video that Cepia posted on their website shortly before Christmas also had a TON of new accessories and hamsters/friends shown.  This particular hamster popped out at me at the time:

With the color and the shape of the "birthmark" on its back, I think there is a good chance that this hamster is Peachy.  Hopefully with Rocky mentioned on the ZZP blog, that is the cue that these newbies will start showing up in time for Easter baskets!

Zhu Zhu Pets™ Rockstars, Zhu Zhu Pets™ Wild Bunch, and Other Surprises for 2010

Having a good weekend, Zhu Zhu Fans?

I just came across an AMAZING article/video on CNN's website.  With the highly anticipated "Toy Fair 2010" in New York next weekend approaching, Cepia gives out this preview of the next generation of Zhu Zhu Pets™ to be released in the coming year! 

"Among the new Zhu Zhus is a line of four hamsters called Rockstars names "Pax," "Kingston," "Rider" and "Roxie." The names are inspired by the children of celebrities, including Angelina Jolie and Gwen Stefani.  "Rockstars are the first long-haired hamsters with attitude," said Katz. Although the hamsters don't interact with each other, Katz said a smart chip in each toy gives it its own unique personality.

Katz said the new "Wild Bunch" collection extends the brand beyond hamsters. "There's a skunk, hedgehog, raccoon and a bunny," he said.  "The appeal of this new collection is that these are animals that every child wants to have but parents won't let them have it," said Katz.

There's also a much-anticipated Kung Zu line of fighter hamsters geared primarily for boys aged 8 to 12.

Cepia will introduce 40 new Zhu Zhu characters in total this year, launching a new line every six weeks, said Katz."

Watch the video clip for great info and awesome sneak peeks of the newbies in action!

☺☺☺

With the amount and variety of ZZPs to come out, especially with newbies being released every 6 weeks, there will be a lot to pick and choose from on the market.  Up to this time, it has been feasible to realistically  "collect them all!".  I think now it will be a matter of choosing the ones that really appeal to the individual kid(s) and that they really want in their collection.  Let's face it... of course they will WANT them all, but a house and bank account are only so big ☺

From my past experience, I figure this is the point where some of the newbies may be in higher demand.  Before Christmas, people just really wanted to get any or all of the "series 1" ZZPs.  When we were surprised with "series 2" shortly before Christmas, it seemed that people had their specific favorite they REALLY hoped to be able to track down.  Jilly was the hot commodity at that time, though I knew plenty of people who were Scoodles, Winkie, and Nugget-lovers.  It will be exciting to see what new items pop up and when!

Though I wish they would have shown some of the new accessories in action in the video clip, I will certainly keep my eye open for any other news, photos, or videos to share here with you!

Limited Edition Baxter, the Zhu Zhu Baby Hamster

Good evening, Zhu Zhu Fanatics!

Activision announced today that the new Zhu Zhu Pets™ game for Nintendo DS will come with an exclusive, limited edition baby named Baxter!

"Activision Publishing today announced that Baxter, an exclusive Zhu Zhu Pets hamster baby, will come packaged as a Collector’s Edition with the initial release of the Zhu Zhu Pets video game for Nintendo DS.

This Collector's Edition will be produced in limited quantities and will be available only until they sell out. Available for the regular price of $29.99, Zhu Zhu Pets fans get more than they could ever imagine - an amazing, adorable game and a rare Zhu Zhu Pets baby hamster that fits perfectly into the collection.

Zhu Zhu Pets for Nintendo DS allows players to care for and play with their favorite toys virtually. Players will race their hamsters through different mazes to collect carrots, coins and new hamster friends and babies. It's an endlessly enjoyable game that lets you have fun with Zhu Zhu Pets anywhere! "

Looks like a fun game!  Am I too old to ask for a Nintendo DS for my birthday???  Amazon has edited the presale title to include the baby hamster... order now, get free shipping, and don't worry about hunting it down in a few weeks ☺

 

Zhu Zhu Pet Surgery

Hey, Zhu Zhu Peeps!

After reading the directions on some message boards, I decided to attempt a little "surgery" on some sluggish hamsters.  Since I am a very visual-type learner,  I thought some of you might be interested in seeing how to take the hamster apart.  This is very helpful in getting a lot of wound-up hair/string/fuzz off of the wheel axel, or cleaning off some of the extra lubricant "goop" that sometimes builds up in the gearbox.  These can both cause the hamster to slow or stop.

PLEASE NOTE: Taking the gearbox of the hamster apart is not sanctioned by Cepia, LLC. and may void the warranty for your hamster.  This video was made as an educational source for those who have read the instructions on various websites and would like to see how it is done.  Vigorous cleaning inside of the gearbox (as I found out on the next hamster I did) can misaligned the gear wheels inside, which will require a lot of patience (and the help of a needle or toothpick) to return to the proper places.  Basically, be warned that if you decide to take apart your hamster, you could potentially break it.  If you don't want to assume this risk, call Cepia's customer service (800.225.9319) regarding any issues you may have with your hamsters.

Planning your Zhu Zhu Pets™ Party!!

Good Monday Morning, Zhu Zhu Fanatics!

Did you all attend the Twitter party for Mr. Squiggles last night??  My daughter and I did!  And beyond belief, this usually not-so-lucky momma actually WON a prize!!  I will be sure to share with you when I get it and see what it is ☺  The host, Maria  Bailey of MomTv, said there will be more ZZP Twitter parties throughout the year, so I highly encourage you to attend in the future.

Nicole of The Party Animal Blog tweeted me during the party to let me know she added some stuff to her Zhu Zhu Pets™ Party theme!.  A little while back, I shared the link with you to her AMAZING ZZP cupcake tutorial:

I would say, if you are planning a Zhu Zhu Party, her site is an invaluable resource.  She has links to Etsy sellers who can help you with items like invitations, as well as tips for making your own.  She also has a lot of ideas for party games using your Zhu Zhu Pets™, as well as links to free printable games like Hamster Bingo.  My absolute favorite is the adorable pom-pom "Hamster in a Ball" craft:

I have added a link in the sidebar that will take you directly to Nicole's Zhu Zhu Party Page.  I will be sure to cue you to any updates when she adds them!

The great thing about Zhu Zhu Pets™ is that they are really reasonably priced.  Right now, you can get hamsters at Walmart for 7.44... or Babies & outfits for $5... and they make great party favors to get all of the kids in on the fun!

St. Louis, Twitter Party, and Misc.

Hello again, Zhu Zhu Fans!

Sorry for the mini-hiatus.. computers issues are now (hopefully) resolved.  Thanks for sticking with me through this and checking back in with the blog!

On Thursday, my Walmart once again had Zhu Zhu Pets™ Babies in stock!  There were three different ones on the pegs (no clothing this time)... I wonder if it will continue to be one case of 6 arriving at a time for awhile still.  Also, the Babies are now listed on Toysrus.com for 6.99.  It has been posted that they are arriving in TRU stores also!

Coincidentally, I just returned from a couple of days in St. Louis, home of Cepia, LLC.  For fun, I typed their address into my GPS and the office was only a 15 minute drive from the friend's home where I was staying!  I would have loved to have taken a photo for you all, but unfortunately I was not driving and we were on a schedule.  *sigh*  Maybe next time.

Last night while looking for a place to eat, we drove by a store that had a very professional sign with the Zhu Zhu Pets™ logo.  It immediatey caught my attention!  (Again, I wish I would have been able to get a photo).  I was able to quickly read the print under the sign, which read "Over 9000 Zhu Zhu Pets™ and Accessories in Stock!".  An entire brick-and-mortar store dedicated to Zhu Zhu Pets™!  I am very curious to the pricing... although I found that Zhu Zhu Pets™ hamsters and newer accessories were in plentiful supply at Toys R Us and Justice stores in the St. Louis area. 

☺☺☺

As announced on The Official Zhu Zhu Pets™ website, Maria Bailey of MomSelect will be hosting another Zhu Zhu Pets™ Twitter party and giveaway!  This will be tomorrow night in celebration of Mr. Squiggles birthday.  There will be some giveaways, so I hope you will be sure to attend.  I will be there!  (Twitter id: ZhuZhuHunters).  Feel free to shout out to me ☺

 If you haven't done a Twitter party before, they are fun but fast-paced.   The details, as posted on the website, are as follows:

Zhu Zhu Pets™/MomSelect Twitter Party

Date: January 31st, 2010

Time: 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. EST

Location: #MrSquiggles

Host: @MomTalkRadio (Maria Bailey, Founder of MomSelect)



During the jam-packed Zhu Zhu fest, we'll be giving away over 20 Zhu Zhu Pets™ hamsters, as well as awesome habitrail pieces and accessories. Kids are welcome to tweet alongside Mom!

For those of you new to Twitter, here are some tips on attending:

* If you don't already have a Twitter account, sign up for one at Twitter.com. It's extremely simple and a great way to connect with other moms and Zhu Zhu Pet fans.

* Make sure you are following the party hosts- @momtalkradio, @resourcefulmom

* Follow the instructions tweeted out by the party hosts to enter the contests and participate in the scavenger hunt!

* Keep up with the conversation by searching for the party hashtag (#MrSquiggles) and make sure you include it in your tweets as well.

* It can be helpful to use a site like tweetchat.com to help keep track of the conversation. We also recommend that you check in on the hosts' pages (Twitter.com/momtalkradio and Twitter.com/resourcefulmom) to keep track of the contest information.

* Grab your little ones and chime in to celebrate Mr. Squiggles Birthday!

Zhu Zhu Pets™ in Spain!

Hello, Zhu Zhu Hunters!!

I apologize for the lack of posting lately... unfortunately some computer issues have caused me some problems.  Yesterday I saw something new posted on an eBay auction.  This "Grand Adventure" set includes Patches, the funhouse, slide, wheel, and a carrier.  The seller states it was purchased at a Toys R Us in Spain!  This must be Spain's equivalent to the "Giant Hamster City".

For those of you who have put the city together (over and over again),take look at the photo closely.  Look how they have it put together!  The slide ramp is connected to the wheel, and the wheel's tunnel is connected to nothing!  LOL   You all know it wouldn't work that way at all ☺

♥♥♥

Last Friday morning while I was at Walmart, the Zhu Zhu Pets™ area had been totally expanded!  It was empty except for a few 1st gen. hamsters, but there was a lot of space for new accessories...AND pegs for clothing and babies!!  I went back Friday evening, and sure enough there were 6 baby hamsters on the pegs, one of each style.  At $5 each, I purchased them for my daughters for Valentines/Easter gifts.  I went back Saturday morning, and the outfits were on the shelf then!  There were also 6, one of each style.  I purchased 4 of them, leaving basketball and sailor for another time.  They were also $5 each.  (I had hoped to post some photos, and I will once I get some of the computer issues worked out :P )

I have talked to several people who have gotten lucky with outfits/babies at Walmart in the last week.  It sounds as though they are only getting a case of each to start with.... and each case consists of 1 piece of each style of baby/outfit.  If the pegs are up at your Walmart, it is beneficial to find an employee with a scanner-gun and have them scan the tag on the peg.  Then they can tell you when they will be in.  I had them scan the tag for me last Friday morning, and was told there were 6 in stock waiting to be put on the shelf.  That cued me to check back later that night.

Good luck in your huntings!

Zhu Zhu Pets™ items at "Justice for Girls" Clothing Stores and Online

Hello Zhu Zhu Peeps!

As it was rumored, there is now one more store you can add to your list for Zhu Zhu Hunting... "Justice for Girls"!  You can buy them online here.  They are higher-end retail at 14.90 per hamster... but friends have posted a couple of coupon codes that can get you 40% off of your order.  Use code 818 or 774 at checkout to get the discount.

Other friends have found the hamsters, stroller, and baby hamsters in store!!  They said that the babies were 9.90, but with the printable 40% off coupon they were much more reasonable.  Print the 40% off in-store coupon at this link! 

Thanks to all of the Zoolert/Facebook peeps for the info and the coupon codes!

Amazing DIY Zhu Zhu Pets™ Cupcakes!!

Good Morning, Zhu Zhu Fans!

This morning I came across the link to this amazing cupcake tutorial, and I had to share it with all of you.  Many of you are planning ZZP-themed birthday parties, and these little cakes are the perfect thing!

Visit "The Party Animal" blog for ingredients and step-by-step instructions.  The materials are really simple, and you will find the tips helpful in getting the perfectly Zhu Zhu-colored frosting!

Zhu Zhu Pets™ Hamster Price-DROP at Walmart!!!

Good afternoon, Zhu Zhu Fans!

I just returned from a shopping trip at my local Walmart... what a surprise!  As usual, I had to check the toy dept. for any signs of new ZZP accessories/babies.  I was a bit startled to see 18 of the original 4 hamsters, as well a a bunch of beds/carriers, on the shelf!  I walked to a different part of the toy dept and found another 31 original hamsters sitting near the Furreal Friends area... a total of 49 hamsters on the shelf!  This is the first time I have seen ZZP hamsters at retail since early October.

The biggest shock was that the price has been reduced from $8 to $7.44 for each hamster!  My Walmart is here in Southeast Iowa, but it seems that many/most stores generally follow suit.  Can our wallets give a tiny sigh of relief for future purchases now?  ☺

New Zhu Zhu Pets™ BABIES Commercial!

Hey, Zhu Zhu Peeps!

Today I am feeling pretty wiped out after a 24-hour bout of stomach flu.  Thanks to RJN for the heads-up about the newest Zhu Zhu Pets™ commercial featuring the Hamster Babies!  Apparently it must have been released today....though I have been watching Nick Jr. all morning and haven't seen it yet ;)  It made its way to YouTube in pretty short order.  I am happy for the little pick-me-up.

The babies seem quite a bit larger than I had thought they would be.  If you thought you were done, you better not let your kids see this!

Pictures of Zhu Zhu Fun Kit Contents

Hello, Zhu Zhu Fanatics!

My friend Lori's family found the new Zhu Zhu Pets™ Super Fun Kit at a Walmart in Columbia, Maryland.  They said it was on an end-cap display in the toy department and retailed at $10.

Seems there are a lot of cute stickers...

Some photo frame/mats...

...and a cute poster!  There are also tattoos and markers and other papery things to color and decorate!  Lori says there is probably enough for a craft party for a couple of kids, but you would need more kits if you were planning a birthday party, etc.

The kit has also been spotted in-store at Toys R Us.

New Commercial... Interesting Articles!

Good Morning, Zhu Zhu Hunters!

Many of us are getting back into the daily routine today, with kids going back to school from the Christmas/New Year holidays.  I hope you all have a good day and a smooth transition. Cepia recently added a new 2010 Zhu Zhu Pets™ commercial to their homepage featuring the newest vehicles, outfits, and hamsters.  I just saw it on Nickelodeon for the first time, so hopefully it means that these newer items will be more widely-distributed soon!

☺☺☺☺☺

Obviously, the Zhu Zhu Pets™ craze generated a large amount of publicity during the Christmas season.  Recently I came across a couple of very interesting articles that go beyond the run-of-the-mill info:

Not child's play: Missouri attorneys counsel the maker of this year's hot toy : An interesting, behind the scenes interview with the lawyer who represents Cepia, LLC.

Rumble Robots inventor does it again: Probably one of my favorite articles to date (thanks Laura!).  You get a peek into the father-daughter(s) team of Cepia, LLC. and some background on how Zhu Zhu Pets™ came to be!

Zhu Zhu Pets™ Video Game Available for Preorder!

Good evening, Zhu Zhu Fans!

Thanks to RJN for giving me the heads-up that the new Zhu Zhu Pets™ game for Nintendo DS is listed and available for preorder through Amazon!  The release date is scheduled for March 23, 2010.

"Zhu Zhu Pets DS will capture the hearts of pre-existing Zhu Zhu fans and those new to the franchise through its addicting and enjoyable balance between care-taking and adventure! Half virtual pet simulation, and half high-speed action-adventure game, Zhu Zhu Pets DS will charm children everywhere with its engaging gameplay! "

What a great gift this will be, just in time to be delivered by the Zhu Zhu Easter bunny!  I imagine this may be a very difficult game to get a hold of once it is released! 

Happy "Zhu" Year!

Back in September, I searched for websites where I could chat with other lovers about Zhu Zhu Pets™... where to find them, what was coming out, rumors, and that sort of thing. However, it seemed that the few sites around at that time were just disguises leading you to someone's eBay or Amazon listings. My answer to that was to create my own blog,and it has been so fun!

Three months later, I am pleased that the Zhu Zhu Pets™ Hunters blog has over 20,000 hits from unique visitors! The friendships I have made via the blog (as well as the Twitter and Facebook pages and Zoolert forums) give me joy each day. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to interact with Cepia LLC, a hometown company that has become very near to my heart. I feel blessed to have so much fun and to have an excuse to play with toys!

Here's to a great 2010 and all of the Zhu Zhu-related surprises to come this year!

♥Randi