the things we buy because of TV

So all you parents out there...I'm quite sure your kids watch TV. My kids love TV and I love that they watch it.  It gives me a much needed break in the day. Layla can speak fluent Spanish because of Dora.  HA!  Not really, but I think my kids learn from some of the educational TV shows that they watch.

ANYWAY...you know advertisers and marketers, they play commercials during iCarly.  I can't tell you the number of times my sweet Layla has come into the kitchen while I am cooking and repeated verbatim a commercial she just saw.  She will usually pause the TV so that I will go into the playroom to see whatever item she is raving about that day.  I have heard all about Twinkle toes shoes, the butterfly garden, Kids Bop 18, and pillow pets. Do you feel me here?

Well, I fell for one of these crazy commercials!  It was crazy the way it happened.

The commercial was for pillow pets.  Gary was home the day Layla grabbed our hands and took us to the TV screen.  Before we entered the room she gave us the down low.

"Mommy, daddy, I have to have a pillow pet because they are so cute and fluffy and they are a pillow and everyone needs a pillow. and it folds into a pet too, and I can get a ladybug and Hayden can get a turtle and they are machine washable, and we can even tuck our PJ's into them for when we travel."  {then she took a much needed big breath}

Hayden is sitting on the futon saying "p-ow-pet p-ow pet" and pointing at the TV screen.
Don't you hate it when they gang up on you.

Anyway, weeks go by and when we see the commercial it is the same drill...kids dying, freaking out wanting a fluffy dust catcher.  They really are cute, and Gary and I even had a conversation about ordering them each one.  We just didn't know when.

Why am I gibber jabbering about this nonsense...

When my friend Shelby was in town we hit the local mall to do a bit of school shopping.  While we were there we stopped at the food court for lunch.  And low and behold there was a kiosk with pillow pets.  Right there in front of Chic- fil-A. The kids freaked out when they saw them.  Shelby's girls had been wanting one too.  They watch a ton of iCarly also.  So us moms caved.

Look at Hayden with his moose.  How cute is that?

Little Miss Layla with her unicorn.

Macy got a small dolphin and it is precious!

And Mia picked out an adorable kitty cat.

The kids were so happy, and it was worth it to see their smiles and their faces were priceless with the excitement of chosing which animal was the best for each other.  Layla and Mia were going to get the same animal, but then we made them stop and think about what they really wanted.  It was fun and memories were made.

Have you ever bought a toy or item that your kids raved over for weeks?