In just a few weeks, we will make our annual pilgrimage to New York City for the American International Toy Fair, a bonanza of toys that completely overtakes the mammoth Jacob Javits Convention Center. We'll spend four exhausting days trolling more than 7 miles of exhibition space to find all of the newest and most interesting new toys for 2008.

We're sure that toy safety is going to be the issue on everyone's mind this year, and we're looking forward to speaking with our vendors and asking lots of questions about testing and quality control procedures.

Last year, we asked you all to complete a survey to help us refine our goals for Toy Fair. It was incredibly helpful to keep your feedback in mind, as we sifted through so many thousands of products. This year, we're asking for your help once again. Please click this link and share your opinions with us. Once again, we will be collecting fun and unique samples from the show, and creating an Ultimate Toy Fair Care Package. If you complete the survey and provide us with your e-mail address, you will be entered to win!

Whether you're having your first baby or your fourth, choosing a stroller is an important part of gearing up for the new arrival. No one knows strollers like we do, and we're on a mission to help every customer find the stroller that will best meet his or her needs.

But how?

First of all, if you haven't done it already, check out our Stroller Matchmaker. Simply fill in this form, and you'll receive a personalized response from one of our most knowledgeable gear gurus.

Second of all, if you're local to the Boston area, don't miss the launch of our new in-store program, Stroller Speed Dating. Inspired by the popular dating ritual, Stroller Speed Dating will give parents and parents-to-be 10 minutes to get acquainted with each of a variety of different strollers. Educated staff members will be on hand to help facilitate the introductions. Attendees will also be treated to refreshments.

Stroller Speed Dating will debut on February 7 at the Brookline store, from 7-9pm. To RSVP, please send an e-mail to elissa@mbeans.com.

With our new stores up and running and the holiday season behind us, we've turned our attention to making our Playscapes a destination for families feeling the effects of wintertime cabin fever.

Each store has a new Head of Customer Activities, and each of them has developed a fabulous schedule of events for February and March. We're especially excited about our New Parents' Group, which will meet weekly in Brookline and Wellesley. These fun and free groups will be facilitated by Liz Marino, a Beanster who recently received her M.S. in Family Studies, with a specialization in Family Support and Parenting Education. Between her formal training, and her years of experience working at Magic Beans, Liz is a fantastic resource for new parents, and we're so excited that she will be taking on this new assignment.

There are so many great events on our calendar, and everything is free of charge.
Click here to see the Winter Calendar for Brookline
Click here to see the Winter Calendar for Hingham
Click here to see the Winter Calendar for Wellesley

Valentine's Day is coming up, and it's traditional to present your loved ones with a box of chocolates. But what could be better than some easy, homemade chocolate truffles, made with love and some sticky fingers?

2/3 cup heavy cream
1 12oz package of semisweet chocolate chips
2 tsp. vanilla extract
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup powdered sugar

Bring the cream just to a boil in a heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips and whisk until melted and smooth. Pour into a bowl, cover and chill until firm, about 3 hours.

Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Drop the mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. Freeze until firm, about 45 minutes.

This is the part the kids will love most! Place the cocoa and powdered sugar each into shallow bowls. Roll the truffles between hands to shape them into spheres, then roll the little balls in the cocoa or the powdered sugar. Cover with plastic and chill until ready to serve.

Hey – did you know that it's also really easy to make chocolate play dough? This is a really fun edible activity. Just mix 8 oz of melted semisweet chocolate with ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup until completely blended. The texture is just like dough. It's magic! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

We're having a big sale on President's Weekend. More details will follow, but we'll have incredible deals on older model strollers and car seats, and toys galore. Stay tuned. . .