School has started, so that means Halloween's around the corner! Followed by Christmas! And your child's graduation from University! And then crying at their wedding... oh wow I'm going to back this up.

OK, first: HALLOWEEN is not too far off, and Today's Parent magazine is already in the spirit with their October 2009 issue! They've selected a bunch of monster-themed items including a couple of great toys from Mastermind!

First up is the Make Your Own Monster Puppets from Melissa & Doug, $34.95 for ages 3+ This is a really cool toy: it has all sorts of crazy monster pieces that you use to make maniacal monster puppets... and the best part is that the pieces attach and remove very easily, and over and over, so you can create and endless amount of monsters, take 'em apart, and then go at it again!

Next is the Screaming Monsters Targets Bath Toy from Alex Toys, $24.95, for ages 3+ I know what you're thinking: with a name like this, the product must be the coolest thing ever made. It is. You suction the monster target to the bath wall, fill your squirter with water and then squirt at the targets. If you hit one of the monsters, they make a silly sound! Bath time will never be the same...

So have a monstrously fun time with these 2 great toys!

-- Toy Buyin' Ryan