The Magic FishBowl, one of our playful and unique liquid motion desk toys, is featured in Entrepreneur's "Holiday Gift Ideas Under $50." It makes a great employee or corporate gift because it "features two magically swimming fish that require no care." The relaxing motion is great for stress relief and it adds life to any desk. We think it will look great in your lobby, reception area, or on your front desk; and any busy employee or co-worker who works in a small cubicle will appreciate the lively movement without the hassle of an aquarium. The Magic FishBowl, as well as our other Magic Bowls and Aquariums, make excellent gifts.
December 17, 2010
June 25, 2010
Ziggy Pasta Ball Mondo Review
Hey, check it out, Bernie did a great write up on our Ziggy Pasta Ball - Mondo. Who is Bernie you ask? Well he just may be the number 1 Corporate Fun Coach in the country. He's an old friend of the Playground because he, obviously as a "fun coach" appreciates our toys in business settings. Bernie really knows how to evaluate a product, check it out.
Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
Where we make work fun!
May 18, 2010
Bill's Gift Guide for Dad's Day
Hey, it's me, Bill. You may know me as The Office Toy Guy, but I'm also a Dad. I'm excited about Father's Day. It's coming up fast and I'm wondering what cool gifts I might receive. Dads are pretty simple when it comes to gifts. They generally like gadgets, sports related stuff or silly toys. Dads are pretty much like kids, just grown up versions. I took a walk through our warehouse and hand-picked fun office toys that I think any Dad will love. We have built 3 Father's Day Assortments that are sure to please any Dad. These assortments contain the perfect variety of Dad items.
Check out our Father's Day Assortments and our other featured categories and make the Dads in your life happy.
Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
Where we make work fun!
May 07, 2010
Go Fresh with Fake Food
As I sit here squeezing a foam apple, I'm thinking about the month of May. (Yes, it is May already. Isn't 2010 flying by?) The biggest thing going on in our Northern California town in May is the start of the annual downtown farmer's market. That means awesome fruit and vegetables that are locally grown. Does your town have a local farmer's market?
If you cannot get out to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, don't sweat it. Here at Office Playground, we too sell fruit and vegetables and we'll even ship them right to your door. But, wait! Our fake food isn't as fresh. So, please don't eat it. (Unless your doctor recently told you that you need more polyurethane foam in your diet.)
The classic application of fake food is to put it on your desk and offer it to people as a snack. Granted, some of the food is more realistic looking than others. We have found the more dense or gullible the target, the more successful the joke.
These are some of our picks for a fake fruit bowl:
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However, the real value of our fake food is for stress relief at work. You can squeeze a pear while meeting with your boss or squash a fake slice of cake during that next boring conference call.
Below are some other silly foam food and drink items gaining popularity:
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| See all of our Foam Food & Drinks here | |||||||
Our foam food has tons of benefits:
- Affordable
- Non perishable
- Doesn't attract fruit flies
- Brightens up your desk
- Great stress reliever
Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
Where we make work fun!
April 23, 2010
Coffee versus Water
I noticed lately that people at work like to drink. Not from the flask in their desk drawer, that’s a whole other blog. People drink lots of two things: coffee and water.
Recently, I blogged about the health benefits of coffee. I have never blogged about the health benefits of water because the blog would look a little something like this:
Health benefits of water: Keeps you alive.
That would be a pretty lame blog.
I am fascinated by these two liquids in an office context. Folks LOVE their coffee yet drink way more water and do not necessarily love it. Coffee is expensive, like $2 a cup at the fancy coffee shops. Sure, you can get cheaper coffee, just because it’s from a gas station doesn’t mean it won’t taste good. Water is free, if your company is willing to spring for it. A water dispenser is ideal and a water fountain, not as much (seems they always wind up broken and/or gross). Does your company make you fill up your water cup from the bathroom sink?
Anyway, you are probably waiting for the conclusion or maybe even the point to all this. Let us see. There is a lot of coffee AND water drinking going on in the offices of today. Sure, people need water to live. Some people think they need coffee to live, but would still be alive (albeit cranky) 5 days later without it.
This blog is titled "Coffee versus Water", and so you’re asking, "Who wins?" That’s easy, water! Water is the basis for coffee so we’re all drinking water either way.
Fine Print: Sorry if you are upset that you will never get back the 2 minutes you just spent reading this.
Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
Where we make work fun!
April 01, 2010
April is National Autism Awareness Month
April is National Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a complex spectrum disorder that affects kids and adults. To learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) visit The Autism Society Web Site.
Office Playground has a wide variety of toys that can help people facing the unique challenges of autism find some relaxation and fun. Fidget toys provide a unique tactile experience with different textures. Some toys with sound or repetitive actions are relaxing and comforting. There are also toys for developing large motor skills, fine motor skills, and coordination.
See Autism Toys from Office Playground here.
Image courtesy of Beverly.
March 09, 2010
April Fool's Day at Work
April 1st (aka April Fool's Day) is only 24 days away. Do you have your pranks all lined up yet? Are you going to let another April Fool's Day go by without nailing a memorable prank at the office? On April Fool's Day at the office, there are only two kinds of people:
- Those who prank
- Those who get pranked
Which one are you going to be this year? The choice is yours.
First, some ground rules: please read our blog post from last year about the do's and don'ts of successful Office April Fool's Pranks.
There's a spectrum of Office April Fool's pranks ranging from simple to complex. Just like in life, you get out what you put in. The simple stuff is easy and fast to pull off. However, it gets forgotten within a few days or sometimes in just hours. The complex stuff takes time and dedication, but it's funny and memorable forever. You'll have to balance your desires to be funny with the realities of your available time.
Examples:
Simple – Whoopee Cushion on your boss's chair. Planning & Execution = 1 minute
Complex – Packing Peanuts in your boss's cubicle, Planning & Execution = 1-3 days
If you're thinking a simple prank is all you have the time and money for this year, check out our new Gag Gift Category. Here are some of our favorites:
If you are willing to go the distance and want to create a lasting impression of yourself as an all star office prankster, then you'll need to invest in a more elaborate prank. The possibilities are endless; here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
We wish you a very silly April Fool's Day!
Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
We help you play on company time.
March 05, 2010
Ready for March Madness? Shoot Hoops at Work!
Are you ready for March Madness? Even if you're not, someone in your office might be feeling the excitement of the NCAA Basketball Championships. Selection Sunday is March 14, 2010 and the Finals are on April 5th. Who will be in that game? Who will win?
Do you and your co-workers still toss random garbage into your trash can and yell "3 points!"? If so, isn't it time to upgrade to a real Trash Can Hoop?
Get into the spirit of March Madness with an Office Nerf Hoop or a Basketball Stress Ball.
Why not get a bunch of Basketball Stress Balls and/or Hoops and give them out to your entire office? Sure, you're saying, "but then no one will get any work done". Just make sure everyone understands that office hoops are an acceptable form of stress relief and team building, provided the other work is still getting done. You'll be pleased to see that employee morale and productivity will likely increase.
So, don't throw an air ball this year. Drive to our site, face up, shoot and score with your very own Office Basketball Hoop or Stress Ball. (Whew, yeah, that's all I've got for the basketball lingo. Could you have done any better? Get it? Like betting on the games using a bracket? Something you shouldn't do at work. Sorry, I'll stop now.)
Here are some of our favorite basketball hoops and basketballs, but we have lots more fun basketball stuff! Come check them out!
| Basketball Hoop - Backboard | Nerfoop | Breakaway Hoop |
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| Basketball Stress Ball | Basketball - 4 inch Pro Mini | Basketball - 7 inch Junior |
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Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
We help you play on company time.
February 19, 2010
February 17, 2010
Winter Blues? Think Beach!
As I write this, I see that it's raining outside... again. My finger tips are a little bit colder than my toes (I'm wearing socks). It will be dark soon and work isn't over yet. Sounds like I've got the winter blues. Do you find yourself daydreaming about summer bliss? Can you feel the warm sand beneath your feet? Is there the aroma of hamburgers barbequing on the grill? Can you taste the cocktail you're having with friends while watching the sunset? Do you still feel the sting of that jellyfish that snuck up on you? (WHOA, time to snap out of this daydream... it just turned ugly).
You can't easily jump on a plane and fly to a warmer climate (chances are flights are grounded anyway, due to bad weather). But, you can use the power of your imagination and some thought management to get through the last stage of winter.
Once again, we're here to help you out. We created a fun list of our best summer themed office toys and put them on sale. Our suggestion is to pick out some of this stuff and play with it at your desk. You can live that summer lifestyle now, in your mind. Thinking of positive things will help lift your spirits. Warm your soul with these playful toys and drift off into another summer daydream. Don't worry, we don't sell jellyfish, just an octopus.
| Beach in a Box | Cool Sun | Dolphin Stress Toy |
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| Pineapple Stress Toy | Exec. Sandbox - Day at the Beach | Inflatable Palm Tree |
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Celebrate the spirit of summer without mosquito bites, sunburns or jellyfish stings. (You do know the home remedy for neutralizing a jellyfish sting, don't you? Remember that episode of Friends? Eewwww.)
Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
We help you play on company time.
February 08, 2010
Drink More Coffee and be Healthier
Coffee can be good for you! That's super news because if you're among the 108 million Americans that partake in coffee daily, you're going to drink it anyway, right? Now you can say it's for your health and not because you just...NEED IT! Since coffee is such a huge part of office culture, we wanted to give you some bullet points on the health benefits from coffee. (Remember, I'm not a doctor nor am I an expert; I just really love my coffee.)
Reduced Diabetes Risk – After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, Harvard researchers calculate that compared with not partaking in America's favorite morning drink, downing one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. But having six cups or more each day slashed men's risk by 54% and women's by 30% over java avoiders. (Source: Web MD)
Other diseases and health problem reduction – At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's, with three showing the more they drink, the lower the risk. Other research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at least two cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer, an 80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and nearly half the risk of gallstones. (Source: Web MD)
And even more healthy benefits – There's also some evidence that coffee may help manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is unavailable, stop a headache, boost mood, and even prevent cavities. (Source: Web MD)
Just a little side note folks: Of course, I recommend talking to your doctor about your own situation and whether or not coffee is right for you.
With all the benefits of coffee, there are bound to be some downsides. But, with my simple-to-follow guide, they're easy to overcome:
- Bad Breath – eat a mint
- Brown Teeth – brush them more often
- Coffee Stains – don't spill it
- Expensive – make your own and bring it to work
If you're a coffee fanatic, consider the Coffee To-Go Cup Stress Reliever. When you get your new foam coffee cup, put it on your desk to remind yourself and others that you are such a health nut, squeeze it to relieve stress throughout the day, and admire it because it's cute.
Cheers!
Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
We help you play on company time.
Top image courtesy of Brianna Privett.
February 02, 2010
Groundhog Day at Work
What do you think of when you hear Groundhog Day? For me, I think of Bill Murray and Punxsutawney Phil from the famous 1993 movie. The movie is classic and I give it two thumbs up (aren't we all film critics at heart?). For those of you who have never seen Groundhog Day or need a refresher, here's the quick plot from Wikipedia:
Self-centered and sour TV meteorologist Phil Connors (Bill Murray), producer Rita (Andie MacDowell), and cameraman Larry (Chris Elliott) from fictional Pittsburgh television station WPBH-TV9 travel to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities with Punxsutawney Phil. Having grown tired of this assignment, the small town, and his crew, Phil grudgingly gives his report and attempts to return to Pittsburgh when a blizzard (which he predicted would miss the area) shuts down the main roads. Phil and his team are forced to stay in town an extra day.
Phil wakes up to find that he is reliving February 2. The day plays out exactly as it did before, with no one else aware of the time loop, and only Phil aware of past events... Read more
Do you work with people who are not aware of the time loop they are in? Is your job like Groundhog Day, where you do the same thing over and over? Now you can stop being like Phil Connors and avoid living your life like the movie Groundhog Day. Here are a few fun tips for shaking up the routine:
- Mix up your office space – Spin your keyboard and monitor around and sit on the front side of your desk. Put your garbage pail on the other side of you. Change the position of all your pictures. Turn your name tag upside down.
- Take a different route to work – Don't drive directly to the office. Instead, go the long way, take streets that don't make sense or drive up and down the block a few times. Just leave a few minutes earlier and cruise.
- Alter the lunch menu – What kind of food never occurs to you? Eat that! Do any local restaurants serve Swedish Meatballs or Buffalo Burgers?
- Flip your personality – Just for the day, behave the total opposite of your normal personality. If you are a bit ornery, be extra sweet to your colleagues. If you typically drive hard, be chilled and laid back all day.
- Visit strangers – Make some new friends. Simply get up and start walking around. Find people you don't know (at your company or other tenants in the building). Say things like "Hi, happy Groundhog Day!" Then, see where the conversation goes from there (don't expect too much, these people are strangers after all.)
I think you get the point. This time of year, work can be a bit of a grind. It's up to us to break the pattern and avoid the doldrums of corporate life. You don't have to operate on autopilot. On the contrary, you can have a little bit of fun during the day. So come on, be whacky and be more playful. There's no better day than Groundhog Day to start mixing it up! I mean, why not?
Playfully,
Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
We help you play on company time.
Image courtesy of Melissa.
January 28, 2010
Top 10 Toys that Promote Creativity
How important is creativity in your job? Being "creative" and thinking "outside of the box" are huge business buzzwords these days. We don't claim to be business consultants who can help you creatively "re-engineer, re-organize or re-invent" your business model. We do claim to be experts at playing with creative toys at work. We believe that if you can express creativity with desk toys daily, the bigger picture stuff will fall into place naturally. To make sure you have the right creativity toys on your desk or meeting room table, we have compiled a list of our Top 10 Toys that Promote Creativity.
Often, it's hard to have a breakthrough moment when you are focusing too hard on finding a solution. By playing with toys, you actively work your brain while giving your subconscious a chance to come up with the answer. With these fun office toys, you can maintain a clever and productive mind while creating sculptures, shapes or designs from putty, magnetic art, or buildable puzzles. Have a pumped up brainstorming session with a fun shaped wipe-off board. Take your drawings and doodles to the next level with a pin art board, magnetic drawing board, or Wikki Stix.
Check out our Top 10 Toys that Promote Creativity. What will you create?
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Are you inspired? Send us a photo of your creation using a product from Office Playground for the chance to win a free surprise gift. Send entries to officetoyguy@officeplayground.com by 2/28/2010. Click here for more details.
Playfully,
Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
We help you play on company time.
January 22, 2010
Celebrate Valentine's Day at Work
Love is in the air... especially in your office. Are you feeling it? Lately, we've all been through some trying economic times together. Do you feel love for your co-workers and customers who are weathering this storm with you? Maybe you even get that warm and fuzzy feeling when you cozy up to the conference table with your team on a rainy day. Everywhere you look the experts are advising businesses to invest in their employees and to give them rewards and reminders of how important they are to the success of the company.
So, why not have a Valentine's Day celebration at work? Be open with the love and appreciation you have for your job, your colleagues and your customers. Here are some ways to bring back that loving feeling to the office:
- Decorate your cubicle, lobby and office with a few Valentine's Day decorations.
- Tape a big red paper heart on the refrigerator in the break room.
- Leave a Valentine Heart Stress Ball on everyone's chair.
- Have a company lunch. If you can't convince your boss or HR to spring for it, hit a restaurant and go Dutch or bring a bag lunch and have a potluck in the conference room. Just be together.
- Encourage everyone to wear Valentine's Day colors (hint, RED) to work. For those that do, draw names to win prizes.
- Rent a cupid costume so you can shoot bows and arrows at single folks to create a love connection. (Ok, we're just kidding about this one.)
Check out a few of our Valentine's Day items below:
| Heart Stress Toy | Captain Smiley - Hot Pink | Inflatable Heart |
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| 4 Wheel Timer - Hearts | Smiley Dude Stress Toy - Red | Love Notes Ball |
Remember, fun Valentine's Day themed office toys last longer than chocolate and won't make your pants too tight.
With much love and appreciation,
Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
We help you play on company time.
January 08, 2010
Bring Toys Not Donuts
Are you still bringing donuts to meetings? WAIT! You don't need to do that anymore. There's a better way to get everyone energized and excited at your next meeting. It's simple: bring toys, not donuts.
We all know that donuts are bad for you and the sugar crash is a serious downer. Bringing donuts to meetings is like saying, "Here, I hope you all feel sick for the next 5 hours and act like zombies all afternoon." Donuts only take a minute to eat, give you heartburn and require an extra workout to burn off the empty calories. On the other hand, a good office toy is long-lasting, stress relieving and brightens up your workspace.
Note the health considerations of Donuts versus Toys:
Have some fun at your next meeting and bring a box of office toys. Who knows, maybe you'll impress your boss so much, you'll get further in your career (we make no guarantees).
| Instead of a dozen donuts | ||
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Image Credit: Emran Kassim |
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| Bring a Stress Ball Box | Or a Meeting in a Box | Or a Desk Toy Box |
Be more playful and bring some fun and health to your office...Bring toys, not donuts!
Playfully,
Bill Ross
The Office Toy Guy
OfficeToyGuy@OfficePlayground.com
www.OfficePlayground.com
We help you play on company time.
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Recent Posts
- Gift Ideas Under $50 - Magic FishBowl
- Ziggy Pasta Ball Mondo Review
- Bill's Gift Guide for Dad's Day
- Go Fresh with Fake Food
- Coffee versus Water
- April is National Autism Awareness Month
- April Fool's Day at Work
- Ready for March Madness? Shoot Hoops at Work!
- Host Your Own Office Olympics
- Winter Blues? Think Beach!
