Before I get to my next holiday gift recommendation, I want to point out a great initiative going on over at Gwen Bell’s blog. Gwen is one of my blog crushes. She’s smart and deep and her posts and tweets often make me feel all warm and grateful and inspired. She’s got this Best of 2009 Blog Challenge going on: one prompt each day for all of December (best trip, best book, best night out, etc). You can post on your blog or just tweet, and you don’t have to do it every day. It’s a huge challenge for me since I can barely remember what happened last week. I don’t think I’ll get to every prompt, but she has inspired me to go back through my old blog posts and photos for the year… to wrap my brain around some moments and give them a big hug. I encourage you to do the same.
Getting back on track after a break for Thanksgiving and birthday festivies, I’ll be posting my remaining seven recommendations for holiday toys (along with giveaways) in the coming week. Today we’re talking Sims.
If you’re a Sims fan, you’ll be excited about the new options this holiday season. First, there’s the Sims3 World Adventures expansion pack (rated T, must have Sims 3 to play the expansion). You can explore famous real-world inspired destinations to hunt for hidden treasure or go on a romantic getaway. Meet new Sims, learn new skills, and share their culture.
If you don’t have a Sims3 player on your holiday list, there are some fun new options out for Wii and DS that will entertain the tween crowd. Become a special agent in MySims Agents, try your hand at driving school with MySims Racing, or venture across jungles, deserts and river deltas to discover the secret abilities of the animals in SimAnimals Africa.
I can’t play Sims. I love it, but I can’t play it. Because before long I would probably lose my grip on reality and lock myself in the bathroom with my laptop. Like that time in college when I didn’t leave my boyfriend’s (now husband’s) dorm room for about 48 hours straight because I could not stop playing Tetris. I have a bit of an addictive personality when it comes to video games.
So I’ve got some Sims games to give away to three lucky winners! The first is the Sims3 World Adventures Expansion Pack. You must already have Sims3 in order to use this expansion pack, so please make a note to me in the comments if you do have Sims3. Next I have MySims Racing for Nintendo DS. Finally, I’m giving away SimAnimals Africa, also for Nintendo DS.
Leave a comment here to enter and re-tweet (using the re-tweet button at the top of this post) for an extra entry. Winners will be chosen through random.org on Monday, December 14th at 8 am.
Update: Congrats to our winners! Katie Lane, Mary Preston, and Angelica Bays.
Disclosure: I received complimentary review and giveaway products from Electronic Arts. No payment was received for this blog post.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
My teen wants SIMS but she already sends too much time on her computer I’m worried about giving her one more thing to consume her. But I will probably cave and get it cause I’m convinced some day she will be a famous architect and I’ll owe it all to SIMS.
Have a wonderful weekend!
A few things.
1. What is wrong with that zebra up there? Is he on some sort of codeine-enhanced cold medicine?
2. My Senior year of college I would regulary stay up till four in the morning working on my theme park. . . not a Sim theme park, some other fake theme park.
3. Still wasn’t as fun as when I locked myself in my dorm room to finish Rebel Assault II in two days, which was a big triumph for me because I kinda stink at most video games.
4. When I was, like, 14, my mother let you play Tetris on our Game Boy in Florida. I was super-p’od, ’cause you played for, like, an hour. Also, I was 14, so I was always super-p’od.
5. I think I made the right decision when I went cold turkey on video games a few years ago. No, playing Rock Band in Best Buy doesn’t count. It’s pathetic, but it doesn’t count.
Twitter: finalwebsites
12.5.09 at 5:34 am
MySims on the Wii is one of my big favorites. I played it hours together with my daughter. Btw. the Zebra is really cool!
Wii for us´s last post: Wii Punch-Out !!
Twitter: thenagainphoto
12.5.09 at 5:46 am
I fell into the SIMS trap just after my baby was born a couple of years ago. I could do it at night when neither of us were sleeping. It started to take over though, man and I would play it instead of cleaning, or working, or whatever I was supposed to be doing. So. I quit. And replaced it with blogging.
I did get the SIMS 3 when it came out, but have yet to devote much time to is. It runs slowly on my computer and that just ticked me off!
Thanks for all your tips on SITS…so helpful.
parenting BY dummies´s last post: Dear Santa, Just Forget It
I fully understand your addictive video game personality – I have the same issue. In fact, I played The Sims back in the day, when it was just The Sims (without a number behind it!) and it was way too addictive. I’m glad I’ve stopped! Stopping by through SITS, I wanted to stop by to tell you how awesome today’s tips are. I’ve been wanting one of those LinkWithin types of widgets, and I just didn’t know how to get one, so thank you!
Elizabeth a.k.a. Type A Mommy´s last post: Christmas Cookie Bonanza: Molasses Cookies
Twitter: angeliasims
12.5.09 at 8:20 am
My daughter is a BIG Sims fan. Plus, it’s my last name but I don’t talk all warbly. :-) I have an addictive personality too. Right now my obsession is blogs! Haha.
And yes she does have Sims3. She would love this!
Angelia (Texas)´s last post: Timeless Affection
Twitter: BLOGitse
12.5.09 at 9:19 am
I don’t play any games..blogging takes time enough! :)
But thanks for your SITS tips!
I like this “Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest” idea – that pushes at least one person to comment back! :)
Have a great weekend!
BLOGitse´s last post: we’re celebrating a special WO*IMA #46 this weekend!
Great review! I’m in the market for a Wii for Christmas…any game suggestions? BTW, thanks ever so much for your weekly Saturday Sharefest tips. They’re incredibly helpful!
Melissa B.´s last post: Yes, a Room with a View
Twitter: SarahRuthToday
12.5.09 at 11:51 am
Thanks for posting about how to make your blog better! Great tips!!
Sarah Ruth´s last post: Great Giveaway!
ah, Tetris
Twitter: enchancea
12.5.09 at 2:22 pm
Ahh I love the sims and yes I do have The Sims 3 :)
Treaya´s last post: Stressed
Twitter: enchancea
12.5.09 at 2:23 pm
I Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/enchanceaa/status/6377130636
Treaya´s last post: Stressed
Twitter: HeadlessMom
12.6.09 at 3:06 am
My boys would dig one of the DS games. Variety is key and they don’t have any Sims yet.
Thanks for the chance!
Headless Mom´s last post: 25 Things You Did Not Want To Know
Looks like a lot of fun. I so have my fingers crossed.
I don’t have Sims yet, but I’d love to have one of the DS games.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
Bebemiqui´s last post: All Satisfying Joy
I am such a big Sims fan! We just got Sims 3 last week and I am still trying to figure it out. The kids have it down pat, I am still trying to learn the controls, lol. I still have Sims 2 installed, but had to quit playing it so much because I tended to get a little, um, absorbed and not get anything else done. That said, I’d love to have this new Sims 3 expansion pack! Traveling Sims are so cool!
Thanks for the great reviews and the chance to win!
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/Nessa_TX/status/6472789554
Nessa´s last post: Holiday Gift Guide: The Silver Spoon Book of Pasta Review & Giveaway
Don’t we all? Don’t we all…
Lynn´s last post: For The Mamas and the Papas…and Bebes!
Twitter: katiekatielane
12.12.09 at 4:37 am
I love sims and I have sims3!! I so need to win this :)
Katie Lane´s last post: Randomness 2.0
Twitter: katiekatielane
12.12.09 at 4:40 am
I retweeted: http://twitter.com/katiekatielane
Katie Lane´s last post: Randomness 2.0
I’ve never played those games, but I’m sure my daughter has. I’ll have to ask her if she would like one for her DS. Thanks for the info .
Happy SITS SATURDAY !
beth´s last post: Advice from a Seasoned Antique Dealer
My husband would love this. Yes, I said HUSBAND. :)
Oo I love Sims. That game looks awesome, on the commercials it shows that you can have a Mummy as a maid. That alone made me want to check out the game.
Amber´s last post: Why I Like To Shop Alone
Come On, Random Generator!!
Angelica Bays´s last post: TygrLilies Contest Winner.."HadleyBelle"
Twitter: reesspace
12.12.09 at 2:06 pm
I love SIMS and have been playing since the original. Love, it!!!!!
Twitter: reesspace
12.12.09 at 2:07 pm
retweet here
http://twitter.com/reesspace/status/6606493349
maria´s last post: Simple Human Has Made My Life That Much More Well, Simpler
I don’t have SIMS and don’t need to enter the contest. I just wanted to stop in and say hi and thanks for all you do for SITS. I am loving being a member of the “clique”!
Stacy´s last post: Eat the World?
I would love to win one of the DS games for my daughter (and I’m sure I would play too!) I remember playing Sims waaaaay back when it was a desktop PC game. Love the animals, looks like it would be fun to cozy up and play on a winter day!
Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
Tweet tweet:
http://twitter.com/glasscastle/status/6632054377
Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
I LOVE Sims and would love either the MySims Racing or SimAnimals Africa!
Thanks for the chance
tuesdayef at aol dot com
How fun!
My daughter loves her Nintendo DS and is a Sims fan-:)
We do not have any of the Sims game yet, but I think my daughter & I would love it. Played similar games online!
Ginny´s last post: Do you have a Ballet Dancer to shop for this Christmas?
Retweeted using the button, I was #7 ~ momof2dancers
Ginny´s last post: Do you have a Ballet Dancer to shop for this Christmas?
my hubby would love this thanks for the chance to win we love the sims games and do not have the expansion pack yet
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i tweeted thanks http://twitter.com/eaglesforjack/status/6655526340
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Twitter: Kekibird
1.9.10 at 11:59 am
Visiting from SITS!
I’m a Sims addict. So much so I haven’t allowed myself to buy Sims3. I spent a whole day in college playing the original Sims (where no one aged and kids were ALWAYS kids) one my computer while my best friends sat on her computer playing her sims and we didn’t say a word. We were so engrossed. I love the Sims and wish I could monitor my playing a bit better but….I CAN’T DO IT!! :)
Both my mum and auntie are so addicted to this game. They’ll literally go round to one anothers house and play for hours on end. I just don’t get it though. :S
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