I've been spending a lot of my free time playing "virtual" games lately. The latest one I'm hooked on right now is a combination of plush and virtuality: Littlest Pet Shop (LPS) Virtual Interactive Pets.
Shawn and I have been up to our necks with stress over buying new furniture and necessities for our new apartment, and while on our search for that stuff, I came across some incredibly adorable plushies with big eyes and pretty fabrics. I think the reason I was attracted so much to them was because of their big eyes and sweet faces. (Shawn said I have a thing for toys that are top heavy, haha.)
I first came across the LPS bunny when Shawn and I were at Kohl's a few weeks ago. I saw that there were more animals available so I started searching for them at the stores we went to. I immediately fell in love with the panda, and after noticing how rare it was in my area (I had only seen one in all the stores we visited), I snatched her up when I realized I couldn't live without her. Normally, I go for the pink plushies, but there's something about her dark oriental print that really draws me to her. I've named my panda Moshi Moshi (which can mean "hello" in Japanese in certain contexts).
Plushies aside, I found that I could delve even more into Moshi Moshi's world by visiting littlestpetshop.com to interact with her virtual character. I just plugged her special access code in the LPS: VIP system and Moshi Moshi's life started coming together.
Even though the games and plushie sales in general are geared more towards younger, teenage girls, I'm actually not that great at all of the activities, haha! In fact, Shawn had to help me out for a while until I got the hang of it. As I play more games, I gain more points to spend in the stores for clothes, furniture and plants for my garden.
There are some features I haven't accessed all of the features yet. There's an option where I can "meet" other people on LPS, but I'm thinking that I'll rawk out Moshi Moshi and her friend, Chiisai (a pink mouse) and their houses first so I won't look too silly in the LPS virtual world. ^__~
Chiisai (which means "small" in Japanese) is the newest addition to my LPS family. I looked up all of the plushies online, and I thought the mouse was very similar to Yukimo's build (tee hee). Of course, I couldn't resist.
This last Sunday, Shawn and I made it our mission to hunt down and find the mouse. I really didn't feel like ordering her online when I knew that at least one could be found in stores just a few miles away from me. >__> I think I have a kawaii sickness or something.
Anyway, we ended up finding Chiisai at the very first store (a Toys 'R Us) we went to, and there happened to be only one mouse on display. Just like Moshi Moshi, Chiisai was one of a kind for me.
I'm still working on building her wardrobe and room in my house.
Besides playing my newfound LPS love, I've been working on a new Maple Story character. Kathleen decided that she wanted to try playing on a new server, so our friend and I decided to try it out with her.
Now, I'm not a huge Harry Potter book fan (the writing style seems too simplistic and I get bored easily), but I do enjoy watching the movies. So when Kathleen said that she wanted to create a guild dedicated to Harry Potter characters, I was in. I would take a bullet for Luna Lovegood and Kathleen was nice enough to let me take that character while she took Nymphadora Tonks, and our friend taking Professor Moody. We had to think up names that sounded similar to the book characters, yet were original enough to enter into the MS system. As it turned out, Luna Lovegood became LunieLove; Nymphadora Tonks became NymphyTonks; and Professor Moody became MadMoodDood.
I don't think I'm as attached to LunieLove as my other MS characters (Minkka and Roonies), but it's been fun starting working on a character of such a low level. ^__^
I've also gotten into the routine of playing Animal Crossing after I finish my work shift every day. There's something extremely relaxing about sitting down and playing in a world that contains absolutely no worries. I can get money for my house's furniture just by collecting fruit around the village, and I can pay my mortgage at any pace I want. In fact, I don't even need to pay off my house if I don't want to! Living a simple virtual life is so much more enjoyable sometimes.
Yes, I couldn't have said it better myself. I literally went from buying much needed furniture for my apartment to buying plushies/toys and things for my plushies/toys. ^///^ Argh, addictions are such good and bad things!
I'm going to keep an eye out for large plush animals that I can use for furniture. I've actually seen stuff like that around, but everything is so expensive. Maybe once I'm a millionaire, I can have a whole mansion filled with this stuff. <3
Posted by: Lauren | July 22, 2008 at 10:48 PM
I love games along those lines. I have finally gotten The Sims 2 and some expansions, which I love but.. I wish it were interactive with other players.. I know they have The Sims Online but I hear it is horrible. I also play Star Wars Galaxies which is a Star Wars MMO, which I love :)
Posted by: Wanda | July 22, 2008 at 11:13 PM
How is The Sims 2? I've always wondered what it would be like to get into The Sims games more. I have My Sims for the DS, but I haven't played it much. I wanted to the other day, but I just remembered that I lent it to my sister... I really loved the graphics of that game!
Oh, I hadn't heard what people thought of the online version. I guess I'll hold off on playing that for now. I'm waiting for Diablo III to be released anyway. Haha, I guess that's a little different from Sims games. ^__~
I haven't played Star Wars... Cool idea though. (I'm looking for some new games to try. ^^)
Posted by: Lauren | July 22, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Wow, a seven foot Paddington Bear! That's just so cool. When I was reading your comment, I remembered Paddington Bear, but I couldn't remember exactly what he looked like-- so I Googled him. ^^ And now I remember. He's so cute.
Oh, believe it or not, some plushies are good investments. You just have to hunt them down and do some research. ^__~ For example, I bought my Sanrio Kuromi plushie (I don't have photos right now) for about $15, and then a few months later I noticed that the price had gone up to $70. *___* I have to say though that I agree with you that a lot of the ones I pick up are not really "investments" but I sure do fall in love with them!
If I ever buy or just see some fun plushie furniture, I'm going to take some photos of it to show you. ^___~
Posted by: Lauren | July 22, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Can't wait and if I see anything I will snap a few shots off, I always loved Paddington Bear and it was such a great Bear you would think making it that big it wouldn't look good but some how whoever did it just perfectly and I supose he would have been an investment but damn was he cute!
Posted by: Jamie | July 23, 2008 at 12:18 AM
I went to littlest Pet Shop once. Since I didn't own a pet, they gave me a random one. I intend to get one sometime mainly for my dollies to play with. I know they probably gear these sites to kids and teens, but there are people of all ages who love to have fun. I waste all kinds of time at Gaia, Poupee, Neopets and sites like that and I am going to be (gulp) 48 tomorrow. Old enough to be someone's grandma, but I still like to have silly fun.
Posted by: Pixie Wildflower | July 23, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Oh, did you go to the temporary Littlest Pet Shop Boutique in New York? I saw photos of that online when it was held last year. ^__^ It looked like so much fun! I know that they gave away random pets to people there...
The small toys of LPS are super cute. Plum has a guinea piggy named Mister. They really are perfect for dollies to play with.
Wow, happy birthday in advance! That's so cool. ^^ 48 isn't old at all. My mom always tells me that a person only turns old when they think they're old. It's all in the mind, tee hee. You're still so young. <3 And I think having these hobbies makes us even younger!
Posted by: Lauren | July 23, 2008 at 11:32 AM
No hon, I meant the web site. If you don't have one, they'll assign you one to play there. ;-)
Posted by: Pixie Wildflower | July 23, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Oh! I know what you mean now. *slaps forehead* Duh, tee hee.
Yes, I think it's really nice that they let people borrow pets. It's a nice way to introduce people to how having a VIP goes. ^__^
Posted by: Lauren | July 23, 2008 at 04:50 PM
[this is good]
Wow. Sounds like you're really having fun searching for furnitures. real or not. ^^
Awww... I love Chiisai! She is so cute, maybe I'll visit their website after blogging. Teehee. By the way, have you tried playing gaiaonline? I've been playing for a year already? But my account is actually a lot older. I registered about two years ago, but it wasn't so much fun then as it is now. But when I tried looking it up again, they already have a lot of more interactive thingies and cute stuff for their avatars! You can even have UFO as a car, and also have your own house. ;)
Posted by: Virna | July 23, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Yes! I have tried Gaia Online... I made two or three accounts over around a two year period, and I had a lot of fun. The only reason I stopped playing it was because my computer couldn't handle displaying the site very well. (-__-) It caused the screen to freeze and I became too frustrated starting the accounts.
I'd love to try playing it again though... I see character avatars for it all over the place and I always get the urge to make another account! ^__^
I'd love to see your character sometime, even if your account is older. Everything about Gaia is just so cute.
Posted by: Lauren | July 23, 2008 at 11:17 PM
I've updated it just recently.
Maybe I'll blog about my avatar someday, when I've completed her. *Blushes* I'm so excited but earning gold is a little hard, especially when there aren't any cash cards available here in the Philippines. *Sigh*
Posted by: Virna | July 24, 2008 at 01:34 AM
Yes, it is nice. I certainly want one now!
Posted by: Pixie Wildflower | July 24, 2008 at 07:00 AM
OMG Moshi Moshi is super cute! :)
Posted by: NOOS | July 25, 2008 at 04:44 AM
[this is good] I had to comment on this post!! OMG my girls age 8 and 11 love LPS! Sophia has a Moshi like you. Monique got the turtle. Its so fun playing the online game. The LPS toys they also collect and have over 35! I'm the one that buys them because they are so cute! LOL They also have a pink DS like you that I steal at night when they are asleep and play all there games. *evil laugh* My favorite one right now is "Drawn To Life" Try it you will be hooked because you are so creative you will draw awesome things for it.
Another online site we play is GirlsGoGames. I love to do the makeover/hair dressing games. You can really cut hair! Amazing
And last thing to get you hooked on...teehhee.....Zookazoo! Its a cute sight I signed my girls up for. But when they log on I find myself saying "let me chat!" The games are ok but the real fun is they meet other kids and can chat with them. They get buddies and go all around hanging out. Its very safe and secure.
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Steffy | July 25, 2008 at 04:07 PM
It's so cool to hear from a fellow LPS fan. I can totally understand why your girls love it. Man, I would have loved something like these plushies when I was little. <3
Haha, I love how you have fun with all of their toys when they're asleep. You know, my mom does the same thing with my toys sometimes. In fact, I'll find a lot of my dolls (especially Blythes) in my mom's room when I wake up in the morning. Or even if I leave my room for just a second, she snatches them away and displays them on her dresser. ^__^
I'm going to definitely look into Zookazoo. Thank you for the link! I really have fun checking out these new sites. Up above, Virna mentioned Gaia, and I've been playing it for the past few days, nonstop. I have a feeling these addictions are just going to keep growing.
Hope you have a good weekend, too, sweets! ^^
Posted by: Lauren | July 25, 2008 at 09:34 PM
hey great blog !!! Maybe they
sell large plush animals that you can use like a couch or chairs then they
could say your obsessed with plush animals!
Sounds like fun though there seems to be more and more of these type of online things from Webkin’s to Shining Stars ones for all ages and as long as your having fun enjoy it! also let me tell you Viagra Online is the best medication to cure ED
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