Sometimes it's fun to be part of a trend. Sometimes you need to know what's popular in order to avoid it.

And sometimes it's just plain interesting to watch the search trends at Google.

The Ann Arbor office of the search-engine giant recently sent over a list of the leading searches for this holiday season.

Here's the 12 top searches in toys, movies and games:

• Juegos de vestir (dressup games) • GI Joe • Dollhouse • Barbie games • Sims 3 • Streetfighter • Juegos de Mario (Mario games) • Mario Bros. • Transformers 2 • Weeds, Season 5 • Twilight DVD release • Fast and Furious

I don't speak Spanish, but gave it a go on the pair of "juegos" listed (thanks, Google translator). Turns out, this list is more like a top 11, since Mario Bros. and Mario games refer to the same Nintendo character (one that at least two people in my own house are obsessing over this holiday season).

The dressup games - well, I'm not so sure about this trend. I've noticed some "Project Runway" type games at both Sam's Club and Learning Express during recent visits, so maybe fashion designing is taking off for kids. That one hasn't - and won't - end up under my Christmas tree. Ditto anything to do with "Twilight" (if I can keep my near-teen away from that phenomenon).

I can't call myself a trend-follower on the movie front, either, but do appreciate the "Weeds" set on the list, since I was gifted with Season One last year.

The most comforting aspects of this list? There's at least some familiarity to me: Barbie, GI Joe and dollhouses.

Paula Gardner is Business Director of AnnArbor.com. Follow our "Holiday '09" coverage throughout the season here. Send story ideas or comments to Paula by email or at (734) 623-2586.