No specials dropping from thought bubbles

Depending on your level and population, there are special items released every 24 hours. For my case, I receive 6x storage items, 5x land expansion, and 3x Vu.  Apparently if you do it long enough, you also get 1x each beach and mountain.  These items are released every 24 hours.   If you have "lost track" of that cycle, you must stop playing for 24 hours.  After that, you log in, and the thought bubbles will start spitting out specials.  remember the time you started this, as this will be the time on the following day that they are released.  If a cycle starts, and you don't know it, AND, wait for an hour before clicking thought bubbles, you won't get anything.

Best practice is to have 1x Maxis Manor, which also refreshes every 24 hours.  I timed my thought bubble prize cycle to happen when Maxis Manor offers a Vu item.  THis then gives me a visual reference when playing the game that a thought bubble cycle has started.

Important to note.  If you started a cycle at 12 noon today, then the cycle will start again at noon tomorrow.  If you don't play until 2pm, the cycle starts then, and for Wednesday, the cycle will start at 2pm.  It is always based on 24 hours from the last time you started a cycle.  same thing for Maxis Manor.  Hope that makes sense.  Hope this helps.