ages 5 & up

playing outside the box

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Janod is a personal favorite – that French sensibility gets me every time. Plus, almost every toy they make exudes a rather timeless yet quirky quality. It sort of feels like the best bits of the last 60 or 70 years all rolled into several perfect pint-sized packages. In this case, that package is a [...]

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one little red fox is actually kind of big

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A little shop with a lot of designerly muscle, that’s what I like. I’ve loved One Little Red Fox’s spectacled plush toys for a long time now – I really want one for my shelf – and it appears they’ve reeled me in again. Now they’re creating anthropomorphized pouches. Adorable ones. I’m not sure if [...]

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I love moonlight

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It’s true, I really do love moonlight. But I Love Moonlight is also the name of a sweet shop full of sweeter animals. I’m guessing they all love moonlight, but some of them look like they might be a little scared of the dark. I have a soft spot for stuffed toys that look a [...]

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sling it everywhere!

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Have you noticed slingshots popping up everywhere we turn? Is it just me? They’re adorable, and very retro-cool. Yet, my first thought was: oh no, not a weapon for my kid! But, I’m actually coming around to the idea. It’s a big leap away from a toy gun. More importantly, you can shoot some pretty [...]

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what shall we play today?

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That’s what Collette Bream asks across the top of her Etsy shop, and it sums things up perfectly. I know around this house that question is asked many. many. many. times during the day. Her shop doesn’t give any kind of straightforward answer either. Instead, it feels like I’ve stepped into a perfectly curated little [...]

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have a little watermelon cat

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Wood plus whimsy plus the Netherlands plus a super silly fabulous name? That’s Watermelon Cat. There is a timeless quality to the designs that makes them feel decidely mid-century, in all of the best possible ways. I’m a big fan of any toy that doesn’t dumb it down for kids, and these toys are cool [...]

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tattooed, leggy, and beautiful

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In honor of modern retro-loving moms everywhere, today’s post features dolls made in their image, alongside the burly men they just might love. They are the kind of ladies I wish I knew, and dang, I wish I could wear a headscarf like these Betties! Elbojobo’s dolls are tattooed, leggy, beautiful, and retro suave. I’m [...]

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cardboard comes alive

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Things that move on their own are the most fascinating of objects. Is it just me, or do you want to know how they work as soon as you see them? Sometimes I think I should have been an engineer, though I’m fairly certain I lack the patience required. Now you can enjoy the fruits [...]

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the cat in the shoe is a doll

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Yesterday was one of those horrible, awful, no-good, go-back-to-bed kind of days. Please, by all things holy, let today be better. Or, I’m going to have to pretned I’m one of these pajama-clad girls from The Cat in the Shoe and just go back to bed. I could hide under the duvet with my iPad, [...]

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animals and creatures and dolls oh my!

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Jess Quinn is such an inspiration. I can hardly pick out only a few of her creations, her Etsy shop currently has 199 of them, and they’re all pretty damn amazing. She has such a unique perspective – it’s both completely endearing and a wee bit odd. But one of my favorite things about Quinn [...]

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grow your own hideaway

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Where the heck is Spring?! I’m getting desperate over here, and it sounds like much of the Northern half of the US is feeling the same way: cold. It has me double-duty daydreaming of plants in an almost obsessive way. I caught myself huffing the dirt of one of my houseplants the other day. Honestly, [...]

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teach them it’s a balancing act

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Games based on the good old-fashioned laws of physics are the perfect thing to pull a family together on game night. They don’t require advanced math or reading skills, which keeps a broad range of ages interested. The more physical game play is perfect for squirmy youngsters. Plus, the eventual collapse is the kind of [...]

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bring this doll to your tea party

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Even before I saw Oz the Great and Powerful last night (which we thoroughly enjoyed!), she had caught my eye. I think I go a little gaga for ball joints. Now, now, I’m talking about the elbows, the wrists, the knees, and the ankles of this adorable little doll. The China Girl from the movie [...]

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best bunnies for spring

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I suppose I’ll have to stop eventually, but I love giving Birdie a stuffed bunny as part of her Easter festivities. But I’m a toy lover! Give me any excuse and I will exploit it to find the perfect stuffed animal to fix the situation. I suppose if I don’t stop, we’ll be overrun with [...]

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be a part of the neighborhood

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It turns out I’ve been hoarding a fun project and not sharing it directly with all of my readers. It just hit me that there are 8 wonderful printables waiting for you over at the Neighborhood, and I forgot to let you know. How miserly of me! We’ve been creating these lovely little homes so [...]

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