From the category archives:

play

1234 – making numbers for Birdie

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When I was making our advent calendar, Birdie only wanted to play with the little paper numbers I made for each of the pockets. To keep her occupied, I drew a couple of numbers on felt scraps – and realized we had a new toy! So I cut up a bunch of that gorgeous 100% [...]

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tattly easter eggs!

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One of the hidden bonuses of parenthood is finally rediscovering my need – no, dare I say, my duty – to celebrate all the little holidays that I’d grown lax about as a world-weary adult-type. I might even do something for St. Patrick’s Day. But I am most assuredly, definitely, absolutely, no-ifs-ands-or-buts going hog-wild for [...]

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mix-a-lot-a clump-o-lumps!

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Does that tiger stuffed animal on your kidlet’s bed seem a little too … normal? I’ve always wanted to try crossing a tiger’s stripes with a bumble bee’s, and I think every animal – even squid – deserves a chance to fly like a bluebird. I’d bet my bottom dollar most kids want to play [...]

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weekly round abouts #75

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Welcome to your weekend! But I believe what most of us are thinking is in fact: Thank the Gods Above that it’s finally March! I’ve been buried at my computer this week, working on some really fun new designs for a freelance project. So I was stunned when I took a breath and realized the [...]

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kid o kidopolis

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Kid O has new additions to their already stellar line of toys! Simple rolling stock options are actually kind of hard to come by, so I’m glad to see they’ve added basic airplanes and tugboats to their original Tip Truck. Looks like these beautes won’t be available for a couple of weeks yet, but grubby [...]

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hold me tight pillows & squish me please tees

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I think we all have a little mushy soft spot for blabla kids. I’m so glad to see them expanding their brand – they’re doing such an amazing job of being true to their image, but adding a broader variety of products (there are companies that really struggle with that, for some reason). Let’s explore a [...]

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for those little baby digits

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I had the honor of helping a brand new company, Guava Kids, with a product idea awhile ago (one that is still in the hamper, you’ll just have to keep watching Guava Kids!). Started by a couple of amazing moms, Guava Kids is all about finding real solutions to some of those simple things that [...]

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the animals from hazel village

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Honestly, this is probably a post that needs very few words. Becase Hazel Village, run by Jane, makes the most adorable little animals ever. And I think that’s pretty obvious from the pictures! You can cloth them in tailcoats ($8.50) and red bonnets too ($4.25) (see that photo below? yep, those!) Every child you know [...]

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warming up to the perfect rocker

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I love it when I have an email waiting for me that shares a cool new product like this one. Cuddle up to your own woolly sheep (when your tots aren’t cuddling it of course, maybe during naptime?) thanks to Max Tyrie and Bright Start Designs. Handmade with Baltic Birch and real sheepskin in California, [...]

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be my valentine’s

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If you’re looking for a thoughtful little Valentine’s gift for the kids in your life, Hearthsong has some awesome Valentine’s ideas. Though we all want it to be a holiday that is more personal than commercial, I think these ideas – and more at their site – help span the gap between the two. What [...]

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valentine’s toys are easy to lurve

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I’m not usually into hearts and pink and frills. In fact, my parents poke fun at me every time they notice a wayward heart or pink sock attach itself to Birdie. I think I’ve learned to give in to the smaller “accents” and worry more about the full-on head-to-toe pink ensembles! Ah, parenting, it’s really [...]

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a better doll: prudence dolls

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Without knowing any other details, Prudence dolls ($75 – $95) reached out to squeeze me from my very first glimpse of their sweet little faces. I mean, come on. How can you refuse. These Waldorf-style dolls feature the signature sculpted, wool-stuffed head and soft bodies of a standard Waldorf Doll. But the updated detailing, the [...]

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oh go outside & ogobild something

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Ok, maybe you don’t need to go outside if you’re in the far North like we are. But the phrase “Oh Go Outside” IS the story behind the name: Ogobild.  We’re looking for cabin fever busters around our neck of the woods, and Ogobild’s creative construction concepts are just right. Not only do you get [...]

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are we there yeti?

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We’ve had an unseasonably warm winter around here, and yet I can’t stop thinking about Yetis. Big, furry, warm-hearted beasts to go with my new fur-lined boots. Let me share some of my favorites with you, these may be appearing in my snow-filled dreams this very evening: (image above) Little Moog, from Hollow Shells, $50. [...]

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kaleidograph it

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Any time you can combine a little art, a lot of color, and endless pattern creations into an inexpensive toy for kids and adults you better believe I’ll be featuring it. Kaleidograph is a simple system of diecut cards that can be layered, relayered, flipped, and rotated into millions (they say 350 million!) of different [...]

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