Rainbow Maker

As the temperature creeps up it starts to be just as important as rainy-day season to have some inside entertainment lined up, for when it just gets too hot to do anything else. And while this is not necessarily a "toy" that can be played with, I imagine it to be quite magical with some summer sun behind it. The Double Rainbow Maker uses solar energy to spin two Swarovski crystals in opposite directions, sending rainbows swirling around your room. Can you imagine laying down for a nap, exhausted from the pool, fan blowing, rainbows dancing all over your room? I would love this thing even if I didn't have kids.

Find it here at the MoMA store.

Happy Weekend!

Signing off for the weekend! Going to take some nice long walks and add to our ever growing stick and rock collection. We couldn't possibly part with any of these precious items. Some of them even have nicknames. If your kids don't have any collections, let me recommend it to you. It doesn't have to be anything special, just something they can find and choose. My kids will randomly pull all these rocks and sticks out and play with them sorting, stacking, making up games and they love adding to the collection. Some of the rocks are from my collection when I was a kid and they love to hear how and where I got them. It doesn't cost us a thing, and it makes a pretty little display on their toy kitchen my pops made for them.

Enjoy your weekend!

First Birthday Gifts

I've got a couple first birthday's coming up (what's up Baby A.J.) and was recently asked by a friend for some suggestions for a first birthday party she's going to, so I thought I'd pass along my suggestions culled from my own two first birthday babies and what they really enjoyed.

In no particular order they are:

1. The "That's Not My..." book series by Usborne Touchy Feely - My kids loved the different textures and I loved the repetitive and quick read. At almost three and almost five they still pull these books out, and "read" them to me now. And with over twenty different books you're sure to find one that will interest your little yearling. Find them here.
2. The Wheely Ride-On Bug!! - oh how we love the Wheely. We actually bought a couple ride on toys for our youngest who wanted to keep up with big brother on his trike. But most traditional ride on toys would catch her back heel once she went any faster than a crawl. And our girl wanted to move (she took four steps the day she turned nine months, the girl had places to be)! She got the Wheely Ladybug for her first birthday and never looked back. The furniture caster wheels allow for a freedom of motion you can't get in other ride on toys, and allow for better control since your rider doesn't have to worry about running over their own toes. I'm saving this one for my grandkids I love it that much (and it still looks good enough to do that). It also comes in a ladybug, tiger, mouse and cow. Did I mention we love this thing? Find it here.
3. Plan Toys Xylophone and Punch and Drop - I've never met a baby who didn't like to bang. And bang. And bang some more. Nap. And then bang. Plan Toys makes the best eco-friendly, classic toys. And (scout's honor) this xylophone is the least annoying xylophone ever made. The wood gives it a mellow, pleasant sound, something akin to bamboo wind chime. The Punch and Drop is a great cause and effect toy, endlessly entertaining. Find them here or here.
4. Duck Pull Toy from Haba - Any pull toy is great, but I found the heavier wooden ones are easier to pull and don't topple like plastic or fabric ones. This one does a little waddle that still makes me giggle. Find it here at Oompa (which is a great site for unique toys!).
5. Eeboo Tot Tower - Stack 'em up, watch your bean gleefully knock 'em down. Stack 'em up, watch your bean gleefully knock 'em down. And repeat. Later they'll gleefully kick it down. Then they'll stack them by themselves, then cry when brother knocks it down and finally they will create elaborate ramps and cityscapes for their cars and princesses. Endless fun for years. Find them here.
6. Mello the Monster by gush4plush - For the most part, I would stay away from plush. More than likely the kid's already got a bursting menagerie of plush. People (myself included) can not stop themselves. But I make an exception for the handmade and unique. This squishy guy is just a tiny example of the bajillions of awesome stuff being sold by independent toy and plush makers, selling their wares at craft shows and online. Check out etsy.com or poppytalkhandmade.com. Find Mello here.

What about you? Do you have any suggestions for a first birthday party? What did your kids love at that age? I need 'em since I just gave out all my ideas. ;)

From the Desk of A.J. - The Perfect Baby Announcements

When I was nesting with our little dude…I was looking for the “perfect” everything. Perfect crib, perfect bedding, perfect wall art, perfect take home outfit, the list was endless.

Along with the perfs…I continuously changed my mind as to how I was going to announce him. Did I want to use the hospital picture (which was hilarious…but no I didn’t use), did I want to rush into a mega studio & do the usual naked baby on fluffy white/blue/green/ blanket, have someone come to the house (but that would have meant me having to make sure the house was clean…uh no), Candid snapshot at home…again…the list was endless.

Then I had to decide…classic announcement…classic…but with some funk…all funk? For some reason I thought that however I announced the babe…that was the final deal. I felt his birth announcement would somehow label him for the rest of his life (I know…so “dramatical” as the Hubster from the south says, he speaks Paula Dean sometime…its scary, but thats just me). Luckily I hit the baby announcement jackpot and found 2 amazing sites that tickled me fancy. The first…classic…but with a twist. The second…all twist.

Scrapless Press…amazing site that is sooooo sweet & easy to use. They have endless choices for birth announcements, invites (b-days, engagement, Christmas cards…you name it)…classic scrapbook feel…with a twist…and oh sooooo sweet. Family run (husband and wife team…LOVE THAT…any couple that can work and play together while raising a family gets 5 stars in my book...uh…love you honey).

Rattle -N –Roll…another hubby and wifey team (kudos again) that play up the vintage concert poster…big time. Send them a pic and they will “transform” you or your little one into a classic rock concert poster...too cool. Again…invites, birth announcements, anything you can think of…they’ll do.

So…these are my favs…went with Scrapless for the first “Here I am world”…but am thinking Rattle-N-Roll for the big b-day…these two sites have us all over them…classic-rock:)

Find Scrapless Press here and Rattle-N-Roll here.

Kindred Site

Some free summer love for your computer, courtesy of two of my favorite bloggers (decor8 and creature comforts). Use a new one each week! Love!

Find wallpapers and other free downloadables here.

Happy Weekend! - and Happy Father's Day!

Some Father's Day love for the weekend. Treat your's nice.

A great funny/sweet/poignant blog by a daddy:

1001 rules for my unborn son

A classic that always makes me tear up a bit:



Some silly papa fun:

Happy Father's Day Dads!!

Poisson Rouge

My kids are obsessed with the computer (and with a graphic designer daddy and a bloggin mama who could blame them!). They love to watch You Tube videos (currently we watch videos people take while on Disneyland rides, before that it was model trains) and love to play computer games. There are plenty of commercial sites with games (Disney, Nick, even Hot Wheels) but I'm never entirely comfortable with them playing those games for longer than a couple of minutes since they are basically a giant commercial wrapped up in a game. Looking around for "better" games (read - less likely to make my kids whine for a new toy) I came across Poisson Rouge. I love that all the games are intuitive, that is to say, there is no tiny Dora in the corner constantly barking commands, the kids have to figure out what the "point" of the game is and how to navigate through the site. You will be amazed at how easy that is for your tots! Even games I couldn't figure out my four year old had down pat in two minutes. It has a nice range of games, so that both my two year old and the four year old can play the games and neither is bored or frustrated. There is an English version and a French version, so your little one can brush up on his French nouns when the English version gets too boring. And to top it all off, it is free. Tres bien!

Find Poisson Rouge here.