tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28830789059857704522024-02-19T16:04:26.565-05:00Sara's Toy BoxBecause toys are fun all year - here are our reviews of toys and toy sites, instructions to make your own fun toys, and our own views about imaginative play.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.comBlogger329125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-8698545118735000622014-01-08T11:11:00.005-05:002014-01-08T11:13:03.753-05:00New Blog!!I'm sorry to say that while I was living my busy life, we have outgrown this blog. I have more time now, and Ari and I are working on a new blog,. <a href="http://mynerdybirdy.blogspot.com/">My Nerdy Birdy</a>. will be launching on February 1, 2014.
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The new blog will have some toy reviews, but that won't be our focus. Instead, the new blog will emphasize science for preteen girls. But, it won't be like any other blog out there. We'll learn science while doing fun projects and crafts and talk about how science is part of every day life. And, everything will have Ari's seal of approval.
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Come visit.
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-88664915613002870122011-07-18T19:42:00.000-04:002013-01-02T15:46:01.470-05:00Hey There.... Not Missing, Just RegroupingHello! Thanks for hanging in there! I started working full time last summer(sometimes more than full time), and it was getting hard to keep up with the blog. I was exhausted and needed a break.<br />
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Since starting school, the way the girls spend their time has changed. Arielle and Linnea have strong interests now and I it's my job to encourage those interests, even if sometimes I end up buying products that are plastic or made in China. So, the the blog is going to adapt, but I hope to bring you plenty of product reviews, projects, and play ideas.<br />
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I'm going to try for weekly posts. In addition, I will be putting together some PDF's with additional projects. I'm not quite sure how I'll be making these available yet, but stay tuned.<br />
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Here are some preview pictures:<br />
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See you soon!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-25783013973340778822010-12-30T20:55:00.001-05:002010-12-30T20:58:43.270-05:00A barn for your animals and 25% off at Rosie HippoFirst of all, if you have Christmas money to spend, <a href="http://www.rosiehippo.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Rosie Hippo</strong></a> still has 25% off all toys through January 1. Even better, Rosie Hippo is supporting <a href="http://roomtogrow.org/" target="_blank">RoomtoGrow.org</a> by donating one toy to a child born into poverty for each order over $100; however, this ends at midnight December 31. A great opportunity to stock up for birthdays.<br />
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Now to the toy review......<br />
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<strong>Creche or <a href="http://www.rosiehippo.com/p-906-creche-little-barn.aspx" target="_blank">Little Barn</a> ($40.00)</strong><br />
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I have been admiring this wooden toy barn for a long time and was so happy to be able to review this toy. Earlier this month, my children had seen the play "Charlotte's Web" at our local high school and they were having fun playing "pig on the farm" with their <a href="http://www.rosiehippo.com/c-28-wooden-animals.aspx" target="_blank">Holztiger animals</a>. The barn reminded me of the set of the play.<br />
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This was supposed to be a pre-Holiday review. Unfortunately, poor barn went to my old address (oops!) and arrived a few days after Christmas. I apologize profusely if anyone is saying "Darn! That would have been the perfect gift!" But, birthdays, Valentine's Day, Easter, feeling down, and snow are all good gift giving occasions.<br />
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Santa loves to bring us Holztiger, so the new animals were happy to have a new home. In fact, here are the animal families all lined to ask Santa to bring them a new barn....<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have to laugh because we spent a lot of time at the mall in a very similar line. </div><br />
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So the happy animals got their new barn and the girls did play "Charlotte's Web". I dug up a plastic Halloween spider to be Charlotte.<br />
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So, Wilbur and Charlotte spent some quiet time together while Arielle dug out the rest of the farm animals.<br />
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They all agreed, it is a nice barn. The wood is smooth. It's easy for children to get their hands in.<br />
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Look, Fern is a princess!<br />
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And, everyone played nicely together.<br />
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The barn arrives packed flat and does require some easy assembly - but, a child can do it. There are no screws or nails, so if you are short on storage space, it quickly comes apart for storage. But, it would also look really cute set up on a dresser or shelf.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">There is an optional star, so it can be used for nativity scenes (or to hold a rooster). It would be adorable with <a href="http://www.rosiehippo.com/c-97-up-to-6.aspx" target="_blank">dollhouse dolls</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I know this barn will be used a lot. Thank you, Rosie Hippo. And, everyone else, check out the sale and help a good cause.</div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-72457401769108381972010-12-15T11:49:00.002-05:002010-12-15T19:18:46.282-05:00Wonderworld Shape SorterThis month we reviewed the <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Wonderworld-WED-3047-WRW1033.html#ReviewHeader">Wonderworld Waggy Garden Shape Sorter.</a> This is not my first shape sorter, my son had several when he was a toddler. Some we still have minus a few pieces. However, I honestly absolutely love this Wonderworld shape sorter. I think it is really cute, super easy to use, and a toy that is so well made it will be able to grow with my toddler.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This shape sorter is rated 18 months and up. Princess P is 16 months old, and our special needs sweetheart. She sustained a birth injury and had a rough first year, so we are always looking for great developmental toys that will grow with her. Even at 16 months old she truly enjoyed this toy, and from a therapeutic perspective it addresses many areas of development. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The cuteness factor is also an important one, I mean tiny little bugs? So very cute. I think this is definitely the best looking shape sorter out there. You have a bee triangle, a ladybug square, a snail half circle and a caterpillar circle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite feature is the elastic bands on the bottom of the sorter, a perfect way to remove the shapes, even accessible to little hands. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P hasn't quite gotten the idea yet, and kept trying to get the shapes out through the sides. :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Big brother Q just had to get in on the fun, taking pride in showing P something he had mastered. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTz_iIE5hV9K1INpG__vKHfHgaLjliYNbySdq4mQ5GP5T6z9IMn-bBombw7oimJrJSmNHwmu7nGx2sjS0Z7ZSFuvO9Hu527I2YhqaLPskiNXLj-j4DmMi-sqqUfBhaTWKXwJIRPbshw/s1600/DSC_3847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTz_iIE5hV9K1INpG__vKHfHgaLjliYNbySdq4mQ5GP5T6z9IMn-bBombw7oimJrJSmNHwmu7nGx2sjS0Z7ZSFuvO9Hu527I2YhqaLPskiNXLj-j4DmMi-sqqUfBhaTWKXwJIRPbshw/s400/DSC_3847.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">even the taste test passed muster</td></tr>
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<div>Another great feature is the little bugs on the side of the sorter that live on a zig zag track. P loved playing with them, and they are great for refining fine motor skills!</div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Wonderworld-WED-3047-WRW1033.html#ReviewHeader">Wonderworld Waggy Garden Nature Themed Shape Discovery and Play set</a> is available at <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/">Toys and Games Online</a> for $23.00. (a 23% savings over SRP) I would recommend this toy for any toddler, from 12-36 months. </div><div><br />
<a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/">Toys and Games Online</a> has generously agreed to a $25 give away! Go to their site and pick your favorite toddler toy, and mention it in the comments. We will draw a winner in a week. Good luck!<br />
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</div></div>Angelikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17743424270108124590noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-14766969516493101462010-12-07T11:16:00.001-05:002010-12-07T11:16:57.828-05:00Last Day - Jingle Bells for Jennic AuctionJust a reminder: Bidding ends sometime in the wee hours of tomorrow morning and we've got lots of great holiday gifts. Check out <a href="http://hyenacart.com/SarasToyBox/mt/2865/28014/Violet-A-Bamboletta-Doll" target="_blank">Violet,</a> a <a href="http://bamboletta.com/" target="_blank">Bamboletta Doll</a>.<br />
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<div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw2rH6EjfYiT28SRJ5wK6JOCuulI2GwF-ezu6B-TxeBolaDbD5YmBM_zrDlmq8-rcbEYo-30YOyj8PWj5EEb_X095CA-aQ_HrQLFsMPVCiCf1SpZTHTnNzRTbZp9pwKnV9JfuQCuFjddL/s1600/DSC_0116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw2rH6EjfYiT28SRJ5wK6JOCuulI2GwF-ezu6B-TxeBolaDbD5YmBM_zrDlmq8-rcbEYo-30YOyj8PWj5EEb_X095CA-aQ_HrQLFsMPVCiCf1SpZTHTnNzRTbZp9pwKnV9JfuQCuFjddL/s320/DSC_0116.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><br />
<div></div>There are many other fun toys. Our sponsors include:<br />
<ul><li>A Toy Garden </li>
<li>Auntie Jill</li>
<li>Baby's Toy Emporium </li>
<li>Bagnall Woodworks</li>
<li>Bamboletta Dolls </li>
<li>Bella Luna Toys </li>
<li>Blue Orange Games </li>
<li>BoomBoom Cards</li>
<li>Chalais Associates </li>
<li>Challenge & Fun</li>
<li>Charlie Hope </li>
<li>Down To Earth Toys</li>
<li>Ecoleeko</li>
<li>Ectrophy Science </li>
<li>Franklin Goose </li>
<li>Green Toys Inc</li>
<li>Haba USA</li>
<li>Hazelnut Kids </li>
<li>Hip Mountain Mama</li>
<li>KangarooBoo</li>
<li>Kiddo Tags</li>
<li>Lady Madonna Pottery </li>
<li>Magic Cabin</li>
<li>Marci Davis </li>
<li>Mary's Soft Dough</li>
<li>New Chapter </li>
<li>Nielsen's Trading</li>
<li>Pax Baby</li>
<li>Plan Toys USA </li>
<li>Polkadot Patch Boutique </li>
<li>Rosie Hippo</li>
<li>S-Renee Designs </li>
<li>Sarah's Silks </li>
<li>Stubby Pencil Studio</li>
<li>The Backyard Armory </li>
<li>Willow Baus</li>
<li>Wood Toy Shop LLC </li>
<li>Yubo Lunchboxes</li>
</ul>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-15254910932349259312010-12-02T10:55:00.000-05:002010-12-02T10:55:23.646-05:00Captain Jack's Venture ShipMy baby boy turned 4 last week and we had a swashbuckling Pirate Party to celebrate. What 4 year old boys doesn't love pirates? Furthermore, what group of preschoolers doesn't love a costume party? We had a grand old time celebrating, with dozens of little pirates running amok. Q's big gift for his birthday, and the hands down favorite toy of the party, was <a href="http://www.sensationalbeginnings.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=G+2+8100X">Captain Jack's Venture ship</a>.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a large and well made toy by any standard. It took my husband about an hour to assemble, with minimal outbursts. What I did not realize when I ordered this gift, is what an lifelike replica of a ship it would be. The Venture Ship has working sails, a plank that can be put out if one of the pirates steps out of line, cannons that move around actually fire little cannonball sticks! The base of the ship comes out and you can store items in the hold. It is truly incredible. There is even a working captain's wheel and a crows nest to post your lookout. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This toy provides hours of imaginative entertainment in our house. Frankly, I am not sure who enjoys it more, Q or his Daddy. The ship was listed as ages 4 and up. I would say that is a little generous. I think 5 and up would have been better. My 4 year old loves it, to be sure, but really needs an adult to play with him. The sails are a bit tricky, and when they come apart they definitely take an adult to re-rig. We had this out on the play table during our pirate party, and it took my husband another hour to fix all the nets and sails after the kids went home. The kids didn't care, and had to be dragged away just to have cake. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of my favorite features of the ship is that the whole thing is on wheels. We take it down and pretend the living room is the ocean and steer the ship through the crashing waves. Even my one year old gets in on the action crawling after the ship and pushing it around. She is fascinated by the nets on the side and likes to chase after the boat and snap the nets. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z11DTF4MM0Lsm_JWdPiVio3OpWE9lYYSXKw53Kh_70px8vkHq1l7c2xe7mEjfvcSaq0KEKBynplu-jaZFS3O1GrQC4BglDofoAE2Soi6Gra4F7FMCmqpVgaP3Q7eJ0YmNn2yAEs6EQ/s1600/DSC_3600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z11DTF4MM0Lsm_JWdPiVio3OpWE9lYYSXKw53Kh_70px8vkHq1l7c2xe7mEjfvcSaq0KEKBynplu-jaZFS3O1GrQC4BglDofoAE2Soi6Gra4F7FMCmqpVgaP3Q7eJ0YmNn2yAEs6EQ/s400/DSC_3600.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Captain Jack's Venture ship comes with the ship with working sails and masts, crow's nest, captain's wheel, 3 pirates, cannons and cannon balls. We bought it at <a href="http://www.sensationalbeginnings.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=G+2+8100">Sensational Beginnings</a> for $139.95. You can also purchase the <a href="http://www.sensationalbeginnings.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=G+2+811X">Pelican Landing Dock</a> separately for $69.95. The landing dock comes with ramps and docks, a working crane and hoist, a pirate, 3 pelicans and a treasure chest. The crane was the first thing to go at the party. Too many 4 year old boys vying for the power position. It was mended easily enough when they left. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Captain Jack's Venture ship truly is fun for the whole family! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Angelikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17743424270108124590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-28006679619671543682010-12-01T15:41:00.002-05:002010-12-01T15:45:35.976-05:00Season of Light - Making CandlesRecently, <a href="http://www.atoygarden.com/" target="_blank">A Toy Garden</a> sent us a candle-making kit to review. The girls were so excited when they heard we were going to make candles to decorate the Thanksgiving table.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1968" target="_blank">Multicolored Beeswax Candle Making Kit</a> ($19.95)</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zQeGP5DKaopXmLzUBlrbOirOCsPqySPsOfFhhqL0pG30orjMNay_mkdkNbDP-QYK9I5dnhLCd6qsuqDr9L78QlQdt2O6e_jh2IAQZf9fh9kUqJ_28kjyDsv2CV37-gCAdvKCcav7salE/s1600/candle+kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zQeGP5DKaopXmLzUBlrbOirOCsPqySPsOfFhhqL0pG30orjMNay_mkdkNbDP-QYK9I5dnhLCd6qsuqDr9L78QlQdt2O6e_jh2IAQZf9fh9kUqJ_28kjyDsv2CV37-gCAdvKCcav7salE/s1600/candle+kit.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After my little "we can only have fun if we listen" speech, I handed each girl a sheet of beeswax.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"This is going to turn into a candle?!?" </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeQHyq0YXPC9NoiUsDP66q8ly_9YTDFqMUqY5F5MlN2PneNaCl8hvg3H1SClekvWtbu0Z9iFdewurKC3ZPO7t9_zQo9RbzCH2CWgOgta566yLEjURVWXHuq4qjITfWsco8joA_HclPC-t/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeQHyq0YXPC9NoiUsDP66q8ly_9YTDFqMUqY5F5MlN2PneNaCl8hvg3H1SClekvWtbu0Z9iFdewurKC3ZPO7t9_zQo9RbzCH2CWgOgta566yLEjURVWXHuq4qjITfWsco8joA_HclPC-t/s320/054.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnea smelled hers....mmmmm....beeswax. There's just a touch of honey scent.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2I3YbyL1RjdjgtHcRg9T6KbWMWMPVv8wYt1bs3kpVn7TPQCAnEjCOtpGL8sr65SPNNp-4RnDWX1BLUOpR5mmi63wjl5IYmAY6U-dRhvtBRd9oeO6OBudLImvsa-T42l9da3s2YNa3nECo/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2I3YbyL1RjdjgtHcRg9T6KbWMWMPVv8wYt1bs3kpVn7TPQCAnEjCOtpGL8sr65SPNNp-4RnDWX1BLUOpR5mmi63wjl5IYmAY6U-dRhvtBRd9oeO6OBudLImvsa-T42l9da3s2YNa3nECo/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I showed them how to roll the wax. Our house is chilly, so we warmed the sheet with a hair dryer first. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1Y43KMqdntfOGiszQYDP39VEytWODgnY2G-GylUnkBfmWgKaWlHofCqB0b_RhFgcXamRSj3mx_IK3TJMFn1ASX_uT66eOfnWaKAMnOwb9cJIUn2KBhktW6OmYUYJ52IgrZpeGnXCYsIl/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1Y43KMqdntfOGiszQYDP39VEytWODgnY2G-GylUnkBfmWgKaWlHofCqB0b_RhFgcXamRSj3mx_IK3TJMFn1ASX_uT66eOfnWaKAMnOwb9cJIUn2KBhktW6OmYUYJ52IgrZpeGnXCYsIl/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Look how careful Arielle is.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbUf0aQd2Mxek2CQ7LmdR0_h44yFdxjk7V-5J5c_7lMXfdQmw-g9EJ2eqFQ16_U9XoUoKJIRswEJeFMgHixkvfaSQXCJBZ6y_zC5ZT9TxWE0SuCXu-RlwEo864U5EMVGKoGYYkcaO11Gn/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbUf0aQd2Mxek2CQ7LmdR0_h44yFdxjk7V-5J5c_7lMXfdQmw-g9EJ2eqFQ16_U9XoUoKJIRswEJeFMgHixkvfaSQXCJBZ6y_zC5ZT9TxWE0SuCXu-RlwEo864U5EMVGKoGYYkcaO11Gn/s320/058.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Linnea is all done. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-xd6QYSf0Pqoc0vsDpG4OMhNl5bX23FF9yic9u52mDwfkhzlrV5LFFG0l1tKnvMsHM64xJwNe5_gx0_aHaRDlbfQKyTvvHXY7d8Hq_dT68Fd1HJmFJJOEWqOLM8TNQ8zNdIprg0INC-o/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-xd6QYSf0Pqoc0vsDpG4OMhNl5bX23FF9yic9u52mDwfkhzlrV5LFFG0l1tKnvMsHM64xJwNe5_gx0_aHaRDlbfQKyTvvHXY7d8Hq_dT68Fd1HJmFJJOEWqOLM8TNQ8zNdIprg0INC-o/s320/059.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Look, Mom!" She was so proud. This is a great project for preschoolers like Linnea who like quick results. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyCR2CT7B6osU08szFEYde7Tg01B7owSgsIfi9xzpvBgfel1YKPg754rGuLLGtPUTE1Jwu7aG6u_w0YpPvYjgFRCaF_noVd4W_HI-W8OvV5ln_m-htCMRCHDK-QL91PiD-zApLD3h4nB2/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyCR2CT7B6osU08szFEYde7Tg01B7owSgsIfi9xzpvBgfel1YKPg754rGuLLGtPUTE1Jwu7aG6u_w0YpPvYjgFRCaF_noVd4W_HI-W8OvV5ln_m-htCMRCHDK-QL91PiD-zApLD3h4nB2/s320/060.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Arielle was still working.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOudOZDNjE92VE3Uv5eTwgRKAocP6tAGzFLB3j-q0ymdd6SrTcfjCqxpbpBwL_xaHHVOwnlo3muMOScniLZBvSm21EL-Ck-aTCZNlI7HVNshN2tcIh0f8BLxmD2UeIZGa2szjtItFgm3MX/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOudOZDNjE92VE3Uv5eTwgRKAocP6tAGzFLB3j-q0ymdd6SrTcfjCqxpbpBwL_xaHHVOwnlo3muMOScniLZBvSm21EL-Ck-aTCZNlI7HVNshN2tcIh0f8BLxmD2UeIZGa2szjtItFgm3MX/s320/061.JPG" width="212" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Toy Garden also sent <strong><a href="http://a%20toy%20garden%20also%20sent%20stockmar%20wax%20sheets%20($31.95)/">Stockmar Wax Sheets</a> ($31.95)</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhK8gdY-d6u6pE-fvL3DkDdRlwV6n6vFBVPmoqoORafTF45qkwNylqAaNjdRaLU_wdi1rh5PLSnYiO38RMzbrE2oTH2zDDvtXlIyKp5YTvNBQCemRN0mfCfwYr4_I20UeQ6FR4qElHFXf/s1600/wax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhK8gdY-d6u6pE-fvL3DkDdRlwV6n6vFBVPmoqoORafTF45qkwNylqAaNjdRaLU_wdi1rh5PLSnYiO38RMzbrE2oTH2zDDvtXlIyKp5YTvNBQCemRN0mfCfwYr4_I20UeQ6FR4qElHFXf/s320/wax.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We used small cookie cutters to cut out leaves and other shapes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLN73dLIsAWgSnt1PRFTDeGKveF3qlY6oBXawPvMUesjmrUjqYMNu_nnKKduTNL11C2Qm_e-lsBM5BwSKBmQUPqcSTEKHWZ6iKFMUA-K7HvAnuNvYKEnZfKwHqXFM24H6fTwdmPrK3m27/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLN73dLIsAWgSnt1PRFTDeGKveF3qlY6oBXawPvMUesjmrUjqYMNu_nnKKduTNL11C2Qm_e-lsBM5BwSKBmQUPqcSTEKHWZ6iKFMUA-K7HvAnuNvYKEnZfKwHqXFM24H6fTwdmPrK3m27/s320/062.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> We just wrapped them around the candles and pressed them on.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09rKPIP8dzgxXCzOpTbmLU11k9RSioxW6G1zfRpTIZ47_KcOgSqQLHzvYJcpclOwHlv5oojrL7loHPSn39o7XDtLcujQkgsbC_uP-hOriWdJpb0cOYUeawgyfb7N4rKYGInySmHeXxMeF/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09rKPIP8dzgxXCzOpTbmLU11k9RSioxW6G1zfRpTIZ47_KcOgSqQLHzvYJcpclOwHlv5oojrL7loHPSn39o7XDtLcujQkgsbC_uP-hOriWdJpb0cOYUeawgyfb7N4rKYGInySmHeXxMeF/s320/063.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful!!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_ynJtbLLxx94_jWUaPb80fWewQbTCIvKSbR6oP62Vf_Q0yyXJKEcwimz4y43Rehc1TZkUqTG7i_bXjn29228cJBTp2ketALAJie9A6o_fdsU5qPArz2I_2yCw5xm7LNEP_wEGjIk_t4-/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_ynJtbLLxx94_jWUaPb80fWewQbTCIvKSbR6oP62Vf_Q0yyXJKEcwimz4y43Rehc1TZkUqTG7i_bXjn29228cJBTp2ketALAJie9A6o_fdsU5qPArz2I_2yCw5xm7LNEP_wEGjIk_t4-/s320/085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1MpJ2E_HtTQZgP0QEDUofvsyq3ft_spx3O4XqTzS_Eg_NEkfGt3z6sV0JjtX57d06EeuUBFeu6ofK8TWtpWsZ0f9RsfR6BZwOd19DEhUJRLuhSS0pZX1Qbk8l6sYEuDmTcX_6VmtgiF1/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1MpJ2E_HtTQZgP0QEDUofvsyq3ft_spx3O4XqTzS_Eg_NEkfGt3z6sV0JjtX57d06EeuUBFeu6ofK8TWtpWsZ0f9RsfR6BZwOd19DEhUJRLuhSS0pZX1Qbk8l6sYEuDmTcX_6VmtgiF1/s320/069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The girls got lots of compliments on their hard work.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a great holiday craft. You could make it a family tradition. I think we will. The candle making kit is also available in <a href="http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=2715" target="_blank">Christmas</a> or <a href="http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=154" target="_blank">Hannukah</a> colors (make your own Hannukah candles - cool!) and in <a href="http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=2723" target="_blank">natural beeswax</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, check out A Toy Garden for stuffing stuffers and unique holiday decor. Arielle loves the child-sizes cardinal wreath ($14.95) that decorates her door.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtiSBVwYLEUcZzxKIunmbqKiIsatumkSc8GKfsC6Mi2UR1leATxtyc90rCDp1l4rsuaLocrKR7Hp3fEtchrFbzfwrJWP2qrJ180e37IMmeDbNPMyyHicj49VAyLJgyTIX7J4zol01LHiH/s1600/childs+wreath+cardinals+3+101028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtiSBVwYLEUcZzxKIunmbqKiIsatumkSc8GKfsC6Mi2UR1leATxtyc90rCDp1l4rsuaLocrKR7Hp3fEtchrFbzfwrJWP2qrJ180e37IMmeDbNPMyyHicj49VAyLJgyTIX7J4zol01LHiH/s1600/childs+wreath+cardinals+3+101028.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you, A Toy Garden! This was a super fun review. We'll definitely do this again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-22000942201129366002010-12-01T13:55:00.000-05:002010-12-01T13:55:09.174-05:00Our Favorite MusicIt is pretty much a miracle when a child wants to hear a song over and over again for more than two hours and mom doesn't mind. What was the song? "I'm Me!" by Charlie Hope.<br />
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I love, but was getting tired of the They Might Be Giants and Laurie Berkner that we always listen to, and I wanted something different. So, I bought <a href="http://www.kangarooboo.com/product/details/2046-Charlie-Hope-Im-Me" target="_blank"><em>I'm Me!</em></a> and <a href="http://www.kangarooboo.com/product/details/2139-Charlie-Hope-World-of-Dreams" target="_blank"><em>World of Dreams</em></a> ($14.99 each). The girls loved them -- Especially <em>I'm Me!</em><br />
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The title song is about how pretending to be something like a lion doesn't change who you are inside. It has lots of animal sounds and Linnea loves to sing along at the top of her lungs. Another favorite for Linnea is "Frog Song". It is a counting down song with some silliness thrown in. And she likes the classics "Mr. Sun" and "Roll Over". I just played the song and she came running. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9BYFALnm5pBLID_WEpoKtKpkDP72Pu5bgkGkcjz_N0uN_afYV-O9AVwfRaNWCAAMKaYaaUC_mmzAr7Ed2HvVJVr1n4S3E6GfiP2ugPAWRxDdOv_uYLcpuc8b8r4BO0iDBTusnazlzK62/s1600/charlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9BYFALnm5pBLID_WEpoKtKpkDP72Pu5bgkGkcjz_N0uN_afYV-O9AVwfRaNWCAAMKaYaaUC_mmzAr7Ed2HvVJVr1n4S3E6GfiP2ugPAWRxDdOv_uYLcpuc8b8r4BO0iDBTusnazlzK62/s320/charlie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Arielle likes <em>I'm Me!,</em> but she insists on the lullabies in <em>World of Dreams</em> for bedtime. The sound is soft and soothing without being sticky sweet. Charlie's voice is beautiful and has a very modern tone.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidYFseREH9PAhQ-qBYxEPmYpi2xHJohN0IfcLyJhepus0b836QOMWgzglfcGCEd6RFZ2eOTjjhBn7o60DgfzD3ehmApzHl0eSofA2T_vT1DE7GR_vFfQPr8Oz3QotxD3M5-aGsgIwXWDU/s1600/charlie+hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidYFseREH9PAhQ-qBYxEPmYpi2xHJohN0IfcLyJhepus0b836QOMWgzglfcGCEd6RFZ2eOTjjhBn7o60DgfzD3ehmApzHl0eSofA2T_vT1DE7GR_vFfQPr8Oz3QotxD3M5-aGsgIwXWDU/s320/charlie+hope.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The really cool thing is that Charlie Hope donated a <a href="http://hyenacart.com/SarasToyBox/mt/2865/50712/Personal-Concert-with-Charlie-Hope" target="_blank">personal concert to our auction</a>. Unfortunately, the concert is limited to CA, OR, WA, NY, NJ, RI, MA, as well as southern ME, VT and NH. Charlie can also perform in Canada in Greater Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. So, if you live in any of these places, what a great deal! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Otherwise, the CDs are available at <a href="http://www.kangarooboo.com/" target="_blank">KangarooBoo</a> and would make excellent holiday gifts.</div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-67914603000901481072010-11-30T17:22:00.002-05:002010-11-30T17:23:56.526-05:00Coming soon.....<div style="text-align: center;">Another review/giveaway from Toys and Games Online. Toys and Games online is part of the larger family of CSN stores which sells everything from <a href="http://www.luggage.com/Kids-Backpacks-C55464.html" target="_blank">kids backpacks</a> to <a href="http://www.csnstores.com/Cribs-C216066.html" target="_blank">cribs</a>. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN9sKRersw9MrjEJYksCxKcYnabNmcKdlVefNE8rbk77o-qy_Heix9gugXH3ewuoq3PH6cAdlGzLxlvOOnb7gvvX_K_Vu-2MSw8ZqVsnhmxa0xbAeY342nv7JXwyTqqkyRzIb5ReWcWCn/s1600/owly+pack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN9sKRersw9MrjEJYksCxKcYnabNmcKdlVefNE8rbk77o-qy_Heix9gugXH3ewuoq3PH6cAdlGzLxlvOOnb7gvvX_K_Vu-2MSw8ZqVsnhmxa0xbAeY342nv7JXwyTqqkyRzIb5ReWcWCn/s320/owly+pack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We use this <a href="http://www.luggage.com/Skip-Hop-210204-HOP1182.html" target="_blank"><strong>owl backpack</strong></a><strong> ($20.00)</strong> for ballet.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This month, Angelika will be reviewing toys for toddlers.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you, <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/" target="_blank">Toys and Games Online</a>!</div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-54286903620870608412010-11-30T17:02:00.000-05:002010-11-30T17:02:01.548-05:00Ooooh... 15% Off at Rosie Hippo<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ready for holiday shopping? </span><a href="http://www.rosiehippo.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rosie Hippo</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> has given us a code for 15% off purchases until the end of the year. Just type in "TOYBOX10" and it is good until 12/31/2010.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I plan to use the code to buy Holztiger animals for stocking stuffers. Santa brings a few every year, and it has added up to a nice collection. Girly-girl Linnea will love the little pets like this <strong><a href="http://www.rosiehippo.com/p-394-kitten.aspx#" target="_blank"><>kitten</a> ($9.00).</strong></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd9LjEhLnTO6lb89lziWnUvTVTFaqjgHyGu3oBOnL91OtlHHOrnB5Ci1Ud6E0nZI0Vzi_AhHh-2yCZEi5mEyZo2PpM7Q94z74WWfnXi8oKS2Zv6NEmR0Y9TrEclU9yUAgxbsW_UFaTInf/s1600/kitten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd9LjEhLnTO6lb89lziWnUvTVTFaqjgHyGu3oBOnL91OtlHHOrnB5Ci1Ud6E0nZI0Vzi_AhHh-2yCZEi5mEyZo2PpM7Q94z74WWfnXi8oKS2Zv6NEmR0Y9TrEclU9yUAgxbsW_UFaTInf/s640/kitten.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arielle is interested in exploring Australia. So, I'm choosing Australian animals for her, like <strong><a href="http://www.rosiehippo.com/p-500-kangaroo-with-joey.aspx" target="_blank"><>Mama Kangaroo</a> with a joey in her pouch ($15.00).</strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Trp-Bga8nqvnZoQ7SfAUZB-38YWrIg8c8ZnXhGx6PaNayZSUjubbivZKbYDiWWnvhcTEZ7ZqHYWqEobFu5geEqNXNrtY5C3QIMhutdUkhCIJbySntyvWJmUbRUML0GyYl6fGM_Pg22gI/s1600/kangaroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Trp-Bga8nqvnZoQ7SfAUZB-38YWrIg8c8ZnXhGx6PaNayZSUjubbivZKbYDiWWnvhcTEZ7ZqHYWqEobFu5geEqNXNrtY5C3QIMhutdUkhCIJbySntyvWJmUbRUML0GyYl6fGM_Pg22gI/s320/kangaroo.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this big, 10 1/4 inch long </span><a href="http://www.rosiehippo.com/p-485-crocodile.aspx" target="_blank"><><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">crocodile</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ($18.00).</span></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2xJDqtNTdQXedH1jkHVExOeaGuCIyoPW0tXLCjYYH_zbGUAArlnel5JUuznWVxK0eSi1Bhyphenhyphent2i7EiFz_nq8RG0qvQ_giwEa_WWfqtPUzS-Fm1dM66_qicG1H0EO0Oqluy5iIiObBhk37/s1600/croc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2xJDqtNTdQXedH1jkHVExOeaGuCIyoPW0tXLCjYYH_zbGUAArlnel5JUuznWVxK0eSi1Bhyphenhyphent2i7EiFz_nq8RG0qvQ_giwEa_WWfqtPUzS-Fm1dM66_qicG1H0EO0Oqluy5iIiObBhk37/s320/croc.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rosie Hippo carries a large selection of natural, organic and Earth friendly toys. If you are looking for a toddler dream gift, check out the </span><a href="http://www.rosiehippo.com/p-1110-rocking-dory-40-off.aspx" target="_blank"><><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rocking dory</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> ($195 on sale)</strong> that Rosie Hippo donated for our </span><a href="http://hyenacart.com/SarasToyBox/mt/2865/94446/A-Boatload-of-Toys-from-Rosie-Hippo" target="_blank"><><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Holiday Giving Auction</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mWP-kMx6lQ6Y026ylxS3pi4f4Ih8pN0ofjbgd8GAf65VepyKrjut2-GpoDkwMBktut-s21RdE9IBmNnLRTTsbEEJRNmU_xkBKYZchnqoXuMeyekTWg5GbY1Gu4EOyzOZJ9PyZ_tUUPk_/s1600/dory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="242" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mWP-kMx6lQ6Y026ylxS3pi4f4Ih8pN0ofjbgd8GAf65VepyKrjut2-GpoDkwMBktut-s21RdE9IBmNnLRTTsbEEJRNmU_xkBKYZchnqoXuMeyekTWg5GbY1Gu4EOyzOZJ9PyZ_tUUPk_/s320/dory.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you, Rosie Hippo!</span>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-37701454192802600822010-11-18T20:38:00.002-05:002010-11-18T20:44:11.636-05:00Sara's Toy Box: Holiday Giving!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I think I may have mentioned that we are sponsoring an auction to help a friend.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In late August, a toy store owner (and a friend) who frequently contributes to our blog had an emergency appendectomy. She's self-employed, of course, and a cancer survivor. Because cancer is considered a "pre-existing condition" she was unable to get health insurance at any reasonable cost. She ended up with a $27,000 hospital bill -- and she missed she children's first day of school.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
Things like cancer and appendicitis can happen to anyone. When I heard my friend's story, I wanted to do something to help. So, I came up with the idea of having Sara's Toy Box sponsor an auction. The response from the toy community has been amazing and we have a lot of great donations. Want to see some pictures?<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The baby gift basket contains more than $380 worth of toys and baby care items, including a sweet velveteen rabbit from <a href="http://www.auntiejillshop.com/">Auntie Jill</a> and a gorgeous heirloom wooden rattle from <a href="https://www.silverbonsai.com/Bagnall-Woodworks/">Bagnall Woodworks</a> . We have nine more of these silky smooth handmade rattles to auction separately.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYfJr_hKjIv2ybF3j8q4z81c3_5HjDCxY5uDFB5Qn2uDWNpGsrdlXPMeL_zsdKIOni9f5Q8PkJIqhCzZhtQkK2-omAN7y3MhAzogKn3r7yzqISVLDC9BVhXVz3XcqqLO6XptTcYxRgl0f/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYfJr_hKjIv2ybF3j8q4z81c3_5HjDCxY5uDFB5Qn2uDWNpGsrdlXPMeL_zsdKIOni9f5Q8PkJIqhCzZhtQkK2-omAN7y3MhAzogKn3r7yzqISVLDC9BVhXVz3XcqqLO6XptTcYxRgl0f/s320/031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjWKWJZqEiQEjjga5GFi6x8oYn2cwaAFM7Hbzyx0CZMO3ZLCe-M2T2lJgGwD2cJGFXxiJzRRJaZ1Pbg0PxMRiwpFknWOKl6gb4llGnVweKpxeei9r-fnVAnhYY-ibbsfONoa6ocKc9cv3/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjWKWJZqEiQEjjga5GFi6x8oYn2cwaAFM7Hbzyx0CZMO3ZLCe-M2T2lJgGwD2cJGFXxiJzRRJaZ1Pbg0PxMRiwpFknWOKl6gb4llGnVweKpxeei9r-fnVAnhYY-ibbsfONoa6ocKc9cv3/s400/037.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY4MHSC8LB02XHfXpQkToo6TARD5jiQaJvX1gaSYL8hYfMlpE-VqEXAGlfk0x94N0RkcHpPd8XptjtihzuwX0htuSv6NkSEB1CwnDcRAjhOTSQnXRXLcI_flhVnr5d6fDxYsZ3wgtepu3/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQY4MHSC8LB02XHfXpQkToo6TARD5jiQaJvX1gaSYL8hYfMlpE-VqEXAGlfk0x94N0RkcHpPd8XptjtihzuwX0htuSv6NkSEB1CwnDcRAjhOTSQnXRXLcI_flhVnr5d6fDxYsZ3wgtepu3/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The boys gift basket has over $300 worth of toys:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgF3LkFc3ms8YCftLVZkCq9aP56Ruc1rLn_DCPu-fFbnAG2bSFvAx6s9nxODbBb6hXRVGRY2kv8qc2FZvhl4neZPDWGc5zpngXFrBLy9jYdGE2T32Ok6T0RluvPBwFkCcamVeS9Bi6D2G/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgF3LkFc3ms8YCftLVZkCq9aP56Ruc1rLn_DCPu-fFbnAG2bSFvAx6s9nxODbBb6hXRVGRY2kv8qc2FZvhl4neZPDWGc5zpngXFrBLy9jYdGE2T32Ok6T0RluvPBwFkCcamVeS9Bi6D2G/s400/019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
There is a <a href="http://getyubo.com/">Yubo</a> lunchbox (with a pirate faceplate), <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJyEFvaHMVJShscQ18C5ZH8Ieyz-V84hL4O96NwoTHs3fKqCygPi_KSsILKWmg4x8IwoBR_zqCTSCX_5Djh80n2gn3bDgYMNryiG2bDDtURLWHD32sQJJe78mYNW6sEnWDcCpHMlxi16p/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJyEFvaHMVJShscQ18C5ZH8Ieyz-V84hL4O96NwoTHs3fKqCygPi_KSsILKWmg4x8IwoBR_zqCTSCX_5Djh80n2gn3bDgYMNryiG2bDDtURLWHD32sQJJe78mYNW6sEnWDcCpHMlxi16p/s320/042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> a marble runaround from <a href="http://www.magiccabin.com/welcome.asp">Magic Cabin</a>, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAITbSYp2wmalFS0ZFwJGASTG7iLix3ZlX-M-jaVFj1S2HoopUjbdkJKGHkovh8Tlg1wO5hyphenhyphenI0ateii9qDgDSw-XXfi5XOaMb78CaDT4k7-BTCOzuBgZ9-3xUewL7UHiqSL7kolOjIr3j/s1600/marble+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAITbSYp2wmalFS0ZFwJGASTG7iLix3ZlX-M-jaVFj1S2HoopUjbdkJKGHkovh8Tlg1wO5hyphenhyphenI0ateii9qDgDSw-XXfi5XOaMb78CaDT4k7-BTCOzuBgZ9-3xUewL7UHiqSL7kolOjIr3j/s320/marble+run.jpg" width="284" /></a></div> a sword from <a href="http://www.thebackyardarmory.com/">The Backyard Armory</a>,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiiWqhJSqSzKwxQAKsMZloBhSkXC_uHWOPRh95Vjr-VqsBf1h9MDqgcsmQorGTwVah8gu57Rtg1xrlbdnSo5hLymBsGbVsZU3Ci2UE1dM9KkRRJnhU2Hl0VyfhZzhoap4Ijr4xjEzQ-6O/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiiWqhJSqSzKwxQAKsMZloBhSkXC_uHWOPRh95Vjr-VqsBf1h9MDqgcsmQorGTwVah8gu57Rtg1xrlbdnSo5hLymBsGbVsZU3Ci2UE1dM9KkRRJnhU2Hl0VyfhZzhoap4Ijr4xjEzQ-6O/s320/045.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>and lots more.<br />
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This adorable rag doll is just one of the many great toys in the girl gift basket.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5aiZEiDZHMKUGSJ8kHbC51mEgdVzsRBtCicNaxd7M2nTUTsfRp4rzCbGt4dmKioFmm_Auxx-XBljiKxSj1Rz47EbW_DftQ0tktKPehI9NL4fhTmKkYOEimH5PRUld2xBSxW21YvKYFpJ/s1600/197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5aiZEiDZHMKUGSJ8kHbC51mEgdVzsRBtCicNaxd7M2nTUTsfRp4rzCbGt4dmKioFmm_Auxx-XBljiKxSj1Rz47EbW_DftQ0tktKPehI9NL4fhTmKkYOEimH5PRUld2xBSxW21YvKYFpJ/s320/197.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>There are Holztiger animals...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZxRERHIjDxCf-jOMm040vkSZpPD36-5_YeM9s2HTMNGMsNSu3c9whMwnnx2fiicSvWt2iDq5L7404Uaj-bNlxcE-AeUcO2DCAEahokpzuQPz65JBKUAT5Q5azVE2IL_UhwZTzfZ-zfrc/s1600/201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZxRERHIjDxCf-jOMm040vkSZpPD36-5_YeM9s2HTMNGMsNSu3c9whMwnnx2fiicSvWt2iDq5L7404Uaj-bNlxcE-AeUcO2DCAEahokpzuQPz65JBKUAT5Q5azVE2IL_UhwZTzfZ-zfrc/s320/201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here's the whole over flowing basket:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1Sdorhsx4xy2hfxhc4d9FDwH_zu6qL_H16oSScJhXa-np_5DexAWrWRVfNm8sb8xY0AxzT9eQ-k76aH4haqwyadWaDweUxorg_IPmJMnqLo78LIHnp_rfR-RLhtPoEJag0rE6ZZN0s98/s1600/207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1Sdorhsx4xy2hfxhc4d9FDwH_zu6qL_H16oSScJhXa-np_5DexAWrWRVfNm8sb8xY0AxzT9eQ-k76aH4haqwyadWaDweUxorg_IPmJMnqLo78LIHnp_rfR-RLhtPoEJag0rE6ZZN0s98/s400/207.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
In addition to a Yubo lunch box, the boy and girl gift baskets also contain a deck of <a href="http://boomboomcards.com/">BoomBoom cards</a> and a gift card to <a href="http://kiddotags.com/">KiddoTags</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuJ_Y6TpmJ01rmNG_F0WydTxVVGvkMxMlEyqa66L7V1A0borw7eiP58UNy_dDDGWkPNBiyBLb0G4tRGQHGIotDE2e1bf1yNL9XbMpCA3FsTvFyxHg4ykVTO3aUSGWh4Joqnq7oXhq8XYz/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuJ_Y6TpmJ01rmNG_F0WydTxVVGvkMxMlEyqa66L7V1A0borw7eiP58UNy_dDDGWkPNBiyBLb0G4tRGQHGIotDE2e1bf1yNL9XbMpCA3FsTvFyxHg4ykVTO3aUSGWh4Joqnq7oXhq8XYz/s320/205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And a tub of <a href="http://www.softdough.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=16">Mary's Softdough</a> with tools.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYxLhStjijLQDJ0H5eCUENyDLYRXjgheUSn8WxDFUK53hR1F7sQxsu-yq5B61PzWmOYDAd9ILds3Y2_ZgR6GssPHn4OC6AtHFvaGxekSikkWvIzyJzAWzNbwwA1T-FHdmVvMZ6l24u6hv/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYxLhStjijLQDJ0H5eCUENyDLYRXjgheUSn8WxDFUK53hR1F7sQxsu-yq5B61PzWmOYDAd9ILds3Y2_ZgR6GssPHn4OC6AtHFvaGxekSikkWvIzyJzAWzNbwwA1T-FHdmVvMZ6l24u6hv/s320/206.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
And, each gift basket has 2 <a href="http://www.charliehopemusic.com/">Charlie Hope</a> CD's - - and Charlie donated a concert! <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="257" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oKVKwcrJW2rb3F9IJIu_XoFC0y9gnyVjFZ1Oz9hrqA0rS2Q2oI5t6Dhj1ngpMY0_5mVDHlw0rkpjXVOtde3pyMwPrPvcqCLCpm_GQYRzneejiZAhl4w5qfJABlcV1CZl4eWKoji-OX13/s400/196.JPG" width="400" /></div><br />
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</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We also have a balance board from <a href="http://www.challengeandfun.com/">Challenge and Fun</a>. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiD7j1nqMuP2MuCzaDo1Ux6KeH7Z0cz3JP4G4HHOio-Pz8dnk3NA89fRy1cuZW4QzBNt5z7H9llwaqa12puoL1iKtH3SKi1F0DXtvMIH_uq-MA04S8zs1OPF_G962FkIOjM3dG8hPPlLC/s1600/bboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiD7j1nqMuP2MuCzaDo1Ux6KeH7Z0cz3JP4G4HHOio-Pz8dnk3NA89fRy1cuZW4QzBNt5z7H9llwaqa12puoL1iKtH3SKi1F0DXtvMIH_uq-MA04S8zs1OPF_G962FkIOjM3dG8hPPlLC/s320/bboard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
An art bag from Stubby <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/">Pencil Studio</a>,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFRz0GicO5dSPFYra_BK-vMtHnpmc3YGukkGlwyUT_WdJ6Syt9xJrPIbKN1AzQpZXDRrZlPQFmu5TGt1S-REQBHLK19qKFY8lKs1AQGpnFGiLcSu5HnxydfMtoseFC2UqQIBLvM_0fow4/s1600/SPS_ARTBAG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFRz0GicO5dSPFYra_BK-vMtHnpmc3YGukkGlwyUT_WdJ6Syt9xJrPIbKN1AzQpZXDRrZlPQFmu5TGt1S-REQBHLK19qKFY8lKs1AQGpnFGiLcSu5HnxydfMtoseFC2UqQIBLvM_0fow4/s400/SPS_ARTBAG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And a most gorgeous Baby bath set from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/willowbaus">Willow Baus</a> commissioned just for this auction by <a href="http://www.downtoearthtoys.com/cart.html">Down to Earth Toys</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="276" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jkGpGalhPhWLdVIPUKlq1ASZYYEAAn0f1_beSuFeO2BiIrnTBceWmQc8A3RPjQzYUP7DDATbHVT7dIvs-3Vq6P2U25idtPrqclQRsDKmg6xwqJkb3S2g6NS42bsln4cku9UIYi5irWNB/s400/apple-set.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
All proceeds will go directly to my friend's hospital bills, and we do have a button to accept donations.<br />
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Not everything is on the website, yet. I'm still waiting on pictures from some items and I'll be updating until the last minute. The auction runs December 1-7, and the website is <a href="http://hyenacart.com/SarasToyBox/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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So, stop by and do some Christmas shopping - and thanks so much for your support. We couldn't do this without you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">P.S. I've been a bit tied up with the auction and lagging on holiday reviews, but they are on their way!!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-14199716326659877582010-11-08T21:37:00.033-05:002010-11-09T06:49:54.173-05:00Basically, We love these toys...<span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MD8kbJezlBHHg2bRD77L08TnysyTqkw6uDEJVZSYVwRDlse9MAXlVnV5dEcw6coFtg9ixWxVC1VR8Hh1aEZaoLHciv2qFrNGpPvos4A5hLbWLh874Nk2VotWEB7Of4W5aWmRMk9Ngos/s1600/IMG_0255.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537397102240632482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MD8kbJezlBHHg2bRD77L08TnysyTqkw6uDEJVZSYVwRDlse9MAXlVnV5dEcw6coFtg9ixWxVC1VR8Hh1aEZaoLHciv2qFrNGpPvos4A5hLbWLh874Nk2VotWEB7Of4W5aWmRMk9Ngos/s640/IMG_0255.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="480" border="0" /></a></span> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }@font-face { font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Toys, toys toys! I have to admit I get just as excited a</span><span style="font-size:100%;">bout new toys as my kids (sometim</span><span style="font-size:100%;">es more so… shhhh….) Bells and whistles can entice m</span><span style="font-size:100%;">e sometimes, </span><span style="font-size:100%;">but what I really love are bright colors, remarkable workmanship and new thin</span><span style="font-size:100%;">gs to imagi</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ne and play. I can look at play sets and dollhouses, fire trucks and </span><span style="font-size:100%;">baby toys for way too long o</span><span style="font-size:100%;">nline. Having a daughter and two sons just opens up the toy horizon even more.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> We pretty m</span><span style="font-size:100%;">uch drool over toys around here (and not just the baby!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">But, when it comes down to it, when you really analy</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ze what </span><span style="font-size:100%;">my kids <span style="font-weight: bold;">play</span> with? The <span style="font-style: italic;">fancy toys</span> don’t really add up to much playtime. And wha</span><span style="font-size:100%;">t </span><span style="font-size:100%;">t</span><span style="font-size:100%;">hey pla</span><span style="font-size:100%;">y </span><span style="font-size:100%;">with, oddly mirrors what I remember playing with when I was a kid.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWbB3xVBnCJ21RT4pdQ9LPqRAn_a3D0-Vgg40PP6VPVmbGhKIzy0q0sm4lm3st8hEpPV_FD8nITmxVQLtQNcbRKSxy8tELHnsG80nShE9OPNR8sXKvNcjGUMaNKkSHpEoe2zoRbUabBg/s1600/IMG_0278.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537381981326984642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWbB3xVBnCJ21RT4pdQ9LPqRAn_a3D0-Vgg40PP6VPVmbGhKIzy0q0sm4lm3st8hEpPV_FD8nITmxVQLtQNcbRKSxy8tELHnsG80nShE9OPNR8sXKvNcjGUMaNKkSHpEoe2zoRbUabBg/s640/IMG_0278.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="480" border="0" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I’m going back to the basics with this review – <a href="http://www.palumba.com/category/blocks_building/115/" target="_blank">Blocks</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60405387/extra-large-play-silk-set-of-6-made-from" target="_blank">play "silks.</a>"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.palumba.com/category/blocks_building/115/">Blocks</a> from </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.palumba.com/" target="_blank">Palumba:</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">When I was a little girl I had a box of co</span><span style="font-size:100%;">lorful wooden blocks. I used to love flipping over the box, and building a little apartment with my blocks. I </span><span style="font-size:100%;">would make a dining roo</span><span style="font-size:100%;">m table and chairs, a couch, a bed. I have my old blocks to this d</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ay, and my kids do love to play with them. However, when we get out the blocks, they gravitate towards the <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_cubes/20/?catID=115" target="_blank">cubes</a> and <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_sticks/147/?catID=115" target="_blank">sticks</a> they go</span><span style="font-size:100%;">t from <a href="http://www.palumba.com/">Palumba.</a> (Well, from Santa a couple years ago, but I have i</span><span style="font-size:100%;">t on good authority that Santa got in touch</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> with the folks at </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.palumba.com/" target="_blank">Palumba.</a>)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAu2qu12IdmSWEEmfWt0_DW4hgxHfCUy-Vac98HAqBN0nPkXtJnWrmkFtd1oK9GdVu205XBY8ENZqX2WaYVy8X8Ax5Q34qP2TcS7mTYY92CoP-2PZMEnh-KptxUus6JcuRHV7DjMn-LY/s1600/IMG_0294.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537382218366497634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAu2qu12IdmSWEEmfWt0_DW4hgxHfCUy-Vac98HAqBN0nPkXtJnWrmkFtd1oK9GdVu205XBY8ENZqX2WaYVy8X8Ax5Q34qP2TcS7mTYY92CoP-2PZMEnh-KptxUus6JcuRHV7DjMn-LY/s640/IMG_0294.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="480" border="0" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">My kids absolutely adore their <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_cubes/20/?catID=115" target="_blank">Cubes</a> and <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_sticks/147/?catID=115" target="_blank">Cherry Building Sticks.</a> They build towers, and bury treasure, and create little houses for their little gnom</span><span style="font-size:100%;">es.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SRNJ2TcUFlvnhUgxju4GQ4zggkpbBNcC4xz2U2MEvYxB2DPwF5TlEGMFljVEUJJ_3SUPWiqc9a6vjLca8za8jWCd1iv9gEbSq8t99s7z7T1VWncsb66NXClTUkopR8PLgk_d9N7k1yw/s1600/IMG_0273.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537381748331503362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SRNJ2TcUFlvnhUgxju4GQ4zggkpbBNcC4xz2U2MEvYxB2DPwF5TlEGMFljVEUJJ_3SUPWiqc9a6vjLca8za8jWCd1iv9gEbSq8t99s7z7T1VWncsb66NXClTUkopR8PLgk_d9N7k1yw/s640/IMG_0273.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="480" border="0" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Both </span><span style="font-size:100%;">the <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_cubes/20/?catID=115">cubes</a> and <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_sticks/147/?catID=115">sticks</a> work well for loading up a truck: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_h-ubRq7jUGF9ideq5Qv32N43p9F5Gd-3MZ3BiiF4cv7Gcuj-JbKWJhK7Aus-a-VOdugDtj2JWUTr3nuHP-bvQOLgqYyZKPG8qQc2eBjnBWecT6P1TKwj6hWHOisJVOIb1ZI9Hdvo0lI/s1600/IMG_0285.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537382672451611634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_h-ubRq7jUGF9ideq5Qv32N43p9F5Gd-3MZ3BiiF4cv7Gcuj-JbKWJhK7Aus-a-VOdugDtj2JWUTr3nuHP-bvQOLgqYyZKPG8qQc2eBjnBWecT6P1TKwj6hWHOisJVOIb1ZI9Hdvo0lI/s640/IMG_0285.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="480" width="640" border="0" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">As a teacher, I have to admit, that one thing I love is toys that teach through imaginative play. The last time we played with </span><span style="font-size:100%;">the <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_cubes/20/?catID=115" target="_blank">cubes</a> and <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_sticks/147/?catID=115" target="_blank">sticks</a>, we pl</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ayed around with balance, and counting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHEg9WjgXFcYxEbZ2IodgC5PulnB-fA_n0n1m2j1-qsWFTqbS1TsOLRv77bW4AtofC7-6IbgEmqXG7VEaSez_uzhC1IkpybfhpoppPAGnMnMMIIlEXDh94qfZMFm5_WhAoJSTJQo6N6g/s1600/IMG_0298.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537383153264471234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHEg9WjgXFcYxEbZ2IodgC5PulnB-fA_n0n1m2j1-qsWFTqbS1TsOLRv77bW4AtofC7-6IbgEmqXG7VEaSez_uzhC1IkpybfhpoppPAGnMnMMIIlEXDh94qfZMFm5_WhAoJSTJQo6N6g/s640/IMG_0298.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="480" border="0" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">My 4 year old is currently very interested in letters, and </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_cubes/20/?catID=115">cubes</a> and <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_sticks/147/?catID=115" target="_blank">sticks</a> really do make great letters!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaWcBnNN3POq7ja1x5sIJclbSFnDU3XSvduafmE-x4685K_ybihZkSC97PQE4iW7EZ2eGOsWUnfpior3iExqVzCUTJYlnxZdQ7QLYdtXoKv1yFMzcNwf5wmC_-msHSrPYceJjcW1QHzY/s1600/IMG_0295.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537384672246604818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaWcBnNN3POq7ja1x5sIJclbSFnDU3XSvduafmE-x4685K_ybihZkSC97PQE4iW7EZ2eGOsWUnfpior3iExqVzCUTJYlnxZdQ7QLYdtXoKv1yFMzcNwf5wmC_-msHSrPYceJjcW1QHzY/s640/IMG_0295.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="480" width="640" border="0" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Speaking of imaginative play, Those</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_sticks/147/?catID=115">sticks </a>make excellent microphones:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfY8PX4jThl8EkHbCQiW5Ueb3i7hfezGlgdULwZQ3nejN9AtJpuXZF5r_8Baf_dWLxO7w0ZaESS2b6uWVbRMRM86Ugg8olDJ0B-TMwfktRnfRBW18C-LGCDxeodErvyHqs0BUz2e9D3xc/s1600/IMG_0304.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537383978843808722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfY8PX4jThl8EkHbCQiW5Ueb3i7hfezGlgdULwZQ3nejN9AtJpuXZF5r_8Baf_dWLxO7w0ZaESS2b6uWVbRMRM86Ugg8olDJ0B-TMwfktRnfRBW18C-LGCDxeodErvyHqs0BUz2e9D3xc/s640/IMG_0304.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="480" border="0" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Also, if you need to look at something "Way far away," they are just the telescope you've been looking for!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrrxVS5597jsLBUN4uz6ApLun3clspjfwfZd5YvcwpJUONd8IFFMfGnOeAfg9Z8S7Y7-DuWDx-TGFKZm4Cy2_D9gnEH6MtbaBIhvyT0WAQopOZ3njiAfIde9Bxl2wWm6uNYPcCr5kpLQ/s1600/IMG_0308.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537392118086933810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrrxVS5597jsLBUN4uz6ApLun3clspjfwfZd5YvcwpJUONd8IFFMfGnOeAfg9Z8S7Y7-DuWDx-TGFKZm4Cy2_D9gnEH6MtbaBIhvyT0WAQopOZ3njiAfIde9Bxl2wWm6uNYPcCr5kpLQ/s640/IMG_0308.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="480" border="0" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> would love to show you more picture</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s of the awesom</span><span style="font-size:100%;">e things my k</span><span style="font-size:100%;">i</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ds do with these blocks, but the baby kept knocking them over… then picking one up that is to his liking, and chewing on it for a bit. Sometimes he does change it up a bit by</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> banging them together to make a beautiful song.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_q4UJOc9c7Hq-Q0uGEcYODZR2e-n4zCTvmdjxKi3gz6znEoGVCSAiApALdnhgUFSSSKSL4yoSf9hNC-O00lcRSx6JSYutmNuPtIrjVsxidFZmq1iO36EKT9nYMVm2UW36at2Bjo24bA/s1600/IMG_0279.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537381163021568754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_q4UJOc9c7Hq-Q0uGEcYODZR2e-n4zCTvmdjxKi3gz6znEoGVCSAiApALdnhgUFSSSKSL4yoSf9hNC-O00lcRSx6JSYutmNuPtIrjVsxidFZmq1iO36EKT9nYMVm2UW36at2Bjo24bA/s640/IMG_0279.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="480" border="0" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">They are really the perfect little blocks, in my mind. They aren’t too heavy, but they aren’t too light. They are made from real wood, and are actually quite beautiful! We have the set of <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_sticks/147/?catID=115" target="_blank">40 sticks </a>(they also come in sets of 20 or 80) and the set of <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_cubes/20/?catID=115">25</a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_cubes/20/?catID=115" target="_blank"> cubes</a> (they also come in a set of 50). Each set comes in a little drawstring cotton bag</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, which I always intend to use… but somehow clean up time doesn’t work like that around here!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/58431781/eight-8-extra-large-chiffon-playsilks"><span target="_blank">Etsy Play Silks: </span></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Looking at the pictures, you may notice some </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60405387/extra-large-play-silk-set-of-6-made-from" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" target="_blank">play "</a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60405387/extra-large-play-silk-set-of-6-made-from" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" target="_blank">si</a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60405387/extra-large-play-silk-set-of-6-made-from" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" target="_blank">lks."</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> in the background. I </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">have wanted </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60405387/extra-large-play-silk-set-of-6-made-from" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" target="_blank">play silks</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> for my kids for awhile, but I didn't want to get real silk, since we try to stay on the vegan side of things around here. I have some cotton rainbow cloths, but was looking for something silkier, when</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> I stumbled upon etsy seller,</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a class="username" href="http://www.etsy.com/people/DreamSpunKids?ref=ls_profile" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" target="_blank"> DreamSpunKids</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">. Their chiffon <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DreamSpunKids?section_id=5686170" target="_blank">play silks </a>are ligh</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">t, flowing,</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> and come in a great </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.188127874.jpg" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">variety of colors.</a> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">For the firs</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">t set </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">we bought (they come in sets of 6, 8 or 12), I picked a handful of bright spring colors, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">and most recently, I chose colors that reminded me of the fall:</span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWI3epTGYDC62ag6ZxBufrT1Yot3NaMrJS7hmegVFZqNmxSrDS0e3dXJArFI2_u36YCzOGnL9vv499FEqrgLGl5r9ANblO-MFXXXiNq6DzjJZCzojuzLJ-2uYm-CpaJDaaQLce0m9aCU/s1600/IMG_0302.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537391801636974770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWI3epTGYDC62ag6ZxBufrT1Yot3NaMrJS7hmegVFZqNmxSrDS0e3dXJArFI2_u36YCzOGnL9vv499FEqrgLGl5r9ANblO-MFXXXiNq6DzjJZCzojuzLJ-2uYm-CpaJDaaQLce0m9aCU/s640/IMG_0302.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="480" width="640" border="0" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Good thing. Otherwise, how would my children pretend they are autumn trees?</span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Zh1UnKkfP6FuCadjoMJ-1pHUNJyCfvQB1SPjA8cKy2vJa9BhIlB2dW-JA9_AwhCnljEdUgK1XGqRKPAalrn1ihVgAV2FYgn3RgjQfDmJI1hAMuKI8_pqBbZ8IWNUvK8AJaGtbJSAy14/s1600/IMG_0312.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537393416307858418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Zh1UnKkfP6FuCadjoMJ-1pHUNJyCfvQB1SPjA8cKy2vJa9BhIlB2dW-JA9_AwhCnljEdUgK1XGqRKPAalrn1ihVgAV2FYgn3RgjQfDmJI1hAMuKI8_pqBbZ8IWNUvK8AJaGtbJSAy14/s640/IMG_0312.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="480" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Or volcanoes?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcZs7khnwkehaK2PED8a5HCkYk48ahDRjN34HdjXWN9ffc7NJOhIsCkUMc8hNzFwq5iOZyrUDxh5EJByt8suFFwvccO3w-D1OY6xOFOpZBtf4CL4Usc1gFt4_5xsHJztKzsi1VK8PxZ4/s1600/IMG_0332.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537393754624441666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcZs7khnwkehaK2PED8a5HCkYk48ahDRjN34HdjXWN9ffc7NJOhIsCkUMc8hNzFwq5iOZyrUDxh5EJByt8suFFwvccO3w-D1OY6xOFOpZBtf4CL4Usc1gFt4_5xsHJztKzsi1VK8PxZ4/s640/IMG_0332.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="480" border="0" /></a><br />These play silks can really be anything. The kids dress up in them, tie them to chairs to make forts: whatever the kids can imagine. My favorite thing to do with them is to help the kids create play-scapes. Here is our lake under construction (See the spot of yellow and orange? That's the "burning hot sun!"):<br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPALYuWxA30PFPh9WfiyxbC9p1beS5PvIzYE-0Ex62lWXVqkh-CB4pMpuWNqpOM5pYTf2SVEfJ-zPcZWA4mM5Ii3qDBg7yBr9Vxv9OSO7LTFUdapDl6u_YK1uSQw-xMS59scKnswlFbc/s1600/IMG_0293.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537398319930705634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPALYuWxA30PFPh9WfiyxbC9p1beS5PvIzYE-0Ex62lWXVqkh-CB4pMpuWNqpOM5pYTf2SVEfJ-zPcZWA4mM5Ii3qDBg7yBr9Vxv9OSO7LTFUdapDl6u_YK1uSQw-xMS59scKnswlFbc/s640/IMG_0293.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="480" width="640" border="0" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Playsilks also make a fabulous back drop for plays, puppet shows, or concerts:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h3sEdRbQoc0E87BKhiVVXRyyPlOQWzeoVOYyWEg5na8pKLJGKJaYTU_vvlP1iful_3BBJkdfBVhR7eS-7lUMSFzmPEHlSOsCNpt-X_0Nc6sKZzD5CX7-tBL7axg_BVzEFzEonDQHuEA/s1600/IMG_0251.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537398880454623154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h3sEdRbQoc0E87BKhiVVXRyyPlOQWzeoVOYyWEg5na8pKLJGKJaYTU_vvlP1iful_3BBJkdfBVhR7eS-7lUMSFzmPEHlSOsCNpt-X_0Nc6sKZzD5CX7-tBL7axg_BVzEFzEonDQHuEA/s640/IMG_0251.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="480" border="0" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I may or may not have even convinced my husband to wear one as a cape at our son's Super Hero birthday party!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSoIT-ZtS9UC0hWGElsWERdZKsOkuwUZC9nZNrW07imc-rjZqTRX8wA6zvqFiAcxeQeYOZ5w0IXI3Y2szgDCO0mdSZX1uGyrG-_l1j0pikNnhoU9yo-NVgEVPQPDT3vZWMzYtNMo7Anc/s1600/IMG_0343.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537400274185944626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSoIT-ZtS9UC0hWGElsWERdZKsOkuwUZC9nZNrW07imc-rjZqTRX8wA6zvqFiAcxeQeYOZ5w0IXI3Y2szgDCO0mdSZX1uGyrG-_l1j0pikNnhoU9yo-NVgEVPQPDT3vZWMzYtNMo7Anc/s640/IMG_0343.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="640" width="353" border="0" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;">(I wore a blue one!)<br /><br />We love having a bin of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/58431781/eight-8-extra-large-chiffon-playsilks" target="_blank">play silks </a>in our playroom, and I highly recommend them as a must-have toy!<br /><br />They aren't just toys though, my new absolute favorite use for them is as present wrapping:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Nm0MAz_fMUpGttiCyIKYOsFM7mS-X3Mz77k8F9Atq2KwhTlEYSLbUEAb3zF984L9F7voJaG4ZkN8WJToBXnXLsyRSxHbQssuIViEdOQ_11rm_zSSiY1Bc9dybZSInw9EmeuNlIyuZW4/s1600/IMG_9863.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537401311907322162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Nm0MAz_fMUpGttiCyIKYOsFM7mS-X3Mz77k8F9Atq2KwhTlEYSLbUEAb3zF984L9F7voJaG4ZkN8WJToBXnXLsyRSxHbQssuIViEdOQ_11rm_zSSiY1Bc9dybZSInw9EmeuNlIyuZW4/s640/IMG_9863.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="480" width="640" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiap-N1qafQoVpZHTKtYqer9xK5jhNbXfxKVDZs-28sO8X6q6FmD6Wc7oddyV-FiJLFQ0kZLOCIEKJnk-HJ7VHA3IG8CdH8jCl4GCQ1sfDoq1QrS2PG7MNuI0qrCOYC4jHbpAKaUsEvr_A/s1600/IMG_0261.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537404984026288482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiap-N1qafQoVpZHTKtYqer9xK5jhNbXfxKVDZs-28sO8X6q6FmD6Wc7oddyV-FiJLFQ0kZLOCIEKJnk-HJ7VHA3IG8CdH8jCl4GCQ1sfDoq1QrS2PG7MNuI0qrCOYC4jHbpAKaUsEvr_A/s640/IMG_0261.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" height="480" width="640" border="0" /></a>If you want to add some pretty special "basic" toys to your child's play room, I say give </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.palumba.com/" target="_blank">Palumba's </a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_cubes/20/?catID=115" target="_blank">cubes</a> and <a href="http://www.palumba.com/product/building_sticks/147/?catID=115" target="_blank">sticks</a> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">and the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/58431781/eight-8-extra-large-chiffon-playsilks" target="_blank">play silk </a>from etsy seller:<a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/DreamSpunKids?ref=ls_profile"> DreamSpunKids</a> a try.<br />The imagination and creativity of your child will shine through.<br /><br />Happy Playing!</span>Onahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10196314802208629118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-58907763033418210712010-11-08T17:40:00.000-05:002010-11-08T17:40:46.496-05:00And the Winner of the Fractiles Review Giveaway is...Michelle T! Congratulations to Michelle who entered by posting a comment on the review. She won a $25 gift card to <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/" target="_blank">Toys and Games Online</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/" target="_blank">>Toys and Games Online</a> is part of the CSN family of stores. The CSN stores sell everything from <a href="http://www.allmodern.com/" target="_blank">modern furniture</a> to <a href="http://www.csnschool.com/" target="_blank">school supplies<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></a>. They'll be sponsoring another review next month.<br />
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Congratulations, Michelle!Marcihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04310411102838151478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-46308160282150698802010-11-08T17:33:00.000-05:002010-11-08T17:33:25.871-05:00We Love Stubby Pencil Studio and a Holiday Coupon Code!!!Not only has Stubby Pencil Studio donated an <a href="http://hyenacart.com/SarasToyBox/index.php?c=11&p=15728" target="_blank">awesome arts and crafts gift bag</a> for our <a href="http://saras-toy-box.blogspot.com/2010/09/secret-shhhhh.html" target="_blank">auction</a> on December 1-7, but they have a most amazing selection of <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/category/ASUP/school-supplies/1.html" target="_blank">eco-friendly school supplies</a> and <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/category/ANCR/kids-art-supplies/1.html" target="_blank">art supplies</a> that are guaranteed to make even any little student feel a little better about going back to school after the holidays.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeXEjLVsJrUMRjpE6Br-ZUDKoNvuGGjjQ5A8mGPPYnGzHaQx6hiwzztgYJPMRhQOI2Vg_CnAA2jOgEBPgg5-drpKwAxsC7ps-2Lp8UVn-V_w_rfJJvRge2RbbEtYXC9NbDipYZD7FFTFR/s1600/SPS_ARTBAG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeXEjLVsJrUMRjpE6Br-ZUDKoNvuGGjjQ5A8mGPPYnGzHaQx6hiwzztgYJPMRhQOI2Vg_CnAA2jOgEBPgg5-drpKwAxsC7ps-2Lp8UVn-V_w_rfJJvRge2RbbEtYXC9NbDipYZD7FFTFR/s320/SPS_ARTBAG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I don't know about your children's school, but Arielle's school had a very specific supply list and I was a little disappointed that I couldn't make everything as eco-friendly as I would have liked. But, I did what I could.<br />
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Arielle took <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/product/KUM_CORRECBRICK/KUM-Correc-Brick-Eraser-/" target="_blank">KUM Correc-Brick Erasers</a> ($2.50) and <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/product/OBO_WILDCOLOR12/Wildlife-Colored-Pencils/" target="_blank">Wildlife Colored Pencils</a> ($7.95) to school. I put a small recycled paper notebook in her backpack, so I could write her little notes to look at while she's at school.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/product/EJO_3X4BIRDSAQUA/3X4-Birds-Aqua-Notebook/" target="_blank">Birds Aqua Notebook</a> ($4.50)</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfPufNETiR56rMSOhAeXD7Cf6WAuazO2mndJSByh_LdWD4O9a4YOgpmr_TX1Me8Npzf8zxyIQHBG2e5KV1gVxvZnxmP4fvKHQj4zOvPhFjlS7ZntdPdmhf5g4sO6o2JtzABb5GOzAxk58/s1600/notebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfPufNETiR56rMSOhAeXD7Cf6WAuazO2mndJSByh_LdWD4O9a4YOgpmr_TX1Me8Npzf8zxyIQHBG2e5KV1gVxvZnxmP4fvKHQj4zOvPhFjlS7ZntdPdmhf5g4sO6o2JtzABb5GOzAxk58/s1600/notebook.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Linnea doesn't need school supplies, but she loves the little mushroom erasers.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/product/STLN_MUSHROOMPOT/Mushroom-Pot-Erasers/" target="_blank">Mushroom Pot Erasers</a> ($3.95)</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQcPU2ur9iVHGBVhUGZVF6FLB_fdbcAFUqsjnqvdddlY1E5GZVOXAuzqUYEx-9WIvIGuTUskhM28OQB-AwQu-lYei6Fn5sxTTxC9Ua4oycF14N5W8KM66OIp3t6UOJG8N3yv8fP40L5Je/s1600/MUSHROOM1+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQcPU2ur9iVHGBVhUGZVF6FLB_fdbcAFUqsjnqvdddlY1E5GZVOXAuzqUYEx-9WIvIGuTUskhM28OQB-AwQu-lYei6Fn5sxTTxC9Ua4oycF14N5W8KM66OIp3t6UOJG8N3yv8fP40L5Je/s1600/MUSHROOM1+(1).jpg" /></a></div><br />
She calls them "Mushroom Babies" and can spend hours taking care of them or carrying them around in a <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/product/STLN_FELTPURSE/Felt-Heart-Purse/" target="_blank">little purse</a> ($6.00).<br />
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This year, Linnea is spending two mornings a week at a neighborhood preschool. The other three mornings, I give her "work" to do while I try to get my own work done. Sometimes her "work" is drawing and sometimes it is about learning. She learns a letter a week at school, so I always write out the letter and let her decorate it with something apropriate - apple chunks for "A", buttons for "B", next week we'll make a "C" out of tiny cookies. She also decorates a letter with stickers.<br />
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She also loves to string beads. The <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/product/GRIM_BEADS50/Wood-Lacing-Beads-20mm/">wooden beads</a> at Stubby Pencil Studio are safely colored using child-safe, water-based paints or natural oils. And painting is always a favorite - the <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/product/FCAST_TRIBRUSHSET/Triangular-Paint-Brushes/" target="_blank">triangular paint brushes</a> ($7.95) make it so easy for Linnea to get paint exactly where she wants it.<br />
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I thought it was funny, but the staff at preschool is really impressed with Linnea's ability to color, draw and use scissors. We've always had art supplies available to her (I have tables set up for art in both the kitchen and in my office), and I think that makes a difference. Art isn't just an activity, but a part of our lives.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/product/CROC_CRAYONROCKS16/Crayon-Rocks-16-Colors/" target="_blank">Crayon Rocks</a> ($6.95)</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pnesnptXQW5fLOqOXtG1kqtfxmpaKeYAaedFZHopYXCZy1MVdTmkMex7yz54gjMLxqNvaxWS_33vfzZX8aNzD_aNsEr6_ccIfdgbcNbKhcJBoVYHBEJm3aOR70vG1E4333EDH67yXqI-/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pnesnptXQW5fLOqOXtG1kqtfxmpaKeYAaedFZHopYXCZy1MVdTmkMex7yz54gjMLxqNvaxWS_33vfzZX8aNzD_aNsEr6_ccIfdgbcNbKhcJBoVYHBEJm3aOR70vG1E4333EDH67yXqI-/s320/052.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
I'm totally bragging, but here is her picture of five monkeys jumping on her bed. I love it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0UDOlD-qSVpG53roKIcPBYhiSZ9FB2qsVedVVFkemWnwgObjZQ8THBpuZOdECKJBuFYh5VKiSDVPPs9jlWnR5LUo4-TS0ZmmzOugBMuiNMAdMJiBqngPoe0PkujPcGiLNiC2RRajUM-r/s1600/scan0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0UDOlD-qSVpG53roKIcPBYhiSZ9FB2qsVedVVFkemWnwgObjZQ8THBpuZOdECKJBuFYh5VKiSDVPPs9jlWnR5LUo4-TS0ZmmzOugBMuiNMAdMJiBqngPoe0PkujPcGiLNiC2RRajUM-r/s320/scan0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
If you are ready to get creating in an eco-friendly way, check out the all-natural art supplies at <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/" target="_blank">Stubby Pencil Studio</a> There are plenty of great stocking stuffers and party favors.<br />
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Sara's Toy Box readers may discount code STBSAVE10 to save 10% on purchases through 12/31/10. Happy holiday shopping!!!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-25226037400878058402010-10-22T06:38:00.001-04:002010-11-08T17:38:31.667-05:0010% off at Carl & MeLooking for wooden toys for the holidays? <a href="http://www.carlandme.com/" target="_blank">Carl and Me: Exceptional Toys For Boys</a> (and girls!)offers a selection of safe, woden toys from the USA and Europe suitable for children from babies to teens. <br />
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<a href="http://www.carlandme.com/nic1803.html" target="_blank"><strong>NIC Wooden Toys - Creamobil Little Men 'Pico'</strong></a><strong> ($12.00)</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-AhUcug1gsbAPSN2NLmNENInJgIHPhnmSjGI0jajmX-Y4ZMq30PauQXBCMQvkSUZHBfnP8UrJbrwai-a_Xe67EVV5HNljDf8JJcNj8U4FZ-vKT5dd47TuOBEE4UgKcUNWVaDyG3s85XX/s1600/nicmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-AhUcug1gsbAPSN2NLmNENInJgIHPhnmSjGI0jajmX-Y4ZMq30PauQXBCMQvkSUZHBfnP8UrJbrwai-a_Xe67EVV5HNljDf8JJcNj8U4FZ-vKT5dd47TuOBEE4UgKcUNWVaDyG3s85XX/s320/nicmen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.carlandme.com/nic2301.html" target="_blank">Small Stacking Man</a> ($24.00)</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim09DdranRm7zA7AQo1f8PIcAqQs_JLSI3QGdwniCsT5AUoq5oUby2o5JyLIJN5dUGY-MoD2etp3DXaqhck_1fYLhUll9XkjWOEx6RVLBcZEbWVni4yNOkV6N6a2U4ToqcBWJhkY4bkMC0/s1600/stacking+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim09DdranRm7zA7AQo1f8PIcAqQs_JLSI3QGdwniCsT5AUoq5oUby2o5JyLIJN5dUGY-MoD2etp3DXaqhck_1fYLhUll9XkjWOEx6RVLBcZEbWVni4yNOkV6N6a2U4ToqcBWJhkY4bkMC0/s320/stacking+man.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.carlandme.com/sca0641.html" target="_blank">Scalino Bell Tower Set</a> ($78.00)</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWWAIzcv0RXyYe5JSTKr3zNxEnCZDNfW3uZkG_uOu4n-C2lTcUiUWzQ8XVayxszF48DCaHwhVdvGKKHgCCP9wqPBxvfVx3qmXinGD4vGQ1Ysf7lRwjBrDU22uW8T0XGROnJ_eS-_W9rJZ/s1600/scslino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWWAIzcv0RXyYe5JSTKr3zNxEnCZDNfW3uZkG_uOu4n-C2lTcUiUWzQ8XVayxszF48DCaHwhVdvGKKHgCCP9wqPBxvfVx3qmXinGD4vGQ1Ysf7lRwjBrDU22uW8T0XGROnJ_eS-_W9rJZ/s320/scslino.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Carl & Me is especially great for <a href="http://www.carlandme.com/blocks.html" target="_blank">unusual construction toys</a> - the kind my older son Merlin loved when he was in elementary/middle school (and still occasionally plays with at almost 21!). If you have the kind of child who loves to build and make things work, definitely check out Carl & Me.<br />
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<a href="http://saras-toy-box.blogspot.com/">Sara's Toy Box</a> readers can take 10% off through the holidays with code "SARA".Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-38360799940299112262010-10-21T07:06:00.001-04:002010-10-21T07:07:19.785-04:00Beautiful Toys, $5 off: Bella Luna ToysHi Readers, <br />
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I'd like to introduce you to a new favorite, <a href="http://www.bellalunatoys.com/">Bella Luna Toys</a>. Bella Luna Toys is owned by a Waldorf teacher, Sarah Baldwin, who chooses each toy with care.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.bellalunatoys.com/wooden-toys/wooden-dollhouses/small-tree-house-tree-blocks.html"><strong>small tree house</strong></a><strong> ($89.95)</strong> is a fair trade toy made in Vietnam out of sustainably harvested wood. But, mostly it's really cute. I can picture little gnomes and fairies having a tea party .<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39QSDyQ1NqU0Jy8JfpYIERQVi7gn-Pt7hE_VGjFDzOXv5oKotZdmT1Sb5x31kVBNl3_HleppBXCBPLZ_D6JpPrErG1iEp7Owa0kPiUd4PxDBwS9YAYqZ_4KYcFNpL4x8H57n8mDTWhD8W/s1600/tree-blocks-treehouse-toys-small-treehouse_1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39QSDyQ1NqU0Jy8JfpYIERQVi7gn-Pt7hE_VGjFDzOXv5oKotZdmT1Sb5x31kVBNl3_HleppBXCBPLZ_D6JpPrErG1iEp7Owa0kPiUd4PxDBwS9YAYqZ_4KYcFNpL4x8H57n8mDTWhD8W/s320/tree-blocks-treehouse-toys-small-treehouse_1_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>If you need gnomes, Bella Luna has <a href="http://www.bellalunatoys.com/waldorf-dolls/fairy-dolls.html">gnomes</a>. Or, you can make your own using the <a href="http://www.bellalunatoys.com/childrens-crafts/fairy-and-gnome-kits/forest-gnome-family-kit.html"><strong>Forest Gnome Family Kit</strong></a><strong> ($19.95). </strong>These would look so cute peeking out of a stocking. I may need to make some for Arielle's stocking.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLZ4eefhDvBm1ZCyxsSIu-oZzufjq9b0o5LlzQJgB3B_Vlwl4BR4MWMpCxySviIVg8ALJRM4nvgckE0xYxgWHF7JMsha0qfs-9MnKf8Thab3ii1E82zdX3FEuKBgQyndZO8Huco3Wq2yt/s1600/forest-gnome-family-fairy-dolls-kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLZ4eefhDvBm1ZCyxsSIu-oZzufjq9b0o5LlzQJgB3B_Vlwl4BR4MWMpCxySviIVg8ALJRM4nvgckE0xYxgWHF7JMsha0qfs-9MnKf8Thab3ii1E82zdX3FEuKBgQyndZO8Huco3Wq2yt/s320/forest-gnome-family-fairy-dolls-kit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So many beautiful choices! Check out the lovely Waldorf toys and art supplies at Bella Luna and take $5.00 of your first order with the coupon code "Sara5".<br />
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SaraSarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-22510104461804230532010-10-19T16:49:00.055-04:002010-10-19T21:13:01.109-04:00Fractiles-7 Review and Giveaway from Toys and Games OnlineWhen my friend Sara said she could use some extra help to write reviews for <a href="http://saras-toy-box.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sara's Toy Box</a>, I jumped at the opportunity. I have been a huge fan of her blog for a few years now and my boys and I absolutely love toys. The boys are a bit less particular than I am, but that does not stop me from trying to find beautiful, useful, educational, and safe toys for them to play with.<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">For my family’s first review, I selected <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html?redir=fractiles&rtype=6" target="_blank">Fractiles-7</a> from <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/" target="_blank">Toys and Games Online.com</a>. I actually selected the <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-F7-L-F7-FRFR-FRN1004.html" target="_blank">large Fractiles-7 set</a>($39.95) and the <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-F7-L-F7-FRFR-FRN1004.html" target="_blank">Fridge Fractiles set</a> (only an additional $10.95) since I have two little boys and I knew there would be some fighting over this toy once they figured out how cool it was. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html" target="_blank">Fractiles-7</a> is basically a magnetic puzzle. But it is also more than a puzzle. <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html" target="_blank">Fractiles</a> consists of versatile flexible diamond shaped tiles that can be combined and recombined into an infinite number of designs. The<a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html" target="_blank"> large Fractiles set</a> has 192 tiles and a 12”x12” textured black steel board to easily create your geometric designs. <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html" target="_blank">Fridge Fractiles</a> has 48 magnetic tiles and does not come with an activity board as it is meant for your kitchen refrigerator. This is great for my family since my boys love spending time with me in the kitchen while I prepare dinner and I am always scrambling to find activities to keep them occupied so I have the time and space to properly prepare said dinner. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/" target="_blank">Toys and Games Online.com</a> shipped my order very quickly, and I was very pleased when I found my package on the front porch. I loved the minimal packaging of my <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html" target="_blank">Fractiles</a> sets. The large set is packaged in what is basically an old-fashioned album cover which makes clean-up and storage of the set very easy. There are tons of colorful examples of <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html" target="_blank">Fractiles</a> designs as well as some information on symmetry and the basic geometry behind the diamond shapes that make them fit together into endless combinations.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbj840hyy36QaQi9I1IcBajP7_T5IUj62qSVamGhToCYAU3me8TmaGNeTHjsF_CP4kpBRiqIch7gp7Q4u35Iuk_nXI15W8lB28bKF0JYnh8Ca_iPUyWnRLGO56CGrRuKN_oIdvYaIteI/s1600/DSCF0002.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529865880520367986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbj840hyy36QaQi9I1IcBajP7_T5IUj62qSVamGhToCYAU3me8TmaGNeTHjsF_CP4kpBRiqIch7gp7Q4u35Iuk_nXI15W8lB28bKF0JYnh8Ca_iPUyWnRLGO56CGrRuKN_oIdvYaIteI/s320/DSCF0002.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0KGCGN37irFn0xq4gLjbdJGzlRamfCoIaLE05_pbwkZIblkSb6hpO3NcqkdiROQjAvTo2OkHU8ArwpJPPEc3obT-Fnt3gB-7gV9-Vnmo4MwajI2junPpGEuFAdPDyGP4zs22TRdd3_w/s1600/DSCF0003.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529865884094386754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0KGCGN37irFn0xq4gLjbdJGzlRamfCoIaLE05_pbwkZIblkSb6hpO3NcqkdiROQjAvTo2OkHU8ArwpJPPEc3obT-Fnt3gB-7gV9-Vnmo4MwajI2junPpGEuFAdPDyGP4zs22TRdd3_w/s320/DSCF0003.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0R-077TJ0zFR3lrTyZUVLEn37Y50hrZLSg67ZKYeRxIBvYGXrO_VjH6NjdA-1ybX-X4hQw1HVAzYsiF9zd0h7lC2z6kMmE2dP6fnEPcdNpmA8e5656Pc3r3kRB4XHXv01X-lqQMY-RM/s1600/DSCF0004.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529865894035983970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0R-077TJ0zFR3lrTyZUVLEn37Y50hrZLSg67ZKYeRxIBvYGXrO_VjH6NjdA-1ybX-X4hQw1HVAzYsiF9zd0h7lC2z6kMmE2dP6fnEPcdNpmA8e5656Pc3r3kRB4XHXv01X-lqQMY-RM/s320/DSCF0004.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">I love the educational aspect of this information even though I feel the concept is a bit above where my boys currently are in their math comprehension. After all, one is only in kindergarten and the other is in his first year of pre-school. Even though I may not share the information with them explicitly, they really are learning the concepts by simply playing around, copying or making their own designs with this toy. I couldn’t wait to take a closer look at the new toy and decided to open it while the boys were still in school. I have to admit, once I opened it and discovered that the tiles were all stuck together in a large piece, I was a bit disappointed. I examined the pieces and it didn’t appear to me that they were pre-cut, so I pulled out the scissors and began cutting.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWyi0Q2PidVoHbdBYP1Fp-hbBuAn2K7c2yoB3APhEgwa4fKeKxh5GPW5iP7CTjdvG1nBBpAkONdbqeq4roWFufzXA0Scc2C1qMiZ7Y8EZuMtXaCbXy43200cQEQlcaKVTE22ONNv-KHY/s1600/DSCF0006.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529865898705797122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWyi0Q2PidVoHbdBYP1Fp-hbBuAn2K7c2yoB3APhEgwa4fKeKxh5GPW5iP7CTjdvG1nBBpAkONdbqeq4roWFufzXA0Scc2C1qMiZ7Y8EZuMtXaCbXy43200cQEQlcaKVTE22ONNv-KHY/s320/DSCF0006.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFf0Jx-5aKwg3cJWWQeuypyC6S0kbvvMU4iaFOxRjXoswQ8u_afWlmLSf_TXVXaPXEt1rpEQwx9I2ul4Mcy_xlKipsz0ZBxRhEXh_3icPVJIG5ZWi46FtDRreL3LZQ59hfAq0TQPRqGk/s1600/DSCF0010.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529866958859101986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFf0Jx-5aKwg3cJWWQeuypyC6S0kbvvMU4iaFOxRjXoswQ8u_afWlmLSf_TXVXaPXEt1rpEQwx9I2ul4Mcy_xlKipsz0ZBxRhEXh_3icPVJIG5ZWi46FtDRreL3LZQ59hfAq0TQPRqGk/s320/DSCF0010.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Luckily, it did not take me long to discover that the pieces actually do easily bend and pull apart and I was able to put away the scissors and decided to save even the taking apart of the tiles as a project to work on with the boys. Pulling the <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html">Fractiles</a> tiles apart is a great work for developing fine motor activity in little hands and my boys happily helped me pull apart and sort the tiny magnetic tiles.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lGAAvyGnXkIrLO4SwGVGFD3j3PB8lekh3EKC4SgA2rmdscZcYfZ56ubbhkO91N324LhPnax6QIRXT3hM9PUxr3Tk8JW4TNwThr_4c_HeEkd8SfWjexS2IoR0UewfJvkGcIlU4KFeR5o/s1600/DSCF0011.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529867720614575490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lGAAvyGnXkIrLO4SwGVGFD3j3PB8lekh3EKC4SgA2rmdscZcYfZ56ubbhkO91N324LhPnax6QIRXT3hM9PUxr3Tk8JW4TNwThr_4c_HeEkd8SfWjexS2IoR0UewfJvkGcIlU4KFeR5o/s320/DSCF0011.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeUv4orjR5G8vWjcFVuHwQQLmSvHze1WKHloS3EATRe_5Au7J9XARbqFAEPbIRouk0SsmU21CdItVmsWZPvyy_UQrqQH8h1mP9Jhl8gwGMgTGVSubE6tANbLb1BUpc7LtbqV5PMBM7xk/s1600/DSCF0013.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529867724191646738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeUv4orjR5G8vWjcFVuHwQQLmSvHze1WKHloS3EATRe_5Au7J9XARbqFAEPbIRouk0SsmU21CdItVmsWZPvyy_UQrqQH8h1mP9Jhl8gwGMgTGVSubE6tANbLb1BUpc7LtbqV5PMBM7xk/s320/DSCF0013.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal">The boys were immediately engaged with the <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html" target="_blank">Fractiles sets</a>. Both the large set and the fridge set come with a lot of images showing so many creations you can make with the tiles. This is a great way to build confidence in using the set for younger children who aren’t sure where to start with the <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html" target="_blank">Fractiles</a>. I encouraged the boys to choose something they liked from the pictures on the sleeve and try to copy it. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpSPdOlYVQUP4HggEZ2zL_CEXr2F122Quvm_J8hi6ZRQs1P6MLSgFNayz860mqLnxz0JukUbs90PUBWqIJJPE4yivn9ffnKQaMBESNFE2sfOT0wMQf8PTX-PhqYjHfoXZW_0Aj5m34Ow/s1600/DSCF0019.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529868716288963266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpSPdOlYVQUP4HggEZ2zL_CEXr2F122Quvm_J8hi6ZRQs1P6MLSgFNayz860mqLnxz0JukUbs90PUBWqIJJPE4yivn9ffnKQaMBESNFE2sfOT0wMQf8PTX-PhqYjHfoXZW_0Aj5m34Ow/s320/DSCF0019.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqonmcUJGsUwapqSp2KgSH1nr-CcYF5KZCZj3GQ-oeIHQhh5050gCDnaJJ57A60XAtNLH_7q-o-1dFcvkXIzL3PQLyBirFJZhfjr7kVuuneuHADerN0XCNzAqVRfMrubjkmJx7mJH6gW0/s1600/DSCF0020.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529868723196405794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqonmcUJGsUwapqSp2KgSH1nr-CcYF5KZCZj3GQ-oeIHQhh5050gCDnaJJ57A60XAtNLH_7q-o-1dFcvkXIzL3PQLyBirFJZhfjr7kVuuneuHADerN0XCNzAqVRfMrubjkmJx7mJH6gW0/s320/DSCF0020.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyy_davQ0VI4l11YyWO0eHekCiArkha3ZjyxuweN51bLSUFPOnVJNHYqJpSSk1FknqTTkL7oYsqVPUCuiDnMxu8uUbpsY4tRk4UU9BMdv4pouLlz7ZktkYiaO9Ibo8upceJl4Dr6XH7Y/s1600/DSCF0021.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529868737309323858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyy_davQ0VI4l11YyWO0eHekCiArkha3ZjyxuweN51bLSUFPOnVJNHYqJpSSk1FknqTTkL7oYsqVPUCuiDnMxu8uUbpsY4tRk4UU9BMdv4pouLlz7ZktkYiaO9Ibo8upceJl4Dr6XH7Y/s320/DSCF0021.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSw2IDiSwOnJKD6dUhHaS2FTfKZoaQCJ_Q0AAoFDSJ5KZkAEjqziIxlXbc7SbYbgh4ZbSsQD_eVN-HCsfQpvgClqG_CkopV6Bk6ap_Q4WmZebscYiDBGRqM5eh8sl9LJcnwhI12IRjVGw/s1600/DSCF0022.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529872242202261330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSw2IDiSwOnJKD6dUhHaS2FTfKZoaQCJ_Q0AAoFDSJ5KZkAEjqziIxlXbc7SbYbgh4ZbSsQD_eVN-HCsfQpvgClqG_CkopV6Bk6ap_Q4WmZebscYiDBGRqM5eh8sl9LJcnwhI12IRjVGw/s320/DSCF0022.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwk_GZVu6dPOsLli96-mnuwN5he_RbyZOmiGHb3L9ZO4tO8-JWz5EwfQ5jQXXvQvBYSrX11GGpz4Pk3JcTRlHGA9ZjhfSgiPs0v4ZnCpfsAN5Pm2JUo9yRIjGe2g7T_cJ9oPmvOi-0oQM/s1600/DSCF0023.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529872245046638914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwk_GZVu6dPOsLli96-mnuwN5he_RbyZOmiGHb3L9ZO4tO8-JWz5EwfQ5jQXXvQvBYSrX11GGpz4Pk3JcTRlHGA9ZjhfSgiPs0v4ZnCpfsAN5Pm2JUo9yRIjGe2g7T_cJ9oPmvOi-0oQM/s320/DSCF0023.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a>It wasn’t long before both my boys were trying out their own creations with the tiles and this is where the real fun began.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4gBoLafq7RPqC4xJkTEknV9Zcj_5Tbbiuh8jqh6xQFLRDtw8a25t5ldYV_bdpMp7BKth5JjXdbaQKfpx9ZBITR0eK2sREYotJ-LMu24hMYQFLm5WV13DzrvhKHPQ-ybT0Iw6aAvm1rE/s1600/DSCF0037.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529870339387941986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4gBoLafq7RPqC4xJkTEknV9Zcj_5Tbbiuh8jqh6xQFLRDtw8a25t5ldYV_bdpMp7BKth5JjXdbaQKfpx9ZBITR0eK2sREYotJ-LMu24hMYQFLm5WV13DzrvhKHPQ-ybT0Iw6aAvm1rE/s320/DSCF0037.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMoZ3-cujuFTtyDXlQhmhgjXXSYST7Q2rLbiUpgmLkIqs3ab2EWAqT-wDXgW8L7Iqshgfnh0QzKGryNWsAng8xGttU5EF3XBG5XT_6Um9LkFHCc5OuGINxOtiZU5WW_6yjP4PybiL0nI/s1600/DSCF0043.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529870343937248274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMoZ3-cujuFTtyDXlQhmhgjXXSYST7Q2rLbiUpgmLkIqs3ab2EWAqT-wDXgW8L7Iqshgfnh0QzKGryNWsAng8xGttU5EF3XBG5XT_6Um9LkFHCc5OuGINxOtiZU5WW_6yjP4PybiL0nI/s320/DSCF0043.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUct0_OfA1xB8YcjfanszM42e-Sr7McNyRU-oW0R4wtfXb_emI-lh5ji7DRU5UhCr1fDB8iLgBYUUYAHqUWGSddXuRJeXxKfD02Jhgsi4dmtE_QhKUeFs71Mli3MlgTZHOXcMdNRNJOI/s1600/DSCF0025.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529872250815876018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUct0_OfA1xB8YcjfanszM42e-Sr7McNyRU-oW0R4wtfXb_emI-lh5ji7DRU5UhCr1fDB8iLgBYUUYAHqUWGSddXuRJeXxKfD02Jhgsi4dmtE_QhKUeFs71Mli3MlgTZHOXcMdNRNJOI/s320/DSCF0025.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRghULKSQNyb2DG6t7SoHFwGg-661EpWJ24ZFwbJ2KgLXwBDsUF3opxiB6fKgVXHkrm4KaF7yAHNKCVyIJizVyAx28r6rfi08EYZ53UWgWx1jx0Bd53IHJPGZysFXrbXsPlp_fUF159r0/s1600/DSCF0026.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529872256875737490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRghULKSQNyb2DG6t7SoHFwGg-661EpWJ24ZFwbJ2KgLXwBDsUF3opxiB6fKgVXHkrm4KaF7yAHNKCVyIJizVyAx28r6rfi08EYZ53UWgWx1jx0Bd53IHJPGZysFXrbXsPlp_fUF159r0/s320/DSCF0026.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" border="0" /></a> My younger son will make something new and can’t wait to show me. Once I take a look, I get an explanation of what his creation represents and it almost always ends with the question, “Am I the coolest artist-invention ever?” (By the way, "artist-invention" was not a typo. This is his actual quote). I am especially enjoying <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html" target="_blank">Fridge Fractiles</a> in this aspect. I come into the kitchen and frequently find a new design. It is fun trying to guess which of my little “artist-inventors” created the new masterpiece.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rG_4RL2GrwMyGzWSd_CrYM866Dxh2N6AWhyleRRwgGKgT5zgiQKzWlWSTsDRwOAzQIlZUcZr8zrOVD3nwf-FT6j6H6X4F0ZG_HJDvXzCFXV1OHh4Y75QgIRO9X-rnOoYnDROWMTrUE8/s1600/DSCF0035.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529872263378055538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rG_4RL2GrwMyGzWSd_CrYM866Dxh2N6AWhyleRRwgGKgT5zgiQKzWlWSTsDRwOAzQIlZUcZr8zrOVD3nwf-FT6j6H6X4F0ZG_HJDvXzCFXV1OHh4Y75QgIRO9X-rnOoYnDROWMTrUE8/s320/DSCF0035.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5XO1wzwWnVPOTIBvTaaQ7A5J73Isf5IrQSr5c7EeihvheCTrAfKImxstKW106u0sZ0a8ht-VHpJTUDayQY01RFuvTFspYqCTigD8YTww-B58jqPaiZnD7zEHQH7yeYhWdi7MaRkElmI/s1600/DSCF0038.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529872537899798690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5XO1wzwWnVPOTIBvTaaQ7A5J73Isf5IrQSr5c7EeihvheCTrAfKImxstKW106u0sZ0a8ht-VHpJTUDayQY01RFuvTFspYqCTigD8YTww-B58jqPaiZnD7zEHQH7yeYhWdi7MaRkElmI/s320/DSCF0038.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-je4P4wO1DCIAK3q6nh-UkUyBjnQQWtkYOemouSCYaBw2Or_y5N0F9JwtBggLvRVa2rBmrxk9JO-4aWAPuGkxhF1zqAJCFKdJ1gCm02IFf_I4jY4rxtZ3yfWXCMRqI-ujj1GC_mQ5Dwk/s1600/DSCF0044.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529872544573895954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-je4P4wO1DCIAK3q6nh-UkUyBjnQQWtkYOemouSCYaBw2Or_y5N0F9JwtBggLvRVa2rBmrxk9JO-4aWAPuGkxhF1zqAJCFKdJ1gCm02IFf_I4jY4rxtZ3yfWXCMRqI-ujj1GC_mQ5Dwk/s320/DSCF0044.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzr7aBvUFqUADSpmIjw_WJfEQp66aKW4mWTyeLYp9PClqoG6GEXANaBBvR70RSPBqxKSgMEL71EPZQdFVeXZGINw8w-xso4GC7UQ6m-0I3nTYds-iC2v1Tbb2ayV8CENSH4vAtQK4vFdM/s1600/DSCF0045.JPG"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529872548430814418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzr7aBvUFqUADSpmIjw_WJfEQp66aKW4mWTyeLYp9PClqoG6GEXANaBBvR70RSPBqxKSgMEL71EPZQdFVeXZGINw8w-xso4GC7UQ6m-0I3nTYds-iC2v1Tbb2ayV8CENSH4vAtQK4vFdM/s320/DSCF0045.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 179px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal">We are very happy with our newest toy! Both boys will sit and play with <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html" target="_blank">Fractiles</a> with dedicated concentration for quite a while and feel a sense of pride when they have created something. I feel happy because they are subtly being education on patterns and symmetry which are two important concepts for geometry. <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-C205338.html" target="_blank">Fractiles</a> are also made in the U.S.A. and are lead and phthalate free. We love this toy so much, we are definitely planning on getting a few of the <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-F7-TE-FRN1001.html" target="_blank">Travel Fractiles sets</a> from <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/" target="_blank">Toys and Games Online</a> ($24.95) to give as birthday gifts for classmates of my kindergartner.<br /><br />Now, the really fun part! <a href="http://saras-toy-box.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sara's Toy Box</a> is giving you an opportunity to win a $25 gift card (perfect for <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Fractiles-F7-TE-FRN1001.html" target="_blank">Travel Fractiles</a>) from <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/" target="_blank">Toys and Games Online</a>. Simply go to <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/" target="_blank">toysandgamesonline.com</a> to view their great selection of educational toys and games. Then come back here to <a href="http://saras-toy-box.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sara's Toy Box</a> and leave us a comment about which toy you would select along with your contact information. You can also enter by sending us the toy selection in an <a href="http://babybeads@gmail.com"></a>e-mail or a message on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/SarasToyBox" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.<br /></div>Marcihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04310411102838151478noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-14018442446696401312010-10-18T17:19:00.001-04:002010-10-18T17:25:04.328-04:00And the winner of the Kiddo Tags is....ReggieMann! <br />
She wins a pack of 30 <a href="http://www.kiddotags.com/mini.html" target="_blank">Mini Kiddo Tags</a> with a free *dwink* Box Holder in pink or blue. Congratulations!<br />
<br />
So sorry for the delay. We have been the house of sickness and it's been hard to get anything done.<br />
<br />
By the way, I finally ironed on our <a href="http://www.kiddotags.com/iron_on_polka.html" target="_blank">iron-on Kiddo Tags</a>. It was easy once I got over my aversion to plugging in the iron. The round name labels fit perfectly on a tag and I don't have to worry about Linnea's gloves ending up in the lost-and-found.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-44804268611397793352010-10-18T17:10:00.002-04:002010-10-21T18:58:11.671-04:00Safe Nail Polish from Piggy PaintFor our second review at <a href="http://saras-toy-box.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sara's Toy Box</a> I enlisted the help of my oldest daughter, Emma, she's 11 years old and in the 6th grade -- She and her sisters wanted to have a little 'make over' party today -- which for them is an excuse to paint nails, fix hair and wear lip gloss -- <br />
<div><br />
</div><div>We got a couple of colors of wonderfully safe nail polish from <a href="http://www.piggypaint.com/" target="_blank">Piggy Paint</a> -- this would be great for smaller children who still put their hands in their mouths and for pre-teens who want to not smell like a nail salon and who would like to have <a href="http://www.piggypaint.com/nail-polish.html" target="_blank">safe nail polish</a> for their little piggies ... </div><div><br />
</div><div>Emma started by painting her sister's toes ... </div><div><br />
</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524964565733085058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nN_8hyphenhyphen0H54maNVzEN8PR5QQKyWTaOdWEagS3Xhp2ucqEwjSZRusWIMt1-_GhzKpl417szQrYd0MTNAdmnB6HryV6uJQiCKv4XjbN_kFhxCEDf7LJEllVaEYJyWXktU7bAfNAqqfcJFc/s320/DSCN1850.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></div><div>They're a nice mix of pink and yellow because they couldn't decide! I love those little toes. </div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524965180778880722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9VirmewC3cmRXEa8eHsj6e25iL_sasJCvpUeV3IpTBFjtbdqoSscmruGnFJ8JVTmYJ-_SkTxLUnyiAhP_InlFPPUEMKWuN8L4ow0q8MW0f_X2NxfvvOMAuQ6HmZ_ARCJZx-KoF508aQ/s320/DSCN1853.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 240px;" /></div><div>Then Emma went on to paint their fingers in a similar mix of colors.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>And naturally she had to paint her own nails as well ... she went with just pink -- you know, when you're nearly grown it's easier to decide ... </div><div><br />
</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524966203089797170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIk7EceUUIr20c13ELhCl-Z8YmFtzWbYsP1q8cdLviU2bOzYlogT3POAWzrMWG1pLJVYoppUTqcuJaj_0c4zfU9XU8R78eHjgEbhWolOq6CX8W5Xenm14V0F96BxBr6xFOBiozIWnJZeM/s320/DSCN1856.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 203px;" /></div><div><br />
</div><div>Piggy Paint has a new line of <a href="http://www.piggypaint.com/project-earth-nail-polish.html" target="_blank">TWEEN nail polish</a> that is colorful, safe and super fun -- they even have a new glow-in-the dark polish, "Radioactive" that would be so fun at a sleep over. You can use it over an existing color or alone -- just a few coats for maximum glow and you've made someone's day. </div><div><br />
</div><div>As hard as it is to find presents for tween girls -- this would make a wonderful gift for any young lady -- great in a stocking, and they can share it with their little sisters and friends without worry about toxins and nasty smells. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Piggy Paint is offering readers of Sara's Toy Box a 10% off coupon code AND free domestic shipping on orders over $35. The coupon code is TOYZ10L and it expires on December 15, 2010 - plenty of time for holiday shopping!<br />
<br />
GIVEAWAY!!! -- One Sara's Toy Box reader will win a $15 gift certificate to Piggy Paint. Just go to Piggy Paint, shop around and post a comment here or send us an email saying what you would get for the sweet tween or little princess in your life or tell us your favorite color and you'll be entered in the contest. Make sure you give us some contact info so we can let you know if you win!</div><div><br />
We'll announce the winner on Halloween. Piggy Paints are also the perfect accessory for your little witch or goblin - green nails (a gorgeous color called Dragon Tears), you think?</div>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737960161434577881noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-66346628161805728582010-10-01T12:32:00.000-04:002010-10-01T12:32:22.909-04:00Buy Handmade Week!<a href="http://americancraftweek.com/about" target="_blank">American Craft Week</a> runs from October 1-10 and <a href="http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/Home.aspx" target="_blank">The Handmade Toy Alliance</a> is asking us to pledge to buy handmade at least once this holiday season. Click <a href="http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/Community/HandmadePledge.aspx" target="_blank">here</a> to sign the <a href="http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/Community/HandmadePledge.aspx" target="_blank">Pledge to Buy Handmade</a>.<br />
<br />
We say avoiding mass produced toys and treating our children to lovingly created clothing and toys is no hardship. Need ideas?<br />
<br />
<em>Here are some suggestions:</em><br />
<br />
Linnea hates coats, but she loves her <strong>poncho ($46.00)</strong> from <a href="http://skippinghippos.com/" target="_blank">Skipping Hippos</a>. The ponchos, jackets and coats are the site are all made in the U.S.A. out of CPSIA-compliant materials. And, right now, many of them are on sale!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAHhXhN6_Y1pug7vDHEQQtl0KRw9kRkYKo03RuwPCG4265rcZIkrVGi7KSx93GZtDEfhUuf-VZhxZdrxDpvCwJKnZCAwfJDGTiYh4lUpm3dMYakyfjzphd9Mur1MEqKWCH9hsEjII59Id/s1600/341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAHhXhN6_Y1pug7vDHEQQtl0KRw9kRkYKo03RuwPCG4265rcZIkrVGi7KSx93GZtDEfhUuf-VZhxZdrxDpvCwJKnZCAwfJDGTiYh4lUpm3dMYakyfjzphd9Mur1MEqKWCH9hsEjII59Id/s320/341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Linnea gets compliments every where we go.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyRHYakNTW6tI2dtIJ86_oQzbqWx5G-EGb04xY7-y13A185JyeqU_FLdpYW93EyX6vWyyLlzRimMSchOXVC6u33kdUnONdnradfJb1IUF1OeX0qnVLJFuwdoTz4vLDCx-HGvjCSqZfqFZ/s1600/342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyRHYakNTW6tI2dtIJ86_oQzbqWx5G-EGb04xY7-y13A185JyeqU_FLdpYW93EyX6vWyyLlzRimMSchOXVC6u33kdUnONdnradfJb1IUF1OeX0qnVLJFuwdoTz4vLDCx-HGvjCSqZfqFZ/s320/342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.hipmountainmama.com/index.html" target="_blank">Hip Mountain Mama</a> offers this <strong><a href="http://www.hipmountainmama.com/gnomefamily.html" target="_blank">Gnome Family</a> ($15.99)</strong> made from 100% reclaimed Walnut and finished with a safe and natural mineral oil. They are made by The Original Tree Swing, a family-based business in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doesn't this look like fun?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQPDPPz0sCk2-mVvjc_ihwSSEIN_XqaAUmzvN6HIT17LfxJmaRBisYiTDS2kxW5JQCAckHcEaBPlesWGZSo_KyKJYayIHpZinliHB6iLGZwmX5ZFvB13ODVfigsxjfUyHE5Max5sbr5QA/s1600/gnomes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQPDPPz0sCk2-mVvjc_ihwSSEIN_XqaAUmzvN6HIT17LfxJmaRBisYiTDS2kxW5JQCAckHcEaBPlesWGZSo_KyKJYayIHpZinliHB6iLGZwmX5ZFvB13ODVfigsxjfUyHE5Max5sbr5QA/s320/gnomes.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br />
Speaking of fun wooden toys, Oregon mom Willow Baus makes beautiful handmade toys which she sells from her Etsy shop, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/willowbaus" target="_blank">Tweet by Willow Baus</a>. I am totally enamored with these toys. I ordered a covered wagon for Linnea's birthday. I'll let you know how she likes it.<br />
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<strong>Covered Wagon ($20)</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmS_M7pDaotBg9v0bvehKb-h-NUigTURwTEOAbNtyHXw1cp40VWynQiGjkj9iLaVrvrWob1HgIB4rzQTM9mD8eqIMz6KmfZnU1HBcNtH9IAakOw-3XV1aOQzOvWLC7U91bc-FGGJOM43s/s1600/wagon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmS_M7pDaotBg9v0bvehKb-h-NUigTURwTEOAbNtyHXw1cp40VWynQiGjkj9iLaVrvrWob1HgIB4rzQTM9mD8eqIMz6KmfZnU1HBcNtH9IAakOw-3XV1aOQzOvWLC7U91bc-FGGJOM43s/s320/wagon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Hanging Mobile ($40)</strong><br />
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<strong>Sail Boat ($18)</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcVIRHQ4BYssdfCzT4PGIayI2A_vf8GK7aPQBy8hwJKTEuFJeM63PbfNSM9oMr6dWGZ4j0ReNzKJrK76ya4oQV07CTfmhqLZuynBVHnrJCn4iPXLzfs85JjOhK_G0E6t0C_6KgyMsGgyH/s1600/boats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcVIRHQ4BYssdfCzT4PGIayI2A_vf8GK7aPQBy8hwJKTEuFJeM63PbfNSM9oMr6dWGZ4j0ReNzKJrK76ya4oQV07CTfmhqLZuynBVHnrJCn4iPXLzfs85JjOhK_G0E6t0C_6KgyMsGgyH/s320/boats.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And, check out the eco-friendly plush animals and baby toys at <a href="http://www.ecoleeko.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Ecoleeko</a>. I have a few of these in my office right now (donations for our auction's baby gift basket) and they are oh so soft.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.ecoleeko.com/cow.htm" target="_blank">MooBelle </a>($32)</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGF4uAbeNhvLoZdHJ9s85YYMJKUakz3lnUYFC_pESb6W_udNoL7EV6PoupTf8vo004FBe4Ee7rdEMGH3606VUeTiG6VLn9lMmZK9fkzW6Zms16ZaH-PdhQg_L4Gn6k0Wa6vwQtwOHxP3Z/s1600/cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGF4uAbeNhvLoZdHJ9s85YYMJKUakz3lnUYFC_pESb6W_udNoL7EV6PoupTf8vo004FBe4Ee7rdEMGH3606VUeTiG6VLn9lMmZK9fkzW6Zms16ZaH-PdhQg_L4Gn6k0Wa6vwQtwOHxP3Z/s200/cow.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
You can find handmade at Etsy, at your local farmer's markets and craft fairs, and through the <a href="http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/AllianceInfo/OurMembers.aspx" target="_blank">Handmade Toy Alliance</a>. Remember, handmade helps your local economy and the Earth. If each of us buys only a few handmade items this holiday season, it can make a big difference.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-22553923771360991592010-09-27T17:35:00.002-04:002010-09-27T18:28:19.007-04:00Charity Auction Postponed until DecemberThere's some great things happening, but we need a little time. We'll be keeping you updated, so stay tuned!!!!!<br />
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:0)Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-1225971983542069352010-09-26T14:15:00.001-04:002010-09-27T10:28:39.858-04:00The Winner of the Science Kit Giveaway is...........SuperSarah! Congratulations to SuperSarah who entered by email. She won a $40 giftcard to <a href="http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/">Toys and Games Online</a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNx69-_G_lMGugs08rJeh0hmvR3NiDOSuwrbV9adQ3_Jp4kko7PjSaxst2dxpccD1lkFlVVrJ7qH6XOOxxaBFKZNoO0mjMvwFoS02VaTyc7CIAhubDARFjULPdqU1o8pZf_-ZGjBGFiv38/s1600/elizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNx69-_G_lMGugs08rJeh0hmvR3NiDOSuwrbV9adQ3_Jp4kko7PjSaxst2dxpccD1lkFlVVrJ7qH6XOOxxaBFKZNoO0mjMvwFoS02VaTyc7CIAhubDARFjULPdqU1o8pZf_-ZGjBGFiv38/s640/elizabeth.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
Toys and Games Online is part of the CSN family of stores. The CSN stores sell everything from <a href="http://www.allcoffeetables.com/">end tables</a> to <a href="http://www.csnstores.com/Cribs-C216066.html">baby cribs</a>. They'll be sponsoring another review next month.<br />
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Congratulations, SuperSarah!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-2097769499634931822010-09-26T13:56:00.003-04:002010-09-26T14:01:03.069-04:00Tags for Everything - KiddoTags Review and GiveawayThe first day of school came and Arielle went off to first grade with her customized lunch box from <a href="http://saras-toy-box.blogspot.com/2010/04/lunch-boxes.html">Yubo</a>.<br />
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Arielle adores her lunchbox, and she would be so sad if it got lost. I am glad she loves her lunchbox, and I would be annoyed if it got lost because lunchboxes are not cheap.<br />
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What can I do to help Ari and her lunchbox to stay together? I can use a sharpie and write her name (and then I can't pass down the cute lunchbox) or I can get <a href="http://kiddotags.com/">KiddoTags</a>. <br />
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KiddoTags are customizable name labels that stick to your lunchboxes, bottles, toys, pacifiers.... anything. etc. They are super durable and waterproof, dishwasher-proof, microwave safe, UV-resistant and scuff-proof. <br />
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You design your own using 80 character icons, 12 different label colors and 19 different fonts.<br />
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There are even shoe labels and iron-on labels for clothing.<br />
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The company is owned by a stay-at-home mom and everything is designed and printed in the United States.<br />
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I bought each girl a <a href="http://www.kiddotags.com/value_pak.html">Kiddo Tags</a> value pack ($34.99). The pack game with a variety of labels in different sizes. I designed each girl's tags to reflect her likes. Arielle's have owls and are pink. Linnea's are yellow with cute cats. <br />
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I labeled water bottles...<br />
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...the little bins inside the lunchboxes (yes, these have been going through the dishwasher daily for a few weeks) ...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtzdfRTBtlQ5oRAGzkoIASXa8bAr2xkxplNivNRO45Cjm_BIVZVOsyxbnjr87rzpX8qT9Qh-M_7d4-5ExI8dcqgedcEhdDZG-u_6ndgEB4WAEsM5oahBlihpqDb6ovOGydTK1Fx8hOdDN/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtzdfRTBtlQ5oRAGzkoIASXa8bAr2xkxplNivNRO45Cjm_BIVZVOsyxbnjr87rzpX8qT9Qh-M_7d4-5ExI8dcqgedcEhdDZG-u_6ndgEB4WAEsM5oahBlihpqDb6ovOGydTK1Fx8hOdDN/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>... all the individual parts of the lunchboxes (overkill, but moms like stickers, too.)...<br />
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...how useful! <br />
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KiddoTags are also great for labeling school supplies (a requirement at our school and this looks so much prettier than scrawling in Sharpie).<br />
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The value pack came with shoe labels, an excellent idea if your child takes gymnastics or ballet or another sport where shoes sometimes end up piled in cubbies. I must remember to label the ballet and tap shoes!<br />
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It also came with two hanging backpack tags. I also put a sticky tag inside.<br />
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KiddoTags aren't just for things that go to school; I labeled the girls' bicycle helmets.<br />
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I got some last-name-only tags for Dad's lunch box and my water bottle and even the bottom of my camera since it comes with me a lot.<br />
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I also bought a pack of iron-ons for coats. I did last name only since the girls hand down and pass on their clothes to their cousins. The iron-ons are in the laundry room waiting for a free moment.<br />
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When my friends first mentioned KiddoTags, I thought labeling your kids stuff was a bit obsessive. Then I got the note from school and looked at the site. The cuteness won me over. Once I tried them, I completely understood what the raves were about. I love these things!<br />
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Try them out and get 20% off your first order by signing up for the KiddoTags newsletter.<br />
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One of our lucky readers will get to try out KiddoTags. KiddoTags will give one Sara's Toy Box reader a pack of 30 Mini Kiddos with a free *dwink* Box Holder in pink or blue only. To enter, all you have to do is go to the <a href="http://kiddotags.com/">KiddoTags</a> website and push the "Like" button. Then let me know that you like KiddoTags by posting here or on our facebook page.<br />
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The winner will be announced on October 4.<br />
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Here's Linnea, all KiddoTagged and ready for her first day of preschool.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYN6NWjLHObKpvlu8jOeJQq4Yte0AzCFLCo72FbS2ZvCutuZQLVJ22Hxe9UO-d1ZRDz9lzAqC8YcOtE_RFwEs7hmJiLAxZOAbIXrjqui1ac9dYEXN4X8WomNfLL5C2TezqDpUJQDpzUUt/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYN6NWjLHObKpvlu8jOeJQq4Yte0AzCFLCo72FbS2ZvCutuZQLVJ22Hxe9UO-d1ZRDz9lzAqC8YcOtE_RFwEs7hmJiLAxZOAbIXrjqui1ac9dYEXN4X8WomNfLL5C2TezqDpUJQDpzUUt/s320/019.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-52774854593751380902010-09-15T17:40:00.000-04:002010-09-15T17:40:33.496-04:00A secret..... shhhhh......Sara's Toy Box is hosting a charity auction. The auction will take place on October 1st - as long as everything gets here on time.<br />
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The owner of a toy store that we love (and a supporter to our blog) had an emergency appendectomy a few weeks ago. She is a cancer survivor as well as self-employed, and she can't get affordable health insurance. So now she has a $26,000 hospital bill on top of missing her children's first day of school and just some tough life stuff that happened around that time.<br />
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So, because we can make a difference for her, Sara's Toy Box is sponsoring an auction to help her out.<br />
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The auction will be on HyenaCart. I will post the link once we get the site set up. <br />
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What do we have? We have four great gift baskets... one for a boy, one for a girl, one for a baby and one for mom. There will also be individual items and a couple of cool surprises. I'll be posting pictures of everything on the blog and on the auction site in the next few weeks. We have Holztiger, Sarah's Silks, Mary's Soft Dough, handmade dolls and swords and heirloom baby rattles, a balance board, Boom Boom cards, organic stuffed animals, a science kit.... so much. There are even rumors of a Bamboletta Doll (unconfirmed) and a private concert (confirmed)... So, do some Christmas shopping and help out a great woman.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14999039538167155221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883078905985770452.post-16221130096526204942010-08-31T08:21:00.012-04:002010-09-22T21:41:33.036-04:00Science Kit Review and Giveaway from Toys and Games Online<span xmlns=''><p>Hello all! My name is Donna, and my crew and I are looking forward to helping out here at Sara's Toy Box with reviews and fun -- I have four little girls who are all curious and creative ladies. <br/><br/>Recently we had the pleasure to review the <a target='_blank' href='http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Thames-and-Kosmos-662714-TAK1028.html'><strong>Space Exploration Kit</strong></a><strong> ($31.40) </strong>from <a target='_blank' href='http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Thames-and-Kosmos-C162713.html'>Thames and Kosmos</a> that was sent to us from <a target='_blank' href='http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/'>Toys and Games Online</a><br /> <br/><br/>As a homeschooling family we're always on the look out for interesting, fun and easily accessible science kits that are also reasonably priced! The prices at <a target='_blank' href='http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/'>Toys and Games Online</a> for this science kit were similar to what I'd found elsewhere. <br/><br/>We are already familiar with the brand Thames and Kosmos and their science kits because we ordered their <a target='_blank' href='http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/Thames-and-Kosmos-644512-TAK1026.html'>Chem 2000</a> kit for our oldest daughter's chemistry lab this year. She's starting 6th grade and she needed some serious science – that science kit is going to work out GREAT for her and for her sisters as they get older. I can tell already that it's well worth it.<br/><br/>The <strong>Space Exploration Kit</strong> is recommended for kids aged 8 and up. <br/><br/>We had to do this review over the course of a few days because there are just SO many things to do in this kit. There's still more we need to cover, but we're going to have to wait until it gets dark earlier so we can see some stars before bedtime!<br/><br/>Today you'll get to meet my twin daughters ... they are goofy 8 year olds who aspire to be on Mythbusters when they grow up ... Rachel and Mara -- this was their favorite constellation they learned about ... Gemini, the twins.<br/><br/><img alt='' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegwxVOZSSzgZ7akLszVAnjpni9dT4-rLmmF_v2bkQM5e1N9NLiJGVwUMluZSHYukaAd8hFD8yG5DGBZM_eUiyHvrfVTfao8SXOCDXrgRra_Ui6CEtAfdaZzPAEeVpvEETGxhV3GOeokM/s400/August+069.JPG'/><br/><br/>We began our cool science kit by reading some directions. They're rather easy to follow but there are a number experiments that require adult supervision. And, if left to their own devices my girls might not actually learn WHY something happens; it's all the better if I'm there to get them to listen to an explanation as well. <br/><br/>We put together a simple telescope and tried it out – learned about how the lenses work …<br/><br/><img alt='' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVXNa1tm2PK2jJmYtvgs4HvKh9rB51MlTMorlwod6ARCgy5yuuSFZnURnOXYq9tIMlRhUv75k66w7bHFLxfLUVHy7XRqO8RI7rM7zXQK6j_m9i2ClnlUA7tfhqJh9FwMb5x0bdqES0_M/s400/August+027.JPG'/><br/><br/>Then we put together a pretty nifty model of the solar system that now hangs in the girls' room below the ceiling that already had glow in the dark stars all over it … We talked about the phases of the moon and watched it changed in by putting together a little flip book.<br/><br/><img alt='' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDlIZGqXP247G6ZSR8ddLknxP-Rm9yDvsdfqccChlmcYvEJohWixgzgOh_5Gf6xqi2jh2fNheeCgVMNmK7teVdu2Nl_pV2aMn3KBCiAuvd0NVa-nCZ6vHA938uK09j01uhLWckfeyav8/s400/August+018.JPG'/><br/><br/>A few days later we got some free time to open up the kit again, this time we got to learn about rockets, which I couldn't get a good picture of – that little thing really took off! The girls also loved being able to go check the time on the sundial and learn about some constellations – we've hung the pictures of them in their window and they're hoping when they can have a nice starry night they can find some constellations all on their own!<br/><br/><img alt='' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPS50GqMoIrbmtd4HOVIMifOniC5DTI_tR5Wkjy4DJ2a2MP5iSHg9dQQP98LNbq-8c1dVpZ9dxib-AnHezrQ6lp3NSkngnXf-wNr0qVy-9b3rBAfkE4NWonjrH2e1OYC96LlJHnIK_5Q/s400/August+067.JPG'/><br/><br/>Want to go back to school with your own space exploration kit? <strong>Sara's Toy Box is giving away a $40 gift card to <a target='_blank' href='http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/'>Toys and Games Online</a></strong>. To enter, go to their website and pick which awesome educational games or educational toys you'd get for the little scholar in your life. Then come back here and tell us what you would pick and why; add some contact info in your comment and we'll choose a winner next week! If posting your contact info makes you uncomfortable, you can also enter by sending us an <a href='mailto:babybeads@gmail.com'>email</a> or a message on Facebook.</p></span>Donnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737960161434577881noreply@blogger.com5