Haba Pixie rattle - update

If you scroll down the sidebar, you'll see a link to The Toy Recall Finder. The button has a picture of a beautiful HABA clutch toy. That toy was recalled last year because the mirrors could falloff causing a choking hazard. What a disappointment. Linnea had that toy and it was so cute.

The good news is that HABA redesigned the Pixie Clutching Toy ($16.99) and the other recalled toys. They now have foil instead of a mirror and are perfectly safe. You can tell which are the newer clutch toys because the house is orange.



Pixie clutching toy is made in Germany.

Blueberry Forest Toys - 15% off magical toys

When I look at the Blueberry Forest Toys website, I feel like I'm taking a peek at Santa's Workshop. It just feels like the toys are especially chosen to give that sparkly Christmas morning feeling. Which is why it is one of my favorites for Holiday shopping.

And, I'll definitely be doing some shopping at Blueberry Forest this year. Blueberry Forest has a huge selection of Kathe Kruse Dolls. Linnea would really like a vinyl baby doll. The new, bigger (14.5") bath babies are a possibility.

Kathe Kruse Baby Mein Doll, "My First Trip" ($94.95)



Kathe Kruse vinyl dolls are made of vinyl that is free of nonyphenol and phtalates. The vinyl is made in Germany and tested in Germany at the Chemical-Technical Institute. Most vinyl dolls are made of PVC.

Little girls love being able to bathe their baby dolls. Kathe Kruse bath baby dolls can be played with in the bath or swimming pool and can then be dried off and dressed, all ready for more adventures with their little mommies.

If you are looking for a Nativity scene for this holiday, Blueberry Forest Toys has several alternatives that are both beautiful and fun.

I like the Kathe Kruse Finger Puppet Nativity Set. It comes with comes with Mary and Baby Jesus, Joseph, angel, ox, and donkey finger puppets, and a manger stage. What a fun way to tech your child the story of Christmas.

Kathe Kruse Nativity Finger Puppet Theater Set ($65.95)



While I'm on a Kathe Kruse roll, let me mention the Kathe Kruse Advent Doll. This seven inch doll comes with 22 pieces of handmade clothing - one for each day of the Advent. After the holidays, she can be put away for next year or played with year round.


Kathe Kruse 7 in. Advent Doll ($96.95)



But, Blueberry Forest isn't just about Kathe Kruse. They offer a huge range of European and American toys, gifts and photo albums.

They are not a toys, but I love the antique replica cookie and craft molds. These are made of a wood and resin composite. If you are like me and make baked goods as holiday gifts, these are an easy way to make something truly special for your friends. The molds also have hanging rings so they can be displayed on a wall.

Baroque Owl Cookie Mold ($21.00)



Now, back to toys! Blueberry Forest offers HABA toys, Kettler tricycles, Plan Toys, Selecta (while supplies last), Sarah's Silks, Ostheimer figures, Kinderkram toys and Evi Dolls. There are special sections for fairy and mermaid play, pirate play, castle toys, blocks, and wooden figures.

Look at the Kinderkram Snow White Set ($248.95)



What a creative alternative to the Disney version.

Blueberry Forest Toys has offered Sara's Toy Box readers a coupon code good for 15% off all Kathe Kruse items on the site. Please enter Coupon Code "STB2" valid through 12/15/09.

Dolls from HABA, at Petit Baby

Every once in a while Arielle gets to choose the toy we review. After looking over all the wonderful toys on the Petit Baby website, this doll was her first choice. It was love at first sight. Once she saw the doll, nothing else would do.

HABA Lotta Soft Doll ($44.99)



And, since she is (usually)a nice big sister, she looked over the other dolls, and chose this doll for Linnea.

HABA Paola Soft Doll ($44.99)



When the dolls arrived, everyone was so happy. I knew these were 15" dolls, but I was still surprised at the large size. I was expecting something like Groovy Girls.


Linnea was thrilled to have "my big-girl" doll. She decided to rename her Anna.

Arielle stuck with the name Lotta since she can read boxes.

Both dolls have removable clothing and accessories, so of course the first things their new mommies did was undress them. The dolls have belly buttons! But no underpants.


And, then they dressed them again. No pants for Anna-Paola; like her Mommy, she believes that pants are "Yucky!"

Playing...






After a yummy dinner of wooden food, the mommies tucked their big-girl dollies in tightly. Goodnight, Lotta.


The dolls are made in China under HABA supervision. I think Arielle loves the funky hair and cool outfits - they look like clothes she'd pick out. I was impressed with the quality. These dolls are made to be loved and cuddled by little mommies and daddies who aren't always gentle.

They are a nice gift for the child who wants a "big kid" doll. Trendy-cool, but not inappropriate like some dolls out there.

Petit Baby has offered our readers 10% off all regularly priced items. The code is "Sara10", and the code can not be used on sales items. But, it can be used on Lotta, Paola (Anna) and their friends Amelie and Lukas.

Maukilo Gift Card Giveaway

On November 20th, one lucky blog reader will win a Maukilo giftcard worth $25. To enter, go to the Maukilo website and answer the question, "if you won a $25 gift card to Maukilo, what would you buy?" Then let me know. You can enter by comment, Facebook, or email.

You can have a double entry by becoming a fan of Maukilo on facebook or by following Maukilo on Twitter. Just let me know.

I can't enter, but what would I choose?

I would spend it all on Haba play food. Maukilo is the largest online Haba retailer with over 1500 Haba toys in stock. The wooden food is so cute and it lasts to be passed down. I'd put in a shopping bag ($2.42) and give as a gift. In fact, I'm doing that next week :o)

Carrot ($2.42)

A favorite - Haba's Tack Zap

When Elfie was almost three (15 years ago!), her absolute favorite activity at her Montessori preschool was hammering little shapes onto a cork board. Haba's Geo Shape Tack Zap ($22.99) offers the same fun, learning activity for home use.



This game, intended for ages 3 and up because of the obvious choking hazard, contains 50 wooden geometric tiles, a small bag of tiny nails, a cork board and a wooden hammer. Each tile has a small hole where the child can fit the nail and then hammer it to the board. The geometric shapes allow for all kinds of creative hammering. A larger 100 tile set is also available ($32.90).

So, after remembering how much Elfie loved hammering little shapes into cork board, I bought a set for Arielle when she was almost three. Arielle adored it, but I put it away when Linnea started climbing and getting into things. Recently, I was assembling a bookshelf and to avoid "help", I took it out again. Linnea discovered the joy of hammering nails for herself. At first, it was a challenge, but after a few tries, she figured it out and she is so proud.

Because the parts are small and the tacks are sharp, use your good parental judgment about whether your child is ready.

Of course, Arielle didn't like sharing, so I bought a second set, the Haba Figure Tack and Hammer Set ($31.90). This set includes people and animal figures and makes a nice addition to the geometric shapes in our first set. For fairness, I mixed them together.

Now both girls (supervised) can spend amazingly long amounts of time tap-tapping away. No fighting and no mess. Here's the pictures.

Beautiful Sevilla Blocks - from Moolka

I love blocks. Blocks were the first toy that Arielle and Linnea were really able to play with cooperatively. My older children played with their blocks until they were nearly in their teens, and neighbor children would come over to play with their block set which was embellished with wooden findings from craft and hardware stores. And, I remember playing blocks with my own siblings, spending hour and hours building cities and towns. But, our blocks weren't this nice.

Building Blocks SevillaBuilding Blocks from Haba ($59.99)

This set of 25 beautiful wooden blocks is inspired by the work of the Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi, who designed the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona. These building blocks depict Gaudi's famous unique style and highly individualistic designs and cylindrical structures.

The blocks are made in Germany of beechwood and are stained with non-toxic, water-based paints. The bright colors and unique forms of these blocks allow for all sorts of building possibilities. Here is Linnea building a fairy house.

Like many Haba blocks, Sevilla blocks have interesting features like mirrors, magnifying glasses, tinted windows, bells, and prisms. Arielle is looking through the red magnifying block.


And she is building her own palace for fairies and unicorn and their friends.

"Pictures again!"





Of course, Sevilla blocks are compatible with all the other sets of Haba blocks for all kinds of building possibilities. Smaller block sets inspired by the work of Gaudi include Building Blocks Cordoba from Haba ($39.99) and Sakrada Building Blocks from Haba ($22.50).

Thank you, Moolka, for letting us try out these fun blocks!

I love these blocks!

Haba's new Eeny Meeny Zoo Blocks ($49.99) are my new favorite toy for toddlers.


I'm pretty sure they rank close to the top of the Haba toy cuteness list - and Haba makes a whole lot of cuteness. Linnea loved them, too. She went right to work as soon as Arielle gave her a chance to play.






The blocks are made in Germany and are stained with nontoxic stains. They are Haba, so they will last and can be mixed with other Haba blocks.

The blocks are available from Bright October who has generously offered our readers 10% off on any item with the code “sarastoybox" until 12/31/2008.