Playforever at Moolka

Playforever is a British company and the toys are made in Britain. These plastic toys are made to withstand real play and to last forever.



There are three models, the Bruno Roadster (a car), the Enzo Speedster (a motorcycle with side car), and the Mimmo Buster (an adorable airplane). They each retail for $59.99. We reviewed the Bruno Roadster in orange.

Playforever Bruno Roadster ($59.99)



I didn't say anything to the kids about this review, but I think a race car must have been Linnea's birthday wish. When we got back from our Thanksgiving trip which included Linnea's birthday party, Linnea started talking about her race car that was coming in a package. When we went to the post office, she asked our postmaster if her race car came yet. And when the UPS man brought a package to the door, she started yelling "It's my race car! It's my race car!" And when we opened the box from Moolka, it really was.

Linnea was in love. There was one rough moment because the little figure does not have eyes, so she wanted to draw them. I explained that his eyes are behind his goggles. Disaster averted, but we found out that Playforever toys stand up well to toddler tantrums (as well as rough love).

In the afternoon, she made her daddy play with her. This is definitely a toy for daddies. He said, "Whoa that looks fast!" and they went racing around the play room.


Yeah, racing when one is three can involve climbing... or crashing...




She even tried riding it.



While little girls enjoy racing, they also have unique girly way of playing with cars that daddies don't understand. Linnea and her race car watched Sesame Street together.



And at bedtime, after a quick drive and a snuggle....





the race car was given a kiss and tucked in under Linnea's bed where it wouldn't get lonely and would be available first thing in the morning for more fun and rides.


This is a most wonderful gift for any car-loving boy or girl. The ten inch vehicles are made of tough and shiny ABS plastic (like Lego) with rubber wheels. It weighs two pounds, so it's a sturdy vehicle. So tough!

And, also very cute :) The retro-modern styling is the design of Julian Meagher, an industrial designer, and they truly are works of art.

Thank you, Moolka, for making wishes come true and for making a little girl very happy!

Martial Arts Paper Toys | Hartia Toys

Moolka was kind enough to send our karate crazy boy this set of folding toys by Hartia Toys:



The set, Martial Arts, comes with a variety of cool fighty dudes. Our favorite was the sumo wrestler. He is super rad, reminds me of Japan and is the butt of many jokes now...literally! If you choose the set comes with materials to build your own mobile. Very cute!

However, we have not made it that far. Mr. Jack is just six, and had a bit of trouble with some of the folding/cuts. I do think that the toy is great for a careful, patient six-year-old or for anyone older. Also, we ended up using one of my knitting needles to make the creases as the included stick didn't quite hold up to Jack's serious kung fu grip. Like I said, a more careful child would have no issues I am sure.

We do love this set and look forward to completing the set after our big move.

Note: You will need scissors and glue to assemble the little dudes, they are not included.

Let the cutting begin! We used these very sharp scissors, which worked very well.



This series of cuts was accompanied by many giggles. Fun!




The instructions suggest using a ruler to guide the lines. This is a great idea that Jack decided to skip. Still, I do think a straight edge to guide you would help.



Carefully gluing on the nose. Tricky but satisfying! This really is a nice quiet toy and would help any child improve their hand eye coordination.



Full on sumo action complete with a "HYYYY-YYYAAAA!!!" and serious marital arts face.



Please visit Moolka here to check out their many paper toys. Perfect for the older kiddo in your life or for you (I really enjoyed them!).

Hartia Toys, only at Moolka

When I was in elementary school, there was one particular winter where we had a month of snow days. My very smart mother stocked up on paper toys - toys that required us to cut them out and assemble then before we could play. Just setting everything up could take all day.

I'd never seen anything like the things she found. I think she may have bought them in England. But, Hartia Toys Coupicoles ($15.99) are similar.

These award-winning paper toys keep children entertained and busy while they develop imagination, attention, concentration, the ability to follow directions, three-dimensional thinking skills, and fine motor skills.

Couplicoles (from the French verbs "couper" cut, "plie" fold, and "coller" paste) are made in Canada and, in the USA, are sold exclusively at Moolka.

There are eight designs available: Polar Animals, Insects, Tropical Animals, Martial Arts, The Farm, The Ocean, Vegetables and Exotic Birds. Arielle and I tried out Exotic Birds - of course!

Arielle was very excited to see that the kit contained a cockatoo. A blue cockatoo! What a strange coincidence. She was telling me a few days earlier that she is a grown-up bird scientist, she is going to marry a blue cockatoo and have four chicks. Blue cockatoos are just as imaginary as rainbow ones.



Each box contains twelve sheets of figures to cut and assemble. The kit is rated for ages six and up because cutting the figures out does require at least intermediate scissor skills.



They are classified according to the degree of difficulty (on a scale of one to four). Younger children will need the help of an adult and will gain the skills to work independently as they work through the package.

Couplicoles require a ruler, scissors and glue. I found that tape, an exact-o knife, and paper clips were also helpful. I used the paper clips to hold parts in place while the glue dried.

I wasn't sure if Coupicoles would be too hard for Arielle, and, indeed, they were too complex for her pre-school scissor skills. Instead, we decided that I would cut and she would help with the gluing and, of course, the playing.

These do take time - about fifteen minutes each. The birds, because they are made of paper, are delicate; definitely not for toddler sisters. But, Arielle really enjoys them. I think that after she plays a while, they could also be strung up to make a nice mobile for her room. Of course, eventually, they can be recycled.




I'm saving blue cockatoo for last.


What an excellent and educational way to keep older children busy during school closings or summer vacations. Thanks Moolka!

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!