Safe Nail Polish from Piggy Paint

For our second review at Sara's Toy Box 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 --

We got a couple of colors of wonderfully safe nail polish from Piggy Paint -- 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 safe nail polish for their little piggies ...

Emma started by painting her sister's toes ...

They're a nice mix of pink and yellow because they couldn't decide! I love those little toes.

Then Emma went on to paint their fingers in a similar mix of colors.

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 ...

Piggy Paint has a new line of TWEEN nail polish 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.

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.

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!

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!

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?

Stuff a stocking and win a really good prize!

My two favorite places for stocking stuffers are A Toy Garden and Stubby Pencil Studio. A Toy Garden has a special section devoted to "little things" and stocking stuff. Stubby Pencil Studio has a large selection of eco-friendly art supplies, toys and a selection of gifts under $10. Both stores make it possible for Santa's elves to bring smiles on a budget.

So, let's stuff an imaginary stocking. Ho, ho, ho! The rule is nothing over $10.

1. Wild Cards Bugs ($9.95)



Arielle and her daddy love reading books about animals. These cards are printed with beautiful buggy photographs and educational facts. They can be used to play three different card games: Memory, Old Maid, and Go Fish. They are suggested for ages five and up. There are two other sets available, North American mammals and Who's hiding? (camouflage).

2. Play Silk ($7.00)



Who doesn't love play silks. A Toy Garden's silks are made in the USA and are available in 24 different vibrant colors. They are 36x36 inch, hand-hemmed, home-dyed, thick (8mm) play silks.

Becky, a blog reader, emailed recently to tell me about how she uses play silks. She bought some some suction cups with hooks and expandable curtain rods to hang on the hooks. So she can hang a rod in a corner or between some chairs, and then she attaches the play silks with clothespins to make a temporary playhouse. The rods can also be set up in a hallway or a doorway to make a puppet stage. Thank you, Becky, great idea!

My girls use them as doll blankets, dress up clothes, and lately they like to blindfold each other and spin around. These are very versatile toys.

3. Washable Markers ($3.95)



We always need markers. Arielle uses hers every day. And, they must be washable because Linnea can't always be trusted (and washable marker wipes right off ultrasuede with a damp cloth). These markers are made in the USA from 25% recycled plastic. The packaging is 100% post consumer recycled.

4. Ornament

If you give your child an ornament each year, they'll have the start of a nice collection when they grow up.

I went shopping with the girls this morning and every ornament we saw was made in China - and not particularly well made. And of course, my kids get their hands all over them and in their mouths and up their noses... If you search on "ornament" at A Toy Garden, there is a great selection of inexpensive ornaments, made in the USA and Germany or that handmade fair trade items from other countries. Here are a couple I like from Germany.

Ladybug Ornament ($4.95)



Puppet Theater Ornament ($8.95)




5. Finger Puppets ($9.95)



These fair trade puppets are hand knit in Peru, so no two are the same. They come in sets of five, so you can split them between your kids. We love puppets here. Whenever we go on a car trip, the girls fill their purses with finger puppets, and they play with them while I drive.

6. Mini Animal Set ($9.95)



These are not for kids that put things in their mouths - they are teeny - only 1/4" to 1 1/4" tall. Arielle loves itty bitty little animals like this and will sit for hours making up stories and adventures. The set includes a deer, rabbit, pig, dog, cat, frog, hummingbird and snake.

7. Tie-Up Shoe ($7.95)



Eventually, even velcro-lovers have to learn to tie shoes. It's much easier when the shoe isn't on your foot. Five-year-old Arielle is getting one of these. I'm sure Linnea will try to string beads on the laces. She's silly.

8. Starlight wand ($5.95)



Tap the wand and it plays a note. The wands are fun for both boys and girls and are made in Mexico. Arielle and Linnea have never seen these, but my older kids tried some out at a fair when they were little, and they were fascinated.

9. Snifty Gingerbread Pen ($2.00)



My girls love ballpoint pens and mine are always being snatched away. These pens are made in the USA, are nontoxic and cute and are seasonally scented (like gingerbread - yum!).

10. Wood Tea Bags ($9.95)



or treats from Haba. These are cute, sturdy and made in Germany. They will get years of play. But, the treats are doll-sized, so they are not for children who like to mouth their toys.

11. Made By Me Bug ($4.00)



I think I've mentioned these a lot. That's because the girls love them so much and they are such a good deal. All you need is a hammer and some art supplies. Your child attaches the wheels and then decorates the wooden vehicle. Voila! A personalized toy. And, they will be so proud. I'm putting more in Arielle and Linnea's stocking this year.

12. Ladybugs In A Pot ($9.95)



Our very favorite!! These were Linnea's favorite toy last year and she still plays with them almost daily. She uses them as ingredients in soup, for counting and sorting, as little pets, and today she was wrapping them in a play silk and giving them to me as a gift.

And now for your holiday surprise. One very lucky reader will win a $25 gift card from A Toy Garden and another will win a $75 gift card (with free shipping) from Stubby Pencil Studio. That can stuff a whole lot of stocking.

How do you enter? Go to both sites and then post a comment suggesting one stocking stuffer from each site that I haven't mentioned. There are so many good things on both sites, that this should be super easy. It doesn't have to be under $10.

I'll announce the winners on December 12th, so there will be just enough time for shipping.

Good luck!

Piggy Paint Coupon Code

Remember Piggy Paint, the child-safe nail polish that I reviewed in May?



Arielle and Linnea had so much fun getting their toenails painted like big girls.



I bought a few more colors.

Anyway, Piggy Paint has offered our readers 15% off everything on the site. The code is "THANKYOU15L", and it is good until Valentine's Day - perfect for stocking stuffers or just chasing away the winter blues.

Piggy Paints has received the Excellence Award from Safbaby.com.

Five under $5 - All made in the USA or Canada

1. Stainless Steel Strainer ($4.99)



This perfectly-sized strainer is a versatile toy indoors and out. It's fun with water and sand, or it can be used to help in the real kitchen. It has a nice solid feel to it. Ours often seems to be filled with acorns. Eggs $7.99.

2. Eco-friendly Mini-Notebook ($4.50)



I have one for lists. Arielle and Linnea got them in their stockings last year. Linnea takes little scribbly "notes" and pretends hers is a checkbook. Arielle's is filled with bird drawings. Fifty pages means lots of space and I can see how their style has changed over the year.



Notebook are 3x4" and are madewith 100% FSC certified post-consumer waste recycled, acid free and processed chlorine free paper and fully biodegradable glue and vegetable based inks. Combine it with a cue, spring-topped pencil ($2.00).



3. Wooden Dice and Game Booklet ($4.95)



It's a boy thing. Boys just love carrying around little bits of useful things - and especially, dice. I don't know how many dice I've pulled out of Merlin's pockets, and I'm betting that he still carries them around. This set of three wooden dice is made in the USA and comes with a booklet with rules for seven easy-to-play games.

4. Fairy Wand ($2.95)



Who doesn't need a magic wand? These 12" wands are made in the USA and are finished with non-toxic colors. Just wave one, and "poof!" those little monsters jumping on your couch will turn into perfectly well-behaved children. LOL - only if you get the magic words right. Otherwise, the children can use them to turn each other into frogs. Linnea's favorite "Wubba wubba poof! You are in a tower with no doors!" Yes, I'm so proud, my daughter has a great future as Rapunzel's wicked witch.


5. Made by Me! kits ($3.99)



I've reviewed these before, and we still love them. I think the girls love using tools and feeling like grow-ups and of course, the result is a toy that they can play with.



Kate of Stubby Pencil Studio said that her kids make them every year resulting in a collection that grows and changes as they do. It seems we are doing the same thing. Can't you imagine saving them for your grandchildren?

Since many of us are on a budget this year, I'm going to try to do more posts about inexpensive gifts without resorting to the Big Box stores. That's just a few fabulous gift ideas under $5. Browse around the sites, there's a lot more. Next week, I'll try for 10 under $10 :o)