Cool Dollhouses

Browsing around, I found some gorgeous dollhouses here. Lovely enough for parents to engage in some play time, methinks ;-)

Better yet, I found the A-Frame second from the bottom for sale at Totsy for 75% off retail (otherwise, $75). It's a quirky house, but fun! And for 75% off, worth a second glance, no?

Recall: Tiny Love Wind Chimes

A nice bonus to buying stuff on Amazon are the notices that they send out when an item that you purchased is recalled.

Case in point, I received a notice about a Tiny Love recall. It's just as well because despite having bought the toy 3 or 4 years ago, we still have it.

Recall: Tiny Love Wind Chimes

If you'd like a reliable method of keeping up to speed on recalls, consider signing up for email notices from the CPSC. You never know when you'll be affected.

Photostory Friday: Dining Express

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

So, with MetaGirl rolling everywhere, putting everything in her mouth, and generally taking all sorts of liberties with MetaBoy's toys, MetaBoy's trains are often banned from the living room. I feel bad, but those little magnets are like some tasty little treats to her...how do you say no to a tempted infant? You don't. Eliminate the temptation.

Poor MetaBoy :-(

But he found the fix. The trains, tracks, and all related paraphernalia, are now dining room accessories.

Oh bother.

Teething: Sophie the Giraffe

MetaGirl has been teething for a bit now, but nothing yet. She's drooling like a faucet and putting everything in her mouth, including toys, fingers, other people's fingers (ew, MetaGirl...ew).

So I walked into a toy store looking for Christmas gifts last month, and the sales associate asked me if I knew about Sophie? I thought "that's odd that she's asking about my friends." Well, she meant Sophie the giraffe. That is, the little rubber giraffe that teething babies love, love, love to chew on. It's soft, easy to handle (that long neck is superb), it squeaks, and it's made of all natural, non-toxic ingredients. MetaBoy loves Sophie, too. A bit too much sometimes. "Please give Sophie back to your sister!"

It's a great gift idea if you know anyone with a teething baby.

Note: I was reminded of Sophie when I saw this ridiculous thing today. Who would buy this?!? And at that price?!? Holy moly.

Rushing Thomas

MetaBoy received a Thomas the Tank engine for his birthday, and he loves, loves, loves it. This is aided by the fact that after resisting for his two years, I finally gave in and let him watch an episode of the show on PBS. Unfortunately, his daily chant since has been "Thomas"?

That said, sometimes I wonder who likes the little choo choo and his track more.

MetaDaddy went with the little lad to buy some more track today. They also picked up a motorized Thomas.

Score for the boys!!

They get home and assemble the booty.

Once MetaBoy gets the hang of it, he takes the motorized Thomas and starts pushing it while saying "Go Thomas!"

I don't know if it's a reflection on him or us as parents. But seriously...if he's rushing Thomas at two, what's he going to be doing when he can actually tell time?

PhotoStory Friday: You Call Those Toys?!?

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

So as MetaToddler's birthday approaches, I'm sure he'll get some gifts. Since I'm debating birthday party ideas, and I'm hoping to follow through with a party of some sort (cross your fingers for us), that's all the more reason to expect gifts. We just have to time it right so that he gets a party, preferably before M2 arrives. Eep!!

With gifts on my mind, I'm reminded of my prior inclination against an abundance of cheap, plastic toys. I've mentioned reasons why here and here, and a few alternate gift ideas here.

As time goes by, I'm only more and more convinced that he doesn't need the big, plastic, fancy, flashing, noise-makers. Why do I say that? Here are a couple of his favorite toys these days.


A red plastic box that his Lego-like bricks came in. The box is usually empty, so he climbs on it, wears it like a hat to play peek-a-boo (usually resulting in walking into walls, as in the photo), rides it like a fire truck, etc. Other times, he fills it with toys, empties it, fills it, empties it, and so on.


And his other favorite? Empty cardboard containers that he wears on his head like a crown. At those times, we refer to him as King MetaToddler.

Bubble Blowing Booby Trap

As a toddler mommy, I exposed a fatal flaw today. We went to visit a friend who had a bottle of soap for blowing bubbles. I tried to blow some, and I failed. I mean, nothing was happening, besides splooshing suds on myself. And by on myself, I mean on the belly, the most prominent part of my current self.

BTW, I do not recommend this look. Well, unless you're pregnant, cuz that's the only time it will ever, ever be completely overlooked. So guys, you're out of luck here. That said, you don't have to endure labor. Who won that one?

Ya, I thought so.

So tonight at bath time, I took out a bottle of bubbles that I've put off opening. Obviously, I've been avoiding it for a reason. But now, I was on a mission.

Failure.

Failure.

Failure.

Ah, but wait...

I eventually got the blowing pressure better and started to get a few bubbles out. Small, but I'm not picky. MetaToddler was really, really patient because (1) he was exhausted and (2) he loves bubbles. If anything, he was trying to take the wand from me because...well, he makes better bubbles than I do. But hey, that's cool. One day someone will ask "did you teach that champion bubble blower how to blow bubbles," and I'll proudly say "no, he's just naturally fabulous."

In the meantime, I'll work on blowing more bubbles. Or learn to feign wrist pain and pass the wand on to MetaDaddy. Or buy some idiot-proof wand so we can actually enjoy the summery sunshine.

If you have any tips for the bubble impaired, please share. I've read around and figured this is a start.

Around the Internet

Flying the Friendly Bookshelves - Boogie is going through an "I love planes" phase. For boys, I hear this phase lasts...forever. MetaDaddy is still in his. Me? I'm out.

Terra Cotta Warriors - We saw the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian, China during our 2004 trip. There are a staggering number of these warriors. And at their age, it's shocking that they can travel. If you're in the Los Angeles area and you can make it, stop by the Bowers Museum to check them out. Honestly, I can't imagine they'll be coming back any time soon. So you can see them here, or fly to China ;-)

Ceramic Water Stakes via Boston Gals - Plants keep dying? Need some help watering them? Get help! I must say, I'm intrigued.

Thrifty Kitchen: Use it up! - Some clever ideas on reducing your kitchen waste.

No Birthday Gifts, Please

I was reading the comments on this post, and it struck me as amusing that some people literally get offended at the thought of parents asking a child not to bring presents to a birthday party. My theory is either the invited child's parent wants to bring a gift because s/he (1) doesn't want to come empty handed, or (2) wants to go shopping. If it's the first, bring something that's useful or biodegradable. I'm thinking a donation to something, a savings bond (ya, I said it), or a small but really thoughtful gift. If it's the latter, get over it. You probably need to shop less in general, anyway.

I'm defensive about this because I intend to request "no presents" for MetaToddler's birthdays. Why is it so unreasonable to ask for no presents at a kid's party? The party isn't about the presents, it's an occasion to celebrate and have fun with friends. We went to a birthday party last weekend at a park, and we didn't sit around watching the birthday boy open his presents. Would that have been more fun for him and the other toddlers than running around and eating cake?

I think we need to remember the intention of the birthday party. And we need to remind our kids that life isn't about getting stuff. I don't know how successful we'll be at that because after all, we do have our materialistic tendencies. I love my computer, Tivo and stand mixer. MetaDaddy loves all things geeky, including his family ;-)

But I digress. Personally, I don't want presents for his birthday because:

1. He has enough toys to keep him happy
2. I'm rather particular about the toys he plays with (first time mommy). That is, has the manufacturer had recalls on other toys? Is the toy plastic? Does it ding, bing, and make all sorts of other unpleasant musical sounds?
3. Cheap plastic toys just end up in a landfill. That makes me sad.

Is that so wrong? Before you answer that, remember that I'm a Virgo.

Around the Internet

The Tales of Beetle the Bard - I saw this link on Amazon, and I was racking my brain and quizzing MetaDaddy to see if he'd ever heard of "The Tales of Beetle the Bard." Eventually, I clicked through and found out it was from the last Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Duh! He didn't read any of them, so he's off the hook.

It turns out J.K. Rowling wrote the book comprised of five wizarding fairy tales, and Amazon bought one of the seven handmade (yes, handmade) copies at a Sotheby's auction for £1,950,000 (that's around $3,810,276.62).

"The Tales of Beedle the Bard is extensively illustrated and handwritten by the bard herself--all 157 pages of it. It's bound in brown Moroccan leather and embellished with five hand-chased hallmarked sterling silver ornaments and mounted moonstones."

More airports to use 'whole body imaging' machines - A pat-down is a bit of a privacy thief, so it seems like it's a bit less intrusive to have a machine do the job, especially since:
(1) the screeners are in a remote location,
(2) the face is blurred (pixelated), and
(3) the image is not stored.
That said, I don't know if I really want to subject my body to something called "millimeter wave machines" if I can avoid it with a dehumanizing pat-down.
Dang, I've totally just doomed my next flight. I'm going to be sooooooooooo not happy.





RAKKIDDO - For Kids - How many shoes does a kid need?








Matryoshka Dolls via Cool Mom Picks - Are these not the most precious things you've ever seen? I know MetaToddler's just going to put them in his mouth or slather them in yogurt, but I'm pretty sure he's going to get a set before the year is out :-)

Life as Art

Sometimes, shopping is hard. MetaToddler was in a rather emotional mood today, but was a bit better after his nap and a snack. In a moment of...oh, I don't know...lunacy?...we went shopping. But we didn't go to Trader Joe's or some random mall. We went to Lakeshore. We went to a toy store.

He'd pick things up, put them down. Ignored me when convenient, acquiesced when indifferent. "Come here, have you seen this?" That usually got his attention. "Ooo...stuff I haven't seen!!" He'd scamper over curiously. Early on, he picked up something shaped like a shopping bag with a handle, and proceeded to carry it through most of the store. Until, that is, he came to a little play area. Ugh...that was our downfall. After a while, I had to tear him away crying. And it was nothing special. A sofa, chair, table, and plastic food, all of which he has ignored in the past. You just never know with an emotional toddler.

Oh well. We needed some paint supplies for him and a birthday gift for a friend. We got both. The paint supplies is a scary topic. I'm afraid to let him paint at home, so we've only done it in classes so far. But it's gotta happen eventually. He's gotta do all that "art" stuff. So, I got some paint, a set of no-spill jars & paintbrushes, and an apron. They carry several easels ranging from $29.99 for a tabletop version to $149.00 for a "Mobile Art Center." I'm going to check out IKEA first because they carry an easel for $19.99 and a 130 foot roll of drawing paper for $6.99. Of course, I'll need something to protect the floor. We don't have any sheets that I'm ready to part with, so I'll likely pick up a nice, heavy cotton drop cloth used by painters. I don't like plastic, PVC, or vinyl floor protectors as they're not environmentally friendly.

So, I hope he's in a better mood tomorrow. Much to do :-)

Around the Internet

ABC news video on helping kids sleep: Parents Prolong Problem Sleepers - It turns out that it's really important to teach babies to fall asleep on their own because it impacts their sleeping habits as adults, too. It makes sense, doesn't it? From what I've learned, everyone occasionally wakes a little in the middle of the night, so it's not unusual that a baby does it. But if he can sooth himself back into sleep instead of relying on his parents, he's better off...heck, everyone is! Personally, MetaToddler's ability to self-sooth has been crucial in his tendency to sleep through the night, and we consider ourselves tremendously lucky. Especially after those first few (um...6? 9? 12?) brutal months.

Fat isn't flavor - A clever commentary negating the common phrase "fat is flavor." There are a lot of wonderful, beautiful, delicious flavors that make for mouth-watering treats. Do they replace fat? No. Does fat replace them? Duh. No.

Santa Monica to ban the bag - Santa Monica's all abuzz with the the progress to ban the one-use plastic bag and biodegradable plastic-like bags. Paper bags would still be allowed, but ideas are being thrown around to reduce their use (e.g., a small fee). A halt in the waste of the bags at supermarkets and farmers' markets alone would be a huge improvement, so I'm really looking forward to see this pass.

First Puzzles via Dooce - Oh, I so have to get these. How cute is the Peter Rabbit one!?! Um, for MetaToddler, of course ;-)

Kid Gift: Cookware Set

If you're looking for a kitchen-like gift for a kid, this is a great price on a 14 piece stainless steel cookware set by Kool Toyz at Target. We don't have it, so I can't tell you about it, but it's only $5.

It's available online and in stores, but he site says "Prices, promotions, styles and availability may vary by store and online."

Via Deal Catcher

Around the Internet

If you really need to wake up on time, an alarm clock that can be set to a different time every day sounds like the way to go. Read: sleep in until 9 on Saturday? Anyone? Anyone?!?

Quinoa: A Sacred, Super Crop - This is what I've been trying to tell you! And it's yummy :-)

EnviroLog - If you're going to light up the fire, why not consider and eco-friendly log? I haven't tried it, but I'm intrigued.

Slinky like toy - I'm not saying that we'll get one, but I am saying that MetaBaby might very well have a blast knocking these little guys over...not that I would condone such behavior ;-)

Women have backbone for pregnancy - It's not me. A new study shows that women's spines have evolved to handle the weight of carrying a baby in utero, which is something that men's spines just can't manage. Don't worry guys...I'm sure there are some things you're good at.

13 Gift Ideas for Kids

The number of toys that have been recalled for one reason or another is atrocious. It's really got me thinking that I don't want just anything for MetaBaby because you don't know the integrity of the item. This goes double if you haven't had the opportunity to vet the item in question. That said, what do you do when Christmas or birthdays come around? People want to give your son gifts because they care about you and him, and they want to see that little face light up (his, not yours). So it's hard to say "please don't give my child a gift." It's not fair to the giver or to the kid.

I'm also torn because of my aforementioned resistance to buying too many toys.

Well, there are always ways to compromise. There are good, safe toys that MetaBaby could benefit from, so I made a wishlist for him at Amazon. It includes items like books, music (that I wouldn't hate), and a few safe toys. Of course, there are always other things, but those would involve conversations. For example, MetaNana got MetaBaby one of the cutest little wooden trikes I've ever seen, and it was perfect because he didn't have one. He uses it all the time, and it allows him to express his dangerous side (i.e., standing on the seat!!).

That said, I figured I'd compile a list of 13 other gift ideas to give or be given that:

• don't break the bank
  
• are useful to parents and kids
  
• potentially good learning experiences
  
• are not plastic, over-packaged, blinking things made in China

This is just a start, so feel free to add on with more ideas :-)

1. Get something small to keep the little one happy, and make the real gift a deposit into a 529 account.
   
2. Homemade "coupon" for something fun with you, like a day at the zoo or museum.
   
3. Give homemade sweets (e.g., cookies, chocolates).
   
4. Take a cooking or baking class together. Or a "class" where you teach the little one how to cook or bake.
   
5. A few seeds and other relevant items to plant something (e.g., flowers, herbs, tomatoes).
   
6. Tickets to a favorite event.
   
7. A class or series of classes (e.g., dance, art, something at a local museum).
   
8. Pick a favorite non-profit organization to donate to (e.g., cute of Oxfam).
   
9. Perhaps the instructions, tools, and help in building something (e.g., soapbox car, or check out The Dangerous Book for Boys or The Daring Book for Girls from the library for more ideas).
   
   From New Dream:
   
10. The makings for hand puppets: Brown lunch bags, googly eyes, stray buttons, scissors, markers, etc.
    
11. Box of dress up clothes: Old dresses, high heel shoes, cowboy boots, collared shorts, and millions of other fun outfit ideas can all be found at thrift or second-hand stores have great selections.
    
    From Suite 101:
    
12. Gift certificates to a local movie theatre.
    
13. Art supplies (e.g., construction paper, paints, crayons) to replenish the back-to-school box.

Side Note: This is not a cheap gift, but it's an interesting one. Between November 12 and November 26 only, the One Laptop per Child program has made available their revolutionary XO computer.

For a donation of $399, one XO laptop will be sent to empower a child in a developing nation and one will be sent to the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. $200 of your donation is tax-deductible (your $399 donation minus the fair market value of the XO laptop you will be receiving).

Perhaps it sounds crazy to give a destructive toddler a computer, but consider the following per David Pogue, guru to the geeks:

• Spillproof
  
• Rainproof
  
• Dustproof
  
• Drop-proof
  
• Fanless
  
• Silent
  
• Powered by a solar panel (6 hours, or 24 if reading) (2,000 recharge cyles, 4 times more than the average laptop)
  
• Weighs 3.2 lbs.
  
• Built-in video camera, microphone, memory-card slot, graphics tablet, game-pad controllers and a screen that rotates into a tablet configuration.
  
• Runs on Linux (only geeks care about this one ;-)

M6 Convertible Kids' Cars

No, we're not getting this for MetaBaby. But it sure does get my heart thumping. I sure would have cooed for one when I was a kid. In fact, I think I might have.

I wonder if they come in green.

Around the Internet: Green Topics

How do we reduce our energy consumption? How do we redue our waste output? How do we keep ourselves happy while keeping our environment happy? Is there a happy compromise?



MORE GREEN

Tax Credits and Incentives on Green Upgrades - Various tidbits of information on rebates, tax credits, exemptions, and discounts on:

• buying higher efficiency or more green appliances and building products
  
• choosing a more energy-efficient or disaster-resistant home
  
• making your existing home more energy efficient.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiencies - "DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency." If you've been thinking about getting a tankless water heater or solar panels, find out which incentives you qualify for.

Green Quiz - Find out if you're daily life is sustainable. If not, find out what you can do to change little things that make a big difference.

LESS WASTE

Plastic Bags from Baby Toolkit - I've said it before, so I won't bore you with my feelings on plastic bags (and here). I'll point you to hers :-)

Baby Donations - If you have baby stuff and toys that you no longer need, don't throw it all away. Give it to a friend or neighbor. Within certain guidelines, you might also be able to give it away to a non-profit. There are organizations that will accept such donations for needy families. After much research, I recently found Baby 2 Baby in Los Angeles; I feel much better about donating baby stuff here because I know it will go to a family who will truly benefit from something we no longer need. You might also consider a domestic violence shelter, homeless shelter, or other such places in your area where baby items are in short supply.

What Kids Truly Need from No Limits Ladies - Such great insight. Don't buy your kid another toy until you think about why you're doing it. That is, talk, listen and communicate with your child. It might be that s/he really wants more of you, not more of Mattel. For that matter, evaluate all of your relationships and ask yourself if you're buying unnecessary stuff resulting in wasted resources (e.g., water, oil, transportation) because you need to, or because you don't know how else to cope. Save a dollar & a tree; get a hug & a smile.

Garbage Toting - Marketplace's Tess Vigeland decided to carry around her trash around with her for 2 weeks. She figured she didn't throw away much, so how bad could it be? 10 days in, the smell had her waving her white flag. However, she learned a lot, as did her readers. One of her best questions:

"When it comes to recycling, there should be national standards for what's available to citizens. It's mind-boggling that I can recycle something in Southern California that someone up north can't... and vice versa.

I know these things are decided by local governments and sanitation districts. And recycling is expensive. But there's got to be a solution to what really is an issue of inequality. People who don't have access to good (easy!) recycling programs are stuck sending everything to landfills."

Parents Mag Sept 2007

If you're anything like me these days, getting through a magazine is such a feat that it feels like it should require some sort of medal at completion. If nothing else, cake, pie or a muffin. Unforunately, I'm still waiting for my muffin :-|

That said, the information I walk away with is always worth the effort. In case you're still trying to get through Parents Sept 2007 issue, here are some things I found especially enlightening.

Get rid of your old computer - Donate unwanted but still working computer equipment to the National Cristina Foundation, which provides used computers to disadvanted people in your community.

Homemade Stamps - 3 ingredients: the plastic top of a laundry detergent bottle, a sponge cut into a fun shape (e.g., square, heart, circle), and a glue gun. Glue on the sponge to the bottle top, which serves as a handle, dip in paint, and stamp away.

Prescription Errors - As with adult prescriptions, kid's presciptions can have errors. It might be the wrong pills, wrong dose, or something else, any of which can be a serious medical hazzard. Always check the prescription for accuracy. Don't sign a consultation waiver until you're either satisfied or you've seen a pharmacist, especially if you've never used the medication before. On that note, don't sign anything unless you've read it; you might be signing to decline meeting with a pharmacist. Per Parents, 15% of kids receive a presciption drug with a potential dosing error, according to a study in The Journal of Pediatrics. Here are some questions to consider.

Pick Fresh Apples - Find a local farm to pick fresh food at Pick Your Own, as well as a lot of great food facts.

Sears Kid's clothes - A warranty for all kid's clothes: "If an item wears out before your kid outgrows it, Sears will either repair or replace it with the identical item in the same size or, if it's unavailable, a similar item of equal value in the same size." Just take the article of clothing and your proof of purchase back to Sears.

Fun Sandwich Bites - Cut a sandwich into fun bites with an apple slicer.

Sandless Sandbox - If you don't like the idea of sand in your kid's sand box, fill it with dry oatmeal instead. That way, if he eats it, all he got was a little more fiber ;-)

Flying Delays with Kids - If you're stuck in an airport with your little one, ask for kid-friendly activities in the terminal. Las Vegas' McCarran Airport has a mini control tower and tunnel. Orland Airport has a 3,000 gallon fish tank. We might be using this one soon :-) Cheap Flights listed more on this pdf.

There Was a Crooked House

This right here makes me consider trying the whole "childhood" thing again.

Hmmm...on second thought, maybe I'll just play with MetaBaby's stuff.

The ridiculously cute Kid's Crooked House.

Via Thingamababy

...we could sell our condo and move into a...wonder about the property taxes...insurance...does it come with a garage...

Lego Madness

This is so clever. A keychain rack made using Lego. You can hang the rack somewhere (e.g., by the front door), and when you get in, attach the lego on your keychain to the Lego on the rack. Buy it or make it at home, which seems pretty easy. I love how quirky it is. And who doesn't like quirky?

For more Lego madness, Makezine's got you covered. A sampling:

• Art and sculptures
  
• A Milkscanner...that uses milk...the white liquid kind...3 cups of it.
  
• Lego ice cube tray
  
• A 120lb desk made entirely of Lego...about 35,000 pieces

If you play your cards right, your kid could be this fabulous. Unemployed because there's only so much time in the day, but fabulous nonetheless.