Want, Need, Wear, Read: Gift Guide Part 2

i really love the concept of want, need, wear, and read in gift giving. 4 gifts for the little one(s) but they dont have to be huge or expensive.  it goes without saying, 'something they want,' 'something they need,' 'something to wear,' and something to read.' instead of buy anything and everything, there is purpose and sense in the gift buying!

want: 
(ok Max is too young to want anything but this is something cute that id want for him in the future) there should always be time to get messy and let imagination run free! im really digging the stamp sets from Yellow Owl Workshop  sold at Raspberrykids.  Especially the Beach and Circus set.

There are so many stamp set companies out there, but something about these just seem so much prettier! Like i want to make the same scene on the box with my own set, have a vast array of colored stamp pads, and heck ill find a reason just to use them. when Max is a little older, I see us making our little scenes and creating various paper projects on a rainy Vancouver day, with some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins baking in the the oven. Yes please!

need:
as Max is our first baby (and grandchild), my family and i are all about picture taking and documentation. Max wont be this small forever! to document how the little man is growing physically, we sought out a keepsake growth chart that was not only sturdy, but hung on the wall (as opposed to the wall decals). im really digging these growth charts by EEBOO.

It's hardcover, award winning, and they have many growth chart design options! We loved the outer space theme. It comes with stickers to apply when he turns 1 yr old to 10 yrs old, and more in between. From my escapades, it can be found at Chapters, Dilly Dally on Commercial Drive (awesome selection), and at Cowboys and Angels on West 4th.

wear: 
For the loved one of various ages (newborn to adult), im liking these padraig slippers.

based in North Vancouver, this independently owned and operated company make the perfect slippers for the cold season. they're a must to keep your feet warm indoors! im not sure how they'll stand up to the outdoors though if you live anywhere outside of west coast Canada as we have quite mild winters! nice array of colours and sizes, nice leather soles therefore no static against carpet! check out their store finder!

read:  
I love Dr. Seuss' Oh the Place's You'll Go!

There are some books that can just be described as beautiful from cover to back. Not just illustrations, but the message. This book is one of them! I can tolerate only so much Dr. Seuss after reading it over and over again ('the sun did not shine, it was too wet to play...') but this book i can read on and on and on. i think this book is even appropriate for some young adults in your life! Everyone should have a copy in their library.

Happy Shopping!

Holiday Gift Giving 2012! (Under 5 version)

I am so in the holiday mood! especially now that our local radio station is playing 24/7 Christmas music...thank you 103.5 QM/FM!

Last year, i blogged my first ever holiday gift guide, inspired by Mama in the City. Round 2 for 2012, and my baby is here! 2012 being baby's first Christmas, I cant help but feel super excited for what is in store for us this holiday season as a family of 3!

during my recent black friday shopping escapades, i came across plenty of wonderful toys. it's funny how before i had Max i never cared noticed all these toy stores, but post baby i see them around everywhere as if i had radar (this is also true for baby bumps)! if you need help finding that special gift, here are my favorite toys for the wee ones under 5:

most cost effective:

I saw this 5 in 1 activity cube at Costco for $50. $10/toy, space saver, no clean up., no apparent choking hazard, condo living friendly...i think that's WIN WIN! Max has something like this, but the 'busy zoo' version (thanks Mrs. D!). He's a little young right now, so he's using it as an anchor to hoist himself up...but every few weeks or so he's actually discovering the purpose of each little side and learning how to play with it. Great colors, no sharp corners, fun little activities, many learning and play opportunities, this is a fabulous toy!

for the budding musicians:

i love this set of sound and rhythm instruments from Melissa and Doug toy company. it was one of the first things that caught my eye as i entered Cowboys and Angels on W.4th. the seahorse is a rattle, you clack the clams, the octopus is a little tambourine, and i think the crab is another type of rattle. i dont know about you but sea life is always something i gravitate towards when checking out toys. they're always so cute!

For the 2+ toddlers, I love this little JANOD Confetti Piano i saw at Hip Baby , also on West 4th.

It has 18 keys, uber cute, and the keys sound like something off of 'Dance of the sugar plum fairy.' Not annoying at all, right? Nice start for the little Mozart or little Bon Jovi in the making! if money is no object, it's priced at a whopping $100- just think, 'hey it's cheaper than a real piano!'

Watch this guy play some tunes

if you can find it, Melissa and Doug also have their own version. it's a bit cheaper and the colors are different. I've had no luck locating this in the Vancouver area!

for the ones about to mobilize:

i saw this JANOD walker at Hip Baby (again on west 4th).

xylophone, walker, beads, rubber things around wheels for speed control, space saver, no scattered play things...yet another apartment friendly toy! lovely! but if you cant afford the $119 price tag, here is an equally beautiful alternative....

nearly identical right? this green beauty by IMAGINARIUM sells for $40 at toys r us CANADA, and toys r us USA for $30 (both online only). Snap it up! 

for the walkers and talkers:

i simply just love the SKIP HOP back packs and lunch bag sets. particularly the owl, monkey or penguin! i cannot make up my mind!

they just scream bright, cute, child, and happy happy joy joy! i can totally picture picnics with the lunch bag and Max carrying his little do-dads in his pack! locally, ive seen these at Granville island, TjsKids, Raspberry Kids and Crocodile.

just simply adorable:

Last but not least, this SKIPPER Roller Ride on Toy is just so freakin adorable! The body part is a soft foam that's easy on the little bums. Kids just ride on it and scoot around the house- recommended for dwellings with wood floors as the wheels are like office chair wheels (rolling on carpet would be hard). They come in a few designs such as a race car, cow, lady bug, and bee. I saw this at Raspberry Kids (online) and Hip Baby on W. 4th. 

happy shopping!

Wooden Delights!

My first exposure to wooden toys surprisingly came when I was pregnant and became interested in baby/kids stuff. For someone without much exposure to kids, cousins, or had little people to play with in general...what would I be doing at Toys R Us? Why would I go into that new toy store on the Drive when that new shwarma place was calling my name right? haha

Fastforward, I was pregnant and Dilly Dally just happened to open on the Drive. Wonderful kids store! Lots of beautiful items that bring back that nostalgic feeling (ie. that paddle with the rubber band attached to the ball). Here I first noticed the vast array of wooden delights, from play food, play kitchens, animals, stacking toys, and rattles. I LOVE the workmanship, the colours, the simplicity (but not the prices, oh well), and as an added bonus- it's a sustainable product.

Whenever i see a shelf of wooden toys, i picture a nice clean  organized play room with pretty, solid, toys on the shelves  vs. the explosion feeling I get when i walk into toys R us.  Whenever I see instruments, particularly a Xylophone, i can see Max banging on that thing and creating some sweet tolerable noise. Whenever I see puzzles, i'm like "Wow, that'll make him a genius!" Something about a mess pile of wooden toys that make them more forgivable!

Our first wooden toy was gifted to us for Christmas (mind you I requested this as part of a secret santa). I admit they're still in the box, just dying to be opened, but i'll let Max do this when he's old enough.

UNCLE GOOSE Classic abc blocks

So there begins my current obsession. I almost don't even care to go into clothing shops- I want to look for baby boutiques and stores to check out the wooden selection!  Right now, I want to buy nearly everything I see. But since Max can't exactly play with most of the fun looking stuff yet, I honestly have to remind/tell myself that "now is not the time. don't tell yourself to stock up. Let him choose what he wants."

Where to find natural wooden toys in Vancouver (that i've been to):

Knotty Toys on Granville Island - The store of stores. LOVE. Best prices in my opinion
Dilly Dally Kids on Commercial Drive - excellent food and kitchen selections, as well as animals.
Lussobaby in North Van - Not too busy with kids running around
Dandelion Kids on Commercial Drive - not the greatest selection, but worth going to for other stuff
Little Earth consignment on Commercial Drive - lots of Melissa and Doug stuff. Some on consignment
Winners - Lots of Melissa and Doug stuff to choose from if you can look past the MESS
Chapters - Lots of Melissa and Doug and Manhattan Toys
Camelot Kids on Granville Island - lots of Haba Toys
Raspberry Kids - an online store, but you can pick up the stuff at their warehouse
Hip Baby on W. 4th - small in store selection, better website
TJ's Kids on SW Marine Drive or W. 4th - it's on the website, but i don't remember seeing in store
Go! Toys and Games at Oakridge - small but decent selection. Plan toys can be bought here too
Toys R Us - i haven't checked w. Broadway, but the Metro one has a pathetic small selection
Saf and Benjamin - small selection but stuff i also haven't seen around
Michaels  - small selection. even better priced when you have a Michaels coupon
Beansprouts - small selection but you can shop for other cool things at this consignment store
IKEA - some nice toys here! The MULA Bead roller coaster is popular!
Superstore - must be a new line, but they have some toys i wouldnt mind buying! well priced


Places I haven't been to yet:

Jack and Lola in North Van
Pebble on Arbutus
BC Playthings in North Van

if you know of anymore, let me know!

and last but not least. GARAGE SALES. Believe it or not, I bought my largest haul of wooden toys from a garage sale in North Van without breaking the bank!

these two are my all time favourite garage sale finds. Paid $2 for the bus, $4 for fishing set! 

Brands to look for:

Educo =====  Hape
Haba   =====  Manhattan Toys
Melissa and Doug ==== Superstore Brand
Plan Toys =====  Janod
Santoys =====  Le Toy Van
Grimms ===== Atelier Fischer
Goki ===== L'atelier du cheval du bois (canadian)
Holztiger =====  Sri Toys

name puzzles c/o Knotty Toys!

Merry Christmas!!

Even though it's a little early, i'd just like to wish you and your loved ones a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

or as they say it in tagalog,

MALIGAYANG PASKO!!

If you don't want to buy a christmas cd, i've been listening to 103.5qm/fm non-stop for Christmas music. you can stream them from here 103.5 QMFM

and of course, from my house to yours. I give you the gift of Jon Bon Jovi

Please Come Home for Christmas- Jon Bon Jovi

and for you non-JBJ fans (don't talk to me), here's one of my favs

On A Snowy Christmas Night- Elvis Duet

Baby Einstein

                                  I'm pretty sure it's all in DISNEY marketing, but I really love giving Baby Einstein stuff to the pregnant mom's to be out there for when i'm going to their baby showers.

"Baby"- the intention, fresh, blank slate
"Einstein"- learning, genius, studious, smart, thinking, achiever, discovery, brains, intelligence, natural

These are some of the words that come to mind, and i'm sure there was a Disney think tank out there responsible for naming this company line that would make prospective parents connect the nouns, verbs, adjectives to their product!  When I see "baby einstein" products, I just automatically think that the products are better than the one beside it---A+ for marketing! 

I've been known to always give these flashcards:

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The "Look at Me" cards has a mirror and then can learn words to describe themselves and emotions while learning words.
The "Language Discovery" cards, are self explanatory.
There's a "Farm Animals" one, also self explanatory.
However, in the picture, there are the "Numbers and Shapes" and "Nature" cards which I haven't seen in Vancouver...but would definitely be interested in buying for another mom I know out there.  The hunt is on! haha

I'd like to request Baby Einstein to make an alphabet set, sign language set, and cards in various languages.  What a treat!

Consumerism at its Finest

I like to tell people i'm more excited about baby stuff than having the actual baby LOL!  So wrong, yet so true!  The consumer that I am, i've already thought about things that would make my life easier when the time comes that I not only decide to have a child but have a child.  I'm sure i'm only skimming the surface of what I need but this to me is the first step in accepting that this is my future.

1) Bugaboo Cameleon Stroller

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I'm pretty sure if you've got "baby fever" the Bugaboo is not only something you've heard of, but something you see around town in all sorts of neighborhoods.  Bugaboo is basically known for their symbol nowadays in moderate parallel with the double CC's and LV's of the mom world.  The whopping $1100+ price tag is enough to scare some people, but to this consumer, it's a fact of life!  Not to sound arrogant, nor that $1100 is an appropriate price to pay for a STROLLER, but ladies and gents, I don't know how to drive, and having a baby on adequate wheels is a life saver and necessary to do your activities of daily living.  Basically the baby will eat, live, breathe on this thing from newborn to an age where they won't take forever to walk a block (maybe 3 years old?).  As Wayne from Wayne's World said, "it will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine." 

2) Ergo Baby Carrier

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I think this will be a nice bonding tool with my child, on top of keeping them safe and warm of course!  I like this over the Baby Bjorn in that I don't have to pay extra to have a lower back support.  This will be nice when i'm going out somewhere and don't feel like lugging around a stroller- say during rush hour traffic times.  However, I do anticipate on this not lasting a long time if I want to maintain some sort of good posture because children get heavy and my back has limits.

3) Bumbo Baby Sitter

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I'd first like to say that this baby is absolutely adorable!  I love the name and look of this product, and i'm sure when the baby can hold its head up i'll be using this to interact with the baby at eye level, while keeping them somewhat still.  The risks of course are to not be stupid and put it on top of a table where the baby and bumbo can FALL!   As well, what if the baby's thighs are super chubby? There must be some sort of sizing and age limit on this.