For the second time now we've managed to misplace something for review before I was able to take any pictures of the girls playing with it. I'm mortified. I just spent the last three days tearing the place apart looking for this cool Cate & Levi frog puppet that Lisa over at Giving Gifts sent us. Rainbow was getting frustrated with me this morning, as I insisted that … [Read more...]
Amazing Cows by Sandra Boynton
Amazing Cows! Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton Until a few years ago I had never heard of Sandra Boynton. Then someone gifted us with a few of her board books. I still wasn't really paying attention, because as much as I love books board books normally fail to excite me. Then I read them (Pajama Time, Barnyard Dance) and I read them and read them, over and over to an … [Read more...]
E is for… Electronic, Speak & Spell {Retro Toybox}
What's electronic, educational, and was featured in the film E.T.? The classic Texas Instruments Speak & Spell! My brother and I has a blast playing with our Speak & Spells when we were young. We actually had two, one for each of us. For something that taught spelling, it sure was fun. I remember enjoying the built in spelling games, like hangman, I also … [Read more...]
D is for… Dark Tower { Retro Toybox }
Dark Tower "Dare to lay siege to the Dark Tower!" Dark Tower was an electronic board game put out by Milton Bradley in 1981. Playing as a brave warrior knight, with dozens of warrior followers, you faced down marauding dragons, fought evil brigands, haggled with merchants, and explored temples and tombs, all with cool music and sound effects. The game … [Read more...]
Indestructibles Baby Books {Review}
I have an 11 month old baby on the move. She is trouble on four limbs. She puts everything in her mouth and attempts to chew and swallow it. She is far more destructive then her older sister ever was. I have to keep a constant eye on her, and I have to keep books, all books, the heck out of her reach. Reading aloud to her is a challenge, as she squirms around on my lap and … [Read more...]
C is for… Captain Power {Retro Toybox}
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future Power On! I know I originally said I was going to do an A to Z in vintage toys... but I'm finding it pretty much impossible to discuss 80s toys without talking about the TV series that they were tied into. Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future came out in 1987. It was a live action TV series which tied in with … [Read more...]
B is for… BraveStarr
BraveStarr Marshall BraveStarr What could be better then cowboys? How about space cowboys with robot horses? Oh, and they shoot laser beams out of their pistols. How cool is that? The BraveStarr toyline was produced by Mattel in 1986. My husband had these toys as a child. I didn't see them until I was an adult, but they are pretty darn sweet. Some … [Read more...]
A is for… ALF { Retro Toybox }
ALF ALF or the Alien Life Form, aka Gordon Shumway from Planet Melmac. Favorite pastimes include hiding out from the men in black, trying to find a way home, and attempting to eat the neighbours' pet cat. PVC ALF Anyone else willing to admit to remembering this silly sitcom fondly? Actually, what I remember liking was the rather bad … [Read more...]
An A to Z in Vintage Toys, and Why.
This is going to require a bit of a back story. Before I started this mommy-gig I was a lady of many hats. I worked part time at the local Arts Council, I went to the University part-time working towards my degree in Classical Civ, I made art, and I sold vintage kids books and toys online. I closed up the online business in September of 2006. G-Girl was born in July of 2007. … [Read more...]
Jack the Kitten is Very Brave {Review}
Jack the Kitten is Very Brave Written by Tabitha Grace Smith. Illustrations by Mindy Lou Hagan. My daughter LOVES this book. Both of the girls got piles of books for Christmas, including ones that G-Girl had the excitement of picking out herself after family members gave us gift cards. So there are tons of new books in the house right now. But the one book that my … [Read more...]
BoiKido Blocks, Colourful Building Fun
About a month ago now I received a surprise package from Little Cool Toys full of goodies for my girls. In it was a lovely wee Maileg mouse, which unfortunately my daughter promptly lost, and a delightful set of BoiKido Blocks. The blocks were set aside and later placed under the tree as a gift from Santa to Rocket. Both of the girls are enchanted with these blocks. In … [Read more...]
New Years Eve Stockings, Our Weird Tradition
Santa brings my girls stocking full of sensible treats, and tiny presents. For example, this year Rocket got avocados in her stocking, while her older sister received oranges and Babybel cheese. Then a week later my husband and I exchange our stocking on New Years Eve. Stocking overflowing with junk food. Chocolate mainly. We used to exchange the stocking on the morning of … [Read more...]
Mysterious Disappearance of Bumpo, Maileg Mouse
This is Miss Mousey. Her name is...Dancer. Ballerina dancer. Because she has a skirt, see? At night she takes off her ballerina skirt and climbs into her cozy bed. When she sleeps she dreams of cheese and of being Queen of the Fairies. Her friends call her Ballerina Dancer, but her mother calls her Bumpo This requires a bit of an explanation.You see, my daughter has dozens of … [Read more...]
R is for… READING
Yes, my three year old daughter insists on "reading" the dictionary. She just flips through page after page and makes up stories out loud. … [Read more...]
Thirty Some Years of Little Red Riding Hood
When I was 4 years old we went to visit relatives in Florida and my Great Aunt Eve gifted me with an antique child's manikin named Heidi. Heidi came dressed in a little red fur trimmed cape with matching skirt. I have no clue exactly how old she is, but I was told she was "an antique" when I was given her over thirty years ago. That year for Halloween I … [Read more...]