Best Early Christmas Gift for my Almost Two Year Old

If you have a two year old kid in your life, you know that they absolutely love pretend play.  Actually our son has loved pretend play for a while now and some of his favourite toys are anything that has to do with the kitchen.  Back in the summer we bought him a kitchen from Ikea and he plays with it all the time.  We love it because it is compact.

Via Ikea

As an early Christmas gift he received this amazing pretend play food set by Learning Resources.  

Via Amazon.com

I found it online at Amazon.com but I know it can also be found sometimes at Costco in store.  It kept my son and his friends really busy.  They would take the items out of the baskets and put them back in; then they would make the food; then they would carry the food in the baskets from one end of the room to the other; and finally they would keep busy asking me the names of the items and repeating them after me.  We spent quite some time playing with the toy, so it is now on top of my list of perfect gifts for a two year old.  It is very hard to keep them interested in one toy at that age, but this one succeeded.

Thank you Kyko and family!!!

Hello Monday!: Jungle Animal Magnets by Janod

We were visiting with a friend and her two young children a while ago and my son just loved one of their toys. It was the Jungle Animal Magnets by Janod. So of course when I fell on the exact toy at Archambault I could not resist picking this up for him. 

He was absolutely delighted by the surprise and proceeded to spend the evening arranging and re-arranging the magnetic pieces to create fun and crazy looking animals. This is a definite thumbs up! It says it is an appropriate toy as of 18 months and I definitely agree. I wish I had found this earlier. I think the fun at first is finding the proper matches to complete each animal but as the child grows it becomes a silly game of mixing and matching to make mismatched crazy animals! 

The pieces are made of solid wood and you can tell this quality will ensure this toy gets passed on many many times.

My tip of the week: Chalkboard paint = a fresh start

Do you want to give your child's bedroom a bit of a makeover without spending $$$? Try chalkboard paint! Paint a door, a wall or just a board and not only give their space a new modern look but also a way to express themselves. It makes a great outlet when the kids start getting cabin fever during these cold winter months.  Take a look at these spaces for inspiration:

via Lalalovely

via Lalalovely

via The boo and the boy

via National Post

via Design Sponge

via Design for MiniKind!

You can purchase chalkboard paint at most home hardware stores. Benjamin Moore has chalkboard paints and a full how to use chalkboard paint article right here. Also, if you're interested they have a list of creative ideas for chalkboard paint uses here.

If you prefer not to commit to painting a wall or door check out Yolanda's post a while ago on chalkboard wall decals or you can always purchase kid size furniture with chalkboard surfaces:

Table with chalkboard surface via The Modern Shop

P'Kolino table with storage chalkboard lid and matching benches via Style Kid

P'Kolino toy box with chalkboard lid via Style Kid

Or just an actual chalkboard:

Freestanding chalkboard via Restoration Hardware

P'Kolino double sided chalkboard & white erase board easel via Style Kid

I have the P'Kolino products mentioned above (table, toy box & easel) and we use them all! All the chalkboard surfaces give each product dual if not triple purposes.  The extra storage in the table is a real plus and the easel being made specifically at a height for little ones make these all great finds. I recommend them all!

Friday Fabulous Finds: Plush kid's chairs

My son had received this Sesame Street plush chair for his first birthday and really liked it however for Christmas he also received this Thomas plush pull out couch.

Sesame Street Plush Chair via Walmart 

This "couch" is great especially for older and bigger toddlers/kids. It's fun to sit on, pull out to sleep on, jump on or even make forts with!

Thomas Plush Pull-Out Couch via Walmart

Thomas Plush Pull-Out Couch via Walmart

Thomas Plush Pull-Out Couch via Walmart

I definitely recommend this item if you have a 18 month- 4 year old to buy for.

Hello Monday!: SOBU Junk in the Trunk Bed 50% Off!

The Junk in the Trunk Bed with Storage is Genius! (Exclusive and Limited)

via Sobu

"Shoes, clothes, toys, junk. We were tired of visual clutter. So, here’s a solution for keeping bedrooms in tip-top shape and clutter free. Just pull out the footboard and a roomy storage drawer presents itself. Chuck your stuff in there and forget about it. Twin size ideal for small spaces, kids' rooms or guest bedrooms. Super soft, off-white fabric with orange piping is resistant to staining and a cinch to clean. Add a standard size twin mattress (not included) and you're ready to snooze. Simple assembly required. Designed by Alessandro Latini." 

via Sobu

via Sobu

via Sobu

So what do you think? My son is just about ready for a big boy bed and now that this beauty is 50% off I cannot resist! I'm thinking two (he has a very large room that also serves as a guest room when grandma stays over!) Something like this:

via Lonny Mag

Of course it needs to be a boys room so add this wall paper I've been pining over
(ever since I saw it on Gossip Girl years ago)... as an accent wall behind the beds:

via Nursery Notations

Pull it together with some accessories and we're good to go!

via Dwell Studio

via Dwell Studio

via Style Kid

via Design Dazzle

Now to convince the hubby :)...to be continued...

My tip of the week!: Do you have a little artist on your hands? Buy this and thank me later!

Do you have memories of getting caught (and scolded) over drawing on the walls?

With new Color Wonder products by Crayola, parents (and kids) no longer need to worry about messy ink ending up in the wrong place. The special Color Wonder markers only work on the Color Wonder drawing pads. The ink is invisible until it hits Color Wonder paper. It's just like magic but even better!

Dora Color Wonder Colouring Pad

Disney Cars Color Wonder Colouring Pad and Markers

Color Wonder On the Farm Mini Colouring Pad and Markers

Disney Princess Color Wonder Colouring Pad and Markers

Color Wonder Mini Markers

They recommend these products for 3 years and up but my son started using these before his 2nd birthday.

We have the "On the Farm" Mini Coloring Pad and Markers. It comes with 3 markers and a mini pad in a easy to reuse box. I carry it with me whenever we go out to restaurants and such. It keeps him busy without the mess of real markers. I'd say this is definitely a must have and at under $5 quite a deal!

These products can be found at Walmart and ToysRus.

Hello Monday!: Winners for Christmas gift shopping!

A second visit to Winners this past week-end and I am...(drum roll please)...done my Christmas shopping (well, ok almost...I still need to pick up a few gift certificates and finish up some online photo gifts)! I'm not certain if it's because I went early this year but Winners has a fantastic selection of gifts! The majority of what I bought was for children which was perfect since they carry a huge assortment of Melissa & Doug products.

If you have not heard of Melissa & Doug it's a brand that makes great quality wood toys.  They're sold at Toys R Us as well as many online stores. See below for most of the Melissa & Doug items I saw this week-end.  They were for ages ranging between 1 & 4 years. I've posted the recommended minimum age recommended for each product below each picture.  At Winners, these gifts all ranged between $4.99 and $19.99, now that's a great deal! Most of the ones I bought were $7.99 & $9.99!

Cutting Food - Wooden Play Food (3+ years)

Dinosaur Stamp Set (4+ years)

Dinosaur Sun Catchers Kraft Kit (4+ years)

Bear Family Dress-Up Puzzle (3+ years)

See Inside Alphabet Peg Puzzle (3+ years)

Pound & Roll Tower (2+ years)

First Bead Maze (1+ year(s))

Bead Bouquet Deluxe Wooden Bead Set (4+ years)

Best Friends Forever Magnetic Dress-Up Playset (3+ years)

Barnyard Animals Jumbo Knob Puzzle (1+ year(s))

Wooden ABC/123 blocks (2+ years)

Magnetic Chalkboard & Dry-Erase Board (3+ years)

Caterpillar Gears Toddler Toy (18+ months)

Pattern Blocks & Boards Classic Toy (3+ years)

Wooden Shape Sorting Clock (3+ years)

Alphabet Nesting & Stacking blocks (2+ years)

Wooden Dinosaur Magnets (2+years)

Decorate-Your-Own Door Hanger (4+ years)

Doorbell House (3+ years)

Maggie Leigh Magnetic Dress-Up Set (3+ years)

Rubber Duck (4+ years)

Farm Sound Blocks (2+ years)

Decorate Your Own Wooden Fashion Dolls (4+ years)

Under Water Floor Puzzle (3+ years)

Scoop & Stack Ice Cream Cone Playset (3+ years)

Fold & Go Mini Dollhouse (3+ years)

Rainbow Stacker Classic Toy (18+ months)

Sticker Collection (3+ years)

12" Tabletop Paper Roll (3+ years)

Stacking Train Toddler Toy (2+ years)

I also found a great $20 gift for my Secret Santa at work which I can't share just yet ;)...but it's definitely value for your money!

Last but not least, I found gorgeous Cynthia Rowley and Elie Tahari mirrored contemporary jewelry boxes for my teenage nieces. $14.99 for the small ones and $24.99 for the large ones.  I will add a charm bracelet in each and voila!

You gotta love it when a store makes it this easy on you (and your budget) to give the perfect gift every time!