How about some toys for the kids today? I promised to double up on the giveaways today so here we go! I had never heard of Jishaku, and am totally intrigued by it, to say the least. It’s “a portable strategy game like chess or checkers that can be played anywhere the kitchen or the beach. But unlike chess, there is an element of surprise when the magnets jump out of position, without warning. Surprise, then laughs, follow as…
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Okay, this is a really cool giveaway. There’s a website called The Young Scientists Club designed to get {and keep!} kids excited about science through interactive kits, mailed once or twice a month, and an online forum for kids to ask questions. I mean, how cool is that? You can get science kits mailed to you a couple of times a month. How much fun is that for the whole family? I love this kind of stuff. One of you…
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Have you seen them? Do you know how to pronounce it? No matter how, (Is it cheek-EYES, like eyeballs, or is it cheek-EES?), just get them. Cheekeyes makes some of the cutest wooden play sets I’ve seen. A special gift for any toddler that parents also will appreciate. Yes, I clearly have a thing for wooden toys, and as a result, Oompa Toys is one of my favorite online haunts for utterly delightful blocks, trucks, games and these very sweet wooden animal…
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A Streamliner Rally, {it even rhymes!}. How sleek is this little Playsam rally car from Spunky Sprout {valued at $35}? It has the smooth look and feel of Scandinavian design and is a perfect simple little car for any little boy on Christmas. Need at your house? I know I do. Giveaway Guidelines: 1. To enter the Playsam Streamliner Rally Car giveaway, leave a comment on this post before Midnight Thursday December 19th. 2. If you blog about this contest…
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Need gifts for teachers? As I’ve been married to a teacher for several years, I feel I have a wee bit of wisdom to impart on the subject. A few guidelines: 1. Teachers expect nothing at all from their students. Honestly. You mustn’t ever feel obligated to purchase something for your child’s teacher. It’s a kind gesture to be sure, but absolutely unnecessary. On the flip side, costly gifts from individual students are rather taboo. 2. Sincerely written notes and…
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Czarnecki Christmas Calendar $20 {via Publish Me Mine}. I know it’s a little tricky to see the photos but this is my Christmas calendar, made by the clever gals at Publish Me Mine. Isn’t it cute? Both sets of our grandparents love nothing more than photos of their grand-babies for Christmas; my mother especially goes cr-azy for year round calendars with photos of my family. Typically I go to Office Max and throw something together, but this is like a…
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Well, it’s less than one month till my due date, which means that I may officially be kicking it into panic mode. There’s still so much that I want done around the house, and I’ve refused to let myself buy any baby supplies until the house and baby room are completely in order. So seriously, I’d better get things in order fast. Part of the stress of being a first-time mom is just feeling overwhelmed by a new responsibility. I’m…
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I really have a thing for pajamas, perhaps stemming from a favorite tradition from my childhood: new PJ’s for Christmas, which we were permitted to open on Christmas Eve. I love them for myself, and I love to see my little guy all cozy in cute PJs. If you have the talents of Miss Alison here at Petit Elefant, you are probably custom making some very darling pajamas for your little ones this year. For the rest of us, I’ve…
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Miss Madeline Peasant Dress Pattern. $9.95 {via You Can Make This} In an effort to save money, be environmentally responsible, and put more meaning into Christmas this year I’m making at least half of my gifts. Not just neighbor gifts but gifts to my kids, my husband, and my siblings. I think most of us are feeling the financial crunch, and I’m especially feeling the need to create memories instead of buying them. One of our family traditions {as I’m…
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