Wordless Wednesday- Bikes, Poses and Halloween Dress Rehearsal

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ASTRA 2009 Best Toys for Kids Awards

The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) has just released their 2009 Best Toys for Kids Award Winners. Selected by a panel of 500 of America's top independent and neighborhood toy retailers, the winners deliver exceptional value and expand a child's imagination by inviting discovery and exploration, getting kids moving, and building creativity.

I appreciate the fact that the toys on the ASTRA list are unique items that are not typically carried at "big box" retailers but, instead, at smaller, locally-owned toy stores. We are lucky enough to have a great one here in Wichita: Imagine That! Toys. (To find an ASTRA member store near you, use their handy Toy Finder. You can also follow ASTRA on Twitter.)



There are toys on the list that we already have and love, like the Green Toys Tea Set and Automoblox vehicles but there are also plenty of toys that are new to us or, at least, new to our list! The Playmobil Pyramid that Candice reviewed, for example, and the Wee WEDGiTS building blocks. We received a Reversible Dragon/Knight Cape and matching Reversible Dragon/Knight Hood from Creative Education of Canada's Great Pretenders collection of dress-ups. I can't tell you how great this is, especially since quality dress-up clothing for boys is not easy to find. Roo was so jealous that this was slightly too small for her and was thereby deemed Jasper's!






As super cool as the dragon side is, it reverses to a splendiferously silver knight's cape and hood:



Not that Jasper would ever wear it that way, of course. He's too thrilled with being a dragon! I think Roo will be wanting one of the reversible princess dress ups, perhaps the Cinderella Cindersweep or the Fairytale Pinafore…

Disclosure: We received the Reversible Dragon/Knight Cape and matching Reversible Dragon/Knight Hood and were encouraged to spread the word about ASTRA's 2009 Best Toys for Kids Award Winners. However, relating the sheer awesomeness of the dress-up and other items from the list was done on my own.

Twilight Tide Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Grosgrain Pettiskirt Giveaway… it's black, it's beautiful and I think Roo needs it since her mommy can't sew worth a lick and is also too stingy to buy her a boutique-y pettiskirt.



I want one in my size, too!

Fancy Nancy is an absolute DOLL!

Roo is pretty fancy, as four year old girls often are. When I borrowed Fancy Nancy from the library, she felt as though she had met a kindred spirit, curly locks, crazy clothes and all! So imagine how thrilled she was to discover that Jakks Pacific, makers of her beloved Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker, also make a gorgeous Fancy Nancy doll AND a whole stupendous line of super-duper fancy accessories and dress up clothes for both doll and owner.



Yes, Roo was pretty thrilled, to say the least!



And so was Jasper. He's a bit young to realize he shouldn't submit to his sister's every whim yet, so he's game for the tea party, too.



Fancy Nancy toys are available all over, but the best selection for the most reasonable prices looks like Target. (When I searched for them on Amazon, sellers were charging double the retail price for doll and dress up items! Crazy.) We might have to get this particularly posh party dress for the holiday soirées. That's a fancy word for parties…

Tutu Tough!

***WINNER PICKED 8/14 WITH RANDOM.ORG***


***CONGRATULATIONS, carissaad (non-blogger)!!!***

her comment...
I like the Lavendar, Pink, and White Tutu with White Ribbon Waist Size 2T.


Sure, Roo likes to dig in dirt and play Ninja Turtles, but she also loves the ubiquitous Princesses. Lucky for her, Sara Rose Tutus can accommodate even the pickiest fashionista. Even if she happens to be four, tyrannical and T-U-F-F like this one (the Snow White tattoo screams hellraiser, right?):



You can choose from ready-made styles in SaraRoseTutus' Etsy shop but your little diva-in-training can also specify custom tulle colors and length and poofiness, additional ribbons… pretty much anything her little heart desires. All for a very reasonable price– from $12 for a single-color newborn size tutu to about $40 for an older girl's tutu with all the extras.



This seafoam and aquamarine tutu is just dreamy to me. I would totally wear one in my size but it would probably horrify my poor daughter.



How stinking cute is this little ladybug tutu?! Great for Halloween or everyday, if you're fancy like that. It would be cute for a Minnie Mouse costume, too!



To enter and win a Sara Rose Tutu, please comment on this post with your favorite tutu from their blog or SaraRoseTutus' Etsy shop.


Entries will be accepted through August 13th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US and International readers are eligible, courtesy of the generosity of Sara Rose Tutus. Only one entry/comment per person, please.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Tilt-a-Whirl with Twirly Girl!

When I was halfway through high school, we moved to Texas from Hawaii. It was an abrupt change in many ways but especially in the pageantry of academia. Texas is showy, y'all! I remember trying to figure out who fit in where and asking a Barbie-esque, bowheaded girl if she was a cheerleader. She looked horrified. "No, I TWIRL!" she exclaimed. I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. She could have been from outer space, for all I knew.

Well, now I have my very own little alien who likes to twirl and layer on the pink. TwirlyGirl is an online boutique that caters to such creatures, as one might assume. But far from being frilly, frou-frou nightmares, their clothes are spunky and even practical to a certain extent. TwirlyGirl's skirts and many of their dresses are reversible, as well as twirly! So your little whirling dervish can spin out to her heart's content AND wear the same thing tomorrow, if need be… just flip it inside-out.



I love the crazy colors and patterns, which keep TwirlyGirl clothing from being to precious or princess-y. And the convenience of just flipping it inside out in case of spills or boredom is totally thrilling to the mom in me.



The new SuperFun dresses aren't reversible but they double as dress-up clothes because they feature WINGS:



Just lovely. I wish they made clothes in my size! I think I could rock the skirted pants or definitely the fun leggings under a slightly more subdued twirly skirt.




But alas, TwirlyGirl is just for kids. So far…

Gonna Dress You Up in My Love…

***WINNER PICKED 12/22 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #24: Three Ps in a Pod!!!***

Roo loves dressing up. No matter how hard you try to imbue your daughter with a tomboy spirit and feminist manifesto, it seems like they all want to be a princess, at least on the outside. Unfortunately, unwashable crunchy poly satin and stretch sequin foiled fabric with glued on maribou trim seems to be the hallmark of the Princess costume monopoly. Most of these things are itchy and uncomfortable, with stiff elastic and scratchy trim that belies their sparkly countenance. It makes absolutely no sense in my world to market a garment for toddlers and young kids to play in more than once when it can only be "wiped clean with a damp cloth."

We have a couple of leftover Halloween costumes that are woefully frayed and, impressively, a ballet costume my obaasan made for my mom when she was little that Roo has worn literally to death. But nothing has come remotely close to the sighs of ecstasy I witnessed when Roo opened her dress up costume (Pink Pauper Princess) from Little Adventures. I swear, she swooned! Then she snatched it and ran to change, yelling "privacy!" She emerged in kind of a spastic frenzy, whirling and twirling around, reminiscent of Kirsten Dunst in Interview With A Vampire:



Then she mellowed out a little, re-accessorized, and did some curtseys.



And then she felt regal enough to bust out the Hot Wheels because Little Adventures dress up wear is actually comfortable enough to move around and PLAY in:


If you don't have daughters (or if your daughters aren't into all things Princess!), Little Adventures also has a super selection of boy dress ups, including this fantastic armor set that I wish came in 6 month size for Jasper…



I also love the matching Little Adventures doll dress ups, although I am slightly embarrassed to admit it. I never played with dolls much as a child but Roo sure loves them. I haven't plunked down the money for a big ticket dolly yet (I am coveting a Karito Kids doll) but it's nice to know she could play dress up with one… Check out this adorable Winter Beauty dress for 15"-20" dolls or plush animals:



Would your little girl like to be a Winter Beauty, too? Enter to win this luxe red velvet and white satin gown (a $25 value, which I find more than reasonable for such a quality garment… the sucky ones from the big box stores cost just as much, if not more), currently available in small (2T-4T) or large (6-8) . To enter, simply leave a comment on this post with your favorite item from the Little Adventures website.



Entries will be accepted through December 21st. US/Canada readers only, please. Make sure you leave an email address or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! If I can't find your email, I will pick a new winner. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR BLOG PROFILE IS SET TO PUBLIC AND THAT THERE IS AN EMAIL AVAILABLE ON YOUR BLOG OR LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ALONG WITH YOUR COMMENT!!! Only one entry/comment per person, please. Delivery is not guaranteed for Christmas.

Little Adventures products are only available through licensed vendors.
Visit their retail index for a location near you.

Xmas shopping

I know it's a little early, but I was browsing Planet Happy Toys' website and came across some serious contenders for Roo's holiday gifts.

First up, the incredibly cool Terra Kids outdoor exploration gear by Haba. It's a bit pricey ($30.95 each item) but I suspect it would hold up better than the chintzy "tools" we've gotten her in the past. She's getting old enough to use them properly, so it would be nice to have some diminutively-scaled gear of her own. She probably doesn't need the head lamp but who knows? She might start spelunking any day now.





And on a more frou-frou note, how cute is this Sarah's Silks mermaid costume? It's real silk! $43.95, but it fits sizes 3-7 so I imagine years of use… So sweet. I love the matching seaweed headband.

Dress-up Time!

The costumes from Aeromax's Get Real Gear line are pretty cool. No princessy fluff or glitter here, just sturdy, hard-working dress up gear– pilots, fireman, doctors, GIs, etc. Perfect for kids who already know what they want to be when they grow up! Or whose relatives want to gently, uh, prod them in a certain direction. I am surprised my mom didn't go out and buy the Jr. Armed Forces Pilot costume as soon as she found out I was expecting a boy…


My personal favorites are the Jr. Ninja (of course) and the Jr. S.W.A.T., which comes complete with helmet and police baton.




Aeromax also has Get Real Gear in adult sizes for several of the costume styles, so you can coordinate a family crew. No adult sizes in the furry Kid's Safari costume division, thankfully. I think I saw a CSI episode about that once. I'm still sad there's no adult Ninja outfit, though! What a stealthy family that would be…

Roo, of course, still wants to be She-Ra, but we're about 20 years late for that costume opportunity. Anybody have a spare She-Ra costume in size 2-4 laying around ?