Calling: Little Pirates and Pixies

Fairy jewels and golden nuggets are just a few of the whimsical trinkets you will find among the goodness at Pixie Toys; a unique toy shop right in the heart of Bixby Knolls in Long Beach. The owner, Heather, moved her toy boutique to this location (down my block!) just when little Freida was born. We've been getting her toy-fix there ever since. My mother-in-law took 2 month old Freida for a walk one afternoon (so this tired mama could sneak in a nap), and she came home gift-laden with all sorts of fantastic goodies (an oball, USA teething rings, a Corolle Minireves...)   from "the new toy store down the block". So it began...

Pixie Toys is chock-full of all those fabulous toy companies (that you won't find in Target or ToysRus), specializing in greener and more sustainable play things. Some of my favorite lines there are: Green Toys, Corolle, Crocodile Creek, Rubbabu, Trumpette, Wikki Stix, Alex,  and Papo. The older girls will go gaga over the abundant collection of Japenese erasers, and the boys will go nuts for the Papo fantasy action figures (a much, much hotter version than playmobile)! And on the way out they can't forget to select a little trinket for good measure from the pirate-booty treasure chest!

Heather is fantastically friendly and always goes out of her way to help me find the prefect baby gift, get down and play tea-party with Freida, and is the most super gift-wrapper I've ever met (thanks, Heather!!). There is just something so gratifying about walking into one store for a unique baby gift, finding the perfect one, having it beautifully gift-wrapped, and writing a card --- all in under 10 minutes! : )

Check out this magical toy boutique next time you're in the neighborhood! Your little one/s are bound to love it as much as Freida does...

Kosher (or not) Animal room Decor

I'm sorry I've been a bit MIA as of late: I'm filling in for a friend of mine who had a baby last month, and I'm taking over her Pre-K class for the first month of school. Been busy in and out, setting up the classroom and doing some holiday project prep for the peewees... I've had preschool design on the mind lately (my sister-in-law is opening up a 3-year-old class out of her home this year, an up-and-coming preschool contacted me about consulting with them for some of the design, and I've been preoccupied trying to turn an ever-so-typical preschool classroom into a warm, colorful, and peaceful space). When I've got a specific space on my mind - I don't stop seeing things for it!

Stumbled upon a print shop that does the most beautiful work with animal photography! I love what these charming captures can do for the ambience of a preschool/kids space. Anyplace from a child's nursery, playroom, classroom etc. would do well with a bit of natural, still-life art/photography. It's said to psychologically bring out the best of compassion within children.

They have a great variety of kosher animals:

But I can't deny, my favorite is this adorable baby porcupine: (!!)

From The Animal Print Shop, by Sharon Montrose.

Modern House Now - mini edition!

Gitane Royce and Nisreen Witt are the San Francisco based genius minds behind the new company Modern Playhouse. Their goal was to create a sophisticated, sustainable, and safe playhouse for the outdoors that wasn't too insanely priced. They now have two designs, the Wedge House and the Circle House - featuring clean lines and mod designs. They also produced some furniture and accessories to outfit the interior....

Landline Lovlies

Mid-century lovers can now get their favorite-era-fix with this home goods basic: the landline telephone. Fresh from Sweet Bella (an inconspicuous shop in Brooklyn's Bronx) comes these rotary beauties - original, and unused from the British General Post Office, circa 1950. Now matter how far along technology has come, it is still considered a serious safety precaution to have a working landline telephone in your home. Why not get one that spruces up that bookshelf or entryway with a bit of awesome Mad Men style?

Daddy Duty

An adorable sketch-up of what goes on when mom volunteers to "get the ice cream" and daddy says he'll "watch the kids". Gotta make you smile. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOfy5LDpEHo&feature=player_embedded]