Tell me what you think, is this a cop out for a “birthday gift?”

As you know, we have an impending move, hopefully before Caleb’s birthday.  I’ve been mulling over what we could get him for his birthday.  It always seems like Christmas and his birthday are back to back, despite there being three months in between.  So I was thinking for his “big” gift, we could do his bedroom.  My mom bought a set of bunkbeds for his room from a friend with an older child who had outgrown them.  They are currently sitting in the bedroom dissembled (due to the impending move).  Caleb is very excited to have them put together.  I suddenly realized we’ll need linens for two beds though.  I like his current set (and it is still available at Target – a kids Woolrich camping set), but I was thinking of switching to a car themed set.  I suppose there is no explanation needed there.  We could do it the night before his birthday (letting him sleep in our bed that night) and “wrap” the bedroom door with paper and a ribbon or something.  I was thinking of carrying the theme to the bathroom and doing the same thing there.  Anyway, here’s the adorable theme I found.  I think he would freak out if he wasn’t expecting it.  This stuff is from Target by the way!

HAVE TO HAVE IT:

I wanted to do the quilt on one bunk…

…and the comforter on the other.  Because I couldn’t decide which was cuter, we could switch for some variety!

The sheets are so adorable!

THE WATER IS GETTING DEEP:

What color curtains would go with this?  Light tan?  I feel like there’s enough blue already!

Even a little car bank

The lamp has a stop sign pull chain

This is the kids bedding throw pillow:

And this is the toddler set throw pillow:

Dumping the trash!

BUT I CAN STILL TOUCH THOUGH:

Cute, cute, CUTE shower curtain!

NEVERMIND, GONE OFF THE DEEP END:

4X4 toothbrush holder

Umm…Herbie soap dispenser?!

Even the shower curtain rings are precious (Can you tell I’m super excited about this?!)

Lotion dispenser?  Don’t need it, just think it is adorable too!

I can find some use for this right?

These are very cute, but probably an unjustified cost (or overdoing it perhaps?)


I LOVE this shelf that actually goes with a different baby bedding set.

DRIFTING OUT TO SEA, BON VOYAGE:

And this dog blanket (doesn’t match the theme at all), I just had to throw it in here because it is so dog-gone cute!

Road rug

Adorable storage stool (Don’t stand on that!  It’s too cute!)

Wall stickers of vintage airplanes

A light switch plate to go with the nearby shelf.

UP NEXT WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS: A DAYDREAMING MOTHER IS LOST AT SEA.

5 Comments

Since I have joined the 21st century in using a rss reader recently, I have saved/bookmarked at least forty photography blogs, a mix between wedding and children’s photography.  I’ve found some absolutely incredible photographers, cough, Jessica Claire, Jasmine Star, & Becker, cough cough.  And I just hang around studying and try to soak up a bit of their knowledge.  I haven’t really ever explored backlighting at all, but it was one of the subjects I read about recently, so I thought I’d give it a try.

For some reason, he just looks so tiny here.

I’ve shot about 4GB of pictures in the last 36 hours.  I find myself thinking about that book I read throughout the day, as if to go back over everything in my head, thinking of how I could put this technique to use, or how I could try that.  To make matters worse, I just learned tonight that a new Canon 5D Mark II is being released in November.  Someone get a drool cloth.  I need this camera.  Therefore, I need some serious cash.

Now if I could just win this, I would still be a photographer.  A very well equipped photographer indeed.  That’s 89 cash.  Just in case you’re wondering.  Eighty nine million dollars.

4 Comments

I have this sudden fascination with wooden toys. I’ve been looking at several different vehicles, but most require a second mortgage to purchase. Scott said he wouldn’t get them if he won the lottery. I say I do the kid shopping and we would have all of them! I’m especially partial to the Tom Toys dump truck and semi. Coincidently, the two most expensive. Aren’t they beautiful though!

Tom Toys Semi

Tom Toys Dump Truck

The Community Playthings Fleet. They look small in this picture huh? Well they aren’t.

When I said big, I meant big. People talk about their public libraries having had these trucks for years. Another lady used a grant to furnish a complete daycare from Community Playthings. When she closed her doors 15 years later, everything looked like they day she bought it.

Guidecraft makes a line of construction vehicles called Cito, also large scale.

This is a book I found on Amazon.  Just look.  Look at that truck.  Even the wheels are wooden.  It is beautiful.  Oh how I wish I had the tools or the skills to make these.

1 Comment

Watch out, keep me away from the Christmas list. I think I’ll just put these on the to-get list instead. I’m not sure why I had never really checked these out, as I’ve seen them a millions times in online stores, and I’ve seen the boxes in a local store, but just didn’t even look at it. I didn’t realize they came apart, but I could see this being a long last toy. And now they make cute little minis!

This cool looking sportscar will not be available until after the new year, but it is available on preorder.

Interchangeable parts teaching shapes, colors, categorizing, etc enhancing play value.

(Click the picture to read about the learning benefits)

One of the 6 [large] cars available right now.  There is also a Automoblox Mini’s line.

Leave a Comment

My new lens got here today! I waited anxiously all day long. I jumped up and raced to the window this morning, only to see the propane truck backing in to fill up the shop’s tank next door. It finally got here a few minutes after four. I haven’t had a chance to play much and it is rather glum outside right now, so I’ll probably wait until tomorrow to do more. But I had to share a few quick shots of two test subjects willing to sit still for more than 2 milliseconds. I am so excited to have a zoom lens now! I’ve been working with a 50mm prime lens (which means your feet do the zooming) since I got my camera last Christmas. I love my 50mm, don’t get me wrong, it gives you a big bang for a very small buck. But I’m ready to learn something new. I can’t wait! Maybe if I start saving now, I can get me that L glass next Christmas! HA! Baby steps.

Leave a Comment

I’ve been scouring the internet for gift ideas. As you can imagine, I came up with way more than enough. So I’ve created a list at wishlist.com to keep track of some of them for later purchase/birthday ideas, etc. I don’t think I could ever bring myself to use the wishlist service for something like a birthday or Christmas, but it would certainly be helpful for weddings, baby showers, etc. I’m just using it to keep track of neat products that I find online so that I don’t clog up my bookmarks.

1. Castle Blocks – I think these are amazing. This wasn’t one I found myself, I had a little help from Chris’s Holiday Gift Guide over at In the Trenches of Motherhood (aka Notes from the Trenches). These blocks look amazing. Be sure to read about how the ‘blocksmith’ started his business. Certainly a different take on your average wooden blocks. They look to be excellent quality. I am quite anxious to try them out, and I would love to take advantage of a holiday sale. This would be a good one to go in together with the grandparents!

2. Memory Game: I’m not even sure what I love about this one so much. It looks simple, long lasting and well made, for a nice price. Memory is a classic game that is good for all ages, so this would grow with your child, provided you are diligent about keeping up with the pieces. If not, it certainly isn’t a terrible budget strain to replace it. The shapes do look pretty small though, so watch out for the younger members of the family. You can always start out with 3-4 pairs and leave part of the board empty for the younger players.

3. Car Cake Pans: I must give credit for this find to my mom. She called to ask me if I though Caleb might like something like this for a gift. Would he like it? WOULD HE LIKE IT?? Let’s see, he loves to kitchen. He drags a kitchen chair across the room and positions it on my foot so that he can climb up and help. The mega bonus is that the cakes are little car shapes, they are absolutely precious. I already have birthday ideas whirling through my head. Wouldn’t that make a neat center piece. A long straight road running the length of the table with car cakes for each party goer. It could also be an EXCELLENT birthday party activity for kids a little older than mine. If you’re the organized type, you can set up a decorating station for each child, give them their vehicle, a paint brush for the icing (glue), and several pieces of candy for decorations, have the sprinkles lined up down the table. Kids would eat that up, literally!

4. Haba Boat Swing: I have drooled over seen this before. It is quite expensive, but doesn’t it just make you smile to look at it! Love the colors. I have always loved the concept of an indoor swing. Hey it could even double as a bassinet when the next baby comes along! ;) I’M JOKING! Don’t try that! Especially when the older sibling has been soaring around the room like Peter Pan in the thing for a year.

5. Aqua Play Set: This is just a neat concept to me. I’ve seen a similar thing made by Brio a while back, but I can’t find it now. Again, steep price, but there are different sets you can get, this of course being the most complete/expensive. Looks like it would made a good summer toy for those days when you need to get the kid out of the house, but once you do it is too hot to move outside. Set it in the shade and let them play. It looks like it might be time consuming to set up though(?)

6. Colorforms: Yes the same colorforms that were around when you were a child. They seem to be pretty timeless as well. Encourages pattern play and creativity. Look around, you might find a better price, but I just happened to see them here.

7. Lacing Tree: Need to brush up on your hand eye coordination. This looks like a cute version of a lacing activity. A little more clever than some I’ve seen where you just outline a picture that is already there. Here you can actually make decisions about which animals should go where. Waiting room activity anyone?

8. Mazes(click pictures for links): I think I’ve seen the first one (or a similar one) at Target. “Drive” the different vehicles around to their appropriate buildings/homes. Very cute also. Requires some thinking for how to get each vehicle to the correct spot and move others out of the way. The bead maze has two pens, so siblings/friends can share. Again, hand eye coordination. Both of these are self contained, so they would make excellent toys on the go (for waiting rooms, airport terminals, etc)

Leave a Comment

Did I unknowingly spike Scott’s drink? He is on a honey do roll! He built a dog house today and Caleb and I stayed outside to help. I ended up cleaning up most of the storage building so we can get a bunch more stuff in there now! I was also hunting for things to sell…I’m falling hard for that Canon L glass. You might not know, that is the top of the line Canon lens series. I looked through all 157 pictures that people had submitted to Amazon as example of the 70-200mm f/2.8 in action. *drool* So looks like I might be saving for a long while after Christmas if I decide to go that route. I was so looking forward to a new lens to work with at Christmas too :( I don’t know what I’ll do, that is quite a chunk of change, anyone wish to donate?!

Anyway, we decided to sign up for Netflix (sorry Lauren! We’re giving Hollywood Video too much $!) Scott’s got a bunch of icky stuff like Hostel II and Saw III already in queue. That’s okay, I’ll balance it out with some of those Jennifer Aniston movies I’ve been wanting to see. And you don’t have to tell me not to get The Breakup. Sadly enough I’ve already lost those two hours of my life. It ended and we looked at each other and said “Well we could have filmed that!” I paid to watch what we do daily?? I wanted lemons. Baby wanted lemons. So let’s hear your movie recommendations.

2 Comments

No matter what product you find, there is always something cooler. Ever noticed that? Take for instance a puppet theater. I suppose one could go down to the local hobby store, purchase a piece of fabric, cut a rectangular whole in it and hang it from a doorway. Or if you prefer the disposable playhouse variety, use a cardboard box. But really, FAO Schwarz takes the cake. And a lot more of your money. But hey, seriously, how cool is this?? I am trying to see with my logic eyes, this thing huge but it fits in that neat little baggy and a little over the top the coolest theater ever and perhaps a little much for a two year old but he could use it for a playhouse tooooo! Hmm. Do I want him to have this or do I want it?

If you can’t see the video for some reason, go here.

1 Comment

treehouses

Jun 06

Posted by: Rachel in: blog, i want that, if i had a million dollars

tommy02.jpg

This is my dreamhouse, my dream treehouse for Caleb. This company has flat out stunning works of art. You must look at each and every one. They are all incredibly unique. I wish they had a feature on their website that allowed you to locate examples of their work. I think a lot of the things they do are for playgrounds/theme parks rather than individuals. I would love to go and see one. I mean, I can pretty much guarantee there is only one of these in the Unites States:

redneckretreat01.jpg

Daniel Wood Land Inc. Redneck Retreat

Leave a Comment

I found this crazy awesome store. If I did indeed have a million dollars, I would certainly shop there.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

 

Luckily they have the…Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

 

because otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to afford this $1780.00 crib. Whew. Thank God for price matching.

~~~

Rest assured, after enduring one child that has never slept well, our second baby will be sleeping in an Amby Motion Bed from day 1. I will even fight tooth and nail to use it in the hospital.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

See how this new mom and baby are well rested. You can tell by the twinkles. Yep. I want that.

I sold our crib for $100 bucks shortly after the little man turned 1. He slept in it 4 months. It was expensive too. Like the Modern Nursery one above. Give or take $1500. Okay, you got me. It was $300. In hindsight, I’m quite glad it wasn’t too expensive and it was a gift too.

~~~

I’m really loving some of these strollers. Why didn’t I know these existed when I bought strollers for Caleb. Yes I said strollers. With an “S”. Because I was referring to all five of them.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

This is a Bumbleride Queen B. I like this stroller. I love this stroller. I can just feel the stroller envy moms looking at it. I’m one of those moms. I’m always checking out everyone’s stroller. Men have cars. Women? Strollers. I like the fabric and the pram style that still maintains steering ability. The basket is a little poopy (pram like though). I would rather have canvas/fabric/whatever the stroller material is. But I’m willing to look past the basket, and on to the huge canopy, big rubber, air-filled, removable(!) tires, forward facing or parent facing seat, and adjustable handle bar.

Then there’s the Orbit Baby stroller & infant seat. This thing is just wicked. If you need proof, watch their video. See if you aren’t bobbing your head, tapping your foot, and/or snapping your fingers to the music by the end. You might even be saying, I’ve got to have that. Until you look at the price tag. Wowzers. But it is still really cool right?!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Leave a Comment