Rave and Review

Magic Cabin Encourages Imaginative Doll Play {Review & Giveaway}

Open ended and imaginative play is paramount in our house.  When shopping for toys we search out toys that inspire creativity and learning, and that search always leads us to Magic Cabin.  I’ve talked before about my love affair with Magic Cabin’s wide assortment of toys that grow with your kids, and once again I’m raving about the fun that starts when a Magic Cabin box is opened.

And, whose eyes wouldn’t light up if they saw a box full of gorgeous toys and treasures from the pages of the Magic Cabin catalog?

This past year was all about dolls here at Rave Central – doll accessories, doll furniture, and more – and the Magic Cabin catalog was the source of much of our inspiration.  Really, it’s hard to not get inspired while searching through the Magic Cabin catalog.  Page after page it shows children playing in dress up clothing, engaging in imaginative play, and nurturing creativity with heirloom quality toys and gifts.

The first thing we fell in love with this year at Magic Cabin for doll play was the Kathe Kruse Spring Fairy Dolls because we are very into fairies these days.  We love designing their homes and making miniature fairy gardens, and the Kathe Kruse Spring Fairy Dolls are the perfect size for this kind of creativity.

Since we live in tulip country and the pretty and colorful flowers are such a big part of our spring, I knew the Kathe Kruse Tulip Fairy would be a great addition to my daughter’s garden room.  Once she arrived I knew she was perfect.  The Spring Fairy Doll is less than 9 inches tall, so she could easily go on a display shelf or even in a larger doll house, but she’s also really fun to play with since she has a flexible and posable fabric body. 

We decided to make a special “swing” for her suspended from one of the shadowbox shelves of my daughter’s wall mural and she is simply stunning on display.  Like all Kathe Kruse, the Spring Fairy Doll is simply exquisite and classic, the kind of doll that you pass down for generations to enjoy. 

Magic Cabin was my first introduction to the amazing Kathe Kruse dolls, a German company that makes handcrafted Waldorf-style dolls, and now I’m hooked.  Magic Cabin has an extensive collection of these cotton dolls with mohair tresses that are great for any collector or for those looking to make a special little girl’s day.  If you haven’t checked out their line of dolls, I would recommend you do so – you won’t be disappointed.  They even have a beautiful Easter doll with a basket of felt eggs, holiday dolls, and Fall Fairies that would delight any doll lover. 

Another essential Magic Cabin doll accessory is the Combi Doll Furniture line that encourages imaginative play with your little one.  The line is made of beautiful Baltic Birch and comes in two different colors {natural oil finish or red stain} to match your play area.  Besides being USA made and gorgeous enough to keep in a main room in your house, what I love most about the Combi Doll line is that the products promote creativity.  Not only do they encourage imaginative doll play, they also are very open-ended toys that can be used for many different play situations.

My favorite of their line is the Combi Chair which goes from a highchair to a doll desk simply by flipping it on its side.  I love this as it works for both baby dolls and for the “older” big girl dolls my daughter is now very into.  But, as cool as this is that the Combi Chair is 2-in-1, my daughter made it even more awesome by adding two more uses for the petite little chair.  By flipping it upside down while in desk mode, my daughter has decided it is a “car” for her smaller toys and they use it to drive all over our living room. 

And, then my favorite use: as a puppet theatre.  By turning the chair upside down while in high chair mode and covering with a blanket, you have the perfect make believe theatre to play with.  We’ve spent so many days thinking up stories to act out and entertaining each other for hours that this is now our new favorite toy.  We’ve now added backdrops and made some little finger puppets and have a great rainy day/snow day activity.

If you are doll shopping for spring, you should start at Magic Cabin and check out their amazing collection of Kathe Kruse as well as accessories for everything from baby dolls up to collector dolls.  My favorite tip is to check out the Magic Cabin Exclusives that, to me, define the very nature of open ended and extended play toys.  I seriously could shop there for every little kid on my list this year!

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a $50 Magic Cabin gift card to spend however you like!

To Enter: Visit Magic Cabin and tell me how you would spend your $50!

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

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On March 20th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US addresses only.

A big thank you to Magic Cabin for this review and giveaway opportunity.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Groovy Little Love Bus from Jack Rabbit Creations {Review}

Every once in a while I find a toy that is so perfect that I just can't help but covet it for my little ones.  This would be a toy that combines clever design, good play value, and high quality parts as well as being fun to play with, which means it is bound to become a favorite of all of us.  All of these would be perfect descriptions of Jack Rabbit Creations, a children’s brand that is known for its unique products and extended play value as well as its adorable designs.  

With a full line of toys that are the things childhood dreams are made of, Jack Rabbit Creations carries some of the most timeless and classic toys for children.  Recently, I fell hard for their "Groovy Little Love Bus", a wooden camper van-esque family bus that I found online.  Because I can’t resist wooden toys and my husband has long dreamed of owning a van similar to this for our family vacations {albeit with a few - or a lot - less peace symbols}, I knew this was the perfect thing for our daughter. 

And, really, how could you not love the Love Bus?

Not only is the Love Bus simply adorable, it is also incredibly fun to play with.  Simply place the wooden family atop their magnetic "seats" and the Love Bus is ready to hit the open road.  Probably an unintended bonus, but something both my kids love, is the awesome sound the family makes if you wiggle them in their seats as they spring back to place atop their magnets.  Once it hits the road, its wooden wheels make the most satisfying sound as they roll, with the cab of the van bumping along as it drives its family from adventures to vacations and beyond.


Of course, there’s also the super cute sound effect that my daughter adds once the Love Bus is in motion, which makes my heart melt each time she does it.  One of her favorite features is the nice open top of the van allows for easy repositioning and removal of the family on the go, and even has extra room for gear, pets, and more that they may pick up along the way.  My daughter spends hours zooming the bus around our house, picking up a hodge podge of characters and toys and stuffing them in the bus along with the Love Bus family. 

Which leads me to my next rave: The folks at Jack Rabbit Creations know that one person in a play vehicle is no fun, so they smartly included a family of 5 {as well as their trusty pup} in their Love Bus.  This adds to the "more the merrier" aspect of a family bus and is something I really, really appreciate because there is nothing worse than having two people playing and only one passenger to play with. 

If you aren’t familiar with Jack Rabbit Creations, you should head there now {I’ll wait…}.  They seriously have the cutest toys, accessories, and even clothing for your little one and you are bound to fall hard for numerous of their items.  Whether you have a soft spot for tin toys {me!} or classic wooden toys {also me} or organic handmade items {me, me, me!!}, everything they carry is simply irresistible. 

http://www.jackrabbitcreations.com/

A huge thank you to Jack Rabbit Creations for sending the wooden Love Bus for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review. 

Raves Faves {2010 Edition}

Okay, I know most top 10 lists are done at the end of December to recap the year and January 16th is a bit late to be debuting our wrap up, but this list was the product of a very heated debate that took two weeks to finalize.  It started as a discussion of what we would grab if the house went up in flames (*after our children, naturally*) and then turned into a battle of wills, but the end result was a list that is, without a doubt, amazing.  If you haven’t checked out our reviews of each of these products, I invite you to click on the links below:

The Cricut.  Oh, what can be said about the ultimate crafting machine besides ‘I want one’?  From signs to scrapbooking to screenprinting, it’s really no secret we love our Cricut.  We even designed a special place for it in our new craft/play room.

BabyBjorn Travel Crib Lite.  Perhaps a better way to profess our love for this travel crib would be to tell the story of the vacation when we forgot the BabyBjorn crib at home.  Unfortunately, none of us want to remember that trip, a prime example of why the BabyBjorn crib is one of our top picks of 2010.

HearthSong Exclusive Wooden Retro Kitchen.  The thought of this kitchen ever being outgrown seriously brings tears to my eyes.  I’ve already decided I’m keeping it for the grandkids. 

Tassimo T20 Coffee Brewer.  My husband loves making a fresh cup of premium coffee in mere moments before he runs off to work.  I like waking up to the smell of his brewing coffee, reminding me that there is a snowman mug downstairs that’s calling my name and waiting for me to make my special brew so I can start my day.

Step2 Gather & Grille Playhouse.  Hands down the cutest thing in our backyard.  Well, unless of course my daughter is out there playing with it, and in which case it’s the second cutest thing in our backyard.

Shun Edo Chef’s Knife.  A true thing of beauty whether it’s in its wooden stand or effortlessly chopping.  My husband and I look for any and all excuses to use it.

Summer Infant Best View Handheld Color Video Monitor.  The best video monitor we have tried and the one we recommend to all of our friends.  Pan, tilt, zoom… awesome.

Zoku Quick Pop Maker.  Custom-made ice pops from your favorite beverages and fruit while you watch; what’s not to love? 

HABA Fay Finja Soft Doll.  Yet another reason to love Maukilo, as if you needed another.

WellnessMats.  Heaven forbid you accidentally stand on the Wellness Mat in our kitchen you will be firmly scolded by our two year old.  Please stay off of Mama’s Mat, she loves it much. 

MamaRoo.  I love this little baby seat almost as much as my son does.  I never take having two free hands for granted. 

Deuter EXP Starlight Youth Sleeping Bag.  It grows by inches in mere seconds, just like your kids. 

George Foreman Evolve Grill.  The Evolve Grill is my favorite kitchen appliance of 2010 and it’s to thank for some of my most creative (and delicious) new recipes.  I don’t know what I did without it.

Mauviel M'héritage Copper Cookware.  Perhaps you already read my love letter to Mauviel during our Cozy At Home Event, but if not you should check it out.  Every time I catch sight of the Mauviel pan hanging in our kitchen I feel like cooking.  How many other things can you say that about?

Waterpik Water Flosser.  Who said oral care is boring?  Not us with our fancy schmancy new gadget and our flair for mixing the perfect mouthwash-and-water cocktail, that’s for sure. 

KaZAM Balance Bike.  Adorable, practical, and tons of fun is pretty much the recipe all kids companies should follow and KaZAM got it right straight out of the gates.  I can’t wait for spring to arrive so we can zip down the bike trails with the wee ones on the KaZAM. 

Heart for Hearts Girls Dolls.  Playtime becomes an opportunity to learn about helping others and giving back to others.  Plus they are truly exquisite.

Flip SlideHD.  In over a year we took approximately 15 minutes of footage of our daughter with our old video camera.  In a little over two months I have logged over two hours of Flip video of my babes now that I’m always ready for action when they are. 

Magic Cabin Tree Trunk Fairy Home.  Adorable out of the package and even more so the longer you play with it.  Which, if I have my way, will be forever. 

ThinkGeek.  Okay, so this isn’t a favorite thing as much as it’s a favorite store.  A mind-blowingly awesome store that sells just about every cool gadget you never knew you needed.  We did two reviews for them {here & here}, that's how seriously awesome they are. 

Do you have any favorite posts from 2010?  Anything you would like to see in 2011?

Random Rave: Thankful

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, I decided to do something a little different today.  Instead of raving about a product or service I love, I thought I would do a post raving about all that I am thankful for.

I am thankful for:

A daughter who simply enchants everyone that she meets, starting first with hubby and I.  I guess I hadn’t realized I had a hole in my life that just happened to be exactly her size, but I will never stop being grateful for her and the fact that being her mom makes me the luckiest woman on earth.

High school boyfriends that turn into husbands and then into fathers, and the fact that I have already grown “old” with the man that I love.  Twelve years in and I still love him more every passing year and yet still managed to be surprised that he loves me back.   

Six sisters who are also my best friends, even though they knew me in high school.  Six people I can call at all hours of the night, six people that know me better than anyone else and six people who have forgiven me for the “experimental hair dye” phase.

Five brothers who know how to walk the thin line between protector and pal, and can always be counted on when you need them most.  Every girl needs a brother (or 5), especially little girls who think they can play like the big kids and are constantly finding themselves in situations where the water is just too deep.  

Nieces and nephews that shook me out of that teenage funk and made me realize how loving someone unconditionally makes you enjoy all aspects of life more.  I love that I am aunt to the positively silliest, cutest and most lovable kids anywhere.   

A Mom who put up with 5 times more dirty diapers, sleepless nights, kids’ messes and heartache than I’ve had to, and yet still managed to make motherhood look fun.  I can only hope that my daughter’s memories of me have as much laughter and life.

A Dad who let me figure out my mistakes on my own but never stopped holding the safety net for me, even after I insisted I was fine on my own.  Now that I’m a parent myself, I know that there is no net big enough to protect against all of life’s pain and sadness, but that won’t stop me from holding the largest one I can create under my daughter.  And, just like my Dad has done for me, this net will be there forever…especially when she insists she’s fine on her own. 

My daughter’s grandparents (and “greats”!) that are the classic example of what being a grandparent is all about and who make it clear that their love is absolutely unconditional.  Some day she will know how lucky she is to be surrounded by so much love and laughter. 

A family tree that is stuffed with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and the “great” version of them all.  There is never a shortage of people to see, friends to go out with, and willing babysitters and I am never alone unless I choose to be.  I only wish everyone was as lucky as we are to have such a wonderful and loving family that is truly involved in our lives. 

Friends to pretend to do yoga with just so our kid’s can run around together.  As much as the kids really need time with each other, it’s nice to have a group of moms that realize playdates are as much about parents as they are about kids. 

A house that was built, furnished, decorated, and even painted with love.  I never dreamed I would live somewhere with a whole cabinet just for tea or with a space designated for pirates, but now I can’t imagine having it any other way.

Our stacks and stacks of pictures and albums that prove that we really did all those things that created our wonderful memories.  Those pictures cover 4 continents of exploration with hubby, our annual family vacations at the beach, weddings, birthdays, 4 generations of family, and all the daily joys of being a sister, daughter, cousin, niece, granddaughter, aunt, wife, and now mother.

The four beautiful seasons of Seattle and the fact that there is so much to see and do that is just a car ride away.  As much as I would love a few more sunny weekends a year, I just can’t see ever moving away for good. 

Making the time to really fill out my daughter’s baby book before all the little memories faded.  Sometimes I look at her and I have the hardest time seeing that baby I brought home from the hospital and remembering all those little moments of having a newborn, but every time I reread her baby book, it’s like I’m reliving it all over again. 

All my wonderful readers that take the time to reach out to me and remind me that I’m not here talking to myself.  As much as I am so grateful to all of the opportunities this website as afforded our family and all of the fun we have had testing, reviewing and writing about the fun we have as a family, I never forget that it is our readers that truly make this all possible.  If there is ever anything any of you need, or help that I can offer, just let me know… but in the meantime, be sure and enter to win one of the 14 (and counting) giveaways we have going on and take a piece of Rave and Review home with you

Happy Thanksgiving from Rave and Review!

Friday Random Rave - Pink and Girly

It’s not going to be a gender neutral Christmas at our house!  For the past two years, all of our kid’s purchases have leaned towards the gender neutral, in some cases bypassing the girl’s section entirely and shopping only in the boys aisles.  Our daughter didn’t care what color her toys were, and I refused to have piles of pink I was forcing on any kids down the road, or even friends and consignment shops when our family was complete. 

Gender nuetral was a hard sell to grandparents who really would like to see a baby girl with something pink and girly, so we would throw in little bits of girliness here and there to appease.  Hey, we gave her the pink curtains, didn’t we?  I think they went a long way in making her blue, green and brown painted mural seem like it was always meant for a girl’s room.  I even sprung for the flower lamps to really complete the garden-themed motif and hopefully she will never realize that there was supposed to be cars, trucks and scooters zipping around her walls, not birds, butterflies and squirrels. 

I thought those pink curtains and lamps would also make up for the black and grey baby seat, the blue bouncer, the fire-engine red stroller, the brown and orange car seat and the fact that we brought her home from the hospital all dressed in taupe (hey, ultrasounds aren’t always 100% certain, I was not bringing a little boy home in pink).  Most of the time since then she’s been dressed like a girl, usually has a pink pacifier, and every once in a while will get to drink out of the three pack of pink cups hubby bought her to counteract the green and blue collection I had amassed.  Heck, she’s even wearing pink pajamas as I type.  I think we did quite well in turning brown hoodies and blue shoes into girl’s clothing, and only three to four times a week does someone get her gender wrong.   

But baby toys were just one of those things that I always insisted must be gender neutral, even returning most pink items and exchanging them for their red and blue counterparts when some well meaning family member would buy pink “because we have all that blue already” (shhhhhh!).  But not this year.  This year our little girl has opinions and ideas about what she likes, and she naturally gravitates towards the pink aisle.

I guess I didn’t realize how that was going to affect me until the pink presents began to arrive at the house.  All their sweet girliness that reminds me of Christmases growing up and makes me so excited to play with all of her toys myself.  I can’t wait to see her eyes light up when she unwraps her first real baby doll and her little cooking set I’ve been dying to let her play with ahead of time.  I realize our house is going to have a huge shift the day after Christmas and our living room will now be accented with pink, but I never ever thought I would be happy about it. 

No, not just happy, ecstatic. 

It’s as if it’s just hitting me that there is only more pink and girly to come.  Pretty soon there will be hair to braid, fingernail polish on her toes, and maybe even a ribbon or two in her hair and I get to do that all with her.  Mom, the keeper of the nail polish, the only one who can braid the hair of a wiggling child; I can see it now and the best is yet to come.  So, this year I say bring on the pink!