Just this Monday I published my last gift guide for this year and then I went through the things I bookmarked to share with you. And I saw that this lovely natural handmade wooden toys shop just added some lovely wooden reindeers, forest animals, and a nativity scene.
And I am pretty sure you will love these as much as I do. Because who does not love beautiful, and gorgeous wooden toys? So please see today’s post as an addition to me baby gift guide as well as the children’s gift guide. You are so welcome!
The story: Dainius and Nora are two creative people, designers, parents of two little girls, and the founders of this amazing natural wooden toy brand*. They live in Lithuania and all toys are 100% handmade.
‘Our first daughter was the inspiration for the wooden toys. We wanted to create a safe, ecological, natural and nice, long lasting toy. Wood is perfect for all of those reasons. The whole process of designing, producing and testing is happening within our family.’
This big set* is amazing and leaves so much room for creativity and different play options, especially role-play.
The simple designs are playful and the small size figures are perfect for little hands to hold and use in play!
Dainius and Nora only use certified sustainable European wood. And all toys are made in line with EU legal toy safety requirements. The packaging is nature friendly as well and they do like to encourage to buy less but choosing high quality, timeless and durable items. Another reason why these toys make great presents!
Now, let your child use their imagination and have fun creating their own stories!
I guess when thinking about a good gift for teens it has to tick quite a few boxes. Trendy, personal, useful for their daily life, stylish and, of course, something they really want.
My eldest is 12 1/2 so we are nearly there. In the teen stage. But I have to say, even the tween phase is so interesting. How her interests develop, things that get her engaged, and her reaction and opinion on big problems like the future of our world. The pureness and straight forwardness that for example my 7 year old is still so good at, is starting to fade away. Sharing your thoughts is not so ‘out of the pistol’ anymore…
But then she is also still my ‘little girl’ that loves nothing more than enjoying a good book with a cup of tea. Being creative and here her latest discovery is lettering. And wow, she did some very beautiful things. And yes, most of the things from my list today are approved by her too.
Here are some really cool ideas that I am sure a teen would love to find under the tree:
1. Sure to be one of the hottest gifts this year, and maybe even the next! The Nintendo Switch* allows you to play the latest Nintendo-developed video games. And the killer twist? You can play these games on your TV, and at any time you can un-dock the Switch, allowing you to enjoy full console games on the go. Altogether, the Switch features small, detachable Joy-Con controllers so you can play with a friend at any time.
2. 3 in 1 charging dock station. Non-toxic silicone material is used for this compact charging hub. And it is the perfect accessory to have on your bedside table or on a desk. The Charging Hub* supports your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods at the same time.
And the cable management holes on the rear side, preventing the cluttering of your cables.
3. Bullet Journal Set* with the most bonus : A high quality notebook set with 1 Bullet Journal Notebook, 15 colours fineliner pens, 5 pieces of reusable stencils, 6 sticker sheets, 6 washi tape, and 1 black gel pen. It is perfect for someone getting into, or wanting to get into a bullet journal. And this is so much fun!
4. The Big Life Journal is all about developing a positive mindset that encourages resilience, gratitude, and positivity. With this, teens can learn how their mindset is shaped by their thoughts and experiences. It also teaches them that, with practice, they can overcome anything. Inspire, create goals, and breed positivity!
5. This health & fitness Smartwatch* with heart rate, music & swim tracking includes on-screen coaching too. An all-day smartwatch that helps your sporty teen live their best life. Because it comes with sleep monitoring as well which tells you the time you spend in each precious sleep stage. Get them to move more, track it, and have fun! Plus, this watch will track any work out automatically – no need to switch it on!
6. A very stylish touch sensor night light* that is a Bluetooth 4.0 Hifi speaker, digital alarm clock, MP3 player all in one too. Great 48 colour changing bedside lamp with sleep mode. It is touch activated and you can fully control the brightness, colour and power.
7. If you have a teen girl, you probably know that they love to do their hair. Straighten, curls… and when it comes to hair must-haves, shine always comes top. Now you can get a straightener to help you create styles whilst caring for your hair too. If you want more intense shine, to tackle frizz or to have healthier looking hair in an instant then look no further. This clever range of tools* incorporate the next generation of advanced ceramic plates. Plus they are infused with special micro conditioners, so not only will your hair be styled to perfection, it will be shiny and healthy looking too.
8. Make your own Lip Balm Kit*. This kit is the perfect gift for teens. Inside the fully recyclable box, you will receive everything you need to make 5 of your very own lip balms, along with blank labels to help you get creative. And it is a great way to learn about what goes into making a lip balm, and also be sure you are only putting the most natural ingredients onto your body.
(various kits available incl. a ‘Make your own face mask’ kit)
9. The modern version of the iconic AF1*, combining classic style and modern details. The low design offers optimum soil adhesion and a classic look. This version of the Nike Air Force 1 features rippled leather edges for a cleaner, slimmer line and more refined details. The leather and fabric upper features external layers positioned at strategic points for a lifetime durability and support. The perforated inserts favor the breathability to keep the foot always fresh and dry. These sneakers are super trendy right now, and they go with anything!
10. Day Off Jelle Beanie* Hat!
11. This one is for those that enjoy programming and tinkering around. The Arduino is a starter kit* that features flexible and easy-to-use hardware and software. It includess a guidebook and 15 different projects to complete, taking you from beginner to expert before you know it. Think light sensors, heat sensors, electronic display screens, robotic things. This is perfect if you are interested to understand how gadgets work for example.
12. Teenagers are all about their skin and also about the environment. Therefore, this My Clarins gift set, which has fruit and plant-based ingredients, will help them to be in all their natural and nourishing glory.
And it is a wrap. The gift guides for this year are done and I hope that I could inspire you a bit! Ho Ho Ho and wishing you a lovely and very festive time over the coming days and weeks.
End of last week a big parcel was waiting for us when we got home. And inside was something that definitely deserves the title ‘Christmas came early’. A stylish wooden doll house.
It was quickly assembled and immediately taken over by the girls. The house has a good size (L 81 x W 60 x H 29.5cm) and it is easy for more than one person to play with it. Perfect for us. And with the four floors there is lots to do too!
The Dollhouse from Petite Amélie is beautifully designed with neutral tones and natural wood. The white, grey and black tones make it possible to have it anywhere in your home. A true eyecatcher and such a heirloom toy!
The house we received is called La Maison d’Amélie and it comes with a 19-piece wooden doll house furniture set which you can buy separately as well. And the cupboard doors and drawers actually open and the beds are made up with blankets. Plus, a set of four wooden dolls is also available and they are gorgeous. The four dolls are made with love from solid wood and beautifully painted. A mum, dad, and two children. Altogether these accessories invite children to play, to create stories, and to bring life into the house.
Leonor now wishes that she could live in a house just like this:
The minimalist design in this grand house is so lovely to look at. Leaving even more space for your child to enter a world of fantasy and fairy-tales where all kinds of characters come alive in this imaginative wooden dollhouse world.
Therefore, if you would like to make playtime more enjoyable for your little one, these wooden dolls houses are delightful and an ideal toy for your child to play with for hours on end.
By the way, the houses are dispatched the same day if ordered before 2pm!
In collaboration with Petite Amelie who kindly send us a dolls house to review.
Traditional board games have taken a little backseat these days but I am here to tell you the opposite. Haha! Because they provide hours of family fun time. And best of all, everyone in the family can play some games. Grandma, grandpa, parents, uncles, nieces and children can all gather to enjoy games together.
I admit that we do not play as much as we want to because something else often comes up, but we do here and there. And we actually always carry a set of UNO cards whenever we are out and about. Antoine and Romy often ask for a round of Cluedo, Leonor still loves memory and the little monkey adores a rabbit game she received for her third birthday last year.
That is why I put together a gift guide with family games. Because in this digital era, all the screens, and information overload… sitting around a table with a board game is kinda cool.
And there are some lasting memories you will create. Not to forget, board games actually teach children many valuable lessons. Because the older adults are modeling how to follow rules, how to be a good sport, how to take turns, and how to share.
So why not putting a fun family game under the tree that you can enjoy all together during the holidays. When it is dark and cold outside…
1. This game is genius. A ridiculously fun game* of drawing, acting and describing. How will you draw a sweaty crab snowboarding? Or describe an itchy teacher playing the guitar? One of the best things about this game is that it works just as well with 2 players as it does with 10 and it works for all ages. And the rules are simple and setup couldn’t be easier.
A back to basics innocent game which gets everyone laughing and having tons of fun!
2. Can you discover the 6 mysteries hidden within the Escape Puzzle, and save the Earth? Escape Rooms are the live gaming trend. And just like live gamers in their escape rooms, escape puzzlers also dive into an exciting story which spirits them off to mysterious worlds. So, once all 759 pieces are in the right place, your imagination, intuition and powers of deduction come into play! But you will only be the hero of the story if – piece by piece – you can also solve the last great puzzle and make your escape.
The puzzle is normal in the sense that you put it together like a regular 2D Puzzle but with a catch. Because the box image does not entirely match the puzzle image. And once the puzzle is complete there are several clues within the puzzle to help you figure out how to escape your puzzle. Different!
3. Winner of the coveted Game of the Year award in 1995 and a classic today. I played this in my twenties with friends that were into board games. And Settlers of Catan* was a firm favourite. The combination of simplicity and strategy makes this game a hit and brings out the competitive spirit in anyone. Players arrive as settlers on the island of Catan, rich with wood, stone, clay, wheat and sheep. Rolling dice to harvest those resources then making trades with their rivals. Next, players develop their settlements into cities while building roads and hiring brave knights to defend their colony. Addictive!
4. This always-up-to-date quiz game is the first board game that is powered by the googly assistant. Which means that you can play a multi-activity quiz game that is always evolving and up-to-date. With over 1, 500 questions for you and other players to compete, you can ask your Google Assistant for the most up-to-date answers to see who wins!Extra: Drops new content packs regularly for free. And it is a very versatile games too. You can just skip the rules and let the googly assistant take you through each game! Or you play offline with the provided quiz cards. And it is totally open ended, meaning you can play as long or short as you wich.
5. Another favourite that I used to play a lot. In Carcassonne*, players build the area surrounding this impressive city, one tile at a time. They then place a meeple on fields, cities, roads or monasteries in order to score as many points as possible. These meeples will become knights, monks, farmers and thieves, depending on where they are placed. This new edition includes two expansions: The River and the Abbot. Carcassonne seems simple at first, but the more you play it, the more it will grow on you. Promised! Love the strategic part and it is a great game to play with children ages 8 and up.
6. Who can keep a watchful eye over the Harry Potter Maze and find the hidden paths to Hogwarts? But beware – anything can happen in the depths of the labyrinth, where the walls constantly move, revealing dark, unexplored passages. The classic in the HP version – a must have for every fan. Big or small!
7. Everyone needs a Jenga* in their house, because there are not many games you can play over and over again with any age group!
8. A family strategy game* for kids and adults that only takes seconds to learn but hours to master. I like the simplicity of the game – no gimmicks, no batteries, but fun, addictive and colourful. The premise of the game is that you sit down with up to three other people. Each chooses a single stack of brightly coloured tiles, and you take turns to put down tiles to get a row of five. Whilst blocking your opponents and they block you in turn. Incredibly simple, super fun and great to enjoy anywhere, especially during travels or waiting for food in a restaurant.
9. The game is all about trying to work out what your friends and family would choose from a scenario with three possible answers. In this version of Sussed* you will learn a lot about your friends and family as its sparks all sorts of conversations. I think it is perfect to play during a family holiday. And again, you can make it as long or short as you wish.
10. If your children can play UNO, they will master this one too. Skip-bo* will test your skills and strategy! Be the first to use all your cards by creating sequential stacks.
12. This award winning colour-coded cooperative matching game* has two play levels so it will grow with your child. Children will learn simple strategy and social development skills while playing this game which is the winner of seven awards.
Good Morning! How was your first of Advent? I thought that it was pretty cool that it was the 1st of December too. A very proper start into the Christmas period.
Therefore I will continue with my gift guides. Half of them have been published and I hope that you found something you like. Today we cover gifts for children. The little ones, gifts for baby, were in the spotlight last week.
And how are you getting along with the gift shopping? I have not too much to get and that is a very nice and relaxed feeling. Leaving more time to bake, decorate, and strolls through the festive city.
Let me help you to do the same with some inspiring ideas of things you can put under the tree.
Here are some pretty good gift ideas for children:
1. This ultra cool raincoat* is the best and perfect for children who love rain. (like mine!) It is transparent, has a quirky polka dot print, long raglan sleeves, creativity buttons, and colourful seams.
3. Puppet theater* – soft velvet theater to invent endless stories and give a stage to all your dolls and superheroes.
4. Oh Harry! All my children are huge fans and I can share a secret with you: There will be lots of Harry Potter under our tree this year. Including some Lego. This one* is already hiding under the stairs and waiting to be wrapped and put under the tree. But the whole range is intriguing and not only for children…
5. A modern take on a children’s play tent. It will offer many happy years of play and is designed to be treasured and passed down through the family. And the frame is easy to put up and when required packs away neatly into it’s own storage bag. A soft cotton padded play mat covers the base and is removable and washable.
6. We have this IQ puzzle* and often take it when we are out and about or traveling. It develops logical ability with 101 progressive challenges. And keeps them easily busy!
8. Let her or his favourite doll sleep in style with this sensational wooden doll bed*. Comes with a pretty pompom garland, and a comfy striped mattress.
9. Let’s scoot. The deluxe version* for mini has an adjustable handlebar, an anti-slip silicon footplate and superior rear brake. The maxi* is for older children and has been added to the collection not that long ago.
Various colours, accessories, as well as scooters for teens and adults are available*. We have various scooters in our household and they are always in use.
10. My Weather Station! Cool way to learn about the weather. Move the weather meter, turn the dials, slide the thermometer.
This wooden toy has 4 movable parts and 5 weather symbols to display.
11. Evie Fairy Doll*. Coming in a delightful outfit, a wand, wings, and cute headband.
12. An indoor gym* for toddlers with a step triangle, climbing ladder, and ramp. The gym is made from polished high class aspen wood and painted with child proof eco wax. Aspen wood is very strong and flexible. The gym is an excellent training and play device designed to develop muscles, balance control, courage and much more. You can change the height of the gym according to your children’s age/ size. There are various sizes as well as colours available.
