The Holy Grail

Hey there - looked at the calendar lately?  December 11th.  We are marching inexorably towards the 25th, and in Mama Drama Land that means that Christmas shopping is ON.  No more messing about.  I don't like to shop before December because I can't bear to keep a secret that long, and I break out in hives if I'm still shopping after the 21st, so that gives me twenty-ish days to find the perfect gift.

The Perfect Gift.

Does anyone else share my special brand of crazy?  I grind my shoes into the ground (or my fingers into the keyboard) trying to ensure that I get people on my list not only a great gift, but a perfect one:  the toy that is played with more than others, the shirt they never want to take off, the gadget that they never knew they wanted but now cannot imagine life without it.  It's exhausting.

Well, if you do share my crazy - Welcome!  Come in, have a seat, and please let me get you a cup of coffee and a biscuit.  You must be tired.  I thought that we might just start a support group.  Here's what I'm thinking:  I'll show you my great finds, and you show me yours.  And maybe, just maybe, we'll get our Christmas shopping done without too much more stress.

For the Preschooler who already has just about every toy I can think of..
I've been initiated into the wonderful world of Playmobil.  My son is obsessed with having "sets" of things, and Playmobil has just about everything under the sun.  And not too pricey, either.  My favourite?  The Take-Along Dollhouse.  I bought it for a friend's daughter and made the mistake of storing it unopened in my room, and my son is just itching to give it to her so that HE can play with it.  Hell, I want to play with it too.  It even comes with miniature cats!  (If you're worried that it's too girly, go with the Pirate Treasure Chest - it has a cannon.  Cool.) Find it:  Toys 'R Us, Indigo, Mastermind, Treasure Island Toys.

For the Baby who only wants to play with his brother's toys that are unsafe because they have small parts and he tries to eat them...
The Melissa and Doug Learn to Play Piano.  An actual upright piano that is made of wood, brightly painted and just the right size for little kids.  It comes with music to play, and is really meant for older kids, but I figure that my older son will play with it too and therefore we'll get double mileage out of it.  It's not cheap-looking and doesn't promote an annoying tv show.  The baby can practice standing with it too.  It was hard to find this in a store, but I did it.  And thank god, because it's pretty heavy - I wouldn't want to pay for shipping.  Find it:  Turtle Pond Toys (Hamilton)

For the Boy who loves to play in the kitchen but doesn't want to be girly...
Alex Toys In My Kitchen Set.  Has a stainless steel sink that you can remove and use real water with, if you're brave.  Small enough to sit on a table top and can fold away for easy storage.  Doesn't come with the stainless steel pot set pictured on the box, but you can buy a similar one at IKEA for $10.  To go with it?  Plan Toys Breakfast Menu and Toaster.  I hope to be served breakfast in bed on Christmas morning.  Find it:  Winners (Alex Toys), Mastermind or Treasure Island (Plan Toys).

For the Girl who literally does have EVERYTHING (I know, I've checked)...
Posy Girl Playset with Matching Personalized Purse.  Have I mentioned yet how much I love LOVE love Etsy??  I bought my niece this playset, and got to choose the colours and everything.  If I wasn't in my thirties, I just might buy one of these for myself.  For realz.
My other niece - yet another little girl for whom you simply can't purchase anything - is going to benefit from my Old Skool wisdom and will be receiving a retro combo of Lite Brite, Etch-a-Sketch and Sea Monkeys.  Boo ya.
Find it:  Etsy.com (Little Pink Posies), ToysRUs (other toys)

For the parents who want toys that have lasting play power, and maybe just a little brain boosting mojo...
OK, well all the toys above actually fit into this last category.  I have difficulty purchasing toys that I think are crap, regardless of how much a cute little person may want them.  But there's a couple of things that I wanted to buy this year that I passed over, because I have yet to find the perfect personality match:
Dado Cubes - the ultimate stacking cubes that just blow my mind and are winning all sorts of awards. Find it:  Chapters/Indigo
Sequoia Tree Wildlife Fingerplay Puppet set - I bought for a very special little girl's birthday, and think it's just the best toy I've seen in a long time.  Promotes hours of open-ended pretend play and teaches little ones about nature and protecting wildlife.  Awesome. Find it:  Mastermind
PlasmaCar - I saw this a couple years ago, but it's hitting the stores all over the place.  I am usually opposed to buying things that are being promoted up the wazoo, but I tried this out myself and oh my sweet lord it's fun!  Find it:  Mastermind, Chapters/Indigo

Whew!  I'm tired.  And I didn't mean for this post to be all about toys either.  Clearly, I still have some shopping left to do for the adults in my life.  Anyone have any suggestions for the 'Loving husband who says he wants socks and underwear, but clearly I have to get something waaay better or end up the Christmas Loser once again'?  Sigh.

Comments

[kgirl]

I have been telling everybody I know with a toddler to get the folkmanis puppet tree - I can't tell you how much we ALL love it! It is the best gift, ever.

Plan toys are also great, and of course, you can't go wrong with Melissa & Doug stuff.

Apparently, I finished my xmas shopping two weeks ago, but that hasn't stopped me from buying more. And more ;)