Toy Industry Association's 2009 Specialty Toy of the Year

“Create Your Own Pop-Up Books was announced as the 2009 Specialty Toy of the Year by the Toy Industry Association on February 15th, 2009.” So, we couldn’t resist putting on our Cool Toy list. With this kit kids can make their own pop-up books. This product was designed by Creativity for Kids, a Faber-Castell Company. Included are a large number of decorative embellishments. Each hard-cover book has 12 pages (including the covers). One book measures 8-1/2" square and the other measures 6-1/4" square. There are 31 assorted die-cut pieces in various sizes, 2 sheets of stickers, 2 pair of wiggle eyes, 8 colorful markers and illustrated instructions and ideas. Also included are 5 different types of pop-ups that are provided with peel and stick edges. Check it out.

DON'T FORGET GEORGE

Is it President’s Day, Lincoln’s Birthday or Washington’s Birthday?

Well, Washington’s Birthday is February 22nd and Lincoln’s Birthday falls on February 12th. And with all the focus on Lincoln and President Obama’s fascination with the Lincoln Presidency it seems like it’s a celebration of Lincoln’s Birthday. The fact is in honor of both Presidents Washington and Lincoln, the third Monday of February is President’s day.

Since it is officially a national holiday here are a few things to do in the spirit of history. Check out the Huntington Library’s “The Last Full Measure of Devotion: Collecting Abraham Lincoln” which runs through April 27, 2009. The Library’s Lincoln collection is revered as one of the best in the country right up there with the Library of Congress and the Presidential Library of Illinois.

And Don’t Forget George, The Other President, visit the Mount Vernon website for a look back in history including Mount Vernon’s treasures.

And, the annual President’s Day Celebration at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Discover activities for the entire family from children’s discovery areas, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, and presidential and first lady look-alikes. For the most part all of the activities are free, the food is not.

For more presidential facts and good reading, visit the PlaydatesInLa Store.

LABOR OF LOVE

While we indulge ourselves in the decadence of Valentine’s Day lets not forget those in need and the things in the world that depend on our generosity. All of the discussions in the news lately about high paid CEO’s getting exorbitant bonuses with bailout dollars got us thinking about Charities that compensate their head honchos with below average salaries but run highly rated organizations. Here is a list from Charity Navigator of the top ten rated charitable organizations with the lowest paid CEO,s. Here are a few we like:

Agape Foundation – Founded in 1969 as a nonprofit tax-exempt foundation, the organization raises and distributes funds to groups working for nonviolent social change. Agape provides seed grants, loans and fiscal sponsorship to organizations addressing the following six areas: Peace, Human Rights, Environmental Protection, Economic Justice, Progressive Arts & Media and Grassroots Organizing Support.

Santa Monica Bay Keeper – Founded in 1993, the Santa Monica Baykeeper's mission is to protect and restore the Santa Monica Bay, San Pedro Bay and adjacent waters through enforcement, fieldwork, and community action.

For a full list from Charity Navigator, click here.

Green Valentine – Chocolate, Candles and Wine

TheDailyGreen has some wonderful ideas for greening your Valentine’s Day. Chocolate, Candles and Wine is one of our favorite combinations. However, traditional methods of harvesting coco can be damaging to rain forests, spreading chemicals as well as fueling wars in Africa. But there is an alternative. Fair trade organic chocolate is becoming more available and is created through organic means and fair trade practices. Find them at Organic Style.

Soy candles are becoming the flicker of choice for those who are sensitive to the damage that traditional candle ingredients have on the environment. Candles are typically made from petroleum based wax, artificial dyes and fragrances and result in indoor pollutants. From Way Out Wax you can find an array of organic soy based candles. Made with 100% organic materials and scented with pure essential oils, soy candles are the way to go green on Valentine’s Day.

Organic Wine completes our trio because it is made from organic grapes and do not contain herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or synthetic fertilizers. Many award winning wine makers are making wine with organic methods. Organic wines are becoming more widely available at including Whole Foods Market and Trader Joes as well as online sources like Eco Vine Wine Club among others. Take it a step further and buy organic wines from local sources. Local wines are easier on the environment because they are transported fewer miles and use local water.

Of course music is always at the heart of it. For Valentines music ideas visit the Playdates Boutique.

OKAY! VALENTINES DAY IS COMING

Quick do something! Planning (or like us, no planning) to sneak out for a romantic dinner on Valentines Day? Tables fill up pretty quick so it’s best to book ahead. If you have a favorite place, great, just call the restaurant. But if you want to experience something different and new there are a number of websites to check out reviews, menus, pricing and then book reservations online. It’s pretty easy to find what you are looking for. The one we always use is OpenTable.com. If you are looking for a restaurant with a scenic view or outdoor dining they have a great list to review. One of our favorite dining experiences is Café’ La Boheme in West Hollywood. The décor is amazing with fireplaces and chandeliers the atmosphere is relaxed and classy. A perfect fit for good food with an Asian twist. Another favorite of ours is Villa Piacere in Woodland Hills. We have always had a consistent experience, and we love Italian. They have a beautiful romantically lit outdoor brick patio in the back of the restaurant, perfect for an intimate Valentines dinner. Whatever you decide to do, be safe, have fun and give yourselves a little time.

GO GREEN ADVENTURE

We were having a relaxing morning at home enjoying our oatmeal, scrambled eggs, coffee and orange juice. There were really no plans for the day. We just wanted to see how the day progressed. Spontaneity usually prevails for us as we are not the best planners. It occurred to us that this was the last day of the Go Green Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center and it was something that we wanted to check out. We have been working on The Green Room for awhile and we felt this might give us some fresh ides.

I was hoping it would be entertaining enough for our four-year old, if not we would move on to something else. After all, we have been exploring downtown enough to find something interesting to do. So, off we went. Now if we truly wanted to be “green” as the theme for the day, we would have parked the car at the local metro station and hoped onto the subway. Or, might have logged onto Rideamigos.com and hooked up with other convention goers for a ride-share. But like so many here in L.A. we are going to have to re-program ourselves to do things differently.

After piling into the mini SUV it was a surprisingly easy drive downtown on a Sunday afternoon. Parking was fairly easy. We entered the parking garage off Venice Blvd next to the South Hall and found a parking space within five minutes.

The Los Angeles Convention Center is always an adventure for us. We like going there because it has such a worldly feel. There is always a sense of excitement in the air with a buzz around whatever events are happening. You can feel it. Entering the South Hall from the parking garage you come down the escalator to a vast Lobby with a massive polished floor. The natural light spilling in brightens the open beams and gives you an appreciation of how huge the place is.

Once we purchased our tickets and obtained our “Green” wrist bands, we ventured into the convention. Not surprising it was abuzz with people moving from one exhibit to the next; each booth enthusiastically pedaling their eco-friendly wares. Now remember, spontaneity is our style and we never know what to expect. While the convention center is cool, you never know what the event will bring. As we walked into the event hall I was struck by the feeling of excitement that seemed to be present. For me the first few things I wanted to see were the latest in electric vehicle and solar panel technology. It was all there from toys to grass. You name it. But the first thing that caught our eye, especially our daughter, was The Earth Dome. It literally looked like a giant globe sitting on the convention floor. Walking inside the dome we discovered that there was a giant video screen and a stage set for a concert of some type. There were musical instruments, guitars and drums. The floor was lined with artificial turf that actually felt like grass. The furniture was obviously made from some sort of recycled material. Later we discovered the chairs, tables and easels were created by AoSA. The intention here to create things with no waste left over. All of the products are by products of each other.

As luck would have it we walked in minutes before an amazing show of musicianship was about to begin. It turned out to be a beautiful artistic show with cutting edge live music celebrating the beauty of the earth. The documentary film featured inside showed us the detrimental impact that plastic has had on the earth. The Earth Dome experience was unique and different; definitely the highlight of the day.

Of course we couldn’t leave without seeing as much as possible even though it was late in the afternoon. We walked the isles and lightly investigated the various vendors around the event. We did get to see the electric cars and solar panels eventually. It was especially fun seeing all of the eco-friendly kid stuff. From stuffed animals, organic cotton clothes, finger paints and games here is a list of some of the vendors providing environmentally friendly products for the kids.

Bamboohugs.com
Towels and linens made from bamboo.

Clamorhouse Kids
Stories and songs for a young century delivering positive, appropriate peace promoting messages for kids.

Dimpleskins Naturals
Pure organic skin care products for children

Eco-kids USA
Eco-Dough and Finger paint made from natural organic fruits and vegtables

For a complete list click here