quiet hour toys

These incredible little dolls were in my inbox this morning. Don't you just love them?

glockenspiel.

My girls both experienced a glockenspiel for the first time in their Kindermusik classes. They LOVED them, but until now, I

a: didn't know how to spell glockenspiel and

b: had no idea where to find one.

Imagine my surprise when I happened upon this little beauty. I can hardly wait to surprise them for Christmas. They will love the addition to their instrument collection and I will love the clear sweet tone, that is much milder than some of their current favorites.

wooden wagon.

Colored Geo Blocks $32

One of my absolute favorite toys growing up was a plain set of wooden blocks. I remember spending hours with my brothers and sister building imaginary villages, buildings and more. Today it is more difficult to find wooden toys, rubber and plastic are readily available along with character toys that are functional but not always satisfying.

The Wooden Wagon offers a wide variety of creative toys not found in America. They are a family owned and operated business and choose manufacturers that are also family-run and have been for generations. 

Our method of selecting our toys and folk art reflects these family values: We offer nothing that we would not want in our own home, whether it is a child's toy or an ornament that is brought out on special family occasions.

Wooden blocks and toys are safer, inspire more imaginative play, promote spatial awareness, encourage manual dexterity, but most importantly they are fun for children of all ages.

Browsing The Wooden Wagon, I'm wishing I could replace all the girls toys, do a little Christmas shopping and preparing to spend some serious time playing with them too.

What was your favorite toy as a child?

nico & zoe.

How often do you find yourself thinking, they just don't make toys like they used to? I think it on a regular basis, so I was thrilled to discover Nico & Zoe, uncommon and artisan made toys. I love this shop!

At Nico & Zoe Toys, our aim is to offer uncommon, made in USA, European, local, handmade, modern & wooden toys at reasonable prices!

They carry some of the best toddler, infant, educational and classic Toys. All toys are made from safe and tested materials so you can be assured your little one won't be chewing on lead paint, yah!

I picked out a few of my favorite toys below:


Hand Crocheted Monkey - Stripes $39



Family Van $32



Mail Truck Shape Sorter/Pull Toy $24


Finger Puppet Theater w/Puppets - Fairies Set $66

monkey beanz.

One of the best parts of what I do is meeting new people and hearing their story. Everyone has a story. Everyone comes from a different background and everyone is where they are today for different reasons. Monkey Beanz is no exception and I love their story.

A husband and wife team that started in Thailand where he was a native and she was teaching English. They had their first baby there and when she was about 18 months old made the difficult decision to move back to the states. They didn't want to lose their connection to Thailand so before leaving they began laying the groundwork for Monkey Beanz.

Monkey Beanz is a fair trade focused importer of incredible products from Thailand. The pair work together to design the clothing, choosing all the patterns and colors. The clothes are produced by a group of seamstress's in Bee's (the husband) home village! I must say the clothes are remarkable. The designs fresh and fun, the fabrics soft and a little vintage, just how I like them.

Their soft toys are produced locally in Thailand as well. They are all cut, stitched and embroidered by hand creating a quality, safe product for your family.

I love that Monkey Beanz was created as a tie between two cultures, and I love that their products embrace everything in childhood, encouraging kids to think and dream and to be their own individual.

ashley york.

Welcome to the world of Ashley York. It's the "perfect place for people with more taste than time". In today's busy world that seems to sum up most of us. There is nothing I love more than having a go-to site for all things "uniquely chic" and Ashley York is the place of all places. They shop the world so we don't have to, finding things that are hand-crafted, modern, timeless, and full of celebrity style. But it doesn't stop there, they've searched out the best for more than just your kids, they've found the best for your home and you! (in both women's and maternity). yes, thank you! They're the one stop retail experience you'll want to come back to again and again.

My top picks:

bird on a branch bootie $29

pink bandage l/s tee $24

Kooky Doll friend Vivi $36

little man houndstooth sweater $26

kids crafts.

Having been on bedrest for the last 5 weeks has left my girls stir crazy and me out of ideas. I am on the lookout for easy (toddler friendly) crafts and activities to keep them occupied and not feeling like they are missing out on summer fun. Ideas and tips are greatly appreciated.

Lifesaver craft jar available here. It's worth every penny.

persimmon & pink.

Wouldn't Bettina be the perfect playmate? I love her and all her friends.

skuut.

Summer was a long time in the waiting this year, so when it finally showed up (just 2 weeks ago for us), we've taken full advantage. We can't get enough sunshine and outdoors which has loads of advantages. Instead of stickers, forts and storytime (how we survived a long winter!), we're kicking balls, jumping sprinklers and riding bikes.

Let's talk bikes because that's one of the first big purchases in the world of toddler and I found the perfect one. It's eco-friendly and the ideal starter bike for ages 2-5. Skuut teaches balance, steering and coordination making that transition to "regular bike" when the time is right so simple and nearly fearless.

It's wooden, simple and modern without all the bells and whistles. No pedals, no training wheels.. just a lot of "skuuting" on a fully adjustable seat for easy transitions. "Walk it; ride it; skuut it; glide it." (We're still practicing indoors.) Available here for only $89.99.

Extra Goodness: Tangled and True readers receive 10% off using code tnt081 in the promotional code box at checkout.

buggabugs.

Brand new etsy shop buggabugs is something to be excited about. Full of amazing patterns to make your child the best play food out there. Choose from Cupcakes, Doughnuts, Sack Lunch or Happy Meal. Nothing is better than toys made from love, and these are definitely on my list of to-do's.

*Patterns are immediately available to download.

house play.

We've talked about Natural Pod before, and you know we're big fans. I'm all about free play and allowing children to use their creativity and imagination. In fact nothing makes me happier than watching the girls when they are in their own creative element, that's why I'm totally sold on the house play section of Natural Pod's site. Among my favorites:


Natural Wood Cash Register ($85)


Wool Felt Fruit Set ($27)


Wool Felt Vegetable ($27)

These toys seem to bring pretend to life, they are soft and surprisingly realistic. And everything a good toy should be.

Through May 31st Natural Pod is giving 10% off all orders to Tangled and True readers. Simply enter code "T&T10off" at checkout.

boogaloo.

It's such a happy day when I click on my favorite of sites and learn that they have several new products to add to their already incredible and want-able mix!  Introducing Boogaloos.  Charming, "enchanting, whimsical characters make round, soft cuddly friends."  Who could pass that up?  

sock and glove.

I'm in love with the idea (because I haven't seen it.. yet) of Miyako Kanamori's Sock and Glove book!  

"Thirteen delightful softy projects that are quick to make-and certain to amuse and delight. Full of individuality and mischief, these stuffed creations are all pieced together from ordinary socks, gloves, and mittens." --Penguin Group

Wouldn't it make a delightful resource for thoughtful + charming birthday gifts!  See here for free step-by-step instructions for the bunny and dog.  

shopping cart.

This wooden shopping cart would make the perfect addition to any toy collection. Height adjustable to fit your child and comes with a stopper in back to prevent overturning. Now they just need to make them in adult sizes!

adopt-a-sock.

This is Bu-Lou.  He is a kind soul who is often tripped by his own clumsy two feet. He is always daydreaming about other places and other things. He's a accident prone & things never go his way. 

And meet the Hooligan.  He is a playful and knows how to be funny and have fun. He works hard to do impressions and sound effects to make other's have a good time. He has a magically contagious giggle that can make others laugh for no real reason. When in doubt "smile", he says. He lives by his motto: "The fun starts here".   

They both belong to a clever 100% handmade, no-two-are-alike collection of sock dolls called Sok-O.  It's the best stuffed anything I've ever seen, each coming in their own "box" (think Cabbage Patch Dolls) and unique birth certificate.  They make you want a reason to adopt the entire collection they're that good!  (That's 8 Sok-O dolls!)  We take care of Trumbo, who my son thinks is a monster, but a monster he needs to sleep and eat with.  The kind that's caring and loving and a special friend.  

Really, a perfect gift for your one-of-a-kind someone.  $49.

punky the hedgehog.

I'm pretty sure this is pull toy love. He's wooden, with rubber on the wheels to protect your floor. His colors are vibrant and fun, and the spikes, well who could resist those? Certainly not me, even if I did have to use my google language translator to find out more about Punky.

as seen on babygadget

cuties.

Safe toys that inspire imagination is always my search.  CurlyQ Cuties offers a unique and silly approach with colorful and lovable monsters.  And coming from someone who's picky about their plush (Cole.. and well, his mom too), these are flawless, sturdy and clever.  With names like Dizzy, Spot and Diva, what's there to be frightened about?

Stephanie in Texas has been sewing for 8 years, and with the influence of her three beautiful children, has recently evolved from traditional quilts to plush toys.  Rest assured that you're getting a quality and safe product: "There are no attachments such as buttons or beads that could be a potential choking hazard.  All Cuties and toys are filled with hypo-allergenic polyfil and made in my smoke-free and pet-free home."

For a nice discount when making your purchase, mention "tangled and true" in buyer comments for a 10% refund on the monsters (shipping separate).. good until April 30th!  

il cocco di mamma.

Growing up I couldn't wait to pick my dad up at the airport. Each business trip he took meant something magical for me. Beautiful Korean dolls, silk kimono pajamas, a t-shirt, a pen, it didn't really matter. I lived vicariously through him and loved hearing about the places he'd been and the different cultures he experienced. It was and still is a highlight of my childhood.

Naturally it was easy to fall in love with the online boutique il cocco di mamma. Since I have yet to become a world traveler it allows me to bring pieces of that culture and learning I loved so much as a child into our home.

il cocco di mamma promotes and celebrates languages, cultures and people. Offering one of a kind gifts to kids everywhere, whether their parents are world travelers or not. Their signature tees are "designed with expressive international sayings and printed on the softest European cotton". (also available in organic cotton designs)

Hello/Goodbye Signature tee. $22.

In addition to their signature tees they have a pleasing selection of multilingual books and CDs in some of your favorite classics. But what has to be one of my favorite shop items:

Wooden Alphabet Blocks by Uncle Goose

Available in English, Spanish, Italian, French, Hebrew, Greek, Arabic and Russian. $35.

Tangled and True deal: Free shipping on all orders over $50

green toys.

With all the buzz about unsafe toys going around these days, Green Toys offers a refreshing alternative. I am completely sold and already have the Tea Set pre-ordered. The entire production process start to finish is done in California, who is known for their strict safety and environmental laws. Green Toys is also extremely energy efficient, so much so that "every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of Green Toys: saves energy equal to 3,000 AAA batteries, saves enough electricity to power a TV set for 3 whole weeks and saves enough electricity to keep a laptop computer running for a month."

Green Toys uses recycled milk containers as the main ingredient in creating their toys. Yes the ones you drink out of every morning. These milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic. The plastic material they use is called high-density polyethylene (or HDPE). This is considered to be one of the safest, cleanest plastics around.

But they don't stop there. They minimize packaging using boxes that require as little material as possible. All Green Toys are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes. No plastics, cellophane or annoying twist ties and every box is 100% recyclable.

If the environmental factors aren't enough to convince you. Perhaps the toys themselves will. They are brilliant. Perfect for imaginative play. From the Cooking & Dining set to the Sand Play Set.

View list of retailers and online vendors here.

anamalz.

Anamalz is a line now carried by Target, right next to our favorite Schleich animals.. so I took notice. They're an original and award winning animal range made from organic maple wood and textile products.

"anamalz have unique characteristics which make them warm and appealing. Each piece has its own wood grain and individual markings that make them different from one piece to the next. Handcrafted and integrated with textiles, we have given our range the ability to move.

anamalz look left and right, up and down and stand in different poses. This inspires hours of creative play. They are a unique gift, a story teller, a toy and a companion."

Amamalz come in the wild, farm or Australian variety, each with it's own cool facts and characteristics. For example: did you know that echidnas (also known as spiny anteaters) are good swimmers and are called "puggles" when they are babies- still in the pouch. I love clever learning tools.