Suggestions!

 Did you know? We are on twitter and our absolute favorite thing about it is hearing from you! We have always done our product ordering based on what we think you want and that means that we love to hear any and all suggestions of products you would like us to carry. From mommy and baby products to the coolest toys, even housewares and accessories for the the general store, we know you out there find the best new stuff and we want you to help us bring it to you.

Leave suggestions in the comment section of any blog post or find us on twitter @LandisLabyrinth and tell us what you're dying to see for sale in any of our three shops!

Ladies & Gentlemen...

For your viewing pleasure, the hippest of our hip toys.  You all like moustaches, right?  Because we have a ridiculous amount of 'staches in stock right now.  We're really digging the new David & Goliath buttons that just came in this week (lots of puns, just to give your fair warning), and the hipster glasses and moustache pens are a great gift/party favor.  And since it's still rather hot outside, cool off with The Gentleman's Ice Tray and stay refreshed in style.  Once it gets cooler outside, put your feet into any one of our 6 new styles of knitted slippers from Snoozies (they're unbelievable soft inside and come in both teen and women's sizes), or try your hand at baking some pumpkin pies with our Ovenknits oven mitts.  Yes, we are this awesome.

You can read "I Can Read!" books!

I mean, we never were in doubt that you could, but with our complete restock of these great stories, now you can go literarily crazy!  This series of books from HarperCollins is known as the series to go

to for young readers;  all of their books are sectioned off by reading levels to make it easy for parents to know which book is best for their budding bookworm.

Our only complaint about these books is that there are just too many to pick from!  They're all great in their own ways, and trying to get the right mix of classic books and newer stories is tougher than you think.  We hope you'll enjoy what we selected, and to give you an idea what you could be reading right now, here's some titles that we'd like to highlight for you (without giving away the whole story, of course).

Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach

Pete the Cat is a rather new series of books out there whose aim to teach kids that no matter what, "It's all good" at the end of the day.  Which is a lesson that all of us needs to be reminded of from time to time!  Take the relaxed and optimistic approach to life's little setbacks, and learn to overcome them to enjoy it all.  It's all about getting back on your surfboard and riding the waves, as Pete finds out.  If you're really anti-beach, there are many other Pete the Cat titles to check out as well.

Biscuit Finds a Friend

Who doesn't want to be friends with Biscuit?  He's well-mannered, wears his collar with class, and unlike nearly every other dog in every other dog book out there, doesn't meet an untimely end.  The Biscuit books are fantastic for toddlers and pre-schoolers because so much of the writing is done in Biscuit's own voice.  And Biscuit is a dog, so there's a whole lot of 'woofs' in this story.  And wait til you hear what his new friend says.  It'll 'quack' you up!!!

My Little Pony: A Secret Gift

No, they can't knit, even though it would be an interesting gift to have and something a bit unprecedented in the equine world.  This book is all about the pony friends coming together to do something nice for their friend's birthday to let her know how much they value her.  It isn't about the amount of money you spend; it's about the time spent caring for someone and sharing your memories together for the rest of your lives.  Awwwwwww!

Stuart Little: Stuart at the Library

Lots of little going on in the Beginning Level #1 section.  But little do you know how much drama is in this story!  Stuart loves to read, but is scared of owls.  Owls hang out in libraries.  Once Stuart moves past this dilemma, another arises when he finds out that THE OWL CAN'T READ.  What will happen now that the owl's secret is out?  Will Stuart help him learn to read, or be turned into owl pellets?  You'll have to read this one to find out, but in case you're losing sleep over this, I will say that there have been more Stuart Little books out since this one so that should give you a pretty good idea as to the ending.

No Fighting, No Biting!

Now here's a truly timeless tale.  As you can probably deduce from the title, proper manners and behavior are what are taught in this book.  When siblings act up, what's an aunt to do but tell them stories of sibling alligators who also bicker and bite and how that's not the way to go about things.  Written by the author of the Little Bear series, and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, if you have more than one child, this book is an investment worth investing in.  Storytelling at its most powerful/finest!

Calling Doctor Amelia Bedelia

Oh Amelia Bedelia, you really do take things literally!  In a world where that word is used far too often and usually incorrectly, this book is a must read.  It's also great for readers whose first language isn't English to teach them common phrases that don't always translate to what you think they might mean.  And really, giving Miss Bedelia a job in a hospital was never going to be anything but funny (nothing tragic happens, promise!).

The Drinking Gourd

There's a noticeable different from Level 2 to Level 3 books, not only in actual grammar and vocabulary, but also in story.  The themes are much more serious and thought provoking.  The Drinking Gourd is a classic story of slavery and the fight to abolish it.  It forces the reader to question what society says is right vs. what they believe to be right.  The young boy at the center of this story follows his heart and puts his own life at risk to give an enslaved family the right to human rights and recognizes that the law stating that they aren't people but property is wrong.  Don't be afraid of the heavier theme.  It's a difficult yet necessary story to tell, and this book does it beautifully and in a way that encourages the reader to consider their own views on the world and humanity.

The Josefina Story Quilt

What happens when you're forced to decide?  That's the big question that begins this story of a pioneering family traveling west.  Every decision plays a huge role in their fate, and ultimately their valuing of friendship (yes, with a chicken) and caring for others keeps them safe and sound.  And in the end, it's the stories they are a part of and the memories they choose to cherish that become a part of their figurative and actual quilt.  Warning: the loss of a pet is dealt with in this story, but it's about appreciating them when they were alive that makes up the heart of this story.

Sooooo, why are you still reading this?  Go read a proper book :)

A little-known line with a lot of heart: Baby Baazaar

We carry a lot of lines that pull their products from smaller companies to create a one-stop shop experience for retailers (such as Toysmith, who carried B.Toys., Pustefix, etc.), but how about a smaller company that compiles products from individual artisans and village groups?  That would be Baby Baazar, a company founded by Supriya Himatsingka, a New Yorker originally from India who would source out toys from small groups back home to bring to children in the U.S.  As a result of this, she decided to start up a company that would seek out hard-to-find eco-conscious, unique, and worldly children's products from small companies and entrepreneurs.  Quality, design and a low carbon footprint are the main focus, as are providing jobs and livelihoods for the  local artisans and encouraging the growth and continuation of their traditional methods.

One method of toy-making that Baby Baazaar champions is lacware, a traditional handicraft over 200 years old of wooden articles turned on the lathe and finished with lac.  The Bibbo toy is a great example of this method.  Made of Hale wood that is not treated chemically and is seasoned and used directly to make the toys, it also employs Lac, a natural resin, that is used for the finish by blending natural dyes and has been used in India for thousands of years. The non-profit company that produces these toys is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization. 

All of these points are why we love this company and their mission.  As as small business ourselves, we understand the difficulty in getting noticed and creating a positive force within our community.  We're always thankful for those times when someone stands up and says, "Hey, check these guys out, they're special!", and we absolutely appreciate that someone had the courage to give these artisans a voice outside of their local circle so that we can all benefit!  Each piece of Baby Baazaar's lines are special and one-of-a-kind, so if you're looking for something that no one else will have, swing by our Manhattan Beach shop and give this line some support :)  Most of the information obtained for this little blog post is directly from Baby Baazaar's website, http://www.babybaazaar.com/pages/about-us, so check that out as well!

Get ready for the Fourth of July, Landis' Labyrinth-style!

We're pretty excited for Independence Day.  Can you tell?  Barbeques, watching fireworks, hanging out with friends... what's not to love?  To make your day even more enjoyable, we'd like to suggest a few fun items that everyone in your group will enjoy.  The Sauce Gun makes the otherwise uninteresting task of putting ketchup and mustard on your food exciting.  Just don't mix it up with a water gun or else you'll have soggy food and an upset friend.  Rubiks Cube and High Heeled Shoes speakers add a bit of intelligence/class to your music, and a Magic Solar Butterfly to watch should conversation lag.  Should your party get out of control, consider having some Spam Bandages on hand, and in case someone does use their Sauce Gun as a water gun, some Emergency Outfits will come in handy. 

And make sure to let loose with your fashion choices.  Red, white and blue are all excellent choices, but to really liven things up, go neon!  The fireworks shouldn't be the only bright sight at your shindig.  We have neon scarves, bracelets, Shwings, and glasses.  So come on by before next Thursday (we will be closed on July 4th) and check out what we've got to make your day even better!

School's out, camp is in!

And that means CARE PACKAGES!  Already, we've had parents coming in to start compiling care packages for their children off at camp.  It's the same story every summer... what to get that's small, fun, not food-related (many camps don't allow food to be sent from home), and something to remind them of home but to also encourage them to make new friends.  Many of the ideas already put forth in our Travel-Friendly Toys Guide post earlier work perfectly for these important presents from home, but here are a few others that we'd like to suggest.

Classic Toys: These range from good ole fashioned jacks to marbles to jump ropes.  This is one of our biggest-selling categories during the summer simply because they are so portable, they're tried and true, and they really do promote communal play for many ages.  The classic number slide puzzle, paddle ball, and pick up sticks are also great options as well.  Magic kits and gag gifts will keep them entertained and entertaining at camp, and it's hard to wrong with a play ball!

Personal Care Items: While you're at camp, personal space and time are far more limited than at home, so it's nice to include some items that can be shared, but are more meant to be used by your actual child (we hope they don't need an entire box of adhesive bandages to themselves!).  Bracelets, like the Spikelets and Shwings shoe accessories are great for both boys and girls, not to mention something fun to show to their new friends and possibly trade with.  Temporary tattoos are another popular care package item, and of course, it never hurts to have a new pen/pencil to jot down notes on your experience at camp.  Another great idea for camp: sunglasses!  You can never have too many when there are so many opportunities to break or lose a pair.

We'll miss seeing your kids while they're away, but we're happy that we can help you all out by offering awesome goodies for them to receive during their time at camp.  And it's always fun to hear all about their summer when they do get back into town :)

Step on into Landis' Labyrinth for your Shwings today!

And by today, we mean sometime soon 'cause they really do fly out of here!  We just got some pretty major reorders in at all three shops for these guys, and we are really digging the new designs out this year.  The original wing style is still a favorite, but the lightening bolts and flames are really standouts.  Oh, and they have moustaches for your shoes now as well, so if you desire having gentlemanly shoes, you can.  These also make for great camp care-package items (nice and lightweight and flat), so keep that in mind when you come in for some goodies to send away. 

Our guide to travel-friendly toys!

We know this is the post you're really been waiting for!  And why not?  It's summer, and for many of us it means that it's the time to take a break from work and enjoy spending time with our families.  And for those of you lucky enough to get out of town for a bit, we know it means figuring out how to entertain the kids on those pesky car and airplane rides.  We can't promise that they won't ask, "Are we there yet?", but we can offer some suggestions to make their trip, and therefore yours, a more pleasant and enjoyable experience.

First up are the toughest of groups to entertain: babies and young toddlers.  They should be simple, right?  Everything entertains them, right?  Well, not so much in a confined space where you have a limited amount of options with which to entertain them.  You could hope for them to sleep, but in case that for some reason doesn't work out, here are some of our ideas.

-Books: This one is obvious.  It's small, easy to pack, nothing to roll away, and it's both fun AND educational.  We just received a great shipment in of our ever-popular Green Start Books, which are made of recycled cardboard and printed using soy-based inks.  Good for the environment+ good for you= happy baby!

-Puppets:  I can personally attest to the power of the puppet to entertain a small child on an airplane.  After sitting in front of one who spent hours entranced by her mommy's puppeteering skills, I'm convinced it's one of the best ideas out there for keeping kids calm and focused on a flight.  Also, easy to pack, and cuddly in most instances.

-Flash/Learning Cards:  Again, another obvious choice.  We love these ones from Alex that have different textures and designs to help facilitate learning and increase the amount of skills learned from them.

-Stickers:  We like the re-useable ones from Melissa & Doug because you won't have to spend half the flight scraping them off of the seats, but for the older toddlers who are restrained in their decorating, regular sticker books and packs are great for keeping them happy and busy. 

Segueing into older toddlers and up, we have tons of travel books to keep them occupied.  These are great for children of multiple ages as they are flat and lightweight (so ideal for carry-ons), and they really can last for hours.

-Scratch 'n Sketch Books: Nearly mess-free, all you need is the book, the wooden stylus it comes with, and your imagination!  Copy the image you see on the right of the blank page, or create your own if you wish.  Also available in a trace-along format for beginning sketchers!

-Activity Books: Magnetic scenes, magic pens, all the good stuff that we remember on trips as kids.  We have branded ones (like The Avengers, Disney Princesses), and non-branded so there's something for everyone here.

-Sticker Books/ Coloring Books: We have tons of new stickers and coloring books in from Dover Publications and Mrs. Grossman's Stickers.  

Notebooks: Sometimes a simple notebook is all you need!  Fill in the pages with your own musings, diary-style or as a story.  This is a great way to encourage your kids to document their trip and really put their minds to use.

 

It's important to keep your mind stimulated while passing the time.  Melissa & Doug understand this, and have come out with some travel-friendly challenges this year.

-SmartyPants: Sectioned by grade level, these brainy boxes are filled with questions designed to inform and challenge kids on all sorts of trivia.  We tested one of them out, and believe that the ages they are intended for are pretty spot on, and we're not ashamed to admit there were a few questions that even we weren't 100% sure of the answer.  It's fun for parents as well as kids, so everyone can get involved!

On-the-Go: This is a series of various activity books for the 4-6 year old set.  They include both art and thinking puzzles, so for your younger travelers, this is a winner.  They come with everything you need to have fun and keep your minds and hands occupied.

Older kids need to be kept occupied as well.  And giving them a coloring book and some stickers just doesn't do the trick as well at that age.  Games and laughter are the best medicines for boredom:)

-Mad Libs: Finally back in stock; always hilarious.  We here at Landis' Labyrinth still laugh 'til we cry when we play with them, and frankly, they just get better with age (the more words you know, the better)!  They're also great for reinforcing useful lessons in adjectives, adverbs, and nouns.  

Card and Board Games: Now this really is fun for the whole family!  We have a great selection of card games based on classic board games, like Mad Gab, Battleship, and Monopoly (I'm personally a huge fan of the Monopoly and Battleship ones), plus Top Trumps which is a variation of the classic card game War.  ThinkFun & Blue Orange also come through for us with some awesome non-card games.  We just got a restock of some of our favorite single player games like Rush Hour, Chocolate Fix, and Tilt from ThinkFun, which are great because they'll all puzzles that you have to solve and the challenges start out being quite simple, and then proceed to get extremely difficult.  They also have a few new card games like WordARound and Visual Brainstorms that we'll be doing a separate blog post about in the near future.  Blue Orange is always a great travel game company because their games are designed to be full games that just so happen to work well when traveling.  Yamslam, Double Shutter, and Spell It! are all self-contained dice games so you don't have to worry about your dice flying all over the place, and Spot It! and Tell Tale are great card games with various play methods to keep you entertained for a while.

Okay, these aren't toys, but they are fun for some of us!  Travel-friendly perfumes are a must-have on any trip, and we have a wide array of options to choose from.  Royal Apothic and Pacifica are both fantastic scent companies that people of all ages have loved (I have the Pacifica Blood Orange one myself), and after a day of fun activities running about, freshening up will make both you and your fellow travelers quite happy!

And last but not least, the only downside to traveling is leaving your friends behind.  So bring an inanimate one along with you to keep you company!  Never underestimate the power of an understanding plush toy to calm a nervous or scared child.  This way, they can have a good time, you can have a good time, and your fellow passengers will also have a good time.  Now that's what you want in a vacation!  So have fun, pack well, and as another tip, pack a few small 'surprises' in your luggage to give to your children every half-hour or hour while traveling to your destination.  It gives them something to look forward to, and it's a nice way of marking the time 'til you reach your destination.

If you have any other suggestions for travel toys, please let us know!  We always like to spread the word about great ideas:)

Mad Libs are back!

We are super psyched that we have tons of Mad Libs back just in time for travel, camp, and summer sleepovers!  But don't forget, these babies go quickly, so stock up now and have a blast coming up with the best nouns, adjectives, and adverbs (honestly, Mad Libs are the reason why I still remember what an adverb is) for your silly stories.

You've done it again, Blue Orange Games...

You've given us yet another awesome game.  And for the 3 years and up set to boot (it's tough out there for a boardgaming toddler).  KeeKee the Rocking Monkey is fantastic way to have fun while improving upon your dexterity and fine motor skills.  This nutty monkey want to carry all of the balls across the jungle, and is relying upon you, his good friends, to place them in his arms (and feet, and head) without him tipping over.  But even if he does, it's okay, he'll bounce right back ready to try again. 

Also, we have Zimbbos! back in stock from Blue Orange as well.  This one is a balancing game as well, but there's more stacking involved, so it's a bit easier to see if your plan isn't working out compared to KeeKee.  Either way, if you're looking for some great games for toddlers, definitely check these games out :)

Don't let the June Gloom get you down...

 

We know you're all ready for some fun in the sun, but don't forget, you can have fun indoors as well on your summer break.  And there's no better way to spend your free time than by trying something new and having a laugh!  For the science-minded, Magic Rocks and the Solar X-Racer are a great option.  Most of us adults remember having Magic Rocks at some point.  You simply put the magic rocks into the solution, and watch as they grow into out-of-this-world crystal formations.  And if you're not interested in waiting around to see progress, then check out the Solar X-Racer.  Not only do you get to assemble the car yourself, but it runs completely on solar power.  So when the sun finally does come out in Los Angeles, you'll have hours of fun watching a car you assembled yourself drive around.

Not interested in science so much, but love to be hands-on with your activities?  Why not take up juggling?  Or learn some crazy new yo-yo tricks.  It's simple with this kit from the Guinness World Records.  They provide a yo-yo plus a booklet of tricks that'll have you competing to be in their book in no time.  And who hasn't wanted to master juggling (I wish I could say that I have this skill, but alas, do not)?  This set of juggling balls from Schylling is perfect for learning the ropes of juggling.  Just make sure you stop by the shop after you've mastered it and show off your new-found skills!

And what would be a good summer without playing a few practical jokes?  The Box of Jokes, which promises 'Fun Time Fun' on the box, is the ultimate in gag toys.  You get the classic fake vomit, the infamous hand buzzer, and the positively diabolical squirt ring, plus more, inside this package.  And if you can't bring yourself to commit to all of this, we do sell most of these items individually as well.

Bring on the fun!

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere!

We might be just as excited as your child to have our bubble section restocked just in time for summer!  Pustefix is 'the' brand of bubbles out on the market (yes, just like Band-Aids are 'the' adhesive bandage and Tylenol is 'the' purveyor of acetaminophen , there is a brand of bubbles recognized as 'the' bubbles), so we're thrilled to not only have the regular tubes of bubbles with wands in stock, but also large refill bottles and a neat set of wands for the true bubble-enthusiast.

Of course, if you're looking for something a bit different from your average bubble, we also have restocked our Touch-A-Bubble tubes.  I can personally attest to the awesomeness of these bubbles... you blow them like a regular bubble (preferably in an area with little wind), but wait a few seconds and you can touch them without them bursting!  I tried them out at home, and a week later I was still finding unbroken bubbles lying around the room.  They really work, and this brand is the best of the ones we've tested.

And if you're really crazy about bubbles, we do have the Bubble Machine from Toysmith in stock.  So if you want tons of bubbles with little effort, this is the bubble machine for you.  So no matter what your bubble-need is, whether you want a few floating in the breeze or to be completely engulfed by them, we've got 'em at Landis' Labyrinth!

Space: The Final Frontier...Use the Force!

At Landis' Labyrinth, you'll find that we can't just choose between DC or Marvel.  The same goes for Star Wars and Star Trek.  True, we have less in the way of Trekkie goodies, but just as with DC Comics products, it's simply because there are far less options for us to obtain out there.  So in honor of the release of the new Star Trek film, and in anticipation of the upcoming three new Star Wars films destined to come our in the next few years, we present to you... SPACE!!!

Of course, we have loads of Star Wars Lego sets, from galaxy-sized to Pluto-sized (you're still a planet to us, Pluto).  They have some great small sets that are hollow planets filled with the Legos to build one Star Wars Character and space vehicle, so it's a great set for a beginner or for an adult collector looking for the perfect desk toy.  As for Star Trek, we have some Kre-O sets from Hasbro in stock now.  Kre-O isn't as well known as Lego or Mega Bloks, but it's similar in that it is a brick-building toy.  Kre-O tends to veer more towards the collector side of construction rather than the building, so again, great for older collectors who yearn for a small, build-able replica of their favorite Star Trek ship.  Back over to Star Wars, we also just go in some Star Wars character ear buds, perfect for listening to a John Williams/Michael Giacchino score as you assemble your Lego/Kre-O sets.  Because we're assuming that when you play with movie tie-in toys that you're really going to go all out for it and listen to the accompanying music. 

And naturally, being the kind of shop we are, we must pay homage to the classic space-themed toys of yesteryear.  We were nearly overcome with joy and boxes last week when our Schylling Toys order came in, because not only were there a ton of boxes, many of them had space-themed toys within them.  Both the packaging and the toys themselves are retro-inspired, and we hope that they will inspire kids to get out and play this summer.

 

So stop on by and prepare to be dazzled by our retro and space-related toys!

Buy American :)

What we as consumers spend on foreign-made products is staggering, especially as only a few decades ago nearly everything was American-made.  Last week, a customer of ours came in and mentioned that they had read an article that stated that if we each spent $60 a year on American-made products, nearly 200,000 jobs would be created in this country.  It seems shocking that such a relatively small amount could have that impact, but after doing a quick search online, I found this article from 2011 to back it up: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/11/made-in-america-creating-jobs-for-christmas/.  Okay, so technically, we need to spend $64 (which since this article is over a year old means we probably have to spend more like $65 now), but still, it isn't a lot, yet it goes a long way.  Since we opened back in 2009, we've carried many made in America lines, some of which have become well-known like Green Toys, who were recently celebrated by Chase bank as an innovative "Main Street" entrepreneur.  Others are still relatively unknown lines for many people, like Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty, Channel Craft, and Maple Landmark.  The prices for these products may be slightly higher than their made in China counterparts, but the benefit to our country's economy it is more than worth the few extra dollars spent.  Take into consideration our custom yo-yo from Maple Landmark, shown above.  Made in Vermont by people paid a decent wage in good working conditions, these yo-yos are also engraved with our logo, which we think is pretty dandy.  And it retails for $5.95.  $5.95! For a super awesome classic toy that you can't get anywhere else.  So consider buying something made in America next time you're at Landis' Labyrinth!

Creativity is more than just paint and paper

It's also about puppets, experiments, and just plain imagination!  Folkmanis Puppets are fully-stocked again at both our Manhattan Beach and 144 N. Larchmont locations.  Folkmanis has come out with tons of new designs this year, as well as reissuing some of your favorites, such as the Turtleneck Turtle, Sloth, and of course, the Patchwork Rabbit who we've put to work as you can see.  Puppets are great for all ages, and I can personally testify to how well they work at calming a child down and entertaining them on a plane (I didn't have my eardrums ruptured or chair kicked once while sitting in front of a 2 year old on a 6 hour flight last year).  Folkmanis makes some of the best puppets out there, and they last for years.  Their Monarch Butterfly finger puppet is one of our best-sellers, and if you can't imagine why, you need to come in a see it in person.  It really does move like an actual butterfly with very little effort on the puppeteer's part.

And here's something that all of you parents who have to rush in everyday Saturday morning for a birthday party gift will be delighted to hear:  We just got a HUGE shipment of Klutz in!  This is one of our go-to ideas for gifts for children that you don't really know all that well but want to get them something they'll love.  I actually can't think of a time where someone has come in to return one because their child didn't love it.  They have activity/art kits for nearly every subject; Painting, paper crafts, fabric crafts, jewelry, classic games, rainy day activity books... the list goes on!  Their Chicken Socks line is perfect for 4 year olds, and the rest of the kits can easily go up to the teens (The Encyclopedia of Immaturity is a favorite for that... we had several adults sitting around reading it this weekend laughing about all of the crazy gags and illusions that the book teaches).  The kits come with a booklet that gives its reader clear and easy instructions on how to create things using items given in the kit, as well as ideas for what you can do when the supplies provided run out.  These aren't kits you toss after one use... you can use the booklets for future projects and the items you do make are worth keeping. 

Whether flashy or frugal, Hello Kitty knows how to accessorize

 And she's also savvy enough to recognize that she has fans of all ages who get excited over every new Hello Kitty item that comes into our shop!  For the more, let's say, sophisticated Hello Kitty consumer, we have some sparkly rhinestone-Hello-Kitty-face earrings and a matching necklace for your enjoyment.  Both earring sets are post-style, pierced earrings, and the necklace is especially lovely in that it has two layers in it (HK face as the longer layer, and a little sparkly heart for the shorter).  For our customers who are out for an extra special gift for their older HK fan, these pieces are absolutely ideal. 

But of course, sometimes some colorful, whimsical Hello Kitty is what will brighten up your day!  Stretchy, rubbery bracelets are the must-have accessory to sport around these days, and the cute one at the top of this photo is just one of many in an assortment of this style.  The charm adds something extra to the design, and while we respect this trend and fully support it, it's hard to say we love it more than the super rainbow-y Hello Kitty dangle bracelet below.  Not sure what color to get?  You get them all on one bracelet!  No tough decisions here, folks.  The charms are also very lightweight and the bracelet can be adjusted to fit nearly any size wrist.  The necklace on the right is a simple yet bold piece of jewelry that your child can afford with their own pocket money, or to give to a friend (we love the pretty card it comes on). Of course, if you want to be practical about your accessories, there is always the digital Hello Kitty watch.  It tells you the time and your friends that you are deeply committed to your love of Hello Kitty and trust her to make sure you make it to your appointments on time.  You're never to young to be punctual, and never to old to collect Hello Kitty :)

Just what makes a hero super?

 

Being in the window at Landis' Labyrinth, of course!  

Okay, so that's not really the definition of a superhero,  but no matter how exact your definition may be, you can't deny that Iron Man, Batman, Spider-Man, and Captain America are most definitely super.  And we've got them all, as well as the Hulk, Thor, Wolverine, etc.  Lego has done a great job with their DC & Marvel lines, and of course, it's hard to wrong with action figures from Hasbro and Mattel.  We especially like the action figures because let's face it, you can't teach imagination, and that's just what these figurines do.  Kids get to interact with and hold a miniaturized version of their larger-than-life heroes and continue the stories of these characters in their own words.  For them, it's not just another piece of plastic... it IS Captain America.  How cool is that?  And for all of you parents out there who aren't superhero-savvy, here's a rundown of why you might be hearing your kids talking about them:

Iron Man 3 is coming out next month, which based upon the two previous Iron Man movies will almost certainly be a huge hit with the kids (and adults).  We've seen so many Iron Man-mad children since we've been open come in here and just go bananas for Tony Stark's alter-ego.

  

Thor: The Dark World is coming out this November, and while he isn't as well-known as some of his other Avenger friends, his action figures are some of the best out there.  There's even one with him swinging his hammer around, which frankly I think is way more interesting than Captain America merely holding up his shield.  Which of course brings me to...

Captain America.  Who doesn't like this guy?  He was out best-selling superhero last year, and will no doubt be getting even more attention this year since the second Captain America movie is due out early next spring.  Also a bonus, he doesn't really use guns.  At all.  So for parents who prefer to keep projectile-firing toys out of their kids' hands, Captain America is your hero!

The Wolverine is coming back in movie-form this summer, and even when I was a kid he was by far the most popular X-Men character.  So if you're wondering why your children are taking your silverware and trying to turn them into extensions of their fingers, that's probably the reason.  Lego did a great set for the film that we have in right now.

Superman is also coming back in Man of Steel this summer, and while we haven't gotten any of our Superman merchandise in, rest assured, we will once it's available to us.  We're excited to see a whole new generation learn about Superman and that aliens are actually pretty decent people.

Spider-Man 2 will also be released next year, and Hasbro has done a ton of Spider-Man related action figures that we brought in.  They have everything from action figures that are around a foot tall to pocket-sized sets that are perfect for little hands to hold.

And of course we have to have some Batman action figures and Lego sets because, well, we like Batman.  No need for any other reason!

Sculpey in its greatest form... bunnies.

Ah Sculpey, the easier-to-mould-than-Fimo baking clay.  Whilst organizing the Sculpey display yesterday, we came across 5 packages of clay that were bitten into.  While we don't encourage our customers to bite our products (especially ones that you could in theory eat but really shouldn't because it isn't safe to eat), there was a silver lining.  After tossing out the bits with bites we used the rest of the clay to demonstrate just how wonderful Sculpey is.  And since it's almost the first day of spring, we felt behooved to create some delightful bunnies, flowers, and bunnies playing with butterflies out of the clay.  So here is the end, albeit unbaked, result.  And remember, always bake your creations in an oven, NOT your microwave!  And stop biting the Sculpey packages, please :)

So, why should you make the leap over to Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish?

Well, it’s like comparing an oil painting with a watercolor painting…. They both look great, but which would you want your kids to do?  Eeeeeexactly.  Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish (I’m sorry, WaterColors) is a line designed with children in mind.  That means this water-based formula is safe and also a lot more fun to use than the stuff you find in the pharmacy (no offense, pharmacies)!  You’re probably saying, “Well, that’s great and all, but just because it’s water-based doesn’t make it safe.  What about all of the other stuff in nail polish?”.  It’s a great question, so here are the specifics:

-          It’s non-toxic.

-          It’s hypoallergenic.

-          It’s gluten and paraben free.

-          It’s eco-friendly (vegan, cruelty-free, biodegradable)

-          It’s made of water, acrylic polymer, butoxy diglycol, and non-toxic colorants.

-          It dries quickly and because it doesn’t have toxins in it, it doesn’t smell toxic, something we can ALL appreciate!  

      What they DON'T have is ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, nitrocellulose, acetone, or heavy metals.

      They also make a soy-based nail polish remover that we carry, and the polish itself is available in a wide array of colors (the dark blue 'Ink a Bink a Bottle of Ink' is so far the best-seller here), all with fun playground rhymes for names.  The WaterColors nail polish retail for $13.95, which for a safe, awesome, and fun product is a steal.  And they're selling fast so get yours soon and get home and have a manicure party!

  

Reminders, Reminders!

Again, we'll be closed tomorrow (Tuesday, January 24, 2012) for inventory.  Thanks to all of you, our shop is quite low on merchandise so you've made the counting part much easier for us!  We were doing a few pre-counts today of our backstock and jewelry, and it occurred to me that we always forget to point out our lovely collection of "collectible" traditional baby gifts in our jewelry case.  We have a limited but fine selection of Salisbury Sterling silver keepsakes, such as baby cups, spoons, rattles, and teethers.  Giving this type of baby gift is rare nowadays, so if you're looking for something rather different from the norm and know of a parent-to-be who appreciates a classic gift like this, we do indeed have some. 

And speaking of the jewelry case, we finally found one of our old jewelry displays while cleaning, so we can showcase the Zorbitz Sweet Life Cupcake Necklaces to their full effect!  These little beauties feature a lead and cadmium-safe cupcake charm embellished with crystal sprinkles and, quite appropriately, a recipe inside of the tag for that cupcake.  They're only $10.95 so they're the perfect gift for tweens/teens/cupcake enthusiasts.  They're right up on our jewelry counter, so check them out next time you're in.