Sunwood Street Faire: Fun, sun and lots of bargains

… know what to make of the event, but decided he’d participate to rid himself of some items lying around the house, specifically his children’s toys.

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Media gave joy, light, kindness

For the East Tennessee Technology Access Center, the joy we have is getting volunteer elves to adapt donated battery-operated toys for children who …

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#Oman Pride: Children get 'green' lessons at summer art programme

Maisa Al Abri, trainer in the electronics workshop, said, “The whole aim is to make use of electronic chips and parts from children’s toys and reuse …

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Garage sale - kids toys and clothes

We are emptying out the garage and have a lot of children’s toys and items among other random things. Come by, take a look, and make us an offer!

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Manatee Marines already in the holiday spirit with 'Christmas in July' effort

Toys for Tots is run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and the main function of the program is to get toys to children whose parents have hardships …

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Can you help Diverse Abilities respite home complete major refurb?

It looks like any other house in the quiet road, with children’s toys in the garden and families coming and going. But this building, in Manor Avenue, …

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Old-fashioned 'toy' the new must-have

“In the hand of a child it transforms into any toy of their imagination, or it stimulates creativity as a tool. Children of all ages use sticks for drawing in the …

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Can you help Diverse Abilities respite home complete major refurb?

It looks like any other house in the quiet road, with children’s toys in the … For some children, their visit to the home is the only time they will go out …

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Friends seek toys for children who lost mother to violence

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - Community members have started collecting toys for the son of a murder victim. Ka'vion Stevens turned 5-years-old …

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Dr. Heins: How to head off the dreaded toy overload

Alas, as I have often written and lectured, toy overload can actually interfere with both learning and fun. A child afflicted with toy overload tosses and …

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Ocean City Home Bank collects toys for children

Ocean City Home Bank employees Tricia Ciliberto (left), Jean Jacobson, Nick Hawkes, David Godoy and Bernadette Donnelly. The bank recently …

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Christmas in July brings cheer to homeless families

Many of the children received tablets and toys. The mothers were given gift cards and those who had children in school received another $150 gift …

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What Babies Know About Physics and Foreign Languages

We take it for granted that young children “get into everything.” But new studies of “active learning” show that when children play with toys they are …

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Mom Sees a Woman Demand Her Child Give Up a Toy and Realizes Why Kids Shouldn't Share

Beth’s son goes to a preschool where the sharing policy is as follows: “A child can keep a toy as long as they want to. If another child wants the toy, …

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Bring out your 'inner-child' with these vintage auction lots

The auctioneers’ inaugural toys and collectibles sale was a huge success with items all the way from the Victorian era put under the hammer.

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Little Cabari on rue de Grenelle

After existing online for almost three years, the modern and colorful high-end French kids design brand Little Cabari just opened its first real boutique on rue de Grenelle in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. I love their playful and whimsical yet chic universe and it has been a lovely experience getting to see all of their designs and touch the quality of their products for real. Check out the beautiful animal rugs!

The shop is clean and bright, structured by big white display boxes and shelves on the left and a beautiful old wooden spiral staircase on the right. It just adds so much Parisian flair to the space! In between of these architectural elements, the vibrant patterns and furniture are joyfully presented. A fun Little Cabari puzzle will keep your little ones entertained while you decide which piece you like most.

As the team works from their office located on the upper floor during week days, you will most certainly have the chance to meet Alice and Camille personally and benefit from their tasteful design advice.

If you have any special requirement to decorate your kids’ room or even your own interior, the ladies will gladly assist and help you choose the perfect details, working on custom-made pieces for you. Their wallpaper and fabric options are all displayed in the showroom, in the back of the shop. The toughest part will be deciding which pattern you want, they are all so beautiful!

Little Cabari
92 rue de Grenelle
75007 Paris
Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM

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Smallable store in Saint-Germain-des-Prés

A few months ago, the online kids department store Smallable finally opened its first physical store in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

After seven years of online success, it is great news that a curated selection of their best fashion, design, toys and decoration can finally be seen in the flesh in Paris. More than 450 beautiful brands are displayed. A glass roof adorned by an Eiffel-like structure hosts the shop’s 300 square meters, giving it the feeling of an industrial loft.

The brand likes to call itself ” the family concept store” where each member of your family, from baby to adult, can find something to their need and taste. While a selection of strollers is displayed on the left side of the porch, you will find home decoration and furniture when entering the store, followed by a great choice of childrenswear and toys as you walk further in. A few beautiful pieces of womenswear and a wide range of colorful linens are also available.

A changing table and a nursing area help for a family-friendly shopping experience. There is no so-called stroller parking but the alleys of the store are wide enough to take it inside with you or you could easily leave it under the porch. Four iPad terminals allow you to order your products, including all online references, if you’d rather avoid queueing and you can choose to have them delivered to the shop for free. The sales team also carries tablets to check up stocks and color options for you.

Kids will love the cardboard table football and ping-pong table under the porch and the coloring house inside the store.

Smallable Store
81 rue du Cherche-Midi
75006 Paris
Open Monday to Saturday from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM

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Children find gun among toys

LEE COUNTY, Miss (WTVA) – “You hear so many stories who know and have shot guns multiple times and hunt. Things still happen,” Jamie Green, …

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After Mom Killed On Boy's Birthday, Friends Ask For Toy Donations

The group of supporters is asking the public to help make up for 5-year-old Kevion’s terrible birthday by providing the child with toys and other …

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Huge baby and children's clothing, toys, and baby gear sale

Huge garage sale with lots of baby and children’s gear, clothing, toys, and much more. Thousands of clothing items from our 5 children, boys and girls.

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Thousands of toys donated for Saint Joseph's Christmas in July

TAMPA (FOX 13) - The thermometer doesn’t feel like Christmas, but the spirit does at Tampa’s Saint Joseph’s Children Hospital during its annual …

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Involve kids while decluttering their room

If you are parent to a toddler, you must have mastered the art of walking around your house without tripping on toys and stamping on building blocks.

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Baby toYoung Children's Toys- 7 items

Baby to young children’s toys- 7 items. All are in excellent shape. We bought these new for our granddaughter for when she visits, she has outgrown …

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Think caveman babies had teething toys? Not likely. The reality is that sometimes the best answer is the simplest one. “Try just massaging your baby’s …

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Donations pour in for Bicester pre-school struck by suspected arson attack

Dozens of children’s toys were destroyed in a fire that took hold at the West Bicester Community Building in Shakespeare Drive on Tuesday night.

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Makers Of 'Your Child's First Robot Friends' Gets $20 Million In Funding

Wonder Workshop, a San Mateo, California-based company that makes two types of toy robots intended to teach children coding skills, announced on …

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Undersheriff after boy dies in house fire: 'Hug your kids'

Children’s toys were visible among the debris Thursday. … there’d been a fire, that they had been burned and the kids were burned,“ Johnson said.

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Feature: China-made game toys amuse Gaza children under tight blockade

Palestinians enjoy a ride in an amusement park on the last day of Eid al-Fitr celebrations, in Gaza City July 8, 2016. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo). GAZA …

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Top five: Finding Dory toys, tested by kids

To adult eyes, this simple set of the film’s main characters might seem lacking in child appeal because it has no moving parts. Those eyes would be …

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A six-figure grant, a new project, a simple idea: Welcome babies to the neighborhood

Every time a baby on their block of 10th Street S is born, they make a welcome basket for the family filled with wipes, diapers, toys and presents for the …

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Help your children play out a story and watch them become more creative

When working with preschool children – between four and five years – we modify the program to provide more toys and more instructions.

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Get in touch with your inner kid at Super Toy Con

Super Toy Con asks the age-old question, “Are toys for kids or adults?” Fans of all ages are sure to pack the Orleans Arena on Aug. 5-7 as more than …

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Positano, Italy: Family-friendly Tips and Recommendations

Positano is a very special place for my family. Michael and I made our first visit to Positano in May 2004, back before we had started our family, and on that first trip we made a promise that we would try to come back every year for as long as we could. We returned the next year with a 6-week-old baby Easton, and my parents and siblings joined us on that trip as well. We have stuck to our promise and have returned every year since then. (The locals joked for a while that we returned with a new baby every year!)

We consider ourselves fairly adventurous travellers, always keen to explore somewhere new, yet Positano pulls us back year after year. I suppose it’s the reliable Italian sunshine, the warm blue sea, the delicious food and the friendly locals. There is also something comforting about returning to a familiar place, to be welcomed back by the locals who know us and have watched our children grow up over the years. It’s so nice to form a special attachment to a place together as a family.

This impossibly picturesque seaside town is not an obvious destination for family holidays — with its stone houses balanced precariously over the Med and its thousands of stairs and cobblestone pathways —but we love it. People often ask me if it’s stroller-friendly, and my answer is that it is not (though we have been known to carry a stroller all the way down to the beach for napping purposes!).

I’ve mentioned our favourite Positano accommodation, restaurants and activities in in a few articles (including this piece for Cup of Jo). But having just spent a month in our favourite place, it seemed like the perfect time for an updated list of our best Positano recommendations.

EAT:

• Da Vincenzo – specialising in regional cuisine, this Da Vicenzo is not just our favourite, it’s the first restaurant mentioned by every local when you ask for their favourite. The owners, Marcello, Giosue’ and their son Vincenzo, warmly welcome our family back every year and we always leave wishing we could have squeezed in one more visit.
• L’Incanto – another locals’ recommendation, this restaurant and pizzeria is located at the far end of Spiaggia Grande (the main beach) with a huge outdoor seating area and a super friendly staff. L’Incanto has a full menu with all the best regional seafood and specialties, like Spaghetti Vongole, Schalatielli con Frutta di Mare and a couple dishes with Paccheri (a local pasta). We often joke that the ‘beach does the babysitting here’ as our kids are content to play for hours on it while we finish a leisurely dinner and glass of local wine.
• Les Tres Sorelle – one of the best-known restaurants in the middle of the bustling stretch on Spiaggia Grande, Les Tres Sorelle has all of the regional favourites and seafood, but is a bit more glamorous (and expensive) than L’Incanto. We only come here after a shower and change of clothes, for a special night out.
• Pizza from Brasserie Covo dei Saraceni – another locals’ recommendation for the best pizza in Positano. With its friendly staff, delightful food and view of the boats coming and going from the pier, Covo dei Saraceni is a regular stop for us.
• Gelato from Buca di Bacco – for years we have frequented the bar in Piazza dei Mulini for gelato, but this year they were eclipsed by Buca di Baco. With a huge selection of locally made gelato and interesting flavours, this spot is hard to beat. Try the ‘sfogliatelle’ flavour, a local concoction named after the famous pastry.
• Lunch from Pupetto (on Spiaggia Fornillo) – It’s possible that we’ve had more lunches at Pupetto than any other restaurant in the world (even at home in London!). Some years we would enjoy the Caponata salad, Bruschetta or Prosciutto e Melone every day of our holiday. This year Pupetto added pizza to the lunch menu with an excellent Pizza Marinara and unique combinations like the Pizza Positano, with ricotta, mozzarella, lemon and a hint of fresh mint. It’s safe to say you’ll find us here for 7 out of 10 lunches.
• Lunch from Da Adolfo (on Spiaggia Laurito)– hands-down the tastiest beach restaurant in the area (and probably all of the Amalfi coast), Da Adolfo is a treat we look forward to every year. Our favourite dishes include the mozzarella grilled on lemon leaves, the Zuppa di Cozze (mussels) and the Spaghetti con Zucchine e Totani (zucchini and squid). Oh yeah, and then there’s the pitches of local wine with peaches and the tiramisu’!
• Pizza from Criscito’s in Praiano – our local friends, Giovanni and Luigi Collina, introduced us to pizza in their hometown of Positano. This year their friend, the former pizza chef at Le Brace, opened his own establishment called Criscito’s. Specialising in pizza and using an age-old sour dough starter, the pizza here is sensational. It’s clear from the crowds of locals and the wait, that we’re not the only ones onto this place.
• Bruno – about halfway up the hill from Piazza dei Mulini to Sponda, is Bar Bruno, another classic Positano restaurant with all of the expected pastas and seafood, not to mention one of the best views of the town of Positano from any restaurant.
• Lo Guarracino – another recommendation from locals, this hidden gem is on the path from Spiaggia Grande to Fornillo. Its excellent selection of local antipasti, tasty pizza and local pastas, will be calling us back every year. Plus the view at night of the boats and bay beyond Fornillo is entrancing.

DO:

• Fornillo beach – if you have more than a couple days in Positano, you’ll want to venture beyond Spiaggia Grande. Spiaggia Fornillo beach is a favourite with locals and has four or five restaurants along it to choose from. We always opt for sun chairs and lunch at Pupetto. The beach itself is less crowded and has far less boat traffic than Spiaggia Grande, but it is a good 15 minute walk up and around the mountain from town.
• Arienzo beach – Catch the boat from the main pier to this beautiful beach with sun chairs, clean water and a great restaurant. We think Arienzo is probably prettier and better equipped than Laurito, but Da Adolfo tops it for food. Say hi to Giorgio from the ‘Adamos!’
• Laurito beach (Da Adolfo) – There are two beach clubs/restaurants on this small stretch of beach, Da Adolfo and Villa Tre Ville. If you can get a booking or finagle your way onto their boat, Da Adolfo is the spot to be. You can catch either boat from the main pier but you are normally expected to eat at the restaurant of the boat you take.
• Boat ride down the Amalfi Coast – along the pier are many boat hire stands, however this year we organised a daylong cruise for 12 people through Fabio Guida at Pupetto. Fabio’s cousin, Mauro, has a wonderful, classic Italian motorboat and a friendly disposition. He’ll take you any direction you want to go, stopping at grottos for a swim or one of the many beachside restaurants along the way.
• Boat ride to Capri – if you’ve never been to Capri, it’s worth taking the boat to this beautiful island. Again, you can hire a private boat tour or take one of the many commercial boats from the stands on the pier. Personally, we wouldn’t do this during the high season (June through August) as it’s just too busy. If you’re lucky enough to visit in October or May you’ll be able to enjoy the sights, shops and restaurants of this former home of Roman Emperors without the throngs of fellow tourists.
• Il Sentiero degli Dei (The Path of the Gods)—another recommendation from the locals, this mountain hike runs from Bomerano to Nocelle. We opted for the leg between Praiano and Nocelle. Though strenuous at points and precarious in others, we loved this walk. The views are breath-taking and you’re rewarded along the way with homemade lemonade at the Convent of San Domenico and at the end of the path in Nocelle.
• Kayaking along the coast – you can rent kayaks from any of the beaches. We rented them from the Marina di Praia beach in Praiano and headed toward the beach at the Furore Fiord (just under the tall, dramatic bridge).
• Day trip to Conca dei Marini (beach and restaurant) – this is a longish boat ride from Positano but the boat trip is a treat in itself. Overlooked by the former villa of Sofia Loren, Conca dei Marini is a real locals’ beach with a couple authentic restaurants and beach clubs to choose from.

STAY:

• We’ve stayed at several places over the years. In the beginning we stayed in a hotel, Villa Gabrisa, a lovely spot high up in Fornillo, but as our family grew we started renting apartments with kitchens so we could do some cooking at home. In recent years we’ve stayed at the Residence Alcione. They have one room in particular that has an enormous terrace (our favourite in Positano), a little kitchen and a washing machine for laundry. Also, the fresh cornetto delivered for breakfast every morning is such a treat. Tell Katia we sent you.
• This year, because we stayed for so long, we rented the apartment of Residence Alcione, one of two further up the road in the Sponda area of Positano. The apartment didn’t have views of Positano, but instead faced south east down the Amalfi Coast with views of Arienzo beach and Praiano in the distance. We enjoyed staying here and took advantage of being close enough to walk to Arienzo and to take the bus easily to Laurito beach and Praiano.
• To find other Positano rentals check out http://ift.tt/2aAKOIB or even Airbnb. Some favourite hotels of our family and friends are Hotel Savoia, Albergo California, Le Sirenuse (the most expensive!), Palazzo Murat and Hotel Poseidon.

GETTING THERE:

• Positano Taxi Service – We’ve been ferried to and from the Naples airport every year by Positano Taxi. Our friends and regular drivers, Sergio and Ottavio, have excellent cars and vans, plus other drivers during peak times. They are local to Positano so you can also book them for trips to Pompei, Praiano, Amalfi, Sorrento, just around town or as far away as Rome. We think they have the best prices too. Say ‘ciao’ from the Adamos! Ottavio’s number is: +39 3392013482

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Unboxing Day: Local family finds audience for online videos

Greg Moss with fiancee Veronica Reyna and their two children Tryston, 10, and Roxanne, 7, recently visited Z’s Toys & More for their family vlog on …

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Lunch Leftovers and a Mommy Left Out

Dear Family Coach: My kids don’t always finish the lunch we pack for them to … It is fun to play with other children’s toys and good for them to socialize …

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'For the Love of Dakota' boxes helping cheer children in need

LEHI — Much of Correy Rasmuson’s basement is filled with crayons, coloring books, toys and games. The items are not for her own children but are …

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Interactive Children Toys Stacking, Shapes & Penguin

Interactive Children Toys Stacking, Shapes & Penguin Three Children a Toys Interactive Toys All Three for $20 One price all toys **Stacking Toy, with …

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Kids Wish Network donates toys and school supplies to SB youth

Photo/Anthony Victoria : San Bernardino Police Officer Shaun Sandoval, left, helped several children sort through hundreds of toys during the Holiday …

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Deadly snake found hanging around child's toys

“He had a very young baby in his arms and a young boy by his side. … the children played (where the snake was) and there was several (toys) down …

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Play-Doh Is More Than A Toy For Kids At Children's Hospital Los Angeles

But for kids in the hospital – who have had some twists and turns already in their young lives – Play-Doh becomes more than a toy. It becomes a …

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The truth about girls and boys, toys and TV

A new study by researchers at the City University of London found that babies as young as 9 months old prefer to play with toys specific to their own …

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Tampa man continues decades-long tradition of collecting toys for foster children

He has been collecting Christmas toys for more than 25 years. Collins has given thousands of toys to hundreds of kids. He picks everything from bikes …

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Where are the Kids?

In many of the neighborhoods it was evident children lived there. We noticed toys in the yards and on the porches; basketball hoops, trampolines, red …

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Moose Toys Introduces the Qixel 3D Maker, a $25 3D Printer for Kids

moose-logo2 Everyone seems to agree that it’s important for children to start learning about 3D printing as early as possible. Thanks to educational …

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Top 5 Summer Toys and Recreation Hazards for Kids

For most children, summer can mean scraped knees, stitches and the occasional broken bone. However, due to the increasingly high-tech and …

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Pre-school staff "devastated" following suspicious fire

A CHARITY pre-school has been left devastated after a suspected arson attack destroyed dozens of children’s toys. Staff at the Jack and Jill …

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Children's toys stolen from Dundee nursery

Two Little Tykes bubble cars and a three-wheeled bike were among the toys stolen. Police are now appealing for any information which could help …

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Leap & Hop Travel Books for Kids

My friend Henley from Passported recently introduced me to the wonderful Leap & Hop series of travel books for children, and I only wish I had known about these earlier! The children would have loved filling out the Sri Lanka book while we were there a few months ago. I think it’s such a wonderful way for children to discover a new destination (and a great way to keep them entertained during long flights and travel days).

I have since been in touch with the author, Isabelle Demenge, who shared her story with me, explaining why she’s created a series of travel books for children.  In 2008 she had moved from New York to Hong Kong with her three boys and she was looking for books to engage the children as they started exploring the region. After finding nothing, she prepared a personal travel journal and scrapbook for the kids for their Cambodia trip in 2010. It was such a hit that she started writing a book for her children every time they went on a trip. (This reminds me a bit of the journal entries we prepare for our own children when we reach a new destination!)

Isabelle has since created nine beautiful and captivating travel books for children and she plans on launching more cities later this year. I hope to put the Bali book to use soon! ; )

Courtney x

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Madison museum invites children to "Camp In a Day'

2 is all about games and toys. Campers will learn the history of children’s games, popular games played by colonial and early American children, and …

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Christmas In July At The Cell: 400 Foster Kids Get Free Toys

For more than 400 foster children at U.S. Cellular Field Wednesday, it was like Christmas in July. Over 100 volunteers with passed out more than …

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'Half Mile Down' play geared toward children at Atlanta Botanical Garden in Gainesville

Garden tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children and free for children … filled with “children’s toys and cornhole and different things that the kids can …

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Let's stick it to wasteful modern toys

For a long time I have felt that today’s children are given far too many toys. Oh, I know it’s not easy for parents to resist the demands of their children …

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Toys taken from home daycare after fake Kijiji ad...

Someone put an ad on Kijiji offering free toys as part of an Ottawa daycare’s … I have full-time, and the other children who come over to use the toys.“.

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Toys taken from home daycare thanks to fake Kijiji ad

“If you did pick up any of the toys from my yard we do not hold you responsible we would just like our toys back for the daycare kids. Thank you.” So far …

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Reruns are Fun offers consignment deals

“Toys may be the biggest bargain. They are the first to go,” she said, explaining that strollers and high chairs and other baby equipment also are highly …

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Randolph Toymakers set to hold 5K Run/Walk Fundraiser benefit

Since then, Randolph Toymakers has grown to 15 volunteers who make wooden toys for children locally and worldwide. In this photo, Hall at his toy …

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Lake Country businesses team up to host Christmas in July

Jennifer Wucherer, owner of The Purple Giraffe children’s boutique store in … They anticipate the drive will provide toys for more than 120 children.

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Daycare provider 'overwhelmed' with toy donations after fake Kijiji ad

Children play at a Bells Corners home daycare, which was the subject of a fake Kijiji post advertising “free toys” for pickup. Daycare provider Heaven …

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Tinybop: the New York startup designing apps to inspire children's curiosity

It is one of a series from Tinybop which aim to inspire children’s curiosity through open play – other ‘Digital Toys’ created by the company include The …

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'Everything was gone': Toys missing from home daycare after fake Kijiji ad posted

Stewart said she leaves the toys outside for the kids in her care, and the kids … I have full-time, and the other children who come over to use the toys.”.

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Toys missing from home daycare after fake Kijiji ad posted

Stewart said she leaves the toys in her yard for the kids in her care, and the … I have full-time, and the other children who come over to use the toys.”

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Practising English with Storytime Magazine

Bringing up bi-lingual, multinational kids has many advantages. The main one being that, from a young age, they speak two languages fluently, without thinking about it. But I have had to put some work into it. Speaking English whilst living in France was relatively easy — I just had to be strict (mostly with myself) to make sure that only English was spoken at home. Reading and writing was a bigger challenge as the kids were going to a local French primary school, so I had to somehow make that happen at home.

English books and especially magazines have always been a big deal for us, as I needed to get the girls to be intrigued enough by a story that they wanted to put in the extra effort to figure out the text in English. It was very sweet in the beginning — they would decipher the text with weird little French accents, using the phonetic system they had learned at school. The more they practised, the easier it became.

Magazines are great as the stories are shorter and varied, so the challenge is less daunting. By far my favourite magazine is the subscription based Storytime magazine, full of great stories and games and without any advertising nor extra silly toys. When you live abroad it is sometimes hard to quickly pick up a book and add variety to your reading list. Storytime is awesome, as it give us the opportunity to discover new stories and new authors all the time. It has a great cross section of classic stories from my childhood to new and fresh ones, and of poems, games and recipes. It works both for girls and boys and there is always a lot of excitement when it pops through the letterbox every month.

What I also really like about Storytime is that it is run as a social enterprise, and profit is reinvested into improving literacy in Britain through a variety of themes.

Storytime are offering all Babyccino readers worldwide the chance to try the magazine by offering at a huge introductory discount. You can get 3 issues for just £3 / $5 US. Remember to make it a gift subscription in your child’s name — so they get their own post through the letterbox, which is always a source of excitement in my house!

– Emilie

This post is sponsored by Storytime, a magazine we love and personally recommend.

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Design graduate invents toy system to fill 'severe gap in autism toys market'

Called MAKA, the collection of magnetic beads is a fidget toy created to help children with autism develop crucial skills. A university graduate has …

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Toys "R" Us Seeks Next 'President'

WAYNE, NJ - Toys“R”Us (TRU) has started a nationwide hunt to fill the … The contest is open to children in the U.S., and one will be selected to spend …

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Firefighters to Hold 'Christmas in July' Toy Drive at U Street Bar

The organization is looking for donations and toys for Children’s National Medical Center’s patients who are 16 years old or younger, foundation …

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Airlines fly that extra mile to keep kids and parents happy

On-board toys, puzzles and candies, online games, music and entertainment channels, healthy and tasty food for tiny tots, baby meals and cots …

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Pair Of Colorful Vintage Children's Toys

DESCRIPTION: Pair Of Colorful Vintage Children’s Toys Inluding Wind-Up Eater Unlimited Inc. Bunny Rabbit And An Unmarked Fish Baby Toy.

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Shonda Rhimes Calls Out Lego's Lack Of Diversity

Looks like the queen of prime time Shonda Rhimes isn’t only pushing for diversity on TV, but in the world of children’s toys as well. The “Grey's …

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ROC (Taiwan), through SimplyHelp, donates childhood items to the Ministry of Education

“We are thankful for the pencils, balls, toys, and giftsets for babies, blankets, items of clothing for children and many other things,” said the minister.

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Home daycare toys missing following fake Kijiji ad

Heaven Stewart, a home daycare provider in Bells Corners, says she returned home after a weekend getaway to find all her children’s toys were …

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'President of Play' sought by Toys R Us

Toys “R” Us has decided to launch its own presidential election, and is inviting kids ages 9-13 to campaign for the title of “President of Play.”.

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EZ-Robot CEO tells Thunder Bay kids the future is in their imagination

EZ-Robot CEO tells Thunder Bay kids the future is in their imagination … “I used to say ‘these toys suck’. because I always wanted the robots to do …

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Five Things I Thought I Would Never Do When I Had Kids

I was going to buy my future child lots of cuddly toys-and they would all be true to life representations of the various different species that walk among …

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Rides, toys, candy highlight Kid's Night

Kid’s Night at Figure 8 Races during the Keokuk County Expo left many county children with smiles on their faces after an evening of free racecar rides …

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The best toys for your baby

Toys play an important role in the development and learning process of a child. Make sure you give your child the right toys and the opportunity to …

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Kano's DIY computer kit is going on sale at Toys R Us and Barnes & Noble

Kids clearly want to interact with their entertainment, and book sellers are … “The natural next step was for us to partner with retail leaders Toys"R"Us …

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Kano Unveils U.S. Retail Strategy

“The natural next step was for us to partner with retail leaders Toys“R”Us and … Toys“R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and baby products …

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Felt Animals Sewing Kit Launch - Perfect Toys For Girls 7 8 9 10 11 12 Years Old

The best educational toys engage a child’s senses, spark their imaginations and encourage interaction with others. The Woodland Animals Kids …

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Student creates toy theatre to help kids tackle tough topics such as mortality

A young toy designer has turned to the philosophies of Hollywood director Tim Burton for her toy theatre that helps kids tackle tough subjects such as …

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Twigs beat toys,any day | Bengaluru NYOOOZ

Unstructured toys eliminate the craving for materialistic entities, according to Divya … She thinks kitchen utensils make the best toys, giving children an …

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Jooki, a toys-to-life jukebox for kids, hits Kickstarter

Jooki will come with a range of different tokens allowing to kids to listen to music and stories with their accompanying action figure characters.

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Toys"R"Us® Launches Search For Next "Presidential Candidate"

“All children should have the opportunity to play – and who better to remind our country of this, and to experience the uninhibited joy that toys bring, …

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3 best Toys R Us deals including 50% off LEGO and outdoor toys this summer holiday

And with the schools officially out for summer, we’ve handpicked our favourite deals at the toys superstore to find ways to keep the kids busy this …

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A week in Campagnia, Italy

Our school had scheduled an extra week of vacation in the month of June this year, which was such a welcomed treat! I loved that extra week — still mid-season and therefore not too busy and less expensive to travel, and summery enough to fly to the south of Europe for a sunny destination.

I had once been to Naples and Pompeii, in my early twenties, and taking my family here had always been on my wish-list. Also — Courtney would be arriving in Positano (and staying a whole month!!) as part of their world trip. So I decided to plan a last-minute trip to the region of Campagnia, and schedule in a few days in Positano as well.

Discovering the busy streets of Naples, climbing the Vesuvius and seeing the crater, admiring the ancient ruins of Pompei and driving over the beautiful Lattari Mountains (the peninsula ridge) was amazing. And then seeing the first glimpse of the Amalfi coast from the picturesque town of Ravello, with all the cultivated fields full of lemon trees and the pretty town of Amalfi far below… It was just stunning. Driving the winding roads along the coast with spectacular towns and views, all the way to Sorrento with its gorgeous port, from where we took the ferry to Capri — another highlight of the trip. And, of course, the last few days in Positano, where we spent long and lazy days on the beach with our dear friends.

Here’s a recap with some photos of our trip. Apologies for the looooong post — I tried to include as much information as I could — I know how helpful that can be when you’re planning a trip. (If you know this region and have additional advice, it would be great if you could leave it in the comments for other travellers — plus, we surely will be back in the region as well!)

First stop was Napels. We arrived at the airport early on a Friday evening and it took an easy 20-minutes taxi ride to the old town of Naples, where we had booked an apartment. After dropping off our luggage, we went out looking for pizza, which didn’t take long — this is Naples, pizza town! Around the corner we stumbled upon Pizzeria dal Presidente, and the pizzas were more than delicious. Like the best ones we ever had! It was the perfect start of our vacation.

On Saturday, we discovered Naples. We walked through the densely populated, narrow streets of the historic centre, filled with tiny shops and so frantically full of activity. The children loved Via San Gregorio Armeno where the vendors specialise in the craft of making (nativity) miniatures. We slowly made our way over to Capella Sansevero to look at the (stunning) veiled statue of Christ, such a beautiful and moving sculptural work. (The Anatomical Machines, skeletons of a man and of a woman in with the artery and vein systems almost perfectly intact, also made quite an impression on the children (and us) — so weird and crazily fascinating!)

Of course we had gelato on the way (I have seen more Odin shops around Napoli — the chocolate wrappers looks so beautiful, and I can detest the chocolate ice cream is divine). And then we stopped for a pizza fritta, a delicious deep fried pizza and a Naples specialty.

We walked through the Galleria Umberto, a glass covered shopping gallery, peeked into the Teatro di San Carlo opposite, the oldest and one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world, had an espresso and a Sfogliatella (Naples’ signature sweet pastry) in the famous Caffè Gambrinus, then walked from the mediaval castle Maschio Angioino towards the Castel dell’Ovo, located on a tiny peninsula on the coast.

Now our feet were seriously tired, so we took a taxi to get to the top of the Vomero hill for a view over Naples (you can clearly see that the straight road of Spaccanapoli literally splits Naples in two, and of course, the Vesuvius volcano in the back). We took the funicular, an inclined railway, down (highlight for the kids! If I had known, we would have taken it up as well!) and walked back to the Historic Town for another pizza from Dal Presidente, after which we crashed in our beds — tired but inspired and full of a fondness of Naples. What a crazy, beautiful town — so full of surprises!

The next morning, Tamar picked up our rental car and we drove to the Vesuvius, which took us around 45 minutes. We drove up to the parking lot, where we parked our car (for a fee), and took a taxi bus to the ticket office (for another fee — but children go for free!).   From here it’s a 30-minute, scenic walk to the top with panoramic views over Naples far below. It was the first time for all of us to see a crater, which was really special. It’s bizarre to see a mountain with a cavity at the top — and to realise that there’s a channel to the inside of the earth is weird! After about 15 minutes, we walked down and took the taxi back to our parking spot. Then, we slowly drove to Pompeii (stopping for lunch along the way).

I think we arrived at the Pompeii site around 4PM, which was good because it was less warm and less busy (especially after 6 it was really empty and quite amazing to roam those old streets all by ourselves). Three hours (which includes an ice-cream stop) was long enough for an impression for the children — and gave Tamar and me also some time to soak it all in.

(Note: Hercoleum is another site near the Vesuvius and it came highly recommended by multiple people, but we only had time for one visit and Sara and Pim chose Pompeii — probably because it is such a big name and they had heard about it in school. But Hercoleum apparently is stunning, and I definitely want to come back for that.)

We stayed in a lovely agritourismo in Pompeii with a swimming pool, a playground, a petting zoo and a beautiful kitchen garden. A good break for all of us after a busy day of discovering natural and cultural phenomenons! Tamar and I had a relaxed dinner in the restaurant while the children were running around and enjoying themselves.

We stayed until midday the next day, and then we checked out and drove over the peninsula ridge (through the small mountainous area called the Monti Lattari); a very green and lush and beautiful drive, which took no longer than an hour. When we arrived to the famous village of Ravello, we were stunned by the views over the coast — oh my gosh, soooo pretty! We had a simple lunch in the bar above this restaurant — with an extraordinary view. We didn’t stay for a visit of the gardens of the Villa Cimbrone — another place we have to come back for (and preferable for a concerto), because I’ver heard it is stunning and it sounds like a place children would love.

Our next address was located further along the Amalfi coast, high above the coast in the village of Aregola. The food here was home cooked and delicious and the hosts super welcoming (but the hotel itself doesn’t have a view).

The Path of the Gods, a 3 hour trek connecting Agerola with the village of Nocelle is one of Italy’s most stunning walks – -when the children are bigger I want to come back for this. For now, we only walked around Aregola, and indeed, the views from this town are stunning.

The next morning we got up early because Tamar had a plane to catch! He drove us along the rest of the Amalfi coast to the romantic port of Sorrento, where he dropped us off and continued his way to the airport. I took the ferry to Capri from there with the kids, a wild ride in a sea full of waves! We dropped of our bagage in the port — to be transported to our hotel high up in the village. (This is a custom service for all tourists, you pay a fee but it is worth it.)

We enjoyed a delicious seafood lunch in one of the restaurants overlooking the port, went to the beach, and then took the funicular up to the village and walked to our hotel.

Villa Carolina was a dream! It was a bit of a walk to get there (about 20 minutes from the village) — but it’s a relaxed and pretty walk and the destination is SO worth it. It truly is paradise here — what a house! We relaxed at the pool, the children played in the gardens (there are many toys around), sat in the hot tub, ate ripe apricots straight from the tree…

We strolled back to the village for dinner and Capri really captured my heart. It is such a beautiful island, the nature and the culture of it, but it is also so very sophisticated and truly chic, in a very wonderful way. This place is pure romance.

We had planned to visit the Grotta Azura (Blue Cave) early the next morning, which the children were so exited to see, but a cab driver told us that due to the wind and a rough sea, it was closed. So instead we took an open-top taxi to Anacapri, which was a wonderful experience by itself! Anacapri is the second little town of Capri, and from here the open chairlift departs to the top of the Monte Solaro mountain, from which the views are absolutely breath taking. (Note for chair lift: I had Casper on my lap and Sara had Ava on her lap. It worked, but I would lie if I would tell you I felt relaxed!)

When the children are bigger (meaning — can all swim), I would love to come back to Capri by boat and discover all of those caves and go to the Marina Picola beach, which was recommended to me, and swim in that blue, blue, blue water.

We had a lovely lunch at the square of Anicapri, where the children worked in their travel journals and were playing while Casper took a nap on my lap. We took the bus back to the port and spent the rest of the day on the beach, until it was time to catch the afternoon ferry to Positano.

In Positano I had booked an apartment full of character! With a giant terrace, loads of beds and a full kitchen, it was perfect and it was extra lovely since my friend (and Babyccino team member) Vicky was also there with her family. We cooked dinner together and ate on our terrace, overlooking the town of Positano on the opposite hill.

The next days were spent on the beach, with Vicky, and Courtney’s family when they arrived, and our new friends Amber and David and their adorable children. I won’t get into too much detail about Positano because Courtney promised me an in-depth post about the area — she has been coming here for over ten years now and knows about all the secrets. We loved sharing this special destination with them for a few days (and our children were so happy to be reunited of a little while!).

When it was time to catch our flight back to Amsterdam, we felt like we had been away for much longer than just a week. We had seen and experienced so much and were FULL of impressions of beautiful things. We were rested and tanned, and had spent lovely and lazy days with friends. What a joy!

If you ever get the chance to visit this area, I would definitely recommend it. First exploring Naples and then seeing the Vesuvius and Pompeii and consequently crossing the peninsula and arriving to the Amalfi Coast was a lovely way to first encounter this area and to understand the culture and geographical location of it. I loved how the Vesuvius was almost always in sight — first from Napels, then from Pompeii, and it came back in view in Capri and then again on our way back to the airport.

When we come back we will visit Herculaneum, enjoy a concert in the gardens in Ravello, I want to walk the Path of Gods, and sail around Capri and discover its caves and beaches. And yes — do all the rest again — too :).

xxx Esther

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