As Seen On TV & More

As long as there are kids there will be toys to trade, collect, and talk about.  Pogs, Pokemon, or simply baseball cards, kids always are trying to get their hands on the next fun novelty that their classmates have.  Kids are now pleading to their parents, “I gotta have those erasers!”  When I think of erasers I think of frustratingly erasing my scribbled wrong answers in 5th grade math, but that’s not the case today.  Erasers have taken on a new form and they are quirky, fun, and colorful.  The only thing I was left scratching my head over is-why kids aren’t using them to actually erase? What I found out is that, among the eraser aficionados, to do so is akin to eraser genocide! Who would have thought? These Japanese born IWAKO Erasers are deemed “collectible” with their own little carrying cases and a countless variety of styles to choose from.

To tell you the truth, I didn’t quite understand the whole concept, that is, until I saw them.  They are delightfully adorable!   From tiny fries to mini pies there is an IWAKO eraser for just about everyone.  After looking them over I decided the fast food tray belonged on my desk.  Six oddly realistic fast food favorites sit beneath my computer screen and I can’t help but smile when they catch my eye during the work day.  I’ve since learned that the erasers  pop apart and now can see how kids find them fun. The hamburger, for example, has removable lettuce and the hot dog pops out of the bun.

I’ve since added a few little hamsters which are placed sporadically around my office. When anyone spots one they can’t help but laugh.

Good news, parents… the IWAKO Erasers won’t break your bank ($6.95 for a set) and will bring plenty of whimsy and smiles to your little one.  I think the next to join my collection is the IWAKO Cake and Frozen Treat set.   An ice pop, slices of cake, and ice cream would be a perfect addition to my fast food treats.

I’ll be able to dream about my favorite foods as I type away at my desk!

In a world of plastic and clam shell packaging, one company stands alone: Melissa & Doug.

Their refreshing approach to kids’ toys have taken the world by storm by a successful revival of well-made, wooden toys. The company, aptly named for its owners Melissa & Doug hasn’t always been so recognizable to the public.  The 20+ year old company came from humble beginnings (starting in Doug’s parents’ garage), growing slowly in its first decade of business, and finally going big time in the new millennium. Its products are some of the top toys on Amazon.com, garnering attention from parents worldwide.

They have won numerous awards and have become one of the foremost toymakers in the world. The creativity that goes into each and every product they make is unparalleled. I would love to be one of the staff that gets to come up with such innovative ideas as using Velcro to create the crunching sound that is part of the food cutting toys. What a great idea! My five year old child spends countless hours serving me up a plethora of dishes from the “pizza party” and the “food cutting box.”

We also love the stackability of the sandwich making set that utililizes Velcro pieces for leaning towers of fun! Never needing to worry about the toxicity of my childs toys is just a bonus that comes with all of Melissa & Doug products. They have standards that not only meet, but exceed the standards established by government recommendations and consumer product safety regulations. If you are looking for a safe, fun, creatively stimulating product for your child, you simply can’t go wrong with Melissa & Doug. Next on my list of “have to have” is the Melissa & Doug Art Easel. Check it out!