Habitat Kid

IMAGINE: Family Roadtrips

My family was big on roadtrips. With five kids in the equation, airfare was sky high [pun intended] and so we turned to the road. In what kind of car, you ask? A gem, that's what. Huge green conversion van we called "The Beast," complete with TV and VCR (that's right. V.C.R.) and pulldown blinds on all the windows. The thing was practically a hotel on wheels. And yes, we slept in it sometimes. Don't judge. [Side note: It also had a ladder on the back. You know, just in case you needed to climb on top of your car.] This weekend the three of us are taking off for Portland and although we don't have the van to accompany us, I'm sure it will be epic. Happy New Year, friends!

via BlogLESS

SLEEP: Lull - The Living Lamp

Although this lamp is not in production (yet!) the concept is beautiful. It even won a Young Talent Award from the Norwegian Design Council, so you know it's good. Lull is patterned after a flower, opening during the day for bright light then closing at night, emitting a dim glow. I think it's the perfect signal for a child to know when to wind down and get ready for bed and when it's ok to go wake up mom and dad in the morning!

REST: Designer Chairs for Children

I hope you all had a great Christmas yesterday! Scott and I stayed up late on Christmas Eve putting the final touches on London's dollhouse, which has already brought many hours of happy play. For months she has been constantly asking me to go to the local library so she can play with the dollhouse they  have in the children's section, so hopefully having our own will mean less trips there! Although I do love our little library - so small and cute but with modern architecture and a great open feel. Anyway...I've been looking around for chairs to replace one of the couches in our living room. We think we want swivel ones so that we can turn toward the fireplace when we want to, but turn toward the middle of the room the rest of the time. The hunt is on! While searching I came across these kid-sized versions of famous designer chairs at DWR and sighed and swooned for a while. I've seen them before, but I love the styling of these photos and it made me want one all over again. Of course the price tag is gasp worthy, so for now I'll keep dreaming...

ENJOY: A Joyful Christmas

I know I've been scarce around here, but hopefully I can get things back up and rolling more regularly once Santa pays a visit. I vowed not to let things get too crazy this December, but of course that didn't work. I hope you all have a lovely holiday filled with magic and delight! (p.s. Enjoy the video of London singing her favorite Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas." We've been reading this book all month and she really fell in love with the song because of it).

LEARN: Swedish Preschool Förskolan Ugglan

As the snow falls outside my window, I am sitting cozied up to the fireplace enjoying pictures of this tastefully designed preschool in Sweden by 3dO Architects. I love the circular design, the white walls so often seen in Scandinavian interiors, the huge play area in the middle of the structure, and the colorful patterns created on the turf outside. What a fun place to learn and play in the heart of a big city.

Photos by Kasper Dudzic and Richard Törsleff of 3dO  \\ Found via Big Play

IMAGINE: Special Grandma Time

This week has been a blissful one as my mom has been visiting me for the first time in four years! London has been in heaven with grandma around (a.k.a. one more person to read stories to her and another lap to snuggle up on). I'm hoping to pick her brain on my gardens this weekend since she is an amazing gardener, and show her some of the nearby waterfalls, forests, and maybe a trip into Seattle for Pike's Place Market tomorrow. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

PLAY: Swings by Ann Hamilton

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you've probably noticed my love for swings (see here, here and here). Artist Ann Hamilton has a new interactive art installation "the event of a thread" with large-scale swings over at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City now through January 6th. You can go and swing to your heart's content and fly as high as you dare. Splendid! Visit here for information regarding tickets, dates, and times. (Children 10 and under are free! Can you imagine their excitement when they see swings like this??)

via The Jealous Curator

PLAY: Gift Guide [Part 2]

As promised, toddlers and stocking stuffers! I hope you enjoy my top picks. So many wonderful toys out there, it was hard to narrow it down!

For Toddlers: 1. Giraffe Family Set | Playing Mantis  2. Hansa White Rabbit | Amazon  3. ABC Dream by Kim Krans | Acorn Toy Shop  4. Seasons Change Block Puzzle | Noble Toy Co.  5. Ross Rocking Horse | Toyella  6. Pop Up School Bus | Amazon  7. Grey Knitted Crown by Oeuf | Smallable  8. Wooden Duck Push Toy | Bella Luna Toys

For Stockings: 1. Maileg Matchbox Mice Twins | Acorn Toy Shop  2. Playon Crayons | Uncommon Goods  3. Around the World Puzzle | Anthropologie  4. Knitting Dolls | Amazon  5. La Sardina Camera | MoMA Store  6. Le Cirque Train Whistle | Anthropologie  7. Micro Cubebots | Acorn Toy Shop

PLAY: Gift Guide [Part 1]

My goodness, it has definitely been one of those weeks that simply got away from me! I apologize for my here-and-there posting...I have trouble keeping up with myself. I've been itching to put together a gift guide for this holiday season, so here it is! Today is all about boys and girls, tomorrow will be toddlers and stocking stuffers. Happy shopping!

 

 

For Boys: 1. Brass and Zinc Drum | Serendipity  2. Indian Teepee | Smallable  3. Silver Knob Voice Recorder | Acorn Toy Shop  4. Harlequin Guitar | Eeny Meeny Kids  5. Gold Piggy Bank | Unica Home  6. Calafant Castle | Smallable

For Girls: 1. Itsy Bitsy Valentines and Mailbox | HearthSong  2. Stars Mini-Stilts | Non-Toxic Tots  3. The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm | Anthropologie  4. Wooden Toy Sewing Machine | Bella Luna Toys  5. Accordian | Magic Beans  6. Lille Huset Langley House | Acorn Toy Shop  7. Kitten Caboodle | Arks and Animals

DISCOVER: The Tree Farm

This was finally the year of our first real Christmas tree! Living in small apartments for so many years where space was such a precious commodity, we never had anything very big. I dragged a reluctant husband up to the tree farm to cut down our own (he's still such a city boy at heart). Turns out he had so much fun, he started talking on our drive home about doing the same thing all over again next year! I loved being that happy family on the road with their newfound Christmas tree tied to the top. :) London couldn't stop running from tree to tree, getting happily lost and standing on stumps pretending she herself was a Christmas tree. The farm was just such a charming little place, with free cider and cookies and lots of warm smiles. Can't wait to go back!