Toy Swap?

As far as I can tell, we are all finding creative ways to weather this recession. Yesterday I saw a friend who sewed lace over a cheap-o black skirt from Old Navy and--no joke--I asked her if the skirt was Marni. Kudos S--will you make me one please?

I am not sure I have the skill to transform my Target duds to masterpieces just yet. But I did happen upon this site that may save me some money on toys. An idea after the heart of your most hard-core "Uncle" who can "get it cheaper", Toy Swap fulfills most moms' dual desires to save precious cash and reduce clutter, all the while being able to offer the kids new stuff. Win, win, win, no?

Some of how it works:

• Free membership for buying or selling


• First swap is free


• More than 10,000 members trade toys within seven clear price ranges.


• The site collects a $1 fee for each swap.


• Categories list all toys currently up for grabs, including any that you list; you work out a swap for desired toys via email with other members.


• All correspondence and agreements go through the Toy Swap site manager.

I'm curious--has anybody tried this?? I am doing the happy dance at the prospect of getting some of the myriad crap out of my house and trading it for brand new...crap...!

Talent Show

I am guilty of buying my son toys that I think will "make him smarter." The "computer" that ostensibly teaches kids to read. The board books with words in three languages. The "we're not really flashcards" flashcards. Shockingly, he has opted out of engaging with these materials I so lovingly provide him. He has instead spent many an hour playing with my necklaces, paper bags and, on one notable occasion, an extremely disgusting bathroom plunger (good times).

D's teacher often says (in a voice so calm it borders on meditation--how a person whose job consists of watching 25 toddlers day in and day out maintains such calm is beyond me): "Children like to work with real things." (Yes "work": The sometimes wonderful and sometimes slightly bizarre jargon of Montessori schools). I always nodded my head in agreement but only recently have come to see this as true.

Case in point: D has become obsessed with my camera. Obsessed as in he wears it around his neck all the time and threw a tantrum because I wouldn't let him keep it on in the bath. He can spend hours taking shots and then looking through them. And, in my obviously objective and unbiased opinion, I think he is a budding ARTISTE. Here are some of his many, many masterpieces-- don't worry about calling Annie Liebowitz, I've already left a couple messages...!:


The word that comes to mind? GENIUS! Heh.

It makes sense right? That kids will eschew the force-feeding "educational tools" for the stuff that can foster more organic creativity? I consistently learn that kids are smarter than most adults give them credit for. Who wouldn't want to play with a real phone versus some Crayola-colored fake monstrosity? A real camera versus one that coos and makes other really annoying sounds that can only approximate the cool experience of taking a photo? It makes sense.

Plus: Any excuse to forego the Toys R Us scene is good by me.

Rajasthani Fashionistas

Now here are some dolls I wish I could procure for my daughter-to-be. One of my current blog-obsessions, Masala Chai, recently posted this piece about Marie Claire India's Rajasthani puppet project:

The Rajasthani puppet - a symbol of storytelling, vintage India-style - got a
Marie Claire makeover when, to celebrate our second anniversary, designers were
invited to drape two-feet-high puppets in their signature styles. The unique
fashion installation at the anniversary parties in Delhi and Mumbai -- in
everything from Swarovski slippers with chiffon dresses to leather gowns,
block-printed tunics to finely pleated mulmul ghaghras with intricate zardozi -
became a new form of storytelling in fashion. The hugely popular puppets now
take the pride of place on our fashion awards logo as well as form the signature
art emblem of MC's Made in India series.

Some of India's most prominent designers--including Manish Arora, Varun Bahl, and Gurpreet Pia--participated in the project, resulting in some breath-taking, cutting-edge design draping the traditional dolls. The juxtaposition is awesome--if only American Girl Place could take some cues!

Two Things I'm Not Going to Buy

Did you (secretly or not-so-secretly) watch the Real Housewives of New York City? I did. Sometimes secretly. Sometimes in the open. It was a trainwreck, bejeweled and with great shoes. The true "star" of the show, in terms of trainwreck magnitude, was Alex McCord, who (1) unapologetically explained that she and her creepily- feminine husband, Simon, went to events in New York city in order to meet "socially important" people; (2) pretentiously insisted that her children speak French at all times, for no good reason; and (3) sat by with the calm of a Valium-addict and watched her children throw tantrums of epic proportion...and then insisted that her kids were the most well-behaved children she has ever encountered. Apparently being a social-climbing, affected mother with bad hair and a penchance for ill-fitting, extremely expensive clothing is what makes a "parenting expert" these days: Alex and Simon are co-authoring a parenting book based on their experiences with their children. For a bit more flavor, keep in mind that these are the same people who woefully explained on television that their kindergardener only got into his "15th choice" school and then immediately set on the path of finding the "right" people to get him into a better school. In between looking for photos of themselves in the paper.

Then there is this new "toy" that Janie T in Ohio emailed me about: Kidsling, a toddler-sized version of baby carrier sling. First of all, can't our kids just use the huge pile of baby crap we already have in our homes if they really want to copy us? Secondly, is it just me, or is there something a little creepy about seeing children pretending to hold babies and stroller them around in those mini-strollers? I know this is probably not a popular thing to say and I know it's natural for kids to mimic their parents, but something about it feels funny to me. Like our kids are these mini-adults. Or, to go further, what about our kids wanting to mimic us nursing a baby while the baby is in the sling. Is this as "cute" and "adorable" as some people find the notion of kids toting around their stuffed animals?

Then again, I suppose every little kid has a doll of some sort so maybe I'm the crazy one.

Speaking of dolls: Have you seen the new "American Girl" doll Sonali? She is only the third non-white doll the ridiculously popular AG outfit has put out (check this out if you are unfamiliar with the AG phenom) and, according to the official AG literature, she is "at least part South Asian" and "she is also quite smart." She is also depicted as one of the "mean girls" of the AG pack, which I hope doesn't influence the legions of little Brown Girls who will buy her too much. Thanks to Parul in Chicago for the tip!