Toybox News

Modern style for children has been in the background for decades. Even after venerated design duo Charles and Ray Eames made a mini plywood chair for tots and Isamu Noguchi made modern history with his Bakelite Radio Nurse baby monitor, a home’s modern style never really made it past the nursery room door. And that’s a pretty strange phenomenon, especially because little ones are the most modern-minded people out there. “Kids are great barometers of good modern design,” says Eric Pfieffer, an award winning designer creating pieces both big and little kids can appreciate. “They don’t know one style from another, and they don’t really care if a table is...

When it comes to decorating a child's room, your approach should be much different from decorating an adult bedroom. For kids, their bedroom is where they play games, read, listen to music, day-dream, or just go to be alone sometimes. So use these eight strategies to help create a space that will make you both happy: 1. Talk to your child. Find out what activities and fantasies he or she enjoys; what their favorite color is; and what's unique about their personality that a theme could be built around. 2. Allow your child to help. Let them have a say about colors, fabrics, and how they want to display their collectibles. 3. Make the room multi-functional. Since children use their room for many...

Theme parties are always great fun for any child's birthday party.Does your child have a favorite movie, book, TV show, favorite character, or maybe your child likes animals or has a favorite sport or past time. Well how about using one of your child's favorites as the theme for their birthday party.Planning Your PartyIf your child is old enough, sit down with them and ask what kind of theme they'd like for their party. Then, keeping your budget in mind, as well as space limitations and preparation time, choose a theme and start making plans.Once you've decided on a theme for your child's birthday party, you'll find that everything begins to fall right in place.Kid Birthday Party InvitationsYou and...

When it comes to kids room decorating ideas the possibilities are endless. Some ideas for kids room decorating ideas include using colors, prints, and themes. Keep in mind that there are seven major areas to interior decorating and the kids room is no exception. These seven areas include floors, walls, lighting, accessories, furniture, plants, and fabrics or textiles. By working in all of these seven areas, you are sure to have a successful experience when you decorate your kids room. If you need inspiration, you can always browse the Internet, books, or magazines, for photos that will trigger your creativity and help set the decorating wheels in motion.You can use photos to help...

I don't consider myself an expert interior decorator. In fact, I'm quite an amateur, but do enjoy do-it-yourself home decorating. When my husband and I found out we were expecting twins, we were both very excited to decorate the babies' bedroom.My husband and I compromised on a nursery theme. We agreed that even if we had boys (which we did end up having--two!), that I could decorate the nursery with a Beatrix Potter theme, but after two years it was my husband's turn to re-decorate their room with a race car or airplane theme.We started out by choosing a paint color for the walls. We chose "Pooh Bear Yellow" made by Behr paint. We painted all of the walls yellow. We then painted a...

Unusual baby boy names and finding exotic and unique baby names can be loads of fun! Rather than giving your baby boy a name like Jacob, John or Harry -- you'd prefer him have one of the more exotic and unique baby names.There are several ways to find unusual baby boy names. Here are some suggestions:1. Start with the most popular names being given to baby boys. For parents living in the USA, you can easily find this kind of information by visiting the Social Security Administration's website (click on the link at the bottom of this page to go to the direct link to the SSA baby names search). See which names that are popular are also unusual baby boy names. You can view the most popular names...

An overlooked, and most likely long-ago forgotten film, Quick Change is a humorous bank robber comedy which more than adequately fills one's need for a great night of entertainment. Featuring a clever plotline (which surprisingly didn't spawn a series of bone-headed copycat crimes!), the movie employs the humorous antics of Bill Murray, Geena Davis, and Randy Quaid. With little to offer in the way of 'memorable' by cinematic standards (aside from the clever plot device), Quick Change is nevertheless a decidedly funny comedy unrelenting in its humor...

Feng shui indicates some specific guidelines regarding children's spaces and bedrooms. The way we decorate them and the way we distribute the furniture should be done by following those principles in order to achieve harmony and help your children feel comfortable in that space.One first important aspect to have into account about a child's room is the colors within it. You should pay special attention to the colors you choose for this space, not only for the walls but for the decoration in general. According to feng shui, a child's room should be in earth colors such as light oranges, terracotta or warm yellows. These colors would make them feel safe.Colors that are cold, such as blue or gray...

Since kids tend to start and end the day in the bathroom, giving it a "good vibe" is important. Bright colors and fun touches will help them start and end the day with a smile. But decorating a child's bathroom isn't all about fun, you want it to be functional, too. Making it easy for your kids to keep their bathroom tidy is an added bonus.Since most bathroom spaces are small, save the murals for the kids' bedrooms. A lively shade is all that's needed to bring bathroom walls to life. Naturally, if you're going with a theme, it will dictate the color you choose. For example, turquoise is a perfect fit for an underwater scheme, a sky fantasy bathroom might have walls painted robin's egg blue...

When it comes to kids room decorating ideas the possibilities are endless. Some ideas for kids room decorating ideas include using colors, prints, and themes. Keep in mind that there are seven major areas to interior decorating and the kids room is no exception. These seven areas include floors, walls, lighting, accessories, furniture, plants, and fabrics or textiles. By working in all of these seven areas, you are sure to have a successful experience when you decorate your kids room. If you need inspiration, you can always browse the Internet, books, or magazines, for photos that will trigger your creativity and help set the decorating wheels in motion.You can use photos to help...

I don't consider myself an expert interior decorator. In fact, I'm quite an amateur, but do enjoy do-it-yourself home decorating. When my husband and I found out we were expecting twins, we were both very excited to decorate the babies' bedroom.My husband and I compromised on a nursery theme. We agreed that even if we had boys (which we did end up having--two!), that I could decorate the nursery with a Beatrix Potter theme, but after two years it was my husband's turn to re-decorate their room with a race car or airplane theme.We started out by choosing a paint color for the walls. We chose "Pooh Bear Yellow" made by Behr paint. We painted all of the walls yellow. We then painted a...

Redecorating a bedroom need not be outrageously expensive. While a new bed may be a very healthy investment, you can redecorate the bedroom less expensively. Online shopping sites share their tips for bedroom decor without breaking your budget. You'll see they give differing opinions and some great ideas.All the vendor sites stated advantages to shopping online for bedroom furniture. Among the advantages are savings on gas and parking, greater variety than you normally find in a brick and mortar store, a possible break on sales tax, and the relaxed atmosphere of shopping from home without a sales person tagging along. Online retailers tend to offer more competitive discounts than traditional brick...

When it comes to kids room decorating ideas the possibilities are endless. Some ideas for kids room decorating ideas include using colors, prints, and themes. Keep in mind that there are seven major areas to interior decorating and the kids room is no exception. These seven areas include floors, walls, lighting, accessories, furniture, plants, and fabrics or textiles. By working in all of these seven areas, you are sure to have a successful experience when you decorate your kids room. If you need inspiration, you can always browse the Internet, books, or magazines, for photos that will trigger your creativity and help set the decorating wheels in motion.You can use photos to help...

Since kids tend to start and end the day in the bathroom, giving it a "good vibe" is important. Bright colors and fun touches will help them start and end the day with a smile. But decorating a child's bathroom isn't all about fun, you want it to be functional, too. Making it easy for your kids to keep their bathroom tidy is an added bonus.Since most bathroom spaces are small, save the murals for the kids' bedrooms. A lively shade is all that's needed to bring bathroom walls to life. Naturally, if you're going with a theme, it will dictate the color you choose. For example, turquoise is a perfect fit for an underwater scheme, a sky fantasy bathroom might have walls painted robin's egg blue...

I don't consider myself an expert interior decorator. In fact, I'm quite an amateur, but do enjoy do-it-yourself home decorating. When my husband and I found out we were expecting twins, we were both very excited to decorate the babies' bedroom.My husband and I compromised on a nursery theme. We agreed that even if we had boys (which we did end up having--two!), that I could decorate the nursery with a Beatrix Potter theme, but after two years it was my husband's turn to re-decorate their room with a race car or airplane theme.We started out by choosing a paint color for the walls. We chose "Pooh Bear Yellow" made by Behr paint. We painted all of the walls yellow. We then painted a...

Why not use your child's favorite toys to play some great games together? All it takes is a dash of imagination to create a host of little kids' games that you can play again and again.Wooden building blocksGet involved. Sit down with your child one day when he's busy building. Start arranging blocks in a long line and tell him you're building a lo-o-o-ng wall. He'll love to join in. Build the wall together with a lot of oohing and ahhing about what a wonderful wall this is!Now make it into a game. Who can build the longest wall? Or use blocks of one color. Can you make your red wall longer than my blue wall? Or go high and try the tallest tower competition!Your child will observe what you do as you...

Childhood Asthma - Getting Your Child Off Allergy MedicationsA child with asthma and allergies may not know that asthma and allergies is the number #1 chronic childhood disease.He also may not know that asthma claims more lives every year even though more treatments are available. It is a fact that there are over 3 million more Americans with asthma than there were 10 years ago. Why the rise in asthma and allergies?With todays busier society, our house-cleaning standard have plummeted. We also have become a generation of 'couch potatoes'...spending over 95% of our time indoors. Our homes are tightly insulated and limit ventilation of household irritants such as mold, smoke and chemicals.This all...

Throwing an animal theme party can be great fun. You might want to narrow down your animal theme to something smaller. From farm animals, zoo animals etc. this will give you a smaller group to work with. Fpr something smaller to work with go with just one animal group.For any animal theme you have a lot of room to do whatever you want. For a wider theme you can have a better chance of finding some animal themed invitation cards. Make sure you get them ready a good month before the party, that way you can send them out two to three weeks before your party.From there you can start getting the items for your animal theme. For each different animal theme you'll need different items. For a farm animal...

Let's start at the top - the ceiling. Painting a ceiling is a relatively easy way to change any room's appearance. You may want traditional white paint to match or coordinate with the walls, go for a contrast, or use one of the many different techniques available today. Get creative - it's not that difficult to paint over if you make a mistake. You might want to try hand painting wispy clouds on a sky blue ceiling. Or for more drama, how about stenciling gold stars and a moon on a midnight blue background. If painting's not your thing, there are tons of wallpaper choices to give the ceiling a different look and texture. Also attaching fabric, straw matting or even lattice to a ceiling will add...

I don't consider myself an expert interior decorator. In fact, I'm quite an amateur, but do enjoy do-it-yourself home decorating. When my husband and I found out we were expecting twins, we were both very excited to decorate the babies' bedroom.My husband and I compromised on a nursery theme. We agreed that even if we had boys (which we did end up having--two!), that I could decorate the nursery with a Beatrix Potter theme, but after two years it was my husband's turn to re-decorate their room with a race car or airplane theme.We started out by choosing a paint color for the walls. We chose "Pooh Bear Yellow" made by Behr paint. We painted all of the walls yellow. We then painted a...

I don't consider myself an expert interior decorator. In fact, I'm quite an amateur, but do enjoy do-it-yourself home decorating. When my husband and I found out we were expecting twins, we were both very excited to decorate the babies' bedroom.My husband and I compromised on a nursery theme. We agreed that even if we had boys (which we did end up having--two!), that I could decorate the nursery with a Beatrix Potter theme, but after two years it was my husband's turn to re-decorate their room with a race car or airplane theme.We started out by choosing a paint color for the walls. We chose "Pooh Bear Yellow" made by Behr paint. We painted all of the walls yellow. We then painted a...

Are they really free? Are they actually helpful? Why do writers subscribe to these lists? Why do people start lists for writers? While there's no definite answers to any of those questions, I can share some opinions of other writers, who have participated in discussion lists, and links to websites with more information so you can make your own decision! First let's start with the basics. An email discussion list is not the same as an ezine, an email newsletter or an announcement list. A discussion list is different because it allows you as a subscriber to post your own messages, as well as read and reply to messages from other subscribers. The ability to interact with other people is the...

When decorating your kids room or child's playroom one element you might want to consider including is a kid's room divider. Unlike room dividers for other rooms in the home, these ones are child sized and can perform many functions that are both decorative and practical.Kids room dividers can be used to divide a large room or separate their play space from the sleeping space in their bedrooms. You can use them in a child's room or in a playroom. Setting up a kid's room divider in the corner can add interest and can also give you a little extra storage space behind the divider.Room dividers for kids can have many functions, some for added storage, some for playtime and some for learning. they...

Decorating boys bedrooms with licensed characters and themes is an easy but expensive option. While most children do have a preferred character or theme that they would enjoy having in their rooms, there are more affordable ways to achieve a similar desired result...

Decorating boys bedrooms with licensed characters and themes is an easy but expensive option. While most children do have a preferred character or theme that they would enjoy having in their rooms, there are more affordable ways to achieve a similar desired result...

When it comes to kids room decorating ideas the possibilities are endless. Some ideas for kids room decorating ideas include using colors, prints, and themes. Keep in mind that there are seven major areas to interior decorating and the kids room is no exception. These seven areas include floors, walls, lighting, accessories, furniture, plants, and fabrics or textiles. By working in all of these seven areas, you are sure to have a successful experience when you decorate your kids room. If you need inspiration, you can always browse the Internet, books, or magazines, for photos that will trigger your creativity and help set the decorating wheels in motion.You can use photos to help...

I don't consider myself an expert interior decorator. In fact, I'm quite an amateur, but do enjoy do-it-yourself home decorating. When my husband and I found out we were expecting twins, we were both very excited to decorate the babies' bedroom.My husband and I compromised on a nursery theme. We agreed that even if we had boys (which we did end up having--two!), that I could decorate the nursery with a Beatrix Potter theme, but after two years it was my husband's turn to re-decorate their room with a race car or airplane theme.We started out by choosing a paint color for the walls. We chose "Pooh Bear Yellow" made by Behr paint. We painted all of the walls yellow. We then painted a...

Decorating boys bedrooms with licensed characters and themes is an easy but expensive option. While most children do have a preferred character or theme that they would enjoy having in their rooms, there are more affordable ways to achieve a similar desired result...

It's fun to buy stocking stuffers for teen girls. I keep on the look out for small gifts for my girls all throughout the year. Always looking for a good deal! I always use Christmas as an opportunity to give them the little treats they want and/or need throughout the year but that I don't want to spend the extra money for. Here are some items our teenage daughters will find in their Christmas stockings this year:$5 Starbucks card AA batteries for portable CD player/MP3 player Matching knit camisole/panties Fun fashionable socks Small hoop earrings Chocolates and hard candiesI try to find them things that they can use but will also not necessarily expect in their stockings. Listen for...

Are they really free? Are they actually helpful? Why do writers subscribe to these lists? Why do people start lists for writers? While there's no definite answers to any of those questions, I can share some opinions of other writers, who have participated in discussion lists, and links to websites with more information so you can make your own decision! First let's start with the basics. An email discussion list is not the same as an ezine, an email newsletter or an announcement list. A discussion list is different because it allows you as a subscriber to post your own messages, as well as read and reply to messages from other subscribers. The ability to interact with other people is the...

Do you really have to know how feeds work? Not really. But you do need to understand how they can benefit you as a consumer or as an information seeker.Feeds are simple, really. What's even more exciting is that they are extremely easy to use, and even better, they are completely safe from Viruses, being Spammed or receiving Junk Mail. How? Basically because there is no transfer of information to your computer.Unlike e-mail, which is a transfer of information (data), feeds are read from files stored on someone's server out in cyberspace. There is no transfer of data to your hard drive at all.Even better than e-mail, you control what information you read.Here's an example of how you would find, add...