Toybox News

Decorating your child's room should be fun and exciting for all involved. The most important thing to remember when planning or decorating your child's room is to keep the decor age appropriate. You wouldn't want to decorate your 3 year old daughter's room in the same style as your 13 year old daughter's room. That doesn't mean you have to start decorating all over every few years. What it means is that you should strive to create a room that will grow with your little girl /little boy but is age appropriate. Some helpful tips follow.Get a feel for what colors your child likes. If they are fairly young show them a box of crayons and let them pick out their favorite colors. Use those colors as...

When we found out we were having twins, our teenage daughter volunteered to move into a smaller bedroom so that the twins could have the bigger one. It was definitely time to come up with a new bedroom theme! We also didn't have much space to work with or a lot of money to spend. So when we moved her into the smaller bedroom, she decided to decorate with a black and white theme.The walls were already white, so that part was easy. Having the walls white also makes the room look as large as possible.As a school project, our daughter repainted an old cabinet that was mine when I was growing up. She sanded it, painted it white, and then decoupaged onto the cabinet black and white photos (mostly scenery...

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...

Don't you love the colors of spring and summer? Many flowers are in full bloom, delighting the senses with their beauty and fragrances. It always amazes me how quickly these seasons pass.Just a few short weeks ago our flowering cherry trees were in full bloom. I captured them as a backdrop for a photo of our twin boys catching a ride with dad on the riding lawn mower. Only days later a strong breeze blew all the beautiful flowers away and all I have is the photo to remember them.If you have a digital camera, you too can capture the beauty of your spring and summer flowers. I am by no means a professional photographer. I wouldn't even consider myself an amateur...maybe a novice at best...

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...

Colors have many different meanings. Have you ever been in a blue room, feeling calm and relaxed, and then walked into a red room and you began to feel chatty and excited? The change in your mood wasn't just coincidence - it was an actual psychological and physiological response to the colors of the rooms. When you are planning to decorate your home, the colors of your rooms should be one of your first considerations. You want to choose colors that you're not only comfortable with, but also colors that will create the right types of moods for both you and your guests in each room.Let's start with some of the more common colors: Blue is a calming, relaxing color. The color is good for bedrooms but...

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...

'Bedroom accessories' has become a catchall title for all items, furnishings, shelving systems, bedding, and linens found in a bedroom. Your bedroom is typically a room in whish you wish to shut the world out, take a break from the day, and relax. When buying bedroom accessories, make sure you are buying something that will enhance your bedrooms value to you.Shelves are very useful bedroom accessories. These handy furnishings allow you to organize your belongings much more efficiently. Organization is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your bedroom. Shelves come in many shapes and sizes, the shelves that will work best for your bedroom, depend largely on the types of things you wish...

The list of baby girls names that are the most popular can help you when considering which names are the best baby names for girls. Choosing her name is fun for the parents, family and friends, and her name will be something she will live with the rest of her life. Keep these tips in mind when looking at the list of baby girls names and selecting baby names for girls:1. Select names based on their meanings -- a positive meaning adds to the enjoyment of her name both now and later in life.2. Decide if you prefer popular names or unique names. The list of baby girls names below are the most popular names in the USA since the year 2000. If you choose a unique name, be careful. Constantly having...

Through the miracle of modern technology, this Halloween you can enjoy your candy corn without gaining weight. Try using the little goodies in some fun kids' activities and games. And if you work at it hard enough, maybe you'll even burn off a few calories! And remember, October 30th is national candy corn day. There's no better way to celebrate than with some fun candy corn games.Candy Corn HuntsLittle people love hunting games. Hide ten pieces of candy corn in a room - under the couch, behind the door, on the windowsill. You might need to throw out a few "getting warmer/colder" clues to help in the process. If you leave them uncovered, even the smallest hunters will be able to find their...

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...

You've spent the time and effort to bake your delicious homemade cookie gifts, now it's time to package them!Don't spoil all your hard work with boring cookie boxes and packaging ideas.You want cookie gifts that say "Yummy!" - Perception is everything!First impressions are truly important. So it's unavoidable that you make a little effort to package your home-baked treats.But where do you start? Here it is...Theme: Think about what the theme is for your cookie gift packages. For example, it is a birthday gift or for Christmas holiday giving? Perhaps it's for your Valentine? Use the theme on your packaging.Ingredients: What are the main flavors or the cookie ingredients you used? Apply this element...

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...

Just two months ago, a group of mothers from three generations (Gen Y, Gen X and Baby Boomer demographics) shared their buying habits with retailers and manufacturers on purchasing childrens bedroom furniture and baby products. This occurred at the fifth annual Kids Today conference in Bonita Springs Florida.Author and entrepreneur Maria Bailey, an executive in the fields of publishing, marketing, and business development, was the keynote speaker at the conference and a moderator for the panel. Maria Bailey has worked for numerous companies, including Automation USA, AutoNation, Discovery Zone, The Miami Herald, Broward Community College, and McDonald's. Her experience as an executive and the mother...

One of the most popular themes for baby showers is Winnie the Pooh. Of course that classic bear that is so huggable and loveable he reminds us of a wonderful time filled with childhood innocence. So why not use Winnie the Pooh for your next baby shower theme. It is something that everyone can relate to and enjoy. There are a lot of other reasons that a Winnie the Pooh baby shower themes can be so popular. We have created a list of some of the reasons:Unknown gender?How is that for practical? Trying to plan a baby shower theme around a baby that the sex is unknown can be very difficult. Really the only option then is to use a color or season for the theme. However Winnie the Pooh comes to the...

Are you looking for new ideas to decorate your kid's room? Give the room some longevity by choosing background elements that are long lasting. Then use accessories, bedding, and inexpensive area rugs to create easily changeable themes. Unlike the other rooms in your home, which mostly reflect your personality, decorating kids rooms requires a slightly different approach.Whether you're a first-time parent or a veteran, decorating kid's rooms is not child's play. It's a quite complex process where an adult has to incorporate all the safety features and blend them with childlike fantasy.The room should be an expression of the child's identity, not yours. But children change, so you need...

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...

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...

One of the best benefits of marriage is that you have a permanent dating partner. Don't let the fun end after the honeymoon. Here are some ideas for fun dates.1. Spend an afternoon at the opera. These aren't as expensive as you might think. Check out a local college for possible discounts on campus performances. If you go, be sure to check out the plot of the story beforehand.2.Sample a variety of cafe's.Instead of just staying at one restaurant, have dinner at one place and dessert at another. Try to find places within walking distance, this way you can enjoy the scenery.3.Head to the zoo. The zoo can be quite a fascinating place. Check out everything from pengiuns to gorillas. If you're more of an...

My daughter just turned 21. My son is 16 1/2. I am 54. Hmmmm. Are they old or am I? I guess it depends on your point of view. But no matter what my age the empty nest syndrome is quickly approaching. I have had to start thinking about the empty house in my future. How will I feel when their bedrooms are empty and devoid of the sounds of life of the ones so precious to me, no matter how annoying a few of those sounds are?. Their faces won't be readily available to kiss, or their bodies always there to hug everyday. Or when I no longer HAVE to get up or stay awake for them, or work my day around picups???..the list is endless.How will my heart feel when I am no longer needed in that way...

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...

Colors have many different meanings. Have you ever been in a blue room, feeling calm and relaxed, and then walked into a red room and you began to feel chatty and excited? The change in your mood wasn't just coincidence - it was an actual psychological and physiological response to the colors of the rooms. When you are planning to decorate your home, the colors of your rooms should be one of your first considerations. You want to choose colors that you're not only comfortable with, but also colors that will create the right types of moods for both you and your guests in each room.Let's start with some of the more common colors: Blue is a calming, relaxing color. The color is good for bedrooms but...

Your bedroom is your sanctuary so you want it to be delightful and inviting. Here are 10 great ideas to inspire you to create the bedroom of your dreams.1. Using Accents In Your Bedroom - The most delightful accent is to make generous use of decorative pillows. Pile your bed high with them using a variety of sizes and styles, colors and patterns. Layered pillows give a lush feel to any bedroom. Candles serve a dual purpose as an accent item. They can add a splash of color and they can give a wonderful mood altering scent. The scent of your bedroom really is quite important, so the judicious use of potpourri can be the perfect finishing touch.2. A Lovely Idea For A Little Girl's Room - Bring...

I think today wherever there's a human being, there's a pair of speakers. Perhaps you can't imagine your living without your home theater system. In the bedroom, you still want to listen to your favorite Cd's. The shortest car ride is unbearable without a decent stereo and a pair of speakers. Newly, this goes for boat rides, too. The more recent wireless technology allows you to have speakers in the garden, in the garage or wherever you have things to do.But loudspeaker manufacturers don't settle for this, when it comes to outdoor use. They want speakers that black out and melt into the environment. They want 100% weatherproof. They want naturalistic design. And the answer to all their wishes has...

My husband and I have been blessed with twin boys. Our boys are 18 months old now, and I often tell my husband that God must have a sense of humor to give someone twin toddler boys. Some days it doesn't seem very funny!Yesterday, during the same 15 minute phone call, one son decided to crawl up onto a chair and then the dining room table, and I found the other one in his bedroom where he had pulled out all of his dresser drawers, climbed up the drawers, and was standing on top of his dresser looking down into his fish tank. There is never a dull moment in our home.During the past few months I have discovered what my boys most love to do and what keeps them busy for even short periods of...

Just two months ago, a group of mothers from three generations (Gen Y, Gen X and Baby Boomer demographics) shared their buying habits with retailers and manufacturers on purchasing childrens bedroom furniture and baby products. This occurred at the fifth annual Kids Today conference in Bonita Springs Florida.Author and entrepreneur Maria Bailey, an executive in the fields of publishing, marketing, and business development, was the keynote speaker at the conference and a moderator for the panel. Maria Bailey has worked for numerous companies, including Automation USA, AutoNation, Discovery Zone, The Miami Herald, Broward Community College, and McDonald's. Her experience as an executive and the mother...

Just two months ago, a group of mothers from three generations (Gen Y, Gen X and Baby Boomer demographics) shared their buying habits with retailers and manufacturers on purchasing childrens bedroom furniture and baby products. This occurred at the fifth annual Kids Today conference in Bonita Springs Florida.Author and entrepreneur Maria Bailey, an executive in the fields of publishing, marketing, and business development, was the keynote speaker at the conference and a moderator for the panel. Maria Bailey has worked for numerous companies, including Automation USA, AutoNation, Discovery Zone, The Miami Herald, Broward Community College, and McDonald's. Her experience as an executive and the mother...

Decorating your child's room should be fun and exciting for all involved. The most important thing to remember when planning or decorating your child's room is to keep the decor age appropriate. You wouldn't want to decorate your 3 year old daughter's room in the same style as your 13 year old daughter's room. That doesn't mean you have to start decorating all over every few years. What it means is that you should strive to create a room that will grow with your little girl /little boy but is age appropriate. Some helpful tips follow.Get a feel for what colors your child likes. If they are fairly young show them a box of crayons and let them pick out their favorite colors. Use those colors as...

Just two months ago, a group of mothers from three generations (Gen Y, Gen X and Baby Boomer demographics) shared their buying habits with retailers and manufacturers on purchasing childrens bedroom furniture and baby products. This occurred at the fifth annual Kids Today conference in Bonita Springs Florida.Author and entrepreneur Maria Bailey, an executive in the fields of publishing, marketing, and business development, was the keynote speaker at the conference and a moderator for the panel. Maria Bailey has worked for numerous companies, including Automation USA, AutoNation, Discovery Zone, The Miami Herald, Broward Community College, and McDonald's. Her experience as an executive and the mother...

Nine months of pregnancy seems an eternity when you get that little pink positive on the test stick. In this day and age, we no longer have to wait until we start having symptoms of pregnancy, which can start as late as 8 or 10 weeks for some. Instead, we have pregnancy tests that will determine a positive just days after conception. This can make the pregnancy journey seem even longer!While you are growing, suffering morning sickness and anxiously awaiting the new addition to the family, here are a few ways to memorialize your pregnancy; both for yourself and to pass along to the child in the future.Write ItIf you don't already, now is a great time to take up journaling. A hardback journal to...

Through the miracle of modern technology, this Halloween you can enjoy your candy corn without gaining weight. Try using the little goodies in some fun kids' activities and games. And if you work at it hard enough, maybe you'll even burn off a few calories! And remember, October 30th is national candy corn day. There's no better way to celebrate than with some fun candy corn games.Candy Corn HuntsLittle people love hunting games. Hide ten pieces of candy corn in a room - under the couch, behind the door, on the windowsill. You might need to throw out a few "getting warmer/colder" clues to help in the process. If you leave them uncovered, even the smallest hunters will be able to find their...

Through the miracle of modern technology, this Halloween you can enjoy your candy corn without gaining weight. Try using the little goodies in some fun kids' activities and games. And if you work at it hard enough, maybe you'll even burn off a few calories! And remember, October 30th is national candy corn day. There's no better way to celebrate than with some fun candy corn games.Candy Corn HuntsLittle people love hunting games. Hide ten pieces of candy corn in a room - under the couch, behind the door, on the windowsill. You might need to throw out a few "getting warmer/colder" clues to help in the process. If you leave them uncovered, even the smallest hunters will be able to find their...

Not too long ago, kids seldom complained playing house with some old bed sheets or garments lying around the house which would provide them with endless hours of fun. Not the children of today. They are now more demanding and will give their parents a hard time if they don't get them something more realistic, high-tech and colorful. Worried parents, who can't figure out what to buy for their kids, can find a very helpful remedy in play tents.There is a wide variety of play tents available on the market so selection should be based on size (number of children the tent can accommodate), outdoor or indoor purpose, material, design and features such as water-resistant floor, mosquito mesh etc.Pacific...

When we found out we were having twins, our teenage daughter volunteered to move into a smaller bedroom so that the twins could have the bigger one. It was definitely time to come up with a new bedroom theme! We also didn't have much space to work with or a lot of money to spend. So when we moved her into the smaller bedroom, she decided to decorate with a black and white theme.The walls were already white, so that part was easy. Having the walls white also makes the room look as large as possible.As a school project, our daughter repainted an old cabinet that was mine when I was growing up. She sanded it, painted it white, and then decoupaged onto the cabinet black and white photos (mostly scenery...

When we found out we were having twins, our teenage daughter volunteered to move into a smaller bedroom so that the twins could have the bigger one. It was definitely time to come up with a new bedroom theme! We also didn't have much space to work with or a lot of money to spend. So when we moved her into the smaller bedroom, she decided to decorate with a black and white theme.The walls were already white, so that part was easy. Having the walls white also makes the room look as large as possible.As a school project, our daughter repainted an old cabinet that was mine when I was growing up. She sanded it, painted it white, and then decoupaged onto the cabinet black and white photos (mostly scenery...