A House We Can All Afford

One of the great holiday traditions is making a gingerbread house. Unfortunately, I've never participated in this great tradition, since my baking skills are only so-so, and my construction skills are at a rudimentary preschool block level.

But, my inadequacy shouldn't deny my child one of the holiday season's offerings, right? I was flipping through the King Arthur Flour catalog (yes, they do sell flour, lots of flour, but they also sell all things baking), and I came across this Gingerbread House Making Kit. And get this: there's NO baking required! It's the ultimate cheat, with pre-baked and shaped gingerbread, a special tray to hold the structure steady, and tons of icing and candy. Because you know, your kid doesn't care about the shaping and baking part; he just wants to dress it up and eat the candy.

You won't need to take out a second mortgage for this house. It's just $16.95. That's a bargain for a full afternoon of messy, sugary fun. Find it at the venerable King Arthur site.

The Toad Says "Boo" to the Switch Witch

Parenting in L.A. means putting up with a lot of helicopter parents. They mean well, they really do, but their collective issues, fears and stuff mean that they try to control every little thing in their kids' lives.

Take Halloween, for instance. It's already been somewhat ruined by the idea that kids in masks might get abducted by creepy adults in masks (a completely debunked fear; Halloween was recently named the safest night of the year for kids). Now, parents trail after their children, controlling the trick or treating on every level. Who will TP the neighbor's house? Who will experience the blast of being sans parents, outside, at night, for a brief 45 minutes. Not our kids. Sad.

But you know what's even sadder? Now the parents control the candy consumption through a bogus new myth called the Switch Witch. The idea is that the kids can eat candy up through Halloween, but after that must leave their hard earned sugar on the front porch, for the Switch Witch to whisk away and replace with a toy. Huh? Really? Whatever happened to just letting the kid keep the candy? What's the worst thing that could happen? Sugar highs? A few spoiled dinners? Halloween candy consumption is not only a childhood tradition, but it's an excellent way to find out if your child can delay gratification. My kid, for instance, will stash the stuff and dole it out to herself over weeks. What's wrong with that? And why, really, would I ever take the candy away from her and replace it with some crappy toy made in China?

And you know what's really at the bottom of this Switch Witch nonsense? Parents who can't control themselves. Yep, the Switch Witch is simply an extension of their sugar-craving, chocolate-seeking, food-issue suffering tendencies. The parents want the candy out of the house so they won't eat it. That's just so pathetic. So I say "boo" to the Switch Witch. You want to get rid of that candy? Show some character and have your kids donate it to the troops overseas. God knows they could use a little sweetness.

Bad Idea

Sometimes, there's a fashion item that's just so bad, I have to comment. Last time, it was the "harem pants" jeans, a slouchy crotched pant that was guaranteed to be unflattering on everyone. They were the great fashion leveler, and the only reason I could think of to purchase them was if you needed a little extra room for jumbo-sized Depends.

But these pants make me shudder. Produced by Marc Jacobs (a designer I think is fairly overexposed), these "Relaxed Cropped Jeans" manage to combine some of the worst fashion of the last forty years. I mean, jeez, check them out! It's as if a pair of super high waisted pleated khakis worn by a fifty-something midwestern man mated with the most heinous LL Bean mom jeans, to produce the most heinous pair of pants in history. Think about it: these jeans are modeled on a fourteen year old girl who only ingests romaine lettuce and Ex-Lax, yet they still manage to make her look like a walking dump. Just think what they'd look like on you.

Obviously, this is not a recommendation, so there is no link. There is no reason to purchase these, unless you know a cross-dressing fifty-something midwestern man who might appreciate them.

Irresistible Forces

There's all kinds of wild games and toys out there, involving batteries and outlets, assembly and parental cursing. But what I've found is, in the end, nature's forces often deliver the most interesting toys.

I'm a big fan of magnetic toys, for instance, and so is my daughter. Bucky Balls (that collection of tiny magnetic balls) have been a hit around here. But this magnetic putty has definite possibilities. This picture makes it look like a rock, but it's actually a moldable putty. It's accompanied by a very powerful magnet; hold the square away from the putty, and watch the putty "reach," tentacle-like, to try and join it. Fascinating. Of course, the putty's good for all the usual magnet tricks, sending paper clips rocketing toward it, getting it stuck to the fridge, etc. Just don't get it near your credit cards, or I have a feeling they'll be permanently de-magnetized.

Find this very animated "rock" at Uncommon Goods. At just $14 a pop, it's a pretty cheap elemental thrill.

Call It Macaroni!

There always reaches a point during the weekend when the kids start whining. You think, "What can I do with them?" And then you curse your sheer laziness of not looking through the paper, or searching online, for stuff to do with kids in Los Angeles.

Well, it's not your fault. You're busy. So you know what you do next time you're stuck with screaming, dissatisfied progeny (besides screaming back)? Look up Macaroni Kids Pasadena. This brilliant site has done the legwork for you. Publisher Lauren Albrecht finds the best events and activities in the east L.A. area (an area which, by the way, has the richest cultural events in the Basin, at least in this humble Toad's opinion), writes them up, and sends them out for you to peruse. You can set up your own list of events on the site, read through the well-written, well-researched write ups, or just click on the calendar (or This Week's Picks) for immediate info, fast. And holidays are given special attention: you'll find a guide to Halloween pumpkin patches and festivals, just an easy click away. Lauren even writes about projects you can do with your kids at home. Plus, the site delivers the latest museum free events. It's such an excellent resource.

So, there's a lot to love about Macaroni Kids Pasadena. Check it out here. And then plan a whine-free weekend (or vacation for visiting little people), absolutely effortlessly.

A Brush With Success

As I have repeatedly stated, this is not a beauty blog. But, if I run across a beauty product that's superior and is therefore gift-worthy, I write about it.

So, take a gander at this Denman brush. My kid has the thickest head of hair ever; when properly brushed she looks like a Breck girl, when tangled saying it's a rat's nest would be kind. We've tried all kinds of brushes. Many, including those super expensive Mason Pearson models with the boar bristles, get an epic fail. These brushes only reach the top layers of hair, smoothing them and disguising the nightmare underneath. By the time the tangles are discovered, the hair's been washed and the tangles are wet, creating a kicking and screaming situation (if you've ever tried to detangle your own hair, you're familiar with the pain). But this Denman brush with plastic bristles, a sturdy handle and a red rubber base, cuts through the static (literally, it's static fighting) and renders even the thickest hair gleaming and smooth, all the way through. No small feat. Another bonus: the base slides off for easy cleaning, because nothing's worse than finding a Sasquatch living in your fancy brush, with no easy way to evict it.

These brushes are under $20, making them an excellent stocking stuffer or part of a beauty basket gift. Find a wide assortment at Ball Beauty. And may you and yours be blessed with successful brushing.

Pantone, The Toad Loves You

Around when I started this blog, I posted about the Pantone mugs (I believe I was one of the first to do so, although of course I cannot prove this, so you'll have to take my amphibious word of honor on it). Next thing I knew, the mugs were everywhere, the darlings of product media (and no wonder, since the media is surrounded by graphic design and anything Pantone makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside).

Pantone has, of course, extended its product line since, to include things like wallets, but they never really took off. These fabulously Pantone hued tin boxes, however, are a real winner. Can't you just see a stack of these on a desk, holding various supplies? How about using them as fabulous gift boxes for homemade cookies or candy (hell, just buy the candy and stuff it in the box, who cares?). They're soooo pretty. And if you know anyone with a graphics or publishing background, they're a surefire hit.

At $28 a pop, they're not super cheap, but as I said above you can put just about anything in one and it makes a jiffy quick gift. It took me forever to get gifted my own set of Pantone mugs (thanks, Jane), but I think this time I'm gonna gift myself a stack of nifty boxes. So there. At A+R.