Reindeer Pause

Reindeer Pause……

Chocolate lovers at your house will not pause long before going for these Reindeer created by Betty Crocker Wannabe. She has very clear cut how to instructions for you.

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Reindeer need food and you can make this magic surprise.

It was a busy day for us making Magic Reindeer Food. We have it ready for all the good little girls and boys visiting Totally Kids before Christmas.

Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
As Santa’s reindeer fly and roam.
This will guide them to your home.

Eco-friendly Reindeer Food requires no cooking and only 2 ingredients.

Ingredients per bag:

1/4 cup uncooked oatmeal

2 T red or green sugar crystals (cookie decorating sprinkles)

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Parents love stairway bunk beds so much you’d think the stairs went straight past the top bunk and all the  way to heaven. Not only do they save space like standard bunks, but the stairs provide additional safety and for top bunk sleepers plus…additional storage is tucked under the stairs.

Tucked into this stairway bed, listen closely for the Reindeer, then in the morning, go out side and see how the Reindeer enjoyed the Magic Reindeer Food.

Longest Night of the Year

This Tuesday morning an extremely rare event occurred. The shortest day of the year known as the winter solstice in astronomical circles and a lunar eclipse both happened on the very same day. The last time it occurred was more than 400 years ago and will probably take that long again before it happens again. It was rare,  it was special… and here in Minneapolis a blizzard blocked the night skies. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Moon In My Room

Moon in My Room brings the beauty and wonder of this celestial body right into your child’s bedroom. This remote controlled, glow-in-the-dark “mini moon” is contoured and textured to feature an authentically detailed lunar moonscape. A built in light-sensor illuminates a room when it gets dark and shows 12 phases of the moon. The phases can be controlled manually or set to rotate on an automatic function to change every five second, so that kids can follow the moon in the sky with the moon in their room.

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So, what fun things did you do on the longest night of the year? We had a jolly old time making Reindeer Root Beer for friends and neighbors.

All it takes is googly eyes, red pom pom attached with a hot glue gun and dark brown pipe cleaners to twist on top of the bottle. Then we enclose a message: with a message: We’re “rootn” that you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”

We could not resist dressing the winter ale bottles for a party Wednesday night.

 

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Candy Contest

The winner will be the person that guesses the exact or closest number of peppermint candy in the jar. Leave your guess on our Facebook page and we will announce the winner December 30st.  You will receive a $25.00 Totally Gift Card! Good Luck!

My Fair Share Is All I Want

Dear Santa Claus,

How have you been? Did you have a nice summer? How is your wife? I have been extra good this year, so I have a long list of presents that I want. Please note the size and color of each item, and send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself: just send money. How about tens and twenties? All I want is what I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share. So writes Sally Brown.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is the longest-running cartoon special in history, airing every year since its debut in 1965.

Do you remember the first time you saw it? Do you still make it part of your holiday? Have you urged your kids to see it?

Watching the gang look for ways to find the meaning of Christmas never gets old. In fact, every year, many of us grow to appreciate the humor just a little bit more and more.

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Peanuts fans, Madame Alexander has your favorite characters available to collect from the Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang Collection.  These 14″ cloth dolls have embroidered faces. Charlie is wearing his famous yellow and black shirt with black shorts. Lucy is wearing her famous blue dress along with matching blue socks and black and white shoes.

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Get your fair share…..

How about some tens and twenties Santa? Well here they are for Sally Brown and also for your kiddos.

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Goody goody gumdrops, it’s a gumdrop tree Charlie Brown!

This is a sweet classic Christmas project for kids of all ages and Bella Dia shows you just how easy it is in a few easy steps.

Look at the Dots Christmas tree – that’s a new one on me.

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Homeless Feet Come In All Sizes…

There are more than 9,654 homeless children, youths and adults in Minnesota. What a feat it would be to help warm their feet this winter. PLEASE bring a new pair or several pairs of new socks to Totally Kids fun furniture & toys.

“That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Up On The Housetop

Reindeer Pause……

Chocolate lovers at your house will not pause long before going for these Reindeer created by Betty Crocker Wannabe. She has very clear cut how to instructions for you.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Reindeer need food and you can make this magic surprise.

It was a busy day for us making Magic Reindeer Food. We have it ready for all the good little girls and boys visiting Totally Kids before Christmas.

Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
As Santa’s reindeer fly and roam.
This will guide them to your home.

Eco-friendly Reindeer Food requires no cooking and only 2 ingredients.

Ingredients per bag:

1/4 cup uncooked oatmeal

2 T red or green sugar crystals (cookie decorating sprinkles)

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Parents love stairway bunk beds so much you’d think the stairs went straight past the top bunk and all the  way to heaven. Not only do they save space like standard bunks, but the stairs provide additional safety and for top bunk sleepers plus…additional storage is tucked under the stairs.

Tucked into this stairway bed, listen closely for the Reindeer, then in the morning, go out side and see how the Reindeer enjoyed the Magic Reindeer Food.

Racing Around Too Much?

If you find that you are racing around too much this time of year you are not alone. But, but, but…… It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? Do you buy that, or are you really frantically buying a pile of presents?

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, a time to spend with family and friends and a time to celebrate all that is good and wonderful in our lives.

After you make it to December 25, try to remember that Christmas was not meant to be packed into a day according to the song. There are  “Twelve Days of Christmas” which are December 24-January 6. If you can believe that, sing along with the song and enjoy those bonus days after Christmas when the worst of the stress will be less.

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This nostalgic 50’s styled child size retro race track themed table and chair set features hand stitched vinyl upholstery on the chairs and brushed metal legs on the table and chairs.

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Can You See The Light?

Watch the retro 1950’s race cars of this hand-painted lamp  go round and round the base when you flip on the light. Know that racing round and round feeling all to well?

 

 

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Ramp Racer

It’s an exciting game of speed for one or two players! Choose the police car or the taxi, then individually release the starting levers and watch the wooden cars race through colorful cityscapes and down the five brightly-colored, wooden ramps. Who will win the race?

 

 

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Slow down no need to move so fast as you drive your vehicles around on this rug. Along with its bright colors and fun details this 100% nylon machine made rug is durable and very easy to clean and is a non-skid rug for additional safety.

 

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No, you can’t get away from the race quite yet. Feature edible race cars at your table a racy idea from Just Jen.

 

 

 

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There’s always room for Jello and the Food Librarian wows us with Christmas Broken Glass Jello. How does she do that?

 

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Tick Tock, Can They Beat The Clock?

This is a photo from startribune.com of the University of Minnesnowda’s TCF Bank Stadium. Look closely at that photo, see all of that white stuff? Believe it or not  there are actually folks who relish the opportunity to sit in this stadium next Monday night for a Vikings Bears game in 7 degrees Fahrenheit or 13.888889 degrees Celsius weather.

The first outdoor home game for the Vikings in 29 years and miraculously waiting on the bench, benched, is a quarterback with more frozen tundra experience than any other that I can think of. That tundra surely looks frozen does it not? BTW – Yay, there should be more snow to snow during the game. So BYOS….(bring your own shovel)

Tick Tock, Can They Beat The Clock? There is a game Monday night and somehow that picture needs to be transformed to game ready? A stadium filled with snow 20 inches deep in spots plus an additional 3 to 5 inches of snow possible by tomorrow night. Now, who wants to help shovel more snow Annette? Seriously, they are going to be looking for volunteers! Can you believe it, volunteers? And then, after all that back breaking shoveling – game time – and no beer?

Tick tock you can build an educational clock, a project for the entire family.

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After the frozen tundra and frozen tush, come home where you’ll be snug and cozy in your own football bed

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Any eligible receivers on your team? Pass them a football bean bag.

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The Decorated Cookie has a super easy to make with kids, nothing to cook snowman marshmallow peeking out of the jar gift ideal for friends, family, neighbors, teachers, or the postman–hot cocoa in a jar. Cute, cute, cute!

Puzzled? Area Schools Close For Second Day

Puzzled, where should we begin.  Why did they wait until 10 o’clock at night for the announcement? Minneapolis and St. Paul are you ready for a second day of no school? Schools are closed due to continued safety concerns for students waiting outside in extreme cold for buses that may run late and trying to get to school over large piles of snow in the street, as well as school bus travel problems across the city.

The Totally Kids fun furniture & toys parking lot is all dug out. We invite all of you to stop in for hot piced cider and cookies. There is a wonderful hands on test and play toy area for the kiddos while you catch up on shopping. There are personal shoppers ready to help you find perfect gifts. Remember the FREE gift wrapping!  Then drive up to the front door and Nick will carry your packages out to your car for you!

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Earth: Assembly Required
Take your geography lesson for a spin with the amazing three-dimensional puzzle globe!
Curved puzzle pieces allow for an exact fit and are easily assembled together to form a solid, smooth globe. When assembled, this puzzle will not just be fun to put together but useful for  years to come – with no glue required!

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Chunky Dinosaur Puzzle

This extra thick wooden puzzle includes seven easy-grasp, chunky
dinosaur pieces with a full-color, matching picture underneath. The dino pieces stand upright for pretend play. Encourages hand-eye, fine motor and creative expression skills.

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Just can’t let another sub zero day pass without asking everyone to please help warm homeless feet this winter. There are 9,654 homeless children, youths and adults in Minnesota who could  use a new pair of socks. PLEASE HELP!  Please bring a new pair or several pairs of new socks to Totally Kids fun furniture & toys. A pair of new socks = 30% OFF any toys until December 23! If you so choose, tooth brushes, tooth paste or small new toys could be stuffed in the socks too.

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Martha Stewart makes Coconut Frosty the Snowman…

Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

Hurry and have some fun before he really melts away.

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Guess How Many Peppermint Candy Contest

The winner will be the person that guesses the exact or closest number of peppermint candy in the jar. Leave your guess on our Facebook page and we will announce the winner December 30st.  You will receive a $25.00 Totally Gift Card! Good Luck!

Blizzard Closes MSP Airport

Blizzard closes MSP International Airport, all MTC buses stopped, Orchestra Hall, Guthrie Theater performances are canceled and just about everything else in between including Totally Kids fun furniture & toys closed early at 2P.M.

Even the Vikings – Giants game for tomorrow is pushed back to Monday night. Wonder how much snow sits atop the dome?

Leslie Carothers, of The Kaleidoscope Partnership tweeted tirelessly all day championing for local independent retailers, all of whom will have suffered a huge 2 day loss due to the blizzard’s forced closings. THANK YOU Leslie for all of your concern and efforts! Truly heartwarming on such a cold blizzard-ey day.
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Annette and Kate,  both braved the snowy roads driving in to open the store this morning. Then upon leaving  in the afternoon,  found that their cars were snowed into the parking lot behind the store. It required lots of muscle power digging both of their cars out from under the snow. Thanks Dave, you will most likely be needing Bengay !

Once again, displaying her limitless care, Lisa our Customer Care Manager, came in on her day off to deliver Shauna, our office manager to her home an hour away. (or three hours in the blizzard) Shauna’s car was stuck in a ditch somewhere between home and the store. What a day! And…wouldn’t this just be the perfect day for a new baby to arrive? Angela our staff interior designer extraordinaire is on maternity leave and I have been thinking about her all day hoping that they have a snowmobile.

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Tomorrow morning the forecast is for negative ten when we wake up. With a a week ahead of very nasty weather, now more than ever we are putting out a plea and a call to everyone who can donate socks for the homeless.

There are more than 9,654 homeless children, youths and adults in Minnesota. What a feat it would be to help warm their feet this winter. PLEASE bring a new pair or several pairs of new socks to Totally Kids fun furniture & toys. A pair of new socks = 30% OFF any toys until December 23! If you so choose, tooth brushes, tooth paste or small new toys could be stuffed in the socks too.

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Your family can write a story and draw pictures about the blizzard or whatever they have in their heads waiting to be told. Once completed, you send it in and have it published for all to read.

This is a favorite gift for people of all ages actually. Grandparents, aunts and uncles can write their memoirs and illustrate wherever their creativity will take them.

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Build  Your Own Frosty The Snowman.

Ingredients

• Small powdered doughnut
• Powdered doughnut hole
• Decorators’ gel

• Pretzel or potato stick
• Haviland Thin Mint
• Reese’s peanut butter cup miniature

Instructions

1. Set a powdered doughnut hole atop a mini powdered doughnut. (For a taller version, use a pretzel stick or a potato stick to secure a second doughnut hole atop the first.)
2. Use decorators’ gel to add a face, buttons, and a carrot nose. (If the gel won’t stick, try smoothing the powder with a dab of water first.)
3. To add a top hat to a shorter snowman, stick a small piece of a pretzel or potato stick through a Thin Mint and into a Reese’s peanut butter cup miniature, then secure the hat in place on the snowman.

Family Fun has many other ideas for you too.

Before you leave,  have you ever seen the Minnesota Blizzard People ?

Responsibility Begins At Home

Teaching Children Responsibility

Parents often wonder what kind of tasks their children can be expected to participate in at home. Just how much responsibility should be given to a child? While many tasks are beyond a child’s thinking skills and physical capabilities, most of us do not see the tremendous potential we have as parents to teach children responsibility very effectively. Parents are the child’s first and most important teachers and it is through the parents that children learn the quality of responsibility. This means that all parents are responsible for providing this education for their children.

In order to teach responsibility to their children, there are certain things that parents must do. These include:

1. Create an environment where responsibility is an expectation.
2. Become role models for the children in the area of responsibility
3. Teach children to be responsible for their own actions at an early age
4. Ensure the children know that responsibility is the norm.
5. Reinforce any responsible behaviors with praise rather than rewards.
6. Provide consequences for irresponsible behavior to deter any future episodes.

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Our Customer  Care Manager,  definitely the most organized member of our team, Lisa’s Staff Pick:

I love My Magnetic Responsibility Chart! As the “Queen of Organization”, I’ve determined that My Magnetic Responsibility Chart will keep families of all sizes organized. It’s simple and easy to use- just divide the chores among your family members and track your progress. You’ll know who cleaned their room, took out the trash, washed the dishes, and even fed the dog! Life keeps us busy, but My Magnetic Responsibility Chart helps make life a little easier (and more organized).

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Teaching social responsibility is also important, maybe more than ever in today’s fast paced world.

There are more than 9,654 homeless children, youths and adults in Minnesota. Helping warm a few homeless feet this holiday season would be a gift that your children could participate in by donating a pair or several pairs of new socks for the homeless. A gift too for your child;  learning more about social responsibility at a young age.

Please donate as many new socks as you can. Bring them to Totally Kids fun furniture & toys where they will be distributed to area homeless shelters. Donated socks = 30% OFF ALL TOYS.

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Here is a festive teacher gift that would be very easy for kiddos to make all by themselves. Sisters Stuff says “I bought hand sanitizers and took off the labels. I used goo gone to get all the yucky stuff off. Then I just added stickers to the front and some ribbons.” Too cute!

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Oh, my gosh like we need another snow storm. Now, our weatherman, the one with a really good snow prediction record, is forecasting the third pre-Christmas BIG snow storm Friday overnight – “A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL BRING HEAVY SNOW”.

Shindig Parties To Go shows us just how much fun it is to build an indoor snowman. (that could melt in your mouth)

If you live in the Twin Cities area, you will be able to build snowmen outdoors Saturday morning! Yay?