Thursday, April 10th, 2008
I’m not going to apologize talking about KangarooBoo on here. It’s not shameless that I talk about my business here - I started this blog way before we started KangarooBoo. I don’t see any shame in talking about something that takes up so much of my time. And KangarooBoo is our third baby. I just wanted to clear that out for all intent and purposes, for future references, and for just in case.
Anyway, I wanted to tell you some of the things we’ve been busying with in the last few months.
We’ve added several brands and literally hundreds of new products to our selections. Brands that we’ve added:
* Petitcollin
* Plan Toys
* Boon
* Green Toys
Petitcollin was founded in 1860, almost 150 years ago! Petitcollin dolls are made in France, the last French factory of dolls that’s still in operation. I adore these dolls. They have a sweet but not overwhelming vanilla smell to them, they are phthalate free dolls and many of them can be used as bath dolls. The best is they have a large selection of boy dolls and ethnic dolls that are usually hard to find!
A few of the Petitcollin dolls. Click here to see more
Plan Toys create toys that inspire imagination as well as promote children’s physical and intellectual development along with being socially & environmentally responsible and maintaining good values. Plan Toys are made from sustainable rubberwood. Trees that produce rubber eventually cease to produce rubber, those trees are then cut down to make room for new ones. Instead of burning the trees like the old practice used to do, these trees are now being used for all kinds of things, including making toys! Fun toys, eco-friendly practices and great value. What’s not to love about Plan Toys??
Boon feeding products are phthalate free, BPA free, and they look really nice and modern. Boon bath products are awesome too. After we started using Flo a year ago, no more bathtub injuries by the stupid faucet! The kids love LOVE using the Fluid sippy cup. The only drawback on the sippy cup is, it cannot be tipped over inside a bag or the liquid will spill out. We’ve been able to get Fiona to drink a lot more water by leaving it around the house near her height level or taking it on walks. The ergonomic design allows her to grab the bottle one-handed really well!
Lastly, Green Toys. Absolutely green, eco-friendly, and completely safe. These toys are made from recycled milk jugs (not kidding!). All made and packaged in California. Not only is it keeping jobs right here in the US, but it’s also reducing carbon imprint caused by enormous amounts of shipping back and forth to overseas countries.
We’ve also added hundreds and hundreds of new items to our already existing brands: Haba, Vilac, Flensted Mobiles, Zid Zid Kids, Vulli, Melissa and Doug, Maple Landmark, Fred & Friends and Estia. Whew. That was a mouth full. Trying to organize it and fit it all in place is even harder!
As always, you can see the new arrival products (being added daily! so check back often) by viewing it here. We send out an occasional newsletter periodically to let people know about new products, and or discounts. Sign up if you’re inclined to get the latest news. The sign up box is at the bottom of most pages on our website.
I originally planned to talk about another very important thing too, but this post is longer than I anticipated. So I’ll talk about that next time.
Thank you to those of you who’ve supported and continue to support us by purchasing toys and products from KangarooBoo, and or by telling others about us. You know who you are! We truly truly appreciate it.
Monday, February 25th, 2008
Many years ago, we made a donation to an organization (not naming it here, but let’s call it H so we can reference it easier). It was a one-time donation and it was a good decision at the time. It’s still a good decision. However things change and although we might still donate to organization H if money was not an object, but that’s not the case. Our priorities changed, things that speak to our hearts have changed. We now focus our attention, time and money elsewhere that’s closer to our hearts.
Without fail, organization H continues to send us letters asking for donation at least twice a year, most of the time doubling the efforts. They even have our new and updated address! I finally called and asked to be taken off the mailing list, which is something I should have done a long while ago.
The person who took the call was polite and said it would be taken care of. I went one step further to make some suggestions (gasp!). I said it would be good if they could implement a system where it checks against donors who’s been dormant/inactive for a certain period of time, and to cut back on mailings/trees/resources by stop mailing to those individuals. She paused. And then said “Oh OK, thanks.” Her reply sounded very distant and nonchalant - after all, it’s not her trees or her resources or her money that’s being sent into space without an echo - no sireee Bob, she’s just there to do her job and no more. I wish she took me seriously and at least give the suggestion to her supervisor.
I need to take a closer look at all the mailings that we get, and stop the ones that doesn’t even get a first glance before hitting the recycling bins. If you have time, please check yours and see if you can minimize some junk mail as well.
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
Not long ago I confessed I was a big dinosaur when it comes to electronic gadgets, and that I’m not an electronic fashion junkie. Well there’s a very bright side to it, and not just for the sake of my own piggy bank either.
It is also environmentally-friendly. Don’t replace electronic gadgets based on trendiness or “look and feel” and here is a nice article. Be sure to read the comment sections; the links within them are even better.
Did you know a huge amounts of electronic waste (old electronic stuff, “recycled” stuff etc.) are dumped in other countries??? I had no idea this sort of thing takes place. Where’s our regard for their health and their children’s children’s health?
Friday, November 23rd, 2007
We’re having a big Black Friday sale at KangarooBoo. For today only, take 20% off of your entire purchase!
Go to KangarooBoo.com for more details.
For advance notice of future news, new products, promotions, etc, sign up with our newsletter. Worry not, your email address is safe with us. We hate spam too.
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007
Beta test is completed, for now. Hopefully all the bugs are gone or will be gone soon.
SO! We are officially open for business! After months and months of preparation, KangarooBoo is finally here!
Please come by to take a look, sign up, tell your friends/family, stick around (and click around too), check us out! And you just might find something that you’ll want to get for the beloved little ones in your life.
Our store offers natural toys, handcrafted and handmade toys, open-ended playthings, and unique children products for infants and up. We do not have TV character types of toys. We are constantly adding new inventory, as well as new features for our users. So come on over and browse around, we’d love to have you!
Below is a very small sample of some products that we offer. Click on the images to go to the product detail page on KangarooBoo.
Melissa & Doug Food Groups Set
Haba Fantasy Land Jigsaw Blocks
Melissa & Doug Magnetic Fishing Game
Haba Tra-la-la Wooden Clip
Haba Blossoms Pacifier Chain
Vulli Chan Pie Gnon
Zid Zid Kids Mama Popo Cushion
Zid Zid Kids Monkey Bag
Sunday, September 16th, 2007
I’m sure this has been thought of and many people are practicing it already. However I just wanted to jot it down here in case it potentially make even the tiniest difference for someone, within someone.
Take some time to consider getting several sturdy canvas bags. Leave them in your vehicle, and when you do need to go shopping — groceries, the mall, farmer’s market, and wherever else you can think of that you’ll need a bag — take them with you and use these canvas bags to carry all your things.
Sure it is a hassle and not very practical in the daily life, but I think if the majority of us start practicing this method, then there wouldn’t be so many plastic bags being produced. Making plastic bags require a lot of energy and resource, energy and resources that the earth could very well keep for other more useful things. Not only that, it will make a cleaner beach/street/city/world. Have you seen plastic bags all tangled up in the tree branches, washed up from the ocean? Have you seen them strewn about in the outfields of your child’s school? Have you seen them stuck in drainages and allies? They are everywhere!
For our children and their grandchildren, we should make a wiser decision. Now, the question is not paper or plastic? The question is Can You Canvas?
* * *
Note: I am and always have recycled the plastic bags as trash bags. I don’t really know if I can canvas. So for my case, if I canvas, I would end up buying plastic trash bags. What a dilemma. Is Canvasing such a great idea after all? I don’t have all the answers.
Anyway. /End of Sunday morning wee hour musings.
