A haiku a day
Isn't really very hard
Just seventeen sounds
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Haiku challenge for April 2nd
Bright sun on fresh snow
Flowers peak through white blanket
Springtime in Boulder!
Flowers peak through white blanket
Springtime in Boulder!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Haiku Fun Begins
Are you up to the Haiku Challenge? Find your inner muse and we'll share it with the world!
My Destination Haiku
Business owners must
Run faster and faster now
To be the most best!
Submitted by Jon Schallert, March 31, 2009
My April 1 Haiku:
April fool haiku
A tiny little poem
With a great big heart
My Destination Haiku
Business owners must
Run faster and faster now
To be the most best!
Submitted by Jon Schallert, March 31, 2009
My April 1 Haiku:
April fool haiku
A tiny little poem
With a great big heart
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Haiku Challenge of 2009
National Poetry Month is here, and I'm doing something about it!
Haiku is a form of Japanese Poetry that is strongly structured and defined, although the structure and definition do not translate perfectly into English. Haiku has 17 "sounds", divided into 3 parts: 5, 7, and 5. A rough English translation uses syllables for these sounds.
I am challenging myself to write one Haiku a day during the entire month of April. I will be Twittering these as well as posting them here.
Here's my invitation to you: Email me your Haiku, and I will post them on the blog (giving you full credit for authorship, of course). You may send me as many Haiku as you wish during the month. You may send me something every day, or save them up and send them all at once. I promise not be too strict, but you should try for the 5-7-5 pattern. You may have your family or your classroom participate. If I get at least 10 participants, then I will select one of you to win a gift certificate good at PlayFair Toys or at www.playfairtoys.com. The size of the certificate will depend on how many of you participate - but it might be as much as $100!
April Poetry
A month to celebrate words
Join me in my game!
Haiku is a form of Japanese Poetry that is strongly structured and defined, although the structure and definition do not translate perfectly into English. Haiku has 17 "sounds", divided into 3 parts: 5, 7, and 5. A rough English translation uses syllables for these sounds.
I am challenging myself to write one Haiku a day during the entire month of April. I will be Twittering these as well as posting them here.
Here's my invitation to you: Email me your Haiku, and I will post them on the blog (giving you full credit for authorship, of course). You may send me as many Haiku as you wish during the month. You may send me something every day, or save them up and send them all at once. I promise not be too strict, but you should try for the 5-7-5 pattern. You may have your family or your classroom participate. If I get at least 10 participants, then I will select one of you to win a gift certificate good at PlayFair Toys or at www.playfairtoys.com. The size of the certificate will depend on how many of you participate - but it might be as much as $100!
April Poetry
A month to celebrate words
Join me in my game!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
What's New at PlayFair Toys
I know I know I know - I need to write these more often! But what always happens is that we get all this new stuff in, and then I get busy with the stuff itself and I forget to tell you about it!
Anyway - without further explanation for my silence, here are some of the best.
The artistans at eeBoo have a knack for combining art and education in their unique and distinctive products, and their new Nature Notebook, along with the matching Nature Sketchbook and 24 Pencils in Tin set demonstrates this beautifully. Also from eeBoo, the Thoughtful Girls Paper Dolls series shows girls who have hobbies and professions, in a fun and easy vinyl format. My personal favorite is the Naturalist and Explorer set, but there's something for everyone here.
Also just in are handmade beaded bracelets from Guatemala that are only $7.99 - what a lovely gift for Spring - a fashion statement that supports fair trade.
Drift Cars Street Team gives you 6 die-cast cars that you can decorate up and then play with your friends.
New Crochet Kits from Alex - fun and easy, too.
Just for Little Legs is a fun little guide to hiking the area with - Little Legs! Gee - what a surprise! Kids love it when they can go on their own, but you need to gear it toward their interests and capabilities.
Clone Wars Legos, new castle sets, and lots of basic bricks for the creative types out there! I put Lego squarely in the "family fun" category when the open-ended sets are used. I say this from the number of dads who come to play at the Build-a-Bot Bar over their lunch periods!
Automoblox in a rainbow of colors and sizes for every budget. These magnetic cars have wooden bodies and plastic tops, and the more you buy, the more fun you have, as you can mix and match the various parts among sets.
Customers are loving the rainbow of possibilities with Puzzibits, the open ended plastic building toy that works in either 3-D or 2-D, your choice. These are also available as open stock in the Build-a-Bot Bar.
New Groovy Girls and Calico Critters. Who can resist Becky Beaver Visits the Dentist.
Have you seen the new Horse and Dog purses from Douglas? They are loads of fun for Spring!
Many new educational posters, including more laminated ones you've been asking for.
And so much more! Come see! Be sure to check out our fun Ocean World, Pirates, Knights, Fairies, and other displays.
Old Favorites
We also have some great old favorites back that have been out for a while... Spring brings energy, so All American Pogo Sticks in 2 sizes are ready for you, as well as the Folding Trampoline that lets kids hang on while getting their bouncies out.
Favorite craft kits by Creativity for Kids are back in including the Make Your Own Sock Puppets Kit, Butterfly Bedroom, and the beloved Wee Enchanted Fairy Garden.
Erector Sets - yes! This old classic is still a favorite
Tons of arts and crafts - every flavor and color! Something for everyone - either basic supplies or kits - your choice.
Don't forget - when times are tough, you want to make sure that you are getting great value for your money. Cheap toys are not good value - they are a waste. It's more important than ever to make sure that ever penny is well spent. Ask us how you can make an investment in love with toys that will be cherished for generations. Visit PlayFair Toys today, or start shopping now at our online store.
Anyway - without further explanation for my silence, here are some of the best.
The artistans at eeBoo have a knack for combining art and education in their unique and distinctive products, and their new Nature Notebook, along with the matching Nature Sketchbook and 24 Pencils in Tin set demonstrates this beautifully. Also from eeBoo, the Thoughtful Girls Paper Dolls series shows girls who have hobbies and professions, in a fun and easy vinyl format. My personal favorite is the Naturalist and Explorer set, but there's something for everyone here.
Also just in are handmade beaded bracelets from Guatemala that are only $7.99 - what a lovely gift for Spring - a fashion statement that supports fair trade.
Drift Cars Street Team gives you 6 die-cast cars that you can decorate up and then play with your friends.
New Crochet Kits from Alex - fun and easy, too.
Just for Little Legs is a fun little guide to hiking the area with - Little Legs! Gee - what a surprise! Kids love it when they can go on their own, but you need to gear it toward their interests and capabilities.
Clone Wars Legos, new castle sets, and lots of basic bricks for the creative types out there! I put Lego squarely in the "family fun" category when the open-ended sets are used. I say this from the number of dads who come to play at the Build-a-Bot Bar over their lunch periods!
Automoblox in a rainbow of colors and sizes for every budget. These magnetic cars have wooden bodies and plastic tops, and the more you buy, the more fun you have, as you can mix and match the various parts among sets.
Customers are loving the rainbow of possibilities with Puzzibits, the open ended plastic building toy that works in either 3-D or 2-D, your choice. These are also available as open stock in the Build-a-Bot Bar.
New Groovy Girls and Calico Critters. Who can resist Becky Beaver Visits the Dentist.
Have you seen the new Horse and Dog purses from Douglas? They are loads of fun for Spring!
Many new educational posters, including more laminated ones you've been asking for.
And so much more! Come see! Be sure to check out our fun Ocean World, Pirates, Knights, Fairies, and other displays.
Old Favorites
We also have some great old favorites back that have been out for a while... Spring brings energy, so All American Pogo Sticks in 2 sizes are ready for you, as well as the Folding Trampoline that lets kids hang on while getting their bouncies out.
Favorite craft kits by Creativity for Kids are back in including the Make Your Own Sock Puppets Kit, Butterfly Bedroom, and the beloved Wee Enchanted Fairy Garden.
Erector Sets - yes! This old classic is still a favorite
Tons of arts and crafts - every flavor and color! Something for everyone - either basic supplies or kits - your choice.
Don't forget - when times are tough, you want to make sure that you are getting great value for your money. Cheap toys are not good value - they are a waste. It's more important than ever to make sure that ever penny is well spent. Ask us how you can make an investment in love with toys that will be cherished for generations. Visit PlayFair Toys today, or start shopping now at our online store.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
PlayFair in the News - Hot Toys of 2008 Go Back to Basics
Getting a toy store featured in the news is no easy feat. Unless, of course, that store is "...not your typical toy store." And that was the lead line of a Denver Channel 2 News feature on PlayFair Toys and green toys that came out on December 3rd. That followed a major feature in the Denver Post the day before, entitled "Keep It Simple, Santa." The Post article focused both on green toys and on going back to basics in an economic downturn. Now is the time to make sure that every purchase you make will be worth the money. Remember that Cheap does not equal Value.
Naturally (no pun intended but hey if you want to laugh that's OK!) we are thrilled to see this emphasis on going green in the world of toys. We do have a choice about how we live our lives, and the values we impart to our children. Buying toys that are environmentally friendly, safe, and that teach children how to live a sustainable lifestyle gives them the skills and the values they need to get our planet through a tough time. PlayFair is in the news because we are helping to bring you toys that support these values. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Naturally (no pun intended but hey if you want to laugh that's OK!) we are thrilled to see this emphasis on going green in the world of toys. We do have a choice about how we live our lives, and the values we impart to our children. Buying toys that are environmentally friendly, safe, and that teach children how to live a sustainable lifestyle gives them the skills and the values they need to get our planet through a tough time. PlayFair is in the news because we are helping to bring you toys that support these values. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Monday, November 24, 2008
How to Save Money on Your Holiday 2008 Toy Purchases
With our local schools out all week for Thanksgiving, it's definitely close to "that time of year." For the next 4 weeks, our email frequency will increase as we bring you tips and thoughts to improve your holiday shopping experience.
One thing that appears certain - this will be a different holiday than past years for many families. And another thing that is certain is that every parent and grandparent longs to show their children love through special gifts and toys. I am going to be addressing holiday toy buying in tough economic times in the coming weeks. Read on to hear my tips on how to make the most of your holiday toy experience.
It all started with a friend who read my last newsletter, and responded by telling me that the newsletter was great, well written and interesting, but that I'd missed the mark by not talking directly about the one thing foremost on so many people's minds these days - the economy. He went on to tell me the story of a plumber who had increased his business significantly by educating his customers about how much money they would save if they purchased "on-demand" water heaters. Even though the original purchase price is higher than a regular water heater, the savings over time quickly makes up for the difference, making this an economical choice.
Well, that had me stumped for a while. I kept thinking that no matter how hard I tried, I could not come up with a way that buying toys could actually save a family money! They can save sanity, and they are important, and they are fun. But I just could not think of anything to tell you that is the equivalent of "Buy a chess set and your electric bill will go down by X amount of dollars in the next year!" I can tell you to buy an on-demand water heater, but I can't tell you to buy it from me!
At least, at first that's what I thought. But then as I let this idea percolate, I realized that I have plenty to say about how you can save money through buying your holiday and every day toys wisely. And I want to share that with you. Each of my newsletters in the coming weeks, and there will be 2-3 each week, will feature some aspect of this strategy. I will make some recommendations for specific products, but the main point is to give you the information you need to make the best choice for your family.
My premise is this - there are certain decisions that you cannot afford to make right now! In a challenging economy, bad decisions have a larger impact than when things are good. The things that you cannot afford to do right now are: (1) to create waste, either of time or money, (2) to weaken your family, or (3) not do all you can to support your children's health. OK, really, you can't afford to do these things any time! But we all do some of the time. When times are good, it is much easier to coast along and not think hard about the choices we make. But when every penny counts, suddenly we have the opportunity to focus in on the values that matter the most to us.
Tip #1: Consider Toys That Will Become Heirlooms
You can't afford to create waste right now, by purchasing junk that will not last. How many toys are broken within a day? How many times do we devalue gifts by giving too many, overwhelming children and relegating many of them to the trash heap in short order? What values do we impart to our children when we do this?
Instead of quantity, think about selecting toys that are so well made they will become a family heirloom. My "heirloom potential" feature will focus on suggestions that have the potential to span generations. Think wooden railway, wooden dollhouses, rocking horses, and some new toys that have the potential to be passed along to the next generation.
Tip #2: Purchase Toys That Strengthen Family Ties
Next to our own health and our own lives, our families are the most valuable things that we have. We need each other. The hectic times we live in often present challenges for families trying to maintain togetherness. If there are stresses on the family, they impact all members.
Almost any toy can foster family togetherness and bonding if you play with your children. But there are certain types of toys that are outstanding in this area, that most easily cross age groups and generations and that foster social interactions. These include games, puzzles, and many construction toys and sets. Pretend play and drama can also strengthen your family. My "Family togetherness" features will encourage strong families.
Tip #3: Purchase Toys That Keeps Kids Healthy Through Activity
Our health is the precious gift we are all born with. Childhood obesity is now considered epidemic. Depending on how it is defined, somewhere between 1 in 20 and 1 in 5 US children are obese, and about 1 in 3 are somewhat overweight. Childhood obesity is the leading cause of pediatric hypertension, is associated with Type II diabetes, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases stress on the weight-bearing joints, lowers self-esteem, and affects relationships with peers. There is one cure for obesity - eating less calories than are burned. This means plenty of physical activity, to start children on a lifetime of health and good habits.
Being active comes naturally to most children, and many of the sedentary habits that they take on are only there because we've made it easy. Television and video games are hard to walk away from. Encourage physical activity all year round, for optimal health. My "Physical Activity" feature will help you find toys that will make TV sound as boring as it really is.
And here's where my argument comes full circle - keeping your children healthy and at a reasonable weight will save money. I happen to think it is even more important that it may actually save their lives, but this will also manifest as saving money. Overweight children have far more health issues than those at a healthy weight. Part of our national economic dilemma is due to our health care crisis. Although that is a complex issue, each of us plays a role in solving it when we make decisions to stay healthy and to keep our family healthy.
So there - go ahead and save money and energy for your home with an on-demand water heater. But when it comes to your kids - let's not try to save their energy! Let's get them to use that energy up, so they grow into healthy, stimulated adults. Save money, time, and sanity by buying well.
One thing that appears certain - this will be a different holiday than past years for many families. And another thing that is certain is that every parent and grandparent longs to show their children love through special gifts and toys. I am going to be addressing holiday toy buying in tough economic times in the coming weeks. Read on to hear my tips on how to make the most of your holiday toy experience.
It all started with a friend who read my last newsletter, and responded by telling me that the newsletter was great, well written and interesting, but that I'd missed the mark by not talking directly about the one thing foremost on so many people's minds these days - the economy. He went on to tell me the story of a plumber who had increased his business significantly by educating his customers about how much money they would save if they purchased "on-demand" water heaters. Even though the original purchase price is higher than a regular water heater, the savings over time quickly makes up for the difference, making this an economical choice.
Well, that had me stumped for a while. I kept thinking that no matter how hard I tried, I could not come up with a way that buying toys could actually save a family money! They can save sanity, and they are important, and they are fun. But I just could not think of anything to tell you that is the equivalent of "Buy a chess set and your electric bill will go down by X amount of dollars in the next year!" I can tell you to buy an on-demand water heater, but I can't tell you to buy it from me!
At least, at first that's what I thought. But then as I let this idea percolate, I realized that I have plenty to say about how you can save money through buying your holiday and every day toys wisely. And I want to share that with you. Each of my newsletters in the coming weeks, and there will be 2-3 each week, will feature some aspect of this strategy. I will make some recommendations for specific products, but the main point is to give you the information you need to make the best choice for your family.
My premise is this - there are certain decisions that you cannot afford to make right now! In a challenging economy, bad decisions have a larger impact than when things are good. The things that you cannot afford to do right now are: (1) to create waste, either of time or money, (2) to weaken your family, or (3) not do all you can to support your children's health. OK, really, you can't afford to do these things any time! But we all do some of the time. When times are good, it is much easier to coast along and not think hard about the choices we make. But when every penny counts, suddenly we have the opportunity to focus in on the values that matter the most to us.
Tip #1: Consider Toys That Will Become Heirlooms
You can't afford to create waste right now, by purchasing junk that will not last. How many toys are broken within a day? How many times do we devalue gifts by giving too many, overwhelming children and relegating many of them to the trash heap in short order? What values do we impart to our children when we do this?
Instead of quantity, think about selecting toys that are so well made they will become a family heirloom. My "heirloom potential" feature will focus on suggestions that have the potential to span generations. Think wooden railway, wooden dollhouses, rocking horses, and some new toys that have the potential to be passed along to the next generation.
Tip #2: Purchase Toys That Strengthen Family Ties
Next to our own health and our own lives, our families are the most valuable things that we have. We need each other. The hectic times we live in often present challenges for families trying to maintain togetherness. If there are stresses on the family, they impact all members.
Almost any toy can foster family togetherness and bonding if you play with your children. But there are certain types of toys that are outstanding in this area, that most easily cross age groups and generations and that foster social interactions. These include games, puzzles, and many construction toys and sets. Pretend play and drama can also strengthen your family. My "Family togetherness" features will encourage strong families.
Tip #3: Purchase Toys That Keeps Kids Healthy Through Activity
Our health is the precious gift we are all born with. Childhood obesity is now considered epidemic. Depending on how it is defined, somewhere between 1 in 20 and 1 in 5 US children are obese, and about 1 in 3 are somewhat overweight. Childhood obesity is the leading cause of pediatric hypertension, is associated with Type II diabetes, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases stress on the weight-bearing joints, lowers self-esteem, and affects relationships with peers. There is one cure for obesity - eating less calories than are burned. This means plenty of physical activity, to start children on a lifetime of health and good habits.
Being active comes naturally to most children, and many of the sedentary habits that they take on are only there because we've made it easy. Television and video games are hard to walk away from. Encourage physical activity all year round, for optimal health. My "Physical Activity" feature will help you find toys that will make TV sound as boring as it really is.
And here's where my argument comes full circle - keeping your children healthy and at a reasonable weight will save money. I happen to think it is even more important that it may actually save their lives, but this will also manifest as saving money. Overweight children have far more health issues than those at a healthy weight. Part of our national economic dilemma is due to our health care crisis. Although that is a complex issue, each of us plays a role in solving it when we make decisions to stay healthy and to keep our family healthy.
So there - go ahead and save money and energy for your home with an on-demand water heater. But when it comes to your kids - let's not try to save their energy! Let's get them to use that energy up, so they grow into healthy, stimulated adults. Save money, time, and sanity by buying well.
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