1/8/11

A Few of Their (My) Favorite Things

Vintage Board Game
The kids got a lot of great stuff this past Christmas. They are NOT hurting for new toys and clothes thanks to their generous grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, second cousins, etc. I've even set a few specific gifts aside for two months from now when new toys become familiar to make sure they all get some play time. Christmas Part Two if you will.

Vintage Board Game
One of the things Sebastian's pre-school teachers told us we needed to work on at home was playing games together so that he could learn how to be a good sport after losing a game. I remember throwing a high caliber fit or two after my brother beat me in any game, be it Candy Land or racing down the street to the next light pole, so I wasn't surprised that this was tough for him.

So, board games were high on the list this Christmas and he ended up receiving Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, a Dr. Suess activity game, and an Eric Carle game from three different parties involved. I'm rarely the one to play board games with Sebastian because Brett is much more enthusiastic with it and I assume the role of entertaining Ruby so she doesn't 'join in' but I temporarily put my apathy on hold when I saw this one. I mean, look at those kids playing together so nicely...and friendly squirrels! Best $2 I've spent lately.

Vintage Board Game
This vintage puzzle map is another fun one. It was in great shape and I'm hoping it survives Ruby's chewing habit.

Vintage Map Puzzle
I've showed Sebastian all of the places that we've lived and recently traveled. He knows where Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas are and never hesitates to remind me that driving from one to another takes a REALLY LONG TIME.

Where We Live
I showed him where Seattle was and told him he was born there where the fish are.

Vintage Map Puzzle
Then I reminded him where I grew up and where his Big Papi and Grandma Mary used to live in California right near the top of the movie camera.

Where We Used To Live
Another fun gift was this wooden clock puzzle and vintage aqua play phone. I remember this puzzle from my own childhood and loving that there were illustrations under each piece. Ruby, raised on iPhones, still somehow knew what this rotary phone did and likes to hold it up to her ear and walk around with it.

Vintage Wooden Clock Puzzle
That is, of course, when she's not spinning records on her new record player. I found this one at our local Goodwill and it was in it's original box but had been re-wrapped. It had all it's records so I was hoping it still worked and it does! Now Ruby shakes her booty to Jack and Jill and Hickory, Dickory, Dock.

Ruby's So Old School
Sebastian has also been enjoying his new transformers, his first remote control truck, and a pair of wooden stilts that his great-grandpa made for him. He got a new bike from my parents but on our last trip out there the vintage school chairs left no room for such a bike in the trunk. Priorities, ya'll. Really it's just a good excuse to visit again soon, right Mom? ;)

We've finally packed all of our Christmas decor (except for the wreath on the front door that I keep forgetting) and I've been rearranging the living room to see how I like it best. There are still boxes piled in corners and my studio is ridiculous but we're making progress! Today's list includes laundry, organizing our bedroom, and a workout that I've been putting off.

What does your weekend look like? Any home projects? Don't forget to share any of your restyled projects in our Project ReStyle Flickr group. Yours could be featured on our blogs this Wednesday!

xoxo,
Rachel

35 comments:

Little Tree Vintage said...

that fisher price record player was my favorite as a kid, and i love the old school puzzles and games, so unique

HannahB said...

ditto on the fisher price record player, so jealous!

lovely gifts, and good idea to save some for a second Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Those board games look really fun! I didn't play Candyland until I was twelve. Fact.
The record player is adorable--I want one!

Veronica said...

Oh man, I *love* that US puzzle!! That is awesome. I really should pay more attention to the puzzles and games in my thrift stores... I'm just usually afraid that they'll be missing pieces, but... look what I could be missing out on!!

xo
Veronica
http://crackthesky17.blogspot.com

courtney.janelle.sews said...

I definitely had that exact same US map puzzle, and loooooved it! In fact I'm sure it's still in my room somewhere at my mom's house. Considering how much time I spent with it, it's a wonder I still have no idea where any of the states are. <3

Veronica said...

P.S. I started a 52 Weeks of Instax photo pool on Flickr... I'd love it if you, or any of your readers, played along!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/52weeks_instax/

xo
Veronica
http://crackthesky17.blogspot.com

Kristen said...

those are so awesome! great finds..that puzzle is amazing..

* said...

I had one of those Fishprice record players as a kid...wow, that takes me back!
Nice gifts.

Stephanie said...

I love the puzzle map! My daughter was born in Seattle too, and now we live in Iowa, she's two and we'll soon be working on the states too :)

katielicht said...

hey! we have the same US puzzle, though ours was made a few years earlier. . we're missing Alaska and Hawaii. :)

Mrs Wife said...

I had that record player too, and I ADORED it! I've been trying to find one in decent shape. Lots of work lemme tell ya :)

Jenni Austria Germany said...

i am obsessed with all of these things! what incredible finds!

Mandi Stephanie said...

I did the exact same thing with putting some presents aside Rachel! They have a whole box of toys and things that will be new and fun in a few months :)

PuppyLovePrincess said...

ohmygosh! i used to have both those puzzles and the fisher price record player...

Anonymous said...

super cute!!

lauren ♥ said...

oh goodness, so many wonderful things on this post! <3

Andrea said...

All of those things are so cute and charming! What lucky kids. :)

BlondeShot Creative said...

that puzzle map is awesome!

Anonymous said...

Wow, these vintage finds are amazing! I need to move where you live!

Rachel said...

I love that puzzle map! : )

Chelsea, Tea Talk said...

I grew up with that map puzzle and probably still have it! So neat!

Breeanna @ a brilliant melody said...

I love that puzzle. I had a plastic record player like that. I think I saved it with all my childhood stuff.

The Veda House said...

Such a fun post. The game section of any thrift/antique store is always my favorite!

Anonymous said...

Oh my, I just LOVE these! (By the way, I'm in love with the yellow fabric on that background of your site. WANT! ;-)

Unknown said...

that little record player is too cute! i think i remember playing with one of those at my grandma's as a kid :)

Ashley said...

just found you guys! love this blog!

margot said...

if you take a nice family vaca to nyc you can show mr. s on the map!!!! :-) so come on over, please!!!

Charin Adams said...

Rachel, you have such a good eye for cute vintage! :)
Charin

Unknown said...

How lucky you found a working fisher price record player!! We tried to resurrect my husband's from his childhood to no avail...sad...another reason to go thrifting, I guess!!!

Brianna! said...

her belt!
amazinnggggggg

her son!
toooo adorable!

amy a said...

You might as well stick a big sticker on my forehead that says, "No-fun, overprotective mommy," but how do you know that vintage toys are safe? How do you know they weren't recalled? I guess it wouldn't matter so much for older children, but young ones that mouth everything? I love the look of vintage toys, and they are made SO much better than the junky kids toys of today, but this is something that I always wonder about! That record player is amazing...they don't make toys like that today! And I love that there isn't a character slapped on it! Not sure if you answer comments, but thank you! :)

BJJ said...

Oh my gosh.. Wolfie is my new crush! So cute!! He absolutely rocks it.. I an only imagine how fun his personality is!

loved this post... thanks for all the fun new links, too!

pickingwildflowersblog.blogspot.com

red dirt revival said...

holy hilarious. is that a fenced in Native American on the great state of Oklahoma puzzle piece?! bahaha Oh, Oklahoma... I'm proud of you anyway :)

p.s. Texas has some political incorrectness going on too lol I LOVE these vintage toys!

Monkey Moments said...

Just the graphics of these old board games makes me feel lighthearted. I collect vintage board games at yard sales and keep them in my grandchildrens 'magic cupboard'. When they come to visit, they check the cupboard to see what treasures grandma has put in it...then we play.

My niece who is in her last year of college asked for Candyland for Christmas.

Team Tindle said...

thanks for mentioning your wreath. When I read that line I looked up and right there was ours still hanging on the door, I hadn't even remembered that I had forgotten.

LT