Do you remember the days when something as simple as a toy was that important to you? Sometimes we forget that we don’t have to buy kids an expensive electronic or video game.  Maybe it is because we are a little out of touch with what is “cool” to a child or maybe all those advertisements for the next big thing sway our decisions more than we realize.  But, as this e-mail exchange between my boyfriend, Alex, and his nephew, “O”, will show – a toy isn’t necessarily just a toy…

Not long ago, I was inspired to write a Toy Tuesday post about Transformers because Alex’s nephew (I’ll refer to him as “O” throughout the remainder of the post) loves Transformers.

The search for the ...read more]]> The answer? When the recipient is seven and it is an all consuming passion!!!

Do you remember the days when something as simple as a toy was that important to you? Sometimes we forget that we don’t have to buy kids an expensive electronic or video game.  Maybe it is because we are a little out of touch with what is “cool” to a child or maybe all those advertisements for the next big thing sway our decisions more than we realize.  But, as this e-mail exchange between my boyfriend, Alex, and his nephew, “O”, will show – a toy isn’t necessarily just a toy…

Not long ago, I was inspired to write a Toy Tuesday post about Transformers because Alex’s nephew (I’ll refer to him as “O” throughout the remainder of the post) loves Transformers.

The search for the perfect Transformer for “O” began with an e-mail from him to his Uncle one day in April…

Dear Alex:

I was hoping you could come here sometime in the summer. And I hope you can bring some of your Transformers along. I don’t care which Transformers you bring along, I just care if you bring some. I am considering that you are my buddy.

Love, “O”

Alex, of course, sent a reply to his buddy!

Hi “O”,

It’s nice to hear from you.  I’m sorry to take a long time in answering.  I have been hoping to be able to tell you that I would be able to come and visit with you this summer, but right now it is not looking like I will be able to.  I hope you are having a nice time in California, and that you are going to have a very fun summer.

I’m going to send you a Transformer for you to play with, so you can know I’m thinking of you.  I hope you like it!

Love,

Alex

This next letter from “O” to Alex is my favorite because it just goes to show how much a simple toy means to a kid! (note that we live in Boston, MA and “O” lives in CA!)

Dear Alex:

If you don’t send us the Transformer we will go to your place so you can give me the Transformer.

When are you sending the Transformer? I want to know when you are sending it so I know when I get it.

How are you doing today?

What kind of Transformer are you going to give me, an Autobot or a Decepticon?

I can’t wait until I get it.

Your friend,

“O”

Case closed.

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What inspired this post? My boyfriend promised his eight year old nephew a present. Every time his nephew visits from California, my boyfriend’s mom goes into grandma mode and gets out all the old toys from the attic. Her grandson’s favorites? The old Transformers! He always wants “Uncle Alex” to play with him or help him transform them or play with him some more. At the end of the trip, he is always trying to get Uncle Alex to give him a Transformer (or five!) and he sometimes gets to take ...read more]]> Transformers. I read that word and the old commercial with the robotic voice singing “Transformers! More than meets the eye…” automatically plays in my head. They’ve been around a while but kids still love them!

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What inspired this post? My boyfriend promised his eight year old nephew a present. Every time his nephew visits from California, my boyfriend’s mom goes into grandma mode and gets out all the old toys from the attic. Her grandson’s favorites? The old Transformers! He always wants “Uncle Alex” to play with him or help him transform them or play with him some more. At the end of the trip, he is always trying to get Uncle Alex to give him a Transformer (or five!) and he sometimes gets to take one home on the plane with him but most of them stay here as the reserves for him to play with on his visits to New England.

Alex did a great job picking out this gift and making sure that he picked out one his nephew is sure to love, Bludgeon ($21.60). He not only picked out something that his nephew would love, but he also made sure that it was an okay choice with his brother and his sister-in-law. Yes, my man is a savvy gift gift giver. He sent an e-mail out making sure that it wasn’t considered too violent a toy, too much work for them (since they will have to help transform it at first) and even sent them a link to a video of how to transform it in case they, or his nephew, had trouble with the instructions.

Maybe a Transformer doesn’t seem like a very personalized gift when you are in the toy aisle at the store or shopping online, but if a gift like that is going to please your young recipient, then it certainly is a personalized gift because you are choosing with care!

Alex personalized this gift further by having it sent directly to his nephew, because he knows kids love getting mail addressed to them! It is a small touch, but on that definitely won’t go unnoticed by the young recipient. It is these little things that make all the difference in gift giving, no matter what the gift.

Happy gifting!

Artwork by Matthew Gauvin-matthewgauvin.com

They have a nice gift section and I was particularly drawn to these mini honeypot luminaries (different sizes and styles are available).  Each luminary is handcrafted from beeswax with real, dried botanicals embedded into the shell and then signed.  There are ten different flower and leaf options to choose from so these make a great gift for men or women!  They are beautiful even when unlit, but light the tealight candle inside and it is transformed into a softly glowing light.  Quite beautiful!

...read more]]>

Artwork by Matthew Gauvin-matthewgauvin.com

They have a nice gift section and I was particularly drawn to these mini honeypot luminaries (different sizes and styles are available).  Each luminary is handcrafted from beeswax with real, dried botanicals embedded into the shell and then signed.  There are ten different flower and leaf options to choose from so these make a great gift for men or women!  They are beautiful even when unlit, but light the tealight candle inside and it is transformed into a softly glowing light.  Quite beautiful!

View Pic Here

Who does this make a good gift for?  A lot of people, both men and women alike, like candles and soft, lighting that offers ambiance.  This is not only a great gift for someone who is concerned about the environment, it is a great gift for anyone who appreciates beauty.  The recipient that you shouldn’t give this to?  This isn’t really a modern piece so anybody whose home is very modern and sleek might not appreciate the style – that exception aside, this would fit into almost any other home because of it’s natural beauty.

This is a small and budget friendly ($12.95) gift so it would serve very well as a Hostess, Thank You, Thinking of You, Just Because, etc. gift.  If it is a gift for a bigger occasion like a birthday or a holiday present, it would still make a very nice gift and you could make it really personal by adding a few little extra touches:  wrap it really nicely, give them some tealight candles and a pretty, homemade, covered box of matches or an everlasting tealight candle to go with it.

Happy gifting!