April Showers Bring May Flowers

I know that the saying goes "April Showers Bring May Flowers"... but why does it feel like it's raining more in this month than it did last month?

Springtime always makes me want to surround myself with fresh flowers. I wish I could go into the park by me and just pick every single tulip and daffodil that I can get my hands on and put them in vases all around my home. Wouldn't that be beautiful?

Tomorrow I'm going on a field trip with my son to Central Park. It's supposed to be sunny and warm - and I'm so excited! The class is going bird watching. We're going to be on the lookout for robins, sparrows, cardinals, swallows and blue jays. We might even get a glimpse of a peregrine falcon! It's going to be fun because the only birds that we see on a regular basis are pigeons.

It's funny, I feel like I've been stuck indoors all winter, and now I seem to be going to Central Park every few days. I love it!

Let's Play School

The other day, I overheard a young girl on the subway telling her father that she wanted to be a teacher when she grew up. This got me to thinking... how come some kids love school, and the idea of learning, while others can think of nothing but summer vacation?

I remember when I was a kid, I loved to play school. My brother and i would take turns being the teacher (I usually was!) , and each of us would patiently sit at our desks with our pencils and notebooks, pretending to learn.

Nowadays, my boys play on the computer...no desk or teacher! And I know that it's not just my boys. With TV and video games being so dominate in their life, are kids pretending as much anymore?

Or is school, and the idea of education, less "fun" than it used to be?

In love with old

I admit I love almost everything old or vintage. So as I am in the mist of a major Spring cleaning at home, I find myself rarely parting with any of my flea market finds, vintage outfits or classic toys!

In fact, nothing makes me happier than to see my youngest son wearing a shirt that my oldest son once wore...or even better, playing with a wood toy all three played with.

We live in a day and age, where children's clothes are so inexpensive we'd rather toss them out than "darn" them. In fact, do any of us have a "darning" basket like our grandmothers? Do mom's today sew on patches on jeans, sew back buttons or even hem? It makes me sad to think that as prices for everything come down, so does the value we place on them.

Toys today are so inexpensive, that people often look past longevity and quality for price. The Warm Biscuit Bedding Co. tries to offer value and quality. One of our favorite new pieces, is our custom cradle. It is both hand painted and hand sewn in our Oklahoma workshop. At $48, this heirloom piece (designed to be passed down for generations) seems like a bargain to me.

The bigger question I suppose is how much value do moms truly place on quality. You tell me.

Is living a simpler life possible?

Every newspaper headline for the last month has been predicting an economic recession, a market downturn, loss of jobs, downturn of the housing market, increased debt...

It's enough send any parent (or business owner!) into a tailspin.

I for one, try and focus on simplifying our kids life. I said this to my best friend who laughed and said, "Vicki, how much simpler can your life get?! You have no cell phone, no television, no Wii, no digital games...you can't go back to living the life of Little House on the Prairie!"

Of course, I know this. Yet, it feels that we live in constant need of more, new and improved. So maybe a recession could help us refocus on things of real value and cost nothing.

Like spending more time with our kids and having family dinners instead of going out to dinner, signing up for fewer after school activities, buying fewer and classic toys etc. For some reason this appeals to me.

What about you?

Do Parents Want Cheap, High Quality Made In China Toys?

The toy industry is in an upheaval to say the least with the recent discovery of some Chinese manufactured toys using lead paint. And in hindsight it is not surprising that our "well-policed" industry (the kid's category) discovered the negligence first.

When I started the Warm Biscuit Bedding Co. I only sold classic toys and products made in the US. However, parents want (and buy more of) less expensive toys. In fact,some of our best selling toys are made overseas in very responsible factories (including Fisher Price).

In fact, our made in the US, Klicker Klacker classic push toy at $42 does not do as well as the made in China Fisher Price Chatter Phone at $15. So what does this mean? It means that China does make high quality toys MUCH cheaper than we can and even upscale parents do not want to spend a lot of money on a toy.

I was at a birthday party, sitting by a beautiful pool with a handful of mothers who all were saying that fewer quality (made in the US) toys was better than a roomful of cheap made in China toys. So, I challenged them..."Really? You regularly buy these toys for your kids?"

"Hmm. Err. Well, we try, too. I mean, it's just hard to say no when the toys are so cheap and your kid really wants one. Who can say no to a $20 toy?"

So in the end, price is the point. In the 50's toys were more expensive, and our parents bought fewer of them. Kids took care of them because they were special. Now they are cheap and disposable. We toss them. They fall apart and we don't care, because they are cheap. If you knew that the toys were hand made by Tom or Sue up the street and you paid 3 or 4 times the price, would buy less often but take better care of them? I'd like to think yes.

By the way, I do know the people who make our Klicker Klacker. They are retired and make toys for FUN...in their home studio. Just like I know Vicky Vinson and her husband Jim who head up our Custom Corner furniture studio, Linda who sews our bedding in California, Jamie Lenztner who paints our name tiles, London Edwards who paints our ceramic plates, Polly Wilson who makes our tepees, and many more. I prefer to work with local talent, it costs more, however, it costs more.

The question is...are we willing to pay for it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this so please feel free to comment.

Life Lessons and Porch Talk

A book title caught my attention the other day.

Porch Talk

It’s one author’s stories of life in his small town and the sense of community that came from conversations on his front porch. It’s true for me…important life lessons were learned through “visiting”. (In the South, people always referred to catching up with friends as “visiting”).

My family had a big side porch in Texas. We’d sit in our porch swing and wave to friends as they went on their evening walks; shouting, “Hey! How are ya’ll?” Often, it was just enough to entice neighbors to stop for iced tea and to visit a little.

We’d learn about what the families were up to, exchange recipes, get household tips, etc. For my brother and me, we’d share how school was or talk about how our baseball games went. Of course, we took this all for granted. But we were learning how to listen, tell stories and share in each others lives.

I miss the casual interaction. New York, obviously, has no front porches. In Brooklyn, they have front “stoops”. However, even there, I have noticed that people don’t shout out to one another and ask people in for tea. It is rare to initiate a casual pause in our very busy lives.

I would love to one day to have a house with a front porch with a swing. Maybe we could invite our neighbors over to play cards, chess or checkers. Then again, maybe we'd just visit a little, listen to one another and care a bit more.

Retro Play

A newspaper headline recently caught my attention. It was underneath a photograph of a boy jumping across two logs. The headline read:

"Retro Play!"

At first I laughed. Then I was immediately bothered by the concept. What is old fashioned about Jumping, Running, Hopping or Skipping?

In the Warm Biscuit Bedding Co. catalog, we often use similar words: retro, old-fashioned, classic to describe our products. However, I inherently believe that most of childhood play is timeless and not a thing of the past.

Kids will always love to hop across logs, splash in puddles, skip rocks. Just as they will always have fun with spirographs, blocks and memory games.

Simple Summers

Growing up in Texas, my summers were about staying cool. Days were spent sliding on our homemade
Slip N Slides, floating on bright yellow inner tubes or chasing the ice cream truck on my banana seat bike.

Summers as a kid seemed endless. A game we would play from sun up
to sun down would require nothing more than a few hand gestures and a couple of rhyming words:


Red Rover, Red Rover
Red Light, Green Light
Hide N Seek
Flash Light Tag

We love that these games will never go out of style--which is why the Warm Biscuit Bedding Co. is committed to showcasing products and boy and girl gifts that reflect timeless, classic design.

P.S. Check out our super cute Personalized Beach Towels (a great gift for girls that will look tres chic next to a Slip N Slide!

Avoiding "I'm BOOOOOOOOOOOOORED!"

It was only three days into the summer season, when I heard that dreaded cry.

"I'm booooooooooored!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" My mind did a quick evaluation. Hmm. It's a blue sky perfect day. You're on a picnic with your family in a beautiful park on the water. There are tons of happy kids running about. How can they possibly be bored? Ha! It dawned on me.

They weren't bored. They simply wanted to go back home and finish the game of Tribal Trouble I had interrupted with my park suggestion. ARGH!!! I HATE that video games take my kids away from running around like banshees outdoors. In fact, I rue the day that I in a weak moment agreed to buy him one.

I am not saying there is ZERO value in computer games, I just cringe to think of what kids give up by playing with them. In an eyeopening article in the New York Times this weekend they highlight that far fewer kids are playing neighborhood games (stick ball, roller hockey, hand ball, etc), preferring to be indoors. This trend makes me sad. And as a parent, we need to encourage our kids to move outside and play.

"There is NO ONE my age, here, Mom". (Yikes, where are the older kids?). I quickly turned the tables and suggested we play badminton. Reluctantly, my boys agreed.

Hours later, we had loads of kids and parents tossing the plastic cone back and forth. Fischer and Henry were diving in the grass, laughing. The computer game was thankfully forgotten and we were playing together...just like old times!

My goal this summer is to be outdoors with my kids, playing. Chess, croquet, baseball, flying kites, swimming, etc. I made a summer fun jar and we all get to put our favorite activities in it. What are some of yours? I'd love to toss them into the mix.

A Winning Strategy

Last night I walked in the door to face an enormous, gleaming trophy standing next to my proud son. He won it for Chess.

“Wow! That’s awesome, Fischer. Does that mean you were in first place? “

“No. Everyone got the same trophy. It’s a Participation Award, Mom.”

I don’t know about you, but I personally HATE the "everyone wins" movement. Their Field Days have become watered down group hugs. In the real world, everyone does not WIN. It’s the people who work the hardest, put the most effort and dedication into something that move ahead in life. Those who decide to just participate or show up, lose.

So tell me, why is competition and winning a bad thing? There are important life lessons in losing. The other day at baseball, Henry’s team lost. Sure it was disappointing, but the other team played better, significantly better. They deserved to win.

The lesson Henry hopefully learned was if he wanted to win his baseball game, he and his teammates needed to do more than show up at practice. Growing up, I was taught that it is only through hard work, focus and effort that real winning happens. I admit, I am fiercely competitive, hard working and love to win. I want my kids to have that same hunger.

I am curious if I am way off base, do you agree?

What a Doll!

I remember every detail of my favorite baby doll when I was growing up. Her name was Elizabeth (named after my favorite character on the Waltons). She had straight black hair, big brown eyes and a soft, cuddly body. She was my best and truest friend.

Elizabeth went with me everywhere: to the park, to friend's houses, on
trips, and best of all...to sleep. Elizabeth knew every facet of my life.
I told her secrets, shared my fears, my tears and my dreams. She was my most treasured possession.

Now, as a mother of 3 boisterous boys, I don't have many dolls in my life. Fischer has a stuffed Dalmatian named Pizza and Henry has a plush Beagle named Basketball. Every night I watch my boys wrap their arms around their best friends and hear them whisper the secrets of the day. I can't help but feel a tad bit jealous. And although I long to be part of these private conversations, I'm sure it's far more healthy that I'm not!


A favorite doll or stuffed animal not only teaches your child how to be a
good friend and promote imaginative play but most importantly these
toys make memories that last a lifetime. Are we ever too big (or old) to play with dolls?

In the Technological Slow Lane

Remember 8 tracks?

My parent’s clunky collection included cassettes from Barry Manilow, Carole King and Neil Diamond. I have distinct memories of my entire family singing at the top of our lungs the words to ‘I Feel The Earth Move Under My Feet!’ as we drove across Texas on summer vacation.

Then a few years later, I remember how blown away I was with size of the cassette tape! It was a technological breakthrough and of course, it became the perfect excuse for me to expand upon my music collection. (FYI, I still find myself referring back to ‘albums’ or ‘tapes’.)

Now, it seems as if every minute there is another gadget that will dramatically improve my life. As an adult, I am so far behind that I feel antiquated. I personally hate text messaging (makes me anxious), my husbands Blackberry rings at all hours of the night with e mail notifications (it now resides in the study, otherwise I worry that he’s missing something) and my kids regularly 'Google'.

So I am happy that the Warm Biscuit Bedding Co. ascribes to the philosophy that childhood is timeless. Kids will always love blocks, books, checkers, trains and dolls. Thankfully for a techno igmo like myself, there is no need for a lot bells or whistles with my kids…

Who invented the Birthday Goodie Bag?

Fischer just turned 9!

Because it fell on a Monday, my husband and I opted for a small family celebration. After so many years of big birthday bashes, we were happy to have an excuse to forfeit clever invitations, themed goodie bags, clowns, energetic singers, elaborate games, hoopla!

How did children’s birthday’s turn into a competitive 3 ring circus where parents feel pressure to keep up with the Jones’? Who invented the goodie bag, anyway? Isn’t a birthday party enough?!

Needless to say, my husband I looked forward to our quieter occasion.

This year, it truly was a family affair. The younger boys decorated the house, my husband made Fischer’s favorite dinner (homemade pizza) and I decorated the cake. We opened cards, presents and played games together.

It felt like my childhood birthdays and I think it was one of the best parties we’ve had...Simple, happy and fun.

And guess what? Fischer never missed the goodie bag!

Puzzled about Smart Kids

I’ll never forget the rainy day my younger brother, Eliot and I got a “Rubik’s Cube”. He solved it in less than an hour and I never did. I still get annoyed thinking about it! How on earth did he figure it out?

Are puzzles an indicator of higher intelligence? Maybe. My brother loved puzzles and he is one of the smartest people I know. He’s now a successful banker (chance or coincidence?).

Of course, my Rubik's Cube went by the wayside and I chose to focus my energy in more important arenas like books and paper dolls. Whether your child loves puzzles or not, our philosophy is that child play remains simple and timeless.

We hope our classic toy collections continue to inspire rainy (and every) day fun in your family. Some of the smart kid games we sell at the Warm Biscuit Bedding Co. include:

Our new favorites include:
Chess
Memory Game
Travel Parcheesi

Family Game Night

If you have any suggestions for mom based businesses or ideas you think we should feature, email me at Vicki@warmbiscuit.com.

I’d love to hear from you!

Inspire Creative Thinking

My boys are getting older and the oldest, Fischer (only 8), thinks he has outgrown traditional toys. He is madly campaigning for a hand held computer game (Nintendo DS).(Chores are done faster, allowances are being saved) I know it’s inevitable. We will have one in our house.

As someone who does not even own a cell phone or wear a watch, I hate the idea of losing my son to a computer game. Not yet. I still want him to sit down and play chess, put a puzzle together, draw in his journal.

Old-fashioned? Not really, there are some things we should never replace. A child’s imagination is stimulated by low tech products because they require them to act or create. Plus, he’s got the rest of his life to sit in front of a computer!

Which is why I love:
Spirographs
Chess
Art jars
Wooden Blocks
Legos and Playmobile

Some of our favorite toy shops (other than the obvious, the warm biscuit bedding co.) include:
back to basics
zebra hall
moolka