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Linda Meadow: Author: City Baby LA + Founder, Guru Mommy

A Pro-Mom's Shopping Guide For Last Minute Kiddie-Gifting

ELAINE SAYS: Holiday deadlines are getting closer and the pressure of juggling work events, holiday parties and gift buying is rising. But don't panic...we've got you covered. Linda Meadow is a Chicago "Homey" and old friend...not to mention, Author of the famed mommy bible, "City Baby L.A.," and Founder of one of my favorite local mommy sites, GuruMommy. Whenever I'm in a jam, Linda always has a great suggestion or two. So, fueled by my own "slacker-ness" (let's just pretend that's a word), I asked her to shoot over a kiddie gift guide....and she delivered. Here's the Guru of all Mommy's, Last Minute Shopping List, full of ideas for family fun, fashion and overall mini-magic.

Posted on December 16th, 2011

Kids

Let's See Your Moves: Just Dance 3 VISIT WEBSITEOk, my entire family is now obsessed with Just Dance for Wii (it is available for other video game systems as well). They are all are the same idea...you dance until you sweat! It is fun for everyone, 5 year old’s to grandparents visiting...and it is serious exercise. You choose the song and then follow the dance steps for a crazy, fun workout! Just Dance 3, the latest version has all the newest songs & some fun oldies too (my 5 year old loves Elvis?!) It makes a great family holiday gift and it's totally fun for those days you are looking for something to do with the family!
The Art Of The Matter: ORB Factory Mosaics VISIT WEBSITEThese awesome mosaics from Orb Factory are my new favorite gift. My 6-year-old got a bunch for her birthday and she can do it totally on her own...no help from me or her sisters, who are just as obsessed with the kits. They come with mosaic squares that have sticky backings. Just read the ‘code’ for which color goes where and your kids will spend hours putting them together. They have all different kinds of mosaics, from foam to magnetic and they are all equally addictive! Buy a bunch now and pull them out for vacation or rainy days!
Block Heads: Tegu Magnetic Blocks VISIT WEBSITEThese blocks from Tegu are awesome, they are wooden with hidden magnets inside, making them perfect for endless hours of building. Not only are they cool & fun, but they are also socially responsible. Hoping to support entrepreneurship, neglected human and natural resources and unemployment in Honduras, the Tegu founders created this eco-friendly toys which are manufactured there. So, you can buy these blocks not just for the hours of fun you will have, but also to help the people that are making them.
Juggling Act: Diablo Juggling Toy VISIT WEBSITEDiabolo is a juggling toy your kids are going to be obsessed with! It is like a giant yo-yo that can leave the string in hundreds of different throws, catches, and cradles. Super Cool!!
Great Travel Game: Guess Who VISIT WEBSITEAll my kids are into this game! The deluxe version has 6 different character themes and 120 new characters to play with. An electric timer, light and sounds also add to the fun. All game pieces are contained in the new compact case, so kids can bring their gaming fun on the go. We bring it on every vacation!
Rubiks Revival: Ball Of Whacks VISIT WEBSITEBall of Whacks (named after the 'whacking sound' it makes when you build), is an addictive mathmatical building toy for every age. It's the perfect creativity tool for innovators, artists, engineers, writers, students, educators and you! It has 30 magnetic design blocks that can be rearranged into many, many shapes. Each individual piece of the Ball of Whacks is a "golden ratio" rhombic pyramid...which actually means something to kids studying geometry!
Retro Cool: Aviator Nation Vintage Sweats VISIT WEBSITEThis cool clothing line is super soft & the latest "hot" sweats for kids (taking over from Free City & Butter). The t-shirts, sweatshirts & sweatpants are 'totally LA' and their store on Main Street in Santa Monica (where you can see all the designs available) is totally cool. They also carry them at Nordstrom and Fred Segal in Santa Monica. My personal favorite is the zipper hoodie with, "Pray For Snow' emblazzoned on the back! Trend Alert: If you're in NYC, check out the hottest new kids shop, Me.n.U, where kids can customize their tee's and sweats by adding crystal names or initials...they have a great design collection to choose from as well...and they ship! [Me.n.u: 1042 Lexington Avenue 646.370.6449].
Family Game Night: Blokus VISIT WEBSITEBlokus, the ultimate family board game, has been our families travel obsession for years, I am always amazed when people haven't heard of it or played it! So fun and easy to "get".....even my 4 year old was playing within minutes of learning!
Rules Are Made For Breaking: That's Dangerous VISIT WEBSITEThis isn't really a "kid-appropriate" book, but sometimes we all need a break from being so "PC" in raising our kids! The entire series includes "That's Dangerous," "That's Disgusting" & "That's Mean".... simply hysterical!! Written by painter Francesco Pittau, they are too funny to not share at the dinner table !!