I'm still in love...

Since I have now fallen into the wonderful world of Schylling toys I have found that I love them all!  I love that they are what every toy should be... pure enjoyment and give you chance to use your imagination!  With the toys that are being produced now, it is refreshing to see something that is simple and allows you to just enjoy the toy without the electronic confusion or frustration!  Hope that these posting make other people see how amazing these toys are and hope you stop by to see them all!

CHARM IT!

Love jewelry but I love to CHARM IT!
It is a great idea to be able to have a bracelet with a collection of charms.
I can switch the charms on my bracelet depending on the occasion.
If I go to a fancy party I will use the Disney princesses’ charms.
If I go to a wedding I can choose between Hello Kitty and a simple Swarovski Heart.
If I go out with my girlfriends I will switch it to Little Miss Chatter or Little Miss Giggles. IT IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have many different charms for any occasions and the best of all is that they are collectible and the company is always updating and making new ones.
My favorites are the little miss……………
I CAN’T WAIT TO HAVE THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

A,B,C,D is for Dizzy

Dizzy Gillespie loved kids and kids love him. I mean he was on the freaking Muppet Show. Now get your self a D is for Dizzy shirt and check out this video.

Taro Gomi

Area Kids carries amazing coloring, scribbling and doodle books created by Taro Gomi. These fun books are filled with hundreds of pages to get any kid's (or adult's) imagination stimulated to run wild. The drawings in these books are very modern and cool and give fun instructions to children to help them be as creative as they can be.



Hailing from Tokyo, Taro Gomi has created over 350 books for all ages! Other popular books by this doodle genius are, "Spring is here", "Everyone Poops" and "Doodle All Year." Not only are his doodle books fun, but he also writes stories in a fun way where children can really relate to them and learn from them.

The Secret Lives of Area Girls, Pt. II

Hello again, Area Peoples. I think it's about time for the second instillation of The Secret Lives of Area Girls.

Today I'm at 5th ave with a certain pink-glasses-wearing, pink-scooter-coveting Area girl who's normally over at the toy store with Jeff. We all know this ex-tea-lounge-manager for her friendly disposition and awesome sense of style, but what most people don't know is that her funky and fantastic tattoos are not tattoos at all. That's right - this current resident of Queens is an ex-resident of Neptune. Those "tattoos" we see are actually bits of her natural skin tone seeping through the humanoid makeup. But have no fear - Neptunians are well-known human lovers and toy experts. We're lucky to have one working for Area.


Another under-cover Area girl says she's come to the Big Apple by way of LA, but do a little google searching and you'll find out that our Montague st. aspiring photographer-extraordinaire is actually a pop princess from Prague. She's come to NYC to escape her crazed fans and paparazzi, so let's not blow her cover.


As for moi, my apartment search continues. So far the requirements are that it's A) in Brooklyn B) affordable and C) not inhabited by a psychotic roommate. You'd be surprised how important that last one is. Keep checking in and I'll keep you posted in another episode of The Secret Lives of Area Girls.

My Favorite kids music that we do sell.

I'm a big fan of starting kids out early with art and music and these are great for kids and adults as they're not just your average abc 123, sun and cloud kinds of kids songs ( though there is a time and place for those too!) My favorites are French Playground and Reggae Playground. C.ds can be a hard sell if you're not already familiar with what's on them. This is my favorite putumayo song, "Mouse in the House" at the putumayo website. It's actually got this awesome message about how to deal with fear and it's extremely catchy.

Ceramic Piggy Bank.

It is time to save some money!
We all hear every day in the news about the market going up and down.
I just don't know if I should believe my Financial Advisor (my husband) or the bank so I decided to get myself an elegant baby piggy bank.
I got the giant because I want to save a lot of money but if you guys are interested in saving some money or little money. Elegant baby Piggy Bank comes in different sizes and colors.
Start Saving now.

I don't like air conditioner......

I prefer to use my imagination and bring myself to different places.
This humidity is killing me so I decided to travel with Babo, Wage and all the Ugly Dolls.
We stayed at the Ice Lodge (Ice-Bat's house).
Everything is frozen over there.
Ice everywhere!
There are bear statues everywhere wearing red coats.
He likes all things frozen.
After couple of hours over there I decided to come back to Area 7ave. Turn on the AC and back to work.
We had a very good time but It was 2 cold 2 move.

Invasion of the PEAPODS!

Penelope Peapod is back in stock. These adorable on-the-go dolls are actually two Moms' modern reimagining of an old-fashioned craft project. Pretty awesome. Wicked classy! They come in way too many varieties of fabric pattern to list here, but rest assured, that there's one for everyone.

I want them all...........

The cutest socks on earth!!!!!!
My favorite are the MaryJane Brights. Six pairs of socks that come in a beautiful little shoe box in different colors: white, red, purple, yellow, fushia and chartreuse.
The size goes from 0-12 months.
They also have many diferent styles for baby boys, baby girls and Toddlers.
It is fun to collect them all for diferent occasions and seasons.

xootr scooters, motor scooters, i love scooters!

Hey all. I havent posted in awhile! I'm here at 5th avenue, and I wanted to talk about my commute here!! This is slightly off topic, but i need some cool people's advice...

I recently moved to Queens so my commute to work at AREA has signifigantly changed (i used to live on 9th street and 6th ave in the slope). So I am thinking about buying a scooter!

Originally I thought about a Xootr, which we proudly sell here at AREA, and everyone loves, and is super great. HOWEVER i need a little more power, if im going back and forth from sunnyside, queens.

SO i need some opinions! I am thinking of saving up for a pink buddy scooter. Area girls (and jeff), tell me the truth! My boyfriend currently rides an orange Stella and its amazing. Any motorscooter owners here?


In other news, I LOVE the smafolk patterns. I want to wear them all!!!

Almost the end of the day

It's almost time to leave, and I am TIRED! 5th ave sometimes get packed with so many people you can't tell who's stealing what, just kidding. (not really). All the hustle and bustle has made this daybed all I desire at this moment. I just want to fall into the

"Nirvana Chair"
Can you feel the comfiness!
:0)

This Stupid Sale Section!!!

Picture taken: 15 minutes after folding the sale section....

As I am sure you all know the sale section at 5th ave is INSANE! There is NO remedy for it. I spent almost all of my shift attempting to refold it, and then a tornado of customer's came and destroyed it. I give up!
So, I am taking a stand. I demand a foldbot for the sale section! PLEase!

The worst customer ever, and some tips to help you not be her

Hello all!
I would like to start off by saying that here at Area we love our customers very much, by in large they are creative, fun, and interesting (all around wonderful) people. Unfortunately we will occasionally get some folks in the store who are...less than wonderful. For example last week I had an 86 year-old customer come in to the Montague store. The reason I know that she is 86 is because she announced it quite boisterously as she banged through the door. She stayed in the store for well over an hour, during which time she rejected my several attempts to help her find something she might like.She also managed to insult everyone and everything that was in the store. When she finally did make her decision she chose to let me know by throwing (yes throwing) the bath toys she wanted across the store at me. (As a side note I would like to state that the speed with which she threw the bath toys would have been impressive in a person 60 years younger.)
After she left I started putting together a mental list of customer etiquette tips. I'd like to share what I have so far

1)Do Not Throw Things.
Please do not throw things at your fellow customers, the merchandise and most importantly me.

2)Use your indoor voice/T.M.I.
When shopping at you local Area please keep in mind that the stores are small and there are usually children and babies around and it does no one good to have to overhear you shout about your digestive issues/ other various ailments. So please remember that you should always use your indoor voice and there is such a thing as too much information.

3)Please don't be a jerk.
My personal style is something I put effort into, please don't make fun of what I am wearing...it hurts my feelings. Also please don't insult your fellow customers we like to think of Area as a safe space.

Most of you don't need these tips but just in case you did I hope you found them helpful.
p.s. Area girls let me know if I forgot any, and I'll let you know if I think of any more.

It's Raining, It's Pouring the Old Man is Snoring!

All this yucky rain is making me sore and cranky, not to mention hungry! No one has come into the store the past hour, I guess because they are all home and not wanting to be caught in this rain. Soooo to pass time and not die of bordom I started to re-fold the entire store ...and ordered some delicious spicy noodles with chicken from Song! (thanks Jesselyn!) People come and visit 7th ave Area!!! I'm actually desperate enough right now for people to come in and ruin the stacks of clothing just so I can re-fold them haha!

Brooklyn Tornado

Well, it seems that the rain has scared the customers off for a little while. Looking out the window and seeing the dark sky only reminds me of one thing: the Brooklyn tornado last year. I wasn't living here at the time, though I remember hearing about it and being shocked. Tornados in North Carolina, where I was living, was quite the norm. But in in a city? Especially New York City? Unheard of! (To me, at least).



Let's hope this doesn't happen again today! ..Or ever again, as tornados are my worst fear!

Bye- Bye Baby :(

July 1st will be a sad day in Area Kids history because the Baby store located at 252 Smith Street will be closing its doors. This was the first Area Kids clothing stores and paved the way for many more. i hold a special place in my heart for that store as it was the first store i worked at when i joined the area kids team. I feel I speak for everyone here at Area Kids as well as its faithful patrons when i say the store will be missed.

Here's something to cheer you up :)

The. Best. Thai Food. Ever.

Hello my Area peoples. Do you enjoy Thai food? Of course you do, you're cool people. Well then, let's talk for a minute about the best Thai food place ever, I kid you not. Song, located at 295 5th ave in Park Slope (conveniently right up the avenue from our 5th ave store) has some of the best Pad See Yu I've ever tasted. If you don't know what that is, it's basically noodles and egg and vegetables and happiness. All of the Area Girls who've worked at the 5th ave store have tried Song at one point or another - yes, they deliver - and I believe the universal comment was "OMG, best Thai food EVER."

What I've recently discovered is that Song is the sister-store of another neighborhood-wide-famous Thai food place Joya Kitchen, located at 215 Court st. If you have a fever and the only cure is more Pad Thai, look no further than these two restaurants. And after you've eaten your fill and are in a happy-Thai-food-coma you should swing by one of the nearest Area stores - I guarantee there will be one within walking distance.

Russian Cars are Back!!

We had been having many requests for the toy russian cars we carried a few months ago, but because of the demand we had been out of stock on them for a while. Well guess what, they are back! The beloved russian toy cars we couldn't keep on the shelves are now restocked! We have the police van, the taxi, ambulance, large toy truck, and fire car. They make great gifts for children and people of all ages, and are wonderful for collectors. Get them while they last!

Horoscope: If your Birthday is Today... Happy Birthday From AREA KIDS!
You are likely to take things far too personally today; perhaps you’ll be looking for deeper explanations where there will be none. On top of that you may feel swamped with chores or tasks. Reserving a little time and space for yourself this evening will be your best option! You may just need a relaxing trip to Area Kids to check out the awesome toys, great clothes, kid's shoes, baby toys and our line of Bugaboo products. We can't wait to see you!

Keep the Music Alive

With school boards cutting more and more music programs in public and private schools it has become the responsibility of the parent to make sure their children are active in music which has been proven to help children perform better in school. At Area Kids we have an array of musical instruments from penny whistles, maracas and harmonicas to children's guitars and ukulele. We carry products from companies. Woodstock, one brand we carry, make magnificent instruments such as pianos, guitars, ukulele, and a variety of other instruments for young children. Another company PlanToys make adorable wooden shakers, castanets and tambourines painted as bumble bees, frogs and dragon flys. The creative, inovative and fun toys provide hours of educational entertainment to our children, how could we say no?

Area Word of the Day - Use it 3 times today ...

The Word of the Day for June 29, 2008 is:

jog trot • \JOG-TROT\ • noun

1 : a horse's slow measured trot

*2 : a routine habit or course of action

Example Sentence:

The weekly Friday-night dances provided the townsfolk with a few hours of respite from the jog trot of life.

Did you know?

The jog trot is a kind of careful, deliberate trot that is sometimes required at horse shows, among other things. "Jog" is thought to have come from an alteration of "shog," a verb meaning "to shake" or "to jolt" and used primarily in dialect. "Trot" has been part of English since the 14th century. The phrase "jog trot," which first appeared in print in 1796, developed a figurative sense as well; it can refer to a steady and usually monotonous routine, similar to the slow, regular pace of a horse at a jog trot. There is a suggestion with the generalized sense that the action is uniform and unhurried, and perhaps even a little dull.

BlaBla finger puppets make me smile!

I love these little guys! These are a good option to hold you over until you buy a large BlaBla doll. Each one is unique with crazy colors and a smiling face. Just look at that pink monkey! How about the green dog? With names such as Buzz, Leopold and Sandwich, you can't help but want to own them all!

100% cotton and hand-knitted in Peru. They are well-worth $5.50 a pop! Own them alllll today!



Hey.. where's the sheep!?

Super Duper Water Gun!!

Gooood Morning my fellow Area Kids homies and everyone else in between :) Soooo I got in a little earlier than 10 Am today and I was kind of bored. Soooo I took a look around the store and a toy caught my eye, it was the Hydrotech Super Surge Water Gun!! SO let me tell you, for the folks who don't already know. This water gun has a special feature that is NON STOP air pressure system!!! It is made from the company who also makes some awesome novelty toys which we carry.

What kids wouldn't like a water gun that has a non-stop air pressure system? I mean when I was a kid during the summer I looooved having fun with water. I would have water balloon fights with the fellow neighborhood kids and we also had water guns! I remember having a yellow water gun and after each shot of water I would have to start pumping the damn thing just to have enough pressure built up for the next shot of water! Do you know how soaked I was by the time I finished pumping?? I was attacked from all angles by my friends by then. Oh how I wished someone would invent something like the Toysmith Hydrotech Super Surge...and now that they have I am a bit too old for water gun fights, but all the young'ns out there aren't! SO definitely check this item ouuut :)

The Early Bird

Here I am again, Area Kiddies, checking in early this Sunday morning from our 5th ave location. Did you all know that the Area on 5th ave and Bergen street was open 9-8, every day?? Well, now you do, so if you're ever up at some unseemly hour (like 9:30 am, maybe) and you get a hankering for, let's say, a Fleurville backpack... well, we'll be there for you.

I actually prefer the early shift most days. Park Slope feels like a completely different neighborhood before 11 AM - a quiet, sleepy little metropolis, where the sidewalks aren't too crowded and the teenagers are all still asleep. Maybe I'm just pre-maturely turning into a grumpy old cat lady. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go trip people with my cane.

My future son!

Maybe he will look like a mini Morrissey!!

Bring your kids to Area Stores

Child in Area.

Child not at Area.

Darn Rain...

I have to say...I really really dislike rain. It's raining, well no it is Pouring right now!! The streets are empty except for the few people running for shelter. Is it just me or has it been extremely rainy and windy this past year??...this sucks!

Daily Dose of Area Clothes

Here are a few of my favorite AREA clothes. Hiho Batik Steals my heart with their tie dye inspired t shirts. In case you didn't know, Batik is an ancient art form using wax and dyes to create an image. A few other things make Hiho Batik a unique item; they also, like Petit Bateau, make adults clothing, and bags. You can even make a customized print, or if you want to get more creative, you can have a Hiho Batik Party!

JUNK FOOD is another one of my favorites. Junk Food also comes in larger sizes for all you adults, and AREA girls who have always wanted a bands shirt, but didn't want to shell out fifty dollars at a concert. Now children can wear matching band shirts with their parents!!! Junk Food also has the Little Miss and Mister shirts, from the book series we all know and love. Here is a peek at our vast array of Junk Food shirts:


Last but not least is Kids Ink, a fairly new brand in the AREA kids family. These sparkly vector graphic inspired company gives has a special flare. Their shirts take you to a surreal world where hippos fly, and Pandas have their own country.



I couldn't find the romper with the flying hippo on it, but believe me it does exist!!

Hope you enjoyed the daily dose of Area clothes!!!

Peace out, and goodnight!

Petit Bateau dates back to 1893!

Area Kids carries quite a few brands that are based right here in Brooklyn. While I love to support anything local, I must say that my heart belongs to most of the foreign brands we carry. There is something about the structure and design of Imps & Elves, Haba, Smafolk, etc. where you can tell it's not from around here. Maybe my liking for this stuff has something to do with my great-great European ancestry. Anyhow, I am here to talk about PETIT BATEAU! I think the designs are clever and adorable. I love the body onesies and the cullotes. They instantly make any baby look cuter!

I mentioned how cute Petit Bateau stuff was to a friend the other day. She told me about a Petit Bateau bathing suit she bought for herself. Petit Bateau for adults!? You learn every day!



That baby is proof that Petit Bateau not only makes a baby instantly cuter, but super-fashionable too! Have a good weekend!

Going swimming at the Double D!

Saomi does not seem sick anymore! So off to my favorite pool, a little gem called the Double D. It is on Nevins between Douglass & Degraw. It is super cool.

T's by Pluto :)

How cute are these tee shirts by pluto? I mean come on if they came in my size I would totally buy and wear one while walking next to my little brother! hehe

These are selling like hot cakes !! It's to the point, I am your little sister or big sister ect. you get the point. It makes the perfect gift.

Rockabye Baby!

Do you ever catch yourself singing along to Rockabye Baby in the store? It kind of feels like you're doing karaoke (when no one is around, of course!) Okay, maybe I am the only one. There are so many awesome lullaby renditions of legendary bands made by Rockabye Baby. Not only is it known for helping babies lay their head down but also for parents to rock out to and reminisce on. Blogspot wouldn't allow me to put the poll I made up, so I was curious to know: which is YOUR favorite Rockabye Baby? Maybe it's The Cure, Radiohead or No Doubt? I know that those are the top 3 most popular in the Court St. Store! Reply to this and let's see which one gets the top vote from the Area employees!

From the ones I've heard, my favorite is a toss up between these two:

SY on the 4th

Who's going to Sonic Youth w/ The Feelies @ Battery Park on the 4th? We can meet up and split an AREA Watermelon.