droolicious : oompa

Blabla's Newest Boogaloos

elizabeth leach — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:30:00 GMT

There are six new additions to the Boogaloo family and they are as quirky and cute as their predecessors. With names like Gretel, Anouk, Marlin and Watson, you know these are not your typical knit dolls.

I love their bright colors and sweet faces. Each one has so much personality. Bugaloos are hand knit in Peru. Each doll measures 10" high and 5" width.

Find Blabla's Boogaloos at Oompa for $37.99 each.

Read my first review of the Boogaloos from Blabla here.

Flower Treasure Jewelry Case

AmandaHill — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Here at droolicious, we are always talking up the Haba products. But there's a reason for this: Haba brings the awesome. Just look at the Flower Treasure Jewelry Case seen above. This would have come in so handy when my daughter was begging for somewhere to keep her play jewelry.

You can check out the Jewelry Case along with many other Haba products at Oompa.

Bajo EMT Ambulance Toy

AmandaHill — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:00:00 GMT

I am neither the first nor the last to notice the adorable products that Bajo puts out. This EMT Ambulance toy being one of them. It's a wooden car toy just waiting to be played with by a tiny hands.

Check it out at Oompa.

Clutch And Jingle Toy

Lisa Estall — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:19:00 GMT

For babies who are learning to touch and feel, this Sonajero Rojo Clutching Toy from Kathe Kruse looks fun to play with.

Babies can squeeze the center handle and crinkle the orange heart. There are also beads in the pink heart for...

jingling. The ring is for teething and there’s a loop for attaching a pacifier.

This toy is made in Germany and sold at Oompa for $24.99. A little pricey but hey, it's different.

Keep Rooms Tidy With This Organic Storage Tower

Lisa Estall — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:24:00 GMT

Keeping toys stored away in an organized manner can be challenging when you have little ones.

I think this Jax Organic Storage Tower would look nice in the corner of a bedroom or playroom. The fabric is made of...

organic cotton and is stretched over the frame.

The dimensions are: W 14.5 x H 40 x D 16in. You do have to assemble it but once up, you'll enjoy a tidier space!

Price is $159.99 and sold at Oompa.

Big Deal: Oompa's After Christmas Sale

elizabeth leach — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

I love after Christmas sales! Now until Dec 31, select items at Oompa are 20% off with code (get the code after the jump). This adorable doll buggy by Haba is now $159.99 instead of $170. And there's a lot more Haba on sale!

Shop Oompa's sale here with this code: AFTERXMAS.

HABA Discovery Wagon

Cathy Hale — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:00:00 GMT

If your little crawler is quickly becoming a little toddler, HABA's Discovery Wagon is the perfect push-along pal. Youngsters can walk with confidence and the Discovery Wagon offers all types of interesting, colorful gadgets to twist and turn. Shop Maukilo.

Founded in Germany in 1938, HABA is still a family owned and operated company. Dedicated to quality and craftsmanship, HABA toys are smooth, polished and made from locally derived hardwoods. HABA toys are made in ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified workshops, with rigorous quality control and attention to detail in mind at all times. It is one of Oompa's most celebrated companies.

Introducing Organic Joobles

elizabeth leach — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Fair Indigo's new organic knit toys are quirky and sweet. Choose from nine animals who all have charming names: Pip the Dog, Mooey Cow, Icy the Penguin, Jiffy the Giraffe, Mel the Monkey, Bella the Bunny, Buzzy Bug, Calley the Cat and Fair Bear. Joobles are sure to make your child smile with their funny faces and unusual color combinations.

Each Jooble stands 11" tall and is from $23.99 - $25.99. Find Joobles at Oompa.

Big Deal: 10% Off at Oompa Toys

elizabeth leach — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:30:00 GMT

If you live in Wisconsin, you can now visit Oompa in person. To celebrate the opening of this store, Oompa is offering 10% off online and at their store until Monday at midnight, CST. Code is after the jump...

Shop Oompa with code: STORE2008

Pop Art Kitchen

elizabeth leach — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:00:00 GMT

This play oven by Nathan is very pop art looking. I love the bright orange color and the circles on the burners. It's almost like a child drew it with a bright orange crayon. The play oven is part of Nathan's modular kitchen set. There is also a fuchsia kitchen sink, green storage unit, and bright blue washing machine.

The Vitamin Play Kitchen isn't cheap (The oven is $275.99 and the others are around the same price.) but the quality is superb and your child will play with it for a long, long time. It's made from wood and lacquered to a nice glossy finish. Find the Vitamin Kitchen by Nathan at Oompa.

In the Nursery: Muu Kids is Designed for You

elizabeth leach — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:30:00 GMT

Muu Kids Furniture is all about personal options. The above, Sam Crib, comes with a panel to suit your nursery decor. Choose from Meadow (above photo), Blossoms, Elephant, Seal, Whale, Scooter, Rocker, Butterflies, and Car. The panel is interchangeable and attaches with a magnet. So, you can change your panel and change the entire theme of the room!

The Sam Crib is available with a natural base or walnut base. A toddler converstion kit is available to convert the crib into a bed. There is also a changing table, storage unit, toddler bed, and bedside table available with similar panel design. Find the Sam Crib at Oompa Toys and Muu Kids.

The below photo is the Sam Crib with Blossoms panel.

Halloween Rattles Last Longer than the Real Thing

elizabeth leach — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:30:00 GMT

Celebrate baby's first Halloween with a knitted candy corn rattle and pumpkin rattle. Actually, an older child would appreciate the Halloween fun just as much. Neither will rot your teeth or.... get nasty and start to ooze and then you have a big mess to clean up.

Candy Corn Rattle measures L 4.3 x W 3.5 x H 2 in and Pumpkin Rattle measures H 2 x Diameter: 3.5 in. Each rattle is $8.99 at Oompa Toys. Created by Yellow Label Kids and made in Bangladesh.

Make Sweet Music with a Lollypop Drum

elizabeth leach — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Your little musician will make sweet music with this lollypop drum. Made by Remo, the world's leading producer of drumheads, this drum creates a lovely sound and is the perfect size for little hands. The Lollypop Drum is so well constructed it will take all the abuse your toddler dishes.

Purchase this fun lollypop drum at Oompa Toys for $24.99.

Finger Puppets from Yellow Label Kids

elizabeth leach — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:49:00 GMT

Five finger puppets in their very own bag! Hand crocheted in Bangladesh, each puppet is so cute and funny. I can see my daughter carrying them around in their brightly colored bag. Then, of course, she'd take the puppets out of the bag, put them back in the bag, then out again... endlessly!

The puppets are a lion, elephant, bird, frog, and bunny. This adorable toy is by Yellow Label Kids and can be found at Oompa Toys for $24.99.

Elegant Wooden Animals

elizabeth leach — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Simple is usually better. This adage definitely applies to the new toys sold exlusively in the U.S. at Oompa Toys. Cheekeyes are handmade animal blocks designed by Dutch designer, Rogier van Zijp. Made from eco-friendly, sustainable rubber wood, and non-toxic paint, these blocks are simple and dare I say… elegant? Cheekeyes are beautiful enough to display on a shelf.

Smooth to the touch with glossy paint on the edges, painted eyes, and painted, round cheeks, Cheekeyes are simple and I'll say it again... they are elegant. Choose from 5 sets: African Animals, Dinosaurs, Forest Animals, Arctic Animals, and Farm Animals ($29.99 each). There are also accessories available like trees, fences, icebergs, caves, among others. Inspire your child to use his imagination with a simple, beautifully made toy like Cheekeyes. Shop Cheekeyes at Oompa.

7 Days of Back to School Supplies: Take Off with Haba

elizabeth leach — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Leave it to Haba to make a pencil case this darned cute. (I don't think I'm too old to own a penil case like this.) And while we're at it, check out this stationery case from Haba...

Shuttle Pencil Case (above) has four zippered compartments of varying sizes to hold pencils, erasers, paper clips, or whatever else you need to keep handy. ($16.49)

ABC Beetle Stationery Case (below) is very cool. Keep all your art supplies together and in this adorable case. I love the lines on the cover of the case made to look like ruled paper. Colored pencils, eraser, ruler, and sharpener all included. ($25.49)

Buy both at Oompa Toys and check out all their other goodies for back to school.

Back to School with Oompa and Pooki Backpack Giveaway

elizabeth leach — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:30:00 GMT

September used to mean a new notebook and a new backpack. I took a lot of care in choosing the perfect notebook and the perfect backpack. Things haven’t changed much for me! Oompa has a fantastic selection of only the very best backpacks. If only I had Oompa when I was still in school.

(Details on how to win the above Pooki and Co backpack after the jump...)

Pooki and Co Backpacks (above and below) were designed in Paris. Choose from regular backpack style, messenger style, and above fleece, Pooki character style. The above Mina Backpack is $30.99. The Oscar Backpack (below) is $27.99 and comes in several different, colorful options.

Dante Beatrix Little Kid Backpacks (below) are my fave. Choose from penguin, bee, bunny, shark, pig, lion, and polar bear. There is one large pocket inside backpack. ($35.99)

Allerhand Backpacks (below) have lots of pockets, a waterproof bag for wet stuff, a thermal sleeve for a drink, and reinforced straps for the heavy stuff. Allerhand Backpacks comes in three color choices. ($57.99)

Mimi the Sardine Backpacks (below) are made from Swedish cotton that is treated to be water and soil resistent. Environmentally friendly and no PVC. Choose from three styles: hybrid cars, flowers, and monkeys. ($33.99)

Crocodile Creek Backpacks (below) are bright and fun with images that toddlers love: dump truck, fire engine, ladybug, dinosaur, horse, and sunflower. There’s a large zippered pocked big enough for a notebook, a small pocket for pencils and pens, a side mesh pocket for a water bottle, and is fully lined. ($25.99)

Fleurville Kid's Pack Lunch Bag (below) is a lunch bag in a back pack. Fully insulated and easy to clean interior. "Project pocket" to keep works of art safe. Available in six colors. ($31.99)

At the end today (Friday, August 8), I will randomly choose a winner to receive the Pooki and Co Mina Backpack from Oompa. Send an e-mail to babbledesign@gmail.com with the subject header “Oompa backpack” and tell me what toy is your absolute favorite on the Oompa website. And don’t forget to give me your name and address. Good luck!

Water Toys from Haba

elizabeth leach — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:13:00 GMT

This bucket made by Haba has a clear bottom so you can fill it up with sand, shells, and water and create your own under water world. The funny things next to the bucket are sponges and I'm not sure what you're supposed to do with them but I'm sure they're a lot of fun. What do kids do with sponges? Probably throw them at each other.

Take this bucket and sponges to the beach and find out! Find them at Oompa Toys for $25.99.

Top Five Pirate-Themed Products

elizabeth leach — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:00:00 GMT

There’s something intrinsically silly about a pirate. Of all the themed products for boys (cars, airplanes, sail boats, sports), pirates are, in my opinion, the coolest. Maybe it’s because pirates are rebels. Or maybe pirates are a little less common than cars and airplanes. (And that’s why pirate products are popping up everywhere. Arg!) So, in honor of Summer approaching, let’s take a look at my five favorite pirate-themed products. (That’s “booty” in pirate talk.)

1. The Pirate Clutching Toy (above) is from our trusted friends at Haba. Introduce your infant to the world of pirates with this beautiful wooden rattle, painted with a food-grade, non-toxic paint.

2. The Shipwrecked Party Collection at Pottery Barn Kids includes everything you need for a party fit for even Davy Jones. There's a party banner, treasure map, pirate hats, table cloth, ship centerpiece, pirate games, gold coins and pouch, placemats, plates, utensils, and tumblers. Pottery Barn thought of everything. What a perfect birthday party for Summer.

3. Pirate Boy Bedding Collection from Target is pirate-preppy. The quality and design of these items is really impressive. The collection includes a comforter, quilt, sheet-set, lamp and bedside table. The sheets are 100% cotton and come in twin and full sizes.

4. Pirate Tent Play Set is easy to set up and comes with its own carrying case. It also comes with a bandana and eye patch. You can even "walk the plank"! A great way to foster their imaginations.

5. Smelly Jelly’s pirate bubble bath for the high seas of your baby's tub. Yo-ho-ho! A pirates life for me!

For a list of fun pirate words check out this website. (Warning: pirate talk can get really annoying.)

The New Future Car by Bajo

elizabeth leach — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Introducing Bajo’s new line of jumbo wooden vehicles sold exclusively at Oompa Toys. All of Bajo’s products are made in Poland and painted with child safe, non-toxic lacquer, in bright, eye-catching colors.

Check out the jumbo Future Car (above), the Volkswagon Beetle, tow truck, fire engine, and convertible cruiser. The Beetle comes in red, violet, orange, hot pink, and green. The yellow tow truck can hoist and tow several other Bajo vehicles. The red fire engine has a moveable ladder, blue discs, and a bell that rings. No batteries required! Sold at Oompa.

Lasts Longer Than Peeps

Erin Behan — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:59:00 GMT

Sure kids love sugary Peeps (I'm a big fan of opening the box and then letting them sit exposed to the air to get that nice crunchy exterior). But for a longer lasting, healthier alternative, consider these cute-as-a-button knitted marshmallow bunnies ($26.99) at Oompa Toys. They come in their own crocheted basket and are made in Bangledesh under the Fair Trade Federation.

Cozy Cabin Twin Bed Would Look Great in a People House

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:03:00 GMT

As much as we love Haba's toys here at Babble, we've gone just as gaga over the German company's fantastic line of beds. Looking at this Cozy Cabin Twin Bed ($1,800 from Oompa Toys), it's easy to see why. The exaggerated, asymmetrical design brings to mind a house straight out of Seussville, and as with Haba's other beds, this one encourages play as much as it does sleep: The bed separates from the set in order to create a life-size, sturdy play fort.

A few minor quibbles: One, it's expensive; two, there's no mattress included; and three, it'll cost an extra $200 to have it delivered. But if money's not an object, this could be the ultimate addition to any imaginative kid's room.

As with all things Haba, the Cozy Cabin is made in Germany, and the construction is natural wood with non-toxic finishes.

A Kathe Kruse Topper Too Proper For Mere Pretend Play

Leigh-Ann Jackson — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:00:00 GMT

This felt dress-up hat comes from German toy company Kathe Kruse. I'd say it's a waste (of style and quite a bit of pocket change) to throw it in a chest with a heap of feather boas, oversized opera gloves and plastic tiaras. Forget make-believe; this little Art Deco chapeau is ready for the real world.

$32, Oompa.

Green Baby: Yellow Label Ice Cream Rattles are Deliciously Fair Trade

Mir — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:00:00 GMT

Mmmm... it's a trio of perfect ice cream cones for baby; no empty calories, preservatives, or lead paint! Yellow Label designs these rattles in California and then they're made by artisans in Bangladesh (under Fair Trade practices). The result is a perfect addition to baby's toybox, worry- and guilt-free. $26.99 for the set from Oompah.