I am sure there is a delightful back story for Sophie the Giraffe but I don’t know what it is. So let’s stick to the facts: babies are drawn to this iconic toy like cowboys to horses.

Why? I don’t know… why do babies like anything?

Maybe it’s her spots, maybe it’s Sophie’s jaunty expression, perhaps the natural rubber has a reassuring feel and texture (it WILL end up in your baby’s mouth).

I could give you the spiel from the makers but it reads like any other toy write-up, “stimulates the blah, blah, blah through our special patented blah, blah, blah.” (in other words, they don’t know either).

Here is the bottom-line: Sophie is all that and a baguette. Just ask your baby.

Made in France of 100% natural rubber and food paint. French accent and Kung Fu action beret not included.

What are they? Fractiles are special sets of colorful, magnetic tiles. Each tile is cut into a geometric shape and kids (and adults!) can arrange the tiles to create snowflakes, starbursts, spirals, spaceships, and much more! The possibilities are limitless.

Mila has a Fractiles travel set and has created any number of eye catching designs. It has been a great addition to our car activity arsenal – joining Wikki Stix as a top travel fave for us – but plenty of fun has been had at home, too!

Along with Wikki Stix, Fractiles are made in the USA.

We aren’t surprised. We are big fans of all the Green Toys products for their simple open ended play, durability and their safety and environmental ethics. All Green Toys are made from 100% curbside collected recycled plastic. No Phthalates, No BPA, and Made in USA.

For a little info on what Green Toys is all about, check out this interview with company founder, Robert von Goeben:

Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Green Toys Dump Truck is possibly the most energy efficient vehicle on this or any planet. The super cool eco-design has a workable dumper and no metal axles.

Want more USA-made, environmentally friendly toy options? We have a full line of great items from Green Toys!

These earth-friendly indoor garden kits from Green Toys feature happy-yellow flowerpots made in the USA from 100% curbside collected, recycled milk jugs. Every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of Green Toys saves enough electricity to power a TV set for 3 whole weeks!

The indoor garden kit comes with everything you need to cultivate flowers, herbs and your little one’s green thumb: three planting pots, peapod-shaped planting tray, trowel, soil, and an assortment of organic seeds. Just add water to the compressed soil pellets, and in minutes the garden is ready to plant with the included seeds. Easy-to-follow growing instructions are included, too.

Place your Green Toys indoor garden in a sunny window and you and your child will soon be enjoying freshly plucked organic basil, bright blooms of zinnia and cheerful teddy-bear sunflowers!

We have other great Green Toys at Milagros, too! Including wonderful cook sets and tea sets!

Spring has sprung with Green Toys!

Just in time for that spring sunshine, Milagros now has earth-friendly indoor garden kits from Green Toys! The happy-yellow flowerpots are made in the USA from 100% curbside collected, recycled milk jugs. Every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of Green Toys saves enough electricity to power a TV set for 3 whole weeks!

The indoor garden kit comes with everything you need to cultivate flowers, herbs and your little one’s green thumb: three planting pots, peapod-shaped planting tray, trowel, soil, and an assortment of organic seeds. Just add water to the compressed soil pellets, and in minutes the garden is ready to plant with the included seeds. Easy-to-follow growing instructions are included, too.

Place your Green Toys indoor garden in a sunny window and you and your child will soon be enjoying freshly plucked organic basil, bright blooms of zinnia and cheerful teddy-bear sunflowers!

We have other great Green Toys at Milagros, too! Including wonderful cook sets and tea sets!

Green Toys are 100% made in the USA. To be more specific, they are produced in California, a state known for strict toy safety and environmental laws. It’s cool to buy USA, but also think about this: transportation is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gasses. We all know driving less is good for mother nature, but did you ever think about how many miles a toy logs before it ends up in your local store? Every step in the Green Toys process, from milk container recycling to toy production to final assembly, occurs in California.
Plus they are colorful, functional and fun!

What are they? Wiki Stix are special wax covered yarn that let your kids be creative and crafty.
Safe, USA- made, non-toxic and endlessly reusable. Wiki Stix stick to each other and almost any smooth surface with just fingertip pressure. Your kids can create 3-D art, bracelets, pictures and much more. It really brings out their creativity and imagination. We use Wiki Stix as a travel toy for car trips and plane trips. Wiki Stix are equally appealing to boys and girls, there is no right or wrong way to play with them.

Some FAQs about Wike Stix:

What are Wikki Stix made of? Do they contain latex or any type of peanut or nut products?
Wikki Stix are made of a strand of acrylic, hand-knitting yarn enhanced with a microcrystalline, food-grade, non-toxic wax. There is no latex, nor any peanut or nut oil. The wax is similar to that used in lipsticks and on food products.

How do I get Wikki Stix off the car windows?
First, DON’T reach for the Windex! Simply use a DRY paper towel and rub. It may take a moment of elbow grease, but it will come right off.

What if a Wikki goes through the wash?
They’re amazingly durable and come through in great shape! Probably won’t have quite the same play value as before, however, but your washer and clothes will be fine. We’ve even had them go through the dryer, with no ill effects.

Local mama Lysa is the hands behind Monita Bonita. Her yarn toys are all hand crocheted using acrylic yarn and stuffed with polyester fiberfill. They are washable as well as squashable! Fruits, veggies, sweets and more! Come in and check them out!

These unique rattles are handmade from remnant woods – no living trees are harvested! They are a safe, all-natural alternative to plastic rattles for babies, and a wonderful worry stone or musical instrument for all ages. They are great for teething as well.

The rattles are made of Myrtle, Cherry, Black Walnut, Madrone, or Maple and are filled with copper & zinc bbs. The finished product is hand-sanded and finished with all-natural bees wax. No living trees are ever cut for our artwork.

click on the picture for a closer look