the Wry Baby Blog

2009 sucked, right? We’re not just waving chickens around the office while Mysterio shouts incantations in a weird voice. For a limited time we’re offering our classic “NEW” Snapsuit™ for 50% OFF the SALE PRICE. That’s right. $8.50! Now THAT’S starting 2010 right, no? See details below.

BABYNEWYEAR

From an end-cap display of cakes at my local grocery store comes this last Christmas item. I don’t know whether it’s the clearly shocked look on Santa’s decapitated cakey head that’s so disturbing or if it’s just the whole darn concept. I should also add that it was REALLY heavy, which added to it’s grossness.

Nothing spells trouble like the gift of a Nerf shooting device and no targets. I picked up my son’s gift from Santa, the Nerf N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS-35 (the longer the name the cooler the weapon), and even I almost got into trouble as I eyed the delicate, thin glass of our chandelier bulbs and the cat. So, quickly, I got to work making some targets for the Boy out of all the Christmas debris spread all over the house. It took only an hour and in the end the house was clean and the Boy stays out of trouble. For a while at least.

Tools needed: Trash. A Pen. Tape or Hot Glue. A desire not to have stuff broken all over your house.

Here’s how easy this is. Draw some bad guy Monsters on sheets of cardboard trash and cut them out. Oh, don’t give me tha”But I can’t draw!” stuff. That’s why they’re Monsters and not horses. Now horses are impossible to draw. Anyway, at the bottom of each head or whatever, leave some cardboard to fold back like a little stand. Then take another piece of cardboard trash, cut it into a strip and tape or hot glue it to that stand piece and the back of the target (see photo below).

IMPORTANT: They don’t have to be pretty! After all, this is all about keeping your stuff from being all shot up and not about winning a prize at the fair. Anyway, look how slapdash mine turned out. Basically at this point you’re done. BUT there are still some other fun things you can do from here:

1. Have your child color them in. Thereby keeping them out of trouble for at least 30 more minutes!
2. Name and Rank them. Which is the leader? Are there drones that need taking down first? Write their info on the backs of the targets and create a fun back story with your child.
3. Imagine up some fun games. Get the ball rolling by hiding the targets all around the house while your child hides their eyes. Send them on a mission to take down the alien home invasion! Or maybe set them all up in one room and time your child to see how fast they can clear the room of the alien menace. What’s their best time?

You get the idea! Have a great holiday and good hunting from the pals who got your back at Wry Baby.

Looking for more fun things to do with Junior & Juniorette? Check out our New Parents Fun Book for more unique games and crafts and, for some soapy fun, pick up our Pirate Hooded Towel. A secret code on the label will get you access to some great bath time papercrafts. Exclusively from the brainiacs at wrybaby.com.

Stay warm and snuggly tonight! To inspire you, enjoy this parade of happy hideous holiday hotness.

Usually, nothing says, “I ran out of time” like a gift certificate. But Wry Baby’s Gift Certificate is actually such a labor-intensive, painstaking process, that you’d be a fool not to capitalize on our bad business sense and old-world craftsmanship. See below why a Wry Baby Gift Certificate is actually the most thoughtful gift you can email this season.

1. Don’t Panic Snapsuit™ – Because you know that’s all they’re going to be doing for the next year - $25  2. The Wheel of Responsibility® - Who will handle that 3am feeding? Who gets a nap? Let FATE decide - $11.95 3. Safe Baby Handling Tips Board Book – Our best-selling book of hilariously illustrated, basic baby handling instructions - $9.95  4. Wry Baby Gift Tote- Like everything we make, our gift wrapping is special AND useful. Printed on both sides so both Mom and Dad can use it. - $9.99 (or FREE if Mysterio guessed your holiday presents. See coupon for details).

Wha? Sorry, Paris France a little too far to go for that special gift? Maybe for you, but Wry Baby is sold worldwide and Parisians flock to Fruit Punch to delicately achat our habillement de bébé d’amusement. Fruit Punch’s full name is Le petit bassin de fruit punch (too cute, yes no?) and if you’re ever lucky enough to be strolling down the Rue de Rivoli, stop in and tell Virginie we said, “Bonjour, mon ami!”.

Le Petit Bassin de Fruit Punch
32 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris, France (Metro – Pont Marie) – 01 42 74 43 31

Wry Baby things you’ll find there:
Our new Don’t Panic, Keep on Suckin’, Oh Boy Snapsuits™, Super Snapsuits (see it in the picture up there behind the counter?) and our Safe Baby Handling Tips Book Series.

Ahh, Richmond. So rich with history, beauty and quite possibly the world’s best independent toy store. That’s right lucky Richmond-ites, you’ve got World of Mirth! WOM’s full of unique toys, games and fun Wry Baby stuff for kids and adults and, really, who could pass up seeing a place that’s “a crazy mixture of Pee Wee’s Playhouse, Dr. Seuss, Day of the Dead“?!

World of Mirth
3005 W. Cary St,  Richmond, VA 23221 (in beautiful Carytown) – www.worldofmirth.com – 804.353.8991
Mon-Sat 10-7 and Sun 12-6… (right now we are operating on holidaze hours which have us open until 9 Mon-Sat and 11-7 on Sun)

Locally Known For:
“We are known for being a crazy mixture of Pee Wee’s Playhouse, Dr. Seuss, Day of the Dead, and the best carnival you’ve ever been to.  We carry toys and gifts you just can’t find any old place, with a heavy lean towards small companies.  We want everyone that walks through the door to have a great time and we encourage people-not just kids- to play.  You can walk out with a gift for literally everyone you know- as long as they have a sense of humor and lots of money.  Just kidding.  About the sense of humor.”

3 Favorite Non-Baby Gifts in the Shop:
1) 52 RVA- a deck of cards with 52 of the best things to do in Richmond.  All entries were twittered by local people that know RVA the best.  2) Michelle Obama shopping bag 3) Swine Flu plush

Favorite Wry Baby Thing:
“My  favorite Wry Baby item has to be the Attack of the 50 Ft Baby Blocks- it’s hysterical to see wee ones play with them… almost like your own Godzilla movie!  And I have to say the “Ask me about my compost pile” organic Snapsuit is a hoot.”

Why Wry Baby Loves World of Mirth:
Did you see that shot of their signage? Inside World of Mirth is just as special. And it’s wonderfully, hugely stocked with treasures. If you like toys like we do, real toys that don’t tie into movies, real toys that are real fun to play with made by real companies that understand the joy of playtime, World of Mirth is a must see.

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Shops that carry Wry Baby aren’t necessarily “baby stores”. They’re super-unique Mom and Pops who carry a some of the funnest gifts and accessories you ever laid eyes on. Do yourself a favor and check out our STORE FINDER to find a cool store in YOUR area. When you visit, tell ‘em Wry Baby said, “Hey!”.