I Always Wanted an Erector Set

And all I ever got was a set of stupid Lincoln Logs. Read all about my trauma on my new Squidoo lens, Retro Gifts for Kids.

Pictured: Erector Multi Model Construction Set from Amazon.com.

How Much Do You Love Marbles?

A great idea for a stocking stuffer. It will give a nice heft to the toe of the stocking, and you sure can't beat the price.

More Retro Stocking Stuffers at Retro Toys Make Great Stocking Stuffers

Pictured: Marble Set from Amazon.com. Only $1.59.

Fisher Price Chatter Telephone

Did you know they still make these? Do kids know what they're supposed to represent?

 For these and other great retro gifts for babies and toddlers, see my new Squidoo lens, Retro Toys for Babies and Toddlers.

Pictured: the Fisher Price Classic Chatter Telephone from Amazon.

I wish it was my birthstone, but it isn't.

(Not that I feel constrained about wearing other people's birthstones or anything.)

But I do love citrine. And I think this is just beautiful.

It's the Citrine and Diamond Acorn Pendant from Amazon.What do you think? Love it or hate it?

There's a lot more citrine -- and all the other birthstones as well, of course -- on my new Squidoo lens about Birthstone Jewelry.

Disney Princess Watches

What little girl doesn't love the Disney Princesses? These are actually some of the more affordable items of the Princess line. I'm pretty sure that this is the same model Cinderella watch that was popular when I was a young girl, 50-some years ago. It's still pretty neat.

I've made a lens just about Disney Princess Watches. 

The Sing-a-Ma-Jigs

I wonder just how long it's gonna be before I break down and buy one of these for myself. I keep picking them up and playing with them in the stores, and I have to admit, I'm just fascinated. Not sure whether I love 'em or hate 'em.

Pretty darn cute, huh? This is the Blue Sing-a-Ma-Jig, and there are several more colors. Apparently, they all sing different songs.

I've featured this little guy on my Squiddo lens, The Top Ten Toys This Christmas. There's even a little video you can watch.

If I was a little girl, I would WANT THIS

The new Disney movie, Tangled, appears to be just amazing. I can hardly wait to see it. And if I was a little girl, I would definitely want her play tower.

I've made a new lens about all the neat stuff that Disney has out there -- just in time for Christmas. You can see it here: Rapunzel is the Newest Disney Princess.

Pictured above: the Disney Rapunzel Tower from Amazon.

I Have Other Interests, Too

Just because I generally only blog about stuff-to-buy doesn't mean I don't have other interests. Here's a lens I made about the articles I've published on Associated Content.

I also made a lens about some other articles I've liked on Associated Content.

It's Time to Think Calendars

2011 is almost upon us, and if you don't get your new calendar now, you'll have fewer designs to choose from. Great calendars sell out early. I've set up a few Squidoo lenses for 2011 calendars -- take a look and see what you like.

My lenses so far are: 2011 Cat Calendars, 2011 Art Calendars, and 2011 Nature Calendars. Keep watching for the new lenses!

Pictured: M.C. Escher 2011 Calendar from Amazon.com.

I Love These Turkey Aprons

I've recently discovered the website zazzle.com, and I'm mad about it. You can design pretty much anything you want to, but if you're a non-creative sort, like me, you can just pick out something that somebody else has designed.

They have a wild collection of Thanksgiving Aprons -- I just love these.

Pictured: Funny Thanksgiving Apron from Zazzle.com.

The 2010 Holiday Barbie is a "Must Have" for Every Collector

I hate to admit it, but I'm actually older than Barbie. I got my first Barbie for my tenth birthday, and my mom sewed a wedding dress for her. (Mom wasn't really much for sewing, so it was a real labor of love.) My Barbie was a 1961 "Bubble Cut" model, much like this one, with the same red swimsuit and heels.

(Mine was a platinum blonde, though.)

I've never collected Barbies myself, although I certainly understand the appeal. And the 2010 is a beautiful girl.

If you're into Barbie, you might enjoy my Squidoo lens.

Mother's Birthstone Rings

Okay, gang, it's already September, and it will be Christmas before you know it. It's time to start planning, even if you don't actually do the shopping part yet.

One idea that I think is just great for Mom is a beautiful Mother's Birthstone Ring. It's even more special if all of you kids can go in together to get it for her, and, let's face it, that's going to take a little organization. Better start talking to your siblings now and see what they think.

For some ideas, take a look at my Squidoo lens, Mother's Birthstone Lens. (The pictured ring is available at Amazon.com

A Great Gift for That Serious Student

Have you got a serious student in your family? Or one that you wish was a little more serious? I think that this Common Sense mouse pad from Amazon.com is just the thing to keep that American History major right on track. 

For this and other gift ideas in the American History/Patriotic Americans category, you might enjoy some of the items on my Squidoo lens, Patriotic Quotes from Our Founding Fathers.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

I've been wild about this book ever since I first read it. And I hear great things about it. Not being much of a cook, I can't say that I've actually tried it yet. But I will, I will. Probably. Eventually.

What's really holding me back is that I don't really have the proper equipment. Or room in the fridge to store the dough. Or, well, the ambition, actually.

But I love the IDEA of getting up every morning and popping a fresh batch of dough into the oven, and having fresh-baked, homemade rustic bread every day. I guess what I really want is to live with someone who bakes.

Nevertheless I think this book would make a great gift for someone who does bake, at least a little. The premise of the technique is that you mix a big batch of bread dough (only 4 ingredients for the basic model), right in the container that you're going to store it in. And then every day you chop off a chunk, let it rise for 20 minutes, and then slap it in the oven. (Rising and baking time doesn't count against your daily five minutes of active preparation.) The dough keeps for a good long while, and you don't even have to wash out the container between batches!

If you'd like to know more about this technique, I have a whole Squidoo lens dedicated to the book. There's even a little video by the authors where they demonstrate it.

I don't think there's a little girl alive who doesn't love unicorns. Some of us never quite get over it, either. I just love this pretty Winter Fairy on her Unicorn from Amazon.com.

Like unicorns? See more at my Squidoo lens, Unicorn Collectibles.