How to Keep Your Sanity without Really Trying

This past weekend, I attended the fifth birthday party of a friend’s child. When I arrived, he and his wife were a little frazzled, dealing with kids and the stuff they had left lying around: they were having difficulty walking anywhere without crushing toys or stubbing toes. What my friends really needed were some handy kid-friendly storage solutions from Children’s Furniture Select.

It reminded me of a long distance telephone call I had received from my friend Barbara, when her daughter had turned two. The first words I heard after picking up the phone were, “I have a living room floor again!” Her daughter had been given a toy box for her birthday but Barbara felt it was her own personal gift from the gods. Up until then, she didn’t know how she had managed without one.

Inspired by the toy box, which stayed in the living room, Barbara found ways to organize her daughter’s room so that hopefully (this was the theory) kid-related clutter would remain in her child’s room. Clear storage bins, like the KidKraft See-Thru Bin allowed her daughter to see what was stored where. Casters were a must-have feature, so that it could be wheeled into the living room when needed and back out of sight into her daughter’s bedroom after playtime was over.

Barbara has passed her passion for reading onto her children, especially her daughter. Although they hadn’t totally buried her living room floor like the toys had done, books were another source of clutter that needed containing. Resembling the Young America by Stanley Madison Bookcase, she wanted bookcases in her daughter’s room that could be added to when needed.

But her flash of genius became evident when she put two clothes trees, one for each of her children, in the hallway by the door. They still don’t actually hang up their things when they enter the house, but now Barbara doesn’t have to walk as far to the cupboard to put their coats away when they come home.

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there was a country called the United Reiterates of Fairy Tales where the characters of fairytales from many worlds and cultures resided in peace and harmony. At the heart of this thriving country’s economy was Cymax Stores, a group of niche markets, where all of the characters did their online shopping, because, no matter what they needed, they could find it on one of the company’s many websites.

The Queen, with the Princess tagging along for something to do, would often be seen at the Public Library, where there was free internet access. Logging onto More Mattresses, she ordered 20 full size box springs and 20 mattresses with a few clicks of the mouse and had them delivered right to her castle. (The pea she took from a big bowl sitting on the kitchen counter in front of the fire when Cook wasn’t looking.)

The family of Three Bears furnished the master bedroom, the guest room and their child’s bedroom at Bedroom Furniture N More, purchasing bedroom sets rather than buying each piece separately, since it was more economical (and Papa Bear really liked that part). Mama Bear appreciated the fact that she could set up a repeat order with Cymax Stores for the KidKraft Avalon Chair in Honey. This meant that every time Goldilocks sat on Baby Bear’s chair, she didn’t have to keep ordering new ones; it was just sent automatically to their quaint little cottage.

Of course, Stepmother bought the now famous mirror from Mirror Source. She actually purchased it long before she married Snow White’s father. It took several days of browsing before she found the Murray Feiss Villa Medici Mirror. But it was worth it; it was so perfect. She had to pay extra for the voice-over that told her she was the fairest one of all. When the mirror changed its mind and named Snow White as the fairest, Stepmother wanted her money back (for the voice-over only; the mirror she wanted to keep).

Like the fair citizens of the United Reiterates of Fairy Tales, you too can find pretty much anything you need for your home, from bedroom furniture (including mirrors) to dining chairs, at Cymax Stores. And everyone lived happily ever after. THE END

Easy to Shop For

Most of us have, at some point or another, been told by a family member or significant other whether or not we are easy to shop for. This assessment is typically given around Christmas or one’s birthday, and if finding a gift for you doesn’t require much thought or effort you will be given this distinction.

Young children are the only demographic group as a whole that can have the “easy to shop for” tag attached to the lot of them. This is even more true when you consider the array of children’s products at www.childrensfurnitureselect.com. Don’t be too quick to assume that simply means toy after toy for the little ones. Although toys are a big part of the ease in finding enthusiastically-received kids’ gifts, playfully themed children’s fixtures are an equally safe bet much of the time.

As you might imagine, I’m a big proponent of planting the bookworm seed at as young an age as possible. Your little guy might beam upon receiving a Levels of Discovery Firefighter Revolving Bookcase with its fire-hydrant theme, and if so you may want to consider adding any one or all of the Levels of Discovery Firefighter Collection.

Enjoy these years, as before you know it you’ll be in a record store grossly mispronouncing the name of some obscure indie band. They don’t remain easy to shop for for very long.

Reveling in all that is dainty is very much a rite in the life of all young girls. While it’s not as simple as being drawn to anything pink or frilly, it does make it somewhat easier for parents and extended family or friends to choose a suitable gift for the little princess. To that end, do consider any of the Levels of Discovery Always a Princess Collection of suitably charming bedroom fixtures for your little lady before her tastes to switch to all manner of paraphernalia related to painfully androgynous-looking boy bands.

Don’t let your token adherence to conventional wisdom deceive you as to whether members of your family are easy to shop for. That you buy a tie for your father’s b-day every year doesn’t mean he’s just that, and the same goes for buying oven mitts for your mom the every 3-4 years it takes for the last pair to perish. I freely admit to being one for which the lack of intuition and creativity when it comes to occasion shopping makes easy-giftees out of some who perhaps shouldn’t be.

For example, if your little girl has amassed quite the doll collection over the years, why not veer wide left and surprise her with a Levels of Discovery Best of Buds Mirrored Storage Seat in her bedroom. She can admire herself in the full-length mirror and the storage seat means she can keep Barbie and Ken as immaculately proportioned and blemish free as the good lord intended them.

That young children are indeed so easy to shop for is a blessing that certainly does not last. While it’s here, be sure to enjoy it and make it equally easy on your hectic schedule with the convenience of shopping online at Cymax Stores.

My Letter to Santa Claus

Dear Santa,

Just to set the record, I had a great childhood and got lots of stuff for Christmas (as you know) every year. But when I was growing up, we didn’t have Children’s Furniture Select. Since I know that a Ferrari convertible won’t fit in the elevator of our office building, please bring the following:

I always wanted a train set. My theory is I had no brothers, so no train set. So please put the The Kidkraft Santa Stacking Train in my stocking. It looks like a lot of fun! Great picture of you, by the way.

A rocking horse – either the Derby Rocking Horse by Kidcraft or (and I know it’s not really a horse, but it’s kind of a horse) the Kidkraft Harley Davidson Lil' Diva Rock 'N Ride. If you can’t bring both, surprise me!

I love to read. The KidKraft Princess Bookcase looks absolutely divine. Books would be even more magical if I had some place pink to keep them.

And the absolutely last thing on my wish list is the Savannah Dollhouse. To be honest, I did have a dollhouse when I was growing up, but not one as tall as I would have been back then.

Thanks.

Yours truly,
A Cymax Stores copywriter

P.S. You know where I sit, but just in case, it will be the desk that has the big plate of cookies on it.

Altitude with Attitude: The View from the Top Bunk

Kids grow up so fast. You bring your (first, second, third) child home from the hospital, change a few diapers, kiss-better a couple of boo-boos, blink, and they’re off to college, driving their own car! But in the meantime, they will need bedroom furniture and someplace to sleep. At MoreBunkBeds.com, whether you have one child or three (or more), you will be able to find bunk beds and loft bunks that are affordable, durable and fun.

By their very nature, bunk and loft beds have a sense of adventure about them. Put a bunk bed in a child’s room and it magically transforms itself into a fort, a circus tent or even a pirate ship. The Powell Shiver Me Timbers youth bedroom collection is a perfect example of this kind of magical occurrence. The Shiver Me Timbers youth twin over twin bunk bed has a warm and inviting appeal with plenty of decorative detail that will spark their imaginations and have them sailing the Seven Seas in no time.

Bunk beds come in a wide variety of configurations, including twin over twin and twin over full. Twin over full bunk beds are ideal for older siblings sharing with a younger brother or sister, since the twin top bunk would be ideal for the younger one, while the full-sized bottom bunk would give the older child more room to stretch out. The myHaven collection by Young America includes a twin over full (also known as a double) bunk bed. Available in multiple colors that look as delicious as they are fun and funky, this collection is designed specifically to be mixed-and-matched. As with many types of bunk beds, you can add storage drawers to this Stanley myHaven Twin over Double Cottage Bunk bed for optimum functionality.

Loft style bunk beds make the most of the available space in a bedroom by removing the bottom bunk and making room for other cool stuff, like an activity table, computer desk and dresser combo or a freestanding bed perpendicular to the top bunk. Vibrant and colourful, the Powell Sunday Funnies Loft Bunk Bed is a complete set that, in addition to the loft bed, includes a rollaway bed, end dresser and built-in desk.

When children share a room, having enough available storage is always an issue. The Berg Furniture company has created the perfect solution. Instead of ladders, many of their bunk and loft beds include storage stairs. The Berg Utica Loft Twin over Twin Bunk Bed makes getting to the top worthwhile with a storage staircase. Designed with style and functionality in mind, each individual step is an operational drawer that has plenty of room for clothes, seasonal clothing storage and more important stuff like toys and other personal treasures that need safekeeping.

A child’s room is not just a place to sleep. It should be a fun environment that is comfortable and inviting, while feeding their imaginations. Climbing a ladder to the top of Mount Everest – I mean a stylish and snug wood bunk bed and viewing their kingdom in proprietary splendour, is a great way to encourage your children to dream, imagine and grow.

Those Other Golden Years

It’s commonly understood that post-retirement to the twilight of our lives is the period referred to as the “golden years.” ChildrensFurnitureSelect.com confirms my belief that the dawn of life to pre-school years are just as golden in their own right. Think about it; the freedom to wake and sleep as you please, with little more than eating and playful discovery in between and having your every need catered to in its entirety.

Sounds golden to me.

The truth is every child deserves to have this period of safe, carefree existence before they move on to a twilight in its own sense when they reach those pre-teen years. This marvelous simplicity of life is one we all look back on with fondness and, for most of us, a sense of wistful longing once it has past. The Easter Bunny’s yearly global marathon, the Tooth Fairy’s ceaselessly hectic schedule, and so on and so forth – the innocence of youth has a beauty that is sure to withstand the ages.

Now as much as that famous rabbit has a lot on his plate every March, it’s nothing compared to what Santa Claus accomplishes every December 24^th. All those chocolate eggs don’t even compare to the bulk with which the big man loads his sleigh on that eagerly anticipated evening. That being understood, he does appreciate getting started early and the convenience of online shopping means you can pair your little ones’ formative years with competitively priced children’s products at Children’s Furniture Select.

A dollhouse has a universal appeal for any young girl, and the extent to which these long-time staples of female youth have come of age is quite remarkable. The KidKraft Interactive Dollhouse is like none you’ve ever seen before, as it features a working elevator, on / off lit chandeliers, a playing piano and a kitchen from which drifts the sounds of a meal being prepared. The KidKraft Savannah Dollhouse has all the genteel Southern elegance its name suggests, and they invite you for a tour of the mansion right here!

KidKraft take great pride in producing quality products that will stand up to children’s rambunctious curiosity in the world around them, and they're being recognized with the 2008 Gold Award from National Parenting Publications Awards for its Pink Retro Kitchen and Refrigerator confirms this. This kitchen set is a durable and stylish choice for kids that has been so well received it has been nearly impossible to keep them in stock.

In addition, what little one wouldn’t gush over receiving the KidKraft Firefighter Bedroom Furniture Set, though be forewarned you may be turning down his request for a fire hall pole in your foyer in the near future. Similarly, a KidKraft Deluxe Garage Set will be enthusiastically received by any child, future automotive enthusiast or otherwise.

Cymax Stores is pleased to announce that these products and more will be offered at significant discounts for the holiday season with our sales promotion at Children’s Furniture Select between Nov.28^th and Dec.14^th. Be sure to visit and see what catches your eye as something your precious youngster would be thrilled to find on Christmas morning.

It’s the moments of these golden years that are integral to child and parent alike – make the most of them.

Fantasy Worlds with Realistic Funds: Children’s Bedroom Furniture on a Budget

For years, I taught in a preschool and kindergarten, and though I learned a lot from the kids, one of the most valuable things I took away from my time at the school was how absolutely loved the children were by their parents. I enjoyed my time with my students and the days were filled with laughter, learning, and play, but come three o’clock, my students would line up against the outside wall of the school, and whenever a parent came down the path, I would dismiss a child, smiling as the little girl or boy ran as fast as they could into their parent’s arms. Artwork was shown off, stories from the day were told, and new songs that we’d learned were sung into their mother or father’s ears.

That school was always a happy place for my students; I took them in as though they were my own, and loved every minute of the time we spent together. But it was kids’ pure joy at seeing their loved ones and knowing that they got to go home that always gave me a sense of peace. Our school was decked out with the best equipment for both educational and recreational purposes, but nothing beats the safety and comfort that a home provides for a child.

Kids grow up way too fast and they tire of things really quickly. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on something that will last just a few years, especially as children constantly seem to be ready for something newer and bigger. You want to spoil your child, but that can be a daunting task to do on a budget. At Cymax, we take your budget into account and have a few tips up our sleeve for you to spoil your child while still being able to save for their college fund… which will be in use sooner than you think.

A child’s bedroom should be a safe haven – a place where they can play, learn, and dream. While there are a lot of furnishing options out there, at Cymax, we assure you that we can transform your child’s entire bedroom into a fantasy world that they will love, all for under $500.

Firefighters and princesses, am I right? Take the KidKraft Firefighter Bedroom Furniture Set. This adorable set includes a Firefighter Toddler Bed that transforms into a fire truck and an inventive Firefighter Hydrant Nightstand for $72. Add a Firefighter Step Stool for $30 and an imaginative Firefighter Clothes Pole for $43. For a grand total of $245, your little boy can live the life that he’s always dreamed of: the life of a hero.

For the princesses out there (and from my teaching experience, there are many) Cymax offers the KidKraft Princess Bedroom Furniture Suite. This stunning set includes a Princess Toddler Bed with four posts trimmed with gold crowns and a nightstand that is sure to add a royal touch to any young girl’s room, all for $172. Add a Princess Vanity Table and Stool for $144, where your little dreamer can get lost in the looking-glass. Finally, for a place to keep your little girl’s fairytale books and keepsakes, Cymax offers a Princess Bookcase for $93. Spoil your little princess with these bedroom furnishings for a total of $421, making it a happily-ever-after ending for both you and for her.

Cymax offers online shopping for products that encourage your child’s imagination and create a safe and fun environment for them to thrive in. My students always seemed ready for the school day, well-rested and relaxed. While in the afternoons, I watched the kids tell their parents all about their school day, in the mornings, I was the one who got to hear about their afternoons and evenings, their mornings before school, and the dreams they dreamed.

As one little girl once said to me: “I can be anyone I want to be when I sleep, but when I wake up, I get to be me again.”