These days LA has become a place to pass through – in

21 HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Shopping for the perfect
holiday gifts? LMNOP has
done your homework for you.
pg 5
Welcome
to the first issue of LMNOP. It’s been a mad rush to get
this out to you before Christmas! But hopefully you’ll
still find it relevant and useful in time for the holidays.
I am constantly frustrated by the lack of choice in the
toy department, at the bookstore etc. And am always
seeking out new finds for my son’s toy cabinet or book
shelf. Everyone pretty much stocks the same old, same
old. But when you find the perfect piece and your child
LOVES IT, you’re glad for all the research that you did
and all the trouble that you went through to get it.
Not to mention sometimes the cost! We’ve got some
great Christmas gift ideas to share with you on page 5.
I hope you’ll be inspired to shop further than your local
toy store in order to find some unique presents.
After searching for many years, I finally found an Advent
Calendar I liked last week. A wooden calendar box
which houses 24 cabinets. When opened, each reveals
a small shelf perfect for hiding small treats in. My son
Riley started finding these ‘Christmas fairy’ offerings
a couple of days ago. His delight each morning is a
sight to behold and we now have a new MacPherson
holiday tradition. It’s so fun to make Christmas magical
for your kids – and it can be easy too!
o
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LAUGH
•
MAKE • NURTURE • ORGANISE • PLAY
The best
online finds
this Christmas.
pg 8
CHRISTMAS
COUNTDOWN
This charming Danish
Advent Calendar will
help you count the
sleeps till Christmas.
pg 15
We hope you enjoy LMNOP. Please send it along to
your friends and don’t forget to subscribe to our next
issue by visiting www.lmnop.com.au
Our next issue will be full of a lot more content and
feature stories so you can laugh, make, nurture,
organise and play!
Wishing you and your families a safe and happy holiday.
Jenny Lacey
Editor
© 2008 LMNOP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR PART WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED.
The best
way to see
LA with
the kids!
pg 6
Riley & Claudia in Chicago
Photographed by Ian MacPherson
lmnop.com.au
ODDS AND ENDS
HOLIDAY POST
The mailman’s here! Lots of writing fun and imaginative play from the popular toy
company HABA. A must for any 5-year-old stationery enthusiast.
Kids in the house
The Sydney Opera House have a great new season
planned for 2008! These increasingly popular
performances for children and their families can
be difficult to get tickets for. So make sure you hear
about them first by subscribing to Inhouse, Sydney
Opera House e-news at Sydneyoperahouse.com
and register for their launch announcement!
Kinder Post, $54.95, HABA, peanutgallery.com.au
ALL ABOARD
This unique candy train makes a great birthday
cake for boys OR girls. Each carriage is adorned
with candies flown in from the USA. FROST will
make you one for your next party. Order well in
advance though! This popular bakery books out
fast. $120. For enquiries call 0418 651 201.
AIR MAIL TOYS
Good-old-fashioned make believe and a child’s innate
need to interact with simple, natural toys and crafts is
what Magic Cabin believe in.
The words “batteries not included” don’t appear in this
catalogue simply because their toys are “kid-powered.”
Magic Cabin carefully select products that are beautiful
and enchanting, sturdy and safe. Best of all their toys
are fun and affordable! Shipping to Australia available.
www.magiccabin.com
CHECK OUT:
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Large Cable Car Kit, page 75
Item #829099, US$24.98
GOOD ENOUGH
TO READ!
Once you shop for holiday cards at
MOMA’s online store, you’ll never buy
them anywhere else again! Every year
contemporary artists and designers
are invited to let their imaginations
run wild! The Museum of Modern Art
produces the best ones — needless to
say the designs are second to none.
AND are a gift in themselves when
posted with a holiday greeting. You can
pick up bargains when you purchase
boxed sets in January on sale.
Gingerbread House, 8 cards & sticker
sheets for US$18.95, Mary Beth Cryan
for MOMA, momastore.org
Photographed by IAN MACPHERSON
Christmas Croc
HOMEMADE STOCKINGS
What household doesn’t have Crocs these days? Grab a pair and fill them
with small gifts and candies reserved for traditional stockings. Placed at
the end of the bed, they’ll be a wonderful surprise for your little one on
Christmas morning.
Crocs shoes, $39.99, Rebel Sport. Maileg toy soldier finger puppet,
$8.95, Quintessence, 02 9967 8099. Christmas wooden stamp, $1.20,
Everything Home, Wynard Station. All other items, stylist’s own.
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Midnight snack
MILK AND COOKIES
Don’t leave Santa boring biscuits this year! These adorable hand-made gingerbread cookies are sure to bring a smile to his face.
Santa and Stocking Ted gingerbread cookie, $7.20, Vicki’s Bickies, 03 9528 6888. Vintage glass and plate, stylist’s own.
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Photographed by IAN MACPHERSON
PLAY
Photographed by IAN MACPHERSON
TAPE ANYONE?
Another great addition to your craft cupboard.
These designer rolls of tape make 3M sticky look
drab. Lots of colourful designs to choose from.
Smiggle, small 95c, large $2.50
Smiggle 03 9827 5552
IT’S A SMALL
WORLD AFTER ALL
5 different children of the
world themed stencils, designed
in France by Regis Lejonic, each
measuring 20 x 20 cm.
Djeco, US$7.59
moolka.com
SPINOSAURUS & STEGOSAURUS PALS
Looking for
something different
this Christmas?
LMNOP has
done your holiday
homework for you.
These beautifully crafted, maple wood dinos are
hand-painted using non-toxic water based paints.
No sharp edges. And they’re resistant to baby
saliva too! Holztiger also make farm animals, and
creatures of the sea! If you love wooden toys start
collecting now!
Holztiger, from US$11.99
moolka.com
BACKPACK CRAYONS
She certainly is the girl of the moment!
Dora crayons will make great stocking
fillers for budding artists and Dora fans.
DIY CHRISTMAS CARDS
These Christmas stencil cards will make
festive drawing easy for any age.
Over 20 simple shapes to help create
your own cards, and garlands.
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Usborne, $15
Readings, 03 9525 3852
Playworks, $2.99
Woolworths Supermarkets
MAKING BRUSHING FUN
Wooden tooth brushing timer.
Perfect for the kid who has everything!
Zahnputz Uhr, $19.95
Home & Abroad, 03 9821 5144
lmnop.com.au
Text by JENNY LACEY
PUZZLING BLOCKS
Building blocks with
a built-in puzzle!
HABA, US$11.39
moolka.com
ANIMALS IN MOTION
By Rufus Butler Seder, $19.99
Dymocks bookstore
ALL THAT GLITTERS
Add a little sparkle to your Christmas craft! The kids will love
these easy-to-shake jars. Sprinkle a little or sprinkle A LOT!
Glitter shown in Blue Topaz, Aquamarine Crystal and Garnet.
Martha Stewart, US$4.99
marthastewartcrafts.com
FUN LEARNING
Kumon workbooks help children develop fine motor skills and pencil control
through colouring, folding, pasting, and cutting paper. Filled with lots of
wonderful illustrations and activities, these workbooks have titles like Let’s
Cut Paper, and Let’s Fold. Grab them now, because once the word is out, even
Amazon will be sold out!
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Kumon, US$5.95 – US$6.95
amazon.com
HOT AIR
This floating ball game is guaranteed to delight
everyone over the holidays. Who’ll be able to
blow on the wooden pipe the longest?
Schylling, $8.95
peanutgallery.com.au
PLAY
What’s all the commotion? This stunning book uses the
art of Scanimation to introduce kids to motion. A horse
in full gallop and a turtle swimming up the page! There’s
a dog running and cheeky monkeys swinging from trees.
Impossible not to flip these pages again, and again...
LA story
These days LA has become a place to pass through – in
transit, on your way to somewhere else. But as we discovered,
Los Angeles is a great town to have a family getaway, and
Hollywood never looked this good.
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Photographed by IAN MACPHERSON
With so much to see and do, you’ll have to extend your transit
stop to accomodate a whirlwind tour of Los Angeles. This
family-friendly city does in fact cater for little superstars and
their parents. Here’s some places where you can all have fun.
I was a little nervous when it came to planning a three-day lay over in LA
Text by JENNY LACEY
Eat Out
Sprinkles Cupcakes
9635 Little Santa Monica Blvd
phone: 310 274 8765
www.sprinklescupcakes.com
This world-famous bakery makes the best
vanilla cupcake on earth. Don’t forget to take
home a couple of Sprinkles Cupcake mixes
for the poor folks back home! Be prepared for
queues. Although we do recommend waiting.
Twenty Five Degrees
9635 Little Santa Monica Blvd
phone: 323 785 7244
www.25degreesrestaurant.com
for myself, my husband and our toddler son. Three very different agendas
— how was this ever going to work? But after doing a little research, I soon
realised that there was a way we could all get to enjoy this glitzy town.
With some careful planning and much negotiation, this is where we went ...
Paper Source
A 50’s truck stop dinner meets French
boudoir! Located on the Hollywood Boulevard
entranceto the famed Roosevelt Hotel, 25
Sprinkles
Cupcakes to go
Christmas at The Grove
Paper Source
9460 Brighton WayBeverly Hills, CA 90210
310 288 9700, www.paper-source.com
Maison 140
Paper Source is the premiere seller of fine,
handmade papers from around the world. Stock
up on stationery, rubber stamps, kits and projects,
calendars and gifts, and lots, lots more. You’ll
need a whole day to yourself, if you’re going to
visit this store. Oh, and another suitcase! Paper
Source now ships to Australia though – in case
you don’t get the time to visit.
Shopping
Degrees (the name refers to the temperature
difference between a medium rare and well
done burger) is LA’s hottest burger joint. Try
the house special, Number one.
The Grove
189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles
888 315 8883, www.thegrovela.com
This outdoor shopping mall is a terrific place to entertain
the kids while you shop. Ride the trolley, watch a concert
in the park and have an ice cream. All the must-see stores
– BabyGap, Pottery Barn Kids, Kiehl’s. And if your visiting
during the holiday season, don’t miss The Grove’s famous
fountain dancing to special holiday tunes. See snow flurry
across First Street, nightly at 7pm and 8pm.
Sleeping arrangements at Maison 140
Tart at Farmer’s Daughter Hotel
115 South Fairfax Avenue
phone: 323 937 3930
www.farmersdaughterhotel.com
25 degrees
Before you head to The Grove, located
directly across the street is Tart, a country
cool, ranch-style restaurant where you can
fuel up on flapjacks and French toast stuffed
with mascarpone and fruit compote.
Playground
Roxbury Park
471 South Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills
Stay
When your toddler has a meltdown on Rodeo Drive, it’s
time to head to the best playground in Beverly Hills for
some time out! No need to stop by the hotel for sunscreen.
There’s plenty of prepared nannies on hand at Roxbury Park.
Maison 140
140 South Lasky Drive, Beverly Hills
phone: 310 281 4000
www.maison140beverlyhills.com
Roxbury Park
Tart
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online
www.babysgotstyle.com.au
www.dailycandy.com/kids/everywhere
www.moolka.com
www.fatbraintoys.com
Former magazine stylist Daniela Minns,
started her gorgeous online store back
in 2004 and has made it into one of
the coolest places to shop online today!
If you’re looking for something a bit
unique, fun and fabulous to dress your
bambino in and you WANT IT NOW! This
is the place for you. You’ll also find toys,
books, accessories music and DVDs.
Orders placed within Australia before
1PM EST are delivered the next business
day. How’s that for service?
DailyCandy Kids, is a free daily e-mail
newsletter and website. A busy, hip
mother’s guide to what’s hot, new,
and undiscovered — from kids’ fashion
and style to toddler gadgets and toys.
As useful as it is entertaining, it’s like
getting an e-mail from your clever,
unpredictable, and totally in-the-know
best (mum) friend. Sign up for your free
subscription, and you’ll always be the
first to get the latest.
Moolka sell only well-designed, wellmade brands and have an amazing
selection that you won’t find here at
home. You’ll find something for every
child at every stage of childhood and
their prices are pretty reasonable.
View their complete collection online
then send your customised gift registry
and wish lists to the grandparents.
Or, shop for gifts from Moolka’s list
of favourites. Shipping available to
Australia. Happy Shopping!
There are two types of toys in this
world. Those that make a child think,
and those that don’t. And at Fat Brain
Toys their philosophy is simple – Smarter
Toys = Smarter Kids. On their website
you’ll find thousands of unique toys,
games, and gifts that will challenge your
child’s imagination. They’ll send you
a catalogue titled Toy Times, and can
advise you over the phone or email
of the best choices for your child.
Fat Brain Toys does ship to Australia!
We LOVE this online store!
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lmnop.com.au
halloween in
atchison street!
Join all the kids in Atchison Street
this Halloween for trick or treat
Come as a pirate, witch or critter
with mum, dad or the babysitter
Number 107 is the place to meet
at 6 o’clock on Atchison Street
If you’re staying home, you can still join in
Put the balloon on your gate and we’ll come in
Expect us all after six
for ghoulish treats or spooky tricks
So stock up on lollies for Halloween
It’s guaranteed to be a scream
Text by JENNY LACEY Photographed by IAN MACPHERSON
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lmnop.com.au
HALLOWEEN FUN
Riley leads the charge to
the next house with his jacko-lantern treat bag.
CANDY BUFFET
Delight your
guests with a
buffet of candies.
Bat bags filled
with monster
eggs and jacko-lantern
Lindt balls.
Like it or not, Halloween has been sneaking it’s way into our neighbourhoods, quietly, but with
pace over the last few years. Commonly referred to as an American holiday, it’s origins are actually
European. The Celts of northern Europe used to participate in night time parades to drive away
evil spirits. More than two thousand years later, children still love the opportunity to dress up
and parade through their neighbourhood streets. Only today, they collect treats along the way.
We decided to host a Halloween event in our street this year. Each neighbour received an invitation in the post,
and were asked to hang an orange and black balloon if they wanted to join in the fun. That way the kids knew
which houses they could approach for treats.
A FRIENDLY TREAT FOR YOUR TEETH
Cover mini chup-a-chups with a small piece of
cloth to make ghosts and poke into an apple.
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We received a huge response and were so surprised at the effort and enthusiasum that was displayed on the night.
Front gates were decorated with spooky spiders and friendly witches greeted children at the door with colourful
treats. It was a wonderful street party and everyone had a scream!
lmnop.com.au
EEEEEK!
TREATS!
Home-made candy
filled treat bags
stamped with
Halloween sayings.
Decorated with
confetti spiders
and webs.
SPOOKY SPIDER BOXES
These sinful sweets in clear boxes make great halloween favors. Tape party
cob webs to corners and place a large confetti spider in the corner to protect
his dark chocolate eggs!
WICKED WITCHES
OF THE NORTH
These two friends
flew in on their broom
to collect their treats.
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BLACK MAGIC CATS
Everyone likes a black
cat. Especially on
Halloween night.
lmnop.com.au
CREEPY NEIGHBOURS!
Everyone posed for a photograph before collecting a treat.
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lmnop.com.au
BEWITCHING VISITOR
This lovely toothy witch
stopped by late.
TINY TRICK OR TREATERS!
These tiny treaters are ready to go! Make simple outfits from things you can find
around the house like these little ones did.
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lmnop.com.au
BABY GHOST
Miles and his dad joined in
the fun too. Mile’s costume
is a baby bath towel.
GHOULISH GUYS
A little Halloween magic and
a lot of imagination can create
fantastic costumes.
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NOISY CHOCOLATE
Jack-o-lantern whistles
popped into cellophane
bags, along with a few
M&M’s make great treats.
LEFTOVERS
HOW MANY SLEEPS LEFT?
Danish company Maileg, have released a beautiful wooden
Advent Calendar box this year. Charming illustrations decorate
each cabinet. Each of them big enough to hold tiny treats.
Maileg, $185.00, Quintessence, 02 9967 8099
PICTURE PERFECT
Attach holiday photo stickers to your packages this year.
Kodak Gallery Stickers US$2.99 for 12, kodakgallery.com
Squeaky clean
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
We teach our children to say
thank you when we hand them a
vegemite sandwich, but we often
forget to remind them to say
‘thank you’ when they receive
gifts – especially ones that arrive
in the post. Sending a thank you
note is easy enough to do, and is
a great way to show others that
we appreciate their generosity
towards our children.
HOHOHO card, $6.95, for a pack of six,
PaperBoy Stationery, 0418 651 201.
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German made, children’s wooden nail brushes. Choose from
delightful illustrations like an octopus, and a polar bear. Small,
but easy for tiny hands to hold.
$12.50 each
Home & Abroad, 03 9821 5144
No ordinary colouring book
EVERYBODY’S ACTIVITY BOOK
by Pascale Estellon, $39.95
Greville St Bookstore, 03 9510 3531
Translated from the French Mon premier livre d’activitiés, Pascale Estellon’s unique use
of illustration and photography make this book a modern masterpiece. It’s filled with more
than 120 pages of activities for kids of all ages.
Activities include: how to decorate letters, turn words into pictures, make people out
of vegetables, and learn clever colouring tricks to create patterns and textures. This
imaginative book comes with 6 sheets of stickers, and 10 printed pages for cutting and
pasting. You’ll have to resist doing these activities yourself!
lmnop.com.au
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