One of my favorite children’s book author’s died last week–Bernard Waber, author of 30 plus children’s books and creator  the most charming and beloved crocodiles ever–Lyle.

The world first met Lyle in 1962  in a bathtub in a well decorated brownstone in the Upper East Side and immediately fell in love with the talented tap dancing reptile in the Waber’s most popular book, The House on East 88th Street.

But I must admit, I fell in love with all of the characters in the Lyle series. The Primm family was so sweet to open their house to Lyle.

And Mrs. Primm is a lady after my own heart with her love of antiquing and cooking!

But it was Hector P. Valenti, star of screen and stage, that I adore the most.

Bernard Waber wrote many other wonderful non-Lyle children’s books. Actually my all time favorite book (which always makes me tear up a bit) is Rich Cat, Poor Cat.  It is a really heartbreaking look at how stray cats live as opposed to indoor cats. And it has the best ending ever.  But more than that, it paints a beautiful yet at times haunting look at mid century New York.

But it is Lyle that most people will always connect Clearly the Lyle love didn’t end.  In fact his last book was “Lyle Walks the Dog,” which was a 2010 collaboration with his daughter, Paulis. That just makes me smile from ear to ear that he wrote it with his daughter.  Makes me like him and miss him even more.

So, why not crack open one of Bernard Waber’s books tonight with your kiddo!

Are you familiar with his books?

Yup! Captain Kangaroo fans have a chance to own a bit of their childhood tomorrow as items from the popular show hit the auction block in L.A.

Captain Kangaroo rocked many a kid’s world from 1955 to 1984, where you could hang out with Mr. Green Jeans and everyone’s favorite mustachioed bowl-cut captain while chomping down your favorite bowl of sugary cereal in the morning.

According to People Magazine, hundreds of items will be auctioned off including hundreds of puppets,  Dancing Bear’s furry man-sized costume held together with Velcro,  and the actual keys to the Treasure House – the show’s bouncy opening theme music wouldn’t stop until the Captain hung up his keys. (SOB!)  Bob Keeshan, the man behind the mustache, who played Captain Kangaroo, died in 2004, but his colorful coat with white piping will also be included in the auction.

And yes, Mr. Green Jean’s green jeans, or at least the green overalls, will be up for auction starting at $250.

Sigh!

Were you a fan of the Captain?  I know a lot of people are either Captain K. fans or Mr. Rogers followers, but I think my heart is big enough for both of these wonderful fellows and the great work they both did on TV.

Oh boy, what a gorgeous weekend! I spent a good chunk of it hugging the Peach and taking a class, which I’ll share with you all later, but of course there was time to find some serious vintage surfing to find some sweet gems for all of you! Enjoy!

Make your little one the hit of the kiddie pool in these darling little swim trunks! From Etsy seller, Snap It Up Vintage.

What a sweet little girl in a sweet little dress. From Etsy seller, Willow’s Room.

Oh deer!  Is this not the cutest little cardi ever?  Perfect for cooler summer nights. From Etsy seller, Fun Finds Vintage

I don’t know what I adore more–the shoes or the box! From Etsy seller, Boopsie 53.

I love this. Just love it! From Etsy seller, The Little Monsters.

Check out this genius of a shirt! Hee hee!!!  From Etsy seller, Oliver’s Forest!

The name alone makes me want this game, but it also sounds like fun too! From Etsy seller, Noodle & Lou.

Otherwise known as the deal of the century!  Vintage Judy Blume books are very collectable and this price is great!  Only $8.00 from Etsy seller, Betsy Fern Vintage.

This little combo? Brilliant! From Etsy seller, 1 Sweet Dream Vintage.

I do love those wonderful vintage Fisher Price houses, but they never seem to come with furniture. That is when such lots of wonderful furniture come in most handy! From Etsy seller, Lynnea Maria Designs.

Happy Monday!

Back in the day, your lunch box was something you treasured. You eagerly picked out a new one each year…and carried it with a sense of pride. For some reason I feel like lunch boxes are much more utilitarian now. Sure, they still have cartoons and what not on them, but more and more kiddo’s on the elementary school playground have unbranded nylon totes. Even bento boxes, which can be darling, don’t have the same cache and magic of a Knight Rider lunch box, ya know? This photo sums it all up for me—and totally reminds me of my brother Karl. He worshiped Star Wars and looooved his awesome Super Friends lunch pail.

image: Benjamin_oderwald

Lunch boxes were SUPER trendy amongst collectors back in the 90s….kinda like Pez. Prices became so inflated that I wouldn’t even really look at them, knowing they would cost a pretty penny. But the other day I stumbled upon a great Snoopy lunchbox and it reminded me that I DID still love them. What kind of lunch box did you carry back in the day?

images: lunzerland

image: Kevin Rej

TV show based lunch boxed were especially popular in my day (the 70s). That Charlie’s Angels lunch box?? I sooo wanted one. Ironically, often lunch boxes were for TV shows that your parents would never really let you watch….or for bands you never really listened to at age 8 (KISS, Charlie’s Angels, the A-Team….LAUGH IN!). But you knew of them through pop culture and you wanted to be a part of it all!

image: christian montone

image: Sarah Kennon

image: gtykal

image: apricot x

image: dani senske

image: fleece boy

image: stacy monakey

image: Pastor Future

I understand why they have evolved….tin lunch boxes get a little rusty, and nylon/vinyl is easier to clean. But man I miss those days. Wolfie likes his lunch box, and we got him a sweet Pokemon one, but I know he doesn’t feel that same reverence we all did when we were kids.

image: big brown house

image: Greg Koenig

Do you have these same memories? What was your lunch box? And how about your kiddos….what are they carrying their lunch in these days? I’m curious!

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Friends, this was my first favorite movie.  I was four years old even then I knew that this was a brilliant movie.

And then three decades past before I saw it again and it TOTALLY held up.  I think it can be appreciated by kids as well as their parents.  Because what is there not to love about Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood?

In a nutshell, the movie revolves around a race from New York to Paris before WWI between two  dueling dare devils with a female reporter determined to cover the whole event.

When I first watched it, I loved Natalie Wood’s pretty dresses and of course Tony Curtis was perfectly dreamy in white as the Great Leslie.

But as I got older, it was Jack Lemmon’s deliciously funny portrayal of Professor Fate.

And of course the Crown Prince Federick too, but I don’t want to give anything away. Except this picture.  Which says alot…

Oh, Jack Lemmon, you are marvelous….

But I will mention that there is a pie fight in this film? Yup. Pie fight!

So, consider adding this to movie to your queue.

Are you familiar with this movie?