A while back, I lost my mind. I think it was the eleventy billionth LEGO brick I stepped on, or maybe it was the fourteen thousandth article of doll clothing/accessories I found under my pillow. The toys are taking over my house and it has.to.stop. Toy storage needs to be stepped up.
I love my kids. I love their toys. I do. I really, really do. I have a deep love of toys. It’s just the leaving of the toys everywhere in the house that makes me crazy. I love my son’s LEGO creations but I really don’t need to find them in my bed, or in the cabinet next to my deodorant. I just don’t. Racecars don’t need to be in the fridge, and doll shoes don’t belong in the VCR slot. (RIP VCR, RIP).
Three kids, + three kids’ toys + a small sized house = need for organization. (I really, REALLY wanted to put 4 in there, because, it was like math, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it). Now do 3 kids + 3 kids’ toys + a small house + 3 kids who hate cleaning up their toys = mom with a lost mind.
This is where I tell you what’s helping me regain my mind, one tiny little toy at a time. It’s really not one thing, but several. ToyTainer.
ToyTainer is a company that clearly spends a LOT of time either secretly videotaping my children or is run by people who have children just like mine. They came up with toys for kids to play with that also can house those same toys so that the children playing with them want to put them away WHERE THEY BELONG. They asked if I’d check out their products and um, yea. Of course I would.
My little one is at the oh I love puppies and kittens and everything princess age. If it sparkles and comes with a lot of little parts she can shove into a pocket, even better. ANDDDDDDDDDDD she likes to have sets of things (can’t deny, that’s right from mama). So she has a new collection of Palace Pets toys. Which we’ve been shoving into this metal, sharp edged bin thingy because we hadn’t had anything else that worked. Not safe and not practical, and always falling open. Apparently, there IS a difference between the brushes that Cinderella’s puppy uses vs. the brushes Snow White’s pet Apple uses. And if you know 4 year olds, you understand that they will smell your fear that a piece or part was misplaced…and they will hound you to find that piece.
Above, not working. Parts were lost. Tears were shed.
Above, not working. More tears shed. (By mom).
Drumroll please….
HEY MOM! I put my Palace Pets away!! All by myself!!
See this magical rectangle of pink? That’s the Shoe Box Play-n-Store Castle from ToyTainer.
Watch what it does.
And then… and then….
She can play with the pets. All of them. On a mat. That folds up into the case to carry the pets. Do you SEE this, people?
She cleans up her toys and puts them away. (Well, really, she cleans up THESE toys and puts them away. Baby steps).
It even has a handle so she can carry it from one place to another.
No pony brushes in my bed, no tiaras in my fridge. No accessories in the laundry.
ToyTainer, if you are listening? I love you. Long time.
There’s all kinds of other equally fabulous ToyTainer products. Some are pink and some are blue and some are neither. My son has more fun dunking Beanie Boos into the Fold n’Go Games Center on the back of his closet door than putting laundry away but… but… the 4003 Beanie Boos that live in my house are all in one place. And not in my bed.
American Girl, Build-A-Bear, Barbie and Strawberry Shortcake…oh, and you, too, my little LaLaLoopsy pals… you can all rest easy, because you can spend some time on the back of the girls’ door now in the Princess Castle Fold n’ Go. Mommy won’t be stepping on Jasmine’s leg and dismembering her any longer.
ToyTainer is available exclusively at Target.com and in Target stores.
One reader will win a $150 ToyTainer prize pack! To enter this giveaway, follow the instructions on the form below.
This is a sponsored post, opinions are my own.
Jo Ann F says
I like the SHOE BOX – PLAY N’ STORE FARM and the Fire Truck Play N’ Store
jofo120 at yahoo dot com
Linda Madden says
I like the EZ-MAT IN blue and the Firetruck
Susan Chester says
I like the EZ-MAT Play N’ Store with the roads and the Fire Truck Play n Store for my grandson.
eddi b. says
i love the Bulldozer Scoop N’ Store
Lesley F says
I like the ice cream truck and the bulldozer
Sonya says
I love the Doll House Fold n Store and the EZ Mat
Ellie W says
I like the Games Center Fold N’ Go and the Fire Truck Play N’ Store.
Sarah VM says
I like the Ice Cream Truck and the Arcade Depot.
polly says
I like the city EZ Mat and the Fire Truck Play N’ Store.
Rosanne says
I like the Bulldozer Scoop n Store
Gale says
My favorites are the dump truck and the arcade depot.
Amanda Hoffman says
shoe box city
Paula Hafner says
I like the Firetruck Play N Store. My son would love it!
sandra davis says
my favorites are the Princess Castle Fold N’ Go and the Games Center Fold N’ Go
Terry Maigi says
I love the Shoe Box Play n Store Castle and the Dollhouse Fold n Store! What a neat Idea!
Rachel says
Shoe Box
Play ‘n Store (Farm) &
Games Centre
Fold ‘n Go
Trisha Burgess says
I love the ez mat and the shoe box castle!!
Danielle @ We Have It All says
Whoa! Now THIS is what I need!! Well, not me… but my 4 year old! I totally LOL’d at “Apparently, there IS a difference between the brushes that Cinderella’s puppy uses vs. the brushes Snow White’s pet Apple uses.” – that is SO my daughter haha.
christine jessamine says
The fire truck is my favorite! cute!
Nina says
I like the play n store city and the ez mat
lissa crane says
I love the The Arcade Storage Grab N’ Store! My sons would flip over this! Also my daughters would love to have the The Ice Cream Trunk ! Great idea to make cleaning and storage fun!
Tamar says
I like the E-Z Mat and the Ice Cream Truck.
sara haaf says
I love the firetruck play n store and ez mat play n store. Super cute and fun idea. Reminds me of when I was little and my laundry basket for dirty clothes was a basketball hoop thing with a net that tied shut on the bottom, made cleaning up a little more fun!
Danielle says
These are brilliant! We could certainly use a few of these in our house right now. Even though we did the pre-Christmas give-away, I am still tripping and falling over toys 😉
jennifer says
the arcade depot is hilarious!
karen says
I like the shoebox playnstore city and the firetruck playnstore.
Jennifer says
My son would love the fire truck storage as well as the ez mat. He loves anything fire truck!!
Debbie Jackson says
I love the icecream truck and the doll wardrobe storage.
Jenni E. says
This post cracked me up. I’m sure it was because I totally get you. After cussing out the Turbo Snail toy that rolls this morning (not fun to step on when on a hardwood floor and you’re holding a piping hot cup of coffee) I totally.get.you. I try my darndest to keep smalls like that in bins and boxes. They inch their way back into the entire house though. Never fails. I love these play/storage boxes though. Anything that helps the kids’ room stay organized, I’m all about it.
ReggieMann says
Shoe Box – Play ‘n Store
EZ-MAT Play N’ Store
Brittney House says
I would love the shoebox farm and the princess castle.
Britnee says
Love the ice cream truck!
shirley says
I like the Princess Castle and Doll House Fold “n Store.
Chrysa says
I like the Play ‘n Store Farm and the Fire Truck. These are such a great idea!
Barb W. says
Wow! These are crazy-clever products! I can totally relate to finding Legos everywhere. Will have to see about getting some of these for my kiddos!
Sofia says
I really like the Arcade Depot Grab N’ Store and the City Shoe Box.
Jessamine D. says
I also like the Shoe Box – Play ‘n Store. My daughters (they’re 2 and 5) also knows their toys very well. If something is missing, they won’t stop until they or I find it for them. 🙂
Amanda Her says
My son would love the basketball hoop! Maybe it can help him want to put his toys away too!
Sylvia White says
I like the Princess Castle Fold N’ Go and the Shoe Box – Play ‘n Store castle
Kelly D says
I like the Arcade Depot Grab n’ Store and the Ice Cream Truck Play n’ Store.
Shanna says
Neat! I love the ICE CREAM TRUCK && the PRINCESS CASTLE =)
Faride says
I like the EZ-mat and the doll house fold-n-store
merh says
Wow – brilliant idea! Love the play ‘n store city and the game center basketball shoot!
Scott says
Love the Princess Castle and the Game Center.
jenny at dapperhouse says
This is THE COOLEST invention!!! I think the EZ Mats and the dumptruck are pretty cool too!
Amy says
I like the EZ Mat play N Store
and the Bull Dozer Play N store…..
Well, Actually I like them all !
Thank you so much for this giveaway
Toni Marie Caravello says
I really like the Princess Castle Fold N’ Go (and the Doll House one too)
I also really like the
Ice-Cream Truck Play N’ Store
So cool
Thanks for the giveaway.
Kimberly Bauer says
I like the Shoe Box – Play ‘n Store and the Princess Castle Fold N’ Go.
Janet W. says
My two favorites are the Fire Truck Play N’ Store and Shoe Box – Play ‘n Store City!
Robin says
My girls would love the dollhouse and princess castle ones. What a great idea.
Sabrina Radke says
I really love the idea of making the cleanup more kid sized, more manageable and not so overwhelming! I think my little guy would flip over the fire truck and the bulldozer
Tammy says
Oh that’s a great way for kids to get in the habit of picking up their toys. We had to do the drastic throw toys away thing (literally we did) before our daughter got the hint that it was pick up or it was placed at the curb. This would be really handy for bringing toys to Grandma’s or a friends’ home too.
Brett says
We’ve done that. I made the kids put things into bags and bring to the curb. Much easier to make it fun and not have to toss fun cool toys! (That I did rescue and subsequently donate)