I’ve just spent a very pleasant hour perusing all the posts I’ve penned over the past year and I’m amazed again at how many stylish, innovative and just downright lovely things I’ve been lucky enough to write about. I could have compiled a list of twenty favourites, but since I’ve had to limit myself I’ve used the criterion of “things I devoted at least two hours to thinking about buying” as a basic ground rule!

The amazing colours of the building blocks from Learning Materials Workshop floored me again when I went back for a second look. The picture above is of their beautiful Coloraturo blocks which I just love, love, love. I think it’s the stunning range of colours in all their products that hooked me, but I’m a sucker for any kind of timeless wooden toy. There’s a birthday coming up in our house and I think a certain little girl might be unwrapping something from this range.

They’re not much to look at (in the box, at least) – but the Planks building blocks from Green Hat Workshop still have me awed. I love how their simplicity means kids (and adults) will really flex their imaginations when playing with them. Since the time of writing, they have begun to be stocked in toy shops online and all over Australia, making them just that bit easier to get into your home.

Mealtimes at our house tend to be a bit of a struggle at the moment. I have to admit I’m looking for the magic bullet, and while this Minui Handysitt booster seat probably wouldn’t solve the tears and food refusal, I really loved it. Especially the fact that it folds up flat, which makes transporting or storing it a dream.

It didn’t take more than about, oh, two hours from the time of writing, for me to order a Lego storage box just like these to attempt to tame the Danish monster threatening to overtake our home. They are just as good in person as on screen, and as it turns out, I will need some more, which actually leaves me with a fun decision – which colours? Which sizes? How many?

Finally, but by no means least, the dollhouse that inspired me to flights of fancy that I really cannot achieve. You can’t buy it anywhere, but you can create your own masterpiece in the same vein as this DIY dollhouse by New Zealander Megan Hoskin. I have spent unrealistic amounts of time since discovering this stunner thinking about how to locate the perfect miniature renovator’s dream.

Wow. That’s five! I’ve got a few more up my sleeve that I’m getting ready for next year’s list…