Mari Richards

As a toy designer and a parent, this time of year is fraught with not only finding the usual Christmas gifts, but finding gifts that I admire both as a designer and a mom. It can be a tall order. I have high expectations! Until recently I felt like I had most of the control over what my daughter would play with. These days, as she approaches the ripe old age of 4, I’m realizing my hold on our curated collection of toys is slipping fast.

Here’s a hot button topic: are you pro or anti-Barbie? It seems people fall into two camps: those who think girls know better than to believe they should look like a plastic toy, and those who think a doll’s body image and message should reflect a more realistic point of view. With the plethora of recent additions – from Bratz to Monster High – I think the question is even more loaded than ever.

Being a design lover and a parent is tough, isn’t it? We crave beautiful things – clothes, toys, shoes, decor – for our kids, but the price tags can be steep. I’ve found the best way to keep my sweet design tooth satisfied is with flash sale websites. They feature all of our favorite brands – and many new brands you may have never heard of before – at steep discounts, usually 40 – 70% off retail prices.