Hi, I’m Lori—founder of Toysenberry, grandmother of four, mom of three, and lifelong lover of make-believe (if only you could see all my fairy gardens!).
✨My love for pretend play started long before Toysenberry ever existed. As a little girl, I played countless hours creating Barbie adventures and building backyard forts. I played “house” with my dolls, “school” with my stuffed animals, and orchestrated grand adventures with my Little People playsets. I have the sweetest memories of my grandmother hosting tea parties and calling me Mrs. somebody or other. She always sipped her invisible tea with great ceremony and complimented my (nonexistent) cookies. She made it all feel real, like magic. That spirit stuck with me like glitter on a craft project-permanent.
🧸As soon as I was old enough to babysit, I started caring for kids—and even before that, I was my mom’s unofficial assistant in her home childcare business. It’s just part of who I am. Over the years, I’ve raised three kids of my own and now I’m raising my teen niece and nephew, too. I’m also a proud grandma to four wildly imaginative little ones who remind me daily that play is not just fun—it’s how kids learn, process, connect, and occasionally turn your living room into a giant Barbie picnic.
🐞Whether I’m exploring nature with my granddaughter, playing tea party, or instructed to blow on hot soup fresh from a tiny toy kitchen, I’m constantly reminded of how pretend play helps kids grow – socially, emotionally, and creatively (and sometimes, how it helps grownups stay sane and silly, too).
🍓That’s why I created Toysenberry.
🎠Toysenberry is a curated collection of toys that nurture imagination, creativity, and curiosity. It started years ago as a playful little side project – just me writing about popular toys -best-sellers, tried-and-trues, one-and-dones – all of them. But then I stopped and it sat…until my first grandchild was born and I was reminded of the magic of toys in a child’s life.
💖So now I’m revamping Toysenberry with even more love and intention, focusing on toys that teach, inspire, and spark imagination and not so much on the the latest hot toy that won’t be around next Christmas. Oh, and miniatures because I do love all those tiny groceries and tea sets and dollhouses! But I digress…I’m bringing together gift ideas, toy guides, and magical finds that inspire creativity in every child (and possibly the grownup gift-givers, too).
🎀This site is for the parents, grandparents, and gift-givers who believe that play is more than fun – it’s foundational and a way to connect with the child in your life.
✨So thanks for wandering by. I hope you find something here that inspires a little magic in your home, too.
