My Favorite Things (Plush Animal Version)

I have always loved stuffed animals. LOVE. At the moment my childhood collection sits in 4 massive Rubbermaid boxes somewhere in my parents’ house. My mother knew better than to throw them away. Today I am in danger of returning to plush collecting mode, especially as I seem to be able to justify these purchase under the guise of something science-related. I mean, I can’t even visit the Giant Microbes site without wanting to buy absolutely everything there. I mean LOOK AT THIS BOOKWORM.

Etsy is another very very dangerous place for stuffed animal collectibles. I’ve always loved the work of one Ms. Skullknocker. She works nimbly in Naugahyde, creating a plethora of adorable creatures (owls are her specialty, but she dabbles in sharks and whales and bears and octopuses and hippopotamuses and and and). My favorite was the now sold shark pictured above. Sigh.

Of course I could always support some actual nature with my fuzzy nature cravings. Like with the ’Zoo in a Box‘ from the National Zoo in Washington DC (includes six little endangered species) and supports the zoos conservation programs. They have lots of individual species to choose from, too, including a VERY adorable flamingo and the uber ugly-cute Golden Lion Tamarin .

The World Wildlife Federation has a similar store, with even more delicious little creatures to choose from. Seriously. I think I need a Blue-Footed Booby and a Horned Puffin.

But really, what I have always always wanted (and will probably at this point never get due to space limitations and the distinct possibility that my friends will check me into the loony bin should I ever purchase them) are the enormous Lifelike Animals from FAO Schwartz. There were some pretty dirty scenes in the mega-NYC store in the mid-80s as I begged my parents to buy me a 5-foot cheetah for Christmas.

(PS. Mom and Dad, if you are reading this, the 72-inch octopus is on sale for just $242. This is your chance to make it up to me...)