Squishables: Say Hello To Our Not-So-Little Friends
We're pretty sure it's a rule of human nature. Cuddly wins. Witness the rise of the internet, which appears to consist largely of adorable cat pictures on some days. Lolcats. Various memes around chipmunks, squirrels, and other cute creatures. Entire sites, subreddits, and photoblogs devoted to charming photography of animals. It's probably only a matter of time until you can 3D print your own versions of the daily "awww" at home, but until then, there are Squishables.
Simply put, these are the hipper, cuter stuffed animals you've always imagined. Their catalog is lengthy- almost paralyzing in it's scope- but we've brought two of them into our homes and offices where they now serve as unofficial mascots, peacekeepers, surprising visitors and generally running amok.
The Squishable T-Rex is clearly struggling with the modern epidemic of obesity- as are perhaps many of the others- as they tend towards impressively rotund shapes. Their spherical nature means they are cozy and comfy as pillows and fun to throw about. Fifteen inches turns out to be surprisingly big, enough to dwarf most other stuffed animals we've collected from conventions and such, which is only fitting for the king of the dinosaurs. Ours goes by the name of Ferguson, and we loved the construction- soft, plush interior, fuzzy outside, cute little arms and legs and a tail. Apparently designed in conjunction with Ryan North of Dinosaur Comics, this photogenic beast only has one down-side: he's always hungry. Make sure you check out the variety of pictures on their site!
On a smaller scale, the Mini Cthulhu was simultaneously scary and fluffy- a tough combination for most creatures, perhaps, but not for this guy. As they say: "Yes he's an abominable Elder God from before the dawn
of time, but he's also afraid of thunderstorms
and small puppies". Seven inches is still plenty of cuteness, and though his eyes tend to get hidden and make him a little annoyed, ruffling his tentacles is a surefire cure for whatever ails you. Some folks confuse the tiny wings for ears, but he doesn't mind- it just means he's underestimated, and therefore all the more powerful.
Minis run about $19, and the larger ones between $38 and $44. They've held up well to a good deal of play, and for those in need of something even larger, massive bean bag models are available. Plus, there are micros- an entire ecosystem of huggable collectibles, sure to brighten anyone's day.
About the Author
Greg Greg dreamed up the idea for the Truly Network while living in Hawaii, which began with a single site called TrulyObscure. In 2010, when advertisers and readers were requesting coverage beyond the scope of that site, TrulyNet was launched, reaching a broader audience over a variety of niche sites. Formerly the head technology correspondent for the Des Moines Register at age 16, he has since lived and worked in five states and two countries, helping a list of organizations and companies that includes the United States Census Bureau, TripAdvisor, Events Photo Group, Berlitz, and Computer Geeks. He also served as the Content Strategy Manager for HearPlanet, a multi-platform app that has reached over a million users and has been featured in the New York Times, Hemispheres Magazine, National Geographic Adventure, Fox Business News, PC Magazine, and even Apple’s own iPhone ads. Greg has written as a restaurant critic and feature journalist for a number of national and international publications, including City Weekend Magazine, Red Egg Magazine, the Newton Daily News, Capital Change Magazine, and an arm of China Daily, Beijing Weekend. In addition, he has served as a consulting editor for the Foreign Language Press of Beijing, as well as a writer and editor for the George Washington University Hatchet, the school newspaper of his alma mater. Originally from Iowa, Greg is currently living in the West Village of Manhattan.
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