Saturdays always start the same way in our house: three children's voices shouting ‘Lake!’ at the same time, a bit of chaos in the kitchen and that wonderful feeling that the day will be filled with sunshine, light-heartedness and family time. While Dad gathers towels and sun cream, I stand at the fridge and pack it. Our MagNICIs hang on the fridge door and hold the most important notes. Finni, the caramel-coloured bear (which was available in a really beautiful grey last year), sticks with his magnetic feet directly on the shopping list, while Felli, the charming grey cat next to him, holds the little note with the checklist for the trip. It's so practical how the two of them keep track of everything and look so cheerful doing it!

Meanwhile, there is a buzz of excitement in the hallway: rucksacks, picnic basket, sun hats and three children, each grabbing their favourite animal from the new NICI Bears & Friends collection. Our eldest has chosen Finni as his dangling soft toy today because he loves its casual, long arms and legs, which swing so beautifully when he runs, as if Finni were walking with him to the lake. The fact that Finni is available as a dangling soft toy in five different sizes is a real talking point in our house, because depending on the mood, sometimes ‘small and practical’ is the order of the day, and sometimes ‘big and cuddly’. For the car journey, he also takes Finni in one of the three lying versions with him, because it's perfect for cuddling up to the window when that tired summer drowsiness sets in. Our daughter chooses Felli. Felli is also available as a soft toy in five sizes, and we actually have more than one. One large one stays in the nursery, one is for travelling, and one of the three lying versions is usually already in the car. As always, the youngest is the most excited: he wants Frowin the frog. And not just any Frowin, but the large plush version, because he wears his tailcoat and simply looks like the most elegant companion for a lake adventure. To be on the safe side, he also packs the smaller plush version of Frowin, because the small one fits in his rucksack and the large one is there for cuddling – completely logical, he thinks.

Before we set off, there's a bit of jingling everywhere, because we've distributed the key rings so that everyone has their favourite little detail with them. The classic NICI Bears & Friends key rings hang from the children's rucksacks, matching their favourites – Finni, Felli and Frowin. And I admit: I'm immediately drawn to accessories – especially anything that looks trendy. That's why one of the four new bag charms – three bears and a rabbit – dangles from my summer bag in pastel colours, with a colour-coordinated satin bow, a small engraved flower-shaped pendant and a carabiner so I can clip it flexibly to my bag, key ring or even my basket. For me, this is exactly that ‘hands-on lifestyle’ feeling – soft, pretty, playful, but still suitable for everyday use.

At the lake, we spread out the blanket, the children build little works of art out of stones and shells, Finni sits here and there and is constantly ‘in the thick of things’, Felli gets a place of honour next to the snacks because she is ‘keeping an eye on things’, and Frowin sits next to her in his tailcoat, looking so dapper that we all have to laugh, as if he were about to officially open the picnic. In between, Finni or Felli, lying down, repeatedly end up as cosy headrests on the blanket.

Back home again, it's that perfect ending that I love most about days out: everyone a little tired, everyone happy. While the children get changed, I make myself comfortable in the living room. We have the two cuddly cushions from the new collection on the sofa. Then comes the moment when even in summer, warmth just feels good: I fill both extra-soft hot water bottles and pass them around, while the kids slip into their character slippers. There are two designs of these in the new collection too! In the end, we all lie on the sofa between cushions, cuddly toys and hot water bottles.

The new NICI Bears & Friends collection is made for cuddling, carrying or giving as gifts and will be available from June 2026🩷