It's not often you feel you really get to help nurture the seed of an idea as it develops into an independent business. We've mentioned how much we love Kickstarter as the place to help fund creative projects, and now there's a new one t…
My daughter is 4, and we would love to get her a piggy bank that has the spend, share, save theory, but we can't find any that fit that bill. We'd also be willing to just get a regular piggy bank, but then we would like one that is a lit…
My baby has reached the flip-over-at-every-opportunity stage. Which means two seconds after we place him on his back on his playmat, he's rolled off the mat and is face down on the bare floor. And then two seconds after that I'm freaking…
Now that my near 7-month-old can make her way around the floor, she can reach all the little teeny toys my older kids have grown accustomed to scattering everywhere. Aside from sending them to another room to play, I've found three toys …
As a Southern transplant, I couldn't let the annual running of the Kentucky Derby go by without at least a little hat tip (ha, get it?). But since I'm pretty sure I won't have a need for a gigantic hat anytime soon, I figured a cute litt…
We joke a lot about how our kids sometimes would rather play with the box a present comes in than the actual present. The thing is... it's not always a joke. And one company has taken that idea on, big time. Blue Manatee Boxes are amazin…
Writing about big, fuzzy balls makes me think of that Schweddy Balls sketch on Saturday Night Live. Except these balls aren't salty and nutty and made by Alec Baldwin. No, they're gorgeous and made of recycled sweaters or fleece and soft…
Sometime after the thrill of the Easter egg hunt, but before dinner is ready for the table, my kids hit a sort of jittery, must-do-something phase. This is when I had best have a few tricks up my sleeve before they decide to see how far …
We've got no shortage of toys in our house, but of all the ones my kids consistently play with, their simple set of building blocks win over anything else they own every single time. So when I saw the GoodWood Deconstructive Blocks, I kn…
I'm fortunate to have a daughter who takes violin right next to the Blabla Kids storefront in Atlanta, so every week, I poke my head in to say hello to their lovely staff and design team, and take a peek at what's new. And just wait unti…
My son, like so many kids, has a thing for robots, but the first few realistic robot toys he received were greeted with suspicion and trepidation: Why are those eyes blinking? and--- ack!---will it talk at night when I'm in bed?!? So, bo…
When you think of a baby rattle as a keepsake gift, silver is probably the first material that pops to mind. But I've just found a wooden one that's so gorgeous, it's giving silver a run for its money. The Timbur Baby Rattle combines tra…
If you could see the ground-in crayon and magic marker stains all over the back seats of our minivan, you'd understand why I'm so fond of a cool portable drawing tablet that uses nothing more than water, and generates no mess at all. As …
Ever since my daughter declared Easter was her favorite holiday, I've paid a little extra attention to the gifts I put in her Easter basket . After all, I'm sure the Easter Bunny thinks she's pretty great. While Easter is still a few wee…
Don't tell the Easter Bunny, but there's a new rabbit in town. Actually, a few new rabbits. Mirabelle is a dancer and Balthazar is a magician and I think they probably have French accents. Don't they look like they would be great guests …
For one brief night in third grade, I was Wonder Woman. Though my polyester Halloween costume was pretty unremarkable, I loved those superhero wrist cuffs that had the power to deflect everything from bullets to spit balls. Now I have tw…
The next Twilight movie doesn't come out until this November-- don't ask me how I know . So for now, if you've got teens into Twilight or tweens into goth gone adorable, you might want to check out the Vamplets. This coven/nursery of snu…
My love runs deep for Green Toys and for good reason. Their sturdy, inviting toys made from recycled milk jugs never fail to make my kids squeal with delight. But the new addition to their line has me as happy as it does my kids. [don't …
I sent my daughter to kindergarten with the new version of the slap bracelet that's out, and she was instantly the most popular girl in class. Which means absolutely nothing has changed in 25 years. Yep, slap bracelets are back. This tim…
Boom, boom, acka-lacka-lacka boom, baby. We're proud to show you the results of humanity's first attempt to literally Walk the Dinosaur. Bonus: This king of the terrible lizards has some sweet dance moves. The Tyrannosaurus Rex Push Toy …
Though my sleep-addled brain may never forgive him for Fox in Socks , that tongue-twister of a story my son requested night after night, there is no question that Dr. Seuss' collection of fanciful stories include some of our very favorit…
The beloved car keys--Babies just can't get enough of them. And no matter how realistic those toy keys look, babies know the difference. And even though desperate times can call for desperate measures, it's certainly not ideal. That's wh…
Now that my nineteen month old has officially reached the dreaded "dropsy stage," I try to attach everything I can to her stroller and high chair, from her sippy cup to her toys. So, when I found the MoMA Shapes and Colors Stroller Cards…
As a mom of two girls, I haven't had the pleasure of exploring any of the typical themes for boys' bedrooms, like cars, boats, fish and monsters and I'm fine with that. However, robots, at least in my mind, are cool for anyone. I am all …