We have a thing for Zappos . A big, hard, mad love kind of a thing. So we were thrilled when, as our newest sponsor, they asked us to choose a few of our favorite holiday shoes for boys and girls. That's uh, kind of like our dream job. A…
When the toy store ads appear in our Sunday newspaper, I'm mostly uninspired by all the blinky, noisy, plasticky stuff touted as The Next Big Thing. Would these really be the toys that Santa's elves carefully assemble in the North Pole? …
With all the cool apps and e-books on my iPad, I sometimes worry that my kids will have a hard time appreciating real books. But then I find ones that remind me that children's books can be just as engaging , if not more, than the ones w…
Ever since Zara started selling online this fall, I've been stalking their site for European styled clothing for my kids at great prices . But recently, I popped into one of their NYC stores just to make sure the clothes were as awesome …
I was wondering if you could recommend a classic dollhouse for my two daughters' Christmas gift? Would love any suggestions you have. Thank you!! -Amy Ooh, dollhouses! One of our favorite things to look for, now that there are so many to…
Every time I go shoe shopping for my son I feel like I'm swimming in a sea of flashing sneakers. Then I remember to check one of my favorite kids' shoes purveyors Livie and Luca and voila, I find cool shoes that won't double as a night l…
We are honored to once again be working with our sponsor, the American Cancer Society, on their More Birthdays campaign since if we could make one really big wish, it'd that cancer never steals someone from us again. But wishes alone wil…
My boys love woodworking. It certainly helps having a super handy husband and grandpa to keep them busy and tinkering away in the garage. But I have to admit, seeing them wielding heavy tools does frighten me some. A while back, I search…
So here's some fun news: We're so excited to be this week's guest bloggers at the Lucky Kids site this week! We've put together 5 picks for a handmade holiday , featuring 5 fabulous handmade items that we're crushing on hard. Click over …
So we've finally got a look at the much anticipated Gwen Stefani Harajuku Mini line for Targe t. While it's hopefully not going to lead Missoni-style riots at the store, I'd say if you've got some funky kids to clothe, it's definitely wo…
Before the 24-hour carols, the jammed parking lots, and those news stories about people fighting over the latest Elmo toy, there is Neighborhood Toy Store Day today, November 12. This is one that hits near and dear to our indie-loving he…
When I was little, I used to stare at the moon looking for a tiny dot moving around, going about his business. It wasn't until much later that I realized that the "man in the moon" was a shadowy face on a full-moon's facade---I liked my …
Here at CMP, we're total blockheads. We've brought you classic blocks, magnetic blocks, and amusingly subversive blocks. But this is the first time we're taking it old school, all the way back to the periodic table. Yes, friends, you're …
Please tell me I am not the only one with such nostalgia for some of our baby clothes, that I've saved them. The little peasant dress from Mexico, the smocked dress from a great-grandmother, the onesie with the swallow tattoos on the che…
With the 70s coming back hard everywhere from music to fashion (hello, Ella Moss) to Broadway revivals, I am not surprised at all to see the most fabulous pair of old school roller skates, front and center at Fred Flare. The colorblock r…
When my kids were younger, they adored lacing cards, though I can't say any of them had illustrations quite so adorable as the Lacing Cards from House 8810 . What I do remember is how quietly and intently they would sew their cards, and …
You know how much little babies love things that are black and white? Well, I'm kind of getting a kick out of imagining a baby freaking out on this awesome play mat. Seriously, they wouldn't know where to look first. Leave it to the MoMA…
If you're not familiar with TableTopics , it's such a fabulous little secret weapon to have around the house for those holiday weekends in which the throngs of relatives descend upon you. I mean, uh, honor you with their presence. Each b…
When it comes to unwrapping gifts, people usually fall into two camps. Either they take their time, delicately lifting the tape and neatly folding up the paper; or they rip through the paper like a present-seeking claw machine. This pers…
The Conductor is the kind of children's book I've always adored having in our collection; it's richly illustrated, with a story that kids can appreciate in different ways at different ages. It's got another aspect I happen to like a lot …
I am probably the last mother in all the land (or at least in Brooklyn) to discover just how comfy and awesome Toms Shoes are. But I don't think I'm the last to assume that is the time of year that we put them in the back of the closet i…
I am a total Etsy junky; it's my first stop when I'm looking for cool, quirky accessories or for gifts for friends and family. I'm always particularly amazed by the beautiful handmade kids' clothing on Etsy, which is why you see so much …
My son's car obsession knows no limits, which is why we've got tubs and tubs full of plastic race cars and trains packing our playroom shelves. But the play life of those tiny cars seem to be pretty short, which is not at all what I can …
If you're a bibliophile like me, then you know that nothing smells as good as an old book. Age, ink, paper, maybe a dash of cracked leather cover. But we've discovered a gorgeous trio of classics with a redesign so spectacularly beautifu…