Surviving winter days with color
At the risk of this turning into the Fab.com blog (I can't help it!), today I discovered a new textile artist there that I'm so excited about, because she makes the most lovely scarves. And wildly affordable too. The lightweight scarves and wraps from Portland artist...
Alastair Moock bring American folk music to friends of all sizes
Like singer Laura Veirs, Massachusetts musician Alastair Moock has had a long and successful career playing American folk music for grown ups. And similarly, both musicians started making kids' music after the birth of their children, but in a way that keeps true to...
Neighborhood Toy Store Day – go forth and buy toys!
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 hearts, as a great opportunity to...
Blocks with substance
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 not just building towers....
Why you should look for The Man in the Moon
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 idea a lot better. Apparently,...
Holiday cards that are truly a work of art
Every year after I spend half the day trying to get myself ready, and then wrangling my four kids and my husband for our annual holiday card family photo extravaganza, I vow to do something different the next year. I have found it! With one of a kind cards featuring...
The perfect baby doll for your own growing baby.
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 chest just like daddy has--I'm a...
And a hug around the neck
When I came across this gorgeous lilac crochet scarf on Etsy, I just about clicked "add to cart" right on the spot. Good thing I didn't because then I would have missed all the other beautiful colors. Brooklyn's VitalTemptation is a name that pretty much says it all....
Being Elmo
I still remember the first time I saw Kevin Clash, the man behind Elmo, on a TV show--and I couldn't believe my ears. Who knew a big guy like Kevin was the voice of the lovable--and, yes, sometimes annoying--little red guy on Sesame Street.Now with the release of a...
5 cool modern piggy banks
We're so thrilled to be teaming up with our sponsor Harris Bank who's asked us to offer up cool picks to help teach money management early. Back when I was a kid, a piggy bank was no more than a basic way to teach money savings to those old enough to dump a few...