More coolness from recent weeks…
Remember 9/11 through volunteering. (A better idea than just watching the news all day.)
It has been 12 years, though the memory of how that perfectly ordinary September morning turned into a day of horror will forever make our hearts ache and hug our children a little closer. Along with the tears (still), we also feel an increased resolve to do something...
Is it safe for babies to suck on keys? They are if they’re these keys.
I swear I am not Alarmist Mom. I did not plug every outlet when my kids were toddlers and my jeans were the only pacifier sterilizer I owned. But one thing I knew is that I didn't want my kids sucking on keys, knowing that real keys may be one of the worst things for...
Embroidery hoop art for your kids’ walls to inspire. Both of you.
Back when we started this site in 2006 (and we have the archives to prove it), messages for kids were all about irony, irreverence and sass. Over the years, it's been thrilling to see the trend turn towards positivity, encouragement and smarts. And not even in a...
A numbers book for kids who like animals. Or an animal book for kids who like numbers.
Now that my oldest is eight and reading full-on chapter books, it's hard to find a kids' book that will captivate her, her first-grade sister, and younger cousins who come to visit too. But that's just what author Lola M. Schaefer manages to do in this beautifully...
It’s a girl! Or a boy! Oh, just read the banner.
This week on Brika, I was so happy to discover the beautiful work of stationer Kristen Ley of Thimblepress. There's so much to love in her shop, but what really caught my eye was this great DIY kit for your next baby shower. The DIY It's a girl...
Tough kids can still have sparkly toes
Move over, princess shoes. We've found the cutest sparkle sneakers that have a date with the monkey bars. For years we've loved shoes by See Kai Run for their combination of durability, fit, and looks. The new Adalynn sneaker with Mary Jane styling adds a fun...
5 tech picks you won’t want to miss this week
Here are 5 of our favorite tech picks from this week just in case you missed them. 1. Want to get your personal information off those sites like Spokeo? We can help. 2. We're completely obsessed with this awesome gadget. 3. You don't even have to be a vintage...
Gilt launches personalized sales, and a few other reasons this is still one of the best flash sale sites
If you're like us and visit Gilt every day (fine, three times a day), to find chic new items for your wardrobe, home, or kids, you'll be excited to hear about a new feature they just launched to make your shopping experience even nicer. As if getting great deals...
An eyecare system from Bliss that helps give tired eyes (like ours) a little help.
Soooo maybe your eyes need a little help like mine. Blame it on lack of sleep or parenting--way easier on the ego than blaming it on age. I found a really nice little eyecare system from Bliss that's been a pleasure to use. I've been a longtime fan of Bliss for...
Shoe-shopping just got sweeter: Buy a pair of Toms and a US child in need gets one too.
Kids don't need much to dream. But they do need a few basic, important things to succeed: education, food, exercise and clothing. So we're happy to support a company that aims to give one million pairs of shoes to underprivileged children right here in the US by the...
The Mountain Buggy Cosmopolitan Stroller is a seriously posh ride
With my youngest almost three years old, I'm almost out of the stroller world. I admit it: that bums me out. Because I loooove strollers. Especially the strollers from Mountain Buggy. I've fallen hard for their newest one, because it's pretty much perfect....
The coolest hoodies in the hood
Hoodies are wardrobe staples in our household. My husband, a hoodie addict with over 20 in his closet, has gotten my boys into sporting them too. For the most part, my guys wear boring old navy or black hoodies (yawn), with the occasional sports team or stripes thrown...
Two awesomely lightweight car seats your biceps will thank you for
Getting ready for baby #3 has required many a trip down to the basement to dig up all the gear we used with babies #1 and #2. Our old car seats were the size of woolly mammoths, though, ugh! Fortunately I've discovered two incredible new infant car seat systems on the...
Dinner’s on the table. Next to the markers.
We love making dinnertime more fun while keeping the kitchen clean. Voila! A washable tablecloth that also serves as gigantic piece of paper for your table of pint-sized artists. This Doodle tablecloth by Stitch in the UK is a fun way to get kids to stick around after...
The Ralph Lauren Kids fashion show: Fall fashion inspiration galore
featured partner With back to school officially here and the cooler climes headed our way, we're excited to be one of the first to share the video of the Ralph Lauren Kids fall fashion show which launched today. Can you say adorable? Now you get to see what some of...
You are amazing, beautiful and strong. Just ask your socks.
Heaven knows we've featured plenty of tees and artwork featuring empowering messages for kids. Now we're adding socks to the lineup. I really like the premise behind the Notes to Self Socks founded by mom Laura Schmidt. They offer simple notes of...
6 simple, delicious dinners for hectic back to school schedules
Now that we've covered awesome school lunch resources and simple lunch ideas--it's time to tackle dinner recipes for the kids. Here are six fairly fast dinner recipes sure to fit into your back-to-school routine, no matter how hectic. These dinners are a...
The Best Toys for Kids winners of 2013: We have to agree.
featured partner If you're looking for a list of the Best Toys for Kids, we've found a great one featuring tons of the smaller brands we love, curated by the indie retailers who actually sell them and interact with parents and other customers day to day. In fact, I'm...
P’kolino’s new Monster Storage Bins are coming to eat your kids’ stuff
Having a monster in his room is something my son has worried about since he was old enough to speak. But, I think he'd be more relaxed about welcoming one into his bedroom if it were super helpful, kind of silly looking, and kept his toys safely tucked away while he...
Calling all runners! Team Baby Buggy needs you for NYC Marathon 2013
We've been huge supporters of the amazing charity Baby Buggy since we discovered them in 2011, and we're always ready to help spread the word about the wonderful services they provide. They've got a huge challenge ahead of them this fall, and we'd be thrilled if any...
Best disappearing act ever? Wash-away labels
We have a saying in our family: sticky is icky. It applies to gooey hands and chunks of granola bar in the car, but it also applies to labels. I hate scraping sticky sticker residue off anything. Ever. Which is why these labels are so cool. When you're done with them,...