More coolness from recent weeks…
Check out the kids’ music spilling out of Pandora
I'm not always on the cutting edge of technology, something that was evident when I said to my husband, hey, you should check out this Pandora web site! It streams music to your computer or iphone, and it's really cool!, and he looked at me with pity. Seems all the...
Pegs are not just for legs
If bobblehead dolls have taught us anything, it's that adults can now play with toys in public. Hence my complete lack of shame in adoring the simple yet amazing hand-painted peg dolls from mooshoopork on Etsy. Especially the sassy pirates. And girl pirates too!Sure,...
With a KaBOOM!, we can get kids outside to play
One of the greatest joys of suburbia is the big green playground in our back yard--which makes not having decent sushi down the block almost worth it. But it bums me out that there are loads of kids who can't just walk to a great place to play because there are no...
Paperless Post gets thank you notes. Emily Post rejoices.
The thought of sending a note card via the internet would generally make my inner Emily Post faint, but after seeing the gorgeous new paperless thank you cards, from CMP fave Paperless Post, I think I can hear her applauding.Just as lovely as a real, life paper note...
Eating out just got way more family-friendly
When it comes to eating out with my kids, we make sure to go to our favorite family friendly restaurant early in the evening with an arsenal of activities to keep them occupied. Seriously, I think planning a wedding is easier. But thanks to Knock Knock's fun new Kids'...
Baby sun protection in handy blanket form
We rarely leave the house without our Rain or Shine Kids waterproof stroller blanket - whether it's a cool fall picnic, winter jog, or spring walk in the park. And now, with their organic sun protection blanket, I think they've pretty much got us covered for summer...
Clek monkeys around with their booster seats
Sometimes I think I'm a 12 year-old trapped in the body of a...well nevermind. But I think that's why I such a huge fan of Paul Frank. His ubiquitous monkey, Julius, is one of the staples of the teen-hip market and now it's it's available for the younger set in the...
It’s true, fish really is brain food
So it's become pretty clear that iPhone apps can be God's technological gift to parents wanting to avoid toddler meltdowns in restaurants and pediatrician offices. Some of my favorite apps for the younger set come courtesy of Duck Duck Moose, which is slowly taking...
Romper room
So I admit that this whole adult romper trend scares me just a little, mostly because my body is not cut out for any sort of one-piece clothing item not meant for a beach. But my daughters, on the other hand, look absolutely fabulous in them. And at the top of my list...
Beautiful little dresses at beautiful little prices
Ses Petites Mains has been consistently one of my favorite shops for small-label, beautifully tailored girls' clothes from designer Beth Miles. And right now, you can hit their private sale--oops, did I just make it public?-- for fabulous savings on their very special...
Lunchwalla stomps out event-planning indigestion
I used to organize a girls night out with friends once a month, and it always started with one itty-bitty email to the group. Pretty soon though, that email had mushroomed into dozens of reply-to-all's, forwards, links to can we try this place, and before long, I'm...
We see cool crayons in your future
We're always on the lookout for cool party favors that do not include small plastic toys that last all of four minutes, or sugar-infested treats that seem to last four hours.So if you've got a party coming up, stuff those goody bags with these cool fortune cookie...
Charlie Hope’s latest CD puts us to sleep
I thought I was past the whole need-for-a-lullaby thing until my five year old started whispering I'm Scared into my ear every night at 2AM. Now, I think he needs a little Charlie Hope crooning into his ear from her World of Dreams CD, to help chill him out at...
Family travel, four-star, and discount all in the same breath.
When my husband and I talk about taking a trip, it always goes along the same script:"How about here?" "Too expensive.""How about here?" "No good with kids.""How about here?" "Are you kidding??""Fine, let's just go camping."And don't get me wrong, I like camping, but...
Tea towels aren’t just for tea lovers
I always thought of tea towels to be completely prim and proper, but that's absolutely not the case with the gorgeous block printed tea towels at Fisk and Fern. The bright inviting designs are printed on absorbent 100% cotton which evidently is supposed to work...
Ecards of the rich and famous
Ecard sites are no longer what they used to be, even a few years ago. I can't even imagine why anyone besides your grandma would still send those digital cards made of stock photography rosebuds and garish wedding type. Well now here's another one to add to your...
Retirement gift for teacher? Reader Q&A
I need to find a retirement gift for my daughter's first grade teacher. I saw your teacher gift suggestions post and thought they were great, and wondered if you had any ideas for a retirement gift. -Amy For a retiring teacher who you love, I think a more...
Practical parenting. Period.
Do you suppose our parents agonized so much over what kind of parents they were as we do, today? Probably not. And yet, I hate to cast aspersions on folks genuinely seeking guidance on the right way to raise little people into fabulous adults. It's what we all want,...
Save Handmade – CPSIA Update
We've been following the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and its negative effect on the handmade products and small businesses we love, ever since the very beginning. And so, we wanted to pass along some updates, so that you can help us save handmade...
Summer means lollipops and monsters
As the air grows warmer, a slow smile spreads over my face. I'm not thinking about beach vacations or barbecues though. No, the thought balloon over my head says, Soon my kids will wear sandals, and I won't have to hunt and wash and match all these godforsakenly...
Fishy fishy on the wall
So, aside from the cluster of dirt smears from his heels, my kid's bedroom wall is a little lackluster. And why, by the way, does he feel the need to kick his dirty little feet against the wall every night while he sleeps, anyway? I'm loving the look of the neat...