More coolness from recent weeks…
Earth Day Pick: Great outdoor toys for the great outdoors
The first thing I noticed about Colorado's Sprig Toys is that they smell like fresh-cut wood, even while they look like strong molded plastic. Turns out I was right on both counts--their special "Sprigwood" is an eco-friendly, kid-safe material made from both recycled...
I can’t believe it’s not butter or eggs or nuts or high fructose corn syrup
I knew that I had found a winner with Home Free's line of allergy-free treats when I stole the last cookie before the kids came back into the room for more. At that moment, I would never have guessed that there was anything "missing" from these whole-grain cookies,...
Baby got back carrier
Caring for three kids under four on my own for more days than I care to think about makes outings extremely difficult. And while I definitely make use of my double stroller, whipping that out while putting my youngest in a baby carrier is a dance I don't often like to...
Off to the Hamptons, if only in my dreams
In our house, it's not Easter that requires a fancy new spring dress, it's Mother's Day. I can't think of a better excuse to get the girls dressed up in their finest than an excursion to some overpriced prix fixe Mother's Day brunch (free carnation included!). One of...
Inhabitat opens their new online shop and you must go there immediately. (For more reasons than one.)
I think the final nail in the outmoded "eco=crunchy" coffin has been set firmly in place by our friends at the wonderful blog Inhabitat, who have just announced the opening of their brand new Inhabitat Shop. I want absolutely everything in there. And by everything I...
This will be the year you don’t procrastinate and get your Mother’s Day cards done early. Right? Right?
I would say that now is a good time to start tracking down Mother's Day cards so you're not freaking out on May 9, and emailing us all Wah! You have to save me! Who makes e-cards that don't suck?Not that we wouldn't totally help you out. But still -- a little...
Hip bibs – Yes, you read that correctly
Since discovering so many fabulous baby bibs here, I've crossed over to the dark side and now I love dressing my daughter in them. Good thing too, since she's teething and starting solids, making them more of a requirement, and less of an optional accessory.On the top...
A sling that helps support other babies too
Leave it to textile mavens and cmp fave Serena & Lily to come up with a sling that's both simple and chic. And we all know how important both of those factors are in a sling.The organic cotton market baby slings are constructed from a single piece of fabric,...
Who’s Your Mama?
I thought I knew what to expect when I saw the cover art on Mama Mac's self-titled kids' CD: I was sure there would be an acoustic version of Kumbaya and maybe a few 70's folk songs. Boy, was I wrong. A veteran of the LA indie music scene, Amy Elkins, aka Mama Mac,...
Children’s blocks for all
I notice when I hit the mass kids' toy stores that the blocks are always in the boys section. It's bizarre to me because both my daughters love blocks like a frat boy loves Spring Break. And I can assure you they'd go flat out bonkers for the vibrant, children's...
Not your mama’s charm necklace
Until this personalized necklace from the husband and wife team behind Searcey Designs, my only foray into the world of personalized jewelry was an ID bracelet purchased in my middle school years when they were all the rage. And that was just a cookie-cutter affair...
An alphabet with attitude, dude
Frankly, I'm not certain I'm actually cool enough for this Alphabet Learning Poster, but let's just say I desperately want to be. What's not to like about an alphabet where L is for Love, X is for Malcolm, and Z is for Zeitgeist? Oh, and don't forget my personal...
Woodstock is back, and he’s shilling for Earth
Growing up in the Snoopy generation, I certainly had no idea that the Red Baron was some war reference, and no understanding of the whole Marcie-Peppermint Patty lesbian theory. But I did spent countless sleepover parties with my girlfriends, cooing over Woodstock and...
Baby journals: Not just new-baby homework, I promise.
When each of my kids was born we had a mad scramble to figure out how to record the details of daily existence -- eating, sleeping, and pooping, with an occasional weight check for good measure. Although it's not a lot of information to keep track of, it sure does get...
What children can wear on a date with Spring
After my daughter was born, I had to institute a no-smocked-dresses rule in my house after countless handmade gifts from well-meaning relatives somehow relied on this form of embellishment. Thank goodness shops like Livvysue Boutique exist and can provide adorable...
Designer maternity clothes, hold the sticker shock
If you plan on leaving the house for any point of your 40 week pregnancy, you can't just get away with nine months of stretch-waist yoga pants and Target maternity tees. Not that I didn't try, mind you. I needed some clothes I could actually be seen wearing in board...
Green Toys – A new line of eco fabulousness in the form of toy trucks
If you had told me a few years back that I'd be counting the days until a toy company released their new trucks, I would have said you were nuts. But if you've seen Green Toys then it's not so hard to believe that I've had the date marked on my calendar. And if you...
Shirin Genius
Artist and designer Shirin Roubeni has been called a tee-shirt couturier, which I suppose is her fans' way of saying that no, all tee shirts are not in fact created equal. I recently got a look at some of the tees from ShirinKIDS, her pint-sized offshoot of Shirin NYC...
Gift baskets for Mother’s Day filled with hope
This Mother's Day, you can honor thy mother (or a mother you love) by helping mothers in crisis. And I don't mean "oh no, the babysitter canceled at the last minute." More like women affected by humanitarian emergencies around the world.The wonderful International...
Still Tasty – Answering the age old question, Does this mayo smell okay to you?
I'm going to go out on a limb, here, and say that nothing strikes fear into my husband's heart quite the same was as those three little words: Honey, smell this. Try as I might to keep track of what's in our fridge and use it up in a timely manner, sometimes things...
Presenting our Mother’s Day Gift Guide -New! Improved! Recession friendly!
Okay, you can stop emailing us already! Our annual Mother's Day Gift Guide is finally here and we're extra excited about it this year. We've put together a discerning list of fantastic gifts for Mom, Grandma, your BFF and more in every price range. We've even got an...