More coolness from recent weeks…
Looking for last minute Mother’s Day gifts? (And don’t do that “who me” thing. We know you are.)
The fact is, we're all busy and busy doesn't always bode well for the good gift intentions that we always have. But if you're shopping for last minute Mother's Day gifts for that favorite mother, grandmother, or best friend mother in your life, our go-to gift is...
Feeleez – Nothing more than feeleez
As a former therapist educator, I spent many a class period educating students about how there are no bad emotions. But as a parent of a preschooler, that concept, along with feelings in general, are a bit more difficult to explain -- as any parent who's ever uttered...
Putting the ice cubes back into eco bottles
I absolutely adore our reusable stainless steel water bottles -- I love knowing nothing weird is leeching into what we drink, and I love how they look -- but I really, really miss being able to put ice in my water bottle without a mallet. Not the worst of all problems...
Pillow sets that go together like, well, peanut butter & jelly
Sometimes when you walk into a friend's house it looks like a furniture catalogue came to life. Not that there's anything wrong with the couch to match the pillows to match the curtains, it's just that I like design that says something about the owner's...
Recession chic tip: Shop Australian
One of our secret tips that we now share with tens of thousands of you all is that if you're looking for great discounts, check out the Australian labels that we feature here time to time. Because their seasons are backwards (although they could say the same thing...
Personalized labels that leave no questions as to whose sippy cup that is
Since my daughter started preschool this year, I have learned that I should always have a permanent marker handy for labeling everything she brings with her, a process that leaves something to be desired, especially when you factor in that my handwriting skills peaked...
Organic baby essentials make great gifts, naturally.
When my son was born there weren't really tons of organic or eco-friendly baby products like there are today. Honestly I thought I was being environmentally responsible by making sure there was no lead paint on his crib. Who knew a scant 9 years later eco-friendly...
You’re no bunny til some bunny loves you
I've noticed this odd thing about lovies and security blankets -- the kids never like the ones I like. If it's soft, even if it's ugly, they dig it. Go figure.But in the case of the fleece Mini Miette baby lovie from the luxury eco-consicious label Petite Miette, both...
Smaller is big on inspiration
I love flipping through lifestyle magazines. The combination of the beautifully styled photographs, creative recipes and fresh ideas really inspire me. I guess that's why I love Small Magazine and their new online blog, Smaller.The free downloadable e-magazine was...
Everyone will cheer for Hip Hip Purees (even if they groan from the pun)
I am a stubborn mom, so I am going to continue to put vegetables on my kids' plate at every meal, but I am practical enough to realize that they aren't always been ingested. My son has been known to slide his plate down the table at maximum velocity while shouting, "I...
Oh, this old thing? It’s just my impossibly fashionable Sudoku book.
Whether you need a last-minute Mother's Day gift or just want to appear more stylish than everyone else while waiting for the pediatrician, I love the Posh Puzzle books by The Puzzle Society. These are the people who bring you nationally syndicated crosswords and...
Kids’ music I couldn’t wait one more minute to tell you about
This weekend I had the pleasure of attending Stinkfest (hereon forward known as Kindiefest), a conference for the very cool if fairly small indie rock music for kids world. There was a running joke throughout the day about how many pitches we bloggers and writers all...
Fanny pack 2.0
When I first saw the hands-free bags from Jupiter Freedom, I figured they were mostly for athletic types and young hipsters, and not for a busy mom of three who's sort of married to her diaper bag. But then I gave it a whirl one afternoon when I was out at the park...
Not that you’re supposed to care whether your favorite jewelry is worn by a celebrity but…
I admit it's fun peeking at the press page of jewelry websites and seeing which A-listers share your taste in dangly earrings or triple-strand necklaces. And in the case of the Marie Chavez collection it seems to be a lot of them. But of course, that's not why I love...
Moms of boys, this one’s for you
Before I had a boy in the house I used to hear all about how hard it is to find cool clothes for boys -- unless you are into tees that say "tough guy." Now that I'm experiencing this firsthand, I was delighted to find Winter Water Factory doesn't just make girls...
Bendaroos – I’m sold. For real.
Because I'm skeptical of anything that yells AS SEEN ON TV! at me, I admit my initial thought was oh no...what kind of toxic garbage are those pipe cleaner looking Bendaroos (warning - loud sound when you click over) made out of? The answer? Strings covered in wax. Oh...
There’s no place like gnome
Confession time. When I was a kid I was totally into gnomes, fairies and pixies. And, while my love for airborne nymphs has diminished, I still have a soft spot for the old, bearded, chubby forest dwellers.I think that's why I got all nostalgic when I saw these...
Read this, then go hug a teacher
My kids have had great teachers, and my kids have had terrible teachers. Reading 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny, I found myself loving the great ones even more, and even feeling a bit more tolerant towards the terrible ones.And then, of course, there was also...
Robbert Bobbert and The Bubble Machine is as fun as the name implies
Robbert Bobbert, aka Robert Schneider of the very cool indie rock group The Apples In Stereo, showcases his unique voice with Beach Boy-esque backing harmonies and experimental sound combos in his new self-titled CD for kids, Robbert Bobbert and The Bubble Machine....
Socks with soul
I used to play this game with my son when he was a baby, it was called I put on the sock, you wiggle out of it and lose it. Oh the fun we had. If only Bical Grippers existed back then. Half sock, half shoe, all cool.The lightweight neoprene sock fits snugly and...
Sugarcoat Decals: Like a temporary tattoo for your car
My car is completely and utterly utilitarian; it gets me and my three children from Point A to Point B. But while an upgrade to something more fun isn't in my budget these days, Sugarcoat Decals are. These vinyl car decals helped me give my car a super-cute facelift...