More coolness from recent weeks…
These Toys Have Feelings
Q: When is having Mixed Emotions a Good Thing? A: When they are the super-cute kind that comes inside a Kimochi. What is a Kimochi you ask? Kimochis are soft, cuddly, stuffed toys that come in a variety of shapes, with a surprise inside--a set of...
It’s A Girl, and No She Will Not Be Wearing Any Sheep
I'm not a girlie-girl. In fact, I tend to be a minimalist when it comes to dress and decor. When my daughter showed up, we ended up custom-designing our announcements because we couldn't find anything that wasn't covered in bows, sheep, kittens or...
Baby Shower Favors, Hold the Cliches
In theory, party favors are a wonderful idea. Sending your guests home with a lovely memento of a special occasion - who could object to such thoughtfulness? Problem is, most favors are destined for the dustbin. Have you ever received a pewter carousel...
The Tutu That’s Not Too-Too
I have resisted featuring tutus here for like a million years - or at least two - because frankly, 99.9% of them are too frilly, foofy, poofy and mega-princessy for even our little princesses. Rule of thumb: A tutu shouldn't look as if it has eaten your child whole....
Pop Fly: It’s a Hit
"HEY! Don't turn that down!", I snap at my husband who has interrupted my backup singing so he can figure out some complicated directions on our way to Boston. He looks at me, warily, from the corner of his eye. Shoot. I have been caught singing along to the...
Big Brands Doing Cool Things: Paint Your Own Polos from Ralph Lauren
The last thing you might think to do on a rainy day is set your kid lose with permanent paints on a $45 Ralph Lauren Polo. But then Ralph Lauren begs to differ. Behold: The Paint Your Own Polo kits for kids.Packaged with paints, stamps, and brushes in a cool...
Environmentalists, turn on your solar-powered laptops
I do like a lot of the educational cartoons on TV today, but c'mon! Where's the Schoolhouse Rock of the 21st century? Where are the shows that try to break down the electoral process, explain the constitution or tackle global warming?Aha. Enter Heartwood USA, a new...
Baby Tees that Say Me Me MEEEEEEE
It's been said that babies are all id. So why not develop onesies and shirts for babies called Me Tees that walk right into that fact? That's just what mom Melissa Stanchock of modern*me baby did and I can tell you, Freud would just be tickled. Each hand-pressed...
bObles: Furniture For Your Kids’ Minds
One of the cooler finds of ours from the recent International Contemporary Furniture Fair were the very amazing bObles tumbling animals out Denmark. Of course! Because what is Denmark if not homebase for playful, modern design that I absolutely have to have...
Victorian Goth Hipster Baby Redux
Oh Lou and Lee, where were you when my daughters were still young enough for your beautiful handmade onesies? I suppose I'll have to forgive LA designer Ann Dewitt, who's captured my heart with unusual details like vintage lace and tromp l'oeuil felt cameos or vests,...
Connect the Dots
While my four-year-old daughter can definitely write her name, she still has trouble nailing that tricky letter N. But now, thanks to her Little Stamp, she doesn't have to tell me that the N in her name is a super special fancy letter that's not in the...
DJ in Da Playhouse
Generally speaking, I pry out the batteries from those loud plastic toys at first opportunity. But upon seeing the New School DJ Mixer at Ollie Bollen, the only thing I could think about digging out were my go-go boots; you know, if I could still fit my big...
With stroller pads, everything old is new again
There is something beautiful about a pristine, brand new stroller tucked away in the corner of the perfect nursery just waiting for the baby's arrival. And then there is something equally horrifying about how that same stroller looks a year later, coated with grease...
Art + Philanthrophy. A Combo We Can Get Behind.
We've all wished for more hours in the day, but I think mom and artist Rebecca Peragine of Art and Philanthropy must have actually found them. In fact I'm sure she's uncovered a way to recycle those hours just as she recycles everyday objects in her collage art. The...
Blocks To Knock Your Socks (Off)
Oh Petit Flaneur, where have you been all my gift-giving life? This brand new Toronto-based design shop is doing super fabulous things with a combo of natural or reclaimed materials from local sources and a sharp design sense. The handmade wooden blocks may be the...
The First Generation Seventh Generation Diaper Bag
Seventh Generation is pretty much owning the "look how eco I am" market of household products these days, so it makes sense that they'd branch out. In this case, with a swanky diaper bag. A swanky eco-diaper bag. And a nice one too or so it seems from the high-res...
Organic Fruit to Go With That Organic Cotton
Not every pregnant woman spends her pregnancy scarfing down Twix Bars and chocolate chip pancakes. Or so I hear. (Ahem.) Some actually go all greenmarket for nine months, craving organic bell peppers, counting carbs and actually taking her prenatal vitamins without...
Join the Circus Like You Wanted To
Graphic designer Jenn (just Jenn) does some pretty irreverent things with stationery at her shop Just Jenn Designs - I wouldn't necessarily get my kid a set of the punk-ass cursive cards, although I really do like them. Neither would she, evidently which is why she...
Photo Stamps Make Envelopes as Awesome as the Announcements Inside
Little known geeky fact about me: I've collected stamps since I was my daughter's age. Before you question my credibility where it comes to finding cool picks for fabulous moms, check out PhotoStamps at Stamps.com, where geeky philatelists and devoted moms find common...
Proud to be an American
Oh sure, today you could dig out the Old Navy flag tees that you get to wear once a year--or that your kids get to wear once, total. But we love the idea of showing your true red white and blue by grabbing the conceptual American Civil Liberties necklace from Stories...
The Politics of Motherhood, Beyond the “Mommywars”
Becoming a mother gave me a new awareness of all sorts of things in life from the rate at which a baby's nails grow to why feeding strained prunes while wearing linen is a bad idea. Soon my enlightenment extended to the political arena too, got me engaged in issues...