Wordless Wednesday: Winter in Coney Island

Out of Print Clothing

I had been meaning to post about Out of Print Clothing's literary classics-inspired tees, and conveniently I just found a sale of the brand at The Mini Social. So you can dress your kid in threads featuring the cover art of your favorite childhood tomes, from Harold and The Purple Crayon to Charlotte's Web. These soft tees are available in kids sizes 2T-6yrs and cost $14 (regularly $220. Grown-up tees are available, too (Wuthering Heights, anyone?) Best of all, for each tee sold they donate one book to a communkty in need throug its partner Books for Africa. The sale runs through this Friday, February 3rd at The Mini Social.

Love U Handwarmers

There are a bunch of things I love about these Love U Handwarmers from Spoon Sisters. First, obviously, is the sweet message (a perfect Valentine's Day gift). Second, the fingerless style lets you text away without freezing your hands. Third, the handwarmers are eco-friendly; they're made in the USA from 75% pre-consumer recycled cotton and 25% acrylic. And the price isn't bad either--buy them for $19 at Spoon Sisters.

Sort-A-Shape House

I have plenty more finds to share with you from the New York International Gift Fair, including this new Sort-A-Shape House by NYC toy designer Kid-O. This toy was one of the Best New Product nominees. A perfect toddler birthday gift, the simple play home serves as both a shape and color sorter, plus it has a mirrored door where babies will love seeing their reflections. It will be available for sale this March at Kid-O.

Grandma Ruth

Today is a bittersweet day for me--10 years since my Grandma Ruth passed away. She was my last surviving grandparent and she died about 8 months before my wedding, and 18 months before R. was born (R. is named for her). She and my grandfather (Sam, whom S. is named for) were German Jewish immigrants who escaped Nazi Germany at the very last minute in the late 1930s. They struggled to start from scratch when they arrived in New York. Over the years, nothing gave them greater joy later than being grandparents. My sister and I spent lots of time with them especially in our early years (we lived just steps away from each other in Brooklyn) and as a result we developed very close, lasting relationships with them--just as my children do with my own parents now. I miss my grandma every day and love to see how my own R.--smart, stubborn, opinionated and unintentionally witty--shares so many qualities with her Great Grandma Ruth. I wish they had had a chance to meet each other.

This is a 1973 photo of my sister (age 3 1/2) and I (age four months) with our grandparents Ruth and Sam. It is one of my favorite photos of the four of us together.

From the Archives: Arriving Next Year

From the Editor: I originally wrote about this gift in 2010. It's still one of my favorite baby shower and new baby gifts--and you can now, of course, order a 2012 version at the site, too. Browse through hundreds of other baby gift ideas and funny onesies that I've posted here before.


Going to a baby shower this fall or winter? Score major points for most original gift with these Copyright Name 2011 or Copyright Name 2010 tees or onesies by mitetees. Each is one-of-a-kind, highlighting the tike-to-be's birth year and last name (if you know the gender, you can choose blue or pink text; if it's a surprise, opt for orange or green). They're on sale through September 5th; onesies and tees are both selling or $19.50 (regularly $26). The tees even go up to size 6 and you can enter an earlier birth year at check-out, so you can order one for a big sib as well. Visit mitetees.

p.s. Check out mitetees' patent tees, too. S. has one and we got lots of compliments.

Knot Genie

Zulily is running a sale again of Knot Genie, an item I purchased from them several months back. As you know, my 8-year-old daughter has wild curly hair, and getting the knots out has been nearly impossible (she isn't particularly cooperative when it comes to grooming, either). We tried the Tangle Tamer for a while but she eventually refused it. We have been having better luck with the Knot Genie which has lots of small close bristles that "magically" undo knots. I'm not totally sure how it works, but I'm thrilled that it does, with a minimum of squirming for R. I definitely recommend it--and at Zulily right now you can buy one for $7.99 (regularly price $20) in your choice of colors.

By the way, I have no idea what happened to my blog header today. Searching for it. If you've seen it, let me know!

New York International Gift Fair: 10 Favorite Baby & Child Products

On Saturday I went to the Javits Center to judge the Baby & Child Division of the New York International Gift Fair, one of the year's most popular trade shows. This is the 3rd time I've been chosen to judge and it is such a fun job. Along with the other judges, I select the best new Baby & Child products from among dozens of nominees. The winners aren't announced till later this week, but here are 10 finalists that caught my fancy:

"Angry Birds" Marquisette Swaddling Blanket - Multi Bird pattern ($20 by Swaddle Designs). With a nod to a pop culture trend, this blanket is kitschy in a classy way.



Infant/toddler boy Fall 2012 outfit with bowtie by Zutano (available Fall 2012). I love the orange-and-brown color combo and the bowtie makes it perfect.


"Election Edition" Topozoo by Geared for Imagination (not yet available online). Eco-friendly wooden constructible toys for either side of the political debate.


Hands-free stroller umbrella by My Blue Bumbershoot. I saw this product launch at last year's NYIGF and am happy to see them nominated for Best New Product this year. Created by two NYC moms, natch.



"Curious About Cloth" diaper kit ($59.99, available February 2012) by Gro-Via. My 2003 and 2006 babes wore only disposables, but if a kit like this had been available, I might have reconsidered.



Eco-friendly toddler nap mats (available Fall 2012) by Woolly Boo. These gorgeous all-purpose toddler mats are naturally hypoallergenic, breathable, mold & mildew resistant. Plus they're surprisingly soft and made from gorgeous fabrics.


Toy Xylophone (not yet available online) by P'kolino. I'm a big fan of P'kolino toys and this is an excellent addition to their infant line.



Mustache Onesie (not yet available online) by Wry Baby. I think that Wry Baby makes some of the funniest onesies ever--this one is perfect for urban hipster parents.



Eco-friendly Stoh lunch totes ($27 each, available in February 2012) designed by Matthew Langille for Milk Dot. A great NY story--designer Matthew Langille (who has designed for Swatch and Marc Jacobs, among other) used to live in my apartment building. I think he is a new dad, too.



Wooden car carrier (not yet available online) by French brand Janod. Discovering this French wooden toy company was one of the highlights of NYIGF for me this year. I'll be posting more of their products soon--and hopefully they will be distributing to US retailers shortly.


There were lots more fabulous Baby & Child products that I will be sharing with you this week. . . stay tuned.

Fifty Shades of Grey

I'm guessing many of you have heard of E.L. James's book Fifty Shades of Grey. I must be living under a rock because I had never heard of it until a friend of mine (a suburban mom of two) left me a breathless voicemail telling me to BUY THIS BOOK NOW. She said it is the talk of her town and every mom is reading it. And that it is, uh, "not PG rated." Here is the description from Amazon.com:

"When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind - until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time. Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever."

I'll admit it--my interest is piqued--particularly since in the last two days I have had two additional friends tell me "you must read this book." It's pricey for a paperback ($29.99), but if everyone says it's this good, maybe it's worth it?

I'm curious to hear from those of you who have read Fifty Shades of Grey. Did you like it? Feel free to comment anonymously if you prefer. ;-)

C. Wonder 25% Off Sale

Remember I told you about this fantastic new Soho store called C. Wonder? They are having their first online sale and you can get 25% off already-marked down sale items with the coupon code below. I had been waiting for a sale there so I treated myself to these goodies:

Small Lacquered Box in Robin's Egg Blue (on sale for $4.99; originally $18, final price just $3.74 with coupon code)

Velvet-Lined Bow Box (on sale for $19.99; originally $44, final price just $14.99 with coupon code)


Tapered Candles, set of 7 (on sale for $3.99; originally $8, final price just $2.99 with coupon code)


Enjoy an additional 25% off already marked-down sale items at C. Wonder with code "25OFF" for a limited time only.

New York International Gift Fair 2012

I'm so excited to be judging this year's New York International Gift Fair. Specifically, I'll help select the Best New Product winners in the Baby & Child Division. I'm headed there this afternoon. . . and I'll be tweeting some photos and previews just for you. Please follow me there!

NYIGF Baby & Child launch (2010), courtesy of You Tube.

Bloomingdale's One Day Home Sale

I spotted several newspaper ads for today's Bloomingdale's 1-Day Home Sale and this Villeroy & Boch "Twist Alea" 50 Piece Set (Service for 8) keeps jumping out at me. Isn't it pretty? Made of porcelain in Germany, this set consists of 8 dinner plates, salad plates, bread and butter plates, mugs, rice bowls and rimmed soup bowls, plus one buffet plate and one vegetable bowl. If purchased separately, it would cost over $900; it is on sale today only for just $299.99 at Bloomingdale's.

If I Could Wear These...

I am hopeless when it comes to high heels, but, still, I love how they look--especially when they are curvy and glittery like these glamorous Clean Sparkle Pumps by LOFT. The heels are a full 4" and the glittery surface is edged with grosgrain piping. They're only left in size 6, 7, and 7 1/2, so if you've got petite feet, you're in luck. Plus you can get 30% off the original price of $79.95 with the coupon code below.

Take 30% off all full-priced styles at LOFT with code SAVENOW, for a limited time only.

Valentine with a Side of Hamm

Oh, do I heart this idea! This Valentine's Day, send your Mad Men loving-friends (or, most any red-blooded female) a Hamm-o-gram, a custom-crafted, personalized snail-mail love letter featuring a photo of the delicious Jon Hamm (aka Don Draper). There will be a juicy message inside (a sample is shown at right)--you can't choose the message yourself, but they're all winners and will make the lucky recipient feel like a million bucks (or at least better than Betty Draper). All this for just $5, and, even better, 25% off each order is donated to Caring Hand, an organization that helps bereaved children and families. Buy them at Hamm-o-gram.

Here We Go Again

I love Green Toys dearly as a company (anyone who can make awesome kids' toys out of recycled milk jugs is a winner in my book), but, really, are all of these pink toys a good idea? Yes, I'm bringing this up again. I just don't think it is necessary--or wise, for that matter--to entice girls to playing with trucks, tools and the like by making them pink. What do you think?

Pink Dump Truck ("Stay pretty in pink while getting down and dirty!") and Pink Tool Set at Green Toys.

Where Are My Keys?

I've seen (and been sent PR pitches) for many cheesy Valentine's Day gifts for men, but I prefer more classic, elegant picks. One of my favorites is this Personalized Suede and Leather Valet Tray from our affiliate Personalization Mall. Pottery Barn used to sell something similar, but it's out of stock and this is an equally handsome option (plus I have coupon codes for you at the end of the post). It's 5" x 5" x 1 1/2"-- a perfect tabletop catchall for everything from coins to keys to phone. Personalization is included in the cost (you choose single, 2 or 3 initial monograms in silver or gold foil). Also, it packs flat so he can take it with him when he travels. Available for $34.95 in your choice of black or tan at Personalization Mall.

I have 2 coupon codes for you to use right now at Personalization Mall. The first is "PMALL5OFF" and gets you $5 off orders of $15 or more, now through 1/31/12. The other is "SHOPEARLY" and gives you a 15% discount on any order, now through February 8th.

Fairy Heart Chime

Looking for a simple, affordable Valentine's gift for your daughter? Check out these sweet Fairy Heart chimes I noticed in the Magic Cabin catalog. Shiny and substantial, each 3" heart makes a gentle chiming noise and arrives gift-ready in an organza bag. They cost $9.98 each, but the price drops to $8.98 if you buy more than one. Browse other gifts in the site's Valentine's shop, too.

Wordless Wednesday: You Must Try This

(Courtesy of Gizmodo: Stare at the colored dots on this woman's nose for about 30 seconds. Then look at a blank white screen or blank white piece of paper. You will be amazed what you see. Really, try it).

Bargain Alert: Your Alma Mater

Hurry over to an awesome sale of vintage-style, collegiate-themed Tailgate Clothing at The Mini Social today. I just snagged this Harvard Girls Letter Seal L/S Tee (on sale for $13, originally $35) for R. (I graduated from Harvard, Class of 1994). There are tons of other schools represented including NYU, Duke, UConn, Berkeley, UCLA, Syracuse, Maryland. The clothing is very good quality and holds up well--we've bought several Tailgate tees before. The sale runs through Monday, January 30th at The Mini Social.

Etsy Valentine's Tees

My kids are getting a bit old for it now (ages 5 and 8), but I used to love dressing them in special clothing for Valentine's clothing. While you can always buy Valentine's clothing at chain stores like Old Navy or Gymboree, you'll find threads that are far more unique at Etsy. These are some of my picks:

Organic Tee- "Heart Breaker" ($24 at Wren Willow)


I Heart Mom (or Dad) Toddler Tee ($30 at Melon Dot)


Personalized Valentine's Day Robot T-shirt ($16.99 at Priceless Kids)

Boys' Heart Breaker Tee ($22.99 at Bowhead Boutique)

3 Cheers for Lil Swanky

I've told you before how much I love shopping at Lil Swanky, an online boutique of trendy kids' clothing including brands like Splendid Littles, Ella Moss & Appaman. I just placed another order from them and wanted to show you how beautifully presented my packages arrived--gift wrapped at no extra cost. Everything also arrives super fast even though I choose regular shipping. I'm rarely this impressed so I wanted to spread the word. Of course, the clothing is superb and they often offer coupon codes. Subscribe to their e-mails so you can get discounts on new arrivals like these:

Splendid Littles Tunic & Leggings Set ($48, sizes 6-12mos to 4/5)

Andy & Evan Plaid Shirtzie ($46, sizes 3-6mos to 18-24mos)

Retro Booster Seat

I've seen some cute booster seats over the years, but I think this blue gingham oilcloth booster seat from Warm Biscuit takes the cake. The retro-style seat is handmade in Oklahoma, wipes clean easily, and works nicely with most types of decor. A pink polka dot version is available too. Buy them for $84 at Warm Biscuit Bedding Company.

Sparkly Heart Earrings

If you're looking for Valentine's jewelry that doesn't break the bank, consider these Pave Stud "Love Edge" Earrings by Marc Jacobs. They're costume, obviously, but sparkly and cute enough for everyday wear. They cost $42 at Nordstrom.

Sweet Valentines for Grown-Ups

Last week I shared my favorites from this year's crop of personalized kids' Valentines. Here are some of my favorite valentines for a slightly older crowd:

Be Mine and Love Locket cards ($4.50 each at Wildhorse Letterpress)



Valentine Movie Quotes ($18 for set at La Belle Vie Design)



You Make My Heart Race ($6 at Egg Press)



You Complete Me ($4 at Smock Paper)


PB& J Valentine ($21 for set of 12 at Le Papier Studio)