Swedish Fish

Adorable! These Ark Hooks by Swedish company Maze International instantly brighten any indoor or outdoor space your children use (I love how they are shown here against wood siding). Available in four designs, each one costs about $26 at Scandinavian Design Center.

Pluto Tees winners

Congratulations to the 3 winners:

Helen, who wrote, "I love the Obama Rocks T-shirt!"
Talya, who wrote, "I'm gaga for that goo goo onesie."
Debevans, who wrote, "I love the owl tee!"

Winners, please e-mail me your name, mailing address, and choice of 1 tee or onesie (including size) from Pluto. Enjoy your prizes!

Shirtdress on Sale

I adore shirtdresses, and this one by Ses Petites Mains is a serious steal at $28.99 (reduced from $72). The only catch is the retailer, Moxie Kids, doesn't indicate what size(s) are left- you'll have to call. But it's worth it. The dress works alone or with leggings or even jeans. I love the detail work like the mother-of-pearl buckle. Check out this and other trendy sale items at Moxie Kids.

Leaving The City

A fact of life when you raise your kids in NYC is that any day, one of your playgroup moms may break the news, "Guess what...we're leaving 'The City'". It's sad whenever this happens; more so when the mom who's leaving has been one of your close friends for years. This August, I have to say "bye for now" to four such friends who are moving with their families to greener pastures, warmer climes, bigger homes, better public schools, and more exciting opportunities for themselves, their husbands, and their children. These women (and their families) have been a big part of my life since I became a mom 5 years ago. Their friendship and support have meant so much to me and my kids, especially in the past year. We will miss them a lot.

Stacey, Jodi, Robin, and Danielle (and families)....we wish you all the best in California, Toronto, and the NYC burbs. Come back and visit soon!

Moving announcements by Robyn Miller Designs.

Bespoken Lovelies

Feterie, a fantastic stationery shop I discovered at the National Stationery Show this past May, has just opened its online shop for business. Feterie features "modern stationery and bespoken lovelies" including notecards, greeting cards, and my favorite- luscious giftwrap. I'm eyeing Feterie's new Eco-luxe Wrap Sampler Set ($37.50). The set features ten different hand-silkscreened 19" x 25" sheets which are printed with soy/veg-based ink on eco-friendly paper. The gift wrap arrives rolled and wrapped in a satin ribbon, packaged in a durable mailing tube. Oh, how I would love to get my hands on this! Visit Feterie.

To celebrate its grand opening, Feterie will mail a free Wordplay greeting card (love the product photography for those!) with all orders over $50. .

MyMomShops Giveaway: Little Star Video

Like most moms, I don't have enough time to do creative things with all of the photos and videos of my kids (I am over a year behind on albums right now). So I was excited to have a chance for Florida-based Little Star Video to make a "movie"- set to the music of my choice- of my little munchkins. I got a basic movie package, but Little Star offers other options including a "Capture the Years" package with yearly movies of your little one, and even a DVD mini movie announcement (cute idea!). Prices start around $150. It's not cheap, but isn't it priceless to have someone else do this for you?

The process to make my video was easy as pie. I just submitted a bunch of my favorite photos and movie clips of the kids, and gave Little Star Video my song selections (including Michael Buble's Everything). My DVD arrived a few weeks later and it is superb. I really enjoy watching it and my "little stars" love seeing themselves on TV, too. Of course, when your own "little stars" are in a movie, you can't go wrong, can you?

Check out this sample movie from Little Star Video:



Fun, isn't it? Enter today's giveaway to win a Little Star Video movie for yourself! It's a $175 value and includes 50 pictures of your kids, your choice of music, photo editing, custom transitions, DVD menu, custom label, case and shipping. Trust me, you will love it.

Enter code "my mom shops" for a $40 discount at Little Star Video, valid through August 31, 2008.

Made from a Mix

There was a fun article in today's New York Times about the demise of cassette tapes (read Say So Long to an Old Companion). It reminded me that I wanted to post about this Mixed Tape Volume 1 stationery set I stumbled on at Etsy.com. These cards remind me of the long-ago days when I made mix tapes of Hall & Oates and Wham (yes, I am that old) by holding a tape recorder next to my radio! The set includes sentiments like "I was thinking about you today..." and "Let's get together sometime," all printed in funky, retro colors. Envelopes are included. Get in touch with some long lost pals from the 1980s; buy the set of 6 cards for just $9 at the Etsy.com storefront of InvitaPaperStudio. And dust off those old mix tapes. You just might re-discover your Duran Duran obsession.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Pluto Tees

I've learned a lot about witty kids' T-shirts while writing this blog; there are many, many out there but only a portion are worth writing about. And some are truly my favorites, like the stylish and clever tees by Pluto. I've mentioned Pluto tees before, including their sibling shirts and "Piles of Smiles" tee that Baby S. sported all last summer. Pluto tees are playful, comfy, and have a great eye for fun illustration and unique typography.

You probably recognize Pluto tees from some top catalogs and e-boutiques including Izzy and Ash, Forest & Zoe, and Chittypulga. And, their I Stroll Brooklyn (or NY) tee is featured in the new August issue of Time Out NY Kids. But...pssst, you can catch this hot designer (and buy it a bit cheaper) at Pluto's very own Etsy shop too. Here are some of my top picks:

I Heart Pink (18-24mo lap tee, or 2T-6T tee, $20). So cute for a pink-loving girl.


Goo Goo T-shirt or onesie (onesies up to 12mos, lap tees up to 24mos, $20). Baby S. had this one, too (of course, any child of mine would).


Hoo Loves You Baby (lap tee, up to 24 mos, $20). Owls are still very "in" this Fall...


Made Ya Look (lap tee 18-24mos, or 2T-6T tee, $20). Love this one.


All items are printed on soft American Apparel cotton and wash very well. Check out all the designs at Pluto.

Enter code "PLUTO460" in the "Notes to Seller" section at checkout and receive 15% off your order!

It's Their Parties

I'm having small, family birthday celebrations for the kids this year, but nonetheless, I wanted to pick themes. Baby S., like most 2-year-olds, loves Sesame Street. These are his party goods:

Sesame Street Sunny Days (deluxe party package costs $29.99):


Choosing for 5-year-old R. was a bit trickier. She loves knights (she is adamant about her distate for princesses, and convincingly explains, "I like knights because they help people.") I searched for knight party goods that might work for a five-year-old girl and found these Knights Adventure Party Supplies at Celebration Express, too (deluxe party package costs $33.99):


For an extra sweet birthday touch, I ordered these personalized Hershey bars (I did this when both kids were born and have given them out every year since on their birthdays). I bought them from The Candy Wrapper Store and the customer service has been great (and they were easily able to change the design from 3 kids to 2). They cost about $1.90 apiece, pre-assembled and including the chocolate bars.


More birthday goodies- including gifts- coming up!

Monkey See, Monkey Shop

I haven't found much stuff for R. in the past year at The Children's Place since their "big girl" styles (she wears a 5/6 now) tend to be a little too sophisticated for her. But I totally fell for this combed cotton jersey printed monkey hoodie I spotted in the store this week. It is comfy and just her style; I bought her matching socks, and baseball cap, too. $19.50 (available in both little and big girl sizes!) at The Children's Place.

A shopping tip: ask at The Children's Place for their current 15% off coupon- they offered me one and it saved a few bucks.

Oooh La La: Part Deux

While in Paris, my sister was kind enough to take time to go shopping for toys and clothing for my kids. Of course, French fashion doesn't come cheap, but her timing luckily coincided with Paris's big summer sales (like me, she is a frugal shopper). She got these luxury threads for just a fraction of their usual price:

For R., a gorgeous silk shirt by Cacharel- yes, the Cacharel!


For Baby S., this poplin camp shirt by Zorra Belgium.


And, she also browsed the toy department at Le Bon Marche, one of the top Parisian department stores. Here are some pictures. Doesn't everything look more beautiful in French, even the writing on the packaging?



Thank you, E., for the gifts!

My Mama's for Obama

I'm considering getting my kids these My Mama's For Obama tees (the onesie is shown here, but tees are available up to size 6T and cost $17). They're from Baby Politico, a fun site that also, surprisingly, still sells Hillary onesies at full price. Maybe they'll sell them again in 2012 or 2016? Cast your child's vote at Baby Politico. (p.s. Sandbox Threads has a tee with the same slogan, minus the image).

Circle the Date

These Circle the Date onesies by Etsy.com seller Koosi would make such a sweet baby gift (or, dress a baby in one for his/her birth announcement!). Koosi will customize your color choice of polka dot onesie with a vintage towel month print, with your baby's date of birth circled. The size is newborn, so order quickly before baby outgrows it. The onesie arrives nicely gift-wrapped and costs $15.95 (pretty good deal) at Etsy.com.

Serena & Lily Market Sling Winner

Congratulations to "Abookworm", who wrote, "I love the Sausalito Basket, what a great concept and so useful for new parents. First a baby's bed and then a tote - awesome!" Please e-mail me to claim your prize. Everyone else, stay tuned for 2 more big giveaways next week!

Splash

The kids and I had a fantastic, jam-packed time at my parents' house in the burbs over the July 4th weekend. It was a weekend of firsts- R's first time on a ferris wheel, Baby S's first time sitting at the wheel of a firetruck, and R's first time seeing fireworks (she loved them so much, she cried when they were over). And, both kids had a blast in this Aqua Leisure 50-Inch Popup Pool which we set up on the lawn. It was like heaven to them (it is funny how city kids go gaga over small outdoor pleasures like this). Best twenty bucks I've spent all summer. Highly recommend it for the little ones, especially urban dwellers like mine who usually play in concrete playgrounds. It's even on sale now at Amazon.com for just $16.57.

Ain't Gonna Find This at Babies R Us

Thanks to the fun French parenting magazines my sister bought me in Paris, I am stumbling onto all of these tres fantastique websites like that of furniture designer Lili Gribouille. Look at these amazing children's dressers. Can you even stand the cuteness? The mama and baby elephant are my favorite. My French is sorely lacking otherwise I would give you more details about each of these pieces; all I can guarantee is that they are not cheap (with our abysmal U.S. dollar, I'd guess that 598 Euros for that elephant set is not pocket change). Nevertheless, what a joy these are to behold. C'est magnifique! Visit Lili Gribouille.

Monogram Mania

Last year I bought my kids these monogrammed rollneck sweaters from Monograms by So Pretty (I got the solid color ones and Baby S's appeared in our April '08 Time Out NY Kids article. The sweaters are thick, yummy 100% cotton and make just about the best sibling photo shoot ever (assuming your kids will sit together- I'm still working on that). Monograms by So Pretty is celebrating its 1st anniversary with giveaways at their blog, plus a 20% discount store-wide with code "ONEYEAR", now through August 4th. Since the rollneck sweaters start at $84 for the solid colors, this is a welcome price break. Shop around- and enter the giveaways- at Monograms by So Pretty.

Lovin' Spoonful

This Baby's First Spoon by Lisa Leonard Designs just might tie for first place in the "best personalized baby gifts under $25" category (the other winner being one of the very first items I ever posted about, the Craft-E-Family baby block). This is just such a sweet idea. It's a 5" long stainless steel personalized spoon which is both totally practical (handwashing is recommended, but that's no biggie) and also is an elegant keepsake for the new parents (I love the idea of including baby's birthdate). This is a definite "go-to" gift. $20 at Lisa Leonard Designs (click on "Something Extra" and then scroll down to see this product).

Lego Tic-Tac-Toe

This Lego Tic-Tac-Toe set from The Museum of Modern Art's gift shop is so clever. The playing pieces are five policeman and five robbers who attach to the Lego game board. It's recommended for ages 6 and up, but I think kids a bit younger would love it, too. Great birthday gift! $18 at MomaStore.org.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Serena & Lily Baby Market Sling

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Confession: I have never worn a baby sling. When R. was born in 2003, it was still considered sort of, well, weird to wear one here in NYC...and when S. was born in 2006 I just never got around to it (I used a Baby Bjorn for a while, and then, boom, he was a 20 lb. five-month-old and I was done "wearing" him). So I have not always kept up-to-date on baby slings, which have indeed become wayyy popular, and, I see now, a very good idea.

However, I know a thing of beauty when I see it. So when crib-bedding-and-more goddess Serena & Lily offered me one of their scrumptious new Baby Market Slings to give away, of course, I jumped at the chance.

Look how pretty it is! It's hand-embroidered and made of 100% organic cotton (natch) with a super-soft interior that is AOK to touch your newborn's skin. The design is simple and even flattering- one seamless piece of fabric that- as the Serena & Lily website puts it- hangs above your hip bone "like a beauty pageant sash." And, c'mon, what new mom doesn't want to feel like a pageant winner? There are no buckles, belts or straps. Easy on, easy off- gotta love that (someone should have filmed me spending 1 hour trying to get that Bjorn on me when my first baby was born five years ago).

The sling is machine washable and comes in three sizes (there are sizing instructions on the site) and three color combos (cloud/petal, flax/sky blue, grass/marigold). Even the color names are soothing. Think how blissed out Baby (and mom) will be when you're actually wearing it.

The sling costs $129 at Serena & Lily, but if you're lucky, you just might win one here. Read on.

You'll Love This Bathing Suit. No, Really.

You may not believe me, but I truly love my two-piece bathing suit from Lands End. Let's face it, after you've given birth twice, not just any plain old bathing suit will do. I got this Floral V-Neck Halter Swim Top ($52.50, shown here with side-tie swim bottoms for $30.50) plus coordinating Supplex Swim Mini (on sale for $29.50) and I felt like a million bucks when I wore it to the beach. Seriously. This will be the most flattering swimwear you can wear until you lose that last bit of baby weight (which you have so much time to do, right?). Visit the summer sale on swimwear and more at Lands End.

Recognize This Blog?

Oh let me count the ways I love the Internet. Check out this this cool site Wordle. I have no idea how it works but I'm guessing one of my tech wiz college classmates probably invented it and the word "algorithm" is involved. Wordle generates "word clouds" from text that you provide- the text can be individual words you enter, or it can "read" a whole URL like your blog (see MyMomShops turned into Wordle creations, above). You can play around with your "cloud" with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. Then you can save the oh-so-fun results to print or share with friends. This would be a pretty neat (and super inexpensive) way to create unique art for your kids' room, among many other creations. Visit Wordle. I apologize in advance for the time you'll spend with it!

The Galiwag

One of my favorite stationery/gift companies, Galison, has just launched its own blog ("Galiwag") and they're offering a superb giveaway of 3 sets of home office products. Everything is really gorgeous and will definitely brighten up your desk (and mood). Enter by July 31st to win by clicking here.

Gorgeous Crib Bedding, Cheap

My favorite "Schoolhouse" crib bedding collection by DwellStudio for Target is currently on sale. The 3-piece crib set costs just $43.99 (reduced from $54.99) and the adorable coordinating accessories- rugs, window panels, etc.- are on sale, too. Trust me, you'll rarely find this very trendy, modern nursery look at this kind of price. Check it out at Target.

Say What?

A clever idea for travelers to far-away locales, these pocket-sized Me No Speak Books are a twist on the traditional foreign-language translation guides. By providing clear pictures of everything a traveler might need from menu items to money denominations, you won't be left sputtering embarrassing pronunciations (or having to learn a difficult foreign tongue). Color-coded topics include transportation, accommodation, shopping, and health & safety. The books are currently available for Chinese, Japanese, and Thai travelers. Heading to Beijing '08, anyone? Each book costs $9.95 at Me No Speak.

How Old Are You Now?

As promised, here are some more birthday-age-tees I've stumbled upon while browsing for my son who turns two in just 3 weeks. I've actually picked out a "birthday ensemble" which I will write about in a separate post. You will love it. In the meantime, here are some other birthday options for toddlers:

I'm One, I'm Two Tees by Culpeper General at Etsy.com ($18):


Small Paul "This Many" Shirt at Small Concept (in pink only, on sale for $17):


Numbers Tee by Appaman at CWD Kids ($30):


I'm This Many Birthday Shirt by Nina & Tom Family Fashion ($22):


Monkey Madness Number Tee at Fliggity ($25):


Have you found other cute birthday/age tees for kids? Post them in the comments!

$250 Off at Serena & Lily!

Serena & Lily is offering a coupon code for $250 off any crib or dresser at their site. I was happily surprised to see that they now carry a crib and dresser by trendy modern furniture designer Netto. Here in NYC, these are just about "de riguer" when planning a nursery. And the $250 discount will come in handy since each of the pieces shown costs a hefty $1600+. But, of course, only the best for your child, right? Visit Serena & Lily and use coupon code CRIB250 now through September 1, 2008 for $250 off your crib or dresser order.

p.s. We have a super giveaway coming up from Serena & Lily...stay tuned!

Two by Two

Created by interior designer/mom of two Estela Lugo, these animal pillows are modern and stylish, yet "young" enough for a nursery or kids' room. Love the cute animal pairings. Each pillow is handmade with 100% wool felt. $69.95 per pillow at Elsewares.

Alphabet Wall Sampler winner

Congratulations to Jeanne, who wrote, "Very cute- it would be perfect in my youngest daughter's room." Jeanne, please e-mail me to claim your prize.

What is Totem?

This new toy called Totem seems like a pretty cool gift for the kindergarten-and-up set. Totem contains over 120 building cards with imagery of metal, wood, fire, air, space and more...allowing kids to create any type of construction ranging from airplanes to boats to spaceships. As you would expect of a new toy like thisl, it also is made from eco-friendly materials (recycled laminated micro-wave cardboard). It costs $32 at Sparkability.

Oooh La La: Part One

My sister just returned from a writing conference in Paris, and, ever the devoted aunt to R. and S., she returned with some wonderful gifts:

First, for Baby S., this set of Babar bath toys, by Lansay (sorry the image is so small, I'm working on that):


And, for R. who is obsessed with knights, this Papo Armored Red Knight (plus horse) by Papo (available stateside at Growing Tree Toys):


My sister also thoughtfully brought me some French parenting magazines including this one. From what I've skimmed so far, the French moms are just as obsessed as we are with kids' products and celebrity baby names, but everything sounds so much prettier....


R. and S. also each received one article of French kids' clothing (knowing how expensive Paris is, I told my sister to look for the French equivalent of Target). More on that in a separate post!

If you're a literary or travel type, or Francophile, read about my sister's trip here. Enjoy!

MyMomShops Giveaway: Tree by Kerri Lee Personalized Alphabet Sampler

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.


I've been a big fan of Tree by Kerri Lee baby accessories for several years; I've seen them at several trade shows, at my favored Giggle store on Lexington Ave., and, most recently, at a charming new baby boutique called Ciao Belly in Hoboken, NJ. The Tree by Kerri Lee line includes lots of beautifully detailed, vintage-inspired nursery accessories like music boxes, doorknob signs, baby blocks, and wall decor, all made by artisans in a 100-year-old buiding on the Delaware River.

For today's giveaway, one lucky winner will receive this lovely personalized alphabet sampler in choice of blue or pink. Inspired by antique alphabet samplers, these are handpainted and handprinted on solid wood and can fit one or two names, maximum 10 characters each. It is 12" square and has a hanger on back. Isn't this a great nursery decoration? Wish my kids had these!

"Hold On, I'm on my Hamburger Phone"

Did you see the movie Juno? Kitsch shop Fred Flare is now selling Juno Cheeseburger Phones. They really work (duh) and are quite the conversation piece (ha ha). Snatch one at Fred Flare for just $25.

Art from Ork

Another find from Brooklyn's Renegade Craft Fair- these fantastic city neighborhood posters by Ork Posters. Several cities are available and you can choose either a poster ($22) or slightly more textured screen print ($27); both measure 18" x 24". Such a fun way to customize your home (think of it is a fresh twist on the vintage-map-as-decor idea). As a Brooklyn born gal, that one is my favorite, but as you can see, they are all fab. Wouldn't these make nifty housewarming gifts? Visit Ork Posters.

Safe Sand Play

If you need a new shovel-and-pail set for your kids this summer, consider this Recycled Plastic Sand Play Set. Made in the USA by Green Toys, this eco-friendly set is made from 100% recycled plastics and is phthalate-free and BPA-free (so you don't have to worry about your toddler chewing on it). It includes a bucket, sand castle mold, shovel and rake. And, it's on sale now (reduced to $16.98 from $20) at fab toy site KangarooBoo.

Dinner with a Smile

Hallelujah! This new dinnerware has helped my four-and-a-half-year old to expand her repertoire of meal-time choices. She will now eat chicken nuggets and pieces of carrot (this is progress) off of the part-dinnerware/part-playtime Tre Bimbi Puppet Club Mealtime Set ($45). The set includes happy-face utensils that snap together, a plate, egg cup ("what's THAT?" R. asks skeptically), and a drinking cup. By the way, R. now uses the egg cup to eat vanilla ice cream. :-)


The Tre Bimbi 3-piece flatware set alone costs $19.99, by the way.

Both items are available at Barebabies.com. Enjoy an exclusive 10% discount off any Tre Bimbi product at Barebabies.com with code "mmst10off".

Acting Like a Two Year Old

With Baby S's 2nd birthday fast approaching, I'm getting a kick of out of all the funny t-shirts that make wisecracks about Terrible Twos (though, knock wood, my little boy is quite a sweetheart). This I'm Two, What's Your Excuse? Tee from Cafe Press is a great birthday gift and a real bargain at just $10.99. Available in white, pink, blue or yellow in sizes up to 4T; visit Cafe Press.

p.s. Lots more birthday-themed clothes (and 2-year-old-themed clothes...) to come soon!

Beach Bound

Can't make it to the beach anytime soon? Maybe this Day at the Beach Set will make you feel better. The tiny 4" square patch of paradise packs in a bunch of summer treats- sand, sandals, sea shells, beach chair, umbrella, beach ball and floating ring. Place it on your desk, put your feet up, and dream of sand and sea. Just $10 (a vacation bargain!) at Wishing Fish.

Got Your Name All Over It

When my kids were newborns, I went crazy for any gifts that had their names on it (come to think of it, I still do). While surfing around, I found this site Big Dot of Happiness that has a super value on a 7-piece personalized layette set. It includes a cap, bib, two tees, two onesies, and booties, all for $49.95 (on sale, reduced from $59.95). Not bad at all! Available in pink for girls, too, at Big Dot of Happiness.

Hands to Yourself

You know those first few weeks as a typical new mom, when you are scared that strangers will give your newborn a dread disease by touching them (and, truth be told, for lots of babies- like preemies- it is indeed important that germy, grimy hands aren't all over them)? Mom Tara Williamson lived this first-hand with her preemie baby, and she was onto a very good idea when she launched My Tiny Hands, a company that sells these "Please Wash Your Hands Before Touching Mine" signs. They measure 3.5" x 3.5" and attach easily to strollers and carseats. While I think a polite "Would you mind not touching the baby before you wash your hands?" would always be preferable, in New York City, at least, there isn't always time to speak before a random stranger on the street is poking your child in their stroller. Ward off the well-meaning but germ-bringing folks for just $4.75 at My Tiny Hands.

MyMomShops Sponsor: Liapela

I am really excited about our newest sponsor, Liapela, since a while back I had stumbled onto them online and fell in love with oh, just about everything in their store. Read my original post here.

Liapela is a Miami-based shop featuring an array of enticing modern products for kids, ranging from eco-friendly toys to contemporary decor. The founders strive to "help bridge the gap between your modern lifestyle and your children's spaces without compromising style or quality." If you've been a regular reader of this blog, you'll see that some of my favorite modern kids' brands are represented by Liapela, including Kee-Ka, Wall Candy Arts, Jeeto, French Bull, and Kukunest, to name just a few. Really, there is not one mediocre product in this shop. I just love it all. On my most recent perusal, here were some finds that really jumped out at me:

Elephant by Bobles ($120). Part toy, part nursery decor, all fun!


Digs Dog House Magnetic Build & Stack ($86). A colorful, high-quality infant toy that will last well into the preschool years.


Petra Toddler Bed by Argington ($395). Argington is one of the designers of modern kids' furniture; I love the spare lines of this toddler bed.


It's a Girl Basket by Loralin ($46). You know I'm a gift basket junkie and this one- both the basket and the contents- is gorgeous. Good value, too.


Baby Kneepads by Silikids ($18/pair). OK, so these are only good for the crawling phase, but think of all the photo-ops!


Neato stuff, right? See more at Liapela.

Doodle Bugs Paper Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Silverhartgirl, who wrote, "I love the multicolored stripe Mommy notepads. Very cute!" Please e-mail me to claim your prize.

Thinking Ahead

I shudder to type the word "Fall" when it is only July 8th (and 90 degrees here in NYC), but I must say I am pretty excited when I see the Fall collections appearing on my favorite kids' clothing websites. Isn't this Funky Knitted Dress by Boden Kids gorgeous? It's $58 and available for pre-order (August delivery) at Boden Kids. See all the new collections for women, men, kids & baby at Boden.

Carrie Bradshaw Would Love This

As an art history major, I read more about post-modernism than I ever needed to know. Some of it was actually quite dull. Not so this funky "Post Modern" necklace from the "Texting" collection by Brookadelphia. The ultimate modern style statement (as well as fun gift for a friend, a college grad, or even a 'tween....) the 2.5" black acrylic pendant hangs on a 16" sterling silver chain. $35 at Brookadelphia.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Doodle Bugs Stationery

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. Doodle Bugs Paper is a small boutique that sells colorful and adorable personalized stationery. The selection ranges from gift tags to luggage tags, business cards to calling cards, notepads to notecards, and address labels to book labels. There is stuff just for kids and stuff just for moms, too. Best of all, the prices are very affordable. Take a look at some of my favorites (each type of product is many designs & colors):

Kids Fill In The Blank Thank Yous ($10 for set of 12 with envelopes)


Candy Dots Calling Cards (Set of 20 for $40)


Bright Fancy Monogram Notes (Set of 10 for $12)


Personalized Ink Stamps ($32, choice of ink color)


Airplane Square Stickers (Set of 36 for $12), shown here with coordinating thank-yous and calling cards.

Softest. Blankie. Ever.

I've been meaning to post about these for a long time. Baby S. received a personalized Angel Dear Security Blankie as part of a baby gift from one of my oldest and dearest friends (thanks, Lauren!). He sleeps with it every night and honestly it is the softest blankie I have ever felt (R. has a different brand of blankie and hers took about 3 years of wear and tear to get that soft). I just love it and think it makes a great baby gift. At The Initial Choice you can select from various blankie styles including a pink poodle, brown dog, green frog, or blue lamb (that's what we have). They cost $18, and embroidery is an extra $9- totally worth it in my opinion to make the gift really special. See all the personalized blankies at The Initial Choice.

Happy 4th of July

The kids and I are headed to "the country" (aka New Jersey) to spend the July 4th weekend with Grandpa and Grandpa, and five cousins under the age of 8. Should be very fun and very loud! I will post again on Monday (with a super giveaway to welcome you all back from the long weekend). Until then, have a safe and happy holiday!

(photo: East Hampton, NY, 2008)

Ice is Nice

These Letter and Number Ice Trays by Sillycone Inc. are super cool and- listen to this- they are made of FDA-approved silicone, so they work equally well in the freezer, fridge or oven. Yep, you can use them to make fun ice cubes, or you can get creative and spell out whatever you'd like with jello, cookie mix, or just about anything else. A complete letter set is $19.95, a set of numbers is $9.95, or you can buy both together for $29.90 at Spoon Sisters.

What's Cookin?

(Pretend) cook up some summer fun with this swell Kids Play BBQ from The Land of Nod. It has silver knobs to turn up the heat (no safety covers needed here!), a side tray for pretend fixins, and a storage shelf below for utensils and plates. It's made of non-toxic rubberwood and it's on sale- reduced to $119 from $149. Buy it at The Land of Nod.

Made by Girl

At the National Stationery Show in May, I saw the work of Made By Girl (talented designer Jennifer Ramos) in person. Jennifer designs wall art, stationery, pillows, and other accessories with colorful flair. Here are some of my favorites:

UK Flag Pack Stationery ($11 for set of 4)


Coordinating pillows in Made by Girl's booth at the show (pillows are by Karen Hilton Designs, not Made by Girl)


ABC Personalized Wall Art (starts at $50, unframed)


As seen at the show, surrounded by Love (digital print for $25)


Shop for these and more at Made By Girl.

Happy Camper

If, like me, you adore button-down camp shirts for boys, but can't afford the prices of trendier brands, check out this adorable floral print button-down shirt with chest pocket from Old Navy. It's 100% cotton, machine washable, and on sale in sizes 6-12mos through 5T at Old Navy for a mere $10.00.

Being Corny

These Stars & Stripes Corn Picks from Wrapables.com are winners for a July 4th BBQ. The set has 4 picks (2 stripes, 2 stars) and is on sale for $25.99, reduced from $29.95, at Wrapables.com (check out the matching corn dishes, too- also on sale).

Cool Clothes for Hot Kids

I love finding out about new lines of kids' clothing like Agoo4U, a brand-new company offering kids' activewear with wick-away, stain-resistant, and UV-protective fabric. This fabric (88% nylon, 12% spandex) not only keeps your active kids cool, but also feels soft-to-the-touch, and, also importantly, looks great. I love the green/gray color combos. Wish they made these bigger for me. Here are some of my favorite designs from the new Agoo4U site (each style is available in different color combos, and kids' clothing goes up to size 8):

Playful Hoodie ($48.50)


Side Rail Tee ($36)


Playful Pant ($28.50)


Long-Sleeved Onezie ($29)


Visit Agoo4U.com.