Strong, Silent Type

Lots of you have been kind enough to ask how S. is doing with his therapies, so I thought I'd write an update.

I wish I had a dime for every well-meaning person who has said, "My friend's/cousin's/hairdresser's son didn't say a word until he was 3, and then one day he just started speaking in full sentences! So will your son!" While I hoped that S., too, was just a "late talker", he was recently diagnosed with a speech disorder called apraxia. It is a neurological disorder in which the brain does not send the proper signals a child needs to produce articulate speech. He will be 2 1/2 next week and his speech is at the level of a 1-year-old. He has a small handful of words, and is not always intelligible. He can not produce certain sounds or letters at all yet. He receives speech therapy 5 times per week, and every day at home I am reinforcing the techniques the therapists have taught me.

Since my older child had some developmental delays, having a child who is not "typically developing" is nothing new to me. The lows can be very low, but the highs are amazing beyond compare (I've posted about that before). On the tough days, it can be very sad, stressful, and isolating. It has been all the more so for me for reasons I can not elaborate here. I am very lucky that my parents, sister, and friends are an amazing source of support. And, there is a certain black humor that exists among parents of special needs kids. My friend J. (also the mother of a special-needs son) and I speak on the phone weekly about our kids' latest progress (or lack thereof). Sometimes we start out crying, but by the end of our call we are laughing hysterically.

Anyway, while there is no way to predict what will happen when with S's speech, there have been some good signs recently. He has had more "pop-outs", which is a term for these spooky moments when he suddenly blurts out a word perfectly, as if he were 10 years old. This is a common symptom of apraxic children. Then, just as suddenly, the word disappears for weeks or months. In the last few weeks, S. has suddenly blurted out "together," "that way," and "Dora," each one time. He hasn't said them since.

I grab those moments fiercely, and grab my son and give him a great big hug. He laughs and hugs back and says, "ayyyyyyye," which I am going to translate as, "Wasn't that cool?" It sure is.

Mom's Own Clipboard

Imagine how efficient and stylish you'll feel using this monogrammed clipboard ($50) by Dabney Lee at Home. Customize this 12.5 x 9 inch lucite clipboard with your choice from a variety of patterns, monograms, and colors. The perfect birthday gift for any Type-A friend. Browse this and other personalized gifts at Dabney Lee at Home.

Sweet Dreams

I always have luck (and save money) with sleepwear for my kids from The Children's Place. These days R. is enjoying her new Valentine's PJ Set (on sale for $12.37) and plush slippers (on sale for $6.47). These make great Valentine's Day treats for your kids that don't break the bank. Visit the newly-redesigned website of Children's Place for more ideas.

Did Someone Say Delivery?

Contrary to what my profile indicates, I do in fact cook sometimes. Nothing fancy and five-star, though, just some basic pasta and chicken dishes, and a mean grilled cheese. Nonetheless, I was intrigued by the chance to sample Susie's Supper Club, a delicious homemade food delivery service for kids (and their grown-ups) here in NYC. Chef Susie Cover spent four years as a private chef in New York and she specializes in disguising (I mean, customizing) adults' meals for kids. These are dishes that you will WANT to share with your kids. I got to sample lots of goodies from their menu including Chicken Milanese, Spinach Square, and Mini Pumpkin Cupcakes (my favorites) and Turkey Meatballs, Polenta Fries, and SSC Brownies (my kids' picks). Prices are reasonable- an adult-sized entree you can easily share with your kiddos costs about $10. Ordering on the website is easy, and the photos of the food, by the way, are lovely! Susie's Supper Club currently delivers in Manhattan and plans to expand to Brooklyn soon. Spice mealtime up a bit at Susie's Supper Club.

The Paper Cafe Gift Certificate Winners

Congratulations to the 2 winners of $50 gift certificates to The Paper Cafe to buy products by Donovan Designs.

1) Terri Fisher, who wrote, "I like the Out and About note pads. They would be great by the phone...maybe my family would learn to take messages better with them!"

2) Aura, who wrote, "What a large selection! I like the DDEF 662 gift enclosures, the don't forget notes in blue and yellow and the DDES michelle pink notepads."


Please e-mail me to claim your prizes!

Falling Dominos

My sister passed along this breaking news to me, which really bums me out...Domino magazine is ceasing publication soon. It was one of my favorite magazines. Ever. And it was an affordable gift that I loved to give. This darn economy.

One Kid Outerwear On Sale

My gigantic son turns 2 1/2 next week and already weighs 37 pounds and is over 38 inches tall. No surprise he has already outgrown this winter's reversible light blue and navy winter coat by One Kid which I purchased last Fall. With temps not warming up anytime soon, I took advantage of this week's winter clearance sale (up to 75% off!) at NYC shop Estella and snagged the same coat in a bigger size for just $64.99 (plus free shipping automatically applied to orders over $50). Estella has lots more One Kid outerwear on sale right now. I LOVE One Kid and swear by it for my kids' durable, stylish, reasonably-priced winter outerwear (R. has the brown/pink reversible coat also on sale). Stock up for next winter!

p.s. The coat arrived sooo fast...maybe a day or two after I placed the order. Great sale and great shop!

MyMomShops Giveaway: Dolly & Dimples Tea Party Collection Socks

Last week I posted about how to copy the look of Tori Spelling's daughter's nursery for less (and how to get the same look as the famous mom & newborn daughter, too). The kind people at Baby Bunne saw little Stella Doreen McDermott's booties mentioned in the post and have offered the same set of Tea Party Collection Socks by Dolly & Dimples to one lucky reader. The 0-3 month size little booties are in the classic style of Mary Jane shoes with a ruffled white sock. The gift set arrives with four pairs (two pink, two black) in a beautifully decorated gift box. It's available at Baby Bunne for $26 and makes a great gift for a new baby girl (or a treat for your own if you've recently welcomed a little one).

Enter code "MyMomShops" at checkout for free shipping now through February 15th!

Win it! 1 MyMomShops reader will win a set of Tea Party Collection Socks from Baby Bunne. Here are the contest rules:

1) To enter, please make a comment- any comment- on THIS post (click on "comments" below).
2) Post your comment by 11:59pm EST Tuesday, February 3rd. One entry per person, please. US addresses only.
3) One winner will be chosen at random and announced on Wednesday morning, February 4th.
4) NOTE: If you wish to be contacted by e-mail if you win, please include your e-mail address in your comment. Otherwise you must check back on Wednesday to see if you won. Unclaimed prizes are forfeited after 72 hours.

Good luck!

William Eggleston: Los Alamos

I grabbed half an hour the other day to hop over to the Whitney Museum of American Art, where I worked for two years right after college. I saw the exhibition William Eggleston: Democratic Camera: Photographs and Video 1961-2008 (sorry, New Yorkers, it has just closed). This was the first U.S. retrospective for Eggleston, a major American 20th century photographer (and one of my favorites) who is best known for his emotive, color-saturated works. My favorite segment of the show was these photographs from his Los Alamos series, taken between 1965 and 1974 (not necessarily in the Los Alamos by the way; the artist visited that town at some point during those years, but it is possible many of the photos were taken elsewhere). Regardless, aren't these wonderful images? If you want to see more, check out Eggleston's book of Los Alamos images, available for $70 at Photo Eye.

(images courtesy of William Eggleston Artistic Trust)

CPSIA Alert

Many thanks to our affiliate Craftsbury Kids for passing along this text provided by some marvelous Etsy sellers.

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

You can get a badge (and tons of other helpful info) in the Etsy CPSIA Action Kit:
Download the PDF file here.
http://www.etsy.com/storque/media/bunker/2009/01/CPSIA-Etsy-Resources.pdf

Bob's Your Uncle Flashcards

I love just about everything by gift manufacturer Bob's Your Uncle. I just spotted their A-Z Animal Flashcard Set ($35) at Greener Grass Design. The cards have simple, stylish illustrations by Mark Fisher and feature an interesting fact about each animal on the reverse of the card. Consider framing a small group of these for nursery wall decor! Visit Greener Grass Design.

Mom's A Winner

I've seen this crimson long-sleeve "My Mom Rocks" tee by Wes & Willy (a manufacturer of high-quality boys' playclothes) in several catalogs, but never for a price this low. It is available at a site called My Little Pockets for just $12 (reduced from $21) in toddler sizes through size 7. My Little Pockets also has a flat shipping fee of $4.99, so while you're there, check out other bargains by designers including Baby Nay, Deux par Deux, and Le Top.

Go Ask Alice

I stopped by the New York International Gift Fair at the Javits Center this past Sunday and saw lots of clever new products in housewares, stationery, toys & more. I'm still sorting through all my notes and photos, but first I wanted to show you this eye-catching debut booth by Alice Supply Co. If you thought dustpans and toilet plungers always had to be ugly, Alice Supply Co. makes you think again. I love their promo materials which read, "We believe that the humble dustpan's days of being shoved away in the closet will son be over; that a toolbox has feelings too, and that not all scrub brushes are created equal."

How fun are these??

Check back soon for more new products from the Gift Fair!

MyMomShops Giveaway: Donovan Designs at The Paper Cafe

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Today's giveaway, sponsored by our generous friends at The Paper Cafe, is TWO $50 gift certificates to buy products by Donovan Designs at The Paper Cafe. Donovan Designs makes brightly colored stationery, notepads, address labels, babysitter pads, luggage tags and more. The Paper Cafe carries their extensive line; check out all of the products here. These are some of my personal favorites:

Personalized foldover black and gold note cards (25 cards for $40, envelopes included)


Pink and Green Weekly Schedule Pad ($18 each)


Personalized Sports Flat Note Card (25 cards for $36, envelopes included)

Blue Dot Babysitter Notepad (12 each)



Special Offer: Anyone who orders Donovan Designs products totalling $25 or more from The Paper Cafe will receive a free gift with purchase. Just enter "mymomshops reader free gift" in the special instructions box at checkout. Offer valid for Donovan Designs purchases only (item #s start with "DD").

Chalk It Up

R. and S. are having a great time with these Chalk-A-Doodle Placemats which they received as Hanukkah gifts last month from their cousins (thank you, L, M, A & E!). Each set includes mats, eraser and chalk, and will keep your child occupied for just long enough on a plane, in a restaurant, etc. We attached ours to the wall with the included double-sided foam tape- instant individual blackboards! At $13 apiece, this is a surefire hit birthday gift or sibling gift, too. Available at Pokkadots.

Stella!

I had so much fun writing a post several months ago about how to copy the looks of Tori Spelling's new master bedroom and son's bedroom (my post even got picked up by uber-blog Celebrity Babies!) that I decided to tackle the same for her new daughter Stella's nursery.

Here's Stella's girly room (photo courtesy of Celebrity Babies):


Here's how you copy this look:

First, the bright pink crib bedding. Tori chose this Harper Three Piece Crib Set ($559) by Serena & Lily, and based the rest of the nursery on its color scheme:


I love the little decorative mirror on Stella's nightstand. This Roses and Bow Accent Wall Mirror by Lamps Plus is a good deal at $99.99:


Likewise, you imitate the look of baby Stella's custom-made draperies with this Classic Home Princeton Window Set at Target ($19.99):

No doubt the posh glider chair was custom-upholstered, too, but this Lullaby Rocker by Pottery Barn Kids ($1199) does the trick as well:


This sweet White Wood Table Nightstand with 2 Drawers at Three Cats Home Decor costs just $46.60.


Like how Tori defines post-partum chic? She's wearing one of the super stylish maxi dresses popularized by Angelina Jolie; try out this Gypsy 05 Tie Dye Maxi Dress at The Trend Boutique ($132). Also, use code "MomShops15" for 15% off plus free shipping at The Trend Boutique!

And little Stella's toes are decked out in booties like these Tea Party Collection socks at Baby Bunne ($26)


What do you think of Stella's nursery and Tori's taste?

Perfect Girls Valentine's Dress

Chasing Fireflies is a catalog with some of the most beautiful dresses for girls that I've ever seen. Right now I'm admiring this perfect-for-Valentine's Day Raspberry Hearts Dress. Love the bell sleeves and the gathered elastic waist. It's made of machine washable cotton/lycra, and costs $78 (sizes 1/2, 2/3, or 3/4) at Chasing Fireflies.

Political Party(time)

The energetic, multi-talented Isabel Kallman (founder of AlphaMom) has a great post up about her inauguration viewing party, which I was honored to attend on Tuesday. The history day was even more meaningful for Isabel personally because she completed, signed, and sent in her US Naturalization application. Read about the party (and see more photos from the event- yours truly is in one of them) here. I was sent home with cupcakes (see above) which were convenient for my own mini-party with R. and S. later (R: "How come I wasn't invited to an Inaugural Ball?") Four days later, we are coming off of our sugar high, but are still on cloud 9 about our new President Obama.

Darling Dishes

Here is another one of my favorite recent finds from Etsy. Mud Hutt Studio is a shop in Georgia that makes beautiful little ceramic keepsake dishes. These would be sweet baby shower gifts, Valentine's Day gifts, or Mother's Day gifts. You could put them just about anywhere in your home- as trinkets on display, or even as a little place to keep your rings. The two dishes shown above are my favorites- Love Grows Here ($12) and Sweet Mommy Bird (which has already been sold but if you "convo"- that's Etsy speak for e-mail- the seller, she just may create another one for you). Visit Mud Hutt Studio.

Let Me Grab A Pen and Paper

You will flip for these Flip Notes Monograms Notepads that I just discovered at Bright and Bold. Each one is a slim, metal case (measuring just 4.5" x 2.75") with a handy white notepad and retractable pen inside. You can easily toss it into your purse or briefcase, and you'll never be fumbling for a pen and paper. Refill paper pads and pens are available, too. At this price (1 for $11.95, or 3 for $32.95) this is a great item to stock-up on whether you need holiday gifts, Mother's Day gifts, or even bridesmaid gifts. Check them out at Bright and Bold (where shipping is free, with no minimum order!)

It's a Wunderbar Life

While searching online for Wonderboy clothing on sale (Wonderboy is one of my favorite clothing brands for little S.), I stumbled onto this "Wunderbar" long-sleeve tee at Small Concept. This tee has special significance for S. and me since my grandparents came to New York from Germany, and my grandmother's maiden name is S's middle name. And, of course, since he is so "wunderbar" (wonderful), himself. The shirt is 100% cotton and has cool contrast stitching and raw edges. It's on sale now for just $17.95 (reduced from $29.95, available in sizes 6-12mos, 12-18mos, or 2T) at Small Concept.

Birthday Cakes That Are a Piece of Cake

Wow, I love this new Happy Birthday Cake Mould (by the unfortunately-named shop Suck UK). Baking a birthday cake has never been easier with this 8.75 inch diameter food-safe silicon mould (you can heat it to 300 degrees in the oven, but you also can bake a cake in the microwave in just 6 minutes...a recipe is enclosed). A surefire crowd-pleaser. Buy it for $31.95 at Amazon.com.

Don't Miss This Flight

I just got an e-mail from Craftsbury Kids about their brand-new Limited Edition Obama Airforce One Collectible Toy Plane. Fly, don't walk, to snatch a few of these up! It is the ultimate kids' keepsake from the Inauguration. Featuring a silk-screened image of our 44th President, the airplane is made in Pennsylvania from eco-friendly domestic hardwoods, with non-toxic, lead-free paint and finish. At just $18, it's pretty much a guaranteed hit as a gift for any child, or even for a new baby in 2009. Order it for $18 (it may be worth much more someday!) at Craftsbury Kids.

OK, due to a very tight budget I buy verrrry few of the items I feature at this blog, but I just had to grab this one. Just ordered it for R. and S. Can't wait for it to arrive!

New York State of Mind

More news from New York today....I want to thank New York Family Magazine for its flattering review of MyMomShops in their widely-read newsletter last week (a super-useful newsletter for NYC parents, by the way; sign up for it at New York Family). New York Family is holding two events this weekend that are of interest to metro-area moms and dads. First up are Camp Fairs (featuring camps for preschoolers through 'tweens) on Sat. Jan. 24th from 12-3pm at St. Jean Baptiste High School (173 E. 75th St.) and Sun. Jan. 25th from 12-3pm at Congregation Rodeph Sholom (7 West 83rd St.) Then, stop by the New Parents Expo and Family Fun Day, on Sun. Jan. 25th from 12-3pm at Reebok Sports Club (160 Columbus Avenue between 67th and 68th Streets), featuring a huge range of goods and services, as well as face painters, magicians, clowns, and more (I've attended with my kids before and they loved it). And, it's all free! Visit New York Family.

Introducing Chase's Treasures

I am very proud of my friend Jess who has just launched an online boutique, Chase's Treasures, which sells beautiful gifts (often personalized) for babies and children. We happen to have similar tastes so you will spot a few items that I have featured at MyMomShops before, as well as the new ones pictured here [top to bottom: My Very Own Name Personalized Plate ($19.95), My Very Own Name Personalized Board Book with Plush Lamb ($29.95), and monogrammed burp cloths ($16 for a set of two)]. You really can't go wrong with any of the gifts Jess has selected, whether as a new baby gift or a birthday gift. Soon, Chase's Teasures will also have a unique a consignment section (Jess is an experienced registered trading assistant and is a expert at selling other people's goodies). Chase's Treasures has just launched but will be adding many more products, so keep checking back!