No More Noggin

Did you hear that Noggin is no more? The cable channel which touts itself as "preschool on TV" is now officially called Nick Jr. My six-year-old shouted the news to me the other morning and said "It's very startling!" Rest assured, though, all of the programming and characters are the same- the change is a name change only. My daughter further hypothesized, "Well maybe because they [Noggin] thought it wasn't fair for the other people because they get the whole channel switched so they decided to make ours just the same just with a new name." Got it? Hmmm. Check out the website for the channel-formerly-known-as-Noggin at Nick Jr. (and read their explanation for the change here).

Polished and Preppy at Children's Place

I've been having very good luck with smart, preppy, and super-affordable outfits for S. from Children's Place recently. He got a lot of compliments recently when he wore this striped vest, checked woven shirt, and utility pants, all of which are now on sale for just $9.09 apiece (hurry- inventory is low). For less than $30, this is a great Fall look for a little boy and will carry over well to holiday season, too. We did also get the black shoes ($18.50) but they seemed to fit too tight (despite ordering his normal size), so I think we'll buy dress shoes elsewhere. Visit Children's Place for more clean-cut looks for little boys in sizes 6months to 4T.

Tweet Dreams

I have a new favorite Etsy find. Chicago-based Etsy store Craftsquatch sells these hipster "social media and geeky pillows." Totally what I dig(g). There are pillows representing Twitter (and the cute little Twitter bird), Facebook, MySpace, and more. And they are supremely affordable- just $19.99 for each handmade 12"x12" square fleece pillow, including filling. Buy a couple for your office space! Visit Craftsquatch. I'm tweeting about them right now.

Jelly Bean Pictures

I've had little time in the past year to snap good photos of my kids, so I jumped at the chance to have a photo session with Jennifer Tonetti-Spellman from Jelly Bean Pictures. Jennifer is a talented NYC-area photographer and mom herself to a two-year-old "jelly bean." I was very impressed with her portfolio which really captures kids as they are...whether on their best or less-than-perfect behavior. My kids definitely took to "Miss Jennifer" quickly during our recent shoot in Central Park. They showed her some of their best, most endearing expressions. I'm saving the surprise for friends & family, but for now here is view from behind. I love how it captures their relationship and also commemorates the age where my son is about to overtake his big sister in height:

Jennifer offers a range of affordably-priced services compared to other NYC area photographers. A standard holiday session is just $85 and includes edited images on CD (not all photographers do this) plus a slideshow set to music. Also for $85, you can book Jennifer for a "Mini-Bean" session which is a 30 minute shoot perfect for "firsts" like first haircut, first trip to the park, etc. Finally, she offers "Jellybean Pictures Parties" where you get a bunch of your friends together (5 family minimum, $50 per family) and everyone gets a 20 minute shoot for their child/children with 7 edited photos on CD. I wish I had done this with my kids' playgroups when they were younger!

Here are some more examples of Jennifer's work:









Ready to book a holiday session? Contact Jennifer through Jelly Bean Pictures and set a date...spots are filling quickly. Oh, and check out her fun blog- it is interesting to observe different families' photo shoots...and you may just find mine.

Rainbow Collection

If you're a decor or design geek, you'll like these Pantone Mugs I just saw in an Uncommon Goods catalog. The set of 10 mugs features the original primary colors by Pantone. It's pricey ($110 for the set) so make sure you save your favorite color for yourself. Buy it at Uncommon Goods.

Hadley Stilwell

As a mom of a first grader and preschooler, I don't post about maternity items here very much, but I'm making an exception for Hadley Stilwell, a beautiful new collection of nursing clothes. Founded by a mompreneur (natch), these garments are especially designed with working new moms in mind. The pieces flow (pun intended) easily from home to work and back- these are not just nursing clothes, but clothes you would want to wear anytime. They all offer "quick access" to make pumping at the office a breeze (since I had to pump round-the-clock for both of my babes, it is nice to see thoughtfully-designed clothing like this). My favorite piece is the machine-washable sleeveless crossover shirt ($57.00) which is perfect for warm weather, or layering in cooler climes. Visit Hadley Stillwell.

p.s. Also check out Hadley Stilwell's "Milk Note" blog with lots of helpful information about nursing and pumping.

Boden Gift Cards

Good news- Boden is now offering gift cards which are valid for purchasing any of their women's, men's, kids', or baby clothing. It's an actual card (which can be mailed to you or the recipient) and is available in $25, $50, $75, or $100 denominations. They arrive in a gift package with an enclosed catalogue. Makes a nice gift for a new mom, because she can spend it either on baby or herself (tell her to spoil herself...). Buy one at Boden.

p.s. I'll be observing Yom Kippur starting this evening and will post again on Tuesday morning.

No David!

Remember the book exchange/chain letter I told you about a while back? Well, sure enough, I participated and only received one book for little S. (boo hoo). But it was a real winner of a book. It's "No, David" by DAvid Shannon and even though I'd seen it when my daughter was younger, we somehow never read it till now. And my kids both LOVE it (I think it's pretty cute, too). The short, fun, semi-autobiographic story is how active little David is always getting into trouble, but still gets a hug from his parent at the end. The illustrations are terrific (my kids love the one of the messy bathroom) and the text is short enough that my six-year-old can easily read it herself to her little brother. It's a great gift for any toddler or preschooler. $13.59 at Barnes & Noble.

p.s. Stay tuned for more posts about my favorite children's books (after I wrote a post about board books for boys, several readers asked for more suggestions). There will also be a book giveaway soon.

Little Black Dress

I've spotted this circle tiered print dress by One Kid on several girls in my neighborhood this Fall. This is how a little girl can wear black, in my opinion. I actually first saw the dress at the ENK Children's Show last Spring, and thought it would be a popular purchase for stores. Now it's on sale at CWD Kids, where it costs $39 (reduced from $52-$56) in sizes 2T-10 (runs small). Coordinating tights available, too.

Baby's First Marquee

Some of the items I stumbled onto at Etsy.com make me so happy. Like this handmade Personalized Baby Name Mobile. Each letter is made from brightly colored felt and stuffed with fiberfill (you can also choose other colors or fabrics to coordinate with your nursery). Each letter hangs from a dowel with ribbon so you can hang it either from the ceiling or on a wall. It costs $30 (U.S.) from the Australian Etsy.com shop Masalachai.

Corner Stork Baby Gifts Winner

Congratulations to Eve, who wrote, "The Big Dreamzzz Baby MD outfit is so cute! I'd love to win it for my nephew." Please e-mail me to claim your prize.

My Polarn O. Pyret Trunk Show

I had so much fun hosting the Polarn O. Pyret trunk show last week. I was so busy during the event that I forgot to take pictures, but luckily I snapped some photos beforehand. The guests are starting to receive their online orders; one of the evening's attendees, who bought a bunch of clothes for her two boys (ages 3 and 5), just sent me the following note:

I got the clothes from the trunk show. My goodness, my kids are looking beautiful!! Almost too beautiful for school. the jackets are gorgeous, they love them, they love the hats. My older son says they look like firemen in the red raincoats and he says he looks like a secret spy in his red winter jacket. I love the coats. They are so well-made and the attatched glove on the sleeve is wonderful because now the wind won't go up their arms. They look like little Europeans in nice clothes, not like messy Americans! I am simply floored by these clothes!


A rave review, right? Here are the photos from the trunk show:

First, there is nothing like snacking on Swedish fish while buying Swedish clothing:




R., wearing her beloved "Upside Down" dress ($43.50) by Polarn O. Pyret, plays with some of the paper dolls the company provided as giveaways:


Here's how I presented the paper doll sets- rolled up and placed in a glass vase:


Rack #1 of beautiful, colorful cotton clothing. At far left is one of my favorite items, a butterfly graphic top ($30):


Cushy, thick socks and a Terry Hare in Stripes ($20.50) to snuggle with:


More socks, a striped P.O.P. bunny ($20.50), and R's own teddy bear, which she found made a perfect model for P.O.P. hats:


More clothing. Facing front: a blue floral tunic ($19.50) navy tunic shirt, and P.O.P. mascot pajamas ($28.50).


It was so much fun- I hope to host more trunk shows in the future!

Can You Count Your One, Two Threes?

My son has a SEIT (special education itinerant teacher) who helps him in his mainstream preschool classroom a few mornings each week and also does therapy sessions with him at home to improve his communication skills. For his birthday, she gave him this terrific Eric Carle 1, 2, 3...To The Zoo Floor Puzzle by Galison/Mudpuppy (one of my favorite manufacturers of kids' toys and puzzles). He loves to assemble it with her; for him it's pure fun and he doesn't realize how much he's learning- from improving his fine motor skills and matching skills, to helping him answer questions about counting, sequencing, animals, and colors. The puzzle lays out to 2 x 3 feet on the floor, and consists of 24 jumbo pieces that are perfect for preschool hands. It's packaged in a box with a rope handle and makes a great gift for any child of this age. It costs $14.95 at Baby Earth.

I've Opened an Etsy Shop!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade BrownEyeBlue.etsy.com

Psst- if you tried the text link yesterday and it didn't work, please try it again today- I fixed a glitch.

Surprise! I've opened my own small Etsy shop, Brown Eye Blue, where I'm selling Halloween and autumn-themed folded notecards featuring photos I've taken over the past few years. They cost $3.75 each and shipping is free now through October 15th. I'm really proud of them and hope you like them, too (I'll be adding card with year-round themes too). My "mini pumpkin" card even got featured in an "Etsy Treasury" on 1st day I listed it, which was a great honor. If you're interested in these as prints for framing rather than stationery, I can do that too. Please visit the shop and I hope you find something you love!

p.s. Oh, the name of the shop is a reference my friends and family will get. For the rest of you, I chose the name because I have one brown eye and one blue eye (and, yes, was born on Halloween, too).

Ready, Set, Read

I am sort of surprised how much homework my first grader already gets, including instructions to keep a log of how much she's read (or been read to) every night. I'm less surprised that someone enterprising (maybe a mom) came up with this idea to create a "Mark My Time" Digital Bookmark which is not only a bookmark but also a digital timer (with clock and alarm) to help track a student's cumulative reading time. If you've got a reluctant reader on your hands, this might make bedtime book-time a bit more fun. A 3-pack of bookmarks in assorted colors costs $33 at Amazon.com.

Thanks to my best friend E. (who has a preschooler, 1st grader, and 3rd grader) for the tip about this product!

Target's Mirrored Bedside Table

Several readers told me that Target also carries some mirrored bedside tables like the ones I have been looking for. Of course, this style is very trendy right so I wasn't surprised to find that several models at Target are sold out, but then I found this cinema side table which is chic-er (and pricier) than Target's usual offerings. It's the cinema side table. For $329.99, it will definitely give your master bedroom a glamorous, old-style Hollywood vibe.

Lemonade in NYC

I recently visited the brand-new shop Lemonade which opened in my neighborhood (for you NYC folks, you can visit it at 1038 Lexington Avenue, near 74th Street). Lemonade is one of those sweet stores that looks like a tiny storefront from outside, but inside has a bright, airy feel and offers a high-quality selection of kids' clothing and gifts (especially for the younger set). Here's a look inside:

I am trying to track down who makes the boys' sports-themed pajamas hanging on the wall- I forgot to note the designer. Would love a pair for my little guy.


There are some pricey but popular clothing brands such as Oeuf, but nothing is outrageous (at least by New York standards, I guess).


I adore these "Day of the Week" barrettes by A Little Something.


These cute animal-themed hand-cranked flashlights are not just fun for kids, but they are practical too if the lights go out unexpectedly.


And I was happy to spot some of my favorite sibling tees by independent designer Pluto Tees:


Visit Lemonade NYC if you're in the area (website is still under construction).

Hooray by Cynthia Rowley

Designer Cynthia Rowley has just created a line of trendy, affordable baby and toddler clothing for BabiesR Us. Called "Hooray by Cynthia Rowley", this exclusive collection describes itself as "pretty with a twist" and includes apparel, diaper bags, bibs, and blankets. I think I like the infant onesies best, especially this Number One Coverall. It's a fun print and the price ($11.99) surely can't be beat. See all of Cynthia Rowley's designs for BabiesRUs here.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Corner Stork Baby Gifts

I first learned about Corner Stork Baby Gifts when I received a personalized baby gift from them for S. three years ago. I've shopped there several times since. They are a one-stop baby gift store offering everything from shower favors to personalized baby gifts (blankets, clothing, and gift baskets) to toys (plush animals, books, and developmental toys). There's even a special section for twin gifts. Here are some of my top picks:

OiOi Giraffe-Print Diaper Tote ($160). A great shower gift for a stylish mom.


"Welcome to the World" Pink Baby Wagon - Ten-Piece Gift Set ($80, boys' version available too). I'm a sucker for gift sets like these, especially when the packaging- in this case an adorable pink wagon- can be re-used as nursery decor or toy storage.

Halloween Tote for a Tot - Pumpkin ($42). Know someone who's having a Fall baby? This set- which includes a personalized onesie and bib- makes a perfect gift.


Wonderful World of Monkeys Baby Socks Gift Set ($24.50). Trumpette's baby socks are always a hit at baby showers. You can't go wrong with these for either a girl or a boy.


Comfy Cozy Friends ($27.99). S. had one of these as a baby and to this day (he's now 3) he snuggles up to it.


Win it! 1 MyMomShops reader will win a $25 gift certificate to Corner Stork Baby Gifts. Here are the contest rules:

1) To enter, please comment on THIS post (click on "comments" below), indicating what your favorite item from Corner Stork Baby Gifts is.
2) Post your comment by 11:59pm EST, Thursday, September 24th. One entry per person, please. US addresses only.
3) One winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday morning, September 25th.
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 Friday to see if you won. Unclaimed prizes are forfeited after 72 hours.

Good luck!

Halloween with Kate

I guess it's not a surprise that this Halloween's most popular gag costume so far is this "Eight is Too Much" Kate Gosselin Costume Wig. Apparently, many Americans want to channel the beleagured reality TV mom by sporting a wig with her infamous "reverse mullet" 'do. I think it's a pretty bad costume, but I get the joke. It's on back-order right now; if you want to order it, keep checking back at BestCostumeSite.com where it costs $14.99.

Suit Up

I needed to buy S. an outfit for the Jewish holidays, but didn't want to spend a lot because how many times does a three-year-old boy actually need to wear a suit? I found this Suit with Sportcoat, Tie, and Pants by Good Lad and it fit the bill. How cute does a little boy look dressed up like a man going to work, by the way? The set includes a light blue oxford shirt with darker blue striped tie, navy sport coat, and elasticized khaki pants. Available in sizes 2T-4T for $37.99 at Baby Boy Company.

I'll be observing the Jewish New Year this weekend and will be posting again on Monday. L'Shanah Tovah!

Abby & Emma

My daughter got this Abby & Emma Magnetic Wooden Dress-Up Dolls Set from Chase's Treasures for her sixth birthday. It's a good thing it includes two dolls because she and her 3-year-old brother (who worships his big sister and therefore her toys) would be fighting every day over this set. The toy includes two "friends" Abby and Emma with nearly 60 pieces of clothing and accessories to mix and match. And unlike the paper doll pieces we used to play with, these pieces actually stay put. It also includes two stands to help Abby and Emma "model." It's a great birthday gift or big sister gift and costs $18 at Chase's Treasures.

Pimp My Ride

Here's another good idea that's come along too late for my kids (my younger one is almost done using a stroller). Maclaren makes these new reversible liners that fit all Maclaren strollers, allowing you to get a spiffy new look for your buggy. Or cover up some unfortunate messes (wow, I could've used these when my kids were toddlers). There are over two dozen patterns available ranging from solids to stripes to florals, and with each one you get two new looks. They are machine washable, of course. You can buy them for $25 at Maclaren's online store. Your stroller will thank you!

30% off + Free Shipping at Polarn O. Pyret- Today Only!

The trunk show last night for Polarn O. Pyret was soooo much fun (thanks to everyone who came!). Today I am very happy to share an exclusive coupon code with all of my readers- it's for 30% off plus free shipping (no minimum order required!). You can use through midnight tonight (Thursday). The guests at my trunk show used this coupon code last night (pssst...you can use it again today, too) and were oohing and aahing not only over the sample clothing here, but also over the deep discounts. Pictured above are some of the most popular items that sold last night, including (clockwise from top left) Denim Jumper ($35 before discount, $24.50 after), Wear Everywhere Winter Jacket ($132.50 before discount, $93 after), Striped A-Line Dress ($46 before discount, $32 after), andZoo Friend Top ($26 before discount, $18 after). Visit Polarn O. Pyret today and snag these deals before they expire at midnight!

A few tips for shopping at Polarn O. Pyret:
1) Sizing is generous! You do not need to "order up." Everything is machine washable (love the practical Swedes) and has very low shrinkage- just 3%.
2) Check out the selection of 100% organic cotton "Eco" clothing.
3) The rainwear is all PVC-free, which is important to me. I'm getting this rain coat for R.

Enter code "MYMOM" at the first page of the checkout process to receive a generous 30% off your order AND free shipping at Polarn O. Pyret. No minimum required. Does not apply to items already on sale. Expires at midnight TONIGHT.

Trunk Show Prep

I'm busy getting ready for the trunk show I am hosting tonight for Polarn O. Pyret, Sweden's leading children's clothing company. There are currently several racks of colorful cotton European threads for kids in my living room and I couldn't be happier...neither could 6-year-old R. who is excited to "model" various garments to all of my guests tonight. Her fave (today at least) is this Eco "Upside Down" Dress ($43) from P.O.P.'s eco-friendly collection. I'm not sure she will let go of it after tonight. Photos to come!

Fall Letter-Writing

This set of "A Fall Classic" notecards by Emma J is perfect for quick letter-writing to friends. I saw some samples by Emma J at last May's National Stationery Show and I think she has some lovely designs (scroll down here to see the Fall notecards as well as several other themed sets). $10 for 8 cards plus envelopes at Emma J.

Ride On

Now that my kids are 3 and 6, I can travel a little lighter when we are out and about (bye bye, ginormous diaper bags). Over the past month, I've started using this Vintage Schwinn Bicycle Illustration Recyclable Canvas Tote Bag from the Etsy shop Happy Family (the same shop where I purchased baseball-style birthday tees for my kids). This tote (which had the honor of being featured on Etsy's homepage) is hand-printed and made from 100% cotton heavy canvas. It is just the right size for a quick outing with diaper-free kids- 15" long x 14.5" wide by 2" deep. Since it's black, it hides dirt. And, it is extremely affordable- just $10. Snag one for yourself at Vintage Schwinn Bicycle Illustration Etsy.com.

One Kid On Its Way

I love the U.S. brand One Kid and am glad to see it sprouting up in lots of stores. I spotted this outfit from their Fall 2009 collection in the window of Z'Baby, an upscale boutique in my neighborhood. It's a putty colored top with sequin bow, with an ultra-girly berry-colored tulle elastic waist skirt. Like most of One Kid's outfits, it is fun and fresh and just the right amount of "sophisticated" while remaining age-appropriate. It's hard to find One Kid clothing to purchase online somtimes, but I tracked the skirt ($60-$64) and shirt ($38-$42) down in sizes 2 through 6x at Abigail's Children's Boutique.

Short Stack

I spotted this P'kolino Puzzle Stacker in a recent issue of Cookie Magazine. It's one of the prettiest wooden baby toys I've seen in a while. Every toddler loves stacking toys, and this one features premium construction and the extra perk of interlocking puzzle pieces. It's a great 1st or 2nd birthday gift. $38.50 at P'kolino (browse around the P'kolino site for some outstanding modern play tables, storage, and seating, by the way).