A Girl Can Dream

In case you haven't heard, ruffles are on-trend this holiday season. I love the ruffled handbags by Susan Farber, especially the shimmery Romeo Bag which is actually a messenger bag measuring 11 x 12.5 x 2.5. Isn't it gorgeous? It costs (hold your breath) $550. I would never spend this kind of money on a bag, so I'll just enjoy looking at it. But if it's in your budget, check it out along with the other dreamy bags at Susan Farber.

A Night with the Rockettes

There are certain classic images of New York City at Christmastime. One is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Event at Radio City Music Hall. Even though I've lived in New York for the past 15 years, I've never seen this show. So I was really excited to be offered tickets (thank you MSG Entertainment) for my munchkins and me to see it plus a chance to meet some real life Rockettes at a party beforehand in their rehearsal studio.

At the party, we were introduced to some of the famous leggy dancers. My six-year-old was moderately interested in them...


but was extremely interested in the the cupcake decorating table provided by Magnolia Bakery.




R. declined to meet Santa who was also there, but did write him a letter at the crafts table sponsored by Kate's Paperie (ahhh...beautiful pens, stamps, cards, and ribbons. . . I was in paper heaven).


I did chat with a few of the Rockettes and was surprised to learn that the height requirement is just 5'6" (I assumed it was taller) and that they are allowed to eat all they want ("I could eat cupcakes all day!" one of them gushed). I replied, "Wow, maybe I could do this, too", since I am 5'7" and love a good cupcake, too. She smiled but I think she was just being polite.


Then it was time for the Big Show. My three-year-old lost his steam before it started, so Grandma took him home, but R. and I made it through almost the whole performance Our favorite scenes were the Parade of Wooden Soldiers- where all the Rockettes fall down on top of each other like dominoes- and the double decker sightseeing bus scene (ever the little New Yorker, R. correctly identified each avenue that it "passed" in the background).


The theater itself looked spectacular, even to a longtime New Yorker like myself. The music is very enjoyable (you'll know every song unless you live under a rock), and the atmosphere is so fun and festive. My only caveat if you go...budget an extra $7.50 (seriously) for the commemorative bucket of popcorn that your child will demand about 30 seconds before the show starts. Really.

On our way home R. was quite taken with the nearby Cartier building "wrapped" in red lights. It is so special to see New York through a child's eyes. We saw so many wide-eyed tourists that night...it was nice to be wide-eyed ourselves, too. We are lucky indeed to live here!


Here's a great deal! Enjoy a generous 25% off tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with code "DANCE"; valid for select tickets now through Decembber 10th. Performance time and ticket information and purchases available here.

Pass the Bubbly

Here are two of my favorite girls' bubble dresses this holiday season. Good thing my daughter doesn't like super fancy dresses, or I might want to buy one.

Bubble Hem Dress (now on sale for $30, reduced from $62; European sizes 60 through 160) by Hanna Andersson.


Gold Bubble Dress ($94, sizes 12mos to 4T)) by Chasing Fireflies.

A Green Christmas

Here's another great new site for holiday photo cards this year- Good Greetings which hails from Spokane, WA. This brand-new site (which is now a MyMomShops affiliate, too) exclusively sells cards printed on 100% recycled paper with superior acid-free archival quality. Their commitment to the environment can be seen start to finish- orders are printed at a Bay Area certified green business and your order is packaged carefully without using bubble, foam or shrink-wrap. And, perhaps most importantly, owner/designer Rene Bross has a really good eye- I like that the designs are modern and fun without being too cluttered. There are many holiday card options that include multiple photos (for those of us who can't decide on just one...like me). Pictured at left is the Happy Holidays Blocks Photo Card which costs $1.69 per card. Check out all the holiday cards, invitations, and more at Good Greetings.

Use code "10FORMOM" for 10% off your order at Good Greetings now through 1/31/09.

Tastes Like Chicken

My kids are not big fans of Thanksgiving turkey, but I know they'd enjoy this distant approximation..a Grilled Chicken plush toy. Made by famous European manufacturer HABA, this toy bird comes with easily detachable velcro drumsticks and wings. And you can't overcook it, either. Buy it for $18 at Plastica Shop.

Holiday Sponsor: Nat & Helens

I'm very pleased to introduce you to Nat & Helens, our latest holiday sponsor. This store is a new discovery for me (and that doesn't happen too often). It's an independent bricks-and-mortar Chicago shop specializing in eco-friendly and natural toys and organic baby clothing. Some well-known brands are represented, like Melissa & Doug, Swaddle Designs, and Mimi the Sardine, as well as some lesser-known brands like Scout Organics, Baberoo, and Petite Miette. All of the products are made either in the U.S or in fair trade factories around the world. And a portion of Nat & Helens' yearly profits goes back to charities that support children and the environment.

Here are some of my favorite finds from Nat & Helens:

Heart Shaped Wooden Dollhouse ($48) by EverEarth. My girl would flip for this. It's made from natural wood from renewable forests, and includes 2 poseable figures, 2 trees, furniture, fence, and welcome sign.


Striped Bamboo Romper ($42) by Bamboo Baby. Just about perfect for holiday photo ops. Made of 100% bamboo viscose.


Eco Friendly Starter Kit- Waverly the Water Drop ($30) by Idbids. I've never seen this award-winning gift before but it looks awesome. It's a "go green" kit for kids that includes a plush toy, backpack, storybook, "field guide" and instructions for going online to choose an animal friend to protect via The Nature Conservancy ($.50 of each purchase goes to The Nature Conservancy).


Organic Sock Set- High Tops ($16) by Baberoo. I don't know anyone who can resist cute baby socks, and the fact that these are soft and organic make them an extra thoughtful gift. The set of four pairs fits 0-12 mos.



Psst...on Black Friday, for every $50 you spend online at Nat & Helens, you'll get a $10 coupon off for purchases over $20 in January 2010. So you might want to add this to your list of sites to hit four days from now.


Please note: holiday sponsors pay a small fee for their products to be reviewed. We only accept sponsors whose products we would recommend to our readers.

Jonathan Adler for Barnes & Noble

I was at the Barnes & Noble on East 86th Street the other day and walked right into this gorgeous display of brand new stationery and office products by style guru Jonathan Adler, designed exclusively for B&N. I love just about everything there (of course I love the blue/brown color combo, too- it's one of my favorites).



Pictured directly above are the Set of 2 Blue Hand-Shape Memo Pads ($8.95) which make a unique teachers' gift, and the Dachshund Porcelain Salt and Pepper Shakers ($19.95) which work nicely as a hostess gift. The "Word" mugs are not available online, but you can probably find them in-store. Here are some other items to check out online:

Words File Folders, Set of 6 ($12.95)


Kensington Multi-Color Mini Journal- Set of 3 ($14.95)

Hand Metal Bookends ($12.95)

Check out the Jonathan Adler for B&N collection for some surefire gifts this holiday season.

Fancy Nancy Would Approve

I don't shop at J. Crew's Crewcuts for my kids except for sales, but I still like to window shop there. I love this glammed-up girls' cotton classroom cardigan which features frilled silk habotai trim at the neckline and placket, plus faux glass buttons for extra sparkle. This is definitely one of those "I wish they made this in my size" items. The colors are so beautiful too...champagne, salmon, fuschia, dark poppy, or black. Available for $54, girls' sizes 2 through 12 at J. Crew.

For a limited time only, J. Crew is offering free shipping on all online Crewcuts orders. No code necessary.

Holiday Gift Picks: Edibles

If you like to give yummy holiday presents, but don't have the time to do the baking/cooking yourself, check out these mouth-watering treats I've spotted recently:

Aussie Licorice Box ($34) from Olive and Cocoa. How pretty are these? Imported from Australia, this gift crate includes 6 ounces each of apple, strawberry, and mango-flavored licorice pieces.


Whoopie Pies ($43.50 per dozen with code REALSIMPLE09) by Wanna Hava Cookie . Thanks to Real Simple for the tip! Nothing like a good whoopie pie.


Edible Gingerbread Lighthouse ($39.50) by LL Bean. A coastal twist on the a traditional gingerbread house, this one arrives fully assembled and decorated with gumdrops, jellybeans, candy wreaths, trees and snowmen.


Hanukkah Cookies (about $45 for a gift box) by Eleni's New York. These hand iced sugar cookies not only look spectacular, but taste great, too (I know personally).


Spotted (or tasted) any great holiday food gifts recently? Let us know about them in the comments.

The British Way

I like to browse European shopping sites like Pedlars sometimes to find interesting new products that you won't see state-side. Pedlars, a UK site that has several bricks-and-mortar stores throughout England and Wales, is sort of a cross between The Conran Shop and Urban Outfitters. It has fun knickknacks as well as more heavy-duty pieces this cool Industrial Nine-Drawer Unit. I could just picture a storage unit cropping up in a photo of a kids' playroom in our dearly departed Cookie Magazine, couldn't you? It's actually a reproduction of an item found in a factory in central France, but the colorful drawers make it seem suited to a family-friendly space. The price is anything but child's play, though; it costs 995 pounds. I didn't even bother looking if they ship internationally because, well, I think it's a moot point for 99% of us. But enjoy looking at this and other funky European finds at Pedlars.

Sales and $5 shipping at CWD Kids

One of my favorite sites for clothes for both my daughter and son is CWD Kids. They have fantastic fall sales now plus $5 flat-rate shipping (which they rarely offer). I took advantage of this and scooped up the following deals on clothes I'd had my eye on all season:

Circle Print Tiered Dress and Dot Tights by One Kid (Dress on sale for $19.99, reduced from $56; Tights on sale for $14.99, reduced from $32).


Sibling Shirts by CWD Kids (all four available- Big Brother/Sister, Little Brother/sister, on sale for $7.99 each, reduced from $20)

Double Decker Tee by SPUDZ. On sale for $14.99, reduced from $29.


Use code CFYBCK for flat-rate $5 shipping at CWD Kids now through Christmas.

Demby & Solomon Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to the winners:

Gift Stickers: Heather G, who wrote, "You always seem to know what I need just when I need it! Out of stock on my gift stickers...the Family Presents Large Round Gift Stickers would do the trick...!"

Address Labels: Todd, who wrote, "Cute stuff! I love how modern the designs! I love the Circle Grid labels...I would love to win either item."

Winners, please e-mail me to claim your prize. Everyone else, stay tuned for more holiday giveaways! Need a reminder when to check in? E-mail me with "newsletter" in the subject line.

Holiday Gift Picks: Hanukkah Gifts

My older child, at age 6, has begun to realize that Hanukkah (which starts 3 weeks from tonight) has been commercialized to "keep up" with Christmas, but, of course, she's nonetheless quite glad to get presents. I like to make sure that my kids get at least a few Hanukkah gifts that are actually related to that holiday- or to Judaism. Here are several new ones I've found, as well as some that I featured in years past:

My First Hanukkah Frame ($19.95 to $24.95) from Personal Creations. A very sweet, simple gift to commemorate baby's first Hanukkah.


Happy Hanukkah Socks ($5.95) from The Land of Nod. These Trumpette socks are super cute and supposedly fit infants age 0-12 months, though I found they run small (my kids could only wear them up to 5 or 6 months).

Hanukkah Menorah ($49) by Pottery Barn Kids. New this season, this menorah is one that your kids can safely "light"- they just turn the blocks to reveal a flame for each successive candle.


Personalized Hanukkah Tee ($54) at Chasing Fireflies. Yes, the price is crazy, but it sure looks nice. If you want to find something cheaper at Chasing Fireflies, check out the tzedakah box ($10) I posted recently.

Hebrew Alphabet Blocks ($40) by Chasing Fireflies. My daughter, who is learning to read, speak and write Hebrew, would love these.

OyBaby DVD ($24.95) from Amazon.com. We got our "OyBaby" DVD three years ago, and my kids still request it all the time. Think of it as a Judaica-themed version of the Baby Einstein series.


Fisher Price Little People Hanukkah Set ($34.99) from Amazon.com. I gave this to my kids last year and it still is in regular circulation in their toybox, year-round. They love singing along to the Hanukkah songs that it plays, and they use the Little People in their other playsets, too.


Wooden Hanukkah Playset ($32.95) by KidKraft, from Discount School Supply. You;ll find these on several gift sites, but the price is lowest here. Kids have fun frying the pretend latkes and "lighting" each candle.


Need more ideas? Check out all my past Hanukkah gift picks.

Holiday Sponsor: Umberleaf

Our latest holiday sponsor, Umberleaf, is a brand new online boutique with spare but stylish eco-conscious products. Think of organic baby clothing in subtle colors, cardboard playhouses, and the like. While browsing Umberleaf's site, I recognized a few designers and products that I first saw at Bubble shows, the place for new, under-the-radar eco-friendly kids' designers to first make their mark. Here are my picks:

Cardboard Castle ($50) by CardboardDesign. Two drawbridges and four turrets for lots of creative play, yet it still folds away when the kids are done. Nifty.


"J'adore" Top & Pant Set: Silver Star ($48) by Atsuyo et Akiko. I saw A&A's booth at Bubble and fell in love with most of their line. This hand-silkscreened set makes a great unisex baby gift.


"Je T'Aime New York" Hearts Tee ($30) also by Atsuyo et Akiko. I would've loved to put my own kids in this.

"Smiling World" Plate ($14) by Smiling Planet. I met the creators of these plates at Bubble and was very impressed. The plates are BPA-free and phthalate-free and made from 100% recycled high grade plastic. The illustrations are placed subsurface, so the plates won't scratch.


Check out the growing selection of eco-friendly goods at Umberleaf.


Please note: holiday sponsors pay a small fee for their products to be reviewed. We only accept sponsors whose products we would recommend to our readers.

Make-Your-Own Tooth Fairy Box

I found a cute new birthday gift for 5 and 6-year-olds at a school book fair this week- this Make Your Own Tooth Fairy Keepsake Box by Toysmith. Kids can mold, paint, and decorate their own box to store newly lost teeth- or other trinkets in between visits from the Tooth Fairy. It costs $12.95 at our affiliate Amazon.com.

Hollywood Glam for Less

If you've got a little boy, I highly encourage you to check out the website for Little Maven by Tori Spelling, Tori's line of clothing for girls and boys up to size 4T. Right now they are having a 30% off sale on some of their signature items like the Liam Jean ($28-$33.60 on sale), which is in almost daily rotation in my son's wardrobe. These are the only jeans that fit my big boy (41 lbs and 41 inches at his 3 year checkup!) really well. And they look great, too. We pair it with this top which is another current favorite of ours. Check out the "Signature Sale" at Little Maven- this is one of those sites where the boys' clothes actually exceed the girls' in cuteness.

Holiday Gift Picks: Frecklebox

Frecklebox.com is my go-to site for personalized gifts for kids ages 3 and up. I've bought several of their topsellers (books, puzzles, and stickers) for my own kids, so I can attest to the high quality and the squeals of glee that come from the kids seeing their own names in print. For the 2009 holiday season, Frecklebox has introduced some great new products:

First up is personalized holiday stickers- my favorites are the Hanukkah Sticker Set, Santa and Friends Sticker Set and Gingerbread Sticker Set. Each set contains 12 personalized stickers (3 each of four designs) and costs just $3.95 per set.


Next is Frecklebox's Christmas Personalized Coloring Book ($6.95 each). Buy a bunch of them to give out to the kids on your Christmas list- everyone gets the same one, so they'll be no arguing!


I've always loved Frecklebox's personalized puzzles and for the holidays my top choices are the Santa's Village Puzzle and the Menorah Moose Puzzle. Each has 20 pieces and costs $12.95.

Finally, here's a gift that can be used round-the-clock during holiday season- personalized holiday placemats ($9.95 each). I'm partial to those that can also be used year-round like the Argyle & Pink Personalized Placemat.


Get started shopping for personalized gifts for kids at Frecklebox.com .

Breaking News! Enter promo code WISH10 at checkout at Frecklebox now through December 25th. You will receive 10% off your entire order, and Frecklebox will also donate 10% of the total order amount to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Holiday Sponsor: Sunshine Paperie

Sunshine Paperie is an online stationery boutique started by a Dallas mom. It offers what you might imagine- personalized stationery, invitations, and holiday cards- but also some more unique items which I'm featuring here. Customer service is excellent with quick turn around times and personal attention you won't get at some of the bigger sites. Here are some of my top picks:

Christmas Packages Fill in Thank You Notes (starts at $11 for a pack of 10) by Kelly Hughes Designs. Do you have a tough time getting your kids to write thank you notes for their holiday loot? These cute fill-in notes might make the battle easier.

Custom Hanukkah Stamper ($40). I am a big fan of the custom ink stamps by Three Designing Women. At holiday season they are practically a necessity for all the mail you're sending. See all the designs here.


Clover Platter ($35) by Kelly Hughes Designs. These personalized 10 x 14 melamine trays are a perfect hostess gift during holiday season- several other patterns are available too.


Enjoy a 20% discount on any order at Sunshine Paperie with code "MMS20".


Please note: holiday sponsors pay a small fee for their products to be reviewed. We only accept sponsors whose products we would recommend to our readers.

Hanukkah Hosting

Every year when the holiday catalogs arrive in the mail, I'm disappointed at the meager selection of items for Hanukkah entertaining (Crate & Barrel, I'm talking to you). I was happy to find these festive Hanukkah Cotton Cloth Dinner Napkins on Etsy. Each set of eight 12" square, machine washable napkins costs just $24 (not bad) and is pre-shrunk. These could definitely become a family favorite year after year. Buy a set for $24 at the Etsy storefront of Mary Littfin.

'Tis the Season, Again, for Tiny Prints

Tiny Prints has introduced a fabulous new category of vintage-style holiday photo cards. I think these may be my favorite Tiny Prints designs of the past few years. Each design starts at $1.34 per card. Keep in mind that several of these are available in different colors, too.

Bright Noel - Holiday Greeting Card


Vintage Santa - Holiday Greeting Card


Snowy Season - Holiday Greeting Card


Merry Diamonds - Holiday Greeting Card


Wishing Notice - Holiday Greeting Card

Check out the entire selection of 2009 Tiny Prints Holiday Cards.


Psst! Through 11/19/09 only, enjoy 10% off Tiny Prints holiday card orders of $99 or more, 15% off holiday card orders of $149 or more or 20% off holiday card orders of $199 or more using the coupon code NOVHOLSALE.

After November 19th, use code "AFL10" instead for $10 off orders of $99 or more.

I'm on Cuteable.com!

I am really honored that one of my favorite blogs, Cuteable, featured my Winter in Central Park foldover photo card in their selection of cute finds today. I posted this card in my Etsy shop Brown Eye Blue recently along with some other new cards which I will show you in a separate post. The "Winter in Central Park" card ($3.75, shipping is free) shown here is one of my favorites and holds special meaning for me- I took the photo in late 2005, the same week I learned I was expecting my 2nd baby. The scene is magical and full of anticipation for the coming year, just like I felt at that time. Take a look at all of my other photo cards at Brown Eye Blue- my popular autumn cards are on sale, and I'll be adding more 3-card sets that make great teacher gifts or holiday hostess gifts. They are all signed and dated by me, and arrive in a protective cello sleeve, tied with a pretty raffia ribbon, ready for gift-giving.

Thanks so much, Cuteable, for featuring my work!

Holiday Sponsor: Wild Dill

Our latest holiday sponsor, Wild Dill, is the kind of site that makes you feel very good about shopping for your kids. It's an online boutique with carefully chosen organic, natural and fair trade items from the U.S. and Europe, ranging from clothing and bedding to toys and gifts. Every product represents something good, pure and simple. And it's stuff your kids will love to wear- or play with.

Here are my top holiday picks from Wild Dill:

Aminals Organic Momey ($22). A company I'd never heard of before, Aminals makes these huggable eco-friendly pals based on children's drawings (in fact, this one bears a striking resemblance to my 6-year-old's recent drawings of me). The stuffing is also safe, made from 100% unbleached and unprocessed ortanic cotton. Made using fair labor practices, too. Add the "Dady" ($22) for a matched set.

Plan Toys Eco Home ($64). How's this for a forward-thinking toy? One of my favorite eco-friendly European toy manufacturers, Plan Toys, created this minimalist dollhouse featuring wind turbines, solar panels, gray water tank, electric scooter, and more. The house itself is made from sustainable rubber wood and is decorated with safe, non-toxic water-based dyes. Includes furniture and 2 eco-minded inhabitants.


Bacche Organic Long Sleeve Tee ($28, sizes up to 3/4 years). Bacche clothes (another new discovery for me) are produced responsibly in India using 100% organic cotton with eco-friendly dyes. A portion of their profits are given to charities for women and children. I love this tee too.


Do some eco-friendly, feel-good holiday shopping for your kids at Wild Dill. **Breaking news- you MUST also check out the Global Green Pals Organic Dolls which have just arrived at Wild Dill from London. With names like "Carbon Offset Chet", they are pretty adorable!

Please note: holiday sponsors pay a small fee for their products to be reviewed. We only accept sponsors whose products we would recommend to our readers.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Demby and Solomon

As a busy mom, I've come to appreciate the convenience of gift and address labels pretty much year-round, but especially during holiday season. Of course, for a stationery addict like me, there is the extra fun of choosing these labels in addition to picking out this year's holiday cards. One site whose labels I adore is Demby and Solomon. Designer/owner Lysa Goodman Poore has a talent for making stationery products with fun (not fussy), mid-century retro designs.

This week's giveaway will have 2 winners of products from Demby and Solomon- 1 will receive a set of 24 personalized gift stickers, and the other will receive a set of personalized return address labels. Perfect for the holidays, and probably a lot snazzier than what you're currently using.

Here are a sample of the gift stickers you can choose from (note: Demby and Solomon does not sell its products at its own website, check out their products at The Stationery Studio or The Paper Concierge instead:

"Open Me" Large Gift Stickers (22 for $24)


Hanukkah Pop Gift Stickers (22 for $24)


Ahoy Mateys Gift Stickers (22 for $24)

And here are some of my favorite address labels:
Wreath Address Labels (30 for $20)


Gingerbread Address Labels (30 for $20)


From My Crib Address Labels (30 for $20)


Win it! Two MyMomShops readers will win prizes from Demby and Solomon- one will win a set of custom gift labels of choice ($24) and one will win a set of custom address labels of choice ($20). Here are the contest rules:

1) To enter, please comment on THIS post (click on "comments" below), indicating what your favorite item from Demby and Solomon is (it does not have to be items shown here). You can visit The Stationery Studio and The Paper Concierge to see most of the products, Please include whether you wish to be considered for the gift labels, the address labels, or both.
2) Post your comment by 11:59pm EST, Thursday, November 19th. One entry per person, please. US addresses only.
3) Two winners will be chosen at random and announced on Friday morning, November 20th.
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!

A through Z tee by Eric Carle

I love alphabet graphic clothing for kids like this Eric Carle Print Tee by Awake at the Nordstrom website. The long-sleeve tee has a subtle white-on-white layered look, decorated with typography in the style of Carle's famous children's book illustrations. It's available in sizes 4-6x for $34 at Nordstrom.

I'll Warm You Up

Can you handle the cuteness? Oeuf's Squeeze Me Mittens are actually two pairs of mittens in one; one for mom (or dad) to wear, the other is a sewn-in pair to keep your little one's hands warm. They are handmade of 100% Alpaca by indigenous women in Bolivia (read about them here). Choose your mittens from a variety of colors. They cost $60 a pair at Oeuf.

Take That Jackson Pollock

I know, you'll say "my kid could do that themselves, why should i pay $68?" and, for the record, I agree. But I still liked stumbling onto this Paint Fight Hoodie at NYC shop Estella. The designer is Munster, an Australian brand that makes fresh, edgy play clothes for boys. Even though this sweatshirt screams "mess", it has an extra thoughtful detail- thumb holes cut into the cuff to keep his fingers warm on cold days. It remains available in sizes 2-3 years only for $68 at Estella.

Holiday Gift Picks: Back to Basics Toys

Over the next several weeks, I'll give you lots of suggestions for holiday gifts- some grouped by theme or age, others picked from particular sites. The first site I'll mention is Back to Basics Toys. Their tagline "They do make them like they used to" says it all. If you'd like to introduce your kids to some of your favorite childhood toys, this is the place for you. Here's what I like:

Wood Block Cube Puzzle ($9.99). This is actually six puzzles in one- each 1 1/2" side is part of a 1950s vintage children's illustration ($9.99). I had a set just like this when I was a kid.


Fisher Price Two Tune TV ($32.99). A sweet gift for toddlers, this classic 1966 Fisher Price Toy is primitive by today's standards, but never fails to captivate kids as "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and "London Bridge" scenes scroll along to the music.


Classic Labyrinth ($19.99). Another toy I remember from my own childhood, this is just as much fun for adults as for (older) kids.

Check out more "old" and "new" classics at Back to Basics Toys.

Want to see more of my holiday gift picks? Click here.

Christmas Greetings, Mad-Men Style

These mid-century style holiday cards by Fabulous Stationery reminded me so much of Mad Men even before I saw that the sample was from the "Whitmans" (apologies to those who don't watch my favorite show). Couldn't you just picture Betty sitting with her wine glass by the fire, staring at the tree? Hopefully your own holiday season is a happier one though! 20 notecards with envelopes cost $45 at Fabulous Stationery.

New Jersey Never Looked So Beautiful

Oooh, this is my favorite jewelry discovery in a while. These state necklaces by Maya Brenner are pretty awesome, aren't they? They're becoming a celeb favorite (they've been spotted on Jessica Simpson, Rachel Bilson, and Eva Longoria Parker). They're available in silver or gold, with or without a little diamond which you can ask to have placed at a specific location. Prices start at $120 for the plain silver version and go up to $300 for the gold version with diamond- out of my price range, but not exorbitant. I love these. Show your homestate pride and buy one at Maya Brenner.

Psst! Any husbands reading? This makes a nice holiday gift for the missus.

Today Only: 25% Off plus Free Shipping at Lands End

If you like Lands End, you should shop there today. You'll get a 25% discount plus free shipping with promo code "LESHOP" and pin "7142". You can stock up on personalized holiday gifts like their popular Open Top Canvas Tote Bags ($17.50 and up) shown here. These tote bags also happen to make great personalized baby gifts if you order them in pink or light blue. It's also a good time to stock up on Lands End kids' outerwear; many of the items are already reduced and you'll get the additional 25% discount.

Use promo code "LESHOP" and pin "7142" for 25% off plus free shipping at Lands End, today only.

Baby Star Rock the Tote Winner

Congratulations to The Andiarena Family, who wrote, "With winter right around the corner I am always looking for a great baby blankets for the kiddos...that said I love the baby girl diamond blanket." Please e-mail me to claim your prize.

Holiday Sponsor: Quote the Walls

If one of your New Year's resolutions is to spiff up your home a bit (within a budget), check out our latest holiday sponsor, Quote the Walls. It's a one-stop shop for semi-permanent vinyl wall letters, monograms, sayings, and quotes. There are suggestions for just about every room in the house from the baby's room to the laundry room. Check out the customer photo gallery to get your creative juices going. Quote the Walls does custom orders on a regular basis, so if have a particular quote in mind or want something in a different size, color, or font, just ask- most likely, they will be able to create it for you. The finished product is super easy to apply to the walls and looks like it was hand-painted by a professional- I can say this with certainty because I have a Quote the Walls quote in my own son's room (see the photo above showing it above his crib- now replaced by a bed- but the quote remains). Many people think I must've paid an artist to do it, but in reality it was much cheaper (about $30) and I did it myself. The toughest part will be deciding what exactly to order! Visit Quote the Walls.

Please note: holiday sponsors pay a small fee for their products to be reviewed. We only accept sponsors whose products we would recommend to our readers.

If Lloyd Dobler Had Kids Today

Speaking of the anniversary of Lloyd Dobler and his musical tribute in Say Anything, check out this updated-for-today's kids LEGO Brick Boombox with CD Player. It's 10 times the size of an original LEGO brick and has knobs that work for volume and control tuners. A great gift for elementary-age kids, it costs $34.99 at Toys R Us.

We Love Lloyd

Get ready to feel old(er). This year marks the 20th anniversary of the movie Say Anything (cue "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel) starring John Cusack and Ione Sky. Oh, how I loved that movie. They don't make guys like Lloyd Dobler anymore, do they? Relive all the sweet moments ("I gave her my heart, she gives me a pen") with Say Anything on Blu-ray (on sale for $17.49, reduced from $34.99) at our affiliate Amazon.com.

Hanukkah Greetings- Hurry!

We're fully into holiday card season now, and if you celebrate Hanukkah like I do, perhaps you are even more in a rush to find cards that you love (Hanukkah starts this year on Friday night, December 11th). My favorite Hanukkah photo card this year (I'm biased- I ordered some for myself) are these Very Happy Hanukkah photo cards from Paperspring, a new affiliate to this site. I love that these cards let you incorporate three different photos, and that it has a Hanukkah vibe from the color (and obviousy the text) but doesn't go overboard with dreidels and menorahs like some other Hanukkah cards do. You can order the cards on 100% recycled cardstock or Paperspring's special "Stickystock" which allows you to affix your card anywhere like a post-it. Prices start at $1.69 per card for 25 cards, and shipping is always free. Turnaround time is very quick, too...I received my order in just a few days. And, Hanukkah cards are just one type of item that Paperspring offers- you can also buy Christmas cards, baby announcements, invitations, and personalized stationery. So take some time browsing at Paperspring.

Now through November 22nd, enjoy an exclusive 20% discount on any order at Paperspring with code "MMSHOPS20".

Bargain Alert: Baby Car Sweater

I have posted so much little boys' clothing from The Children's Place recently that you'd think they were paying me to write this stuff. They aren't (inside blogger joke). But I absolutely love this newborn boys' car sweater that I spotted in-store. It has really nice details like sueded elbow patches, a tipped color, and even graphics on the back, too (click on the images at the site for a complete view). And it's on sale for just $7.69 now (originally $16.50) in all newborn sizes- 0-3mos, 3-6mos, 6-9mos, and 12mos. If my boy were still a baby, I'd snatch this sweater for sure. Check it out at The Children's Place.

Bargain Alert: Blueberry Babies Warehouse Sale

Upscale baby boutique Blueberry Babies is having a warehouse sale where you can score deals up to 80% off on items by 3 Marthas, Egg Baby, Lucy & Michael and more. There's baby clothes, accessories, and nursery decor, including this funky Matthew Catch All Toy Bag (on sale for $21, reduced from $60), a great collapsible bag for toting toys room to room, or even to Grandma's house. It measures 18 x 15 x 17 and is designed by well-known play tent designer Lucy and Michael. Browse all the sale items at Blueberry Babies.

Holiday Sponsor: Kobold Toys

I'm getting tons of holiday toy catalogs in the mail, many of which just rehash the same loud flashing toys. Luckily, there are several sites I can rely on for quieter, higher-quality, even educational (shhhh) toys for my kids. One of these sites is Kobold Toys, which I have mentioned to you before. Originally a bricks-and-mortar store located in Panama, Kobold Toys is now a top online venue for specialty toys from all over the world, including Belgium, Italy, Sweden, France, and Germany (and some of the "better" American brands, too).

A few things to note about Kobold Toys:

1) Do you love gorgeous gift wrap? Kobold Toys imports its beautiful children's gift wrap from Germany. I have some which I have used (and re-used) multiple times.
2) Stumped for a gift? They have a gift advisory service, so if have no idea what to get for a particular child on your list, they're happy to help.
3) I'm often deterred by high shipping costs, so I appreciate that Kobold Toys has free shipping on orders of just $40 or more, and orders below that ship for a very low flat fee of $3.99 within the U.S.

Here are some of my top holiday gift picks from Kobold Toys:

We are big fans of Barefoot Books in our house (they are created by writers, artists, storytellers and musicians, and have captivating illustrations). Any of Kobold Toy's Barefoot Books "bags of books" gift sets are sure to be hits; I like this ABC's and 1,2,3's Bag of Books Gift Set ($28) best for the 4-and-under crowd, packed in an eco-friendly tote with personalized gift tag.


Another item on my own wish-list for my 3-year-old and 6-year-old are the international building block sets by Archiquest. The one shown here is Medieval Europe ($99). The heirloom quality blocks arrive with a 46-page hardbound educational book that includes timelines and building ideas.


Finally, since I have a fondness for retro TV holiday specials, I must mention Kobold Toys's Rudolph/Joy Love 2-in-1 Puzzle ($13.99). One side features Rudolph and Santa, the other side shows Rudolph's mom. A sweet gift or stocking stuffer.


Start your holiday shopping at Kobold Toys.

Please note: holiday sponsors pay a small fee for their products to be reviewed. We only accept sponsors whose products we would recommend to our readers.

40 Years and Counting

Before the first episode of Sesame Street aired 40 years ago today, the top video was the "bumper" (the footage before the actual show). Seeing the "in color" part gives me goosebumps because I remember it so well (though, being born in 1972, I saw the first season in repeats only...). The 2nd video is the classic opening theme music from that first episode.

Want to see more? Buy Sesame Street Old School and see the original episodes in their entirety on DVD.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Baby Star Diaper Bag

If you're a new mom, I think you will love today's giveaway. Baby Star is a company that I first learned about when I spotted their baby blankets a few years ago. Baby Star has exclusive patterns that are sort of jazzed-up versions of baby pastels- there are stars, diamonds, stripes, and bubbles accented with mod colors like brown and orange. Since Baby Star came on the scene, they have expanded their offerings to include baby shoes, organic baby clothes (check out the awesome organic baby jeans), and the new organic diaper bag that we are giving away today.

Baby Star's new Rock The Tote diaper bag has a classic design but with a modern vibe. The convenient tote style with generous size (18" wide x 15" tall) accommodates all you need when you're on the run with baby There's a wide zippered pocket on one side, and two open pockets on the other for quick access to cell phone or bottle. A matching changing pad is included along with a BPA-free wipe case. And the colors and patterns are really outstanding (I'd personally have a tough time choosing), including Baby Star's popular "Daisy Chain", "Four Square Blue", "Kaleidoscope", "Tag", "Flutter", or shimmering metallic solids. The bag retails for $88.

Enjoy a 30% discount on all items at Baby Star with code "20twinkle09", now through 12/31/09. Also check for their weekly specials.

Win it! One reader will win a Rock the Tote diaper bag (design of choice), retail value $88, from Baby Star. Here are the contest rules:

1) To enter, please comment on THIS post (click on "comments" below), indicating what your favorite item from Baby Star is. It does not have to be the same item as the prize.
2) Post your comment by 11:59pm EST, Thursday, November 12th. One entry per person, please. US addresses only.
3) One winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday morning, November 13th.
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!

Chasing Fireflies Does Good

I have given the catalog Chasing Fireflies some flack on this blog for their exorbitant prices on children's clothing that you can find elsewhere for less, but I have to give them props for something else now. When I was on their site, I saw that they had a far more impressive selection of Hanukkah gifts that just about any other high-caliber kids' clothing or toy site I've seen recently. Check out the Hebrew alphabet blocks, personalized dreidl tee, and Hanukkah train menorah, just for starters. But above all, I really love the small Wooden Tzedakah Box shown above. For my non-Jewish readers, "tzedakah" means charity (which can include giving money to the poor, but also includes doing any good deed to help others less fortunate). My children learned about "tzedakah" early on and know that every holiday season, we take a portion of our "tzedakah" money and either donate it to a children's charity or use it to buy a Christmas or Hanukkah gift for a less fortunate child. And, the box itself costs just $10. This is definitely on my "to buy" list for both R. and S. this year. Way to go, Chasing Fireflies. You are back in my good graces.

p.s. Here is a heartwarming story from yesterday's New York Times about one of its Neediest Fund cases- it is a good story to share with age-appropriate children. R. and I read it together.

Halloween Re-cap

Eh, so it's only a week late, but here are some photographs of our Halloween/birthday (and pre-Halloween) activities and celebrations. Enjoy!

Earlier in October, we went pumpkin picking on a rainy weekend. Fortunately there were pumpkins to "pick" at an indoor nursery. Here are Grandpa and the kids carting our pumpkins away. I love this photo.


When the weather cleared we went to another small pumpkin patch in New Jersey (hold the New Jersey jokes...this is quite pretty!). Some of my other photos were published here.


This was one of our favorite pumpkins that we picked- we named him "Bumpy" and I even made a card out of him (you can see/buy my other photo cards here).


I was impressed this year with my 6-year-old's ability to decorate a pumpkin (much better than me):


Every year we trick-or-treat on scenic East 78th Street, where the townhouses and brownstones are decorated beautifully for the holiday, and the kids get the "suburban" feel of going door-to-door for candy.


My three-year-old S. (aka "Thomas") reaches for some treats on East 78th St. Unidentified princess at left.


At home we had a Halloween/birthday party which included this Food Emporium cake which R. had picked out for me. She has good taste:


One of my favorite birthday gifts: two dozen orange balloons from a special friend. What can I say, I am a simple girl with simple tastes...


A last look at "Jack" lit up before he got too moldy:


The next morning was the New York City marathon. Our apartment faces First Avenue which is a prime viewing spot along the route. We saw the women frontrunners speed by. Amazing!


Later on, this was the view from our balcony:


There is nothing like watching world class runners speed by your home when you are recovering from Halloween candy stupor, right?

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

Tutu Cute

I have several friends who have welcome new baby girls recently (the latest is my friend B. who welcomed baby Gabriella one week ago- congratulations!). So when I'm shopping I always keep my eye out for cute newborn clothes. While online at Gymboree.com I spotted this Tutu Bodysuit on sale for just $9.99 (was originally $24.75). It's left in size 0-3 months only, so scoop it up if you know a new baby girl who resides in a warm clime! Her parents will love the photo ops. Buy it at Gymboree.

By the way, if you're shopping today (Sunday, November 8th), you can get 30% off your Gymboree purchase through midnight with code "REWARDSCOF". Enjoy!

P.S. Moms of boys, I haven't forgotten you. Boys' clothing to be posted this week, I promise.

Swatch: The Next Generation

My dad recently returned from a trip to Switzerland, and in addition to bringing some small toys and a bag of Lindt chocolate that R. polished off easily, he brought me my 3rd Swatch ever as a birthday gift. I got my first two Swatches in junior high school (back in the days of Wham!)- a red and black one, and then one of the super-cool "smelly swatches"- mine was a translucent yellow and scented like lemon. I wore it every day next to my black rubber "Madonna bracelets." I lost it somewhere around 1987 and still miss it. But now I have this brand-new, 2009 "Gummelis" Swatch that makes me look like a hip, young Euro mom. There are two cartoon-y figures in light blue and light pink (appropriate for a mom of 1 girl and 1 boy) on the face and dangling from the snap. It kind of has a retro-meets-techno, Pac-Man meets Twitter vibe to it. You can buy it for approximately $54 (depending on the Euro exchange rate) at Squiggly.com. Thanks, Dad!

Etsy Party Invitations

A few months ago I bookmarked a couple of birthday party invitations that caught my eye at Etsy:

Our Little Girl Turns One Party Invitation ($18 for a set of 10) by Chick Print. I love retro invites like this. Check out the whole Chick Print store- there's good stuff there.
How Many Seconds Old? Party Invitation ($16 for design, you can print yourself or pay extra fee for printing) by Less Ordinary Designs. I can't get that some from Rent out of my head now, but I think this is such a fun design (Less Ordinary Designs made my holiday cards last year, by the way).

Bargain Alert: Girls' Knit Hat Set

I just bought R. this new SONOMA life + style 3-piece striped knit hat set from Kohls and she looooves it. The hearts and stripes and pom-poms win points with her; I like that the heavy knit is warm and also machine washable. And the price is amazing- it's on sale for just $11.70 for the set (hat, gloves, and scarf), reduced from $25 at Kohls. It's available in purple, too.

Jason Lindberg Kids Photography

It's not too late to book holiday portrait sessions here in NYC. I've already recommended Jelly Bean Pictures, and now I have one more recommendation for you- Jason Lindberg Photography. Jason is a NYC-based photographer and has just launched his own kids' portraiture site. Personally, Jason is inspired by photographing his own two-and-a-half-year-old nephew (we loves uncles, right?) Professionally, he has studied photography at Parsons and film at The New School, and his work has appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Time Out. When photographing children, his approach is to give kids freedom and let them create their own spontaneous moments. His standard holiday portrait session costs about $575 (a price that will not surprise New York City moms). What you're paying for is up to 3 hours of photography, an online gallery of at least 60 images, and contact sheets, plus a $100 credit for print purchases and a disk containing e-mail ready images. So if it's in your budget, you'll get a lot of bang for the buck, and some pretty great photos. Visit Jason Lindberg Kids Photography to view more of his work and to book a holiday session.

Dwell Studio Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to the Dwell Studio giveaway winners:

Toddler bathrobe winner: Gaelle, who wrote, "I would love to enter both giveaways. On the Arte Website, I really like the Chick Chair."

Board Books winner: Twinmom, who wrote, "I'd love to give the books to my cousin's new baby for Hanukamas :) Love the different counting book."

Winners, please e-mail me to claim your prizes.

Everyone else, stay tuned for Monday's new giveaway from Baby Star.

See Jack Decorate

There's a lot of personalized kids' wall art out there right now, but this Child's Room Art Series of 3 Prints stood out when I was browsing Etsy recently. I like how the sweet, short text reads across the panels, and how the neutral colors work for either a girl or boy's room (though a pink version just for girls is also available). A really nice keepsake gift, too. You can also choose different wording if you have a special text you'd like to have printed. Each set of 3 8 x 10 panels costs $25 at Itsy Bitsy Store.

Until Next October...

I just took down all of our Halloween decorations and put them into a few Duane Reade shopping bags. I'd much rather be using these sturdier (and more attractive) Halloween Storage Containers I found at Space Savers. They are available in two seasonally-appropriate colors (pumpkin orange or royal purple) in 2 different sizes. The 18 gallon container is on sale for $7.99 and the 66 quart container is on sale for $9.99 (hint: now you can tell which one is bigger even if you don't remember your conversions). These will pop right out when you scan your closet for your Halloween decorations next Fall, for sure. Buy them at Space Savers.

Happy 40th Birthday, Sesame Street

"Somebody Come and Play", the original Sesame Street version from 1970. Brings me right back to my childhood. I loved this song. What were your Sesame Street favorites?

Want to learn fun facts about Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary? Here's a great article from this week's New York Magazine.

Holiday Sponsor: My Princess Closet

If you've got a little princess of a daughter (or niece, or granddaughter) whom you like to spoil, you will definitely want to check out our first holiday sponsor, My Princess Closet. This all-things-girly boutique site was started by a mom of three boys who was thrilled to welcome her first girl a few years ago. There is a great selection of girls' clothing, accessories, toys, and gifts that hit just the right "princess" note. Here are my top picks for holiday gifts from My Princess Closet:

If your own home isn't exactly castle-sized, consider this space-saving Fold & Go Princess Castle ($50). It comes with furniture, 2 horses, and a prince and princess, and has a convenient carrying handle.


I've always wanted one of these Books-to-Bed Sets for my own daughter. My Princess Closet sells the Pinkalicious, Purplicious, and Cinderella. Sizes 2T-6, $38 for each set.

Got a crafty princess? Consider this make-your-own princess puppet ($30) who arrives with two wigs, dresses, sparkly jewelry, and accessories.


Finally, if you want to buy girly clothing, My Princess Closet has marked all of its Fall '09 clothing off by 40%. You can snag some great deals on clothing by Tea Collection, Tartine et Chocolate, and Room Seven. This Stella Dress by Pink Chicken now costs $40.80 (originally $68) in sizes 12 months through 6.



Last but not least, take note that My Princess Closet offers flat rate $5 shipping on all orders- something that is oh-so-helpful when ticking off items on your holiday shopping list. Visit My Princess Closet.

Please note: holiday sponsors pay a small fee for their products to be reviewed. We only accept sponsors whose products we would recommend to our readers.

Better than Ziplocs

I just received a sample Pish Posh Carryall, which is a new purse organizer that allows moms to transfer baby essentials easily from diaper bag to "grown-up" bag and back. It is a lightweight fabric bag available in several pretty patterns, and it has multiple pockets both inside and out to carry a few diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, etc. Even though my kids are out of diapers, I would happily use this organizer to transfer my phone, keys, datebook, and other must-haves between my bags. It sure would be more stylish than the worn Ziploc bags I currently use for transfers. The carryalls cost about $45 apiece and shipping is a flat rate of just $2. Visit Pish Posh Mommy.

Guest Blogger: My Six-Year-Old Daughter

"Thees flashcards are for lurning they are very fun my bruther likes them. and i like them to i bet you will likethem to."
Typed by R., age 6.


Editor's note: This review refers to Kumon's ABC Write and Wipe flashcards ($8.95) which S's occupational therapist brought over for the kids. R. asked, "Can I write them on your blog? I like your job." And voila, a guest blogger is born. Stay tuned for more.

Toddler Turkey Day

If you've got a baby or toddler at the Thanksgiving table this year, check out this Thanksgiving dinnerware set by Baby Cie. The melamine set has cute Thanksgiving drawings and includes a compartmentalized dinner tray, juice cup, breakfast bowl, and spoon. $29.50 at Baby Gap.

Mmmm...Cupcakes

We're big fans of Melissa & Doug toys around here, and my kids love the M&D cookie decorating set, so I think they'd also have fun with the brand-new Melissa & Doug Bake & Decorate Cupcake Set. The nicely packaged set includes four cupcakes with wipe-off frosting tops (little bakers can "write" on the frosting with four dry erase markers in the shape of frosting tubes), decorative wooden candles with flames, cardboard baking cups, a wooden baking tin, and a cute red gingham oven mitt. It's a lot of stuff for a good price- just $15.97 for the set at Amazon.com. I think this is going to be become a popular preschool birthday gift....and keep it in mind for the holidays, too.

MyMomShops Giveaway: Two Giveaways from Dwell Studio

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.


Do any of you feel a bit of a let-down after Halloween? I sure do. My favorite holiday (and birthday) has just passed, and there's a somewhat stressful season of holiday gatherings, holiday gift-giving, and holiday tipping coming up. So I thought that this Monday would be a good time for an extra special giveaway. Actually, two giveaways.

Since I began this blog, I've learned about a lot of modern design shops. One of my favorites is Dwell Studio founded by mom Christiane Lemieux ten years ago in an effort to bring modern textile design to home decor at an affordable price. Dwell Studio has since become a go-to design shop for contemporary bedding for both adults and kids, and (lucky for us) has expanded its selection to include accessories for both grown-ups and kids, running the gamut from table linens to nursery rugs to stationery (they have their own line at Tiny Prints). Dwell Studio continues to be an industry leader with unique patterns and colors, all of which are attractive yet subtle (no loud princess-themed bedding here). I also love that they have a lower-priced line at Target (my own son's crib bedding was purchased there).



We are giving away two brand new products from Dwell Studio today. You can enter either giveaway, or both. The first is a new bathtime accessory for children- the cozy bath wraps (pictured above) in signature Dwell patterns: Sparrow, Paper Dolls, and Choc Dots. They are one size, designed to fit children who wear a 2T thruogh 4T. They're made of soft percale lined with plush cotton terry and are machine washable. Each one retails for $68 at Arte Bebe and the winner will choose which pattern they'd like.


The second giveaway is another brand new product from Dwell Studio- this set of four board books. If you're a design-minded mom, you will want these for your baby's first library. The themes of these books are pretty standard- counting, colors, etc.- but the execution is done Dwell-style with attractive modern illustrations that won't be overly distracting to Junior. The four titles are "Look" ($6.99), "Count" ($6.99), "What Colors?" ($8.99) and "Touch & Feel Farm" ($8.99)- this is Dwell's first set of board books, but more titles are expected in Spring 2010. These will definitely make a great baby gift for modern-minded parents. The books are published by Blue Apple Books (a division of Chronicle Books) and can be purchased at Chronicle Kids or Amazon.com.

Want to see Dwell's other fantastic products for grown-ups and kids? Visit Dwell Studio.

Says It All

My handmade "Be Nice or Leave" pillow ($69) by designer Alexandra Ferguson just arrived, and it's a big hit. Even my six-year-old has taken the sentiment to heart (threatening her little brother with it). The pillows on either side are bargain-priced (just $18 for the pair) from Kohl's.

Chic and On Sale Sweater Dress

Hanna Andersson is having a site-wide sale right now (20% off many items) and I particularly like this Shadow Stripe Sweater Dress. It's a little different from what Hanna normally offers; it's more mod and less garish and reminds me of designers like My Sister Sam. I love the mixed vertical-and-horizontal stripes, the pleats (and how they'll twirl), and the dainty bow at the neck. Available in all European sizes 80 through 160 at the monent (but buy fast, Hanna tends to sell out of popular sizes early) for $49.60 (regularly $62) at Hanna Andersson.