Pixie Chicago, and Everywhere Else

Remember the city skyline notecards from Pixie Chicago that I raved about over the holidays (and gave several as gifts)? The shop has just added several more city skylines including San Francisco (shown), Boston, Nashville, L.A., and even Sydney. These make fantastic, affordable personalized gifts ($18.50 for a set of 12). Go see if your home city is there!

NYIGF Part 1: Best New Baby & Child Product Nominees

On Saturday I spent a half-day at the Javits Center where I judged the Baby & Child division of the New York International Gift Fair. I was really honored to be chosen as one of the judges this year. I remember attending this trade show way back when (like when I first started this blog) as a "newbie", and I never would have imagined that a couple of years later I would get to judge the products myself. It was so much fun!


Later today, the winners of "Best New Products" will be announced and I'll share those results here. But since the judges have all submitted their votes already, I can show you what I personally loved (or not) from the special display of the nominated products:



You know I'm fanatic about kids' birthday tees, so I loved these Organic Cotton Birthday Tees ($30, up to age 5) by Jack Rabbit Creations.


I'm also a sucker for kitschy storage solutions, and the Yiddish name of these "Punim Cases" by Resource International/KidSTYLE just about seals the deal. For the unitiated, "Punim" is a term of endearment for a child's sweet face.


Tree by Kerri Lee is one of my favorite artisans for personalized wooden baby keepsakes. These Lullaby Framed Music Cubes are brand new (I'll be posting other products from her booth--which was co-manned by her adorable nine-year-old daughter--later on). Note the elephant theme- which seems to have taken over for last year's owls!



More purple elephants in the room, this time by Magnificent Baby, which makes stylish layette items with safe, easy-to-use magnetic closures to save you time during those messy changes in the middle-of-the-night.



I love Trumpette, though I don't like that they forbid bloggers from taking photos inside their booth (do they think we will try to manufacture Mary Jane socks in our living rooms?) But I was able to snap some photos in the Best New Products nominee display, including of this shiny patent "Eat" lunch tote ($49.50). I like the style very much, though the product is made of PVC. And in 2011, it seems odd that any new kids' product should still be made of this substance.



The sheer size of this A to Z Animal Wall Art by Oopsy Daisy made it stand out (it measures an impressive 3 feet by 3 feet; typically, nursery art is much smaller than this). But the detail work itself is also exquisite; it's by Boston artist Jennifer Hill whose other work I featured recently at the blog.




It is always a treat to see the newest modern, organic kids' products by 3 Sprouts, a company that "launched" about the same time I started this blog. We have enjoyed chatting at trade shows ever since then. 3 Sprouts' new eco-friendly art smocks are not the smocks you wore in nursery school. These have beautiful (protected) felt appliques and wipe clean easily. They retail for about $24.



Zutano is arriving a bit late to the Owl party, but that's OK. Its new pink Owl crib bedding by bedding manufacturer Kidsline (available in late February at RainBee) is still pretty darn cute.


Back to Trumpette. I think just about every variation that can be made of those ubiquitous Mary Jane socks has been done, but the new beribboned Lucia socks (pre-order for $29.50) I'm sure will still become a popular baby shower gift.



It's been a long time since I've thought about toddler stroller buntings (my tall kids were busting out of theirs by age 2) but I know that 7 A.M. Enfant is still a go-to brand in chic NYC neighborhoods. And with a price tag of $199, I'm hoping that the "B212 evolution" blanket keeps those Manhattan tykes very toasty during this brutal winter.



One of the best new toys I saw were these Tegu Blocks, which are eco-friendly hardwood blocks that are safely magnetized on the inside. They are addictive to play with (and even to watch someone playing with them; just watch the little video on website). They're pricey, though; an 8-piece set costs $28.


I wish I'd had a bit more time to check out these personalized puzzles ($49) by Kidlandia. I like the idea it creates "(YourChild'sName)Land" but I'm fuzzy on how it incorporates other personal details about them.



I first spotted Dabba Walla backpacks (I loved the traffic light design) at a previous NYIGF; this year the "Big Cheese" lunch bag ($30) is a Best New Product nominee. The bags are made from eco-sponge, a neoprene-like fabric that is machine washable.



And more owls...this time part of Skip Hop's Zoo Bookends collection ($35). These are soft, gently weighted bookends, making them a good choice for baby's first library.



Topozoo are new USA-made, eco-friendly wooden playsets that allow children to create imaginative sets of dinosaurs, safari animals, or monsters. Each set costs $30 and is recommended for ages 3 and up, though I think it might appeal to slightly older kids a bit more.


Silly Souls partnered with The New Yorker to create baby products featuring the magazine's "dry humor" cartoons. A 2-piece bodysuit gift set costs $29.99 and is a clever gift for an urban baby.


In an example of how trends quickly "trickle down" (not necessarily for the best), a few years ago at NYIGF I saw some very artistic, handmade bags crafted from candy wrappers (You probably have seen similar ones by now). Now, of course, your junior artisans can make their own accessories with an "M & M Candy Wrapper Jewelry Kit" coming soon to Alex Toys. I don't know about you, but I have enough trouble getting my daughter's mind OFF of M&M's without encouraging her to make bracelets out of the wrappers!


Lots more finds from NYIGF to come (including fantastic kids' products that were not necessarily included in this grouping)...so keep checking back!

Rainboots, High and Low

The Uggs craze hit my Manhattan neighborhood several winters ago. I actually found them ugg-ly (especially for something so expensive), so I kept wearing my trusty boots from Tar-jay. More recently, Hunter Boots have taken over the streets of New York. Now these, I really like. Especially in silver. These Original Tall Welly Boots cost $140 at Neiman Marcus. That's a lot of rainy day savings.


When my old rainboots finally collapsed recently (I think that zillionth snowstorm did them in), I stayed on budget and returned to Target where I bought these kitschy Umbrella and Dots Print Rainboots for $24.99. They're fun, right? And they get the job done.


With the money I saved, I also bought another piece of new raingear at Target. Something very trendy right now, which I'll post soon.

My Fair Lady

This weekend I'll be judging the newly-expanded Baby & Child division of the New York International Gift Fair at the Javits Center, including selecting the Best New Products in that division. Some of the brands whose new products I'll be checking out include Little Giraffe, eeBoo, Ambajam, Diaper Dude, 3 Sprouts, and P'kolino. I am so excited to be a judge at this year's show. And, of course, to do my "regular" job of covering the show for you by walking the aisles and finding the hottest new products in other categories including housewares, jewelry, and stationery. Be sure to check in with me on Twitter for "live" coverage, product previews, photos and more.

Call Your Motherboard

I love "geek chic" office supplies like this recycled motherboard clipboard I found at Calliope Boutique. Each clipboard is one-of-a-kind, made from upcycled electronics innards (plastic, fiberglass, copper, and tin). Surprisingly intricate and beautiful, and eco-friendly, too. $15 each at Calliope Boutique.

Sunday Best for Boys

There's nothing cuter than a little boy dressed up in his best clothes and a tie, right? Until I spotted Urban Sunday, though, it hadn't occurred to me to try a bow-tie on S. instead of his usual long ties from Children's Place. Urban Sunday--whichwas founded by a former NYC fashion industry patternmaker-- makes city-inspired bowties in patterns ranging from ginghams to houndstooths to fun icons like this Seattle/Bike Bow Tie ($23). They are simply adorable- I love them all. Bowties are all pre-tied (good thing since I'd have no idea how to do this myself) and stitched into place and have adjustable neckstraps. They're available in two sizes- infant (0-2 years) and child (2-12 years). Buy them directly at Urban Sunday.

Happy Birthday Zulily!

Today is a fantastic day to shop at my favorite members-only daily deals site, Zulily. Zulily is celebrating its 1st birthday today with some of its best sales ever, plus a Birthday Boutique featuring gifts for kids of all ages, hand-picked by Zulily's team of expert shoppers and offered at savings up to 70% off reail prices. I know that many of you have already emptied your wallets snatching up the awesome finds at Zulily over the past year (it's hard to believe they've only been in business that long) and I apologize that I'm about to tempt you to do so again. Here are my top picks from today's sales...and to make the deal even sweeter, Zulily is even offering $10 off a purchase of $50 for further savings (see coupon code at end of post).

Red Daisy Ruffle Dress ($27.99, retail price $49; sizes 4-6x) by Beary Basics. Love this brand which I hadn't heard of before- I just wish they went past 6x so I could buy for R.!


Set of 4 Cupcake Appetizer Plates ($14.99, retail price $39) by tag for Birthday Parties. As a serial party-giver, I'm admiring tag's selection of colorful party housewares.

Heather Gray Personalized Long Sleeve Airplane Tee ($21.99, retail price $40; sizes 6-12mos to 6T) by Lima Bean Kids . This is a great opportunity to save on Lima Bean Kids's signature personalized kids' tees; there are plenty of other designs available for both boys and girls.


Hot Pink Brad Loafer ($59.99, retail price $99; sizes 27-38) by Primigi. Zulily is selling Primigi spring/summer shoes today for both boys and girls and they are selling out fast; grab your size before they're gone!


Visit Zulily to join the celebration today!


Enjoy $10 off a purchase of $50 or more at Zulily with code "ZFSTBDAY10" valid now through January 31st, 2011.

Chic Valentine's Clips (Hold the Sugar)

I must have about a hundred Etsy items "favorited" to share with you, but I'll start with a small one in time for Valentine's Day. I just stumbled onto Giddy Up and Grow, a little Etsy shop from Calgary that makes handmade felt hair accessories. Yep, I've seen plenty of felt hair clips before, but I really like the half-sweet, half-edgy look of this "Petite Pansies in Love Tattoo" Set. I also like the light blue background, which is a welcome change from endless pink and red during Valentine's season. For $12 (with $3 shipping to the U.S.) you get the 3 wool felt tattoo-inspired pansies attached to medium-sized snap clips. Visit Giddy Up and Grow for some other great designs, too, including headbands and newborn hair accessories.

Monster Burgers

Are your kids picky eaters? Mine are, to put it mildly. I've been working with Lauren, S's SEIT (special ed itinerant teacher), to figure out ways to get the kids to eat more types of foods. We've started a weekly "cooking club" where the kids take turns picking out a fun dinner recipe that we all cook together. The emphasis is not so much on making sure that the food is super healthy (though that would be nice), but just trying to get them to eat something besides the usual pasta, pizza, and chicken nuggets. Lauren recommended I get a visually appealing cookbook for the kids (read: not too many pictures of veggies) so I chose this Pillsbury Kids Cookbook: Food Fun for Boys and Girls. The kids love leafing through it. R. picked the "Monster Burger" recipe first. As you can see from the photo above, she made some substitutions (like replacing the pickle "eyes" with sliced Babybell cheese), but I was so thrilled that she ate the entire burger, which was a first. Considering how little protein she'd been eating before, I am quite happy that a (lean) burger is now an option for her. As for S., he refused to touch it, though he did find it quite amusing and called it "Monster Booger."

If you've got really (and I mean really) picky eaters, you might want to check out this book too. It sells at Amazon for $13.57.

Wordless Wednesday

Look who we spent 15 minutes with....
....before we tried to get adopted.

Such a fun place.

Bargain Alert: Olive Juice School Girl Dress

Olive Juice, a site with beautiful classic clothing for girls and boys, has a fantastic $15 event going on right now. Among the items you can buy for 15 bucks is this white-collared school girl dress (regularly $49.50). It's made of 100% cotton French terry and is machine washable (on delicate). It's still available in cadet navy (as shown) in sizes 3, 6, 7, or 8; or in chrome gray in size 2. Hurry to the sale at Olive Juice.

10 Spring Clothing Picks for Boys

I've started scouting warm weather clothing for S., who is almost 4-and-a-half. He is very tall so he needs a size 6 for most shirts and pants. This means he is in the "big boy" section of most stores now (sniff, sniff) even though he is still a preschooler. Here is some clothing I have my eye on for him this Spring and Summer:

Big Boys' Argyle V-neck Sweater from Children's Place ($19.94, sizes 4-14). I always rely on Children's Place for soft, inexpensive spring sweaters for my son. I love the preppy design and bright colors on this one.

Coolness Sweatshirt ($29, sizes 2T-14) and Surf Hippie Cargo Short ($32, 2T-14) from Company Kids. Company Kids has a nice line of comfortable, casual boys' clothing that is similar to Boden's but less expensive; I like the surfer vibe of this outfit.

Slub V-neck T ($12.95, sizes 12-18mos to 5 years) by Baby Gap . Slub tees became popular last spring/summer and are still "in" this year. This one is available in other colors, too.


Deck Pants ($36; European sizes 80-160) by Hanna Andersson. Hanna's deck pants are bestsellers year after year. They are popular in solid colors but I like this year's funky new "blue multi" pattern.


"Hola" Graphic Tee ($19, size 6-12mos to 11/12 years) by Tea Collection. This one is sure to be a top-seller from Tea's new Catalonia collection.

Infant/Toddler Boys' Splendid Little for Target Striped Zip Hoodie ($17.99, sizes 12mos-5T) from Target. Splendid Little for Target just added a few more pieces and color combos to this line; note that they run a big small so I'd recommend ordering a size up.


Crab Swim Trunks ($29, sizes 0-3mos to 12) from Janie and Jack. Pair with this rash guard ($24).

Boys' Sports Number Tees ($26, sizes 2T-8) and Microfiber Cargo Shorts ($28, sizes 2T-14) by Mulberribush for CWD Kids. Cute enough for birthdays, durable enough for everyday.


Jersey Lined Pack Away Mac ($54, size 1.5-2yrs to 13/14 years) by Mini Boden. It's more expensive than I'd normally spend on kids' rainwear, but I love the design.

Peace Rash Guard and Stripe Swim Pant ($37 for the set; 0-3mos to 18-24mos) by Gymboree). Can't forget the littlest guys. An adorable on-trend rashguard set for your youngest surfer.

Queen for a Day

(Left to right: Celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa, Style/Image Consultant Chris Oh, yours truly, Celebrity makeup artist Denise Del Russo, and fashion/lifestyle blogger Tineey).

Did I mention that I won an a style consultation and makeover at last summer's BlogHer conference, courtesy of a party sponsored by Getting Gorgeous? Well, I finally got to take advantage of this recently. Brooklyn-based style/image consultant Chris Oh came to my home to do an in-depth analysis of my current "needs" (read: MANY) in the style department. I can't begin to tell you how helpful it was. Chris came over on an afternoon when I was particularly worn-out and exhausted from single parenthood. In addition to talking about the nitty-gritty of makeovers like clothing, make-up, and hair, she gave me excellent advice on some bigger issues such as building my own brand, developing my personal style, and even some new directions for my professional life. Chris was so smart and upbeat and full of good ideas. I think she is part life-coach, too!

Armed with all the information she collected from our first meeting, Chris returned several weeks laster for my Big Day in which I would receive a body Body/Face Analysis, Color Analysis, and Wardrobe Editing, Assisted Shopping and Special Event Makeovers. And not only would I receive the benefiit of Chris's expert eye, but I was also in for some amazing celeb-worthy treats (read on). First, Chris helped me learn all sorts of useful information like my body type (hourglass- who knew??), which fabrics work best on me (jersey knits with some weight), what size/proportion jewelry works best with my face (one big piece at a time- either earrings or necklace- but not both), and what my best color palette is.

Next Chris went into my closet and gently encouraged me to get rid of anything that looked too um, ugly, or just didn't fit. She pointed out which pieces in my wardrobe worked best and why, and how I could "go shopping in my closet" with what I already had to make new and different-looking outfits. Thanks to Chris, I donated two garbage bags full of clothing and came up with at least a half dozen new outfits that I've been wearing.

Next, I chose my "getting gorgeous" outfit- the dress that I had worn a year before to my 15th college reunion. And then the fun really started. I got a fantastic new haircut by Sarah Potempa, a celebrity hair stylist who had just cut Anne Hathaway's hair before arriving to cut mine. She also tends to the tresses of Jake Gyllenhall, the Olsen sisters, and a bunch of other notables. Plus, she is a new mom herself, so we chatted quite a bit about babies. Anyway, she gave me a "dry" haircut (Vidal Sassoon style!) right in my kitchen, giving me a shorter, lighter do that I can manage to style myself with the help of a flat iron.

Then, I got my makeup done by another expert, Denise Del Russo, who taught me how to quickly cover-up my tired look (longtime readers of this blog know that my younger child has been waking before 6am his entire life and no, I am not kidding, and yes, I have tried everything) and even how to make myself sparkle a bit on top of that. Denise gave me a short list of my "must-have" products which was so handy and a complete time-saver.



It was a fantastic afternoon and I felt like royalty surrounded by these amazing women who helped me look and feel my best. While I haven't been able to pull of this look 100% successfully on my own, I have been able to utilize a lot of their suggestions. So maybe I'm 50% there. Stay tuned!


Chris Oh is a personal brand and image consultant. She partners with her clients to help them develop a personal style that effortlessly communicates a confident message. Some of her services include: Body/Face Analysis, Color Analysis, Wardrobe Editing, Assisted Shopping and Special Event Makeovers. For more information, visit her website.