Archive for February 2010
It was at that photo exhibit in the small gallery near the Met (you know, the place with the white spiral staircase) where you first saw a picture of them — 1920s swimwear. That gorgeous photo of the couple sitting on the beach near Coney Island stuck out from all the rest in the show. You thought it was the coolest photo, ever. The quaintness and whimsy of the couple’s outfits tickled you, and even though you were only a child, you thought they were the cutest thing.
Fast forward 30 years and you are smiling and laughing with your baby boy who could not be any sweeter, completely barefoot and clad in his Imps & Elfs’ organic cotton striped short romper. The wave of nostalgia comes riding in like the waves at Coney Island as you remember that photo, still in love with the look only here made modern and so much more practical.
What’s not to love about this romper? For starters, Imps & Elfs romper is made with 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane to give your little mover and shaker some room to grow and explore. It’s all there, the stripes, the fun colors, the silhouette. (Did we mention their post-Victorian doppelgangers were made out of wool? Yikes!)
And this romper is perfect for exploring the city, and cool enough to introduce your little guy to a few art galleries you know as you wonder what discoveries he’ll make and what he’ll fall in love with.
The world is his to explore and discover…it’s his romper room.
I was watching my friend’s little boy during school vacation last week. He came over for an afternoon, to hang out with my daughter and to give me a break from being my child’s only plaything this week.
For those of you who have boys, I need to know something. What is the fascination with putting everything into their pockets? We’re talking, everything. This darling boy walked into our house, took off his shoes and began a never-ending game of let’s-see-if-this-will-fit-into-my-pocket. It went on for hours, stopping only for snack time and two pee breaks. Toy cars, erasers, even a remote control…they all found their way into his pockets. Every 30 minutes or so, I dug stuff out of each side of his pants. Then he pack them full again within minutes.
I’m not saying that he’s a thief-in-training. He was letting us know he was sticking things in there (either that or he’ll be a very unsuccessful thief). He just really wanted to test the limits of those pockets, for some reason.
I’m suggesting these pants by Bon Bon for my friend to put on her son. Part of the French designer’s spring/summer 2010 collection, these comfy cotton pants for boys come in blue and beige (perfect stain-hiding colors for boys), but more importantly, they have deep pockets. Perfect for rocks, tissues, small animals, whatever your little boy wants to cram in there. There’s even an elastic waist tie, in case the weight of his pocket contents begins to pull down his pants. Pants around the ankles certainly would make for a slow getaway for any thief.
Your entire life you were told to keep your eye on the ball…just keep your eye on the ball. Whether it was an actual ball on the playground during recess or gym class, or the proverbial ball that reminded you to keep your eye on the ball, eye on the prize, don’t give up and never surrender — your eye was definitely on the ball.
Well, it certainly seemed like an awful lot of pressure for a young child but you listened and watched and finally made it to adulthood…and you were exhausted. (You still wake up during the night every now and then, in a cold sweat, after dreaming of running down an empty corridor, being chased by countless balls. Those suckers were fast!)
Time passed and now that you are parent, you want your child to have every opportunity they can possibly have — but without so much pressure. Why not start with something simple? Enter Vilac’s Maison des Boules. Why even the name sounds soothing.
This colorful, completely natural wood toy is a lovely kinetic piece that lets your child keep their eye, fingers and hands on the ball; four of them to be exact. Think of it as a Rube Goldberg contraption that’s been genetically combined with the best Skee ball machine, ever. How fun is that?
So for now, don’t worry about the getting them into the best preschool, high school and college. Just let them have fun rolling those balls and hearing the teeny bell at the end of the ramp ring. Yes, for now it’s that simple.
And remember, life is a ball. Just roll with it.
Most likely it began with the first grasp of your hair. This tiny creature, all of eight pounds, had you in Samsonian grip with tiny fingers clenched around your hair, making you weak in the knees. Wait, were they Samson or Delilah? The lines were blurred and from that moment on, you knew that no matter what, the kid was The One.
When did it start, your search for the one? Who would be the one person that would matter above all others in the world — the person that would make your life feel complete. “Surely”, you thought, “the one exists…”
Then you became a parent and realized there’s more to this “one” business after all. You fell in love again and again with the tiny new life in your life. You would move heaven and earth for them, or at the very least get out of bed three times a night to feed them, change the diaper and make sure they were O.K.
So how could you not fall in love with Shirin Kissing Birds Organic Baby Onesie as well? This tiny cutie surrounds your special one in downy soft 100% cotton. And even though you would crawl on hands and knees to pick the cotton for their clothes, you don’t have to. Shirin’s got your back as they cover theirs; this gorgeous onesie is made with organic cotton. Only the best for your little one(sie) will do.
Smile and just know you’re their one and only, too.
We went outside to play in the snow today, my lovely daughter and I. We built our first snow family, complete with eyelashes on the snow mommy from a rose seed pod that somehow managed to stay on the bush during this winter weather.
It was really nice to get outside and get some fresh air into our winterized, indoor bodies. But let’s face it, it’s not spring yet. Not even close. Both groundhog and crocus know that we still have a bunch of chilly weather in our future. I think I’ve only seen a dozen birds since November (other than those hearty seagulls that love to coast on chilly winter winds). Everything is hiding until the sunny seasons. They’re on their way, right? Right?
Everything is hiding…that is except for in my daughter’s bedroom. Within these four pink walls, there are birds, bugs, frogs and flowers. It’s 365 days of flora and fauna, no matter the weather. Stuffed, on stickers, gracing posters…the entire animal kingdom awaits in her room.
The perfect addition to her season-less shelter is Shirin’s sweet little black bird, perched sweetly on a fresh cotton sprig on a super-soft ribbed tank. Now this shirt is a dainty reminder that spring is eventually around the corner. The adorably fashionable shoulder ruffle adds just the right amount of girly girl for fancy days, while the 100% ringspun cotton form means she will wear it constantly.
That is, constantly when the temperature gets above freezing. Because I have to tell you, this weather…it’s for the birds.
The last time we checked, winter was stubbornly hanging around. Looking out the window, there was no denying the truth: the slush, the sleet, the salt, the Snowcapalypse — winter wasn’t going anywhere. Sure, it can have its charm with its whimsical hats and mittens and coats, but we’ve definitely reached our limit. We are ready for a warmer change and our baby girl would agree as she’s starting to dream of trips to the park and the zoo with ice cream and sunshine in tow while I’m dreaming of taking her there. Yes, there goes our limit…slipping on a piece of ice.
Little Orphan Annie may have been singing about the sun coming out tomorrow but this eternal snowy landscape has us thinking, “Honey forget tomorrow, the sun needs to come out today!” And really, what does Little Orphan Annie know about the sun or the perfect outfit to explore the warm city streets in? Wasn’t she eternally clad in a red polyester dress?
Propel your summer-filled day dreams with BonBon’s baby and girls Printed Sun Suit. Equal parts Esther Williams and miniature sun goddess, this little romper combines all the best parts of summer ware: a great silhouette, 100% cotton, adjustable straps and a kicky print that is brimming with vintage kitsch and modern chic. BonBon’s little sun suit will give you something to sing about. Even Daddy Warbucks would approve, this little BonBon is sunsational.
It’s what summer would wear.
My daughter’s nickname is The Bug. Not very cutsy, I know. It probably should be cutie patootie or princess. But believe me, The Bug isn’t as bad as some of the other nicknames we’ve had for her over the last few years. These others don’t even really make much sense—munchkin doodie, smooshface, bubba. We’re cruel parents, I know. So The Bug it is and The Bug it will stay.
She has embraced this moniker with open arms (or should I say open wings). Her room in covered in butterflies, dragonflies and ladybugs. She’s having a “Bug Party” in a few weeks for her third birthday—complete with beetle ring, ladybug sticker and spider pencil topper party favors. Even her favorite game is bug-centric—a Lady Bug game during which, if you land on the right spot, you can yell, “bug off praying mantis!”
What better gift for The Bug to give her best boy bud than Bug Off tee by Munster. Just what every little guy dreams of—beetles, spiders, crickets, oh my. And all the tiny creepy crawlers come together in a messy mass to form the Munster spooky face logo. It’s a fun way for her to bring a little bit of her royal “bugness” to her friend.
And I’m sure her friend’s mom would appreciate its great fit and the 100% soft cotton. Not to mention the bright purple, an easy-to-locate color when her son is off in the backyard searching for…you guessed it…bugs.
I had the privilege of sleeping late the other morning. I know. You hate me, don’t you? Well, don’t just yet. I paid for it. I was awakened by the sound of my daughter and husband arguing over clothes.
She didn’t want to wear the flowered shirt with the flowered pants and the flowered socks. Too many flowers, she screamed. But that’s all we have, my husband retorted smartly.
I came out of the bedroom and immediately saw the problem. The child looked like a garden. I mean, there were flowers on every stitch of clothing on the poor child. What she needed was at least one solid piece in her outfit to stop the patterned madness. What she needed was a simple white shirt.
As any parent knows, with either girls or boys, things are never simple with kids. For some reason this translates to clothing choices. It’s amazing how hard it is to find a simple white shirt for kids. Everything has a giraffe on it or hearts or some crazy pattern (flowers for girls, camouflage for boys).
That’s why I was so happy to discover this cotton baby tunic top from French children’s clothing designer Bon Bon. Crisp and clean from the Spring 2010 collection, it’s simply white. Perfect to tone things down a bit. Kids are loud enough. Why do their clothes always have to be?
Long-sleeve for chilly little arms and 100% soft cotton, this gem understands that sometimes you need to keep things simple. Great alone or under a sweater for light layering. And given the bon bon name, you might say it’s a sweet find.
It could be your crooked smile. How tall or short you are. The way your hair has that funny flip to it in the front. There will always be something about you that someone might not consider attractive. Dare I say, something they might even call ugly. And you know what? That’s OK.
Not everybody is beautiful. Not everyone is perfect. This is one of the main lessons I try to teach my daughter every day. A great stuffed friend who is always there to remember this is Wihihihi! Horse Stuffed Animal. In life, it’s important to look past someone’s imperfections and get to what they’re really all about—their heart. This is who they truly are, and it’s not just about what they look like. Wihihihi! certainly is neither beautiful nor perfect (some might even say he’s ugly), but he’s quite lovable despite all of his faults and follies.
Known for their weird stuffed animals, Sigikid’s wonderfully happy horse helps us understand and act on the idea that it’s the imperfections that we have, the funny ways about us, that make each of us unique and truly “perfect.” Standing at just over a foot with mangy fur and bumpy bones, Wihihihi! is a perfect companion to help a child look beyond someone’s outside and love their inside. His big goofy tooth-filled grin welcomes your boy or girl and let’s them know that, even though there are certainly prettier horses out there in the world, he’s as happy as can be.
Is it just me or does a little baby girl defy all things in nature when it comes to how soft she is? Her soft tiny hands gently placed in yours, her touchable baby cheeks (no pinching, please), and her soft little voice (well, it’s not always soft, but it has that potential). Take a little girl’s hair, for instance. The science experiment in static electricity that my daughter’s locks become at the bottom of a playground slide is a testament to its fluffiness. The perfect ingredient to add to the girly recipe of sugar, spice and everything soft is the Shirin Cottonball Organic tee.
What better way to complement your her soft side than with one of the softest, most luxurious cotton in the world? Not only is the Shirin Cottonball Organic t-shirt made from organic supima, one of the dreamiest cottons on the planet, this top boasts a charming cotton ball design—just in case you needed even more evidence that your child is indeed a softie. And its sweet cream, pink and light brown hues are certainly soft on the eyes—no loud primary colors for this little lady.
When the weather gets warmer and you want something soft and lovely for your soft and lovely, you’ll be happy to find this sophisticated, original t-shirt in her wardrobe. And it’s available for ages from 6 months to 6 years, so she can hold onto her softer side for years to come. Now if only we can work on that voice.
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