totmama

I have been so impressed with the advancements made lately in kid’s lunches. The push for “waste free” and healthy choices has brought the help parents needed to get good food from A to B. Staying fresh? Good. Free of BPAs? Yes YES, but there’s a personal bonus if it gets there looking great too! Modern twists to the classics are turning up everywhere. Today I came across The Goodbyn, a large lunch bin created by a Seattle based company that not only looks great, it’s free of all of the bad plastic stuff you don’t want. With a choice of 4 bright colors, each set includes a drink bottle and 3 sticker sheets to use to make it your own. Six varied compartments make the need for additional containers or baggies disappear, while the dishwasher safe plastic makes cleaning a breeze. Now that’s thinking!

Being a self-professed design groupie, and studying in graphic design, has definitely created a utterly unnatural devotion to all that is the world of Pantone. They will always be THE final word on color trend and visual color study for me. While in college, owning a Pantone color wheel was like having the graphic design holy grail in the palm of your hand! Living abroad in Spain, I found one of these cool and functional Pantone Universe messenger bags (an older version in sulfur vinyl) and it quickly became a staple in my tote bag collection for years! (Later I even used one as my go-to diaper bag! Don’t tell!) Easy to clean, unassuming and very hip was the right combination for such a simple and well made bag. Check them out, now being sold stateside at my fave PopDeluxe. (And when people ask if you went to an Italian Culinary Institute, you can just shrug and smile!)

Can not WAIT for the latest film adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” coming from Disney next spring (March 5th, 2010). I have always loved the story, and to think that it’s getting such a cool overhaul makes me just giddy. Tim Burton’s slightly twisted wonderland will be in Disney Digital 3D, and stars newcomer 19-year-old unknown Mia Wasikowska from Australia. There were photos released to the press today, and just looking at Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter makes me dizzy. (He surely got the “Mad” part down!) Of course who can doubt that Anne Hathaway as the White Queen and Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen weren’t perfect choices! Sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun, and one that should become an instant classic. Looking forward to a peek down the rabbit hole!

While leafing thru my enormous pile of catalogues this week, i spotted these very chic sculptures/stools and immediately thought NURSERY! (okay, okay… i always think of nurseries, but that’s for the therapist to figure out.) These handmade Grazing Sheep by Ronel Jordaan would be lovely in a little girl’s room as a statement piece, am i right? Created of wool and wire, these sheep come in four styles from a very graphic Black Dot to a flirty and feminine Floral. What a wonderful addition from anthropologie. While you are there, check out these charming hand-carved wooden mobiles too!

They have finally arrived state side! A beautiful new array of Marimekko wallpapers, including this adorable Bo Boo transportation print that would be perfect for the transition from mod nursery to big boy room. I adore the classic Marimekko Unikko Beige Wallpaper, and could totally see creating a lovely nursery based on this as an  accent wall. Currently they have a wide variety, and they really are tempting. Check out a color swatch (8″x8″ for only $4) and experiment. Believe me, you won’t be able to resist smiling when you look at them!

Sometimes I really feel like I’m in a sea of plastic baggies. We use them for everything from wet swim gear to leftover meatloaf. Luckly I have found a way to lessen our families footprint while being stylish at the same time. Liberate yourself, and try these great reusable snack and sandwich bags from green street bags. In lovely designer cotton fabrics (even Amy Butler!), you are sure to find something to catch your eye. Each bag is lined with water and stain resistant nylon that is free from all of the bad plastic stuff. Just pop in your kids favorite snack (can you say choco goldfish!) and go. The bags only need a quick wipe down and they’re ready for the next outing. If they get a bit yuck from being buried in your diaper bag too long, they can be machine washed and air dried. Looking good never tasted so yummy.

With everyone going green, us parents have been just overwhelmed with the latest items made from recycled materials and sustainable woods. Who really knows which plastics are safe and what items truely are non toxic? Ease your mind by going with blocks. Sometimes it’s the simple things that really are the most fun. Check out these cleaver and fun sets I know I’ll be adding to my newborn and toddler gift stash this summer.

Ant Antic Blocks by Uncle Goose - These lovely blocks have child safe inks, and create ant trails no matter how you connect them. Just think of the fun you can have bringing your own ants to your next picnic!

 BOK Wooden Blocks Town Scene by petitflaneur - BOK handmade blocks are the ultimate in hardworking fun, being created to work from infancy to your child’s school years by incorporating cleaver puzzles and games. Made of reclaimed wood and non toxic materials, the set of 12 can be rearranged to create a beautifully drawn town scene complete with school bus and fruit market. Turn the hand printed blocks again for a game of apple and ice cream tic-tac-toe. Did I mention they are gorgeous?

City and Country Mini Blocks by Fidoodle - Made of Baltic birch, these hand screened blocks give you the feel of it all, be it the hard city streets or a country farm. Created to fit in to a gift loving 3″ recycled cardboard cube, they’re perfect for on the go. Flip these over and the pieces fit together to create a cool puzzle scene. Excellent for your child’s “blue period.”

We’ve got a squirmer, climber, and an objector all rolled up in one in my family. While she may look like the sweetest thing on earth (I’m a bit biased), she is the most defiant child ever when we go out to eat. Simply show her a picture of a wooden restaurant style highchair, and screams of “Noooo Nooooooo! Nooo!” come flying out at a sound just below that of a dog whistle. It’s not good. A nice break from sparking up the oven turns into a night where no one eats but her. We sit stressed out as she laughs, grabbing morsels from everyone’s plates while she jumps lap to lap. She’s thrilled, and free from the mean old wooden highchair. We are on lockdown, guarding and blocking our food like goalies. Just when I thought I was going to have to give up going out to some of my fave restaurants, someone hips me to one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a while. It’s called Totseat! Made in the UK, this lightweight fabric highchair seat cover attaches to all types of chair backs for a safe and secure fit. It’s plastic clip and cummerbund help attach it to even the trickiest chairs you can find. In great stain resistant fabrics, this highchair travels in it’s own cool bag and can be popped into the wash after loosing a fight with mushy peas. Still time to make reservations at Opaque!

With the trend of really cool bento box style lunch boxes hitting the market lately, it’s hard not to be caught up in the frenzy. We have come so far from just cramming a PB&J on wheat and a huge thermos of milk into a metal “archie & jughead” pail and letting them fight it out death match style. Usually my sandwich was the looser, coming out looking like a 2 yo cliff bar found under the rear seat of the car. Finally, functional and clean design for kids is here! It’s prominence has brought a nice crop of great mealtime products. Made by “clean” plastics, reusable and dishwasher safe, these will save, serve and tote your food in style. Don’t believe me? Check out these cool items made by OOTS! Very practical, yet beautifully functional and easy for little hands. No doubt I will be sending my little one off to K in the fall with one or more of these adorable pails. Now I just need to to figure out good bento box lunch recipe ideas!

Just adore these very cute, collectible creations by KoKo Company in New York. The textile maker has extended it’s exotic and eclectic bedding and pillow collections to include a few items perfect for kids. These Zoo Felt Animal and Zoo Cotton Pillows are so fresh and fun. Definitely a smile maker, these handmade felt critters boast bright colors and lovely fauna attached. Can’t resist the Felt Zoo Giraffe, Monkey and Rhino. For more fun, there are black and white animals as well as Zoo Cotton, featuring a crabby Zoo Crab and Zoo Frog set. Great gifts for the child who has everything, and it makes a statement in any nursery.