totmama

Summer is on it’s way, and after more than a few seasons worth of fun, i’ve decided to upgrade one of my major summer essentials. Time for a new picnic blanket! My current one is a bright coral fold and zip a la Targèt, and it’s big enough, but the blanket is only “water resistant”. My new contender HAS to be waterproof! (Let’s just say I’ve had way too many embar(ass)ing fashion mishaps! We all learn sooner or later!) Here are a few I’m currently mulling over. Cute, huh??

UB’s Buffalo Plaid Picnic Blanket Waterproof, very large with soft nylon top layer. Easy to tote handle and the black & white plaid is SOO on trend right now.

Crate & Barrel Auster Picnic Blanket Gorgeous, fun colors and waterproof. Generous 60″ square size with handle strap. While I’m at it, I may pick up one of these Table in a Bag kits too!

BBB’s Sunshine Picnic Blanket Waterproof, with cute handle and easy to tote. Fleece comes in nice colors that stay brilliant and resist wear. Not as big, but a nice compromise.

French Bull Picnic Set with Blanket I might feel a splurge is coming on, and go for this colorful set from French Bull. Includes 24 piece setting for 4, insulated drink bag and blanket.

I’ve been watching Hello Hanna for a while now, and their cuteness train just doesn’t seem to stop! They’ve got a collection of simply adorable products, and even more party themed items are in the works. My first choice? These wonderful Get Set Placemats. Each cute placemat has diecut shapes of girls, animals or robots to embellish with fun stickers that make them all your own. Not only are they sweet, occupying the kids while keeping the table oatmeal free, they’re secretly teaching kids how to set a proper table. Of course Hello Hanna didn’t stop there. They’ve adapted those same super fun characters into the new Hello Books, a set of do it yourself die-cut story books with buildable stickers and places to add your own characters and dialogue. Check out their Sweet Stands too! So fun!

Summer is around the corner, and as soon as the weather gets nicer I find myself daydreaming of the hours my kids will enjoy playing out in the yard. Undoubtedly this always involves some amazingly cool item that is often unattainable in the US. Case in point: The Y Bike toddler balance bike, made in Australia by Olly Oz. Such a cool bike, I can see a need for this hybrid version of a big wheel and a skuut balance bike… only greener and sleeker! They’re made of injection molded plastic with a covered back wheel to stop little Alice’s skirt from getting caught in the wheels. Check them out here and join in my Aussie design lust.

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.”