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!)

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.

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!

As November approaches, I am beginning to think about the holidays that are right around the corner. This year, with so many of my fave little online shops closing, it’s been a tough one to find great stuff. I have a wide range of kids to buy for, from teens to pre-schoolers to infants, and I love to get things that are not the usual fare. Things that teach in a sly way, things that can be done with family in mind, things that are silly or cleaver. Here are some of my ideas for great gifts under $30. 

Food Kits 

I like to give great things that let kids learn something cool. Usually the parents learn something cool too. The best thing is when there is something to show for it in the end. Things like these kits or a collection of baking mixes from Kids Central Kitchen are always perfect, no matter the age. Throw in an apron and a few cookie cutters or a chef’s hat and you’re the best Auntie around!

I saw this Brew Your Own Cola Kit at UO, and thought it would be a great gift for kids. The joy in getting to make and drink your own home made soda sounds so nifty. You could even go farther and create bottle labels, etc. Fun for the whole lot!

Building Kits

Kids get bored with the same old simple wooden puzzles from day to day. It’s much more fun to have a challenge, and get the whole family involved. Something like these DIY Eiffel Tower, DIY Pirate’s Ship, or similar will get everyone in on the fun while they wait for the turducken in the oven.

My son loves to play with gadgets and gears. He often wants to watch Battle Bots with his dad, and stops dead in his tracks when he sees an ad for Myth Busters. (Did I tell you he’s only 4 years old?) He’s got it in his blood. When I saw this really neat Tin Can Robot Kit I thought it would be perfect for them both. My hubby gets to pretend he’s doing it all for his son, and my little guy can revel in the marvel that is destroying a handmade robot. It should be a blast. 

Plants and Green Gifts

Kids are easy. Dirt and water gravitate to them like “Pig Pen” on Charlie Brown. Why not get them something they can take care of, and teach them a little about the food they eat? This book Don’t Throw It, Grow It would be a wonderful gift with a gardening set or packs of seeds. These modern terrariums called Plant Cubes, can grow self contained gardens for your little ones. You can choose between (monster) Venus Fly Trap and Zen Grass Garden (Fairy), which you can doctor up and decorate for kids. If you need some landscaping, why not let the kids plant a tree! This Plant a Tree Kit comes with either a Date Palm or Apple Tree that the kids can plant. A proceed from the sale of the kits goes to charity to help replenish the forests.

Meal Time Gifts

Anything that makes it easier to get peas and carrots into the kids gets high marks in my book. These cleaver Stacking “Lego” Utensils would make a great gift when given along with a cute Emily Green item like a bowl, plate or cool placemat. On-the-go items like this Crayon Roll  and these super cute Water Games make travel and meals out much more fun. 

 When my son was just a wee thing, a close family friend gave us a couple pairs of these wonderful Summer Froggies by Fogal slipper socks. My son adored them, and it put my mind at ease knowing he had good non-slip soles while he made his first steps on our slippery hardwood floors. When he got older and outgrew his original pairs, I hoped to buy bigger ones. I knew from the name that there was supposed to be a Winter Froggies slipper, and thought they would be perfect for the holidays. (Maybe a stocking stuffer?) They’re so practical, and the styles and colors are adorable. Other moms would ask us where to get them so much that I had to finally ask my friend. After a little snooping, I found their website and checked it out. Turns out they are from Fogal of Switzerland, and only sold online to customers in Europe. Bad news for my fiending mommy friends, or so I thought. After a bit more snooping at styles, I discovered that they were available after all. You can pick up a pair by calling their Chicago or New York stores and having them shipped directly to you. Good news! Now I need to figure out what sizes and colors to pick for the kiddies!