Vintage Wood Style Toys and My Toy Exchange Party

Toys can be eyesores in a house. Let’s face it toys take place. If you can afford them, try to opt for something else that the mass-produced plastic kind.

You can get at Land of Nod high-end toys with a cute vintage vibe. Since kids outgrow or get tired of their toys fairly quickly, try to get a few items that can be repurposed as display.

A Little Bit of Nostalgia

The Kitchen and Grocery section at Land of Nod is incredible. I adore the Shop 'Til You Drop market, shopping cart, cash register and well-balanced scale. The chalkboard would let your kids advertise their daily specials or set the price at the lemonade stand. You can use it whenever you have a garage sale.

Categories: FAMILY style KIDS + BABY KIDS products

posted @ Saturday, October 11, 2008 7:03 PM | Feedback (0)

Daily Quick Links | Baby Scrapbooking and Good Wine

This is my daily collection of noteworthy stuff that I saw online.

+ Kids will learn that they can do something for the environment and look cool at the same time if you get them the Waste-Free Lunch Kit by Kids Konserve. Via ohdeedoh

+ Have a sneak preview at the New HWTM Collection at How Fast They Grow, a site where you do digital scrapbooking. Via Hostess with the Mostess

+ A friend of mine asked me this week if I talk about wines on my blog. I enjoy a good bottle of wine but I am not a sommelier. Seeing the list of 15 wines under $15 by The Nest, convinces me to share 3 of my favorite wines in that price range. From Spain, I suggest the Crianza Red Rioja by Marques de Caceres. We discovered the Rapitala Nero d’Avola last year; my husband Jerome and I enjoy this everyday wine from Sicily. For a white wine that you pair nicely with a lemon grilled chicken, try Les Jamelles from the South of France.

Categories: KIDS + BABY KIDS products

posted @ Friday, September 12, 2008 2:15 AM | Feedback (1)

Coco Bonbons Dresses Up Your Kids

When the Public Relations consultant of Coco Bonbons contacted me about sending me some samples of the baby and toddler clothes, I could not pass on this opportunity.

I usually do not talk about clothes and I do not have any children but I imagine that many parents with young children in my circle would be thrilled to test drive the clothes for me. And they did as you can see from these pictures. Everyone that saw the clothes were in awe.

Girls Collections

A colleague even commented that she would like to wear the pink Paisley Coat. There is a lot of detailed in their clothes. Girl accessories include coordinating tights, hats and muff.

The Partridge and the Owl are both cute except for their dress patterns. Go for the Paper Dolls Dress instead.

Categories: KIDS + BABY KIDS products

posted @ Saturday, September 06, 2008 9:18 PM | Feedback (0)

New Kids Dinnerware by Bodum

Well-known for their tea and coffee pots, Bodum is entering the kid tableware market.

Kids Collection

Bodum's first collection comprises 5 sets of kid drawing theme printed porcelain dinnerware. Each set contains a breakfast bowl, a side plate and a mug.

You can add matching cups, placemats and aprons. I would leave the ghost for Halloween season. Which motif do you prefer: the cat, the crocodile, the boy print or the girl print?

I like the packaging too. For a gift, I would try to wrap the square so I can still carry it by the handle. I guess a few trials and errors session may be necessary to achieve style and function. Your suggestions are welcome.

First introduced in UK (I think), the line is now available in the United States.

SOURCING:
+ Bodum Kids Set – price: $19.95 USD
+ Bodum Kit Placemat – price: $3.95 USD

Categories: TABLEWARE DINING KIDS products

posted @ Saturday, August 23, 2008 10:56 AM | Feedback (4)

Picks of the Week on the blogosphere | 080324 issue

This week is all about the drum shape and fashionable fun patterns.

My 4 picks of the week

Purple Area for Clarissa Hulse

The Urban Jungle range enlivens a classic ivory and black with punches of neon pink, aqua and sweet pea. Clarissa Hulse emulated the urban landscape by the bright lights of city life.

One of the most distinctive textile designers in the UK, Clarissa Hulse is designer of luxury housewares specializing in wallpaper, cushions, throws and lamp shades. Fabrics by the meter are also available.

GlamNest for Getting' Steamy in Here! The Hottest Vent Hoods Ever

Categories: HOME + GARDEN KITCHEN design KIDS products

posted @ Monday, March 24, 2008 10:54 AM | Feedback (0)

Mommy and daddy calling cards make life easy for parents

If there is one thing that can simplify the life of parents with young children is the advent of calling cards. This way, you always have on hand a little piece of paper with the important information and facts about your children.

With all the play dates, kid birthdays, baby sitters or new preschool teachers that your child attends to or sees on a monthly basis, it saves you times and money. Calling cards do not only help you. They help the other parents to stay up to date. When you arrive equipped, you increase the chances to be invited again.

What to write on a mommy / daddy calling card?

At the minimum, you need to print your names, address and phone numbers, the name of each child. Printing the birthday dates is appreciated by the other parents.

Put down important medical information and allergies. Include your cell phone as well as your home number. This is a lot of information to put on a 2 x 3.5 inches piece of paper, spread the info with a recto/verso design look a lot better.

Categories: PAPER goods KIDS + BABY KIDS products

posted @ Friday, July 20, 2007 1:24 PM | Feedback (5)

Any hostess needs at least one tasteful apron

I have a love affair with aprons since I started to cook in my teens. But finding a good looking one is a hard task. My love affair with aprons is well known fact. My brother gave me one or two aprons over the years for Christmas or my birthday. He even got me a practical gardening apron that I use when I planting my flower boxes.

I discover domistyle long time ago in a Sweetspot.ca newsletter. I fall in love with their funky aprons right away. Two young women started domistyle out of unfulfilled desires. Like me, Jessica and Vanessa did not find in stores aprons that were cool enough for a stylish hostess. They create two lines for women in 2003. Since them, they add a fun collection for kids.

Called Fresh and Funky, their two collections are best described with the words sleek, sophisticated, feminine and fun. Canadian and US retailers are listed on their web site. The aprons are sold for $39 CAD, the mini-aprons are at $32 and the kid aprons at $30.