Looking for Penguins

Instant Bib

Michele — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:38:58 +0000

Ever stop in for a bite to eat with the kidlets only to discover you neglected to bring a bib? Being up for The Mother of the Year Award, this has only happened to me a dozen or so times. Somehow, a paper napkin tucked into a 2 year old’s shirt just doesn’t do the job. So I’ve invested in a couple of Kipiis, a nifty little gadget that can turn almost anything into a bib. Washable and reusable, toss one of these into your purse and you’ll never be without a bib again. Neat.

$14.00 at Kid O

Speaking of diaper bags…try an eco-friendly one!

Michele — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:07:41 +0000

Okay, so we normally don’t feature items with prices in the stratosphere (being blue-collar gals and all), but we’ll make an exception for a good cause. And this is a good cause! Wee Generation is now featuring the Eco Diaper Bag and this bag is spectacular. Made of 100% recycled plastic bottles, it’s liner is PVC-free and here comes the best part: all of the profits (yep, every single penny) from this bag are donated to Healthy Child Healthy World, an organization dedicated to providing a healthy environment for our kids.

So check it out. $200 is a spendy diaper bag, but at least the money is going towards a good cause and not lining the pockets of yet another over-priced designer.

For Moms Who Still Rock On…

Michele — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:25:40 +0000

Believe it or not, there are some awesome moms out there who still have the energy to rock out! (My two kidlets diabolically ate all of my energy). If you know one of these tres-hip moms, this diaper bag was made for her!

If a diaper bag isn’t her style, check out the crib set, baby sling, diaper wipes case, or baby blanket in the same fabric!

$49.99 at Jaminga

The Aliens are Coming!

Michele — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:25:47 +0000

Ahhhh, we just love Etsy! Where else can you consistently find such creative and unique hand-made items at such reasonable prices? If you haven’t checked out Etsy yet, you’re seriously missing out on some great stuff, like this Alien Crib Mobile, for only $25. Break out of the commercialized (read: BORING) nursery decor at Etsy!

$25 at Etsy

Play Green!

julie — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:38:12 +0000

Have you seen these great play sets? They’re from Green Toys, a company out of San Francisco, California, that is dedicated to creating eco-friendly and safe alternatives to traditional toys. Their toys- which include an awesome sand play set, tea set, cooking set, and sweet little gardening set- are made out of recycled milk jugs in California. Novel idea, right? Their website explains further:

“Yes, the exact plastic milk jugs that you and your family drink from every day. When you finish your milk and toss the container in the recycling bin, these milk containers are collected at your curb by a local recycling company, who then sorts them from all the other types of plastic. Next, the milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic. For you plastic geeks, the plastic material we use is called high-density polyethylene (or HDPE). This material is considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around”.

The toys contain no phthalates or BPA, and are designed without external coatings so that they are lead-free and meet FDA requirements for food contact. They also are minimally packaged in recycled corrugated boxes using no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties. These toys are such a win-win-win.

For those ultra-concerned with toy safety (and rightly so)…
Green Toys products pass a plethora of tests, including:

Consumer Products Safety Standard Specification, ASTM F963
California Prop. 65 restrictions on lead & cadmium
FDA regulations for food contact
California regulations prohibiting phthalates in toys
Voluntary testing for no BPA (Bisphenol-A)

And for everyone concerned about the planet, it’s great to know that every step in the manufacturing process, “from milk container recycling to toy production to final assembly, occurs in California.Our raw materials and toys aren’t shipped from overseas, which saves a lot of energy and reduces greenhouse gases”.

Plus, if I failed to mention it, they’re fun and great for the imagination!

Available online at WildDill and Amazon.

More ABCs!

Michele — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:18:11 +0000

It’s Fair Trade Friday and in keeping with our alphabet theme that seems to have developed this week, check this out! This stunning wooden alphabet set is hand painted and the perfect addition to any child’s room. Made in Sri Lanka by Sarvodaya, the largest non-governmental organization in the country, the sales proceeds fund sorely needed community development projects.

We must have it!

$34.00 at A Greater Gift

ABCDEFG…

Michele — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:56:27 +0000

Learning the alphabet…what a fun stage that our kids go through (no, really…no sarcasm this time!). These vintage alphabet flash cards from Cavallini make it even more fun. Printed on 5×7″ heavy cardstock, they even come in their own vintage tin for storage. Perfect!

$22.99 at Amazon

Create your own sippy

Michele — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:55:24 +0000

Kids are creative by nature and we’ve found a fun way to indulge and encourage that creativity. Let them build their own drinking straws! Each kit contains 24 non-toxic and dishwasher-safe straw pieces along with 20 flexible connectors. Let your kids amaze you (just don’t let them catch you playing with them!).

$12.99 at Perpetual Kid

Sleepless no more…..

Michele — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:35:59 +0000

The universal parental goal: a sleeping baby. And thanks to the creative folks over at Cloud-b, a sleeping baby (and ergo, a sleeping parent) is now easier than ever to achieve. If you have a baby and haven’t discovered the Sleep Sheep, you’re missing out on some serious zzzzzzzzzs. The Sleep Sheep attaches to the crib bars, keeping your little one safe, and plays four different soft sounds from nature that lull a baby to sleep much faster than the tinny lullaby ~~noise~~ music produced by most mobiles and cribs. The built-in timer plays the soothing sounds for 23 minutes before turning itself off and saving you batteries. Parent tested product here, folks. Great baby shower gift, as well. Cloud-b also makes a great travel version for kidlets on-the-go. Consider a Sleep Sheep an investment in YOUR sleep.

$23.00 at Amazon

Cute Kenyan Critters

julie — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:41:07 +0000

It’s Fair Trade Friday!…

These adorable hand puppets from Kenana Knitter Critters have got to be some of the cutest I’ve seen. They’re all hand knit by a group of women in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya using locally grown hand-spun sheep wool, then dyed with all natural plants from their garden, and naturally moth-proofed with a local daisy-like flower. Since each “critter” is individually handmade, no two are exactly alike and they have their own unique character. The Kenyan women are proud of their work and sign the cards that accompany their products. It’s also great to know that while you and your children enjoy the wonderful fair trade animals and dolls, the women have gained income, status, and economic growth in their community, and ultimately a better life for themselves and their families.

The Critters come as hand puppets, finger puppets, or stuffed knit animals.

Available from $18 at Wild Dill.