Tot Snob

Trelise Cooper "Flights of Passage" Kite Runner Skirt

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:00:00 PDT

Pretty much the most amazing thing I've ever seen in Tot Fashion. My jaw dropped when I saw this on the runway lookbook. How mind blowing that this is for Tots and not in my size?? =) This 100% silk printed skirt has a full petticoat underneath, which is absolutely necessary to show off the volume and all the details in the print. Besides, what girl does not adore a balloon dress with a petticoat? Instant glamour! Although quite fancy, it can be dressed down with leggings and a tank top (how freaking chic would that be??!!) or for formal affairs, she can the ultimate lady with a cardigan. At Small Acorns for $185. See the entire Fall Collection at Trelise Cooper Kids.

Gearation, Endlessly Captivating

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PDT

You will be the one ending up fighting with your tot over this toy! It is absolutely memorizing and infinitely FUN! These gears can be build any way you want it and when you turn it on, you get to see your work in action. There are different speeds to make this even more hypnotic. It has won awards but with its addictive qualities, it will win the ultimate Mommy Award for Best Distraction Ever! You can buy additional parts, like the Amusement Park set to build onto the original. At Genius Babies for $44.95.

Wagon Gift Sets

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:00:00 PDT

Did you know that August has the most births of the year? Hmm, it must be the drinking at all those holiday parties =) Not only for births but it seems like this is the season for baby showers as well. I love gift baskets but these wagon sets are ridiculously cute. It requires no wrapping and is super impressive. The My Lil Farmhouse Wagon ($68.50) comes with a lamb bodysuit, cow face booties, horsie hat, piggy bib, patchwork quilt, plush lamb, corn rattle and colorful layette wrapped in an organza bag with a printed ribbon. The Just Ducky Welcome Wagon ($40) has baby lotion, baby wash, baby soap, bar, puffy sponge and of course a rubber ducky. Excellent bang for the buck!

Tiny Sprouts for Cool Summer Sprouting

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PDT

It's not just your vegetable garden that is growing this summer, make sure to measure your tot because they are sprouting before your eyes in an astounding rate. My 2 year old grew an inch in 2 weeks! Crazy. The Tiny Sprouts set with comfy knit pants and tee is the perfect fit for summer. Doesn't it just look delightfully breezy and laid-back? The bright colors set against the serene white will cheer you up while you dress her in the morning. It says these are unisex, which seems ok because I don't have boys, but I have been criticized for buying inappropriately feminine clothes for other boys. Surely, the carrot one is ok, right? If you like it, why not? He won't mind if he's under 2 =) Tiny Sprouts Pants are $28 and Tiny Sprouts Tee is $26 at Chasing Fireflies.

Build-a-Book: Me by Me

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:00:00 PDT

Tots are naturally narcissistic, I guess they need the trait for survival. Well, for those who love themselves, what better than a book that is just about "ME"! I'm not sure whether I want to encourage this but I do like encouraging the love the books and creativity. The Build a Book kit comes with a "blankish" spiral bound book, "blankish" because it is a template with pages for favorite foods, friends, activities, etc. but there are some free pages. The kit has cardboard cut out letters, foam shapes to make people, glue stick and colorful scrapbook design paper to make channeling the "inner you" very convenient. I love the last page, it allows friends and family to review the custom book. An awesome project to do with your tot on a long summer afternoon. Klutz Build A Book That's Me By Me at Amazon for $11.95. For ages 5+ but my 4 year old was able to do this with my help (but it's hard to hold back my "input").

Flora and Henri Petal Skirt and Crochet Vest

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PDT

The darling petal skirt is handmade in New York by artistic craftsman. This is the subtle details that make a piece unique and special in a way that is difficult to explain but you know it when you see it. The same is true for the intricately knitted ruffle crochet cashmere vest. The incredible crochet detail is soft and feather-like, you will definitely want to keep this as a keepsake to pass down. The vest can be worn over dresses for cool summer nights or over long sleeve for the Fall. Petal skirt is on sale for $67.20, ~~$96~~ and the sweater is $151.20 12 months and $162.40 3-6 years, also on sale. At Flora and Henri.

Paint Your Own Polo

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:00:00 PDT

I wanted to save the paint splattered shirt from my tot's last art project, it was so genuinely unique! Well, I guess this sentiment is not so unique and Ralph Lauren has been doing their research! They have these creative Paint Your Own Polo kits that come in a paint can full of everything you'll need to creative your very own Polo shirt - six paints, two brushes and two stamps. It comes with a white polo shirt, pink embroidered horse for girls and blue for boys. Have a party coming up and need a craft? The party kit comes with 3 shirts, twelve paints, four brushes and four stamps. Ages 2-7 is $50, Party Pack is $125. 10% of the sale price will be donated to the Pink Pony Fund of the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation to benefit Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's Pediatric Art program.

Japanese Lunch Boxes

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PDT

The last time I was in Asia, I picked up several of these lunch boxes. They are great in so many ways - cute, compact, easy to use and versatile. Essential for everything other than sandwiches. The top level can either used with divider or without depending on what you are packing and there is a larger compartment on the bottom. It has easy to open snap tab closures that give a good seal so liquids stay in. You can do spaghetti on the bottom and cheese and cracker for snacks on top. Or for me, I put rice on the bottom with 2 different dishes on top. For school lunch or a portable a home cooked meal on the go, you will find that you cannot live without it! These designs are soothing and nice, unlike the bright pink Hello Kitty ones I got!! Comes in many different designs for $19.95.

A Backseat Survival Kit

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:00:00 PDT

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? How many times do you hear this before you want to pull over and throw a tantrum of your own? I have this naive notion that it is a good thing to teach my tots the virtue of patience and sitting quietly to reflect upon life's wonders (sounds like something that judgmental childless cousin of yours would say, right?). And then I wake up and must face reality. Car rides are boring, ain't no two ways about it. Getting your tot to sit quietly on a road trip is like asking them to cook, clean, organize your closet and give you regular massages (trust me, I'm working on this!). That's why you need this A Backseat Survival Kit ($19.95), it is chalk full of games, doodles and logs and has everything you need for each activity. This is the only thing you will need for the entire car trip. It is good for ages 5 and up, even teens have fun with the games! Don't leave home on that great American road trip without it =)

Bibs and Placemat Stories To Go Books

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PDT

These are the kind of things you would not buy unless you saw them in person, which I did and I am going to try to convey the must have status of them. These are books with tear out pages. The Bibs to Go ($10.16) are disposable paper bibs, each page has a different crazy cute design of bold and brightly colored animals (I think there is 5 or 6 designs in all). These are real bibs, waterproof, velcro closure, just like the Pampers Bibsters you have but these are easier to keep organized on the go and of course much much cuter. The counterpart to the Bibs to Go is the Mealtime Rhymes Placemats ($9.95), also a book with tear out pages but these have nursery rhymes on them so you can keep your tot occupied until your meal arrives. You don't even have to eat out on a regular basis to want these, these are just great to keep in your car for emergencies or when your bibs are all dirty and you can't get yourself to do the laundry or if you have a tot like mine who make such a mess you need disposable bibs and placemats for each meal!

Dumbo Cup for Clumsy Tiny Hands

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:00:00 PDT

The trick is to get more liquid in the belly than on the floor. This is a tough one to master. I mean, life is hard for those with little hands that can't exactly control itself. These dumbo ear handles will help tots grab the cup with confidence so he can be well on his way to big boy status, sans sippy cups! They may look funny but you will be laughing from the joy of days without tiny sippy valves and attachments. Comes in an array of colors but in orange and white at Fawn and Forest for $18.

Color Me Puzzle

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PDT

Looks like any other puzzle, right? But you flip it over and it is a whole new game, it has the same puzzle without color to be interpreted and colored in by your tot. Creative and brain flexing all in one! This is perfect for travel because you are getting a puzzle that can be done again and again, as well as a coloring project! I try not to bring too much on trips, I am not one of those moms who packs an entire suitcase full of toys, not even on long trips. This will definitely be in my suitcase though! It comes with oversized crayons. Made of thick, sturdy cardboard and printed with non-toxic ink. Puzzle has 24 large pieces for ages 4+. Enchanted Kingdom, On The Farm as well as other designs, available at Child Trek for $13.95.

Rocket Playhouse

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:00:00 PDT

How awesome is this? I am obsessed with space and astronauts so it would have been a dream come true to have this as a tot. And what tot wouldn't love to crawl into a rocket and blast off and boldly go where no man has gone before? And best of all, this sturdy cardboard rocket can be personalized with your own stickers and paint. You can name it whatever you want, of course for me it would be Apollo 11! OK, my true nerdy side is showing through =) At Giggle for $78.

Mom Snob Confessions: Julieta Alvarado

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:00:00 PDT

Maya, Julieta's daughter We all have our dirty little secrets but when it comes to motherhood, there is nothing to be embarrassed about if we had to cut some corners or do things that we're not exactly proud of. We've all been there. I had to shut my 2 screaming tots in the car one time so I can finish a phone interview with the LA Times while standing on the sidewalk. There was a tight deadline for the reporter and I wanted to make sure I got my quote in! I want to liberate ourselves from any guilt we may have because sometimes, you just gotta do what you gotta do. That's why I am starting this new column, Mom Snob Confession, where moms can not only come clean but be proud of their creative tactics. The first person I thought of for this is Julieta. I work with her (she is the Director of Network and Community Marketing at Glam Media) so I know how tough and demanding her job is but she is also a single mom with no family support. Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed, I think about how easy I have it because I do not know how she gets through the day sometimes! First of all, what indulgence do you do that is just for you? I am religious about my pedicure. Every 3 weeks. I also try to get a massage every other month but it is hard because of lack of time. It is 6pm and you have nothing planned for dinner. What is your emergency recipe you can whip up in 30 minutes or less? 15 minutes...Spaghetti (or any pasta), steamed broccoli, steamed carrots, butter, parmesan cheese. You have everything you need, carbs, veggies, a little fat and protein. My daughter loves it and it does take 15 minutes. What is the one piece of advise you'll to pass down to your daughter when she has kids of her own? Learn how to be organized. I think it has helped me tremendously specially because I have done it on my own so being organized has helped a lot. And give your kid lots of kisses and hugs. I don't think you could ever give your child too many of those. Confession time. What have you done to try to get through the day? Do a conference call in the car while I drove my daughter around to fall asleep so I can talk. Another thing I used to do is when she was around one, I would feed her dinner while she took her bath. It would save me so much time and I could put her to sleep right after and go back to working.

VIPP Diaper Pail, Industrial Strength Odor Defense

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:00:00 PDT

I have the Diaper Dekor, Diaper Genie and Diaper Champ and they are all sitting in my garage. None of them truly keep the stink out. Especially the plastic bins, the smell fuses into the molecules and nothing can get it out. You can cover it up with tricks like dumping baby powder into it each time, etc. but the underlying smell is still there. The VIPP trash bins are what doctors and hospitals use to throw their biohazards, so it makes perfect sense to use the same air-tight stainless steel bins for your tot's biohazards! It does not absorb the smell so when you clean it, it is clean! It uses regular trash bags so you won't be stuck with specialty bags (I still have a pack of Dekor bags, if anyone is interested). And these look really nice and are compact(20" high), perfect for the bathroom when you're done with diapers. At Giggle for $319, I know, it is pricey but getting your nostrils working again is priceless.