For the Kiddos

Sassy summer Mama

Even though it’s easy to start getting the ho hums about summer whizzing by (have you seen the back-to-school commercials?) the reality is that summer is most definitely NOT over. In fact, we have an entire glorious month to go! And since the kiddos are still hanging at home (and parents/babysitters are likely running out of ideas and inspiration to keep them entertained) I thought today would be the perfect day to have a Summer Inspired For the Kiddos post. So round up the lovely littles in your life, check out the goodies below and let’s make the most of this August!

* Paper plates have never looked so good!

I love doing craft projects with little kids, especially ones that they can easily execute on their own. These 20 paper plate projects from Spoonful are low maintenance, low cost, and absolutely adorable. Sounds like the perfect children's activity no!? Pin ‘em HERE or visit the full site HERE.

* Close by and Hands Free

This gem comes from the supermom of my adorable niece and nephew (aka my sister-in-law) and I think you’re gonna LOVE it. Have you heard of the Go-Pod? If you haven’t, this easy to pack, pop-up and use contraption is perfect for your littlest babes who just want to be nearby and have a great view for the family BBQ, evening at the beach, or picnic in the park. Sold everywhere, the Go-Pod just might become your go-to for the 4-months and up member of your posse.

* Stylin' Summer Outfits

There are few things more adorable than babies in rompers; but I think babies in printed rompers might be one of them. I absolutely LOVE the collection of prints from Winter Water Factory, like those little fishies above or these anchors or maybe sailing ships? And while you’re shopping for baby clothes, don’t forget to check out what they carry for adults because those really are some sassy/fun prints!

* Deliciously Adorable

Stop right now- we have to go and make these Star Fish S’mores… that’s right, they’re S’MORES!! And while I confess this recipe is a bit more detail-oriented than what I typically go for, I think all you Betty Crockers’ out there should do it while the rest of us get inspired to make a simpler version (dip star-shaped sugar cookies in chocolate and then use the exterior instructions from there?)

* Make mealtime more merry!

How adorable is that plate? I just discovered that Shutterfly now has an entire home décor section including these fun plates that you can customize for the entire family (they remind me of those draw-on then bake-in-the-oven plates I made for all my grandparents as a kid!) These would make an adorable gift or how about a picnic perfect gingham and stripes combo for your own family!?  Let your kids help pick their favorite pictures and I guarantee dinner is about to get way more fun!

* Tips for Travelling with Littles

Summer vacations aren’t always easy when you have tiny travelers to contend with, but thankfully the always cheerful Naomi of Love Taza has some expert tips for hitting the road with kiddos while ensuring summer fun. From the obvious notes (be flexible with your schedule) to fun insider tips (cough up the $$$ for a centrally located hotel room to maximize time spent out and about), click HERE for Love Taza’s full list of tips.

Do you all have any fun summer plans? What do you do to keep the kiddos entertained on hot summer days?!

For the Kiddos

Melt my freakin heart...

With friends makin babies at a somewhat more regular pace lately (here they come!) I've been exposed to more and more kiddo paraphernalia, inspiration and apparel of the absolutely adorable variety. So here for all you Mommy, Sister, Auntie or beloved Friend types is the next installment of "For the Kiddos"!

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, a beloved (and adorably illustrated) kids book for this tiny generation is part of a series!! I never knew, but I think I will be gifting several Pigeon books in the future, including his newest bath time adventure.

Oh man... so efficient, looks adorable and no more cutting up sandwiches into tiny pieces!! Click HERE to purchase the Fun Bites Squares from Amazon and be sure to browse all the other adorable shapes they sell! (Pin it here)

So apparently "balance bikes" are all the rage these days. I see them all over NYC and one of my favorite chic mamma bloggers over at Lady and Prince is always raving about her kids' Strider Bikes. The goal is apparently to work on balance first (even as young as 2!) then get to the pedaling later. HERE is a great roundup of all the best (at least in Babble's opinion!) balance bikes on the market.

I could see this "go fishing" DIY being perfect for distracting your little one on a long line, an airplane or just on any boring afternoon. Small enough to tuck in your purse and very do-able from a craft standpoint, click HERE for the full instructions from Doodle Craft.

Is there anything more adorable than a plush rocker?! I think not (says the auntie who purchased a pastel cow and airplane for her niece and nephew respectively!) I love these adorable rockers as new baby gifts because they're unique and will last a while (first as decor in the room, then as a ride on toy for 2-3 years). Plus, Wayfair.com has an amazing selection at very reasonable prices HERE.

* A little something for the Mama's:

- I typically read Copy Cat Chic for the amazing save-on-decor advice, but when Reichel, Mom of 2 shared this post about her favorite maternity/breast feeding friendly clothes, I took note.  boob (yup that's really the name) looks chic and flattering and the price point is somewhere perfectly between very reasonable (Old Navy Maternity) and absurd (Hatch Collection)

* And even some great reads for Dad:

- On making the most of your paternity leave

- Advice for new Dad's from my favorite Dad blogger (yes I have a favorite Dad blogger:)

* Some good reading:

- An interesting theory on why babies cry at night

- Why isn't the baby industry working harder to revolutionize the breast pump!?

- A very interesting (but LONG) article about "The Overprotected Kid"

- Just in time for summer road trips, a book of kid friendly adventures in the Hudson Valley.

Lastly, THIS little girl's reaction to finding out her mother is pregnant literally brought tears to my eyes.

For previous "For the Kiddos" posts, click HERE.

For the Kiddos

Hey kiddo!

After spending 4 days in Atlanta with my beyond delightful 3 year old niece and brand spankin new little nephew, I have developed a severe case of baby brain. Not to be confused with "want a baby" brain, my baby brain is just a constant state of kid-filled daydreams which get me super excited for the day when Dr. H and I decide to start a family (because from what I can tell, having a family is awesome:) To hold me over until that day, (and to share all the ideas and info I've been hoarding for it!) here's the latest installment of "For the Kiddos". Enjoy!

I'm absolutely in love with the adorable shirts and leggings available in the Spoon x Chogre Etsy shop! Made of organic cotton and covered in colorful, unique prints, I can't wait to have a tiny human to dress in these shirts!

Want a craft activity for your toddler that doubles as an adorable gift? How about you "send a hug"!? The perfect way to send love to far away relatives, this 3 ingredient craft (paper + scissors + markers/crayons) is sure to be a hit with your kiddo as well. (Original post HERE.)

Pretty much the coolest way to store your kids Legos. Ever. (Also, an excuse to eat Cheese Balls!)

Toddler proof your doors for the cost of 1 pool noodle. It's all about improvising people!!!

Breakfast is always better with (smiling) monsters! Turning morning oatmeal into an adorable treat using THIS simple step-by-step tutorial. You've probably already got everything you need except the edible marker (and I think every kitchen should probably have an edible marker:)

Parental Reading.
Here are a few kiddo-related books I've recently heard very good things about around the web:

* How to Have Your Second Child First: 100 Things That Are Good to Know... the First Time Around

* All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood (not how parents effect kids, how kids effect parents)
* Real Food For Mother and Baby (a book about just giving your kids all the good stuff you're eating).

And here are a few interesting articles that got me thinking:

* Comparing American parenting techniques to those in other countries (REALLY fascinating)
* Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes.

* 7 Secrets to raising happy kids? Sure, why not!!?
* 10 common mistakes parents make - a REALLY interesting look at what parents do now and how it may impact the long term health and well being of their kids. 

Plus, a few things you just might need to buy:

* Must have baby items according to Cup of Jo.

* The perfect high chair solution for apartments dwellers and others without a ton of space.

* Got a little one waking you up before the sun!? Maybe this "ok to wake" clock is the solution?!

For the Kiddos

Tiny & Sweet

It's been a while since my last "For the Kiddos" post (HERE), so I'm excited to share some of the latest awesome, adorable and miniature(!) goodies I've collected around the web!! From clothing and gifts for new mamas to nursery decor, here's a merry meri dose of kiddo excellence for you.

Rock the ridiculous leggings

With cooler temps comes a chance to rock some of the coolest leggings! We adults may not be able to get away with mustached legs or rows of animals, but our favorite little ones certainly can. Check out the awesome mustache pair above from Seed Heritage HERE and find the adorable animal print (and so many other hipster baby prints like THIS and adorable apparel items like THIS) from Fable Baby HERE. 

Nothing cuter than babies in bathrobes

Perfect as a gift (totally unisex!) or for the little cutie you get to share bath time with each night, this hippo robe is sure to be a hit every time it gets put on. Super affordable via Overstock.com, get your Hippo HERE, or the equally adorable shark HERE.

Beary good breakfast idea!

So simple. So freaking cute.

Makes saying goodbye more fun!!

Never met a little kid that didn't love a silly rhyme.

Insta-cute

I can't think of a better way to kid-ify a room than with wall decals. Quirky, cute and completely not permanent, you can indulge your daughter's love of pink hearts or your son's obsession with space ships without worrying about the cost of re-doing the room when they grow out of it. Check out the awesome collection from Ferm Living HERE (I'd even consider those dots and triangles for quirky adult decor!)

Simple & Sweet.

And since it can't all be about the bambinos, how about this beautiful bracelet for mom? A recent awesome Etsy find, shopLUCA will personalize each bracelet in tiny font with the new baby's name and birth date. Dainty and sweet, these bracelets are the perfect way to add some pretty to a new mom's day and remind her of her bundle of joy!

For the Kiddos.

Love those little tushies!

Confession: I have a "for my non-existant children" board on Pinterest. Allow me to explain... You see, with many of my friends now having kiddos of their own, my Pinterest homepage and Facebook news feed are bursting with baby/toddler goodness and there's just no way I'm going to remember it all when Dr. H and I are ready for bambinos of our own. So to make use of all the great ideas and information I've been collecting, I thought I'd start a little "For the Kiddos" column here on the blog. Just a few bits of kid goodness for all the Moms, Grandmas and #1 Aunties (eghm!!) out there looking for some info and inspiration. 

HaddonCo.

Want to have the most dapper little gentleman at the playground!? These adorable onesies are almost too cute for words and make an amazing baby gift which perfectly blends practical with unique. Click HERE to check out the entire HaddonCo collection on Etsy (25% off sale going on right now!)

A full set of chompers

Wondering when and where the teething is gonna happen? This chart has been approved by Sis (my brilliant personal Dentist) as accurate, so save it now and know exactly when it's time to stock up on teething rings!

Animals on parade!

How gorgeous is this puzzle? I almost want it for myself! Unisex colors, educational (it features upper case letters on one side and lower case on the other) and easy on the eyes, click HERE to purchase the animal parade from the MOMA store.

"Saturday"

I cannot get enough of Greg Abbott's collection of happy monsters and adorable animals. I think these prints would be adorable as decor in a little kiddos bedroom or playroom or for my fellow whimsical adults, Abbott's art comes on iPhone and iPad cases as well as pillows and totes. LOVE it.

Kid in a box.

People always joke that kids love the box more than the toys inside, but this bright idea takes box love to a whole new level. Stick your munchkin inside a big empty box with some crayons (and stickers!) and you get a break while they stay in one place and play happily (at least for a few minutes:)