Fashion Coos: Independence Day Cool!

it wouldn't be a week on coos & ahhs without a proper round-up! nothing says freedom like looking good. haha! here are some pieces to keep your little guy cool and comfortable this holiday weekend.

1. buzy bee kids cotton shortalls 2. woven saltwaters 3. wovenplay starfish trunks 4. nico nico flag tee 5. gap cuffed jeans 6. cienta slipons 7. polarn o. pyret uv hat 8/9. nadadelazos tank and shorts

happy 4th!!!

Ahhs: Marimekko Kids

while i was looking online for marimekko fabric for an upcoming craft project, i landed on the marimekko shop at crate & barrel. i knew crate & barrel had a marimekko shop. what i didn't know was they also carried kids products! bibs, plates, socks and more! 

Fashion Coos: Color 101 {Mundo Melocotón}

the philosophy at mundo melocotón (roughly 'peach world' in spanish) is comfort in color. the collection is designed by a spanish-born, belgium-based, mother of two lively little boys (both under 5!) and you can tell she created this label with her boys in mind. what could be better than soft unisex pieces in an rainbow of saturated color?

mundo melocotón sent me one of their robes to take for a test drive. first of all, pretty much all of the collection including blankets and changing pad covers is crafted in velour. usually when i think of velour, russian teenagers or grannies in boca come to mind, but the buttery soft quality of mundo's fabric makes it ideal for kids: durable, luxe and low-maintenance. 

when i got my hands on the robe, i had to rub my eyes: the colors you see online are spot on! the quality is of the highest standard and thoughtfully designed with little details like having a tie that is attached with an inner closure (just like a grown-up robe).

the catalog is chock full of beautiful products--i am a bit obsessed with the bright changing pad covers--in the us no one makes covers in fun colors! unfortunately, this line isn't currently available in the us. you can order online at www.littlezebra.com (worldwide shipping).

Hunt & Gather: Museum Shops

museum gift shops are great places to find interesting gifts that you will not find anywhere else. here is a guide to my favorite gift shops and museums in new york...

1. the new museum gift shop. i love this gift shop for kids and parents alike! 

2.  the moma shop is a trove for great kids items. including tons of exclusive items like this elephant bookend and they have their own line of kids items.

3. my very favorite museum gift shop is at the cooper-hewitt national design museum. i do a lot of holiday shopping there. this totally weird marcel dzama action figure will make a nice addition to the dollhouse. yikes!

4. i've never actually been to the gift shop at studio museum harlem, but i have heard it rocks! another totally original little onesie, black is beautiful!

5. one of my favorite museums in new york is the folk art museum. it's the perfect size and they are always introducing me to new artists. the gift shop is tiny but stocked with interesting pieces from american crafts people. this beautiful street architecture game let's kids create their own streetscapes.

6. lastly, the morgan library gift shop is the place to find literary items for children. this america the beautiful pop-up book is sure to entertain a child for years to come.

Catching Up With Life!

if you follow me on twitter you already know my little henry was in the hospital over night on sunday. then i left town for two days on a business trip. needless to say, i am busy getting life back together. in the meantime, here's a little photo of my boys in the hospital. thanks to mr. coos for taking care of our little boy while i was gone. you are my rock.

Coos Reviews: Smart Potty from BabyBjörn

still working on getting henry interested in potty training, so far no luck! but we are having fun checking out potty seats along the way...

this week it's the smart potty from babybjörn. like all babybjörn products, the potty seat is simple sleek and highly functional. no bells and whistles here, just exactly what you need.

the smart potty sits on the floor on a non-slip base with a removable reservoir insert. baby does his business. dump. rinse. done! i know you might not like the idea of rinsing, but some kids don't like to sit up on the big toilet seat--my son included. what i like most is that the potty seat is very portable. it could easily fit in a grocery-sized tote, a stroller basket or the backseat of a car--for those long car rides. it's hard enough trying to find a clean restroom in nyc for an adult, so the ability to bring this with you is great! it comes in a rainbow of cheerful colors and under $20 it's a real value.

Ahhsome this Week

happy friday! i hope everyone has a great weekend. here are some things i was loving on this week...

1.  i am so in love with this muslin baby blanket from namoo! 2. beep! beep! breakfast express by reiko kaneko 3. babybell spoon- both a rattle and spoon! 4. the cutest toddler shorts on the planet from lovlier seas

Ahhs: Babies for Boys {Petitcollin}

do little girls love princesses and little boys love trucks because it's in their nature? or is it that is what their parents tell them to love? i always thought when i had a child i would let them explore what toys they are interested in free of gender. now, here i am buying trucks and dinosaurs for my boy like a crazy lady.

so when i came across these old-school, eco-dolls by the french company petitcollin, i knew it was time to introduce some new kinds of toys. petitecollin dolls are made in the mountains of france with organic cotton and vinyl plastic that is vanilla scented. the website is mostly in french, but it has a lot of fun dolls to check out. i love that they come in all colors--this one is especially cute! available online at kangaroo boo or in new york at pomme in dumbo.

Word of the Week: Fish!!!

we're still very focused on animals these days. no matter how much we try to look at other words or objects, it always comes back to ishhh...

 1. fish teether (fawn & forest) 2. ketiketa romper (sweet william) 3. cat and fish 4. kit +lili sunsuit 5. lunchskins shark bag 6. organic fish romper (ittikid) 7. shark flip flops 8. vitra nelson fish clock 9. little marc jacobs trunks

10. schylling ambi fishwheel 11. i-play bucket hat 12. bullyland pufferfish13. argington fish and pebbles pillow 14. coq en pate ocean friends tee (little fashion gallery) 15. hatley rainboots 16. atelier fischer animal picture cube 17. ok, sorry these are crewcuts but for some reason they have disappeared from the site! 18. tea collection fish pajamas

Hunt & Gather: Summer Online Sales

grab a glass of ice cold lemonade, crank the ac (or open a window) and belly up to your computer to take advantage of these great online sales...

uk shop i dream elephants is currently having a summer sale of up to 50% off on brands like finger in the nose, munster kids, and imps and elfs.

the luxe brand eyespy  has 50-75% off the bright spring collection and fall!

polarn o pyret always has the best sales--meaning bargain basement prices! winter, spring, summer, and fall stock-up on baby and kids!

my ultimate temptation, sweet william, is having a decent sale (only till the 22nd!) on clover, makie, wovenplay and much more. stay cool!

Coos Reviews: Summer Reading List {Chronicle Books}

the natural realm is the focus this summer at chronicle books. these three beautifully illustrated new titles from chronicle are sure to delight your little reader/listener ...

brother sun, sister moon by katherine paterson

a reimagination of the famous hymn by saint francis of assisi, brother sun, sister moon is a lovely tribute to nature and the glory of life. illuminated with gorgeous paper-cut illustrations by pamela dalton that beg you to get lost in their simple intricacy. i was surprised that even though it is based on a christian hymn, the book doesn't feel overly religious. if you like folk art you must add this book to your collection. (ages 4 to 8--my two-year-old loves to page through this title!)

a butterfly is patient by dianna hutts aston

a butterfly is patient introduces children to the fascinating world of butterflies from the range of brilliant colors and sizes to their astonishing journeys around the globe. the illustrations remind me of 19th-century scientific journals with the careful lettering and specimen-like details. i have to say, reading this book i learned a lot--like don't eat butterflies! not to sound like a cliché, but this book is a classic for all ages. (ages 5 to 10)

the woods by paul hoppe

first of all, i was, and still am, scared of the dark/woods. (this coming from the girl from alaska!) i hope i don't pass that fear on to my two year-old, so i love this tale of a brave little boy who loses his bunny at bedtime and heads into the "woods" to find him. along the way he encounters all sorts of scary creatures including an adorable bear that wears a run dmc style "honey" gold chain. he quickly learns that everyone is just as scared as he, and they forge ahead wizard of oz style looking for the bunny. the illustrations are too cute and perfect for an adventurous little boy. (ages 4 to 8)

Ahhsome this Week

i promised myself i would go to bed before midnight tonight, so a quickie on my weekly ahhs that i didn't get to earlier.

1. eric carle bandages! too cute-right? and 2. i need to get my hands on these house suitcases!! okay, off to bed. have a great weekend and happy father's day!

Word of the Week: Elephant

oh man, elephants are too popular! i am seriously writing with one eye open because i am so tired and i couldn't stop finding great picks for this round-up. i wish i had a recording of how henry pronounces this word. it's crazy/cute!

1. elephant shoulder bag (shak-shuka) 2. ferm living tiny train pillow 3. elephant wall easel (moolka) 4. blue elephant t-shirt (nordic kids) 5. manny and simon elephant push toy 6. elephant family puzzel (shak-shuka) 7. lucky fish elephant tee 8. elephant humidifier (giggle) 9. elephant bookshelf (fawn & forest) 10. counting elephants puzzle (acorn) 11. the travels of babar book

12. apple & bee nappy mat 13. zid zid kids elephant mask 14. jelly cat pelhamby elephant 15. elephant pacifier (nordic kids) 16. elephant cottonsuit (ittiid) 17. tin elephant wind-up toy 18. organic teethers from miyim 19. anne-claire petit elephant 20. elephant pillow (little choux) 21. aden + anais elephant security blanket 22. lucky wang elephant kimono

Adorn: Twinkle Curtain from GRAstudio

i love the long days of the summer, but i do not love trying to block out the sun that is shining bright at naptime and even at bedtime. 

enter the twinkle curtain, it's both a blackout shade and night/day light! the twinkle curtain is a thick linen curtain that is stamped with 60 tiny stars based on an actual celestial cluster that projects tiny little stars. it also has thermal qualities to help keep your nursery cool in the summer and warm in the winter. pretty genius huh?

Ahhs: Napkid Bibs from Deuz

the rest of this week i just want to put my horseblinders on and post things i have been meaning to put up for awhile now... 

last month i posted the playmats from deuz, then last week i met one of the founding sisters while she was in nyc and she let me get my paws on these adorable bibs they just launched! they are screenprinted on soft heavy organic cotton with phrases in seven languages! i love the unique design and the full coverage. unfortunately, the are not currently available stateside. you can order them online at shak-shuka. 

the good news is if you live in new york, yoya will be carrying the tapikid playmats this summer!

The Great Indoors! Summer Camping with BuyModernBaby {Guest Post}

if you haven't bookmarked buymodernbaby yet, do it now! buymodernbaby is the ultimate resource for all modern baby-goodness for any budget. i am honored to have esther here today with a guest post on camping. ( i am back to posting tomorrow!)

With summer vacation now in full swing, I've got all kinds of fun plans to make the most of this school-free season.  I've been inspired by so many of Amanda's recent summery roundups like We All Scream for Ice Cream, Word of the Week: Tree!, and Fashion Coos: Shade in the Sun and I'm adding my own summer inspiration to the mix.  This time it's all about camping.  I'm thinking summer camp, tents and s'mores and bringing that fun feeling right into your play room. 

1.  squirrel ranger print 2. tree ring backpack 3. camp pendants 4. grill set 5. play tent 6. smore plush 7. twig lamp 8. bear tee 9. wood tree bolsters

Five Easy Eco Pieces from Shak-Shuka {Guest Post}

the eco-mama on the scene this week is joslyn from the eco-style webshop shak-shuka based in rotterdam, nl. just like her boutique, mrs. shak-shuka makes looking and living green easy as pie. here are her five simple ways to clean-up your routine:

1. Don't, or Limit the Amount of  Plastic Toys You Buy

We all know the conundrum of plastic toys creeping their way into our house, then being left for the dumpster shortly thereafter. Not only are plastics bad for the environment (to produce and once they are discarded they stick around longer than we do!), they are usually quite garish and make your décor look like a bit more “Playroom Goes Wild” than “Elle Décor”. Wood, fabric, and paper toys are all great alternatives, and once their play days are over, they can either be recycled or even better – passed down as heirlooms. Of course you can’t deny the durability of plastic, so there are some great options of non-toxic, recycled plastics that will give both you and Mother Earth peace of mind when the kids are at play.

Our favorites are:

Green Toys, Sprig Toys, Kidsonroof, Little Alouette, Grimms

2. Find an Eco Alternative for One of your Fave Items

This may sound painful, but once you replace one of your favorite go-to items with an organic or eco-friendly alternative, you’ll never look back. Ours would HAVE to be hands-down paper towels. Not sure how my husband does it, but he manages to go through a roll per week. I’ve managed to replace real napkins over paper towels (shh! Our little secret) at mealtime, and use old-fashioned hankies when it’s cold season and we’re blowing our noses all season long! If you don’t want to go with fabric, there are a slew of eco-friendly/recycled paper choices which are also a good option. Just remember that every little step and new “green” habit that you take on, will have a profound effect on the environment and your family over time, so go for it and be daring!

3. Bring Spare Bags Wherever You Go

You would be surprised how many plastic bags you can accumulate in a week, so come prepared: small bags, big bags, if you’re feeling brave and know you’re heading in for some major food shopping, you can even bring a trolley! Re-usable bags have seriously gotten a makeover and there are some amazing styles that you won’t mind schlepping around or perched on your shoulder next to your favorite handbag. Each bag we re-use is one less plastic bag that we end up casting into the ocean forever!

Great plastic bag alternatives:

Envirosax, Baggu, Susan Bijl

4. Eat Organic or Veggie Once a Week

Eating organic and/or eating vegetarian can make a big impact not only on your family’s life, but also that of the environment. Start slowly and shop wisely: maybe don’t run out to the health food store and buy everything (because you’ll quickly go broke!), but instead start with maybe an organic breakfast that you and the kids like, say organic milk and muesli. Many times traditional supermarkets carry as much variety as specific health food stores, and it makes for easier one-stop-shopping. It’s also beneficial for the earth, your family, and the environment to eat vegetarian once a week, and there are great sites for making vegetarian meals for the whole family. (image: © David Loftus)

Some of our favorites are:

Jamie Oliver, Weelicious, 101 Cookbooks

5. Get Kids Involved with Everything

This may sound like a “no brainer” but the more children get involved with chores and tasks around the house, the more likely they are to continue them on their own. For instance, the next time you make a fruit salad, let the kids help you (supervised please!) cut up some of the fruit. Every time you get them involved, they not only benefit from the me-and-you time, but they learn about the importance of the task that they’re doing (gardening, recycling, cooking). There are countless ways to get children of all ages involved, and you’ll be surprised how you can turn a fussy eater into a gourmet chef by having him/her help you make lunch or dinner. Of course if you’re lucky enough to have space for a veggie patch or garden, that will only re-emphasize the importance of eating healthy and seasonally.

And the Winner is...

the winner of the mimosa giveaway is katrina. congratulations!right now mimosa is offering free shipping till june 14, 2011

order away at http://ilovemimosa.com/!

Let's Hear it for the Boys {Father's Day Gift Guide}

father's day can be a real conundrum for us ladies. so here are some picks for that semi-metro, semi-rugged daddy from some great booze to great art!

1. love and victory ours decanter set 2. muji foldable speaker 3. muji slippers 4. natives jericho shoes 5. steven alan packable sea slicker 6. whistlepig rye whiskey (yum!) 7. bodum fyrkat grill 8. jcrew vintage timex field watch 9. lamson chinese cleaver 10. sennheiser wireless earphones (we LOVE these--watch movies loud during naptime) 11. imperfect articles limited edition tee 12. small duffle from freeman's sporting goods 13. neo rauch book

We all Scream for Ice Cream!!!

ahh... summer. nothing says summer like the hum of the ice cream truck on a warm balmy night. since i am in detroit this week, and one of my favorite things to eat there is frozen custard--like soft serve but way better--i thought it would be appropriate to do an ice cream inspired round-up!

1. little lark ice cream tee 2. bobo choses swim bottoms (sweet william) 3. leftright ice cream hat 4. icelolly (moolka) 5. ice cream bubbles 6. ice cream crayons 7. ice cream set (shak shuka) 8. bobo choses tote (poppy's closet) 9. ice cream print (shak shuka)

10. mango baby ice cream shoes 11. polarn o. pyret ice cream tee (youth/baby)12. jkits ice cream mobile 13. yeyah ice cream cushion 14. scoots ice cream truck 15. ice cream body cream 16. ikea ice cream sand set 17. bobo choses 3 scoops onesie (shak shuka)

A Recipe for Fun from The Brothers Trimm {Guest Post}

i am honored to have jen from the australian blog the brothers trimm as a guest blogger this week! i cruelly invited jen to do a summer-y post while she is suffering through winter in the southern hemisphere. lucky for us, she was able to knock the ice off her keyboard and share a really amazing recipe for a beach volcano! be sure to watch the vid at the end...

image: little lark, volcano tee

As all you lucky folks in the Northern Hemisphere are warming up to Summer, I bet you are considering your options when you head to the beach. If you're looking for an activity that is sure to delight both young and old, then I think I have just the project for you.

This is what you'll need:

1. Two Dads or equally enthusiastic and strong adults

2. Lots of children

3. Two shovels and lots of spades

4. Sand, tons of it

5. Dry Seaweed

6. Lots of kindling

7. Matches

8. A little tide know how

Now here's the fun part. Try and start this project a few hours before the tide starts to come in. The reason will become apparent shortly. You are going to create a volcano and so need to start digging close to the shore. The creation of your mountain is a great job for everyone, so little helpers will love digging and plonking piles of sand in your general direction.

Aim for a significantly big mountain of sand here. It needs to be semi wet so it sticks well.  Let's say about 3 feet high. Dig a moat all around with an entrance for the water to flow into. Then get started on carving out a hollow.

Approach this from two sides and use a smaller spade so you're not using a bulky shovel. The hole needs to be big enough so you can get your whole arm in. Once you have carved the sand out from either side and met each other in the middle, then it's time to create the flue. This is certainly a two person job and while you are both doing this, it's a good time to get your little helpers searching for dry sea weed and any sticks or dry leaves that they can find. They can also look for sea shells for decoration.

Once you have managed to create the hollow, your volcano should be taking shape. The next step is to prepare your fire inside and decorate the outside to your hearts content.

Then you wait...

Once the tide starts to creep up, gather your team and start your fire. Once the tide starts to creep up watch as the sea spills around your volcano, while smoke and fire flies skyward! It really does look like the real thing.

The fun is seeing how fast you can make it happen before the tide swallows it all up! 

I can absolutely guarantee that this will be the most fun you have on the beach and you'll be sure to have a wonderful memory for years to come. We still talk about this beach volcano we made this (Australian) summer. Don't forget your video camera too, our boys endlessly replay it and squeal with delight each time!

Have a happy playful summer everyone.

Word of the Week: Tree!

pronounced: twee and all plants are trees at the moment..

1. plan toys tree stacker 2. a tree is nice book 3. in my tree book 4. smafolk apple tree tee (ittikid) 5. p'kolino clohtes tree 6. polarn o. pyret newborn shorts 7. kidsonroof tree totem 8. little lark hemlock tank 9. ostheimer trees 10. louis louise palm tree tee (smallable) 11. dwellstudio owls sky travel case