Fashion Coos: Silly Gifts from Me Giant

welcome to our new advertiser me giant! looking for a fun, quirky baby gift? me giant has you covered with graphic bibs, infant hats and onesies as well as kids tees all with funny little tag lines and animals. everything comes packed up in their mod-designed metal lunch boxes too! www.megiant.com

Adorn: Birthday Party Planning...

i am really going overboard with the birthday decorations. my mom and i had the best time with this little diy project of gluing pom poms on party hats. pretty cute huh?

update: i am getting very close to finding those polka dotted plates. thanks shak-shuka! 

Fashion Coos: A for Apple Fall Collection

a is for prep school! the new collection from a for apple is all about the ivy leagues from oxford shirts to varsity jackets to crested blazers. and don't be surprised by all the grey, this is a major fall trend.

Fashion Coos: Sons + Daughters Eyewear

sons + daughters is a new canadian company that makes real eyewear for kids--that is, optical quality and runway ready! their thinking is you should protect your kids eyes from harmful sun rays, which cheapo shades don't, and the glasses should have the same quality as grown-up versions. so sons + daughters frames have flexible hinges and block the full range of uv rays--and you can pop an rx into them! sons + daughters shades come in a spectrum of iconic styles and fun colors all under $100. available soon at a store near you!

Hurricane Irene

so it looks like this hurricane is heading straight to new york city. we aren't really sure how severe the storm will be, but it is likely that we will be without power for a few days. let's hope our cheap windows withstand the rain and wind of irene! thinking good thoughts! xo (h-luv cloud mobile)

Fashion Coos: Stripes for All Ages

i have been posting a lot of very expensive, yet beautiful, children's fashion this month. so, i am getting back to basics with some simple, stylish looks for fall for your big, little or baby boy at nice prices!

1. polarn o. pyret stripe tee 2. gap moto jean 3. keep shoes ramos  4. gap rolled edge sweater 5. gap olive wash jeans 6. converse all stars  7. old navy striped one piec

Adorn: 2nd Birthday Bash Planning

i am diving into full on birthday party planning mode for henry's second. i am working on a mash-up of themes: part circus, part old fashioned/traditional birthday. i just got the eco-garlands from hip hooray today. they are beautiful and made from a stone paper--how cool! here is a bit of my inspiration board.

i want to be a crafty blogger and share some of my decorating projects along the way, but they never make it here. truth is i am super crafty, it's just that i am usually doing a project in my pj's at 1:00 am and don't have the energy or the light to photograph the process. i will post some finished project pix this weekend!

p.s. does anyone know where in the us to find polka dot paper cups and plates?

I am back!

holy missing in action amanda! i just took a week off but i am back and refreshed. thanks to everyone for entering the giveaway this week. the winner is..... Joslyn!

ok, back to digging out of the email pile.

Ahhs: The Bespectacled Cool Kids

i am taking a fashion break to feature the most fashionable plush dolls on the block! these my name is simone dolls are such little characters, i think i saw that one in the middle walking down bedford avenue! perfect for little boys. available at smallable.com

Fashion Coos: New from Soft Gallery

heading out of town this week, so please enter the giveaway! in the meantime here's more fall fashion...

wondering where the wild things are? they are over at the soft gallery.

Books to Coo About: Let's Make Some Great Art {Giveaway!} CLOSED

giveaways are back!! this beautiful new book from the acclaimed illustrator marion deuchars explores art in all of its forms. designed for people of ages--we're talking toddlers to grandfathers here--let's make some great art is packed with stimulating ideas and activities to spark your little guy's imagination: practice drawing the mona lisa's simile; design a jackson pollock-inspired work; shed light on how cave paintings were made; or learn fool-proof techniques to draw a bird or bike...and much, much more!

  {the giveaway}

what you will win: a copy of the 224-page let's make some great art packed with 600 drawings, retail value $19.95. giveaway open to north america and europe.

how to enter: leave a comment on this post stating how you get creative with your little one. the winner will be chosen at random after close of giveaway at 9am est on monday, august 22, 2011.

Fashion Coos: Mini Rodini Fall/Winter

the mini-fashion week that started last week is turning into mini-fashion weeks! my inbox is filling up with look books full of great things for the fall!

i am really excited for the fall collection from mini rodini. they always do the best coats for little boys. i am already saving up for one this winter... red, blue or leopard? i think leopard!!

buy mini rodini now at shak-shuka.com

Fashion Coos: New from Oeuf

oeuf never disappoints... and this fall they introduce some really fun new clothing, goodies and decor!

oeuf is the master of simple yet fun pieces like this 100% baby alpaca lighting sweater: part ziggy stardust and part super hero! 

nevermind plastic! these adorable knitted clown nose and jumbo mustache are just in time for halloween.

i am adding both of these new garlands (lights and clouds) to my christmas wish list... and yes, that is a big apple!

 keep your little person warm and sassy with a baby alpaca lion bandana--very clever!

Fashion Coos: Blue Winter

feeling blue about winter? there is a reason!

i know we are all in a bit of denial about summer coming to an end, but before we know it we'll be bundling up our little ones! you heard it here before, but i gotta say it again: blue is in! here are some of my must have pieces from the fall/winter collections...

1. nico.nico zigzag tee 2. esp no.1 hat 3. esp no.1 striped sweater 4. nico.nico blue dot tee 5. esp no. 1 skinny jean 6. bobo choses blue owl 7. natives miller shoe 8. caramel baby & child trousers 9. caramel baby&child v-neck sweater 10. sunbird sweats 11. polarn o. pyret  braided blue belt 12. petit bateau cardigan

Coos Reviews: Dolphin Organics, Natural and Proud!

dolphin organics is a new line of organic baby care products that takes the natural thing a step further by labeling the ingredients as clear as day. so you know what you are rubbing all over baby's beautiful skin is in fact from mother nature. all four products in the line are fragrance free, tear free, vegan, hypoallergenic and made with at least 70% organic material. but the real question is: do they work?

i am that slacker wantabe green person who only buys eco-handsoap because it smells good and when it comes to cleaning, i pull out the powertools like scrubbing bubbles and bleach because most eco-branded cleaners do not work. that said, i only use natural-ish products on my boy: california baby and erba organics are some of my faves. i have been stung by other green body care products in the past--nothing is worse than dishing out $15 on an bubble bath and it doesn't make bubbles! 

the good news is: dolphin organics isn't just natural, it works! the dolphin product line includes: a baby shampoo & bodywash combo; lotion; conditioner; and bubble bath--all come in generous sizes. the bubble bath is bubbly. the shampoo/bodywash combo is gentle. the conditioner is silky--it easily released tangles and made henry's hair extra curly! the lotion is hydrating and easy to apply. everything is fragrance free, but it still has a nice smell and i love knowing that there is no weird dyes or chemicals to worry about. dolphin organics has my coo of approval! available at retailers nationwide and at www.dolphinorganics.com.

Word of the Week: Bug!

i am not exactly psyched for the word this week: it's bug. please reference the coral & tusk pillow (no.8).

that is one thing about new york city i really hate: the cockroach. we have a great exterminator but he has been m.i.a. for a few months. it was a hot humid evening, post h's bath when a massive, water bug--actually this was one of the flying kind. (yes, we have those here) comes scurrying out. in seven years, i have never seen a bigger one--i thought it was a mouse! thank the lord my husband was home to take charge. needless to say, i freak the f out, screaming, running around with a wet baby in my arms.  i grabbed the vogue bambini throw it to my husband and SMACK!  after the commotion, henry wide-eyed says "w-hoooa....bug! bug! bug! bug!..." ...and put on repeat for the next 15 minutes. it was rainbow x10.

1. new generals dragonfly tank 2. oeuf alpaca butterflies 3. kltworks creepy crawly plush 4. boon waterbugs 5. green bugs plate 6. pete seeger's birds, beasts, bugs & fishes 7. tinou insects poster 8. coral & tusk roach surrender pillow  9. new generals giant beetle onesie 10. vilac ladybug 11. p'kolino bug puzzle 12. bugs by numbers

Fashion Coos Reviews: Tea Collection

i have always seen tea collection around and even featured a few pieces here and there, but i always considered it more of a graphic tee kind of company. boy was i wrong!

it turns out that every season tea collection gathers inspiration from a different country: west africa, japan, norway, and this fall, mexico. their designers travel to that country, eat the food, learn about the textiles, meet the people and take photos. then return home and create modern practical children's clothing full of the spirit of that place. pretty cool?

tea sent me a few pieces to check out. everything is of the highest quality: solid construction and thick cotton. the kind of clothing you feel good about putting your kid in, but you won't have a heart attack if they roll around in the dirt with it on. a wide selection for boys and a lot of great unisex pieces from basics like the purity tee and snuggly pajamas to cardigan sweaters and dark wash denim. this mama loves tea!

Hunt & Gather: Poshling's Fall Line-Up!

i hate to be the debbie downer, but fall is right around the corner. meaning back-to-school—or just a new season that you have to dress your always growing bambino! if you spent the summer--and your bank account--sipping icy cocktails and filling up on expensive seafood, then march your fingers over to poshling to grab some steals on designer kids and maternity brands.

this week you can pick up modern essentials from petit couture, as well as tot talk placemats. upcoming sales include: baby cz, pediped, and 3 sprouts. happy hunting!

Fashion Coos: Opus Fall 2011

i got a sick little boy this evening so i am going to make this quick. here is a sneak peak of what opus has up their sleeve for fall! everything is impossibly soft and comfortable for little bubs. i especially like the neoprene harem-style snow pants for babies!