Kids Haus

Portland and Babushkups

Almost 2 weeks ago, I traveled to Portland, Oregon to attend a fabric design class at PNCU hosted by the ultra-talented Heather Ross. I was originally #11 on the waiting list and I whimpered to my husband that I'll never get into the class (poor me). Somehow, the clouds parted, and a space became available. It turned out to be a fantastically informative and fun class that I will write more about in the next day or two. Anyhow, while I was down there, I set out on a quest to find a gift for my girls' to bring home. I spent a couple of hours in Powell's Books (which isn't hard to do) and as I was breezing through the Orange Room, these nesting Babushkups jumped out at me and, naturally, I had to bring them home! Adorable babushka dolls printed on each glass and because they nest within each other they double as great space-savers as well. They were a huge hit in our house!

New House Project: Childrens Mugs

Look what I just bought! Two beautifully handmade children's mugs by New House Project. Oh, if I told you how much cocoa we made around here - you might shudder. I'm what you might consider a hot cocoa snob since I only like using Valrhona cocoa, sweetened with agave nectar and topped with a mound of homemade whipped cream or (not homemade) marshmallows. I think we'll unwrap these beautiful mugs on Christmas Eve so the girls can have hot cocoa in anticipation of Christmas morning.

Oh, and if you are a fan of Charley Harper, you have to read Kristen's post about unearthing this signed "Lucky Ladybug" print from from Goodwill - now there's some fantastic good fortune!

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows!

These don't only look pretty but you know they'd be the ultimate stocking stuffer or best eaten on one of those overindulgent, overachieving holiday nights when you make a gingerbread house, stroll the block to check out the neighbors' Christmas lights, make hot cocoa upon your return and top if off with a chocolate dipped marshmallow! Okay...I just got a stomach ache thinking about it but it was fun to imagine how much fun the kids would have prior to the sugar crash.

Jaq Jaq Bird Chalkmats

Grace from Jaq Jaq Bird kindly sent this awesome Damask Chalkmat over a couple weeks ago. As soon as I tore open the box, it was out of my hands within .05 seconds and in the clutches of my overanxious girls. After digging out a few pieces of our personal supply of broken chalk they scribbled away for about an hour - scribbling, wiping, scribbling, wiping. Then, when dinner came, we flipped it over and took advantage of it's placemat side. We don't typically use placemats at the dinner table but this quickly made me wonder why I don't because it made clean-up so much easier! One thing I would suggest is getting the Chalk Pens or Butter Chalk instead of the old-fashioned chalk since I found it to be a little temperamental on the plastic chalkmat surface. Coming up with a few creative eating games for the chalk side and I think I can keep my girls from jumping out of their chairs every 30 seconds!

 

Hana Blomst

I know it may not be all that practical to give a child a porcelain cup or bowl but how could anyone possibly resist these simply beautiful porcelain bowls, cups and dishes from Hana Blomst? I let Bean start using "breakable" dishes when she was about 5 while we sat at the dinner table and, so far, we haven't broken anything (crossing my fingers). Of course, when they're dashing around the house in need of a snack or drink - I go for the plastic or stainless steel bottles! Blomst's porcelain dishware is very special though and would make a fantastic gift.

Goodbyn Lunchboxes

I'm not quite ready to think about "back to school" yet and I'm certainly not ready to drop C off at her first day of pre-school either. I know it will probably be much like pulling the Band-Aid off but, still, I'm not ready. I know she's ready though - desperate to keep up with her big sister! My friend, Robin, sent me this link to these Goodbyn lunchboxes yesterday. They're new to me and I'm so, so thrilled to have found the perfect lunch box! They come with sheets of stickers so your kids can decorate them however their creative streak takes them. The best part though, is that they are BPA and phthalate-free. I'm getting two!

New House Project Aprons

Now that I've been missing in action for so long, you're wondering why I've written three posts in less than 12 hours? Well, this one is for good reason. I've been following New House Project's blog for several months because I love Kristin's simple approach to home, motherhood and the project's that she creates to make a creative and inspiring environment for her daughter, Saya. It's really sweet. A couple of weeks ago, Kristin mentioned that she was going to open an Etsy shop selling handmade aprons for children and I've been waiting...and waiting...for her to announce the opening. Well, they're here! All made from vintage and found scraps of fabric, they're all adorable. She also mentioned that her husband will be selling pottery eventually - can't wait for that!

Hungry Monkey

"Hi".

Well, yes, that's the only word I thought appropriate after being gone from my blog for so long. It's summer and it's also been a time of vast change for our family. For me. I've been taking a little breather from writing since the wave of the restaurant washed over our heads (it's all been very positive and good, by the way). I've also been trying to figure out where my blogging about inspiring kids design will take me. I still get inspired about art & design -- especially if it involves kids, yet it's simply been a time of transition and reflection in recent weeks and I've basically realized that I've truly, madly, deeply missed illustrating and need to get back to the part of my soul that makes me excited. So there will be fewer posts while I nurture that piece of me but when something truly strikes a chord, I won't resist the urge to write about it - and it will be written from the heart. 

Which brings me to my book club this evening. Robin, one of our fearless book club leaders, asked Matthew Amster-Burton, the author of Hungry Monkey, to make an appearance at our book club this evening and talk about his new book. He actually didn't talk about it but rather read excerpts from the book that were so down-to-earth and heart-warmingly funny that we didn't want him to stop reading from the various chapters and telling us stories about his five year old daughter, Iris, who sounds like a little fire cracker! I sadly didn't get the chance to read the book beforehand but from the bits and pieces that Matthew read and after meeting him in person, I'm going to read it as soon as I can get my hands on a copy. It was a unanimous crowd pleaser. This is how Matthew describes his book: "...a memoir on the wild joys of food and parenting and the marvelous mélange of the two, Hungry Monkey takes food enthusiasts on a new adventure in eating (with dozens of delicious recipes!).

Flower & Herb Ice Cubes

C and I just returned from an incredible bike ride from our house into Old Ballard. It was a bike ride that always seemed daunting to me over the years - the hills that seemed so steep at one time were mere 5º inclines. What I had once thought would take me hours to ride into town and back home only took me 20 minutes each way. It was a great lesson in breaking down fears and now I can't wait to do it more often. I think we'll venture down to ride into the farmer's market this Sunday and have brunch at our new restaurant.

For a little refresher, we made some homemade lemonade with our flower & herb ice cubes that we made a couple of days ago. Our back yard has got several pots of deliciously scented herbs and plants that were perfect for our ice cube experiment. We plucked lemon verbena (if you don't have one in your yard, get one! It's a most amazing smell when you brush against it), rose geranium flowers & leaves and rosemary. We embedded our little bits of nature into our IKEA ice cube trays with a little water and, voila! we have beautiful ice cubes to drop into our fresh lemonade...hello summer!!

Kidishes

Valerie from Zoë b Organics has recently introduced these Duralex glasses, bowls, and plates to the U.S. as Kidishes. They don't look fancy on the exterior but they are exactly what I'm looking for! BPA and chemical-free, they are made of tempered glass which is 4 to 5 times stronger than standard glass and doesn’t break into sharp shards when it falls to the ground. They're 100% recycleable, dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe. Don't miss the video demonstrating how Kidishes are "tough as nails" - it's adorable!

La Plates

La Plates began following me on Twitter and I'd never heard nor seen their brilliant plates before (another point for Twitter). I'm definitely going to find any reason to order a custom plate. You can choose from a wide palette of colors, fantastic patterns and fonts - they're fully customizable. I'm thinking of C's 3rd birthday party in August - a custom plate would be a fun surprise for her...

Picnic Tote by FUNFAM

When I woke up this morning, I wasn't so sure I was going to have the Mother's Day that one dreams of experiencing. I don't really need to be pampered or doted on, I take after my own mother on that one, but I do find myself subtly nudging everyone to do something that I would like to do on this day -- like a coupon that I can redeem, no explanation necessary. So, what did I do? I managed to get my family sort of inspired to head to a nearby park, ride bikes and have a picnic. They humored me and, honestly, it wasn't easy loading everyone and everything in the car but once we arrived at our destination it was EXACTLY as I imagined. Fresh air, smiling faces and a lazy afternoon. We played chase, ate watermelon, chocolate and cheese and my husband and I ran along side our girls' as they rode their bikes, though we ended up carrying C's bike shortly thereafter since her tiny legs seemed to get worn out quickly. It was a fun "adventure" as Bean quoted and I think it will be somewhat of a tradition from now on...Happy Mother's Day!

Before I fall into utter laziness and since we were on the topic of picnics -- I thought I would share this mini-picnic tote by FUNFAM that I spied while browsing the new issue of Milk Magazine, though I'm nowhere near fluent in French but can only speak for what I see, it just looks like the perfect little tote to carry it's own bamboo table setting for a picnic in the backyard or those special "adventures" to the park. Sweet...

Pizza for everyone!

For the first time in a very long time, my girls' were SO excited about dinner last night. Because I've been having a tough time pleasing everyone's taste buds lately, mostly my husband because he's turned "Vegequarian" (fish & veggies) on me in the last couple of months, I realized that homemade pizza could be something we could all agree on. I made the dough myself, which I probably won't do next time because it took me far too long, and put various pizza toppings in bowls so everyone could pick & choose their own ingredients. The result? A hit! The girls watched as their pizzas bubbled up in the oven and they ate every bite, including the crust. Involving them in the creative process certainly made the pizza taste better. Here's a shot of C carefully placing mushrooms on hers...

Beehive Kitchenware

Sandra from Beehive Kitchenware sent me an email introducing their unbelievably fantastic pewter baby spoons. There's a duck, chick, bunny and pig but the best part is the little surprise on the backside of each spoon. Wouldn't these make the best baby gifts? Sandra and her husband collaborate on their products and have a beautiful range of wares including a baby picture frame, measuring spoons, a lemon juicer (that I'm personally in love with), candle snuffer, candlesticks and more.

Heath Pottery

A couple of years ago, I recall reading an article about Cathy Bailey and Robin Petravic, a 30-something couple who left the hi-tech product design world in favor of devoting a life to rekindling the spirit of Heath Ceramics back in 2003. I remember thinking how brave and awesome it was of them to swoop down and rescue one of California's last remaining mid-century era potteries originated by Edith Heath. Based in Sausalito, the company continues to produce handcrafted dinnerware and tiles using the same production techniques since 1948. You can see that this company is built on pure love and passion. So, naturally, they've ventured into the realm of designing a line of tableware for kids. A complete set includes a bowl, plate, cup and 3-piece flatware set all nestled in a custom box.

Picnic/Tea Party Blanket

The child who gets this incredibly creative and beautifully stitched Picnic/Tea Party Blanket from LeiLiLaLoo will be one lucky duck! I would be throwing a tea party all year round. She's only made one though, so hurry before someone else snaps it up. It would make a great heirloom to pass down.

Emily Green Placemats

Emily Green's placemats are just fantastic! Her whimsical characters laid over vintage fabrics make a nice back-drop for dinner, Play-doh or anything that gets messy -- the foundation for any child. The backside is blank, so your little one can doodle their own placemat or work of art. It's hard to figure out which one I like best...

Boon: Fluid No-spill Toddler Cup

The Boon Fluid no-spill toddler cup is exactly what we need around here. First and foremost, it's BpA-free, Phthalate-free & PVC-free so there are no worries as to what your baby is ingesting. I find that a huge relief. Second, the spout is designed so there's minimal head-tipping and the two-hand grips make it extra easy for little hands. I'm buying two because somehow we've managed to lose 4 sippy cups in the last several months...how does that happen so quickly?

Lunch Bags

Sorry I've been hiding from you. There's a lot stirring and hopefully I'll have some fun news to share with you tomorrow. I still haven't determined if I've taken on too much yet but I may be reaching that point. I've got a lot of ideas in my head and a lot of projects in the hopper, so you may find that I miss a post or two. After all, one must prioritize -- especially as a mom. Sarah Jane Studios wrote a great post about choices. It's a must read.

Anyhow, back to my regularly scheduled programming...

It's been a year since the news broke of certain types of children's lunch bags found contaminated with lead. We had one, in fact, and promptly threw it away. Unbelievable! Well, we're in the market for a new lunch bag again and I've been perusing the market for one that will appeal to my picky 6 year old and, at the same time, be cool enough for the next couple of years. There's a fantastic array of lead-free lunch bags here and if you happen to be one that sews, there's a great tutorial on how to make your own oilcloth lunch bag by the charming blog, tumbling blocks.

Back to School Fun...

We're in the thick of preparing for the return of the school year. It's bittersweet as summer fades into autumn and I won't see Ms. Bean as much as I've gotten used to. To transition with a little fun, here are a few back-to-school related things to get in the groove:

• The Homemade Study Center by the (always) classic Martha Stewart. I love this idea...it would be a fun afternoon craft project. The ideas are endless.
• The Sigg Aluminum Lunchbox is so utilitarian, it makes me want one. I'm all about scrapping plastic containers and replacing with aluminum or glass ones these days; lunchboxes are no exception.
• Pet & Zoo Rubberbands are genius! What a fun, new spin on plain rubberbands.

Cooking for Monkeys

How do you get your toddler to try new foods? That was the question that inspired Cooking for Monkeys pursuit of the bento box and her fun blog. Frankly, I'm in awe (with a dash of envy) of her food creativity and know that my children would be beside themselves if they were served a Wild Thing monster or a polar bear sandwich in their lunch (Annie's mac 'n cheese bunny pasta is no longer making the cut). Not always is she carving animals out of cheese but will often put together a beautifully presented bento box combining a variety of flavors, colors and textures that's just as appetizing. Very inspiring for those of us who have found ourselves in a food rut. I think it's worth a try.

Baby Dinner Set

If you're looking for a special gift for a child, this hand-thrown bowl, plate and matching linen placemat set is pretty whimsical and cute...
 

Making Easter Eggs

Well, we just made Easter eggs and I thought I'd write a mini-post about them because they turned out better than I had imagined and we had so much fun making them. We started with hard-boiled eggs (of course) and opened the package of traditional egg coloring tablets that you can buy. We added a tablespoon of olive oil (though I'm sure any oil will do) to the colored water bath. The oil makes a beautiful marbled pattern on the eggs. Ms. Bean dipped the eggs into several colors to see what would happen. That was the best part -- the element of surprise! I think they're almost too beautiful to hide in the yard now...*wink*

Palette Plate

The Palette Plate by Skip Hop caught my eye because of it's brightly colored bowls on what looks like a painter's palette. After analyzing and trying to figure out if this is something I would use, I decided it was a pretty cool idea. The individual bowls are great for tiny little fingers to pick nibbles from and when there are leftovers, each bowl comes equipped with a plastic lid for sealing and stashing in the fridge. The base is skid-resistant so that the bowls won't be flying off the table with the greatest of ease.

Lego Egg Timer

Mornings before school are always a bit of a challenge because while I'm making breakfast, packing lunches, making sure Ms. Bean is properly dressed (with socks!) and her accouterments are waiting by the door -- I've also got to make sure my husband isn't doddling or taking a 20 minute shower (he takes Ms. Bean to school every morning). I'm kind of a stickler for punctuality and my husband is not. So, being that I'm always trying to streamline and simplify processes around here, I thought of trying an egg timer on him (oddly enough, I think he'll like the idea) -- it's better than me yelling upstairs every 2 minutes. So, I stumbled upon Lego's Egg Timer. The face changes as the timer rotates...brilliant!

Lollipop Flop

Ms. Bean is a mere two days away from turning 6 ("Where has the time flown?" sounding just like my mother). We threw her a birthday party today -- I'm completely wiped out because of it but Ms. Bean had a very memorable day. It made me recall the day when I turned 6 and having a party with all of my friends felt overwhelmingly special somehow.

In the midst of planning and organizing this 6 year old's shindig, I was faced with that "goodie bag" conundrum. I don't hate them but I really don't like them a lot! I struggled with ideas...what could I throw into a goodie bag that wouldn't be considered "junk"? Two years ago, my brother and I screenprinted t-shirts for the kids and it was a hit. I considered it this time around but the kids were of all ages and I wasn't sure about sizing and who was coming. So, in the end, I decided to make homemade lollipops with Ms. Bean. It seemed simple, sweet and easy, or so I thought. 

The process itself was really easy but somewhere along the way, I failed in the flavor department. Not enough orange flavoring? Too much time on the stove made them taste slightly "browned"? The lollipops, in my daughter's words, "Tasted bad...like coffee". I couldn't blame her but boy were they beautiful shade of amber in the light. I wasn't about to serve them...so instead of swiftly throwing them into the garbage, I decided to photograph them first.  That's when my husband went to the grocery store to buy some cookies and chocolate to throw in the goodie bags instead...

Laptop Lunch Bento Box

I recently purchased this Laptop Lunch Bento Box for Ms. Bean to take to school. I was becoming alarmed at how many plastic baggies we were going through and I was feeling guilty each time I had to throw one away. I could have washed them out but, seriously, one has to prioritize and the baggy just didn't make the cut. I was pleasantly surprised at how well this little box went over with Ms. Bean. It might be the teeny little container that can hold an Andes mint but I really think there was something about the separate, brightly colored containers that perked her interest. For the first time, she's having fun helping me make her lunch in the morning. She likes to make sure each container has something in it and, to my surprise, she's been eating everything.

Ayumie Horie Pottery

Ayumi Horie's pottery pieces are so fun! The website features personal photographs from around the world of how people are using their Ayumi Horie pottery. Very cute...

Modern Gingerbread House

Ms. Bean came home from school on Wednesday and without any doubt in her mind, expected me to whip up a gingerbread house. Of course, this five year old has no idea what a gingerbread house really entails except for the decorating part. Somehow, I managed to calm her expectations by convincing her that I would make one with her on Friday (yep, I'm officially committing). So here I am, Googling "how to make gingerbread house" and found a basic pattern. The designer in me wants to get more creative but the realistic mama in me says "stick to the pattern or you'll be sorry". Anyhow, on my journey to find a gingerbread house, I found this brilliant modern gingerbread house that is already assembled and comes with a rock garden! (this might be my back-up if all else fails).

Traveling Triumphs

We just got back from a fantastic holiday in Kauai, Hawaii and were fortunate enough to experience stellar  weather and catch up on lost sleep. Now I've got the energy I need to survive the winter. Speaking of survival and especially since we're entering a major travel season, I thought I would share a few key items that we brought along with us that made traveling with the Mini so much easier...

1. I've got to rave about the Phil & Ted's Me Too chair for a second. Every time I take this chair to a public place, someone will inevitably ask me what it's called. The Me Too folds flat, attaches easily to all of the tables that we've come across so far and it just looks impressive. It makes a great gift too. Love it!
2. The Kiddopotamus TinyDiner is an essential addition with the Me Too chair. It's a rubber mat that suctions to most surfaces and has a gutter to catch dropped food. It came in handy a couple of times in Kauai when we dined at some rather "rustic" tables. It's convenient to have when you're at a restaurant so you don't have to scatter nibbles directly on the table and leave a huge mess. I just throw ours in the dishwasher to give it a good cleaning.
3. While on the subject of the brilliant Phil & Ted company, we bought the t2 Travel Cot before our trip as our "crib" for the Mini. Obviously, it was a gamble since she had never tried anything like it before. The first night I popped her in it for bed time, she mustered up a little fight until I (get this) managed to squeeze myself inside for a few minutes to make her feel like it wasn't a scary place. In retrospect, I should have employed Ms. Bean for this job. Anyhow, after that night, the t2 was our savior! The Mini managed to love her evenings in the t2 and literally had 3 nights where she slept through the night. I'm not sure if that was due to a full day at the beach or the comfy cot but, all I have to say is that I'm thrilled to own it and highly recommend it for travel.
4. Finally, this one goes for Ms. Bean (who is 5) but I consider it highly essential: our DVD player or iPod for the airplane ride. We alternated between a compact DVD player and our iPod to keep Ms. Bean occupied while she was forced to sit still for 5+ hours. The iPod is great to listen to audiobooks downloaded from iTunes. Her current fave is the series of Dr. Seuss narrated stories.
   

If you've got any great travel ideas, please share...

Glass is Back (yay!)

There's been a huge demand to bring glass bottles back with the heightened awareness of bisphenol A, phthalate, PVC and polycarbonates as toxic materials. When I laid my eyes on these Babylife Wee-go glass and plastic-free bottles, I almost broke into a dance. With their playfully beautiful design and attention to details -- I have a feeling these are going to fly off the shelves! The colorful sleeves are free of plastics and are 100% non-toxic. The silicone nipple is also latex-free and non-toxic. The plastic ring, plug and cap contain no polycarbonates and are food grade, FDA approved and recyclable. Smart, smart, smart! I just wish they'd been around a year ago. By the way, you'll have to wait until mid-November to pre-order these little lovelies...

Drinking Bottles

By now you've probably heard about the BPA or bisophenol chemical most often found in polycarbonate plastics. Bisphenol A is an estrogen-like chemical used to make plastic. These plastics are used in many plastic water bottles, baby bottles and sippy cups. I learned about BPAs a couple of years ago and have felt uneasy giving my daughters' plastic sippy cups and baby bottles since then. So, I was ecstatic when I discovered my first SIGG aluminum bottle and promptly purchased a couple. Thankfully, there are other companies entering the scene with some nicely designed aluminum or stainless steel bottles, so I thought I would showcase a few. SIGG is the most popular brand, made of aluminum but internally coated with an inert coating so there is no aluminum leaching into the bottle (thanks Molly!) and they offer additional accessories such as kid handles and a neoprene jacket. Klean Kanteen, made of stainless steel, also has additional accessories and other lid options, The Safe Sippy, also made of stainless steel, has a straw-like spout (proven to be better for speech development) and then I had to mention the Shinzi Katoh drinking bottles for their fantastic illustrations.

Yoshitomo Nara drinking glasses

Plastic cups are practically extinct around our house these days as Ms. Bean insists on using glasses for her milk and juice. It's all part of her movement to prove that she's not a baby anymore. Sigh...fine. I simply purchased a few cheap glasses from Crate & Barrel that would keep her away from the expensive ones as she exercises her independence. As soon as we're feeling confident, I think this little set of drinking glasses designed by the renowned Japanese artist, Yoshitomo Nara, would be a nice congratulatory gift for Ms. Bean.