Somewhere on the Toddler Swimwear Continuum Between Innapropriate and Amish
It's bathing suit season and I'm not ready. Not for me (although really, I'm not ready) but for my three year old daughter who, if this year's crop of kids suits are any indication, is supposed to be wearing a string bikini, a flirty tankini that says "hula honey" across the chest, or something with cherries on the nipples.
Use Your Head, Save the Earth (Or At Least Your Baby's Head)
I'm trying to be a more environmentally-friendly mom when I can, and fortunately I've found a way to conserve while indulging my shopping habit.
... [More]Babies Get the LA Treatment
Chic moms and non-moms alike are fans of the great tee shirt basics from Michael Stars. And now babies, long before they have to worry about such things, can get in on the yummy supima cotton goodness.
Peekaboo Just Got A Little More Challenging
For the rest of you with average children who enjoy the trite game of peekaboo, may I suggest upping the stakes? Alex Casey Baby is now offering Baby Star's sweet Little Dipper blankets and coordinated snap suits.
Hats Off to Plastisock Hats
After last weekend rednecking it up at my mom's house with a toddler pool on the front lawn and my cute naked girls, I realized it was probably time to start thinking sun protection.
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What Is a Pajama Squid? No Clue, But I Think I Need One.
New Yorkers definitely think we have it made with kids boutiques, but I must say my sisters, these days I think the DC area is giving us a run for our money. The latest entrant: The Pajama Squid in Takoma Park.
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One of These Kids is Just Like the Other
Having been on the search for unique twin gifts, I admit to succumbing to the totally uncreative "two of the same thing." So before you moms of twins boo me off your screen, wait until you see my sweet redemption:
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Hand Picked Pumpkin: A Set in the Right Direction
I tend to steer clear of sets for my kiddos. Sure, they're an easy grab when you need to dress them in a snap, but other than that, they're not hugely versatile, particularly when you're trying to get the most bang for your buck.
LA Humor: Beyond Plastic Surgery Jokes
If you have spent any time on the West Side of LA, you will get a chuckle out of the new kids clothing line Rabbit Kinney.
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Earth Day Pick: Old Tees Made New
After discovering Courtney Chu's original recycled t-shirt dresses, I am pleasantly reminded that eco-friendly kids wear doesn't necessarily mean expensive organic onesies.
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Tea For The Twos. And Threes.
While I'm not a member of the matchy-outfit fan club, I'm definitely partial to mix and match clothes for the kids.
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I See Some Cute Socks In Your Baby's Future
In my mind, "lucky socks" means that I don't lose one every time I do the wash. But in the case of Fortune Tootsies, I think it means your baby will have extra luck when he wears them.
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So the Girls, They Like to Twirl
The notion of a dress "that twirls" used to seem kind of foo-foo to me until I thought back to my own childhood
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Forget Duckies, Have the Only Baby With a Sea Urchin On Her Chest
One of our fave discoveries last year were the bold alphabet toddler tees from BioME5 featuring authentic alligators, bears and camels.
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Foot Fungus: The Good Kind
We realize that baby booties are a frivolous purchase for a cute little lump who doesn't do much more than poop and sleep (or if you're my kids, not sleep). So that's why you don't buy them for your own baby. You get other people to get them for you.
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Lucky Wang = Lucky Baby
Oh how I love kimonos on little babies. Just love them. My faves are easily the breezy, flowy, spectacularly gorgeous cotton Kimono one-pieces from Lucky Wang.
Jubi: Holy Sheet
Try walking into your local big box store and asking for some solid colored crib sheets. The sales clerk will look at you like you just asked her for some nice razor blades wrapped in barbed wire for your baby to play with.
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The argyle for babies just keeps coming our way in new and fun ways. Like this sunny yellow romper from CMP fave label, Future Foodies, Your Wardrobe is Ready
We have been blessed with a picky little eater in the family who won't indulge in standard American kids fare like hot dogs and chicken nuggets. If we only knew then what we knew now, we'd have decked her out in the Foodie onesie from Fig Leaf Baby.
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Preemies Need Cool Wardrobe Love Too
Lately we've gotten a few requests for cool preemie-wear. Considering the number of twins and multiples out there, we're not surprised at all.
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Endorsed by Little Rabbit Foo Foo
Not every kid needs a fancy Easter outfit. In fact, those scary pint-size bow ties and the dresses with frills upon frills upon crinolines might just make too much of a statement for some little bunnies.
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G is for Green with a Giggle
If there's a bandwagon to jump on when it comes to kid's gear and clothing, going green is definitely the one to pick. Particularly if you've got any photographic evidence of yourself in the 80s. Heck, I owe the ozone just on hairspray usage alone.
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We can't look anywhere without stumbling into something argyle for kids this Spring. Take these hot argyle shirts from new mom-pop run label, Surf's Up
So it might be a little premature to be thinking about warm sand and wave jumping when we're still focused on cold dirt and mud puddle jumping. But when I saw this surfer tee from Fierce Hugs...
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Wait, So Girls Like Robots Too?
It's amazing how quick some boutiques are to put the robot tees under "boyswear." Man, aren't we like 3 decades past the notion of girls only wearing pink ruffle shirts with ballerina spelled out in glitter?
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A Little Swing for Spring
You know I've got a severe case of winter-itis when I'm caressing the lightweight cotton dresses in my daughter's dresser, fantasizing about the first moment I can get her dressed in a single article of clothing and call it a day.
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Socks To Be You
Socks don't tend to be something moms get excited over. In fact, aren't they the butt of jokes about bad gifts, along with fruitcakes and Dustbusters?
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It's clear that everyone's going green this year. But some retailers seem to be jumping on a trend, while others actually seem to be living their values. In the latter category, the very impressive Anchovies? Yes Please.
While it's definitely gotten easier for moms to track down cool onesies, commandeering an entire funky baby layette can be challenging. I suppose "funky" and "layette" aren't necessarily synonymous, unless you're browsing Anchovies, a new shop that's neither salty nor stinky.
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Sometimes Six More Weeks of Winter Isn't So Bad
It's only the beginning of February in the Deep South and I've already had it with the cold. But then I was introduced to Kaching Design's new shirts and I realized that maybe I could live with the chilly temps a little longer.
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Mr. Destructo
If there's one huge difference between my son and my daughter, other than the obvious, of course, it's that my son has a penchant for total destruction unlike anything I've ever seen.
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The One Time the Babies Kiss the Candidate
Given the wide range of Presidential candidates still in the running this year, why not add one more?
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That's Kangaroo Rat to You
With the gaggles of educational animal shows and books out there, the cows, chickens, and puppy dogs of my childhood have been replaced with orangutans, meerkats, and my daughter's current favorite, chinchillas.
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Enviro+Chic
These days, you can't throw a virtual stone without hitting a new environmentally conscious boutique. As we can attest, not all are created equal.
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We've Come a Long Way, Baby
Regardless of how you stand on the candidate herself, the fact that there's a woman leading more than one presidential poll is pretty awesome.
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Mommy = 1, Wiggly Baby = 0
I used to think baby clothes with snaps were the best solution for a wiry, wiggly baby. And then my brute of a son came along, and it was like to wrestle a greased squealing pig into pajamas.
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Heads Turning Heads
I love that we've still got a good few months of hat-wearing weather in my neck of the woods. Only partly because my bald baby sports the chapeaux rather nicely without all those fussy locks to get in the way. Our latest happening haberdashery find: The awesome one-of-a-kind creations from Cozy Knits (Literally).
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Editors' Best of 2007: Duds & Shoes
BABY CLOTHESKristen: Maybe it's because my husband and I are both avid guitar players, or because it's one of the most amazing shirts I've ever seen. But either way, Damestarbaby's handsewn guitar tee has won my heart. Liz: The cozy sweatshirt-styled... ... [More]
When You Just Have to Give In To the Cuteness
Maybe it was all those bad seasonal sweaters we grew up wearing in the 70s and 80s that somehow inflitrated our consciousness, but sometimes we just can't help ourselves - we must must have a snowman-emblazoned onesie for the kid this winter.
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Not Late, Just Picky
I technically don't yet have a Christmas dress for her. I've been waiting for just the right dress to call to me. Except there's only one week left. Whoops. Fear not you "picky" mamas; when you see the dresses by NoKo, you'll be very glad that you waited.
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New, and In No Need of Improvements
It's been said that babies are a marketer's dream - if only they could make purchases themselves. Which is why I'm quietly chuckling over the new New! onesies from new mom/pop run shop, Huddy Buddy
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Genius Baby Clothes. Really.
We parents often have no problem sticking our kids in clothes that proclaim cutie or sweetie-pie or (gak) future model. But when it comes to proclaiming their obvious genetically-determined intellectual superiority, we often stop short.
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Mommy's Little Headbanger
If there's one thing that I've learned about being a mom in 2007 it's that I have layette options. Lots of them. Just ask baby bearers from the good old nineties about trying to find a Vivenne Westwood-style onesie or socks that didn't have cutesie pink bows on them.
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The Best Wrapped Package of All
So we swore we weren't covering any cutesie Christmas onesies this year. No Baby's First Christmas shirts, no Jingle Bells jingly caps, no Bwing Me Pwesents Santa bib. (Eek)
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Crankypants Makes Us Not So Cranky
Handknit baby stuff, as we've seen, runs on a remarkably broad continuum from treacly, scratchy grandma styles to painfully amateur designs that look sized for dolls. With three legs.
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Tutus for Even the Tutu Wary
As my toddler grows old enough to express clothing preferences, I'm a little less averse to frilly tutu kind of stuff and a little more into making her happy. (Don't make me admit it in public.)
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Hair Clips That Make the Other Hair Clips a Little Envious
In our house, stocking stuffers weren't the cheap crappy things you didn't feel like wrapping, but rather the really nice (and sometimes expensive) loot that just so happened to fit in our stockings.
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Haul Out the Holly
So maybe you need a little Christmas, right this very minute - or maybe you're doing your best Bah, Humbug every time you hear another round of Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer in the supermarket.
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Mom-Approved Mistletoe
I'm all for celebrating the holidays with a bit of seasonal wear, but I haven't quite figured out why, in order for something to be considered festive, it has to be drenched in snowmen and candy canes.
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In the News[boy]
I am now calling my son "The kid with the largest head on this planet" -- said with love, of course. The search has been on to find a hat for him that's cute, warm, and won't cut off all blood flow to his brain.
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Baby Gifts That Give Back
I Go to Extremes
If you rummaged through my son's drawers you'd find absolutely no sports themed wear. I'm just not a fan of overpriced licensed jerseys that help fund overpaid athletes.
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Baby's First Way Cool Christmas Clothes
I have never understood what people need with a "Baby's First Christmas" onesie spelled out in red and green bling anyway.
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The Chosen People
This month is National Adoption Month and we've been keeping our eyes out for cool things to honor the little people who had to make two tough journeys early in life - the one through the birth canal, and then the one to their meant-to-be-parents.
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Sets With a Story
I'm really not a "cute baby set" kind of present giver. I generally choose interesting separates and put them together but it doesn't often have that wow factor I want for really great friends. But then I found Lil Squirtz.
Spreading Joy
We're among friends, mamas. Let's admit that while we're always touched by the thoughtfulness of friends and family towards our babies, there's an entire category of ohmygod you shouldn't have but SO glad you did gifts.
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Dreaming of Boobs. And...Boobs. Maybe Also Boobs.
Saving The Earth One Empire-Wasted Toddler Dress At A Time
This cozy lounge dress is simply adorable and stylish, no doubt about it. So would you be surprised if I told you that the vivid blue you see is 100% organic cotton from genius kids label Kate Quinn Organics?
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Not Your Mother's Polyester
I'm a mom who tends towards cottons and natural fabrics. So when I heard about the quick-drying kids duds from Milk Factory I admit I was skeptical. But I've come around.
Alterna-Sleepers
As easy as it is for us to track down modern baby outfits out there, finding a sleeper that's not soaked in teddy bears or demure rosebuds is more of a challenge. What's a slumbering alternababy to do?
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I'm in Love With the Milkman
Apparently the milkman is not some mythical figure we all hear about when no one can explain why cousin Marty looks nothing like his dad. Rather, he's a Nashville based t-shirt designer with fantastic taste.
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Organic? Yes Way.
While I want to reduce the number of chemicals in and around my kids these days, I still want to get them dressed in the morning and think "Cute!" before I think "Organic!"
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Argyle Isn't Just for Sweaters
If there was ever a time I that I wished my son would keep a hat on his head, it is now. The leaves are turning, the wind is chilling, and Kitsel is mocking me with their fantastic selection of Born to Love beanies.
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The Cow Jumped Over the Calico Moon
From the calicos to the bold geometrics to the disco dots, I'm a confirmed retro fabric junkie, always searching for kids clothes I won't see on every other child on line for the slide.
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Hooray for Hoodie Season!
Did I mention I'm a freak for Fall? The cool crisp air means no fights with the winter coat just yet, but it's definitely time to pull out those cute sweaters or hoodies and start getting your layering chops back.
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Long Johns (Or Jaydens)
If I had the ability, I'd probably be embroidering everything from my kids' tees to their underwear. I love the look of hand-embroidery--but I don't have those crafty genes.
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Procrasti-moms: The Halloween Costume of Your Dreams
I cannot be the only loser mom out there with the very best intentions as far as Halloween costumes go--only to end up sobbing in the empty aisles of the costume store on October 30, trying to decide if I go for the one cheesy cheerleader costume left, or just try to make something out of tin foil at home.
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Onesies as Modern Art
When you see as many baby onesies as we do--and holy hell do we see a lot of baby onesies--it's exciting to stumble on the ones created by an artist experimenting with a different kind of canvas. That's how I feel about the ones from brand spankin' new shop, Born Babe.
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Calling All Earth Lovers
While we like to promote eco-conscious clothes and gear whenever we can, it's tough finding green-wear that's up to our standards. There's something about a "My parents recycle" toddler tee that just rubs me the wrong way.
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Oh Those Clever Dutch
I love poking around European kids shops because the sensibility is just a little...different than ours. Think fewer fire trucks appliqués, and more apples on stilts doing ballet while wearing French poodle masks. Or something like that.
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Old school Muppet Show fans will recognize this headline--and know why I can't get the line out of my head when I look at this awesome Don't You Know That Your Tie's Too Wide?
Want a kid's tee with an ironic hipster slogan on it? I've got a few ideas if you've got all day. So how happy was I to find a totally fresh take on pint-size hipster fashion via Canadian Rock & Rattle boutique.
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Solid!
Why is it that I can find the greatest quality shirts chock full of funny sayings and funky patterns--but the solid shirts in stores are limited to the mall store's 2 featured ugly colors of the season, or the discount three-pack with the too-tight crew necks?
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Sweet Tea
I'm always intrigued by Asian art traditions, not only because my mother is Chinese, but because, let's face it -- the stuff is absolutely gorgeous. And this hand-dyed baby kimono from Itty Bitty Lady Bug is no exception.
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Psst...Pass It On
While there's no shortage of layettes out there for sale, I'm always on the lookout for items that are worthy of being handed down through the generations.
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For the Princess Whose Poop Don't Stink
There is certainly more frivolous girlie-girl, princessy, pink, ridiculous kidswear out there than you know. And actually, you don't want to know.
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As Close to a Martin Guitar As You're Going to Get, Kid
Seeing how we have way too many expensive guitars piling in our closet, I feel the need to put a kibosh on daddy's new tactic for bonding with our daughter--the hugely expensive toddler guitar purchase.
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It's Good To Be the King
With Texas Hold-Em having taken over the world--let alone our living room one night a month--it was only a matter of time before it made its way into nurseries too.
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Congratulations! It's a Pig!
I always have trouble with those baby gifts you need to get when the parents want the sex to be a surprise. Don't they know what a burden their surprise is on their generous friends? Don't they know it's all about me?
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Style-Conscientious
Only two minutes of searching the web for baby shoes for my newly crawling little man of the house and I'm drowning in a sea of leather booties. Love leather booties, but isn't there something different out there?
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Hit Me With Music
As a musician with way too many closets full of instruments, I've got a soft spot for kids threads that show off our love of all things melodic.
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So Which Color Gets Them to Pick Up Their Toys?
I remember reading somewhere that color has such impact on behavior and mood, that babies in yellow nurseries actually cry more than babies in blue nurseries. So guess who has a yellow nursery? Hello.
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Looking Smart
I admit to being a bit skeptical when it comes to all these baby products that promote early learning. Is it really necessary to label a baby spoon and bowl with words and pictures?
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Like the Best Flea Market Ever, and No Tube Socks
Needless to say, I was thrilled to hear about Hyena Cart, an online community where moms can sell their handmade wares--and the rest of us, luckily, can buy them.
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Love Bug
I used to chuckle when all my friends with little boys would complain about the clothes offerings. Little did I know, I'd be chiming in with my own disgruntlement with the lack of anything other than crossed hockey sticks and little toy trains.
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An Heirloom Minus the Mothball Smell
Who doesn’t love those high-quality, family heirloom baby clothes that were skillfully hand-made by Great-Great-Grandmama after which they were preserved and passed down through the generations?
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Uptown Layette With Not-Quite-Uptown Prices
Unwrapping the big box that had arrived in the mail last week, I was excited that one of my parents' fancy uptown friends had sent me a spectacularly expensive looking layette for my new baby.
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Che What?
You know a trend has peaked when the parodies start making the rounds. And the best one we've seen yet: This new take on the already ooooold Che Guevara tee at DryGoods.com that says I have no idea who this is.
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Look Ma, No Tractors
I've got girls around the house. So admittedly I'm not as impacted by the shortage of cool boys' duds out there as my friends who continually beg me to track down "clothes with no tractors." Who knew there was such a backlash against heavy machinery?
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From The Fabulous Folks Who Bring You Gouda
I have nothing against pink, especially now that my daughter has proclaimed it her favorite color. But pink plus frills, plus lace, plus spaghetti straps on an active three-year-old just doesn't cut it around here.
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Ooooooooh La La!
Wee see a whoooole lotta onesies trying to track down cool products to review here. You have no idea how many onesies. Easily a million. So when we tell you we've come across ones that are fabulously unique and that you must click over immediately, heed our words.
Knitting 101 That Looks Like Knitting 504
It's easy to appreciate beautifully hand-knitted garments, but creating them isn't necessarily a piece of cake. The mere presence of two X chromosomes does not endow a woman with a talent for needlework (as much of the CMP staff will assure you).
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Say Goodbye to the Beanie
I'm all for hats on the wee ones. Warm heads are terribly important in cool weather and in the summer, no one wants a baby with a sunburned face. But why, oh why do baby hats have to be so terribly...well, babyish?
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Two Little Elephants for Ten Little Piggies
Babies do not need shoes; that's an undisputed fact. And that's exactly why I love baby booties so much. I mean, since when did accessories have anything to do with need?
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Triple the Fun
I can barely keep my head above water with two kids of different ages so the notion of triplets (triplets!!!) sends me into shock. And I'm not just talking about all those diapers or managing their feeding schedules. I'm thinking about the important issues--like how the heck you dress them.
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Here Come the ABCs
In the height of the preppy craze, I begged my mother for a monogrammed sweater to wear with my Calvin Klein jeans. She refused, telling me that I'd outgrow the sweater in a year, so what was the sense in spending extra money to embroider my initials on it? Grr...
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Have You Ever Seen a Lassie?
In these past few years as a parent, I've picked up several pearls of wisdom. 1.) Never leave your kid alone in the bathroom. 2.) No matter how late you put them to bed, they'll still wake up early. 3.) Clothes that can be worn several different ways are priceless.
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Pick Your Decade
I've loved the vintage look since long before vintage became fashionable. (I know, I know...everyone says it.) And while I occasionally pine for the adventure of finding treasures among the piles at thrift stores, these days I'm doing more of it online.
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Welcome to the World. Love Your Outfit.
The way I see it, the poor little gestating fetus has been naked for a full nine months. It's only fair that once he or she starts breathing oxygen that you swap that hospital-issue swaddling blanket and cap for something a bit more worthy.
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Go Ahead and Squeal "So Cute!" We Won't Tell Anyone.
When it seems that a lot of babywear is about who can be hipper or more irreverent than the next guy, it's refreshing to find a shop that gets back to the basics. Especially when those basics are so cute that you want to buy a dozen of them.
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Feeling Fruity
I'm not into the matchy-matchy look with clothes for my girls. They seem to like eclectic, creative fashion as well: The wildly patterned tights, the bright shirts, the multicolored shoes. I figure as long as we're not blinding anyone, we're good to go.
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Sometimes Girls Have All the Luck
Apologies in advance to all the mother's of boys out there - read further and your ovaries are going to start screaming out for a baby girl, simply so you can dress her in the goooooorgeous bits of gorgeousness from Matti + Me.
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Pulchritudinous, Recondite Garments for Erudite Gamins
It's never too early to start tossing those fifty-cent words around the kids--you might be surprised at how quickly they stick. Now admittedly I say this as a mother whose young daughter insists upon having her way by informing me that "it's a moral imperative."
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Tattoos Aren't Just For Sailors
If you've got a family that's planning to take you out out to brunch on the 14th, make sure they're coiffed and clad in mom-worshipping style. Something like the Tattoo Heart Mom shirts from Inky Dink Tees.
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How Do You Say ‘Awesome’ in Italian?
As a lover of all things multi-cultural, I am on the hunt for quality baby gear that is both inclusive and multilingual. I mean, I get the charm of diapers embroidered with ‘Oui Oui!’ but I’ve been looking for something a little more…classic.
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Viva La Revolution!
I'm always looking for great political kids' tees because really, what is more 2007 than a toddler with a cause? But the fact is, most of the threads look like the design was an afterthought. Why can't socially-conscious families dress their kids in hip clothes too? Does it always have to look like some guy in the mall just stamped "No War" on a ratty tee in iron-on letters and called it a day?
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Home Run Style
Now that baseball season is in full swing (haha) we've had our eye out for appropriate kids duds that transcend the same old same old. Not that there's anything wrong with an authentic Derek Jeter jersey (Bosox fans, hold your tongues) but we like it when our kids can stand out a bit in the crowd of 15,000 at the stadium.
Keep On Rockin' In the Preschool
It's never too early to introduce your kiddos to the joys of rock. Oh sure, they'll eventually rebel, coming home from high school blasting Steve and Eydie from their 16th generation iPods. But there's no reason you can't at least start them off on an acceptable musical path.
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As you may well know, for moms with a shoe thing, Cool Mom Picks can be a dangerous place. And I count myself among you. Consider yourself warned before you click over to super talented designer Janaina Vaugn's online Etsy shop, Parenthood: A Taxing Experience
How you feel about today comes down to one thing: Whether the number in that teeny little box at the bottom of your tax return has a plus before it, or a minus. But one thing we can all agree on is, it's a good day to have kids. Many, many kids.
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Thrifty Gifting
In my late twenties, I used to buy expectant friends the beautiful white blankets or the attractive silver picture frames. Now with two kids myself, I've done an about face from all that keepsake stuff. What can I say? I'm practical.
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Because the Old Milkman Joke Never Gets Tired
If anyone ever comments that our daughter looks like her father, her father's answer is always some form of, "really? The milkman?" Yes, it's a chestnut. But for some reason, he's that rare guy who can totally pull it off.
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Personalized Onesies, Hold the Cheese
I love buying personalized tees for my friends' babies, but it's often hard to find something that isn't either absurdly blinged out, or so cutesie-sweet it makes your teeth hurt. So I'm loving the personalized tees and onesies from the hip new online shop, Little Uni.
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I See London, I See France...
Now that Spring is here (okay, so it's still freezing out; minor technicality.) I'm ready to get a little girlier with my daughter's wardrobe. Is there anything cuter than little girls in sweet little dresses, with their bare, chubby knees poking out just below? The only thing that can possibly ruin the photo op is a glimpse of Cookie Monster stamped onto a pair of saggy size 4 Cruisers.
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Two, Two, Two Pants in One
I love the concept of reversible kids clothes. And not just because I'm a shameless laundry avoider. It's more so because I am at times too indecisive to choose between two items--I want them both. So when I came across the entirely reversible swingy, Springy pants from So Anna I knew they were calling to me.
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As much time as I spend on the web tracking down cool clothes for kids, I'm admit I'm still often at a loss for gifts when I hear a friend has a boy on the way. If only I liked those sailor suits, things would be a whole lot easier. And then I discovered Children of the Children of the 70s
Some trends in kidswear cannot be short-lived enough. That whole pimp genre of little boys' tees? If I never see another one again that would be just fine. But one trend I'm loving: The groovy 70s-inspired designs on kids tees, that look eerily like the ones I might have worn back in my way younger days.
Kiss Me, I May Or May Not Be Irish
While I'm all for going festive for the holidays, the problem with buying shamrock leggings and an "Erin Go Bragh" shirt for your toddler is that it looks pretty out of place every day but one. But this gorgeous capri dress and green bolero from uber-fabulous boutique Bean New York?
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Drool Gets Cool
It's no secret among those who know me that I hate newborn bibs. Yes I know they're essential for very drooly babies but still. They're bibs! I've held out hope that an alternative would come along by the time my own newborn started teething.
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Doctor? Lawyer? Donut Tycoon?
Anyone can print out a baby registry and dutifully purchase an infant bathtub and bouncy seat. But we'd rather find something that breaks up all the cliched "oohs and ahs" with a hearty guffaw at our friends' showers.
A Bib That Actually Does What a Bib's Supposed To
Don't let that transition from cute little drooly bib to "holy cow there's food everywhere" bib catch you off guard. I'm not sure how many cute outfits I had to retire thanks to my unpreparedness.
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Pour Some Sugar on Me
I'm not crazy about saccharine-sweet girls' clothes. Too much pink and lace and I start to get a toothache. But real sugar? Bring it on, baby.
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Coats to the Back of the Closet
Our lawn is covered in snow - again - but the calendar doesn't lie: Spring really is right around the corner. While I'm looking forward to wagon rides to the park, I'm not excited about coaxing the girls into their coats, which I will then have to carry as the day goes on. Layering is the key here.
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The Dingo Ate My Baby!
Sometimes we just find a kids tee that makes us laugh so hard, we'd be remiss if we didn't share it with the world - even if our first instinct is to keep it for ourselves.
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Encourage Her Shoe Fetish
I'm a minimalist when it comes to dressing babies: No jewelry, no fancy hats, and no booties. My girls didn't wear shoes until they could walk, and I still grin at the professional portraits we have of them with bare toes peeking out from underneath their dresses.
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These Booties are Made for Crawling
With a baby born smack-dab in the middle of a hot Mississippi summer, there was nary a pair of booties to be found in my house. But when I discovered I was having a January baby this time around, up in the Northeast no less, you better believe the first thing I did was search for some fantastic footwear.
Mod Onesies, Mod-Era Prices
If my mother wants to buy my girls clothes from Neiman Marcus, who am I to argue? But you won't find me in there. Yeah, I'm practical. Maybe too practical. I want the cute designs you see on designer onesies, but it's so hard for me to shell out the bucks when I know that they'll be coated in bodily fluids in no time.
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Kimono My House
I go by that old shopping adage that if you're unsure about something, walk away; if you're still thinking about it the next week, it was meant to be. (I also sometimes go by the adage, what the
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Sleep, Beautiful Sleep
I remember browsing the web for infant sleep sacks when I was pregnant and thinking, great concept, lame-o execution.
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Pants Begone
The only way I can get my daughter to wear a dress is to tell her we're going to a party. Otherwise, she's all about the pants. And honestly, I can't really blame her; it's a bit difficult to get all... ... [More]
Rawkin' Before They're Tawkin'
There's no shortage of kids clothing with attitude if you know where to look. As in, get out of the malls and hit the web (with Cool Mom Picks being your first stop, of course).
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More Mommies To Love
In a world where Heather has two mommies, as do her friends Olivia, Aiden and Sam, we think it's high time the old standby "I love my mommy" onesie took on a 21st century twist. The I love my moms... ... [More]
A Poncho for North of the Border
One of the few trends I'm happy is sticking around is the poncho. It's just easier to wrangle my squirmy little girl into her mild-weather outerwear when there are no sleeves to deal with. And frankly, she looks cute it it. (Not that she wouldn't look cute wearing a garbage bag.)
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The Rockin' Ballerina
After spending part of the holidays with my girlie-girl nieces, I was trying to come to terms with the inevitable fact that very soon, my own toddler daughter will be asking for princess this and ballerina that.
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One Outfit You Won't Return To Sender
I like to dress my son in clothes that are stylish and contemporary, but I have a soft spot for anything kind of campy or retro. And what says campy and retro better than early seventies Elvis of the rhinestone-studded jumpsuits and white platform boots?
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Take That, Shiloh You Poser
It's difficult enough that I get mobbed every time I walk down the street these days--Oh my God, you're Liz from Cool Mom Picks! Oh my God!--but when my daughter's with me, it really presents a challenge.
Peace, Love, and Shhhhhhh....
With baby #1, I was all about dressing her in bright happy lively colors. And she was lively alright, all hours of the day and night. For #2, I'm going to try a different tact and see if it has any impact. And no, that doesn't mean pastels.
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A New Twist on The Coming Home Outfit
Plane rides with little ones can be a challenge, particularly for those of us who actually feel a modicum of sympathy for the childless traveler who gets stuck next to us. If you weren't able to procure an entire row to yourself on the Jet Blue flight home from grandma's this holiday, try diffusing the situation with a little humor.
Laundry-Safe Artwork
Given that my pre-baby figure is MIA and unlikely to return without surgical assistance, I now consider clothes shopping for myself to be a less than perfect way to while away an afternoon. But shopping for my girls? That's another story.
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The Happy Head
Growing up in the midwest, I endured some harsh winter mornings at the school bus stop. I gladly donned a heavy winter coat and warm mittens, but I drew the line at hats. Even though my mother was a talented knitter, she always tried to stick me in some goofy beanie. Talk about harsh.
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Boys Will Be Boys. Even Without Trucks On Their Shirts.
I've got two little girls myself. But when I'm buying gifts for the sons of friends and family, I tend to shy away from the camouflage pants and the construction-themed tees that every store seems to push on me. I suppose I feel they can still be "all boy" without dressing like miniature soldiers or welders.
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The One Thing You Won't Want to Unwrap This Holiday
If you're of the Christmas-celebrating persuasion, surely you've already spent months ensuring your little angel baby will be perfectly coiffed this season, with a different fabulous outfit for every party, every family dinner, every opportunity to be fawned over in public. But have you considered the diaper?
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A is for Ashtray. You Heard Me.
We come across any number of alphabet themed items for babies, featuring such tried and true subjects as animals or...well, animals. But I think I've just found one that tops them all in the Modern Child-Unfriendly Alphabet. As in not friendly at all. As in absolutely hilarious.
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Bowling For Compliments
When it comes to fashions for the junior man in my family, we dig that fashion staple, the polo shirt, just fine. But I still have a yen to add a little more pizazz to his wardrobe now and then, which is why I love the retro-inspired bowling shirt from the way too hip Vancouver boutique, Knuckleheads Clothing.
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Baby's First Mink
New baby gifts are relatively easy to shop for - unless you're talking about baby number two. Or three. Or--eek--six. If you're looking for something for the mom who has it all, you've got to stop thinking about must-haves, and start thinking about don't-needs-but-really-really-wants.
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Santa Baby
If my daughter had her way, she'd wear her Christmas outfit every single day. However, the fancy silk number just doesn't fare well with her choice of daily activities. Like, say, spilling things on herself.
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Zen and the Art of Baby Dressing
When I brought my firstborn home from the hospital, I was hit with the unreasonable urge to discard anything rough that might come in contact with her fragile infant skin. It seemed criminal to let anything but the most butter-soft fabrics touch those downy limbs. My husband had to draw the line when I threatened to tear up the wool carpet in the living room.
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Way Better Than Stale, Chalky Hannukah Chocolate
It's not easy finding The Perfect Gift eight times in a row. No wonder my parents always pushed us to opt for the "one big gift" on Hannukah instead of the eight little ones. Consider your list now reduced to seven.
Girlie Tees, Hold the Saccharine
Lately, the SigOth has been dressing our daughter in the navy, red and olive garments that he'd wear himself. I've been insisting that we'd get fewer, "oh, how old is he?" remarks if we girled her up just a wee bit more.
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Choosy Moms, Unite!
If I don't absolutely adore an outfit for my girls, I don't buy it. Not even if it's on the five-dollar rack. But it's not easy being picky, especially when you've been to sixteen stories looking for Just The Right Thing.
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Anatomy of a Tee Shirt
We tell our kids it's what's on the inside that matters, right? But now they can wear the adage--literally--with the hilarious shirts from I Heart Guts.
Blinding Me With Science and Hand-Embroidery
Nothing tickles us more here at Cool Mom Picks when a mom we know personally goes from making cool duds at home to cool duds we can buy ourselves. Such is the case of Debbie, who along with her husband, a professional sportswear designer, has opened the brand new kids duds e-tique, Fadiddle.
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Organic Just Got a Little Spicy
I'm a huge fan of organic clothing, particularly because my daughter has extremely sensitive skin. But the muted creams and pastels aren't necessarily my taste, nor are they very practical when they're clothing a self-feeding toddler.
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Sk8er Baby
For the first time ever, defying all expectations to the contrary, my better half has actually shown interest in one of the kids duds sites we've uncovered. Why, you ask? Because the site is Little Ruler, which appeals just to parents just like him--those who now rock the Bjorns the way they used to rock the 7.5" deck on a halfpipe.
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We're Here, We're Adopting, Get Used to It.
When I was young, mentioning that a child was adopted was akin to disclosing Daddy's salary or talking about how Mommy drinks too much wine. Thank goodness for progress.
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Shake Your Booties
Sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder how a former Doc Maarten-wearing, black lipstick-owning alternachick looks just so...mom. While I'm not going back to those styles any time soon, at lea