Celebrate Earth Day with All New Materials

Earth Day is April 22nd and in celebration, All New Materials is offering special pricing on all in stock merchandise from the Our Children's Gorilla collection for the entire month of April.

Our Children's Gorilla is a line of environmentally friendly toys, room decor and unique accessories from Sweden. Artist designed and made out of carefully selected materials that are of exceptional quality and earth friendly. Many OCG items are prominently featured in the new Thames & Hudson book Designed for Kids by Phyllis Richardson.

Celebrate Earth Day all month long by bringing in some unique items from the Our Children's Gorilla collection!




View or download an Our Children's Gorilla CATALOG: here
View or download the Our Children's Gorilla Eco-friendly FAQ: here
View the official Our Children's Gorilla WEBSITE: here

Can You Say Oliebollen?

Have you ever participated in a shopping spree? Those that I've seen on TV during game shows of the past created the shopaholic in me. The energy and excitement of trying to get as many items into a shopping cart in a limited number of minutes gets me all worked up just thinking about it.

Oliebollen, an online shopping site filled with hip items for cool kids, is hosting a Shopping Spree like no other.

Starting this morning and going on for the next five days (Nov. 28 - Dec. 2), Oliebollen is offering an Arm Chair Holiday Shopping Sweep. They promise five full days of special deals, freebies and of course, a whole lot of fun.

Every day of this event, five free items will be offered on the site, only you'll have to click through the site to discover which ones can be added to your shopping cart at no additional cost. Of course, there are rules and tips for this great promotion, so head on over to Oliebollen to learn more, shop in your pajamas and stock up on fantastic toys, books, clothes, furniture and other cool gifts for babies and kids.

Shopping for the New GNR8tion

Generate Design carries some fabulous products for your home, including unique items for the children's play area. While many of their products are out of my price range, they're still fun to dream about.

Nido by Javier Mariscal



Woody Chalk Table by Eric Pfeiffer


Buk by Rodolfo Bonetto


Palette Plate by Skip Hop



Thinking of You by Tord Boontje



Vrooom by Mischa Vos

Haute Items of the Week

In researching companies and products that I want to check out, I discovered a great many items to share:

Castle Building Block Set



Kids Crooked House



Sigg Fireman Water Bottle



Blue Reversible Hoodie by Oeuf




Tetrad Shelving




Vine Flourish Decal by Scribble on Walls

I Slept With a White Guy Last Night

It's all very innocent...trust me.

It began as soon as my son started to talk - and recognize colors. You see, according to him, people's "colors" change as often as their clothes - literally. Of course if he knows the person by name, he'll refer to them that way. This color description he created is for those he doesn't know, or for times when he can't remember a person's name.

The first time he used this type of terminology to refer to someone was after a holiday spent with my family. There were quite a few people he had been introduced to and it was pretty overwhelming. Afterwards, I asked him if he had fun playing with his cousins and he remembered their names and talked about them for several days afterwards.

Then one day, he asked me who the "white guy" was. I was floored when he said it and asked him to repeat the question. After several questions - of my own - I realized that he was referring to one of my relatives who just so happened to be wearing a white sweatshirt during the family gathering.

Last night, two years after this initial conversation, he insisted that I sleep with his "white guy" last night since he was sleeping with the "green guy."

The guys he was referring to were his new BIONICLE® Lego sets that we purchased yesterday. They were on sale - Buy One, Get One Free. I couldn't resist the opportunity to take advantage of such a bargain.

I smile when people look at my son and I strangely after overhearing our public discussions about "black guys" and "white guys" in particular. They have no idea that people's skin colors do not even phase him.

I'm concerned about who he'll share this information with.

But, I won't deny it. I slept with a white guy last night.

Opt-Out of Catalog Mailings

I love to shop, especially on line. I can shop on my own time, at my own pace, add things to my virtual shopping cart and return later to look over everything before I make a purchase.

If you're anything like me, you receive dozens of print catalogs in your mailbox each week, maybe even more.

I just discovered an easy way to opt-out of these catalog mailings. Whether you're receiving catalogs that are of no interest to you, you prefer to shop on line, or you're looking for ways to help save the environment, sign up at Catalog Choice and learn about how you can stop having the bulky catalogs from arriving in the mail.

Catalog Choice is a free service that allows you to decide what gets in your mailbox. Use it to reduce your mailbox clutter, while helping save natural resources.

Catalog Choice is a sponsored project of the Ecology Center. It is endorsed by the National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Resources Defense Council, and funded by the Overbrook Foundation, the Merck Family Fund, and the Kendeda Fund.

The mission of Catalog Choice is to reduce the number of repeat and unsolicited catalog mailings, and to promote the adoption of sustainable industry best practices.

San Diego Women's Networking Event

I attended a networking event over the weekend, where I met many wonderful business owners from the area.

Julie's Party People

Zi Design

Interestingly enough, many of these companies were those I'd have recommended to others, had I discovered them on my own.

Busy Nest Cards

The Closet Party

Having met so many successful business-owners at this event, I'm even more inspired now to share my services through Happy Healthy Hip Parenting.

I was thrilled to be talking to others about my company and to discuss the importance of family with parents like myself and to encourage them to see the value of investing in the most rewarding relationships they will ever have - the relationship between parent and child as well as the relationship between co-parents.

Discovery Toys

Already, after marketing and advertising for only six months I have received a number of inquires, enrolled several people in the parenting workshops scheduled at Java Mama in La Mesa, and have witnessed amazing moms and dads with unique family dynamics learn to work together and welcome into their lives a new way of communicating and growing as a family.

San Diego Bargain Mama

Pigtails & Crewcuts

There are many unique and wonderful family-owned businesses in the San Diego area. I encourage you to check out the companies listed here and include any comments you may have about these, or other locally-owned businesses that you support.

Toy of the Year Awards

12 toys, and their makers, were honored for innovation and creativity at the Toy Of The Year Awards (TOTY) ceremony hosted during the International Toy Fair in New York City. The winners were:

• Toy of the Year: Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle from Spin Master.
• Most Innovative Toy of the Year: Smart Cycle from Physical Learning-Fisher Price.
• Infant/Preschool Toy of the Year: Moon Sand Adventure Island from Spin Master.
• Electronic Entertainment Toy of the Year: Power Tour Electric Guitar from Tiger Electronics.
• Educational Toy of the Year: Smart Cycle from Physical Learning-Fisher Price.
• Activity Toy of the Year: LEGO City from LEGO Systems, Inc.
• Game of the Year: Rubik’s Revolution from Techno Source.
• Specialty Toy of the Year: Snap Circuits from Elenco.
• Outdoor Toy of the Year: RipStik Caster Board from RipStik U.S.A.
• Girl Toy of the Year: Little Pet Shop: Display & Troop Groovy Girls from Manhattan Toy.
• Boy Toy of the Year: Transformers Movie Deluxe Figures from Hasbro, Inc.
• Property of the Year: Hannah Montana licensed by Disney Consumer Products.

Baby Love

Just when you thought I had gotten over baby fever, the situation gets worse. I find out in less than a week if I will be welcoming a new neice or a new nephew. I am so in trouble, either way. I'm planning an all-out shopping spree once I get the word.

2-cute
9 Months to Grow
Addys Closet
Adriana Primadonna
All About Savvy
A Sweet Pea
Avannabel Baby
A-Sweet-Life
Baby Bendiksen
Bare Babies
Babies Buddies
Baby Bella USA
Baby Browns
Baby Center Store
Baby Island Boutique
Baby Oliver Boutique
Baby Splendor
Beautiful Wishes
Bebe Cakes Boutique
Bella and Blue
Belly Bump Maternity
Birth and Beyond
Blue Moon Gift
Bosom Buddies
Bumble Boutique
Busy Bodies Boutique
Busy Mommi
Buttercream Baby
Carlapie
Charlynn Belly n Baby
Chic Baby Gift Baskets
Chic Blvd
Childrenz Corner
Ciao Bella Baby
Cloth Babies
Cozy Babies
Craftsbury Kids
Cutiepie
Dedes Doodles
Diaperbags
Diapergrams
Doodles by Diane
Doody Baby
Embellished Mom
Fairies Frogs
Gift Habits
Gifts n Creations
Hands Free Baby
Hip Mom and Baby
Honeydew Babies
Hotsie Totsies
Innovative-Baby
Inventive Parent
Itty Bitty Ideas
Jennie Jean
Just Multiples
kbmac
Kismet Maternity
Lets Go Strolling
Little Buttercup
Lollipop Kisses
Mama Gaias
Mama i bebe
Marriage and Carriage
Maternal Secret
Melina J
Missfitz Inc
Mod Mama
Mom and Baby Sport
Mom 4 Life
Mommy 2 Reese
Mommys Thinkin
Mom Ready
Monkeemoos
Mothers Joy
My Letter Design
My Retro Baby
My Sweet Dreams Baby
New Mother New Baby
One Red Hen
One Stop Baby
Pincinella
Polkadot Whale
Polka Tots and What Nots
Poshie Tots
Precious Personalities
Puddle Ducks
Rubys Kids
Sassy Tots Boutique
Scribble Scrabbles
Shop 61 West
Shop Planet Kids
Shower Your Baby
Snazzy Tots
Starlight Baby
Stay My Baby
Stone House Boutique
Stroller Mama
Super Momz
Super Kid Smart
Swanky Slings
Sweet and Simple
Sweet Baby Boutiques
Sweet Noelle
Sweet n Sassy Boutique
Takeout Baby
Tattletail
The Bag Lady
The Blissful Baby
The Organized Parent
Tikesville
Two Funny Girls
Two Hip Moms
Two Little Elves
U the Mom
Vitas Boutique
Waddle and Swaddle
Whateverz
Whimsy Baby
Y Not Shop

Zack and Zoe

More to come later.

Copacetique

I just love that word (copacetic). I hardly ever use it, but when I came across the site that carries the name (sort of), I just had to say it out loud to myself (several times).

There are more and more sites that I find every day which carry fun, unique, and bold designs and products.

Jessica Kagan Cushman

I've mentioned Giggle before, but it's a great site and one I rediscovered recently.

Gift Guide

I can't say enough about the great sites that I have discovered recently and one in particular, Sweet Juniper, caught my attention because it too, discusses parenthood, design, books, music, and other topics that I also cover.

They put together a great Gift Guide in early December which features toys, clothing, and hats - mostly created by stay-at-home-parents who make their products themselves.

Written by a SAHD who moved his family from San Francisco to Detroit, the author of Sweet Juniper writes about life in the city as well as his adventures in parenting.

New Clothes for New Year's Day

Shop 'Til You Drop!

Stuffed

One of my favorite Kane/Miller books is Dougal the Garbage Dump Bear by Matt Dray of Australia. It's a photographic collection of stuffed animals and a tale of what happens to them when they get tossed in the dump. Not that you or I would actually throw these plush, stuffed or slightly-worn toys in the garbage, since there are several places that accept these gently-used and much-loved buddies to pass along to others who could use them.

The Salvation Army
Project Night Night
Stuffed Animals for Emergencies (SAFE)

These organizations were listed in the November issue of Wondertime magazine, a wonderful resource for parents.

Toys for Tots

The countdown continues, as do the hip, happening toys & other goodies to add to your gift-list.

Matching Game


Stove & Washing Machine


Puzzle Tables


Melamine Tableware


One-of-a-Kind Puzzles


Play Tent

Shop 'til you drop!

San Diego Shopping

Finally, I've compiled a list of just a few of the trendy boutiques found in San Diego:

For Kids

Gracie Kids










Leaping Lotus




Because Diamonds (and Silver) Are Forever







LUZ


Photography

Just Hatched


For Hip Moms and Dads









Neighbourhood Boutique
(Tell Christine you read about her here!)



Viejas Casino & Outlet Center

Happy Shopping!

The Countdown Begins

There are four more weekends to shop before Christmas. I've discovered some hip new sites including a few that feature adorable clothes, high-quality products and toys for the little ones on your list.

THREADS FOR THOUGHT

And in case you're wondering, the one thing I'm asking Santa for this year is a coffee pot. One that doesn't drip all over the counter and that ideally matches the rest of my stainless steel kitchen appliances.

Made In China

It's hard to explain to people - who have never heard of Kane/Miller - why we don't publish any books about Thanksgiving.

Take a look around our website and you'll quickly discover the fact that our books are a little different. There's a flag on each individual book page to represent which country the book originates from.

Our tagline - Award-winning children's books from around the world - should alert people to the fact that our books are not about U.S. history, U.S. holidays, or U.S. artists, but I can't even begin to count the number of times I've been asked at a trade show if we have books about Native Americans or on President's Day.

And I can't even begin to explain how many times I've had to tell people that our submission policy is unlike any other publisher's guidelines since we work with authors and illustrators that reside outside of the United States.

In a world that is slowly becoming smaller and considering how quickly our children are realizing how accessible it is to reach others in countries on the opposite side of the globe, I'm still somewhat surprised that there are people out there who have not heard of Kane/Miller, or are unsure of what to think about our vision and our goal of opening young minds to the world through literature.

Just recently, there has been a discussion about banning books (perhaps that's the wrong term) that were printed in China. Until this became an issue, Kane/Miller was known for the high quality books that we print, with regard to the paper quality and durability of the books that we publish, along with the book's content.

Parents and educators are in the middle of a frustrating time as toys are being pulled off the shelf and health scares related to these particular toys are presented to us in the media. I feel for the parents of those children who have been effected by the chemicals found in these toys.

What I don't understand is the idea that removing books printed in China from library shelves would help to keep our children safe (or healthy). What our public and our communities are in need of is education regarding safety issues and learning how to reach those inside the corporations which have allowed such items to be sold in the first place.

As a parent, I realize that my argument is emotionally based, but who wouldn't want to protect their child? We wouldn't allow for lead paint to be in our homes or in any products that we bring home for our children and yet, I find it very difficult to believe that books from China could be doing my son any harm.

Kane/Miller is working on providing certifications that show that our books are safe and should hopefully encourage those who might have doubts to continue to purchase books based on the quality of the writing and illustrations, rather than where the product was shipped into the United States from.

Our nation has been purchasing toys "Made in China" for so long now that sadly, we've forgotten that there are companies here who have been making educational, high-quality products for our children as well.

I highly encourage everyone reading this to think outside the (toy) box and pick out toys - and other items - that you feel comfortable with, no matter what that criteria might be. Please don't judge a book by its cover, or the country that produced it.

The media has spoken and while I applaud those who have already been purchasing items for their little ones that don't have batteries or are not made of plastic, I realize that there are those that simply don't have the resources to discover what else might be out there.

Earlier this year, my post entitled Batteries Not Included contained a list of companies who do offer these types of toys. I urge you to check them out, set aside some money to purchase items from them for the holidays or birthdays and spread the word to others.

Ready, Set, Shop!