Tadashop

Best Toys in the House

2011-10-25T09:03:00.001-07:00

With holidays around the corner, Hadley and Holly share their SURE-THING toys in their house. Tell us yours.

Hadley: Barbie Charm School Princess, $19.97
"It's an obvious one but Barbie. She has staying power like no other. All of my girls, ages 9 to 3, play with them. Along with just the regular 'let's play dolls', they will build her cardboard cars, a bed out of legos or a new wardrobe out of fabric scraps and paper."

Holly: Magna-Tiles 32 Piece Set, $59.95
"My boys have played with Magna Tiles almost daily, without fail. The fact they are magnetic makes it easy for our 4-year-old to build some pretty elaborate structures. They mix the tiles with Play mobil and other blocks for the ultimate creations. Lightweight and easy to pick up makes mom happy."

Bake Sale Duty

2011-04-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

I realized Sunday night I had signed up for cupcake duty for my daughter's school bake sale, Under the Sea theme....Oh, and I was going to be in NYC all Monday for meetings. Whoops! Last night, came together with Swedish fish, spaghetti sours and spreckled Jelly Bellys...Holly's on duty tomorrow.

Poll: What's Your Style?

2011-03-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

As part of our 5 Moms, 5 Cities story, we want to know who best represents your style when dressing your kids? Check out the story and each list and then answer below.

www.skinnyscoop.com

Cribsie Finalist

2011-03-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to be a Cribsie Finalist! We have some tough competition in the category of Fashion: Best Inside Track On Kids' Wear Trends. We'd love your vote (get them in by March 18th)!

Design Mom on Back to School

2010-08-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

Blair Family Photo (excluding, new baby June)

Meet Gabrielle Blair, mother extraordinaire of six children and the woman behind the wildly popular blog, Design Mom as well as Kirtsy.com. Who better to share back to school traditions for kids and shopping tips? Gabrielle is our guest editor on tada! shop this week and we are thrilled. See her entire "interview" below. If she can make the beginning of the school year special for six, who knows what we can do. For us, the bar has definitely been raised!

Do you shop specifically for back to school? Yes. It's wonderful to have something shiny and new to wear on the first day of school. My mother-hen instinct is to have my kids looking as cute as possible so their teachers can't help but adore them.

Do you have any family traditions? For sure. Three things come to mind: 1) I go out with each of the kids and we shop for school supplies. They get to choose exactly what they want -- the color of scissors, the pattern on their composition books. 2) After the clothes shopping is done, they like to put together outfits and model them while I snap away with the camera (see her blog post). 3) We always take more pictures just before they head out to school on the first day.

Is there anything that you/the kids are particularly into right now? Definitely. My girls are loving sequins and florescent colors (it's like the 80's all over again!). My son Ralph likes classic white sneakers.

Metallic Superga Kids sneakers on Gabrielle's shopping list!

Is there anything else about back to school generally (not shopping related!) that is you and relevant for our readers? Back to school time is such a fresh start. Maybe even better than the new year in January. We like to discuss their hopes and fears for school. I remind them that if things aren't going well, they can reinvent themselves at any time.

What you do to get excited for the first day? In our last neighborhood, we had a wonderful first-day-of-school tradition. All the neighbors would gather on the lawn by the bus stop and we'd have breakfast together (donuts and juice) and take first day of school photos. I need to start the same tradition in our new home!

Do you all go together? Sigh. We wish! Since we have kids at 3 different schools, we have to go separately. But after school, we all gather around the kitchen table, have a big after-school snack and everyone reports on their day. I love hearing about what they noticed and what's on their mind.

Thanks Gabrielle. Would love to hear any of our readers back to school traditions!

ENK + Playtime

2010-08-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a little round up from our stop in at ENK and Playtime, two NYC children's trade shows with all the Spring lines. Here are some things we got excited about with our jotted-down notes.

A sneak peek at some...clockwise from top left: Busy Bees Kids, Clover, Native Shoes, Flora and Henri (new print not pictured), Sweet Shoes, Bakker, Jess Brown Dolls.

1. J.A.C.H.S. Interesting plaids, casual and good price point

2. Native Shoes. Crocs-meet-Slip On Converse, Crocs-meet-Wallabees, Crocs-meet-Keds.

3. K-Way parka. Fantastic colors. We loved the orange.

4. Marysia bathing suits. Reversible and soft color palette.

5. Hartford liberty print bathing suits. Amazing how they pull off for boys/men.

6. Fred Perry. First season for kids. Colorful and nostalgic.

7. Sweet Shoes. We loved the infant shoes in orange and tan.

8. Kickers. Incredibly made and intricate detail. Loved boots and the Mary janes.

9. Sparkle seersucker and plaid at Ses Petite Mains.

10. Munster. The story behind street style. T-shirts with space (Star Wars inspired) and faces made from objects boys relate to.

11. Anais dresses. Beautiful prints and the little bows!

12. Eye Spy dress. Colors and the blend of materials/textures and patterns.

13. Pink Chicken. New fun prints and a mexican-inspired dress.

14. Busy Bees Kids coral prints.

15. Neige. The purple and mustard orange color combo.

16. Eddie Pen bathing suits

17. Clover smocking on a less traditional pattern and one of the best looking jumpers.

18. Jess Brown dolls and the beds! They are made from recycled spindles.

19. Bakker bags and bathing suits.

20. Littl by Lilit bloomers

21. Wovenplay. Everything.

22. Flora and Henri. Silk meringue party dress in new print.

23. Paige Lauren stripes and colors .. Unique, comfy essentials

Stone Barns Center on Gardening with Kids

2010-06-29T04:21:00.000-07:00

Gardening is a favorite activity of ours with the kids, whether simply digging up weeds in the dirt or growing a garden. So naturally, we focus on family gardening for the final week of our Summer Activities month. Family gardening can mean so many things so find what is most enjoyable to you and your kids. We reached out to Jack and Shannon Algiere, Four-Season Famers at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture for their thoughts and suggestions. Having spent lots of time at Stone Barns with the family, I knew they would be ideal "helpers" for this story yet it is beyond what we even expected. Enjoy and get out and dig in the dirt with your kids! You may see the feature story on tada! shop here.

Why should we garden with kids?

Gardening with kids is a great way to maintain a connection to nature as a family.

The sensory learning that we experience in the garden through texture, form, smell, and taste supports developmental cognition in early education. Gardening can articulate many educational subjects and themes—science, social history, cultural identity, technical systems, math.

When kids become part of the process, they develop an appreciation for healthy food. As a personal example, our kids may be picky at the table, but when they are in the garden, they’ll graze all day on berries or spinach. Being in the garden and involving kids in the process of raising food brings a level of respect and appreciation to food and a working knowledge of food sources and whole nutrition.

Gardening builds confidence through seeing the process from seed to the final result. It is also community building on an intra- and interpersonal level. Nature, food, spiritual elements and human interaction come together. Even more so, we’re acknowledging our place within a greater ecosystem.

How do you get started? What are specific projects to do with children, from container projects to full-on gardening?

Projects are so place-based dependent. First, assess your environment. What are the growing capabilities, where are the light sources? Kids can get actively involved in making observations about their environment. Second, choose what is best for you. Are you going to start your garden in-ground, in raised beds, or in containers? (If so kids can help choose containers). Third, test your soil. Soil tests are a great kids activity from collecting the samples to reviewing the results. Fourth, source your soil. Whether you are using soil or compost or a combination of both, get kids actively involved in choosing what you will use and make sure to explain way. Fifth, make a garden plan. Decide what you and your family want to grow in your garden. Kids can read seed catalogues and help place orders. They can also help create a map for how you hope your garden will look once you get started.

Are there garden tools you recommend for kids?

Rubber containers in different fun colors (rubber is not too hard or dangerous for little hands), little garden rakes, leaf rakes, hoes, a watering can, labels, a little wheelbarrow, wagons, a magnifying glass, gloves and dump-trucks—our kids love to load them up with weeds or vegetables and find areas to deliver and dump them out. (see Jack and Shannon's complete list of products here)

Any advice for parents looking to include gardening into their summer activities?

Some great activities that kids love are:

· Taking a trip to a local farm or greenhouse and sourcing seedlings for your garden.

· Making labels for different plants in the garden.

· Planting seeds and watering.

· Using a magnifying glass for bug identification (beneficial/pest).

· Harvesting plants and placing things into a bucket.

· Look for local farms like Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture to volunteer, take a class, or just take a look at what we have.

· Start a group and go berry picking together.

Jack and Shannon are our guest editors on tada! shop this week. Be sure to read their story and shop their thoughtful list of recommended gardening products for kids. The list includes everything from rain boots ("sometimes the wet summer days are the most fun") to the perfect set of kid's garden tools.

SEE JACK + SHANNON ON TADA! >

Julia Samersova, Planet Awesome Kid

2010-06-27T12:54:00.001-07:00

We love The Sartorialist's photos and wish he would do more kids, so we were so excited to find Planet Awesome Kid who tracks...well...childrens' street style! We met up with Julia Samersova, a founder of Planet Awesome Kid, to hear more on what they look for in a look. "Anything can make an outfit, a hat, a scarf, a scooter, a sticker, a ball, a musical instrument, a hairstyle, a barrette, a pin, a smile.Planet Awesome Kid is not about pristine perfectly matched, but rather self expression at its best. Our Q&A with Julia...

1. What do you look for when photographing children? What makes the outfits stand out?
Organic Chemistry! I just know it when I see it! It can be a child's energy or the way they put something together that an adult would never even dream of! It is so awesome to find and endlessly inspiring!

2. What combinations have you seen on the street that has caught your eye?
I love a mix of patterns, fabrics, femme with tomboy, playing with proportions! I saw a girl at the park last week rocking the coolest faux hawk made out of her own braids and rocking the coolest neon yellow t-shirt and a floral skirt. It just made me stop in my tracks. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera that day.

Also, I am really into 1990's baggy jeans on girls right now, so cool after years of skinny jeans! Also, love a neutral, 80's Japanese Designer inspired look on a kid. Maybe a black asymmetrical skirt and cool black turtleneck for this Fall. It comes down to personal choices.

3. Is there one item you see on the street that parents must have in their kids wardrobe, or should splurge on as it can be worn a million different ways?
You must have GREAT outerwear! Blazers (for girls & boys), you can rock it with skirts, dresses, pants, shorts. It’s timeless, yet so cool! I would splurge on a good blazer! Love when the sleeves are rolled up, Miami Vice-style :)

SEE JULIA'S FAVORITES ON TADA! >

Summer Reading

2010-06-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

As we settle into summer, we are trying to figure out how to make reading part of our day. We want it to be that our kids want to read, not a chore (as it is summer!) but fun. We asked two sources who are experts in the kids reading field to help us. The kids department at Powell's Books (the most amazing bookstore in Portland, OR where my cousin worked and I literally had to stop myself from buying due to luggage space!) and the wonderful Brooklyn Public Library. We hope you find their tips as insightful as we do and they help get your kids reading!

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POWELL’S BOOKS, ALEXIS, SARAH AND EMMA

How would we encourage kids to read this summer (and forever more)? As the mother of a toddler, I say, "Monkey see, monkey do." Parents who read for pleasure themselves set the best example.

Go to the library or the book store with the goal of picking out one book for each member of the family. Unplug the TV, take off the iPod, and turn off the computer for a pre-determined, set time and make this your "Everybody Reads Hour." Read to the little ones, or have older children read with them. Let everyone pick his or her own special chair, pillow, nook or spot in the yard to read, and provide a simple snack & refreshments. This doesn't have to be every day, just as long as everyone knows when it will be and the preparation is a family endeavor. The important thing is to make it fun & let kids decide as much as possible about their reading time. Putting reading on a "to do" list or making it a contest may backfire: nobody likes chores, and contests are usually only fun for the "winners."

Making individual charts, goodreads profiles, or reading journals can be fun, but talking about what you've all read will probably make a more lasting impression. Maybe a meal-time round-robbin in which each family member talks about what he/she is reading?

Pick out a chapter book to read aloud as a family in the evenings or on long car rides. Plan to do something to celebrate the end of the story, like a meal with dishes inspired by the book. Get friends or extended family members to read the same book & have a party with the book as a theme. Holidays and vacations are good sources of interesting subjects. Look into fiction & nonfiction about your destinations. Do some literary sight-seeing: visit authors' historical homes or see places described in favorite books and keep a literary photo-journal. Karen B. and I have traveled a lot together & we always make it a habit to visit the local independent book stores & libraries in small towns. Libraries (and librarians) frequently have information on local points of interest, and independent book stores usually stock local authors.

In terms of choosing books to interest your kids, my motto is "guide, don't decide." Autonomy is really important in building a kid's interest in reading. Here's a common scenario: the parent wants the kid to read Roald Dahl, the kid wants to read Pokemon. I say compromise. Sure, the Pokemon books are fluff, but if that's where the motivation to read for pleasure is, let the kid pursue it without comment or judgement. Then, read the Roald Dahl together.

As for recommended reading lists, we don't have specific summer ones. We have many bookmarks divided by age & interest, but for summer recommendations here in the store, we tend to fly by the seat of our pants.

BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY

Tips for parents of school age children:

* Ask the Children's Librarian to recommend books based on your child's interests and reading level. Encourage your child to try the book, but don't force it.

* Let your child browse in the library and choose her own recreational reading. Remember that we all like to relax with some light, fun reading sometimes.

* Encourage your child to look in the nonfiction section. It's ok to prefer books about real things rather than stories.

* Continue to read aloud to your child. Hearing new vocabulary and stories will help him or her grow as a reader.

* Providing books is not enough. Talk about what they are reading. Studies show that discussion is essential in gaining comprehension skills.

* Join the library's Summer Reading program. New Yorkers of all ages can post book reviews, create an avatar, and earn virtual badges. The Brooklyn Public Library also has a game children can play all summer long, collecting stickers and winning prizes for reading and visiting the library.

Tips for early childhood, from our website:

In Your Home

* Read with your child every day in the language in which you're most comfortable.

* Keep books and magazines handy for your child to play with and read.

* Be a model reader. When your child sees you enjoying books and magazines, she'll be eager to read too.

* Talk to your child when you read together. Ask questions like, "How does the boy in the story feel?"

* Make reading come alive with funny voices, sound effects and gestures.

In Your Neighborhood

* Read cereal boxes and other labels with your child in the supermarket.

* Read the signs on buses and trains.

* Go to story times at museums, zoos, botanic gardens and the library.

In Your Library

* Borrow audiobooks and CD kits, and listen together on-the-go.

* Join the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program at your library to receive free books.

* Go to early reading programs like Babies & Books, Preschool Story Time, Story Play and Toddler Time.

Guest: Carina Scott, Nonchalant Mom

2010-06-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

We have been obsessed with Carina since seeing her in Domino magazine ages ago and love her approach to life, the products she stocks her store with, and well, her! She fills her blog with inspiring ideas for kids activities so we figured what better person to weigh in on the SUMMER ROAD TRIP!

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Last year we took the time to go on an extended car trip around the Great Lakes, our destination was an Island on a lake in Northern Minnesota and then back to Rhode Island in two weeks. We drove the Trans-Canadian Highway through the tops of the Great Lakes, it's kind of funny even when you look at the map, there is ONE road through Canada and while you are on that road it certainly feels like it's the only road for miles around. We stopped to eat from 'chippie trucks' whenever we could and then we hit local diners and such for dinners. As soon as you come down through Thunder Bay, Canada and back in the USA it's an immediate change of scenery, and instead of just driving through beauty, you can feel the change in the United States. Roadside stops in Grand Marias really stood out for their smoked fish sandwiches and small health food stores.

Just in case you think that you need to prepare yourself for a trip like this, we are here to say that you don't! (although it IS a good idea, it's not necessary). So if you find yourself with some time this summer, without plans, and not much money I would completely suggest a car trip. And don't worry, your kids will be so excited about the trip that you won't need to plan for entertainment as much as you think you do! Let them in on the map directions (I would even get a map so that the kids can follow the progress on their very own), finding signs for directions, exits, and number of miles to the next stop. When things start to get rowdy in the back seat, make a pit stop, let them help clean the windows on the car, take a bathroom break, and even take the moment to chew a stick of gum, you will be amazed at the troopers that you have along with you!

Our drive took two weeks and we had to hustle it on the way back a bit, so give yourself time to relax and drive at a good pace so that when you stop you can enjoy yourself a bit and not have to take off early in the morning. We planned a mix of camping and staying in small hotels along the way and this broke things up a bit and worked out very good. We found the camping in Canada really amazing, beautiful and natural, while in the USA it was slightly more crowded. But if you do your homework on the towns in which you would like to stop, I am sure there would be a treasure in each day! The point is to not expect too much and just plan on keeping it cool with your family and rolling with the punches.

Wovenplay's Sun Suit is Carina's "favorite summer piece of all time!" and on her packing list!

As for what to bring, don't pack all the practical stuff you would 'think' that you would want on a car trip. In that I mean have some fun and bring the crazy stuff... On a road trip, this is where you are out of your element and have a good time! I have a friend who is an amazing Womens Clothing designer, she is super chic, always... when we traveled to Sicily together she would wear Prada to the beach, I thought she was nuts but really... if you have the stuff you just have to wear it, don't let it sit in your closet! This is especially true for kids clothes, they will outgrow it anyhow and you don't know how cool a totally worn out Makie dress can be while camping or playing at the beach, why not look completely amazing all the time instead of just for a wedding! (expensive also means that it's made well in my book!). We also don't bring along tons of games and things on road trips, yes, I think that the correct games and learning apps loaded by a parent onto an iPod touch is great, but on the other hand a slinky bought at a gas station in Des Moines, Iowa can become all the rage! (if you brought it along it wouldn't have that appeal). Our kids both have an old fashioned radio with earphones (we use these wonderful ones by iFrogz that are colorful and the kids LOVE!).

Good Luck and maybe we will see you this year as we plan to camp our way through the Grand Canyon... somewhere around there... let us know if you have any ideas!

Very warmly - Carina

SHOP NONCHALANT MOM'S ROAD TRIP PACKING LIST >

celebrating moms on tada!

2010-05-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

We are fortunate enough to work with an impressive and diverse group of designers, store owners, writers and artists at tada! shop. Without a doubt, it is a highlight of our day. Not only are most highly talented and creative women, they are moms. We love that each is successful and with a rich and interesting family life. In celebration of mothers’ day, we share the stories of each of these woman, and mothers, who have been guest editors on tada! shop.

Meet these moms, hear what inspires them and shop their picks on tada! shop. We appreciate you as moms and your friendship with tada! shop. Enjoy.

Jess Brown, design of Jess Brown Dolls and mom.

Adrienne Catrina, designer and owner of Neige and mother of a son and daughter.

Jenny Cooper, designer of Crewcuts by J.Crew and mother of two sons.

Marta Dansie, author of m.writes and mom of one son.

Stacey Fraser, designer and owner of Pink Chicken and mom of two girls.

Maryellen Kane, designer and founder of Olive Juice and mom.

Kayce Hughes, designer and owner of Kayce Hughes and mom of seven.

Lisa McLean, designer and owner of Bella Bliss and mother of three.

Suann Song, stationer and author of Simplesong and mom of one son.

Bronagh Staley, owner of Sweet William in Brooklyn and mom of one son.

Christine Visneau, co-editor Small Magazine and designer of Baby Bean Vintage. Mother of two girls.

Tara Mandy, founder of Strollertraffic and mom of one girl (and expecting soon).

Amy Williams, founder of Peek...Aren't You Curious and mother of five.

This Year's Easter Baskets

2010-04-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

We were traveling for Easter and I didn't get baskets. Instead I got the girls each a Jess Brown doll and packed them in our bags. I admit I was giving in to my obsession with these beautiful creations, but really I thought it would be great for them to have to play instead of lugging toys with us on our trip with the bonus of a doll to take home. Easter morning the girls were beside themselves to find what the Easter Bunny had brought and these three dolls were all we needed for continuous play!

Jess Brown Dolls

Cutie with Gwyneth in the Knit Sweater Top

2010-04-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this image on Style.com of Gwyneth and this adorable little girl (I don't think it is Apple but rather Stella McCartney's daughter whose style I equally admire). I have coveted the Mor Mor sweater we have on tada! shop and I was so inspired, I tried to recreate the look.

Image from here.

Estella t-shirt Kids Lap t-shirt $30, J. Crew MacCalister boots $88, Mor Mor Rita sweater$78, littl by littl charles shorts $48, wovenplay socks $28.

tada! goes Easter shopping on ebay

2010-03-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

Holly and I are so honored to be guest editors on ebay's The Inside Source. First of all, we were so excited to be introduced to the site. Who isn't envious of those people who have that fantastic something and say "found it on ebay"? The Inside Source scouts those finds by curating the products and helping overwhelmed ebay users to SHOP! For our story, we were tasked with shopping for Easter. We were blown away by what we found on ebay when focused. It was so much fun and there are some incredible deals out there. So take a look at our Easter picks and try your own shopping on ebay (our best luck was entering brand names we liked) and let us know what you find!

Hadley's Picks for Girls

Holly's Picks for Boys

tada! shop on StrollerTraffic

2010-02-26T05:09:00.000-08:00

And don't miss our Spring Trend Report on StrollerTraffic. We had so much fun putting this list together! From The New Green to The Handmade, don't miss the full report!

tada! shop's Spring Trend Report on StrollerTraffic

StrollerTraffic on tada! shop

2010-02-26T04:40:00.000-08:00

Holly and I are so happy to have Tara Mandy, founder of the fantastic weekly email that every city mom should be reading, StrollerTraffic, as this week's guest editor. Her site's focus is very specific, moms (and expecting moms!) with kids 0 to 3 years old. And she knows that target well as she is mom to almost-three-year-old Greta and expecting this summer! We asked her to put together her must-have list for the younger set. Its such a great mix.

StrollerTraffic's Tara Mandy's Picks on tada! shop.

This is just part of the story....

Bloomers, A Must

2010-02-22T19:36:00.001-08:00

Hadley and I are crazy about bloomers, particularly this spring. There are so many really different styles, colors and prints. Looking for ruffles? Oh, not too fancy? A burst of color? We see them all. One of the most versatile pieces, we like to bloomers on their own with a simple tee, under a dress or as a swimsuit. So many to chose from, so many ways to wear. Here are looks we love. (For more, see our bloomers story on tada! shop and distinct ways to wear them.)

Classic Look. A clean, classic combination with these striking Kayce Hughes floral bloomers, tee with peter pan collar and sweet shoes. We love worn with knee socks or tights for an extra fun, girlie look (a recent style suggestion by friend and owner of Sweet William!)

Peek of Color Look. Have some fun and add a bright pair of bloomers under a dress, like those above from Busy Bees Kids or one of the colorful Pink Chicken diaper covers. One of our stylish mom friends remembers putting her daughter in a blue and green Pink Chicken dress with a hot pink diaper cover. "It finished the outfit and she got LOTS of comments!"

Comfy and Chic Look. These Makie Grey Knit Bloomers are very sweet with their lace trim. Pair with the matching camisole, a pair of red mary janes and a sun hat.

Inspiration. I watched this little one run around freely all summer in her many pairs of bloomers. Very comfy, so cute. Her mom, Boo, created lots of our bloomer looks on tada! shop.

P.S. You can create your own looks with bloomers on our Create a Look Tool. Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

We are busy baking a cake! Have a happy day with your little loved ones! XOXO

Photograph by Ericka McConnell

Valentine's Day

2010-02-08T07:21:00.001-08:00

If your house is anything like mine, making Valentine's is a whirlwind of construction paper, glitter glue and a slew of crossed out names because that "b" was supposed to be a "d." Every year I say I am going to prep before we start, but will I really ever do this!? I loved this idea from Inchmark, one of the most inspiring blogs. I thought why not try it out. It was easy and the girls I feel like were more involved in the process than they ever have been...with an end result that they are so proud of.

The inspiration...

Inchmark's valentine project for Brides.com.

I am kind of embarrassed to show you ours when they stand next to these!

Our version....

My learnings:

- The girls had so much fun filling up the match boxes with candy. Cut out the paper to wrap the matchboxes while they do that.
- I didn't have double-sided tape so just wrapped them and taped them at the back with normal clear tape, worked just fine.

- We printed some of Inchmark's patterned paper but the pink and orange printed out light yellow so we just had the red (which printed out so nicely). If someone cuts outside the lines, don't throw it out, cut it up into little hearts.

- We got candy hearts which fit 6-7 in each, so if you want to put more, I would get m&ms. I am of the mindset they are getting a lot of candy anyway so the hearts are just fine too.

And on tada! shop, make sure to check out our list of reds, pinks and hearts we are loving for kids this Valentine's Day!

Birds + Butterflies

2010-01-28T10:12:00.000-08:00

What better signs of spring than birds and butterflies gracing children's clothing? Whether its a graphic statement, a girly print or a touch of colorful embroidery, we like the interest it adds and childish playfulness. Not to diss the zoo animals, but there is just something extra special about these symbols of spring...or maybe its just the execution this season! See the full story on tada! shop!

Free Shipping on tada! shop

2010-01-28T08:46:00.001-08:00

It feels so good to see hints of Spring! New products are arriving every day and our own shopping lists are growing by the minute! As a bonus, our stores* are offering FREE SHIPPING! Sign up for tada! email and we will send you the promo code. Start shopping!

WHAT WE ARE EXTRA EXCITED ABOUT....

POLOS! Love the variety of polos we are seeing from the material, to the detail on the button to the mix of colors. Getting excited about something that is such a basic in a boys wardrobe. this is a first for me!

Busy Bees Kids Soft Spun Polos, $49

BLOOMERS! They just keep coming in. Girly and frilly florals from Pink Chicken, artsy silkscreen from Shirin, bold ginghams and sweet florals from Makie, plus many more!

Pink Chicken Diaper Cover, $28.

RUFFLES! On cuffs, hems and collars! Neige, Peek...Aren't You Curious, J.Crew are favorites!

Neige Oliana Dress, $68-72

* Offer valid thru February 5, 2010 at the following tada! stores: Bella Bliss, Busy Bees Kids, Estella, johnnie-O, Neige, Olive Juice, Pink Chicken, Robert Redd and Sweet William.

Amy Williams, Peek...Aren't You Curious Founder

2010-01-14T16:39:00.000-08:00

In starting tada! shop, one of the most interesting parts of Holly and my jobs has been meeting the people behind the brands we have on our site. Amy Williams, founder Peek...Aren't You Curious, is top on that list. Since our first phone call with her almost 10 months ago, we have been in awe of her. The attention to detail in all aspects of Peek...Aren't You Curious to newborn twin girls last spring to her blog and twittering (we wonder when she sleeps!), every bit of it inspires us. She believes in "products that are beautiful but casual, and things that are stylish yet easy to care for. I love having fewer, beautiful things, and try and teach the kids the same thing." Come see on tada! shop what's on her shopping list and the great looks she created!

Sarah Jane Family Tree

2010-01-13T07:16:00.001-08:00

I love family trees. I made a huge one for our den. My girls always ask about it so when I saw this at Little Bean Shop I thought perfect for their room. I love it as a gift for a new baby, it comes in blue and pink. I am framing it in the white Ribba frame from IKEA but you could do a little dressier with metallic bronze or thin black one. For an added touch, hang it with a grosgrain ribbon.

Sarah Jane Family Tree, $24 at Little Bean Shop.

City Walks with Kids

2010-01-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

With a little downtime, I was just leafing through the Citywalks for Kids that my mom gave me for Christmas. A deck of 50 cards, each card outlines a different walking tour to do with kids. The illustrations are very cute. Their recommendations make for some fun excursions around the city but not too over complicated that you wonder "why did I think this would be fun?" Some I can see doing tomorrow and ones we will grow into! Thank you mom for such a thoughtful gift, one I will be copying for others!

Citywalks for Kids, $14.95, from Chronicle Books.

This slide brought a smile to my face! The Children's Musuem of the Arts has been a long-time favorite of my girls and mine. Now we have a couple new spots to hit for a treat afterwards!

TADA! Shop Now For The Holidays!

2009-12-09T09:08:00.001-08:00

tada! Our home page.

tada! shop has launched, just in time for the holidays! We are so excited to share with you and invite you to visit the site.

We set out to create an easier way to shop for kids online. We found so many of the wonderful children's stores and brands were too difficult to find on the web. tada! shop is a single stop to shop across your favorite children's stores and hundreds of brands. It is an easier, smarter and more enjoyable way to find great clothes and toys for kids. (At least we think so!)

We have been busy searching for you for the holidays–consider us your elves.

* Fantastic toy gift guides for boys, girls and babies
* Our picks for holiday clothing
* Lots of looks for boys and girls
* Great deals across your favorite stores

So, get shopping and enjoy. Be sure to sign up for tada! shop to receive our weekly email and create that one single shopping cart across the stores to make it super easy for you to shop.

In our 5 we love, Hadley picks her 5 favorite holiday clothing items for girls and Holly does for boys.

We love the selection of toys on tada! shop. Most are from great boutiques in NYC and California. We created gift guides for boys, girls and babies.

We asked the kids in our lives for their wish lists, see their kids' picks!

Create your own shopping list! Here's a peek at Hadley's. We realize shopping can't always get done in one sitting, save what you like and come back to it when you have time to focus and buy.

We want your feedback, ideas and any special requests. Please tell us by sending us an email at info@tadashop.com or leave a comment here!

Holly + Hadley

PS. Share the tada! shop love. Please spread the word with as many of your friends and family as you can to brighten (and lighten) their shopping.

Prioritizing Our To-Dos

2009-11-03T07:04:00.000-08:00

Tadashop.com's launch is weeks away! We are busy working on the site and need to take a short hiatus from the blog. We can't cut ourselves off completely from sharing our finds, so we'll be active on Facebook and Twitter. Follow us! If you haven't signed up already, join our email list and we will let you know when we launch!

We want to hear from you. What are you shopping for now? We'll be on the lookout for you so comment below.

Onto the Next Holiday!

2009-11-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a great Halloween! I am on my umpteenth sugar crash and the girls fell into bed! So back to work. I saw this dress a few weeks ago in Janie and Jack's window and have been holding off on posting until after Halloween. I thought it such a pretty shade of blue (okay, so my favorite color is periwinkle) and the cap sleeves so sweet. I would add Olive Juice's ivory cardigan and J.Crew's navy ballet flats. It doesn't always have to be red for the holidays!

Janie and Jack Pleated Silk Tulle Dress $74.

A little closer detail!

Eek, Halloween Recipes

2009-10-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

Are we ready? The house is decorated, pumpkins are carved (or will be soon) and costumes are ready to go for Halloween. It is not too late to try one of these creative Halloween recipes with the kids. I love these.

Martha Stewart is at her best on Halloween with the most original recipes, crafts and ideas for entertaining. Look at the fun Candy Creature treats. The Little Devil Cupcake is my favorite.

Martha Stewart's Frightful Bites cookies are so festive with the gothic letters and powered sugar. And, fairly simple to make too. The letter templates are provided as well.

Classic carmel apples from 101cookbooks.com. I often read this recipe journal by Heidi Swanson with a focus on natural, whole foods. You can look at her halloween recipes.

And did you see the latest GOOP newsletter from Gwyneth Paltrow? Look at these Eyeball Cupcakes by Clare Crespo from Yummyfun.com. Eyeballs are made with gummy lifesavers and black jellybeans. (The Yummyfun.com site is clever and worth checking out.)

Versatile Girls Outerwear

2009-10-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am on the hunt for a winter jacket for my daughter. With three girls (you would think one of the hand-me-downs would fit!) and a lot of coats, my goal this time is to find one that can be worn numerous ways because warm coats come with a price. Reversible, removable arms, hooded to hoodless–here are some I have my eye on.

One Kid Toddler Hearts Revisible Jacket ~~$98~~ now $78.40 at Bestdressedkids.com.

How cheery are these colors? For the days when she wants to wear pattern and those she doesn't.

Mini Boden Two-in-one Padded Jacket $68.

I just noticed this one in the catalog! Sleeves, hood and fur are all removable! Love the yellow!

One Kid Reversible Down Coat $116 at Garnet Hill.

While I usually don't put my girls in black, I love this one! Reversible and a hood that tucks into collar.

Patagonia Kid's Infurno Jacket ~~$140.00~~ $79.99 at MooseJaw.

My two oldest girls' staple jacket and Patagonia has discontinued it! Best deal with a zip-in fleece liner that they used on its own Spring through Fall. There is only XL left so if its the right size, scoop it up!

Columbia Girls Bugaboo™ Parka $120.

An alternative to the Patagonia above. I know white is a bit risky for a color choice, but the pink fleece liner is such a pretty color!

Why Buy Organic Clothing?

2009-10-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

I wish I had more time in my day to...oh...read the paper, the books on my bedside table and probably most importantly read up on topics that I know are important and directly relevant to my family. Organic clothing is on that list. Especially as Holly and I research children's clothing brands, we see organics as a large and growing category. We asked Anthia Nickerson the founder of UrthChild–a site that offers premier natural products for babies, children, and mothers–to tell us about organic clothing. Anthia has spent hours upon hours researching and I admire her and UrthChild's dedication to natural living and preserving our environment.

Why buy organic clothing? What are the biggest advantages?
"Organic clothing has two main benefits. First, it reduces your family's exposure to harmful chemicals–everything from pesticides and chemical fertilizers to heavy metals found in dyes and appliques. Organic clothing is also not impregnated with chemicals like flame retardants and anti-wrinkle treatments. Pesticides, fertilizers, formaldehyde, flame retardants, metals, and other chemicals have been linked to cancer, neurological damage, behavioral issues, and a host of other health problems, and children are the most vulnerable. The CDC estimates that 50% of a person's lifetime cancer risk is developed by the age of 2 years, and 35% of a person's lifetime exposure to pesticides has been obtained by the age of 5!

Second, because organic clothing is created in a toxin-free manner, the environment is spared pollution from these chemicals during agriculture, processing, dying, and finishing. Conventional (non-organic) cotton is one of the most polluting crops on the planet. Every year, 25% of the pesticides used in agriculture are sprayed on cotton crops. Nearly 100 billion pounds of chemicals are used in conventional US cotton agriculture each year, and half of the top 15 chemicals used in conventional cotton farming are considered cancer-causing by the Environmental Protection Agency. These pesticides eventually find their way to our water supplies where they wreak further havoc on the environment. The World Health Organization estimates that each year 3 million people suffer from pesticide poisoning, and approximately 20,000-40,000 deaths per year are attributed to pesticides. Soy- and bamboo-based fabrics are also a growing concern because of the chemicals used in either their agriculture or processing; some critics of soy have also raised concern about the increase in genetically-modified soy."

If it is just not feasible to buy all organic clothing, what pieces do you think are most important?
"No matter what a mom's resources and greatest wishes are, it is impossible to buy all organic clothing. When prioritizing my clothing purchases for my family, I would first try to buy organic clothing for my newborn, placing highest priority on the first layer on the baby's skin (e.g., a onesie) or anything a newborn or baby will likely chew on.

I would then try to buy organic pajamas for all children and adults. Many pajamas in the marketplace today are impregnated with flame retardant chemicals that are so harmful to our health. (If you cannot buy organic pajamas, avoid anything made from polyester, which is produced from petroleum and is highly flammable.) Organic sheets would also be an important purchase since we–especially babies and children–spend so much time sleeping.

A final area of prioritization is to buy a piece of organic clothing that has a long useful life, such as a dress that can turn into a tunic, a pair of jeans that can be worn several times a week, or a jacket that can be worn daily."

LOVE IS Organic Denim

What should we be aware of when buying organic children's products?
"The first thing I look for when shopping for organic clothing is its organic certification. Some clothing may be made from organic cotton, but it may have dyes with heavy metals or azo or other nasty chemicals. Looking for organic clothing certification, such as GOTS, will help you know that no toxic chemicals were allowed during the agriculture, processing, dying, and finishing of the garment. At UrthChild, we provide the organic certification information in each product description by clicking on the "UrthChild review" tab on a product's webpage.

The second thing to look for is the worrisome trend of "greenwashing." Greenwashing is affecting everything from house paint to skin care, and is a major problem in organic clothing. For example, a piece of clothing may be made out of organic bamboo, but the process of turning bamboo into fabric is chemical-intensive and very hard on the environment as the waste products during bamboo manufacturing escape into waterways and into the air. Sodium hydroxide (a major ingredient in Drano) and carbon sulfide are two chemicals used in bamboo manufacturing that are seriously harmful to human health. Some bamboo manufacturers say that they have moved to a more closed loop process to protect the environment, but many organic activists say that these newer manufacturing techniques aren't transparent and prevention of pollution cannot be easily verified. In addition, several recent scientific studies have also raised serious questions about the claims that bamboo is antibacterial and UV resistant."

What are your best-selling children's clothing products?
"Parents everywhere are editing down their children's wardrobes, and our bestsellers reflect this. Looking for pieces that can be worn often or even daily and investing in clothes that can grow with your child (e.g., dress to tunic) is truly eco-friendly, sustainable shopping.

For babies, our number one sellers are organic clothes that are versatile and can be worn daily, such as organic cotton buntings for everyday use and onesies, which can be worn alone, as layering pieces, and as nightwear.

For older girls, our bestsellers include the Sarah Waldo Organics Beatrice Dress, which a girl can wear for several seasons because once it's too short to be worn as a dress, it becomes the cutest tunic. Another bestsellers for girls is the Anna Nightie from Sarah Waldo Organics. The Anna Nightie has a bit of a celebrity following, and it is absolutely dreamy. I've had moms tell me that their daughters want to wear it every night. For boys, jeans by LOVE IS Organic Denim and cargo pants by Look Organics are big sellers because they look good, are versatile, and are items that will receive a ton of use.

In the winter, our organic wool/silk long johns fly off the shelves. Organic wool is a wonderful natural fiber because it is naturally temperature-regulating, is self-cleaning and doesn't need to be washed often, and is naturally flame resistant."

A look from Sarah Waldo Organic's Fall 2009 (arriving at UrthChild next week).

Are there any brands in the children's organic market that are particular stand-outs?
"We absolutely love Sarah Waldo Organics for girls. Sarah Waldo's clothing is so stylish and well tailored that it appeals to moms who aren't necessarily into organic clothing. Sarah, a Parsons School of Design "Designer of the Year", is also a bit of a trailblazer: She is helping shatter the idea that organic clothing is "crunchy" or "granola." She designs her clothing so that it is modest yet fashionable, and she really emphasizes the need for an item of clothing to last by over several seasons by incarnating from a dress to a shirt, for example. Her line reflects elegance, whether it is in a special occasion jacket or dress or an everyday basic. We also love how Sarah is committed to manufacturing her clothes in the USA."

Some Halloween Costume Help?

2009-10-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

I admit, I determined this weekend that the well planned homemade costume for our third child was not coming together. Thankfully, I stumbled upon the Little Daydreamer hats by Elope. These hats are perfect for that person who yearns for the homemade, yet wants (or needs) some assistance to pull it off. It still leaves plenty of room for creativity. The quality is good and price is right. Go to Amazon to find the hats, and yes, you can still get this week.

Top: 1. Space Man $19.99, 2. Mushroom $15.69, 3. Bear Hug $15.99.

Bottom: 1. Big Bad Wolf $24.14, 2. Robotman $19.98, 3. Red Velvet Ant $14.98

EcoSNEAKS for Kids

2009-10-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

My babysitter walked in this weekend in this sharp pair of sneakers. She was wearing EcoSNEAKS which reminded me a bit of understated Pumas. The Kid's Satire, an eco-friendly suede shoe, is made from recycled goods. The shoe bottoms are recycled car tire, the foot inserts are recycled consumer paper and the lining and laces are organic cotton. The price ($42) is reasonable too. A cool shoe in all ways.

Kid's Satire Suede Shoe by Simple $42.

Unique Baby Gifts at Estella

2009-10-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

This week, Hadley and I have had such fun looking through the bestsellers of the different stores we are with working with at tada! shop. One of the stores, Estella, a popular children's boutique in the West Village in NYC, is known for their unique baby gifts. Their list of bestselling baby gifts spans the classic to the precious to the really fun. The price points vary too. Something for everyone, enjoy.

Elephant Print Onsie $35. Love this bold onsie. Hello, I am here! Many unique onsies from which to choose. The Embroidered Chick Onsie is a top seller for girls.

Larucci Faux Fur Baby Blanket $120. Reverses to ultra suede. Softer than cashmere and machine washable. I want one!

Cherry Wood Baby Rattle Teether $18. Natural, made from cherry wood and finished in beeswax.

Jess Brown Fairy Dolls $85. These very special dolls are as much a gift to most mothers as to the newborn. A smaller version of her larger dolls with delicate wings on her back. No two dolls are alike, hand made from tea dyed cotton muslin and reclaimed fabrics. Be sure to also look at the large ballerina and butterfly dolls.

Black Musical Baby Rattle by Harmony Ball. $75. The beautiful silver rattle is a classic. This rattle has 16 different tones.

Their blog also offers more good thoughts on baby gifts.

Mini Rodini Winter Wear!

2009-10-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

How warm and cozy does this look? I saw it on Sweet William's site today and I admit it made me want the temperatures to drop! Both hat and parka are from Mini Rodini and the price compared to what I am seeing kids' hats and coats costing is a deal. Now just trying to figure out if I can squeeze my head into one too!

Mini Rodini Faux Fur Hat $38 and Shiny Puffy Jacket $98 (also available in red).

Flying Turtles!

2009-10-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

At a friends' house this past weekend, the toy of choice was one I had never seen, The Flying Turtle. The girls and boys ages 2 to 7 were enthralled. Even better, room for injury was minimal. Low to ground, the children put their feet up on the handle bars and steer. I couldn't believe they moved anywhere but they did. Turns out it was designed by a retired Boeing engineer for his grandson in the 1970s. Clearly I can't claim a brand new discovery, but I hope it will put some of you ahead for the holidays!

The Original Flying Turtle® $59.

Tada! It's Almost Here

2009-10-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

As the launch of tadashop.com is around the corner, we want to make sure everyone signs up to be the first to know. We have set out to create a better way to find products for our kids. Our new site will bring together popular name brands with specialty brands and boutiques–all in one place. J.Crew, Mini Boden, Olive Juice Kids, Neige, Peek...Aren't You Curious just to name a few. You will be able mix styles, brands and price points to create the one perfect shopping list.

And we didn’t stop there. As the moms of three girls and three boys, Hadley and Holly will constantly curate to bring you our finds. Throughout our respective careers at Martha Stewart and Style.com, we’ve met many incredible women who have inspired us and will help us scout, share their picks and inspire you as well. tada! shop is as much for the busy, style conscious mom as it is for the deal-seeking one.

SIGN UP now, pleeease.

Photo: Rachel McGinn

Monster Tees for Kids

2009-10-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

I have searched far and wide for monsters. Here are three terrific monster tees for the kids. Perfect to get in the mood for Halloween, but sure to be a loved long after.

Monster Kids Horns T-shirt at Polkadot Patch $38. So cute.

Mini Boden Monster T-shirt $28. Never appreciated their selection of monsters! Also have Monster Applique T-shirts.

Winter Water Factory Fuzzy Monster T-shirt $36.

Create+Celebrate With Cocodot

2009-10-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

I love stationary. All kinds. And I love ordering party invitations. So I admit, I have never warmed up to evite. With Cocodot, a new site offering similar services but with great designs and personalization options, I am changing my tune. Done at my computer with time to focus, no paper wasted, no printing or postage costs, no rsvp tracking, and a beautiful invite—I have to try it! Electronic envelope included.

A sampling of Cocodot's kids' birthday party invitations.

My first Cocodot invitation!

Note: Cocodot is in beta right now so working out kinks.

Kids and Smart Storage

2009-10-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to have met Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, the founder and NY editor of Apartment Therapy, while working at Martha Stewart. Always full of unique perspective and practical advice, I asked if he would share his thoughts on how to manage kids and all their "stuff" (or dare I say, clutter). So many of us find organizing and managing children's toys, books, artwork, or even clothes, a daily challenge. A practitioner of "less is more," he takes it to a degree that was even surprising to me.

Do you have an overarching approach to organizing children and their stuff?

"Children, more so than adults, are natural collectors of stuff. Parents should not be surprised that they have more things coming into their lives. The challenge is how to allow for it and build a doorway by which the stuff goes out again. We need to remember that children care most about what is right in front of them at the moment. They are not archivers by nature, we are."

Maxwell summed it up in these words from his book "If you have the filter way at the front door, you don't have to deal with the other problems later." He and his wife, Sara Kate, are "careful editors and careful buyers. We have to be given the rate children produce and collect."

The bedroom of Maxwell's 3 year old daughter. Edited while incredibly inviting and warm.

Maxwell made his point. We all should work on that filter, our upfront editing.

That said, will you offer some smart strategies or systems for parents to store toys?

"First, it is important to take old toys out, as you move new toys in. There is much less attachment to toys. Most are heavily used and then totally forgotten. So, keep to a minimum. Take them to charity. Most of all, kids want to play pretend like they are their parents."

For storage, he likes "open bins that can sit on the floor and be moved around. It is important for children to be able to see what is in the bins. If something is hidden, it is out of mind. It is important to keep toys fresh and accessible." He prefers the clear, rigid plastic storage bins such as these from the Container Store. Storage should be unified. "To the extent possible, keep all toys in a child's room and, for example, all art supplies in the playroom. The toys can move around the house, but should all go back in the child's room." (He acknowledges that this is easier to do in a small apartment.)

Ideal storage bins with toys and stuffed animals.

What are your suggestions and systems for storing children's artwork?

As a parent and former teacher at a Waldorf School, Maxwell stresses the importance of reinforcing today and not dwelling on the past. When artwork is saved, it slows down children as there becomes pressure to replicate. Here is his solution for storing and displaying art:

1. Keep something representative of the session or moment.

2. It is important to have a real, caring space. The refrigerator is not enough. His mother had an entire brick wall for display.

3. Keep only the best from the session. Early on, throw away work out of your children's sight.

4. If you commit to collecting artwork, you must care for it. He likes the artist folders for preserving work. If you have space, he loves the flat file drawers (in stacks of 2-3) and would put in the playroom.

5. For display of artwork, there are several options. He and his wife use blu tack, a simple adhesive, to hang their daughter's art. You can also buy chipboard, cut and paint it for a big section of your wall. Alternatively, you can frame a corkboard. Be sure to paint the frame the same color of the room "so it does not become more visual clutter." Finally, if you prefer a more modern look, try magnetic paint (the same color of the wall) to hang work with magnets.

Interestingly, Maxwell is not a proponent of framing artwork for younger children. "That makes it too special. It needs to be a moving display. Children love change and want to show you what they have done now."

Flat files for artwork. See Apartment Therapy's round up of flat files and cabinets.

Thank you Maxwell. We are all inspired and smarter. Be sure to check out Apartment Therapy's site for children, Ohdeedoh.com, for many great storage ideas.

Where the Wild Things Are...

2009-10-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

Two days 'til Where the Wild Things Are comes out! Everywhere I turn, there is a promo for it and I have to say I AM SO EXCITED! I am definitely not alone, look at what brands from Oeuf to Ugg are coming up with...for kids and their parents.

Entertaining Elephant's Max

Bunny Hat $34 and Thermal Henley Union Suit $46.

Ugg Australia's Limited Edition Kids Boots. Available for pre-order October 24. Boots feature Max's Crown or Peeping Eyes.

Oeuf Animal Hat and Booties $68.

Cookie's Max Halloween costume.

Where the Wild Things Are Dolls $28 at Urban Outfitters.

This was the doll I had growing up. It was around for quite a while.

Get the kids excited with the Where the Wild Things Are iPhone App.

Not just for kids! Opening Ceremony has launched a line of products in celebration of the movie. Check out their NYC windows and store displays.

Where the Wild Things Are opens in theaters October 16th.

What We Are Reading: Peter Sis

2009-10-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

Looking for a book recommendation for the younger reader? Take the time to look at author-artist, Peter Sis, and his rich selection of children's books. I recently purchased one of his wonderful picture books, Dinosaur, for our 2-year old after reading Fire Truck until the pages were worn out. His books are such a pleasure at so many levels, for children and adults too. The beauty is that his books span not only the imaginative board books for toddlers, but also the historical fiction books for the elementary age child. The illustrations are the highlight, so extraordinary with much left to the imagination of the reader. The stories, frequently with no or minimal words, are clever too. A beautiful and original gift to remember.

We love these imaginative picture books. Dinosaur $7.99 at Amazon. The adventure of a young boy when he hops into the bathtub with his dinosaur and it becomes much more. Fire Truck $6.99 at Amazon. Peter Sis wrote this for his son who loved fire trucks. A young boy wakes up as a fire truck. Ballerina is another favorite for girls.

Madlenka $11.56 at Amazon, ages 4-8. What an amazing book. The adventures of a NYC girl whose loose tooth leads to her visits "around the world" to tell all.

Starry Messenger $12.24 at Amazon, ages 6 and up. An inspiring store of Galileo. A 1997 Caldecott Honor Book, one of several won by Peter Sis. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain $12.24 at Amazon, ages 8 and up. This book Recounts Sis' childhood growing up in Cold War era Prague. A 2008 Caldecott Honor Book.

StrollerTraffic's Mention of Tada! Shop

2009-10-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

We were so excited to get our weekly email from StrollerTraffic today. While we are incredibly sad about Cookie folding (we did get giddy when it would arrive!), StrollerTraffic offers some great new suggestions for blogs and sites for moms. Some we follow already and some are new ones to explore. We are honored to be included on the list!

Girls' Blouses to Dress Them Up

2009-10-12T17:24:00.000-07:00

As my girls get older, I find that tees work for most days. There are those times though when we have somewhere to go that doesn't require dressy but it would be nice to throw on a blouse with the cords. I have rounded up six that I think are fail-safe and look as good with pants as they do with skirts.

Clockwise from top: Crewcuts Girls' Cotton Ruffle-Trim Shirt $39.50, Lucky Wang Moneypenny Blouse $40, Olive Juice Stella Blouse $46.50, Vineyard Vines Ruffled Tinkerbell Shirt $39.50, Jacadi Deluge Blouse $78, Ralph Lauren Cotton Striped Ruffle Blouse $70.

My 7-year-old in her Olive Juice Stella Blouse—she asks to wear it! I love how she wears it with her white Converse sneakers for school or her favorite brown boots for a family dinner out.

Memorable Childhood Meals

2009-10-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

I had one of those childhood best friends where we spent each Friday and Saturday night together. Her mother was a wonderful, relaxed cook. Those meals (and desserts) are a fond childhood memory of mine that i still hang on to today. For our wedding, her mother gave us a book with all the recipes that i grew up eating at her house. What a thoughtful, lasting gift. Each recipe brings back memories that make me smile, from the smells to sitting at the small marble table in her kitchen. Here are some of my favorites for you. More than anything, remember that your cooking can have lasting memories.

Corn Pudding. I grew up on this Southern favorite. Clearly, the recipe is getting a lot of use. My children love it too.

Apple Crisp. She seemed to always whip up an apple crisp. Perfect for this time of year.

Waffles. I still remember my friend's waffle iron. I make these waffles all the time, easy. I like to substitute with whole wheat flour.

Lacy Cookies. These Lacy cookies were a favorite during the holidays.

Cheese Souffle. I ate cheese souffle all the time growing up. Can you believe it? I remember eating it cold the day after, as much as warm. We always ate it with asparagus. (I know this recipe is nearly ineligible, but i had to include a mention of cheese souffle.)

The Trico Field Look

2009-10-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

We had heard about Trico Field, a Japanese-designed kids clothing store, and stopped in to take a peek. With locations in NYC and Los Angeles, their products are quite exceptional for both girls and boys. Their layering is what got us most excited! Mixing textures, one on top of another, the fabrics and the design detail are notable. All this said, it is not too surprising that it comes with a high price tag. Whether you buy the look at Trico Field or take it as inspiration and recreate yourself, start experimenting with layering!

Interior of NYC store. Beautiful.

65 West Houston Street

Hadley: Prairie skirt paired with the everyday athletic. It works.

Holly: The layering, of even very basic pieces, adds a lot of personality for a boy. I love it.

Hadley: (outfit 1) An unexpected combo of the laced-edged tee, sweatshirt, military-inspired jacket topped with a Navajo-print scarf and fur-trimmed hat. (outfit 2) Hand-knit scarf, plaid dress, chunkier knit multi-colored tights paired with a very delicate lace-trimmed tee under it all. Wow.

Holly: A colorful oxford (flannel, I believe), wrapped around the waste, pulls this look together with the sporty tee.

Look how they take something as simple as a sweatshirt, and then add the homemade knitted touch. Result is a more interesting and a bit dressier piece. Original.

More interesting layers. Look at how they layer the opposite of what I feel is typically. The tees over the oxford, rather than under. A great sporty look.

Hadley: This was my favorite girls' look. Take a gingham dress, add a chunky knit vest (this one is exceptional with wooden leaf buttons) and jeans. Scarf is such a nice touch, but I just don't see my 7-year-old going for it!

Holly: Triple layers on top mixed with patched jeans.

Blog Watch: Inchmark

2009-10-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

Hadley and I recently discovered the blog, inchmark, and ever since, have been consumed reading. The posts are creative, original and incredibly thoughtful. The author, Brooke Reynolds, is a mother of two and former art director for Martha Stewart Kids. One post is better than the next. So much so that we decided to focus on inchmark and have selected five favorite posts. A first for us, so enjoy.

Cousin Boxes for Halloween. Brooke sends surprises to cousins across the country. Look at this festive box of Halloween treats. So thoughtful. (Look at what she does with all her children's Halloween candy.)

And So It Begins. Hadley and I adore these photos of her children with signs capturing the start of the new school year. To remember for next year, a birthday or other important day.

Rocket Ship Party. Treat yourself and take the time to look through the parties. The detail, the thought ... Ahhh.

This Week's Library Book. Brooke regularly posts on children's books. Cute.

Magical Thinking. A jar of funny quotes by her children over time. I do something very similar, but not quite so pretty!

Thomas Turns Four. "Children really appreciate a homemade card especially one that involves a lot of candy. And some money." She is spot on here, particularly for my children. Simple and so cute.

So, I included six posts. I could not resist.

Halloween Decorating with Kids

2009-10-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

I never grew up decorating our house for Halloween and I didn't really get the whole phenomenon that takes place right about now. Last year I figured I'd see what it was all about. We did Halloween up like it was Christmas. We got spiders, black crows, cob webs and went to town on the outside. We bought Halloween gingerbread-house-kits and came up with our own adornments (dying coconut for the purple grass). For the October 30th birthday in the family, we did up the table with all Target finds. We had SO MUCH FUN creating! To get excited for this year...

From October 2009 issue of Vogue.

I just love this image, it got me so excited for Halloween. Look at the cake, I want to recreate it.

Grandinroad Spider Web Tablecloth $39-59.

This was sold out last year! Try it over an orange table cloth for a kids' party.

From Martha Stewart Halloween 2009

I love the black jelly beans lining the plate!

Pottery Barn Kids Funkins & Build-a-Pumpkin Sets $12-24.

I am not sure I am totally sold on the not-carved pumpkin, but that pirate is pretty cute!

Scaredy Cat with Light Up Eyes $19.99 from Target.

I know my girls would flip over this. It's a little creepy to me!

From left: Ghost cake from Martha Stewart Halloween. Bright Ideas Eyeball Cupcakes and Better Homes and Gardens Bare Bones Cupcakes (seen on Hostess with the Mostess).

We had used marshmellows like on the cake for our gingerbread house (use chocolate sprinkles for eyes).

Black Ostrich Feather $3.99 from Jamali Garden.

Different textures are fun to play with at Halloween. I am thinking how I can use this, maybe filling a glass jar with orange and black jelly beans and have these coming out at the top.

From Country Living.

This is my inspiration for our outside decorating. We'll see how close we come, I think the girls might insist on a little more fright. Here are some black crows and a how-to on perforated pumpkins.

Winter Coats For Boys: Parkas to Duffle Coats

2009-10-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

For many of us, it is that time of year again. Time to look for a new winter coat for one or all of our children. Wow, there are so many coats to choose from, so many different styles and really so many price points. Good news, there are a lot of quality options. Where to start? I recommend picking a price point and style. After lots of browsing and plenty of experience, here are my choices for boys' winter coats. My focus was on warm winter coats, not lighter weight fleeces and jackets. What are your favorites, we would love to hear ?!

Coat #1: The Sure Thing. Patagonia Kids' Down Coat $125. My personal favorite and an essential for the boys. Comfortable, durable, washable and a good overall value. Does require layering for skiing. For a more serious jacket, try Patagonia's Kids' Puffer Rider Jacket $150 and Kids' Snow Patrol Jacket $200.

Coat #2: The Hooded Explorer. I love the big hoods for boys, warm and fun. Here is the Crewcuts Boys' Snorkel Jacket $138. The Northface Boys McMurdo Parka looks particularly warm too, $199.

Coat #3: The Deal: Lands End Boys Sport Squall Parka was $69.50, now $59.50. Wish everyone had temperature ratings to guide buying. (This one suited for temps -10 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit). Also, really like Mini Boden's Padded Jacket with fleece lining for $64.

Coat #4: The Dressier Classic. Papo d'Anjo Duffle Coat $229. Italian wool herringbone with so many colors from which to choose. Many duffle (or toggle) coats out there, but this one is a great value.

Coat #5: The More Rugged. Diesel Jacito was $119, now $89.25 at Saks. Like the military look. Looks warm, but certainly not the warmest.

Tip Toey Joey Baby Shoes

2009-10-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Isn't this how it always happens, my one year old is about to turn two and I find this great line of shoes...for two and under. Tip Toey Joey was created out of a father's frustration with buying shoes for his daughter. Living in Brazil in a town where adult shoes are manufactured, he learned the business and designed his line, testing 30 prototypes on his daughter. The end result is a shoe that solves multiple problems from too easy for them to get off to too slippery as they start to walk. Scan through the collection as they offer shoes for every day to the special occasion!

Tip Toey Joey shoes $42 per pair. Brooks Shoes for Kids has the largest selection online.

We Love Colors

2009-10-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

As cold weather is fast approaching, I thought it time to post on We Love Colors. Tights, socks and even leotards in every color imaginable! The price is not to be beat. If you are in search of that perfect shade for a Halloween costume, you will find it here! And get ahead with tights for the holidays as they are running a 50% off sale on white and black tights which means $2.75 a pair (to get this price click on Sales and then White Sale or Black Sale)!

Kids Microfiber Footless Tights $9.50.

The 51 colors available for all tights!

Vintage Inspired Girls Dresses and More

2009-09-30T18:11:00.001-07:00

I may be a mother of all boys, but I still enjoy shopping for girls. True, I do a lot more looking than buying. I have had my little eye on the vintage inspired girls clothing out now, more specifically the Baby Bean Vintage Daywear and Right Bank Babies lines. So much so that Hadley gave me the green light to post on girls! I saw both brands in stores this week, and they are even more impressive in person than online. At Moomah, there was a row of Baby Bean bloomers, in a variety of vintage fabrics, that came short of taking my breath away. I love that each piece is handmade locally in Dallas by the owner and "a few stay at home moms." The new Right Bank Babies holiday dresses were prominently displayed in Takashimaya's children's floor and were so striking that I just stopped and studied. Her pieces are reversible (so wise) and are intended to "layer, mix and match" to the child's style. Right Bank Babies was in the 2009 Best of LA for its children's brand. Will I really never be dressing a girl of my own?

Baby Bean Bessie Daydress $68. They offer several dress styles and different fabrics to meet your taste, all adorable. Customers also have the opportunity to choose their own fabric for all the clothes, email info@babybeanwear.com.

Baby Bean Vintage Cotton Bloomer $28. I just love bloomers, but these are extra sweet.

Right Bank Babies Brocade dress $153. Love this dress, although these photos are not as good as in person. Remember, it is reversible. Believe you could dress this up or down, despite the shimmer. Note, the fabric is a little thicker.

Right Bank Babies Owl and Elephant Dress $49.50. Also, reversible. Saw it and liked it layered with a long sleeve tee.

Yoya Animals

2009-09-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

I stopped in at Yoya on Hudson Street today. Their displays are always so creative. Throughout the store, they have these stuffed giraffes and elephants in different colors, patterns and sizes. Bright to pastel, stripes to camouflage, small to large. I think they would be so sweet for a nursery or child's room. I love them grouped in the same pattern and different sizes but they had mixed a Liberty of London floral with camouflage and it looked fantastic! If ever in need of inspiration, Yoya is worth a stop. They also have these bird houses for a nursery wall that are incredible.

Large Elephant and Camel $70 each.

Elephants and Giraffe in pink Liberty of London peacock feather print.

Small $30, Medium $50, Large $70.

I loved this display on the dresser.

Elephants in Liberty of London paisley.

Small $30 and large $70.

Nothing looks too staged and yet the details are perfect: here

the pattern of the elephants compliments the clothing texture and colors.

NOTE: Yoya's web site is under construction, so to order call (646) 336-6844.

Little Dudes Only

2009-09-28T15:00:00.001-07:00

With three boys of my own and a handful of nephews, I am always on the hunt for new boys clothing. I keep seeing Little Dudes Only, an all boys clothing website, mentioned in both Cookie Magazine and Cool Mom Picks this fall. Last week, we met with a children's fashion editor who praised the owner and her "great eye." My style is admittedly more classic, yet I like to mix it up. Here are several of my picks which do just that. The site also offers its shoppers the opportunity to browse by look (from skater dudes to vintage dudes) and by the Little Dude Only obsessions.

Sand Cassel Caveman Hat $23. The cavemen, the pom pom and the colors. I love this hat.

Acoustic Puffer Vest $55. Like the green down filling with the red lining. Hadley and I also love the Appaman Puffer Vest, available at Little Dudes Only.

Lucky Fish Beatle Shirt $42. Among my very favorite brand of t-shirts for our boys. These beatles are the best.

Junk Food Wild Things Tee $28. How could I not include this t-shirt? Limited sizes available online. A range of great t-shirts.

Trunki's New Tipu Suitcase

2009-09-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

I have been on a tear cleaning the girls' rooms of clutter...six trash bags to be exact. I have vowed to keep it this way. I tell you this because it has gotten me thinking about holiday shopping. My goal this year is to give gifts to all the children in my life that are useful, unique and under a million pieces! Trunki's limited-edition Tipu the Tiger suitcase caught my attention. I am thinking some nieces and nephews could have some fun on this ride-on/pull-along suitcase as well as make a parent in a delayed-flight situation very happy!

Trunki Tipu the Tiger Suitcase $50. Available October 1.

Seen on CoolHunting.com.

A Family Showing by Darcy Miller Nussbaum

2009-09-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

I had one of those incredible experiences yesterday afternoon. I attended Family, a showing by Darcy Miller Nussbaum "celebrating the moments and memories that contribute to the sensibility of family life." Darcy is the Weddings Editorial Director at Martha Stewart Living, a friend and former colleague of mine. The creativity and thought that went into every aspect of the showing was positively overwhelming. I circled the gallery absorbing the experience, each little bit. The walls displayed aspects of Darcy's family life, from her girls' artwork to personal pieces in shadow boxes celebrating daily life to those special occasions. Her amazing scrapbooks and personal diaries were organized by travel, wedding and celebration. Known for her illustrations, Darcy was doing custom drawings for families. You can visit Darcy's website to learn more, be certain to watch this slideshow of the showing. I hope you enjoy and get inspired.

The Brown Boys and Mom (Me) by Darcy Miller Nussbaum. She did custom illustrations at the Family show, which were framed next to a photo of your family (by Donna Newman) with your name in calligraphy (by Bernard Maisner).

A Family map of the showing. A work of art itself. These details were evident everywhere, and a reminder to me that details make a real difference.

A display of her daughter's 5th birthday celebration. Look closely at the invitation, lollipop and cut-outs all with Darcy's illustrations. Tissue paper dots add a festive touch to the shadow box.

Walls celebrated family life. Don't you love how she organized the girls' sunglasses with the photo?

Words cannot begin to capture Darcy's scrapbooks and diaries. Here is one from Paris with photos, drawings and memorable notes.

Darcy's illustrations were everywhere, making the Family showing extra special. Each guest received a box of chocolates decorated with a drawing. This mantle at the entrance was lined with the boxes for an impressive first impression.

The food was yummy with all the kids' favorites. This tray of mini grilled cheese sandwiches was decorated with laminated Darcy's family illustrations.

The showing was impressive, clearly. As much, it was wonderful to see a friend put her talent to work and so successfully pull off this Family showing. Lets celebrate family and Darcy!

The Conran Shop

2009-09-23T17:31:00.001-07:00

Holly and I were in NYC yesterday and our meeting locale got me over far enough on the East Side to finally get to The Conran Shop. I've known of it for years but never have I been to the physical store. The children's section is an experience. Talk about curation!

Children's section at The Conran Shop, 407 East 59th Street NYC.

Here are some stand-outs!

Karrlson Steps Alarm Clock Frog $29.

A great gift for a child that is hard to buy for—it has purpose and fun to look at!

CreAtiles Starter Set $250.00now $100.00.

They offer a number of products from this company. Soft with velcro fasteners, perfect for the child with a younger sibling, no worries on small plastic pieces!

Manuella Design Kitty Backpack $55.

I just think this is so cute, and for the pack-rats that children are—a sure hit!

My Food/Mi Comida by Rebecca Emberley $6.99.

I love infusing Spanish into our lives!

Eames Elephant in Grey $290.

In the store window right now, this elephant is exquisite. Expensive yes, but there is no denying an Eames is a work of art.

You're Super Stickers

2009-09-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

Felix Doolitle Word Play Stickers, 25 for $15.

Is the transition from summer to back-to-school happening a little more slowly this year? Could your child use that extra boost to get through the day? I love these personalized stickers from Felix Doolittle as a positive pick-me-up. You select from over 20 different messages and even more illustrations. Slip into their lunch box or give after acing a test (or, just finishing their homework perhaps). A thoughtful gift too.

Children's Artwork

2009-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

I have had this project in my head of hanging my girls artwork...well...since I posted on it back in May! This past weekend I did it! I am so excited to share. The idea was to get accessible frames so that we can easily swap in their work as it comes home. I searched for the "A" and the "C" (the first letter of each of their names) on Etsy. The unexpected addition were the diaramas they made at Moomah which I realized had wall mounts. Only thing left is to spray paint the C (but keeping it black until I feel inspired, any ideas?). While it doesn't seem like a huge feat, I can't tell you what self gratification just this little piece of wall has provided!

Here are the sources and some learnings!

IKEA Ribba frames starting at $4.99.

I used the white in three different sizes: 8¾ x 11", 11¾ x 15¾" and 15¾ x 19¾". I wish I had gotten at least one of the 19¾ x 27¾" (even though they are quite large) because it fits the large paper that the girls paint on in school. Don't get the 8¾ x 11" unless you are ok with a little extra work to add a wall-mount bracket on back (it just has stand on back). Be very careful with the tabs that hold the back in place as they bend and break off easily (we lost about 1/2 of them). Glass is fragile so just be careful when trying to mount the hanging wire on back (I crushed two pieces and had to replace).

Vintage Aluminum Mod Metal A $18 from SquareFormat on Etsy.

Make sure to look at the size measurements for proportion and weight to make sure it won't be too heavy to hang on wall.

Antique Brass C $20 from A Sundry Notion on Etsy.

Make sure to ask if there is anything on back. I didn't and this has a 1/4" prongs that stick out. Our solution was to hang it on a nail and secured it with another closer to the bottom right so it didn't sway (it does stick out slightly from wall).

Diaramas $22 for DIY kit from Moomah.

The sand and contents kept shifting around so we had gorilla glued the contents to the bottom of the box. I love these on the wall because this was such a fun project to do with the girls on a day in NYC. They add dimension as well as remind of us of our fun outing!

A Little Cowboy for Everyone

2009-09-20T17:21:00.001-07:00

I am seeing quite a bit on the "cowboy" clothing front these days. That said, I imagine it has always been popular among a certain few. A pair of cowboy boots (or a shirt) has the personality and a casualness that is so well suited for a child. It is the perfect accent piece that any child should love. And, of course, the bonus is that it is well timed with Halloween.

Cowboy boots by Emily Spray $86, limited infant sizes. Also available in silver. I just love these boots. Admittedly, there are probably not a lot of us who are ready to spend this on infant shoes. Inspiration is always good.

Janie and Jack Cowboy Boots $48. This fall, Janie and Jack have a new western line of clothing for boys and girls.

Ferd Kids Snap Cowboy Shirt, Russett Cord was $92, now $48. This summer, My friend was on the hunt for cowboy shirts for her boys. I liked the idea and started looking.

Look at the boots with the ruffled skirt! Photo from Flickr. The California boutique, Peek...Aren't You Curious, is also mixing ruffled skirts and printed skirts with cowboy boots, great looks.

For boys, cowboy boots are very versatile. They look good dressed down with jeans and a t-shirt or dressed up. Photo from here.

DIY Halloween

2009-09-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

When I was in grade school, my friends and I would come up with a theme and make our own costumes—a vegetable garden and the solar system are the ones I remember. For my kids, I have succumbed to the ease of buying out-of-a-package costumes justifying it by adding my own touches like a garland headband made after a trip to Michael's. But the Russian Barbie Princess and Rosetta (pink Tinkerbell who?) last year were the wake up call...my girls AND I could be so much more creative! This year, they are as excited about creating their costumes. And that is the fun of Halloween, take an idea and make it all your own. Here is some of my inspiration for this year!

Cookie arrived the day after I had bought costumes last year with this feature! I saved it as inspiration for this year....I love the mom-and-dad costumes for kids too. Also check out Cookie's Halloween no-sew cheat sheet.

From the latest Martha Stewart Halloween, they have a how-to for this hair style. I like this but LOVE the beekeeper costume below—adapt it for a child!

White shirt and white or khaki pants from child's closet, white utility gloves with yellow padding, 1" and 1 3/4" bees at Floral Trims, Black tulle at Mood, Straw hat at Pearl River, Pail at Jamali Garden. There is a how-to for this in the magazine, but make it how you and your child like!

Our vegetable garden circa 1986.

With the tomato, carrot, and pumpkin, I am the ear of corn. There was a whole cardboard and green tissue paper contraption for the husk. Definitely homemade!

If you are just not up for the DIY Halloween, here are some of my favorite sites for costumes:Beastly Buddies, Fairytale Fashion, and Old Navy.

Have a great weekend!

Twilite Moon, Lester Harry's and Arte Bebe

2009-09-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

It is back-to-school night tonight so don't have much time to blog. I am making a quick suggestion and letting you do the looking! Here are three online children's boutiques that will keep you busy as they have so much wonderful product. For the expecting mom to the back-to-school shopper to the gift giver, discover new brands along with old favorites!

Twilite Moon

Lester Harry's

Stores in Boston and Marblehead, MA.

Arte Bebe

Halloween Shopping on Etsy

2009-09-15T19:07:00.001-07:00

If I was not yet focused on Halloween, now I am. I have been consumed with an abundant range of handmade Halloween costumes on Etsy. Fully entertained, I am in awe of the detail and, in certain cases, humored by the costumes. These items may be simply inspiration or the perfect choice for Halloween. My selections range in price point and age. Do not wait too long to order, as many shops have deadlines given most items are individually crafted. Enjoy!

Baby Bones Hat $22 and Bony Baby and Tot (one piece, pant and hat set) by Small Threads $130 to $142. Available in sizes 3-6 months to 6. I adore this costume. Of course, a splurge. Good news, the hat is sold individually and could go far with a black turtleneck and tights. I just bought the hat!

Vampire Bat Shoes by Piddies $28 -$34. Available in sizes 4-12. Also available in slippers! Could make a simple costume and certain to be worn post Halloween as well.

French Fry Overalls by Rae Gun $39.50. Available in sizes 3 months to 2T. I can't stop smiling (or laughing). I would expect older siblings would love this for their younger brother or sister. Shop also has a Dorothy Wizard of Oz dress as well as other girls costumes.

Pirate Cape by Lazy Saddle Kids $25. Reversible cape with the skull and crossbones and a wonderful pirate ship on other side. See the other photos to get a full appreciation of the cape. Also like the Witchy Cape and Green Cape.

Little Lion Earflap Beanie and Cuffs by Three Fish Shop $50. Available in sizes 3-12 months. More cute, than scary.

Elfin Crown by Woodrootling $18. "A fairy skirt or elfin crown or where ever their imaginations take them." Simple and very special.

Frankenstein Hand painted Mary Jane Shoes by Snanimals $24. Available in whole sizes 1-10.

Bear Helmet by Glitz Concepts $24. Available in infant and child sizes. Halloween or winter cap?

Etsy has created several Halloween guides including costumes (adults too), decor and tricks, treats and parties. Definitely worth checking out.

Holiday Card Photography Tips

2009-09-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

We are making a concerted effort this year not to fall subject to the Holiday-card-photo panic! It always happens, October rolls around and we are without photo. We asked photographer Rachel McGinn, a former editor at J.Crew Catalog and whose work we admire, to share some suggestions on how to get that photo. For all the effort the cards take, shouldn't we like what we are sending out!?

What is the best time of day to take pictures for lighting and mood of the children?
"For lighting I like late afternoon. You can shoot at any point if you are in the shade. Even light is best. If you are in the shade make sure the sun is behind you. Of course timing is key especially for little ones. Make sure they are fed and rested! Late morning after a snack seems to work well."

Are there are any tricks that you use to get kids to cooperate?

"To help them cooperate I try to get as silly as possible. Potty humor, although not the best idea, is always a sure thing and gets the older kids to laugh. For the little ones we talk about favorite ice cream flavors, sing songs and if all else fails I say, "let's scream as loud as we can!" They love this and always smile."

Are there any props that you suggest using when photographing?

"The only time I might use a prop is for a baby. I like pretty sterling rattles."

What do you find to be the best setting?

"The best settings depend on the season. Of course I love the beach for summer portraits but not when it is so obviously beachy. Choose a spot where the sand is soft and light where you really have to study the image to know what you are looking at. In the fall and winter I like to find locations with beautiful architectural details, I like stone walls. Your home can always work too. We have a front porch that I love and I have found myself taking lots of photos there this summer. Find a spot that really represents the flavor of your house. When it is really cold I like to pull a simple chair up toward a window to utilize pretty light."

I’ve heard shooting at eye-level is good with kids.

"Shooting at eye level works not only for the image but I find that babies and toddlers like to see themselves in the lense and tend to look right at it when you are close."

What are your suggestions on what to wear?

“I find that solids or small patterns work best. For solids I like creams and navy and small patterns can be gingham, thin stripes or tiny floral like Liberty prints. Your focus should be on the faces, not the clothing.”

Do you prefer black-and-white or color for children?"

"I love both. I like color when there are fun details in the pictures that really pop but I prefer black and white for tight head shots where the contrast can play a big part."

What have been your favorite photos for holiday cards?

"I loved my Christmas card from last year (photo above). I shot the 3 kids from behind as we were leaving Nantucket on an early ferry. Although you couldn't see their faces you could tell a lot about them. Holt at 16 months standing on his tippy toes to keep up with the girls, Lila at 3 with her thumb in her mouth and Sara at 6 with both hands on cheeks tortured by her younger siblings. I sent it more for the feeling than or what their faces looked like.

Do you have opinions on selecting a card? Do you match colors in the photo to the card?"I do like to match colors to the card. I have been on a red/robins egg blue combo for the last three years. It's Holiday with out being too ordinary. I love Martha Stewart for Kodak as well as Papersource if you are feeling really crafty."

Lands' End ExtraActivity Sling Bag

2009-09-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

A friend just showed me this bag that she got for her daughters (8 and 6). It stands up to its name as it is the perfect bag for after-school and weekend activities. The two girls had just used them for a plane ride, raving about them. Easy to sling over the shoulder, it is much cooler in person.

Lands' End ExtraActivity Sling Bag $19.50.