Style Lush

Fingerprint Charm

By Blythe

I have been quietly scoping out mothers' necklaces since my son was born. I would really like something subtle, high quality, and personal. It has to look OK as a single charm, since my son is most likely going to be an only child. Also, I'm really picky about jewelry. 

Did I mention my kid turned five a couple of weeks ago? Yeah. Really picky.

I have finally found a charm that I love. Send a fingerprint and this artist will create a sterling silver engraving with a name and birth date on the back.

Fingerprint Charm by Chris Parry

Chris's Etsy shop is full of clever items, including pretty fingerprint rings, personalized bar code cuff links, and engraved guitar picks. Love.

{photo credit: Chris Parry on Etsy}

Adorable Kid Gift: Boogie Monster Dance Kit

by Lawyerish    

For Christmas, my mom sent our daughter the Boogie Monster Dance Kit, and we have had such fun with it!

 

The kit contains a book, a music CD and a set of Boogie Monster legs:

Yes, they are shaggy orange leg warmers.  And my kid says, "Put on my Boogie Legs!" whenever she sees them.

The book is a fun read with a nice rhythm to it, and the text suggests different moves for the child (and parent, if you're so inclined) to try as you read along.  The CD is a fun, non-grating set of songs to help you and your little one get your groove on.

It's a great way to spend some time with your favorite small person doing something active without even having to leave your living room.  I think kids age 18 months to 4 years are especially well suited to the Boogie Monster's ways.  Give it a whirl!

(Photo credit: bn.com) (and my own)

Nautical Inspired Swimwear for Baby Girls

By Megan    

Look, I know it's still January, but clothing stores everywhere are launching their swimwear lines. While I refuse to think about a swim suit for myself yet, I can fully embrace shopping for my daughter.

Typically I prefer a modest two piece swim suit for my girl for easy diaper changes, but I'm head over heels for this anchor print swim suit from Old Navy.

Naturally, she'll need the matching sandals to complete the look.

The only thing that could make me love these more would be if they came with a cloak of invisibility so I can join her in the pool. This nautical tote, at only $9.94, is helping me to warm up to the idea of swim suit season.

 

{Photo credits: oldnavy.com}

 

Special occasion outfits for little girls

By A'Dell

My brother is getting married in February and I've been shopping for dresses for my girls to wear to the wedding. (They are 3-years and 8-months-old.) It's been tough to find a wedding-appropriate dress for each of them that isn't too holiday (though those are all on sale right now) or an early Easter frock. After a lot of searching I ended up  with some winners but I didn't exactly bargain hunt.

I wasn't willing to settle for something I only sort of liked (Pictures! They last FOREVER.) and I wanted the outfits NOW. I didn't want to have to actually go to a store or drag out this exercise longer than necessary. Plus, it's my brother's wedding and I only have one brother so....I didn't mind spending too much on a little girl dress is what I'm saying.

For the three-year-old:

Bow metallic dress ($52), pink bow ($12) and pink tights ($14). All from Janie and Jack. Shoes are Kenneth Cole (yes, designer shoes for a three-year-old, I am all too aware how ridiculous this is) and I got them at Zappos ($45).

(Hopefully, she can wear them with jeans and dresses this spring, after the wedding.)

(Whatever, they're cute and I wanted them.)

For the 8-month-old:

Chiffon ruffle dress ($50, but I snagged it for 30% off) (What is UP with dresses for babies that cost as much as dresses for adults?) and gold ballet flats ($20, also applied 30% promo code to these). I will probably also stick a bow on her head. 

 

Recordable Books

By Jen

We live far from all of our family (we move a lot), so we try to find ways for our three year old to keep in touch with her relatives.  Now, this is particularly tricky since she often refuses to talk on the phone.  And by refuses, I mean runs screaming out of the room. 

So this year for Christmas and her birthday, we asked for recordable books as gifts.  Have you seen these?  You can record the story and then it plays back as you turn the pages. 

{Image from Amazon.com}

There are light sensors on each page so that the book knows which page to play.  Some versions include music that plays before or after each page. 

We have several of these from various relatives and my daughter asks for them by which person reads them.  I'm trying to get one from each of our immediate relatives so that we have a complete set.  (Ahem, Grandma and Auntie Ashley.)  We've also recorded one and sent one as a gift to my godson for his second birthday.  I let my three year old help with the recording and I am told that he adores hearing her "talk" to him, especially the part at the end where she tells him that she "yuvs" him. I also think they are great because they are a gift that cannot be duplicated.  Even if you get the same book from two different people, the recording is going to be different and make the story unique.  Most of the books have a dedication page where you can talk to the recepient, but even if it doesn't have an official one, you can record a personal message on the first or last page. 

These are perfect for faraway relatives and also great for children who cannot read yet themselves.  The stack we have has bought me some precious making dinner time.  They are also a wonderful gift that doesn't clutter up the house.

Do you have any of these for your own family or have you given any as gifts? 

Not Just Another Kids' Clothing Store

by Lawyerish

An outpost of the Scandinavian children's store Polarn O. Pyret opened in my neighborhood recently, so of course I went to check it out.  After all, there are few things I enjoy more than blowing money on clothes for my daughter.  It turns out the selection is chock-full of great design and eminently wearable togs.  (You've got to love the Swedes, right?)

Check this out: a cute, washable holiday dress for under $40 that, as a bonus, can totally be worn outside of the holiday season!

It comes in this gorgeous plum hue or in flaming red.  (I got the plum and purple leggings to go underneath; but they also have a huge selection of tights, including lots of very sweet striped ones, that would work great as well.)

For a boy, I like this Fair Isle vest (on sale for under $30!) and natty cords:

And for babies?  Whoa, nellie.  Stripes!  Is there anything cuter than a baby in bright red and white stripes? 

I think I'm in love.

Photo credits: polarnopyretusa.com

A Child's Second Christmas

by Lawyerish

I have on good authority a list of what Santa is planning to bring my 21-month old daughter for Christmas, and I thought I would share it with you.  There is a high likelihood that Santa will deem this an insufficient haul in the next ten days and buy something more before bringing the sleigh 'round, but for now this will be what awaits her wondering eyes on Christmas morn:

P'kolino Chalk Table and Benches (plus big fat chalk and an eraser)

(Reasonably priced at $79.99 on Amazon)

Little People Plane and SUV

A red-haired, grey-eyed Bitty Baby (from her Grammie and Granddad)

A set of Mega Bloks

And the Bashful Lilac Hippo that I may steal for myself, because hello, snuggly friend!

She'll also get a bunch of little stocking stuffers (hat, mittens, ornament, coloring book) and, under the tree, she'll have a wrapped assortment of books and clothes and other less thrilling items (mostly to give her something to distract her while we parents try to enjoy opening our own presents).

Honestly, she has outgrown a lot of her toys recently and could use kind of an overhaul of entertainment items, so I am wondering if I should add a couple more things (maybe a set of play food and a shopping basket? she does love those at the children's museum, but at home it may be too boring to contemplate, like all her other toys).  But then I remind myself that she's not even TWO and she's able to entertain herself even with our lame stuff.  Dilemma.

(Photo credits:  amazon.com, store.americangirl.com)

Winter Penguin collection at Gymboree

by Emily

I'm not usually a Gymboree patron. I mean, yes, I wander in sometimes and my children do own the occasional clearance-priced item, but for the most part, I don't shop there. Don't get me wrong, I love nearly everything in the store, and the quality is pretty good. My problem is getting back out without buying 84 coordinating items. You know exactly what I'm talking about, don't you? A cute sweater and pair of coordinating pants turns into a ginormous shopping bag filled with accessories, a matching hat, some adorable shoes, and hey, a coordinating skirt, you know, JUST BECAUSE. Gymboree can theme UNDERWEAR, you guys, and PEOPLE WILL BUY IT.

But my nearly three-year-old daughter is currently OBSESSED with penguins, and so it is getting harder for me to pass up the store lately. Everything in the Winter Penguin collection is so darned adorable, and until Sunday, a good portion of it is 50 percent off.

Penguin tee, $12.48

Penguin Fair Isle sweater, $18.48

Penguin Fair Isle sweater dress, $39.95

Polka dot sweater jumper, $39.95

Cute, right? But now you're INSIDE GYMBOREE and you're going to have to buy these too. SO GOOD LUCK.

Penguin dot boot, $39.95

Penguin sweater hat, $16.95

Penguin bow tights, $14.95

[photo credit: gymboree.com]

Great for Gifts: Hand and Footprint Art

By Amy H.

I am a fan of all things involving kids' handprints and footprints. I don't think I've bought a real birthday card since my daughter was born, but I've made some darn cute ones using her hands and feet. I also like traditions around this time of year and last Christmas we made something that has brought me so much joy to break out again that I thought I'd share it here:        

 
It's not too late to get to your local paint-your-own-pottery place and memorialize your kid's tiny little hands and feet on plates, ornaments, or picture frames!

Advent for a Toddler

by Lawyerish

At 20 months, my daughter isn't quite going to grasp the whole Christmas thing this year, but she's big enough to be told the story of Christmas (over and over again) and to get all hyped about Santa (by being told about him over and over again). 

To help prepare her for the holiday, I ordered the Little People Nativity Scene, which is perfectly sized for her hands and cute enough to hold her interest.  I'm going to set up the manger part of it on December 1; then over the course of advent I'll give her a couple of pieces at a time to fill out the nativity.  I bought a glittery red bag to use as the Advent Bag; each morning, she'll get to pull a little treat or a card about the day's activity out of the bag.

For little advent gifts, in addition to the nativity scene pieces, I got a few age-appropriate books about Christmas (What is Christmas?, The Story of Christmas and Where is Baby's Christmas Present? -- all of which will supplement our existing holiday reading collection, including the Grinch and other perennial favorites).  I also got a set of unbreakable ornaments for her to hang on the tree. 

Other advent activities will include putting up our tree; going to see the Rockefeller Center tree; going to see the Lincoln Center tree; going to see Santa at Macy's (or some other mobfest); and going to an abbreviated, hour-long performance of the Nutcracker, aimed at the littlest little ones. 

What about you -- any fun Christmas ideas or traditions for toddlers?