library

raise your babe’s design IQ

Thumbnail image for raise your babe’s design IQ

If one is encouraged to learn their numbers and colors at an early age, surely one should do so in the best way possible? If one’s parents want to ensure their child has a discerning eye, a love for beauty, and , of course, the ability to recognize their numbers and colors, then shouldn’t they [...]

… keep on reading

peas pass the reality of a princess

Thumbnail image for peas pass the reality of a princess

When a young girl enters the Princess phase, there is only one thing to do: drag your feet while kicking and screaming. I might mean that metaphorically, I might not. Either way, I’m looking to find that magical word – moderation – when balancing her interests while reminding her of the big wide world beyond [...]

… keep on reading

gotta get app: endless alphabet with endless laughter

Thumbnail image for gotta get app: endless alphabet with endless laughter

Birdie seems to cycle through iPad/iPhone apps much like she cycles through toys: rapidly. Most new toys and apps have an obsessed life-span of 2 days. Then they are replaced with something else. But, there are a few apps that she returns to with surprising regularity – and for lengthly amounts of time too. Endless [...]

… keep on reading

girl power in the guise of a fairy

Thumbnail image for girl power in the guise of a fairy

Sometimes accidental purchases turn into serendipitous solutions. As Birdie continues to dive head first into the land known as pink, sparkly, jeweled, and all things glitter, I continue to find ways to remind her that there’s more to life than Pretty. We found this book at her Montessori School’s book fair last year, but You [...]

… keep on reading

these books will make your clothes amazing

Thumbnail image for these books will make your clothes amazing

Need an inexpensive, DIY, and totally FUN way to update and personalize your kiddo’s wardrobe this spring (and yours too!)? I didn’t realize how many cool iron-on options there were, but thanks to Chronicle Books, I think every possible fashion dilemna you might have could be solved with Suzie, Julia Rothmann, Mike Perry, and Gamago. [...]

… keep on reading

yes please, open this little book

Thumbnail image for yes please, open this little book

Children’s books are best when they encourage imagination, free thinking, and a healthy dose of surprise. That’s why I cannot wait to get a copy of Open This Little Book because it’s so unique. Leave it to Chronicle Books to find such a gem (because frankly, I bet the printing/binding discussions to get this thing published [...]

… keep on reading

finding inspiration:
experiencing something new (part 3)

Thumbnail image for finding inspiration:</br>experiencing something new (part 3)

Sometimes I realize I’m so addicted to my habits that it never even occurs to me to try something different. As Erin was just saying in her Be Creative series: “…when it comes to prompting creativity few things are as important as cross-pollination with fields outside your area of expertise and having more diverse experiences.” [...]

… keep on reading

Birdie Learns to Fly

Thumbnail image for Birdie Learns to Fly

Do you remember that little sneak peek I gave you last week? It’s time for the big reveal! I finally finished writing and illustrating my first children’s book: Birdie Learns to Fly. This is a project I’ve been wanting to work on for years. Luckily, the leaps and bounds in technology have made it easy [...]

… keep on reading

guest who?
dottie from modern kiddo

Thumbnail image for guest who? </br> dottie from modern kiddo

I am so thankful for great blogging friends like Dottie from Modern Kiddo. Her adorable little girl, the Peach, is about the same age as Birdie, and it’s always fun to see what they’ve been up to. Not to mention the other many brilliant things Dottie and Alix get up to on their wonderful blog. [...]

… keep on reading

filling in the gaps with books

Thumbnail image for filling in the gaps with books

Now that Christmas is over, it’s time for me to begin round two: Birdie’s birthday. For once, I actually have several gifts squirreled away for her already, just waiting for January 7th. But I always take a long hard look at the gifts she received for Christmas, and then fill in accordingly with a couple [...]

… keep on reading

gotta get apps for the holidays

Thumbnail image for gotta get apps for the holidays

The holidays are drawing nigh, and with them comes the dreaded holiday road trips. We have a couple trips coming up between now and the 25th, and the DVD player will definitely be in rotation. Plus, there is always the what-to-do-with-the-kids at a different toy-free home. That (and ok, at restaurants throughout the year) is [...]

… keep on reading

reading this good is Child’s Play

Thumbnail image for reading this good is Child’s Play

It seems December is going to be one of those months. I swore I wasn’t going to let the stress get to me! But at this point all I want to do is disappear inside a sweet Fairy Tale. You know, the kind of tale where you know everything works out in the end and [...]

… keep on reading

knitting your way through a good tale

Thumbnail image for knitting your way through a good tale

Yesterday we had our first snow fall of the season! Between the clean fresh snow and the deep dark daylight savings switcharoo, the world around us has flipped from a colorful Fall to a deep dark Winter. It feels very much like Annabelle’s sparse winter world found in one of our favorite books, Extra Yarn, [...]

… keep on reading

toca boca tailor is here – and it’s awesome

Thumbnail image for toca boca tailor is here – and it’s awesome

Goody goody gum drops, it’s time for a new Toca Boca app! And this one feels particularly robust with lots of creativity. Toca Tailor is basically a Project Runway app for kids. I love that they didn’t call it Fashion Party or some other nonsense, which allows any child – boy or girl – to [...]

… keep on reading

gotta get app: toca band

Thumbnail image for gotta get app: toca band

Our absolute favorite apps around this house are always from Toca Boca. We own every single one, and Birdie navigates to the Toca Boca folder on my ipad with extreme regularity! (and hearing a 3 year old say “toca boca” makes me understand why they may have chosen that name!) You can see our top [...]

… keep on reading

← Previous Entries