man of the year: uglydoll

 The Playful Walnut
Dec 282011
 

With the new year lurking right around the corner, we’re seeking comfort from the cold, dark winter that’s now upon us. Now that the post-holiday blues have set it, we feel like we want to hide out until spring…..OK, so life’s not really all the bad, but some days, don’t you just want to crawl back under the covers and stay there indefinitely? No matter if you’re a frazzled mom or a stressed-out kid, let’s face it: Life can get a little…well, ugly. This year, we’re cuddling up to Softy, one of the year’s newest Uglydolls. He knows what it’s like to have a bad-hair day–or, in Softy’s case–a bad-hand day (he’s only got 6 fingers). Even if this guy can’t give you a high-five, he’s awfully cute and ultra-soft (hence the name). And because he’ll always be there for you, we figure it only makes sense that he’s true blue. With Softy by our side, we’re ready to ring in the new year.

In a Nutshell: Old Man Winter is no match for this cuddly companion; we’ll snuggle with Softy any day…

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safe sleeping: skip hop bumperless bedding

 The Furnished Walnut, The Safe Little Walnut
Dec 272011
 

Happy (almost) 2012! If you’ll be welcoming a new arrival into your family this year, chances are you may be registering for baby bedding. And if this isn’t your first child, you may already be familiar with the potential health risks associated with crib bumpers. They may look pretty, but are deemed unsafe by the American Academy of Pediatrics with regards to SIDS prevention . That being said, any bedding set that can pull off the look of a complete bedding ensemble–minus the actual bumpers–gets a nod in our book. Skip Hop’s Complete Sheet Collection is just that product, offering a bold printed sheet whose design extends to the mattress sides and features a contrasting pattern on top. Finished with linen piping, the 100-percent cotton, 200-thread count sheet achieves the look of a bumper without having one in place. Now there’s no need to worry about your newborn becoming entangled in her sheets. And that means a more restful night’s sleep for the both of you.

In a Nutshell: It’s a ban on bumpers; this sheet set makes great strides in bedding for babies that is both safe and stylish.

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that’s a wrap: pottery barn kids

 The Playful Walnut
Dec 232011
 

It’s official: With just 2 more shopping days left until Christmas, we’ve finally entered the holiday home stretch. Have you finished all your shopping–or even started your gift-wrapping? If you’re like me and the kids are home from school, you’ll need to get creative, but also get your holiday preparations done. To keep your kids occupied as you put the finishing touches on Christmas, let them personalize their wrapping paper with this Keepsake Footprint Paper craft from Pottery Barn Kids. To get this party started, plan to factor in a little extra time for set-up, or enlist the help of an older sibling to assist younger tots. You can use store-bought brown paper (found at your local craft store or wherever packing supplies are sold), or, in a pinch, brown grocery store bags. What’s nice about this activity is that the wrapping paper can be re-purposed as a memento for sentimental gift recipients (that means you, Grandma). And if you wind up stocking up on this personalized paper, you can break it out again for birthdays or any other special occasion. Now that’s a present with presence!

In a Nutshell: Special gifts call for unique wrapping. Here’s a clever cover-up disguised as a craft for kids during the holidays or any time of year.

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fresh start: maclaren beginnings

 Bathing Walnuts, Diapering for Walnuts, The Green Walnut, The Healthy Walnut
Dec 212011
 

Right about now, I’m feeling like the holidays are catching up to me. I’m all shopped out, have more wrapping ahead of me and still need to go out and pick up last-minute essentials like extra tape and batteries. Speaking of which, I could use a little recharging myself…can you relate? If the holidays have left you a bit frazzled and you realize you still need to make it to New Year’s without losing your spirit, it’s time to indulge yourself. No, I don’t mean to spring for that new pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing all season. I’m talking about something to invigorate your senses and start your day off right. Maclaren’s beginning collection is exactly what this weary mom desires. It’s a new line of organic bath and body care products that your entire family can use. We love the eye-opening scent of the shower elixir that gives you that fresh-from-the-bath smell, and as your day winds down, slather on some beginning body lotion for a calming effect. Other products in the line include shampoo, body butter and lip/cheek balm–winter essentials for dry, parched skin. With New Year’s right around the corner, beginning is a timely way to start off 2012 on a healthy, happy note.

In a Nutshell: New year, new you. The body/bath line that’s gentle enough for babies works on big kids, too. Here’s to babying yourself in 2012!

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let the music play: juno baby

 Reading with Walnuts
Dec 202011
 

My 3-year-old has pretty good taste in music, if I do say so myself. Having introduced her to everything from ABC to ZZ Top–and oh yes, all those cool kiddie rockers thrown in for good measure–she knows her “Smokey Sings” from “She’s Got Legs.” And my 7-year-old is no musical slouch either, even though her play list  is lately to Katy Perry and the soundtrack to “Peter Pan” these days. (An odd combination, and yet it’s diverse.) No matter my girls’ tastes, the one thing that unites them is their interest in music. As we parents have been told from the get-go, expose kids to a passion early on, and watch them take to it like moths to a flame. That’s the idea behind the new picture book from Juno Baby, “The Day the Music Stopped.” Set in the aptly named Harmonia Springs, the story takes young readers on the adventures of Juno and her friends who learn just happens when their world is silenced. Along the way, kids are introduced to the concepts of rhythm, harmony and melody and the crucial parts they play in music-making. While the text can be wordy on some pages, the storyline is otherwise engaging and the illustrations, eye-popping. As is true when learning a new song, practice makes perfect. And that’s a wonderful, lifelong lesson to teach kids even at a young age.

In a Nutshell: A delightful read that blends the worlds of make-believe and music, this storybook hits all the right notes.

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weather or not: backyard safari weather pod

 The Playful Walnut, The Smart Walnut
Dec 192011
 

I must confess: I am a weather geek. Nothing gives me quite a thrill as the words “five-day forecast.” Just ask my husband. He says I refer to rain as “precip” (do I really?), and that I smile when I hear the weather man say, “High pressure will dominate.” Naturally, when we had children, I hope to spread my love of all things weather and eventually cultivate my own little storm chasers. What better way than with a kid-friendly weather station? If you’re looking for a last-minute holiday gift for a kid who’s more at home outdoors than in, we predict you’ll love the Storm Chaser Portable Weather Pod. Part of the Backyard Safari Outfitters collection, this handy gadget goes wherever the wind takes you to figure out the forecast. A built-in anemometer measures wind speed, while a weather vane tells you the direction it’s blowing. Trying to find out just how much rain, sleet or snow is headed your way–or whether Santa’s ride will be a smooth one this Christmas Eve? Set this baby up outside on a flat surface (it has three extendable legs) and see how much precip collects in the pull-out water gauge. No matter if it’s a White Christmas or a wet one, you’re bound to have a budding meteorologist on your hands.

In a Nutshell: The forecast calls for holiday toys that go the distance. This toy is one that keeps kids engaged, no matter the weather.

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sweet smells of christmas: santa poo-pourri

 The Accessorized Walnut, The Furnished Walnut
Dec 162011
 

Ah, the wonderful scents of the season are upon us! The gingerbread cookies baking in the oven, the freshly cut Christmas tree’s boughs of pine…and that god-awful smell coming from the guest bathroom (just kidding). If your home is about to be descended upon by a barrage of family and friends this holiday season, you’ll want to freshen up the facilities with a festive scent. Poo~Pourri Santa bathroom freshener is an amusing and surprisingly effective way to keep your powder room smelling more like powder than anything else. A pleasing combination of citrus and evergreen, this spray puts the kibosh any unpleasant odors with a simple spritz. If you’ll be Christmasing at someone else’s home this year, consider the Santa Poo~Pourri Toilet Paper Giftset as an unconventional hostess gift. Now, you won’t have to blame it on the dog anymore.

In a Nutshell: The nose knows: Stinky bathrooms take the joy out of holiday merrymaking. One spray of this stuff and you’ll wish it were Christmas every day.

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it’s a wordgirl life: pbs kids

 The Playful Walnut, The Smart Walnut
Dec 142011
 

Christmas movies have become my favorite quotables these days, and “It’s a Wonderful Life” happens to be at the top of that list. I can’t decide what I like best–the scene where a young George offers to get Mary the moon (“Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down”…”I’ll take it. Then what?”) or when a more mature George begs for his old life back (“Get me back, I don’t care what happens to me. Get me back to my wife and kids!”). The intense emotion and powerful drama of these moments is easy to get swept up away in. It not only makes for good television watching, but it puts the season in perspective. Maybe we just have George Bailey on the brain, and that’s why we can’t help but think that the new holiday episode of “WordGirl” is the perfect way of introducing a holiday movie classic to a new generation of viewers. In “A World Without WordGirl,” Becky wishes for a world without her superhero pal. But when Chuck turns into a king with unusual rules, she suddenly longs for the way things used to be. Sound familiar? Any kid who has tired of their own version of Bedford Falls will surely relate to this show. PBS Kids will be airing this special episode of “WorldGirl” on Friday, December 16. Check your local listings for times.

In a Nutshell: Whip up some hot chocolate, sit down with your favorite word sleuth and enjoy this George Bailey-inspired episode of “WordGirl.” And if you hear a bell ring, an angel may just get her wings (or, at least, an A on her vocab test).

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big apple bundle-up: maclaren buggy blanket

 Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts
Dec 132011
 

Baby, it’s cold outside…In the next couple of weeks, we’ll be taking in the sights and sounds of the season–and that means dressing for the weather. A huge fan of layers, I always seem to outfit my kids as though they are headed to the tundra instead of suburbia. But regardless of whether you’ll be strolling city streets or hiking through the hills, if you’ve got a little one in tow, that extra layer of warmth will come in handy. This winter, we’ve got our eye on Maclaren’s buggy blankets. These ultra plush, generously sized throws are a love letter to the cityscapes in which they are detailed. From London to Sydney, New York to Paris, each reversible blanket features a detailed map of four of our favorite capital cities that make us feel as refined as these throws are sophisticated. Not only do they keep your baby well-covered as she traverses the globe, but their lively layout may just keep her preoccupied while waiting in line at Macy’s holiday windows. Our favorite, of course, is the NYC blanket, with its  flip side paying homage to Lady Liberty. NY may be the city that never sleeps, but maybe tucked inside this snuggly stroller blanket, your baby will give you the greatest gift of the holiday season: some shut-eye. Happy Holidays, and to all a good night!

In a Nutshell: Who says a baby blanket can’t make a fashion statement? This stylish one looks and feels great when you’re out on the town.

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oh my darling: cuties.com

 Feeding the Little Walnuts, The Healthy Walnut, Wired Walnuts
Dec 092011
 

My 3-year-old’s new favorite fruit is the clementine. She can’t get enough of them, and I can’t say I blame her. They are sweet, incredibly juicy and easy to peel and eat. From a mom’s perspective, I like that they’re portable and pack easily when we’re on the go, and don’t result in sticky, orange fingers. In fact, theirs is a rather invigorating, citrusy scent that I much enjoy this time of year. Because I tend to buy clementines in bulk, I am forever experimenting with different brands and currently can’t resist Cuties Clementines. Bursting with flavor and packed with vitamin C, they are the perfect addition to lunch, snacktime or anytime hunger strikes. If you happen to have a resident cutie who also loves clementines, you’ll want to check out Cuties.com. On top of giving you the nutritional lowdown of this fun fruit, you can upload pictures of your little darling and enter to win daily and weekly prizes–everything from Cuties T-shirts and toys, to one extremely lucky grand prize recipient of a college scholarship valued at $150,000. A different theme contest runs every week, and next week’s is cutest dress-up. Time to grab the camera and start filming; your amateur video may just pay for your child’s future education. And that’s a lotta clementines!

In a Nutshell: Orange you glad you captured the time your toddler clomped around in Daddy’s shoes? Now it’s time to upload that footage and enter to win on Cuties.com.

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