• The Accessorized Walnut Archive

    It may be the Year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese calendar, but around our house, the Year of the Hoodie prevails. It’s a fashion trend that is carrying over from adult to kid, and has moved off the runways and into the closets of many a family. A stylish, yet casual alternative to the “I’m-so-fed-up-with-sweaters-already” look, we’re noticing hoodies on everyone from hip to be square TV geeks like Leonard from “The Big Bang Theory,” to the modern day Renaissance Man James Franco. Celebrities aside, the hoodie is a look that works for everyone. I love my own navy preppy Polo zip-up peeking out from a fitted denim jacket–a perfect “what, this old thing? I just threw on whatever was clean” excuse. My [&hellip

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    Kids and clothes….now there’s a favorite topic among today’s parents. If you’re looking for an argument waiting to happen, you’ve got it. Sometimes, trying to win the “battle of the morning outfit” is much like trying to dig out from under all this snow; try as hard as you might, you get practically nowhere! Maybe that’s why it was so meaningful to bond over bagels with like-minded moms (and dads) at yesterday’s Haddad Mommy Bloggers Brunch in NYC. (That’s me, third one from the left.) Together, we lamented over everything from avoiding dressing room try-ons, to the TV shows and movies that influence our kids’ clothing preferences. I’m excited to be part of this team that will be covering fashion trends from Nike and Levi’s [&hellip

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    As the saying goes, “There’s a place for everything, and everything has its place.” And if there’s one place you don’t need used tissues, half-eaten lollipops and the like, it’s your purse. I’m vowing to keep my own new bag as clean as possible this year (I’m considering it my own personal  New Year’s resolution, one that I’m doing my darnedest to keep). But rather than taking time to regularly discard credit card receipts, gum wrappers and broken crayons, I can denote a special spot just for this type of refuse. Go Gaga’s Stuff Sack is the answer to the disorganized mother’s prayers–and who can’t appreciate that? This generously sized bag is odor-proof, leak-proof and moisture-proof. Dirty diapers? The Stuff Sack is ready for them. [&hellip

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    When my husband decided to paint my older daughter’s nursery, it was a nightmare. Her room, which was a makeshift office for the previous home owner, had peeling, faded floral wallpaper and carpeting that had seen better days. Forget trying to imagine how cheery it would look once he redesigned it in a celestial motif of yellows and blues; you really had to be creative to picture that new layout amidst this dated space. For parents-to-be who can’t quite figure on how a bedding/paint ensemble will appear in their little one’s new home, consider the Nursery Designer tool from Carousel Designs. This interactive site lets you choose from over 300 fabrics and customize color options in bedding and wall space before committing to a specific [&hellip

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    Remember when you opened a diaper bag at your baby shower and it practically screamed “I’m a Mommy…and there’s nothing I can do about it!”?…Well, the days of satchels adored with pastel bunnies and fuzzy ducklings are long gone, thanks to a number of designers that recognize that women don’t have to leave their sense of fashion behind just because they now have kids. One brand worth checking out is the CoCaLo Couture Diaper Bags, a versatile accessory that can help update your grown-up ensemble in a pinch. Not only is there plenty of room inside to stash all your baby necessities, but from the outside, no one will ever believe you’ve actually got wipes and Pampers in there. The bags are available in satchel [&hellip

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    Back before I wrote for a living, I took a summer job at my hometown’s city hall (does that make it my “homecity?”). Anyway, I remember well a very hot day when a rather stylish young mother was nursing her baby in the place where city officials gathered for public meetings. I was admittedly a bit taken aback, being a fresh college grad and wondering why this woman didn’t seem to care if everyday people coming to pay their taxes could just stare at her. It certainly didn’t help matters that her child was fussing and drawing even more attention to them. I distinctly remember the look on her face that wasn’t just flushed because the A/C wasn’t working properly. I can’t help thinking how [&hellip

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    Got a tween on your holiday shopping list this year? Good luck….But before you go grabbing yet another iTunes gift card or trying to guess which Hollister sweatshirt she doesn’t have, check out Quagmire ColorFusion polo shirts. They change color with your child’s body heat or in direct sunlight. Playing outside? Watch how his shirt goes from all-white to splotches of green and yellow….cool or what? Available in sizes 4-14, this machine-washable apparel makes a unique gift for the fashionable kid in your life. In a Nutshell: Let your kid express his true colors in a shirt that captures his mood and suits his discriminating taste. You’ll be the favorite aunt (or grandma, or uncle, etc.) Tags: ColorFusion kids’ fashion, Quagmire

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    Know any new babies? A close friend and my sister-in-law each had their second babies this fall–both boys. While I’m thinking of all things blue, I have my eye out for new baby clothes that are stylish, yet practical (the last thing a new mom wants is an outfit with a label that reads “hand wash.”). If you consider yourself a baby couture expert, then you’ll relish that your neighborhood Target is now carrying the Petit Tresor layette line from October 31 through December 26. This lux collection hails from the ultra-chic L.A. boutique by the same name. So give the baby in your life the star treatment and you’ll be giving back, too. Ten percent of the purchase price will be given to Baby [&hellip

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    You’d have to be living under a rock not to know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. And yet while you may pass by pink-hued displays at the mall, you may not be aware of how you can do your part by supporting this worthy cause. Keep an eye out this month for two worthwhile purchases that caught our eye…Make like Reese Witherspoon and help Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye with the Avon Lips for Life tote. 100 percent of the proceeds will go to benefit research on breast cancer. To help “pass the kiss on,” Avon and Reese are inviting women to send messages to their family and friends via an online widget shaped as a pair of talking lips. So, pay some lip [&hellip

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    Precious newborn skin is one of the joys of being a baby. It smells great, is buttery soft…how can you not just love every minute of snuggling close? I still relish stroking my little one’s cheeks…and she’s nearly 2 1/2! I can see why some moms choose to outfit their babies in clothing that’s made from natural fabrics, so I like to keep an eye out for companies that are dedicated to bringing high-quality to clothing stores. Enter BNature, a line of organic cotton clothing for newborns through age 2 that’s free of dyes, chemicals and other potentially harmful substances. Safety issues aside, this ensemble is ultra soft and beautifully designed in lush hues like wheat, pistachio and green tea (feeling eco-friendly yet?). The fall/winter [&hellip

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