Diapering For Walnuts | The Talking Walnut

spray ‘n go: poo-pourri potty spray

Diapering for Walnuts, Gear for Baby Walnuts

Jan 132012

Potty-training simply isn’t pretty. It doesn’t matter if you have adorable reward stickers of smiley faces and kittens, or ruffle-trimmed undies to entice your little one to do her business in the bathroom. Sometimes, kids just don’t want to go when they have to go (sometimes?). If you hit any bumps in the road in that otherwise smooth journey from potty to panties, you’ll appreciate any little clever little tricks to get the job done. We’re getting a kick out of the Super Dooper Pooper Before-You-Go Spray from Poo~Pourri . (If you’re an astute Walnut reader, that name may ring a bell since we reported on their Poo~Pourri Santa spray just last month.) Super-sensitive tots who turn up their cute little noses at the slightest unpleasant odor will love the idea of “scenting” their seat before sitting down. Simply mist the spray, let them do their thing and flush. You’ll instantly smell the citrus notes of grapefruit, orange and ylang-ylang; these scents are not only pleasing on little nostrils, but they produce a calming effect during this somewhat stressful part of parenting. Who wouldn’t benefit from a little aromatherapy, anyway?

In a Nutshell: Potty-training got you down? Perhaps one spray of this uplifting scent may just get your little one to go more often. And if the stress of it all makes you want to pack your bags, the glorious citrus smell will make you feel like you’re in sunny Florida…even if it’s only in your mind.

Tags: aromatherapy, Poo-Pourri, potty training, potty-training products, Super Dooper Pooper Before-You-Go Spray

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!

Tags: baby skincare, Maclaren, Maclaren beginning, organic baby products, winter skincare for kids

mad for adler: jonathan adler loves skip hop

Diapering for Walnuts, Gear for Baby Walnuts

Dec 022011

Today’s new moms have no excuse for committing fashion “don’ts.” These days, there’s no shortage of hip baby accessories out there, including diaper bags. I can’t say the same for myself when I was a first-time mom. Back then, I thought my lame-o canvas bag in fire-engine red looked cool just because it didn’t have Winnie the Pooh or ducklings all over it. Little did I know the fashion police would be after me…With this in mind, we are loving the latest designer bags from our friends at Skip Hop: the Jonathan Adler Loves Skip Hop line. This collection is awash in bold graphics and a dizzying array of patterns–a signature celebration of the home decor giant’s Happy Chic modern style. The well-named Duo, Dash and the Pronto Changing Station reflect the frenetic, yet always fashionable lifestyle that is motherhood. After all, if you’re going to be toting around poopy diapers all day, at least you can disguise them with a look that conveys coolness. And you won’t have to be on the run from the fuzz either.

In a Nutshell: Motherhood isn’t always pretty. Sling one of these bags over your shoulder when you’re heading out with your baby, and you’ll feel like you’ve got it together…even on the days when you clearly don’t.

Tags: baby shower gift, designer diaper bags, diaper bags, Jonathan Adler, Jonathan Adler Loves Skip Hop, Skip Hop

baby’s best defense

Bathing Walnuts, Diapering for Walnuts, The Healthy Walnut

Oct 262011

It’s only October, and I’m already seeing signs of dry skin on myself and my daughters. With more frequent hand-washing during cold/flu season, our hands are a bit chapped and rougher than they were just a few months ago. Because my girls have unfortunately inherited my tender Irish complexion, they are more susceptible to winter’s wrath and therefore are slathered with lotions and creams more often than they’d like. Since the Talking Walnut is always on the lookout for products that combat eczema and other irritated skin conditions, we’re always willing to put new skincare to the test. Well, Episencial’s Soothing Cream is just what the doctor ordered. A pleasant-smelling balm made with a blend of natural ingredients like organic green tea and jojoba seed oil , it goes on smooth without that heavy, greasy feeling of some other lotions we’ve tried. I like that it’s as effective for both my young girls’ sensitive skin as it is for mine. The ideal after-bath companion, the Soothing Cream seems to absorb best on clean, dry skin, leaving no match for Ol’ Man Winter this year.

In a Nutshell: We’re one step ahead of the colder weather with a lotion that leaves skin soft, smooth and soothed.

Tags: baby skincare, eczema, Episencial, kids' skincare, treating dry skin, winter skincare for kids

wishing well whimsy

Bathing Walnuts, Diapering for Walnuts

Oct 132011

My sister’s co-worker is pregnant, and even though the baby shower is months away, she is already researching gift ideas. I don’t know about you, but when I received new baby presents, the personal, yet practical were the most memorable. Bibs rolled into lollipops were a delectable treat (little did I know just how many I would go through before the next load of laundry!). Diapers fashioned into cakes elicited “oh’s” and “ah’s” from my shower guests, disguising their usefulness as the top nursery necessity. And if there was one thing I remember appreciating from the moment I made my baby’s first diaper change, it was being armed with a tub of bathtime basics: baby shampoo, baby wash, lotion and diaper rash ointment. Seven years ago, the choices were limited to classic brands like Johnson & Johnson, but today your little one can be bathe and cleansed with a variety of spa-worthy products. Our latest favorite is the Live Clean Baby line of eco-friendly personal care products: Tearless Shampoo and Wash, Moisturizing Baby Bath, Moisturizing Baby Lotion, Non-Petroleum Jelly, Diaper Ointment and Moisturizing Bar Soap. Made from natural, non-irritating plant-based ingredients, the collection is gentle on newborn skin and smells heavenly. If my sister’s friend’s shower has a wishing well, any of the items in the Live Clean Baby line will surely make a splash.

In a Nutshell: Babies may be born with great skin, but it’s part of your job to make it stay that way. Wash your little one with the Live Clean Baby line-up, and be sure to inhale the sweet smell of clean.

Tags: baby shower gifts, baby skincare, bath bath products, eco-friendly baby gifts, Live Clean Baby

baby shower flower power

Diapering for Walnuts, Feeding the Little Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut, The Pregnant Walnut

Jun 082011

When it comes to gift-giving, I’m a stickler for presentation. I always notice a package smartly wrapped with a satin bow that looks like it belongs in a young girl’s hair, or a gift bag that’s fashionably stuffed with crinkle cut shredded paper (how very eco-friendly). So when you’re sitting ringside at a baby shower, as so many of us are at some point, you tend to zero in on the presents that stand out from the rest of the pack. What better way is there to select such a gift than one whose wrapping cleverly disguises its contents until further investigation? One present that really piques our interest is the Baby Bunch, a surefire companion to the ever-popular diaper cake. Nestled inside a floral presentation box is a carefully concealed bouquet whose flowers are actually made up of baby clothing! Imagine the “oohs” and “ahhs” that will fill the room as your family and friends pass around this adorable assortment of soft good essentials. Each Medium Baby Bunch contains one bib, one hat, one T-shirt, two Onesies and two pairs of socks–all fashioned from 100-percent cotton. We love that every piece of clothing is styled as a flower bud surrounded by fabric leaves and rosebuds, though we would have loved the addition of some baby’s breath, naturally. Nevertheless, the Baby Bunch is one gift that warrants all the attention and fussing it gets…much like that new baby herself.

In a Nutshell: When you’re tired of giving the same old Onesie and bib combo, consider this innovative baby gift, destined to be the talk of the shower.

Tags: baby bibs, baby bodysuits, Baby Bunch, baby hats, baby shower gift, baby socks, onesies

not just a mom

Diapering for Walnuts, Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut, The Organized Walnut

Apr 192011

A mom friend once posed the following question: “Is it awful if I answer my husband honestly about what I’d like best for Mother’s Day: to be left alone?” Ava Gardner she was not, nor am I that friend. But truth be told, it is nice to escape the mom label every now and then, be it in May or any other day for that matter. If you think you’ve come too close to adapting the full mommyhood routine, take a closer look at that bag you’re carrying. Is it loaded down with diapers, wipes, Goldfish and every other imaginable kid-friendly contraption? Be honest. If you could use something that’s a bit more you–or perhaps the “you” before there were babies in the picture–consider the Kalencom Spize Girls Buckle Bag. This fashionable tote has a retro floral design that’s incredibly stylish. The bag contains three matching accessories–an insulated bottle bag, changing pad and zippered case–that can be swapped out when your little one is potty-trained and/or drinking from a big-kid cup. We love the messenger style because it harkens back to those days of strutting across campus when your biggest decision was whether or not to sign up for an 8 a.m. elective with that cute guy or get an extra hour of sleep. Ah, sleep….what is that again?

In a Nutshell: Those bags under your eyes may reveal your mommy identity, but this hipper-than-thou bag doesn’t have to. Now you can walk around town with a tote that doesn’t wear you–or your spirits–down.

Tags: diaper bag, Kalencom

prolonging childhood

Bathing Walnuts, Diapering for Walnuts

Apr 052011

Today, we said goodbye to being a baby and hello to the world of big girls. And it was all because of a raincoat. Before heading out to drive my almost 3-year-old to preschool this morning, we were greeted with a round of April showers and so that meant scouring the closet for a hooded jacket. I came across a hand-me-down polka dot slicker in size 3T and considered it. Surely she’s too little to fit this already, I mused. But because I have a clotheshorse in the making and lo and behold, it fit perfectly. As my daughter paraded around the room in her new gear, oblivious to my surprise, it hit me hard just how fleeting those days of wearing onesies and footed pajamas can be. Well, at least she can still smell like a baby, so I’m holding on to childhood a little bit longer with the Carter’s baby bath and body care line. Remember the old jingle, ‘If they could just stay little, ’til their Carter’s wear out?’ You can’t help but hum it when slathering on the soothing diaper cream or lathering wispy locks with baby shampoo. The scent is heavenly and all of the products in the line, including wipes, a body lotion and a unique liquid powder that I may just have to covet, are pediatrician-tested and hypoallergenic. We may not be able to stop time, but at least our noses can be fooled into feeling like we have.

In a Nutshell: Breathe deeply and inhale the scent of your little one for as long as she’ll let you.

Tags: baby body wash, baby lotion, baby shampoo, baby wipes, Carter's, diaper rash cream

lighten your load

Diapering for Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts

Mar 182011

Back strain can bring you down–literally and figuratively. Every spring, I make a point of cleaning out my purse to minimize the droop in my already-slouched shoulders. That’s what years of schlepping around a textbook-laden backpack will to do you. And those diaper bag years haven’t exactly helped matters either. To make whatever bag you’re lugging around town a little less cumbersome, Go GaGa’s Urban Sherpa Strap may just be your new best friend. Even if you don’t want to part with your favorite diaper bag, purse or laptop case, you can still use it by updating it with a strap that evenly distributes the bulk across your back and shoulders. Just remove the current strap and clip the Urban Sherpa one onto the metal or plastic loops at either end of your bag. It makes a big difference, even to these worn-out shoulders.

In a Nutshell: A shoulder strap that’s pain-free? With this simple, yet effective accessory, you really can take it with you.

Tags: Go Gaga, shoulder strap, Urban Sherpa Strap

present with panache

Diapering for Walnuts, Feeding the Little Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut

Mar 142011

When my daughter was born, a friend and colleague sent me a memorable gift: a painting of a clothes line featuring little girls’ dresses with my daughter’s name inscribed below. Packaged in a cellophane gift bag and tied with a bow that matched the gingham check in one of the dresses, this gift was more than just personable. It demonstrated creativity and forethought…something that I wish I had more of as a mom. I know that when I’m giving a special gift to a friend, I want her to know–just by looking at it–that I put thought into my selection. So when I come across a baby gift line that features high-end materials and matching accessories, it earns points in my book. New to this realm is pkboo kids , makers of coordinating changing pads, bibs, totes and burp cloths. Each item in this vintage-inspired collection is handcrafted and outfitted in fresh, modern prints of poppies, lilies and clovers. We got our hands on the Poppy Bib (shown here) and appreciated the bold graphics and generously sized neck opening, not to mention the easy-access Velcro closure. Because each of the three floral-focused fabrics coordinates with existing products in the ensemble, you can mix and match or choose a standalone item. Either way, you’ve got the makings of a baby present worth presenting.

In a Nutshell: Not all baby gifts are head turners. Here’s a line-up that will make gift givers and recipients stand up and take notice.

Tags: baby gifts, bibs, burp cloths, changing pads, pkboo kids, totes

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