It was right there as I rounded the corner, practically impossible to miss. As I pushed my shopping cart past the sunscreen display, spiral notebooks, ballpoint pens and pocket folders competed for my attention. That’s right: back-to-school shopping is nearly upon us and before long, school districts will be updating their Web sites with a laundry list of classroom essentials. But in this information age in which we are thinking twice before making any kid-related purchases, selecting which items to stock our kids’ desks is no longer a no-brainer. You’d have to be living under a rock not to know about toxic substances like PVC lurking in plastics, especially in kids’ products. To make your job as a conscientious consumer a little easier comes a handy new tool you’ll want to consult before heading out to shop. The Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ)’s Back to School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies offers helpful tips on selecting everything from backpacks to lunchboxes. There’s also a list of suppliers that offer PVC-free products, so you can make a point of looking for safe supplies. If you consider yourself a green-minded mom, you will find this guide to be an invaluable resource. It’s also available as a wallet-sized version that’s an ideal companion when heading out to Staples, Target or wherever you’ll be shopping. See you in September.

In a Nutshell: To ensure that your child’s school supplies make the grade, consult this free-of-charge downloadable guide for shopping tips and suggestions.

Tags: back-to-school shopping, CHEJ, environmentally-friendly school supplies, green school supplies, PVC-free school supplies, school supplies

I nearly knocked over a display of back-to-school stuff at the grocery store the other day. I couldn’t believe that pails and shovels were quickly being usurped by notebooks, crayons and pencils…oh my! With Labor Day nearly six weeks away, September is actually sooner than you might think (sorry to be a spoilsport!). Because we’ve always got an eye turned to the latest kid product trends, we took a look at what’s big in writing for the coming season. Does your kid have dry erase markers on her school supply list again, the same ones she’s forever needing to replace because someone forgets to put the caps back on and they dry out? Well, the smart folks at Crayola have come up with a solution to that pesky problem with their new Dry-Erase Bright Crayons. The modern-day equivalent of the chalkboard, whiteboards are being used by teachers and students alike for spelling and math, and these marker alternatives make the perfect accompaniment to this style of learning. They don’t have any caps to lose, they don’t have that funny marker smell and they wipe clean with the included E-Z Erase Mitt. We give the Dry-Erase Crayons crayons an A+ for their convenience and versatility…For bigger kids who have graduated from pencils to pens, but who still need the occasional “do-over” comes the EraseAway. It’s a retractable ballpoint pen that erases. If your child was always misplacing the caps to her markers, this is the pen for her. Available in blue, black or red ink,  it does not have an erasable cap. The sleek, grown-up look and feel of the EraseAway will make a middle school kid think she has finally “arrived.”

In a Nutshell: When shopping back-to-school, here are 2 products that have all the write stuff.

Tags: back-to-school, Crayola, dry erase markers, pens, school supplies, Zebra Pen

When I was growing up, all my gal pals signed up for sleep-away camp (my mom’s idea of camp was daily trips to the beach and, if it rained, the library). I could never count on my friends to write to me during the summer; they were probably too busy making macrame potholders and learning how to cannonball correctly, anyway. When it comes to communicating, today’s kids, of course, have it much easier; with a few simple clicks, they can fire off a text and a photo of how they’ve decorated their bunk faster than they can write “Wish you were here.” Still, it’s always nice to receive a piece of “real” mail every now and then, and a new stationery line from oh my word makes it practically effortless. Their set of camp cards features simply put, witty rhetoric in 3 varieties:

–the fun things I could be doing right now instead of writing home

–things I think you would want to hear in a letter from camp

–things I’m not doing at camp because you’re not here to make me

Each collection includes insightful, check-box replies for your little darling to complete…how utterly convenient. Now he can get back to more important things…like short-sheeting his counselor’s bed.

In a Nutshell: Think your kid is feeling, shall we say, “coerced” into keeping in touch? Spare him the agony of letter writing and tuck a box of these notecards in his trunk. Don’t forget the stamps.

Tags: kids' stationery, oh my word, sleepaway camp

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

It’s St. Patty’s Day, so naturally you’ll be donning some green. But if you happen to be out and shopping today, how about saving some of that green? Kiddies may be wee folk, but we all know they require A LOT of gear. The next time you’re trying to decide between a Bugaboo or a BabyBjorn, make your comparison shopping a little less cumbersome–and a lot more convenient–with TheFind.com. This free shopping app for the iPhone, iTouch and Android helps you get the best price for a product by searching area stores, from Target to Toys R Us. You can get driving directions to places that carry the product with the best value or even buy an item on the spot via your phone. And with that level of hi-tech, you don’t need the luck of the Irish to get a great buy.

In a Nutshell: Searching for a new stroller? With TheFind.com, you may just find it…along with a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Have you ever been on the go with your baby and not known where you can nurse (or pump) in private? No need to wonder. Medela has come out with an app for the iPhone/iPad that gives you the 411 on nursing. Aptly dubbed iBreastfeed, this app has a Breastfeeding-Friendly Places feature that locates Medela-reviewed and approved nursing nooks across the country. Find one that hasn’t been mentioned? You can add your own 2 cents and comment on your experience at existing locations. On top of this feature, iBreastfeed has a resource guide that includes helpful tips for overcoming breastfeeding challenges and an activity log if you’re so inclined to track your baby’s sleep and feeding schedules. With so much info at your fingertips, you can’t help but feel you’re on top of your little one’s health. And what a good habit to start.

In a Nutshell: Got yourself in a feeding time frenzy? With this helpful app, knowing where to nurse in peace and quiet is just a few clicks away.

Tags: breastfeeding, breastfeeding-friendly places, Medela

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. Half-eaten yogurt tubes? Bring ‘em on! Once you’re back home and have emptied its contents, simply pop this bag in the washing machine , and you can use it again and again. When you roll the top of the bag 3 times, clip the bag shut and use the makeshift handle to hang from your stroller handlebar or diaper bag strap. Don’t forget to click your heels and say, “There’s no place like home.”

In a Nutshell: A godsend that prevents your purse from becoming a bottomless pit of refuse? We’re sold. Because I’ve got better things to do with my time. Like laundry…

Tags: Go Gaga, Stuff Sack

You know what comes right after those Thanksgiving leftovers have been polished off and the holiday decorations hauled out of the attic…a seemingly endless season of shopping for gifts. And while you may have your act together this year and have already started taken advantage of all those sales, I’ll imagine gift-wrapping isn’t high up on your priority list just yet. Me too. While I can handle the myriad purchases I’ll need to make from now until New Year’s, it’s the act of boxing and bagging I can do without. Yes, my 6-year-old’s school just finished their giftwrap fundraiser, but alas, I’m sure I’ll run out of supplies before I get through my kids’ presents, let alone the rest of my family. I’m really loving the new line from ellaWrap that takes the work out of wrapping–one most of us so desperately wish we could delegate. Not only are the prints cheery and the chic, but the assembly is practically effortless. Pop your present into the bag, tie with the included ribbon and you’re ready to roll. No fuss, no muss, no cleaning up extra scraps of paper, ribbon and tape. But that’s not even the best part: ellaWrap is completely reusable. In fact, it’s even encouraged with the included Gift Journal that lets you record a gift’s specifics before it gets passed over to the next gift recipient. Score one for the environment and for the family tree.

In a Nutshell: Never knew wrapping a present could help conserve a tree and preserve your Great Aunt Edna’s fruitcake? Neither did we…until now.

Tags: ellaWrap reusable gift wrap

It’s that time of year yet again. Time to trade in the crocs for crayons, the bathing suit for the backpack…you get the picture. If your kid is less than thrilled about the thought of returning to school (all that homework and getting up early…what’s not to like?), it helps to add a little fun to her daily routine. Here’s just a sampling of new gear that is almost too cool for school: Juicy Couture heads to the classroom with a bunch of new accessories. We’ve got our eye on the Juicy Couture wireless keyboard in signature pink. Typing a term paper is less ho hum when the keys are in script!…Need a place to keep track of who’s going to ballet lessons when and what time that dentist appointment is? We’ve got our eye on the WallCandy Arts Peel-and-Stick Chalkboard. It may look like the one hanging up in school, but it’s actually a peel-and-stick board that goes on any room in the house where info needs to be front and center. These boards are available in a variety of designs, including animals, a school bus and an apple (pictured here)…If you’ve got an active preschooler on your hands, you know that running and playing go hand in hand. Without the right kind of shoes, all that rough-and-tumble playing can lead to more skinned knees than you’d like. The pediped Grip ‘n’ Go footwear line is just what your active tot needs to get around. The soles are thin and the shoes’ rounded edges are designed to resemble a child’s foot. A soft interior let little tootsies grip the floor better, meaning fewer spills–and tears.

In a Nutshell: Make back-to-school shopping less of a chore; these practical, yet fun purchases make the grade.

Tags: back-to-school gear, Juicy Couture, pediped, WallCandy

I can hardly wait until our annual summer road trip with the kids….NOT! The thought of being confined to the same closed space with my 6- and 2-year-old (and my husband) is enough to make my blood boil (OK, I’ll keep hubby out of my insane thoughts). If you’re like me, you’re desperate for any little thing that will make your family vacation a tad more enjoyable. Travel games that can fit in my pocket give me goosebumps. Pint-sized coloring book/crayon sets put a smile on my face. Imagine then what an all-inclusive road trip kit will do for my happiness quotient! In celebration of the season of traveling with the kids, Evenflo is offering the Ultimate Savvy Parent’s Car Kit, along with the release of its Momentum 65 DLX Convertible car seat. If you are admittedly one who always forgets something, then this is the treasure that will take the rage out of your road trip. Packaged in a portable pouch are:

• $25 gas gift card (a little treat for mom and dad)
• Moist wipes (for quick car clean-up)
• Baby mirror (to check out your rear-facing baby while driving)
• Soft book (to secure safety of passengers when thrown during tantrum)
• Kid/parent-friendly CD (to inspire a family sing-along–even during those “what-was-I-thinking-about-5-hours-in-the-car” moments)
• Car dustbuster (for hunting down Cheerios between seats)
• Window shade (to keep the hot summer sun out)
• Animal crackers and a snack trap, to curb cravings
• Car organizer (to keep it all arranged neatly!)

If this kit gets you as excited as a one-way ticket to Maui (sans kids), then send an e-mail to The Talking Walnut. Evenflo will provide a kit to the first parent who responds. Good luck, and happy trails to you…

Tags: Evenflo car travel kit, Evenflo giveaway, travel kit