b.y.o.b.: lucky diaz and the family jam band’s a potluck

 The Playful Walnut
May 162012
 

Tis the season of BBQs, picnics and all those other outdoor family festivities whose only requirements are a hearty appetite and a willingness to party. And what’s a good time without some tunes to go along with the food, folks and fun? In our house, the month of May features birthdays for both my girls and that means plenty of crowd-pleasing music from preschoolers to older kids. Because my girls are always willing and able to give a listen to a new sound, we were eager to test-drive the new release from Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. Easy on the ears, yet hitting all the right notes,  “A Potluck” is a musical feast for the senses. The rhythmic, multi-layered sound of this band proudly proclaims its universal message: having a good time. From taking a neighborhood jaunt on “On My Bike,” to the preschool anthem “Invisible Friend,” the songs feature lighthearted subjects set to a finger-snapping beat. Our favorite is “Lemonade Stand,” an ode to a summertime ritual that will inspire even the youngest entrepreneur. So, when you’re deciding on the playlist for your next kiddie soiree, be sure to make it “A Potluck” party.

In a Nutshell: No R.S.V.P. necessary for this music party. Just bring your listening ears and your dancing feet.

Tags: , , , , ,

swimming with the sharks: zoocchini hooded towels

 Bathing Walnuts, Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut, The Playful Walnut
May 142012
 

All it took was one beautiful, unseasonably warm weekend to make me realize that summer is not far off. A short visit to our local beach reminded me that I’ll soon be loading up my beach bag with sand toys, sunscreen and towels. While I don’t mind toting stuff that’s worth their weight, I am often dissatisfied with our choice in beach towels. Because they never seem to be the right size to dry off adequately or to completely stretch out on the sand, I wind up chiding myself for forgetting to replace them after the previous summer. Well, just in time for the upcoming season of surf, sand and all things water, Zoocchini has introduced hooded towels that are so generously sized, you might just want to steal one for yourself. The 22″ x 50″ towels, made from pure cotton terry or velour, are especially soft and gentle on sun-kissed skin. With seven new designs, including a duck, dog, frog, flower, owl, polar bear and shark, your little critter is bound to find something she likes. We love that Zoocchini‘s playful styles are as appealing to older, more image-conscious kids as they are to particular preschoolers. Our favorite from this season’s collection is the shark, a friendly fish who puts the Jaws saga to bed once and for all.

In a Nutshell: This summer, it’s save to go into the water…and back out again…with hooded towels that are as fun at the beach as they are on dry land.

Tags: , , ,

sunny side up: plan toys breakfast set

 The Green Walnut, The Playful Walnut
May 082012
 

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, can I count on breakfast in bed or, better yet, a little extra shut-eye? Fat chance on either one, but not for lack of trying. My almost 8-year-old won’t stay in her room a minute past her regular wake-up time, and my feet have always hit the ground before my hard-working husband (and no, I’m not trying to butter him up by saying so…although I hope he can take a hint about a certain pair of slippers I’ve been eyeing). But, I digress! Even if I can’t have my first meal of the day in a horizontal position, I can bask in the glow of fond memories of my daughter happily preparing a pretend breakfast of pancakes, orange juice and hot tea in her pretend kitchen. I don’t drink OJ, but never had the heart to break the bad news to her. And when you’re a mom, it’s the thought that counts and so I happily “munched” on syrup-less pancakes and slurped my unsweetened tea. So when I recently laid eyes on Plan Toys’ new Breakfast Menu, those thoughts of simpler times came rushing back at me. What’s even nicer is that this collection of well-crafted food is night and day from the plastic playthings stocked in my older daughter’s fridge. Plan Toys prides itself in its design of non-toxic sustainable wood; this is one purchase you’ll feel good about making. Whether you “sample” the eggs on toast or “nibble” the crispy bacon, you’re sure to delight your favorite preschooler. My compliments to the chef…and Happy Mother’s Day to all!

In a Nutshell: Pretend breakfast means no dirty dishes! Sounds like the start of a wonderful Mother’s Day to us…

Tags: , , , , ,

here comes the sun: gustafer yellowgold

 The Playful Walnut
Apr 302012
 

This past Sunday was definitely a sun-day. My family and I were treated to a performance by none other than the former Sun resident himself, Gustafer Yellowgold. For those of you not familiar with the name…well, get out from under that rock ! He’s the original cartoon brought to life by the imaginative Morgan Taylor, an indie kid rocker whose lively songs and amusing animation make a multimedia marriage that audiences practically gobble up. We were witnesses to this phenomena ourselves when Taylor (and Gustafer) were on tour to promote the just-released Gustafer Yellowgold’s Year In The Day. Taylor’s comfortable, yet playful demeanor won over the younger crowd happily clutching their Gustafer dolls, while his inside jokes were a hit with the moms and dads who have been subjected to one too many Wiggles concerts.  In fact, the guy seated next to us confessed that Gustafer helped him get through a recent family road trip from New York to Boston without a hitch (take that, SpongeBob!). As a mom of two girls in different age brackets, I can appreciate Taylor’s ability to appeal to short attention spans and critical listening ears. Whether it’s Gustafer’s wacky perspective (think breakfast taking over the world in “Pancake Smackdown”) or his unusual pairing of geography and fashion (“Wisconsin Poncho”), we love that his music lets us get outside of our heads and think about things…differently. And with Gustafer, oh, what a wonderful world it can be.

In a Nutshell: One part clever cartoon, one part kid music we can listen to without with protest:We heart Gustafer. Check out his latest entertaining DVD/CD package, Gustafer Yellowgold’s Year In The Day, available now.

Tags: , , ,

future nest egg: alex toys 2 birdie banks

 The Green Walnut, The Playful Walnut
Apr 182012
 

My 7-year-old told me she didn’t have to flush the toilet this week…in honor of Earth Day, that is. So, in the name of science, we’re doing our part to conserve energy and save the planet. Just don’t hold me to that type of bathroom etiquette! Instead, we’ve got our hands on 2 Birdie Banks, an all-in-one environmentally-friendly craft kit that gives more than it takes. It comes with 2 makeshift banks (fashioned from recycled paper) that kids can outfit with coin slots and lids before decorating them with colorful squares. Using the included sponge brush, kids can easily affix the paper tape with glaze and wait a while for their creation to dry (the kit is designed for ages 6 and up, so younger, ambitious artists may need a little assistance from a grown-up). Even if you don’t consider yourselves crafty, this set has the makings of a fun indoor-day project, just in time for April showers (yeah, we’d be happy to see a few raindrops these days). And if that means I can use the bathroom in peace, so much the better.

In a Nutshell:  A bird in the hand may be worth two in the bush, but in this case, we’ll take 2 birdies any day.

Tags: , , , ,

hip head gear: krash bike helmets

 The Playful Walnut, The Safe Little Walnut
Apr 132012
 

Does your kid give you a hard time about wearing his bike helmet? I can’t say I blame them. From the look of some of the helmets out there, I’m more in favor of the utilitarian models that ooze sturdiness over style (or lack thereof). Fortunately, with the new line of protective head gear from C-Preme, tweens won’t have to sacrifice fashion for function when biking around town. Designed for ages 10-12, KRASH helmets  are the coolest thing we’ve seen in bike gear. From punk-inspired, spiky-head numbers, to cutey confectionery caps, there are plenty of choices for the most temperamental tween. And because the KRASH line is made from a soft, rubber-based materials, they’re as safe as they are slick. So, if you know any “hard heads” (ahem), this collection is just for them.

In a Nutshell: Springtime means bike-riding. Now the whole family can take a spin around the neighborhood, donning some extra cool head gear.

Tags: , , ,

you said a mouthful: caspar babypants hot dog cd

 The Playful Walnut
Apr 112012
 

I love when musicians I enjoy listening to decide to join the indie kid music scene; their new music makes me feel like I haven’t completely lost  my pre-kid self. First it was They Might Be Giants and then Caspar Babypants (formerly of the 90s Seattle  band, The Presidents of the United States of America). Lucky for me, Chris Ballew decided to hang up his alt rock persona and adopt the playful moniker that represents his new sound, one that car pooling moms are thanking their lucky stars for. Caspar Babypants carries his easy-on-the-ears style over to his fifth CD, Hot Dog!, which drops this Tuesday, April 17. Among the toe-tappin’ numbers are “Crazy Blue Beetle” (a preschool anthem for the stop-and-let-me-look-at-this-bug crowd), “This Old Whale” (a modern take on a classic kids’ sing-along) and “Lonely Glove” (best lyrics: “It’s only fair/when you’re part of a pair”). Because we’re already looking ahead to warmer weather, we couldn’t get enough of “Summer Baby,” a road-trip ready that takes us to our favorite seasonal haunts, from the swimming hole to the country fair. We can’t wait to pack up the family wagon and get out of Dodge ourselves, with this CD in hand.

In a Nutshell: Hot Dog! is one satisfying musical meal that will get you through that next round of preschool drop-offs, playdates and wherever the kiddies are headed.

 

Tags: , , , , ,

the girl with the bunny tatoo: tattly tatoos

 The Accessorized Walnut, The Playful Walnut
Apr 072012
 

I must admit: I’m not a big fan of kiddie tatoos. Sure, I realize they’re not the same as the permanent ink versions sported by more and more people these days (even a cool children’s librarian I know has a little one hidden on the inside of her wrist)…but the mere thought of perfect, unblemished tender skin being tainted by some silly wash-off sticker just doesn’t seem right. Maybe it’s because every birthday party goodie bag seems to contain a sheet of Dora or Diego stick-ons…where’s the originality in this so-called art? So when tattly, a line of ultra-hip tatoos for kids and grown-ups alike, recently crossed my desk, I figured they were worth a look. Created by a team of graphic artists and lead by a Brooklyn-based designer, these temporary tatoos are nothing like the mass-market variety we’ve been seeing. From an edgy “besties” broken heart (perfect for two inseparable BFFs), to a more retro medley of ice cream truck favorites, they are plenty of choices to suit your temperamental tween’s fancy. And in honor of Easter Sunday, we’re giving a special shout-out to the Big Bunny himself with this awfully adorable tatoo. After all, sporting this cute number should score us some jelly beans, at the very least…

In a Nutshell: “Everyone’s got one…pulleezze?” If they’re begging for a tatoo, think “contemporary temporary” with this head-turning line.

Tags: ,

writing on the wall: skip hop alphabet zoo decals

 The Furnished Walnut, The Playful Walnut, The Smart Walnut
Apr 032012
 

If you haven’t figured it out already, The Talking Walnut is a big fan of Skip Hop, makers of durable kiddie products kid gear in eye-popping designs. So when we recently had a chance to see their new Alphabet Zoo Wall Decals in the flesh, we knew we wouldn’t be disappointed…and we were right. This adorable assortment of removable decals perks up any child’s room or nursery with a touch of whimsy. Whether you’re spelling out your little one’s name or introducing her to the ABCs, these stickers offer instant personality to even the closest of corners. If you’re working under tight conditions (city dwellers, you know who you are) or decorating on a shoestring (man, those cribs are costly!), this sweet set will work magic for your little one’s special space. And did we mention these decals are removable? Perfect for that bundle of joy who may someday turn into a precocious preschooler with her own ideas of decor (sigh)…Well, at least you can enjoy them while they’re young–and you still have a say!

In a Nutshell: Brighten up baby’s space with some entertaining art that’s also educational. And if she learns that “f” is for “fox” before she moves to a big-kid bed, we’ll take all the credit.

Tags: , , , ,

word play: sentence shuffle fun deck

 Reading with Walnuts, The Playful Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts
Mar 302012
 

Sometimes, my 2nd grader likes to speak backwards–not facing away from me, but mixing up the order of her words. She, of course, thinks it’s hysterical; I find it maddening, especially by the end of the day. Because she gets a kick out of making us work to figure out exactly what she’s saying, it’s a real power kick…for a 7-year-old. But I figure there’s got to be a positive side to her punchy behavior. Maybe this strange sense of little kid humor was the inspiration for Sentence Shuffle Fun Deck. Housed inside a Band-Aid-style box are 56 illustrated cards containing a bunch of words that are out of order (for instance, “scaredy cat is a Linda.”) Players must then unscramble the words to form a sentence and then move on to the next card. Super-fast readers can show off their proficiency, while those just getting comfortable with chapter books can challenge themselves to become better wordsmiths. To up the ante, draw 20 cards, set up a timer and see how many each player can guess correctly. This is the perfect rainy-day boredom buster and works great for long car rides, too. You may find yourself getting caught up in the game play. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Or, should we say, “warn we didn’t you Don’t say.”

In a Nutshell: Kids who think they know their way around a sentence can test their skills with this travel-friendly game.

Tags: , , , ,

 Older Entries