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what’s for lunch?: makaboo lunch boxes

 Feeding the Little Walnuts, Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut
Jul 182012
 

In today’s mail, the Old Navy back-to-school catalog arrived. It wasn’t the first one we received, and it isn’t even August yet. Seems hints of backpacks, lunchboxes and all things back-to-school are happening earlier and earlier this year. If you haven’t already gotten a jump yet on school supply shopping, allow us to whet your appetite with some items that are making a name for themselves–literally. Makaboo lets kids design and personalize their own lunchboxes, backpacks and other cool-for-school accessories. Simply select an item, and then choose from one of over 30 colors, a font for your name and favorite icon (take your pick of 100 different pictures!). You’re good to go! We think Makaboo will be a big hit this September, especially for kids with unusual first names, like my girls.  Score one for individuality…even if there are already 4 girls named Olivia in class this year (sigh…)

In a Nutshell: In a sea of SpongeBob and peace sign backpacks and lunch bags,  your kid’s will stand alone. Proudly.

 

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what i read on my summer vacation: out of print clothing

 Reading with Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut
Jul 172012
 

Got a summer reading list? If your teen hasn’t cracked open this year’s selection, it’s time to get crackin’ (only 6 more weeks ’til Labor Day). But if the sun and surf are competing for her attention and making it difficult to hunker down with her Kindle, Nook or hardcover, it’s time to offer a little inspiration. Out of Print Clothing features an entire line of book-themed T-shirts, tote bags and journals for kids and adults alike. Whether your grade schooler has just finished “Charlotte’s Web” or your high schooler has plowed through “The Great Gatsby,” there’s an item that’s just perfect for her. Among our favorites are the literary covered journals that invite aspire young writers to keep at their craft, and the bags that are ideal for toting around those massive tomes. (Yeah, we think you’ve earned your bragging rights if you’ve polished off “Moby Dick.”)  So, celebrate summer with a brainy beach bag or head to class this fall in a shirt that proudly proclaims your lofty achievement. No matter the season, reading is always in style.

In a Nutshell: Some whale of a tale that was! Share your love of reading with the rest of the world with this fab collection of literary classic accessories.

 

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school-bound bug: raskullz 3d backpack

 The Organized Walnut, The Playful Walnut
Jul 122012
 

I always get a little bummed right around the summer midway point; when I was a kid, my grandmother used to say, “After July 4th, summer’s over.” To this August-born babe, I was horrified by her statement and to this day, I still relish those dog days of lemonade drinking, firefly catching and all the little joys that make the season what it is. Imagine then those bittersweet feelings I experienced this week when the Lands’ End back-to-school catalog landed in our mailbox. It got me to thinking that it’s time to replace last year’s backpack with something a little more, shall we say, “lively.” After all, when you’re a rising third grader, anything remotely babyish just won’t do. So when we got a load of new 3D backpacks from Raskullz, we knew we could make a statement. Inspired by the 3D bike helmets from the same company, these backpacks pack a personality that’s unforgettable. Whether it’s Cutie Cat, Buggins, Radgon or Shark Attax, each pack boasts three-dimensional features that practically pop out at you. Our favorite is Buggins whose antennae and legs look so lifelike, this bag could carry itself to school. And judging from the amount of homework that’s expected for third grade, that may just come in handy.

In a Nutshell: It’ll be back to the books before we know it. Make sure your kid has the right bag to manage his heavy load, without messing with his cool factor.

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p.c. pachyderm

 The Playful Walnut
Sep 142011
 

At a time when SpongeBob is making waves for influencing poor attention spans in preschoolers, I feel the need to dust off some of my childhood classics, crawl back under the covers and remember a time when no one griped that Cookie Monster was responsible for making us eat too many chocolate chips. One of my favorite friends was Babar, the elegant elephant whose only flaw was making me want to learn French before I could master the English language. Nevertheless, the antics of papa elephant, Celeste and their adorable family was my first taste of sophistication and one that I can appreciate even more today as I read to my children. Picking up from where the story lines leave off are newly released twin DVDs. Babar: The Classic Series is made up of two themed titles, each with 4 episodes. Best Friends Forever demonstrate the importance of working as a team and being understanding, while School Days teaches the timeless lessons of patience and being truthful. Just as the new school year kicks off, these releases serve as gentle reminders that while it isn’t always easy being a kid, it helps to have a friend in your corner. Isn’t that true for us all?

In a Nutshell: As the kiddies head back to school and outside influences inevitably creep into their lives, keep them grounded (for as long as you can) with life lessons from a trusted childhood friend.

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leading by example

 The Smart Walnut
Sep 132011
 

Later this week is back-to-school night at my daughter’s elementary school, and I think I’m nearly as excited to meet her teacher as she was. After listening to my daughter’s daily descriptions over the last few days, I’ve begun to form my own positive impression…and can only hope this mental picture lives up to my expectations. Putting a face to a name is always nice, especially when it’s the person who’s educating your child for the next 180 days. No matter whether you look forward to a school open house, or you find yourself painfully reliving those days spent at wobbly desks and smelly gym classes, it pays to develop a good rapport with your child’s teacher in the long run. Aiming to open up the lines of communication between teacher and parent comes a new paperback that deserves a spot on your nightstand. Way to Go, written by educator Mary Beth Gaertner, is an insightful look at what makes a good school-based relationship. With over 30 years of experience in the classroom and the main office, the author is clearly an authority on helping to fine-tune your dealings with your child’s teacher. She shares snippets of letters from both teachers and parents to demonstrate effective (and ineffective) dialogue–an eye-opening device cleverly disguised as a teaching tool in and of itself–and also puts herself in the shoes of the parent by offering teachers advice on “listening without defense.” I was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar tactic, “Tell the Teacher More” Day, which my daughter’s own teacher had already implemented. A very good sign indeed.

In a Nutshell: A lesson well-taught, Way to Go is worth a read-through, whether you are attending your 1st or 14th back-to-school night. Parent/teacher conferences everywhere are bound to go a bit more smoothly with the help of this book.

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she’s got personality

 Gear for Baby Walnuts
Sep 062011
 

Both my girls have already discovered the art of expressing themselves, and it’s not just through their artwork. My 7-year-old loves to don a pair of sparkly sunglasses or anything bearing a peace sign, while the 3-year-old has figured out that she exudes coolness if she sports Snoopy attire (don’t worry, tomorrow it’ll be Hello Kitty or some other character of the moment). Maybe that’s why graphic T-shirts are all the rage these days, showing up everywhere from runways to kids’ clothing catalogs. The latest line to catch our eye is from Chi Chi Baby, featuring 11 distinct prints for sizes 2T-5T. With bold prints that proclaim hip lingo like “wild child” and “rock star,” both boys and girls will gravitate to these stylish shirts, just in time for back to school. And the word on the street is that Chi Chi’s collection is getting such rave reviews, we may soon see T’s available in larger sizes. Little fashionistas everywhere can only hope…

In a Nutshell: Class Picture Day is just around the corner and your little diva is ready for her close-up in these ever-cool T’s.

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mmm-meow

 Feeding the Little Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut
Aug 152011
 

Cats and kids are somewhat alike. Although from two entirely different species, each loves to nibble and gaze on multiple meals throughout the day. Our resident kitty is known to visit her food bowl no less than 4-5 times a day, much like my 2 kiddies who relish small snacks from morning til dessert. We’re not surprised then that Hello Kitty continues to be all the rage among girls big and small, and for this school year, she’s a big hit when it comes to lunchtime. The Hello Kitty 2-Tier Bento Container will have fussy eaters purring with contentment, since it keeps different foods separate in their own space (you know how particular girls can be about their stuff). They fit together easily and are easy to clean, making mealtime a snap. And because this bento container is durable, it’s designed to withstand lots and lots of lunches…maybe even nine lives’ worth.

In a Nutshell: Hello Kitty welcomes lunchtime with a delightful new companion that keeps food contained and kitties satisified.

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eraserheads

 The Accessorized Walnut, The Organized Walnut, The Smart Walnut
Jul 182011
 

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.

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