Product Reviews

The beginning of the school year is only a couple months away. This fall my daughter will be starting preschool. Our daughter is excited as is our entire family, she will be making lots of new friends and learning a new language as part of the Mandarin immersion program. There is alot of preparation and a checklist to attend to. Clothing name tags, BPA-free lunch boxes, Sigg water bottles, and not to mention the potential separation anxiety. Lots of play clothes and shoes are in order. In particular some really cool sneakers that will not get lost in the sea of toddler-sized shoes at naptime. I've spotted a bright colorful pair of Adidas on two different girls at the playground and had to ask where they were from. "Nordstrom and not too expensive about the same as a price of Crocs," the mom answered. Hmmm, they are so cute so I did some research and found a couple of pair of old school inspired sneakers in neon bright kid-friendly colors that my daughter will love. The adidas-Streetrun-IIIs ($34.99 - $44.90 available in infants to big kids sizes) are my first pick, so cute and in colorful cool girly colors. A refereshing change from the pink/brown/white palette. The velcro is also another must-have feature for Miss independent to put her own shoes on. Two other completely adorable styles I spotted are the Nike 'Dunk Low' Sneaker, $35 - $47 walker to little kids sizes.

Shoes are made for walking, but who says they have to be plain and boring? We found some adorable girls' and boys' shoes we think will spruce up any outfit! Check out these great picks for kids.

Girls- Clockwise From Top: Camper Little Kid/Big Kid Twins 80138-002 Mary-Jane
Red with White Flowers
Pediped Toddler/Little Kid Giselle Mary Jane
Brown with Polka Dots
Nina Toddler/Little Kid Micki Mary Jane
Pale Blue

If you are in the market for a new stylish laptop case there are many alternatives to choose from. Yes, gone are the days when your only choice was the standard back nylon version. Toss out your generic black laptop sleeve and upgrade to a new colorful design which suits your personal style. Are you the blend into a crowd type and prefer the generic black nylon version or are you a bold risk taker that is looking to make a statement? Or perhaps you are the designer in the crowd who is obsessed with modern design and must have latest head-turning accessories?

There are a myriad of colorful options and designs to choose from. For stylish laptop sleeves there are striped, quilted, modern graphics, and even faux-croc. Especially fun are the laptop case designs by LeSportsac, Kailo Chic and handbag designer Rebecca Minkoff's patent or embossed leather laptop sleeve designs.

From Our Friends at www.theFind.com

When it’s time to introduce solids... let the mess begin! It’s okay with this stylin’ silicone bib. Designed to lie flat on your little one’s chest, this soft, wipe-away material is a welcome change from stained cloth or grubby plastic. Hypo allergenic and dishwasher safe, the Silibib is available in an array of color combinations.

We love this trendy new product for babies and the fact that the bibs are hypo-allergenic besides easy to clean makes this a top-of-the-list product for baby.  Check out the other great products produced by Silikids, products all made of silicone. 

Generations of children recall endless summer days wearing the original Salt Water Sandal made by the Hoy Company of St. Louis Missouri. They're called the "Salt Water" Sandal because they stand up even in salt water. You may remember wearing these exact sandals as a child. I do! I love the traditional classic lines of the "Original Sandal" style and the fact that these shoes stand up to hours of summer playtime. The flexible sole and heavy durable leather straps are comfortable and long lasting. Your child will most likely grow out of these sandals before they wear out. White and brown are the original colors with fresh bright shades such as fuchsia, orange, yellow and lime added to the collection. From Our Friends at TheFind.com

Not only are these glass baby bottles a great choice for the environment but the bright, colorful silicone sleeves take worries away from breaking glass bottles.  Designed by a pediatric physical therapist and an integrative designer, we think they have hit the spot with these baby bottles.  Gosh, I don't even have a baby and I'd like to display the whole group of bottles as a design statement!  But I will definitely be giving these as baby gifts in the future.

Bottles have a silicone nipple that is latex-free and non-toxic.  The sleeve provides a good gripping surface during feeding and also a great tactile experience for your baby.  Made by Lifefactory, these baby bottles are bisphenol A, phthalate, PVC and polycarbonate-free. 

We can't think of anything more fun than riding a bike down the street and ringing the Bicycle bell.  Brings back memories.  Maybe we don't have much of a life to think this is excitement, but it is pure and simple fun ... something we all need to impart to our children.

These wonderful, colorful and whimsical bells are made in France and sold on Wishingfish.com.  This is a perfect, inexpensive gift for any child and one that will surely make some cherished memories.  Not only are these bells great for the bikes, but also the scooters that are so popular.  Actually, I even know a few adult bike riders who would also love these bells.

http://www.wishingfish.com/bikebells.html

Escape the frenzy of the city for a relaxing picnic on a grassy knoll, sandy beach or urban parkscape. Gather your friends, some fine food and toss a blanket on the lawn or picnic table. No need to throw away plastic utensils and plates, there are lots of earth friendly and fair trade options for dining alfresco in style. With many options for fair trade picnic totes choose one that suits your family's style. We love the large Simple Peace "Tigmi" basket totes. They're hand-woven by a fair trade artisan cooperative in Morocco. Store your food in recycled plastic food storage containers that can be recycled again after several uses as #5 plastic. Reusable picnic plates are best for preventing landfill. Serve your famous secret family recipe potato salad on colorful Zak recycled confetti melamine plates along with natural bamboo utensils. Bamboo utensils are reusable, durable and made from a renewable resource.

• Zak Recycled Confetti Melamine Divided Plates, $7.95 at Bibelotshops.com
• Simple Peace Tigmi Fair Trade handwoven basket tote bags, $60.00 at WorldofGood.com
• Natural Bamboo Utensil Set, Natural Bamboo Utensil Set, $2.99 at GetnGreen.com
• Recycled Plastic Food Storage Containers - Set of 2, $9.95 at TheRainforestsite.com

From our friends at
thefind.com.

Summer fun time is almost here and we've found  the cutest Summer swimwear for boys and girls.  Bright, colorful and fun, these Surfer swim trunks would make any little boy ready for the waves.  The girl's tank style and one piece swimsuits, feminine and colorful, will delight any little princess with these darling print fabrics.  

The girls' swimsuits are by Gossip Girls and range in price from $24.00 to $34.00 depending on where you buy.

Cabana Life offers boys' swim trunks, rash guards, and sets.  These boys swim trunks and top are $59.99.

Beach Bambino offers suits from both of these brands and some of our other favorites.
There are many other swimwear styles, just for kids,  including swim diapers and little girl bikinis.  I-Play is the original manufacturer of the swim diaper and their swim diapers require no other diaper to be worn.  Lots of choices so check it out!

How can a single pair of TOM's shoes change the world? Well, according to TOMS shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, it can save lives - one shoe at a time. While traveling in Argentina in 2006 Blake found that many children had no shoes to protect their feet. In response Blake founded TOMS and returned later that year to give 10,000 pairs of shoes to deserving children all thanks to the purchases made by TOMS customers. So a single pair of shoes can change a life and perhaps the world. We took the time to chat with a member of the TOMS team to learn more about this innovative and socially conscious company.