As we're doing all our back to school shopping around my house, my kids and I are getting excited about the funky print pants and leggings for kids that we're seeing everywhere. I'm looking for fun, bold, unexpected patterns that will re…
Sometimes it's the little things that make the biggest impression, and when it comes to back to school shopping , it may be the backpack we spend all our time stressing about, when it turns out to be the $1 hamster eraser or the personal…
In the next installment of our Back to School Guide, we've rounded up some of the coolest lunch box accessories--always one of our favorite categories. We're not miracle workers or anything, but here's hoping they'll make you look forwar…
Choosing the best gift for a two year old from among ride-on vehicles, construction toys, dolls and more can seem overwhelming, so we've narrowed it down to some favorites that our own boys and girls have loved. Because that first birthd…
I love designer bags from big names, don't get me wrong. But there's also just something awesome about handcrafted bags from indie designers and smaller names, especially when they are as modern, sophisticated, and hot (did I mention hot…
Of course we are all guilty in today's society of overpraising our children; everyone gets a trophy right? Yeah, not in my world. However, there is nothing wrong with a little extra parental encouragement. So, as I am starting to assembl…
I find it's always a good idea to have a few nice hostess gifts stashed away in the hall closet in case of last-minute dinner party invitations or weekend plans. I do this with kids' birthday presents too, and it makes life so much easie…
When I was a kid, my mom put me in sewing camp for a week one summer. My style has since progressed from the neon purple and pink poufy overalls I made then, but I still craft -- and I still need some inspiration from time to time. For a…
Well, here I go again. After five years of heavy spousal debate we are expecting a brand new bundle of girlie joy this winter. And YES that counts as my big announcement! We are ecstatic, but we're finding ourselves in the position of sh…
As organized as I may be in other aspects of my life, I consider myself a bit organizationally challenged when it comes to my handbags. No matter how big or small it is, I always manage to lose things I need in the black hole of my tote …
True story: when my daughter was born in 2006, I struggled to find a stroller blanket that wasn't either pink butterflies or blue trains. I basically taught myself to sew just so I could make a black blanket with flame-printed fleece. So…
If you've ever dreamed of having your own David Bowie to snuggle, we've got good news: These pop culture dolls by French artisan My Name is Simone are just as much for you as they are for kids. Whether you're into Ziggy Stardust, the Kin…
We're anticipating a new baby girl in our family soon (!!) and I'm having so much fun procrastinating from real life--er, balancing my bank account--by searching the Internet for pretty custom nursery art for her room. This sweet bamboo …
When you have a kid losing a tooth, whether it's the first or the fifteenth, you know how special it can be. Maybe that's why I've always had a thing for tooth fairy pillows , and the lovely, affordable handmade ones from AppleWhite on E…
I know, I know - this is going to turn into the ABLE accessories blog if they don't stop coming out with gorgeous, very wearable handmade accessories that help support women around the world. Recently we introduced you to their new jewel…
I'm a sucker for cool serving dishes, and right now I'm loving these handmade ceramic bowls from Marina Marinski at her Etsy shop, Marinksi Handmades . Marina's engraved illustrations are whimsical and seriously cool. Don't they kind of …
While of course there are beautiful clothes made all over the world these days (we're not one to say no to Italian leather), in honor of our nation's birthday, we wanted to highlight just a few of the small labels and indie designers tha…
My little guy isn't old enough to be interested in fireworks yet--and I kind of hope he never is--but that doesn't mean he can't get into the 4th of July with some cool crafts for kids . For safety's sake (and of course just for somethin…
I've said before that a quilt is the perfect baby gift . That said, all families are different and all blankets are not created equal. That sweet pastel quilt you fell hard for might not work for your funkier friends--you know, the ones …
We always have so much fun discovering new artists, and one of our recent finds is Cheeky Monkey Home . Her handmade pillows are the kinds that just require one to make a whole room. And they're made with such exquisite detail, they're t…
I remember keeping a certain unicorn tee in heavy rotation when I was about nine, so girls' obsession for unicorns is hardly new. If you know what I'm talking about, I've tracked down some cool unicorn clothes for girls out there to sati…
I've been deeply committed to supporting FashionABLE since visiting them in Ethiopia on a humanitarian trip with ONE nearly two years ago. These guys get it right, producing gorgeous handmade scarves and accessories that are not only inc…
Confession: If I don't have a hostess gift , the first place I look is the cabinet full of wine bottles I have received as hostess gifts myself. Sure, it looks like a fine, old vintage--but that's because I haven't had a party since 2005…
When I first laid my eyes on the cool leggings for babies and kids at LA mom and pop-owned Chaboukie, I dug the fun patterns and soft fabrics . But the fact that they're made by hand here in the USA and help kids in need, well, yeah, it …