Archive for category Inspiration

Every year, and for every loved one… I must-must-must find the perfect unique luxe CAREFULLY CURATED gift. It’s my obsession! Whether for $50 or $5, it’s got to be GOOD. It’s got to be clever. It’s got to be something I would want… and it’s GOT to be WRAPPED well too…

…so…

Here’s a short list of the places I’ve been frequenting on my never-ending hunt… plus a few gifts that I may or may not have picked up for myself (ahem) and, finally, many MANY gifts that I’ve added to the window shopping list entitled, “Someday…”

1. vanilla quartz ring from ABC Home

2. french ceramic heart from ABC Home (a.k.a paradise) This could be an ornament, too!

3. pillow for the littles to have a cozy anticipation of the Tooth Fairy! At ABC… P.S. would go amazing with this merino crepe cream-colored throw I’ve been eyeing for the last 5 years… just sayin’…

4. hand-made paper bunting from TOAST UK… my friend had a similar one on her christmas tree… lends a sweet DIY aesthetic to the holiday!

5. a gold stacker ring from Sylva & Cie… I fell in love with a similar stacker at Bergdorf Goodman a while back and it still twinkles through my brain…

6. A John Robshaw tote that I found at John Derian on East 2nd street (thanks to a reminder from Joanna Goddard to swing by the store… check out her bedroom make-over slideshow on Refinery 29)

7. Beautiful, sweetly simple ceramics from Notary in Portland, OR that I found on the Alder & Co. website. Oooh.

I also just pretty much heart everything that Erica Tanov (on Elizabeth Street) has for grown-ups and LITERALLY everything that Sweet William (on Kenmare) has for the tots… and while I’m in the neighborhood doing shout-outs, Berkli Park makes espresso so good you don’t need sugar and Wendy Mink (my cousin’s favorite!) has some amazing vintage pieces right now, go before they are gone.

Haven’t you noticed that by now practically everyone you know has joined Pinterest? I’ve been obsessed for a while now thanks to my photo pal Jen Olson, and it only gets better as your pals join up. But I’m ONLY allowed to type in the P-i-n-t-e-r-e-s-t URL if I have at least 20 minutes to burn… consider yourself warned. Here are my inspiration pinboards, from “Nesting in my Dream Home” to (of course) “Tiny Victories”… This pin in particular is a vintage scanned photo by Martin Munkacsi that is SO full of exuberance and life… it tickles me.

Here’s wishing you and your lil’ ones a merry, merry EVERYTHING!

<3

p.p.s Here’s me (looking rather incognito!) sipping my signature espresso macchiato at another local favorite, PUBLIC, whose brunch is to die for…

p.p.p.s PASS THE EGG NOG!

p.p.p.p.s EVERYONE needs a copy of this book…

Popularity: 13% [?]

Make that list and check it twice! It’s time to hit the books. Are your tiny tots prepared?

If you’re feeling behind the curve, be sure to scan this list for some last-minute inspiration–much of which I picked up after visiting the ENK and Playtime New York trade shows this season. Wahoo!

Nobody does superfly T-shirts like Mini & Maximus. With their “kids will have their say” outlook, they break molds left and right by collaborating with up-and-coming artists and wee artists themselves, featuring designs by both each season. With this tee in your closet, you SO don’t have to grow up. Predictably, I emailed to ask about getting one in my size.

While we’re on the subject of tees, how about this animal-themed tee and this one, available online here (my fave online retailer… they have EVERYTHING you would ever want)

The ever-fab Mad Pax backpacks, like, barely an introduction. I’d love mine in orange, in case you were wondering… plus they use the word Rad in copious quantities, which makes this California girl’s vocab-o-meter sing.

I also spotted this lil’ plaid number and this one too, in orange, which is my FAVORITE color of the season. Or always.

For the stroller set, I spotted a new Magnificent Baby design, in the sweetest-ever elephant print! My pal (and kiddo tastemaker) Elina designed it… anyone need a shower gift? New moms go nuts for the magnetic closures. I keep a few of these onesies in a drawer for last-minute gift-giving, and so should you. (Speaking of shower gifts, I also give people these, if cashmere is more your thang…)

Where would you go on your Babymoon? Did you take one? I’d go here, here or here. I just did a fabulous weekend with my cousins, a “cousincation”, here. My friend took her Babymoon here and can’t say enough about the New-England-luxeness of it all! Do I have to be with child to demand that my man take me on one? Oh yeah, without a bun in the oven, it’s just called a vacation.

<3

P.S. Foam bowling, french and fab lunchboxes, fringe-accented wardrobe essentials for your Kindergartener and a KILLER pencil case for your mini-Matisse!

Popularity: 55% [?]

Wow!

Playtime New York was a like a well-curated gallery of local and small-business geniuses (Genii? Well, that SHOULD be a word) and I dug it MAJOR. Playtime is an international trade show that gathers together the universes of children, junior and maternity, and it even included a pop-up store for the general public!

Here are some highlights from this kidswear world of tiny victories:

Beautiful soft sculpture from h-luv, a to-die for gift, don’t you think?

A gorgeous cape and organic cotton tee from Little Lief… (they have the cutest rompers too, and made right here in NYC!)

Sweet newborn swaddle “noonies” from Lala’s Pequenos with RIDIC cute prints…

Best-ever boys’ goods from Goat-Milk NYC (unders, long johns in epic patterns…

Softest-ever striped skirts with nursery-rhyme patches sewn in, and softest-ever sweater-hand puppets from Seven-smooches (and how cute is that brand name? One smooch for each of the total number of the two creators’ children)

General amazingness (duh!) from Atsuyo et Akiko, below is their overall shop plus this bag that I used once in this editorial and have loved ever since… thanks to Katelyn Mooney…(check out her new site HERE!)

All in all… wow!

Popularity: 38% [?]

“A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.” -Denis Waitley

Here’s a bunch of delicious details I’ve been loving across the web the last few days… in the kid world, mostly…

Have you voted for the Cribsies awards yet? Do! Support your favorite kid/baby/lifestyle brands, they will do a little dance if you do.

Are you reading Gretchen Rubin‘s The Happiness Project? I am and it has changed my whole worldview… not a person in this world wouldn’t benefit from this book.

A wonderful idea where people send gifts to strangers! Love. What would you hope to receive? I’d want this because I’m dreaming of the beach… found here!

Ever wonder what to do with that giant pile of your kids’ artwork that you can’t bear to toss? How about a tidy yet gorgeous keepsake?

I got my man this delightful, nerdy Valentine’s Day card. What did you get your sig oth?

Every little rockstar needs a guitar. How cute is this one for baby? Found here.

Gorgeous and delicate baby bedding here via this amazing blog, and sick kids’ fashion collections (WOW!)  here and here. (and here!)

And lastly…

If I could go anywhere right at this moment it would be this pool in the sky.

<3

Popularity: 32% [?]