DIY friday:alphabet block photo display.

A really genius idea. Follow the tutorial here.

a nice big tote bag.

I'm a 'big bag' lady. I'm always carrying around some big canvas bag filled with everything I might need (diapers, umbrella, wallet, baby blanket, snack, diary, keys, etc. etc.). My days of fancy designer handbags are long gone! I spotted this cool 'pumpkin' tote bag on Etsy and I want it! It's available in either navy or white.

LIKEaBIKE

If you already own a LIKEaBIKE then I'm sure you'll agree with me when I say that it is the best thing I've ever bought for my kids. If you aren't already familiar with these cool wooden bikes, then let me sing their praises...
Apart from the obvious (sleek design, versatile use, advancement of motor skills and balance, safety features, etc.), what makes the LIKEaBIKE so great is that a 2-year-old can keep up with you, even when you're walking at full speed. My two boys (aged 2 and 4) both have one, and they're both equally good at riding it. Walks to the market, to the playground, to the dry cleaner, etc. are quick and easy, and that's pretty impressive considering I have three kids with me!
You can read more about them here.

bonpoint.

I know it's really, really pricey, but I just can't help loving everything Bonpoint does. Especially now that I have a baby girl! The classic French look, all in the most beautiful soft colors and fabrics -- too, too cute! We received this dress as a gift when my daughter was born, and I could put her in it a hundred times and never grow tired of it!
Oh, and if you're ever in Paris you should stop by their flagship store -- it's breathtaking!

recycling.

These recycling stations are as pretty as they are functional. Love.

books of our childhood.

I have such an enormous love of children's books, and am quite proud of our collection. Many of the books on our shelves are mine from when I was a kid -- their hardback bindings still in place, loved by my children as much as I loved them. (I always try to buy the hardback version of books for this reason -- so that they last for the next generation, and next!) While there are so many great new children's books, there is something so endearing about the older ones --the innocent stories, the charming illustrations, the memories they bring back, etc.
Here is a list of some of our (less obvious) favorites:

1.) Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose by Dr. Seuss
2.) Amos and Boris by William Steig
3.) Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen
4.) The Happy Lion by Louise Fatio
5.) Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
6.) Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
7.) Lyle, Lyle Crocodile by Bernard Waber
8.) The Tiger who came to Tea by Judith Kerr
9.) Are you my Mother? by P.D. Eastman
10.) Harry by the Sea by Gene Zion

rubystella.

A friend recently ordered some pretty pillows from the sweet shop Ruby Stella. They are well crafted with the kind of attention to detail you can only find with handmade goodness. I have a few room makeover projects up my sleeves and I cannot wait to place an order of my own.

lunchbots.

It may seem a little early to be talking back to school, but these LunchBots are so cute. They almost have me wanting to sign up for classes just to use their stainless steel goodness. Almost.

LunchBots are a healthier alternative to plastic baggies and boxes. Why you ask? Read more here.

rubber stamps.

I bought this rubber stamp set of large numbers along with an alphabet set a few years ago and I haven't bought a single birthday card since! Making your own custom cards could not be any easier -- all you need is some good-quality paper and a few ink pads in fun colors. Impress Rubber Stamps sells everything you need to hone your card-making skills, along with some very cute ideas for a little motivation.

guest blogger : Courtney from Babyccino.

While I am away on holiday, I thought it would be fun to have a few fantastic women come guest blog and keep you company. First up is Courtney, from Babyccino. If you are a long time reader, you may remember all the gals from Babyccino visiting a while back. If you feel so inclined you can check out their posts here + here+ here + here. But for now, let's find out a little bit more about Courtney and be sure to visit this whole week to discover what makes her smile.

Just a little basic info.
I’m Courtney -- mom to three kids (aged four and younger). It’s busy in our house! We live in London, right off the Hampstead Heath where we can be seen on weekends trudging up trails, come rain or shine! We’ve been here for 6 years now, and every winter I swear it will be my last – but then spring comes and we love it too much to leave!

About Babyccino.
Babyccino is a bit more than a blog – more like an international on-line magazine, covering everything from cool new products to trusted must-haves, recipes, cultural topics, parenting tips, arts&craft projects, etc. It’s also a good travel guide for people traveling to our cities. I love it because it really is a conversation between mum friends about topics that I care deeply about.

Favorite must read blog.
I must confess that since the birth of baby #3, I haven’t read a single blog other than Babyccino! But I do really love Inchmark blog and Oh Happy Day – those two women make me feel completely inadequate, but they are inspiring!

Favorite season.
Summer, FOR SURE! (I’m most happy in a pair of flip-flops!)

Favorite store [for you] to shop at.
Barneys! Aside from my family, it’s what I miss most about the states!

Favorite beauty product.
I’m not a huge make-up person, but I don’t leave the house without Burt’s Bees chapstick. Oh, and because I don’t spend a ton of money on make-up, I make up for it on face cream! My favorite is sjal Cela Intuitif.

Welcome Courtney!

toast.

Am currently eyeing this sweet tunic dress from Toast.

Lovely, no?

tiny two : the creativity room.

The Creativity Room is a new favorite blog of mine. I am afraid I lack the creativity gene but love to sample eye candy of others! I absolutely adore this "tiny two" party. Very cute idea!

play all day.

I just received my copy of Play All Day : Design for Children and...

i LOVE it!

The book is full of fabulous designers with the most rockin' products, one of my very favorite being Dante Beatrix. Play All Day covers just about everything, with categories ranging from "home sweet home" to "express yourself". If you want to be up to date with current design for children or you are just looking for a fun coffee table book, be sure to pick up your own copy. You will not be disappointed.

boyfriend jean.

yes or no to the boyfriend jean?

These Gap ones are very reasonably priced.

stroller storage.

This looks like an excellent solution for storing the stroller.

Especially when you are tight on space!

teething.

Baby Oliver is teething like mad. To soothe his sore gums I bought him Sophie the Giraffe. Sophie was born in 1961 and squeaks when squeezed. She hails from the French Alps where she is made with natural rubber and non-toxic paint.

I also just snatched up this gorgeous teether from the lovely Little Alouette shop. All of the classic wood toys and teethers from Little Alouette are made in the USA from Ohio Maple and finished with organic flax seed oil. What about you? Do you have any favorite products/tips/tricks when your babes are teething?

chad wys.

I really adore the landscape artwork by Chad Wys. His shop is full of reasonably priced original pieces. Do you like his work too? Go here for a chance at winning one of your own.

rosebud.

Rosebud is a sweet little paper company I was recently introduced to. And when I say sweet, I mean sweet. The graphics are reminiscent of iced sugar cookies. The cards make me think of family, holidays and slower times. Simply perfect for any occasion!

car litter bags.

Will be leaving on holiday soon, maybe I should get something like this.

Any suggestions?

cushy tushy.

Besides the silly name, this seems like a pretty nifty changing pad.

What's your favorite way to carry diaper essentials, even after you have said goodbye to the diaper bag?

bliss in a teacup.

What a happy little find. Bliss in a Teacup is a sweet etsy shop chock full of pretty things for you to buy. These embroidery hoop chalkboards are my favorite. What's yours?

flip book.

Isn't this such a great idea! Wins the prize for the coolest birth announcement EVER!

[via Say Yes to Hoboken]

DIY friday : iron on onesies.

Cute + simple + inexpensive.

Now this is a baby shower activity I can get behind.

[image via here]

kitchen love.

[photo via here]
I am totally digging this farmhouse sink + white cabinets + dark countertops.

Very pretty.

Very pretty indeed.

bicycle doormat.

I desperately need a new doormat for my front porch. I think this one would do nicely.

pen & ink : Tamara Garvey Illustration.

Artistic talents always amaze me.

I wish I could...

paint

draw

sculpt

illustrate

design

photograph

[i'd love to have this one hanging in my "pink" room!]

I can't though, so I enjoy drooling over the work of those that can.

Tamara Garvey creates fantastically awesome + whimsical pen & ink illustrations. Her prices are reasonable so there is no reason not to have a bit of art work displayed in your home. Go here and here to check out her work. Have fun browsing, ahem, or shopping!

extra coolness...

Receive 15% off any item. Just enter FAVORITE15 at check out and Tamara will refund you via paypal.

playroom.

I love this mom's take on the playroom.

Read about it here or pick up your own cookie magazine.

It's one of my favorites.

watercolor initals.

I'm always looking for simple crafts to do with my children. This looks like something they would all love. Who doesn't love a little watercolor fun?

taga.

I think this is ridiculously cool.

[via Tangled and True]

trench.

There is something so chic about the classic burberry trench. Throw it over a pair of jeans and a tee and voila. You instantly feel put together. This one is definitely on my wish list for the fall.

vans.

These are too cute to pass up.

I love me some kelly green.

I think both my boys may absolutely need a pair.

[thanks for the tip mom.]

handmade home.

Amanda Blake Soule's newest book, Handmade Home will be available on August 11. I'm officially counting down the days...

bold + noble.

I think this alphabet screen print by Bold + Noble is really, really fabulous.

5 minute candles.

These candles are pretty cool.

What a fun idea!

bandana chemise.

I like kelly green and I like this dress.

happy flower necklace.

Speaking of jewelry...

is this not the happiest flower necklace ever?

What type of jewelry gal are you?

stackable.

I love jewelry.

the simple, the grande.

I love it all.

But when it comes to pieces I actually wear, I shy away from the big and bulky.

I've tried, believe I have tried to wear the chunky beaded necklaces or the big cuff bracelets but it doesn't feel like me when I slip one one. So I tend to stick with the simple. I am really enamored with this darling ring. I think I could go for the white!

gizmoroo.

I'll admit that I am a fan of solids and stripes. But dressing my boys in just that would be unfair. They enjoy fun graphics and vibrant colors. So we meet in the middle. I only let them choose from what I like. Both my boys are still young enough to not realize their limited choices. I'm sorry, I just can't do Diego but I can do Gizmoroo.

Organic cotton, meets bright colors, meets funky graphics and witty sayings. Can you see the trend? Passionate mothers who want something more than is available and BOOM, they make it happen. That's how Gizmoroo was born.

I am totally digging "DJ nappy". Do you have a favorite?

funky little munky.

If you look in my closet you would be able to see that I am a big fan of navy + white + gray. I do have a few pops of color but the majority falls into the top three color categories. On one hand, I absolutely love muted colors but when it comes to baby attire, sometimes a bit of color can be fun!

Enter Funky Little Munky.

Bright colors.

Fun stripes.

And quirky graphics.

Funky Little Monkey was started by mom, Kyla, who wanted a color palette that included something other than pastels and neutrals. The cotton is super soft and extra thick. I absolutely adore the chunky stripes and color combinations. Now tell me, what's your favorite design?

blokus.

After a long HOT weekend we're taking a break from the sun. Instead of our usual swimming, I promised the children a rousing afternoon filled with our favorite game ever, Blokus. If you need a break from the sun too, buy Blokus here. You won't regret it.

no sleep.

[photo found here]
My youngest has croup.

I have some sort of virus.

And sleep, what's that?

I am going to try and get well so I can enjoy one of my most favorite holidays, the fourth of July. I will be back to my regular posting after the weekend. For those of you in the states, Happy Fourth!

happy birthday.

Linda and Harriett does it again.

I am smitten with this darling birthday greeting card.

The colors, the cake stand, the whole shebang!

pork chop kids.

I am having another "why didn't I think about that" moment. You know the moment, don't you? The one where you spot a fabulous product and think "why didn't I come up with that".

When I was introduced to Pork Chop Kids, I thought just that. A super simple idea but a great idea indeed. Meaghan wasn't satisfied with the current products on the market. After her daughter Tess was born in 2008, she knew what she needed was tall socks. Leg warmers didn't keep the teeny toes warm, tights and leggings had to be removed for diaper changes and socks just never stayed on. Pork Chops are practical and stylish, a winning combination!