ML Interest Tag: kids-gear

Giggle Just Relaunched Its Site with Some Exciting New Additions

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Whether you’re gearing up for a new baby or shopping for your older tots, Giggle is a go-to destination for all your shopping needs. Giggle has relaunched its digital shopping site and added a new private label collection––and you’re going to want it all.

The newly revamped site has an even better selection of the best baby brands, featuring baby gear, toys and nursery decor. Keep scrolling to see just all the new offerings you’ll find on Giggle.

The product expansion includes a new private label collection which includes pajamas, cotton bibs, hats, towels and cashmere receiving blankets in sizes newborn to six. The layette and pajama collection features hand-drawn illustrations by a Brooklyn-based artist which can be personalized with names or monograms. The new line will also get an expansion in the fall.

“The choices for baby and kids’ gear and clothing can be overwhelming for parents,” says CEO Erin Moennich. “What parents want in their everyday items are products that are made with high-quality and safe materials and offered at a good value. Shopping for babies and kids should be fun, so we focus on providing colorful items that bring a smile to parents and kids alike.”

In addition to the private label, Giggle will continue to stock the best go-to baby brands thanks to partnerships with sportswear brand Terez, jeweler Alexa Leigh, clothing lines Meme Chose, Lucky Jade, Disco Panda, accessories brands le Sportsac, Lele Sadoughi and more to create exciting exclusive products or Mommy & Me capsule collections.

“We take great pride in all the brands and products we offer at Giggle,” says Moennich. “In keeping with the brand’s roots, we know parents are busy and stretched for time and space, so we only offer products that are truly leaders in their respective categories. We want to be the online destination where parents can trust that every item has been vetted with our critical lens. We do not offer 15 different brands of teething toys. We offer a curated selection of items that we know all parents and kids will love.”

You can shop the new collection and all of Giggle’s offerings here.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Giggle

 

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Are These the Hottest Toy Trends of 2019?

by Jacqui Boland

Want to know what the hottest toys trends are this year?  We hightailed it to New York for the 116th Annual Toy Fair in order to get the scoop on the latest and greatest on toys and playtime. From bubble innovation to the best family games, here’s what play looks like in 2019.

 

The Biggest Trends in Toys

 

Magnetic Play
While the past decade has introduced us to massive boxes of magentic tiles (how did we live without them?), 2019 builds upon the fundamental shapes by adding animal faces, battery power and wheels, in the form of kits that bring your creation to life. For the preschool-set, we love the new Magformers Animal Jumble ($59.99). Older kids will love the GeoSmart Collection, including the Moon Lander ($52.99).

 

Nostalgia
1980s and 1990s toy pop culture was evident throughout Toy Fair, from vintage board games, to old school favorites like Lite Brite, Weebles, and Lava lamps. Two new toys that tipped their hat to the 1990s but offered a decidedly  modern twist are the Blockbuster Board Game from Big Potato Games (“The golden age of video rentals is back! Introducing a super-simple party game for anyone who has ever seen a movie”), which will be exclusively at Target in March 2019, and a collection of Spongebob Squarepants toys, including a Giggle Blaster,a weapon that sprays aerosol party string (included) and shouts over 15 SpongeBob phrases and sounds. The Giggle Blaster arrives in the Fall 2019 and retails for $19.99 (PS – Want to feel old? 2019 is Spongebob’s 20th Anniversary!)

Science Experiments
SpongeBob isn’t the only one celebrating an anniversary. The United Nations has declared 2019 the “International Year of the Periodic Table of the Chemical Elements,” and in celebration, Ooze Labs has released a chemistry set that will allow your budding chemist to safely explore 20 different experiments. For younger kids, Learning Resources introduced Beaker Creatures in Fall 2018, offering a science lab with a collectable component. 2019 brings a new Alien Experiment Lab and collectible alien creatures, including Swampoids, and Dogstars.

 

Real Life Heroes
While superhero toys will never go away, we were happy to see a renewed focus on “real life hero” toys including firemen, policemen and ambulance workers. Both LEGO and Mattel have introduced new action figures and play sets.

Mattel has relaunched Rescue Heroes, a line of collectibles that was popular in late 90s. The goal with the re-launch is to focus on preschoolers to stimulate children’s imagination and sense of adventure without involving violence. The product line will be available exclusively at Walmart stores beginning Summer 2019. It also coincides with a newly launched YouTube series.

LEGO is also focused on celebrating first responders with a  a new police play set in their City series, as well as a fire fighter play set available in a Duplo kit, which is aimed at preschoolers.

 

 

Play Sets for Small Spaces

We’re happy to see a slew of play activities for smaller spaces, and Fisher Price welcomed several innovative products perfect for apartments and travel, including an interactive kitchen that is portable and can be folded for storage, and a line of plush pretend sets, including a campfire. Sago expanded on it’s mini role playing sets with new professions including a veterinarian.

 

 

 

Movie Franchises

Though the long-awaited Toy Story 4 movie hasn’t hit theaters yet (May 2019) it hasn’t stopped the behind-the-scenes collaboration with some of our favorite toy makers.  The new LEGO movie is now headed to streaming channels, though kids will be thrilled with keeping the characters alive through a variety of action figures and play sets.

Some of our favorites from Toy Fair include, the LEGO Duplo play set (the first time a movie franchise has extended to Duplo, and the Barbie collaboration with Bo Peep as a super hero.

 

Nerf Alternatives
Did you know ax-throwing is now a thing? The folks at Zing, makers of cool outdoor kids gear), definitely know it, and have kid-proofed the sport so your little warriors can have fun without doing too much damage. Introducing the Zax, a soft-suction ax for throwing. Zing also has a new line of Hyperstrike bow & arrow products, launching exclusively at Target in May 2019 (other retailers in the Fall).  Designed with bungee cords, these bows can launch arrows up to 250 feet and are good for independent or team play (ages 14+). While Marshmallow shooters have been around for a few years, the The Marshmallow Fun Company is releasing The Jumbow, a large bow that will fire arrows with marshmallow heads (which totally alleviates the marshmallow stuck in barrel problem).

 

 

 

Hedgehogs & Sloths, Oh My!

Unicorns and Llama are so 2017. 2019 is all about Hedgehogs and Sloths, according to Toy Fair insiders. A few that stood out, Spike, the Fine Motor Hedgehog, which was a finalist for Toy of the Year 2019, helps todders 18 months + develop fine motor skills. Tumbling Hedgehog, a STEM experiment kit that allows kids to build their own robotic pet hedgehog will be released in July 2019, and the Fisher Price Smooth Moves Sloth, part of the new Linkimals line,  focuses on baby’s (9 months +)  gross motor development through music and motion by clapping its hands together, bobbing its head and activating music to encourage baby to move and groove along.

 

 

Red Tricycle Stand-Outs 

 

Little People, Big Dreams Book Series
With stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, this empowering series celebrates the important life stories of wonderful people  of the world, from designers and artists to scientists, all of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet all of them began life as a little child with a dream. The girls books launched in 2018 to much fanfare.

The first boys books in the popular series featuring Stephen Hawking and Mohammed Ali, were published in February 2019, Bruce Lee and David Bowie are coming later in 2019.

 

 

Fisher Price Wonder Makers Design System
Move over Thomas, Fisher Price is unveiling a whole new world of imaginative play and building this Fall. Built in response to consumer demand, the Wonder Maker Design System is gender neutral, a mix of textiles (felt, wood and plastic) and battery free.The Around Town starter kits retail for $39.99 and will be available for Christmas.

Bonus: The label informs consumers that the outer box can be recycled via curbside programs in most communities across the U.S. and the inside plastic bag can be recycled through store drop-off programs that accept plastic film.

 

 

What do you think of the Toy Trends for 2019? Share with us in a comment below.

 

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Top 10 Expert Tips from LA’s Best Organizer

by Andie Huber

Believe it or not, there’s a National Organize Your Home day and LA’s best organizers: Joni Weiss and Kitt Fife, Co-Founders of Practically Perfect, exclusively dished to us on how to start tackling the clutter in your kid’s room (and how to prevent it from getting out of control ever again). Scroll through to see how you can get started, what to do when your big kids won’t back away from their baby blocks and when to call in the professionals.

photo: via Practically Perfect

1. The number one mistake parents make when they try to organize their kid’s room?

Practically Perfect: Making a system that’s too complicated for your kids to keep up with! Staying organized is all about maintenance and accountability and that means kiddos have to be able to pick up after themselves when playtime is over. It’s imperative to consider the age plus stage of your little ones when you consider which organizational system will work best for your play spaces!  

photo: via Practically Perfect

2. Should the kids be involved or should you do it yourself when they’re not around? 

Practically Perfect: This is a tricky one and there’s really no right or wrong answer here. The decision whether to include kids in the process depends entirely upon what your goals are. Is your goal to have a clean and organized space that you feel good in? Or is your goal to teach your kids the value of getting and staying organized? We’ve certainly worked in both ways, as each family is unique.  

3. What if the child refuses to discard or donate anything?

Practically Perfect: When a child has a difficult time letting go of items (which happens often, brace yourself for “that’s my favorite” or “I love that one” even if they haven’t played with it in years), it can be helpful to explain where the items are going. Letting your child know that the belongings are being passed along to a friend or neighbor or handed down to a younger family member can be more comforting than simply throwing them into a garbage bag. Also, involving your child in the decision about which charity to donate items to can be very special. Another helpful tip is to take photographs of the beloved items so that they won’t feel forgotten.

4. Favorite way to organize LEGO bricks?

Practically Perfect: They key is to organize LEGO bricks in a way that makes sense for your kiddos, based on how they play with the pieces. The easiest way is to dump them all into one tub so that they are all in one spot. But for the child who is in love with mini figures, a special container to store or display those might be ideal. If your child likes to choose pieces by color (or shape, or size) then store them that way, as long as your kiddos will be able and willing to maintain the system!

5. Favorite way to stash those stuffed lovelies?

Practically Perfect: The most important aspect of organizing stuffed animals is almost always to edit the collection, which seems to be continually multiplying! We like to keep it simple. Select a cute basket that matches the decor of your home and commit to owning only what can be stored in that basket.   

photo: via Amy Bartlam for Practically Perfect

6. We’re ready to start. What’s the first step?

Practically Perfect: Our client relationships begin with a consultation, during which we pinpoint organizational challenges and goals. We determine which systems are working well and which ones are not, and then we prioritize which space(s) should be tackled first. We ask a lot of questions! Once a project is underway, we ask even more questions. We do this to ensure that we’re creating systems that are reasonable for our clients to maintain. Practical is perfect! We work side-by-side with clients and/or independently of them, depending up upon the goals and scope of the project — and then we stay in a part of our clients’ lives as their families and lifestyles grow and change, to help them modify those systems over time. Once we have organized any space, every single belonging in that area will have a clear and obvious “home.”  

7. What do we do with all this stuff we don’t need anymore?

Practically Perfect: If our clients have a favorite charity, we make arrangements to have unwanted items donated to that charity. And if they do not, we suggest some various organizations that are near and dear to our own hearts. Some clients also pass items along to family, friends, neighbors. We donate and recycle whatever we can, shred anything confidential and then safely and properly dispose of anything that’s left.  

photo: via Practically Perfect

8. What happens next?

Our client relationships begin with a consultation, during which we pinpoint organizational challenges and goals.  We determine which systems are working well and which ones are not, and then we prioritize which space(s) should be tackled first. We ask a lot of questions! Once a project is underway, we ask even more questions. We do this to ensure that we’re creating systems that are reasonable for our clients to maintain. Practical is perfect! We work side-by-side with clients and/or independently of them, depending up upon the goals and scope of the project and then we stay in a part of our clients’ lives as their families and lifestyles grow and change, to help them modify those systems over time. Once we have organized any space, every single belonging in that area will have a clear and obvious “home.” 

9. Okay! The organizing is complete. What’s the best way to maintain it?

Practically Perfect: Staying organized is all about accountability. It helps to remember how good it feels to be organized and to commit yourself to making organization a priority in your day. Changing habits can be key. We encourage clients to abide by a “don’t put it down, put it away” mentality so that items don’t pile up over time. But for the items that do, we encourage carving out a small amount of time each day to place items back where they belong. And labeling can help! We offer maintenance programs for clients who are committed to staying organized, as well.  

10. Why and when should people call in a professional for help?

Practically Perfect: There are so many reasons! The first and most obvious is when it all seems overwhelming and you don’t know where or how to start. Other great reasons are: not having time to create or maintain organizing systems on your own and wanting to achieve a particular look and feel in your home that you aren’t sure how to attain.  

 

How do you keep the clutter in your home from taking over? Let us know in the comments below!

—Andie Huber

RELATED LINKS:

Donating Baby Gear & Kids Gear

Top 10 Free (or Super Cheap) Things to Do with Kids Under 5

 

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Spotted! The Coolest New Gear at the ABC Kids Expo

by Gabby Cullen

At Red Tricycle, the most cutting-edge gear for babies and kids is totally our jam. In order to bring you the best in new & cool, we hit up the 2016 ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas and it did not disappoint. Read on to discover the color trend you’ll be seeing everywhere in 2017, learn which toys will be a smash hit with kids, and get the heads up on gear you’ll actually use.

Trends for 2017

Expect to see these trends in the new year.

photo: courtesy @lunchesandlittles via Instagram

Gray is having a heyday.
Gray is here to stay. It was a constant theme at ABC; the classic hue will hit the kids and baby market in full force in 2017. The new JETT stroller line from Nuna is offered in cool gray hues, the new 3DTote Convenience Stroller (available in January 2017 at Amazon and Target) from Summer Infant will sport a gray and black design, and the reversible play mats from Lollaland (featuring a contemporary, geometric pattern on one side and a kid-friendly, playful pattern on the other) are now offered in gray. In mid-November, Skip Hop will launch a six-piece baby gift set in soft grays; we also spotted nursing pillows from Nursie, teething toys from Zoli, and sippy cups from Drink a Duex, all dressed up in chic shades of gray.

Collaborations are so hot right now.
We dig a good collab. Seems like other folks do too: There were a few exciting projects between style mavens and baby/kids gear companies at ABC this year. One that stood out was the Rachel Zoe for Maxi-Cosi line—infant seat, car seat, stroller, and diaper bag—designed by style guru Rachel Zoe. Admittedly luxe, the gear had leather accents and white (gasp!) fabric, but still kept comfort, utility, and safety a priority.  

Another cool collaboration we spotted was mega-hot graphic design company Tokidoki, paired up with not one, but two different brands! The company lent its larger-than-life, fun characters (the unicorns and cactus friends are particularly awesome) to Zoli’s food and beverage containers, and it paired up with Itzy Ritzy (launching January 2017) to add its cult-status graphics to the popular reusable snack bags.

Forget one of everything. Get one that DOES everything.
It used to be that new parents needed one of everything. These days, to maximize space and convenience, parents need one that does everything. We thought the new Tuo high chair (available December 2016) from Skip Hop was a modern parents dream. Stylish and functional, when baby is ready to make the move to toddler chair, simply shorten the legs and ditch the tray. Bonus points for the easy-clean, reversible seat pad. The Splash n’ Store (available December 2016) from Summer Infant also caught our eye for it’s multi-stage, fold-up-and-store features.

Silicon is the new plastic.
Forget BPA-free plastic. The newest material for eating, drinking, bathing, and even playing is silicone. Yup, it’s bendable, dishwasher, microwave and oven safe, is hypo-allergenic and PVC, BPA, BPS and phthalate free. The Brushies is a brightly colored set of finger puppets that double as toothbrushes. Designed by two moms, a dentist and a child psychologist, this new toy-and-book set gives parents a whole new outlook on oral hygiene. EZPZ caught our eyes with its fun and colorful line of happy mats, bowls, and play mats (available December 2016). Marcus & Marcus had a brand-new line of bath toys (available December 2016) at ABC: Mold-free submarines and rockets in bright, fun colors featuring their signature animal friends. Silikids will soon have their new bowl/plate combo on the market. The fun colors, multiple functions, and cool design are ideal for busy parents. 

Other Cool Products That Caught Our Eye

There were many other cool and innovative products at ABC. Here are a few that really stood out.

Green Toys – Farm Playset
From the maker of your kiddo’s favorite upcycled tea set, trucks and boats comes a new line of pretend play toys, including the Farm Playset, which was a 2016 ABC Kids Expo award winner. The farm set comes with 13 pieces, including animals and a farmer— we’re betting you’ll see it on hot toy gift guides this year.

Dr. Brown’s – Options Bottle
The easy-flow bottles moms know and love got a makeover in 2016. The new Options Bottle allows parents to choose whether or not they want to deal with the vent parts. Can you say genius?

Janod – The Fantastic Castle
The french toy company has launched its latest adorable imaginary cardboard world, the Fantastic Castle. The 16-piece puzzle comes with 10 wooden accessories, and 8 cardboard accessories. The intricate illustrations and fold-up, stow-away capabilities caught our eye!  

Keen – The Moxie Collection
Keen shoes are known for sturdy construction and easy-on-easy-off capabilities. We got a peek at the new Moxie Collection (Spring/Summer 2017) and if you’ve got girls who love to be active but still love style and fun colors, this will be the one shoe you buy for summer and maybe even keep through fall.

Tegu – Sticky Monsters
Tegu will launch their latest line of magnetic blocks—Sticky Monsters—just in time for the holidays (December 2016). They come with fun names like Zip Zap, Finklebear, and Marbles, have bright, bold pieces, and are compatible with all other Tegu blocks. If you already have a growing collection, these new friends will be a cool addition. If you’ve never bought Tegu blocks before, this is a good place to start.

Innobaby – The Robot
This brand-new teether is made from TPE—a non-toxic, high quality food grade material. Every Innobaby teether are bisphenol-A (BPA) free, phthalate free, pvc free, lead free and latex free.

Are you excited for any of these new & cool products? Share with us in a Comment!

—Gabby Cullen

 

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12 Signs You’re a Glover Park Parent

by rtsarahvogel

Glover Park’s position between family-friendly AU Park and bustling Georgetown makes it appealing for parents looking for the best of both worlds. With access to a new playground, awesome restaurants, and even hiking trails, it’s easy to see why more families are calling this part of D.C. home. Here are 12 signs that you’re making the most of Glover Park family life.

Photo: Takver via Flickr

  1. Everyone in the family’s got a green thumb thanks to your community garden plot.
  2. To your kid, Wisconsin is a street, not a state.
  3. Guy Mason Park is like “Cheers”–everyone knows your (and your kid’s) name.

Photo: Lisa Townsend via Flickr

4. Forget overalls and onesies, preppy favorites like polos and pinafores are mainstays in your wee one’s wardrobe

5. Co-op registration day makes the college admission process look like a breeze.

6. Your local library is home to a park (and a great sledding hill!).

Photo: Stoddert Soccer

7. Two Words: Stoddert Soccer.

8. Your little foodie loves samosas and sushi thanks to your neighborhood’s array of restaurants.

9.Your baby’s first hike was on the Glover Archbold Trail.

Photo: Harmony D. via Yelp   

10. Glover Park Day is your favorite day of the year.

11. There’s no Metro stop nearby, but the Metro bus lines get your brood everywhere from the office to museums and monuments.

12. You’ve both bought and sold kids’ gear on the Glover Park listserv.

What else makes Glover Park parenthood unique? Let us know in the comments below.

—Sarah Vogel

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Meet 9 of New York City’s Coolest Dads

by Lambeth Hochwald

Dads are the ultimate jugglers, from pancakes made to order to Sunday evening storytime. To honor all of the cool dudes in our life, we want you to meet nine New York City dads that inspire us. From teaching kids about healthy food to bringing design-forward kids’ gear to the marketplace, these dads are committed to spending as much time with their kids as they can and are, ultimately, redefining what it means to be a dad today.

Mitch Chaitin

For Mitch and his partner, New York City is the greatest place in the world to raise a child, whether it’s a two mile walk to Chinatown or a daytrip to the Bronx zoo. "I always thought denying our son suburban living would give him less of an opportunity for outdoor play and socialization," says Mitch of his son, Paul, 10. "Instead, we can go to any playground in our East Village neighborhood and run into friends. Plus, we belong to several local groups so our friend circle is much expanded." As a blogger for three-plus years, Mitch writes about his life in New York City and his family’s adventures on his blog Gay NYC Dad. “Paul helps me with video game reviews and we get to experience some other great events in and around town."

Biggest personal accomplishment: "Adopting Paul is my proudest accomplishment and raising him to be the best he can be is my number-one priority and my life's work. As a stay-at-home dad, I get to spend time with him after school and participate in school events. It’s all I ever wanted in my life."

Biggest professional accomplishment:  "I am proud that I have become one of the top gay parent bloggers in America. It gives me the opportunity to share my message with the country that our gay family is just like yours, normal, American and stressed like everyone else!"

Who else should we add to our list? Let us know in the comment section below!

Written by: Lambeth Hochwald

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Now Open: ReCrib Has Designer Bling, With Less Ka-ching

by rtelenawf

You’ve imagined the perfect nursery, complete with an Oeuf crib, Netto dresser and Bloom Coco rocker resting in the corner. The room is chic, gorgeous, yet functional. It’ll be your haven, your nest for your little one…until a price check turns into a reality check for your wallet. Don’t ditch designer dreams, head to the new ReCrib in Highland Park where you can score gently used beautiful baby gear for less.

photo credit: ReCrib via Instagram

Not So Humble Origins
New parents know that brand new baby gear doesn’t come cheap. Especially if you want upscale stuff. In the “must have the best for my new baby” haze that hits around the third trimester, many succumb and splurge on top notch everything. But after a few years, you no longer need all those well-made things. That’s what happened to parents and founders Michelle & Daniel Lehmann.  They were moving apartments in New York and finally decided to get rid of their kids’ furniture and gear they had outgrown. When they went down to the storage basement in their building, they saw it was filled with other families’ cribs, strollers and toys that they were no longer using. They realized there was a need for a site that was targeted to families so they could buy and sell the best brands of gently used kids’ gear. A site like that didn’t exist, so ReCrib was born. Problem solved, online at least.

photo credit: Michelle Lehmann (pictured with her husband and kids)

Fast forward a few years, the site is a huge hit, and Michelle and Daniel moved again—this time to LA.  They decided it was time to test an actual store you could visit, and tried a pop-up to test the concept in February of this year.  Smart shopping LA parents flocked to the concept and now it’s here to stay in Highland Park. It’s paradise for any parent wanting to treat themselves to quality goods for their kiddos without zeroing out their bank accounts. It’s also ideal for anyone with extra gear that they need to sell. Win/win!

photo credit: ReCrib via facebook

Only In LA
As luck would have it, Daniel’s childhood friend was opening The Hunt, and they had some space in the giant mid-century furniture warehouse. So ReCrib and The Hunt combined, blending the most fantastic vintage finds with the most fabulous high-end baby bargains. A match made in heaven, because while you’re designing baby’s dream room, you can update the rest of the house with that amazing McCobb desk or Saaranin table.  Or, if you’re getting rid of baby gear, you can swap it for some cooler vintage finds that will grow with your growing tot.

photo credit: Michelle Lehmann

Going Chic Means Being Green
ReCrib fits beautifully with the mindset of LA parents, who care about sustainability as well as design. Even if you’re not familiar with coveted designer brands, you can count on finding a blend of beautiful design and functionality at ReCrib. Plus, they also have top brands that are super utilitarian like a Maclaran stroller or Peg Perego high chair, since practicality is just as important as design.

photo credit: ReCrib

Ready To Get Rid of That Expensive Bouncer?
It’s easy to do some Spring Cleaning and de-clutter your home. (And reclaim a little of the cash you spent in the baby days.) ReCrib will pick up right from your home. The process is simple: e-mail info@reCrib.com or call  the store. You can arrange for them to send a delivery service to collect your gently used items, or you can drop them off to the store yourself. Your things will not only be available for purchase at the store, but ReCrib will also list them on their website. Once your item is sold, you’ll score 30% of the profits.

You can find ReCrib in Highland Park, right near one of our favorite new parks, and all time top donut shops!  (We’re planning your whole morning outing for you…)  The hours are noon- 6 p.m., 7 days a week.

ReCrib at The Hunt
5317 York Blvd.
Highland Park
Phone: 310-383-8960
Online: recrib.com

Let us know when you check out ReCrib for some baby bargains. What gorgeous goods did you grab?

-Elena Wurlitzer

 

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Essentials Totally Awesome Awards 2013 Winners & Celebrations

by marisaredtri

FB-Web Red Tricycle Totally Awesome Awards San Francisco Bay Area Celebration – Niall David Photography-1260

Parents from all over the nation picked their favorite family-friendly businesses for Red Tricycle’s 2013 Totally Awesome Awards!  Over 236,777 votes were cast and the results are in with all of the Totally Awesome winners listed below.

All of us at Red Tricycle want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the winners, finalists and especially, to everyone who took the time to nominate and vote for their favorite local businesses. Without further ado, here are your 2013 Totally Awesome Award Winners:

Amusement & Theme Parks: LEGOLAND Florida
Announcement, Birthday & Holiday Card Suppliers: Swish Printables
Art Supplies: The Art Pantry
Baby & Kids Accessories: Babiators
Baby & Kids Skincare Products: The Honest Company
Baby Essentials: OhBabyChic
Baby Shower Gifts: Little For Now
Beloved Bedtime Stories: I See Me! Personalized Children’s Books
Bikes, Trikes & Scooters: Plasma Car
Biking Gear: iBert Safe-T Seat
Birthday Party Ideas: We Heart Parties
Blankets & Comforters: Elonka Nichole Designs
Bottles & Drinking Containers: Yummi Pouch
Car Seat: Diono
Cleaning Products: Wabi Baby
Clothing Lines for Boys: Andy & Evan
Clothing Lines for Girls: Mixed Up Clothing
Coolest Kids Flicks: Ruby’s Studio: The Friendship Show
Coupon Sites for Moms: I am THAT lady
Cribs and Beds: PetitNest
Deal Site for Mom & Kids: babySTEALS
Diaper Bags & Backpacks: Ju-Ju-Be
Eco-Friendly Baby & Kids Gear: Squooshi
Eco-Friendly Games & Toys: Green Toys Inc.
Eco-Friendly Room Decor: Kt Steppers
Educational Toys & Games: NumbersAlive!
Family Cruises: Disney Cruises
Family Travel Sites: Travel with Bender
First Birthday Gifts: FunPod
Healthy Snacks: GoGo squeeZ
Hiking and Camping Gear: Piggyback Rider
Inspiring Nursery Ideas: Nesting
Kids Apps: The Bored Game Company
Kids Bedding: The Little Acorn
Kids Music Artists: The Battersby Duo
Kids Shoes: Stonz Wear
Kids Swimwear & Accessories: SwimZip
Kids Travel Essentials: Itzy Ritzy
Lunch Boxes: Itzy Ritzy
Maternity Fashion & Products: Boob Design
Mom & Dad Blogs: Chasing Rainbows
On The Go Prepared Meals: Sprout Organic Baby Food
Online Consign, Swap & Recycle Sites: Moxie Jean
Parenting & Baby Magazine : Mini magazine
Parenting Humor: Honest Toddler
Parenting Sites: Baby Guy Gear Guide
Pinterest Boards: BabyList
Playroom Must-Haves: LaLaLounger
Rainwear: Rainy Day Kids
Recipes for Whole Family: Teeny Tiny Foodie
Shopping Sites: Mothers Organic
Ski Resorts with Kids Programs: Sierra at Tahoe
Slings & Baby Carriers: TULA Baby Carriers
Snack Bags: Itzy Ritzy
Snacks & Drinks for Moms: Zevia
Soaps & Shampoos for Kids: The Honest Company
Stroller Accessories : Baby Elephant Ears, Inc.
Strollers: Baby Jogger
Subscription Box Services: Citrus Lane
Summer Resorts for Families: Tyler Place Resort
Sun Screens & Lotions: TruKid
Toy Storage & Organizers: Ace Baby Furniture
Toys & Gear for Backyard Fun: HearthSong Hugglepod
Wall Art & Room Decor Accessories: Baby Jives Co.
Zoos & Animal Parks: Roger Williams Park Zoo

To celebrate the winners and finalists, we threw 9 #totallyawesome grand events in 9 Red Tricycle cities.

Want to see the winners of all our local categories? Click on the city link to see their Totally Awesome celebrations; Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, SoCal and Washington D.C.!

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Best Backpacks as Recommended by Lara Dittoe

by Jacqui Boland

Lara Dittoe knows a thing or two about backpacks. As the buyer for kids gear at zuily, as well as the mom of two, Lara has spent a fair amount of time researching the most functional, well designed and best-priced backpacks for preschool and elementary aged kids. Here, she shares the scoop with us on her favorites finds.

"The storage on the Skip Hop Pink Plaid Backpack is perfect for older kids," says Laura.

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Meet the 16 Coolest Power Moms in L.A.

by sommy rhee

All moms work overtime with no overtime pay, we all know that secret.  Then there are moms who step it up a notch to share their knowledge and expertise in helping other moms ease  into motherhood.  Meet these L.A. power moms who not only take care of their households, but also manage to pursue their passions and share them with us.  We’ve rounded up a colorful list to include: a go-to mom specializing in family issues, artists, a celebrity, entrepreneurs and philanthropists.  The best of the best of power moms that make L.A. a fabulous place for moms and their families.

Kimberley Clayton Blaine

Founder, TheGoToMom.TV

As if chasing around two young boys isn’t enough, this power mom has over 20 years experience under her belt working as a licensed Family Child Therapist.  Specializing in ages newborn to seven-years-old, she launched TheGoToMom.TV in 2006 to produce parenting shows that are syndicated to over 2 million viewers.  Working Mother Magazine named her one of the most powerful moms in social media, and she has interviewed many influential people including Vice President Biden.  As if that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, she is also the Social Marketing Director for the Early Childhood Mental Health Campaign in Los Angeles, helping families detect and manage mental health in their little ones.

Tara Tiger Brown

Founder of LAMakerSpace

Move over fake geek girls, the real cool geek is in town and she’s a power mom.  Well, that’s what she’s recently blogged on her contributor site at Forbes.com where she dishes about women and technology tidbits.  She’s also the genius founder of L.A. Maker Space, a community that brings together a smorgasbord of creatives for kids of all ages to make DIY hands-on projects and inspire artful minds.  They describe themselves as “age-agnostic”, meaning all ages welcome!

Jayneoni Moore

Fashion TV Personality and Celebrity Fashion Insider

If Hollywood wants to know the latest in baby and kid’s swag, they know whom to call: Jayneoni.  She’s been featured on Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, and MTV just to name a few.  She is famously known for her Boom Boom Room, a Pre-Golden Globe gifting suite that showcases the latest in baby and kids’ gear for celebrity moms-to-be.  Anybody who is somebody in Hollywood knows Jayneoni is the gatekeeper who knows what’s in and what’s out in baby and kids products.

Jina Park

Founder and President, PLUSH

Who doesn’t love a fantastic party and the inside scoop in the latest, hottest baby gear?  Mom of two boys and entrepreneur Jina Park has built her empire on delivering the best in baby products and party planning ideas to trendy savvy families.  PLUSH is her highly publicized Los Angeles trade show featuring the best of the best in posh little urbanite products for consumer parents.  In addition to PLUSH, Jina’s empire includes PlushLittleBaby  (formerly known as Ultimately Plush), an online resource for moms to find party planning ideas & tips, vendor directories, product reviews, and her creative blog.

Yvonne Condes

Founder, MomsLA.com

When she’s not marathoning or chasing around her two kids, this former newspaper reporter edits and manages a community of over 100 bloggers on MomsLA.com.  The website picks the creme de la creme of the best mommy bloggers to dish about real challenges and issues surrounding life in LA through the eyes of real LA moms.  She’s also a contributor to Babble and writes for YvoneeinLA, Tecca and CBS Los Angeles.

Melissa Nash

Founder, Knuckleheads Clothing

Transforming the look of little boys’ fashion with her creative greaser/skater designs from Knuckleheads, Melissa Nash started the family business from her husband’s motorcycle shop inspirations.  Melissa keeps her styles simple, classic, yet trendy.  Her clothing has been all the sensation on among celebrities’ kids and featured in various publications.  Her biggest helpers with the business? Her kids who are at the office daily are her biggest inspirations in her design process.

Linda Perry

Founder, PeachHead

Moms love getting together and sharing on all topics of life.  Meet Linda Perry who started out meeting with 15 moms and grew the group to lead over 13,000 moms and families to share challenges, triumphs, and stories through the online community, PeachHead.com.  In addition to being one of the biggest online mommy support groups, they also meet off-line to actively help each other with motherhood issues and form true, meaningful relationships.

Brooke Chaffin

SVP of Women and Family, Disney Interactive Media Group/Disney Online

Originally a power attorney who started her career as an associate entertainment attorney at Loeb & Loeb, LLP, this power mom of twin boys quickly climbed the corporate ladder blazing through years as President of Auditude, then six years at Yahoo! developing content and business strategies, and now as Senior Vice President at Disney Interactive Media Group and Disney Online where she oversees online content geared towards women and families. 

Caroline Kunitz and Melissa Ratcliff

Co-Founders, LA Diaper Drive

This Hollywood mom has worked as a casting director for many popular TV reality shows.  Her philanthropic ambitions and her passion for social change led her to create the LA Diaper Drive.  The nonprofit organization collects diapers for low-income SoCal families year-round.  The LA Diaper Drive has donated over 800,000 diapers for low-income SoCal families in the past year and has helped to bring awareness this issue. 

Amber Dusick

Founder, Crappypictures.com

Ceramic artist, wooden craftswoman, Etsy shop owner, and blogger extraordinaire , this mom of two created Crappy Pictures to vent her funny happenings as a mom and because well, she didn’t have a fancy photographer to follow her around to document her life.  Her hilarious take on motherhood captured by a simple paint and draw by the computer has garnered an impressive following of other moms who can empathize with a big gusto of LOL’s.

Catherine McCord

Founder, Weelicious

Her mission is simple: get the kids cooking up something in the kitchen with you!  Catherine introduces simple, kid-friendly recipes to encourage and inspire moms to get the little ones involved in the cooking process.  Her honest, organic and nutritious approach to introducing kids to foods is refreshing and helps families develop healthy attitudes to food and eating right.

Jessica Alba

Founder, The Honest Company

Who doesn’t know or love Jessica Alba: her beautiful family, her impeccable style, and her commitment to bring natural and eco-friendly products to families through The Honest Company. This Golden-Globe nominated beauty is changing the way companies are run and products are made by making sure they are created out of a culture of honesty.  She extends her commitment to an honest community by being a strong volunteering advocate: she’s actively involved in Safer Chemicals Healthy Families, ONE, and Habitat for Humanity, just to name a few.

Jill Spivack

Co-Founder, Sleepy Planet

Sleep…it’s probably the number one issue surrounding our families once a little bundle of joys arrive.  Jill Spivack is an experienced psychotherapist that specializes in pediatric sleep disorders after her own battle with her first child’s sleep issues.  She has made her life’s journey to speak, write, and contribute to various outlets to help parents and their children how to develop healthy sleep patterns.  She is co-owner of Sleepy Planet, a community including her consultation services dedicated to guiding parents on the path toward healthy sleep development.

Cathy Siegel Weiss

Chair of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

This Stanford grad has had an amazing career working with the big names in Hollywood as a former entertainment lawyer.  She is currently the Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, one of the premier pediatric hospitals in SoCal.  She and her husband have also founded the Children’s Fund 100, a dedicated group of generous philanthropists that support the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in order ensure quality healthcare for our little ones.

Tammy Takahashi

Homeschooling Advocate

Homeschooling expert and author of two books: Deschooling Gently and Zenschooling, this power mom of three has devoted her life to advocating the benefits of homeschooling to families all across Southern California. Since 2003, she has been actively involved in the homeschooling community by organizing homeschooling information nights, speaking at conferences, and volunteering.  She says the best thing about homeschooling is the freedom it allows families to travel and experience the world first-hand.

Kristina Lin

Owner, Bel Bambini

This mother of three made it her mission to find herself a plush selection of luxury baby clothing and gear that was lacking in the 2006 baby market at the time her twin daughters were born.  So she decided to set up shop and Bel Bambini was born with an impeccable selection of baby and nursery products that are safe, environmentally friendly and of course, of the utmost quality.  Her baby boutiques can be found in the trendy neighborhoods of West Hollywood and Newport Beach. 

There are hundreds of power moms out there. In fact, we bet you’re one of them! Who else would you add to our list and why? 

–Sommy Rhee

Photos from: Babble.com, Bel Bambini Flickr, thegiggleguide.com, wobmedia-news.ning.com, tammytakahashi.com, businesswire.com, freshfiction.com, saltandnectar.squarespace.com, weelicious.com, crappypictures.com, voicestoshare.com, hollywoodreporter.com, Jayneoni Twitter, vimeo.com, teachmetstuff.net, thecreativeallianceexperience.com

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