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, DallasDenver, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, SoCal and Washington D.C.!

We are so thrilled to announce the winners of Red Tricycle’s 2012 Totally Awesome Awards. All of us at Red Tricycle want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the winners, nominees and especially, to all 206,648 of you who took the time to nominate and vote for your favorite businesses from your favorite amazing kids apps to perfect playroom pieces. Without further ado, here are the 2012 Totally Awesome Award Essentials Winners:

Adorable Duds for Little Dudes: Little Z Kids

Amazing Kids Apps: Early Ascent (Makers of Reading Raven)

Artistic Art Supplies: Flax Art & Design

Baby Shower Gifts: Makaboo

Bedazzling Bedding: Baby DeeDee Sleep Nest

Beloved Bedtime Stories: Beautiful Oops by Workman Publishing Company

Big Birthday Ideas: Kara’s Party Ideas

Biggest Backyard Fun: Bilibo

Biggest Bargains: MamaSource by Mamapedia

Charming Clothes for Little Girls: Anthem of The Ants

Chic-est Kids Accessories: Bow Allure

Classic Cleaning Products: The Honest Company

Comfiest Cribs & Beds: PetitNest, Alouette Crib

Coolest Kids Flicks: Toy Story

Creative Card Suppliers: PosePrints

Daily Fix Parenting Site: InCultureParent

Dapper Diaper Bags & Backpacks: Ju-Ju-Be

Darling Drinking Containers: organicKidz

Exceptional Educational Toys: Little Pim

Extreme Weather Wear: Polarn O. Pyret

Extremely Eco Friendly Room Decor: Children Inspire Design

Fantastic Family Recipes: For the Love of Cooking

First Birthday Gifts: FunPod

Freshest Maternity Fashions: Boob Design

Gourmet To Go: GoGo Squeez

Raddest Ski Resorts: Sierra at Tahoe

Prettiest Pinterest Boards: Six Sisters’ Stuff

Spaciest Storage & Organizers: Delta Children’s Products

Monthly Must-Read ‘Zine: Babiekins

Wheely Cool Bike Gear: Tailwags Helmet Covers

Nicest Nursery Ideas: Honey + Fitz

Ship-Shape Family Cruises: Disney Cruises

Scintillating Summer Resorts: Tyler Place Family Resort

Perfect Playroom Pieces: The Imagination Tree

Most Amusing Amusement Parks: Oakland Children’s Fairyland

Rockingest Rollers, Bikes & Trikes: Sbyke

Zaniest Zoos & Animal Parks: San Francisco Zoo

Ultimate Car Seats: Britax

Smartest Stroller Accessories: SnoozeShadeUSA

Sublime Consign Online Sites: Trading Cradles

Sunniest Swimwear & Accessories: i play.

Stoutest Sun Screens & Lotions: TruKid

Surefire Shopping Sites: Diapers.com

Most Influential Blog: Raising Happiness LLC

Outstanding Outdoor Gear: Piggyback Rider

Top Family Travel Sites: Field Trips with Sue

Sparklingest Soaps & Shampoos: Circle of Friends

Sweetest Strollers: UPPAbaby

Greenest Games & Toys: Green Toys

Wonderful Wall Art & Accessories: Phyllis Harris Designs

Smoothest Skin Products: 100% Pure Kids

Snappiest Kids Shoes: Rileyroos

Snappy Snack Bags: Itzy Ritzy

Sleekest Slings & Baby Carriers: Beco Baby Carrier

Longest Lasting Lunch Boxes: EasyLunchBoxes

Super-Cool Subscription Services: Green Kid Crafts

Snuggiest Blankets & Comforters: Elonka Nichole Designs

Must-Have Travel Accessories: Lay-n-Go

Neatest Newborn Stuff: Aden & Anais

Tunes for Tots: Mo Phillips

Greenest Baby & Kids Gear: Gro-Via

Happy-Mom Healthy Snacks: GoGo squeeZ

It’s usually pretty clear – you’re either a LEGO family or you’re not – and it all depends on how obsessed your kids are with these colorful, popular building blocks! But, the land of LEGO’S has stepped it up since you were a kid (they’ve been in the United States since the 1960s!) and just like so many brands, you can fill your entire life with LEGO gear these days – from bedding to board games to room decor to clothing and more. If they make it, you can get it in a LEGO version! Thankfully, most of these LEGO products won’t hurt your feet when you step on them in the middle of the night, as every parent has done a million times. Ouch!

For kids who love Legos and want everyone to know it, LEGO clothing is the only way to go. Crocs recently released these Crocband Kids Lego Clogs ($35) that are a hit with both kids and parents, who are happy to report that they no longer have to repeat themselves 27 times when asking their kiddos to get their shoes on! 

If you’re looking for some off-beat LEGO clothing that is funkier than the average LEGO gear, head to Red Bubble, where independent artists and designers sell their cheeky, fun LEGO designs. Prices vary and most designs are available in infant through adult sizes. We guarantee your LEGO-loving kid won’t see all of his friends at school wearing these shirts!

Okay, we know that life as a parent isn’t all about us versus them, but we have to admit, these Poppin’ Pineapple Soaps with a LEGO Surprise ($7) score one point for mom and dad! What better way to trick your kids into scrubbing up than with the reward of a new LEGO figurine, that’s embedded in the middle of these soaps. Each soap is made from glycerin, Shea butter and essential oils and you can choose the figurine that is in the soap, as well as the scent. Just don’t look too smug about it when they are asking to wash their hands – you don’t want them to catch on to your trick!

Don’t say we didn’t warn you – going on to Etsy and searching for LEGO party supplies is like opening Pandora’s toy box. There is so much good stuff on there that it may, quite literally, blow your mind. Some of our favorites include these fun Personalized LEGO Cupcake Toppers ($14 for 24) that will instantly dress up some homemade cupcakes.

Or, how about this cool LEGO Head Piñata ($30) that can be custom-made with different facial expressions and colors.

And this creative LEGO Happy Birthday Banner ($30) that they’ll love hanging in their room after the party.

For the youngest of LEGO loving kids – you know, the ones who still can’t be trusted not to swallow a brick or two? – these new LEGO Duplo Read & Build sets ($13) are becoming quite the hit. East set comes with a storybook and Duplo building pieces, so that your child can build along with the story.

With this LEGO Chucky Style Coat Rack ($22), you might actually be able to get your child to hang up his coat and backpack when he gets home from school! We think it’s super cool that these are handmade by a 13-year old, Hannah, a Lego lover herself!

And to top off a LEGO-themed bedroom, these custom-made LEGO Switchplates ($48) are so unique and can be made-to-order with your child’s favorite Lego guys – from skateboarders (as pictured) to firefighters to punk rockers.

LEGO’S are hardly just for the boys anymore! Girls love LEGO’S just as much and LEGO is even taking note, designing building sets that are geared towards activities girls think are cool. We’ve found some LEGO gear that your LEGO girl will think is pretty sweet, proving once and for all that they can have it all. A hip new replacement for the classic BFF heart necklaces, this LEGO Heart Friendship Necklace ($12) is sure to win her over.

The two LEGO pieces come together to form a heart. Need to add even more LEGO accessories to her collection? Put those LEGO’S to use with these funky (and functional!) LEGO Hair Clips ($10) – they come in a set of three and you can choose your own colors – a great way to get her hair out of her face so that she can focus on building!


And, we’ve thrown a little bit of LEGO love in here for you too, mom and dad, because we all know how painful it is to step on that rogue LEGO that didn’t get picked up. Check out these two cool LEGO pick-up solutions – Swoop Bags ($48) are sturdy, canvas play mats for your Legos (or other small toys) that you can them pull up with the drawstring and rope all those little buggers up into one ready-to-go bag.

Or, if you already have a Lego storage system, check out the Toydozer ($19), which acts like a mini LEGO bulldozer to get every last block. Both products were designed by moms… surprise, surprise!

What’s your favorite LEGO gear? Bags, clips, a coat rack? Let us know!

— Katie Kavulla, Mom to two LEGO obsessed girls and one son who things LEGO’S taste delicious