baby gear, bassinet, lalapanzi bed
In Baby Love on August 12, 2009 at 10:37 am
Two of my friends are pregnant with baby boys due in September and October. It’s fun hearing about all the gear, because even though Tiny G is just a little over a year old, already there’s new and improved stuff on the market. Except no one has yet to improve upon the ultimate baby bassinet from Lalapanzi Beds. My friend Jill gave us this, and it was the most useful—and stylish—baby present. For the first four months of his life, Tiny G slept in this super soft, handmade bassinet in nectarine suede with a faux-Burberry check lining. It’s great because you can pick it up and move it anywhere – the bassinet itself only weighs about 4 or 5 lbs. And then when you’re ready to transition baby to a crib, you can just set the Lalapanzi bed inside the crib during naps to get them used to it. (Get the smaller size, which will be plenty big for up to a six-month old.)
baby gear, Beaba Babycook, Organic baby food, purple cauliflower
In Baby Love, Food on April 7, 2009 at 8:05 am
On Sunday mornings we head to the Larchmont Farmers Market with Tiny G and pick up eggs and produce for the week. Some of the veggies I steam and purée in the Beaba Babycook for Tiny G. I like to add a little pinch of spice just to introduce him to new flavors, like ground coriander with yellow beets, or cinnamon with mangoes, or this week, ground cumin with purple cauliflower.
Interestingly, given Tiny G’s paternal Irish heritage, potatoes are the only food he outright rejects, which is bizarre, but I’m not complaining. Besides, I have to believe that brightly colored veggies are healthier than their albino counterparts, and I’ve read that purple cauliflower is particularly heart smart. Plus, it has to be the prettiest baby food ever! It reminds me of African violets.
Tiny G is a big fan, too. Now if only we could get him to eat with his mouth closed…
baby gear, Baby Gifts, Mahar Drygoods
In Baby Love, Design on March 30, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Tiny G loves mealtime, and until recently he was a pretty clean little eater. But then he discovered how to blow raspberries, which he likes to do when he has a mouthful of mushy peas. I’ve learned to keep my distance when he strikes up the band, and keep him covered with a wipeable bib. My favorite is this handmade, vinyl-covered (for easy wiping) skull-and-crossbones number from Sheriff Peanut, available through Mahar Drygoods. By the way, if you haven’t visited Mahar Drygoods, it’s an “online outpost of vintage and artisan-crafted curiosities for children.” I love it, and it’s a great place for gifts that are both functional and well designed. And the owner is so nice. He will gift wrap items in recycled kraft tissue and kraft paper and tie with red-and-white kitchen twine. I might need to “gift” Tiny G with one of these light switch plates, made from vintage wallpaper:
Angelina Jolie, baby gear, baby sling, Hip Hugger Sling, zahara
In Baby Love on March 2, 2009 at 6:19 pm
My friend Jill gave me this awesome Hip Hugger Sling that she used for her two kids. I used it this weekend for carting Tiny G all over the rainy Napa Valley Marathon course to sneak peeks of his aunt running along the vineyards, and it was a lifesaver at the airport, too. I was going bonkers over it today to Jill and she said that for some reason they discontinued the “Palmer” (which is what she gave me). She says her friend Shelby was obsessing over it in a photo in US Weekly several years ago – Angelina was carrying Zahara around in the black quilted “Palmer.” So Jill put her super-sleuthing google skills to work and found it for Shelby and got one for herself. And now I’m the proud owner! I can’t recommend this baby sling enough! I find it is easier on my back than the Baby Bjorn since Tiny G can ride sideways on my hip. If I were going to get one today, I think I’d go for the Hampton in khaki (but note to designers: bring back the black!):
baby gear, Super Natural Baby, Tintin
In Baby Love, Design on February 24, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Great news for expecting moms! Super Natural Baby is having a sale—40% off if you buy direct from their website. Tiny G’s room features this Coral Bird crib set that’s hand screen-printed on cotton, which would have been all the more appealing at 40% off. I love that the products are designed and made in San Francisco. Buy local! The khaki and coral look great against a deep blue wall, and these two reproductions of vintage Tintin posters from my husband’s room when he was a kid also pop against the blue.
baby gear, Dante Beatrix, diaper bag, Eco-friendly, stroller tote
In Baby Love, Fashion on February 10, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I love my (sold-out) Dante Beatrix Pouf diaper bag mostly because it looks nothing like a diaper bag, yet has all the conveniences (lots of interior pockets, including bottle pockets, and enough room for both Tiny G’s and his mother’s accouterments). My one regret is that it’s too big to comfortably shove under the stroller and I can’t easily hook it over the handles either, meaning that I end up carrying the bag while pushing the stroller. Kinda cumbersome.
Which is why their new eco-stroller tote, made entirely from recycled bottles and trimmed in biodegradable canvas, looks very appealing. Still lots of great storage solutions, and changing pad included. The shoulder strap makes it easy to wear, or special hooks fasten to stroller handles. Available to ship starting February 15 by clicking here.
