blankets – The Next Kid Thing

Yo Gabba Gabba Goodies: New Bedding, DVD and more

May 3, 2012May 4, 2012 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

There’s lots of good stuff on the horizon that our fellow Gabba fans will appreciate. Not only has DJ Lance and the crew taken over our tvs, toy box and tunes, but now, they’re helping the kids get cozy for bedtime.

A range of reasonably-priced, super cool YGG bedding in now available at Walmart. The Yo Gabba Gabba bedding that’s sure to be a hit with tune-loving tots includes a 4-piece toddler bedding set, a variety of blankets and some cool Pillow Pals.
We received a cool toddler blanket, just in time for a recent bug and bout with a double ear infection and then newborn congestion and cold. (ugh!) Needless to say, this cuddly blanket has been a comforting sidekick over the past few days. My 4yo has been clutching it day and night, and I don’t blame him. It’s so soft, warm and because of its smaller size, it’s totally portable. Even though it’s toddler-sized, it still does the trick for my tall guy.

Super Spies on DVD

And speaking of Yo Gabba Gabba goodness, there’s a new dvd that also recently hit the shelves. The hilarious Jason Bateman guest stars as a spy in the new four episode of Yo Gabba Gabba!, “Super Spies,” which debuted on DVD on April 17. Yo Gabba Gabba Super Spies is full of adventure and the usual Gabba fun, but with a quirky musical spy recovery mission mixed in. It’s been the perfect complement for our quarantined sick days as of late.

More YGG Goodness

And for even more Gabba-related coolness, in case you missed it, co-creator Scott Schultz was the keynote speaker at Kindiefest last weekend. The musical mecca of the coolest kid music, Kindiefest celebrates the best of the best in the kid indie musical scene. There was tons of great coverage, but I particularly loved my friend, Amy at Media Macaroni’s take on things. I’m so sad I missed Kindiefest yet again, but Amy’s recap of Schultz’s Keynote underscored my love for YGG AND made me feel like I was really there.

And just a little more Gabba goodness, I recently had the unique opportunity to interview the other co-creator of YGG, Christian Jacobs. I love interviewing fascinating people involved in the baby and kid space, but when I get to connect to inspiring creatives like Jacobs, that’s when I truly geek out. We chatted about the awesomeness that is The Aquabats, the show that’s been squatting on our DVR and reinventing our Saturday mornings. If you’re a Gabba fan or a fan of punk, or just a fan of quirky shows, tune to The Aquabats on The Hub at 11am on Saturday mornings. It’s wacky and weird, but oh so funny. I’ll post that interview soon!

Bouji and Nouna Offer Vintage-Inspired Crib Bedding

May 26, 2011 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

When I see beautiful nurseries on sites like OhDeeDoh, I’m always inspired by the creativity these parents have for putting together such unique spaces for their babes. These nurseries always go beyond the blues, pinks and caricatures of teddy bears, instead opting for distinctive patterns and often, gender-neutral shades.

Bouji and Nouna embodies this same style and sensibility with their handmade crib and toddler bedding. The unique bedding marries mod and vintage styles and hones in on rich shades of color to create some fantastic pieces for baby.

77kids Gives Back with Wish-4-Snow Charity Program

December 2, 2010December 9, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The holidays are in full swing, and it’s certainly the time for giving. NKT fave, 77kids, is once again in the spotlight for their charitable initiatives. The retailer announced that they plan to keep their “Do Good” momentum flowing by giving back through a charitable initiative twice a year, once in the summer and once during the holiday season.

The Motherhood invited the kid and I, along with several of my NYC/NJ blogger friends, back to 77kid’s NYC design studios a few weeks ago to discuss their current holiday charity. The execs from 77kids shared a lot of great details about their holiday line, plus gave us a sneak peek of upcoming lines. But more importantly, we were on hand to learn about what matters most about the holiday season: giving back. 77kids has kicked off their holiday season with their Wish-4-Snow charity program that benefits children’s hospitals.

Want to know why I love working with 77kids? It’s not just because I genuinely adore their kid’s clothes and their “Do Good” mantra, but also because they enlist bloggers to spread their word. As Betsy Schumacher, chief merchandising officer of 77kids mentioned, their grassroots approach to marketing involves moms and word of mouth. And to me, that accounts for a lot; reaching out to the key demographic who makes the buying decisions and involving bloggers in their social media campaigns speaks volumes. But better yet, this company continues to underscore the importance of charity, and I like that even more.

For 77kids’ Wish-4-Snow program, there’s a variety of easy ways you can get involved to make a big impact:

In stores

– Customers can donate 77 cents (or more) to benefit their local children’s hospital!

– Customers/kids will receive a snowflake to write their name and wish on, and then they can place the snowflake on the “blizzard wall” in the store for all to see!

– In addition to the snowflake, the customer will get a ‘you done good’ bumper sticker to take with them!

Online

– Visit 77kids’ Wish-4-Snow microsite, featuring a fun “catch the snowflake” game and giving visitors the opportunity to design their own snowflake to help 77kids reach their children’s hospital donation goal!

– Help 77kids reach their goal to make a total of 100,000 snowflakes.

– If that goal is hit, 77kids will make an additional $25,000 donation to the children’s hospitals on top of the customer donations each store collects during the month!

– You can make as many snowflakes as you want – not just one! You’re asked to submit your contact information only after the first snowflake.

– Creating a snowflake makes you eligible to win a $77 gift card from 77kids (one gift card given away daily!) and enters you to win the ultimate grand prize: an awesome block party for you and 77 pals!!

Local benefiting hospitals include:

– Children’s Health and Wellness Center at Danbury Hospital

– Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota

– Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

– Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper

– University Hospital (Cherry Hill/Philadelphia)

– Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital (Syracuse)

– WakeMed Children’s Hospital (Raleigh)

– Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (Hartford)

– Children’s Memorial Hospital (Chicago)

So, log on and help 77kids give back by making a snowflake or three!

Giveaway

And because it’s the season for giving, 77kids would like to give one NKT reader a $50 giftcard! All you have to do is, you guessed it, make a snowflake! Do you know of someone that needs a warm coat or a new outfit? Nominate them for the giveaway! ‘Tis the season. After you make your snowflake, just leave a comment below.

Would you like extra entries?

Become a fan of 77kids on Facebook

Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to include @jenrab and @77kids

Become a fan of NKT

Please comment below for all entries. This will giveaway will end at midnight on December 6, so enter away! Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be notified via email, so be sure to include a valid email address. Good luck and have fun!

Full disclosure: I am being compensated for my participation in this campaign, but as always, all opinions on NKT are my own.

The Little Seed Blooms at Target

July 9, 2010July 8, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Soleil Moonfrye and Paige Goldberg Tolmach, the eco-savvy moms behind the LA-based boutique, The Little Seed, have teamed up with Target to distribute their line of organic baby clothes. The Life Saver-hued baby line, a shift from neutral and pastel colors that are usually associated with organic baby items, is comprised of layette necessities such as hooded towels, onesies, pull on pants, baby hats and baby booties.

According to LA Time’s All the Rage blog, it looks like, The 100% organic cotton line is reasonably priced, ranging from $7.99 to $12.99.

The Little Seed items at are available online and in Target stores now.

The Children’s Place Goes Americana for Summer

May 29, 2010May 30, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to preview the Children’s Place summer collection, which includes a variety of super cute outfits, accessories and special collections. I spotted a lot of fun, jewel-toned and vibrant prints for girls, but my favorites for the little ladies were the skirts and shoes that evoked the cool bohemian-inspired style. The metallic sandals for girls though, yeah, I wanted a pair for myself.

If you were to inspect my son’s closet, you’d find no less than 80% of his clothes from TCP; I religiously stock up during sales and after seasons and stash for the next size up. Needless to say, I’m a fan of the modern, but slightly edgy aesthetic, which TCP pulls off so well. Their boys’ styles for this summer are full of the utilitarian and surfer/skater looks, with a punch of their own vibrant prints—one that I could’ve sworn was a licensed print, but wasn’t.

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Soft and Sweet: Little Giraffe Baby Blankets

April 15, 2010April 16, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Some people say baby blankets are some of the most over-gifted baby presents. But who can resist giving soft, fluffy blankets to newborns? Babies need blankets; and really, with all the laundry that babies create, you can never have enough high quality blankets.

Little Giraffe blankets have become some of the most photographed baby blankets. Why, you ask? Little Giraffe blankets seem to be staples for Brad and Angelina’s twins, and have been seen in the arms of other famous babes, including Gwen Stefani’s boys to Nicole Richie babes, to Jennifer Garner’s girls and Rebecca Gayheart’s newborn.

I had the chance to see what all the fuss is all about. And guys, I can now see why Little Giraffe blankets have become such popular loveys. Perfect for keeping baby comfortable all year round, the blankets are thick, yet not too heavy. They’re luxe, cozy and much softer than any baby blanket we own—and we own quite a few. The super-soft chenille blanket is generous in size and detailed with satin. The subtle yellow Little Giraffe blanket that I reviewed epitomizes Springtime and would complement any nursery or stroller.

Little Giraffe collection is comprised of the Chenille, Luxe, Diamond Quilt, Diamond Quilt Luxe, Lollipop, Safari Zebra, Retro 60s Florette and Retro 60s Blossom. The blankets, ranging in price, can be found online and at retailers like Nordstrom, Land of Nod and Petit Tresor.

Want to win a gorgeous yellow Chenille Blanket from Little Giraffe?

Leave me a comment on the NKT Facebook fan page for this post and tell me which blanket you would love for your baby or to give as a gift, and why.

For extra entries:

Comment below and tell me which celebrity baby you love seeing online and in magazines.
Share about this giveaway on Twitter and be sure to @jenrab
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Spread the NKT love on Facebook. Get a friend to fan NKT and get +5 extra entries.
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For all extra entries, you must comment below with names or links for entries to count!

This giveaway will end 4/28. The winner will be picked via random.org and will be notified via email, so please be sure to include a valid email address!