Category: gear

Bargain Bin: Tea Collection Swimming Fish Shirt

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Some of the best things about summer—well, besides fun in the sun and vacations—are the killer sales!  I’ve been known to stock up on jeans and sweatshirts when the weather is scorching, but all for good reason.  Who can pass up $5 jeans and $10 coats?

As July 4th approaches, it seems more and more sales and clearances are announced.  I got wind of a great sale going on over at Pokkadots; they have a great variety of super cute dresses, shorts and shirts.  With vacation on our mind, I adore the touristy button down shirt.  Better yet, I love finding bargain shirts, so how’s this for size:

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This Swimming Fish Button Up shirt from Tea Collection is 100% cotton.  I love the classic, but modern designs from Tea Collection, but I always wait for things to go on sale.  The shirt, which originally retailed for $23.00, is on sale over at Pokkadots for $5.95 and comes in sizes 6-12 months and 12-18 months.  So, snatch it up while you can!

LeapFrog Text and Learn giveaway winner

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

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Thank you everyone for entering the LeapFrog Text and Learn giveaway!  This giveaway yielded our biggest response yet, so thank you for participating.  Congrats to Natasha for winning the Text and Learn!

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Just a few housekeeping notes, for the extra entries, please don’t forget to comment for each additional entry.  For this giveaway, I manually added the extra entries for the stories.  I don’t mind, but I can’t promise I”ll do that in the future.  As for shipping, I will always consolidate my trips to the post office, so those of you who are waiting for your giveaways, they’re coming!  I don’t have a set timeline or anything, but I aspire to get these out within a few weeks.  I appreciate your patience.  Those waiting for giveaways that are to be shipped directly from the companies, those shipments tend to take longer, as a general rule of thumb.  Patience is a virtue.  I’m just extending some giveaway goodness, and as they say, good things come to those who read NKT :)  (and to those who wait, too.)

Say yes to Yes Day!

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Ok, so, I’ll admit it: I’ve become quite the Amy Krouse Rosenthal fangirl. The thing is, when we find fun books by great authors and illustrators, we’ll likely anticipate more good reads.  Yes Day! by Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld is another example of just that!

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Yes Day is a day where ” yes” is the answer to life’s little pleasures, such as pizza for breakfast, staying up late and even having a food fight. When every single toy in our home blankets our living room floor and when the wipes container is inexplicably showered all over the couch and when my mischievious toddler starts scaling furniture, undoubtedly, every day feels like “No Day.”  I love the silliness and positivity that echoes throughout this fun read–if only things could be as simple as having a Yes Day every day!

Eco-Friendly Line Green Peas Kids Debuts

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Perhaps one of the coolest aspects of running NKT is getting introduced to, discovering and sharing all about these great products, sometimes even before they come out—or in this case, right as they launch!

Green Pea Kids, a line for babies and children 0-24 months, are designed and produced in the US and Europe using eco-friendly bamboo, organic cotton, and hemp.  Sebastian Salvado developed Green Pea Kids after noticing a void for affordable, colorful and eco-friendly in the children’s clothing market.  Right now, the new Green Peas Kids site features some cute clips, blankets and dresses.  Next month they will introduce separates for boys and girls which will be in the $20-40 range.

And how adorable is the Apron Dress?  Made from 100% hemp, the dress is classic, cute and airy for summer.

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The dress has a bamboo/silk lining that makes it super-soft against baby’s delicate skin.  The dress comes in infant sizes up to 24 months.  And get this, just like all of their other products, shipping is FREE!

Glop & Glam: natural hair products for kids

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

June will always remind me of the end of the school year AND many, many dance recitals. Standing in some barren classroom, alongside of other ballerinas prepping for various performances, my mom would perfect my bun atop of my head and spray—and spray—until every strand of hair was perfect.  With all those girls (and guys) in my dance school spraying away, we sure went through a lot of AquaNet.  We, alone, are probably to blame for the hole in the ozone.

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Well, thank goodness times have changed. Kids who have ballerina buns, cheerleader ‘dos or maybe fauxhawks to perfect, there’s a new line of natural hair products specifically targeted to them. Recently rolled out, Glop and Glam is a line of natural hair products, formulated without harsh chemicals and preservatives that are often found in many adult hair care products. G&G Hair Products are free of Paraben and formaldehyde (Hydantoin DMDM). The products tout natural extracts like Aloe, Echinacea (A E C), and Camellia Oleifera leaf extract (Green Tea) that are said to moisturize and add gloss and texture.  G&G might be intended for kids, but they’re suitable for grown-ups, too.

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G&G sent me some various samples to take a look at and review. Upon opening the box, I was taken aback by the gorgeous packaging. I’m such a nerd for cool packaging, as I’m sure you’ve already figured out! Each product had its own cool scent. Our favorite, however, was the Hair Glop Banana Spike Molding Putty.

glop_banana_tLast week, the boy had a go-see in the city, and after trekking in the rain and sitting in his stroller all morning, his hair was a crazy mess (He has hair like his mama.) I pulled out the Molding Putty, and it worked wonders with his damp, tangly hair. With just a few finger swipes from the container, the boy’s longish and uncontrollable hair was tamed again. It gave his fine-looking, yet thick hair some texture, without making it look overdone. I see a lot of boys wearing the spiky look lately, and this putty would be suitable for creating that look. The putty allowed for his hair to still be pliable, yet hold a definitive style. I loved how the putty was light and not sticky or greasy at all. The banana scent was subtle and not overpowering, again light enough to use for a kid. Every day isn’t a hair product kind of day for us, but when the situation calls for it, without a doubt, the Molding Putty comes in handy.

I tried out the Glam Chocolate Controller on myself and thought it would be suitable for longer hair, even those with hair that has a tendency to frizz. This scent was sweet and yummy, but again, nothing over-the-top.

With the unique packaging, fun scents, light and natural composition, Glop and Glam is a fun and natural alternative to adult hair products. I can definitely see my Tween nieces, nephews and teenage niece using Glop and Glam products regularly.  G&G hair products for kids is sold online and can be found at hair salons; most products are in the $15 price range.

Would you like to try it out for your kid?  I have the Glam Chocolate Controller and Glop Chocolate Cream samples up for grabs.

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Take a look at Glop and Glam products and tell me what products your kid might enjoy and comment below.

For extra entries:

1. Tweet

2. Share

3.  Tell me what is the scent of the leave-in conditioner and detangler mist.

4. Become a fan of NKT on Facebook!

Good luck and please leave a comment for each entry.  This contest will end on July 8th.
**********This contest is now closed**********

Kids Crooked House gets a little airtime

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

A few months ago, I began perusing the web for super cool finds to add to this site here, I came across these awesome playhouses. I thought Kids Crooked House playhouses were extremely unique, I knew they’d be a hit. I even Stumbled it, with every intention of doing a blog post, but of course, I got a little sidetracked.

But last night, the custom playhouses that look animated with their “crooked” appearance got a little bit of airtime on that little show, Jon and Kate Plus Eight. Heh. The Kids Crooked Houses piqued so much interest, Jon and Kate broke their website! (The Kids Crooked House site is now back up and running!)

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The Kids Crooked Houses come in a standard model or you can go the custom route. The standard models come in original, deluxe (pictured above) or super deluxe versions.  And be forewarned, the exclusivity and this sort of handcrafting comes at a price. But what I heard from an owner of a Kids Crooked House, it’s worth it.

The creators of Kids Crooked Houses build each house by hand, using traditional 2 x 4 construction, as if they were building for their own kids.  My brothers and I grew up with our own custom playhouse, so I love the concept behind the uniqueness of the Kids Crooked House and totally agree that every kid should have a “place” of their own.

And just like that, I’m dreaming of suburbia, but mainly for my our own Kids Crooked House!

Janie and Jack Tweets a sneak peek

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

As they say, the internet—specifically, social media—has forever changed the way we receive information.  But lucky for us shopping fanatics, that’s a good thing.  Even though I’ve been on Twitter for almost a year, I love seeing that it’s going mainstream.  Better yet, many of my favorite stores and brands are joining the Twitter and Facebook bandwagon.  On very few occasions, these stores and brands are harnessing the power of social media the “right” way, rather than having a one-sided conversation.

It’s true, I often see stores or brands tweet or merely post things without interacting with the consumer.  It’s too bad for them because these new social media outlets are invaluable to both the consumer AND retailer.  For instance, check out one of my favorite stores, Janie and Jack.  Last night, Janie and Jack, a part of the Gymboree Corporation, tweeted a preview to their upcoming line.  They posted the link to the sneak peek of their new lines, which then led to their Facebook Fan Page which showcased four photos of super cute outfits that aren’t even available online until June 29 and in the stores until July 8.  Cupcakes and pirates: two of our favorite things!

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Great usage of Twitter AND Facebook, Janie and Jack!  While these adorable new outfits might not be on our budget just yet, that preview reminded me that Janie and Jack has a 60% off sale going on right now!  These sales are awesome, especially since I normally don’t buy at Janie and Jack until things go on sale!  If you’re new to Twitter or even if you’ve been on for awhile, be sure to follow your favorite stores and brands, in addition to your friends, and you’re bound to find some secret sales, previews and maybe a deal you just can’t pass up!

Have we connected on Twitter?  Maybe I’ll even do a secret contest of my own soon. hmmmm…

Bargain bin: Lands’ End kid’s rain hat

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

We’ve seen rain almost every day in June where we are, but we can only hide inside for so long!   We like to pull on our rainboots, grab our umbrellas and splash in the puddles when the skies don’t look so ominous. In a search for bolstering our rain gear, I ran across this great deal at Lands’ End.

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For days when the umbrella just isn’t enough, this print rain hat for kids at only $6.99 would be a great addition to the rain gear stash. Right now, it looks like all the prints are still available, but at that price, I’d totally get a couple in different sizes to grow with us.  My only complaint?  I wish there were more boy-ish prints, although the gender-neutral and girly prints, like this white fruit print, are too cute to pass up.

Disney Netpal netbook for kids unveiled

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Pink for princesses or sleek Disney blue? If you’re on the market for a kiddie PC, Disney just might have a kid-friendly laptop for your kid.

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That’s right. Disney, together with ASUS, have developed the Disney Netpal, which is described as a netbook computer for kids. Because it’s a Disney-themed computer, it features a Disney interface, dubbed the Disney Magic Desktop. It also features 40 parental control options, an 8.9-inch LCD display, Wi-Fi capabilities, Windows XP Home and of course, kid-friendly software featuring Disney characters. Kids can customize their desktops with more some of Disney and Pixar’s most popular franchises, including Cars, Club Penguin, Disney Classic Characters, Disney Fairies, Disney Princess, Vintage Mickey Mouse, Toy Story and WALL-E. The Hannah Montana and JONAS themes would appeal to the tween set.9

With its spill-proof keyboard (I so need one of those!) the Disney Netpal by ASUS was designed to be kid-friendly, in terms of durability and content permissions. The Disney Netpal features ShockShield data protection that is supposed to cushion the blow and data loss when the computer is danced upon or tossed off the couch for giggles.

The Disney Netpal, designed for the the 6-12 age range, will be available in late July in two models with prices based on features. Retailers include Toys”R” Us and Amazon.com, and will retail for $350. Some are calling this kid computer affordable, but I think affordability in this economy has a different definition for everyone. A few weeks ago, I reported about the PeeWee PC, but I’d be interested in comparing the two kid-focused PCs to see which has a better bang for the buck.

Sweet Shoes: cute and cool

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

If you’re into cute, yet edgy cool for the kid, I’d suggest checking out Sweet Shoes. Ok, so, nevermind that I just scored a pair of $5 lookalike slip on vans for the boy from H&M (seriously, check out their sale going on right now!), I love the look of Sweet Shoes. I spotted Sweet Shoes not too long ago while on the hunt for a pair of casual shoes. I love that all the little boy shoes all seem to be versatile for coordinating for day-to-day and playwear.
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The wave design in navy are perfect to pair with shorts, yet can be worn well with jeans in the cooler weather, too. Add the convenience of Velcro to a super cool design, Sweet Shoes are on our shoe-shopping list! What can I say, I love cool shoes!