OnTray: next best thing to an extra set of hands

While shopping, some kids get bored, some get hungry and some just want what they can’t have.  So, for those of us who try to get in and out of stores as fast as possible to minimize the chance of a public meltdown, an extra set of hands would be a big help.

ontray_buyphotoAnd that’s where the OnTray would come in handy.  The  OnTray is the brainchild of Laura Hamrick, a mom who spent a harried grocery shopping trip handing out snacks one-by-one to her three small boys, while trying to look through coupons and fill the cart.  We’ve all been there.

Hamrick then devised a way to occupy her little guys with a small tray that would easily snap on and off, allowing her to shop and multi-task a bit easier.  The award-winning snap-on tray can also can be used to hold coupons, keys and cell phones, making it a helpful gadget for multi-tasking parents.  On the safety front, OnTray is manufactured in the U.S. of FDA-approved plastic, BPA-free and it meets all new requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

If you’re like us and consider your stroller the shopping cart and a second “vehicle” I discovered that the OnTray is a great alternative to those snack trap cups!  The OnTray snaps onto stroller handlebars, allowing toddlers to access snacks and toys easily.

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Nuchi train sets: simple and classic

Of the menagerie of talking, beeping and blinking toys, perhaps the most popular playthings in our home are the ones that don’t make a sound at all.  No motion sensors, no batteries, no noise: the kid loves these toys as much as us.  Silence–and simplicity–is a beautiful thing.  Haba, Melissa and Doug and Plan Toys are some popular picks, but Nuchi is a newer line that I have my eye on, particularly the simple and classic train sets, like this Oval Train Set w/Crossing Barrier.

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Say yes to Yes Day!

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!

Glop & Glam: natural hair products for kids

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

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

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

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.

Handy Manny’s Superstar Summer Saturdays

handy-manny5Yesterday marked the official first day of summer, but this past weekend the gang at Sheetrock Hills started the summer fun with a Quinceañera.   Handy Manny, the popular Disney Channel show that stars Wilmer Valderrama as the voice of handyman Manny Garcia, has a lineup of new summer shows that are set to premiere every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. this summer.

The first Saturday of new Handy Manny shows, dubbed Superstar Summer Saturdays, featured pop star Ashley Parker Angel who needed some help before his concert in the park. Everyone’s favorite cartoon handyman, Manny, and his crew were tasked with helping to fix a flower situation for Señor Ayala’s niece’s Quinceañera after a fan threw a wrench into things.

Going beyond helping popstars, Sheetrock Hills’ go-to guy, Manny and his quirky buddies, the talking tools, have a new set of tasks and adventures to accomplish this summer, including overcoming a blackout, saving the turtles and enjoying a day at the beach. The list of new shows included in Superstar Summer Saturdays are as follows:

Saturday, June 20 (8:30 a.m., ET/PT) – “Danny Starr / Quinceañera”

Saturday, June 27 (8:30 a.m., ET/PT) – “The Good, The Bad, The Handy”

Saturday, July 4 (8:30 a.m., ET/PT) – “Lyle & Leland Lopart / Blackout on the Block”

Saturday, July 11 (8:30 a.m., ET/PT) – “A Day at the Beach / The Party Dress”

Saturday, July 18 (8:30 a.m., ET/PT) – “Singing Salon / Manny’s Makeover”

Saturday, July 25 (8:30 a.m., ET/PT) – “A Night with Abuelito / Canine Case”

Saturday, August 1 (8:30 a.m., ET/PT) – “Saving the Turtles / Abuelito’s Siesta”

Saturday, August 8 (8:30 a.m., ET/PT) – “Picture Perfect / Some Assembly Required”

Sweet Shoes: cute and cool

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!