Flip Flop fanatics rejoice

havaiDubbed the “World’s Best Flip Flop”, Havaianas have been a staple in Brazil for manyhavaianas-baby-brazil-sandals years, but are making their mark stateside. For a few years now, while walking in the City, I have always noticed the simple-looking rubber flip flops that boast a tiny Brazillian flag on its straps. Once I learned that they were Havaianas, I began to see them everywhere all the time!

As a flip flop fanatic, I can never have enough flip flops! Some families wear Crocs, we wear flip flops! But unfortunately, I have yet to find well made and comfortable flip flops for kids—that is, until I came across Havaianas for kids! They come in a spectrum of vibrant colors and look super comfy, making them perfect for the beach and for everyday wear. Kids and Baby Havaianas can be found at various stores such as giggle and Flip Flop Style for Kids!

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While we’re talking about Havaianas, moms and dads, this is for you: I thought I’d mention that the Gap is stocking them as well! Gap stores nationwide will begin carrying select Havaianas styles and colors for women and men through August, with select stores carrying Havaianas year-round. As a way to usher in summer, from now until June, the Gap will have a concept called the Urban Beach Flip-Flop Shop on 54th and 5th Ave in NY. Fellow flip flop fanatics will have a chance to customize a pair or two of their own Havaianas at the Make Your Own Havaianas customization bar.  Hello, summer!  Hello, flip flop season!

All aboard the Dinosaur Train

The Dinosaur Train, a new tv series for preschoolers from the Jim Henson Company, is set to debut on September 7 on PBS Kids, just in time for the new school year. The CGI-animated series, aimed at 3-6 year olds, will combine two preschoolers’ favorites—trains and dinosaurs—while encouraging interest in science, specifically natural history and paleontology.

dtrainThe Dinosaur Train’s premise follows Buddy, who is adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Pteranodon, and brought to their nest to hatch at the same time as his new siblings, Tiny, Shiny and Don. The show will follow the family’s adventures as they travel around in the Dinosaur Train checking out the prehistoric world and learning about other dinosaurs along the way.

This isn’t the Jim Henson Company’s first foray with CGI animation.  In fact,buddy perhaps one of their most notable new shows, the parent and kid favorite, Sid the Science Kid, is a CGI-animated show that focuses on science, and was recently nominated for 2009 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program.
If the popularity of the Emmy-nominated Sid the Science Kid is any indication, I have a feeling that The Dinosaur Train will be a another big hit and a great natural history-focused addition in the educational media sector.

The full website is expected to launch in August, but in the meantime, be sure to meet Buddy and the gang on The Dinosaur Train’s preliminary website.

Photo credit: PBS

Children’s Book Week

cbw-4c-2009Children’s Book Week is well underway this week, which got me thinking about all of our current favorite books, as well as my own classic favorites.  The Elmo books, the Sandra Boynton books and the Barefoot books, they’re all great.  But as a book lover, who’s now a mom, I hope my love for books rubs off.  I try to foster good reading habits with frequent visits to the library, reading as often as I can and reading WITH him daily.  I love being surrounded by newspapers, magazines and books–lots of books.  Judging by the way the kid scales the couch to get to our bookcase to “read” my books, I think we’re on to something.

One of my all time favorite children’s books is, hands down, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I love that book and can’t WAIT to relive the story with the kid.   Max’s adventures illuminated my imagination as a kid, and it’s sure to illuminate many more kids’ lives with the movie version’s October release.  I love how the book is described as, one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up.  As exciting as it is that Where the Wild Things was made into a movie, (by one of my favorite directors no less –Spike Jonze who’s done everything from Beastie Boys videos to award winning movies like Being John Malkovich) the book version will always be my favorite.

But, check out the trailer!  It looks pretty good!


So, favorite children’s books?  I want to hear ’em.  What excites you? What are yours and what are the kids’ favorites?

Wellness Wednesday

I’ve been so inundated lately with press releases and content ideas (which is awesome!), so in an effort to organize future NKT content and have some semblance of a comprehensive calendar of topics to cover, I will slowly but surely introduce daily topics.  Today, and hopefully more Wednesdays to follow, will be Wellness Wednesday which will include products and suggestions on promoting wellness for kids.

The “wellness” umbrella is quite large, so even though it’s still a broad topic, it should give us a chance to cover new and innovative products a little more effectively.  I’m so excited to announce another great giveaway and review, so stay tuned this afternoon!

Little Allergies Allergen Block

If you’re my pal on Facebook or Twitter, you may have already heard how we spent the entire day and night last Friday. We fulfilled my personal nightmare by spending the day at the pediatrician and later the ER due to a case of hives that spread all over the kid’s body as a result of unexplained allergies. What looked like the Chicken Pox or something similar, our poor kid was miserable and itched every single inch of his body. The doctors suggested that the kid most likely has outdoor allergies, which will need to undergo testing. Now we know!

laproductHad I not been so distracted by said allergies and subsequent visits to the pediatrician and ER, I would have had a chance to sort through the generous swag bag that I received from last week’s Mom’s Nite Out. In it, I received a box of Little Allergies Allergen Block. Little Allergies Allergen Block is a gentle, water-based gel which is applied topically. It’s drug-free, making it safe to use with other medications since there are no side effects.

Ironic or impeccable timing, I’m not sure, but I definitely can’t wait to check it out.

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Michelle Obama visits Sesame Street

Michelle Obama Sesame StreetIn between meeting with diplomats and helping to promote the President’s new foreign policies, the First Lady took some time out last week to visit Elmo and the gang at Sesame Street. Michelle Obama visited Sesame Street to tape a Public Service Announcement with Elmo as part of Sesame Workshop’s Healthy Habits For Life initiative. Mrs. Obama and Elmo discussed eating right, exercising regularly and being a healthy and positive role model for children.

“If you want your child to have healthy habits, practice healthy habits, because you’re your child’s role model,” The First Lady suggests in the PSA.

I thought the news about planting an organic garden at the White House was pretty cool, but Mrs. Obama’s visit to Sesame Street is just as much a highlight for her, as it is for her fans!

(photo credit: Richard Termine)

Step2 introduces new outdoor toys

Despite yet another gray day here, I’m loving all the exciting ideas and new toys for outdoor play. Step2, one of my favorite toy brands for durable outdoor gear, has rolled out some fun new outdoor toys including, the Sand & Water Transportation Station, the Nature Station Playhouse, Arctic Splash and Water Rush Quarry.

Arctic Splash

This is water table that features a mountain, complete with ice slide, tunnel and dumping bucket. It also includes some fun toys–a polar bear, walrus and penguin squirt toys.

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Sand & Water Transportation Station

This set combines toddlers’ favorites—the fun of a train table and water table. The table has two compartments for both sand and water and features funnels atop table legs that double as loading stations, and comes with a toy train and rake.

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Water Rush Quarry

This multi-level toy is an extreme sandbox that combines the fun of a construction site–it can even have water flow from top to bottom. It includes one crane, two bridges, a tunnel, a dam, a ramp, a bucket, a shovel and two construction vehicles.

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Nature Sation Playhouse

This nature-themed playhouse features a shelf for examining flowers, bugs or other outdoor treasures. Step2 helps kids become one with nature with the included shovel, bug collector, butterfly net, lantern, microscope with two slides, tweezers, bug trap shovel, binoculars and pivoting periscope.

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Hatley rain gear

They say April showers brings May flowers, but I think Mother Nature has a different agenda this year. We’ve seen a lot of rain in the past few weeks here in the Tri-State area, and I hear it’s pretty much the same in other parts of the East Coast.

Always on the prowl for practical, yet fun kid accessories, I came acrross Hatley’s great selection of rain gear.  I always complain that most retailers crowd the boys’ department racks with clothes splattered with choo-choo trains and puppy dogs. Well, not Hatley, they go beyond puppy dogs with cool designs on their rainboots like aliens, moose and camping gear!  I can take trains and puppies in moderation, so I appreciate Hatley’s adorable selection of rain gear.  The pirate rainboots are definitely my favorite.

Insert cutesey Arrrgh! or other pirate-y catchphrase here 😉

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The girls’ selection has accessories beyond pink for those in the pink rebellion!  Check out this adorable apple print umbrella–it’s so cute without being sticky sweet.

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Etsy Find: Full Moon Flower Prairie Dress

Despite those scorching days we had here on the east coast, summer isn’t exactly here yet.  But just because summer isn’t here yet, doesn’t mean we can’t bolster the kids’ closets with warm weather frocks.  Need some summer dresses?  How perfect is this adorable prairie dress from Earth Groovz?

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With its bold, contrasting patterns, this dress is light and versatile–perfect for spring and summer!  Not only is it cute, eco-friendly, too.  The prairie dress features organic adjustable knit straps that tie in the back, organic natural elastic and the sustainable cotton material, leaving no carbon footprint.  The dress is made to order and comes in sizes 6M, 12M, 2T, 3T, 4T.  Be sure to check out Earth Groovz’ shop on Etsy for even more cute, eco-friendly spring/summer dresses.

Pushalong Duck by ImagiPlay

Right now, wheels and animals are a big deal in our house.  So when we spotted this Pushalong Duck by ImagiPlay, you can only imagine how much excitement it brought the kid.  Made from Rubberwood, the Pushalong Duck is a classic and eco-friendly toy that encourages the development of motor skills and balance.  It’s amazing how something like a duck with wheels can be so entertaining!

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ImagiPlay is a green company that produces sustainable and safe toys.  The company employs fair trade craftspeople, and reinforces their social responsibility by planting more than 5,000 trees a year.  The Pushalong Duck retails for about $15 and can be found at toy shops and online.