droolicious : decor

These Walls CAN Talk

JeanneSager — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:01:00 GMT

Ever wondered what the walls of your kids' bedroom would have to say if they could talk?

Let your kids scribble out any thought that pops into their head on the wallpaper thought bubble chalkboards from Scribble on Everything.

Putting them up takes some work (kudos for the detailed instructions), but once up, the thoughts can flow. A set sports five bubbles in varying sizes, so you can let their dresser talk, leave a mini bubble floating over the bed and put the big one near the door for family doodles. They are removable, but not repositionable, so make sure you're in serious like before you commit to putting them on their walls.

Get all five for $33.15 from Scribble on Everything.

A Big Day Calls for a Big Chain

JeanneSager — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:02:00 GMT

Remember marking the big black X’s to the calendar in the birthday countdown when you were a kid?

My hands were so coated in magic marker by the time the big day hit my mom had to hold my hands under water and scrub to the bone so I’d look presentable for my party. Except markers? Are not allowed in my house since the office wall incident of 2008.

So we’re counting down to four this year with Big Day Chains’ Birthday Chains Kit.

Packed with perforated strips of 100 percent post-consumer waste recycled paper printed with soy ink for linking up a 30-day chain, it’s all topped off with a card for the birthday kid (a.k.a., already completed scrapbook page for this always-thinking mom). The chains win points for letting Mom fake our Martha moment – the kits come with everything but the crayons – and points from my birthday girl-to-be for the black-and-white pictures just waiting to be coated in color. Glue it all together with the non-toxic dots (no George Costanza and his fiancée crisis for us, thank you very much), and get ripping.

Get one for $14.95 from Big Day Chains (and pick up a countdown till baby for your parents-to-be pals).

Cheeky OranguCoo Clock

Cathy Hale — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Last month, I blogged about a decorative faux Coo Coo Clock. Well, a few parents emailed me to see if I knew about a more realistic version. As fate would have it, last week while shopping for a gift at OHbaby! (in Austin, TX), I spotted the OranguCoo Clock. A cheeky little monkey actually pops out of the door every hour to say, "Ooo, Ooo!"

Based on the description, the clock has a light sensor so it is quite while baby sleeps. Not sure how that works during naps though. Anyway, the zebra-striped clock is really cute in person and would make a unique and fun addition to your child's room. It also has a button for encore performances. On sale for $30 at Highlights.

Can't See the ABCs for All the Trees

JeanneSager — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:01:00 GMT

What do you do will those alphabet charts when your kids are already reading? With the Trees and ABCs posters from Blue Sky Rocket, you leave 'em up.

After all - you have to look hard to see the ABCs for all the trees. The animal antics of all the critters make these prints fun for tots who love to play I Spy. And for parents, there's the added bonus that the animals make this art last beyond the toddler years (they'd make a funky office print).

Get them from Blue Sky Rocket - an 8x10 is $20.

Get The Poster of Their Favorite Flick

JeanneSager — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:57:00 GMT

So you say your kid is obsessed with their favorite movie? Obsessed? Really? We can help.

Or at least, we can aid their obsession.

Just Movie Posters sells the poster from, well, their favorite movies. So you don't need to flex your Martha muscles to paint a picture of Mulan on their walls. You can just buy the real thing.

Not every movies on there, but they've got a variety, including a fair share of kiddie flicks. Prices vary, but most sit around $15 (with mini posters at $7) and if they're that obsessed, that's a small price to pay.

Get them from Just Movie Posters.

Robot Light: Tin Man With a Heart

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT

During the day, this robot light appears to be just another unfeeling bucket of bolts -- but flick the switch, and we see one tin man who apparently got his wish to have a heart.

Dimensions are 18" x 9" x 4", and it includes a 40W bulb -- $29 from The Afternoon.

It's Beddie Bye for Your Little Sports Star

JeanneSager — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:24:00 GMT

Leave it to the Canadians to come up with the best jerseys ever for little hockey players. And soccer players. And basketball players . . .

These fleece jersey blankets take your little sports star off to dreams of bright lights and baseball diamonds.

From My Kidsquarters, a Canadian company that sells products made in Canada exclusively on its Website to their cousins down here in the states, the blankets are super soft and can be personalized with their name and favorite number or that of their favorite sports superstar (yes, I was tempted to put a number 2 under my daughter's name, but I figured a three-year-old sleeping under Mom's Jeter dreams was a bit too much. Sigh).

The max. is nine characters for the name, two digits for the number, for either the small blanket or the large (and at 60 x 85, we're talking big enough for Mom or Dad when you're called in to cuddle), and colors vary - but if you have a color combo you don't see on their site, let them know - they're willing to work with parents to meet athlete aspirations!

Get them straight from My Kidsquarters for $59.99 or $119 (prices are in Canadian dollars).

Check Out More Toddler to Teen Bedroom Goodies:

Bedding That Will Take You From Toddler to Teen

Music on the Half Shell

JeanneSager — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:29:00 GMT

Who knew you could listen to rap music and think "awwww, that's so cute?"

OK, I probably shouldn't have my iPod tuned to Biggie when it's plugged into my daughter's iTurtle, but come on. Who doesn't want to see a turtle dance?

The newest critter in the Hasbro line of animal iPod music players for kids has already earned my vote for best of the bunch. The little turtle (and I do mean little, this thing fits in my palm) bumps around to the beat and let's you know what he's "thinking" with musical riffs. If he's hungry for more tunes, he lets you know. When he likes their pick, he bobs his little head, taps his tiny feet and his shell goes bumpity bump.

Add the light show on his shell, and you can paint this turtle happy (unless you touch his tail).

The player itself gives off a pretty decent sound, and it's only $21.99 at Amazon.

Decor for Your Little Count (Ah Ah Ah!)

Heather Kuldell — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:04:00 GMT

Letters get a lot love on Droolicious, but my little boy loves numbers. If your kids prefer the 123s to the ABCs, check out the Sycamore Street Press Letterpress Number Poster. This clean, modern poster features chocolate brown san-serif numbers with corresponding amounts of apple-green animals. And it's not your average computer print-out: Each piece of renewable cotton paper is fed individually through a vintage letterpress. The raised types and shapes of the press cut into the paper leaving both color and texture.

The 11-by-14-inch print is $30, and available in a few other color combinations. And, if you really love letters, a coordinating alphabet version is available too. Either one — or both — makes a sweet baby-shower gift for any graphic-design loving parents out there.

A Clock that Talks Back at You

JeanneSager — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:23:00 GMT

The mark of a truly great toy for kids? Something that talks. The mark of a truly great toy for parents? Something that teaches . . . and doesn't talk too loudly.

The Tick Talk hits both marks, making it an all around hit for families.

From the folks at American Innovative, the clock does double duty as an alarm clock, night light and toy that helps them get out the door in the morning. Kids can record their own voices being goofy as their wake-up alarm, or you can record yourself nagging, er, gently reminding them it's up and at 'em. For kids who are always on the go, record messages so they can come home and check them at the touch of the clock's "toe."

Want a stress-free morning? The clock will start shipping next month, so pre-order from American Innovative for $29.95.

Big Deal: notNeutral BB2 Twin Bed With Free Night Stand Ends Today

Chris Ford — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:30:00 GMT

I'm a big fan of the children's furniture by notNeutral. The stuff they make looks great and as I can personally attest, it's really quite functional. The BB2 bed is one of my favorites, not the least of which because it's a children's bed that fits a twin sized mattress. So here's a great deal you should know about - right now at Design Public, if you get the bb2 Twin Bed at it's regular price they'll throw in the matching night stand for free.

The deal ends today, so jump on it now.

notNeutral BB2 Twin Bed, $960. Night Stand FREE (regularly $140) with Free Shipping at DesignPublic.com (put the bed in your shopping cart, and the nightstand will show up there for free).

Meet Chloe, My New Favorite Chandelier

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:30:00 GMT

Admittedly I have a chandelier obsession. Wherever you can make them work I say go for it. I love this new one from lighting design extraordinaire Maura Daniel.

It’s definitely in the splurge category at $536, but the Chloe Sphere is a crystal-encrusted gem. Measuring 16 inches in diameter it comes with all necessary hardware for installation. Each piece is custom made and usually ships within 2-3 weeks.

Paint By Number for the Nursery

JeanneSager — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:01:00 GMT

Looking for an art project for a rainy day inside with the kids? How about one that will make their bedroom look good and you look like the Martha mom you oh-so-aren't?

Trace it baby! Trace Designs' wall murals for the kids are easy peasy, and dumbed down for parents. Put up a piece of the kit's tracing paper on their wall, followed by one of Meg Marasigan's rockin' designs, and practice staying on top of the lines.

Then pull out your paints and get to work - it's all paint by numbers, so you and the kids can make it look like you called in a professional artist. The paints themselves aren't included, so you can pick and choose to make it all match.

With Trace Designs available at Home Depot.com (and slated for the stores soon), you can do a two-for-one buying trip online to get the paint, or you can order your mural right from Trace. The elephants above are $39.95; more complicated traceables are $49.95. The price on the face of their playdate's mom when you said you did that yourself? Priceless.

Big Deal: Fauna Clothing And Pillows On Sale

Chris Ford — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:04:00 GMT

Fauna is the NYC-based company that makes pillows and clothing with animal prints that use photos of actual animals. They're kind of one of those things you either love or hate, and for those that fall into the former category, I just discovered a bunch of their products on sale over at Design Public.

You can get some of the Fauna pillows for as low as $31, but my favorite are the Baby Onesies and Kids T-Shirts. The Cat T-Shirt is $10 off the regular price as well as the Cat Onesie. But there are also bunnies, squirrels and even pigeons to choose from too. All are perfect for your little hipster this spring.

Check out products from Fauna, on sale now at DesignPublic.com

Start Easter Decorating Early

Lisa Estall — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:33:00 GMT

If you’re into Easter decorations you might like this Hanging Easter Décor.

You get a colorful house made of cotton and a fabric-covered hoop...

with three plush chicks. The chicks can be hung inside the hoop or below.
It’s a new item sold at Pottery Barn Kids and the price for this is $39.00.

Chalkboard Pendant

Lisa Mulcahy — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:00:00 GMT

With the advent on chalkboard paint, there’s no shortage of scribbleable kids products, but I’ve yet to see a light fixture like this one.

Yes you can write on it, but I’d recommend leaving it up the to adults to inscribe the message of the day. Designed by St. Louis, MO artisan John Beck, this steel sheet pendant light comes with a 15" cord with plug end and an in-line switch. It’s available in three sizes: 6" x 5", 6" x 10", and 6" x 15", $175.00 to $295.00. Would be a fun addition to a playroom or craft area.

Help with Counting: Math Mittens

AmandaHill — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:00:00 GMT

Math Mittens would make a great addition to a child's bedroom. They hang from a string and can be used for help in counting. They can also be stuffed with small toys. These math mittens come in a set of 10 with the numbers 1-10. However, additional numbers can be added for just $1.00 per number. Click behind the fold to read more and see more pictures.

A single set of math mittens is just $10.00 from Quilt Tales Etsy store. Click on over to check them out.

A Poofy Piece of Fun

Cathy Hale — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Add a touch of whimsy to your nursery, child's room or playroom with this playful Bird Poof from Zid Zid. Lightweight and durable, poofs are perfect for sitting, climbing and playing. And if you're really really lucky, a cute place for mom to rest those tired feet. Featuring a handmade embroidered Birdy on top in sky blue, surrounded by chestnut brown. The poof is stuffed with recycled cotton filling. Measures 11"d x 12"h. Shop Zid Zid products at Arte Bebe.

Re-Stickable Decal Photo Frames

Chris Ford — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

My daughter's new favorite thing is to draw a picture and then scotch tape it to the wall - any wall she can find. Her room and playroom are covered with her creations. Although she's not printing out her own photos yet, I'm guessing that in the future her obsession with displaying her work will continue. Which is why these re-stickable photo frames are so cool. When you get bored with your picture, you just pull it down, replace it and put it back up on the wall.

An 8 pack of Wall Decals costs $20.00 (or two for $36.00) and are made of "pliable, premium vinyl". I'm doubting I'll be able to get my daughter to use them now, but it looks like the sort of thing that she'll really be into when she's older.

Re-Stickable Decal Photo Frames, $20 from Photojojo.com

Initial Your Pillows

Lisa Estall — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:25:00 GMT

This initial pillow would be a perfect gift for my son Harrison. Since he's too young to appreciate pillows I would just place it somewhere in his room for decoration.

What's great is when you order a pillow from Romp, you can chose which two colors and...

initial you want. Each initial is hand drawn and screened onto 100% canvas. So personally made just for you! The pillow is made of down and feather and has a removable cover so you can wash.

If you don’t want an initial on your cushion there is a heart design. I think this would make a sweet baby gift. Price is $58.

Check it out at Romp.

The Sam Collection From Muu Is Officially Released

Chris Ford — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:00:00 GMT

We've already told you about some of the nursery and kids furniture on the way from Muu (the storage unit and crib), but the full line of furniture has now been "officially" released. In addition to the other pieces, they also have a dresser, nightstand and twin bed to check out. And like the crib and storage unit, all of the pieces are customizable to your taste.

All of the pieces from Muu are made from sustainable wood with non-toxic finishes right here in the USA. There are a lot of different panels to choose from, and I think the graphics themselves look pretty cool. I'm not sure I'd be happy with having furniture with such graphic elements on it, but you can change out the panels if you get bored with what you've selected (or your kid's taste changes) which is nice too.

What I really love about Muu is the twin bed. There really aren't a lot of great modern twin bed options for kids out there, and if you've got a little extra cash the twin bed looks like something that your son or daughter will enjoy at least until they go to college. Wether or not you let them enjoy it after they're done with college is entirely up to you.

The Muu Sam Collection is available at MuuKids.com.

Monkey Door Hooks

AmandaHill — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:00:00 GMT

These Monkey Door Hooks are both cute and convenient. They can be used to hang towels or robes for your child while also managing to look as cute as a door hook monkey can look.

Click behind the fold to read more.

The monkeys are made from enameled metal and come in sets of three. Click over to Pop Deluxe to find out more.

Initial Pillow

Lisa Estall — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:25:00 GMT

This initial pillow would be a perfect gift for my son Harrison. Since he's too young to appreciate pillows I would just place it somewhere in his room for decoration.

What's great is when you order a pillow from Romp, you can chose which two colors and...

Check it out at Romp.

Flair Highchair From Boon Now Available In Hot Pink

Chris Ford — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:30:00 GMT

My personal rule of baby furniture is - buy the furniture to match your decor, not the baby. But if you've got a hot pink kitchen, then the newest color in the Flair Highchair from Boon is perfect.

The Flair Highchair has already been one of our favorites for a while. It's a modern, pedestal high chair with an easy to use pneumatic lift. Besides the lift it has all of the standard stuff you'd want in an away-from-the-table high chair, with a fresh modern look to boot.

The Flair Highchair from Boon, available in Pink in February from Amazon.com. Check it out at BoonInc.com.

Playful Pennant Banner

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:30:00 GMT

You don’t have to be celebrating the grand opening of a car wash to take advantage of eye catching pennant banners. But forget about the vinyl variety, check out this handmade fabric one.

Designed by m.o.m, the mother/daughter team of Tere and Bethany Jensen, this pennant banner, $36, is the perfect mix and match of beautiful fabrics and patterns. At 14 feet long with 12-inch ties on each end, it’s a quick fix for party décor or an easy way to bring a splash of color into a kid’s room.