DailyCandy Kids London

A Slippery Slope

2012-02-09T09:45:00Z

Rent Snow Clothes Online

We don’t mean to make a mountain out of a bunny hill, but ski vacations with kids can get steep.

Before the whole thing heads downhill, check out Rent Snow Clothes, a new online shop that leases high-quality kids’ ski apparel for a fraction of what it would cost to buy.

Outfitting your kids from hats to socks runs $100 for eight days. Or fill in the gaps by ordering individual items a la carte. The jackets, ski bibs, base layers, mittens, and toppers are all by The North Face, so your kids won’t look mismatched (or neglected) on the slopes.

Rentals are in four- or eight-day increments, and the company ships to anywhere in the United States. When your vacay is over, drop the gear in the mail and send it back.

All the items are inspected and cleaned between skiers (a little birdie told us the wares are new this season), so you get the goods in peak condition.

Available online at rentsnowclothes.com, $5-$100, plus shipping.

Photo: Jan Greune / Look-foto / Getty Images

Prudent Baby's DIY Crayon Valentines

2012-02-07T07:00:00Z

We Heart Bloggers: DIY Valentines

2012-02-07T07:00:00Z

That Can-Do Spirit

2012-02-02T09:45:00Z

Armommy Homemade Accessories and DIYs

Moms who can, do. Moms who can’t, buy things that look like they do.

If you love the idea of homemade but lack the skills to make anything other than a bed, meet the moms of Armommy.

Mother-daughter duo Rae Friis and Jane Kelly started their brand after Rae called up Jane (her mommy) with an idea. She wanted a tank top to go under her shirts to help make breastfeeding in public a less revealing experience — and so the Empire Tank was born.

All of the company’s products have an equally charming, inventive, and whimsical feel. Our favorite is the Bumper, a small pillow you tie around door knobs to eliminate slammed doors and crushed fingers.

For those who want to DIY, a video series launches in April. The first classes will focus on home decorating and entertaining (think: fabric napkins, picnic blankets, and seat cushions). For those who can’t fathom using a needle and thread, the site is packed with customizable valentines for order and printables to download.

C’mon, even you can press print.

Available online at armommy.com, $4-$35.

Photo: lovestudiophoto.com / Courtesy of Armommy

19 New Books for Kids

2012-01-31T09:30:00Z

What's for Dinner: Baked Chicken with New Potatoes

2012-01-26T09:45:00Z

Kids Who Love to Cook Shares a Dinner Recipe

Gone are the days of fantasizing about a hot young dish firing it up in the kitchen. These days you’d settle for your kids taking on a dinnertime dish of their own.

Which is why the new web series Kids Who Love to Cook has inspired us to invite our littles to the kitchen counter. The videos showcase real kids (not actors) making real meals (no fancy editing or switcheroos). What you see is exactly what they made — all by themselves.

We asked Abby, a KWLTK contributor, why she loves to cook and found her answer to be as satisfying as her baked chicken.

There’s something about cooking for family or friends. You’re feeding the people you care about! And cooking relaxes me. It’s like therapy. I’m just minding my own business in the kitchen. No chatting, emailing, or texting. It’s my alone, quiet time.

Baked Chicken with New Potatoes, Carrots, and Caramelized Shallots
Serves four to six

Ingredients
8 pieces chicken (4 thighs and 4 drumsticks)
4 new potatoes, halved
4 young carrots
4 medium-large shallots, halved
2-3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. parsley, chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tbsp. soy sauce (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 425°.

2. Put chicken, potatoes, carrots, and shallots in a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and soy sauce (if using); season with salt and pepper.

3. Toss everything in the baking dish and place in the oven.

4. After 20 minutes, turn the chicken pieces and scrape off the shallots clinging to the pan. Spoon juices and shallots over the chicken. Return dish to oven.

5. After another 20 minutes, check if chicken is cooked through. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Find more dinnertime inspiration online at kidswholovetocook.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Kids Who Love to Cook

20 Wall-to-Wall Kids' Room Ideas

2012-01-24T09:44:00Z

A Preconcert Warm Up

2012-01-19T09:45:00Z

The Fresh Beat Band's Playlist

We’ve been stalking Nick Jr. for months, sending anonymous emails to the network begging Kiki, Marina, Twist, and Shout to take the show on the road (our kids kept asking).

So we’re not going to try to hide how excited we are about The Fresh Beat Band going on tour. (Yes, we may have let out a whoop in the grocery store when we found out. No, our children weren’t present.)

And when the foursome agreed to share their personal preconcert iPod playlists with us, it was a great day.

“Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing,” by Stevie Wonder
Who’s listening: Kiki (Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer)

“Dancing Machine,” by Jackson 5
Who’s listening: Marina (Tara Perry)

“Here I Am (Come and Take Me),” by Al Green
Who’s listening: Twist (Jon Beavers)

“Smooth Criminal,” by Michael Jackson
Who’s listening: Shout (Thomas Hobson)

“Get Rhythm,” by Johnny Cash
Who’s listening: Marina

“Start Me Up,” by The Rolling Stones
Who’s listening: Twist

Plus, on January 31, the Beats are releasing a twenty-track album with music from the show, including “Just like a Rockstar,” “Get Up and Go Go,” and “A Friend like You.”

No need to thank us for sharing the news. After all, friends give friends a hand.

To find out if The Fresh Beat Band is coming to your town, go to freshbeatbandlive.com. Tickets, $15-$119.50.

Photo: Randee St. Nicholas / Courtesy of Nickelodeon

17 Toys for Small Playrooms

2012-01-17T09:15:00Z

4moms Origami Power-Folding Stroller Launches

2012-01-12T09:45:00Z

It's Ready to Roll

We’re all charged up around here. Why? The stroller from Tomorrowland has arrived. And it’s out of this world.

The inventive team at 4moms teased us with the Origami stroller for months; the futuristic ride is finally ready to roll. Believe the hype, people. It power-folds with just one touch of a button by way of a built-in generator that charges while you walk. Yes, we said power-folds, as in you don’t have to do anything but watch.

An LCD screen serves as command central, tracking how far you’ve gone and indicating battery power. Sensors in the seat ensure it will never close while baby’s on board, daytime running lights keep you in other people’s sights, and four cup holders mean two parental lattes and two sippies are welcome to ride.

But our favorite add-on is the USB port and cable that lets you charge your phone.

Beam us up, Scotty.

Available online at shop4moms.com, $850; handle bar bag and phone charger, $40. For more information, go to 4moms.com.

Photo: Courtesy of 4moms

4 New Web Shops We Love

2012-01-10T09:45:00Z

Thumbeline, Shop Belle, Little Choux, and Darling Clementine

Four new shops to help feed your Pinterest habit. New board: cutest things for kids.

Thumbeline
This Cali-based clothing boutique is our curatorial dream. Sophisticated design, quirky details, and boatloads of personality pop from every page. Load up on hard-to-find European lines (Bangbang Copenhagen, Mini Rodini, Le Toit de la Lune) without the spendy shipping fees.

Shop Belle
A mix of classic good looks and on-trend finds from designers like Velvet & Tweed, Anais & I, Tom & Drew, and Blu Pony Vintage. Owner Maria Nagy promises small boutique attention with big store perks (flat-rate shipping, free gift wrap, free returns).

Little Choux
A collection of indie and lesser-known designers of home decor, toys, and wearable accessories for kids (everything from towels to headbands). It’s like the love child of Etsy and your favorite neighborhood boutique. In other words, it’s got a lot of heart.

Darling Clementine
The Brooklyn-based shop feels like the best-of recommendations you get from a close friend. Tightly curated selections mean there aren’t five sleep sacks to choose from, just owner (and mom) Lindsay Meyer-Harley’s favorites.


	Shop the stores! Check out our editor favorites at all four shops.

Photo: Jordan Siemens / Getty Images

4 New Kids' Shops We Love

2012-01-10T07:00:00Z

Mix-and-Match Nursery Design

2012-01-05T09:45:00Z

My Tiny Nest's Design in a Box Service

A nursery is the tabula rasa of interior design: four blank walls; nothing but possibility.

But the combination of white space and raging hormones leaves you seeing Disney princesses.

My Tiny Nest’s e-design service for expectant moms will set your vision straight.

The custom Design in a Box offering starts with an extensive questionnaire that gathers your likes and dislikes, budget, and essential room information. Next, designer Alessia Corpino and architect Julie Frank assemble a tool kit of around 100 four-by-six note cards that feature color images of everything from rugs and cribs to wall art and lighting — all of which could work together in your nursery.

On the back of each card they include product name, specs, price, purchase information, plus notes they’ve written during their research. Essentially they’ve done the busy work, so all you have to do is mix and match to create your dream.

Admittedly, services like this aren’t new, but the presentation and selection of products in our box had us at hello.

Because when it comes to baby’s room, it’s nurture over nature.

Available online at mytinynest.com, $750.

Photo: Niki Dankner for DailyCandy


	Need design inspiration? We’ve picked more than 60 cribs, rockers, bedding, and more to spruce up any nursery.

Get into a Sample Size

2012-01-03T09:45:00Z

Bluum Product Samples for Mom and Baby

You never met a resolution you could keep for more than a day. (Ahem, we can smell your coffee breath from here.)

We’re turning over our promise to try something new to Bluum, a subscription service that sends monthly packages of sample-size goodies for expectant and new moms (and their offspring) right to your home.

The most recent box was packed with testers from Plum Organics baby food, Dr. Sears baby wash and shampoo, Spiffies cleaning and teething tooth wipes, Dapple all-natural bottle and dish soap, and Wysi Wipes reusable cleaning wipes.

Haven’t heard of some of the brands? That’s the point. Trial-size products give you just enough to get familiar with the goods. Want more? Of course, you do. So log on to the Bluum website to buy full-size items (shipping is always free). While you’re there, write reviews of the products you tried and earn credits toward future purchases.

No willpower required.

Available online at bluum.com, from $9 a month.

Photo: Courtesy of Bluum

DailyCandy Picks the Best Kids' Music of 2011

2011-12-29T09:45:00Z

6 Albums We Loved This Year

Your house might as well be a concert hall. Just ask the little drummer boy in your kitchen (then lock up the pots and pans).

Cut through the noise with these melodic kids’ albums. From pop ballads to banjo jams, they’re the best we heard in 2011.

A Dog Named Moo, by Essence
To get her son to complete everyday tasks (getting dressed, taking baths), the San Francisco vocalist chanted these ditties to him before they blossomed into full-fledged hits. We love the ukulele- and banjo-laced jams, especially the cutely silly “Everybody Has a Butt,” $10 (MP3 and CD).

Big Bully, by Recess Music
Uplifting folk-pop performed by an all-star cast (Milkshake, Renee & Jeremy, The Uncle Brothers) is perfect for road trips. Bundled in each song are nuggets of sage advice (“When you ignore a bully, their power goes away”), $9 (MP3); $13 (CD).

Little Nut Tree, by Dan Zanes and Friends
Listening to albums by longtime favorite Zanes is like dropping by a party. You might know the guests (Andrew Bird and Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars make appearances), but each song — from bluesy backyard tunes to jangly folk odes — takes you by pleasant surprise, $7 (MP3); $14 (CD).

Music Play for Folks of all Stripes, by Jim Gill
The Chicago-based musician, author, and child development specialist does more than lay down plucky rhythms. He pours on charm with word prompts, clap-alongs, and games — which makes the album as much about play as song, $16 (CD).

Practically Ridiculous, by The Jimmies
Pulsing, high-energy rock jams by the female-fronted NYC group are best played at full blast. There’s also an earful of other musical styles, like the rap “Wash Up.” (Fave line: “Check baby, check baby, scrub, 2, 3. I used to be clean, but now I’m dirty.”), $13 (CD).

The Family Garden, by Billy Kelly
Consider funny bones tickled with the singer’s humor-filled tunes, which jump around from country to ragtime to rock. Kids will have a blast singing the giddy “Scootdootdoodlydoo.” Parents, we dare you not to dig the cover of The B-52s’s “Rock Lobster,” $12 (CD).

Photo: PhotoAlto / Sandro Di Carlo Darsa / Getty Images

Where Dreams Come True

2011-12-27T09:45:00Z

Poshbrood Family Travel Shares Winter Travel Picks

There’s nothing dreamy about family vacations. Same routine, more gear, different view.

So we asked Elizabeth Thorp, founder of Poshbrood, a website that features family-friendly upscale hotels, villas, cottages, and inns, if there were any destinations that could fulfill our wildest fantasies (namely distracting our kids, so we could enjoy ourselves).

Here are her picks for a little postholiday R&R.

Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith
Montego Bay Area, Jamaica
What to expect: Beautiful beaches with calm waters perfect for little swimmers.
Favorite thing: Every morning a butler places a thermos of fresh-brewed Jamaican coffee outside your door. After that, you lounge by the pool as the staff serves you cold drinks and prepares family meals.
Family-friendly perks: Membership to nearby Tryall Club or Round Hill gives you access to kids’ clubs, spas, beaches, pools, water sports, and restaurants (even though you won’t need them). You can also hire nannies for $8-$12 an hour — depending how many littles there are to watch.
The damage: During January and early February, a three-bedroom villa with a pool and staff is $3,800 per week. Tell them you came by way of Poshbrood and you’ll get seven nights for the price of six.

Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach
Miami, Florida
What to expect: A charming Mediterranean villa meets beachside chic wrapped up in a five-diamond Leading Hotels of the World property.
Favorite thing: The rooms. Even at the entry level they are spacious — starting at 600 square feet.
Family-friendly perks: An innovative marine biology-based program especially for children ages 5 to 12. Kids enjoy relay races, games, swimming, arts and crafts, and eco-explorations while mom and dad hang solo.
The damage: A double is $850-$1,050 per night in high season, which means it’s not the spot for the thrifty.

Atlantis
Paradise Island, Bahamas
What to expect: A luxe resort set on a lush tropical island — think Vegas, Disney, and the Caribbean rolled into one.
Favorite thing: Complimentary access to Aquaventure, the resort’s 141-acre waterscape with high-speed water slides, a mile-long river ride with rolling rapids, twenty swimming areas, a kids’ water-play fort, and twelve swimming pools.
Family-friendly perks: Littles, ages 3-12, can choose their own adventure within themed spaces. Adventure Guides are ready to help them with everything from cooking lessons to outdoor play.
The damage: Rooms can run as low as $280 per night in nonpeak winter periods. But high rollers will want to book at The Cove at Atlantis, where rooms start at $590 per night.

Hotel del Coronado
San Diego, California
What to expect: A National Historic Landmark with a full-time recreation department to cater to your child’s every whim.
Favorite thing: The combination of modern luxury and fairy-tale charm. Larger families can rent one- to three-bedroom beachfront cottages complete with fireplaces, 400-thread count linens, and gourmet kitchens.
Family-friendly perks: Kidtopia, for guests ages 4-12, features craft and play rooms with oodles of activities like a crazy funhouse mirror and high-tech entertainment stations.
The damage: The Beach Retreat Package, which includes accommodations, s’mores on the beach, two-hour bike rentals, and beach umbrella setup, starts at $339 per night.

The Beloved Hotel
Playa Mujeres, Mexico
What to expect: Just a few minutes north of Cancun, the intimate resort’s large suites (the smallest rooms are 960 square feet), spotless service, deluxe facilities, and secluded beachfront setting make you feel miles away from Zona Tourista.
Favorite thing: It’s an all-inclusive hotel. Don’t scoff! All gourmet meals and snacks, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, minibar items, nonmotorized water sports, and more are covered in the rate.
Family-friendly perks: Beloved’s Kids Club is free to guests ages 4-12 and includes activities like mask making, face painting, and traditional Mexican pinata making.
The damage: January 7-February 29 rooms start at $190 per person per night (children under 4 are free) with a free room upgrade if available.

Photo: Blend Images / John Lund / Marc Romanelli / Getty Images

What's for Dinner: Lamb Chops with Pesto and Creme Fraiche

2011-12-22T09:45:00Z

Dash and Bella Shares a Recipe

Our proudest food moment of 2011 happened at McDonald’s (no judgment). The only thing our kids would eat was pre-packaged apple slices. Victory!

For our next trick, we’ll get them to beg for pesto and creme fraiche. To help, we’ve enlisted Phyllis Grant of Dash and Bella, a blog about cooking fantastic food for (and with) two kids. Tastiest nugget: Grant doesn’t water down flavors to appease littles.

I make classic basil and pine nut pesto all summer, but in the winter we mix it up. Maybe some steamed broccoli, parsley, and pecorino. Or spinach, walnuts, and piave. But according to my daughter, the kale, manchego, and almond combination is the best ever.

Lamb Chops with Kale Pesto and Lemon Creme Fraiche
Serves four

Lamb Chops

Ingredients
10 lamb chops
Salt
Pepper
Lemon wedges

1. Generously season the lamb chops with salt and pepper.

2. Bring a cast-iron pan to very high heat. Once the pan is smoking, sear all sides of the chops (start with the thin, fatty edges and then pour off some of the fat).

3. To test for doneness, cut an incision in the smallest chop. Remove from heat earlier than you think you should. (They will continue to cook after you remove from heat; you can always throw them back in the pan if need be.)

4. Let the chops sit for a few minutes.

5. While the chops are still warm, top each with a spoonful of lemon creme fraiche and a spoonful of kale pesto (recipes below).

6. Serve with lemon wedges. Eat with your fingers.

Kale Pesto

Ingredients
1 head kale (curly or plain), washed, tips trimmed, coarsely chopped
1 anchovy fillet (packed in oil)
2 garlic cloves, peeled
¾ c. blanched almonds, lightly toasted
1½ c. grated manchego (or any combo of hard cheeses like pecorino or Parmesan)
1/3 c. creamy, fresh goat cheese
Juice and zest of ½ lemon
½ c. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil.

2. Add a small handful of salt. Add kale. Let wilt for about a minute.

3. Remove kale and place in colander to drain water. Press water out with hands.

4. Make a paste with the anchovies and garlic cloves in a mortar and pestle. Don’t have one? Mash on your counter with the side of a chef’s knife.

5. In a food processor, add kale, anchovy/garlic paste, almonds, grated hard cheeses, goat cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, a big pinch of salt, and a few turns of pepper.

6. Puree (not too much because you want a little texture). Scrape down sides. Puree more. Scrape down sides. Taste and adjust flavors as needed.

7. If you’re not serving within a few hours, top the pesto with a thin layer of olive oil and refrigerate.

Lemon Creme Fraiche

Ingredients
¾ c. creme fraiche
Juice and zest of ½ lemon
Salt

1. Combine all ingredients.

2. Taste. Adjust as needed.

Find more delicious dinner recipes online at dashandbella.blogspot.com.

Photo: Phyllis Grant / Courtesy of Dash and Bella

A Real Hair-o

2011-12-20T09:45:00Z

The Knot Genie

While sitting on the beach this past summer, we heard (re: eavesdropped) about a brush that magically detangles knots without so much as a yelp or wiggle.

Could it be? We wondered. Or are these moms the same women who spread vicious rumors about kids who love Brussels sprouts and bedtime?

Those ladies weren’t spinning a yarn: Knot Genie is very real and very magical.

The cloud-shaped tool fits right in the palm of your hand, so there’s no paddle to yank through the tangle of locks. It has a series of bendable teeth of all lengths — that is what the Knot Genie team says makes the difference between an easy-breezy combing and something that might violate the Geneva Conventions. As the brush makes its way through hair, the teeth bend and give, rather than fight and rip, detangling without tears.

We promise you it works. And our kids are a huge pain in the ass at bedtime.

Available online knotgenie.com, $20.

Photo: Courtesy of Knot Genie

A Crib That Clicks

2011-12-15T09:45:00Z

Gro Furniture Bam B and P Pod Cribs

Nothing like putting the last bolt in the baby’s crib only to discover an extra nut on the floor.

Kind of makes you want to say screw it. Or not screw it, as the case may be.

The new collection of cribs from Gro Furniture may be just what you’re missing. Founders David and Aimee Singelyn put their architecture degrees to work by creating a pair of cribs that hook together without a single fastener or piece of hardware — think of them as puzzles that can be solved in less than two minutes.

The eco-conscious collection is manufactured in Nashville, Tennessee, and uses bamboo or solid-core birch ply and low VOC finishes. No need to worry about safety issues, both the Bam B and P Pod cribs exceed all standards. In fact, every time your Future Engineer of America jumps or tosses in his bed, the interlocking pieces tighten with the force.

Once he outgrows the crib, it converts to a toddler bed, day bed, or play table.

So no one gets screwed by a useless cradle.

Available online at grofurniture.com, $990-$1,890.

Photo: Courtesy of Gro Furniture

How to Make Poop Groovy

2011-12-13T09:45:00Z

Jonathan Adler and Skip Hop Do Diaper Bags

You don’t need us to tell you there’s nothing fabulous about diaper duty. Everyone knows that shit stinks.

But thanks to a collaboration between design guru Jonathan Adler and the baby geniuses at Skip Hop, your diaper bag doesn’t have to.

The just-launched diaper bag collection incorporates JA’s iconic mod patterns with Skip Hop’s fail-proof organizational prowess, so each carryall is as fetching as it is functional.

Skip Hop’s full-size Duo and Dash bags have been Adler-ized and include coordinating zip cases and laminated changing pads. The smaller Pronto changing station also gets an Adler-esque upgrade, packing a wallop of whimsy into each pint-size package.

If nothing else, you’ll look good when doodie calls.

Available online at skiphop.com, $34-$80.

Photo: Courtesy of Skip Hop