Rave and Review

Cocoon Couture Bean Bag Chairs

Cocoon Couture Bean Bags

Before you start thinking about all the shapeless bean bag chairs we’re all more than familiar with, I’m going to stop you with one single image:

A picture speaks a thousand words and in this case all those words have to do with adorable.  The stereotypes that took bean bag chairs over 40 years to perfect, Cocoon Couture did away with the moment they created their vintage inspired chairs that are cuter than any chair should ever be allowed to be.  Their Bean Bag Covers are made of pinwale cord with embroidery and fabric appliqués and come in a variety of colors that will match any nursery, playroom, livingroom, movie room, great room, etc… Really, these chairs go anywhere, which is probably why they designed a slick little corduroy handle at the top that’s perfect for carting it around the house.  Cocoon Couture even has Bean Bag Covers in neutral colors, which is very unexpected but incredibly welcome in a house that doesn’t have a primary color scheme and never will. 

Even more than the color choices, we like the shape of the Cocoon Couture Bean Bag Covers.  Instead of a big puffy circle, their Bean Bag Covers have a flat bottom and then 4 triangular shaped panels stitched together with contrast piping, which gives the Cover more of a pear shape.  The result is that you can form the Bean Bag Cover into a chair complete with a higher back, or you can lay it on its side for lounging on your belly.  On its side, it is absolutely perfect for little babies*, as it creates a little nest for them to lie in while being fully supported and can be formed to any degree of recline.  Unlike the formless bean bag chairs of our youths, Cocoon Couture Bean Bag Chairs offer a more structured seat that keeps the beans from shifting, greatly enhancing the usability for any age and use.

When not being used by kiddos, I like to use the Bean Bag Chair myself.  I found that it is perfect for using as a reading pillow in bed, or for late night laptop use (now, for example) since it’s not too big to overwhelm the bed, but still offers ample support against the metal headboard.  Leaned against a wall, it’s the perfect spot to sit and read a bedtime story to the kids.  The pinwale cord is flexible and durable, but doesn’t add any unnecessary heft to the chair.  Even filled with beans it is incredibly light, which makes it perfect for little ones moving from room to room. 

We also love that the Bean Bag Covers all come with a fabric safety insert that slips inside the corduroy and keeps all the beans securely inside the Cover.  For easy washing of the Cover, you just remove the fabric insert that holds all the beans and launder by machine or by hand.  When dry, you just reinsert the fabric lining and it’s as good as new.  As an added protection for little ones, the zipper tab on the Bean Bag Cover has been removed to prevent kiddos from opening it to get at the fabric insert and the enclosed beans.  Their Covers all come sans beans for ease of shipping, but beans are readily available at just about any department store or home center and are very inexpensive.    

Random Rave: With baby in it, you can gently rock the Bean Bag Chair, causing the beans to shift enough to make a soothing white noise but without altering the shape of the Chair.  Random, but invaluable when dealing with fuss.

To read more: http://www.cocooncouture.com/

To buy from the U.S. Stockist: http://www.cute-ture.com/

Price: $130, but for a limited time all the Bunny Bean Bags are on sale for $85 for Easter

Looks:  Delightfully gorgeous and perfect for any décor.

Overall:  Absolutely perfect for any age, making it a much longer lasting seat than most others marketed for kids. 

* I’m sure that Bean Bag Chairs are among the long list of things that are not approved for babies.  But, my baby loves it.  I know, because I am always right beside her while she is relaxing in it. 

Jamie Rae Hats Giveaway Delight!

Handcrafted for your Budding Beauty

If you have a daughter or know any females under the age of 10, you probably know Jamie Rae Hats.  Or at least you should.  They are the ones who make those awesome displays of baubles and bows at your local baby boutique.  You know the display - the one you can't walk by without stopping to ogle, and the one that lil miss priss has been begging to be let loose in and let the feathers fly.  I love their collection of bows, headbands, hats and more that are all handcrafted and gorgeous.  They are just perfect for portraits, special days, or even paired with sweats and rain boots for lazy days around the house - adding that special something to make any outfit or ensemble more fun. 

Just when you think you can't handle any more cute, Jamie Rae goes and designs a new line of must-have flair that's like sweetened sugar, almost unbearable in its decadence.  Picture wild prints with feathers with eye catching colors.  It's like flair on top of flair on top of flair ontop of your baby's head and it's bound to melt hearts.

If you are a girl, have a daughter or even just know a special lil someone who loves all things girly, you should so check out Jamie Rae's assortment of goodies.  They have flair for ages newborn to adult, all of it handcrafted with care and attention to detail in sweet and surprising designs that are sure to please.  But, be prepared for some serious cute.

Price: $12 and up

www.jamieraehats.com/

And now for the Giveaway...

I have one super fun and spunky Jamie Rae Print Hat sized Medium, pictured below and valued at $26, to giveaway to one lucky reader!

To enter just let me know your favorite thing about Jamie Rae Hats by commenting below. 

If you want extra entries:

Let me know you have subscribed to this blog - 1 extra entry

Blog about this giveaway with links to this post - 2 extra entries

Place my logo or link in your sidebar on your blog or website (must have an active link) - 3 extra entries

 Comment on any of my posts and then come back here and let me know - 1 extra entry per comment, no limit 
 

on April 5th a winner will be drawn and the lucky winner will be notified via email

EduShape Wood-Like Soft Blocks

"Twice the fun, none of the noise"

 

 There is something so enjoyable about building a tower of blocks and then knocking it over in a satisfying crash.  I knew that without a doubt I wanted my children to have blocks they could build forts, playhouses and castles with, but I had always thought that blocks were blocks were blocks, and my search would be based solely on price alone.  That was, until I found EduShape’s line of “Wood-Like” Blocks.  When I first saw them I honestly didn’t realize they were “Wood-Like” and not wooden, at least I didn’t until I picked them up.  Weighing in at a half of a pound for a 30 piece set, which is even including the plastic carrying case with handle, I wasn’t prepared for the huge weight difference between EduShape and traditional, heavy wooden blocks.

 

Once I had the package in my hand and could feel how incredibly light it is, I examined the blocks more closely and saw that the “wood grain” was a faux finish and not a true grain.  Up close, it doesn’t look exactly like wood, but from a distance it would be hard to tell the difference.  So, if it’s not wood, what is it?  It’s a super high density foam, so dense that the fact that the blocks are porous is barely perceptible unless you are specifically looking for it.  The foam is not spongy in any way, but rather it is rigid like wood is.  The edges of the Blocks are just as precise as wood, if not more so, because the ridges don’t have to be sanded down like they are on wood blocks for safety. 

 

And, something I didn’t even realize about EduShape until I got them home was that the blocks are also perfect for use in the bathtub since the blocks stick together when wet and will float in the water.  They are easy for little ones to grab and build along the tub sides, and even stick to the shower walls and other flat surfaces nicely without soaking up water or warping the way wood products do.  They have all sorts of Wood-Like building sets to choose from and some even have other figures and props included in the sets.  I particularly like the sets with the people and vehicles that add even more fun when used in either dry or dripping conditions. 

 

Besides the fact that they are lighter in weight, good in water, and the edges are more precise, what other benefits can be had from having Wood-Like Blocks instead of real wood?  I’m glad you asked.  They are more portable for little builders, easier on home furnishings, and when your children leave them out, they are much more pleasant to step on than the sharp ridged wooden toys.  They are better for smaller kids or even for older children to play with around little kids because the probability of getting hurt is much, much smaller when the object hurling through the air weighs almost nothing.  And, to be completely honest, when I’m not playing with the blocks with kiddos I don’t want to hear the crashing sounds over and over echoing throughout the house.  Not only does that sound stress you out when heard out of context, but even if you do know exactly what is making such a racket it can be slightly (okay, incredibly) annoying when repeated over and over when you are doing anything that requires concentration.  EduShape’s Wood-Like Blocks have the huge advantage of being substantially quieter than heavy wooden blocks when they tumble on hard surfaces and a good deal better for your sanity than other loud toys. 

 

That’s all fine and good, but have we taken away all the fun of blocks by muting the crash as they topple to the ground?  In my opinion, no.  The crash is still satisfying and the “uh-oh” face is still the same, leaving only the loud sound omitted, all of which sounds like a stellar deal to me.

 

www.edushape.com

 

Price: $19.95 for a 30-piece set, which is significantly cheaper than a good quality wood set. 

 

Looks:  Remarkably like wood blocks, especially from an arms length away.

 

Overall:  Soft, light, water safe and satisfying when tipped.

Baby Paper by Wize Choice Creations

Baby Paper

Two words: baby paper 

I don’t know if it’s the feel of it or the noise that they can create with it, but babies love paper.  When baby was really little, I used to place to-do lists around the house and sticking out of my purse and laptop case so I would remember to check them off during our busy days.  That was until baby got mobile and figured out ways to annihilate all my paper products with one slobbery gnaw after another.  At first I thought she was trying her best to sabotage my efforts to still keep up my productivity as a sort of baby-contrived master plan.  But then I realized that she would chew on or destroy anything (junk mail, income statements, important bills, etc.) at all, completely indiscriminatively.

And that’s when a friend suggested I try Baby Paper.  I had never seen these in stores near me, whether that was by oversight or under stock, but now I was very curious.  My friend described it as a fleece-covered crinkle material, which baffled me until I actually saw it.  As undecipherable of a description as that was, I still can’t think of a better one.  Baby Paper arrives folded accordion-style into a small 1.5” by 5.5” strip and is tied with a small ribbon so that when you untie it, it folds out to be a petite 5.5” x 5.5”.  It was much smaller than I had thought it would be, as for some reason I had the idea that it would be the size of notebook paper.  It was only then that it dawned on me then that I just might have run across Baby Paper before but had no idea what I was actually looking at at the time. 

With the plethora of baby goods that come onto the market each year, it makes it easy to overlook a small item such as this in a mega store or super mart.  Which is why everyone with babies needs to stop reading this right now and click over to their website or visit one of their stockists to grab a few of these go-anywhere baby toys.  They are chewable, twistable, and shakable and then when baby’s done they are washable and dryable.  They are papers that will never have you worry about pokes or cuts, and never leave you guessing what on earth happened to the sales figures that baby was playing with, all of which makes them vastly superior to real paper.   

Baby absolutely loves hers, and likes to stare at it and crinkle it very seriously, as if she’s working just like I am.  In fact, she prefers if I keep her Baby Paper in with my papers.  I think it adds to the allure of the product to have it pulled out from a stack of real-deal paper unexpectedly.  If she starts to get tired of the Baby Paper, all I have to do is set it on top of my stack of work but it being the only item within her reach.  If she sets it down, I merely move it back over to my stack, they way I would if it was my actual work she had grabbed.  It may be Baby Psychology 101, but it works, and baby really feels like she’s working with me - even if her work consists of nothing more than crinkling a sheet of fleece while watching me do my paperwork.      

www.babypaper.com
www.wizechoicecreations.com

Price: $4 - $5, which is absolutely worth it, even when buying in bulk.

Looks:  Really, this is the only category that doesn’t get high marks.  Baby Paper only comes in a handful of colors, and tends towards the primary color scheme more than I’d like.  But, you know what?  Baby doesn’t mind a bit.

Overall:  Wonderfully simple and convenient.  Size is one of its best attributes; at 5.5” x 5.5” it literally fits anywhere, even the smallest of diaper bags.

Bender Utensils by Boon, Inc.

Boon Spoon (and Fork)

I adore Boon and I love seeing all the new stuff that they come out with each month.  But, no one loves Boon products more than hubby, who adores gadgets of all shapes and sizes, especially those that make life easier for new parents.  We just became acquainted with Boon’s Bender Utensils now that baby has mastered solid foods - or semi-solid, as the case may be. 

As baby began to try her hand (and sometimes her feet, to my dismay) at eating at the table with us, we searched local stores to find the perfect baby spoon.  It had to be small enough for baby’s little bite, but yet it had to be chunky enough so it was comfortable for both of us and for her to hold.  It had to be long enough to reach the bottom of the baby food containers, but not too long as to present a “flinging risk”.   Boon hit both marks and even solved another problem we didn’t know we had – all in one small colorful package. 

As is the case with all Boon products, Bender Adaptable Utensils are colorful and eye catching, the perfect recipe for piquing hubby’s curiosity.  Made out of BpA-free plastic and designed with flattened, chunky but grippable handles with small round spoon and “fork” ends.  Even though they look like some sort of cartoonish modern art piece as opposed to functional utensils, Benders are just the right size for baby’s hands and comfortable for yours.  But, the coolest thing about Benders Utensils is that the handles bend between the grip and mouthpiece so you can tailor the angle of the feeding and adjust as necessary.  The bendability is designed for babies to learn to feed themselves easier, but we found that the bend also serves another function – to allow parents to feed their babies when sitting next to them as opposed to in front of them.  We found that using the spoon bent into a “C’ shape is perfect for this, and makes them indispensable when eating out.   

Speaking of eating out, one really cool thing we found was that the Bender Utensils are the perfect length for storing inside our on-the-go baby food bowls with lids.  This makes them perfect for keeping in the diaper bag because, once dirty, the utensils can be placed inside the bowl with the lid on and the diaper bags stays clean.  

Perfect for travel and for around the house feedings.  And, as an added bonus, they are also the perfect size for baby to play with between meals.   

http://booninc.com/

Price: $4.99 - $5.99 available at www.booninc.com, Target, and Babies R Us and come in pink and orange

Looks: Modern and funky with bright eye-catching colors for little ones.

Overall: 5 marks out of 5, and sure to be your favorite go-to for on-the-go feedings.

Lilly Bean Felt Foods

“Food for all Your Fuzzy Friends”

What do stuffed animals eat?  Well, they eat stuffed food, of course.  Specifically, they eat Lilly Bean Felt Foods.  What makes Lilly Bean Felt Foods different than those you see in mall retail stores?  A lot.  Lilly Bean’s products are of a much greater quality than those sold at the larger franchise stores but still of comparable cost.  All of Lilly Bean’s Felt Foods are made with a high quality wool felt that is softer and thicker than my local fabric stores have in stock and, oh, so much cuter than anything I could dream up.  They have an amazing variety of felt foods available, by far the best selection I have seen anywhere in retail stores or online.

When I first saw the big-name fabric foods for sale at the mall, I was absolutely shocked by the prices.  They want what for three fake vegetables and a pretend piece of bread?!?  But, something in me kept coming back to them, thinking how cute it would be to have some in our play kitchen for our littlest chef.  I didn’t have play food when I was growing up but my little sister did (a prime example of why you should always be the youngest in a family of 5 kids).  I made mine out of play dough, and albeit fun, I definitely would have preferred to have the real deal.  Although sis was 6 years younger than me, I just adored her play foods and would help her cook once she was old enough to play with them.  I think all of us older kids had a good time playing kitchen with her, even though we were so much older than the average play kitchen occupants.  Perhaps it’s because we all had a little jealousy over all the cool items that infiltrated our house after we were much too big to play with them, or perhaps it’s because everyone, regardless of age, has a soft spot for fake foods and the hours of play that is sure to follow. 

Lilly Bean’s Felt Foods really are for all ages – they are soft enough and big enough so I don’t have to worry about them with the youngest kids, but yet they get more fun the older the child gets – starting with learning the names of the foods to making up recipes for complex fake meals and beyond.  Great for all ages of kids, I love that the fake foods bring us together and lead to hours of fun as a family.  Lilly Bean Felt Foods are the kind of open ended toy that will be handed down from child to child and possibly even generation to generation, which to me justifies the higher price tag of felt foods over plastic. 

It was only after I saw Lilly Bean foods in person that I realized that all the plush fake foods I had been seeing at the mall were not “felt foods” as the labels suggested, but rather “fabric foods” made out of lesser quality fabrics with some felting added in.  Lilly Bean Foods are true-deal felt foods, with remarkably high quality felt and exceptional stitching throughout.  And as every parent will appreciate, they are machine washable and can be hung dry to retain their shape and their vibrant colors.  Their designs are every bit as cute as the mass produced fake foods, and arguably more so, but what makes me a huge fan of Lilly Bean is that fact that their foods are durable and well-constructed, made for years of play. 

http://www.lillybeanmarket.com/  

And, for you crafty moms out there, Lilly Bean also sells DIY felt food making kits.  If only I was that motivated….

Price: $4 - $20 for individual items, with larger play sets available. 

Looks: Adorable!

Overall: 5 out of 5 marks and completely recommended for anyone with young children.  My favorite is the brown bag lunch, which I just might want to own even if I didn't have children. 

Two Tinas Personalized Baby Clothing and Accessories

 

"Personalization Done Perfect"

Do you love your kid’s name?  Of course you do, you picked it out of hundreds of thousands of traditional or slightly made up names that you could have bestowed upon your baby.  Whether your child will eventually hate that name or not (and they probably will – right around late elementary school or middle school for at least a few years, depending upon how well you chose), there is a glorious period of 3 to 12 years where your child will love seeing their name and treasure anything and everything that is emblazoned with it.  And I mean anything.  Marbles, paperweights made out of rocks, or cheap pens, if it’s got your kid’s name they will love it.  The problem is that the bulk of personalized paraphernalia are low quality, flimsy products that survive solely on the basis of their personalization alone, which means that they have a very limited shelf life around lively kiddos.  Two Tinas is personalization done right, with a collection of some of the highest quality children’s apparel and accessories out there – and they just happen to be personalized. 

My favorite is their 29” x 29” Signature Blanket, which combines gorgeous cotton prints, an ultra modern large felt initial and ultra-soft plush lining that is sure to be naptime’s best friend.  Their website didn’t even begin to convey the quality craftsmanship of the blanket or the softness of the plush side, which I found to be an exciting and yet unexpected surprise.  The Signature Blanket is thick and heavy, with crisp, tight knit cotton prints paired with a lavishly soft interior that begs to be snuggled.  They look beautiful when they arrive, folded just so and tied up beautifully with a handwritten note for your little one, and wash up just as nice.  Perfect size for a stroller blanket or petite play yard mat; offering warmth and even a bit of cushioning when needed. 

While you are shopping, you should check out Two Tinas' My Name Snapsuits,which are made of thick pre-shrunk cotton and have baby’s name proudly displayed on the front in soft felted letters that are nothing like the cheap iron on letters of yesteryear.  They are flexible and delicate but never peel off, even after washing.  They are highly recommended baby gifts for the impossible to shop for.  As an added bonus, the fact that they have your baby’s name on it means that you can take a break from answering the all-important question of the first few months of your baby’s life.  As nice as it is to not have to tell the nosy lady at the bank what you named your baby, the Snapsuit does nothing to stop the question that inevitably follows it – “how much did your baby weigh at birth?”  Sigh.  I guess you can’t win them all.    

 http://www.twotinas.com/  Please note that personalized products take a bit longer to ship, so buy at least 2 weeks ahead of time. 

Price: $30 for the Snapsuit and $48 for the Signature Blanket

Looks: Sweet and sassy, cute and cozy.

Overall: 5 out of 5 marks. Great for you, great for a best friend or as a baby present for an acquaintance, Two Tinas is perfect for any parent...or baby.

Baby K'tan Carrier Giveaway Winner Announced!

Winner Announced! Winner Announced!  Winner Announced!

Congratulations to Liz who won the

Baby K'tan Carrier Giveaway!

 

Congratulations to Liz who won the

Baby K'tan Carrier Giveaway!