Monthly Archives: April 2011

We’re feelin’ mighty LUCKY!

Welcome new friends! We just wanted to say a big howdy do to those of you who might have found us via Lucky Magazine. We were so thrilled to have received a mention as one of their “Kids’ Blogs We Love!” Lucky is one of my go-to reads every month so I was super honored by this mention! They have a new magazine out called Lucky Kids, which is chock full o’ goodness—if you haven’t picked it up yet you must!


ANYWAY, we’re so happy you stopped by! I was on vacation in Hawaii last week and Dottie is on vacation this week, which is why you may have noticed a slew of fabulous guests helping us out over here! We’re soooo grateful for their help!  Next week we’ll be returning to our regularly scheduled programming. For all our new pals, this means you’ll be seeing fun stuff like:

1. Lots of vintage inspirations! Like our “Then and Now :: Groovy Playhouses” post.

or The 70s Retro Playground:

2. Fun stories and illustrations with Alix’s Vintage Book Shelf.

3. Vintage clothing inspiration with our weekly Vintage Kiddo Roundup!

4. Random Vintage Goodness, like our Top 10 Best Dressed Kids of Classic TV.

5. Cool flashbacks of our favorite 60s and 70s toys, like Welcome to the Dollhaus

6. And of course  lots of groovy modern day clothing to make sure yer little one stays colorful!

Hank & JoJo


Jasper Wren


Oishi-m


Threadless

For a fun little overview of the Big Colorful World of Modern Kiddo, click here!

I’ll be back tomorrow with some snazzy Hawaii pictures I can’t wait to share with you guys!

 

Guest Post :: Getting Girls Into Sci-Fi with Rocket City Digs!

Hellooo! Today I want to introduce you to one of my friends, who is also a great friend of the blog—Miss Jody from Rocket City Digs. Jody is also the mama of two sweet little girls and lives with her honey in a jaunty lil pad in SF. A few years ago she also happened to join our merry band of go-go groovies, The Devil-Ettes, where she became the aptly named Rocket Girl—due to her love of all things sci-fi! And that’s why we’re here today folks! Jody is going to share with you her thoughts on bringing a lil sci-fi sass into your little girl’s life.

Hello, Kiddos! I’m pleased as punch that Dottie and Alix asked me to guest-blog. Not just because they’re fabulous on a galactic scale (because they are!) or because I’m a daily devotee of the blog (because I am!) but mostly because they asked me to write about a topic near and dear to my heart: girls and science fiction!

image: boo wow


image: Eric Ernest

A little history: Dottie asked me to write this post back before I went on maternity leave. I happened to be perusing resumes for two positions—a database administrator and software developer. Of the fifteen or so submissions, only one of them was from a woman. I lamented the lack of ladies in computer science, and the one other woman on the team (a brilliant database engineer) commiserated with me. Actually, several of our male colleagues commiserated, too. Apparently engineering school has a major dearth of girl geeks!

I though it was fitting that Dottie asked me to write this post on the very day that I was shouting to the stratosphere about the absence of women in computer science….and I decided that maybe science fiction is the answer! Or part of it, anyway. If we get our girls into science fiction early, then maybe they’ll get into science fact later! As all good geeks know, science fiction isn’t science fiction so much as science we-haven’t-figured-out-yet. Imagine it, and you can do it. Fly to the moon! Construct a super-robot! Travel at warp speed! Contact creatures from another galaxy?? What kid doesn’t want to do that!

image via: christianmontone

So how to get your girls into science fiction? Step one: be a fan yourself! My mom always tells stories of her “Star Trek” boyfriend, the poor sod whose only asset was his television. My dad will tell you that Forbidden Planet’s Monster of the Id made him go into psychology. So it’s no wonder that my sister and I, born in 1973 and 1975, have photo albums peppered with pictures like these:

Is there any better role model than Princess Leia? She embodies everything feminine (she’s a beautiful princess, after all) but that’s secondary to her extraordinary leadership and power.

I’d say if you want to get your girls into science fiction, Princess Leia is the place to start. My daughter’s not even two years old, and after her first viewing of Star Wars, she turned to me and signed “Again.” She doesn’t talk much, but she knows a good movie when she sees it.

My niece, Sadie (who just turned 6 on April 18!) dressed up as a Princess Fairy Kitty twice in a row for Halloween, and a year or so ago, she spent an afternoon drawing these works of art:

But there are so many more extraordinary, non-superhero women to look for. Here are a few of my favorites:

And that’s not including all the superheroes and magical women. Sigh. But if I start down the fantasy genre path I’ll never come back. (Big shoutouts to Buffy! Arwen! Hermione! Professor McGonagall! Wonder Woman! The Girl With the Silver Eyes. And Eowyn, who, like Princess Leia, is both a non-magical beautiful princess AND a courageous sword-wielding soldier for good.)

So who are some of YOUR favorites? Let us know! Generally speaking, my rule is if it features rockets and/or aliens, it’s a favorite for us!

One final note: I know I said I wasn’t going to get into clothes, but I do have one tip to share: shop in the boys’ section. Seriously! I found these jammies at The Gap the other day, and I’ll be darned if I know why they’re boys-only. Hello, the pants are red with blue stars—Wonder Woman, anyone?

Really, it’s never too early to start them on the robot/sci-fi love affair in my book!

Thank you so much Jody! We are big fans of the space age here too. Miss Alix especially—her original Devil-Ette name was The Galaxy Girl. Girls and sci-fi? Roger that!

Guest Postie :: Mod Specs for Kids with Mari from Small for Big

Hi friends, Dottie here! I’m still out today, but we have a special treat. The lovely and charming Mari from Small for Big is chatting about something near and dear to my heart—sassy specs for kiddos! I personally have been wearing glasses since I was eight years old. I’ve probably owned 50 pairs of glasses in my life so far and I love them.  A friend of mine’s little boy was diagnosed with needing eyeglasses and she was so upset about it, until I showed her pix of little Miss Birdie, Mari’s wee girlie rocking her glasses. Nuff said!

Hello Modern Kiddo readers! It’s Mari here. When Dottie asked if I’d do a post on children’s eyewear, I admit it, I did a happy dance. Birdie has been wearing glasses since she was 16 months old, so I am absolutely positive that any research I do will only help keep us on the ball when it’s time to get our next pair! Well, as long as I have any say in it of course. I suppose one day she’s going to ask me for something Disney-related. I can’t bear to think about it.

So I won’t! Let’s start with the brands Birdie currently owns. First, we have BBig’s almost round red glasses with their brilliant yellow and white stripey interior. BBig does a great job at keeping things sassy without resorting to flowers, bugs, teddy bears and their ilk. Thank heavens.

Then, we have Zoobugs.  This line is no longer available in the states, but I have a new blog friend who was so desperate for a pair I know for a fact you can order frames directly from Zoobugs if you’d like your very own.

Meanwhile,  I’m still regretting the vintage children’s cat eyes I left behind last summer at a flea market. This pair of kids cat eyes is a close second.

And of course how can anyone go wrong with vintage daisy eyewear?

For a more modern take on vintage, check out these unbelievably perfect options from Etnia Barcelona, I’m swooning over here. Would it be horrible to buy matching pairs for Birdie and myself? That’s a yes, right?

 

And Red Optical in London has some uber mod selections:

 

Even if Harry Potter made them commonplace, a pair of perfectly round horn-rimmed specs still makes my heart flutter (no, I do NOT have a potter crush, that’s a platonic flutter). These Solo Bambini Glasses will fix my addiction.

If you have to do flowers, I’ve found the perfect pair from J.F. Rey:

 

It’s time to hop over to the crazy side. How about Agatha Ruiz de la Prada’s crazy cool rainbow frames:

Or these “practical” baby pacifier sunglasses (found via Handmade Charlotte).

Last but not least, there was some concern Birdie would need an eyepatch – this is a common problem with bespeckled kidlets. But who wants a bandaid over their eye? (Being a former bandaged eye girl, I know the embarrassment, the terror, and the tickling of the eyelashes). Instead, I’m over the moon for this girls eyepatch from Hello My Name is Heather:


Pretty amazing, no? Thanks again Miss Dottie for the invite— it is always a pleasure to come over to the Modern Kiddo POV!


Awww!  And thank you, Mari! I’m such a fan of Mari and Miss Birdie—you can read about her adventures and find some great toy ideas from Mari at er blog, Small for Big. It is truly one of my most favorite blogs out there.  BTW check out Mari’s wonderful video submission for the HopScout Stay at Home Millionaire contest. And vote for it. Right now. I actually go back and watch it again and again because it makes me smile again and again!

Howdy Doo! It’s Vintage Kiddo Monday!

Wellllll hellllo! I’m baaaaack! Oh my gersh, Hawaii was positively AMAZING. If you follow me on twitter (@galexina) or instagram, then you already saw a sneaky peakie of my sun filled holiday. It was much needed and I can’t wait to share some photos and stories with everyone….but here’s a little secret. I’m technically still in Hawaii!! We leave tomorrow morning. Miss Dottie and I did a little “Tag, your it!” on the vacation front and I’m pleased to report that she is off on a much deserved vacation herself. She has some great guest bloggers lined up to cover for her and I have loads of things planned too, but before we get into Hawaii stories and guesties, let’s not forget that today is our fabulous Vintage Kiddo Monday! Yep, this is the feature that started it all, and I just had to share with you guys some of our latest and greatest finds.

OK, it should come as no surprise that I’m loooooving this Junior Tiki Party dress from Kid Wonder! Jenny, how can you sell it?? I think your Dotty needs this one!!

Of course we can’t forget the little dudes and these groovy 70s plaid pants are funky as all get out. They look supah hip with a fun modern day tee (you can see Wolfie sportin’ some here!)

One of my new faves, The Sweet Shop, has sooo many great goodies in her shop. You’ll die! I have a whole feature coming up on Jeanette, as she is a fabulous new MK sponsor (YAY!) but for now check out this amazing little turtle neck top. It’s so Ernie and Bert!

And probably my favorite item, this BANANAS ride along toy that’s a 70s VAN! Yes. A 70s van ride-along toy. WOW.

One of our other favorites is Kyssa Vintage. Check out this crazy cute cordoroy jacket for your little indie boy!

And in honor of Miss Dottie’s Little House obsession, how about this darling prairie dress? Sassy alone or over rolled up jeans and sneaks.


This sweet little school girl dress from flour clothing is so great….but i’m a little biased since that little cutie modeling it is so lovely!

Ahoy matey! All aboard the S.S. Cutie! This adorable 60s sailor tank top, perfect for the upcoming summer, from our girl Heather at 3 Ring Circus Vintage.

And for the little dapper lads, how about this nautical short sleeved knit top?

Super groovy seller, Nostaligia Mama, has really scored with this fantastic lime green plaid dressie. Seriously? I want one in my size.

And if that weren’t enough she’s also got these rockin’ My Little Pony roller skates!

Speaking of roller skates. It’s never too young for a little roller derby action! The Sailor Made Shop has this ultra rad Roller Derby tank top. Aw yea, here comes trouble!

The Vintage Tot Spot pretty much stopped me dead in my tracks with this AMAZING hello sailor outfit. Have you ever?? It’s soooo Good Ship Lollipop!

I also love this soft and gently worn mickey mouse tee she’s got in her shop as well. If it were bigger I would totally get it for Wolfie.

And as if that weren’t enough…..Vintage Tot Spot goes for the win with this amazing turtle jumpsuit.

That’s it for now folks. Hey, if you’re a vintage seller and you have an item that you think would be fabulous to feature, shoot it our way! AlixandDottie [at] modernkiddo [dot] com. We’re always on the hunt for hot tips! MAHALO! (heh. I’m sooooo Hawaiian now, huh!)

PS If you have a moment, won’t you please head over to the Circle of Friends Top 25 Kids’ Style contest? Modern Kiddo, along with a boatload of fabulous blogs, are nominated! You don’t need to register, just click here and give the blogs you love a thumbs up! Easy peasy and you can vote once a day IF the spirit moves ya. Click here (or that pink badge up on the top!).

PPS Also, don’t forget about our insanely fab GIVEAWAY from Misha Lulu! You could win this gorgeous dressie for your little girl! CLICK here to enter.

Guest Postie :: Bet Yer Bottom Dollar with Karen Finlay!

Hey, guess what? Miss Alix is back from Hawaii…..but now I’m out on vacation! Never fear, however, because I have a fantastic collection of Guest Posties all lined up to cover for me this week. And we begin with a bang! Friends, I’m about to introduce you to one of the most fabulous ladies I know. This is a woman who I’ve only gotten to know recently, but she’s already on my top twenty list with a bullet. It’s the effervescent Ms. Karen Finlay, whose hysterical writing can be found at her divine blog, 97 Things To Do Before I Turn 97.  Karen is one of the Dames du Gateau (our retro supper club) and I knew I adored her because within the first five minutes of meeting her she quoted Auntie Mame. Did I mention she sells Tupperwere too? Yup, she is THAT fabulous.

She’s also fabulous enough to share this wonderful childhood fascination she had with the Broadway musical Annie.  And after all these years, I thought it was just me…Enjoy!


Image: Bhagwan Photos

The first time I ever went to the Thee-a-tah (not including a children’s performance of The Sound of Music for Monica Schroff’s birthday party in the second grade where the little girl playing Gretl got stage fright and we laughed) was to see Annie in fourth grade.

Here’s a big surprise: I was obsessed with Annie. (I’d bet my bottom dollar that lots of little red headed girls in the 70’s were. Annie and unicorns.) I played the 8-track over and over. I learned how to play “Tomorrow” and “Maybe” on the piano, warbling along with feeling. I envied my parents for being children in The Great Depression. I secretly called our dog, named Spot, Sandy. And when the stage play came to town, things got worse.


Image: CTV News.

I was beside myself with excitement. We were going to San Francisco to see a play (and not just any play), and I was wearing my fanciest dotted swiss dress. We had front row balcony seats, so I could lean over and see the stage perfectly. And when I opened the program, I gasped. I looked just like the little girl playing Annie, Patricia Ann Patts. (Before the transformation to the curly haired, red dressed Annie Warbucks. I looked like the scraggly orphan, despite the dotted swiss.) And I wasn’t the only one who thought so—everyone around me gasped, too, and the usher came and pulled my arm and said, “You shouldn’t be here! You should be getting ready!”

I was destined to be a star.

After that, all I wanted to do was star in Annie. For the first time in my life I actually practiced piano, singing along with even more feeling. I was Annie — complete with one of my mom’s old curly wigs — for Halloween. I made up tap dances in my room, though I had never taken a lesson and we had wall to wall carpeting. I dreamed of the day when an agent —my own personal Daddy Warbucks— would discover me and whisk me away to the bright lights of Broadway. I begged my parents to take me to auditions, but they always seemed to have something else going on.


Image: Chicago Theater Blog and Eighties.fr

And then I sang “Tomorrow” in the fifth grade camp talent show and I, along with everyone else that I’d been bragging to that I was going to be the best Annie ever, discovered that I didn’t really have talent after all. I couldn’t just stick out my chin and grin and say that the sun would come out tomorrow. My life was OVER and I was only ten.

But… I was a resilient ten year old. I got over my bitter heartbreak and moved on to “Fur Elise” in piano. I became more obsessed with the soundtrack for the movie Xanadu and teen heart-throb Timothy Hutton than a plucky orphan and her stray dog. I even managed to set foot inside the thee-a-tah again.

For a long time I worked in a bookstore, and one of my customers was Carole Shorenstein Hayes, who essentially runs the theaters in San Francisco. She was very kind to me, and set me up with tickets for all the opening night shows for about four years. I got to see everything from Les Miserables to The Sound of Music (starring Marie Osmond!) to Cats and Phantom of the Opera (both of which I hated). And yes, even Annie. I still knew all the words, and still felt the flush of embarrassment at the thought of flailing so hard at the fifth grade camp talent show.


Image: Cast News

I loved it. I loved going to Will Call and getting the tickets, and then settling down in plush seats and looking at the ornate walls and loges. I loved hearing the sounds of the orchestra warming up, and the moment when the house lights dim and the initial crash of music or the action on the stage. I loved being sucked into the story and falling in love with the actors — such intimacy, especially up close when you can see them spit and the microphones on their foreheads. (I usually got really good seats.) I loved intermission and seeing all the dressed-up people in the lobby, as I would stand there and marvel at all of it. (One time, Danielle Steele and her brood of a hundred children sat in front of my mom and me — in Ms. Steele’s Chanel suit’s pocket was a bottle of Maalox. So glamorous!)

But all good things come to an end — the bookstore closed and my days of free theater and glamour ended. I hadn’t been back for years until I treated myself to a discount ticket to see Grey Gardens on Broadway a few years ago. My God. Talk about HEAVEN and a dream come true. I sat in my slightly obstructed seat in the amazing Walter Kerr theater and had to pinch myself that it was really happening.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Aww, thanks Karen for reminiscing about your love of Annie. I’m totally right there with you, lady! But I must admit, that this is only PART of the post Karen wrote about Annie and her love of theater. Really, you MUST read the rest