Category Archives: Sponsor Love

Polarn O. Pyret Rocks // Memorial Day 25% Markdowns!

Sponsor Love

Around these parts we love Polarn O. Pyret. While PO.P has only been available in the US for a few years, it’s been a Swedish household name for 35 years. They’re somewhat famous for their stripes, but I love them for their punchy colors and clean graphic shapes. And the quality is reeeally great. I’ve bought many items from them (some of which you’ll see here!) but our kind friends at Polarn O. Pyret heard we were fans and they sent us some really fab goodies. This spring/summer they’ve got some great stuff going on. Let’s take a lil lookie!

SKINNY COLOR JEANS! These are my top picks. I love ’em! We bought Wolfie a pair in turquoise. They’re a lil big, but he’s growing like a weed and I know they’ll fit perfectly. The color is RAD.

Here is Peach wearing a sassy orange-red  pair c/o Polarn O.Pyret. Great color, right??

Slim Color Jeans (sale!)

RAD JACKETS & CARDIGANS. This isn’t Wolfie’s usual style but I thought it was SO cute. Perfect for people who want to dabble in color but aren’t sure if they want to go full on TURQUOISE PANTS, ya know?


Mod Pattern Track Jacket c/o PO.P

This little sweater is the bomb. I have to say I love cardies on little kids. Because they tend to get warm easily, they are perfect for our San Francisco weather—cozy up in the morning, but easy to take off if the day warms up. Can you see the red elbow patches? Love ’em! I know summer is approaching, but we West Coasters still have cool days and this sweater is getting LOTS of use. I think Wolfie looks pretty sweet in wearing it too.


Professor Cardigan (sale!)

This boho tunic makes Peach look like a little California beach girl! The top has darling pockets and the skirt is comfy but spunky.

Strolling Skirt Her shirt is sold out, but I love these Folklore Tunic (sale!) Needleprint Flower Tunic (sale!) c/o PO.P

Big, bold and funky. This cool shirt looks fab with jeans and also comes in a GREAT purple too.


Buffalo Check Shirt, c/o PO.P

How fun is this cute take on the stripy shirt?? An ice pop from PO.P!


Signs of Spring Shirt, c/o PO.P

SWIM LITTLE FISHIE.

Wolfie is in first grade and he doesn’t know how to swim just yet….but he LOVES the water. When we went to Hawaii I was on the hunt for some new trunks. I found these euro-style cuties. I admit they were a leeeeetle bit shorter than I thought (his old suit was a more classic board short dealie) but he LOVED these! They were comfy, didn’t weigh him down and look like retro James Bond swimmers.

Pair it with a rash guard top if your kiddo is sensitive to sun—and don’t worry, my boy was slathered in sunblock!


Retro Swim Trunks for Boys and Retro Swim Suit for Girls. We were smitten with these styles, but they have a wide variety including a full range of rashguard pieces. And now they’re having a smashing sale….check it out!


I love that little red-headed Wolfie looking cutie. Hee. OK, so what are you waiting for? High tail it on over to PO.P and grab yer 20-25% off—now thru May 30 on TONS of cute goodies! We lerve ya Polarn O.Pyret!

Q&A with Amy Turn Sharp from Little Alouette

Sponsor Love, Things We Like

Way back in January, I met a most wonderful, talented gal. A beautiful writer with a grand sense of humor and a heart as big as Texas.  Her name was Amy Turn Sharp and she rocks.  Between writing poems and being a brilliant mama to three boys she runs with her husband this wonderful and groundbreaking company that kinda started the whole wooden teething toy trend right now called Little Alouette.

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OK, I know this is a bit of a different picture to use, but I love it of her.  She seems so glamorous with the mask on.  I should show you a picture of her with a drink in her hand with her head tossed back laughing, because really, that’s how I always think of her! But here is another sweet picture of her as well.

Anyhoo, she and her sweet make the best handmade wooden toys on the marketing today and they are STUNNING.  So simple and so right. They feel good in your hand and even better in your kiddos’ hands. Plus her wooden toys are 100 percent organic so you feel completely OK with your little one gnawing on it.

I sat down with Amy and a nice pitcher of margaritas. Oh, and some homemade guac and chips. Yeah–this is a lady to get ripped with.  And I bet she’s an amazing singer too…

…………..

MK: Oh Miss lady, I love you something fierce.  First off, what inspired you to start this wonderful line of products? And what were you doing before you launched Little Alouette?


Amy: Wellllllll- I used to work for the Mayor of my city. {education office} I loved it but I always wanted to write. Full time. Like in a little room of my own and just GO! I decided after Blaise was born to go back to work for 6 months and then TAKE A LEAP. I was going to be a writer again. I found blogging and then {oops} started a toy company. OK. It was really a crazy natural organic thing. We started with little toys for Finny. The lead recalls were annoying and plastic water filled teethers were gross to me. We made Finn rad little wood toys and people loved them and wanted more. We did not see anyone else doing what we were doing at that time so we thought we would go for it as most of our friends and family were telling us to go go go. It just happened. We started an etsy shop.


MK: The name Little Alouette is the sweetest most button cute name ever. Where did you come up with that?

Amy: My sweet college friend J gave us the name. She is crazy creative and we decided that it sounded like something you would call yr baby or something. Little Lark. When you leaned in over the bassinet or while you were kissing the fat little cheeks. Little Lark.


MK: You home-school and work with your husband–uh–how do you find an inch of time to be alone in all of that, lady?

Amy: I only home schooled the big one in preschool dude. I send those children away! lol. I have Finn in first grade and Blaise goes to preschool two ever so short mornings and the babe is with me all the time. I work a lot and it is challenging. I am lucky that Scout likes a sling.

In the summer I will get some help to come in for the two younger guys and send Finnian to a few day camps with buddies. However I am really good at finding a few moments every day for me. I am an only child and having a big family blows my head off sometimes. I must retreat. I am a super social person but I require alone time. My husband and I give each other space and really work together. He’s amazing and knows me so well that he just pushes me out the door to the gym or the pub or something when he can see that I am stressed. I have a pub night monthly with an amazing assortment of local mothers.  It saves my life.


MK: How do you come up with new toy ideas?

Amy: Our kids are the best. They tell us things to make. We also think back to what we liked as children {me in Ohio and Joe in UK in the 70’s & 80s}We pay attention to the design trends that trickle down to kiddos. Moustache teether. Like SO POPULAR! We just saw a trend on etsy and thought- OK. no one is making moustache teething toys! GO! it’s like that. It’s like all kinds of crazy. I will wake up at night and say WOODEN HORSESHOE and pester Joe until he makes it for me. 🙂

MK: What is your favorite wooden toy?

Amy: I love love love our hippo teether. Harper. She’s perfect. Even Heather Armstrong loves Harper! I also love a good abacus. And blocks. God I love wooden blocks.


MK: What is your favorite candy!

Amy: I like twix bars. they are my wicked weakness.

MK: Good choice, Amy.

And thank you for creating this wonderful line of beautiful toys that make me smile.  These toys are the best baby shower gift EVER and look particularly charming when wrapped as part of the bow. To die for!


Sponsor Crush:: Sugar & Spice Aprons.

Sponsor Love, ,

 

People, I have a confession to make: I’m a little bit of an apron whore.

I inherited a big box of vintage aprons from my grandmothers and have quite a lovely collection of fancy pretty pretty aprons, but I like aprons that can actually stand up to full beatdown of cooking–from the spaghetti sauce to making the pie crust. But at the same time, I want to look pretty.

That is why I’m so happy that Danielle’s darling little apron company, Sugar and Spice exists!  Because they are perfect. They look great over that simple black dress you decide to wear for your dinner party and add a wonderful pop of sass to boot! And I think a whole slew of you folks are equally charmed by her handmade aprons–since you said so in our giveaway!

I’m totally crushing on the charming Ms. Danielle, who I had the wonderful pleasure of sitting down with over a nice e-glass of homemade lemonade with mint because that’s how we roll.

So let’s find out what makes Danielle click, shall we?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MK: Hello there! How did you get your start making aprons?

Danielle: It all started when I was 16 years old, and desperately wanted to learn how to sew so that I could make my own fabulous clothing! However, I could not for the life of me, find a good sewing teacher! So, using my notorious initiative, I decided to teach myself. When I went pattern shopping, I knew I wanted something that would require a little more skill than a tote bag ( after all, I already knew how to sew straight lines!). That’s when I stumbled upon these GORGEOUS 50’s style apron patterns. I figured aprons would be perfect practice pieces, and I knew my loving, supportive mother would wear all the “practice ones” I made. But, after a while my practice aprons started looking better and better. One day my mom posted photos of all the aprons I made her online to share with her friends; pretty soon I was getting orders left and right! Thus, a business was born.


(These are the Marilyn–with the Nautical Marilyn on the right…)

MK: Right on, lady!  You started your business at 16….this makes me wonder, what were you like as a child?? What were your favorite toys/things to do?

Danielle: As a child, I was always very precocious. I guess I’ve been business minded from the start. First I sold items out of catalog around my neighbor, and got paid a whole $2 commission from the catalog company per item I sold! Then I started raking lawns every fall when I was about 9 years old. And at 10, I started a neighborhood newsletter! I interviewed the neighborhood families; I had a Feature Pet column, a crossword puzzle, and I even gave out an award for Best Lawn. It was so much fun creating my newsletter every month; I eventually got up to about 50 subscribers! When I was little my favorite toys were my Barbie dolls and my Littlest Pet Shop sets. I liked doing all the different voices for the different animals/Barbies as I played with them. Lol.

MK: How very entrepreneurial! I remember selling puffy stickers in the back of my second grade class, but that was it.  Note to self: write post on PUFFY STICKERS!

(Psst. The I bought the style with the Peter Pan collar and it looks AMAZING on! Who would ever say an apron could be so darn flattering.)

MK: Have you ever had a sewing-related injury or any big calamity? I sure hope not, but if so, give us the gory details!

Danielle: Luckily, I have never had a sewing related injury. But I’ve definitely had my fair shares of calamities! On my first wholesale order, RIGHT in the middle of producing 150 aprons ALL by myself, Wright’s ( the big sewing products company) decided to move their corporate location, and SUSPENDED all shipments of bias tape! Not just to little businesses like me, but to all the retail and online stores as well. Wrights is pretty much the only bias tape you can buy, and I couldn’t order more bias tape, because no one else had any to send either! I had to drive to every fabric store within a 100 mile radius to buy whatever they had left in stock. It was a nightmare! But, I did pull through.

MK: Gah! That doesn’t sound awful! But very resourceful of you!  Say, Is there a story behind the name Sugar and Spice?

Danielle: Actually, I just wanted a cute name that would encompass all of my aprons styles; some are sexy, some are sweet. Sugar ‘n Spice just seemed to fit! 😉

MK: And it does–I love the name–so perfect for the kitchen too! OK, random question: What is one place you really want to visit that you haven’t been to before?

Danielle: Paris!!! I am obsessed with everything French, and I have every intention of visiting Paris at LEAST once before I leave this great Earth. 🙂

Me too! Oh Danielle, you are as lovely as your aprons and thanks so much for being a sponsor. We are very lucky to have you and I hope you stay around awhile.

And friends, do check out Danielle’s wonderful Etsy shop of aprons, Sugar and Spice.


Holidazed: Etsy Kids

Etsy Love, Sponsor Love,

We have a new sponsor that is actually quite near and dear to my heart- Etsy Kids!!

To me the holidays and Etsy go hand in hand.  And as you might have guessed I spend a lot of time playing in Etsy land and Etsy Kids is a great way for me to find stuff that is most near and dear to my heart–goodies for kids.

The EtsyKids Team is a diverse group of talented and dedicated Etsy shop owners making items for babies, toddlers, and children.  Although we come from different backgrounds and all corners of the world , we are held together by the fact that our members all love to create things for children. In our members’ shops, you will find a wide variety of items ranging from clothing to toys to furniture to art and everything in between, in every style imaginable.

Here are some of my favorites from Etsy Kids that I hope make it onto many a Santa’s shopping list:

Oh, I’m head over heels for this great little stocking stuffer dolly inspired by vintage paper dolls.  From Etsy seller, Periwinkle Jazz.

What kid doesn’t love crayons? And lady bugs? Which means that these lady bug crayons will be the hit of the holidays! From Etsy Kids seller, Gaddy Bug Crayons.

I’ve been a huge fan of felt food for awhile and this sushi set is killing me with its cuteness. From Etsy Kids seller, Northwoods Toys.

Etsy Kids seller, Out of the Box, has some wonderful baby shoes that would make any baby (and Mama) smile!

And I gave you a teaser above, but wow oh wow-isn’t this reversible kimono style hoodie to die for? I’ll take one in my size too, please, Etsy Kids  seller, Merino Me!

I hope you enjoyed this little sampler of goodies from Etsy Kids.  Do stop by and check it out for yourself!

Brilliant Giveaway—from Draw Pilgrim!

Giveaways, Sponsor Love

If Alix and I are the masterminds behind ModernKiddo, then Pilgrim is our outward smile. The reason you probably stayed past your first glance and hopefully read on for a bit.

You see, Pilgrim made the ModernKiddo logo and for that we are eternally grateful. She captured our hearts in graphic design and was the spark that started it all for us.  But now you can have that smile too. Did you know Pilgrim has a grand Etsy shop full of graphic go-go goodness that you can happily get your hot little hands on fer yourself? Yup–she does, AND with her help, we are giving away a wonderful $50 gift certificate to Pilgrim’s  Etsy shop so you can splurge and bring a bit of down under goodness from Pilgrim for yourself.

Alix hipped me to the amazing  Aussie graphic artist, Pilgrim, awhlie ago and I just fell head over heels for Pilgrim’s deliciously fun style and highly addicted blog, Draw Pilgrim.   She is also clearly one of the sweetest as well as most talented ladies out there.

Her style is a big bear-hug to my favorite and most delightful parts of the sixties and seventies.  I crave her joyous and colorful designs on a gray day. Or a day when I want to smile. Or actually any day.

I mean, how could you not smile when you see this matroyshka card?

Don’t you want to choo choo choose this widdle train full of circus animals?

And let’s not even get started on her utterly brilliant alphabet series that should be in every little cherubs room?

Mmmhmmm… Exactly.  Pilgrim is one talented lady.

Now, how do you win this wonderful giveaway, you ask as you wipe the drool off of your computer screen from looking at all of these wonderful bits of beauty from Pilgrim?

Enter by doing any of the following:

  • For one entry, add Pilgrim to your Twitterfeed. Trust me, she’s a most charming twitterer, so you’ll enjoy her on your feed!
  • For another entry, leave a comment on Draw! Pilgrim and tell her we sent you! You’ll be utterly smitten with her blog.
  • For a bonus entry, and of course only if you agree, click on the SocialLuxe 2010 BlogLuxe Awards and vote for ModernKiddo under Best Eye Candy Award. Whoohoo! Then leave us a comment, so we know you did it.  It’s the black top button in the far left column. It can be done once a day, so if you do it on another day, leave a comment on MK and we’ll count that as an extra entry.

Thank you Pilgrim for giving my heart a home here at ModernKiddo. You took our sweetest dreams and changed our lives with five smiling kiddos that makes me raise my hand to my heart with joy every time I click our URL.

Good luck and hurrah for Pilgrim!