Archive for February, 2009

Soon enough we’ll be twirling outside on the hunt for twigs…

Friday, February 27th, 2009
Twirls & Twigs Eco Friendly Octopus Blanket

Twirls & Twigs Eco Friendly Octopus Blanket

…until then, Twirls & Twigs new spring arrivals are here!  I just love their blankets, made from recycled cotton, and this season Twirls & Twigs  are back with the sweetest Penguin and Octopus motifs on the blankets.  Shawna Dalton, the creative force behind Twirls & Twigs, has brought us some things too.  She dreamed up these little soft toys and boy are they a hit with the little ones.  Also made from recycled cotton and corn stuffing, Twirls & Twigs soft toys delight the babies for hours without all those yucky toxins! Check out this little Spider toy — babies love his knotted legs!  Here’s another bit of good news — these delightful toys from Twirls & Twigs take it easy on your wallet at just $16.50.

Soon new clothing from Twirls & Twigs will be here — you won’t believe how great it is.  Skirts, tanks and dresses all from Twirls & Twigs for Spring.  Check out all the Twirls & Twigs clothing here!

Twirls & Twigs Eco Friendly Girls Ocotopus Tank Top

Twirls & Twigs Eco Friendly Girls Ocotopus Tank Top

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Chicky Chicky Boom Boom! Pink Chicken New York is here!

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

Any parent of a toddler will tell you that their kid will repeat a random phrase over and over again.   This week my little one grabbed onto “chicky chicky boom boom!”.  It’s pretty cute and little did I know that this week we would receive our spring shipment of Pink Chicken New York.  Which of course had me saying “Chicky Chicky Boom Boom” out loud myself.  If you haven’t yet, take a peak at the new spring arrivals of dresses from Pink Chicken.  New dress shapes this season are Rosa, Sasha and Coco.  And since we have all been chomping at the bit, mama gets some Pink Chicken of her own this season with the Rosa top for women!  Love it.  I know I am gushing here but Stacey Fraser the fabulosity behind Pink Chicken also designed the cutest swimsuit named Adelaide too!  Thank you Stacey, you make our hearts go Boom Boom for Pink Chicken!

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The hunt for love.

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

This year Saint Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday.  Whether you are a singleton or a smug married or somewhere in between with the work week out of the way, this year try this with the little kiddos:  a scavenger hunt!  Nothing says I love you like a near guaranteed nap from your little ones or at least some well-deserved quiet time and by entertaining them with this little hunt they are sure to give you some down time.

  • Place clues around the house and/or yard leading them to the end prize, such as my personal favorite, CHOCOLATE!  But use any reward your little hunter will like — coloring books, popcorn, etc.
  • A general rule of thumb is one clue per age of child.  Ex. 3 years of age it takes 3 clues to get the treasure.
  • If you have more than one child, send them each on their own hunt and they have to track down several clues before they get to their prize.
  • Write the clue, plus have a clip art picture to help them solve the clue. (The pictures are especially helpful for those just learning to read.) They love the hunt and the reward!

Have fun on the hunt and send us your comments on your own tradition.  We would love to hear from you!

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She’s baaaaaack! Chloe Butterfly by Blabla Kids.

Monday, February 9th, 2009
Chloe Butterfly doll by Blabla kids

Chloe Butterfly doll by Blabla kids

No, we are not talking about your mother in law!  Chloe, the lovely little butterfly doll, has busted out of her cocoon and has flown back in to stock.  Hand knitted in Peru for Blabla kids Chloe butterfly is a true favorite.

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Stretch and be satisfied

Saturday, February 7th, 2009

Slowdown, recession, or downturn,  however you choose to phrase it, we are in it together.  Each one of us is feeling it in someway or another.  The challenge for many of us, myself included, is to still feel satisfied not deprived during these times.  Its almost like a diet.  Eating only two bites of chocolate cake when you really want that huge chunk.  How do we do this with our kids when they keep growing and have definite needs?  As a small business owner,  I have made numerous sacrifices in my personal life  to build and grow the business. I thought I would share my top tricks for stretching and yet still feeling satisfied.  After all deprivation is a feeling no one enjoys.

  1. Layers are not just for cakes: that’s right putting on an extra layer be it a t shirt under a sweater or leggings under a dress or a little vest over your favorite shirt, they not only stretch your wardrobe but cut down on your heating costs.
  2. Change the category.  That’s right, just because when you bought it the description said “dress” doesn’t mean you have to keep it that way.  Have your little one wear it as a dress now and then next season as a top over jeans or leggings.  Its much more savvy to have to only buy a few new pairs of leggings rather than an entire new outfit.  Pink Chicken dresses are great this way — most styles are loose fitting so its totally easy to wear them season after season.
  3. Shop the sale section religiously.  Its true many things do sell out, even in a recession before making it to the sale rack but, plenty still makes it there and this is a great way to shop ahead at a bargain.  What I mean is, buy a sweater but a full size larger and put it away for next year.  Its a way to stock up at a low price.  Kids are always growing but our wallets don’t always need to be shrinking.  Plus buying ahead saves the headache of being in a “need” situation, which more than likely arrives at an inconvenient time.

Those are just a few of my personal tricks.  I would love to hear from you what tips you can share!  Email me at Chiara@chichibean.com.

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