v 1 issue 16: Stripes and Polk-a-dots
Stripes and Polk-a-dots
Jazz up their wardrobe and rooms with these cool stripes and polk-a-dots. Always a favorite for kids style.
Cover by Amy Hall
Go crazy with dots and stripes
1 Boden is a favorite of ours for quality clothing that draws some attention. This zip sweatshirt
2 We love how easy Wallcandy Arts makes decorating a room! These moveable wall stickers can be easily rearranged again and again. The DottiLicious kit contains 80 dots of various sizes and colors.
3 These Keds are so adorable we are thrilled they come in adult sizes as well. Easy slip-ons with frayed edges and comfortable footbed. $35 at Piperlime
4 We love these knee high socks from Little Missmatched. These super soft socks are long lasting due to their 200 needle count . $12 for pack of 3 at LittleMissmatched.com.
5 The sunny stripes photo album by Galison is perfect for pictures of her friends and family. Just $10 at Galison.com.
6 Sok-O dolls are handmade with a simple pair of socks and come complete with individual birth certificates. No two are identical and make unique collectibles. Choose from a pig, cat, dog, alligator and elephant at sok-o.com.
7 This fun brush is made of molded-plastic and features comfy bristles, vivid art and a clear storage cylinder. $16 at Garnethill.com.
8 Flowers by Zoe is one of our favorite brands here at KTW, and we love their latest black and white line. This racerback polk-a-dot tunic looks super adorable with black leggings and flats. Available in size 12 months up to size 14.
Recession-proof parties
The "R" word. It's been on the lips of talk show hosts, financial analysts, news reporters and anchors since November. And while America is not technically in a recession, consumers are worried their dollar won't go as far as they'd like and are holding onto their purse strings tightly.
But, that doesn't change the fact that birthday parties are still a big business. Kids don't care that the economy is taking a downturn, so how is mom and dad supposed to throw a bash on a shoestring budget? Party-planning expert Lisa Kothari, author of "Dear Peppers and Pollywogs...What Parents Want to Know About Planning Their Kids' Parties" has gathered her tricks and tips for a three-part series on recession-proof children's parties.
PART ONE: THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
"Parents can easily throw a fun and impressive kid's party on a budget if they just get a little creative with the theme," says Kothari. "Think about what your kids really like to do, what activities really make them happy. Then, build-out a few other themed ideas and before you know it, you'll have yourself a successful party."
A Messy Party!
What's a perfectly easy, fun, budget-friendly toddler to four-year-old party theme? Throw a Messy Party. Kids love to make a mess, so why not give in and make a whole party out of the theme! If it appeals, let's get down to the nitty gritty ideas that will bring the mess alive:Send off invitations that are hand-stamped with little hand prints inviting kids to get ready to "Make a Mess!" Add all of the details.
Definitely buy balloons and streamers, but make a mess out of them; hang them all over the place in no set pattern.
For the activities, this would be a very good party to hold outdoors where clean-up will not be a problem. Set up 3-4 mini-tables where the kids can enjoy making a mess.
Have the kids paint pictures with chocolate. Yummy!
Place bowls of frosting, sprinkles, and candy decorations on another table with pre-made sugar cookies and let the kids decorate them on their own.
On another table set out paint, roller brushes, and butcher paper for the kids to make fantastic creations.
Play Dough and modeling clay placed on another table could be another opportunity to make messy creations to take home.
Have a bunch of stamps and water-soluble ink out and have the kids stamp their arms and legs all over and stamp one another!
Place a pile of dirt in one area of the yard and have the kids make dirt creations using twigs, rocks, and other natural elements.
Make a traditional round cake, ice with vanilla frosting and then drizzle different colors of icing into your own messy masterpiece. Add candy toppings as an added bonus.
Send them home stamped-up with their messy creations, their chocolate picture, Play Dough creations, and a cellophane bag of frosted cookies (ones that you made before the party that look pretty and yummy).
Make-Your-Own Outrageous Cookie Concoctions!
"Outrageous" is the key word here! A fabulous budget-friendly party idea that is super simple to put together with little time is to invite your kid's party guests to be "Silly Cookie Bakers" for an afternoon. Before the party begins, make up a simple batch of cookie dough -- these days, you can even buy the ready-made dough if you prefer to save even more time. Provide each kid with their own bowl of cookie dough, and this is where it gets interesting! Simply open your refrigerator door and cupboards and start pulling out the condiments.Here's a good starter list:
1. Ketchup
2. Mustard
3. Chocolate Syrup
4. Ranch Dressing
5. Steak Sauce
6. Cherries
7. Yogurt
8. Cheese
9. Peanut Butter
10. Balsamic Vinegar
11. Jam
12. Pesto Sauce
13. Tomato Sauce
14. Relish
Whatever condiments you have sitting around your kitchen, pull them out and have them on the table with the kids and their bowls of cookie dough. Now the kids can go to town making up their very own cookie concoctions. They will have a blast choosing what they want to add and how much. They can be as yummy or gross as they want to be! (This is great for a party with both boys and girls -- the boys will get a kick out of making the cookies as gross as they can be!)When they are done, place on trays and bake 'em up... Yummm?
When they come out and have cooled, the kids can frost and place candy sprinkles on them. Wrap each of the kid's cookies up in colored cellophane for their take home goody.
One note: you may want to warn the kids' parents that these cookies are strictly for their kids' enjoyment!!
For more of Lisa Kothari's party etiquette advice, check out her recently-released Dear Peppers and Pollywogs...What Parents Want to Know About Planning Their Kids' Parties, available at Amazon.com for $9.95. Also be sure to visit Lisa's website at www.PeppersPollywogs.com before you plan your next celebration!
This week's mom tips
Cleaning Tip: This summer, the new black is white, and we have a few great ideas to keep your whites whiter. 1. Use dishwasher detergent in your white loads to keep the whites super bright. 2. If you get a grease or oil stain, sprinkle cornstarch on the spot, allow to stand for a few minutes and then brush off and wash as normal. 3. For blood stains, spot treat with hydrogen peroxide and then wash as normal.Green Tip: Summer's heating up, and we've got a refreshing idea that'll put your empty milk and soda bottles to good use! Fill your empty bottles with tap water, freeze, and use them to keep things cool on your next picnic.
Financial Tip: Believe it or not, being frugal can be fun. Visit Mommysavers.com to learn when your favorite stores (like Old Navy, Gap and tons more) do their markdowns, and save a fortune on this year's back-to-school shopping.
Parenting Tip: Now is the perfect time to teach your kids the value of money, the reward of hard work, and the importance of giving. Having a family yard sale is just the way to do it! This is what you'll need to do: 1. Set aside a day to help your children clean out their closets. 2. Help your children identify outgrown and unused items and then help them to decide which items should be sold, and which items should be donated. 3. Allow your children to help you make the donation, and organize the yard sale. (Tip: if you have older children, counting change at the yard sale makes for a great math lesson!) 4. Reward your child's generosity and hard work with the opportunity to use their yard sale earnings for new toys or school supplies.
