I'm Sorry

Please accept my apology.  I didn't post at all last week, as I'm sure you noticed, and I'm sorry.  I went on vacation and I decided to take a week off from blogging.  I'm usually proactive with setting up some posts that automatically go live while I'm away, but I failed on that front last week.  Poor planning on my part.  So, again, sorry!!!

Where I was for a week (aka Heaven)

While I'm apologizing for last week's failure, I figure there are a few other apologies that I owe you.

First, I'm sorry for screwing up the post title on The Blue Ivy Conspiracy.  The post was originally and accidentally entitled The Blue Ivry Conspiracy.  Ooops.  It stayed that way for about 3 hours until a friend gave me a quick text message to the effect of, "you screwed up Beyonce's baby's name".  I don't know why I wrote Ivry instead of Ivy.  It was a mistake...but kind of a big one.  What's more is that because I originally used "Ivry", even after changing the title to Ivy, the URL of the post remains with Ivry (http://babyegirls.blogspot.com/2012/01/blue-ivry-conspiracy.html).  I apologize to you, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Blue Ivry...errrr, Blue Ivy.

Blue Ivy Carter

I'm sorry for not following through on the Holiday Gift Countdown.  Last November I came up with a plan to blog a gift idea for each day of December leading up to Christmas.  I knew it would be labor intensive going in, but I already had accumulated a bunch gifts that I adored, so I figured it would be manageable.  I had a head start.  I skipped December 6.  I skipped December 10-13, and made one, big post on December 14.  By December 20, I called it quits.  So, I'm sorry about that.  If I do a holiday gift countdown again this year, I'll come up with a plan that works better for all of us.

The first day of the 2011
Holiday Gift Countdown,
still one of my favorites.

I'm sorry for posting about baby hats so much (here, here, here and here).  I know there's more.  I love baby hats and I can't help it.

This hat (here) remains my favorite.
I just love it.

I probably owe you a couple several more apologies for poorly conceived posts and lingering grammatical errors, but I'm going to stop before I feel like a terrible, horrible, really bad blogger.  I hope you can forgive last week's missing posts and continue to follow and read NSB.  I appreciate your readership, encouragement and support.  And I'll try to lessen the number of times per month that I write about baby hats.

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Fortune Cookie Baby

And now, for a random post of fortune cookie themed baby products.  There's no deep (or not deep) explanation.  Enjoy.

Fortune cookie slippers by Sushi Booties ($28)

Onesie by OVELO Design ($15.99)

Fortune cookie cupcakes by Pink Cake Box

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Baby Uncrazy

What is a term for being the opposite of baby crazy?  Baby Uncrazy or Baby Sane?  Baby Averse?

How about Baby Logical.

I was gifted two very funny, very Baby Logical books this holiday season:  "Babies Ruin Everything" and "The Baby is Disappointing"

Some would probably categorize these books as Baby Averse, but I'll stick with Baby Logical.  Here's a taste of this so-called logic from "The Baby is Disappointing":

This is from "Babies Ruin Everything, which is written from the perspective of an older sibling:

Both are truly hysterical.  They're conversation starters and take all of five minutes to read.  Both are written by Matthew Swanson, illustrated by Robbi Behr and published by Idiots' Books.  Here is the website for Idiots' Books, which is a cool, small teeny-tiny publishing company.  Because the publisher is so small, its awesome books can't be found in your neighborhood Barnes & Noble.  My gift giver found them at a boutique gift shop in Brooklyn.  If you don't live in Brooklyn, fear not, you can purchase them off the website (here it is, again).

While they may not be for everyone, even certain baby crazed ladies can appreciate the sarcasm of both books.  Subtle (and not so subtle) reminders that major life changes come along with those cooing bundles of joy is not a bad thing.

Happy 2012 to the Baby Crazy people, the Baby Logical people and Baby Crazy Yet Logical people...if they exist.

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Holiday Gift Countdown...over

Back in November I had this genius idea of posting 25 holiday gift ideas for the special baby in your life.  In my excitement of showing you these gifts, I forgot that you have to purchase and wrap the gift in advance.  And, that many of you (including myself) exchange gifts before December 25th.  I exchanged some gifts as early at December 10th this year.  Realizing this just the other day, I decided to bring my genius idea to a halt a bit early...today.

So, here is one last gift idea - not because I think you'll have time to purchase it in time for Christmas (if I'm being honest), but because it's the cutest thing and my bestie WW laughs every time she looks at the photo below.  It's a bearded hat and it's fantastic.  The Esty crafter who makes it (By Laura) also has adult sizes.  Get crazy.

Bearded Hat By Laura ($39)

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Holiday Gift Countdown - Days 15 and 16

Today's (and tomorrows) choice holiday gifts are a cell phone teether and a remote control teether.  These eco-friendly toys are handcrafted by 3 Princesses Engraving, a Canadian based Etsy shop.  Both can be personalized and both retail for $12.  It's never too soon to introduce your child to technology, I suppose.

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Holiday Gift Countdown - Days 10-14....

Okay, it's probably no secret that I've been a little delinquent on the holiday gift countdown...and posts in general.  Tis the season for some after work drinking, chocolate chip cookie making and holiday movie watching.  I've fully indulged in all three and fully slacked on the post front.  Tis also the season of forgiveness?

Let's jump back into the holiday gift countdown with a brief look back at the gifts so far:

1. Handprint canvas kit by Red Envelope
2. Money pots by Uncommon Goods
3. Finger puppets by Restoration Hardware
4. Personalized pillow by Comfy Heaven
5. Red bow knit hat by Nita Mae's Garden
6. and 7. Origami crane mobile by Spare Bedroom Studio
8. Wool slippers from Garnett Hill
9. Chan Pie Gnon (friends of Sophie the Giraffe)

Today, for gifts 10 through 14, here are five amazing ornaments to celebrate a/your/some baby's first Christmas.

by Aphrodite's Canvas ($22)

by This Fine Day
($14 without custom engraving, $19 with)

by Rustic Blend ($6)

by Susabella ($28)

by Your Keepsake Co. ($20)

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Holiday Gift Countdown - Day 9

Christmas is 16 days away and Hanukkah is a mere 11 days away.  Where has the year gone?  There's still plenty of some time to order gifts online and even more time to shop in store.  So get on it.  Here's another idea for the baby (or babies) in your life: Chan Pie Gnon.  You've met Sophie...now meet her friends, chan pie gnon (in blue, pink and yellow).  They're made of the same natural rubber as Sophie, but shaped like mushrooms.  They retail for as little as $12.89 on Amazon.com.  

(COME BACK AT 12 NOON FOR TODAY'S EDITION OF STUFF PEOPLE GOOGLE!)

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Holiday Gift Countdown - Day 5

It's a girly gift day with this adorable crocheted "red sparkle bow holiday hat" (actual product name) by Nita Mae's Garden ($24.95).  There is a one to two week turn around time between your order and receiving your gift, so no time to waste if you want to make this a Christmas gift.

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Elephant Nursery

Elephants are clearly not as trendy as owls in the world of babies and nurseries.  But they are definitely just as cute, right?  Maybe even cuter?  

In addition to being adorable, elephants can also be cool, contemporary and mature.  I'm always interested in decor themes that can transcend nursery boundaries into adult design because I live in a small apartment.  A strong theme in a small apartment can over take the entire space.  Picking a theme that works for a whole space (nursery, bedroom, living room and even kitchen) is especially important when it's small.  Imagine 800 square feet full of leopard print from rug to pendant lamp.  Scary.  Elephants, on the other hand, could work.  In moderation.

Elephants work for babies.

via amazon.com

Elephants work for grownups.

by Z Gallerie

Some ideas for a baby boy's elephant themed nursery.

1. Elephant print by Pumpkin and Butterfly ($18)

2. Elephant lamp by Uncommon Goods ($20)

3. Plush striped elephant by The Land of Nod ($16.95)

4. Eli's elephant nursery bedding by Pottery Barn Kids ($24.50 - $99)

5. Elephant clock by Uncommon Goods ($29.99)

Some ideas for a baby girl's elephant themed nursery.

1. Elephant print by Galerie Anais ($14)

2. Elephant and balloon pillow by Tailorbird Designs (25 euro)

3. Stuffed toy elephant by Rabbits Moon ($38.50)

4. Pink and gray elephant crib bedding set by Carter's ($137)

5. Elephant baby blanket by Kiki Kiddos ($55)

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The Second and Third Gifts Were DOGtastic

The first gift was DINOmyte.  The second and the third gifts were DOGtastic, which isn't an actual word but sounded much better than BARKvelous (marvelous) or PUPational (sensational).  What am I talking about?  The gifts that I brought to a first birthday party.

I'll give a brief history of the first birthday party of which I'm referring:

1) Here, I pondered over what gift to bring.
2) Here, I pondered over what food to bring.
3) Here, I revealed the first gift that I brought.
4) TODAY, I'm revealing the second and third gifts.

Now that you're caught up, the second and the third gifts were from The Black Dog.  The Black Dog is a tavern that has become exceptionally successful at marketing it's apparel.  So much so that there are entire stores, separate and apart from the tavern itself, that sell The Black Dog sweatshirts and hats and dog collars.  I can't explain why the tavern is so great or why the apparel is so trendy because I don't know.  What I do know, is that it's indigenous to Martha's Vineyard where I recently visited.  A-ha!  Now all this rambling is making sense, sort of.

I like getting gifts for people while I'm on vacation.  Not I-brought-you-something-back-from-my-vacation gifts.  Though sometimes cool and unique, those type gifts are more often cheap and lame (for example, a t-shirt that reads "My mom went to Las Vegas and all I got was this crappy t-shirt").  I like getting real gifts (birthday, wedding, house warming, etc.) while on vacation.  Real gifts offer a bigger budget and vacation gifts offer one-of-a-kind status - a dogtastic fantastic combination.

Hence, while on my vacation to Martha's Vineyard, I bought a couple gifts from The Black Dog for my upcoming first birthday party - a sweatshirt and a stuffed animal.  I'll concede that The Black Dog products aren't quite one-of-a-kind, but certainly unusual enough for a 1-year-old from Brooklyn.  And, the stuff is so cute and comfy, perfect for fall.  I had been inspired by this jacket (below) from The Nutmeg Tree to give a gift of warm clothing.

by The Nutmeg Tree and 15% off
with the coupon code TATORTOT

Here is a cute sweater from The Black Dog.  This isn't what I got, but it's the only large image I could find for your viewing pleasure.  My purchase was the traditional sweatshirt, in pink.  Of course.

via The Black Dog

And, at last, I couldn't leave The Black Dog store without purchasing a black dog (stuffed not live, fake not real).  Head to The Black Dog website (here) to check out all the great stuff, including some stuffed, fake dogs. 

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The First Gift Was DINOmyte

Last weekend, I attended my first 1st birthday party.  It was a blast, a blast in an apple juice glass...Jersey Shore anyone?  There was cake and singing and lots of clapping.

And now, the answer you've all been waiting for...the gift.  Remember my quest to find the perfect 1st birthday gift?  If not, click here to refresh your memory and then forget about all those options because I didn't go with any of them.  They were all great, but the winning choices were even better.  That's right, choices - three gifts.  Each different and each awesome.

This is the first gift.  You know I love dinosaurs (for more on that click here and here).  

via Amazon.com

Not only is the book about dinosaurs but it's touchy feely.  Not touchy feely in the prom night sense, but in the tactile sense.  Each page features a different dinosaur with a different texture - rough, soft, slippery, etc.  One year olds are all about their sense of touch.  They are learning about and fascinated by the way different objects feel against their skin.  And, with this book, they will also learn about and be fascinated by dinosaurs.  Double bonus.  

Stay tuned (next week) for gifts two and three.

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Delightful Discounts

Don't forget to take advantage of these discounts.  The holidays aren't that far out...it's never too early to do a little gift shopping.

This wooden teether ($12) by Little Sapling Toys is eco-friendly (naturally anti-bacterial, non-allergenic, and non-toxic) .  When it's not drool covered and in use, it would be a perfect bit of art for the bookshelf.  Enjoy a 10% discount on your purchase with the coupon code "NEXTSTOP10" (valid between 9/19/11 and 10/10/11).  

Clothing is a necessity for growing babies who outgrow their fabulous wardrobes on a weekly basis.  This wool coat is only one of the many handmade treats available at The Nutmeg Tree Etsy shop.  Receive 15% off our purchase with the coupon code "TATORTOT"

The personalized growth chart below is made by Petite Lemon and comes in poster paper or canvas.  There is a game of "Can You Find?" hidden throughout the vibrant design.  Receive a 15% discount off any item on the Petite Lemon website with the coupon code "NEXTSTOP15"

Tons more discounts and vendor promotions can be found HERE.  Enjoy.

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Something's Fishy With This Nursery

Enough with all the owls.  Yes, everyone loves them.  Everyone wants to have owl themed baby showers and owl themed nurseries and owl themed lives.  They're great, but let's not leave out the rest of the animal kingdom.  Today, it's all about the fishies.  I recognize that fish aren't the cutest or cuddliest of creatures.  Perhaps lions or sheep would have been a more logical choice to follow the trendy owl?  Oh well.  I went with fish and I am so smitten with each of these lovely products.

1. Fresh fish pillow by Mimi Kirchner ($75)

2. Red carp screen printed mini pillow by minimonos ($33)

3. Goldfish pillow by Little Korboose ($25)

This fantastic light switch ($12) cover is made by Turn Me On Art (ha!).  These are trout, yes?  Mixing realistic fish decor with whimsical and cartoonish fish decor is great for creating a cohesive feel without the matchy matchy effect.

This wooden teether ($12) by Little Sapling Toys is eco-friendly (naturally anti-bacterial, non-allergenic, and non-toxic) .  When it's not drool covered and in use, it would be a perfect bit of art for the bookshelf.  Enjoy a 10% discount on your purchase with the coupon code "NEXTSTOP10" (valid between 9/19/11 and 10/10/11).  

Three Eggs makes this Under the Sea hanging mobile ($98).  Each mobile is made to order and the colors can be customized, check out the Etsy shop for all the options.

This fish shaped key/coat/thing hook is made by TR Woodworks.  There are fifteen color choices to paint the piece of reclaimed wood - again, eco-friendly, love it.

Below are two beautiful and different fish prints.  The first is by Gallerie Anais ($14) and the second is by Nella Designs ($15).  

by Gallerie Anais

by Nella Designs

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My First First Birthday Party

In a few weeks I will be attending a birthday party for a little lady who is turning one-year-old.  It's her first birthday and it will be my first time as a guest at a first birthday party.  Lots of firsts.

This is how I imagine a
1st birthday party.
Why bother with the bib? 

I have many questions about attending a first birthday party.  What should I wear?  I'm assuming something casual, but would jeans be rude?  You've just started taunting me in your head or perhaps out loud to your computer.  I agree, silly opening questions...I'll move on.  Should I get a card?  Clearly the birthday girl can't read it, but her parents could read it to her.  Or I could get a card for her parents, like "Congratulations on your child turning one".  It's a house party.  I would typically bring a bottle of wine, so should I bring juice instead?  Animal crackers?  And, the most important question, what do I get my favorite mini person?  The gift!

Focusing strictly on the gift dilemma, I turned to my beloved internet.  First up, I found article on BabyCenter.com.  That was a fail.  It featured a photo of a 4-year-old (not a 1-year-old) and a long list of toys categories (not specific toys).  Next up was an online discussion forum.  Strangers advised me to buy a harmonica or mixing bowls.  The mixing bowl idea suggested that the bowls would start out as makeshift drums and ultimately parlay into teaching tools so the youngster could get started on his or her culinary education as early as possible.  Wha?!!  At last I discovered the "first birthday" section on giggle.com, which recommends specific, age-appropriate gifts.  After all that, I'm still at a loss.  Help.  Please.  Below are my leading ideas.

A U.S. Savings Bond.  It's money in the bank (in 30 years).  I already went this route for her baptism, but it's a fiscally responsible choice.  She will thank me decades from now when she can buy a bunch of little black dresses, assuming those are still hot in 2041 (holy shit...2041).

Clothing is a necessity for growing babies.  While she already has a hot little wardrobe, she also outgrows said hot little wardrobe on a weekly basis.  This wool coat by The Nutmeg Tree is too cute.  I figure her existing fall/winter wardrobes are null and void given that she's about three times as big.  BONUS about this coat - you and I both can receive 15% off our purchase with the coupon code "TATORTOT"!

It's a great time for a new educational toy.  She's on the cusp of speaking and already starting to walk.  And, according to that long and vague list from BabyCenter.com, nesting toys are great for a 1-year-old.  With all this in mind, I found these top contenders.

Plan Toy Baby Blocks Walker

Whoozit "What's Red?" Soft Book

Manhattan Toy Mod Baby Zimble Stacker

I could also scrap the practical and logical and just go with these.  Because they're awesome.  They're dragon slippers by jdbaby.

Have you ever attended a first birthday party?  What did you wear bring?  What's your 1-year-old's favorite toy?

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