MomElement

Mod Mom

2008-07-15T06:00:00.001-04:00

Did you know that a babies like to play with scraps of fabric? Lisa Mims does. Mims is the co-founder, with her sister-in-law Nancy Mims, of the organic fabric line Mod Green Pod and the mother of an eighteen month old daughter. On a recent visit to her Boston studio, Mims pulled out a large pile of colorful fabric scraps for my eight month old daughter to play with. My daughter was immediately contented. I’d like to think this was because my daughter fully appreciated the beautifully designed patterns that are hand silk-screened on 100% organic cotton with water-based, non-toxic inks. But Mims knew better. “Sometimes babies just like something new,” she said.

And sometimes mothers do, too. In 2005, Mims and her sister-in-law joined forces to start something that was, at the time, an entirely new concept in textile design – a line of fabrics that combined swank design with environmentally sustainable materials. Mims’s had a business background and her sister-in-law had a design background. Both women were looking for a creative work outlet that they could control and feel good about.

Three years, two babies, and one toddler later, Mod Green Pod is a huge success. Mims’s credits part of the success to good timing. “The time was ripe for environmentally responsible products,” she said. That’s certainly true and the company has had impressive press coverage, but both women also put in a lot of hard work. Mims’s works at night and is constantly checking her studio’s voicemail. Like any mother, Mims’s worries about the effect this has on her daughter. “One of my daughter’s favorite toys is her phone,” she said. “Sometimes I wonder if that’s because she always sees me on mine.” Her advice to other mothers who are considering starting their own businesses is to know that it can be taxing on the entire family. “Be ready to dedicate a lot of time,” said Mims.

With this enormous effort comes the benefit of control. All Mod Green Pod products are produced in U.S.A., a decision that was made for value reasons but also has the added benefit of minimizing international travel. Mims can also personally ensure that all her products meet her high environmental and labor standards.

And let’s not forget that the line is so very stylish. The Butterfly Jubilee (shown above), Ticking Stripe, and Atticus patterns are particularly popular for children’s rooms. A less expensive line of children’s patterns (named Cloud Nine, Enchanted Forrest, and Tickled Pink) can be found at Near Sea Naturals. Next on the agenda? A line of Vans shoes based on Mod Green Pod prints.

If you’re craving a little Mod Green Pod but are not in the market for a full nursery overhaul, the fabric makes great wall. Just staple a piece of your favorite fabric to a wooden frame and you're all set. After all, you never know where something new can lead.

Smock Flock

2008-07-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

You know how sometimes you're browsing in a children's store and you suddenly see something so darn cute that you find yourself lovingly petting and cooing at an inanimate object? Well, I'm having one of those moments right now. Laying in front of me is the newest line of baby stationary from Smock. So yes, I'm petting paper. But let me tell you, I've never petted paper so soft and pretty before.

I'll start with the soft. Smock is the only print shop in America that prints on bamboo paper. The bamboo paper is thick, slightly textured, and truly soft. Smock uses antique cast iron letterpresses and vegetable-oil based low-VOC inks. All their wrapping paper and shipping products are made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials. And just in case you were wondering, yes, the bamboo used in Smock's paper comes from "Panda Safe" varieties of bamboo.

Now to the pretty. Smock's children's line, also called their "play" line, offers five prints - a giraffe, a duck, a horse, an elephant, and a lion. The colors are beautifully muted and every detail, from the lining of the matching envelopes to the waves that the little duckie is swimming on, were clearly chosen with care. As of now, Smock cannot personalize their stationary with names.

In keeping with their eco-friendly focus, Smock has offered a Triple Trees checkout special for all MomElement readers. Just mention MomElement at checkout and Smock will plant three additional trees if you buy a tree for one dollar.

Smart Mom, Smart Business

2008-07-09T06:00:00.001-04:00

If I were to build the perfect mother, she would be compassionate, giving, creative, intelligent, a role model to her children, and an asset to her community. Phew, I’m exhausted just imaging her day. If I were to build the perfect company, I would take all of those characteristics, add a positive profit margin, and hope for the opportunity to get in on an early IPO.

After speaking with Amy Maurer Creel, the co-founder with Kendra LaDuca of Smart Mom Jewelry, I was pleased to learn that I’m just an IPO away from finding my perfect investment opportunity. Smart Mom Jewelry produces jewelry that is safe for curious little munchkin hands and mouths. It’s a fabulous idea and my daughter’s a huge fan, but what struck me most after speaking with Amy was that the company is run like many families, with a lot of love and some sparks of creativity.

Amy and Kendra first discussed the idea of creating a teething friendly line of jewelry several years ago, but it took them a few years and some life changing tragedies to move from concept to company. First, Kendra’s newborn daughter was diagnosed with cancer (she’s doing well now). Then, Amy’s sister-in-law, Maria, died from a rare heart condition only a few days after giving birth to her daughter. “Kendra and I both had life changing experiences that made us more willing to take risks,” says Amy. “Maria’s death made me think, what do I want to do that I’m not doing.”

Ultimately, what both women wanted to do was redefine the way they worked and do something that would teach and inspire their young daughters. So, in the face of many obstacles – a lack of product specific business experience, a lack of funds, and obligations to their families – they set off to do things their own way.

Today, six years after they first discussed the idea, Amy and Kendra employ seven people, all of whom are all mothers. All employees create their own schedules based on their own needs. If a child is napping during a scheduled meeting, that mother can call in. If a mother doesn’t have childcare, there is a large playroom attached to the workspace area where she can bring her child. “This is seriously family first,” says Amy. “There are so many talented women who sometimes can’t find an opportunity for work if they don’t want to work in a more traditional way. We’ve found that when we allow them to be with their families and they’re not torn, they are very productive and very motivated.”

As are Amy and Kendra. Amy warns that your starting your own business is not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of work and, while the idea of working from home may sound attractive, it can be difficult to create any kind of boundary between work life and home life. Nonetheless, Amy recommends that any mother who has an idea that she wants to pursue should go for it. “It’s not as hard as someone might think,” says Amy. “We figured it out and we didn’t have any experience.” If you’re still wary, Amy’s happy to act as resource for any other mother who is thinking of starting her own business. Just send her an email via her website.

With 125 retailers in thirty states and a dozen countries, Smart Mom Jewelry has taken off in a way that neither Amy nor Kendra predicted. They’re about ready to introduce a new line of metallic jewelry just in time for the Olympics as well as a camouflage pattern that comes in four different colors. Their products are non-toxic, phthalate/BPA/PVC free, federally approved, and dishwasher safe. For a store near you, click here.

Home Sweet New Home

2008-07-07T06:00:00.000-04:00

I once equated having a baby with settling down. That was before I knew how much stuff babies require and how much space that stuff needs. Now it comes as no surprise when a friend with a baby (or two) announces that she's moving to a bigger space, yet again.

I was thrilled to find these "Home" cards at Bombus's Etsy store. The cards are handmade from vintage map scraps so each one is a unique piece of art. They come with a colorful map envelope and can be personalized. Bombus also sells a great "Dad" card made of vintage maps. I know it's too late for Father's day but it could be a perfect birthday card for a dad who does a lot traveling but always look forward to finding his way home.

P.S. Just had to share that the Bombus logo is "Saving the world through decoupage!" That's quite a mission!

I'm Off!

2008-06-27T09:34:00.003-04:00

I know we were just getting started here, but I'm off for a long planned and much needed vacation. Be sure to check back in the week after next. I'll have an interview with Amy Maurer, one of the founders of Smart Mom Jewelry, a review of the first line of children's stationary to be printed on environmentally friendly bamboo paper, some suggested summer reading, a great Etsy find, and much more. See you then!

(Photo by Omnia via Flickr)

High Fashion Meets Food

2008-06-25T06:00:00.000-04:00

It's exciting when high fashion comes to H&M, but it's even more exciting when it comes to children's bibs. Marimekko, a Finnish company, is known for strong and colorful graphic prints. The fashion house was most popular in the 1960's and 1970's, due in no small part to Jacqueline Kennedy's purchase of eight Marimekko dresses during her husband's 1960 Presidential campaign.

When I saw these Marimekko bibs in the Boston home store Bliss, I was immediately attracted to the flowery print. Upon further inspection, my attraction deepened into.... Never mind, you know what I mean. These bibs are lightweight while still providing an effective barrier against watery food. They are machine washable and generously cut to cover shoulders and bellies.

If your high chair is in need of some high fashion a la Jackie O, click here.

(Photo from FinnStyle)

Beyond Sweet Potatoes

2008-06-24T06:00:00.001-04:00

Before I actually became a mother, I decided that there were many types of mother that I was not going to be. I was not going to be the type of mother who sang loudly to her child in public and I was certainly not going to be the type of mother who spent hours cooking homemade baby food. Well, to the pre-baby me, all I can say is, it was nice knowing you.

Not only do I sing loudly (and poorly) to my daughter as we stroll down the street, I found that I actually enjoy making her food. What I do not enjoy is the mound of dishes that follow. So I was excited to learn that a French baby food maker that was previously sold only in Europe has finally made it's way to America (via Williams-Sonoma). It's called the Baeba Babycook and I have no idea what took so long for it to hit our shores! The beauty of the Beaba is that you can steam, blend, warm, and defrost food all in the same bowl. And we all know what that means - fewer dishes. The Beaba's $139.95 price tag made me hesitant to buy, but after weeks of deliberation, my only regret is not buying it sooner. The steam function works very well, although it takes a bit longer than the instruction manual claims (roughly 20 minutes for vegetables and 10 minutes for fruit) and it's easy to control the consistency of the food. There are only two cooking pieces, a strainer for steaming and a main bowl for blending, and both are dishwasher safe. My only word of caution is to make sure that the bottom black plastic bolt is securely tightened after washing. Otherwise, you may end up with strawberry juice flowing into the crevices of your wood cabinets like I did.

Oh wait, one more word of caution - just because it's easy to prepare the food does not mean that your baby will actually eat what you've made. Sorry.

If the Beaba is two extra dishes too many but you still crave homemade baby food, I'm pleased to announce that after my previous ravings about the California company Pomme Bebe, the owner has offered a discount to all MomElement readers. To get 10% any order of $45 or more, just enter "ABT8XY" when checking out.

(Photo from Williams-Sonoma)

From Diaper Bags to Nursery Decor

2008-06-23T06:00:00.001-04:00

I was doing my daily check-in at Design Sponge, my favorite design blog, when I spotted this beautiful nursery by DeNai Jones, the owner and designer of Petunia Pickle Bottom. Jones envisioned this nursery as a "place of tranquility" and she sites the modern glider chair by Monte Designs as her favorite furniture piece in the room. I love the color palette of grays and muted greens with a hint of yellow and cream, but my favorite design feature in the nursery is the single wall of wallpaper. It adds interest and texture to the walls without being overwhelming. To see the entire nursery as well as Jones' thoughts on the design, click here.

(Photo from Design Sponge)

Friday Inspiration

2008-06-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

This Friday's inspiration made its way into my email inbox a few months ago and I've been thinking about it ever since. It's an excerpt from the book "Loud and Clear" by Anna Quindlen. In this excerpt Quindlen, who now has three grown children, reflects on her experiences as a mother. Looking back, Quindlen writes that she wishes she had listened to the overwhelming amount of advice in parenting books less and followed her own maternal instincts more. But what resonated most deeply with me were her thoughts about living in the moment or, as Quindlen writes, her wish that she "had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less." I often think of this comment when I'm doing something like trying to get a stroller and three grocery bags up a flight of stairs. I can't say I treasure those kinds of "the doing" but I do try and make time for some extra snuggling once I manage to get in the door.

Click here to read the excerpt. It's a long one, so if you're pressed for time skip about half way down to the subsection labeled "Heart." But if you've got few moments, I promise it's worth the read.

An Ode to the Simplest Things

2008-06-19T08:38:00.003-04:00

It's Emily again, back with another favorite find.....Although I pride myself on being a savvy shopper, I have fallen prey from time to time and bought gadgets because my friends swear by them or they're written up in parenting magazines as "mommy must-haves." But often it's the simplest things like these sippy cup leashes, which sell for $9.95 online at Baby Bungalow, that remind me that the smallest things can make a big impact. As we make the transition from bottle to sippy cup, this ingenious invention will save me from continually playing go-fetch after my daughter tosses her cup overboard, and she'll love it because it's colorful and fun to chew on. Good things truly do come in small - and simple -packages.

(Photo from www.sippigrip.com)

The Go To Gift

2008-06-18T06:00:00.006-04:00

I think gift registries are great for weddings, but there's something about baby gift registries that rub me the wrong way. Maybe it's because I love browsing in my local boutique baby stores for the newest (and cutest) products in baby land. On a recent trip to Tadpole in Boston, I found this little elephant. He's actually a leather book end and has a great weight to him - stout and sturdy. He's also available in pink and looks great hanging out on the floor or on a shelf. I think I have my new go to baby gift!

P.S. I was surprised to learn that this little guy is also sold at Target. While that takes away a little of his mystique (if it's at all possible for a pastel elephant to have mystique), it certainly makes purchasing one for your next baby present quite easy.

Into Everyone's Life a Little Food Must Fall

2008-06-17T06:00:00.002-04:00

I've recruited my fabulous friend Emily to join me in my musings on modern motherhood. Read about Emily's first find, which is available on Etsy for $18, below:

While I've monogrammed my shirt with a splash of morning coffee or dragged a sleeve through salad dressing more times than I can count, the phrase "into everyone's life a little food must fall" has never rung more true than it does now that I am introducing my baby to solid foods. From Cheerios gleefully crushed in her fist to spoonfuls of blueberries that missed the mark, it's clear my hardwood floors will never be the same. So I set off to find a solution that would work with the adult aesthetic of my kitchen and found it in Modernjune's oilcloth splat mats and placemats. Mixing a cool vintage vibe with baby-friendly practicality, Modernjune gives me renewed confidence to explore the wide world of solids without fear of what may fall.

(Photo from Modernjune)

There's A New Baby In The Mail

2008-06-16T06:00:00.005-04:00

There's a new baby in the mail today - the Restoration Hardware Baby & Child catalogue. The furniture is priced higher than average, but the bedding collections are wonderful with lots of browns and polka dots and some nice gender neutral options. Everything is organized by color, so if matching is your thing, the site's layout will save you lots of clicking. Since my nursery is already decorated, I honed in on this great play tent. At 60'' square, I envision it filled with pillows and used for teas with teddy bears, reading books, and afternoon naps. Now if only they made one for adults.

(Photo from Restoration Hardware)

Friday Inspiration

2008-06-13T06:00:00.004-04:00

Moms need a little inspiration every now and then. Sometimes by Friday, they need a lot of inspiration. So each Friday I'll post a favorite article or essay in the hope that it provides some inspiration for the day (or at least the moment).

It might be due to all the time that I've been spending on the swings at the park, but this Friday I find the idea of installing swings in the basement of a New York city home totally inspiring. (Please note: inspiring as used here can be roughly translated as inspiring great amounts of envy). I also find inspiring the way in which the home owners were able to transform a cold-storage warehouse into a warm family home. Through the use of several varieties of wood, neutral tones, and great light fixtures, they created a place that any city kid or adult would be happy to play in, no matter how close the nearest playground. To see more pictures and the complete article in New York Magazine, click here. Happy swinging wherever you are!

(Photo from New York Magazine)

Beach House Anyone?

2008-06-10T06:00:00.005-04:00

It's getting hot around here. The stroller wheels are melting, the chubby baby thighs are on display, and the rubber swings are sizzling. All of this has me dreaming of cooling ocean breezes. Yet with no ocean front property to call my own, I'll be relying on the kindness of friends to make all my summer dreams come true.

These days I also come with a baby, two portable cribs, dozens of diapers, loads of toys, and one inflatable raft, so I figure I'm going to need some really nice hostess gifts. This Sea Bags Wine Bag may be just the thing to soften my entourage's arrival. Like all Sea Bags products, the wine bag is made from recycled sails and hand spliced rope. On the back is a label where the names of gifters and giftees can be recorded, allowing the bag's voyage to be charted like the ships that inspired its creation. With the wine drunk and the bag passed on, I fear there will be nothing for my hosts to remember me by. Although, maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.

(Photo from Sea Bags)

California Dreaming

2008-06-09T06:00:00.003-04:00

My love of California cuisine started not with Alice Waters or Thomas Keller, but with Pinkberry, the refreshingly tart frozen yogurt treat. So it should come as no surprise that the current object of my California culinary lust is also eaten with a spoon and available in many flavors. Only this time the food is not for me, it's for my daughter.

Pomme Bebe is a California baby food company that supplies fresh organic baby food to busy moms. But here's the thing - they have an actual bebe bar in their Newport Beach, CA store where the munchkins can pull up a high chair and sample the offerings. Don't believe me? Check out the picture here. All Pomme Bebe baby food is created by an executive chef in their Newport Beach, CA headquarters and is available for delivery nationwide. While gourmet baby food seems like a risky financial investment for my little one, I'm very tempted by the pear kiwi apricot puree. All in the name of research, right?

(Photo from Pomme Bebe)

Friday Inspiration

2008-06-06T06:00:00.005-04:00

Moms need a little inspiration every now and then. Sometimes by Friday, they need a lot of inspiration. So each Friday I'll post a favorite article or essay in the hope that it provides some inspiration for the day (or at least the moment)!

This week's article is about keeping perspective because, well, moms worry. We worry about little things like brand new shoes flying out of strollers, never to be seen again. And we worry about big things like the progress of our children's development. I read this article a few weeks ago on Babble and I have been thinking about it ever since. It's about the accuracy of growth charts and why some pediatricians are no longer using them. While it might not technically fall under the category of inspiration, it has helped me to keep some perspective when I start to worry about the big things.

Off The Charts, by Jeanine Sager

(Photo from Flickr)

Keep Calm and Carry On

2008-06-04T06:00:00.004-04:00

We've all had those moments - the tantrums in the mall, the cranberry juice spills on a new rug, or, my personal favorite, the massive diaper explosion on the New Jersey Turnpike. In those moments, I think it helps to have a mantra and I've yet to see a mantra look as good as this one.

This reproduction vintage poster is available in seven calming colors and, at $25, it's a lot less expensive than a therapy session.

Head on over to Etsy to choose your favorite color. And repeat after me, keep calm and carry on. Keep calm and carry on.....

(Photo from Flickr)

Sweet, Sweet Cupcakes

2008-06-03T06:00:00.009-04:00

Just in time for bathing suit season, I've got cupcakes on my mind. I blame Sweet, the new Boston cupcake bakery that is located just blocks from my apartment. The store is stroller-friendly, the cupcakes are baked from scratch each day, and the pink and brown decor would make Coco Chanel proud. Boston mamas beware, the organic karat cupcake is addictive!

In appreciation of the cupcake, I've pulled together some of my favorite cupcake themed children's products. (Editorial note: the market for adult cupcake products is severely lacking).

First off, Paper Source makes a bite size cupcake hole punch. It's a great way to personalize cards, stationary, and even ribbon. Can you imagine wrapping a fresh batch of cupcakes in cellophane and a cupcake ribbon? So very Martha!

Another favorite is Luxe Paperie's cupcake wrapping paper. At $2.75 a sheet it strikes me as a little pricey for use on a present, but it could look fabulous framed behind a glossy white picture frame.

At the very top of my list is Kee-Ka's cupcake organic burp cloth and bib set. Made from 100% certified organic cotton and packaged in its own ready to mail box, this set makes a great gift. The bib holds its own against sweet potatoes, peas, rice cereal, and even prunes. The burp cloth has its own pocket of honor in my diaper bag - enough said. If you can't get enough of Kee-Ka's cupcake pattern, it also comes printed on onesies, swaddling blankets, and a hooded towel.

As much as I love cupcakes, I don't dare compete with the talented ladies at Cupcake Takes The Cake. If you're just dying for another bite (or the address of a cupcake bakery in Malaysia), head on over to their site to satisfy your sweet tooth.

(Photo from Sweet by Eric Levin)

A Very Patagonia Picnic

2008-06-02T06:19:00.004-04:00

Put away your down jackets, capilene long underwear, and wind resistant base layers, it's finally summer. But wait, save the fleece! You'll need it for your next picnic. At 72'' by 58'', Patagonia's fleece blanket is the perfect size for an outing to the park with the little ones. It's available in seventeen colors and folds up small enough to fit in the bottom of most strollers or large bags. Patagonia, a company long known for its environmental initiatives, is going one step further and donating some proceeds from the sale of these blankets to the Great Pacific Child Development Center. Given my positive track record with the durability of Patagonia products, I wouldn't be surprised if this blanket ends up in a college dorm room someday. Now that's recycling.

(Photo from Patagonia)

Friday Inspiration

2008-05-30T07:22:00.011-04:00

Moms need a little inspiration every now and then. Sometimes by Friday, they need a lot of inspiration. So each Friday I'll post a favorite article or essay in the hope that it provides some inspiration for the day (or at least the moment)!

My first find ran in the Modern Love section of the New York Times on Mother's Day. It's about a woman's experience planning her wedding years after her mother has died. With summer bringing the start of wedding season, I thought it would be an appropriate time to post this. Just be forewarned: I read this one with tears running down my face.

A Wedding Invitation For A Mom Long Gone, by Julie Buxbaum

(Photo from Flickr)

Nonchalant Mom

2008-05-29T09:25:00.014-04:00

After seeing Carina Schott's fabulous kid-friendly family home in the newest issue of Domino Magazine, I had to check out the website for her equally inspiring store, Nonchalant Mom. With neither a superfluous ruffle nor offensive color in site, Schott's store is a study in cool, modern children's clothing. My favorite find was this dress by Kragh Rosenberg. I love the way it combines a peasant girl silhouette with a Japanese style print. And just to prove that it was truly meant to be, the lilac color is named the Ella dress, after my daughter Ella, of course. If only she was big enough to wear it!

(Pictures from Nonchalant Mom)

Neutral Baby Bedding

2008-05-28T14:55:00.028-04:00

The best thing about not finding out the sex of your child before he or she is born is the amazing moment after delivery when you finally hear, "It's a ....!" The worst thing about not finding out the sex is planning the nursery. As more and more woman are choosing to learn the sex of their child before delivery, designers are coming out with fewer and fewer gender neutral bedding options.

So if you're like me and are focusing all your nesting instincts on designing the perfect nursery, you may end up spending days searching for the perfect blue fabric (not too masculine, not too feminine, you know what I mean) and then spending weeks teaching yourself to sew a pleated crib skirt and matching accessories. Oh, how much easier life would have been if I had only known about Fawn and Forest's Celestial Parade crib set. Made from 100% organic cotton fabric and fill, the reversible crib set even comes in its own reusable drawstring tote.

Sweet dreams little bambino/a!

(Picture from Fawn and Forest)