Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Product Pick
Fizzy Fun
What: Me! Bath Ice Cream
Philosophy: Indulge yourself and your kids in ice cream without worrying about calories or cavities, with fizzy scoops of bath minerals and oils.
Favorite flavors: Chocolate Covered Strawberry (pictured here) for moms and Land or Milk and Honey for tots.
Celebrity fans: Jessica Simpson and Joss Stone are fans, as is Amber Valetta’s little one.
Where: Available at C.O. Bigelow, Copley Place, 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617.236.7259, or at www.mebath.com.
Fizzy Fun
What: Me! Bath Ice CreamPhilosophy: Indulge yourself and your kids in ice cream without worrying about calories or cavities, with fizzy scoops of bath minerals and oils.
Favorite flavors: Chocolate Covered Strawberry (pictured here) for moms and Land or Milk and Honey for tots.
Celebrity fans: Jessica Simpson and Joss Stone are fans, as is Amber Valetta’s little one.
Where: Available at C.O. Bigelow, Copley Place, 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617.236.7259, or at www.mebath.com.
Boutique Banter9 Months 286 Newbury St., Back Bay
Philosophy: Owner and Brookline-based mom of two, Katie Tagliazia, loves small collections, especially ones with a range of price points. For instance, she carries high-end baby furniture by Netto Collection, as well as the company’s more affordable line, Cub.
Most popular items: Cotton socks with sneakers printed on them are year-round best-sellers. During the holidays the Silver Cross toy pram is popular – the one Zahara pushes alongside Angelina and Shiloh.
Fall trends: A little trench coat with Liberty print lining, by Makie, that’s so divine Katie commissioned a large-scale version for herself; baby T-shirts by Wooliwiess, on which you can stamp a footprint; and, inspired by an exhibit at the MFA, she’s added slings which are dyed and printed using Old World Japanese techniques.
Celeb sightings: Every pregnant Red Sox wife, but no baby Violet. They keep hoping, especially as they now carry Serena & Lily, Jen’s reported choice for baby bedding.
Season event: 5th Annual Fashion & Trunk Show to benefit Birth Sisters. This year they’ll showcase the trendy California maternity label Maternal America.
Excerpted from the Fall 2006 issue of Boston Common Magazine.
Boutique BanterBump 45 River St., Beacon Hill
Philosophy: Patricia Marks-Martinovich, owner and mom of 2-year-old twins, shops the children’s markets in Paris, Milan, New York and L.A. to find pieces she’d wear herself. As for maternity pieces, tailor them to wear post-pregnancy.
Most popular items: For kids, it’s cashmere hoodies. And larger sizes; due to demand she now carries up to child’s size 10. For maternity, she re-ordered Diane von Furstenberg pieces six times in six months. Women drive from Maine, New Hampshire and New York City for them.
Fall trends: Patricia asserts it’s important for tots to wear a cool T-shirt on the playground. She’s got the snappy one-liners you see celeb babies wearing in US Weekly, plus rock tees from Trunk, and James Perse’s clever tidbits. “We are cool T-shirt headquarters,” promises Patricia. She adds, “Pirates are big for fall.”
Celeb sightings: We hear Jennifer Garner and baby Violet stopped by, though Patricia will neither confirm nor deny.
Season event: On Pickle & Ice Cream Wednesdays, 25% of sales are donated to charity, and shoppers receive coupons from Vlasic Pickles and Ben & Jerry’s.
Excerpted from the Fall 2006 issue of Boston Common Magazine.
Shop, Baby
Boston's Best Boutiques for Toys, Clothes, Gifts & Gear
While mass-market toy stores are closing and department stores have scaled down their children's departments, Boston has witnessed a Renaissance of the privately-owned neighborhood shops for high-end products like designer strollers, trendy outfits, contemporary bedding and wooden toys. Here are my absolute favorites.
9 Months
This brick-walled boutique is swamped with new mothers craving maternity fashions akin to those won by Hollywood darlings. They carry fifteen maternity lines, including Ripe, Japanese Weekend, Liz Lange and Cadeau, which was worn by Jennifer Garner both onscreen and off. There's a jeans wall stocked with Citizens of Humanity and Childish, and a nursing bra corner. They also offer contemporary baby furniture by Netto Collection.
Mulberry Road
A charming spot to purchase baby gifts, Mulberry Road stocks everything from clothing by Tea Collection and Wonderboy to witty oilcloth bibs and splat mats by Icky Baby and Bella Tunno. Rather spoil mom? Go for a Petunia Picklebottom diaper bag. Toy offerings include cuddlies from Jelly Cat and colorful keep-me-busies by Manhattan Baby.
Lester Harry's
This mainstay for tasteful wee ones offers distressed pastel furniture, baby albums, bedding by Shabby Chic and Bella Note, cozy blankets by Barefoot Dreams, Bla Bla creatures and must-have hair trinkets. For clothing there's Lucy Sykes' creations among others, plus shelves of European shoes.
Bump
Bump is a hip baby frock and maternity wear boutique on a side street in Beacon Hill. Maternity lines include the ever-cool Diane von Furstenberg, Chaiken, Cadeau and Fragile. Children's lines include Nicol Caramel and Milk on the Rocks. Our faves are Kitson-worthy onesies with sparkly decals proclaiming stuff like "wild child" and "rock star".
Red Wagon
Red Wagon is where Beacon Hill kids get their loot. There are plush puppets, Thomas trains, Haba toys and games. Upstairs is a book loft, with costumes and raingear. There are lots of accessories - blankets, barrettes, hats, tights abd backpacks. The front showcases clothing for toddlers to size 7T, with brands like Lily Pulitzer, Juicy and Paul Frank. They also sell shoes. Spring fave? Lelli Kelly sequin-covered canvas sneaks.
Curious George Goes to Wordsworth
This privately-owned children's bookstore/toyshop is a Harvard Square treasure. The yellow shelves are filled with books for toddlers through chapter books, with a concentration on the best picture books published. Toys, games, educational projects and art supplies are scattered throughout the shop.
Magic Beans
Boston-area parents flock to Magic Beans for the latest and greatest colorful equipment and a staff that is knowledgeable enough to demystify the purchasing process. Beyond that, Magic Beans is a fabulous neighborhood toy store, with all the best brands and a spacious gated playspace in back.
Stella Bella
This Inman Squarecreatures, and must-have hair trinkets. For clothing there's toyshop is a gathering place for nannies, moms and tots. The colorful, airy space offers the best toys and games in every category, and includes a play area whose backdrop is a magical mural. The owner graciously hosts new-parent coffee hours, toddler playgroups and lively sing-alongs.
This piece appeared on 4.06.06 in getsugar ink.
Boston's Best Boutiques for Toys, Clothes, Gifts & Gear
While mass-market toy stores are closing and department stores have scaled down their children's departments, Boston has witnessed a Renaissance of the privately-owned neighborhood shops for high-end products like designer strollers, trendy outfits, contemporary bedding and wooden toys. Here are my absolute favorites.
9 MonthsThis brick-walled boutique is swamped with new mothers craving maternity fashions akin to those won by Hollywood darlings. They carry fifteen maternity lines, including Ripe, Japanese Weekend, Liz Lange and Cadeau, which was worn by Jennifer Garner both onscreen and off. There's a jeans wall stocked with Citizens of Humanity and Childish, and a nursing bra corner. They also offer contemporary baby furniture by Netto Collection.
Mulberry RoadA charming spot to purchase baby gifts, Mulberry Road stocks everything from clothing by Tea Collection and Wonderboy to witty oilcloth bibs and splat mats by Icky Baby and Bella Tunno. Rather spoil mom? Go for a Petunia Picklebottom diaper bag. Toy offerings include cuddlies from Jelly Cat and colorful keep-me-busies by Manhattan Baby.
Lester Harry'sThis mainstay for tasteful wee ones offers distressed pastel furniture, baby albums, bedding by Shabby Chic and Bella Note, cozy blankets by Barefoot Dreams, Bla Bla creatures and must-have hair trinkets. For clothing there's Lucy Sykes' creations among others, plus shelves of European shoes.
BumpBump is a hip baby frock and maternity wear boutique on a side street in Beacon Hill. Maternity lines include the ever-cool Diane von Furstenberg, Chaiken, Cadeau and Fragile. Children's lines include Nicol Caramel and Milk on the Rocks. Our faves are Kitson-worthy onesies with sparkly decals proclaiming stuff like "wild child" and "rock star".
Red WagonRed Wagon is where Beacon Hill kids get their loot. There are plush puppets, Thomas trains, Haba toys and games. Upstairs is a book loft, with costumes and raingear. There are lots of accessories - blankets, barrettes, hats, tights abd backpacks. The front showcases clothing for toddlers to size 7T, with brands like Lily Pulitzer, Juicy and Paul Frank. They also sell shoes. Spring fave? Lelli Kelly sequin-covered canvas sneaks.
Curious George Goes to WordsworthThis privately-owned children's bookstore/toyshop is a Harvard Square treasure. The yellow shelves are filled with books for toddlers through chapter books, with a concentration on the best picture books published. Toys, games, educational projects and art supplies are scattered throughout the shop.
Magic BeansBoston-area parents flock to Magic Beans for the latest and greatest colorful equipment and a staff that is knowledgeable enough to demystify the purchasing process. Beyond that, Magic Beans is a fabulous neighborhood toy store, with all the best brands and a spacious gated playspace in back.
Stella Bella
This Inman Squarecreatures, and must-have hair trinkets. For clothing there's toyshop is a gathering place for nannies, moms and tots. The colorful, airy space offers the best toys and games in every category, and includes a play area whose backdrop is a magical mural. The owner graciously hosts new-parent coffee hours, toddler playgroups and lively sing-alongs.
This piece appeared on 4.06.06 in getsugar ink.
PTA PrattleGive Back the Gift Wrap
Anyone who has a school-age child is an expert in the game of fundraising. The PTA will get you, one way or another; they plan it that way. Take, for example, the gift-wrap. Does anyone actually sell it? Seems to me we all buy a few rolls for ourselves, and maybe check in with our mom to replenish her supply. I hit up the babysitter once. One mom, Chloe bag in hand, told me she refused to buy any, as the practice is “too suburban.” (She lives in Beacon Hill.)
At a PTA meeting at my sons’ school this fall, we debated doing away with the stuff. “No,” wailed one frosted-haired mom, “the sale is how my family back in Iowa participates in the school”. (It seems the practice of selling gift-wrap is not only suburban, but mid-western as well.) Another mom, educated at Berkeley and still clad in wooly socks and Birkenstocks, eschewed the all too colorful wrap, bags, and stationery. Her solution was to give the catalog to her daughter’s teacher, telling her to pick whatever she wanted for the classroom, on her. The teacher couldn’t find a thing. A pair of new mothers from Back Bay, decked out in Sevens and pointy-toed boots for their first-ever PTA meeting, bemoaned the lack of guidelines. They wanted to know how much they’re supposed to “sell” (code for “buy”).
As we were about to abolish this age-old practice adopted by just about every school in America, the PTA treasurer, a levelheaded numbers guy in a button-down shirt, cleared his throat. “If I may make a suggestion… Let’s look at our budget to see how much money the sale brings in.” Well, ok, that makes sense. Papers shuffled as we each pull out a copy of the budget. There’s a bit of silence. Seems the sale generates more money than the crafts fair, the bake sale and book sale, put together, Needless to say, we all continue to buy and sell gift wrap.
Details have been altered to protect individuals' identities.
Anyone who has a school-age child is an expert in the game of fundraising. The PTA will get you, one way or another; they plan it that way. Take, for example, the gift-wrap. Does anyone actually sell it? Seems to me we all buy a few rolls for ourselves, and maybe check in with our mom to replenish her supply. I hit up the babysitter once. One mom, Chloe bag in hand, told me she refused to buy any, as the practice is “too suburban.” (She lives in Beacon Hill.)At a PTA meeting at my sons’ school this fall, we debated doing away with the stuff. “No,” wailed one frosted-haired mom, “the sale is how my family back in Iowa participates in the school”. (It seems the practice of selling gift-wrap is not only suburban, but mid-western as well.) Another mom, educated at Berkeley and still clad in wooly socks and Birkenstocks, eschewed the all too colorful wrap, bags, and stationery. Her solution was to give the catalog to her daughter’s teacher, telling her to pick whatever she wanted for the classroom, on her. The teacher couldn’t find a thing. A pair of new mothers from Back Bay, decked out in Sevens and pointy-toed boots for their first-ever PTA meeting, bemoaned the lack of guidelines. They wanted to know how much they’re supposed to “sell” (code for “buy”).
As we were about to abolish this age-old practice adopted by just about every school in America, the PTA treasurer, a levelheaded numbers guy in a button-down shirt, cleared his throat. “If I may make a suggestion… Let’s look at our budget to see how much money the sale brings in.” Well, ok, that makes sense. Papers shuffled as we each pull out a copy of the budget. There’s a bit of silence. Seems the sale generates more money than the crafts fair, the bake sale and book sale, put together, Needless to say, we all continue to buy and sell gift wrap.
Details have been altered to protect individuals' identities.
The Excel Chronicles
Can’t Shake That Corporate Feeling
We diligently excelled in high school, enrolled in respectable colleges, to say the least. Pursued our careers, be it in law, finance, business, literary circles or the arts. Turned thirty, married, and finally reproduced. Some of us went back to work, others pulled off part-time positions, and others, for whatever reason, abandoned the civilized workplace to dedicate every fiber of our being to motherhood. I mean, really, can it be any other way when you’re home alone all day with an infant?
You’re engulfed in diapers, breast pumps, red and black toys, and if you’re smart, a bouncy seat and Baby Einstein video. All of sudden, you’re expected to be an expert in pediatric nutrition, children’s literature, suburban real-estate, family travel, automotive safety. You’re smart; you know it. Your degree and subsequent career success prove it. Maybe your bank account too. Then why do you feel so clueless?
How have we been trained to tackle unfamiliar situations? Research. We hit the books, websites, new mom’s groups. How to organize this vast array of new information? In an Excel spreadsheet. Obviously. And how to present it to your partner? In a Power Point presentation. I kid you not. This is how I handled motherhood. (Well, I didn’t have time to put a slide show together, but I organized my thoughts in my head one slide at a time.)
My best spreadsheets tackled the tricky subjects of the four food groups, paraphernalia you need when traveling with Baby, and what to buy when you’re expecting. These spreadsheets made the rounds of major cities via emails, from mom to mom, all of whom found this format to be a perfectly logical way to digest such information.
Hey, we weren’t trained for touchy-feely spit-uppy stuff. We’re cognitive thinkers, and damn it, we’ll make order of this baby stuff
Misplaced Mom now has progressed to creating spreadsheets that inventory her sons’ collection of Thomas the Tank Engine trains.
This piece appeared on 3.09.06 in Beantowners.
Can’t Shake That Corporate Feeling
We diligently excelled in high school, enrolled in respectable colleges, to say the least. Pursued our careers, be it in law, finance, business, literary circles or the arts. Turned thirty, married, and finally reproduced. Some of us went back to work, others pulled off part-time positions, and others, for whatever reason, abandoned the civilized workplace to dedicate every fiber of our being to motherhood. I mean, really, can it be any other way when you’re home alone all day with an infant?
You’re engulfed in diapers, breast pumps, red and black toys, and if you’re smart, a bouncy seat and Baby Einstein video. All of sudden, you’re expected to be an expert in pediatric nutrition, children’s literature, suburban real-estate, family travel, automotive safety. You’re smart; you know it. Your degree and subsequent career success prove it. Maybe your bank account too. Then why do you feel so clueless?
How have we been trained to tackle unfamiliar situations? Research. We hit the books, websites, new mom’s groups. How to organize this vast array of new information? In an Excel spreadsheet. Obviously. And how to present it to your partner? In a Power Point presentation. I kid you not. This is how I handled motherhood. (Well, I didn’t have time to put a slide show together, but I organized my thoughts in my head one slide at a time.)
My best spreadsheets tackled the tricky subjects of the four food groups, paraphernalia you need when traveling with Baby, and what to buy when you’re expecting. These spreadsheets made the rounds of major cities via emails, from mom to mom, all of whom found this format to be a perfectly logical way to digest such information.
Hey, we weren’t trained for touchy-feely spit-uppy stuff. We’re cognitive thinkers, and damn it, we’ll make order of this baby stuff
Misplaced Mom now has progressed to creating spreadsheets that inventory her sons’ collection of Thomas the Tank Engine trains.
This piece appeared on 3.09.06 in Beantowners.
