Paperless Post

Looking to create a cute invitation and keep it green at the same time? PaperlessPost.com takes it one step beyond evite for gorgeous email invitations that are easy to create and spectacular to send. You get your first set of coins and stamps to send for free and after that it is $4.00 on average for every 20 invitations--- and trust me its worth it! Easy to create and creative to send, this site takes email invitations to a new level.

Don't Get Burned!

Whether headed off to a winter vacation or just dreaming of summer fun, you have to consider these UV bracelets to help keep you or your hip hooligans from roasting in the sun. Made to remind you when it is time to get out of the sun or put on more sunscreen, these UV bracelet are a simple way to keep your family protected. You simply slide the bracelet on and cover it with sunscreen when you are applying it to your kids. As the sunscreen wears off the bracelet changes color and, voila, you know its time for action. You can find these at http://www.leapsandbounds.com/ for $9.95 for a 7 pack.

Watch it

Potty training is tough as it is and add on top of that busy schedules that make time just disappear and before you know it, you have missed the critical window to get your child to the bathroom. In order to help your child become a part of the process and make sure that they make it to the bathroom in regular intervals, there is the Potty Watch. The watch can be set at regular intervals and it alerts your child to see when it is time for a break. The watch runs $10.95 at http://www.onestepahead.com/

Hip and Hilarious

Looking for cool clothes, hats or a shirt that makes a statement? Check out http://www.babywit.com/. They have classic rock shirts, funny prints including "My mama drinks because I cry" and "Mullets Rule" This site also has amazing hats including the fedora posted on the left. The products make a statement without a doubt... and what toddler doesn't need a classic Nirvana shirt?

Bow Wow!

In my girls' room, I have a basket with dozens of bows thrown into them. I often can't find what I am looking for and have to dig around to remember what color bows I have. Thankfully, I stumbled onto this great site where they make bow holders and even customize them for you! At www.iwantedtowonder.com you can find painted bow holders or customize your own. They run from mid $20-$45.00. I love to support small businesses and what a great way to do that and get a wonderful product for you or a gift for someone else. Shipping is free!

Don't Be a Drip

How often has it happened that you open a juice box or bag and it drips out because you or your child is squeezing it? I can't even count how many times this has happened to me. Well, another problem solved by your dutiful blogger ;-). Announcing http://www.squeeze-free.com/ where you can buy the juice box or bag holders that will eliminate spills. They start at $4.29 and get cheaper the more you buy.

Grocery Gourmet

Ever dread the grocery run because you know your child will get antsy in the cart? Check out these grocery cart trays that make it easy to place snacks into. They snap onto the cart and make it easy to fill with snacks. No more dropped snacks or boredom making our lives easier! You can get them at http://www.thesoftlanding.com/ for $6.95.

Gone Too Long!

Sorry for the delay in postings. Illness and a crazy work schedule have kept me away... but I am back and will be posting often! Thanks for reading
Andrea

Monkey Bar Buddies

When little girls get active, its often hard to find bloomers or shorts that fit for an older girl and aren't too bulky. Check out these Monkey bar Buddies at http://www.monkeybarbuddies.com/ or at Target. They come in a multitude of colors for around $16.00. The company also makes leggings and diaper covers for babies.

Smocks

My kids are always heavily into crafts and art and I am always heavily into washing their clothes afterwards. I found these adorable smocks by 3 Sprouts which are eco- friendly and easy to pop on and off. You can find then for around $25.00 on http://www.amazon.com/. Pair them with some crayons or paints for a fabulous gift!

Adventures in Math

Want to further your 1st-4th grader's interest in math and don't know how to engage them with the difficult to master concepts? Author Cindy Newschwander has developed a series of books named the Sir Cumference series. These wonderful books are in the vein of King Arthur but the themes are math and geometry related all designed to make learning math concepts a breeze. You can find them at http://www.amazon.com/

Edible Art

Now is the time for baking and decorating those delicious goodies. And what a better way to have team work in the kitchen than to get your Hip Hooligans to bake with you? Kuhn Rikon makes wonderful decorating tools that are excellent for children to use and helps them exact their art. Check out these fabulous cookie and cupcake decorating sets for $24.00. You can find them that http://www.surletable.com/. Pair it with our favorite cupcake book, "Hello; Cupcake" (http://www.amazon.com/) and you have a fabulous holiday gift!

Tervis Tumblers

This blog-worthy item isn't necessarily only for kids but they sure are a lifesaver when you have them. Tervis Tumblers (http://www.turvistumblers.com/) are double walled plastic cups that keep liquids cold or warm for a long time and then best news is that they don't leave rings on any of your furniture because the cups don't sweat. They can be custom-ordered with hundreds of designs including designs for kids and can come with lids and straws to avoid spills. I LOVE mine and wont drink out of traditional classes anymore. Plus, they come with a warranty that can't be beaten.

Free On the Road Fun

With the holidays quickly approaching, many of us will hit the road for a long car trip. If you are looking for a fun and free way to keep you kids entertained, go no further than http://www.momsminivan.com/. On this site, you can print out fun games like car bingo, tic-tac-toe and a car scavenger hunt... hours worth of enterainment. This site offers a lot of great insight on how to keep your little ones entertained without having them watch hours of videos.

Eco Purse

Many of use who have little girls soon notice their fascination with purses. While trolling around a resale shop, I stumbled across this adorable Eco Snoopers Purse for your little Hip Hooligan. Each character comes with an environmental message/ story and the best thing is that kids can wear them three ways. The strap is adjustable for little shoulders or they can wrap it around their waist or attach it to a belt. I found mine for under $12.00 and they are for sale at http://www.ebay.com/. Don't have a little girl? No worries there are boy characters as well!

Swimming Strides

A friend of mine who taught swimming classes for many years emailed me about http://www.warmbelly.com/. This site sells wetsuits for children that keep them nice and warm while they are learning how to swim. According to my friend, being cold is the #1 reason children have trouble learining to swim. If they cold, they also get distracted. WarmBelly helps avoid the chills it they are swimming in anything colder than 98.6 degrees. Your child will love the suit as it won't interfere with swimming. They come in all sizes and run about $32.00 not including shipping.

Personlized Gifts for Kids

Check out http://www.frecklebox.com/ for a wide array of personalized gifts for kids. Ranging from books to journals, you can find and personalize anything for your child or as a gift. You can even personalize books about becoming an older sibling which can ease the transition of your child into welcoming a new one. Reasonably priced at around $10.00 these books and journals can help engage your kids in reading and coloring. Also, this site offers personalized decor as well.

Fabulous Favors

Having a party and have no idea what to give as a unique party favor? Check out www.beau-coup.com. They specialize in party favors from kids parties to holiday gatherings. I picked out a sample Fall party favor ($3.95 each) that you can personlize with any name including your Hip Hooligan's. Take time to check out some of their other ideas. I especially loved the mini gum ball machines for a child's party.

Rain, Rain Come and Stay

The season's have changed and they are predicting a lot of rain this Fall. Why not adapt your little fashionista to the El Nino? Check out these cool rain boots by http://www.chooka.com/. They are a little pricier but if you are looking for something different and hip when it comes to rain fashion, this site has it for you.

Snap Caps

For the last few months, I have been following the buzz of Snap Cap necklaces around our city. Made by two young Dallas sisters, Snap Caps are bottle cap designed in hundreds different colors, patterns and sayings that snap onto a necklace with a magnet. They are interchangeable and girls can swap them with friends or just based on their mood. I purchased one a few weeks ago for my daughter and special-ordered a Snap Cap with my daughter's school logo. They go for a little under $15.00 and if you go to the website you can find out where to purchase in your city. (http://www.m3girldesigns.com/). If you don't live near a city, just contact the designers via the website and you are on your way!

Personalize It

I am one of those people who are naturally drawn to anything I can personalize, so imagine when I came across http://www.fontianemaury.com/. They have a wonderful assortment of unique personalized items inlcuding water bottles and plates! I love the plates because I think they are a great idea for parties or other gatherings. They are also BPA free, so your mind can rest at ease. They range from around $23.00 a piece and are great gifts!

Sight Word Success

Once your kids hit grade school, they need to learn site words . Fry's site words are the group of words most found in the English language. Once your child masters these, reading is much easier. I found this game that makes learning Fry's sight words easy and fun. You can find it for $14.95 from http://www.fishforwords.com/. What a great way to make your child a successful reader.

Coordinating Fun

I saw my daughter using this puzzle at school and though it was ingenious. Children pull the magnetic beads along the maze with a magnetic stick to the coordinating animals belly- yellow beads go into the yellow animal. Not only does it teach them about sorting and colors but also hand eye coordination as they have to focus to move the beads along. You can find it at http://www.outofthetoybox.com/ for only $14.99

Birthday Memories

For a recent birthday, I bought one of my favorite little boys this Birthday Book from http://www.chasing-fireflies.com/. It is extra special becuase it logs memories from each birthday up until the age of 18. You log favorite things of the year, nicknames and other musings. What a great keep-sake and at only $20.00 it is a gift that will continue giving year after year.

Locker Chic

When our Kindergartner moved into First Grade, she had her own locker for the first time. As a nice surprise we bought her this locker mirror and shelf from http://www.potterybarnteen.com/ for $19.99- and they come in boy and girl patterns. Although you may think that Pottery Barn Teen is only for older children they have a lot of great school accessories for your school aged children. Check it out.

Publish Your Own Book

Titatok.com is a neat site that I stumbled across while looking for a cool party favor for my child's upcoming party. On this site, children can write their own books including illustrations and have a softcopy printed for $10.00 and hardcopies for $20.00. They can also upload their books and have them posted or other people can order copies (don't worry, on the site children are not allowed to use names, only nicknames are attributed to them unless parents purchase the books themselves). What a creative gift to give your child! As for us, my daughter is going to write a book and we are going to order copies to give to her friends as party favors for her sleep over party- each girl will be a character in the book.

Kindergarten Prep

Its Fall and time to drop off those little ones for their first day of school.... Along with the anxiety of having them in a new enviroment is wondering if they are ready for Kindergarten. Let's Tackle Kindergarten is a wonderful way for you to begin Kindergarten prep or work with them after school. The kit comes with many tactile toys that help them learn and a scorecard to keep you on track. You can find it at http://www.learningresources.com/ for $44.99. Its also a great way to start prep for your kids who will begin school next year.

Lunch Chic

I love the Fuel line of thermoses and containers. They come in a range of sizes including for drinks, food containers and utensils. They are designed to keep foods hot and cold which is a god send for the school year when you are trying to make healthy lunches for your little one. I found mine at my local New Flower Market but you can also find the line at www.chefcentral .com. They are also reasonably priced under $10.00.

Come Fly With Me

When you are traveling with an infant lap child it's hard not to wonder about their safety if something were to happen or if you hit turbulence. B'Air Flight Vest® is a great way to ensure the safety of your infant without constraining them so much that they are uncomfortable. The vest attaches you to your baby by strapping it to your lap belt. You can find this product for $29.95 at www.familytravelgear.com

Back to School Gifts

Germany has a sweet tradition to celebrate a child's first day of school. Parents give their child a Schultüte, a giant paper cone filled with school supplies and small gifts-- and http://www.chasing-fireflies.com/ has reinvented that sweet tradition with these wonderful back to school cones. This is a sweet gift to give your child on that first day, which can be so nerve-wracking. They cost $65.00 and come in boy or girl colors.

Ride in Style

We are struggling with teaching our six year old how to ride a bike without training wheels. I wish I would have known about the strider bike a few years ago! This neat bike allows children to learn to ride initially by using their feet and then coasting on two wheels, when they get uncomfortable, they just put their feet down for balance. Eventually, they learn to ride on just two wheels. The great thing is that you can ride on any surface and they come in many colors! Made for ages 2-5, this is a definite win. You can find them at http://www.theportablebaby.com/ and they are priced around $95.00.

Clothing Marker

Summer is disssapearing and it is time for school once again. Last year at this time, I blogged about labels and this year I found another great way to mark your kids clothes. Check out this clothing marker from http://www.personalcreations.com/. It's a stamp that marks your clothes and the insignia wont wash or fall off. It cost 19.95

Polka Dot Designs

Last year for my daughter's birthday, I was in a bind. Work was hectic and there was no way I could drag myself to the invitation shop to order her party invites... lo and behold that is when I stumbled upon http://www.polkadotdesigns.com/. The invitation selections are outstanding (as is the stationary) PLUS, I saved on time and gas (totally eco friendly). Check them out, you wont be disappointed. And for those of you who like to procrastinate, they have super express service available.

Car Seat Covers

So, I had never purchased a car seat cover becuase I always felt they were more decorative than useful, until my hip hooligan got very sick in her seat. We tried to pull apart the seat to wash it but after frustrating hours, we never we able to get it disassembled. A that point, I heavily regretted no car seat cover. We ended up buying a new car seat altogether. And on top of that, I had just met the owner of Tatr Tots on a flight who had just told me about her company and great car seat covers. I took all of this as a sign from above- its time for a blog post. Anyhow, to save you buying a second car seat, check out http://www.tatrtots.com/ and look at the beautiful car seat covers. They run around $96.00-11.00 for infant or toddler seat covers and trust me, its worth it!

Color Your Bath

Having trouble getting your hip hooligans into the water for bath time? Well, Tinti helps you solve that by making bath time fun with tinted water! Tinti has created natural bath tablets without residue that will change your bathwater into several colors and make it fun and inviting for your little one. You can get these tablets from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ for under $5.00 for a pack of three. For more Tinti products, visit http://www.tinti.co.uk/.

The Nap Nanny...

I came across this innovative product for babies and wish I would have known about it when I had an infant. The Nap Nanny elevates your little one 30 degrees as most doctors recommend for babies with reflux, congestion and other health issues. When my son was young, we elevated one end of his mattress and he always just ended up just rolling down the crib, never staying elevated for any length of time. This product is a wonderful alternative that keeps the baby elevated and safely in place while sleeping. The product is available in many colors and can be ordered at http://www.napnanny.com/ $130

The Perfect Combination

Indulge in the confort food you and your hip hooligans crave! Oven and microwave safe, this soup and sandwich ceramic tray duo is perfect for lunch service at home. Everyone enjoys cute dishes and serving trays...$30 for 2 trays and 2 bowls at www.uncommongoods.com

Manners Matter

Learning manners is so much fun if you learn with little piggies! Good Manners Flash Cards teachs your child the right thing to do and what to say uisng a funny pig family. The fun deck presents a situation on one side and the correct response on the other. How cute is that? Also check out Good Citizenship and Respect the Earth flash cards...too cute! Just under $12.00 at www.barnesandnoble.com

The Mod Potty

Check out this up-to-date potty chair that makes potty training easy. The chair's contemporary design of this potty makes it a potty chair you won't be ashamed of. This potty chair has an angled seat to catch any overspill, a built in toilet roll holder, enclosed side storage spaces for storing wipes and other supplies, a pull-out potty drawer for easy, sanitary clean-up and best of all you close the lid and it becomes a great stool for reaching the sink to wash little hands or a bench for when you are bathing your hip hooligan. You can find it at http://www.pottytrainingsolutions.com/ for $29.99.

Travel in Style

I bought my girls some Sigikid suitcases and I could be more happy. They are made of very high quality durable nylon and have adorable prints for both boys and girls. We have the smaller roller bags and because we travel so much, we wanted something that would last. You can find big and small suitcases and cases at http://www.moolka.com/. The larger case shown to the side ranges from $148.00 but you can downsize and spend less. The other great thing about Moolka is that each time I have ordered from there it arrives so fast, you think they hand delivered it to your door.

Home Made Food

Looking to make home-made food for your little one but want to make more than one serving at a time? Check out Beabe Babycook Mulit-Portions which you can find at http://www.bloommaternity.com/ for $19.95. This way, you can make a batch of fresh foods, freeze it and have many portions of fresh foods for days to come.

Daycare Days...

This darling notepad can keep you informed about your childs day while your out taking care of business. Daycare Notes for Toddlers and Daycare Notes for Baby will keep you informed about eating, sleeping, fun activities and everything else you should know while your away. I found these at http://www.uncommongoods.com/ and the notepads come with 50 pages for only $8.00

Sorry for the Inconvenience!

Sorry for the lack of postings recently, we have had issues accessing Hip Hooligan's to post. We hope to resolve this issue soon!

--Kate and Andrea

Two in One

Potty training is tough by any one's standards, and then you have to decide what kind of potty training seat or chair you are going to use. I saw this seat at a friend's house and loved it because it meant that you didn't need a special contraption you needed to place on the seat or a separate chair. I also liked the fact that it hides quickly and easily. You can find these at http://www.target.com/ for $29.99.

Easy as ABC

Every fridge in America with small children has ABC magnets stuck to it at one point or another and kids love them. How about updating the look of your ABCs with these new magnets from http://www.rompstore.com/ They go for $35.00 and come with their own storage tube. Great for you or as a gift

Crayon Roll

I checked out http://www.etsy.com/ and came across these adorable crayon rolls by RetroRugRats. For $19.00 you get an adorable handcrafted crayon roll that is personalized. You can chose from several designs and embroidered fonts. The best thing, is that they come wrapped in a cute package filled with your choice or regular or jumbo crayons.

We Will Rock You

Crayon's are a favorite among all kids, so why not purchase some that are out of the box, some that truly rock? These crayon rocks can be found at www.rompstore .com and are $8.00 for a box of 16. What better way to get your Hip Hooligan outside to enjoy Summer weather?

Trash Free

I try to wash my car once a week and clean out the inside, but after a week of hauling little ones all over, by the time I clean the car, it is covered with papers ranging from snack wrappers to school daily reports. I saw these car trash bags at http://www.etsy.com/ (under auto trash/ Alison Hill) and thought that they were a cute and stylish way to keep trash out of your car. They are $19.00 and fit a trash bag inside.

Teacher's Gifts

So, every year when it comes to giving our teachers gifts, I blank out and have no idea what to do. Well, this year I have found that http://www.etsy.com/ has categorized gifts for teachers! Etsy, is a web site made for people who hand make or have vintage items to sell (I have posted about it before). I was surprised to see when I checked it out again a category specifically for teacher's gifts. Finally, a place where you can find unique and one of a kind gifts for the people who mean the most to you.

The Gift of Learning

When our daughter was three, we started working on the Gifted and Talented workbooks by Susan Amerikaner with her simply because we liked how they made her use her imagination vs. some of the other workbooks that simply teach reading or math. These books made her think outside of the box and truly helped her once she entered kindergarten. Plus, she thought they were a blastI belive these books are for every child, not just those learing beyond their grade level. ! You can find them anywhere on the web including Amazon.

Eggcellent for You Baby's Health

Its truly amazing how many items have been invented in the past few years for babies and children. Check out this "Egg" which takes moisture out of the air to help those with allergies to mold and mildew. It actually dehumidifies the air and notifies you when it is full. You can just pop it in the microwave for a few minutes and empty it of moisture and start again.

Under Lock & Key...

When it comes to "childproofing" I automatically think of having to drill through beautiful wood cabinets & big plastic devices hanging from kitchen drawers. What I recently found, (actually my husband found) was the only no-drill magnetic cabinet locks. They are self-adhesive and invisable from the outside of doors and drawers. $19.95 includes 2 locks, key & key holder. We have them in our house and I love them!