Dresser De-stresser

While this really only works for very modern homes and families, there's no denying any ol' child would love to get busy sorting laundry with one of these! Pre-school classrooms have long been using a method of photo recognition, and more specifically "shadow labeling" i.e. icons,  for clean-up time and organizational purposes. Young children seem to learn at a heightened level via visual processing. Coined the Training Dresser by designer Peter Bristol, this locally crafted wooden wonder has me wanting!

(Long) Weekend Round-up!

Hope you all had a fabulous extended weekend and squeezed out the very last essential drops of summertime - just enough to get you through the year! :)

Labor Day always brings about mixed-emotional nostalgia for me. Sad to see summer go and just-happy-enough to head on straight into autumn. And with the Jewish month heralding a bitter-sweet end to the past 12 months and a brand spankin' new year just around the corner... the seasons turn and I'm ready - bring it!

Anyways, while I devise a plan to enhance my new year and create some tangible resolutions, here are a few things I've been meaning to share with you:

- dinosaur trend; an adorably edgy DIY for your tresses.

- the world via Suri Cruz (been laughing at this all weekend)!! 

- cutest-ever lunch labels (PDF) to spice up the brown bag!

- most perfect polish for fall.

- we're currently loving the Green Album!

- most gorgeous 4 piece crib set - still at a measly $71 (!!) someone grab this!

- simple dinner deliciousness!

Hope you're weekend was just lovely!! And best of luck in returning to the trenches....! :)

(P.S. Malibu beach, baby.)

Popsicle Memories

Happened upon a lovely little DIY game from eat, drink, chic that makes for the most perfect ode to a summer's end. The classic memory matching game gets a cooler twist with popsicle prints and sticks.

You can click here to download the fabulous PDF. If you're like me and out of colored ink or too lazy to stop into a print shop, all you really need is some popsicle sticks, glue, card-stock, and printed papers. I cut out some popsicle shapes from green card stock (they were actually paint chip samples :) and printed papers, glued them to mini popsicle sticks and in about 10 minutes flat had a brand new super-cute game to play with my littlest girlfriend. Plus, they doubled up as play food, and I'm pretty glad - these simple little cutouts kept her happily busy all morning long! Perfect way to spend a Labor Day afternoon-ing; a delightful game to bid adieu to summer treats and summer feats...

Heart Felt + Aleph Beis

This jar of little felt hearts has been circulating all abouts the web this week, and I've simply fallen in fuzzy little love. One super-cool mom created these warm little lovies to slip into her children's pockets on their fist day of school - so they can literally feel a bit of love and comfort throughout their first day away. How sweet?? You can view her tutorial here. (Also, I think if these were cut out quite a bit larger, this would make a wonderful "plastic needle" project to do with little girls!)

Seeing these little guys brought back something I viewed some time ago on Etsy: A set of Little Felted Aleph-beis! I think this is such a fantastic, tangible, and tactile way to teach early literacy and hebrew familiarity to little children. Wishlisted! :)

(P.S. It's not even fall yet and I'm already on a wool and felt trip...!)

Tap in: Filter Out

Here's one of the most efficient ways to nix the cases of bottled water. Especially when it comes to all those kid's daily packed luches. Try Bobble. A reusable sport-spout water bottle with a built in filter. Fresh, clean water is now just a tap away!

Available in a variety of sizes, Bobbles are great for moms to stash their H20 fix in their diaper bags, dad's to keep a few on hand in their office, an attractive accessory for a high school locker (and a surefire way to reduce their weekly coffee shop bill!), a grade-schooler's lunchbox, and the tiniest size is easy enough for a pre-schooler to grasp and the spout delivers an steady, but spill less flow.

I'm totally going to upgrade to a water bobble, and start tapping into my free, safe, and ever-flowing tap water.