Fiber Freak

I got my knit on while vacationing. Over 4 days, I made a handbag (out of 100% cream wool), finished a tank for my daughter, started a tank for myself, and finished a two hats using patterns from Itty-Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson, available new on Amazon.com for around $12.

From Itty-Bitty Hats, I knitted the hat on the cover in navy and light blue and the stripey stocking cap on pg. 99 also in navy and light blue cotton, both for co-workers who recently had little boys. The patterns were easy and fast - perfect for a busy mom. The i-cord took forever on the cover hat (for non-knitters, that's the thing that ties at the top). That's my only complaint. I am excited to give these handmade gifts! Check out my Flickr page to see my FOs (Finished Objects) and UFOs (Unfinished Objects).

I also found a couple great knitting podcasts. My top pick is Pixie Purls. The host, Brandy, has a sweet voice and direction in her topics of discussion. She talks about kitting controversies (yes, there is major drama in the industry), her latest projects (she even spins her own yarn (fiber)!), and things she covets (new needles, etc.). I get the sense she has good taste and wouldn't knit something horribly tacky (unfortunately, not everyone in the knitting world has taste, proven by the slew of UGLY patterns out there). Check Pixie Purls out on iTunes. 

Favor to ask of my devoted readers: Please post a comment answering... Do you knit? Do you want to knit? Are you interested in knitting? 

Good Night and Good Tee

I felt so fortunate this week getting to spend some time on Chautauqua Lake with our dearest friends. We boated, swam, water skied, wined and dined to our heart's content. Olivia bonded with her grandparents while hubby and I soaked up the sun... and did a little shopping.

As luck would have it, I hit a sale before leaving for vaca and bought Olivia the Fortune Tee (pictured left). Based on fortune cookies, they feature a snarky quote ("Treats come to those who behave." "Drool is the nectar of knowledge.") and Lucky Numbers. This one and a couple other long-sleeved ditties are on sale for $13, regularly $17. Check out the short-sleeved versions too. 

Fortune Tees come in sizes for every member of the family (even Fido). The line has even expanded to bibs, hats, & burp clothes. Gift sets packaged in Chinese take-out boxes make cute birthday gifts. 

Fortune Tees have major celeb props being included in award show swag bags and featured in magazines such as In Style and on TV shows like Today. Best of all, they are made in the USA and of 100% cotton. 

Technorati

Taking the week off for vaca

I know, a whole week without CMM... How will you survive? 

Fear not, we'll be back armed with new goodies to review. I plan to do lots of shopping while away (I know, big surprise, right?) and will share my finds with you.

Until then, stay cool!

Don't Wine About It

Nothing gets under my skin more than a whinny kid. I say "use your words" about a zillion times a day to Olivia. She knows enough to say, "more please" and "that please." Stop with the high-pitched sass already!

That's where wine comes in... The adult version. 

Seems like we're always on the way to a get together this summer. I'm constantly on the prowl for chic ways to present wine to the hostess. The Winepocket, available at Elsewares, is not a thrifty option, but it is chic.

I love the versatility of this product. The opening expands to fit most wine bottles, and the hole doubles as a handle for carrying. It stores flat so you can reuse or regift easily. Made of grey industrial wool felt from factory excess, the Winepocket is also eco-friendly.

Product retails for $29. Totally worth the price for looking ultra-modern arriving at your next dinner party.

Lions, Tigers and Kittens... Oh My!

Finding bedding for toddlers that isn't syrupy sweet or in-your-face is a challenge. Feel More Human recognized cool moms' desire to decorate their tots bedrooms chic and modern and recently introduced Pixel Organics, a trendy line of sheets and duvet covers. 

Lions, Tigers and Kittens... Oh My (pictured left) is a perfect gender-neutral option. I love the punch of orange on the sheets. They also have gender-specific options. The Supercharged line is so boy and so fun. And Lovelines is feminine yet not cliched.  

Sets include a reversible duvet cover and pillow case. The sheets are sold separately. Products are made out of 100% Certified Organic cotton sateen and printed with  low-impact dyes so moms and their babes can rest easy. 

If You're Happy and You Know it Stamp

Say it with a stamp. I Feel Emotions stamps available on ebeanstock adds some passion (or grumpiness) go kids' art projects. Kids can pick between sad, confused, excited, and more. 

In addition to being a fun art project, the stamps also provide a communication tool between parents or caregivers and their children. Kids can pick the stamp that best represents the emotion they are having and adults can help them understand why we sometime feel that way.

Educational + fun = excellent toy!

Products comes with eight stamps and one ink pad, promised to be a no-mess craft. Recommended for ages 3+ and retails for $15.95.

Tea for Two

My daughter was given this tea set for her birthday from her godfather who resides in Boston. Get it? Boston Tea Party? I thought it was cleaver...

She is obsessed with playing tea party now. She even gets that she has to pretend to sip out of the cups. How does she know that?

The set comes in a sweet green and pink pattern and is complete with four cups, saucers, and plates on a serving trey with matching tea pot. Since Livvy is so young, I took the topper off the tea pot, which is a bit on the small side. The rest of the set is perfectly appropriate for her age. Made of tin, it's extra durable and able to withstand hundreds of tea parties.

If you're looking for a birthday gift for a little girl, you can't go wrong with this tea set. Made by Schylling, the set is available to order online for $16.99. 

Wet Happened?

No one likes moldy smelling clothes. Yuck. Don't you wish there was some way to contain damp, smelly clothing in your baby's diaper bag? Now there is.

Wet Happened offers zippered bags for cool moms on the go. Perfect for swim suites, blow outs, spills... it contains the mess so the rest of the diaper bag contents aren't "contaminated" by stinky, dirty clothes. 

The bags come in two sizes, medium (11x14) and large (14x17). The medium size holds 3-5 diapers and large 6-8 diapers to give an idea of the size. The exterior is made of cotton fabric in adorable prints. Sewn separately from the exterior, the interior is made of Polyurethane Laminate. The double-sewn feature keeps it from wicking. How smart!

Created by a cool midwest mom from Grand Rapids, MI, Wet Happened is the product of Jamie Bird looking for a way to be a stay-at-home mom when her son was born. She has other products available at Mini Me. Wet Happened bags are available for $17.95 and $21.95. Every cool mom needs this product!

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream... Tees!

Hot July nights beg for cold, creamy ice cream, a traditional summer treat for our family (except when mom is trying to lose weight for vacation!). 

So, when you're restricting yourself from ice cream (or from seconds), do the next best thing and dress your kid in it. 

Check out this adorable tee from Pumpkin Head Clothes. The fabrics used to make the dripping ice cream cone are full of color and texture. I especially love the nod to sprinkles. Genius. 

The tees come in sizes 12m to 4T for $18. Better buy it before it melts! as the designer says.

Pumpkin Head Clothes also carries fantastic minky bibs and burpies, perfect for baby shower gifts. 

Happy Independence Day!

We're making today's blog a short one, being the 4th of July holiday. Check out these political tees and snapsuites from Wry Baby, perfect for the presidential election season. 

Gone Campin'

I'm a city girl through and through. My Midwest roots might cause people not from 'round these parts to think I am all outdoorsy, farm girl. So not the case. My idea of camping involves a hike on a well groomed trail (that has restrooms with flushing toilets along the way) and a deluxe camper with all the amenidies of home.

Even if you won't catch me roughing it any time soon, my husband insists on giving Olivia opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Fine. If we have to, then we'll do it in style.

I absolutely must have Oliver the Owl Kids Camping Sleeping Bag Set for Livvy. 

The design is on trend to a T. Owls are so right now. The sleeping bag rolls up and stores neatly in a coordinating tote. It also comes with a flashlight and matching metal water bottle. How fun? Available at Peanut Gallery Gifts for sale price of $26.99, snap this one up before it's too late. Happy camping!

All Aboard ABCs

Animals, ABCs and things that go. Three things that kids love. Now all three things are in a super-cute toy called Push and Learn Alphabet Bus. 

Kids three+ will kill hours playing with this brightly painted wooden toy. Kids will learn their ABCs and animals while improving their hand-eye coordination skills fitting the animal pieces into their "seats" on the bus. Each animal features the name and letter to reinforce the educational aspect - L is for Lion, etc.

Available at Baby Style for $36.

Next, please!

Since you're reading this, you read blogs. Chances are you're on the up-and-up when it comes to what's hot online. So, this may be old news, but I have to give a shout out to This Next. I am addicted to this site, much like I am addicted to Etsy. There's always something new and different.

The premise of This Next is to rave about products yourself or see what others are raving about. Shopable by category, the site tells visitors where to buy the product, lets them recommend the product, and allows them to add it to their wish list to purchase another day.

Visitors choose their level of interaction. They can window shop, comment on others' recommendations, shop others recommendations, or post their own products. It's a fantastic way to find out if something you're thinking of buying is liked (or disliked) by other consumers. 

This Next posters tend to find indie products, which CMM loves that, in almost every category imaginable. Here's the link to kids. Try it out. But be careful; you might get hooked like I am!