the hippest kid

Lavera Colored Sunspray

As I posted yesterday, I've been like a rabid squirrel combing the 'net for sunburn prevention acorns.

I was thrilled to dig up this totally cool SPF 25 sunscreen by Lavera that is not only certified organic (bonus!) but is tinted green with chlorophyll. This allows you to see where you've applied the lotion and it fades after a couple minutes.

I was so impressed by this product that I took a minute to learn more about Lavera. In an era of corporate corruption, it was such a treat to find a company with a conviction to truth. Protecting baby butts everywhere and restoring my faith in mankind!

Rock on Lavera!

Available at Saffron Rouge.

UV Flap Hats at UV Sungear

As a fair-skinned Irish gal, I worry mightily that I may have passed my Caspar the Friendly ghost complexion to Jude. It's hard to tell whether he will tan or not because I pretty much cloaked in him sunscreen and head-to-toe swimwear last summer.

But now that he is two, I'm having a hard time getting him to sit still for the laying on of sunscreen ritual I used to perform religiously.

I've basically resigned myself to slapping a bucket hat on his little head everytime he runs outside. So, in that spirit, I've just started to look for a flap hat with UV proof fabric. I found these bright little gems while scouting around and loved their cheerful look.

I'd be interested to hear what others have found out there, as I'm in the market for a few others. Please leave me a note if you find any other fun styles or have any good sun protection tips.

Flap hats available at UV Sungear.

Wind-Up Squirrel by Schylling

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE squirrels. My dogs LOVE squirrels too, though I'm pretty sure they LOVE them for entirely different reasons than I do.

Reader, you may wonder: Is she buying this toy for Jude or herself in an effort to work through some latent childhood slight?

Perhaps the latter, but how about the simple fact that this crazy animal shakes his fluffy groove thing with abandon when you turn the key? Man, what's not to love about that?

Available at the Christmas Dove.

A9 Compact by Automoblox

It is a constant challenge to find craftsmanship and educational value in today's toy industry. The vast majority of toys today fall into the plastic, disposable realm.

I get the sense that my child's imagination is being sucked right out of his head upon contact with those soulless petrochemical products.

However, I recently stumbled upon Automoblox. These super-cool toys are a combination car and building block. Real wood too! There are several models to choose from and they are all interchangable.

It's German engineering and quality for the pre-school set. No batteries required.

Available at Automoblox.

Wine Barrel Rocker Pirate Ship

I taught Jude to say "The pirate goes 'ARGHH!'" a couple months ago. Don't you know that talking like a pirate can be a valuable life-skill in case your cruise ship gets overrun by marauders?

An awesome pirate ship like this could further develop Jude's pirate negotiation abilities. Made from recycled wine barrels, it has a whimsical cartoony design sense I adore.

The only thing missing is the Jolly Roger... Ahoy mateys!

Available at Daniels Wood Land.

Toile Sleep Set at This Little Piggy

---QUICK PICK---

I found this adorable rooster toile printed ensemble while looking for a shower gift.

Available at This Little Piggy.

Ear Warmers by Knittle

I know we are heading into the warmer months of the year here in the U.S., but I couldn't resist sharing this find because it is listed as a limited edition. I wasn't sure if these would still be around come Fall.

These delightful ear warmers are handmade by an artist in California. They come in a variety of styles, like kitten and teddy, but the monster version is my fave. They are very "Where the Wild Things Are", a quality that is highly admired in our household.

Available at Knittle.

Giordani Bambino Carriage

-- Via Boing Boing --

This retro 1950's carriage has that whole "Jetsons" thing going on. This one-of-a-kind beauty comes with a $2,800 price tag. A little too rich for my blood, but boy, it sure makes my blog look pretty, doesn't it?

AVailable at Cincinnati Modern.

Julius Rain Boots by Paul Frank

--QUICK PICK--

While I'm on the monkey kick, thought I'd share these sweet as pie rain boots.

Available at Childhood Bliss.

Rugby Stripes Quilt by Denyse Schmidt

I come from a family of quilters. I didn't inherit the talent, but I have an unbelievable respect for the craftsmanship and time that goes into a quilted piece.

I still wonder how the hell the women of yore were able to make these things in their spare time. What spare time? Man, after cleaning the house (with no Swiffers... gah!), cooking everything from scratch, washing and making clothes by hand AND canning, I'd just want to sleep, not poke myself with needles for relaxation.

So what's a modern sewing-averse, quilt-loving gal to do? Why, Denyse Schimdt to the rescue!

Her offbeat vision can be found in a line of quilts for kids and adults. Not only is she a domestic goddess, anyone that creates a quilt called "Drunk Love in a Log Cabin" is a rockstar in my book.

These future heirlooms aren't cheap, but neither is blood, sweat and tears, which is what I would shed if I had to make one myself!

Collections available at Denyse Schmidt Quilts.
Rugby Stripes from the more affordable "Works Collection" is shown below.