Be Safe for Halloween

For the past few years we have been going trick or treating with the same friends. Little L goes over to there house every weekend to play so I wanted to buy them a little something for the Halloween party. For the past couple of weeks I have had this in the back of my mind but haven't come up with just the right thing. Today I remembered the guest blogger I had a while back - Elisabeth - and their wonderful "funflectors". A little more than I was thinking about spending, but still cheap and well worth every penny.

Other than being incredibly practical, the kids will hopefully think these are a lot of fun. They have some great Halloween reflectors.

The perfect daycare/pre-school

When I wen't back to work we struggled a bit about where to send the kids to daycare/pre-school. We were not crazy about Little L's old place and had a hard time finding a good place that was close. There are still thinks that I don't love about the place we picked, but we do like it better than the place we used before. Other than a good educational program there are a few little things I was looking for when picking a new place.

• No TV - they get enough when we try to get things done around the house
• Daily reporting sheets - so I know what's going on when someone else is picking them up
• Play outside daily - rain or shine kids need to play outdoor
• Friendly personnel - so that you can ask questions without being annoyed
• Teacher tenure - so that they know what to do and we know they will stick around for a while
• No shoes - to keep floors clean, especially since they should play outside every day (probably difficult to find in the US so it does not really count)
• Good healthy foods and snacks - that's what she gets at home - no pizza every Friday and silly things like that

For some reason I was not able to find all these at the same place.

Mushroom Hunting

My parents went mushroom picking the other day. That’s something you don’t really do in the US. I guess I could be wrong, but in the 12 years I have lived here I have never hear of anyone going mushroom picking. When you go mushroom picking you go out in the wild forest to pick mushroom that are usually used for eating. I have to add it to my list of things the girls have to try when they visit Sweden. I kind of like mushroom picking. It is usually quiet and relaxing and I love the smell of the forest. You have to bring your mushroom book, so you don’t end up with some poisonous mushrooms that will make you sick and always take a second look at what you picked when you get home. It’s a special day if you find some yummy Chanterelle mushrooms, it’s a bad thing to eat the iconic Toadstools (fly agaric).

I love cooking with mushrooms, or rather eating the final product.  In fact I think I just talked myself in to going to the store and pick some up. The selection is of course not as good in the store and the Chanterelles are really expensive.

We have a cute little back onsie for Baby L with mushrooms on, and I found this fun mushroom butt onsie by googoo&gaga.

My girl is proud of me

Little L started pre-school this fall. We got he in to s really good pre-school because we (or my in-laws) know the right people. It is a bit of a drive to get there for us. School is from 9am-noon and then they have extended day programs. I drop her of before 8am so that I can be at work at a decent time. Grandma has to pick her up.

This Friday the in-laws were on vacation so I left work early to go pick her up. She got so excited when I got there and started showing me of. She was telling everyone - both kids and teachers - that's my mamma. One of the teachers wasn't paying attention so she kept saying it until she looked up. It was so cute.

I pick her up and drop her off every day she's at daycare and she never shows me of like that.

Learn more about me

I recently did an interview with Danish Mama. Check it out here and learn more bout the writer - Kathy - who write a blog for moms raising a family, running a business and connecting with Scandinavian roots. (Have I mentioned I'm half Danish?)

Marimekko for Target?

All the hype about Missoni for Target got me thinking about all the great collaborations I have seen in the past couple of years. Dr Seuss and Converse, Liberty of London for Target, Liberty of London and Nike, Dwell Studio for Target and Marimekko and Converse.

What I would really like to see is Marimekko and Target! I would fill my home with all the pretty things I can imagine would come out of such a collaboration, not to mention baby clothing and clothes for myself.

Dr. Seuss and Converse

Liberty of London for Target

Liberty of London and Nike

Dwell Studio for Target

Marimekko and Converse

Cooking with your kids and Nordic Ware

Nordic Ware is not actually Nordic, but made in America. It was founded in Minnesota and the original products were some very Scandinavian products: Rosette Iron (cookie like deep fried pastries), Ebleskiver Pan (sphere pancakes - I call them Danish pancakes) and Krumkake Iron (Norweigan waffle cookie).


I was shopping at Target yesterday when I came across some Nordic Ware Ebleskiver pans. Do Americans even know what they are used for? I hope some a curious enough to purchase a pan and made some of these yummy pancakes. I already have a pan, but purchased a cook book with Ebleskiver recipes and more.


I also came across some Nordic Ware baking sets for kids that were on sale. Little L is starting to really want to see what I do in the kitchen so I have been trying to give her little tasks that she can handle to help out. That way I am left alone so I can cook, but also spending time with my little girl. More importantly she feels like she gets to spend time with mamma. I thought the kids baking set would be a great addition to our kitchen for the future, especially with the holidays coming up. Maybe we will make some Ebleskivers this week so she can use her new kitchen tools. My mom was always very handy in the kitchen so I would love for Little L to learn how to cook.

Stuff & Things

I found these Pac-man inspired Ghost lamps via Design milk a while back and think they are totally awesome.

With all the rain we have had the past few days, this umbrella that changes in the rain would be a great addition to your outdoor gear.

I love wooden toys, and all the toys in this collection by ebabee likes are simple and beutiful.

If your kiddo is a Lego fan - maybe he/she could use one of these to save up money for more.

Little L is past the cradle stage, but I still like looking at cool designs. These two cradles I found at inhabitots and handmade charlotte are very creative.

Polarn O Pyret Holiday Preview

Polarn O Pyret has some amazing stuff coming up in their holiday collection for both boys and girls - big and small. 

The popular Swedish brand has only been on the American market for a little over 2 years and now has two new stores in Manhattan. One at 200 Chambers Street in TriBeCa and another at 428 Columbus Avenue near Central Park. Sometimes I wish I lived closer so that I can have Little L try on some things before we purchase. We are lucky enugh that if it's too small Baby L can use it and if it;'s too big (and the sizes do run a little big) they will both grow in to it eventually (their return policy on online purchases is pretty good too).

Please note that they don't always get all of  the items in the US store and their holiday stuff will not be up in the stores for a few more weeks.

Fall Giveaway Festival

Welcome to the Fall Giveaway Festival sponsored by RetailMeNot!

This is a multi-blog event features 100+ giveaways each at $25 value or more plus an iPad2 giveaway.

RetailMeNot has every online coupon and promo code you could ever hope to find—all in one place. With the help of a dedicated community, RetailMeNot thrives as a money-saving mecca free of full-priced foes. With more than 1,000,000 coupons from over 100,000 stores, RetailMeNot is your go-to site when you want to grab the goods to create a one-of-a-kind Halloween costume, lock down the biggest savings on Black Friday and Cyber Monday or surf the Web for financial finds.

RetailMeNot is giving away an iPad2 to one lucky person! Visit Sassy Mama in LA, Simply Stacie, Makobi Scribe and Matter of Cents to enter the giveaway. You can enter on each site and earn multiple entries in the giveaway or enter on just one- it's up to you! Good luck!

For this Fall Giveaway Festival I am giving out a $25 gift certificate to Polarn O Pyret. Polarn O Pyret is one of my absolute favorite clothing stores for kids. I mention them a lot in my blog and I often dress both of my girls in their clothes. They have high quality and durable designs that lasts for a long time. Their clothes can be handed down for generations to come, in fact my mom had saved a dress that I has as a one year old Little L wore.


Polarn O Pyret carry sizes from newborn to 11 years old, plus some maternity and adult items. They are often mentioned on top mom blogs.

You have 5 ways of entering my giveaway and you can tweet about this giveaway daily for even more entries.  The giveaway ends on September 30th, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST.

Please check out all of the blogs in the giveaway and enter each one!!!!!!

IKEA Catalog 2012 is here

I got mine a couple of weeks ago but have been so busy I did not have a chance to look at it until now. You can order your paper version here or look at it online here. I love to spend some time just looking, even if we don't need anything.

Here are a few of my favorites from the kids section:

This green crib would have looked great in Baby L's yellow, white an green nursery. But the white one we have is not bad.

These air filled animals have gotten so much use in our home. We have a bunny and a dog from many years ago (before kids) that are loved by kids of all ages. Little L's best friends run to go get them out of her room as soon as they come over for a visit and they are 5 and 7.

I am not much for dolls, but actually kind of like these stuffed dolls and for $9.99 you can get one of each.

A twist on My Little Pony

I found these via Design Milk. I grew up in the My Little pony era and loved playing with them. I think my parents has most of it left for Little L and Baby L to play with the next time we come for a visit. I even had some little castle that I was so proud of. Of course I have already purchased a couple of ponies for Little L to play with now.

A Finish designer - Mari Kasurinen - has created these My Little Pop Icons:

Polarn O Pyret Outerwear discussion @ threadUP

Polarn O. Pyret has teamed up with threadUP for a Facebook discussion about outerwear and how to dress kids for outdoor play. The event takes place tomorrow Tuesday the13th. I don't know about you but I am always concerned about what I should invest in and what not to get. Now is the best time to get your outerwear for the cold season so I hope you join the chat.

Details:

Date: September 13th

Time: 8 p.m. EST

Place: ThredUp Facebook page

Prize: There will be a $25 gift certificate given away at the end of the chat

Host: Jamey Teller of Polarn O. Pyret

Sockerbit Online Store

This picture just makes me drool....

Sockerbit has been all over the web (at least where I go) since they opened, and now you can order their sweet and Swedish candy online as well. A "sockerbit" is a sugar cube, something I haven't really seen in the US. But I haven't really looked for it. Sugar cubes are cubes of sugar (duh) that Swedes use for their coffee or tea. The idea is that you know exactly how much to use for your cup of coffee. I remember my grandfather used one and a half cube and then he would give the other half to the dog.

Sockerbit's candy is made of high quality ingredients and free of trans fats, colors from nature and free of genetically modified ingredients. I have written about Candy from Sweden before, but now we have an option here in the US.

Mina Shoes - Comfortable and Pretty

Linda Gullberg has designed shoes for many years with big Swedish names like h&M and Boomerang. Now she has created a brand new line for kids - Mina Shoes. Simple flats with beautiful details that will make every little girl feel beautiful.

After Linda had her daughter she thought it would be fun to create a kids line. The line of shoes is both playful and pretty and are designed to be both comfortable and well designed. They have beautiful details like the strawberries and cats below.

I have found it difficult to find shoes for my Little L that are both comfortable - so that I want her to wear them - and pretty - so that she wants to wear them. She is only 2 but is already a little fashionista. That was Linda's focus with the shoes - both comfort and looks. Maybe they will show up in some US retailers for the upcoming Summer.

Updated 9/8/11

There were some new fabulous pictures on the website of these shoes today so I wanted to share those as well. Mina means mine in Swedish.