MumsTheWurdUnique finds for hip parents and cool kids

And that would mean, we’ve started making our lists, and checking them twice…What do you want for Christmas?  How about your little ones or your baby?  Not sure?  Why make it too hard on yourself?  We know you’re busy!  Here’s a few ideas to help you out.  Everything on this list has withstood the test of all the members of my family, and they all get the Noel & Lennon, Elliott & Laura Seal of Approval-ENJOY!*

Unique Boutiques!

Munchkin Designs

Munchkin Designs offers paper goods & gifts.  Check the Fabulous Gifts section for a 12 Days of Christmas Celebration!  Get this shirt, or one for the holidays!  Lots more to see at this awesome little boutique!

Bee Simple

Bee Simple has adorable shirts like this cute “Go Green“, not to mention loads of lotions, balms, and chai!  Load up all your favorite people with wonderful, earth-friendly, hand-made products from Bee Simple!

 Prosh Wear

Need a mommy calling card?  Baby blanket?  Recipe cards?  This unique boutique is every new mom’s one stop shop!

nonny & boo

Our favorite sling store now carries all sorts of fun treats!  Clothes, plushies, and, of course, the amazing slings and wraps.  Check all the awesome eco products too!   Get 15% off + FREE SHIPPING on purchases over $50 with the Coupon Code MUMS from now until Dec. 23, 2008.

Umbrella Shoppe

Is there a collector in your life?  Visit The Umbrella Shoppe to find that Brady Bunch Novella for your quirky aunt!  Want your kid to have that Wonderbug coloring book you used to have?  Chances are, you’ll find it under the umbrella.

Fun & Games (and MAYBE a contest or two)!

eeBoo

eeBoo has some of the most fanciful games and toys I’ve seen.  I just love the style, and we love our robot game!

“eeBoo is about producing beautiful, useful and well-made products for children.

Using only the original art of well-known and well-loved children’s book illustrators we create vibrantly original toys and gifts that hopefully children will affectionately remember.”

WIN IT!  Win a Build A Robot Game for your munchkin!  Enter HERE and tell us your favorite childhood game!  Contest runs through 12/10/08, 10 PM CST.

Briarpatch

Briarpatch has tons of games, puzzles, and card games!  Find something for any age!

Learning Tower

We absolutely love our Learning Tower.  Noel probably uses this every single day.  He enjoys helping with the cooking, and standing in the safe Learning Tower, he is as high up as I am, in a contained, secure way!  It doubles as a playhouse too!  Now, add the latest addition to the Learning Tower-the art easel.  Just look how fun it is!  This magnetized dry-erase/chalkboard is a huge hit!

WIN IT!  Win a Learning Tower & Art Easel!  Enter HERE and tell us how you’d use the Learning Tower!  Contest runs through 12/10/08, 10 PM CST.

Fun for the Whole Fam Damiy:

Nintendo Wii

Let me preface this by saying that I am NOT a video game person.  Pac Man is about as advanced as I get, so the Wii has never intrigued me too much.  That is, until I started hearing about it ad nauseam from everyone on the planet.  I had to see what the fuss was all about…and we’re here to tell you, the Wii is so. much. fun!  The big buzz around the Wii is that it will get you moving, instead of sitting like a slug watching TV or playing video games.  It does!  We love the Sports package that’s included with the system a ton.  Play tennis for 30 minutes, and you’ll wake up sore in the morning!  BUY A Wii!

The other “game” that we have enjoyed is the Wii Fit.  In this, you actually work out-jogging, hula-hoop (my personal fave), snowboarding, yoga, and so much more.  The fit also helps you learn to balance, weighs you, shows you your BMI, weight, etc.  For a “game” the Wii Fit is really amazing!  BUY A Wii FIT!

The littler ones will enjoy playing baseball with Mario Super Sluggers.  This is another great way to keep your kids busy when it’s too cold (or in our case, sometimes, too hot!) to play outside.  BUY MARIO SUPER SLUGGERS! 

EPSON Artisan 800

I’ve never gotten too excited about a printer…until now.  This printer can print coloring pages, scan, improve faded pictures, fax, print better than lab quality photos, and more.  I am honestly amazed at the quality of the photos…see for yourself.  This all-in-one from Epson is it.  For more information about the Artisan 800, please click here.

*Image borrowed from this site!

We have a long standing love affair with Boon.  It started with the Potty Bench and the Frog Pod, but they’ve expanded their line quite extensively since then!  Now they’ve got a sweet little Layette line for the wee ones.  Lennon has this DNA Bodysuit, which was perfect for Summer.  Now that we’re into the colder months, how about a Coverall & Hat set in Pacifier?

You might have noticed on Boon’s website, that they now offer a complete line of ergonomic cups, cutlery, and dishware, ALL of which are BpA, Phthalate, and PVC free.  Does your baby need a place to sit while dining, while using all of this state-of-the-art dishware?  Very soon, you will see my guest post on one of  ZRecommends awesome network of blogs, Polliwogged, discussing our newest love, and excellent addition to the Boon family of products, the Flair Highchair.  I’ll let you know as soon as it’s posted…and until then, help yourself to ALL of Boon’s products!

P.S. This would look pretty great next to the Frog Pod.  Do I need a little girl to go with it though?

Not all genders are created equal when it comes to kids clothes.  I don’t know any actual statistics, but there are far more cool clothes out there for girls than there are boys.  Thank goodness for places like Georgie World that cater to the boys that need cool duds!  The current collection contains items like the unbelievably adorable Holiday Outfit and the super hip Birthday Party Outfit.  Noel, like any good child in our family, is proudly sporting his Tiki Shirt.  Georgie has t-shirts, button downs, pants & trousers, even swimwear you’ll flip over. Shop till you drop for your boys and get the Georgie goodness!

U*neaks are such a cute idea for a kids shoe!  It brings me back to the early days of the 80s, when I wore my Roos, except these are actually cool.  U*Neaks are a simple sneaker, but then you add the darling, dual sided socks, and voila!  They turn into a different pair of shoes with every change of socks!  They are soooooo cute!  

Noel’s little Camel Revs are so adorable, with or without the super cute socks.  Roo’s got a pair too, but she refuses to wear the socks. However, these socks totally liven up the shoe-Change the Sock, Change the Shoe!  Fun, huh?  The socks aren’t dull either-find Skulls & Extreme Sportsfor boys, or Zebras & Leopards for girls.  There are many selections of shoes and socks for both boys and girls.  

Interested in livening up your child’s shoe & sock collection?

Win it!

Enter here and tell us how you enjoy getting exercise with your kids! Winner will be selected randomly, and contacted via email. Contest ends November 3rd at 10pm (CST).

Have you noticed that we have another new Mum?  Jaymi, better known as FlipFlopMamma, has joined the awesomeness that is MumsTheWurd!  She is the bomb.  Welcome her!  Jaymi is another babywearing mamma of 3 cool kids that you’ll see from time to time on Mums.  

While we’re on the topic of babywearing, I have to tell you about the pouch from Rockin’ Baby Sling!  Well, first of all, they’re gorgeous!  Secondly, all the pouches and slings are named after songs, and really good songs, at that!  Check their huge selection of slings and pouches.  You are bound to find one that suits your style!  My issue with the pouch has always been that it seems to snug.  Not the Rockin’ Baby Pouch-these slings are generously sized.  My Medium/Large “I’ll Stop the World and Melt With You” fits me on the smallest setting for carrying Lennon, and on the biggest size for carrying Noel (it’s happened a couple times).  Like a sling, this pouch allows you to hold your baby in a variety of ways.  Find a way that is comfortable for both you, and your child, and start babywearing!  Want another reason to buy from these two Rockin’ Mamas?  They give 3% of their profits to Heifer International.

Do you enjoy babywearing, but find that it takes time away from doing certain things, like exercising (as if hauling around your baby isn’t exercise enough…)?  Well, the gals at Chicks-n-Chickens found a way to make it easy for you to get a little workout in while cuddling on your little bundle.  The Chicks Lullaby Exercises is a great way to get a little exercise for yourself, keep your baby close, and get them ready to nod off to dreamland.  I’ve done Lullaby Exercises with Lennon a few times, and it was pretty great.  It was a fun workout, without being too over the top.  I really enjoyed the sleep set, which was very relaxing, and did indeed put Lennon right to sleep!  Want to try it?  

Win it!

Enter here and tell us how you enjoy getting exercise with your kids! Winner will be selected randomly, and contacted via email. Contest ends October 26rd at 10pm (CST).

When you have kids all you want to do is protect them. It’s not always easy within this techy-filled world we live in. Children by the age of 2 are learning how to play online. I’m always on the hunt for safe, child friendly websites.

Well, two amazing Mama’s have come up with a website that you can let your children play on without worry! That’s right parents, you can breathe freely when your kids are playing on the All Star Buddies website. There are seven different Buddies to choose from. Once you purchase a plush Buddy [$14.95], you’ll have the code to access the “Locker Room” where you sign in and customize their features such as eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth, the possibilities are endless! Once they have their Buddy all ready to go, He/She can enter Varsity Heights where it’s game-playing galore. Your child can play games that rack up points, in which they can then buy virtual items for their Buddy. It’s not all games in Varsity Heights though, there are several brain challenging games because being an All-Star isn’t only about playing, it’s about learning too!

Mothers Caryn Burns and Cindy Prince created All Star Buddies from the two things they knew best, kids and sports. Each comes from different career backgrounds: Caryn, the buyer and merchandiser of a family-run pharmacy; and Cindy, a CSW specializing in counseling adolescents and families. Together, they combined their knowledge and enthusiasm to create All Star Buddies, a series of interactive based plush toys that teach kids real-life lessons and healthy living in a fun and imaginative way.

Win it! Enter here and tell us which Buddy is your favorite! Winner will be selected randomly, and contacted via email. Contest ends October 23rd at 10pm (CST).

We are sad to announce that Fooey USA will be closing it’s virtual doors.  However, they are having a closeout sale that you won’t want to miss!  It’s all rad stuff, and it’s super cheap!  My mom got these shorts for Noel & Lennon (they won’t fit Noel next summer) for $8.99!  They are SOOOOO CUTE.  Fooey’s also got the best collection of shirts for kids and infants.  Some are as low as $3.99, people, but they won’t last!  Get over there, and say goodbye to one of the best stores out there.  Fooey, we are sorry to see you go!

On a sunnier note, Ashlee has come up with a new name for her store!  Nonny & Boo, formerly Nest Baby Sling, now offers even more great items, like wraps (that are the coolest EVER), hoodies, and plushies!  As usual, Ashlee’s wares are quite simply the coolest!  Pictured here, are Steph and Ivy in nonny & boo’s bamboo sling.  We have this sling, and Elliott and I share it.  We love it.  The fabric is light, but very strong, and it works well going out in the Texas heat.  We just heart the lady over at nonny & boo, and you will too.

If you’re on Twitter, you may already know Erin Ely.  Erin is a stay-at-home mom, teacher, and researcher, among other things, and she’s got a PASSION for organics.  That’s why she had dedicated herself to selling the some of the highest quality organic products on the market, Miessence.  Check out some of the ingredients: Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Avocado Oils…mmmm…doesn’t your skin already feel soft?  Miessence offers many different kinds of products.  For pregnant mums, there’s the Breast & Belly Balm, which is “completely safe to use during pregnancy, and beyond, to help your skin regain it’s suppleness.”  Their line of awesome baby products contains no perfumes, chemicals, essential oils, allergens, or nuts!  I received some Miessence Baby Cream Wash from Erin, and I must say, I love it!  It will last a long time, as you only need a small amount, and it’s made both of my boys’ skin sooooooo soft!  I also don’t have to worry about what I’m putting on their delicate skin-Miessence is completely safe for even the youngins’!

If you want your family to have products that are good for the soul, good for the environment, and good for you & your skin, visit Erin’s Miessence site and order some of the best organic products available!

Nana Star and the Moonman is the follow-up story and song to the first story in the Nana Star series. Ever since the Moonman came into our lives, my little girl has been hooked.  She is now obsessed with the moon and has to look for it every night.  We listen to the Moonman story and song on my iPod every morning on our way to the sitters.  Hailey can sing the accompanying song word for word without missing a beat.  She loves her Moonman lovey and every night we tuck her into bed, we must give Moonman a kiss goodnight. Of course, Nana Star is tucked in right beside both of them.

If that doesn’t show how easy these characters are to love, then I don’t know what does.

The Moonman Lovey is such a sweet little plushy. He plays a snippet of his song and lights up when you push a button on his belly. He definitely became an instant favorite.

In his story, the Moonman gives guidance and assurance to little Nana Star, who becomes afraid as the day turns to night. She is eager to help the baby star return to its home.  It’s a delightful, feel-good story that will surely capture the attention of your child.

We’re highly anticipating the next release in the Nana Star series!

We would like to pass on our sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of the real life Nana Star, Elizabeth Owens, who passed on late this summer.  She will obviously not be forgotten, as her memory lives on in these wonderful stories and products that her daughter and granddaughters have brought to life.

*Dr. Toy’s 100 Best 2008 for Nana Star & the Moonman and Moonman Lovey
Nana Star and the Moonman has been awarded in the Top 10 Best Language/Learning/Math & Reading Readiness product, part of the 2008 Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products list

**Highly recommended this holiday season!

Available through Amazon.com and other online retailers.