Kids

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Have you ever come across a person who simply inspires you? If you haven’t, you need to change the people you’re spending time and networking with. There are a few people who inspire me who can also serve as an inspiration to all of my readers. Jennifer Ramos of MadeByGirl is one of those people.

It’s been a while since I have posted about something with a bird motif. Too long, if you ask me. I can’t help it — I am just drawn to the little critters by some unknown force. Thankfully for me, there’s no shortage of eco-friendly art featuring friendly birdies. These Bird Collages by Petite Flaneur would be welcome in my home any day. Just don’t tell my husband that. He’s not quite as fond of the birdies as I am.

Decorating my daughter’s nursery was quite possibly the most fun I have ever had decorating. I had a blank slate, and could do literally anything I wanted with it. This was back in the days before I was green mama and before I really knew anything about decorating. So while I had fun doing the room, it wasn’t what I would call well-designed. This beautiful bamboo Jungle Friends Mobile from Branch Home is leaps and bounds above the gaudy plastic Winnie the Pooh mobile that hung over my daughter’s crib.

My daughter has a very active imagination. Her 3-year-old mind often comes up with fantastic, intriguing stories that never cease to amaze me. This year, I plan on giving her only gifts that will help her learn or grow in some way, and I’d love to give her something that continues to encourage that imagination of hers.

The Cardboard Playhouse from Natural Pod is the answer. Made of recycled cardboard, it is very literally a blank canvas waiting for her to turn it into her dream house. Lately, my daughter has been in the “Mommy, can I have one of those” phase every time she sees a commercial for some new-fangled, cheap, plastic toy she sees on TV. This ought to satisfy those desires for a while.

I never, ever thought I would want to decorate with a beanbag chair. I’ve never found them attractive — not even in kids’ rooms. But leave it to Pottery Barn to create a beautifully designed room around a beanbag that makes me want to do a total 180. I am really loving this Bean Bag Sectional from PBteen. And what makes it even more beautiful is the fact that it is covered in organic cotton canvas and filled with 100% recycled fill.

There are a bunch of pieces to choose from, so you can get whatever fits in your space. Here are some of the configurations:

There are lots of things to love about being a mother, but one of my favorite things is that I get to stretch my imagination on a daily basis. Every night at bed time, I tell my daughter a story. But I don’t read from a book or recite the Three Little Pigs from memory. Instead, I make up a story in the moment — one of the few times when I’m comfortable improvising. They often involve little brown princesses, ballerinas, butterflies and other animals, because I let her pick the topic most nights.

My daughter loves stuffed animals. Seriously, she has in excess of 20 plush friends of all species — dogs, cats, rabbits, bears, dinosaurs, and even a beluga whale. That last one was a memento from a trip to the Georgia Aquarium a few years back when she became fascinated by the giant, gentle creatures.

She’s free to keep all the plushies she already has, but now that I’m much more enlightened about the chemicals in the plush fabric and fill used to make said animals, I won’t be buying another traditional one. I may, however, get her one of these Critter Pillows from Garnet Hill to act as a stand in.

I’ve never liked caterpillars much — or any creepy, crawlies. I love their brilliant colors and I’m fascinated by the fact that they become butterflies, but not enough to get up close and personal. This caterpillar, however, would be welcome in my home any day.

The Caterpillar Activity Bench from Skyline Design’s “greenplay” collection is funky and functional — and the “green” goes a lot deeper than just the color. It would be the perfect start to any kids’ play area.  It’s the perfect kid-size height and can be outfitted with a variety of graphics and surfaces depending on how you plan to use it. It is apparently intended for use in libraries and other public spaces, but I see no reason why it couldn’t fit comfortably in a playroom at home — except for the 4-figure price tag, that is.

As much as I hope to become one of those crafty mavens who can make beautiful adornments for my home out of everyday trash, I have yet to complete (or start) my first project. So for now, my recycling is limited putting #1 and #2 plastic and other recyclables in the bin. Lucky for me, recycling ingenuity comes in many different forms, and this well-executed idea comes dressed in gorgeous Amy Butler fabrics!

I’ve always loved the look of vintage hatboxes. Not that I have a lot of fancy hats to store, but I just love the classic charm of a well-designed box, round shape and all. They are also a great way to clear clutter in a stylish way. Add a few of them to a cluttered shelf as a catchall for all those misplaced items that will inevitably land there.

These Calypso round storage boxes from The Container Store aren’t vintage, but they are cute and functional all the same. The polka dot patterns in bright make them perfect for kids’ rooms. They aren’t huge, but definitely big enough to contain stray crayons, doll clothes, or single socks that have mysteriously been separated from their mates.