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It seems that everywhere I look, more and more stuff is being made out of bamboo. I had no idea it was such a versatile material. Yep – even clothes are being manufactured out of the stuff!

There are over 200 pesticides used on cotton that the EPA considers possible carcinogens. Sigh. Who would’ve thunk that cotton could be so potentially unsafe? Read more…

I grew up in a house full of music. My mom loved having music on at all times, and at any given moment you’d find one of my brothers playing Stairway To Heaven on electric guitar, my other brother hashing out a drum solo (God help us), and me playing something more traditional on keyboards.

It’s been fun to watch my kids dabble a bit in music Read more…

Children’s photography seems to have trends, just like fashion.

For awhile, everyone would dress their kid up in costumes to do fun photos. Then there was the sepia-toned trend. And let’s not forget the always-popular “black and white photo of newborn cradled in hand” photos.

One thing I can say for sure: any of these options are better than the school photos that come home on picture day. Yuck!

I love finding new and unique ways to display those extra-special photos I have of my children. The right photo, showcased in the right way, can really add interest to a room. Read more…

And now for one from our “It’s A Little Ridiculous” file.

As soon as a child learns to walk, it seems that they’re ready to explore many other forms of transportation, too. Trikes, trucks, anything on wheels become a big draw.

When a child moves up to official “preschooler” status, most are ready for a cool motorized ride-along vehicle or pedal toy.

But what childhood would be complete without a plane?

Okay, so it’s a pedal plane. But it’s still a plane – a very glammed-out one at that. I may have even seen this on an episode of MTV Cribs once. Read more…

I.love.hairdoodles.

That’s my catchall term for clips, barrettes, ponies, headbands, and whatever else can adorn a little girl’s hair.

My daughter’s birthday present last year was a giant box of hairdoodles.

The only major bummer is that my daughter’s hair is super fine, and a lot of the traditional hair accessories simply don’t stay affixed to her hair. They slide out, and by the time I pick her up after school, it’s danging at the end of a strand of a hair, like a fish on a hook. Read more…

One of the things I love best about writing for Smart Mom Picks is that I get to learn all about the latest trends in apparel. I’m especially blown away by the different organic materials that can be used to actually create the apparel.

Who knew, for example, that one could make children’s clothing out of bamboo? Read more…

What are on your kids’ walls right now?

Mine are covered in posters: one room has Mario and cars; the other, kitty cats and panda bears.

There are so many great options for kids’ room decor now, and some of them are considerably more elegant and refined than posters!

Framed artwork for children can be the perfect finishing touch on that dream nursery or delightful girl’s or boy’s room. Read more…

Remember when the term “surfer boy” would conjure up images of…I don’t know…Spicolli from Ridgemont High?

It was not a positive connotation, right?

Somehow, though, in the last decade or so, surfer boys have become cool. And with that – surfer decor and surfer clothes have also become cool. Pottery Barn Kids consistently carries a line of surf bedding now for both boys and girls.

Today, though, we’re talking about surf wear for boys. I have to admit, I love the surfer look. The new kind – not the Spicolli kind. And I think it looks adorable on boys. Read more…

We love putting the spotlight on products that are handmade or eco-friendly here at Smart Mom Picks.

But when you can find a product that is both handmade and eco-friendly, it’s even better.

And when that product is an adorable, one-of-a-kind, whimsical toy that any kid will love? It can’t be beat! Read more…

I remember my first *really* nice diaper bag.

I didn’t have a cute or fun one with my first kiddo. I don’t even remember doing research on them. It could be that my husband refused to tote around anything remotely girly with our first, and I was relegated to a plain old black diaper bag. Yawn.

But then I discovered some really trendy diaper bag brands with my second, and I have to say that I enjoyed having a fun patterned bag. It had adorable green and pink stripes on it and was fully wipeable on the outside. Love. Read more…

When I learned I was pregnant with a boy, I expected a lot of things as he grew.

I expected dirt. Bugs. Boogers. The destruction of household items. A fascination with race cars and dinosaurs.

I did not expect The Origami Obsession. Read more…

Writing about that little bear up there is near and dear to my heart – and here’s why.

We received a bear, very similar to this one, as a baby shower gift when I was pregnant with our son. Our friends bought it at some boutique-y style store in our then-town. When it was safe to leave toys in the crib, we began leaving the bear in there with our son.

Quickly, our son became extremely attached to the bear. He would squeeze it, drag it, stick the end of the bear’s hat into his ear or use it to cover his eyes when he was on the verge of sleep.

This bear went everywhere with us. And when our son was about two, we began to get worried about bear getting damaged or, worse yet, lost. Read more…

I hate to sound like a broken record, but I love girls in dresses.

Everybody’s taste in dresses is different, of course. I happen to love little girls in mixed prints: funky, yet classic styles that combine polka dots and stripes, floral prints with geometrics, you name it.

I also really like bright colors instead of muted pastels. Read more…

My kids are in early elementary school, and one of the things I’m starting to realize is that they do go through bouts of struggling with their self-confidence. Sometimes they feel left out of things, a friend upsets them, or perhaps a bad grade on a project has planted seeds of doubt.

It’s heartbreaking, but I know I’m only getting a tiny peek into what must happen even more frequently as they grow. And the teenage years? Well, I can’t even think about those. I’m in denial that they’re even going to happen at all. Read more…

The first thing that popped into my head when I saw this picture above was Michael Jackson’s kids. Remember how he used to make them wear those veils or blankets over their heads?

Weird.

There’s no Jackson kid behind this product, but I’m sure the King of Pop would have endorsed this. Read more…

If your children have grown up during the Toy Story era, then you know that a boy is either Team Buzz or Team Woody, and rarely the twain shall meet.

We were a Team Buzz house. Woody was cast off quickly in favor of Buzz’s fancy lasers, jet pack, moon suit and more. The Buzz fascination went on for many years, and it was one of the few licensed-character obsessions that didn’t get on my last nerve (Disney princesses? They’re another story). Read more…