I frequently post about cardboard toys and furniture – as the compact/travelbility (is that a word?) of them is beyond convenient. As I travel light – and now with two boys that will become more of a challenge, I need to think about how to have enough “amusement” at our destination – sans the bulk, weight and general annoyance of a Great Toy Shlep.

I adore Calafant toys for this very reason, but for your children that are still too young to really decorate their own toys – Kroom toys, available from Abe’s Market (my new fave green store), give you that light cardboard portability, pre decorated, and ready for playing.

Both of the above are less than $30 (each)! Ship them to you destination – and spare yourself the agony of dragging toys about a dirty airport and being told by some snug, underaged ticket counter bird that your luggage is over the limit of 2 pounds and will cost an extra $500 dollars, will that be cash or charge?

In addition to the farm and Noah set, you can send this lovely Kroom table set ahead, which the grandparents can easily store under  a bed when not in use.

This dollhouse is compact enough to store under a chair.

As is this castle.

Kroom toys are lovely, durable, inexpensive and easy to store. The perfect thing to send and keep at grandma’s – which is where the boys and I are headed next week!!!

Florida, here we come….

Of the piles of toys and other presents my son received for Christmas, his favourite was this battery free, wind up microphone.  All I knew when I bought the thing was that it was in eco packaging and required a child’s energy, rather than batteries, to work. Excellent, I thought smugly – a musical toy that doesn’t require dirty toxic batteries. What a truly clever mummy I am!

What this idiotic mummy didn’t realize is that though it works just as well as advertised – the damn thing plays “Pop Goes the Weasel” in a dolphin singing in electronica pitch just as many times as junior will push the button. And push the button he will. Again. Again. And again.

Yes, it works just as well as any microphone. It also has a few “beat” sounds that my darling, totally lacking in any rhythm or musical ability, son adores pressing incessantly whilst singing “Pop Goes the Weasel” with the unmitigated joy and exuberance known only to two year old boys.

So. Is it a good gift that a little one will enjoy? Yes. It is that. Will they play with it for more than one day? Yes, they will. Will it amplify their little sweet voices like a true microphone? Yuppers.

And THAT, my verdant friend, is the point.

My son just celebrated his second birthday on an unseasonably  co-opertative November day. It was, quite honestly (except for the food), exactly what I dreamed. (Yes, anxious mums actually dream about these things.)

Let me preface the rest of this post by saying that I have never looked entirely forward to “baby” birthday parties. In truth, I have always tried to escape them when possible and only attempted one after seeing a few fellow mums pull off what I had thought was impossible: a birthday party that felt “grown-up” enough for adult, non-mum friends and yet dulcet enough for toddlers – looking like a proper birthday party in photos years hence. Their formula I copied shamelessly: Grownup venue + Balloons/bit of Whimsy + Booze = success.

I’ll begin with my fave part – and the thing the guests raved about: Balloons! I usually hate balloons – but these, from Geronimo Balloons – are divine and the children loved them. They also dressed up the grotto at the darling B&B where I had the fete – and made the whole even quite magical.

The balloons are 3 feet across and come with custom designed “tails”. I’ve kept the tails from mine for future use or to lend. They made a lovely rustling sound in the wind.

As the theme was “vintage travel”, I created little “suitcases” filled with “passports”, travel books, stickers and the like. The suitcases will (hopefully) be kept – making them greener than something more disposable. I covered the suitcases in stickers to give them a vintage feel.

As we are close to Christmas, I also placed little paint-them-yourself airplanes around a globe that could be used as Christmas ornaments - a favor that I hoped might remind the little ones of Alden years from now….

The airplanes were tied with a ribbon that had the birthday “logo” on it.  At My Own Labels I created water bottle stickers, napkins, coasters and other tags featuring the logo for visual cohesion (and because my background is in adverting.)  I used the same image on the invitation stamps. (The invites were little wooden airplanes – but they became mangled en route – so I don’t recommend them.)

The logo itself…

Another little favor, again, one I intended to be kept, were little pilot hats…(very PanAm, methinks)…

Other mums, far more experienced than I, told me to have “activities” at the fete. I struggled to come up with toddler friendly “travel” themed activities – and settled on providing non-toxic markers and cardboard airships to color. For good measure, I also provided a cardboard castle. I know, so not within the theme…unless…people DO travel to see things like castles! (S-t-r-e-t-c-h.)

My son approving of the castle…

Recycled from last year and something I intend to use until my son decides it’s too silly or “done” – a banner that I ordered last year on Etsy.

Okay. Now we get to the bit that went horribly wrong. So. I ordered booze. Which went well (as it is wont to).

And I had a “candy jar” set up – though I filled the jars with organic fruit…

But the food. Well. I used a caterer that I wasn’t familiar with and…well…no one liked the food. Only the hummus seemed to have not earned me a “what the hell kinda food is this?!” Right. It was all vegan and organic – but…it failed miserably. I won’t mention the caterers name – as we all have off days – but there you are. Lesson: KNOW the caterers or do it yourself.

The food was served on Eco partyware and served with eco bamboo utensils – but – as you can see – not many plates were used. Ahem.

The “best” bit wasn’t green, but culinary redemption was had with the cake and cupcakes from Chicago’s favourite Sweet Mandy B’s. My poor son wasn’t allowed any – but who’s going to tell ‘im? I have fotos to prove there WAS a cake – and that’s the important thing. Will your friends make fun of you and grooooan when you won’t let junior partake of sugar? Yes. For a good half hour. But eventually the Veuve Cliquot kicks in….

I get a sugar rush just LOOKING at these…

Having a green party is easy and can look as elegant and non-ridiculous as a grown up cocktail party. You can minimize the waste and disposability of favors by making them special and something the children will actually keep, serving things are easy to find in recycled forms, the food can be organic, vegan AND yummy (I swear they aren’t mutually exclusive) and the activities or games should be plastic-less. And honestly – you MUST try Geronimo Balloons. They are biodegradable and too, too gorgeous.

My boy’s will both have green affairs again next year – but this time —- better food.

Happy Birthday, baby. x

SOURCES:

Balloons: Geronimo Balloons (Latex and biodegradable)

Venue: Villa D’Citta (Lincoln Park. Available for parties and a wonderful B&B. Mention The Green Stork for a 10% discount on rooms!)

Suitcases and Stickers: Paper Source

Wooden planes: Oriental Trading Company

Logo: Shutterstock

Labels, tags, other “branded” elements: My Own Labels 

Stamps: Zazzle

Cardboard toys and castle: Calafant

Eco party ware: Party City 

From Paloma’s Nest and less expensive than tacky sets – is this gorgeous, eco-wood, ready to paint in your child’s room colors table and chair set. This set is worth creating a safari or animal room around.

Even just the tree table coupled with other chairs would be beautiful and suitable to most rooms.

For less than $200 you can order the table and two chairs - which I think is a really good deal, having seen chemically treated sets for far more than that.

Completely unrelated – but from the same shop – are these beautiful party hats that you could also decorate…

and crowns…

So lovely.

And for mummy…

I’m loving Paloma’s Nest and the honest feel of their customizable wooden wares.

Gift giving season is just around the corner…it’s never too early….

Happy Fall!

My son has a “Beach House” in his room, that he adores. Its the perfect size for him to play and hide in and a perfect place for mama to hide the toys when she can’t be bothered to play the “tidy up” game.

But what if you are having an offsite birthday party (as I will be doing in a month), or are having a gaggle of children over to play that you would rather were outside – rather than skulking about the house? Shlepping a cloth playhouse around may not be entirely feasible.

Which is where this tres adorable “Cafe” comes in.

This too chic for words play Cafe is less than $80 – and absolutely perfect for a birthday party and some wonderous- but perhaps not permanent – playtime use. Wouldn’t it be perfect for a girls birthday party – even if at a park – to add a fun and photogenic  je ne sais quoi to the fete?!  Or, you could ship it to grandmas for the petit enfants to have something fun to play in – that the gran pere could fold away after use. For $80, just having it last a summer would be worth it!

I hope that this company develops more versions – as the idea is a perfect one.

Bonne nuit!

Were it not for the fact that his papa is a carnivore (he’s from Wisconsin, poor sod) – my impossibly beautiful son (above), would be an ovo-lacto vegetarian like his gorgeous Tia (also above).

Alden has only had organic, grass fed chicken – and never more than 6 oz in a week. But still. I cringe when I see my husband get it out of the fridge – that slimy, limp, dead piece of flesh – warmed up enough to put into my son’s beautiful and perfect body. Quite frankly: I find it revolting. Repugnant. And vile.  (Red meat will not pass through that child’s lips until he’s old enough to drive.)

Now, lest you start shouting about protein and calcium…I do give Alden goats milk, goats yogurt and gorgeous goat, buffalo or sheeps fromage – the latter as a very special treat (as he’s never so much as seen a cookie or sweet) – but that’s only after reading that all bovine milk – save for that from all but two species of cow – expose us to A1 beta casein - which is the pesky protein that gives so many so much trouble (from funny tummy to diabetes.) Anyway. Read Devil in the Milk for more on that.

So.

As I don’t want my child eating putrid offal or cow product, it wouldn’t make much sense for me to have it available at his upcoming birthday party. A vegetarian caterer is needed….

I have yet to choose which caterer I am using, but here is a list of Chicago based vegetarian catering options for other mums who would rather get e-coli than serve conventional pizza, hamburgers or hotdogs at their child’s birthday party.

1) Chicago Vegetarian Cooking: a wee outfit that seems birthday party affordable and specializes in smaller fetes. They make sweet potato homefries. Yes, please.

2) The Chicago Diner: With “wings”, “potstickers” and “mozzarella sticks” on the menu – this Chicago vegetarian favorite makes all the fare that children and adults love – sans the dead creature.

3) Fig Catering: Lovely menus that I’d certainly want at an adult cocktail party. Not as expensive as it looks.

4) Verite Catering: Mouth watering menu. May be expensive.

5) Blind Faith Cafe: Affordable, uncomplicated menu. Been around forever.

What’s good about working with an exclusively vegetarian caterer, rather than asking a traditional caterer to do a veggie menu, is that they share your reverence for “clean” and “healthy” food – and won’t, for example, make a veggie soup with chicken stock. Trust me. It happens.

If you are worried about your guests that aren’t vegetarian – don’t be. I can suck down a rack of ribs faster than a Texan chasing a confirmed bachelor in a Jimmy Carter t-shirt – but a meatless meal never killed me. Your guests can stop and grab a dawg (especially here, in Chicago) on the way home. The important thing is to have booze. And a fast pouring arm. (Aldens fiesta will have both.)

Whatever our personal dreadful eating habits (I’m a study in them. I admit it: I love foie gras. LOVE. Pan seared. Mary had keep her eye on that little lamb when mummy is around.), children deserve a better and healthier example. Just as we can smoke and drink like Janis Joplin on the last day of a six city tour – but not around a child – as we must pretend to be better than we are. Until our children make us so.

Happy Birthday Virgos!

I already have my son’s November birthday planned and stocked. Invites: check. Favors: Check. Decorations: Check. I’ve had to sort it this early as I am having a baby only weeks before his birthday – and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to manage after that. So. All that remains is food planning.

Needless to say, I am having the party catered by two local organic vegetarian places (aren’t you jealous that you aren’t coming?!) – but I love the look of a candy bar – so after much thought decided…

ORGANIC CANDY! Cherries and tangerines will look gorgeous in the apothecary candy jars that I ordered, but there is only so much fruit that is stable enough to manage in a warm jar. So for a few – I’ll just have organic sweets to add color and joy to the desert table. (Luckily, yogurt parfaits are also very photogenic.)  As even organic candy has sugar – my poor son won’t be able to enjoy any – but his other young guests will be grateful! (Especially after all the salads, trail mixes, hummus and various vegetarian tea sandwiches….)

You CAN be a green mama and have a party that looks like all the others – but is healthier and greener. You just have to troll about a bit longer to find healthier options.

More on Aldens 2nd birthday bash in the Fall. It’s a vintage travel theme – thats all I’ll tell you….

Happy Sunday!

Recently, a very lovely mum invited my son (and me) to a Pump it Up party. Pump it Up is a popular party location in Chicago where pizza and sugar fueled kids run screaming and flailing whilst they – quite literally – bounce off the walls.  (This isn’t anything you should witness sober.)  Quite honestly, I am still recovering from the one and only Pump it Up party I attended 3 years ago, so I was fortunate that being a green mum provided a ready made excuse. Okay. I actually didn’t have the cojones to tell her why we couldn’t attend – but I can tell you….

The Center for Environmental health uncovered that bouncy castles, such as those at Pump it Up, have been found to have 70 times – SEVENTY TIMES – “the federal limit for lead in children’s products under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Independent testing commissioned by CEH also showed that lead from bounce houses can expose children to the toxic chemical at levels that violate California law.”

You heard that correctly.

“Bounce houses are often made with vinyl (polyvinyl chloride, or PVC), a “poison plastic” that is often made with lead, a neurotoxin that can cause learning disorders, brain and nerve damage, hearing problems, stunted growth, and digestive problems. Scientists are increasingly convinced that there is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for young children.”

Yup.

For my more astute readers, I had posted about this a while back, but it’s summer – so I thought that it was worth another mention.

PS: If you now have to scrap your own plans for a bouncy party, consider something like this, for boys, instead…

Or for girls, a nice “art gallery” fete…

So much nicer for pictures.

And your friends that are pregnant and can’t take Xanax.

Happy Birthday!

When I was little the favor bags were always filled with jacks (do kids play with those anymore?), wooden and elastic toys that your thumb caused to higgle jiggle, smalls bouncing balls, small puzzles and plastic slinky’s.  More often than not a piece of cake was also involved. I, however, was never allowed to take that sweet treat. (Humph.)

Things are far more sophisticated now – I know of one gravity defying mum that sent EACH child home with their own American Girl Doll!  And at one boy’s party each boy became the proud owner of a remote controlled plane. Egads.

We green mums are a humble tribe – and now, forgoing the cheap Made In China plastic and sure-to-have-lead in them small tokens that, have betimes resorted to seed packets or little trees favors. Trust me. Though a beautiful gesture, it is not quite appreciated by the young ones. Mores the pity.

Meggie Moos to the rescue!

With everything from boxes, to reusable bags and wooden toys to arty things – a mum can be green AND give a bag that will surprise and delight!

The sweet bags can be used for all sorts of treasures, well apres the fete.

And the little green gifts will last longer than the cake high your wee ones will torment you with for hours.

Affordable and green, Meggie Moos gift bags will not embarrass your child and, hopefully, will inspire other mums to have more verdant thoughts for the next fete that they will host.

Happy Birthday!

My sons first birthday is fast approaching – so 1st Birthday Angst is upon me.  Since I will have my sons 1st birthday invite saved in his baby book and the intimate gathering doesn’t warrant letterpress, I was stuck for an invite suitable for a baby, classic enough for saving and non-twee enough not to be embarrassing to send to friends. (I know that Paperless Post is the “greenest” way to go – but I can’t very well keep an email in a baby book…and to be honest, I still cringe when I receive email invitations – Victorian that I am.)

So I was gobsmacked happy clappy when I came across these retro, real, honest-to-goodness paper TELEGRAMS!!! Oh, the romance! The nostalgia! The gentlemanliness of it all! How very, very white smoking jacket Cary Grant! What could be more proper, but somehow cool, than a telegram?! Telegram Post makes these gorgeous, wonderful, save forever telegram invites that will delight the hip and traditional alike. I mean honestly: have you ever even received a REAL telegram?!

I could not be more delighted with the concept, or extra groovy luggage tag RSVP’s that go with the invitations. All harkening back to a more elegant time before cold and soulless email.

Happy Birthday, baby.