Back to School…Back to Routine: After School

September 12, 2016

Post by Danielle Kurtz, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

Full disclosure, I’m not totally in charge of the after school routine at my house. It’s kind of my husband’s gig. I do mornings, he does afternoons, it works for us. But, there are a handful of things that have helped us get through the drudgery of after school. I say drudgery because after school and work everyone is a bit tired and just wants to unwind, but there are still things to be done. So our goal is to get all the stuff done as quickly as possible, so we might enjoy a little bit of relaxation before it’s bedtime and we start again tomorrow.

My kids generally start the afternoon grumpy. You see, they attend an after school program that they LOVE. So they’re generally interrupted in the middle of some totally awesome game with friends when we show up to get them. Hence the grumpiness. Which is quickly followed by starvation. My daughter rarely makes it into the front door before asking for (ahem…demanding) a snack. No surprise since the child is too busy chatting at school to eat the majority of her lunch most days. To deal with the immediate need for snacks, we’ve found that it’s important to keep snacks, as well as a stack of cups and bowls that aren’t breakable within our kids’ reach. That way the snacks are self serve and my husband can get dinner started. Our Gusto Dishware is a great option, it’s fun and colorful. Nests nicely for storage and is super durable. But before anyone does anything, the kids are supposed to put their lunch boxes and water bottles in the kitchen and empty their backpacks.

Once they’ve refueled with a snack it’s homework time. Both of my kids have desks in their rooms, so if their homework requires quiet concentration, that’s where they sit to work on it. Also, while the dining room table seems like a great option, we’re often setting the table for dinner during homework time, so it’s not usually an option for us. For a kid’s desk, I’d opt for one that’s full-size so they can grow with it. Also, be sure they have a comfy chair and ample light. It’s also helpful to have storage for all their pens, pencils and erasers to keep them organized.

While they’re doing homework, I rifle through their bags to see what school may have sent home and organize all the paperwork in our filing bins (see my post on morning routines). Then I clean out their lunchboxes and prepare tomorrow’s lunches. I’ve tried making lunches in the morning, but it just doesn’t work for my non-morning person self since lunch making is the bane of my existence for reasons I can’t articulate, but I know many other moms share.

If all goes well, we’re all ready for dinner by about 6pm. Which, in theory, leaves plenty of time before those early bedtimes to walk to the park, go for a family bike ride or simply sit down and revel in the fact that we have nothing to do for a few minutes…ignoring the dirty dishes, dusty floors and unfolded laundry. Let’s worry about that tomorrow, we just sat down.

Danielle is the Creative Director at Nod and an over-protective mother of two. She’s also completely obsessed with Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and her Kindle, but not necessarily in that order. Danielle loves to craft, sew and crochet. Her current craft of choice is weaving tiny wall tapestries.

Friend Indeed – Lydia & Charlotte

September 9, 2016

Interview with Lydia & Charlotte

Today, we’re introducing you to Lydia and Charlotte, two of our new Friend Indeed dolls. With their own unique style, each one is a reminder for kids to be themselves and never be afraid of standing out. Lydia is never without a sketchbook and pens and volunteers at a local animal shelter. Charlotte is on the student council and loves having sleepovers at her house. Read on to find out more about Lydia and Charlotte in our exclusive doll interviews.

As we continue to share what makes each Friend Indeed doll unique, we encourage you to share what makes your kids unique using the hashtag #youaremagic.

Every individual has something unique and special to offer the world. Their own type of magic. What traits and talents that you possess make you the most proud?

CHARLOTTE: I am most proud of my leadership skills. I am great at bringing people together.

What’s your favorite season and why?

CHARLOTTE: Winter. I love that hot cocoa with marshmallows. My family comes in from out of town for Christmas. I love spending time with them. And snow!

If you had an entire day to do anything you wanted, what would it be?

CHARLOTTE: My grandma would come over to my house during my piano lesson on Saturday and she could hear how much better I’ve gotten! My grandma’s really good at playing the piano and the reason I wanted to start taking lessons. After my lesson I would want to sit with my grandma while she plays her favorite songs. I would get a letter from my penpals (I have two!) and I would write them both back. I am pretty busy during the week so I like to have some time on weekends to learn more about writing code. Usually I have a few questions my dad can help me with. Then my whole family would go out to dinner to my favorite restaurant. I always order spaghetti . After dinner my friendswould come over and we would have a sleepover and stay up super late.

What’s your all-time favorite food?

CHARLOTTE: Spaghetti.

What would you like to be when you grow up and how do you think that’ll impact and change the world?

CHARLOTTE: I would like to be a politician or singer and actress when I grow up. I think it will impact the world because I will have an important voice on a big stage whether it’s in politics or entertainment. I will get to influence people. And I can use my voice to make changes in the world that have yet to happen.

Every individual has something unique and special to offer the world. Their own type of magic. What traits and talents that you possess make you the most proud?

LYDIA: I am most proud that I always stand up for what I believe in. I always speak up about any injustice I see big or small.

What’s your favorite season and why?

LYDIA: Fall! I love the crunching leaves. And back to school time means new school supplies and seeing friends you haven’t seen all summer. I like getting to pull out sweaters and thinking about Halloween customers.

If you had an entire day to do anything you wanted, what would it be?

LYDIA: I would go to the animal shelter and volunteer and there would be new kittens or puppies to pet and help get adopted. I usually just clean cages, but I always have time to pet all the animals. Then I would go with my friends apple picking or to the pumpkin patch! I like to spend a lot of time looking for the perfect pumpkin to become a jack-o-lantern. Then we could all go back to my house and bake chocolate chip cookies and decide what we are going to be for halloween.

What’s your all-time favorite food?

LYDIA: Falafel. I’m vegetarian so I try a lot of different types of food. Falafel is a middle eastern food made with chick peas. It’s so good.

What would you like to be when you grow up and how do you think that’ll impact and change the world?

LYDIA: I want to be an industrial designer or veterinarian when I grow up. I will get to save lives if I am a veterinarian. I will create things that don’t exist yet if I’m an industrial designer. And with both jobs I will be improving things (health or products) Whether it’s people or animals, I will be improving the quality of their lives and that feels really important.

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SHOP THE FRIEND INDEED DOLLS BY ASHLEY GOLDBERG

Friend Indeed – Gemma & Charlie

September 8, 2016

Interview with Gemma and Charlie

Meet Gemma and Charlie, two of our new Friend Indeed dolls. With their own unique style, each one is a reminder for kids to be themselves and never be afraid of standing out. Gemma likes the ocean and playing dress up in her mom’s old dance costumes. Charlie likes comic books, writing in her journal and bright nail polish. Read on to find out more about Gemma and Charlie in our exclusive doll interviews.

As we continue to share what makes each Friend Indeed doll unique, we encourage you to share what makes your kids unique using the hashtag #youaremagic.

Every individual has something unique and special to offer the world. Their own type of magic. What traits and talents that you possess make you the most proud?

GEMMA: I am most proud of my kindness. I am the first one my friends go to when they need help. My goal is to always be kind to all living things.

What’s your favorite season and why?

GEMMA: Spring. Everyone is in a good mood! I look at little flower buds opening and it feels like the whole world is waking up.

If you had an entire day to do anything you wanted, what would it be?

GEMMA: I would wake up really early and my mom would have the day off and make pancakes for the two of us. Since she has the day off we can sit and talk for as long as we want. Then I would ride my bike to the park and sit under the big tree and read a book or write in my diary. The park is in between my house and Charlie’s so I would go over to her house afterward and Lydia and Charlotte would already be there. We would all go to the zoo! Being with my favorite people is always my favorite thing to do. After the zoo I would leave and go to dance class. I would want it to be a dress rehearsal for an upcoming recital. Those are my favorite days in dance class!

What’s your all-time favorite food?

GEMMA: Swedish fish! I have such a sweet tooth. I would only eat candy if I could.

What would you like to be when you grow up and how do you think that’ll impact and change the world?

GEMMA: I want to be a dancer, paleontologist or a museum curator when I grow up. I hope that I can show everyone how important the past is, how much we can learn from it, and how it effects who we are today.

Every individual has something unique and special to offer the world. Their own type of magic. What traits and talents that you possess make you the most proud?

CHARLIE: I am most proud of my fearlessness to express myself. I am never afraid to be myself whether it’s through my clothes, personal style or my writing.

What’s your favorite season and why?

CHARLIE: Summer. It’s so bright. The sun, the colors of clothes people wear. You can go swimming. And spend weekdays with friends since school is out.

If you had an entire day to do anything you wanted, what would it be?

CHARLIE: I would want to have all my friends sleep at my house. We could sleep as late as we wanted! Then we would go to the pool. I could spend ALL DAY swimming. We could even order pretzels and snow cones at the concession stand. At night we could all go see a movie. After the movie I would want to look up lots of trivia about the movie. My friends don’t always like doing that, but I love it!

What’s your all-time favorite food?

CHARLIE: Pizza. Because it’s delicious and you’re usually eating it with friends!

What would you like to be when you grow up and how do you think that’ll impact and change the world?

CHARLIE: I want to be a writer or movie director when I grow up. I think it will impact the world because what I have to say is important. I will take the time to learn the best way to share my message and hopefully it will reach a lot of people and make them think.

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SHOP THE FRIEND INDEED DOLLS BY ASHLEY GOLDBERG

Introducing Our Friend Indeed Dolls

September 7, 2016

Interview with Ashley Goldberg

We’re thrilled to introduce our Friend Indeed Dolls. With their own unique style, each one is a reminder for kids to be themselves and to never be afraid of standing out. Over the next few days, we’ll be sharing what makes each doll unique. We encourage you to share what makes your kids unique using the hashtag #youaremagic.

We’re kicking off our Friend Indeed series with an interview with Ashley Goldberg, who collaborated with Nod to create the Friend Indeed dolls. Read on to learn how the dolls came to be and see her answer to the question, “If you had an entire day to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?”

How did the idea for fashion dolls come about?

A few years ago, I designed pillows with cartoon girls on them for Nod. The pillows were successful and Seana, Land of Nod’s product design manager, asked if I wanted to take the characters one step further and design a doll. I don’t think she had the question fully out before I said “YES!”. As I began to sketch the doll and develop her personality, I was really torn about which direction to take her. There were several distinct personalities and styles I was interested in. I talked it over with Seana and she thought the answer was to develop a group of dolls. It came together pretty seamlessly after that.

I think it’s important to mention that the approach to the dolls was thoughtful and deliberate. Of course I wanted to create dolls that kids would love at first sight. But I also wanted to create a doll that was different from the other dolls that someone already has in their home. The Friend Indeed dolls are fashion dolls. However, their bodies were not made to be aspirational. Their bodies are the bodies of an average girl. The dolls aren’t high school girls. They are girls in middle school, the most uncomfortable time in childhood for most of us. Despite this, Charlotte, Charlie, Gemma, and Lydia are all confident, expressive, supportive, and empowered while being complete individuals. It was our priority and responsibility to make sure we were designing dolls that sent a positive and empowering message.

How did you create the doll personas?

Instead of thinking of the dolls as just dolls, I thought of them as literary characters. I wanted to create fully dimensional and nuanced personalities. Somewhere in the process, I casually asked Seana what she thought Gemma’s favorite dessert would be. Without hesitation she answered “salt water taffy” to which I responded, “I think that would be her favorite candy.” That interaction left me grinning from ear to ear. I was so satisfied that my question wasn’t met with “what? I don’t know”. We weren’t including their favorite desserts anywhere. It was that each girl had been developed enough that you could answer that question. Certainly not everyone has to agree what that answer is as we want a lot of room for imaginative play. But that you *could* answer that question was crucial to me.

I pulled from my own personality, since we all have so many different sides to ourselves. I pulled a lot from friends I have known from the time we were little girls and now I see the women they have become.

As a society, the change of seasons effects us all so much. Our wardrobes, activities, state of mind. I think we are a different version of ourselves each season. We all have a favorite season and I believe we are usually our best selves during it. When I started designing the group of friends, I immediately divided the girls by seasons. Gemma is spring. Charlie is summer. Lydia is fall. Charlotte is winter. That was one of my favorite and most helpful ways to develop them in different directions.

Is there a doll that is close to your personality and interests?

I think I am closest in personality to Lydia followed by Gemma. And I admire a lot of the traits of Charlotte and Charlie. My love of animals, drawing, and fall is all Lydia. I love old things and am introverted like Gemma. I love Charlotte’s leadership skills and Charlie’s fearlessness in showing up and putting herself out there.

Why was it important to make each doll unique?

It was important because each child that plays with the dolls is as unique as the dolls are. Four dolls are not enough to represent all the diversity and uniqueness of every girl out there. But it was important for each of the dolls to have a different backstory, personality, skin tone, hair, and style. Coming together as a group that cheers each other on while celebrating each of their uniqueness is what the Friend Indeed dolls are all about.

When you were little, you always wanted to make your own dolls. Talk about that and how creating these dolls for Nod helped fulfill a childhood dream.

My artwork has always been about visual storytelling. I have drawn little girl characters since I first could draw. Drawings of girls and little creatures were the first art prints I sold that launched my career. My drawings have always been more characters than drawings, so making them three dimensional is something I have been waiting for since I was a little girl.

When I was little, I hated when my cartoons ended. And I wanted to find a way to make it more interactive. I always watched cartoons while drawing characters in the show, and characters who I thought should be in the show. Then when the show ended, I would create a little spinoff cartoon with the characters that I drew. I could lose hours doing that. I loved developing characters and I loved story telling

Dolls, stuffed animals, and make-believe were what my childhood was made of. We were on a tight budget so if I had a doll, I never had any additional outfits for her. I spent so much time making clothes for them from toilet paper and tape. Toilet paper simulated cloth much better then paper. I could make skirts and ballgowns, and a whole lot of arm and leg casts. When we went camping I made sleeping bags out of socks and my stuffed animals would wear them attached to their backs with two rubber bands.

I have never loved sewing. But I wanted to create dolls so much that I did it anyways. Early in my career, I sewed and sold dolls through my Etsy shop.

Every individual has something unique and special to offer the world. Their own type of magic. What traits and talents that you possess make you the most proud?

I am most proud of my tenacity. It’s very reassuring for me to know I will always keep showing up and I will always keep trying.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I think the official list from when I was a kid was artist, actress, professional animal petter, children’s book writer, archaeologist, something in political science, product designer (although I didn’t have a name for it). I’m glad a few of those have worked out 😉 And I hope my work makes the world a little more beautiful and people a little more happy.

What’s your favorite season and why?

Fall. I have ALWAYS felt the most creative and productive in fall. I love overcast skies and how small and cozy it makes the world feel. I love the leaves changing and the smell of fires. Spring is a *very* close second, but fall will have my heart forever.

If you had an entire day to do anything you wanted, what would it be?

I’m with Gemma on this one. Spending time with my favorite people is my absolute favorite thing. I think I get on a plane with my husband and dog and fly from Portland to St. Louis to spend time with my family and life-long friends.

What’s your all-time favorite food?

Vegetable korma or (and this is very specific) pasta con broccoli as made by The Pasta House in St. Louis. It’s just so good.

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SHOP THE FRIEND INDEED DOLLS BY ASHLEY GOLDBERG

Letter Scramble Game

September 6, 2016

Post by Michelle of Avery & Augustine

If you’ve got an emerging reader in the house, the letter scramble game is perfect for practicing spelling those first simple words that your child is learning to read.

When your child is in the early reading stages, providing reading practice and literacy experiences in different formats—pointing out print in the environment, practicing writing words together, drawing pictures about the stories you’ve read, making up stories together and writing them down—is so important. Also, repetition is one of the keys to learning to read and that’s why reading the same books over and over again is so beneficial to your beginning reader. It’s also a great idea to play word games when you can since children learn better when they are having fun and are engaged.

You can pair the letter scramble game with other toys or objects around the house to practice spelling the corresponding words. Here are some ideas:

1. Spell a word using the blocks out but leave out the first letter. Say the word, emphasizing the first sound and have your child find the first letter of the word to complete it. To make the task more difficult, do the same with the last sound in the word, then try it with the middle sound in the word.

Letter Scramble Blog 2

2. Put out an object. Say all the sounds in the name of the object slowly (e.g., p – a – n) and have your child find the letter that corresponds with each sound that you say, in order to spell out the word.

Letter Scramble Blog 3

3. Put all the objects in the bin. Secretly choose an object. Say all the sounds in the name of the object slowly (e.g., s – p – oo – n). Have your child listen carefully, try to guess the word and pull the corresponding object out of the bin. Repeat the sounds in the name of the object as much as needed.

Letter Scramble Blog 4

Another fun game for when your child has learned a good amount of simple words is to set the sand timer and see how many different words your child can make before time runs out!

Teaching your child to read is a wondrous and incredibly rewarding journey and one that you’ll likely never forget. Watching words come alive for your children as they put sounds together and begin to read is one of the most amazing things to witness. Have fun with it and enjoy the process!

You can see Michelle’s work and read about her two young children and their first forays in cooking, art and everything in between at Avery and Augustine.

Storage Ideas: Bookcases

September 5, 2016

Post by Danielle Kurtz, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

Truth of Parenthood #487: You will NEVER have enough storage for all your kids’ stuff. Now, I’m not saying you should just throw in the towel and heap everything in large drifts of toys in your living room, though I suppose complete surrender is an option. What I think the real issue is here is not the volume of storage needed but rather that the needs evolve as quickly as your child is growing, which is to say more rapidly than you can even comprehend. So, what is the exact perfect solution for your mess one day, won’t function for the new mess the next.

One day your kid is obsessed with trains, and just as you find the perfect under table drawer to tuck them all away, they’ve moved onto dress up clothes. So, what is an order-loving parent to do? My suggestion is to invest in versatile storage furniture that can evolve right along with your needs. Enter the bookcase. Now, I think whomever named the bookcase was selling it short. Bookcases come in many shapes and sizes, and can function to hold way more than just books…though they are great at that. They can hold toys, games, dishware, linens, even decor items. In fact, bookcases themselves can be a piece of decor. (Don’t believe me, checkout #shelfie.) Really the options are endless when it comes to bookcases.

So, where to start? First off, think about this purchase as you would a piece of furniture. It’s an investment, something you want to last. Not only that, it’s a piece of furniture that your kids will use and abuse, slide bins in and out, pull books on and off the shelves. It needs to be durable and high quality. Otherwise, you’ll just be buying another bookcase down the road.

In terms of design, I’m bucketing my top picks in three categories. BOOKcases, Mixed Use Storage and Functional Decor. Here are some features and benefits of each type of bookcase.

BOOKcases are just what they sound like, the perfect place to store books. I never say no to a new book, and always include books on birthday and Christmas wishlists to grandparents, aunts and uncles. As a result, we’re busting at the seams with books, a good problem to have. When looking for a storage solution for all those books, I’d opt for smaller footprint bookcases where you can curate collections of books that are currently of interest to your kids. What I mean by that is you may have a small book caddy in your living room for books to share together, then another in their bedroom that’s filled with their favorite bedtime stories and still another in the playroom with more activity based books. In addition, opt for low bookcases that keep books within reach of your child, and make it easy for them to put books away and choose new titles to read. You want the books to be as accessible as their toys.

For shared spaced you’re going to use what I call Mixed Use Storage. These are bookcases that can hold a whole range of items. Most of these come in either a tall narrow profile or something low and wide. So, you can easily choose what works best for your space. You can also bank a few for a whole wall of storage. When looking for a good mixed use piece, look for something that has multiple cubbies or shelves. That way you can designate spots for various items. These types of bookcases are great for books, games, toys and art supplies. You can layer in some bins to hold smaller toys. And, for taller versions use the upper cubbies and shelves for decor items like frames, vases and found objects or collectibles.

And last, but certainly not least are the show stopping pieces I call functional decor. These are pieces of decor unto themselves, but also serve the purpose of storing items and housing other decor elements for your room. These types of bookcases are equally at home in a nursery, playroom or living room, and can add a ton of personality to a space. My only caution would be to make sure not every furniture piece in your room is trying to make a bold statement. If you’re going with an over the top bookcase, you may want to opt for a more subdued sofa and chair, or a more traditional and clean-lined crib in a nursery. It’s really all about balance.

Chances are you’ll need a combo of all three of these in various rooms throughout your house. In writing this post I did a mental count and realized I have over a dozen different bookcases in my home, the only type of furniture I have more of is chairs! And each bookcase is filled to the brim; none holding the same items it was when I bought it. They’ve all evolved with my family’s changing needs.

Get the Look: Boys Car Themed Bedroom

September 2, 2016

Post by Stephanie, Home Stylist from The Land of Nod’s Design Services Team

There is something about styling a boy’s bedroom that feels like there aren’t really any rules. So long as there is a cohesive color palette, pretty much any motif is welcome to the party. Take, for example, designing a room with a transportation theme. The overall “transportation” moment can be expressed simply through a fun quilt and sheet pattern, like the Traffic Jam bedding set, while the supporting décor is free to take on any form that fits your kiddo’s personality. Does your little dude also love space? Why not add a fun planetary wall decal!

A floor pouf in a boy’s bedroom is a must for lounging around with pals after school. Sure, a standard option like a blue or yellow braided pouf would do the job, but a taco pouf just seems like much more fun, right? I mean, who doesn’t love tacos?

Whatever the theme is for your kid’s room, remember to have fun and not to worry about making every detail match perfectly. Building a little variety into your room design will leave opportunities open for any new interests your kiddo discovers down the road.

Happy Styling!

Post by Stephanie Geurkink, Home Stylist from The Land of Nod’s Design Services Team. Our Design Services team offers free one-on-one design advice, mood boards and space planning. You have a room to decorate? They’d love to hear from you. Visit The Land of Nod’s Design Services page to get started today.

Back to School Organization: Unpack Your Backpack Station

September 1, 2016

Post by Rebecca Green of Not-So-SAHM

Our kids are still wringing out the final days of their summer break, but I am in full on back to school mode. I’m a big organizer yet I constantly struggle with the kids’ backpack mess. They come in, fling their shoes off in the middle of the living room, and toss their packs to the side. And no one ever remembers to check in their backpack for actual work. So this year I decided to do something about it. Enter The Land of Nod’s Linear Book Cart.

I love thinking of new ways to use furniture and the book cart was the perfect solution to create an Unpack Your Backpack Station. Plus, Nod furniture is always designed so well, it can still fit into a grown up space. So I don’t mind having this one sitting in my entryway. I used the bottom shelf as a shoe holder and am hoping giving the kids a designated spot for shoes, instead of just “by the door,” will help the kiddos actually put them away.

On the top shelf, I added three X-Ray storage boxes: red for incoming papers, green for things that need to go back out to school, and yellow for items they want to save (like all the artwork ever). The see through boxes will help me see what’s actually there and make sure we just don’t put things away and not deal with them (out of sight, out of mind and all). I plan to go through the yellow box when it gets full and make a final call on keeping and filing them in the kids’ yearly school + artwork boxes or to tossing them. And once the kids get their weekly schedules from school (e.g., when reading books come home, when homework has to go back, what day to wear gym shoes, etc.), I might add those on to the end of the cart for them to follow.

But for now, I looped each kiddos’ backpack on the end so they always know where to find it. And I topped off the whole thing with my favorite Modern Facet Garland for a little fun. Thanks to The Land of Nod for helping us get organized — we’re all ready …. we just need school to start!

Rebecca is a mom to two young kiddos and, in her spare time (ha!), likes to pretend she’s a back-up dancer, craft cocktails, and run long distances. A relatively recent SAHM, she blogs family-friendly activities, DIYs and celebration fun at Not-So-SAHM.

Back to School…Back to Routine: Mornings

August 31, 2016

Post by Danielle Kurtz, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

I am not a morning person. If I had my way I wouldn’t have to speak to anyone for at least an hour after I wake up. That’s not really an option when you have kids. Though, my kids are also not morning people, so they’re pretty anti-social in the early hours, too. But, the problem is when you put three non-morning, pretty anti-social people together and make them get ready for work and school and out the door on time, well, it’s often not pretty.

I’ve definitely found the only way to have a generally successful morning where I actually remember to do and pack all the things is to have a strictly regimented routine. I do ever single thing each morning in the exact same order, every day. (Wake up kids. Make breakfast. Shower. Remind kids to eat said breakfast. Comb hair. Get dressed. Remind kids again to eat the breakfast. And so on.) Sure it can feel a bit like Ground Hog’s Day, but when I’m tired my brain just doesn’t work, so I forget things like lunchboxes, water bottles, coffee, makeup, shoes…the list goes on and on. So, being organized is key.

To do this I recommend setting up a command center of some sort. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy and you don’t need a ton of space. You just need places for a few key items.

Hooks – Somewhere to hang backpacks, preferably a dedicated hook for each child. Then you’re not scrambling around looking for backpacks as the bus approaches. You can also add in sweatshirts and jackets. If you have a 9 year old boy like mine, he’ll lose EVERYTHING, constantly. We’re on day 4 of school and he’s already lost a water bottle…no joke.

Bins – I think the thing about school that I was least prepared for was all the paperwork. It’s really nuts how much comes home, has to go back or you need to hang onto. So, I’ve found it important to devise a system for documents. You can organize them by date, or just a keep-for-reference and read-sign-and-send-back pile. It’s also convenient to keep this near your recycling bin because much of the paperwork just needs to be read, input into your google calendar and recycled.

Message Center – This sounds fancy, but you really just need a good old-fashioned chalkboard or magnet board where you can jot down reminders. “Don’t forget, sack lunch Wednesday for field trip.” Or “Friday is a HALF DAY!!!” These may seem like things your ultra-organized brain will remember but trust me, when you’re tired and arguing with your 6 year old about socks that “FEEL WEIRD!!!!” summoning your memory of school functions won’t be that easy.

Forgiveness – I don’t know how many days I’ve found myself driving to work having already felt all the feelings before 8am. No exaggeration, there have been days when I’ve broken into a sweat, cried and screamed all before my first sip of coffee. These aren’t moments I’m proud of. And, if you know me, you know I’m typically a very calm…eerily calm at times…person. So, it takes a lot of energy for me to have all these emotions, it’s definitely not the way to start a day. But, that’s where the forgiveness comes in. It’s not for your kids…they’re tiny sociopaths in the morning, you just gotta roll with that and you obviously still love them for being the awesome, independent, pain in the necks that they are. It’s yourself that you have to forgive. You’re not perfect, you’re human. You have limits. All you can do is forgive yourself and move forward. So buy yourself a giant coffee, do some yoga breathing and reboot your day. After all, there’s always tomorrow to try again.

Get the Look: Fresh & Fun Girls Bedroom

August 30, 2016

Post by Stephanie, Home Stylist from The Land of Nod’s Design Services Team

Creating a fresh and fun girls bedroom doesn’t have to mean wall-to-wall pink and ruffles. Instead, breaking away from the traditional feminine motifs and color combinations opens up a multitude of possibilities for unexpected and off-beat color and pattern pairings. Just check out this modern eclectic take on a girl’s bedroom for inspiration!

For a playfully feminine bedding option, I love the reversible Wardrobe Change quilt and coordinating sham. Your little fashionista can play dress-up even as she is climbing into bed for the night!

An area rug with a bold, triangular pattern can be just the right statement to set the tone for your kiddo’s bedroom. For accents like wall décor and bed sheets, why not try a mix of polka dots and stripes? Offsetting a large-scale pattern with supporting smaller-scale pieces in a complimentary color pallet strikes a playful balance that gives the room an overall sense of cohesion.

Happy Styling!

DIY Hanging Clouds

August 29, 2016

Post by Rachel, Nod’s Brand Marketing Manager

We gave our Chicago store a bit of a makeover recently. It’s filled with DIY hanging clouds! It’s really perfect for us because we all like to have our heads in the clouds a bit. The end result is whimsical and dreamy. Best of all, it’s easy to create yourself and would be the perfect addition to any kid’s room.

See below for instructions on how to recreate the clouds yourself. Share your clouds with #landofnod!

What You’ll Need

Styrofoam Balls (we suggest 4 inch and 6 inch for a bedroom)
Dowl Rods
Saw
Spray Adhesive
Poly-fill
Fishing line
Ceiling hooks (you’ll need two per cloud)

How to Make

Pick out 2-3 styrofoam balls that are different sizes. This will make the cloud have more dimension once it’s done!
Place next to dowl rod to measure. If the dowl rod will stick out more than a few inches once styrofoam balls are placed on it, cut with a saw. (Tip: Most home improvement stores will cut the rods for you if you ask!)
Push dowl rods through the middle of the styrofoam balls. Use adhesive to secure styrofoam balls to dowl rods if it isn’t secure.
Spray adhesive on 2-4 inch area of styrofoam ball. Place poly-fill on top. Repeat until styrofoam is covered.
Use spray adhesive and poly-fill to cover any cloud bald spots. (We’re really scientific around here.)
Let dry for an hour or so.
Wrap fishing line around the cloud twice and tie. Don’t worry, you won’t see it when it’s hung.
Attach fishing line to ties on cloud and hang from ceiling with a small knot.

Ever wonder who’s behind The Land of Nod social media accounts? That’s Rachel! When she’s not telling anyone who will listen that she’s not meant to live in cold, snowy Chicago, you will find Rachel hanging out with her husband and new baby and binge-watching Netflix after baby’s bedtime. Or starting crafting projects that never get finished.

Dorm Room Essentials

August 26, 2016

Post by Stephanie, Home Stylist from The Land of Nod’s Design Services Team

Ready or not, summer is winding to a close. With the change in seasons comes the start of a new school year. For some, this means heading off to the scary and exciting world of college. Moving away from home for the first time can feel incredibly intimidating, so making this new space feel personal and comforting is all the more important.

Customizing what is typically a one-size-fits-all dorm space can be as easy as adding an area rug and curtains. Using a bold color or pattern for these items creates a high-impact look with minimal effort applied. Plus, these are items you can take with you when you move out at the end of the year. Win win!

No dorm room is complete without a central command center for tackling any and all homework assignments. A clip-on desk lamp, pencil holder, and stylish desk chair are all definite must-haves. For a little personalization, try changing out drawer hardware with fun gold bow knobs and adding a personal moniker using Pattern Dipped wall letters. Before you go thinking mobiles are just for cribs, check out the bright yarn Pom Pom mobile, which can be a great opportunity to add a fun pop of color and texture to a loft bunk or near a window.

Saying goodbye to summer is never fun, but creating a stylish abode for the school year can make the transition just a little bit easier.

Happy Styling!

Animal Print Stamps Inspired by Charley Harper

August 25, 2016

Post by MJ of Pars Caeli

Hi friends! This is MJ from Pars Caeli back with a fun activity inspired by the unique creations of Charley Harper. Check out all of The Land of Nod products with Charley’s stamp on them! My kids and I love looking through his illustrations, especially his animals in this rhyming alphabet book. The way that he reduced the complicated lines of fur, wrinkles, and folds down to geometric shapes makes creating our own animal images less intimidating!

Building on his inspiration, we decided to use another simplified way of capturing animals – their tracks! We looked up the prints of our favorite animals. Some had hooves, others had paws, some were webbed and others showed their claws. Depending on the animal, the prints they create can look very similar to our own footprints!! We picked out four unique prints based on Charley Harper’s work to make our own tracks with some homemade stamps.

To create your own you’ll need:

cardboard
sponges
paint
glue/hot glue
paper

You’ll also want to decide what animal prints you want to make! We’ve created a template if you’d like to paint the same ones that we did. You can print the template and trace the outlines on your sponges – easy peasy. Create prints that a giraffe, elephant, duck and dog or rabbit would make!

First step, trace the template (or free-hand) the print for the animal you’d like to paint on the sponge then trim the sponge to that shape. When your sponge is more than a half an inch thick, it might be difficult to cut the shape the same on both the top and bottom of the sponge. No worries, remember you’re only using one side of the sponge to create the image. The reverse side of the sponge will be attached to a piece of cardboard and be the piece that you hold to stamp.
Once you have your image cut out, trim your cardboard to be slightly larger than your sponge shape so that you have enough room to hold onto the stamp without getting paint on your fingers. Glue your sponge to the cardboard, making sure that you retain the shape of the print that you want.
Squeeze your paint onto a palette or usable surface and place your stamp in the paint. Consider using a paintbrush to help spread the paint evenly across the stamp surface.
Stamp away! Get the creative juices flowing and have the kids think about questions like, how does an elephant walk? A rabbit pounce?

We had a ton of fun imagining how these animals might walk across our papers. It sure wouldn’t be the way we’d do it! As we painted and stamped, we decided these papers would make cute wrapping paper, too–bunny prints for spring and Easter packages and giraffe prints for a friend who is all about everything giraffe.

Give animal print stamping a try! It’s a great activity for kids of any age and size.
Xoxo, MJ

MJ is a graphic and product designer, wife, and proud momma to three. She founded Pars Caeli (meaning a piece of heaven), a delightful blog and shop, to add more creative to the everyday. MJ worked with our team to bring her lunchbox jokes to life in our product Lunchtime LOL Notes, now available at The Land of Nod to bring on a case of the giggles!

Back to School …Back to Routine: Bedtime Essentials

August 24, 2016

Post by Danielle Kurtz, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

Seems all I’m talking about these days is getting back into a routine for back-to-school. While I’m clutching onto the last bits of summer…the ease, the late bedtimes, the lack of homework. I know that the only way for my family to have a successful school year is through routine, routine, routine. There simply aren’t enough hours in our days to wing it. I know I’ll forget things, and my kids will turn into over-tired, stress monsters. Which will make me break into a sweat and behave in a less than calm, diplomatic manner which never really helps. So, I guess it’s time I say good-bye to the summer and get things back in order.

Now, there are three primary routines that concern me when it comes to keeping order and sanity in my house: Morning, After School and Bedtime. To me, it all starts with bedtime. So, that’s where I’ll start. I’ve often told my husband that I’m pretty sure 90% of unpleasant children (people) in the world are just tired. I know I’m unbearable when I don’t get enough sleep and my kids…geesh, they’re unrecognizable beasts. So, the biggest transition for us with back to school will be taking those creeping-a-little-later-each-night-bedtimes of summer, which lead to lazy sleeping-in mornings, and getting back to bedtime while the sun’s still out. (That may sound harsh, but sleep has been an obsession of mine since day one as a mom.)

Easier said than done, but I’m not above a little bribery or encouragement to accelerate the transition. Enter some new bedtime goodies to get my kiddos excited about bedtime. My 6-year-old daughter, Lottie, will be my biggest challenge. So we took a little shopping trip and re-outfited her bed with some of her favs from Nod, including these super rad Favorite Things sheets. Love them!

Beyond bedding, I put together a new bedtime kit for her to celebrate starting the 1^st grade. It consisted of the following:

Hooded Towel – As summer has worn on, we’ve gotten more and more lax about nightly showers, definitely something we need to get back to with gym class and soccer starting up. And, who doesn’t love a fresh new towel!

Nightlight – For all those late night trips to the potty.

New Books – Nothing says bedtime like a new bedtime story. Bonus points if it’s about being brave when facing a new challenge (ahem…1^st grade at a new school)!

Blanket – A little something extra to get cozy with as the summer heat gives way to chilly fall evenings.

Stuffed Animal – And, who doesn’t need a little moral support from a new plush friend?

Here’s hoping this is enough to get her excited about bedtime, and ready to tackle all that 1^st grade has in store for her. Stay tuned for my next post about the dreaded morning routine.

Get the Look: Modern Nautical Kids Bedroom

August 23, 2016

Post by Stephanie, Home Stylist from The Land of Nod’s Design Services Team

Whether you’re designing a playroom, a big kids’ bedroom, a toddler room, or a nursery, adding a little nautical style is always a great idea. With endless amount of complimentary pattern and color combinations, it’s a theme that won’t feel too age or gender specific. You can easily use furniture and décor to grow along with your kiddo’s ever-developing personality.

Who would have thought that a buffalo check beanbag chair could look even more awesome when paired with a rope patterned rug? Or that a pop of highlighter yellow would be just the right accent color for a wood and metal bookshelf? These unexpected product pairings go a long way toward making a nautical room design feel fresh and inspiring. For an added touch of whimsy, why not add a soft, friendly Ride On Llama buddy for your kiddo to take on adventures?

Wall paint is a very important decision for your room design. If you’re looking for something that can get you from nursery to big kid bedroom, stick with a neutral hue. You can always bring in brighter accent colors through wall art, throw pillows, and bedding. Giving yourself a flexible base color means more time between paint projects. What’s not to love about that?

Happy Styling!

Snack on English Muffins, Three Ways

August 19, 2016

Post by Corri of Glitter and Bubbles

Dining at home with your little doesn’t mean you have to eat the same thing, but it also doesn’t mean you need to prepare two opposing meals. Find some common ground, in this case English Muffins, and build on that. With so many ways to eat them you and your babes will have a ton of fun building these and experimenting with different ingredients in the kitchen. They are a huge hit at breakfast, lunch and dinner, so don’t be afraid to get creative! This is a fantastic way to get the little chef in your house to try new things…maybe even veggies. A parent can dream, right?

INGREDIENTS

2 Tablespoons Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 Eggs
2 Strips of Bacon, Cooked & Crumbled
1 Tablespoon Ricotta Cheese
1 Pear, Thinly Sliced
¼ Cup Pancetta, Baked & Chopped
1 Teaspoon Honey
1 Tablespoon Grape Jelly
1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter
4 Strawberries, Halved

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake the pancetta on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 7-10 minutes or until crispy.
Cook the bacon on a grill pan until crispy, flipping occasionally. Remove from heat, allow to cool, then crumble.
Place a medium sized cookie cutter on a skillet and spray both with cooking spray. Crack an egg into the center of cookie cutter, this will keep your egg nice and round. Allow to cook sunny side up until done. Repeat this process with another egg.
Place three English Muffins (6 halves) into the toaster. Top two halves with peanut butter, two halves with ricotta cheese and then sprinkle the remaining two halves with shredded cheddar.
Top the cheddar cheese halves with the crumbled bacon and eggs.
Spread jelly on the peanut butter halves and garnish with strawberries.
Top the ricotta halves with thin slices of pear (we used a Mandolin), followed

Corri McFadden is the Owner/Founder of eDrop-Off luxury consignment and creator of Glitter and Bubbles, a modern-day moms guide for those looking for inspiration through fashion, décor and food. The site was launched in honor of her daughter and muse, Zelda and gives daily doses of stylish “must haves”, easy recipes and unique décor that are suited to inspire even the busiest of Moms!

Cloud Bowls Breakfast Recipe

August 18, 2016

Post by Michelle Sterling of Avery and Augustine

If there’s one rule that everyone can agree on in the morning, it’s that breakfast shouldn’t be complicated. After all, you’re still trying to wipe the sleep from your eyes, ease into a state of alertness, tally up the things on your to-do list that must get done today (!), and get everyone else ready for that big rush out the door. And don’t be late!

It’s good to be ready with a specific lineup of quick breakfast options for each day of the week. Here’s one to add to your breakfast rotation that couldn’t be easier (with a cute name, to boot): cloud breakfast bowls. They have three components: yogurt, blueberries and toasted coconut. The yogurt is a good source of protein that will keep you and your littles feeling full throughout the morning, the blueberries add a natural sweetness and the coconut brings a hint of ethereal to your meal—because doesn’t toasted coconut smell heavenly?

There you go—your “what to have for breakfast” quandary is solved…at least for one day of the week. And that’s a great start.

You can see Michelle’s work and read about her two young children and their first forays in cooking, art and everything in between at Avery and Augustine.

Product Spotlight: Play tables as Coffee Tables

August 15, 2016

Post by Stephanie, Home Stylist from The Land of Nod’s Design Services Team

It only makes sense that a home with kids needs furniture that can stand up to kid-level activity. In order to survive, tabletop surfaces have to handle being banged on, colored on, and yeah, maybe even drooled on. But what do you do when you’re trying to create a space that can support both kid play time and grown up entertainment?

We’re talking basement recreation areas, family rooms and urban dwellings with no dedicated playroom space. These situations require furniture that is multi-functional, which is where our stylish Rotunda play table comes through for the win. The built-in storage bins are perfect for corralling any and all toys, games, craft supplies, blankets, and anything else you might need to tuck away. Plus, the circular shape means no sharp edges for tiny toddlers to bump their heads on. That feels like a triple win to me!

If a rectangular coffee table is what you’re looking for, have no fear! The Everlasting and Adjustable Height play table offer the flexibility to interchange three different leg sizes. The smallest size features 15” legs that are the perfect height for a dual-purpose play table and coffee table. Add a stylish floor pillow or pouf for extra seating and you’ve got an activity surface that morphs so seamlessly, it will blend into your home without batting an eye. If the time comes when you should want to turn your coffee table into a medium or standard-sized desk, you can easily swap out the 15” legs with either the 23” or 30” legs to give the table a height boost. Who doesn’t love a good life hack?

Happy Styling!

Get the Look: Vintage Nursery

August 12, 2016

Post by Stephanie, Home Stylist from The Land of Nod’s Design Services Team

I am wildly in love with the resurgence of Campaign style furniture reimagined in fresh hues like Kelly green, coral, and navy blue. It’s just the right amount of vintage nostalgia to bring into a living room, kid’s room, nursery, or even a home office!

If a vintage style nursery is what you’re looking for, the Campaign bookcase and dresser are your best friends. They offer plenty of storage space for books, toys, and all the accessories that come along with a growing kiddo. I recommend taking a no-fear approach and opting for the bold, rich Midnight Navy color option. You can play this hue against pretty much any color in the spectrum and it will work beautifully! Currently, I am loving the way it contrasts against the fluffy pink Royal Hippo crib skirt. Swoon!

When it comes to wall art, sweet dessert prints find their balance against floral accent wallpaper for a look that feels somehow nostalgic and modern at the same time. A navy faux leather pouf can double as extra seating or a footrest as you rock baby to sleep with a favorite book. For a decorative ceiling element, I like the idea of grouping a few small Gala chandeliers above a dresser or glider.

Who says a nursery can’t be both refined and playful at the same time?

Happy Styling!

Static Electricity Kids Activity

August 11, 2016

Post by MJ of Pars Caeli

Hi friends, It’s MJ from Pars Caeli, and I’m back with a great activity to get your kids thinking as back to school begins! This year we have a 6th, 4th, and 1st grader heading back to school, and I’m so excited to see how they’ll grow and all the new concepts they’ll learn this year. Until then, we’re taking on the world around us with a sense of adventure and exploration. I love to weave these kind of fun projects into our August activities to remind my kids how much fun learning is!

Balloons, whether water filled, helium, or just good old birthday ones, are a huge hit at our house so we decided to explore static electricity via balloons! You remember rub, rub, rubbing a balloon against your hair and trying to get it to stick to your clothes or against the wall? In this project we use the same process and harness the power of static electricity to give a big bear hug – one that will defy gravity!

In this project, you will need the following supplies:

Cardboard
Tissue paper
Paper
Pencil
Scissors
Googly eyes
Balloon
Glue stick

First, cut a bear body from a piece of paper. As you can see, we folded ours in half and made the head, ears, and body and cut it out so that the bear would be symmetrical.
Next, glue on a pair of googly eyes. You can also draw on the eyes if you don’t have any googly ones around.
Then take your piece of cardboard and glue the bear to it. **IMPORTANT Make sure that you glue only the top of the bear head and the very bottom of the body to the cardboard.
Take out the tissue paper. Again folding a piece in half, cut out a large butterfly-like shape that will be the bear’s arms. They should be extra long so that the bear can give a big hug to the balloon.
Slide the bear arms and legs underneath the glued body on the cardboard (like pictured above). Likely the arms will be kind of behind the head and the legs above the bottom of the body.
Next, blow up your balloon. As you blow it up, compare the size to the bear’s body. Once you’ve reached a size pretty close to that of the bear, tie off the balloon.
Now rub the balloon vigorously against your hair. Give it a good 30 seconds of rubbing.
Set the balloon gently on the bear’s body. What happens? Are the arms and legs clinging to the side of the balloon? If some are lagging behind see if you can get them to cling. Can you turn the bear upside down without the balloon falling down?

How does this work?

By rubbing the balloon in our hair, we transferred charged particles (called electrons) from our hair to the balloon. That action gave the balloon its own charge. When the balloon with all of its charge comes near the tissue paper that is very light, it is attracted to the charge.

With the four limbs, we create a kind of clutch all the way around the balloon that is stronger than the gravity forces that pull the balloon down!

If your balloon is not super attractive for the tissue paper, try rubbing the balloon again perhaps faster or longer this time to make sure that there is enough charge in the balloon.

See if there are other lightweight items around your house that the balloon might attract!

And most of all, have fun learning!

Xoxo, MJ