Gallery Wall Collections in One Click!

August 10, 2016

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

When it comes to creating a successful gallery wall, I think the key is to have plenty of variety, while still maintaining some continuity. Confused? Don’t worry, we’ve taken the guesswork out of creating your own gallery wall. Our designers have put together three different sets of art that will give you that curated look without all the legwork.

First up is this sweet set that’s ideal of for a nursery. I love mixing in the garland and the fox head to give the wall some dimension. And while there’s a bit of an animal theme going on, the various stylings keep it feeling eclectic. Best part, several of these pieces (the Half Dot Garland, the Forest Pop animal heads and the Elephant illustration) come in other versions. So, if prefer a bunny to a fox, or mint garland to grey, you can customize it to fit your room.

Next up, this set was designed to work well in a kids room or nursery. Again, the color on the garland can be swapped out to match your room. But, I love the subtle nautical vibe mixed with the functionality of a clock and mirror. Also, who wouldn’t want to remind their kiddo that they’re the best and the mostest.

And, lastly, I just adore the mix of sophistication and playfulness in this collection. The gold frames add a bit of drama, while the “Make Believe” print keeps things light and fun. You could even mix a few family photos to this one if you have the space, as well as a piece or two of your kid’s art framed in coordinating white or gold frames. It would make a lovely wall for you family room or living room.

If one of these isn’t quite your style, but you want a gallery wall and have no idea where to begin, have no fear. Simply contact our design services team. They’d be happy to create a custom gallery wall for you using pieces from Nod, as well as some you may already own. They’ll even throw in a DIY or kid art project to the wall if you want, and tell you precisely where to hang each and every piece. So, what are you waiting for…get decorating!

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.

Nostalgic Room at Grandma & Grandpa’s

August 9, 2016

Post by Joni of Lay Baby Lay

Hi there! It’s Joni from Lay Baby Lay. Recently, I shared plans to update the kids’ room at my parents’ house, using my childhood bedroom as inspiration (see here for the style board!). My childhood bedroom stands out vividly in my memory because of the bold, primary colors that fueled my imagination. The rich green carpet that was perfect for pretend landscapes, and the cheery bright orange and yellow curtains and a large rainbow on the wall made for a space that I adored. I’m so excited to show how the room came together – it’s fun to see how you can take somewhat of a retro color palette and make it feel fresh and nostalgic at the same time.

To start with, those yellow Jenny Lind beds simply take the cake. They are positively gorgeous, and I have to say that it would be hard to end the day on a bad note when crawling into one of these. To make them pop, I wanted light colored walls, but didn’t want plain white as I felt that would be too stark; these have the lightest touch of mint green (Glimmer by Sherwin Williams) to really show off this primary palette.

And I think this rug might be the precise shade of the carpet from my childhood. I remember being very upset when it was replaced with newer (I’m sure much better) carpet! I love the texture in this rug, and how it almost feels worn and loved. It’s all green, but it has lots of depth with the green appearing worn in certain places.

As this room will be shared by my girls when we visit, as well as my nephew and niece, I wanted it to be neutral and appeal to little Henry as well as the girls. I feel like this primary color palette does just that, and I also love how this bedding is neutral but still so much fun. And I can’t get over that 80’s pattern on that duvet cover.

A vintage mirror, my childhood record player, and some sweet photos of my mom as a girl all lend a sense of history to the space. I love mixing old and new; it always makes things more interesting and makes a room tell a story! Check out my post to see more details about the photos used here!

To get a better feel for the transformation, here is a before and after. Formerly the room had a queen bed, which took up a lot of space, and was a bit high for the little ones. (I love that these Jenny Lind beds don’t require a box springs!! The lower profile is so great for kids.) My mom had taken out some things that weren’t really appropriate in a kids’ room, so I was excited to give it a more cohesive look.

The girls (and Henry) are completely thrilled with the result, and I can already see that many sweet memories will be made here! Best of all, my mom is also happy with it, and I think she is glad to have this space feel more intentional. It’s also a really fun guest room for adults, as well, and all these beautiful pieces will grow with the grandkids. We already can’t wait to go back!

DIY Mirror Painting Kids Craft

August 5, 2016

Post by Rebecca Green of Not-So-SAHM

We are always on the hunt for fun art projects and I’ve had the idea to try “painting the sky” using mirrors for a while. But this summer has been a never ending cycle of huge rainstorms and sweltering heat. So it took us a bit to get to this one! We took advantage of a cool morning and a sky full of clouds to try it out. And the kids loved it!

The paintings rinse off easily, so they made sky scene after sky scene. Kane ended up with a simple background on which he’d like to add a collage. Cam, as usual, went messy and splattered a gorgeous final painting. I even got in on the fun. It’s the perfect temporary art project for summer and I suggest trying it out in bathing suits to get in on the water fun when you’re done!

To Paint the Sky, you’ll need:

Washable tempera paint in a few different shades of blue, white, and silver (here’s a good starter pack and a metallic pack. We like fluorescent colors too).
Small mirrors (I had several like this, so that’s what we used. You can also use an acrylic mirror like this to keep it extra safe for littles—just lay it down for this project and re-use as a self-portrait mirror too).
An assortment of paint brushes.
A paint palette (optional, but I like to have all the colors at the ready)

Find a good spot outside with a clear view of the sky. Set out the mirrors and paints and encourage your kiddo to watch the clouds move by on their mirror. When they see a scene they like, go ahead and paint the reflection they see onto the mirror. Rinse mirror with water, dry, and repeat!

p.s. thanks to The Land of Nod for the Painted Sky Duvet Cover—when I spotted it, it was too perfect not to grab for our project!

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.

How to Maximize Nursery Storage

August 4, 2016

Post by Rachel, Nod’s Brand Marketing Manager

For such little things, babies sure have a lot of stuff. And if you’re like me, you live in a small home. Which barely fit me and my husband before our sweet baby boy arrived in March.

So how’d we make room for all the blankets, diapers, clothes and toys? Luckily, I sit next to our design services team who have a few tips on how to maximize nursery storage. And trust me, these tips have been so helpful as we settle in to life as a family of three. Hopefully, they will help any parent-to-be feel a bit more sane during those late pregnancy nesting days.

How to Maximize Nursery Storage

Think Outside the Bookshelf – Pick wall shelves for all those books you receive as gifts. Our Straight & Narrow Book Ledges & On the Wall Book Bins turn books into a design element in the room without taking up valuable floor space.
Use Every Square Inch – That was the inspiration for our new Topside Crib. It has two huge drawers at the bottom for storage. It can still be converted to a toddler bed later down the road.
Everything Needs a Home – Even if it’s a burp cloth, make sure it has a place. Trust me, it helps at 2:30 a.m. when that little bundle of joy won’t stop crying and you’re scrambling to feed him or her.
Incorporate Storage Into Your Gallery Wall – Gallery walls are a great place to display knick knacks and family trinkets. We use the Invisible House Wall Shelf to store everything from booties to Henry’s hospital footprint. Wall hooks are also perfect for storing beautiful baby hats and mittens.
Throw It In a Basket – Spaces feel cleaner when you can’t see all the stuff. Bins and floor baskets are an easy fix to make you feel more organized.
Extend the Stuff Beyond the Nursery – Trust me, you’re going to spend a lot of time at home those first few months. And you won’t just be sitting in the nursery. It helps to create a baby station in the area you live in most. Pack it with a few toys, diapers, burp clothes and swaddle blankets.

A few of our best nursery storage pieces are below.

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.

Toddler Bedroom Moodboard

August 3, 2016

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

Is there anything more adorable than a teeny tiny toddler bed? How about two teeny tiny toddler beds? How about two teeny tiny toddler beds and teeny tiny bedding to dress it up with? Cute overload! The limbo stage between ‘too big for a crib’ and ‘too small for a big bed’ is the perfect opportunity to bring some of this toddler-sized sweetness into your kiddos bedroom.

If you’re looking to add a thematic element to your room design, the Under the Sea Mural makes for an easy-to-apply wall decal that you can remove and reposition as needed throughout the room. Pair this bold wall art choice with the pearly iridescent yarn detail in the mint Modern Mosaic rug and you’ve got one sweet toddler room!

A handy trick I like to use when putting together a toddler bedroom is using a step stool as a nightstand. Our Squared Up step stool is the perfect height to rest a comforting night light and a favorite bedtime book. Once your kiddo is ready for their big-kid bed and big-kid nightstand, the step stool can live on as a booster for reaching toys and toothbrushes.

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.

Cinnamon Toast Ice Cream Sandwiches Recipe

August 1, 2016

Post by Corri of Glitter and Bubbles

I scream…you scream…well, you are actually going to scream “I’m Hungry” after you get a look at this recipe! I took my two favorite treats, cinnamon toast and ice cream and came up with a delicious dessert that your littles will love. Some might consider cinnamon toast a breakfast only item but I love using it for dessert recipes, since it’s easy and quick to make. You can also transform it into different shapes, which is a great way to spruce things up in the kitchen (and your Instagram posts too!).

Ingredients

6 Brioche Buns
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
4 Tablespoons Butter
2 Eggs
Strawberry Ice Cream
Vanilla Ice Cream
Sprinkles

Directions

Use heart cookie cutters to cut each bun.
In a bowl, mix together cinnamon, melted butter and eggs.
Dip the heart shaped bread into the mixture and coat thoroughly and then grill on a grill pan until lightly toasted.
Sandwich a small scoop of ice cream between two slices, wrap in plastic wrap and allow to freeze for 1 hour
Serve to littles!

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!

Trend Roundup: Light Wood

July 29, 2016

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

It should come as no surprise that natural, light wood tones is back in style in a big way. Following the Scandinavian-inspired trend of simple, versatile design, lighter wood finishes easily find a home in pretty much any aesthetic. Whether you’re styling a bright, bold playroom, a neutral nursery, or a big kid’s bedroom, consider those natural maple and oak finishes your best friend. Not only will they make your room feel less crowded, but they tend to play well with other colors and finishes too.

Using natural wood tones in a playroom creates the perfect base for layering in pops of bright, colorful accents. The yellow and aqua wall shelves pop beautifully against the natural play table and white and natural toy box. Throw in colorful wall art like the Big City Landscape wall art and you’ve got a bright, modern playroom design for kiddos of any age!

Styling a bedroom that will continue to grow along with your kiddo is made all the more feasible by using a combination of white and natural wood finishes. You can easily customize the space with art prints and accent colors to bring in added personality and watch as your neutral furniture adapts to coordinate!

Happy Styling!

Fall Soft Seating Favorites

July 28, 2016

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

In flipping through our new fall collection, I started jotting down a list of things I loved. And, then I noticed a theme. A really strange theme, but a theme nonetheless. All the things I was going gaga for were oversized, soft and so fun! Plus, they all made great places to kick up your feet with a good book. So here you have it, some of my faves from our new fall collection.

Nod Turns 20: Artist Collaborations

July 27, 2016

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

Since we created our first product collection back in 1996, we’ve always worked closely with artists to create fresh, inspired designs. And while celebrating artists and makers may seem commonplace today, since the beginning of Nod we’ve always thought it important to highlight the artists behind our products and tell you their stories. From illustrating our catalogs to designing our product, we simply couldn’t have gotten where we are today without the collective ingenuity of the artist community.

One of the first artists we ever partnered with was Giselle Potter. Giselle designed product for us, as well as illustrating our catalog covers for many years. In celebration of our 20^th Birthday, we’ll be launching a capsule collection featuring Giselle’s work. Stay tuned later this year for those limited edition works.

Another artist that we’ve worked with for many years is Bill Eastburn. When we first started working with Bill he not only designed, but also handcrafted furniture and wood décor items for us out of his barn in Pennsylvania. Over the years as Nod grew, Bill’s role evolved. Today Bill still designs furniture for Nod, and is the talent behind some of our favorite items, like our Storagepalooza, which has been a Nod staple for over a decade. Like many of the artists we work with Bill isn’t a vendor, but rather a member of the Nod family.

People often ask how we find the artists we partner with. And the answer is truthfully, anywhere and everywhere. Our Managing Director, Michelle, made her first ever etsy purchase from a shop called AshleyG, and from there a longstanding friendship and partnership with Ashley Goldberg began. We’ve met countless artists via Instagram, Pinterest and Etsy. And been introduced to others from family and friends. Some send us emails and packages to introduce themselves, others we stalk on google until we can track down their contact information.

I’m often star struck when I finally get to meet an artist in person. The first time we met, I forced artist Michelle Romo to take a picture with me in the window of our South Coast Plaza store. (Sorry, Michelle!) The most striking thing I’ve noticed in all the times I’ve had the privilege of meeting these talented men and women is how humble and genuinely nice they are. This community that we’ve had the honor of being a part of is made up of such supportive and kind folks, it’s really astounding.

As a company, we are committed to supporting artists and giving you the story behind the items they help us create. Ultimately, we hope to be able to bring attention to these talented folks so that they can build a life fulfilling their passions, and frankly, quit their day jobs. So, stay tuned for many more artist collaborations on the horizon. From artists we’ve worked with for years, to many we’ve just met, there are many exciting products and projects to come. And, if you’re on social media, I’d definitely encourage you to follow your favorite artists, check out #artistsxnod, it’s so fun to get a behind the scenes look at how they bring their creations to life!

Product Spotlight: Athletic Club Bedding

July 26, 2016

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

Calling all swimmers, soccer stars, basketball champs, and volleyball hot shots! The new Athletic Club bedding collection has a little something for every sport-loving kiddo. I don’t think I have ever seen a throw pillow imitate a bathing suit and now I think I am a little bit in love. Who knew? Together with an assist from the mesh Orange Slice throw pillow and you’ve got a subtle homage to the days of soccer games and swim meets. When it comes to having game, the coordinating duvet and sham have got it locked down. Whatever court or field your kiddo calls home, they’ve got it represented in a colorful collage of boundary lines.

Playing off this all-star bedding collection is a snap. You don’t have to get too matchy-matchy when pulling complimentary colors for furniture and décor. A bold navy campaign nightstand and acid yellow area rug are great teammates for a bright, youthful bedroom design. Round out the look with an ice cream cone decor and apropos typographic print and it’s game, set, match!

Happy Styling!

Nod Turns 20: Vintage Reimagined

July 25, 2016

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

Having a kid is often times like being transported back to your own childhood. Remembering what it was like to be a kid, thinking about the way your world looked and felt to you as a child. It’s near impossible to parent without bringing in the experiences from your own life as a kid. It’s just that nostalgia that we try to incorporate into the world of Nod. That said, the needs of families have greatly changed since we were kids. So while we take cues from vintage designs, we always reimagine items for today’s family.

That might mean taking the classic design of our Jenny Lind Collection and updating it into a bright bold color. Or, taking something vintage like a veggie bin from an old grocery store and using it as inspiration for a toy box to corral all your little one’s stuff. Everything we create is rooted in the past, but made modern through fashion and function. We call this Vintage Reimagined. At Nod, you can count on seeing the familiar made fresh, the nostalgic reinterpreted, the classics reinvented.

In doing so, we hope we’re creating items that appeal to both parents and children. That way your home can feel like a true reflection of your whole family.

Take a Hike

July 22, 2016

Post by Rebecca Green of Not-So-SAHM

Hiking has always topped my list of our favorite family activities. We started out doing looped paved paths when the kids were too little to walk and had to be in a stroller, moved up to taking them in a carrier, and have finally graduated to both of them being able to walk a fair distance themselves. I use the term “hike” very loosely—we’re not out backpacking in the middle of nowhere. But a nice walk in the woods always seems to do everyone a bit of good, even if they’re not all for it in the start.

In fact, as I mention in my new book, Banish Boredom, our kids are known to complain about just “walking for no reason,” so I’m constantly on the hunt for ways to entice the kids to take a hike. We incorporate geocaching, take breaks for nature art, and use nature centers as something to look forward to. As the kids have grown, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that they’ve started to take more of an interest in outdoor survival skills (we recently read a great book, A Week in the Woods, in which a young boy survived getting lost by relying on his compass, a whistle, a fire starting set, etc.). So when I spotted Nod’s The Great Adventure Kit, I knew we had to test it out! Because as everyone knows, it’s really all about the gear.

We headed out on one of our favorite trails in Rock Creek Park. Each kit easily stores all the components in a great canvas bag perfectly sized for kids and designed with plenty of zippered compartments. They swung those on and we took off. The kids recently learned how to use trail markers, so they liked to stop at each one to check their compasses and see which way we were headed. And they were over the moon to find that their adventure kits also included a whistle with a thermometer on one side and additional compass on the other. We tested those whistles out the whole hike—believe me everyone heard us coming!

When a little rain storm hit, we stopped under a large tree for a snack and sketching break. The kit includes a great blank notebook and set of colored pencils. The kids each drew things they observed around them as the rain passed and the sun came back out. It was the perfect set of gear to get the kids out and about!

Thanks to The Land of Nod for letting us check them out!

Nod Turns 20: Quality and Safety

July 21, 2016

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

In honor of Nod’s 20^th birthday, I’m writing a series of posts about our history, our values and our ideas for the future. I’d like to start by telling you about our commitment to quality and safety. Here at The Land of Nod there is literally NOTHING more important to us than safety. We recognize that your baby’s crib may be the one place you leave them alone, and we take that responsibility very seriously. And we don’t stop at cribs, we go through a multi-point safety process on every item we sell. If we wouldn’t put an item in our own home, we won’t put it in yours.

Here’s what you can expect from us when it comes to safety:

We Test Everything

While we test our products for expected use, we also test them for foreseeable misuse. That means each piece is ready to stand up to anything you can (and can’t) imagine.

Meet and Exceed

Not only do we work to meet federal standards, we strive to exceed them. After all, safety should be more than just meeting the bare minimum.

Annual Checkups

Sure, we test all of our latest and greatest products. But we also give our current assortment an annual checkup to make sure they’re all safe, healthy and happy.

Sourced with Care

We personally travel overseas to inspect our products hands-on. We also work with independent auditors to make sure the artisans and workers creating our products receive livable wages and healthy, safe working conditions.

So, while worrying about your kids may keep you up at night, worrying about their safety when it comes to our products shouldn’t. We have safety experts here at Nod doing all that worrying long before the product ever gets to your home.

Along with our commitment to safety, Nod has also always been committed to creating high quality product built to last. Did you know that we have an 18-Year Quality Guarantee? At The Land of Nod, nothing is more important to us than providing safe, high-quality products to you and your family. We believe that kids’ products should be able to handle everything kids throw their way (literally and figuratively). That’s why all of our products have an 18-year quality guarantee. And, hopefully, your kids will no longer be sleeping in bunk beds by then.

So, as long as your kids are, well, kids, our products will last. And, frankly beyond that. We want the pieces you purchase from us to be an investment for your home. That means the dresser you purchase for your baby’s nursery should follow them all through childhood and right out the door to their first apartment. And while you may not be thinking about your sweet newborn moving out of the house anytime soon, rest assured that we’ve got you covered and we’ve built our products to last, so you can focus on more important things.

Topside Collection Kids Furniture

July 20, 2016

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

I wrote a while back about my love of our Topside storage bed. It’s super versatile in both fashion and function. So, our furniture designers took a cue from that bed and extended the Topside Collection to include a bookcase, dressers, a crib and, my favorite, a bunk bed. All have the same great styling and all that added space-saving storage that I love about the Topside bed. See for yourself.

First up, the dressers. These are really so much more than dressers, they’re kind of a dresser and bookcase in one. I think this is the perfect piece to go from nursery to big kid room. Just add a changer top for the nursery stage, and use bins to hold all the diaper changing necessities. Once you’re out of the diaper phase (congrats!), just remove the changer top, and store books, games and toys in the cubbies.

Next up, the Topside Bookcase. This piece is so versatile it’s kind of crazy. I love that there are shelves, an open bin and drawers. The shelves are adjustable and are great for books and board games. Or add a few baskets to hold smaller toys. The bin is perfect for stuffed animals and sports equipment. And, the drawers are great for all the mess you don’t want out in plain site…doll clothes, building blocks, toy cars, you name it. Plus, with it’s clean styling, this piece would look great in a living room or your kid’s bedroom.

The Topside Crib is really a no brainer. Baby’s have SO MUCH STUFF!! And, the area beneath the crib is usually just wasted space. But, with the topside crib you get two super roomy drawers for blankets, clothes, toys, extra bedding. I mean, imagine those 3 am diaper changes that are actually full crib changes and you could just pop open that drawer right there to grab a clean sheet….brilliant! The thing I love most about this crib is that it still feels light and modern. Many storage cribs feel very heavy, but this sleek design with the rope handles won’t overwhelm a small space.

Last, but definitely not least, my favorite, the Topside storage bunk bed. This is basically the holy grail of space saving solutions. In the floor space that’s usually taken up by just a twin bed, you get two beds, the ladder and 3 generously sized drawers. The ladder may not seem like a big deal, but a traditional ladder for a bunk bed does eat up a good bit of floor space. Also, I love the incorporated guardrails on the top bunk, keeping the profile of the bed to a minimum so it doesn’t completely dominate the room.

I really think this collection is perfect for anyone who’s looking to maximize space, and really what parent isn’t?

Nod Turns 20: Design for the Family

July 19, 2016

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

Nod was founded on the premise that you shouldn’t have to close the door to your kid’s room when your friends come over. Not only that, but kids things shouldn’t have to be relegated to their bedrooms and the basement. But rather, the whole home can be shared by the whole family, and therefore the items in it should appeal both functionally and aesthetically to the adults and children living in the space.

We think about the whole family every day at Nod. What exactly does that mean? Well, in thinking about the function of a product, we think about how the modern family lives. That means we create play tables that can also act as coffee tables, perfect for small spaces and urban living. And, we create upholstered chairs using Sunbrella® fabrics so they are extremely durable, after all spit up happens. In our latest collection we even designed our Flex 4-in-1, it’s a bassinet that turns into a crib and toy box and later into a toddler bed and toy boxes because children grow up, and we want our furniture to grow with them.

In addition to function, Design for the Family means that the look of our product is meant to inspire and delight both children and adults. Our product collections reflect some of the most current trends from the fashion and home industry because we know that the way your home looks and feels is important to you. That said, we always incorporate a wink or bit of humor to keep things fun for the little ones and appeal to the child in all of us.

Having a young family myself, I think it’s the perfect excuse to throw some design rules out the window and loosen up a bit with your home’s décor. Have some fun with it. I have our Hop, Skip and a Jump Mat as my hallway rug, and bits of hot pink in my living room décor. Like our Unicorn Lamp? Who says it needs to stay in the nursery, put it on your end table if you want, it’s your house. A home is the reflection of the family that lives in it, and my family’s laughing a lot of the time, so I like the décor to have that same sense of joy.

Fruit Dip and Melon Hearts Snack Recipe

July 18, 2016

Post by Corri of Glitter and Bubbles

I heart melons – literally! This heart melon, fruit dip recipe is a Summertime favorite and one of the easiest ways to show my love. Back in the day, we used to make melon ball salad but I always found they were hard to grasp with little fingers. By making the fruit heart shaped and stacking them on a popsicle stick, its not only easier to eat but dipping them ads a fun element. They won’t even know they are eating something healthy (Shhhh!)

The fruit dip recipe is simple, just add the following ingredients into one bowl and stir.

7 oz. Marshmallow Fluff
1/2 Cup Milk
8 oz. Cream Cheese Softened

Take a cookies cutter of your choice and cut fruit into different shapes and sizes. Add onto a popsicle stick and voila!

Nod Turns 20: Batteries Not Required

July 15, 2016

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

One of the first toys we ever sold at The Land of Nod was a set of hand-carved wooden baby blocks. And, we still sell a screen printed version of these blocks today, we call them Nod Blocks. They’re an updated take on a classic toy. While there’s no denying that technology is a huge and often necessary part of our kids lives, we’ve always set out to create toys that are fueled by a child’s endless imagination, rather than a power cord. We’ll never be the destination to get the latest toy that connects to your wifi. We know you have plenty of places to go for that. But rather, we offer an alternative form of entertainment that encourages your children to create imaginary places and stories and inventions.

As someone who works in a creative field, I know how important it is for me to constantly be creating. I really think we’re all born artists and inventors and makers, it’s just that if you don’t exercise those muscles, you forget how to use them. So here are a few of my favorite Nod toys to keep your little one’s imaginations whirring away. And, as an added bonus, these toys have been known to keep kids busy for hours on end, which might allow you some time for some creative pursuits of your own!

First, our patented Jetaire Camper Playhouse. I love this playhouse for so many reasons, not the least of which is its rad vintage styling. But my favorite part are all the clever details like the propane tank, curtains that open and shut and the license plate that reads “HPY-CMPR.” Think of all the road trips your kiddos could dream up with this bad boy. And, if imaginary camping isn’t their thing, we have tons of other just-as-ridiculously-awesome playhouses.

Next up, is our giant letter scramble game. As the parent of brand new reader, this game would provide endless entertainment at our house. Just shake the bucket, dump out the letters and spell. The best part is it’s made from soft fabric and the blocks are large enough that younger kids can use it to learn their letters, too. This is just one of the old school games that we have from puzzles and matching games and stacking blocks. And, more are coming this holiday season, so stay tuned.

It wouldn’t be a “batteries not required” top pick list for me if there wasn’t some arts and crafts represented. My daughter is a huge crafter, and I’ve found the key to raising a creative kid and having her choose art over more passive forms of entertainments is simply to keep the art supplies out in the open. That’s why I love this easel’s sleek Scandinavian design. I feel like it would be right at home in a shared space or a playroom. Plus, it has storage for all the supplies, and gives the option of chalkboard, white board and paper roll. If you don’t have space for an easel we have plenty of other arts and crafts supplies to choose from.

And to round out my top pick list, I have to go with this Unicorn Horn because, well, it’s a unicorn horn. But in all seriousness, dress up is always at the top of my toy list because it can be used and worn in so many variations. We design ours to be mixed with clothes and other items you might craft at home. So, you aren’t necessarily getting a costume in a bag, but rather a starting point for your little one to build from. So, mix this unicorn horn with a jetpack made from cereal boxes, and a tutu from your last dance recital, and you’ve got one heck of a Unicorn Astronaut costume for Halloween or any day really!

At Nod, we’re inspired every day by the imaginations of our customers and the artists we get to work with to design product. And, we use that inspiration to create products that are hopefully inspiring you and your kids to use your imaginations and see what you can dream up.

Outdoor Camping Themed Birthday Party

July 14, 2016

Post by Giulia, photographer and blogger at Giulia Doyle

The day finally arrived when my camp themed birthday party vision came alive and we welcomed a gaggle of girls for Maëlle’s 9^th birthday! The weather was perfect for our outdoor party, which was enhanced by a bunch of great camp themed products from The Land of Nod. I like to decorate for birthday parties with non-typical décor, things I either have already, such as these great poufs that we used to watch the movie, or items I’ll get to use in our house going forward.

We started the party by welcoming our guests and having them unpack their pillows and sleeping bags in the tent, which was set up in the back yard. We gave them each a camp T-shirt, a bandanna and a flashlight. Then we fed them camp inspired food, such as hotdogs, corn on the cob, watermelon and chips. All of this was finished off with sweet s’more cupcakes!

To accent the food table I used a framed poster as a table backdrop along with more traditional party décor. It set the tone perfectly for the party and will look great in my son’s room after the festivities. I also used a picnic blanket in lieu of a tablecloth.

After everyone was fed we headed to the crafting and games area around the Jetaire Camper Playouse. We set up blankets, a faux fire, floor pillows, pillows and a small table with items to make camp necklaces. I also spray painted Twister circles right on the lawn and we played quite a few great twister challenges, called out with the camp spirit bullhorn. The horn was also perfect to direct our scavenger hunt!

We finished the evening by gathering everyone in front of the tent with piles of pillows, poufs, raccoons and blankets as we projected a movie on the side of the house. As the sun set, solar lights illuminated the tent and we lit up the path to the house with glow sticks inserted in water bottles. While sleep was limited, all of the girls had a great time celebrating a birthday with a big camp out. What a magical party!

Giulia Doyle concentrates on food photography and travel photography – using the full color spectrum. She tries to live life to its fullest and will take every opportunity to travel or entertain. With her lovely family, she has big dreams of cottages by the ocean, boutique bed and breakfasts, brick and mortar stores or possibly moving back to Europe – if only she could make up her mind!

Product Spotlight: Wild Excursion Kids Bedding

July 13, 2016

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

The tribal print trend has officially taken over the home décor scene and for good reason! The playful patterns and versatile color options make it super easy to incorporate into just about any room design. Personally, I might be just a little obsessed with the playful tribal prints featured in the Nod-exclusive Wild Excursion bedding collection designed by Paper and Cloth. Whether you’re looking to add just a touch of pattern or go all-out with a head-to-toe design, there are a ton of options available for mixing and matching within each set.

Looking to put together a punchy but gender-neutral nursery design? Break free of the typical yellow-and-grey routine and bring in some bold orange and rich navy hues for a design that feels fresh, unique, and welcoming for either a baby boy or girl.

The coordinating tribal prints and complimentary color options within the Wild Excursion collection make styling a shared space for a boy and girl a cinch. Just mix in a few fun throw pillows to give each kiddo their own personal style and viola! You’re good to go!

If pigs and elephants feel a little too youthful for your youngster, you can take it up a notch with the playful lion print bedding set in bright orange. Touches of grey and beige help balance out the bold design for a look that works for any big kid room!

So go ahead and take a walk on the wild side and add some tribal flair to your next room design!

Happy Styling!

Happy 20th Birthday to The Land of Nod!

July 12, 2016

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

Nod's 20th Birthday

We’re super excited to be celebrating 20 years of Nod this fall. I know on my kids’ birthdays I like to tell them the story of how they came into the world, so I thought it would be nice to take a moment and tell you all the story of how Nod came to be.

Happy 20th Birthday to The Land of Nod!

It all started way back in 1996 when Nod was just a twinkle in the eye of a new dad-to-be. (Can we all pause a minute to recognize that 1996 was 20 years ago?! That’s craziness! Anyway, back to the story.) Scott Eirinberg and his lovely wife Karla were expecting their first baby, so they set out to decorate the nursery. They very quickly found that the world of baby décor was rife with duckies and teddy bears all in pale shades of pink, blue and yellow. It was all very saccharine and obvious and just didn’t jive with their own sense of style. Scott was a serial entrepreneur, so his immediate reaction was if it doesn’t exist we should create it. He enlisted the help of his childhood friend, and fellow entrepreneur, Jamie Cohen and in 1996 they founded The Land of Nod. Happy 20th Birthday to The Land of Nod!

They named the company after a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. And in the fall of ’96 mailed the first Nod catalog. The internet was in its infancy back then, so catalog was the quickest way to launch a nation-wide company. The catalog featured a range of products for kids and babies all with a sophisticated yet playful style, and plenty of potty humor mixed in for fun. After all, sometimes as parents you have just two options, laugh or cry. At Nod, we opt for laughter whenever humanely possible.

Happy 20th Birthday to The Land of Nod!

By 2000 another retailer that just so happened to be located down the street from Nod headquarters came knocking on the door. Crate and Barrel had taken notice of what this little company was doing and decided to invest in growing the brand. With Crate and Barrel’s help, we launched our e-commerce website and opened our first stores.

Happy 20th Birthday to The Land of Nod!

By 2011, both our founders retired and handed over the reigns to our now Managing Director, Michelle Kohanzo. Michelle grew up at Nod. Starting back in ’99 she worked in pretty much every department throughout her career at Nod giving her the unique perspective on how to grow the brand while staying true to the creative, quality and safety standards that Jamie and Scott set out to achieve. Happy 20th Birthday to The Land of Nod!

Today, we have a much larger product assortment, most of which is exclusively designed just for us. We have five retail stores, and five shops inside of Crate and Barrel stores around the country. We’ve also grown from those two guys working out of the basement of Scott’s home, to nearly 200 employees. Happy 20th Birthday to The Land of Nod!

Having been a part of Nod for 17 of those 20 years, I can tell you that though a lot has changed much has remained the same. We still strive to create product that is sophisticated and playful, designed for everyone in the family. We’re still all entrepreneurs at heart. And we still opt for laughter as often as we can. Not only that, all of the core beliefs that Nod was founded on are still alive and well today. Follow along over the coming weeks for more posts about Nod’s history and visions for the future.