DIY Dream Catcher Mobile

September 22, 2014

Written by Angie Ramirez of Little Inspiration

I have always wanted a dream-catcher and now that the Land of Nod California Dreamin’ collection is out, it inspired me to create a dream catcher mobile. With only a few materials, and super easy steps, you can re-create your very own dream catcher mobile; perfect for any room of your home.

What you will need
– One 10inch Metal Gold Ring (purchased at Hobby Lobby for $1)
– Gold thin Ribbon
– Fishing Rod
– White Feathers
– Gold Paint
– One Thumb Pin

First Step: Paint the tip of the feathers with gold paint. Let dry completely.

Second Step: Get a long piece of gold ribbon and begin tying the end of the ribbon as shown below. Tie the ribbon across to the other side of the ring and repeat.

Third Step: Tie as you go along crossing over the ring to form a scattered pattern.

Fourth Step: Hot Glue the tips of the feathers to both ends of a piece of twine and tie to the dream-catcher ring. Adjust each twine to your desired length.

Attach two long pieces of fishing line to each side of the dream catcher ring. Tie all ends in the center and then tie to a thumb pin. Use a thump pin to attach to the ceiling.

Angie is a stay at home mom, Latina and a blogger living in sunny southern California with her husband, 2 year old daughter and newborn son. She blogs at Little Inspiration, a personal and craft blog that is meant to capture motherhood and share her ideas inspired by her “little inspiration; my baby girl.

Girl’s Room Design for an Animal Lover

September 19, 2014

Post by Kim Grosser of The Land of Nod’s Design Services Team.

Yellow Bunny Wall Art / Owl Always Love You Framed Wall Art / Bear Hook / Personalized Table Lamp Shade / Nickel Table Lamp Base / Hampshire 6-Drawer Dresser / Mint Larkin Bed / Twin Well Trained Sheet Set / Gold Pinstripe Pillow / Yellow Ruched Throw Pillow / Snug as a Bug Quilt / Mint Faux Leather Pouf / Chevron Rug

This room was designed for a little girl with a love of animals. We took care to balance the lighter elements (mint bed) with the richer elements (navy bedding, rug) while including animal accents.

A few other easy-to-incorporate elements include:

Warm vs. Cool – We paired our mint Larkin bed with the stone Hampshire dresser because of the warm and cool contrast. The two warm vs. cool contrasts in this design are mint vs. taupe and metal vs. wood.
Pops of Color – Notice the yellow accessories throughout the room. Pops of color help give rooms an interesting visual point.
Balance – Navy was chosen to balance out the sweetness of the mint bed. It helps add balance and contrast.

Design by Kim Grosser of 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.

Adventurous Kids Dress Up

September 18, 2014

Post by Rebecca of A Feteful Life

One of the things I love most about my children are their wild imaginations and ability to take a few simple elements and spin an involved, creative tale. They particularly love to do this outdoors where they can pretend play along with the story. So when The Land of Nod asked whether we’d like to try out some of their new fabulous dress up, I immediately jumped at the chance. We’d just finished up a looooong chapter book on CD — a story filled with mythical creatures and adventurous treks through woods — and I knew that Nod’s Wild Wings and Dress-Up-A-Lot Knight costumes would be the perfect primer to our own imaginative tale.

I’d seen many a DIY bird wing patterns that my non-sewing-self didn’t dare to attempt, so I was in love with the Wild Wings set of gorgeous, brightly-colored felt wings that attach at the arm for full flapability. Somewhat surprisingly, my daughter also loved the beak and insisted on wearing it most of the day as well. We had detailed discussions as to what kind of bird creature she was going to be — peacock, gryphon, and phoenix were the final contenders — but in the end, the phoenix won out. There was no question that my son wanted the knight costume and he decided his job was going to be to help protect the phoenix as they sought out trolls. With our story sketched out, we spent the morning in part of the National Arboretum, which is one of our most favorite spots for storyplaying.

My kids LOVED the costumes. The quality is great (super soft) and I love that they could wear their regular clothes under them. They’d be the perfect Halloween costume for a kiddo who likes to stay comfy, and last long after for imaginative play. A definite win for us. Thanks to The Land of Nod for giving us hours worth of new dress up play!

P.S. We found the trolls under the largest bridge and, despite numerous tricky traps, made it out with all our feathers intact.

Rebecca and Suzanne are bloggers, graphic designers, and event stylists living in Washington, DC. 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. Suzanne is a big fan of good design, good wine, and her two rambunctious little boys. They share DIY lifestyle and event styling projects at A Feteful Life. Rebecca also blogs kid-friendly projects at Not-So-SAHM.

Shop all Land of Nod Kids Dress Up

Art to Your Heart’s Content with a Kids Art Jar

September 17, 2014

Post by Michelle of Avery and Augustine

I’ve been a huge fan of process art since working in a Reggio Emilia-based preschool some years ago and discovering the works of Bev Bos and Mary Ann Kohl. This approach is about providing a variety of materials, tools, objects and media for your children to explore when they are first starting out in making art. They create, they express their ideas, they learn to put things together in new ways and they have fun! There’s no mold for them to fit into and no other’s person’s vision that they’re carrying out. It’s “all them” and they become confident and independent creators who feel that their ideas are respected. This is why I love this collection of art supplies and materials in the Artist’s Surplus Art Jar. There are a ton of different textures and shapes that provide wonderful, open-ended opportunities to invent, innovate and create art. This kids art jar kit is good for a sunny or rainy afternoon, and in fact, is great to pull out regularly to provide some daily or weekly creative free time!

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.

Shop all Land of Nod Kids Arts & Crafts

Get the Look – Deco Pop

September 16, 2014

Written by Anna Passadori, Nod’s resident trend expert

For this look I was inspired by a mix of Art Deco and the 1960’s, with a modern twist. Perfect for a girls’ room or nursery, this look is glamorous and bold with a flair for the over the top and dramatic.

Don’t be afraid of adding in dark colors like black or navy. These rooms are still very edgy and feminine without being overly saturated in pink or neutrals:

Add in plenty of vintage pieces, but update them in modern colors or fabrics will help keep the look feeling current and new:

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Use jewel tones and pops of color with a 60’s vibe. Mix up the materials using both high shine metallic’s and rich textiles. Look for overly feminine details and accessories:

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For a touch of softness, add in sheer or velvet fabrics, floral motifs and delicate details:

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Now, try it for yourself!

Snug as a Bug Quilt / Two Ring Table Lamp / Swiss Dot Sheet Set / Campaign Nightstand / Patina Rug / Rose Bouquet Framed Wall Art/ Little Bow Wall Hook / Gold Standard Wall Shelf / Feed the Animal Cat Bank

For more inspiration, click here!

Anna develops and designs exclusive product for The Land of Nod. She hails from the west coast and has traveled the world to source product. She loves anything Marc Jacobs, Sofia Coppola or stripes! (So, if anyone can get a photo of Sofia Coppola wearing a striped outfit by Marc Jacobs, please send it along.)

Family Game Night

September 15, 2014

Post by Suzanne of Not-So-SAHM

This summer was a whirlwind of travel and adventure. It never seemed like we had time to sit down as a family and catch up. Strangely, now that the school year has started our calendar has calmed down and we have found ourselves home with nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon. It has been heavenly.

This past Saturday was unbearably hot and the kids had tired of playing outside so with a little help from our friends at Land of Nod and their Don’t let the Blocks Drop game, we had an awesome family game night.

My kids are obsessed with building blocks so I knew instantly they would be tremendously excited about this game. They were equally excited about making moves that kept the tower standing as they were when the tower came tumbling down. The game is so simple but so fun and was easily enjoyed by my 3 and 6 year old. Fun, fun!

Planning the first move.

“I did it!”

Yummy snacks.

Eeek, it’s getting really tall!

Falling, down, down, down…

All down, what to do now?

Time to build something new!

DIY Kids Backpack Name Tags

September 12, 2014

Post by Rebecca of A Feteful Life
New backpack time is serious business in our house. A lot of negotiation goes into picking the perfect pack, so it drives me a bit nuts when I have to write their names in permanent marker on them. Soon enough they’ll be scuffed up and filled with all sorts of odds and ends. So I thought it’d be fun to make backpack name tags with the kids this year and Nod’s Jewelry Beads & String Set was the perfect way to do it! The kids loved picking out the colors, shapes, and letters themselves. And I love that it keeps their stuff labeled without permanently marking it. Plus, jewelry for the whole family are also now in the works.

No real complicated directions. Just pick out the color of string, the letters in your child’s name, and a few colorful wooden beads to go at each end. Have your kiddos string on the beads, helping them with the order and direction as necessary. Loop the finished tag through the backpack’s zipper and tie securely — leaving a little length of string for it to hang nicely. Cut off the extra string and save for other jewelry! Just like that, you have cute DIY name tags for backpacks!

Rebecca and Suzanne are bloggers, graphic designers, and event stylists living in Washington, DC. 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. Suzanne is a big fan of good design, good wine, and her two rambunctious little boys. They share DIY lifestyle and event styling projects at A Feteful Life. Rebecca also blogs kid-friendly projects at Not-So-SAHM.

Girl Sailor Nursery Design by Lay Baby Lay

September 11, 2014

Post by Joni of Lay Baby Lay

This little girls’ nursery is nautical, but with a feminine twist. I love this slightly unexpected combination. Below is the inspiration for “girl sailor”:

Heart of Gold Wall Shelf / Hanging Around Pendant Light / Brass Seagulls, vintage / Un Deux Trois / Sea the Sea / Gold Standard Shelves / White Between a Rock and a Lamp / Greywash Keepsake Crib / La Pina Print / Monarch Dresser / Iconic Baby Bedding, Moon / For the Birds Canvas / Mid Century Rocker / Precious Metal Nightstand / Pink Half Shell Rug / Little Bow Hooks / Whale Friends Print / Chalkboard Globe / Pinstripe Floor Bins

Here is how the board translated into a real space:

That greywash keepsake crib has just the right bit of beachy feel to it. The brass and gold details give the space a bit more of a feminine feel, and the wood textures add warmth. It makes me feel instantly relaxed. And please, that mid century rocker? I’m in love. (The actual pendant light used here is the aviary light).

That Heart of Gold wall shelf is a great little display for small treasures or necessities, and it will be sweet to keep around as baby grows, too. It’s a good thing to keep in mind how quickly the little ones grow; including pieces that will last is smart, and this is a good one.

I’m really crazy over these new floor bins. The rope handle detail is perfection, and they make for roomy storage, which is super handy to have for laundry and toy storage! They are also sophisticated enough to place anywhere in your home; having quick storage options for easy cleanup is really handy! Lastly, that pink rug really ties it all together; it’s the perfect girly-but-not-frilly piece to complement the nautical touches. Want some of these pieces for yourself? Shop for all your baby essentials at The Land of Nod.

Lay Baby Lay started in 2011 shortly after the arrival of my first baby as a place to provide fresh and unique nursery inspiration with a little dose of motherhood experience. This site is my creative outlet and the place where I am able to express all the ideas running around in my head. It is my hope that you will also be inspired to create spaces for your little ones that are full of imagination, color, and delight and maybe find a little encouragement in this crazy but wonderful journey of having babies and watching them grow.

Back to School Family Dinner

September 10, 2014

Post by Kelsey Nixon of Kelsey’s Essentials

If you’re like most parents, you’ve recently sent your kids back to school for another school year. This can be such an exciting time for some kids (and parents!) or a dreaded time for others. Whether you’ve got kids who are thrilled to be back in school or kids that are requiring a pep talk each morning, one way to celebrate the big change is with a back to school family dinner. It’s a great way to celebrate your kiddos as they embark upon another year and discuss things like goals. Below you’ll find my best tips for pulling together a fun dinner that is sure to be memorable and may even turn into a tradition for your growing family.

Menu

When it comes to the menu, let your kids be in charge! By making their favorite recipes you can really make your kids feel like a big part of this event. If you get requests like boxed macaroni and cheese or grilled cheese sandwiches, consider making a grown up version of these kid favorites. Dishes like my Grilled Cheese with Bacon, Apple and Cheddar, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and my Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese are great options.

Fun

Decorate the table with a school theme to get your kids in the back to school spirit. A crown is always a fun accessory that will make any young kid feel special. Traditional items like a school bus, desk supplies (1,2), books, and a globe are a great way to pull off this fun yet simple look. Or maybe you turn over the decorating responsibilities to your kids completely!

Plan a few simple activities for your dinner that will help generate conversation amongst you and your kids. Depending on the age of your children you can take a simple Alphabet book and play a game where they identify one thing that they’re looking forward to this school year based on the letter that they flip to. For example, if your 2nd grader flips to “R” they might enthusiastically exclaim “Recess!” While your 7th grader might flip to “S” and sheepishly mention that school dances should be a lot of fun. This can be a great way to discuss all of the positive things to look forward to.

Tradition

To get the whole family involved, consider picking a theme for the year. Something that the entire family can focus on as a whole. Think of it as a yearly mission statement. Creatively displaying this theme with something like this darling banner is a great way to remind your kids of the theme day in and day out. You could also make an effort to set some personal goals with each of your children as well.

A back to school dinner is also a great time to fill out a memory book recording your kid’s stats as they enter their respective grades. Whether it’s as simple as their age and height or a bit more detailed like their favorite foods and subjects in school, your kids will get a kick out of the documentation.

Cooking Craft

For dessert, try this simple cooking craft that will get everyone in the spirit to hit the books and head back to school. Make these flashcard graham cracker cookie sandwiches by simple spreading chocolate buttercream frosting in between two graham cracker cookies. Decorate the tops of the cookies by using white frosting to pipe on traditional numbers and letters that you’d find on flash cards. These cookies are best if you make them a day in advance and let them sit in an airtight container overnight. They get soft and chewy and are so delicious! It’s a great alternative to a traditional cookie or cupcake and easy enough that your kids can help make them. My own mom made these cookie sandwiches for me and my siblings growing up!

Kelsey Nixon is the host of Kelsey’s Essentials on Cooking Channel and author of Kitchen Confidence. Kelsey’s Essentials is also currently airing Mon-Thurs at 3pm on Food Network. Kelsey, her husband Robby, and son Oliver (“Ollie”) live in New York City. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Learning To Tell Time Kids Game

September 9, 2014

Post by Michelle of Avery and Augustine

With Avery starting kindergarten soon, this is the perfect game to help her learn how to read a clock and tell time. It includes analog and digital clock formats, with so many opportunities to practice. Hoping that “time will fly” while she’s having fun playing this!

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.

Chicken & Cheddar Corn Chowder

September 8, 2014

Post by Rebecca of A Feteful Life

chicken-cheddar-corn-chowder-recipe

This chowder’s warmth might make you think of fall, but it is bursting with Indian-summer flavors from fresh corn and peppery arugula. Keep cooking easy with this (almost) one-pot dish. Click on thru to A Feteful Life for the full recipe.

Easy On-the-Go Kids Meals & Snacks

September 5, 2014

Post by Corri McFadden, of corrimcfadden.com & Glitter and Bubbles

Busy Moms (and Dads) know that any easy-to-prepare meal for their kids is gold. I wanted to share my three favorite meals/snack bites that are so delectable; once you eat one of these you won’t be able to stop! These quick bites are perfect for when you are running from soccer practice to ballet lessons or have a last minute play date at your home. Just follow these easy steps and you’ll have your little ones clearing their plates!

Party Pinwheels

Using an electric mixer, blend together 1 package of ranch dressing mix, 1 package of softened cream cheese, 1 package of ranch dressing, and 2 chopped green onions. Spread the mixture onto a soft tortilla shell, making sure to cover just one side completely.

Sprinkle your choice of toppings onto the tortilla; I like to use chopped celery, red pepper, black olives, and cheese. Next roll up each tortilla and wrap in aluminum foil. Place wrapped rolls in the refrigerator for 2 hours prior to serving.

Remove the aluminum foil and slice end into 1/4 -1/2 think bites. Remember to cut off the ends!

Pizza Crescent Rolls

First, simply coat the crescent triangles with your favorite pizza sauce, and then add mozzarella and diced pepperoni.

Next, roll up the triangles and set the bake time needed according to the crescent roll directions. These pizza rolls are great to enjoy with a family game night or kid’s party.

Mini Nilla Wafers

This might be one of the most adorable desserts on the planet and a healthy dessert choice for you family. Spread the peanut butter onto the bottom of 2 mini Nilla wafers. Place a banana slice between the two wafers. Next, roll the banana sides through sprinkles in a wheel-like motion until you have the desired amount. Enjoy!

Corri McFadden is the owner and founder of eDrop-Off Luxury Consignment. As a Style Expert and successful blogger, she hosts a weekly fashion segment on Chicago’s “You and Me This Morning”, and features “Style Recipes”, videos and Fashion “Must Haves” on her self-titled lifestyle website Corri McFadden. Most recently, she launched Glitter and Bubbles, a modern day moms guide for those looking for inspiration through fashion, food and décor.

Back to School — Golden Glam Green Study Space

September 4, 2014

Post by Rachel Shingleton, blogger and product designer at Pencil Shavings Studio

Today’s back to school inspiration is all about going gold and glam. I love how gorgeous and dramatic emerald green is when paired with metallics, and especially with a pop of black here and there for good contrast. This kids study space is elegant and pretty – perfect to grow up with! And I’m loving the modern gold pendant lamps hung as a group of three – think how fabulous they’d be as a group of 5! Happy studying, little scholars!

Electron Pendant Lamp (three shown) / Floral Pop Canvas Wall Art / Green Campaign Desk / White Homeroom Metal Desk Chair / Gold Pinstripe Pillow / After the Rain Rug

Designer Rachel Shingleton never met a color she didn’t love. At Pencil Shavings Studio, she writes about how to integrate color and style into interiors, fashion, and decor. She also designs a line of paper goods, home decor, and tech goods for her shop. Named Better Homes & Garden’s Editor’s choice for top decor blog, she love helping people find a way to bring color and cheer into their everyday lives.

Behind the Scenes — Creating Our Well Nested Kids & Baby Bedding

September 3, 2014

Post by Elizabeth Olwen, designer behind Nod’s Well Nested bedding

Hello out there! I’m Elizabeth Olwen and I couldn’t be more pleased to be here to share a behind-the-scenes look into the inspiration behind my new Well Nested organic kids and baby bedding collection with the lovely folks at the Land of Nod. It’s close to my heart!

I remember the first bedding that I got to pick out for my own bedroom when I was a little girl. I felt like a princess and it felt so special to crawl into my bed every night and sleep under a print of large, soft pink rose petals. Patterns have been a passion of mine for as long as I remember. And when I grew up and discovered that I could be the one designing those beautiful patterns that people live with day in and day out, I knew I’d found my calling. As most fresh-faced pattern designers, I made a list of dream clients and hoped to one day see the dreams become reality. For me, The Land of Nod was at the very top of the list. And I always hoped that I could create bedding that another little girl or boy would swoon over in their own bedrooms. So, it’s so exciting to be here to tell you about my first bedding collection with the Land of Nod.

This collection was based around the theme of the bird’s nest, which I think is an adorable theme for babies. I am a nature-lover and one of my favorite things to do is to go camping, and ultimately, for long walks through the forest. I love foraging for motifs and shapes that can inspire my work. And I often emerge from the forest with visions of the forest floor, which is covered in twigs and branches, berries and plant life, and the sounds of birds and squirrels and other wildlife chit-chatting in the forest. These walks continually inspire my work. I’ll sit down and draw for hours in hopes that a theme or idea will take shape. I love the concept of a mama bird doing her own foraging in the forest, gathering what she can to make a nest for her eggs. And it’s something that we humans love to do too. So for me, the theme of nesting was a natural fit for a bedding collection for little ones.

The collection began with the irresistible idea of crib sheet with a large nest, in which a baby would sleep. The coordinating collection is based on the surrounding forest environment and raw materials for building a nest of your own… A twiggy, branch pattern. A duvet of acorns, berries, feathers, mushrooms and pine cones. And a few egg, acorn and twig coordinates. All in a soft modern color palette. And it only seems natural that it’s all made from comfy organic cotton.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the collection. The collection is available for baby (pink or blue), toddler (pink or blue) and kids (pink or blue). And while I know the bedding was intended for kids, I don’t think I’ll be able to resist getting some of my own, seeing that the designs are also available in double and queen! I hope that the collection is the perfect backdrop as you watch your baby birds grow, and that little girls and boys that get tucked into it every night have that same very special feeling that I did when I was a little girl. Stay tuned for more fun products collaborations coming soon!

Elizabeth Olwen is a Surface Pattern Designer from Toronto, Canada who creates patterns for fabric, stationery, apparel and décor.

Back to School Breakfast Celebration

September 2, 2014

Post by Rebecca and Suzanne of A Feteful Life

Yippee! I am SO excited that my kids are back in school (I think they are too). This year, I thought it would be fun to celebrate the occasion with a little back to school breakfast with some of the Meri Meri Toot Sweet Party Collection. I put together one of the kids’ favorite breakfast “treats”: a yogurt parfait bar. I don’t know why, but as soon as I spoon layers of yogurt into a glass and call it a parfait, they’re happy to eat pounds of fruit on it. Add in a few mini cinnamon rolls in Toot Sweet cupcake wrappers topped with whimsical party kiddos (and pets!). And some sparkling orange juice in cute cups with fringed striped straws. Now that’s a back to school breakfast party.

After they’d had their fill of goodies, I measured each of them on Nod’s “ABC Animal Growth Chart.” I’ve always wanted to keep track of their heights that way and figured now was as good a time to start as any. I also do a pretty abysmal job at keeping their baby books up to date, so I thought a “back to school interview” would be a fun way to capture their personalities and kick off the new school year. I interviewed them separately as they tend to feed off what the other says and I found their answers both accurate and hysterical. And you can find our free interview printable over at A Feteful Life!

Now off to school!

Top 5 Dorm Room Accessories

August 29, 2014

Written by Anna Passadori, Nod’s resident trend expert

Dorm rooms can be drab and sterile – so we’re here to help! This room will serve as a place to sleep, hang out, study and more. It’s important to accessorize, create storage, organization and make it your own. Here are the top five things to think about when picking out dorm room accessories as well as some of our favorite examples below:

1) Storage, storage, storage!! Thoughtful storage is a must-have for tiny dorm rooms. Skip the generic plastic bins and use this as an opportunity to bring in some color & style.

2) Wall art that reminds them of home, such as personalized maps or frames with personal photos, will help curb any homesick feelings.

3) Make the room study-friendly with lots of task lighting. Throw pillows and cozy blankets are necessary for late night study sessions on dorm room beds.

4) Add some poufs so friends have a place to sit, and bring in your own desk chair to complete the look.

5) And lastly, accessories are key! A great rug, a fun clock, hooks to hang bags or a glamorous mirror keeps your room unique, fun and fresh.

Dewey Decimal Grey & White Drawers / Orange Perfect Pitch Storage Caddy / Black Nod Art Frame / Blue Saved by the Cube Bin / Grey Sweatshirt Blanket / Blue Indie Plaid Sham / Green Clip It Lamp / Green Geometric Throw Pillow / Red Hola Throw Pillow / Yellow Sun Throw Pillow / Green Homeroom Metal Chair / White Shaggy Pouf / Bubble Wall Clock / Prism Rug

Perfect Circle Corkboard / Bow Hook / Where the Heart Is Wall Art / Black Houndstooth Floor Bin / White I Love Lamp / Snug As A Bug Pink Velvet Quilt / Swiss Dot Pillow Sham / Bonjour Throw Pillow / Pom Pom Throw Pillow / Bow Girl Throw Pillow / Now You See It Acrylic Desk Chair / Gold Faux Leather Pouf / Scallop Mirror / Grey Big Band Rug / Grey Chime After Chime Alarm Clock

DIY Fruit Snacks… Easy as 1, 2, 3!

August 28, 2014

Post by Kelsey Nixon of Kelsey’s Essentials

With a toddler running around, I think about snacks a lot more than I used to. Every chance I get to sneak in a healthy snack here and there is one that I embrace. When I can offer him snacks that I feel great about, it makes it even better. I’ve really enjoyed taking some of the traditional boxed snacks and making homemade versions lately. The biggest hit has been these easy DIY Fruit Snacks. They’re just as fun to make as they are to eat – especially if your little one is helping you out in the kitchen. I’ve found that any time I involve my toddler Ollie in cooking, he’s more likely to try whatever we’ve made together. He loves these fruit snacks and eats them by the handful! While I’m sure that there are fruit gummies out there that are comparable in nutrition, you can’t beat the ease and satisfaction of making your own for an afternoon activity with your kids. It’s a great idea to keep in mind as you’re trying to keep kids busy during the last few weeks of summer before they head back to school! The ratio of ingredients is really easy to remember and the variations are endless.

DIY Fruit Snacks Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup 100% fruit or vegetable juice
- I used raspberry limeade, blackberry lemonade, and orange juice
2 tablespoons plain gelatin
3 teaspoons honey

In a small saucepan, add the fruit or vegetable juice and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Allow the powder to be absorbed in the liquid (it will look a little wrinkly on the surface) before whisking to fully combine.

On the stovetop, heat the liquid slowly until it warms through over medium heat. Cook the liquid until it is thin and no longer grainy. Once it reaches this stage, turn off the heat and whisk in the honey. Depending on how sweet your juice is you can slightly increase or decrease this amount.

Carefully pour liquid into candy molds or into an 8×8 inch glass baking dish. I had great success using a clean dropper/syringe that I use when giving medications to my little guy. It was especially helpful for the small candy molds I used. You can find them here. I love the shapes!

Transfer molds or glass dish to the refrigerator and chill until set – about an hour. Remove from molds or cut the flavored gelatin into squares.

This recipe is a great jumping off point for further variations. Adding extracts or other nutritional ingredients like vitamin C powder are great ways to pack a punch in your homemade gummies.

Back to School Organization

August 27, 2014

Post by Danielle, Creative Director at The Land of Nod

As adults, most of us no longer get 3 months off for summer vacation. But, as parents, we do get to enjoy a bit of the relaxation that comes with it. No permission slips to sign, no homework to check, no lunches to pack. So, it’s no surprise that the sudden jolt back into routine with the start of the school year can be just as unnerving for us parents as it is for the kids.

Perhaps some of you have this back to school organization thing down to a science, but I have to admit, when it comes to dealing with all the paperwork that comes home from school, I’m a hot mess.

So, I sat with our Nod storage gurus and room designers, to come up with a few tips on how the organizationally challenged among (ie. Me) us can get a grip on the back to school organization madness. Here are a few tips on creating a mini “nerve center” for your home with just a bit of wall space.

Back to School Organization Tip #1: Sort by Day

If your challenge is remembering what you need to do when, then sorting items by day may be your best bet. Our Take Five Wall Bin has 5 compartments; assign a day to each (Mon – Fri), and toss applicable items in each as soon as they arrive in your home. Then each morning, you can just grab the appropriate stack and be on your way. Also, include a chalkboard or calendar to add reminders. As well add in a few wall hooks to hang larger items that won’t fit in the bins. This also works well if you have multiple caretakers on various days, your babysitter/mother-in-law/spouse will always know just where to look for notes and details on the kids’ schedule.

Back to School Organization Tip #2: Sort by Kid or Activity

If you have multiple children, or even one child involved in multiple activities, our Down to the Wire Wall Shelf would be a great solution. Assign a bin to each kid/activity, and make them responsible for putting their gear away when they walk in the door. Maybe this will help avoid them just dumping their backpack on the floor immediately inside the front door. Also, when you’re rushing out the door to soccer practice, you’ll know just where their cleats and shin guards are stashed.

Back to School Organization Tip #3: Keep Surfaces to a Minimum

If you tend to make stacks and piles, remove the temptation. Create a wall system with our Straight & Narrow Collection that allows for just small reminders to be tacked up, and sort paper as soon as it comes in the house. Be sure the recycling bin is nearby so unnecessary clutter can go straight to the recycling pile instead of a stack on your dining room table.

Back to School Organization Tip #4: Don’t be too hard on yourself

This tip didn’t come from one of our storage experts, but from me, a fellow mom who’s just trying to keep it together on a daily basis. It’s hard to juggle all that comes with modern-day parenting. So if a perfectly organized mudroom isn’t on your list of priorities, then don’t give it a second thought. Did you laugh with your kids today? Then, you’re good. No, actually, you’re awesome!

Danielle is the Creative Director at Nod and an over-protective mother of two. She’s also completely obsessed with Instagram, Twitter and her Kindle, but not necessarily in that order. Danielle loves to craft, sew and crochet, but all her supplies have a layer of dust on them about 7-years-thick, wonder if it’s just a coincidence that her oldest kiddo is 7 years old? – Click here to see more of Danielle’s Honest to Nod posts.

Kids Indoor Pup Tent Camping

August 26, 2014

Post by Michelle Sterling of Avery and Augustine

Avery and Nate loved “camping” in this fun pup tent. Armed with a telescope and their imaginations, they explored their environment and were really excited with their new digs. We made s’mores cups, which are the neater, more contained version of the classic s’mores and a perfect treat for their indoor adventures. We filled old jam jars with marshmallows, chocolate chunks and broken-up bits of graham crackers and microwaved them for 15 seconds (making sure to pull out the jars after the marshmallows started to melt and expand). A delicious variation would be substituting pieces of Speculoos cookies for the graham crackers. Or maybe your favorite cookie or candy bar? More s’mores creativity can be found here. Happy s’more-ing!

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

Rainbow Bright Kids Study Space

August 25, 2014

Post by Rachel Shingleton, blogger and product designer at Pencil Shavings Studio

It’s already time to hop back to school, and what better way than to have a fresh, inspired space kids study space to get all that homework done in! Today’s inspiration is brought to you by everyone’s favorite, ROY G. BIV – aka, every color of the rainbow. I think this would be stunning in a crisp, all-white space to really allow all the colorful accessories to pop. Fallen in love with the desk below?

Pop of Color Pendant in Blue / Pop of Color Pendant in Orange / Pop of Color Pendant in Lavender / Multiplayer Wall Hook / White Campaign Desk / Color Reference Drawers / Hello Pillow / Homeroom Metal Desk Chair / Paint Palette Rug