Designing Moms has Moved!

Well the day is finally here...  
Designing Moms is moving to a new space and a new name!  We are now Mom Inc Daily and you've just got to hop on over to see the new look and features that we've added.  We'll have daily doses of design, motherhood, biz and creative life and sooo much more.  Bookmark our new location and follow us on over.
If this page does not redirect you please click here or go to www.momincdaily.com.  
See you there!

Make: Kimmel Kids

I think all of you will love this...  Los Angeles based Installation artist Karen Kimmel has a line of educational tools and kits called Kimmel Kids  that offer fresh, fun exploration for a kid's imagination.  I love her stencil kit with its organic cut-out shapes!
 

Story: Lemonade Stands

I know we're deep into Fall but there is something about the rainy, overcast summer we had that still makes me want to cling to memories of summer.  So one more post, this one by Designing Ryan on the joys of lemonade stands (and summer days!)...

 

by Designing Mom Ryan of Tin Parade

Ah Lemonade stands.  An icon of childhood….a good childhood.

At least in my mind that makes sense. When I see children having lemonade stands it makes me feel happy and peaceful and sort of washes away all the crazyness of the day.  I realize that’s a big expectation of a little ol lemonade stand.  But truthfully what it represents is all good.  It started because my son said he wanted to earn money so he could buy something he wanted. …hard work= money…not a bad concept to learn at a young age…saving to buy something you want…again…only a good concept to learn…especially in this day and age.  Add in my Tin Parade partner Kristen Gara’s kids and it becomes a neighborhood entrepreneurial project of the best kind.   The kids excitedly worked together to set up the stand…sell the lemonade (yelling out to passersby “LEMONADE FOR SALE!”.…and even serve the lemonade.   The kids came together for a common purpose.  At the same time, the neighborhood converged on this tree lined street to share in the happiness that a lemonade stand creates…and share a glass of sweetness….visitors stayed and played…and their craziness too was swept away …on a late summers day in these modern times.

The sign was made from a old piece of wood from a fence a neighbor tore down.

Shop: Etsy Halloween Costumes

More Halloween ideas...this time from etsy. This weekend we have a few Halloween events to go to and I am STILL trying to squeeze in a minute or two here and there to try and make the costume. If you're in the same boat, etsy might be able to come to the rescue!

Speaking of costumes...hopefully Designing Mom Shinmin will share her costume with us next week. I just saw a preview of it and expletives almost came out it was so incredibly amazing. Happy Friday and weekend everyone!

1. otter hat
2. clip-on dragon tail
3. dino hoodie 
4. baby giraffe hat
5. bee pillowcase dress
6. halloween leggings

Coming Soon...new Designing Moms

I can hardly wait to reveal to you the new changes for Designing Moms...we are going to be moving to a new URL with a new look, updated features and more creative goodness to share with you.  If you are patient with me I hope to reveal it to you in a week or so!

Hope you will take the "leap" with us when we do the official move...Please stay tuned!
xoxo, Cat

Shop: Anthropologie Halloween

Leave it to Anthropologie for some super stylin' Halloween options for the kids.  They are a little on the pricey side for a one-time costume but they're so versatile to wear throughout fall and winter that you'll get your money's worth. 

Story: Ok...I Can Live Here

Moving isn't just tough on the kiddies... I love that Designing Mom Tori got her feet wet in their new town through a well-designed cafe. What were some of you and your family's first places of solace when you moved?

by Designing Mom Tori of Tori Higa

...because we found the coolest coffee shop. It's called the Little Building Cafe. Not only do they have wonderful coffee (roasted locally in Alabama), a creative (and yummy) menu, great service, fair prices, an eco-conscience commitment, friendly customers (we made friends with almost everyone in the joint - having a flirtacious baby and outgoing husband always helps with meeting new people), and fantastic design. I really love the design. It's full of work by Annie Coggan - you can read more about her impressive background here. The building definitely draws you in and the design coupled with the aroma of fresh baked goods make you want to order your coffee "for here" instead of "to go." We are definitely going to be regulars.

(photo above by Annie Coggan via the Little Building Cafe Blog - be sure to browse the blog if you get a chance; it's full of beautiful photography and I love their tag line: "handmade building, handmade food...a thoughtful life.)

Shop: Maptote

Oh yes, it's 3 am over here and guess who's trying to get some design work done (with some online window shopping breaks in between)?!  
I posted a Paris onesie yesterday, but here's the full line from Maptote  that I've been ogling...

Paris, Baby!

Hope all of you had a great weekend.  Thought I'd start your Monday off with these goodies.  Yes, you can Francophile your children with style! 

above:
oeuf plushie
a park in paris burp cloth
paris onesie
paris map onesie

Decorate: Tweener Wallpaper

Rounding out this week, some sophisticated but girly wallpaper... Some of you have been asking about "tweener" designs and I think these are playful and young but devoid of anything "baby'ish."

Stay tuned in the next few weeks for some really exciting changes here. I hope to be able to show them to you very soon!
In the meantime, have a happy Friday and weekend everyone!

above: Pink forest wallpaper

above: Mauve and girly wallpaper

Halloween: Oeuf

Don't these costumes look soooo soft and comfy for the little ones?  Available at Oeuf and Reform School

Shop: Owly Shadow Puppets

I'm rather enchanted by the magical beast and beauty stomping over the slumbering village.  I can only imagine the stories they'd invite for little ones  This set is by Owly Shadow Puppets and available at Reform School.

Make: Loving Lowes

by Designing Mom Tori of Tori Higa

Last Saturday my three old and I met up with some friends at Lowe's for their Build and Grow Clinic. We had such a great time that I just had to share the information so that other designing moms out there can have fun encouraging their designing kids to build and create. Each clinic offers a different wood project that the kids can build themselves. The kids also get to wear an apron and goggles, use a real hammer (my son talked about that for days), and earn a badge when they complete their project. The best part of the whole thing (including all of the materials) is that it's FREE! Each Lowe's is different, but our local store offers their free clinics one to two times a month. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a fun (and free) Saturday morning activity.

Make: Halloween Wreath

Elizabeth over at To Be Charmed has a great DIY wreath for Halloween.  LOVE the black!
Click here to view the full tutorial.

Shop: Family Sweaters

One of the fall/winter trends this year? Fair Isle/Intarsia sweaters for mommy and family.  And guess which ones below are the splurges and the steals?

above Row 1: Burberry cable sweater ($170), Gap cable sweater ($29)
Row 2: Isabel Garreton coat ($207), Gymboree wool swing coat ($72)
Row 3: See by Chloe $795 Intarsia Poncho, Ecote intarsia cardigan ($58)

Friday Fotos: All in a Day's Work

TGIF always brings back something important if you're a working mom: Make sure you love what you do.   For inspiration, look at what Designing Mom Aya at Chronicle Books got to do along with her crew the other day...  A "fashion sewing book" that will be published in a year was in need of some creative styling and who to best model the dresses but some of the Chronicle team?  The first photo below is Aya striking a pose (go Aya!).  Click here for the full post.


Have a happy Friday and weekend everyone!

Decorate: Infidel's Pantry

I finally found an awesome Julia Rothman design for the studio at Rare Device.  While on the hunt, I came across this print which completely intrigued me...it looks like a sweet little nursery pattern but on closer glance it's more a dark fairy tale (a red spotted cow and a microwave appear in it)!  
Anyone have their eye on wallpaper?  Let us know! 
Infidel's Pantry

Shop: Sweet Pea Toad

by Designing Mom Guissell of Earthy Beginnings

Adorable handmade hats by SweetPeaToad.  Just looking at the lion hat you can see how much attention to detail is given to each product, ah but the beauty of handmade! My favorite is a toss up between The Little Lion and the Dr. Who? hat...  Available at my favorite indie marketplace, Cargoh!  Check out Cathy's shop for more goodness.

Shop: Fall Diaper Bags

Here are some of my favorite Fall diaper bags.  I just love Orla Kiely's prints and think her giant stem patterns might just do the trick in making us think we aren't lugging around three thousand diapers and sippy cups.  She's always on my drool-list for wallets and changing bags! 

 

Orla Kiely One Shoulder

Marc Jacobs eliz-a-baby

 Mia Bossi Maria

Orla Kiely changing bag




Re-run recycled can bag




Monster bag

Storksak

Babble.com's Top 50 : Designing Moms

We are so delighted to be chosen as one of Babble.com's top 50 design blogs (and one of their top ten in the "All Things Beautiful" category).  And a congrats to fellow Designing Mom Mari of Small for Big for her mention as well (yay Mari!).  Thank you again for all of your support...there are lots of exciting things in store here and we hope you continue to tune in!

Click here to read the post and here for for the list of other great blogs and sites.

Friday Fotos: Enjoying the Small Things

Every now and then I visit Kelle Hamptons's blog Enjoying the Small Things  to see what her adorable baby is up to and to ogle her precious photography.  My Friday has a little zip to it thanks to Kelle and her family.
Have a happy Friday and weekend everyone!