it's that time of year again: 2011 mobbies

It's that time of year again... no, not the holiday season (although I won't lie, that's on my mind, too). The 3rd Annual Mobbies competition is well underway!

Not familiar with the Mobbies? It's the Maryland Outstanding Blog Competition sponsored by The Baltimore Sun. And thanks to all of you -- that is, our AMAZING readers -- we've been nominated to best family blog, best lifestyle blog, best Baltimore City blog, and best facebook fan page. {{To whomever nominated us, you ROCK. Thank you.}}

So this is the very short post where I ask that you kindly head over to the Mobbies Website and cast a vote for us -- and ALL of your favorite area bloggers. We are among some fabulous company.

And, as Pat would say, feel free to vote the Chicago way --- early and often. ;) Voting on the Mobbies finalists started yesterday and ends November 10th at 5 p.m. You can vote daily.

Many many thanks!

will it work? the snack trapper -- product review with fox 45 news

Last Monday, the Bug and I went to have a 'snack' with Bridget Stickline and her 4-year-old daughter at Wee Chic (Bridget owns this fabulous gem of a kids' clothing store). Little did both girls know that we were setting them up for a test.

The snack trapper test.

It's not a new product. Chances are you have a snack trapper in your kid dishware drawer. The basic design premise? It's an anti-spill snack cup that allows your mini-mes to feed themselves while minimizing the cheerio-scatter effect.

Well, you know I love good design and smart products. We decided to put the snack trapper through the ultimate toddler test.

Check out our video review -- it's posted live on the Fox 45 news website!

halloween costume inspiration board

When I was pregnant with the Bug, I had all of these daydreams about being the "perfect" mom. You know those daydreams -- the one where you get to be June Cleaver, Martha Stewart, Jennifer Garner and Sandra Day O'Connor all wrapped in one fun, "cool" mom. One such fantasy included making sure she had an amazing Halloween costume every year.  With the added illusion that I would make the costume.

Then reality set in. I don't sew.

{Insert eerie 'boohaaahaaa'  laughter -- it is Halloween after all}

Not to mention, my definition of 'perfect' has radically shifted. I'm just now thinking about Halloween costumes and it's how many days away?

With that in mind, here are a few fantabulous costume ideas I've found searching around the web. No mad sewing skills required. Pressure cooker deadline junkies perfectly ok.

(hot) dish: creative families on classic play

I posted this on our Facebook page a little bit ago, but it merits a full blown blog post. Have you been reading the Creative Family series over on Classic Play? Classic Play is written by Charm City mom Jennifer Cooper and always has simply amazing ideas for engaging your children in play. {{Coincidentally, Jen is also the fabulous designer behind Ellie Bellie Kids.}} So when Jen started the Creative Family series a few weeks ago, I really wasn't surprised that it knocked my socks off.

The series is a collection of interviews with creative families that chronicles what makes them "tick." The first interview was with LA-area blogger Deborah from My Life at Playtime, who talked about nurturing creativity in children and shared how she created headboards from vertical planters (uber cool, by the way). The next week we met Molly de Aguiar and her family. Molly blogs at Charlotte's Fancy, and shared how travel inspires her, her designs and her girls. Last week we met Joya Logue and her Chicago-area family. I've been a huge fan of joyababy's product line and Joya's blog, so I loved hearing her thoughts on fostering creative expression in her children. A fav Joya quote from Jen's interview: "being creative can be in forms other than crayons or drawings, that it can be in writing creatively, in thinking creatively and looking at the world through creative lenses. Using them through art, writing, play, invention, or any other route of expression makes it original."

Today I was THRILLED to see Charm City-ites John and Sara Waire, and their two wee Waires, featured as this week's creative family! John was kind enough to photograph a Milkshake Concert benefiting Autism Speaks for us earlier this year, and is an incredible photographer. To say his art-meets-documentary style is inspiring would be the understatement of the year. He and Sara are the creative forces behind The Wairehouse, a family owned photography business built on the idea of creating what matters. Sara also works with textiles and designs clothes for kids -- which is coming in really handy right now because her daughter is in a bit of a 'dresses only' phase. {{Did you know that princesses only wear dresses?}}

Are you still reading? You haven't hopped over to check out Classic Play yet? Do it. You won't regret it.

fab find: vintage suitcase for dress-ups

In the corner of my living room there is an oversized basket overstuffed with dress-up clothes. I was just glaring at it last night. Not that I don't love the dress-up clothes or watching my pint-sized cutie prance around as a cowgirl, princess or superhero. It was more of a "I will find a way to keep you from taking over my living room" glare.

So imagine my delight when I saw this gorgeous little gem of an idea on ohdeedoh today? What a fun project! Think I'll be scavenging some thrift stores for a an oh-so-fab vintage case to decorate. For a full how-to on how to decorate a vintage suitcase, check out Curly Birds. {{Curly Birds is my new blog obsession, by the way!}}

five bloggers every (cool) parent should follow

Thanks to Trop 50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 fabulous wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to help grant a friend's wish!

Five fabulous bloggers. Wow. That's tough.

There are a lot of blogs that I check in on daily for a laugh, a good read, or a good old fashioned dose of mommy-reality. But for this post, I decided to focus on the voices that impact the content you see on (cool) progeny; those bloggers whose missions, content, savoir-faire and ideologies compliment my own and therefore influence the type of content I post.

It stands to reason that if you swing by this slice of internet real estate on a daily basis, you'll love these ladies, too. Which is why I wholeheartedly encourage you to follow them!

In no particular order...

Jennifer Cooper of Classic Play: Who better to be a creative muse than a toy maker? Jen is the founder of Ellie Bellie Kids and one of the brilliant minds behind Classic Play, a blog dedicated to helping families get back to play. Her blog is a whimsical imaginative path - you'll find science experiments, outdoor activities, the most fantastic birthday party ideas... Seriously. Creative Muse. Her latest post? Make your own preposterous polymer. So. Much. Fun.

Julie Blacker of EtiKids: Julie is the Ms. Manners you actually WANT to be friends with. She's got a low-key approach to teaching basic social skills to tikes -- helping to make the world a friendlier place without paralyzing rules or inciting mommy riots. Love her friendly tone and polite reminders of civility. Don't miss the Don't Yuck My Yum post!

Liza Hawkins of (a)Musing Foodie: Liza has a foodie philosophy that oddly resembles my own: fresh, local, uncomplicated. That's not to say her dishes -- or ingredients --aren't sophisticated. She blogs about everything from frozen slow-cooker pot roast to Lime Curry Shrimp Tacos. Um, delish? Plus, she has a 1/4 cow in her freezer. Kindred spirit. (Why yes there is a 1/4 cow in my freezer. Well, it started out as 1/4 cow. 10 months later, probably more like 1/32). Which one of her posts am I salivating over right now? Um, that would be the Spaghetti and Meatballs one. Completely homemade and goes from stack of ingredients to table in under an hour.

Kim Stoegbauer of The TomKat Studio: I am a sucker for a beautiful party - - doesn't matter if it's a 2 year old's birthday party, wedding, or impromptu cocktail get-together. I love to think about every intricate detail (which drives some members of my family insane). When I was planning the Bug's first birthday party, I scoured Kim's blog. She has tons of great ideas! I realize that the level of planning that goes into each party featured on her post may not be feasible for us in the 'every day,' but a girl can dream - - right? Her recent Milk and Cookies Party post is simply gorgeous.

Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom: You all know I have a thing for classic lines with a modern twist - pint sized or other. Gabrielle's blog is both. She posts about everything from arts and crafts projects to kids' clothing. I tend to LOVE her picks! A few fav finds from this blog? Joy Folie Shoes and Do It Yourself Snow Globes. And you've gotta love a mom of six who keeps her sense of humor and style.

Which blogs do you love to spend a cup of coffee with? Would love for you to share - - I'm always looking for a great read!

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to support a friend's wish. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

We've been blogged! Family Photoshoot with Lil Blu Dragonfly

Received an email this morning that our November family photoshoot with Jennie Sjursen of Lil Blu Dragonfly Photography was BLOGGED today! Drop by Jennie's slice of the internet for images from the extended family shot (yes - 22 people) and images of my grandparent's farm in Baltimore County. The images are simply stunning.

Jennie was a pure delight. Professional, but with a sense of humor that put everyone at ease. Not to mention that she effortlessly each curve ball and idiosyncratic thing we threw at her in stride. She visited the farm once to chat with us about the project, and then a few times before the group shoot to catch all that fall has to offer on the property. We compiled all of the images into a photobook for my grandparents as a Christmas gift from the entire family. {{And, of course, Pat and I used our individual family photo as a gift for grandparents and great grandparents. }}

A really fun - - and memorable - - project. Thanks, Jennie!

it's national cupcake day! here's a little holiday inspiration...

So, in all of the hustle and bustle that happens around this time of year, we almost missed a very important day: National Cupcake Day! Now, if your kiddo loves cupcakes as much as the Bug does, this holiday should not pass without observance. Here's a little cupcake inspiration board we pulled together to inspire your inner Martha. Enjoy!

Not feeling like Bakerella today? Head to your nearest Maggie Moos. According to the Penny Pinchin' Mom, they are giving away free cupcake samples in honor of National Cupcake Day!

Photo Credits: Fan Pop, Bakerella, Hoosier Homemade, Cake List, Jelly Belly and The Cupcake Blog.

Thanksgiving with Friends - - today at Classic Play

(cool) progeny friend (and past parent in the know) Jennifer Cooper invited us to join "Thanksgiving with Friends" over on Classic Play this week. We were thrilled to join the virtual party! Check out what we'll be building Thanksgiving morning in our guest post today!

Love the candy house idea? We'll have a full tutorial next week! And we're sharing lots of other traditions from our readers on Thursday.

Thanks for the invite Jen! If you haven't had a chance to check out Classic Play or Jen's fabulous toy line Ellie Bellie Kids, you definitely should swing by both!

The post where we ask for...

Your vote. And your feedback.

If you follow our our facebook page, you already know that we are flattered to be nominated as one of Baltimore's Best Family Blogs as part of the Baltimore Sun's Mobbie Awards. There are lots of fabulous blogs nominated and we couldn't be more thrilled to be included among them. As of right this second, we're in second place. Woot! Thanks to all of you who have voted and continue to take a minute each day and vote for us.

Like (cool) progeny? Then we would so appreciate you taking a minute to to vote for us for best family blog! You can vote once a day for your favorite area blogs and tweeters through November 12th at 5:00 PM.

We also wanted to take a moment and chat about some changes to our blog (did we mention we're really excited?!?). Starting next week, we're launching a new, slightly more structured format:

• Collage Monday: Mondays are now a placeholder for our kid-spiration boards. These may be a best of the web compilation, thoughts for a party or playtime, or just a collage of thoughts.
• Tuesdays Voices: We know that the more diverse voices that appear on a blog, the more reflective you are of your reader community. So each Tuesday we're looking to bring you a guest post.
• Wednesday's Find: A fabulous tool, place, local shop or product that we just think you need to know about. Yes, we are a PR friendly blog. At the same time, we refuse to settle for promoting any product, service or place we couldn't 100% recommend.
• Things to Do Thursday: A tutorial, recipe, event round up - - you never know!
• Feature Friday: Each Friday, we look to bring you a fantastic feature story. It may be an interview, a parent in the know article, a vlog (gasp - vlog, I know!), or an in depth analysis.
• Charm City Weekend: We like to relax on the weekend - - and we know you do too. So we're reserving our weekends for photo coverage of local events, an editorial contribution (a la the if you ask a mom series) or perhaps nothing at all. We're all for flexible structure (that's how we live our lives, right?)

Don't worry. Our (hot) dishes and giveaways aren't going anywhere - - you'll just get a double dose of (cool) those days!

So what do you think? And who wants to contribute?

The Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance: We were featured!

The Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance (DBFA) gave shout outs to local area blogs today, and we were one of them! Many thanks to DBFA for listing us among local family blogs.

Are you familiar with DBFA? In their own words: Propelled by the belief that thriving, connected families are key to vibrant communities, the Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance fosters and promotes family life in Baltimore's city center. As an independent, nonprofit alliance, we partner with local government, business, and nonprofit organizations to develop family-wise programs and policies, including initiatives for strong public schools and early childhood programs, enhanced public safety and environmental quality, and expanded recreational and cultural opportunities. We further endeavor to cultivate community by connecting families with one another and with the resources to take full advantage of life in downtown Baltimore.

Check out their member benefits here.

Image from DBFA blog.

Ever wonder what your child is dreaming about?

Ever wonder what your child is dreaming about?

Well, Adele Enerson of Helsinki, Finland, is literally wandering into her daughter's dreams.

Harnessing a camera lens and creativity, Adele muses and photo-blogs about her daughter's daydreams. 42 of them so far. Aptly titled Mila's Daydreams.

On the side bar of her blog, Adele notes "This is my maternity leave hobby. While my baby is taking her nap, I try to imagine her dream and capture it."

Whimsical. Beautiful. Thought-provoking.

I love this. And thought you might, too.

How are you capturing your child's dreams?All photos from Mila's Daydreams.

Versatile Blogging :0)

So flattered to be nominated by SimpleGirl at InspirationsbyD and Janelle from Sweet Tea and Giggles for the Versatile Blogger award! We love SimpleGirl's blog design and gorgeous decorative glass magnets and push pins available from her Etsy shop!! I noticed a beautiful new butterfly pendant necklace design on her blog today... seriously coveting! Janelle has a fun, whimsical blog and is the mompreneur behind Pink Hippo Boutique. Super fun party goods! (Wish we had known about this site when planning Lila's Ladybug Picnic Birthday Party!)

So thank you SimpleGirl and Janelle for your nominations! We love reading your blogs and are encouraging everyone to grab a cup of coffee and "sit down" with you for an hour!

Now down to business. In order to accept the award, we're supposed to thank the person who nominated us (thanks again SimpleGirl and Janelle!), share seven things about ourselves and then nominate 15 other newly discovered blogs. We've been meaning to do a blog roll - - so what a wonderful excuse to share! We HIGHLY recommend the fabulous blogs we're about to unveil...

Seven things about us...

• We are Heather and Pat; twenty-somethings that met in Barcelona while studying in Italy, did the long-distance relationship thing between many different US cities for four years, and got married two years ago.
• Heather is currently filling out paperwork to be a new contributor for Smartly. Really excited.
• We both have an unnatural passion for chocolate ice cream with gummy bears.
• We put an offer in on the house we're currently living in before we saw the place in person. Really gutsy or downright stupid? Two years later, we still love the place!
• Our house currently smells like freshly baked zucchini bread and lavender baby soap.
• Heather takes most of the photos for the blog with a fabulous Nikon D50 camera. She always has it on the automatic setting because she has no idea how to work it. Pat took all the photo classes!
• We're currently searching for a fabulous front porch swing. Suggestions?

And now for the 15 blogs we think everyone that loves (cool) progeny should know about! In no particular order:

• EtiKids: Julie blogs about how to teach social skills to young children. Another city girl (although she lives in NYC!), we love her frankness and common sense advice with a twist of fun.
• DesignMom: Gabriel blogs about the intersection of design and motherhood. Love her finds! Have fallen in love with the PajamaSutra jammies she talked about last week... Fun, beautiful ideas.
• Lil Blu Dragonfly: Jennie takes gorgeous photographs! Love her sense of humor and candor. Met her through Twitter and she's agreed to work with me on an upcoming family project. So excited.
• KidBaltimore: Joyce is another Baltimore-area mom who blogs about fun things to do in Baltimore with her trio of adorable kids.
• (a) Musing Foodie: Liza has a fantastically fabulous cooking blog. She seems to subscribe to our same fresh food philosophy. Check out the peach cobbler pancakes... YUM.
• SportyMamaSays: Fresh, candid and funny, SportyMama Says has a mamahood writing style that will keep you scrolling for more. Plus she gave me the brilliant idea of Mexican Food and Mojitos when I was bummed we couldn't make the wine festival...
  
• The Mommy Blog: MommyBrain: Heather has been reading Jen's blog since Lila was born. Lila and Jane are really close in age. Her meandering stream of conscious posts are the best!
• My Bottle's Up: Funny Mom Blogger (and fellow Marylander) Nicole serves up a bit of crazy on her blog - - you won't want to miss this talented writer's musings!
• Mom In a Million: Heather's every day coffee break blog. She ALWAYS laughs. Hard. And she always agrees with Rebekah, too. To be that funny...
• Land of Bean: Another Baltimore Mama blog. Could Sophie Bean be any cuter? And Cara always has great stuff to talk about!
• Buried with Children: Love Jen's tweets just as much as her blog! Her parenting style matches a lot of our thoughts too. It's (real). It's (authentic). And it's (funny).
• Barely Mommy: Can't get enough of Echo's gorgeous photos!
• One Little Mister: Nicole has a knack for bringing bloggers together through her hops! Great info, too!
• Mungee and Me: Adventures of a 30-something-first-time-mom. Love the variation on her posts! Have you read the Ode to Chonkers? Really cute!
• Alabaster Cow: Just found this today. Seriously cracks me up. Ericka is the kinda quirky you just have to adore! New daily read.
• The Paper Mama. Fun, funky, fabulous paper crafts. Chelsea is the kind of mom crafter I (Heather) aspire to be...
  

Yes. I can count. There are 16. Couldn't pick! What's your every day, must read blog? (Besides (cool) progeny, of course!! :0))

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