Pink Elephant Bowtique

Fabulous bows, headbands, photography props and other handmade couture baby things & accessories for all ages.

Etsy love. Do you ever search high and low for beautiful things to use at picture taking time? The Pink Elephant Bowtique specializes in handmade couture accessories for you and your little one, that are unique enough to add flair to any photograph, too!

Owner, maker, designer, curator, sometimes photographer and shipper Meghann Herter loves to customize any order, “So please don’t hesitate to ask us to design one especially for you,” she says. A work at home mom to two beautiful girls, Meghann found it hard to find quality, handmade baby accessories for her first daughter, so she began making headbands and bows herself –later offering them on her very own Etsy boutique.

I hand make each item myself and take pride in offering quality products that can be worn for years to come. It’s my goal to make your Etsy buying experience the most enjoyable experience it can be.

Touché! Current turnaround is approximately five to 10 business days prior to shipping (not including weekends or holidays). Please note: The Pink Elephant Bowtique is now closed for Christmas. Check back in after the New Year.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Coursing Around Shows Kids How Exercise Can Be Fun

Help your kids start the New Year living a healthy lifestyle through fun exercise courses.

Coursing Around is a company that develops the perfect physical workouts for kids, which use active, social, and fun activities to get them exercising.

Get Back to the Outside World. The Coursing Around Book provides a ton of activities that allow kids to use their imagination, be active and learn, with just a piece of chalk and their own backyard. It’s an easy way to entertain at birthday parties, social gatherings or just during weekends and afternoons.

Created by certified fitness specialist-aerobics instructor-personal trainer-post exercise chiropractic therapist Debbie Beam-Tougas (wow – that’s quite the list!), who’s dream is that children of all sizes, shapes, gender and ethnicity can use her easy-to-learn routines to learn that exercising can be fun and accomplished in many ways.

In 2002, Debbie was recruited to teach the fitness component of a government subsidized overweight program for children ranging in age from five to 15. “I still remember the first class I taught,” she says. “There was a six-year-old by the name of Ruben who was approximately 40 pounds overweight. After only walking part way around the building he had to stop because he was extremely out of breath, hunched over with his hands on his knees and needed a rest. This was a wake-up call for me and practically brought tears to my eyes.” Debbie was challenged to keep kids for at least 45 minutes with just a blacktop and hardly anything else. Her imagination –and a little sidewalk chalk- inspired her to create the Coursing Around” was born.

In today’s society, with all the hand held devices, video games, computers and both parents working, our kids have lost the art of ‘Outdoor Play.’

It is also a fun way for parents to become more involved and create a stronger bond with their children. The book comes with 15 exciting courses, two pieces of chalk, a ruler and some fun fitness facts.

Another ChicExecs PR client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

JuJu Band

The traditional art of binding, re-imagined to simplify the busy lives of today’s parents.

Are you a new parent? Is your baby fussy? Does your newborn’s skin need protection from never-ending clothing changes? JuJu Band may be the answer.

For centuries, binding have been used throughout the world to soothe babies’ bellies, especially in the Hawaiian, Filipino, Latin and English cultures. Baby belly binders help keep the stomach warm, reducing colic. As a cover, a binder keeps the diaper and other clothing from rubbing against a newborn’s umbilical stump, reducing friction or irritation, and protects against infection.

We started JuJu Band to pass on our childhood traditions to families at a special time in their lives, when they first become parents.

Made in the USA. Very passionate about passing on their own family tradition, Julie Ann Acevedo and Julio Guerra co-founded Juju Concepts LLC, the parent company of JuJu Band, an elegantly designed wrap that makes the ancient art of binding easy -and cute- for today’s parents. JuJu Bands are made from the highest quality material right here in the United States. “With just three easy steps, you, too will become a part of over 100 years of tradition,” they say. Plus, the snug fit calms and comforts even the most finicky infants.

Julie tells me that the idea for the company name came from the word, “juju,” which is a kind of magic. “JuJu Band solves issues that are often frustrating for parents,” she says. “Our bands are magic, because with very little effort, they make those issues disappear.” Incidentally, “JuJu” also stands for Julie Acevedo and Julio Guerra, creators of the brand.

The company’s Newborn Navel Protector also helps with an old custom –that of binding baby’s belly to help achieve a perfect “innie” belly button! Juju Concepts also makes bibs, blankies, comforters, gift sets and more, available online.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Written With Love

A true love story. The 28-page children’s book With A Cherry On Top is a “little love story” brought to life by author Jane Asher and illustrated by Steve Burrows. “It is a true story about a conversation that I had with my son when he was six years old about who loves who more,” Jane says.

Released in 2006 and published by Amazon’s BookSurge Publishing arm, With A Cherry Top garners a five-star rating from fans and is adored by so many. It’s a thoughtful gift for the holidays, too.

This book is a sweet expression of love. It is a delight for all of us who have ever tried to express just how much we love someone only to have it ‘topped’ by their love for us! Read it and add your own topping … you’ll love it!

-Gaila, superfan

Jane Asher – who’s also a popular radio personality- lives in San Diego, CA, where she writes daily. Encinitas, CA-based artist Steve Burrows shows his love of surf, travel and adventures through his art, entertaining both the young and young at heart.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

GoldieBlox Makes Building Toys for Girls Popular

Did you know? Statistics show that girls begin to lose interest in math and science as early as age eight. That only 11 % of engineers in the United States are women?

What’s a little girl to do, especially if she shows an interest in building things or she loves math?

Goldie Can. San Francisco, CA-based GoldieBlox Inc. is toy company with a mission to inspire the next generation of female engineers. Founded by 29-year-old Stanford engineer Debbie Sterling, the company makes a series of interactive books + construction toys starring Goldie, a curious girl with a love of engineering. Goldie’s stories encourage girls to build, developing the spatial skills that are fundamental to engineering.

Growing up, I was always intimidated by the word, ‘engineering.’ I thought it was just for boys. I’m creating GoldieBlox so that girls, from a young age, can learn that engineering is for them, too.

Debbie and the GoldieBlox team raised over a quarter million dollars during a 30-day campaign on popular crowd sourcing platform Kickstarter and started production on the first book+toy –along with garnering some healthy publicity; both the company and the fundraiser received rave reviews from publications like The Atlantic and Forbes to blogs from Upworthy to Fast Company. Since then, the first interactive book+construction toy series was launched in September. GoldieBlox and the Spinning Machine combines storytelling and building in a novel approach to engage girls aged five through nine in play with construction toys. Not only this – it won Editor’s Choice at the World Maker Faire in New York almost immediately!

Using over a year’s worth of research, the GoldieBlox prototype was tested with over 100 children. As the creative force behind GoldieBlox, Debbie studied engineering and product design at Stanford. She writes and illustrates Goldie’s stories, taking inspiration from her grandmother, one of the first female cartoonists and creator of “Mr. Magoo” (I totally loved Mr. Magoo when I was young!). Debbie also gets the power of branding, having previously served as a brand strategy consultant for a wide variety of organizations including Microsoft, T-Mobile, Organic Valley and the New York Knicks.

The first book+toy in the series retails for $30, and will be available as e-book downloads for iPad and iPhone with narration and animation to enhance the building experience. The pre-order delivery for February, 2013 sold out in less than a month; the company is currently taking orders for the second delivery in April, 2013 through GoldieBlox.com.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Pink is just a color …

Long Island mom writes a funny, endearing book about gender stereotypes.

Niki Bhatia‘s own two sons are the inspiration for her children’s book, Pink is Just s Color, and So is Blue. Funny and reassuring, the story teaches children -and adults- about acceptance, tolerance, and having confidence in who you are.

We are all different and like different things. What matters is that we are happy and confident.

When Niki’s younger son was three, he loved the color pink. It was only when his older brother teased him for being “like a girl,” that she decides that this kind of teasing often leads to bulling later in life. So she wrote a book to help.

For Niki, a world defined by pink and blue is becoming out-dated, and her humorous story teaches young readers that they should be free to choose what they like without someone else dictating what that should be. With this book, Niki hopes to break some of the old gender stereotypes about children’s toys and gender specific colors.

Published in October, Pink is Just a Color and So Is Blue reminds adults about the joy of life’s possibilities, while teaching children about the importance of being themselves. To further enrich their reading experience, she includes discussion questions and activities for parents and teachers.

Niki lives in Long Island, NY and blogs at niketabhatia.blogspot.com. The book is available on Amazon.com, and makes a great gift for the holidays.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Kelly Hughes Designs Kids Tabletop Collection

From one-of-a-kind baby gifts to ways for jazzing up mealtime, this kids tabletop collection features sweet designs and whimsical must-haves like these personalized melamine plates.

120512_KellyHugesDesigns_04 The Kelly Hughes Designs kids tabletop collection is available in over 40 unique designs and includes coordinating placemats, melamine plates, bowls and mugs. Each piece may be personalized with a name.

All original artwork is hand-painted by designer Kelly Hughes. If you love the tabletop collection, you can also find many of the same designs in the Kelly Hughes kids stationery collection, including note cards, calling cards, vinyl stickers and bag tags. The New Art Prints are a hit – they’re the perfect baby gift to brighten up the nursery. Shop the entire collection at www.shop.kellyhughes.com.

A recent finalist in the Startup Nation Top 200 Leading Moms in Business competition, Kelly is dedicated to creating the highest quality products for both kids and parents. The competition highlights marketers and business minds who play an extraordinary role in their communities, chosen from thousands of entries.

Another ChicExecs PR client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Sad Sam & Honey®

Two popular doggies born on Long Island have one more family who’ll love ’em.

120412_Aurora_01 After launching in 1980, Sad Sam & Honey® rose to fame all over the world. Known in five continents, these two endearing basset hounds with sweet, innocent looks and sad eyes are from George Valentino, president and CEO of Long Island, NY-based Creative Endeavors, Ltd., the sole worldwide licensor for Sad Sam & Honey and the Sad Eyed Family of characters.

Recently, Aurora World Inc. nabbed the license for Sad Sam & Honey, and plans to produce a variety of styles for release this January.

We are so excited to welcome Sad Sam & Honey to the Aurora family. We’re planning a variety of huggable designs, stylish fabrics, classic body poses and seasonal styles. We look forward to bringing Sad Sam & Honey to a new generation of children and parents everywhere.

–Michael Kessler, Aurora’s SVP of sales and marketing

Aurora World, Inc., makers of high-end plus plush toys and gifts, is a Korean company with headquarters also in the United States, United Kingdom and Hong Kong, founded in 1981. Aurora created the international plush toy phenomenon – YooHoo & Friends™ – and its corresponding free, interactive web site (www.yoohoofriends.com), appealing to young children and tweens. The company sells its products via a wide variety of retailers including major zoos, high-end toy stores such as Learning Express, top gift chains such as Hallmark and Claire’s as well as hospital gift shops, fine florists, candy stores and gift/stationery stores worldwide.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

A New Way to Send Holiday Greeting Cards with Storkie

Popular greeting card company introduces the future of stationary this holiday season.

Storkie Express harnesses the power of modern technology while still embracing the appeal of a traditional printed greeting. What looks like a normal holiday card houses a special message that can only be unlocked through the lens of a smart phone, tablet or webcam-enabled computer.

Free Add-on. The company’s patent-pending technology adds personalized 3D images projected right from the back of the card; no glasses required. Storkie Hidden Dimension (SHD) is a free add-on to beautifully custom-printed cards and invitations. Each card features a printed icon to scan, which allows the recipient to view a special slideshow created just for them. Gives a whole new reason for sending cards this holiday season, doesn’t it?

We LOVE stationery with style.

For over 20 years, Storkie Express has been dedicated to a new type of stationery experience, offering high quality, affordable custom printed invitations, announcements and cards. The business has grown from specializing in baby announcements to a complete life events stationery company known for excellent customer service.

Another ChicExecs client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

It’s My Party!

Handmade party hats and keepsake gifts for party-goers of all ages.

It’s My Party specializes in unique, handmade party hats designed for celebrating special occasions. From first to 50^th birthdays and anything in-between, these keepsake party hats and coordinating accessories get any party started.

We offer products to celebrate in a unique way from a truly individualized as well as personalized items.

This Ohio-based business started in 1996 in their basement –until their popularity grew … not only with parents of one-year-olds, but anyone celebrating a special day, or unique event. “Over the years the line has grown out of requests for more accessories such as matching bibs and diaper covers,” they say on their website. The company also offers one-of-a-kind gifts like silver crosses and birthday spoons.

For the First Time. Currently available at many children’s boutiques and gift stores across the country, It’s My Party now offers the entire line for purchase online.

As they say, You’re never too old to wear a party hat!

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!