Monday, October 24, 2011

Santa, are you ready?!

I can't believe it is almost time for the madness to begin! Every year I give myself a pep talk and start out with overly ambitious holiday ideas. From decorating the house to what kind of fun treats I want to gift to my children and husband. At least this is what plays out in my head. But then there is the plain reality of what I really have the energy for and how much I feel like spending.


As I get older, I realize that my kids, as do many kids, really get too many gifts during the holidays. And, in this culture of more is better, many of us as consumers get sucked into things we might not have bought just because it was such an unbelievable deal. And, in all the hustle and bustle, the "homemade with love" gets lost and even "shopping locally" gets pushed aside.


So my personal challenge this year? To "shop local" AND pull back on the quantity of gifts I give. This year I am looking to give that ONE gift that will delight, or that ONE gift that means something to the receiver...however big or small.


And, for the parents just embarking on their very FIRST Christmas or Hanukkah with children, let me give words of wisdom I wish I knew back then: which is that there will be many more holidays after this one. Pace yourself! I know it is hard to hold back on the first Christmas.


I'm pretty sure all I have left are some great photos and a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament. Isn't that all that really matters in the end?

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Kids bored? Tired of the whinning?

It's summer and kids are free! To play, swim, imagine, squabble, be dirty, stay in their jammies all day, stay up late, and of course...finally get BORED.

We think there are a few tricks to shake up their "boredom barometer." Every couple of weeks introduce a new activity or craft. One at a time...so it is the FOCUS of the day.

At Hooray! we have activity kits and fun activity books geared for summer fun. Our kids loved the BUILD AND PAINT BIRDHOUSE KIT. Kids love to build things. And, given the opportunity to do a project themselves really boosts their sense of pride and accomplishment. A bit of parental guidance is needed to construct the house. But once the house is together...you can step back and leave the kids to paint and dream-up their PERFECT birdhouse decorations.

I was especially amused at my daughter's need to mark her birdhouse clearly for: Mrs. Bird and Mr. Bird. This must be their LOVE shack. Priceless!

So don't let them whine or get bored.
Stop in and check out our quality summer activities for kids. Hooray!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Wonderboy Clothing for boys!

At Hooray! we are always on the look-out for great boy's clothing with a classic but modern twist. This Fall we are excited to bring Wonderboy clothing to our boutique boy clothing line-up.

Cool and modern with a downtown edge. We've picked great button down options for dressed up looks and have mixed in casual polos and tees with a modern spin. Come shop in our store or website and find great boy items from head to toe.

Wonderboy clothing will be available starting at size 6 months to 7 years. Perfect for your little Wonder(ful)boy!









Friday, May 6, 2011

The Age Old Technique: Swaddling








When I had my first baby almost ten years ago, swaddling hadn't come back into fashion. In fact my "mommy" friends and myself didn't know what it was exactly nor the value of swaddling a newborn. Perhaps because the so-called "baby blankets" on the market ten years ago were typically knit jersey fabric and not generous enough in size to swaddle. And even if you could have swaddled the baby with these knit blankets, the baby most likely would have seriously overheated with the bulkiness of the fabric.

So much has changed (for the better) in the last ten years with regards to baby gear and baby care techniques. And now the AGE OLD technique of swaddling has really come back as a popular way to soothe and calm a newborn. It helps transition a newborn baby from the womb to the world. And studies suggest that a baby sleeps better and longer. An added plus is having a newborn's little arms tucked in to keep away the face scratches and the sudden arm movements which can startle them.

Today new mothers-to-be can easily find the appropriate size blankets and weights to successfully swaddle. There are summer weight swaddle blankets and winter weight swaddle blankets available on the market now with so many print styles to choose from.

At Hooray! Children's Store we offer both summer and winter weight swaddling blankets in modern & chic prints. Our swaddle blankets are very generous in size and are made in a lightweight open-weave cotton that just keeps getting softer and softer after each wash. And, who knows...these blankets may even become the child's favorite SECURITY blanket as they enter toddlerhood.

Stop in a see our selection of swaddle blankets. We even have matching burp cloths. A great gift idea for the new mother!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Think Spring!

We are ready for Spring at Hooray! Children's Store. New
shipments are arriving daily...and it is always so much fun
to open each box to find the unique Spring items we have selectively picked to fill our store.

One of our favorite brands we offer is Lemon Loves Lime. We love the ruffles, the comfort and ease of knit dressing, and we especially love the outrageous applique tees.

This season we have hunted "high & low" for new items you will not see anywhere else. We have headbands coming in from Brazil, swimmwear from Australia, and several new small USA companies putting a new vintage spin on children's clothes.

Come in and check out all our new finds! We have loads of fun stuff in our store. And just in case you can't make it to our store, you'll find some of our cool clothing items, shoes, & toys available on our website.

Hooray for Spring!