Stella McCartney for Gap Kids - Nov 4th & 12th

Ok, so the word from GAP PR is the following....

Stella McCartney for Gap Kids launches officially on the 4th of November, followed by a second hit on the 12th. Torontonians, visit the following flagship Gap Kids locations to shop it, Sherway Gardens, Bloor Street and the Eaton Center. Those in BC, you'll see Lesia in line in front of the Robson St. location.

To say we're excited is putting it lightly.

xo L&L

Friday Love - Bathy Time

Ah, bathy time! There are few things better than a squeaky clean baby! Splish splash in the bath with our favourite bath time gear and goods....

1. Vancouver 2010 Hooded Bath Towel - Quatchi mascot theme (for your future Olympian)
2. Boon Inc. - Bug Pod - Lady Bug (keep bath toys dry and packed away)
3. Skip Hop - Moby Bath Spout Cover (smart, safe and super cute)
4. Little Twig - Organic and all natural bath products (the best baby bath product on the market, in our humble opinions)
5. Dwell Studio - Bath Wrap* in Paper Dolls (great for toddlers pre or post bath)*available in many other prints for boys and girls

Photos: Vancouver 2010, Boon Inc., Skip Hop, Little Twig, Dwell Studio.

xo L&L

What's new at PLAN TOYS

Look what's new at our favourite Green Toy company - Plan Toys.

First up is this Green Dollhouse. It's the smartest dollhouse we've ever seen. Complete with recycling bins, a wind turbine and a roof top solar panel. What better way to teach your little make-believer how to be green from the get-go!

Next up is every walkers favourite, the Push Toy. New to Plan is this super cute duck that makes the all-important quack sound when pushed along.

We think every little boy (or truck loving girl) needs this Green Truck in their garage.

And saving the best for last - the Walking Elephant. For kids 3+ it rocks gently back and forth aiding in balance, gross motor skills and coordination. Love.

There is so much more, check out Plan toys for more newbies and all the much-loved favourites.

Photo: Plan Toys

xo L&L

Real Canadian Mom Top 5

*New Feature!***

We thought we'd ask real Canadian Mom's what Top 5 products they can't live without and share it here with you! Because really, who better to get the goods from than other moms who have been there, done that, returned it, got the right one and fallen in love - right? These products make the grade and are all mommy approved!

Mommy Andrea, from Oakville, Ontario couldn't live without the following gear for her daughter who is just under 12 months...



1. Bumbo chair - The most innovative (and cutest) chair ever.
2. Lamaze Spin & Explore Garden Gym - 'makes tummy time fun'
3. Baby Jogger: City Mini - 'it collapses with one pull and is light enough to carry with one arm!'
4. Home Guardian Baby Video Monitor- not only is it totally cool looking, Andrea loves it for keeping tabs on her little midnight mover and shaker!
5. Baby Smart Chooshee Baby Changer - 100% waterproof, bacteria resistant, non-allergenic, latex free, phthalate free or as Andrea puts it 'the best baby change pad ever'.

Photos: Bumbo, Lamaze, Baby Jogger, Home Guardian, Baby Smart.

xo L&L

Etsy find...Trendy Peas

We all know how hard it is to find modern, affordable art for babies and toddlers rooms. Which is why we have to share with you our latest Etsy score, Trendy Peas.

Trendy Peas make some of the coolest kid art we've seen, from canvas' of cool graphic letters and numbers to cute animals and our personal favourite, custom stats art.

They also do some lovely stationary work, including invitations, gift tags and book plates.

Shop the Trendy Peas artwork on Etsy or follow their designs and finds on their cute blog.

Photos: Trendy Peas

xo L&L

fatboy...what you want

We love these over-sized, cool-tastic beanbags for kids by FATBOY Canada. They're practical, comfortable and colourful. What kid doesn't love a chair that they can smush a million different ways? What parent doesn't love a piece of furniture that can take a beating and still look the part? Fatboy is perfect for kids to kick back in to read a book, chill out and play a little Wii or flop on for a good old fashioned movie night.

Lesia's pick: JUNIOR in hot pink!
Leah's pick: POINT (the round little poof style one) in camo!

Find out more about Fatboy including where you pick up your own on their official Canadian site.


Prices: Junior $198CDN and the Point: $110CDN.
Photos: FATBOY Canada

xo L&L

MORE Stella + GAP Kids

Oh oh oh, so D-day for Stella McCartney for GAP is November 2nd. However, exact Canadian stores still TBC. Here are a few preview pics of the collection.

These designs are over-the-top cute. We never thought we'd describe kids clothing as lust-worthy but here you go. Thank you Stella McCartney.
The collection features everything from pj's to silk party dresses for girls to Sergeant Pepper-eque jackets for boys. Sizes run from newbies to kids aged 12.

Photos: WWD

xo L&L

Friday Love

1. Skiphop Playspot- Yay! Now in this gorgeous brown/green combo!
2. Wheely Bug - bumble bee - the best ride-on toy there is!
3. Ghost Hair Clip - look boo-tiful this Halloween!
4. Cubino chair & loveseat by Monte -modern & comfy seating for kids

Photos: Skiphop, Wheely Bug - by PrinceLionheart, Chloeinstyle.com, Monte.

xo L&L

Diaper Bags for Dads

Check out our picks for cool Dad friendly diaper bag styles...

(left to right)
Original Diaper Dude - Grey
Scout Journey Pack Diaper Bag - Black by PPB
DD Messenger II -Brown Pleather
Rubicon Rucksack Leather Diaper Bag - Brown by PPB
Diaper Dude DudePack Dragon - Camo
Jamie by Storksak - Black

Shop the Storksak and PPB guy styles on the Gingerbread Monkeys site and check out the Diaper Dude sitefor a Canadian retailer near you.

The Diaper Dude brand leads the way with some cool, easy to wear and quite affordable options. Go dudes! We're also seriously in love the options by Petunia Pickle Bottom (PPB). And as I type this, my husband is drooling over my shoulder (his pick is the StorkSac Jamie).

We love these for a baby shower - who says Mom and baby should get all the goods? Pick up one of these bad boys for a new Dad and we promise you, he'll be all over it!

xo L&L

STELLA for GAP

Oh oh oh, we are so excited to hear that Stella McCartney for GAP is coming to Canada in November. Thank you GAP for loving us too! No news yet on what Canadian GAP retailers will carry the line but we'll be sure to keep you posted.

Read more about this sure to be killer collaboration from W Magazine.

Limited Edition Where The Wild Things Are UGGS

Just when we thought being excited about the upcoming film debut of Where The Wild Things Are was all we could handle, UGG Australia rocks our world with these limited edition UGGs for kids.

The designs, themed around the much loved book by Maurice Sendak and the upcoming movie directed by Spike Jonze, feature two prints, Max's Golden Crown or Peeping Eyes, in The Classic Short and Max's Golden Crown in the Erin Baby Booties.

It gets BETTER.

Half of the retail proceeds from the Where the Wild Things Are UGGs will go to UGG Australia's charity partner, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

As Canadians your only hope in scoring a pair of these bad boys for your little monster is to pre-order them from the UGG site on October 24th. Mark your calendars and get your credit ready.

For more details, visit the official UGG Australia website.

xoL&L

Friday Love

A few things we're loving this Friday....
1. Olli & Lime Bib & Burp pad
2. BUILT: Diaper Bag
3. Superhero Capes by Pop Baby Designs
4. Art Smock by 3 Sprout

ha ha headwear

We had to share....

This Etsy find Hair Helmut is perfect to complete the look for a Halloween costume or just for fun for your little baldie. Go with goldie locks (below) or make a special request for princess updo's, mullets, curly q's or mohawks.

Shop the Yarn Hair Helmut here.

Another Etsy score, this Viking Hat for boys by Short Inc. Cute and warm, it's a perfect combo from our pov! (They also do a pretty cool Gladiator hat too, check it out).

Shop the Viking hat here.

xo L&L

New from Boon - GRASS bottle drying rack.

Go Boon Inc.! Just when we thought we couldn't love anything more then the Boon bath pods (Frog and Bug) they go and launch a whole new range of smart and modern products this season.

This is our favourite - GRASS, aka: a counter top baby bottle and food gear drying rack. We think it's pretty smart. It's free from all the stuff we worry about like BPA, PVA and Phthalates. You won't find any of that junk in this drying rack, just sleek, modern, functional design. It's super easy to clean too, (it comes apart - the grass from the white base) and it's dishwasher friendly. This is definitely a step up from the paper towels or dishcloths we used to dry Lesia's little one's bottles with!

Watch for it at your favourite baby shop that carries other Boon products soon.

Cost: $19.99 US (approx)

Photo: Boon Inc.

xo L&L

Mood Board: A modern/gender neutral nursery

If we could spend all day doing mood boards we would. Here is the first of many mood boards. Drum roll please...our modern/gender neutral nursery.

We have a few friends having babies soon and we keep hearing about how hard it is to kit out a gender neutral nursery, so we wanted to help. Turns out they're right - decorating a gender neutral room isn't as easy as it should be. There is a lot of nice bedding out there but most of it is either too girly or err...has trains on it!

To help us keep focus, we started with the Binth alphabet poster for inspiration and built the room around that with the core colours of grey, blue and orange/yellow. We tried to balance costs (you can't beat the Ikea Gulliver crib for style, function and price) without sacrificing style.

Our modern/gender neutral nursery was made with:
(left to right, top to bottom)
Dwell - bird pair 1 - wall art
Dwell - geo elephant -book shelf
Binth - alphabet poster
Oeuf -toy store
Dwell - geo elephant pillow
Dwell - fitted crib sheet - grey square
Dwell - applique jack aqua boudoir pillow
Ikea - gulliver crib - white
Ikea - malm - 4 drawer dresser

Photos: Dwell Studio, Binth, Oeuf, Ikea.

xo L&L

Sophie Saver

You know about Sophie right?

Sophie is the ULTIMATE teething toy/soother/sanity saver for little droolers. Mommas and Papas around the world love this giraffe because she's cute, she's safe (colours are made of veggie dye), she's light (so she's easy to hold with little hands) and she has endless nubby bits that help soothe sore gums during the teething MONTHS (feel like years).

Go to a play group or a park - you'll see - Sophie's e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e.

The ONLY problem with the Soph is she's tough to keep tabs on when you're on the go. We lost her a few times but always managed to find her thanks to my endless retracing of steps. If I had a dollar for every time Baby Gap gets this call 'um, did you happen to find a Sophie when you were cleaning up today, my son lost it, please say yes'....! I'd be rich!

Sophie retails for approximately $20 CDN so you want to keep tabs on her, because if your little one tosses her, you will be buying it again. Trust. This is why we are love, love, loving the Sophie Saver by a smart Canadian Momma from Port Moody, BC.
Snap up the Sophie Saver from Etsy (our favourite place to shop) for $8USD (approx $10CDN) and voila, you can keep that giraffe on lock down even if your son has a wicked pitching arm.

No need to just save Sophie from a near death experience with this handy strap. Use it for your son's favourite bear, your daughter's snack trap - lock it all down, stroll without worry and get home with everything you left with. Imagine, it really is possible.

Snap up the Sophie Saver from sophiebelle on Etsy or keep your peepers peeped for it in your favourite local children's boutique.

Photos: sophiebelle

xo Lesia

We heart Marimekko

Love, love, love Marimekko.

Marimekko is a leading Finnish textile and clothing design company, established in 1951. The company designs, manufactures and markets high quality clothing, textiles, bags and accessories.

The floral design above is one of their iconic, more well recognized prints but they have many, many more worth looking at.

Until recently when we stumbled upon them at the Vancouver Design Show, we didn't even realize that did bedding? But they do, they totally do and so many of their designs are perfect for a toddler or tweens bedroom.

The duvet covers and pillowcases are made from high-quality 100% cotton. And carry the Öko-Tex Standard 100 environmental certificate, ensuring that no noxious chemicals were used in the manufacturing of the products. Bonus!

Shop Marimekko in Ontario, Alberta and BC.

Check out the Marimekko shop here for more amazing prints, bedding and accessories (their baby bibs are fab!).

Photos: Marimekko


xo L&L

frazier & wing

Are we the only ones obsessed with mobiles and garland?

You will be too after you take a look at these beauties by frazier & wing.
A-maz-ing mobiles! All handmade with die-cut card stock paper and strung on clear, sturdy thread. Would this not just add the perfect finishing touch to a modern whimsical nursery? It's almost enough to make Lesia want another kid - almost.
...or complete the look in any room in your house really....
and the garland, the garland alone makes us want to throw a party!

frazier & wing is a design studio in Portland, Oregon where artist/designer Heather Frazier creates luxurious and poetic paper mobiles, garlands and wall hangings.

She ships to Canada - lucky us! Just drop her an email at heather@frazierandwing.com and she'll sort out shipping costs.

Check out Heather's e-store for a closer look at her entire inspiring collection here.


You are so welcome.

Photos: frazierandwing.com 2006 – 2009. All rights reserved.

xo L&L

Etsy find...Leptitpapillion

Oh, I'm so excited! I just ordered this beautiful, delicate butterfly garland from Leptitpapillon on Etsy for my daughters room. I've been searching for ages for the right garland. I really needed something to add some girly cuteness and I think these will do the trick. I'll let you know when they arrive and go up.

Check out all of leptitpapillon's loveliness - garlands, mobiles and wall art on Etsy. Or follow her creations on her tres gorgeous blog.

Photos: leptitpapillon

xo Lesia

moveables by little chipipi

Check out Moveables - moveable wall stickers by Aussie company, Little Chipipi. These super cute adhesives are totally removable, re-stickable and won't damage your walls in the process.

They're perfect to add a little colour to a nursery or pizazz to a playroom without having to commit to to colour or theme.

Check out their entire collection of Moveables here and for stocklist details in Canada, drop them an email at info@monarchdistributing.ca

Photos: Moveables by Little Chipipi

xo L&L

Stork Sac Baby Bottle Holders

We just saw these new baby bottle holder bags by Stork Sac up close and personal and we couldn't wait to tell you about them. They're gorgeous, easily fit two 10oz-12oz wide neck baby bottles and they'll keep your liquids warm/cool for upto 4 hours! Finally! A baby bottle bag that actually fits more than one bottle with out making us break a sweat...

Find one in your neck of the woods - check out the Stork Sac site for Canadian retailers.


Cost: Approx. $44CDN

Photos: Stork Sac

xo L&L

Tod - Pod for Jet Set Droolers

If you have ever traveled anywhere with a baby, you will have nothing but love for Aldo Barreto's innovative Tod - Pod for Samsonite. Aldo, a Canadian Industrial designer (woot woot), fresh out of school entered a design competition held by travel company Samsonite. The challenge was to design child transportation 'vessel' that would eliminate the need for the endless baby gear required to get baby safely from A to B. By gosh, I think he's done it.

This Tot - Pod concept has a built-in child restraint system, drop down wheels - so it can easily convert from a car seat to a stroller, as well as a carry handle and storage compartment. The whole things snaps shut so it can easily be carted on and off a plane. You can't get more jet set baby than that.

I know, you're wondering, where the heck can you buy this thing right? That's the catch. So far it's just a concept but who knows, it may very well be the way wee ones travel in the not so distant future.

Until then, we lug...

Check out Aldo's research and thought process behind this great concept here.

Photos: Aldo Barreto

xo L&L