Friday, October 22, 2010

Growing Up and 'Growing Out' of the Toy Phase

When my kids were younger, I absolutely loved going to Toys R Us and shopping for Christmas.  There were so many great options to choose from and I loved the look on their faces when they opened their gifts on Christmas morning.  Now that they are getting older (and I am too), the thought of going to Toys R Us does not excite me anymore.  They have aged out of many of the toys and now are mainly into electronics.  My son still loves Legos and my daughter still enjoys art supplies, but outside of these choices I am really struggling with what else to put under the tree.

I recently had a discussion with my daughter about the practicality of buying toys.  She had two gift cards from her birthday and I offered a suggestion that she might want to consider spending her money on clothes and shoes instead of toys.  At first, she was a little confused, but when I explained how little she plays with the toys she already has at home she began to see my point.  She loves clothes and shoes, so it was a good choice for her.

I don't want to sound like a Scrooge and make it sound as if I will not be buying my kids toys this year for Christmas, because believe me I know I will still be looking for some items to complete my list.  However, I think the time has come when I am realizing that gifts that are more meaningful and personal are even more special.  These gifts are the ones that can be treasured over time and not be tossed aside when the latest and greatest new toy comes along. When I look back on the early years of my children's lives and those special Christmases, I do not regret all the toys I bought and the enjoyment they brought.  However, I also do not regret their timely removal via Goodwill or consignment sales either :)

I think the realization now that they are growing up has hit me hard this year.  I want to hold onto each memory.  This year my Christmas gift list will be filled with Wii and DS games for sure, but I am adding some personal unique gifts as well.  These are the gifts that I hope they will treasure, I know I will.

What are your thoughts on Holiday giving for children?  Do you have any special traditions that you would like to share?

If you would like to add a special gift to your list this year that will brighten up your child's room and become a treasured keepsake, make sure you check out our website for some great ideas.  We specialize in unique items such as hand-made wall letters, personalized step stools, and customized wall decals.

Personalized Step Stools

Custom Wall Decals

Custom Wall Decals

Hand-Made Wall Letters

Friday, August 20, 2010

Tips for Transforming A Nursery into a Big Kid Room - Featured Guest Post on MarketMommies.com

If you are like most new parents, you probably spent many hours and days preparing the perfect nursery for your new little one.  While it can be bittersweet to recognize that your child is growing up so fast, it can be also be exciting to create and decorate your child's new "big-kid" space.  If the thought of transitioning their nursery into a "big-kid" room seems a little overwhelming, make sure to check out our featured guest post on MarketMommies.com for helpful tips and advice on how to simplify the process and make it rewarding for both you and your child. 

Then, visit our website to view our extensive selection of products like the ones pictured below to get you started and on your way to a great new room!

Monday, July 26, 2010

New Year, New Style, New Decor? - Featured guest post on Market Mommy.com

Back-to-school season is a great time to think about making simple changes to your child's decor to reflect their developing interests and style.  We recently shared tips on how to make these changes as the featured guest blogger on Market Mommy.com.  To read more, check out our post Back To School - New Year, New Style, New Decor?  We would love to have you share your tips for refreshing your child's decor in the comments section below.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Keeping our children safe while online

I have to admit, online communities for children make me a bit nervous.  With the increased use of Facebook, Twitter, and texting our children are connected in ways I couldn't have imagined.  As a parent, I want to protect my children from unwanted influences as much as possible.  I know there are a lot of safe online communities out there, but finding them can be challenging.  So, I was thrilled to have connected with iTwixie, an online community for tween girls.

iTwixie offers a place for tween girls to connect in a safe environment that focuses on positive encouragement and building self-esteem. With a variety of categories including iThink, iMActive, iTwixology, and iConnect girls can learn about a many different topics that interest them.  iTwixie also features Twixing, a paid chat service for $2.99/month.  The great thing about Twixing is that an iTwixieAdmin is an active participant on every chat, so that every girl has a positive voice, role model and moderator for safety, and parents can feel confident that their daughters will not experience bullying or inappropriate comments when they are Twixing.  Additionally, iTwixie has a Parent Circle to keep parents informed of changes in the online community and features positive parenting advice and articles.

So, if you are the parent of a tween girl or know of a tween girl who would be interested in joining iTwixie, make sure to visit their site and tell them we sent you :)  

Right now, Kids Decor Inc. is proud to be partnering with iTwixie to sponsor a DIY craft as part of their  weekly Design Dimension feature.  Check out these cute Make Ur Own Storage Baskets.  For additional storage options for your child's room, make sure to visit our website, Kids Decor Inc.

If you know of any other online communities for children that you feel are safe and appropriate, we would love to hear about them.  Please leave a comment below so others can check them out as well.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Online Business Directories - Making Them Work for You

As a mompreneur with a limited advertising budget, I am always looking for inexpensive ways to promote my business, Kids Decor Inc.  While searching for places to list my business, I came across Market Mommies, a free online directory for mom-owned businesses and blogs.  I was impressed with the site from the very beginning.  It was well organized and updated frequently.  I immediately listed my business and saw increased traffic to my site.

Over time, I have learned of the benefits Market Mommies provides to both mompreneurs and shoppers.  I have enjoyed browsing the listings for my personal shopping and looking through the wholesale directory for products that would be a good fit for my business.  I was honored to be asked by Market Mommies creator, Toni Bloomfield, to write a blog posting detailing the ways in which I have used the directory to grow my business.  You can check out the posting here:

http://marketmommies.com/_blog/Market_Mommies_Blog/post/How_One_Mom_is_Using_Marketmommiescom/

Additionally, I have now become a Market Mommies Contributing Author and look forward to sharing my experiences as a business owner and learning from other moms as well.  To read my most recent contributing article, Customer Service - The Key Ingredient click below:

http://marketmommies.com/_blog/Market_Mommies_Blog/post/Customer_Service_-_The_Key_Ingredient/

So, if you are a mompreneur with your own business or blog, I would highly encourage you to visit Market Mommies and get it listed today.  I am really thankful that I found Market Mommies and I know that it will continue to be a key part of the marketing strategy for Kids Decor Inc. in the years to come.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Another great review of our boutique

We are honored to have been featured today on Kidlets Blog.  Kidlets Blog features reviews, giveaways, spotlights on entrepreneurs, recipes and much more.  We were thrilled to hear that they found a lot to like about our boutique.  Here's what they had to say about it "A lot of the products they carry are unique and not easily found on the web. The website is visually appealing and easy to use".

We also provided an exclusive coupon code for Kidlets Blog readers, so click on over and check out the review and look for the special coupon code.

http://www.kidletsblog.com/2010/03/kids-decor-inc.html

Then, make sure to visit our site to use the code!
http://www.kidsdecorinc.com


Friday, January 22, 2010

Wee Decor Feature


The word is out about our great site! We were recently featured by Wee Decor.  Wee Decor features the freshest ideas in nursery and kids decor. The feature article includes an overview of our company and highlights several products including the Princess Rocking Chair, Blue Haven Crib Set and Sweet Dreams rug.  Make sure to check out the special coupon code at the end of the feature!
http://www.weedecor.com/2010/01/princess-room-decor/