On Tacy’s sixth birthday, she wanted to go to Build-a-Bear Workshop.

We drove to the location where we thought there was a Build-a-Bear, only to discover that we were wrong. Thanks to the lousy weather that afternoon (snow…on April 9…ugh), we decided to forego looking for another location and went out for pizza instead.

But she hasn’t forgotten about Build-a-Bear. So when fellow blogger Average Jane asked if we’d like to check out Tropical Hello Kitty, courtesy of Build-a-Bear Workshop, I jumped at the chance. It’s not like we needed another stuffed animal around here, but unlike almost all of the others, I knew Hello Kitty would be special.

And she is. The girls ADORE her. We’ve had to draft a schedule for her sleeping arrangements. Clothing has been sacrificed by American Girl dolls so that Hello Kitty can change her clothes a dozen times a day. The little girl two doors down has a Hello Kitty too, and the two cats got together for a playdate yesterday.

What makes this kitty so entrancing? I’ve got to admit, she is extremely huggable. Much more huggable than any real live cat I’ve owned. Plus, I love her because she doesn’t shed. A huggable, hairless cat - my favorite.

Tacy agrees with the huggability factor. When I asked her, “Why do you love Hello Kitty?” she gave me a look as if to say, “Well, DUH. Why do you think?” When pressed for actual words to describe that love, she told me, “She’s beautiful and soft and cuddly.”

On the Build-a-Bear site, you can purchase your own Hello Kitty and dress her up any way you please. Check out all the furry friends there - personally, I love the donation animals, where a portion of the proceeds are donated to local pet shelters and rescue organizations.

I’ve got a $25 Bear Bucks card to give away to a lucky reader! Email me at mothergoosemouse AT mothergoosemouse DOT com by midnight PST on Monday, June 9, and tell me how you’d spend your Bear Bucks at the Build-a-Bear site. I’ll draw one winner at random (US and Canada only!) and announce on mothergoosemouse on Wednesday, June 11.

Don’t tell my kids, but on my dresser there’s a small bowl which holds all of the barrettes, clips, pony tail holders, and other hair accessories that I find around the house.  I started collecting them a few days ago, and while they still have plenty of goodies left in their bathroom, slowly but surely the quantity is dwindling.  I will be thoroughly amused on the day that they can’t find a single hair accessory anywhere in the house - and believe me, that day is coming.

This is why I don’t spend big bucks on barrettes.  I’m a confessed Gymboree addict, but you’ll never catch me purchasing the matching hair accessories.  Just like the matching socks, they usually disappear after one wearing.  Pointless, at least in this house.

So as you can imagine, special hair accessories must be kept under tight security around here.  That’s why the gorgeous clips we received from Maiden America live here, in my kitchen, on top of the stack of “Mommy stuff” that no one except me - not even Kyle - is allowed to touch.

The girls are allowed to wear these beauties on special occasions, under strict orders that they are NOT to remove them.  While in their younger days my girls had barely enough hair to hold a clip, they now have plenty of hair and much greater manual dexterity - along with apparent aspirations to become hair stylists.  Instead of styling their dolls, they style themselves.  Methinks it might be time for a couple of pixie cuts…

Except I won’t do that because I honestly love how cute they look with these gorgeous clips in their ‘dos.

Maiden America is known for their non-slip hair clips - and I will tell you that these suckers really don’t budge.  Kyle wore one for a whole evening before he realized it - and he’s got short, fine hair.  So perhaps a pixie cut isn’t out of the question after all, since even a military-style man’s cut can hold these clips.

My only suggestion to Maiden America is that they might introduce a line of clips with simpler styles and fewer embellishments.  My girls actually have a plethora of fancy dresses (thanks to my mother, who has great taste to go along with her Neiman’s charge) and wear them fairly often, but I’m pretty sure they’re in the minority.

Oh, and if you check out the Maiden America site and you’re dismayed by the prices (which start around $6-7), think about the money you’ve spent on clips that have slipped out, fallen out, been yanked out, and are now lost forever.  Really, if you’d just bought a few of these beauties to start with instead, you’d have come out ahead.

Check out Parent Bloggers Network for more reviews of Maiden America non-slip hair clips!

With my first two children - both little girls - I thought I was pretty picky about what they wore.  No licensed character-themed clothing (with the exception of undies - I’ll allow Disney Princesses as long as they’re not visible), and nothing with even a hint of sexuality.

Then I had a boy.  And I figured, “Hey, this will be easy!  I don’t have to worry about premature sexualization; nobody markets padded bras to boys.  And Disney hasn’t yet put out a line of Prince merchandise.  We’re home-free where it comes to dressing this little guy!”

Oh, how wrong I was.

Turns out, I’m even pickier about boy clothes than I am about girl clothes.  Not only am I anti-licensed character-themed clothing - no Power Rangers, no Star Wars, no Lightning McQueen - I’m also averse to sports-themed clothing, construction-themed clothing, and anything that emblazoned “Mama’s Little Man” (or worse, “Grandma Loves Me”).  Barf-o-rama.  Why can’t boys - even baby boys - look COOL?

Thanks to Kenneth Cole, they can.  This snazzy little outfit from Kenneth Cole fits the bill perfectly.  It’s trendy, but it’s not age-inappropriate.  It shows our style, but it’s not a billboard.

Want specifics as to why this outfit rocks?  First of all, the top has a collar (which I looove on little guys), but it’s a onesie.  That means it stays tucked in, all neat and tidy.  For me, until my kids can stand up on their own, I prefer onesies.  Regular tees just ride up, and I’m forever tugging them back down.

Next, I love the stitching detail on the pants.  They’re brown, but the stitching is white - drawing attention to the seams, making them both functional and decorative.  And the stitching is well done (another big plus with me).

Finally, I really dig the little sunhat.  I may not be adept at accessorizing myself, but I love accessories for kids.  They pull the outfit together and make it complete.

I’m so glad to have discovered this fantastic line of kids’ clothes.  I know Kenneth Cole makes quality, good-looking items for adults, and now I can look to them for kids’ clothes that meet my exacting standards.  I’m going to have the best-dressed little dude on the playground.

I really ought to feel guilty for spoiling my girls with all the pairs of shoes they own, but I just can’t do it. Not when more than half of those pairs of shoes come from Vincent.

Tacy’s favorite pair of Vincent footwear would have to be her Blomma rain boots. The child wears those boots, rain or shine, seven days a week - but you’d never know it to look at the boots. They have held up beautifully under extreme wear and tear.

But after receiving a pair of Lilly Mary Janes, she has started slipping these beauties into the rotation. A lavender (or blue, if you choose) suede upper covered in sequins, these shoes are absolutely fabulous. I can’t blame her for wanting to wear them, even if they’ve already gotten scuffed on the playground at recess. Like her Blomma boots, these Lilly Mary Janes are holding up well and will certainly take her all the way through the spring and summer (and into fall too, if her feet don’t grow too fast!).

Meanwhile, CJ is a fan of a style that has since been discontinued, but it’s a basic bootie that zips up over the top of her foot. They’re so flexible that it’s almost like being barefoot (which is her preferred state). But like Tacy, she’s enamored of her new Vincent sandals in the Lisa style. While it’s still a bit chilly to wear them outside, she’s been breaking them in around the house, and she loves the little butterfly perched on the upper. I love how soft they are, and I’m confident that she’ll wear them all summer long.

While I love the unique designs at Vincent, I’m just as sold on the quality of the shoes we’ve bought there. It’s the designs that entice my kids to wear these shoes, and it’s the quality that keeps them from being worn out before the kids grow out of them.

Thanks to our Vincent review campaign at PBN, I’ve got a coupon code to share!  For 20% off all regular-priced items at Vincent, enter code SPRING-DEAL-8 at checkout (valid through April 30, 2008).  As always, shipping at Vincent is free with purchases over $75.

…but neither one of us wants to watch Barney.

Being the younger sister, CJ has had the benefit (or not, depending how you view it) of watching the same programs as her older sister Tacy. When in doubt, we screen the show geared toward the older child. That means a modest amount of Dora, very little Sesame Street, and absolutely no Barney.

Even when Tacy was younger, she didn’t watch Barney - mainly because Kyle and I couldn’t stand it. I actually don’t mind Barney himself that much; it’s BJ and Baby Bop that make me want to stick icepicks in my ears.

But we figured it was only fair to give CJ a shot at enjoying Barney, especially in the form of a DVD that contains two of her favorite things - letters (which she’s beginning to identify consistently) and animals (which she has always loved). Barney and Friends: Animal ABC’s was certainly our best bet at enticing CJ to watch that beloved big purple dinosaur.

And we tried. We screened it multiple times. We kept watching even when she had wandered away. We pointed out the animals and grooved along to the songs.

But it was all to no avail. SpongeBob Squarepants has taken away CJ’s innocence. Singing children and dancing dinosaurs hold no interest for her compared to a simpering yellow sponge and a smartypants squid.

If CJ had been the first child, and we’d shown her this DVD before ruining her with SpongeBob, I’m sure she would have loved it. As it is, my jaded three year-old has already moved on.

So long, Barney. We hardly knew ye.

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Want to win our Barney and Friends: Animal ABCs DVD? Send me an email at mothergoosemouse@gmail.com - lucky winner to be drawn at random!

And be sure to check out the other reviews of this DVD over at Parent Bloggers Network.

While I prefer to decorate my living spaces with more neutral colors, I do understand that bright colors and babies go together like peanut butter and jelly. And just like peanut butter and jelly, bright colors can be revolting if done poorly (like those PB&J sandwiches in the elementary school cafeteria), but they can be fabulous if done well.

Kushies knows how to do bright colors better than anyone. Their Zolo Toys have funky, offbeat designs with plenty of bright colors that are truly easy on the eyes. The Linko Clip Together Teether and Toys resembles other linking toys, but it includes lots of different textures and color combinations to keep little ones (and their aching gums) occupied.

The Mobilo Crib Carousel Mobile provides plenty of entertainment value too - the hanging stuffed animals are detachable (by parents, not by baby), the underside of the carousel canopy is mirrored, and it’s got the same fantastic variety of color combinations.

My favorite Zolo Toy has to be the Stacrobats Magnetic Stacking Acrobats. These five little guys stick together (and to the accompanying colorful balls) to form all sorts of poses on the magnetic base. I must have played with these Stacrobats for a good fifteen minutes all by myself. If they can occupy a thirty-something woman who really ought to be vacuuming, I’m certain that babies and toddlers will find them infinitely entertaining.

But it’s EQ - the Theory of Emotional Intelligence - that makes these toys really cool and unique. With the help of child development experts, Kushies created these toys to tap into kids’ self-expression and emotional self-confidence. The idea is that playing with toys that are geared toward EQ involves more and different brain cells than most other baby toys, which in turn “helps to create more open-minded and flexible thinkers.” Even after having three kids, I’m still no child development expert, so I’ll have to take Kushies’ word for it - at least until my youngest child grows up and I can evaluate whether his Zolo Toys helped him become a more open-minded and flexible thinker than his big sisters.

Kushies is about more than just toys. They’ve got a wide range of gear, including clothing, swimwear, and outerwear - including buntings, snowsuits, and the adorable Splish Splash Rain Jacket and Pant Set. Like the Kushies Zolo Toys, it’s the details of this set that make it so fantastic. The hood of the jacket has a visor (genius!), and both the jacket and pants have reflective strips to ensure that the wearer is visible, even in stormy weather. And the bright colors - including cornflower blue, petal pink, and sunny yellow - make the set all the more appealing.

Has Kushies converted me to the bright side? Well, that depends. If the brightness comes from them, I’m definitely on board. Just keep it confined to the adorable child and his nursery, that’s all I ask.

Before I had my son, I used to say that my younger daughter was as much of a boy as I could possibly handle. She’s extremely physical - running, jumping, and climbing much more than my older daughter ever did at the same age - and she prefers to wear shoes that don’t get in her way. Thick-soled shoes are a total no-go, and even shoes with flexible soles are usually kicked off at the earliest opportunity. Apparently it’s much easier for her to scale the kitchen counters with bare feet.

Up until now, her shoes of choice have been a pair of Robeez - her “monkey shoes”, as she calls them. But Robeez are no match for wet and snowy sidewalks and grass, so choosing shoes has become a battle this winter. Plus, now that she’s three, she’s outgrowing the Robeez offerings.

I think I’ve found the perfect solution in the new line of shoes from pediped - pediped Flex. They’re rubber-soled shoes in a larger range of sizes than pediped Originals (EU 22-29/US 6-12), and while the soles are more substantial than the Originals or other soft-soled shoes, they are surprisingly flexible. That means my little monkey’s feet are protected outside, but she can still run and jump and climb with ease.

But what did she think of the shoes? When she came home from school, instead of immediately sitting down on the floor to remove her shoes and socks like she usually does, she left them on. It was only when, hours later, she decided to put on her pajamas that she took the shoes off. That’s the best indication of comfort that I could possibly expect from her, and it’s a guarantee that I’ll check out the rest of the pediped Flex line.

pediped Flex is available as of February 28 in nine styles for girls and six styles for boys.

One of my least favorite aspects of preparing for Oliver’s arrival was the influx of brightly colored plastic accoutrements that seem to go hand-in-hand with those first three years of babyhood. I had just gotten rid of nearly all of it, and now I had to start accumulating it all over again - and buy stock in Duracell.

So I was practically giddy when this Inglesina M’Home Loft Baby Rocker arrived. Not only is it sleek and modern - almost like a real piece of furniture - it’s basic black. And bonus points for the fact that it doesn’t take batteries.

Does Oliver like it? I’d tell you to ask him, but he’s sleeping peacefully as I write.

Like all Inglesina products, this rocker’s not cheap.  Retail price is $120, and it doesn’t vibrate or play Fur Elise.  But it is thoughtfully designed, both in terms of the baby’s comfort and safety and the parents’ sensibilities, and sturdily crafted too.  If you’re just starting a family and plan to have at least one more child, it’s a decent investment.

The M’Home line also includes two highchairs (the Zuma and the Club - I have to admit I’m drooling over both of them) and a combination changing/bathing station called the Spa.

I have a confession to make.

(How many times do I start a post like that? What do I think this is, True Confessions?)

I’m having a baby on Thursday, and I’ve got the cradle all set up next to my bed. I’ve already put the mattress pad and cradle sheet on the mattress - not because I’m proactive, but because I can’t stand to look at the mattress.

Because I’m pretty sure it’s the same mattress on which I lay when I slept in that same cradle.

It’s neat to think that my own babies will have all slept in the same cradle that I did, but it’s frankly a little gross to think that all of us have slept on the same mattress that is now more than 35 years old.

However, it gives me a great reason to encourage other mothers - especially those who are just starting their families - to check out Natural Mat.

Natural Mat is a UK-based bedding company that specializes in mattresses made from organic raw materials. They just expanded into the US last fall, both online and in baby boutiques across the country. As eco-consciousness and health concerns have become more prevalent, Natural Mat’s products fit the bill perfectly for many parents:

• Materials are non-allergenic and anti-dust mite, thanks to essential oils of lemon, lavender, and eucalyptus;
• Materials are naturally fire retardant and comply with federal regulations
• Materials are from renewal and sustainable sources

And most impressive for those of us who can’t bring ourselves to replace items that should have been replaced years ago - the materials used in Natural Mat’s products provide much better, longer lasting support than traditional materials (like foam and cotton batting).

They offer three varieties of crib mattresses: 1) The Coco Mat (shown above) - filled with a core of organic coconut fiber wrapped in lambswool; 2) The Latex Mat - filled with a core of natural latex fiber (direct from the rubber tree), also wrapped in lambswool; and 3) The Mohair Mat - filled with a core of horsetail hair wrapped in mohair fleece.

Granted, the prices of these mattresses fall into the category of “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.” But again, if you’re like me, you’ll hang on to your Natural Mat for years, passing it down as an heirloom. And unlike my 1970s-era foam cradle mattress, these mattresses are built to last.

For more information, check out the Natural Mat website.

When I first asked my older daughter what she wanted Santa to bring her for Christmas, she told me, “A Webkin.” Instead, she’s already received something much cooler: Bella Sara collectible trading cards.

The cards feature detailed drawings of horses, along with what could be considered “affirmations” for the elementary-school set. Some are a little new-age for my taste, but many are worth internalizing, such as “Learn to trust in the people who care about you.” and “Have the courage to learn from your weaknesses and grow stronger.” The horses have names like Janus, Nike, and Cybele, which is far preferable to the names of other toy equines out there (I trust you know what I mean).

The cards can be used to play actual card games, or the horses pictured on the cards may be activated online (using the code on each card) and housed in a stable in the world of Bella Sara. There, girls can feed and care for their horses, play games with them, and learn more about horses in general. Although the Bella Sara site is online, there’s no interaction with other users, which makes it ideal for kids who are just beginning to learn about Internet safety.

Bella Sara was created by a Danish social worker, Gitte Odder Braendgaard. Her son enjoyed Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering cards, but her daughters showed no interest. Braendgaard conceived Bella Sara as an alternative card-based activity for girls, with a stronger focus on imagination and self-esteem and less emphasis on competition. It has become a tremendous hit in Scandinavia since its introduction in late 2005, and the cards became available nationally in the US in early 2007. Recent coverage of Bella Sara includes this NYT article, which gives more information concerning the history of the cards.

My older daughter already enjoys using the computer, particularly for playing games that have an element of continuity. Being able to keep track of her progress is a key motivator for her. So she has really enjoyed activating her horses online, where she can return to care for them and play games. We also don’t have any pets, so caring for horses online is an acceptable substitute for all of us - especially considering that we live in Colorado where many girls her age actually DO have their own horse.

I asked her about her favorite aspects of Bella Sara, and she affirmed that the online play is lots of fun for her. She loves to feed the horses and play jumping games with them. As in other collectible trading card games, there are rare cards in Bella Sara that have iridescent backgrounds. She reported that when she activated these horses online, they were placed in a different kind of stable - “more like a castle!” Interestingly, while she thinks these rare cards are pretty cool, she told me that she was disappointed that these horses’ feet never got dirty; she can’t clean the manure out of their shoes like she can with the horses in the regular stable.

If only she thought it was such fun to clean up her room, right?

The cards are geared toward the 6-12 age range, so she’s only just getting started. She’s had a great time introducing her friends to the cards and showing them her online stables. While I like to encourage her interest in solid subjects like history and science, I don’t object to her enjoyment of Bella Sara. It’s fanciful and girly, but it incorporates good messages. Not all play has to involve learning, and Bella Sara is certainly more wholesome than a lot of the activities and characters aimed at girls her age.

And even though Santa won’t be bringing her any Webkinz, she’ll find a Bella Sara plush horse on Christmas morning instead. Something tells me she won’t be disappointed.

Learn more about Bella Sara on their website, and purchase the cards on Amazon!