Straight from NYC: Hip Holiday Picks for Kids

A few weeks back, my son, Roc, and I headed into Manhattan to check out Babesta’s Hip Holiday Top Picks blogger event.  Located in trendy Tribeca, Babesta actually has two storefronts — there’s “Threads” on West Broadway, that features a curated selection of the best labels from cool rock- and-roll tees to European boutique brands, along with a well-crafted assortment of cool toys/books, funky accessories and footwear — and there’s “Cribz” on Warren Street, that offers “best of class” strollers, gear and furniture that’s been hand-selected by staff that are curated for a city child. Cribz also sells unique décor and art items, ranging from photography collages by local Tribeca artists to funky sculptors from Mexico City.

Talk about an injection of cool!  Roc was amused by the trendy toys while I was enamored with the unique apparel selection.

And here’s the best part about everything we saw — Everything can be shopped 24/7 at www.babesta.com.   So you get the best that Downtown Manhattan has to offer without leaving your kitchen in the suburbs!

Gifts don’t get much hipper than the following picks in our book:

Snow Globe by Seedling Kids: We loved the craft collection from Seedling Kids and thought the snow globe was a perfect wintertime activity. You mold the clay, bake it like a shrinky dink and then let it set. Later you add water and glitter and voila! This is a great, whimsical snowy-day activity! $28  http://www.babesta.com/Make-Your-Own-Snow-Globe.html

Loog Guitar: This guitar started off as an academic project in 2010 by designer Rafael Atijas (his master’s thesis at my alma mater, NYU!) It was launched via Kickstarter, with a goal to raise $15,000 and they raised $65,618. People were excited about the product. The three-string guitar makes it fun and easy for kids to play music. Rafael believes that building the guitar is an integral part of the experience–to be a real guitar hero you have to build it. Roc would not put this guitar down in the store!!  $149 http://www.babesta.com/Loog-3-Guitar.html

Cardishirtigan by La Miniatura: Project Runway’s Jeffery Sebelia was the rebel of the show and that rocker attitude shows through in his line of cool boys’ clothing. This cardishirtigan is half cardigan half button down shirt, and the mixed medium makes it super cool and comfortable. I absolutely ADORED this shirt by Sebelia, and purchased it on the spot for Roc! What’s not to love about the mixing of fabrics AND Navy and Black?! $104 http://www.babesta.com/Navy-Cable-Knit-Cardishirtagan.html

 

Indie Button Factory by Chronicle: I’m told that kids love to bring a little flair to their book bags, coats and shirts. And that making their own buttons is a fun way to express themselves. This seemed like a great indie-cool DIY gift for boys or girls. $18.95 http://www.babesta.com/The-Indie-Rock-Button-Factory.html

 

Yoshitomo Nara My Sweet Dog Pull Toy by Vilac: A hip take on a classic toy — Vilac has been manufacturing toys in France for over 80 years and has some of the most innovative designs. Smoothed, sanded and lacquered by craftsmen. Nara is a super-groovy pop artist from Japan who came on the scene in the 90’s. $92 http://www.babesta.com/Yoshitomo-Nara-My-Sweet-Dog.html

 

Gummi Bath Toys by Jellio: The design house Jellio works out of Red Hook, Brooklyn, and have been a favorite of Babesta for years. They broke the mold of furniture design when they recently came up with these cavity-free bath toys fashioned after kids’ favorite treats. $28 http://www.babesta.com/Gummi-Bath-Toys.html

In addition to the hip picks at Babesta, I recently had the opportunity to learn about an amazing company called Children Inspire Design and felt it appropriate to include them in this roundup of hip and cool gifts for the kiddies.

At a recent Momtrends event in Chelsea, my fellow blogger friends and I were simply smitten by the whimsical posters gracing the walls of the design showroom that reminded us to “Don’t Forget to Be Awesome” and “Be Kind to Others.”  My particular fave was the poster that reads “The Family Routine: 1. Wake Up 2. Be AMAZING 3. Go Back to Bed”  I loved it so much that it will be soon hanging in Roc’s bedroom!

Children Inspire Design is cool on so many other levels besides their culturally diverse designs: it’s founded by a mompreneur, is made in the USA on recycled paper and earth-friendly inks, and is a gift that gives back.  Learn more about how 100% of CID’s Compassion Maps proceeds are dedicated to helping improve nutrition to Kenyan children here.

Check out their complete collection here and take advantage of the $5 flat shipping rate for the holidays.

Hip, Hip Hooray for the Holidays.  Happy Shopping!

oxox

– mom a la mode

{I was not compensated for this post.  My son received a tshirt and I received a promotional discount on the purchase of the cardigan shirt as part of the Babesta event.  I also received a complimentary poster from Children Inspire Design as part of the Momtrends event.  All opinions expressed within this post are entirely mine.}