BEAUTIFUL BROWN BABIES

Thursday Throwback: Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street

In one of the most famous Sesame Street clips ever (and MY absolute favorite) Stevie Wonder sings his hit "Superstition" in 1972. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

Ziggy Marley Doubles The Fun

We like to think we're on the cutting edge of music that parents and kids can truly enjoy together. We've done it all- indie, kindie, kid hop, toddler rock, you name it. But we're actually behind on Ziggy Marley's latest creations. Months ago, we were pleasantly surprised to hear that the four-time Grammy winner was working on his first children's album. Since then, he has released a second album for the tykes.

Family Time
is a very lively recording of sing-alongs, narrated stories, and kid-friendly jams. Children 10 and under will love it. It also features appearances by musicians Jack Johnson, Willie Nelson, Toots Hibbert, and Paul Simon.

Ziggy released the second album B Is for Bob
last month. It's a re-imagining of several of his father's (Bob Marley's) classic tunes. The material was arranged to be geared for little ones, but with just enough pluck for adults.

Here's Ziggy Marley at this year's Easter Egg Roll at the White House:

Brightening Your Child's Room: WallCandy Arts

Have you been looking for ways to brighten your child's play area or bedroom? Or an easy way to turn a nursery into a big kid's room? There are lots of ways to do it. But in our house, we recently discovered wall decals. In the last few months, we've used them to turn my toddler's room into a fun place where he enjoys spending time playing and sleeping. Over the last two years, we had let Mommy-and-Daddy's room become Romper Room. But for just a few dollars were were able to use wall decals to add a lot of color to his room and take ours back. And since the decals are removable, you can change your mind and create a new design when you're ready. (We haven't tried that ourselves yet, since we're still happy with our first set-up.) Here are some adorable ideas from our friends at WallCandy Arts
.

Visit WallCandy Arts
online for more designs.

Thursday Throwback: Letterman!

They don't make them like this anymore. (They really don't!) For this Thursday Throwback, we give you a vintage Electric Company skit "Letterman: Dancing in the Dark" created in the early seventies. It was narrated by Joan Rivers, and stars Gene Wilder as the voice of Letterman.

Friday Fun: Nuttin' But Stringz

I wish I could say "I knew these guys way back when...", but I can't. Instead, I discovered Nuttin But Stringz the way many other people did- through Jack's big Music Show on Noggin. NBS consists of two brothers, Damien and Tourie Escobar, from Queens, NY. They're formally-trained violinists who combine classical music with jazz and hip hop. My 2-year-old loves this song, called "Thunder".

Find out more about Nuttin But Stringz on the group's Web site and on the wikipedia page.

20% Off at Wild Dill

Still looking for some warm-weather basics for your little one? If so, this might be a good time to check out organic and natural items at Wild Dill. The company is giving 20% off everything in the store for its moving sale. Just visit Wild Dill online and enter the code MOVING20 at checkout. The offer expires June 30th.

Housekeeping: New Weapon in the Laundry Battle?

As the mother of an active toddler, I'm always on the lookout for products to de-clutter and simplify my life. When it comes to attacking the laundry monster, I like to get 'er done as quickly as possible. (I've never understood why laundry needed to be such a messy ordeal.) So, of course, I love that someone has come up with ONE product to replace the clutter of bottles in my laundry room. It's such a simple idea! The new Purex® Complete 3-in-1™ Laundry Sheets contain enough detergent, softener and static-fighter for a full load. You just toss a sheet into the washer when you start the washing machine. When the cycle is done, you simply put the clothes in the dryer along with the laundry sheet. The heat from the dryer activates the softening and anti-static agents in the sheet. The end result? One fresh, clean, fluffy batch of laundry. Now, how awesome is that?

Find out more at the link below:

What about you? What do you use to simplify the laundry generated by the adults and children in the house? Let me know by clicking on comments!

Bugaboo Promotion from Giggle.com

We've all seen pictures of famous people wheeling their tots around in those hip, convertable strollers, right? But high-quality gear isn't just for the rich and famous. If you've had your heart set on a Bugaboo stroller (for yourself or other new parents) but needed just a little more motivation, you're in luck. From now until July 15, Giggle.com is offering free shipping on the Bugaboo Cameleon and accessories. No coupon code is necessary. Just click below.
FREE shipping on the Bugaboo Cameleon stroller and select accessories.

The First Lady on Sesame Street

What's the most fun thing Michelle Obama has done since becoming First Lady? She says it was visiting the set of Sesame Street last week to tape a segment about healthy habits. She explained to the press that "I never thought I’d be on Sesame Street with Elmo and Big Bird, and I was thrilled. I’m still thrilled. I’m on a high.”

Take a look at this clip of Mrs. Obama's appearance on Sesame Street:

The show is part of Sesame Street's "Healthy Habits For Life" initiative, encouraging exercise and nutritious eating habits.

Bright New Kicks for Toddlers

Why doesn't anyone make adult shoes this cute? As you'll see, color is all the rage this Spring and Summer. Shoe designers are going all out, especially on toddler and preschooler shoes. So, get your little ones some cool tennis shoes and sandals they could only get away with at their age. Sure they're loud, busy and over the top, but chances are your little one has one or two of those traits as well.

Adidas