kiddos

Modern Sticker Book

I bought one of these awesome sticker books from Muji last year in Europe and I love it. There are a ton of different blank faces and six pages of stickers in the back filled with different eyes, noses, mouths, etc so the kids can make their own book of faces. It’s really well done and the quality is excellent. My kids love it and it keeps them really busy on trips and at restaurants. I noticed they just started carrying it in the US Muji stores .

Magnet Wall DIY

Moses has always had an obsession with letters and one day we found a giant magnet wall at a store and he was in heaven. So I always said as soon as they had their very own room (not in a closet) we would make one. The whole project was so easy and took less than 10 minutes. Both the kids love it and play with it all the time. It’s perfect for a playroom or a bedroom. I would love to do a giant wall like this.

Materials needed: One custom cut piece of sheet metal, nails, hammer, cardboard, lots of alphabet letters! (I got mine from here, I liked the font.)

After I decided where the wall was going to go I took exact measurements. Home Depot sells sheet metal in standard sizes but won’t cut it. So I looked up a sheet metal guy online and got a quote. He cut and delivered the sheet metal to me for $30. The sheet metal is actually quite sharp so be careful as you are working with it.

Step 1: Make Holes. Lay the sheet metal over the cardboard. Take a nail and hammer it into the sheet metal until a hole is created. Repeat on the corners and every few feet along the edges.
Step 2: Have someone hold the sheet metal up to the wall and starting at the bottom put a nail into the hole until it is flush against the wall. Move upwards making sure there are no gaps or holes between the wall and the sheet metal.
Step 3: Add the letters to create a  giant magnetic alphabet wall.

other sources: striped bedding from Ikea (discontinued), artwork by Paul, lights from Paris)

Kids Plates DIY

This post is sponsored by Hidden Valley Ranch.

This genius project is by Alexis Birkmeyer and I love it. These plates would be so great for a kids party or even just for dinnertime. Kids can create scenes from their food before they eat it. My kids loved these plates and it even got my picky eater to eat more vegetables. It makes mealtime just a little more fun. This project is super easy. You can make up your own drawings (they are so simple) or you can download ours below.

Find the full instructions and photos after the jump.

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One For the Kids

It’s Roman’s birthday next week. Here are some of the things I want to buy my little guy.

1. Faceted Wooden Blocks
These are some of the prettiest blocks I’ve ever seen. They would live on my coffee table.
2. Henri’s Walk to Paris
This out-of-print-impossible-to-find kids book is being reprinted. (Thanks Abby for the tip.)
3. Pretty Shapes in Pretty Great Colors
These puzzles come in the perfect colors and double as blocks.
4. Fjällräven Kanken backpack
Iconic Swedish brand that comes in the best colors.
5. Leather Deru Elephant
This vintage leather elephant is made from one piece of leather. Incredible.
6. Felted Alphabet
We picked these up in Copenhagen last week. The kids are obsessed.
7. Popsicle Tanktop
Because it’s awesome and I’m dreaming of Summer.

Moses and Roman’s Closet Part III

For the last 3.5 years we lived in a one-bedroom apartment on Nob Hill in San Francisco. We had both of our babies there and we lived happily in our cozy little apartment. While I am a big believer in living in small, edited spaces we probably would have moved out a little sooner if it weren’t for the mountain of medical bills we had last year. Our closet set up worked great but of course I’d rather have a sun drenched nursery.

This closet has had a few transformations. First it just had a crib. Then we built a toddler bed (pictures here.) And finally we turned it into a crib and toddler bunk bed.

The crib was basically an Ikea Hack. I bought a crib used off Craigslist and then asked a woodworker friend (Jared Rusten) to help me come up with something. He secured the bed like a large shelf. The front of the crib lifts up and rolls over the top so you can take the baby in and out. We made sure the mattresses fit snugly. Of course there are all kinds of regulations when it comes to babies sleeping situations–so do so at your own risk!

Crib and Toddler Bed Custom made / Striped bedding from Ikea / Crib Quilt was handmade with Japanese fabric from Purl Soho / Light fixture from Alameda Flea Market (but they sell one like here at Target.) It’s Beautiful Here Coat Rack by Heath Nash.