When you have crazy adventurous kids, you have to be prepared for the veritable avalanche of strange, colorful things that will invade your home. Fluffy toys, loud things that spontaneously make noise in the middle of the night, and all kinds of small furniture in garishly bright primary colors. The situation isn’t entirely hopeless, though: Some designers are putting the fun back into kids’ furniture. These pieces are a delight not only for kids, but for their hip parents, too.

Coco plexistyle baby lounger www.geniusjones.com

Trioli yellow chair www.geniusjones.com

Mini chair Little Chester PU shiny silver www.jip-collection.com

Rocking scooter wood blue BOX32 design www.jip-collection.com

Eames Elephant www.geniusjones.com

Fatboy Junior www.geniusjones.com

SweetSeat booster in aqua with cherry red dots www.sweet-seat.com

By Pixie Ibañez

nature aid

Organic goods are popping up in practically every store nowadays. From organic shoes to organic baby food, there doesn’t seem to be a product that hasn’t had a greener, healthier, organic makeover. Ignite a passion for organic goods within your children early on, and natural, healthy, eco-friendly alternatives will soon become second nature. Little people can also make a difference, and their contributions will hopefully help our sweet planet heal from a very nasty boo-boo.

With the purchase of each Greenzy, a donation is made to The Arbor Day Foundation which goes towards planting trees in our nation’s forests.

1- Mini Bobble designed by Karim Rashid. www.waterbobble.com
2- Glob paint kit, natural botanical paints. www.globiton.com
3- Leakey Collection beads for learning natural material beads. www.leakeycollection.com
4- Greenzy Peat doll. www.greenzys.com
5- Kiss My Face obsessively natural kids toothpaste. www.kissmyface.com
6- Miracle-Gro kids 3-in-1 gardening set from Peachtree Playthings. www.toysrus.com
7- Aussan Natural baby care products. www.aussannatural.com
8- Kamik 100% recycled sweet pea rain boots. www.kamik.com

cook, spill, eat… be merry!

Kids have little hands and big imaginations. They love to explore and try new things – especially in the kitchen. But for many parents, kiddos in the kitchen is a no-no. The key is having the proper kid-friendly kitchen tools and setting boundaries as to what they can and can’t do. Cooking is the perfect family activity: It requires focused attention – which is just what most children crave these days; it teaches them valuable skills; boosts their self-esteem; and improves their chances of becoming healthy adults. But perhaps more importantly, it creates memories of time together that last a lifetime. These holidays, why not take the time, make a mess and have some fun with your kids in the kitchen. Long term they’ll be healthier, food savvy and a sure hit with friends. Plus you might get some nights off!

• Mixing Bowl• Ollie whisk • Floura measuring cup • Sunny spatula. www.headchefs.com
• Kuhn Rikon Swiss peeler • Fred Babushka measuring cups • Le Creuset revolution silicone brush • Smiley face flex turner • Fashionbrands StirStik • Red silicone mini mitt. www.surletable.com
By Pixie Ibañez
Photography by Gabriella Nissen

Shot on location at Cáceres Luxury Townhomes
Model: Devion Raye Pitts

Baby food is going green, and that’s no strained peas! A rapidly expanding selection of organic foods and eco-friendly products are taking Babytropolis by storm, but only a few rise above the rest. Instead of opening a jar, explore your options. Packing some fresh snacks is also a great idea; just find a cool and handy container and voila! Provide your baby with only the best, just like Mother Nature intended.

Thinkbaby Complete BPA Free Feeding Set. www.thinkbabybottles.com

BabyBjörn Soft Bib www.babybjorn.com

Peter Rabbit Organics Fruit Family Pack. www.peterrabbitorganics.com

LunchBots Duo Stainless Steel Container. www.lunchbots.com

Beaba Babypote Sorbet, Formula & Milk Container. www.beabausa.com

NurturMe Scrumptious Squash, Dry Baby Food Pouches. www.nurturme.com

NurturMe is truly a revolutionary offering for our babies! This new concept in baby food is space-saving, lightweight, minimal eco-friendly packaging, tasty and nutritious. All of the ingredients found in the NurturMe line of premium baby food are farmed organically in the USA! The powder-like mixture is quick-dried from 100 percent organic veggies and fruit (think rice cereal). Just add water or breast milk, stir and serve. No clanking jars! The quick-dry process doesn’t cook off vitamins and minerals, so each portion is packed with the maximum amount of nutrition.

By Pixie Ibañez

Stuck in The Middle… (school)

Your child is headed to middle school. Don’t panic! For many youngsters the transition from elementary to middle school can be a bit daunting; after all, going from top dog on the block to new puppy can be pretty intimidating. The key to a less stressful transition is chatting openly with them about the changes and challenges they will have to endure. But most importantly, to teach them that change also brings opportunity for new beginnings and new experiences.

Vanessa:

Gap Twist stripe t-shirt, Belted tulle skirt.  www.gapkids.com

Xhilaration denim vest.  www.target.com

Dawn & Deepa Stolen Hearts Necklace in Strawberry Ice.  www.dawndeepa.com

JanSport zebra stripe backpack.  www.officedepot.com

Sip n’Go reusable water bottles blue/pink.  www.buysipngo.com

Alan:

Gap convertible plaid shirt.  www.gapkids.com

Aéropostale athletic rolloutt-shirt, blue/white puka necklace.  www.aeropostale.com

Sprigs red banjees wrist wallet.  www.springville.com

David & Goliath watch.   www.davidandgoliathwatches.com

iSafe blue/grey backpack.  www.isafebags.com

Styled by Pixie Ibañez | Photography by Sofia van der Dys | Models: Alan & Vanessa Sneider

Vernor Panton Junior chair in light blue

Ebulobo Crazy Cuddly Wolf at www.Growsup.com

The Yolk chair by Little Nest

Splendid blue denim, button-down short sleeve shirt TOMS Tiny Toms Navy elephants shoes

Oiva Toikka’s Dodo rocking bird chair indoor/outdoor in yellow

George wears Ralph Lauren colorful plaid button-down shirt • GUND Aaaah Dinosaurs- Tristen

Giggle Moon sun dress · Lelli Kelly glitter butterfly shoes

Phoebe wears Mimi & Maggie mountain flower tank · Twirl & Co. Pink tutu · Juicy Couture apple blossom striped hooded cardigan ·

Fore! Axel & Hudson fedora hat · Polo by Ralph Lauren t-shirt

Reema princess headband Hunter Kids First fuchsia rain boot

Furniture from Kuhl-Linscomb: www.kuhl-linscomb.com

Clothing and shoes from Neiman Marcus Galleria: www.neimanmarcus.com

Models: Phoebe and George Ghabriel | Hair by Rowayda’s Hair Studio 832.877.1764

Styled by Pixie Ibañez

SUNSATIONAL

Ahh, summer is finally here! For our kiddos that means no homework, no tests, no worries… simply fun in the sun. To escape the scorching temperatures our kids will spend endless hours in pools, rivers or lakes, splashing to their hearts’ content or until their skin shrivels and the last ray of the sun is gone (oh, those were the days!). Unfortunately, along with the good times come the possibility of scary mishaps and inevitable sunburns.To make water safety fun, buy them a cool and reliable life jacket they’ll be eager to wear and can even incorporate while at play. They’ll love it so much they won’t want to take it off! As for the sun, we all know it’s healthy to get some rays, but not to be overexposed, so make sure you slather some sunblock and apply it more than once, even if the product is waterproof. Hip, hop, hooray for the hot summer days!

Zippies ID Tags. www.zippiesfun.comFabric Cooler Bag with insulated lining, Assorted water bottles. www.target.com

Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go! andSpongeBob Squarepants sunscreen by Sunbow.www.sunbowsunscreen.com

Playtime Hoodie by Olive Juice. www.olivejuicekids.com

Towel Backpacks. www.dpoppen.com  Also available at the Houstonian Hotel.

Crocband Flipswitch Kids flip-flops by Croc. www.crocs.com

Sea Squirts Killa Whale Swim Assist Vest.www.opacove.com

SUMMER TIP

Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death among U.S. children ages 1-9. Parents should use multiple layers of protection, such as supervising children, enrolling them in swimming lessons, learning CPR and ­installing fences, an alarm and cover, to ensure a fun yet safe time for everyone.

By Pixie IbañezPhotography by Gabriella NissenModel: Enrique Torres

Elephant layette hat. www.jjcolecollections.com

Zen T-shirt, sun protective clothing. www.kjsunprotectiveclothing.com

Peacock sling, Sausalito Moses basket and Nordic booties. www.serenaandlily.com

Spring has sprung and so have our offspring. Lucky us, the dark days of winter and record-breaking low temperatures are just a memory we’d rather forget. Left in their place are trees bursting with buds, birds chirping, flowers bursting with color and the renewed buzz of exhilaration and excitement that only spring can bring. Spring is the season of awakening and new beginnings and a perfect time for you and your kids to “spring” into action with activities that are sure to please. Super-cute models Emi and Paolo show us how an Easter egg hunt can be a totally enchanting ritual that sparks kids’ imaginations and allows families to have fun and celebrate together. So, don’t be shy, leave parenting formalities aside, kick off your shoes and do the happy dance with your kiddos! They’ll get a big kick out of seeing you in such a joyous state. Betcha anything you’ll enjoy it too!

Happy, fun, exciting emotions are usually associated with bright, highly saturated hues. So it is no surprise that most children’s products today are bursting with color. No matter what the items are, as long as they are vivid and happy-looking, your child will instantly fall in love with them. Don’t underestimate the power of color! Give your kids something to smile about.

1. J.I.P, Junior in Progress wood rocking bench. www.jip-collection.com

2. Gummy Earbuds, scented earphones. www.sakar.com

3. I’M OK! Mini first aid kit. www.kabalab.com

4. Tool Set, handmade natural foam toys. www.rubbabu.com

5. Bilibo, a toy with endless functionalities. www.bilibo.com

6. Lollacup, BPA-free sippy cup with weighted straw. www.lollacup.com

7. Playsam, Classic Roadster Saab. www.playsam.com

By Pixie Ibañez