Archive for October, 2009
Oct
30
A few posts back, I wondered aloud if anyone had tried these crib sheets and finally had to just see for myself.
I was so tired of having to wrestle with the laborious task of changing my daughter’s crib sheet. And I don’t know about you, but changing a crib sheet is not always just “oh, come to think of it, it’s time to change the bedding.” For me, it’s usually a case of interrupted sleep due to spit up or some other bodily function that requires a so-called “quick change,” which I’m sorry, simply does not exist when dealing with all those slats and bumper ties.
Quick Zip to the rescue! An invention by two moms, what these sheets do is nothing short of brilliant. First there is the Zipper Base – a sort of fitted sheet that goes under the mattress which reveals a plastic zipper track on the top. Next, you just zip the flat zipper sheet to the zipper base. The sheet has a flap that covers the zipper so that you don’t see it, and your baby doesn’t feel it.
You never need to change out the base, and I’ve timed myself on the swapping out of the top sheet – less than a minute!
If you’ve got a baby, this is a must have; and if you know a mommy or mommy-to-be, I can’t think of a better gift.
*Tips – buy an extra top sheet so that you’ve got it handy come changing time.
Sweet dreams!
Visit www.cloudsandstars.com to learn more.
Oct
29
This Halloween, Mrs. Winton and I are going stay in while while the boy goes off with his best friend and his family. You see, his buddy’s grandma lives in a rather upscale neighborhood, the kind where the houses give out full sized candy bars. They’re going to try and pull a costume change and double up on the booty. In his younger years we always went out together, exploring many neighborhoods that we wouldn’t have otherwise. Rockridge, Brea, La Jolla and many more lovely towns have entertained us with awesome displays and generous treats.
Anyhow, like I said, me and the Mrs. are staying home. Unfortunately, our street is very poorly lit and the neighbors don’t decorate. In other words–no more than 5 trick or treaters will pay us a visit! So we’ve decided to curl up with a couple of classic monster movies. I thought that it would be a good time to recommend a few of my Halloween favorites that also happen to be very kid friendly, even safe for the little ones.
The Ghost Breakers
First off, a movie I discovered earlier this year–The Ghost Breakers. It’s a delightful Bob Hope vehicle, seemingly one of his lesser know films. Quick paced comedic interplay between he and co-star Paulette Goddard keeps the simple haunted house gags from wearing thin. In a similar vein there’s the much more well known Abbot and Costello Meet Dr. Frankenstein. How many parents remember seeing this on TV back in the 70’s? I certainly do.
The Ghost & Mr. Chicken
Another film that used to screen around the holidays was The Ghost & Mr. Chicken. It’s got Don Knotts, a haunted organ & a Vic Mizzy score. Mr. Mizzy just passed on last week, he’s best known for his Addams Family theme–always a possible option for your Halloween night viewing. The short lived TV series ages quite well, its wit and subversiveness unparalleled in its time.
The Munster
Of course if you want to continue down the old TV route, a couple of Munsters episodes might do the trick. Much more lighthearted and silly than the Addams’, Herman & Lily’s brood are always worth a revisit.
Mad Monster Party
The ultimate in groovy mid 60’s Halloween camp has to be Mad Monster Party. Phyllis Diller, Boris Karloff and pop-psycher Gale Garnett voice a crazy cadre of claymation creatures, very much in the same vein as the Rudolph Christmas special with Burl Ives–if you mixed in mop top bands & cocktail parties!
Anyhow, just thought I’d give you a few ideas to spice up the evening after watching Charlie Brown.
Oct
28
Check out all our cool, free Halloween printables and activities!
Healthy Pumpkin Baby Food Recipe
Just in time for Halloween, this healthy baby food recipe is all treat! We call it “The Mash, The Pumpkin Mash.” (It was a nursery smash!)
Rockabye Baby! Pumpkin Carving Stencil
Want to be the first on the block to have a Rockabye Baby! jacko’lantern this Halloween? Well, we do too! Download our free pumpkin carving stencil and you’ll have the coolest pumpkin for miles. Nobody will dare TP your house with our bad bear guarding your front door.
Cool Cupcake Toppers for Your Halloween Party
Check out these free Rockabye Baby! printable cupcake toppers for your next baby shower or birthday party! It’s easy. Print, tape, and top!
Spooky Music: A Brief History of the Halloween Record
Welcome our new blogger, Keith, by reading his post on the wildest vintage Halloween LPs!
Oct
27
Thanks to everyone who entered to win a copy of our newest release, Lullaby Renditions of Aerosmith. There are plenty of reasons to love Aerosmith, but luckily we were able to narrow down the entries to ten winners:
- Monique Martinez
- Dale Peterson
- Stephanie L
- Drucifer
- Heather
- Kathleen
- Heather J
- Irene
- Kelly Tirman
- Jenn Krabi
Didn’t win a CD? Click here to buy a copy and preview song clips from the album!
Oct
26
If you watch The Dog Whisperer, you will recognize that directive. It’s what Cesar, the star of that show recommends when coming in contact with an unstable or misbehaving dog. And though I’ve recently had to utilize these commands in relation to my daughter, she is not a dog.
You see, she is just six months old and has entered a new stage of her development which is causing her to react in a new way to people who approach her. Now mind you, she sees her immediate family on a regular basis. We have a weekly dinner at my parents’ house which is attended by my folks, her five and seven year-old cousins, my sister and her husband. Not to mention that we entertain at least one visitor in our home per week; but still, lately she’s been greeting her friends and family with a protruding bottom lip and eyes welling up with tears. The more her guests try to give her a soothing voice and perhaps even a reassuring touch, the more she retracts into my arms and amps up into an actual cry.
This cool reception from her usually lasts about five or ten minutes, then she’ll settle down and go back to her old self of huge smiles and a willingness to be held and played with by everyone. It’s just, I have to admit, a little embarrassing to me as her parent. If I’m being honest, I feel like people might think we’re raising a clinging monkey that we never socialize. Or that perhaps it’s a sign of something just plain wrong with how we are doing as parents. I don’t personally think these things, but I worry that others might see it that way.
I’ve asked around and the consensus is that she’s just processing recognition on a new level. Her awareness is even more keen and she’s firing on more cylinders, so her reaction to stimulus is going to be more pronounced.
At any rate, that’s why we’ve instructed folks to just ignore her at first. Just literally pretend she’s not there. Let her take you in and after a few minutes she’ll make the first move. So far it’s working like a charm; I just hope that this phase will pass sooner rather than later.
Anyone out there have any experience with this?
Oct
23
This baby shower gift idea is for all the frustrated fashion designers out there. SimplyColors.com has a huge selection of vivid, 100% cotton onesies and children’s clothes that you can have personalized with a name, nickname, or saying. Anything you want! You pick the font, illustration and even color, to make it a truly unique gift.
Oct
22
Now please welcome our newest guest blogger, Keith Winton, who will be joining Lorelei and the crew at Lullaby World Headquarters to share his perspective on cool and odd kids music and activities. Just in time for Halloween, his post on classic spooky sound effects records should bring back some memories:
I believe that the Halloween recording is truly a lost art form. During the 70’s and 80’s hundreds of LPs were issued capitalizing on the kids horror market, chock full of tape echo and theremin and packaged in garish and cartoony images meant to grab youngsters attention. Every October, the rack jobbers would stock the wire racks next to the checkout at the local Thrifty’s with these LPs, forcing mom or dad into many an impulse purchase. Pickwick Records, a label who fed entirely on cheap fads, issued quite a few greats. Both the Legend of Sleepy Hollow / Rip Van Winkle (a personal childhood favorite) read by Boris Karloff and the outright terrifying Sounds Of Terror LP were issued buy Pickwick. The comic book tie in label Power Records issued many book & 45 sets featuring Dracula, Wolf Man and other infamous characters. They also issued LP sized collections of the stories.
Peter Pan records issued super low budget kids records. The quality was all over the map. During his terrible twos, my son’s favorite LP was a Peter Pan “masterpiece.” I can’t remember the title, but it was a horrible bunch of songs sung by a screechy mixed chorus that made MSR song poem singers sound like quiet storm stars. I’ve often pondered what life was like for the people making a living off of such recordings. Anyhow, Peter Pan issued many Halloween LPs, including my favorite, Ghostly Sounds. This little gem was recorded by Gershon Kingsley & Peter Waldron. I can’t find much on Mr. Waldron, but he has a perfectly whacked out delivery that keeps his yarns ridiculous enough to entertain, but not completely terrify. Gershon Kingsley, as you may already know, rose to fame as the composer of Hot Butter’s mega hit “Popcorn” and his song “Baroque Hoedown” was reworked into Disneyland’s Main St. Electrical Parade Theme. Kingsley’s classic modular synth patches run throughout Ghostly Sounds. The track “Goblin Dance” features some great rhythm box and fat Moog bass, but it also has some pretty creepy moans so your littler ones might get a bit spooked out.
Oct
21
Check out these free Rockabye Baby! printable cupcake toppers for your next baby shower or birthday party! It’s easy. Print, tape, and top! Download here!
Oct
19
Want to be the first on the block to have a Rockabye Baby! jacko’lantern this Halloween? Well, we do too! Download our free pumpkin carving stencil and you’ll have the coolest pumpkin for miles. Nobody will dare TP your house with our bad bear guarding your front door.
Instructions:
1. Download and print the pumpkin carving stencil.
2. Carefully cut out the the black sections with an exacto knife (adults, please do this for your kids).
3. Tape the stencil to your pumpkin and trace the outline on the pumpkin’s skin with a permanent marker.
4. Using a very thin, sharp carving knife, carefully carve along the lines you drew (you are cutting out the areas that are black on the stencil image). The final image will appear as the opposite of the stencil below.
Download here!
Visit our Activities Page for more fun recipes, coloring pages and more!
Oct
16
This crafty handmade bib is wipeable vinyl over soft cotton, and features our two favorite foods, bacon and eggs. It’s the most important meal of the day, after all!
All of Sheriff Peanut’s tees, onesies, bibs and other items are charmingly silly and reasonably priced. This bib is $16.00 off their website, though their unique wares can be found in a few choice baby boutiques nationwide.
