Zoop a Loop: PREMIER STORE SPOTLIGHT Q&A

We wanted to “loop” you into our favorite boutique in Lodi, California this week – Zoop a Loop! Not only is it the cutest for its fabulous fashion finds, cute jeggings, upscale Melissa & Doug toys and the best baby shower gifts in town…it is the “go-to” children’s boutique for many local Californians in the Lodi area! We interviewed boutique owner Tricia Monahan on the history of her store, the hottest toddler trends, what she swore she would never do as a parent, and her favorite Le Top spring collection! 

Zoop a Loop

Children’s Boutique & Party Place
21 Downtown Mall
Lodi, CA 95240
209.367.1444

 www.zoopaloop.com

 CHECK-IN and JOIN Zoop a Loop Facebook page and click HERE

1.    Tell us the inspiration behind the name Zoop a Loop? How long has your store been around?
We’ve been a children’s store in Lodi, California for 20 years now. Unfortunately, I don’t know the story behind Zoop a Loop because it was founded many owners ago, but I absolutely love the name. It evokes animals, fun, a little craziness and whimsy and is the perfect name for a children’s boutique!

2.    Spring 2012 styles are coming into stores and brightening up any family’s winter wardrobe. What are your top 3 items (clothes, toys, giftables, etc.) for any parent shopping for warm weather items for a nice holiday vacation this winter?
Melissa & Doug have the most fabulous outdoor toys…butterfly nets, bug catchers, indoor/outdoor hopscotch games, and now they’ve added some great pool toys. Roxy and Quiksilver have the best hats every spring for boys and girls, and we love Le Top…the outfits are so fun, colorful and whimsical-perfect for spring!

3.    Any special events that you have planned at your store for spring? Tell us the inside scoop about any special events and especially the fun deals we can expect!
We often partner with nearby merchants for “tent sales” in the alley, we’ll have the Easter Bunny next month for several visits, and we always have great deals for the annual Lodi Street Faire in May!

4.    What is your “go-to” baby shower gift in your store for boys and girls?
My favorites are the handmade “Memory Books” that document all the milestones in the first five years. These beautiful albums are handmade by a local woman and the most unique that I have come across.

5.    What are your top 3 favorite baby or children books and why?
The very Hungry Caterpillar for the beautiful, colorful illustrations, Good Night Moon, because it was one of my daughter’s favorites and The Little House on the Prairie series because my mother read them to me as a child, and then I read them to my daughter…such good memories!

6.    Tell us…before you “had kids or grandkids, what is one thing you swore you’d never…?”  Say?  “Because I said so”!
I thought it would be so much better to just explain things to my daughter, but I quickly found out you can’t reason with a toddler and they can outlast you!

7.    Describe the neighborhood of your store location in Lodi, California? Did you grow up in the local area?
The store is located in the Historic Downtown area of Lodi, with several blocks of boutiques, restaurants and antique shops. It’s a great place to stroll in the afternoon. I didn’t grow up here, but my sister moved here 20 years ago, and I followed her 7 years ago. I love the small town feel, and it really does fell like everyone knows everyone else.

8.    What are the hottest trends for kid’s clothes right now?
Skinny jeans and jeggings, but I am seeing a big turn back to skirts with leggings, especially for the older girls. Bright, fun colors and patterns with and anything with embellishments-lace, glitter, jewels, etc.

9.    Where are the best/essential family hangouts and places to go around your store location?
We have a movie theater down the street in one direction, a pottery arts painting place on the other side, and a Children’s Science Museum 2 blocks away, so families can spend a whole day downtown!

10.   What Le Top or Rabbitmoon Spring 2012 collection is your store’s favorite and why?
We love the Sun & Sea Collection with the bright colors, fish cut-out on the the back of the Capri set and tulle embellishments on the dress and bikini…so cute!

Zoop a Loop

Children’s Boutique & Party Place
21 Downtown Mall
Lodi, CA 95240
209.367.1444

 www.zoopaloop.com

CHECK-IN and JOIN
Zoop a Loop
Facebook page and click HERE

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New Year’s Eve Fun and Activities for the Family

To those who say New Year’s Eve, with its late hours and reputation for excess, is a tough holiday to celebrate with kids, we only laugh and smile knowingly!

Here are some cute tips for packing your New Year’s Eve celebration with the kind of surprise and silliness children love. Happy New Year!

NOISEMAKER SHAKERS
Fill plastic film canisters halfway with corn kernels and decorate with shiny stickers. (Con-Tact or construction paper, glitter, fabric paint and opaque paint markers are also good for decorating.) We poked a hole in the canister’s cap (a parent’s job) and threaded curled ribbon through. Knot the ribbon on the underside of the cap, and let the rest stream out of the top.

STREAMERS
Staple lengths of crepe paper to an empty cardboard tube or a straw and decorate with abandon.

COUNTDOWN NUMBERS
Draw and color in the numbers 1 through 10 on poster boards–one number per board. At midnight, each child promenades down a flight of steps, number card held high, as the crowd yells out the number and cameras flash. “That was their moment,” says Susan. As the last child hits the last step, the streamers were blowing and the shakers were shaking. “You would just not believe how cool that turned out.”

MIDNIGHT BALLOON SHOWER
Here’s how to do it:

• Line up two rectangular paper tablecloths and punch holes every 2 to 3 inches down one long side of each.
• Stitch the tablecloths together with yarn, leaving a foot or so at the end for a rip cord.
• Tape the cloth to the ceiling on three sides, leaving the side opposite the rip cord open. Tape the cord up separately, so it’s accessible. Let the center of the cloth hang down to allow space for the balloons.
• Inflate at least 75 balloons.
• Buy thin streamers and metallic confetti.
• Stuff the cloth with balloons, then add the confetti and streamers on top. (Reverse it, and the confetti will weigh down the cloth and filter out ahead of time.) Tape up the last side of the cloth.
• Let her rip! At the stroke of midnight, just one strong pull tears through the paper, releasing a cascade of balloons and confetti–followed by stomping feet and a cacophony of pops.

BUBBLE WRAP STOMP
Looking for a way to ring in the New Year that will have the crowd on its feet? Look no further than a packaging supply store. For just a few dollars, you can pick up several yards of large Bubble Wrap (or recycle Bubble Wrap that comes with holiday gifts). Just before midnight, unroll it on a hard surface, such as a wooden floor or driveway, and when the countdown concludes, join the fun with a “the Bubble Wrap Stomp.” It sounds like firecrackers!

CHECK OUT LE TOP’S CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
AT WWW.LETOP-USA.COM

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It’s Getting Hot in Here!

Paulo is wearing "Hop To It!" from Le Top's 2011 Spring/Summer Collection.

The sun came out in Northern California and it got HOT! I guess TC and I had the same idea. It’s time to cool down those kids and let them have fun with water. Paulo packed his backpack with his swim trunks and a towel and headed over to his friend’s house for their weekly playdate. Splish, splash! Let’s go have some fun.

Sadly, the weekend came and it was cold and windy once again. Make up your mind, Sunshine! You’re either in or you’re out.

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Swim Team Tryouts

Miranda is wearing a bathing suit from Le Top's 2011 Spring/Summer "School of Fun" collection.

This is a FIRST for Miranda—and for ME! After spending a lot of hours AND a lot of money on swim lessons, I figured we should put the swim lessons to the test. So I signed her up to be on the local swim team. I thought if you signed up, then you were automatically in. Well… I was wrong. They required a tryout to see if the child can swim across one lap. The pool where Miranda had lessons was half the length. And as far as I knew, the times we swam at friends’ pools or hotel pools, she could swim across, but I didn’t know if they were the same distance as one lap. Plus, it has been almost a year since Miranda had a swim lesson. Yikes! Talk about NERVE-WRACKING!

The reason for swim tryouts wasn’t to see how fast a child can swim or what strokes he/she can do in the water. The tryout was mainly for safety reasons. Children must be able to swim across the pool by themselves without help. So before Miranda’s turn in the water, I asked her how she felt. She was a little nervous but wasn’t afraid. She didn’t feel intimidated at all. “Are you sure? Was the pool in Hawaii this long? What stroke are you going to do? If you get tired half-way, stop and rest. Don’t feel bad.” Then she just looked at me with exasperation as if she just wanted to say, “Cool it, Mom!”

The coach called her name and, naturally, I was more nervous than her. She got in the water, kicked her skinny, long legs all the way across to the other end of the pool doing the freestyle. Then the guide in the water asked her if she wanted to hang on to the life preserver so she can get a “ride” back. She declined and said, “I’ll do the backstroke.” And she did, with perfect arms!

What a proud moment for me! She made the swim team and was so happy to back in the water after such a long, cold winter. Can’t wait for swim practices and swim meets. An exciting and fun summer awaits.

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The First Haircut

Paulo is wearing T-Rex Touchdown from Letop's 2010 Fall/Winter Collection

I didn’t want to do it, but I had to do it. I wanted to keep my baby boy’s hair untouched by a pair of scissors because I am thinking that this is the only way for me to hold on to his “baby-ness.” Does anyone know what I’m talking about? Unfortunately, Paulo’s hair kept getting in his eyes and he was constantly rubbing his hands trying to move his long bangs out of his face. So the time has come for… Paulo’s First Haircut!

With my daughter, her first haircut was just at a nearby cheap-o haircutting salon. No frills. She was excited to do it because she has seen me do it before. She sat still through the entire session! Maybe it’s a girl thing. I don’t know. I took her before and after pictures, and saved a lock of her hair for her baby book. With Paulo, I knew this guy wasn’t going to be that easy. I’ve heard of these special children’s hair salons where they had horses, motorcycles and cars that kids can sit in. While they were watching a DVD of “Sesame Street” or “Dora the Explorer,” the hairstylist was chopping away as fast as he/she could while the child was distracted. So, I already knew that this is where I needed to go. They had him in-and-out in 15 minutes! Yeah, it was a bit more expensive but it was definitely worth it! Included with the price was a “My First Haircut” certificate, a photo and a little bag of his hair.

So now he looks older (especially in the convertible sports car) but he’s still my handsome little devil.

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Le Top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

No, I did not say that!

Mommy, was Lady Gaga called “Baby Gaga” when she was a baby?”

–Miranda, 6 years old

Editor’s Note:
Please spread the giggles by sharing your funny quotes with us!

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Le Top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

We were at school one morning, and I wanted to get a picture of my daughter with her classmates. As I readied my camera, Miranda posed with one of her girlfriends. I noticed a boy standing a couple of feet from them so I asked him, “Why don’t you stand next to the girls so you can be in the picture, too?”

I can’t. I’m allergic to pink!”

–Seiji, 6  years old

Editor’s Note:
Please spread the giggles by sharing your funny quotes with us!

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The Joys of Having a Boy

Mommy, do you like my artwork?

All in a span of a week, I found myself wanting to pull my hair out because:

• Paulo drew all over the walls and doors in the house.
• Paulo broke my 15-year old bongo drum by hitting it so powerfully with a drumstick.
• Paulo scratched up our leather seat when he discovered that he can “draw” with his fingernails.
• Paulo broke a lamp because he thought running on the couch was so much fun until he dove into the end table.

Arrrgghhhhh! I tell people this story and they laugh. “Of course, he’s a boy!” My son is really testing my parenting skills, but I can’t be mad. How can I be mad and try to discipline him when I’ve got big ol’ puppy dog eyes looking up at me with such pride? All I can do is pick him up and give him a hug. Oh, boy! Wonder what’s in store for me next week.

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