It’s Not Easy Being Green…But It’s Worth It!

The “le•top Family” has been working on reducing our ‘carbon footprint’ – and we know that it all starts at home.  Robyn, Assistant Credit Manager and mom, decided to combine 2 lessons into one – responsibility for our environment and financial independence!

Kira showing off her recycling earnings

Robyn decided that her 9 year old daughter Kira (a model since she was 6 months old!) was ready for a little more responsibility.  According to Robyn, “Recycling is an important factor in helping the environment therefore it has become part of my family’s daily routine. Things we use everyday can be recycled and it doesn’t even take much! Kira has been practicing the 3-R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! My family and I have always used the recycling bin given by the city but never thought of turning some of the material in for cash. My husband and I made a deal with Kira; if she is responsible enough to take care of all the recycling, including rinsing out cans, jars, and bottles and placing them into the appropriate bins, then we will take her to the local recycling center to turn it in for cash. It’s a fun activity for her because not only is she saving the planet, she also gets to keep the cash all to herself. She’s making a difference and having fun at the same time!”

I thought this was an awesome way to motivate – and great for the environment!  When my daughter Lilah is a bit older we will definitely utilize this idea.  I have to admit…I do not love rinsing out everything – so why not give her a chance to earn some pocket money!  By the way…would this count as an ‘allowance?’  Do parents still pay ‘allowances’ – or am I dating myself?

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Making a Choice…Family, Friends, Community

Heidi Hulse had finished up her Master’s Degree and had a momentous choice to make…the nearest job would have been an hour commute away.  Heidi choose instead to use her education within her community, and fulfill a perceived need – she knew from experience that the closest place to shop for children’s clothing was over 50 miles away – so she opened a delightful boutique that catered to the local community.  Family was an important consideration as well, and to honor this priority the boutique name is the combination of her two children’s middle names – Haylee Nicole and Hunter Jordan.

Nicole Jordan’s Children’s Clothing Boutique is located in charming and historic Mount Vernon, Ohio – founded over 200 years ago – an important stop along the railroad that connected Pittsburgh to Chicago and St. Louis.  One of Heidi’s favorite things about her decision to open Nicole Jordan is the friends she has made within the community. She is constantly running into customers and their children around town.  The children love the store (especially her toy room!) and the dad’s know her because “You’re the one that has the store where my wife spends her money!”  Heidi loves the craziness of “Sale Days” and wondering “What is going on here???”  She also loves “Grandmas with a ‘shopping problem!”  One of Heidi’s biggest ‘perks’ is having flexibility, including the ability to have her children with her at the store.  (Although Heidi does confide that “Some days I don’t always feel that way!”) 

Heidi Holding a Striped Coverall from the Walking with Dinosaurs Collection

Customer comments prove that Heidi has done a great job with her decision:

“For the best dress selection: The service is very personalized and the hand-picked selection is adorable. From the moment you walk in you know you are in a special place.”

“Great place to buy children’s clothes: I am always pleased when I shop at Nicole Jordan’s.  She carries beautiful dresses for infants.”

Nicole Jordan is known for special occasion clothing, including Communion, Easter and Christmas dresses.  Heidi’s impressive personalized service is another attractive reason to visit the store.  She also is pleased and happy to accept phone orders!  If you are visiting this pleasant area north of Columbus Ohio drop in and say hello – Heidi will be happy to make you feel like a local!

Nicole Jordan’s Children’s Clothing Boutique
23 N. Main Street
Mount Vernon, OH 43050-3203
740.397.9922

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le•top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

No, I did NOT say that!

…submitted by: Tiffany

Sweet Tooth

My 9-year old son loves anything sweet to eat and is always trying to figure out a way to get extras. The other night after dinner, he asked if he could have an ice cream bar. I said yes, assuming it was dessert. About an hour later, he comes back to me again and asks if he can have some milk & cookies. I said “No, you already had dessert.”  That’s when he said:

That wasn’t dessert, that was my evening snack!”

I had to go into  another room before I could laugh.

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

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MOTHER’S DAY CONTEST: Most “Memorable” Present

Jamee’s post of her very first Mother’s Day bling-of-gynormous-gems-present made us want to hear your stories! le•top blog would LOVE to see photos and hear about your own stories of the most creative, special, funny or otherwise memorable Mother’s Day present. Click here to submit your photo and story for a chance at some fun retail therapy: Win $250 worth (retail value) of le•top baby and kids clothes from our latest spring and summer collections!

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Mother’s Day Presents Contest: Win $250 Worth of le•top Baby and Children’s Clothes

Breakfast in bed starts a day full of gifts on Mother's Day... 😉

I laughed reading Jamee’s post about her very first Mother’s Day present from her then three year old daughter. Given that Jamee’s a fabulous graphic designer (one of her many talents), I understood why her husband awaited her reaction with some trepidation — but mom’s love transcends even some of the tackiest style disasters! 😉

Jamee’s story made us want to hear your stories! le•top blog would LOVE to see photos and hear about your own stories of the most creative, special, funny Mother’s Day presents that you’ve received through the years. Please click here to submit your photos and stories for a chance to go on a $250 virtual shopping spree: Win $250 worth (retail value) of our beautiful le•top baby and kids clothes!

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Are You Sneaky Around Your Picky Eaters?

The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals (Paperback) by Missy Chase Lapine

I was always the picky eater in my family. Looking back, I honestly don’t know how my mom dealt! I never liked anything my parents put in front of me, especially vegetables (well, OK, I would eat Mac ‘n Cheese – but that was about it!). If I had it my way, it would have been cereal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
As I begin to think about having kids of my own, as well as watching friends and family raise their own picky eaters, I’m beginning to wonder how on earth I’m going to deal with a child who won’t eat what I put in front of them: Will I use the “3 bite” rule? Will I make them sit at the table until they finish (or at least try) what I’ve given them? I can’t imagine I’d just fix them something else? What will I do?!?
My friends don’t seem to be having much luck themselves, except, Sarah, who’s doing the hide-the-nutritional-stuff-in-their-food trick. There is actually a cook book out by Jerry Seinfeld’s wife, Jessica, on doing just this. How fantastic! The book is called “Deceptively Delicious” and has an array of kid-friendly recipes that hide the “good for you” in regular food, like Mac ‘n Cheese and Brownies! There is another book I’ve seen called “The Sneaky Chef” with the same idea. For some reason, though, Cauliflower Eggs doesn’t sound that appetizing…
What have been your tricks to get your picky eaters to gobble down your Chef-tastic meals? Have you tried any of these books, and do their recipes really help?! Let us know, and by all means, PLEASE share your Picky Eater Recipes!

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Baby Model, Cousin, Cyclist…All-Round Good Guy

Alec (Yellow Turtle baby model!) in le•top, circa 1993, with his tricycle and...is he holding a bug?

J. at Yellow Turtle found a “vintage” photo of her son in le•top and sent it over for fun. I loved the old tricycle and the whole composition of this photo; the un-mowed grass, the dandelions, the lone tennis shoe and little Alec looking like the quintessential, all-American portrait of little boy having a great summer! Of course, I wanted to share with everyone on the blog, so I asked J. for a more recent photo of her son, Alec (now 18), and she sent over a few. I noted to her that there seemed to be a cycling theme, and she said her niece, Alec’s cousin, has MS, so Alec has been doing the Bike MS ride since he was 12! Alec and his dad do this ride every year. Last year Alec raised over $2000 – they both rode 75 miles each day, in the hills of Vermont! J. and her daughter are the cooler girls – they wait at the rest-stops with drinks and food. Great family support! We’re looking forward to photos from this year’s Bike MS in Vermont which will be held August 8-9, 2009…Go, Alec!

Alec, now, but still being a little boy at heart! Photo at left is from his Bike MS 2008 event

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Where in the Mamma Mia is Liana Hunt Now?

…as reported by: a Yellow Turtle, I mean, Lisa Hunt, of Stowe, Vermont’s Yellow Turtle

Liana Hunt as Liana Hunt, and as Sophie in Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia! just finished their (almost) two-week stint in Los Angeles last night. Our whole family went to LA to see Liana and her castmates their first weekend there. Now, it’s off to Tucson. Then, she goes on break for 2 weeks, and, then…she is coming home to Mamma!! Can’t wait.

Editor’s Note:
For the Mamma Mia! North American Touring Company’s 2009 touring schedule through July, click here.

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Cement Slide Memories

Seeing my grandson on the cement slide the other day not only made my heart smile at his joy, but also brought back some great memories of my own fun times there. Hmmm, should I confess? During high school, everyone had to be out of the park by nightfall – yeah, right! One night, when I am SURE I was not even supposed to be in the vicinity, a bunch of my friends and I decided to pay a visit to the park. Of course we just HAD to go down the slide (we actually kept a roll of wax paper in the car – to make our ride faster)! The new fad at the time was wearing ‘petti pants’ under your skirt – something like a slip, only with legs (okay, giving away my age again!) – back then, girls mostly wore skirts. My mom had just given me new petti-pants that were so pretty – pale yellow fine cotton, with lace trim. So, here I am, at the slide, with my brand new petti pants – now what??? I can’t pull up the petti pants…so I just hitched up my skirt and rode the slide with those! I ripped out the whole back side, and caught some SERIOUS trouble the next day – there was ABSOLUTELY no way to explain what happened to my new, cherished piece of clothing without admitting to our very late night trip to the park! Man, oh man – was mom mad! But truth be told – it was so fun, it was worth it!

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In Homage to Valentine’s Day: Did You Know Kissing is Good for You?

A sunny, sweet kiss between mom and child

Apparently kissing lowers stress levels. The scientists of kissing recently met to discuss their findings at a session called, what else?: The Science of Kissing (this body of study has an interesting moniker of “philematology”). According to one scientist, more than 90% of all human societies kiss as a customary practice. That’s a lot of kissers! Kissing is said to build attachment, intimacy, long-term bonding and release chemicals that ease stress. To read the complete article, click here.

So, though this started as just an ode to Valentine’s Day, kissing your darlings…little, big, tall, short, young and young-at-heart, not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day…might be good for your physical and mental well being. Smooches!

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