I don’t have children, and none of my close friends have children. There are pigs that know more about PowerPoint than I know about little kids… Once a child reaches the age of seven or eight, and has some hobbies and some interests, I can treat them like a tiny, ridiculously cute, apprentice adult and get them cool grown-up stuff. But small children – I’m clueless.
So Saturday, when I ran into the lovely people from Wonder Kids, I was thrilled. Cool bath towel capes, for home or the beach? Bring them on!
I chose to post today about their products because I was so delighted to find a locally made, affordable, appropriate gift for small children, and I wanted to share the information in case there were other people who, like me, struggle to do their holiday shopping.
Is this today's posting? I so look forward to this site every morning while relaxing with a cup of coffee before work. I am actually disappointed.
I think it's important to remember that this site is very personal, free to readers, and takes an enormous amount of time and effort to produce. We are all busy during the holiday season, and not every day can – or should – feature a complex wardrobe tutorial. Things to be considered before giving this type of feedback. Anonymously.
Arent blogs about postings; good, bad, neutral as long as they aren't hurtful? Really folks stop being so defensive. I have recommended this blog to many fashion loving women because its a great place to get ideas.I am not the only person who didn't quite "get it" as another fan wrote. I went back to the site to see if maybe I missed a fashion related link. Enough said. Have a great day filled with laughter & promise!
Yes, blogs are about postings. But as the previous commenter pointed out, this is a personal blog, maintained with many hours work, presumably for 'fun' in some sense. While I can imagine taking issue with a blogger if s/he wrote something I thought was factually wrong or in some way morally objectionable, I can't imagine any circumstance in which it is appropriate to leave a comment simply to say that you were 'disappointed' in a specific entry, simply because it wasn't something you were personally interested in. Yes, today's entry is somewhat different from the norm on this blog, but it's seasonally appropriate, apparently useful for some readers and if you don't find a blog interesting, presumably your best recourse is to stop reading, rather than publicly chide the author.
Personally, I would like to thank Janice for her many hours of work which have given me, and many others, a great deal of pleasure. Mary
Huh?? I dont get it.
Thank you, Janice, I'm clueless too! I Love the chalkboard placemats also. Just ordered the set of 4 – that will be 4 gifts for $26 plus I'll buy each a set chalks and eraser.
As a grandmother of three, I know a lot about little ones, and those towels will be a big hit. I actually love the placemats more. A good trick to distract an antsy kid waiting for dinner.
Is it so difficult being nice? If a blog post affects your mornings so much (when it is simply about gift giving) I have to tell you that THAT is what should be disappointing to you. I don't get it.
Hi Janice,
Unlike you I've spent my life around small fry and I can tell you this is a winner idea. From the colors to the personalization to the sizing to the (safety-conscious and parent-pleasing) fastening. I've already done my holiday shopping or I would be hitting that place order button. But there's always next year. Go Wonder People!
As a mother, I would agree, any kind of super cape + towel is a hit and how nice it's locally made. Points for being a quiet, unique toy and without small plastic pieces for the child to put in their mouths or the parents to step on. But be aware, there will be the repeated attempts to fly after bathtime ;)
The comments for today's posts are very interesting to me for a couple of reasons: 1) the idea of honest critique in comments being read as "hostility" and 2) the relationship between a blog and its readers. I read this blog everyday, always coming here for a specific kind of information about personal style. That's what I believe this blog advertises as its content, and personal style is what interests me right now. If I wanted to read about gifts for kids, I'd read a different blog. I choose the blogs I read according to their content. The same way I buy magazines or books. If I buy Vogue expecting to read the Vogue I've always read but get content about horses or motorcycles or whatever, I'm disappointed for a number of reasons. First, the magazine isn't what it has told me it will be and I feel duped. Second, I've wasted my money. Now before anyone tells me I didn't pay for the content on this blog, let me explain. There is no doubt in my mind that Janice is trying to or planning to generate income from this blog. One of her assets is eyeballs, the number of discreet views the blog gets over a period of time. So, in effect, she sells my time and attention to sponsors who give her money or products or whatever. That might not be happening for her yet, but from what I see that's her intention. However, sponsors all live in a niche: kids presents or women's fashion, or cooking, etc. The way this blog is developing, it will be interesting to see what kind of sponsors it attracts. For my money, the blog has no focus even though it claims to. I never know what I'll find here, and most of what I do find is simply a rehash of what I found yesterday. Sometimes I'm surprised by things like kids presents. Am I being hostile? I don't think so. I'm regularly paid to give new entrepreneurs the same kind of feedback. Here I'm doing it for free. I applaud Janice's efforts because it's never easy to be as visible and vulnerable as a blog makes a person. And I believe she really does want to be a success. When she gets her content "right", it's really really good. It's original and smart. But most of the time, it's just not. Janice, here's some free advice, delivered with love born of experience. Decide what your purpose is here. Is this blog a business, a public service, a hobby or what? If it's a business, then step up. Get focused and understand that everyday has to be your best day. No more posts on kids presents when your audience expects professional-level wisdom on personal style that they can apply to their own lives. If the blog is a personal pass time, good for you, and bring on the kid's presents, and the travel tales, and the family stories and all the rest. As a matter of fact, if your style info is good enough, you can even slip in the rest every now and then. A number of really good commercial/personal blogs do. But to make this about your personality, the fashion side will have to be much much stronger, in my opinion. Now, as to anonymity. I'll publish this comment anonymously because I keep a nearly invisible personal footprint on the web. That's my choice. Besides, most of the comments that include a name are still effectively anonymous. Unless there's a blog attached where I can find the full name and location of the commenter, the comment is anonymous. Being an anonymous commenter doesn't mean I'm any less sincere in what I contribute. I really like this blog and hope it succeeds as more than a vanity project. And no, I'm not being hostile. If a person puts themselves out there with a blog, they should expect feedback. And ignorant flaming just comes with the territory. Ignore it.
One of many Marys in the world.
Sweet. Thanks for posting.
I love your blog no matter what. :)
I love the variety in your blogs too. Thank you for the fashion and other comments of life. I am heading home after work and making a super cape for my grandson!
My siblings, cousins, and I would have loved the towel-capes! My mother used to make us capes out of old sheets, but nothing as cool as these. Thank you, Janice, for the unexpected trip down memory lane. :)
I'm also childless and slightly kid-gift clueless. I found these capes last year and can tell you that my niece and my friend's daughter LOVE them. Just wish I had more kids I could buy them for…
I have raised the children, but have not been blessed with the new line-up (yet, I hope). Janice, you keep up the good work with YOUR blog as you always have. Some times I love it, some times I don't, but that goes for just about everything in my life.
Very cute! Love your finds! I'm going to hang on to the link in case I need to find something special for a child!
Wow! I wish I was two years old …or four…or even eight. The princess cape is fabulous! Thanks for the whimsical…fashion! ;-)
Love it! (And not all cooking blogs are strictly about food either) Thanks, Janice; you've given me some ideas.
-Marianne.
Dear Janice: Thank you for the chuckle today! I needed one!!! "There are pigs that know more about Power Point than . . .!!!" That will come in handy along with a variety of your wonderful ideas! Blessings to you!
Perfect timing. I only know one kid and was just invited to her 5th birthday party. I was dreading a trip to the toy store at this time of year. But she loves to swim so your post could not have been more timely! Ordered and done. By the way, the site is out of many of the colors and styles I looked at – I wonder if your blog had an impact?
Janice, I think this posting is pretty wonderful. I don't have children yet and like you, sometimes I wonder what to give small children. I really appreciate the work you do here and have learned a lot from you. You are very gifted. It is unfortunate that others have to be so rude and tactless.
Janice — I learn something new from every post you make and I greatly appreciate your work to make that happen. (The grandkids might appreciate the capes, too.) I only wish that the complainers above could have used their names and "owned" their complaints.
Very cool! And a wriggly little kid, all clean and decked out in one of these is pretty delicious!
These are brilliant! You now have a great-nephew and great-niece who are superkids when they get out of the tub. I have snatched them to save for swim time! KiKi and Keashaun say thanks!!