Psychobabyonline's Blog is the coolest resource for hip parents and families. We've got the most unique baby name lists, style trends, and ideas for personalized gifts for babies, kids and the whole family. Find awesome crafts, recipes, fashion, celeb baby style, rock-and-roll everything, and more!
Ring in Spring with these radical nautical looks, fresh off the boat! Stripes are everywhere this season, and even if you don't have a yacht you can still rock this hot style on the streets, at the park, or even at Grandma's house!
So get dressed in your boating best, throw on some sweet tunes (Yellow Submarine! Octopus's Garden!) and check out these super-easy instructions for making a paper sailor hat!
Fold paper (or the 1/2 sheet of newspaper) in half
Fold down each side to make triangles
Fold one of the bottom flaps up
Flip the hat over and fold the other bottom flap up
Add a bit of scotch tape if you like
Anchors aweigh, mateys!
Endless pacing? Twinkle twinkle? The classic rocking chair? How do you lull your baby to sleep?
If your Kirk Hammett, you do it rock and roll style! With the amp turned down of course!
We love Rockabye Baby's renditions of our favorite bands and it came as no surprise to us that this rockin' dad does too!
Rockabye Baby has a little something for everyone. So whether you are a fan of the Rolling Stones, The Beatles or Bob Marley, Rockabye Baby has the tune for you.
Posted by Marlo
Baby, it's still cold outside and, unfortunately (or in this case, fortunately), you'll have plenty of time to wear our cool, crazy kids' stuff!
It's the last call for sale! Take an extra 20% off all sale merchandise through 2/28/11 by printing or mentioning this email. Sorry, this is an in-store exclusive. We'll keep you out of town folks posted on special web promotions!
The weather was so beautiful today in Chicago! The sidewalks were filled with mommy's and their babies wandering aimlessly! No one seemed to care that the snow was melting into a black soup beneath their feet! After all, it's been months since we have seen forty degrees! While that first forty degree day in the Fall is painful, it feels like a heatwave in February!
I know, it's far from over. I live in the Midwest and some years the chilly weather can go past May! However, I am staying hopeful. New Arrivals for Spring are rolling in every day as a reminder that we are nearing the end of one long, tough winter.
We will soon say goodbye to our winter boots and and bulky layers and say hello to one of the hottest trends for Spring! It's all about bright, bold color, happy, sunny graphics and mood lifting rainbows and smiley faces. Ouch, Januzzi, Lemon are just a few of our favorite lines leading this seasons fashion trend.
You will love the uplifting effect our colorful finds will have on your mood!
~Marlo
The temperature is ever so slowly rising and all of our super cute spring lines are flowing in! In anticipation of spring's arrival, we're celebrating with a week long in-store promotion: Buy one regular priced clothing item, get one half off! Click over to our psychobabyonline.com to browse our newest arrivals from Haven Girl, Jannuzzi, Psychobaby Brand & More! I feel it's always better to make a list :)
In honor of New York Fashion Week, we thought we would give you some of our fresh fashion tips for Spring 2011. How's this for "hot kid-ture!"
Hooray for color! The newest styles from Ouch Clothing have just arrived and all I can say is, bright, happy and sweet! Haven Girl is another one of Psychobaby's favorite Spring lines. Haven Girl is girly, bright and sparkly! We love to watch little girls reactions when they see this line.
There is something that makes me crazy when I see a little girl's legs in stripy tights (in a good way!). You can jazz up even the most basic outfit with some striped socks from Sourpuss Clothing. Our Psychobaby team, as well as our cool, crazy clients, are in love with Okutani's striped leggings! These are a must have for any little girls closet!
Unleash your Psychobaby's animal instincts this Spring with anything with a zebra, cheetah or leopard print. We are wild for Januzzi's animal print tutus and Me in Mind's six pack of Mary Jane socks.
You don’t have to be a Tiger Mother to know that puzzles are a great step in the journey of life-long learning for your children. (And they can still attend a few sleepovers along the way!) According to an article by the Chicago Montessori Learning Examiner puzzles can:
build hand eye coordination
develop fine motor skills
offer opportunities for social and language skills
encourage problem solving and logical thinking
My love of puzzles started with my dad. His epic puzzles consisted of thousands of pieces that took over the entire living room and took days to assemble! But he always had time to help me with the ABC floor puzzle, or even my favorite Little Mermaid puzzle with 300 pieces!
Puzzles can be a very thought provoking activity for the whole family. It's fun to solve puzzles together, not to mention a great family bonding experience. Get your family started with some of my favorite puzzles tonight:
Our Facebook Fans agree; they chose Melissa & Dougs' Alphabet Chunky Puzzle as this week's pick for 20% off! Become a Fan and help us pick next week's item at 20% off on our Psychobaby Facebook page!
~Melissa
Sources “Why are puzzles good for children?” February 2010. The Examiner. http://www.examiner.com/montessori-learning-in-chicago/why-are-puzzles-good-for-children
Let's face it, when your little one catches their yearly cold, no doctor gives better comfort than Dr. mom! Endless snuggles, nose wipes, the occasional tap dance, and a heaping teaspoon of unconditional love, make us the best medicine!
If all efforts fail, this just might cheer YOU up!
For some great tips to help boost your child's immune system, check out nutritionist, Lisa Lanzano's, MS, RD, tips onzisboombah.comand check out our post on yummy chicken matzo ball soup! ~Marlo & Jess
Just because your favorite team didn’t make it to the Super Bowl this year, doesn’t mean you have to pout! Show off your first-string culinary skills and please the little football fanatics in your house with these delicious Game Day recipes!!
As an avid football fan and the only Packers fan @ Psychobaby (and maybe the entire Bucktown area!) I am absolutely psyched about the Super Bowl this Sunday! Therefore, I took it upon myself to gather up a couple of my favorite tailgating recipes for this weekend. Hope you enjoy!
Curried Vegetable Dip
Courtesy of Gourmet Magazine; Makes about 1 1/2 cups
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup mayonnaise
3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
1 teaspoon curry powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 cup finely chopped peeled and seeded cucumber
1 green onion, trimmed and finely chopped
Garnish: green onion tops, sliced diagonally
In bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayo, cream cheese, lemon juice, curry, cumin, turmeric and salt until smooth, then stir in vegetables. Garnish with green onion tops.
Note: Dip can be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.
1. Preheat your oven to 250°F. Whisk together the egg white, water, and sriracha. Toss the nuts with the egg wash until evenly coated.
2. In another bowl, mix together granulated sugar, brown sugar, and rosemary. Pour over the nuts and stir until a thick, uniform syrup forms in the bowl.
3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper, and spread the gooey nuts into a thin layer. Bake until golden and fragrant, about 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
Preheat the grill. In a medium bowl, mash the black beans, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and garlic powder with a potato masher or fork until very creamy. Gently mix the black bean mixture with the ground beef. Season the mixture liberally with salt and pepper. Divide the mixture into 8 equally portioned thin patties. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the outside of the patties with mustard. Lightly brush the grill with the oil and place the burgers on the hot grill. Cook the burgers until a golden crust is formed, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Slice the mini buns in half and brush with the remaining oil. Place the buns on the grill until nicely toasted with grill marks. Serve the sliders on the toasted hamburger buns.
2. Line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper, spray with non-stick spray.
3. In a medium bowl whisk together the coffee, vanilla, egg whites and yogurt.
4. Add the brownie mix and stir until just combined. Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for 30 minutes.
5. Allow to cool, then cut into football shapes.
6. Place frosting into the comer of a sandwich zip top bag, cut the very tip off of the corner, twist the top of the bag and pipe on a long horizontal line and 8 vertical lines to make the laces on brownie football
So, even if you just watch the game for the commercials, at least you’ll be well fed. And remember, there’s always next season!
The "big day" is fast approaching and Psychobaby's Valentine Gift Guide is here to help! Show your pre-school pal that you really, really like them with our customizable BFF Cookies tee or our customizable BFF heart tee.We have the best selection of super sweet dresses, tees and toys that will give your kiddo lot's of smiles and won't cause a single cavity!
I learned this recipe from my Jewish mother-in-law fifteen years ago and I have not dared to stray and make any modifications. I think this was a secret test she gave me to see if an Italian girl from the West side of Chicago could possibly set her pasta cookin' recipe's aside and make her only son some Jewish soul food. I was recently told that I passed! Phew! This soup is almost homemade. If you are a chef, this recipe is not for you! She taught me to use Manischewitz Matzo Meal for the yummy, fluffy matzo balls and I've got to tell you, I've tried making them from scratch and they are just not the same. This could absolutely be because I grew up making pasta and I just do not have that special touch. But hey, this is a woman who knows her matzo ball soup and can cook her butt off with zero short cuts otherwise. So I'm not messing with it! It's easy, it's fast and it's totally delicious! Enjoy! ~Marlo
Matzo Ball Soup
Serves 8
Ingredients
4 tablespoons olive or corn oil
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 box (two packages) Manischewitz Matzo Meal
1 whole chicken (use a fryer not a roasting chicken)
1 bag of small onions
4-5 carrots (my family likes a lot)
salt and pepper to taste
Ingredients
In a small bowl, lightly beat eggs and oil. Stir in matzo meal and chill in refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
Add the chicken to a large pot of COLD water (starting with cold water makes a clearer broth). Turn the heat on high and bring to a boil. *You will see a white film come to the surface and will need to skim this off. This is an important step! This is the fat coming to the top and if you do not skim it well you'll end up with an oily soup. This takes a little patience and you will end up taking out quite a bit of water with it. This is why you need to cover your chicken by a couple of inches of extra water until you've gotten used to skimming chicken broth!
While you are waiting for your chicken to boil, peel your carrots and cut them into about three pieces. Next, peel your onions and leave them whole. I remember being surprised by this but I can tell you after all these years, I cannot eat matzo ball soup any other way! If this really makes you crazy, chop one large onion instead.This is a rustic soup and leaving the carrots and onions larger just adds to the charm.
After you have skimmed off the fat, add your carrots and onions. Add salt and pepper. Take out your chilled matzo meal mixture and wet your hands. Scoop up a walnut size bit of matzo and gently roll it in your palms like a piece of Play-Doh. Drop it into your hot water. Repeat. You will need to wet your hands slightly after every yummy ball.
Cover, turn your heat on low and go read the paper!
After about an hour and a half take out your poached chicken and transfer to a bowl to cool. After your chicken cools enough to handle, cut or pull away just the white meat. I know, it's a bit wasteful not to use any of the other meat. It's up to you. Got a dog or cat? That's usually where my dark meat goes! You can leave it in big pieces or chop it up ( I like bigger pieces).
Like most of us, once February hits, cabin fever begins! While snow is still falling around us, we start dreaming of our pretty sundresses, flip-flops and tank tops! It certainly helps this wonderful dream come alive when Psychobaby receives daily new arrivals for Spring from Haven Girl, Rowdy Sprout and Januzzi!
OMG! This is awesome! This is a day when I'm especially grateful for giving birth to three strapping boys! My three sons, my husband and two doggies are out playing in the snow and SHOVELING! I'm warm in my cozy house cooking up some comfort food for the day. I do not care how lame that makes me. I still hate the cold no matter how pretty the snow is. I did, however, spend five minutes outside taking photos of the big event (enough for me).
In honor of this unexpected, and much appreciated, day off, we're having a celebratory sale! Today only you will save 25% off Psychobaby's entire site! Enter code NOTAGAIN25 at checkout while you you sip your hot cocoa and remember to enjoy the day. Thankfully and hopefully, this might not come again for years to come! ---Shop Psychobaby!!
~Marlo
Snow is starting to fall in Chicago and, thankfully, we just received 150 boxes of Melissa and Doug Toys to cheer us up. About 35 boxes in, we discovered beach toys and bubbles as a reminder that this too shall pass. We're thinking about using the cute little cupcake sand mold to make a cupcake snow castle. Thanks to this dynamic duo, we have something fun to do out of the cold and you can too! Stop in for a peek at all the new arrivals from this Psychobaby and customer favorite toy line!
These rockin' pants are the newest additions to Psychobaby Brand. Who says that basics need to be boring? We took our customer favorite, basic pants, and gave them our cool, crazy twist. Pair them up with your favorite Psychobaby tee or hoodie for Psychobaby head to toe style or jazz up your own plain white tee. Any way you wear 'em, these pants have a new view of cool!
Some might go weak in the knees seeing a little girl in a tutu at the playground, but not me! I'm the mom of three loud, smelly wonderful boys! My guys are likely to wear their Pj's and a superhero cape to the grocery store without batting an eye. Whether you're off to the bat cave or on your way to school, all superhero's in training need a cool uniform and gear to help hone their budding superpowers! Put on your mask, cape or tights and fly over to Psychobaby for all your superhero gifts!
Here's an event not to miss! Come out of hiding and join some of Chicago's favorite kids' bands performing all day at Beat Kitchen's annual Winter Fest! Psychobaby will be there with our stylists offering free punk rock hair streaks and fauxhawks + free tees (while supplies last).
Tickets are $7 at the door or you can purchase them in advance at ticketweb.com.
Psychobaby doesn't monkey around! We have seriously cute gifts for your little primates from Januzzi, Jellycat, Gund , BabbaCo and more! They'll have you swinging from the trees (with a helmet, of course!).
Here are 25 facts about one of the world's most popular fruits:
The banana "tree" is not really a tree, but a giant herb. The banana is the fruit of this herb.
The cluster of bananas sold in supermarkets is a "hand" of bananas, while the individual bananas on the hand are called fingers. Read More...
The definition of love is always changing. Showing you care has gone from love letters and singing telegrams to smiley face texts and “Facebook Official” relationships. What do the kids in your house think love is? Ask them…and then let us know.
Send us your little psychobabies’ thoughts on love and three winners will be chosen at random to get that special phrase on this custom designed Psychobaby tee for Valentine’s Day! All other entries will be featured in a very special Valentine’s Day Blog Post!
Send all entries to contest@psychobaby.net. One entry per contestant. Contest ends February 7th, 2011.
Meet our crew! We are just a few that make up this cool, crazy place we call Psychobaby. We all have different interests but share a passion for kids and fashion. Check back regularly for our favorite new arrivals, fashion tips and plain old silliness!
Did you know our internet manager, Linday, has super-cool tattoos and a cat named Bubba?
Who knew that our customer service manager, Melissa, who lovingly packs your boxes and takes your calls and emails has a passion for black and white animals?
A shout out for our brick-and-mortar manager, Jess, that is a transplant from Boston and has a love for hearts on everything! She is as loved as the hearts she loves!
Ahh, Lisa, my BFF and better half! Don't let her sweet smile fool you though! She is wickedly smart and no one has an eye for cool girls stuff like this queen of bling!
Me? Ahh, I am just a mom of three little boys and a wanna be rocker! I'll let the gals above fill you in! -Marlo
Looking for an indoor activity that is fun for both you and your kids? Look no further!
Our pals at the Beat Kitchen are hosting a day long Winter Fest with some of Chicago's favorite kids musicians. There are no worries about a naptime conflict, you can come as early or late as you'd like and not miss any of the fun.
Psychobaby's stylists (well, ok, stylin' staff) will be there to give our famous punk rock fauxhawks and hair streaks and the first 50 kids get a free concert tee!
Follow kidsshowschicago on Facebook to view their entire event calendar.
I hope to see you there!
-Marlo
Both my beloved home team, the Chicago Bears and my husbands home team, the New York Jets, won this afternoon. I wonder what will happen in my house if they both make it to the Super Bowl? Thank goodness neither of us are major football fans! That would be a rough one! ...Shh! Go Bears!!
Show your team spirit and visit our sports gifts for great ideas for your little rookie or visit our Psychobaby Custom Shop and create your own custom tees, hoodies, blankets and more just in time for kickoff!
-Marlo
Head over to Psychobaby for our biggest sale of the season! When you buy two sale items, you get the third for just $5.00! Hurry in, this sale only lasts through 1/19/11 or until supplies last.
Sorry, this cool, crazy offer is valid at our brick-and-mortar store only. For our loyal online friends, don't miss our 20% off all Psychobaby Brand sale voted by our Facebook Fans. Enter code YOUSAIDSO20 at checkout to receive your discount! See, a little something for everyone! ; )
Because you said so, our awesomely cool Psychobaby Brand, will be 20% off now through 1/20/11 with coupon code YOUSAIDSO20. Head over to Because I Said So to see all of this weeks picks. Become a Psychobaby Fan on Facebook and vote for next weeks inclusion. Why? Because your vote counts, because YOU said so!
Right on! John, Jerry, Mick Willie and Bob all hanging out together in our wild imaginations! The Psychobaby crew are bobbing their heads to their Classic Rock & Roll favorites. Keep checking in, your favorite rocker just might be next to join our Psychobaby Platinum Hall of Fame.
Mommy! Mommy! There's a monster under my bed and I love him!! Our lovable monster gifts will keep the scary guys at bay! You can finally get an uninterrupted night's sleep without your routine closet checks and under the bed sweeps with these furry fellows holding down fort.
Because You Said So, Life Clothing's Sugar Mama tee will join the picks of the week and be 20% off starting now! Head over to Because I Said So to see all of this weeks picks. Become a Psychobaby Fan on Facebook and vote for next weeks inclusion. Why? Because your vote counts, because YOU said so!
When is the last time you've been to a live show? Ok, well, when is the last time you've been to a live show with your kids that did not involve a carpet square or a rendition of row, row, row your boat? School of Rock is the answer to this seasons cabin fever!
I've always said that School of Rock feels very much like a musical Montessori school. Kids from 8 - 18 play together in every show. The big kids, with an amazing amount of patience, teach and inspire the younger kids. It ends up being a creative hang out of sorts for aspiring musicians. My son has been a part of School of Rock for three years and LOVES it!And if I must say so myself, has turned into quite the piano player!
Just to let you know, these shows are loud, loud, loud. I do see tiny ones at every show but if your Psychobaby is sensitive to noise, it might not be the best idea. But for a kid that's a little bit older and might be thinking about taking on an instrument, go, go, go!
Who knows? Maybe your kiddo will be inspired to be the next Ozzy! Err, is that a good or bad example? Hmm...
Movie Buffs, are you ready for the 68th Golden Globe Awards? I am both a movie buff and ready to celebrate some of my favorite films and actors and actresses of the year. I shouldn't sway your vote but I'm, ahem, FIGHTING the urge to divulge my prediction or preference. It will just have to wait 13 days. I love a good excuse to make some popcorn and sack out on the couch! Above are Psychobabys favorite picks to represent the five amazing movies nominated in 2010.
I can't believe I'm already saying goodbye to 2010. This year has flown by! It's been a year of the usual ups and downs. For some reason, the downs aren't feeling quite as, well, down. Could this be the optimism and positive thinking that I vowed as my 2010 resolution actually working?
It doesn't hurt that I have the most amazing family and friends and the most inspiring Psychobaby team that I could ever hope for.
Interestingly, none of the people that I love are any different this year and none of the challenges that I have faced are easier than the year before. I think, maybe, I have actually made a little progress, as a person. I tried to face this year as a year of learning, growing and letting things go that are not meant to be.
So what for next year. I will challenge myself in 2011 to listen more that I talk and finally become more organized. After all, I am a Virgo. Being organized = peace of mind.
A couple of days ago we asked our loyal Facebook followers to help us reach our goal of 3000 Fans by midnight. We came super close, closing 2010 with 2868 awesome Fans. We promised to reward everyone's loyalty with a 25% off site wide sale if we reached our goal. It was sooo close, let's do it!!
Enter code FANS25 through midnight CST 1/1/11 and receive your well deserved discount!
Here are our promises to you for 2011
* We commit to bringing you the most amazing customer service.
* We will continue to delight you with the coolest products for the coolest kids.
* We will add a little humor to your lives.
Thank you to all our cool, crazy customers for all the support and inspiration you have given us this year and all the years before. Happy 2011!
-Marlo
The "big day" is fast approaching and Psychobaby's Valentine Gift Guide is here to help! Show your pre-school pal that you really, really like them with our customizable BFF Cookies tee or our customizable BFF heart tee.We have the best selection of super sweet dresses, tees and toys that will give your kiddo lot's of smiles and won't cause a single cavity! 
Psychobaby doesn't monkey around! We have seriously cute gifts for your little primates from Januzzi, Jellycat, Gund , BabbaCo and more! They'll have you swinging from the trees (with a helmet, of course!).
The definition of love is always changing. Showing you care has gone from love letters and singing telegrams to smiley face texts and “Facebook Official” relationships. What do the kids in your house think love is? Ask them…and then let us know.
Meet our crew! We are just a few that make up this cool, crazy place we call Psychobaby. We all have different interests but share a passion for kids and fashion. Check back regularly for our favorite new arrivals, fashion tips and plain old silliness!
