Heelaroius High Heeled Baby Booties Have Arrived!

Ha! Okay, we're going to try and get through this without laughing, but it is hard because Heelarious' totally fun high heeled shoes for newborns are, quite possibly, one of the funniest things we have ever seen! Perfect for non-walkers 0-6 months old, these totally functional baby booties are a, well, Heelarious baby shower gift because they come in a purse!, present for your Louboutin-loving pal who just had a newborn and for those dress-up occasions like weddings, and Sunday brunch with the ladies! Stroll in the City with Heelarious because they are totally stylin'! These high heeled shoes come in many patterns so you just can't get one, but hey, a lady should never be questioned about her soleful shoe collection!


Check out the Heelarious sole at psychobabyonline.com!

Psycho Baby has a new homepage!

Like Roxette said, "She's Got The Look!" Our super cool new Home Page is bigger, and in this case that for sure means better because it gives you, our faithful friends, new features that we hope you find as zingy and useful as we do! Check out the tippy top for more fun About Us and As Seen In, as well as the quickest way to grab a Gift Card for your friend! Our color-changing buttons (go ahead and play with 'em- we think they are super sweet!), new left navigation, and central photos (including our trademark circles) give you easy access to the cool, crazy baby and kids' stuff in Shop By Category and Shop By Brand so you can can do it up by age and style or find your favorite brands easily! The Present Posse has written a neat new Cool Baby Gift Guide, so if you're not sure quite what to get that should be helpful, and we think the addition makes our funky Great Gifts section even greater! We are also super-Mama proud to introduce a highly-requested feature: New Arrivals- making it super easy for you to find those Hot Converse, New Psycho Baby Brand tees, and Funky Loyal Army additions right when they arrive- keep that one bookmarked as it gets updated all the time and stay in the know about what's shakin' in the land of cool, crazy kids' stuff! Let us know what you think, and have fun!
Check out the whole shebang at www.psychobabyonline.com
-posted by Kristina

New Psycho Baby of the Month feature!

It's utter cuteness, folks, and it is all thanks to you! We are thrilled to announce that our new newsletter gives us the capability of having the Winner of the Psycho Baby of the Month contest and we think it totally makes the newsletter complete! The Psycho Baby of the Month's profile resides on our website, the voting takes place right here (be sure to enter next month!) and signing up for our newsletter gives you the opportunity to share the cuteness with all your pals every week! Be sure to check out Mr. Dax, June's winner and vote for July's- there is only a few days left!

Bucktown/Wicker Park Sidewalk Sale This Weekend!

Join us on that thing you normally stroll down for cool stuff at crazy prices! We're totally jazzed about how the neighborhood is all getting together for a shopping party, and we've already got sale ragin' inside the store as an early kick off! Click on the pic top get our address and directions if need some, and hopefully, we'll see you there toting big ole bags of summer fun!

Psychobaby Activity Tent- Wicker Park Kids Fest!

Have some fun in the sun at Wicker Park Fest (sponsored by Friends of Pritzker and the Wicker Park/Bucktown Chamber) on July 26th and 27th! Stop on by and introduce yourself at the Psychobaby Activity Tent, (wo) manned by our co-owners, Lisa and Marlo and team members Stefanie and me! We've got surprises in store for you as well as the following scheduled events from our friends Nili Yelin, Sweet Cakes, Bubbles, and Gymboree! And don't miss your chance to play Dunk the Alderman (who is a very good sport, by the way!) All proceeds go to building a playground so be sure to come and hang out!

SATURDAY, JULY 27^th

PSYCHOBABY ACTIVITY TENT!
11:30am: Nili Yelin, the Storybook Mom
12:00am: Sweetcakes Bakery Decorate a cookie
12:30pm: The Kids Table: Build a Recipe
2:30pm: Gymboree
4:30pm: Bubbles Academy





OTHER FUN YOU DON"T WANT TO MISS!!!!
12:00pm-5:00pm: Dunk tank – “Dunkees” including Alderman Manny Flores from 3-4pm!!!
1:00pm-3:00pm: Balloon creatures by Mary Macaroni
1:00pm-5:00pm: Visit the Petting Zoo

ABT KIDS' STAGE
12:00pm: Mary Macaroni
1:00pm: ARCC Ballet performance
1:30pm: Chang's Martial Arts demonstration



SUNDAY, JULY 27th

PSYCHOBABY ACTIVITY TENT
11:30am Nili Yelin, the Storybook Mom
12:30pm Bubbles Academy
2:30pm Gymboree

12:00pm-5:00pm Meet Ronald McDonald and play in the inflatable Jumping Jack!

ABT KIDS' STAGE
12:00pm Little Miss Ann's Band
1:00pm Hogwash Improvised Theater



There will also be a Silent Auction with classes, getaways and more, plus Face Painting by Metamorph Tattoo artists.

To check out more Happenings at Psychobaby, view our Events Page!

-posted by Kristina

image of Alderman Flores courtesy of www.flores1stward.com

Mama Lavona's Astrology - Cancer!

Cancer babies feel most at home with family and all her/his favorite familiar things. Naturally domestic, you might find (s)he wanting to help out in the kitchen! Word to the wise, invest in a kitchen set! (S)he identifies very stongly with her/his surroundings and like a sponge, lil' Cancer tends to absorb the emotional environment around her/him. This is fine if the vibes are good...but if there are bad vibes in the air, Cancer will become a very Crabby Crab! Be very careful what your little one is watching on T.V. this can effect Cancer so deeply, to the point of losing sleep! When (s)he's maxed out on being a little emotional filter...(s)he may retreat into her little safe shell to heal herself. It's not easy being a little nurse at such a young age! But again this is a natural attribute. You may find all her/his teddies and dolls bandaged up with toilet paper and band-aids...so another wise investment would be a Doctor's Kit! Always try to handle your little Crab gently and sensitively and (s)he will return love and tenderness three-fold!


Birthstone-Pearl and Moonstone

Essential Oils- Jasmine and Water Lily

Great Gifts- Kitchen/Cooking sets, Dolls/dolls house, seeds, plants, garden tools, photo albums, Jewelry

Have a lil Crab? Share a fun Cancerian story with us in the comments!
-posted by Kristina

Create Your Set At Polyvore!

psychobabyonline.com has just joined Polyvore, which is an awesome way to express yourself over an afternoon (or two or three..!) Have some fun and while away a day with fashion, because you deserve it! We'll see you and your fabulous sets there!

Cool, Crazy Person - Christian Denney, Founder of Me in Mind

We here at the Psycho Baby blog are thrilled to have these answers from Christian Denney, the founder (and designer!) of the Me In Mind Footwear collection! His booties like the Mom and Dad Tattoo shoes, Trucker Girls and Skulls are fashionable and a hit with all the lil babes we know, because this Dad of three munchkins knows his style stuff (as well as his way around the answers to our questions!) All the way from Nevada, we present Christian Denney, our Cool, Crazy Person of the Month!


1. What is the coolest thing that has ever happened to you?

Recently, I have been really addicted to politics. A few months ago, I submitted a question to Hillary Clinton for the CNN Las Vegas Democratic debate and they actually asked her it during the debate. It was crazy when they said "Our next question comes from Christian Denney from Henderson, NV." Maybe its not that cool since there were a hundred debates this time, but still.

2. What is the craziest fashion statement you have ever made?

Now this is pretty bad.... When I was 9 maybe 10 years old I thought Brian Bosworth (unless your a Seahawks fan you will have to Google him) was awesome. So, I cut my hair like him; flat-top with a mullet and I would use colored gel to put stripes on the sides of my head. There are pictures floating around and I know they will come back to haunt me some day.

3. What is your favorite book?

Its a tie; Rich Dad, Poor Dad and In the Line of Fire. Those are really the only 2 books I can remember reading other than text books.

4. What toy can you not live with out (Keep it clean, this one's for the children!)?

Do my kids count? They're just as entertaining as any toy. If not, Adobe illustrator or an Etch-a-Sketch (aka the original graphic design program)

5. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

You know the guy "Peter Petrelli" from the show "Heroes"? I would like his superpower. He sort of learns other peoples powers. I couldn't chose just one.

6. Who is the coolest parent you know (ties between Mom and Dad are understandable!)

My sister Lisa is pretty cool. She is like 50 years old (hahaha she will kill me, but she is getting up there) and acts like she is 16 with playing with her kids. example: She rocks out to Hannah Montana and gets mad if she looses when playing Wii. She just never seems to slow down and always has time for her kids. A very good example.

Backpocket Wisdom - Pirates Vs. Ninjas?

This Inky Dink tee is like a Zen Koan, friends, and we just don't know if we could say who would emerge victorious from a Pirate Vs. Ninja battle. On one hook, pirates swashbuckle through different lands on their ships, have parrots to alert them, planks to walk and other tricks up their puffy sleeves. Sensible - they are laden down with treasure and want to spend some of it on defenses that are totally yar, like upping their cool factor with those nifty Disney movies. On the other hand, the sleeker and swifter Ninja doesn't even need a boat - he just needs good old fashioned camouflaged espionage, and perchance a Marvel Comic to sweeten the rep.
The famed Master Troicuk vs. Captain Jack Sparrow? Toss-up....Troicuk could be so fond of Capt. Jack's Keith Richards impersonation and fancy hair and decorative scarves he might just give up, or he just might swoop down like the hidden dragon he is. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. the Dread Pirate Roberts? Toss-up again as we'd go Turtles just because of the sheer numbers, unless this somehow involved iocane powder, because as we all know, Capt. Roberts has spent the last few years building up an immunity to the stuff.
We thought maybe the kids would know best on this one, and we thought wrong! Split straight down the middle those kids were voting for the ninja and then swinging around foam pirate swords until we really wanted to say "parlay!"

The seas of our minds are tumultous as this question, we feel, cannot be resolved by only us. So right here and right now, America, cast your vote in our comments section and let us know once and for all if you think its Pirates or Ninjas!
-posted by Kristina

Cool Baby and Kids Brit Rock Tees Have Arrived!

Get Mod with the new Who tee from Junk Food that is sure to keep you talkin' about this generation! We're so pumped about adding this one to our rock n roll style we "Can't Explain!" We also love the look of the new Led Zeppelin tee from Bravado which is sure to keep thangs calm when there is a bustle in your hedgerow!

What musical classics are your sharing with your little ones, and how does this inspire talks of history or just some groovin' in the car? When I was on my trip, the kids (Hi J, J, S and Uncle R - Bravo!!!) formed a "band" with their Uncle and did a stunning rendition of the great Ray Charles' "Hit the Road, Jack" that had us all dancin'. There are plenty of times in our store where our rock tees bring people back to an awesome time or super funny story or where kids show off their awesome dance moves! What inspires you to "Get Into The Groove?" Let us know!

Wee Hairy Beasties Concert Rocked Our House!

The Wee Hairy Beasties Concert on 6/28 was a super cool, crazy time for everyone who attended! Jon Langford, Devil in a Woodpile and Sally Timms sang everything under that "Toenail Moon" inclucding a version of Wild Thing that would've torn the roof off (except that we were outside!!!) Vitawater provided beverages and the Cans Anniversary Stage was a great setting for our show and our 6-foot Ugly Doll Store Raffle! To kick the Wee Hairy Beasties Tunes at your house, see our website for their CD, Animal Crackers!

Wee Hairy Beasties Concert Photos!

Beat the Heat In Style!

A few of our fave ways to beat the heat in the summer are: iced tea, cool colored sunglasses, the beach front here in Chicago and the obligatory summer dress! Now that's for us - what we love to keep our baby gals cool and refreshed are onesie outfits like the new one from Glamajama! Perfect because the ruffled tushy makes this one-piece a two-piece, this onesie will give her cool style at the park when the weather is hot! Let us know what other summer tips you have that help keep the temp down with your kids!

Backpocket Wisdom - Fun with Tony the Tiger!

We just got Great new Gifts from Kellogg's and we thought, in honor of Tony the Tiger, we'd lay down three fun Tiger facts for the kiddies! If your lil one loves Big cats and you have a fun Tiger fact to share, be sure to send in those comments!

1. Tony the Tiger, Frosted Flakes' spokesanimal, competed against a dog and a few other kittens to win his post in 1952. His trademark phrase? "They're Grrreat!"®

2. Tigers are the Biggest of all Big Cats!

3. Three fun sporty Tigers are: Tiger Woods, who just won the US Open!, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Detroit Tigers!

-posted by Kristina

Great Gift Idea For Twins

In honor of Gemini, I thought it would be super fun to explore our Top Five Gifts for Twins, from the traditional matchy-matchy to corresponding gifts of fun. Each works well alone or paired with other Great Gifts so you can have double the fun!





1. Since it is an Ugly Dolls month on our blog, check out Bop N Beep, an Ugly Doll with two sides of fun and two different color schemes that make for a large amount of fun for lil ones! ($11-51)












2. PsychoBaby is bringing a new definition to the term "twin set" with their boy and girl sets that come already ready for the party! ($36)







3. Inky Dink's Tees answers the question "Do you want fries with that?" by giving you a cheeseburger, fries or a cola to choose from for a Fast (food) Gift! ($27/each)













4. Punk it up with Me in Mind skull booties in black/pink and black/white for those rock n roll twins! ($26)













5. Grab Mom a Skip Hop Double Duo for her jaunts out- she'll thank you when she has her hands free for her coffee! ($82)






-posted by Kristina

Lady Lavona's Astrology

Your little Gemini loves the world of ideas and needs plenty of mental stimulation. Freedom is the key to keeping Gemini happy, and the secret is to keep your lil one safe and yet unconfined! Your little one will enjoy long walks and will take notice of every detail from the cars in the street to the clouds in the sky while saying hello to every passerby! Gemini is quite the social butterfly, possesses the "gift of gab" and will most likely talk your ear off while s/he shares all their new ideas! Never mind that old myth about Gemini having two personalities. If his "evil" twin arrives, it is usually just a sign of over stimulation. It is very important for Gemini to have equal parts activity and quiet time. They will enjoy hours of imaginative play, reading books and are sure to love watching movies-- anything to refuel their bright and inventive minds!




Gift Ideas for the Twin: Puzzles, Books and Learning Games, Art Supplies, Outdoor Toys
Stones: Lapis Lazuli and Agate
Essential Oils: Lavender, Clary Sage

We've graduated to the Big School!

Meow, right? This falls (again!) into the 'cat'egory (sorry, couldn't help myself!) of Cool Stuff We'd Wear (except our feet aren't small enough!) Just wanted to let y'all know that Vans are back! There's Big Style in the Big School, which comes in Olive, Black Swirly Hearts, a Satin Leopard and Pink! We love 'em for their classic deck shoe style and "Just Like Mommy and Daddy" factor, but also for the ease of Velcro when you need to get out the door and enjoy the weather!
We see a lot of parent child matchy, especially in our Shoe Department- is there any hip coordination in your closet? Let us know what style favorites (or habits, you tag cutter-outer!) you and your kids share!


The Big School is available in baby and toddler sizes (ie when you're still doing the lacing) and go great with a cool tee or rock n roll dress to make a Great Gift!

Check out the Big School Vans here!

Don't miss your chance at Uglydolls 6 foot Ox raffle!

Our Uglydolls Ox has arrived, and he is huge and the epitome of cuteness! Enter our raffle to win his winking-and-smilin' self, but be warned: He always "has to steal some kisses from you" especially of the chocolate variety! Don't miss your chance to be the only family on your city block with a Giant Ox- he's the definition of a conversation piece! For more fun, be sure to check out our interview with David Horvath, the creator of Uglydolls, below!

To enter email your email to contest@psychobaby.net w/Uglydolls in the subject! Unfortunately, we can only accept entries from the lower 48 States at this time. The raffle closes on 6/30/08. Good luck!

Cool, Crazy Person - David Horvath, creator of Uglydolls!

We love the motley crew that are the Ugly Dolls! Full of life, quirks and individuality, each Ugly Doll speaks to the hearts and minds of the kids that come into our store! A favorite cool baby shower gift because the polar fleece is all sewn on, touchable, soft and interesting for lil ones and a collector's items for the bigger kids, Ugly Dolls rule the roost! We are thrilled to have Plunko and Babo's Bird joining the diverse array of Ugly Doll characters, and to present David Horvath, the creator of Ugly Dolls answering our 6 Psycho questions.

A brief history before we begin:

"From the creative minds of two love struck artists David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim emerge the Uglydoll family! What started as a drawing of a playful orange character known as Wage has turned into a whole new world of fun! In 2001, when David's soon to be wife and creative partner Sun-Min had to return to Korea, he sent her many "I miss you" letters with his little Wage character drawn at the bottom.

Sun-Min sewed Wage into a push doll and sent him to David as a surprise gift. David asked Sun-Min to sew a couple more for a store in Los Angeles and they sold out in one day! A very excited Sun-Min sewed many more and those sold just as fast! Sun-Min and David then began to pull more characters from the Uglyverse, a universe where UGLY meant unique and special, to translate into plush Uglydolls. They both met again at their very first Uglydoll Toy Fair booth (a small 6x6 booth made of felt and wood) in New York, where they would go on to win Toy Of The Year 4 years later!"

And now, 6 Psycho Questions with David Horvath!

1. What is the coolest thing that has ever happened to you?
December 2001, I opened an EMS delivery package from Sun-Min in Korea thinking I would find another Ultraman monster or robot (those are great too though) to find WAGE, the very first hand sewn Uglydoll. My first response was "woah wait this guy is very familiar."...then it hit me, this was the guy from my letters to her!

2. What is the craziest fashion statement you have ever made?
Make-it-yourself pink, yellow and blue Nikes while wearing clothes from Brooks Brothers. I know, nothing too nutty but I am a stay home and make the things you go out and do kind
of guy.

3. What is your favorite book?
MINE! I mean ours. But I also love the WAR OF ART by Steven Pressfield. I have yet to procrastinate about anything since reading that one 7 years ago.

4. What toy can you not live without?
The first Wage Sun-Min made for me. But it is a lot more than a toy to me. It's one of several characters from a world which is very much alive to both Sun-Min and I.

5. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
We all have many super powers, so not sure what you mean. Ah, but do you mean which one would I actually believe in enough to use? The power to help others realize that they are super powerful. That, and my chocolate detector power.

6. Who is the coolest parent you know (ties between your own Mom and Dad are totally understandable!)
Alita Friedman, our director of all things at the Uglydoll office, is the coolest parent I know.
Every time I call her out of the office, she's always either doing something for her kids or watching her kids do the fun things she brought them around to do.



posted by Kristina____________________________________________________________________________________________

Wicker Park Kids' Karnival June 8th

Looking for something cool to do? On Sunday, June 8th, the Wicker Park Advisory Council is throwing their annual Kids' Karnival, full of fun in the sun for the kids! With bouncy houses, face painting and other fun (as well as the opening of the Farmers' Market) families are sure to have a smashing time!

Kids' Karnival, 1425 N. Damen, Chicago, IL 60622, 9am-3pm
For more info on the Karnival and upcoming neighborhood events, go to www.ourwickerpark.org