What I Can't Live Without posts [See Nesting Main]
[From Nesting]

Fun with Chalkboards

chalkboard sched.jpgI bought this chalkboard decal from wallcandyarts.com and stuck it up in my kitchen because I just thought it was so pretty, but now, a year later, I'm not sure anyone in my house can live without it. At first I used it as a way to remind my babysitter of playdates and activities, but now it's more like my calendar--a reminder for the kids that screams, "Look how much fun you're going to have this week!" When it's not updated, I hear about it. I'm even expected to write up an itinerary for the weekend and, in the summer, include the weather report.

Also, see before and after pictures of Jenny's kitchen renovation.



[From Nesting]

Jess Brown Dolls

We're smitten by the dolls that Jess Brown makes. Her one-of-a-kind cut-to-order dolls are made of cotton muslin and found, recycled, and antique fabrics and wools, and then they're dyed using Persian black tea to create a variety of gorgeous skin tones.

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Don't you want to buy several and place them on your little one's bed all in a row? What a cherished possession for a little girl. You can find a store where her dolls are sold here.

Editor's note: Each doll is made with buttons so they may not be suitable for children 3 and under.

[From Nesting]

What I Can't Live Without: Baby Slings

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"When my daughter was small, I loved carrying her with me, instead of strapping her into a stroller. It was easier to browse through shops and flea markets, and we loved exploring the world together." -- Jean, Naples, Florida.

We agree--and the cutest slings we've seen recently are these numbers from etsy shop BronwenHandcrafted. Made with designer knits (think Missoni, Marimekko and Vera Wang), they're available in five sizes and many colors. Ridiculously cute baby, not included.

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[From Nesting]

What I Can't Live Without: Toy Organizers

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"I can't live without these Kids Klutter Katchers zippered mesh fabric toy bags. I have a baby on the way and a 3-year-old with a bazillion toys, most with small parts. Being in my third trimester, I'm nesting like crazy and am thrilled to have a solution to sorting the small toys and keeping them safe from the baby." --Cynthia Fan

[From Nesting]

What I Can't Live Without: Corner Table

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"When I moved into an apartment with a not-so-spacious bedroom, it was clear that my desk was the elephant--if not the 800 pound gorilla--in the room. I put it into storage and tried to find a skinny, space-saving table that could go against the wall. My father came up with the idea of L-shaped table that could serve as a nightstand and a desk. A terrific woodworker from New Jersey, Carl Kunkel, made it out of cherry, and now it works perfectly as a bedside table and a desk that is just wide enough to fit my laptop. (It's also a clever way to hide my radiator.)" --Anna Nordberg, Cookie Associate Editor

[From Nesting]

what i can't live without: baggu bags

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"I had a regular tote bag, but I always forgot it at home when I went to buy groceries. Luckily, I discovered Baggu Bags. Made of rip-stop nylon, each $8 bag can hold 25 lbs. They come in eight cheerful colors--my daughter's favorite is pink, of course. The best part: The bags fold up and fit into a 5"x5" pouch, so I just stick them in my purse and have them whenever I need them." --Rachel, Cookie reader, Pittsburgh, PA
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[From Nesting]

What I Can't Live Without: Memo Collector

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"I repurposed this chef's order rack that I found at a restaurant supply store, and turned it into my memo station. All those little (yet crucial!) scraps that get misplaced--phone numbers, business cards, even ripped out pages of magazines--are stuck up right where I know to find them." --Kiera Coffee, Cookie's home editor

[From Nesting]

what i can't live without: the frances flat

Frances
"My 6-year-old daughter, Frances, LOVES the shoes I got her several years ago. She wears them all the time. They come in navy, gray and green, but her favorite is the gold. We now carry them at our stores; I named them the Frances flat. --Jane, owner of children's boutiques, catalog and website, Flora and Henri.

On Frances's (amazing) bedroom shelves: Wooden sailor skittles and sailor bank from flora and henri. Kitten and terrier by mohair toymaker Steiff. Hello Kitty calendar from Sanrio; the tin wind-up toy from Seattle's Magic Mouse Toys, and wooden elephant from Turpan. Frances is wearing a lace blouse and cords, available at Flora and Henri. Says Jane, "The giraffe drawing was by an old friend and neighbor, Mentor Giles. Mentor would often visit our Seattle office and sit down to draw. We liked this giraffe drawing so much, it became a T-shirt design in our 2004 fall/winter season. Mentor died a year ago, and our work isn't the same without him. He was a big Audrey Hepburn fan and encouraged us to live like ladies."

[From Nesting]

What I Can't Live Without

Playmobilkid_2

"I turn my purse into an adventure by always carrying two travel-size playdoughs, a small wooden car, a dinosaur and a couple of Playmobil people. Wherever we are, I can pull out these things and improvise with what's around us, like chopsticks from a restaurant or a stick at the playground. I give my 3-year-old son Noah the tools, and he leads us into a world of make believe." -- Sara Galkin, photo editor and mother of two in Brooklyn.

[From Nesting]

What I Can't Live Without: Bodum's French-Press Coffee Maker

Bodum "I couldn't get through mornings without my Bodum French Press coffee maker. It was only $20 but perhaps the most used item in my entire kitchen. I'm a complete addict." --Nicolette Berthelot, Cookie designer

hgtv