It Aint Easy Being Green: St. Patrick's Day Etsy Finds

 

 "G" is for onesie by Alliecraft

Frog onesie by MaryandMichael (on sale!). I like this one :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day onesie by EasyEdges. 

Whale grass and navy onesie by CharliandSarah.

Green apple elf's hat by FairyShred

Handmade satin organza ponytail holders by JujaCrafts

Finding a nanny: does age really matter?

 

Although it may sound taboo to discuss age, when I owned an operated our full-service nanny agency, the topic of a nanny’s age inevitably came up.

Families always had varying ideas about the age of their potential nanny. More often than not, a new mom would only realize (after we sent her a few candidates) that she had already envisioned the stereotypical nanny without even realizing it. Some people expect that a nanny will undoubtedly be a nurturing grandmother. Others think that all nannies are 20-something college students. The truth is that nannies come in all shapes and sizes.  Many of the nannies we recruited and placed with our families were retired teachers, and exceptionally experienced and mature mothers.  This is preferable to some families. We also interviewed and placed many college students and 30-something women, some of whom had worked in daycares or even as fully credentialed teachers.  What matters most, when considering the age factor is to decide what you and your children will be most comfortable with. You might also consider the length of time you hope to keep this nanny. Is it a summer position? If so, it may not matter that your 23-year-old nanny may end up moving away after a year. What kinds of activities do you want the nanny to do with your children? This is really less a question of age and more a question of the nanny’s interests, so be sure to consider what you'd like your children to be doing with the nanny as you prepare your interview questions.

All in all, it is a personal decision that depends more on the individual than the nanny’s age or stats. Ask the appropriate questions, and do a few trial days. You may end up being surprised when the person you hire does not meet your original stereotype.

Owlicious

 

1. "An elegant fowl" bookend by Tialys.

2. Ceramic owl lantern, vintage design by Fruitflypie. I kind of want this lantern for myself. 

I love both of these Etsy shops, so they are definitely worth checking out.

This vintage brass owl trivet would look really cute hung up on a wall. It comes from ThePinkRoom and sells for only $10 plus shipping. A steal of a deal, if you ask me. 

  

1. "Life's a Hoot" owl mobile by PinkPerch. And she will do custom colors.

2. Wilhelmina the stuffed owl from Beesters. They have several other cute stuffed owls and some mobiles on sale as well.

Mini Woodland owl by Agnes. All of her items are made with eco-friendly goods.

Etsy Shop of the Week: Lonjina

 

I thought this collage art was pretty cool and would look great in a little girl's room.

 

The fish is, of course, my favorite. For more of her work check out Lonjina's Etsy Shop.

Ask TheNannySpace

Dear Readers,
I have decided to start a new regular post on this blog, called "Ask TheNannySpace," so that readers can submit their nanny-related questions and we'll do our best to provide an informed answer. When we operated our nanny placement service in Boulder we had a multitude of questions from families and nannies: How much and I supposed to pay my nanny? What's the difference between a nanny and a babysitter? What kinds of questions should I ask in an interview? What are the pros and cons of doing a nanny share? The list goes on and on. If you are a nanny or a parent with a relevant question, please email it to me, and I will post the question and an answer here on the blog: info@thenannyspace.com. Please send a photo with your question. Thank you! And happy Friday.
-Courtney

Etsy Shop of the Week: BestyThompsonStudio

 

 

I think this elephant piece is my favorite. I ran across her shop and thought she had some really pretty things for a nursery/children's room decor. BetsyThompsonStudio on Etsy. Click on the link to visit her shop.

Etsy Shop of the Week: NYrika

 

These little hats from NYrika were too cute not to post. I think it helps that the model is adorable.

Etsy shop of the week: Beesters

Two of my very creative friends recently started a great little Etsy shop: Beesters.

Pictured above is a lovely birdie ornament which sells for $9.

This is one of the cutest, and most original mobiles I've ever seen. Their sushi mobile sells for $125. Check out all of their stuffie goodness.  Fun, fun, fun.

Helpful Hints: Security on the Internet

As much as I typically like to use this blog as a fun and light forum for promoting my favorite handmade children’s items and free local activities, I thought I’d take the opportunity to comment on the necessity for all of our Users and Readers (families and nannies) to take extra precautions with the Internet around the holiday season.

I heard an interesting piece on NPR that discussed privacy and the Web, and a couple of weeks later, my brother’s credit card numbers were stolen just 2 days before his wedding! As the Owner of a DotCom, I feel that it's important to remind Users of security issues.

On the one hand, I am a huge fan of the Internet. I am an avid blogger, an Internet shopper, a Facebook User, and DotCom owner. I work in Internet Publishing and I run a small Etsy shop—what can I say? I heart the Worldwide Web--  but I also know that the Internet can be dangerous when Users are not careful.

It is especially important to take serious precautions if you are a nanny or family looking to connect on the Internet, whether it be on Craigslist or on an Online Nanny Service.

Here are a few helpful hints regarding nanny/family searches on the Internet:

     One thing I have learned in my experience as a nanny, as the owner of a full-service nanny agency, and as the owner of an online service, is that it’s ALWAYS important to meet the other party in person.  I have found that this is not only an important security measure, it’s also a great way to ensure that the relationship will be a lasting one. 

Before your first in-person interview, I would recommend a preliminary phone conversation, or even two. Whether you are a nanny or a family, prepare a list of questions to ask over the phone. This can be a great way to see if it’s even worth it to meet in person.  Why waste your time?? It’s perfectly okay for nannies to ask the parents several questions as well.

 It’s also a good idea to have your first interview in a public place, such as a coffee shop. 

I  After your first face-to-face meeting, schedule a working interview. This will help both parties learn things about each other that you just can’t see in an email or over the phone or even chatting face-to-face.

If  you are looking for an overseas or out-o-state position, and it just isn’t possible to meet first, by all means, have several phone conversations, including a video chat or Skype session (or two), and do your research! Nannies: it’s okay to ask a family for references, especially if you are considering a live-in position. 

If there are two parents, spend time getting to know BOTH parents. Be sure to meet all of the children as well (a working interview is a good time to do this).

  Finally- NEVER give your credit card information to someone you don’t know. There is no reason for a family to ask for your credit card number.  This should be a big red flag!  It will sometimes be necessary to provide your Social Security number for a background check. Have multiple in-person meetings before supplying your social security number for a background check. Remember: nannies have rights too!  

     Here are some other helpful resources for those of you conducting a search: http://thenannyspace.com/Resources.aspx

     Feel free to ask me questions, and happy holidays!!  If you have any other question, send it my way, and I would love to answer it in an email or anonymously (“Dear Abbey style”) here on the blog for the benefit of other Readers:
info@thenannyspace.com

Etsy Shop of the Week: CynicTheLamb

I ran across these little softies from CynicTheLamb on Etsy. Oh so pretty.

Sandy the Screech Owl: $40.

Sally the Snail: $65.

Leticia the Mini Leafhopper: $25. I think she's my favorite.

Johan the Mouse: $50.

Dachshund Mobile: Handmade

My friends, Kayla and Melisa were kind enough to put their sewing skills to use to create a lovely little dachshund mobile for Michelle's baby.

Michelle and I both have dachshunds, so I thought it would be the perfect gift.

They made the pieces with felt and fabric. Can you see that the little guys are wearing sweaters?

Unfortunately, there was to be a fourth weenie (a blue guy) but my own real dachshund ate him...

Still looks really cute.

They made the pieces, and they've just opened their Etsy Shop: Beesters. Check it out, they've got adorable stuff and can do custom orders.

Bought some ribbon from Hancock Fabrics.

And made card out of this vintage photograph (the back of which reads "Amsterdam 1969").

All in all, a nice and unique little gift for Lukas. I hope he loves it.

Day Number 3: Toddler & Newborn

My beautiful son Kristoff was born on August 28 at 12:07am! He was quickly taken to the NICU because he stopped breathing shortly after arriving. He was monitored closely for 5 days and was determined to be healthy and finally ready to go home! I had a week at home with my husband's help. We took walks, ran errands and went to the mall. Today is day # 3 at home alone with the two boys (Finneas is 28 months). So far so good. We have made it to the park, the grocery store and today we are going to visit friends. I am happier than I ever imagined possible. There are new challenges: two in diapers (changing my 2 year old's diaper now seems like changing a man compared to my newborn), a double stroller that requires all three wheels to be removed before wedging it into our tiny Subaru Impreza, finding time for a proper shower- meaning more than 3 1/2 minutes, and finally finding time to blog...Finneas is in front of Sesame Street and Kristoff is beginning to cry in his bassinet like he has not eaten for days. In reality he ate every hour from 2am-6am. Gotta go-time to nurse, shower, clean...

Etsy Shop of the Week: JennSki

I ran across this little Etsy shop and loved her stuff. She's got other art as well, but I thought these alphabet prints were particularly appropriate for our blog.

Each of them sells for $14, and there are many more, so check out her shop on Etsy: JennSki.