PerryWinkles Kids Blog

Last weekend, my family and I set out on a bike ride on a lovely sunny Summer morning in Toronto. We ended up at the Evergreen Brick Works, at the site of the old Don Valley Brickworks Factory in the Bayview extension in Toronto. It was a most pleasant surprise - a truly urban oasis right in our city. This ‘thriving environmentally-based community centre that engages visitors in diverse experiences connected to nature’ is sure to appeal to a wide array of Torontonians looking for unique, interesting and stimulating things to do without going too far. The location of the old Brickworks factory, which first opened in 1889, has been preserved and refurbished and is now a great destination for families with children. Entry to the site is free.
We enjoyed great food at the Farmer’s Market (one of my favourites were delicious Surkl organic empanadas) and great hikes through the area. My two young daughters were fascinated by the wild flowers, turtles and fish that they saw pretty much in their own backyard. The site offers lots of great nature walks and events throughout the year that include chef’s workshops, a farmer’s market every Saturday, and the ‘Farm to Folk Festival’, among many others. What’s better is that this great spot right in Toronto is still in its development stage, with lots more great things to come - The Discovery Centre, Demonstration Gardens, Native Plant Nursery, among other great projects.

My family and I will definitely be coming back!

Maria

PerryWinkles Kids - fine smocked girls’ dresses

We are thrilled to announce our Fall & Winter Dress Collection for little girls and baby girls, just in time for back to school and all their special occasion during the colder months. We have found gorgeous viyellas, heavy cotton, veloure and baby corduroy and have decorated them with stunning and unique smocking patterns, to keep your little princess cozy, comfortable and stylish during the Fall and Winter seasons. As always, practicality is was a key consideration and all our new designs are machine-washable, to keep up with today’s mom’s busy schedules.

Our new collection of little girls’ dresses include beautiful hand-smocked designs, like the Jane style in pink viyella. As well, your little princess will dazzle in her first day of school in one of our new blue or red corduroy jumpers and viyella shirts. We have other new additions to our collection, like brand new styles of cotton cardigans and nylon tights.

PerryWinkles Kids - fine smocked girls’ dresses

PerryWinkles Kids has been nominated to be Canada’s top Mom Entrepreneur and we need your votes to help us win.

SavvyMom Media has put PerryWinkles Kids’ name into the ring to win The SavvyMom Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award, a reader’s choice contest designed to find Canada’s top Mom Entrepreneur. The winner will be announced in the fall, and will be rewarded with a $17,000 prize that was designed to help take that business into the next level.

PerryWinkles Kids, a Canadian-based children’s wear company, designs and manufactures fine children’s clothing, specializing in stylish, practical and comfortable girls’ smocked dresses from newborn to size 6T. Our daughters and grand-daughters are the inspiration for all of our hand-smocked dresses’ designs. Practicality to fit today’s moms’ busy schedules is a priority - all of our little girls’ dresses are made of 100% pima cotton and are machine-washable.

Go to the following link and make sure to cast your vote for us!
http://www.momentrepreneuraward.ca/MomBio.aspx?momID=286
Thanks!

Maria

PerryWinkles Kids

The arrival of motherhood can be as much a wonderful as an overwhelming time. You are falling in love with your baby while at the same time trying to learn how to breastfeed, take care of your newborn while sleep deprived and balance your baby’s needs with your own (will I be able to sneak in a quick shower today??). As all this is going on you are also trying to figure out which toys will actually stimulate your baby at the right time in their development –will those Baby Einstein tapes actually make my child a genius or are they mainly a distraction to give mom a break so she can, say, take a shower! (I suspect the latter which by no means diminishes their usefulness!) You are also faced with the task of picking from a myriad of tools that are available to ease your life as a parent. You talk to friends, read consumer reports, shop around, trying to select just enough to make your life easier but not too much that your home will turn into a baby gear shop!

Of all the baby gear I either purchased, inherited or received as presents, my favourite so far has been my baby sling. I received a Pippalily sling as a gift and I don’t know what I would do without it. Slings free your hands to get stuff done around the house when your baby just wants to be held. Holding your baby this close to you is a great way to bond with her; I’ve discovered this is also the best time to cut my baby’s nails, as it’s one of the few times when she is holding still and is close enough to me that I can actually get to her 10 fingers! Also, did you know that the motion that babies are in while being carried in slings is believed to help them develop motor skills faster by stimulating the vestibular system in their brains, the part of our brains responsible for our balance and essential to orientation and movement? (Apparently a possible explanation for why babies of non-industrialized nations tend to walk sooner than those in industrialized ones.)

Based in Toronto, Pippalily slings are designed to sit comfortably on your hip. They have a great selection of beautiful designs in silk and cotton and all their slings are machine washable. Well worth the $75 they retail for on their website! You can also find them at the Toronto Children’s Trunk Show.