She's A Betty

Gift Guide for 13-Year-Old Brothers Who Won't Read

To my mother's disappointment, my little brother doesn't like to read. Or rather, he likes to read, but he'd prefer to do almost anything else: play video games, watch television, "hang out," eat, sleep, etc. So what's he getting for Christmas?

Books, of course*:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow

Spies Revealed, by Clive Gifford

Choose Your Own Adventure series: I chose Through the Black Hole #97 & The Deadly Shadow #46. They've got updated versions in stores, but the classic ones have better illustrations & writing.

John Bellairs novels: Again, I bought these used. Newer versions lack the Edward Gorey illustrations (check out the full gallery). 

Read 'em or weep, little bro.

Other books he'll get eventually: The Lightning Thief, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, & The Graveyard Book. We've also had success with the Demonata & Cirque Du Freak series, plus S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders.

*and a few video games

DIY Links: Baby Shoes, Felt & Knit

Two sweet patterns:

• Uniform Studio has a free pattern for knit baby shoes (via Craft).

• Also, Martha Stewart has instructions for felt baby booties.

For more ideas, see our D.I.Y. Betty category.

Kid Stuff: Hip Shoes, Plush Monkeys, & A Yellow Submarine

Just three well-designed kid finds this week:

• Smith Sneakers, $44.95, Vincent (via swissmiss).
• Caps For Sale (book plus stuffed monkey with 3 caps), $24.95, Castlemere Books (via BB-Blog).
• Yellow Submarine Bath Radio, $34.00, Plasticland (via Awesome).

See our full Kid Stuff category for more finds.

Etsy Finds: Kids

This week, a themed set of Etsy Finds for kids (this will also count for our Kid Stuff post of the week).  From left-to-right, row by row, here's the sample buy pictured above, its price, & the seller:

• Jewels the Giraffe, $18.00, Finnfactor Design.
• Crayon Keeper, $8.00, Dine & Doodles.
• Retro Zoo Blues Big Baby Bib (sold, but many others available), $12.00, Pearly Grey.

• Organic Hooded Cardigan, $89.00, Shescrafty Handknits.  She also sells patterns, and well-priced bonnets.
• Handcrafted Wooden Toy Airplane, $18.95, Stump Pond Toys.
• Duck With Baby Duckling Wood Puzzle, $12.95, USNavyRetiredVet.

• Red & Leopard Skin Pixie Boots, $10.00, Joli Bebe.
• Green Gingham Lunch Bag, $12.00, Whimsy Wendy.  She also does great tutus and princess hats.
• Abstract Fruit Dress, $46.00, Kinchi.  Recipient of much blog love, for good reason.

• Felted High Top Baby Shoes, $27.00, The Clever Kitty.
• Choo-Choo Onesie, $18.00, Beebee Mod.  I love these--so many adorable designs.
• Valentine Red Fairy Tale Tutu, $25.00, AngelBabyBoutique.

Last, but not least, 5 previously featured sellers:

Just seller names and store links, as items may have sold out:

• While She Naps.
• Uniform Studio.
• Bug n' Belle Baby Boutique.

• Alissa's Creations.
• Cascade Lemonade.

Finally, check out our full set of Etsy Finds for more great sellers.

Kid Stuff: Fantasy Building Blocks, U.S. Map Puzzle, & Cutting Food Set

We promised links and finds, so here are three well-designed toys:

• Castle Building Blocks (133 pieces), $139.00,  Peter Dziulak at Mahar Drygoods.  The most beautiful building block set I have ever seen.
• Cutting Food Wood Set in a Box, $19.95, Oliebollen.com.  Great idea, although some kids will turn the little parts into projectiles (or eat them).  Know your child.
• My USA Puzzle Map, $45.00, Spoon Sisters.  I love soft puzzles (they also have one for the solar system, with Pluto *sniff*).  I also like how Maine, Vermont, etc. are just one big orange blob; being from the South, that's how I think of them too.

For more kid-related finds, see our Kid Stuff category.

Introducing Kid Stuff

Above is a Miro puzzle from the Reina Sofia museum shop.  Some parts are too small (turning it upside down to scan was a nightmare), but I love the look.

Recently, a reader mentioned that she had kids.  I was surprised--She's A Betty started off as a single girl guide, and I always thought of it as a blog for younger women without children.

So when the reader mentioned being a mom, I started thinking (always a good thing).  For a childless (childfree?) woman, I have plenty of children in my life--6 cousins under age 10 and a brother in middle school.  Let's face it: children are everywhere.

Therefore, I've added a category called "Kid Stuff," featuring kid-focused products and links.  First up, links to some favorite kid/mom blogs:

• Parent Hacks (irreplaceable resource by parents, for parents)
• Junior Society (new retro blog from the Mahar Drygoods people)
• Swissmiss
  
• Apartment Therapy: The Nursery
• Mod*Mom
• Kiddley (currently on break, but the archives are great)
• Vegan Lunch Box (go through pre-July 2006 archives for sample lunch boxes)
• Gastrokid

Got other favorites?  Tell us about them in comments.