On March 24th David Suzuki celebrated his 75th birthday. Can you believe it?  To mark the occasion Playlist for the Planet was released on iTunes and in stores across Canada. As well, a collection of organic cotton onesies and tees was created.

dandelion KIDS is taking action and is thrilled to support this cause and are donating $5 from every Playlist onesie and tee sold to Davids Foundation.

These brightly coloured and funky onesies and tees are made with 100% certified organic cotton fibres. In fact, the entire production is SKAL-certified. Designed for easy on-and-off (envelope neckline). Dyed with non-toxic azo-free dyes, durable double-stitched bottom hem and nickel-free snaps.  Colours available : dragonfly, yummy berry & green apple.

Related Info: Check out the Playlist for the Planet on iTunes. The Playlist features some of Canada’s finest songwriters and performers, including Joel Plaskett, Bruce Cockburn, K-OS and Sebastian Granger, Gordon Lightfoot, Randy Bachman , Todd Butler, Hayley Sales, Alpha Yaya Diallo, DOA, Tom Jackson, Johnny Reid, Raffi, LIGHTS, Jessie Farrell, Rush, the Trews, Tara Grand, Great Big Sea, and Tanya Tagaq. Proceeds from the Playlist for the Planet go to the David Suzuki Foundation.

Our lovely staff member, Elin, has a great pair of TOMS shoes. After we all commented on how stylish they were, she told us about their One for One campaign of donating one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair they sold. With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One.  No brainer.

So, Tom’s Shoes are not only stylish and comfortable but really forward-thinking and noble in their business practice, too?  Sounded like something we would love to support!

We are pleased to announce Tom’s Shoes in children’s sizes are available at dandelion KIDS this spring!  We just got a shipment and they are moving fast.  If we don’t have your size left don’t worry we will be receiving more in May.  Email, call us or see us in person and we will happily take your order.

BUY ONLINE

Here’s a little more info about Tom’s:

In 2006, American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

Why Shoes?

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:
•A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
•Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.
•Many times children can’t attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don’t have shoes, they don’t go to school. If they don’t receive an education, they don’t have the opportunity to realize their potential.

Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what TOMS is all about. The TOMS mission transforms customers into benefactors, which allows TOMS to grow a truly sustainable business rather than depending on fundraising for support.

As of September 2010, TOMS has given over one million pairs of new shoes to children in need through Giving Partners around the world.

Introducing the Howard by Native Shoes from Native Shoes on Vimeo.

Such a silly, funny little film. When opportunity knocks loudest, say inviting a sea nymph aboard, it never hurts to have a pair of Native’s at the ready and make them Howards. Frisky polkadots, ocean magic, and sunny nothings. The Howard, keep it lite.

We are so excited to have our first batch of kids Native Shoes in store now! How completely cute and practical all at once! Native shoes come in bright crayon colours with great styling riffing on iconic sneaker silhouettes like Vans or Converse. Best of all, they are lightweight, anti-microbial, durable and super easy to put on. Perfect for the park, for preschool, for the beach plus they’re from our home town, Vancouver! What’s not to love?

You can even throw them in the dishwasher!

Available in sizes 2-Junior 4.

Bilibo. It’s a magic imagination toy. Offered in 6 bright, beautiful colours in a hard-wearing shell shape. Kids LOVE these!

Parents are quick to ask “What is it?” when they see Bilibos in dandelion KIDS …so we just let kids tell the story …”Oh, I see, they can be ANYTHING!”

A Hat?

Sit and spin using legs, helping to develop leg strength and coordination.

Sit and rock in it, helping to build core strength and balance.

Turn it over and stand on top, helping to develop balance and core strength.

Eat your popcorn out of it!

The shells are also used in physiotherapy to stimulate the vestibular and proprioceptive  (perception of movement) systems.

I have to admit that I’m a full-blown National Geographic nut. I was flipping through some magazines the other day and came across the October 2009 issue. The cover story is about the Redwoods of Northern California “The Tallest Trees“, and the cover is absolutely brilliant (click the thumbnail to see it larger). I have to admit I think it’s pretty brave for a magazine to almost completely cover the magazine’s logo, and they put the redwood tree front and centre on this issue.

This cover story had me captivated, and I visited the National Geographic website right away, and came across the above video with some behind-the-scenes footage and info of how they shot the photo of this huge tree. Pretty incredible! You can see the full photo of tree here (on the right, click to see it huge – check out how small the men are in the red jackets), and see how they stitched all the dozens of photos together to make the beautiful fold out poster that comes with the issue.

Click here to see the full story on the National Geographic website.

On April 31, 2008 the television show received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling. Although “Yo Gabba Gabba” was created as a show for young children, it has slowly become a sensation among college students and even some parents who are entertained by its retro/indie style, bright colours, simplicity, and entertaining music from many of the popular bands featured on the show.

There will be 4 shows at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, September 11 & 12, 2010. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at TicketMaster!

The Strider Bikes staff take a few ‘mildly modified’ Strider PREbike balance bikes running some of the downhill mountain bike trails on M Hill in Rapid City, SD. The video definitely shows how durable the frame is when a bunch of grown men can come down through this rough terrain and even land some jumps on the footrests. Enjoy the video…

You can see their full post on the Strider website here.

Ah nostalgia. If you were a 70′s baby you will remember these little chipmunks.  A classic Disney video featuring Pluto and the chipmunks (Chip & Dale) to share with your children. Enjoy!

ABC3D Pop-up Book by Marion Bataille

Although the subject matter fits squarely in with the toddler set, the detail of the paper craft and the innovation of this pop-up book make it a great addition to any design collection or stack of books on the coffee table.

From the lenticular cover all the way through to Z, this book is a work of art. In a stark palette of black, white and red, the letters move and change before your eyes. C flips to become D, K kicks out its legs, a dash turns O and P into Q and R, the U is created with a delicate paper bridge and V mirrors itself to become W.

The ABC3D book is available in store now, and coming to our online store soon.

This timelapse video from the past weekend (July 25th) has been making the rounds on the internet – and we though we’d share it one more time in case you missed it.

This KatKam.ca camera captures the scene across the Burrard Street Bridge every 5 minutes, and on this day the weather turned wild. Vancouver started with a beautiful sunny day, collapsing into a rain storm, then had one of the most majestic red sky sunsets ending just before the HSBC Fireworks finished off the night. Amazing.

It’s great to see how lucky we are to live where we do.