Little Citizens hoodie

We are thrilled to announce our annual online event contributing proceeds from sales made on www.teacollection.com to benefit our partner, The Global Fund for Children (www.globalfundforchildren.org) – an organization that works to advance the dignity of vulnerable children and youth by supporting and strengthening grass root groups and harnessing the power of books, films, and photography.

The three day event with be November 4th, 5th, and 6th.  Tea Collection will donate 15% of all sales of children’s clothing from its website to GFC.

Tea Collection also offers exclusively designed tee’s, bodysuits, and a new shoulder bag in which 50% of the proceeds from these items are donated to the GFC.

We thought it would be fun to share some trends that we have seen in children’s special occasion clothes this holiday season.

Festive outfits that can be worn beyond the holiday season – Parents are seeking special occasion outfits for their children this holiday season; however they are looking for styles that are not the traditional red and green.  Especially in the current economic climate, it is important the pieces could also work for a birthday party, a nice dinner, or any other special occasion that requires a dressier outfit.  Tea’s holiday dresses are perfect – they offer extraordinary elegance and style that can be worn for special occasions any time of the year.

East Meets West

East Meets West – East meets West fusion styling has been essential to this fall’s fashions and is also showing up on runways in Spring/Summer 2010 collections.  Inspired by the ancient Japanese practice, Shinto Traditions are fashions for children up to size 8 that incorporates kimono inspired styling and symbolic prints.  The Shippo Woven Shirt is a modern printed shirt with contrast cuff with a pattern that represents the “seven treasure” in Buddhism.

Relaxed, yet refined holiday fashions - Children love to be comfortable, so it is important to find holiday outfits that are special yet practical for day parties or running around at grandma’s house.  The Meiji Floral printed french terry dress will be well suited until spring with its sporty attitude and floral femininty, perfect for signature Tea

layering with Purity tees and leggings (layering is another trend).  For boys, the Satori Stripe Sweater offer luxe comfort in pimo cotton with sporty styling, paired with the Wabi Cargo pant; he will be ready for any occasion.

Our tagline at Tea is “for little citizens of the world”, which has been our inspiration from the start. We want to bring the beauty found in cultures around the world into the lives and homes of families in our own backyard. It helps us remember that we are all more alike than we are different.

With that in mind, we would like to invite our customers, fans and the TwitterMoms community to participate in our ‘Little Citizens of the World’ contest!

The Rules

Please read carefully as all are required in order to enter!

1)    Write a post about what you and/or your children think it means to be a “Little Citizen of the World”. Feel free to post pictures or tell a story that illustrates the “Little Citizens of the World” concept.

2)    Link back to http://www.teacollection.com within the post, using either “children’s clothes” or “children’s clothing” as the link text.

3)    Return to this page and in the comments field below let us know you entered with a comment and link to your post.

The Prizes

Winners will receive TeaCollection.com gift certificates in the following amounts:

• 1^st Place: $500
• 2^nd Place: $200
• 3^rd Place: $100

All three winners will also receive the “Be My Neighbor Book”, a Little Citizens Hoodie in the size/color of their choosing, and a mention and link back to their post on the Tea blog!

We will make our selection on November 20^th and announce the winners on November 24^th.

To show our own support for the Little Citizens of the World, we will also be donating 15% of ALL sales to the Global Fund for Children from November 4 through November 6. The Global Fund for Children reaches the most vulnerable children and youth worldwide by investing in grassroots initiatives in 72 countries. With a focus on education, health, safety, and enterprise, their support addresses the most critical areas needed for children to reach their full potential.

Please feel free to share this contest with any friends that you think might be interested.

You must have a personal blog and be over 18 to enter.

There was recently alot of buzz at the school over International Peace Day, and the elementary grades participated in Pinwheels for Peace.

The campus of school was colorful and the breeze nicely complimented the mission of the day … pinwheels galore were spinning and whirling

The Pinwheels for Peace folks estimate that over 3 million pinwheels were spinning around the world on September 21st.  Cool!

Near the middle school and high school part of the complex, these banners were also displayed.

I may not be the most adventurous eater around, but I have come a long way from my childhood when I thought that iceberg lettuce was exotic and that potato pancakes were the height of ethnic cuisine.  In Bratislava, I have blindly ordered from a menu written in Slovakian only to be presented with a dish that might have been goose liver or honestly could have come from any other related species. I’ve smiled politely while dining at a Korean professor’s home and happily munched on whatever delicacy he presented. While I may not seek out the most outlandish dishes that various cuisines have to offer, I’m not dining on pot roast and potatoes every night either.

My four year old son, however, has recently shown me up. On a recent trip to Baltimore the whole family sat down for a late lunch outside on a sunny afternoon. While the adults dined tapas-style, the children grazed on their grilled cheese sandwiches and fruit. Suddenly my son looked up from his plate, pointed across the table, and exclaimed, “What are those shells doing over in that??”

Calmly, his grandmother responded that that was paella and those shells were actually mussels that you could eat. Disbelieving, my son reached for a mussel and looked inside the ridged dark shell. My heart stopped and my eyes bulged out when my mother-in-law explained how to eat mussels, and my son deliberately put one in his mouth, began to chew, and ate it.

Clearly, I have been underestimating my son. While I know that given enough exposure to different foods children will eat almost anything, I have never seen my son so deliberately choose to try something new and to stretch himself. You couldn’t pay me enough to pop a mussel into my mouth, and here is my young son tossing one back like it was no big deal and then telling everyone that it was truly delicious. I am in awe of his spirit.

Back at home and preparing his uninspired breakfasts and his lackluster dinners, I am reminded of this lunch in Baltimore when my son proved to me that at the tender age of four he is capable of so much more than I suspect. His palate is not yet locked; his destiny is far from written. Given a little encouragement and opportunity, he will continue to surprise and amaze us with what new snacks he might munch on and with what wild, new adventures he might choose to embark on. Not only is it time to start sharing my curry dishes or my husband’s favorite okra and tomatoes with him, but it’s time to start challenging myself and moving out of my comfort zone just like my son is.

Tea Collection has introduced a new collection of sleepwear for little citizens.

The baby pajamas and kids pajama sets are currently available online and in boutiques across the country. The collection of boy’s pajamas and girl’s pajamas is made of close-fitting, luxurious Pima cotton that is brushed inside for extra softness. The cozy knit rib on these pjs will make bedtime your child’s favorite hour. Available in five inspired prints in sizes 6 months to 6 years.

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One thing I love about being a mom, I admit, is all the fun stuff I get to do with my son. I am one of those parents that likes to play with all the kids’ toys, likes to go to the zoo, kids’ museums, and so on. Part of it is probably because growing up, we didn’t really have the same types of toys and places to go to; certainly, I didn’t play with things like drums or even a lot of play dough. (I had a lot of dolls to play with, mostly hand me downs or toys I shared with my older sister).

One activity that I love and find super therapeutic is making and playing with homemade playdough.  I found this online recipe through a friend and have been making batched since my son was around 1 year old.

When I say therapeutic, I do mean it.  The squishy material is soothing for harried souls, and that includes adults and children.  People often say that babies and tots have it easy; everything is done for them, they can sleep whenever they want, they have no worries, etc.  But I think children actually go through a lot, from small to big changes that they are not in control of.  So for whatever it’s worth, some play dough,  I think, is relaxing for the child too.

Our play dough play has changed over time. Before, we’d just make balls of colored dough. Then we would “cook” stuff like pretzels, bread, hot dogs (which is funny, because he’s never had a hot dog), etc. Then my son really got into statues, so I would make Buddha (is that sacrilegious?), lucky cats, dogs, and other figures from play dough. Nowadays I give him a muffin pan and he makes muffins, cupcakes or mooncakes. We don’t even have the plastic gear that kids often use with play dough, like the noodle maker and cookie cutters or things like that, though I should invest in some.

The options are endless, really. When we have our adult friends over, I usually give them some dough to see what they end up making; it’s actually an interesting experiment to see what people come up with, and how creative they get! It really brings out the inner child in all of us, I think, and is a soothing activity, to boot.

What are some other simple and fun activities that you do with your child at home?

mini filipino macaroons

I’ve never considered myself a good cook and we’ve eaten our fair share of take-out and processed foods cooked at home. But lately, I’ve had a recent resurgence of domestication – almost to the point of obsession. I believe I can attribute this plight to the economic recession. I’m trying to save money on food so I can enjoy my other indulgences. Read: dressing my girls in designer and boutique threads that look simply adorable on them. During my quest I have found long lost family recipes – delicious snacks and treats that I enjoyed as a little one.

My recent find is a moist, sweet, and “slightly nutritional” treat that I can’t keep my girls’ hands off. They are so easy and quick to whip up – not to mention they provide a great way to administer fiber in your little one’s diet.

Filipino mini macaroons

14 oz. of shredded coconut

14 oz. can condensed milk

½ tsp vanilla extract

½ cup butter

½ cup light brown sugar

3 eggs

mini-muffin/cupcake papers

mini-muffin pan

Leave butter and eggs out at room temperature for approximately one hour.

Set oven to 350 degrees F.

Once butter has softened add it to mixing bowl and cream it by gradually adding sugar until blended. Then add vanilla extract, eggs and condensed milk. Mix all ingredients well. Once mixed, add coconut and stir into mixture using a spatula. Once all ingredients are incorporated spoon into mini muffin cups and bake for approx. 15 – 20 minutes until they are slightly golden brown on top. Enjoy.

Thank you to everyone who entered our Preschool Essentials Sweepstakes. We loved reading all of your favorite preschool memories.  Music, reading, and arts and crafts, especially finger painting, were beloved activities.  Nap time and snack time were also highlights in a preschooler’s day.  Meeting new friends, some lifelong, was a cherished memory for many.  Preschool clothes – selecting that perfect outfit was a weekly / nightly activity.  Tears, from both parent and child (not always at the same time), were also a re-occurring theme among the memories.

After reading hundreds of preschool memories, here are some of our favorites and a true testament that children do say the darnedest things!

Our Favorite Preschool  Memories (as shared and in no particular order):

Me crying and my son saying to me “don’t cry you can come pick me up in a couple of hours” – Alejandra

Our son was so excited about his first day at preschool. I picked him up at 12 and asked him how he liked his first day. He told me that first they told each other their names. Then they finger painted a picture, had some milk and cookies and then went outside. He looked at me and said “mommy, I didn’t know school would be so hard, I’m ready for a nap!” – Laura

On Hannah’s first day of preschool, both mommies and preschoolers went together for an hour.  On the second day of school the preschoolers went by themselves for an hour.  I told my daughter Hannah that Mommy would be going with her on the first day but on her next day of school she would be going by herself.  Hannah’s reply was, “But I can’t drive the car by myself.”  It was so funny! – Jen

Leaving on Tuesday, her teacher said, “See you Thursday!”  She looks at me, and says… “They think I’m coming back.” And giggles. – Leslie

I remember my son coming home from kindergarten class.  He told me he was the teacher’s pet.  He had been crawling on the floor and she had asked him if he thought he was a pet. – Doris

First day of school, I was so sad.  And as the tears silently rolled down by face, my then 5 year old reached over and patted me on the shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, it’s just school.  I will be here all day and I will be waiting for you right here at the end of the day, Ok?”  – R. Cherie

My favorite memory is actually mine. Before we had snack we had to thank God for something. I would always thank God for toys. The teachers told me I had to pick something else like my family. I then thanked God the next day for my parents for buying me toys. Then they told me I had to say something else so I thanked God for money because that let my parents buy me toys. When my mom picked me up I asked her what incorrigible means. – Danielle

I went to preschool with one of my best friends.  He was always biting the other kids.  When our moms would pick us up each day I would promptly tell them, “Scott only bit 2 kids today!”  Good times! – Jill

Although few memories of my preschool days still exist, the most vivid are of days on the playground with a friendly boy who would one day become my husband.  – Lindsey

My mom tells the story of coming to get me after my first day of preschool and finding me out in the hallway in my cot.  The teachers didn’t know what to do because I wouldn’t go to sleep and kept singing “you are my sunshine” and they didn’t want me to disturb the other kids. -  Kim

Now you can welcome fall’s cooler weather with our new Autumn Light collection.  Check out the touchable textures and cozy layers in our newest inspired delivery!