Lucky Charms
By Audrey Kim
What’s a better way to give a shout out to loved ones than to simply wear your heart on your sleeve? Okay, so not always your sleeve… but around your neck or wrist with One of a Kind jewelry is just as sweet. www.oneofakind-customjewelry.com.
Los Angeles-based jewelry company, One of a Kind, was founded in 2005 by Reve and Moran. Yeah that’s right, no last names. And they’re cool enough to get away with it. As dynamic women, mothers, and artists, Reve and Moran center their designs around the philosophy that jewelry has the power to make a statement, and their delicate and understated pieces resonate personally to each and every person who wears One of a Kind - making it a one-of-a-kind treasure.

When Moran got pregnant with her first child, Reve set out to design a special piece for her, and thus was born the Tree of Life. The image of a flourishing tree adorns the circular charm, with a subtle glitter in the form of a tiny diamond on the side. Hebrew letters add to the mysticism and spirituality of the amulet. With many significant values, such as life, growth, and prosperity, the Tree of Life is an especially meaningful charm for mothers.

For you metro mamas looking for a message in a bracelet, One of a Kind has just what you need to get through the day. While your kids are running around and driving you crazy, look to these bracelets that remind you to “go slow” and take a second to “live, laugh, love.”
One of a Kind is also perfect for all the stylish mamas out there who always look chic while juggling the crazy life of raising children. The effortlessly fashionable jewelry is beautiful when worn individually, and remarkably chic when layered; the special pieces are truly versatile, easily translating into any style.

For your adorable little metro baby, check out these charming Lucky Foot Charms. The delicate foot charms around a pretty ribbon are sure to send well wishes and good fortune your baby’s way.
In this increasingly superficial world we live in, One of a Kind upholds genuine influences of spirituality, nature, and beauty. At the core of each design is a strength and energy that exudes life through art. And for all you Hollywood fanatics out there, One of a Kind (www.shopkitson.com) is also a celebrity favorite, with fans including Nicole Richie, Vanessa Hudgens, Hilary Duff, Nicky Hilton, Eva Mendez, and La Lohan herself.
All Hail Dads and Grads
By Bonnie Kimberly Taylor
Fathers and Graduates deserve to revel in their day of honor, since all have worked hard to create a better future. Here are a few gift suggestions to show your love for the special achiever in your life:

Anyone will appreciate the Humanscale Foot Machine after a long day of toiling at work. Made of sturdy wood with rolling balls for massaging, the foot machine can easily fit under any chair for a relaxing foot massage. It’s easy to store and built strong so it can be used for years to come. Order it at www.CSNstores.com. Dad’s bone-tired dogs will thank you. Add a pair of soothing Magnetic Reflexology Insoles from Gaiam, and your loved one’s every step throughout the day will be comfortable. Find them, and other pampering products, at www.gaiam.com.

Jpg Earrings here
Gaiam.com also offers jewelry, so if the proud graduate you know loves pearls, the Sterling Silver Pearl Earrings are elegant and delicate enough to be worn on both formal and informal occasions – she’ll treasure them! Visit www.gaiam.com.

Dads will love the laptop and messenger bags at eBags.com. High quality and stylish, the bags on this site are remarkably diverse and organized by gender and type of bag. Choose a bag that fits your father’s style and needs, or give the graduate you know her first briefcase. Browse the hundreds of styles at www.ebags.com.
Barefoot in the Park
By Bonnie Kimberly Taylor
June is the ideal month for barefoot picnics and shoofly pie, so pack up your basket and kick off your shoes. With that sunny mission in mind, here are some grass-and-blanket necessities to sweeten any al fresco feast.

Pack as much thirst-quenching Gold Peak Tea as you can tote in your Picnic Time Somerset Deluxe Picnic Basket. Check the bulletin board at www.goldpeaktea.com and order a batch in unsweetened, sweetened, green, lemon and diet for a classic iced tea taste that will complement an old-fashioned picnic. The Somerset Deluxe willow basket comes with a fleece blanket, cheese board, corkscrew, plates, salt and pepper shakers, real silverware, blanket, wine glasses and food containers. All you need to supply is the pie and rosemary-pinenut chicken salad; www.comfortchannel.com.

No picnic or child’s lunch box would be complete without a healthy Snikiddy Snack. Choose between the gluten-free Organic Cheese Puffs or an assortment of home-style cookies. Made from family recipes, these snacks are devoid of fattening corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives — they’re as natural as the grass under your blanket (www.snikiddy.com). Another healthy choice is the Mary’s Gone Crackers snack packs, which are free of oils, trans-fats, sugar and dairy. These crispy gluten-free crackers have a nutty flavor that pairs well with cheese. Fashioned from all organic ingredients, including brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds and sesame seeds, these crackers offer protein, fiber and omega-3s for guilt-free chomping (www.marysgonecrackers.com).

While the kids are enjoying their grape juice, parents can savor grapes from down under with Jacob Creek Australian wines. The Jacob Creek Reserve Pinot Noir and reserve Riesling are both fruit-driven flavors that will complement any picnic fare. Stoneleigh’s Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay from New Zealand is another light, refreshing choice, and it pairs well with seafood, so bring jumbo shrimp and horseradish sauce. Ask for them at your local wine shop and visit www.jacobscreek.com.

For many, no special day would be complete without fine chocolate, and John & Kira’s Chocolates are as fine as chocolate can be. The Ladybugs, Garden Mint, Lavender-Honey, Glenn’s Strawberry and Glenn’s Raspberry flavors are each chocolate odes to nature, and the Mut Vitz Coffee Whiskey, lemongrass, bergamot, pistachio and Starry Night bon-bons deliver flavorful exotica. Find them all at www.johnandkiras.com, and keep John & Kira Chocolates in mind for graduates and Father’s Day; they arrive sweetly in a wood box with ribbon and wax seal.
An organic, moisturizing hand sanitizer that’s gentle on the skin and effective sounds like a parent’s dream come true. Surya Brasil’s Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer includes the Brazilian plant ingredients aloe, jua, acai, and vitamin E to protect little hands and preserve older ones. Stash them in the picnic basket, and find them at www.suryacosmetics.com.
You’ll need wipes after your picnic (and summer barbecues or days in the sandbox), so take along Cucumber-Mint Cleansing Hand Wipes from Katie Brown’s Hand Care line. You can purchase them by the box or case and they’re incredibly refreshing and disposable. If you want to peruse a catalog or purchase a product, visit sales@companion-group.com.
A day outside with children often includes scraped knees and band-aids, so use the same blood-stopping technology the U.S. Army harnesses with KytoStat Bandages. KytoStat actually stops persistent bleeding while sealing and protecting a scrape. The secret to this brand’s effectiveness is Chitosan, a naturally occurring compound found in shrimp shells. Find these band-aids at www.drugstore.com or visit wherebleedingstops.com/AboutKytoStat.aspx.
June offers many reasons to frolic – so go pack your picnic bags!
Here’s Looking At You, KidO
By Bonnie Kimberly Taylor

KidO is not a typo, it’s a great children’s toy store in the West Village. Owned by architect and mother of three boys, Lisa Maher, the store has an open, modern Danish feel. Each item in the store seems to have been meticulously chosen by Maher for its clean lines, inventiveness, usefulness and aesthetic appeal. Parents who want natural, timeless toys for their tots will love KidO’s stock of wood pull toys, cranes, jeeps, trucks, sailboats, play food items, building blocks, mobiles, instruments, large dollhouses, and rocking toys. Thick doodle books and artfully illustrated books that parents will also enjoy line the east wall near the register, and the store sells an array of items from small an inexpensive for goody bags to large and pricey for major gifts.

Maher set out to stock her store with items that stimulate children and enhance their lives, and she succeeded. One of the most intriguing items in the store is a thick “Birds of the World” book that is a collection of beautiful birdcalls for the hundreds of birds listed in the book. Press the number for the bird listed on the page and listen — you can hear its unique song. The furniture and pillows for play rooms are artful, and the Italian art supplies are impressive. You can also buy a children’s portable light box here, as well as numerous other items for infants, toddlers, preschool kids and older children.
You’ll want to spend a lot of time here, so give yourself ample time to browse and play. KidO is located on at 123 West 10th Street near Greenwich Avenue, 212-366-kido; you can also browse at www.kidonyc.com.



