We celebrated Ellis' 1st Birthday with our friends and family at a wonderful Reggio Emilia inspired play space here in Connecticut called Mimmo.

"The Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education views young children as individuals who are curious about their world and have the powerful potential to learn from all that surrounds them."

Mimmo has so much to offer parents and children alike. There are classes daily and special events happening weekly. They have a sunlit cafe adjacent to the class area where parents can feel comfortable chatting with other parents or just take a moment to breathe. It's so much more than a children's play space and it's an amazing addition to the Farmington Valley area.

In addition to classes and events, Mimmo offers customized Birthday parties. The owner, Heather, will do as much or as little as you want depending on how involved the parents like to be. We opted to have her VERY involved, which made life a little easier for everyone! We are so excited to share the photos from Ellis' special day.

Ellis' outfit was made custom for him by Three Turtles Studio

Sensory play dough favors made by Splendido.

Photography was done by S. Dos Santos (it's a total game changer to not worry about snapping photos the entire time and actually enjoy your child's Birthday!)

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate our little guy's big day! xx

We are so excited to introduce the beautiful new collection of Little Nomad play mats called the Adilah collection. We've asked artist Sophia Vincent Guy to give us a few tid bits of how she created this beautiful new design.

"The Adilah Collection was inspired by the multitude of Moroccan style rugs we were seeing all around us.  I sat down one morning at a beach cafe near my house and started doodling with my favorite ink brush pen.  I drew a long strip of experimental lines and dots and squiggles trying to evoke the feeling of those rugs.  I then proceeded to draw page after page of ink line work combinations (and some rabbits wearing silly hats) only to come back around to that first strip.  Adilah was truly born on a Mediterranean beach with the sun on my back and the salt air at the tip of my nose."

The new collection comes in four different colors - Boho Dream, Tide Pool, Skipping Stone, and Moroccan Sunset.  Each has the vibe of a hand-knit rug that will instantly transform your play space. We are so thankful to Sophia for her vision. She creates such beautiful designs that grace the homes of all our LN Tribe members.

Here's Sophia and her family in Israel 👋🏼

Tis the season for gifting and so we've gathered some of our very favorite gift ideas for little ones this year to share with you all. Some of these items are on our very own shopping lists if we don't already have them!

1) Craft Box

Made Modern makes so many awesome craft kits but I love this one that leaves it up to the kids to create whatever they want. My kids have had one box for what feels like ages and are still using it to create their masterpieces. Perfect for a rainy or cold day inside.

2) Kid Sized Broom

My children love to help me clean. Why not display this beautiful broom to encourage them to help sweep up crumbs after dinner?

3) Bug Sticker Book

For the insect lover in your life! I'm always looking for new sticker books. I love this one because it teachers children about the bugs and their environments.

4) Tassel Pom Bonnet

I have a soft spot for bonnets and there is no question this little beauty will be making it's way onto the head of my two year old this Winter!

5) Glow in the Dark Fort Kit

Is anyone as tired and I am of their entire living room being torn apart to create massive forts? This is the perfect solution to create some awesome forts! I love that it glows in the dark as well.

6) Personalized Tea Set

I love the idea of children learning to sit properly and share food and drinks at an early age. I think it makes them feel special and there's nothing more beautiful than a hand painted set to keep for years to come.

7) Fisherman Dress Up 

While I will admit that my Son loves a great princess dress and tutu for the dance party his big Sister coordinates on a nightly basis, he is often looking for other fun things to dress up. I love the creativity of this fisherman outfit.

8) Bath Buckets

We are on a constant rotation of bath toys in our house because they usually get moldy from sitting in the bath bin and need to be tossed. These bath buckets stay clean and are fun for babies and little kids!

9) Pretend Cash Register

Playing store is a regular occurrence in our house (with children ages 2-6) and I love the look of this cash register. It is both colorful and fun without being obnoxious.

10) Hazel Village Doll

All the Hazel Village dolls are beautifully made and each comes with their own personality to fit each child. There are clothing and accessories that are each more special than the next. 

11) Umbrella

The novelty of the umbrella never gets old. I love this umbrella and possibly pairing with a good set of wellies!?

12) Ice Cream Teether

My daughter had this teether as a baby and it was one of her favorites! I love how sweet it is and the shape made it super easy for her to hold as a young baby.

13) Mini Instant Camera

My children are obsessed with taking photos (there are several people to blame for this, including me.) Why not give them their own cameras to take photos?

14) Big Bashful Unicorn

I admittedly have an obsession with everything Jellycat. It's the only stuffed animal that will never be tossed/given away in my house. This giant Unicorn is for the child who is unicorn obsessed!

15) Lincoln Logs

I still remember building Lincoln Logs as a kid and I'm so happy they've become popular again. There is nothing more fun than building as a kid and I envision a large log cabin will be built to house many dolls in my future!

16) National Geographic Subscription

We have a subscription to National Geographic Kids and it is one of the most exciting mail days when it comes. We pull out the little cards inside and learn all about that months animals. A subscription would make a wonderful gift to any child + parent who doesn't need any more toys!

17) Giant Coloring Poster

For the kids who love to color (who doesn't!?) This giant coloring poster will keep kids of all ages coloring for days.

18) Remote Controlled Car

My Son saw this and wanted it immediately. It's durable and does some added tricks to keep the kids playing with it for hours. 

19) Stacking Rocket

To this day my children go back to the stacking toys they've had since they were babies. I love the colors of this stacking rocket. Pretty enough to display!

20) Sticker Kaleidoscope

I am obsessed with these sticker kaleidoscope pages. They are currently a favorite of my six year old. I bring them with me to our meals out at restaurants and when she's done they are the most beautiful pieces of art to display at home.

21) Toy Car

There is no question that most families with little kids have their fair collection of vehicles but I love the look of this one. I imagine this one looking pretty on a shelf in a nursery as well!

22) Winter Themed Loose Parts Box

This Etsy shop is one of my favorites. I love this Winter loose parts box. It is the perfect mix of activity, textures and treasures for hours of creative play. 

23) Wobbel Board

This Wobbel board caught my attention months ago and is currently waiting to be wrapped for a certain little boy. I love how beautiful it is and how many uses it has. I encourage you to visit their website to see the video. It is part balance board, chair, stool or whatever else your little one can imagine.

We're celebrating our two year anniversary this week! It seems like only yesterday that Little Nomad was born when 762 awesome mamas backed our Roam Free play mats on Kickstarter. We raised over $100k in 30 days! Since then, our community has grown to thousands and we were even featured on Shark Tank.

Thank you so much for being a part of the journey. We've been so grateful to find other moms who are just as excited to create an amazing play space for their little nomad without turning their home into a circus.

We wanted to feature a few special supporters from our very earliest days in today's post:

Courtney, Owner of T'Nees was and still is a huge supporter. Not only does she love her LN mat but she has always shared her expertise in the business and is a true example of women bringing up other women. We've loved getting a chance to work with people like Courtney.

Rachel is one of our very first kickstarter backers. She first connected with founder, Elizabeth, through Instagram right before the Kickstarter began. They both had little girls around the same age and they were both named Talia/Taliah, resulting in an instant soul-sister connection. Rachel says

"not only did the play mat immediately grab my attention with the color but the print was gorgeous! When my mat arrived around the holidays before my daughter was one, it was perfect timing - my whole family was in awe at the quality and look of it!"

Another one of of very first backers is Laura. Laura shared with us what made her fall in love with Little Nomad:

"The LN mats were everything I was looking for: it looks like a gorgeous rug, and yet is padded and safe for my kids to play. No one who enters my apartment knows its a foam mat, but rather it looks like a proper, sophisticated rug."

Here at Little Nomad we appreciate each and every customer. We love that we get a chance to be in your homes and a part of making some of your very first memories with your babies. Thank you for continuing to share your stories with us and be a part of our LN Tribe.

But it's not going to stop with just play mats...We understand when your little one is tucked in bed after a full day, you want to relax into a sea of calm - not in an ocean of chaos. Which is why we wanted to do more, and what's inspired our new mission:

To this end, we've been carefully selecting fun wooden toys, beautiful decor, and functional-yet-chic storage solutions handpicked from brands that share our values. Our beautiful range of play gyms, toys, and storage baskets have all been tested by us. They all have the Little Nomad stamp of approval for making mama and child happy.

Thank you for helping us celebrate these amazing two years!

With love,

The Little Nomad team

We are SO excited to be featuring a nursery created by one of our favorite LN Mama's, Addie Gundry. Addie's original post can be found here. She shares some background and her vision with us below.

"Our little nursery started out quite simple. When I was pregnant I began with all things light and airy, very neutral, and super sweet. Our house is very neutral and so I tend to design in that direction. My favorite color is white, which you wouldn’t guess after taking a look at Cooper’s room! I often say he brightened up my world, and that he sure did.

So like I said, I like things neutral, but this crazy thing happened. We had a baby, we met him, and he was spectacularly wild! Cooper James was born on September 25th of 2017 and this boy has captured our hearts with his curiosity and demeanor, his continuous smile and contagious giggle. His light and innocent room wasn’t up to par with the playful boy inside. I changed my tune and wanted it to be magical, dancing with fun. I wanted animals and color, spectacular spirit, balloons and beach balls. The famous line you hear at the circus is, “Come one, come all”, and this welcome phrase reminded me of our happy boy who smiles at everyone.

Cooper greets me with a smile when I peek over his crib in the morning, beams at servers and patrons at a restaurant, laughs at Paisley, and my favorite - his ear-to-ear grin walking down the pew in church. The magic of the circus and the spectacle it creates felt like a perfect starting point for his "new" nursery decor!

WHERE TO BEGIN?

FIND INSPIRATION IN ANYTHING

Many years ago people began using the word “circus” as a metaphor for extraordinary disorder. Audiences were dazzled by constant activity, craziness so to speak, and although the circus produced a crazy show and attracted tons of people making a town chaotic, in fact the circus itself has always been tightly organized. The movement of people, animals and supplies across the country by railroad was incredibly disciplined. On multiple occasions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Army followed circuses to learn “up to date methods of moving men, animals and baggage.” What I love about this story, and what is so intriguing to me about the circus, is that something so spectacular and chaotic, can still be organized and deliberate.

I wanted to leave behind the white and peaceful nature of his nursery decor, which was lovely for the first 6 months of Cooper's life, and create patterns and colors to emulate this controlled chaos and beauty. I love the book If I Ran the Circus and something about that book and these stories I read about the "real" circus really spoke to me. Before I go on, I know that there are some issues with animal rights when it comes to the circus and to be clear, I LOVE animals and would never want an animal harmed. When I say I love the circus, I love the spirit of it, the inclusiveness of it, the magic. So. Let's move on!

PICK A COLOR AND/OR PATTERN

Find a color and/or a pattern that you love and go from there. That is what I did when I saw Pehr's circus print. Cooper’s room is quite tiny and so attempting to pack it with color could get tricky. I decided to focus on two main colors (blue and red) and fill the rest in with pattern and texture. I was immediately drawn to Pehr’s design. The elephant riding a bike really cracked me up, because I once heard, and now confirmed, that Alcohol was the vice of choice for elephants. They drank beer and wine but preferred bourbon and Tennessee whiskey when they could get it. Elephants were wild! Wild animals, check! This led me to the stuffed ones.

We received so many stuffed animal gifts and these canvas containers are perfect for holding them all. The giant giraffe was a gift from my best friend, one of the first items in Cooper’s room. The giraffe needed a friend, so along came the tiger thanks to Melissa & Doug. I wanted to keep some innocence and friendliness to the space, as these wild animals can be scary, so I added a deer! And of course they are free to roam about the room, no cages ;) Ok, I am starting to sound like a circus leader!

DIY DIY DIY! DON'T SEE COLOR!

If you find a toy, a piece of furniture, a frame, imagine what color it can be not the color it is. I became a spray painting maniac and I find that it is so much easier to decorate when you can change the colors!

From the side table and bear standing on top to the bookshelf, the elephant on the door, the diaper dresser and the frames – everything started white, black or brown and became bright and bold! I also put up the wallpaper on our accent wall and it was much easier than I thought it would be! I put up the vinyl stars above his crib. I loved being deeply part of the design by making things to fit the room.

I think my favorite DIY project is his “book shelf”. People sometimes think that the circus is a form of escapism, but in reality the circus celebrated the realities of the world. The circus was at times the first place that Americans encountered new technology and Circuses staged spectacular reenactments of current events. To me the circus is as educational as it is fun, and this reminded me of illustrated books. We have a million, and I love them. I could buy ten books a day, there are just SO many! I wanted to have buckets of books, plus a way to display some of my favorite on the wall. I knew that a shelf would be tricky, as he climbs and pulls things down, so I found this cool old “chicken coop” basket display that was brown and rusted. I knew I could nail to the wall, making it safe and practical. I of course then spray painted it red!

BE PRACTICAL

My favorite story is the tale of the white fluffy rug! Let’s just say that there is no room for a white rug at a circus! So we started out with a plush shag WHITE rug. Like, was I crazy? Talk about a first time mom fail! How on earth I thought that would stay clean is beyond me. And to be clear, it did not stay clean. One morning I spilled an entire cup of coffee on it and another day Cooper spit up after eating carrots. My white rug became slightly brown and orange! I knew I did not want to replace it with another rug, because this would inevitably happen again! When decorating I think people assume rugs are the only way to get style and pattern, but I am here to tell you that there is another option! A foam mat. You may be thinking, what? But it is true. Little Nomad makes the most beautiful foam play mats that look like rugs. We covered Cooper’s room WALL TO WALL with one and I am never looking back. In fact, I spilled coffee this morning and wiped it right up!

I also really loved that the circus traveled and I wanted to find decor that he could have for awhile, as in move to his big-boy room eventually! I loved this map right when I saw it!

FAVORITE PART? 

This is a hard one! I have to say that Cooper’s alcove for his crib looks like it was made for just that. I put up about a hundred or so gold stars and I imagine the animals and circus talent laying on the grass after a long day and big show, gazing up at the stars. This little room came with this little alcove that was perfectly made for a crib, and for stars. This was a no brainer and feels truly magical.

Creating a room for someone is really special. Loving every inch of that space, customizing colors and choosing permanent decor is fulfilling. I can’t tell you how much I have loved creating a circus for Cooper. Every morning it makes me smile and I love watching him explore and play in his little magical space.

If you have any questions, please reach out! adia.gundry@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram @addiegundry