Strollin' in style with your baby
They used to be called buggies. And they weren't designed for jogging, twins or winter. The stroller-and-car-seat "travel system" didn't even exist.
Ah, simpler times. Today's stroller selection is vast, impressive and, in many cases, expensive. The upside is, you can push your little ones around with ease and style like never before.
Mutsy, a Dutch company known for its contemporary styles, just started selling strollers in the U.S. a few months ago. Some of its unique offerings include the Funseat, which lets toddlers "steer," and the sporty 4Rider, with easy-to-maneuver swivel wheels, which are great for sidewalks and shopping malls. ($249-$799, www.target.com)
Babies R Us probably has the largest selection, ranging from the cheapie umbrella stroller to a hi-tech three-seater.
For a throwback to the old days, Inglesina makes a Classic Pram that's hand embroidered and made of leather with real lace privacy curtains. ($900, www.tinyride.com)
Toying with utensils
More products for kids that didn't exist a generation ago: meal-time toys. The Italian-made, Trebimbi cutlery sets are stainless steel with heat-resistant plastic handles that come in a variety of colors. Not only do the utensils snap together, but kids can stick their fingers inside and use them as puppets. Hey, if it buys a little quiet time during dinner, it'll be worth every penny. ($24.99 at www.target.com)
Fashion calendar
• "Re-creating the Canvas of your Life," a workshop for women looking to inspire positive change in their lives, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at GCG Financial, 3000 Lakeside Drive, Bannockburn. Speakers include financial advisers, life coaches, wardrobe and beauty consultants and a real estate expert. Cost is $65 if you register by Thursday, or $79 after that. Call Eileen at (847) 507-1346 for more information.
• Frances Heffernan boutique, 810 Elm Street in Winnetka, will donate 15 percent of all sales this weekend to the North Suburban Medical Research Junior Board and Medical Research Institute Council of Children's Memorial Hospital.
• The whole family can attend a free health fair this weekend at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Admission is free, and hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For details, go to www.betteryourbody.com.
• Seventeen eco-designers, including 14 from the Chicago area, will star in "EcoModa," a "green" fashion show for charity from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. Cost is $25-$50. Proceeds benefit the Foresight Design Initiative. Go to www.sustainableconvergence.org for more information.
• From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Thursday, The Treasure Chest, 1853 Second Street, Highland Park, will display "Isolde," a rare, one-of-a-kind piece of Masriera jewelry. Other limited edition pieces also will be on display, including a few from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
-- Jamie Sotonoff