For some reason, that escapes me completely, there are a lot of you out there who want to know the deets on the fine folks behind genes. Uhm, ok…if you must know…today I will offer up ten random (and completely irrelevant) facts about me, Kristina Ferrari, the brains behind this baby. Here we go:

1. I have curly hair, but I blow it straight and then use a curling iron or pins to curl it back again. This perplexes the hell out of my kids. It kinda confuses me too.

2. I think it’s perfectly appropriate to wear a scarf all year long. If you don’t believe me…let’s make a date to meet in Philly around mid-August when it’s about 94 degrees. You’ll recognize me ’cause I’ll be the one in the scarf.

3. True story. Me: “Luka, did you grab your iPod for the trip?” Luka (my 8yr old): “No Mom, I’d prefer to read and write in my journal.” Please refer to I’m Raising a Nerd for further details.

4. I keep a list on my laptop of pet peeves b/c I think I may get asked that question one day and I don’t want to forget any good ones. My current favorite is people who keep stupid lists on their computer.

5. Somebody should create the World Championships of Reading Shel Silverstein, because I would totally win. Sarah Cynthia Silvia Stout would not take the garbage out….

6. I’ve been known, on occasion, to pick through my neighbors garbage and find recyclables that they’ve elected not to recycle. It just bothers me on a personal level.

7. One time I got really lost and drove around blindly for what seemed like hours because I was too stubborn and prideful to ask for directions. And, by “one time” I mean…many, many times.

8. I started genes basically because I couldn’t find anything cool for my boys to wear. Now they go to a school where they are required to wear the least cool outfit ever created. I mean, this ensemble makes PeeWee Herman look like a fashionista. The irony of this is not lost on me.

9. You know that game where you drag your feet across the carpet while wearing socks so you can get all sorts of electrically charged and then playfully shock some unsuspecting bloke? Uhm yeah…that game scares the crap out of me. (side note: i use English phrases whenever possible)

10. Sometimes I really crack myself up. ; )

Okay, before you jump down my throat about the title of this piece, please keep in mind that I fully recognize two things: 1 - use of the term “nerd” is totally inappropriate and demeaning in many regards and 2 - I should be so lucky as to have a quote/unquote nerd for a son. A boy who’s smart, kind, responsible and well mannered. Uhm, yeah…I get these things, but it doesn’t make my slight disappointment any less real.

So, here’s the situation. I own, manage, create and generally breath all things modern, stylish and cool for kids. That is currently my role in life and I relish it (most of the time). So the fact that my child is essentially poo-pooing my lifestyle leaves me a bit taken back. Yes, I should be supporting his individuality. Yes, I should be allowing him to find his own path. Yes, I should be…blah blah blah. Uh huh. I should be, but when all he wants to do is wear a navy polo with khaki pleated shorts and cut his long wavy surfer ‘do down to a proper young republican’s coif…I get a bit irritated. Seriously? Have we taught you nothing about being awesome? We actually suggested playing hookie one day during the school year and choir boy responded with…”no, thank you…I don’t want to miss math.” Most parents develop angst over how their child will rebel (pierced body parts, tattoos, long hair). Me, I shudder at the very mention of math club.

Ok, I’ve said it. It’s out there. Yes, I know I’m going straight to hell.

So, big news in genes land. Drum roll please……we’re opening in Nothern Liberties! Yep. We’re just that crazy folks. Look for us in the ultra mod Piazza @ Schmidts ala our new favorite developer, Bart Blatstein. Not only are we a stones throw from Liberties Walk and some of our faves there like Beautiful Blooms and Bar Ferdinand, but we’re in probably the coolest concept space in all of Philly. The Piazza at the site of the old Schmidts brewery is home to one of the city’s largest tv’s that will air Phillies games on warm summer afternoons and classic movies on breezy nights. There will also be loads of events like farmers markets, Wii competitions, concerts…you name it! Best of all we’re totally hooking the ‘hood up with events just for the kiddies. (Please leave a suggestion of any great event ideas w/ the little ones in mind, we’re listening).

The piazza opens officially on May 15th. We’re coming “fashionably late” to the party, so look for us in June, but please support all the great artists and entrepreneurs at the Piazza. It’s our new favorite hang out.

On my trip this afternoon to the grocery store, I was on an unfamiliar mission…spend less. Our family, like yours, is feeling the impact of our shaky economy in small and large ways. So, as I walk down the aisles…super card in hand…I looked, for admittedly the first time, at how much everything cost. Making a conscious effort to actually remain conscious…to know what I was spending my money on and why. What I realized is that cost and value are sometimes mutually exclusive. In this troubling economic time…I’ve taken to teaching my children lessons on finding value in goods and services. As the founder of genes, I’ve always displayed our belief that a well crafted, well designed, durable item trumps a cheap knock off any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I still believe that, but I also realize that we’re all just trying to get by.

One area where I really found value — my new toothbrush. Preserve toothbrushes are now shelved quietly next to their Crest and Colgate partners, but I found ‘em. Do they cost more than their common couter part? Well, if you looked purely at the price tag…possibly, but there’s much more to it. These brushes will not only keep your pearly whites pearly, but they’re doing good for the earth too. Made in the USA of 100% recycled plastics (from those ghastly/impossible to recycle yogurt cups) and fully recyclable again via postage paid mailer, this is the worlds best toothbrush. Lest we forget design, I was even more thrilled when I found an ergonomic handle and the cool colors like lime green, black and white. So, even when you’re pinching pennies…it pays to go green in more ways than one.

Genes is always green…view our eco-friendly find here.

I recall very vividly the day I had this epiphany…”Children need food.” Ugh, the horror of that day is forever branded on my brain. Obviously, abstractly I knew this, but as a nursing mom for 2+ years (ya, i know), it never really struck me that I’d actually have to cook for my kids. And THREE meals a day no less, PLUS snacks. It all just seems a little excessive to me. Nonetheless, they do apparently require this.

As I’m sure you can gather, I cook…well…not so much. So the invention of the steam in their own bag veggies (brand favorite…Bird’s Eye) is well, basically the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. Here’s what you do. Go to the grocery store. Pick up about 10-15 bags of your kid’s favorite veggies (or at least ones that don’t make them gag). Pull one out at dinner time. Stick in in the microwave and cook for 5 mins. I am very fortunate to have the micro that requires literally only one button to be pushed to make it start so I close the door and hit 5. That’s it. Done. Open and thow ‘em in a bowl.

Oh the joys of invention…the personal computer, hybrid cars, the light bulb…and microwaveable vegetables.

Confession time folks. I have officially developed an unhealthy addiction to CNN. So much so that if one of my poor little boys came to me bleeding out the eyes I would actually think twice about rushing him to the hospital if AC 360 was on. (I mean…how much blood can one loose out of their eye? Surely he could survive an hour.) This confession, I realize, will paint me as possibly the worst mother in the world. So be it. It’s the truth. I AM a political junkie. I want nothing more than to see the love child of Anderson Cooper and Campbell Brown. Literally, I’ve actually had that dream.

This addiction started innocently enough. While I’ve always known where my political alliances lie, I did want to educate myself as much as possible on all sides so I could speak intelligently and passionately about my beliefs. Good intentions, I suppose, but just like a junkie starts with one hit…so goes my addiction. It got really bad when I wanted to paint my bedroom in the colors of the electoral map (have you seen that cool touch screen thing they have? OMG!) The final straw came when I started screaming at the little numbers on my HDTV going in the “wrong” direction during a key debate. That can’t be good.

I am distrubed. This is my cry for help. My poor babies deserve better than this. Admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?

I’ve heard rumblings for weeks now. At the playground. The grocery store. The houses all around our block. “I can’t wait for school to start again,” say all the moms + dads. Really? I’m clearly in the minority here, but I wasn’t looking forward to today. I wasn’t happy to see my now 1st grader walk into a new school 20x larger than his more manageable previous school. I didn’t want to see our late mornings and later nights turn into schedule bed times and hurried runs for the school bus. I’m none too thrilled about trading our beach days for books and our summer strolls for studying. I should get pleasure out of watching my first born grow and thrive and live…and I do, but I also see my baby slipping through my fingers and it makes my heart ache a bit.

There is the flip side, though. I will clearly be required to have fewer Pokemon battles each day. And fall brings new fashions to drool over. We’re adding more every day, but check out the best for boys here and the greatest for girls here.

When deciding on a name for our shop, we wanted to avoid the typical “Bellies and Butterflies” route you often see with baby and kids stores. (No offense to anyone who named their shop Bellies and Butterflies, we’re sure it’s lovely). So, why genes? Well…number one, it’s witty. Number two, there’s the double entendre thang that we just love (genes and jeans). And, number three…a one word name fit beautifully in stainless steel letters behind our cash wrap.

We never anticipated the confusion that would surround our name choice. Generally, there are two reactions. The first being…awesome name! (yeah…we know and thanks!). The second and more frustrating comment…who’s gene? So, for the record…there is NO gene. Please do not call us and ask to speak to gene. Gene does not exist. Please also do not put an apostrophe in our name…we really hate that. It’s genes…as in genetics, not a possessive form of Gene. And c’mon, if our name were Gene, would we really name a shop after ourselves? (No offense to anyone named Gene, we’re sure you’re lovely).

So, there you have it.