What is it about summer memories? There’s something so nostalgic to remember those warm summer nights, the humidity, the playing, and let’s not forget the endless summer sunlight.

Here at Peek, we’re all about harnessing those feelings, bottling them, and infusing all our summer clothes with their heady brew. We want our kids to have the same cherished summer memories, plus a few of their own. It’s for them that we make sure every item we sell is easy to wear, easy to clean, sturdily constructed and just plain gorgeous. To kids, an outfit like a Matta skirt with a matching tee, paired with sneakers and maybe some warm leggings for the evening chill, say “Wear me, and have fun.” To parents, they say “Don’t worry. The pictures will be great, and you can throw the clothes in the wash (and the kids in the bath).” Win-win!

Here are some of the memories cherished by Peek staffers:

• Lying on top of the Ford Fairlane, watching the pale streaks of a meteor shower gently slashing the sky.
• My mom waking us up so we could go watch the Northern Lights over a lake in Maine.
• Dad telling me to see if I could run across the yard and jump over the sprinkler before he turned it on. (Man, he was quick!)
• Carrying a precious dollar down to the park to buy a sno-cone and savoring the last, slushy, syrupy bit in the tip.
• The delicious terror of hearing the ghostly story of the Hackettstown Hacker as we huddled in sleeping bags around a campfire in the woods
• Wild thunderstorms that could turn a sunny day into the darkest night in a matter of minutes.
• Forcing myself to go barefoot on asphalt until my feet got callused and tough enough for me to go barefoot any ol’ time.
• Begging to go to the concession stand at the baseball stadium—but Mom always packed tuna sandwiches anyway.
• Playing “alphabet” and “out-of-state license plates” during endless road trips.
• The smell of calamine lotion, and the way it made your skin feel rough to the touch.
• Asking the Italian Ice guy to put as many flavors as possible into that one scoop.
• Two words: Watermelon seeds.
• Watching my red balloon float solemnly away when I let go of it before getting in the car.
• The awful terror of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride!
• Shadows in the pool making my legs look striped, like a blue zebra.
• My team winning Color Wars, and everyone jumping up and down and cheering.
• A square, homemade birthday cake with a red “7″ drawn on the top in red gel.
• Performing “Grease” for the grownups.

What are your fave summer memories? Share your favorite summer memory at our Summer Memory Content for a chance to win $100! And, be sure to enjoy the first delicate hints of summer breezes!

Who among us has not struggled with food choices, and thinks often about how to teach and insure our own children have a healthy concept of food ? It is so important to me to make sure our kids know how to make choices that allow them to have the energy and mental capacity for optimum performance. As I think about my own relationship with food, I am fascinated by the different choices I make when I think about how to best fuel my body for the day instead of distracting myself with a sweet or less then nutritious snack. When I step back and think consciously, the choices are sound and the results quite positive. ( Exercise as well somehow easily becomes a part of this lifestyle) it is however often the exception, and not the rule.
As a parent, I want all of our kids to have a really positive and healthy relationship with food and their physical selves. I also want us to be around to enjoy the years ahead with all five of them!

My husband had been talking about a new book that came out last week and it looks like a must read. Written by the former Commissioner of the FDA , David Kessler, The Art of Overeating explores the food industry and why we make the choices we do. With recomendations on how to truly change our thoughts about food, action is sure to follow.
Check out this conversation from NPR or the book here. He is also a pediatrician, so his understanding and approach is really focused on helping our kids develop into their best selves.

Let us know what you think,..

Ok, after months of thinking and really sitting back and understanding what I love and how we what was important to us when we started our little concept I am taking the plunge. So love connecting with people, sharing and learning more about people, resources, adventures and stuff that makes our life as parents and people easier, richer and more rewarding. A place where ideas, people, and a community can be created.
When my husband first started talking about what he wanted and hoped we could do, I did not really and truly understand. Now I do. And while bringing that dream to life is likely a bigger project and focus for us in 2010, for now I know at least that the desire for me is strong to start capturing the topics, connecting with the people and learning from others. There are so many people we meet, information that is sent, stories that are told and stuff that people send to us. My hope is that this will be a place to share those all.
So here we go, I am planning to work on some of the content this weekend, and go live on Monday.

Taking the plunge…please, please join me and let us know what you think.