• Monthly Archive:: April 2013

    When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I knew I wanted an old-fashioned pram in which to parade my new little love around town. By the time my second daughter arrived on the scene, I had grown weary of the neutral-colored baby gear I had acquired along the way. Sure, a cream-colored bouncy seat may have fit into my traditional home decor, while a steel grey car seat meshed well with my car’s interior. But at the end of the day, I found everything to be a bit…oh, how can I put it? Bor-ing. If someone had told me that those first few months of life with a newborn would be filled with lots of cat-napping, diaper changes, rattle shaking, sleeping, bathing, feeding–did we [&hellip

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    It was only a few weeks ago that fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer passed away. I had always been a fan of her bold, citrus-hued prints, having eyed them from a distance over the years, and only recently saved up to buy. Once I became a mom and was introduced to her line for kids, my interest in acquiring an entire super-stylish wardrobe only intensified. Now my girls could share my love of dressing with pizazz (too bad my pocketbook couldn’t meet those expectations…) So, when we learned of this week’s launch of another fashion icon’s line for kids, I finally got a grip on reality: maybe now we could play the part of the savvy shopper who can look great, without breaking the bank. GapKids [&hellip

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    It’s just been a week since the Boston Marathon bombings, but it feels so much longer. We’re all still spiraling from the aftermath of Sandy Hook, Hurricane Sandy…and now this. My next-door neighbor was one of the marathon runners who bravely set out that day, looking forward to attaining a personal goal, and not realizing that reuniting with her loved ones, safe and unharmed, would be a far more meaningful gift. She showed us the medal she was given for participating, one that I’m sure she will treasure and that will forever serve as a reminder of that fateful day. If your family is looking for a way to show its support for the people of Boston, consider the latest fashion staple from kids’ clothing [&hellip

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    My car is in desperate need of a wash. After too many months of wet weather, muddy feet and the like, this mom taxi has taken quite a beating. Of course, the line at our local car wash has been five miles long lately. If only my imagination could transport to the pages of the latest picture book to cross my desk. Down at the Dino Wash Deluxe is the place to be, especially if you happen to live with anyone who knows his T-Tex from a triceratops. It’s also the center of a make-believe business where these prehistoric creatures come to have their regular scrub-down (where else can these guys fit when a bath tub is out of the question?). If I ever thought [&hellip

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    Is it Earth Day already? This coming Monday marks the day we pay homage to our dear planet, one that seems to be under a great deal of stress these days. (I don’t know about you, but I can’t remember more extreme weather than what we’ve been experiencing this past year.) Since Mother Nature has been wrecking havoc on us lately, it’s definitely time for a superhero to help us out, and the Sprout television network has just the guy. Tree Fu Tom, to the rescue! With the help of a magic belt, this pint-sized boy turns himself into a flying hero with special powers who travels to a make-believe kingdom inside a tree in his backyard (how’s that for using your imagination?) Once there, [&hellip

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    When my husband was invited to choose some used books from a colleague’s retired collection, he brought home a treasure trove of reading materials. Among his findings was a well-worn copy of a guide to seashells, one that had yellowed with age and whose pages were slowly losing their binding. While it was the thought that counted, we wound up recycling the book after a cursory look-through–and long before having a chance to consult it on beach excursions with our young daughters. Having practically grown up on the beach myself, I was always collecting the jewels of low tide, but my knowledge of seashell classification never went beyond periwinkles and mussels. This summer, however, we’re going to do things right, thanks to the just-published Seashells: [&hellip

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    Still trying to come to the grips with yesterday’s tragedy in Boston, I had a hard time getting myself in writing mode this morning. But after dropping my daughter off at preschool and seeing all those happy, little faces, I found the motivation I was looking for. If reviewing kids’ products and working in the children’s industry isn’t a sign of hope and rejuvenation, I don’t know what is. It was precisely this morning that my 4-year-old and I discovered the just-released CD from Miss Nina. A follow-up to Singing & Dancing Together, Sha Doo Be Doop is a spirited release of toe-tapping tunes that can’t help give you a little bit of a lift. Miss Nina’s music teacher background is evident throughout this collection [&hellip

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    My husband is a good dad, even if he doesn’t always think so. A time-pressed, hard-working father (like so many dads we know), he struggles with the fact that he can’t see his girls as much as he’d like to. And when he is home, he’s torn by dividing his time between left-over work, home improvement projects and time with his daughters (oh yeah, and don’t forget about me). He’s great at playing board games and reading with our 8-year-old, but when I see his eyes start to glaze over after the umpteenth round of Richard Scarry’s Busytown, I feel for him. Well, it may not be Father’s Day just yet, but I know my better half might appreciate something new and different he can [&hellip

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    My 4-year-old just got invited to another Hello Kitty party. This is one cat that gets around–and I’m not talking about my daughter! Last week, we told you about a Hello Kitty rain gear line that definitely put a much-needed spring in our step, especially after a long, cold winter. We knew that little girls would be all over that line…but now we’re finding that Hello Kitty has new mom appeal, too. One of our favorite lux baby brands, aden + anais, is introducing a limited-edition collection of Hello Kitty soft goods no baby girl should be without. The 100-percent cotton muslin line consists of a swaddle 3-pack, dream blanket, snap bib 3-pack and hooded towel/wash cloth set–all adorned with the famous cat motif. Whether [&hellip

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    My daughter’s preschool sent home summer camp registration this week, and so I am reminded that bathing suit season is upon us yet again. (Lucky for me, I can work out my own swimwear neuroses by happily buying for two young girls.) If your kids are still young enough to enjoy their favorite characters on their clothing, then let their summer wardrobe include two Disney friends that can accompany them to the beach, lake or pool. The Ariel Swim Collection for Girls includes a wet-and-wonderful swimsuit, cover-up, flip flops, beach towel, sunglasses and swim bag. We especially love the endless waves of ruffles that adorn the swimsuit’s neckline. And for the boys comes the Jake and the Never Land Pirates Swim Collection, a swash-buckling array [&hellip

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