• Monthly Archive:: July 2013

    Tis the season of baby showers, christenings and any other gift-giving occasion to welcome a new arrival. If you’ve been invited to a bris, baptism or first birthday bash and are coming up empty-handed on your quest for the perfect present , consider the latest trend in gift-giving: subscriptions. We’re not talking Highlights magazine here, but rather a boxed mail-order delivery. Googaro features an assortment of carefully selected baby gifts (think: your own personal baby store shopper) that are eco-friendly and BPA-free. The selections include toys, books, snacks and other items, and are tailored to specific age ranges: 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years and 2-3 years. Subscriptions are available on a monthly basis at $35 a pop, or you can place a one-time order. [&hellip

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    I truly don’t know a greater love than the one that exists between my 5-year-old and our cat. The two are practically inseparable and have fostered a bond that began when my daughter was just a baby. My mother reminds me that I too treasured my childhood kitty and how I cried every time we left for vacation, worrying that she’d be lonely (I still shed a tear before leaving Peanut, and hide my red eyes behind dark sunglasses before we head out of town.) Because their friendship is more than heartwarming–it transcends the bounds of human/animal duos–I am relishing a new picture book about a young girl who unsuspectingly befriends a furry friend while pet-sitting. A Year With Marmalade follows a year in the [&hellip

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    When I was about 10 or 11, my best friend Allison invited me to spend the night at her parents’ summer home in Westhampton Beach. Because I’d never been away from home without my family before, I was more scared than excited. My parents, in sharp contrast, saw this as an opportunity: an invitation to “summer” in the Hamptons? Who wouldn’t jump at the chance! After a bit of coaxing and a not-so-gentle nudge, my bag was packed and the next thing I knew, we were cruising the Montauk Highway in Allison’s dad’s car. By the timeĀ  we reached Dune Road, I was hooked on life out east. After a day of boating around the tranquil bay, followed by frolicking in the rough surf, we [&hellip

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    Well, the Royal Baby is finally out of the hospital and settled in his new home. Even though we still don’t have any official word of his given name, that doesn’t mean the business of taking care of baby is put on hold–and that includes diaper changing. Like any new father, handling his first diaper change is a rite of passage, and according to Kate, Prince William has successfully completed his initiation into Nappyville. While we imagine this task will soon be relegated to the royal staff (if it hasn’t already), might we suggest a calming accompaniment to this regular routine? The Organic Pharmacy’s Nappy Balm is a princely panacea to the universal diaper rash. Made with soothing ingredients like lavender and evening primrose, this [&hellip

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    So, how many British baby boutiques do you think are furiously readying their shops in honor of the Royal Baby? You never know who might decide to walk into your store and purchase that special something for the most-watched baby in the world. It doesn’t matter that we have yet to catch a glimpse of that precious baby boy, but when the hospital doors finally open and the royal couple proudly emerges with their child, all eyes will be on that very bundle. And if Kate is like any other new mum, she’ll want to have her newborn dressed comfortably and not take any chances in him catching a chill in that rainy London weather. In fact, we think she’d rather prefer the Barefoot Dreams [&hellip

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    The wait is finally over…At long last, his Royal Highness Prince xx has finally arrived…and so has the baby merchandise. For all the product designers who’ve been speculating whether or not Kate would be delivering a boy or girl, the winning bet was on blue. And so the onslaught of baby blues begin–and we mean that in the best possible way. Help leading the way is our first find: Tommee Tippee limited edition Closer to Nature bottles. Decked out in a prince motif, complete with London guards, these bottles are a festive way to welcome any new baby boy, even if he’s not royalty. This limited edition collection also includes themed pacifiers and feeding gift sets, and is available for pre-order now and in stores [&hellip

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    Someone once said, “Desperate times call for desperate measures,” and in the case of this 5-day-long-and-going strong heat wave we’re experiencing here in the Northeast, that means finding lots of indoor activities to beat the heat. The challenge for this mom, as is true for many of us at home, is finding something to entertain different-aged kids. Not an easy feat, I tell you, especially when Candyland and coloring has lost its allure. Lucky for me, we were given the opportunity to test out a new craft kit from Peaceable Kingdom: Foil Art Sticker Kit. (Why is it that as soon as you say the word “sticker,” kids come calling? Maybe I’ll have to try that out when I want them to clean their rooms…). [&hellip

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    At Target, the school supplies are crowding out the summer gear. Coolers and beach bags are making way for binders and backpacks, whether we’re ready for them or not. Because the first day of school is the farthest thing from my kids’ minds, I know we’ll need some motivation once it’s time to prepare for September. And since your average tween doesn’t exactly get jazzed by a new lunchbox, we moms must find creative ways to get the kiddies psyched for school. Enter Happy Charmz, a fun way to spice up your pencil box. These sweet little charms find right over the top of a pencil eraser, adding a little pizzaz to penmanship. (Think of it as bling for your favorite writing instrument.) Available in [&hellip

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    My 9-year-old isn’t big on breakfast these days. As much as I’d like her to consume more than just a glass of OJ, she refuses to eat anything (unless, of course, we happen to whip up a hot meal of pancakes and bacon. Sorry, kid; that’s what weekends are for). Well, as luck would have it, she is now a changed young woman, thanks to a personal chef and a special delivery. It all started back in May when we decided to throw a “Chopped”-style birthday party for our resident foodie (even if breakfast isn’t her thing, she is an otherwise well-rounded eater who adores the famed reality cooking show). When the chef proposed a smoothie round, my daughter was a bit skeptical–and so was [&hellip

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    I don’t know where I’d be without our public library these last few weeks. Given the unsettled weather as of late, we’ve been more book-bound than beach-bound, and that means taking advantage of the wealth of children’s programs. Today’s class was an unexpected treasure, as my girls were treated to a lively performance by a children’s musician I’d not yet stumbled upon. The aptly named Story Laurie was a sight for sore eyes…or perhaps it was the other way around? As she emerged from her tent and feigned surprise to her audience, we got our first taste of this silly, yet playful songwriter. What we liked best about Laurie is her down-to-earth way she relates to her young audience. Rather than just launching into song [&hellip

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