Ariel Twin Bed

I'm still tempted to get my daughter an upholstered headboard or bed set, and the Ariel Bed by Kravet has really caught my eye...

Chic & Cozy

Unpacking and repacking a diaper bag loaded with toys, blankets and all of the essentials gets old fast. That is why I am loving the idea of the Chic & Cozy Blanket Bag - a bag and blanket in one, with a water-resistant outer fabric so you can let baby play comfortably on damp grass and be ready to head home with a quick regathering of the bag. Brilliant!

{Chic & Cozy Bags are also available at Target.}

"Baylie" Ballerina Shoe

How could you not feel like a prima ballerina in these slippers?

{They'll be $29 at Nordstrom's Anniversary sale, which starts this Friday, the 17th.}

Swigg

The kiddos and I would have fun creating a magical forest with these fungi sculptures from Swigg.

They'd also look really cute on a shelf, and because they are weighted they'd stay in place.

Any magical forest needs magical creatures, so the vinyl Swigg Critters might need to make an appearance...

Child's Tub

I am absolutely crazy about this miniature concrete tub.
{Created by Get Real Surfaces}

image of Designer Bonnie Young's children's bathroom

scanned via fall 2007 O at Home

Travel Matching Games

Matching and memory games never fail to keep my kids entertained, especially when there is more to the pictures being matched than just the pictures. I was flipping through the latest Cookie magazine and read about a child who keeps herself occupied on trips by making up names and stories for the children in eeBoo's I Never Forget a Face travel matching game. It struck me as such a great and convenient way to encourage imagination and storytelling.

I'm interested in the Once Upon a Time set for the same reason.

See more beautifully illustrated items from EeBoo here, or buy their products here.

You can buy travel versions of games here, or the regular versions here.

Race Car-Flip Book Birth Announcement

Am simply smitten with this little birth announcement.

seen on A Cup of Jo

Freehand Frames

I like the quirky appeal of Graham & Brown's Frames wallpaper, but don't see myself committing to it. I can see myself taking the approach that graphic designer Jill Dupre took when she used a basic black marker to draw frames freehand on a wall of her home. This offers so much inexpensive flexibility: You could do this in any size or shape of space, and if you grow tired of the look, a couple coats of paint would wipe the wall clean. I'd love to do this in a play area, or put a few frames in a corner of my son's bedroom.

The frames can be filled with photos and children's artwork, or get creative with paper scraps or mirrors. Items are stuck to the wall and then can be sealed with a gloss medium.

image via Dec 06 Met Home Mag

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I looked on childrearing not only as a work of love and duty but as a profession that was fully interesting and challenging as any honourable profession in the world and one that demanded the best that I could bring to it.

-- Rose Kennedy
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Happy 4th of July!

We wish everyone a very fun and safe 4th of July weekend!

Image compliments of Family Fun

Princess Fairy Ribbon Wand

My girls love love love to play dress up!! I thought this wand was adorable and super easy to make. It would be great as a Princess Party favor, or a birthday gift!

Little Capers

It's Super Girl!

{There's stuff for super boy too...}

Rocket Ship Birthday Party

I think I might need to sell my son on a Rocket Ship-themed party for his next birthday...

Brooke at inchmark is full of inspiration, as usual.

See the hand-addressed and hand-delivered invites here, and a how-to on some perfect for this party or the Fourth of July cupcakes here.

Knoll Kids

I've had some fun perusing Knoll's collection of modern furniture for kids:

I wouldn't mind the Suzanne Double Lounge Chair in a playroom...

I'd take a Cyclone Side Table too.
{Especially if it comes with a Bertoia Diamond Chair with a seat pad!}

Check out Kaboose for some great ideas on kid-friendly 4th of July crafts, like this ,flag fan or these cute parade streamers.

4th of July Desserts

What will you be making? Parents.com has some great looking recipes. I really want to eat some strawberry-rhubarb pie right now!

HAY Pinocchio Rug

This would be a great rug for a fun, bright playroom.

Chalk Shadows

My kids love "being" Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, so tracing chalk shadows should be a fun way to bring shadow magic to life.

Isn't this a great summer idea?

images and idea via CraftPad

Cocktail Party Anyone?

This Finger Food Play Set is super cool.

Personalized Water Bottles

Lima Bean Kids has added personalized aluminum water bottles to their line. Perfect for camp, the pool, you name it!

Enjoying the present....

Children think not of what is past,

nor what is to come,

but enjoy the present time,

which few of us do.

-Jean De La Bruyere

Giraffe Letterpress Baby Shower Invites

These invites make me want to throw a baby shower. So pretty!!

Eleanor's Nursery

I am completely sold on white backgrounds with bright color accents.
This shelf is so classically fun.

See more here.

I'm inspired by how this mobile was altered for a baby's room.

It almost looks pink in this light -
I bet you could use metal spray to add some color if you wanted...

via kenziepoo

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We hope you have had a wonderful Father's Day!

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Made by Mosey - Clouds Mobile

So completely lovely.

{Hand stitched by a mother, and available here.}

See more from Made by Mosey here, and shop here.

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Children are natural mimics:

They act like their parents in spite of every attempt to teach them good manners.

-Anonymous

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Cookie Collection - Rosebud Cards

Your kiddos may not be able to give homemade cookies to everyone they love, but they could send a cookie card...

{See more here}

Balloons + Baby Showers

Have you ever seen a funner way of setting the mood for a baby shower?

via here

Dolio by Naef Toys

This is quite possibly the best baby toy I have ever seen.

Owl Pacifier Clip

I have a friend with a serious thing for owls. If she were to have another little one, this owl pacifier clip would be one of the first things I would get her.