With Summer on the way, many parents are looking forward to spending time with their children in the great outdoors. That is why the KidKraft Adirondack chair is so popular this season. Perfect for little ones, this chair is available in several colors and has features that aim to please.

Features:

• Made of wood
• Smart, sturdy construction
• Weather-resistant paint keeps color vibrant
• Weather-resistant paint keeps color vibrant
• Packaged with detailed, step-by-step assembly instructions
• Dimensions: 21.89″ L x 19.13″ W x 24.72″ H

KidKraft Adirondack Chair – Espresso

The best thing for a parent and a newborn is sleep. Rest is a necessity after giving birth for all parties involved! Arm’s Reach has just released their new collection of Beautiful Dreamer Cocoon Sleepers which are comfortable and soothing for newborns and infants.

Based on the theory that infants sleep better when in the womb, the cocoon sleeper mimics just that.

• Great for all babies but ideal for preemies and fussy babies! Soothes and comforts, while easing stomach aches, gas pains, colic and acid reflux.
• Adjust the back for baby’s comfort. Many moms recline the back for nap time, and incline the back so baby can see the world when awake.
• Upright, it not only eases gas and reflux, but guards against flattening of the back of the head.
• Babies learn to control the hammock’s sway with their own body movements, which entertains while encouraging physical activity
• May be moved easily around the house; metal frame disassembles easily for travel
• Linens are made of cotton, polyester, and hemp organic cotton. Hand wash cool and air dry.
• 10-minute assembly
• 2 spring design allows for front to back and up & down motion, never side to side.

Arm’s Reach Beautiful Dreamer Cocoon Sleeper, Toffee / Natural Trim

The idea of giving birth is a beautiful thing, although it’s also a scary time as well. Many women seek ways to make this day more comfortable and Birth in Binsi has invented the Thankini Birth Top.

Especially for mothers in labor, this tank top was created providing extra coverage and stylish fashion.  Many moms are

• 90% cotton for breathability, 10% Lycra® for support, 100% luxuriously soft.

• Adaptable. Unique design with front hoks and side snaps to accommodate medical equipment and breastfeeding.

• Accommodating. Works with any/all medical equipment you may need or choose – even an epidural!

• Easy off. No need for the uncivilized struggle of yanking it up over your head. Thank goodness indeed!

These thankini tops are great to coordinate with any of the Binsi skirts which are also comfortable.

Binsi Thankini Birth Top

Pregnancy is a fantastic part of life where you have the joy of bringing a new life into the world. It is also a time of great change in your body and mind. By following these suggestions, you can keep your focus on taking care of yourself and your baby.

Maternity Clothes

Browse consignment or resale shops for great deals on maternity clothing. Since maternity clothes are worn for a relatively short period of time, it isn’t uncommon to find like-new tops, pants, dresses and outerwear for a fraction of retail price. When you are finished with them, you can resell them yourself or pass them on to a friend or family member.

Don’t buy new clothes when you are trying to get pregnant or right after you find out you’re expecting. These clothes will only get worn for a few weeks or months before you need to transition into maternity outfits. Instead save your money for maternity clothes or spend it on size-less items like bags and scarves.

When you are pregnant and your stomach finally starts expanding go buy yourself some comfortable maternity clothes. Your going to be pregnant for the next several months, so you might as well be comfortable. This also makes sure that you don’t have to keep buying new clothes as you continuously expand.

To extend the life of your non-maternity pants, use a simple elastic hair tie looped through the button hole and over the button, zipping the pants only as far as you can. With a long shirt or an elastic maternity band to cover the top of your pants, no one can tell that they are technically unbuttoned. This trick can help you buy some time and avoid buying too many maternity clothes.

As you can see, there are many ways to reduce the discomforts of pregnancy and allowing yourself to feel the happiness of expecting your child. You can enjoy each stage of the journey and appreciate the wonders of pregnancy, if you choose to follow these tips. You and your child deserve the best of care.

Maternity Apparel

A sweet sixteen birthday party is not just an average birthday celebration. This event, in fact, also comes with memorable ceremonies and traditions, similar to a wedding. Read below for tips and advice on the Sweet 16 celebration.

Shoe Changing Ceremony

If the birthday girl has a strong bond with her father or grandfather, the shoe changing ceremony is a must.  During this ceremony, the sweet sixteen girl sits in a designated chair in the center of the room. Guests gather around while her father (or grandfather) presents her with a pair of high heeled shoes. Typically the birthday girl is wearing flats. The heels represent a symbol of womanhood – the young girl growing and transitioning into a woman.  

Tiara Ceremony

This particular ceremony is similar to the above shoe ceremony. Instead of exchanging shoes, the birthday girl is given a sparkling tiara. Often times the father or grandfather brings the daughter the crown, however any family member or special person can do so.

Father Daughter Dance

As with weddings, the father/daughter dance is a special way to celebrate a girl turning into a woman. This dance is generally chosen by the father or daughter and is meant to be loving and meaningful.

Sweet 16 Favors

Don’t allow yourself to fall victim to the baby shower myths! Here are some great questions and answers when it comes to this fun celebration!

· How should I invite guests? It is becoming more and more acceptable to invite guest via telephone or e-mail. Of course, the best method is still a written-out invitation sent via the US mail service. You can be sure that people will appreciate this method better, and the invitation itself can serve as an extra reminder as to when the special day is.

· When should I hold the shower? Baby shower etiquette generally dictates that the shower should be held 1-2 months before the baby is due. This gives the parents enough time to go out and shop for important items that they did not receive at the shower. You do not want to hold the shower too close to the due date, in case the baby comes early. You may instead decide to hold a “welcoming” baby shower one to three weeks after the birth of the baby (just make sure that you give the guests enough notice! You obviously will not know when this sort of shower can be held until the baby is actually born). This sort of shower is great for parents who did not want to know in advance the sex of their baby… guests will know whether to bring gifts for a boy or a girl. It is also good to hold a “welcoming” baby shower so that family and friends who are coming into town for the birth of the baby can attend, as well.

· Is it ok to sign up for a baby registry? Old rules of etiquette would say that it is a definite no-no to tell your guests what to bring (besides assigning a certain theme). But baby gift registries are becoming more and more useful and more and more popular. Go ahead and sign up for a baby gift registry. You can include a note in the invitation that says where you are registered, but it looks best if you can get the word around by word of mouth. Be sure that the cost of items covers a wide range. You can also propose that guests chip in for one, larger item.

· Do I still need to send out Thank-Yous? You most definitely need to send out thank-you notes for all of your gifts. While you are opening them at your party, ask someone to be a scribe and write down everything that you get as you open it. A host may even choose to print out in advance a list of the addresses of all of the guests, then the gift that each person gave can be written right next to the name, making it easier for the mother to send out a proper thank you note. Also, another benefit to getting thank-you notes out early is that a mother will be much to busy once the baby is born. Also, a thank-you note and even a small token of thanks should be given to the host of the shower.

· What should I give the guests? Part of good baby shower etiquette is making sure that the guests have a good time. After all, they deserve to have a little fun as payment for the great gift that they are giving. What you give the guests does not matter so much as the fact that you should give something. Be sure to have plenty of food and good drinks at the shower. You can send each guest home with an additional party favor as well. You can also have some lovely gifts as prizes for baby shower games.

· Should I have a shower for a second baby? It is perfectly fine to have a shower for a second baby. After all, you are going to need a few new items. Of course, proper etiquette states that only very close friends and family members should be invited to the shower of a second child. You can also invite people who did not attend any showers for the first child.

Baby Aspen “Five Little Monkeys” Five-Piece Gift Set in Keepsake Basket

People love baby showers. They are a joyous occasion celebrating life and family. Games are played, food is consumed and a fun time is generally had by all.  However, the purpose of a baby shower runs deeper than just fun and games. It is the prime opportunity for friends and family members to celebrate the mommy-to-be and her unborn child (or children).

Depending on your amount of guests, this small intimate baby shower might turn into a full fledged party. If you’re serving a meal, you might just want to turn this baby shower into a reception type event.  Make sure you have enough baby shower favors for all of your guests. Consider using place cards to avoid any drama during seating time. We believe that table décor makes for great favors because you get to kill two birds with one stone.  If you are watching your budget, consider presenting your guests their place cards with beautiful place card holders. Place card holders often are less expensive but make wonderful gifts. Your guests can take them home and use them to display photos or cards.

Cheap Baby Shower Favors

If your child is starting to show interest in the potty, chances are you should begin potty training while the topic is “interesting” in their mind.

I recommend the “week at home” test. This is pretty hard for parents as you have to dedicate the entire week to staying inside. Allow your child to run around in a shirt and underwear. Most children will make a few mistakes and then quickly understand what is going on.

When your child does have an accident, explain that it is OK and put him/her on the potty anyways. (Even if they have emptied themselves on the floor!).

Many parents find that once their child is rewarded for a good potty experience, they catch on quickly. Try the reward jar approach. Fill a jar with stickers, toys, candy, etc. Once your child uses the potty, they get a reward! This is certainly a way to congratulate your child while encouraging them to do it again and again!

Gifts for Baby

After school, there should be a routine. At my house it went as follows:

• Snack (generally healthy)
• Homework
• Play
• Dinner
• Bath
• Bed

This kind of structure helped to avoid any kind of post-school meltdowns and let’s face it, routines are what children thrive for. It wasn’t easy keeping my children on healthy snacks. I’ll be honest, sometimes our snacks consisted of a small bowl of ice cream. I tried to keep these snack choices as a reward or surprise only. Generally my idea of after-school snacks were:

• Sweet Potato Fries
• Fruits
• Pretzels
• Carrots with Dip
• Turkey and Cheese roll-ups
• Etc

Healthy snacks will give your child the energy to focus on homework and be content until dinner time – which is when they start to wind down from their hard day!

KidKraft Brighton Table – White

Corporate events don’t need to be dull and boring – here are a few tips to spice them up! Here are 3 fun, unusual that can really help knit that team tightly together!

1. Adventures of Secret Agents
This corporate event is almost like a scavenger hunt – teams are given agendas and the winner receives a prize!

2. Drumming Workshops
These have become quite popular in the past few years. Drumming workshops are a great way to get a lot of people involved, and are far more directed towards team building than some other events. Workmates learn to work in synergy. There’s a selection of percussion instruments and people will need to work together to transport and set up the experience also.

3. Go Karting
Go karts are an activity that any adult would love! Relieve stress by racing to the finish line with your co-workers and even try to beat your boss! These types of activities for adults can be found at local arcades – a fun place for adults to go unwind. They usually feature party rooms which can be held for your staff!

Corporate Event Favors