A Time for Children

I just had to feature this boutique in New York City, as a New Yorker, pre-military wife life. It is called A Time for Children and the aim of the shop is to give 100% of the profits, less salaries and operating expenses, to The Children's Aid Society of New York

Newport, RI

Back! We had a wonderful holiday at the sea, I have decided that Newport, RI is one of my favorite towns. I saw some wonderful Newport themed childrens books too! My favorites are about a kitty named Puma, including Puma: Lost in Newport and Puma Goes to Cliff Walk by Muriel Barclay de TollyAnd then of course, to include the historic home tours, Cornelius Vandermouse by Peter & Cheryl Barnes is adorable too!

Vacation

Bon voyage! I'm off for a couple weeks but I'm sure I'll be back with lots of inspirations!!image from allposters.com

PeaPod Plus Travel Bed

The PeaPod Plus really is so handy! It comes in both a toddler and infant size and features an inflatable mattress to keep children off the cold and damp ground. It also offers UV protection and a shield from wind and bugs. For $129.95CAD this little thing is perfect for all situations. Picnic at the park? Visiting a friend? Day at the Beach? Perfect!

Klean Kanteen

So I'm a little bit of a water bottle fanatic. I'm always carrying one. Between this and the can of Lysol you can imagine what my purse looks like... Recently I went to the website of the company that made one of my water bottles, Klean Kanteen. They are BPA-free, stainless steel bottles and I discovered they now make an adorable Kid Kanteen featuring a sippy bottle top. This thing is virtually indestructible, comes in a variety of colors and is priced modestly, starting at $17.95!

Baby life vest

So it is the season for water sports but it is important not to forget your little crew members when purchasing personal flotation devices, or PFDs. I was out sailing the other day and looked over at a powerboat. The family had a toddler and an infant, neither of which had appropriately fitted PFDs. There was no PFD for the infant! There are a number of infant sized PFDs on the market and any marine store can help you select the right one. Here are a few great choices:

I love this Canadian store Mountain Baby, a store for outdoor families. They carry the Salus Bijoux Baby Life Jacket for infants 9-25lbs, priced at $79.94CAD

On the budget end, the Overton's Infant Flotation Device does the job nicely at only $19.95 and comes in three fun and bright colors.If you plan on going out to sea, please make sure you investigate the thermal life jackets. This Ocean Safety Thermo Baby Life Jacket retails for £69.95 and includes a safety clip to hook the infant to an adult.

Green to Grow bottles

These Green to Grow, BPA-free (and adorable) baby bottles are made of PES Plastic. Okay so they're good for your baby and dishwasher safe. They are free of phthalates and free of bisphenol A, "a suspected hormone-disrupting chemical used in polycarbonate plastic." They are a little pricier than standard bottles but the peace of mind, for me, is well worth it. Starting at $9.99 ea. with Welcome Home Sets at $54.99. Also available in a wide neck.

RaZ Baby Pacifier

This RaZ Baby Pacifier is the neatest thing! A pacifier that closes instantly when dropped! Spring loaded, the second it is not being used, it closes to keep clean!! Walmart carries two RaZ Baby Pacifiers for $9.99.

Peachy Baby Cart Covers

If you are like me, you actually do carry a purse sized can of Lysol... I know, I'm as mad as a March hare. Recently I found Bonnie's blog which led me to her company! I've seen people using these and thought they were so ingenious, keeping your baby and toddler away from germs and who knows what else. You can find these adorable cart covers at Just Peachy Baby at very realistic and affordable prices. photo from Just Peachy Baby

Mom Spit

They finally bottled it! Just kidding, but they did create a cleverly branded hand sanitizer available through one of my favorite shops, the Bibelot! Momspit Cleanser comes in fig & lemon scents for $7.50. Definitely a diaper bag gift set necessity.

Military Families

So I am a military spouse; my husband is an Officer in the US Navy. My husband is returning from deployment and I could not be more excited. Meanwhile I wanted to share some great books for military families whose children are just experiencing deployment. It is no secret that being a child in the service presents its own unique challenges and rewards. I think the separation is the hardest thing for little ones to understand at first. This list is thanks to Military One Source and these books are available at Barnes & Nobles.

I love this one, Night Catch by Brenda Ehrmentraut is about a father on deployment that uses the North Star to play a game with his son.
While You Are Away by Eileen Spinelli tells the story of three children whose parents have different jobs. The book ends happily with their homecoming.
When Dad's At Sea by Mindy Pelton. This is a story about the family of a Naval Aviator and how his daughter copes with deployment.
If you are looking for more children's books on military life, Military Family Books is a really wonderful resource! They even offer gift packages that include several great titles.

Black Dog Baby

Maybe I'm just itching to get home to the North and longing for those New England summers... but I couldn't help but pop by The Black Dog's website. Since 1971 the Black Dog Tavern has become a symbolic icon of Martha's Vineyard. Far from the pub roots, these little tyke outfits will remind them of summers on the water! Here are my favorites:

At $15 this summery and sweet onesie is an adorable souvenir from the shore.I love leather booties, look at these for only $32!
This little toddler sweater will transcend seasons for $52. I can see this becoming a treasured family hand down. It is presently out of stock, I hope they get more in soon!

Cozy Crib Tent

Okay so some parents may look at this as imprisonment but a mom I met recently said this little handy dandy tent gives her the ultimate peace of mind. She said she can take it with her on trips and set it up when your toddler sleeps in a place that may be less than baby proof. Also, at home, this little tent keeps her son from climbing out and crawling around, possibly hurting himself in the process. It keeps bugs and pets out of the crib too and the parents I've talked to said their children think of it as their own private fort. The Tots in Mind Original Cozy Crib Tent is available at Walmart.com for only $55.98. And apparently the Tots in Mind warranty is fantastic, they'll replace anything faulty at no cost to you!

PJ Party

As a little girl, I loved my footie Pajamas. I don't know what it is about them but they were so cozy and comforting. I was perusing the sale section at L.L. Bean (which by the way is fabulous) and saw some of the most adorable toddler footie PJs, all under $20! Mind you, all these PJs come in a variety of fabrics and patterns for both boys and girls.

I love these Featherweight Fleece PJs at only $18.99These Flannel PJs are priced at only $12.99
At $12.99 these Cotton Knit PJs are a bargain!

Bargain baby gifts, under $20

I know, I know, but really if you look you can find some great gift things for a small baby at a small price. Just look at today's findings!

Our first pick is the Ministar Baby shoe from Target.com. Available in a wide variety of designs for both boys and girls, they are only priced at $12.99!In second place, the classic Pat the Bunny Gift Set from Toys "R" Us priced at only $16.99Our third item is the Pottery Barn Kids Gingham Hooded Towel priced at exactly $20!Lastly I had to throw in one keepsake for good measure. This adorable little Baby's First set is only priced at $20 from Things Remembered.

Bargain baby gifts, under $50

Okay so my sister-in-law just had an adorable baby boy, Ben. I started thinking about all the beautiful baby and children's things on the market today. In truth that is how this blog was born, but in addition, as with anything, there will always be beautiful things if price is no object. So today I'm going to hunt down beautiful baby gifts for under $50! Tomorrow? $20!!

Our first item today is this delicate Silver Keepsake Bracelet from Pottery Barn Kids. I love silver engraved items to commemorate the birth of a new addition and this is just adorable and priced at only $49.Number two is the Sailor Name Plaque. Well Appointed House has a number of these suiting all decor and both genders! And each is modestly priced at only $35. Baby hasn't been named yet? A gift credit for one of these works too!

In third place we have the Pottery Barn Kids' Silver Leaf Handprint and Footprint frame for $49