We might be early, but we want to wish a very happy Grandparents Day to all of the fabulous grandparents out there in the world. The US has officially been celebrating grandparents since September 9th 1979, so we thought that we should too! Grandparents Day is the first Sunday after Labor Day every year, but we shall be with our own grandparents this Sunday, so thought we would send out our love early, so that you can do so too!

We love our very own grandparents enough to even poke a little fun at our blue-rinse grandmas, and grandpas that fall asleep in their easy chairs as soon as they push away from the dinner table. Have you had the pleasure of holding a skein of Gramma’s yarn, while she knits you a beautiful neon blue sweater that you never asked for? Perhaps you have been lucky enough to lick the bowl, after baking shortbread cookies with your Nana. Did your Gramps ever prattle on about the time when he and Uncle Lester and cousin Jimmy snuck out to tip cows in the next town over? I hope you nodded in delight at these antics, because one day you too will be sharing these golden nuggets with your less than interested grandchildren. Oh, but we jest though! Being spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa (until being returned to the care of our folks), was one of the best memories of childhood we have. So BabyBox.com salutes all that Grandparents do today! Here are a few items that we carry that are perfect to keep your very special grandparents in mind.

Celebrate grandparents and our love and affection for them with this hand painted frame. The solid background features an “I (heart shape) my” across the top and “grandma & grandpa” written across the bottom. The sides of the frame feature a coordinating gingham ribbon. Change grandma to oma or grandpa to pop pop or what ever endearment you use. Just enter below what you would like it to say…no additional charge. The frame is 5 x 7 and available in cream/sand or white/sand (as shown). Perfect gift all year round.

Every Grandpa needs a magnetic note pad to help keep track of his tasks! This note pad features specially crafted artwork at the top that says ”We Love Grandpa” along with crayons and paintbrushes. It comes beautifully wrapped in a cello bag with a blue grosgrain bow. Grandpa will be sure to remember who gave him this special notepad each and every time he uses it! BonBon Notes measure 3 3/4″ x 9″ and are printed on recycled warm white paper. As an added appeal, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this product will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and other organizations promoting breast cancer awareness. You can celebrate Grandpa and make a difference int he world at the same time. Perfect!

This personalized grandparents block makes the perfect Grandparent gift. Each side can be engraved with the names of up to three grandchildren, their birth dates and a short gift message from you. If there are not enough grandchildren for all four sides, we will fill empty sides with the grandchildren clip art shown in the product picture. This will be a gift to cherish. This unique little block arrives gift wrapped. Each side of the block measures 2 1/4″ inches.

We know that Christmas is still a ways off yet, but its never too early to plan ahead! Especially when it comes to these Grandma’s angel christmas ornaments! This special ornament from a granddaughter for Grandma will light up your tree and be a wonderful addition to your holiday decorations. Handpainted with a charming angel and colorful accents, this will be perfect for a young girl to give this special person in her life. Each tile is finished at the top with a coordinating ribbon for hanging. Personalized with your child’s first name and year, each ornament is heat sealed using original artwork. It makes a wonderful keepsake.

What do your Grandparents mean to you? We would love it if you shared! Have a super weekend celebrating your Grandparents.

Memorial day weekend is coming up fast! Do you know what you are doing this long weekend? For those of you going camping, have you started to pack yet? If not, why not pack a little bit every day this week, so that you can get away early next weekend. Let’s start by making a checklist. You will need;

• a tent


children's waterproof ponchos

• tarps in case it rains (but it won’t, think positive!)
• ponchos and an umbrella (in case it does)
• a dining tent, if you have one
• roll mats or air mattresses to sleep on (unless you are hardy enough to sleep on the ground)


personalized knit name pillow 10x10 (optional matching blanket)

• sleeping bags enough for everyone
• pillows
• mat for doorway of tent (I always forget that!)
• hand broom to brush dirt out of the tent that will get in regardless of what you do
• lanterns & flashlights
• camp stove


personalized playing cards

• dishes & cutlery
• entertainment for around the campsite (ex. cards, books, balls, butterfly nets, whatever fun things your kids or you might be into)
• food (think breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and don’t forget your condiments!)
• either long skewers or an appropriate knife to whittle a marshmallow stick (it just isn’t camping without smores! – so bring graham crackers, plain chocolate & of course a bag of marshmallows too!)


uv50+ short sleeve sunsuit by snapper rock (pale blue/chocolate/white)

• beach towels & bathing suits (you have to get to the beach at some point between all that food!)
• beach toys
• toiletries and sundry, ie. shampoo and soap to wash all the sand off at the end of the day
• sunscreen for the beach and bug spray for the evenings


boys pima pocket short by bella bliss

• clothing for all (think light long sleeves for when the bugs do arrive,  as well as all the shorts and t-shirts for daytime fun)
• and just maybe a bigger vehicle to pack all that stuff in!

It may seem like a lot of stuff and even more work to collect all the essentials for a weekend away, but once you can sit back and enjoy that special family time together in the great outdoors, you will remember why you love camping so much. So breathe deep, put your head down and dive into that checklist. You will be laughing on the beach with your kids before you know it!

Aw, its raining! What are we supposed to do now Mom?

What indeed? When the rain keeps your little ones inside for the day, do you have any go-to items that help to pass the hours? Do you pull out the puzzles? Grab your apron and bake? Cuddle into a chair to read some of your favorite books? Or maybe you just go back to bed and pull the covers back over your head. Believe us, we’ve been there! We understand!

So the next time you find that the sun has gone on hiatus and you aren’t sure what to do with the kids without going stircrazy, why not pick up a few of these activity ideas. BabyBox.com has loads of ideas on how to keep sunny dispositions in your house, despite gray skies outside. Check out these Mommy sanity-saving ideas for your next wet day this summer;

If it is too wet to go out, then it is a perfect day to work on puzzles! This pirate puzzle is perfect for your little buccaneer. Piece together the galleon, anchor, barrels, maps, a treasure chest, cannons, parrots, a skull and cross bones, shells. Watch out for crocodiles while you’re digging for treasure. You will be laughing before you know it, as you try to find that buried treasure of Family Time between you and your child.

If you have a budding chef in your family, when not pull out the flour, corn starch, icing sugar and butter for shortbread cookies! All kids love to make these easy cookies and will clamor to put on their hot pink children’s sized chef apron and hat set.  You can even personalize it for the young chef! Who can resist a personalized apron and fancy hat to go with it? Not my kids!

Once the flour has been swept off of every square inch of kitchen surface, take your plate of cookies and curl into your favorite chair for story time. The Super Incredible Big Brother book is the perfect choice to make your child feel special. Add to that that it makes for a great gift for a new brother and you will read this book over and over again.  The book comes personalized with the big brother’s name and the name of the new baby. The book reassures big brother that he is loved and appreciated… and it rewards him for helping out and being a “super star” with his new sibling. It comes with a coordinating Super Incredible Big Brother award medal with a place on the back of the medal to write the proud brother’s first name! When you take the time to read it to your little guy, he will know that he is loved and always will be.

If you have done all that and it is only scratching 10 AM, it is time to slow down! While we have loads more ideas in the toys and book departments, you might want to check out our Big Brother & Big Sister gifts as well. Or you could always just hand them an umbrella and shoo them outside for a bit while you clean up and recover for round two in the afternoon!

merry christmas frame

* Poem written by Katherine Krige

Yes, summer is officially here. With temperatures rising and the school bell rung for the final time, now is the time to enjoy all there is to do during summer vacations. My favorite stop is to the beach. Children cannot resist the  lure of picking up sea shells with the lull of ocean’s waves in the background. Truth be told, neither can I. This large shoulder basket bag is inspired by the sea, adorned as it is with a starfish detailing. It is a handy item to tote along to the beach as there is lots of room for sunscreen, a bottle of water, your camera for taking photos of your little ones playing on the shore,  and maybe a good book in case you get a moment to relax yourself. Ha, ha, good luck with that!

With your book quickly forgotten, it is time to dive right into the day. The best wear for the beach is swim ware of course, so pull on your bikini. Well, maybe a tankini to hide the reminders that may be still lingering on your mid-section from your baby’s time spent there. Don’t let that stop you from dressing your bundle of fun up cute though. The Emma Floral bathing suit by MN Bird is darling. The pink dotted tank suit with ruffle is made from from 85% Nylon and 15% Spandex and is comfortable and pretty. It has spaghetti straps that cross at back giving it a stylish and feminine look. For the ultimate set for your little girl, add the matching white bucket hat. This versatile bucket hat is designed from 100% cotton and protects little faces from the sun. Functional and stylish, even while playing hard at the beach!

Ultimately the day must come to an end though. As the sun sets on a perfect day, it is time to pack up all the new found shells, beach toys and gather up the wet towels and bathing suits. If you don’t want to jam the wet suits in with your camera and book, here is a solution. Take along the don’t go changing clothes holder. It is the perfect place to keep wet items you want to keep separate, as it has a waterproof liner.  There is hope that you might return to your book one day.

While the day might fade into memories, you can enjoy the feelings any time with this “A Day At The Beach” wall art from Oopsy Daisy by Mari Takabayashi. It brings the fun and frolic from the beach right  into your child’s room. This top quality canvas reproduction is stretched over wood bars with no glass to break. It can even be wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth. It makes a wonderful addition to any child’s room, playroom or even beach house, so that the beach fun will continue to  last for many moons to come.

Happy Father’s Day to all the Daddy’s out there celebrating being a parent. Becoming a parent is one of the biggest joys offered in life. It is such a privilege to bring a child into the world and raise it with love. Daddies are special guys that help attach band-aids, teach children new skills, provide a back for horsey rides and a myriad of other things. He is a hard worker and today is his day to receive his dues. Pull out all the stops and impress him with a present that shows you are thinking of him.

This father’s day, why not offer the new Daddy some style when it is his turn to tote around the  diaper bag. The SKIP*HOP corduroy duo is the diaper bag for savvy and stylish parents. Its groundbreaking strapping system lets it move smoothly from stroller to shoulder, and its clean, modern design looks fantastic on both moms and dads. No more pink, frilly flowers for him.

This duo is designed to clip neatly and securely over the arms of any stroller, then easily convert to an over-the-shoulder messenger-style bag. Its multitude of pockets and compartments easily organizes diapers, bottles, sippy cups, food and toys, while keeping mom and dad’s phone, PDA, wallet and keys safe and dry. It even comes with a waterproof changing pad, so parents are always prepared. Made from water resistant corduroy, the duo is water resistant, cleans up easily and will last for years. Combining versatility and innovation in a highly functional diaper bag, the duo provides exceptional value for families who appreciate flexibility and style. If this one just doesn’t say him though, check out the rest of the selection at Babybox.  You are bound to find the perfect fit.

After the diaper is on and  adjusted, it is time to play! Daddy will not be able to resist these cute baseball gloves. Welcome a new baby to the Big League of Life with this commemorative Nokona glove! Available in Pale Pink, Baby Blue, Dark Blue, Natural or Red with the infant’s name and birth date custom embroidered into this 9 inch glove. Handcrafted out of Top Grain cowhide by the 75 year old Nokona Athletic Goods Company, this custom embroidered glove will mark the birth of your little ballplayer to be. The smiles will be contagious as Daddy plays with his little star, so be prepared with the camera.

When you print off those pictures, you will want to put them in an extra special frame. The ‘Daddy and Me’ Frame is perfect for placing those father/son and father/daughter photos. The sweet and simple design features “Daddy and Me” across the top and a coordinating ribbon on the side of the frame. Personalize the bottom part of the frame to make it extra special with place and/or date. He will cherish the love and memories for a lifetime. Three cheers to Daddies everywhere!

Say cheese! Snap!

It seems that little ones today are in the lime light from the word go. We take pictures of beautiful pregnant bellies, brand new babies  and it seems like millions of photos of our little characters as they charm us through the years. What better way to show off  all the precious moments than to print them off and hang them where everyone can see.

This Blue & White Polka Dot wood picture frame is the perfect place to display your son’s favorite photo. The frame has a contemporary feel painted with a fun blue and white modern design. Coordinate with other frames in this grouping to give your room a decorator’s touch. The frame is a great accent for any room and makes a fabulous gift! If blue is not your color, be sure to visit BabyBox to check out all the other frames available. You will be sure to find one, if not a handful of unique frames to display all your precious memories.

If there are just too many photos  and not enough walls to display them on, perhaps you should look at photo albums. We think these are the perfect keepsake albums! Unique, stylish and the perfect size to store your important memories. The pages are designed to make documenting memories fun and easy. Like no other album on the market, these are made from the highest quality silk paper from India, handmade and one of a kind. Measuring 14″ x 13″, this post bound album allows ample room to document special memories and allows additional keepsake, photo, or scrapbook pages to be added for an “all in one” place to store memories. The album is protected with an archival, expandable plastic cover that can be removed. Album can hold up to 40 pages with screw extenders. Our albums and pages are acid and lignin free. The keepsake pages are 12″ x 12″ allowing plenty of room to write and add photos or other memorabilia. Each page is unique with clean borders and icons and simple text for documenting baby’s first year. So feel free to keep snapping all those cute photos of your wonderful little person. They grow up so fast. You will want to hold onto all your memories forever.

The official first weekend of summer is here; Memorial Day Weekend! Bring on the sunshine and head to the beach! Let’s have some fun, but before you go, don’t forget to pack a few things.

Your beach bag should hold some key items:

Like this pretty hot pink and white polka dot sunsuit by Snapper Rock is a must have for any babies and toddlers outside. The adorable sun suit provides broad-spectrum sun protection, blocking 99% of all harmful rays. Front easy open zip allows for quick ‘take on and off” Protective zip flap prevents rubbing on delicate skin One piece prevents gaps, reduces sand from entering, holds diapers in place. Perfect for any day or any place in the sun!

Other items you cannot do without when you head out into the sun are your sunhats. Snapper Rock flap hats are a must have for baby’s summer. These ‘stay on’ hats, protect delicate neck and ears and are so soft that tots don’t know they are wearing a hat. Ideal for wearing in the water. They are ultra lightweight, quick drying and breathable, and best of all  have UPF 50+ broad spectrum sun protection.

Last of all, but certainly not least, do not forget comfort. Make your child very happy this summer with their very own beach chair. Whether you are camping in the woods, sunning on the beach, watching baseball or roasting marshmallows on the range, this chair covers it all. Find a place for it in the bag and your child will thank you. So as you unroll your beach blanket and throw out the ball to toss around, have a fun long weekend and play safe.

I love holidays and holiday traditions. Holidays are great times to celebrate, have fun, and bond with your family. Today, Saint Patrick’s Day is widely celebrated in America by Irish and non-Irish alike. Many people, regardless of ethnic background, wear green clothing and items.

FamilyFun.go.com has great St. Patrick’s Day recipes and fun crafts to do. Some of the recipes they feature are: shamrock cupcakes, pot of gold soup, kiwi lime pie, sweet shamrock pretzels & more ! Some of their fun family craft projects include: making a cute leprechaun from a toliet paper roll, making irish hats, and more. They also have St. Patrick’s day games to play and downloadable coloring sheets.

Kaboose.com is also a treasure trove of resources for family fun on holidays. I love their Blarney Stone Craft Project. They have an awesome site map that is a great overview of all the great family stuff they have Kaboose.com.

If you want to perk up your St. Patrick’s Day outfit, check out these Green Summer Lady Bug MaryJane shoes for girls or and these green frog maryjanes for girls or these Leap Froggy sneakers for boys or girls !

“When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” ~Sophia Loren

“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” ~Charles R. Swindoll, The Strong Family

“The phrase “working mother” is redundant.” ~Jane Sellman

“Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials.” ~Meryl Streep