If your kids are anything like mine, once they see the decorations coming out they are right there wanting to help. While we always want to encourage children’s independence and a sense of accomplishment, you cannot always just hand them the fragile snow globes to place on the edge of the end tables. I have a better idea for how to get the kids to help with the holiday decorating. How about getting your children to create their own holiday trinkets! Here are a few simple craft ideas that your kids will love to create, then decorate the house with.

A simple craft is to pull out the crayons and card stock paper, then make the suggestion for your kids to make their own Christmas cards for their friends at school. Add in the glue and some green, white & red pompoms to see where they take their holiday cheer. You might find Frosty the snow man waving hello or Santa brushing the soot from his jolly red suit. They will love any excuse to pull out their doodlebugz crayon apron (pink stripe) anyway. Get drawing! You just might find that you get one too to add to your Christmas cards!

If you think that you can handle a little bit of confetti at the craft table, then grab some scissors for another classic winter craft that all kids love – paper snowflakes! Give your children a stack of paper and watch the snowflakes appear. I bet you won’t see two the same! They can even decorate the edges with a little silver or gold glitter glue once they are done creating their delicate flakes. Stick them to your windows. Hang them on the tree. You could even use a few for personalized Christmas cards for Grandma  and Grandpa. You certainly won’t fret over these ornaments, as there will be plenty more where they came from over the weeks to come! Heck, you could even try your hand at making a chain of them to dangle from the mantel, instead of the simple paper chains that are always so popular with young artists!

This cute craft is a great one for the kids to make for Holiday gifts for their teachers -Rudolph paper cups. Grab some left over paper cups from your Thanksgiving gathering and put paint smocks on the kids to get dirty! You will need brown and pink paint, pipe cleaners for antlers and of course a red pompom for his nose. Little thumbs are perfect to make Rudolph’s cheeks rosy. Now you just need to add googly eyes, some felt ears and some tasty nibblies to fill your cup with!

One of my favorite holiday nibblies has got to be shortbread cookies. Why not try Lemon Lavender Shortbread this year! The kids will love to put their aprons back on and help with this too. And Babybox.com has star is born cookie cutters to help your little ones shape the stars too!

Lemon Lavender Shortbread

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups unsalted Butter, softened
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup icing sugar, sifted
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, sifted (approx.)
• 1/2 cup cornstarch, sifted
• 1 1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest (about ½ lemon)
• 1/4 cup coarse sugar
• 2 tbsp finely chopped dried lavender
• 1 egg white, beaten

Directions:
In a large bowl, beat the butter with the sugar using an electric mixer, for 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch and lemon zest. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture; stir until just combined. Form dough into a 1 1/2-inch (4 cm) thick disc; wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until firm.

Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Roll dough out, on a lightly floured surface, to be 1/4-inch (5 mm) thick. Cut dough with a 2-inch (5 cm) cookie cutter of any shape. Re-roll scraps and cut additional cookies until all the dough is used. Place cutouts on parchment-lined baking sheets; refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine coarse sugar with lavender. Lightly brush cookies with egg white and sprinkle with sugar mixture. Lightly press the tops to ensure the lavender sticks to the dough.

Bake cookies, in batches, for 12 to 15 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned around the edges. Cool cookies on baking sheet for 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

NOW you just have to make sure that enough of them last to share with the children’s teachers! Have fun decorating!

The chill in the air just won’t go away. The sun has begun to set noticeably sooner and rises a little later each morning. A warning of frost drifts on the breeze and I know even before I look at the calendar what day it is. Today is the first day of Autumn.

It would not be Autumn without the beautiful leaves that blaze into their glory in shades of reds, yellows and oranges, before drifting on the  wind to their winter homes. Caroline Blum has captured the beauty of the season here in this gorgeous piece. This “Autumn Blossom” wall art from Oopsy Daisy by Caroline Blum is an incredibly vibrant and colorful depiction of the autumn season. This top quality canvas reproduction is made using the Giclee printing process and has the look and feel of an original painting. Each canvas is stretched over wood bars, glass-free, and comes ready to hang! No framing is required. This is the ideal surface for kids’ rooms as there is no glass to break! Artwork is finished on all sides and comes with a wire hanger for wall mounting. It can easily be wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth. Makes a great gift idea. Designed by artist Caroline Blum and it comes with the designer’s biography attached to the back.

It isn’t just the trees busy at this time of year. Farmers are also out toiling in their fields, collecting the last of the season’s bountiful harvests. As their wares pile up at farmer’s markets everywhere, they offer temptation to all to take the fruits and vegetables of the farmer’s  labors home to the supper table. If you are thinking about sharing some of the harvest feasts with friends or relatives, then better start planning now and get those invitations out! These personalized invitations “Autumn Harvest” are perfect for inviting friends and family to a party or other special event such as engagements and anniversaries! Choose from several font styles (Shown here is Sweetheart font). Personalize these invitations with 10 lines of text to announce your special event. These 5″ x 7″ flat cards are perfect for invitations or announcements!

And while there might be some heat left later in the afternoon on some days, the mornings are starting to feel pretty crisp nowadays. That isn’t bound to change any time soon either. While  Babybox.com already highlighted some warm new clothes for Mom, we thought that you might be worrying about the kids too. The new Bella Bliss quilted riding jacket is an ideal choice for the cool Fall days ahead. Medium weight, with snaps up the front, this jacket is both cozy and easy to wear. Coordinating gingham border along lining which peeks out at cuffs and front when open. In both camel and red, in sizes 4-12 years, you might want to get one for the fall and another for the spring!

Let’s face it. There will be more wet days ahead, and we are bound to see the mercury drop even further before we are ready for it, so perhaps now is a good time to take stock of the kids toys too. For those wet days, when you just don’t want to face the fact that Autumn has arrived, why not pop up the charlotte play tent by lucy and michael, and let the children go wild inside instead.

This Charlotte play tent by Lucy and Michael is perfect for any baby’s big brother or sister to play in. Imaginative play at its best! Children love the lined doors and paned windows in each lucy & michael play tent. Parents love the design – solid, painted wood and great prints. The Charlotte model is black and white baroque floral with yellow and black accents. Parents love giving their children an heirloom-quality toy that requires no whistles or lights to delight. And children are amused literally for hours on end as they thrill in occupying a space of their own. Without fail, your child’s friends and play dates will beg to “go in the tent!”

You can’t beat that on a rainy Autumn day!

Across the country children have returned to school for another year, or are anxiously counting their last few days of freedom before it begins. Honestly, we don’t know why back to school time can be dreaded so much though. The start of the school year is an exciting time of learning and fun! Children get to see friends they haven’t seen all summer, meet new friends and teachers, plus get to start participating in all the great extracurricular activities that have been dormant all summer. Yes, after the day’s learning is done and the bell has rung, it is time to head out for the extracurricular activities that help to make your child a well-rounded individual. Whether it be football, ballet, lacrosse or piano lessons, get your children signed up for something soon and watch them blossom into the fabulous people they long to be. In honor of all the fun, Babybox.com would like to highlight some of the sports and activities that are available out there for your child, and that you might like to bring home for your child.

If lacrosse is the game of choice at your house, look what we have here. The “Lacrosse Athlete” wall art from Oopsy Daisy by Aaron Christensen uses large icons of the game and bold colors to make modern artwork. This top quality canvas reproduction is made using the Giclee printing process and has the look and feel of an original painting. Each piece is stretched over wood bars, glass-free, and comes ready to hang! No framing is required. This is the ideal surface for kids’ rooms as there is no glass to break! Artwork is finished on all sides and comes with a wire hanger for wall mounting. It can easily be wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth. Makes a great gift idea. Designed by artist Aaron Christensen and it comes with his biography attached to the back.

When football is on your child’s mind all the time, why not think about putting it on their chests too! This personalized football pattern classic long sleeve tee shirt (youth size) will look adorable on any boy. Designed with red, brown and white football print, it is classic and unique. Same style as our classic style long sleeve tee, but available in larger sizes for older children. Made from 100% cotton and easy to care for. While youth sizes come in 8, 10 and 12, we also carry infant and toddler sizes, as well as short-sleeve, capsleeve, tank tops and baseball tees available in this design.

For your little prima ballerina, give her a ballerina all her own to love. The Ballerina Pal Knit Doll is the perfect way to enjoy a playdate. The adorable ballet dancer is decorated with a hand knit dress complete with fun tutu. So soft and cuddly, this Sweeters Pals can be personalized and done with brown or blond hair. She can practice her pliés, then get her knit doll to copy everything that she does! It makes a great companion for any girl.

Every baby boy will love this sports-themed baby blanket personalized with their name! Choose from three super-soft fabrics in a wide array of colors to make this blanket the perfect complement to any nursery, stroller or play area. Part of the charm of this blanket is that each is handmade. Each design is hand-traced and cut by hand, and a lot of attention to the special requests made for each blanket. As a result, it generally takes four to six weeks for an order to be completed.

Do your kids live, dream and eat everything sports related? Here we have perfect thing for just that child – the sports baby plate. It is ideal for your sporty little boy or girl! With fun, kid print in the center and sports equipment bordering its edge, this plate will bring smiles to every meal. The border is hand-painted including items from all sporting activities, from football to tennis. In the center you can personalize the plate with any name you wish. The plate is orderable in two sizes, 8.5 or 10.5 inches and can have a custom message on the back.

Do you have a budding musician at your house? This Schoenhut’s® “Elite baby grand piano” is designed keeping the three-to-nine-year-old in mind. This toddler sized piano is the perfect choice for introducing a young child to the world of music. This piano is fun and educational (and also extremely durable). It is the ideal instrument to promote eye-hand coordination and develop musical creativity. This smaller version of grand piano is designed for a child with serious musical aspirations. Perfect for practicing at home after music lessons.

Whew, is it ever HOT out! Is there any end in sight for this heat wave? My goodness, I think North America is melting, with us along with it.

It feels like we are in Connecticut anyway.

How are you staying cool this summer? Do you have the central air blasting? Is the window shaker taking the edge off the humidity in your house? Or are you living at the pool, be it yours, the neighbors or the public pool up the road? Anyone living near a beach want to share some of the luxury of lapping waves against the shore with us here at BabyBox.com? All great ideas to stay cool, but maybe you could share some more ways you stay cool too!

One of the ways we stay cool is by quietly relaxing under the shade of the old oak tree in our fatboy headdemock hammock with stand. The Fatboy Headdemock, created by Finnish designer Jukka Setälä, is the perfect place for reading the paper or taking an afternoon snooze. If you don’t have a tree available, it comes with an optional stand, as well. Made from Nylon fabric in padded layers with internal frame and water-resistant and stain-resistant coating.

How about running through the sprinkler? Look at this cute bathing suit that we have, to slip onto your little girl for some outdoor fun. New for summer 2011, Bella Bliss has introduced their ruffled swimsuit. Made of nylon/spandex with ruffle detail, halter neckline, fully lined. Hot pink and navy sizes 12m-12year. She will squeal with delight as the water cools her off from the sprinkler’s spray. You can breathe easy knowing that she is not only cool and happy, but also stylish too.

Don’t forget the cold drinks! Whether it be lemonade for the kids or an icy cold bottle of zinfandel for the adults, these ice buckets will keep all of your beverages cold this summer. You will even add some style to your next cocktail party with our fabulous new personalized lucite ice bucket. This also makes for a perfect hostess gift! Choose from our stylish swatches + monograms to create your one-of-a-kind gift… or design one for yourself! When you pull a refreshing bottle of water out of the bucket and quench your thirst with it, you will appreciate that you thought to get one of these.

Or maybe your answer is to just get away from it all for a night. Pack your pajamas and your pillow and you are ready to go. Whether you are headed for an air conditioned hotel, campground or just sending your little one down the street for a sleepover at a friend’s house, you need the overnighter by barn dandys. Our drawstring bag holds everything you need for a sleepover. In a variety of fabrics, reminiscent of the beach, camping and more, you might need to get more than one to satisfy your child’s every whim and fancy. Just don’t forget your toothbrush!

So, how are you staying cool this summer? Why not leave us a comment here, on Facebook or with a friendly tweet on Twitter. We’d love to hear from you!

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!

We’re in the money! Or so we hope anyway. Yes, it is Black Friday today. The day to celebrate when we are out of the red and into the black. So, let’s paint it black today;

The Art for Kids Evan Armoire with caning is a decorative choice for any room. The piece has doors with a lovely caned doors and is done in a black base finish and gold gilding. It is crafted from 100% birch and alder wood and made with the finest attention to detail. This is a classic piece that is sure to bring elegance to any room.

The Black Tea Cate Diaper Bag is a stylish way for Mom to bring along all the stuff she needs for herself and baby. The bag is made from wipeable microfiber and equipped with lots of compartments inside and out. Includes a changing pad. You’ll have everything you need and look great.

Here we have the black and white toile silk crib bedding by art for kids. These silk crib linens feature classic gingham combined with sophisticated toile to help create an elegant nursery for your baby. This Four-piece set includes a ruffled black toile bumper, toile and gingham coverlet, 100% cotton fitted sheet and a dust ruffle of gathered black gingham crib skirt.

This fabulous black racer pedal car will zoom with your racer in it. Our Racer was inspired by the famous 1952-1957 Ferrari F2 Racers and other Grand Prix type racers of the era. It’s a beautiful car and so well proportioned that most people are unaware of how big it is. Almost 50% bigger than our other pedal cars, it comes with chrome rims, a chrome steering wheel, chrome knock off spinners, chrome windshield, and a big chrome grille. Adult supervision required.

This Charlotte play tent by Lucy and Michael is perfect for any baby’s big brother or sister to play in. Imaginative play at its best! Children love the lined doors and paned windows in each lucy & michael play tent. Parents love the design – solid, painted wood and great prints. The Charlotte model is black and white baroque floral with yellow and black accents. Parents love giving their children an heirloom-quality toy that requires no whistles or lights to delight. And children are amused literally for hours on end as they thrill in occupying a space of their own. Without fail, your child’s friends and play dates will beg to “go in the tent!”

Happy Halloween to all the little ghosts and goblins that will be out in force this Halloween weekend. It is a great time of laughter and fun, but make sure that the scares are all in how loud the “Trick or Treat!” can be screamed. Here are some tips for having fun and staying safe as the little ones go wandering the neighborhood on Halloween night.

Halloween Sneakers

• Wear bright colored costumes  for ease of  visibility. If your vampire must be dressed in all black, have them wear glow sticks or something reflective so that they can be seen by motorists after dark.  A flashlight is always a great option as well, that most kids will be thrilled to wield and shine everywhere.
• While masks can be spooky scary, they can also limit your child’s vision. A little face paint can do the trick to transform your little angel into a perfect devil, and still allow them to  run to the next house without missing a beat.
• 

  Personalized knit letter sweater

  Depending upon where you live, think about the weather. It can be chilly at night, even downright cold in some parts, so dress your child appropriately in a warm sweater and coat under their costumes.

• The whole neighborhood might sound like a good idea to hit up for loot, but a little forethought beforehand is always prudent. Plan out a route before you leave the house and stick to it, only going to those houses that have their lights on. There will be more than enough candy than the kids will need or you want them to have within a reasonably set boundary.
• If your children are older, a cell phone might be in order if they are going out with their friends. Have them call to check in and make sure that a curfew is set and stuck to for everyone’s safety and fun
• Another option if the weather is inclement in your neck of the woods is going the route of a mall, library or local children’s play place. There are many organizations that set up trick or treating inside or during the day over the Halloween weekend. Check your local listings for details.
• When it is all said and done, there is one last concern to take care of. Go through your children’s loot before you let them jump in, discarding any candy that is unwrapped, in torn packages or has holes in it. For your own sake and their little bellies, monitor how much sugar is ingested in one sitting. While it is tempting to devour everything in sight, too much candy will make a child sick, not to mention wired for sound.

Get out there and have some spooky fun. Have a safe and happy Halloween, from Babybox.com! BOO!!

personalized baby halloween gift set - kitty cat

Kids love to do crafts. Give them a crayon and a piece of paper and watch the designs fly. If you want to add a seasonal flair to your craft ideas, why not try some of these fun ideas;

• Bring some of the leaves you have been jumping in outside into your craft area. Have your children arrange them to their liking on a piece of wax paper (not parchment paper, as it won’t stick). When it is perfect, carefully place  another piece of  wax paper on top of the leaves. Mommy’s turn now! On low setting, iron the wax paper until a seal forms. Let it cool and voila; stained glass for the window or artwork for the  bulletin board

ducduc playtable with paper roll - parker

• If there are some left over leaves, don’t despair and throw them out. Put an old paint smock on the kids and send them to their play table with their basket of leaves and some paint. Give them an assortment of tools for print making, like corks, small plastic tubs, Q-tips or even cotton balls and see what kind of fabulous designs they create on the altogether different canvas of leaves.

plush duck - yellow

There is a definite chill in the air now. September is winding down and Fall has officially begun. While the kids will still be able to get outside and play, you will find them at play inside a little more frequently now. Perhaps a few new toys are in order to keep you little ones entertained?

Why not get crafty and pull out the crayons to surprise your little girl with this cute doodlebugz pink stripe crayon apron? The Crayon Apron comes complete with a pad of paper, perfectly sized for small hands, and 10 washable crayons. With an adjustable hook and loop closure in the back, not only is it easy to put on and take off, it can be worn even as the child grows! With personalization available, this gift is as irresistible as the little girl who will be wearing it.

If imaginative play is more your little one’s style, they will love to receive a new play mail set that will be sure to provide hours of pretend fun! They can send pretend mail, postcards or parcels to Mom, dad, cat, doggie, brother, sister, boyfriend or girlfriend. Velcro system will let your child use the stamps or other mail pieces over and over again. The set includes 27 pieces, from a mailbox and flag, to a drawstring mail bag, shipping box, 3 postcards, 2 envelopes, 6 stamps, 6 address labels and even 6 messages. This set is sure to provide hours of fun and entertainment.

If it is physical activity you are looking for, why not check out the blue pool bear activity mat for you baby? This versatile playmat will be a welcome addition. It’s an Activity Center with a 50cm inner pool diameter, three toys tucked into the inner ring. and the bottom pad provides comfort and peace of mind while providing a secure environment for your new arrival. As a bonus for Mom, the front side detaches easily with its large safety buttons and magnets to become a comfortable Nursing Pillow. As always, most everything Kaloo is front load machine washable and dryable, so you don’t have to worry about any spills or messes. With the front end off the Pool, it then converts into a playful Changing Station. That’s not all! In a final bit of cleverness, the pad can be completely detached (again via the Safety buttons and magnets) to become a Back Rest, for years of regular use. All of that in one attractive toy!

Maybe the adventure can just live on in your child’s mind though. If you have an avid reader on your hands, they will love this personalized book. In My Very Own® Pirate Tale, entertaining sea creatures bring letters to spell out the name of the child whom they’ve chosen as the perfect first mate for the pirate ship. At the end of this swashbucklin’ adventure, your child’s name is revealed as the secret to opening the treasure. This keepsake book includes the child’s birth date and a dedication from you! This swashbuckling adventure is for boys and girls ages 0-10 with the pronouns changed appropriately from he/him to she/her. It even comes with a colorful gift box that serves as a book jacket to preserve the book for years to come. The book slides into the jacket to be stored safely on the shelf for years of adventure to come.

Onward and upward on our alphabet Odyssey!

O is for Oopsy daisy. Yes, that means Fine Art for Kids.  With more than 35 artists and over 300 works of art you can feel good about selecting some of this beauitful artwork, especially as a portion of annual sales are donated to charities that directly assist children.

P is for personalized. Yup,  we’ve got you covered here. Choose from personalized burp cloths to baby clothes, from personalized plates to pillows. If you want that special gift that just says YOU, then Babybox is the place to be for personalized anything.

Q. While Q is sometimes a hard letter to come up with words for, you will never fail to come up with a word when you discover Q Collection Junior’s line of children’s furniture and crib bedding. It  is one of the newest collections at BabyBox.com. Q Collection has been known for creating beautifully designed furniture and textiles that are safe for people and safe for the planet. The entire line of children’s furniture and bedding is made to the toughest environmental standards anywhere. Everything is designed to eliminate anything harmful or toxic in the products themselves, or in the way they’re made. Truth is, no furniture company does more to protect our children and their planet than Q Collection Junior.

Relax, R is for rocking chair where we nestle each night. Race into my arms, where we can rock to your hearts delight.

sigh. S is for sleep sack and this one is super cute! You will wonder how you could ever get along without one once baby is snuggled close next to you.

T is for toys! I am sure you knew that was coming. Babybox has one for everyone on your list, so check out their toy selection quick to keep the fun running.

U is for umbrellas, as in every life a little rain must fall. With your own personal monogrammed umbrella though, the rain will only bring smiles, as you won’t be able to wait to bring out your snazzy outerwear accessory. Until next time keep those feet of yours tapping in the puddles of life.