I’ve never had to buy a crib, but I’ve been a part of many conversations with my frustrated friends on the hunt for cute (but not cutesy!) baby and kids’ furnishings. Now, I finally have an easy answer for them: Restoration Hardware has just launched their new baby&child collection. The look and style are reflective of the grown-up Restoration Hardware brand: the lines are clean; the materials and craftsmanship are top-notch; and the results are classic and sophisticated pieces appropriate for parents who care about function and fashion. They’ve also done a good job at making most of the collection coordinating, but not matching. It’s an easy task to design just the room you want.

The baby&child collection includes: white and espresso finished furniture pieces, such as convertible cribs, beds, changing tables, dressers, bookshelves, etc.; upholstered gliders; bed linens in pretty palettes of petal, silver sage, and cloud; rugs; lighting; wall art; bath linens; window treatments; and even plush toys. They really have provided a one-stop shopping source for pint-size decorating.

And, if you’re not in the market for cribs and beds, it’s also a great source for gifts. I love to give my “new mom” friends Moses baskets and I was so excited to find several cute designs in the collection. It’s always fun to find a new source!

Visit their website to see the entire collection.

—Jennifer Kopf

Technorati Tags: Restoration Hardware, nurseries, kids’ rooms, children’s rooms, children’s furnishings, cribs, bedding, Moses baskets

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Easter sneaks up on us early this year—only one week away! No matter what your religious beliefs, the holiday provides the perfect excuse to shop for adorable, irresistible egg-, bird-, and bunny-themed finds for friends and family–or your own abode. So hop to it! Herewith, sweet treats that are far from saccharine

1. A vignette of Ritzenhoff’s kooky-cool egg cups (above) is like having a little party on your tabletop.

2. Toronto ceramicist Xenia Taler’s lovely hand-painted, egg-shaped plaque—even the scary snake is charming!

3. Monica Lubkowska Jonas’s cleverly colorful Wobble glasses, which rock on curved bottoms.

4. Delightful handmade bird platters by Tennessee artisan Susan Smith.

5. Send seasonal sentiments with Savannah College of Art & Design alum Tiffani Taylor’s beautifully rendered Nest note cards.

6. I cannot resist these cuddly eco-chicks, made from reclaimed sweater scraps!

7. Stash your hand-painted Easter eggs in Josh Jakus’s witty industrial felt cups—or use them year-round to stash jewelry. (Um, or pears.)

8. Fresh’s soaps have the prettiest paper packaging. And these garden magnolias will last even longer than just-picked blooms.

9. In case you’ve OD’d on adorableness, how about these weird but wonderful cast-pewter bird feet sculptures by Swallow?

10. OK, these don’t exactly fall under the category of “decor,” but I just love a high-design cookie—especially ones shaped like bunnies. I mean, really!

Happy Easter! —Jen Renzi

Technorati Tags: Top ten Easter gifts, egg shaped designs, bird-themed finds, hand-painted ceramics, Xenia Taler, Monica Lubkowska Jonas, MoMA Store, colorful glassware, Susan Smith, Uncommon Goods, holiday themed note cards, Savannah College of Art & Design, Tiffani Taylor, eco-friendly stuffed animals, Branch Home, Josh Jakus, jewelry storage, Fresh, flower-scented soap, Ritzenhoff, Red Envelope, modern egg cups, Easter cookies

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When I was thrown a baby shower I ended up with enough onesies that my daughter would never have to wear the same one twice, despite the fact that I’d registered for very practical presents with nary a onesie in the mix.

Afterward, it occured to me that people, experienced parents included, really like to give cute gifts, even if they aren’t as useful as a diaper bin.

So when I told the fabulous Brooke Showell of UrbanBaby my plight and she agreed to offer up her top 10 baby shower gifts, I was excited to see what she’d come up with. Turns out I’d have been extra psyched if my baby booty had included her recommended loot. See for yourself with Brooke’s great guest blow below.

10 Great Baby Shower Gifts
By Brooke Showell

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The baby world has traded ducks and bunnies for serious design – as in David Netto’s nursery line, Lela Rose’s new Quinny stroller and all that mini-me fashion. A baby shower is the perfect time for glam goodies. But how do you make your carefully chosen gift stand out in the heap of blankies and burp cloths? At UrbanBaby we’re always looking for the latest gear that’s cool and practical. Here are some of our picks for shower gifts with “wow factor.”

1. Bloomers Baby Diaper Cakes

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You can never have too many diapers, and this couture diaper cake does the trick. It’s tied with beautiful ribbon and wrapped in tulle, and looks good enough to eat. People on the subway actually stopped me on my way to a shower to ask where I got it (Note: Do not ride the subway with a giant diaper cake).

2. Build Your Own Box from Sophia Bean

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Soledad O’Brien tipped me off on these custom gift sets, and I’ve passed on the tip to my girlfriends – one even sends them overseas to colleagues in Hong Kong. You choose all the onesies, blankets, bibs and hats your heart desires, and they’ll wrap them up in a cute little cardboard box.

3. “This is” books by Miroslav Sasek
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It’s never too soon to start building baby’s library. This series of travel books for little jet setters offers an inside look of cities like Paris, San Francisco, New York and Rome in the 1950s and 1960s. The books have been reissued for modern babes, and the illustrations still hold their charm.

4. Hushamok hammock

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New Zealand is the latest epicenter of cool baby gear. This new Zen-like swing/cradle is perfect for nature-loving parents – you can use it indoors or outdoors, and it travels well.

5. Puella Petit

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We just cannot resist the ruffled bloomers and sweet little tops in this girls’ collection, inspired by its LA-based women’s line, Puella (Kate Hudson is a fan).

6. Pastel Toys
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With all the noisy, plastic electronic gear out there, any new mom will love an old-fashioned twist on toys. These charming wooden trucks and trains are handmade in Israel by adults with special needs.

7. Skip Hop Splash bottle drying rack, Chow baby food organizer and Toolbox diaper caddy

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The design of these accessories is so modern and cool – not to mention space saving – that you won’t mind keeping them out on display.

8. Serena & Lily Crib Bedding

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There’s a lot bedding out there. But Serena & Lily’s prints are simple and sweet yet not too cutesy. And we love the coordinating eco-friendly paints.

9. Mama Mio New Mama Kit
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A shower is all about the baby, but Mom’s got some hard work to do, too. These luxe creams keep a beauty junkie satisfied while her skin is going through some major changes.

10. JJ Cole Changing Pad & Tote

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This portable pad fits into a larger diaper bag, or can be carried as a tote. The pad’s modern stripes and cool color combos don’t scream “diaper.”

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Still want more ideas? Visit UrbanBaby. It’s an ultrahip source for all things parent and child.

Technorati Tags: designer, baby shower, gifts, diaper, bag, crib, chic, trendy, furniture, swing, handmade toy

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Did you know that August is the number-one month for birthdays? Well, it is–every single year. Know that what means? That there is a lot of hanky panky going on each November, for starters. But more importantly, it means that if you’ve got pregnant or mommy friends, within the next six weeks at least a few of them are going to be extending you an invitation to see the new baby or celebrate little Max or Chloe’s birthday.

I don’t know about you, but I HATE dashing out at the last minute for baby and kid gifts because I always like to go for the fab factor–the creative, stupidly cute stuff that makes even adults go gaga–and rarely are gorgeous (and affordable) presents found when you’ve got 15 minutes to sprint to the store.

So as you check your calendar for upcoming annual fetes, consider the following oh-so-cute designer baby hangers.

Available at Ladybug Art, they’ll run you $36 for three of their standard designs or $50 for three personalized hangers. Though the prices are too steep for me to rationalize buying them for my girl, who incidentally turns two this August, they are definitely in the good-present price range and will stay in favor with recipients for years to come.

Oh! And yes, they DO sell equally cute hangers for adults and even dogs (as seen below).

Now that’s ruff!

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: baby gift, child gift, fashion, present, dog, baby shower

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Continuing my new guest blogger program, next up is Jenna Park of Babygadget. A fab mommy and writer, this Glam Network star regularly clues readers in on what’s hot in the world of all things baby. I asked her to throw down her favorite kid-friendly finds for summertime fun and she kindly came back with enough cute and practical stuff to make me want to blow this month’s budget. Read on for how to beat the heat with the coolest kid-friendly summer essentials.

Thanks, Jenna and take it away….

Jenna Park on Summer Must-Haves
I admit that summer is not my favorite season, but as I sit here on my balcony in Brooklyn on a particularly cool, breezy evening (such a respite from that recent heat wave!), I can’t help but look forward to the days ahead. Now that I have kids (a baby and a toddler), their enthusiasm for beach trips, picnics and other warm weather activities is especially contagious. So in that spirit I wanted to share some of my favorite products for summer that have been featured on Babygadget.

Gingham Insulated Lunch Sacks
These gingham lunch sacks in insulated oilcloth are just about the most summery accessory I’ve seen, evoking images of old-fashioned picnic spreads and gingham-lined baskets of warm muffins.

check out these cute lunchsacks and more

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Fatboy Headdemock Hammock
Nothing, and I mean nothing, says summer like lounging on a hammock, and this version from Fatboy called the Headdemock Hammock, is roomy and family sized. Available in eight colors and made of coated nylon for easy cleaning, the hammock comes with a self-standing base which means there’s no need for trees and you can use it indoors.

This and tons of other colors here.
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Lego Ice Trays
How fun would it be to serve drinks with ice cubes shaped like Legos? These silicone trays make 10 blocks and if your kid is anything like mine, you won’t be able to keep these in glasses since she’ll probably want to fish them out and start building.

Lego.com for other kid-cool stuff
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Pazitos Sandals for Kids
I really love the mossy green, center seam sandals from Pazitos. The unisex design is a bit of a relief from the abundance of girly styles that are designed with flowers and bows, but the best part? These sandals, as well as 3 other styles from Pazitos, are on sale for only $20 from its original price of $50. Yes, $20 dollars!!

order your tot these must haves here

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Seat Chiller
If you’ve ever felt your child’s carseat after it’s been sitting in the sun, you know how extremely hot it can get, particularly all the metal bits from the straps. The Seat Chiller is a simple gadget that can help cool carseats in a matter of seconds. Just take it out of the freezer and place it on the seat. Ice packs enclosed in the vinyl and flannel exterior cool down the seat before you put your kid in. So simple, but such a great idea.

Check out this and other must-have baby gear here.

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Cabana Life
UV protective clothing is nothing new, but I haven’t seen clothes this lightweight and stylish as the collection of 50+ UV protective clothing from Cabana Life (most clothing has a protection of 5). The dress is very sweet and the lifeguard tee, which I’ve seen in stores and was impressed by the quality, comes in the most delicious combination of aqua and green.

Cabana Life
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Tovolo Popsicle Molds
I think everyone has fond memories of pouring juice into ice cube trays and licking up the frozen treats during the summer. Here’s a little kitchen tool that will do one better than an ice cube tray, freezing juice into perfect popsicle molds with a base that will also catch drips.

you can order these here
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Swimming Cap Toiletry Bag
Bet you never thought that those old-fashioned rubber swimming caps would make such good pouches. But think about how waterproof they are and I bet you’d come up with half a dozen uses right off the bat. And because they’re so stretchy, you can stuff them…and then some. These refurbished models are the same exact design and shape as the originals and are even made in the same factory.

more from Charles and Marie

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Paige Ribbon Tie Dress from Jolie and Jane
One of the things I love about summer is how easy it is to get the girls dressed in the morning – no layers, no socks, no sweaters, not even pants – just slip a dress on and you’re ready to go. Since I have two girls, I relish in all the adorable dresses that are available, and this one, from Jolie and Jane, is one of my favorites. Made of cool linen in a soft, almost faded-by-the-sun stripe pattern, the dress features ties at the shoulders and pretty pouch pockets. My older one wore it all summer last year and this summer it still works as a top with shorts. At 50% off at Cupcake Boutique, it’s too good to pass up.

Cupcake Boutique
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Des Moines Tote
There’s something about the warm weather that inspires us to put away our structured leather bags and reach for a casual tote. Summer’s not summer without a good tote bag and this woven recyclable plastic mesh tote from Tote Le Monde might just be the perfect one. It’s large enough to pack all your beach gear and chic enough to tote around town.

Chic and colorful bags for everyone here

Technorati Tags: baby gear, babygadget, cool summer

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