Once your kiddos have transitioned into full-size beds, and your family's baby days are officially over, every mom faces the question of what to do with their very first sleep space. You may have seen our gallery of the best ways to repurpose your crib, but then there's the question of what to do with that miniature mattress. Here, we've rounded up 10 clever ways to give your crib mattress a new life — from a dog bed to a reading nook, and beyond!
Royal baby fever is spreading as we await the arrival of Kate Middleton and Prince William's baby. The heir to the throne is sure to be gifted luxurious clothing and baby gear, but the tot isn't the only one who will be raking it in next month. According to analysts, the British economy may see a $380 million boost due to baby's birth, and that will mostly come in the form of royal fans buying just about anything that screams of babies and Great Britain — think onesies, strollers, booties, and more! With that in mind, we sought out our favorite British finds for little ones — be it the future king or queen of England, or your own little prince or princess!
Circle of Moms Moms Are Talking About 
When it comes to favorite Summer motifs, whales rule the ocean blue! From the bathtub to the bedroom, there are plenty of fun ways to incorporate these beloved creatures of the sea into your kids' decor, wardrobes, and more. Thar she blows!
Nothing screams "Summer's here!" quite like a ripe, juicy bite of watermelon. Take advantage of the summertime favorite's short shelf life by serving it up in an extra-special way. Whether you're carving a whole melon or turning it into a frozen treat, these nine fun ideas are sure to delight your little ones. Eat up!
Circle of Moms
From The Hunger Games to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a number of movies today are based on popular books. Some moms say there are good reasons to read the book first, while others prefer their child just see the movie. To help you decide whether your teens should only be allowed in the theater after they finish the book, here are four questions to consider.
It wasn't all that long ago that we were amazed by the launch of Orbit's Sidekick, a skateboard attachment for their G2 stroller. The added ride-on fave gives bigger tots the luxury of rolling when their young sibling was being pushed.
Now it looks like Quinny is about to one-up things in the skateboard-loving baby world with plans for the Longboard Stroller. According to our friends at Child Mode, the Dutch stroller company is working with Studio Peter van Riet to "develop strollers to suit the urban lifestyle." The ultimate way to do so? With a stroller that combines mobility with practicality, thus a longboard (skateboard) attached to a stroller seat — providing parents with a mode of transportation and exercise, while still giving tots a safe, comfortable place to sit.
The project is still in development mode, as the designers work to perfect the stroller, ensure its safety, and incorporate testers' feedback. But even in its current state, we're doing a bit of a kick flip over the entire idea. How about you?
When a child is being verbally disrespectful, or as we called it in our home, "emotionally biting" someone, a parent's defensive wall goes up and she screams right back! Circle of Moms member Jodie M. wonders how "to manage her own anger when dealing with oppositional kids." Most parents who are having loud, ugly words screamed at them would react. The question is, "is there another option?" Yes, there is.
First, let me say that I firmly believe that parents should not be disrespected, or have to endure any kind of emotional rudeness, but it does happen. Once it happens a parent feels like there's only one thing to do to stop it: punish! I want to offer another way, one that not only stops the rude and disrespectful behavior in its tracks, but also teaches.
When Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's baby girl made her arrival five weeks early this past Saturday, the couple was likely caught off guard on a number of levels. But the biggest question on everyone's mind? What are they going to name her?! If the proud new parents are indeed still searching for the perfect name for their new arrival, we've come up with 10 celeb-inspired suggestions, all of which start with a "K" (of course)! What's your favorite?
Circle of Moms
Who knew the term "diaper rash" could mean so many different things? All rashes do have one thing in common: they make your baby miserable, and understandably so! Here's a look at the most common diaper rashes and the best ways to treat them, as shared by Circle of Moms members.
Heads up, moms! Baby Matters LLC has recalled its Nap Nanny and Nap Nanny Chill infant recliners as part of a settlement with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Huffington Post via Associated Press reports. Since 2009, the commission said it received at least 92 incident reports — including 5 deaths — involving the products.
To find out which retailers are participating in the recall, read the whole story at The Huffington Post.
Are you planning on having an end-of-school party for your teen? If you do, just be absolutely sure there's no underage drinking, or you could wind up in jail or pay hefty fines, as a Maine couple recently discovered.
We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress Tori Spelling and her ediTORIal by Tori Spelling blog. This week, Tori shares a fun DIY project.
Crafting is more than a hobby in our house. It’s a way of life! As you might recall, I even carry twine around in my purse. Ha ha. We love to craft together as a family. The kids and I usually craft together at least 2-3 times a week. I find it very therapeutic and the kids love it.
Related: Take a Tour of Tori's Store — InventTORI
Today I have some exciting news to share with my fellow craftistas… I recently launched my very own {styled} by Tori Spelling line of jewelry making supplies with Jo-Ann Fabrics and Craft Stores. I am so excited to partner with Jo-Ann and even more excited about the special sweepstakes they are running to go along with it. One of you can win a trip for two to L.A. to craft with yours truly. It’s going to be a ton of fun and I can’t wait to get crafting. So make sure you enter.
But first, I wanted to share my Vintage Pop Silhouettes project that Jo-Ann Fabrics recently featured as a part of their Creativity Made Simple campaign. Check out this super cute (and easy!) project and then enter to win the trip to L.A. to craft with me at a Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft store.
Keep reading for the easy DIY instructions!
Every season, Tea Collection travels the globe for international inspiration, and this Fall, the brand is hitting the Far East. "China is electric. It's alive and optimistic . . . Art that was once rooted in tradition is now rendered with an edge," says Emily Meyer, cofounder and chief creative officer of Tea. Sneak a peek at new arrivals from the Fall collection, many of which were guided by Beijing's traditional blue and white porcelain.
There's more than one way to keep a toddler in his or her crib. Just ask Jeff Frese. After watching his daughter make easy escapes from her crib — during which she interrupted his much-needed sleep — he was desperate to find a safe way to keep her in her place. While crib tents seem like an easy solution, a recent nationwide recall sent the NYC dad searching for a safer solution.
The result: Crib Pants, a footie for active tots that is restrictive enough to keep them in the crib but flexible enough to allow them to move around and play in their space. The pants of the footie have a bat-like wing sewn between the legs that prevents little ones from raising their legs high enough to escape their cribs. The product makes its Kickstarter debut today, where a limited early-backer reward will include two pairs for the price of one at $25. Crib Pants' designers hope to raise $10,000 to "kick" the pants to market. Watch the video that details how the pants came to be, and tell us: would you buy a pair?
"Usually it takes me a good four months to plan a party from scratch (mostly because I'm a control freak who loves to DIY), but for this fairy-tale birthday party, I wanted to incorporate simple decor ideas and create a magical ambiance that anyone can pull together quickly and without much fuss," says Bird, a mom of two, a graphic designer, and the founder of party site Bird's Party. Using her Pink Fairy party printables — full of summery pinks, greens, and butterflies — a cool crafts table, and an amazing toadstool birthday cake, Bird created a whimsical party with decor that feels like an indoor garden. And, true to her mission, it's supereasy to re-create! Keep clicking for all the details.
One surefire way to put a damper on an otherwise great beach vacation? Sunburn! Keep the whole family safe in the shade this Summer with a lightweight, portable umbrella, cabana, or sun shelter that you can easily tote along to the beach. Here are 11 of our favorite picks!
