As a mom there are few things better than snuggling up with freshly bathed kids right before bedtime, especially if they are wearing cute and soft pajamas.  Skylar Luna offers the perfect two piece pajama sets for kid and babies.  Made with super soft yarn-dyed 100% organic cotton, these well made pajama sets are nothing but comfortable.   A printed neck label instead of a tag means no irritation while flat interior seams prove that attention to detail really does make a difference.  Available in several different colors and prints including stripes and “bubbles” Skylar Luna pajamas come packaged in a reusable linen bag to minimize waste and retail for around $40.

- Holly Duce

If you ask a sports loving new dad what he most looks forward to with his child, he’ll likely say “tossing a ball around”.  Until that time comes he’ll probably enjoy cuddling up with his new baby and a Teamees sports themed blanket.  These plush blankets are available in four sizes (Pee Wee Small, Junior Varsity Medium, Varsity Medium Satin Back or Varsity Large sizes) and several different styles including basketball, baseball, football and soccer.  Made with a high quality minky fabric, these blankets are super soft and snugly.  Teamees sports inspired baby blankets make a special gift for new and expecting dads, especially for Father’s Day.  Handmade in the USA, Teamees blankets start at around $36.

- Holly Duce

Hasbro has your back for rainy day fun since there’s bound to be days this spring when the weather keeps the kids indoors.  These two toys will keep the kids occupied and their minds engaged!

On May 18th Universal Pictures “Battleship” starring Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker, Liam Neeson and recording superstar, Rihanna will be hitting theaters.  Don’t let the live action end with the movie!  Go head to head with a friend in Hasbro’s Classic Battleship Movie Edition game.  There are three ways to play:

• Traditional — take turns calling your shots
• Salvo — stack up as many shots in one turn as you have ships afloat
• Special Ops (based on the movie) — Use the strategy cards for special powers such as Blitz, Scan, and Reveal as you plot to sink your enemy.

The fun doesn’t stop there.  With the KRE-O Battleship Combat Chopper kids can take their mission to the sky.  This building set features a fighter pilot and a KREON alien figure.  The chopper has a push lever to spin the rotor and launch missiles at incoming alien enemy attacks just like in the movie.

- Holly Duce

Best selling author Andrew Clements has written two children’s books perfect for children to share with their parents for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day:

• Because Your Mommy Loves You —a sweet story about a little boy and his mom who go on a hiking trip and camp out under the stars. Mommy is reassuring but encourages her son’s independence in loving way allowing him to take pride in doing things on his own.
• Because Your Daddy Loves You — a tribute to dads everywhere, this  humous book is about a young child spending the day at the beach filled with minor problems.  Dad affectionately and patiently finds a way to remedy each problem they encounter.

Both books are illustrated by R.W. Alley best known for his illustrations in the Paddington Bear series.  Perfect for celebrating the upcoming holidays these books can be read together with a parent and enjoyed again and again long after the special day has passed.

- Holly Duce

When the sun comes out, there’s nothing like a barbecue to bring the family together for a  relaxing afternoon filled with good food and good company.  Char Crust has the good food part covered with a variety of dry-rub seasonings perfect for broiling, baking and best of all, grilling.  There’s something for everyone:

• Roasted Garlic Peppercorn — a versatile seasoning that compliments seafood, pork, poutry, chicken, potatoes, steak and more features roasted garlic and onions with peppercorns and a hint of Worcestershire and lavender.
• Ginger Teriyaki — The perfect blend of sweet teriyaki and aromatic ginger with a touch of wasabi is great for chicken, fish and steak.
• Amazin’ Cajun — For those how link it a little hot, this  spicy-sweet blend of piquant cayenne pepper, onion, garlic, oregano and a potpourri of other Mardi Gras flavors brings the heat of New Orleans to catfish, chicken, shrimp, and rice.
• All American Barbecue — a tangy-sweet, slightly spicy rub features rich molasses from Memphis, tangy tomato from Kansas City, mustard, pepper and vinegar from the Carolinas, and a hint of smoke from Texas.

Gather the family and fire up the grill!  A 4 oz box  of Char Crust dry rub seasonings retails for around $5.50.

- Holly Duce

Show your mom what a rock star you think she is by making her feel like a rock star in the kitchen if she loves to cook or bake. The KitchenAid Raspberry Ice Artisan Design Series Stand Mixer will look stunning in her kitchen and  give mom the ability to try all sorts of new things with the available attachments.  Use it to make homemade pasta, a batch of ice cream or even for stuffing fresh sausage or for squeezing fresh fruit. The mixer comes with a 5 quart glass bowl with measurement markings and a comfort handle, a burnished C-dough hook, a burnished flat beater and a 6-wire whip.To inspire her and fit in with the theme of the gift, Cook Like a Rock Star by Anne Burrell features 125 recipes, lessons and culinary secrets to add to mom’s repertoire.  Anne’s recipes are infused with bold flavors and what she likes to call “sparkle factor”. Pair these two items for a Mother’s Day gift mom won’t soon forget!

- Holly Duce

If you are a parent you know that getting children to eat healthy isn’t always easy.  You’re likely to try just about anything to promote good eating habits and it doesn’t hurt to have a few tricks up your sleeve.  Enter FunBites.  These kitchen gadgets cut all sorts of food up into fun geometric shapes to get children more interested.  Made from BPA free food grade material, FunBites transforms food such as pancakes, quesadillas, sandwiches, fruit and more into bite-sized hearts, squares, triangles and other shapes.  Use a rocking motion to easily cut through foods then use the matching “popper” to eject the foods without touching them.  FunBites come in a set of 2 and are top-shelf dishwasher safe.  They retail for around $20/set.

- Holly Duce

Exclusively from giggle, the ultimate store for new parents, the CMYK Zen Yoga All-Terrain Stroller.

Bloom has just introduced the CMYK Zen Yoga as the latest addition to it’s stylish and functional baby gear line. Unlike any other stroller on the market today, it features a solar lighting system that allows you to shine a light beam or flash safety hazards so that you can see and be seen.  This stroller boasts a unique folding design that makes it ultra slim for transporting or storing.  The design also allows it to stand upright on it’s own when folded.  The breathable, stain-resistant fabric is vibrantly multi-colored with black accents.  The seat can be switched out with a matching optional Yoga Newborn Nest (also available in monochrome) to accommodate newborns.  On par with the stroller, the Newborn Nest folds flat to less than 6″ for ultimate portability.  The Newborn Nest also acts as a stand alone baby lounger or travel bed with it’s fold out legs.  With the CMYK Yoga All-Terrain Stroller and Newborn Nest you get versatility, convenience and style all at the same time.

- Holly Duce

Who says Easter baskets are just for kids?  Pottery Barn’s spring line features some classy products suited for a more mature adult themed Easter basket. Start with a Grapevine Egg Basket (available in small or large from $34-$69), then add a bottle of wine dressed with a Knitted Bunny Wine Topper.  This lop-eared bunny with black whiskers and a pom-pom tails is hand knit from cotton yarn and slips right over the top of a wine bottle to tie in the Easter theme.  Butterfly and Dragon bottle stoppers ($29.50 for a set of 2) add a touch os spring.  Don’t let the kids have all the fun this Easter, join theme with an Easter basket of your very own!

- Holly Duce

Celebrate spring with two new story books by Jan & Mike Berenstain.  Perfect for an Easter basket surprise, The Easter Story and All Things Bright and Beautiful are the latest additions to The Berenstain Bears series of books which were first introduced in 1962.  In The Berenstain Bears All Things Bright and Beautiful, Brother and Sister Bear take a nature walk with their Sunday school teacher and learn that God is the creator off all things in the beautiful spring environment from strawberries to ducks.  In The Easter Story, the bear siblings and Honey Bear discover the real meaning of Easter isn’t all about chocolate bunnies and jelly beans when they watch a play entitled The Easter Story.  Both of these paperback books come with stickers and retail for $4.99 each.

(image can be linked to http://www.thefind.com/qq-berenstain-bears)