Fall Fun - Thanksgiving Books and Movies for Kids

Here are just a few of the great Thanksgiving books and movies that are out there.  These would be wonderful to read and watch with your family this Thanksgiving season.  (Make sure to check your local library for these first!)

• Check out this list of The Top 6 Thanksgiving Movies for Kids.
• Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit
• Happy Thanksgiving, Curious George
• What is Thanksgiving?  (Perfect for explaining Thanksgiving to little ones!)
• The First Thanksgiving
• The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks

Make sure to check out our other Thanksgiving ideas, too!

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

*Image from clipartclipart.com 

Last Minute Children's Halloween Costumes

Halloween is only 4 days away!  If you still haven't bought or made your child a costume, don't panic - there's still time to make an awesome costume that your child will love!  (And it doesn't have to cost a fortune or take a long time.)  Here are a few ideas -

• Take advantage of your child's dress up clothes.  For example, start with a princess dress and add a tiara, make up, and dressy shoes.  
• Embellish existing clothing.  Use colored electrical tape and silver duct tape to turn a red jacket into a fireman's coat.  Add a hat for a quick and cute costume.
• Turn black clothes into a bumblebee costume by adding stripes of yellow electrical tape, a pair of antenna (attach pipe cleaners to a headband), and wings.
• This jellybean costume is simple and adorable!

Make sure to check out our previous costume ideas (don't worry, they're not hard or time consuming either)!

• Cow
• Cat
• Lion
• Scarecrow

Do you make or buy your children's Halloween costumes?

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

How to Get Your Children Involved on Thanksgiving Day

Instead of staying holed up in the kitchen alone on Thanksgiving Day, why not get your whole family involved in the cooking process?  Older children can make simple recipes by themselves (with supervision, of course), and even young children can help with easy tasks.  Here are a few ideas -

• Tear up bread for homemade stuffing.
• Help mash potatoes.
• Set the table.
• Bring guests' dirty plates into the kitchen after the meal.
• Pass out dessert.
• Take drink orders and bring drinks to guests.
• Make place cards for guests.
• Roll out biscuit dough.

For lots of fun ideas, check out our other Thanksgiving posts - part 1 and part 2.

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Organizing Tips for Kids - Off Season Clothes

Now that fall has arrived, it's a great time to box up your children's summer clothing and make room for winter wear.  Here are a few tips to make the process easier -

• Start by sorting through all the clothing.  Get rid of anything that's stained or in bad shape.  Set aside outgrown pieces in good condition to save for younger siblings or to donate.
• If you have a lot of clothes left, sort them into categories - shorts and skirts, outerwear, shirts, etc.
• To save space, place clothing in zippered storage bags and suck all the air out with your vacuum.  Then place the bags into a box and label it with the season, gender, and sizes inside.

*Tip - Make sure to keep a few warm weather pieces out for warm days.

 How do you keep off season clothing organized?

*Have you taken advantage of our 20% off coupon?  It's only good through today, so head over to our website to start shopping!  Click on this link to have the code applied automatically.

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Fall Fun - Thanksgiving Crafts and Activities Part 2

Thanksgiving is getting closer and closer!  Here are a few more fun ideas for your family to try -

• This turkey shirt would be adorable for your child to wear on Thanksgiving Day.  If you don't sew, just use hem tape or maybe even fabric glue.
• Watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.  Have a snack of buttered toast, pretzels, popcorn, and jelly beans after you watch the movie.
• Make a Fruit Gobbler (this would be a cute centerpiece/decoration, too!).
• Make Egg Carton Ships (these would be great for place cards).
• Make Oreo Turkeys.

Make sure to check out our other Thanksgiving ideas!

*Don't forget - we're offering a 20% off coupon on all orders until TOMORROW!  Click on this link and it will be automatically applied to your order.  Don't miss out!

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Gift Ideas - Black Friday

Black Friday can be a scary day for shoppers.  You never know when you might get shoved or stepped on because someone just has to have one more $5 coffee maker.  But, in spite of all the craziness, it can be a good time to get some great deals on Christmas gifts.  Here are a few sites that provide ad previews. 

• http://www.blackfridayad.net/
• http://www.theblackfriday.com/
• http://www.blackfriday.info/
• http://www.2011blackfridayads.com/

To make the most of your Black Friday shopping, make a list of everyone you're buying Christmas gifts for.  Include sizes and any gift ideas that you have for them.  Also make a list of the specific items that you're looking for at each store.  Prioritize your shopping and go to the stores with your most wanted items first.  A lot of stores have limited quantities, so you'll need to be there early.  Bring a friend to make it more fun and so you can help each other find items quickly.

*Make sure you also take a look at the top holidays gifts for 2011 - you may even be able to find a deal on one of them on Black Friday!

Do you shop on Black Friday?

*Don't forget to take advantage of our 20% off coupon - it's only valid until this Friday!  Click on this link to use the coupon - it will be applied automatically.

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

*Image source

Limited Time Offer!!

We're offering 20% off your order through Friday, October 21st.  Just visit our website through this link ONLY and the discount will be applied to your order - no code is necessary.  Don't forget, this link is only valid until the 21st, so don't miss out!

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Fall Fun - Thanksgiving Crafts and Activities

Thanksgiving is only 41 days away!  Now is a great time to try some fun Thanksgiving crafts and activities with your children, and to help them focus on all their blessings.  Here are a few craft ideas (they can also double as Thanksgiving decor!) -

• Pine Cone Turkey
• Gratitude Mobile
• Pilgrim Napkin Rings
• Bubble Wrap Indian Corn

And a few activity ideas -

• Learn about the Pilgrims' voyage on the Mayflower and the first Thanksgiving.
• Volunteer to serve Thanksgiving dinner at a homeless shelter.
• Collect canned goods for your local food pantry.
• Play Cross the Sea.

Make sure to check out our other Fall and Halloween ideas!

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

*Image from LeeHanson.com

Product Spotlight - 10/13

Here are a few of our newest products - visit our website to browse through all our items!

 Precious Moments Tan Teddy Bear Security Blanket

 Pink Plush Baby Doll by Kids Preferred

 Kyle Deena Gray Elephant White Baby Blanket

(Click here to see decorating ideas for an elephant nursery) 

 Carter's Pink Bear Snuggle Blanket Security Lovey

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Gift Ideas - Top Holiday Gifts 2011

Each year there are a few toys that are the must haves for almost every child.  The lists below are a preview of the hottest toys for this Christmas season.  While the lists might not overlap a whole lot, they can still help give you an idea of what will be popular.  If you happen to see a toy that you know your child wants on one of these lists, it's probably a good idea to purchase it early!

• Top 10 Toys for 2011
• Hot Christmas Toys for 2011
• Toys R Us Top 15 Toys

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Mommy and Me - The Pumpkin Patch Parable

The Pumpkin Patch Parable

We're continuing our Mommy and Me series today with The Pumpkin Patch Parable.  It's an adorable story by Liz Curtis Higgs that talks about the transforming power of love.  After you read this book with your family, try some of these ideas -

• Visit a pumpkin patch.
• Carve your own pumpkin. 
• Make sugar cookies and decorate them to look like pumpkins.
• Create pumpkin seed pumpkins.  Write Isaiah 66:2 on the top of the paper.
• Make pumpkin lollipops.

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Decorating Ideas - Tropical Fish Nursery

 Global Baby Tropical Fish Diaper Stacker

Isn't this tropical fish diaper stacker cute?  It would make a great inspiration piece for a nursery.  Not only is it adorable, it can easily be used to create a gender neutral nursery.  Plus, the bright colors are great for helping babies' eye development.  Here are a few decorating ideas to get you started -

• Paint your walls ocean blue.  For an extra pop (and an awesome focal point), paint a mural on one or even all of your walls.  (It's easy - you just need an ocean coloring sheet and a projector.  And painting supplies, of course.  Then just fill in the lines.)
• If you're buying new furniture, consider rattan or wicker.  It will fit well with the tropical feel of the room.  If you prefer wood, stick with a dark wood tone or painted white finish.
• It's the little touches that make a room.  Add fish knobs to the dresser, embellish light switch covers, etc.  
• Create an undersea lampshade by stamping fish on a blue lampshade.  Add green eyelash yarn to the bottom and top for seaweed.  
• Accessorize with fish themed pieces.  Frame pictures of various tropical fish (use some from a child's book so they don't look too technical), ocean life, etc.

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

Starbucks eGift Card Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations crystletellerday (#86), you're our winner!  We hope you enjoy your prize!  Thank you to everyone else who entered!

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique
*Check out our Summer Fun eBook!

*Image from Pam's Clip Art