Product Spotlight (4/27)

We've added new items to our website!  Here are a few of our newest loveys and baby blankets.  Visit our site to see the rest!

 Vitamins Baby Blue Horse Security Blanket Blankie Buddy

 Brown White Polka Dots Circles Chenille Baby Blanket

 Green Elephant Security Blanket Lovey by Tiddliwinks

Pink White Minky Dots Hearts Fleece Satin Carter's Baby Blanket

NoJo Blue Minky Dots and Satin Baby Blanket

NoJo Pink Circles and Dots Baby Blanket

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

Organizing Tips for Kids - 5 Toy Organization Tips

Keeping toys organized can be a challenge.  Many toys have lots of little pieces, and then there's the sheer number of toys you're dealing with.  Keeping toys organized is possible - all it takes is a little bit of thought.  Here are 5 tips to help you keep your children's toys organized.  (These ideas are all easy enough that your children can keep up with them, too!)

• Corral stuffed animals in a stuffed animal hammock.  You can buy hammocks made specifically for this purpose, or buy a small one from the outdoor section.
• Toy boxes are great, but it's easy for them to become messy and overwhelming.  Add bins to the inside so different types of toys stay together.
• Speaking of bins - most discount stores sell low shelves that come with matching bins.  Turn this into child friendly toy storage by adding a picture to the front.  This will make it easier for children to put things back where they belong.
• Make use of the space under your child's bed by adding drawers.  These don't have to be built in (although that's a great option!).  Just slide a few plastic ones under the bed and you'll instantly gain a lot of storage.  (Bonus!  This helps prevent things from getting lost underneath the bed.)
• If your child loves Legos, this idea from I ♥ Organizing is amazing!  If you don't have the space (or that many Legos) you could implement something similar with a plastic or wicker drawer set.

How do you keep your children's toys organized?

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

Mother's Day - 5 DIY Gifts for Mom and Grandma

Mother's Day is May 13, and homemade gifts are a wonderful way to show your love.  Here are 5 simple ideas that children can make themselves (with a little adult help). 

1. Yarn covered pencil holder.
2. Stepping stone.  Fill a disposable pie plate with Plaster of Paris.  Have your child make a hand print and then decorate it with glass stones.  Use a stick to write the date or a message.  (Follow the directions on the package for drying time and to remove the stepping stone safely.)
3. Bouquet of photo flowers.  These are super cute!
4. Homemade coasters.  Let children decorate small ceramic tiles with paint pens.  Glue felt or cork to the back of the tile.  
5. Custom candy bars.  Have an adult cut out a piece of paper to the size of a Hershey's bar wrapper.  Children can decorate the paper(s) and then glue them around the chocolate bar(s).

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

Mommy and Me - Corduroy

Corduroy

Corduroy is an adorable story that has been loved by children and adults for many years.  Once you've read the book with your child, try some of these ideas.

• Make your own piggy bank out of a bottle.
• Buy a teddy bear for your child (or go build your own).
• Create a bed for your stuffed animals out of a cardboard box.  Decorate the outside and add a soft blanket and small pillow to the inside.
• Collect buttons from around your home.  Check under sofa cushions and in the junk drawer.  Start your own collection by stringing them on a piece of yarn or putting them all in jar.

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

Earth Day - Crafts and Activities for Your Family

Earth Day is April 22.  This is a great time to teach your children the importance of taking care of our planet, and we've got lots of ideas to help make it more fun.  Try a few of these suggestions with your family.

• Check out What Does It Mean to Be Green from your local library.
• Turn old cardboard boxes into recycling bins.  Cover them with paper (or the plain side of grocery store paper bags) and let your children decorate them.  Label each one with what goes inside (include a picture so younger children can participate as well).
• Talk about how you as a family can switch to more reusable things (reusable containers instead of baggies, cut down on paper towel usage, etc.).
• Make Seeded Paper Bookmarks (once you're through with them they can be planted!).

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

Decorating Ideas - Camouflage Nursery

Green Camo and Cream Faux Fur Koala Baby Blanket

A camo themed nursery is an adorable decorating choice, especially for a little boy.  It's a great way to incorporate the outdoors and the parents' interests.  Here are a few decorating ideas -

• Paint the walls pale green or khaki.  For a fun focal point, paint a large camouflage pattern on one of your walls.
• Choose dark or medium toned wooden furniture.  
• Add in outdoorsy touches around the room, such as photographs of wildlife, child sized camouflage outfits, and a few artificial trees.
• Paint or mod podge wooden letters with a camouflage pattern.  Spell out your child's name or just use their initials.  Hang the letters above the crib.

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

Cleaning with Kids - Clean Your Windows

Cleaning windows is a necessary but rarely done task (at least for most people).  It's not hard to do, it just takes a little bit of time.  It's also a great way to get your children involved in cleaning - no harsh chemicals (especially when you use this homemade window cleaner) and no delicate work - just spraying and wiping.  Older children can use a step stool to reach the top of windows (with adult supervision), or you can do the top of the windows while your children clean the bottoms.  So grab your kids and your cleaning supplies, put on some fun music, and you'll have clean windows in no time!

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

Mommy and Me - The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a classic children's book that all ages can enjoy.  It's also a great way to get your children interested in science.  Once you've read the book, try a few of these ideas -

• Have a sandwich and fruit salad for lunch (include apples, pears, plums, strawberries, and oranges in your fruit salad).  Have an ice cream cone for dessert!
• Make egg carton caterpillars.  Have an adult cut a clean egg carton in half.  Children can decorate it with paint, glitter, and pipe cleaner antennae.
• Learn about the life cycle of butterflies.
• Make Paper Plate Butterflies.
• Visit a butterfly house. (Many zoos and botanical gardens have these - do an internet search to see if you have one nearby.)

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

Product Spotlight - New Blankets (4/10)

We've added more new products!  Here are a few of our newest baby blankets - visit our website to browse through all of our items!

Pink Minky Swirl White Dots Baby Blanket Kyle Deena

Disney Pooh Bear Sage Green Appliqued Baby Blanket 

Cream White Minky Plush Green with Purple Pink Hearts Baby Blanket 

Disney Mickey Mouse Baby Blanket Blue Green White 

BabyGear Boutique Pink Faux Fur Baby Blanket 

*Our friends at Bag Lady's Ramblings are giving away a $10 Walmart gift card!  Visit their blog to enter!

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

Mommy and Me - Pinkalicious

Pinkalicious

Pinkalicious is a very popular children's book, and for good reason - it's adorable!  What little girl wouldn't love a book that's all about pink?  Here are a few fun ideas for you to try with your child once you've finished reading the book together -

• Plant a pot of flowers (pink peonies, of course!).
• Make homemade bubble wands (you can also add a couple of drops of food coloring to your bubble solution to turn it pink - just be careful not to stain anything!).
• Bake Cotton Candy Cupcakes.
• Give each other manicures with pink nail polish.
• Use pink fabric paint to embellish a plain shirt.

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

Celebrating Easter - 5 Great Easter Books for Children

Easter has become a fairly commercial holiday.  And while there's certainly nothing wrong with candy and Easter egg hunts, it is important to keep the focus on the meaning of Easter.  We've already suggested some fun Easter crafts and activities, and today we're sharing 5 books that your whole family will enjoy - and they all focus on the true reason for Easter.

1. The Very First Easter: The Beginner's Bible 
2. The Donkey That No One Could Ride
3. The Tale of Three Trees 
4. An Easter Carol (Veggie Tales) 
5. Benjamin's Box: The Story of The Resurrection Eggs

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique

Celebrating Easter - Crafts and Activities Part 1

Easter is early this year - April 8th.  It may have sneaked up on us, but there's still time to try some fun crafts and activities with your family.  Here are a few ideas.

• Decorate an Easter tree.  You can use a tree in your yard or even a small Christmas tree.  Hang Easter eggs, popcorn garlands (use colored popcorn for extra color), and make Easter ornaments out of salt dough.
• Easter and springtime means the birds will be visiting your yard.  Leave a treat for them with this simple birdseed wreath.
• Make Peeps chocolate covered pretzels.
• Create your own Peeps wreath.
• This Mini Resurrection Garden is a great way to keep the focus on the real reason for Easter, and it's a simple project your kids will love.

Make sure to check out the rest of our Easter posts!

~~~~~~

Bear Hugs Baby Boutique