Dante Beatrix brings the fun designs that made their kids’ backpacks popular to tee shirts for boys and girls. Available in either a monkey, a bunny, a dragon, or a panda, the shirt is sure to please little ones. It is available in sizes from 2-3 up to 6. I can see these paired with jeans or even a casual skirt. You can purchase one for $30 at 2modern.com.

This brightly colored hooded towel and wash cloth set by Catimini would make a fun gift for new or expectant parents. Perfect for either a boy or a girl, it features a fun cat theme with bold stripes on the hood. It looks like it would be super soft and absorbent. You can purchase the set for $35.99 at zandino.com

I think that making a Barbie cake is a bit of a rite of passage for those of us with daughters. I just made my first one for my middle daughter’s fourth birthday a few weeks ago. I’m not cake decorator, and the results weren’t beautiful (that is NOT my cake in the picture), but it was definitely well-received. On New Year’s Eve, I saw a Barbie in our host’s sink and guessed correctly that she had just made one for her daughter’s birthday as well. You can find a lot of great recipe ideas for these cakes online, but I think that Pampered Chef is the gold standard. They offer this recipe on their Web site at pamperedchef.com.

You can purchase their famous Batter Bowl (which makes the dress of the cake) for $15 here. I use this product all the time since it can be used for both mixing and baking. Check out allrecipes.com for tons of fun pictures and ideas for making this work.

Paperlili knows that moms deserve a tee as fun and hip as those made for kids. I love this fun My Kids Rock tee. Not only is the saying true, of course, but the shirt is made to be super soft and broken in. It is made of a 50% cotton, 50% poly blend for a flattering fit. This would definitely jazz up a weekend wardrobe. You can purchase one for $58.95 at http://www.thesillywagon.com/catalog.php?item=2029. It is available in sizes from S-XL, and there are several colors to choose from.

This sweet little set caught my eye with its fun owl theme. Designed for a little girl who wants to celebrate her birthday in style, this shirt can be customized with any age from 1-8. I love its understated look, which contrasts greatly to many ofthe over-the-top (and overly pink) birthday dresses I’ve seen lately. It is handmade in the US, and absolutely charming. Both pieces are 100% cotton for comfort. Although this is perfect for a birthday celebration, it is work for a whole year of wear. You can purchase the set in sizes from 6 months up to 8 years here.

Beat the cold with this great scarf from Deux Par Deux. The bold stripes and fun flowers will jazz up any coat and bring a little fun to wintry days. This fun scarf originally retailed for $28, but you can currently buy one on sale for just $16.80. Unlike other pieces of outerwear, this one is hard to outgrow, so you will get a lot of use out of it.  A matching hat and gloves are also available. Check it out at http://www.thesillywagon.com/catalog.php?item=2356.

I love Smafolk’s clothing, and this Chugga Chugga Shirt is the latest of their items to catch my eye. I love the understated train theme. Made of a cotton modal blend for ultra comfort, this shirt looks like it would be wonderfully soft and warm. It looks great on its own (and would pair well with jeans, cords, or overalls), but it would also work well as a layering piece under a sweater or hoodie. You can purchase one of these fun shirts for $36 here. It is available in sizes from 1-3/4 years.

My family always had a cuckoo clock when I was growing up, but we certainly never had one like this! This fun “Moo Clock” is one of many fun animal designs by Coo Clocks. Perfect for a child’s bedroom, it features a cow that pops out and moos on the hour. It automatically shuts off in a dark room, so it won’t disturb your child’s sleep. I love the fun purple and green design. You can purchase one for $49.99 at http://www.headsupco.com/clocks.html. Other animal styles feature different colors, so you can find one to match your child’s personality and decor.

Every winter, as the new year begins, I get the urge to buy all kinds of organization-themed products. I love the way they look, and I always think they are going to simplify my life. I haven’t found most of them to be terribly helpful, but it is a tradition that I continue to enjoy nonetheless.  I recently came across this Mom Agenda Kitchen Folio and I really like the way it looks (especially the pretty yellow version). This useful books includes tabs to help you organize schedules, school papers, etc. It also includes forms to help you remember birthdays and other important dates, a place to record information for baby sitters, and a section for important phone numbers. Plastic page protectors keep things safe, even in spill-prone kitchens. You can purchase one of these books in pink, blue, or yellow here.

It is hard to walk into Target these days without having your attention drawn to the bright floral looks of Liberty of London’s line for the store. The girls’ clothing offerings caught my eye as I was breezing through to pick up a prescription, but I didn’t have time to look. Unfortunately, by the time I made it back this weekend, most of the styles had already sold out in all but the largest of sizes. I can understand why, as they are as cute as can be.  I did notice that they may not be entirely well-made–I noticed a lot of loose threads on the dresses I was admiring, but they are reasonably priced at around $10-$20 for each piece. I was glad to find that the line is also available online, where sizes do not seem to be limited. Check out the entire collection at http://www.target.com/b/?node=2241595011&ref=sr_shorturl_liberty.

This set of Posy Girl Party Pendants by Little Pink Posies looks like a lot of fun. The set includes 5 different necklaces that are sure to delight party goers. The design is inspired by vintage clothespin dolls, and each piece is hand-painted and can be customized with hair color and initial of your choice. They are so cute that I might be tempted to keep the whole set instead of giving them away! You can purchase them for $79.95 at  http://www.thesillywagon.com/catalog.php?item=2408. These are also recommended as bunk mate gifts for older girls going off to camp.

This Janie and Jack Watercolor Floral Pleated Dress looks like the perfect choice for a hot summer day. Made from 100% cotton, it won’t force you to choose between comfort and style for your little one. I love the watercolor fabric and the pleated hem adds an extra special touch. I have trouble picturing this on an infant, but I think it would look great on an older (taller) child. It is available in sizes from 0-3 months up to 8 years and retails for $49. You can purchase one at http://www.janieandjack.com/shop/dept_item.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443462359&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374303717676&bmUID=1267988609389&productSizeSelected=0.

I was browsing Old Navy’s site recently, when this Double Flutter-Sleeve shirt caught my eye. I love the bold pattern, and the flutter sleeves add a bit of whimsy. This would look great with jeans, or some khaki shorts. You could also create a  fun look by pairing it with full-length or capri leggings. I will say that I’ve occasionally had problems with knit shirts from Old Navy losing their shape with washing. At $9.50, however, this cute shirt seems like a good gamble. It is available in sizes from 6-12 months up to 5T in Old Navy stores or at http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=37215&vid=1&pid=730542.

This fun, feminine Bon Bon Liberty Print Blouse is a perfect look for spring and summer. It would look great under a simple white cardigan for cooler weather. It is 100% cotton and machine washable. Available in sizes from 3-6 months up to 4-6 years this shirt retails for $88. You can purchase one at Bon Bon Liberty Print Blouse.

I for one enjoy the function of traditional learn-to-swim devices, but I hate the way they look and the cheap way they are made. I can’t tell you how many ugly, stinky, plastic contraptions covered with cartoon characters my girls have accumulated over the years. I can say that probably all of them have eventually popped. The Schlori Swim Cushion is a great alternative. First of all, these German swim cushions are made from 100% cotton–so they look nice, and are naturally durable. They are also available in fun prints that are anything but garish. Better yet, they are free from harmful chemicals.

The product is made from two pillows that curround your child and help him or her swim without impeding motion. When I first picked up the product, I was worried that it might use complicated to use, but I found that it is anything but. We are going on a mini-vacation next month and this will defintiely be coming along. You can check out the Schlori Swim Cushion, watch a video, and purchase one for $28 at http://www.peaceloveorganicearth.com/SCHLORI.html. While it costs more than the plastic ones, it will outlive them all.