Tabletop Decorating - Under the Sea Children's Themed Party

Katie Berger - I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter who is obsessed with The Little Mermaid (not to mention every other Disney Princess). She covets her Ariel doll and sleeps with it every night. She is her mother's child because she has already started planning her birthday party (it's in June, just so you know ... not next week!). I thought I'd step away from weddings for a while and focus on an Under the Sea themed little girls birthday celebration ... and the idea that Emma is running with for her party. Oh my, I have a lot of work ahead of me....

The following photos and amazing idea comes from Courtney Dial at one of my favorite blogs, Pizzazzerie. 

Click here for a direct link to the Under the Sea party blog for complete details ... and trust me - there are plenty of gorgeous details.

I hope you enjoy the following photos and can dream along with my little Emma about her ideal birthday party! (In the meantime, adapt as many ideas as you can for wonderful tabletop presentations.)

Click to read more ...

Plan Perfect Playdates for Your Kids

Megan Gates - There’s no doubt that playdates are beneficial to kids. No matter how old your children are, playdates encourage sharing, taking turns, and socializing with others. But when it’s time for you to host the playdate, it can be challenging to know what to do! While there’s no need to throw a party-like atmosphere, a little preparation can go a long way.

There are a few things you’ll want to handle prior to the playdate to ensure that you get started on a good note. First, make sure your child puts away any toys that he or she doesn’t want to share. You may also want to place a few activities within reach for the kids, such as those that encourage them to play together. Good examples include arts and crafts, puzzles and board games. And of course, make the playdate suitable for the ages of the children. If you’re inviting a toddler, 45 minutes is adequate. Even older kids can get overtired, so limit the playdate to 2 hours or less.

One of the best places for a playdate is outside! Not only do you minimize a messy house, but being outside always seems to make kids play better. Don’t think you need to arrange an outing at the park, either. Open up the sandbox, play a round of catch or drag out the soccer nets. This fall, it's fun to

Click to read more ...

Reorganize Kid Space to Make Way for Baby

Irwin Weiner ASID - Is it just me, or are we having another baby boom? It seems like there are a lot of pregnant women walking around the streets of NYC lately, and another boom will leave many families with the task of squeezing the older children together in a single bedroom and clearing out a separate room as the nursery for the new arrival. DadLabs offers sage advice for fathers on all-things parenting, and this how-to video demystifies the process of prepping your living space for a new baby, and I like the three-step process they use: getting rid of clutter; using vertical space to organize; and arrange furniture in a logical fashion. Go to the terrific website Arranging It All for great tips on organizing your home.

Click to read more ...

Kids Design from Charles and Ray Eames

Vitra

Irwin Weiner ASID - Once upon a time, there was a king and queen and they ruled the Land of Design. His name was Charles and hers was Ray (really Bernice Alexandra), and Charles and Ray Eames made the land beautiful with their artistic design and imaginative use of new materials.

Of course this is not a fairy tale, but Charles and Ray Eames had a profound effect on design and had a great marriage in more ways than one - Ray's art background and Charles training as an architect blended beautifully in many products. Little known is their Colouring Toy, a nifty art and coloring set that wedding their mid-century sensibilities for bold line, pattern, and shape. Watch this quick video and you'll see how the rulers of design - they even showed off new chairs to the masses on the Today Show, and who's doing that in furniture making these days! - conquered little tykes, too.

While we're dwelling on the kiddies, here are some Eames children's furniture and accessories that endure. Click on each photo for more information.

 

 Click here to subscribe to our daily design videos.