droolicious : parents

Art Cart

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Compact but chock full of separate stations, this art cart will keep ‘em busy for hours.

Perfect for playdates or sibling play Parents’ Art Cart, $199, includes a magnetic chalkboard with four pieces of chalk, a chalk eraser and 36 magnetic letters and numbers. It also features four storage bins to organize supplies, and a drawing station that tilts up to form an easel. Best of all, the cart is on wheels for easy transport from room to room.

CES 2009: Canon Vixia HF200 HD Camcorder- Great For New Families

Chris Ford — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:00:00 GMT

At the Canon booth I asked one of the camcorder representatives to suggest a good HD camcorder for new families. The scenario I gave him was a couple is having a baby for the first time, and they want to buy a camcorder that still recorded in HD, but wasn't too expensive. The camera he suggested was the Canon VIXIA HF200.

The Vixia HF200 records in full HD (1920x1080) directly to a SD card. It has HDMI out, face detection and image stabalization. It doesn't have an on-board memory (the SD card is the only option) but at that price it's a camcorder with a ton of features that you'll be sure to have for more than a few years.

Canon Vixia HF200 will retail for around $849 and should be available in the US in March.

Let Them Be Their Own (Caped) Heroes

Whit Honea — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:02:00 GMT

Few things embody the joys of childhood like a cape trailing in the wind behind every great jump or wrapped snugly around every warm hug. A cape opens the mind to possibility and turns a child's thoughts to conquests for justice and freedom. The "I Am My Own Hero" cape (and mask) from Bodemi is made for inspiring playtime and encouraging flights of fancy.

The friendly people of Bodemi, including designer Boren Lon, were on hand at the Boom Boom Room Charity Event (supporting Los Angeles area Foster Children and the Jayneoni Moore Children’s Fund) to showcase their fun line of apparel and accessories. Everything they create is designed to "embrace the lifestyle of children" and we tend to agree with them.

The capes were a big hit. Even now they are a blur of flying color as my boys rush onward into the promises of their imagination while leaving echoes of laughter and the seeds of memories in their wake. Their capes look fantastic.

L'ovedbaby Goes Big in the Boom Boom Room

Whit Honea — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:59:00 GMT

Chris Noth of "Sex and the City" and "Law and Order" fame attended the Boom Boom Room with his wife Tara and their baby Orion.

The couple received the 4-in-1 Nursing Shawl from L'ovedbaby which was such a big hit that Tara put it to use on the spot. Here's why:

    * The L'ovedbaby™ nursing shawl offers mom a way to discreetly nurse in public, while protecting the baby from distractions.
    * The shawl travels well and always stays fresh in its matching drawstring pouch.
    * The complete 6oz. package fits neatly in any purse or diaper bag.
    * Machine washable and dryer safe...nothing could be simpler.
    * Extremely lightweight, breathable, and super-soft to the touch and on baby's skin.
    * Roomy neckline for added style and increased visibility between mother and child.
    * Full coverage of mom...both front and back; no special nursing clothing required.
    * L'ovedbaby's™ custom-made fabric complements any outfit...from casual to business to elegant. And, because it's not cotton, it's less likely to harbor bacteria.

See? Those are good reasons, right?

She also used it while waiting in the valet line at the Century Plaza Hotel. It was a long line.

I self-parked.

The Boom Boom Room is an event featuring Hollywood’s most famous families - expecting parents, moms, dads, their offspring and me, Babble's own Whit Honea. It consists of a "gifting suite wonderland built by 83 sponsors. This event draws celebrity families together to support Los Angeles area Foster Children and the Jayneoni Moore Children’s Fund."

Baby stuff and a good cause. We like it.

More Boom Boom Room:

Tim Allen and Jane Hajduk in Little Girl Frillies

Babble Live At CES 2009: The Consumer Electronics Showcase

Chris Ford — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:02:00 GMT

Once again the gigantic Consumer Electronics Showcase convention is happening in Las Vegas, and I, as your intrepid Babble Blogger, have made it my mission to comb the show floor and find the coolest and newest gadgets for Moms, Dads and kids alike.

There's an incredible amount of products being shown, and in my first day I found all kinds of stuff, from the silly (Hello Kitty kitchen appliances) to the super-cool (an incredible way for kids to create their own video games for the XBOX) to the bizarre (a self-cleaning cat litter box). I'll be writing it all up in posts here on Droolicious over the next week or so, so stay tuned!

Read all of the posts from CES 2009 the Consumer Electronics Showcase on Babble.com here.

Big Deal: 15% Off Most Everything This Month at Black Wagon

Chris Ford — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:02:00 GMT

Our friends over at Black Wagon have been so happy with all of the readers here at Droolicious, they've created a special coupon code just for us. RIght now you can get 15% off everything at BlackWagon.com (except furniture and bedding).

There are tons of cool things there for kids and parents, but my most recent favorite is the Japanese clothing line Boo Foo Woo. There's something about things that are cute but make absolutely no sense at all (like the "Hippyoil" shirt above) that I can't get enough of.

To get the 15% off, go to BlackWagon.com and enter the coupon code BABBLE15 at checkout. It's good through the end of July.