Want a touch of the exotic in your kids' decor? These Morrocan-made Zid Zid bookends are a playful way in. Made from faux leather and beautifully embroidered, these pudgy pachyderms can stand up to the weight of 50 books. (They're filled with natural sand, so you know they aren't going anywhere). We think they'll blend in nicely with Junior's other stuffies (click here for more newborn gifts) -- and when he outgrows them, they even look swank enough to go in your room!

Although it's too soon for a day at the beach, looking at photos of sunnier times can take the edge off the chill. Why not put those snaps on permanent display, in these Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Coquille frames? The frames' seashell motif is fancifully fun, and the antiqued silver and gold finishes set them apart from the standard (no hint of souvenir store-tack here). Call 212-431-2575 to order. Click here for our exclusive tips on decorating with frames.

Mally Roncal, celebrity makeup artist and mother of twins, has teamed up with nonprofit Mommy's Light to create Let There Be Light, a set of universally flattering shades for eyes, lips, and cheeks -- and a stylish way to help out. All proceeds from the pretty little kit go directly to the Mommy's Light Lives On fund, created to help children who have lost their mothers cope and keep their family traditions alive.

You've got the all-natural shampoo, fair-trade soap, and paraben-free bubble bath -- so why not the Timi & Leslie Organics hooded towel? Comfortably large and 100 percent organic, the towel is a perfect addition to other bath time
essentials. The terrycloth will warm her up after a dip in the tub, and the company's mission will give you peace of mind. Meanwhile, the prints are great-looking to boot. Call 213-763-6114 to order.




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You want to let your kids express themselves with art, but you don't want it to take up a lot of room--or get too messy. Enter the InModern Ecotots Easel. The beautifully designed fixture has a sturdy, three-point base, disassembles for easy storage, has plenty of workspace for any kind of project, all with the added reassurance of formaldehyde-free SmartWood and a non-toxic finish. Plus, it doesn't look too shabby, either. For other eco-friendly products, peruse Green Sites We Love.

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Marimekko designers Maija Isola and Kristina Isola have taken classic Nordic animals (we especially like the elephant), and turned them into bright, eye-catching towels for the kiddies. Though they're big enough for the beach, they aren't so juvenile that you can't keep 'em in the bathroom-in fact, we recommend you do. They're cheerful, and besides, the 100 percent cotton will be downy soft on your family's skin.

Toiling away at the laundry can be a real downer, so why not use detergent that saves both water and time? Eucalan's No Rinse Delicate Wash has a soak-and-spin formula, which cleans and preserves your clothes with much less water (and rinsing effort) than traditional methods. Scented with essential oils, the detergent comes in four yummy-smelling formulas. The eucalyptus and lavender repel moths and fleas naturally, and the grapefruit has antiseptic properties. It'll perk up your nose during laundry time.

Charles and Ray Eames famously filled their home with objets from their world travels. Now, thanks to Vitra's new collaboration with the family, you can get the couple's eclectic, crafty decorating style without leaving the States. This sweet, eerie wooden bird is a reproduction of one of their favorite artifacts, made in the Appalachian Mountains in the early 1900s. It's the perfect piece to inspire the start of your own family collection. Call (212) 463-5700 to order. Want more bird-inspired decor? Check out our post on owl art.

Ever done the sniff test on your vacuum? It could be as smelly as your car after soccer practice. Oreck's vacuum with IntellaShield technology will take care of that! The roller brush bristles have silver ions that neutralize bacteria and mold lifted from carpets. And there's also an antimicrobial agent, which inhibits new growth as soon as bacteria is sucked up from your floor -- meaning your vacuum will stay clean (and somewhat fresh-smelling), too.

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Boon, the perennial inventors of cool-looking kids' products, is now offering up these ingenious little Benders. From 9 months and older, babes can use them to learn the art of eating with utensils. Bend the easy-grip, dishwasher safe spoon or fork at its flexible neck to create an angle; the better to get those blended yams into their mouths, my dear. As they grow defter at wielding a spoon, you can slowly straighten the apparatus out. Pretty smart, no?

Does your tot deserve a cuddly, larger-than-life friend to love? These stuffed Floppy Dogs by Manuella are madeentirely from 100 percent cotton. Each dog is almost two feet long and a foot wide - perfect to present to your wide-eyed little one. More importantly, they lack the usual plastic eyes (oh so tempting to pull off and swallow). In three colors and with plenty of snuggle opportunities, they're sure to be adored.

If your daughter is equal parts princess and budding inventor, she'll love this Spa Science kit. The brilliant set includes lavender and peppermint essential oils, sea salt, oats, citric acid, and baking soda to make everything from fizzing bath balms to an all-natural salt rub. The ingredients come with safe, unbreakable pipettes and test tubes, and the enclosed instructions even include a fun quiz to test your responses to different scents. All in all, it's a great way to mix learning and pure, indulgent fun.

If you're tired of scraping burnt rice from the bottom of your pots, check out the new Rizo rice steamer. Designed by Toshiyuki Kita (whose line is part of the New York MoMA's permanent collection) the cute little cooker has three one-touch settings: steam, rice/sushi, and risotto. You can make up to 3 cups of your favorite grain without breaking a sweat, and without having to hide the steamer in your already overstuffed cabinets.

It's the dead of winter, and you know what that means; paper cut season! Try this Calendula Wound Cleanser, part of Dr. Hauschka's new Holistic Home Remedies line. The products are designed to support the body's natural healing instincts, and the gentle ingredients mean they're entirely safe, even for little ones. If a cut gets infected, Mercurialis Wound Rescue will relieve the pain while naturally reducing swelling, and for a nasty goose egg, Ouch! Aid Arnica compresses will discourage bruising. (Hint: for extra relief, keep them in the fridge till you're ready for use). For more home remedies, check out our story.

Here's to spring being early this year: The Sagaform herb pot trio will bring a little green into your house without a huge hassle. Designed to extend the life of your fresh herbs, three pots keep the basil and mint from mingling, and plenty of space for each stalk to get a drink of water. Just pour water into the corner hole, and you've got a beautiful temporary herb garden, all without leaving your kitchen.

It's a familiar battle cry: "This is the year I get organized!" Let the Sieger planners be your motivation. Made by a German book manufacturer, the system lets you pick a suede or leather binding in a variety of gorgeous shades, then fill it with a choice of writing pads (square, lined, or plain), calendars and address book inserts. You pick how much of each filler you want (say, two-thirds writing pad and one third address). Finally, a useful weapon in your armory of get-it-together tools! Go to sieger.org for ordering information.

The Avalisa Memory Game will surely keep you from forgetting to pack an on-the-go plaything. Nineteen graphic, colorful images cribbed from the company's "animals" wall art collection makes up this memory deck, which comes snapped in a portable, lightweight tin. Featuring all manner of animal kingdom-members--including giraffes, flamingos, cows, and pandas--it's a virtual carry-on trip to the zoo.

If you're already ignoring the gadget-y digicam you got from Santa, try the old-fashioned approach to taking pictures. The plastic Holga camera takes vignette-like, soft-focused photos (with real film!), and has been something of a cult phenomenon for 20 years. Newly made over in three bright new colors, the Holga packs the one-two punch of being great looking outside, true-to-form on the inside. Hey, if it ain't broke...

The holidays may be over, but winter's just getting started. How about something cuddly to get you through the season? Keep your tots (and yourself!) cozy this winter with cuddly Owl hats and mittens. The darling accessories will keep fingers and ears warm during sledding, ice skating, or any other cold-weather activity - and they're made entirely from wool, so Jack Frost won't have a chance to spoil your fun.

Oliver the cat isn't much of a friend-maker. In Clare Turlay Newberry's classic Marshmallow (just released in a brand new edition), the reticent feline-well-fed and loved by Miss Tilly-must put up with the presence of Marshmallow, a hopelessly cute bunny. The book won the Caldecott honor in 1943, but its simple, artful illustrations and the message that sometimes a new friend can warm even a seemingly over-full heart, still endure today.

If only everything in life could be this convenient-and portable. The Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 is only about three pounds, but it packs quite a punch - it can scan 8 pages per minute, front and back, recognize the size of the document, and make content searchable as soon as it's scanned. Hook it up to your computer, and it's perfect for documents, ranging from business cards to medical records. Plus, it fits practically anywhere. Get creative, or get to work...

If it's from Heath Ceramics, you know it's got to be good; the company has been around for 50 years and still makes every single piece in their own small California factory. The Chez Panisse Collection is one of our favorites - the pieces were designed collaboration with the renowned Alice Waters, to complement the organic food in her restaurant of the same name. We love that the items are truly made to last a lifetime.

Happy New Year! Now, something great for '08 -- the Gregory calendar. Ingenious for little ones, the 11 x 17 calendar comes with a white pencil, and each day is represented by a dot. At the end of the month, you've produced a fun picture (we liked this whale). There's plenty of space to write appointments and such in the margins, and we think it would look great in a kids' room.

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