The ethnic textiles trend follows you all the way to the pool this summer, with this gorgeous beach towel by Turkish Collection. The extra-large size and extra-plush, sumptuous terry cloth make it feel more like a delicious blanket. We think it's the perfect gift to make your beach-house hostess feel appreciated.

To purchase, call Forza & Home at (510) 527 0172

Put a smile on the faces of animal lovers tall and small with these hand-painted wall plaques by National Badger. With every critter from the koala to the aardvark (in every shade from teal to magenta), artist Christine Heinitz can customize the wall hangings to your specific preferences. Watch while they seamlessly transform your playroom into a virtual petting zoo.

For more decorating ideas for kids, click here.

For a fragrance as fresh and sweet as your new baby, try this Lavender Nursery spray by Sweet Grass Farms. It is perfect for liberally spritzing on crib bedding, ratty blankies, or diaper genies, and the aroma is adult enough to scent your own boudoir. Trust us, it's far more palatable than Eau De Dirty Diaper.

It was only a matter of time before high design made its way into your kid's lunchbox. Y Water has mixed up the first all-natural, organic "developmental drinks", including BrainWater (with zinc to improve concentration and receptiveness) and ImmuneWater (stocked with vitamins and antioxidants). And if you and your child are so inclined, you can use the 100% recyclable containers to build sculptural, lego-like masterpieces, thanks to the genius of designer Yves Behar's fuseproject.

We love our verbena and basil eye cream as much as the next gal, but those stronger scents aren't going to cut it when moisturizing the kids' chapped lips and sunburnt noses. Thankfully, mother and beauty maven Kristen Bassick has created this line of completely natural lotions in kid-friendly scents like chocolate, lemon, and our favorite, Front Lawn, which smells exactly like freshly cut grass. As the Stuff for Sprouts motto goes, "Nothing weird. Nothing gross. Just good stuff for dry skin." Sounds like a winning recipe.

Click here for more kid-friendly cosmetics.

You've hauled the whole family out to dinner--and instead of crisp linens, the tables are covered in white butcher paper and scattered with crayons. What a lifesaver! Why not bring this tame-the-tots strategy home with the Mealtime Rhymes Placemat Book by Chronicle. It includes 36 pages of tear-off paper placemats, with full color illustrations on one side and black and white versions on the other so they can try their hands at drawing inside the lines, while you try yours at having a peaceful meal.

If you're still rigging your iPod up with a tangle of cords when the tunes need to blare louder than your headphones allow, it is time to look into an easier speaker solution. Pop your device into this Ladybug Ipod Dock from Vesta-Life, which is compatible with all iPod incarnations, from the Video version to the shuffle, and has three speakers so that you can amply blast your beats.

With the endless greening of all household cleaning products, it is about time that someone turned an environmentally friendly eye to the supplies that new parents need most. The people at Dapple have created a line of green, baby-safe household cleaners specifically targeted at stubborn formula and breast milk stains and odors. Every new mother should be able to breathe so easy.

Click here for more green ideas.

Hoping to add a bright, homespun touch to your home decor? These letter pillows from Anthropologie fit the bill. Use them to spell out a name in a nursery, teach the ABC's to a toddler, or inject some extra fun into a playroom. And there's no need to keep them solely for the kids- the ethnic-inspired prints would also look great (and sufficiently adult) propped up in a powder room or hung in your entryway.

For more decorating ideas, click here.

Summer's close on our heels, and the sun will soon be directly overhead and at its strongest.  Protect your brood not only from those harmful UVAs, but from the toxins contained in most sunscreens, by using Burt's Bees' new Chemical-Free Sunscreen. The gentle potion uses natural minerals to create a barrier against harmful rays, and comes in SPF 15 or 30. (And for those that forget to apply theirs liberally, Burt's Bees also offers an After Sun Soother.)

For more summer skin tips, click here.

It's not always easy to get excited about practical housewares, but leave it to great designers to elevate the mundane to the status of art. The people at Creative Danes are turning our heads with their new take on the trivet. Their version comes in an array of bold colors, snaps together to fit handily into any utensil drawer, and has a fun shape reminiscent of a propeller or a pinwheel. You won't even want to cover them up with that hot casserole dish.

Swimsuit season is approaching, and if your skin is looking as dry and ashy as ours, we suggest you take action before Memorial day rolls around. Organic skincare giant Weleda recently introduced their new Birch Body Scrub, just in time to save our hides. The formula uses pure plant oils and extracts to exfoliate and, more importantly, diminish the appearance of cellulite, so your bod looks toned and polished when you slip on that string bikini - or modest tank suit.

For more summer skin tips, click here.

From lazy days at the pool to evening bonfires at the beach, summer is jam-packed with photo ops requiring that your camera be at the ready. BuiltNY's 'Hoodie' camera case is made of cushy neoprene to protect your fragile LCD screen, has an hidden interior pocket for storing memory cards or extra batteries, and comes with both wrist and belt straps for easy access. Plus, the graphic prints make them far more appealing than the typical boring black canvas.

For kid-friendly cameras to slip inside, click here

The universal law of cuteness states that anything in miniature is automatically adorable. Puppies, natch. Babies, of course. And these especially precious sneakers from Morgan & Milo, which are no exception to the rule. They come in slip on, Velcro and lace-up styles in classic floral and striped patterns or louder sparkle and flame designs. If only our feet were miniature too!

Wendy Mullin has had a do-it-yourself approach to fashion since her years as a student, when she was studying by day, sewing by night, and selling her creations in the back rooms of Midwestern record stores. Now, she brings her vintage-inspired looks to the masses by offering her craftier fans patterns from which to make the clothes themselves, along with her original instructional manual Sew U. Her new book Sew U: Home Stretch, which just hit shelves, tackles the tricky world of sewing with stretchy knits, from a simple crewneck tee to the floaty "Madame Butterfly" dress. Get ready to indulge your every Project Runway fantasy.

Click here for more spring style!

Every mom with a green thumb already owns the requisite spades and hoes, clogs and flower seeds. The people at Simplemente Blanco have thought of something for an avid gardener that even she hasn't realized she needs--a clean-up kit. The sweet boxed set includes a gentle brush to remove grit from under fingernails, leaf-shaped glycerine soap to wash soil away, and bath salts in divine scents for more comprehensive cleansing. Now she can tend to herself with as much care as she tends to her tea roses.

To order, email Simplemente Blanco at contactus@simplementeblanco.com. Or for 29 more bright ideas, check out our mother's day gift guide.

Torn between a giving mom something practical and giving her something indulgent? Let us introduce you to our current obsession: this luxe, oversized toiletry bag-cum-clutch from the brilliant Anya Hindmarch. The quilted, dove grey patent leather wipes clean with a cloth, so mom can feel safe packing it with shampoo bottles and toothpaste on a big trip. Once in the hotel, she can unpack the products and take the pretty thing out to dinner in place of her purse.

For more useful, beautiful finds, check out our mother's day gift guide.

Classic, elegant, stylish...if any of those words describe a mom in your life, she's probably in need of a little Chanel. Our beauty editors have fallen in love with Sycomore, the latest fragrance from the fashion powerhouse. The modern concoction stands out from more traditional floral or powdery scents with its unique combination of sandalwood, cypress, and juniper. The impression left is warm, earthy, and minimal enough to be worn day and night. Overall, a perfect new signature scent.

To buy, contact Bergdorf Goodman at (212) 872-2667. Or for more special beauty loot, check out our mother's day gift guide.

The cliche that you can win a woman's heart with sweets is around for a reason-- sometimes it's true. Not ones for the trite heart-shaped box of chocolates, we at Cookie have an obvious bias about how to best satisfy her sweet tooth. These gift baskets by The Graceful Cookie are full of goodies to sink your teeth into, from Snickerdoodles to chocolate-dipped peanut butter delights. And don't worry--there is more than enough for her to share with family.

For more irresistible present ideas, check out our mother's day gift guide.

For all the loving notes slipped into lunchboxes or snuck into her husband's coat pockets, consider giving the mom in your life this gift set from Elum. The fabric covered box comes brimming with stationery sheets, three kinds of note cards, and corresponding envelopes, all letter-pressed with intricate bird, flower, and bamboo etchings in a springy yellow palette. Bonus: you're practically guaranteed a heartfelt thank you note.

For more tokens to inspire sincere thanks, check out our mother's day gift guide.

For all of the glasses of Sauvignon Blanc you drink once the kids are down for the night, it is good to know someone out there is putting all of their used corks to good use. Lightly's new Eco-Ware line is full of earth-friendly placemats and coasters, made entirely of recycled rubber and wine cork. They are biodegradable, heat resistant, and perfect for protecting the coffee table from your chilled glass of vino.

Click here for more earth-friendly ideas from Cookie!

During the morning rush the last thing we want is to be leashed to the bathroom by a twisted, tangled cord. Naturally, we were delighted to find the new BarBar 1800 cordless flat iron. We love that it allows us complete freedom to move around while prepping for the busy day ahead. It fires up to a whopping 390 degrees in just three seconds, and holds the heat for up to five minutes at a time. By placing it back on its console to rest, re-charging is effortless and completed by the time you grab a new section of hair. You might just call this your magic wand.

And click here for summer hair protection tips!