Target launches yet another brilliant designer collaboration with their new line from home-design maven Sami Hayek (yes, he's related to that Hayek). Though usually Hayek is strictly a furniture man, he's stepping out of his comfort zone with this collection of everything from bedding to wall art. We especially love the retro, funky feel of this color block wall clock, which would work just as well in your kitchen as in the kids' play room.

If your little nature lover is too young yet to have a patch of the garden all her own, try bringing a bit of bloom inside with these felt flowers from b.delicious. The soft, bright creations, perfect for placement on bedside table or bookshelf, will liven up any indoor space until she can move on to the real thing.

You go out of your way to make sure your infant's bibs and bottles are toxin-free, so doesn't it make sense to choose her crib with equal care? The baby-mavens at Orbit are introducing their limited edition, green Bassinet and Cradle System,which is PVC and phalate-free and has a 100% organic cotton interior and natural wool exterior. And, to further ease your eco-conscience, Orbit is donating a portion of the sales proceeds to the Nature Conservancy.

This summery stationery from Felix & Dolittle are printed with adorable designs to bring you back to the beach, with illustrations like delicate seashells, bunches of red coral, and glasses of fresh lemonade. Buy your set of choice for the friend that is putting you up, and an extra set for yourself so you can express thanks for the wonderful weekend away.

Anyone willing to put up with you and your brood for a weekend deserves some pampering, and this gorgeous collection of scented soaps from K. Hall will help your hostess do just that. Whether she wants to stick one of the shea butter and olive oil-enriched bars on every sink, or barricade herself behind the bathroom door and loll around in cypress and cassis scented bathwater, this luxe gift is sure to wash away the stresses that come with a house full of guests.

If your regular lake house-host is a whiz in the kitchen, thank her for all the freshly baked pies and perfectly grilled fish with this apron from the Conran Shop. The fresh pattern means she can even look chic while laboring over a hot stove. It's a far safer thank you than offering to take over dinner duty for the weekend!

Bring the New York Botanical Garden indoors with this set of four glasses from the NYBG collaboration with Lunt housewares. The bull frog, wampum snake, land crab and parrot fish prints come from a set of 250 year old illustrations in the Garden's rare book collection. Bring them to your host's beach house along with a bottle of brandy, and lend an old-fashioned air to cocktail hour.

Or, fill the tumblers with this tasty summer cocktail.

You'd be crazy not to be outside trying to eat your weight in corn on the cob and potato salad for the coming Independence Day weekend. And with all of this outdoor action, you'll need something to keep the party going long after sunset. Stick these garden flares by Quel Objet into the grass or sand to illuminate your yard, to make a beach bash more festive, or simply to cast a sexy glow over a romantic alfresco dinner with the hubby once the kids go to bed.

Any little tot needs a bib (or a tarp) when it comes to feeding time, but some tie tightly and dangerously around the neck, leaving parents nervous and kids uncomfortable. Try these Bibs and Match onesies as an alternative, with bibs that snap on at the neck, and can be easily removed when soiled. The bright, graphic patterns can be mixed and matched, so kids can look cool and stay clean.

If you're a socially conscious consumer, check out the rustic, lush stylings of Creative Women handwoven textiles. Ellen Dorsch founded the company after traveling to Ethiopia and finding a dearth of suitable jobs for women. She decided to help the woman use their admirable sewing and embroidery skills to create everything from wall hangings to pillow cases, and to market the gorgeous pieces in the U.S., where they're being snapped up by pleasurists and do-gooders alike.

If you like to make your own iced tea on a hot summer day, you know how frustrating it can be to wait for the hot brewed tea to cool. The people at Tea Forte have come up with a way to quicken the process, with their smartly designed Tea Over Ice contraption. Simply steep the bag in hot water in the top chamber, and once it is strong enough, flash cool the drink by pouring it immediately over the ice in the bottom chamber. Pour and serve!

No patio picnic is complete without a chilly glass of iced tea, and this glasses-and-carafe set from Bauer Pottery serves as the perfect receptacle  for any signature summertime beverage. Bauer's most recent pieces are reflections of designs from the company's 1930s heyday, and with plates, vases and teapots in graceful shapes and cool colors, it's no wonder they're still right in style.

Our kids aren't exactly spending their summers practicing long division, and between play dates and swimming lessons, no one is in the mood for an impromptu letters-and-numbers review. With these ice cube trays from Spoon Sisters, at least they can think while they drink. Cubes in the shape of numbers and letters mean kids can spell or count while they sip their apple juice. Try filling them with jello or cookie batter too!

These tea towels from Hammocks and High Tea are perfect for dressing up your kitchen or patio this summer, and are made with airy, eclectic patterns perfect for every taste. Better yet, the dyes are non-toxic and the fabric is a fine, easily washable hemp/cotton blend. Use a couple Sari print tea towels during a curry feast or try the Wild Ginger print during Mai Tais at sundown.

Decorating a nursery can be a tug of war between your modern design preferences and nurturing motherly instincts, but no need to pick one extreme or the other when the people at Binth are turning out bedroom accessories that satisfy both inclinations, like this Cameo Bunny Cuddle Pillow. Equal parts graphic and sweet, it is sure to appeal to your inner mom as well as your inner design snob.

Click here for more nursery decor ideas.

We at Cookie are all about bringing kids into the kitchen, but your favorite Coq au Vin recipe may be a bit over their heads. Cook It in a Cup! by Chronicle Books has a solution. This family-friendly cookbook comes with six silicone baking cups perfect for making kid-sized treats like mini quiches and crumb cakes, and the recipes are complete with color photos and easy to follow instructions for either the oven or the microwave. Start nurturing your young culinarian now, and maybe one day she'll take over dinner duty.

Click here for more tips on cooking with kids.

Your dreams of al fresco summer dining probably don't include a buzzing in your ear. But how many times have you had to inhale your burger to avoid the inevitable evening flux of mosquitos (and whining kids)? Toss out your old citronella candles and opt for these from Smith & Hawken. Loaded with dreamy cedar- and thyme-scented essential oils, they naturally repel bugs. Plus, the rustic terracotta pots will enhance your table setting.

It's time to swap those staid marble numbers for bookends more fitting for a nursery or playroom. Sandy Vohr's whimsical collection of stuffed leather animals are handcrafted from cowhide and deerskin and filled with weighty fibers to give them a hefty, substantial feel. While they're effective for propping up your collection of bedtime stories, we also like them for adorning your child's bed. And...did we mention how freaking cute they all are?

Here are more ideas for adorning your bookshelf.

These utensils by Trebimbi bring new meaning to the phrase "playing with your food."  Each set, available in a variety of shades, comes with a fork, knife and spoon that snap together like Legos so kids can swap colors or create mini sculptures. Make sure to also check out their puppet collections, with implements that are adorned in smiley faces and dressed in outfits, so your little one can distract himself by staging a play while you
finish your meal.

Turn your kid's recent obsession with trucks into a stroke of decorating inspiration with this pillow from Hable. This playful, wool felt creation will add a punch of color and a bit of fun to your decor. And with Hable's extensive collection of colors and fabrics, you too can find the perfect piece to obsess over.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Why give the same standard cashmere blanket at your next baby shower when the people at Shokay offer something much more special? The company crafts their throws, booties and stuffed animals from luxuriously soft yak down sourced directly from Tibetan herders, helping them to earn a living. We especially love this Tenzing Norgay baby blanket, with it's quirky pattern and cozy feel, named for a Tibetan explorer. Maybe your tot will be inspired by the courage of its namesake.

Click here for more baby gift ideas!

As summer nears, it is time to seek out a great hostess gift for that ever-accommodating friend who welcomes you and your brood for barbecues.This double-walled carafe by Romain Gauthrot is so sleek it gets the Museum of Modern Art seal of approval, and the clever design insulates the inner chamber so that hot or cool liquids maintain their temperature. We look forward to using ours for sipping iced tea or sangria poolside.

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True, a tray of fluffy cupcakes will excite any child (and many adults, for that matter), but the creators of Hello, Cupcake! know how to take that excitement to the next level.  The cookbook is full of truly step-by-step instructions that even a baking novice can easily follow. Decorate your cakes like sunflowers for a garden party, ears of corn for a summer barbecue, puppies for an animal lover's birthday, or even spaghetti and meatballs for April Fools Day. Your kids will be more than eager to lend a hand in the kitchen.

From the beginning, the clever folks at Method have sought to make cleaning products--from dish soap to wood cleaners to washcloths-- affordable, all-natural, and attractive. Lucky for us, they're now dabbling in baby care. Their new baby line boasts diaper cream, body wash, and lotion that is gentle and totally eco-friendly...not to mention so stylishly packaged there will be no need to hide them under the sink.

We all know that a little aromatherapy does a body good. Paddywax has taken it to the next level by making sure that its candles also promote
environmental health. Their Eco Collection line is made of hemp twine, soy wax, and natural fragrance oils, and come in dreamy scents like coriander and star anise. Plus, the box that its in can be reused as a planter in the garden. What better way to honor Earth Day than to snatch up a couple of these?

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