Here is our top list of tried and true sites and services that have all sorts of goodies for Mother’s Day gifts:

* Blue Nile - jewelry - www.bluenile.com
* Godiva Chocolatier - chocolates & truffles - www.godiva.com
* ProFlowers - flowers - www.proflowers.com
* Red Envelope - gifts - www.redenvelope.com
* Shutterfly - personalized photo gifts - www.shutterfly.com
* Spa Finder - spa treatments - www.spafinder.com

Clever Parents loves Hugh’s Room for one-of-a-kind, hand-painted pieces and custom room design. Owner, artist and art teacher, Ashley Peay-Bettini delivers on her promise, ‘If you can dream it, we can create it!’While driving home from work one day from an unsatisfying job, Ashley asked herself, “What are you passionate about?” The answer was immediately clear — children and art — and the next day she was on the phone with the Meredith College art department enrolling in classes. “Two and a half years and 72 credit hours later, I received my degree in Art Education and have been teaching ever since.” Read the rest »

Clutter Busting Challenge for the Fourth Week of April: Make your bathroom visitor friendly

What other room of your home will be more closely scrutinized by visitors than your bathroom?  Not only do visitors go into your bathroom, alone… but they also often have a couple minutes to sit and look around (if you know what I mean).  Make your main bathroom (or whichever bathroom would be used by a visitor) a comfortable and pleasant environment.  Read the rest »

May Clutter Busting - Week 1: Get rid of the trash in your children’s rooms

I remember back to my baby shower with my daughter.  As I opened box upon box and bag upon bag, I started wondering where I was going to put all that stuff!!  And then nearly eight years later if I took all of those items and multiplied it with birthday parties, holidays, happy meal toys, dollar store purchases, and hundreds of stuffed animals which seem to procreate on their own and then double all of the above when baby #2 came, we seriously would need to double the size of our home!  Read the rest »

Ever meet a mom who didn’t want to show off her kids? We found a great new product that give parents a fashionable and fun way to do just that. Perfect for a gift for Mother’s Day or any time.

Have three kids? Buy three ’stick figure’ children made with genuine Swarovski crystals (you choose boy or girl). Simply iron the figures onto any flat cotton surface (think t-shirts, jeans, tote bags) and this gift will be sure to delight. Iron-challenged? Let Sticks ‘n Stones do the application for you for an extra few bucks. www.sticksnstones-store.com *Use discount code CP-506 at checkout and receive 10% off your entire order!*

Read the Sticks ‘N Stones parentrepreneur feature. Visit the Sticks ‘N Stones website.

Handlebar can break and cause injury to young children

Approximately 4,000 Mountain Buggy Urban Single and Urban Double, Breeze Strollers sold at juvenile furniture retailers, baby product stores and Web retailers nationwide have been recalled, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The strollers were sold from December 2004 through September 2005 for between $400 and $640.

‘Sycamore Kids has received 49 reports of the handlebars either cracking or breaking when the stroller was pulled up or taken down stairs,’ said the CPSC. ‘This resulted in five reports of bruises and scrapes.’

‘The recalled strollers have a metal frame and a cloth seat with a sun canopy,’ said the CPSC. ‘The strollers were sold in a variety of colors including: midnight blue, navy, red, black, silver and orange. A metal plate above the footrest shows the Mountain Buggy logo with “Mountain Buggy,” and “Urban,” or “Breeze” written underneath on the metal plate. The recalled Mountain Buggy Urban Single strollers have item number U1204-002, and serial numbers between 000000 and 015276. The recalled Mountain Buggy Urban Double strollers have item number U2204-002, and serial numbers between 000000 and 009221. The recalled Mountain Buggy Breeze strollers have item number B1204-001, and serial numbers between 000000 and 000191. The serial number and model number are on the back of the metal plate.’ Contact Sycamore Kids to find an authorized repair center to receive a free replacement handlebar ratchet. For additional information, contact Sycamore Kids Inc. toll-free at (866) 524-8805 anytime, or email support@mountainbuggyusa.com.

The Asheboro Zoo, located 75 miles west of Raleigh, is nationally recognized as one of the nation’s finest zoos. It is the nation’s largest walk-through natural habitat zoos and is home to polar bears, sea lions, river otters, alligators, elephants, gorillas, baboons, rhinoceros, giraffes, and zebras, to name a few. The 37-acre African Plains exhibit alone is as large a many entire zoos. Visit the Asheboro Zoo website to plan your adventure.