When it comes to decorating my kids playroom last fall, I wasn’t looking to do much. A former teacher, I recognized that, beyond a few basics (reading corner, work station, shelves and baskets) what they needed most was space. So with a minimalist approach, and a few hundred thousands toys, I searched for items the kids would use and could abuse. Items that weren’t overbearing, but would inspire creativity.

But even the table and shelves can be cumbersome, so it becomes important to search for quality products. Products that will withstand the test of friends climbing on them, leaning across Candyland — with a whole body on the table to get to King Candy, and Grandparent weight. And, of course, it may be a playroom, but you want it to look as good as the rest of your house.

A table was a definite necessity. And, in this case, I wanted something that wouldn’t wobble, the legs wouldn’t unscrew, and it would look clean and crisp. Something that could be used for decades, because it didn’t scream toddler all over it. Jennifer deLonge’s Grace Table has completely answered my table and chair pursuit.

Jennifer deLonge, up-scale children’s furniture designer, and designer to the stars, creates distinctive pieces for an up-to-the-moment style. A favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox-Arquette and Mira Sorvina, deLonge is the wife of Blink 182’s Tom deLonge, and designer extraordinaire in her own right. Her children’s furniture evokes a sleek, mod style, one so “normal” that it could easily be subbed in as adult furniture. The Grace Table is firm and secure–so much more so than those I considered from popular children’s furniture retailers. The stools, mini-replicas of the table, are in fact so strong they held my father-in-law during his extended visit to Wesley’s Diner.

Next, we searched for shelving. My husband had no problem clearing his throat when I started looking at deLonge-ish designers. These are simply shelves, he reminded me. He took the liberty of running to IKEA to purchase 4 sets of Agerum Bookcases. The high legs are perfect for grabbing lost toys, and for storing over-sized items. And their GLES storage box, at only $1.29 a box, fits perfectly to contain all of our characters, trains, cars and Lincoln Logs. (Of course, the shelves are firmly attached to the wall — no chance of tipping those over, which is essential since one of the boys received the award “Best Climber” at summer camp.)

Boys being boys, we already had a train table by Imaginarium, and during the holidays last year, we added a very boyish kitchen set from Target. A fight with the Grandparents on both sides, I can’t get over the fact that every grandparent visit finds them sitting at Wesley’s Diner, (at the Jennifer deLonge Grace Table) ordering cookies, a burger and an onion–or whatever Wesley’s Diner is featuring that day.

For the computers, yes, they have computers, Daddy and Pop-Pop ventured over to Home Depot to purchase shelving. Which they very cleverly built in at about 2 feet off the ground, perfect height for the Pottery Barn Kids Carolina Chairs that pull up to their “desk.”

Finally, it was time for me to accessorize. Again, simplicity was imperative. No Tigger and Pooh murals in this house. Instead, I found these wall letters by eeboo, which I use as a border around the room. The soft-touch of the art is a subtle reminder that this is, in fact, a kids room. At Daddy’s request, we added two maps: one US and one world, so that when we travel, we can mark off our vacation spots, as well as Daddy’s business trip stays. And our hidden secret… at teepee that, in seconds, stores in the back closet, serves as a hiding spot, a reading corner, even an impromptu nap-spot.

The kids have been, officially, using the room for a few months now. Simple to put things away, simple to use. Simple to play. And, of course, simple to find that it needs to be cleaned. Because no matter how few furnishing items I have in a playroom, the toys still spill out the door.

Imaginarium Train Table is on sale at Toys R Us and you’ll get free shipping; Agerum Bookcases (IKEA) are not available online; eeboo maps are available at My Little Ducks: use code SAVE15 for 15% off; Chef Costume by Growing Cooks; Animal Bag (under Grace Table) by Boon Inc.; TeePee available at Precious Personalities: use code MWS10 for 10% off.

About a year ago, my mom’s best friend gifted my little one with a gorgeous, classy, personalized shadow box. Something I had never seen before, it matched his room perfectly–and I fell in love immediately. Being a shop owner who only stocks products she wants in her own home, I knew I had to find this product so that I could share it with others.

Thus began my search. And I searched. And searched. Until, 14 months later, I found MKandCo at a trade show in New York. Their elegant booth jumped out at me. “HERE WE ARE!!! WE KNOW YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR US! Heh… Heh… Heh…” It was worth the long search. What I found at the booth impressed me even more than the shadow box I have hanging on Wesley’s wall.

MKandCo produces original art work by MK Fleming, a designer who previously designed for companies like Osh Kosh B’Gosh and Buster Browns. MK now uses her art skills to design watercolor frames and shadowboxes, all inspired as gifts for families, from the heart.

Each shadowbox or frame can be personalized with as many or as few details as the gift giver chooses. Precious Personalities will work with you to ensure the personalization is perfect for your giftee.

Rest assured, when you’re gifting an MKandCo gift, the recipient (and her mommy) will be touched with the precious attention to detail, the gorgeous color and style.

Receive a 10% discount through December 1 with code Clever1 at Precious Personalities.

Its so cute when a husband carries a diaper bag. Okay, so only a mother can really say that. I know my husband isn’t too fond of my flowery backpack, or my berry leather tote. He’ll carry it, about as far from his body as it will reach. But, being the father of 2, there have certainly been times when he’s been in need of a diaper carrier. Admittedly, he doesn’t need the things moms need. He’s a guy—he needs the basics. 2 diapers and a pack of wipes. The rest can stay in the car.

Rather than a large, overpacked, sparkly and trendy bag, he chooses to carry a diapee & wipee. A lightweight, cotton pouch, diapees & wipees easily fit 2-3 large diapers and a wipes travel case. The envelope flap attaches with Velcro—allowing the diapers to stay unwrinkled.

It’s been great as a grab ‘n go for him… and for me. No matter where I go, my diapee and wipee goes with me. It fits easily into all my diaper bags, and even in most of my handbags. I’ll admit that every now and then my diaper bag will be a bit crumby on the bottom. Cluttered with Cheerios, goldfish and crayon shavings. And, ewww, how gross when these crumbs get caught into my boys’ diapers! Keeping the diapers and wipes in their diapee & wipee allows for the occasional crumby days in the black-hole of the bag, and the diapers stay nice and clean.

Usually, I carry 2 diapees & wipees—one for each son. Before Carson was potty trained, each diapee & wipee carried the appropriate size diapers. Now that he’s in big boy underpants(!), I keep a spare pair and a pair of shorts stuffed inside.

When we go out, I grab my third diapee & wipee. Another easy grab ‘n go, this one holds our dinner entertainment necessities: crayons, a small notepad, matchbox cars, stickers, and a small container of Play-Doh.

How do I keep it all straight? Diapees & Wipees are available in a variety of fabrics—some more child friendly, some more stylish and Precious Personalities personalizes them. The majority of our diapees & wipees orders are personalized– so that Grandma knows not to put size 2 diapers on 4-year-old big brother, so that day care providers can easily identify the correct pouch, and because we all love our child’s name—and want to see it on everything.

Not sure you’ll love the cotton? BumBags serve the same purpose. A bit larger and finished with a laminate for easy wipe and clean, the BumBags also hold 2-3 diapers and a wipes case and close with velcro.

The perfect add-on for a baby shower gift or a great gift for any parent with kiddos in diapers, diapees & wipees are only $14.99 and BumBags are on sale for $20 at Precious Personalities. Both are available with free shipping and personalization is an extra $5 (on the diapee & wipee only.)

It all started with communication. Like all parents, I knew my child was gifted. So when he was 8 months, I decided to invest in a little known program, Signing Time.

In early 2004, signing with babies was on the cusp of popularity, knocking on the door of “babies have to do this!” With no signing experience, my husband and I decided learning to sign would offer a great opportunity for our family to approach something new together.

I researched. A lot. And we discussed. A lot. (I don’t make many decisions without researching and discussing and researching and discussing.) We wanted a program that taught ASL, so that the signs we learned and used would be useful in the “real world,” not just in our household. We wanted a program that was enduring and entertaining, something that would entice our interest, as well as our baby’s, and motivate us to maintain our education.

We decided upon Signing Time! volumes 1-3. Created by sisters Rachel Coleman and Emilie de Azevedo Brown after Rachel’s daughter, Leah, was born deaf, Signing Time! is a ground-roots program, originally produced to help their friends and families easily learn to communicate with Leah. The series offers inviting songs and scenes that teach the American Sign Language sings for common words to babies through school-age children.

But Signing Time! was hard to find. It wasn’t available at the big bookstores or local sellers. And you definitely can’t find it at Blockbuster. Soon after I purchased the first set in the series and started signing with my son, I invited friends for a neighborhood showing, and they were prompt to purchase a copy for their kids.

Signing Time! became Precious Personalities’ first product. Within three years, Signing Time has grown into 13 volumes, with a Baby Signing Time series (created for children ages 0-2), accessories like flashcards and books, and their newest products: Signing Time Practice: ABCs and 123s.

It’s a fantastic program for children and parents. Children’s signing vocabulary grows faster than spoken vocabulary, due to natural gross motor capabilities. Signing children are able to show us what they want… be it milk, sleep, or cereal, long before they can tell us verbally. By associating a word with muscle memory, children’s ability to communicate physically, babies establish a connection so that they are better able to remember the words they learn through ASL, explains Marilyn Daniels, professor of Speech Communication at Penn State, in her book Dancing with Words: Signing for Hearing Children’s Literacy, published by Bergin and Garvey in 2001.

I encourage parents to actively participate in signing with their children. You’ll notice a significant difference when you use the signs with your child, incorporating them into your communication. Sit and watch the videos, then continue using the signs in all atmospheres you are in with your child.

Teach your child to sign with the Signing Time series, available at Precious Personalities.