children’s wall mural – in space

“Space is big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the drug store, but that’s just peanuts to space.” ~ Douglas Adams

personalized vinyl labels – outer space

That it is. And while contemplating the vastness of the galaxy from the comfort of a field one night (there may have been some alcohol involved), Douglas Adams came up with the idea for “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. The original premise of a young man being cast adrift in the galaxy after the Earth has been destroyed to make way for an intergalactic super highway, spawned a highly successful weekly radio show on the BBC. It later made its way to the US, but really got its claim to fame when Adams turned the series into the Hitchhiker’s trilogy (in 5 parts) of books. You have to understand his humor to get it.

personalized space name plaque

People from all over the world have read the amusing tales that saw Arthur Dent exploring the many corners of the Universe with various alien folk. Adams sold over 15 million books in his lifetime, as well as receiving several Golden Pan awards (paperback sales of 1 million) and seeing three of his books make it onto the New York Times Bestseller list. He also received the Waterstone’s Books/Channel Four list of the One Hundred Greatest Books of the Century in 1996, making these space exploration books very popular indeed.

shark hooded towel

Sadly, his days of creating hilarious space exploration novels were cut short when Adams died in 2001, of a sudden heart attack at the age of 49. He left behind a legion of followers who very quickly organized a fitting tribute to the author of the Hitchhiker’s trilogy – they organized Towel Day. If you haven’t read the series then you probably don’t understand the significance of a towel, but it is considered one of the most important items for any interstellar hitchhiker. On May 25th, 2001, a mere two weeks after Adams’ death, the first Towel Day was held. Every year since then, fans have been encouraged to carry a towel to commemorate their appreciation of their favorite author.

This weekend holds May 25th. Do You have your towel?

Books in the Hitchhikers Trilogy by Douglas Adams;

• The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
• The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
• Life, the Universe and Everything
• So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
• Mostly Harmless

Whatever your plans, if the sun comes out you will need a hat. The Bella Bliss sunhat is the perfect summer accessory. The adorable hat looks great and protects baby at the same time. Available in many fabrics– it is also the perfect coordinate to Bella Bliss outfits! Perfect for boys and girls. Features:

• Available in navy, blue and pink stripe, solid white or kelly green dot
• Sizes XS (6-12m), S (12m-18m), M (18m-24m), L (2-3)
• Can be monogrammed (Additional Cost)

If you are itching to get to the beach, then grab sunscreen and some swimsuits for the kids. If you love bikinis then you’ll love our new 3 piece mint green stripe bikini set. Our halter style bikini in fun summer stripe that comes with a matching hibiscus UV 50+ rash top. The girls will be happy and look great and the moms are happy they are safe from the sun. To be extra sun safe please wear your rash top between the hours of 11-3pm when the suns rays are at there worst.

Babybox.com has suits for the boys in your life too. We love our new Snapper Rock short sleeve sun suit in Marine Blue, Green and White. This will protect your baby boy at the beach or pool this summer. The charming sun suits provide broad-spectrum sun protection, blocking 99% of all harmful rays. Less sunscreen is needed on delicate skins. Match with Flap hats for complete sun protection.

A towel might come in handy too, if the plan is to get wet at all. These amazingly soft and plush terry cabana stripe towels are a must have for every household. They can be personalized with each child’s name, lending a hand to a very well organized beach bag! Great to bring to the beach clubs and country clubs as well.

Now all you need is a bag to tuck all your essentials into. I think the large coral monogrammed becky basket bag will do. This unique and sophisticated Becky basket bag features coral single letter monogram shown on black ribbon. Single initial only. 11″ tall x 13.5″ x 5.5″ deep. Big enough to carry your sunscreen, towels, a snack  and drinks, plus maybe even that first summer romance novel of the season.

Welcome summer!

So grab your tiara’s and let loose this weekend Canada. We’ll get our long weekend next weekend for Memorial Day. Until then have fun celebrating your unofficial start to the summer.

Babybox’s Tribute to Queen Victoria

It wouldn’t be a royal celebration with recognizing Victoria’s country of birth. Time to wave the British flag! The “British Flag” wall art from Oopsy Daisy by Aaron Christensen turns the classic British flag into a modern masterpiece with cool shades and paint splatter design. This top quality canvas reproduction is made using the Giclee printing process and has the look and feel of an original painting. Each piece is stretched over wood bars, glass-free, and comes ready to hang! No framing is required. This is the ideal surface for kids’ rooms as there is no glass to break! Artwork is finished on all sides and comes with a wire hanger for wall mounting. It can easily be wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth. Makes a great gift idea. Designed by artist Aaron Christensen and it comes with his biography attached to the back.

This Queen Mom notepad from the Bonnie Marcus Collection features a hip pink and orange background with Mom’s official crown! The text on the note pad reads ‘Mom is always right (even when she is wrong)”. I suspect Queen Victoria would have approved.

Note Pads measure 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″

Printed on recycled white text weight paper. 60 lined sheets per pad.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this product will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and other organizations promoting breast cancer awareness.

Do you think that baby Victoria would have liked these royal sheets? The Victoria crib bedding ensemble by Lulla Smith, shown here in all ivory, is ethereal. The Ivory Dupioni silk bumper is shown with a Striped Silk Organza overlay and Organza flange, and signature 4″ Ties. Solid silk skirt with Striped Silk Organza hem is a nice finishing touch. Fit for royalty and your little one too!

Every princess and of course queen needs a tiara, so here is one of Babybox.com’s finest. The “Royal Princess Tiara” personalized canvas wall hanging by Dish and Spoon Productions will make your child the queen of her own fairyland. This lovely designer dress twinkles with organza ribbons, iridescent glitters and Swarowski crystals and pearls. This detailed painting is wonderfully reproduced on the museum-archival-quality canvas into an original design by using the giclée method of fine art printing, from by taking the original design of lovely children’s artist Stacey Harnisch.

Your little princess will love to Pretend with our Oopsy Daisy growth chart. Pretend to be a ballerina, pretend to be a queen or a movie star as your child gazes at this piece. Beautiful artwork covers this growth chart and it will be the perfect addition to any girl’s nursery or room. Your child is going to grow quickly, so celebrate every magical milestone with this wonderful growth chart! Measures 12″ x 42″, enough to take you all the way from the infant years to late toddler years. Along the way, there’s pure fun — the chart features whimsical images in eye-catching colors to compliment every child’s room. Can be personalized with child’s name.

Happy Victoria Day Canada!

With temperatures finally feeling warm enough to get outside, garden centres are open for business again. I have seen people planting pansies, but it might almost be time to get some other annuals out there to spruce up your yard.That is if have a green thumb I suppose. Of course, if you would rather just appreciate the garden without the work, you could always hire a neighborhood kid to do the digging for you!

Babybox.com’s Gardens

This “Garden Party” wall art from Oopsy Daisy by Caroline Blum is a gorgeous and varied landscape full of life that lives up to its name. This top quality canvas reproduction is made using the Giclee printing process and has the look and feel of an original painting. Each canvas is stretched over wood bars, glass-free, and comes ready to hang! No framing is required. This is the ideal surface for kids’ rooms as there is no glass to break! Artwork is finished on all sides and comes with a wire hanger for wall mounting. It can easily be wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth. Makes a great gift idea. Designed by artist Caroline Blum and it comes with the designer’s biography attached to the back.

The 5 Arm Pink/Green Flower Garden Chandelier with Pink Daisy Petal Shades is a charming addition to any room. The pretty lighting fixture features scrolling soft green arms dotted with leaves culminating in a beautiful white washed pink petal flowers. A splattering of crystals and draping beads add a little sparkle. The fixture is adorned with exquisite daisy petal shades. These scalloped edge pink dupioni chandelier shades are sprinkled with pink pearl daisies and bright pink embroidery. It is sure to enhance your decor.

This Trellis Garden bookcase by Sweet Beginnings features a charming and delicate hand painted sweet design. The bookcase is designed to be extra sturdy with deep shelves that hold just about every size of book that your child might imagine and still have room for future favorites. Most bookcases have many colors to choose from, so that you can truly customize the piece to match any child’s room or decor. The bookcases top and bottom styles can be customized as well. Perfect for girls, the bookcase works well with other pieces in the Sweet Beginnings collection or by itself!

This Oopsy Daisy “Flower Garden” nightlight brings all the colors and beauty of a garden into your little nature lover’s room. This nightlight can be easily wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth and is ideal for your child’s room as it does not have a glass surface to break. You can personalize the nightlight with your child’s name or any other word or phrase like “Good Night”. This nightlight is designed by Jill McDonald, whose biography is included with each unit.

Hope your garden grows well this year!

The end of the school year is an excellent time to say thank you to the hard-working teachers that have been a part of your child’s life all year. Hand-written heart-felt sentiments go an awfully long way in expressing that, but sometimes a little something to show your appreciation doesn’t hurt either. Babybox.com has some suggestions for fabulous teacher gifts that will let them know how much you appreciate all they do.

Babybox.com’s Teacher Gifts

Make sure this one is stocked and ready when you hand it over, as the last day of school is sure to be teary! Add a special touch to your teacher’s classroom with our custom painted tissue box covers. Every classroom has tissues so every teacher would love this on her desk. Features teacher’s name and or/ grade. Shown here in red, blue and white but available in any color of your choice. If you want us to color match a room, send us an image once ordered and we will match it as best as possible.

Looking for the perfect teacher gift that is both unique and useful? These custom bookplates are the ideal thank-you gift for your child’s teachers!

This set of 16 personalized bookplates are printed on adhesive backing, so they’re ready to peel and stick into favorite books.

They’ll arrive packaged in a clear cello sleeve. Measure Size: 2.5″ x 3.75″

Makes a great gift for your child’s teacher!

These personalized Memo Sets “Apples to Apples” come with 200 loose sheets tied in a grosgrain ribbon in a reusable acrylic holder. Choose from several font styles. Personalize these 2 lines of text at the top and up to 1 line of text at the bottom of the note sheets. Consider these whimsical notes as a gift for teachers, friends, coaches and kids!

Or go for something your favorite teacher will appreciate after a long day at school – personalized soaps. This soap set is fabulous, both for its meaning and for its fine quality. This large set of six luxurious soaps, features an individual message written on each paired with the scent of each. Each soap is 100% Vegetable Based, Triple-Milled for Luxurious Lather. The freshest Personalized Soap in the Marketplace, all presented in scent complimenting colors, with gentle yet intoxicating scents (all oils are balance-infused with no over-powering perfume fragrances).
Just in time for Mother’s Day, end of year teacher appreciation gifts, Birthdays, Summer Hostess Thank yous and Weddings! Doesn’t that special friend need a little spoiling for the Journey? You know YOU deserve it!

It is Mother’s Day this coming Sunday, May 12th. What better time to celebrate all things MUMMY? Babybox.com knows a thing or two about Mamas. I bet you do too. Can you relate to these sentiments about your own dear Mum?

Happy Mother’s Day

market sling from serena & lily – flax/sky blue

• Mummies bring babies into the world
• Moms kiss booboos after their little ones fall down
• Mamas give the best goodnight hugs and chase away any nightmares when they threaten
• Mothers teach children Right from wrong
• Mommies reward their kiddos with dessert after feats like saving the world from dastardly blanket invasions

Plus, they have been known to perform a few other actions that aren’t always understood right away, despite maybe being good for you;

personalized plate diamond pattern

• Mothers aren’t afraid to scold kids when run they into the street before looking
• Mums have been known to give evil eyes after dinner is eaten with fingers instead of forks
• Mammas send their babies to bed when they are too tired to function anymore, despite adamant denials otherwise
• Mommas make children try all kinds of food before they are allowed to pass judgement on whether it is liked or not
• Ma forces kiddos to get dressed before heading out to school every day

For all that they are, we love them and want them to know it. So we do whatever we can to show it, like;

crayola crayon apron – pink stripe

• Make our beds the best we can (lumps notwithstanding)
• Give big wet, sloppy kisses, just because
• Create artwork to fill a multitude of fridges
• Pick flowers to present to her, whether they be your prize petunias or simple dandelions
• Surprise you with breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day morning (we love burnt toast and coffee with grinds in it!)

And for our part at Babybox.com, we’d like to add a few more suggestions of what Mom might really want this Mother’s Day. She wants;

personalized baby announcement frame

• To sleep in
• To not have to do laundry
• To have a meal made for her
• That homemade card from her precious children (and maybe a bought treat or two!)
• To receive a million and one hugs and kisses from the people she loves best in the world – her KIDS

Happy Mother’s Day ladies! Hope it’s a special day for you.

More Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

We love the new Cambridge cross block monogram earrings. Available in 28 acrylic colors and two hand rubbed finishes. (Metal accents will match the selected rub color.) Measures: 3/4″

A great conversation starter for any party, no matter how you say it; this expression of good will wraps the globe with this set of 4 Salute! Cheers! Chin Chin! and Sante champagne flutes.

The perfect gift for those special folks in your life or even yourself!!!

Each glass flute is 8.5 oz.

Be original, with your very own personalized iPad Mini Folio case. In an array of different colors and designs, suitable for an taste.

Made of a woven polyester, the interior of the case is lined with microfiber to cushion your device. A strap ensures your device will not fall out. The snap on case allows the tablet to be rotated with a swivel design, providing you with different viewing angles. Personalize with a name or monogram. Maximum Characters:8

This Bella Bliss top for summer features dramatic ric rac detailing and 3/4-length sleeves. Stylish and flattering with V-Neck and it falls just below the hip. 100% cotton; machine wash. XS (0-2), S (4), M (6-8), L (10-12), XL (14-16)

Every home should have one of these fabulous custom family pillows, inspired by vintage subway signs. All of our pillows are eco-friendly, produced with a natural cotton and linen blend fabric. A perfect gift for Mom!

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Sweet for layering or a girls first cuff, we love this 14K gold plated mini initial cuff. Please specify initial choice in Special Instructions. Nice when paired with other bracelets. Fun to get your child’s first or last name initial.

New from Beautycounter – the Face Collection. The five products you need for your new daily healthy skin care regimen.  Routine Clean gently washes away impurities and makeup morning and night.  Depending on your skin’s needs, follow with Every Day or Every Night creams.  Use Any Time eye cream in the morning, night, or throughout the day.  Two or three times a week, replace Routine Clean with Gentle Exfoliator to reveal smooth, healthy-looking skin.

We love this classic button down shirt style dress in classic navy with feminine ruffles trim and sleeves. Finished at the waist with tie belt. It is slim without being fitted and has a very slight A-line. Classic elegance from daytime lunches, to office to a day on the boat. A must have for Spring and Summer.

Remember the Lucite photo cube your parents used to put pictures of you in? I think we can all remember exactly which photos were in it and where it still sits in our parents house. It’s back! Tara Wilson Designs has brought back the classic 1970′s icon, and you can relive the good old days with your own kids pictures. Features 6-sides, lucite.

This summer basket bag with starfish casting is a great choice for every summer closet. This basket bag is one of our favorites and has been a best seller for years.

Large – The large is an everyday basket, big enough for all those important items. Approximate basket dimensions: 14″x15″x5″.

For even more choices, make sure to visit Babybox.com and browse Gifts for Mom!

invite – margarita

First things first, let’s pour ourselves a margarita and think about Mexico and what we know about it. For starters, it is directly south of the USA, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Gulf of Mexico on the east and Guatemala and Belize to the south. It has a history going back over 3,000 years, to a group known as the Olmecs. Maya, Zapotec, Toltec and Aztec cultures came later, each with their own distinct cultures. The arrival of the Spanish in the 16th Century brought a whole new way of life for this 761, 606 sq mile country.

personalized salt & pepper shakers

I think we need a shot of tequila to keep the story flowing. Don’t forget to pass the salt shaker! So when the Spanish arrived, they were on the hunt for gold and other riches. They decided to do it via battle, but it was the introduction of smallpox that really made its mark. People in the millions died, leaving them easy pray to the Spanish and their introduction of Christianity and the Spanish way of life. Claimed as New Spain, the new territory was in store for plenty of changes.

tropical fruit wall art

The Spanish nation would not be subservient for long though. Have a quesadilla, pineapple, some chocolate or an avocado and listen on. By 1810 New Spain declared her Independence and officially renamed itself Mexico. The next 100 years saw the country change hands as far as ruling parties goes, but by 1910 the Mexican Revolution had the country in turmoil again. They must have listened to some good mariachi music though, as nowadays it is considered one of the world’s largest economies and an emerging power as far as nations of the world are concerned.

Regardless of its history, Mexico is a beautiful country and excellent trading partner for our NATO alliance. And this weekend, we are celebrating all things Mexican in heritage. So do a little dance, pop a cerveza or two, and celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Babybox.com this weekend!

Like here on this beautiful Maypole bed by Sweet Beginnings! It has a French Country style that is inspired by the hillsides of rural France and will look terrific in any room! The four poster bed also features a wonderful hand painted design and their fabulous embossed carving applique design. Hand crafted from solid maple, birch and poplar wood and high quality hardware and then hand painted, this bed can be customized in many colors to complement your decor. A canopy kit option is also available to make this extra special. This bed is of heirloom quality and can be enjoyed for many years to come.

If you have a yen to decorate your own Maypole, you’ll need some ribbons. This ribbon just might do the trick. Plus, this 5/8″ personalized satin ribbon with large dots on it is perfect for children’s party favors and holiday gifts alike. This luxurious ribbon comes in a continuous roll allowing up to 45 characters for Upper/Lower case and 35 characters for ALL CAPS. Ribbon comes with 8 to 12 imprints per yard with 1 to 1½” of spacing between each imprint so you can personalize it with a message or child’s name on it.

What about flowers though? You cannot celebrate May Day without plenty of flowers to go around. If you want flowers for your Maypole dancers hair, then these embroidered flowers headband are just the thing. This is one of the most adorable headbands we have found and every little girl will love wearing it. Made with a white 1 1/2 inch wide ribbon, trimmed with ric rac. Sewn inside is a plastic headband. Embroidered on the headband are three flowers with 3-D white pom pom centers…YES 3-D WHITE POM POM CENTERS!!! Each headband is made with three color variations, light, medium, dark with the ric rac coordinating (not all ric rac colors are going to be an exact match, but they are close enough to be cute). Four colorways available are: pinks, purples, greens, turquoises..

The reason for all the celebrating is to herald in the coming summer with joy and hope for the new season. Joy that winter was finally over and hope that the new planting season will be prosperous. At Babybox.com, our hope comes in the form of Hope’ Garden. These whimsical hand painted wooden wall letters (“Hope’s Garden” Design)  are the perfect addition for any nursery, children’s bedroom, playroom or bathroom. Each wooden wall letter is hand painted and is one of a kind. The letters are sanded, primed and then painted to match ANY theme you desire. (If you provide us with a sample or the name and manufacturer of your child’s bedding, we will coordinate the letters to match. We welcome swatches as well as links so that we may match your theme as closely as possible.) You can spell out your child’s name for the bedroom or the words “bath”, “let’s play!” etc. to add some fun to the bath and playroom. Please let us know if you have something special in mind for the designing of your letters. Ribbon is available upon request, otherwise hardware will be attached to your order. You are not limited to the designs you see on this web site. Custom order requests are welcome.

Babybox.com is keeping the joy alive with our Summer’s Almost Here Gift Boutique as well. We’ve got plenty of summer-inspired items to choose from to ensure that everyone will be full of hope, joy and a lot of fun to herald in May Day and the summer months to come. Stop by 22 Tower Dr, in Darien, CT to shop all this week!