Children add a special touch to any wedding party, and little girls in particular represent all the sweetness and charm of the bride herself.  They like to dress up, and there is nothing more special to them, than the honor of being chosen as a flower girl.

Getting exactly what you want in flower girl dresses, usually means ordering as much as 4-6 weeks ahead of time.  Once you have looked at some of the beautiful outfits from designers like Us Angels, Susanne Lively, Frances Johnston, or Isabel Garreton., you’ll have all the information you need, to get the dress on time, and in just the design and materials desired.

Outfit your flower girl in all the feminine elegance of a Susanne Lively dress with an embroider dupioni silk bodice and organza skirt lined with layers of tulle and netting for fullness.  Thrill her with a delicious pink tulle and satin dress with bows scattered over the skirt.  Did you choose a sleeveless style? Why not top it off with a short-sleeved cropped jacket in satin or sheer organza from Us Angels?

Little girls get to dress up, Mom gets to enjoy a glimpse of the past when she was that age and that excited, and the fun of choosing flower girl dresses together, will be something to remember for years to come.

But they’re mobile now, and that first taste of independence makes them want even more.  Now you can give them a step up to doing things on their own, with finely crafted step stools that will raise them up to where they can get what they want safely, instead of dragging something unstable over to a cupboard and climbing on that.

What you buy, doesn’t need to be solely utilitarian, either.  Hats Off makes a hand-painted step stool that features hats, and other dress up items. It fits perfectly into any room where a little one will need it, including the bathroom and kitchen.

Step stools can have an element of fun too.  Lil Surfer makes a solidly built surfboard that safely moves back and forth, between the sideboard “waves”.   Great enticement for getting the little ones up to the bathroom sink for teeth brushing!

Fairy Meadow makes an absolutely delightful two level step stool.  Lavishly decorated with hand-painted fairies, it’s suitable for the bathroom, or climbing into bed, and matches many of the Fairy Meadow accessories and childrens furniture.

If step stools sound like fun, they’ll sound even more exciting to your wee ones, when they step up to the sink on their frog “toad” stool and it ribbits back at them. Stool comes with three lithium batteries.  Get them moving by putting your toddlers on the train step stool, a bright red, blue and yellow engine that reminds them to brush, wash, and how much they are loved.  Makes a choo-choo sound when the steam pot on the top is pressed.  Or, kids can truck right on to bed, after using their big truck step stool with the same message and sound features as the train.

It’s a step up in the world for little ones, and they’ll be happy to climb them!

Exactly when this delicate art started, is not certain.  But smocking, which is to embroider pleats that have been pleated before smocking, dates back in history to at least the 12th century, as evidenced in paintings and sculptures.  It may even be earlier, as samples turn up around the world, from various cultures.

Smocked dresses have always been valued for the intricacy of the handiwork that goes into making them.  Even Queen Elizabeth I, lists a smocked dress amongst her clothing in an inventory of the late 1500s.

Modern day smocking only caught on in the late 19th century when Butterick & Co. featured many smocking designs in its patterns.  The art was highly popular from the 1930s to 60s, then waned, making it a very unique and individual look, today.

Your little girls will look their most delightful in smocked dresses, starting with something for baby from Sarah Louise.  The detailing on these dresses, which come in pink or white, is exquisite!  The entire garment is hand smocked, with a fully smocked bodice and delicate embroidery.  Embroidered flowers and bows decorate the hem.  The long sleeves are fully lined, and the back has a button closure.

Anavini will have the little charmers in your family looking their best in a red corduroy bishop dress, with Dalmations smocked around the neck.  Beautiful detailing and tucks at the hem.  For the cat lover, there is enchantment in Anavini’s pink and white striped seersucker dress, with three kittens in a basket smocked across the inset on the bodice.  It has a delicate white collar with scalloped edging, short gathered sleeves and back sash tie.

Sophie Dess presents your young ladies in short-sleeved blue pincord smocked dresses, exquisitely smocked with blue and pink embroidery, topped with a piped collar, and tied in back with a sash.  Or choose a sleeveless green pincord dress with an embroidered, hand smocked bodice.

Perfectly precious smocked dresses. Just what your princess needs for a dress-up occasion, or just a visit to grandma’s.

Whether it’s for a shower, birthday, or other special occasion, your friends and relatives will find lots of gift choices that are as bright and entertaining as the children themselves!

How about togging out your boy and girl twins in matching Bailey Boys outfits?  For the little athlete, red gingham overalls will have him giggling over the appliquéd sports ball design on the front.  She’ll look pretty as a picture in a red gingham jumper with a heart appliqué design.  Both can be worn over matching turtleneck sweaters, or different colors.  Did you have two boys, and don’t want to dress them identically? No problem!  The outfit is full reversible, and turns into a solid red overall with appliquéd tools.  Two girls? Their jumper is reversible too, and becomes a solid red, with a flower appliqué. If you want the girls to be dressed differently, but in the same color/material, you can also choose a delightful red gingham angel dress with heart appliqué, buttons at the shoulder and grosgrain ribbon bows.  And it comes with matching bloomers!

Funtasia also gets into the swing of Spring with twins matching clothes that will make your delightful duo look their best.  Get your brother/sister duo ready for the warm weather with black and white gingham shorts for him, topped by an adorable white tee appliquéd with a busy bee. For her, Funtasia makes Capri pants in the same black and white gingham, and pairs them with white cotton tee that has lettuce edging in black, and a 3-D bee to entertain them both!

You can dress your twins in matching clothes year round, and never repeat the same outfits twice!  Change sweaters, change pants, buy matching outfits in different colors. Dressing twins should be as much fun as they are!

Very young infants have a way of managing to go through their entire supply of rompers, before Mom can get to the laundry.  Not to mention those times when you have the little one all ready to go for a visit, then discover that a diaper didn’t hold, and you need a quick change.

Baby clothes don’t have to be given for immediate use, either.  Think ahead, because before you know it, that little sprite may have outgrown their first outfits, and are stretching up to the next size.

Don’t forget how sweet the new arrival will look in a few months when it’s Christmas! Or Easter! Or even Valentine’s Day!  The leading baby clothes manufacturers now have complete lines of casual and dress-up outfits for boys and girls of all ages.

Buying quality clothing for babies and infants, is a bargain in the long run.  You not only get the manufacturer’s guarantee of durability, but you’re assured of the care that went into the design, sewing, and even the choice of materials.

When choosing a gift for the newest member of someone’s family, remember that baby clothes come in more colors, styles, and designs than ever before. Your hardest decision won’t be what to get, but which outfit you buy first!

Decorating a child’s bedroom should be a fun experience for both you and your little one! It is a chance to share some time together and show your child that his or her input is truly valued. No matter what your design scheme, you should always encourage your child to voice his or her opinion about what goes into their room. This helps them to feel connected to the space and, in turn, gives them pride in their surroundings. It will also help them realize the value of keeping their items in good condition and in keeping their room tidy!

Using your children’s artwork to decorate their space is an incredible way to make them feel as though their work is valued. It is best to rotate artwork during the year, so as to display their most current work at all times. Don’t limit their artwork to just their bedroom. Showcase various pieces throughout your home to show your child just how proud you really are. It will have a huge impact on their self-esteem. Obviously, keeping all of your child’s artwork is not an option, so consider taking a photo of various works to store in a photo album.

When choosing children’s furniture for your child’s bedroom, it is important to pick items that will grow with your child. Just because that desk is oh so cute now, doesn’t mean it will do the trick in a year or two. It can be very costly to constantly replace furniture, so it needs to last! Similarly, you don’t want to buy furniture that won’t be able to stand some wear and tear. Sticky fingers and melted crayons will be a reality at some point! Any children’s bedroom furniture needs to withstand the test of time. It’s a very important consideration when decorating a child’s bedroom.

Picking bedding for your child’s room is another important consideration. Allow them to choose the characters and themes they enjoy, but keep in mind that they might not enjoy these same things in a year or two. Try to encourage them to pick a theme they will enjoy for quite some time. If they insist of that specific duvet, tell them ahead of time that they’ll be stuck with this item for a certain amount of time. That way, if they complain later on, you can remind them of the deal you struck and encourage them to think carefully the next time they get the chance to choose.

In the end, decorating your child’s bedroom has very little to do with the furniture you choose or the artwork you display. It has everything to do with creating a memorable experience your child will remember. The most wonderful thing you can do for any human being is to make them feel important. This goes just the same for your little ones. You are the first person who will encourage them and the last one who will forsake them. Why not be the one who makes them feel important by including them in the “grown-up” decorating decisions of their room?

And with designers such as Susanne Lively, Collins and Hall, Funtasia, Us Angels, Katie & Co., and Frances Johnston, the selections are endless, and will suit almost any theme, color, or just a little girl’s dreams.

Special occasion dresses often have to be special ordered, so it’s a wise Mom who starts shopping early, to avoid disappointment.  Consider whether you need a special color.  Are you going to match your daughter’s dress to a theme, or to your own outfit?  Is there a material that you favor over another?  What styles appeal to you, and the little angel who’s going to wear it?  Are you going to outfit more than one young lady? Many designers provide the full range of sizes from toddler to 16, and some will even offer plus sizes.

Collins and Hall have created a delightful array of baby girl dresses that will make your little girl look like the sweetheart she is.  Choose from such charming ensembles as a pink knit dress and cardigan with a cotton diaper cover, the delicately embroidered ivory knit dress and cotton diaper cover, or an exquisite velvet, pleated dress, which is embroidered at the hem, and is fully lined.

Little girls will love special occasion dresses like Susanne Lively’s sleeveless, black and white silk dress, with black embroidery, and a black velvet tie sash.  Lively also outfits bright little toddlers and babies in a stunning red and white dress combining a lace bodice, and red silk skirt with layers of tulle and netting to give it fullness.  And she’s designed a boys red silk shortall and ivory shirt, to go with his sister’s dress!

Young ladies will be delighted with the sophistication of a champagne dupioni silk dress, with lace overlay on the bodice, and a matching champagne tie for the waist.  Or they may like the simply feminine, hand beaded satin A-line dress with matching bolero jacket.

Choosing special occasion dresses, is something you can do together. Make the day more special, by including your daughter in the shopping!

Their racks are just bursting with vibrant new colors and patterns that will delight both you, and the little girl in your life.  Your baby or toddler will look fresh from the garden in a Sophie Dess cherry print float dress that has an embroidered, double layer collar.  With sizes ranging from 6 months to 4T, you can match her with an older or younger sister!

Minibasix Easter dresses for babies make the most of your little charmer, in pink cotton, with pink chiffon overlayed, and appliquéd with roses. A matching shorts-style diaper cover and headband, complete the ensemble.  Bailey Boys also makes her pretty in a pink seersucker float dress, complete with a square white collar, which has three shadow-embroidered bunnies with fluffy tails.

The very young lady may appreciate something with an “older” look, such as Funtasia’s pink linen blend A-line dress. The elegantly simple cotton/linen blend is easy to wash, and looks wonderful paired with a contrasting jacket.  Lavender Blue will also delight her with a white cotton pincord dress with blue pincord around the hem, and blue piping around the triangular collar, which is richly decorated with floral embroidery.

If you’ve chosen this time for a first communion, Easter dresses will offer something both feminine and flattering.  What more delightful picture is there, than your little girl in a Frances Johnson sleeveless silk dress, layered with tulle and netting for fullness, and decorated with a silk bow at the waist?  For the very young lady, Chabre presents a simple but sweet, empire waist dress in poly/cotton, with a beautiful hand embroidered collar, and grosgrain ribbon sash.

The exciting new looks in Easter dresses will have your little one asking if it’s Spring yet. So shop early for that special holiday outfit, and when the flowers bloom, so will your little one, in a special occasion dress, just for her.