Recently in Kidding Around: Kid-Friendly Businesses Category

May heaven shower the creator of nursing covers with its choicest blessings.

            Nursing covers (my favorite is Bebe Au Lait's Hooter Hiders in cream eyelet) are one of those mommy things that makes having a baby more fun and convenient, right up there with the Boppy, pacifier covers, a good baby carrier and anything that helps baby sleep.  

Elementary parenting stuff made cool.

            After three kids, I know I don't have to have those pee-pee teepee covers to avert diaper changing geysers (a tissue or napkin will do just fine), nor do I need the $1,600 Louis Vuitton diaper bag. (My sister bought me a cute Petunia Pickle Bottom one at 75 percent off from a store that was closing. Otherwise, my old one still works.) And no, my little one will not be wearing a $190 checked Burberry dress.

            But every year, there are new products and baby items out there that make parenting easier and/or just more fun.

            The byword of all things baby these days is eco-friendly, so items boast about being green and free of chemicals, solvents, and other yucky stuff. Think hypoallergenic, all-natural, organic, and sustainable. Another byword (at least for me) is affordable. But if it works, I will pay more for it (Wonder Boy had sensitive skin as a newborn and the Mustela line of baby products was the only one that worked for him.)

            What are some of the newest products making waves these days?

Free is fast getting to be one of my favorite words these days.And free is what you get from the folks at PhotoStamps.

The day we moved into our home in 2000, the neighbors to the right and left of us came to welcome us, newlyweds brimming with excitement about owning our own home. Neighbor to the left later retired, but the family that moved in after them were just as gracious and nice. I have seen their daughter grow up (she's now taller than me) and we have gotten to know our neighbors across the street, in the corner and even a couple of doors down.

Today is Good Neighbor Day and Flowers by Robert Taylor continues its heartwarming tradition of giving away a dozen roses free to anyone who promises to give 11 of those roses away to neighbors, teachers, friends, co-workers and even complete strangers.

Not that I want ALL of us to cram into the nearest Baskin Robbins, but tomorrow is 31 cent Scoop Night, in honor of our firefighters. Participating stores will sell small ice cream scoops (jamoca almond fudge!) for 31 cents and you can also make a donation to your local fire charities. Appropriate with the ever-so-near wildfires you can see at the foothills. Drop in between 5 and 10 p.m.

The event is connected to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which provides

firefighters with training to prevent deaths in the line of duty and offers the public information to prevent fires in our communities.

Baskin will donate $100,000 to the foundation too.

For more information, go to www.firehero.org.

For me, the best thing about Easter baskets isn’t the candy or cartoon-character plush toys, it’s the books. (Okay, chocolate bunnies run a close second.)

Over at Blue Chair Children’s Books, owner Rachel Rustenburg put together a great list of Easter tomes featured at the store.

These are board books and are appropriate for ages 1- 3: “The Story of Jesus,” by Patricia A. Pingry; “My First Easter,” by Tomie dePaola; “Eggs, Eggs!  A Lift the Flap Book,” by Salina Yoon; and “Where Are Baby’s Easter Eggs?  A Lift the Flap Book,” by Karen Katz.

For the 3-7 crowd, there’s “The Parable of the Lily,” by Liz Curtis Higgs; “The Legend of the Easter Egg,” by Lori Wallburg; “The Berenstain Bears’ Baby Easter Bunny,” by Jan and Mike Berenstain; and “The Berenstain BearsJan Berenstain and the Real Easter Eggs,” by Stan &

Don’t forget, Blue Chair also offers age-appropriate story times, free crafts and special activities.

As always, the beautiful Blue Chair Children’s Books is at 177 N. Glendora Ave.
in the downtown village area.

For more information, call (626) 335-8630 or visit www.bluechairbooks.com.