Help Families Relax in Cozy Comfort

In Italy, the phrase “Il bel far niente” translates as “the beauty of doing nothing.” Known for their authority on ‘taking it easy,’ Italians seem to have the right idea! What better way for a family to kick back and bond than by doing nothing… together? Even little ones need time to unwind, and after a full day of parenthood, Mommy and Daddy deserve a break too, with plenty of pampering. The Giggle Guide™ presents cozy and cuddly product recommendations from Baby JaR, Big Sky Carvers, My Pillow Pets^®, and Bask Home™ that encourage the entire family to take a deep breath, snuggle up, and let out a collective, happy sigh.

What’s Inside the Baby JaR?

Officially entering the market in July 2006, Baby JaR was created by sisters Rachael Shapiro and Jessica Shiffman. Incidentally, the ‘JaR’ comes from their initials — Jessica and Rachael. Baby JaR pursues a simple mission: to honor fashion without losing playfulness in children’s clothing and accessories. Not every baby can wear yellow duckies, and for infants with hip parents, Baby JaR is a lifesaver.

So what really is inside the Baby JaR, especially for a lazy baby day? A favorite among customers, Baby JaR’s Snuggler Blankets are made with ultra-soft plush and garnished with a smooth satin trim. With a hug packed in every inch, the Snuggler easily lives up to its name! Each Snuggler measures 30” x 35” and retails for $68.00, with seven different styles to choose from, all of them coordinated and ultra cool.

For toddlers, the JaR offers the appropriately named Toddler Blanket. For $99.00, these quality blankets come in two different styles, Animal Instinct and Polka Dots. The Toddler Blanket measures a generous 36” x 48,” a perfect fit for the no longer-a-baby baby.

To see what other surprises Baby JaR holds, snuggle up to www.babyjar.com

Big Sky Carvers’ SoundTracks: No Glass Slippers Here

Started by a father and a son from Montana almost 30 years ago, Big Sky Carvers started out with sculptures and woodcarvings inspired by nature. Marc Pierce jokes, “Ducks led us to bears…bears to moose, and now we find ourselves bringing nature into homes in just about every shape and form imaginable.” That moose must have led to frogs, turkeys, wolves, elks and yellow labs. Only this time, inspiration didn’t take the form of a sculpture, but instead became silly animal slippers!

SoundTracks Slippers, a recent creation, encourage children to connect with nature in a fun and goofy way. Made of polyester plush and cozy micro-suede, these slippers have a non-skid bottom for safety and what’s more…these slippers talk! By pressing below the embroidered character, the playful footwear makes all sorts of animal noises, like realistic turkey gobbles, wolfish howls, and puppy barks. To be clear, these slippers don’t have faces. For a mere $20.00 (plus shipping), each pair of SoundTracks is made to resemble an animal’s feet, be they paws, claws, or webbed flippers. Sizes range from toddler 6-9 to youth 3-6, and are intended for indoor use only.

For more about the pitter, patter, and growl of little feet, stroll over to www.bigskycarvers.com

Who Needs a Puppy? Offer Pillow Pets!

Named by Oprah Winfrey as one of the top 10 toys of the year, San Diego born company My Pillow Pets has taken the children’s market by storm since its inception in 2003. The light bulb for My Pillow Pets came from a mother’s frustration with picking up the hoards of stuffed animals roaming her children’s floors. By giving the average stuffed animal a dual purpose, she realized everyone wins — moms, dads and kids!

Ordinary stuffed bears and bunnies are far too lumpy to hug through the night, but with a Pillow Pet, a child’s best daytime friend can stay with him all night long as an integral fuzzy part of bedtime. Simply velcro the Pillow Pet across its tummy to form the huggable pet and for the pillow… open it up again!

My Pillow Pets has 38 different pets to choose from, including a Magical Unicorn, Chocolate Moose, lovable Ms. Lady Bug, Zippity Zebra, and three dinosaurs. Each pet is made of the softest chenille and is available in 18” for $24.99 or 11” for $15.99.

In addition to the adorable pets, My Pillow Pets also offers story books, backpacks, blankets, slippers and fuzzy neck pillows for those long car rides.

Meet all the Pillow Pets at www.mypillowpets.com

Bask in the Glow of Easy Comfort with Bask Home™

Unable to find the desired style and quality of towels and bath mats for her infant daughter’s nursery bathroom, Kim Levin, along with her mother, Beth Gulas, made a big decision: a decision to take matters into her own hands.

In 2005, Bask Home introduced its lineup of high caliber fabric designs and a wide range of products. In addition to blankets, bibs, burpies, bath mats, and crib bedding, Bask Home also offers a beautiful collection of bathrobes, hooded towels and cover-ups. Made completely of cotton, all three products are two-sided, with one side blissfully soft velour and the other a comfy terry material. These robes are perfect for bath time or lounging around the house. Sizes are available for 12 months to 6 years old, and styles include Bubbles Blue, Bubbles Red, Bubbles Pink, Clover Blue, Clover Pink, Diamond Blue, Diamond Green, and Diamond Pink. Prices vary, but quality never does.

To add this comfortable designer collection to your store’s comfort zone, visit www.baskhome.com