family dressing

The point of a picnic is to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors with the family. I am an admitted foodie, but not going to break the bank by packing a gourmet meal for our afternoon adventures with the kids. They dine and dash toward the swings leaving my husband and I to scarf up what we can before chasing them around. Leave the fine dining to date night and use existing household items for a day on the grass with the tots.

• Grocery bags — If they're good enough to bring food home from the store, they'll serve well for toting it to the park, too. They also double as trash and recycling receptacles.
• Finery — I keep take-out utensils for these occasions. If it's not too much trouble, you can also bring along your own silverware and wash it at home later.
• Blanket — Instead of packing a fancy throw for the occasion, use an old moving blanket (like those used by U-Haul or moving companies) and a sheet. A heavy moving blanket will stay in place and absorb any wetness from dew or rain and can unfold for seating many. Bring along paperclips and attach an old sheet for a soft and cheery appearance.
• Old containers — Pack sandwiches, veggies, fruits, and other delectable snacks in rinsed out containers. Refill reusable bottles with water and juices instead of buying new ones.
• Games — Bring along a bevvy of games to humor the whole family. Blow bubbles, throw dice, doodle with chalk, or fly a kite!
• Music — Bring the noise and the funk! Don't fret if you're iPodless, make your own music with cups, tubs, or a guitar for those who are musically inclined!

Source

There are rare moments when matching mom-daughter dresses are irresistible. Companies like Adore La Vie are putting a different spin on a fad once made popular by the floral loving designer Laura Ashley — gone are the days of frumpy dresses with shoulder pads. Adore La Vie showcases sprightly silk swing dresses to both delight mom and baby's palette. Available in three fabulous styles, the frocks are sure to garner attention, but mum better be ready to pay a pretty price — $162 for baby and $286 for herself. Would these frocks change your mind on family dressing?

Preppy chic never goes out of style and after 50 years of "Palm Beach" socialite design, Lilly Pulitzer is celebrating its golden jubilee with some of our favorite mamas. The company worked with nine celebrity moms to create "Mommy and Me" looks for bathing suits, tunics, dresses and tops featuring the design house's famed patterned prints. Perfect for Mother's Day, or Summer picnics, the garments reflect Lilly Pulitzer's classic silhouettes.

Among the famous mommies involved in the collection are Gwyneth Paltrow (whose bathing suits are featured here), Brooke Shields, Angie Harmon, Bridget Moynahan, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Marcia Cross and Debra Messing. A portion of the Mommy and Me collection sales will benefit EBMRF, a non-profit organization devoted to finding the cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare skin condition.

Slip into some festive jammies and watch the ball drop tomorrow night. If you are opting for a night at home on the couch over braving the crowds on New Year's Eve, deck your family out in fun flannel pajama sets that will keep them warm and have them ready for bed. We found plenty of funky prints at all price points that your lil ones can wear well into the New Year! So lounge into 2009 and make your newest accessory a pair of cushioned slipper boots!