Taking the kids on a fun picnic at the park is a great way to spend some precious quality time with them. There’s just something about eating outside underneath blue skies and green trees that brings out the kid in all of us. The first thing to remember when planning a picnic with your little ones is to make sure they’re dressed in comfy clothes that they can move around in. Don’t forget to slip them into some comfy shoes, preferably ones with hook-and-loop closures so you don’t have to mess with shoelaces all day while they run around on the grass.

Here are five more handy little tips to make the most out of your fun family picnic:  

1.       Picnic Food: Pack food in plastic containers with lids or cover with plastic wrap or foil to keep them from spoiling and protect them from bugs. Keep food away from direct sunlight and remember that certain foods like mayonnaise and eggs can spoil easily and cause food poisoning if they sit too long.  

2.       Clothing: Pack a change of clothes for your little ones in case they get food or dirt on them. Cotton garments are best because they’re more breathable.

3.       Toys and Games: Bring their favorite outside toys to keep them occupied after lunch. Board games are also fun to play as a family during picnics.

4.       Safety First: Keep a first aid kit in the car just in case the kids get scrapes and cuts. Of course, sunscreen is a must to keep their skin safe from the sun. Kid-friendly bug repellent is also a good idea to keep them protected.

5.       Cleanup: Bring a roll of paper towel, a trash bag and antibacterial wet wipes to make cleanup a breeze.

A great way to spend some quality time with the kids is by enjoying the great outdoors together. Introducing the little ones to the wonders of Mother Nature can be a fun and memorable time for the whole family if you take the time to prepare.

First and foremost, make sure you gear up the kids with the right clothing and shoes. Luckily, most outdoor brands now create outdoor gear for kids. When treading more watery terrain along creeks and rivers, make sure they have water-friendly sandals like the Teva Psyclone for boys, or Teva Kids Toachi for girls. They’re designed for both wet and dry conditions, and are perfect for summer hikes.

Here are a couple more tips for enjoying the great outdoors with your little ones:

1. Take it slow: The first time out, stick to somewhere closer to home. Ease your kids into hiking by taking short hikes on the weekends. Make sure to remember that you have to slow down to their pace.

2. Remember snack time: Bring plenty of snacks and drinks! Stop often to nibble on snacks and take in the scenery. This is a great time to take pictures as well.

3. Fun and Games: Keep things light and fun by playing games or singing your kids’ favorite songs along the way.

4. Sun safety: Don’t forget the sunscreen! Apply it all over, and make sure to reapply throughout the day. A hike with no sunburns is much more enjoyable for everyone.

Take time to let your kids enjoy and appreciate the great outdoors this summer by going on fun family hikes. Who knows, they just might end up sharing the same love for the outdoors as mom and dad!

Want a fun way to add instant pop to your kids’ basics? Introduce bright colors into their wardrobe! Three Little Dots* is a delightful sub-brand of Three Dots Clothing, which is known for their tried-and-true basics. Three Little Dots tops, dresses, shorts, pants and skirts are all super-versatile, just like their grown-up counterparts. They come in a ton of colors, from basic black to punchy pink. Their neutral basics are also perfect for mixing and matching with your child’s school uniforms!

*Zappos is an exclusive online retailer for Three Little Dots.

When I found out I was going to be a father, I immediately began thinking of all the things I would get to do with my son: throw around a football, ride bikes together, teach him to skateboard, and – if I’m being totally honest – shop for clothes.

Fashion is something that, at an early age, didn’t come easy for me. I was born in the '70s when style was more about the hair (maybe?) than the clothes. Memories of outrageously gross corduroy pants and random colored polyester shirts with different patterns on them come to mind. You see, my dad is Scottish. Not like somewhere-in-my-roots-five-generations-ago kind of Scottish. I’m talking about the fresh off the boat, Mike Meyers in So I Married An Axe Murderer, Scottish.  He moved from Dundee, Scotland in 1972 to take a job in California’s Silicon Valley. Not long after, he married my mom who had been living in San Francisco’s Haight District. Am I painting an awesome picture of randomness yet?

Anyway, when you couple my mom’s hippy, beatnik style with my dad’s frugality, it was a perfect recipe for random, which meant my brother and our wardrobes took the biggest hit. We wore everything under the sun, but always the off-brand. If it was going to be a fashion staple for the Burgess boys, it was most likely available at Kmart.

I didn’t really become aware of fashion (or the fact that my clothes didn’t match) until the 7^th grade. In retrospect, 7^th grade – in the '80s — was pivotal in shaping my interest in fashion and my personal style. This was also the year I became aware of girls. At the time, Vans and Sperry Top-Siders were hot. It was all about folding your pants tight at the bottom and rolling them up. Bangs were in – for guys. The skater look was just barely making its appearance. And being a skater myself, I embraced it to the fullest. (My wife is laughing at me right now, because currently, I still wear mostly Vans and Sperrys.)

Those were the '80s. Now it’s 2011 and I’m a father.  My son is 19 months old, and I have ambitions that he will dress with much more style and confidence than I did.  Oliver will have the “it” shoes, whatever they are. Although I can’t lie, I’m hoping the '80s influence remains! I’m not saying that clothes or style are the only components of confidence, but it doesn’t hurt. My wife is really short, so this kid needs all the help he can get!  And to my dad… next time we’re in town, I think a shopping trip is in order!

-Eric Burgess

Fashion Dad

Eric Burgess is a new dad who resides in Seattle, WA. A former buyer of men's and women's apparel and footwear, he's now a digital media strategist and grad student at the University of Washington. He enjoys fashion, digital photography and blogging. Connect with him on his personal blog Fashion Dad or on Twitter.

Indulge your little girl’s love of dresses this spring with Us Angel’s collection of lovely springtime dresses. Whether you’re looking for the perfect Easter dress, or just something to make her feel extra pretty at school, Us Angels has your little angel covered.

Got a special event to attend? The Us Angels Chiffon Dress is a classic and timelessly pretty choice for dressing up your little one. Pair it with some cute mary janes for a totally adorable dressy look.

The cute hot pink color and modern drop waist fit on the Us Angels Butterfly Smock Drop Waist Dress are perfect for your little fashionista in training. You can also give her a little bit of mommy’s style by getting her dolled up in the Us Angels Butterfly Print Vertical Ruffle Dress.

Whatever your little girl’s style happens to be at any given day, Us Angels carries the perfect dresses to suit her impeccably girly taste.

As the summer season approaches, so does the season of road trips. When you’re on that next long car drive with your children and are looking for fun and easy ways to pass the time, check out the simple games:

Punch Bug: Look out for Volkswagen Beetles. When you see one, say what color it is (“Punch bug ____!”) and gently punch the person next to you in the arm.

I Spy: Focus on a particular object or person and say “I spy ____”

Name That Tune: In this game, one player thinks of a song that everybody knows and hums its first few notes. The other players try to guess the name of the song.

Woodchuck: Be on the lookout for cars with wood paneling on them. Keep a tally of who finds the most.

Cheezy Squeezy: Look for yellow cars and squeeze a co-passenger’s arm until they see the car too.

Counting Cows: Look out for cows along the sides of the highway, and see how many you can count as you pass by.

I’m Thinking of an Animal: Have the kids think of an animal and then provide clues to everyone else about the animal they are thinking about. Have the others try to guess which animal it is.

Play Rock, Paper and Scissors: A true classic!

Find a….: One player says, “Find a _____.” The others must find whatever the player is looking for: cows, red signs, etc.

Rainbow Game: Call out a color. Each person must then find something that color. For example, when you call out, “green,” one person might point to grass.

Silly Sound Game: Make up a silly sound effect for each thing you see, and say it each time you pass the corresponding thing. For example, you might decide that the sound for red cars is “beep beep” and the sound for yellow trucks is “honk honk.” You can add animal sounds for animals, “splish splash” for rivers or ponds, “ring ring” (doorbells) for houses, etc. This one is lots of fun!

Tell Tall Tales: One person starts off telling a story. He or she talks for about a minute and stops at an exciting moment. At this point, another person picks up where the last person left off. The game continues with the tale twisting and turning with each new storyteller.

License Plate Math: Have older kids add up all of the numbers in different license plates to find the sum. Or, have the kids write down the numbers from the license plate and read their total aloud.

Guess the Number: One player thinks of a number between a range of numbers, (such as 1–100), and everyone else tries to guess the number by asking questions.

Are We There Yet?: Ask the kids questions about how far you’re traveling. Yards? Miles? Kilometers? How fast are we going? If it’s 3:15 now, and it takes us two hours to get there, what time will we arrive? How far have we driven?

Happy road tripping!

One of the easiest kids' party menu items to put together is peanut butter & jelly (PB&J) sandwiches cut into shapes that match your party theme.  However, more and more parents these days are wondering if it's okey to serve peanut butter with so many children having allergies, not only to peanut butter, but also to many other foods and ingredients that you may not be aware of. 

 Use these top tips to handle your party guests with food allergies:

1. Use the RSVP phone call to find out.  It’s difficult to know if anyone has allergies without asking.  Use the RSVP phone call as the time to ask this important question.  It’s also the one chance to connect with all guests’ parents before the party happens.
2. Make sure to understand the severity of the allergy. In addition to finding out if kids have allergies, make sure to ask about the severity to coordinate.  For  example: can the child be in the same room when peanuts are being served?
3. Adjust your party menu.  Of course, think through if there are multiple kids allergic to the same ingredient or menu item.  If so, you may want to change it altogether, but if only one child has a particular allergy, you may want to maintain your original menu and plan something different for that one child.
4. If there are children that have allergies to basic ingredients, such as flour, you may want to suggest that these guests bring their own food to eat to completely avoid the possibility of eating something harmful.
5. However you plan it, make sure to feed all of the guests at the same time so that the children with allergies do not feel left out or awkward during the party meal.

 By checking in with your litte guests' parents before the party, you will be able to plan a party menu that is inclusive of everyone and that takes in account special food allergy circumstances.

Happy Planning!

Looking for an easy, budget-friendly special activity to do with your children this St. Patrick’s Day?

I love the idea of having your kids wake up to a clumsy leprechaun’s trail of havoc!  Who could have possibly knocked over a chair, pushed a small (unbreakable) item off of a table, left books all over the living room floor, scattered cookies around the kitchen counter, and whatever other clumsy tricks your leprechaun may have pulled?

Set it up as a few simple “accidents” that happened during the leprechaun’s romp through your house the night before, and let it lead to a special St. Patrick’s Day treat for your kids, perhaps a small bag of gold chocolate coins or a bundle of four leaf clovers?  Green glitter or confetti is a great way to mark the “path” as well, especially for younger kids!  Have the path start at a door, meander throughout your home, and go out a window (or chimney, or dog-door) for a giggle-worthy moment.

It will be a fun way to start off the special day and give the Luck O’ the Irish to your kids this year!