Reading a story or two to your kids before bedtime is the perfect end to a day. It is a special treat for them and maybe even more for you. It’s a great way to spend time together, and it’s a surefire trick to get the kiddies to drift off into peaceful slumber without too much effort. We found ourselves a children’s librarian to help sort the good from the bad, the sad from the happy, and the scary from the funny.

Chickens to the Rescue! By John Himmelman.

Who doesn’t love chickens? Nobody, that’s who. This quick but very funny book is likely to please kids of all ages. Each day of the week, disasters large and small befall the Greenstalk farm and each time the family chickens swoop in with cries of, “Chickens to the rescue!” and through teamwork and chicken ingenuity they manage to save the day. Among the best rescues are Wednesday when the duck drives off with the truck, and Thursday, when the son’s homework is eaten. The simple pictures are hilarious: the image of chickens in chefs hats wielding knives and chickens writing research papers are fantastic and memorable. Ages 4-8.

Ten Little Mummies: an Egyptian counting book by Philip Yates. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas.

“Deep underground in a dreary old tomb, 10 little mummies were stuffed in one room.” Where most counting books I find too boring to get through more than two or three times, Ten Little Mummies is loads of fun to read. I’ve read it many times with my son and even by myself more than once. Ten bored mummies get into crazy adventures in the Egyptian night and one by one, as you can imagine, they disappear: one gets unraveled sliding down the pyramids and runs off to hide; another gets adopted by a family of baboons. The cartoonish pictures which look like crayon or pastel and the rhyming text add to the lighthearted feel of this fantastic book. Ages 3-6.

Tags: bed, bedtime stories, book reviews, Books, Children, family

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese spiritual practice that ties the beauty and design of one’s surroundings to one’s inner peace, if I may crystallize thousands of years of architecture, design, and philosophy into one half of a sentence. You can apply simple principals of feng shui to your own living space to make it a more tranquil and pleasant experience. It’s about feeling at ease where you lay your head, clearing the clutter out of your daily life.

Soothing colors are important. Harsh or clashing color schemes that aren’t pleasing to the eye lead to bad vibes. Likewise, a propensity for electronics, work desks, and things of that nature in your living space attracts the wrong kind of attention as well. Bed location is important. Your bed easily and comfortably accessible from both sides. Anything that leads to stress and discomfort should be banished from your bedroom. Take a look around your bedroom. Move things around a bit. Experiment. You’ll feel better in no time.

Here, this might help, and try not to fall asleep until you put the crystal up in your own room.

Tags: bed, bedroom, feng shui, home, Interior Design, Lifestyle

Take a look at our antique white Rutherford twin beds in a past issue of Country Home. They’re a great choice for a kid’s room, and the Rutherford’s durable iron will keep long after your little ones aren’t so little anymore.

Tags: beds, County Home Magazine, Design, Lifestyle, Rutherford bed

Reading a story or two to your kids before bedtime is the perfect end to a day. It is a special treat for them and maybe even more for you. It’s a great way to spend time together, and it’s a surefire trick to get the kiddies to drift off into peaceful slumber without too much effort. We found ourselves a children’s librarian to help sort the good from the bad, the sad from the happy, and the scary from the funny.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague.

If your child is anything like mine, you’ll have a hard time saying “no” to another installment in the popular and entertaining How Do Dinosaurs series. Naturally, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? is perfect reading for bedtime. In it, a number of dinosaurs large and small model good bedtime behavior. Does a dinosaur throw his teddy bear? Does he roar, “ONE BOOK MORE!!”? No, he climbs into bed and whispers, “Good night.” I just wish these beasties brushed their teeth; that is one behavior my boy needs some modeling for. Written in simple rhymes and accompanied with colorful illustrations, complete with the names of all dino characters, this is a sure hit for boys, girls, and parents alike. Ages 2-6.

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton.

Anyone who has cats or children is likely familiar with the fun, cartoonish illustrations of Sandra Boynton. Her stories, which always feature cats, hippos, lions and many other animals dancing and singing together, can be seen in books and on mugs everywhere. The Going to Bed Book is great to read just before bedtime. It features a bunch of animals who, strangely, live together on a boat at sea. In a sing-songy rhyme, the story leads us through their bedtime routine, from exercising (but honestly, who jumps rope right before bed?) to tooth brushing. The pictures are quite funny and kids will relate to the bath-taking, pajama-finding bedtime ritual. Ages 2-6.

Tags: bed, bedtime stories, book reviews, Books, Children, family

Charles P. Rogers recently got a nod in Erin Loechner’s prestigious Design for Life blog. A couple weeks back Erin posted a whimsical list of her ten unbreakable house rules of design. It’s a great list, chock full of great advice for maintaining a comfy and warm living environment in your home. Tucked away in the number five rule (“Only white linens are allowed on the bed”) is a link to our 400 thread count Prima cotton bedding ensemble. Thanks, Erin! We love you too!

Post below (enjoy!):
http://www.designformankind.com/2010/07/house-rules/

Tags: Design for Life, home, Interior Design, Lifestyle, prima cotton, sheets