Must-Haves

Easy as A-B-C

Each month, we receive dozens of videos designed for babies and children and rarely does a new offering impress us...in fact, many downright scare us and fail to capture the attention of our tiny video testers.

Recently, LeapFrog, known best for their electronic learning toys, sent us hundreds of copies of their new DVD The Letter Factory for our Modern Moms Club gift bags.

Before we could include them, we of course had to make sure it was worth passing along. Within two minutes of popping it in the player, our three-year old was mesmerized.

Led by wacky professor Quigley, LeapFrog characters Leap, Lily and Tad join Js jumping on trampolines and Ks practicing karate kicks as new letters learn their sounds. The fun songs had our kids singing letter sounds in no time and within a few days, recognizing every letter in the alphabet.

LeapFrog also offers a great Letter Factory board game and LeapPad game to supplement learning.

The Letter Factory DVD $12.28; The Letter Factory board game - $24.99 ; The Letter Factory LeapPad game - $19.99 at Amazon.com

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Sugar Baby

When friends Lisa Akey and Christina Sitkevich decided to open a boutique, they wanted to offer "rocker moms, not soccer moms" a variety of stylish options for themselves and their children. Their store, Sugar Baby, on Hollywood's famed Sunset Boulevard, does just that.

Featuring tiny leather jackets in funky colors and rocker onesies emblazoned with classic punk rock images, the shop also offers books and more for moms who, as Sitkevich puts it, "still find their husbands sexy."

Our favorite item is Akey's handmade blanket in orange shantung silk and leopard (synthetic) fur.

Handmade Blankets start at $65. Call 323.969.9143 or visit www.sugarbabyonsunset.com for more information.

Block-O-Dile

We all know that blocks and LEGOs are fun for kids to play with as well as developmentally important for hand / eye coordination and creativity. But, have you ever stepped on a LEGO�® while barefoot? OUCH!

Yes, they love to play, but getting the kids to clean up dozens of LEGOs is another story and our feet are paying the price.

This is why we love LEGO's new Block-O-Dileââ??¢.

Ideal for the household with children notorious for leaving LEGO blocks on the floor, the happy crocodile makes clean up fun when play time is over as he gobbles up blocks off the floor when pushed forward and stashes them away in his tummy until next time.

$16.99 at Amazon.com.

Back to Cool

With Labor Day around the corner, before you know it your kids will be heading back to school. Yippie! But, before you do the happy dance, don't forget that there's still one last hurdle: BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING.

Don't panic. We've got the lowdown on the latest and greatest to get your kid back to school in style this school year without breaking the bank.

Firstly, make sure all of your back to school purchases are protected with long-lasting labels. Mabel's offers super strong adhesive and iron-labels for everything from clothing and shoes to toys and bags.

High Sierra's Jane and X-Packbackpacks feature a CD-player pocket with headphone port, cell phone pocket, key fob, and, oh yeah, plenty of room for books and stuff.

Thermos' Commemorative Metal Lunchboxes feature retro images on the outside and ample space for your little one's soy bologna and cheese sandwich, organic yogurt and Veggie Booty on the inside.

InnoDesk's "S'Cool Toolz" hand-held, battery operated pencil sharpener is sleek, portable and lightweight. They're perfectly sized for storage in backpacks, school desks...and they even have hooks for storage in 3-ring binders.

Gel Pens' soft silicon coating makes these tutti frutti ball point pens easy on the hands.

And for those headed to the dorms, Barbara K's Dorm Survival Kit has 10 essential tools, including a flashlight, 6-in-1 screwdriver and privacy sign (for uninterrupted study time...yeah, right) in a stylish backpack.

Wry-ten Up

It defies the law of averages...every time you go out with the baby, someone mistakenly coos, "What an adorable little girl!" to your little Michael. EVERY TIME.

We know they mean no harm - but in the sleep-deprived, sore nipples haze of new motherhood, wouldn't it be nice to just go without having to correct (or quietly endure) for at least one day?

Wry Baby has just what you need.

Their snapsuits, t-shirts and accessories state the obvious...or not so obvious.

Put yourself in our "Just Had the Baby" shirt and outings with the new one should be at least a little easier.

$24. Available at WryBaby.com.

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