present perfect

We've all been there: You've got three kids' birthday parties coming up this weekend and you haven't bought a gift yet. Sure, you could dash over to the Gap and pick up a gift card but you probably won't make a lasting impression. Instead, check out the newly launched website, Gift Hero. Founded by mompreneurs Lisa Fielding and Stefanie Katz-Rothman, it features a unique Gift Finder feature so you can search for the perfect gift by answering three quick questions: What is the birthday child's gender? How old is he/she? What is your price range? In seconds, you will find age/gender appropriate, affordable gifts that are ready to buy and ship! Plus, if you order the ecofriendly gift bag, there is no need for wrapping - just put the gift in the bag, pull the drawstring and head to the party. Another bonus: The birthday child doesn't have to be the only one who's happy to receive your gift. When ordering from Gift Hero, you have the option of adding on a small donation to a children's charity to provide gifts for children whose families can't afford them. Need a last minute gift? Place your order by 11:59pm EST and it will ship the next business day. Check out the site now for great outdoor gifts like mini golf games, darts, rockets, or the popular Sand Play Set (kids can build a castle or dig for buried treasure at the beach or in the sand box). Go to www.gifthero.com to order.

bag it

If I'm not carrying a huge diaper bag stuffed with everything-you-could-possibly-need-for-baby, I'm tooling around town with diapers and wipes peeking out from my own personal tote. There's got to be a better way! Thanks to Drugstore.com, you can grab a sleek pouch and go. Introducing the Mommy Bag--an innovative collaboration with fashion designer and new mom Jenni Kayne. The roomy, canvas, portable pouch--large enough to store products for a quick outing and small enough to stash in a stroller or slouchy handbag--features elasticized pockets for easily accessible bottles and snacks. And for a limited time only, spend $75 on drugstore.com and get the bag filled with a collection of eco-friendly products for mom and baby (a $50 value). It includes Philips Avent pacifiers, Burt's Bees lotion, Seventh Generation diapers, California Baby Calendula Cream, Earth's Best Chlorine-Free Diapers and Wipes, and much more. A bonus: Shop drugstore.com for all of your health, beauty and household products and take advantage of incentives like automatic shipping and 5% back. Click on www.drugstore.com to place your order.

family retreat

I remember staying at a certain Caribbean mega-resort and overhearing parents talking about dropping their kids off for the day at the kids' program, then hiring a babysitter for the evening so they could go out to dinner and the casino. While I am all for "couple only" vacations, when traveling with the kids I believe you should actually spend some time with them. That's why the new Family Package at The Somerset on Grace Bay is so appealing. This idyllic property in Turks and Caicos was developed by Allyson Nick, a New York real estate developer and mother of five, who knows what families want to get out of a vacation. She designed the Somerset with exceptionally large suites (featuring one to five bedrooms!), two swimming pools (one with a zero-entry shallow end for toddlers and the other with underwater music piped through for teens). The Family Package (available now through December 18th, 2009) offers four night stays for the price of three (a savings of $500 to $4,000, depending on the type of room booked) and includes an Alice in Wonderland tea party, a beachfront clambake with live music, a dive-in movie night, early dining room hours for kids (plus free meals for those under 12!), cookie baking sessions, en suite pizza delivery (extra charge), complementary snorkeling equipment and babysitting services (if you do want to get away for an hour or two!). For more info, visit www.thesomerset.com.

come clean for kai

When you're giving your child a bath, you're probably worrying about getting soap in his eyes or making sure he doesn't slip in the tub. But if you use Foaming Hair and Body Wash for Little Men ($12) by Anthony Logistics for Men, you can worry less (it gets them clean and won't sting their eyes) and feel like you're doing some good at the same time. For the month of May, 100% of the profits from this product will be donated to the Hope for Kai fund. Kai, not even 5 years old, was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia and is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. At the same time, his father was also diagnosed with a rare type of Lymphoma. The medical costs for Kai’s treatment are enormous and more than his family can manage. ALFM supports Kai Anderson in his journey to find a donor and receive necessary treatment to fight the disease. Make your purchase at http://www.anthony.com/ and learn more about the cause at http://www.hopeforkai.com/.