I just heard about the company BabyFaces, which makes custom silver or gold charms of your child's face from a photograph. My husband Matt finds them a little strange, but I think they're like a modern version of a locket. Plus, anything with my son's picture on it is absolutely adorable. :)

The BabyFaces charms are about the size of a quarter, and start at $129 for sterling silver. They also make smaller versions (Babyfaces Juniors, which are about the size of a dime), starting at $69 for the ones in silver. Additionally, they offer other jewelry items (tie tacks, money clips, charm bracelets) that can be personalized with the charms.

The idea mirrors what Old Navy is to Gap and Banana Republic: a lower-end children's apparel store targeted at customers with a smaller household income than those who shop at Gymboree and Janie & Jack.

Set to launch in the second half of 2007, Gymboree plans to open at least 10 Crazy Eight retail stores in 3-4 test markets across the country. These stores will be found in traditional malls, more upscale "lifestyle centers", and other venues. The stores will be similar in size to the Gymboree Outlet stores, and will showcase a broader range of sizes, with clothing and accessories for newborns up through size 14.

The concept behind the name "Crazy Eight" is that children and their families are crazy eight days a week, from the time they wake up in the morning and hurry off to school, rush to sports activities, and visit with friends and relatives, until they fall into bed at night. Kids are going nonstop from 8am to 8pm, and Gymboree wants to clothe and accessorize them the whole time.

I've learned a little bit more about Gymboree's plans for their new store concept, Crazy Eight, from their First Quarter 2007 Earnings Report.

The company hasn't released too much more than I've already shared with you, but there are a few new details:

• Crazy 8 will launch in August 2007 with a minimum of 10 stores opening in 2007.
• They will have a web presence with an e-commerce website.
• Crazy 8 will have a larger boy selection than Gymboree.
• The stores will be roughly 2,500 square feet.
• Gymboree is employing a separate design team for Crazy 8.

Gymboree wants to reach every mom in America with their three different brands: Janie & Jack, their European-inspired boutique brand, Gymboree, their mid- to upper-end mix & match brand, and the new Crazy 8 brand, which will serve customers who want cool, wholesome, age-appropriate fashion for their children at a great price. The company insists that the targeted lower household income bracket is "not necessarily the focus" of Crazy 8, but that consumers, regardless of income, view kids' clothes as "disposable" and tend to spend less money on them.

What: Skip Hop Dash Canvas diaper bag
Website: www.skiphop.com
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

What: Skip Hop Expo Canvas diaper bag
Website: www.skiphop.com
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have been using the Skip Hop Dash diaper bag for the past year and a half, and while I'm pretty happy with it, I had a couple gripes and decided to get a new bag. I discovered one of Skip Hop's new models, the Expo, and couldn't wait to check it out. Here are my experiences with the two bags:

Crazy8 has launched their new e-commerce website at www.crazy8.com.

For those of you who haven't seen their clothes in person at one of their brand new stores (in California, New Jersey, New York and Texas), you can now take a look and order online.

The clothes are quite similar to the styles you'd find at Old Navy (especially those for older kids), while retaining some of the Gymboree feel.

After a large number of toys were recalled over the past few months due to excessive levels of lead in the paint, United States and Chinese safety officials met to discuss a solution.

China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine made an agreement with the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to immediately create and implement a plan to eliminate lead paint used on all toys exported to the U.S. The Chinese and U.S. safety agencies will review the plan and its effectiveness in a year to see how things are going.

Don't count on all lead paint to be gone quite yet, but it's definitely a step in the right direction.

More information here.