Hello Kitty is one of those unique brands that never seems to go out of style and manages to appeal just as much to 3 year olds and 13 year olds as it does to the 30 year old set. One way it stays hip and popular is pairing cute with sophistication, a combination that seems irresistible to fans. To celebrate the brand's 35th birthday this year Sanrio is putting out something for everyone; the young, the young at heart and those who view Hello Kitty as art.

For those in the teen or tween set there is the sparkly Hello Kitty music player. This electronic gadget is decorated with 300 Swarovski crystal elements and shaped in the traditional Hello Kitty face. A second option is the Limited Edition pendant set. Again this is a collaboration between the D. Swarovski Co. of Wattens, Austria and features five crystal studded pendants each accented with a different color to match your mood or your outfit. Although at a price of $6,000 for the set I'm not sure that this jewelry collection isn't more appropriate for some of the slightly more mature Hello Kitty fans.

Another collaboration launched to celebrate the 35th Anniversary is a Judith Leiber bag collection. The line includes a "Retro Kitty" curved oval clutch, the "Pink Tulip" airstream, new "Hobo" style with silver handle shown above which will retail for $3995. These items are definitely a nod to those customers who have been fans of the Hello Kitty brand since its inception 35 years ago.

For those more artistically inclined there is the Three Apples art exhibit in Los Angeles, California curated by Jamie Rivadeneira the owner of Japan L.A. at the Royal/T space. The event is free of charge and over 80 artists display their Hello Kitty inspired pieces through November 15, 2009. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the art will benefit Sanrio's charitable partner LA Works a non-profit organization that promotes community volunteerism.

We all know that youth will always have an edge in pop culture and consumerism. But now even babies in utero are in on the commercialized luxe life. A new show on WeTV, Platinum Babies, debuting on Friday, November 6, will highlight wealthy parents-to-be who are sparing no expense when it comes to getting ready for their little one's arrival. In the first two episodes you'll meet Victoria and Tom, and Tara and Andrew, and watch along as they shop, shop, shop, par-tay (celebs on hand, natch), get massages, et cetera. I don't think I'll be DVRing this show, as I feel a little bit icky thinking about what I assume will be baby exploitation and massive, blatant product placement.

Posh Tots has outdone itself again offering a swanky pad for the young and wealthy to enjoy tea and cupcakes in that is separate from the main house. The Victorian Playhouse is custom-built to suit your dimensional needs for $23,400 and ships in just ten weeks -- which means you could have it in time for the holidays! Sophisticated, sweet and definitely feminine the playhouse is nice enough for country club ladies to dine in...just a bit too small. And since Posh Tots' bankruptcy filing back in January it looks as though they are doing alright now especially if just a handful of people ordered one today. In order to get a real sense of just how posh this pad is check out the gallery below.

No, not the latest bloated-budget Hollywood thriller, but something much closer to home: The Providence Effect, an award-winning documentary about Providence-St. Mel, a small school in Chicago's gritty East Garfield Park that has achieved an incredible 100% college acceptance rate against all odds.

Oprah deserves at least some of the credit; she gave the school $1 million to help fund the educational juggernaut that has been called the future of education. Obama meanwhile visited the school in 1998 and gave an incredible inspirational speech that showed he was destined for the highest office in the land.

The movie centers on the equally inspiring journey of the school's principal Paul J. Adams III, who has challenged the Chicago school system for 30 years with his revolutionary approaches to teaching, and also founded the Providence Englewood Charter School. Of course the Obamas and Oprah have been sent copies to view in their personal screening rooms, but the film opens in select theaters nationwide this Friday.

Packing lunch is not just for kids anymore, as the budget- and health-conscious know. But there's no reason it can't be done in style and in a green manner, whether for the kids or for you. Kids Konserve's waste-free lunch kit was designed by two environmentalists and comprises a recycled cotton lunch sack, cloth napkin, stainless steel beverage bottle, food cozy, two stainless steel food containers with plastic lids, and a recycled aluminum name tag. The stainless steel is made from safe, certified food-grade materials, much of it recycled. All Kids Konserve products are non-toxic, non-leaching, and BPA-, PVC-, phthalate-, and lead-free. Lunch kit, $40 - $42

Tree houses, as so many other things, are marching relentlessly into the future. Not long ago a trip to the lumber yard and a bucket of nails could turn the average suburban kid into an arboreal mammal. In the new millennium, however, it takes Daniels Wood Land.

The company does brisk trade making large-format environments for large spenders like major studios, theme parks and casinos. When it comes to kid-scale Daniels makes a prodigious and diverse selection of tree houses that could more accurately be called tree resorts -- there are nine different versions of pirate-themed structures alone, one that comes with its own oasis.

The play houses are made from redwood, cedar, and Douglas fir and usually feature things like "master's" quarters and balconies. The logs that form the bases are from fallen trees, not cut down, that are hollowed out with a chainsaw. The adventurous can enter through the doorway in the base and hoist themselves up through the trap door hatch, or monkey up the rope ladders. The more leisurely can simply ascend the staircase.

If you just need some rehab work done on a tree house, Daniels also does custom plans, facades, shooting galleries, and themed environments. When it comes to decor, one of their specialties is, of all things, chainsaw carvings of bears. And hey, if you get a Daniels play house and the real estate turnaround doesn't happen as quickly as everyone's saying, there's no reason you can't rent your pirate ship out -- Johnny and Keira not included...

For any parent with an infant or toddler, a pacifier can be a blessing and your worst nightmare. In times when your little one may not be able to settle themselves down, pacifiers seem to work their magic instantly. Thank goodness! In other times, it can be your worst nightmare. For example - when you can't find a pacifier at all or when you have lost their favorite binky and according to your crying baby no other one will do. And it can be especially problematic when you are trying to ween your little one off the pacifier's magical spell. During the tumultuous times of your little one having a meltdown and you feel as though your head will jump off your body, take a nap and never return, a little humor to lighten the mood may help. The Aristabrat Crystal Pacifier incorporates a bit of fun by extravagantly adorning the typical pacifier with colorful Swarovski crystals and a mad face that will make any baby, parent and passerbys put a smile on their face. Available in blue and pink. Price: $120.

Cariboo of New Zealand makes classic heirloom furniture for children. The crib shown here is made of of sustainable Radiata pine timber finished with a biodegradable, earth-friendly finish. The crib has low sides and no drop side mechanism and fits a standard-sized North American crib mattress. Later when your child is older, the crib can convert to a toddler bed or a small sofa (with conversion kits). It sells for $1,559.95 and is available at a variety of stores throughout the U.S.

We've heard the story before. In fact, Volvo has even marketed itself on this premise: You can't fit the whole family in that tiny sportscar of yours, so you trade in for a Volvo station wagon. Things could be worse. But along with it you're going to need to replace that Ferrari and Porsche gear with Volvo paraphernalia, too. Otherwise you'd look silly, right? Well since you switched rides for the kid, why not take the kid along for the ride also? That's what Volvo figures, and so has included stuff specifically for the kids in its latest Motorsport Collection.

Aside from the usual array of windbreakers and polo shirts, Volvo is highlighting this Team Manager t-shirt, especially designed for your favorite little backseat driver. The colors match those of the company's Swedish Touring Car Championship series, in which it's promoting its proprietary DRIVe green technology system. Just to let everyone know who's boss, it's got the words Team Manager printed – instead of embroidered, to optimize comfort – on the back, like all the sponsor logos, and is available straight from Volvo's website along with the rest of the collection.

Even mothers want to make a stylish statement when pushing their prams and if they're going to be lugging around all of that baby gear it might as well be in a designer bag. I knew that more affordable designers like JP Lizzy and Vera Bradley made diaper bags but honestly until today I didn't realize such iconic names like Prada, Juicy Couture and Burberry were brandished on baby totes.

Saks Fifth Avenue has a large collection of designer baby satchels for the fashion forward mama ranging from $158 to $1,100. These bags don't look like any ordinary diaper bag and they definitely don't portray any pastel colored or yellow ducky themes. They are sophisticated yet functional and will blend into everyday life without shouting 'Baby on Board'! Peruse the gallery to select a fantastic baby bag for some lucky mom you know.

Designer Stella McCartney has formed a new partnership with Gap Inc. The popular designer will create a collection of children's clothes to be carried by select GapKids and babyGap stores in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and Japan. The collection will also be online. McCartney, known for higher priced clothing, says that now is the time to create affordable clothing for children.

This move is just part of Gap's plans to revitalize the company which has been suffering lately. Today the company, which also operates the Banana Republic and Old Navy stores announced plans to remodel about 50 Old Navy stores in 2009 and open about 40 new franchise stores internationally. The company also plans to expand offerings for the online shoe and handbag shop, Piperlime adding 50 new contemporary apparel labels later this summer.

Aspiring kid architects can learn from greats with the Lego architecture series. Bright and Spacious has a gallery of the Lego's Architecture Series by Adam Reed Tucker that includes the Empire State Building and the Seattle Space Needle and now has a couple of offerings by Frank Lloyd Wright. The NY Guggenheim Museum model is shown above. I'd love to see Lego interpret the works of Frank Gehry, now that would be a challenge. Each set sells for $45.

In our technology driven lifestyle, I can't remember last I sat still and played a boardgame that had no rings, buzzers, computerized cash register, credit card swiping sounds or batteries to it. When I was a kid I could play a board game for hours on end. I remember when my dad first taught me how to play chess and backgammon and even though I had no idea what I was doing, it was fun just to play with my dad. Or when I got Monopoly and Life and my "too cool for anyone" older brother and sister actually played with me. Or when my friends taught me how to play the card game Spit and we would have fierce competitions during recess. Dominos was the best to play solo because you could build with them or line them all up in a pattern and watch them fall one by one.

Don't get me wrong, I am a strong supporter of video games, so much so that my husband and I have been training our 8 year old daughter for the past 3 years on how to play all the video game systems possible, but nothing beats the old school board games that have created fond memories from your childhood. If I could have the ultimate gaming room with no thought to cost, this chess set by Grahame Fowler ($1,725) would be the first purchase. It's made from 6061 U.S. Aircraft-grade aluminum and has such a sleek and modern design aesthetic that you might as well have this displayed as a piece of art. Take a look below for other memorable board games.

Barbie turned 50 this year, and in true diva style it seems she just can't stop celebrating. Her latest "gift," a bright pink Fiat 500, was unveiled last month in Milan. The car was created with the help of Mattel and features crystals on the hubcaps and trim, Barbie silhouettes on the pillars, and a 60's-style retro car cover to keep it all shiny and new.

Sounds great, right? Not really, as apparently Barbie won't get to drive it, she'll just get to be a passenger. Fiat reps were quoted as saying "Barbie will be aboard and she'll have her own special driver: Ken, of course."

What's that about???

Via Autoblog

Sometimes, the hardest part of choosing a vacation spot is balancing between your wants and the kids' needs. Sprawling out on the beach or sipping a cocktail by the pool works for you, but children need distraction ... constant distraction.

In perhaps the most creative travel offer I've seen this year, Eden Rock – St. Barths is offering an easel, a paint brush and a palate of watercolors. Rather than splatter aimlessly, each kid will receive a one-time lesson with the Eden Rock Artist in Residence (the next is still to be announced).

Even for the caliber of guest that you find at Eden Rock, this can only be described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

During the lesson, kids will also be exposed to the gallery's exhibitions in progress. In the recent past, this gallery has been home to the likes of Richard Prince and Will Cotton. The natural St. Barths aesthetic plus that created by the artists invited to show their work in the gallery yields a unique combination that is sure to inspire any budding artist.

The lessons are only available when the artist in residence is, in fact, in residence, so check with the Eden Rock Hotel when making reservations. The program runs through August 2009.