As a mother of two young children, I am constantly trying to capture special moments on the camera to keep forever. We all know how tough this can be, even with the best equipment (and in my case a husband who is a photographer). We have some amazing photos of our kids, but none with us in them so we can all look back and see how we changed as a family over time.

I recently had a very enjoyable and successful experience working with Camille over at Dog & Pony Photography and want to share this with you. From the first email until the post-shoot service Camille has been helpful, professional and has taken some terrific photos.

We decided on a location that reflected how and where I wanted my family to be shot, so Camille went off to survey the area before the shoot day and choose the best area for light and background.

My daughters were a little apprehensive about the shoot and Camille made them feel very comfortable, which is really a key element in these things going well. I loved that she insisted on the snot and food check before she started the session (we all know what a toddler’s face looks like most of the time, so we made sure there was nothing on anyone’s face to begin with).

I can highly recommend Camille at Dog & Pony Photography. Prices start at $69 and to see current specials, go to their website.

To celebrate Christmas and the launch of the new Babyology website, the first ten people to book a photography session will receive a bonus brag book. This zig zag presentation book includes six of your favourite shoot images, and fits neatly into any handbag.

Additionally, for the month of November, Dog and Pony have collaborated with their friends at Baobab Clothing to offer 20 percent off any item from their range with every package booked.

In May 2009 we reviewed London’s Purple Dragon, a place that redefined ‘play centres’. Welcome to Moomah, New York’s arty-café that will change the way you look at the box of toys left in the corner of your local café to entertain the kids while you down a latte.

Moomah is described as a ‘creative arts café’ but is also a ‘playscape’, a living classroom, an art oasis, a hideaway, a neighbourhood meeting spot and an exhibition space. It was created by Tracey Stewart to give parents and children an opportunity to slow down.

Stewart designed the space to be inviting and to nurture creative stimulation as opposed to over-stimulation; hence the colour scheme was inspired by nature (no in-your-face primary colours). These themes are carried through every aspect of Moomah’s set-up from the organic and fair-trade café offerings to the toys and craft kits, all informed by the palette of patterns, forms, hues and elements found in nature.

There’s attention to detail in every aspect of Moomah’s homely but very stylish set-up. From a café menu that includes a ‘Tryers’ section (in other words, add a side of green peas or purple cabbage) to the exquisitely mismatched furniture.

The schedule of classes and activities available is impressive: from Moomah’s signature ‘Gloga’ classes (glow-in-the-dark yoga, described as Hayden Planetarium meets Mahatma Gandhi) to high tea with Moomah’s own superhero, SuperTryer. The emphasis is on parents and children sharing activities so Moomah have put together a bunch of ‘DIT’ kits and classes (Do-It-Together). Check out the lovely little ‘Create a Shadowbox’ tutorial below.

Moomah also houses art exhibitions. Currently on display is the Funky Forest installation – a state-of-the-art wild and living ecosystem where children manage the natural resources.

If any Babyology readers are stopping by New York, we’d love a first-hand report of Moomah!

As a shoe obsessed woman (and I know I’m not alone here), I’m incredibly disappointed with my daughter’s shoe collection. It’s not that she doesn’t have any – she has heaps – but that none of them have been worn.

When she was first born, I hit the boutiques and spent a small fortune; here we are eight months later, and I’m still yet to find a pair that will stay on longer than one minute.

I reckon the Chickpea shoes ($US44 from Sweet William) might, however. These soft-soled leather shoes are beautiful, sure, but I love that they have serious laces to go with them. I looked at the range in pink, white and red and what grabbed me wasn’t the lovely colours, but how a chubby foot wouldn’t stand a chance of getting out!

I wonder if I should buy a pair just to see if I’m right?

The uber-stylish Kate Spade store in New York is one of my favourite stores ever; it took all my willpower not to spend every cent I had within its gorgeous walls while in the Big Apple last month.

Three new baby bags have been released – the Large Serena, Classic Noel Henry, and Coney Island Baby Stevie. They feature all the essentials of a great baby bag, including change mats and generous, multifunctional pockets, and range in price from US$325 to US$465.

Also available are sweet baby gifts such as the keepsake Pippin Park Banks (US$60) in boy and girl colourways, as well as a double photo frame and treasure box ($30 each).

We reviewed the Kate Spade feeding sets back in December 2008, which are worth another look.

It can only ever be a good thing when a great designer turns her hand to baby accoutrement. I haven’t been disappointed yet! Kate Spade ships internationally.

I once had a friend who couldn’t even look at a butterfly or moth without running in the other direction. Lots of people appreciate amazing insects and birds, however, and John Dilnot’s art is most definitely for them!

If you have a few little budding ornithologists or entomologists in the family, then have a look at Dilnot’s incredibly beautiful one-off boxes. My favourite is the butterflies, but there are others to choose from including birds in trees and migrating swallows, all beautifully presented in a wooden box with a glass front.

The limited edition bug prints are heavily populated with all manner of armoured crawlies, and the ‘Bad Apples’ print is a refreshing departure from traditionally quaint art used in children’s rooms.

Also have a look at the ‘Little Books’ kits and cards at John Dilnot’s website. Prints are £110 and you can enquire about cost and shipping of the boxes.

New York collage artist Ida Pearle has created an ABC book to treasure. A Child’s Day: An Alphabet of Play is an ABC of verbs. From ‘act’ to ‘zoom’ with dancing, whistling and more in between, Pearle’s brightly coloured paper collages capture the motion of children at play.

The illustrations represent children all over the world and although no facial features are drawn, each collage is full of expression and movement. There is always room for more than one ABC book in a child’s library and it’s rare to find one that is about things we do, as opposed to objects. Children will identify with this delightful book, and parents will appreciate the stunning collages.

A Child’s Day is available in Australia from We Heart Books for $24.95.

I did a pretty good job at keeping a record of all the milestones and important events in my children’s lives until they turned two and then things tailed off. I reignited my efforts when they started kindergarten, but confess that all I have managed to document is their class photograph, their favourite things to play with and what they want to be when they grow up. I’m sure that one day I’ll delight in telling my son that when he was four all he wanted to be was a father who uses an iron (what does this say about the division of labour in my house?!).

A more systematic and comprehensive approach to capturing all those preschool gems can be found with The World According to… books by I See Me.

The concept is simple: parents receive a kit containing ‘interview’ questions to ask their child, and felt tip pens and drawing sheets to obtain samples of their artwork (including a self-portrait). Take as long as you need to complete the questions and the art work. I extracted information from my kids by stealth – slip interview questions into normal conversation and you’ll get an honest answer.

Once you have compiled the information and the drawings, send it in and hey presto, a couple of weeks later a professionally bound and printed book about your child will be on its way.

Books are US$29.95. Multiple copies of each can be ordered and would make a lovely keepsake for grandparents. I See Me ship to Australia.

My brother gave me a gift voucher for some Moo Mini Cards a number of years ago just before my eldest son started school. He figured I’d be exchanging details with other parents and Moo’s extremely cool Mini Cards are like a modern calling card. I think I can honestly say that filling the order was beyond my wildest stationery dreams. Moo creates custom printed business cards, note cards, stickers and postcards – but they take the concept of ‘custom printing’ to a whole new level.

The fun begins with choosing your designs. Either upload your own photos, or pick from the thousands of designs available at Moo. You can choose a different design for each card – so your pack of 100 mini cards can have 100 different designs!

Making personalised cards for Christmas or to announce the arrival of a new baby is easily done with the wonders of Moo, but I particularly like their sticker sets and the postcards – sending greetings from your next family holiday could be on a whole new level with Moo!

If choosing designs is all too much, Moo has put together some sensational collections inspired by colours (such as the blue collection, pictured below), through to selections from the folios of particular designers, of which there are hundreds.

It is difficult to convey just how fabulous Moo is. To truly appreciate it, it’s best to jump in and start exploring. Your efforts will be rewarded – whenever I give somebody my card, they invariably exclaim how great it is and then want to look at all the designs.

Mini Cards are £11.99 for 100 cards; stickers are £4.99 for 90 stickers and postcards are £11.99 per 20 card pack. Moo ships worldwide from either England or the US.

Parisian style is waiting for you at the Serendipity website. The site and their products are like none other. If I were heading to Paris, their shop – in the heart of St Germain des Prés – would be my first. stop.

Filled to the brim with objects for a child’s bedroom or work space, it’s vintage meets contemporary. For instance, the children’s beds feature a wrought iron look with a modern twist. No fancy ironworks here but a very industrial vibe instead. Mixed with beautiful linen, the result is quite breathtaking.

The baby section features highchairs, bassinets, cots and change tables; it’s so fanciful and intriguing, I don’t really have a word for it. Our favourites are the ‘Petit Bed’ (small bed) and ‘Chaise Haute’ (high chair). Both are contemporary but borrow heavily from past design.

The Petit Bed (above) is a handmade cradle bassinet using rattan. Its shape is reminiscent of 19th century cradles but its teardrop appearance renders it distinctively modern. The Chaise Haute (below) is an aluminium framed highchair with a nylon seat and natural wood tray. It’s minimalism at its best yet has fabulous style and will last through any rough toddler treatment.

Serendipity’s products are sourced from around the globe. Their studio restores antiques and specialises in diverse and limited edition items. To absorb some Paris spirit, go to the Serendipity website. Contact them for prices, availability and shipping to Australia.

German designer Bernadette Ehmanns has been creating woollen felt masterpieces for over ten years, under the banner of Hey-Sign. As a material, felt is currently riding on a wave of popularity. However pieces from Hey-Sign certainly stand out. Available in thirty-six magnificent colours, there is over 250 pieces in the Hey-Sign collection, ranging from tableware and accessories to Christmas decorations and rugs.

Put shopping for yourself aside (the bags are very tempting!) and take a peek at the seat cushions. As design elements for a child’s room or as multi-functional spare seating, the colour options make the possibilities endless. There are simple shapes including squares and cylinders or sets, such as the four Posisto cushions that configure in various ways (see below). I fear my children would treat these cushions as play equipment – balancing on them, rolling on them and stacking them, however I’m sure the high density foam filling would be up to it.

Attention to detail is impeccable and although it is hard to look past the beautiful, vivid colours, the simplicity of the pie-plate edge of the Pai cushion is perfect.

Visit Hey-Sign for further information.