Tuesday's Top Ten: Ten Best Gifts for Preschoolers

From backpacks to lunch sacks, here are the ten best gifts for preschoolers:
1: Step2 - Easel For Two with Foam Magnets - $49.99: This two-sided, educational easel features one metal dry-erase board and one chalkboard.
2: Skyway - Kid's Gear Mini Backpack - $14
3: LEGO Luggage - Heroes School Backpack - $36.99
4: Robeez - Soft Soles Weekend Polka Dots - $27.95 (Available on ShoesGotSole.com): Non-slip, water-resistant TPR soles are perfect for outdoor wear.
5: Jonti-Craft - Magnifier - $42.99
6: Hoohobbers Munch Box - Personalized Munch Box in Flirty Flowers - $22
7: Robeez - Tredz Biker Shoes - $39.95 (Available on ShoesGotSole.com)
8: Guidecraft - Sensory Walking Stones Educational Game - $42
9: Delta Children's Products - Disney Princess Art Desk with 100 Piece Art Supply Kit - $49.99: This innovative all-in-one art desk contains numerous storage compartments and comes with a 100 piece ‘arts & crafts’ supply pack.
10: edushape - Edu Tiles Floor Puzzle Set - $20: These multi-purpose tiles can be used as play mats, storage boxes, tents, or creative toys.

CSN Mondays - POINTclickHOME Giveaway

Hey everyone, this month, CSN and AllModern.com are teaming up with POINTclickHome.com for an awesome giveaway. The Kartell La Boheme Stool Sweepstakes is running on this popular site for the next 8 weeks. Follow the link to sign up and check it out below:

Tuesdays Top Ten: Ten Best Grad School Gifts

Recent news reports suggest that grad school enrollment is up significantly in ‘09 due to the economy. In response to this trend, we've assembled a top ten list - from trendy messenger bags to affordable desk accessories - for the young professional that is heading back to school.

1: Mercury Luggage - Acadia Messenger Bag - $39.50
2: Marsh - Peb-Tac Plus Bulletin Boards - $24.99
3: Travelon - Single Compartment Messenger Style Computer Case - $49.99
4: Ragar - Black and Silver Ballpoint Pen and Pencil Set - $30
5: Aston Leather - Rolled Pen Case - $43.50
6: Royce Leather - Bonded Leather Padfolio - $40
7: The Memory Company – University Desk Clock - $40 (Available in Over 40 Universities)
8: Cram Globes - Huron Antique Table Globe - $49.99
9: Blomus - Gentleman's Business Card Case with Top - $15.47
10: LifeStride Shoes - Sable in Navy - $40 (Available on ShoesGotSole.com)

CSN Mondays - Launch of V-Dimension

Hey everyone, today we wanted to flag you on a new, innovative line of bags that is perfect for gadget-lovers. Check out V-Dimension…

'Nowadays, wherever there are people, there’s a good chance music can be heard vibrating out of nearby headphones. The movers and shakers that comprise our present and future generations are always on the go. With V-Dimension's revolutionary new line of solar backpacks, messenger bags, and business cases the spirit of music can travel with you everywhere you go.'

'Combining high quality solar backpacks with its innovative new solar technology, the V-Dimension solar backpack can charge any cell phone, iPod/iPhone or PDA with high efficiency. So wherever your destination, the Optical will ensure you will never be left out of touch or out of tune again. Why wear an ordinary backpack when you can step into the V-Dimension? The Source Revolution has arrived.'

Tuesday's Top 5 Tips For An Eggcellent Easter Celebration

Hi Everyone -- We're going a bit rogue here at the CSN Stores Blog (but only in the most entertaining way). Instead of Top 10 Tuesdays, we're going to make this a Top 5 Tips Tuesday. Specifically, I'm going to share the best ways To Make Your Ages-Old Egg-Coloring Tradition An All-Out Neighborhood Bash. (And yes, this is my daughter, Chloe, dressed up like a Fashionista Bunny. This picture really sets the right mood, I think.)

Easter is one of my favorite family holidays. Plus I've just completed a slew of radio interviews from Chicago to Milwaukee and Indianapolis to Columbus, OH. I suggested that we should all do something unexpected this year, expanding what was once a family get-together into an all-out party. Here are a few tips and fresh finds to make this party a new, much-anticipated tradition with a lot of entertainment value and charm:

Tip 1: Make or find easy decorations based on the egg theme. Here are a few suggestions ranging from hilarious to heartwarming and all of them are available at CSNStores.com: Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Easter Egg Decorations – Gorgeous and traditional accents to hang high above the action to avoid breakage. Then to make sure the celebration has a very light-hearted flavor, be sure to "invite" the Advanced Graphics Easter Bunny Stand-Up. This adorable accent stands on its own and is over 5 feet tall! It's a real hit with toddlers and parents who never really grew up... But enough about me.

Tip 2: Make (adult) life easier and get yourself an Egg Cooker. This one from Krups makes boiling eggs effortless and participatory for the kids, too. It's also great year-round for all types of recipes. And for those of you who are trying to start your day with a metabolism-boosting, protein-filled breakfast. There's nothing better than a few hard-boiled egg whites to get the body going.

Tip 3 -- Make your own 3-D bunny cake and decorate it before the party, using it as the centerpiece for your table. Just look at this cake mold -- and the great bunny you can make with it. Don't you think your kids, their friends and their friends' parents will flip when they see this 3-D bunny cake ready to pounce from the table? Okay, maybe they won't flip, but they should find it both interesting and indulgent. AND, by the way, a very well-known food writer in NYC also loves this cake and was kind enough to write about it (and about CSN Stores) at nydailynews.com today.

Tip 4: Use a special mold to create these decorated egg "cupcakes" and then give the kids multi-colored sprinkles, frosting, and small candies they can use to decorate them, before the egg-coloring commences. Just look at how attention-getting these egg-shaped cakes can be.

Tip 5: Have enough glass or plastic containers on hand with vinegar and coloring tablets in them to make the egg-coloring and egg-drying process fast and easy. Then divide the group of kids into Egg Hiders and Egg Finders and conduct several rounds of Easter Egg Hunts, with the groups switching roles along the way. So make this Easter a great one and send us any pictures of your big party.

Best, Chloe's Dad

CSN Mondays - Handy Living 'Jetsons' Collection Launch

Today, we wanted to announce the launch of a fun, new collection from Handy Living. The Jetson’s line features a number of chairs and ottomans that are supported by a pedestal, giving each a futuristic feel.

These high back arm chairs combine modern and contemporary aesthetics for a totally ‘out-of-this-world’ look. On top of that, the furniture’s extra thick polyurethane foam seat and back provides ‘out-of-this-world’ comfort. And, like all Handy Living products, these ship UPS and, thanks to their innovative design, can fit through narrow doorways and stairways. Turn your living room into a scene from one of your all time favorite shows!