Zara.com's Canadian launch sure had the bloggers buzzing, but what got us chirping was the cool kids selection.

With spring just around the corner (and last year's tops showing a bit too much belly), we're determined to ease the morning tutu struggle with pieces that look look as good on a 3-year-old as they would on her mother.

Stocked with a wearable selection of on-trend but not-too-precious clothes, this Vertical Stripe Dress ($45.90) and the navy Bermuda shorts ($35.90) are the perfect touch of Gallic for our 7-year-old, while the 3-year-old will be splish-splashing around in this striped suit ($17.90) that just screams "French Riviera!"  

Ordering was easy, delivery was fast and free - now if only registering for pre-school were so easy….

www.zara.com

As Christmas nears and the holiday parties come to an end, it’s time to get cosy at home with close family and friends.

This may require a wardrobe that’s less formal than the office party, but the festive season keeps us in the mood to look nice. Our trick? Pretty pieces with loose waists or a bit of stretch, to accommodate the excessive indulgence. Aritzia’s Wilfred brand fits the bill, the Gamine dress ($145) features a loose babydoll cut and the Festiner T-shirt ($50) has a wrap front that will conceal any treats your mother is dishing up.

The best part is that you don’t have to face the holiday crowds or change room line up. Aritzia has just launched an online store, so we can shop from the comfort of our home, eggnog in hand and fireplace in full view. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

At Artizia’s new online store, www.aritzia.com

If there is one thing our editors know, it's online shopping. Herewith, our favourite places to browse on the world wide web.

Whenever I'm in New York (which is sadly not that often), my first shopping stop is Maryam Nassir Zadeh, the cool girl's Lower East Side secret. Thankfully, they keep their online store fully stocked with  hard-to-find pieces. I'm currently coveting Carven's sweet little Foal Bag ($660). www.mnzstore.com —Anya Georgijevic, Beauty Editor

"Earthquake kit” has been on my to-do list forever, but recent natural disasters were all the motivation I needed. Instead of trawling hardware stores for supplies, I bought my car and home 72-hour emergency kits off Beesafe.ca. Expect a four week wait for orders: New York, New Jersey, and Guatemala are getting first dibs.(Editor’s Tip: Add a toothbrush, toothpaste, moisturizer, toilet paper, diapers, bleach (for disinfecting water), money, and vodka to personalize your kit.) www.beesafe.ca —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Fashion Editor

When I need a bit of inspiration and my credit card is burning a hole in my purse, my one-stop online shop destination is Leif Shop. Overflowing with an abundance of beautifully designed accessories for the home and you, Leif is known for their stunning curation of colourful and on-trend items. I am obsessing over Striped Taper Candles ($24, pictured) for my New Years Eve party. http://www.leifshop.com —Kait Kucy, Calgary Editor

The drawers on my Fifties writing desk are stuffed full of beautiful papers, cards, ribbons and tapes. I’m a paper geek. Just look at the wrapping paper, notes and gift tags over at Happy Home – it’s pure whimsy. http://happyhome.bigcartel.com —Athena Tsavliris, Toronto Editor

My latest purchases all come from Toronto’s eLuxe.ca. Free shipping on orders over $25, free returns (!), labels ranging from Splendid to Smythe, stylists on hand for live chat styling sessions… its URL might as well be heaven.ca. www.eLuxe.ca —Christine Laroche, Montreal, Editor

One of VitaminDaily.com’s ambassadors (check her out in the banner photo above), the always-chic Sunny Shum, just launched her own online accessory store.

Shut Up I Love This carries a special selection of pieces inspired by some of her most stylish friends (we hope that includes us!). Keep those harmful spirits away with Ettika’s beaded Hamsa bracelet ($58), or make a simple T-shirt look like a million bucks with Ka’kia’s intricately weaved silver necklace ($225). Have one of those noses that can’t hold a pair of sunglasses without them ending up on your lap? Canadian eyewear Kay Tran is especially designed to fit petite noses. Who knew?

Seriously: no talking, just shopping. —Anya Georgijevic

http://shutupilovethis.com

Our favourite kid's craft workshop, Vancouver's Collage Collage, has just opened an online store filled with books, art supplies, craft kits, and toys.

So when you aren't feeling creative about ways to entertain the kids, search the site and leave the creativity to them.

Find kits to make dream catchers ($18), sock puppets ($12), or nesting dolls ($35, pictured), this is the perfect site to bookmark for rainy day projects, gifts for friends' kids, and party activities. There's also a great selection of paints, crayons, sticker books, and aprons (a must-have).



Now, if only someone would teach our kids how to use all this stuff. Oh wait, they do. Collage Collage offers a wide selection of children's arts and crafts courses in Vancouver. Soon our budding doctors and lawyers will also be mini Monets and Manets.

 —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Collage Collage online store, www.shop.collagecollage.ca

Secondhand children’s wear is great in theory, but trawling through crowded used clothing stores with poorly labeled goods makes a bargain seem less valuable.

At A Size Too Small, you’ll find the opposite problem. The curated children’s clothing and toys site features a mix of stylish new items and secondhand pieces that are so beautifully presented, it’s tough to believe they are used. Our favourite new pieces include Little Dace dresses ($70) and this unbelievably stylish Nico.Nico blue trench (pictured, $130.) Their “found” garments include a ridiculously cute worn denim shirt ($12), and an amazing pair of red and white retro baby shoes (pictured, $20.)

Of course you had better get in there fast, the found pieces are one of a kind, and in one size only. So prepare to be the one shedding those tears if you miss out on something fantastic. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

www.asize2small.com

The reason why most great childrenswear brands are founded by mothers is because they have the experience of knowing exactly what kids want to wear and how parents want their kids to look.

In the case of Vancouver-made Kiki Kids Wear, it is bright printed dresses, elegant little cardigans, and poofy skirts in colourful patterns, trimmed with flower shaped buttons and bow belts. We like the Sleeveless Tulip Print Dress ($72) for the next birthday party, and the Heather Floral Print Pull-on Skirt ($44) for dinner out.

Next question is of course the sizing, and sadly, it only goes up to a girl’s size 10. But that’s a 24 inch waist, and with an elastic waistband… us Moms can probably squeeze ourselves in. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Kiki Kids Wear online at www.kikikidswear.com

One plastic bib, worn under the cloth bib (which got changed six times a day). A permanent under-the-chin rash. Stains on every parents’ shoulder. That’s the reality of a baby who drools a lot.

And that’s why we think the Wee Drool is brilliant. A bib that looks like a T-shirt and features a waterproof middle layer is one of the best ideas we’ve seen in a while. Moisture can’t get through, the armholes mean it can’t be ripped off and the design ensures it won’t flip up or turn into a cape. It’s made from a soft, eco-friendly fabric that has anti-microbial features. And best of all, it looks like a cool-t-shirt.

You’ll be washing less bibs, and you’ll be changing less outfits. Less laundry and less work. Now we're drooling. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Wee Drool bibs, $28 at www.wee-drool.com

One of the toughest wardrobe conundrums this editor faced when having her first child was the lack of clothing suitable for breastfeeding. Maternity fashions are in abundance, but what about garments that allow you to whip out your breasts, made from fabrics that are resistant to milk stains?

Turn to Au Fait Mama, a Vancouver-made line of breastfeeding clothes, that features pieces like the Nurture t-shirt or Nourish Long Sleeved-top. Elasticized bamboo fabric allows them to be stretched down at the neckline and the elegant cuts accommodate a growing bump during pregnancy and the less attractive post-partum bump.

Next in line? Glasses that hide under-eye bags and a magic scrunchie that give the appearance of washed and styled hair. We wish…. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Breastfeeding tops from $68 at aufaitmama.myshopify.com

Funny that an online store can make us so nostalgic for a time long before our own.

The virtual shelves of North Vancouver-based Delish General Store are stocked with all sorts of handy summer items like brightly coloured paper straws that long for fresh-pressed lemonade ($4.50 a pack) and ingenious Cuppow lids that transform a glass mason jar into a charming to-go cup ($8). We fell for kitchen-ready prints emblazoned with the sentiment Make Everything with Love ($18).

Which is, we suspect, how Delish General Store was made.—Kelsey Dundon

www.delishgeneralstore.bigcartel.com