It’s that time of year again—dry, chapped skin reigns supreme. And every winter, I embark on my quest to find the best products to smooth out my rough and sensitive skin. It has to be something greaseless that smells good without being overpowering. Well I’ve found it in Sylvia & Marcos.
After trying their Coco Citrus Butter Crème, I’m hooked. Officially. It really blends in, softening my skin without leaving any residue. And the smell? Mmmm, so yummy!
You know you got some gifts that just weren’t “you.” So treat yourself to something you’ll love. On my list to try next—Relaxing Herbal Bath Bags. After the holiday shopping season, I deserve to kick back and enjoy a quiet moment. Don’t you?
My Post Holiday Indulgence
Fooey On You (or your kids)
I just love the tees from Fooey! They’re found on babies all over Tinsel Town from little Rocco Ritche to Amber Valletta’s son. And get this, they make tees for adults too.
Fooey tees are fun, well designed and best yet, many are on sale! Order now throught December 18th and get free shipping! You can rest assured a little bit of Fooey is going to be under our tree this year.
The Stocking Stuffer That Couldn’t Wait
My daughter loves clips in her hair. The problem is that I sometimes find it difficult to find quality made accessories that are as adorable as they are functional. Not the case with our newest clips from Ladybugs N Butterflies.
What makes these clips so great? Maybe it’s that the clips themselves have staying power in even the finest of baby and toddler hair. Maybe it’s the amazing selection. They have a clip for every occassion—from light and fun to dressy and classic. Hmmm. Maybe it’s the attention to detail. The clips are extremely well made and constructed. Most of them even have a great touch of sparkle. But you know what? I think it’s the way my daughter completely lit up once she saw them. It’s rare to find that special trinket that delights you as much as it does them, but Ladybugs N Butterlies fits that bill.
Stock up on these beauties. They’ll make terrific gifts and stocking stuffers. If you can wait that is…
Follow this link to receive 10% off your Ladybugs N Butterflies accessories. Discount expires 12/25/06. Happy Shopping!
Kate Spade Sample Sale
Before you start the holiday shopping craze for them, why not take a break and do a little shopping for you? Check out the Sample Sale going on at Kate Spade from November 14 through 17.
But if you feel compelled to start shopping for those on your nice list (just make sure you don’t forget to add yourself to the list), you can find a little something for him and her since the sample sale includes items for babies, stationery and the Jack Spade line. Ain’t shopping grand?
Modern Meets Function
One of my favorite pre-kid weekend activities was grabbing a cup of coffee, lounging on the couch and watching an episode of House Beautiful on a lazy Saturday morning. I got such a thrill out of seeing the clean lines and innovative, stylish homes. I drooled over all the beautiful items they showcased each week that my home seemed to demand.
Well, after children, I still get my copy of Dwell and try to keep my house as orderly as possible. And yes, I still prefer clean, simple, beautiful pieces for holding toys and the other various items I step over each day. But when it came to the nursery, I had trouble finding items that fit my aesthetic. Everything seemed to be too cutesy-cutesy. Now parents who have an eye for design won’t have that problem, because Skip Hop has come to the rescue.
Skip Hop has a chic and contemporary new line of items to hold all the sundry items you and your little ones need. Fusing innovative styling with practicality, Skip Hop’s new line will delight the urban mama in you.
The Chow – Check out this forward-thinking take on storing your little pumpkin’s jars of food. Perfect for the pantry and it won’t have you sorting through stacks of jars to find the greenbeans.
The Splash – Oooh, great design and having junior’s bottles off the icky counter—what more can we ask for?
The Toolbox – Possibly my favorite of Skip Hop’s innovations. It is the cleanest solution to holding everything you need for a diaper changing (which as we know, can be the most unstylish thing we do all day). Pre-order your Toolbox at Amazon. They hit shelves early November.
Playground at Noon, Gallery Show Tonight
Just when I fear my kids’ wardrobes might get a little boring, along comes Bunny and Bee: A company whose combinations of art and edge pique my interest.
Bunny and Bee offers a line of pretty much everything you could need for your little ones and your home, featuring totally fresh graphics and illustrations.
Their newest line, Little Thieves, is bold and fun. It features bright designs that are sure to get your little ones noticed. Even the littlest of the little ones in your family can be adorned in this über hipster gear. Equally suited for an Art exhibit opening—which is where my little guy wore his—or a romp on the playground, Bunny and Bee has got the little man covered.
I’m equally impressed with their line for girls. Not afraid to pair bold colors with animals and geometric shapes, Bunny and Bee have created something that’s both pretty while still being spunky too. My 4-year-old exclaimed, “Oooh, it’s so pretty” when she caught sight of her tee. She especially loves that it’s purple and I love that it’s purple and cute without being syrupy.
Order through December 31st and mention Mommies With Style in the comments section at checkout and receive a 20% discount!
Magic Dog Studios
I’ve run across many things in my day as a serious shopper. Recently one thing made me stop in my tracks. It’s this charm view image by Magic Dog Studio, that was created based on my daughter’s self-portrait.
Jennifer Bunt (the creator of Magic Dog Studio) is an exceptional jeweler. But what truly sets her apart is her inspired concept: capturing something special from everyday moments with your child, and puting it in a form you can carry with you always and forever.
From a thumb-print to a hand-print to your child’s drawing, Jennifer transforms the everyday into wearable art. She offers a wide array of necklaces, bracelets, key chains, cuff links and tie tacks. Each
piece is carefully and lovingly created by hand, and Jennifer is wonderful to work with.
Now, I must warn you. When you receive the finished piece you may shed a couple tears—it certainly happened to me. I simply could not believe how Jennifer transformed a self-portrait of my daughter into a charm that I will have forever.
Mark my words, Magic Dog Studio will be the thing that everybody puts on their “gotta-have” list for any and every holiday for years to come. Keep in mind that each piece takes about four weeks to make as each piece is hand made. You’ll want to order soon in time for the holidays. (Ahem, ahem, hubbys and significant others!)
So while Jennifer made the charm, so did my little girl. And that’s something I’m going to cherish forever!
Fashion and Socially Minded: A Marriage Made in Heaven
Check out these tees for the whole family from Belle and Dean. Brits who have transplanted themselves to Singapore, this duo has developed a line of tees that are a perfect marriage between style and socially conscientious. Made from organic cotton—a sustainable resource that Belle and Dean strongly believe in—these tees look equally good for casual weekends as they do under a fitted jacket for a night on the town.
What you’ll love: graphics inspired by nature, cuddly soft fabric and quality that will last for years to come. But most of all it’s that great feeling you have knowing you’re supporting organic farmers, avoiding sweat-shop labor, and helping to protect the environment.
All the items are priced in the Singapore dollar and with the average conversion rate, you won’t burn a hole in your pocket looking extra smart.
Supporting a greener planet never looked so stylish.
Dan Zanes Is My Musical Hero
Whenever we climb into the car, the first words out of my daugther’s mouth are, “Can we listen to my music?” Somewhere along the way, I found myself trading in my music for the wee ones music. As a teen of the late 80s/early 90s, this was sometimes especially frustrating. And then one day it happened: alternative music for me had become Elmo versus Raffi.
Then one day we saw Dan Zanes on Noggin. My hubby turned to me and said, “Hey, it’s music for the cool kids” and I was excited. Here was music that I could listen to with the windows rolled down. Music that I could, potentially, listen to over and over and over again. Because, let’s face it, when you’re under three feet tall and there are errands to run, you pretty much dictate what gets played on the dial. Surprisingly, after listening to Dan Zanes House Party, I have discovered he is one of those very rare artists that I will actually listen to even without the kids in the car with me. House Party is a fave of mine and is perfect for almost any occasion.
So when I saw his new album in Starbucks, I snatched one up. And after listening to his newest CD a few dozen times, I can confidently and enthusiastically recommend Catch That Train! It is a wonderfully catchy album with lots of great songs you’ll want to listen to over and over again.
The thing about Zane’s music is that it’s so much more sophisticated than the normal kid stuff. It has many different layers of sounds, changes and is quite lyrically beautiful. I find myself humming Mariposa Ole quite often–even the fact that I can’t speak a word of Spanish hasn’t gotten in my way.
Next time we all pile into the car and my little one says, “Mommy can we listen to my music?” I will turn to her and say, “No honey, we can listen to our music.” That is until she starts asking for Kidz Bops. Then all bets are off.
Goop Tees
What do you get when you combine a bit of trendy, a pinch of arty and a smidge of mischievousness? You’ll get the sassy new Goop tees collection from Verivaine. Taken from a 1904 book of children’s etiquette, these shirts are quite clever. The large oversized characters aren’t shy, and each comes with a rhyme on the back of the shirt explaining the name of each Goop. Each Goop character is a little bit naughty but generally good—hmmm, sounds like most kids I know. Come to think of it, sounds like a lot of adults I know too.
Which is good, because they also carry Goop tees in adult sizes as well. My daugther already has Teeza (in purple) and my son has Downato (in blue). So now we have to figure out which one to get mama. I’m sure my hubby would suggest Sulkie although, I’d say I’m more of a Gablia Goop myself. Oh boy, looks like I have quite a few of these tees to get.











