Mommies With Style

Even though I’m only 16 weeks pregnant right now with my third child, I’m drooling over Oilo Studio’s fantastic crib bedding. We’re going to have to redo our nursery bedding again, when our third child arrives this summer.  We had boring white bedding for our first child (used on my son’s toddler bed now) and our second child, a daughter, is still in a crib, using beautiful pink organic bedding, from Until Kara. #3 will be a boy and we’re going to have to start from scratch.

Oilo’s Modern Berries Crib Set ($399) would be perfect for my upcoming arrival’s crib bedding. White with sage green, it’s patterned after the red currant berries that grow in Norway and can work for a boy or a girl. Included in the set is a 100% woven cotton bumper and bed skirt, a zippered slip cover bumper, fitted cotton percale crib sheet. It’s machine washable and made in the USA.  While we didn’t use bumpers until both our children approached a year old, I like to have them included in a set.

Exclusive for MWS Readers: Purchase at  www.oilostudio.com — use code: mws2010 to receive a 15% discount on any order.

Blue Aster Designs creates amazing multi media collage art that is simply beautiful! They specialize in magnetic memo boards, magnetic photo frames, memory books, framed invitations and customized photography art.

Last year when I was searching for the perfect memo board for my kids’ rooms, I was amazed at how expensive the boards can be. So when I happened to attend a show and spotted a gorgeous Magnetic Memo Board from Blue Aster Designs that was more in my price range, I was so excited! These unique boards are completely magnetic and can incorporate your choice of specialty papers, wall papers, scanned fabric images, chalkboard or photography. The board can be specified to whatever color, theme, or photo you would like. I did a sports theme for my son’s and a pink with purple theme for my daughter’s. The memo boards are finished with color coordinated ribbons or brads. Included with the boards are fabulous magnets that are handmade out of polymer clay. They are really neat and I haven’t seen anything like them! The inside dimensions are 16”x 20” with a 2″ wide frame, which is available in many colors. In addition, they can also be made with a clipless frame, to appear frameless. A smaller version of the magnetic memo board is available in an 11”x 14” size, which is great for smaller spaces. These smaller boards are frameless, can stand-up with an easel back, or hang from a ribbon. Similar to the larger boards, these can be customized to your color or theme and all come with 5 clay magnets. Both boards would look great in your kitchen, office, bedroom, play room or just about anywhere in your house. They are truly distinctive works of art!

I also adore their unique Photo Frames. These frames are created from your favorite photos and make up a collage matte that surround a magnetic board or framed mementos. The sample I was sent has pictures of my kids from the past few years surrounding a magnetic piece. It is so precious and stands proudly in my kitchen to keep notes and such out in plain view for me to see. The notes are held up by these adorable clay letter magnets that spell family. I always receive complements on how neat it is when someone comes over. The Photo Frames are offered in sizes 11”x 14” and 16”x 20”. Personalized letter magnets are available as well.

Fabulous for gift-giving, Blue Aster Designs creates works of art for all occasions! Their art is perfect for the person that has everything, the person you really want to get something unique for or if you just like to do something a little different with your photos! Prices range from $22.50 to $150.00 plus tax & shipping depending on size and product.  Give them a call (609-320-8039) or e-mail to discuss your order. They have a website and are on Facebook which is their online catalogue. They are currently offering a 10% discount on purchases of $50.00 or more to anyone who become a Facebook fan.

Say it today and take it back tomorrow. I have commitment issues when it comes to home decor which is why the Luv Letters line from Wall Candy Arts is so awesome for me & my kids.

My kids love to personalize everything, and thus they have been begging to get their names on the wall for ages now. I’ve not wanted to stencil anything because I know they will trade rooms or get sick of it before the paint dries.

Wall Candy Arts sent me two letter A’s to try out (in pink and blue), which happens to be the initial of one of my four children. I put the A on her door and promptly ordered initials for the other three, when I saw how cute it looked and the other kids demanded Luv Letters of their own.

These letters are a great low commitment way to change up the decor, with a word, name or phrase. They come off as easily as they go on and can be repositioned and reused.

I love giving personalized gifts! My kids love anything with their name on it and I love giving something that I think will last much longer than a toy. Kalax Creations makes a variety of hand painted products which are perfect for any occasion. They offer high-quality ceramic and plastic products, which are individually hand-painted from a broad selection of their original, whimsical designs. Due to the nature of hand painting, each item is truly a unique work of art and no two creations are exactly alike!

Children’s names that are spelled unusually are difficult to find on personalized products in the mass market. Since all of their products are individually hand painted by the Kalax Creations artists, they are never “out of stock” in the name you need.

Choose from a large selection of plastic products, ceramic banks, jewelry and trinket boxes, mail holders and holiday ornaments to be hand-painted with their original designs. Their extremely popular plastic Lap Desks are a hit with children and adults alike. My kids love theirs!! Made from durable plastic, in a variety of colors, their hand painted Lap Desks are perfect for use as a child’s desk to do homework, art projects, in the car, or as a convenient lap tray while sitting on the couch or relaxing in bed. Kalax Creations’ Pull Wagons are perfect for little hands to pull a cart full of toys. All of their plastic products are lightweight, durable and wipe clean for easy care. Choose from their many original, whimsical designs to be hand painted onto your Kalax Creation. My daughter has been toting around her Tote Bag with all of her essentials that she likes to have at an arm’s reach.  Her teacher had one in her classroom for the students’ library books to be deposited in the tote if the book was brought back before library day.  What a great teacher gift idea!

Kalax Creations make fabulous new baby, children and even adult gifts! Use code MWS at checkout to receive 10% off your purchase through October 31st.

A couple of years ago, when we converted my oldest son’s room from a nursery to a “big boy room,” I invested in a cute little hand-painted table and chairs.  I found it at a local store and bought it on a whim.  It turned out to be a great purchase as he uses it almost daily by himself or with friends.

So recently, when I converted my youngest son’s room to “Big Boy,” I was on the lookout for something unique for his room.  I remembered Ciaran had reviewed the Pkolino desk last Christmas and remembered that they also had a table and chairs. 

I found it online at Artistic Sensations and I just loved it.  For $129, you get the table and chairs.  We got white – which means wood colored with white accents instead of orange (pictured).  Love the orange for a playroom but the color wasn’t right for Cole’s new room.

Anyway, as predicted, it’s been a huge hit and both of the boys have been using it to do various things like read a book or color.  We set it at the foot of Cole’s big boy bed and he’s been so proud to have both a new bed and desk.

Check it out, and be sure to use the coupon code which helps quite a bit with this purchase:  Use coupon code mommy for 20% off your order of this or anything on the Artistic Sensations site.

Do you have a little reader?  And by that I mean either an adorable Little Reader chair from P’kolino or a budding bibliophile?  Either one will pair nicely with the newest P’kolino addition, the Little Sofa.  Available in two-toned green or red microfiber, the dense foam Little Sofa offers kids age 2-6+ a great place to cozy up with their latest library find or page through a hand-me-down classic.

I love the wide base that keeps the foam sofa sturdy and stable, but at 5.5 lbs. the Little Sofa is still easy enough for my 3-year-old to move it around his room to find that perfect reading spot.  The Little Sofa comfortably lets two tots sit side by side, and a book pocket on either side keeps their favorite books safe and separate.

Even better?  The Little Sofa folders out into a sleeper!  Perfect for an impromptu nap or a friend’s overnight.

My two boys love sitting side by side reading books, laying on their bellies playing with dinosaurs or taking turns folding up the sofa on themselves in a modified hide-and-seek game.  I’m a fan of the Little Sofa’s compact size, how easy it is to move from room to room and the stain-resistant microfiber.

Visit P’kolino’s website to learn more about the Little Sofa or if you’re short on space, check out their original Little Reader chair.

I’m nesting. I think we’ve all agreed that that’s happening around here. And one thing un-done at our home was my 3-year-old’s window. He had a shade, but nothing to complete it, make it look nice.

How excited was he when we recieved a navy tab-top valance from Carousel Designs last week? Seriously, he was jumping with excitement. Its a perfect look of casual elegance for a preschooler’s room. As with all of Carousel Design’s window treatments, its lined with a white backing, looking great from the outside (surprisingly, a liner often costs extra or isn’t included in pre-made window treatments elsewhere.)

Don’t need a valance? Or maybe you need a lot more in terms of bedding, design and accessories? There are so many options at  Design Carousel to get your baby’s room all matchy-matchy or to mix and match. Either way, it’ll be stunning and totally your style. I’m so impressed with the bedding choices, and the nursery decor just blows my mind. From classic to whimsical, you’ll find the looks you need.