Uh-Oh.
I can't tell you how many times I have been out with my daughter at the mall and she throws her toy out of the stroller on the ground followed by the infamous "uh-oh" and a fit of giggles. The Ali-Oops toy clip puts an end to this never-ending battle. And keeps your baby happily throwing their favorite toy or sippy cup while never letting it out of their reach. The toy clip tethers your child’s toys, sippy cups, etc directly to your stroller, carseat, or highchair.
The Ali-Oops! Toy Clip is approximately 10 inches in length with heavy duty snaps on either end for attachment. It comes in a “small” or “large” and is made with stylish grosgrain ribbon.
Ali-Oops! is the signature product of Ali Designs. An online boutique selling children's accessories.
Ali Designs is offering Mommies With Style readers 10% off all items. Use the following link to Ali Designs and the discount will be applied at checkout.
Don't forget about the Stride Rite sale
20% off until Sunday -- read the post from earlier this week.
May 08, 2008
Who needs a bag?
Here's a great starter sling that just might continue on and be an early favorite. The Jelly Bean Cargo Sling by Munchkin has taken slinging and baby carrying mainstream.
The carrier, created from breathable cotton, keeps babies up to 20 pounds, close--exactly where they want to be. With a double-wide padded shoulder strap, its comfortable to sling baby, and easy. The Jelly Bean Cargo Wrap also has many compartments, like a diaper and wipes holder and a pacifier or key loop, even a bottle holder and a spot to store your wallet and phone, making it unnecessary to lug a bag and a sling and a baby (something even many slinging pros will admit isn't easy, or fun.)
At only $39.99, Munchkin's new carrier (which hit stores last month) has become an excellent baby shower gift--encouraging new moms to sling babies with ease.
While shopping Munchkin, check out their Safety Bath Ducky. A token gift for any mom, this ducky tells whether bath water is too hot-- not by chaging color which can lead to confusing thoughts (scratch head, hmmm, its purple? but red means hot and blue means cold... so, is my water warm??) Rather it simply states HOT when the water is too hot for baby.
Pomme Baby Delivers Organic Gourmet Taste to your Door
It's fresh, it's organic and it's prepared by a Zagat rated executive chef. Which is why Pomme Bebe may be the perfect palate primer for your baby.
Pomme Bebe is the dream of Svetla Lazarova Kibota, a native of the beautiful Bulgarian countryside. Growing up she never heard the word organic, but the wholesome foods she ate as a child were just that. Free of harmful pesticides, grown fresh and local. This is the model for Pomme Baby as well. Svetla has teamed with Chef Laurent Brazier to create a unique gourmet baby food business.
In the Pomme Bebe Bebe Bar and Bebelounge in Newport Beach California, baby guests can have a party or a playdate and enjoy a fresh seasonal menu of freshly prepared, flavorful and colorful pureed baby foods while the adults enjoy some fresh squeezed juice - though they may be tempted to steal a little of their kid's food! If you are lucky enough to live nearby, it is worth a trip in to sample the foods before you buy. Pomme Baby also offers curbside pickup for locals - no need to wake the baby and drag him inside, they'll meet you in your car.
The food that Pomme Bebe prepares for children is divided into ages and stages. Intro foods are single food basics (6 months plus), multi food blends (8 months plus) and chunkier tots meals (12 months plus). What all the foods have in common are the fabulous and fresh taste. At the recent Baby Celebration Show in LA I even observed adults going back for seconds. Besides me.
Even if you don't live anywhere near Newport Beach, you can still enjoy this fabulous gourmet organic baby food for your baby. Pomme Baby Foods are available online ($3.25 - $4.50 per 4 oz jar) -- flash frozen and shipped on dry ice to your doorstep. We recently received a shipment and found the food easy to defrost and just so much more colorful and delicious than any jarred supermarket baby foods. My crew of testers fought for tasting rights. Everyone loved the rainbow colored purees. It's not every day that my kids fight over beets and pureed peas. I should note that the purees make a healthful addition into recipes for older kids as well, and if you don't have the time or inclination to shop at the local farmer's market and cook up your own organic purees to sneak a little healthfulness into your children's diet, then you should check this company out as well.
Mommies with Style use Coupon Code MWS050108 and save $10 on your purchase of $45 or more.
Last minute Mother's Day Gifts
For all you Dads out there looking... (shh, this is also a blatant exploitation of this blog to give him some not-so-subtle hints to my own husband)
A year's subscription to Every Day with Rachael Ray, $24 for a year subscription
A gift certificate to Starbucks. Yum. Don't underestimate the power of coffee.
Books are always fun. Some good ones for Mother's Day that I've recently seen include: Mother Nurture, Margarita Mama: Mocktails for Moms-to-Be and The Woman Who is Always Tan and Has a Flat Stomach.
The Mom Agenda Kitchen Folio (use coupon code MWS15 for 15% off)
Pretty in Pink: if she's looking for a new laptop, not only is it a nice product but's so puuuuuuurty - the Sony Vaio in pink.
A night out, a week of someone else doing the dishes, laundry, cleaning, etc. Use your imagination! Last year I had a friend who said all she wanted to do was go to the mall by herself to shop - so that's what she did! Several hours later, she came home refreshed and had a nice Mother's Day dinner with her kids.
Tessy & Tab offers TV Turnoff and Money Manager Kits
A while back, I wrote up Tessy & Tab. A Reading Club, if you sign up for their service, your child will receive two books a month in the mail from Tessy & Tab. The books are for early readers and children ages 2-5. It's a pretty neat little service - Nate loved getting his in the mail and finding out what books had arrived for him. Each book teaches a couple of words and the illustrations are colorful and fun. It's $48 for a year subscription (24 issues).
Now, in addition to the book subscription, they offer themed kits you can order as a bonus. Of particular interest that I thought was cool were two kits in particular - the Money Manager Kit and the TV Turnoff Kit.
The Money Manager kit is $24.95 and comes with three Tessy and Tab books (about money), a Parents Guide to building early financial understanding in your children and a 3-part Save, Spend and Share MoonJar bank. We love the last one and we practice dividing money into each section often.
The TV Turnoff Kit is $19.95 and comes with four books with Tessy and Tab being active, a Parents Guide to managing your kids TV time and a chart on the effects of TV.
Order the kits, the subscription or both on the Tessy and Tab site. Enter MWS408 in the "Referral Source” box when you place your order for the TV Turnoff Kit before 5/31/08 and receive a free Tessy & Tab book called Fire Station Trip. Visit www.tessyandtab.com/firestation to see the real-world inspiration for this book and to print fire safety posters.
May 07, 2008
Growin' Up Country
I'm a country fan. I have been since I went to college. In Texas. Where its hard not to be swayed to love country. Up north, my kids call my music genre "Cowboy Music." Giving it this nickname was a way to get the boys to listen to someone that wasn't singing about a "Big Red Car" or his love of trash.
But with the recent release (April 22) of the new series Hushabye Baby (volumes 1-4), you can introduce your babies to Country long before they begin to favor songs that rhyme every name ever heard. Hushabye Baby has rendered songs of popular country stars (like Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and Carrie Underwood) into lullabies: calming music that helps calm baby, and reminds parents of the beauty of their favorite tunes.
My favorite, volume 2, features songs by Faith Hill, The Dixie Chicks, and, the kids' favorite, Toby Keith's Shoulda Been a Cowboy (of course, I told them the title!) . Give them a listen over at Amazon, where they're eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping when you spend $25. So, go ahead, add some to your cart, your wishlist, and definitely to your baby registry!
Volume 2 is currently sold out and available as a Pre-Order, but volumes 1, 3 and 4 are all currently available and can even be delivered by Mothers Day if you purchase expedited shipping. You can also purchase the MP3s of many of the songs for only $.99, also at Amazon.
Sage Creek Organics: Stylish Organic Clothing for the Kids
When I think about organic clothing -- party dresses usually don't come to mind, but Sage Creek Organics has them! Buying organic clothing for your children doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style or color. Sage Creek Organics make delightful collections of organic clothing with pizazz, as well as coordinating crib sheets, blankets and towels. Everything made by Sage Creek Organics is created from 100% certified organic cotton.
I loved their darling Berkeley Crochet Dress in Antique Rose ($65), from their new All Dressed Up Collection (pictured up top). It comes with a matching headband (or you could also get it in a natural). Another cute dress is their Santa Barbara Crossover Dress in Rose Pink ($46). This dress comes with a matching headband and is also offered in yellow, edged with lavender. All dresses in this collection are available in sizes from 12-18 months, up to 4T.
We checked out their Kimono Ensemble in pink ($54), from their Kimono Collection. The ensemble consists of a a cuddly-soft natural colored terry kimono top, edged in pink with side ties, elastic waist pants and a super soft pink tee. The look is adorable and will work with any occasion. Oh how I love the kimono style clothes for little ones!
Sage Creek Organics has so many fun collections. My favorites were the Classic Stripes (choose either pink or blue stripes), the Sea Turtle Collection (which is probably more boyish, but can work for girls too) and the Bunny Collection (for baby girls with pink and brown). Sage Creek Naturals' collections offer so many cute outfits -- gowns, playsuits with our without feet, etc, and also offer matching crib sheets and blankets.
Browse by collection, infant girl, infant boy or infant unisex, and toddler. You can also get organic jersey knit cotton bedding for your own bed (sizes range from twin to king).
Shop Sage Creek Organics. Free shipping with orders over $50.
Clips 4 A Cure
I recently learned about Clips 4 A Cure and had to pass this one along. Clips 4 A Cure sells handmade hairclips, headbands, hats, pony tail holders and clip holders. As you probably already figured out from their name, Clips 4 A Cure does so much more than provide adorable items for stylish babies everywhere. It was started by a cancer survivor and mom who wanted to contribute to cancer research. As such, 10% of their proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Not only do I love the idea of supporting such a worthy cause but I also fell in love with these accessories. The knit hats ($20) embellished with ribbon and a big flower are really such special pieces. But my absolute favorites are the flower ponytail holders ($7). In the last couple of months I have finally been able to put Mia’s hair up in a ponytail. Well it is just the cutest thing topped with a flower. It is especially such an adorable look for spring.
Clip 4 A Cure is offering Mommies With Style readers a free gift with any purchase over $50.
Our Summer Guide is live
Hey Mommies - take a peek at our Summer Shopping Guide. We've put together a list of some great shops (with coupons!) for you to visit this summer. There are discounts of up to 20% off on shoes, organics, nursery items and more.
May 06, 2008
Chic Gifts for moms, babies, and everyone else
I'm all for better organization in my life. And some days I need it a lot more than others. Like on a recent vacation, rather than gathering all my jewels and tossing them into a plastic bag or a simple pouch, instead I used a Jewelry Pocket by Cry Babyz. This one piece pouch has 8 small pockets surrounding the open center and fit everything from my big earrings and bangles for fun nights out to my pearls and diamonds. Available in 3 sizes--perfect for baby, teen and mom, Jewelry Pockets retailer for $10 to $22.
Pacifier-attached baby moms will love the chic simplicity of Cry Babyz Paci Pockets. These pockets attach to strollers, high chairs and diaper bags, so that you'll never search through the black hole again. And the pocket, which can be tossed in the washing machine as needed, and is tightend around the pacifier with elastic, keeps the paci clean when not in use.
With an expanding inventory of creations, you'll save when purchasing a giftset: a Paci Pocket with a Cry Babyz pacifier for only $16.99. Find the entire line of Cry Babyz at Chic Pockets where you can use 20% off with code Chic Gifts.
Little Tykes Fold Away Playground for my active boys
So we recently got one of these new Fold Away Playgrounds from Little Tykes. I think the intention is for it to be an indoor toy, but it quickly found it's way to our deck out back. The boys adore it so hubby and I were inspired to keep it outside so we could sit and enjoy the night while they play.
For the price and the size, this is a nice little toy. It's $99.99 retail and it comes with a slide, climbing wall, soccer net and a basketball hoop (it comes with one basketball). It folds away easily and compactly too. Buy it on the Little Tykes website or search to find a retailer near you.
Add a little bling to your diaper bag and clutch
Here are some fun diaper bag and diaper clutch designs by Danielle Elizabeth. Her designs involve ribbons and rhinestones and add a little pizazz to your every day baby essentials.
The bags and accessories are made of 100% cotton and are machine washable. I checked out the clutch, which comes with a zipper on the outside for extras, a fold out oilcloth changing pad and an inside zipper pocket for diapers and wipes.
Use coupon code mws20 for 20% off your purchase on the Danielle Elizabeth site.
Congrats to our ReddiWip winners
Julie B. from AZ and Wendy C. from Washington DC won last month's ReddiWip giveaway. Congrats Mommies!
May 05, 2008
20% off at Stride Rite (in-store)
Hey all - Stride Rite's first Friends & Family coupon has been issued and it's good for Thursday, May 8th-Sunday, May 11th. Just print out this coupon and bring it in-store to receive 20% all regularly priced shoes and 10% off sale items.
Advertorial: Chittypulga
The following is a paid Advertorial from Chittypulga:
ZUTANO PRE-SUMMER EVENT!!
SAVE 15 TO 65% OFF
Mommies with Style - it's is time to shop and fill up your little one's closet with Zutano. A stylish collection of easy-to-wear outfits,made of 100% cotton with modern prints, vibrant colors and soooo comfy...
Visit Chittypulga's Pre-Summer Event!!
Get 15% OFF any item from the NEW line of Zutano Collectibles '08. Check our selection of Baby Basics including blankets, bibs and hats at 20% OFF. Clearance Alert!! We have added Zutano Collectibles '07 to our SALE CORNER, with 50+15% OFF every single piece.
All discounts are applied automatically, when products are placed in the shopping basket.
Free Ground Shipping over $100.
Baby Chic: One-on-One with Petunia Pickle Bottom
I’ve been a fan of Petunia Pickle Bottom’s diaper bags for years and fell in love with them all over again a few years ago when they came out with a line of socks (the only ones that would stay on my newborn). Their headquarters is located in my hometown of Ventura, CA so I made a few calls to set up an interview with DeNai Jones and Korie Conant, the style savvy moms behind the brand, for a tour of their offices and a sneak peak at what’s new from PPB.
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With a brick façade and wood framed windows, the Petunia offices feel every bit as stylish as their bags. Enter through the glass doors and the open office floor plan resonates with a casual warmth from the PPB employees. The exposed wooden beams, brick walls and concrete floors create the feel of an urban loft, softened by carefully placed vintage baby décor.
DeNai Jones, founder, owner and creative genius behind the brand’s bags, fabrics and fashions, sits in the design studio, surrounded by color schemes, fabric samples, inspiration boards and product models. Down a short set of wide-paneled wooden steps, Korie Conant, owner, vice president and director of brand development, works in a glass office accessorized with sleek, modern furnishings, Petunia bags, past and present, and an ever-changing glazed-glass marker border of the company’s current and upcoming projects.
I sat down with the two entrepreneurs for a one-on-one chat about the company’s history, hype and hot new products.
MWS: PPB has been around since 2000. How has the company changed since then?
DeNai Jones: Well for starters, we don’t work out of my parents’ garage anymore.
Korie Conant: We did come from humble beginnings. Two hand-me-down desks for us bigwigs and inventory in Rubbermaid bins on the floor. We would spend the first half of our day on the “backend” of the business (design, customer service, sales, marketing and production) and the second half of our day packing orders. We would end our day packing our cars full of boxes and driving over to UPS.
D: A stark contrast to what we are today: 3,000 square foot office with 20 corporate employees, 24 sales reps across the country and worldwide distribution to over 1500 retailers.
K: The day I realized we were no longer a little fledgling company was when a new employee asked us for an “Employee Handbook.” Whaa huh? I remember thinking, yeah; I guess we need one of those!
D: Some things haven’t changed though. One of the things I’m proudest of is our consistent attention to detail that permeates throughout our brand and product line.
K: Also the “family” we have been able to build. We have an amazing work environment and wonderful employees who feel like an extension of our family. We place a high premium on employee satisfaction and I think that shows in the quality of our products as well. We are only as good as the people we have around us.
MWS: What is something most people would be surprised to learn about PPB?
K: That we launched an innovative product for parents and grew a successful business in the children’s industry all well before we had children. Neither of us had children until just two years ago—PPB was our first baby.
MWS: How were you able to know what moms wanted and create diaper bags that met moms’ fashion and function needs?
D: The original idea developed when I was looking for a baby shower gift for a friend and couldn’t find a diaper bag that combined the functionality a mom needs with the beautiful fabrics and shapes available in other women’s bags. Our diaper bags have definitely developed over time but the original idea was merely seeing a hole in the market and taking the risk.
K: When PPB was born there was nothing on the market that married fashion and function. Over time and by listening to our PPB fans, we feel like we offer our customers everything they need in a diaper bag.
D: Now being moms ourselves has also definitely shaped how we look at design, function and style. It’s no longer a theoretical conversation we have as to what’s practical, useful and chic for moms today.
MWS: Have a favorite PPB bag/product?
K: We’ve both been carrying our new Cosmopolitan Carryall and are excited that it finally hits stores this month. The shape is inspired by traditional doctor bags and the European cut velvet available on all our Cake Collection bags give the Carryall a classic, vintage feel.
D: I’m also a huge fan of our organic socks trios. With both of my sons, I’ve also relied on them for staying on tiny newborn feet and standing up to the wiggles and squirms of a crawler.
MWS: How or where do you get inspiration for new bags and fabrics?
D: Inspiration comes from all aspects of life, but first and foremost would have to be travel. It’s high on my list for both relaxation and design inspiration and provides countless instances of beauty and intrigue. I also have a file that we slip wonderful things in all year. It could be the cover of a magazine, the wrapping from a European chocolate bar someone sent us or a piece of vintage wallpaper we picked up from the flea market. Then, when it comes to designing a collection of fabrics or bags we regularly refer to this bulging file to gather inspiration.
MWS: The two of you have known each other since high school. How does being friends influence your work relationship?
D: Our friendship always comes first. I believe it helps us compromise and work through things because we do care and love one another. Though we do have our days…
K: Early on, when people would find out that we were friends going into business together we would get some raised eyebrows. I guess they had heard too many horror stories of friendships gone awry this way, but I can honestly say we did not have reservations. Maybe we were foolish not too, but from day one we decided this: we are friends first, business partners second. We make it a practice to get together on weekly basis and NOT discuss the business. It takes work and a little extra effort to not let work weasel its way into our time together…but it’s worth it. What could be better than designing beautiful things with a lifelong friend?
MWS: Can you give us any sneak peaks at what's new at PPB?
K: Our Serenity and Sojourn Slings are hitting stores soon and our design team is in the process of creating a collection of stunning fabrics for our fall release. Keep an eye on our webpage or subscribe to our blog for all the latest Petunia news, sightings and giveaways.
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Look for the new Cosmopolitan Carryall in stores now and PPB’s new cotton and brocade slings arriving in late spring. Check out all of Petunia Pickle Bottom’s bags and accessories on their website – www.petunia.com
