If you’re like most of us, pictures of your kids are precious memories. Well, why not add a little photo magic to the mix and turn your ordinary photos into extraordinary works of art?!
The process is really quite simple and convenient and the results are amazing! Everything is done online. When placing your order, simply submit a high-quality digital photo and it will be transformed into a wonderful custom portrait according to your preferences.
Cynthia at Metamorphosis Photography took the digital photos I sent her and created these beautiful artistic portraits of my daughter. She is a talented photographer and offers a wide variety of special photography services. If you take a look at her website, you’ll see she offers more than just portraits. She also can take your digital photos and add them to charm bracelets, cuff links, coasters, necklaces, rings, handbags, mugs, and more. All of these keepsakes make great gifts. Check out her gallery of “Before & After” photos.
Butterfly and Bullfrog Photos can create a beautiful custom portrait of your child, grandchild, or pet. They offer a selection of backgrounds for your artistic portrait. You can also send them a digital image, along with some ideas and they will use their imagination to create a custom portrait like the one I ordered, as shown here. They also offer unique photo invitations, thank you notes, and holiday cards . They provide fast, friendly, and professional service. Email Robin with code “MWS” to get $10.00 off any Portrait Package (A, B, or C).
What a Child Dreams ...the place where dreams wait to be discovered. They specialize in digital illustrative portraiture. They offer a helpful demo on their site that walks you through the process from start to finish. They have forty-eight backgrounds in their “Select-a-Theme” gallery. The photo sample theme shown here is of “The Visitor”. They also offer gift certificates and birth announcements. Fill out a questionnaire to tell them where you heard about them and receive a 10% discount on your order.
Thanks to MWS reader Rachael for this tip - use coupon code FALL25 to receive 25% off your entire purchase AND free shipping at the HasbroToyShop.com with their friends and family coupon, expires October 9th.
Obviously the designers at Svan USA know that life with kids can get messy. And so to make mealtime clean-ups more of a snap, they have come out with a new snap on plastic tray cover that now comes standard with all new high chairs. The plastic tray cover eases these messy moments by allowing for simple clean-up. It can easily be wiped down, rinsed in the sink or put in the dishwasher. It's pthalate free and has a rim that goes all the way around to contain spills and keep them from creeping into baby's lap.
Mommies With Style who are already Svan Highchair owners who would like to purchase this tray as an add on, use code TrayPromo and receive 10% off your order.
If you are considering a Svan Chair, here is a link to the page with my original review.
How about adding a little pizzazz to some of your daughter's dress-up play? Let her sparkle and glow with Red Hats and More's fun new blinking boas! My daughter has had a blast wearing her boa and pressing the button to start the light show. The boa has 10 LED red flashing lights that can be turned off and on and comes with replaceable watch batteries so they can be replaced when they are out. The blinking boas are five feet long and available in purple feathers and pink and lavender feathers.
Enter code MOM at checkout to save 10% off your purchase on the entire site.
JJ Cole's Essentials Blanket: portable picnicking wherever you go
The Neat Sheet has been the only blanket we've used for outdoor play over a year now. But recently, I discovered JJ Cole's Essentials Blanket - which gives the Neat Sheet a run for the money.
The Essentials Blanket is water resistant - we first used it at my niece's soccer game (rain, rain, rain) and I was very impressed how well it held up given the wet conditions. In fact, it held up better than the Neat Sheet would in a similar situation - which is why I recommend this blanket for any wetter, muddier conditions that you may be picnicking in this fall.
Also, it's thicker, so it's certainly nice to have the padding between you and the ground.
It wraps up really efficiently - right into a carrying pack that you can sling over your shoulder, making it easy and convenient.
You can buy the Essentials Blanket on Chit Chat Baby with coupon code jjcole10 for 10% off your order of the blanket or anything else on their site.
From Drab to Fab - Halloween gets Rocked with PrissyPoofs
If you are in the LA area, you won't want to miss a special playdate, Tuesday, October 3rd at 3 p.m at Amy's Playground. There will be some special Fall-centric activities including Spooky Storytime readings and Harvest sing-a-longs. They're also featuring a PrissyPoofs Trunk Show - so you can check out their line of chic and adorable Halloween tutu costumes. Complimentary refreshments will be served.
Even if you can't make the playdate - log on to the Prissypoofs website.Their tutus are just the trick for taking your child's costume from drab to fab. Used alone or underneath the store bought costume of choice, these poufy confections are a real treat. Your children will wow the neighbors and be the hit of their preschool halloween parade. They will also want to wear their PrissyPoofs to the mall, supermarket and playground. They're just too fun. Please note that for the month of October, PrissyPoofs will be donating a portion of their proceeds from the sale of every pink tutu sold to support Breast Cancer Research.
I have a suggestion for a new color: LIVESTRONG yellow.
You see, a few days ago, a friend stopped over. Still standing in my foyer, at least 20 feet from my dining room table, she exclaimed "Oh wow! I didn't know LIVESTRONG makes housewares!" I followed her gaze to my LIVESTRONG yellow serving platter (also called "extra long plate") that adorns the table. Of course, there's no other yellow in the house. And the LIVESTRONG platter grabs attention, adds a splash of color and, obviously, is noticable.
Chantal cookware, best known for their modern style of cook and kitchenwares has been producing cookware for years. Sturdy with fine lines and simple design, Chantal brings style to your kitchen.
But this year, Chantal teamed with LIVESTRONG to introduce the new LIVESTRONG Collection--all painted, of course, LIVESTRONG yellow. There's a gorgeous tea kettle, an infuser, mug, plates/platters, and more. With the sale of each piece, Chantal donates 5-10% of the proceeds to the Lance Armstrong Foundation--a foundation founded by Lance Armstrong to "inspire and empower people with cancer."
The cook and servingware is available online at the Chantal website, as well as Target.com . During the holidays, quite a few family members will be opening boxes full of LIVESTRONG yellow ware. In fact, I'm certain so many families will be purchasing these products that LIVESTRONG yellow will be in the vocabulary of many 2nd graders when they learn about the colors of the rainbow.
Thank you, Crayola, for considering this new color to your box of 64. I'm certain "yellow" won't mind being changed a bit for the cause.
Hey all, thought this one was worthy of a post here. SavvyMommy.com has created and is sponsoring a business grant to help several Moms attain their business dreams. The winner will get $1k to help fund her start-up business, as well as winning a new computer and printer, and web design help for her website-to-be.
Since I know from personal experience that starting a business isn't easy, this is a great opportunity - if you have the idea and lack the funds, apply today. Visit the Savvy Mommy Luna Business Grant site to learn more. Check it out soon as the application process closes September 30th.
Heavenly Bundle: a great product and namesake for your precious cargo
So this baby-to-come is going to be slingin' it in style once he makes his grand entrance. I have learned of so many great slings and carriers writing on this site, and can't wait to start using products like my Heavenly Bundle sling on a daily basis.
No bells and whistles with this sling, the Heavenly Bundle is reversible and made of a cotton-stretch. It's an over-the-shoulder sling and easy to figure out. Simply drape it over, insert baby and you're good to go! It comes padded on the edges and also has a pocket for whatever you wish to store (breast pads, burp cloth, etc.)
They also have a nice measuring system that will ensure you are ordering the right size. You need a tape measure but after a few short measurements, your chances of getting a sling that's tailored to you is much better than ordering a S, M or L size from some other sites. The slings are also affordable - ranging from $44-$54. Love some of the patterns available as well so be sure to check those out.
Shipping is typically a flat $6, but use coupon code freestyle to receive free shipping on your order.
Hey working Moms, and Moms who owns a laptop: You MUST get an Uptown Bella
Someone needs to schedule a meeting with me - outside of my house - just so I can start using my new bag from Uptown Bella. I'm just obsessed with it - it's gorgeous. Too gorgeous to use around my almost-3 year old, so I'm saving it for the next trade-show I hit but am seriously looking to find some kind of "meeting" I can make just so I can use it before then. I'm not kidding when almost called Julie the other day to see if she wanted to have a meeting at her house (two blocks away) so I could come up with my laptop in it.
Uptown Bella makes beautiful laptop bags. I have the Ashley Satchel, which is just so chic and functional and is the sort of thing I would have dreamed to carry when I worked full-time. The Ashley comes complete with a detachable Sarah Sleeve, in black, for extra protection and easy access to your machine. Several other pockets allow you to stash away your PDA, cell and accessories into organized spots. A whole second section allows for bigger storage of files, books, DVDs and more. (As a Mom, I envision using this on the plane - as I never travel without my laptop, one section for me and my laptop and the other for books and movies for my son!)
And speaking of travel - how great is this - you can use the back pocket to stick a carry-on bag handle through it so it'll stay on top of a rolling suitcase.
The Ashley sells for $169. Also check out the Sarah Sleeve, which is a smaller little case for your laptop only - it's also really chic and functional, providing laptop protection while looking good. The Sarah Sleeve retails for $89.
Receive 20% off any purchase on Uptown Bella. Paste the following code into the "ordering instructions" at checkout: 20%MWS1115. The code is good through October 15th.
Also, there is a flat $5 shipping rate, no matter what you order so stock up on holiday presents early!
I was so excited to just find out that Toys "R" Us is not only having free shipping on thousands of items, but in addition, is having a buy 2 get the 3rd free on many hot products! I am particularly interested in the Geo Trax as my daughter is in love with this train system and I am thrilled to buy her more for the holidays at such a great deal! Some brands include: Lego, LeapFrog, K'NEX, Polly Pocket, Thomas & Friends, Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses, Dora the Explorer, Power Rangers, Fisher Price Little People and more! Valid online and in-stores through September 30th, 2006.
My post-partum goal is going to be to fit into these pajamas, as their 500-thread count makes them more comfortable than my bed sheets! Body Linens makes sleepwear for men and women at 500-thread count, their tagline being, "Why have 500-thread count sheets when you can't have 500-thread count pajamas?" Seriously, why not?
And these designs from Body Linens are nice - classic and simple designs to compliment their soft nature. I've got the cami w/capri and can't wait until I can actually get them both over my stomach once again. They also make a sexy little nightie and two different set of more traditional-looking Pjs. Each design is white with feminine looking pink trim.
Another note for those of you just noticing the changes on the site: Until we get everything moved over, if you are looking for something from the old site - you can find it in the archives here.
Just opened: Vincent Shoes, cute shoes for your kids
As if we needed one more adorable shoe line to tempt us for our kids! Vincent Shoes has launched literally just this week. It's a European-based company that just opened for online sale in the US this week and they should be checked out. Their shoes are different - stylish and fun. They have a great fall line.
My favorites are the Alfons and the Andy's for boys, or the Betty's for a girl - check them out. And I love the Kasper snow boots!
Use coupon code MWS-SEP-06 for 20% off, the code will expire one month from the post date of this review. Shop their fall collection and what's cool about their search function is you can search by gender and size - which I highly recommend as it brings up everything appropriate for your kid(s).
One of the first questions I am asked, when I tell friends that I am about to review a bag, is how many pockets it has. There are many camps of diaper bag style afficianados. But the Pocket-tistas are the most populous and the most vocal. Could it be because their ranks are so impeccably organized? In the interest of mothers everywhere, I decided to give the more-is-more pocket philosophy a whirl.
And so, I set out to find the most uber-organized, pocket-packed, feature-loaded diaper bag known to motherkind. Scouring stores and the web I finally found a promising candidate in "Paris" by LALA Laptop.
Originally designed as a laptop bag, this bag has become popular with particular moms who love to have a place for everything and everything in its place. The quality is exceptional, with no detail missed. From the luxurious (I got pink) ostrich impressed leather to the heavyweight shiny nickel hardware and multiple oversized "feet" - it is a class affair. No surprise that classy celebrity fansof this bag include Jennifer Garner and Julianne Moore
Though you would never guess it from the horrible mess on my desk, I am the type of person who actually loves the smell of sharpie pens and visualizes The Container Store as my "Happy Place." So naturally, I could not wait to get this bag loaded up. In all my years of carrying bags, baby bags, purses, breifcases even, I had never seen such an impressive array of magnetic snaps.
Wearing this bag fully loaded I felt like a Female Mommy Mcguyver. There was nothing I could not find. No situation I was not ready for. I glided through mommy and me and the mall finally "getting" the Pocketistas as I achieved a near state of organizational bliss.
For the record - because you pocket ladies want the lowdown, I know you do - here is how I packed it.
I loaded one of the main compartments with diapering essentials, tucking disposable bibs and changing mats into the zipped pocket. A lovely little leather detachable pouch inside got first aid items and rash cream. I knew it would be easy to locate in an actual rash emergency since it velcros securely in place. The second main compartment, kitted out with foam for a future laptop, was packed with a change of clothes and a snack that did not get crushed! But it was the exterior console, where the real pocket action was going on.
First I placed my calling/mommy cards in the card slots. I put my cell in its own zipped compartment and kids sunscreen with my lipgloss in another. Still another square pocket, in the top corner, recieved a binky. We don't actually use a binky but I thought if I was going to call this review "Binky in the Corner Pocket", I ought to put one in there for authenticity.
I was just getting started. I loaded up the detachable (but very firmly clipped and snapped on) wallet with my cash, drivers license and a credit card. The wallet has a retractible wristlet for you to use when you detach it. It is cute on its own - like a little clutch purse. So you get two bags in one. Then I clipped my keys on the loop in front and in the roomy side pocket, I put a bottle. Thats 3 enclosed pockets, a detachable wallet/bag, a key clip and a card file so far, in case you lost count. And that is just the front!
By the time I got to the back of the bag I was running out of things to pack. But still there were two more medium sized exterior pockets there (snacks? crayons?), as well as a hidden slash pocket at the top, enabling you to store larger flat items like a magazine or coloring book safely in the back outer part of the bag.
Fully loaded the bag was a little heavy, but the great strap choices made the load feel much lighter. The double handles are long enough to use alone, and still wear the bag on your shoulder tucked under your arm. They are artfully padded with a dense squishy foam that magically keeps them from cutting into your shoulder. And there is also a detachable long shoulder strap should you prefer to wear the bag messenger style.
This bag got a lot of envious attention from my friends. It made me expand my horizons and embrace my organized self. It definitely gets my vote for the most well organized bag I have ever tried, and picks up bonus style and luxury points along the way! I guess there is a little Pocketista in us all.
Mommies with style, combine the bliss of perfect organization with the joy of a great deal. Choose your bag from the LALA website. Then phone in your order and mention this article and you will recieve 20% off.
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.
This movie just released this week stars Barbie as Princess Genevieve who will dance her way into your child's heart. We recently received this brand new DVD movie and my daughter was so excited to watch it immediately. Let's just say we haven't stopped watching it since! My daughter is in love with this movie and the first few times I watched it with her, I actually found it entertaining as well!
It's the story about Princess Genevieve and her eleven dancing sisters as they discover a secret entrance to an amazing magical world where wishes come true! But when their father is in danger of losing his kingdom, they must work together in order to save the day and their father. They learn that the power of family can overcome all obstacles. Some unique features of the DVD include a music video and a memory ballet game. (which we also can't stop watching!)
It’s currently on sale on Amazon and qualifies for free super saver shipping!
33 weeks pregnant: Eve Alexander bras for pregnancy and beyond
Another reason you don't have to wear ugly pregnancy and nursing bras these days is Eve Alexander. They make sexy and nursing-friendly bras that provide more support than the regular every day bra.
Everything about them is designed to accommodate nursing Moms - from lack of an underwire (which can increase sizing issues) to being soft and comfortable. Not to mention stylish.
Eve Alexander also offers underwear, sleepwear and more.
Use coupon code "mws" for a free subscription to Parenting Magazine.
Hey all: we had an error on yesterday's newsletter! The last line of our sponsor's note was cut off - cutting off the part for the coupon code. Yikes! It's a great coupon too so I wanted to be sure everyone saw it.
Several weeks ago, a friend tipped me off on a great gift for my son's birthday. I promptly ordered, and when they arrived shoved them into a closet -- hiding them from everyone (myself included.)
So, when he opened his gifts, we were so excited to try out Carson's Automoblox. This is one cool toy. There are no loud noises, no flashing lights. And none of us can get our hands off the car.
Essentially, Automoblox are toy cars--bigger than matchbox, smaller than your typical remote control car. But here's the trick--they're also blocks. Each model can be broken down into sections, and the parts -- tires, roof, people -- come apart and reconnect. Moms and Dads... errr, children, can play for hours as they put them back together, making bigger and smaller cars, changing the effect.
But don't stop there! The pieces of the models can be mixed and matched -- the sections of different cars connect as a puzzle. So our minivan and our SUV can be taken apart and combined--making a super long car, or a more (or less) shapely one. And with a few models combined, you can have a rainbow of a car.
You have to check out the website. Automoblox makes you feel like you're buying a real car (the decision of which to buy is just as difficult.) There are also instructions and demonstrations of how the system works.
Toys that allow imagination, creativity, real play, these are the toys that are valuable. These are the toys I'll invest in.
Thank goodness I ordered more than one car. He has two. That he's playing with. There are two more in the closet. Wanna take bets on how long it takes me (I mean him) to get all 7? Not long, I'm sure. Use code SAVE15 for 15% off at My Little Ducks.
For something different, here are some cute tees and onesies from Baby YapYap. The artwork makes these unique and fun, with several clever play on words written on the tees. ("Silly Goose," pictured with a goose, "Slow Poke" with a turtle and more)
You can buy their outfits on ButterCream Baby, who is currently offering free shipping on all items until September 30, 2006.
From Fried to French- ified, Fab Hair from Leonor Greyl
I had never heard of Leonor Greyl haircare products until I was on my way out the door at a recent Hollywood event. "You gotta feel my hair!" I overheard one the the vendors chatting with a pal. "It's never been this soft. I used that stuff from Leonor Greyl..."
Beneath my wild mane of wiry locks, my ears pricked up. Soft Hair? Huh?! Leo-who? I did a 180. Clearly I needed to learn more.
Leonor Greyl products hail from France and are completely different than any product I have tried domestically. It's not what has been added to them that makes the difference, but what has been taken away. Harsh chemicals and sudsing agents are replaced with pure gentle botanical ingredients. And the first thing you notice is the smell. Distinctively different from American shampoos because it lacks that generic fruity-gummy-candy smell that is ubiquitous in the marketplace today. Sometimes, despite vast marketing research to the contrary, I don't want to smell like a preteen. And Leonor Greyl's less overpowering scents are just what you would expect from a French line. Seductive, and slightly mysterious. The subtle sexy way a grown woman should want her hair to smell.
The second big difference in their shampoo is that it does not get all foamy. It emulsifies but you won't be making soap mohawks to amuse yourself. Turns out all that bubbly detergent actually dries your hair out. And your hair gets just as clean without it. Seriously. This might cause you some amount of culture shock. But once you embrace the overwhelmingly soft, sexy Frenchness of your new hair (think Bridget Bardot) it's so much easier to let the foam-hawk go.
Every product that I tried from this line was excellent. Including their new Mousse Doucheur Fleurs D'Oranger (for baby) , a premium infant/child hair and body wash. This heavenly smelling product was lovingly formulated after the birth of the founders first grandchild. Featuring orange blossom water and the purest botanicals, it is extremely gentle and kind to baby's skin. Rest assured that it is also hypo allergenic and won't sting their eyes so you and your baby can look forward to their bathtime ritual. Now all the hair in our family smells and feels great.
Being a product tester can be dangerous at times. The caveat is that you occasionally find things that you must add to your shopping list, in perpetuity. I now cannot live without my Leonor Greyl products. They are not inexpensive, but they are worth the slight added expense. I cannot remember the last time my hair felt so good, in a natural way. No matter what your own personal hair issue is, they have a vast range of product options specifically formulated with the right plants to make all your hair days "bon" Hair days. Check out BeautyHabit.com where they are currently offering a $30 value gift with purchase and free shipping when you spend $100 on Leonor Greyl Products.
Euro Baby carrier: the European version of a Baby Bjorn
My first thought when I saw Euro Baby's Red Castle Sport, I thought it looked like a complicated version of the Baby Bjorn: lots of straps, similar design to a Bjorn with the front carrier styling. And I'll be honest, I was intimidated. But once I read the directions and got the hang of it, I really got excited by this carrier.
The reason it has so many straps and additional features is that it's adjustable and has so many functions - so nice in a carrier as it'll grow with baby. For starters, you can wear it in several different positions - including in the front like a Bjorn, slightly to the side, or off to the side of the hip for heavier children. And you can adjust it all while baby's strapped in. So you're basically getting several carriers in one.
The straps are heavily padded - I felt no strain on my back or my shoulders as the straps that hit these areas of your body are nice and thick. And there's a supportive headrest that's detatchable.
You can buy it online at Amazon, it retails for $119.99 and ships for free. They don't have a picture of it on their site though, so check out all the product details and pictures on the Euro Baby site and then purchase on Amazon. (You currently can not purchase on Euro Baby's site)
After purchase, log onto EuroBaby.us and register your purchase - mention seeing the review on Mommies with Style and you will then receive a free gift!
Note, for those of you who have been recently amused by sling and carrier testing abilities - I did NOT test this one out with my 35-pound almost-3 year old as there was just no way it was happening. Although I was able to test it with my third trimester pregnancy belly and a younger, more appropriate aged baby (as well as having his flatter-stomached mother trying it on). The Red Castle Carrier supports up to 30 pounds.
Three kids and seven years into my rein of mommyhood, we're entering a new era in our house. Our youngest is well out of diapers so, (at least until another bouncing bundle of joy makes its way into our family) we are done with baby stuff. No highchairs, bottles or diapers, (which means * sniff * no diaper bags).
But there's one thing we're not done with yet ... and that's bibs. My baby girl may be getting pretty grown up (she sings along with Kelly Clarkson and has very strong opionions on which shoes she wants to wear on a given day) but, she still hasn't mastered the fine art of eating without getting her outifit covered with food (a good skill to acquire ... we're still working on it). Now that she's bigger though, it's always hard to find a bib (not to mention a cute one) that is actually large enough to protect her clothes. Ands since she long ago outsmarted Velcro, there's the ever-present challange of finding one that she'll actually keep on.
Enter Totsmocks, the creation of yet another smarty-pants mommy (where do you guys all get your creativity?) who was looking for a better bib. When she couldn't find one, she made her own. Totsmocks come in a large variety of fun oilcloth (you guys already know about my love affair and overwhelming adoration for the wonder fabric oilcloth) and are appropriately sized to protect toddler-size clothes from toddler-size messes.
The best part? They fasten with two elasticized loops around the arms and a tie at the middle of the back. This system is great for both those pint-sized Houdinis (had one of those) who can wrangle out of lesser bibs, and sensitive-skinned kiddos (and one of these too) who don't like the feel of velcro against their necks. Also available are babysmocks (generously sized, velcro closure bibs for littler ones), activity mats, totes and (love these!) aprons.
Here's one worth pre-ordering so you have it the day of: Curious George, the Movie, is coming out next Tuesday. To date, it's the only movie my son Nate has actually sat through in a movie theatre - which is saying a lot for this movie.
So it's cute, and entertaining as far as sitting through a kids movie goes - especially since it has such a kickin' soundtrack (all Jack Johnson). Preorder on Amazon today for $15.98 and you'll have it by next week! It's eligible for free shipping too.
I'm sent a lot of cleansing products. So my boys have become model testers. There are times when we all say "ewww" and wash out the product a zillion times to get the yucky perfumes out. There are other times when we try to pull a comb through, and get a bunch of grease. So, I'm finally happy to tell you I found a great product.
Nature's Baby Products are made from 100% all natural ingredients. We're fans of the Vanilla Tangerine Shampoo and Body Wash, as well as the conditioner. "Fans" may not be a strong enough word. To say I'm obsessed with it may be a little more accurate. The vanilla tangerine scent is one of the most pleasing, calming and sweet scents I've ever experienced. I find that I'm leaning over to kiss the top of his head more often than ever before. Its super soft, too. He usually has coarse hair that my husband has described as almost straw-like, but after using Nature's Baby Products, the feeling is back to baby-soft.
Celebrity fans of Nature's Baby Products include Kate Hudson and Courteney Cox. You'll be a fan, too. Customers will receive 15% off with code Mommies.
Hey guys - so you're probably wondering why the site looks different today. That's because we're relaunching a bigger and better site. I hope you like it! Many people have been working hard to put some new content and a new look together for everyone.
Forgive us as things change over - some of the content is moving, EVERYTHING will still be available to you, I just have to get all the pieces in order.
If you are here and looking for an old post from the blog/Blogger, you can link here until I get it all sorted out and moved over. From there, you can use the Archives links (on the side of the page) to find everything we've ever blogged - until we eventually get it all in here and you'll be able to search or look by category!
Many thanks to my web host company (check them out, they are great if you are looking!) and specifically Jay (if he's reading) for dealing with all my naggy emails and helping to make this happen.
Hey Moms of girls: you can buy these new, cute hats made by Lexy Lu for your hip little chick on the Hip Chicks Boutique.
These are great little hats as we enter the cold weather: the hat itself is made of a soft fleece, and the top is embellished with adorable grosgrain ribbons.
Each hat ranges in price from $18-22, use coupon code LexyLu in the comments section of the website to receive 10% off and free shipping.
Cynthia at Metamorphosis Photography took the digital photos I sent her and created these beautiful artistic portraits of my daughter. She is a talented photographer and offers a wide variety of special photography services. If you take a look at her website, you’ll see she offers more than just portraits. She also can take your digital photos and add them to charm bracelets, cuff links, coasters, necklaces, rings, handbags, mugs, and more. All of these keepsakes make great gifts. Check out her gallery of “Before & After” photos. 
Butterfly and Bullfrog Photos can create a beautiful custom portrait of your child, grandchild, or pet. They offer a selection of backgrounds for your artistic portrait. You can also send them a digital image, along with some ideas and they will use their imagination to create a custom portrait like the one I ordered, as shown here. They also offer unique photo invitations, thank you notes, and holiday cards . They provide fast, friendly, and professional service. Email Robin with code “MWS” to get $10.00 off any Portrait Package (A, B, or C). 
Obviously the designers at 
![!cid_image001.jpg@01C6DB1D[1]](http://www.mommieswithstyle.com/mtblog/%21cid_image001.jpg%4001C6DB1D%5B1%5D)
If you are in the LA area, you won't want to miss a special playdate, Tuesday, October 3rd at 3 p.m at 
Dear Crayola, 
The cook and servingware is available online at the 
Hey all - we didn't receive this code in time to include in the newsletter, but didn't want you to miss it! 
I was so excited to just find out that 
Check out these tees for the whole family from 
Several weeks ago, a friend tipped me off on a great gift for my son's birthday. I promptly ordered, and when they arrived shoved them into a closet -- hiding them from everyone (myself included.) 
But don't stop there! The pieces of the models can be mixed and matched -- the sections of different cars connect as a puzzle. So our minivan and our SUV can be taken apart and combined--making a super long car, or a more (or less) shapely one. And with a few models combined, you can have a rainbow of a car. 
I'm sent a lot of cleansing products. So my boys have become model testers. There are times when we all say "ewww" and wash out the product a zillion times to get the yucky perfumes out. There are other times when we try to pull a comb through, and get a bunch of grease. So, I'm finally happy to tell you I found a great product.