April 2008 Archives

Cute does not adequately describe these Ruffle Butts bloomers!! Summer is here (for some of us at least) and we would never have our tots suffer in the heat for the sake of fashion. Luckily, we have options like this where a onesie and these bloomers can make a fashion statement all in a quick second (I admit, I don't always have time in the morning to get my kids looking perfectly posh). They have sets, like the retro rose print set ($60 for crawler pants, $50 set for bloomers set) or just the Ruffle Butts by itself ($17). They come in all the perfect spring colors, like lavender, lime, aqua, turquoise, fuschia as well as gorgeous floral prints. Why sweat it? Get a whole a collection for the season.

My husband and I have drastically cut down on our going out since we had my son because it is so hard to find a good babysitter. Now that we live near my mom, it’s much easier, but I don’t want to impose on her very often. But I just heard about a fantastic company! MommyMixer is a babysitter networking company. They hold mixers in over 28 cities in the United States with plans to increase to over 40 cities by year end. Mixers bring parents and babysitters (students from local universities) together. The event begins with introductions, and then the parents and babysitters are given a chance to mix and mingle. At the end of the meeting, parents are given The Babysitter Book, which contains all the sitters’ resumes and availability. For those who have interviewed sitters after sitters, you know how much valuable time that eats up, with this service, you can do all of it in one afternoon! Isn’t that fantastic? What a great idea…I wish I had thought of it!

MommyMixer was founded by Mary Sullivan Cooper, a mother of four (Moms always come up with the neatest business ideas!). When she was a college student she babysat, and after having kids decided there was a need to connect moms needing help with college students.

MommyMixers also offers gift certificates, which would be a great gift for Mother’s Day! The cost is $100 for a registration fee; contactMommyMixer.com or email them.

OK, no we are not advocating surgery at Tot Snob but everyone needs a little lift right? In continuation of our celebration of motherhood, we are giving away a pair of Tummy Tuck jeans. They will reduce your waistline by one whole size! Woohooo!!! To win, guess who this Aussie celeb is. She is 6 months pregnant and is finally showing a bump. I certainly was not one of these lucky ones, I started showing right away but just looked like I had a huge buffet meal!

Please put your answer in comments and we will select one random winner from all the correct answers. We will have this up until Friday, May 2nd. One entry per person please and make sure to include your email address in the entry. Good luck!

Thank you to Tummy Tuck Jeans for sponsoring this prize!

This is the perfect time to get a white trench for everyone in the family, especially your little one who might get caught in some spring showers. This is when I buy stuff like this because they grow into it perfectly by the winter. Why not get a whole year's use out of it? This is seriously the most adorable thing ever and I do not know why they would not make it in my size! The design is not just a knockoff of the adult version, the little puffy draw string pockets are supremely cute, plus kids love pockets and it's just big enough to tuck in tiny treasures. At Burberry for $295.

The Miracle Blanket, recommended by doctors, parents and even celebrities, is easy to use, even when you’re exhausted in the middle of the night! It was the only blanket that ever kept Jackson swaddled! I highly recommend it for the parents of newborns, who can’t sleep or have reflux or colic. I also like to give it as a baby shower gift. The Miracle Blanket is available in a variety of colors, for $29.99 (there is a really great instructional video on how to swaddle with this blanket!).

You cannot get any cuter than this balloon dress! The draw string pockets are way adorable, I can't get over it! It is $132 and go up to 4T. I am all about keeping my kids looking like kids for as long as possible and La Garconne has just what I need for that. These little tiny ballet slippers are to die!! It is on sale for $45, it is 50% off so get them fast. They go up to 9 months. Too bad they don't come in a size 10 for me (yes, I have giant feet, as if being a size 9 wasn't big enough, my 2 pregnancies have bumped me to a full 10).

Couture in the City: Today’s Couture - Louis Vuitton
Welcome to the world of Louis Vuitton. Now available to us all is this essential designer travel wear. Branded by Marc Jacobs, this collection has become one of the most powerful and stylish iconic accessories today. It dosen’t matter where you go. A Louis Vuitton boutique is there.

Moms Buzz: Warm Biscuit Giveaway! Play and Win!
Play and win in our Warm Biscuit Giveaway! Take the front seat at your computer and start browsing through www.warmbiscuit.com

Stylenotes: The Best Sunglasses of the Season
Keep the glaring sun at bay with our stylish selection of sunglasses -- from the classic wayfarer to the more outrageous, contemporary designs.

Glam Spirit:The Japanese Secret to Eating Well
Discover one of the greatest joys of life - the pleasure of every bite!

In continuation of our month long celebration of Mother's Day, this week we are giving away Breakfast in Bed by Philosophy. We would love to actually give you breakfast in bed but you will need to talk to someone else about that!! =) When my kids get older, I am totally going to train them to make me coffee in the morning and bring it to me in bed! I'll let you know how that goes ;-) The Breakfast in Bed set includes three 6 oz bottles of Philosophy's award winning 3-in-1 Ultra Rich Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath in Cafe Au Lait, Fresh Cream, and Belgian Waffles. Yummy, sounds good enough to eat!!

Tell us what your best case scenario, fantasy Mother's Day would be like. I am easy, I just want my kids to dress up in their cutest dresses and sit still while we have a lovely brunch at a seaside restaurant. See, that's not asking for much, right? Share in comments by this Friday April 25th at 11:59 pm EST. We will select on lucky winner with a random drawing. One entry per person please. Good luck!

I am always on the hunt for cute baby gifts. Last year, I was searching online for one of my girlfriend’s new baby girl, and I stumbled upon Baby Bella. Their customer service and selection are great. I prefer to put together a collection of baby items to make the perfect gift, as opposed to one large gift or something off a baby registry, and Baby Bella makes this easy, with a large selection of adorable baby items. I also love their gift wrapping! For a small fee, you can have each gift wrapped separately, and you should definitely choose this option. A stack of meticulously wrapped gifts makes for a beautiful presentation! And the items are so cute, you'll find yourself shopping for your own children as well!

In 2004, the owners of Baby Bella opened a boutique in Fish Creek, WI, with the desire to only sell high quality children’s clothing and nursery decor. They pride themselves on their selection of fun and funky baby items. After a large response to their store, they opened the online site.

I have ordered from Baby Bella several times, and my girlfriends loved the gifts! Some of my favorites from the site are Trumpette socks, Bebe Au Lait and Baby Burpie burp cloths, Taggies, Diapering Attaches, and Robeez shoes.

I'm a shoe fanatic, so needless to say, it trickles down to what I buy for my kids as well. It is quite ridiculous how many pairs of shoes my daughters have, but they keep growing, so my obsession is fueled with this ever growing need!!! Now here are sandals I absolutely cannot resist! How incredibly cute are these for summer? I love that they are green, and not pink, because spring and summer clothes are always so colorful. They will be great with any cool tones and of course, for kids, green goes perfectly with pink =) They also come in metallic silver and magnolia (which is a rosy bronze), but those are not as good for everyday. These are of course for toddlers size 20-24. At Vivre for $105 (sandals have more flexibility with size, toes can stick out a bit, so that is how I am justifying paying $105 for kids shoes).

Whenever I go to Bergdorf Goodman in New York I am sucked in to looking at their incredible kids section (it is next to the restrooms!!) particularly the Best & Co. stuff. They are known for their dress up clothes but their vacation must haves are just as amazing! The boys stuff is a bit too serious for me but I am in love with the summer girls' collection. I am in Hawaii this week so these are my picks for the trip. These shorts are easy and comfy but will look sharp even in the hot summer heat. And the bathing suit is so cute and totally kid-like as it should be. The Floral Printed Shorts are $78 and the Blue Striped Bathing Suit is $75.

I try to buy organic food when possible, and it only makes sense to buy as many organic household products, as I can, as well. It’s really nice that so many companies are coming out with organic offerings. The more we can limit chemical exposure for ourselves and our kids, the better! Pixel Organics’ organic natural rubber crib mattress is made by hand in Los Angeles. It features a very soft organic cotton cover and a quilted layer made with organic wool to provide natural cooling and moisture wicking. This is a great feature for infants that can easily get hot when sleeping because this has been linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The rubber core is made of firm Sri Lankan rubber. And we all know a firm mattress is another crucial factor to help prevent SIDS. There are no chemicals present in the mattress, and no chemicals used in the manufacturing. In addition, the rubber is known for its hypoallergenic qualities, and is resistant to molds, mildews and dust mites, which would be very beneficial for a child with allergies. At Mason Matisse for $460.

Couture in the City:Kate Moss Win’s Glamour’s Top Fashion Award
Fashion icon Kate Moss was given the annual best-dressed womens’ award at the top of Glamour Magazine’s List, replacing 2007 winner Kylie Minogue who slumped to 19th this year.

A Girl's Gotta Spa! rates Aqua Tan the Best Self Tanner!
Aqua Tan blows away other self tanners on the market--a definite must-have!

Makeup Minute is loving clump free volumized lashes.
Spinlash is the newest mascara tool to help you achieve gorgeous lashes.

Moms' Buzz: Men's Trend for Spring 2008 - Keep Your Husband in Style!
Fashion is also hot for men this Spring 2008. There is always something trendy for all men's style. This Spring season, men's trend is characterized by...find out!

Stylenotes: Beauty Buzz -- The Best Mascara for Your Buck
We’ve tested dozens of mascara, to bring you the very best from volumizing, lengthening, waterproof, and more, in a price range of $1.99-$23.

Environmentally-friendly products are all the rage now, and I do try to do my part, when I can. I’ve always bought my reusable, but very ugly, grocery bags at the grocery store, but I had been planning to try the very trendy Envirosax after they were profiled in Bag Snob a few months ago. I love that they are super convenient and come in a variety of stylish prints! And now, Envirosax has an adorable kids’ series. The kids’ collection includes six bags with whimsical prints in bright colors. Each bag features a different animal character. These cute bags are a great and easy way to teach your kids to start caring for the environment. They can be used for shopping or just as totes. I know when we travel, I always bring a variety of tote bags with toys and books for my son, so they will come in handy for trips. Envirosax for kids are $8.50 and available here.

In celebration of Mother's Day, we are going to have an entire month of giveaways for the much deserving moms who work so hard. I love being taken care of so I am sure you all do, too! This week we are giving away the Philosophy Thank You set which includes an 8 oz Amazing Grace and an 8 oz Pure Grace shampoo, bath, and shower gel in a signature gift box.

To enter, tell us how your body has changed since you've had kid(s). It does not have to relate to pregnancy, like I now have scoliosis because I favor one side when holding my kids. My chiropractor is on it but the damage is done! Share with us in the comments and one lucky winner will be randomly drawn to receive the wonderful Philosophy bath products! The contest ends this Friday April 18th at 11:59 pm EST so make sure you enter by then! One entry per person please. If you are having trouble please email me and I will help you get your comments in. Good luck.

My daughter got these for her birthday recently, and I didn't think much of it -- just another toy right? I had no idea it would boggle her mind and keep her interested for 20-30 minutes at a time (that's like a lifetime for a 3 year old, ya know!!!). She started off just putting them in order of size back into a cube, but then figured out how to put the pieces together like Legos (which she loves!). As 3-dimensional as Legos are, it does not compare to how complex and mind bending these cubes are. They learn how to balance and understand basic physics. Visual Spatial Learning has been a buzz term in child development and is thought to be a sign of intelligence. Being that we all have the world's smartest kid, you wouldn't want to deprive him or her of the chance to show it off, would you? =) Maybe if I had these as a kid I'd be an astronaut instead of a blogger! At Amazon for $24.95.

As a neat freak, I am often appalled at the mess that my 2-year-old son can make during a meal or even a snack! At home it’s easier to clean up. But when we’re on the go, I don’t want him covered in food for the rest of the day, or for his clothes to get stained. The Crumb Chum is the perfect solution! Unlike normal bibs, it provides chin-to-toe coverage, and is available in two sizes and a variety of patterns. It is easy to wipe down, and is machine washable and dryer safe. This will definitely help me keep my car clean! Although I hate to let my son eat in the car, many times it's unavoidable, and he is extremely messy! The Crumb Chum is an easy and cheap way to protect both my son's clothes and my car! At Let Babies Soar! for $9.99.

I wish this book had been out when I did my nursery! Luckily, I am planning on remodeling my house in a year and will be able to use some of these ideas for my girls' rooms. What I love about the styles in this book is that they are not at all babyish; they are sophisticated, yet serene and perfect for kids. You can almost use this book for your entire family's bedrooms. My favorite is what they call "Audacious Vintage." It is a combination of florals, antique art and hand-crafted items, like the hand-hooked rug! There is a mix of florals and stripes, so it is very updated, rather than grandmotherly. There are so many interesting ideas, like adding lucite furniture (end tables and magazine holders, etc.) which if you think about it, is perfect for kids! Clean, fun and tres chic! This book has totally inspired me -- you can mix the ideas to suit your own style. For example, I am incorporating the lucite furniture into the Audacious Vintage look! This book isn't just a bunch of beautiful pictures (which it also is), but it is an amazing how-to guide to get the look you want. Chapter 2 is named "a design formula," and it gives you step-by-step instructions on how to build a room, like determining your style, picking a focal point, color combinations, deciding the mood and how to choose wall treatments, among other strategies. Even if you are not in the market for a new room, this would make a wonderful gift for expectant parents. At Amazon for $19.77. Click here if you would like to get a catalog of all the amazing Serena & Lily products.

A Girl's Gotta Spa! These DIY tips will help you save some $ on skin care.

A Shrimpton Couture Celebrity Vintage Spot
Check out Nicole Richie looking hot in vintage jeans

Couture in the City: Katie Holmes - A New Style Icon Katie Holmes has become to the fashion and style industry quite the trend setter.

Makeup Minute doesn't need an umbrella for Lord & Berry's Raincoat Protecting Mascara. Learn about a waterproof mascara that isn't dry or clumpy!

GLAM.com Meditation Tips for Women on the Go: These 5 fabulous tips will bring balance to even the most hectic days.

Stylenotes: Take Note -- Generra
ermerged in the 1980s and has become one of the top labels for understated, chic apparel.

Moms Buzz: Teaching Kids How to Give Compliments
This video that you will watch is about the importance of teaching kids how to give compliments.

I am always on the hunt for cute baby clothes that are somewhat unique. I hate showing up somewhere, and all the little boys are wearing the same Baby Gap clothes. And don’t even get me started on the lack of boys’ clothes, compared to girls clothes! With all this in mind, I was very impressed when I saw Hand Picked Pumpkin. The adorable clothes, which have a celebrity following, are available either in ready-made outfits, or you can customize them. All of the clothes are made of comfortable, yet chic, soft knits and modern woven prints. And the boys’ clothes are just as cute as the girls! If you need a great gift, check out their beautiful blankets and burp cloths. I also like that the company is environmentally responsible, and that they donate a portion of their profits to children’s charities. Available at www.handpickedpumpkin.com.

This week we have something your kids will love and one you can feel good about. A cake they can't eat! Haa! But they will enjoy endless hours of fun decorating The Twinkle Ocean Cake Kit with more than 50 pieces of creatures from the ocean that they love. The wool felt pieces magically stick to the 3-tier designer cake (your kids being the designer!). It comes in a white cake box tied with bakery twine and everything! I love toys like this, ones that are not messy, fosters imagination, no assembly needed and does not require batteries.

To enter, give your best advice on how to keep toys neat and organized! I admit, this is more for me =) Please put your advice in comments by Friday April 11 at 11:59pm EST. One entry per person, please. You must include your email address so I can contact you if you win. One winner will be chosen at random. Good luck and have fun!

Thank you Twinkle Kids for sponsoring this giveaway! Check out their website to see all the different cakes and gingerbread house!

I was never one to show my mid-section even in my pre-baby youth, most certainly not post-baby but especially not during pregnancy. You can say that is not my proudest part of my body. So when I see this I feel a bit liberated to know that others can be so proud as to not only show off their big belly but embellish it with eye catching tattoo! This henna kit has all the tools you need to paint your belly any way you like it, it is a fun way to enjoy your pregnancy. Finally, there is one time in your life when you don't need to suck in! The only thing is, you have to be pretty artistic because the kit does not come with templates so you have to do everything freehand! Maybe you have a friend or baby daddy who is creative! At Cheeky Monkey for $39.99.

Congratulations to Monica C. of Illinois! She is our lucky winner of the Travel Horror Stories contest. She was randomly selected - all of the stories deserved to win. I know she will love the CARES seat belt and benefit from it highly on her next trip on a plane. I just got mine and because everyone needs one of these, CARES is giving Tot Snob readers a 10% discount. Just use code "TOTS10" at checkout to get the savings, the code is good to June 30th. This is a total lifesaver!!!

Make sure to play our Fantasy Shopping Cart contest going on now!

There are a few things I look for in a stroller. First, I want it to be easy to use and lightweight. Second, I want it to look good! Kid Kustoms’ stylish Roddler stroller is made of lightweight materials and fits easily in a car trunk—even a small one. It is available with interchangeable rear fender packages, including the new Traditional ’59, which is reminiscent of a classic car from the 1950s. My husband would love that! And because fenders are interchangeable, you can change them to suit your tastes that day! I also really like that the fenders can feature functional tail lights. That is a great safety feature when walking outside. Prices start at $2,000 (the one seen here is $2500). You can check the strollers out and find authorized dealers at Kid Kustoms.

--Tyler Alexander

Stylenotes: The Latest Trends in Maternity Wear

Glam: Want the Body of a Ballerina?

Stiletto Jungle: Louis Vuitton Montorgueil Handbag

The Moms Buzz: "What You Owe to Your Kids" by Donald Trump

Makeup Minute loves Christopher Kane's Juicy Tubes World Tour!

Work It Mom: Expensive strollers, face creams, and vacuums -- are these high end products worth the hype?

Gottaspa: Does Clairol's Perfect 10 hit the mark or miss the bullseye?

Couture in the City: Fashion Chic and Couture - Indulge in Spring Styles this Season

1. Prep and protect your skin
Even if you’re in a hurry, it’s still important to apply a facial cream with SPF and an undereye cream. This will help to protect your skin as well as providing a great base for makeup. Daily Moisturizer with SPF from the L’Oreal Skin Genesis line is a good lotion with SPF and anti-aging properties.
Oil of Olay Definity Eye Illuminator is an amazing undereye cream that helps to diminish dark circles and illuminate the eye area.

Another great time-saver is tinted moisturizers. Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 , will give you a beautiful, luminous finish.

In addition to their generous sponsorship of the Fantasy Shopping Cart contest, Arte Bebe is also giving Tot Snob readers a 10% discount for everything on their site. Just use the code "BEBESNOB" at checkout to enjoy your discount. I know I will be putting this to good use, like this Devi Blue Kurta Tee ($40) and the matching Devi Velvet Skirt ($43)! It is already on sale so I will get an additional discount on top of that!