FashionBabyHotMomma

Sweet Music!

2009-12-14T22:49:00.000-08:00

If I do say so myself! Well, it's not often (or easy) to shamefully plug yourself, but, hey, since it's for a good cause....

I started this project as a simple 5 song recording to send to my daughter in Thailand. My husband & I adopted a beautiful baby girl and finally brought her home this past October. So I recorded some songs for my sweet girl to hear Mommy's voice and feel comforted in knowing someone out there was thinking of her and loving her. It ended up inspiring me to do a whole album's worth of music.

The title track, Butterfly Moon is a song I wrote for her with the help of my incredibly talented friend, George Mesterhazey. George did all the arrangements and played all the music. Bob Kimmel deftly produced it and also played some percussion. The result: a beautiful collection of lullabies and sweet songs for babies and children. You can hear samples on my music blog or see my main web site for info/bio/etc. Half the proceeds of this CD will go to Mercy Centre for slum/street children orphaned and/or living with HIV/AIDS. Help a great cause and lull your little ones to sleep all at the same time! Hey, now that is multi-tasking and shopping at it's best! :-)

The Sweetest Little Prints!

2009-08-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

Darling art work for kids bedroom or play room. Stumbled across this fabulous artist on Etsy and her use of color is just beautiful! There are, of course, lots of different color palettes she uses - I had a real tough time choosing - but these were some of my favorites. You can find Edie Pijpers work at www.edieart.etsy.com.

Kate Mack Has It In The Bag

2009-06-10T21:50:00.000-07:00

...or should I say, in the POOL? Really, I can't say I have seen a cuter collection of swimwear in ages. All with adorable matching accessories. Her ballerina suit has sold like hotcakes. Get 'em while you can. A few sites have them on sale, but you better hurry cause they won't last long!

Kate Mack Rhumba Rhythm Tunic & Bottoms

Kate Mack Strawberry Fields Bubble Suit. Is that cute or what?

Pink Provence Sun Hat

Pink Provence Swimsuit

The one at the top is called Cherry Picnic and my favorite. Sold at Nordstrom stores but best price I found was at Adorables Children.

Manners Are In The Cards

2009-02-02T17:30:00.000-08:00

Stumbled onto this unique store for retro-ish goodies. A friend put it on her blog after receiving a cool poster as a gift. It's called Blue Ribbon General Store and is chock full of fun and nostalgic gift ideas. One thing that caught my eye in particular were these clever little flash card games for kids. Fun and respectful = Genius! Why hadn't I thought of that?

Oh, and how about these cute chopsticks for kids? Very fun. Doesn't every girl need a pair?

Fun In The Kitchen

2009-01-28T14:32:00.000-08:00

Okay, if I were, say, 5 and I had a dream kitchen THIS is what it would look like. So cute I couldn't resist posting...

Pink Retro Kitchen - Pottery Barn Kids. Cost: Don't ask!

Adorable matching apron - Williams & Sonoma Kids - $18 or $24 if personalized.

Red Retro Kitchen - Pottery Barn Kids. Seriously, you don't want to know the price.

Adorable 1940's style retro aprons for kids & moms. Hand made. Stitchthrutime.com. $43.95

Little Prep Kitchen - Pottery Barn Kids. On sale and reasonable at $109.00

And while your spending up a storm, you could always use a $49 toaster or mixer from Pottery Barn to match with their kitchens. Yea, it's ridiculous, but they ARE hand crafted wooden accessories. Besides, I'm only dreaming. Uh, I mean, for my daughter, of course!

Oilebollen

2008-12-15T09:40:00.000-08:00

In a word: FABULOUS! I just love the clothing and unique toys on this site. Amongst my favs are these great products:

Peace Baby Block Set - $28.00

Mini Frong Prewalker Slip-on - $24.95

Fussenegger Circus Nikki Crib (or stroller) blanker - $52.00

Shop www.oilebollen.com

Featured Charities

2008-11-05T16:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I admit it. I have been too busy blogging, shopping, working, and just plain living to get around to putting a paypal button up here and figuring out how to do those monthly drawings I promised. I will get to it...eventually! But true to my word, we made donations recently to 3 of the charities listed on the right. Global Orphan Team which is a small, but remarkable charity started and run by 3 adoptive moms. Their mission is to help the poor orphaned children of Guatamala. They go there twice a year, bringing food, clothing, toys, supplies, and much faith.

The second charity we gave to in October is the SET Foundation. It is a wonderful organization that helps children in Thailand get an education. We are adopting a little girl from Thailand so this is a charity near and dear to our hearts. We love the Thai people, and every child should be able to get an education. It cost so little to give them so much.

Last, but not least is Safe Haven Orphanage, also in Thailand. A wonderful lady named Tassanee opened up her doors and her heart to a few refugee children from Burma. Years later it has become a full fledged orphanage. Although they have only 2 real rooms, they house MANY children. Still, they do the best they can to make sure the children are fed, clothed, and get an education. The children there are not adoptable, being refugees from one country and yet living in another. They exist only on donations and the sheer will and dedication of this wonderful woman and her staff.

So during this time of readying ourselves for the holidays and shopping for the perfect gifts, let's remember those who need a gift the most. I strongly urge you to consider helping those in need this season. Yes, this isn't my typical post on here, but it is my smartest and most fashionable. Didn't you know? The heart is our BEST accessory!

Sustainable Yet "Fun" Kids Furniture

2008-11-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

At one of my favorite stores, Beyond The Stork, I happened upon this great furniture line: Funnable. There are a lot of kids tables out there, but this one grabbed my attention for two reasons. One is the great size of it. Much better than a small square table, this one has room for multiple coloring, painting, craft, or Science Fair projects thanks to a little extra length. However the second reason is even cooler. Each piece is handcrafted from rapidly-renewable bamboo and FSC-certified poplar. It has a non toxic milk paint coating and comes in a bunch of nice finishes. Beautiful, well made, and very GREEN. Priced at $999.99, but worth it. A quality piece of furniture, sure to get a lot of use from multiple children. You can purchase Funnables at the Beyond the Stork store in Peddlers Village, Lahaska, PA, or online at www.mommysluxuries.com. They make other furniture and kids pieces, too. So take a look and happy shopping!

The Diaper Review!

2008-10-27T17:17:00.001-07:00

After deciding to cloth diaper our baby, I researched for MONTHS to find the perfect diaper. What I found was there are as many different styles and approaches as there are babies! Okay, maybe not THAT many, but there are far more varieties than I ever would have imagined. Of course, you could go with old fashioned prefolds that are the most cost effective. Maybe in another lifetime I will be that practical, but for now...there are just WAY too many adorable alternatives! Take a look..

Green Acre Designs (known as GADS - shown above) are like home made diapers at their very best. Started by a mom of 2, these can either be bought at retail at shops like the ones below or can be custom made by Shannon of GAD herself! You can pick the color, fabric, snap color, and even embroidery of your baby's pocket diaper. Very clever. And word in the mommy's circles is they are the cloth diapering world's best kept secret. As dependable as they are cute with top notch service. Priced around $15.95 each.

Happy Heiney's Pocket diaper is not only cute, but also award winning. Tested overnight, it is said to "hold" for 12 hours. It also says better for daytime so I think I am curious to test this out for myself. Pocket diapers are great if you have a heavy wetter, you can always double-stuff the pocket at night. The ones shown here are one size fits all. Thanks to the velcro tabs and adjustable snaps, these grow with your child, from 8 lbs all the way up to 35 lbs! $15-$19 each.

Fuzzi Bunz were the first cloth diapers I bought. After reading TONS of reviews, I just kept hearing again and again how great these diapers are. Considered the "workhorse" of cloth diapers, they are as efficient at holding in a blow-out as they are fuzzy (inside) and cute. Even great for overnight, although many moms say an extra hemp insert was the best way to go for bed time. Soft, adorable, dependable. What more could you want from a cloth diaper? $14 to $19 each.

Thirsties AIO's are another one of those diapers I heard so many good things about. I know I loved the bright, bold colors, and adorable look of these right off the bat. (They have pastels, too). Then I read about their signature leg gussets that hold messes in and how efficient they are. Thirsties is a very green company, too. Their policy is to recycle, reduce, and reuse as much as possible. Gotta love that. Around $17 each.

These diapers are said to be, well, Genius. I don't know firsthand yet, but I do know they are super-cute and silky-soft. The ones shown are the All-In-Ones and look very easy to use. Rated #1 by many a consumer and got an iParenting Media Award, too. Created by a mom, these AIO's are especially great for Dads, babysitters, and day care staff because they are a one-step diaper like a disposable. Can't wait to try the Bum Genius and see what all the fuss is about. Priced around $15-18 per diaper, but many diapers get sold in bundles which offer great savings. Check out the Bum Genius 3-pack for $53.10 at Cotton Babies.

Jamtots presents the hippest looking, softest, fuzziest, tushies in town. I'm not sure how they will hold up to an overnight, but for day time they are super cute and a must have. Check out the Berry Plush All-In-One Diapers. At $20.85, these sure aren't your cloth diapers of yester-year. This girl surely can't resist buying at least one of these darling little diapies!

Pricing can vary from site to site. Sales, resales, package deals all come in to play so do search around and compare. If you have tried any of these diapers out or found one you like even better, please share! I welcome all comments. Here are a few retail sites for cloth diaper shopping:

www.cottonbabies.com

www.homegrownbabystore.com

www.jilliansdrawers.com

Keep in mind that while these may seem a bit pricey at first, you will be reusing them over and over and save far more than you would on disposables. You can also use them for multiple children as they will (with proper care) last a good few years. Another interesting fact is these diapers actual have RESELL VALUE. That's right! There are actually sites out there like www.diaperswappers.com where you can buy and sell new and used diapers. Found them on Ebay, too! Who would have thought it? Just another good reason to keep your baby fashionably dry and rash free while saving the environment. Happy Shopping!

Diva in Pink

2008-10-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I love the coat more or the darling little Diva in it with the big Hollywood looking shades. I'm not sure how I would even feel about it exactly if MY little darling became a diva and started prancing around this way. (Knowing me, I'd probably love it). But still, I have to admit both the coat and the look are pretty darn cute. Oh-so-modern princess! Found all the following pink wear on a C-UTE website for clothes called Tutti Bella. Just gorgeous kids clothing!

Egg & Avocado Trenchcoat - $74.95

Egg & Avocado Sadie Dress - $54.95

Egg & Avocado Jumper - $54.95

Little Ella Fuschia Bianca Dress - $66.95

Think pink for all your little fashion diva's & happy shopping!

Fashion for Good

2008-10-26T08:10:00.001-07:00

Take a look at these hot Hollywood-designed tees! So cute and for a great cause. 5% is donated to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength. There are 6 styles, but I like these 3 the best. You can find them all at Shopbop, along with many other great items benefitting the same cause. Fashion that does good. Now that just makes sense.

Asian Art & Funky Finds

2008-10-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

I have a great appreciation for Asian style, art, food, well, you name it. I also love to find unique things. This online store was started by a Mom that adopted a beautiful little girl from China. What better inspiration for collecting pretty little things and sharing with others? Besides, they have the most darling things! Check out www.myfortunatecookie.com and see not only beautiful art, but also dolls (like the beautiful one shown here), adorable children's clothing, tees, jewelry, books and even great stationary! Great holiday gift ideas. Love these cute boxed card sets below.

Lunar Babies Year of the Dog - $12.95 (They come in every animal in Chinese Zodiac)

Jelly Beanz Lucky Children - $12.95 (Other cute styles available, too)

And oh so cute Lady Bug backpack - a super bargain at $14.95 on sale! (Click HERE!) Can you tell I just love Lady Bugs? It's just so cute on kid stuff!

Happy Shopping!!

Cutest Ride In Town

2008-10-23T04:43:00.002-07:00

After picking up one of these adorable little rides for our pumpkin, I just had to blog about it. Cute, innovative, well made, and fun. Sure to outlast those plastic get-around toys. Made by Prince Lion Heart Toys out of Australia, these go for around $55-60 for the small one. And a larger version that goes up to $75. Best price I found was $54.55 on Happy Mother's site. For quick shipping and 1 click ordering you can also go to Amazon.

The Wheel Bug

The Wheely Bee

The Wheely Cow

Happy Shopping!!

Have You Heard About Etsy?

2008-10-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

Etsy.com is a wonderful site to buy all things hand made. From clothes to dolls to costumes to household items to toys. Here are a few unique finds I found in the toy category:

This is a Scandanavian Matroyoshka Art Doll. 2 examples below from Ravenhill. Beautiful and unique doll - $34.00

Another one from Ravenhill. A Waldorf-inspired Scandanavian Matroyoshka doll with baby. So sweet.

Check out these precious felt flower hair clips here.

Eco-friendly Scottie Dogs! A great stocking stuffer for only$3.00 plus shipping. 100% organic printed cotton and bamboo filling. Cute, green, and inexpensive...what more could you ask for?

Adorable Kokeshi Wooden Rainbow Dolls from Italy. How super-cute are they? I have to have them. $14.00 + shipping. See them HERE.

Check out Etsy for loads of great finds and gift ideas! Happy Shopping!

Shoe Sale!!!

2008-10-16T09:22:00.001-07:00

NORDSTROM. SHOE SALE. 50% OFF!!!! ONLINE ONLY. Apparel, too, but I didn't look yet. Couldn't get past the shoes! What are waiting for?? GO!

www.nordstrom.com

Good Will At Banana Republic

2008-10-16T04:46:00.001-07:00

Well, the economy sucks right now, but at least it is causing sales to crop up all over the place! Just got an email this morning from Banana Republic about their big 30% outerwear sale. They have some beautiful pieces this year. What's even better is their drive to turn in your old coats to Good Will. My beautiful little brother is autistic and works at a Good Will. He absolutely LOVES it and they have such a good program to help give a job to the physically and mentally handicapped. Not to mention making affordable clothes and finds for everyone. So stop in Banana, grab a new coat on sale, drop off your old one, and help someone else have a warm and fashionable winter, too! Oh, and don't forget that Good Will could always use more donations of clothing, bags, shoes, and housewares!

Lilla Monster For Your Little Monster

2008-10-15T20:04:00.001-07:00

or, uh, angel, of course! LillaMonster makes these darling little blankies for your little ones. I got one of the Lil' Silkies for my baby and it is the cutest, softest little thing. Each blanket is hand made and Lilla Monsters have a wide variety of rare, vintage, retro, and asian prints. Really unique and well made. The Lil' Silkies are meant to be something for baby to hold, like a wubby or woobie or whatever they are calling it these days. It's a comfort thing. They are 18 x 18 and are $29.00. The Monster Silkies are a bit bigger and are a beautiful 30 x 36 receiving blanket at $45.00. Minkee Puff blankets are great for the stroller and SUPER soft. 30 x 36 and $52.00. All come in a large variety of patterns and colors.

Here are a few of my favorite vintage patterns, but really, you have to check out their site. There are SO many great choices. Each can be personalized with your baby's name and initials. Don't see exactly what you are looking for? No problem! They will even customize your blanket exactly how you'd like it. Now that is one special blankie! Makes a really nice shower or baby gift, too!

Lovely Linens

2008-10-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, let's drool a bit today. Shall we? These lovely Serena & Lily linens are so pretty that even though I can not buy them right now, I STILL have to oooo and ahhh over the catalog and online store from time to time. A girl can dream, can't she? Seriously, this is the most beautiful crib bedding I have ever seen. And if the bedding isn't enough, they sell a beautiful palette of matching paints to recreate the looks you see below. Stunning!

The Lucy

The Henry

The Maggie (new 100% organic line)

I am not posting the cost for these as I can not be responsible for either your heart attack or the panic attack your husband will have after you purchase them. However, you can click on the link and see all the visual delights they have dreamt up over at Serena & Lily. It's worth a peak!

Gymboree 60% Off Sale!

2008-10-14T08:42:00.001-07:00

One of the things I just LOVE about Gymboree is they have GREAT sales. They update their inventory often and then discount the old when the new comes in. Another thing I love is their ADORABLE clothes that always have matching hats, shoes, socks, tights, hair ties, you name it. Click on the link above and start saving!

Duex par Duex

2008-10-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this fabulous European style children's clothing line this year and am totally hooked! Bright colors, trend setting styles, sparkling patterns, and playful designs are all a part of the Montreal based company's look.

This new fall collection, in particular, has me really excited! Duex by Duex is sold at many high end boutiques and shops. My favorite site for shopping Duex by Duex is A Child's Closet. It's a REALLY great online children's boutique. They not only have a wide variety of items from this brand, but also a whole lot more!

Happy Shopping!!

Coquette Hot Pink (Faux) Fur Trim Hooded Coat $79-$92

Coquette Stripe Mittens with Pom Poms - $20

Coquette socks (2 pairs) - $10

Coquette Pink Print Fur bottom Jumper w/Sap Green Tee and stripe tights - $ 99-$109

Coquette Simply Adorable Pink/Brown Stripe Sweater Dress and stripe tights - $96-$100

Bugs N Blooms

2008-10-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

Want to add some pizzaz to your baby's room or throw the cutest of tea parties? Check out this fabulous online shop. I did a whole butterfly and flower theme for our little Miss Ruby's room (see pics below) and I must say it turned out WAY cute. They have inspiration pics on their site and a large array of styles and colors. On my second order (that wasn't really that much) they sent me a free flower mobile. Very cute hanging in the window! I found their prices to be reasonable, the product to be just beautiful, and the customer service great. Add a pretty little touch to your little ones room and let the magic begin!

Purple Alert!

2008-10-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

Stopped by Babies R Us this morning to pick up a few things and saw that the purple trend has hit there, too. There are some really adorable purple outfits for toddlers and little girls and one beautiful purple dress by Koala Kids. Wish I had my camera with me because I can't find it online to show you. You'll have to go take a look for yourself. Trust me, it's worth a drive over. They have some really cute clothes out for fall and the holidays. All reasonably priced. Check them out!

Confessions of a Shopaholic

2008-10-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

No, not MY confessions. Okay, I do resemble that, but I'm talking about the MOVIE! So excited to see this one. I read 3 of the Sophie Kinsella "Shopaholic" books and they are hysterical. If the movie is even half as funny it will be worth the see! It stars Isla Fisher who is just adorable and a great actress. Great casting. Still in production so look for it to come out by probably Spring. This just might top my favorite all time comedy, Legally Blond. We'll see!

Design Your Own Gal!

2008-10-08T07:49:00.000-07:00

While searching for fun and interesting things for my blog, I stumbled across this really cool site. It's called DesignHerGals.com. It's a fun and unique concept where you can go in and create your own personal Gal, complete with a child, dog, purse, and/or accessories. I put mine here on the site (check it out on the right hand side). You buy stationary, notepads, invitations, thank you notes, and all kinds of cool items with your gal on it. You can make a gal like yourself or make one for a friend. Some really cute gift ideas on there. They even have a new line of Franklin Covey products coming out this month.

The best part is the Gal to Gal foundation that a part of the proceeds go to. They help Stage 4 breast cancer patients and their families. That alone is enough to make me buy up their one-of -a-kind products. The fact that they offer really cool products and have wonderful customer service makes it all the more desirable. So what are you waiting for? Go check it out and create your own special Gal and help patients fight breast cancer!

Mad About Plaid

2008-10-07T07:58:00.000-07:00

And mad about SHOPPING for plaid! As far as I can tell, the only bad thing about blogging about fashion, is resisting the urge to buy all the great things I am writing about! LOVE that Priorities Red jacket on the top right!

Now the first thing I HAVE to tell you is I found a great site to find the MOTHER of all things plaid: Burberry. Check out Baby Burberry's site and then see their Ebay listings for some great deals. The second thing is to check out the many great plaids available this season. Be sure to only wear ONE item of plaid at a time. Overkill is not pretty. (Okay, unless it's a gorgeous suit like the one shown below.) Here are a few things to make you feel entirely inspired by fall's hottest new craze. Click on the collage to make it bigger.

Where to buy:

Magaschoni Wool Plaid skirt and jacket, $318 &576 (ouch) - Saks Fifth Avenue

Burberry Infant Girl shirt (12 mo) - $44.99 (see Baby Burberry link above)

Priorities Red Plaid Cropped Emma Jacket - $99.00 - Bluefly.com

Imp Originals Boy McEwan Tartan Plaid Shortall for baby boy - $36 - One of A Kind Kid

Boys Plaid Quilted Sherpa Jacket - $49.40 - Old Navy

Burberry Baby Boy Navy Jacket - $65.55 (see Baby Burberry link above)

Free People Big Bias Plaid Knit Jumper - $148 - Nordstrom

Juicy Couture (adorable!) Infant Plaid Dress & Bodysuit - $88 - Saks Fifth Avenue

Original Arizona Jean Co. Pleated Plaid Skort for girls - $14.99 ea for 2 - JC Pennney

Burberry Infant Booties -$49.99 - (See Baby Burberry link above)

Christmas Holiday Plaid Dress (12-24 mo) - $24.99 - Sophia's Style.com

Plaid Jacket (super cute & great deal!) - $45 - Ecrater.com

Derby Plaid 4 pc Crib Linen Set - $282 - Amazon.com

Happy Shopping!

Zappos.com

2008-10-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, I started this blog by raving about my new Isabella Fiore diaper bag (see below) and the GREAT service I got at Zappos. Today I just HAD to tell you about how great Zappos really is. I was going through my posts, adding a direct link to each product to make it easier for all of you to find everything. When I went back to Zappos, I discovered the bag I just bought was 35% off -just a few days after I bought it! Boo hoo. So on the off chance they could do something, I called them up. Spoke with the NICEST person on the phone who immediately said she would credit me the difference. They do price adjustments within 10 days of purchase. My new bag now cost me $257.95 vs. $399.00. Same great bag, less guilt.

So lesson #1. Keep your eyes peeled for items you just bought that go on sale. (Department stores do this too!) #2. Shop at Zappos! Free shipping a lot of the time, great products and service, and easy-peasy return policy. Click on the above title to go there. No I don't work there. Just a fan.

Wrap it Up & Call Me Skinny!

2008-10-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing every woman needs in her wardrobe, it's a wrap dress. It's the go-anywhere-everyone-looks-good-in-it dress! Gotta love that. There are so many great colors and styles available out there, but a classic DVF (Diane Von Furstenberg) is always a great choice. Too high for your pocket book? No worries. Nordstrom Rack and Off Fifth offer considerable savings and good finds. Big department stores often have sales and Nordstrom, in particular, even discounts DVF. I once found a $300+ dress there on a sale rack in Boca for $89! I nearly fell over! Alright, truth be told, it was a FRIEND who found it and THRUST it into my arms. She said "it's your size. You MUST buy it!" Well, okay, if you insist!

If you don't have the time to shop around or wait for deals, that's okay. There are plenty of good imitations out there and something for everyone. Here is a spattering of lovely little numbers for you to feast your eyes on:

For the mommy to be:

Cadeau Maternity Wrap Jersey Dress - Saks Fifth Avenue - $165

DVF Coen Cashmere Wrap Dress - Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue - $495

DVF "Judy" style Wrap Dress in purple (perfect color!) - Neiman Marcus - $345

DVF "Judy" Wrap dress in Painted Leopard Green- Neiman Marcus - $485

Animal Print Knit Wrap Dress - Ann Taylor - $138

Signature Modal Jersey Wrap Dress (love the dolman sleeves) - Spiegel - ONLY $59!

AND, last but not least... A.B. Lambdin wrap Front Dress - A SUPER BARGAIN at $49!

Love the symmetric seaming and A-line shape. Very flattering on the hips!

So here you have it. The wrap dress for any occasion and every taste. Shop, Shop, Shop away darlings for that perfect dress! And by all means, get a sitter and make the husband take you out for dinner!

Puppy Love

2008-10-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

While I'm on a roll with this Halloween stuff, I thought I might as well throw a few out for your furry "children"...

Ahoy mates! Pirate Dog costume. Entirelypets.com

Is it puppy love or monkying around? Too cute. The New York Dog Shop

Okay, this one is so hilarious I had to post! I'd love to know what dog will actually STAY in this costume, but have to admit it's pretty funny. The New York Dog Shop.

Girlie Spooky Precious

2008-10-02T17:46:00.000-07:00

Really, there is nothing spooky here! Only beautiful costumes everywhere so I had to blog about it twice! Found some really pretty, homemade costumes on Etsy.com and I LOVE the new line of costumes from Pottery Barn Kids. Each have available matching treat bags. (Remember soft treat bags=less sturdy=less sugar in the bag!)

GORGEOUS Fall Harvest Princess Tutu Dress, handmade by Trinity tutus. www.etsy.com

Bee cute for Halloween! www.potterybarnkids.com

I love that it's an ORGANIC Banana. Very cool. www.potterybarnkids.com

Butterflies wish they were so pretty! www.potterybarnkids.com

Have a fabulous time getting your little ones ready for trick or treat!

Spooky Cuteness

2008-10-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, the amount of adorable Halloween costumes out there makes one wish they had at least 5 more kids to dress! SO CUTE! Here are a few of my favorites for boys and where to get them.

HOW cute is this? Peanut costume from Buycostumes.com

There are a lot of lobsters out there, but I love this one. Buycostumes.com

Meow! Love this black cat. Just adorable. Tom Arma Line, Halloween Express.

Precious little monkey! Tom Arma Line, Halloween Express.

Last, but not least, one of the more original ones I've seen...I give you the Snail. Brands On Sale.

Plum It Up!

2008-10-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

This Fall's "it" color is warm and rich so spice it up! From purples to plums to aubergine and berry shades, there are many great choices to add pizzaz to you and your baby's wardrobe. Here are a few ideas to get you going! Double Click on the collage to view it bigger.

Where to buy:

Purple Damask Bib - Etsy.com

Sakura Bloom silk baby sling in Blackberry Stripe- Sakura Bloom.

Hermes wool gloves - Bluefly.com

Sergio Rossi Pump - Overstock.com (cheaper version by Ann Michelle)

Magaschoni cashmere wrap - Bluefly.com

Hayden cashmere sweater - Bluefly.com

Plaid dress - Baby Gap

Purple kids watch - ThePurplestore.com

Purple Turtle trinket box - Amazon.com

Bulga "Misa" bag - Bluefly.com

Bugaboo Frog in Aubergine - discontinued, but can still find them on Ebay & Craigslist

Purple Robeez - Nordstrom

Striped jumper - Gymboree

Vera Wang Lavender Label (shown with khakis)- Shopbop.com

Purple Roxy sweater & Huggaloves toddler leg warmers - Jaminga.com

Jamtots Berry Plush diaper in Northern Lights - Jamtots.com.

Happy Shopping!

Love and a Diaper Bag

2008-10-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

Isabella Fiore Baby Love Christina Messenger

Isabella Fiore Baby Love Lulu Tote

Isabella Fiore Baby Love Tamara Bag

Since this blog is about all the things I love, I thought why not start out with my newest purchase: The Isabella Fiore Baby Love Tamara Diaper Bag. Just arrived in the mail today thanks to some speedy service at Zappos.com. I literally ordered it last night around 8pm and by noon I had my shiny new glam bag in hand. Now THAT is service!

This fabulous diaper bag comes in a variety of colors and styles. The Baby Love Tamara comes in red or black patent leather with black nylon inside and is the largest bag. The Baby Love Christina Messenger is available in red or a hot pink patent with light green interior. Very cute. Then their is the Baby Love Lulu tote style in black and red patent. All great looking bags and so different from other diaper bags on the market. Range from $350-$395.00. That is steep, but I like to think of it a good investment bag. One that will last me through 2 kids and a lot of travel. I strongly recommend buying it from Zappos since shipping was fast and free, but found a few styles on Ebags.com and Ebay.

The painted leather is super smooth and should wear well. Isabella Fiore bags tend to be very high quality and last a good long time. Inside the Tamara are 3 separate compartments, a large zipped area, 6 elasticized pouches on either side, and tons of room for all things baby. On the outside is yet another large zipped compartment and 2 side pockets for bottles. Comes with dustbag and changing pad. Color coordinated, of course. A bit of a splurge at $395 but well worth it!