The Holidays are Here...And so are great gifts!

Yes, the stores were playing Christmas music since before Halloween, but finally, tis the season when I can actually enjoy the music. It's always a challenge to find a really great gift - something unique, special, and perfect. For a preschooler, I just can't say enough about Books to Bed. Books to Bed offers a great pajama and book set, with matching illustrations on the pajamas to coordinate with the book. My two daughters love this idea, and they wear their Ella the Elephant pajamas every single night. And subsequently, I then have to read the book every single night. Time to invest in a new set so we can move onto a new book! Thank goodness that they also offer How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, which is also an all time favorite. For smaller babies, I simply adore the shearling lined booties by Little E.D.A. Just looking at them, I know that my littlest daughter's toes are toasty and warm in these fabulous booties. My only complaint is that I wish that they made them in adult sizes!

This week's hot bestseller....

The Kimono Robe by Tea Collection. It's cute, stylish, and perfect for the fall, which explains why this beautiful sweater by Tea Collection has been flying off the shelves. It's just a great piece. Moms will love it because of its versatility - it can be worn with a skirt or over jeans - and kids will love it because it is soft and comfortable. Tea Collection once again comes through wtih a great signature piece. In a few more weeks, I am sure this sweater will be very hard to find, since it is being snatched up at an amazing speed.

Wes and Willy - Active Clothes for the Active Little Boy!

I am the mom of three little girls, but most my friends seem to have little boys. They are also telling me how difficult it can be to find adorable boy's clothing. I must admit, buying clothes for my daughter's is a lot of fun, but when I discovered Wes and Willy for boys, I felt a tad bit jealous that none of my children would be able to wear these great pieces. Wes and Willy has a wonderful collection of boy's clothing that is hip and trendy, while being designed to withstand rough and tumble playing. They make everything from jackets (the camouflage jacket is my favorite!) to graphic long sleeved tees to fleece pants. Every piece has some kind of funky detail to make it unique, but the quality is what I really love. Each piece just feels well made, and the fact that it is so cute is an added bonus. I adore my daughters, but with Wes and Willy, I kind of find myself wishing I had a little guy to dress up!

Shearling Booties - Sure to Keep Little One's Feet Toast

With the cold weather coming soon, I am always looking for great ways to keep my littlest daughter's feet warm because sometimes socks just don't do the trick! At two months, I think she is really too small to invest in a pair of real shoes, but she is just the perfect age for these cozy and snug shearling baby booties by Little E.D.A. Not only are they just too adorable, but the 100% genuine sheepskin, along with the shearling insides, will definitely keep her tootsies toasty on cold days. They are so cute and different that I just had to let other mommies know about them. I also think they would make a perfect gift. Even if Gwyenth Paltrow and Kate Hudson did discover Little E.D.A first, I consider them one of my greatest finds. What little one wouldn't love to have their feet wrapped in shearling baby booties - I just wish they made them for adults!

Room Seven - A Fabulous Fall Collection

Calling all little girls! The Fall 07' Room Seven line has arrived, and it is simply wonderful. As usual, Room Seven has created a collection of dresses, skirts, and tops that are colorful, original, stylish - all sure to make little girls feel like a princess. I am always impressed with the quality of Room Seven clothing. It really has to be seen and felt to be fully appreciated. All of the clothing from Room Seven is created with the finest of fabrics, but it is the attention paid to small details that really make this one of my very favorite lines. You'll find lots of beautiful embroidered accents, as well as strategically placed pleats, ruffles, and bows. All of the finishing touches are subtle and classy, but they really make Room Seven stand out above the rest of the crowd. I really do love every piece, but to choose a few favorites, I would have to start with their signature Saffran Patchwork Skirt. Whether you like the blue or crimson version, it is truly gorgeous and has quickly become my daughter's favorite. She can't wait for the cooler weather so she can actually wear it! We also love the cocoa Doress dress - perfect for the holidays, we have already put this one away for Thanksgiving. I can't end until I mention the stunning Doy Dress. Everything about this dress is amazing - from the fabric, to the style, to the little details. I will have a hard time getting this dress off of my daughter this season!

Handpainted Knobs - The perfect finishing touch!

Just when I thought I couldn't make my daughter's room any more girlie, I discovered these beautiful handpainted knobs and knew that I had found the perfect finishing touch. When I put them onto my newest little one's changing table, it made the room absolutely complete. Each knob is custom made to order, and they are gorgeous. The detailing is fabulous and they can be designed to match any color scheme or room theme. Handpainted knobs would make a wonderful baby gift as well! As a mom myself, I know I would have loved to have someone buy this for me. I know that I plan to buy some for soon-to-be mommy friends of mine - they make perfect room decor for babies and children of all ages. What a great idea!

Tea Collection's Fall 07' Line

It's no wonder that Tea Collection has consistently remained one of my very favorite designers. Both stylish and functional, each piece is made of the finest quality materials, and the new fall line surpasses all of my expectations - which I admit were quite high! Tea Collection has designed their lines to mix and match, so all of the pieces coordinate with each other, which makes it very easy to put together many great outfits with just a few pieces of clothing. I particularly love the fall collection, with its vibrant colors and great styles. For boys clothing, Tea offers a great assortment of jeans, pants, button downs, and casual tops. The girls clothing is also simply fabulous - with a great mix of skirts, leggings, pants, and tops. What's not to love about Tea Collection! My only complaint is that it's hard to choose just a few pieces from such a great selection of clothing.

Burgundy Blue - Where functional meets fabulous!

Every once in a while I come across a designer who has managed to create the kind of mom items that I haven't realized I need until I discover them. This is so true with Burgundy Blue. The company was started by a mom, and this is obvious in her creations. One of my favorites is the Portable Blanket and Pillow Set. My daughters love these sets. I keep two in my car, and wherever we are, I have an instant bed and blanket for them, which they love since they know the set is theirs from home. I have also gotten so much use out of the Mommy and Me Yoga Mat. Back when I was the unharried mother of one baby, I used the mat when I actually did have the time to take baby and me yoga classes, which were great. The mat is super handy, easy to transport, and adorable. I have found that everything by Burgundy Blue also make great baby gifts, especially if I am looking for something that is unique. It's often hard to find a gift that will really wow a mom-to-be or a new mommy, but with Burgundy Blue, the wow factor is built right in!

Caden Lane - Sophisticated and Classy

I was having a really though time finding a diaper bag that was functional, but still looked classy. I was also searching for the perfect crib set my baby #3, who is due any day now. This is why I fell in love with everything Caden Lane. The entire collection of Caden Lane diaper bags and Caden Lane crib sets are simple, sleek, and stylish, but also fully functional with a load of great features. Their diaper bags offer everything you could want from a diaper bag, and I actually gets tons of compliments whenever I am out with it. Designed for mothers who appreciate high fashion and quality, these chic Caden Lane diaper bag are sure to appeal to any modern mom. The bedding is simply beautiful, and most sets are lined with chenille to make it elegant and soft. Caden Lane is quickly becoming a favorite with celebrities, and it's easy to see why. I love my Lola Messenger Bag and the Meryn crib set that I recently chose for my soon-to-be newest addition. Although the bedding looks great in pictures, when it is actually on a crib, it is stunning. My sister chose the Noah crib set for her new baby, and it is also unbelievable. I can't write enough about Caden Lane, except to say that you have to see it to really appreciate the quality and style. If you are looking for class and style in a diaper bag or bedding set, you will definitely find it here!

Swaddling Blankets by Aden+Anais

I am a huge fan of swaddling. As an infant, each of my daughters loved to be swaddled, and I found it the easiest way to help them fall asleep and stay asleep. My only concern was when the warmer weather arrived - I always worried that they would become overheated in the typical cotton blankets that I used for swaddling. Needless to say, I was thrilled to be read about these wonderful swaddler blankets by Aden+Anais in the July issue of Parents magazine. Created by two Australian moms. these swaddlers are made of Muslin cotton, which is super breathable and allows baby's body to adjust naturally, and the size and shape of the blanket are designed especially for swaddling. With a baby due any day now, I am relieved to have found such a great swaddling blanket. My fears of overheating have been put to rest, and I am hoping for a few good nights of sleep from my swaddled little one.

Carseat Cover by Bumble Bags

Tired of your old carseat but not ready to buy a new one? Make an old car seat look brand new with this great Bumble Bags carseat cover. These carseat covers are lightly cushioned for supreme comfort, as well as being simply adorable. I had actually been thinking about buying a new carseat, even though the seat itself was fine, because the original fabric on the cover was getting very worn in spots and looked terrible. Being that the seat is now 4 years old, I decided to go for it and chose the cover that matched my Bumble Bags diaper bag in Rosey Stripe. It looks so cute and my daughter seems to love it, being the picky two year old that she is these days! Every one of the Bumble Bags diaper bags has a carseat cover to match.Once again, I love another creation by Bumble Bags. Their products just seem to make my life a little bit easier.

Infant Playmats by Kaloo

It's always a challeng to find a truly great and original baby gift. This plush and luxurious baby playmat is sure to fit the bill and thrill any new parent. This Kaloo playmat is unbelievably soft and plush with touch and sound areas to stimulate baby. The unique rounded safety borders prevent baby from rolling away, and two criss-crossing arcs hold five detachable hanging toys entertain baby. I have found that it is also perfect for tummy time or learning to sit up. I have given this as a baby shower gift, and the mommy has always loved it. It looks so comfy and cozy that I find myself wishing Kaloo made such a thing made for adults!

4th of July Sale - Save 15% on all Swimwear

Happy 4th of July! Enjoy a special saving of 15% on all children's swimwear in our children's boutique. You will find adorable children's swimsuits for boys and girls from Tea Collection, as well as UVB protective swimwear from Snapper Rock. Perfect for long days of sun and fun, these swimsuits will keep little one safe from harmful rays. Shop now and save!

ShooFoo - Perfect first shoes for little feet!

Cute and affordable - what more can I ask for? As I first time mom and not knowing anything else, I always bought my kids the more popular Robeez brand of leather baby shoes. When I discovered ShooFoo, I was more than thrilled. While these pure calf leather baby booties have the exact same dynamics as the more well known brand, they are much more reasonably priced. The greatest thing about them happens to be their one major difference - the adorable logo on each shoe is designed to actually face baby. This way, your little one gave entertain himself by looking at the graphic, which is no longer upside down. ShooFoo has designed their shoes to move naturally with baby's feet as they are learning to walk, as recommended by pediatricians. They have slip resistant suede footing and an elasticized ankle for easy on and off. I keep my kids in these ShooFoo booties for quite a while, which lets me hold off on buying "real" shoes until they are actually running around. When they are infants, I prefer these to socks alone in the colder weather because they keep their feet warmer, and as they are starting to walk, they are simply perfect. They seem to love wearing them, and the fact that they are so reasonably priced and super cute is just icing on the cake!

Adorable Boy's Clothes at an Afforable Price by Tea Collection!

While it's definitely true that little girl's clothing is just too cute to resist (as shown by the size of my daughter's wardrobes) most of my friends happen to have little boys, and many complain that they can't seem to find the type of cute clothing they would like for their sons to wear. This is why I am thrilled by the wonderful spring and summer collection offered by Tea Collection, one of my very favorite designers. This collection is inspired by the Mediterranean Coast, so most of the pieces include simple whites, vibrant blues, and stunning accent colors. Not only is the clothing unique and simply adorable, but everything is also wonderfully afforable! Who can ask for more? Being a mom of all girls, I have turned all of my friends with little boys onto the Tea Collection line, and they can't get enough. Tea Collection's array of shorts, T-shirts, cargo pants, bathing suits, and button down shirts is really just too cute. Although I love clothing for little girls, I have to admit that when I look at Tea Collection for boy's, I secretly wish that I had a little guy to dress up.

A Perfect Collection by Room Seven

I am the mom of two very girly little girls - with a third on the way! My 4 year old has been on a pants strike for the past two years, and my 2 year old is quickly following suit, so I am always on the lookout for the perfect toddler dress or skirt. Thank goodness for the wonderful selection of dresses, skirts, and tops by Room Seven. I fell in love with every piece, and so did my girls, which has helped us to avoid many morning arguments over what they are going to wear. As long as I lay out a Room Seven dress, we are good to go! The Saffran Skirt has quickly become an all time favorite, paired up with the Tila Embroidered Robin Shirt. I have a hard time keeping this outfit clean because it is worn so much. I personally love both the adorable red flowered Daryl Dress, which my daughter recently wore to her 4th birthday party, and the floral print Dot Dress, that she will be wearing to her preschool graduation. If I had to choose a favorite skirt from the collection, I would have to go with the Simran Skirt, which my daughter wears to playdates, but I can also dress it up for fancier occasions.

Right now we are offering a special 15% off on all of the spring and selections from Room Seven. If you shop by June 14th, you will get some of the cutest clothing around for some of the best prices. I don't know what I would do without Room Seven this season. Anything that makes getting both girls dressed each morning is good enough for me!

Wow - Children's Swimwear with 50+ UV protection!

I love everything about the summer. The beach, the water, the sand, the sun.... And so do my girls. Unfortunately, the one drawback to summertime is my constant worrying about protecting my children's skin from harmful sun rays. Although I may have sunned my body to a golden brown when I was growing up (or in some cases, fried myself to a painful red), I am determined to protect my children's young skin from the same fate. Yes, I could be considered the sunblock mom with the amount that I apply on my kids, but then along came Snapper Rock. This is one of my favorite finds to date! This super cool line of children's swimwear is not only adorable, but it also provides 50+ UV protection from the sun, which means that over 98% of the sun's UVA and UVB rays are blocked. One of the greatest things about this line is that the styles and color combinations are so cute! Snapper Rock offers board shorts for boys and girls, rash guards in boths short and long sleeves, and one piece zippered baby swimsuits for the littlest beach goers out there. I know I have already stocked up for my girls, and since they are cute (and pink) they actually like wearing them. Hey, who knows, I may even save a little money on sunblock this season!

A Word About Sunblock: My sister is a plastic surgeon and since my children were born, she has badgered me about the importance of using a sunblock that has at least 10% zinc oxide as a main ingredient. Apparently, while most sunblocks will prevent the skin from appearing red, only those with zinc oxide prevent the sun's damaging rays from actually being absorbed into the skin. She recommended that I use Blue Lizard Sunblock, and just recently I discovered that Trader Joe's (for those of us lucky enough to have a Trader's Joes nearby) makes a sunblock that has 10% zinc oxide. It is also cheaper than Blue Lizard. Being the water babies that they are, these are the only two sunblocks that I feel will safely protect my children from the sun.

Find the perfect spring dress with Tea Collection (and save 15%!)

What a beautiful assortment of dresses for little girls from one of my very favorite designers! As usual, the only drawback with the spring line from Tea Collection is that it's hard to choose just one. Although I do try to resist raiding our inventory for my two very girlie little girls, this time I couldn't resist. One of my personal favorite is the Noor Lawn Dress because it can dressed up or worn casually, which works out well since my four year old pink fanatic can't get enough of her dress. Other mommies are always asking me about the Noor dresses whenever my girls wear them. I also couldn't pass on the white with blue trim Aegean dress, which is just so sweet and simple that it makes my (extremely mischievous) two year old daughter look like a little angel. For birthday pictures, which happened to fall in April, I chose the Topkapi Palace dress. Both the style of the dress and the beautiful greens and purples really make this dress simply charming - perfect for any little princess!

From now until June 14th (while supplies last) we have discounted our entire stock of Tea Collection dresses, so shop now to save 15%. I guarantee that you will love whichever dress you choose, although picking a favorite is sure to be quite a challenge!

Books to Bed - The Perfect Gift

My four year old daughter loves books. She also loves wearing pajamas. Combine these two favorite things, and there is nothing she loves more than her matching book and pajama set from Books to Bed. What a fabulous idea!

Books to Bed creates wonderful children's pajama sets that come with a favorite children's book, both of which really make books and bedtime lots of fun. The graphics on the pajamas match the illustrations from the book. My four year old thinks she is super cool when she is listening to her story while wearing her matching pajamas. And yes, it is possible to read Ella the Elephant fifty million times without my daughter becoming tired of it!

This set also becomes a really easy way to give a great gift. Not only is it unique and unusual, but kids of all ages think it's great. It even comes packaged with a neat little bow to make life super easy. Pajama and book sets come in a variety of options, including Ella the Elephant; Guess How Much I Love You; Chicka, Chicka, ABC; Good Boy Fergus; and How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten .

I've got the Buzz....

The Bumble Bags buzz, that is! For the past few weeks (probably months, if I am being honest) I have been in desperate need of a new diaper bag. My old bag had clearly seen (much) better days, but I was dragging my feet about making a decision. After all, this is a big committment! I carry this bag with me everywhere, and I carry all of the things a 4 and 2 year old will need, with a few items of my own included in the clutter. I wanted something roomy, but I didn't want to feel as though I was lugging around a duffel bag or one of my mother's old pocketbooks. I wanted trendy, hip, versatile, accessible. OK, I wanted it all...

Thankfully, I found it! I went with a Bumble Bag convertible messenger/backpack diaper bag. All I can say is that I now know why people rave about these bags. Not only are the colors wonderful, but the bag itself is designed unlike any other diaper bag I have owned. There are actually more pockets than I need, which is a first, so I am able to keep everything organized, which is also a first. Even though it has a great amount of room on the inside, it is still compact and extremely comfortable to wear. I have gotten so many compliments on it that I had to pass this find along. Thank goodness that my quest for the perfect diaper bag ended in a great find! There are many different color options and styles to choose from, so I can confidently write that there is something for everyone in a Bumble Bag. Check out their matching changing kits if you really want to make life a little easier....