“Bring IT!” was the phrase I heard most last night as our 12 year old son Dylan battled against us playing Family Showdown from Snaptv Games. The game was full of fun and humorous moments including when Dylan was asked a question about who Mo, Larry and Curly were – to which he exclaimed “Aren’t they the Doodlebops?”

Family Showdown is an interactive DVD game that you play on your DVD player and use your remote to answer the questions. We loved the design of this game and the fun music that our baby was dancing too the entire time. Your job is to earn the most golden jelly beans and points to win the game. Family Showdown features over 800 different questions and is 6 games in one. You can try your luck at Time Bomb by answering before the bomb explodes or try Lie Detector to see if you really know your stuff.

SnapTV Games suggests this game for ages 7 to adult and it takes approx. 5 to 20 minutes to complete a game. Time well spent! We had so much fun playing Family Showdown that it will be a family tradition for years to come. At $12.99 for the disk and free shipping you really can’t go wrong. What an entertaining way to play with your kids and let them strut their stuff. I was amazed at the things Dylan knew and we laughed so hard when Nathan and I lost to him. Good times, good times.. – Daria

humor. the only way to survive. This is the mantra of t-shirt company extraordinare, georgie tees. Started in 2005 by friends Emily and LeShan, they have grown their business based on celebrating the humor in motherhood and childhood with style. I love their concept of making the reality of day-to-day life into something fun and uplifting. georgie tees are “a drug-free way to avoid going insane,” and nobody needs humor more than I do right now with four young boys with boundless energy!

Yesterday the site launched their new line of humorous and top quality tees that are fresh from the georgie tees bakery. When you visit the georgie tees website you’ll be wowed by all the incredible new styles to choose from. The designs are as delicious as homemade pie but without the calories. One of my new favorites has to be their “make babies not war” tee for the preggo mama in your life. I also adore the “i scream” and “sharp shooter” tees for babies age 3 – 24 months. If you’re looking for the ultimate in fun-to-wear maternity tees, look no further than their “made it past third base” shirt! georgie tees are the perfect indulgence for the expectant mom and her little bundle.

A cool feature of each georgie tee is the tagless collar. The georgie tees label, including washing instructions, is screened in for ultimate comfort. Their maternity tees are a soft cotton blend with a bit of stretch, giving you the perfect fit to celebrate your new curves–especially that beautiful bump! So run on over to georgie tees and order up some home-baked goodness. Your baby will be the cutest little puddin’ & pie on the block. – Daria

Giveaway!! Georgie Tees is supplying one of their scrumptious tees to a lucky Daily Dish commenter. Be sure to comment under this review for a chance to have your name drawn. Well draw the winner by the end of the next week and contact her via email. The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

I am now going to share a website with you that will change your life. Well, it may not change your life, but it will make looking up information a whole lot easier. If you haven’t discovered the magic that is Wikipedia, it’s time you did.

Wikipedia, “the free encyclopedia anyone can edit,” was first created in 2001. It is now the largest reference site on the Internet. All content is free and written collaboratively by people all over the world. The name Wikipedia comes from wiki, “which means that anyone with access to an Internet-connected computer can edit, correct, or improve information throughout the encyclopedia, simply by clicking the edit this page link.” How cool is that? Oh, and you can read Wikipedia in over 30 languages! Amazing!

I’ve used Wikipedia a lot, from looking up the difference between jute and sisal to learning more about the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Each entry has links to related articles with additional information. You could literally spend hours on this site, so plan your time accordingly. And don’t worry about the quality of information found in Wikipedia””other “Wikipedians” are always around to correct obvious errors and mistakes.

This site can’t help but have personality; you’ve got thousands of people contributing to one site. I find researching information a lot more enjoyable on Wikipedia than on Encyclopedia Britannica’s site. Britannica’s homepage may be flashy, but who cares about flashy when all you want is to learn more about the history of scrapbooking (so not my thing but I had to learn more about this phenomenon). I looked up scrapbooking on Britannica’s site, and surprise, surprise”¦no results. I’ll stick with Wikipedia when it comes to being enlightened. Wik on! – Emily

Boutique Cafe is excited to present the designs of Calico Closet this week. Designer Vicki is amazing with her combinations of colors and her mouth-watering applique, we know you’ll love her creations! The Calico Closet website offers the creations of Vicki and several other talented designers so it’s a definite hot spot to check out for your little ones fashion needs.

When asked about why she designs boutique clothing Vicki says, “Why do I design? Besides my family, I can’t think of anything else that gives me so much satisfaction and pleasure. I am always dreaming up new things in my head and if I didn’t need sleep, I would design and sew 24/7. ”

You can learn more about Calico Closet on the Website. You may shop her current auctions on eBay. Please allow time for the show to load. Fashion Shows are in Quicktime format, a free download here.

We have some great designers with BIG hearts here in the Café©! We are getting ready to send a BOUTIQUE care package to a child in need and have selected a 12 year girl recently diagnosed with Leukemia and currently undergoing treatment. This is a wonderful opportunity to use your talents and time to make something special and gift it to her and/or her family. We have all the details on the CHAT forum! Please take a moment to stop by! We would love to include some cards as well! Pay alittle forward right? – Megan Queen of Chat

If you’re headed on a quick getaway this summer to a foreign country and don’t quite have time to learn a new language before lift off you’ll want to take Point It with you. The Point It – picture dictionary will break down any language barrier and help you communicate that you need toilet paper or that you’d like to order the salmon in the flash of a page. The book is complete with over 1200 images of necessities and is softcovered and passport size so it’s no trouble to tote it along. Point It would be the ideal gift for that new grad off to backpack across Europe, or business traveler heading off on a business trip to China. I relish that Point It has made it polite to point again, my kindergarten teacher Miss Clipperton would have been mortified! I love it! – Daria

Now, I have nothing at all against plumbers, I think they are great in fact, but I don’t want my baby sporting the infamous plumbers crack with every bend and turn. Hiking up those trousers all day long can be tiring for you and wearing for baby. What a discovery to find Tiny Bigs! Tiny Bigs offers the coolest alternative to belts and suspenders that will truly keep those waistbands at their waist. Designer and Mom Keri Schroeder wanted to create a product that would not only be safe and easy to use, but would be too precious to resist. “Tinybigs are like little baby tattoos, capturing a playful attitude that is quite facetious on a small child.” – she says.

Tiny Bigs offers two different products, the infant creeper with a built-in adjustable suspender strap, and the Tiny Bigs accessory which is a tiny magnetic clasp that easily attaches to both baby’s shirt and drawers to keep them in their place. Here’s how it works: a – pull pants up to where you’d like, clip bottom clasp to waistband b – extend under shirt, let shirt fall naturally c – attach applique to outside of shirt, clasping it to the magnet beneath – it’s that simple!

Noah had the chance to test out the Tiny Bigs creeper with a Rock Star applique, and the Tiny Bigs pulled through even on his most rough and tumble day. I loved the look of the trendy tattoo like emblem and the onesie was top quality and super soft. His Rock Star Tiny Bigs tee is now a new favorite in his wardrobe and we’ll be adding to it shortly. We also tested the Tiny Bigs signature accessory and I must tell you how impressed I was with it. The backing of it was soft, and they thought of every detail in making it not only trendy and attractive but easy for parents, comfy for kids, and strong enough to hold. I want to give Tiny Bigs to every plumber baby I know!! – Daria

Over the past several years Lizabeth Sorensen, editor and publisher of The Daily Stroll has spent her days strolling through great product finds and showcasing them on her site. As of today The Daily Stroll announced that it no longer is offering a daily product feature but has launched some new and exciting offerings to bring together shoppers, designers and PR firms. I checked out the evolved Daily Stroll site and was immediately attracted to the new clean format and easy to navigate buttons. From Lizabeth’s new site one can shop with exclusive coupons, check on their weekly designer feature or pop into their growing designer directory and even check out book reviews. They have also added a selection to their newsletters so that retailers can hear about new designers. Though I will miss my Daily Dose of Lizabeth’s Stroll I’m excited for her new endeavor and know that it will be a huge success.

In an Exclusive quote for Boutique Cafe Lizabeth Sorensen says “I am very excited about the new changes to the Daily Stroll. I have spent the last 3 and a half years helping designers and boutiques with their online marketing and I look forward to playing an even bigger part in their business success as we move forward! It is really nice to see so many moms and dads especially who have put all that they have into creating their own companies and making their own schedules. Where did we get this burst of energy from? Wherever it came from I am honored to be a part of it and thank my lucky stars that each day because of this I am able to be with my daughter and never have to worry about an employer controlling my family time.”

Be sure to stroll by the newly updated Daily Stroll and sign up for their newsletter at www.TheDailyStroll.com. All our best wishes to Lizabeth Sorensen and The Daily Stroll today.

Most of us shopping for a jogging stroller have a fairly new baby and fairly new post-pregnancy pounds. The choices can be overwhelming. Do I go with a cheaper model and hope it lasts longer than one trip around the block, or do I blow my kid’s college education so I can jog in style? I’m here to tell you I have found the happiest of happy mediums””though this stroller is FAR from “medium.”

The BOB Stroller Strides Fitness Stroller is a bit of an investment at around $380, but it is money well spent. The company designs BOB strollers to be “the most maneuverable, portable and versatile strollers available”¦The BOB name guarantees custom-engineered features, top-quality design and only the most durable materials.” I’ve got the Stroller Strides stroller and I’m a firm believer I have the best jogging stroller around. Read the rest of this entry »

This review was a pleasant surprise for my boys, especially my 5 year old Joshua. If you visit my house throughout the day you’ll be thrilled by his constant rendition of the Eco-Rangers theme song. He’s become enthralled with the characters Coogie, Sage, Chase, Reverb and Yuki as they take him on adventures and missions around the planet. Each ranger speciallizes in a different branch of science and they happily take you on a quest to learn and protect the earths’s resources. But this isn’t a boring video – the DVD is interactive with you and your child. Simply use your remote to answer questions and collect gems. Snap TV Games specializes in interactive TV games in the areas of Sports, Entertainment, Kids and Travel.

One thing I loved about SnapTV Games is that every game you play is different because there are so many clips and trivia questions. It’s fun and exciting for all of my boys age 20 months – 12 years, they all love it! I also enjoy the guilt-free feeling that my kids are learning something valuable even in front of the TV. The Eco-Rangers game is full of vibrant wildlife clips and is a top notch, well produced and “worth every penny” game. Inspire your children to save the planet, right from their own living room. A new adventure is just a click away!

Snap TV Games will be offering our readers a great discount on their products – Stay tuned for the code! Coming soon.

Boutique Cafe is mentioned and linked to on Taylor Dooley’s official website. Taylor made a guest appearance on Boutique Cafe to talk about her role as Lavagirl in the movie “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl”, as well as life as a teen sensation. We expect even more great things from Taylor Dooley, she was a very well spoken and talented teen.

Birthin’ them babies is hard work! My own nurse in the delivery suite told me that it’s “the hardest work you’ll ever do” and she was right. It’s also the most magical and rewarding moment in for a new mom. To ease the process for the Mommy-to-be in your life I highly recommend the total relaxation collection by Lighten My Labor. It’s not going to turn the pain of labor into a day at the spa but it will comfort, relax and refresh you while you labor and that’s worth it’s weight in gold!

The collection is comprised of Relax with Me whipped massage gel, Breathe with Me linen/room spray, Lift Me cooling body mist and Restore Me after-baby bath tea. If the names alone aren’t enough to make you whip out your credit card and stock up on several for your baby showers this year then surely the packaging will tip you over the edge. Lighten My Labor packages their kits in the most Queenly and glorious of ways, it’s an absolute delight to open and explore the contents. Obviously I’m not in labor at this moment but I did manage to test out the Lighten My Labor collection and was entranced by the aromatic smells – the Lift Me body mist did lift me out of a 3am slump and keep me focused and feeling fabulous. The Relax with Me massage gel is an absolute treat and is non-oily. The scents in this collection are subtle enough not to rouse the hospital police, but would likely give you that boost you need to get to the part where you meet your new little one. Congratulations and be sure to lighten YOUR labor. – Daria

Giveaway! Lighten My Labor is supplying two collections for Daily Dish giveaways. Be sure to comment under this review for a chance to have your name drawn. We’ll draw the winner by the end of the next week and contact her via email. The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

It’s FINALLY here! Daria’s interview with teen sensation Taylor Dooley who starred as Lavagirl in “The Adventures of Sharkboy & Lavagirl” movie. Taylor Dooley chats about how to get into the biz, her pink hair, dating and things close to her heart. We also share some Boutique launch news, contest photos for our “Where in The World Is Boutique Cafe?” contest and more! The Auction Scramble this week is a WILD CHILD! The Accessory Scramble is for Little Boy Blue. Song by Adrina Thorpe “More than 17″ from the podsafe music network.
Photo credits in enhanced feed:
Yahoo Movies
Taylordooley.com
Disneygo.com
theadventuresofsharkboyandlavagirl.com

…and then waited for inspiration as to how to turn that butter into a meal the whole family would enjoy. Whenever I need inspiration in the kitchen, and I don’t feel like leafing through all those recipes I’ve saved from magazines dating back to 1996, I turn to my favorite recipes site, All Recipes.

How do I LOVE this website? Let me count the ways:

1. Search recipes by ingredients you have on hand and those you’d rather avoid
2. Read cooking tips from the experts
3. Browse recipes in categories ranging from appetizers to desserts to low-carb to quick & easy to vegetarian
4. Read reviews left by real people so you know whether or not to try a recipe (and if when you try it you need to tweak it)
5. Save all your favorite recipes to your very own recipe box
6. Submit your own family-favorite recipe to the collection

The site is a clearinghouse of great information. I use it all the time. For example, on the 4th of July I had to find a very quick and easy dip for some naked chips. I searched by ingredients and found a very quick and very easy chili dip that took all of about 3 minutes to prepare and just a few minutes to heat””and it was gone in less time than that!

So if you’re in a cooking rut and tired of dinnertime consisting of either pancakes, quesadillas, scrambled eggs, or Ramen noodles, check out All Recipes. You’ll find it as indispensable as your Pampered Chef food chopper. (Wait, do I need to do a review on that as well?) – Emily

Being a fellow mompreneur I understand the importance of packaging when it comes to shipping, displaying, or simply storing your inventory. I’ve found a couple sites I absolutely love for all my packaging needs. Papermart has a huge selection of items, from organza bags and gift boxes to tissue paper and raffia, and from what I’ve found, the most competitive prices as well. Creative Food Packaging is also a winner with some of the most decorative and unique packaging around.

This might appear to be a boring review for some, but I get pretty excited about tissue paper and ribbon. We send all our shirts out wrapped in two colors of tissue and tied with raffia ribbon. It’s the little touches that help separate you from your competition, and both Papermart and Creative Food Packaging have all the little touches you could ask for. They’ve even got those great little Chinese take-out boxes–I love those!

So if you’re in the market for something to spice up your inventory and impress your customers, check out both of these sites. I guarantee you’ll find the perfect thing! – Emily

Add some shimmer to your summer days with Glow Smart sunscreen. This inventive product packs a glittery punch, simply apply the SPF 30 on your skin and get ready to shine. The lotion contains glitter, but the amazing part is that when the glitter is gone you’ll know it’s time to reapply! GlowSmart SPF30 protects skin from the widest possible spectrum of UVA and UVB rays & contains pure mineral oil and Sweet Almond Oil.

The sunscreen has a beautiful non-oily texture and feels great on your skin. I applied some glittery glow yesterday and went outside to work in the yard, I loved that I could tell when I needed to reapply it by the glitter disappearing. It was also fun to look sparkly and cute while I was pulling weeds! Sun savvy girls will absolutely love Glow Smart, my little boys even wanted to try it. Sparkle and shine this summer while protecting your precious skin, and let us know your tips for beating the summer heat in the comment section.

Giveaway – Glow Smart is giving away 2 bottles of their Glitter Sunscreen for our lucky readers. Be sure to comment under this review for a chance to have your name drawn. We’ll draw the winner by the end of the next week and contact her via email. The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen. YOU GLOW GIRL!!

Who knew the idea of bottled water would turn into the phenomenon it is today. I couldn’t survive without my case of Kirkland Signature drinking water from Costco (and the occasional bottle of Fiji water when I really feel like splurging). But once in a while I’d rather have something a little more flavorful than plain ol’ drinking water, and carbonation isn’t the answer. Say hello to a new best friend, the Crystal Light On the Go packet!

These packets are becoming seriously popular, at least where I live. Crystal Light offers them in four flavors: Lemonade, Peach Tea, Raspberry Ice (my favorite), and Iced Tea. Crystal Light On the Go comes in an easy-open packet designed to be poured into a 16.9-ounce bottle of water. I’ve opened those packets””they really are easy! Can you say that about those dumb portable yogurts? My Raspberry Ice packets turn even warm, garage-stored bottles of water into something very drinkable. At only five calories a packet, it’s a great alternative to other fruit juices and sodas.

And if your kids get tired of drinking water during the hot summer months, spoil them once in a while and throw in a Crystal Light On the Go packet. You might even get one of those “you’re-the-best-mom-in-the-world” smiles! – Emily

Our featured designer this week is Trevor of Krafty Mommas Boutique. We’re excited to showcase her designs and love her flirty and fun take on children’s clothing. We hope you will enjoy her Fashion Show and leave some great comments for Trevor. Welcome to the world of Krafty Mommas Boutique.

“I love finding unusual fabrics and dreaming up designs!! I especially love to add applique to every design I make!!! And…. I LOVE twirlie skirts!!!I love challenging Launches, so I can stretch my creativity and my learn new sewing techniques!!:0) Thanks Daria.This is so very cool!!” – Trevor

You can learn more about Krafty Mommas Boutique on her Website and on her About Me page. You may shop her current auctions on eBay. Please allow time for the show to load. Fashion Shows are in Quicktime format, a free download here.

Having a new baby is such a glorious experience, you bring home that new little bundle and have to learn what every coo and cry means for them. One of the best ways to soothe your new little one is by swaddling them, I’m a big believer in swaddling my own kids but at times I found it frustrating when the blankets weren’t built for the best swaddle. Now Swaddleaze makes it so much easier for all you lucky new mommy’s.

Swaddleaze is the first wearable swaddler and sleep sack! These beautiful sleepers are made to keep baby warm and comfortable while offering the convenience of easy diaper changing in the night. The key to their sweet Swaddleaze product is the wrap around panel and velcro strip which is placed perfectly for an expert fit to calm baby and ease their beddy time woes. The sacks come in fabric choices of chamois fleece and cotton terry, with many great color choices. Swaddleaze are machine washable & dryable, so they make the perfect gift of ease and convenience for Mom & Dad.

Grab a few Swaddleaze sleep sacks for your new bundle and help them to sleep like a baby. – Daria

Special Offer: Boutique Cafe readers will get a 10% discount off their orders when they purchase 2 Swaddleaze sleepers. We’ll have a code for you shortly.

Attention Yummy Mommies! Want luscious lips this summer that are kissable and oh so “devourlicious”??!! Devour Beauty has a mouthwatering collection of lip balms that will quench your dessert cravings! I tried the Vanilla Bean Cupcake balm and was hooked right away on the vanilla smell, it was heaven. The conditioning factor is big for me, I want my pout to be soft and supple and Devour delivers that with all natural ingredients like vanilla, cocoa and fruit extracts. All of the lip smacking goodness carried by Devour contains SPF 15 protection (except for the Vanilla Bean Cupcake Flavor). Not only are the Devour lip balms excellent and high quality but they are extremely affordable – at $4 per tube you can buy them all for all your kissing emergencies.

Three flavors include:
Vanilla Bean Cupcake
Chocoberry Mousse Cake
Rainbow Sorbet

I’m also excited to try the Devour Beauty line – they carry pure fragrance oils, body wash, lotion and more! Kiss ME I’m “Devourlicious”! – Daria

Special Offer – Boutique Cafe readers who purchase all three lip balms will receive a complimentary Devour fragrance oil sample ($5.00 value) and free shipping. Please type code “BoutiqueCafe” to receive this promo. Free shipping will not show when you check out. But once the order is received, Devour Beauty will email you with the shipping discount.

Only 2 hours left to join in the Clicking Spree on Boutique Cafe today – I’ll be drawing the participants name then and posting. Everyone get clicking, and post your fave ads or products right here on the Daily Chatter thread in the BC Chat. Hurry! Win the dough! A $25 dollar eBay gift certificate so you can have some fun shopping today. Thanks for participating each month for our Clicking Spree days.

It’s Monday morning and to beat those Monday blues I just HAD to feature the most sumptuous, cuddly and down-right adorable plush products I could find. Moncalin (french for “my cuddle” is taking the baby world by storm with their lovable animals and dreamy blankets. These are not your average stuffed animals – they are superiorly handcrafted items, made in the USA!

Moncalin’s product line includes Pigs, Cats, the Chocolat Collection in blue and browns, a variety of Blankets & even little Star blankees. Each of their cuddly friends come in delicious colors like Butter base yellow, Candy Pink and even Pistachio. Moncalin is also very concerned with producing safe products, so they do not use any plastic parts or beads so even the littlest owner can enjoy Moncalin from birth.

But the true charm of Moncalin is in the cuddle! They are just so darn soft you won’t want to let them go – sharing will be the big issue! I absolutely loved their unique expressions and cute little bodies. Any of the Moncalin plush line would be the show stopper of your next baby shower or just give them to someone you love. Now come over here and give me a cuddle! – Daria

There’s nothing like a good concert t-shirt to bring back some great wave-your-lighter-in-the-air memories. Now you and your kids can walk memory lane back to the time when all you knew how to do was eat, sleep, and crawl. Crib Rock Couture offers fashion tees so your little one can rock out right along with you.

With tees made from the finest pima and Supima cotton available (and made in the USA), Crib Rock Couture mixes great fashion with great quality. My girls were able to try out the “Mary & Lil’ L.A.M.B.” and “Mary Mary & the Pretty Maid” tees. They were indeed super soft and a lot of fun. I especially loved the added silver embellishments and the non-figure-hugging cut. I’m waiting for Crib Rock to come out in my size! (Note: The tees seem to run just a little small so keep that in mind when ordering””and you should order!)

Crib Rock Couture has had great press ever since its debut at Denise Richard’s baby shower in 2005 for little Lola Rose. Since then the Crib Rock Clan has grown to include children of Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon & Ryan Phillipe, and Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck. Make your little one a member of the Crib Rock Clan, for as the site says, “If you’re not rocking Crib Rock Couture, you’re just not rocking.” – Emily

* Discount! Crib Rock Couture is offering 55% off their 3/4 sleeve raglan, Swarovski crystal embellished tees. The offer is available through July 31st and only while supplies last. Simply enter BoutiqueCafe at checkout. Rock on!

Boutique Cafe’s Chat forum is bursting with Big Hearted members. Check in on the CARE ABOUT section to read about the topics moms like you care deeply about:

The ladies are currently talking about,The Nata Village Blog, Locks of Love, and even Sponsoring a Child Boutique Style! Jump on in and share your hearts with us.

Oh, if only my parents would have owned the Baby Briefcase way back when I was an infant! I have a feeling that I would have an organized home, kids on the perfect schedule and a stress-free existence – after all organization from an early age can only be a good thing.

If you are bringing home baby, or have a friend who’s expecting a little bundle, the Baby Briefcase is your ticket to orderly paperwork with everything right at your fingertips. The attractive Baby Briefcase will hold of of those important documents and do it in style.

The BabyBriefcase® contains:
Frosted plastic carrying case with handle and sturdy click and snap closure, 11-7/8″ wide, 9-3/4″ tall, and 1-3/4″ deep, can accommodate many standard letter-size file folders
15 durable letter-size frosted plastic folders in yummy periwinkle, mint green, and peach
20+ preprinted and customizable folder categories
Thank You Note Tracker
2 Baby Wallet Info Cards
Framed Photo Pocket
Convenient Pen Slot

In my opinion after seeing the Baby Briefcase first hand I’m convinced that it’s an essential for every new mom. What’s a better gift than making those first few months easier by saving her time and effort, now she can have Baby Jack’s info on-the-go and always know the perfect place to store immunization records, hospital information or birth announcements and thank you’s.

Turn your baby into an organizational genius and be Organized From The Start. – Daria

* Giveaway – Organized from the Start is giving away 2 Baby Briefcases for our lucky readers. Be sure to comment under this review for a chance to have your name drawn. We’ll draw the winner by the end of the next week and contact her via email. The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Blogs around the internet are buzzing with the news that Amanda Congdon host of the extraordinarily popular daily vlog Rocketboom is no longer host of the show.

Rocketboom announced on their website: “Amanda Congdon has decided to move to L.A. to pursue opportunities that have arisen for her in Hollywood. We wanted to meet her demands to move production out to L.A., however, we are a small company and have not been able to figure out a way to make it work, financially and in many other ways at this time. While we continue to remain with open arms, Amanda has in fact quit and left Rocketboom. So sadly, we bid Amanda adieu and wish her all the best… ” (source www.Rocketboom.com)

While in a vlog address to her Rocketboom fans today, Amanda Congdon paints a vastly different picture of the reasons for the split. View Amanda Unboomed in front of a giant upside-down map of the world. In a later post Amanda shares correspondence between herself and Andrew Baron regarding the breakup for all to read for themselves.

One has to wonder what effect this estrangement will have for podcasters and vloggers alike. For this podcaster, watching Amanda on Rocketboom was a daily ritual that I will sadly miss.

Back in happier times – (Boutique Cafe was highlighted on Rocketboom with Amanda wearing our incredible logo tee on the April 19, 2006 show).

What would I do without my Real Simple magazine subscription? It’s where I tend to discover a lot of what I consider must-have products. Today’s feature is about a company who’s done something for the greater good. They’ve created a totally yummy snack that may not be the healthiest thing on the market but is a great alternative to the candy aisle at your local market.

Put simply, LesserEvil makes all-natural kettle corn. But you can’t put it simply when it comes to this company. LesserEvil believes in helping people like us avoid what they like to call “Snackcidents” (i.e. bad snacking). Their mission “began in a kitchen putting together simple, natural foods with fantastic flavors and avoiding things like preservatives, trans-fatty acids, artificial flavors, and high fructose corn syrup.” Okay, I think they’ve definitely one-upped my Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies.

You’ll find LesserEvil in flavors such as KettleCorn, Black&White, SinNamon, Peanut Butter & Choco, and MaplePecan. You can even design your own 4-pack and choose your own packaging. (I’m thinking of stocking up so I’m prepared for the next PMS attack.) Let’s end with some good advice from the people behind LesserEvil: “If you see a Snackcident about to happen, find some LesserEvil. If you need to perform hand to mouth, do so, just bring some napkins.” – Emily

The Daily Dish is taking a little holiday today, we’ll be back tomorrow with another must-have review. Emily and I want to enjoy the day with our families. Many of our Boutique Cafe listenership is based throughout the USA and Canada – we thank you for making BC and the Daily Dish one of your favorite stops each day. Happy Canada Day (July 1st) to our Canadian readers and Happy Independence Day to all of our American friends. We’re so blessed with the freedoms we enjoy.
We hope you get to be outside in the sunshine with your loved ones today, enjoy the festivities and let us know how you are spending the holiday. – Daria

Here’s a fun activity to do with your kids and beat the summer heat – Make some 4th of July Popsicle Rockets!! Easy directions at Fabulous Foods.com

Okay, so maybe “evil” is a strong word, but if you’re like me, today’s movies can have unpleasant surprises buried in their PG ratings. I’ve rented a seemingly innocent PG movie and heard a thing or two I wish my little ones hadn’t. If you’d like to avoid such choice moments, check out Kids-In-Mind, a site whose mission is to “provide parents and other adults with objective and complete information about a film’s content so that they can decide, based on their own value system, whether they should watch a movie with or without their kids.”

The site doesn’t recommend a movie, place judgment, critique or criticize. They leave that up to you. What they do provide are extremely””and I mean, extremely””detailed descriptions of what the movies contain. As the site says, it’s kind of like reading a food nutrition label. You know exactly what you’re getting. They have three basic categories for rating a movie: Sex/Nudity, Violence/Gore, and Profanity, with a scale of 1 to 10. In the detailed review Kids-In-Mind actually lists in detail every occurrence of nudity, violence, or profanity. Let me tell you, it’s far better than relying on word-of-mouth!

Kids-in-Mind has movie reviews for both what’s now playing and what’s new on video, along with links to other websites where you can read what Ebert &Roeper have to say. Of course, I don’t think Ebert & Roeper actually counted the number of sexual references (1), mild obscenities (4), name-calling (creep), and religious exclamations (5) you’ll find in the new “Superman Returns.”
-Emily