Megan our own Queen of Chat was asked to write an article on the forum about Developing A Signature Item. Megan has done a wonderful job on her article and I know you’ll all find it fascinating and helpful. Check it out!

Gorgeous finery is the focus of our BC Fashion Show this week. We’re thrilled to present the jaw dropping designs of Lane from Delaney’s Garden. Lane’s smocking is outstanding and her outfits have a classic simple charm to them. We hope you’ll enjoy this week’s spotlight on Delaney’s Garden.

When asked about the inspiration for her clothing Lane replies : “As far as inspiration, I think my greatest inspiration comes from the little girls that I love to clothe. I look at a child and am immediately inspired to create something that I think will make her look and feel special!”

You can learn more about Delaney’s Garden on Lane’s About me page. **Please allow time for the show to load. Fashion Shows are in Quicktime format, a free download here.

I am pumped about Tummy Talk! I couldn’t wait to share these incredible books with all of you. So let’s dive in, and talk Tummy Talk today.

There’s nothing more beautiful or exciting than expecting your new little bundle of joy, every little dimple, every smile, every coo and eventually every step. All of these moments are a treasure to a mother’s heart. But how do you capture the individual beauty and wonder of your child? The designers of Tummy Talk have made it easy for all of us busy, adoring moms.

The Tummy Talk pregnancy book is a complete all-in-one album, scrapbook, and keepsake journal you can use from the moment you get the good news until your baby’s first homecoming. It provides every mom-to-be and new family the perfect opportunity to create and preserve the once-in-a-lifetime moments of your precious pregnancy and beyond. When I received the gorgeous Tummy Talk album I couldn’t believe how stunning this book really is, it made me want to turn back time and do one of these for each of my four boys. The cover is a brushed fabric which opens to pages full of opportunities for you to share the pregnancy experiences such as your cravings, and bankrupt for baby - your first baby purchases! Tummy Talk has you covered from the moment you recognize your new belly bump to when that gorgeous baby is resting in your arms. Everything about these books is exquisite and gorgeous, from the colors to the fonts in side, the page designs and more, it’s one of the most exciting products for new Mommy’s that I’ve seen yet!

If you are looking for the perfect Baby Shower gift, or a personal and sentimental Christmas gift for the new mommy in your life - this is it! If Tummy Talk doesn’t make you want to get pregnant right away I’d be shocked, they are hands down incredible.
- Daria
Tummy Talk is offering 10% off on Tummy Talk Deluxe Pregnancy Journals Promo Code: “cafe10%” (expires Jan. 1/07)

This week boutique cafe and guests are bringing to life the stuff christmas dreams are made of, in the SECOND of 3 Spectacular Christmas shows. Daria interviews designers including Nickki and Terry from Ragazzabella, Dawna from m*kcollection, Andie from Wow House Creative and Tamra from Boutique Sage. We also have a Special Holiday message from Singer Lee Coulter, his NEW album is available on his website be sure to check it out! We’ve had a great response to our NEW 2006 Boutique Cafe Holiday Gift and Shopping Guide! **We also have a search term on eBay that will bring you to all of our 12 Days of Christmas featured designers listings. Search BC12Days” on eBay throughout the next 3 weeks to shop our guests auctions. Thankyou to our guests this week and posters from last week also - all winners for all Holiday Shows announced in one BIG wrap-up show so post like crazy and tune in. Podsafe holiday tune - “My Own Merry Christmas” by Geoff Smith

** Listen Next Show for details on how to WIN a TMX ELMO from Boutique Cafe!

I am big fan of the gym; working out is my one hour of sanity for the day. Granted, I only make it about three times a week, which translates into three hours of sanity out of 168, but it’s better than nothing. For those like myself, who love working out but hate keeping track of car keys, gym card, cell phone, and water bottle, the JoeyRoll is the perfect way to keep your gym accessories as sane as your workout.

The JoeyRoll not only holds and insulates your favorite bottled water or sports drink, but it also offers a hidden pocket for your ID and vending machine money. (Hey, I work out; I deserve a treat!) I was sent both the JoeyRoll Sport and Uptown, and although both are equally nifty, the Uptown does add a little feminine style to my workout gear. I love that I can walk in to the gym and not have to worry about keeping track of my cell phone and keys.

When not holding a bottled drink, you can still use the JoeyRoll as a compact sports wallet and even attach the JoeyRoll to your belt, stroller, backpack, or golf bag. If you’re into walking or sightseeing, this baby is perfect for that too! My JoeyRoll Uptown is now an important part of my workout regimen”¦and my sanity. –Emily

* JoeyRoll is offering free shipping if you order three or more JoeyRolls, so stock up on this unique gift for the holidays.

Today’s the DAY! It’s CLICKING SPREE DAY for the month of November. To enter to win simply click around the banner ads on the Boutique Cafe homepage, the Market, chat forum AND the NEW Holiday Gift guide! THEN, come back to the forum and post your comments for a chance to WIN some FABULOUS prizes!!!! Tell us what ads jump out to you, what great finds you discovered, and what is on your Wish list this year.

We have 4 prize packages you can WIN today! A HUGE thank you to our Donators this month.
Happy Clicking!!! You have until 11pm Moutain Time TODAY to post for a chance to win -

Here’s where to find more details and to post YOUR thoughts

If you love handmade clothing, and I know many Daily Dish readers do, then here’s a must-have line of handmade children’s clothing just for you. Just Jussi creates knitwear for babies using the finest organic merino, superwash wool, cashmere, cotton, alpaca, and silk blends. But they don’t just create knitwear, they create style.

Justine Turner, the woman behind Just Jussi, is the mother of five teenage girls; hence the extensive experience with children’s clothing. As a result, Just Jussi garments are designed with shorter sleeves and legs for the smaller sizes and wider armholes and necks “to avoid dressing trauma for parents and babe.” George would be happy to hear that. He’s pretty tired of having me shove shirts down over his head and practically ripping his ears off in the process!

I received the baseball sweater and the plain pants and can’t wait to dress George up. (The weather took a nice turn and so it’s been a bit too warm to do the wool thing.) The sweater is made with the yummiest colors and the cutest buttons down the front, and the pants are a great blue with cuffs at the bottom perfect for keeping those pant bottoms where they should be””above the ankles and not below the knees. I’m not a knitter and so have little experience with hand knit items, but from what I can see, Just Jussi’s children’s wear is of the highest quality. Read the rest of this entry »

This week Boutique Cafe presents the designs of Yummy Baby, a wonderful fun line for boys and girls. You’ll enjoy the fresh and funky style as well as the gorgeous colors that designer Chey puts into her creations. When asked why she loves to design and what inspires her, Chey says…

“I love designing because it allows me to use the creative part of my brain. It encourages me to think and to step outside of my comfort zone. My inspiration comes from everything around me, anything from my children, to aspects of my everyday life. I can be inspired from something as small as a piece of fruit, to something as elaborate as a grand piece of architecture.”

You can learn more about Yummy Baby on their About me page. To shop Yummy Baby designs search eBay Auction listings as well as her Yummy Baby Website. **Please allow time for the show to load. Fashion Shows are in Quicktime format, a free download here.

What to wear or what NOT to wear! Amelia of Sweet Feet Boutique and our Hot Mom leader, has given us some GREAT fun tips and a Thanksgiving day Challenge! Stop by the HOT MOMS section of our Chat forum and POST what you wore to your Thanksgiving day feast!

We want to see it from the casual to the dressy!!
click on any of the T.F.C. threads to join in the challenge and get some fashion advice

If the homepage graphics and design don’t make you want to explore the line of products from Patricia Ann Designs, just wait until I tell you about them. Started by a mother-daughter team (I just love those!), Patricia Ann Designs can now be found in upscale boutiques and high-end stores, including Nordstrom. They use a family-owned sewing and cutting business, so everything is made with care and quality right here in the U.S.

And now for the products. I have never been one to purchase one of those shopping cart covers, but once I saw the fabulous fabrics and design from Patricia Ann, I had to have one. For their Shopping Cart Cover, I was able to choose my own fabrics and decided on the Lime Surf, which arrived with a coordinating blue gingham liner. It’s quite possible the first truly chic shopping cart cover I’ve ever seen. The Lime Surf fabric was super soft and fresh and the cover had enough padding to keep the littlest bottoms comfortable, even when doing marathon holiday shopping at Target. Read the rest of this entry »

You can get a prescription for just about anything these days, but can you get one for your little one’s delicate skin? Actually, yes you can. MD Moms has created the first pediatrician-developed skin care line for babies appropriately named Baby Silk.

“Baby Silk combines a pediatrician’s knowledge with a mom’s loving care.” The two women behind MD Moms, Dr. Diane Truong and Dr. JJ Levenstein, are both board-certified pediatricians and moms, so they understand that our little one’s need special products designed specifically for their delicate skin. With ingredients like marine silk, botanicals, Vitamins E and B5, Baby Silk products “provide antioxidant protection, relieve dryness, promote healing, and protect the skin’s natural moisture barriers.” Are you sure there isn’t a Baby Silk prescription for adults?

I received Baby Silk’s Gentle All-Over Clean wash, Daily Skin Protection lotion, Gentle Scalp Rub, and Umbilical Cord Care swabs, and that night George was able to try out everything but the swabs. He of course didn’t voice an opinion, but let me do the honors. I absolutely loved the smell of these products. If I could give you a scratch-n-sniff sticker, I would. They have a very light, fresh, soft smell, and that doesn’t even do the fragrance justice. Read the rest of this entry »

And guess what? I’ve discovered this is true for clothing as well. Check out Tie It With a Bow’s fun line of children’s apparel and you’ll understand.

I received their reversible Christmas and Valentine’s Day dress, which comes with two sets of shoulder bows, and their reversible Milk Chocolate & Pink Patty Cake Party dress. I love the fine corduroy the fabrics used and the fun accent bows. The added personalization is tastefully done and takes the cuteness of these outfits up a notch””if that’s even possible! The company’s line of apparel includes some great dress and pantaloon sets and even longalls (overalls) for boys. Don’t worry, the boy’s overalls don’t come with accent bows, but they can be personalized!

Tie It With a Bow’s business doesn’t just include their apparel. It also revolves around personally assisting customers with special requests including everything from finding the perfect appliqué© to match a party theme, the perfect ribbons to match invitations, or designing and coordinating apparel for children of all ages in the family. They also offer great gifts such as monogrammed chunky wood necklaces, unique handbags, and personalized acrylic trays.

How can you resist the Pink Patty Cake Party dress, especially if it’s your little one’s first birthday? Or matching holiday apparel for a family picture? If you can’t resist, then Tie It With a Bow is the site for you! –Emily

Sometimes it’s great to be a girl. (Well, actually 99.9% of the time). Being a girl means being able to accessorize any outfit, and Ladybugs N Butterflies has all the clips and bows you need.

I was able to check out the Big Girls Lauren Francis hair clip and the Infant Joy headband. The Lauren Francis hair clip was to die for””it was so perfectly pink and feminine. And the Joy headband had twirling little girl written all over it. My girls immediately fell in love with them. The “Oh, these are SO cute!” from my oldest pretty much sums it up.

You can easily see the time and quality put into accessories from Ladybugs N Butterflies. All of their hair clips are made with fabulous ribbons and embellishments, and the really fantastic part is the added grip material on their hair clips. Their infant Snappy clips will hold on to just a few strands of hair and are extremely lightweight. Can you say that about your daughter’s collection of hair clips?

And if you’re looking for a great way to organize your daughter’s collection of hair clips, try one of Ladybugs N Butterflies‘ hair clip holders. They’re not only perfect for organizing but double as dé©cor. How great is that?

* Ladybugs N Butterflies is offering 10% off your order. Simply visit their website using this link. The offer expires December 25, 2006.

You may have noticed our brilliant and merry color changes this week on the Boutique Cafe website. That’s not the only NEW thing on BC! We’re oh so jolly and full of good cheer that we wanted to pass on some holiday savings to our readership.

Boutique Cafe has launched our 1st ever Holiday Gift Guide, featuring shops and sellers with promo codes, discounts and free shipping all for you during this magical season. We want you to stay warm and have a pleasant shopping experience this year, and what better way than to shop our Gift Guide for the perfect thing this season. More ads and offers are on the way so keep checking back for some festive holiday savings!

When the wind is howling and the snow is flying, do you ever find yourself dreaming of warm sandy beaches and hibiscus flowers? I’m sure many of us would jump at the chance to fly off to some tropical island and don a swimsuit rather than a down coat. But since a trip to Hawaii isn’t in my budget this Christmas, I’m happy to don the next best thing to my swimsuit””Breezy Beach Wear.

Breezy Beach Wear offers beach apparel and accessories for the whole family. From fun t-shirts and tanks to beautiful charm bracelets and oh-so-masculine hemp necklaces, Breezy Beach Wear has everything you need to create your own ocean breeze in the middle of winter. My girls especially love the flower clips accented with Swarovski crystals. You can’t help but smile when your daughter’s prancing around with a hibiscus hair clip and lei like a true Hawaiian dancer. Read the rest of this entry »

This week boutique cafe and guests are bringing to life the stuff christmas dreams are made of, in the first of 3 Spectacular Christmas shows. Daria interviews designers including Mary Ann from Pink Papillon Jewelry, Jennifer from Sillie Lillie Boutique, Lezlie from Little*Squirt, and Robyn from 3sweetps*boutique. We also have a Special Holiday message from Alexa Ray Joel who’s interview will air on Boutique Cafe in a few short weeks! New and exciting Holiday Merriment with our 2006 Boutique Cafe Holiday Gift and Shopping Guide! **We also have a search term on eBay that will bring you to all of our 12 Days of Christmas featured designers listings. Search “BC12Days” on eBay throughout the next 3 weeks to shop our guests auctions. Thank you to Sophie Claus for joining in the Holly Jolly good times. Podsafe holiday tune - The Candy Butchers “Give Me a Second Chance for Christmas”.

I love finding, or rather, discovering unique gifts. It’s usually something the recipient wouldn’t by for herself, and I know there’s little chance of her owning one already. If you’re into giving one-of-a-kind gifts that are also works of art, then you need to check out the pieces at Emeraldearth.com.

The work of award-winning artists Ed and Ilysa Bierer has been featured in several books and national magazines. The process used to create their designs is called millefiori, which means “1000 flowers” and is derived from a technique used by Venetian glass artisans. Believe it or not, no paint is used in creating their pieces. It’s actually different colors of polymer clay that are hand formed into these unique designs. Read the rest of this entry »

Oh, all you shopping guru mama’s are going to love me for this one! If you’re like me then you’re a very visual person, you see something you love and just know that it would be perfect for you. But how do you track down Jessica Simpson’s cute shoes or JLo’s handbag? The answer is Like.com.

Like.com is the first true visual search engine, where the contents of photos are used to search and retrieve similar items. “Like.com utilizes our Likeness Technologyâ„¢ to create a digital
signature that describes the photo’s contents and enables a more accurate search for similar looking items and products.Our initial launch focuses on handbags, jewelry, shoes, and watches - allowing users to search and purchase items from thousands of leading and boutique brands. We will very quickly add clothing and a number of other aesthetically oriented product categories.

Key features of Like.com include:

Likeness Searchâ„¢ - the ability to search by image instead of text;
Like Detailâ„¢ - finds items that have a specific feature you like (such as a buckle, straps, bezel, etc);
Like Colorâ„¢ - find color variants of the item you desire;
Like Celebrityâ„¢ - find clothing, shoes and accessories similar to those worn by your favorite celebrities;
Like Uploadâ„¢ - the ability to upload your own photo of your favorite item and find the same or similar products, coming soon.
To learn more about Like.com and the great ways to use the product make sure to visit our blog . Happy shopping!”

So all you do is click on the celebrity photo with the item you’re interested in, and Like.com will kick back pages of Emmy Rossum’s gold purse and scores of others that are similar as well. Like.com will even tell you where you can buy it and what the price is. No more scouring the internet looking for the necklace that Fergie wore to the premiere of “Poseidon”, now you can look, click and shop! It’s fun. Like.com, let me know if YOU Like it. - Daria

When we first launched Boutique Cafe well over a year ago, we featured Lark and Sophie from My Angel Sophie designs to be our first guests. Lark is the creative designer behind the My Angel Sophie lines which include her popular TuTu Collection, the Euro Couture line, a Fur Corset line and more. Each of Lark’s creations are modeled by her gorgeous daughter Sophie who has grown up before our eyes in front of the camera and loves to model boutique fashions.

When asked what Lark’s inspirations were for her clothing she simply says “Sophie inspires me in everything I do!”

Lark’s photography and model services are highly praised throughout the eBay Boutique Community. She was instrumental in originating child modeling for eBay auctions in the boutique arena, and has inspired thousands of designers to set high standards in their photography and auction display. Lark’s TuTu Collection started a frenzy of TuTu must-haves and her design ideas are always on the mark with her clients. It’s all of these reasons and many more that we are delighted to feature My Angel Sophie in our Fashion Show this week. Enjoy!

You can learn more about My Angel Sophie on their about me page. To shop My Angel Sophie designs search here.

“¦hot chocolate is so delightful! If you’ve read my past post about hot chocolate you know it’s one of my most favorite things. I mentioned our family’s favorite winter appliance, our Cocoa~Latte machine. It’s ideal for family-size doses of cocoa but not for single servings. Back to Basics has solved the problem with its new Cocoa~Latte Express, a personal hot cocoa warmer, mixer, and frother.

The Cocoa~Latte Express offers a sip-and-go mug with a base that maintains temperature and keeps hot drinks mixed while you’re on the go. The only time I’ve ever had hot cocoa on the go was when I drove through a Starbuck’s and ordered their peppermint hot chocolate. Now I can take my winter time habit with me. My daughter and I tried the CL Express out one evening. It was so simple to use she could have done it herself! You just add about 8 ounces of milk or water (I prefer milk””makes it creamier), two to four tablespoons of your favorite cocoa mix, pop the lid on, place it in the base, and hit “On.” The CL Express will go idle once your cocoa is ready. That’s it! Though it doesn’t have the frothing ability like the full-size machine, the cocoa was still rich and creamy.

At under $20 from Target, the Cocoa~Latte Express is an ideal Christmas gift. I mean, you can only give so many bottles of Bath & Body Works hand soap and lotions, so try something new this winter. Oh, and pick one up for yourself. It just might help you survive carpool this winter! –Emily

Being a parent just got a whole lot more fun! What mom or dad could possibly not delight in dressing up their baby like Donald Trump? With Baby Toupee, you’re baby can play dress up anyday.

Baby Toupee has been selling “small wigs for small people” and gaining alot of press about their fun pop culture locks for baby. The company’s motto and mission is “to show that while parenting can be a great responsibility, it can also be a source of endless amusement. The company’s goal is to bring creative and fun products to market that make parenting a little more fun, all while bringing a smile to the face of their children. Life is too short to take seriously”¦ have fun with your baby! ”

Products from Baby Toupee include hair pieces aptly named: The Donald, The Bob, The Lil Kim and The Samuel L. and are sure to catch a smile and a laugh from all the attendees at little Bob Marlee’s Birthday extravaganza, or Samuel L’s baby shower!

I was sent the Bob toupee for baby, mellow dredlocks for the rasta inspired infant. No baby, no cry! It was so adorable and hilarious, but be warned if you are buying these for someone else make sure that they have a sense of humor as Baby Toupee is all about Fun!

Baby Toupee’s website has a gallery of little Toupee wearing infants to enjoy. You view, even vote on your faves. Baby wigs come in size 1-9 months, so if your lil baby is a baldy, or your little girl has “old man hair” as my good friend Maja always says, then try out one of these fun toupees and snap those pics. Your grown up Donald will thank you someday! - Daria

DormBuys.com is a site you’d think to visit if you were a college student or the parent of a college student, but I’m here to tell you it’s also the site to visit if you’re looking for gear to make your life a little easier””and a bit more organized.

DormBuys.com sent me their 9-Pocket Adjustable Shoe Organizer, Cap Rack, Ironing Blanket, and Cling Thing. The Cap Rack is the perfect stocking stuffer for those in your family who own a cap for every one of their favorite teams, be it the Yankees, the Giants, or even the GAP. It hooks easily onto the back of the door and holds up to 8 hats. It can even hold handbags and belts if you’d rather stuff your own stocking. I love easy organization!

And speaking of organization, DormBuys.com offers a 9-Pocket Adjustable Shoe Organizer. This isn’t your ordinary shoe organizer. Besides having room for nine pairs of shoes, it hangs from your closet rod and can adjust up or down depending on the height you need (like having more room underneath for the remaining 41 boxes of shoes). I already have a double rod on my side of the closet, so I guess I’ll just have to steal a bit more space from my dear husband. He’ll never notice! Read the rest of this entry »

Alexa Ray Joel is going to guest on Boutique Cafe very soon. In fact, I will have the pleasure of interviewing her tomorrow!! Alexa the daughter of famous singer Billy Joel and super model Christie Brinkley, and she has a amazing first album out right now. She’s just starting out with her own music career. I’m so excited to feature her on the show.

Now I need a few of you to pepper me with questions for Alexa Ray Joel. What do you want to know about her and her life? Her career and her parents? Ask and you just might get your question read on Boutique Cafe!

Please submit your questions or comments for Alexa Joel by 11pm this evening.

click here to email your comments and questions: ASK ALEXA

Be sure to tune in very soon for our show featuring Alexa Ray Joel - sign up for our Mailing List in the sidebar for notification of the show being released.

Thanks all,
Daria

Our resident Hot Mom Amelia, and designer for Sweet Feet Boutique, dishes out some great style tips in the Hot Mommy Forum. Check out her recent posts on “Adding a Splash of Color” . Amelia also shares her thoughts on working out with kids. Join up in the Chat Forum to get all of Amelia’s great fashion and hot mom tips and advice.

Register and Join the Forum

If you have great fashion and beauty advice to share, be sure to post in our Chat forum. We love getting all the hot tips and fashion advice so all of us Moms can look our best!
Join in the Post a Hello & Win thread to Win a Hot Mommy Giveaway from Creative Outlet Designs!

What began as a hobby for Jennie Villanueva while pregnant with her first child has since turned into a passion. Her mission is to “create fresh and original children’s art that delights and inspires young ones at every stage of development.” This busy bee does just that!

What I love most about Jennie Villanueva’s artwork are the bright colors and whimsical designs. From lovely ladybugs and totally cool tigers to spunky circles and silly swirls, each painting is a true original. If you like different elements from different paintings or have something special in mind, Jennie also creates custom pieces.

I was sent samples of the artist’s limited edition Personalized Prints. These beautiful creations not only feature your child’s name but also birth date and even birth weight if desired. Your child’s name is created using the fabulous characters out of Jennie’s Alphabet Friends series. Each character “hides” its letter and even I enjoyed discovering these hidden letters. Even though they’re prints, the production process starts from scratch, which ensures variation in sizing, color and layout, so each one is truly one-of-a-kind.

I can appreciate great art, but a great cause makes this art top on my list. Ten percent of all Bella the Busy Bee profits go towards supporting local area domestic violence shelters and programs for children affected by domestic violence. Works of art that bring about good works are definitely a must-have in my book. ““Emily

* Bella the Busy Bee is offering 10% off Jennie Villanueva’s one-of-a-kind custom name prints. Simply enter the code “BitsBeesBoutique” at checkout. Offer expires February 1, 2007.

The Boutique Angels is a group of independent designers who have joined together to support children’s charities. This month’s charity is Operation Smile. Operation Smile volunteers repair childhood facial deformities. The Society’s mission: create smiles, change lives, heal humanity. Search on eBay for Boutique Angels Charity.

Shop the Boutique Angels Auctions benefiting Operation Smile

Technology for your baby is a growing trend. There are techie products to teach your baby & even play with baby, but what better gift for a new Mom and Dad than a baby monitor that actually gives you peace of mind? How can this be? Well, Philips new Digital Baby monitor is a technological dream unit that helps you hear your baby without interference.

The first thing I loved about the Philips DECT digital monitor is the styling of the unit. The monitor for baby’s room has a funky rounded design that’s so chic it’s truly fit for a little prince or princess. And the parents unit is equally voguish with it’s great features and even a lanyard for Mom or Dad to wear around their necks - now you can hear baby wherever you go in the house.

The mobile units allow you such pleasantries as being able to talk to your baby, remotely monitor the baby’s room temperature, and guarantees zero interference from any other device. In fact, the digital technology provides a secure channel so you are the only one who is listening to your baby. The unit chooses and unused channel for you and will switch if it detects another device on the same channel.

Some other sweet features of the Philips DECT baby monitor were the music and light features on the baby’s unit. Soothing stars light up the screen in dreamy patterns to occupy your baby, then pleasant music featuring 5 different lullabies will help baby drift off to sleep. I enjoyed that you can stop and start the music and even skip past a tune if you’d like.

The monitors come with a wonderful travel pouch so you can tote it along for all of your family vacations, and the range of 300M will ensure your secure reception. The unit will also light up on the display to show you if baby is making noise, it’s really my dream monitor!

As a new mother I was always concerned about leaving my baby in their room alone while I worked on my household cleaning and cooking. With a baby monitor like the Philips DECT digital you can truly have peace of mind knowing that your baby is always within earshot, and clear as a bell. You’ll know the temperature of their nursery and every peep they make. Check out this product, it’s peace of mind and cool styling all in one! - Daria

At our house we seem to have issues when it comes to making microwave popcorn. We either overcook it and fill the house with that lovely burnt-popcorn smell, or we undercook it to avoid burning it and are left with half a bag of popped popcorn and half a bag of kernels. Doesn’t matter if we use the popcorn setting on our microwave, we just can’t get a perfectly popped bowl of popcorn. That is, until now.

Back to Basics brings you a stove-top popper that is not only affordable but easy to use as well. I was sent a gift pack, which included their Stainless-Steel Stove-Top Popcorn Popper, Theater Popcorn 4-Pack, White Cheddar and Country Butter Popcorn Seasonings, and Pop-Up Popcorn Boxes. We found Monday night, which is our family night, the perfect excuse to test it all out. We followed the simple instructions and before long the house filled with the smell of freshly popped popcorn, and it smelled much better than that microwave stuff!

Supervising my daughters, I let both of them turn the crank for a minute each. I wish I had a picture of the expression my oldest daughter made when she first heard that popcorn popping. It was priceless! According to the instructions, once we found it hard to turn the crank, the popcorn was done. We dumped the full-to-the-brim pot out and found not a single burned piece of popcorn and only a few unpopped kernels. It was a miracle!

I thought the popcorn tasted perfect right out of the pot, but my husband enjoyed the White Cheddar seasoning. I am anxious to try out the Kettle Corn 3-Pack and their Caramel Popcorn Glaze. What I love about the Stove-Top Popcorn Popper“”besides all the fun accessories””is that it totally makes a perfect gift for the family members whose names you’ve drawn this holiday season. Throw in a gift card to the local video store and you’ve got the perfect stay-at-home date. You can find the Popcorn Popper at Target or online from the Back to Basics website. –Emily

How many of us have a fantastic collection of plastic storage containers, an equally impressive collection of lids, none of which seem to match? I’ll be the first to admit I have a drawer full of lids and spend far too much time searching for mates when it’s time to put away the leftovers. That’s why I was more than interested in reviewing Together-Ware, a simplified storage solution.

Together-Ware takes the frustration out of matching lids by incorporating a ring closure that keeps the lid and the container together. Sounds too simple and too good to be true, but it is! The “connecting ring” anchors the lid and the container together in the dishwasher as well, which helps prevent flipped containers collecting leftover dishwasher water. (I hate dumping water out of should-have-been-clean containers.) You can also clip the ring to backpacks for storing school supplies, or clip it to a stroller so snacks are within easy reach. I received the 8-piece tote set, and I’m sure I’ll be purchasing more. You can never have enough containers with matching lids!

You know, I shouldn’t let little things like searching for a matching lid stress me out, but it truly does. Together-Ware will definitely help lower my stress level, and with the holidays around the corner, I’ll take all the help I can get! You can find Together-Ware online at DormBuys.com. –Emily

I love a simple product with a purpose, something that just works and makes your life easier. Even though I’m not expecting right now and lack the beautiful bump of mommyhood, I do remember fussing with my waistbands while pregnant and constantly being frustrated with my clothing not sitting right. Have you experienced the bump frustration? I just couldn’t get comfortable. My pants would fit me everywhere else but the waist, and forget about bending & reaching or your pants would slip down your hips. It’s no wonder some women are nervous about being pregnant, when so many mommys-to-be are red faced and frustrated at just keeping their jeans up!

Here’s a product that is sure to make you go Belly Up…but in a good way! They’re called Belly Ups and what looks like simple side suspenders to keep your pants in place is just that. How does it work? Take a pregnant woman and her fave pair of sexy jeans, once you hit month 3 or 4 you still want to look cute and you don’t want to wear those belly banded maternity pants from the 70’s, we’re all Hot Moms after all. What you need is Belly Ups, you can unbutton your normal jeans and attach Belly Ups. Clip one end to the side of your bra, clip the other end on the top of your waistband. Repeat on the other side of the body. HELLO GORGEOUS!!

Let’s try this again, you can also use Belly Ups with your maternity pants later in pregnancy as well, with all that shifting around there is bound to be some pulling and hiking up to do. The bands on maternity pants will roll down your belly, they did on me. Just clip on your Belly Ups and be confident. Even with lowrise maternity style pants, with Belly Ups there’s no worry about exposure and you can look ultra chic as a pregnant goddess. Rest asurd, if I ever am expecting again - I’m going Belly Up! - Daria

***Giveaway - Belly Ups is giving away one pair of their Belly Ups for one of our lucky posters! We’ll draw the winner from the comments on this review. The winner will be contacted via email and have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.