You know how much I love products that multitask as well as I do and when I find one I just have to share. Today I bring you Blanket Clipz, a set of stylish little clips that do more than just secure your little one’s blankie to her stroller. Sure, they do a fabulous job clipping blankets to strollers, car seats, bouncy seats and even shopping carts but they are also pros at turning an ordinary burp cloth or even kitchen towel into a bib or changing a receiving blanket into a nursing cover.

But wait! (I’m starting to sound like an infomercial but they really are this cool!) You can use Blanket Clipz to attach a snack bag to a car seat or stroller. Now you won’t cause a traffic accident passing goldfish crackers to the back seat! We have a set of Blanket Clipz in brown with pink polka dots and we love finding new ways to use them. My favorite Blanket Clipz superpower? Turning my toddler’s favorite blanket into a super cool cape! And don’t limit yourself to baby-related functions. How about clipping a dish towel to a cupboard handle? The possibilities seem endless!

At only $12 a pair and in great designs like zebra, pink camo and retro stripe, you won’t regret purchasing your own pair of Blanket Clipz. You’ll have one less task to do! –Emily

* Promotion! 3 Kids Designs is offering Daily Dish readers 20% off their Blanket Clipz orders! Simply enter code SUMMER at checkout.

I know, I know, an MP3 player for toddlers seems as bad an idea as a cell phone for pre-schoolers, but after reading this review I’m pretty sure you’ll be adding the SweetPea3 MP3 player to your holiday shopping list!

I’ve often thought it would be nice for my three-year-old to be able to listen to books on tape or his favorite children’s music while riding in the car. I’m on of those moms who rarely pops in a children’s tape (yep, tape…no CD player in my ‘95 Odyssey) while driving. The noise level in the car with two tween girls is nerve-fraying enough without Disney’s Silly Songs blaring over the speakers. But even the simple CD and MP3 players my girls own are still too complex for my toddler, and I’d rather not have him watching movies every time we go further than Costco. We finally have a totally toddler-friendly option with our new SweetPea3 MP3 player from SweetPea Toy Co.

I don’t feel bad about my toddler toting his own MP3 player because he’s learning music appreciation in a whole new way–and he loves it! The first day we had it he carried that thing around only putting it down to eat and bathe. Even at his young age he easily figured out how to work the three–yes, only three–buttons (rewind, stop, fast forward). It has a rubbery yet solid exterior so it can be bumped, banged and tossed around, which I guarantee will happen, and a size that makes it hard to lose. And even though it has the three simple controls for toddlers, parents can access a menu to control volume (settings 1-5 and 5 isn’t too loud for little ears), playlists and play duration. Along with a headphone jack the SweetPea3 has a built-in speaker so everyone can enjoy listening in. (I made sure to load mom-friendly children’s songs just for that reason!)

You can download songs and stories just as you would for any other MP3 player. I had three separate playlists loaded in minutes! But the SweetPea3 goes beyond toddlers; you can even use it to soothe your overtired baby with calming music. My tween girls couldn’t wait until their little brother fell asleep so they could check out his new toy and our one-year-old has laid claim to it as well. Good thing the player’s enclosure is made from rubber that meets FDA food grade specifications. In fact the entire unit is lead free and exceeds the requirements of ASTM F963 Toy Safety Specification–good news in today’s world of unsafe children’s products.

Though designed to withstand all a toddler can throw at it, the SweetPea3 player looks cool. No bright primary colors and clunky parts. It would even look good on my grown-up desk. Hmmm…maybe I need to create my own playlist and borrow the player when its owner is in bed for the night! The SweetPea3 is sure to be a very hot item this holiday season so order it early before it’s out of stock. At only $60 and a 3-day money-back guarantee, the SweetPea3 is one super sweet buy! –Emily

…a heck of a lot cute. Okay, that last part isn’t the best use of the English language but I’m talking cute as in “is it almost worth getting pregnant again just so I can use these adorable burp cloths?” cute, so anything goes! I have seen children’s accessories and clothing that make good use of fun fabrics but I have never seen anything like Lil’ Squirtz.

I received Lil’ Squirtz’s brand new burp cloth set and their Burpie Box, a gift set that includes a burp cloth, one-piece and hat, all in their popular Little Monkey collection. What sets Lil’ Squirtz apart is a technique used to create the vintage-meets-funky-meets-fresh feel of their collections. I had to learn more so I checked out their About Us page:

Lil’ Squirtz was inspired by … a French appliqué technique called Broderie Perse (broh dur ee purse), meaning Persian embroidery. Broderie Perse is a highly regarded technique of cutting motifs or patches from printed fabric and stitching them onto a solid fabric. Traditionally, the raw edges are turned under or covered with decorative stitching. Lil’ Squirtz took this technique, which dates back to the early 1700‘s, and gave it a modern twist to make their own line of clothing, all which have a frayed – edgy – funky patch.

The burp cloths with their yummy chocolate brown color, fun accent fabric and monkey patch (hand cut) were so cool, so adorable I immediately put one in the basket on my children’s dresser just so I could look at it every time I changed a diaper. (My babies are too old to use burp cloths but that doesn’t mean I can’t still enjoy them–or use them to wipe little noses!)

The gift set with all its rich colors (custom dyed for Lil’ Squirtz with yummy names like marmalade, chocolate and blueberry), hip fabrics and frayed edges is so fabulous I’m going to hang on to it until my sister gets pregnant, and that could be more than two years down the road! (Yes, it’s THAT cute!)

So I’m thinking I “need” to add Lil’ Squirtz to my children’s winter wardrobe. The Melon + Little Monkey long-sleeve set will be perfect for Livi while the Chocolate + Bicycle long-sleeve tee is a must-have for George.

* Promotion! Lil’ Squirtz is offering Daily Dish readers two awesome promotions:
1. Get one free Burp ($12 value) with the purchase of any Burpie Box (no coupon needed)
2. Receive free shipping on orders over $125 with coupon code “boutiquecafe08″

Can’t you just smell that delicious Gingerbread? This precious set by JennaClaireBoutique on ebay is the perfect holiday outfit for your little girl.

Now’s the time to shop so plan ahead for your custom boutique wear. This one features loads of gorgeous ruffles, appliqué and that all important Sugar n’ Spice! Custom sized from 18 months – size 8!

Bid Here

We first featured All About Baby when we reviewed their adorable personalized frames back in January. The pink dot and lime green frame adorned with our daughter’s name still brightens the baby’s room and I am considering one of their cute hand-painted “Cookies for Santa” plates for the holidays. But those goodies are beside the point. Today’s Daily Dish brings out All About Baby’s softer side…more specifically their new collection of terry cloth accessories.

All About Baby’s new terry cloth line includes robes, hooded towels and gift sets. All of the products are 100% cotton and made with care. A few come in some really fun mod colors and patterns you can mix and match making post-bath-time or post-pool-time a lot more colorful! They also have an organic collection so you can wrap your baby in all-natural, super soft terry from day one.

Our little guy has the hooded white terry cover-up with lime green trim, and even after washing it has retained its super soft terrycloth feel. Though we have to roll the sleeves up a bit he looks so grown up strutting around the house in his robe. It was a little big to use this summer at the pool but we’re looking forward to using it next year. And with it being made with high-quality materials and craftsmanship I know it will be in great shape when passed down to our littlest one in a couple years.

And don’t think All About Baby stops at personalizing frames! Feel free to personalize the organic hooded towel or four-piece gift case. Retail prices range from $30 to $70 and the styles range from adorable to super cute! –Emily

* Promotion! All About Baby is offering Daily Dish readers 20% off their order (excludes taxes and shipping). Enter code ABSD at checkout; expires December 31, 2008.

Playing tag was never my thing. I was too slow to tag anyone and therefore too slow to avoid being tagged. I was “it” for an unusually long time and never found the game fun. I’m also not a fan of those tags in shirts that just won’t stay tucked down no matter how hard you try. On the other hand, a price tag with a huge markdown is one of my favorite things. Right up there with a great sale is LeapFrog’s new Tag Reading System. Heck, it might even be better than that red-lined price tag!

We love LeapFrog’s line of educational toys. Our fridge is adorned with the LeapFrog Fridge Phonics set and my girls have thoroughly enjoyed SpongeBob SquarePants on their pink and purple Leapster. We had one of those LeapPad’s when they first came out and it was a big hit as well. When LeapFrog’s new Tag Reading System came out I knew we had to test it out and see if it were worth all the hype–yes, it definitely is! Actually, I think it could use even more hype so I’m happy to hype away!

The star of the Tag Reading System is the Tag reader, an easy-to-use handheld “pen” that helps bring books to life. With just a touch the words and pictures in the Tag books (over 20 in the collection) talk and sing, instantly engaging your child in the story. How does it work? A small, sophisticated infrared camera at the tip of the reader “reads” letters, words and symbols printed on the special dot-patterned pages of books. Designed for children ages 4 to 8 your little reader can choose to listen to an entire story, hear it read line-by-line or hear individual words. The Tag library is just as diverse, entertaining and educational as the Leapster games and includes some of our favorites like Olivia, The Little Engine That Could, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and even our ol’ pal SpongeBob.

But the Tag system is more than just a talking pen. Using your PC or Mac you can download each book’s audio, then drag and drop content onto the reader. You can also track your child’s progress with LeapFrog’s Learning Path. Okay, so maybe this Tag is even better than a great markdown.

The minute, and I mean the minute, we received our Tag Reading System my toddler was begging me to open it up so he could play with it–and that’s what I love about LeapFrog: learning becomes play. Though he isn’t quite three and still a little young to fully understand the ins and outs of system he thoroughly enjoyed using the Tag reader on the characters in the accompanying Ozzie and Mack book, listening to their exclamations and expressions and the wonderful sound effects hidden in the background. With Mom’s help G had fun with the extra educational activities in the book. G was anxious to “read” the other two books LeapFrog sent but my computer’s older system wasn’t compatible with the software. (Honey, if you’re reading this that’s your cue to upgrade my computer…)

With all the features and capabilities of the reader I cand tell this is a system that will grow with my child. For now he’s enjoying the voices and listening to the story in full. Before I know it he’ll be reading along with the words. I can’t wait! Even my older girls couldn’t wait for G to fall asleep so they could check the system out for themselves. (Mom had a turn too!)

If you’re taking a road trip be sure and pack your Tag Reading System. It’s even headphone compatible, and with 16 MB of on-board flash memory and a built-in USB port, you can upload up to five books at a time! I am so impressed with LeapFrog’s new Tag Reading System we’ve purchased three more books for G’s birthday in October bringing our Tag library count up to six. And with the holidays less than four months away I have a feeling our library will continue to grow. –Emily

Isn’t this cute for your little guy? An “abominable snowman” Yeti set for boys custom sized NB-6. Available from Little*Red*Bird on eBay.

Description:
“This 2-piece set is great for the fall/winter. The top is made from a soft sweater knit that feels like flannel. There is a silly yeti monster appliqued on the front made from minky, knit and buttons for some funny eyes. The pants are made from beige corduroy. There are two front off-seam pockets and two pockets with velcro closure on the legs. The entire set is 100% cotton.”

Bid here >

Eleven years ago when my first daughter was born I was hard pressed to find really cute hair accessories beyond those offered by large retail stores. You had a few stretchy headbands, a handful of velcro barrettes and the always popular assortment of colorful plastic (sometimes with animal shapes) barrettes. That was then…Refined Sugar is now.

Refined Sugar’s collection of accessories includes Blossom n’ Bands (stretchy bands with coordinating clip-on blossoms), Sassifier (safe, ribbon pacifier holders), Little Bow Peeps (you guessed it, cute little bows attached to stretchy bands), and Ribbon Headbands (adjustable ribbon bands available in a variety of fabrics). But telling you about their collection doesn’t do it justice. You really need to visit their site and view the online gallery to appreciate how sweet-yet-chic everything is.

When Livi wears her Blossom n’ Band with its large hot pink flower I could just eat her up! And her green and white polka Little Bow Peep has spunky written all over it. We’ve used her multicolored polka dot Sassifier quite a bit, and though I wish the clip were a little easier to attach, I love that the ribbon is a safe eight inches long. I’m hoping the Ribbon Headbands are back in stock soon as I’d love to get a few of these for my older girls (and maybe even one for me!).

I’m kind of glad the days of the plastic barrette and brain-squeezing headband are over. Life–and my daughter’s hair accessory collection–are a lot sweeter thanks to companies like Refined Sugar! –Emily

Dear friends, welcome to show #100 of Boutique Cafe!! (The Crowd Cheers!!) This show marks a tremendous amount of work, planning recording, editing, networking, and love for us, and it just keeps getting better! We love bringing your cup of couture and so much more.

Boutique Cafe is celebrating our 3rd Birthday this month as well, so to see how far we have come in these past few years is thrilling. Thank you all so much for supporting our show and website! We love You!

Our 100th episode features special guest – Michael Steiner of Michael Miller Fabrics. We are most honored to have him on our show to share some of his experiences in the fabric industry with us. Mr. Steiner shares the story of how it all began, and how he and Kathy Miller were able to secure their first small business loan to grow their dream. Daria also presents a few listener questions to Michael and received some exciting, funny and informative answers.

***GIVEAWAY – In honor of our 3rd Birthday, several companies have donated amazing prizes for some INCREDIBLE PRIZE PACKS! Two lucky listeners will receive identical prize packs valued at over $300 each! Please leave a comment about our 100th show, with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from all the comments and contact our two winners via email. Deadline: September 30, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Both Prize Packs Include:
-Apron and matching crochet cupcake from Mellissa of Wonder Mommy
- $25 Gift Certificate to your choice of Fabric Hound or Sweet Girl Boutique from Myrinda.
- Winner’s choice of tee (excludes the twin sets) from Emily of georgie tees
- 3 pack greeting cards & 3 pack of coordinating bookmarks $15.00 value from Patty of ModGreetings
- $40 Gift Certificate from Amy of Tote and Tee
- Package of eBook patterns valued at $40 from Kim of You Can Make This
- $25 Gift Certificate to RibbonRockStar
- 1 gorgeous piece of artwork valued at $125.00 from Artisit Samantha Shirley of Two Little Witches
- 1GB iPod Shuffle from Daria of Boutique Cafe. (holds approx. 240 songs and our podcast of course!) $50

***UPDATE! Winners Announced – Congratulations to Nadia and Trisha momdot.com who have both won an Outstanding prize pack from Boutique Cafe and our contributors!! Thank you to everyone for participating, we were thrilled with the comments. Keep Boutique Cafe on your radar for many more ways to win great stuff and of course be inspired!

Many of us know Lisa Carroccio and her beautiful daughter Marielle from the eBay Boutique design world. This amazing and inspiring mother, designer, and hostess extraordinaire, is being featured tomorrow night Sept. 17th, 2008 on The Big Idea – with Donny Deutsch, talking about her current business emergency for her new boys clothing line Downtown Joey. Advising our “Diva” on the show will be experts from the company Chip and Pepper jeans, a multi-million dollar company sold in 42 countries! The show will air on CNBC at 10pm EST (check your local listings).

Lisa worked as a Boutique Cafe correspondent back in BC Show #15, in 2006 covering the Children’s Club Show in NYC. The Diva, generously hosts a massive yearly BBQ for boutique designers and their families at her own home. She has a huge reputation for being the Hostess with The Mostess and gives tirelessly to many causes. Now it’s our turn to support her.

Please tune in to cheer on our girl who gives so much to our community, her family, and especially her daughter Marielle who is currently waiting for a kidney transplant. Please pray with us for a speedy match for Marielle.

We love you Lisa – good luck tomorrow! We’ll be watching and cheering you on. XO – Daria

**UPDATE : Here’s Lisa’s Segment from Last Night’s show for those who may have missed it.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

**For a link to Lisa’s personal blog visit The Domestic Diva’s Disasters.

Have you ever had one of those plastic or wooden pacifier clips and struggled to find a great place to attach it? Or have you ever accidentally pinched your baby’s skin while attaching said clip? (Okay, I did on Sunday but it was a total accident!) With Bink-Tees you can avoid the where-to-clip question and the possibility of injury.

Bink-Tees is a new design in infant tees (sizes up to 18 months) that allows you to quickly attach and remove a pacifier from your baby’s shirt without the need for a separate clip. The cute embroidered patches (12 from which to choose) hide velcro fasteners that use a matching ribbon to hold the pacifier securely in place. Simply lift up the patch, attach the ribbon, fold down the patch and voila! Baby’s pacifier is comfortably within reach. And when you’d rather not use the clip just remove the ribbon and your little one still sports a cool t-shirt!

I’ve checked out the peace sign design for myself and couldn’t believe how stylishly the pacifier clip was integrated into the shirt. I’m thinking you could even attach a lightweight toy to the end as well (very lightweight but still a cool idea). Simple to use, comfortable to wear and stylish to boot, Bink-Tees are a great way to have your pacifier and attach it too! –Emily

** Giveaway! Bink-Tees is giving away one short-sleeve Bink-Tee in black, winner’s choice for the design. Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: September 24, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Jane V., winner of the Bink-Tee giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

This gorgeous and fun Melange dress is available on eBay from designer LolaandClementine. We adore the mixed up styling of this outfit, the fun is in the mix this season!

Bid here >

If you’re looking for the perfect heartwarming DVD both you and your daughter will enjoy, then may we–and by “we” I mean my 8- and 11-year-old daughters any myself–suggest Ballet Shoes, a family-friendly drama that won over UK audiences during its premiere last Christmas.

Now on DVD for American audiences, we received a copy of Ballet Shoes to review for Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish. The film is based on the best-selling novel by Noel Streatfeild and tells the story of Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil, three orphans adopted by an eccentric explorer and raised as sisters by his niece. Each of the girls has a unique destiny: Pauline wants to act; Petrova dreams of being an aviator; and Posy is born to dance. As challenges arise the three orphans fight to keep their family together.

My girls and I enjoyed every minute of this movie, and I can even say I’d be happy to watch it again. (Can’t say the same for most of the other DVD’s on the shelf…) We all enjoyed the story and the struggles and the triumphs, though I think my girls enjoyed watching Emma Watson (a.k.a. Hermione Granger of Harry Potter) the most. Along with Emma Watson the film features an award-winning cast: Emilia Fox, Victoria Wood, Richard Griffiths, Marc Warren, Gemma Jones and Eileen Atkins. With great acting and a great story Ballet Shoes is a must-have movie for the family. –Emily

It’s time to feature a boutique design group that is making a real splash with their gorgeous items. Their name is Cintre Boutique Group and they have some amazing children’s fashions being offered right on eBay! We’re excited to showcase the work of these talented designers this week.

Designers Quote:
“Unique, trendy, and chic designs for the trend setting mom and child. Featuring clothing & accessories ..Creations to keep you smiling!”

Don’t miss their exciting “Peace on Earth” launch Sept.17th.

**Promo: Free shipping on any of the Cintre items when the buyer mentions BC! Additionally, partial proceeds of their ‘peace on earth’ launch will be going to the National Peace Corps Assoc.

Shop Cintre Boutique Group through their eBay listings. **Please allow time for the show to load.

In this world of $2 in-flight beverages and lack of free peanuts it’s nice to find something that actually makes flying fun. Planewear children’s clothing is designed with an aviation theme and will have you smiling all the way to the tarmac.

The collection is made from 100% Peruvian Pima cotton and uses organic colors derived from natural, ecological dyes offering your little one first-class comfort. With onesie designs like “Precious Cargo,” “First Class” and “Jet Setter,” plus coordinating pants, caps and booties, your “carry on” will be stylin’ whether her feet are on or off the ground. I loved having our little Livi strut her stuff in her Precious Cargo onesie and she always had someone commenting on her cute tee. The fit was great and the cotton was super soft. I’m just sad she outgrew it already. (Good thing there’s no extra fee for her being over the recommended weight limit!)

Planewear also offers toddler tees with embellished graphics and phrases like “Runway Model” and “I’d Rather Be Flying.” For preemies you can choose from “Early Arrival” and “Little Angel” (I have my own wings). I think my favorites is the bib asking the all-important question, “Chicken or beef?” Planewear’s designs are a great gift for anyone in the aviation business but their lighthearted and comfortable designs are perfect for anyone who wants to add a little high-flyin’ style to their little one’s wardrobe. –Emily

* Promotion! Planewear is offering Daily Dish readers 20% off their purchase! To receive the discount place your order via their 800 number and mention Boutique Cafe. To order call 1-866-759-2358.

Have you been featured on Boutique Cafe? Perhaps you’ve been interviewed in our popular podcasts, sponsored a giveaway, been reviewed in the Daily Dish, spotlighted in our Fashion Show or advertised in our Gift Guides. If so you can let everyone know just how cool your company is!

Fly our “Featured On” banner on your website, blog or store. Shout it from the rooftops, because you’re Awesome!


Copy the following code and paste it into your html page:
<a href="http://www.boutiquecafe.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.boutiquecafe.com/images/bcfeaturedon180.jpg"/></a>

* If you haven’t been featured on BC just yet, never fear! You can still add one of our “Share the Love” banners here. We love you for it! XO

Hold onto your heartstrings ladies. This precious infant/baby pettiskirt is sure to give you heart palpitations, as it did to me. Oh my, breathtaking!

Purchase this sweet Belle Ame pettiskirt on www.sweetgirlboutique.com

**Sweet Girl Boutique has a promo running in our 2008 Holiday Gift Guide for 10% off your order + Free Gift Wrapping. Use promo code: BCGIFT

Actually, it tempts grown-up tastebuds too. It’s a good thing I know better than to eat felt or my children’s Lilly Bean Market meal sets would have disappeared long ago. You might think I’m exaggerating a bit but once you lay eyes on the Deluxe Pizza or Market Fruit you’ll understand.

Lilly Bean Market was started by Hilary Seabolt, a mother who created her first “market-fresh” food when her four-year-old son’s stuffed animals needed something to eat. A cute little egg and pancake were soon followed by donuts, bacon, veggies and as they say, the rest is history. Hilary now creates her artisan designed wool felt play food for little ones everywhere. Our play kitchen now offers family and friends the Perfect Sandwich with a side of Market Fruit and a Super Sandwich Cookie for dessert. I’m thinking Christmas will be a great excuse to expand our menu with Lilly Bean’s new Deluxe Chocolate Strawberry Cake, Bag of Chips, and even Sushi.

I love how Lilly Bean has encouraged my children’s creativity. Even I’m having fun “cooking” with these wonderful wool felt culinary confections. Can’t say the same for the Barbie kitchen gathering dust on the shelf! Lilly Bean Market artisan designed play food is sewn by a small group of Amish and a wonderful machine seamstress. The company is committed to “keeping the business in the US” and loves “knowing the people who help create such a beautiful product.” Yep, the company is just as sweet as its creations. –Emily

** Giveaway! Lilly Bean is giving away one Brown Bag Lunch set! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: September 19, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to David N., the winner of the Lilly Bean giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

When shopping for travel-friendly baby gear you’ll find quite a few diapers and wipes totes and just as many changing pads but very few that successfully combine the two features. Tushygear is one of them.

Tushygear’s on-the-go tote looks like a stylish little changing pad but is actually a wonderfully plush, generously sized pad with a pocket for up to three diapers and a case of wipes. I received the Small Blue Flowers diaper pad and I love its simplistic design with a hidden pocket I can access easily. I have a couple other totes that have both a changing pad feature and storage for diapers and wipes but it takes a lot of work to open the thing up and more work to pull out the gear. When it comes to diaper changes, the easier the better. Tushygear is definitely easier and better, plus it’s machine washable and made in the USA. I do wish it had a snap or velcro closure only because it can be hard to tie a ribbon with hand while holding baby in the other. With over 30 styles (love the Melrose and Organic Grass) you’ll be hard pressed to not have more than one favorite.

I have to also mention Tushygear’s blankets, burp cloths and changing pad covers. These babies are just as stylishly simple and pleasantly plush as the diaper tote. My favorites are the Surf’s Up blanket and the Big Fun Flowers changing pad cover. I’ve had my current cover for close to 11 years and I’m thinking Tushygear is a must-have for our changing table! –Emily

* Promotion! Tushygear is offering Daily Dish readers 10% off their order! Enter code TCG1 at checkout.

Hoo! Hoo! Who’s Cute? YOU!! We love this scrumptious little crochet owl hat from eBay designer Angie.Beane.

Hat is available in custom sizes and colors to suit your little owl lover. Talk about a sweet statement for Autumn!

Bid here >

When I caught a peek of Söfft Shoe’s Fall 2008 look Book I knew I would be doing our readers a serious disfavor by not bringing them back for a second review. If you drooled over Söfft’s summer styles when we first featured them on the Daily Dish, get ready to do so again over the new fall collection. I’m talking patent leather, peep toe and pump…and that’s just one style!

If you aren’t familiar with Söfftt Shoe the company makes beautiful, handmade European-inspired shoes with sexy silhouettes and comfort to boot (pun definitely intended). Once again I was able to test two styles from the new fall collection, the Simone and the Fiorentino.

The Simone is a peep-toe style shoe with about a 1 1/2″ heel, but even with its heel height it still comes off as a sleek little flat. The design is a little on the funkier side with its square toe, shimmering patent leather (go for the red) and chrome accents. To be honest it wasn’t love at first sight (except for the color). I worried a bit about the square toe style on a flat, but once it was on it was love at second sight. I saw the genius in the design–this shoe makes anyone’s foot look fabulous! No surprise it’s comfortable on the first wear since it has Söfft’s leather-lined footbed and a stacked heel (covered in red leather, no less) that gives great support.

The Fiorentino is a 3 1/4-inch, who-knew- Mary-Janes-could-be-that-sexy heel that had me hyperventilating as I pulled the pair out of the box. I love a Mary Jane, I love leather and I love 3-inch+ heels and the combination is to die for in this shoe. I’ve already drooled over their shiny pewter-colored patent leather and sweet button wrap detailing, not to mention the totally unique curved stacked heel. My first thought was, “Yay! Finally a heel that won’t get stuck in those dang grooves in the sidewalk!” The baby doll toe was dainty yet a little sexy and they have that same leather-lined footbed as all Söfft Shoes. I wonder how they look with pj’s? I’m almost tempted to find out…

Even though this review is a little on the lengthy side (can you blame me? It’s all about great shoes!) I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my other favorites like the Fara boot and the Venessa heel. Okay, okay, I have lots of favorites when it comes to Söfft Shoes, but can you blame me? Didn’t think so! –Emily

What’s sugar sweet and full of holiday cheer?? Why this darling Peppermint Holiday Dress from Nanas*Trunk*Boutique on eBay! ODOD size 3-5 and rich with holiday twirl Won’t your little girl look precious this Christmas season in this? Perfect for holiday portrait shots or that special Christmas Concert.

Make it yours and bid today >

Influential and inspiring mommy blogger Stephanie Nielson (”Nie Nie” as she is known to her vast audience of blog fans) and her husband Christian were in a plane crash on August 16th, and are in hospital with serious burns. Since then, word has spread across the globe, with heartfelt messages and donations pouring in for the family. This outpouring of love for the Nielson family reminds me personally of how influential each one of us can be, Stephanie’s blog has touched hearts, lifted spirits, incited laughter, and shone as an example of motherhood as a beautiful career. Her sister C.Jane has been lovingly blogging updates about this inspiring couples progress.

This is absolutely the most tragic thing, my heart aches for their family and their four small children. I have loved reading Stephanie’s blog over the past few years, and appreciate the loving example she sets as a mother and wife. It’s always evident that she adores her family, her children, her husband and God. We are praying for a swift recovery, knowing that it could potentially be months for healing. Sending much love and prayers their way.
The recent New York Times feature on this story >>

Watch The Today Show tomorrow morning, in the first hour when several family members guest to talk about Stephanie and Christian’s story.

To donate directly to the Nielson family

Dear Readers/Viewers,

Show number 100 is on the way…(my computer has had a nasty case of the hiccups and the video footage needs to be re-edited). But never fear it will be up very soon, that’s the life of a podcaster.

While you are waiting we have some other BIG news! Boutique Cafe is celebrating our 3rd Birthday this month! I can’t believe that we’ve been around that long, and I know it’s because of each and every one of you that we’re able to say that. Thank you all for supporting Boutique Cafe through these past years, I know many of you have listened to each episode, visited daily and still hang out with us around the site since day one. There are so many of you that contribute your ideas, comments, suggestions, time & friendship here. We honor you, and thank you for choosing Boutique Cafe as a place to spend your time and grab your cup of couture and so much more!

To our new visitors, we welcome you and invite you to join our community of moms, momprenuers and women who have so much passion, creativity and energy. We want each person who visits the site to feel inspired by what they see, a vast collection of talented designers, outstanding products, business women, moms, celebrities, indie musicians from all over the globe – but sharing our common interests as women.

Thank you for making our Third Birthday a memorable benchmark for our show, we look forward to many more celebrations and laughter with you. Keep Tuning In!

- Daria and the Boutique Cafe Staff

This week we opened up our Fashion Show slot and invited designers to submit if they were ready to go. Right on the ball was designer Kristi from BluMoonDesigns.com. We were so impressed with her beautiful clothing and jumped at the chance to feature her this week. Enjoy!

Designer Quote:
“Cute is always in style! I design with everyday wear in mind. I enjoy creating a unique outfit that can be worn on any occasion whether it be a playdate at the park, or a holiday dinner!” – Kristi

**GIVEAWAY!! Kristi has teamed with Boutique Cafe to offer one lucky reader a free custom Halloween Twirl Skirt! To enter simply post a comment about BluMoon Designs fashions. Winner will be drawn on Sept. 10th at Midnight. Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Shop BluMoon Designson their website. **Please allow time for the show to load.

No pouting allowed! You’re a Mom afterall. So what can put a smile on your face like nothing else? Why a great bag of course! Feast your grins on this…The Lola diaper bag by PoutBaby.

This gorgeous diaper bag is brimming with sleek styling for the fashionista mom, yet it has real practicality inside and out. It’s got me seriously considering another baby of my own (I’m not kidding). The exterior is a quilted nylon for easy wipe ups, and boasts real leather trim that adds to the wow factor of this well made bag. Inside the diaper bag are 4 interior pockets for diapers, wipes, toys, snacks and even a change of clothing. They have included a key/toy/pacifier clip, waterproof (but pretty) lining, 2 interior bottle pockets, an easy wipe changing pad, and a lovely ribbon tie closure.

The Lola bag from PoutBaby is available in chocolate brown with a coral interior and butter toffee leather trim, or black with periwinkle interior and black leather trim. Also in the PoutBaby lineup are the Charlie Pack design and the Carrie Tote. Bags are priced in the $130-$190 range and are both sturdy and beautiful.

PoutBaby is the brainchild of mother-daughter team Jennifer and Tiziana who had dreamed of starting a business together. The idea of a stylish and simple diaper bag is what spurred them on, together with a pregnancy and need for a great bag. Started in 2008, the PoutBaby line is already making a splash with celebrity moms like Halle Berry and Cate Blanchett who own the Carrie tote. Additionally, the Carrie tote was selected by Jewels and Pinstripes for their next Celebrity Baby Bag gifting.

PoutBaby gives you reason to smile. – Daria

Do you listen in to The Savvy Organizer podcast? Our Savvy host Maja is on Baby Watch this week, and could really use some good vibes sent her way. Please stop by The Savvy Organizer and post an encouraging comment for my dear friend and podcast partner Maja.

Keep watching for updates about when the stork drops off her new little bundle!

Check out this precious Holiday Penguin dress from Adorable*Duds on eBay!

We are really loving the super charming applique, and of course the ruffled back! Girls Size 3-5 available.

Bid on this Penguin Perfect Holiday dress here >>