Designers in the eBay Boutique world have joined together this week to do a special heartfelt “Nie Nie Recovery Launch”. I asked Chelsea of Vintage Chic who organized this event to share her personal reasons, for reaching out to Stephanie Nielson and her family. Here is her amazing reply:

“The Nie Nie Recovery Launch is all about Love. Love for a women who has shown us all how to live life to the fullest, how to embrace each and every moment with the ones we love, and how to show gratitude to our Heavenly Father for all that he has done for us. Stephanie is a shining light in this world and an example to women everywhere. Please Bid and give back to someone who has given us so much. Every dollar spent will aid in her recovery and help her return to the life she loves so much.

Why this story has touched me: When I came across the blog cjanerun and read the news about Stephanie and Christian I was immediately touched and brought to tears. As I started reading the Nie Nie Dialogues I felt that I could really relate to her. Having 4 children myself and a husband that I adore I felt extreme sadness for her situation. As I have followed her recovery and read the posts that are being re-listed on her blog I have found myself striving to be a better wife, mother, and person in general. It is because of her example that I want to do this. I feel a need to show my children and husband how much I love them every day. I feel a need to cook more, to read more, to spend more time lounging on the couch with my babies in my arms. I never use to do that. It was always about “how much can I get done today!” I am so grateful to her for her example and her love for life. I wanted to do something for her in return and I felt like a benefit launch was a great way to raise awareness and offer support to her and her family. I hope one day she will know how much she means to me. Thank you Daria for helping us spread the word about this launch. You are an Angel:)” – Chelsea

Details: November 1-15th please join with these incredible designers and bid on the amazing launch items. Search NieRecovery on eBay! Sending our love and prayers to Stephanie, Christian and their beautiful family.

Here on the Daily Dish I do have favorites. You’ll know them by the fact that they’ve been featured more than once, a few featured more than twice. See Kai Run is one of those favorites. I am one of their biggest fans (and a new fan of their sister company, eleven, but you’ll have to wait until December for their first-ever review on the Daily Dish).

See Kai Run is known for their chic styles, superb fit and most importantly for me, their durability. I have a pair of black boots George wore as a walker and they are in perfect condition for Livi to use. Unfortunately her feet are a lot chunkier than Geroge and she outgrew them before she could wear them! Right now I’m anxiously waiting for George’s feet to get big enough to fit into his new Kian boots. Well, I’m not anxiously waiting since that means he’s growing up, but they are really cool.

But today’s review is not about See Kai Run’s new fall styles, as cool as they are (check out the Melody–to die for!). Today’s review is about See Kai Run’s new Smaller line, soft-soled booties designed specifically for infants age 0 to 18 months. Smaller soft-soled booties are made from the same butter-soft sheepskin leather uppers as the original and combine a suede sole with non-slip rubber pads for extra protection and traction. That means these babies are perfect for crawling and cruising. A breathable leather lining and Velcro closures–and their Velcro actually sticks–make them easy to put on and take off and comfy to wear.

Livi received the Tine, a sweet little black ballet flat with white piping. They’re the perfect shoe, easily going from daytime to nighttime like my favorite pair of grownup ballet flats. I don’t break a sweat trying to put them on her chunky little feet and the softer sole has been perfect for her wobbly walking. Smaller booties are available in 15 new styles and are packaged in a snazzy metallic silver box with a see-through window; no gift wrapping necessary!

** Giveaway! See Kai Run is giving away a pair of shoes to two lucky Daily Dish readers! (We have one pair of Jakes, size 12-18m, and one pair of Monicas, size 6-9m.) Please leave a comment telling us your favorite new Smaller style; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winners from the comments and contact them via email. Deadline: November 7, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Amy P. and Tricia H., the winners of our See Kai Run 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!

YAY! Another Putumayo Kids review! And I say that totally seriously. I love Putumayo Kids and their international collection of wonderfully fun children’s CDs. Don’t believe me? Just type “Putumayo” in the search box and you’ll read my past reviews.

The newest installment comes just in time as the perfect non-annoying, non-toyroom-cluttering children’s gift for the holidays. Sesame Street Playground is a CD/DVD set that features songs and music videos from Sesame Street productions around the world–that’s right, around the world! I had no idea Sesame Street was produced in other countries (naive, I know). The goal of this new compilation is “to reach children worldwide and help children learn about and respect other cultures.” This CD is the first globally distributed Sesame Workshop audio CD. Cool!

Each song and video on Sesame Street Playground is actually produced in its country of origin. You can listen to songs from Brazil and France to Palestine and Tanzania. And don’t worry, you can still sing along to “Rubber Ducky” but this time you and the kids get to sing in Chinese! The DVD lets children experience new sounds, characters and styles of music from other cultures. You have Elmo, Big Bird and Snuffleupagus joining the rest of the Sesame Street family and five music videos featuring distant places like Russia, South Africa and Mexico. You can visit the website to view some of the fun videos from the DVD. I found this YouTube treasure showing an interview with Elmo on the Bonnie Hunt show where Elmo talked about Sesame Street Playground:

We have a copy of the Sesame Street Playground CD and it’s as fun as our other Playground CDs, perhaps even more so since my kids recognize a few of the tunes. In true Putumayo style, this CD–even being Sesame Street–is easy on my ears, which means I’m more willing to play it when they ask me too! Our family is trying to give more meaningful, less mass-market gifts during the holidays and Sesame Street Playground is a perfect fit!–Emily

** Giveaway! Putumayo Kids is giving away 10 copies of their new Sesame Street Playground! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winners from the comments and contact them via email. Deadline: November 5, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to the five women who commented below. They are the winners of the Sesame Street Playground collection! 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!

We have a drawer full of hair accessories, 75% of which are Goody. Whether I’m looking for simply yet strong hair elastics or stay-put clips, Goody has what I want at a price I’m more than willing to pay. But besides changing up some of their colors and adding a few fun headbands Goody hasn’t changed much…until now.

This is a review my girls thoroughly enjoyed. What girl doesn’t love new hair clips, barrettes and headbands especially if they’re ouchless or sparkly. We received samples for both of Goody’s new lines, the Ouchless collection and Holiday Jewels collection, and all three of us girls loved them all!

If you or your girls have sensitive heads (I’m pretty hard headed myself so I guess I’ll use the “old” stuff) then Goody’s Ouchless collection is perfect. The original Ouchless accessory was a line of brushes in 2004 and I’m really glad they’ve expanded it to include elastics, claw clips, barrettes and headbands. The Claw Clip is designed with curved teeth to prevent digging and flexible wings that give slightly when you lean back (i.e., you won’t feel like 10 tiny daggers are digging into your skull should you lean back in your chair). The Updo Barrettes are soft, flexible and metal-free and the Headband features a soft, contoured shape and flexible tips so you can avoid the dull, aching pain that often accompanies headband use. That was probably my favorite accessory for that reason alone!

Ouchless is good but sparkly is even better, at least my girls thought so. Even though we had no place to go my girls were sporting some serious holiday style the moment we opened the Holiday Jewels samples. I tried to have them save the accessories for a special occasion but gave that up pretty quickly. They’re Goody so they’re good to last; why not have fun with them even if they’re just heading outside to play. The only problem was deciding just what to wear: the festive barrettes? the dazzling headbands? So many sparkles, so little time!

Fortunately some styles are more conducive to everyday jazzing up, like the Metallic Snowflake headband or the Dasher headband. My faves are the Glitz Glam headband (soft and comfy), Gumdrop bobby slides (great for short-haired girls like me), Sugarplum headband (not the most comfortable but very cute) and the Very Merry StayPut claw clip (probably my most favorite–too bad I can’t wear it!) If your budget doesn’t include a new dress for the company party, don’t worry. Goody’s got you covered! Their Holiday Jewels collection–exclusive to Target–is a great way to glam up for the evening. Plus, it’s Goody so you know it’s high-quality and affordable. My kind of holiday shopping! –Emily

Note: I couldn’t find images of my favorite Holiday Jewels accessories but you can find them exclusively at your local Target store from now through February 2009.

Sigh…sometimes reviewing natural skincare products, especially those that cleanse, hydrate, detoxify, regenerate and repair without parabens or harsh ingredients, is the toughest part of my job. It’s right up there with reviewing Italian shoes and designer diaper bags. (And if you believe that I have some ocean-front property in Utah that would make the perfect Christmas gift.)

Reviewing Zia Natural Skincare’s new Skin Basics line was not a tough job by any means. I received their Fresh Cleansing Gel, Sea Tonic Rosewater & Aloe Toner, Everyday Moisturizer, Essential Eye Gel and Citrus Night Time Reversal. I have now used them for almost two weeks and even though I might not be the best test subject (I have normal skin with only a few fine lines and the slightest acne that hits only once a month), I can tell a difference. My skin has retained its moisture, which is saying a lot considering I live in Utah and the cold weather sucks the moisture out of everything around here, and it has a bit of a healthy glow even though my Kauai tan has already faded and gone.

The Fresh Cleansing Gel is a non-foaming cleanser (I’m still trying to get used to the non-foaming part) with mineral-rich sea algae. I’ve heard a lot about the benefits of algae but had no idea you could find them in a cleanser! The gel also has natural sugars to remove excess oil and makeup and is excellent for sensitive skin. I did find I needed to do double duty on eye makeup as it didn’t get it all off the first time around, but that happens often with other cleansers. I did just learn you can also use the Fresh Cleansing gel for shaving–now that’s a moisturizing gel if you can shave with it!

After cleansing I spritzed the Sea Tonic Rosewater & Aloe Toner, which has natural phospholipids to hydrate skin. This phospholipids actually enhance the effect of moisturizers, so you spritz and then apply your moisturizer before it dries. And if you have delicate skin the aloe vera and rosewater help soothe and heal.

In the morning I used the Everyday Moisturizer, a very lightweight and fragrance-free lotion. Rice bran oil, shea butter and aloe maintained my skin’s softness and hydration without being greasy or heavy–a good thing since my foundation tends to be on the heavier side. The sample I had did not have sunscreen, which is an extremely important feature I look for in a daily moisturizer, but Zia does offer an Everyday Moisturizer with sunscreen and I would highly recommend purchasing that one instead.

At night I used the Citrus Nighttime Reversal, an alpha hydroxy cream that is supposed to reverse roughness and environmental damage while you sleep. It uses four natural alpha-hydroxy acids to clear pores and diminish signs of aging and contains red wine, buttermilk, sugar cane and whole citrus concentrate to promote new cell production while helping minimize lines, sun spots and enlarged pores. Now that is a lot of work for a nighttime cream to do, but I do think it is what has helped give my skin its healthy glow. Even with what little sleep I’ve been getting and the stress I’ve been under, my skin looks younger than it has in a long time!

My nighttime routine ended with a little Essential Eye Gel, which uses green tea, cucumber and seaweed to help firm and hydrate while smoothing puffiness and fine lines. It also contains aloe and antioxidants to help fight damage and improve skin health. Though I found this eye gel to give my eyes an instant firming and hydrating, it didn’t seem to have the lasting overall effect like my other favorite eye creams. But it is definitely a great tool to have on hand for those morning-after eyes (or “long day working, doing laundry, cleaning and cooking and still have to look good for the company party” eyes).

Okay, it’s not really a tough job to review skincare lines like Zia. Actually, I have enjoyed it so much I’m kind of anxious to try out some of their other products like their Ultimate Eye Cream and Fresh Papaya Enzyme Mask. With freezing temps around the corner a little skin therapy sounds like a worthwhile investment! –Emily

Boutique Cafe made some history today at Quilt Market, as we are the first media outlet to offer a live feed directly from Market! What a thrilling (and scary) experience to attempt such a technical feat on my own. We taped within the press room and invited special guests Patty Young, Paula Prass and Elizabeth Cranmer to join me. Our feed went live at 11:30 am on Ustream.tv, we thank many of you viewers for popping by to support our live show with your questions and comments. You’re the best!

We loved the Live Feed option so much that we’re going to do another one tomorrow morning (Sunday) as well. Tune in LIVE to www.ustream.tv/channel/boutique-cafe-live between 11:00am (texas time) with Myrinda of Fabric Hound and Designer Melissa Averinos.(**if you sign up for a free account on ustream, you’ll be able to post questions directly to our guests).

**GIVEAWAY: Lizzy Anne is teaming up with Boutique Cafe to offer her very popular Spring UP! Quilt pattern for a lucky viewer. Simply comment under this post to enter. We’ll draw the winner on Nov. 1st!!). Click here to view the quilt pattern that made a great splash at Market!, the pattern could be yours too!! (*long arm quilting on Spring Up display quilt by Black Bear Quilting)

Don’t forget to contact us if your company is interested in sponsoring an episode of Boutique Cafe!
**If you’d like to read my blog post about our 1st day at Market, Fabric 2.0 Party and Sample Spree Click Here.

Greetings from Houston, Texas! What a thrill to be in such an exciting state, and to take part in International Quilt Market for the Fall Season. My Sister-In-Law Elizabeth is along with me to assist in recording the event, as well as promote her new quilt pattern called Spring Up found at Patty Young’s mouthwatering booth! Today was more of a warm/prep up day for us, Amelia drove out from Austin to spend the day with us and take us shopping to the Galleria (amazing shopping experience). It was sad to have her leave tonight, but her duties at work this weekend made it only possible for a one day visit (thank you for coming Amelia!). We then headed back to the hotel to get ready for the Fabric 2.0 Party hosted at the Hilton SkyBar by Michael Miller Fabrics and JCaroline. – THANK YOU for a wonderful party!

The event was definitely bigger than the previous 2.0 in Portland, with a gorgeous rooftop view of the Houston Skyline at Sunset. I was happy to meet with many friends from last Spring, and many new connections as well. A fun surprise was that in attendance was Jay McCarroll from Project Runway! I was humbled to hear how news of our quilt market coverage had travelled, truly Boutique Cafe is getting out there into the mainstream and people are talking and sharing – what a sweet thing to realize.

Shoutouts to: Christina from Etsy, Melissa Averinos, Patty Young and her husband Jon, Becky Brumley from Upsiedoodle, Jessica Jones, Mary (my twitter peep @flourishes), Sherees Alchemy, Myrinda from Fabric Hound, Deborah Hearn from Craft Magazine and many many MANY more I can’t possibly type them all! It was wonderful to see you, I can’t wait to wander market tomorrow and see all the beautiful booths, we’re hoping to provide great coverage to those who aren’t able to attend. On our way out, I bumped into Heather Bailey in the hallway. She looked gorgeous as always, beautiful in a yellow sweater and her hair had tiny flowers. We had a fun exchange in the hallway of the Hilton, talking about how tomorrow would go, and laughing that if we couldn’t get the LIVE FEED to work tomorrow that we’d record a choppy video piece stating that there was an earthquake! She’s so funny!

Before heading back to the hotel to soak our feet, we stopped in at Sample Spree. This was a new experience for me, and the line up was HUGE! Thankfully as media we were able to rush right in and take a few crowd pictures. It was intense, with loads of activity/selling/chatting going on in all corners. They had some lovely samples for sale, and the bonus was seeing my dear friend Gina from The Threaded Pear and Quilter’s Buzz. We’ll definitely see her tomorrow.

That’s just Day 1 Prep, tomorrow is the opening of Market and the floods of people will be flowing in. I’m off to bed to rest up, but I couldn’t go to bed without sharing an update with all of you. Love from Texas – Daria

With the holidays soon upon us our Daily Dish review schedule is fully booked–good news for our readers! Once in a while we will give you a double shot of the Dish so we can fit in as many great gift ideas as we can. Today is one of those “once in a whiles.”

With the holidays comes holiday cards. If you’re looking for something other than Shutterfly photo cards (hey, I’m a big fan!) or off-the-shelf greetings, then Inventing Matilda is for you. Inventing Matilda caught my attention when I received her first email, part of which read:

Please browse my site for two minutes…twenty seconds…any amount of time you might need to deem the wares I am peddling to be unique and far from the currently marketed sappy rhyming stodgy paper has-beens. I promise you that if you take a look, you will find a new product that your style-conscious readers are itching to discover.”

After reading that, I was definitely “itching to discover,” and I discovered her fabulous holiday cards.

Inventing Matilda’s custom holiday cards are unique, artsy and fresh…and worthy of the best spot on the refrigerator. Whether you include a photo or not, these cards will out-holiday any other cards your friends and family will receive this year…and probably next year as well (unless you go with Inventing Matilda for ‘09). My favorite designs are Vaughn, Little Holiday Bird and Derrick. Inventing Matilda also has birth announcements, just in case you receive a 7 lb. 6 oz. gift this year.

And for your holiday reading (and writing), give a gift that will truly give back. Sand Dune Books’ line of Between Me and You journals. Creating family keepsakes is a must-do these days, and Between Me and You: A few things I’ve been meaning to ask makes it easy to do so.

Inside each one are pages of fun–and sometimes funny–questions. You give the journal to someone you love and he or she returns it after answering the questions. Very little is handwritten these days so this is definitely something to cherish. Use the Dad, Mom, Grandpa or Grandma journals to learn more about your heritage, or hand your significant other the Honey journal and find out what he pictured his future mate would look like! I have the Girl journal and can’t wait to send it to my good friend so I can find out what’s been the most rewarding part of our friendship (though I’m not sure I want to hear what she thinks is my not-so-best quality).

Between Me and You keepsake journals from Sand Dune Books are a great gift idea, especially if you have friends and family who are hard to shop for. Of course it’s almost more a gift for you than them, but I’m more than okay with that! –Emily

** Giveaway!!! Inventing Matilda is giving away one environmentally friendly e-card to 10 people! These e-card is a JPEG that can be posted on a blog, emailed to a friend or printed at your favorite, local photo processing center. Winners will have until the end of this year to take advantage of their free 5×7 design. Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winners from the comments and contact them via email. Deadline: October 30, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Promotion! Sand Dune Books is offering Daily Dish readers 10% off their purchase. Simply enter code BoutiqueCafe in the Comments section at checkout. Offer expires October 29, 2008 so get your shopping done ASAP!

It’s International Quilt Market this weekend in Houston, Texas, and Boutique Cafe will be there covering the event as media!

This time around I’m eager to try something a little bit different for our community, and offer a LIVE VIDEO FEED from Market on Saturday!! This is of course dependent on the quality of the internet connection at the Convention Centre, so if glitches arise please bear with us as we’ll have other coverage as well.

So, if you’d like to join in a little Boutique Cafe history with me this Saturday, Oct. 25th (approx. 11:30 am Houston time) – we’ll give it our best college try, and see if we can hold live interviews, in real-time for you!!

In order to participate, you’ll need to join www.ustream.com as a member, you’ll be able to participate in the Chatboard that runs next to the video feed. You’ll be able to comment, ask questions, and say hello to our guests directly! Can you say FUN?

**Once we’re setup and ready to start streaming, I’ll send a Twitter Tweet message with the url. (if you don’t have a Twitter.com account be sure to join and then click to follow Boutique Cafe’s updates)

See you at Market! We’re taking YOU with Us!!

It’s been over a year since our last apron review and that is far too long! With all the fabulous fabrics and styles our there, the Daily Dish was overdue for another one. I couldn’t think of a better way to break the apron-free streak than with TAYGA.

TAYGA believes you should “surround yourself in style,” and if you’re cooking or crafting while wearing one of their aprons then you’re definitely surrounded in style! Handmade in the USA, TAYGA aprons are doubly chic with their fully reversible design and 100%-cotton designer fabrics. Their aprons are also fully lined and include pockets for extra functionality (and an added dash of style), plus the adjustable waist and neck ties mean the fit will be as sweet as your favorite dessert recipe.

I received their most popular style, the Marilyn, in scrumptious reds and whites. It is a heck of a lot sexier than my current blue plaid apron; in fact, it’s so flirty and fun I’d be hesitant to wear it…ever…if it weren’t washable! It fits like a dream and I love that when–not if–I splatter spaghetti sauce on the front I can just flip it over and start with a clean slate. (Wish I could do the same thing with my kids!) Along with the Marilyn my other favorite designs are the Klaudia and the Casandra.

Along with women’s aprons, TAYGA has a collection of beautiful children’s aprons. You can even combine the two for a wonderful mom and daughter set. Sounds like a great gift for the holidays, though with all the holiday cooking you may “need” to open that gift a little early! –Emily

** Giveaway! TAYGA is giving away one of their super sweet mom & daughter sets (pictured here), a retail value of $108! Please leave a comment telling us your favorite TAYGA apron; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: October 29, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Another Daily Dish confession: I am secretly glad my girls have never gotten into the American Girl thing. Though the dolls are amazingly real, in my opinion the price of the dolls and accessories is pretty unreal. But the idea of personalizing a doll to look just like my daughter is still a fun one, and so I’m glad there are other options, one of the sweetest being little pink posies’ posy girl pendants.

The posy girl pendant is little pink posies signature product and you can easily see why. These sweet little hand-painted wood doll pendants are customized for the little girls who will wear them. The artist was initially inspired by vintage peg and clothespin dolls and her son’s love of vintage wooden Fisher-Price Little People. For her, it was important to design something unique and that celebrated the individual personalities of the wearer. “A few brainstorms and a small army of painted dolls later, the posy girl pendant was born.”

My oldest daughter was the lucky “reviewer” of a posy pendant. Customized with her hair color, the first letter of her first name and her favorite colors, the pendant was an immediate hit! She wore it from the moment it arrived until she went to bed and then proudly wore it to school the next day to show her friends. It looked expertly hand painted and I could tell great care had been taken in crafting the doll. I was amazed at the tiny detailing–my eyes would have gone crossed had I tried to do it!

Along with the posy girl pendants (I absolutely LOVE the Posy Girl Playset), little pink posies also has beautiful hand-stitched jewelry and hair accessories. We are definitely heading in to the holiday season and a posy girl pendant would make a great gift for your little girl this season. Plus, this personalized doll option won’t require you to increase the spending limit on your credit card! –Emily

* Promotion! little pink posies is offering Daily Dish readers free shipping on their order. Simply enter code “Boutique Café” in the “notes to seller” section at checkout and a revised PayPal invoice will be sent after checkout is complete.

Ooohh La La! So many scrumptious Holiday options available right now! Click to view some Boutique Custom Christmas cheer!

“To our dear friends -

It is with great sadness that I must let you know that our Gal to Gal Foundation President, Dorit Shapiro, lost her brave battle to Stage IV breast cancer yesterday. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting Dorit – I can tell you that she was an incredible woman who believed passionately in the purpose behind the Gal to Gal Foundation.

As you may know, this year’s virtual walk hopes to raise $250,000 by asking each and every one of us to take 5 minutes and $5 and go to www.galtogalwalk.org and create your virtual walker. It is our hope to grant hundreds of wishes for Stage IV breast cancer patients and their families this holiday season. With your help we can!

Dorit’s wish was not for herself. It was that we make this goal and that no woman living with Stage IV should feel alone in this journey. Please join Dorit’s virtual self and all of us today in her honor!

Here is a tribute to Dorit where you can listen to her own words spoken 1 week ago (!) as we kicked off this event. Unfortunately after this speech she took a turn for the worst. She will be missed by her family and friends very much! Dorit just turned 38 years old with 2 daughters (ages 4 and 8). Please help us grant Dorit’s wish.
Watch now!
With hope in my heart!

Jeanne Fitzmaurice
Founder
Gal to Gal Foundation
Design-her Gals ”

**Join the Gal to Gal walk and Team up with Boutique Cafe! When you submit your virtual self as a walker, add Boutique Cafe as your team name!! Let’s all walk together and make Dorit’s dream come true! – Daria

Listen to my past interview with Jeanne Fitzmaurice from last year (episode #76) regarding the Gal to Gal virtual walk Here.

I’m not saying children need a lot of playthings. For me, though you wouldn’t believe it by looking at our toy room, less is more when it comes to children’s toys. (I will dejunk that toy room if it kills me!) And if you subscribe to the “less is more” philosophy then you probably also believe in finding really great high-quality toys for your child. WOW Toys believes in this too.

WOW Toys has a product line of seriously fun (is that an oxymoron?) toys for children from 9 months to 5 years. From race cars to pony clubs to bath sets, their toys have lots of fun, interactive features without the need for batteries. That gets WOW Toys a gold star in my book! The designs are simple without crazy gadgetry and the need for instructions. The bright colors and chunkier style means WOW Toys are perfect for little eyes and hands.

We received the Flip ‘n’ Tip Fred, a “friction-powered recycling truck with tip and release action.” Friction powered means you can rev the truck and let it go, all the while listening to realistic–for a three-year-old at least–engine sounds. I’ve never had as much fun recycling as my toddler is having with his Flip ‘n’ Tip Fred. He can take two of the three different recycle bins and use the bucket to tip them right into the back. Or he can watch the automatic waste crusher spin before he slides the side door open to empty the truck. The boy and girl “recycling team” often battle it out as to who gets to drive and who gets to stand on top with one of the bins. The sturdy carrying handle has made it easy for our toddler to recycle on the go.

We did have one slight problem due to my son over-revving the “engine.” Now it has a slight clicking sound when it revs and rolls, but hey, I’m sure there’s a recycling truck out in the real world with the same problem! Though the age says 1 1/2 years to 5 years, it’s more like 1 year and up. We’ve all fought over playing with Flip ‘n’ Tip Fred, from our one-year-old who’s carried the girl figure around for hours (half the time in her mouth–I supervised!) to my eight-year-old who could hardly wait until her brother fell asleep so she could play with it.

There are so many great options from WOW Toys you’ll have a hard time deciding which one(s) to buy in support of your “less is more” New Year’s goal. (At least, that’s my New Year’s goal!) I’m loving Katie Camper’s Holiday Friends and Discovery Island! Though they are priced a bit higher than your typical Playskool- or Fisher-Price-type toy, they will get a lot more use and will last a heck of a lot longer. Think of it as an investment in your child’s imagination…and with WOW Toys (unlike our current economy) that investment will pay off handsomely. Note: Though the company is based in London you can find WOW Toys on Amazon.com. –Emily

It must because it makes the average Joe like myself look better as well! Sigh…I love jeans. I would say I love all things denim but I’m not a big fan of denim jackets. But jeans? If I had the budget (i.e. unlimited funds) I would own more designer denim than Bluefly. So when my good friend Danny Nappi started his own clothing line featuring some seriously cool jeans, I knew I just had to review nappi clothing for Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish.

So what does a denim lover think of nappi clothing’s dark denim jeans? They are now one of my favorite pairs, and that’s saying a lot considering my current collection. What do I love? I love the stylin’ nappi logo on the back right pocket (a winged bull). I love the wide waistband and contrast stitching. I love the hint of stretch and the rich dark color. I love the straight leg, long inseam and slim fit, which is sure to flatter almost every shape.

Apparently Nappi devoted two years to the creation of these jeans so they would provide the perfect fit, something every woman looks for but rarely finds. Made from state-of-the-art Japanese denim here in the USA, I’ve been told even pregnant women love these jeans because the lower waist allows them to wear their nappi jeans throughout their pregnancy and after. Can you say that about your stretchy-waist-panel designer denim, especially the last part about wearing them way post pregnancy?

I’ve also heard nappi jeans are already being snatched up by supermodels and celebs alike, and at around $170, these jeans won’t break the bank like the other pair you’ve almost sold your soul for. I can’t finish up this review without mentioning nappi clothing’s signature tees. I own two, and that winged bull is a heck of a lot of fun to wear. My favorite are the logo and clock thing tees and they’re just as soft and comfy as my dark denim jeans (though they fit a bit on the small side).

So, yes, nappi clothing really does make beautiful people look better because it’s definitely made this average Joe look her best! –Emily

** Giveaway!!! We are giving away a clock thing t-shirt from nappi clothing! 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: October 23, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Becky B., the winner of the nappi “clock thing” t-shirt! 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!

I’m so thrilled to share a new Fashion Show this week on Boutique Cafe. This week we feature the work of designer Becky Brumley of Upsiedoodle. If you’re looking for beautiful quality baby gifts, try Upsiedoodle for that special little tot in your life. I’m in Love with her gorgeous quilted bibs!

Designers Quote:
“I love creating baby gifts that my customers can be proud to give to their friends and family. I have been sewing since I was a child, and fell in love with quilting in my 20’s. After having children, I still needed that creative outlet, but felt overwhelmed at tackling an entire quilt. That’s when my quilted bib was born — still a quilt, but it can be completed in one sitting. I am inspired by bright, modern, and fun prints, and I hope babies enjoy wearing my bibs as much as I enjoy making them.” – Becky

**GIVEAWAY and Promo Code!
Comment on your FAVORITE item from the Upsiedoodle website and we’ll draw a winner on Oct. 27th for a free bib!!! Also…everyone can use the coupon code “grandopening” and get free shipping on the Upsiedoodle website.

Shop Upsiedoodle through their online store, you can also find more offerings in their Etsy Store. Learn more about Becky Brumley via her Blog **Please allow time for the show to load.

Supporting South African women towards economic independence while providing quality boutique children’s clothing are the premises of Hippos Toes online children’s boutique, which announced its Grand Opening this month- (http://www.hippostoes.com).

Hippos Toes owner, Carole Lindstrom wanted to combine her plans for a children’s boutique with her desire to help South African women gain a footing towards financial independence. Having toured South Africa several times-and feeling a connection to the women there- Lindstrom saw first hand how difficult it was for women to rise above impoverishment. “I really felt for the locally disadvantaged mothers trying to raise families with limited income opportunities.” Lindstrom stated.

With it’s Grand Opening this month, Hippos Toes showcases the latest children’s boutique fashions, which are sewn by South African mother artisans. Original styles, whimsical colors and nature themes set a trendy fashion-forward tone which Lindstrom feels sets Hippos Toes children’s fashions apart. “The clothing is really unique,” Lindstrom stated. “The designers change lines every season yet everything stays mix-and-match. It makes for easy, complete wardrobes.”

Lindstrom learned of Fair Trade clothing manufacturing in South Africa while researching clothing resources for Hippos Toes. With high quality control, impeccable workmanship and attention to artistic details, Lindstrom found the resulting clothing met, and exceeded, her apparel requirements. “The women who create our clothing are being paid fair wages and have good working conditions,” Lindstrom shared. “This fulfills my goal of being able to sell clothing with a purpose.”

Hippos Toes welcomes visitors to peruse the latest children’s fashions at http://www.hippostoes.com, read the companies philosophy on Fair Trade and start shopping for the Holidays on it’s newly vamped online store.

**PROMO – Shop Hippos Toes through our Boutique Cafe Holiday Gift Guide and receive 15% off your purchase with promo code BC15 valid through Jan. 1/09.

“He’s a mean one, Mr. Grinch!” Rococo*Kidz brings holiday charm to this sweet skirt set. Custom sizing 12m-6 includes an appliqué long sleeve top but if you live in a warmer climate she can make it a white tank top, or white cap sleeve depending on size availability. Also included an extra full skirt with built in petticoat and 4 appliqués.

Click here to Bid

And now you can reap those benefits with wet n wild’s new cosmetics line, Beauty Benefits. This new line of skin healthy, dermatologist-tested makeup offers its wearers more than just a pretty face.

The benefits of Beauty Benefits include a lotus marine mineral complex, which offers powerful anti-aging properties with antioxidants two times stronger than green tea. This complex brightens the complexion, increases hydration by 25% and gives powerful age prevention. Beauty Benefits makeup also includes golden seaweed, which protects DNA against UV-induced damage, marine fennel, which improves skin’s radiance and restores its hydrolipidic barrier, and minerals, which provide smooth, flawless coverage and contain natural, mineral sunscreens. All those benefits are contained in sleek, black packaging.

I’ve been testing a few items from the Beauty Benefits line: Beauty Brilliance Illuminating Powder and Bronzing Powder, Sheer Luster Lip Gloss and Beyond Nourishing Mascara. I am definitely hooked on the lip gloss for its shimmery, beautiful non-sticky color and its surprising staying power, and I love how the illuminating powder highlights my cheeks (I have yet to try it on my eyes and decollete) while the bronzing powder makes it look like I returned from Kauai yesterday rather than a month ago (has it really been that long?!?!). I’m not a big fan of the mascara as it just didn’t thicken and volumize like I would’ve liked. Plus it started to flake by the end of the day.

With holiday parties around the corner it will be easy to put your best face forward with wet n wild’s Beauty Benefits. Plus you’ll get powerful, skin healthy benefits without a powerful, budget-breaking price–great news for the holidays! –Emily

Attention everyone, this is so exciting! My very talented sister-in-law Elizabeth is offering a jaw-dropping quilt as a giveaway on her blog! This new quilt design called “Spring Up” will also be available as a pattern for purchase at Quilt Market in a few weeks, so be sure to swing by Patty Young’s booth (stop by to see the Andalucia fabric version in person, it will be magical!).

Here are the ways you can enter to win:

1. Leave a Comment on Lizzie Anne’s Blog HERE
2. Receive 5 extra entries by blogging about this giveaway on your own blog (you must let her know about it by sharing the url in comments as well).
3. Receive an additional 5 entries by sharing her banner in your sidebar (code is available to copy & paste).

The winner will be drawn on Friday, Oct. 17th so prepare to get all wrapped up in wonderful!

The perfect gift for the holidays! Imagine the surprise your family member will have as she opens to find this adorable necklace from Pixie-dust-Studio!  

This necklace is completely customized to look like your family members and if you want to receive it before the holidays, you better start bidding!

Bid here >

- Beth (NEW contributing editor)

I have a theory that if milk does a body good from the inside out there’s a good chance it will do a body good from the outside in. To prove my theory I give you the new Almond Milk Nourishing Body Wash from Tone.

This new body wash gives your body a daily dose of moisture from real milk protein and a Vitamin A and E complex. The formula is rich and creamy and smells as good as its name implies. I know because my girls have showered with it since we got the sample. In fact, they went through it rather quickly and have asked for more–specifically Tone’s Almond Milk. They usually could care less which body wash Mom throws in the shower but they have taken to their new Tone and so Tone it will be, especially during the upcoming winter months when skin gets super dry and moisture starved.

I love that you can experience a decadent body wash without the decadent price. You can find Tone Almond Milk Nourishing Body Wash in all its fun paisley packaging at most food and drugstores nationwide for less than $4. So I guess it’s safe to say Tone’s Almond Milk does a body and a wallet good! –Emily

You’re probably learning more about me from my Daily Dish reviews than you’d like to but it can’t be helped. At Boutique Cafe we pride ourselves on our honest product reviews and with honesty comes personal information. Here’s another tidbit about me you can add to your file: I’m not big on character clothing or accessories. Though I caved on my toddler son’s Thomas backpack, you won’t find TV or movie characters anywhere else besides his underwear. Perhaps that’s why I love Olive Kids line of bedding and room decor.

Olive Kids was created to offer parents like me “an affordable alternative to the character based entertainment licenses.” The company believes kids’ rooms should inspire creativity and play and not serve as an advertisement for a TV show or movie. I couldn’t agree more! Though my baby girl isn’t old enough to realize it, she is now the proud owner of Olive Kids’ Tea Party bedding set. My mom was in town when I opened the box and she and I could not stop oohing and aahing over every single piece. From the darling super soft sheets to the sweet polka-dot and stripe comforter to the pretty pink sham with its plush-to-the-touch teapot, the set is perfect for little girls without being over-the-top girly (something else I’m not big on). The icing on the cake (pun totally intended) is the accent pillow with its yummy cupcake complete with sprinkles.

If you have a little one who’s more transportation than tea party, he’ll love Olive Kids’ Trains, Planes and Trucks or Heroes bedding sets. But these sets aren’t just fun for kids. Parents will notice the attention to detail: comforters have outline quilting; shams have embroidery and soft plush; and cotton sheets have attached ribbon details. Did I mention you can get all of these things at a fraction of the cost for something similar from PBK (a.k.a. Pottery Barn Kids)?

If you already have your toddler’s or kid’s bedding you’ll want to check out Olive Kids’ great room decor. My top three picks are the floor pillows (and you can get these personalized!), canvas growth charts (also personalized), and peel & stick chalkboards. Plan to spend lots of time on their site–you’ll find lots to love at Olive Kids! –Emily

** Giveaway!!! Olive Kids is giving away one of their awesome canvas growth charts! The winner will get to choose the design and name. Please leave a comment telling us your favorite Olive Kids product; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: October 15, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Promotion! Olive Kids is offering Daily Dish readers 10% off personalized products. Simply enter code “BCPG08″ at checkout. (Offer excludes sale items.)

Mess kits aren’t just for campers and scouts any more. Designed by the same mom who brought us the Burpie Baby 911, one of the only burp cloths I’ve ever seen multitask, this mess kit is a lot more stylish than the one your hubby has stored with the camping gear!

The Burpie Baby Mess Kit combines three essential–and coordinating–baby items: bib, receiving blanket and Burpie Baby’s exclusive burpie. The burpie is what keeps this mess kit organized. It’s generous size converts easily to a pouch perfect for holding the bib, receiving blanket and even a few diapers and wipes. I’ve checked out the Burpie Baby Mess Kit and I am sold on the concept of having everything I need to keep baby clean wrapped up in a stylish burp-cloth-turned-carry-all-bag. No more throwing this and that here and there in to the diaper bag. Now you can just grab and go!

The Burpie Baby Mess Kit even comes with 2-piece option (bib and burpie) or a 4-piece option, which includes a matching onesie, something I always forget to pack and always seem to need, especially if I’m trying to have an uneventful lunch with my girlfriends. With fun and funky patters like Party in my Crib, What a Doll and Sock Monkey, this mess kit will do a more fashionable job of keeping baby clean and your diaper bag organized than any ol’ mess kit you’ll find at REI (although that fry pan might come in handy for keeping the kids in line…). –Emily

* Promotion! Burpie Baby is offering Daily Dish readers 15% off their order. Simply enter code “café” at checkout. Daily Dish readers will also receive credit towards a future order if multiple items are purchased!

I’ve admitted to a lot of things on the Daily Dish, like owning way too many pairs of jeans, being addicted to chocolate and having a thing for diaper bags. Today I’m admitting to something else: not stocking our pantry with enough healthy snacks. My kids eat the occasional banana or handful of mini carrots but they’d rather get their five servings a day of fruit and vegetables from five packs of fruit snacks. For families like ours there are companies like Snikiddy that provide delicious organic treats for the healthy-snack-deprived.

Snikkidy was founded by Mary Schulman, a mother of two looking for healthy, great-tasting snack foods for her children. Made from original family recipes, Snikkidy Snacks like Organic Cheese Puffs and Chocolate Chippers are absolutely free of hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. Fortunately they are not free from taste.

All of us kids (let’s face it, when it comes to cookies we’re all five-year-olds) were able to test the Grilled Cheese Puffs, Chocolate Chippers and Cherry Oaties. Though the cheese puffs were the clear winner with the kids, I thoroughly enjoyed the cookies myself. I’m not sure the kids were even able to try the chocolate chip ones; I inhaled them too quickly!

I love what’s outside the package as much as what’s inside. The packaging features cameos by the Snikiddy Kids, a “group of five healthy, active boys and girls who share their ideas and adventures …, encouraging other children to be active, socially responsible and environmentally conscious.” I’d rather have my kids read the back of the Rockin’ Ranch Cheese Puffs than the back of the Fruit Loops box any day!

Snikiddy Snacks Organic Cheese Puffs are gluten-free and available in Rockin’ Ranch, Pizza Pie, Grilled Cheese and Mac n’ Cheese. Their Organic Cookies are available in Chocolate Chippers, Cherry Oaties and Banana Nibbles. All are available with healthy ingredients and great taste. It’s not too late to incorporate delicious good-for-you snacks in your child’s lunchbox, so get Snikiddy likity split! –Emily

*** Giveaway! Snikiddy is giving away a two-pack of their yummy snacks (one sharing pack each of Cheese Puffs and Cookies). 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: October 10, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Elizabeth Y., the winner of the Snikiddy Snack 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!

Beth O’Donald is the new chatty contributing member of Boutique Café. She always has something to talk about, and it all boils down to random thoughts from her whacky day as a mom to Holly, and wife to Jim. Holly is the inspiration behind her clothing design business on eBay of Hollysmama. Beth has her own unique twist to designing, as it based on what she sees in Holly that inspires each outfit. You just never know what to expect with each new listing.

Beth is a person who enjoys “doing it all” and considers herself to be striving for the “super mom” award. You never know what she will be doing from day to day, but it will always include Holly and Jim in the equation with a bit of sewing and a lot of chatting mixed in.

Beth will be finding our daily finds to feature on Boutique Café. You can count on seeing designs that have amazing details and quality construction. Beth has an eye for the unique and classic styles that are found throughout the boutique communities.

Please leave a warm welcome message for Beth! We’re so excited to have her join in the Boutique Cafe family.

Big News!! Our feeds are now being distributed on Alltop, an online magazine of THE BEST websites on the web. It’s a huge honor to be showcased in several categories on Alltop with the best sites out there!

Every woman has a pair of jeans that slips and slides when she sits down, bends over or sneezes. I own more than one but I deal with the inconvenience of possible exposure because I love those jeans! Until now you either had to hold on to your pants for dear life or take them to a tailor, which gets pricey when you’re talking waistbands. Fortunately for us another woman was just as frustrated and her answer is the isABelt.

The isABelt is a virtually invisible, fully adjustable belt uniquely designed to keep your pants back-gap free. The isABelt is clear and though only a half-inch wide is strong enough to fight gravity. I had to put this new belt to the test for my sake and the sake of every stranger who’s had a glimpse of my unmentionables. I opened my isABelt and carefully read the instructions for adjusting its length. Note: it does not adjust like a bra strap! Even with instructions it took a couple false starts to grasp the concept but once I did it was smooth sailing. I adjusted it enough to fit snugly yet comfortably through the waistband, shimmied it towards the bottom of the belt loops and then secured it just under the front button. And then the real test began.

I squatted, bent over as if I were picking up toys (something I do a LOT) and sat down. Though my pants had a little vertical motion it was a vast improvement from my pre-isABelt days. And unless you want to adjust the belt so tight you can’t breathe, expect a little movement. But a little movement is better than a natural air vent down the back of your pants!

The isABelt is my new friend and should be yours as well. It is available in three sizes plus options for juniors, plus-size women and even men. (One should be included with every plumber’s standard “uniform.”) Right now you can get isABelt’s limited-edition Breast Cancer Awareness belt, which is clear with sweet little pink ribbons. Proceeds from this belt benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. –Emily

*** Giveaway!!! isABelt is giving away three of their fabulous belts! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winners from the comments and contact them via email. Deadline: October 9, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Heather R., Mary J., and Kathy D., the winners of the isABelt 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!