A couple good things happened as a result of my attending MAGIC Kids back in the fall. One, I quickly discovered it was not the right tradeshow for us; and two, I met Nancy Coronado, Co-Founder of Eleven Collection. Before meeting Nancy I met the shoes and it was love at first sight. Then I met Nancy and found out Eleven Collection is a sister company of See Kai Run. (If you’ve been a longtime reader of the Daily Dish you know I am one of See Kai Run’s biggest fans.) That fact combined with Eleven’s super stylish designs made the whole trip worth it—I knew we had to feature Eleven on Boutique Cafe!

Eleven Collection is right in step with See Kai Run’s tradition of flexibility and great style, but Eleven is solely for older children from age 3 to 8 years. Eleven shoes feature soft leather uppers, and flexible, durable rubber soles for traction. With a cushioned insole and easy on-and-off Velcro or zipper closures, the shoes are just as child friendly as they are style friendly. Plus they are low maintenance (wish my kids were too) because the high-quality leather makes them naturally water resistant. You only need to use a mild detergent or leather cleaner to and damp rag to keep them looking their Sunday best.

My little George received the new Luc boot in black, and although I love the super soft leather and how easy it is for him to put on and take off the shoes (one less thing I have to do), my favorite thing about the Luc is that it’s gender neutral. You can’t find too many gender-neutral shoes that are also fashion friendly, and those of us with multiple kids and a mix of genders love having a shoe that can be passed down through the family. The minute George saw his new boots he had them on for a test drive around the house!

We also received the Sofia but because the shoe sizes start at a 9, our little Livi has a little while before she can wear them. I’m practically counting the days! I have a feeling she’ll want to eat, sleep and play in these super cute metallic Mary Janes, and I’ll be okay with that. At least she’ll be eating, sleeping and playing in super chic style. The color goes with everything, and like my favorite pair of shimmery heels they can be dressed up or down. The Sofia is a popular seller—like that’s a surprise! What little girl wouldn’t want to wear her own pair of magical golden shoes?

Comfortable, durable, stylish children’s shoes are hard to find, especially for those hard-on-their-shoes ages between 3 and 8 years. After checking out Eleven Collection’s line of chic, high-quality shoes, Eleven will become your new favorite number too!—Emily

...all while soothing the senses. No karts, no alien creatures, no spastic background music. The Game Factory has debuted two new Nintendo DS games designed for the growing number of female “casual gamers”—women just like me who aren’t serious gamers but enjoy a little break from reality once in a while.

The two new games are Zenses Ocean and Zenses Rainforest, which allow players to “escape from the stress of daily life while challenging the mind, body and spirit through relaxing puzzle games, soothing ambient sounds and authentic rainforest and oceanic visuals.” Sounds pretty soothing already, doesn’t it? Well, my girls and I have tested both Zenses Ocean and Zenses Rainforest and the verdict is in: we love them!

Okay, I was only able to play Zenses Ocean. My daughter started playing Rainforest, her favorite of the two, when the battery ran out on her DS. We couldn’t find the charger so Rainforest has sat in the DS waiting anxiously for someone to play it—and I’m anxious! I enjoyed pretty much every game on Ocean and the crashing waves in the background were rather soothing. I had a little trouble with one of the games, and I will admit, a couple truly tested my brainpower, but a little cerebral exercise is a good thing especially when you have sand between your toes!

I can’t wait to charge up the DS and check out the Rainforest game. It’s already a favorite of my daughter’s and if it’s even better than Ocean I know I’ll love it. I’ll never be a hardcore gamer—not enough time and not enough interest—but I do enjoy a little reprieve from the daily grind and The Game Factory’s new line of Zenses games is perfect for the casual gamer like me.—Emily

Hi everyone,
Thank you for your vast support through the past few weeks of my pregnancy. Unfortunately I have miscarried and I’m truly devastated. This is not the first time, but definitely the most painful both physically and emotionally. Please bear with me as I’ll be away for a few days, I’m not taking calls while I’m going through this.

Your love and prayers are much appreciated. I thank you for all you have done to support me. Please feel free to pass this information along, as I won’t be able to work on Boutique Cafe this week. I will answer emails next week, thank you for your understanding while I take a few days to be with my family and recover.

Love,
Daria

I have a small collection of travel bags I use for my cosmetics and bath & body products, “small collection” being the key phrase. My suitcase usually contains about 2-4 different cases because I hadn’t found one I thought would do a better job of organizing and that I liked enough to invest in…until now.

Trina from Allegro Mfg. Inc. is a collection of cosmetic and accessory bags that “merge high style with practicality.” My current selection of makeup bags can boast practicality but they’re a far cry from stylish, so I was elated to learn I would be reviewing one of Trina’s travel bags from the new 2008 Fall/Winter collection.

I received the Square Weekender in the new Get in Line design. I’m more a basic than floral girl so I of course loved the wide brown and ivory stripes on the outside of the bag. The hardware was solid and high quality—I did multiple pulls to check—and when opened, this simple looking Weekender offered a world of organizing possibilities. There were zippers and pockets and more pockets and dividers. I was in total heaven as I found a place for everything (pomade and razor included) and everything had a place.

This fabulous Weekender traveled to Kauai and back (I should test all my travel gear in Hawaii) and passed with flying colors. I went from three random “practical” bags to one totally stylish, totally travel friendly Weekender from Trina. Trina’s collection of makeup and accessory bags range in price from $19 to $120; the Get in Line Weekender is actually about $80. Believe me, I wouldn’t normally spend that much on a travel bag (or any bag) but this one is worth every penny. To find out where you can purchase a bag from Trina’s collection, call Allegro Mfg. Inc. (Trina’s design house) at (323) 724-0101.—Emily

And I’m not talking about the famous Hilton. I’m talking about Gabriel Couzian, a collection of specially formulated skin care products that hydrate and soothe dry, itchy, irritated skin. But this is NOT your ordinary line or even your step-above-ordinary line of skin care products. Gabriel Couzian is extraordinary, perhaps even miraculous, and has brought a bit of French science into my skin care regimen.

The Gabriel Couzian brand has been trusted by French women for over fifteen years. They seem to know how to take care of their skin—perhaps Gabriel Couzian is their secret. The products contain an exclusive oil-in-water suspension technology that seamlessly blends natural oils, rich plant proteins and pure spring water. This technology means the products immediately help protect the skin’s natural barrier, moisturizing and relieving symptoms associated with eczema, psoriasis and dryness caused by everything from aging to the environment. (You can read more about the science and Gabriel Couzian’s healing ingredients here.)

I received Gabriel Couzian’s Washing Oil and Highly Nourishing Body Cream. The packaging wasn’t flashy but I’ve learned you do NOT judge a product by its packaging because in this case you’d be way wrong. The Washing Oil is a shower (or bath) oil that creates a “reparative and soothing” cream when mixed with water. It includes a proprietary blend of nourishing cleansing oils and pure water and the formula is a gentle alternative to soap. I was worried the Washing Oil would leave a slightly oily residue on my body and the shower floor but was pleasantly surprised when it didn’t. I did learn you need to follow the directions and massage it into wet skin without the use of a washcloth or body scrubber, and I did miss having a good lather. I’m just one for bubbles no matter how small, and the Washing Oil didn’t have any at all. But it did feel good going on and it did seem to hydrate my skin—no tight feeling after drying off…and this is Utah!

But the true star of the two, at least for me, is the Highly Nourishing Body Cream. This rich, decadent cream (sounds like a French dessert, doesn’t it?) is a miracle worker. Formulated for severely dry skin, this cortisone-free cream works immediately to inflamed skin and ease the discomfort caused by dryness, eczema or allergies. It contains olive oil, sweet almond oil, beeswax, shea butter, bisabolol (derived from chamomile flowers), aloe vera and glycerin and somehow this combination works wonders. I applied it one morning after my shower and noticed how quickly it absorbed into my skin even though it was as thick a cream as you could pump from a bottle. It has a wonderfully light scent (I smelled my arm many times to be sure) and it truly moisturized for 24 hours and then some.

You know how you use a lotion, even a favorite like Aveeno or Eucerin, and sure, it moisturizes but you have to reapply it within a few hours especially if you’ve washed your hands a few times? You can apply Gabriel Couzian’s Highly Nourishing Body Cream once and your skin will feel as smooth as silk for a couple days. The bottle says you only need to use it a couple times a week and I believe it. I even tried it on my one-year-old’s super dry skin. She borders on eczema and nothing I’ve tried (or reviewed) has truly moisturized for an extended period of time. They’ve helped, don’t get me wrong, but I have to reapply constantly. I used the Body Cream on her after her bath the other night and her skin was happily moisturized the following evening and the evening after that. No need for more cream—now that was an amazing moment. If you don’t believe me you should read Gabriel Couzian’s testimonials page. I’m right there with them!

Now, you won’t find Gabriel Couzian at your local drugstore and the prices may not be for the faint of heart, but once I did the math I realized it really wasn’t much more than the Oil of Olay Quench body lotion I buy from Target. The Body Cream costs about $68 for 13.6 fl. oz. while the Quench lotion costs about $9 (and doesn’t have nearly the impressive list of ingredients), but I have to use the Quench lotion every day, sometimes twice a day if I take a second shower. I only need to use the Gabriel Couzian Highly Nourishing Body Cream—because it’s highly nourishing—twice a week. So I’m using about 1/5 as much, which makes it about $13. Okay, so it’s probably not college-level calculus and it may not even be legit, but to me it make sense. Why not invest a little more in something that truly works and is made of quality ingredients (and smells fabulous)? It’s so totally worth it!

Some day I hope to travel to Europe and experience all it has to offer; until then I will enjoy a little dab of French cosmetological science right in my very own home.—Emily

*** Giveaway! Gabriel Couzian is giving away one gift set to a lucky Daily Dish reader! You DON’T want to pass up this awesome giveaway! Please leave a comment telling us what other Gabriel Couzian product intrigues you; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: December 1, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Jennifer H., the winner of the Gabriel Couzian 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!

...as long as it’s from Punky Mae! Punky Mae’s collection of hip message tees for kids are made from 100% finely ribbed cotton. Every tee has a message appliqued and stitched on the front so your child can tell it like it is.

Whether your little one thinks “preschool is cool” or your daughter is a bit on the “emotional” side, Punky Mae will help get the message across to friends and family. Our little George received the “spoiled” tee and I have to say it suits him perfectly. The shirt is soft and the design doesn’t rub his skin like some appliqued and stitched designs do. I like the 3/4-length sleeve because it keeps his sleeves out of running water and boxes of Cheez-Its. I had more than one person smile and comment on his “spoiled” tee while he was wearing it, and of course I always agreed that shirt was telling the truth. What do you expect? He’s the only boy out of four kids!

My other favorite phrases are “sassy” and “high maintenance.” (If they came in larger sizes you can bet that last one would be worn by my second-born!) Punky Mae tees are $32 and range in size from 2T to 6.—Emily

*** Giveaway Punky Mae is giving away one t-shirt, winner’s choice! 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: November 28, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Heather K., the winner of the Punky Mae 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!

Don’t miss out on the Kandy Kisses Black Friday Sale Nov. 28th on her blog! She’ll be having a Giveaway drawing every hour on the hour starting at 7am…with a grand prize Drawing at 6pm!! Come by her blog and grab a number so you`ll be entered and can participate in the fun. Also…if you`ll be having an auction up on Black Friday…send over the link when its up and she will post it on her blog.

VISIT Kandy Kisses Blog for more details

Nursing covers are all the rage, and why shouldn’t they be? They allow moms to nurse in public without the worry of “over exposure” and with a little style. You might think nursing covers are pretty much all the same, and you’d be right…until you discovered the Mommy Cover by JOIA.

JOIA’s Mommy Cover will have you wondering how you survived nursing this long without one. Sure, it has a neckline designed so you can watch baby while nursing, but this one is flexible so you can roll it up much easier than other brands. The soft, silky neck strap is not only softer on the skin but also adds a chic touch to this already chic—and fully reversible—cover. The adjustable buckles are fashionable and functional, and the cover is made from machine-washable and dryable 100% cotton fabrics. But what really leaves the “other” covers at the bottom of the diaper bag (i.e. totem pole) is the Mommy Cover’s patented retractable reel system.

On one side of the Mommy Cover you’ll find a retractable reel sewn tightly into the fabric. The reel holds a thin cord with a Velcro tab on the end. You simply pull the cord behind you with one hand, grab it with the other and insert the Velcro tab into the other side of the cover. You now have a nursing cover that withstand even the wiggliest, busiest baby (and curious older sister).

Because I am no longer nursing I passed along the Mommy Cover to my good friend Kelli. Here’s her take on it:

Aside from the satin strap looking cute, I wasn’t sure it would stay in place…but, it does! The Mommy Cover made it so much easier to nurse in public—I wasn’t worried about my baby pulling the blanket down for full exposure. I do feel like the setup screams ‘I’m breast feeding right this minute!’ But I love that I get to peek at my baby; she has fresh air to breathe and no blanket covering her face.

* Promotion! JOIA is offering Daily Dish readers 30% off their orders! Simply enter code “boutiquemom” at checkout. Offer expires November 30th. This is a FABULOUS deal—I guarantee you’ll be less than “joyful” if you let it pass you by!

HO HO HO! It’s our favorite time of the year, and Boutique Cafe’s 12 Days of Christmas is back for our FOURTH season of shows. This year we’re recruiting our guests a bit differently, due to the time crunch and increased schedule for Daria, we won’t be running auctions for interested designers/groups/shops to bid on a feature. INSTEAD… we ask that you email us directly as to availability, we will then invoice you for your purchase through Paypal so you can instantly purchase your interview with Daria, in our popular holiday shows that run at the end of November. That’s right – you’ll instantly know that you can prepare and plan for an interview on Boutique Cafe’s biggest shows of the year. Once the 12 spaces are sold that’s it, so don’t delay in grabbing your “Day of Christmas” feature on our podcast.

Our Buy it Now price is $100 per “Day of Christmas” and will feature you, your group, or your boutique related website during a podcast interview. You will have your clickable link and a few photos embedded in our enhanced feed, as well as your url in our shownotes for that show. Boutique Cafe also will be doing a press release during the holiday shopping frenzy to give attention to our 12 Days of Christmas guests. Read the rest of this entry »

Because the Daily Dish could be a little more equal opportunity when it comes to reviews, today’s feature includes a line of ACE grooming products for men along with our PerriconeMD review just for you. We’re not trying to leave the men out; it’s just our products are a lot more fun!

That being said, I must tell you I enjoyed one of the ACE products almost as much as my husband. Their Fogless Shower Mirror was designed for men who prefer to shave in the shower. It has a nifty razor holder, two serious suction cups, a height-adjustable base, and of course the fog-proof mirror. I have to confess, the first time I was in the shower with this mirror totally fogged up and I was truly disappointed. My husband said it remained fogless for him the whole time, so I gave it a second chance. That’s when I noticed the water reservoir behind the mirror. You fill it with water and it helps equalize the mirror and air temperature—and it totally worked!

I found it super handy for nighttime showers when I washed my makeup off ; I could check for raccoon eyes in case I needed to “lather, rinse, repeat” before stepping out. My husband has used it faithfully since the day he first suctioned it to the wall, and it’s a hit with my three-year-old as well. Nothing like making faces when you’re all lathered up!

My husband also tested the ACE Toenail Clippers and the 3-in-1 Splinter Tweezer—okay, I tested these ones since he conveniently forgot to do so. I didn’t love either of these products really. The clippers, while “strong enough for a man,” were almost too manly. Even my husband didn’t love them. They were a bit heavy and unwieldy and looked and felt like they were made to cut heavy-guage wire rather than toenails. And the clippings catcher didn’t do its job all that well. The tweezer, which we really did try on my son’s splinter, didn’t seem very effective. I had to keep looking at the diagram to figure out which corner to use first and we ended up using our favorite Sonia Kashuk tweezers to pull it out.

But don’t let my review of the clippers and tweezer keep you from checking out ACE’s other products. We received the Excursion bag and it is a great travel product—plenty of room for his essentials and yours as well (as long as you don’t count makeup as an essential!). It’s a serious travel case and will hold up well during your holiday travels. And that Fogless Mirror is totally awesome!

Now for the “hers” part of this review. PerriconeMD is the brainchild of Dr. Nicholas Perricone, whose research has shown that the “inflammation-aging connection is the single greatest precipitator of aging and age-related diseases. This inflammation … does its damage by triggering free radicals, which accelerate aging by attaching to and damaging cells.” His three-tiered approach to battling this inflammation includes an anti-inflammatory diet, nutritional supplements and topical anti-inflammatories.

I’ve been able to try PerriconeMD’s Omega 3 and Super Berry Powder supplements (tier 2). If you aren’t familiar with Omega 3 it is supposed to help suppress appetite, boost metabolism and help burn stored fat. I was already taking an Omega supplement when I switched to the PerriconeMD Omega 3 capsules, so I didn’t notice much difference. The one thing I did notice, and this is probably too much information, is I didn’t have what I affectionately call “fish burps” after taking them at night on an empty stomach. But other than that, it was status quo.

PerriconeMD’s Super Berry Powder is derived from raspberry, blueberry and Acai, which is packed with essential amino and fatty acids. I’ve heard a lot about the benefits of Acai so I was anxious to tet this product. To use it you mix one small packet (kind of like those Crystal Light To-Go packets) “with water and drink.” No mention of how much water—8 ounces? 16 ounces? Let me tell you, the more ounces the better.

I tried it with about 8 ounces and it was too strong and too grainy for my taste. I really had to water it down with ice cold water, and I’m one who can drink fiber powder without any problems. I wasn’t too faithful about using it once a day so I can’t give a true review on its effects, and even if you did take it once a day I think it’s hard to measure how well a product protects you against free radicals damage. But I do know Acai is a very powerful supplement and this would be one great way to get those benefits along with the antioxidants in raspberries and blueberries. Heaven knows I don’t eat nearly enough of those!

I would love to try some of PerriconeMD’s other products like the Advanced Eye Area Therapy but the Pore Refining Treatment Gel Cream might be more within budget…ah, the price we pay for beauty! My philosophy? Invest in great skin care products now, save thousands of dollars later!—Emily

** Giveaway ACE and PerriconeMD are each giving away a gift set to one lucky winner! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. Tell us which ACE tool your significant other would love the most AND which PerriconeMD product you’d most like to try. We’ll draw the two winners from the comments and contact them via email. Deadline: November 24, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Elizabeth Y. and Kristi P., the winners of the ACE and PerriconeMD giveaways! 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!

Boutique Cafe made some history 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.

Here is the raw video interview hosted on Ustream.tv of my Live interview with up and coming fabric designer Melissa Averinos about her new (candy inspired) line called “Sugar Snap”. Melissa was such a sweet person to talk with, I enjoyed our interview immensely and see huge things ahead of her, she’s just super talented. Thanks so much Melissa!

Visit Melissa’s Blog, Yummy Goods here to learn even more about Melissa and her fabrics.

Boutique Cafe has a rockin’ Holiday Gift Guide this year, full of deals/discounts/free ships and promo codes. All you need to make your holiday shopping a bit more merry.

Endulge in:

10% off with Sweet Girl Boutique + Free Gift Wrap
10% off at You Can Make This
15% off with Studio Jewel
$2 off shipping with Pammy J
Free Shipping at Two Little Witches
Free Shipping with Cinnamon Sticks
10% off at Baby Bella Maya
10% off at BonBon Cupcakes
10% off and Free Priority Shipping with D-Lux 57 aprons
AND MANY MANY MANY MORE!
Don’t forget to snag our Holiday Guide Button to add to your sidebar. Let’s support these incredible small businesses and share the joy this season!

To join our guide as a retailer, please send an email to daria@boutiquecafe.com for more details.

Cry Babyz’s philosophy is: “No matter how innovative a new design is, if it isn’t created with the finest, top quality materials from start to finish, it isn’t worth bringing to life.” With a philosophy like that and a chic product line of baby accessories, customers are smiling.

Cry Babyz offers burp cloths, diaper pockets, paci (pacifier) pockets, onesies, pacifiers and oilcloth bags made from not just the finest materials but fashion-forward ones as well. I love how their burp cloth sets are color coordinate yet don’t use a lot of the same fabrics you see everywhere else. Plus their made from a twill weave, which is thick and absorbent.

I received the Swirls Paci Pocket, which went really well with my red patent-leather Amy Michelle diaper bag. I love a good pacifier pocket, and though the pocket had a little too much length to hang on the outside of my bag without touching the floor, it was perfect attached and thrown inside the bag. You can still find it easily and it will keep a pacifier freem from dirt and lint and who knows what else. The cool thing about this pocket is it’s reversible; turn it inside out for a totally different look. You can hang the Paci Pocket from a stroller, shopping cart or even a carrier or car seat—now that’s when the extra length comes in handy!

I also love their Itty Bitty oilcloth bags. The mid-size car of diaper bags, they are a bit larger than the diaper pocket but smaller than a full diaper bag. The bags are designed to hold one baby bottle, a travel size wipe case and two to three diapers. They are made using oilcloth and laminated fabrics and are fully lined with a coordinating designer cotton fabric.

With Cry Babyz, the only thing you’ll be crying about is how hard it is to decide which burp cloth set or Paci Pocket to buy! Good luck with that one!—Emily

* Promotion! Cry Babyz is offering Daily Dish readers 25% off their orders! Simply enter code “The Dish” at checkout. This is a great offer; it’s the perfect opportunity to stock up now on some great baby gifts!

Boutique Cafe made some history 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.

Here is the raw video interview hosted on Ustream.tv of Myrinda owner of Fabrichound.com and myself. What a fun opportunity to hear about Market from a retailer/buyers perspective. Thanks Myrinda for taking the time to do this Live Feed interview with me!

Visit Fabric Hound here

This is Marielle. She is the beautiful teenage daughter of Lisa (aka The Domestic Diva), a dear friend of mine from the boutique world. Marielle desperately needs a kidney transplant, unfortunately finding a match for Marielle is extremely difficult. Her mother is one of the most generous, kind and talented people I have ever known. I know the agony of seeing her daughter in constant pain is tearing her apart, and the fact that she is unable to donate her own kidney to Marielle must be sorrowful for her. Lisa is exhausting each and every possibility as the ultimate advocate for her daughter’s care. Her bravery in this situation is awe-inspiring to me in every way.

Please help to save Lisa’s daughter and consider being a living kidney donor. Marielle will only match 1 in 50 people in the general population (average person matches 1 in 2). I am asking EVERYONE who has ever loved a child as deeply as I do my daughter to please consider being a living-kidney donor to her. You might be the one who can save my daughter’s life.”>Here is how you can help. Prayers are also much appreciated for Marielle and her family.

Please help save this child’s life!

Sign up this month for our Boutique Cafe newsletter, and you’ll be entered to win one of 10 Pink Tees from Shade Clothing!! Once you sign up in our sidebar, please feel free to leave a comment below stating your preferred size. Good luck everyone! (we’ll be drawing 10 winners from the entire mailing list)

Drawing on Dec. 1st, 2008 at Midnight.

Join Our Newsletter

I admit it, I am a t-shirt lover. I own a few button-down shirts and I continue to buy button-down shirts thinking I’ll actually wear them at some point, but alas, I always go for a favorite t-shirt instead (unless it’s Sunday and I’m dressing up for church). And when I come across a soft, comfy tee that has a great design in great colors I simply have to have it. That’s probably why I love PeaceLoveMom’s entire collection.

Sure, PeaceLoveMom has comfy tees in great colors but they also have some rockin’ designs. And by rockin’ I mean really cool designs that are all about mom. The three moms behind PeaceLoveMom are all about “creating designs that will both inspire and empower mothers everywhere” and the collection “represents a collaboration and true celebration of motherhood.” We definitely need more celebrating of motherhood, and these tees do it with style.

I received the Lucky Mom Mint Tee, which is all about feeling lucky 24/7 because you’re a mom. While I don’t necessarily adhere to that way of thinking, having four kids (five if you count my DH), I truly love the design. The first thing I noticed about this cute cap-sleeve t-shirt was the slightly glittery ink used in the design; it was sparkly without being blingy (I don’t do bling). The design itself was awesome (I don’t do cheesy) and I loved the little graphic on the back of the neck. The fit was flattering and comfortable, probably due to the 100% soft cotton jersey, tapered waist and longer length. And I can attest to its washability since I’ve worn and washed this t-shirt just about every week! It became one of my faves overnight, and that’s saying a lot since I have quite the collection of t-shirts.

If you’re gearing up for some cold weather you’ll love PeaceLoveMom’s Cozy Mom Thermals. They also have a few tank tops, fuller-cut tees and a fun kids collection. I am totally loving their hat collection too!

We really ought to remind ourselves to enjoy the journey that is motherhood, and PeaceLoveMom is a great way to do so. If you’re having one of those days, just throw on your favorite pair of jeans paired with your favorite PeaceLoveMom tee, add a smile and you can at least fake it til you believe it! I love the “Language of PeaceLoveMom,” which you can read on their About Us page—and you really ought to read it. It’s a wonderful reminder about why we should celebrate motherhood 24/7.—Emily

** Giveaway PeaceLoveMom is giving away one of their Grateful Mom grass green thermal tees(a $50 value)! Please leave a comment telling us your favorite PeaceLoveMom tee and your favorite thing about motherhood. (Don’t forget to include a valid email address for our drawing.) Then post the contest on your blog and let us know for an extra entry! We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: November 20, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Promotion! PeaceLoveMom is offering Daily Dish readers free shipping! Simply enter code BOUTIQUEMOMS at checkout. Offer expires November 30, 2008.

Dear Boutique Cafe Readers,
Well it’s time to break the ice and share our excitement with the blogosphere – we’re having a baby!! Some may be surprised to hear this news, I believe I have professed being DONE for awhile now. What can I say? Things change and I couldn’t be any more thrilled that our family is growing. I’ve always dreamed of a big family, I adore children so this is super joyful for us. We had been seriously looking into adoption this year, and are still on that course as well at this point (we have an interview/meeting last week). So potentially we could be adding two children into our family within the year! (that’s 6 kids for those who were trying to count it)

At this point we’re only a mere 8 weeks (judging from the dates we have), that would put us with a June 23rd Due Date. I’ll definitely update that should any stats push us back or forward a week or so.

So now comes the harder part, I haven’t had a great track record when it comes to pregnancy. With my four boys I was pretty much sick 24/7 the entire 9 months. I’m hoping for some reprieve this time around, but just in case I get weak and weepy I am lucky enough to have a tremendous support system in our extended family. I feel confident that I’ll be able to get through these months and have a healthy little bundle to love. The comment keeps coming up about whether I’m hoping for a girl, and the answer is….I’m considering myself expecting a boy until I hear otherwise! LOL! Our track record shows that testosterone is prevalent in our little gene pool so I’m thinking blue, and if pink creeps in there then I’ll be OVER THE MOON!

A cool thing about this whole expecting experience is that my sister-in-law Liz is also having a baby around the same time. Our little darlings with be born likely in the same month and I can’t tell you how thrilling it will be to have a little buddy cousin that is their exact age! I’m kind of scared to be pregnant next to her though, she always has the cutest little preggo belly and looks fantastic. I’m worried that I may just reach whale status this time around!! ROTFL. However many pounds I gain, I’m very grateful and know that we’re very blessed. Thank you for your support and excitement for us, it means so much! – Daria

Though we did an apron review only a couple weeks ago, it’s never too soon to do another one! Fashionable aprons are all the rage and it’s no wonder why. With all the fun designs and flirty styles, every girl should have at least one hostess-with-the-mostess apron. If you are still on the hunt for the perfect apron, look no further than D-Lux 57. These aprons are some of the most delicious ones you’ll find!

D-Lux 57 aprons come in three sizes for three ages of cooks: adult, tween and little. You can coordinate to create the perfect mother/daughter set or even grandmother/granddaughter set! The aprons are fully lined so everyone’s party clothes are protected from spills and splatters. D-Lux 57’s 100% cotton fabrics, which come from the quilting market, are of the highest quality, made in the USA and known for their soft feel.

From vintage to modern to retro, the fashion prints on these aprons are some of the yummiest around. Two of my daughters (the 11-year-old and 1-year-old) and I are now the proud wearers of D-Lux 57 aprons. (Well, I’m the proud wearer…the other two have to wait for theirs until I can buy a third for the 8-year-old.) But before I could be wowed by the aprons I found myself adoring the matching fabric keepsake envelope in which the aprons arrived. The envelope, made of the same high-quality fabric and craftsmanship, is an ingenious way to store these aprons. The hooks in my pantry are getting a bit crowded and the keepsake envelope means I can stack the aprons neatly on a shelf or in a kitchen drawer. Plus they make for great gift packaging, and I always love a product that comes in its own packaging!

Once I got past the sweet little pouch and pulled out my Dottie Aqua & Brown apron, the drool started, and it continued until I had opened the tween-size Wild Safari and the little cook Asian Kids aprons. (I think I’m experiencing some flashback drool right now…) The fabric was just as soft as promised and the prints just as delicious. The style of the adult and tween aprons seems like it would fit a variety of body shapes and sizes, and the kimono-type styling of the little cook apron was the perfect variation on a theme. I am dying for my baby to get a little older so she can toddle around the kitchen—or the craft table—in her D-Lux 57 apron!

D-Lux 57’s delicious aprons are already getting noticed. Check out this YouTube clip from a recent Desperate Housewives commercial depicting Bri wearing the Pink Pears apron.

D-Lux 57 just introduced a new line of laminated plasticware that includes trays and bowls and coordinates with their beautiful aprons. True to D-Lux 57’s own words, “Cooking never looked so good.”—Emily

* Promotion! D-Lux 57 is offering Daily Dish readers 10% off plus free shipping on their order! Simply enter code BCDD101130 at checkout. Offer expires December 31st.

Baby Candy emailed me today about a special promotion for Boutique Cafe Readers. To celebrate our new President of the United States, Baby Candy is offering our readers 15% off their popular Obama tees, which range in size newborn to 4T. Use code “ObamaBaby” at checkout. Offer expires November 30, 2008. You can view the new tees on Baby Candy’s website.

Oops! Baby did it again. She spit up while you held her over your shoulder and completely missed the burp cloth. If only that burp cloth had been designed with you in mind and not how to refashion your standard cloth diaper. But wait, there actually is a burp cloth made to hug your neck and shoulder so those “oops” land where they’re supposed to. No surprise it’s made by JJ Cole, a company whose products are always designed with both parents and their children in mind.

JJ Cole’s new burp cloths are made with the same subtle-yet-fashionable fabrics you’ll find on their other products and include a thin inner lining for extra protection. The burp cloth is reversible and both sides of are super soft. It even has a satin trim, the perfect touch to what could be the perfect brup cloth. I received the unisex gift set, which arrived packaged in a classy, sturdy windowed box tied with their signature ribbon. It was almost too pretty to open, but I had to see if JJ Cole’s burp cloths were really as nifty as they say.

I thought I’d pull one of the burp cloths out, feel it a bit, try it on and then slip it back in the box for later re-gifting since my littlest one no longer requires the use of a burp cloth. But what happened is I took one out, tried it on, felt it and decided I had to keep it. In fact, I used it that very day as a soft cloth for wiping a runny nose. It was quite possibly the first time my little one didn’t dodge a nose wiping! The size was generous without being too big and the fabric truly was super soft. The gift box now has only two burp cloths so I’ll have to give them away separately (either that or keep them all, which is very tempting…).

Also tempting, but for different reasons, is JJ Cole’s Urban Bundle Me in its new bold colors: Frenzy, Lagoon and Sassy. I of course had to test out the Sassy for my pre-toddler and the recent Utah weather made for perfect timing. Disclaimer: This just might be a biased review. I’ve owned both the Original and Lite Bundle Me’s and loved them both, so I was ready to love my Sassy Urban Bundle Me before it even arrived.

It was love before first sight and love again after I laid eyes on that Sassy pink color! In typical Bundle Me style, the Urban was designed to allow safety straps to rest directly on my children and it has been crash tested as well. Believe it or not, safety is more important than style (but I’m really glad the Urban has both!). I really like the quilted outer nylon shell because it does a better job protecting against rain and snow, and though I love the shearing lining of the Original Bundle Me, I could easily get used to the soft chamois lining the inside. I’m really excited about using this in the car seat because the heat in my old van takes a while to get going. This will definitely come in handy during carpool week!

The Urban Bundle Me is just as machine washable as the others and also has a removable top so my little one will be comfortable even on those rare unseasonably warm winter days. My Urban has Sassy written all over it—literally—and I couldn’t be happier!—Emily

Sometimes I feel like the pretzels and goldfish crackers I give my little ones do series of loop de loops around the family room and in the car. I find pretzel twists under the car seat and goldfish tails inside the media cabinet. Even when I give them a little snack cup with a lid that swivels just large enough for little fingers, those crackers manage to escape. Aside from duct taping your busy toddler to the barstool, a parent doesn’t have many options…until now.

I was mesmerized by the Löopa bowl the first time I laid eyes on it. The design reminded me of a past American Inventor where the winner designed a car seat that swiveled, protecting the baby in the event of a crash. I thought the design was nifty back then and when I saw it applied to a snack bowl, I thought it was ingenious. But would it work? Would snacks really stay put when my one-year-old new walker toddled around the house? And would my toddler’s booster seat remain goldfish-free? Designed by parents, I had high hopes…and I wasn’t disappointed.

Necessity is always the mother of invention when it comes to children’s products, and I am so glad the Brad and Melinda Shepherd’s little one “spilled Cheerios all over the back seat of the minivan for the umpteenth time” because it eventually led to the Löopa bowl. This spill-resistant bowl swivels and oscillates in all directions keeping snacks in the bowl and not under the couch, behind the computer desk or on the dashboard. The weighted inner bowl rotates 360 degrees so pretzels, fruit snacks and Cheerios stay inside even when held vertically, something my one-year-old loves to do. When not holding munchies it’s a great toy, even for adults. I often found myself twisting and turning the Löopa bowl, watching it swivel and spin. Yes, I’m easily amused but this thing is pretty dang cool!

The only time we had goldfish go flying was when my little ones literally swung that thing in earnest, and nothing could have held up to that test! And if your snacks are on the smaller side, like those toddler dried fruit snacks, they can get wedged between the innermost bowl and the piece next to it, locking the bowl in place. When that happens it’s pretty likely you’ll find dried fruit outside the Löopa bowl rather than in it. But overall, I’m totally sold on the design because preventing that “umpteenth time” means preventing a moment of insanity.

The Löopa bowl is available online for around $10 on Löopa’s website and both online and off from One Step Ahead and Bed Bath & Beyond.—Emily

* Promotion! Löopa is offering Daily Dish readers “Buy One, Get One Half Off” if you purchase a Löopa bowl from their website. This is a really great deal on a really awesome product! Just enter code “boutiquecafe” at checkout. The offer expires November 22, 2008, so don’t wait!

I’ve reviewed a handful of DVDs from Scholastic’s Storybook Treasures collection and apparently they liked the reviews enough to keep sending us more. Mind you, I’m not complaining and neither are my kids, but who knew there were so many treasures in their collection! Today I’m giving you the lowdown on four titles, all of which the family has thoroughly reviewed (at least two or three times).

Where the Wild Things Are…and 5 More Stories by Maurice Sendak: This is one of my favorite children’s books, and it was a favorite long before Jeremiah at Z Recommends pointed out the deeper level at which you could enjoy it (scroll down to the fifth paragraph). This DVD features the title story plus five other Sendak treasures, including Into the Night Kitchen, which fascinated me the first time I read it. (See Jeremiah’s review of that story as well…wish I had read between the lines!). My kids loved this DVD, especially George who has yet to read Where the Wild Things Are. Guess I better add that to the library list! The disc also features a getting-to-know Maurice Sendak blurb and Spanish and French versions of Where the Wild Things Are.

Make Way for Ducklings…and More Delightful Duck Stories: I have to admit, I didn’t get a chance to watch this DVD in its entirety though I did catch the first story and loved it! Make Way for Ducklings is a best-selling children’s book and it was the first time I had seen it. How did I miss this classic?

Harry the Dirty Dog…and More Playful Puppy Stories: This was one of my kids’ favorite DVDs out of the group. It was slipped into the DVD player quite a few times, especially by my son. Perhaps it’s because Harry loves to be muddy and Dot the fire dog is such a hero, whatever the reason, he loved it!

Night Before Christmas…and More Classic Holiday Tales: I don’t generally do anything Christmas (besides a little shopping) before the day after Thanksgiving, but when this DVD arrived, my kids couldn’t wait to watch it, so I gave in (pretty easily). And I’m so glad I did, because not only did it feature the original holiday classic but also taught my children a little bit about Hanukkah (In the Month of Kisley), Kwanzaa (Seven Candles for Kwanzaa) and a Hispanic Christmas dinner (Too Many Tamales). A little culture at Christmas time is a really good thing!

To wrap up this review, we also had a chance to watch a new DVD from Shout! Factory, Jane and the Dragon: A Dragon’s Tale. The DVD is a compilation of the first five episodes from the TV show, and if you haven’t seen Jane and the Dragon, then you’re missing out, especially if you have little girls. In this kingdom, girls are raised to be ladies-in-waiting, but not Jane. This 12-year-old rescues the prince from a ferocious dragon (he’s really not that ferocious) and is granted permission by the king to train as a knight’s apprentice. Her new friend, Dragon, is the perfect sidekick. I love his humor! The series showcases some pretty awesome 3D animation and every story so far has had a nice moral to it. It’s one of the few Saturday cartoons worth watching.

Quality children’s programming is hard to find on TV; the same goes for movies. Consider gifting your children one or two Scholastic Storybook Treasures or a Shout! Factory DVD this holiday season. Remember Where the Wild Things Are—classic stories stand the test of time. —Emily