The Daily Dish is taking a little time off so its contributors can spend a little more time with their families. We know how much you love our reviews and hope you don’t go through serious withdrawals over the next two weeks. If so, just grab a handful of holiday candy–it works well for us! We will be back in full swing on January 5th with your daily dose of the latest must-have products for mom and baby. Until then, have a wonderful holiday season and a very merry New Year!

There’s nothing better than a few sweets for the Holiday season, and with this group you’ll certainly satisfy your sweet tooth. Meet Sugar3 (sugar cube) design group – they are a collaborative group of very talented designers and we LOVE their work. Enjoy their new BC Fashion Show!!

Designer GROUP Quote:
“*The Sugar3 is full of fun,
in the winter snow or summer sun.

The Sugar team is doing something grand,
Peek in January as we have something extraordinary Planned.

To our customers we love so dear,
We say thank you for all your support and friendships,
As we celebrate this time of year.

The cube would like to give something sweet,
A special winner will get a $40 treat.
Sugar Bucks will be yours to spend,
So search Sugar3 for the latest trend.
We know You will find that perfect thing,
So search our listings like you’re a King!

So after your fun Holiday,
The Cube will impress you in a totally new way.
So search Sugar3 in the New Year,
And you will find something “Fairy Sweet” and dear!!!

*For all our customers Sugar3 would like to offer a special contest. Sugar3 will pick a winner from all the bidders in our January Launch. The winner can use the $40 SugarBucks toward their winning item OR if the winner was an non winning bidder, they can use the SugarBucks on another Sugar3 design in the future.

Shop Sugar3 through their amazing eBay auctions! **Please allow time for the show to load.

NEW EPISODE!!! We’re back for our FOURTH straight year of our popular Holiday Shows! In our SECOND holly jolly installment Daria interviews designers and momprenuers including Dawn of My Princess Closet, Kim of You Can Make This.com, and Lisa Otto with both Creative Writing Studios and also Boutique UP! Daily

**This episode is full of Spectacular Giveaways including: A Pinkalicious Books to Bed set from My Princess Closet(**Which was featured on “The View” this morning!!), 2 $50 eBook Bundles from You Can Make This.com, and 3 Kimberbell Doll patterns from You Can Make This.com!! We’ll draw the winners on Dec. 22nd! Good luck Everyone and Happy Holidays from Boutique Cafe.

**Due to family emergency this will be our last 12 Days holiday show. I express my sincere apologies, and thank you for your understanding as I leave town to handle some personal issues. I hope you love the Holiday Shows and we’ll be posting winners shortly. Merry Christmas my dear friends! – Daria

This will be my third time featuring pediped on the Daily Dish. I just can’t get enough of these shoes! Our first review was April of 2007, and then we featured their new Flex line 10 months later in February of 2008. Here we are again, 10 months later, and I haven’t run out of good things to say. My kids are still loving their shoes and I am still one of their biggest fans.

This time I wanted to showcase what I call pediped’s party shoes. No, they don’t specifically have a party line, but they totally could. I was sent the original Naomi in silver for our little Livi. Though the Isabella is my most favorite of their dress shoes, the Naomi runs a close second (and goes with more outfits). Livi was too young to have an opinion about her red patent Isabellas but when she saaw the Naomis through the window of their gift box, she immediately went over, opened the box and took one out. If that weren’t cute enough she then turned to me and handed me the shoe so I could put it on her. Livi didn’t care that they were still a little too big. She was off and running (well, toddling…she is only 16 months) in her Naomis and protested much when she had to take them off for naptime. She might be their next biggest fan!

Looking at the Naomi and the Isabella, you can tell pediped shoes are big on style but did you know they are also big on comfort? pediped Footwear promotes quality foot health and development and the company has been awarded both the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance and recommended as a top footwear choice in the 2007 Consumer Reports Best Baby Products Guide.

So why is pediped a dream come true? Because they have partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to helping grant the wishes of terminally ill children. pediped is making dreams come true by offering a very rare promotion on its website. (Rare because this is only the second time the company has made such an offer.) From December 17th through the 31st, pediped is reducing the price of select footwear and will donate 50% of the sales from these shoes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

This is the first time pediped has partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and through its fundraising efforts the company has already raised over $87,000, enough to grant the wishes of 12 children with life-threatening medical conditions. You can view some of the granted wishes and keep up to date on pediped’s goal by visiting the Make-A-Wish page on their website.

This special online fundraising event is good only through the end of December. You can learn more about this fundraiser and view the select footwear at pediped.com. –Emily

This is just so striking, I’d love it for myself!! Available on Etsy from Kustom Kids – HBTM
Listing Includes:
-EXTRA FULL TWIRL SKIRT
-REVERSABLE JACKET
-SHIRRED BACK RUFFLED TOP

Get as many pieces as you like to create a wonderful mix and match mini wardrobe that will be festive for the holidays and long after. The extra full twirl skirt has a stripwork effect to the fabric. The white peasant top has a softly shirred back and layeres of eyelet lace across the little tummy area. The jacket is reversable and the petti skirt is about half the fullness of a regular petti.

PLEASE NOTE: MINI PETTI SKIRT shown is NOT included but can be added for an additional $45

Article by: Heather Flottman
Owner/Designer
liliputians NYC

The sky is falling! Yes, I feel a like an overly dramatic Chicken Little. And I wish it were true considering recent congressional legislation is about to crush the life out of the handmade clothing and toy industry. I’m talking about H.R. 4040, the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) signed into law August 14, 2008, and the ramifications it will have when it goes into effect February 10, 2009 (now being popularly referred to as National Bankruptcy Day).

Make no mistake. CPSIA was necessary in principle and has noble intentions, keeping our children safe and holding companies accountable for importing toxic toys. We all demand safety for our children and this is the intent of CPSIA; specifically to ensure safe levels of lead and phthalates in all products manufactured for children under the age of 12. Unfortunately this legislation lacks common sense, is ambiguous and fails to take into account the handmade industry.

What you see is not what you get with CPSIA. There is no distinction between big, small, or even micro one-person businesses. Whether it’s a large-scale manufacturer importing apparel to be sold in big box stores, or a work-at-home mom (WAHM) selling customs on ebay, the legislation applies the same to all.

Unit testing will be required on finished products, regardless if the components are natural materials or if you have documentation from a vendor stating that buttons, for example, are certified lead-free. As it stands, H.R. 4040 fails to recognize that textile products are inherently lead-free. Why then is an organic cotton shirt being tested for lead exactly?

Unit testing is extremely cost prohibitive to small business, but worse, it is unnecessary. In fact, it is completely redundant if the components that comprise the whole have already been tested and due diligence can prove they meet the guidelines.

To put a real dollar amount to testing one of my products, I solicited a lab quote. I was told it was $75 to test for lead per garment component and each substrate. Coated or painted items such as buttons are $100. So my Little Red Riding Hood Shirt, a 100% cotton knit shirt with an appliqué made from 7 cotton fabrics and 2 buttons eyes would cost $625 to test for lead. Flammability testing is also required and is either $50 for a certificate per component stating it meets weight code or $100 for actual testing. So add another $400-$800 for a grand total of $1,025-$1425. in testing costs for a shirt that retails for $40. If the shirt is offered in another colorway, the same testing is required despite the fact that the same fabrics are used throughout.

Small manufacturers have no way of absorbing the price of such redundancy. And all manufacturers will be required to test a finished component/item from each batch. Easy to do in mass production—simply pull one sample from a lot of thousands. But how does one comply when your “batches” are made-to-order batches of one? SKUs will also be required for each product with a permanent label on the item itself.

CPSIA will be retroactive and takes a guilty-until-proven-innocent approach with extremely hefty fines for violators. As written, any product used by children 12 and under (such as toys, footwear, carpets, clothing, bedding, luggage, lamps, toys, books, magazines, baseball cards, consumer electronics, school supplies, office supplies, jewelry, housewares, sports equipment and so on) without the newly required certification would be deemed hazardous, whether the item poses an actual threat or not. So on February 10, 2009, any unsold merchandise (in big box stores, the corner boutique, your fabric stash, Good Will donations, etc.) will be deemed “hazardous goods” and illegal to sell unless 3rd party testing proves otherwise. By the way, there are only 14 said labs currently in the United States.

Think you won’t be affected? I hope not, but the sad truth is that hundreds of thousands (if not millions) will be. Do you make children’s clothing, toys, jewelry, hair bows, accessories, furniture, artwork or anything else “intended for use by children age 12 and under”? Are you a retailer of children’s goods? Do you resell used children’s clothing or toys on ebay? Do you participate or shop at craft fairs? Do you donate used children’s items to needy organizations? Do you belong to a church that has rummage sales as a fundraiser? Does your child play sports and get their uniforms from a local screen print shop? Are you a consumer shopping for alternatives to mass-produced toys? If so, this law takes away that freedom.

Surely this legislation can be amended by incorporating some common sense and still make it possible to ensure our children’s safety without further hurting the US economy. According to the 2002 Economic Census (the last survey of its type), small U.S. clothing manufacturers (with fewer than 20 employees) contribute over $900 million dollars [consider: nearly $1 billion dollars] annually to the economy and comprise 68% of total apparel manufacturing in the U.S. This is clearly a vital and contributing asset to our economy. Multiply this fallout exponentially when you take into account the myriad other manufacturers, retailers and businesses that will be hurt or ultimately driven out of business.

So, why should you support amending this legislation?

Because the CPSIA isn’t fair and will not function as written. It inadvertently punishes American industries unrelated to toys and will ultimately result in fewer alternatives to mass produced merchandise made in China. The concept that small producers should be subject to the same rigorous standards but with lesser regulation (and common sense) has already been fought for and sustained in the food industry, which is why your local farmers market still exists. Now this same idea needs to be applied to children’s products.

What can you do?
1) Email or call the CPSIA – the office of the CPSC ombudsman 888-531-9070.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx
Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30, 2009.
mailto:Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov.

2) Email or snail mail your representatives.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/issues/alert/?alertid=12274476

3) Call your representatives. For their contact information just enter your zip code.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/

4) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue. The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

5) Sign the petition.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

6) Spread the word! Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and encourage them to do the same.

7) Join others in fighting this cause.
Facebook group
Twitter search
http://cpsia-central.ning.com/notes/Notes_Home

Join the etsy community in the virtual chat with CPSIA Small Business Ombudsmen or send a handmade children’s item that will become “hazardous goods” as of 2/9/09 to Bobby Rush, founder of H.R. 4040.
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/handmade-childrens-items-unintended-consequences-consumer-pr-3056/
Etsy Thread

9) Read more about this legislation and its ramifications:
Fashion Incubator

Handmade Toy Alliance

National Bankruptcy Day

YouTube video

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

5 Minutes for Mom

Cool Mom Picks

The Smart Mama

blogher

Apparel and Footwear.org

Toy Association.org

Cafe Mom

Safety and Compliance

Zrecommends

SleepingBaby.net

Freshly Baked Blog

This full size child’s apron is 100% cotton in Sandy Gervais (Moda) Merry and Bright fabric.
No visible seams. Pre-washed fabric (in mild detergent). Fully lined

Available on Etsy from HandmaidensCottage

…and hello to SoYoung Mother. It’s been far too long since my last diaper bag review and you know how much I love diaper bags (almost as much as I love jeans and a great pair of heels). I can’t think of a better way to break the diaper-bag dry spell than by reviewing a bag known for fighting something called “discom-babe-ulation.”

What is “discom-babe-ulation?” You may not know it by its official name but if you have little ones, you’ve experienced it. It’s “the state of panic that you experience when your baby starts to scream in a public place and the black hole of your diaper bag has swallowed the one thing you need to calm him down.” If you’re like me, you know this state very well.

To fight the state of discom-babe-ulation you need to be well armed. The SoYoung Mother diaper bag comes equipped with a wipeable, water-resistant microsuede exterior and one of its best weapons, a shallow bottom eliminating the frustrating search for the ever-elusive pacifier or Goldfish snack pack. The gingham interior, which is totally cute, has both mesh and see-through pockets, the latter able to be wiped down in case of bottle leaks or stuck-on fruit snacks. With pockets for everything from diapers and wipes to formula packets and a change of clothes, you can stay calm and organized when the world around you is falling apart.

I received the SoYoung Mother diaper bag in the yummy chocolate brown with baby blue trim. And yes, I noticed all of the above fabulous features. I also noticed the cell phone pocket was within easy reach (a total must-have for me) and it came with important accessories like adjustable stroller straps and a machine washable and dryable (yay!) changing mat. I do wish the mat would have been slightly padded but it did roll up compactly and fit nicely inside the bag.

Though I loved the idea of the matching collapsible cooler bag with insulated lining, I didn’t love the cinch top. It took a little work to loosen and tighten; I think I’d prefer a zipper closure instead. And the SoYoung Mother diaper bag doesn’t hold quite as much as my favorite Amy Michelle bag, that’s probably a good thing and something for which my bag would thank me! One totally unique feature of this bag is its large outside flap, which you can use to carry a baby blanket, baby sling or carrier, or even a yoga mat for that post-natal yoga you’ve been meaning to try.

Besides that easy-reach cellphone pocket, what I love most about the SoYoung Mother diaper bag is that it doesn’t look like a diaper bag. (Kind of reminds me of those days when the only snacks I carried around were a pack of gum and a protein bar.) And get this, it fits most laptops so it’s the perfect bag for all you mompreneurs out there! The SoYoung Mother diaper bag is available in two delicious colors, chocolate brown with baby blue trim (oh, how I love my job!) and cherry red with chocolate trim. –Emily

* Promotion! SoYoung Mother is offering Daily Dish readers $25 off their purchase and an extra cooler bag! Simply use code “DAD” (without the quotes) at checkout. You can say “so long” to this offer after January 31, 2009 so don’t wait too long!

Okay, that was a bit on the cheesy side but I couldn’t help myself. I was sure “You’ll flip for the Flip Mino” had already been done so I decided to get a little creative. But don’t let the title of this review fool you. The Flip Mino is definitely not cheesy. In fact, it is so not cheesy it illicited a “Wow! That is pretty amazing!” from my husband, who loves all things tech and is not easily impressed.

What is the Flip Mino and why is it cool enough to catch my husband’s attention? (By the way, it had my attention when it showed up in all its tiny sleek glory.) The Flip Mino is a pocket-sized camcorder that allows you to record with just a touch of your thumb. Its memory can hold up to 60 minutes of high-quality video. No need to replace the batteries; this baby has a rechargeable lithium ion battery and charges using your USB port. You get over 4 hours of recording per charge! I loved the flip-out USB arm because it meant one less time I’d have to mess with a USB cord.

I am totally one for reading directions, to my husband’s chagrin, but I thought I’d try the Flip Mino without them. I powered it up and was recording within seconds. I did have to browse the directions to make sure I was fully utilizing the on-screen features of the Flip Mino, but I had it down in no time. I did notice the tripod mount but I’m not sure I’ll ever use it. For me the Flip Mino is all about ease of use and impromptu videos.

While writing this review I discovered a couple other features: a “child safe” mode to prevent accidental deletions of clips; 2x digital zoom (though like most digital zooms it leaves something be desired); 1.5” color high-brightness (transflective) display for super-clear viewing in bright sunlight (I did notice it was a lot easier to record our kids’ snowman with the Flip Mino than it was to take a picture of it with our digital camera); silent mode for recording in sensitive situations (wow, never thought about that…opens up a whole new world of possibilities!); and a TV connector cable so you can watch videos on television.

Now that we have the Flip Mino’s specs out of the way, here’s what I really thought of this pocket-sized camcorder. It TOTALLY ROCKS!!! Yes, it was simple to power on, record and even delete videos on the Flip itself, but when I plugged the USB arm into my computer the magic really happened. I kept my fingers crossed it would recognized the “new hardware” and then the Flip would download its own video software. The finger crossing worked because that’s just what it did. Within just a few minutes my videos were on screen inside the FlipShare window. It was so easy to navigate I didn’t once need to read the directions. I saved the videos to my computer (just a couple clicks of the mouse) and even cut a few seconds off the end of one.

You can advance the movie in super slow motion, frame by frame, and then even take a snapshot of a frame and save it as a JPEG on your computer. I gave that a go and both my husband and I were impressed with the quality of the photo (seen at right). It wasn’t the clearest picture we’ve seen but for a tiny camcorder and only 2x digital zoom, it was pretty nifty. Of course my next step was to see how easy it was to upload a video to YouTube, and there it was, right at the top of the FlipShare window: “Share” I clicked, dragged the pointer to “Online” and then “YouTube…” and clicked again. A window popped up so I could log in; I logged in, clicked “Next” and it started uploading the video. After a few minutes, it was live on YouTube. I even IM’d my parents the link so they could check it out. I was a bit disappointed with the quality of the video on YouTube (it looked 100x better on our computer) but it was still a kick to be able to share it so quickly! And just so you know I’m totally serious about the YouTube thing, here’s our little girl in all her musical glory (and you don’t have to watch the whole thing…I won’t take it personally):

Besides uploading to sites like YouTube, AOL and MySpace you can share your video via email. FlipShare even has editing tools so you can create custom movie mixes with music. How cool is that!

The Flip Mino costs around $180 but I think it’s totally worth it for this little guy. (You can actually get a Flip MinoHD for only $50–might be worth it.) It’s small enough for me to keep it in my diaper bag without taking up too much needed space. How many times have you been somewhere and wished you had a camera? Those cell phone cameras don’t always cut it. Now you can capture that “did he just stick a french fry up his nose” moment on video (moving picture and sound)…and then share it with the world. –Emily

“Ball of confusion, oh yeah; that’s what the world is today, hey…” Those are the lyrics (originally sung by The Temptations) that come to mind when reading about the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, or CPSIA for short. I’ve tried reading the info on the CPSIA website but my brain quickly becomes its own ball of confusion. What does it all mean for small business who manufacture/design/create products geared toward children age 12 and under? Will they (us included) go bankrupt because we can’t afford third-party testing of our products to certify they do not contain lead or phthalates?

We are still doing our research but we have done enough to know reform is necessary to keep thousands of small business from closing their doors. “The CPSIA: Good in Theory, Hurting Small, Favorite Green Businesses in Practice” from The Smart Mama is a great post outlining the impact of the CPSIA on small and not-so-small business. It gives a better picture about what types of products/business are affected and the types of testing involved. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of the article:

On August 14, 2008, President Bush signed into law the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). It was drafted as a toy safety law in response, at least in part, to the numerous recalls in 2007 for lead in children’s toys and jewelry. It was also drafted in response to the tragic death of a 4 year old after ingesting a charm that was almost pure lead.

It was designed to be a toy safety law, but its reach is much, much broader. And, like all broadly written, reactionary laws, it has very significant, it appears largely unforeseen consequences. Like perhaps putting out of business thousands of small manufacturers of children’s products, including some of my favorites – the small manufacturers of reusable cloth diapers, natural wood toys, handcrafted costumes, and innovative children’s products.

She promises to have another post on the phthalate portion of the CPSIA next, and we’ll be on the lookout for it.

Another site serving as a clearinghouse for info is NationalBankruptcyDay.com: “February 10, 2009 untold numbers of children’s products manufacturers and retailers will be closing their doors.” Sounds like a national bankruptcy day to me. This site has the most recent info and FAQs on the new legislation with links to how you can get involved, from forums to writing the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and your legislator.

Z Recommends, one of my most favorite sites for children’s product reviews, safety information and pretty much everything a parent needs to know, just posted “Five steps you can take to save natural/handmade companies from the CPSC and CPSIA“:

Livelihoods, work-at-home arrangements, and the availability of handmade and natural products for our children are at stake. Here are five things you can do today to help force Congress to address the mess they’ve made before the law goes into effect on February 10, 2009.

The steps are fairly straightforward and require only a small amount of time. You might think the new CPSIA doesn’t affect you, but even if you don’t design and sell children’s products, you probably buy them. With the way the CPSIA is now, you will have far less products from which to choose and the ones left on the shelves may carry a price tag no one can afford.

LeShan and I are still learning the ins and outs of the CPSIA but you can bet we’re doing our part to make reform happen. Because if it stays as is, you will no longer see georgie tees cute infant onesies and tees online or in boutiques… –Emily

George is the only boy out of four kids and third in birth order, so you’d think at the age of 3 and with no former instruction whatsoever, he wouldn’t know what to do with a Yo Baby Kick Flipper if one landed in his lap. One did, so to speak, and somehow that boy knew exactly what to do with it. He hopped right on his new Yo Baby Kick Flipper (Yo Baby for short) and started scooting his way around the carpet, and though he had a long way to go before becoming the next X Games champ, I could see how the Yo Baby was going to help him learn a little bit about skateboarding–without the risk of stitches or broken bones.

Designed by Bob Ellis, father of four and extreme sportsman, the Yo Baby from GarageCo Toys is a lightweight, wheel-free board that simulates skateboarding, surfing and even snowboarding. You can use it indoors or outdoors on surfaces like carpet, sand and grass (trust me when I say avoid newly mopped tile…). To see the Yo Baby in action you have to watch the video on GarageCo Toys’ site. (Click on Watch Video on the left-hand side of the homepage.)

Though it’s safe for pre-boarders age 1 1/2 on up, my almost 18-month-old thought the Yo Baby simply a cool place to sit and my three-year-old didn’t do much than step on one end and spin while holding on to the counter. Of course he did this over and over and over again and probably would have tried a few more tricks if someone had shown him how. Unfortunately he was born into a non-extreme-sport family unless you consider returning Blu-Ray DVDs to Netflix in record time an extreme sport! Luck for us GarageCo Toys now has a Trick Tips manual we can download. Now that he has the 180 spin down we’re going for the peanut flip.

At 21 inches long and only 5 1/4″ inches wide, the Yo Baby from GarageCo Toys shows that really cool things–and really great exercise–comes in small packages. The Yo Baby is made in the USA with material that is 80% post consumer and cost around $12. Yes, I said $12. (If you’re not thinking perfect Christmas gift then you’re not thinking.) That’s a heck of a lot more affordable than the latest sports video game. Sure, you can snowboard with the Wii, but how long do you think that Wii board would last if ridden down a sandy hill? That’s what I thought. –Emily

** Giveaway! GarageCo Toys is giving away 10 Yo Baby Kick Flippers! 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: December 22, 2008 (midnight). The winners will have 24 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Daria asked that I re-post this fabulous Monkey-Toes story and promo here on Boutique Cafe Finds, so here you go! I originally posted about it late Thursday night on our georgie tees blog, freshly baked. Enjoy! –Emily

I love it when a mom-owned business receives good press and in the case of Monkey-Toes, it’s really, really, really awesome press. (All mom-owned businesses should be so lucky!)

A while back Oprah interviewed Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in Telluride. This was actually one of the few episodes of Oprah I saw this year and somehow I missed the fact that in the first part of the interview, Oprah noticed Monkey-Toes’ Little Lady Mary Janes in the mudroom of Tom and Katie’s home. She even picked them up and commented about how cute they were. Now THAT is great press!

And if the first time around wasn’t sweet enough, the interview is airing again so those of us who missed Suri’s sweet little ladybug Monkey-Toes can keep our eyes peeled for Oprah’s ooohs and aaahs this time around. Want to catch Oprah’s interview with Tom and Katie? Click here for local listings.

Jenny Ford, the mom behind Monkey-Toes, had a little help from another mompreneur, Katja Presnal from Ladybug Landings. Katja had put together a basket full of unique gift items for the Cruise/Holmes family and Monkey-Toes’ Little Lady ladybug shoes appeared on Oprah a few months later. Since then her shoes have been seen on other celebrity children including Tori Spelling’s son Liam. As a side note, you really should subscribe to Katja’s blog, Ladybug Landings. She has so much info on PR and marketing, your head will spin…but in a good way!

I love this post on Classy Mommy about Monkey-Toes on Oprah. It features a great Q&A with Katja about the experience.

To celebrate a second round of great press Monkey-Toes is offering our readers $5 off so you can get your own pair of Monkey-Toes just in time for the holidays. Simply use code “OSURI08″ (without the quotes) when checking out at Monkey-Toes.com.

Now all LeShan and I need to do besides watch Oprah tomorrow is figure out how to get someone like Minnie Driver’s son Henry to wear our “i wasn’t born yesterday shirt” while his mom is interviewed by Oprah…and his shirt is in full view!

Today’s post will possibly dispel a myth most of our readers believe, and no, it’s not about Santa Claus– everyone knows he’s totally real! It’s about those super comfy, super hot sheepskin-lined suede boots “everyone” is wearing. If you want to continue to believe UGG is the only company who makes these fabulous boots, then stop reading right now. If you’d like to be among the truly enlightened shoe buyers and wearers, then keep reading.

Once you get a glimpse–and a feel–of Bearpaw Shoes you won’t even remember the name of that “other” boot company. Bearpaw is all about keeping warm while looking hot. Good enough for me! I actually met the owner of Bearpaw Shoes in the airport on my way home from MAGIC in Las Vegas. He is the nicest person you could sit next to at an airport restaurant. I could tell he had passion for his company and his positive attitude was extremely contagious. I believe you can tell a lot about a company from its CEO, and this one was sending out a very good vibe.

But back to the shoes…Bearpaw has an amazing collection of shoes, from your standard comfy suede boot and your not-so-standard exotic boot to clogs, slippers, sandals and even a few fab pairs for kids. (I love the Hazel!) Did you know sheepskin, “nature’s technical fabric,” regulates body temperature (i.e. keeps feet cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold) and its hollow fibers wick moisture, keeping feet dry. The suede upper naturally resists dirt and water, and the extra thickness allows boots to keep their shape longer.

I’m currently–and by currently I mean right now as I write this review–wearing Bearpaw’s Eva in Sand (similar to the black one pictured). This suede boot with its sheepskin lining has kept my toes toasty in even the chilliest weather. The corner of the dining room where my computer sits has a slight draft, and though my fingers are still a bit frostbitten, my toes haven’t been in weeks! These shoes are so comfy I’ve worn them all day, only taking them off at night because I generally don’t wear shoes to bed. My feet have never gotten too hot, even when worn with fuzzy socks, and never been cold even when worn without any socks at all. Next to my slippers, which I just can’t get myself to wear to the grocery store, my Evas are my favorite pair of all-weather shoes (and I can wear them to any grocery store I please!).

Now that I’ve dispelled the myth of the sole suede and sheepskin shoemaker, aren’t you glad? Bearpaw Shoes has so much more to offer us shoe buyers and it’s all wrapped up in super comfy, super cozy, super “hot” style. –Emily

It’s Holly and Jolly all rolled into one, snag an apron for your girl and indulge in the fun!

Designed by pickles*and*co and available on eBay in custom sizes! More styles and patterns in her store as well. Get baking this season and look cute doing it!

$25 Buy it Now >>

It’s those last precious weeks before Christmas, and now is perfect opportunity to scour the BC Holiday Gift Guide for last minute gift ideas. We’ve found a small sampling of the goodness from our own Guide that you’ll want to check out for your family and friends!

For all our current specials visit our Gift Guide for promos and discounts, to spoil the kiddos and save too!
Take me to the Promo Codes!!! »

Boutique Cafe Last Minute Holiday Gifts

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We’re back for our FOURTH straight year of our popular Holiday Shows! This week Boutique Cafe and guests are bringing to life the stuff christmas dreams are made of, in the first of 3 Spectacular Christmas shows. Daria interviews designers and momprenuers including Barb of Lola and Clementine, Myrinda of Sweet Girl Boutique, Leslie of L’il Darlins, and Kim of Olive Kids.

**This episode is chock full of Giveaways including: a $25 Gift Certificate to LolaandClementine.com or her eBay auctions as well, $25 Gift Certificate to Sweet Girl Boutique, $25 Gift Certificate to L’il Darlins, Bib-A-Roo from Lil Darlins, $80 Gift Pack from Olive Kids with personalized Frame Print, Placemat, Name tag and Bookmark. How to Enter: Comment under this post to qualify for our drawings. We’ll draw the winners on Dec. 22nd! Good luck Everyone and Happy Holidays from Boutique Cafe.

**We still have ONE interview space available for the 3rd and final 12 days of Christmas show. If you are interested in having your shop, store, group or designs featured please email daria@boutiquecafe.com for further details.

The Daily Dish is all about the latest and greatest products for parents and their children, but once in a while what’s new to us may not be new to some of our readers. Today’s product review features the Korbie all-in-one baby bag, but apparently it’s not a new concept, or so a Twitterer told me when I mentioned writing this review. But that’s okay, because it’s new to me and it’s probably new to many of you!

The Korbie all-in-one Baby Bag combines a diaper bag, bassinet and changing table for the ultimate on-the-go bag. The diaper bag features include stain-resistant nylon, adjustable shoulder strap, saddlebag design so it can straddle the back of the chair (sans bassinet), insulated bottle pockets, zippered front pocket, two large sections (hence the saddlebag) with two interior mesh pockets and a zippered interior pocket.

The bassinet features a UV-coated nylon with adjustable and removable canopy, hinges that securely lock the bassinet when open, carrying straps to carry your babies short distances, removable and machine-washable terrycloth pad and a 3-point harness. You can use the bassinet as a changeing table or remove the changing pad and use it on its own.

So here’s my take on the Korbie without actually having an infant within its weight requirements (I have very “healthy” babies). The overall concept is fabulous. I love the idea of having a portable bassinet when you have a very little one in tow. It’s great for short or long trips–any type of travel where it would be handy to have something other than one of those large portable cribs (as long as your little one can’t roll over or sit up). I was able to remove the bassinet easily, though that is some serious Velcro, and I even set it up without reading the directions. It popped right open and the harness gave me no trouble.

The canopy, though extremely lightweight, seemed pretty sturdy and when completely open covered pretty much the entire bassinet–I like being able to shield my little one from head to toe! You do want to make sure you here the bassinet lock in its open position, and I would even test it by lifting it up by the handles before placing your baby inside. I do wish the main rib of the canopy, which you can remove by pulling it from the release button, had some sort of “stop” on it so the rib didn’t slide around in the fabric. I lost the rib for a second after removing the canopy and had to cinch the fabric so I could pull it out again.  But overall, I thought the bassinet design was a pretty ingenious one and seemed sturdy enough to handle even the “healthiest” infant.

As for the diaper bag, I wasn’t sold on it as far as using it solely for a diaper bag. I’ve reviewed a lot of bags and so I look for certain things. One of the most important is a comfortable shoulder strap, and the Korbie’s strap is way too narrow and lacks any padding whatsoever. I can imagine a sore shoulder if you’re toting it around with the bassinet and packed full of baby gear. The saddlebag idea is a unique and handy one, but I’m not sure it’s worth the work of trying to rip open the Velcro flap at the bottom–that sucker takes some serious effort! The two sections are very generously sized but only have two mesh pockets for organizing your gear. The Korbie needs a few more interior mesh and/or divided pockets, especially since the bag is so deep.

And that was my other not-so-favorite thing. Of course the Korbie has to be rather long so it has room to carry the bassinet, but its length makes for a really deep bag. I’m just not sure how easy it would be to find things in such a “generous” pocket. And the large front flap doesn’t really have a place to go when lifted to access the pockets–it kind of gets in the way. It took me a minute just to figure out how to maneuver it so it wasn’t blocking my line of sight!

But even though I didn’t love the Korbie as a diaper bag, I still love it as a great all-in-one travel bag. It is extremely well made, durable and the fabric will hold up to a lot of wear and tear–a great thing for travel gear. The idea of a portable bassinet and baby gear at hand is an ingenious one. You should stick with your current favorite diaper bag for everyday use, but if you’re on the go a lot, whether it’s to the local park or the Disney park, the Korbie all-in-one Baby Bag will make it easy to take the nursery with you. And when traveling is easier, everyone is happy! –Emily

* Promotion! Korbie is offering Daily Dish readers $50 off the retail price! Visit Korbie.com and use the code “bcafe” (without the quotes) at checkout. Offer expires December 31, 2008.

With cold winter weather comes wish lists, holiday shopping and the all too common set of chapped lips. All those glittery, shiny lip glosses in your purse often don’t cut it when it comes to moisturizing parched lips, and the stuff that actually does moisturize comes in some pretty boring packaging (think blue and white Chapstick or yellow Carmex). Maybe that’s why Pin Up Lip Balm’s sassy packaging and nourishing formula is the latest in lips.

Pin Up Lip Balm’s moisturizing formula is made from 100% natural ingredients including avocado oil (UV protectant), beeswax (natural emollient), apricot kernel oil (hydration) and Vitamin E (natural antioxidant). All these nourishing ingredients come packaged in a cute retro slide-top tins, each with its very own old-fashioned pin-up girl. Totally tasteful yet totally sexy, these pin-up girls are what makes Pin Up Lip Balm the talk of the town. Okay, the all-natural ingredients help too.

I received a few mini Pin Up Lip Balms to review. I do love the packaging–the slide-top tin is reminiscent of elementary school when I went through a few strawberry and watermelon lip glosses packaged in just such a tin. (Anyone else remember those?) And the lip balm did help moisturize, but it didn’t seem to last very long. Perhaps I’m used to my favorite glosses from Bath & Body Works and Revlon, which seem to have more staying power, but they definitely don’t have all the natural ingredients that Pin Up Lip Balm does. Whatever the reason, I found myself applying it a lot more frequently than I would have liked.

But even so, Pin Up Lip Balm is a really fun and very affordable product. It is definitely a great girlfriend gift for the holidays and a great stocking stuffer for any female. And with over 40 flavors you’re sure to find a few tempting tins! –Emily

Trina, a line of luxury cosmetic bags that we recently reviewed, is donating close to $20,000 worth of product for Divine Design, the West Coast’s premiere fashion and home shopping event. All of the proceeds from the event’s sales will directly benefit Project Angel Food, an organization whose mission is to “nourish the body and spirit of men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses.”

Along with donating product for Divine Design, up for auction on eBay are a handful of celebrity-signed Trina cosmetic bags. The auction only lasts a week and items start at only $10. You can read more about the list of celebrities (John Mayer, for one) by reading my full post on “freshly baked.” You’ll find the full list of celebrities who’ve signed Trina bags and direct links to the various eBay auctions. Happy bidding!

Note: Not familiar with Trina bags? Read my Daily Dish review–you’re sure to fall in love with them just like I did!

We first reviewed Fleurville back in January for our “let’s go green” week. We featured their Re-Run Messenger bag and MicroPod. I love Fleurville’s Re-Run fabric, which is made from recycled plastic bottles and keeps thousands of bottles out of landfill–nothing like going green when on the go! So I was super excited to receive Fleurville’s Re-Run Yoga Bag and Re-Run Zafu Meditation Pillow for a review on the Daily Dish.

I don’t do yoga as often as I should, and when I do it, it’s in the “comfort” of my basement toy room. If I had my choice I’d be “om-ing” it up at the gum, and if I had my choice of yoga bag it would be the Re-Run Yoga Bag from Fleurville. It may not have all the bells and whistles of other yoga bags (do yoga bags have bells and whistles?) but it does fit my yoga mat, strap and reusable watter bottle (of course!) nicely. I love the Ogo print with its crisp blues and greens and I love knowing I’m keeping 3 plastic bottles out of landfill. It has an adjustable strap, zippered compartment for car keys, gym membership and hand towel (a necessity if you’re into the Bikram thing), and is PVC free. I do wish it had a little more room so I could fit my yoga block but I’m hoping someday I won’t need the extra help with my headstands! Fleurville’s Re-Run Yoga Bag gets a thumbs up–or strong upward facing dog–from me!

The Re-Run Zafu Meditation Pillow was a big hit with everyone, though I can’t say we ever actually used it for meditating. I don’t even think it’s possible to meditate with four kids in the house! My 3-year-old’s “is this for me?” won me over and he claimed it as his own. He used it as his special seat to watch his favorite TV shows and movies. My girls had to wait to use it until he was in bed…at least until the newness wore off, which took a good month or so. I’ve used it as a seat for my toddler as I put on his shoes, as a seat for myself when there are none to be found on the couch, and as the perfect spot next to the toddler bed for reading bedtime stories. It has yet to be used to meditate but it has gotten plenty of good use, that’s for sure! Apparently it was even a great resting spot for Fleurville employees at one of their tradeshows. Now that’s using your resources wisely!

Like the yoga bag, the meditation pillow keeps 3 plastic bottles out of landfill. It is filled with certified organic buckwheat filling with a fill volume that is adjustable for customized comfort. No worrying about buckwheat spills; the Zafu has a Velcro guard. It is also PVC free.

I also received the ModPod, but I don’t see it listed on Fleurville’s site. Either it’s brand-spankin’ new or it’s been discontinued. I was able to find it for sale elsewhere, and this is a fabulous changing kit. It’s a step above a diapers and wipes clutch and a couple steps before diaper bag. Though it is generously sized I still make room for it in my diaper bag because it has a nicely padded changing pad and PVC-free lamination. The adjustable shoulder strap is great for when I pop it out of the bag to take to the changing room at church. When open, my favorite feature is the slightly padded head rest and the three storage pockets. I have about 3 diapers, a wipes case and an extra onesie, and even when folded it is still fairly compact. I have it, my wallet, small cosmetic bag, change of clothes for my toddler, and a multitude of snacks in my diaper bag with room to spare. Plus I love the ModPod’s sleek design. It’s my favorite changing kit so far, though it would be awesome if it was made from Re-Run fabric as well.

Whether you’re standing tree poser, meditation guru or frazzled mom trying to keep diaper changing gear in one place, Fleurville’s looking out for you–and the environment. Sometimes Re-Runs are just as great as the original, if not better. Go for style, go for function, go for environmentally friendly. Go Fleurville. –Emily

P.S. Check out their new Getaway Weekend bag–LOVE IT and the Botanical Azure print!

*** Giveaway! We are giving away one of Fleurville’s fabulous Re-Run Messenger Bags in red–a hard-to-find color! Visit Fleurville.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite product besides the ones mentioned in this review. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: December 12, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Rebecca S., the winner of the Fleurville 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!

My awe-inspiring friend Nena is doing a festive, holly, jolly, Giveaway in time for the holidays. She created this stunning glittering Santa on Canvas valued at approx. $175.00 – and now Santa is looking for a new home. I’m publicly offering him a warm and cozy home with our family, but sadly all of the begging in the world won’t work because she’s drawing a “random” winner. I will still try to butter Nena up though, can’t blame a girl for trying.

To get all the details on how to win this beautiful art piece in time for Christmas visit Nena’s Blog.

This year, while many are struggling with great decorating ideas for the holidays on a tighter budget I have a small suggestion. I recently have seen a few Christmas trees that have been adorned with Christmas Crackers (you know, the kind that are classically at the dinner table and snap open to reveal a trinket or toy) – THEY LOOK SO COOL! I think it’s a brilliant idea, Christmas Crackers have a unique and festive shape and fill space well, they are light weight so they won’t weight down your tree branches. The bonus is that they typically come in packages of 8-12 and are relatively inexpensive.

For even more bang for your buck, you can DIY your way to Christmas Cracker bliss. All you need is some gorgeous wrapping or scrapbooking paper to get started. I found these great directions with step by step pics and instructions. Fun for your holiday table or ON your tree as festive and fun ornaments. Fill your crackers this year with sweet treasures, or personal notes of praise for your family members. What a treat on Christmas morning to snap open a little love note.

Assignment Share: I’d love to see pictures of the crackers you design this year, blog about your DIY Christmas Crackers and then come back and share the linky to your blog. We’ll all come over to Ohhh and Ahhhh over creative you! (I’ll be sharing pictures of these snazzy crackers on our tree too!)

Can’t wait to see! – Daria

With cranberries on the table and in the tummy I thought today’s review a fitting one. Jason, the “pure, natural & organic” line of skin and body care products, sent me two holiday samples: Cranberry Rejuvenating Body Scrub and Cranberry Hand & Body Lotion. Though I don’t do the turkey and cranberries thing, I was more than willing to test these two product out for our readers.

The facts: Jason’s Cranberry Hand & Body Lotion is made with cranberry oil (packed with antioxidants), aloe vera and chamomile to soothe dry skin. It is free of parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, mineral oil, lanolin, petrolatum and animal by-products. It is not tested on animals.

My take: Though this lotion did do a good job of soothing and hydrating and is free of a lot of not-so-natural ingredients, the smell was a little off. Though at first whiff it clearly smelled of cranberries, it had a second scent that was not quite as “fresh.” I’m not one of those chefs who can smell a dish and tell you the exact ingredients so I can’t tell you if it was a combination of cranberry and chamomile or if it was another of its natural ingredients. I do know it was off enough to keep me from using it again even though it was a great lotion overall.

The facts: Jason’s Rejuvenating Cranberry Body Scrub uses non-GMO corn cob combined with papaya fruit extract to exfoliate the skin. Ginkgo, cranberry and ginseng leave skin rejuvenated and moisturized. It is free of parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, mineral oil, lanolin, petrolatum and animal by-products. It is not tested on animals.

My take: Though this one had that same slightly “off” smell as the lotion, it wasn’t nearly as noticeable or bothersome. Perhaps using it in the shower and following it up with my own favorite lotion helped. It is a pretty good exfoliator though I would have liked a little more exfoliation. I do give it an A+ in moisturizing; my skin felt silky smooth without an oily residue on me or the shower floor. And for the price (about $7), it’s a very affordable way to exfoliate.

Though I didn’t love the smell of Jason’s Cranberry products (mostly the lotion), it did peak my interest enough to want to try other body care products from Jason. For a natural and organic line, the prices are well within budget. It may not be the season for cranberry but it is the season for affordable bath & body gifts! –Emily

My favorite new book this holiday season is called “Bear Stays Up For Christmas” by Karma Wilson. This is the perfect story to cuddle up with and read with a lap full of children. Full of beautiful charming illustrations, rhyming story, and heartwarming acts of friendship.

“Bear’s friends are determined to keep Bear awake for Christmas! So they wake Bear up and have him help them find a Christmas tree, bake cakes, hang up stockings, and sing Christmas songs. Bear stays up — by discovering that giving is one of the best Christmas presents!”

I snagged my copy at our local Winners store for under $10 (I think it was closer to five bucks). If you see it, be sure to grab your family a copy too! The kids will love it. – Daria